On the heels of Rampage and the debut of CM Punk, All Elite Wrestling continues on their trajectory straight towards the moon. Tonight marks the Dynamite debut of Punk, but that isn’t stopping the rest of the card from looking fantastic. We continue on with the Tag Team tournament with the Lucha Bros and the Varsity Blonds, and there are TWO trios matches. Those trios matches are always nuts, as I’m sure the rest of the night shall be as well. Let’s get to it!
Orange Cassidy vs. Matt Hardy
I couldn’t tell you the story between these two anymore. Hardy hates the best friends and Orange Cassidy, and that’s about it.
Match starts with them taunting each other with hands in pockets and “Delete” chants, which was funny. Matt Hardy takes over with a Side Effect onto the ringside floor. Hardy punishes Cassidy and targets his lower back.
Cassidy changes momentum, but his pained lower back prevents him from hitting Beach Break. After more taunting, Cassidy his able to turn the momentum with a huge splash from the top rope. Cassidy landed on Hardy’s face, as the Money man starts bleeding from his nose.
Cassidy hits a top rope senton with the hands in the pockets, and then there’s a close two count after hitting a Twist of Fate of his own. After missing his own Twist of Fate, Hardy is pinned by Cassidy with his hands in his pockets. That was a creative pin that he used on Dark the other night.
This was a good match. Nothing special, but a fun opener. I liked how they played off of each other with each others moves and taunts.
Chris Jericho Segment: Jericho is out to the ring, and he’s pissed off and depressed that he lost to MJF again. He wants to propose one more match against MJF at All Out. If Jericho loses, he’s done as a wrestler in AEW.
MJF comes out with a hilarious shirt that says “MJF-3 JERIBLOW-0.” He accepts the match at All Out.
Tag Team Eliminator: Varsity Blonds vs. Lucha Bros
Whoever wins this match advances to face Jurassic Express in the Tag Team eliminator tournament to face the Young Bucks in a steel cage!
Griff Garrison and Rey Fenix starts out, and I just never understand how Fenix does what he does. In a company loaded with favorites of mine, he might be my favorite to watch.
Penta and Pillman come in, and there’s multiple choruses of “Cero Miedo.” The pace is actually pretty tame for a Lucha Bros match, as both teams have their time.
Varsity Blonds have the advantage until Rey Fenix tags in, and the pace picks up with a flurry of moves. Rey’s rolling cutter is so awesome.
Move after move after move. Fenix hits an awesome assisted suicide dive from his brother, and then the Lucha Brothers hit the elevated Piledriver for the pinfall.
Jurassic Express comes to the ring, and both teams work together and get the best of the Young Bucks, who were ringside.
Jurassic Express vs. Lucha Brothers next week!
This was great, and Varsity Blonds get better every time they get in the ring. This also felt a little bit out of sync for a Lucha Bros match.
Red Velvet vs. Jamie Hayter
After Red Velvet lost to Britt Baker in Pittsburgh, Jamie Hayter debuted as Britt’s backup. Velvet took offense to Hayter taking her out from behind after the bell.
Velvet attempts to get ahead of Hayter at the bell, but Hayter uses her strength to take over quickly.
Red Velvet hits two huge suicide dives, and lands on Hayter completely. As Velvet is distracted by Britt, Hayter slams Velvet’s face into the ring post and takes back over.
Hayter’s strikes are massive, and she just has complete domination. Velvet hits a clothesline and a violent superkick. She then misses a standing moonsault, which looked like a mess up. Hayter jumps up quickly, hits a backbreaker, then hits a huge lariat out of nowhere for the victory.
This was decent…but they were absolutely not in sync for a good amount of it. Both girls are newer, and It looked like it tonight. Hayter looks like she could be a dominant force in the future, but this wasn’t a strong showing from either lady. I really enjoyed getting to see these two get some shine on Dynamite. It’s nice to see fresh faces get national spotlight, even though it fell short.
Segment: Evil Uno and the Dark Order are at odds over Hangman Adam Page. Uno and Reynolds argue, and Reynolds walks off and say’s “I’m done.”
I’m very intrigued where this goes.
CM PUNK Dynamite debut
Schiavone is in the ring as he announces CM Punk to obvious fanfare and chants. He gets in the ring, and Schiavone asks, “What’s the one thing that brings you back to the ring?”
Punk talks about the young talent, and continues talking about Darby Allin. Darby gets put over huge here, and discusses people talking asking “Can CM Punk still go?”
Because everyone knows the answer apparently, the fans start a YES chant and Punk all but confirms Bryan Danielson.
This was fun, but I don’t think Punk was ready for how crazy AEW crowds are. The segment was great, and I loved every second of it. Maybe film Punk promos backstage so the crowd doesn’t take over? Everyone is so excited to see him, they’ll chant everything he says for awhile. Either that, or add a ten minute buffer to anything involving him.
Eddie Kingston/Darby Allin/Jon Moxley vs. The Wingmen
There wasn’t much to this trios match. The Wingmen tried using their numbers and comedy heel tactics to get the best of the fan favorite trio. Moxley and Kingston were having none of it. The Wingmen had control of the match for a little bit after sending Moxley into the barricade.
After knocking Kingston down, JD Drake attempted a Vader Bomb. Jon Moxley comes up from behind, and bites Drake in the face. That man is crazy, and I love it. Darby Allin gets a tag and hits an awesome avalanche Code Red on Drake. After a Stundog Millionaire, Darby hits the Coffin Drop for the win.
Another match that seemed a little out of sync, but the skill of Darby, Kingston, and Moxley saved it. It was fun for what it was. I like the Wingmen as well, and they play their parts well.
Segment: Tay Conti is backstage with Marvez, who announces that Conti will be in the Battle Royale. The Bunny shows up, who also says she’s going to be in the Battle Royale and that Conti should join the HFO so they can team up. Conti rips apart the contract Bunny gave her, and they brawl.
Segment: Kenny and Don Callis are in the ring to be interviewed, but Christian Cage interrupts with a video. He calls Callis a “Carny piece of shit,” queueing the crowd. Callis takes his jacket off and tries to fight Cage, but Kenny Omega and Cage brawl until Frankie Kazarian comes out to save the day.
A Rampage match is set for Christian Cage and Kazarian taking on Kenny Omega and Brandon Cutler. Well I know who’s taking that pin…
Segment: Moxley is backstage and pissed, and he announces at All Out will be him taking on Satoshi Kojima.
The Factory vs. Gunn Club
Paul Wight is out on commentary for this one, and the Gunn Club is back to full strength as Austin Gunn has returned for this trios match against Comoroto, Solo, and QT Marshall.
The match starts, and immediately QT is being his smarmy heel self with attacks from behind. He constantly points at Paul Wight, who does a pretty good job staying focused on what he’s saying for commentary. The Factory has control for most of the match over Austin Gunn, but gets the hot tag on brother Colten, who is much improved. He has come along nicely and he hits a few big splashes and a big dropkick.
QT tempts Paul Wight one too many times, and he gets up from his commentary spot and starts coming down the ramp. Colten Gunn takes advantage and surprises QT with a small package pin and gets the pinfall! Colten Gunn is still undefeated and that’s pretty cool
I enjoyed this, in all honesty. A short match, but everyone got to get in the ring and show a little, and the ending was actually refreshing. It’s not too often surprise rollups get wins in AEW, and it’s believable that QT might get surprised after Paul Wight comes down the rampway because QT actually seems scared of him. Thumbs up from me!
Segment: Dan Lambert is back with the Men of the Year, and he’s running down AEW fans and the roster. He blames millennials and calls everyone soft. This was fine, and I do like the pairing between Lambert, Sky, and Page. Yes, Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page can talk, but it makes sense that an MMA legend like Dan Lambert would have guys with Martial Arts backgrounds as his backup. I’d rather Sky and Page than someone new coming in.
Malakai Black vs. Brock Anderson
Arn Anderson was back last week, after being taken out by Malakai Black. His son, Brock, wanted to avenge his father, and Malakai was happy to oblige the young man.
Malakai comes out with his awe-inspiring entrance. It is just one of the best entrances of any roster member. He sits in the corner as Brock Anderson comes out, and the whole time Malakai stares him down like a lion stalking its prey.
And this is how the entire match goes. Brock is able to start fast until one knee stops him in his tracks, and Black never lets up after that. He stares down Arn numerous times as he attacks his son. Black begs Arn to throw in the towel for his son. He hits the Black Mass for the pinfall.
Arn Anderson comes into the ring, but Black grabs a chair and goes back into the ring. Arn blocks a Black Mass, but Malakai low blows him and then hits a Black Mass onto Arn. Black walks away, and Lee Johnson runs out to check on Arn. Seems like Lee is Malakai Black’s next victim.
A little odd for an AEW main event to be so short. I really enjoyed this for what it was. Black and Arn played off of each other well, and throwing in the towel continues to be a fun story beat that AEW has established. It adds to the story of the matches. I liked this a lot. Just an odd placement for it, as it didn’t feel like a normal main event spot.
I have to be fair. I did not like tonight’s Dynamite. Something felt off for a majority of the show.
I don’t know if something happened and they had time crunches, or something backstage we will never know about.
My favorite parts of the whole evening were the segments and promos, which is rare for an AEW show. The matches weren’t bad per se, but something wasn’t clicking for most of them. It has been awhile since AEW swung and missed. This was, by far, AEW’s first miss since they had been touring, and if this was the worst they do?
That’s a pretty high bar, because this show wasn’t unwatchable at all. I really liked the CM Punk segment, Don Callis, and the Malakai Black main event.
Match of the Night: Matt Hardy vs. Orange Cassidy
Verdict: 2.5/5 Below Average