The John Report: AEW Dynamite 10/05/22 Review (Dynamite 3-Year Anniversary)
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured MJF back in action against Wheeler Yuta, plus a tag team match with Bryan Danielson & Daniel Garcia facing Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara.
It’s the three-year anniversary of AEW Dynamite. They announced that this week’s episode will run 2 hours, 15 minutes so it will be 15 minutes longer than usual. Rampage will be live on Friday for one hour at 10pm ET in the same building in Washington, DC and then there’s a live one hour Battle of the Belts show at 11pm ET as well. That means there are four hours of live AEW content this week.
UPDATE ON THURSDAY MORNING: Andrade El Idolo confronted Sammy Guevara backstage at Dynamite and they got into a fight with Andrade starting the fight. It started with Andrade claiming that Sammy complained about being hit too hard during a match, Sammy replied that he lied, and they exchanged angry tweets and that’s what led to what happened at Dynamite. Andrade was sent home while Sammy stayed and was in the main event. There is a feeling that Andrade is trying to get fired by AEW to go back to WWE. Keep checking the TJRWrestling News page for more updates on the situation. Thanks to our news team for doing a great job of covering it. My advice for wrestlers is that maybe you should look at Twitter less. You don’t always have to blow things up. You can handle things privately and in a more civil manner.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #157 at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC. Check out the AEW PPV listing archive only on TJRWrestling as well. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means. The commentary team was Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone and William Regal was joining them for the first match.
MJF was up first followed by Wheeler Yuta. They had a short ramp on their way to the ring. This is MJF’s first match since Double or Nothing in May with MJF saying it was 129 days.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Wheeler Yuta
MJF started by doing a Flair strut, then Yuta hit an arm drag and did his own strut. Yuta with a dropkick followed by a lifting slam. MJF avoided a move when Yuta was on the top rope, so MJF sent Yuta into the middle turnbuckle. MJF pulled on the arm of Yuta and sent him into the turnbuckle. Yuta with a jawbreaker, but MJF came back with a backbreaker followed by a spinning slam. They went to a picture-in-picture break. They do show the PIP action here in Canada on TSN, but I don’t write about it.
(Commercial)
They were both down as the show returned. Yuta got an inside cradle for two. MJF sent Yuta to the apron, Yuta went back into the ring and hit three straight German Suplexes. MJF tried to fight it and Yuta hit a fourth German Suplex. Yuta went up top, so MJF rolled to the other corner. Yuta charged, MJF elbowed him in the face and hit a double stomp to the left arm. Yuta went for a hurricanrana type move, but MJF countered with a Powerbomb onto the knee like a backbreaker. Ouch. The fans were chanting for both guys. MJF with slaps, then Yuta slapped back and MJF did a thumb to the eye. Yuta did an enziguri kick to the head. They went into a sequence where they were each going for pinfalls and kept kicking out of it. It was more than ten times total. They fought over a Tombstone, then Yuta slipped out of it and there were more pin attempts by both guys. When they got back up, they hit a double clothesline leading to both guys laying on the mat selling. The fans gave them a huge ovation with “AEW” chants. MJF charged, Yuta avoided him and Yuta punched MJF to knock him down. Yuta went up top, but MJF went to the ropes to trip him up. MJF was on the turnbuckle, he teased a Tombstone, Yuta broke free, then Yuta did an eye gouge and Yuta hit a hurricanrana off the top rope. MJF bumped to the floor, so Yuta hit a suicide dive into the barricade at ringside. Yuta sent MJF back into the ring, Yuta up top, MJ rolled away and did a middle finger salute. Yuta jumped across the ring with a Superfly Splash for a two count. The fans chanted “this is awesome” for them. Yuta elbowed MJF in the head repeatedly, MJF got out of a submission attempt and MJF applied the Salt of the Earth armbar on the left arm. Yuta tried to get his boot on the rope, but MJF spun around with the armbar pulling on the arm. Yuta tapped out to give MJF the win. It went about 15 minutes.
Winner by submission: Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Analysis: **** That was a great match with some technically sound mat wrestling between two guys that know eachother well. They had awesome chemistry together, which isn’t a surprise because they came up in the wrestling business at the same time. MJF showed no signs of rust for a guy that wasn’t wrestling for nearly five months. Yuta proved to be very capable again with several nearfalls throughout the match. It makes sense for MJF to win since he’s going to get an AEW World Title shot whenever they use the casino chip that he’s holding.
