AEW Dynamite: A nightmare of a show before WrestleDream

Bob Kapur

AEW Dynamite: A nightmare of a show before WrestleDream

With AEW’s big WrestleDream pay-per-view event happening this weekend, one would think that AEW would try to put on a fantastic episode of Dynamite in order to get people hyped for Saturday’s big show. But, kudos to the company for trying something new and doing the exact opposite.

Maybe it was the recent signing of their TV deal that allowed them some opportunity for complacency . Or maybe they just figured that people won’t follow them to a rare Tuesday night, so why bother trying. Or perhaps, in the face of a stacked episode of NXT that promised a rare appearance by Randy Orton, they just figured that nobody would be watching anyway. Whatever the reason, this was a pretty bad episode, with a lot of talking, a couple of decent matches, and not much to recommend.

The show started off with a Jon Moxley pre-taped promo from the bowels of the building. He says that he will end the reign of Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream. He said that Danielson in the ring is great. But if you put Danielson in the corner, Danielson goes into a dark place where he’s not comfortable. Moxley will make Danielson embrace that dark side. Mox said that nobody will be able to stop him, and that he and those that come with him are too powerful. This seemed like a first draft of a Karrion Kross promo.

Cut to a pre-tape with Bryan Danielson who said that this will not be his last match on Dynamite, despite what Claudio Castagnoli said during an interview. Danielson said that he has been a friend and supporter of Claudio, but not tonight.

Darby Allin came to the ring and called out Brody King, who accepted Darby’s open challenge for a match at WrestleDream. This brought out King who made his way into the ring. Allin recalled King of the time they were on the indies and would talk about one day working in a major company. Allin talked about how he got King a job with AEW by recommending him to Tony Khan. Allin said that King wants what Allin has: being the face of the company. King stopped hm, saying that Allin was right. King said that the difference between the two of them is that Allin takes everything for granted, which is why he risks dying on Mount Everest instead of focusing on being the face of the company. Allin told him they could settle things right then and there. They exchanged strikes, but when King got the upper hand, Allin smashed King with a rock, busting him up before a bunch of security guards broke things up. WWE has The Rock and AEW has a rock. Say no more.

IN the back, Renee Paquette interviewed Jake “the Snake” Roberts and Lance Archer. Don Callis walked in and said that he and Jake had made a managerial talent exchange, and that Archer now is part of the Callis Family. Archer and Jake shook hands and Archer left with Callis. Jake didn’t reveal who he got in exchange for Archer, though he teased it may be revealed later on.

Out in the back lot, Renee was with Daniel Garcia and asked him about his future in AEW. Garcia said that he would answer that question in the ring in front of the fans.

Match 1: Hologram vs. Komander

The commentators mentioned that Hologram had a 13-0 record and that this was his Dynamite debut.

This was full of flippy-doo moves, gymnastics, and flying dives. They also did a sequence where they jockeyed for submission holds, but that was mainly during a picture-in-picture (PiP) break. But mostly the flippy-doo moves, gymnastics, and flying dives. Oh, and also minimal to no selling.

A nifty spot saw Hologram try to break up Komander’s tightrope walk, but Komander blocked the block and hit a Powerbomb off the top strand. Komander botched a Poison Rana, then Hologram didn’t. Hologram caught Komander coming off the top and hit an Airplane Spin Bomb to get the pin.

This was what you’d expect it to be with these two – take it how you will.

Winner: Hologram

After the match, Jake “the Snake” Roberts came out to the entrance way. After he did, RUSH, Black Mortos, and Dralistico slid into the ring and beat up both Hologram and Komander. The three rudos then raised their fists in the ring, as did Jake on the ramp, and he is apparently now managing them as a result of the deal with Callis. He might as well have asked for Rob Ramage and Rick Wamsley, because he got the shaft in this deal by far.

They showed highlights from last week when Mark Briscoe got into a confrontation with Chris Jericho and challenged him to a match at WrestleDream after Jericho brought up Mark’s late brother Jay.

Cut to backstage where Briscoe was with interviewer who wasn’t Renee. Briscoe was much more subdued than normal, seething with intense emotion. He said that Jericho messed up by going where he did. And that their match at WrestleDream wasn’t about Briscoe’s ROH Championship. Rather it was going to be about him hurting Jericho.

Daniel Garcia gives an update on his AEW future

Daniel Garcia made his way to the ring and grabbed a mic. He thanked the crowd and said he missed them, having been off of TV for a while. He said a lot to try to tease as if he was leaving, but in the end, he said he was going to stay in AEW where the best wrestlers in the world are. A funny moment followed when Tony Schiavone said “Look at the fans” and the camera switched to a crowd that was in near=complete darkness, so even if they were applauding, you couldn’t see it. He should have said, “Daniel Garcia is staying with AEW. Huh, that’s gonna put some butts in the seats.” The crowd chanted “AEW” and that would have been the right time to end this. But instead they let Garcia ramble on some more. He said he will start changing things, starting with putting gold around his waist. He put all of the champions on notice that he was coming for them.

They showed a video package of the interaction between MVP and Prince Nana with highlights of Strickland, who makes his return at WrestleDream. They showed MVP and Shelton Benjamin watching the show on the TV in the back. Unlike most wrestlers, they actually face the screen head-on, which is a refreshing change of pace.

In the back, Renee Paquette was with Mercedes Mone and Kamille, neither of whom were impressed with Renee. Mone said something lame, made a Charlotte Flair reference, and left.

Elsewhere, a bunch of the midcard faces were congratulating Daniel Garcia on his announcement. Shibata came up to him and seemed to offer him a TNT Championship match at WrestleDream.

Match 2: Willow Nightingale vs. Saraya (w/ Harley Cameron) vs. Nyla Rose vs. Jamie Hayter

Mariah May joined the commentary team for this one. They noted that Britt Baker was supposed to be in this one, but fell ill and was not cleared to travel to the show. The winner of this one will compete at WrestleDream for the Women’s Championship.

Saraya rolled out of the ring at the bell and watched the other three fight. When there was an opening, she and Harley came in and beat up anyone who was left alone in the ring, taking advantage of the no-DQ rule in this type of match. At one point, as most of the women brawled on the floor, Nyla wiped them out with a huge Dive from the top rope. Then everyone brawled on the floor during PiP.

An impressive spot saw Hayter hit a Double Suplex on Willow and Nyla.

Then she blocked a chair shot by Saraya and clocked Saraya with the chair instead, before beating up Harley. But as Hayter went after Saraya, Penelope Ford ran down to ringside and blasted Hayter from behind. Hayter then chased Ford to the back, leaving this as a Triple Threat match.

Nyla went up top to hit a Superfly on Saraya, but Harley threw her down to the floor. Saraya and Harley then set up a table. But they took too long and Willow caught them in the act. She flattened Harley, then put Saraya through the table with a Death Valley Driver and pinned them both.

As Willow went to the back, she was confronted by Mariah May who knocked her silly with a Headbutt and then whipped Willow with the Women’s Championship belt.

This was way too busy and quite messy at times.

Winner: Willow NIghtingale

IN the back, Chris Jericho and the Learning Tree (Bryan Ketih and Big Bill) went to talk with Rocky Romero. They said they were there to help him learn his self-worth, which is much better than hanging out with The Conglomeration. They said some things to plant the seeds of dissension in his mind, and then left.

Match 3: “Switchblade” Jay White (w/ Juice Robinson) vs. Cody Chhun

Cody might as well change his name to Cody Chh-Unimpressive, because he basically got squashed. After beating him up for a while, White hit the Blade Runner for the easy pin.

After the match, White cut a promo against Hangman Adam Page. Which seems like a missed opportunity to get a promo from Juice, who has much more charisma and personality.

This match didn’t justify any overrun on the show.

Winner: “Switchblade” Jay White

In the back, HOOK was screaming into the camera, demanding that the unknown parties who assaulted his father Taz last week reveal themselves. Kip Sabian bumped into him so HOOK threw him up against the wall. Sabian denied knowing anything about the attack. Then, Christian Cage and Nick and Mama Wayne came up to HOOK. Cage noted that he has lost a family member, in Killswitch, to illness. And then offered condolences to HOOK on the loss of his father.

In the back, Renee was with Mariah May, who was not happy that she will have to defend her World title against Willow Nightingale. Before Mariah could say a word, Willow ran in from offscreen and Speared her right out of the frame. Willow then said she would beat May on Saturday.

Match 4: Mercedes Mone (w/ Kamille) vs. Emi Sakura – for the TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship

As much as they’re trying to get people to care about Mone as a heel, putting her against someone who also comes across as unlikeable isn’t helping. They did some strikes, and then Emi used her power to ground Mone and hurt her. Mone countered with some fast moves, and a Meteora off the apron to the floor, taking us to PiP.

After out-athleting Emi, Mone hit a Backstabber and nearly got the pin, but Emi got her foot on the rope to force the stop. The match spilled to the floor, where Emi used the ringside barricade to squish Mone, and then she also beat up Kamille, eventually hitting them both with an Avalanche Cross Body against the barrier. But Emi chose to dance instead of immediately going for the pin. Emi hit a Backbreaker but Mone avoided the pin by cleverly distracting the referee. That distraction allowed Kamile to blindside Emi, and then Mone locked on the Bank Statement for the submission win.

This wasn’t great, but was fine overall, though there was really no doubt as to who was going to win this – the multi-million dollar contracted person with some actual mainstream awareness, or the little-known foreign star who rarely appears in this company.

Winner, and still TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion: Mercedes Mone

After the match, Mone and Kamille were going to double-team Emi, but Kris Statlander ran in for the save. Mone bolted, and Kris and Kamille got into it a bit before Kris cleared Kamile out of the ring.

In the back, Renee was with Private Party, who will face the Young Bucks for the Tag Team Championship on Saturday. Stokely Hathaway came in to say some words to Private Party. He offered them his managerial services at WrestleDream. They refused, saying they don’t need him, or anyone else who has only wanted something to do with them now that they’re competing for the belts. They predicted they will beat the Young Bucks.

Will Ospreay confronts Don Callis

Tony Schiavone introduced the International Champion, Will Ospreay, who came to the ring. Ospreay defends against Ricochet and Konosuke Takeshita in a Triple Threat match at WrestleDream. Schiavone asked about Takeshita attacking Ospreay and Ricochet after their match last week. Ospreay suspected that Don Callis was the one behind the attack, and called him out.

Callis made his way there, and at first tried to deflect from answering the accusation. But after Ospreay continued to press, Callis lost it, a-la Colonel Jessup, and admitted that he did send Takeshita to the ring. He did it because Ospreay never listens to Callis, so Don sent him there to send a message to Ospreay, the message being that everyone in the Family answers to Don.

Callis said that Ospreay is too weak to do what needs to be done, and that is why he and Kyle Fletcher never won the Tag Team Championship last week. Ospreay said that if Callis had stayed out of the way, he might have brought Callis the World Championship at Forbidden Door. Ospreay said that he’s the best wrestler in the world and Callis doesn’t know anything. Callis countered saying that he did manage the best wrestler in the world at one time, but threw him aside in favour of Ospreay (meaning Kenny Omega). Callis said maybe it was time to throw Ospreay aside now. Ospreay said that he and Callis are done. Callis slapped Ospreay in the face, but immediately regretted it when Ospreay threw him halfway across the ring.

Takeshita ran in and started throwing fists with Ospreay. Then Kyle Fletcher ran in, and it looked like he was trying to play mediator. Seeing him, Ospreay hesitated and this let Takeshita take him down with a high German Suplex. Takeshita held Ospreay, and Callis gave Fletcher a screwdriver, urging him to use it on Ospreay. Fletcher refused and left. As Takeshita and Callis reacted to that, Ospreay went after Takeshita, but then got eye-blinded by Callis. Blinded, Ospreay was easy pickings for a huge shot by Takeshita. Callis and Takeshita were going to deliver some more punishment, but Ricochet ran in for the save.

This segment was the highlight of the show so far.

In the back, Top Flight cut a promo, saying they were upset that they weren’t facing the Young Bucks for the Tag Team Championship this Saturday. Action Andretti yelled at them, saying that they were screw-ups, and then Leila Grey yelled at Andretti, saying he was the screw-up. Andretti left. This was the opposite of the last segment.

In the back, Jack Perry cut a promo on Shibata, who challenges Perry for the TNT Championship on Saturday.

Match 5: Bryan Danielson and Wheeler Yuta vs. PAC and Claudio Castagnoli

The commentary team stressed that this could be Danielson’s last match on Dynamite as a full-time wrestler should he lose to Moxley at WrestleDream

The added intrigue in this one is that Yuta, PAC, and Claudio are the Trios Champions, yet on opposite sides of the ring tonight.

Daniel and Yuta fired off quickly with some Flying Dives and Dropkicks to shock and awe their opponents. But some dirty tactics by PAC and Claudio soon had Daniel in trouble. They isolated him in their corner and took turns beating him up.

Bryan finally broke free, and Yuta took over for a bit. In a typical Rick-Knox-Sucks-As-A-Referee moment, Yuta had PAC in the Cattle Mutilation. Claudio simply walked into the ring and lifted up Yuta, all while Knox stood there dumbfounded like a jamoke and watched him.

This led to Claudio hitting the Neutralizer on Bryan on the floor, leading into PiP.

As Bryan recovered, PAC and Claudio had time to beat up Yuta, so that’s what they did. He tried to stave them off, but every time he went for the tag, he found his corner empty, as Danielson was still recuperating on the floor from the Neutralizer.

Finally, Danielson was there for Yuta, and he was looking for revenge when he got tagged in, taking out Claudio with all kinds of kicks and a Hurancarana that sent Claudio hard to the mat. Yes Kicks followed to Claudio’s chest and head, and Danielson followed that up with Head Stomps, first on Claudio and then on PAC.

But each time he was in control, PAC or Claudio would save their partner, again not earning even a verbal admonishment from the useless and oblivious Knox who apparently missed the day they taught refereeing at referee school.

Danielson was going to end things with the Flying Goat Knee, but he was distracted by the sight of Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir, who snaked their way to the ringside area out of nowhere. The distraction led to him getting hit with a Pop-Up Uppercut by Claudio and a 450-Splash by PAC, but Danielson refused to be pinned.

PAC went and got the timekeeper’s hammer, but before he could use it on Danielson, Yuta yoinked the hammer out of his hand. As PAC confronted Yuta, Danielson rolled him up from behind and locked on the LeBell Lock for the submission.

Other than the refereeing, this was pretty good. This wasn’t a classic by any means, but Danielson can generally put on a solid match with anyone, and that was the case here.

Winners: Bryan Danielson and Wheeler Yuta

After the match, Danielson bee-lined it for Moxley on the floor and they fought all the way up the ramp and into the backstage area.

They switched between that fight and what was happening in the arena, which started when Yuta got punked out and beaten up by Marina Shafir, because why not bury the guy?

Cut back to Mox and Danielson fighting in the back, and Danielson threw Moxley into a steel garage door.

In the ring, PAC and Marina beat up Yuta. It looked like Claudio told them to stop, but then he showed he had the timekeeper’s hammer in his hand. They held up Yuta, and Claudio gut-punched Yuta with the hammer a few times.

Danielson and Mox’s fight spilled back in the arena, and he took out all three of the heels. As Yuta lay there dying, Danielson led the crowd in “Yes” chants. He finally picked up Yuta and they posed in the ring in victory to end the show.

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