Dynamite
Date: February 10, 2021
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Jim Ross, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

We’re still starting to get on the road to Revolution and that means we might find out a few more matches on the way there. The big story from last week was the surprise debut of Kenta, who signals the new relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling. That could certainly lead in a few different directions so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

TNT Title: Joey Janela vs. Darby Allin

Allin is defending and we actually hear about a PWG match between the two of them. Feeling out process to start with Darby sending him arm first into the corner. Joey knocks him to the floor for the suicide elbow and laughs a lot. Back in and Joey grabs a bodyscissors with some bonus fishhooks to the jaw. Allin fights up and sends Janela to the apron, only to get caught with a shot to the eye. Back in and Allin nails a shotgun dropkick into the corner and then snaps the arm down onto the top rope.

Janela gets knocked outside for the suicide dive into the barricade for the big crash. They head inside again with Allin grabbing the Fujiwara armbar to send Janela over to the ropes. Allin’s springboard Coffin Drop is countered into a German suplex (that looked good) but Allin flips around to hit a Stunner for two. Janela is right back with a piledriver for two, followed by a trio to the top. Allin cranks on the arm up top and hits a super sunset bomb for another near fall. The Coffin Drop retains the title at 8:49.

Rating: C+. I’m still not big on Janela but they got into a nice groove with the trading big spots by the end. Throw in Allin’s complete lack of worry about hurting himself for the sake of a spot and it works out well enough. The lack of Team Taz hurt a bit as they kept talking about it, but at least it let Allin look better without some kind of shenanigans.

We look back at Kenta’s debut and preview the rest of the show.

Jon Moxley is used to Kenta calling him out and last week Kenta showed up to look like a dork. Kenta and Kenny Omega must have gotten together on some Bullet Club message board and decided to come after him. They’ll meet later this month but tonight it’s unsanctioned with Moxley teaming up with Lance Archer to face the two of them. Tonight, it’s just for fun.

Sammy Guevara comes in to see the Inner Circle and asks to speak to Maxwell Jacob Friedman alone. Everyone leaves but Sammy wants the cameraman to stay. Sammy knows that MJF is trying to take over the Inner Circle but MJF has no idea what’s going on. When MJF first got into the Inner Circle, he thought Sammy was just jealous.

Now though, he understands that Sammy really hates Chris Jericho. Sammy must think that he should be the front man because Sammy wants to take over the Inner Circle. That leaves Sammy so incredulous that he repeats it, which is exactly what MJF, and his phone, wanted to hear. Sammy punches him in the ribs and leaves him laying.

Cody Rhodes/Lee Johnson vs. Cezar Bononi/Peter Avalon

Arn Anderson is here with Cody and Johnson, with Arn’s son in the crowd. JR: “His face looks like it belongs on a can of beef stew.” Cody works on Avalon’s arm to start and hands it off to Johnson, who is quickly headlocked. Bononi comes in off a blind tag and gets in a hard shot to drop Johnson. A moonsault lets Lee flip over Avalon and a dropkick scores as well. That’s enough to send Avalon over to Bononi again but a jawbreaker lets Lee make his own tag.

A pumphandle flip slam drops Cody on his face and we take a break. Back with Cody catching Avalon’s springboard in a fireman’s carry gutbuster. That’s enough for the hot tag off to Lee, who drops Avalon with a neckbreaker. One heck of a corkscrew flip dive takes Bononi down and a fisherman’s buster onto the knee gets two on Avalon as Bononi makes the save. Bononi cleans house and drops Lee face first, though he’s fine enough to grab a rollup for the pin at 7:50.

Rating: C+. This was a way to showcase Lee and that worked out well enough. Having Cody interested in teaming with Lee is going to make him look even better so if they can make a new star out of him, well done. It’s not like Avalon and Bononi losing means anything either so no one is hurt here, meaning it’s a nice little success.

Post match the Nightmare Family comes out to celebrate Johnson’s first win in AEW, making him 1-29. The Nightmare Family is his family.

The Young Bucks run into the Good Brothers, who find it funny that the Bucks lost last week’s battle royal. The Bucks were going to pick the Good Brothers if they won but the Brothers are more interested in promoting Impact Wrestling’s No Surrender this weekend. As for around here though, the Brothers think the Bucks should be mad at Santana and Ortiz, so the Bucks agree to give Santana and Ortiz and title shot next week. Nick reluctantly gives a too sweet.

Matt Hardy interrupts Hangman Page and suggests a tag team. For tonight though, Matt has rented out a private bar for the two of them and the tab is on Matt all night long. That works for Page, who runs into the Dark Order. They offer him a spot drinking with them but he mentions Matt and things are cool enough.

Pac vs. Ryan Nemeth

Fenix is here with Pac. They circle each other to start and Pac knocks him down with ease. Some kicks have Nemeth in more trouble and Pac even knocks him to the floor. Back in and Nemeth does his best Dolph Ziggler impression with the jumping DDT. Pac isn’t exactly having that though and drops Nemeth again, setting up the Black Arrow. The Brutalizer makes Nemeth tap at 4:19.

Rating: C-. There’s something special about Pac giving up a bit of offense but just turning it on to win in the end because he knows there is no one that can stop him. Pac has shaken the ring rust off and looks like his old killer self again and that’s a great thing. Nemeth isn’t much in the ring and just makes me think he’s Ziggler’s lame little brother (I mean….).

We look back at last week’s zany wedding, with Miro swearing vengeance on Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor.

Cassidy and Taylor are drinking the champagne with Cassidy asking what they thought was going to happen last week. Taylor: “Obviously Orange Cassidy was going to pop out of a cake.”

MJF, now with taped ribs, comes up to Chris Jericho and says Sammy punched him in the ribs. There might have been some breaking involved! Jericho says it’s ok and they’ll deal with this after their match.

Acclaimed vs. Chris Jericho/MJF

Max Castor knocks MJF out to the floor to start, with the ribs getting banged up even more. Back in and Castor drops Jericho as well, setting up Anthony Bowens’ slingshot elbow. MJF comes back in but gets planted down on the ribs for two. Bowens is eventually taken into the corner though and it’s a double flapjack, allowing Jericho and MJF to step over him for a rather snobby moment.

Back from a break with Castor reversing MJF’s abdominal stretch into one of his own. That’s enough for the tag off to Bowens, who picks up the pace with dropkicks. Bowens grabs a torture rack and spins MJF down for a faceplant before having to knock Santana off the apron. Jericho’s Lionsault is broken up with a boom box shot for two but Jake Hager pushes Castor off the top. The Judas Effect finishes for Jericho at 9:05.

Rating: C. I haven’t been impressed by the Acclaim so far so it was nice to see them have a pretty decent match tonight. It’s even better to see that Jericho seems to be a little bit more motivated (and maybe a tad bit slimmer) as the Inner Circle continues to do something fresh. Good little match though and this worked out well enough.

Post match the Inner Circle celebrates but here’s Sammy Guevara to interrupt. Jericho asks him what’s going on, and Sammy brings up what he said on December 9: if MJF did one more thing, Sammy was out. Well now he’s done, because he quits. And there’s the face turn (or at least part of the face turn) that Sammy has been primed for over the last few months.

Post break, Sammy leaves the building.

Hangman Page and Matt Hardy are drinking at the bar but Hardy isn’t as well versed with some of the choices. Hardy makes his sales pitch as the agent and even has a contract offer. Page actually agrees but, as Matt talks to the camera, switches the papers and signs something else. He has Matt sign as well but Matt is too excited to notice and leaves with whatever Page had him sign.

Tony Schiavone brings out Sting for an interview but Team Taz interrupts, showing that they have Darby Allin in a body bag. Allin, still in the bag, is tied to the car and dragged across the parking lot. Sting gives chase as we take a break.

Earlier today, Alex Marvez tried to talk to Kenny Omega on the golf course but has to wait for the shot. Marvez asks what Omega is doing when he has such a big main event coming up. Omega says he’s already the best wrestler ever so now it’s time to prepare mentally and spiritually her eon the golf course. Don Callis praises Kenny for his alleged eagle (ignore the adjusting of the ball while Omega and Marvez talked) and lets Marvez have the ball as a souvenir. Marvez asks for a ride but gets turned down. Maybe because Callis and Omega are on foot?

Women’s Title Eliminator Tournament First Round: Thunder Rosa vs. Leyla Hirsch

Rosa gets an inset interview talking about her goals of becoming champion. Hirsch takes her down a few times to start but Rosa gets in a slam and scores with a running backsplash. Back up and Hirsch pulls her down into the waistlock, followed by the running up the ropes for an armdrag. A suicide dive drops Rosa again but she’s right back in, where Hirsch pulls her down by the arm. That’s broken up as well and Rosa snaps off a neckbreaker over the middle rope.

We take a break and come back with Rosa hitting some sling shot knees in the corner. The running basement dropkick in the corner gives Rosa two but Hirsch shoves her off the top. A high crossbody gives Hirsch two but her moonsault hits raised knees. Rosa loads up a fire thunder driver, only to have Hirsch pull her down into a triangle choke. That’s countered with a powerbomb though and Rosa’s layout inverted reverse DDT finishes at 9:15.

