The John Report: AEW Dynamite 01/27/21 Review
Welcome to the AEW Dynamite review here on TJRWrestling. This is episode #68of 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.
The AEW Dynamite intro video aired. JR started with: “It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means” just like he does every week now. Good stuff. The wrestlers were surrounding the ring as usual at Daily’s Place. It’s Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone and Excalibur on commentary as usual. This show was taped last Thursday, so the wrestlers got about two weeks off. I could use a day off.
Lance Archer vs. Eddie Kingston
I guess Archer is a face now complete with pyro for the entrance. Archer asked Jake Roberts to go to the back for the match. Kingston with a chop and Archer hit a boot into the turnbuckle. Archer with running attacks, Kingston moved after a third attempt and Kingston bit the ear of Archer. Kingston with a thumb to the eye followed by some more choking against the ropes. Archer with punches, Kingston with chops and Kingston with a diving shoulder tackle. Kingston ran the ropes leading to a running shoulder tackle from Archer along with some hard chops to the chest. Archer picked up Kingston and gave him a Chokeslam onto the edge of the ring apron. That looked like a brutal landing, but Kingston was okay. It’s a rough bump because your body is twisting on the landing. Archer whipped Kingston into the barricade with the referee Bryce Remsburg leaving the ring with them instead of counting like a referee should do. Archer with a Full Nelson slam. Archer hit a splash out of the corner, then he tried to cover and then changed his mind by getting back up. Kingston got some offense going with a shot to the knee followed by a running forearm for two. Archer came back with a clothesline. Archer had Kingston up for his finisher, but Kingston slipped out of that and Archer hit a boot to the face. Archer with a uranage style slam. Archer walked the ropes leading to a cross body block off the ropes. Archer used the claw to drive Kingston’s head into the mat. Butcher and Blade were on the stage with Jake Roberts as if they beat him up and then Bunny handed Kingston an object. Kingston with a spinning back fist with the brass knuckles style object on his hand and he pinned Archer to win after nine minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Eddie Kingston
Analysis: **3/4 It was a hard-hitting match as expected from these two guys. They were not shy about delivering some hard chops and other moves throughout the match. I think Archer is a more interesting character as a heel, but he was in a face role here because Kingston is an old school heel. Archer was on offense for most of the match, could have won numerous times and then Kingston beat him with one move thanks to the cheap shot. This feud will likely continue.
Post match, Butcher and Blade hit a Powerbomb/neckbreaker combo. They held up Archer as Kingston hit a spinning back fist to knock down Archer again. Jake Roberts was out on the ramp and nobody was trying to help him. Poor guy.
Jon Moxley did a promo outside somewhere wondering if Kenny Omega, Good Brothers and Young Bucks were all friends, but he wondered if it was going to work. Then he mentioned Death Triangle weren’t his friends because they were friends with Eddie Kingston, now they aren’t friends and now they are his partners at Beach Break. Moxley says he’s a simple guy that likes beer cold, coffee hot, water at room temperature and sex in the morning because it’s good to start the day. Moxley said that he also loves a good six-man tag, so he told Pac and Fenix to get ready. Moxley said he doesn’t know what will happen at Beach Break on February, but it will be wild. Incendiary. Don’t blink.
Analysis: Good promo there. I’m not sure if we needed all the details he provided there, but Moxley is an open guy. Water at room temperature? Gotta have it cold, bro.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Sting and Darby Allin
Sting did a promo towards Taz, Ricky Starks and Bryan Cage about their Street Fight Tag Team match at AEW Revolution on March 7. Sting began by saying his feelings were hurt because Taz called them hoodlums and then admitted that Darby is a hoodlum. Allin said in the streets, it doesn’t matter if you play clean or dirty, it’s all about survival. Allin threw his skateboard through a window. Darby said he is a hoodlum, no different than Sting. That led to Sting smashing some windows with a baseball bat. Sting said that he is a hoodlum too and then they left.
Analysis: A solid promo by the faces. Sting’s first match in over five years. Be careful, pal.
Chris Jericho and MJF entered with the Inner Circle group. There was a song that was a mix of the MJF theme song. Then it broke down into a singalong of the “Judas” song that Jericho uses.
MJF did a promo ripping on Griff Garrison and called him Goldylocks while telling Griff that he embarrassed him the last time he saw him. Griff punched him to start the match.
Chris Jericho and Maxwell Jacob Friedman (w/Wardlow, Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara, Santana and Ortiz) vs. The Varsity Blondes – Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr.
MJF ran away from Garrison, then they went into the ring and Garrison hit a boot to the face to knock MJF down. Pillman tagged in with a neckbreaker on Jericho while Garrison hit a leg drop. Pillman hit an impressive dropkick. Pillman with a running clothesline, MJF with a cheap knee to the back of Pillman and Jericho with a running forearm as MJF tagged back in.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Garrison getting the tag against MJF as Garrison was on fire with clotheslines. Garrison with a back body drop on MJF followed by a discus elbow on Jericho. Garrison with a corner splash on MJF and on MJF/Jericho at the same time. Garrison bounced off the ropes with a double Spear for a two count. Nice hot tag offense by Garrison there. Pillman tagged back in with a missile dropkick. Jericho tagged in and Pillman hit a superkick for two. Jericho with a forearm, then Pillman sent Jericho to the apron and Pillman knocked Jericho off the apron to the floor. Back in the ring, Pillman up top, he went for a springboard attack with nothing and Jericho hit him with Judas Effect elbow. That’s usually the finish, but Jericho hit a perfect looking moonsault for the pinfall win while smiling into the camera. This went about eight minutes. Tony: “How about that one?” That’s because the Lionsault sucked last week. Garrison was pulled off the apron, so he couldn’t make the save.
Winners by pinfall: Chris Jericho and MJF
Analysis: **3/4 The momentum continues for Jericho and MJF after they got the win last week as well. It was a competitive match with the Varsity Blondes coming close to winning a few times, so it’s not like they looked like losers in this match. I like the potential of Pillman and Garrison a lot. They are good athletes. Jericho hitting the Lionsault was done because he took a lot of heat on social media for not doing a good Lionsault last week and since this show was taped the day after last week’s show, it was fresh in his mind.
Post match, the 7-man Inner Circle group did their middle finger salute again with Sammy and MJF arguing as the camera cut away.
Pac did a pre-tape promo talking about Kenny Omega and his friends attacking people from behind like a pack of dirty mongrels. Pac said that next week, he’ll team with Rey Fenix and Jon Moxley against Kenny Omega and the Good Brothers. That’s on the Beach Blast show.
(Commercial)
There was a clip with NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal challenging Cody Rhodes to a match in March.
Let’s Hear from Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes made his entrance along with his coach Arn Anderson with Cody wearing dress clothes since he’s not having a match this week. Tony Schiavone was in the ring for an interview.
Cody said March 7 at Revolution it would be him and Brandi Rhodes against Jade and Shaq, but life happens. Cody said that Brandi is having a baby, so they can’t do that. There was a brief “baby’s daddy” chant, which Cody mentioned. Cody said he is deferring to the coach Arn Anderson, who chewed out Cody for taking Peter Avalon too lightly. Cody said he knows Arn talked to Tony Khan about where Cody fits on Revolution, so Arn took over.
Arn said that he did chew Cody’s ass out because he deserved it. Arn told Cody that the fact of the matter is that you are about to be a dad. Arn said that June 29, 1985, while asking Cody if that date means anything to Cody. Arn said that on that date he saw Cody’s date Dusty fight Tully Blanchard for 30 minutes, jump on a private plane cross country and he got there in time to see the birth of his baby boy Cody Rhodes (Cody was born June 30, 1985). Arn said that if you choose March 7 for this incredible show, then do it with eyes wide open and no regrets. Arn told Cody it is hard to capture the public’s eye to the level that you will with this match. Arn said that for 19 years, Shaquille O’Neal dominated his sport and proved he was a world-class athlete. Arn said that every time Jade Cargill walks into a room, she dominates the entire area. Arn said that he saw something in the last two weeks and he wants Cody to see something while pondering his future.
Red Velvet made her entrance. She is an AEW wrestler that has issues with Jade Cargill. Velvet had intensity in her eyes as she got in the ring with Cody and Arn said she’s got fire like Cody does.
Red Velvet did a promo saying she is fed up, she’s tired of getting attacked, she’s tired of Brandi getting disrespected by the coward (Jade) because Brandi can’t defend herself. Red said that Cody can’t put his hands on Jade, but Red will and she will stir her bitch ass up. Arn said that is what he was talking about. Tony said that the ball is in Shaq and Jade’s court now.
Analysis: I liked the promo from Arn Anderson there. He did a nice job of laying out the scenario and comparing Cody’s present day life with what Dusty went through when Cody was born. Red Velvet’s promo was intense as it should have been. This will likely lead to a tag team match at Revolution that should get AEW some media attention because Shaquille O’Neal in a match is intriguing to some degree since he’s a basketball legend that works for TNT, which is the channel Dynamite is on.
A video aired about the Kip Sabian wedding to Penelope Ford on AEW Dynamite Beach Blast last week. I don’t remember the last time Sabian even wrestled on Dynamite. Miro is the best man along with Charles the butler.
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Ryan Nemeth
Ryan is the brother of WWE’s Dolph Ziggler wrestling in his first AEW match. Page with a shoulder tackle followed by a boot to the face. Page stomped on Nemeth repeatedly leading to a clothesline off the turnbuckle onto Nemeth on the apron. Page hit a cross body block dive over the top onto Nemeth on the floor. Back in the ring, Nemeth got some offense with a dropkick. Matt Hardy showed up in a suit to watch the match while Nemeth slapped on an armbar. Nemeth hit a neckbreaker for a two count as Hardy was seen cheering on Page. Page came back with two clotheslines and a spinebuster. Page with a corner clothesline followed by a sliding clothesline for a two count. Nemeth blocked a move and hit a jumping DDT for a two count. Page kicked Nemeth to break free, Page hit a spinning forearm to the face and a clothesline. Page to the apron leading to the Buckshot Lariat for the pinfall win after about six minutes.
Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page
Analysis: *1/2 An easy win for Page to give him some positive momentum. Nemeth got some offense, but this was mostly a squash match to put over Page. If it was three minutes then that would have been better.
Post match, Page was wondering Matt Hardy was doing out there, so Tony Schiavone went to the ring for an interview. Matt said that he didn’t want to create any kind of scene. Matt said he was there to support Page. Matt said he has been concerned about Page because he seems lost and conflicted. Matt said that he was with Page at Stadium Stampede, he knows how much Page cared about his friends in Young Bucks and Omega, but they burned him. Matt said that Dark Order kept asking them to join him. Matt said that he didn’t want anything, but he wanted Page to know he’s a good person that deserved to be happy. Matt said that Page is dressing by himself in a hallway adjacent to catering while noting he had a huge dressing room, so Page is welcome to dress there. Tony told Page he thinks he should take Matt up on that offer. Page said nothing.
Analysis: Matt Hardy is doing his “Big Money Matt” heel gimmick, so it looks like he is trying to get Page to work with him even though Page is reluctant to work with anybody because he has burned in the past.
(Commercial)
There was a pre-match video talking about how Jungle Boy will face Dax Harwood while Luchasaurus will be handcuffed to Cash Wheeler and Tully Blanchard to prevent interference. Marko Stunt went backstage for the match.
Prior to the match beginning, handcuffs were put on the wrists of Luchasaurus with Tully cuffed to the right wrist while Wheeler was handcuffed to the left wrist. They sat down at ringside.
Jungle Boy (w/Luchasaurus) vs. Dax Harwood (w/Cash Wheeler and Tully Blanchard)
Harwood got a side headlock on Boy, then back up and Harwood hit a shoulder tackle to knock Boy down. Boy got some offense going with a dropkick followed by a submission attempt, but Harwood got to the ropes to regroup. Harwood with a kick to the ribs followed by an uppercut and chops. Jungle Boy came back with chops, but Harwood hit him with a knee to the ribs. Harwood with a shoulder tackle, Boy did a leapfrog and Harwood missed a corner charge when Boy move. Boy kicked the left arm of Harwood leading to an armbar. Harwood with a running uppercut rocked Boy into the ropes, but there was Boy with belly to back suplex followed by a clothesline over the top to the floor. Harwood shoved Boy back first into the barricade.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Boy hitting a jawbreaker on Harwood followed by a forearm shot to the face. When Boy went up top, Harwood chopped him in the back and Harwood hit a belly to back suplex off the top into the center of the ring. Harwood worked over Boy with some kicks to the face, then they exchanged slaps, Boy with an uppercut and Harwood with a punch to the face. Boy landed on his feet to block a suplex and a superkick, but then Harwood hit a clothesline. That was a really good sequence of moves. Boy with a hurricanrana into a two count, but then Harwood came back with a slingshot into a sitout Powerbomb (Ligerbomb) for a two count. The crowd kept on humming the Jungle Boy song and it was annoying, but they kept on doing it. Harwood went for a full nelson, Boy broke free and hit a backstabber. Boy hit two German Suplexes. Boy with a running clothesline, they did a bunch of counters and then Harwood hit a DDT for a two count. That was a great nearfall there. Harwood set up Boy up top, Boy headbutted him down and Boy hit a cross body block with both guys getting two counts. Harwood sat down on top for a two count, Boy countered for a two count and Boy got a crucifix pin for two leading to Harwood also getting a two count. Boy bridged up out of a pin attempt and fans chanted “this is awesome” for them. That’s correct. Harwood and Boy each got two counts. Boy slapped on the Snare Trap submission on Harwood that is like an STF style submission and Harwood tapped out after 15 minutes.
Winner by submission: Jungle Boy
Analysis: **** This was an excellent match. I liked it a lot. They got plenty of time to tell the story with Harwood using his size to his advantage when he could while Boy sold very well and kept on coming back for more. The last few minutes were fun and exciting with Jungle Boy picking up the big win to prove that he could beat Harwood in a fair fight. I thought Harwood could have cheated more other than a few times pulling the tights. That way it would have meant even more for Boy to get the win. Boy was working on the left arm of Harwood for most of the match and then his finisher was a move that saw him pull back on the left arm, so that’s why Harwood was hurting enough to tap out. This isn’t the first time Jungle Boy really impressed me in a long singles match because I remember his PPV match with MJF. This was just another example of how good Jungle Boy can be and he’s a likable too, so it’s fun to watch him in the ring.
Post match, Cash and Tully got the handcuffs taken off. Tully threw powder at Luchasaurus and Wheeler shoved Luchasaurus into the ring post. Harwood hit a slingshot suplex on Boy. FTR held up Luchasaurus and Tully jumped off the ropes for a spike piledriver, but it was more like landing Luchasaurus on his back. FTR handcuffed Luchasaurus to the top rope and cut horns off his mask. FTR was about to cut some of Jungle Boy’s hair, but wrestlers from the back came out to stop it.
Analysis: Good heel attack. FTR rules. This should lead to a meaningful tag team match between these teams in the future as well.
(Commercial)
There was a promo from Team Taz with Taz walking with Ricky Starks, Brian Cage, Powerhouse Hobbs and Hook. They walked over some AEW merchandise guys and Hook tossed a guy down while Hobbs tossed another guy into the barricade. They were mad that there was Darby Allin merchandise. Cage picked up a guy and sent him like a lawn dart into the side of the truck. Starks slammed a guy through a table. Taz said that Starks and Cage will beat Sting and Allin in the Street Fight.
Analysis: The toss into the truck was similar to Kevin Nash doing it to Rey Mysterio on TNT on Nitro about 25 years ago. It wasn’t as impactful as that, but that was the idea.
Dr. Britt Baker (w/Reba) vs. Shanna
Shanna slapped on an armbar, then Baker did an armbar of her own and Shanna did drop toehold to take down Baker. Baker with a forearm to the face, then an armbar and Shanna hit two arm drags followed by a step up enziguri kick to the head. Shanna went for a running dropkick, but Reba pulled Baker out of the way and Baker hit Shanna with a forearm to the back. Baker hit a Slingblade neckbreaker on the floor.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Shanna hitting a running clothesline for a two count. Baker came back with a crucifix pin attempt for a two count followed by a superkick. Baker hit a snap swinging neckbreaker for a two count. That’s a move she could use as a finisher. Baker had Reba put a glove on Britt’s hand, but Shanna fought out of the submission attempt and got a two count. Shanna hit a jumping Stunner to rock Baker a bit followed by a running dropkick against the ropes. Reba on the apron, Shanna was a bit distracted and Baker pulled her down and slapped on the Lockjaw submission with Shanna tapping out to give Baker the win after around eight minutes.
Winner by submission: Britt Baker
Analysis: **1/4 It was a solid wrestling match with the crafty heel Baker winning with her submission. Reba’s distraction of Shanna led to Baker getting the win, so it’s fitting that a heel cheated to win. Since Baker faces Thunder Rosa next week, it makes sense for her to win here to have some momentum going into that match.
Post match, Baker kicked the back of Shanna to send her into the mat. Baker put the Lockjaw submission on again, but then Thunder Rosa went out there for the save. Rosa faces Baker next week.
There was a backstage scene with MJF going up to Sammy Guevara in the bar area. MJF said that he didn’t tell Wardlow to get involved in the match last week. Sammy said that MJF has everybody else fooled, but Sammy sees exactly what he’s up to. MJF wondered if he wants to play it this way and Sammy said he’s not playing. MJF left.
Analysis: This should lead to Sammy eventually being a babyface I think and that should be very good for him.
Next week on AEW Dynamite Beach Break:
* Tag Team Battle Royal for a Title Shot at Revolution – The AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks are in the match and if they win they can choose their opponents at Revolution. I’ll pick Jericho and MJF to win.
* The Wedding of Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford.
* Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa
* Kenny Omega, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows vs. John Moxley, Pac and Rey Fenix
There’s also a Women’s World Title Elimination Tournament coming soon, but no date was announced.
(Commercial)
There was an interview with Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows and The Young Bucks with Dasha conducting the interview. They mentioned they are back together. Young Bucks questioned Don Callis getting involved and then Kenny Omega showed up. Don Callis showed up with tape on his face saying the Young Bucks assaulted him, which led to arguing. That match is next.
The Young Bucks entered for the main event. They are the AEW Tag Team Champions. Their partners are Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson aka The Good Brothers, who are the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions.
The Dark Order guys entered for the main event.
The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Dark Order – John Silver, Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno and Stu Grayson
I guess The Dark Order guys are the faces now. Are they really a main event level act? I don’t really think so, but the bosses really like them. The Young Bucks aren’t really heels, but they act that way sometimes.
Uno worked with Anderson a bit, Silver tagged in and wanted to face off with the big man Gallows because Silver’s gimmick is to act bigger than he really is. Gallows played around with him by going to one knee, so Silver hit him with forearms and Anderson hit a knee to the back. Silver decked Nick off the apron. Matt tagged in going for a superkick, Reynolds tagged in and Reynolds hit a running back elbow along with a dropkick. Nick tagged in for a double team dropkick on Reynolds and then Matt hit a dropkick while Nick did a bulldog at the same time. The Bucks and Brothers team cleared house of their opponents leading to all four guys splashing Reynolds against the ropes and then hitting a double team slam. Reynolds was tripped up by Anderson, then Uno tripped up Matt and Reynolds kicked Matt away. Grayson with a cross body block, then a dropkick and a spin kick on Nick leading to a suplex across the ring. Grayson with a dropkick to Gallows and then a uranage slam on Anderson. Grayson went up top and hit a Frog Splash on Anderson for two even though I don’t think Anderson was legal, but maybe he was. They went to break.
(Commercial)
The show returned with Grayson hitting a backflip on Nick to knock him down. Silver tagged in with two running clotheslines, then a back body drop and Nick sent Silver to the apron. Silver with a rising kick on Nick, cannonball on Anderson, uppercut on Gallows and a running boot on Matt. Silver went after Nick with repeated kicks and a brainbuster on Nick for a two count. That was a great sequence for Silver. Uno tagged in, they did the spot where the referee holds the foot of Nick and Uno hit a neckbreaker. Grayson in illegally along, Matt hit his Northern Lights Suplex and Matt with a double suplex on the other two Dark Order guys, who were in there illegally. That led to the four Dark Order guys hitting this crazy combo of moves with a forearm, Stunner, German Suplex, Uno lifted Matt up and Grayson hit the Fatality double team neckbreaker for the two count as the pin was broken up. The referee lost total control as usual. Nick with superkicks on Uno and Grayson to knock them out of the ring. Nick with a twisting dive onto a bunch of guys on the floor. Nick, Anderson and Gallows each did Powerbombs onto guys on the apron. The four members of the Bullet Club team hit superkicks at the same time for a two count with Uno saving Grayson from the pin. G&A hit the Magic Killer on Uno. Young Bucks hit the Meltzer Driver on Grayson as Matt picked Grayson for the pinfall win after about 12 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson
Analysis: ***1/2 This was a very good and a bit chaotic tag team match with a lot of action from start to finish. A lot of spots where guy were illegally in the ring, but that’s expected in AEW now. People go crazy for the cool moves and that’s fine. I just think you should at least try to follow the rules in a tag team match. You can tell the company is really getting behind Silver now by how much time he spends in the match and the announcers are putting him over a lot. I don’t mind it because he is entertaining. They also didn’t want him getting beat obviously. I think Grayson might be the best in-ring performer in the group, yet he doesn’t get to be in the ring as much. Young Bucks and G&A winning was obvious since the Dark Order guys tend to lose matches like this.
There were a few minutes left as Matt Jackson did a promo about how there’s a battle royal at Beach Blast next week with the winners getting a title shot against The Young Bucks at Revolution. Matt said that if they win then they can hand pick whoever they want to wrestle at Revolution pay-per-view. Matt said it can be anybody while staring at Gallows and Anderson as the four men did the “Too Sweet” hand sign.
Rey Fenix ran out to the ring and hit a missile dropkick on both Young Bucks to knock them out of the ring. Fenix avoided a double team move and then Jon Moxley showed up. Moxley hit a clothesline on Gallows over the top to the floor while Fenix kicked Anderson to the floor. Fenix hit a suicide dive onto the Good Brothers on the floor. Kenny Omega ran out to attack Moxley, but Moxley was ready and dropped him with the Paradigm Shift. Moxley’s music hit as he celebrated with Fenix. They stood tall as they prepared for their main event tag team match next week.
Analysis: A nice way to end the show on a happy note while also getting fans excited about the main event next week. Moxley and Fenix looked great here while there was no sign of Pac. We’ll see Pac with them next week.
Three Stars of the Show
- Jungle Boy
- Dax Harwood
- Young Bucks, Gallows & Anderson
The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.25 out of 10
Last Week: 6.75
2021 Average: 7.25
Final Thoughts
It was a pretty good episode of Dynamite this week. The second half was outstanding with the Jungle Boy match with Dax Harwood as the highlight of the show. They got time and put on a very entertaining match. The main event 8-man tag was typical AEW where they ignore the rules for a lot of it and do a bunch of crazy spots. They also built up to next week’s Beach Blast episode well. The first hour was lacking a bit, but there were some interesting things like Kingston cheating to beat Archer. Some of the matches were shorter and not as interesting, though. I liked it more than last week’s show. Next week should be better too.
The next AEW pay-per-view is Revolution on Sunday, March 7. Here’s what we know so far.
Street Fight: Brian Cage and Ricky Starks (w/Taz) vs. Sting and Darby Allin
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John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnreport