AEW Dynamite
Episode 79
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: March 24, 2021
Event Date: March 24, 2021
(aired live on TNT & the FITE app)
City: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place
Commentary: Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Don Callis (1)
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Intro Video
“Dynamite” by No One Hero
Match 1
AEW World Championship Eliminator Match
Kenny Omega (AEW World Champ) w/ Don Callis vs Matt Sydal w/ Mike Sydal
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Kenny Omega wins via pinfall after the One-Winged Angel
Time: 11:30
Match Thoughts
Great match! What a way to start the show! I don’t think anyone really expected Sydal to sneak into the title picture and come away tonight with a win and a future title opportunity, but he and Omega had me believing Sydal might actually do just that in this match. The energy was high throughout the entire match, and as fast and agile as both guys were, there was still a ton of thinking and planning going on with their attacks and counters. Omega had a noticeable strength and striking advantage, and that forced Sydal to keep moving and come up with some unique and very smart counters to Omega’s attacks. Omega had some great counters of his own, and that helped elevate the match even more. Both guys flowed from move to move seamlessly, and the whole thing just flowed from beginning to end. I loved the finish, and really, I loved the whole match.
Backstage
Alex Marvez asks John Silver if he’s ready for his TNT Title match tonight, so Johnny Hungie shows Marvez just how ready he is with the help of the rest of Dark Order. Adam Page, who is hanging out with Dark Order, wishes John Silver luck.
Match 2
Cezar Bononi w/ Ryan Nemeth, JD Drake vs “Hangman” Adam Page
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Adam Page wins via pinfall with the Buckshot Lariat
Time: 2:16
Match Thoughts
Good match. It was kind of a squash. Most of the match was just Page hitting Bononi really hard until he fell down, but Bononi did get in a few shots. Bononi’s only asset in the match was his size, but he didn’t move around very much. Page ran all around the ring, and that made it difficult for Bononi to get any sort of offense.
Video
Earlier today, Lance Archer says he used to look up to Sting, but it’s no longer Sting’s time. It’s Lance Archer’s time now, and everyone needs to realize that.
Video
A look at the Unsanctioned Lights Out Match between Thunder Rosa and Britt Baker, featuring a post-match promo from Thunder Rosa.
Ring Area
On the stage, Tony Schiavone welcomes Britt Baker. Baker is upset with the reception she receives from the crowd, and she’s angry with how Thunder Rosa spoke about their match. Baker says Rosa should be thanking Baker for allowing her to be part of history that Baker wrote with her own blood. Baker takes issue with Rosa saying she put the women of AEW on the map when everyone is talking about Baker. Baker says she doesn’t need the adoration of fans and peers. She calls out Mick Foley and his positive words on social media, saying it took Foley 20 years to become a hardcore legend while Baker did it in one night.
The blood was flowing into Baker’s eyes, but she’s never seen more clearly. Tony Khan has been looking everywhere for every legend that’s ever been, but he’s had the most legendary of them all right under his nose. Not only did Baker make history last week, but she put AEW on the map. The greatest three letters in pro wrestling aren’t AEW, they are D.M.D.
Backstage
The Pinnacle exit their locker room and head towards the ring.
Backstage
Dasha Gonzalez interrupts Christian Cage as he’s talking to The Varsity Blonds and Dante Martin to ask Cage what he and his new friends are talking about. Christian says they were just getting to know each other, and he was giving them some advice on tag wrestling.
Frankie Kazarian interrupts. Kaz, in a passive aggressive way, says it’s great to see his old friend in AEW. Kaz also really likes Christian’s catchphrase, “Out. Work. Everyone.” Kaz wants to know when the “work” part starts though. Christian says it starts next week, and if Kaz if free, then why not have Christian’s first AEW match be against Kaz. Kaz accepts the challenge. Kaz also suggests that Christian watch Dark: Elevation this coming Monday to watch Kaz’s match. After all, seven years is a long time to be away from the ring.
Match 3
FTR & “The Chairman” Shawn Spears w/ MJF, Wardlow, Tully Blanchard vs Varsity Blonds & Dante Martin
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Shawn Spears pins Dante Martin after C4
Time: 6:23
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Pinnacle started strong with some great teamwork, but the energy of their opponents began to swing the momentum away from their favor. Wardlow stopped the building momentum of the Varsity Blonds and Dante Martin by blocking an attempt at a three-man dive, and Pinnacle took some time to regroup. Pinnacle came back into the match with some more strong offense, and they showed how they can shut down an opposing team with just a few powerful moves as the match neared its finish. This was a nice first showing of Pinnacle in the ring as a team.
