The John Report: AEW Dynamite 10/02/24 Review (5 Year Dynamite Anniversary)
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured Will Ospreay taking on Ricochet, Bryan Danielson battling Kazuchika Okada, and more.
Congratulations to AEW on the announcement of their Warner Bros. Discovery TV deal renewal. It’s for those of you in the US and doesn’t impact me as a Canadian, but obviously, it’s a big thing for the company getting about $185 annually for at least the next three years. With that said, WBD seems to be losing money a lot in the last few years, and losing NBA rights after this coming season will hurt those TBS/TNT channels even more. Anyway, it’s good for AEW as a company although I have no idea how much money they spent and likely lost in the last five years just getting this thing off the ground. It certainly helps that AEW Owner Tony Khan has a father worth $8 billion or whatever it is.
The TV deal they have in Canada sucks since I pay for the biggest cable package possible, yet TSN wants me to pay extra for TSN+ just to watch Collision, which I’m not going to do.
Anyway, I am happy to AEW for five years of Dynamite and the TV renewal. I’ve reviewed nearly every Dynamite episode and I’ve paid to review all of the AEW PPVs as well. While I’m not going to say I like it more than WWE overall, I do think it’s a good product for the most part. It’s a great thing for the pro wrestling business that AEW exists. I also think they have flaws, which I do point out and have pointed out for five years. I do that because I want the product to be better. I want their crowds to get bigger again. The WrestleDream PPV is on October 12th, so they need to start building that card.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #261 from Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
There was a promo from Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Pac & Marina Shafir. Pac spoke about how somebody needs to stop acting that they already haven’t chosen. Claudio said this is your home and they still have big plans for Wheeler. Marina Shafir spoke in a foreign language too. Moxley said that he’ll beat Bryan Danielson for the AEW World Title and have that belt one way or another. Moxley said that Danielson would get a gift because Moxley would let Bryan die a warrior’s death on his home soil (Bryan is from Washington state and the match is in Tacoma, Washington). Moxley said Bryan will be buried in his backyard peacefully and beautifully. Moxley said on October 12th he’ll relieve Bryan of duty and he’s sending Daddy home for good.
Analysis: I don’t know if they are officially called Blackpool Combat Club, so my bad if it is wrong for me to call them that. They are doing a good job of being menacing jerks at least.
It’s Wednesday and you know what that means. It’s Excalibur on commentary with Tony Schiavone, and Nigel McGuinness filling in for Taz. They claimed Taz was attacked in a parking lot, which is another way of saying he was given a week off. What’s a week off? I don’t know what that is.
Will Ospreay was backstage talking to Kyle Fletcher. Don Callis walked up to him saying they had to talk about last week and Will said he had a match right now. Callis said he had to leave with Fletcher. Ospreay left while Konosuke Takeshita was standing there and he stared at Will, who walked away for his match.
AEW International Championship: Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet
It’s good to see AEW had more lights on in the crowd rather than those weeks where they turn the lights off and it looks depressing to watch. That’s because they had over 4,000 fans this week.
They exchanged side headlocks and then a routine of going for pin attempts. Ricochet ran over Will with a shoulder tackle, so Will kipped up. They did a gymnastics routine for about 40 seconds. Some of the moves included one guy doing a headscissors, then the other guy landed on his feet, and then more dance moves after that. I like both guys, but I’d rather see people do strikes that look like they hurt. They each bounced off the ropes leading to backflips and then they posed in the ring. The fans cheered. Will connected with a few chops to the chest, Ricochet came back with a chop of his own, and then Will jumped up, so Ricochet connected with a backbreaker. Will left the ring, so Ricochet dove on him with a suicide dive. Will went to the barricade and Ricochet jumped onto the barricade to give Will a hurricanrana on the floor. Those are spots I like because you are making a guy bump on the floor. Back in the ring, Ricochet did a slingshot senton onto Will. The fans were chanting for both guys. Will came back with a move where he bounced off the ropes and hit a spinning kick to the head. Will hit a springboard forearm. Ricochet avoided a kick and hit two clotheslines to knock Will down for two. Ricochet hit a jumping knee, then Will hit a few kicks, Ricochet with kicks to the body and Ricochet ran the ropes so that Will hit a Spanish Fly slam for a two count. Ricochet blocked an Oscutter attempt by knocking Will down on the apron. Will went for a Stormbreaker on the apron, Ricochet hit a kick, Will hit a kick and Will hit a superkick. Will hit an Oscutter off the turnbuckle so that he hit the move on the apron. That move made me feel bad for Will’s back hitting the apron. They went to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
The match continued with both guys on the top rope leading to Ricochet doing a super hurricanrana, which led to Will doing a somersault off the top and landing on his feet. Ricochet jumped off the ropes for his own version of an Oscutter for two. Ricochet kicked Will in the side of the head. Ricochet went for a 450 Splash, Will avoided it, Will went for Hidden Blade, Ricochet avoided that and Ricochet hit a twisting piledriver for two. The fans chanted “fight forever” for them. Ricochet hit a spin kick and Northern Lights suplex, but Will came back with Stundog Millionaire busting out the Orange Cassidy offense. Ricochet countered a charging Will and hit a hurricanrana, but Will came back with a Styles Clash for two. Will jumped off the ropes with an Oscutter for two. Ricochet went for Hidden Blade, Ricochet avoided it and Ricochet hit his own elbow smash. Ricochet went up top and hit a Shooting Star Press for just two. The fans chanted “this is awesome” for them. Ricochet kicked the back of the head and went for Vertigo, but Will countered it with Reverse Rana and then Ricochet did a Reverse Rana of his own. Ospreay hit a Hidden Blade and then covered Ricochet while both of their shoulders were pinned down to the mat, so referee Rick Knox counted them both down. It was announced as a draw.
Will and Ricochet wanted the match to restart and the fans wanted it to restart. It was announced by Justin Roberts (speaking for Tony Khan) that the match would continue. The fans loved that.
They exchanged elbow strikes in the middle of the ring. Each man hit two kicks in a row. Will and Ricochet each hit roundhouse kicks. Will hit a Hidden Blade again. Before he could cover, Konosuke Takeshita went into the ring and attacked Ospreay with punches for the DQ. It went 18 minutes.
Winner by disqualification: Will Ospreay
Analysis: ****1/4 It was an outstanding match as expected with a finish that obviously hurts it. It was a finish that pissed off the fans because they wanted a winner for this matchup and instead the heat will be on Konosuke Takeshita for ruining it. This was Ricochet’s best match in AEW so far, which is not a surprise since Ospreay was the opponent. I thought that Ospreay was probably going to keep the title by pinfall, so I didn’t expect a result like that. The ballet routine at the start of the match isn’t my favorite thing, but then it turned into more of a fight and it got a lot better from that point on. I think they’ll have an even better match in the future.
After the match was over, Takeshita hit a running knee on Ospreay. Takeshita also hit a Raging Fire spinning suplex on Ricochet. Takeshita brought Ospreay’s AEW International Title into the ring and Takeshita held the title over Ospreay’s fallen body. The fans chanted “a**hole” at Takeshita.
Analysis: That sets them up for a triple threat match at WrestleDream on October 12 with Ospreay defending the AEW International Title against Ricochet and Takeshita.
Mercedes Mone, the TBS & NJPW Strong Champion, was backstage with Kamille for an interview with Renee Paquette. Mone cued up a video showing highlights of herself. Mone said that money changes everything. MVP walked up to her saying yes it does and handed Mone his card while suggesting that perhaps they should talk.
Analysis: It’s weird how they pay Mercedes Mone so much money to fly her to shows and have nothing for her to do. Another wrestler that needs a meaningful rivalry. I also feel bad for Kamille standing there and doing nothing.
(Commercial)
The Gunns – Austin & Colten Gunn were being interviewed when “Hangman” Adam Page attacked them with a steel chair. That’s because Hangman was against their buddy Juice Robinson later in the show.
TV Time With Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho was in the ring doing his talk show segment with Big Bill and Bryan Keith. Jericho bragged about beating ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe in a tag team match on Collision last week. Jericho challenged Mark Briscoe for the ROH World Title at WrestleDream since Jericho pinned Mark in a tag team match last week. Mark Briscoe praised Chris Jericho as one of the most influential and finest pro wrestlers on the planet. Briscoe said that Jericho does deserve the ROH World Championship match and Briscoe said he wants to put that notch in his belt. Mark spoke about how when he beat Jericho, so Jericho cut him off. Jericho told Mark he couldn’t beat him and said maybe his brother Jay could have beat Jericho. The fans booed. Jericho said that everybody knows Mark will never be as good as Jay was. Mark punched Jericho in the jaw to knock him down. Mark told Jericho to keep his brother’s name out of his mouth. Mark said he accepted Jericho’s challenge for a match at WrestleDream for the ROH World Title. That’s when Jericho backed away with his buddies while Mark posed in the ring.
Analysis: It’s a solid and fresh match for WrestleDream. Jericho pinned Briscoe in a tag team match last week, so it was an easy way to set up the match. Jericho mentioned Mark’s dead brother Jay as a way to make it personal. Jay died in a car accident, so it was a tragic loss and obviously, it affected Mark a lot. Bringing it up in a wrestling promo is a way to get heat and some fans are going to think it’s going too far. Jericho and Mark are old pros who probably agreed to it beforehand, so if they are okay with it then I’m okay with it too. I do understand that fans would be upset about it, though.
Darby Allin was featured in a video talking about how when he was 19 years old, there were these guys on a bus who were spitting on his head. Allin said it was killing him that he didn’t do anything about it. That led to Allin getting in the guy’s face and it didn’t take long for everybody on the bus to break up the fight while mentioning the guy had a knife. Allin said that it felt good to do something about it. Allin said he wasn’t going to lie down and do nothing when Jon Moxley called him out. Allin said he would rather get stabbed. Allin said it was supposed to be him and Bryan at WrestleDream. Allin said he’s starting to lose faith in himself, but what else can he do except fight? Allin said he’ll be there at WrestleDream, so he’s putting out an open challenge and wanted somebody to step up because he has nothing left to lose. Allin wanted somebody to step up.
Analysis: It’s AEW where they don’t have enough good stories, so they have a wrestler make an open challenge just because they have nothing else for him to do. I hope Darby Allin gets to that AEW World Title level because I enjoy him as a performer, but I think his loss to Jon Moxley will hurt him in the long run.
“Hangman” Adam Page and Juice Robinson fought in the aisle before they got to the ring. Page used a strap to hit Juice in the back repeatedly. Page tossed the strap into the crowd. They were fighting by the fans over on the side technical area. Juice gave Page a back body drop on the floor to counter a move. Page and Juice went fighting up the stairs. Juice threw a drink on Page. The referee Aubrey Edwards was trying to get the wrestlers in the ring to start the match. Juice hit Page in the head with a popcorn bucket. Page went to the ring and Juice joined him, so the match finally began.
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Juice Robinson
Page sent Juice into the turnbuckle and stomped on Juice repeatedly. They went to a picture-in-picture break there.
(Commercial)
The match continued with the two men on the top rope as Juice hit a top rope superplex. Juice punched Page repeatedly but when he tried a cannonball, Page moved and Juice hit the turnbuckle. Page was in control on the floor as he sent Juice into the barricade. Page sent Juice onto the apron. Juice came back with a spinebuster into the side of the ring. Juice hit a running cannonball that went them crashing through the thin barricade. Back in the ring, Juice jumped off the top with a cross body block, Page caught him and Page hit a fallaway slam into the turnbuckle. Page set up for a slam off the middle turnbuckle, Juice slipped out of that and Juice hit a running Powerbomb for two. Juice grabbed a waistlock, Page blocked the view of the referee, Page hit a low blow kick that the referee didn’t see and Page hit a Buckshot Lariat for the pinfall win after about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page
Analysis: *** A decisive win for Hangman over Juice, who doesn’t get pushed that much as a singles wrestler. Page is a main event level guy, so obviously he was winning here. It was cheap thanks to the low blow before the finish. Juice is fun to watch and I love his facial expression, but AEW never really gets behind him as a singles wrestler.
After the match, Page took his leather belt off and choked Juice with the belt. Page hung Juice upside down by the ropes. Jay White made his return, so he went into the ring and beat up Page with punches. Page tried to leave, White went after him and they fought where Page put a table earlier. White eye gouged Page. Jay picked up Page and tackled Page through the table, which broke. The well-tanned White checked on his pal Juice, who said “he’s back” and they went to the back as allies in the Bang Bang Gang group.
Analysis: Welcome back, Jay White. He had been out for a few months, so it was a good spot to bring him back in a spot like that to put him over as a babyface upon his return. White is better as a heel, but in this spot, I don’t mind him as a future opponent for Hangman.
Jack Perry, the TNT Champion, was shown arriving in his Scapegoat truck. Katsuyori Shibata went up to Perry with a phone translator in his hand. Shibata challenged Perry to a TNT Title match at WrestleDream. Perry said he’ll think about it. Perry left and then he nailed Shibata with a forearm. Perry sent Shibata into the truck. Perry told Shibata he accepted.
A clip was shown of AEW Dynamite’s first episode from five years ago when Jon Moxley attacked Kenny Omega. Moxley gave Omega a Death Rider into a glass table.
(Commercial)
They showed highlights of the awesome Hangman Page/Bryan Danielson match from December 15, 2021. Amazing match.
Bryan Danielson, the AEW World Champion, said “f**k Jon Moxley” to start his promo. Bryan said that this isn’t about Moxley because this is AEW’s World Championship. Bryan said that this is where the best wrestle. Bryan said that he challenged Kazuchika Okada because this is where the best wrestle. Bryan said that he and Okada are 1-1 in their rivalry, so we’ll see who the better man is. Bryan said that Okada’s title is only on the line for 20 minutes, but Bryan’s World Title and career are on the line, which is what he likes. Bryan said AEW, this is for you.
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs Serena Deeb
Baker is from Pittsburgh, so she got the hometown pop from the fans. Baker was in black and yellow colors like the Pittsburgh pro sports teams (Steelers, Pirates, Penguins). Baker took down Deeb with an armbar, but Deeb got out of it. The AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May was seated at ringside watching the match. Deeb tripped up Baker leading to a half crab submission, but Baker got to the ropes to break the hold. Deeb knocked down Baker with a shoulder tackle. Baker bounced off the ropes leading to a neckbreaker. Deeb came back with a chop block with the left knee to take control.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Baker getting some offense going with a clothesline and a forearm to the chest. Baker hit a Slingblade followed by a Fisherman’s neckbreaker for two. Deeb hit a Powerbomb for two. Deeb had a submission, Baker broke out of I and then they exchanged holds, which led to Deeb hitting a German Suplex. Baker hit an Air Raid Crash slam for two. Britt went for the Lockjaw submission with the glove in the mouth. Baker kicked Deeb in the corner, Deeb came back with a kick and a forearm. They battled on the turnbuckle and Baker hit an Avalanche Air Raid Crash for just a two count. Deeb countered a move going for a rollup. Baker applied Lockjaw with the hand in glove and Deeb tapped out. They went 12 minutes, which is about three minutes longer than most AEW TV matches.
Winner by submission: Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.
Analysis: *** It was just a random match to give Baker the win in her hometown. I thought it was a good match that was well worked. The fans weren’t that into it because they knew Deeb had no shot although the fans did react a bit more near the end of the match. It was a needed win for Baker after losing at All In to Mercedes Mone.
After the match, Deeb attacked Baker, so Queen Aminata made the save. Deeb left the ring at that point.
Hook was interviewed by Renee Paquette about his dad Taz getting attacked. Hook was angry while saying if you start s**t with his family, he’ll finish it.
Christian Cage did a quick promo about how he’s the future AEW World Champion since he had the contract to earn a title shot.
Mariah May, the AEW World Champion, was interviewed backstage and was interrupted by Willow Nightingale. They argued until it was broken up with Christopher Daniels telling Willow to stop.
Private Party – Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen vs. Iron Savages – Bronson & Boulder (w/Jacked Jameson)
It was very short with Private Party on offense with some double team moves, some of which didn’t come close to connecting. Private Party won a short match with Gin & Juice. Whatever. It was just over one minute.
Winners by pinfall: Private Party – Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen
Analysis: 1/2* I barely paid attention to this and it was done quickly. A short match to get Private Party a win to set up the post match angle.
Post match, Isiah Kassidy said that to start the year they said that they would be the AEW Tag Team Champions. Kassidy said he didn’t care about his injuries or Marq Quen coming back from a torn pec injury because he meant what they said about how they would be the AEW Tag Team Champions. Kassidy told the Yong Bucks to come out there right now.
The Young Bucks appeared by the entrance area as the AEW Tag Team Champions. Nicholas Jackson said that you can’t have a Dynamite anniversary without them since they created the company. Matthew Jackson teased having a match right now. Matt said that they have limited dates, so they don’t want to waste it on Pittsburgh. Jack Perry ran into the ring to beat up Private Party with help from the Young Bucks. Katsuyori Shibata ran into the ring, so Perry left with the Young Bucks.
Christopher Daniels, the interim AEW EVP, appeared on the stage saying he had an idea. Daniels booked a match for Rampage: Private Party & Shibata vs. Perry & Young Bucks.
Analysis: I like the idea of Private Party winning the AEW Tag Team Titles by the end of the year. Hopefully it happens because they have been lost in the shuffle for years.
A clip was shown of Swerve Strickland signing a match contract with his own blood back when they were feuding for the AEW World Title.
