AEW Dynamite
November 20, 2024
By: John Siino
Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania
Commentary: Excalibur, Matt Menard & Tony Schiavone
RESULTS
- Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Brian Cage & Lance Archer over Will Ospreay, Ricochet, Powerhouse Hobbs & Mark Davis via pinfall (14:33) (Recommended)
- Kris Statlander over Hikaru Shida via pinfall (9:20)
- Bobby Lashley over Cheeseburger & Joe Keys via referee stoppage (2:02)
- Claudio Castagnoli over Darby Allin via pinfall (13:46)
- Orange Cassidy over Wheeler Yuta via pinfall (12:14)
November Rain
The show starts with another video set to Guns N’ Roses’ ‘November Rain’ with highlights of the build towards Saturday’s Full Gear card. This one was shorter than the one that aired on Collision.
Ricochet, Powerhouse Hobbs, Mark Davis & Will Ospreay vs. The Don Callis Family (Kyle Fletcher, Lance Archer, Brian Cage & Konosuke Takeshita)
This is Mark Davis’ first match since WrestleDream back in October 2023. The babyfaces go and attack The Don Callis Family (who are without Don Callis) up the ramp before the match even starts, as all eight men start brawling around the ring. Eventually, Konosuke Takeshita & Mark Davis get in the ring to start the match. They test each other out with shoulder blocks before Davis catches Takeshita followed by a senton as Ricochet tags in to dive onto Takeshita on the outside. Will Ospreay goes to the top rope, as Kyle Fletcher is there to meet him and knock him off. Powerhouse Hobbs then notices Fletcher on the top rope but before he can do much damage, he gets stopped by Lance Archer. Archer traps Hobbs’s knee between the steel steps, as Brian Cage tosses Ospreay onto the steps, hurting Hobbs. Hobbs gets helped to the back by medical as Ricochet reverses a chokeslam attempt from Archer into a hurricanrana. Archer then chokeslams Ricochet onto Davis & Ospreay on the outside as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we return, Davis & Ospreay are double-teaming on Takeshita. Cage & Archer join in and toss Ospreay into a Blue Thunder Bomb from Takeshita, who gets a two count. The crowd starts to chant for ‘Ospreay’ as Fletcher eggs them on while screaming at Ospreay that it ‘always was about you’. Hobbs starts limping his way back to the ring, clotheslining down Fletcher on the way, and gets the tag from Ospreay. Cage & Archer try to stop him, but he takes them both down with a double clothesline. Hobbs starts clotheslining all four opponents in every corner, before pulling his straps down and hitting a power slam on Archer. Davis tags in and goes after Takeshita, hitting a gut-wrench piledriver, but Fletcher is there to stop it. Fletcher starts shoving and slapping Davis, who finally snaps and attacks Fletcher for the first time. Everybody runs in and goes after each other before it’s just Ospreay who calls Fletcher to join him in the middle of the ring. They go back-and-forth ducking and dodging each other before Ospreay takes out Davis by accident with the Hidden Blade. Ospreay & Fletcher end up on the outside, as Takeshita takes advantage and hits Davis with the running knee strike to get the pin and the win.
Winners: The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Brian Cage & Lance Archer) by pinfall at 14:33
The Death Riders Will Have Their Day
We go to the Death Riders in the back as Jon Moxley says that Orange Cassidy is a snake lurking in the darkest corners of the battlefield, but his objective on Saturday remains the same. Cassidy might be a great guy, but he doesn’t care what kind of person he is. When the bell rings, Cassidy is a threat to his people and he will destroy him. Cassidy might make it to Full Gear with his mind intact, but his and Darby Allin’s body is still up for grabs. Claudio Castagnoli speaks German before saying that tonight he is going to end him.
We cut to Darby who says he didn’t forget that Claudio put the chair around Bryan Danielson’s neck and every Death Rider will have their day, and today is Claudio’s day.
Swerve Attacks Lashley
Renee Paquette is in the parking lot as The Hurt Syndicate pulls in. MVP talks about having a special treat tonight with the announcement that Bobby Lashley will be in action tonight. Before they can say more, Swerve Strickland attacks them.
Crusade Against MJF
Adam Cole heads to the ring and says that MJF did everything in his power to make sure they don’t fight on Saturday, and they succeeded. Roderick Strong also succeeded and he and Roddy have the exact same goal to give MJF the ass-whooping of a lifetime. Kyle O’Reilly enters the ring and talks about how he and Cole had a match here in Reading, Pennsylvania. He says how well he knows Cole, but this crusade against MJF has to end before somebody gets hurt and brings up Cole’s injuries. O’Reilly says MJF is three steps ahead of him, and he doesn’t want to see Cole play with fire and get burnt. O’Reilly says Cole is a good friend who doesn’t want to see his friends get hurt. O’Reilly says MJF is more of an evil bastard than Cole will ever be and that’s a good thing, before dropping the mic and leaving Cole alone.
