AEW Dynamite
Episode 43
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: July 22, 2020
Event Date: July 16, 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
No DQ TNT Title Match
“The American Nightmare” Cody (TNT Champ) w/ Arn Anderson vs Eddie Kingston
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Cody wins via submission with a figure four leg lock
Time: 11:22
Match Thoughts
Great match. Eddie Kingston came out and cut great promo before the match, and in a way he baited Cody into accepting a No DQ match. I mean, Cody probably would have accepted anyway, but Kingston was very persuasive regardless. First part of the match spent a lot of time at ringside before moving into the ring. It was a mix of brawling and submission psychology that escalated into bloody violence (and some more submission psychology). I thought this was a great mix of styles. Kingston made a huge impression tonight, and Cody showed us a violent side that we don’t always see from him.
Backstage
Jon Moxley says Taz saved Brian Cage’s arm last week by throwing in the towel. Next time, Moxley won’t let go.
Match 2
Griff Garrison vs MJF w/ Wardlow
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: MJF wins via pinfall with the Heatseeker
Time: 6:04
Match Thoughts
A prolonged squash.
Backstage
Earlier today, Tony Schiavone asked Rebel for an update on Britt Baker. Before Rebel can say anything, Baker yells for Rebel to come into the locker room. Schiavone follows, and Baker presents us with rule #4 of being a role model: never count out a role model. Despite being in a wheelchair with a busted nose, Baker says she is poised for a comeback. Don’t count her out as All Out.
Ring Area
Taz and Brian Cage come out to the ring. Taz says it’s been a tough week. Cage was close to firing Taz for throwing in the towel in his title match last week, but cooler heads prevailed. Taz explains that he did what he did as a business decision. Taz doesn’t want Cage to ever suffer a torn bicep again, and he says Cage will never tap.
As Taz speaks, Darby Allin comes out to the ring with a skateboard in his hand. Ricky Starks appears and attacks Allin from behind. Cage takes advantage and powerbombs Allin on the ramp and then into the ring. As Cage and Starks prepare to attack Allin some more, Jon Moxley runs to the ring with a barbed wire baseball bat. Cage, Taz, and Starks wisely retreat, then Moxley helps Allin get to his feet.
Video
This summer, the AEW Women’s Tag Team Cup Tournament: The Deadly Draw is coming.
Backstage
Alex Marvez welcomes the Inner Circle. Chris Jericho is still pissed about his orange-juice-stained jacket. Since his jacket is ruined, Jericho will ruin Orange Cassidy’s career. Jericho also wants revenge for Jurassic Express laughing at him.
Match 3
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Young Bucks vs The Butcher & The Blade
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Matt pins Butcher and Nick pins Blade after tandem dives (Matt with an elbow drop and Nick with a senton bomb) from stage structures through tables on the stage
Time: 16:05
Match Thoughts
Great match. Tonight is a violent night. This match started backstage in the kitchen, and both teams eventually battled their way to the ring area. This was full of fun violence everywhere, but the best parts definitely happened in and around the ring. The Butcher and The Blade have really shined lately after being given more of a spotlight. Even though their feud with the Young Bucks is kind of new and complicated (as in, it’s kind of split with FTR and the Lucha Brothers as well), this match absolutely had the feeling of a long-term grudge match. It also felt like the end of a feud though, so we’ll see where both teams go from here.
Ring Area
Alex Marvez would like to get a word from Lance Archer and Jake Roberts. Archer doesn’t have much to say, but he does tears through four random guys in the locker room.
Match 4
Diamanté vs Ivelisse
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Diamanté wins via pinfall with a small package
Time: 6:27
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Both women were evenly matches, and both women looked very good. AEW needs to boost its women’s division in part due to injuries, and in part just due to not really having enough healthy, full-time female wrestlers to fill out an eight-team tournament. I think the addition of Diamanté and Ivelisse is great for the tournament, and it’s great to add some new challengers for the Women’s Title. Plus, both of these women are quite good. They showed that tonight in this entertaining match.
Match 5
Alan “5” Angels vs “Hangman” Adam Page (AEW Tag Champ)
(referee: Mike Posey)
Result: Adam Page pins Alan Angels after a powerbomb
Time: 8:29
Match Thoughts
Good match. Just like Angels’ match against Kenny Omega a few months ago, Angels got a lot of good offense in against Page. Page never really struggled, but this definitely wasn’t just a squash match. Angels got a lot, and he even showed some perseverance by kicking out of some moves that could easily have been finishes. Again, Page didn’t have too many problems with Angels, but it definitely wasn’t the easiest of night for him, and that made the match entertaining.
Ring Area
After the match, Adam Page looks over to the Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds, John Silver, and Preston Vance) who came out to the stage during the match. It looks like Evil Uno might enter the ring, but Brodie Lee and Colt Cabana come out before he does. Cabana gets in line with the rest of Dark Order while Mr. Brodie Lee enters the ring.
Lee says tells Page that he is impressed by Page’s abilities, but he’s not impressed by his lack of friends and a tag partner while he is clearly in danger. Lee says he isn’t here to attack Page though. Instead, Lee says the Dark Order is here to offer Page protection. Dark Order would never leave him alone. Page appreciates the compliments, but he’s not ready to join a cult right now. Lee doesn’t like that response, so he walks away and takes Cabana with him backstage.
The rest of Dark Order enters the ring. Page strikes first, but Dark Order quickly overwhelms him. After a few seconds, FTR run to the ring and help Page clear the ring. Right after Dark Order is forced to retreat, Kenny Omega runs out to the ring. Omega checks on Page, but FTR offers Page a beer. Page accepts and shakes Cash Wheeler’s hand. FTR leaves while Page and Omega remain in the ring together.
Commercial
Coming August 3, the Unrivaled Collection!
Match 6
Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus w/ Marko Stunt vs Jake Hager & “Le Champion” Chris Jericho w/ Santana, Ortiz
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Chris Jericho pins Luchasaurus after a Codebreaker (and a shot from Floyd the Bat by Sammy Guevara disguised as Serpentico)
Time: 17:27
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This one went back and forth, but Jericho and Hager seemed to eventually get the better of Jurassic Express in nearly every segment. That is, until near the end of the match when Jurassic Express had a big push with a whole bunch of quick and powerful offense. This was fun all around, and it had moments of speed and moments of power from all four men. The finish was a little disappointing, but in a good pro-wrestling way that makes me want to see more matches to make up for it.
Ring Area
After the match, Inner Circle and Serpentico attack all three members of Jurassic Express. After a very nice shooting star press from Serpentico, Serpentico removes his mask. It turns out Sammy Guevara was disguised as Serpentico at ringside. As the Inner Circle begins to attack again, Orange Cassidy and Best Friends comes out to the ring. Inner Circle retreats as the show comes to an end.
Show Impressions
The last few weeks of AEW television have been great, and even though tonight’s episode didn’t have a special title like the previous three weeks, it was also a great show. There were some must-see matches tonight, and they did some good character and feud building.
Match of the Night
Cody vs Eddie Kingston
The Falls Count Anywhere tag match is probably tied for may favorite tonight, but I think the surprise of seeing and hearing Eddie Kingston tonight (not to mention Cody covered in thumbtacks) made it the most memorable for me.