AEW Dynamite
Episode 19
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: February 5, 2020
Event Date: February 5, 2020
(aired live on TNT)
City: Huntsville, AL
Venue: Von Braun Center
Commentary: Jim Ross, Excalibur, Tony Shiavone
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Video
Clips from last week’s episode of Dynamite, highlighting Jericho confronting Moxley, The Young Bucks defeating The Butcher and The Blade, and Cody winning against Kip Sabian.
Match 1
Jon Moxley vs Ortiz w/ Santana
(referee: Paul Turner; guest commentary: Chris Jreicho, Sammy Guevara; on the stage: Jake Hager)
Result: Jon Moxley wins via pinfall after the Paradigm Shift
Time: 7:47
Match Thoughts
Good match. Moxley had to keep an eye out for Santana throughout the match, but with only one good eye right now, that was quite difficult for him. Moxley had to keep moving while dishing out punishment when he could. Even though Ortiz had the advantage, he didn’t mess around. Ortiz looked really good tonight, so this was a tough battle for Moxley. I liked it, and it was a very good way to start the show.
Ring Area
After the match, Santana attacks Moxley. As Santana yells at the crowd, Moxley hits him with the Paradigm Shift. Moxley then looks up towards Jericho on the stage and holds up the keys to the car Jericho offered him a few weeks ago. Moxley mouths “an eye for an eye” before stabbing Santana in the eye with the car keys. Moxley leaves through the crowd as Guevara, Hager, and Jericho enter the ring seconds too late.
Match 2
Best Friends w/ Orange Cassidy vs Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Frankie Kazarian pins Trent after a dropkick (Sky) into a sunset flip powerbomb (Kazarian)
Time: 9:05
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Best Friends looked good as usual tonight, but it felt like SCU was hungrier for the victory. Sky and Kazarian went about their business well, while the Best Friends did take some moment to have fun. I appreciate that, and that’s one of the things I love about Best Friends, but it didn’t help them out in tonight’s match. SCU is looking to build momentum for their tag title rematch, and I think this was a solid part of that plan.
Ring Area
After the match, creepers from the Dark Order flood into the ring. Led by Evil Uno and Stu Grayson, the creepers (including John Silver and Alex Reynolds) clear the ring. The Dark Order poses, and that’s when Orange Cassidy rolls into the ring. Evil Uno offers Cassidy a creeper mask, but Cassidy just begins to put his hands in his pockets. Grayson hits Cassidy with a running knee, and that prompts Christopher Daniels to run out to the ring. Instead of attacking Daniels, the Dark Order just leaves the ring and walks away.
Video
A video package of MJF talking about why he wants Cody to suffer ten lashes on live TV.
Outside the Venue
Earlier today, Taz says he thinks MJF is taking things too far with the lashes he wants Cody to take.
Match 3
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs “The Magical Girl” Yuka Sakazaki
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Yuka Sakazaki wins via pinfall with a crucifix pin
Time: 3:24
Match Thoughts
This was fun. It was short and felt like it was more about Britt Baker’s ongoing story rather than Yuka Sakazaki’s return to AEW, but I enjoyed it for what it was. It was a brief match with fine action and a mildly surprising finish meant to turn Baker’s heel turn into overdrive.
Ring Area
After the match, Britt Baker hits Yuka Sakazaki with the ring bell. Aubrey Edwards removes the bell from the ring, but Baker continues her attack on Sakazaki. Baker hits Sakazaki in to the mouth, breaking one of her teeth.
Match 4
The Butcher & The The Blade w/ The Bunny & The Lucha Brothers vs The Young Bucks & Hangman Adam Page (Tag Champ) & Kenny Omega (Tag Champ)
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Pentagon Jr. pins Adam Page after a combination diving stomp (Fenix) and package piledriver (Pentagon Jr.)
Time: 13:16
Match Thoughts
Very good match. The ongoing story with Page feeling left out of The Elite was at the forefront of the match, and the great action supported that story the entire time. Page continued to distance himself from the Young Bucks and sometimes from Omega. Page looked great at times in the match, even taking down all four of his opponents by himself at one point, but his attitude played a pivotal role in the finish of the match. The divide is widening between Page and The Elite.
Ring Area
After the match, Omega tries to play peacemaker as the Young Bucks argue with Adam Page. Page leaves and has some beers with the fans at ringside, then the Bucks leave after seeming to accept Omega’s calming words. Omega is left alone in the ring where he is joined by Tony Shiavone.
In the ring, Shiavone begins to ask Omega a question when Pac appears on the screen. Pac says tonight was supposed to be a contract signing (he’s standing in front of a table with a contract on it), but Omega ruined that. Pac excuses Lexy Nair who was apparently supposed to oversee the contract signing, but that leaves Pac alone with Riho.
Pac says Omega might not care about what he’s done to Michael Nakazawa, but will he care about what’s about to happen to Riho? If Omega does care, he can stop Pac right now by just agreeing to a match.
In the ring, Omega immediately agrees to whatever Pac wants. Pac is satisfied. Pac also says that he was never going to touch Riho. He’s a bastard, but he’s not a beast. With that, Pac leaves and Nyla Rose enters the scene. Rose attacks Riho and powerbombs her onto the table behind them. Rose says Risho is now marked.
Video
In a black and white video, Darby Allin uses a blowtorch to burn a cardboard cutout of Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara.
Match 5
“Superbad” Kip Sabian w/ Penelope Ford vs “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Kip Sabian wins via pinfall with a schoolboy (and a handful of tights)
Time: 11:12
Match Thoughts
Very good match. The feud will certainly continue after this, but this was a good step in adding more tension between Janela and Sabian. Both men looked good, and Ford of course interfered whenever she could The finish was sudden, but I think it worked for Sabian’s character and for the ongoing feud.
Backstage
Alex Marvez tries to get a word with the Inner Circle. Chris Jericho says Moxley is going to pay for what he did to Santana. Santana angrily says he is going to get his revenge on Moxley next week.
Video
A Dark Order commercial promising the healing powers of the Exalted One.
Backstage
Lexy Nair wants a word from Adam Page, but the Young Bucks interrupt. The Bucks are still pissed about Page not tagging them in the match. Matt says he was going to ask Page what his problem is, but he’s pretty sure he already knows. Matt takes the beer out of Page’s hand and walks away with his brother. With the Bucks gone, Page lifts a pitcher of beer into frame and takes a swig.
Backstage
Earlier today, Dustin Rhodes said his brother Cody is a lot tougher than MJF thinks he is.
Ring Area
MJF heads to the ring with Wardlow, then Cody joins them. In the ring, Cody slowly removes his shirt and tie. Cody gets ready to receive his ten lashes, but MJF stalls. MJF says he doesn’t want to use his own belt, he wants to use Cody’s belt.
MJF plays with Cody for a bit before beginning to whip him with his own belt. After MJF starts, pople come out to the stage to watch (including The Butcher, The Blade, The Bunny, Kip Sabian, Britt Baker, and Sammy Guevara). After a few lashes, Arn Anderson heads to the ring. After a few more lashes, Dustin Rhodes comes out to confront MJF. Dustin tells MJF to give him the rest of Cody’s lashes, but MJF refuses. He tells Dustin to get out of the ring and watch like everyone else. Dustin leaves the ring.
The Young Bucks come out next. Cody leaves the ring, but the Bucks, Anderson, and Dustin give him the support he needs to take some more lashes. After another lash, MJF decides to let Wardlow lash Cody. He does, and Cody goes down. Brandi Rhodes comes out in support of Cody, and Cody gets back up. MJF gives Cody his last lash across the chest. Cody’s friends help him up, but MJF kicks Cody in the groin before running out through the crowd.
Show Impressions
This was another good show. I think it was another show heavy on building to the PPV, and it worked well doing that. It also helped set up a lot of big matches coming up before the PPV. The next few weeks look like they’re going to be good!
Match of the Night
The Butcher & The Blade & Lucha Bros. vs The Young Bucks & Adam Page & Kenny Omega
This was a very good combination of fun action and an interesting story. It reminds me a little of NJPW when Omega and the Bucks had a falling out while Omega and Kota Ibushi started tagging again, but the tone is a bit different. I like it.