Orange Walks Alone
We go to Orange Cassidy in the back who says he will make an example of Wheeler Yuta tonight and walk down and beat him alone. Mark Briscoe, Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii walk in and say they have his back, but Orange screams at them to please promise to stay away. Briscoe says if Orange insists, so be it.
Kris Statlander vs. Hikaru Shida
This is only their second encounter, with Kris Statlander coming out on top back on the 10th episode of Dynamite in December 2019. They both work on trying to take each other down, before Hikaru Shida traps Statlander in a straight jacket, that Statlander breaks up by backing into the corner. Shida stays in the corner and takes out Statlander with a dropkick, puts Statlander on the apron and hits her with a running knee life as we go to picture-in-picture.
We return with Statlander going for a pin before Shida comes back with short-arm clotheslines and a pin attempt of her own. Shida stays on top of Statlander with kicks, but she gets slammed down. Shida returns with a Falcon Arrow for a two-count. They go back and forth before Statlander catches Shida right into the Night Fever to get the pin and the win.
Winner: Kris Statlander by pinfall at 9:20
Statlander goes to help Shida up, as Mercedes Mone’ with Kamille make their way out to the ramp. Mone’ gets closer to the ring and says she will never lose this title, as the crowd tells her to ‘shut the fuck up’. Mone’ tells Kamille to go after Statlander and get the job done, as these people are pissing her off. Kamille, with her arm in a sling, reluctantly gets in the ring in between Shida & Statlander, where they punch and kick away at her, before knocking her to the outside. Mone’ gets on Statlander’s back and tries the backstabber, but Statlander reverses it and hits her with the Night Fever.
You Got Swerved
MVP & Shelton Benjamin are in the back looking for Swerve, and find someone who they thought was him wearing a similar coat, that they attack anyway before saying they have to get ready for Lashley’s match.
Bobby Lashley (w/ MVP & Shelton Benjamin) vs. Cheeseburger & Joe Keys
This is Bobby Lashley’s first match since May, as Joe Keys & Cheeseburger both get on the apron and bicker about who’s going to enter, so Lashley makes the decision himself by pulling Cheeseburger in. Keys joins in as Lashley takes them both down with a double DDT. Lashley tosses Keys to the outside and knocks Cheeseburger down with a big clothesline. Lashley follows with a Dominator and goes for the pin, as Keys bravely breaks up the pin. Keys tries his best before Lashley sends him down with a spinebuster followed by a spear. Lashley puts on The Hurt Lock, as Keys (who wasn’t the legal man) passes out, to end the match.
Winner: Bobby Lashley by referee stoppage at 2:02
Swerve’s music hits as Prince Nana is on the ramp with a chair, causing Shelton to go after him. As MVP is looking for Swerve in the crowd, Swerve shows up from under the ring with a chain and goes after Lashley, hitting him with the House Call followed by the Swerve Stomp. As MVP & Shelton enter the ring, Swerve escapes through the crowd.
Mariah & Mina
Renee is in the back with Mariah May & Mina Shirakawa and brings up them teaming up this Friday on Rampage before their Champagne Championship Celebration at Full Gear. May says that in her division, you either hold the Women’s World Title or you die. Mina says she is very proud of Mariah and will give her a celebration she won’t forget.
Darby Allin vs. Claudio Castagnoli
This is the first time a one-on-one matchup between these two as the crowd is fully behind Darby Allin, as Claudio Castagnoli escapes to the outside. Claudio eventually enters back in and catches Darby off the corner, who quickly jumps back up and goes for the pin before springboarding off the ropes with a body press, Claudio goes to the outside again where Darby meets him with a Coffin Drop attempt. Claudio catches him and ragdolls him sending him into the barricade before uppercutting him over it. Claudio pulls Darby in with a vertical suplex up the steps, sending him back into the ring as we go to picture-in-picture.
Darby traps Claudio in the ring skirt and takes advantage, taking him out with a cannonball, sending them both crashing into the barricade. They head back inside, where Claudio stops a Coffin Drop attempt by knocking Darby off the top rope and delivers an avalanche gut-wrench suplex for two. Claudio catches Darby off the ropes, but he comes back with a Code Red for two. Claudio attacks Darby in the corner before knocking him off the apron with a boot. On the outside, Claudio hits Darby with a Giant Swing sending him into the ring steps before sending him over the announce table. On top of the table, Claudio picks up Darby and press slams him off onto another table, which doesn’t break. Paul Turner starts counting out Darby, but he’s able to run in at the nine count where he gets met with a lariat from Claudio for the pin and the win.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli by pinfall at 13:46
Renee is in the back with Private Party and asks what their strategy is for Full Gear. They say they can’t give their strategy out but the stacks are against them, like it’s always been, but they will leave New Jersey still as the AEW World Tag Team Champions. Big Boom AJ & Big Justice walk in and say they have a big announcement coming up next.