Post match, Yuta wanted a handshake while pointing out the crowd was cheering them. MJF nearly shook his hand, but Lee Moriarty of The Firm attacked Yuta from behind. MJF told Moriarty he didn’t tell him to do that. Stokely Hathaway showed up to give MJF the Dynamite Diamond Ring. William Regal arrived with the brass knuckles and got into the ring with MJF while Yuta went to the floor. The fans chanted “you f**ked up” at MJF, who decided to walk away and left to the back.
Analysis: That was interesting with MJF being conflicted about shaking hands and then getting mad at Moriarty for the attack. It shows that MJF respects Yuta as a wrestler even though they were very heated with their words over the last two weeks. Nice spot to have Regal threaten MJF to save Yuta.
There was a video package about the main event with Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara facing Bryan Danielson & Daniel Garcia.
They showed the Jericho Appreciation Society group backstage with Tony Schiavone interviewing them. There were brief comments from some of the guys about Daniel Garcia teaming against them. Chris Jericho talked about how he taught Daniel Garcia how to be a successful sports entertainer. Sammy Guevara said if you don’t make the right decision, they will end you. Jericho said that he’s going to beat Danielson next week on Dynamite in Toronto and still be The Ocho.
Darby Allin vs. Jay Lethal
They had no allies at ringside. They did some mat wrestling to start as they exchanged headlocks along with armbars. Lethal sent Allin to the floor, Allin was back in and Allin hit a springboard armdrag. Allin with a leg trip, but Lethal was quick on his feet. Lethal didn’t want a handshake, so he kicked Allin in the ribs. Lethal with a monkey flip across the ring and Lethal hit a dropkick to the knee. Lethal stomped on the left knee to work on the leg a bit. Allin grabbed a tight headlock, Lethal elbowed the left quad/leg area a bit and Allin hit a reverse DDT for two as they went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Lethal was in control as he continued to work on the left knee of Allin with a dragon screw leg whip. Lethal applied a Figure Four Leglock near the ropes, so he pulled Allin away from the ropes a bit. Allin managed to get to the ropes to break the hold. Lethal went for a move, Allin avoided it and Allin got a Code Red flipping move into a pin for two. Lethal’s buddies Sonjay Dutt & Satnam Singh appeared on the ramp. Allin was distracted by it, Lethal tripped up Allin on the turnbuckle and Lethal told his buddies to go back. Allin came back with a hurricanrana, then they kept rolling through for pin attempts and Allin applied the Last Supper pin attempt for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Darby Allin
Analysis: ***1/2 A competitive match leading to a close win by Allin. A lot of counters throughout the match to show that it could have gone either way. One thing I like about Allin in his matches is that he sells really well, especially when a guy works on his leg a lot as Lethal did in this match. Some guys in AEW don’t sell enough and that hurts their matches. Selling is so important. What makes Allin so good is that he sells very well. Lethal is obviously a talented veteran that a lot of us have watched for a long time.
Post match, Lethal was frustrated about the loss. Allin told Lethal he didn’t need those guys. Allin did a hard shove to Lethal’s chest, then Lethal shook his hand and Lethal was cheered by the fans. Lethal left with Dutt and Singh while Allin celebrated in the ring.
Analysis: It was another heel in Lethal looking like he might become a face soon because of how that ended. I don’t think Letha’s little group is really going to go anywhere, so if Lethal became a face that would be fine.
A video aired about Brian Cage being part of the Embassy group in Ring of Honor. They were managed by Prince Nana. Cage said that this is not a comeback, it’s his arrival and Cage said he’ll become TNT Champion. Nana ended it by saying “we in the money” as a catchphrase.
TNT Championship: Wardlow vs. Brian Cage (Prince Nana)
They are two very muscular guys. Cage opened with punches, but Wardlow came back with more punches along with shoulder tackles. Cage bounced back with a clothesline that did not lead to a knockdown. They exchanged punches again, Wardlow ran the ropes and hit a hurricanrana to a big pop. Cage with a headscissors into the ropes. When Cage tried the swinging kick by the ropes (619), Wardlow caught him and hit a powerslam. Nana was on the apron, the referee was distracted by that, so Cage countered a Wardlow move with an impressive Alabama Slam leading to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Wardlow hitting a German Suplex and a belly-to-belly suplex across the ring. Wardlow went up top, Cage jumped up with a kick and Cage hit a superplex from the middle ropes while Wardlow was standing on the apron. That was an impressive move leading to a two count. Wardlow escaped Cage’s attempt at a move leading to Wardlow hitting a spinebuster for two. Cage hit a move (I missed it) for a two count. Cage did a taunt while doing a move, so Wardlow hit two headbutts along with a wind-up lariat. Wardlow hit a Powerbomb, Wardlow celebrated that and then he hit a second Powerbomb. Wardlow walked around the ring a bit with the fans wanting to see more. Wardlow hit a third Powerbomb, then a roll through into a fourth Powerbomb for the pinfall win after 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Wardlow
Analysis: ***1/4 This was an entertaining match by two muscular guys. They did lots of power moves throughout the match, some good counters as well and then Wardlow was able to dominate for the win. I think at some point somebody is going to fight back against the multiple Powerbombs, but Cage isn’t the right guy to do that since Cage barely gets to be on TV these days. For a random match with no story, it was okay. I just think Wardlow could use a meaningful feud at some point.
The other two members of The Embassy (Gates of Agony’s Kaun and Toa Liona) attacked Wardlow with Cage joining them. Samoa Joe made the save by brawling with the guys in The Embassy group. The Embassy trio were fighting back, so then FTR went out to the ring to make the save. The heels retreated at that point. The fans popped big for the saves by Joe and FTR in that spot.
Analysis: I assume this was done to try to build to FTR having an ROH Tag Team Title match against Kaun & Liona at some point in the future (it’s happening at Battle of the Belts on Friday).
The women’s tag team match was up next.
(Commercial)
There was a promo from Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. saying that Saraya will not be wrestling in AEW. The dentist Baker claimed that the doctors have not medically cleared her. Baker said that means this is her house.
Analysis: Since Baker did that promo I assume it means that Saraya will be cleared because that’s just how pro wrestling works. That’s my way of reminding you that heels lie, my friends. I figure they are building to Saraya vs. Baker at Full Gear next month and Saraya will win her first AEW match there.
Penelope Ford (w/Kip Sabian), Serena Deeb & Jamie Hayter (w/Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. & Rebel) vs. Athena, Willow Nightingale & Toni Storm (w/Saraya)
Hayter was cheered even though she’s a heel, so they should really turn her face. Ford wins the best outfit among the six women in the match. Just saying. Ford started with Athena leading to Ford jumping off the ropes, Athena caught her and Athena hit a powerslam. Ford drove Athena into the heel corner, Deeb tagged in leading to Deeb chants (Deeb is from nearby Virginia) and Deeb hit an uppercut. Athena with a springboard cross body block. Storm tagged in with a dropkick, then a toss across the ring and Storm was punching Deeb in the back. Storm bounced off the ropes with a kick followed by a running back elbow in the corner. The dumbass referee was distracted, so Athena, Willow and Storm all hit running corner attacks. Storm knocked the other heels off the apron, so Deeb did a chop block to take control. That led to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Deeb got a takedown followed by a leg whip on the left leg of Storm, which sent Storm’s leg into the mat. Deeb and Hayter each hit suplexes on Athena/Willow while Deeb wrenched on Storm’s left leg at the same time. Storm kicked Ford away, Deeb back in, Storm broke free from her and Willow tagged in against Hayter. The announcers were overrating the Willow/Hayter match from last week on Rampage. Willow hit a spinebuster on Hayter, Deeb tagged in and choked Willow against the middle rope. Rebel grabbed a crutch at ringside, Saraya grabbed the crutch from her and the heels ran away. Willow got an inside cradle on Deeb for two. Willow ran the ropes leading to the Pounce on Deeb. Ford back in with a spin kick on Willow, Athena with a slam on Ford, Deeb with a Spear on Athena, then the other girls did moves on eachother including Ford hitting a Cutter on Willow for two. Ford went for a move off the ropes, but Willow hit her with a dropkick. Willow hit a Doctor Bomb on Ford for the pinfall win after 13 minutes. I guess the other women were all on the floor selling.
