It’s AEW Dynamite review time! It’s been three weeks since Revolution and All Elite Wrestling is cooking. The magic is in the air, the fire is burning, and the iron is hot. It feels like a lifetime until Double or Nothing, but that will fly by if episodes like this past couple of weeks are the new normal.
This week’s episode featured an AEW Tag team championship match, the return of Stu Grayson, and a dream match of epic proportions. Did AEW keep the fire burning?
Let’s talk about it!
- Dynamite opened with a quick segment detailing that the Young Bucks were attacked right before Dynamite went on air. Matt and Nick Jackson were seen being escorted to a nearby hospital as Hangman Adam Page jumped in the ambulance with them. Kenny Omega looked distraught, as he could not go due to his main event match.
Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin, & Sting vs. Butcher, Blade, and Kip Sabian
This big match was the opener of the evening, which was special because of the Stinger. It’s been a while since Sting has graced us with his presence in the ring. This is his last year competing, so every match of his is a special occasion.
This match was just fun. It wasn’t anything special outside of showcasing three fan favorites. Kip, Butcher, and Blade showed quality teamwork as they took turns isolating. There were ups and downs in this one, but it was all over for the heels after Sting took the ring for the final time. Sting emulated Orange Cassidy for a fun moment, and Sting hit the Scorpion Deathdrop after Darby Allin took out the other competition. Sting picks up the victory for his team. This was simple and effective.
3.25/5
Before leaving the ring, Darby stared at the Double or Nothing banner. That’s almost two months away!
AEW Tag Championship: The Gunns (c) vs. Top Flight
The second match of the night involved The Gunns making their second AEW Tag Team Championship defense against Top Flight. Both teams are great examples of two wrestlers that are better together, rather than alone, especially The Gunns. They are great at being smarmy heels.
This was a simple match. Top Flight came out hot, The Gunns teamed up to gain the upper hand, and Top Flight made the comeback. Dante Martin even hit the Nose Dive to get a close two count. Top Flight was rolling until they were attacked by the Kingdom from out of nowhere. This allowed the Gunns to hit their 310 to Yuma tandem finisher for the win.
Fine match. Not terrible but not great.
2.5/5
FTR came to the ring directly after the match to announce that they were going after the Gunns. The Gunns don’t give FTR a title shot, but quickly change their minds after FTR uses the ol’ “Leaving company if we lose” stipulation.
- Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling were backstage with a cease and desist on Taya Valkyrie that Taya cannot use the Jaded. The TBS champ must have been upset that Taya can do her move better than her.
Segments:
- Stokely Hathaway was scheduled to face Hook in a No-DQ “match” up next. The Firm leader tried his best to deny us the gratification of Hook dismantling him by saying he’s not cleared. That was a lie, which then led to a quick domination match. Stokely did spray Hook with a fire extinguisher, but Hook quickly finished the match with the RedRum. Backstage Matt Hardy was encouraging Ethan Page to avenge Stokely. Speaking of The Firm, wasn’t this a No DQ match? Why weren’t they helping their boss?
- Adam Cole came to the ring to discuss his return for next week. He was seemingly about to announce his opponent when Daniel Garcia interrupts. Garcia wants to let Cole know that AEW is vastly different than it was nine months ago. It looks like Cole’s first match back is against Daniel Garcia. This was a good promo battle. Garcia almost calling himself a pro wrestler was a nice touch. It’s almost like Garcia is fighting his pro wrestling background.
- Up next, Alex Marvez was backstage trying to get a comment from Kenny and Don Callis. Just like the worm he is, Don Callis talks Omega out of visiting Nick and Matt Jackson in the hospital. “The God of Pro Wrestling is back,” and needs to start his ascent back to the top.
Jon Moxley vs. Stu Grayson
Jon Moxley has been a real scallywag lately. It’s more than likely that Mox and the BCC were behind the attacks of the Young Bucks at the beginning of the show, and they’ve been a thorn in the side of the Dark Order too. This led to the triumphant return of Stu Grayson last week, which now has led to Stu back full time and in a match with the BCC leader.
That match was STIFF from bell to bell. Obviously, Moxley hits hard, but Stu hit back. The returned Dark Order member put up a great fight against Moxley here. He gained momentum with a backbreaker, awesome twisting senton, and a huge 450 splash.
Unfortunately, the Knightfall was brilliantly countered by Moxley into the Bulldog choke. Despite Stu fighting out of this choke, Moxley hit an avalanche Death Rider for the victory. This would have been match of the night on a lot of Dynamites, had this evening’s main event not happened.
3.75/5
- Renee was backstage with Ricky Starks next. He’s tired of talking and challenged Juice for Rampage
- QTV was back! They showed Hobbs beating up Fenix and apparently Aaron Solo stole Wardlow’s identity. There’s another TNT open challenge, which was answered by Penta el Zero Miedo.
Toni Storm vs. Skye Blue
AEW has a simple structure for a good portion of their TV matches. The underdog comes out hot with a flurry of moves until the veteran takes over. Then, the underdog makes their grandiose comeback only to be led into the jaws of defeat. Most of the matches this evening took this structure, but similar to this Toni Storm and Skye Blue match, it was still pretty good.
Skye Blue is getting better and better with each passing week. She’s been the popular loser of the week in the women’s division, but it feels like she’s picking up a big victory soon. Skye had a great showing here with big moves like a diving hurricanrana and the Code Blue.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t withstand the numbers game of the Outcasts. Ruby Soho and Saraya played a big part in Toni’s victory here. They distracted the referee after Skye hit her finisher, which allowed Toni Storm to finish the match with Storm Zero. Skye put up a good fight here! Good match.
3.25/5
The Outcasts began attacking Skye after the bell, but aid comes as Willow and Riho come to the rescue. Riho has that lead pipe again. She’s not messing around!
- Stu Grayson getting medical attention backstage as the BCC attacks him from behind. Dark Order was nowhere to be found. Them Blackpool guys must be stopped!
Kenny Omega vs. El Hijo del Vikingo
And in the blink of an eye, we had reached the main event. This episode flew by! And so did this main event between two of the best wrestlers in the world right now. Words cannot even express how awesome Hijo del Vikingo was in this main event. Just watch that highlights clip full of insane moves that defy all logical laws of nature.
The man did a Phoenix Splash and a 630 Senton onto a table from the second rope. Huge shoutout to Kenny Omega too because, while Vikingo does unbelievable feats of athleticism, Omega has to sync up perfectly. The Best Bout Machine needed the strength to catch Vikingo for full effect. It takes two to tango!
Just watch this match. El Hijo del Vikingo was introduced to a huge majority of AEW’s audience this week. He’s also wrestling at Supercard of Honor against Kommander in what could surely steal that show as well. This was a fantastic match that featured the premier high flyer in Wrestling today.
My only mark against it was that Vikingo missed one big move, which led to Omega hitting the V Trigger and One Winged Angel for the victory. It just felt out of nowhere. It’s a minuscule gripe that brings it from the perfect score.
Match of the Night
4.5/5
- Schiavone comes down to the ring after the match to discuss Omega’s future singles run, but the Blackpool Combat Club has run roughshod on the AEW roster this evening. They attack Omega before he can say anything meaningful. Hangman drives the Ambulance back to the arena to come and save his former tag partner, but the skeevy garbage pile, Don Callis, pretends to have been attacked by Hangman too. Kenny is pissed at Hangman, even though he didn’t see Hangman hit Don, which Hanger didn’t. This was an awesome way to end Dynamite. The whole show was one giant arc to set up this angle. Just a wonderful piece of storytelling.
OVERALL
And that was Dynamite for this week!!! What did you think of this week’s episode!?
I don’t know if AEW has ever done a story arc that lasted the entire episode before. Maybe the one time that CM Punk and Moxley had one week to sell the All Out main event, which led to them brawling all night long. But that felt forced where this episode’s arc was natural and perfect.
All Elite Wrestling has a wonderful product every single week.
Verdict: 4.25/5