MVP was interviewed by Renee Paquette, but the interview was interrupted by Prince Nana. It led to Nana saying he used to be a wrestler, so he wanted to fight MVP. That led to MVP introducing the man in charge of his complaint department…Shelton Benjamin. Shelton drank some of Nana’s coffee, said it was good, and left. Benjamin left with MVP.
Analysis: It’s good to see Shelton Benjamin in AEW. Bobby Lashley is next because he signed with AEW as well, but no sign of him yet.
There was a brief video about the late, great Brodie Lee.
The Bryan Danielson-Kazuchika Okada match was up next.
(Commercial)
There are clips shown of the July 17, 2024 match when MJF beat Will Ospreay in a match that went nearly 60 minutes.
AEW World Championship and AEW Continental Championship: Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada
The unique rules here were that Kazuchika Okada’s AEW Continental Title is on the line for 20 minutes because that’s the time limit for that title. The match was starting at 9:54 p.m. ET and this week’s show will go about 30 minutes past the top of the hour, so they should have plenty of time.
It was a slow pace to start the match with Okada going for a trip and then Bryan tried a submission on the arm, but Okada got out of it. Okada tried a dropkick, Bryan held the ropes and Okada came back with a side headscissors. They each tried moves, but neither man connected and they had a staredown.
(Commercial)
Okada worked over Bryan with forearms to the head. Bryan managed to tackle Okada on the apron and Bryan worked over Okada with forearms. Bryan kicked Okada into the barricade, but Okada got back in the ring quickly and hit a flapjack. Okada continued on offense with a running attack against the turnbuckle. Bryan hit uppercuts, Okada picked him up and Bryan came back with headbutts. Bryan sent Okada into the turnbuckle. Bryan headbutted Okada off the top. Bryan jumped off the top with a headbutt, but Okada avoided it and Bryan hit the mat. Okada pulled back on the right arm, but Bryan got out of it and did an armdrag takedown. Okada came back with a DDT. Okada eye-gouged Bryan a bit since he’s a heel and heels are jerks. Bryan went for a running elbow against the turnbuckle, Okada avoided it and Okada dropkicked Bryan out of the ring. Okada sent Bryan into the barricade two times. Okada broke the referee’s count that probably didn’t exist anyway and then Okada went back out for a boot to the head. Bryan came back with a whip that sent Okada into the barricade. Bryan broke the referee’s count even though the referee wasn’t in the ring (because AEW referees have sucked for five years in terms of not administering rules) and then Bryan sent Okada into the barricade. Back in the ring, Bryan hit Okada with a missile dropkick off the top. Bryan hit a suicide dive onto Okada on the floor. Back in the ring, Bryan hit a missile dropkick again. They each tried rollups for two counts. Bryan and Okada exchanged open hand strikes to the head. Bryan jumped over Okada and then Okada hit a dropkick on a running Bryan. Okada went up top and jumped off the top with an elbow drop so Bryan was clutching his right forearm since Okada did that to Bryan in the past to break the forearm by accident. Okada did a middle finger salute to the fans. Bryan managed to get a hold of Okada leading to a triangle choke and then Bryan turned it into a LeBell Lock submission. Justin Roberts announced 19 minutes had gone by. Bryan used his leg to pull back on Okada’s right arm as well, so Okada used his long legs to get his boot on the bottom rope. Bryan hit a Busaiko Knee that knocked Okada out of the ring.
They were at the 20-minute mark, so Okada’s AEW Continental Championship was safe. That meant only the AEW World Title was on the line.
Bryan did a springboard cannonball on Okada on the floor. Bryan charged at Okada on the floor, Okada caught him and Okada gave Bryan a very safe Tombstone on a chair (sort of). The referee saw it and didn’t DQ Okada for it. They went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
The match continued with both guys down in the ring at around 25 minutes into the match. Excalibur said they had taken their final break of the evening. Okada charged, Bryan avoided that and Bryan chopped Okada. Bryan hit a running dropkick. Bryan hit a German Suplex, which was no sold by Okada, who hit a dropkick. Bryan hit a roundhouse kick to the head. Okada with another dropkick. Bryan kicked Okada in the right arm a few times. Bryan stomped Okada’s head repeatedly. Bryan charged, Okada avoided it and Okada hit the short arm clothesline called the Rainmaker, but Okada was too hurt to make a cover. Good flip bump by Bryan there. Okada and Bryan exchanged strikes from their knees. They got back up to their feet as Okada connected with a stiff forearm to the jaw. Bryan fought back with a rolling elbow strike, Okada with a high boot and German Suplex, but Bryan rolled through. Bryan went for a running attack and Okada came back with his own Busaiko Knee for two. Bryan avoided a Rainmaker from Okada and Bryan hit a Rainmaker for two. Bryan worked over Okada with elbows, but Okada got back up and slammed Bryan down so it was like a neckbreaker. Claudio Castagnoli appeared in the crowd in a white shirt while Pac was also there in his wrestling gear. Okada went for a clothesline again, but Bryan avoided it and Bryan did a backslide pin to hold Okada down for a three count. The match went 32 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Bryan Danielson
Analysis: ****1/4 This was an excellent match as usual from two of the best wrestlers from this era or any era. The first 20 minutes were okay, but it also made me not care about it as much since we knew the fall wasn’t going to happen in that period. Bryan winning with a backslide pin wasn’t what I expected although it gives Okada a bit of an out by saying he was distracted by Claudio and Pac appearing in the crowd. Bryan continues to put on outstanding matches as he winds down his career as an active wrestler. Okada hasn’t had an interesting feud in AEW for a very long time, so hopefully there will be something for him soon.
After the match, Okada decked Danielson with a Rainmaker clothesline. Okada did a middle finger salute at Claudio and Pac. Okada left. Claudio Castagnoli and Pac went into the ring to hold Danielson on his knees. Jon Moxley arrived with Marina Shafir.
Jon Moxley said that none of this is about him. Moxley said he’s fighting for something much bigger than himself. Moxley said nobody else can do this. Moxley claimed if this was about him then he would have put Danielson out of his misery weeks ago. Wheeler Yuta showed up with a hammer in his right hand, so Yuta cleared the ring. Moxley went back into the ring to stare at Yuta. Bryan was back up with a running knee on Moxley. Yuta fought with Bryan, so they cleared the ring. Excalibur said he didn’t think that Claudio hit Yuta once.
Wheeler Yuta did a promo saying he was sick of Claudio and Pac treating him like a child. Yuta said he’s a man who can make decisions and fight his own fights. Yuta said next week on Title Tuesday, if they want to get to Danielson then they have to go through Yuta too. Danielson said next week it’s Danielson & Yuta against Claudio & Pac. Nigel ripped on Bryan for having a huge ego. The match graphic appeared instantaneously so that’s one of the matches for next week. Danielson hugged Yuta while Claudio & Pac looked on from the aisle. That was the end of Dynamite at 10:31 p.m. ET.
Analysis: It set up a tag team match for next week, which is fine. They are certainly making Bryan Danielson wrestle a lot in his final months since he was in action last week, then for over 30 minutes this week and a tag team match next week just days before he defends the AEW World Title against Jon Moxley at WrestleDream. Anyway, they are trying to feature Wheeler Yuta more in this story by teasing the idea that he might align with Claudio, Moxley & Pac while Yuta continues to be loyal to Danielson. It wouldn’t shock me if Yuta turned heel on Bryan during the tag team match next week. It’s a possibility at least.
===
Three Stars of the Show
- Bryan Danielson
- Will Ospreay/Ricochet
- Kazuchika Okada
===
The Scoreboard
This Week: 8 out of 10
Last Week: 8
2024 Average: 7.52
===
Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
There were two matches around the four star and above level, so in terms of in-ring action this show delivered what AEW fans love about the company – the matches. With that said, I didn’t love the Ospreay-Ricochet finish although I get why it was done to set up the triple threat with Takeshita at WrestleDream. They can certainly do Ospreay-Ricochet in singles down the line. The Ospreay-Ricochet match was a lot of fun especially when they stopped doing the gymnastics routine early in the match.
The Bryan Danielson-Kazuchika Okada match was very good, but I also think their other matches were better. The two title stipulation with the 20-minute time limit hurt the match because it basically told the audience that nothing in the first 20 minutes was going to affect the finish. I found it comical when Bryan and Okada were breaking the referee’s count of a countout even though the referee wasn’t counting because of how inept the AEW refereeing is and has been for over five years now. It makes the referees look so stupid while also making the product look unprofessional.
Those two matches stood out and everything else was just okay. I’m glad to see Jay White back in the mix as an opponent for Adam Page. White’s better as a heel, but in that spot it makes sense for him to be against Page. The women’s division stuff isn’t that interesting right now, which is pretty common for AEW most of the time. Anyway, like I said those two matches carried the show. Congratulations to AEW for five years of Dynamite and the new TV deal as well.
===
Thanks for reading. Go Los Angeles Rams. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X: @johnreport