Greetings and Salutations! I will be taking over the Dynamite reviews here on Slam! and I am so excited for it. This week we have a bunch of tournament matches for the Owen Hart Tournament, and the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament. With this show in Edmonton, I am sure the crowd will be hot. [Read our live report: AEW’S EDMONTON DEBUT A MEMORABLE NIGHT] Without further ado, let’s get to it.

We start the shows with some promos. Backstage, Darby Allin told Keith Lee he knows he doesn’t want to team with Swerve Strickland. Lee said that he felt on top of the world last year but now he feels he’s lost in the shuffle. Allin said to do something about it, even if he has to win this by himself. Allin tells Lee to pull his head out of his ass and take things serious or he can sit on the apron and cry about it.

Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Quarter-Final: Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin vs Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland (w/ Prince Nana)

Allin and Lee start the match but Cassidy comes in early and does his “strikes” on Lee. Lee chops Cassidy down to the mat. Cassidy is back up and hits a Dropkick followed by an Orange Punch. Allin comes in and joins his partner, Cassidy on laying the boots to Lee with some double team moves, but Lee won’t fall. Strickland comes in and hits Cassidy with a huge kick. Strickland hits Cassidy with tons of offense. Allin comes in and helps Cassidy on double-teaming Strickland with a huge Suplex to shift momentum. Allin and Cassidy lay the boots to Strickland and cut the ring in half from his partner Lee.

Strickland is able to get the upper hand again. Lee comes in and helps his non-freind partner as they double team Allin with a Suplex followed by a Powerbomb combo. Strickland and Allin battle outside and Strickland gets Allin on the steps. Cassidy with a dive onto Strickland who is still at ringside. Cassidy now has Strickland in a Sleeper. Lee comes in and counters a DDT, reverses a Stun-dog Millionaire but Cassidy hits a second Stun-Dog Millionaire. Allin hits Lee with a Code Red and immediately goes for the pin but Stickland breaks it up with a 450 splash but he lands on his own partner, Lee. Now Lee eats an accidental kick from Strickland. Cassidy with a Diving DDT on Strickland, followed by a dive onto Lee on the outside. Allin with the pin and win.

Winners: Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin

A video package highlighted teenager Nick Wayne

“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry arrives and wants a shot at the FTW Championship. HOOK arrives and attacks him, and Perry escapes.

MJF and Adam Cole are shown trying to get a long at the gym. Cole doesn’t want to be there and MJF insults one of the people at the gym, and Cole tells him he can’t talk like that. They then compare the jabroni to Tony Schiavone and bond over that….

Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed at AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo by Ben Lypka

Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed at AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo by Ben Lypka

The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & “Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn vs. The Blade & Bollywood Boyz (Gurv Sihra and Harv Sihra)

Gunn and Blade get things started. Gunn and Caster get the early advantage and double-team Blade. Caster slams both Bollywood Boyz down and dives onto the Blade. The Acclaimed with Scissor Me Timbers, and a Scissor hand gesture for Gunn.

Blade is in and takes out Caster, then proceeds to triple-team on him with the Bollywood Boyz. Bowens is able to get the hot tag to come in and clear the ring. Gunn is in and slams Gurv down. Caster with the Mic Drop on Gurv for the win.

Winner: The Acclaimed & “Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn

As the winners are celebrating, Harley Cameron interrupts them with a message from the screen. She said she has made a video and the world will see real talent next weeks. Gunn grabs a mic and tells her to “Suck it”….errr…

We see highlights from the NJPW Strong shows in Tokyo this week where Eddie Kingston beat Kenta for the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship.

We cut to Jon Moxley. Moxley chats about his history with Eddie Kingston. He wonders why Kingston is mad. Moxley says he had a dream where Kingston became everything he could be. Moxley ends the promo by telling Kingston to answer his phone.

In the back, Matt Hardy found out his partner in the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament is Jeff Jarrett.

In a pre-taped promo hyping the main event,  Wheeler Yuta said he is going to end Kenny Omega tonight.

Chris Jericho Reflects…

Jericho says that things haven’t gone his way lately and it’s time for a change. He said that he has reflected a lot lately since they are where everything started for him, Alberta. Jericho reflects on how he used to feel wrestling was everything for him, and said he now feels reinvigorated and resurrected. Jericho goes on to say that it’s time to become a better version of himself, and maybe the best yet.

Don Callis comes out and gets in the ring with Jericho. Callis recalls how 6 years ago he called him and pitched him the idea of the match with Kenny Omega. Callis says that they make history together, and AEW wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for that call. Callis tells Jericho that they make history together, and now that he is building a new family, since Omega ruined his former one, he wants Jericho part of that family. Callis formally asks Jericho to join his new family. Jericho teases a yes, and a no, but he says “Maybe” because he doesn’t join factions, but creates them.

A video package highlights the match between CM Punk and Samoa Joe on the July 8 episode of AEW Dynamite.

Backstage, Renee Paquette is with Roderick Strong, Adam Cole, and a trainer. Paquette asks the trainer for an update on Strong. The trainer says they are being careful due to past injuries. Cole tries to give strong some advice, but then gets a call from MJF and leaves.

Adam Cole and MJF at AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo by Ben Lypka

Adam Cole and MJF at AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo by Ben Lypka

Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament: MJF & Adam Cole vs. Matt Menard & The Butcher

Menard and The Butcher are a pretty good team and even have momentum on their side as they fight against the Can they co-exist team. MJF gets the momentum and has his opponent in a Abdominal Stretch and is arguing with Cole to cheat and grab his hand for additional momentum. The crowd chants for Cole to do it and Cole eventually gives that extra leverage to MJF on the stretch.

Menard pushes MJF to their corner, to separate him from his partner Cole. The ref is distracted and The Butcher gives MJF an extra punch or two. Butcher and MJF continue their double-team on the champion, MJF. MJF rallies, and gets the hot tag on Cole. Cole clears the ring. MJF wants the pin, Cole ignores him and hits the Boom for the win.

Winners: MJF & Adam Cole

MJF at AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo by Ben Lypka

MJF at AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo by Ben Lypka

After the match, MJF grabs a mic and sets up Cole for his “Bay Bay”.  MJF tells Cole that they would have done better if he listened to him. MJF tells Cole they need a ‘bro session’, Cole accepts. MJF then celebrates Adam Coles birthday. MJF brings out a cake, balloons, and a hat for Cole. MJF puts a party hat on Cole. MJF then sings Cole a birthday song. As Cole goes to blow out the candle MJF tries to slam Cole’s face on the cake, but Cole moves and gets MJF’s face in the cake instead. Cole grabs the mic and it was nice of MJF to do all of that, and he thanks his buddy.

Britt Baker previews her match with Ruby Soho. She says she will always be the face of the women’s division and reminds Soho she won the Owen Hart tournament last year.

Chris Jericho is in the back with Daniel Garcia and Sammy Guevara. He tells them they can’t be under his wing forever. Renee Paquette announces that Guevara and Garcia will team up in the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament. Jericho tells them to use the opportunity to show which one of them can lead.

Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Women’s Quarterfinal: Ruby Soho (with The Outcasts) vs. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.

Soho is the pure heel and leaves the ring early in the ring to regroup. After sometime, she enters the ring again. Baker takes Soho down. Baker with a Slingblade. Saraya and Storm distract Baker and Soho capitalizes and slams Baker down, sending her outside of the ring. Saraya attacks Baker as the ref isn’t looking. Soho with control of the match until Baker hits a Twisting Neckbreaker on Soho, and follows that up with a huge Kick. Storm interferes again and distracts Baker, allowing Soho to recover and hit a Suplex on Baker. Soho now throws Baker to the corner and Storm hits Baker with the Owen hart Tournament Title Belt on the head and Soho hits a No Future. Baker gets up at 2 from the subsequent pin.

Soho tries to put Baker in the Lockjaw but couldn’t do it and tries another submission but Baker escaped and goes for a Lockjaw of her own! Storm drags Soho out the ring and grabbed Baker’s leg, Baker fights Storm off. Soho now with a stack pin, while storm grabs on Bakers leg holding her down. HUGE WIN FOR SOHO.

Winner: Ruby Soho

Skye Blue confronts Soho at the top of the stage setting up their Semi-Final match.

Kenny Omega vs. Wheeler Yuta

Yuta attacks Omega before the match officially begins. Omega turns things around early with some heavy chops. Omega with a Bulldog, then slams Yuta to the mat. Yuta blocks a Moonsault attempt from Omega. Yuta, now in control hits a Diving Dropkick. Omega is now on the outside and Yuta dives on Omega sending him to the Barricade. They battle back and forth and Yuta drives Omega throat first onto the top rope. Yuta sends Omega back first out on he barricade. Yuta maintains ground control of Omega, and hits a top rope slam for a 2-count. Yuta with a German Suplex. Omega starts coming back into the match, and hits TWO Snap Dragon Suplexes on Yuta, though somehow Yuta manages a roll-up for a 2-count. Omega gets up and hits a V-Trigger on Yuta.

Omega now goes for a One-Winged Angel but Yuta counters and almost wins it with a Seat Belt. Omega now with a Powerbomb and hits a huge Knee for a 2-count. Callis is now trying to come down the ramp to tons of security. The ref also pulls his attention to Callis. Konosuke Takeshita enters the ring behind Omega and slams Omega. Yuta with a near-fall after a splash. Omega powers up, and finally hits the One-Winged Angel for the win.

Winner: Kenny Omega

After the match. Claudio Castagnoli and Takeshita attack Omega. The Elite (The Young Bucks and Hangman Page) make the save and drive the heels out of the ring.

TOP PHOTO: Kenny Omega chops Wheeler Yuta at AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta. Photo by Ben Lypka

RELATED LINKS

AEW’s Edmonton debut a memorable night

Mat Matters: AEW making history on Western Canadian tour

 

3.5

AEW Dynamite: July 5, 2023

This week’s show is in the middle of the Summer lull of AEW as we head into a busy end of summer with two major shows in one week. That said, we have tons of tournaments on the go. This week’s in-ring was fine and we had enough story progression to make this week’s episode good enough.