The John Report: AEW Dynamite 09/01/21 Review
Welcome to the AEW Dynamite review here on TJRWrestling. It’s the 100th episode of Dynamite taking place just a few days before Sunday’s AEW All Out pay-per-view. I believe I reviewed every episode of Dynamite except one during WrestleMania when I was absolutely exhausted. I’m looking forward to AEW All Out. We will have a preview on Friday I believe and I’ll review it live on Sunday night too.
This is AEW Dynamite #100 from the Now Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Here’s my AEW Dynamite TV review archive. Let’s get to it.
There was a vocal crowd in Chicago for a busy week where Dynamite, Rampage and All Out are all taking place at the Now Arena in Chicago. Congratulations to AEW for 100 episodes of Dynamite. It’s the first of three AEW shows in Chicago this week. The announce team of Jim Ross, Excalibur and Tony Schiavone welcomed us to the show.
The FTR team of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler entered first with a Bobby Eaton tribute as part of the entrance. The Pride & Powerful duo of Santana & Ortiz made their entrance with some white/black face paint on. They got a nice pop. Wheeler had a big armbrace on his right arm that was cut open the last time they had a match.
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) w/Tully Blanchard vs. Santana & Ortiz
Harwood with a shoulder tackle on Santana, who got right up and hit him with a hard chop. They exchanged chops. Santana and Harwood battled over a hiptoss, neither could do it and they got tied up in the ropes. The four guys got into a brawl. Santana and Ortiz each hit double clotheslines to send both FTR guys out of the ring. Santana and Ortiz each hit suicide dives on the FTR guys on the floor. Santana and Ortiz sent the FTR guys into the barricade, Ortiz with a dropkick and Santana hit a cannonball on both opponents. Harwood with a body slam, Wheeler tagged in and sent Ortiz shoulder first into the ring post two times in a row. Wheeler with a low dropkick on Ortiz. Harwood back in with stomps on the left arm of Ortiz. Harwood with an armbar leading to Wheeler taking off a turnbuckle pad. Santana saved Ortiz from a double team attack by the turnbuckle. Ortiz with a dropkick on Harwood. Ortiz ducked a clothesline from Wheeler and Ortiz hit a clothesline. Santana tagged in with strikes for both guys and a suplex on Wheeler followed by the Three Amigos suplexes on Harwood with the fans chanting “Eddie” for the Eddie Guerrero tribute. Santana went up top and hit a Frog Splash for a two count. Ortiz back in for a double team slam followed by a double-team Cutter and a German Suplex for two with Wheeler breaking up the pin. Santana with a clothesline on Wheeler on teh floor. Ortiz with a rollup, Harwood knocked Ortiz into the ropes, Wheeler with an uppercut and Harwood hit a brainbuster for two. Santana was back in with a Spear on Harwood and Ortiz pinned Wheeler for two. Ortiz and Santana hit a double team slam that was essentially Wheeler doing a moonsault bump. Santana went up top, Harwood shoved him down and Wheeler hit a Gory Special on Ortiz for a two count.
The crowd was chanting for both teams. Harwood hit a superplex, Wheeler jumped off with a splash, but took too long and Ortiz avoided it. However, FTR came back with the Big Rig double team move, but Santana jumped onto both FTR guys to break up the pin! The fans were into and cheering loudly. Santana tagged in with a cutter on Wheeler, Ortiz with a lung blower, Santana with a superkick and Santana/Ortiz hit a flipping slam like a reverse flatliner for the pinfall win. It went about 14 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Santana & Ortiz
Analysis: **** This was a great match. Two of my favorite teams in AEW. They got plenty of time and had a competitive match that was very even the whole way throughout. I’m a bit surprised that they didn’t have Santana/Ortiz work on Wheeler’s right arm more during the match although maybe there was concern about the blood loss in the past, so perhaps they wanted to avoid it. Anyway, it was a match full of action with both teams getting plenty of nearfalls. The fans were so into it especially stuff like Santana doing the Eddie Guerrero tribute spot. I was really impressed by how much the crowd was into it. I’m glad that Santana/Ortiz got a meaningful win although it is 50/50 booking since FTR won their last match, so hopefully, there’s a third match with a stipulation coming soon.