Trailer Park Strong
We cut to MJF who drives up to a building and throws some change for a homeless man to go get. MJF talks about how Roderick Strong’s mother shot his father right in front of him and brings up the trauma and healing as a result. That’s why Strong will do anything for Cole, to feel all those positive things he lacks. The difference between him and Cole is that Cole is a mirage of what he wanted him to be, but deep down he knows he cares about Strong. He’s happy Strong won and he will send him back to the trailer park, and he’ll be in so much pain that instead of his mother shooting his father, Roddy would have wished she shot him instead.
The Rizzler Will Be There
We go back to Renee with Big Boom AJ & Big Justice who says this match is 20 years in the making, as AJ says he got mad when QT Marshall tossed the cookies at him. AJ announces that The Rizzler will be there to ring the bell. I can hear Braden Herrington shouting for joy.
Don’t Feel Sorry For Roddy
The Undisputed Kingdom comes out as Roderick Strong says he hasn’t slept since last week and he will finally get his hands on MJF. Strong says he heard his whole life about his parents being addicts. MJF might feel sorry for him, but he feels sorry for MJF. He talks about MJF acting like a baby if he doesn’t get what he wants, so he wants him to look in the mirror and think about everything he did. He ends by saying he will break MJF’s back on Saturday.
What Happened To Jack Perry?
They cut to what happened after Daniel Garcia & Matt Menard abducted Jack Perry, as Perry is all tied up. Perry says that everybody has a code and cares about right or wrong until it costs them something. Garcia says Perry has no idea what he’s had to sacrifice to get here, he knows where he wants him to go but he will never go there. Perry spits in Garcia’s face, as Garcia says ‘bet’ and says he has something for him. Garcia grabs a crowbar, but instead of attacking Perry with it, he attacks the Scapegoat bus and leaves as Menard yells at him about where he’s going.
The Long & Winding Contract Signing
We cut to the contract signing for Chris Jericho & Tomohiro Ishii that’s moderated by Renee in the locker room for some reason. Jericho talks about how he has to have his lawyer look the contract over and starts leaving, as Ishii starts stalking him through the hallway, and up the stairs, until they make it all the way into the arena and into the ring. Jericho eventually says he would have signed the contract, but he doesn’t have a pen as Ishii gives him one. Jericho reluctantly signs it, as Ishii conveniently turns his back to the entrance as Big Bill & Bryan Keith attack him from behind. Jericho teases stabbing him with the pen, as Mark Briscoe & Rocky Romero run out. The Conglomeration takes out The Learning Tree as Ishii signs the contract.
Come Home, Julia
Renee is with Jamie Hayter who is confused about why Julia Hart interrupted her and says she’s cool with that and if she wants to have a chat — as Hayter gets interrupted again by another Julia Hart video. We hear a narration from Brody King who says it’s time for her to go home, and she is more stronger and determined than ever. The objects are nothing but another bull’s eye, and she is the keeper of secrets.
Orange Cassidy vs. Wheeler Yuta
Wheeler Yuta didn’t get his own ‘Death Rider’ heel music yet, so he comes out to Jon Moxley’s. Yuta attacks Orange Cassidy before the bell rings, as he takes off his shades and attacks him in the corner. They go back and forth with pin attempts, as commentary plugs that the Continental Classic is starting next Wednesday. Orange sends Yuta to the outside and hits him with a dive. Yuta hits Orange with a brainbuster on the barricade, as Tony Schiavone asks Excalibur if we’ve ever seen Orange wear black jeans before. Yes, Tony, we have, the last couple of months now. Yuta hits Orange with a DDT on the apron as we go to picture-in-picture.
We come back with them going back and forth with punches until Orange hits a brainbuster for two. Orange goes for the Orange Punch, but Yuta counters it with a suplex but doesn’t go for the cover. Orange comes with Sole Food and the Michinoku Driver, but Yuta kicks out at two. Yuta catches Orange off the ropes with a Tombstone for another two. Yuta hits a flurry of elbows and puts on the Cattle Mutilation, but Orange is able to get his feet on the ropes to break it up. Yuta gets angry at Bryce Remsburg and grabs a chair, but Orange dodges it and rolls up Yuta with a Casadora pin for the win.
Winner: Orange Cassidy by pinfall at 12:14
Orange gets in Yuta’s face but gets attacked from behind by PAC. Claudio, Moxley & Marina Shafir show up, as Marina has a roll of duct tape. They start taping Orange up and kicking and punching him in between all five Death Riders. Orange tries his kicks on Moxley, but he knocks him down with a hook. The Death Riders leave through the crowd, as the rest of The Conglomeration finally shows up in the ring. Orange puts his shades on and hands in his pockets, as Moxley looks on.