Rating: C+. Hirsch continues to be someone they see something in and I can’t say I blame them a bit. There is always going to be a place for someone with her amateur skills and she makes things feel different. Then you have Rosa though and the star power is all over her, hence why she is likely going to make a deep run in this thing.

We run down the first round of the Japanese half of the bracket. The matches will air on YouTube this coming Monday.

Jungle Boy talks about his great match with Dax Harwood, where Boy won by submission. No the Jurassic Express didn’t want o have FTR suspended, so as soon as possible, Boy is making Harwood his b****.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Kenta/Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley/Lance Archer

Falls Count Anywhere and Kenta gets in a briefcase (his #1 contendership to Moxley’s US Title) shot to Moxleys’s back to start. Some kicks to Archer’s knee lets Omega hit the Kitaro Crusher but he and Kenta get in an argument. That’s enough for Archer and Moxley to fight back, though they don’t seem to trust one another either. The running clotheslines in the corner have Omega and Kenta in trouble again. Omega and Archer are knocked outside but it’s too early for the GTS to Moxley.

Instead here’s Omega with a trashcan to knock Moxley silly and then put the trashcan on the post. That means the moonsault with the trashcan onto Moxley and it’s time to cringe a bit. It’s time to bring in a ladder but Moxley fights back and hits a suicide dive on Kenta as Archer supelxes Omega into said ladder.

We take a break, coming back with Kenta and Omega fighting near the stage….and here’s Peter Avalon (out of his heart shaped bed) to interrupt and take the GTS it as well. Archer chokeslams Omega onto said bed and Moxley kicks Kenta in the face for two. Moxley knocks Kenta around the arena and then up the steps near the door Moxley uses every week.

Archer leaves Omega laying and goes after them but they have wound up in a kitchen. A DDT puts Moxley onto a metal table and the YES Lock goes on, only to have Archer make the save with a bag of potatoes. Moxley grabs one and hits Omega, getting to say that “he potatoed him”.

We look back at the rest of the match and come back with Omega and Moxley coming back to the arena. Moxley gets in a few kendo stick shots to Omega as they head inside again. Omega V Triggers Moxley out of the air and out to the floor though as the things slow back down. Cue Archer and Kenta to fight on the stage with Archer loading up a powerbomb through the announcers’ table. That’s broken up though and Kenta hits a running double stomp to put Moxley through a ringside table.

Archer sees Omega in the middle of the ring so Omega grabs the kendo stick. That shot is easily blocked so Omega goes after the knee. Archer is fine enough to hit a chokeslam though and the ladder is tossed to the floor. The rope walk moonsault gives Archer two but Omega slips out of the Blackout.

Cue the Good Brothers so Archer knocks them down and shrugs off Kenta’s spinning backfists. The Brothers get in though and Anderson hits Archer with the Gun stun. Jake Roberts gets in so Anderson uppercuts him down but Omega’s V Trigger is broken up. The Brothers low blow Archer to cut him off though and there’s the Magic Killer. The One Winged Angel is enough to finish Archer at 19:53.

Rating: B-. This is going to be a case where your individual tastes may heavily vary but there was too much going on here and it got a little too goofy at times. Stuff like Peter Avalon and the potatoes make for some good gags but they didn’t quite fit with the anger and violence that seemed to be the idea here. Not a bad match at all and it was certainly wild, though just not my thing for this one.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked the show pretty well this week, though we’re still far enough out from Revolution that it’s ok to not set up a lot of the card just yet. You can see the pieces being put together at the moment and, as usual, if this is one of their weaker shows, they’re going to be just fine. This worked out well enough and I’m curious to see where things go, which is more than a lot of companies are accomplishing these days.

Results

Darby Allin b. Joey Janela – Coffin Drop

Cody Rhodes/Lee Johnson b. Cezar Bononi/Peter Avalon – Rollup to Avalon

Pac b. Ryan Nemeth – Brutalizer

Chris Jericho/MJF b. Acclaimed – Judas Effect to Castor

Thunder Rosa b. Leyla Hirsch – layout inverted reverse DDT

Kenny Omega/Kenta b. Jon Moxley/Lance Archer – One Winged Angel to Archer

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Dynamite
Date: December 2, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross, Excalibur

Winter is coming and….or wait is Winter here now? Anyway it’s a huge show with a mega main event of Kenny Omega challenging Jon Moxley for the World Title. That would have seemed to be a pay per view main event level match but I can see why they couldn’t wait until late February. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Battle Royal

Shawn Spears, Scorpio Sky, Luther, Matt Hard, Joey Janela, Kip Sabian, Miro, Orange Cassidy, Serpentico, Isaiah Kassidy, Marq Quen, Hangman Page, John Silver, Alex Reynolds, Sammy Guevara, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Wardlow, Matt Sydal, Jungle Boy, Lee Johnson

The final two standing will face off for the diamond ring next week, so we see a quick promo from MJF, who says the ring belongs to the Inner Circle. Hardy throws Kassidy out from behind as there are several people on the floor but not eliminated. The Dark Order helps Page get rid of Serpentico before knocking Luther out. Spears tosses Sydal but gets eliminated as well, drawing Tully Blanchard out of his seat in the crowd.

