AEW Dynamite
July 5th, 2023
By: John Siino
Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
Stupid, But Ballsy
The show starts with footage from moments ago where Renee Paquette is with Darby Allin & Keith Lee. Darby tells Lee that he knows he doesn’t want to team with Swerve Strickland but if he feels lost in the shuffle in this company ever since losing the tag titles, to do something about it, by either pulling his head out of his ass or he can cry on the apron. Lee called that stupid, but ballsy.
Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Orange Cassidy & Darby Allin vs. Swerve Strickland & Keith Lee (w/ Prince Nana)
Keith Lee brushes by the rest of the Mogul Embassy, including Swerve Strickland, before they both head to the ring. Lee & Darby Allin start the match with Darby smacking Lee before getting tossed all the way to the other side of the ring with a biel. Orange Cassidy tags in and delivers lazy chants to a ‘holy shit’ chant but Lee comes back with a real one to a loud ovation. Orange & Darby start double-teaming Lee with multiple Coffin Drops & Orange Punches before Swerve tags in and goes after Darby knocking him to the outside as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Swerve has Darby trapped under steel steps on the outside but Orange dives onto him to stop him. As Orange goes to rescue Darby, Lee is there to stop him. Lee climbs on top of the steel steps that’s crushing Darby, while having Orange on his back, to get back inside the ring as Darby screams in pain. Lee blocks a Stundog Millionaire attempt, but after a bit of back and forth, Orange is able to two of them followed by a Code Red from Darby to Lee. Orange goes to pin Lee, but Swerve breaks it up with a 450 Splash. All four men are going at it until Swerve knocks out Lee accidentally with a kick followed by a diving DDT from Orange to Swerve before he dives to Lee on the outside. Inside, Darby traps on the Last Supper on Swerve for the pin.
Winners: Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy by pinfall at 11:16, to advance
Darby & Orange show a bit of respect to Lee after the match.
Nick Wayne
We see footage from the Buddy Wayne Academy as Darby Allin talks about training with Buddy and receiving a text message about Buddy passing away. Darby talks about being angry but when composing himself asking what Buddy’s son Nick Wayne was going to do. He made a pact that day to watch over Nick as they show footage from DEFY Wrestling where Nick got an AEW contract. Darby talks about talking to Tony Khan about hiring Nick and how to not do it as a friend but because he’s that good. Darby talks about Nick now being 18, being ready for all this, and how it’s up to him to show the world now.
Thug From New York
Tony Schiavone is in the back as Jack Perry arrives at the arena. Perry says last week was ridiculous and he’s not a ‘thug from New York’ and he will handle it with Hook in the ring like professionals and said he is going to Tony Khan’s office to demand a match for the FTW Championship. Before he can leave, Hook attacks Perry, before Perry gets back into his car and escapes.
We see footage of MJF & Adam Cole hanging out at the gym, as MJF asks Cole why he isn’t wearing his ‘Better Than You Bay-Bay’ shirt. We see Canadian wrestler Puf in the background as MJF starts making fat jokes about him until Cole stops him saying it’s not funny. Cole does say that he reminds him of Tony Schiavone and they have a laugh, as Cole looks confused that he went ahead with that. Cole starts working out which leaves MJF pretty impressed as he says ‘What the–‘ before getting cut off.
The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Billy Gunn vs. The Blade & The Bollywood Boyz (Gurv Sihra & Harv Sihra)
Max Caster’s freestyle talks about Canadian wildfires & Justin Trudeau doing brownface. Billy Gunn & The Blade start the match, as commentary mentions Blade had to find new partners since The Butcher is part of the Blind Eliminator tournament. Caster quickly tags in and starts body-slamming all three of his opponents before Anthony Bowens hits Scissors Me Timbers as they head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Bowens is in control before tagging in Gunn who takes down Gurv Sihra before Caster hits him with the Mic Drop for the pin.
Winners: The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Billy Gunn by pinfall at 6:39
Harley Cameron interrupts their scissor celebration and talks about how they got their asses beat by QTV and says she made a music video and next week on Dynamite she will show it and everybody will see her true talent. Gunn gets on the mic and says he has two words for her, suck it.
Eddie, Answer Your Phone
They show footage of Eddie Kingston winning the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship before going to a video of Jon Moxley who’s asking Kingston what is he complaining about. Moxley says he has a dream of Kingston letting the past go and becoming what he could be, but he won’t pretend like that’s reality and tells Eddie to answer his phone. Excalibur brings up Blood & Guts and asked who would be the fifth man for both Blackpool Combat Club & The Elite as Eddie Kingston is in Japan and Bryan Danielson is injured (Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita, Claudio Castagnoli, Young Bucks, Adam Page & Kenny Omega with two vacant spots were shown in the graphic)
Jeff?
We see RJ City & Renee Paquette as Matt Hardy finds out that Jeff Jarrett is his partner after thinking it was Jeff Hardy when RJ said ‘Jeff…’. The match will be this Friday on the special 100th episode of Rampage.
The Don Callis Family… Maybe?
Chris Jericho heads to the ring and talks about the crowd being loud tonight but it’s bittersweet for him as the last couple of months he’s had a couple of losses and maybe it’s time to reevaluate and make a couple of changes. He says the Province of Alberta is the perfect place to do it as this is where he started his pro wrestling career. Jericho talks about training down the street with Stu Hart, as Jericho asks why they are booing (Tony Schiavone says they were saying ‘Stu’). Jericho names all the cities he drove past this week and remembered what it was like when he first started wrestling. Jericho talks about possibly becoming the best version of Chris Jericho ever as Don Callis makes his way down to the ring.
Callis talks about 6 years ago today calling Jericho about main eventing the Tokyo Dome with Kenny Omega. Jericho talks about how Callis was miserable there and he helped Callis get into AEW and if it wasn’t for him, he might even be here. Callis talks about getting betrayed by Kenny Omega and brings up trust and trusting his best friend of 30 years Chris Jericho. Callis asks Jericho if he wants to make history again by joining The Don Callis Family. Jericho says he doesn’t join factions, he creates them and his answer is ‘maybe’.
Hey, Bro…
Roderick Strong is backstage and says he feels ‘amazing’ after his attack on Collision, but the doctor says otherwise. Adam Cole walks in and says he needs to take care of himself as Strong asks what’s going on with him and MJF. Cole then gets a text from MJF ‘Hey, bro, you ready to deliver that double clothesline tonight, or what?’.
Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Quarterfinal Match: MJF & Adam Cole vs. The Butcher & Matt Menard
Tony Schiavone says social media has been calling the team of The Butcher & Matt Menard ‘Magic Meat’, which really confuses Taz & Excalibur as Taz asked if that’s the name of a movie. MJF & Adam Cole do an over-the-top entrance together. MJF again asks Cole where his shirt is, as Butcher & Menard attack them from behind. MJF has Menard in an abdominal stretch and gets the crowd to chant ‘do it’ for Cole to hold his MJF’s arm to help him. Cole begrudgingly does it. The Butcher tags in and stays on top of MJF as we head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Butcher & Menard are staying in control over MJF as MJF is yelling for Cole to help him. MJf is finally able to punch his way out and tags in Cole. MJF asks for the tag so they can do the double clothesline, but Cole is busy fighting off Menard & Butcher. Cole takes down Menard with a super kick and goes for The Boom for the pin as MJF was still asking for the double clothesline.
Winners: Adam Cole & MJF by pinfall at 8:50, to advance
Happy Birthday, Bay Bay
MJF gets on the mic and asks if there are any Devil Worshippers in the house tonight as they all start chanting for MJF. MJF tells Cole to ‘do the thing’ as he hits his pose. MJF talks about the double clothesline still, but Cole tells him to shut up about it. MJF says they should have another bro session this weekend as Cole says ‘Sure, Max, why not’. Cole goes to leave, but MJF says he has one more thing to tell him and says ‘Happy birthday!’ as streamers shoot out from the ceiling. The crowd starts chanting ‘Happy birthday’, as MJF calls for the birthday stuff to come out. A bunch of production assistants come out with balloons & cake and enter the ring. MJF puts a birthday hat on before putting one on Cole. Cole says this is too much but MJF starts singing the Happy Birthday song. Cole keeps saying how this is too much but MJF tells Cole to make a wish. MJF tells the camera he’s going to shove Cole’s face in the cake, but Cole is quick to dodge it and do it to MJF instead. Cole seems touched by all of this and says ‘Thank you, my friend” to MJF to end the segment.
Renee is backstage with Dr. Britt Baker DMD who talks about being the face of AEW and brings out the Owen Hart Tournament title she won last week and says she’ll do it again this year, but this time she’ll beat her in the first round.
