Preview: AEW Dynamite is back for another exciting 2 hours of televised professional wrestling! We have the first qualifying match for the Owen Hart Cup featuring The Bunny against a mystery opponent. Darby Allin is scheduled to face Andrade El Idolo, FTR and the Gunn Club collide, and both Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson are in singles action respectively. There is sure to be follow up regarding MJF and Wardlow’s beef, as well as the issue of all the major men’s titles being stolen! With a weekend filled with wrestling ahead, why not start with some Dynamite tonight?
GREAT CM Punk vs. Max Caster: CM Punk enters to a massive ovation and Dynamite is underway! The Acclaimed are on their way and Max Caster drops a, “Will Smith slapping,” reference right away. The fans are loving it and Punk even laughs at that one. Out of the gates Punk is working the left shoulder of Caster and even attempts an early Anaconda Vice. Max gains the advantage with a swift back breaker and begins to work on Punk’s ribs and lower back. The two men trade counters before Caster climbs the ropes looking for a Mic Drop. Punk manages to evade and lands a hurricanrana off the top rope, which he follows with his classic corner knee strike/bulldog combination. Caster distracts the referee as Anthony Bowens knocks CM Punk off the top rope. This allows Max to climb himself, for a second attempt at the Mic Drop. He misses once again and CM Punk is able to smash him with a vicious piledriver. Immediately following the impact of the piledriver, Punk rolls Caster over into the Anaconda Vice for the submission victory. This was another really hot start for Dynamite, the crowd was into every second of this match, and the reactions for both entrances were huge. Punk using the Anaconda Vice was fun to see as well, especially after he teased it early, then brought it back around after doing more damage to Max’s arm.
Result: CM Punk by Submission via Anaconda Vice
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
Tony Schiavone interviews CM Punk post match: CM Punk addresses both Adam Cole and Hangman Page. He makes it clear that he doesn’t care which of the two it is, he is after the AEW World Championship. Too short to rate.
AVERAGE MJF and FTR backstage interview: Smart Mark Sterling is apparently MJF’s new lawyer and he is hanging up pictures of Wardlow so that people know that he is barred from the building. MJF refers to FTR’s opponents the Gunn Club as the, “asinine boys,” which drew a laugh from Dax Harwood. Dax then lets MJF know that he and Cash don’t understand what is going on between Max and Wardlow but that they are both friends to FTR. Max responds by telling them he totally understands but that, “Wardlow used to totally always talk about them behind their backs,” which drew an audible laugh from the whole building. The interview concludes with all 3 putting their hands in for a rah-rah moment while Dax’s expression showed suspicion. Honestly for a segment involving MJF and FTR, this was not their best work. It was entertaining but stunted a little for some reason.
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
GREAT Jay Lethal vs. Jon Moxley: Lethal enters to a raucous ovation, only to be outdone by the “Blue Eyed Battler” Jon Moxley. The crowd is electric and it is pretty incredible how hot the live fans have been for Dynamite during this stretch of weeks. Lethal extends his hand for a handshake, but is quickly slapped away by Mox. The crowd trades, “Let’s go Lethal,” chants, with, “Let’s go Moxley,” chants as the competitors exchange holds in the middle of the ring. Mox primarily carries the advantage using a classic side headlock, before throwing Jay to the outside. As they re-enter the ring Moxley invites Lethal to freely exchange forearms with Moxley and this looks more like Mox and Minoru Suzuki than it does Mox and Jay Lethal. Credit to Jay for hanging in there, he of course got the worst of it, but still. We head to our first picture in picture break with Lethal in the driver’s seat. Out of the break the two competitors trade more forearms in the middle of the ring. Lethal manages to land a left jab and a series of chops but has his momentum thwarted by a massive lariat from Mox. Lethal recovers and manages a Lethal Combination but it is only a 2 count. They trade misses then Jay Lethal see’s time to land an Elbow Drop and connects! Moxley kicks out, for the nearest fall of the match as the crowd chants, “this is awesome.” A brief exchange ensues before Moxley is able to employ the Paradigm Shift for the win. What an incredible second match on Dynamite. After the conclusion of the match Mox extends his hand for a shake and Lethal accepts begrudgingly after his loss.
Result: Jon Moxley by Pinfall via Paradigm Shift
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
GOOD FTR vs Gunn Club: FTR makes the walk to the ring, and it is odd to see them without Tully. They are greeted with close to a babyface response. The Gunn Club enter to major boo’s with their father Billy and there are numerous, “Ass Boys,” signs around the arena. The second they step through the ropes, MJF’s music plays and FTR look confused in the ring as he takes a seat at the commentary table. Harwood starts in the ring with Colten. Colten quickly tags in Austin who is doing quite a bit of dancing. Dax tags in Cash Wheeler who goes back and forth with Austin gains the advantage for FTR. Wheeler and Harwood make quick tags in the corner and have Austin totally isolated. While Aubrey Edwards is distracted Billy Gunn lands a right hand on Cash Wheeler outside the ring. The Gunn Club manages to dominate through the commercial break but out of the break Wheeler reaches Harwood for the hot tag. Harwood is all over the Gunns before the camera pans to the arena concourse. Wardlow is in the building and lays out two separate security guards before making his way down the steps towards ringside. He smashes two more members of security and MJF is starting to get nervous on commentary. The War-Dog is wreaking havoc. I have never seen so many security guards take one person out of an arena. All the men in the ring are distracted, and the distraction gives the Gunn’s a chance but FTR is able to overcome. They drill the Big Rig and that is the end of this one. MJF walks down the ramp to celebrate but FTR is not happy with him about what happened with Wardlow. Max is able to talk them down momentarily but this is starting to get interesting.
Result: FTR by Pinfall via Big Rig
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Keith Lee vs Powerhouse Hobbs Rampage Preview Vignette: This was too short to rate, but who doesn’t want to watch these two absolute destroyers get in the ring with each other this friday night?
GOOD Jericho Appreciation Society backstage Promo: Daniel Garcia is wearing a backwards Kangol hat and I spit my drink out laughing at the start of the promo. Jericho makes it known that there is no one else who can join the JAS. Daniel Garcia calls Eddie Kingston a “rat,” and Matt and Angelo start looking around for Eddie Kingston, Santana and Ortiz. They aren’t around at first but then Jake Hagar is struck with the Mad-Ball. Eddie Kingston runs down Jericho as Santana and Ortiz fend off the rest of the group. The action spills all the way down to ringside. With right hand taped, Eddie lands a giant spinning backfist on “The Influencer.” Santana and Ortiz attempt a Street Sweeper but the rest of the JAS has recovered enough and now the numbers game has caught up to the group formerly known as LAX. Daniel Garcia locks in a sharpshooter on Eddie Kingston as Jericho smashes him across the back with the baseball bat known as Floyd. Santana and Ortiz are subdued by the rest of the group and Jericho makes the scene uglier by slashing Kingston across his back with a leather belt this time. Jericho delivers the Judas Effect and the Appreciation Society stands tall to end the segment.
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Tony Schiavone interviews Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling: Schiavone asks who the 30th opponent will be. Mark Sterling announces that it will be The Librarian Leva Bates and Cargill is not having it. Option 2 is Marina Shafir, and Sterling is significantly less confident than Ms. Cargill. Too short to rate.
GREAT Bryan Danielson vs. Wheeler Yuta: Bryan is accompanied by William Regal who joins commentary and it has been nice to have his Lordship on commentary once a Dynamite over the last few weeks. Yuta is already in the ring. Danielson starts slow, smirking and looking around. After the initial lock up the chain wrestling begins and while Danielson may have a slight edge, Yuta is completely game. Both men can really chain wrestle and the surfboard locks and takeovers followed by headlock and armbar combination attempts are so smooth. Yuta is displaying a much greater mean streak than usual which commentary has made note of. Danielson catches Yuta with a kick to the gut to regain the edge before the commercial break. Out of said break Yuta has turned things around, he has a waist lock on Danielson and Regal has put Yuta over on commentary for what has to be the thousandth time this match. Danielson attempts Cattle Mutilation but Yuta manges to reverse to a huge ovation. Bryan ducks a clothesline and connects with a Psycho Knee. He grabs Yuta by the wrists to kick his head in. Yuta spits in his face in defiance, Bryan rains down the right boot over and over. He follows with a gotch style piledriver and the Lebell Lock on an unconscious Wheeler for the victory.
Result: Bryan Danielson by Submission via Lebell Lock
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
GREAT Adam Cole and ReDragon Championship Celebration: The three men enter the ring, where some black and gold balloons are released. Adam Cole grabs a microphone and immediately calls this the, “Undisputed, Elite, championship celebration,” which is the most direct, “Undisputed Era” reference I’ve heard since the 3 men have joined AEW. Then he informs us that both Hangman Page and Jurrasic Express are not in attendance tonight. Adam Cole is so good on the microphone and this is so entertaining it is hard to deny that these three could easily carry the belts in a situation that doesn’t involve them stealing the belts. O’reilly grabs the microphone and is incredibly awkward on that microphone. Hangman Page’s music hits and he is here in a tesla with a set of longhorns on the hood. He is also here to fight and right hands are being passed out all over the place. Hangman clears ReDragon from the ring and hits a fallaway slam on Cole. Fish and O’Reilly save him from a Buckshot lariat but Jurassic express are right behind them, Cole is thrown back in the ring and disposed of swiftly. The belts are returned to their rightful owners and they stand tall in the ring to end the segment.
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
GOOD Thunder Rosa interview with Tony Schiavone: AEW Women’s World Champion Thunder Rosa is at the top of the ramp. She addresses that her championship celebration was cut short last week. Then she acknowledges the fact that she is the first Mexican Women’s World Champion in Wrestling history to a massive pop, and deservedly so. Finally, Thunder Rosa turns to Nyla Rose directly and calls her out for a fight. She says she will defend the belt anywhere, and the crowd loves Thunder Rosa.
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 3.0 Stars
FTR Backstage Promo: Cash acknowledges that they might take themselves too seriously before going over their accomplishments including the AAA tag team championships they currently hold, as well as teasing winning the ROH titles on friday. Dax takes over and issues a challenge to the Young Bucks. Looks like FTR-Young Bucks 2 is on its way. Too short to rate.
GREAT Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Qualifying Match, The Bunny vs. Toni Storm: Toni Storm is All Elite! The crowd is electric for Toni, and erupts as she stomps to the ring with authority. “Toni” chants rain down and the fans are loving this. Bunny slaps Storm in the face but is quickly reversed and Toni takes over briefly before an eye poke halts her momentum. In picture in picture Bunny is all over Storm but right as the break ends Toni is able to turn things around in her favor. The two women trade strikes in the center of the ring, Storm lands back to back lariats to drop the Bunny. Toni has not missed a beat, she lands a gorgeous fisherman suplex and everything she has done in this match has been on point. The Bunny deserves some credit too, this is one of the best matches she has had in some time. Toni is able to hit the Storm-Zero and that is a ballgame. She is the first woman in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s tournament and Storm is nearly in tears.
Result: Toni Storm by Pinfall via Storm-Zero
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
Nyla Rose and Vickie Guerrero Backstage with Tony Schiavone: Nyla is intense and so is Vickie, she responds to Thunder Rosa’s callout from earlier and this rivalry is just getting started. Too short to rate but it tied up the Thunder Rosa segment from earlier and furthered the storyline which was nice to see.
AMAZING Darby Allin vs. Andrade El Idolo: Andrade enters first to a decent pop, but as soon as Darby’s music hits the crowd explodes. Allin skates down the ramp and at the bottom El Idolo is there to meet him with an insane Tornillo over the top rope. Seriously, go back and watch that, it is insane. He lanches Darby into the guardrail and then screams into the camera to look at him. Andrade picks Allin up in a fireman’s carry and drops him face first on the ringside table. He picks him up again and repeats the same process, only this time on the apron. Andrade then charges Darby who evades as Andrade crashes into the ringside steps. Darby then lands an Ollie with his skateboard off the ring apron onto El Idolo’s back. Andrade counters Allin with a front facelock and he lays Darby across the ringside barrier before doing the same thing again over the ringsteps. The match has yet to start and Darby Allin looks destroyed but he tells the referee he is ok to start and this match is finally officially underway. Maybe that was a bad idea because El Idolo is flipping Darby Allin around the ring like he is weightless. He lands his signature Meteora to a seated Darby in the corner and goes for the cover. Allin manages to grab the rope, but the onslaught continues for Andrade. In the past I have been critical of Allin for some of his matches appearing to be squashes before he magically recovers and gets the win. I don’t know the result yet, but I try my best to be unbiased and I must say this was really well done to start. Everything made sense in regards to Andrade’s melee, and while Darby has put up a fight, there is a reason he is in this position and I really like the psychology of this one so far. After the first commercial, Darby manages an incredible reversal for a Code Red. El Idolo kicks out at 2, and starts laying in strikes on Darby. Allin responds in kind with strikes of his own, and the crowd is brought to their feet as the two men unload on each other in the center of the ring. Andrade removes his belt but the referee confiscates it, as he is distracted Darby uses his own belt to slam Andrade face first into the turnbuckle. Andrade Kicks out at 2 and then hits a violent backbreaker. El Idolo places Allin on the top turnbuckle and then hoists him up in a fireman’s carry on the second rope. Darby reverses it with a crucifix and locks in a fujiwara-armbar. Jose runs down to ringside to interfere but is run down by Sting before he can insert himself in the action. Butcher and Blade follow but Darby dives from the top rope to the outside on top of both of them, to take them out of the match.. As he re-enters, unfortunately, El Idolo is waiting with the Hammerlock DDT for the 1, 2, 3. What a match that was! The AFO fills the ring as Sting attends to Darby. The Family Office predictably overwhelm Sting and Allin, as Private Party join the fray. The Hardy’s music hits for one final mega pop of the night. They clear the ring and Jeff lands a Swanton to end the night as the Hardy’s stand tall next to Darby Allin and Sting.
Result: Andrade El Idolo by pinfall via Hammerlock DDT
Clark Taylor’s WR Star Rating – 4.0 Stars
Overall: Dynamite delivered an awesome segway into the biggest weekend of the year in professional wrestling! There were numerous entertaining matches. Both Moxley and Danielson delivered in singles action. It was nice to see them work separate singles matches this week, not that the tag stuff hasn’t been exciting but a little reminder of what they can do on their own does not hurt at all. Thunder Rosa and Nyla Rose are on a collision course, as are Powerhouse Hobbs and Keith Lee. FTR and MJF have some tension, but not quite as much as MJF and Wardlow do, or better yet, Wardlow and the AEW security team. The Jericho Appreciation Society is a force to be reckoned with, and Santana, Ortiz and Eddie Kingston are unfortunately going to need more than just the element of surprise to overcome the numbers advantage in the future. CM Punk has firmly placed his name in the AEW World Heavyweight Championship picture no matter who holds the title, and that should be fun to see play out. Speaking of titles, all of the men’s titles were returned to their rightful owners, as the Adam vs. Adam saga continues. Oh yeah, Toni Storm is All Elite, and the first qualifier for the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament!
Matches: 0.50/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3.5/5 Stars
Photo Credit: AEW
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