The fans give Spears the Goodbye Song as Blanchard gives him the slug to load up the glove. Spears decks Sky with said glove and Sky is tossed in a hurry. Reynolds and Quen are sent to the apron with Silver being tossed into Reynolds for the elimination. Silver is eliminated a few seconds later, with Hardy being very pleased with his work. Hardy sends Page to the apron and Quen knocks Page….right into the Dark Order to catch him. Back in and Hardy gets rid of Page, followed by Cassidy getting rid of Sabian.

That makes Sabian pull Cassidy to the floor and Miro takes him out (not eliminated) for a bonus. With the Inner Circle standing in the corner, Miro gets rid of Johnson and spikes Janela with the swinging Rock Bottom. Hardy goes after Miro and gets sent to the apron, with Miro getting rid of Hardy, Kassidy and Janela in a row. That leaves with with Miro, Jungle Boy, Wardlow, MJF and Guevara, plus anyone still active on the floor.

The Inner Circle goes after Miro, who shrugs them all off. That gives us the Wardlow vs. Miro slugout until Sammy and MJF save Wardlow from the big clothesline. Wardlow hits a clothesline and the trio gets rid of Miro. Boy and Guevara wind up on the apron for a rather spiffy gymnastics routine with a bunch of flips and shots to the head but no eliminations.

MJF shoves them both off the top and out but Orange Cassidy is still in. Wardlow drags him back in and loads up Cassidy but MJF goes to try and eliminate Wardlow instead. That lets Cassidy make the comeback with Orange Punches and Wardlow is tossed, leaving Cassidy and MJF to win at 12:13.

Rating: C+. They kept this moving and there was enough stuff building towards the future to make it that much better. It also helped that they gave the annoying ending a bit of a twist by having Wardlow bring Cassidy back in rather than having him pop back in. Not a classic or anything, but it was effective and I’ll take that.

Post match the Best Friends come in to celebrate as referees have to hold Miro back.

Here’s what’s coming tonight.

Chris Jericho vs. Frankie Kazarian

The Inner Circle is here with Jericho. Kazarian grabs a headlock to start and then scores with a right hand to stagger Jericho. An Oklahoma roll gets two and we’re right back to the headlock to keep Jericho frustrated early on. Jericho manages to send him to the apron but the triangle dropkick is broken up, allowing Kazarian to hit a springboard clothesline. They fight outside with Jake Hager’s interference earning himself a trip to the barricade. Back in and Jericho scores with a Codebreaker before knocking Kazarian right back to the floor.

We come back from a break with Kazarian hitting some running clotheslines and forearms. Kazarian’s dropkick misses but the Lionsault only hits knees. They head up top with the Flux Capacitor (Spanish Fly) connecting for two on Jericho. Kazarian puts on his own Walls of Jericho with Hager telling Ortiz not to interfere to avoid the DQ. Cue MJF to tease throwing in the towel but Guevara runs in to cut him off. Kazarian grabs a rollup for two but charges into the Judas Effect for the pin at 11:04.

Rating: C. Kazarian is someone who can get a good match out of anyone and it’s not like it takes much to do so with Jericho. At the same time, throwing in more of MJF vs. Guevara in the battle to be Jericho’s best friend is a great idea as the story is already gaining legs. Nice job here and I could go for more of Kazarian.

Post break Guevara and MJF are ready to go but Jericho cuts him off. He’s tired of this and says either they get this together next week or the Inner Circle breaks up next week.

The Young Bucks are asked about facing the Hybrid 2 next week but ask Alex Marvez if he remembers when they superkicked him in the face. Another superkick doesn’t ensue but they do say if the Hybrid 2 can win next week, they can have a title shot. The Acclaimed comes in to insult the Bucks’ book with Max Castor rhyming about how it should be in the adult section because of where the Bucks are looking. Cue the Hybrid 2 to jump the Bucks until SCU makes the save.

Britt Baker vs. Leyla Hirsch

Rebel is here with Baker, who insults Thunder Rosa before the match.. Hirsch takes Baker down to start and Baker is certainly not pleased. A headlock takeover makes it worse and Baker’s reversal attempt just earns her a cross armbreaker. That’s broken up and Baker hits a low superkick into a DDT. We take a break and come back with Hirsch hitting a kick to the face and a bicycle kick to send Baker outside.

Hirsch hits a suicide dive onto Rebel, with Baker pulling her in the way. Baker gets in a cheap shot and sends her face first into the apron. Back in and a jumping knee to the face looks to set up a cross armbreaker but Baker reverses into Lockjaw, which is reversed into the armbreaker as Rebel wasn’t ready with the glove. Baker slips out again but gets caught with a knee to the head. Rebel offers a distraction though and it’s a fisherman’s neckbreaker to set up the Lockjaw for the tap at 8:45.

Rating: C+. Hirsch continues to impress every time she’s out there but at the same time you have Baker, who is as good of a female heel as there is today. There’s just something about her that makes you want to see someone knock her head off and that’s not something you can easily see. Throw in her chemistry with Tony Schiavone and it’s one more layer of awesome.

Post match here’s Thunder Rosa for the brawl, with agents and referees having to break it up.

We look at Team Taz vs. Cody Rhodes/Darby Allin, setting up the tag match.

Cody Rhodes/Darby Allin vs. Team Taz

It’s Powerhouse Hobbs/Ricky Starks here with Taz at ringside. The brawl is on to start and we take a very quick break. Back with Allin being sent outside for a big running charge from Hobbs. Allin gets sent hard into the barricade and it’s time to go back inside for some shots to the ribs. Starks hits a few shots of his own and it’s back to Hobbs for a waistlock.

Allin gets in a shot to Starks’ face but Hobbs still isn’t ready to allow the hot tag. Hobbs sends Allin flying with a suplex but Allin flips out of back to back belly to back suplex attempts, allowing the hot tag to Cody. House is cleaned but Cross Rhodes is blocked. Instead it’s the Cody Cutter to Starks with Allin tagging himself in. Cody dives onto Hobbs, leaving Allin to hit the Coffin Drop for the pin at 11:14 (even though Starks’ shoulder was so high up that it almost has to be a plot point).

Rating: C+. Pretty much a formula tag match here but it worked out perfectly well for what they were doing. Team Taz continues to be worth seeing almost every week and they did give them an out with the ending. Good enough match here and I could go for more of it so another well done moment.

Post match Team Taz goes after Arn Anderson but it’s Dustin Rhodes coming in for the save. Brian Cage comes out to give both Rhodes Brothers the F5. The lights go out though and it’s STING making his debut for the save. After a quick staredown with Arn Anderson, Sting looks at Cody in the corner and then glares at Allin. That’s certainly a cool moment and the video/music were excellent. I don’t need to see Sting wrestle, but if you put him in an eight man tag or something like that, it should be fine. Awesome surprise though so nice job.

Hikaru Shida isn’t scared of Abadon because she is just a zombie cosplayer. Something falls off camera and Shida gets shaken up and leaves in a hurry.

Next week: Sting speaks.

Jon Moxley says things felt a little different when he landed in Jacksonville last night. It was finally time for two warriors to go to battle because the contracts have been signed and the promos have been cut. Now all that is left to to is make the crowd go banana (that made me smile).

AEW World Title: Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley

Moxley is defending and Don Callis joins commentary. Omega gets backed into the corner to start but comes out with a wristlock. Moxley’s headlock takeover gets him out of trouble and it’s Omega hitting some chops in the corner. Moxley doesn’t seem to mind and drives him into the other corner. A hurricanrana puts Moxley down but the Rise of the Terminator takes way too long, allowing Moxley to hit a Boss Man Slam.

They head outside with Moxley being whipped into the barricade but Moxley sends him in as well as we take a break. Back with Moxley favoring his knee and Omega hitting the Kitaro Crusher for two. The leg is bent around the middle rope for a running dropkick but another attempt is cut off by Moxley’s running clothesline. Omega is right back up with a series of chops but YOU CAN’T ESCAPE is escaped, with Moxley snapping off a German suplex.

Another shot to the knee cuts Moxley down again though and we take another break. Back with Omega hitting the big flip dive to take Moxley down on the floor. Omega tries to springboard back in though and dives right into the Paradigm Shift. Instead of covering though, some chairs are brought in so they can sit down and slap it out. Then they switch to right hands until Omega gets knocked out of the chair, only to come back with the V Trigger.

