Episode 49 of AEW Dynamite was the fallout show from All Out, which aired this past Saturday (you can check out my review on this site). Coming off of a lot of controversy on what was considered a very “down” show overall, AEW wanted to rebound, and was unopposed by NXT. Let’s jump right into the show.
We opened with Tony Schiavone outside, as MJF and Chris Jericho just happen to pull up simultaneously. They kiss each other’s butts with heel shtick, saying they both didn’t deserve to lose on Saturday and will both be AEW Champions soon. They then walk away insulting each other.
Jurassic Express vs. Lucha Bros
We open up with these four competitors already in the ring. This match went as the majority of AEW tag team matches go…too quick paced and nothing registers. Jungle Boy is very likeable and has a lot of potential. The teams just traded offense here and there was no heat or pacing to the match at all. Lots of contrived athletic spots, but nothing really mattered. Pentagon gave Fenix a Canadian Destroyer by accident, and Jungle Boy gets the win. After the match, Pentagon and Fenix are angry at each other, and Eddie Kingston plays peacemaker again. Kingston cuts a good promo about brotherhood, but the make-up between the Lucha Bros drags on slightly too long. It’ll be interesting to see where Kingston leads this group.
Jake Roberts and Lance Archer are outside in a doorway cutting a promo. Jake says there was no doubt that Archer would win the battle royal. It’s raining, and Jake uses that in his promo, saying Moxley will be wet with fear when he faces Archer. Good ambiance and delivery here, as Lance looks motivated too.
Matt Hardy comes out and cuts and earnest promo, thanking the fans for sticking with him and checking on his health. He comes across genuine and says he’s lucky to be alive. When he’s cleared, he says he’s going after the AEW Title. It’s a shame that the Hardy-Guevara feud is blown off with so many mishaps and no proper ending, but I’m so glad that Hardy wasn’t even more hurt. My prayers for his speedy recovery.
Orange Cassidy vs. Angelico
It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Angelico on Dynamite, but he and Evans have been back on Dark for a while. Angelico (much like Evans) is very underrated as a talent. This was the least offensive Cassidy match that I’ve seen in AEW. It was short and effective. Angelico got some nice submission counters in, and Cassidy did more wrestling than shtick. AEW needs more short matches like this. Cassidy wins with the Superman Punch. Santana and Ortiz come out and attack Cassidy, and Best Friends come out for the save. Next week, these two teams will have a parking lot brawl. Best Friends are REALLY awkward and cheesy on the mic.
Alex Marvez is backstage trying to talk to the Young Bucks, but they open their dressing room door and superkick him. Even backstage, you can blatantly see the Bucks slap their legs on the fake superkick. Ugh. This is their attempt at turning the Bucks heel since the Elite breakup. Decent idea, bad execution.
Kip Sabian is out with Penelope Ford, and they kick Tony Schiavone out of the ring. Sabian does a really nice job on the mic here, as he’s perhaps the most underrated talker in AEW. He’s been treated like a comedy punching bag, but he’s a good heel persona who deserves better. He goes to introduce the best man for their wedding. Some unknown big guy comes out, then Brian Pillman Jr. Both of them get kicked out, and Miro (the former Rusev in WWE) is announced as the best man! Miro grabs the mic and says he’s tired of the glass ceiling and the invisible glass ring. He’s clearly fired up, and so is the crowd. Miro is officially signed to AEW, and what a positive and welcomed addition this is. Miro was underused and over delivered in WWE, and he could truly be a needle-mover for AEW.
Tony Schiavone is busy tonight, as he’s doing a set interview with Adam Page. Page seems contrite and sad about losing the tag titles. He blames himself and says he wants him and Kenny to win the titles back. Page’s soul-searching is a nice addition to this story arc. Well done.
Chris Jericho/Jake Hager vs. Joey Janela/Sonny Kiss
This match is a no DQ match, and there are FAR too many of these (and all stipulation matches) in AEW. These have lost their luster and feel pointless now because of oversaturation. Also, I get that you want everyone to feel even, but Jericho/Hager are on a different stratosphere than Kiss/Janela and this match was far too competitive. The ending was never in doubt, as Hager pins Kiss with his unanage choke. Jericho gets the mic after and says those two will be forming a team to go after the Tag Team Titles, and I think it’s a bad move. AEW’s tag division is already bloated and stacked with teams, and they just had their team of singles stars lose the belts. To put two of AEW’s few recognizable stars in the tag division feels a bit directionless, especially with FTR as new heel champs.
MJF cuts a good promo in his campaign office, where he blames his staff for the loss and kicks everyone out. Then he yells at Wardlow and blames him for the loss as well. Wardlow steps up to MJF before MJF reminds him that he pays his checks and could put Wardlow’s family in the streets. Wardlow is going to be a monster face once he breaks away from MJF, and this was a nice tease in that direction. Great tension here. MJF is bulletproof.
Moxley cuts a quick promo backstage saying that being AEW Champion never gets easier. He puts over the size and danger of Lance Archer, but says nobody should ever bet against him. Great soundbytes for their match, which takes place in five weeks.
FTR are in the ring for their tag title celebration, with other teams around the ring. Tully Blanchard expertly hypes up FTR as the best team in the world, before they start going around backhandedly insulting the other teams. Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus face them next week, so they jumped in the ring before FTR powdered out. Jurassic Express dumped ice on their heads. FTR/Tully are the perfect package together.
Ricky Starks poses as Darby Allin again and cuts a good promo. His charisma shines bright as he says Darby is too injured to be there and that he’ll take him out again once he’s back. I hope this feud of young stars gets a PPV match at Full Gear.
Nyla Rose vs. Tay Conti
Tay was officially signed to an AEW contract today, and she was visibly emotional coming out for her match here. This was an enhancement match for Nyla, but Tay got in some nice offense. The brawling power of Rose against the kicks and Ju-Jitsu of Conti made for a nice quick match-up. Rose wins with the Beast Bomb and attacks Conti some more, but Hikaru Shida comes out for the save. Rose is the top Women’s contender, and Conti is a great signing.
JR sits down with Kenny Omega, and it was Omega’s best promo in AEW history. Kenny says he sacrificed a year of his life to Page and tag team wrestling, and he found out things he didn’t like about Page. He says he’s going to singles wrestling, and Page better figure out something new to do. Omega doesn’t have much promo ability, but this reserved delivery and contemplation really worked here.
Brodie Lee vs. Dustin Rhodes
This TNT Title main event never seemed to really get out of the starting blocks. But it wasn’t bad by any means, and the crowd was into it. Dustin pulled out a top rope hurricanrana and a Code Red, and his offense was on point tonight. Brodie seemed a little off here, as his selling and offense were a bit stiff. He’s usually a lot better, so it may be a size/chemistry issue. Brodie’s strikes kept missing Dustin’s head as well. Brodie wins a bit of a letdown match with the Discus Lariat.
Overall, this was the tale of two shows. While not a single match impressed me for the first time ever, I really enjoyed a vast majority of the promo work. The show seemed a bit slow and the ring-work was off, but they gave a lot of time to a lot of talented talkers who delivered. Their anniversary show is in five weeks, so it seems they’ll be building to that to stack that card.