They showed a promo from Daniel Garcia and 2.0 talking about how Darby Allin shouldn’t look past Garcia. Garcia faces Allin at Rampage on Friday.
Analysis: Garcia is just a job guy in AEW at this point, so nobody really believes he’s going to beat Allin.
CM Punk is up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from CM Punk
CM Punk made his entrance to a big pop from the Chicago crowd since he’s a Chicago native and they were able to get ice cream because of him. Punk had a big smile on his face as he entered the ring for a promo. The fans chanted “CM PUNK” before he could say a word.
Punk asked the fans if they are sick of him. Punk said that he can spend weeks, months just hearing “Cult of Personality” and feeling that love. Punk said some people may get tired of it real fast, but he’s not one of them so he will enjoy it while it lasts. Punk said that Sunday in this very same building, this can all end for him. Punk said he hasn’t wrestled in seven years, he’s nervous and even scared. Fans chanted “You Still Got It” at Punk. He said he’ll promise us every time he comes down the aisle, he’ll give us his best. That led to Daniel Garcia and 2.0 (Jeff Parker and Matthew Lee) attacking Punk with the three guys taking down Punk with punches.
Darby Allin made the save with his “uncle” Sting joining him. Allin and Sting went down to ringside with Allin tossing Garcia into the ring post. Punk worked over Parker with punches. Sting hit a Scorpion Death Drop, Allin hit a Coffin Drop off the ropes and Punk hit a GTS after that. Punk and Allin stared at eachother in the middle of the ring. Punk tossed Parker out of the ring.
Sting did a promo saying he always wanted to share a ring with Punk. Sting said he had “mucho respect” for Punk. Sting said that their paths never crossed, but that was then and this is now. Sting said it felt good to see Go To Sleep, the Coffin Drop and to Stinger Death Drop somebody again. Sting said that they all have the same goal in mind so that this match can happen on Sunday. Sting said that this Sunday, he knows Darby is ready, Sting said he’ll fist pump Darby and walk back to the dressing room. Sting said that when they collide it’s going to be “showtime” for sure. Punk and Allin had another staredown. Punk’s music played to end it.
Analysis: Good segment overall. Punk’s promo came off as a guy that’s confident, but also a bit nervous about his first match in over seven years. Using the Garcia/2.0 jobber guys to attack Punk to bring out Allin/Sting was smart to get a pop out of the crowd. I liked Sting’s promo too because he put over Punk as a fellow babyface that he respects and the fans love seeing stuff like that.
There was a video about Kenny Omega defending the AEW World Title against Christian Cage with AEW talking heads like Excalibur, Jim Ross, Paul Wight, Mark Henry, Tony Schiavone and Taz talking about how good of a match it will be at All Out.
(Commercial)
Maxwell Jacob Friedman Interview
MJF was sitting beside Tony Schiavone earlier in the day. Tony put over MJF for being an awful person. MJF ran down Jericho’s career going over his nicknames and putting over all of Jericho’s nicknames. MJF said by the time his career is all said and done, he’ll take Jericho’s place. MJF said that Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer in the world, but then he kept coming back for that spotlight, then his brains became scrambled eggs and he broke his body. MJF said that Jericho is like that because he’s on a downward spiral. MJF said that Jericho needs the spotlight, he craves it and it’s too intoxicating for Jericho to stay away. MJF said that Jericho will do just about anything to get that spotlight back and that’s why he’s putting his career on the line. MJF said that at All Out he’ll end one of the greatest runs in the history of professional wrestling. MJF said that Jericho yearning for the spotlight is the same reason why his music dies.
Analysis: Strong promo work from MJF as usual. MJF hasn’t lost much in AEW, but I think he’ll lose at All Out. It’s interesting how the MJF/Jericho isn’t about The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle now. It’s just about those guys without even mentioning their groups.
