The John Report: AEW Dynamite 07/17/24 Review

This week’s AEW Dynamite had some huge matches as Will Ospreay faced MJF while Swerve Strickland was in action against Kazuchika Okada.

Congratulations to AEW for making it to this 250th episode of Dynamite. I have reviewed nearly every episode of the show and I enjoy watching it on Wednesdays. I have likely missed three or four episodes total, which is not too bad over five years. They have some big matches set for this show, so I’m looking forward to it. It wasn’t a big crowd for this episode since Wrestletix is reporting about 3,000 fans, but hopefully are loud.

This was AEW Dynamite episode #250 from Simmons Bank Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.

It’s Wednesday and you know what that means. It’s Excalibur on commentary with Tony Schiavone and Taz.

The show started with MJF making his entrance for a huge match. MJF was booed during his entrance while making obscene gestures to the crowd. Will Ospreay got a huge ovation as the AEW International Champion. It’s a huge match to start the show. Ospreay is 19-1 in AEW singles matches. The only loss was against Swerve Strickland at Forbidden Door last month.

Analysis: This is a PPV main event level match that AEW is giving away as the opening match on Dynamite. They are trying to get a big deal for AEW television in the future, so doing a big match like this could lead to a bigger TV audience.

AEW International Championship: Will Ospreay vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

The bell rang, MJF left the ring and MJF threw some water on a fan. MJF also ripped up a fan sign as well. MJF did a strut along with a hip swivel, so Will did it too. Will tripped up MJF, which led to the two men going for moves and neither man connected. Will did a backflip over MJF, who was down on the mat and that led to a staredown along with cheers from the fans. Will took control with a clothesline that sent MJF to the floor. MJF thought he avoided a dive, but Will was ready on the other side with a somersault dive over the top onto MJF on the floor. Back in the ring, Will hit a boot to the jaw and a belly-to-back suplex for two. MJF sent Will face first into the turnbuckle followed by MJF doing an armdrag that sent Will crashing into the other turnbuckle. MJF applied a chinlock, Will broke free and hit a jawbreaker. MJF hit Will with a knee to the ribs. MJF lifted up Will leading to a Stunner for two. Nice move. MJF went for a move near the ropes, Will avoided that and MJF hit a Cutter variation for two. Will went to the apron leading to an enziguri kick and Will hit an elbow smash off the top turnbuckle. Will hit a running elbow to the head. Will ran the ropes leading to a cartwheel leading to a backflip over the top onto MJF on the floor. That was incredible. Back in the ring, MJF avoided a moonsault off the top and Will hit a standing SSP for two. Will jumped off the ropes with a Sky Twister Press for two. The fans chanted “this is awesome” for them. Tony mentioned that Will is 9-0 on Dynamite. MJF bailed to the floor, so Will did a slingshot dive over the top onto MJF on the floor. Will grabbed a table from ringside and set it up on the floor.

Back in the ring, Will chopped MJF a few times. MJF sent Will upside down leading to a superkick to the head. MJF jumped over Will, then sold a knee injury that was likely MJF faking it and MJF came back with a jumping piledriver for two. The fans chanted “this is awesome” again. MJF spoke into the camera telling Daniel Garcia that’s what a real piledriver looks like. MJF gave Will a back body drop. MJF grounded Will with a Figure Four Leglock for nearly a minute until Will turned it over and then MJF turned it back over to have the advantage again until Will got to the bottom rope to break the hold. MJF sent Will across the ring, but Will collapsed while selling a knee injury. MJF was laughing about it. MJF chopped Will followed by nails across the back. Will sold the right knee injury while the referee checked on him. MJF did some blatant eye gouging to Will. There were some chops from Will, but MJF came back with a chop block to the right leg. MJF elbowed Will in the back of the head. Will came back with short kicks and a hard chop. MJF did more eye gouging. Will ran the ropes leading to a double clothesline. MJF called or a brainbuster, so Will countered it and it hit a Cutter instead. Will jumped off the ropes leading to an Oscutter. Will was too hurt to cover right away, so MJF rolled out of the ring. MJF was on the apron. Will jumped off the turnbuckle and went for an Oscutter, but MJF moved and Will hit the apron with his shoulder.

MJF attacked Will on the floor by sending him into the steel steps. Excalibur said they were going to picture-in-picture, but here in Canada on TSN they kept showing it on the full screen. The fans chanted for a table, so MJF gave them the middle finger gesture instead. MJF took control with an armbar on the left arm.

