Everett crowd hot for Dynamite

EVERETT, Wash. — The puzzle pieces for Double or Nothing were course corrected and seemed to fit more logically after a newsworthy edition of All Elite Wrestling Dynamite in Everett, Wash. on May 15.

After a murky few weeks following Dynasty, it felt like AEW shifted several performers to their proper roles ahead of one of the biggest shows of the year.

WrestleTix had the show at 3,459 tickets distributed earlier in the day for the 10,000-seat Angel of the Winds Arena. The show marked AEW’s debut in the building. A WWE Monday Night Raw at the same arena show drew a reported 3,650 on Feb. 17, 2020.

The show didn’t have a traditional intro and opened directly with a match.

About 30 minutes from showtime for #aewdynamite here at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Wash – the home of the @WHLsilvertips.

Reporting for @slamwrestling tonight @AEW pic.twitter.com/RGCsdNoHIT

— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) May 15, 2024

MATCH 1: Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley vs. Jeff Cobb and Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher and Cobb jumped Moxley before the match and Danielson arrived to make the save and all four brawled outside the ring to start. Fletcher got a lot of shine in this match and had striking battles with both opponents. Moxley hit a superplex and Danielson hit a flying knee with Fletcher draped over the top rope.

Cobb hit Danielson with the Tour of the Islands and the heels attempted a doomsday device that is reversed. Danielson hit Cobb with the running knee and Moxley nailed Fletcher with the death rider for the win at 13:00.

Good match and the home state crowd loved Danielson. I do question why the ROH TV champion keeps getting beat, but it’s not a title or a show that seems to be a high priority.

Konosuke Takeshita arrived and began attacking Moxley and Danielson with Cobb and Fletcher, but they were chased away by Claudio Castagnoli.

Adam Copeland came out for a face-to-face with Malakai Black, but was jumped by Buddy Matthews and Brody King. The pair beat down Copeland in the ring as Black picked up the TNT title and sauntered down to the ring.

Black then stole Copeland’s wedding ring. Kyle O’Reilly arrived to make the save, but he was unsuccessful. It was a pretty good angle, which got a lot of heat from the crowd. Black is someone that should have been a main eventer years ago for AEW.

The Elite stated in a pre-tape that Kingston is injured and Anarchy in the Arena will now be a 4-on-3 unless their opponents can find a replacement.

MATCH 2: The Young Bucks vs. Matt Sydal and Christopher Daniels

Daniels actually got a good reaction and he has a long history of performing in the Pacific Northwest. This was one of the better places for him to have a significant match. Sydal and Daniels controlled the match early, but the Bucks take over after Sydal missed a dive and was dumped over the barrier. The Bucks hit the TK driver on Daniels for the win at 8:30.

This was okay, but suffered a bit because no one believed Sydal and Daniels had a chance.

The Bucks then fired Daniels after the match. It was a bit of a stretch to expect fans to have sympathy for a guy who rarely wrestles.

Jack Perry, who was on commentary, dumped a drink on Tony Schiavone before returning to the back. Taz and Excalibur were laughing at Schiavone during the break as he cleaned himself up with a towel.

Black accepted Copeland’s challenge for a barbed wire steel cage match at DON. He also stated that when Copeland loses, he will join the House of Black on bended knee. This was good and added interest for the match at the pay-per-view.

MATCH 3: Hook vs. Sebastian Wolfe

Squash match that saw Hook hit a suplex, punches from behind and then tapped Wolfe out in 30 seconds. (Wolfe is a local wrestler that I wrote about back in 2022: State of Emergency declared tops in Pacific Northwest)

Chris Jericho and Big Bill confronted Hook after the match and denied him an FTW title shot tonight. Jericho said Hook could have a qualifying match on Collision to earn a title shot. Hook then attacked Jericho, who was saved by Bill. Shibata then arrived to help Hook.

You can tell Jericho is loving this new character and it seems to be working better than most of what he’s done for the past year.

MATCH 4: Swerve Strickland vs. Brian Cage

Swerve received a monstrous reaction in his home state. Cage was in control early and gorilla pressed Swerve into the corner. Swerve managed to escape both a power bomb and Weapon X from Cage. He then hit Cage with a 450 for two. Cage nailed Swerve with two powerbombs for two after an inside out suplex from the apron. The finish came when Swerve escaped a power bomb with a stomp and then hit the House Call for the win at 14:50.

Very good match and puts an end to Swerve’s association to the Mogul Embassy, which didn’t make a lot of sense for a babyface champion.

Post-match saw Nick Wayne arrive and take out Swerve with Luchasaurus. Wayne broke a framed picture in Swerve’s face. Christian Cage stated that it is payback for when Swerve attacked Wayne. He then grabbed the picture and rubbed it in Swerve’s bloody face and walked off.

Strong angle to add more heat to that match. This was badly needed because the build prior had been a little confusing.

A backstage segment with Hook and Shibata was interrupted by Samoa Joe, who said Hook needed to be more focused. Shibata using his Siri app said a floral designed shirt (which Joe was wearing) wasn’t suitable for a guy the size of Joe. That comment drew big laughs from the crowd. Joe also received a big pop when he appeared, as the crowd still takes him as a big deal.

MATCH 5: Toni Storm vs. Harley Cameron

Storm controlled the match early until she was distracted by Serena Deeb standing on the ramp. Cameron’s offence consisted of a lot of punches and choking. Storm hit a backstabber, a DDT and a fisherman’s suplex for two. Cameron responded with Eat Defeat and a running knee but that also got two. The Storm Zero then gets her the win at 7:04.

This was okay, but it’s clear that Cameron just needs more reps in the ring. Not sure Dynamite is the right platform with someone of that experience level. Storm portrayed a babyface this week, after Deeb’s promo last week in Edmonton fell flat. That seems to be the right dynamic for this match, as the crowds love Storm.

A backstage segment aired between Will Ospreay and Roderick Strong. Ospreay seemed to imply that Strong wasn’t nice to him in ROH. Strong called Ospreay a fraud. This was a lot of dialogue to follow on the screen and it didn’t get much of a reaction.

The Mercedes Mone and Willow Nightingale contract signing followed. Both felt like pretty big stars in their entrances. When they both initially arrived, it was a pretty split audience. Willow cut an excellent promo about the importance of the TBS title and this got over huge with the crowd. Mone talked down to Willow and said that without her there is no Willow. She also talked up her past accomplishments. Things got heated and then Willow power bombed Mone through a table to a big pop.

This seemed to be another example of AEW firmly portraying Mone as the heel and Willow as the babyface. This was much needed for the match. Willow had a home run promo and Mone was passable. It feels as though a big angle is coming with Stokely Hathaway costing Willow the title and siding with a heel Mone.

MATCH 6: Kazuchika Okada vs. Dax Harwood

Okada has a very big star presence and he was actually cheered more so than Harwood for most of the match. It was likely many fans’ first opportunity to see Okada live. Okada hit a dropkick with Harwood seated on the top rope and then a bog boot and DDT on the outside. Harwood avoided the Rainmaker and hit a German and Dragon suplex. Okada then escaped the sharpshooter but was superplexed by Harwood for two. A slingshot powerbomb by Harwood is blocked and they fought over a tombstone before Harwood spiked Okada with one for two. A sharpshooter was then applied but Okada broke it up. Okada then grabbed the belt, but the ref focused on the belt and Okada hit Harwood with a low blow while he wasn’t looking and the Rainmaker for the win at 16:02.

This was solid, but a little long for a guy like Okada who should be a main eventer.

The Elite hit the ring and beat down Harwood, who was saved by Cash Wheeler and Danielson. Darby Allin then arrived to a big pop and was revealed as Kingston’s replacement.

After the show went off the air, Harwood joked that Wheeler has had a big week – referencing his gun charges case being dropped. Wheeler said “not guilty” and that got a “he’s not guilty” chant.

Danielson thanked the Washington State fans who have been behind him for decades and cheered for him as the Washington State guy. He said that now that guy is Darby Allin.

Allin said he’s not 100 per cent and may have hurt his head during the superplex spot in the main event because he was under the ring. He stated he may have to go to the hospital.

Danielson thanked the fans again and the show concluded.

Dark matches featured:

• Dark Order (Evil Uno, John Silver and Alex Reynolds) defeating the team of Sid Sylum and Midnight Heat
• Kris Statlander beat Viva Van

TOP PHOTO: Adam Copeland is mauled by the House of Black’s Brody King and Buddy Matthews at AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Wash. Photo by Ben Lypka

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