Orange Cassidy made his entrance with a 14-1-1 record. Matt Hardy attacked Orange before the match began and the referee pulled Matt off, so Matt was ejected from ringside.
Orange Cassidy vs. Jack Evans
Evans with a spin kick to the head followed by a jumping kick. Evans with a suplex and a kick to the chest. Evans went for a cartwheel elbow, but Cassidy dumped him over the top to the floor. Cassidy came back with an impressive DDT for a two count. Evans to the floor and Orange hit a suicide dive on the floor. Cassidy with a cross body block off the top for a two count and then a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Cassidy did his weak comedy kicks, the fans reacted to it and Tony said “they’re not supposed to hurt.” Thanks Tony. Cassidy and Evans exchanged waistlocks repeatedly for some reason, Orange sent Evans into the top turnbuckle and Evans met Cassidy with punches. Evans wanted a superplex, Orange stopped and they went to picture in picture break.
(Commercial)
The show returned and the match was over. Cassidy won with an inside cradle during the break. Let’s call it about six minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Orange Cassidy
Analysis: *3/4 I don’t like doing a pinfall during a commercial break. I understand it’s a picture in picture break (which we get here in Canada too), but people don’t have 50- or 60-inch TVs to watch a pinfall on 1/3 of their TV screen. Anyway, Evans is a jobber in AEW, so it was hard for me to care about the match.
Post match, Matt Hardy went down to the ring and attacked Cassidy with punches. Chuck Taylor and Wheeler Yuta ran out for the save. That led to the Hardy Family Office guys going out to the ring. Jurassic Express were next to make a save and the heels left.
Analysis: Yes, people are running away from Marko Stunt. This should set up a tag team match at this point. Stable wars always happen in AEW since there are so many stables.
Eddie Kingston did a promo telling Miro that they will walk through hell together. Miro said that he only stays down for his wife in a hotel room. Miro called himself The Redeemer and that was it.
Analysis: I like both guys, but the story for that title match is weak. They should have built up Kingston more as a singles wrestler to earn the title shot instead of just having Miro challenge him.
(Commercial)
Jon Moxley did a promo talking about how he’ll face Satoshi Kojima at AEW All Out on Sunday. It was clips of Moxley’s promo last week.
Analysis: Another match at All Out with no storyline.
Chris Jericho Interview By Jim Ross
Jim Ross was in the ring welcoming us to an interview with his friend. JR said he thinks Chris Jericho has made a mistake and he’ll tell us why. JR introduced Jericho for an interview. The crowd chanted “Judas” for Jericho on his way down to the ring all alone in a leather jacket. The 50-year-old Jericho puts his career on the line against MJF at AEW All Out this Sunday night.
Jericho welcomed us to: “Chicago is Jericho!” Cheap pop. Jericho said he doesn’t say that anymore. Jericho noted that 22 years ago he started his main event journey in this business in Chicago at the Allstate Arena. Jericho said that the man that recruited him to start that journey was JR himself. The crowd cheered. JR wondered why Jericho would put his career on the line. Jericho said he still remembered when he signed the contract with JR. Jericho: “MJF, you are a piece of shit.” Jericho said that MJF is diabolical, calculated, he’s vicious, a button pusher and confident/arrogant like Jericho. Jericho said that MJF beat Jericho three times while listing the dates. Jericho said he can’t let it go, so that’s why he has to put it all on the line to beat MJF. Jericho said he’s never been complacent, which is why he came to AEW in the first place. Jericho said that there was no guarantee that AEW would be a success, but here we are on the 100th episode of Dynamite as the hottest wrestling company in the world today. Jericho said he could keep going in AEW, but every time he looks himself in the mirror he would know he couldn’t beat MJF. Jericho said that he would know it’s the beginning of the end of his time in this ring. Jericho said he doesn’t want it to be the end, he wants more and he doesn’t want it to stop. Jericho said if something goes wrong on Sunday and his journey ends right here in Chicago. Jericho said then he would do commentary full time and he would thank all of us for helping us make his dreams come true. Jericho said he’ll thank us for being a big part of his life. Jericho said that MJF will not take this away from him and if MJF wants to take Jericho out he’ll have to be the best he’s ever been. Jericho said it won’t happen, MJF doesn’t have what it takes and he doesn’t have the balls to get it done. Jericho: “I’ll see you Sunday at All Out, you little prick.”
