This week’s episode of Dynamite took place in Phoenix, Arizona in front of a very hot and lively crowd! Following last week’s lackluster show, this week’s edition had much more energy and really helped shape the AEW Revolution card.
Cassidy Defeats Wheeler Yuta via Pinfall
Grade: A-
This match was an excellent way to kick off the show. Both workers are very familiar with each other and put out an incredibly solid performance that was 50/50 throughout. A time-limit draw would have been a great way to end the match and extend this mini-feud into another week.
It seems a lot of ‘ROH’ guys are taking the fall on AEW shows. Tony Khan has to be careful not to elevate AEW over ROH too often, or he risks tarnishing the brand.
Evil Uno & Hangman Adam Page Segments and Match
Grade: B-
There is another tease of dissent in the relationship between Hangman and the Dark Order. That stable is a complete non-factor right now. Pull the trigger and have them turn heel on Page. Give them a new coat of paint…and if it’s important to keep John Silver a lovable face, kick him out of the group.
This match was short in length and didn’t need to be any longer than it was, so good caIl. But wow…..so much blood from Evil Uno. Every week there is bleeding on Dynamite. It’s overkill.
Smart booking to get Adam Page out there after the match and get some shots in on Moxley. It’s safe to say both wrestlers will wear a crimson mask for their Texas Death Match.
‘Absolute’ Ricky Starks & Chris Jericho In-Ring Promo
Grade: C-
The hot crowd made this segment watchable. Unfortunately, this angle, to paraphrase ‘The Fink’….MUST CONTINUE! Hopefully, this gets put to bed at AEW Revolution. Let both of these men move on to something more interesting.
The Acclaimed Defeated Big Bill & Lee Moriarty via Pinfall
Grade: C
The Acclaimed pick up a win and get a little momentum back. Neither member of The Firm looked particularly strong in this match; Big Bill was rarely used and did not get a lot of offense in. His AEW future does not look rosy, and would probably benefit from going back to WWE.
Christian Cage Promo w/ Tony Schiavone
Grade: C+
Wanna make ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry more interesting? Have him actually give Christian the Conchairto, rather than have a moment of doubt or indecision. It made little sense to have him jump Cage but not finish the attack. Perry needs to show more aggression and more of a dark side. There has been very little character evolution during his time in AEW.
Saraya (w/ Toni Storm) defeated Skye Blue via submission
Grade: C+
It was good to see Saraya make an in-ring appearance on Dynamite. Her facial expressions and mannerisms show why she is in the top tier of the women’s division. This would have been a great opportunity for a squash win and really cement her as a threat to Jamie Hayter’s AEW Women’s Championship.
Bryan Danielson In-Ring Promo with AEW World Champion MJF
Grade: A-
MJF took his words in a different direction this week. Noting that he hated how much Danielson took his health and his family for granted, MJF has built a hatred for the performer because he doesn’t appreciate what he has. Things got extremely personal when MJF started to talk about Danielson’s family and spoke directly to them through the camera. When he said he had a present for their dad, (early on-set CTE), Danielson lost it and the two brawled until separated by AEW officials.
A simple but very effective promo between the two to continue the build to AEW Revolution. MJF can make every angle feel personal. He always finds a way to make his opponent lose focus and become vulnerable. With only one Dynamite episode before the PPV, MJF needs to attack Danielson’s shoulder one more time so that becomes a focus in their ironman match.
The forearm shot that Danielson laid in on MJF looked like it legitimately laid out the champion.
Jamie Hayter & Dr. Britt Baker Backstage Promo w/ Tony Schiavone
Grade: B
The champ wants to get all worthy challengers in the ring at AEW Revolution, so we get three-way with her, Saraya, and Ruby Soho. Does Saraya get the win and get the title? A good heel champ always makes for more interesting storylines down the road. And, that would set up a natural feud with Britt Baker.
The one question here is why Hayter would volunteer for a Triple Threat Match. It puts the champion at a distinct disadvantage. AEW should probably do more to explain her motivation than “I’ll beat both of you bitches.”
Revolution Tag Team Battle Royale:
Grade: B-
Battle Royales are always fun, but this was the wrong winner to book. It’s even worse that Jeff Jarrett was the last man left, rather than Jay Lethal.
There were four or five other teams in this match that would make the four-way Tag Team Title PPV match much more interesting. Double J is a wrestling cockroach that simply will not die. Sigh….
Tony Khan’s Major Announcement w/ Adam Cole & Renee Paquette
Grade: C
Kudos to Tony Khan for not pretending to be an on-air character, and allowing those who are good at it to tell the story and deliver the message. Too bad this announcement was not major.
AEW: All Access is yet another version of a behind-the-scenes, personal lives look at wrestlers. This is not needed. Stop peeling the curtain back. Wrestlers do not need to be made to look like normal people, because they are not. Keep the mystique!
Dynamite Overall Grade: B–
Overall, a solid show with few dead spots. The Revolution PPV is setting up to be a solid affair, and with the 60-minute Iron Man match on the card, this SHOULD prevent too many matches from happening.
