As a standalone episode of Dynamite, this was a solid night of good wrestling and fun promo work, offering much of the status quo with a fun surprise or two sprinkled in. Unfortunately I can’t say this was a terrific go-home show, as outside of Jericho vs Cole it kept my interest level for most of the Double Or Nothing matches at around the same level they were before. It didn’t decrease my interest in any matches, but it mostly opted for safety over boldness, which is understandable so close to a major show, but for a show which is looking a little lacking on paper, it could really have used a shot of adrenaline. Still the crowd was tremendous tonight, the show was structured well with its opening and closing matches the best of the card, and there was no complete stinker anywhere on the card, although the lone women's match continues to disappoint, with the strong talent not given enough resources to soar. I sadly can’t give the match score higher than a 0.5/1 because of a lack of true standout match, with even the card’s best matches feeling like strong athletic showcases over anything which truly hooked me. Still I can't complain with solid, well executed wrestling, and this card had it in spades. It just needed more progression and focus on storytelling for it to truly break through into the great tier of Dynamite shows.
It’s go home week for Double Or Nothing, with this episode of AEW Dynamite providing Tony Khan with a big chance to sell fans on Sunday’s show. Highlights include a contract signing between Adam Cole and Chris Jericho, an ROH Tag Title clash between The Lucha Bros and Castagnoli and Yuta of the Blackpool Combat Club, and an International Championship defence for Orange Cassidy against Kyle Fletcher of Aussie Open. Elsewhere on the card, The House Of Black takes on the team of Metalik, Blake Christian and AR Fox in an Open House Rules match, and Taya Valkyrie battles former Impact talent Lady Frost. We will also hear from top stars such as FTR, Ricky Starks and all 4 of AEW’s pillars ahead of Double Or Nothing. Let’s get right to it…
GREAT Orange Cassidy vs Kyle Fletcher- AEW International Championship:
A fast and furious start from Fletcher, who hits a flying knee into a brainbuster right out of the gate. Cassidy fights back, hitting a Tornado DDT onto the apron, but the move doesn’t fully work and appeared to be botched. Cassidy makes up for it with a Beach Break on the outside, but Fletcher beats the count at 9. After some fun counter wrestling, Fletcher takes control, with Cassidy bailing to the outside, combined punishment across numerous weeks really taking its toll. Cassidy and Fletcher play mind games with each other, as both try to bait each other into countouts, as the commentary play up the strategy of Cassidy attempting to run down the clock and recover. Cassidy begins to roll around the ring, angering Fletcher more and more. Fletcher enters the ring as more counter wrestling occurs, broken by a half and half suplex by Fletcher to regain control. Cassidy fights back with a Stundog Millionaire and a tornado DDT. Cassidy looks to fly, but is kicked from the ring by Cassidy. Fletcher intercepts a flying crossbody from Cassidy and hits a sit-down michinoku driver for a 2 count. Fletcher begins to pound down Cassidy, using elbows and forearms to break down Cassidy’s comebacks. Fletcher hits another kick, identical to the opening exchange, but this time it is Cassidy that gets the brainbuster. Cassidy baits Fletcher with half-baked slaps, into a superkick and michinoku driver combination, but Fletcher rolls Cassidy into a tombstone, held into another for a near fall. Fletcher then hits a michinoku driver from the second rope, again getting another near fall. Another kick to Cassidy, but a Grimstone attempt is countered into a spike DDT. Cassidy goes for the Orange Punch but is superkicked. Fletcher goes one more time for the Grimstone, but Cassidy rolls him through into a roll up for the three count. It’s a strange choice to put this on the go home show with the battle royal on Sunday making it so unlikely that Fletcher would go over, but he got a terrific showing here, and the crowd were so into Cassidy. A few minor botches here and there, but they told a great story and Cassidy’s story of survival is being told very well right now.
Results: Orange Cassidy by Pinfall via Rollup
David Sheldon WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
Ricky Starks does a backstage promo entering himself into the International Title battle royal, but is attacked by Bullet Club Gold. Jay White is particularly entertaining here, mocking Starks and laying him out with a chair. White tells Starks they aren’t done with him, and that they’ll keep playing with him. Enjoyed this segment and infinitely more charisma was shown here by White than we’ve seen in previous weeks. New Japan Jay White is starting to emerge, which is wonderful to see.
Jack Perry gets a pre taped promo, talking about his history with the Double Or Nothing PPV , and tells us every year he gets a little bit different, but says the one thing that stays the same is his will to win, and he remains determined he will beat MJF. Decently delivered promo but very generic content and it doesn’t really make me believe Jungle Boy will win any more than before the promo.
GOOD FTR Promo:
FTR begins the promo by admitting Jarret and Lethal are both smart and lucky, but on Sunday their luck runs out. They accuse Jeff Jarrett of attaching his name to FTR to stay relevant, and refuses to allow a pair of TNA rejects to win the titles, telling them they’ll be calling Dixie Carter after the show to make sure they have some job security. FTR go to leave but are interrupted by an angry Mark Briscoe. FTR assures Mark they’ll go to hell and back for him. Mark believes that, but wants to know why Dax piledrives Briscoe, and while Dax assures him it was an accident, Briscoe refuses to shake Dax’s hand and slaps him. He goes up the ramp and slaps each member of team Jarrett, before telling Jay Lethal he is ‘tired of this bulls**t’. This was a really well acted segment by all involved, and FTR are tremendously charismatic talkers, but I always hate these types of angles because all Briscoe has to do is watch back the tape and see the truth. Logic hole aside it was a well done segment, and the crowd was electric for it.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Renee Paquette relays the message backstage from MJF to Sammy Guevara that the offer still stands and that if he lays down for MJF at Double Or Nothing he’ll be handsomely rewarded. Guevara refuses, and says that people have always tried to buy him out of his dreams, and tells him to shove his offer up his ass, I still don’t believe this character or his chances of winning, and Guevara’s words feel very forced.
GREAT House Of Black vs AR Fox, Blake Christian and Metalik- AEW Trios Championship Open House Rules Match:
The dealer’s choice rule for this match is ‘one in one out’, with the commentators clarifying that no tags are necessary. That does make it almost impossible to do play by play for this match, as the speed is so fast, so I will merely summarise with some talking points. The contrast in styles here is immediately evident, with the faces’ high flying antics against the style varieties of the House Of Black. I especially enjoyed a short Muay Thai sequence with Malakai Black and Blake Christian, who is himself one of the worlds most underrated wrestlers. The variety of flips and leaps from the face team are impressive as ever from talents of this calibre. The match ends when the House Of Black places each member of the face team into submission holds, with AR Fox tapping out to a Buddy Matthews Texas Cloverleaf. A short and brisk match that again feels a little out of place on a go home show, but was flawlessly executed wrestling and terrific fun for its short runtime. A significant upgrade from the debut iteration of this match, likely because of the upgraded speed and more impressive spots.
Results: Buddy Matthews by submission via Texas Cloverleaf
David Sheldon WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
The Blackpool Combat Club cut a basic but well executed backstage promo hyping themselves up ahead of the Dynamite main event and the Anarchy in The Arena match on Sunday. Moxley here is especially cold, and came across like an absolute megastar, ending the promo by declaring that Sunday will demonstrate the difference between the professionals and the amateurs and like every Moxley promo, I believe every word he says.
GOOD MJF Speaks
MJF struts out, immediately throws water in Schiavone’s face and spits on the crowd. He gets some early local crowd heat, before he gets down to business. He absolutely burns every single member of the four way, but still hypes up the homegrown nature of the match, and describes how pivotal the four men have been in creating the AEW we know today. MJF turns the tables however, saying he is frankly bored, and is tired of a lack of competency and a lack of competition. He begins to bring up his contract situation again and says that is why Tony Khan has booked the four way where he doesn’t have to be pinned to lose the title. He says the fans should be worried because he may just take his ball and go home, and when he does he will have deserved it, concluding by saying ‘No one is on the level of the devil’.
As he goes to leave, he is cut off by Darby Allin. Allin charts his life becoming a wrestler, hyping up the company in the process and really selling himself as an underdog. He says to be a top star he must become world champion, and he might just win it with a headlock takeover, to which MJF responds by nonchalantly kicking Allin in the groin. He tries to hit Allin with the diamond ring, but Guevara interrupts and MJF bolts.He is met on the stage by a clothesline by Jungle Boy to end the segment, as the three faces stand tall. This did a better job than previous weeks of selling MJF’s predicament and disadvantage , helped by the fact it was referenced by MJF himself. The problem is that MJF is too good at this stage, and showed up the other three by his unbelievable charisma. That is not to say Allin did not cut a good promo because he did, but the segment made Jungle Boy and Guevara look completely expendable, and to be honest made me more want another MJF vs Darby singles match. MJF may sometimes be too good for his own good, and I think this segment highlighted that. Still a brilliantly delivered promo though, just not perhaps the blow away success it could’ve been
David Sheldon WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
BELOW AVERAGE Taya Valkyrie vs Lady Frost:
Taya Valkyrie gets a decent response from the crowd, as opposed to Lady Frost who is met with bum-clenching silence, though she does get the crowd on her side as the match goes on, almost to Taya’s detriment. This is a simple match, with Lady Frost getting in some offence before being cut off and beaten down by Taya, in a sequence which repeats itself multiple times. Frost gets a really inventive top rope spinning splash at one stage, but it is completely no-sold and Taya nails a spear instead. Halfway into the match, Jade Cargill comes to the stage to watch proceedings, highlighting their title match on Sunday. Taya is often distracted by Cargill, allowing Frost some hope spots, but Taya is able to hit a Road To Valhalla for the win. This wasn’t a squash, but Taya won dominantly and convincingly. This wasn’t bad, but was underwhelming and a bit uninteresting. Frost got in some decent offence and Valkyrie has a good power game, but the LA crowd seemed confused on who to cheer for, with Taya seeming to work heel when she is completely a face against Cargill on Sunday. Odd dynamics and some botched and clunky moves, but other moves that were much better executed and Taya does look strong going into the PPV, so not terrible, just would’ve been better with more time and focus. Also I implore AEW to give more time to the female talent, because boy these shows struggle with good female representation.
Results: Taya Valkyrie by Pinfall via Road To Valhalla
David Sheldon WR Star Rating – 2.25 Stars
Tony Khan, in his usually clumsy manner, announces the debut episode of Collision will take place from the United Centre in Chicago, which got a huge ovation from the crowd, and I do believe I heard a CM Punk chant break out. This makes sense if Punk is heading up the brand, and this crowd were very into the announcement.
Hangman Adam Page is backstage with Alex Marvez and is asked about his friendship with The Elite. He says he is not friends with Omega, he is family. He says the BCC will pay for their sins in blood. I love Hangman and he is really assured and commanding on the microphone.
AMAZING Adam Cole and Chris Jericho Contract Signing: Watch Segment HERE
The JAS look like idiots as always and it is glorious. Jericho is disrespectful and cocky by putting his feet on the table while Cole is angered and signs the contract with no hesitation. Cole cuts a fabulous promo on Jericho in a vicious state, staring daggers into Jericho’s eyes. He calls him a disgusting human being, and calls out Jericho’s entitled attitude and says he believes he is invincible. Cole says he wishes he could fight Jericho now, but instead decides to tell Jericho all the ways in which he is going to hurt him. Through all of this, Jericho is nonchalant and looks like a dejected puppy. Jericho takes the mic and insults the crowd, before making Cole rewatch Jericho’s assault on Britt Baker. Jericho blames Cole and calls him a coward. He says Cole knows he can’t beat the Ocho, and says he has outsmarted Cole by outnumbering him, to which Adam Cole brings out Sabu, in an insane but amazing surprise, to be in his corner for Double Or Nothing. Sabu throws a chair at Matt Menard’s head as the JAS scamper. I loved this segment, it didn’t add a huge amount of layering to the feud, but it made me really want to see Cole batter Jericho on Sunday, making the Sabu reveal, while a bit nonsensical, incredibly cathartic. I had a huge smile on my face through this whole segment.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating – 4 Stars
GOOD Daniel Garcia vs Roderick Strong:
This is an impromptu match, with good intensity right from the start. We are told the JAS are banned from ringside, which makes me wonder how AEW rules are enforced and why. Some great technical wrestling early on which quickly breaks down into a chop fest. The intensity between the competitors is electric and the action furious in its brutality. Garcia also plays brilliantly to the crowd, dancing around and interacting well with the fans. Garcia’s arrogance cost him at several key points however, giving Strong a chance back into the match. Garcia nails chop after chop to Strong, before locking in a Dragon Tamer, though Strong narrowly escapes. Roderick hits a gutbuster into the End Of Heartache for the win. I wish this could’ve gone longer, because the action was really brilliantly brutal, and really showed off both guys well. It just needed more time to really get into the next gear.
Result: Roderick Strong by Pinfall via End Of Heartache
David Sheldon WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
GREAT Lucha Bros vs Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta)- ROH Tag Team Championships:
Bryan Danielson joins commentary for this match. Lucha Bros get an incredible response from this crowd. We begin with a brawl, ending with a double suicide dive by The Lucha Bros, immediately leading into some impressive flying leaps, though there is a lot of spot waiting. An early problem of this match is that the tag rules are almost immediately ignored, so you have no idea who is legal and when. The action is of course terrific, with all four guys hitting each other with every ounce of their spirit. Danielson brings up his history with bears on commentary and god bless him for that. We finally somewhat settle with Ray Fenix being worked over by Castagnoli and Yuta, with terrific wrestling psychology used. Yuta and Castagnoli work like machines, really demonstrating the philosophy of the faction, hitting a giant swing into a dropkick to prevent a hot tag. Fenix flips out of a Ricola Bomb into a code red, leading to a huge Penta hot tag. He runs wild on both members of the BCC, much to the enthusiasm of the crowd. We begin to lose tag rules again, though the moves remain no less impressive, with all four guys pinballing off each other for near-falls. There is a tremendous near-fall off an uppercut and a splash by the BCC. The finish comes when The Young Bucks appear from under the ring to prevent Castagnoli breaking up The Lucha Bros’ LB Driver on Yuta, who is covered for the three count. The Lucha Brothers retain, as Danielson looks on in seething anger. This match was incredibly clean, efficient and inventive, providing some unbelievable spots from all four guys, and helped by a really electric crowd. The match did falter however from its flagrant disregard for tag rules at large portions, which began to convolute certain spots and make a lot of the match rules meaningless and almost incomprehensible. A really well done match, just hampered by its disregard for tag team rules.
Results: The Lucha Bros by Pinfall via LB Driver
David Sheldon WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
Post match, the Young Bucks escape through the crowd as Jon Moxley and Danielson swarming the ring. Moxley promises that Anarchy In The Arena will be the most violent match in AEW history, and promises pain and suffering to The Elite as the show goes off the air.
As a standalone episode of Dynamite, this was a solid night of good wrestling and fun promo work, offering much of the status quo with a fun surprise or two sprinkled in. Unfortunately I can’t say this was a terrific go-home show, as outside of Jericho vs Cole it kept my interest level for most of the Double Or Nothing matches at around the same level they were before. It didn’t decrease my interest in any matches, but it mostly opted for safety over boldness, which is understandable so close to a major show, but for a show which is looking a little lacking on paper, it could really have used a shot of adrenaline. Still the crowd was tremendous tonight, the show was structured well with its opening and closing matches the best of the card, and there was no complete stinker anywhere on the card, although the lone women’s match continues to disappoint, with the strong talent not given enough resources to soar. I sadly can’t give the match score higher than a 0.5/1 because of a lack of true standout match, with even the card’s best matches feeling like strong athletic showcases over anything which truly hooked me. Still I can’t complain with solid, well executed wrestling, and this card had it in spades. It just needed more progression and focus on storytelling for it to truly break through into the great tier of Dynamite shows.
Overall…
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 1/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.5/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3.25/5 Stars
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling – May 25th 2023
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
