AEW Friday Night Dynamite
Episode 90
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: June 11, 2021
Event Date: June 5, 2021
(aired on TNT & the FITE app)
City: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place
Commentary: Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Don Callis (2), Taz (6)
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Outside the Venue
The Pinnacle arrives at Daily’s Place in a limousine.
Intro Video
“Dynamite” by No One Hero
Match 1
Angelico w/ Jack Evans, Matt Hardy vs Christian Cage
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Christian Cage wins via pinfall after the Kill Switch
Time: 9:06
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Angelico has a great and unique style that, so far in his Dynamite appearances, has been used to produce lots of very entertaining matches building up other people. This was no exception, and Angelico’s style worked very well with Christian’s to make this a very good opener for tonight’s show. Angelico worked on Christian’s arm and shoulder throughout the match, and at times he was out-wrestling the veteran. Or rather, Angelico’s unique style was throwing Christian off enough that Angelico was able to grab a few solid advantages throughout the fight. Christian, of course, fought back, and that led to a nice finish.
Ring Area
After the match, Jack Evans runs into the ring, but he gets beat up by Christian. Matt Hardy takes advantage of the distraction to hit Christian with a Twist of Fate for the second week in a row. Hardy sets Christian up for a submission, but Jungle Boy runs out and chases Matt and The Hybrid2 away.
Ring Area
In the ring, Tony Schiavone announces that next week we will see a tag match featuring Aaron Solow and QT Marshall versus Cody Rhodes and the debuting Brock Anderson (the son of Arn Anderson). With that, Schiavone welcomes Cody Rhodes, Arn Anderson, and Brock Anderson to the ring. Cody has high hopes for Brock and expects him to have a successful career following a successful debut match next week. Cody Rhodes hasn’t forgotten what happened last week either, saying he wouldn’t mind some revenge after being beaten by Anthony Ogogo (who punched Cody thus allowing QT Marshall to get the pin).
QT Marshall says he beat Cody last week all by himself, just like he’s out here by himself this week. Marshall is also tired of the nepotism like giving Brock Anderson a spotlight while neglecting athletes like the ones in The Factory. Marshall is looking forward to whipping Cody’s ass, literally, in a South Beach Strap Match. Cody wants a strap match right now, and he takes his belt off. Arn Anderson holds Cody back, and Marshall sneaks over and whips Arn in the back with Marshall’s own belt. Brock Anderson attacks Marshall, but referees rush out and separate everyone.
Match 2
Penta El Zero Miedo & “The Bastard” Pac & Eddie Kingston vs Brandon Cutler & The Young Bucks (AEW Tag Champs) w/ Don Callis
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Pac pins Brandon Cutler after a spinning backfist from Eddie Kingston
Time: 12:56
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Pac didn’t like nor trust Eddie Kingston going into the match, and although he probably didn’t like Kingston at the end of the match either, he might have gained a little trust for him. This was a fun match that mostly consisted of seeing how well Death Triangle could get along with Kingston and how much Brandon Cutler was going to get beat up. The action was fast and energetic, and watching Death Triangle and Kingston come together in the end was great.
Ring Area
After the match, The Young Bucks attack their opponents. The Good Brothers run out and help the Young Bucks deliver a beating, then Frankie Kazarian runs out to attack the Good Brothers. Kazarian helps Kingston, Pac, and Penta clear the ring, and The Elite are forced to retreat.
Video
Michael “Kurosawa” presents the conspiracy video Don Callis and Kenny Omega were working on last week. The video shows clips of the Double or Nothing Three-Way AEW World Title match depicting Omega as a hero overcoming a devious plot to steal his championship.
Ring Area
The Pinnacle heads to the ring. Dax Harwood says its okay Stadium Stampede didn’t go The Pinnacle’s way, because the match was made for guys like them anyway. He goes on to say he’s got a family, and that’s why he tried to end Santana and Ortiz’s careers. Cash Wheeler doesn’t have a family, and that’s why he doesn’t care about Santana and Ortiz’s families. Shawn Spears addresses Sammy Guevara, saying he got lucky when he beat Spears in Stadium Stampede. Sammy is no hero, Spears is a hero. Wardlow says Hager knows Hager can never beat him in a pro wrestling ring, and that’s why Hager challenged Wardlow to an MMA match. It doesn’t matter where they fight though, Wardlow will always win.
MJF isn’t angry, he’s tired. He’s tired of being the best at such a young age. MJF grew up idolizing Chris Jericho. It was MJF’s dream to work with Jericho in AEW, but he was idolizing a false god. Jericho is just like everyone else: not even remotely on MJF’s level. MJF has nothing to prove, so he denies Jericho’s challenge to a match. MJF goes on to say Sammy Guevara doesn’t belong in a ring with MJF, and Sammy better keep MJF’s name out of his mouth.
Chris Jericho appears on the video screen. He’s outside Daily’s Place, and he congratulates MJF on a great speech. He says MJF can talk celebrate his wonderful speech with his buddies as they walk home tonight. The camera pans over to show Santana, Ortiz, and Sammy Guevara on The Pinnacle’s limo, sledge hammers in hand. The Inner Circle smashes and spray paints the limo. Jake Hager then smashes a forklift into the limo while The Pinnacle watches from the ring.
