AEW Dynamite
Episode 44
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: July 29, 2020
Event Date: July 29, 2020
(aired live on TNT)
City: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place
Commentary: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Taz
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Intro Video
“Dynamite” by No One Hero
Match 1
Inner Circle vs Best Friends & Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus & Orange Cassidy w/ Marko Stunt
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Luchasaurus pins Sammy Guevara after a spinning buzzsaw kick (and a distraction from Matt Hardy)
Time: 12:05
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was chaotic and kind of messy at times, but it was fun. Sammy Guevara ended up being a focal point of the match a few times, and the presence of Matt Hardy late in the match made Guevara versus Hardy the main point of the match despite so many other people being involved in the match itself. As an opening match, I think it was good.
Backstage
Jon Moxley thought his problems with Brian Cage were settled, but then Cage and Ricky Starks attacked Darcy Allin. Moxley can’t stand aside and let that happen, so he dares Starks and Cage to bully him.
Match 2
TNT Title Match
Warhorse vs “The American Nightmare” Cody (TNT Champ) w/ Arn Anderson
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Cody wins via submission with a figure four leg lock
Time: 10:32
Match Thoughts
Good match. I think Warhorse took a few minute to warm up (and a commercial break early in the match didn’t help matters), but this ended up being a strong match for both guys. Warhorse had some good counters and some nice near falls. Even though I never really felt like Cody was in much danger, I this was still yet another good TNT Title match.
Ring Area
After the match, Alex Reynolds and John Silver of the Dark Order run into the ring. Warhorse shoves Cody out of the way, and Dark Order attacks Warhorse. After shoving Warhorse out of the ring, Dark Order focuses on attacking Cody. Arn Anderson gets in the ring and prepares to defend Cody, but Matt Cardona (formerly known as Zack Ryder) walks out and takes in Dark Order instead. Cardona clears Dark Order from the ring, then he goes to check on Cody. With a smile on his face, Cody raises Cardona’s hand in the air.
Ring Area
On the stage, Tony Schiavone tries to talk about All Out, but he’s interrupted by the Inner Circle. Chris Jericho says the Inner Circle is furious, and they’re about to draw some lines in the sand. Sammy Guevara says Matt Hardy is going to pay for what he did earlier tonight, and Jericho says he’s going to give Orange Cassidy a rematch in two weeks. Jericho is also going to get $7,000 for the jacket Cassidy ruined (which he’s still wearing). Jericho also challenges Cassidy to a debate next week so he can beat him up mentally as well as physically.
Backstage
Earlier today, Tony Schiavone sat in on FTR’s official AEW contract signing. FTR say they want to be tag champs, but they want a tag team specialist to look over their AEW contract. Arn Anderson walks in and quickly reads the contract. Everything looks good to Arn, so FTR sign.
After signing, Adam Page walks in and shares some whiskey with FTR in celebration of their contract signing and officially becoming members of the AEW roster.
Match 3
AEW World Tag Team Title Match
Stu Grayson & Evil Uno w/ Mr. Brodie Lee, Colt Cabana, Anna Jay vs “Hangman” Adam Page & Kenny Omega (Tag Champs)
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Adam Page pins Evil Uno after the Last Call
Time: 13:54
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Page and Omega were pretty much each fighting on their own, but Dark Order had a whole lot of really good teamwork throughout the match. Even though Dark Order were better as a team, Omega and Page are difficult to beat in any situation, and that was what created most of the tension in this match. Omega got isolated for a long time, and he had to kick out of a lot of pins coming after strong double-team moves. They’ve been making a point of showing the cracks in the tag champs’ relationship again lately, and that had me wondering if Dark Order might capitalize on that and take away the titles tonight. So yeah, there was a lot of story going on here, and there was also a lot of good wrestling that came out of the story.
Ring Area
After the match, Brodie Lee has Colt Cabana and Anna Jay head backstage. Lee yells at Evil Uno and Stu Grayson, then he attacks them. Adam Page laughs, and that makes Lee even more angry. The Young Bucks join Page and Omega in the ring, but Lee says Dark Order has the numbers advantage.
Guys in Dark Order masks (including Alan Angels/5 and Preston Vance/10) surround the ring. As the creepers close in, FTR runs out and hits Brodie Lee with a Styrofoam cooler. Dark Order attacks, but The Elite and FTR easily fight them off.
Ring Area
At ringside, Britt Baker says she know Big Swole’s suspension won’t last forever, and she knows Big Swole wants to attack her. Baker says she’ll give Big Swole a match with her, but only if Swole beats an opponent of Baker’s choice (Baker does not name the opponent).
Video
A look at Diamanté.
Match 4
Diamanté vs Hikaru Shida (Women’s Champ)
(referee: Mike Posey)
Result: Hikaru Shida wins via pinfall after a running knee strike
Time: 5:55
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. I liked this match when they were striking and just fighting with each other, but it did kind of bog down towards the end. Shida was able to set things back on course, but having some awkwardness near the end of the match made the whole thing feel lesser than it could have been. Shida looked strong in this fairly short match though, so that’s good.
Ring Area
The commentators explain that the AEW Women’s Tag Team Cup Tournament (which starts Monday on YouTube) will consist of teams put together by a random drawing. Everyone will draw a color, and matching colors become a team.
Backstage
Earlier today, Dasha Gonzalez welcomed Nyla Rose and Vickie Guerrero. Guerrero says it doesn’t matter who is teamed up with Rose because the Women’s Tag Team Cup will be their’s (Rose and Guerrero’s). Nyla Rose draws for her teammate and gets purple. Someone has already drawn purple… Ariane Andrew (formerly known as Cameron).
Backstage
Wardlow knocks on MJF’s locker room door, and MJF heads towards the ring area.
Ring Area
With a red carpet and a podium in the ring, MJF campaigns. He campaigns for change, specifically, a change in the AEW World Champion. He says AEW is no longer a revolution, it is now a dictatorship. Therefore, Jon Moxley is not MJF’s champion.
MJF somehow blames Moxley for AEW wrestlers performing gymnastics routines instead of wrestling. He also talks about ratings (something Jericho talks about, not Moxley). MJF says it’s time for a new guard. There’s war, famine, and disease. Jon Moxley caused that, and he’s ruining infrastructure. Finally, MJF officially challenges Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title.
Match 5
No DQ Tornado Tag Team Match
Darby Allin & Jon Moxley (AEW World Champ) vs Ricky Starks & Brian Cage (FTW Champ)
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Darby Allin pins Ricky Starks after diving onto Starks’ back with a skateboard covered in thumbtacks
Time: 6:58
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This was a violent brawl with weapons, and I think the mixture of these four very different guys helped make it a lot of fun to watch. Allin took big risks that either failed miserably or succeeded greatly, Moxley threw his entire body into his brawling, Cage was throwing guys around with ease, and Starks was smartly picking his spots to do the most damage he could. This could have been a mess, but it came together really well. The finish was also particularly gruesome in my eyes, which can be good or bad depending on your perspective. It was absolutely memorable though.
Show Impressions
This was a pretty good show. There were some good matches and stuff I enjoyed quite a lot, but there were also some big dips in the show that had me wanting things to move along. Overall though, I liked it.
Match of the Night
Allin & Moxley vs Starks & Cage
I’d like to see any combination of these guys fight/wrestle again. Also, I’m already enjoying Starks and Cage as a team quite a lot.