AEW Dynamite
August 7th, 2024
By: John Siino
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
RESULTS
*Dark Match: Satnam Singh over Colt Cabana
*Dark Match: Serpentico over JD Ink
*American Title Eliminator: MJF over Kyle Fletcher via pinfall (17:43) (Recommended)
*Mariah May over Viva Van via pinfall (6:28)
*Katsuyori Shibata over Bryan Keith via submission (7:01)
*Orange Cassidy & FTR over Rush, Roderick Strong & The Beast Mortos via pinfall (16:49) (Recommended)
*Kamille over Jazmyne Hao & Clara Carter via pinfall (1:51)
*Anything Goes: Bryan Danielson over Jeff Jarrett via pinfall (15:27) (Recommended)
AEW American Championship Eliminator Match: MJF (c) vs. Kyle Fletcher
Don Callis is on commentary for this opener, as Will Ospreay is seen watching on from the back. As soon as the bell rings, MJF heads to the outside, grabs the mic, and tells Kyle Fletcher that he either can lock up like a man or MJF walks out on this match. When MJF enters, Fletcher goes to lock up, just so that MJF can hit him with a cheap shot kick instead. MJF stays in control, taking Fletcher back down with a back elbow. As MJF continues to talk trash, Fletcher goes for a Tombstone, but MJF is able to escape and snap Fletcher’s arm on the top rope. A bit of back and forth, until MJF hits a gut wrench powerbomb for two. MJF teases going for the Kangaroo Kick, but Fletcher stops it with a thrust kick. Fletcher takes over, hitting the ten punches in the corner before kicking MJF to the outside where he hits him with a tope suicida. Back inside, Fletcher heads to the top rope, but MJF is able to roll himself back outside, just so Fletcher can meet him there with a kick off the apron followed by a top rope moonsault.
MJF is again able to roll to the outside when Fletcher heads to the top rope, but Fletcher goes right after him with punches and chops and gets sent into the barricade with a drop-toe hold by MJF. MJF tries to go after Fletcher again, just to get sent over the barricade where Fletcher hits him with a flying cannonball. Back in the ring, Fletcher hits a top rope elbow drop for two. They continue going back and forth until MJF hits a Hammerlock DDT for two. MJF starts yelling at Fletcher that he is a ‘wannabe Ospreay’ before spitting in his face. This only fires Fletcher up, as they start trading forearms until Fletcher knocks down MJF with a clothesline. They head to the top rope where MJF bits Fletcher before trying a Tombstone. Fletcher escapes and hits the Tombstone himself, as MJF kicks out at two. Don Callis leaves the commentary table and heads down to the ring, gets on the apron, and tosses a screwdriver to Fletcher. Fletcher goes to use it, but tosses it away at the last second, as MJF uses this distraction to hit a low blow, followed by the Kangaroo Kick and a Brainbuster to get the pin and the win.
Winner: MJF by pinfall at 17:43
We see Will Ospreay in the back trying to leave a room, only to realize it’s being blocked by stage equipment, but Ospreay is able to push through and escape. In the ring, MJF takes out the referee Paul Turner, before taking out Fletcher with the Dynamite Diamond ring. MJF continues attacking Fletcher, busting him open and yelling to Ospreay that the ‘blood is in his hands’. MJF goes to hit the Tiger Driver ’91, but Ospreay runs out and chases MJF away. Doc Sampson enters the ring to check on Fletcher while Callis is yelling at Ospreay asking where he was, as Ospreay tells him, he was locked in the room.
We get a video package for tonight’s Anything Goes Match between Bryan Danielson & Jeff Jarrett, along with words from tonight’s special guest Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat’.
Mariah May vs. Viva Van
Mariah May makes her way to the ring with not only the Owen Hart Foundation Championship but also the bloody shoe she used on Toni Storm. Viva Van here making her Dynamite debut. May starts the match with a headbutt and a release German suplex. May continues with a missile dropkick as the crowd chants for Toni, and Taz tells Tony Schiavone it’s not for him. May stays on top of Van with punches as we go to our first commercial break of the night, after 30 minutes.
When we return, Van is able to dodge May in the corner but May puts her right back there where she hits the Hip Attack. May continues punching Van’s head and gives her a kiss followed by a running knee strike. May follows with the May Day but doesn’t go for the cover. May then hits the Storm Zero, this time getting the pin for the win.
Winner: Mariah May by pinfall at 6:28
May is handed a gift, that she unwraps showing a photograph of Toni Storm hugging May, but as she turns it around it says ‘Die Mariah Die’ on it, and May herself turns around as Storm is there to attack her. May takes her down and goes to hit her with the shoe, but Storm takes it away and goes to use it on May, but officials and security run out to try and keep them apart.
Blood, Guts, Fire & Tacos?
We see a quick video of Jack Perry watching back the Blood & Guts match and talking about sacrifices that need to be made, but unfortunately, the video gets cut off for me and goes right into a Taco Bell ad. Luckily I was able to find the other part of the video online where he is shown smashing up the monitors.