Ring Area
After the match, Tony Schiavone enters the ring to get some words from The Pinnacle. Cash Wheeler says The Pinnacle is family. Dax Harwood isn’t fooled by the Inner Circle. AEW isn’t a comedy show, it’s about professional wrestling. MJF challenges Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle to come to the ring right now. Schiavone points out that MJF knows the Inner Circle is hurt and isn’t in the building tonight, and that pisses MJF off. MJF intimidates Schiavone with the help of Wardlow, and he says that when you’re in The Pinnacle, you’re always on top.
Backstage
Taz says Team Taz is fine. Taz says Brian Cage apologized to the group, specifically to Ricky Starks, for praising Sting last week. Taz asks each member of Team Taz if they’re good. Hobbs and Hook seem fine, Ricky Starks smiles a little too widely as he says “absolutely,” and Cage pauses before not really answering and just saying “who better.”
Ring Area
On the stage, Tony Schiavone welcomes QT Marshall. Marshall says he’s been frustrated lately. Marshall talks about Cody’s philosophy of “do the work,” saying that no one has done more work in AEW than QT Marshall. Marshall is frustrated that while Cody Rhodes will leave directly after the show and be with his wife, Marshall while be working late into the night while his own wife (Carolyn Fazio-Cuellari) sleeps alone. There’s not a match Marshall can win without an asterisk beside it noting “Cody’s friend.”
Marshall wants to be out of Cody’s shadow, so he suggest he and Cody have an exhibition match next week. Cody Rhodes comes out and says he understands Marshall’s angst. Cody will gladly accommodate Marshall and give him the match he wants. Cody will even have Arn Anderson be the referee. Cody goes on to say that he won’t hurt Marhsall in their match. He also says in a business full of acquaintances, QT Marshall has become a friend. Marshall might be Cody’s best friend. Cody and Marshall shake hands.
Match 4
Lucha Bros. & Laredo Kid vs Brandon Cutler & Young Bucks (AEW Tag Champs)
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Laredo Kid pins Brandon Cutler after an avalanche Spanish fly
Time: 12:29
Match Thoughts
This was a lot of fun. After a series of short one on ones, the match broke down into what I expected it to be from the start. That is, essentially a free-for-all with everyone coming in and out of the ring and flying all over the place. The competitors still payed attention to tags, but it felt like the tags didn’t really matter as everyone was busy doing stuff for most of the run time of this match. Both teams were evenly matches, so it was really anyone’s match to lose, though with Laredo Kid returning to AEW after close two two years since his last appearance, it definitely felt like Cutler would be the person taking the fall tonight. Even so, Cutler looked good in this match full of some of the best wrestlers in the world.
Ring Area
After the match, Kenny Omega (with Don Callis) runs out and attacks Laredo Kid. Omega is having flashbacks to Fyter Fest 2019. All the players are here. Omega goes on, and he talks about family. He talks about having a choice of where to go three years ago. He didn’t choose to go with AEW, he chose with his family, the Young Bucks. Tonight though, the Young Bucks chose Brandon Cutler. Omega chose the Bucks, but they never chose him back.
Omega is going to give Nick and Matt Jacson one more chance. Omega puts up a “too sweet” and says “it’s now are never.” This it the Bucks’ last chance to stand with Omega. The Young Bucks walk away with Brandon Cutler. Omega says they are done. As Omega turns around, he gets the microphone kicked into his face by the Lucha Bros. Penta and Fenix hit Omega with an assisted package piledriver which lays him out. The Lucha Bros. leave with Laredo Kid as the Good Brothers jog out to the ring. Anderson and Gallows help Omega get to his feet. Omega gives a thumbs up as he bleeds from the mouth and staggers in the ring.
Video
A look at Jade Cargill. Cargill is pissed at Red Velvet, and she warns Red Velvet about what will happen to her the next time they meet in the ring.
Video
Coming soon: Rhodes to the Top, a reality series featuring Cody & Brandi Rhodes.
