The John Report: AEW Dynamite 11/06/24 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured words from The Hurt Syndicate along with Takeshita & Fletcher teaming up against Ricochet and a partner of his choice.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #266 from the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
It’s Wednesday and you know what that means. Excalibur was on commentary with Tony Schiavone & “Nigel McGuinness.
Let’s Hear from The Hurt Syndicate
The Hurt Syndicate group consisting of Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin and MVP (with a cane) made their entrance wearing suits for an interview in the ring with Tony Schiavone. They wanted to reform The Hurt Business in WWE, that company refused and now they are doing it in AEW.
MVP told Tony to leave, so it wasn’t much of an interview. MVP said that this was an official announcement from The Hurt Syndicate while he said his name is Montel Vontavious Porter aka MVP. He introduces us to the “Standard of Excellence” Shelton Benjamin while talking about Shelton’s resume. MVP put over Shelton as a fierce competitor. MVP introduced Bobby Lashley as having a 19-0 MMA record, he’s a World Champion four times across three different companies – it’s the “Almighty” Bobby Lashley. MVP said their goal was to uplift others in the company. MVP said if you are offered a Hurt Syndicate card, that card can change your life if you accept it and if you reject it, this is what happens. A clip aired of THS beating up Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana last week on Dynamite. MVP claimed that they wanted to help Swerve, but Swerve wanted to make an enemy of them.
Swerve Strickland tried to make his way down to the ring, but he was held back by officials and Prince Nana. Swerve said: “Bobby Lashley…Full Gear.” MVP said they’ll see him there.
Analysis: The Hurt Syndicate (THS) are a good heel stable in a company with other big heel stables. I assume that they will be pushed at a good level since it probably costs a lot of money to bring them in, especially Lashley, so it makes sense to want to feature them a lot. A match between Lashley and Swerve at Full Gear sounds good to me. That should be fun.
A video package aired about the Jon Moxley-Orange Cassidy rivalry that will lead to Moxley defending the AEW World Title against Orange at Full Gear.
Claudio Castagnoli & Pac (w/Wheeler Yuta) vs. Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin
The graphic on the introduction video says “Death Riders” during Claudio and Pac’s entrance, so I guess that’s their name.
Orange and Allin were ready for Claudio and Pac to attack them in the aisle, so Allin jumped off the entrance tunnel onto Claudio. Pac and Orange fought by the ringside while Claudio sent Allin into the barricade. The match finally started when Pac and Orange got into the ring. Orange avoided a charging Pac and Orange hit a running kick to the chest. Orange looked at Yuta on the floor, so Pac hit a rising boot to the head. Pac went for a move off the top, Orange shoved him down and Orange jumped off the top with a diving DDT for two because Claudio made the save. Claudio hit four backbreaker/rib-breaker moves on Orange onto his knee.
(Commercial)
Claudio was in control of Orange as Excalibur referred to them as the Death Riders so it looks like that team name is official. Claudio went for a lift, Orange slipped out of it and Orange sent Claudio into the turnbuckle. Allin hit a dropkick that sent Pac into the corner and when Pac was on the floor. Allin hit a Coffin Drop on a standing Pac on the floor. Allin jumped on Claudio, who caught him, so Allin broke free and Claudio gave Allin a huge back body drop for two. Claudio caught a leaping Allin and hit a backbreaker. Pac hit a bridging German Suplex on Allin for two. Claudio and Pac took turns hitting running uppercuts on Orange followed by Pac hitting a brainbuster for two. Pac hit a brainbuster off the top rope for two because Orange slipped by Claudio to make the save. Orange gave Claudio a back body drop over the top to the floor. Allin broke free to bring in Orange, who sent Pac into the top turnbuckle repeatedly. Orange hit a cross body block onto Pac. Claudio caught Orange, who came back with a Stundog Millionaire and Allin hit Code Red on Claudio. Orange hit a suicide dive on Pac and a suicide dive on Claudio too. Allin hit a suicide dive on Pac as well. Orange hit an impressive Tornado DDT on Pac, who sold it well. Yuta went into the ring, Orange avoided him and hit an Orange Punch. Orange hit an Orange Punch on Claudio, who was on the apron. Marina Shafir went into the ring and kicked referee Bryce Remsburg out of the ring. I guess that’s the end of the match after 13 minutes.
Match Result: No Contest
Analysis: ***1/4 The match was solid, which is not a surprise considering the talent in the ring. At least they treated it more like a traditional tag team match where the tags matter, which is better than most AEW tag team matches. I wasn’t surprised by the non-finish because of the teams involved in the match. It makes sense to not want Allin or Orange to take a pin while Claudio and Pac remain strong in their group.
After the match, Moxley applied a sleeper hold on Orange to try to choke him out. Allin was back in with a chair shot to Moxley’s back. Yuta stomped on Allin, who used his skateboard to hit Pac and Yuta. Claudio charged, so Allin sent him out of the ring. Allin hit a suicide dive on Yuta. Shafir tried to hit Allin with a briefcase, so Claudio was there with an uppercut. Claudio launched Allin face first into the ring post. Moxley and his Death Riders stomped on Orange in the ring. Yuta hit a Busaiko Knee on Orange for the save. The Conglomeration group went out for the save, so Moxley’s group left. The announcers tried to explain that The Conglomeration was preparing for a match, so that’s why it took so long to get out there.
Analysis: During these segments, my question is: “Where are the other babyface wrestlers in this company?” The announcers tried to explain it saying they were preparing for a match, but it was a two-minute beating and nobody gave a shit to try to help these guys. I understand it’s pro wrestling, so you need to have heels that get heat. I just think it could be explained better than what was said on commentary.
(Commercial)
Ricochet was backstage being interviewed by Renee Paquette, who asked about Ricochet’s mystery tag team partner. Ricochet said he’ll keep it a secret for later tonight. The Hurt Syndicate approached Ricochet, who was in a suit just like them. MVP said that they wanted to wish him good luck. That was it.
Fight Without Honor: The Conglomeration – Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii vs. The Learning Tree – Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith
A “Fight Without Honor” is a match where anything goes. Jericho is the ROH World Champion after beating Briscoe thanks to help from Big Bill.
The six guys started brawling to start the match. Keith fought with Ishii on the floor while Kyle wrenched Bill’s knee against the rope. Mark teased a move off the apron through a table on Jericho, but Jericho blocked it. Ishii gave Jericho a belly-to-back suplex through a table that was against the commentary table. Bill kicked Ishii down. Mark did a somersault leap over the turnbuckle onto Bill on the floor. Kyle and Keith fought on the apron, then they each grabbed eachother, which led to a bump through the table on the floor. Bill picked up Mark and gave a Chokeslam into a ladder that was bridged against the barricade. All six guys were down.
(Commercial)
The older guys Jericho and Ishii were in the ring exchanging chops. After knocking Ishii out of the ring, Mark and Jericho exchanged chair shots leading to Mark hitting Jericho in the back. Mark hit Keith with the chair to the back as well. Bill was back in with clotheslines and a kick. Bill hit a spinning Bossman Slam so Bill was standing tall. The Conglomeration took turns striking Bill leading to a high-low combo that saw Ishii clothesline Bill. Kyle hit Bill with a knee smash on the floor. Ishii and Mark took turns hitting Bill, but Keith was back in with some kendo stick shots to the bodies of the faces. They did a Powerbomb and suplex combo out of the corner. Bill was fighting with Kyle in the backstage area. Bill put Kyle on an equipment case and then Bill set up two tables beside it. Bill wanted a Chokeslam through the two tables, but Kyle applied a Guillotine choke, so they both went crashing through the two tables.
It was back to the ring where Jericho tried a chair shot on Mark, but Mark avoided it and Mark hit the Jay Driller. Mark put Jericho on a table, so Mark climbed up a ladder and Mark jumped off the ladder with a Froggy Bow through the table. Mark covered Jericho for just two because Keith made the save. Nice nearfall there. Ishii nailed Keith with a clothesline while in the ring. Mark hit a suicide dive on Keith on the floor. Ishii hit a sliding lariat on Jericho. Ishii hit a brainbuster on Jericho for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Conglomeration – Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii
Analysis: ***1/2 It was a good car wreck match with a lot of weapons used and many tables broken. The ROH World Champion Jericho getting pinned was the obvious outcome to set up a guy on the other team with a title shot. Since Ishii is the one who pinned Jericho, that should lead to Ishii facing Jericho for the ROH World Title. I thought perhaps they broke too many tables by the end of it, but wrestling fans love it, so I understand why it’s done so much.
After the match, the referee Aubrey Edwards told Ishii to grab the ROH World Title and pose with it, which they didn’t even show. Bad directing.
(Commercial)
Jon Moxley was backstage walking with his group. Moxley said that Wheeler Yuta doesn’t owe Orange Cassidy anything. Moxley said that being a nice guy doesn’t buy loyalty because only a cause buys loyalty. Moxley said that Yuta is a soldier under Moxley’s command. Moxley told Allin he was a disappointment. Moxley told people to stop playing at the thing that they want others to think that they take seriously.
