AEW Dynamite
Episode 30
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: April 22, 2020
Event Date: April ?, 2020
(aired on TNT)
City: Norcross, GA
Venue: Nightmare Factory (empty arena)
Commentary: Tony Shiavone, Chris Jericho
Ring Announcer: Dasha Gonzalez
Video
From some sort of control room with multiple television monitors, Cody looks over his potential opponents in the TNT Title tournament. He wonders where he fits into all of this. Has his sword been sharpened by trying times, or is he too comfortable in his role? “Complacent” is a dirty word in professional wrestling, but it’s often the ally of those at the top. There’s plenty of will in this tournament, but we’re about to find out who has enough of it.
Video
Sammy Guevara shares his thoughts about facing Darby Allin in the first round of the TNT Title tournament.
Video
Darby Allin talks about killing Sammy Guevara’s dream.
Match 1
TNT Title Tournament Quarter Final Match
Sammy Guevara vs Darby Allin
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Darby Allin wins via pinfall with The Last Supper
Time: 8:20 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Guevara was looking for a bit of revenge after his loss to Guevara at Revolution, so Guevara attacked Allin before the bell. Guevara dove onto Allin as he was approaching the ring, and Guevara dove a second time to drive Allin into a ladder set up across the barricade at ringside. That put Allin at an extreme disadvantage when the actual match started, so Allin had to push through the pain and take huge risks to try to put Guevara away. This was a nice revisit of the feud between these two, and it was another good match in the TNT Title tournament.
Video
Matt Hardy greets us from the Hardy Compound. He talks about not hearing back from Jericho after inviting him to the Hardy Compound. Sammy Guevara was the only member of the Inner Circle to even mention Matt Hardy, so Hardy invites Guevara to the compound for deletion.
The mortal vessel of Matt Hardy then talks about Jericho being so mad at Matt for supporting The Elite. He understands why Jericho was so mad. He knows Jericho wants to take over and use AEW for himself, but AEW is a platform for the future of professional wrestling. Matt Hardy will defend that platform, and he will kick Jericho’s ass.
Technique by Taz
Taz explains the devastation caused by Kenny Omega’s V-Trigger knee strike and Snapdragon suplex.
Match 2
Alan Angels vs Kenny Omega (AEW Tag Champ)
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Kenny Omega wins via pinfall after the V-Trigger
Time: 6:20
Match Thoughts
This was a nice exhibition for Omega. Angels got a rather surprising amount of offense, but like Jericho said on commentary, that’s probably because Omega was being too nice during the early part of the match. Once Omega started to get hit a few times, he didn’t have too much trouble putting Angels away. This was a good way to do what could have otherwise just have been a squash match.
Video
A look at Scorpio Sky and his background. He talks about knowing he needed to wrestle even as a kid, his career-threatening back injury, and contemplating his future in the business after years of struggles. To be continued…
Video
From Road to the TNT Title Tournament, Dustin Rhodes tells Cody that he will retire if he doesn’t beat Kip Sabian in the first round of the tournament.
Video
Clips of Matt Jackson versus Nick Jackson on the 200th episode of Being the Elite.
Match 3
Jimmy Havoc vs Orange Cassidy w/ Best Friends
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Orange Cassidy wins via pinfall with a crucifix pin
Time: 9:05
Match Thoughts
Good match. Havoc took an early advantage and just beat up Cassidy for a few minutes. Cassidy worked his way up to a burst of offense later in the match, but Penelope Ford (who was watching at ringside) made her presence felt. Kip Sabian also came out when the Best Friends tried to neutralize Ford’s distractions, and all that led to a slightly chaotic and pretty fun fun finish.
Ring Area
After the match, Havoc drops Cassidy on his head with a fisherman DDT. Havoc, Sabian, and Ford start to attack Cassidy, but Trent and Chuck Taylor chase them away.
Video
From Max’s Rat’s House in Cape Cod, MA, MJF talks about the epidemic and hard times going right now. Of course he’s talking about MJF not being able to wrestle on TV. Why can’t he wrestle right now? He has a life-threatening hangnail. It’s super funny…
Match 4
Lee Johnson vs Wardlow
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Wardlow wins via pinfall after a released airplane spin
Time: 2:39
Match Thoughts
Squash. I’m not really a fan of the finisher Wardlow used here, especially considering the other, better power moves he used throughout the match.
Video
Preston Vance drinks as his girlfriend breaks up with him over voicemail and he looks at news articles about the injury that prevented him from winning the Heisman Trophy. It looks like Vance is joining Dark Order.
Brodie Lee understands Vance’s problems. Lee knows Vance is a hard worker, but that he hasn’t been rewarded for that hard work. Lee wants to give Vance strength in numbers, and he hands Vance a creeper mask. Preston Vance is Dark Order.
Match 5
Justin Law vs “The Exalted One” Brodie Lee
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Brodie Lee wins via pinfall after a discus lariat
Time: 1:59
Match Thoughts
Squash.
Ring Area
After the match, Brodie Lee walks over to Marko Stunt who has been watching at ringside. Lee stares at Stunt, then The Exalted One walks away.
Backstage
Trent and Chuck Taylor pissed off. You wouldn’t like Trent when he’s pissed off and quiet. Trent wants to fight Penelope Ford, but he’ll settle for beating up her boyfriend Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc (for some reason).
The Bubbly Bunch
Sammy Guevara is disappointed, but Ortiz tells him to stay positive. Jake Hager tells Sammy Guevara is too beautiful to be sad. Sadness is for ugly people. Chris Jericho says when the Inner Circle is sad, they dance. Santana suggests a flim-flam video. They all do it, but Jericho is upset at Guevara for showing off.
Video
A look at Dustin Rhodes and Kip Sabian heading into their TNT Title tournament match. Dustin has vowed to retire if he can’t beat Sabian, but Sabian says this tournament is his moment.
Match 6
TNT Title Tournament Quarter Final Match
“Superbad” Kip Sabian w/ Penelope Ford vs “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes w/ Brandi Rhodes
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Dustin Rhodes wins via pinfall after a destroyer (which Dustin has named Code Red)
Time: 11:22 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. The addition of Dustin saying he would retire if he loses added a good amount of intrigue and tension to this match. Plus, the match itself was good. Despite putting unneeded pressure on himself, Dustin didn’t seem desperate. He went about his business as usual, though Penelope Ford also went about her usual business. Ford was more effective at ringside than Brandi was, but that just forced Dustin to rise above and try harder. This match finished the quarter final round of the tournament in a very nice way.
Show Impressions
Good show. I’m glad they went ahead and finished the first round of the TNT Title tournament rather than spacing it out even more. It made this show feel more special, and it helped move the story forward in a time where ongoing stories have mostly been put on hold. I also like the formation of the partnership between Havoc, Sabian, and Ford. I never would have thought of putting them together, but it makes sense. Also, they’re good opponents for the Best Friends.
Match of the Night
Darby Allin vs Sammy Guevara
Despite the tension added by Dustin putting his career on the line in the main event, I liked tonight’s opening match the best. I didn’t really think Dustin would retire in a match like this anyway (against Sabian in a pre-recorded, empty arena match), so even though the stipulation was good for the story, it made me even less likely to believe that he would lose.