It was back to full screen action with MJF kicking Will’s arm. They were 22 minutes into this match. MJF hit a shoulder breaker. MJF hit the Made in Japan sitout slam for a two count. When Will was sent into the ropes, he did another cartwheel leading to a backflip kick to the head. Will chopped MJF a few times. Will had MJF on his shoulders leading to a Rack Bomb for a two count. MJF left the ring again, Will went after him and MJF hit him in the throat with a punch. MJF went over the barricade and walked up the stairs. Will went after MJF in the crowd leading to some punches to the chest. Will even let a little girl in the crowd hit MJF in the chest a few times. That was funny. The referee Bryce Remsburg was with them in the crowd so Excalibur tried to explain it by saying the referee was using his discretion rather than count them out. MJF threw a drink at Will in the crowd. Will sent MJF into a garbage can. Will put MJF upside down in the garbage can and then MJF stumbled back to ringside. After about two minutes on the floor with no countout, they were back at ringside. Will even went into the ring and broke the referee’s count that didn’t exist. Will set up MJF on the table at ringside. Will went up top and MJF rolled off the table leading to MJF rolling into the ring. Will and MJF each got two counts. Will gave MJF a Reverse Rana that spiked MJF on the head. MJF sent MJF upside down against the turnbuckle leading to a superkick. MJF hit the Long Island Sunrise (Adam Cole’s move) for a two count. There was another “this is awesome” chant as the match reached the 30-minute mark.

MJF set up Will on the table on the floor. MJF went up top, so Will rolled off the table and MJF went down to the floor. MJF bit Will’s left arm which Will hurt earlier in the match. MJF set up Will against the barricade at ringside leading to MJF hitting a running knee on Will on the floor. MJF did some stalling by drinking some water. MJF sent Will into the barricade, but Will came back with a Cutter on the floor. MJF wanted Cross Rhodes, then Will countered it and Will hit Cross Rhodes for two. MJF used the referee as a distraction leading to an eye gouge and then MJF stomped on Will’s left arm. MJF lifted Will leading to cradle DDT for two. Will countered an MJF move, so MJF had a rough landing, but then MJF tripped up Will on the ropes. MJF jumped off the turnbuckle with a clothesline for two. They went to the apron where MJF teased a Tombstone, but Will countered it and MJF blocked Will from doing a move. Will superkicked MJF while on the apron. Will gave MJF a Styles Clash on the apron! That was brutal so the fans chanted “holy shit” for it. Will covered for a two count. Will connected with a Powerbomb while also selling his left shoulder injury. They went to a picture-in-picture break.

(Commercial)

The match returned 40 minutes into this matchup that had a 60-minute time limit. MJF bounced off the ropes leading to Will hitting a back elbow. It was not a full Hidden Blade. Excalibur said that Dr. Sampson reset Will’s left shoulder during the break. MJF caught a leaping Will and hit a Tombstone for two. They replayed what Dr. Sampson did to Will’s left shoulder. MJF used wrist tape to choke Will a bit. MJF sent Will hard into the turnbuckle. MJF sent Will into the turnbuckle again leading to Will doing a sternum bump. Will sent MJF into the turnbuckle followed by a chop. MJF blocked a chop and then did an arm-wringer on Will. MJF charged, which led to Will doing a back body drop over the top to the floor. MJF blocked a moonsault on the floor. MJF bragged about being the smartest wrestler, so Will jumped through the ropes with a Hidden Blade elbow to the head on the floor. The camera was in the perfect spot to film that, as Taz pointed out, because we could see Will jumping onto MJF with the elbow smash. The referee was counting them out here, yet chose not to do that earlier. Back in the ring, Will jumped off the turnbuckle with a forearm to the back of MJF’s head for a two count. Will went up top, but MJF hit the ropes to trip him up. MJF went for a hurricanrana off the ropes, Will caught him and Will gave MJF a Styles Clash off the turnbuckle onto the mat. Will covered MJF near the ropes, so MJF got his right hand on the bottom rope so it was just a two count. MJF hit the Heat Seeker move that’s like a DDT and it was MJF’s butt hitting the mat rather than any part of Will’s body. MJF put Will onto the table at ringside. MJF climbed up to the top turnbuckle and MJF jumped off the top turnbuckle with an elbow drop that put Will through the table! That was an awesome looking move that MJF did perfectly. They aren’t going to call for a disqualification for the table spot. The referee also wasn’t counting them out of the ring. They went to a picture-in-picture break again.