After the break, we see Darby Allin in the back where he says the only reason he didn’t light Perry on fire at Blood & Guts is so he doesn’t have any excuses to not show up at All In. Allin says Perry doesn’t have to show up at Dynamite, Rampage & Collision but he has to show up at All In in Wembley.
Bryan Keith vs. Katsuyori Shibata
Bryan Keith’s entrance now has an evil version of an apple on his screen to represent him being The Bad Apple (think bizarro Carlito). Chris Jericho & Big Bill join commentary as they state security had to come and escort Taz out before this match since Jericho was going to be there. Jericho talks about despite Minoru Suzuki breaking his finger, Dave Meltzer still rated their match 4 stars. Katsuyori Shibata starts attacking Keith’s hand and arm with stomps, as Keith escapes to the outside. Keith is able to take control on the outside and screams in the camera to respect Chris Jericho as we head to picture-in-picture.
When we return, Keith is in control until Shibata takes over and hits a gigantic chop that echoes in this Arena, followed by the Iron Claw, and puts on the Juji Gatame as Keith immediately taps out.
Winner: Katsuyori Shibata by submission at 7:01
As soon as the match ends, Big Bill & Chris Jericho enter the ring and join Keith in beating down Shibata. Jericho goes to hit Shibata with the FTW title, but Hook makes his return and knocks out Keith & Bill before going after Jericho, who is saved by Bill as they escape to the back.
Orange & The Local Boys
Renee Paquette is in the back with Orange Cassidy who said that Orange Cassidy is slated for a rematch tonight against Roderick Strong, Rush & The Beast Mortos the rest of The Conglomeration is not here due to travel issues, but Cassidy says he has a couple of local boys who will join him for the match instead.
Hangman & Swerve
After the break, Renee is with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and says that Page hasn’t been getting the outcomes he’s been looking for. Page says there’s been one man that he’s been wanting to take everything from, but for that one man, there have been a dozen other dumbasses that got in the way. He said he will have what he wants before walking off.
We go to a sit-down interview from earlier today with Jim Ross and Swerve Strickland. Ross asks if the match at All In motivates Swerve as a wrestler, and he says in every single way he is beyond motivated from being in a tag team last year and losing to being in the main event now. Ross asks if Swerve has any remorse for doing some evil things, but he says if you make enough noise people will listen. They move on to talk about how violent Bryan Danielson has been lately and how it could be his last match at Wembley. Swerve asks if anybody would care if the roles were reversed, but he controls the narrative and this company and that’s what worries people. Swerve doesn’t care about Danielson being a father and coming home to Brie. Ross ends by asking if Swerve thinks he can beat Danielson, to which he responds with not only can he, but that he will.
Orange Cassidy & FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) vs. Rush, The Beast Mortos & Roderick Strong
The local boys Orange Cassidy was teasing end up being FTR, as Don Callis joins commentary again for this match. Commentary brings up this being the first time Cassidy & FTR have shared a ring together, as Matt Taven & Mike Bennett go and sit behind the barricade for some reason. The Beast Mortos & Dax Harwood start the match, before Roderick Strong quickly tags in and starts trading chops with Dax before he tags in Cash Wheeler. All six men start going at it until FTR & Cassidy are standing in the ring with FTR joining in putting their hands in their pockets as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, the heels are in control as Strong is holding Wheeler down in a chin-lock. Wheeler is able to finally escape and make the hot tag to Harwood who goes after all three opponents. Dax places Strong on the top rope and chops away at him before Strong is able to escape and make the tag out to The Beast Mortos who enters with a corkscrew dive for two. As Mortos sends Harwood to the outside, Taven & Bennett jump over the barricade and attack him before retreating back over as we go back to picture-in-picture.
We come back as all six are fighting in the ring and on the apron, as Cassidy tags in and takes out Rush with a top rope crossbody and sends him to the outside with headscissors. Cassidy hits a dive to the outside on Strong & Rush, before taking out Mortos with a DDT. After everybody gets some offense in, Cassidy hits a Beach Break on Rush, but he kicks out at two. Excalibur has breaking news as Tony Khan has announced a Casino Gauntlet Match at All In for a guaranteed World Title shot. Mortos takes out Wheeler with a deadly-looking tornado on the outside, but he gets tossed right into Taven & Bennett over the barricade. Cassidy stops Rush Bull’s Horns attempt with an Orange Punch before Rush & FTR start chopping away at each other. After another Orange Punch from Cassidy, FTR hits the Shatter Machine on Rush to get the pin and the win.
Winners: Orange Cassidy & FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) by pinfall at 16:49
As soon as the match ends, The Acclaimed comes out but Max Caster’s mic isn’t working. Harwood says not only do he and the crowd not want Caster to talk, but the sound people don’t either. Harwood says this goes beyond AEW, as security comes out to get in between them. FTR & The Acclaimed start brawling as security tries to keep them apart.