Video
From some abandoned building, Darby Allin (with Sting) responds to Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky’s challenge to a tag match with a partner other than Sting. Allin says he won’t pick a new partner. Instead, Allin wants to take on both Page and Sky in a handicap match. Sting tries to talk some reason into Allin, but Allin won’t back down. Sting respects Allin’s request though, and he says he’ll stay home so Allin can have his handicap match.
Video
Evil Uno talks about his friendship with Brodie Lee and what winning the TNT Title would mean to him.
Match 3
TNT Title Match
Evil Uno w/ -1, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds, John Silver, Alan Angels, Colt Cabana vs Miro (TNT Champ)
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Miro wins via submission with Game Over and retains the title in his third defense
Time: 9:36
Match Thoughts
Very good match. I don’t think anyone expected Evil Uno to beat Miro, but the quick buildup with the video just prior to the fight added some emotion to the match. Once again, a Dark Order member was trying to bring the TNT Title back into Dark Order in the memory of Brodie Lee, and Evil Uno’s long friendship with Brodie helped get me invested even more than I already was. Miro dominated the early parts of the match, but Evil Uno starting fighting back in the later stages. Dark Order came back out to ringside to urge Evil Uno on with things looked bleak, and it all came together to deliver a nice title match.
Video
A look at Andrade El Idolo.
Ring Area
In the ring, Tony Schiavone welcomes Kenny Omega and Don Callis. Callis says Jungle Boy might have earned a title shot at the Casino Battle Royale, but he’s a one hit wonder. Omega can’t say anything disparaging about Jungle Boy. One day, Jungle Boy might be a champion just like himself. There’s something missing from Jungle Boy though. Callis says Jungle Boy is missing guts.
Jungle Boy walks out to the ring as the crowd sings along with his entrance theme. Omega is surprised to see Jungle Boy right now, but he knows Jungle Boy has nothing to say to the champ. After all, he doesn’t have the guts to say anything. Jungle Boy tells Omega that he talks too much. Jungle Boy and Kenny Omega then brawl. Jungle Boy sets up Omega for the Snare Trap, but the Young Bucks run out to save Omega. Jungle Boy rolls out of the ring as Omega regains his composure and holds up the AEW World Title.
Backstage
Mark Sterling (with Jade Cargill) talks about everything he’s done for Jade so far. Sterling will help Jade make sure she is a household name for years to come. Jade then says her catchphrase, “I’m that bitch.”
Backstage
Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page think Darby Allin is dumb for wanting a handicap match with them.
Match 4
Lance Archer w/ Jake Roberts vs Chandler Hopkins
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Lance Archer wins via pinfall after Blackout
Time: 0:53
Match Thoughts
Squash. It seems like they might be rebuilding Archer once again after another loss in a title match.
Backstage
The Wingmen (Ryan Nemeth, Peter Avalon, JD Drake, and Cezar Bononi) offer Orange Cassidy a spot in the Wingman Makeover Program. Orange Cassidy can either let them rearrange his wardrobe, or Bononi will rearrange Cassidy’s face.
Match 5
“The Native Beast” Nyla Rose w/ Vickie Guerrero vs “Legit” Leyla Hirsch
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Nyla Rose wins via pinfall after an avalanche Beast Bomb
Time: 7:26
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Leyla Hirsch got a bit overwhelmed by Rose’s size and strength advantage at first, but Hirsch’s combination of speed and technique grounded Rose for a decent part of the match. This was a good match for Hirsch, but it feels like Nyla Rose is rising back into title contention. With that in mind, the finish wasn’t surprising, but it was well done and entertaining.
Backstage
Tony Schiavone welcomes Britt Baker and Rebel. Baker isn’t worried about Nyla Rose, and she says she’ll add Rose to the list of “jealous bitches in the back” who want her title.
Match 6
“The Machine” Brian Cage (FTW Champ) & Powerhouse Hobbs vs Dark Order’s 10 & “Hangman” Adam Page
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Dark Order’s 10 pins Powerhouse Hobbs after a Buckshot Lariat from Adam Page
Time: 11:20
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This was a very fun tag match with a punch of powerful wrestlers. 10 did a good job (almost) matching strength with Hobbs and Cage, and Adam Page’s love of fighting added an extra element to his team that seemed to give them an edge. Ricky Starks and Hook came out partway through the match, and that changed the tone somewhat. What was once a fair fight between two tough teams tuned into a segment where it felt like something was going to go down within Team Taz. Something did indeed go down late in the match, and a slap from Ricky Starks from Brian Cage left Hobbs alone in the ring to fend for himself. The ending was academic after that, but this was still a fun match that ended the show an a positive note.
Show Impressions
Like a lot of these -non-Wednesday shows, nothing in particular stood out as super important, but there was still a lot of fun to be had. The action in the ring mostly all good, and there were a few stories that got pushed forward. The biggest story development was probably Ricky Starks and Brian Cage seeming to finally moved to the next stage of their rivalry that has been teased for a while. Also, I image Cage throwing the FTW Title out of the ring was symbolic of him probably being on the outs with Team Taz, but we’ll just have to wait and see how the story develops.
Match of the Night
Miro vs Evil Uno
With the exception of Lance Archer’s squash match, I thought every match was about evenly entertaining. Miro versus Evil Uno had some emotion added to it though, and I think that’s why I enjoyed it the most tonight.