(Commercial – They were both selling fatigue in the ring with not much action going on. MJF applied an abdominal stretch.)

The match returned about 50 minutes into it and there’s a 60-minute time limit. MJF held onto the ropes while applying the abdominal stretch submission. After MJF grabbed the ropes a few times, referee Bryce Remsburg finally saw it and kicked MJF’s arm to force him to break the hold. Will got a couple of rollups for two along with a backslide pin for two. There were more nearfalls from both guys. Will went for a hurricanrana, but MJF caught him with a Powerbomb into a backbreaker for two! Great sequence. MJF went for the kangaroo kick, Will avoided that and set up MJF against the ropes where Will connected with a superkick. Will went for a top rope Reverse Rana, but MJF landed on his feet. That was amazing as Tony said. MJF gave Will a top rope hurricanrana leading to Will doing a flip off the ropes and he landed on his feet! Wow. MJF did another eye poke, Will hit a superkick, then MJF hit a rolling elbow and MJF hit a knee strike to the jaw. Will did a backflip off the chest leading to an enziguri kick. Will got a two count, MJF countered and they each got multiple pin attempts. I think there were about eight of them in a row. Will sent for a springboard move, but MJF hit a superkick. Will hit Stundog Millionaire and a Reverse Rana. MJF hit Will in the back with a forearm. MJF ran the ropes leading to Will hitting a Spanish Fly slam for two. The fans were giving them a standing ovation.

MJF went against the turnbuckle where Will went after him by trying for a move off the top. MJF countered it going for a move off the turnbuckle, but Will broke free. Will hit the springboard Oscutter followed by the Hidden Blade elbow for one…two…and no because MJF got his right shoulder up. Will went for the Hidden Blade elbow to the back of the head, but MJF ducked to avoid it. MJF spit in Will’s face, so Will headbutted him in the face. It was announced that there was one minute remaining in the 60-hour time limit. Will lifted up MJF for a move, but then he stopped himself from doing the Tiger Driver because he said in the past that it was too dangerous. MJF shoved Will into referee Remsburg, who bumped into the ropes. MJF put the Dynamite Diamond Ring on his hand and punched Will in the face. The referee never saw it because he was against the ropes. MJF managed to cover Ospreay with his right arm across Will’s chest. The clock was ticking down as referee Remsburg counted the one…two…and three! The match went 59:58. They showed the Dynamite Diamond Ring that was on the floor after MJF used it. The referee never saw MJF use it.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW AEW International Champion: Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Analysis: ***** That was incredible. Wow! What an amazing match. I think that was the best AEW TV match ever or at least right near the top. It’s five stars from me. Certain wrestling observers might go over five stars, but my scale stops at five stars. This was an excellent match like the Danielson/Page match from last week and it was even better than that. Getting matches of this quality on television is such a treat for us as fans. We are spoiled watching wrestlers as good as MJF and Ospreay, both of whom really can do it all in the ring. I could nitpick about certain things like when they went into the crowd for over two minutes with no countout, but you get used to it in AEW. Ospreay also sold the right knee injury early in the match and then as the match went on, he stopped selling it and instead sold the left shoulder injury. There were so many great nearfalls throughout the match. We have seen some other AEW TV matches going one hour or close to an hour and this was as good as it gets. They hit so many big moves on eachother that only led to two counts. When it became obvious they were going close to an hour I figured they would end in a draw, so I’m glad that they went with a finish even though it was very controversial since MJF used the Dynamite Diamond Ring to win. We have seen MJF cheat to win many times before, so it was more of the same from him. Incredible match. These guys are awesome.

After the match, the AEW medical team checked on both wrestlers in the ring. They put an oxygen mask on MJF as MJF held the International Title in the air.

Analysis: This will probably lead to MJF facing Daniel Garcia for the International Title at AEW All In. I’m not sure where that leaves Ospreay, but there are a lot of potential opponents for him to face.

The Acclaimed and Mark Briscoe were interviewed backstage by Arkady Aura. The Acclaimed suggested that they become partners with Briscoe in the Blood & Guts Match. Max Caster mentioned they beat The Young Bucks recently. Anthony Bowens said they want in because they are AEW. Mark said that as far as he’s concerned, they are in. Swerve Strickland walked in as the AEW World Champion. Swerve said that he knows what they are all about. Swerve said there are no better people to go to war with than the ones you’ve done battle with. Max and Bowens said they were in. The four guys agreed to it. The Blood & Guts Match is next week on Dynamite.

