AEW Dynamite
July 12th, 2023
By: John Siino
SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
Chris Jericho vs. Komander (w/ Alex Abrahantes)
Excalibur brought up Chris Jericho’s history of fighting luchadors here on TBS, mentioning Juventud Guerrero & Rey Mysterio Jr. Right away, Jericho corners Komander and starts chopping away. Komander starts bouncing on the ropes and sends Jericho to the outside with a clothesline, before diving onto him with a tornado. Komander keeps on the attack on the outside before springboarding into a forearm by Jericho once they go back inside. Jericho goes for the pin with one foot on the chest, for one count, as Taz mentioned Jericho tried that with him ‘just once’. Komander comes back with a flurry of kicks, but Jericho catches him with a hip toss sending Komander to the outside as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Jericho stops Komander with two back-to-back power bombs but misses the Lionsault, as Komander turns it into a Magistral Cradle for a two. Jericho stops Komander with a big lariat, before knocking him down off the top rope. They fight on the top rope for a while, before Komander knocks Jericho down, runs the ropes, and hits a shooting star press for two. They fight on the apron, but Komander dodges as Jericho goes crashing to the outside. Komander runs the ropes from the other side of the ring and dives onto Jericho on the outside. Komander comes right back with an awkward-looking Phoenix Splash off the ropes, but Jericho kicks out at two. Komander tries to jump off the top rope, but Jericho stops him with a Code Breaker for two. Komander tries to springboard off the ropes again, but Jericho catches him and puts him in the Walls of Jericho until Komander taps out.
Winner: Chris Jericho by submission at 12:50
A Couple of Gods
Don Callis comes out and tells Jericho what a hell of a match he had and brings up how high of a rating their segment got last week. Callis talks about how they used to be part of a faction led by their mentor Bad News Allen and put together a surprise for Jericho. We see footage of Callis & Jericho from back then, as Jericho & Callis are commentating over it. Callis says they were like like a couple of Gods. Jericho says he remembers this back in 1995 and brings up how he still has all his hair but Callis doesn’t. Callis says they didn’t keep their promise of staying together but Allen is up there in heaven with a smile on his face just at the possibility of Jericho joining the Don Callis Family and says in his heart, Jericho knows what Allen would want his answer to be.
Keep Running, Perry
Alex Marvez is backstage next to a car that he says Jack Perry refuses to get out of. Perry pops his head out the window and says this is an unsafe work environment. We see Hook inside who attacks Perry, before being kicked out and tells Perry, ‘Keep running, Perry’.
Who Is The 5th Member?
Renee Paquette is backstage with Don Callis and asks him for a reaction about what happened with Chris Jericho. Callis says later tonight he will go out to the ring by himself and announce the fifth member of the Blackpool Combat Club to face The Elite at Blood & Guts. Renee asks if he’s concerned about Kenny Omega, but Callis says if there is one guy he’s not afraid of it’s Omega because he showed his real colors when he betrayed his family and Omega will be hiding behind the skirts of the Young Bucks.
Another Team Bonding Session
We see another team bonding session, with MJF & Adam Cole having shots at a bar. MJF says Cole hasn’t been a team player as he still isn’t wearing their shirt, and Cole said he lost it and he’s not bullshitting him about it. We see four ladies walk past them, as MJF says two for him, two for Cole and he could ‘make these cameras go away’, but Cole says he really loves Britt Baker and he wouldn’t do that. MJF says ‘four more for daddy’ and leaves with them. When MJF comes back, Cole makes a confession that he never lost the shirt and he will put it on if they do what Cole wants next. Cole whispers something in his ear as they cut to them playing AEW Fight Forever in a hotel room. MJF says he doesn’t want to play until Cole talks about how good MJF’s stats are. MJF admits this is kind of fun especially when he has a buddy playing with him. MJF admits to never playing a multi-player game before and says ‘You need friends for that’. Cole says when they were forced to be a tag team, he had every intention of blindsiding him as MJF admits he was going to do the same thing. Cole says MJF is pretty cool and MJF says the same and says they should go win the tag team titles as they celebrate after winning the titles in the video game.
Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Semi-Final Match: Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy vs. Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia
It was noted that Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia came out to their own themes and entrances instead of the uniformed Jericho Appreciation Society one. Guevara & Orange Cassidy start the match with them both mocking each other’s taunts. Darby Allin tags in, as he and Guevara share a handshake before Garcia tries to get involved just to get a dive from Darby on the outside. Darby tries to springboard off the ropes but gets stopped by Garcia who then catches Orange and sends him into the barricade. Garcia gets in the match and goes after Darby before they head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Garcia & Guevara are in command before Darby hits a Code Red on Guevara, not realizing Garcia was tagged in. Garcia & Orange got at it in the corner, before Orange hits a top rope crossbody. They run the ropes a bit before Orange hits a Michinoku Driver for two. Garcia is able to put on the Dragon Tamer but let’s go to attack Darby who was coming in the ring. Orange & Darby hit back-to-back stunners before Orange hits a DDT that Guevara breaks up the count for. Orange hits the Beach Break on Garcia until they go back and forth with pin attempts. Garcia takes out Orange on the apron, as Darby & Guevara go inside the ring. Guevara stops Darby with a knee strike but misses a Shooting Star Press. Prince Nana makes his way down to the ring and tells Garcia to use Darby’s skateboard against Orange. The referee gets involved as Swerve Strickland runs out and takes out Darby on the apron with a kick. Guevara follows with the GTH on Darby and gets the pin.
Winners: Sammy Guevara & Darby Allin by pinfall at 12:55, to advance
Excalibur brings up the finals of the Blind Eliminator Tournament will take place on the July 29th edition of Collision.
Continuing The Family Legacy
We get another video package on Nick Wayne showing him training and talking about how he learned to wrestle from his father and finding out from his mother that his father passed away. He talks about wanting to continue the family legacy and how he keeps getting asked if he’s ready for the pressure of wrestling on national television, and he says he’s been ready his entire life and knew professional wrestling was meant for him.
You’re Not Sick
Renee is backstage trying to get a word with Adam Cole, but he’s trying to have a conversation with Britt Baker on the phone. Roderick Strong (in his neck brace) walks in and asks Cole if he’s starting to like MJF. Cole tells Strong to trust him, before getting a text message from MJF saying after bumping into Brian Cage backstage how he’s now got the flu. Cole walks off and calls MJF telling him that he’s not sick.
Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Semi-Final Match: Big Bill & Brian Cage (w/ Prince Nana) vs. MJF & Adam Cole
MJF & Adam Cole do their over-the-top tag team entrance, with MJF in full babyface mode, high-fiving the fans on the way out. Cole takes off his jacket to reveal he’s wearing the Better Than You, Bay Bay shirt just like MJF is. MJF starts a body slam chant, as he tries to body slam Big Bill to start the match, but fails and tags out to Cole before he starts heading to the back. Cole goes and stops him and ents the ring where Brian Cage starts doing push-ups, as Cole does the same in return. MJF goes to body slam Bill again and fails again as Bill tells MJF he needs to do some push-ups. MJF starts to, but Bill kicks him, before kicking Cole off the apron. Bill starts doing push-ups before they head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Bill rips up MJF’s shirt and wipes himself with it which gets MJF really upset, biting Bill’s hand in a chokeslam attempt and finally hits the body slam which gets the crowd to pop into a ‘holy shit’ chant. After a couple of attempts, MJF is able to make the hot tag to Cole. MJF calls for the ‘double clothesline’, but they are unable to hit it as Bill takes them both out. Bill goes to chokeslam them both, but they escape and take down Bill with double super kicks, before getting double clotheslined down by Cage. Cage picks up both Cole & MJF, hitting them with a double fall-away slam. MJF hits Cage with the Heatseeker, followed by The Boom by Cole, as Cole pins Cage for the win.
Winners: Adam Cole & MJF by pinfall at 10:14, to advance
They get on the mic after as MJF asks if there are any Devil Worshippers in the house tonight. We get a Satan chant as MJF says he is ‘super over’ before telling Cole to ‘do the thing’ as Cole does his pose. MJF says that a double clothesline is coming as the crowd chants for it. Cole brings up how he didn’t think this team would work, but not only do they work but they are doing pretty damn good and has high expectations on winning this Blind Eliminator tournament and when they do win it, they’ll get a shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championship and you’re looking at the next champions. They end it by saying ‘We are better than you, bay bay’. Even though Cole brings up the match being on July 29th, Excalibur along with the graphic says the finals will take place next week on Dynamite in Boston.
The Purple Hat
Renee is backstage with Jake Hager, as Hager walks into Chris Jericho’s locker room and asks him if he’s seriously considering joining Don Callis. Jericho says he doesn’t know as Callis is making a lot of good points and he needs some time. Hager takes off his purple hat and says they got history too and brings up saving his life 10 years ago in Abu Dhabi and 4 years ago Jericho brought Hager into AEW. Hager says he deserves to know and until Jericho is straight with him, he can’t give him a hundred. Hager hands the purple hat to Jericho and walks away.
Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Semi-Final Match: Ruby Soho (w/ Toni Storm & Saraya) vs. Skye Blue
Ruby Soho starts the match with a smack and knocks Skye Blue down, but Blue comes back with her own smack. They start fighting on the apron, but right away Toni Storm gets on the apron allowing Ruby to start choking out Blue. They start fighting on the apron before Blue drops Ruby right on her face. Storm sends Blue right into the ring steps, which causes the referee to eject Storm & Saraya. Ruby continues the attack on Blue on the outside before they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Blue is in control and hits a neckbreaker for a two-count. Blue goes crashing into the ropes, as Ruby tries to take control. Blue tries Code Blue, but Ruby holds on to the rope and turns it into a Half Crab before Blue grabs the bottom rope. They fight on the top rope, as Ruby catches Blue right into the No Future Kick to get the pin and advance to the finals.
Winner: Ruby Soho by pinfall at 8:47, to advance
Rap Class
We go to QTV backstage where they show the world premiere of ‘Rap Class’ by Harley Cameron. We get a rap video from Cameron talking about QTV before dissing The Acclaimed. We go back to QTV where QT Marshall says the song is already climbing up the charts and he’s lost for words.
Swerve Strickland (w/ Prince Nana) vs. Nick Wayne
Darby Allin escorts Nick Wayne out before heading back, as we see Nick Wayne’s mom in the crowd. The crowd gets behind Wayne right away, as he starts with the quick offense before turning his back on Swerve Strickland. Wayne comes back with a Fisherman’s Suplex for two. They start fighting on the apron, as Wayne hits a hurricanrana before they head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, they are on the top rope as Darby Allin makes his way down to encourage Wayne who hits a top rope Poisonrana and Wayne’s World (Springboard Cutter), but Swerve is able to put his foot on the rope to stop the pin count. Swerve stops Wayne off the top rope with a powerbomb followed by the Last Call kick for another two. A bit more back and forth before Swerve hits the JML Driver for the pin and the win.
Winner: Swerve Strickland by pinfall at 10:21
Rampage Line-Up
- Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Semi-Final: Athena vs. Willow Nightingale
- We’ll hear from Dark Order
- Lance Archer vs. Trent Beretta
- Konosuke Takeshita in action
- We’ll hear from Toni Storm
- Naturally Limitless vs. Daddy Magic & Cool Hand Ang
Collision Line-Up
- Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Final: Ruby Soho vs. winner of Athena & Willow Nightingale
- AEW World Tag Team Championship 2 out of 3 Falls Match: FTR (c) vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson
- Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament Final: CM Punk vs. Ricky Starks
The Golden Elite
Don Callis comes out and says he has something to say and is there to make a very important announcement and announce the fifth member of Blackpool Combat Club at Blood & Guts. Callis starts talking about the real Kenny Omega being a coward and a punk, which prompts Omega to make his way out but he gets attacked by Jon Moxley & Konosuke Takeshita. PAC makes his return and attacks Omega from behind with a chair, prompting commentary to ask if he’s the 5th member of Blackpool Combat Club for Blood & Guts. They all keep attacking Omega before PAC gets on the mic and says Omega has no idea how long he’s been waiting for this when Omega shattered his nose bone and extorted him for his championship. PAC admits he’s the fifth member and now Omega will pay the price. They put the chair on Omega’s neck as PAC gets on the top rope about to jump. Moxley asks if Omega has any final words, as Omega tells them to check the screen where it’s revealed that Kota Ibushi is the fifth member of The Golden Elite. When we go back to the ring, Adam Page & Young Bucks run in to help Omega. Page says this Wednesday they finish this once and for all. Omega gets on the mic and says Don Callis will never win this battle and next week, he’s going to find out the hard way that barbed wire and skewers are nothing compared to what they will do to them, and when all five of them are done, that’s when Omega is coming for Callis.
