TJR: AEW Dynamite 07/22/20 Review
Welcome to the AEW Dynamite review on TJRWrestling. The last three weeks were special themed shows with two weeks of Fyter Fest and then Fight for the Fallen. Now it’s back to Dynamite.
This is episode #43 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.
The AEW Dynamite introduction video aired to start the show. The commentary team of Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone (he’s back) and Excalibur were there to call the action. The ring was surrounded by AEW wrestlers along with some other AEW employees and others sitting in the crowd. I believe this show was taped last week.
Cody was already in the ring with the coach Arn Anderson for a TNT Championship defense.
It’s Eddie Kingston to answer the challenge. Kingston did a promo said that Cody grew up “used to be legends” like Arn Anderson. Kingston said he grew up around alcoholics, junkies, he grew up around that and he had to survive and grind. Kingston told Cody he couldn’t last a day in his shoes. Kingston said that everybody Cody has faced is a child while Eddie is a grown as man that will put him in the ground and smile. Kingston said that Cody was busy being best friends with the boss Tony Khan and he said he got paid to be there along with getting paid to beat Cody. Kingston said Tony Khan said he’ll get a No Disqualification match if Cody accepts, so Cody accepted it.
Analysis: Kingston is a veteran with 18 years experience as the graphic was shown when he appeared. Kingston was a regular on the NWA promotion over the last year. Kingston is a great talker and I thought the promo was really well done by him. If he does get signed by AEW then he would be an asset just as a talker. His wrestling skills are solid too, don’t get me wrong, but as a promo guy I think he’s outstanding.
No Disqualification Match for the TNT Championship Match: Cody (w/Arn Anderson) vs. Eddie Kingston
Kingston went after Cody right as soon as the bell rang. They brawled on the floor. Kingston worked over Cody with repeated chops to the chest. Cody got back into it with a Disaster Kick off the middle ropes. Cody with a suicide dive on Kingston on the floor. Cody grabbed the leather belt that he was wearing, Kingston hit him and Kingston whipped Cody two times with the leather strap. Kingston pulled off mat on the floor, he went for a move, but then Cody hit a back body drop on the floor. Excalibur told a story that Kingston was broke due to the pandemic, so he bought the wrestling boots the day before the match. Back in the ring, Kingston with a clothesline and belly to back suplex. Kingston with body shots, Cody with a punch to the jaw and Kingston was favoring his left knee. Kingston grabbed a chinlock and Kingston beat on him with forearms to the back. Kingston pulled back on Cody’s arms. There were visible bruises on Cody’s chest from the strikes that he was taking. Cody with forearms and chops, but then Kingston did a snapmare followed by a kick to the back. Cody with punches, then Kingston poked the eye with JR noting that was the third time in the match. Cody chopped the back of the left knee. Cody tried to whip Kingston into the turnbuckle, then Kingston collapsed and Kingston hit a low blow uppercut to the groin. Kingston looked at Arn and pointed at his own head to show he’s smart. Kingston hit a DDT. Kingston grabbed an unmarked back from under the ring and he poured out a bag full of thumbtacks in the ring. Kingston wanted Cody to fight him as he connected with more chops. Cody with a dropkick to the knee, Cody tried a move on the tacks, but Kingston got out of it and Kingston gave Cody a Powerbomb on the thumbtacks. ouch. Cody rolled around with thumbtacks in his back while wrestlers at ringside looked shocked by it. Kingston with a backdrop suplex, but Cody no sold it and bounced off the ropes with a clothesline. Cody wanted a Figure Four Leglock, Kingston slapped him repeatedly, then Cody slapped and punched him repeatedly. Cody slapped on the Figure Four Leglock in the middle of the ring with Kingston tapping out to give Cody the win after 11 minutes.
Winner by submission: Cody
Analysis: ***1/4 This was a pretty good match that was very competitive with Kingston getting plenty of offense. A problem with these matches is you know Cody is going to win, but there could be some point where it’s a surprise. It felt like at times since you could see the visible scars on Cody, Kingston brought in the thumbtacks and I liked the story of Cody going after the knee the whole time, which set up the finishing spot. It wasn’t a great match, but they worked hard and it felt like a fight. That’s what I like to see.
Post match, the camera focused in on Cody’s back that had a lot of thumbtacks in it and you could see there was some blood on Cody’s back. The announcers put over Kingston for his toughness.
(Commercial)
The announce team were on camera talking about some of the matches coming up later. The main event is Chris Jericho and Jake Hager vs. Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy.
