All Elite Wrestling was in Austin, Texas for Dynamite this week! Revolution is solidly in the rear view mirror, and things have changed drastically. New feuds, new gimmicks, and new storylines galore! There’s a long time until Double or Nothing, but the future landscape is starting to take shape.
Dynamite has been a lot of fun recently! Can AEW continue the streak?
Let’s find out!
CM Punk vs Dax Harwood
Dynamite starting with a great match will always be better than a segment. That’s just how it is! Especially when you throw two stellar performers into the squared circle to do what they do best. That is exactly how Dynamite started this week. CM Punk and Dax Harwood started this week’s action off with a bang! This match was great. Punk showed off why he’s back in peak form and Dax Harwood always brings his best to the singles action.
A lot of this match was dominated by Harwood here, which surprised me. The story revolved around Harwood targeting Punk’s back to neutralize the GTS. He actually took flight twice with diving headbutts, but the key point revolved around someone else’s move.
The match escalated to a conclusion as Dax countered the GTS with a Sharpshooter. AEW went heavy handed with the Bret Hart teases this week, with JR even calling it out afterwards. Punk was able to squeak out the victory by countering into the Anaconda Vice lock and Dax tapped.
This was a phenomenal match. CM Punk is in peak form again and, apparently, eyeing that AEW Championship.
4/5
Match of the Night
Segment:
I appreciate the ridiculousness of the Jericho Appreciation Society. The JAS was backstage with Tony Schiavone and talking about their upcoming match with John Silver and Alex Reynolds. Apparently every AEW elder statesman has some photo with a young pup. Jericho proceeds to show a photo of a younger version of himself and very young John Silver. He kept referring to Silver as “Hungie,” which was hilarious. It didn’t end here, however, because they all started looking for Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz. The former 2point0 add the perfect amount of stupidity to these promos as they looked for Kingston. Everything about the JAS is the perfect amount of ridiculous.
Sting, Darby Allin, & The Hardys vs. Andrade Family Office
After teasing it last week, AEW treated the fans to a Tornado Tag match between fan favorites Darby Allin, Sting, and the Hardys against the newly formed Andrade Family Office. Not exactly sure why Andrade just replaced Matt Hardy in an inept faction, except to be fed to babyfaces. Regardless, this match was crazy, hilarious, and freaking insane.
Apparently “Texas Tornado Tag” is code for “do whatever the heck you want,” in AEW. There were no disqualifications, no tags, and no rules. The craziness started instantly with Sting, 63 year old Sting, jumping off the top rope onto Private Party. I love how he keeps upping his craziness ante. This Tornado tag was a match to see. It was ten minutes of insanity. Darby Allin was thrown down stairs, Private Party slammed Matt Hardy off the ramp through a table, and Jeff Hardy hit a Swanton Bomb from twenty feet off a ledge. Sting’s undefeated streak continues, as him and Matt Hardy hit a Scorpion Deathdrop and Twist of Fate for the victory. Give me more crazy Dynamite matches, please!
3.5/5
Afterwards, FTR were backstage and pissed off about the Gunn Club’s antics during Dax’s match. They had been ringside and talking smack for the majority of the match. FTR challenged Gunn Club to a match next week to teach them a lesson.
Varsity Blonds vs. Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson
My new favorite tag team, Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson, were in action up next. They faced the young upstarts, the Varsity Blonds, in a one sided affair. The Blonds couldn’t put much together against the two amazing veterans. Moxley and Bryan took turns beating down the Blonds and they continue to have the most creative tag maneuvers. Danielson held Griff Garrison in a Dragon Sleeper for Moxley to come cave his chest in with a slap. The creativity of these moves is phenomenal. Pillman gained a little momentum towards the end, but eventually Moxley and Danielson shut it down with the Running Knee, Paradigm shift, and a choke to finish the match. Good match, but happened as expected.
3.25/5
What happened during and after the match wasn’t expected. Julia Hart was at ringside, still wearing that eye patch. She sat on the ringside steps, continuously looking away from the action like a sad puppy. The camera cut to her numerous times. What is happening with her? I’m happy that All Elite Wrestling hasn’t abandoned this storyline.
William Regal, who was on commentary, immediately came to the ring post-match. Moxley proceeded to cut an impassioned promo about Regal and named the forceful group: the ‘Blackpool Combat Club.’ A badass name for a badass team.
MJF Speaks
If I could give a segment, “Match of the night,” it would be this one. MJF came down to the ring to discuss everything that happened last week with Wardlow. He hired a security detail to protect himself for the eventual Wardlow interruption. MJF has evolved his character to a whole other level. He promised CM Punk that there will be another match at some point, and that he will “piss on the grave,” of the Best in the World.
Eventually Wardlow heard enough, except MJF was ready for him. Hidden security was able to stop Wardlow from entering the ring. MJF kept referencing Wardlow as a “greedy little pig” for taking his money and wanting out of the contract. Now MJF will pay Wardlow until his contract is over, and require him to stay at home.
This was FANTASTIC. MJF teased something interesting happening with the Pinnacle next week as well. I assumed MJF would bring out the evil in CM Punk, but CM Punk brought more evil out in MJF. His character work is so good that it’s scary how young he still is.
Jay Lethal vs. Adam Cole
Up next was a wonderful match between two former Ring of Honor Champions. It was awesome to see Jay Lethal back on television facing Adam Cole. This back and forth affair almost won Match of the Night!
Jay Lethal held the advantage for a good portion of the fight. He continuously attempted the Figure Four because he wanted to neutralize Adam Cole’s BOOM knee finisher. Cole’s partners in crime inevitably got involved to help him, but Lethal really held his own. The best spot of the match occurred when Jay Lethal attempted the Lethal Injection, except Cole timed the superkick to Lethal’s face perfectly. Cole’s superkick timing is impeccable.
The match escalated to the finish after Cole’s Panama Sunrise failed to score the pinfall. That move never finishes anyone. Not exactly sure why Cole gets frustrated with it. Cole hit Lethal with a low blow and the BOOM Knee for the victory. Very good match! I’d like more Jay Lethal on my screen please.
3.75/5
After the match, Cole grabs a microphone and taunts Hangman again. Mentioning the Champ’s name summoned him, except Cole and reDRagon were ready for him. Jurassic Express make the save, but Adam Cole steals Hangman’s title.
Segments:
- Dustin Rhodes will take on Lance Archer this week on Rampage. They had a really good video promo back and forth here. Archer referenced their previous match in the inaugural TNT Tournament, which Dustin still wants revenge for. This was good!
- Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti are in the ring for an interview. Even though it caused Sammy to lose, he still wants to do crazy moves ‘for the people.’ Apparently they want to challenge American Top Team together because Paige van Zant is a ‘pendejo.’ Dan Lambert and A.T.T. answer them with some funny one liners. I laughed way too hard at ‘Lucha-whore-us.’ Sammy and Tay ended the segment by telling Lambert they had sex with the belt he had. Someone needs to have a heart to heart with Sammy and Tay. We don’t want to hear about your sex lives. Dan Lambert was the least obnoxious person in this segment!
Red Velvet vs. Leyla Hirsch
Up next was a good match between former friends turned rivals, Leyla Hirsch and Red Velvet. Kris Statlander was barred from ringside, even though Hirsch has proven she likes to cheat. Both ladies beat the crap out of each other before the bell, which ended up continuing during the match. This match felt like both ladies hated each other. Leyla controlled most of the match until Velvet hit an Iconoclasm and Corkscrew kick. Those were nice, but Hirsch rolled outside the ring to continue her screwy antics. She distracted the ref with one Turnbuckle to hit Red Velvet with another. Hirsch wins another match! This was pretty good! I’m enjoying heel Hirsch and Red Velvet has really improved. There was one spot that was botched and awkward, but didn’t take away from the rest.
3.25/5
Hirsch continued the assault during the post-match. Kris Statlander, with her awesome new dark look, came down for the save. I’m sure that match will be next. I am into this storyline! Good stuff.
Segments:
- Jade Cargill was backstage with Tony Schiavone next. Her 30th win has become a story at this point, which makes me wonder if she’s not winning. Her and Mark Sterling are planning the after party this week, except Schiavone wants to know who the opponent is. Nobody seems to know?
- Up next was the first appearance of Thunder Rosa as AEW Women’s Champion. She comes out to talk to Schiavone on the rampway, except she’s rudely interrupted by Vickie Guerrero. I am definitely in the minority because I like how annoying Vickie is. What I don’t like is what happened after her interruption. Apparently we’re doing a citizenship storyline? Vickie asked about her Green card… The inevitable Nyla attack happened without Thunder Rosa even really speaking. I like Nyla and missed her on my television, but I do not like this being the first program for Thunder Rosa. I’m fine with a Nyla and Rosa match, but can we evolve past citizenship angles?
Jericho & Daniel Garcia vs. John Silver & Alex Reynolds
Our Dynamite main event was a battle between Pro Wrestling and Sports Entertainment. This match was really fun, despite the obvious outcome. Silver and Reynolds showed how good of a tag team they are, and Jericho and Garcia were a fun team as well.
Silver and Reynolds started the match out on top. They took offense to Jericho’s constant mockery and disrespect. They hit a really cool Tope Suicida/Brainbuster combination here. Unfortunately for Silver and Reynolds, Jericho is a wily veteran with a lot of dirty tricks. The Jericho Appreciation Society took advantage of their numbers by getting ’10’ and Alan Angels thrown from ringside. This allowed them to distract the referee and take advantage, as good sports entertainers do.
Eventually Silver received his quintessential ‘Hot Tag,’ which caused him to go bananas. His hot tag might be the best in the game today. He’s a sparkplug that doesn’t run out of batteries. Dark Order went on a roll until the numbers game was too much to overcome. Hager took out Silver, Jericho blasted Reynolds with his bat, and Daniel Garcia finished the match with a deep Scorpion Deathlock. A main event match won by Daniel Garcia? Heck yes! This was a really good main event, albeit obvious one. I had a lot of fun with this one.
3.75/5
Verdict
And that was All Elite Wrestling Dynamite for this week! This episode started great, however the last hour wasn’t as good as the first. I’ve noticed that as a trend for AEW. The consistency just isn’t there. One half of the show is always better than the other and I don’t know why.
I still had fun, regardless. Dynamite is always a fun time. The best parts still revolve around CM Punk and MJF. Their feud escalated both of them perfectly. The Women’s booking was, by far, the worst part of the whole night. Leyla Hirsch and Red Velvet had a good match, but we need more from the division as a whole. The newly crowned champion barely spoke one week after winning her title, Nyla and Thunder Rosa are feuding over citizenship, and Tay Conti has sex. Those were our feuds outside of Leyla, Velvet, and Statlander. I’m happy more women are getting screen time, but the fans are clamoring for multiple weekly matches.
Rant over. Dynamite wasn’t bad at all this week, but did not hit the highs of previous weeks. Always is fun though! I grade on the scale of fun I had watching, and Dynamite checks a lot of boxes.
Overall: 3.5/5