Can’t Be With Me Forever
When we come back, Daniel Garcia & Sammy Guevara says they need Chris Jericho. Jericho says ‘maybe’ doesn’t mean yes, and they can’t always be under his wing forever. Jericho talks about them branching out and leaving him, as Renee tells Garcia & Guevara that they are teaming up together in the Blind Eliminator Tournament. Jericho tells them to win and show him who could be the leader here and win the tag team titles.
Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Dr. Britt Baker DMD vs. Ruby Soho (w/ Saraya & Toni Storm)
Right away, Dr. Britt Baker DMD is in control as Ruby Soho goes outside and regroups with Saraya & Toni Storm. Back inside, Baker puts on a hammerlock before taking down Soho with a shoulder block. Baker hits an awkward-looking DDT as Soho goes to the outside. Saraya & Storm distract Baker, as Soho attacks Baker and we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back they are exchanging strikes before Baker takes her down with a pair of clotheslines and a neckbreaker getting a two-count. Baker calls for the Lockjaw by putting her glove on and stops the No Future Kick. Storm trips up Baker on the ropes as Soho hits her with a Saito Suplex for a two. A bit more back and forth until Baker tries to put on the Lockjaw. Saraya gets on the apron to distract the referee as Soho tosses Baker into the Owen Hart title that Storm was holding. Baker kicks out at two. Soho tries to put on a Lockjaw of her own, but Baker pushes off the ropes to put on the Lockjaw herself. Storm & Saraya pull Soho by the legs to break it up. Baker attacks Storm & Saraya, puts Soho on her shoulders, and tries to roll her up. Storm & Saraya help Soho pin Baker to get the win.
Winner: Ruby Soho by pinfall at 10:07, to advance
Skye Blue is behind Soho, as they announce their Semi-Final match will be next week on Dynamite.
Wheeler Yuta vs. Kenny Omega
Wheeler Yuta attacks Kenny Omega before the bell rings, but Omega comes right back with strikes and stomps in the corner as the crowd cheers on. Omega continues, hitting a backbreaker for two. Omega starts showing a bit of a neck injury (with his arm/back/neck taped up) before trying the moonsault as Yuta gets his knees up. Yuta comes back with a missile dropkick, knocking Omega to the outside where he meets him with a suicide dive, with Omega’s head bouncing onto the barricade. Yuta continues driving Omega into the barricades as Excalibur brings up how Yuta is alone tonight. They start going back and forth on the apron before Yuta snaps Omega’s neck on the rope. Yuta stays with his foot on Omega’s head on the ropes, as they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Omega hits a Fisherman’s Buster on Yuta for a two-count. They head to the top rope where Omega hits a superplex for a two-count. They start chopping each other until Yuta hits a German Suplex for a two, but still holds on to hit another one. Yuta catches Omega off the corner, but Omega comes right back with a snap Dragon Suplex, before hitting another one. Yuta blocks a third one and rolls up for a two. Omega comes right back with a V-Trigger and tries the One-Winged Angel, but Yuta reverses it into the Seat Belt for a two. Omega catches Yuta into a powerbomb, followed by a knee strike for another two. As Omega goes to finish the match, Don Callis runs out but gets held back by security. Konosuke Takeshita shows up from behind and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb on Omega. Yuta follows that with a top rope splash, but Omega kicks out at two. Yuta starts going to the top, but Omega stops him and hits the One-Winged Angel for the pin.
Winner: Kenny Omega by pinfall at 16:17
Claudio Castagnoli runs in and joins Takeshita in beating down Omega after the match until The Young Bucks & Adam Page run out with chairs to save Omega, taking out Claudio with the BTE Trigger. As Page is about to hit Claudio with a chair, The Dark Order run out and stop him as the show gets cut off.
Rampage 100 Line-Up
- Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Quarterfinal: Jeff Jarrett & Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia
- Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Quarterfinal: Brian Cage & Big Bill vs. Trent Beretta & Matt Sydal
- Hikaru Shida vs. Marina Shafir
- The Young Bucks & Adam Page vs. The Dark Order
Collision Line-Up
- AEW World Tag Team Title Eliminator Match: FTR vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson
- Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Semifinal: Athena vs. Willow Nightingale
- Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Semifinal: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ricky Starks
- Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Semifinal: CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe
Dynamite Line-Up
- Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Semifinal: Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy vs. winners of Jarrett/Hardy vs. Guevara/Garcia
- Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Semifinal: MJF & Adam Coles vs. winners of Cage/Bill vs. Beretta/Sydal
- Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Semifinal: Ruby Soho vs. Skye Blue
- Swerve Strickland vs. Nick Wayne
- Komander vs. Chris Jericho
