AEW Dynamite
Episode 72
Beach Break
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: February 3, 2021
Event Date: February 3, 2021
(aired live on TNT & the FITE app)
City: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place
Commentary: Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Don Callis (5)
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Match 1
Tag Team Battle Royal for a Title Shot at Revolution
(outside referees: Aubrey Edwards, Mike Posey, Rick Knox, Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Chris Jericho survives, Jericho & MJF will face the Young Bucks at Revolution for the AEW Tag Team Titles
Time: 11:36
| Elimination Order | Wrestler Eliminated | Team Eliminated | Time Out | Total Eliminations | Eliminated By | Elimination Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dante Martin | 1:22 | 0 | Marq Quen | dropkick | |
| 2 | Alex Reynolds | 1:41 | 0 | Jake Hager | snapmare on apron | |
| 3 | Jake Hager | 2:02 | 1 | John Silver, Evil Uno | push off of apron | |
| 4 | Matt Jackson | 2:35 | 0 | Santana | back body drop | |
| 5 | Anthony Bowens | 2:57 | 0 | Chris Jericho, MJF | momentum throw | |
| 6 | Stu Grayson | 4:22 | 0 | Luchasaurus | chokeslam over ropes | |
| 7 | Luchasaurus | 4:28 | 1 | John Silver, Evil Uno | lifted over ropes | |
| 8 | Evil Uno | Dark Order (Uno & Grayson) | 4:53 | 2 | MJF | momentum throw |
| 9 | Marq Quen | 5:19 | 1 | Darius Martin | hands slapped while attempting Silly String | |
| 10 | John Silver | Dark Order (Silver & Reynolds) | 6:01 | 2 | Santana, Ortiz | lifted over ropes |
| 11 | Ortiz | 6:30 | 1 | Nick Jackson | momentum throw | |
| 12 | Santana | Santana & Ortiz | 6:40 | 2 | Nick Jackson | superkick |
| 13 | Isiah Kassidy | Private Party | 7:15 | 0 | Good Brothers (not competing) | low bridge |
| 14 | Nick Jackson | Young Bucks | 7:26 | 2 | MJF | elevated over ropes |
| 15 | Jungle Boy | Jurassic Express | 9:37 | 0 | MJF | momentum throw |
| 16 | MJF | 10:15 | 4 | Max Caster | back body drop | |
| 17 | Max Caster | The Acclaimed | 10:23 | 1 | Darius Martin | lift over ropes |
| 18 | Sammy Guevara | Sammy Hager | 11:14 | 0 | Chris Jericho | falls while Jericho lifts Darius Martin over ropes |
| 19 | Darius Martin | Top Flight | 11:36 | 2 | Chris Jericho | Judas Effect |
| Winner | Chris Jericho | 3 |
Match Thoughts
This was a fun battle royal with some nice moments. I wasn’t completely surprised by who won, but I was a little surprised by a couple of the final few teams. Standout moments were spread around pretty well, but Jericho and MJF were quietly dominant when looking back at the match after the final bell rang. Battle Royals are often a fun way to start a show, and this one was no exception. I particularly enjoyed the fact that both members of each team had to be eliminated rather than just one. I’m pretty sure AEW has done tag battle royals like that before, and I always enjoy it.
Video
A special look at a very impressive young woman, Jade.
Ring Area
In the ring, Tony Schiavone welcomes Darby Allin and Stiiiiing! Schiavone stars by asking Darby Allin about his title defense against Joey Janela next week, but Team Taz immediately interrupts as they appear on the video screen.
Taz explains that Team Taz isn’t allowed in the building tonight because they attacked the merch staff last week. They’ll be close by during Darby Allin’s title defense next week though. Ricky Starks addresses Sting, saying that he is nowhere near the man he used to be. Starks also wishes Allin luck for next week. He’s going to need it. Having said what they want to say, Team Taz disappears from the screen.
Sting responds by saying he’ll be close during Allin’s match next week as well, and he will ensure that Team Taz doesn’t interfere. Also, he wants Ricky Starks to look closer into the eyes of The Icon. With that, Sting and Darby Allin leave the ring together.
Video
A look at what brought Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa together tonight.
Match 2
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. w/ Rebel not Reba vs Thunder Rosa
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Britt baker wins via referee stoppage with Lockjaw after Rosa is knocked out with a flatliner to an exposed turnbuckle
Time: 13:10
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Rosa started with a pre-match attack on Rebel, but that opened her up to an early attack from Baker. Regardless, Rosa had a strong opening to the match with a relentless attack that had Baker on her heels. Once Baker started to fight back, this was a very good back and forth battle with some good psychology and a lot of nice sequences. Rosa started to go after Baker’s right hand in an attempt to eliminate Lockjaw, but Baker has been working on her counters. Baker looked as good as ever tonight, and she did well to match Rosa’s often brutal attacks with some heavy-hitting moves of her own. This was a good payoff to the buildup between these two wrestlers.
Backstage
Last week after Dynamite, Tony Schiavone spoke with Matt Hardy and Adam Page. Hardy says he has no ulterior motives when he asks Page to partner with him to beat up Chaos Project for ruining -1’s birthday celebration. Page says agrees to the match, but only this one time. Page is not interested in getting into another tag team.
Match 3
“Hangman” Adam Page & Matt Hardy vs Chaos Project
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Matt Hardy pins Serpentico after the Buckshot Lariat by Adam Page (after tagging himself in)
Time: 3:58
Match Thoughts
This was fun. This was very much a story line match with the action taking a backseat, but it was still fun to watch. Hardy and Page worked well together, but Page was the standout as the match went on. Serpentico got beat up nearly the entire time (sort of even by his partner), and Luther only tagged in once for a few seconds. The finish of the match was nice, with Matt tagging himself in after Page did all the work.
Ring Area
After the match, Matt Hardy is very excited and proud of himself. Page looks frustrated, but after a few seconds he holds up Hardy’s hand. Hardy celebrates some more.
Video
A look at the sixteen women competing in the AEW Women’s World Title Eliminator Tournament with matches taking place in America and in Japan.
In the Japan side of the bracket:
Aja Kong
Yuka Sakazaki
Veny
Emi Sakura
Ryo Mizunami
Mei Suruga
Rin Kadokura
Maki Itoh
In the America side of the bracket:
Serena Deeb
Riho
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.
Tay Conti
Thunder Rosa
Nyla Rose
Anna Jay
Leyla Hirsch
Backstage
Alex Marvez follows Chris Jericho and MJF as they go to celebrate their win with the rest of the Inner Circle. Sammy Guevara wonders why he, Hager, Santana, and Ortiz are always “collateral damage” in Jericho and MJF’s victories. Guevara leaves, and Jericho goes to check on him. MJF has the cameraman leave while he has a conversation with the rest of the Inner Circle.
Backstage
Tony Schiavone speaks with Kip Sabian, Miro, and Charles Taylor as the ring is being prepared for AEW’s first wrestling wedding. Vickie Guerrero walks up and tells Kip everything is ready.
Ring Area
The special officiant, James Mitchell, welcomes groom Kip Sabian, the best man Miro, the butler Charles Taylor, and Vickie Guerrero to the ring. The bride Penelope Ford is escorted to the ring by Jerry Lynn. James Mitchell begins the wedding and has Kip Sabian start with his personal vows. Kip mostly talks about how hot Penelope is before saying he loves her. Penelope says he has the biggest… but Kip interrupts her and says he already knows how much she loves him.
Mitchell continues the service, and Kip says “I do.” Penelope also does. Mitchell then begins to ask if there is anyone in the building who objects, but Miro interrupts and says they’re not doing that tonight. Mitchell pronounces Kip and Penelope man and wife. The newlyweds kiss. Miro then begins a toast for Kip and Penelope, and he has Charles Taylor serve the champagne. Miro says he might not have bought Kip a wedding present, but Miro’s strength is Kip’s present.
Miro then points out a human-sized wedding gift that’s been in the ring the whole time. Miro wonders what’s inside, and Charles Taylor says the gift is from him. That prompts Miro to attack the present, but there’s nothing inside. Miro changes the subject and calls for cake. When Miro tries to walk, he realizes his ankle has been handcuffed to the turnbuckles. Taylor attack Sabian which knocks Ford into the wedding cake. Taylor continues his attack, but he gets outnumbered. Suddenly, Orange Cassidy emerges from underneath the cake. Cassidy hits Kip Sabian with Beach Break in the center of the ring while Miro and Penelope Ford watch.
Video
On Inside the NBA, Shaq talks about beating Cody Rhodes, and he demonstrated his move, the Black Tornado (a spinning back elbow, or maybe a rolling lariat).
Match 4
Lumberjack Match
Eddie Kingston vs Lance Archer w/ Jake Roberts
(referee: Bryce Remsburg; lumberjacks: Bear Country, The Butcher, The Blade, The Bunny, Cesar Bononi, The Hybrid2, Peter Avalon, Varsity Blondes, Billy, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Ryan Nemeth)
Result: Lance Archer wins via pinfall after Blackout
Time: 9:01
Match Thoughts
Good match. It was chaotic, of course, and it was fun. There were the usual partisan beatings by the lumberjacks along with some lumberjack brawls, but thankfully the match didn’t just end in a huge brawl. Archer and Kingston still had a good, hard-hitting match, though Archer did have to contend with more outside interference than Kingston did. Bear Country got involved when The Butcher and The Blade attempted to really insert themselves into the match, and that allowed Archer and Kingston to settle things one on one.
Video
FTR and Tully Blanchard says everyone is scared of them. Also, there’s a conspiracy against them. They’re particularly upset at Jungle Boy whom they blame for getting them kicked out of tonight’s tag team battle royal. As payback, FTR have kidnapped Marko Stunt. The video ends before we see them do anything to Marko.
Video
Joey Janela talks about his long history of mangling himself with Darby Allin. Joey Janela is back, and the next TNT Champ is going to be a bad, bad boy.
Match 5
The Good Brothers (Impact Tag Champs) & Kenny Omega (AEW World Champ) w/ Don Callis vs “The Bastard” Pac & Rey Fenix & Jon Moxley
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Doc Gallows pins Rey Fenix after Magic Killer (with Karl Anderson)
Time: 15:23
Match Thoughts
Great match. The early parts of the match had some pairing-off with one one one matchups that led to Moxley getting isolated for a while. After a while though, the pace of the match picked up considerably, and it never slowed down until the final bell. There were tons of great moments and matchups, and this main event delivered more than I expected it to. I mean, I knew it would be good, but everyone seemed to go all-out to make this a super fun and memorable match.
Ring Area
After the match, Jon Moxley attacks Kenny Omega, but Moxley is quickly outnumbered by Omega and the Good Brothers. Lance Archer runs out and eliminates the Good Brothers from the ring. Moxley gets up to attack Omega again, but someone runs in from the crowd and attacks Moxley. When the attacker removes his hood and mask, we see that KENTA has arrived in AEW! Kenta hits Moxley with GTS. After Kenta leaves the ring, the show ends with Omega standing over Moxley and celebrating.
Show Impressions
This was a really fun show. It was a nice mix of good and fun matches, and the main event segment was definitely a great highlight that made the whole night that much better. The wedding segment was fine for what it was, but for me that was the low point. Not bad, just kind of expected and fine. At least it turns a corner in the feud going on there.
Seeing KENTA arrive in AEW is definitely the big takeaway from tonight though. Is this a singular appearance for an NJPW wrestler, or could we see more from time to time. The New Beginning USA tour is coming up soon with Moxley (finally) defending the IWGP US Heavyweight Title against KENTA, so if anything more is going to happen hopefully we’ll see it then. Moxley has been on New Japan Strong recently, and I’m sure his appearances there were taped, so I’m not sure of the logistics about how it could all work out, but the mystery probably makes a bit more exciting.
Match of the Night
Omega & Good Brothers vs Pac & Fenix & Moxley
A super fun main event.