AEW Dynamite
Episode 20
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: February 12, 2020
Event Date: February 12, 2020
(aired live on TNT)
City: Cedar Park, TX (announced as Austin)
Venue: H-E-B Center
Commentary: Jim Ross, Excalibur, Tony Shiavone
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Video
Clips from last week’s episode of Dynamite, highlighting Moxley stabbing Santana in the eye, Christopher Daniels cofronting the Dark Order, Britt Baker breaking Yuka Sakazaki’s tooth, Matt Jackson taking away Adam Page’s beer, Kenny Omega agreeing to fight Pac, and Nyla Rose attacking Riho.
Match 1
AEW World Tag Team Title Match
Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky w/ Christopher Daniels vs “Hangman” Adam Page & Kenny Omega (Tag Champs)
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Kenny Omega pins Frankie Kazarian after a tandem Buckshot Lariat (Page) and V-Trigger (Omega)
Time: 13:17
Match Thoughts
Great match. This seemed like it might be friendly competition between two teams that don’t really have much of a problem with each other, and it mostly was friendly, but SCU stated to get in some cheap shots early. It felt like they might be a little desperate tonight, but they still looked good as they always do. The commentators talked about the issues Adam Page is having fitting in with The Elite, but there were no real issues between him and Omega tonight. They looked like champs in the ring.
Also, Dark Order appeared on the screen before the match. Evil Uno talked about waiting for the right moment to strike. Dark Order has been trying to recruit Christopher Daniels, so Daniels, at ringside, assumed they were going to interfere. Daniels told Sky and Kaz that he would go to the back to check out what Dark Order might be planning. That took Daniels out of this match completely and left it at an even two on two. I appreciated that, plus it helped further questions surrounding Daniels’ loyalty to SCU.
Ring Area
After the match, Page and Omega leave the ring are headed in opposite directions. They’re not mad at each other, they just don’t seem to hang out outside of in-ring competition.
After Page and Omega are gone, Dark Order heads to the ring and approaches Sky and Kaz. Before anything can happen, Trent and Chuck Taylor run to the ring to stand beside SCU. The Butcher, The Blade, and The Bunny walk out next, and they are followed by The Hybrid2. Both of those teams join Dark Order’s side, then the Young Bucks run out to join SCU and Best Friends. A brawl breaks out that leaves the Young Bucks alone in the ring after everyone else is cleared out.
During a commercial break, Orange Cassidy finally wanders out to the ring to join Best Friends and the Young Bucks.
Video
Earlier today, Jim Ross sat down with Santana to discuss his history and his feelings heading into this match with Jon Moxley.
Video
In a black and white video, Darby Allin uses cue cards to challenge Sammy Guevara to a match at AEW Revolution.
Match 2
“Spanish God” Sammy Guevara w/ Jake Hager vs “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Dustin Rhodes wins via pinfall after the Final Reckoning
Time: 6:47
Match Thoughts
Good match. Hager provided a few distractions, but he was mostly ineffective at ringside. The battle was kept mostly in the ring, and both Dustin and Sammy looked good. Guevara didn’t showboat quite as much as usual, but that was probably because Rhodes was taking the fight to him. You could tell Dustin wanted the win tonight, probably as a step towards fighting Jake Hager later on.
Ring Area
After the match, Dustin calls out “Jericho’s bitch,” Jake Hager. Rhodes wonders if Hager is ever going to step in the ring. He says Hager failed in MMA, and he’s already failing in AEW. Rhodes wants a match with Hager at AEW Revolution. Hager begins to approach the ring, but he decides to just walk away instead.
Ring Area
On the stage, Tony Shiavone welcomes Britt Baker. Baker says what she did last week to Yuka Sakazaki was in line with her ethical responsibility as a dentist. Sakazaki’s tooth was decayed and needed to come out anyway, so Baker removed it for free. She also says that after tonight’s Women’s Title match, whoever is the champ will be number two to her. The women’s division is Baker’s and what she did last week was a statement.
Match 3
AEW Women’s World Title Match
“The Native Beast” Nyla Rose vs Riho (Women’s Champ)
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Nyla Rose wins via pinfall after a sit-out powerbomb and becomes the 2nd AEW Women’s World Champ
Time: 12:06
Match Thoughts
Great match! Even though Riho has beaten Nyla Rose before, Rose seemed to take Riho lightly at first. Riho’s tenacity and heart forced Rose to take her seriously though. Riho started the match with a pre-bell attack and kept trying to take the fight to Rose. Rose hit some gigantic moves, but she had a hard time putting Riho away. Riho kept fighting, and that made this match very dramatic and highly entertaining.
Backstage
After the match, Tony Khan tries to congratulate Nyla Rose, but Rose doesn’t seem interested. Rose then gets in Kenny Omega’s face and holds up the title. Rose is upset that there is no celebration for her,so she walks away angrily.
Backstage
Lexy Nair welcomes the Inner Circle. Chris Jericho says that Moxley proved he’s trash by what he did to Santana last week. As a surprise for Moxley’s deed, Jericho found someone to tear him apart. Next week, Jeff Cobb will punish Jon Moxley.
Video
A look at the lashes Cody suffered last week.
Match 4
MJF w/ Wardlow vs Jungle Boy w/ Luchasaurus, Marko Stunt
(referee: Aubrey Edwards; guest commentary: Brandi Rhodes; watching backstage: Arn Anderson)
Result: MJF wins via pinfall after the Double Cross
Time: 11:54
Match Thoughts
Good match. I didn’t expect Jungle Boy to win, but I do think Jungle Boy helped give MJF some credibility in the ring. Of course Wardlow showed up which led to an underwhelming finish, but the rest of the match was good.
Ring Area
After the match, Wardlow attacks Jungle Boy. Luchasaurus and Marko Stunt run to the ring, but Wardlow and MJF have already left the ring by the time they get there.
Video
In a black and white video, Pac says Kenny Omega hasn’t been the same since he got choked out in Chicago. Pac understands that all of Omega’s problems are because of him. He knows Omeg is scared. He should be.
Match 5
Santana w/ Ortiz vs Jon Moxley
(referee: Rick Knox; watching from box seats: Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager)
Result: Jon Moxley wins via pinfall after the Paradigm Shift
Time: 10:00
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Both men’s eyes of course became an issue in the match, and eye psychology led directly to a fun finish. This was a nice, if somewhat unsurprising, grudge match.
Ring Area
Immediately after the match, Ortiz attacks Santana. The rest of the Inner Circle joins in on the beating. Jericho ends the beating by hitting Moxley with the Judas Effect, then he calls Jeff Cobb to the ring. Cobb hits Moxley with the Tour of the Islands as the show ends.
Show Impressions
This was a very good show. It feels like AEW is really ramping up on their way to Revolution.
Match of the Night
Nyla Rose vs Riho
In a night of good matches, I thought this was the most exciting.