AEW Dynamite
Episode 99
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: August 11, 2021
Event Date: August 11, 2021
(aired live on TNT & the FITE app)
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Venue: Petersen Events Center
Commentary: Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Don Callis (1), Scott D’Amore (5)
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Tonight’s episode is dedicated to “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton (1958 – 2021).
Intro Video
“Dynamite” by No One Hero
Backstage
MJF (with Wardlow) is starting to feel a little bad for Chris Jericho and his labours, especially since Jericho’s journey will end tonight when he is defeated by Wardlow in the fourth labour. Wardlow says he’s definitely going to beat Jericho tonight, but MJF responds by asking him, “just like Cody in the cage?” Wardlow looks pissed as MJF walks away.
Match 1
Young Bucks (AEW Tag Champs) & Kenny Omega (Triple A Mega, Impact, TNA, & AEW World Champ) w/ Don Callis, Michael Nakazawa, Brandon Cutler vs Dante Martin & Mike Sydal & Matt Sydal
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Kenny Omega pins Dante Martin after a One-Winged Angel and combination BTE Trigger and V-Trigger
Time: 12:08
Match Thoughts
Great match. This was a fantastic combination of styles. The Sydal brothers brought speed and technique, Dante Martin brought some amazing high flying, the Young Bucks brought superior teamwork, and Omega dominated with speed and strength. Dante Martin had a huge spotlight on him in this match, and the crowd (and I) loved it. Martin had multiple sequences where he hit breathtaking sequences of high-risk offense on all three of his opponents. Everyone else looked great too, and The Elite did eventually show their domination, but I think Date Martin’s performance will be remembered the most from this match. I really enjoyed how competitive this match was, and I loved that it was mostly fought inside the ring with very little taking place at ringside. Also, there were absolutely no distractions (from people not in the match), nor was there any outside interference. This was great.
Ring Area
After the match, Tony Schiavone enters the ring to get some words from The Elite. Don Callis takes the mic from Schiavone, but he is quickly interrupted as Christian Cage comes out to the stage. Laughing, Callis points out the The Elite outnumber Christian right now. The Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy) come out to join Christian, and they they all head to the ring.
After a commercial break, everyone is in the ring. Don Callis says he’s happy that Christian is getting a title shot against Kenny Omega, but he’s not sure why Christian is out here right now. By facing Omega in three weeks, Christian will finally get that five-star match he’s always wanted, but for now, Christian should sit down and wait his turn. Christian insults Callis, then Christian says he had a talk with Tony Khan. Tony was with Impact Wrestling executive Scott D’Amore at the time, and Christian’s conversation led to him getting match against Omega for the Impact Title on the debut of AEW Rampage.
As Christian leaves with Jurassic Express, Jungle Boy announces that he and Luchasaurus have a match against the Young Bucks on Dynamite next week for the AEW Tag Titles. No one in The Elite is happy.
Video
Malakai Black talks about how he and Cody Rhodes are both lonely for different reasons.
Video
Miro talks about destroying Lee Johnson. Miro also talks about how everyone is afraid to face him, so AEW has decided to bribe his next opponent with an AEW contract if they can defeat the TNT Champ. Miro’s next opponent is Fuego Del Sol, and the match will take place on Rampage.
Match 2
Daniel Garcia w/ 2.0 vs Darby Allin w/ Sting
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Darby Allin wins via pinfall after the Coffin Drop
Time: 9:42
Match Thoughts
Very good match. After an initial back-and-forth segment, Daniel Garcia began to dominate the match with a lot of strong technique. Allin got some shots in here and there, but Garcia was able to maintain control throughout much of the match (with only a little help from 2.0). Allin began to counter Garcia a few times late in the match, and Allin was able to capitalize on just a few very strong moves as the match reached its finish. This was a fairly typical match for Darby Allin where he gets beat up a lot before mounting a comeback, but it was entertaining. Daniel Garcia had a strong showing, and that seemed to really be the main point of this match.
Ring Area
After the match, 2.0 attacks Darby Allin. Sting rushes over and attacks 2.0, then Allin joins Sting to beat up 2.0 together.
Backstage
The Lucha Brothers tell Pac that they need to do something about Andrade El Idolo. Alex Abrahantes begins to translate for Penta El Zero Miedo, but Pac understood what he said. Pac says he’ll take care of Andrade, but the Lucha Brothers should focus on winning the AEW Tag Titles. Addressing Andrade, Pac invites Andrade for a fight any time Andrade wants one.
Match 3
Chuck Taylor & Wheeler Yuta & Orange Cassidy w/ Kris Statlander vs Private Party & Matt Hardy w/ The Bunny, The Blade, The Hybrid2
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Matt Hardy pins Wheeler Yuta after the Twist of Fate
Time: 9:48
Match Thoughts
Very good match. There were a lot of people in and around the ring (and Nyla Rose showed up at one point to add yet another person), so parts of this match did feel a bit too chaotic, but it was still entertaining. Matt Hardy’s team benefited the most from all of the chaos, and they were able to use their superior numbers for multiple distractions and blatant interference throughout pretty much the entire fight. The HFO seemed to want to single out Wheeler Yuta, and even though he looked good, his partners were taken away by everything that was going on around them. That left Yuta mostly alone against multiple opponents.
Backstage
Dasha Gonzalez asks Andrade El Idolo (with Chavo Guerrero) for a response to Pac’s challenge earlier in the night. Andrade and Chavo say Pac in very ungrateful for all that Andrade has offered him. Chavo suggests that Andrade teaches Pac who the boss is at All Out. Andrade seems fine with that.
Video
Santana and Ortiz accuse FTR of running away at the first sign of adversity. Santana and Ortiz want to get back in the ring with FTR, and the result will be very different next time.
Match 4
“The Native Beast” Nyla Rose w/ Vickie Guerrero vs Kris Statlander w/ Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, Wheeler Yuta
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Kris Statlander wins via pinfall after Area 451
Time: 3:07
Match Thoughts
This was shorter than I expected, but with Statlanter’s hurting ribs (thanks to an attack from Nyla Rose during the trios match earlier) and both women going almost exclusively for huge moves, it made sense that the match didn’t last long. Rose tried to capitalize on Statlander’s condition, and she did a good job for most of this match. Statlander hit a couple of powerful moves late in the match though, and that led to a nice finish.
Backstage
The Young Bucks (holding a basketball) talk about how great they are, and they say next week’s defense against Jurassic Express will be as easy as a layup. Nick Jackson attempts a layup on the hoop behind them, but Luchasaurus appears and knocks the ball away. Jungle Boy grabs the basketball and slam dunks it while Luchasaurus blocks Matt Jackson. Nick complains that he was fouled.
Video
Red Velvet talks about her upcoming title match against Britt Baker.
Ring Area
In the ring, Tony Schiavone welcomes Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. as the crowd waves rally towels for their hometown champion. Baker says she can’t relate to Red Velvet’s rise in AEW, because Baker has always been on top. Baker can relate to Red Velvet’s fearlessness though. Baker was fearless when she stepped up when AEW needed a new champion. Baker says it’s been a difficult year to Pittsburgh, so, holding up the AEW Women’s Title belt, she brings the city hope. Red Velvet stands no chance against Baker in her hometown of Brittsburgh. As Baker finishes, Red Velvet runs in and attacks her. Referees quickly separate them.
Video
In a video package, Ricky Starks (with Taz & Hook) says he’s sorry he and Brian Cage keep missing each other. Cage says there’s a big difference between “missing” and “running.” Starks says he’ll be waiting for Cage next week, and he’ll be by himself. Cage knows Starks is lying, but he’ll be there to face Starks anyway.
Match 5
Impact Tag Team Title Match
Stu Grayson & Evil Uno w/ Colt Cabana vs The Good Brothers (Impact Tag Champs) w/ Brandon Cutler
(referee: Brian Hebner)
Result: Karl Anderson pins Stu Grayson after Magic Killer, and the Good Brothers retain the titles in their first defense
Time: 7:39
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Stu Grayson really stood out in this match, and his teamwork with Evil Uno was great (as they usually are). The Good Brothers were able to use their size and strength advantage early in the match, but the work done by Dark Order lessened the champs’ advantage as the match went on. There were some shenanigans with distractions late in the match, but overall this was a well-fought and very fun match.
Video
Kamille says Leyla Hirsch is definitely the underdog headed into their NWA Women’s Title match at NWA Empower, and the world will watch as Kamille easily defeats Hirsch.
Ring Area
In the ring, Tony Schiavone welcomes QT Marshall (and Aaron Solow) so Marshall can finally deliver his apology to Schiavone. Marshall says he’s not here to apologize to Schiavone, Schiavone should apologize to Marshall. Even so, Marshall says he will apologize… for what he’s about to do.
Marshall has Nick Comoroto pull Tony Schiavone’s son, Chris, out of the crowd and into the ring. Marshall punches Chris Schiavone, forcing an apology from Tony. Marshall doesn’t accept the apology, and he hits Chris with a Diamond Cutter. After a few seconds, Paul Wight comes out to the ring. As Wight enters the ring, Marshall pushes Solow into Wight. Solow takes a giant chokeslam as Marshall and Comoroto get away.
Match 6
The 5 Labours of Jericho: Chapter 4
“The Demo God” “Le Champion” Chris Jericho vs Wardlow w/ MJF
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Chris Jericho wins via pinfall after the Judas Effect (and a shot from Floyd the bat)
Time: 10:05
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was probably the least dramatic match of the Labours of Jericho so far, but it was still fun in the context of the ongoing story. Wardlow dominated the match with multiple powerbombs, but Jericho wouldn’t stay down. MJF decided to try to cheat and pass Wardlow his Dynamite Dozen ring to use, but MJF went about it in an exceedingly obvious way that, of course, had him stopped by the referee. Jericho took advantage of MJF distracting protests to do a little cheating of his own on his way to a nice finish to the match.
Ring Area
After the match, Shawn Spears attacks Chris Jericho. Sammy Guevara runs out and takes Spears down. Wardlow pulls Sammy away, and MJF returns to the ring to put Jericho’s injured arm into an armbar. After a few seconds, Jake Hager runs to the ring. The Pinnacle scatters as Hager looks for anyone to hit.
MJF gets on the mic and says the stipulation for Jericho’s fifth labour will be that Jericho cannot come to the ring to his song “Judas,” and he can’t use the Judas Effect in the match.
Show Impressions
This was a good show. The first half of the show felt more exciting to me than the second half, but the Impact tag title match really helped the second half of the show feel special. I liked how the first three matches did a good job of building up younger talent (even if they lost). This show also did a good job of building up Rampage which should be a very fun show.
Match of the Night
The Elite vs Dante Martin & The Sydal Brothers
Even though there was really nothing on the line, this was the most exciting match of the night for me.