AEW Dynamite
Episode 31
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: April 29, 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
A look at the ongoing rivalry between Cody and Darby Allin before their clash tonight in the semifinals of the TNT Title tournament.
Match 1
TNT Title Tournament Semifinal Match
Darby Allin vs “The American Nightmare” Cody w/ Brandi Rhodes
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Cody wins via pinfall by pinning Allin after the Coffin Drop
Time: 14:49 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
Good match. There were some strange things in this match, but overall I thought it was quite good. Allin had a good game plan by continuing to attack Cody’s knees, and that forced Cody to improvise a lot throughout the match. I think this is another good match in their series against each other, though it’s not their best. There was a strange segment where Brandi got hurt, left ringside, then came back later, but it didn’t really have any bearing on the match. And even though I liked the idea behind the finish, I didn’t really buy it. The guy that got pinned should’ve easily gotten his shoulder off the mat. Regardless, this was a fine match and a good opener for tonight’s show.
Video
A continuation of Scorpio Sky’s story. Sky talks about joining SoCal Uncensored and how he’s grown as part of that team.
Max’s Rat’s Estate
MJF talks about recovering from injury…
Match 2
Musa vs “Mr. Mayhem” Wardlow
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Wardlow wins via pinfall after the F10
Time: 2:24
Match Thoughts
Squash.
The Bubbly Bunch
The Inner Circle debates about who won last week’s Flim-Flam challenge. Chris Jericho says they need to stay strong, so they should all compete against each other in a Manitoba Melee. Joining the Inner Circle in the socially distanced Manitoba Melee are Peter Avalon, Jungle Boy, Sonny Kiss, Luther, Ted Irvine, Lou Ferrigno, Corey Taylor, Duff McKagan, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Gabriel Iglesias, Hornswoggle, Ryan Niemiller, Soul Train Jones, James Garretson, and Vickie Guerrero.
Match 3
No DQ, No Countout
Jimmy Havoc & “Superbad” Kip Sabian w/ Penelope Ford vs Best Friends w/ Orange Cassidy
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Chuck Taylor pins Jimmy Havoc after a running piledriver onto a stack of chairs
Time: 13:20
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Kip Sabian seemed a little out of place at times, but Jimmy Havoc was in his element. Best Friends had to rise to Havoc’s level of destruction, and they did so commendably. This was fun.
Video
From her dental office, Britt Baker has to correct her makeup artist, Rebel, prior to recording a new “Rues of Being a Role Model” segment.
Rule #2: Not everyone can be a role model (don’t wear glasses, don’t be fat, don’t be a wannabe, and don’t smile if your teeth are gross).
Match 4
Baron Black vs “The Chairman” Shawn Spears
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Shawn Spears wins via submission with a sharpshooter
Time: 3:40
Match Thoughts
Good match. Pretty much a squash.
Technique by Taz
Taz explains Lance Archer’s finishing move, The Blackout.
Video
Marko Stunt talks about facing Lance Archer and Brodie Lee, and the perception that he doesn’t belong in AEW.
Match 5
“Mr. Fun Size” Marko Stunt vs “The Exalted One” Brodie Lee
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Brodie Lee wins via pinfall after a sit-out powerbomb
Time: 3:09
Match Thoughts
Marko Stunt put up a valiant effort, but this was more or less a squash.
Video
Jon Moxley promises we will all be back together some day, but in the meantime, he’s been looking at the things he’s thankful for. He’s thankful for his wife, he’s thankful for having steel chairs, and he’s thankful that Dynamite is live next week. He also wants us to call our grandmother.
Match 6
TNT Title Tournament Semifinal Match
Lance Archer vs “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes w/ Brandi Rhodes
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Lance Archer wins via pinfall after repeatedly smashing Dustin’s head into the mat
Time: 16:52 (2 breaks)
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Archer and Dustin had a fight. Dustin had some nice sequences of offense throughout the match, but he really took more punishment than he gave. As the match went on, questions about whether or not the referee should stop the match started to become relevant. Dustin was in enough trouble that QT Marshall and Cody came out and thought about throwing in the towel. I really enjoyed the match, and I particularly liked the way the finish set everything up for the finals of the tournament. This was well done.
Show Impressions
This was a good show. It started off just okay, but the match between Best Friends and Havoc & Sabian turned it all around. I really enjoyed the second half of the show.
Match of the Night
Lance Archer vs Dustin Rhodes
Best Friends versus Jimmy Havoc & Kip Sabian is a pretty close second place, but tonight’s main event had good action plus a decent amount of drama.