AEW Dynamite: Let there be Blood!

Orange Cassidy vs. Ethan Page

Fresh off his masterpiece against Will Ospreay, Orange Cassidy kicked off this week’s show against Ethan Page. AEW was still in Daily’s Place during last year’s Blood and Guts, which meant the majority of the show was pre-taped. It was cool to see the whole show live with two rings. Unfortunately Ethan Page still hangs out with Dan Lambert, who preemptively got a returning Chuck Taylor and Trent Baretta kicked out.

The match itself was pretty good. Their size difference was striking. Cassidy tried his best to neutralize it, but Page would use his power to keep control. Ethan Page is very underrated. His cocky, stiff, and bruising old school offense fits his heel work perfectly. This match had good chemistry between the two.

The story of this match revolved around Orange Cassidy using a basic Body Slam. He couldn’t lift the bigger Page up, which hurt his back. Cassidy continuously tried to slam Page, but couldn’t. Each attempt would allow Page to take advantage. This all paid off in the end as Orange Cassidy hit Page with two Orange Punches, spits Orange Juice into the eyes of Dan Lambert, and finishes Ethan Page with a basic Body Slam. When was the last time that happened?! A simple Body Slam finishing a match? That’s a pretty neat little match story right there. Cassidy wins to start Dynamite on a high note.

3.5/5

Christian Cage Live

Up next, Tony Schiavone was on stage to bring out Christian Cage. The newly minted most hated bad guy in AEW wanted to address his actions and promo from last week. The Detroit crowd was LIVID with him, which only angered Cage more. This version of Christian Cage is amazing. Everything about this is perfect: his look, his attitude, and his overall persona. Cage literally said, “Jungle Boy, I’m sorry your whole family isn’t dead.” He hasn’t even stepped in the ring yet and I love this story so much.

Cage originally wanted this time for a match, but things change. This match was for Luchasaurus, who has made a massive character change. He was wearing all black with his music. I am so excited about this. Heel Luchasaurus?! That dinosaur has been a babyface since the original Double or Nothing Battle Royale. I cannot wait to see where his evil side takes him.

Luchasaurus had the quickest match ever against Serpentico. He destroyed him in seconds and applied his version of the Snare Trap, but with an added Neck Nerve hold. The Jurassic Express and Christian Cage storyline has me hooked line and sinker. I cannot wait for what’s next.

Wardlow and Scorpio Sky followed that backstage. No physical contact was agreed to for this interaction, but they’re having a street fight next week for the TNT Title. Is Wardlow getting his first title reign?! I sure hope so.

Max Caster & Gunn Club vs. Danhausen and…FTR!

Gunn Club and Max Caster were angry about Danhausen’s constant messing with them, so they challenged him to gather anyone to fight this week on Dynamite. Unfortunately for Caster and the Gunns, Danhausen has friends in high places. His partners were the hottest tag team in Wrestling, Seven Star FTR!

This match was fun, but it was a little odd. There was fun offense from both sides, but this match revolved around the story bit at the end. The referee was distracted with nonsense on the outside as Danhausen went for his version of the Go To Sleep, GoodnightHausen. My mouth dropped as Anthony Bowens, whom everyone assumed was still very much injured, jumped out of his wheelchair and threatened Danhausen with his crutches. Bowens unfortunately misses and hits Austin Gunn with the crutch and Danhausen steals the pin. I liked that ending! A little convoluted, but the shock factor was enough for me!

3/5

Immediately following the match, Billy Gunn is visibly angry with his sons over losing again. He pushes Austin and Colten away and seems to team with the Acclaimed over the Gunns. I like this story a lot. AEW has done a masterful job of building the Gunns with The Acclaimed. Everyone loves the Acclaimed!

Jade Cargill vs. Leila Grey

Up next was the TBS Open Challenge with Leila Grey accepting the challenge of Jade Cargill. Leila hit a little bit of offense in and looked good, but Jade inevitably kicked the young upstart in the face and hit the Jaded for the easy victory.

2.75/5

Jade grabs a mic right after the match and complains about not having real competition. I agree Jade! This should have been a longer fight. Jade deserves a big feud and a huge match. She and Stokely call out Statlander and Athena for not accepting her Open Challenge before an uncontracted competitor. I do like that aspect of this. Gives a little kayfabe reasoning for Open Challenges being given to random people. I imagine it’s a ‘right place right time’ sort of deal. Once the Open Challenge is set, anyone first in line gets a shot.

Well, Athena and Statlander come down for a brawl, but it was interesting that Leila Grey helped the lady who just dominated her. She wants to be a Baddie?

The Young Bucks were backstage on a couch immediately following. They have zero friends who are healthy, except one: Their Tag Belts, duh! Who else could they have meant!?!?! Obviously, that was a Hangman Adam Page tease. Those three reuniting would make me so happy.

BLOOD AND GUTS

Sometimes in wrestling, you have to watch in awe of what’s happening on your screen. The Blood and Guts match was almost a full hour of gorgeous brutality that’s usually saved for Pay-Per-Views. These types of matches are rarely given to the fans on free television, but props to TBS for allowing this. It was everything you want to see in a hardcore match; a cup overflowing with blood and guts. I loved the ending as well. This match is one to go out of your way to see.

The craziness started right away, as the Jericho Appreciation Society stepped out of an “Oops I did it again” tribute video. The JAS is a perfect spoof of Sports Entertainment. They’re so goofy, but all can perform when it’s time to. Do you know who else can perform? Claudio Castagnoli. He was a standout in this match and rightfully so. We got to see him face off one on one with Sammy Guevara, but he was the story the whole match too. The Blackpool Combat dominated for a good portion with crazy tandem maneuvers and Moxley’s obvious hardcore craziness. Mox introduced everything he could: broken glass, thumbtacks, chairs, tables…oh my.

Unfortunately, not everything about this was perfect. Santana entered the match, about to go haywire with a barbed wire bat, except he bent his knee wrong on a Uranage and injured himself. He couldn’t put any weight on the leg and was eventually helped up the ramp. That’s such an unfortunate injury to a guy primed for a single run. By some miracle, I hope he didn’t tear his ACL.

The carnage continued as everyone entered one by one. As I referenced, this story revolved around Claudio Castagnoli and his overshadowing of Eddie Kingston. The end of the match saw Eddie, Jericho, Matt Menard, and Claudio on top of the monstrous cage. Claudio gave Chris Jericho the big swing up there, which gave me Mankind-sized goosebumps. But the match ended as Claudio submitted Matt Menard before Kingston could submit Jericho. This was a brilliant way to give Kingston and the BCC the win, but not give Kingston his revenge. Eddie looked happy to win but disappointed he didn’t submit Jericho. A brilliant small touch that gives AEW a vast array of story pathways.

4.25/5

Overall

And that was Dynamite for the week! Was this year’s rendition of Blood and Guts better than last year’s? Absolutely. It’s not even close. The match could have been a little shorter, in my opinion. I felt it drug a little in the middle, but that could easily have been because Santana and Ortiz’s parts might have been missing. Even with that, this Blood and Guts was awesome. Everything else on the show was pretty good too. AEW was a little COVID short-staffed this week, but you could have fooled me. I liked this episode from start to finish. It was all built around Blood and Guts, as it should have been.

Verdict: 4.25/5