Analysis: It’s a good choice to have The Acclaimed on Team AEW in the Blood & Guts Match.

Let’s Hear From “The Learning Tree” Chris Jericho

Big Bill introduced the FTW Champion “The Learning Tree” Chris Jericho, who had Bryan Keith with him. Jericho said that Little Rock commits too many crimes. Jericho said that this is episode 250 of Dynamite, he was on the first one and he’s not going to miss any future episodes. Jericho showed clips of Katsuyori Shibata, Hook and Samoa Joe getting injured because they didn’t listen to The Learning Tree.

Jericho said that this has to stop because people are getting hurt. Jericho told the fans they needed to listen to The Learning Tree. Jericho wondered who would be crazy enough not to listen to The Learning Tree. Who would be psychotic enough and who would be maniacal enough to not listen to The Learning Tree.

Minoru Suzuki interrupted the promo with a piece of paper he got from his pocket. Suzuki got in Jericho’s face and said “next week” to Jericho. Keith read the contract that Keith and Bill were banned at ringside for Suzuki’s FTW Title match with Jericho next week. Suzuki headbutted Jericho to knock him down. Bill and Keith were too scared to hit Suzuki, who waved at them like Jericho does.

Analysis: It was an easy way to set up a match for next week with Chris Jericho defending the FTW Title against Minoru Suzuki. They are two older guys with a lot of history in the business and they should have an entertaining match. I’d rather see Jericho face off against an AEW wrestler, but there’s nothing wrong with getting an NJPW wrestler like Suzuki for a match next week. I didn’t find this that entertaining. I don’t think The Learning Tree gimmick is working that well.

The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada were backstage for a promo. Nicholas Jackson complained about what The Acclaimed said about them. Matthew Jackson said that they will have all the gold and all the power. Nick said not all the gold because there’s still the World Championship. Matt said Swerve may have to vacate the title after what they do with him. Matt put over their buddies TNT Champion Jack Perry and “Hangman” Adam Page as well. Mercedes Mone walked up to them with her two titles while thanking them for banning Britt Baker from being around her match. Okada whispered something to Matt, who said that Okada wanted to see her do her dance. Mercedes did her CEO dance and left. Okada sold it like he was flustered from it, which was pretty funny.

(Commercial)

TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone vs. Nyla Rose

This was an open challenge. Rose got a win on Collision so she has momentum coming into this match.

Rose has the size advantage in a match like this. Rose sent Mone to the ropes, Mone kicked Rose away and then Rose tossed Mone down when Mone tried a move. Mone stomped on Rose a few times against the ropes. Mone tried a DDT, Rose blocked it and asked: “Have you lost your mind?” Rose set up Mone against the ropes, Rose hit a knee to stun Mone and Mone had to hold onto the ropes to wait for Rose to climb the ropes leading to Rose hitting a knee drop to the back for a two count.

(Commercial)

Mone was in control with a sleeper attempt while on Rose’s back. Rose came back with a snap suplex. Rose connected with a clothesline. Rose hit a cannonball splash against the turnbuckle for a two count. Rose went to the middle turnbuckle, Mone kicked her leg and knocked Rose down. Mone hit a running knee attack. Mone hit the Meteora double knees on Rose for a two count. Rose sat on the top rope trying a move on Mone, but Mone was able to counter her and Mone applied a bulldog off the top rope. Mone took out a glove that says “CEO” on it while mocking Britt Baker DMD. Mone applied the Lockjaw submission with the glove, so Rose bit her hand and Mone let go. Mone applied the Statement Maker (like a Crossface) submission on Rose and Rose tapped out. It went about nine minutes.

Winner by submission: Mercedes Mone

Analysis: **3/4 The match was okay with Rose putting up a fight, but nobody watching this likely thought she had a chance to win. I would have liked to see Rose get more offense and a few more nearfalls. Instead, Mone was able to beat Rose easily. I did like the bulldog off the top. Good move.

After the match, Mercedes Mone celebrated the win. A “fan” with a mask on had a sign saying “DMD > CEO” so Mone ripped the sign. The fan shoved Mone down. The fan took the mask off to reveal it was Britt Baker. The fans popped when they realized it was Baker. Security held Baker back since the story is that The Young Bucks were protecting their friend Mone.