Analysis: An entertaining and confident promo from Jericho as usual. I don’t expect Jericho to lose at All Out. I would be very surprised by that. At least I can say that the feud has been booked very well and has a long story. It has the longest story of any feud at All Out, which isn’t that much of a surprise if you know Jericho’s history of always being a guy that likes long-term storylines. I think it would have been better if they did a Jericho/MJF in-ring back and forth promo instead of the two promos that they did. It would have been cool to see that.
There was a video with Darby Allin talking about how CM Punk was his favorite wrestler. Allin said that seven years ago when Punk left, that’s when Allin started in pro wrestling. Allin said that when Punk said that Allin was the first on the list, Allin felt like he should have been the last on the list. Allin said he thinks he has to beat CM Punk in Chicago or die trying.
Powerhouse Hobbs made his entrance with Hook. Hobbs is 19-3 in 2021 and ranked fourth in the rankings that are supposed to mean something. If you are fourth-ranked then shouldn’t you have a match at the PPV on Sunday? Apparently not.
Brian Cage attacked Hobbs before he could finish his entrance. Cage whipped Hobbs into the barricade two times. They went into the ring to start the match.
Brian Cage vs. Powerhouse Hobbs (w/Hook)
Taz was on commentary for the match supporting Hobbs. After Hook got in the way of Cage, Hobbs with an elbow drop followed by punches in the ring. Hobbs with a running body attack. They went to break.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Hobbs hitting a shoulder tackle. Cage came back with a flatliner sending Hobbs to the mat. Cage with kicks followed by an Exploder Suplex. Cage with a jumping kick followed by a German Suplex for a two count. Hobbs ducked a Cage move and hit a spinebuster for a two count. Cage with a knee to the jaw followed by an F5-like slam off the shoulders. Cage hit a suplex off the middle rope while Hobbs was on the apron. Hook was on the apron to distract, Ricky Starks showed up and hit Cage with the FTW Title. Hobbs hit the Town Business powerslam for the pinfall win after eight minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Powerhouse Hobbs
Analysis: *3/4 They are two power guys that didn’t mesh that well together. Some of Cage’s moves towards the finish looked cool because it showed how much power he has against a big man like Hobbs. There wasn’t much chemistry here, though. The finish was cheap, but also typical of AEW booking where they have so many stables that get involved in matches and that played into the finish here.
Malakai Black did a promo video saying he took mercy on Cody, Arn, Brock and said he will make Lee Johnson suffer.
Analysis: Congrats to Malakai Black looking dominant in AEW so far and not even getting a PPV match when they have ten matches on the show.
Let’s Hear from QT Marshall
QT Marshall was in the ring for a promo with five guys standing in the ring with him wearing shirts representing The Factory group. Marshall called Paul Wight to come out for a face off, “just you and me.” He said that while surrounded by five guys.
Paul Wight walked into the ring with Marshall and the five guys. Marshall was standing behind the five guys. Wight with a KO Punch, then two shoulder tackles and a Chokeslam. Aaron Solow jumped off the top rope and Wight swatted him with his left hand. The Gunn Club trio of Bully Gunn and sons Austin and Colten showed up to support Wight. Marshall had a steel chair, Billy punched him and got the chair from him. JR said “Big Show” for Wight’s name. It’s okay JR, I write it too, but I can edit it out.
