TJR: AEW Fyter Fest Part 2 (Dynamite) 07/08/20 Review
Welcome to the AEW Dynamite review on TJRWrestling for the second part and final part of their Fyter Fest series of shows. This episode was taped last Thursday. Please comment below if you’re reading this and I’ll check back for comments. I love to interact and talk about these shows!
This is episode #41 of AEW Dynamite from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, FL. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport. Here’s my AEW Dynamite TV review archive. Let’s get to it.
There was a quick video about the matches coming up this week, then it was off to Daily’s Place for some fireworks and some shots of wrestlers in the crowd.
The announcers are Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone and Excalibur as usual. The entrances took place for the first match of the night for the AEW Tag Team Titles with Private Party out first joined by Matt Hardy and the champs were next. It’s the second week in a row where Omega and Page are defending the titles.
AEW Tag Team Championships: Kenny Omega and “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Private Party (Marq Quen and Isaiah Kassidy) w/Matt Hardy
Omega shook hands with Quen to start since they are both faces. Quen with a drop toe hold, Omega blocked a standing moonsault by getting his knees up and Page tagged with a forearm that knocked Kassidy off the apron. JR noted Kenny had the most wins in AEW at 25-8 in his career. Page and Omega took turns chopping Quen followed by Page hitting a bridging fallaway slam for two. Omega went for the leg drop to the head, Quen avoided it and Quen hit dropkicks on both opponents. Kassidy got the tag and hit the silly string off his partner into a DDT. Page had Quen in his hands outside the ring and Page gave Quen a Powerbomb onto a bunch of wrestlers in the crowd. Kassidy jumped off the top with a springboard off the middle rope and hit a cannonball onto Page on the floor. It took them three minutes to ignore tag team rules. Kassidy went after Omega, Kenny was ready and hit a Snapdragon Suplex. Page was back in with a boot to the face of Quen, then a corner clothesline, Omega with a splash, Page with an elbow and assisted suplex. Private Party hit a double Spanish Fly on Omega for a two count. That’s the kind of move that could be a believable double team finisher, but it’s only a two count here. Kassidy and Omega exchanged punches, Omega with a chop, then he charged and Kassidy hit a modified backbreaker for a two count. Omega had to fight off both guys because the referee didn’t care about the rules, Kassidy with a step over kick to the face to Omega and Omega hit a rolling senton followed by a monkey flip. Page tagged in with a Powerbomb on Quen onto Kassidy with Page pinning Quen for a two count. Page tossed Kassidy out of the ring, so they were back to a normal tag after ignoring the rules for a few minutes. Quen and Kassidy each hit kicks on Page including Page hitting a jumping kick on Page. Kassidy hit a moonsault onto Omega on the floor since Kenny was over there for some reason. Quen went up top, he jumped off with nothing because Page moved, Kassidy into the ring illegally and Kassidy hit a spinning flatliner onto the ramp. Quen went up top and hit a Shooting Star Press on Page with Omega breaking it up right before the three count. Nice nearfall. Kassidy tagged in to become legal as if that matters in AEW tags. Omega back in with a V-Trigger knee on Kassidy and Page hit a top rope Powerbomb on Quen to block a move. Page and Omega hit the Last Call double team move (clothesline plus knee to the back) for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Kenny Omega and “Hangman” Adam Page
Analysis: ***1/4 It was an average AEW tag team match where they had an action-filled match with some cool spots, but as usual, there were moments where they ignored the rules. For 11 minutes of wrestling, they had four guys in the ring for about four minutes of it, so why have rules? Private Party are impressive athletes, but there’s not much psychology in their matches. Let’s see a babyface in peril or something that’s more interesting than just doing spots. They just want to get their spots in, but I’d rather have a match with a story. Omega and Page winning was not a surprise at all because I think this was just a match to get them another win. The team that will beat Omega and Page will probably be FTR or maybe the Young Bucks.
The announcers went over what’s coming up this week with Lance Archer vs. Joey Janela as the next match.
(Commercial)
There was a plug for Cody as a guest on the Tru TV show Hot Ones.
Joey Janela entered with a 6-7 record. I review Dynamite every week and I don’t remember the last time he won on this show, but he does get wins on Dark over non-contracted talent. Lance Archer carried Sonny Kiss with him and threw him onto Janela sin Sonny is a tag team partner of Janela. Archer had Jake Roberts with him. It looked like Roberts’ shirt was full of sweat because he was wearing a long sleeve shirt in Florida in July.
Lance Archer (w/Jake Roberts) vs. Joey Janela (w/Sonny Kiss)
Archer attacked Janela and hit him with a hard chop to the chest while they were outside the ring. Janela hit a running dropkick while Archer was on the floor. Janela went up top and hit a cross body block onto Archer. Janela brought out a table from under the ring even though it’s a regular match. The very slow referee count was stopped by Janela going into the ring to break it. Janela went to grab a chair, the referee Paul Turner got it from him and Archer slammed Janela off the top. Archer ran the ropes leading to a shoulder tackle that sent Janela into the ropes. Archer with a running clothesline to the back of Janela. Archer whipped Janela into the turnbuckle to continue the attack. Janela tried coming back with punches, but then Archer stopped him with a palm strike to the face. Archer with forearms to the chest and a punch to the back.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Archer hitting a forearm and then a release suplex. Kiss on the apron, Archer distracted, Janela with a rolling elbow to the face and a clothesline. Janela went for multiple clotheslines, Archer sent him to the apron and Janela ran the ropes. Janela countered a slam with an elbow drop to the chest for a two count. Janela with a running forearm to the face, then a superkick and a rising knee to the face. Roberts on the apron with his bag in hand, Janela went up top and hit a senton bomb. Kiss went up top and hit a 450 Splash because the referee was looking at Roberts and the referee never saw the cheating. Janela covered for a two count. Janela went to the top, Archer grabbed him and gave him a Blackout slam off the apron through the table at ringside. It should be a DQ, but the referee did nothing even though he saw it. Archer put Janela back in the ring for the pinfall win after about ten minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Lance Archer
Analysis: **3/4 This was okay with Archer taking too long to beat up a guy he should have beat in five minutes. I think sometimes this company has a tough time booking shorter matches because they want competitive matches even when the situation calls for a more dominant win. Putting somebody through a table in a regular match is normally a disqualification in any wrestling promotion. If you are going to allow stuff like that then you need to try to explain it and tell the audience. Janela did look decent and put up a fight, but I thought Archer should win in a more dominant fashion.
Darby Allin was shown at some theme park where he jumped back first into a pool of soft cushions. It was a Coffin Drop from about 20 feet high.
Let’s Hear from Brian Cage with Taz
Brian Cage and Taz were interviewed in the ring by Tony Schiavone. Taz said that this will be an iconic moment. Taz said that tonight was the night when Jon Moxley was going to defend the AEW World Title against Brian Cage, but now that is happening next week. Taz had something covered by a black cloth. Taz said what’s in his hands is something he creative decades ago, it’s his full body of work, it was created by his blood, sweat and tears and Taz had the FTW World Championship. Taz said that promotions don’t recognize it, but the wrestling fans recognize it because they know it’s the baddest son of a bitch in wrestling. Taz said that Cage is no longer uncrowned because he is now the FTW Champion. Taz said this is some “renegade shit” and who better than Brian Cage to go into Fight for the Fallen. Taz said Mox is done and who better than the Machine? Cage held up his title.
Analysis: They promoted this as a “major announcement” yet when it was over it didn’t feel like anything close to major. It felt like something to kill a few minutes. I do remember Taz creating the FTW Championship in ECW (I had to look it up and see that it was 1998). It went away for like 20 years and now it’s back, so we’re supposed to think it’s prestigious? Taz did a great promo. I just don’t think it’s a big deal to have the FTW Championship in AEW now. It kind of reminds me of when Ted Dibiase Jr. was given his dad’s Million Dollar Title and it failed miserably. I hope this idea doesn’t fail miserably, but I think the “bringing back a title that’s over 20 years old” thing isn’t a big deal. They can make it a big deal with how they present the FTW Title, but for now, it’s hard for me to be that excited about it.
(Commercial)
The heel team of The Butcher, The Blade, Pentagon and Rey Fenix entered on the same truck that they stole from FTR, or so we are supposed to think. I really miss Pac in AEW since he was going to be teaming with Pentagon and Fenix as part of the Death Triangle group, but Pac has been in England since the pandemic started four months ago.
The FTR team of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler made their entrance for the eight-man tag. They’re teaming up with the Young Bucks, who got some pyro for their entrance along with their “Bucks” money.
FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) and The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. Lucha Brothers (Pentagon and Rey Fenix) and The Butcher & The Blade
Harwood grabbed an armbar on Pentagon, but then Pentagon hit him with a hard slap to the face. Harwood and Pentagon exchanged chops followed by Harwood hitting an elbow to the face followed by a leg drop. Wheeler tagged in knees to the arm, then Harwood stomped on Pentagon’s arm and they showed Tully Blanchard watching in the crowd with Shawn Spears. Pentagon with a hard chop to Harwood, Fenix tagged in and Lucha Bros hit multiple jumping kicks on Harwood. Fenix hit a dropkick off the top on Harwood for a two count. Harwood sent Pentagon into the ropes followed by a clothesline. Harwood launched Pentagon into the air into a powerslam by Wheeler. Matt with a blind tag, Harwood with a running forearm and Blade got the tag. Young Bucks hit a double team neckbreaker/backbreaker and double dropkicks on two heels. Blade with a pump kick, Butcher with a backbreaker and Blade hit a sitout Powerbomb for a two count. Pentagon back in with a springboard cross body on Nick, Pentagon in illegally, Butcher in illegally and a spinning slam for two. Butcher tried a cover, he wasn’t legal, so Pentagon had to go in with a two count. Nick and Fenix did a spot where they held hands, then went up to and Nick hit a hurricanrana off the top for two. Wheeler in with a Dragon Suplex after Nick hit a superplex. That pin attempt was broken up, everybody ran into the ring and then they went to break there.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Blade hitting a knee to the ribs on Wheeler. Matt got the tag, Fenix got the tag for his team and both Lucha Bros were in the ring as Matt hit a clothesline on both guys. Matt with a double boot on Butcher and Blade on the floor. Matt with a neckbreaker on Pentagon and a body slam on Fenix. Matt up top with a cross body block on Butcher and Blade on the floor. Matt back in the ring with an elbow off the top onto Fenix’s chest for a two count. Fenix with a standing side kick to Matt. Harwood tagged in against Blade, who avoided a superkick from Matt and Harwood hit a DDT on Blade. Butcher in illegally, right into double superkicks from Harwood and Matt. Fenix in illegally with a double missile dropkick off the top. Wheeler and Nick hit a Goodnight Express double team move on Fenix. Butcher went after Wheeler on the apron, but Wheeler hit a DDT on Butcher. Harwood held Blade in a piledriver and Nick jumped for a spike piledriver that got two because Pentagon broke up the pin. Harwood tossed Pentagon over the barricade. There were three tags on the babyface team, so Matt and Harwood hit a double superplex, Wheeler with a top rope splash and Nick hit a Senton Bomb for two as Fenix jumped onto Matt and Nick to break up the pin. That was a great nearfall. I really liked that spot. Pentagon faced off with Matt as they exchanged strikes. Fenix saved Pentagon, he kicked Nick off the apron and Pentagon exchanged kicks with Nick. Fenix jumped off Pentagon’s back and gave a Canadian Destroyer on a bunch of wrestlers on the floor! Wow that was crazy. Matt accidentally hit Harwood with a superkick after Pentagon moved. Pentagon and Fenix hit a double team piledriver on Matt for the pinfall win as Pentagon pinned Matt after 17 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Lucha Brothers (Pentagon and Rey Fenix) and The Butcher & The Blade
Analysis: ****1/4 This was an excellent tag team match where they did a nice job of following the rules for the most part because when they did spots with multiple guys it was after multiple tags. There were some cool moments here like when the faces did the double superplex followed by two top rope splashes. I also loved when Fenix hit that Canadian Destroyer onto the other wrestlers outside the ring. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that before and I love seeing a move that makes me say “wow” like that. The story was that there was some miscommunication by the Bucks/FTR and that led to the finish with Pentagon and Fenix taking advantage. There were some spots where there was referee confusion about who was legal, so I think that hurt the match a bit, but guys like Fenix, Nick and the FTR guy were absolutely on fire in terms of coming up with some creative spots in the match. This was one of the best AEW TV matches of the year.
Post match, the winners left together. Meanwhile, FTR and Young Bucks shook hands in the ring even though Matt hit Harwood with an accidental superkick during the match.
(Commercial)
Big Swole was shown arriving with her luggage with Alex Marvez there to say that Big Swole isn’t allowed to be there. Some woman in an AEW t-shirt served Big Swole some papers. Swole said that this is from Britt Baker and said that they could have called her for this with Swole leaving saying that she drove 3.5 hours to be there. Swole left. Tony said that apparently Swole was served a suspension for going after injured Britt Baker.
Nyla Rose vs. Kenzie Paige and Kilynn King
Paige ran right into a clothesline from Rose followed by Rose hitting a body slam and a leg drop. Rose with shoulders to the ribs and she tossed Paige across the ring. King is a taller woman about six feet tall and she hit Rose with forearms, but then Rose slammed King into the turnbuckle. Rose with a German Suplex on Paige and a Sper on King. Rose swung Paige into King and then slammed Paige into King. Rose gave Paige a Powerbomb onto King and Rose pinned both women for the pinfall win after two minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Nyla Rose
Analysis: 1/2* A squash match with Nyla Rose getting an easy win against two women were enhancement talents.
Post match, Nyla Rose stared at AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida at ringside. Rose did a promo saying that actions speak louder than words. Rose said she sees all these great wrestlers with managers, so she’s taken it upon herself to hire a manager. Rose said she’s not ready to tell you who it is. Rose said that some of the people in the back with managers have championships, so her manager will ensure that Rose will once again become the AEW Women’s Champion.
Analysis: I don’t know who the manager will be. My guess is Vickie Guerrero, who is a great heel manager and she’s been at many AEW shows in the past. It could be a good fit.
There was a clip from earlier today where a trainer was working on Colt Cabana’s left side that had purple bruises on it. The trainer said it happened when Cabana was attacked last week. Apparently it was a real bruise, but I have my doubts about some things that get reported. Brodie Lee said with the Dark Order watching Colt’s back, these accidents won’t happen anymore. Lee told Colt to get up and get ready.
The Dark Order entered with Colt Cabana for the tag team match after a break.
(Commercial)
The SCU trio of Frankie Kazarian, Scorpio Sky and Christopher Daniels entered as the faces in the next match. There were five members of the Dark Order, including Evil Uno, standing on the stage to watch the match.
Mr. Brodie Lee, Colt Cabana and Stu Grayson vs. SCU (Frankie Kazarian, Scorpio Sky and Christopher Daniels)
Daniels grounded Grayson with an armbar and then Grayson came back with a running forearm to the chest. Grayson hit a dropkick. Daniels with a backbreaker and Kazarian hit a double stomp on the back. Kazarian sent Grayson to the turnbuckle, Sky with a kick into a German Suplex by Kazarian for a two count. Sky tagged in for a double team chop to the chest. Grayson with a handspring to get out of a move and then a back kick to the face. Sky slapped on a waistlock with Cabana selling the injured left side of his ribs. Cabana ran the ropes, then right into a kick from Sky and Grayson hit a kick to the back of Sky. Kazarian ran the ropes leading to a jump onto two Dark Order guys on the ramp. Lee with a German Suplex on Sky, who was legal for his team and Cabana got a two count.
(Commercial)
The Dark Order side was still control with Lee hitting a sitout slam and Grayson hit a Frog Splash off the top on Sky on a two count. Sky sent Grayson out of the ring and a neckbreaker by Sky on Cabana, who was legal for his team. Lee got the tag against Kazarian, dropkick by Frankie and a DDT off the ropes for one. Kazarian with a leg drop to the back of the head of Grayson. Lee with a kick to the ribs of Kazarian and Daniels hit a missile dropkick to Frankie’s back to land on top of Lee for a two count. Lee with kicks on Kazarian and Daniels. Sky with a dropkick on Lee. Grayson had Sky on the shoulders leading to a neckbreaker. Grayson jumped right into a Cutter by Kazarian. Lee with a sidewalk slam on Kazarian. Daniels sent Lee on the floor and Daniels hit a suicide dive on Lee on the floor. Back in the ring, Daniels with a uranage slam on Grayson. Daniels with the moonsault off the top with Cabana breaking up the pin. Lee was back in the ring with a spinning clothesline on Daniels. Grayson tagged in and Cabana pinned Daniels for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Mr. Brodie Lee, Colt Cabana and Stu Grayson
Analysis: *** I like how this was booked because of the story going into it. That’s what I want in my wrestling matches – a good story. It was another win for Cabana teaming with the Dark Order guys. That was the story once again as Lee took out Daniels and Grayson could have won the match, but it was Lee who made him bring in Cabana to get the pinfall. Good action for the most part. Grayson is really skilled in the ring and of course Lee is a talented big guy. The SCU team has credibility as former Tag Team Champions, but they really haven’t been featured that much of late. This was more about advancing the Cabana story with the Dark Order guys where Colt continues to enjoy the wins.
Next week on Dynamite is the Fight for the Fallen special where they will raise money for COVID-19 relief, which Tony mentioned. Here’s the lineup.
* Cody defends the TNT Championship and we found out later that the opponent is Sonny Kiss.
* Lucha Brother vs. FTR should be an awesome tag team match.
* The Elite’s Kenny Omega and Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt)
* Jon Moxley defends the AEW Championship against Brian Cage
Britt Baker was shown on her wheelchair throne. Big Swole showed up in “disguise” even though her outfit was just a hat and hoodie. Swole threw a piece of paper at Rebel/Reba, who accidentally touched Baker in the face and Baker freaked out as if she had her nose broken.
Analysis: This was silly, but that’s Baker doing her over the top character. When Baker is cleared to return in a month or two, they have this match with Swole that they can do, so credit AEW for building a story while somebody is hurt.
Orange Cassidy made his entrance from wherever, weighing whatever and he’s accompanied by Best Friends duo Trent and Chuck Taylor. Cassidy is 6-5 in AEW with a 3-match winning streak. Cassidy took off his jacket, sunglasses and his white Orange Cassidy shirt while telling his buddies to stay in the back.
The legendary “Le Champion” Chris Jericho was up next as Jericho walked out with his bat named Floyd. Jericho was joined by Inner Circle members Santana and Ortiz, who had orange juice with them. Jake Hager was “suspended” this week for hitting a referee last week, so that’s why he wasn’t there.
Chris Jericho (w/Santana and Ortiz) vs. Orange Cassidy
Cassidy had his hands in his pockets as he dropkicked Jericho out of the ring. Cassidy hit a suicide dive into Jericho on the floor. Cassidy whipped Jericho into the barricade. Back in the ring, Cassidy went off the top with a cross body block. Jericho managed to get a hold of Cassidy and locked in the Liontamer submission, but Cassidy crawled to the ropes to break the hold. Ortiz hit Cassidy in the back with the madball (socks with baseballs in it) while Jericho distracted referee Aubrey Edwards. Jericho with a belly to back suplex. Jericho with a backbreaker followed by hard chops to the chest. Jericho with a hard whip into the turnbuckle two times. It was obvious that Jericho was telling Cassidy something as Cassidy got two cradle rollups for three and then a more creative rollup for two again. Jericho missed a corner attempt, then Cassidy went for a Superman Punch, Jericho moved and Cassidy bumped to the floor. Jericho with a baseball slide dropkick that sent Cassidy into the barricade.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Cassidy punching the ribs, but then Jericho slapped on an abdominal stretch submission. Cassidy got out of it with a hiptoss. Cassidy charged at Jericho, who ducked, Cassidy to the apron and Jericho ran into Cassidy to knock Cassidy into the barricade. Back in the ring, Jericho worked over Cassidy with punches to the head. Cassidy with forearms, then boots to the face and Cassidy with a headscissors takedown from the middle ropes. Cassidy did his comedy low kicks to the shins and then a superkick to the face for a two count. Cassidy went up top, Jericho met him there, Cassidy blocked a superplex attempt and Cassidy hit a splash off the top for a two count. Jericho sent Cassidy to the apron again, Jericho went for the springboard attack, but Cassidy ducked and Jericho bump to the floor. Cassidy followed up with a twisting dive off the middle ropes onto the three guys on the floor. Back in the ring, Cassidy went up top and hit a diving DDT for a two count. It was another great nearfall for Cassidy. There was a charge from Cassidy, Jericho caught him and slapped on the Liontamer submission in the middle of the ring. Cassidy countered into a pin attempt where he sat on top for two. Cassidy with a big punch to the face. When Cassidy was near the ropes, Santana and Ortiz squeezed some orange juice in their container and sprayed it in Cassidy’s face. That led to Best Friends duo of Trent and Chuck Taylor going to ringside to take out Santana and Ortiz. The inept referee was busy looking at the guys on the floor, so Jericho grabbed Floyd the bat and hit Cassidy in the face with it. Jericho hit a Codebreaker that sent Cassidy’s face into the knee and that only got a two count. It used to be Jericho’s finisher, but not anymore. Cassidy ran the ropes, Jericho hit a back elbow. Jericho missed a Lionsault off the middle ropes and Cassidy hit a Michinoku Driver slam for a two count. Cassidy charged in, Jericho with a boot to the gut and Cassidy countered a suplex attempt into a Stunner called Stundog Millionaire. That was really cool. Cassidy hit a Swinging DDT for a two count with referee Aubrey Edwards counting the pin while in the orange juice that was spilled in the ring. Jericho went for a clothesline, Cassidy got out of it, Cassidy was going for a Superman Punch, but Jericho hit a Judas Effect elbow to the face for the pinfall win after 18 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Chris Jericho
Analysis: **** It was a terrific match with Jericho controlling most of the match and Cassidy coming back with a believable comeback where he nearly got the win. Cassidy does a really nice job of selling a beating. It wasn’t a case of Cassidy selling a body part or anything like that, but just general I like the way he worked the match. The second half of the match was amazing while the first half was more of a slower pace building up to the exciting conclusion. While I don’t think this is an all-time great Jericho match like he thought after they taped it, this was still an awesome match and probably the best Orange Cassidy match I have seen too. The best one before this was against Pac and while I enjoyed that a lot, this was better. Jericho winning was what I expected with Cassidy coming close several times. I hope they go back to it down the road with Cassidy finding a way to win in order to get the biggest win of his career.
There wasn’t much time after the match. All they did was show Jericho celebrating the win, they plugged next week’s show and Jericho left the ring. That was it for this week’s Dynamite.
There was also an AEW Puppy Battle Royal that was posted on AEW’s Youtube channel after the show. I’m not going to review it, but here it is.
Three Stars of the Show
- The majority of the guys in that 8-man tag team match. I think Fenix, Pentagon, Nick Jackson and FTR really stood out.
- Chris Jericho
- Orange Cassidy
The Scoreboard
This week: 8.25 (out of 10)
Last week: 7.5
2020 Average: 7.17
Final Thoughts
This was an excellent episode of Dynamite. I liked this show a lot. When looking at my rating, this was the best show since the health crisis started and the second-highest score I have given for a Dynamite episode this year. They had two standout matches with the eight-man tag team match that was pretty wild in all the good ways. Jericho beating Cassidy was an entertaining main event as well with Cassidy putting up a fight before Jericho finished him off. Those two great matches were at four stars out of five in my review and it’s rare to see a TV show have matches of that quality on the show.
I think everything else was pretty solid in terms of matches aside from the squash match. Taz giving Brian Cage the FTW Title is pretty random since it hasn’t been seen in 20 years, but AEW will try to make it matter. They did a nice job of building up a few things for next week too. There wasn’t much talking. It was all about in-ring action and I think they delivered big time.
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John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnreport