Episode 37 of AEW Dynamite came to us from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, and the AEW Dark enhancement talent at ringside continues to add an electric ambiance as they fill in for the crowd. With two weeks until the Fyter Fest supershow kicks off, let’s jump right into the action.
Adam Page/Kenny Omega vs. The Natural Nightmares
As it normally does with AEW’s Dynamite formula, the Tag Team Title match kicks off the show. These two teams seem to match up with each other pretty well in the chemistry department. This was the biggest match yet for the Nightmares, and they came at the top of their game. QT Marshall in particular looked great in this match. Aside from his Sasuke Special, all of his other offense gets smoother and crisper by the week. Lots of good false finishes in this one, and Page was hitting very hard to go with his impressive hot-tag. Allie comes down to cheer on Marshall, but Omega and Page retain in the end. The title change was never going to happen here, but the match was very fun to watch.
We get a package for Anna Jay, who’s signed but has only wrestled in two AEW losses so far. She talks about her training and passion for wrestling, and wanting to entertain the audience. I’m always an advocate for packages and vignettes to get the audience used to new talent.
Anna Jay vs. Abadon
It was a major surprise to see Abadon back, as she’d become an instant fan-favorite in her one AEW Dark loss to Hikaru Shida. Abadon is a gory horror character whose intensity and macabre character are unmatched in this division. It was an even bigger shocker when Abadon got the quick upset with a step-up spike hurricanrana. It’s very unconventional to beat the new woman they’d just advertised with a package, but they made it all make sense. After the match, the Dark Order comes out to walk Anna to the back, as well as to give Colt Cabana (who was in the crowd) a contract. This segment was very effective. It makes Abadon (who was announced as being signed online after the match) an instant player, it gives the Dark Order a new female recruit, and it helps further the storyline for Colt.
MJF vs. Billy
Last week, Billy got the “Gunn” taken away from his name. I’m assuming this is a WWE trademark issue. Billy’s sons (including Colton, who may or may not be a wrestler) came to ringside with him. These two had more of an old-school match, and I always welcome psychology. MJF has a way of being able to be made to look silly without hurting his character, as his mic work and understanding of a heel persona always shines through. MJF worked Billy’s leg here, and Billy sold it well. In the end, MJF won with a punch to the face with the ring. After the match, MJF and Wardlow got into a big pull-apart brawl with the Jurassic Express. I like the continuity between MJF and Jungle Boy, as they are a natural rivalry. Next week we finally get the Wardlow/Luchasaurus lumberjack match we were promised a long time ago. These are great filler feuds until MJF goes after a championship.
Le Sex Gods do a backstage promo, where Jericho talks about feeling disrespected by Orange Cassidy. While I’m not high on Cassidy’s character, I admire all of the work that a legend like Jericho is doing to put over fresh talent like he and Guevara.
Tony Schiavone is at ringside to talk to Britt Baker. Baker had been passing Tony insulting notes via a wire, as certain restaurants do when they send food orders back to their kitchens. I really love the innovative ways that AEW continues to feature Baker and allow her to get herself over in spite of being unable to wrestle. Tony says that Shida will face Penelope Ford for the title at Fyter Fest, and Baker says that’s a conspiracy. Baker asks her assistant to take her away, but Big Swole is actually driving the “Roles Royce”. She says “Where to, Doctor?” as an homage to when the Undertaker abducted Stephanie McMahon in the 90s. Swole drives away with the Doctor.
Cody and Arn Anderson are out for a promo, and Arn says he’s doing his job as Cody’s coach to tune him up for Jake Hager at Fyter Fest. Cody’s title defense tonight is against Ricky Starks, who has a package to introduce him. He talks about his hard work and sacrifices. Starks has made his biggest splash for the NWA, where he was heavily featured on their recent “Powerr” show. He was the NWA TV Champion, and now gets a shot at the TNT Championship in spite of being a free agent.
Cody vs. Ricky Starks
Starks is young and energetic, and he has a very high ceiling. He has characteristics of a young “The Rock” in both his look and charisma. As it does with most Cody matches, this title match had a great flow and pacing. Starks got to show off some really quick counters, as well as physicality in his strikes. AEW is getting pretty full of new signees, but if there’s room for Starks, I think he’d make for a great mid-card heel. The only barrier is that they already have cocky pretty-boy characters in Guevara and Sabian. After what I think is the match of the night, Cody wins with an impressive looking Crossroads.
Young Bucks vs. The Superbad Squad
While the four athletes really tried in this one, it felt terribly flat. Sabian and Havoc have no chemistry together and haven’t been positioned as anything more than a jobber team so far. This came after an excellent match and it seemed to go eons too long. There was no real heat here and it was overbooked with weapons, false finishes, and interference. The Butcher and Blade (in an odd all-white attire) came over the railing, and then FTR came out as well. The Bucks won with a double-knee finish (ala Omega and Ibushi in Japan), and then the Bucks and FTR hit stereo finishers on the other teams. While the Bucks vs. FTR should be excellent, nobody is buying the other two teams as being on their level with this booking.
Brian Cage and Taz are outside somewhere for an intense promo. Taz says Moxley showed up at his house all enraged, and that Taz is the original “miserable SOB”. Cage says he wants to hurt Moxley as much as he wants to win the title. Cage talked very fast and stammered, so Taz continues to be the perfect mouthpiece for the massive title contender.
We get a Moxley package where he says that he has anger issues and he’s not about to let Cage come in and take his title. These types of quick-hitter promos work so well for a guy like Moxley, who’s as believable as they come in his intense persona.
We get a promo from Britt Baker, who is found in a dumpster by Reba. She was dumped there by Big Swole, and she vows to get revenge. I’m guessing they’ll have this match at All Out in September, when Baker is cleared to wrestle.
Le Sex Gods vs. Best Friends
Matt Hardy is out on commentary, and he faces Sammy Guevara next week. Props to AEW for putting stakes on this main event, as the #1 contendership for the tag titles was on the line. Best Friends had a bit more aggression in this match, although they still went for their hug spot later in the match. Guevara bumped around tremendously in this one, as there were a ton of false finishes in the home stretch. A cameraman seems to trip up Guevara, and Trent wins with his Strong Zero. The cameraman winds up being Orange Cassidy, who attacks Chris Jericho and lays him out with a superman punch. They announced that Jericho will face Cassidy at Fyter Fest.
Overall, this was a very solid show. It fell off a bit in the last forty minutes, but it did a lot to promote the big shows coming up. We have fresh talent in the women’s division, Dark Order recruiting more, veterans working with young talent, and Cody having an amazing TNT Title reign already. With just two weeks until Fyter Fest begins, next week’s “go home” show should be one to watch.