Marshall was standing in the ring, Billy was standing behind Wight with the chair and Billy hit Wight in the lower back/hip of Wight. Marshall acted like he was shocked by it. Wight slowly got back up, but then Billy hit Wight in the head (Wight got a hand up to block) and the Gunn Club left. The Gunn Club walked by Marshall, so then Marshall and friends went into the ring. Wight was lifted up by Marshall’s goons and Marshall hit a Diamond Cutter on Wight to end it.
Analysis: This feud doesn’t interest me at all, but they needed to have Marshall get the upper hand going into his match against Wight at All Out. I expect the All Out match to be short with Wight winning clean. I don’t know why I’m supposed to care about The Gunn Club turning heel on Wight, but I guess it’s a way to set up a Wight vs. Billy Gunn match as if it was 20 years ago? I don’t know why we’re supposed to care. Anyway, it took about eight guys to beat up Paul Wight and nobody cared enough to actually help Wight. Poor Paul.
(Commercial)
The AEW Women’s Champion Dr. Britt Baker was backstage with Rebel and Jamie Hayter with Tony Schiavone there for an interview. Britt said Jamie and Rebel are in the Casino Battle Royal. Baker said that she had free agent news saying that one of the hottest stars in professional wrestling has signed with AEW long-term…it’s her. Baker said that Hayter and Rebel will have a 2 on 1 handicap match against Kris Statlander, who Britt faces at AEW All Out on Sunday. Britt said that Tony Khan let her make the match since she re-signed with AEW.
Analysis: Good job by Britt mentioning an AEW signing and getting people to think she might mention free agent boyfriend Adam Cole. Nope. She was talking bout her own new contract in AEW. That’s cool.
Penelope Ford (w/The Bunny) vs. Tay Conti
Conti hit a dive off the apron onto both women on the floor. Conti with armdrags, then some chops and a backbreaker. Conti with a spinning slam followed by a pump kick for two. Ford charged in, Conti with a boot to the face and Ford hit the ropes when Conti was on the ropes, so Conti bumped to the mat.
(Commercial)
Ford was in control, Conti broke free, she missed a kick and Ford hit a shoulder tackle. Conti hit a cross body block off the top rope. Conti with two clotheslines and swinging sitout slam for two. Ford pulled Conti into the ropes followed by Ford bridging back into a Muta Lock, but then Conti got out of it with a Calf Slicer submission. Ford got to the bottom rope to break the hold. Conti with three straight pump kicks. Ford came back as if she wasn’t kicked in the face three times and Ford hit a Gutbuster into the knee for a two count. Some fans chanted “this is awesome” as Conti got an inside cradle for two. The Bunny got up on the apron, Ford charged, Conti moved and Ford hit Bunny off the apron by accident. Conti with a ROLLUP OF DEATH~! with a bridging pin on top to win. It went about nine minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Tay Conti
Analysis: **1/4 It was a decent match. I am impressed by Conti every time I see her while Ford works well as a heel especially with The Bunny as an ally. I think both women could work on selling especially after Conti hit three kicks to the face and Ford barely sold it since she hit a move right after. The announcers put over the kicks as devastating, but if the wrestlers don’t sell them then they look weak.
Conti celebrated that she outsmarted the bad girls and then as she celebrated, she got hit from behind by Ford. That meant she was immediately made to look like a fool. Anna Jay’s music hit and Ford/Bunny stopped what they were doing as if Anna Jay is a huge threat. Anna hugged Conti in the ring.
Analysis: Welcome back to Anna Jay, who is back from injury.
Thunder Rose was interviewed backstage by Alex Marvez, but it was interrupted by Jade Cargill and Nyla Rose. They easily beat up Rosa. Mark Sterling told Cargill and Rose to save it for Sunday and Vickie Guerrero said it was the first time he made sense.
Analysis: They booked a heel beatdown segment for an interview segment right after booking the same thing after the last match. I know there was a save after the match, but still its another heel beatdown.
This Friday on AEW Rampage in Chicago:
* CM Punk live. Maybe he’ll get interrupted doing a promo again.
* Darby Allin vs. Daniel Garcia. I don’t know if they combine to weigh over 300 pounds.
* Malakai Black vs. Lee Johnson. Quick win for Black.
* Kris Statlander vs. Rebel & Jamie Hayter. Rebel will get pinned.
* Miro will speak. Maybe he’ll get more than 20 seconds? Nah.
Next Wednesday’s Dynamite is in Cincinnati, which is where Jon Moxley grew up and lived until he got rich and moved to Las Vegas. I’d move to Vegas if I was rich too. Give me a few more years.
Just announced for AEW All Out on The Buy-In Pre-Show: Matt Hardy, Private Party (Isaiah Kassidy & Mark Quen) & TH2 (Angelico & Jack Evans) vs. Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, Wheeler Yuta & Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus & Jack Evans)
The announcers did their REALL FAST SCREAMING routine to run down the AEW All Out card in this order.
AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Christian Cage
AEW Women’s Championship: Dr. Britt Baker (c) vs. Kris Statlander
AEW Tag Team Championships Steel Cage Match: The Young Bucks (c) vs. Lucha Brothers
AEW TNT Championship: Miro (c) vs. Eddie Kingston
Women’s Casino Battle Royal
Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall
Jon Moxley vs. Satoshi Kojima
Chris Jericho vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman – If Jericho loses then he will not wrestle again.
CM Punk vs. Darby Allin
Analysis: I think Punk vs. Allin should go on last, for the record. We will have a preview up on TJRWrestling on Friday afternoon most likely. I will review AEW All Out on Sunday night.
The main event is next.
(Commercial)
The eight-man tag team main event was next. Jurassic Express made their entrance with shorty Marko Stunt. The Lucha Brothers were next with Alex the translator. The Elite team of The Young Bucks, Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson made their entrance with Don Callis and the stooge Brandon Cutler.
Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy) & Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero Miedo) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) & Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson
The great Don Callis joined commentary. Gallows started with Luchasaurus in a battle of the big guys with Gallows punching Luchasaurus and then Luchasaurus came back with a suplex. Nick tagged in, Luchasaurus tossed him down. Fenix and Nick did some fast-paced moves missing eachother and then the Young Bucks/Lucha Bros all superkicked eachother without connecting. G&A attacked Penta from behind, so Matt took over against Penta.
(Commercial)
The match returned with about ten minutes left in the show. Jungle Boy was the face in peril as he fought out of the heel corner until Anderson tripped him. Boy came back with a clothesline on the floor. Boy fought out of The Elite’s corner and Fenix got the tag. Fenix ducked a forearm from Nick, then he delivered a couple of kicks and hit an impressive armdrag off the ropes. Penta with a superkick, Fenix with a slam and Penta hit a dropkick off the top onto the legs/groin of Nick with Matt breaking up the pin. Nick with an armdrag off the ropes, then Nick and Penta were each hitting superkicks and then everybody laid down. The referee Rick Knox lost total control as usual. Luchasaurus back in against Anderson with a German Suplex, a superkick to Gallows and he sent Gallows over the top to the floor. Luchasaurus got a hold of Nick, who basically did a moonsault off the top onto his friends. That looked too fake. Boy hit a dive on the heels on the floor. Luchasaurus with a Chokeslam and a moonsault press on Anderson for a two count. The heels distracted the referee, so Cuter did his aerosol spray. G&A hit the Magic Killer double team move on Fenix for two as Luchasaurus broke up the pin. Nick was back in, then Matt tagged in as well and Fenix avoided the double knee attack leading to an incredible double Cutter by Fenix on both Young Bucks. Fenix jumped off the top, Nick caught him and Nick jumped off the ropes with the Meltzer Driver double team piledriver for the pinfall win after nine minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) & Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson
Analysis: ***1/4 A very good match as you would expect with so many great wrestlers involved, but not some classic tag team match or anything. I think the faces could have got some more nearfalls to make it look like they had a chance to win. It just seemed like the heels kept outsmarting them and the faces were made to look like idiots. After the Young Bucks double team move for the finish, I figured somebody was breaking up the pin, but nope. That was it. I guess the difference was Cutler getting involved, which led to the heels winning. I think it’s certainly possible that Lucha Bros might beat Young Bucks at All Out in the Steel Cage match on Sunday.
There were still about five minutes left in the show, so AEW World Champion Kenny Omega entered with another stooge Michael Nakazawa. Omega looks like he has darker black hair dye in his hair now. The Elite guys beat up the faces with G&A hitting a Magic Killer on Luchasaurus through a table that was on the floor.
Christian Cage showed up for the save with a Spear on Omega, but then the other heels beat up Christian. The Elite guys had kendo sticks that they used as weapons to beat up Christian and Lucha Brothers. Omega said that he had a great meeting with Tony Khan talking about the video game as well as the ratings. Omega said he knows Don Callis has the keys to the cage control room, so then the Steel Cage lowered.
The steel cage was lowered as Christian Cage and The Lucha Brothers were beaten up by the heels. Some babyface wrestlers like Frankie Kazarian, Dante Martin, Jungle Boy and even Marko Stunt tried to get in the cage. What would Marko do? That’s just made me laugh. The announcers kept on talking about how the cage was doing its job. The Young Bucks handcuffed The Lucha Brothers to the ropes and hit repeated superkicks. Omega told Christian they are going to have so much fun. Omega and The Young Bucks hit the BTE Trigger on Christian. End show.
Analysis: The heel beatdowns are something that Tony Khan loves to book. It reminds me of 1997 WCW. We have seen it so many times over the last 100 episodes of Dynamite too. It’s why AEW has 47 stables so they can constantly book them to do heel beatdowns. They happened multiple times on this show too. The announcers did a nice job (when they weren’t screaming) of talking about how The Elite guys were using the cage to their advantage to keep the other wrestlers out. Yeah, because if Marko Stunt got in there, look out! Sure. Anyway, I think the Lucha Brothers might beat The Young Bucks at All Out while I think Omega retaining against Christian is very likely. I’m looking forward to the tag team Steel Cage match a lot.
Three Stars of the Show
- Santana/Ortiz
- FTR
- CM Punk
The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.5 out of 10
Last Week: 6.25
2021 Average: 7.33
Final Thoughts
I thought it was a much better effort than last week’s show. I don’t know what they were doing last week with some of the card. I enjoyed most of the promos including the CM Punk/Darby Allin/Sting as they worked together to beat up one of the jobber stables before Punk/Allin had a staredown. The main event match was good, but not great. The heel beatdown at the end felt repetitive although it’s consistent with how AEW books things like that.
The highlight of the show for me was FTR vs. Santana/Ortiz. It’s ridiculous that both teams are not wrestling on the PPV, though, but that’s AEW right now. The roster is just too big that so many people are going to sit out the PPV. I’m just glad they had the time to have an awesome match.
They did a really nice job of building to All Out for some of the card. I wouldn’t say all of it, but most of it. I liked this episode overall. If some matches were better I’d have gone over an 8 for it, but still a 7.5 is solid.
The next AEW pay-per-view is All Out on Sunday, September 5 at the Now Arena in Chicago. Here’s what we know so far.
CM Punk vs. Darby Allin
AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Christian Cage
Chris Jericho vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman – If Jericho loses then he will not wrestle again.
AEW Tag Team Championships Steel Cage Match: The Young Bucks (c) vs. Lucha Brothers
AEW TNT Championship: Miro (c) vs. Eddie Kingston
AEW Women’s Championship: Dr. Britt Baker (c) vs. Kris Statlander
Jon Moxley vs. Satoshi Kojima
Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall
Women’s Casino Battle Royal
Buy-In Pre-Show: Matt Hardy, Private Party (Isaiah Kassidy & Mark Quen) & TH2 (Angelico & Jack Evans) vs. Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, Wheeler Yuta & Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus & Jack Evans)
—
Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Rams. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnreport