AEW Dynamite
Episode 38
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: June 17, 2020
Event Date: June 11, 2020
(aired on TNT)
City: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place
Commentary: Jim Ross, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Intro Video
“Dynamite” by No One Hero
Match 1
AEW World Tag Team Title Match
The Natural Nightmares w/ Brandi Rhodes vs “Hangman” Adam Page & Kenny Omega (AEW Tag Champs)
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Kenny Omega pins QT Marshall after the Last Call
Time: 12:56
Match Thoughts
Very good match. The Natural Nightmares are an interesting team. It felt weird seeing them get a title shot before Best Friends, but I think this match had more to do with the story line surrounding the internal struggles between Dustin, QT, Brandi, and Allie than it had to do with the Natural Nightmares actually deserving a tag title shot. Allie was not at ringside to start the match, but she came out to the stage later to to cheer on Marshall. Dustin and QT Marshall both looked good, but they seemed to have better individual efforts while Omega and Page worked better as a team (at least in the later stages of the match). This felt a bit like a warm-up for the champs, but it was an entertaining match regardless.
Video
A look at Anna Jay.
Match 2
“The Star of the Show” Anna Jay vs Abadon
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Abadon pins Anna Jay after a kneeling headscissors takedown
Time: 1:14
Match Thoughts
I really enjoyed how they did this match. It was a squash, but it didn’t go the way you’d expect considering the buildup. You can’t do this kind of thing very often, but I think it makes a big impression when done very sparingly.
Ring Area
After the match, Dark Order (consisting of Brodie Lee, Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds, John Silver, 10, and Alan Angels) come out to the stage. Colt Cabana (who has been watching from ringside) is given an envelope by Evil Uno. As Cabana looks at the contents of the envelope, Dark Order helps Anna Jay get to her feet and escort her away from the ring.
Match 3
MJF w/ Wardlow vs Billy w/ Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: MJF wins via pinfall after punching Billy with his Dynamite Dozen ring
Time: 9:55
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. MJF tried pulling some heel shtick early and failed, then he started going after Billy’s knee. MJF had some good injury psychology, but then he still felt the need to cheat in the end. This was a fine heel match.
Ring Area
After the match, MJF gets in Jungle Boy’s face at ringside. A brawl breaks out between MJF, Wardlow, and Jurassic Express, and that leads to more people getting involved to try to beak it up.
Backstage
Alex Marvez welcomes Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara. Jericho explains why he juiced Orange Cassidy last week, and he’s looking forward to taking away Best Friends’ tag title shot.
Ring Area
At ringside next to Britt Baker, Tony Schiavone announces that Penelope Ford will challenge Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women’s Title at Fyter Fest. Britt Baker gets pissed. She tells Schiavone that they are on a friendship time out, and she tells Rebel/Reba to drive her away in her Role’s Royce. Rebel is not behind the wheel though. Instead, Big Swole speeds away with Britt Baker in the back of the cart.
Ring Area
Cody heads to the ring with Arn Anderson. Cody mentions that he’s been alone a lot lately and wonders out loud if he’s even part of The Elite or the Nightmare Family anymore. He has no answers, so he just hands the mic to Arn Anderson.
With Jake Hager watching in the back, Arn Anderson introduces a video revealing Cody’s opponent tonight. Ricky Starks appears on the screen, and he says he’s ready to go the distance.
Match 4
TNT Title Match
“Absolute” Ricky Starks vs “The American Nightmare” Cody (TNT Champ) w/ Arn Anderson
(referee: Bryce Remsburg; watching in the back: Jake Hager)
Result: Cody wins via pinfall after CrossRhodes
Time: 8:34
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Once again, the TNT Title is a highlight of the night. With a big match with Hager looming at Fyter Fest, this could have felt like a warm-up match. Instead, it felt like a great introduction to Ricky Starks and what he can do. Starks gave Cody a solid match and a good fight for the title. I’m absolutely looking forward to seeing more of Starks in AEW.
Match 5
Superbad Squad w/ Penelope Ford vs The Young Bucks
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Nick Jackson pins Kip Sabian after a modified Golden Trigger
Time: 14:36
Match Thoughts
Great match. It was messy and dirty at times, and there was a ton of stuff going on in and around the ring, and it was a ton of fun the entire time. Jimmy Havoc, Kip Sabian, and Penelope Ford tried to cheat at every chance they got, so the Young Bucks really had to work well together to overcome the Superbad Squad’s attacks. Matt’s ribs were still hurting, so that was another huge obstacle for the Young Bucks, as were The Butcher and The Blade who decided to make their presence known at ringside during the course of the match. FTR also showed up before the match was over, so this bout had a very chaotic feel. With so much going on I think either team could have believably won, and that made the match even more interesting and exciting as time moved on and the end drew near.
Ring Area
After the match, The Butcher and The Blade attack the Young Bucks, so FTR attack Butcher and Blade. FTR and the Young Bucks end up working together by default to take out Butcher, Blade, and the Superbad Squad.
Outside the Venue
Earlier today underneath a highway, Taz talks about what happened to Jon Moxley last week. Taz gets hot, and Brian Cage joins in. Cage wishes Fyter Fest was happening right now.
Video
Jon Moxley says that he’s in this business because he has some bad demons. He beats people up who are in his way, and Brian Cage is about to cross his path.
Outside the Venue
Rebel finds Britt Baker in a dumpster outside the venue. Baker screams at “Reba” and fires her. Rebel is excited to finally be free, but Baker rehires her immediately. Baker continues to yell at Rebel. Baker then says that Big Swole will pay for kidnapping her if it’s the last thing she does.
Match 6
Le Sex Gods vs Best Friends
(referee: Bryce Remsburg; stipulation: if Le Sex Gods win, they will take Best Friends’ tag title match at Fyter Fest)
Result: Trent pins Sammy Guevara after a belly to back piledriver (after Guevara is tripped by Orange Cassidy dressed as a cameraman)
Time: 15:38
Match Thoughts
Great match. Best Friends have worked long and hard to earn their title opportunity at Fyter Fest, and this match felt like a perfect opportunity for it to be pulled away from them as they are being drawn into a feud with the Inner Circle. I absolutely did not want them to lose their title shot, so that got me invested in the match right away. As for the action, Guevara spent a lot of time in the ring while Jericho came in and out to change and dictate the momentum. This was really well done, and there were more than a few very convincing near falls as the match neared its finish.
Ring Area
After the match, Orange Cassidy reveals that he was at ringside the entire time. Cassidy attacks Jericho and sends him out of the ring. Best Friends embrace around Orange Cassidy as the show ends.
Show Impressions
This was another really good show. I think last week might have been a little better overall, but this show still felt important and was very entertaining.
Match of the Night
Le Sex Gods vs Best Friends
This was the most tense match of the night for me, and it probably had the best action overall. I think the Superbad Squad/Young Bucks match came close, but I enjoyed the main event more.