Analysis: They are doing a good job of building up the Mone/Baker match that is probably happening at All In. I think they should have Baker win a couple of matches before that and make her earn a title match rather than giving it away.

A video package aired about Mariah May winning the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament last week and then she attacked her mentor Toni Storm after the match. Storm was a bloody mess. It’s Storm against May at AEW All In on August 25th. It ended with May saying: “Toni, this one’s for you.” They showed May’s face to end it.

(Commercial)

Jack Perry did a backstage promo saying that Darby Allin got his attention. Jack said that Allin didn’t have to hurt Brandon Cutler and Jack said he didn’t give a shit about Cutler. Allin beat up Cutler and threw him into some object backstage. Perry told Allin to find him tonight.

Let’s Hear from Mariah May

It sounded like the entrance of “Timeless” Toni Storm was coming, but instead, it was Mariah May dressed like Storm. May pulled off the look well. Schiavone called May a bitch before she said anything.

May was leaning up against the ropes saying that everybody saw it coming except Toni Storm. May said that Storm was so desperate for the spotlight that she didn’t realize she was giving it all away. May said that the question shouldn’t be why. The question should be: “Mariah, what took you so long?” May said she didn’t think it would last this long either. May said it was so easy and she had so much fun stringing her along. The fans were doing the annoying “WHAT” chant. May said that she saw Wembley and thought why take the old horse out back when she can kill it in front of as many people as possible?

May said she has been Toni Storm and now she can be so much more. May told Toni not to worry because she still loved her. The fans chanted “We want Toni” so May paused a bit. May said that she had never loved Toni more than when she was on her knees bleeding, crying and screaming May’s name. May said that was Toni’s greatest performance. May said her greatest performance will be at All In. May said that All Elite Wrestling is now All About Mariah. That was it.

Analysis: It was a solid promo from May. She did her best to explain her actions by saying that she was going to turn on Storm earlier, but then she waited until she won the title shot for All In at Wembley and that’s why she decided to turn after she won. I thought the turn happened at the right time.

There was a clip from Collision when the Bang Bang Gang was stripped of the AEW Trios Tag Team Titles since Jay White was hurt. Austin Gunn, Juice Robinson and Colten Gunn did promos about how they are going to win the titles.

It was advertised that on Collision this Saturday, it’s Bang Bang Gang’s Juice Robinson & The Gunns vs. The Patriarchy’s Christian Cage, Killswitch & Nick Wayne for the AEW Trios Tag Team Titles.

Analysis: My interest in who are the AEW Trios Tag Team Champions is very low. I assume Christian’s group will win. I can’t say I care much.

(Commercial)

Kazuchika Okada made his entrance as the AEW Continental Champion. That’s a title that is rarely defended. Swerve Strickland was up next as the AEW World Champion joined by Prince Nana as always. Swerve is 18-1-1 in 2024.

Swerve Strickland vs. Kazuchika Okada

This is not for any championship. It started at 9:52 p.m. and there was an overrun.

They started the match going for big moves, then not connecting on any of them and then having a staredown after it. The first match of the show started similarly. Swerve got a headscissors takedown. Swerve jumped off the middle turnbuckle with an elbow smash to the back. They did the “stand and throw strikes” spot that AEW wrestlers do too often. Swerve kicked Okada in the ribs, but Okada came back with a flatliner. Swerve left the ring, so Okada went after him and hit a DDT on the floor.

(Commercial)

Swerve nailed Okada with a headbutt. It was 9:59 p.m. ET when the match returned and as mentioned, there was an overrun this week. Swerve went to the turnbuckle, but Okada was there to stop him with a dropkick. Swerve did a necksnap on Okada against the top rope. Swerve connected with a flatliner followed by Swerve going with a vertical suplex for two. Swerve went up top again, Okada stopped him there and Okada raked the eyes. Okada hit a neckbreaker across the knee for two. Okada hit a body slam. Okada went up top and hit an elbow drop. Okada did a middle finger salute leading to Swerve countering for two. Swerve slapped Okada in the head, but Okada came back with another dropkick. Swerve gave Okada a backbreaker followed by a powerslam. Swerve jumped off the top, Okada avoided it and Okada came back with a Tombstone. Swerve countered a move leading to a double foot stomp to the chest. The Young Bucks went into the ring to attack Swerve for the DQ finish. It went 11 minutes.