Winners by pinfall: Athena, Willow Nightingale & Toni Storm
Analysis: *** A good tag team match although it was the usual AEW tag team chaos with random people doing moves at different times. I liked when Deeb was working with Storm the most. They got more time than most Dynamite women’s matches, but the show is also longer by 15 minutes this week. Willow getting the win as good for her since she hasn’t really had a lot of wins on TV. Ford usually loses, so of course she was the one that lost.
After the match, Baker got into the ring with Saraya. Baker trash-talked Saraya, so Saraya punched her. Baker and Saraya got into a fight while the other women started fighting as well. Saraya sent Baker out of the ring. Saraya kicked Rebel in the face to knock her out of the ring. Saraya said “this is my house” as usual to end it. The announcers said it looked like Saraya may have been cleared.
Analysis: While Saraya didn’t take a bump in the ring, she did exchange punches and it looks likely that she is cleared to wrestle.
Rush was with Jose The Assistant backstage with Private Party standing by as Tony Schiavone conducted the interview. Jose called for clips to play as we saw Rush getting involved with Hangman Page. Jose and Rush told Private Party to do the right thing or they will take them to court. They mentioned Matt Hardy talking to them, but that heel group owns Private Party in AEW apparently.
Let’s Hear from The Acclaimed – National Scissoring Day
Max Caster and Anthony Bowens aka Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed arrived with Billy Gunn aka Daddy Ass. Caster did a rap. There were giant scissors with shirts that said “Scissor Me, Daddy Ass” as well.
They had a podium in the ring with Bowens welcoming us to National Scissoring Day. Bowens said they were the most popular team in wrestling, the winningest team in AEW history and the best homegrown team in AEW history. Bowens said that the “Scissor Me, Daddy Ass” t-shirt is the number one selling shirt in 2022. Bowens said that most importantly they brought home gold. Bowens said that AEW now stands for Acclaimed Every Wednesday. Bowens said that they celebrate by scissoring while adding that he knows a thing or two about scissoring. I thought it was a clever line by Bowens, who is an openly gay wrestler and the first gay champion in AEW. Bowens said Babe Ruth was the “Sultan of Swat” while adding that Bowens is the “Sultan of Scissor.” Bowens said that scissoring is a handshake, a sign of friendship and a sign of a true team. Bowens said that they know the people want to be represented by a true team, not two people thrown together like Keith Lee and Sneaky Swerve. Bowens ripped on Swerve saying he was wrong while adding that “everyone loves The Acclaimed.” Bowens said that this isn’t Swerve’s house. Gunn said that this is Daddy Ass’ house. Gunn said for everyone in the building and the millions of people at home, it’s National Scissoring Day, said he went to city hall and asked if he could present them with this. Gunn revealed something that was wrapped in gold and The Acclaimed revealed they were big scissors. Bowens ran with the scissors, so Gunn said no running with scissors.
Caster encouraged the fans to do some scissoring with the people they are seated near. The fans were doing it. Caster spoke about how about 40 years ago, greatness was achieved when Washington won the Super Bowl (that’s Super Bowl 17). Caster said he wasn’t born yet, but it means a lot to him because his dad was on his team. Bowens said that he achieved that greatness, and he’s proud of that Super Bowl ring. Caster said that everybody loves The Acclaimed and said that they are going to do the bi-partisan scissor to unite this country. There’s the interruption from Swerve.
Swerve Strickland appeared on the stage with a microphone in hand. Swerve congratulated The Acclaimed for having the number one t-shirt on Shop AEW. Swerve complained about how Billy Gunn is the reason why Swerve and Keith Lee lost the titles. Swerve referenced Gunn being a part of D-Generation X and how kids were suspended in schools for doing moves (crotch chops) just like they will be for this. Swerve challenged Gunn to a match next week on Dynamite in Toronto. Swerve had a rock in his hand saying that rock beats scissors every day.
“Smart” Mark Sterling showed up with a contract saying that paper covers rock. Sterling said that The Acclaimed needed him. Sterling said he wanted them to scissor him. They gave Sterling a body slam and Bowens hit a leg drop near the groin area. Gunn accepted Swerve’s challenge followed by The Acclaimed with Gunn doing the scissor handshake.
Analysis: That was a long segment, but The Acclaimed are so popular with the crowd that they deserve it. The Acclaimed are super over with the crowd, so that’s awesome. I don’t think I’m the kind of guy that will do scissoring in my life, but if the fans like it then that’s cool with me. Pro wrestling is a unique thing where some bizarre stuff can become popular, so if “scissor me, daddy” is what gets over with the crowd then it’s smart to push it all. The bit with the giant scissors was pretty funny too. I like The Acclaimed a lot as a team and I’m happy about their success.