Backstage
Eddie Kingston has a “broken something” in his leg, and Omega and the Good Brothers are going to pay. Jon Moxley wonders if the Good Brothers are willing to take their issues as far as Moxley and Kingston are. Moxley also wonders about the Young Bucks. He doesn’t know the Young Bucks, and he doesn’t like owing anyone anything. If the Young Bucks are going to be involved in this growing situation, then they need to be willing to get their hands dirty.
Match 5
“The Native Beast” Nyla Rose w/ Vickie Guerrero vs Tay Conti w/ Alan Angels, Preston Vance, Stu Grayson, Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds, Colt Cabana
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Tay Conti wins via pinfall after the DD-Tay
Time: 9:29
Match Thoughts
Very good match! I was hopeful that Tay Conti would come away with at least a strong showing tonight, but I didn’t expect just how strong of a showing she would have. Conti started strong with some good throws that used Nyla Rose’s size against her. Conti had momentum, but when she started going for strikes she got shut down very quickly by Rose. Nyla Rose began to dominate Conti with power moves, and it felt like the match might be heading for a solid but unsurprising finish. Conti started to mount a comeback though. Conti used her Judo background to great effect, and she figured out how to get Rose into positions where she couldn’t block or avoid Conti’s strikes. The damage began to build on Rose, but it still always felt like Rose was just a move or two away from the win with her explosive power. Conti kept pushing though, and that led to a great finish that made me extremely happy. This was a very important match for Tay Conti, and it was another example of Nyla Rose being selfless and helping push the entire women’s division forward.
Ring Area
After the match, Vickie Guerrero grabs Tay Conti and sets her up for Nyla Rose to attack. Rose gets ready to hit Conti with the Beast Bomb, but Hikaru Shida runs out and hits Rose in the back with a kendo stick before that can happen. Shida mounts and punches Rose, but The Bunny runs out and hits Shida with her own kendo stick. The Bunny then attacks Conti as well as Matt Hardy, The Butcher, and The Blade come out to the stage.
Matt Hardy says the Women’s Eliminator Tournament was terrible because The Bunny wasn’t in it. Hardy’s clients have been passed over for too long, and that stops now.
Video
Miro, Kip Sabian (with Penelope Ford), Chuck Taylor, and Orange Cassidy talk about their upcoming Arcade Anarchy match.
Video
Scorpio Sky says his attitude isn’t new, it’s just a side of him we’ve never seen. His days of being underrated are over. Next up for Sky is Mike Sydal on Dark: Elevation.
Match 6
TNT Title Match
John Silver w/ Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds, Alan Angels, Preston Vance, Colt Cabana vs Darby Allin (TNT Champ)
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Darby Allin wins via pinfall after a Code Red and retains the title in the fourth defense of his first reign
Time: 13:45
Match Thoughts
Very good match. John Silver showed his power by throwing Allin all around the ring for the first few minutes of the match. Allin struggled to get much offense, and really, he didn’t have a ton of offense in the entire match. Allin absorbed punishment, but he refused to stay down. The turning point in the match came about halfway through when Allin sent Silver running into the barricade at ringside. Silver tumbled over the barricade head first, and as he planted his right arm when he came down, he injured his shoulder. It took a while for SIlver to get back into the match, and he was noticeably different in the ring after than. Silver still tended to dominate Allin, but it was clear he was in pain. Silver relied on more kicks and fewer power moves, but it still took some technical counters for Allin to get much offense. This was a strong match for Silver, and it continued Allin’s streak of being beaten up a lot while still keeping himself in the match.
Ring Area
After the match, Darby Allin offers a fist bump to John Silver. After a hesitation, Silver returns the fist bump. Suddenly, Matt Hardy pulls Darby Allin out of the ring and slams him into the barricade. A brawl erupts in and around the ring with Dark Order, Matt Hardy, Private Party, The Butcher, The Blade, Darby Allin, and Sting who had come out to ringside during the TNT Title match. Tay Conti runs out and attacks The Bunny. The show ends as the brawl continues.
Show Impressions
This was a really fun show. Last week had a fantastic main event, but I think this week had better matches overall. Lots of stories and feuds were touched on, lot of matches were set up, and the action tonight was great.
Match of the Night
Kenny Omega vs Matt Sydal
This was kind of a difficult decision because there were a lot of great moments during matches tonight. From bell to bell though, I think tonight’s opening match was the best.