The Referee Father
We go to The Patriarchy in the back who say both House of Black & Bang Bang Gang are gunning for their Trios Championship, so after making some calls, a match has been made for this Saturday’s Collision where House of Black will take on Bang Bang Gang and the winners of that will face The Patriarchy at All In. Christian Cage says he will be the special referee since they are acting like children and they need a father figure.
They show a video package for Hologram, as Excalibur tells Tony Schiavone that he’s jealous he gets to watch those matches on Collision.
Kamille (w/ Mercedes Mone’) vs. Jazmyne Hao & Clara Carter
Kamille immediately takes out Jazymyne Hao with a pump kick before going after Clara Cater. They try to gang up on Kamille but she takes the mouth with more kicks before hitting a Torture Rack bomb on Hao and a Dominator on Carter before getting the easy pin.
Winner: Kamille by pinfall at 1:51
Britt Baker Is Back… Via Satellite
Mercedes Mone’ gets on the mic and shouts out the EVPs for suspending Dr. Britt Baker DMD and breaks it to the crowd that Baker isn’t here. Mone’ says Baker was the first, but never the best as the crowd doesn’t give Mone’ much of a reaction here. Tony Schiavone gets on the mic and says he’s been informed by Christopher Daniels that Tony Khan has overrode The Elite and lifted the suspension of Baker and they have Baker via satellite standing by. We see Baker on the screen who says Mercedes can get a bodyguard and get Baker suspended, but that won’t stop Baker and their match is still on at All In. Baker says the second things don’t go Mercedes’ way she takes her ball and goes home and calls AEW the flavor of the month for Mercedes, while it’s home for Baker. Baker tells Mercedes to count her money, as this ends at All In when she becomes TBS Champion and the first woman in AEW to beat Mercedes Mone’. Baker says she has 7 days now to figure out what she will do to Mercedes next week.
They announce that due to his win on Collision, Claudio Castagnoli will have a face-to-face with AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada next week on Dynamite
Anything Goes Match: Bryan Danielson vs. Jeff Jarrett
Ricky Steamboat goes and joins commentary as Bryan Danielson comes out for his entrance, just to get attacked from behind by Jeff Jarrett with a guitar shot. Jarrett sends Danielson into the ring to start the match before going after him with a chair shot and sending him into the crowd. They start making their way up the stairs while trading punches before making their way into the concession stands. Jarrett starts attacking Danielson with trash bins, but Danielson comes right back by attacking Jarrett with beer cans. Jarrett returns that with a suplex on top of the trash bin. Danielson comes back with one of his own as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, we see Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana watching on from the back, as Jarrett & Danielson have returned to the ring. After ten punches in the corner, Danielson sends Jarrett to the outside and hits him with a dive. Danielson puts Jarrett on a chair and kicks away before hitting a running dropkick. Danielson tries to hit the running knee off the apron, but Jarrett stops it by tossing the chair in his direction. Jarrett places Danielson’s leg in between a chair and goes to jump from the top rope, but Danielson stops him with the chair, follows him to the top, and hits a Spider suplex followed by a missile dropkick. Jarrett is able to duck a kick from Danielson and puts on the Figure Four, but Danielson breaks it up by smashing the chair on Jarrett’s knees. Jarrett follows with The Stroke on top of the chair, but Danielson kicks out. Jarrett follows with a Sharpshooter, but Danielson reverses it into the LeBell Lock, but Jarrett is able to punch his way out. They trade punches before Jarrett hits an Owen Hart-like Enziguri and calls for the Stroke again. Danielson stops it and hits a Busaiku Knee with the chair to get the pin and the win.
Winner: Bryan Danielson by pinfall at 15:27
Jay Lethal, Karen Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt & Wheeler Yuta all enter the ring to check on their respective partners. Ricky Steamboat enters as well, as Jarrett is seen dripping blood from his neck. Steamboat raises both men’s arms before Jarrett & Danielson shake hands and hug it out as Swerve Strickland’s music hits. Swerve mentions just seeing three legends in Steamboat, Jarrett, and now himself, after it seems like he was going to say Danielson. Swerve says these are all men who have defined pro wrestling on this network, as he enters the ring. Swerve brings up them all being world champions on these networks, and the only thing standing in between Danielson and that is Swerve Strickland. Swerve continues that it’ll be an honor to retire Danielson at All In and he won’t hesitate to take that kill shot. Swerve starts asking how Danielson is feeling and mentions all his body parts that could have been affected and just imagines what he can do to him. Swerve says he wants a warm-up before All In and suggests for next week on Dynamite he goes one-on-one with Wheeler Yuta, who’s still in the ring. Swerve tells Danielson to get a ring side seat to see what he will do to Yuta.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A bit of a ho-hum episode here that seemed to have been affected due to the travel issues, as I don’t think that after all the online talk they wanted to have Britt Baker’s return be via satellite. Also not sure what the original plan was for FTR and if Orange legit didn’t have his partners and they had to call an audible, but it felt pretty odd to have two similar brawls on the show that both had to be separated by security. A couple of unfortunate production errors aside (Taco Bell Jack Perry and Caster’s mic not working), the show was sandwiched between two fun matches, along with an exciting six-man match in between.