There’s the Snapdragon into a second one to rock Moxley. The V Trigger misses though and Moxley snaps off a German suplex. Omega pops back up with another V Trigger but Moxley blasts him with a clothesline for the double knockdown. There’s another Paradigm Shift for a delayed near fall so Moxley sends him outside. The suicide dive is cut off by another V Trigger, followed by a missile dropkick to the back.

The fourth V Trigger connects to the back in the corner and a Tiger Driver 98 gets two more. Some hard knees to the face look to set up the fifth V Trigger but Moxley blocks, only to have Omega hit another V Trigger. The One Winged Angel is countered but neither can hit the Paradigm Shift. Omega scores with a dropkick and a ripcord V Trigger connects. Moxley slips out of another One Winged Angel but Omega hits a wheelbarrow suplex for two. Omega goes up top but jumps down to the floor before Moxley can shove him down (smart).

Moxley grabs another Paradigm Shift on the floor and that’s enough for the doctor to come over to check on Omega. Referees and Callis go down to check on Omega but Moxley isn’t having any of this. He throws Omega back inside and hammers away so Callis grabs the mic. Moxley knocks him down so Omega grabs the mic to hit Moxley in the head. The champ is busted open so Omega hits four V Triggers in a row and it’s the One Winged Angel to make Omega champion at 28:28.

Rating: B+. They beat the heck out of each other here and that is the kind of match they needed to have. Omega almost had to win the title sooner or later because he is treated as one of if not the top stars in the company so this was something they had to do. That being said, I’m not sure where they are going with the Callis stuff and that was something that probably didn’t need to be there. Still though, what we got was rather great and that’s more than you can ask for here.

Post match Callis and Omega run off with everyone in the back yelling at them for cheating. They run to the car with Callis saying they’ll tell you about it on IMPACT Wrestling next week. Working with Impact sounds like one of the worst ideas I can think of for AEW and really not something they should be doing, but maybe we can get more Tommy Dreamer on Dynamite.

In a very, very quick closing line, Eddie Kingston runs out to say he wants Lance Archer next week to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. This show was all about the main event and while I’m almost terrified of the idea of Dynamite and Impact working together, the match itself and the title change felt like a big deal because AEW has done a great job of protecting their titles. You don’t see title changes take place around here very often and it was special as a result. The rest of the show worked out really well too, making this the big time feeling that they have been needing for a bit. Just please don’t let the Impact thing be a long term thing. AEW is better than that.

Results

Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Orange Cassidy won a battle royal last eliminating Wardlow

Chris Jericho b. Frankie Kazarian – Judas Effect

Britt Baker b. Leyla Hirsch – Lockjaw

Cody Rhodes/Darby Allin b. Team Taz – Coffin Drop to Starks

Kenny Omega b. Jon Moxley – One Winged Angel

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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Dynamite
Date: October 28, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross

We’re getting closer and closer to Full Gear and tonight we will find out the finalists in the #1 contenders tournament, with the match taking place at the pay per view. Other than that we have a town hall meeting with the Inner Circle and Maxwell Jacob Friedman to see if he can join the team. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Wardlow and MJF are getting ready for Wardlow’s match when Wardlow is asked what it means to possibly win the title. MJF interrupts, saying that if Wardlow wins, the title goes to MJF because Wardlow works for him. Wardlow agrees, but here is Sammy Guevara to throw down the jacket that MJF gave him. Sammy says MJF isn’t joining the team no matter what, so MJF asks where all the hostility is coming from. After being accused of looking like someone who sells Adderall to middle school kids, Sammy promises to keep MJF off the team.

#1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Wardlow vs. Hangman Page

Page starts fast and hammers on Wardlow before getting up a boot to the face. They head outside with Wardlow spearing him through the barricade with ease and hammering away. Back in and Wardlow sends him flying, followed by a gutwrench powerbomb for two. Wardlow misses a top rope splash though and Page gets to start slugging away. A running clothesline sends Wardlow over the top and out to the floor.

Page hits a top rope moonsault to the floor but the Buckshot Lariat is cut off with a hard clothesline to give Wardlow two. The F10 connects but Page rolls out to the floor. Back in and the super F10 is countered into a superplex to put Wardlow down instead. A pair of Buckshot Lariats finish Wardlow at 9:50.

Rating: C+. This was hard hitting and rough in a good way, which is how something like this should have gone. Page survived a lot and slayed the giant, which is how you make him look like a top star. Good fight here and they got everything working well with Wardlow looking good in defeat.

Here’s everything else that is coming tonight.

Jon Moxley talks about how he has defended the World Title everywhere and now he is ready to do it again against Eddie Kingston. Eddie has a huge ego though and it’s time to give him a big wake up call.

Eddie Kingston vs. Matt Sydal

Before the match, Eddie talks about how he is ready for Full Gear and was never eliminated from the battle royal. Eddie: “Hi Lance.” Eddie works on a headlock to start but gets taken down into an armbar. The cobra stretch is blocked so Sydal kicks away, only to get caught in a powerbomb. Back with Sydal hitting a hard shot to the face for two and Kingston is a bit rocked. He’s fine enough to cut off a charge in the corner but Sydal snaps off a jumping hurricanrana. The top rope Meteora gets two but Eddie is back with a knee to the ribs. The spinning backfist drops Sydal and the bulldog choke makes Sydal give up at 8:12.

Rating: C. This was the kind of match that Kingston can use to get things ready for Full Gear and they did things well. Sydal is someone who means a little something, even though he has been almost nothing more than a jobber around AEW. You knew how it was going to end here but it went fine enough, so nice job.

Post match Kingston won’t let go until Sydal says he quits.

Earlier today we had a split screen sitdown interview with the Young Bucks and FTR. The ankle is fine after last week, as it is just a sprain. FTR laughs off the idea that they are trying to get out of the match. They say the interview doesn’t deserve them and walk out. Matt talks about how they’re a couple of young kids who worked hard and built their own ring to train.

That was their college education. Now they want the titles so badly that if they don’t win them at Full Gear, they will never challenge for them again. Another week of the Bucks suddenly being faces again after superkicking innocent people, which wasn’t a heel turn despite being a heel turn.

It’s time for the Town Hall as the political edition of Dynamite continues. Tony Schiavone and Dasha Gonzales are the moderators and our first question comes from Luchasaurus. Since MJF doesn’t have a Masters degree like he does, Luchasaurus would like to know the financial impact that MJF can have on the Inner Circle. MJF happens to have a chart, showing how much better the ratings are when he is around, which is just math.

The next question is from Britt Baker and Rebel, the latter of whom is VERY interested in Jericho’s smile. They would like to know about MJF’s track record of turning on people. Jericho: “I’m not a dip**** like Cody.” Jericho threatens to knock MJF’s teeth down his throat if he turns on them but MJF says if they join forces, it means a lot of green and a lot of gold. Next up is Peter Avalon, who asks if he can join the Inner Circle. Jericho laughs a lot before saying that’s never going to happen.

Then we have Eric B. from Cody, Wyoming, who quotes John F. Kennedy by asking what MJF can do for the Inner Circle. MJF says he can offer friendship, so Bischoff then asks what the Inner Circle can do for MJF as well. He thinks the team can make him better, so Bischoff has one more question. Bischoff and Jericho have worked together before and Bischoff knows Jericho is a primadonna. Jericho freaks out but Bischoff gets to continue, asking why we should believe the two of them won’t kill each other.

MJF talks about everything he has offered to Jericho and the Inner Circle, including gifts and the best segment ever in wrestling. Jericho says MJF hasn’t beaten him but he’ll have the chance at Full Gear. If MJF can beat him, he can be on the team. MJF takes it seriously and promises to do ANYTHING to win. Ortiz tells MJF to shut up because there is no conversation needed because no one wants him in the Inner Circle. Next week it’s going to be Santana/Guevara (strange) vs. MJF/Wardlow and MJF isn’t making it to Full Gear.

This was rather long and took longer than it needed to to get to the point. The parody of the election season wasn’t exactly funny or entertaining either, though once they got past that point, it did what it needed to do. Also, Bischoff isn’t exactly a big, exciting addition to anything at this point.

Video on Team Taz vs. Will Hobbs.

TNT Title: Cody vs. Orange Cassidy

Cody is defending in a lumberjack match. The Mouse Trap is broken up early and Cody wins a battle over a top wristlock. Cassidy gets two off a backslide but Cody hits him in the ribs to send him outside for the Big Hug from the Best Friends. Back in and Cody hits a dragon screw legwhip over the rope but the Best Friends catch him before he falls. Cassidy is right back with a shot to knock Cody off the apron, and this time the Best Friends just drop him.

Trent gets in a cheap shot from the floor and Cassidy hits a high crossbody but Cody counters the spinning DDT. Cody is sent outside again but the lumberjacks can’t do anything before he’s back in. Now the spinning DDT gets two and we take a break with Cassidy being sent outside.

Back with the lumberjacks getting in a fight (duh) until Cody superplexes Cassidy onto the pile. Cody throws him back in and gets two off the Cody Cutter, only to get caught with the Stundog Millionaire. Cassidy’s top rope diving DDT gets two but the lumberjacks get back in, with John Silver hitting a pump kick on Cassidy (which Cody didn’t see). Arn Anderson gets in a left hand as well, allowing Cody to hit Cross Rhodes to retain at 12:05.

Rating: C. The lumberjacks offered a little something here and Silver costing Cassidy the match should set up something in a week or two. You can always get something like this out of a lumberjack match so they did it well enough. Cassidy continues to look fine when he does his thing and when he’s a little more serious (on occasion), it makes the shtick feel more entertaining.

Post match the brawl is on as Darby Allin watches from the rafters like Sting. The Gunn Club of all people clear the ring.

Miro and Kip Sabian run into the Best Friends in the back and try to make peace after they broke Alan a few weeks ago. Their offer of a present: Penelope Ford dressed as Orange Cassidy. They jump the Friends anyway and the beating goes into the locker room with the Best Friends being laid out.

Serena Deeb talks about winning the NWA Women’s Title last night and promises to show why you should respect her.

NWA Women’s Title: Serena Deeb vs. Leyla Hirsch

Deeb is defending and gets taken into the corner to start. Back up and Deeb grabs a waistlock but Hirsch reverses into a front facelock. Hirsch runs her over a few times with a shoulder getting two. Deeb gets two off a neckbreaker over the ropes and JR calls Hirsch a female Ivan Putski. That’s a little harsh, especially when Hirsch pulls her into a cross armbreaker attempt. Deeb stacks her up to escape so Hirsch sends her shoulder first into the buckle for the break. We take a break and come back with Hirsch hitting a knee to the face but getting dropped with a neckbreaker. The Tequila Sunrise makes Hirsch tap at 8:39.

Rating: C. Hirsch was impressive here as she felt different. Above all else, she is rather small and the different build and look make her feel unique. Deeb is a veteran who can wrestle a good match with anyone and she did that here, which was made that much better when Hirsch was up to the challenge.

Hikaru Shida is willing to face Nyla Rose for the Women’s Title at Full Gear. How many title shots does Rose get around here???

Shawn Spears vs. VSK

C4 finishes for Spears at 31 seconds.

Post match, someone in a bull costume yells at Spears so Spears pulls him inside. Spears loads up the glove but it’s Scorpio Sky, who lays Spears out with a TKO.

Full Gear rundown.

Next week rundown.

#1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Kenny Omega vs. Penta El Zero M

Omega’s Mega Title isn’t on the line but his big intro is still on in full. Rey Fenix is here in Peta’s corner as Omega lays the title in front of Penta. The big chop off ensues and Omega knocks the glove away before stomping Penta down. Penta knocks him outside though and hits the dive, only to come up holding his knee as we take a break.

Back with Omega snapping off a hurricanrana to the floor and hitting the running flip dive for a bonus. Penta is back up with a dive to the floor though and they’re both down. They head back inside with Omega hitting the snapdragon and then does it again for a bonus. Omega knees him in the face and hits a powerbomb, followed by the V Trigger for two. A leg lariat to the back of the head sends Penta into the corner and there’s another V Trigger in the corner.

Omega takes him to the top but gets caught with a super Destroyer onto the ramp. The Fear Factor gets two more back inside but the Pentagon Driver is countered. Instead Penta hits a low running enziguri for two and they’re both staggered. Another V Trigger rocks Penta but he counters the One Winged Angel and snaps the arm. Omega slips out of the Pentagon Driver again and has to use the left hand to fight back. Penta springboards into a knee to the face though and the One Winged Angel finishes at 16:23.

Rating: B. Eh I’m not sure. Omega only did four or five V Triggers and they only went sixteen minutes. 37 stars? Maybe 109? They did a rather nice job of building up some drama, even though there was little reason to believe that Omega was in any serious danger. That worked out well, as Penta continues to look like a star every time he is in the ring. Main event level match here, and now we move on to what was expected at Full Gear.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a bit of a step down for the show but it was still rather good. The bigger problem here was most of the show didn’t feel all that big until the main event, which did deliver. The Town Hall hurt things a lot as it was long and didn’t really have any major moments, though they got to the necessary result. What mattered here was the rush build to Full Gear and that went well enough, mainly because it was about all they could do with only one more show before the pay per view. Not as good as their usual stuff, but a completely acceptable show.

Results

Hangman Page b. Wardlow – Buckshot Lariat

Eddie Kingston b. Matt Sydal – Bulldog choke

Cody b. Orange Cassidy – Cross Rhodes

Serena Deeb b. Leyla Hirsch – Tequila Sunrise

Shawn Spears b. VSK – C4

Kenny Omega b. Penta – One Winged Angel

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

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