Analysis: The story should lead to Wheeler Yuta being a bigger star when he breaks away from Jon Moxley in a few months.
Adam Cole vs. Malakai Black
I don’t remember the last time I reviewed a Malakai Black win in a singles match. I don’t watch the other shows, so it probably happened, but I don’t recall the last time it happened on Dynamite.
Black was in control early on with an armdrag leading to a wristlock. Black kicked Cole on the inside of his right thigh, so Cole regrouped on the floor. Black went after Cole on the floor, Cole was ready for it and Cole sent Black into the barricade. Back in the ring, Cole sent Black into the turnbuckle, Black got a knee lift and then Cole kicked Black while he was on the apron. Black went for a running attack off the apron, but Cole stopped that with a superkick. That led to a break.
(Commercial)
The match continued with the two men exchanging strikes until Cole caught him and hit a neckbreaker onto the knee. Black avoided a Cole move and then Cole hit a Canadian Destroyer, but Black came back with a knee strike for two. Cole kicked Black in the knee and then Black did a leg sweep. Black hit another knee, then Cole hit a superkick with a loud leg slap and Black hit a kick to the head. Cole hit a neckbreaker onto the knee again. Cole charged, but Black hit his roundhouse kick called The End for just a two count because Cole kicked out. Cole kicked Black, then Black hit the turnbuckle after a charge and Cole hit Panama Sunrise. Cole hit two more kicks to the head. Black was sitting in the ring, he said something ot Cole and Cole ran the ropes leading to The Boom knee to the back of the head for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Adam Cole
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a competitive match between two talented guys with a lot of experience. Cole getting the win was the obvious result since he has MJF in his sights and he needs wins to get that match with MJF. The crowd seemed dead for the majority of the match until Cole set up for the finish. Even some of the good nearfalls didn’t get much of a reaction. I don’t blame Cole or Black for it because their effort was there. It’s just that sometimes AEW has these small crowds and they barely make noise.
After the match, Cole talked to Black on the mat. Cole extended his hand, Black got back up and Black put his hand down. Black hugged Cole as a sign of respect.
Analysis: That led people to speculate that maybe Black is done in AEW or something like that, but Black denied that is the case.
Adam Cole did a promo thanking Malakai Black for being one of the best he has ever fought in his 16-year career. The small crowd chanted for Malakai. Cole said that’s two down for him to try to get a match with MJF. Cole mentioned that Roderick Strong has one win and he’ll win his three matches to get MJF as well. Cole said he talked to Tony Khan saying that when Cole gets three wins and when Strong gets three wins, it’s MJF against Cole and Strong in a triple threat match at Full Gear. Cole told MJF that he’ll get the ass kicking of the lifetime courtesy of the Undisputed Kingdom.
Analysis: I am starting to think that Cole’s buddies Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett will turn on Cole and side with MJF. Just a hunch.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman was shown in a room looking angry. MJF called somebody: “I need you to pay someone a visit.” That was it.
It was announced that at Full Gear, Private Party will defend the AEW Tag Team Titles in a four-way match. The three opponents will have to win matches on AEW TV to earn their title shot.
Jay White And Adam Page Get Into A Fight
Jay White was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Jay said that Adam Page said that White doesn’t know what Page can do to him. That led to Page interrupting and fighting with White backstage. They went fighting out into the arena. Page tackled White into the barricade. Page trapped the left ankle between the barricade. Page picked up a chair to use on the ankle, but Juice Robinson ran out for the save. White punched Page and they briefly went into the ring. Page rolled out of the ring, grabbed his injured left leg, and left.
Jay White did a promo saying he’s going to beat Page and dismantle him. White said that Hangman has never been ahead of him and never will be. White told Page that the leg would be his downfall once more. White said maybe he’ll be the first to make Page tap out. Page left.
Analysis: It was a quick segment to continue that story. I think Page will beat White since White got the win at WrestleDream.
(Commercial)
Kris Statlander was interviewed by Renee Paquette backstage about Kris facing Mercedes Mone for the TBS Title at Full Gear. Kris said that Mone can’t change the fact that Kris will be the TBS Champion at Full Gear. Mercedes Mone was in the passenger seat of a car yelling at Kamille for not doing anything right, so the idea was that Kamille ran over Kris. Kris fought back by slamming a door against Kamille’s arm and then Kris slammed Mone on the hood of the car. Security showed up to make Kris back away.
Analysis: I think Mone and Kris will have a good match at Full Gera, but I don’t expect a title change.
Let’s Hear from Christian Cage And Hook
Christian Cage walked out with The Patriarchy’s Nick Wayne, Mother Wayne and Kip Sabian. Cage said that the security at ringside is for Hook’s protection. Cage welcomed Kip to The Patriarchy group. Cage said that Kip was a fatherless loser looking for some guidance. Cage showed a clip of Kip saving him from cashing in his AEW World Title match contract because Claudio and Pac were backstage. Cage said that in that moment, Kip did more for him than any of Cage’s other sons have ever done. Cage hugged Kip while Nick looked confused.
Hook made his entrance while Tony Schiavone overreacted to the signal. Hook said whatever you have to say, make it good and make it fast because Hook doesn’t have patience. Cage told Hook he’s an ass kicker and he’s a problem. Cage told Hook that he needed a son like him so he had to make sure he was disciplined enough. Cage admitted that he couldn’t have another voice in his ear and he admits that he took Taz out. Cage admitted he hit Taz with a lead pipe to the knee. Cage said that Taz saw his, so why did he need security footage. Cage told Hook said that Taz was a big fish in a small pond. Cage said that Taz failed under the pressure in the big time. Cage wanted to know if Hook wanted to be an announcer like his father or a multi-time World Champion like Christian Cage. Cage claimed that nobody cares if Taz is alive while claiming he needed Hook. Cage: “I wish your father was dead.”
Hook ran down to the ring after knocking the security guys down. Hook got a hold of Cage, but the security guys saved Cage. Hook beat up the small security guys while Christian and friends left.
Analysis: I hope this feud with Christian helps Hook more than the Chris Jericho feud because I don’t think Hook is in a better place after the Jericho feud while Jericho is in a better spot. The fans barely reacted to some of the dastardly things that Christian said. I feel like Hook used to get better reactions and now it’s just kind of mild for him.
Don Callis was interviewed by Alex Marvez about Don’s team of Brian Cage & Lance Archer beating everybody. A big man walked into the screen with an envelope for Callis. The man played an audio message from MJF bribing Callis to hype him. Callis put MJF’s Dynamite Diamond Ring on his finger.
Analysis: That means MJF wants Don Callis’ wrestlers to take care of MJF’s issues with Adam Cole and Roderick Strong.
Penelope Ford vs. Jamie Hayter
Ford missed over 700 days and Hayter missed over 450 days and now they have their issues to settle.
Hayter was posing on the turnbuckle, so Ford did a cheap attack. Hayter hit a belly-to-back suplex. Hayter worked over Ford with punches, but Ford hit a pump kick. Ford hit a handspring back elbow followed by a running boot to the head. Hayter charged, Ford kicked her in the leg and Ford hit a running dropkick to the back. Ford went for a moonsault off the top, but Hayter moved and hit a running knee or kick. Hayter hit a brainbuster (a popular move on this show). Ford avoided a lariat and Ford hit a Cutter for two. Ford went for a move, Hayter slipped out of it and Hayter hit a Hayterade lariat for the pinfall win. It went about five minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Jamie Hayter
Analysis: **1/4 A short match to give Hayter a win. Ford got some offense for a few minutes, but she had no shot here. Whenever I see AEW people try to say they have the best women’s division, I think of how they rarely give women more than ten minutes on television and that’s an example of why AEW’s women’s division is disappointing because it could be a lot better.
A brief video aired about how Mina Shirakawa is back next week.
(Commercial)
There was a video about AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada and the upcoming Continental Classic tournament.
Ricochet introduced his mystery tag team partner as a returning Powerhouse Hobbs, who used to be in the Don Callis Family group and was free after Callis didn’t keep him in the group.
Powerhouse Hobbs & Ricochet vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher
The four guys were out of the ring fighting on the floor even though it’s a regular tag team match. The inept referee Paul Turner wasn’t issuing a count because it’s AEW. Hobbs put Ricochet on his shoulders and Ricochet did a standing moonsault onto the two guys on the floor. That’s nice of Takeshita and Kyle to stand there waiting for it. Hobbs gave Kyle a delayed vertical suplex. Hobbs ran over Kyle with a shoulder tackle. Ricochet charged, Kyle sent him to the apron and Kyle hit a draping DDT after a distraction from Takeshita. Kyle and Takeshita hit a double team front suplex along with a double kick to the head.
(Commercial)
Takeshita was in control of Ricochet while Cole was shown watching on a TV backstage. Cole is facing Takeshita next week. Ricochet hit a jumping back elbow to break free. Hobbs tagged in, Kyle was in the ring illegally as well and Hobbs gave legal man Takeshita a powerslam. Hobbs held Takeshita on the middle turnbuckle and hit a powerslam off the ropes for two because Kyle broke up the pin. Hobbs tossed Kyle over the top to the floor. Takeshita was back up with an elbow shot to Hobbs. There was an exchange of forearms while the fans chanted “Meat” for it. Hobbs hit an elbow to the head. Takeshita powered up Hobbs for a German Suplex, but Hobbs was back up with a running clothesline. Ricochet tagged in against Kyle, who hit a boot to the face. Ricochet jumped off the middle rope, Kyle caught him and hit a Powerbomb for two. Kyle and Takeshita hit running kicks on Ricochet. Ricochet countered a Takeshita move with a hurricanrana off the top rope. Ricochet went up top, jumped off with a 450 Splash attempt, but Takeshita avoided it. Takeshita hit a jumping knee to the head. Takeshita tried a suplex, Ricochet landed on his feet and then Kyle was back up for a Doomsday Device clothesline. Takeshita covered Ricochet for two. Takeshita charged, Ricochet avoided it and hit a roundhouse kick to the head. Hobbs ran over Kyle on the floor. Hobbs was back in the ring, he pushed Ricochet out of the ring and Takeshita hit a German Suplex on Hobbs. Ricochet gave Takeshita a hurricanrana into a pin for two. Ricochet went up top and hit a Shooting Star Press for a two count. Ricochet hit a running clothesline called the Spirit Gun for the pinfall win. The match went about 15 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Powerhouse Hobbs & Ricochet
Analysis: ***1/2 It was a pretty good tag team match like the other men’s tag team match on this show. That match saw a champion get pinned and it happened here too, so this should lead to Ricochet challenging Takeshita for the AEW International Title. It was nice to see Hobbs back in action after a long layoff. Fletcher had a good showing too.
After the match, Kyle hit Hobbs with a chair to the back. Kyle also hit Ricochet with a chair to the back. The United Empire music played as Mark Davis went down to the ring. Dave saved Ricochet and Kyle didn’t like that, so Kyle shoved Davis. Davis shoved Kyle down. Lance Archer went into the ring and beat up Davis. Brian Cage was in the ring as well with a clothesline for Davis.
Adam Cole ran down to the ring and got into a fight with Takeshita. They went fighting to the back. Those were a lot of fake looking punches.
Will Ospreay made his return while Kyle wanted to do more damage to Davis. Will got into the ring with a shorter haircut. Will elbowed Cage, Davis kicked Archer and Hobbs hit a spinebuster on Archer. Ricochet hit a jumping knee on Kyle. Will went for the Hidden Blade, but Kyle left the ring. Will and the other babyfaces pointed at the Don Callis Family heels by the entrance. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: There’s the return of Will Ospreay after being out for a few weeks selling the attack from Kyle Fletcher. They are obviously setting up an Ospreay-Fletcher match that will likely be at Full Gear, but it’s not official yet.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Ricochet and Powerhouse Hobbs
- The Conglomeration – Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii
- The Hurt Syndicate
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.25 out of 10
Last Week: 7.25
2024 Average: 7.46
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
It was a pretty good show most of the way. I think AEW is overdoing it with heel groups since the Death Riders (Moxley’s group), Don Callis Family and now The Hurt Syndicate are all over the show with their various issues. There is also Chris Jericho’s Learning Tree group and Christian Cage’s Patriarchy group. I’m not even including The Elite group, which isn’t getting TV time at this point. AEW has always been stable heavy, but perhaps they are overdoing it now.
There were some solid matches although I don’t think any of them stood out that much. Two champions got pinned in tag team matches to set up future title shots, which is the obvious and correct way to book those kinds of matches.
I thought the crowd was noticeably quiet throughout the show. I don’t know if it was because of the content on the show or if it was because of how small the crowd was. I just think of past AEW shows when the hot crowd made shows better, but it’s not really like that now.
The next AEW pay-per-view is Full Gear on November 23rd with this lineup announced so far:
* AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Orange Cassidy
* Swerve Strickland vs. Bobby Lashley
* TBS Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Kris Statlander
* AEW World Tag Team Championships: Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) (c) vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA
* Jay White vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
* Big Boom A.J. (with Big Justice) vs. Q. T. Marshall (PRE-SHOW)
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Thanks for reading. Go 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/X: @johnreport