The Dark Order group did a pre-tape promo saying that it was the two-year anniversary of Brodie Lee’s last match, so they will win the Trios Championships against Death Triangle. There were promos from both sides. John Silver did a pretty good Pac impression too.
(Commercial)
Madison Rayne and Skye Blue were interviewed by Tony Schiavone. Anna Jaye and Tay Melo interrupted doing their mean girl routine. Sky challenged them to a match on Rampage. Anna and Tay accepted saying that sports entertainers always beat pro wrestlers.
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Rush (w/Jose The Assistant)
There was no mention of Andrade El Idolo, who got into a fight with Sammy Guevara backstage before the show according to TMZ Sports.
They got into a slugfest right away, Page with chops to the chest and Page went to the apron, so Rush did a pose on the mat. Jose grabbed Page’s leg, so Rush hit a forearm that sent Page off the apron to the floor. Jose was distracting referee Aubrey Edwards, so Rush hit Page with the cable and choked Page with the cable. Rush sent Page into the barricade leading to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Rush with a forearm to the head, then he ran the ropes and Page caught Rush leading to a fallaway slam across the ring. Page sent Rush out of the ring followed by Page hitting a dive onto Rush on the floor. Back in the ring, Page hit the Death Valley Driver for a two count. Rush managed to get some offense going with some strikes. They did this spot in the corner with Rush standing on his shoulders, so Page was able to flip over and get a pin attempt for two. Page to the apron, Jose grabbed the foot again, the referee saw it and did nothing (she should eject the guy from ringside). Page jumped into the ring, but Rush caught him leading to a piledriver. Rush was bleeding from the nose. Rush charged at Page, but Page hit him with a clothesline. Page to the apron, then he jumped into the ring with the Buckshot Lariat for the pinfall win after nine minutes.
Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page
Analysis: *** A solid match to give Page a decisive victory. That makes sense for Page since he’s getting a World Title shot while Rush is just a talented guy for Page to beat. I thought they had good chemistry together.
After the match, Private Party showed up at ringside to slowly get into the ring. The AEW World Champion Jon Moxley arrived at ringside after walking in from the back of the building. Moxley shook his head no while Private Party backed away from the fight.
Moxley got into the ring with Page. They are going to have an AEW World Title match in 13 days in Cincinnati on a Tuesday Dynamite. Moxley said he’s been waiting for this for three years of Dynamite because he knew this was coming. Moxley said it was three years of them circling eachother. Moxley said between the two of them they’ve beaten everybody there is to beat in AEW except eachother. Moxley said that in Cincinnati in the arena he grew up in on October 18th there will be one last man standing in that ring. Moxley said he’s going to break his face and choke him until he turns blue because he’s in the way of Moxley being the one true top guy in AEW, the World Champion and the best in the world. Moxley said he respects Page’s abilities, he respects him as a person, but when the bell rings he doesn’t have respect for anything.
When Moxley was about to leave, Page said if you’ve been waiting for this for so long, where are you going right now? Moxley said that Page is a sweet kid, but like a lot of kids around here, saying “stupid shit” (it was muted) gets you in trouble. Moxley gave him a warning while telling Hangman to watch his mouth. MJF was shown watching with the poker chip in his hand.
.@JonMoxley has been waiting for this moment for three years! It’s #AEWDynamite’s 3-Year Anniversary Show LIVE on @TBSNetwork! pic.twitter.com/5LrT2mmbA9
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) October 6, 2022
Analysis: A terrific promo from Moxley as usual. It’s a fresh matchup between two of AEW’s best guys ever like Moxley said, so that’s the selling point for the title match in 13 days on a Tuesday Dynamite episode. That’s going to be an incredible match.
Willow Nightingale was interviewed by Tony Schiavone. Willow said that at Battle of the Belts, she wanted to challenge for the TBS Championship. Jade Cargill, the TBS Champion, walked into the picture with her friends. Jade said she’s beaten Willow twice and she’ll be number 39. Willow said Jade can’t win forever, so what if Willow wins and it becomes 38-1 with Willow becoming the one.
Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage) vs. Fuego Del Sol
Sol charged, Luchasaurus gave him a Chokeslam. Luchasaurus with a slam off his shoulders called the Cutthroat for the pinfall win after about 30 seconds.
Winner by pinfall: Luchasaurus
Analysis: 1/4* Squash city.
Christian wanted Luchasaurus to do more, so Jungle Boy walked out there with a steel chair. Boy knocked Luchasaurus out of the ring with Christian holding Luchasaurus back.
Jungle Boy told Luchasaurus he was his best friend, but then Luchasaurus chose Christian and Boy said that Luchasaurus broke his heart. Boy said that he’ll break him. Boy told Luchasaurus to pick the time and place. Christian responded saying that if they pick the time and place leading to saying that match won’t happen in front of these losers. Christian said it will be next Wednesday on Dynamite in Christian’s hometown of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. That’s a place I like too.
Analysis: That’s fine as a grudge match. It should be interesting to see how they book it since Luchasaurus has been so dominant as a heel, but I think they are going to want to put over Jungle Boy in that match.
There was a super fast rundown by Excalibur mentioning matches on Rampage and Battle of the Belts. This is on Rampage:
* AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta vs. Rush & Private Party.
* AEW Trios Championships: Death Triangle vs. The Dark Order.
* Anna Jay and Tay Melo vs. Skye Blue and Madison Rayne.
* Tony Nese & Josh Woods with Smart Mark Sterling vs. The Varsity Blonds.
AEW Battle of the Belts IV on Friday after Rampage:
* AEW All-Atlantic Championship: Pac vs. Trent Beretta.
*AEW TBS Championship: Jade Cargill vs. Willow Nightingale.
* ROH Tag Team Championships: FTR vs. The Gates of Agony.
Next week on Dynamite in Toronto:
* Jungle Boy vs. Luchasaurus
* Billy Gunn vs. Swerve Strickland
* ROH World Championship: Chris Jericho vs Bryan Danielson.
The main event tag team match was next.
(Commercial)
The ROH World Champion Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara made their entrance with the fans singing along with “Judas” as usual. It was near 10pm ET, but they are going an extra 15 minutes this week. Ian Riccaboni from ROH joined commentary for the match. ROH Pure Champion Daniel Garcia was next joined by Bryan Danielson.
Bryan Danielson & Daniel Garcia vs. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara
Jericho wanted a handshake, Garcia shook his hand and they locked up with Jericho hitting an armdrag. Garcia tripped up Jericho, then sat on his back to prevent Jericho from getting up. Garcia slapped Jericho in the back of the head a bit while sitting on him. They exchanged some chops, Jericho knocked Garcia down and Sammy tagged in. Garcia hit a dropkick to the left knee. Bryan tagged in with a running kick on Jericho on the apron to knock Chris down. Bryan with an uppercut shot followed by kicks to the body, then Bryan did a backflip and hit a suicide dive on Jericho, who was just standing on the floor. Bryan with a forearm to stop a Sammy dive. They went to a picture-in-picture break as Bryan hit a missile dropkick.
(Commercial)
Bryan was in control of Sammy with a suplex. Bryan went to the turnbuckle, Jericho held his leg and Sammy hit a Spanish Fly slam off the top rope for a two count. That was a rough landing for Bryan landing hard on his left arm, but I think he was okay. Jericho and Sammy did a double team shoulder block followed by a cheesy pose. Excalibur kept on thanking TBS for letting them go past two hours. Bryan and Sammy ran the ropes leading to a running cross body block. Garcia and Jericho got tags at the same time leading to a staredown between them. Sammy jumped off the top rope, but Garcia was ready for him with a punch. Jericho and Garcia got into a hockey fight as they exchanged punches followed by Garcia stomping on Jericho against the turnbuckle. Garcia with a hard slap leading to a belly to back suplex. Garcia with a running PK kick. Jericho was back up going for the Walls of Jericho, but Garcia countered it into a Dragon Tamer that’s like a Sharpshooter, but not exactly the same form. Sammy broke that up with a superkick on Garcia. Sammy hit a dive over the top onto Bryan on the floor. The fans were chanting “you still suck” on Sammy. Jericho worked over Garcia with chops, Jericho went for a Lionsault, but Garcia got the knees up. Sammy tagged in, Garcia got him in an armbar. Jericho into the ring, Bryan took him down with a LeBell Lock, but then the heels managed to get out of it. Bryan and Garcia each did elbow smashes on their opponents. Bryan and Garcia went for a suplex on Sammy off the top, but Sammy landed on his feet. Sammy with a standing Spanish Fly on Bryan, then a lifting slam leading to a kick to Garcia’s back. Sammy went for the GTH knee, Garcia blocked it, Garcia with a hard slap to the face and Garcia hit a piledriver. Garcia was looking at Jericho, then Garcia put his feet by the ropes for the pin to make it too obvious that Jericho would break up the pin, which Chris did. Bryan hit a knee on Jericho n the floor. Sammy and Garcia exchanged moves in the ring leading to a clothesline and both guys were down. Jericho tried to put Bryan through the table, that was botched and then Jericho gave Bryan a suplex through the table at ringside. Sammy hit the GTH knee on Garcia with no cover attempt for some reason. Sammy went up very slowly, Sammy jumped off the top with a Shooting Star Press, but Garcia got the knees up to block. Garcia applied the Dragon Slayer submission, then Garcia had to lean towards the ropes for yet another obvious spot as Jericho hit Garcia in the head with a title belt. The referee didn’t see it and she apparently can’t hear it. Bryan was still down on the table. Sammy covered Garcia for the pinfall win after 14 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara
Analysis: ***3/4 I thought it was a great match. Lots of action as you would expect. Jericho and Bryan worked well together as usual although the spotlight was really on Garcia in this match because he is in Jericho’s group, but Garcia likes Bryan as his idol, so there’s that issue that was a big part of the match. Sammy hit a lot of big spots throughout while he knows how to get heat. I think Garcia needs to get better at not making spots obvious. When you do a pin cover, stare at the guy that’s breaking up the pin and then put your feet by the ropes, you make the spot look too choreographed. It needs to look better than that. Anyway, I think in terms of the storyline it was the right finish with Jericho doing an illegal move like a belt shot to Garcia leading to Sammy getting the win. It gets Jericho more heat while giving Garcia more sympathy as the face in the story.
Jericho and Sammy celebrated the win while the other members of the Jericho Appreciation Society arrived to join the celebration. Jericho stared at Garcia in the ring while Garcia was holding his head. Jericho left with his group. That was the end of the show at 10:15pm ET as they mentioned before the show that it would be 15 minutes longer this week.
Analysis: The announcers were pushing the story that Jericho is not like a regular Ring of Honor champion since Jericho cheats to win matches. That’s the story that we’re supposed to care about. The reality is that heels have cheated to win pro wrestling matches for decades, but we have to pretend like Jericho is especially bad for doing it. I get that ROH didn’t book those kinds of finishes, but it just seems like a weak story to me. I understand it’s being done to push Jericho as the anti-ROH guy until somebody beats him. Do we really think there’s some huge ROH fanbase out there that is going to be mad that Jericho is tarnishing the legacy of a company that pretty much died, so it was sold? I mean no disrespect to ROH. I just don’t know if the way they are telling the story is that interesting to the average AEW fan. I get that they are trying to raise the profile of ROH by putting their World Title on Jericho, but it feels like ROH is getting too much of the spotlight on Dynamite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWoVQ4JN2T4
Three Stars of the Show
- MJF
- Chris Jericho/Sammy Guevara
- Wheeler Yuta
The Scoreboard
This Week: 8 out of 10
Last Week: 8.5
Final Thoughts
I thought it was a great episode in terms of providing a lot of action in the ring. A wrestling-heavy episode for sure. That’s what a lot of AEW viewers like to see. The main event tag team match with Danielson/Garcia beating Jericho/Guevara was a lot of fun to watch. The opener with MJF beating Wheeler Yuta was the best match on the show in my opinion. I really don’t think any of the matches were that bad with only the Luchasaurus squash win as a short match. Everything else was given time.
That promo by Jon Moxley to build his match against “Hangman” Adam Page in two weeks was very good. Moxley is performing at a high level at all times. The Acclaimed’s “National Scissoring Day” celebration was obviously a bit silly and went long, but as I wrote in the review if the fans love it as much as they do then it’s smart for AEW to embrace it.
It was an enjoyable show overall. I’m looking forward to being at Dynamite and Rampage next week for AEW’s Canada debut. I think we will be a loud crowd.
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Rams, Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnreport