The John Report: AEW Dynamite 11/10/21 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite was the go-home show for Saturday’s Full Gear PPV.
This is AEW Dynamite episode #110 at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
The Dynamite intro video aired. “It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means.” The pyro went off in the building. Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone and Excalibur were on commentary.
Bryan Danielson was up first to a big pop. Rocky Romero was his opponent with a 1-0 record and he had Best Friends with him. Romero trained with Bryan in 2002, so they had a long history together. It was mentioned that Best Friends were invited to the Chaos group in NJPW as invited by Okada. Orange Cassidy stayed at ringside.
Bryan Danielson vs. Rocky Romero (w/Orange Cassidy)
Bryan and Romero shook hands. Each guy did some takedowns early on, Bryan ran the ropes and hit a shoulder tackle. Romero did a cross armbreaker with Bryan getting to the ropes to break the hold. Bryan with a backflip off the ropes, Bryan went for a waistlock and Romero sent Bryan out of the ring. Cassidy had a staredown with Bryan, so Romero hit a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Romero with a knee attack to the left arm. Bryan with chops followed by repeated kicks to the chest. Bryan with a surfboard submission and then Romero got to the ropes to avoid a submission hold. Romero with a back elbow followed by a DDT off the ropes. Matt Hardy was in the crowd where he did a thumbs up to Cassidy at ringside. Bryan and Romero exchanged forearms, Romero with kicks to the body and then a missile dropkick to the head. Romero with a headscissors off the steps. Back in the ring, Romero hit a running Sliced Bread neckbreaker for two. Romero with clotheslines, Bryan with a rolling elbow to the face and a German Suplex got two. Bryan set up Romero on the top rope, Bryan went for a belly to back suplex off the top, but Romero landed on top for two. Romero went for an armbar, Bryan lifted up Romero to get out of it and hit a Powerbomb. Bryan worked over Romero with strikes again, then Romero with an armbar and Bryan went for a leg submission. Bryan applied an Ankle Lock submission and then Romero managed to apply the cross armbreaker, Bryan turned it into a pin for two. Bryan with a roundhouse kick to the face. Bryan blocked a move from Romero and then the repeated stomps to the head. Romero blocked an arm submission, so Bryan hooked the arm and pulled back on the leg in the Tequila Sunrise submission. Romero tapped out to give Bryan the win after ten minutes.
Winner by submission: Bryan Danielson
Analysis: ***1/2 A very good match as usual any time Bryan gets around ten minutes or more. At no point did I think Romero was going to win even though the announcers tried hard to make it seem like a possibility. If they got less time with Bryan getting a more decisive win I think that would be better looking for Bryan, but it’s AEW where they always want to give more time. Anyway, it was fine for a tune-up match for Bryan going into his Full Gear match against Miro on Saturday.
The announcers did a rundown of what’s coming up.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from The Inner Circle…Unless They Get Attacked
Tony Schiavone was in the ring talking about the 5 on 5 tag team match at Full Circle featuring American Top Team against The Inner Circle. That led to the Inner Circle’s Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Santana, Ortiz and TNT Champion Sammy Guevara making their entrance for an interview, but they were attacked by American Top Team.
Dan Lambert, Ethan Page, Scorpio Sky, Junior Dos Santos, and Andrei Arlovski attacked the Inner Circle in the aisle. The five Inner Circle guys were knocked down and Dos Santos punched Sammy in the ribs. Santana was whipped into the steel steps. Jericho was hit by a trash can lid to the back and a kendo stick to the back. Lambert and Sky set up a table in the ring with Jericho in the ring with them. Lambert went to the middle rope with Page and Sky lifting Jericho, so then Lambert gave Jericho a Powerbomb through the table! That wasn’t a great looking move, but it got the job done.
Sky did a JR impression saying he might be broken in half. Sky said that this is a small piece of what they can do. The fans chanted “Asshole” at them. Ethan said not only are they going to win this Saturday at Full Gear, they will make sure that Lambert pins Jericho. Ethan said tonight he’s going to have Lambert make Jericho tap out. Lambert applied the Walls of Jericho to Jericho and Sky tapped out Jericho. Lambert said it’s called the Boston Crab and mentioned Rocky Johnson from 1975 Florida Championship Wrestling. Ethan talked about how dominant they were. That ended it as the heels celebrated.
Analysis: It was an effective angle to get some heat on the heel American Top Team group. I figured The Inner Circle was going to win at Full Gear anyway and based on what happened here, I’m more sure of that prediction. I’m glad that Sky and Page got to talk because they’re the contracted AEW guys in the match, so they need to be focused on more. Anyway, it should be a fun match at Full Gear.
(Commercial)
It was time for the six-woman tag team match with AEW Women’s Champion Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D, Jamie Hayter and Rebel. The babyface team was Anna Jay and Tay Conti of the Dark Order group with Conti facing Baker for the Women’s Title at Full Gear. Thunder Rosa was their partner.
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D., Jamie Hayter & Rebel vs. Tay Conti, Anna Jay & Thunder Rosa
The faces cleared the ring to start the match. Baker faced off with Rosa, who had a rivalry in the past and maybe in the future. Rebel tagged in with Rosa hitting an arm drag, dropkick and a facebuster across the knee. Jay tagged in with a leg lariat followed by a suplex. Hayter illegally grabbed Jay, the referee Paul Turner did nothing about it and even turned his back to it. Turner is usually one of the better of AEW’s bad referees, but even JR criticized that. Anyway, it led to a picture in picture break.
(Commercial)
The heels were in control of Jay, who hit a suplex followed by a neckbreaker on Baker. Conti tagged in, so the heels went one by one into her taking clotheslines, then they all stood against the turnbuckles for three running kicks in a row. Conti hit the Tay-KO knee for two because Baker made the save. Baker with an elbow, a kick and Hayter with a backbreaker. Rosa in illegally, Rebel tagged in and kicked Rosa down. Baker and Jay exchanged kicks and both women went down after that. Rosa hit a cross body block off the top on Hayter on the floor. Conti with a superkick and Conti hit her version of a DDT for the pinfall win after eight minutes. Baker was on the apron and could have made the save, but didn’t even try to do it.
Winner by pinfall: Tay Conti
Analysis: **1/2 It was okay. Some bad refereeing early in the match, then there was chaos in the last two minutes until it settled down. I like that there was a tease of Baker battling Rosa, but they didn’t do a lot together. Good job of putting over Conti while Baker continues to be booked strong since she wasn’t pinned. When they announced the match on Rampage last week, I predicted Rebel would lose. Most of the time when Rebel is in a match, she’s going to take the pin and that’s what happened here.
Baker left with her AEW Women’s Title while Conti shouted at her since they are wrestling at Full Gear. Baker should retain the title.
A video aired about Ruby Soho and Kris Statlander talking about their TBS Championship tournament match. They are both faces that respect eachother, but that doesn’t mean shit (Ruby got to swear in the video) and they are looking forward to their match.
(Commercial)
Jungle Boy made his entrance alone with the fans cheering for him. This Saturday at Full Gear, Jungle Boy is teaming with Luchasaurus & Christian Cage vs. The Young Bucks & Adam Cole in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.
Anthony Bowens entered with Max Caster, who ripped on Jungle Boy stuttering on every promo and mocking him for not working out. Caster said Jungle Boy is a progressive since he leaves his girlfriend alone with seven guys. That was a Dark Order reference since Jungle Boy’s girlfriend is Anna Jay, who is in the Dark Order as well.
Jungle Boy vs. Anthony Bowens (w/Max Caster)
Boy with a boot to the face, a chop to the chest and then Bowens slowed him down with a knee to the ribs. Bowens stomped away on Boy in the corner. Boy did an athletic move off the ropes leading to a dropkick. Boy with chops to the chest. Boy went for a move off the ropes, Bowens caught him and hit a headbutt. Caster grabbed Boy’s foot, the referee never saw it and Bowens delivered a kick followed by a knee to the face. Boy bumped to the floor leading to the picture in picture break.
(Commercial)
Bowens with a whip into the corner, Boy with elbow strikes and Boy bounced off the rope with a clothesline. Bowens with strikes to the head, then a superkick and a lifting slam into a powerslam for a two count. Boy got a rollup for two. Boy went for Snare Trap, Caster on the apron, Boy knocked him down and Boy hit a suicide dive on Caster on the floor. Boy at a kick to the head and Bowens hit a twisting DDT off the ropes for two. Good nearfall. Boy countered a move, then he got a single leg takedown and Boy applied the Snare Trap submission on Bowens, who tried to fight it and then Bowens tapped out. It went about nine minutes.
Winner by submission: Jungle Boy
Analysis: **3/4 It was pretty good. One guy is pushed in Jungle Boy and the other is not in Bowens, so it’s another match where it’s easy to know who will win. Happy for Bowens getting singles matches like that. To their credit, they did a nice job with the nearfall spot after that DDT off the ropes. A decisive win by Jungle Boy here.
After the match, Bobby Fish ran down to the ring and knocked down Boy on the turnbuckle. Fish with a running knee. Fish with knee strikes and then an Exploder Suplex into the ropes. Christian Cage and Luchasaurus ran out for the save. Fish left.
Analysis: Why were they so slow? Must be good catering. That should lead to Fish putting over one of those guys in the ring soon (we found out it would be Jungle Boy).
There was a video with “Hangman” Adam Page talking about how his friends were crowned Tag Team Champions and World Champion. The AEW talking heads spoke about how people waited a long time for this match. Page said that nothing could feel better than winning the AEW World Title. Omega said he doesn’t lose big matches while Hangman always loses big matches.
Analysis: There’s the key point in the story that Omega said at the end there. Omega is great in big matches while Page has not won the big one, so we have to see if Page can do it.
The Young Bucks and Adam Cole were backstage. Cole brought in Bobby Fish, who is a good friend. The Young Bucks said they knew Fish. Matt Jackson said there is “no dispute” that it is The Elite’s era. That’s an “Undisputed Era” reference. Cole mentioned Fish facing Jungle Boy on Rampage this Friday before Full Gear.
A video package aired about CM Punk’s feud with Eddie Kingston featuring their terrific segment on Rampage last Friday. The story is that Eddie felt disrespected by CM Punk earlier in their careers and Eddie is focused on proving himself. Eddie said he’s going to beat him up and wanted Punk to quit again and leave for seven years. That led to a huge brawl. It was awesome.
Wheeler Yuta entered with Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor. Wardlow entered as the opponent. They rarely put Wardlow in matches on this show.
Wardlow vs. Wheeler Yuta
Wardlow no-sold a dropkick and got a hold of Yuta. They did a spot off the ropes, Yuta stumbled and Wardlow hit a spinebuster. Wardlow hit a Powerbomb. Some fans chanted “one more time” for it. Wardlow hit another Powerbomb. The fans chanted “one more time” again and Wardlow hit a third Powerbomb. Wardlow with a fourth Powerbomb led to cheers from the crowd. Wardlow hit the rising knee strike off the ropes for the pinfall win. It went two minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Wardlow
Analysis: * I guess somebody in AEW decided Wardlow needed a win, so he got it. Pretty simple here. It was an ass kicking. Wardlow has a bright future in AEW, but they need to book him more often.
Post match, Isaiah Kassidy and The Butcher attacked the three Best Friends guys. Matt Hardy with a chair to the ribs of Cassidy and Matt hit a Twist of Fate with a chair wrapped around the neck. Hardy’s music played.
Analysis: A lot of AEW matches have post match attacks like that, so that’s another one. Hardy and Cassidy have had issues for several months, so those issues must continue apparently.
(Commercial)
A video was shown of CM Punk and Eddie Kingston arguing in the parking lot. They were separated by wrestlers as well as referees.
Dante Martin & Lio Rush vs. Matt Sydal & Lee Moriarty
Martin and Moriarty did some mat wrestling where they did some pin attempts after doing different moves. It looked like a rehearsal at wrestling school and then they backed away looking ready to fight. Rush slapped Sydal in the face, Sydal with a spin kick to the head and Rush hit an impressive hurricanrana off the middle rope. Rush and Martin were in control as the show went to a picture in picture break.
(Commercial)
Martin did a high-flying sunset flip for two followed by a shotgun dropkick off the middle rope. Moriarty tagged in against Rush with a boot, clothesline and a rising uppercut. Rush with punches and Moriarty countered a Rush move with a sitout slam for two. Sydal and Moriarty were both in for the team, Rush kicked Sydal out of the ring and Rush hit a jumping kick to Moriarty’s head to knock him out of the ring. Rush with a back handspring elbow on both guys. Rush with a suicide dive on Sydal and a suicide dive on Moriarty on the other side. I think every AEW match has a suicide dive or at least it feels like it. The fans chanted “this is awesome” because Rush was on fire as he hit a twisting backbreaker-like move for two. Martin tagged in, he went up top, Sydal in illegally with a hurricanrana on Rush and Moriarty suplexed Martin off the top. Moriarty with a running forearm for two. Sydal back in illegally, Rush also back in illegally with a kick to Sydal’s head and Rush hit a spin kick to the head. Martin with a double jump moonsault press on a standing Moriarty for the pinfall win after ten minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Dante Martin & Lio Rush
Analysis: ***1/2 This was full of action in the ten minutes they were given. Martin continues to amaze at just 20 years of age while Rush looked as sharp as ever and he could thrive in AEW as well. The referee didn’t seem to give a shit that Rush was kicking a guy in the head repeatedly while Martin was the legal guy for the team. It’s something I’ve commented on for two years when it comes to AEW. Just book a tornado tag. I realize some fans (along with certain people that do podcasts covering AEW without ever criticizing anything) don’t care and good for them, but I think pro wrestling is better when the traditional rules are followed. Anyway, Rush and Martin were impressive as a team. I can see them getting a mild push at least. I’ve only seen Moriarty a few times. He’s good too.
Miro did a promo talking about how he has to beat Bryan Danielson at Full Gear to earn an AEW World Title shot. Miro said this isn’t personal. Miro did his usual bit about how God was testing him or messing with him. Miro said he needs to win this tournament and put the World Title over his shoulder. Miro repeated that this isn’t personal and then he said Bryan had to say goodbye to his wife so Miro can say hello to his. Sure? I guess.
(Commercial)
The angry man Dax Harwood entered with Tully Blanchard. Pac was the babyface opponent. Pac and Harwood were equal in terms of looking like grumpy men. They said their allies were banned from ringside except Tully since he’s a manager.
Dax Harwood (w/Tully Blanchard) vs. Pac
FTR is my favorite team in AEW while Pac is one of my favorite singles wrestlers. They both have an old school mentality. Harwood applied an armbar, Pac got out of it and hit two shoulder tackles. Harwood with a hiptoss, Pac with boots up and a body slam. Harwood with boots to the face, armdrag by Harwood, Pac with an armdrag and that led to a staredown. The match before this started in a similar way. Harwood with a clothesline. Pac came back with some chops to the chest to work over Harwood against the turnbuckle. They exchanged strikes, Harwood swore and Pac hit a clothesline over the top to the floor. Pac jumped over the top with a twisting splash onto a standing Harwood on the floor. They went to a picture in picture break.
(Commercial)
Harwood was in control for most of the break. Harwood went to the turnbuckle for some reason, which led to Pac kicking him in the head. It’s not like Harwood would do a move up there, but it was done to set up Pac’s move. Pac jumped off the top with a brainbuster off the top with Pac getting a slow cover for a two count. That looked cool. Pac with a boot to the face, Pac went up top and hit a dropkick to knock Harwood down. Pac took his time going up top again, but Harwood crawled to the other side of the ring. Pac with a forearm, then a pump kick and Harwood avoided a charging Pac, which led to Harwood hitting a brainbuster for two. Harwood went for a suplex, Pac landed on his feet and hit a superkick. Pac went up top, he went for the Black Arrow, but Harwood got up to trip up Pac. Harwood gave Pac a belly to back suplex off the top. Harwood went for a clothesline, Pac ducked and hit a release German Suplex. Harwood came back with a clothesline with Pac doing a flip bump. Harwood with a slingshot off the ropes leading to a sitout Powerbomb for two. Harwood with uppercuts, Pac with a backslide pin attempt for two. Pac with the Brutalizer submission and Harwood tapped quickly.
Winner by submission: Pac
Analysis: ***3/4 This was a great match. Pac getting the win was the right call since he’s the singles wrestler. Harwood tapping out so quickly was his way of saving himself from serious injury so that he’s fresh for Full Gear on Saturday. It makes sense for a smart heel like Harwood. Pac’s offense looks as good as anybody in AEW. These guys were fun to watch against eachother.
Pac held onto the submission, so Cash Wheeler showed up to save Dax and beat on Pac with punches.
The lights went out and when they came back on, Malakai Black & Andrade El Idol were in the ring. Rey Fenix and Penta appeared for the save along with Cody Rhodes. Black and Cody fought in the corner with Cody kicking him out of the ring. The faces all retreated.
Analysis: It’s yet another attack after a match. It’s what they do. I think they’ve done a nice job of mixing stories up a bit and all of these guys interacting in the last month or two. It sets up a tag team match with Cody & Pac vs. Black & Andrade at Full Gear, which was made official later in the show.
This week on AEW Rampage on Friday:
* Jungle Boy vs. Bobby Fish
* Lumberjack Match: Orange Cassidy vs. Matt Hardy
They went over the AEW Full Gear card. It’s at the bottom of this post.
A video aired about MJF and Darby Allin talking about how they are the future of the company. They meet at Full Gear.
There was a new tag team match was added for Full Gear: Andrade El Idolo & Malakai Black vs. Cody Rhodes & Pac. Also, the Buy-In Pre-Show match is Nyla Rose & Jamie Hayter vs. Thunder Rosa & Hikaru Shida.
They showed a video of The Dark Order and The Elite leaving the building so there’s no interference during the contract signing segment.
AEW World Championship Contract Signing
Tony Schiavone was in the ring with a table and two chairs for the contract signing. The popular challenger “Hangman” Adam Page walked down to the ring to a good pop with Excalibur driving home the point that Page was more ready than ever for an opportunity like this. Kenny Omega made his entrance as the AEW World Champion with Kenny wearing a suit. Nobody joined Omega on his way to the ring.
Page signed first while the fans chanted “Cowboy Shit” for him. Page said after all this time, there is not much left to say. Page said that the sooner he signs this, the sooner he can get to Full Gear and beat Kenny’s ass to become the AEW World Champion.
Kenny Omega was about to sign the contract, but he had some second thoughts. Omega said if it wasn’t for Hangman’s insecurities and failures, but then he went off in another direction so I’m not sure what his point was. Omega said that it was always them in The Elite that saved Page in the past. Omega called Page a disappointment.
Page said that Omega once had a tag team partner who felt he didn’t measure up to him either. Page put over Omega’s credentials. Page said that last year at Full Gear, Omega told Page that he was proud of him and Page said that Omega was afraid of Page. Page said Kenny didn’t want Page to become what he has become and become the AEW World Heavyweight Champion. Page said he wanted to be the guy and wanted a handshake. Omega said that they should kill it at the pay-per-view. Omega told Page he was proud of him. Omega went to the apron and then a camera guy hit Page in the head. The camera guy took off his face covering to reveal Don Callis, who is Kenny’s friend and associate. Nice reveal! Page was bleeding from the forehead after getting hit by the camera. Omega put some of Page’s blood on the contract and that was it. Omega shoved Page down again. End show.
Analysis: I liked this. Terrific segment. Page said what he had to do show that he’s confident while Omega was smug and cocky as the heel champion. It was a creative way to book it to get more heat on the heels. The blood at the end was a nice touch since it led to Kenny smearing his name on the contract and putting Page’s blood on it. Callis was banned from being there, so they outsmarted Page by having Callis dress up as a camera guy and it worked perfectly. I think Page will win the AEW World Title at Full Gear. I’ll have more thoughts on that in our preview on TJRWrestling on Friday.
Three Stars of the Show
1. Pac
2. Dax Harwood
3. Bryan Danielson
The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.75 out of 10
Last Week: 7.25
2021 Average: 7.39
Final Thoughts
I thought it was a great show this week. They did a nice job of touching on every match coming up at Full Gear. Some of them got more build than others, but that’s okay. Even a one minute video package can help or two guys being separated in a parking lot. That works because it builds up anticipation for the PPV on Saturday night.
The second hour was stronger than the first. I liked Pac/Harwood the most out of the matches while the Martin/Rush vs. Sydal/Moriarty tag team match was fun to watch even though they ignore tag team rules way too much.
One of the issues I have with these Dynamite shows sometimes is the matches are predictable. You know who is going to win, so it makes it tough to get into the matches even though the work in the ring is good. It’s nice to see cool spots and shout “whoa” for some of the moves, but if one wrestler is pushed heavily while the other is barely on the show, it’s not as interesting. Having some doubt for these TV matches would help. I’m not saying WWE does a great job of booking unpredictable matches either. Both companies could be better at it.
The next AEW pay-per-view is Full Gear on Saturday, November 13. Here’s what we know so far.
AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Finals: Bryan Danielson vs. Miro
CM Punk vs. Eddie Kingston
Falls Count Anywhere Match: The Superkliq (The Young Bucks & Adam Cole) vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy
AEW Tag Team Championships: Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) (c) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
AEW Women’s Championship: Britt Baker (c) vs. Tay Conti
Darby Allin vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Minneapolis Street Fight 5-on-5 Tag Team Match: The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz) vs. American Top Team (Ethan Page, Scorpio Sky, Andrei Arlovski, Junior Dos Santos & Dan Lambert)
Andrade El Idolo & Malakai Black vs. Cody Rhodes & Pac
Buy-In Pre-Show: Nyla Rose & Jamie Hayter vs. Thunder Rosa & Hikaru Shida
For information on how to order AEW Full Gear on Pay-Per-View, visit AEW’s website for more info.
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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: @johnreport