Winner by disqualification: Swerve Strickland

Analysis: *** It was fun while it lasted because they are great wrestlers, but it was obvious the DQ was coming. It felt like they were going through the motions a bit and not really doing the big moves. I’d love to see a Swerve/Okada rematch down the road. That would be fun to see.

The Young Bucks attacked Swerve until The Acclaimed ran out for the save. Jack Perry went in the ring to help The Elite, but Mark Briscoe saved the babyface team. Briscoe dove onto the Bucks on the floor. Perry gave Briscoe a DDT. Swerve delivered a House Call kick to Perry. “Hangman” Adam Page made his entrance with his new theme song which isn’t as good as the old song. Page wanted to go after Swerve, but Okada pulled Swerve out of the ring. Swerve and Okada went fighting into the crowd. The Elite guys were on the ramp being held back by security. Darby Allin’s music hit as the wild man Allin finally showed up after 2 hours and 6 minutes. Allin repelled down from the ceiling like his hero Sting. Allin joined Team AEW fighting against The Elite. The security guys tried to stop the fighting, so some of the security guys were beaten up as well. Allin was eye gouging Perry as they fought on the floor.

The graphic was shown for Blood & Guts showing Team AEW against The Elite next week on Dynamite. The show ended there at about 10:07 p.m. ET so there was a seven minute overrun.

Analysis: It was a smart way to end the show because it set up the Blood & Guts Match on Dynamite next week. It makes the audience want to see the match. I do think AEW could have promoted Blood & Guts better by announcing both sides fully last week rather than waiting this week to announce three guys on Team AEW, but I understand why they wanted to wait to announce Allin until he was for sure cleared to compete again. If It was me, I would have had Allin join the group earlier and cut a meaningful promo about why they needed to win. Instead, they waited until the show overrun to announce the full team.

This is the Blood & Guts Match next week on Dynamite. The Elite – “Hangman” Adam Page, Nicholas Jackson, Matthew Jackson, Kazuchika Okada & Jack Perry vs. Team AEW – Swerve Strickland, Mark Briscoe, Max Caster, Anthony Bowens & Darby Allin.

Analysis: I’ll go with Team AEW getting the win. The Elite won over AEW’s team at Double or Nothing, so I think it’s important for AEW’s team to get a win here.

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Three Stars of the Show

1. MJF (tie)
2. Will Ospreay (tie)
3. Swerve Strickland/Kazuchika Okada

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The Scoreboard

This Week: 8.5 out of 10

Last Week: 8.25

2024 Average: 7.47

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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite

It was a great show most of the way with the MJF-Ospreay match carrying it. I think that was the third straight Dynamite episode that I really liked a lot and rated highly. The Will Ospreay-MJF match went one hour and it was absolutely amazing. These guys are so talented. It’s not easy having a match. There were some flaws that I pointed out in my review, but for the most part, I loved it and I went five stars for it, which is rare for a TV match. It was a cheap win for MJF using the Dynamite Diamond Ring. That’s something we have seen him do many times before and this time it led to him winning the AEW International Title. I enjoyed that match a lot. It was an epic performance from both guys. MJF and Ospreay will probably have many more big matches in AEW over the years. They certainly will have a lot to live up to after this performance.

The second hour was okay, but I wouldn’t say great. The Mercedes Mone/Nyla Rose match was just okay and I thought it had a flat ending. Good angle with Britt Baker chasing away Mone after that. Mariah May did a nice job with her promo. The Swerve/Okada match didn’t live up to the hype and had a DQ finish that also felt flat.

I get that the DQ was done to set up Blood & Guts for next week. I thought AEW could have done a better job of building to that. It shouldn’t take 2 hours and 6 minutes to announce Darby Allin as the fifth guy on Team AEW. If you announce it earlier, then you can get promos from the talent about why they need to win and make us care more about Blood & Guts. Then you can still have the brawl to end the show. In past years, Blood & Guts matches were long term feuds. This time it feels like it’s The Elite against five random AEW guys where three of them joined the match one week before. They should have planned it better. With that said, I still enjoyed this episode a lot thanks to MJF/Ospreay.

The next AEW pay-per-view is All In taking place at Wembley Stadium in London, England on August 25th. Here’s the lineup so far.

* AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Bryan Danielson

* AEW Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Mariah May

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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays. You can contact me using any of the methods below.

John Canton

Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @johnreport