“Here’s what we don’t do! We don’t kick a 62-year-old man in the face where he can’t get up, that’s what we don’t do!” – Cody Rhodes to Malakai Black
The fans are back in their seats and excited to be there. The boys are motivated and excited to see them. AEW Dynamite is back in the wild for the second week in a row and it’s momentum distilled.
In some very important personal news, I purchased five tickets to All Out last week from my phone at a gas station. It isn’t every day I find myself watching a wrestling show that is building up another wrestling show that I am going to, but on the occasion that I do it feels pretty good. That must be the whole “fan” thing going off again.
The World
Dynamite opened with an IWGP U.S. Title match and closed with a Coffin Match. This is a world we have to protect.
There weren’t many misses here because the crowd was hot and AEW got to the point: Team Taz kicked out Brian Cage, Andrade called out Death Triangle, and Matt Hardy worked out of a collar-and-elbow tie-up. Dynamite’s got range.
Even The Elite was clicking as some kind of nWo 2.0, more obnoxious than off-putting for once. It could just be thanks to Hangman Page, whose journey up the ladder of AEW is re-ignited and bringing everyone associated up with it. He may be the guy for 2021, and the 2021 guy has layers.
Cody Rhodes roared back into the spotlight too with a promo at just the right time with just the right guy, like The Game he’s either satirizing or just being. He went in on Malakai Black for the whole kicking Arn Anderson in the face thing then stormed to the ring for what ended up a blazing hot face-off. Cody can definitely setup a match if not always deliver one.
The only thing that actively sucked was Chris Jericho and MJF’s bit backstage which felt like it was a segment from some other weird show.
The Wrestling
The returning Yuka Sakazaki and new Best Friend Wheeler Yuta were briefly showcased and brought the variety, then there were four matches that got time and completely ruled.
IWGP U.S. Title: Jon Moxley [c] vs. Karl Anderson – Here’s 10 minutes of good physical wrestling suitable for an IWGP Title with the feeling out process swapped for an Eddie Kingston/Luke Gallows brawl through the crowd. Good stuff by the brothers.
FTW Title: Brian Cage [c] vs. Ricky Starks – With hometown guy Starks returning from injury, a few balls out spots (powerbomb! F5! Spear!), and a crowd going wild for everything (especially those spots) – this rocked. Taz was a barrel of laughs on commentary too.
Christian Cage vs. Matt Hardy – It’s 2021 and these two middle-aged farts opened with a collar-and-elbow struggle to the floor then went on to get some of the biggest reactions of the night through just good professional wrestling. They did a few big spots early but kept building drama for a few choice near falls towards near the end. Christian kicking out for the low blow to Twist of Fate was like HBK kicking out of the tombstone/
Coffin Match: Darby Allin vs. Ethan Page – I can’t think of any obvious candidates so here’s probably the best Casket Match ever: ridiculous, physical, and fun wrestling between two guys with great chemistry. Darby is chaotic good
The Entertainment
The folks were loud and enhanced some already excellent delivery in the two main angles: Cody wants to kick Malakai’s ass and Hangman Page still NEEDS THAT CHAMPIONSHIP. Pretty simple.
Sometimes it’s also as simple as hearing people go nuts for Matt Hardy.
The broadcast team was particularly fun this week too: Taz was hilariously proud of his boys fighting each other and Tully Blanchard hilariously shouted at Santana & Ortiz that he was gonna get his boys. And you just wait. You just wait.
Excalibur is mastering the over-the-top TV rundown, Jim Ross did his best to promote Sammy Guevara, and Tony Schiavone saying, “you know who I’m talking about…” as he’s about to introduce someone to a live audience still hits so good.
My Favorite Things
- Malakai Black appears to a pop and smiles – great shit
- The crowd chants along with D-M-D!
- The show ends with a Coffin Drop through a coffin
Room for Improvement
- Malakai Black appears to be trying to be a little Wyatt – stop it
- Don’t say “wrestling tragedy,” Matt Jackson
- Where is Anthony Ogogo???
Happy Wrestling Land Power Rankings
- Hangman Page (3)
- Kenny Omega (-)
- Miro (1)
- Darby Allin (-)
- Britt Baker (-)
- Eddie Kingston (-)
- The Young Bucks (NEW)
- Ethan Page (10)
- Cody Rhodes (NEW)
- Jon Moxley (NEW)
