The John Report: AEW Dynamite 11/15/23 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured a chaotic 8-man Street Fight, The Young Bucks in action, words from MJF and plenty more.
It’s the last AEW Dynamite before Full Gear on Saturday. They are also doing a live two-hour Collision and live Rampage on Friday night before Full Gear. That’s a lot of content. Anyway, I don’t think I’m doing a Full Gear preview. However, I will be doing a Full Gear review live on Saturday night on TJRWrestling as usual.
I’m writing this two days late due to being on vacation when aired. I’m doing a condensed format meaning only play-by-play for the main event.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #215 from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. 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 and Taz.
They started with a clip from last week when The Acclaimed were attacked by masked assailants while The Devil mask was shown. Samoa Joe laughed at AEW World Champion MJF about it.
Jon Moxley was making his entrance with Wheeler Yuta. They got attacked by Orange Cassidy and Hook, so those four guys were brawling in the crowd for a couple of minutes before getting back to ringside.
Orange Cassidy & Hook vs. Blackpool Combat Club – Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta
Orange is AEW International Champion while Hook is FTW Champion. Hook hit a German Suplex on Moxley, who no sold it and the BCC guys took over. Orange was on the ground selling a right arm injury. Moxley and Yuta kept on making quick tags with Moxley hitting a suplex into a slam. Orange got back into it with a dive and Hook hit a T-Bone Suplex to Moxley, who sold this one. Moxley and Yuta did an illegal double team clothesline spot because it’s AEW where being legal doesn’t matter.
(Commercial)
Moxley was in control of Orange with a body slam. Yuta and Hook tagged in to exchange forearms leading to Hook hitting a bridging Northern Lights Suplex. These guys didn’t sell German Suplexes much either since they got back up to hit clotheslines. Mox hit a Cutter on Hook even though Yuta was legal. Orange hit an Orange Punch on Moxley, who no sold it and Moxley kicked Orange out of the ring. Moxley hit the Death Rider on Hook and Yuta, who was still legal, got the seatbelt pin on Hook. It went 12 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Blackpool Combat Club – Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta
Analysis: **3/4 That was a decent match. It didn’t feel like a great match at any point. Moxley’s lack of selling at times hurts these matches because it makes the moves of his opponents look weak. It was longer than most Hook matches at least. I assume that Yuta pinning Hook will lead to Yuta challenging Hook for the meaningless FTW Title. The match featured a lot of the usual AEW illegal spots that make their tag team matches look so foolish.
After the match, Jon Moxley said he was going to grind Orange Cassidy to dust and take the International Championship at Full Gear.
(Commercial)
A video showing Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Kota Ibushi and Paul Wight walking in the rain earlier in the day ahead of their match.
Face to Face: “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to host this chat. Tony said that the stipulation is if there’s any physical contact then they are suspended for the rest of the year and the Full Gear match is off.
Page called Swerve a fraud, phony that is a Grade A dumb ass that is dumber today than two years ago when his dumb ass got fired. Page told Swerve he doesn’t have it in him. Page trashed Swerve for his fiancée leaving him and why his kids won’t talk to Swerve. The crowd popped for that. Page said that Nana was just using Swerve to do his shirt and sells his t-shirts while buying weed from a high school kid in the parking lot. Page said he’ll beat Nana’s ass too and steal his weed too. Page said that Swerve isn’t a man at all, he’s a child. Page told Swerve that he should have never, ever come into his house. Page said that they don’t need lawyers or cops because at Full Gear, Hangman is his judge, jury and executioner. Page said he’ll make Swerve spend time at Swerve’s House at the bottom of hell. Page said he was not allowed to fight Swerve, but they said nothing about Nana so Page punched Nana repeatedly. Security broke it up. Page hit a Buckshot Lariat on a security guy to end it.
Analysis: I thought that was great. Hangman delivered a money promo right there and a reminder that he’s a main event talent even though he hasn’t been booked like that most of this year. This is arguably the best built feud going into Full Gear on Saturday. The lines by Page about Swerve’s fiancée leaving him and his kids not talking to Swerve made it feel more personal. That should be a bloody match at Full Gear with the Texas Death Match rules.
Roderick Strong (in the wheelchair) was backstage for an interview with The Kingdom. They called Adam Cole and he appeared on video. Strong said that The Devil is definitely Max (MJF). Cole denied it and said maybe Roddy is The Devil. Strong said that Max is The Devil.
Analysis: I think The Devil is probably going to be Adam Cole, but I don’t know for sure. Cole is out for several months due to the broken ankle, so there’s no rush to reveal it. Just my hunch.
Skye Blue vs. Red Velvet
It’s Blue against Red while I’m wearing a green shirt. Just saying. They did a spot where Red blocked an arm drag and Red hit a standing moonsault. Blue left the ring to regroup, Red took way too long to capitalize and Blue hit a DDT on the apron.
(Commercial)
They did the “let’s do a bunch of nearfalls” spot for two and one counts. It’s a way to wake up a silent crowd. They did “let’s kick eachother in the head” spot where the kicks didn’t come close to connecting, but it’s a way to lay down and sell a bit. I think they messed up the bulldog they tried to do. Blue avoided a spin kick and Blue hit a Full Nelson slam called Sky Fall (thanks Excalibur) for the two count. Red hit a Powerbomb for two. They each got kicks. Blue blocked a kick, Blue hit a knee and Blue botched her Code Blue finisher for the pinfall win after 11 minutes. That was an awkward ending.
Winner by pinfall: Skye Blue
Analysis: **1/4 It was an average match with a poor finish. There were definitely some awkward spots in the match. The crowd was dead for a lot of it. Blue has had a gimmick change where she stares at things and smiles less often, so I guess she is getting a mild push.
The win by Blue means the TBS Championship match at Full Gear is Kris Statlander defending the title against Julia Hart and Sky Blue.
Miro did a promo about his flexible wife CJ Perry wanting gold. Miro issued a warning to Daniel Garcia ahead of their match on Collision.
(Commercial)
Mariah May was with RJ City at the “Not Toni Storm” locker room leading to May meeting Storm, who was on a couch with cucumbers on her eyes. May introduced herself to Storm saying she loved her. May told Storm to let her know if she needs anything.
Analysis: I assume Storm will win the AEW Women’s Title at Full Gear and perhaps May will help her win. Since Storm is one of the few women in AEW with an actual gimmick, it makes sense for her to win.
Samoa Joe vs. Jon Cruz
Joe nailed Cruz with a big boot to the face. Joe hit a jumping spin kick knocking Cruz down. Cruz jumped off the top, Joe moved out of the way and Cruz put his arms out. That was funny. Joe hit a clothesline and the Coquina Clutch finished it after just over more than one minute of action.
Winner by pinfall: Samoa Joe
Analysis: 1/2* A squash match to put Joe over in a dominant way.
Samoa Joe reminded MJF that he has extended his offer of friendship. Joe said that the time is limited because you will find out if you have Joe’s friendship or not. Joe said he is inevitable.
A clip aired from AEW Collision last Saturday hyping up the new AEW Continental Classic tournament with 12 of AEW’s top stars. At AEW World End on December 30th, the Continental Classic winner will be crowned. Bryan Danielson is the first participant in the tournament.
Analysis: It’s a great idea and I’m all for it. I think they need to announce a prize for the winner that leads to a major title shot. They already do the Owen Hart Cup tournament earlier in the year and the winners don’t get anything other than a trophy. You need to reward winners.
The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson vs. Penta El Zero Miedo & Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes)
The Young Bucks were close to home. They aren’t much of a local draw since they drew under 4000 fans for this show while the last time they were it was over 7500 fans. They have a 5-2 tag team record in 2023. This is only their eighth regular tag team match this year in AEW? That’s low. Fenix is hurt, so Komander was filling in as Penta’s partner.
Komander and Nick did some ballet moves to start leading to a dropkick. All four men did kicks to the head followed by kip up’s back to their feet. Penta and Komander got some offense on Matt. Nick did some illegal offense leading to an assisted hurricanrana.
(Commercial)
Komander hit some impressive moves including a step up hurricanrana. Komander did a hurricanrana to Nick onto Matt on the floor. Penta tagged in with a cross body block on the floor, then a Slingblade and a somersault dive. Komander did some illegal offense with a DDT off the shoulders of his partner. Penta hit a Made in Japan on Matt for two because Nick broke up the pin. After Komander missed a flip, Matt hit double Northern Lights Suplexes. Penta hit Nick with a Fear Factor piledriver on the apron while they were not legal. Komander hit a hurricanrana for a two count. Illegal man Komander went into the ring and hit a Destroyer on Nick Jackson, who was also illegal. Penta hit a Death Valley Driver slam on Matt. Nick tagged in after taking a piledriver on the apron and Destroyer looking like was perfectly fine. Nick did low blow kicks to both opponents while the referee was looking at Matt. The fans booed. Nick hit a Judas Effect elbow to Komander. Matt tagged in, Bucks did BTE Trigger on Komander and Matt pinned Komander to win
Winners by pinfall: The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson
Analysis: ***3/4 It was great action and I will praise them for it. With that said, I think it would be a better match if they sold moves better while actually telling a story, but that’s not a Young Bucks match. Nick blatantly cheated behind the inept ref’s back leading to the win. It was a decisive and obvious win for The Young Bucks since they are in a big match at Full Gear while their opponents are not. If you ignore all of the illegal offense then this is fun for you, but it looks silly to me when it happens for several minutes. It was obvious Komander was here to get beat.
(Commercial)
The Young Bucks were interviewed by Lexy Nair, who asked why they cheated in their hometown. Matt Jackson said they didn’t give a damn. Kenny Omega walked in saying keep it clean at Full Gear. Nick said that their heat is with Jericho, not with Omega. Jericho walked in telling Omega not to waste his time with these jackasses. Jericho called the Bucks “kids” and Matt hit Jericho with a double axhandle to the back. Security broke it up.
Analysis: The build has been pretty good for this match. I think Omega & Jericho will win to get the Young Bucks title shot.
The Gunns – Austin & Colten Gunn vs. Two Guys With No Chance
Austin Gunn threw one guy out of the ring. The second guy ate the 310 To Yuma double team move for the pinfall win after 20 seconds.
Winners by pinfall: The Gunns – Austin & Colten Gunn
Analysis: No rating due to squashing.
The Gunns did a quick post match promo about how they are going to take the ROH Tag Team Titles from MJF. Austin did his “Gunns Up” bit to end it.
Wardlow was shown training in an AEW ring. Wardlow said that MJF’s time is running out. Wardlow beat up some guys in the ring. Wardlow said he’s going to make “The Devil my bitch.” A video was shown of The Devil again.
(Commercial)
The entrances took place for the main event. The heel team walked out together with Don Callis. Chris Jericho was wrestling in a suit for this match. Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi were in their wrestling gear. Paul Wight was in a suit as well. This match was sponsored by some SEGA video game. The story is that Cage is on loan from the Mogul Embassy since Sammy Guevara is hurt. In other words, Cage was there to do the job.
Like A Dragon Street Fight: Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Paul Wight vs. Powerhouse Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Brian Cage (w/Don Callis)
Jericho was using his bat as a weapon. Wight was dominant with punches and chops. Wight picked up Fletcher and Chokeslammed him through a table that was beside the stage. Wight and Hobbs walked to the back somewhere. Ibushi and Takeshita battled in the ring with Ibushi delivering hard kicks to the chest. Omega went into the ring for a double team sequence leading to Omega hitting a bulldog. Omega and Ibushi each hit moonsaults off the top onto opponents on the floor. Wight and Hobbs were fighting by a car backstage. Omega used a sign to attack Takeshita while Jericho used a crate. Takeshita stopped Omega from using a barbed wire bat and sent Omega into a sign against the apron. Cage sent Jericho crashing into a table. Ibushi rode a bicycle slowly and did the worst pipe shots ever. That looked awful as Cage hit Ibushi with a clothesline. Hobbs picked up Wight while they were on a pile of wood and Hobbs gave Wight a body slam onto the hood of the car. Ouch. Takeshita used the bicycle as a weapon in the ring. Takeshita gave Ibushi a brainbuster on the bike.
(Commercial)
Takeshita was backstage with Jericho hitting a DDT onto a couch. Wight was down on the cement by the car while Hobbs was trash talking him. Jericho and Takeshita were fighting in the concourse area. Hobbs & Fletcher worked over Omega leading to a double suplex on a plastic palette with Taz saying that it’s made to hold a lot of weight. Omega broke free in the ring leading to a jumping knee and a Snapdragon Suplex. Omega smashed a bottle against Fletcher’s head. Ibushi hit a missile dropkick on Cage. Jericho stopped a charging Takeshita with a fire extinguisher spray into the eyes. Jericho hit a Judas Effect on Takeshita. Hobbs finally got into the ring with a double clothesline on Omega & Ibushi. Hobbs hit a World’s Most Dangerous Slam on Ibushi. Fletcher was bleeding after the bottle spot. Cage hit a suplex that brought Omega from inside the ring and backward onto two tables on the floor. Ouch. That looked rough.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Hobbs missing a splash and Jericho hit a Codebreaker. Cage with a slam on Jericho, Omega took down Jericho and Fletcher hit an overhead suplex on Omega. Fletcher hit Ibushi with a Tombstone Piledriver onto Ibushi through a sign that was on a pile of chairs. Back in the ring, Omega hit a V-Trigger knee on Hobbs and Jericho hit a Judas Effect elbow. Jericho and Omega taped Hobbs to the ropes with duct tape. Jericho put tape on Hobbs’ mouth while Omega put more tape around Hobbs’ head. Cage went back into the ring with a discus lariat and some weird looking slam on Jericho. Omega hit a V-Trigger on Cage, Jericho hit Cage with a bat and Omega hit a reverse hurricanrana on Cage. Omega hit a V-Trigger knee on Cage and a defenseless Hobbs. Omega hit One Winged Angel on Cage for the pinfall win after 21 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Paul Wight
Analysis: ***1/2 A wild match similar to the Anarchy in the Arena matches that AEW likes to do. It just had a different name on this show. It was done to give Omega & Jericho some momentum as a team going into their Full Gear. The heels looked really weak considering Paul Wight was out of the match for 15 minutes of the match, yet the faces were easily able to win what was essentially a 3-on-4 match. Omega and Jerich were the biggest stars of the match. Cage was obviously in the match to take the pin, so that’s what happened.
The Omega & Jericho team celebrated the win. No replays shown of the match even with all the crazy spots.
(Commercial)
There was a rundown of all the content coming on AEW Collision Friday, Rampage on Friday and Full Gear on Saturday.
Let’s Hear from MJF
Maxwell Jacob Friedman made his entrance without his AEW World Title. MJF said sometimes he feels cursed. MJF said he was sorry to The Acclaimed that they got hurt by being in the crossfire that is MJF and he hopes they feel better. MJF said all he ever wanted to be was a World Champion. MJF said he is proud to say he made it to the mountaintop of professional wrestling. MJF said that he sees men climbing the mountain to try to shove him off the top. MJF admitted he was afraid that he could lose everything he had worked for. MJF said he was afraid that he would let the fans down.
MJF said that he was done having his past affect his future and present. MJF said he may be afraid, but you better send a whole damn army to get his ass to come down. There was an “MJF” chant. MJF said that Jay White has been walking around with a title that he hasn’t earned, so now he has a chance to prove it at Full Gear. MJF said he didn’t think White can do it because he doesn’t think anyone can do it. MJF did his “I’m better than you know and you know it.” MJF also had a message for the man that stole The Devil mask. MJF said when he finds out who it is, there will be hell to pay.
Analysis: A strong babyface promo from MJF showing confidence while also admitting he has some fears too. I like MJF more as a heel, but he’s still good as a face too.
Jay White appeared with the AEW World Title that belongs to MJF. White said that MJF is the villain and he always will be. White said that MJF has told us that he is The Devil and nobody is on his level. White told MJF that he is not their hero, he is their scumbag. White said that “they” will drop him. White said that the fans mean nothing to Max. White said that he was speaking the truth right now. White told MJF that his days as AEW World Champion are numbered. White said he was better than MJF. White had two words “get him” and it was Bullet Club Gold’s Juice Robinson & The Gunns attacking MJF in the ring.
MJF tried to fight off Bullet Club Gold, but Juice hit him with the left-handed punch to the face. The Gunns hit the 310 To Yuma on MJF. White hit the Bladerunner neckbreaker on MJF and pinned him as Juice counted the pin. White celebrated with the AEW World Title. Samoa Joe was shown watching on a TV backstage. Taz said that MJF might want to take Joe up on his offer. The show ended there.
Analysis: A good ending to the show with the heels standing tall due to the 4-on-1 attack while poor MJF has no friends and not a single person tried to help him. That’s because Adam Cole is hurt and The Acclaimed were taken out by The Devil, so it has left MJF all alone. It’s a fine story for the most part. I think MJF will beat White at Full Gear.
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Three Stars of the Show
- “Hangman” Adam Page
- The Young Bucks
- Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Paul Wight
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7 out of 10
Last Week: 7.5
2023 Average: 7.33
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Final Thoughts
It was okay for most of the show. I wouldn’t say it was a great show by any means, but it had a couple of very good matches and promos were solid. The Street Fight was goofy at times, so that took away the seriousness of some of the spots, but it was fine overall. The Young Bucks match had an obvious result and a bunch of spots from guys who weren’t legal in the match, so some AEW fans will like that. I think they have built the Full Gear card up fairly well.
I thought the promo from “Hangman” Adam Page toward Swerve Strickland was the best part of the show. That’s a match I’m really looking forward to at Full Gear.
The next AEW pay-per-view is Full Gear from Los Angeles on November 18th. Here’s the lineup so far:
* AEW World Championship: Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) (c) vs. Jay White
* Sting, Darby Allin & Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne
* AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Jon Moxley
* AEW Women’s Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Toni Storm
* Texas Death Match: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland
* The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson vs. The Golden Jets – Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho
* AEW World Tag Team Championships: Ricky Starks and Big Bill (c) vs. La Facción Ingobernable (Rush and Dralístico) (with José the Assistant) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) vs. Kings of The Black Throne (Malakai Black and Brody King)
* TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (c) vs. Julia Hart vs. Skye Blue
* ROH Tag Team Championships: Maxwell Jacob Friedman (c) vs. The Gunns – Colten & Austin Gunn (Pre-Show)
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Thanks for reading. Go Los Angeles Rams, Toronto Raptors & Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X: @johnreport