TNT Championship: Wardlow (c) vs. Orange Cassidy
Our opening match on the evening was the TNT Title match between two equally white hot roster members, Champion Wardlow and Orange Cassidy. The acclaim of the TNT Title was fractured for quite a while during the Scorpio Sky, Sammy Guevara, and random Cody nonsensical storyline. If Wardlow’s first title defense is any indication of where we’re headed with the TNT Title, that acclaim shall return fast. This match was great!
The story here revolved around the obvious strength advantage Wardlow had over Orange Cassidy, which led to Cassidy needing to outsmart Wardlow. This led to a cat and mouse game of Cassidy ducking and moving in a way only he can. The Best Friends tried distracting Wardlow with a CHAINSAW, which was ridiculous in and of itself, but Danhausen was there to help too. Cassidy and the Best Friends only proceeded to piss Wardlow off.
Orange Cassidy can build some of the best momentum in the entire industry. His offense is explosive, comes out of nowhere, and I bite on the close pinfalls every single time. It doesn’t matter if there was zero percent chance of Cassidy winning, like this match, but I bit on the super close pinfall after the Stundog Millionaire, Orange Punch, and the Beach Break. That’s amazing storytelling.
Cassidy went to the Orange Punch well too many times, as Wardlow countered it with a hellacious Powerbomb for the victory. Wardlow not having the energy to go full symphony was a nice touch. This match was awesome and a perfect start to a great Dynamite. Please give me more awesome title defenses for Wardlow!
4/5
Segments:
- Following that match, Jericho addressed Kingston and their ‘Barbed Wire Everywhere’ match. He talked about Kingston ruining everyone close to him: Santana got injured, Ortiz lost his hair, Danielson’s been injured for a while, and Ruby Soho has a broken arm. Sadistic and intense Jericho is the best Jericho. He announced that he’s bringing back the Painmaker for this match. Cool.
- Kingston with the quick response backstage, which made me uncomfortable because of his closeness to the camera. I could feel the heat of his breath. His rage for what Jericho has done to his friends has climbed to ridiculous levels that I’m truly scared for next week’s match. Ruby Soho and Ortiz were behind him, whom I like together as a faction.
AEW Interim Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita
Up next was my favorite match of the night. Jon Moxley watched Konosuke Takeshita and Eddie Kingston go to war on Rampage this past Friday. Moxley loved what he saw so much that he wanted some himself. Everyone knows that the Interim World Champion loves a fight and a FIGHT is what he got. Konosuke Takeshita had a star making performance here and has had one hell of an AEW run.
The match was hard hitting right out of the gate. They felt each other out for a while, but it wasn’t until Moxley booted Takeshita in the face that the champ started his domination. I’m not sure how often wrestlers bleed in Japan, but Takeshita bleeding added to his babyface comeback. Whether it was incidental or not is irrelevant. Takeshita begun fighting back after ONE monstrous leaping lariat. That’s all it took! He’s so good.
The pace picked up tremendously after this as both guys traded move after move. Takeshita hit a Brainbuster and Frog Splash for a close two, but his German Suplex into the bridge pin was utter perfection. The two-count that came from that German Suplex was so close to a three that it might have been 2.9999999. I thought it was over and so did the crowd. Jon Moxley turned it around from there, hit the Paradigm Shift multiple times and tapped Takeshita out with the Bulldog Choke. Phenomenal match that gets MOTN honors. Might be a controversial opinion with that main event!
4.5/5
Match of the Night
Segments:
- House of Black and Brody King were in their quintessential promo video up next. Brody King attacked Darby Allin at a promotional event this past weekend, and I love those AEW storylines spreading across different promotions and outside events. If you remember, Brody choked out Darby to win his shot at Jon Moxley. I’m excited for a huge match between the two.
- Christian Cage and Luchasaurus graced everyone with their presence up next. Luchasaurus was facing Griff Garrison, but not until Christian Cage partook in his weekly disgusting promo. This week’s target was Brian Pillman Jr and his deceased father. I guess Christian’s character gets off on targeting dead and troubled relatives. The match was nothing. Luchasaurus destroyed Garrison with a Choke Slam and his version of the Jungle Boy’s Snare Trap, the ‘Tar Pit.’ Pillman gets his beatdown as well, which is leading to a tag match next week.
- Jericho’s Gaggle of Goons were backstage and angry about being trapped inside a shark cage for Jericho’s match against Kingston. Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta are also facing off at RoH Death before Dishonor for the Pure Title.
- Quick Hangman interview segment, which was promptly interrupted by buddies John Silver and Alex Reynolds. For some reason the Dark Order members interrupted to challenge the House of Black on Rampage. That’s going to be an awesome match, but I guess they have a death wish?
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jake Hager
Up next we had a good match with the Dynamite debut of Claudio Castagnoli taking on Jake Hager. Hold on one second…
WE THE PEOPLE!
Okay, I’m good now. I wasn’t a huge fan of their tag team back in the day, but seeing them clash in 2022 made me smile. Not to mention that Hager kept up with Claudio to create a banger of a match. They knew each other’s moves, which led to a counter-heavy match. Claudio’s uppercut might be one of my favorite moves in all of wrestling. It looks devastating every single time he hits one.
Claudio is incredibly strong, as everyone knows. In case we needed a reminder, he got Hager up into the Giant Swing. It wasn’t long, but long enough to be ridiculous. Jericho’s goons came out to distract Claudio, which allowed Hager to string together impressive moves. It wasn’t enough, however, as Claudio kicked out and hit the Ricola Bomb for the victory. Good finish to a good match!
The Ricola Bomb though? Interesting name…
3.5/5
Segments:
- Lexi Nair was with Hook to try and get a word, but the Handsome Devil was Speechless again, despite his spotless record and possible championship aspirations. Did we drop the HookHausen thing already? Danhausen is back to hanging out with Orange Cassidy and Best Friends.
- ThunderStorm was backstage up next talking about Rosa’s Eliminator match defeat at the hands of Miyu Yamashita. Britt and Hayter interrupted to present their defense against a Thunderstorm: a Sandbag. Nice shot at Rosa, regardless of the accuracy of those allegations.
Anna Jay vs. Serena Deeb
Up next was the homecoming match of Anna Jay taking on Serena Deeb. Unfortunately for Anna, Serena got the best of her in this one, but Anna has majorly improved. It showed in this match, despite her being outmatched by Serena’s awesome technical skills.
The whole match revolved around Deeb’s superior wrestling as Anna tried to hold her own. The chemistry between the two was a little lackluster, but the match wasn’t hurt by it. This match showed Anna’s growth in the ring, as she was able to quickly hit a couple of counters seamlessly. She’s good at pulling the Queenslayer out of nowhere. Serena Deeb, on the other hand, was her awesome self. She inevitably finished the match with the Serenity Lock.
3/5
Serena Deeb continued the beatdown after the bell, which triggered her Death before Dishonor opponent, Mercedes Martinez, came for the save.
Segments:
- Jade was backstage with Stokely and the Baddies. She and Keira are still pissed at Stokely for including someone Jade defeated so easily. But it’s okay! Stokely is for the Baddies as Wu-Tang is for the children. I laughed so hard at this. Stokely Hathaway kills me!
- Jay Lethal still exists on Dynamite, as he grabs a dysfunctional microphone on commentary and verbally berates Samoa Joe for their match next week at Death before Dishonor.
- Anna Jay was backstage in the trainer’s room nursing her knee from her match with Serena Deeb. Anna’s former friend turned butthead, Tay Conti, decided to come by and belittle the Dark Order member. I guess Tay thinks it’s cool to not be in matches, but exclusively be on television because of her boyfriend.
AEW Tag Team Championship: Young Bucks (c) vs. Swerve in our Glory vs. Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs
AND NEWWWWWW!!!!!
And finally was the main event of Dynamite for this week. It seemed like the Young Bucks wanted to prove themselves better than Jurassic Express when they challenged Team Taz and Swerve in our Glory to a Triple Threat, but I bet they regret that now! This match was fantastic and a perfect way to end a near perfect Dynamite.
This match’s story was about how Team Taz and Swerve in our Glory could go toe to toe with the Generational tag team, Bucks. The pace started slow for a while, as all three teams took their time showcasing themselves one at a time. The pace inevitably picked up as they went move after move after move. Keith Lee and Powerhouse showcased their freakish strength and Athleticism multiple times. The Limitless One caught Nick Jackson numerous times to deliver painful powerbombs. I couldn’t believe my eyes when Powerhouse Hobbs hit a Frog Splash.
Referee Rick Knox got knocked out, which allowed the Bucks to hit everyone with the Tag Belts, but not before Swerve teased possibly turning on his partner. Future issues coming!? The match picked up to insane levels of intensity with Keith Lee jumping over the ropes and landing hard, which allowed Swerve to hit his Stomp to pick up the victory! New Tag Team Champs!!! What a phenomenal bout!
4.5/5
Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland deserve this so much! I’m incredibly happy for them to win and cannot wait to see where it takes them. Their storyline becomes even more interesting with Tag Titles being added to it. However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that The Bucks and FTR can’t have an All Out Main Event match for all the gold now. There’s seven weeks before All Out. Who knows what could happen by then!
Overall
All Elite Wrestling Dynamite was on fire this week! This episode featured some amazing wrestling from start to finish. And these matches had a story! I love matches dripping with a story. It might not be popular to make Moxley and Takeshita MOTN over the crazy main event, but I felt they told a better story there! It’s splitting hairs though because this entire night was a fantastic night of wrestling. AEW is firing on all cylinders as we’re headed towards All Out and Grand Slam.
Verdict: 4.5/5