Jon Moxley, the AEW Champion, was standing somewhere in the backstage area. Moxley said he tries to keep it real and he said that he tried to rip Brian Cage’s arm off while saying that he loved that feeling. Moxley said that Cage was this close to being out for six months due to torn ligaments and he said Taz made the right call. Moxley said that next time, he’s not going to let go.
Analysis: There is no obvious next option to face Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title at the All Out PPV right now, but I hope they figure that out soon. All Out is on Saturday, September 5.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman entered with Wardlow. Griff Garrison is MJF’s opponent and he is 0-3. I don’t think Griff Garrison is a good ring name, but I doubt he cares. MJF mocked Griff for looking like Jungle Man and Griff let him know his name. MJF wanted Griff to tell people at home how it feels to be in the ring with MJF, who said he was undefeated. Griff pointed out that MJF lost a tag team match at Fyter Fest, so MJF hit him with a microphone. The announcers noted that MJF is undefeated in singles matches.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman (w/Wardlow) vs. Griff Garrison
MJF did an arm wringer that sent Garrison across the ring. MJF with a suplex across the ring. MJF with a knee drop.
(Commercial)
The match continued with MJF doing a promo saying he thinks he lost his temper. MJF said he was upset that Griff said that he lost while MJF said he hasn’t been pinned or submitted, so he’s undefeated. Garrison knocked the microphone away. MJF stood on his hand and stomped on the hand. MJF wanted Garrison to tell the world he’s undefeated. Garrison said it: “You’re undefeated.” Garrison hit MJF in the face with the microphone and did a rollup for two. MJF with a clothesline. JR called MJF an “overbearing Richard” aka dick. MJF hit the Heat Seeker move that he does near the ropes that is like a piledriver. MJF covered for the pinfall win after about five minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Analysis: * A squash win for MJF. Garrison didn’t get much offense other than a rollup. The promo during the match is rare to see, but it is fitting for MJF as a character. If I had the choice of watching two wrestling shows on Wednesday night (you do in the US, I don’t in Canada) then I would have flipped the channel during this because I know it’s a squash match. Now they need to get MJF a meaningful feud. Maybe he’s the guy to go after Moxley next. I think that would be cool.
Rebel was interviewed backstage by Tony Schiavone. Tony tried to interview Rebel about Britt Baker’s health after nose surgery and then they went to talk to Baker in the room. Baker said that in April, Shida violently busted her nose and Baker was back the following week. Baker said she was repaid by being targeted and taken advantage of. Baker said that Rule #4 is “Never Cout out a Role Model” and she talked about being a conspiracy victim again. Baker said that she is set for the biggest comeback of all time not unlike Tiger Woods in 2019, Rocky in Rocky 4, Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards and Schiavone pointed out they didn’t even make the playoffs. Rebel said that she watched Space Jam many times. Baker said she’s Michael Jordan, do not count her out and said particularly at All Out.
Analysis: I enjoy Baker promos a lot. The “conspiracy victim” is a ripoff of Chris Jericho in WCW over 20 years ago, but it’s so long ago that it’s okay to do it again. Baker should be ready to go by All Out and I can see her winning the Women’s Title soon after her return. Baker’s development as a character has been great to see.
Brian Cage and Tazz entered for a promo. Taz said that Cage was close to firing him, but cooler heads prevailed. Taz said that he threw the towel in the ring last week to end Cage’s match with Jon Moxley because it was a business decision. Taz said that Moxley did what he said he was going to do and he had a great armbar on the surgically repaired bicep on Cage. Taz said he didn’t want Cage getting his bicep torn twice while noting that he (Taz) tore his bicep as well in his career. Taz said that Brian Cage will never, ever be in that position again. Taz said that Cage is not wired to tap and that’s why he is the FTW Champion. Actually, Taz is the FTW Champion because it was given to him.
Darby Allin made his entrance with a skateboard, but Ricky Starks attacked Allin from behind. Starks attacked Allin on Dark as well, so it was a follow up to that. Cage with a Powerbomb on Allin on the stage and Powerbomb into the ring. Starks picked up Allin and gave him a spinning slam into the mat. Starks picked up Allin, they grabbed the skateboard and Moxley had a barbed wire baseball bat. The heels retreated when Moxley got in the ring. Excalibur correctly pointed out that last week Allin saved Moxley, so Moxley returned the favor.
Analysis: It was a good follow up to last week. I like seeing Starks getting involved because it gives him something to do while associating with a top heel act as well. Maybe they will go with Cage vs. Allin at the All Out pay-per-view, but I’m not sure if that’s the plan right now.
A video aired saying they are having a Women’s Tag Team Tournament coming this summer. There are 16 women, 8 teams and the winners get some Tag Team Cup, so that means a trophy. Perhaps it could lead to Women’s Tag Team Titles.
Analysis: I’m sure they’re organized about it and will do their best, but they don’t feature that many women regularly. I don’t think they have done a great job with the women’s division other than a few of them standing out and Britt Baker’s storyline. I hope this turns out well, though.
(Commercial)
Chris Jericho was interviewed backstage by Alex Marvez with the Inner Circle guys behind Jericho. There was some ranting by Jericho about how his orange jacket was supposed to be white and it cost $7,000 according to Chris. Jericho complained about Orange Cassidy ruining the jacket. Jericho said that tonight the Jurassic Express were laughing about the orange juice attack last week, so he trashed Jurassic Express including a comment that Luchasaurus isn’t really a dinosaur. Jericho said that they’ll make him extinct. Jericho asked Santana if he smelled like orange juice still, Santana said yes and Jericho was mad about it.
Analysis: Solid promo by Jericho as usual.
The Young Bucks and the referee were shown somewhere backstage and they were in the kitchen. The Butcher and The Blade were there cutting steaks since once of them is a “butcher” right? Sure. This is a Falls Count Anywhere match.
Falls Count Anywhere Match: The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. The Butcher and The Blade
Nick kicked a tray that was in the kitchen and he sent it into Blade. Butcher slammed Nick onto Blade’s knee and Blade slammed Nick on the tray. Matt attacked with some pieces of meat, which is comical. Butcher and Blade hit a double team suplex onto a metal tray. They left the kitchen to go over to the concourse area where the Young Bucks were sent into objects. The Young Bucks avoided getting attacked with a cart. The brawl was by a production truck. There was a sign in the truck that said “MUD SHOW” on it. That’s a Jim Cornette term that he uses to trash wrestling shows, so obviously they know that term and put it there for a laugh. I found it funny. Matt was sent into the truck. Butcher picked up Nick and drove him face first into the door of the truck. Matt ran while in the truck and hit a dive onto Butcher and Blade, who just stood there waiting for the dive. The Young Bucks whipped Blade into some plexiglass that was back there by a concession stand. Nick hit Butcher in the head with a tray. The Bucks put Butcher on the table, Matt jumped off the counter and hit Butcher with it. The table did not break as Butcher went down with it. The Young Bucks went over to Blade and hit him with a double superkick. Blade was on an escalator that went up.
(Commercial)
The fight continued with the four wrestlers entering the ringside area at Daily’s Place. The Bucks did a double neckbreaker and then Nick hit a running knee strike on Butcher. When the Bucks tried to do more, Butcher avoided it and the heels took over as Blade hit both Bucks with chairshots to the back. Butcher and Blade sent Nick over a retaining wall that was over the barricade. Matt fought off both guys, which led to a neckbreaker or Cutter off the apron. Nick came back with a dive over the barricade that took out Butcher on the floor. Butcher with a double suplex on both Bucks on the floor. Blade was in the ring, he ran, jumped over the ropes, Matt moved and Blade completely missed the table that he was probably supposed to go through. Butcher hit a running cross body on Matt to send him through a table. Matt tripped up Butcher into the middle ropes and Nick whipped a chair into his face. Nick and Matt hit a double team bulldog/dropkick on Butcher for a two count. Blade went back in to save his partner as he sent Nick into the turnbuckle followed by a suplex into the top rope. Blade with a clothesline that sent Matt over the top and onto the ramp. Butcher and Blade hit a Powerbomb/neckbreaker combo on Matt on the ramp. They didn’t even try to cover. Butcher and Blade each grabbed tables that were in the side entrances. The Bucks took over at that point with multiple superkicks for each opponent. They did a double knee strike on The Blade where they hit him in the front and the back at the same time. They also took out The Butcher with a double superkick. Butcher and Blade were placed on tables as the Young Bucks climbed the staging area where AEW wrestlers do the entrances. The Young Bucks dove off the top of the entrance structures about 10 feet high. Matt did an elbow drop and Nick did a Senton Bomb. It went about 15 minutes.
Winners: The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson)
Analysis: ***3/4 Really good match with a cool looking finish. This was a fun match with some creative spots throughout. I’m glad that the Young Bucks were in a Falls Count Anywhere match so I didn’t have to make remarks about how they ignored the tag team rules. I enjoy watching their matches for the most part, especially because of how unique the offense is. Butcher and Blade had a nice showing as well. They controlled the first half of the match, then it was more of an even match until the Young Bucks took over for the win. I doubt anybody watching this thought that The Butcher and Blade were going to win, so that’s something that hurts the match a bit from a predictability standpoint. I’m not a hardcore Young Bucks fan, but I’m sure anybody that is a big fan of theirs will like this match a lot. Plus, the “Mud Show” sign was pretty funny.
The announcers put this over as a big win for the Young Bucks.
Analysis: I like the Young Bucks a lot. I’d also like to see them in a meaningful feud. There are so many tag teams in AEW, but there aren’t enough long term storylines between the teams.
Lance Archer and Jake Roberts were walking backstage with Alex Marvez there to interview them. Archer went into a locker room where four random, smaller wrestlers were. Archer beat them up by throwing them into objects, which included Archer dumping a guy into a garbage can.
Analysis: Archer hasn’t had anything to do in two months since losing the TNT Title tournament finals to Cody. Beating up random unknown wrestlers is not that interesting to me. They need to use Archer more because he’s a legit good wrestler that’s taller and looks like a badass.
(Commercial)
The entrances took place for the women’s match. Diamante was up first and she’s 1-3 in AEW. They said she picked up her first win on AEW Dark earlier in the week. Ivelisse entered as the opponent and she was making her AEW singles debut. Ivelisse has wrestled for several other wrestling promotions.
Ivelisse vs. Diamante
Ivelisse and Diamante each did some takedowns early with nobody taking control in the first minute. Big Swole did a video promo from home talking trash to Britt Baker with the storyline that Swole was suspended. Ivelisse worked over Diamante with some back elbows, but then Diamante hit a running dropkick. Ivelisse and Diamante left the ring as they exchanged chops. They went to the apron with Ivelisse hitting a kick to the head leading to a two count. Ivelisse grabbed a chinlock, then it ended and they exchanged chops for about 30 seconds. It looked more fake than any chop fest I’ve seen. They exchanged punches, which looked better and then some kicks to the head. Diamante with a German Suplex that got a two count. Ivelisse hit a spinning Powerbomb for a two count. Ivelisse went into the ropes with Diamante getting an inside cradle for the pinfall win after about six minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ivelisse
Analysis: *1/2 I thought this a boring match that lacked an interesting story. Ivelisse has a lot of talent and Diamante is a good striker too, but this match was lacking. This is just randomly throwing two women on the show with no storyline and I have a hard time believing that most fans would be interested in this.
Post match, Diamante pointed to her head to say she outsmarted Ivelisse. The announcers tried way too hard to make us care.
(Commercial)
The entrance of Alan “5” Angels let us know he was 2-5. His main name is Five as part of the Dark Order, so I’ll call him Five. It’s AEW Tag Team Champion “Hangman” Adam Page as the opponent, who is 12-2 this year.
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Alan “Five” Angels
Page with hard chops, Five ran the ropes and Page hit a boot to the face. Page hit a suplex. Five went to the apron, he hit a kick to the head, but then Page hit a boot to the face (again) that knocked Five off the apron to the floor. Page sent Five into the barricade two times. Five members of the Dark Order group showed upon the stage to watch the match.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Five going for a moonsault off the middle ropes, but Page got the knees up to block. Five got in some kicks including an enziguri kick to the head and Page hit a clothesline with Five selling that with a great flip bump. Page with a corner clothesline followed by a fallaway slam. Page with a rolling elbow to the face for two. Five ran the ropes, Page caught him with a Powerbomb and that was enough for the pinfall win after about eight minutes.
Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page
Analysis: *1/2 This should have been a three-minute squash to put over Page as a future main eventer in this company. Why drag it out? I don’t get it. Yes, Five got some offense in the match and looks like a good athlete, but I think it hurts Page to take that long to beat a guy that has a 2-5 record. This is something AEW does too often where matches go on too long instead of kicking it simple. They gave Five too much offense while not making Page look stronger.
Post match, The Dark Order guys were on the stage looking at Page. That’s when Mr. Brodie Lee walked out and he was joined by Colt Cabana, who was not dressed like the other Dark Order guys. Lee went into the ring with Page.
Lee told Page that he has been nothing but impressed by him. Lee said that he was impressed by that match and page’s rise of stardom. Lee mentioned that he is not impressed by Page’s lack of friends and tag team partner when he is in immediate danger. Lee said that the Dark Order can protect him and they would never once leave him alone. Page responded by saying he appreciated the compliments and saying: “I don’t know if I’m really ready to join a cult right now.” Lee told him he made his bed and hopes he enjoys sleeping in it.
Lee left Cabana while the four Dark Order members went into the ring with Page. It was Stu Grayson, Evil Uno, Reynolds and Silver of the Dark Order that went into the ring to attack Page. That’s when the FTR team of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler went into the ring for the save. They smashed a case of beer over the heads of a Dark Order guy. FTR beat up Grayson and Uno to knock them out of the ring. Kenny Omega ran out to the ring after the ring was already cleared. FTR gave Page a beer while they didn’t give Omega anything.
Analysis: The story is that Omega wasn’t there for his partner as quickly as FTR was. I hope that Omega is the one turning heel here as we saw him attack Marko Stunt after a win last week. I think Page has so much potential as a singles babyface wrestler. I wonder if FTR is the team to beat Omega and Page for the titles or if it’s the Young Bucks. Maybe they do a triple threat tag team match at All Out for the titles and do a title change there. I don’t exactly, but I’m intrigued by the story.
The AEW announcers gave us a rundown of next week’s AEW Dynamite matches.
* AEW World Tag Team Championships: Kenny Omega & Adam Page (c) vs. The Dark Order (Stu Grayson and Evil Uno)
* Hikaru Shida vs. Diamante
* Tornado Tag Team Match: Jon Moxley and Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage and Ricky Starks
* Cody will have a TNT Championship Open Challenge match.
Analysis: I’m all for the Tornado Tag Team Matches. They are fun. Also, I think we might see a former WWE guy challenging Cody and it could be Matt Cardona (aka Zack Ryder), who is one of Cody’s best friends. I expect him to sign with AEW soon if it hasn’t happened already. There are others that it could possibly be too, but I think at some point in the next we’ll see Cardona here.
The AEW action figures are coming in August if that’s something you’re interested in. I am not.
(Commercial)
It’s main event tag team time with The Jurassic Express team of Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy with Marko Stunt made their entrance. I don’t think this a main event tag team act especially after losing last week in a six-man tag, but here they are.
Chris Jericho and Jake Hager entered with the Inner Circle buddies Santana and Ortiz joining them. We saw a clip of the orange juice that dumped on the Inner Circle group last week.
Chris Jericho and Jake Hager (w/Santana and Ortiz) vs. Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy) (w/Marko Stunt)
There were about 20 minutes left in the show as Jericho opened up with chops, but then Boy came back with a dropkick that sent Jericho into the turnbuckle. Hager and Luchasaurus tagged in as the two bigger men in the match. Hager charged into a collision with Luchasaurus hitting a knee to the ribs. Luchasaurus with a kick to the head, but then Hager did a great counter into an Ankle Lock attempt. Luchasaurus got to the ropes, Jericho tagged in and stomped on the lower leg of Luchasaurus. Uppercut punch by Luchasaurus knocked down Jericho until Jericho tripped him up again. Hager wrenched on the left knee of Luchasaurus followed by a kick to the left leg. Luchasaurus tried to fight out of the corner, but Hager hit him with a running shoulder tackle to the left knee. Hager with a back elbow followed by a double clothesline that knocked both big guys down. Boy tagged in against Jericho with a headscissors, then a dropkick on Hager on the apron and a hurricanrana by Boy on Jericho got a two count. Boy hit a suicide dive on Santana and Ortiz followed by a springboard spinning flatliner for two. The referee made Hager leave the ring, so Stunt hit a headscissors off the top on Jericho. Boy was slammed hard to the mat by Jericho and Jericho punched Stunt on the apron. That made me cheer. Am I supposed to boo that? It was funny.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Jericho hitting a delayed suplex on Boy. Jericho set up Boy on the top rope, took way too long to do a superplex and Boy slammed him off the top. Boy went up top with a cross body block for two. Jericho with a clothesline. Hanger tagged in with an armbar. Boy broke free, Hager missed a corner charge and hit a turnbuckle, but Hager managed to keep Boy in his corner. Jericho got his baseball bat, referee Aubrey Edwards made him get it out of the ring, so Jericho put it out of the ring. The camera didn’t show it, but I assume Hager got in some cheap shots. Jericho with a belly to back suplex. Boy got a rollup and then he hit a clothesline as both guys were down. Boy with an enziguri kick on Jericho. Hager tagged in and prevented Boy from tagging out while slapping on a chinlock. Jericho back in as the heels chopped Boy repeatedly and Boy hit a double DDT on both guys. Good spot leading to Luchasaurus getting the hot tag. Luchasaurus with a clothesline on Jericho, a pump kick on Hager, chops to both heels and a Luchasaurus clothesline on Hager. Luchasaurus went for a double Chokeslam, the heels broke free, so Luchasaurus hit two kicks to the face and a spinning slam on Jericho. Hager picked up Luchasaurus with a slam. Boy jumped off the top with a forearm on Hager to knock him out of the ring, Jericho knocked Boy down, Stunt on the top and Santana/Ortiz yelled at him, so the referee looked at Santana/Ortiz and Stunt got a missile dropkick. Good referee manipulation spot as Luchasaurus hit a superkick for a two count. Luchasaurus with a big shoulder tackle and a spinning kick. Excalibur reacts to Luchasaurus moves with “ooohhh” way too much. Santana on the apron, Boy hit a hurricanrana on him and sent Santana into Ortiz. The dumb referee was looking at the guys on the floor, so a masked guy (the announcers thought it was Serpentico) hit Luchasaurus with a baseball bat to the back. Jericho with a Codebreaker on Luchasaurus for the pinfall win. No Judas Effect elbow needed. It went 17 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Chris Jericho and Jake Hager
Analysis: ***1/2 It was a pretty good match with the veterans Jericho and Hager controlling most of it while Jurassic Express did an excellent job on the comeback before they came up short. Jericho is so great at doing the little things right while they also work like a regular tag team unlike some AEW teams that ignore the rules. The cheap ending was fitting for the Inner Circle guys and we would get the reveal after the match.
The guy in the Serpentico mask joined the Inner Circle guys in attacking the three Jurassic Express guys. Jericho hit Stunt with a body slam. Serpentico went up top and hit a Shooting Star Press. There was a mask reveal to show it was the return of Sammy Guevara, who was suspended indefinitely for the last month. Sammy got hugs from the other Inner Circle guys.
The Best Friends trio of main eventer Orange Cassidy, Trent and Chuck Taylor made their way to the ring, so the Inner Circle guys left through the crowd.
Tony Schiavone announced via Tony Khan that next week on AEW Dynamite it’s all five Inner Circle guys (Jericho, Hager, Santana, Ortiz, Guevara) vs. Orange Cassidy, Trent, Chuck Taylor, Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy. There was some staring and pointing from the two sides while Inner Circle gave middle fingers. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: It was fine as a show-closing angle. Most weeks we see brawls to end the show, but this week they ended up going with the heel retreat strategy. That’s a big 10-man tag for next week. It was set up fine, so I’m interested to see how it goes. I think the faces should win with Cassidy getting the win for his team, likely over Guevara.
It was a clever way to bring Sammy back. Sammy was off for the last month due to the insensitive comments he made earlier in his career. The announcement was that he would be suspended “indefinitely” with no timeline given, so now he’s back after about a month away. It’s up to him to show he has grown as a person by not making insensitive remarks about women. I hope he learned and will be a better person for it.
Three Stars of the Show
- The Young Bucks
- The Butcher & The Blade
- Chris Jericho
I liked the effort by Cody and Eddie Kingston too.
The Scoreboard
This week: 7.5 (out of 10)
Last week: 7.5
2020 Average: 7.18
Final Thoughts
It was a pretty good show as usual. It’s AEW, so it had the usual tag team matches getting a lot of attention and I think the Falls Count Anywhere tag team match was a lot of fun. Putting the Young Bucks in a match like that is smart since they can’t ignore tag team rules when all four guys are involved at the same time. The main event tag was pretty good too with Sammy Guevara making his return after being suspended for the last month.
I think this week’s Dynamite was lacking in terms of big matches, but that’s also because they did several major matches in the last three weeks. Some of the other matches were not that interesting to me, so that hurt a bit. They can’t seem to book three-minute squashes when they need to and would rather have longer matches when it’s unnecessary.
Some of the storylines are good, but there’s nothing that “hot” in AEW right now. Just my opinion anyway.
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John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnreport