Salt Lake City, UT—It’s been over five years since All Elite Wrestling first appeared in Salt Lake City, to much fanfare and a lot has changed since the promotion launched.
When my friend Gutz and I went in March of 2020, there was a lot of buzz and excitement over a new wrestling company that wasn’t WWE, with stars like Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega to name a few. It had all the markings of potential growth as we left the Maverik Center in West Valley City, UT.
As we were leaving the Centre, each of us received alerts from our phones that the Utah Jazz were forfeiting their game because some players had contracted the new virus strain making its way across the United States known as COVID-19. As Gutz and I were settling at the local bar, we also witnessed Jazz center Rudy Gobert on television at a press conference not exactly worrying about the spread of the disease and demonstrating his lack of fear by licking the microphones in front of him.
“Why did he lick the mics?” Gutz asked.
“The only answer I can think of,” I ventured at the time, “is that he’s French. Maybe it’s some kind of weird kink they do over there.”
After a few minutes of us recapping the best parts of the show and why Gutz would be a better ring announcer than Justin Roberts, we saw some of the AEW wrestlers at the time come into the establishment. Stars like Jimmy Havoc, Bea Priestley, and Joey Janela came in for a drink, and we got to hang out and talk wrestling and other odd topics.
(From left) Bea Priestly, Tommy “Milagro”, Jimmy Havoc, and “King” John Gutz sharing a drink at Brewvies in SLC after AEW Dynamite in March 2020. Credit: Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
Geez, writing it now feels like a lifetime ago.
We all know how things played out when COVID-19 got into full swing, and promotions like AEW had to shelter in place in Jacksonville until a cure could be found. Whatever momentum AEW was gaining had slowed down as a result.
Fast forward to five years later, AEW was returning to the Maverik Center. Also, for some Utahns that pay attention to my nonsense, let me add an…
(Author’s Note: No, we won’t count when AEW came into Utah last year as part of Collision, so zip it!)
The question I had coming into the venue was if there was going to be a bigger turnout than last time, or if the production issues that have hounded AEW would be present at this show.
It’s 5:15 pm MST and fans have slowly trickled in. I was settling into my seat and observing the activity in front of me. Some fans came for the VIP access they paid for on AEW’s web page and they told me they got the chance to meet stars like Aubrey the Ref, the members of Top Flight, and Jamie Hayter. I took a few minutes to properly pre-game myself with a Modelo tallboy and wandered by one of the merch tables. Nothing stood out to me other than shirts by Will Ospreay, MJF, Swerve Strickland, and Adam Cole. I asked one of the workers which of the items would be a huge seller tonight.
“Oh, I don’t follow pro wrestling,” she said.
“That’s okay,” I replied. “Nobody’s perfect.”
AEW Merch Table at The Maverik Center. Credit: Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
My pithy remark aside, it’s important to keep in mind the Maverik Center is the home of the IHL hockey team, The Utah Grizzlies, so the staff is more accustomed to hockey and the occasional rock show. I asked some other staffers like Dave and Keely what to expect tonight.
“Heck, I dunno,” Dave said with a laugh. “We don’t get a lot of pro wrestling around here.”
“Yeah, we mostly work during hockey season,” added Keely.
It should be noted that the Maverik Centre (at one time, called the “E” Center) used to be the go-to venue for WWE house shows, and the one time they did a WWE Smackdown back in the day. The venue can house 12,000+, as opposed to The Delta Center in downtown Salt Lake City, which seats over 15,000.
This is important for several reasons for those of you outside of Utah. While Salt Lake City is considered upscale, West Valley City has more of a working-class background. I’d venture to say that this area (other than Ogden, which is north of Salt Lake City) and the surrounding neighborhoods like Kearns, Taylorsville, and Midvale, are more dedicated fans of pro wrestling.
In other words, I am surrounded by my people.
I even got to meet up with some friends I knew back in the day who wrestled for previous promotions like Ultra Championship Wrestling (UCW-Zero) and current ones like Devotion Championship Wrestling (DCW). Some were there to watch, others were working in the background of the show, and other local wrestlers got to be part of the action.
More on that later.
But the thing I noticed as the Center filled up and Justin Roberts and Tony Khan came out to hype up the crowd was that one side of the venue where the hard camera was filled with fans. Everything on the hard camera side was bare save for a few fans in the front row. I found that interesting because five years ago, that was the same fan makeup when AEW first came to town. Gutz and I talked about that as well after the show and how more fans could have made it a bigger deal. I chalked it up as the promotion was new and was trying to put out feelers, and that their marketing would do better as the promotion grew.
Which is a good time for another…
(Author’s Rant: Outside of social media posts, I barely saw any advertisements for AEW on local TV or radio. Whoever is in charge of AEW’s marketing and advertising needs to make an effort to draw up interest. Otherwise, have that fool tarred and feathered running down Main Street. While the die-hard fans will come out, getting the casual fans that come to WWE shows is just as important.)
If nothing else, the Utah fans are a vocal bunch, and hearing the fans whoop and holler you’d swear the Center was packed to capacity.
Then it was 5:30 and time for…
RING OF HONOR
This is a far cry from the ROH of old, but good to see some wrestlers getting time in the ring, albeit behind a paywall.
I should mention at this point that I was asked by my editor before this assignment to provide Haikus In Review™, which will be provided for most of the matches. There were a few that don’t deserve it, and you’ll see why in a second.
Alas, I’m a victim of my success.
As for what we got to see, first up was…
The Iron Savages vs. The Dark Order
Reynolds’s ribs were taped up, and the Savages took advantage throughout the match. but let’s Haiku this a bit
*ahem*
Savages slather
Offense on Dark Order, but
“Johnny Hungee” saves.
John Silver picks up the pin on the Iron Savages in ROH at The Maverik Center. Credit: Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
Your Winners: The Dark Order
The next match was between…
Colt Cabana vs. Satnam Singh (with Jay Lethal)
Mostly this match was played for comedy, as only Cabana can do. Watching Singh wrestle in person, I will say this: He is more agile than The Great Khan. But again, I gotta stick to the bit, so here is your next Haiku:
*ahem*
“Boom Boom” goes for broke
Against Singh, yet he quickly
Gets decimated.
Satnam Singh (left) stares a hole at Colt Cabana at the Maverik Center. Credit: Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
Your Winner: Satnam Singh
Overall, it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t memorable, either.
But the little hand on my watch says it’s 6 PM MST, so it’s time to rock and roll with…
AEW DYNAMITE
Now I’m not going to add much than what Bob Kapur already did in his coverage of Dynamite in terms of play-by-play. But I will give some brief thoughts to add to some of the things that happened during the show to add a little color to lend a little more context to the recap.
To wit:
- The promos by Cole and Page were pretty cool. As for Kyle Fletcher…Oh, man, did Utah give him grief. You know your promo skills need work on brevity when midway through his rant on Will Ospreay the fans chose that moment to chant, “Wrap It Up! Wrap It Up!”
- Guevara and Benjamin set the tone for the show, and Benjamin has not lost a step. I understand what Bob meant that Guevara “was made to look weak” given that’s how much of his singles booking has been since coming back from his suspension. But I argue this is Guevara trying to make good and work off whatever heat (if there was any) he has had to show he can be a team player when called upon.
- Also, on Benjamin’s trunks were the words, “Hurt Syndicate.” Heh, cute. Also, this is an important reason why getting those trademarks locked up is important, kids.
- MVP looks rather dapper
MVP showing off his style at AEW Dynamite at the Maverik Center. Credit: Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
- The tag team that faced Cage and Archer has worked locally in Utah for DCW under the name “The Pillars of Destiny.” Granted, they did the job and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. There was a small pop from the fans that have seen The Pillars wrestle…before Cage and Archer demolished them.
- Side note: can we call Cage and Archer “The Killer Elite Squad 2.0?”
- Speaking of guys working locally, Pirata de la Muerte also got a pop from the local DCW fans right before the House of Black demolished them
- Briscoe and Jericho had a great ladder match, and the sight of Big Bill getting Jericho in a fireman’s carry up the ladder to claim the ROH World title was an awesome display of power and balance.
- Side note: does that mean Jericho is no longer the “Ocho” but the “Nueve?”
- Side note to the side note: Why wasn’t this the main event?
Mark Briscoe is getting ready to show his Red Neck Kung Fu on Chris Jericho in the Ladder match at the Maverik Center. Credit: Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
- Having covered Kamille in the past and watching her previous matches, this one with Aminata was (to put it charitably) not good. Part of that I’m laying at Aminata’s feet as I agree with Bob and her offense was green. It took a few but they got back on track and Kamille got the win
- HOOK having the exchange with Cage and The Patriarchy could’ve been a backstage vignette, like with Mariah May. Overall, it looked like a bunch of “meh.”
- The Trios match with Private Party/Garcia against The Young Bucks/Perry had a lot of action from start to finish and the fans popped for this. While Private Party got the win, the whole thing about Zay “wanting a title shot and if they lose Private Party would disband” felt like it went over like a lead balloon with with crowd.
- The whole schmozz after the match with the BCC attacking Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy looking on in shock was okay. It’s what happened after with Cassidy that might shake up his character. This took place after AEW went off the air, but it is here as an exclusive on YouTube, which I provide here:
While everyone was processing the aftermath, that led to a dark match between…
QT Marshall vs Manny Lemons
A little background, if you will. Lemons (real name Manny Smith) is a local Utah wrestler who I first watched in UCW and then started his own promotion with DCW. In the decade since he debuted to now, he has shown a lot of hustle as “The Man, The Brand, The King of the Lemonade Stand” not only worked in making his promotion grow but has worked in various places like TNA/IMPACT, ROH, and AEW. He even spent time training at The Nightmare Factory under Cody Rhodes and Marshall’s tutelage. So it makes sense Lemons would be facing his former mentor. While I knew he he become popular in DCW, to hear the raucous cheer for Lemons was astounding to behold. You’d swear he was the second coming of Hulk Hogan.
The Man, The Brand, The King of the Lemonade Stand: Manny Lemons. Credit: Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
That said, there will be no Haikus here because I have a strict policy not to bash my fellow Utahns. Bob can do it, and any of the Slam staff can do it, but it will be to their peril.
Just saying.
In any case, Lemons got the better of him early on, but soon Marshall was on top of Lemons and he showed The Zest of the Best who the best really is. Things began to look bleak until Lemons bit into the lemons he carries with him, and like when Popeye gets his spinach he was full of Zest and staged a comeback rally.
Manny Lemons (left) is full of Zest and ready to show QT Marshall he is the best at the Maverik Center. Credit: Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
Marshall attempted a cutter, but Lemons reversed to a backslide for the pin and the win.
Your Winner: Manny Lemons
You’d swear by the crowd reaction they just witnessed Lemons win the AEW World Championship. In any case, here’s hoping there are more moments like this for The King of the Lemonade Stand.
Now they set up the tapings for AEW Rampage, and that is where I will put a pin in that for another time, as their personnel asked for no spoilers.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad show, but there is still a lot of work to be done. If Utah is any indication, the fanbase is out there and the talent can deliver, and the Utah talent showed they can play with the big boys, too. Now they need to drive other casual fans to show why they are truly All Elite.
Top Photo: The return of AEW Dynamite to Salt Lake City, UT after a five-year absence. Credit: Tommy “Milagro” Martinez