This was a weak episode of AEW Dynamite overall, without much of a driving force to invest you going into the PPV. The highlights were a very fun cruiserweight opener, reminiscent of 90s WCW, a great Ospreay/Callis segment, and some otherwise solid matches and segments dotted throughout. However, the women’s 4 way was a completely jumbled mess, character dynamics and chemistry felt off in numerous places, some segments felt entirely perfunctory and the production was at times some of the worst I’ve seen from AEW in a while, at times looking amateurish. The show’s first 20 minutes lacked any momentum, and even when the show did kick more into gear it struggled to consistently maintain interest. The crowd were mixed all night, Jeff Jarrett proved a poor choice for the commentary desk as often more a hindrance than a help, and the whole show felt sadly slapdash, which may or may not be down to real world events causing booking changes.In any case, it didn’t work as intended, and proved a lacklustre go home effort for a card that really needed selling to its audience.
Tonight on AEW Dynamite, Bryan Danielson teams with Wheeler Yuta in what may be his final ever Dynamite outing. The number one contendership for the women’s title is also up for grabs in a Fatal 4 Way with Willow Nightingale, Saraya, Nyla Rose and Jamie Hayter. Elsewhere on the card, Will Ospreay confronts Don Callis, Mercedes Mone takes on Emi Sakura and Hologram comes to Dynamite! Let’s get at it!
Moxley opens with a typically fiery promo continuing to setup the Wrestledream match with Danielson. Some great delivery as usual from Moxley.
Danielson has a retort promo that sounds like it was filmed in a tin can.
GOOD Darby Allin/Brody King Promo
This was such a strange promo. Darby Allin and Brody King have incredible in ring chemistry, mostly built around blood and destruction. Seeing them attempt to peel back those layers and speak to the people behind the carnage in theory is a great idea. In practise though I was less convinced. The chemistry between competitors didn’t seem there on the mic and Darby trying to goad Brody felt forced. Some great lines, and the delivery of Darby individually was solid, but to me the whole promo felt incohesive. Also, why a rock?
David Sheldon WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
GREAT Hologram vs Komander
Not every single move perfectly landed, but this was incredibly entertaining. This gave me the energy of prime WCW, throwing out the Cruiserweights early to wow the crowd. And boy did they, doing some superbly innovative offence. One of the easiest full marks I’ve ever given in the innovation department. I do wish Jeff Jarrett would’ve stopped alerting the audience to every logical inconsistency, of which there were a few, as given the nature of the cruiserweight action I would never have been alerted to if Jarrett hadn’t amplified it. Nevertheless, this was really entertaining and a terrific way to start the in-ring action. Also, while confusing, Jake managing LFI is a cool change of pace.
Result: Hologram by Pinfall via Airplane Spin Bomb
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.75 Stars
Mark Briscoe excellently takes down Jericho with very few words. Briscoe is so so so much more interesting in a serious tone.
GOOD Daniel Garcia Promo
This promo told us one thing, Garcia has re-signed with AEW. That is great news, but this promo told us nothing else. No sense of direction, no sense of movement, just empty promises of a new Garcia. The rest was complete padding. Garcia is a good promo, but this felt like a waste of time, despite my happiness at the announcement.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating: 3 Stars
Swerve will return at Wrestledream. Curious to see what happens next.
BELOW AVERAGE Willow Nightingale vs Saraya vs Jamie Hayter vs Nyla Rose
This started decently but came apart very quickly. Saraya was the weakest part of this, with some sloppily done sequences. Willow and Nyla held their own fine, as did Hayter until late in the match where she inexplicably chased after Penelope Ford like a complete imbecile, ruining her own chances of a title match. That was by miles and miles the worst part of the show, and an inexplicable mistake. It eventually led to Willow and Saraya as the final 2 for a mostly sloppy final sequence before Willow picks up the win with a fun table spot. I enjoyed it to begin but it lost all steam and some of the choices made were severely damaging.
Result: Willow Nightingale by Pinfall via Rolling Thunder Bomb
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 2.25 Stars
Jericho questions the self-worth of Rocky Romero backstage. I wish this promo had have been at Briscoe to further that feud for their PPV match in 4 days time.
SQUASH Jay White vs Cody Chhun
Nice to see Cody given a bit of offence here as he is really talented, but Jay finishes him quickly with a Blade Runner
Result: Jay White by Pinfall via Blade Runner.
GREAT Jay White Promo
A very solid promo from Jay White calling out Hangman Page for Wrestledream. I think their Collision match is one of the more underrated TV matches this year, so I cannot wait for the PPV Match.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.5 Stars
Hook continues to call out Taz’s attacker, there is clearly a long term gain here so just curious to see what it is.
GREAT Mercedes Mone vs Emi Sakura
This was inconsequential fun and legitimately an encounter I never expected to see. Sakura is one of Japan’s best exports and though she doesn’t always get to show it, is an incredible talent, particularly in Gatoh Pro in her home country. This was brief, with a lot lost to the ad break, but it was still an entertaining match and the two women had good chemistry. The ending felt very abrupt and the feud between Mercedes and Statlander positively baffling considering the face/heel dynamic, but the match itself worked for what it was trying to do. I’d like to see them run it back in a longer match in the future.
Result: Mercedes Mone by Submission via Statement Maker
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.5 Stars
Stokely try to recruit Private Party but to no avail.
AMAZING Will Ospreay/Don Callis Promo
In my opinion the highlight of the show, this was an excellent promo from both Ospreay and Callis to finally remove Ospreay from the family. I thought it was believable and well worked, and the angle made me more interested in the relationship dynamics heading into Wrestledream. A job very well done from all involved
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 4 Stars
GREAT Bryan Danielson and Wheeler Yuta vs Claudio Castagnoli and PAC
This match on paper should’ve been far more interesting than it was in practise. The match was well wrestled as expected and all the dynamics were there, it just lacked that real wow factor to push it into the top bracket. The ending, like the previous match, was abrupt and easy, not wowing the crowd especially. Despite being as well worked as expected, it lacked emotional investment or memorability, leading it to be solid and nothing more.
Result: Bryan Danielson by Submission via Labell Lock
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.5 Stars
Overall…
This was a weak episode of AEW Dynamite overall, without much of a driving force to invest you going into the PPV. The highlights were a very fun cruiserweight opener, reminiscent of 90s WCW, a great Ospreay/Callis segment, and some otherwise solid matches and segments dotted throughout. However, the women’s 4 way was a completely jumbled mess, character dynamics and chemistry felt off in numerous places, some segments felt entirely perfunctory and the production was at times some of the worst I’ve seen from AEW in a while, at times looking amateurish. The show’s first 20 minutes lacked any momentum, and even when the show did kick more into gear it struggled to consistently maintain interest. The crowd were mixed all night, Jeff Jarrett proved a poor choice for the commentary desk as often more a hindrance than a help, and the whole show felt sadly slapdash, which may or may not be down to real world events causing booking changes.In any case, it didn’t work as intended, and proved a lacklustre go home effort for a card that really needed selling to its audience.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.5/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.5/1 Stars
Overall Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling – October 8th 2024
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here :
