The go-home AEW Dynamite before All Out set out to hype up the PPV with the in-ring debut of Thunder Rosa and Jon Moxley’s tune-up match against MJF’s lawyer. Did this episode convince us to Buy In?
Santana & Ortiz vs Best Friends
The action started long before the competitors even came close to entering the ring as the Best Friend blindsided Santana and Ortiz during their entrance. Despite Santana and Ortiz managing to initially thwart the surprise attack, Trent took both men out with a huge dive from the stage area to ringside.
And what a start we're off to @trentylocks pic.twitter.com/lSY2lHd259
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) September 3, 2020
Chuck Taylor took some time to set up a towering arrangement of chairs as Trent fought off Ortiz. A flying chair shot knocked Taylor loopy and gave Santana the chance to throw Taylor through his own chair creation. Another law of wrestling upheld, he who sets it up must go through it.
Hilariously, the bell rang five minutes in as Santana and Trent started brawling. With the help or Ortiz, Proud and Powerful double-teamed Trent as Taylor was still laid out after clattering through the chairs.
Taylor finally returned to the ring to aid his partner and even hit a rolling senton to the outside taking out both opponents. The Inner Circle pair nearly lost after Taylor did the deal with the Falcon Arrow to Santana but Ortiz managed to stop the pin at the last moment.
Strong comeback from @SexyChuckieT pic.twitter.com/cM9R9PDr84
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) September 3, 2020
Trent ate a nasty drop to some steps after tagging in but was still able to hit the Crunchie but could only muster a two count. After this, Santana cracked Trent in the back with a police baton as Ortiz distracted the referee followed by the Street Sweeper to win the match.
This was a great opener full of crazy action. However, it’s a shame we couldn’t have saved this for the PPV. Still, a great opener for Dynamite and a great showing from both teams.
SCU & Private Party vs Jurassic Express w/ Marko Stunt & The Young Bucks
The stipulation of this match was that the winning team would get a match on the PPV against each other. I wonder which team featuring a pair of Vice Presidents of the company who don’t have a PPV match will win this one?
Frankie Kazarian and Jungle Boy started off with some nice chain wrestling before tagging out to Marq Quen and Matt Jackson. Quen and Isiah Kassidy got the better of Matt who clearly had his mind on the Hangman Page betrayal from last week, even confronting a Hangman Page fan at ringside.
Feels like there might still be some hard feelings ? pic.twitter.com/Qjs9s0ISuM
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) September 3, 2020
The match went on with frequent tags between competitors, constantly keeping you on your toes. After the break, there was an impressive sequence with all the competitors getting involved with various flips, counters and high spots. It was a fun spotfest ending in a close two-count after a Senton from Kassidy to Jungle Boy to cap it all off.
The match’s closing moments came after Luchasaurus took out the majority of the players and Jungle Boy went shooting out to SCU with a suicide dive. Matt Jackson tagged himself in as he and his brother took the glory with a BTE trigger to Quen for the win.
OH. MY ? ? ? #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/wXmcIHu92v
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) September 3, 2020
The bitter attitude and forced tag in might just be to add drama to the last-minute addition of the Young Bucks vs Jurassic Express match at All Out but the now more frequent use of the BTE trigger makes me wonder if we’re soon heading for a heel Elite?
That would at least make me feel better about the Young Bucks inserting themselves into the PPV when Britt Baker vs Big Swole has been relegated to the Buy In and the Santana and Ortiz vs Best Friends feud had its blow here rather than on the PPV. The Bucks taking a PPV off would have probably sold the betrayal well too.
Kenny Omega discusses his upcoming AEW World Tag Team Championship defence
Tony Schiavone asked if Omega was worried about the relationship between Hangman Page and FTR. Omega said although Page was fooled by FTR, he’d get over it and they would retain the titles.
In response, FTR came to the ring with Tully Blanchard in tow and what must be their 19th beer cooler at this point. They offered to have a toast, offering chocolate milk to Omega, to a great contest between the teams.
Omega responded he didn’t want to spend any more time with a pair of “d*ckhead rednecks” and made a jab at Blanchard’s age by claiming he was incontinent.
The stage has been set for this Saturday at #AllOut ? Don't miss out #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/VgDM1LilVg
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) September 3, 2020
A red-eyed Hangman Page came down to the ring as FTR goaded Page into explaining to Omega why he betrayed the Young Bucks claiming it was down to his insecurities of facing them again.
Page picked up the tag belts and motioned to offer Omega’s belt to him but a camera reveal showed Omega had retreated to the outside, disgusted with Page and walking out back alone.
This was a great little sequence and adds stock to the heel Elite becoming a reality. The relationship between Omega and Page breaking down has had many great nuances and this was another stand out example of that.
Chris Jericho w/ Jake Hager vs Joey Janela
Earlier in the night, Jericho had sent Hager to request Cassidy be at ringside for his match, which be obliged in doing with a mysterious rucksack with him.
Jericho made a brutal assault against Janela, making an example of him in front of Cassidy whilst wearing his merchandise.
A countering Codebreaker from a diving attempt from Janela knocked the Bad Boy out cold as Jericho put on the Walls of Jericho and Janela had to concede.
.@IAmJericho is sending a strong message to @orangecassidy for #AllOut this Saturday #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/nxhHEhHIki
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) September 3, 2020
Jericho kept the beating up, exposing the turnbuckle and blasting Janela’s head against it. Cassidy tried to aid the bloodied Janela, but Hager stopped him. Sonny Kiss came to the ring too to try and help but got taken out by Hager too.
Luckily, Kiss’ distraction was enough to allow Cassidy to get the upper hand, dumping Hager out of the ring and hitting a DDT onto Jericho.
As Jericho and Hager retreated, Cassidy pulled a little bit of the bubbly from his rucksack and poured in on the ground whilst giving it the thumbs down.
A fine segment to make Jericho and Cassidy look strong that’s just buying time until the madness that will be Mimosa Mayhem. Not much else to say here.
The Casino Battle Royale opponents’ brawl
Team Taz came to the ring promising one of his team would win and it certainly wouldn’t be Darby Allin or Lance Archer. Jake Roberts and Lance Archer came out to dispute this as Roberts had the quote of the night saying Team Taz wasn’t going to “bust a nut” while Archer was in the ring.
Here we go!
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama or https://t.co/GdI7QAsxEP for our International fans. #AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/d4RNsNcDhj— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) September 3, 2020
In response, Eddie Kingston and his crew came out as Kingston proclaimed Archer wasn’t as tough as him before more competitors from the match came to the ring and a big brawl ensued heading into the break.
Some fun lines in here from Roberts and Kingston but this segment felt unnecessary and could have been utilised more effectively to get another match over.
Thunder Rosa vs Serena Deeb
Deeb got a huge amount of offence early on and even keeping control of the match heading into the break. Coming back, Rosa was in control as she hit a basement dropkick for a close two count but nearly got rolled up almost immediately after.
Rosa hit a Death Valley driver counter from an attempted manoeuvre from Deebs followed by a hefty German suplex and high knee combo. The Thunder Driver from Rosa finished the match.
Should @hikarushida be worried about taking on @thunderrosa22 this Saturday? #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/P8KDKRnn39
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) September 3, 2020
The booking of this match absolutely infuriated me. AEW has had months to feature competitive women’s matches on TV and they decide to do one at the one time you don’t want to do that.
Thunder Rosa is alien to the AEW audience and is essentially struggling to overcome another unknown in Serena Deeb. This is not the way to make the AEW Women’s Championship challenger that has barely featured on AEW television seem like a threat. Fitting in a definitive squash for Rosa and allowing Shida to have a tune-up match on this show could have been done in the equivalent amount of time or taken the place of the frankly perfunctory Casino Battle Royale squabble.
If Rosa and Shida don’t get the time they deserve at All Out, I think me and a lot of fans are going to be very angry.
Big Swole gets a pizza
Tony Schiavone interviewed Big Swole about her Tooth and Nail match with Britt Baker, before a mysterious pizza delivery woman appeared, wearing her mask under her nose. The poorly disguised Reba was just a distraction as Baker took out Swole with a crutch. Baker locked the Lockjaw onto Swole and mushed pizza all over her.
"HOLY PEPPERONI" – @JRsBBQ
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama or https://t.co/GdI7QAsxEP for our International fans. #AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/EuafuDa5CB— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) September 3, 2020
Good to see Baker able to compete again but it’s a shame the match between her and Swole has been relegated to the Buy In when the zero-storyline Young Bucks vs Jurassic Express match could have easily taken that slot.
Jon Moxley vs MJF’s Lawyer Mark Sterling
There was a diamond line from the returning Excalibur as he said on commentary “Jon Moxley with his 16 years of in-ring experience, Mark Sterling began training at professional wrestling last Friday.” I’ve missed you, buddy.
Moxley made short work of Sterling, seeming to not fully enjoy picking the poor guy apart but a poke in the eye from Sterling was enough for him to lose his sense of remorse.
Honestly, this lasted longer than we expected #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/DxsC3zmt2z
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) September 3, 2020
Moxley tossed Sterling around the outside of the ring, gave him a poke in the eye back before planting him with the Paradigm Shift.
Wardlow attacked Moxley after the end of the match hitting him with two F-10s. MJF came to the ring revealing he had no need for his Zimmer frame or neck brace (shocker) and brutally beat down Moxley. He beat Moxley bloody, punching and biting him. MJF sprayed with Moxley’s blood closed out the show.
.@The_MJF just beating @JonMoxley down before All Out this Saturday!
Rewatch #AEWDynamite via the @tntdrama app or https://t.co/GdI7QAsxEP for our International fans. #AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/fqTq5zg7wh
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) September 3, 2020
This was a silly little match but the brutal beatdown afterwards at least added some brutality to the feud. These two should have a good match but the build for their confrontation has been a bit of an up and down journey.
There were some frustrating booking decisions here tonight despite good wrestling all night and the great Page and Omega nuances. It somewhat dampened my excitement for All Out which is the opposite to what a go-home show is intended to do. I’m hopeful that All Out will blow us away and the strange booking choices tonight are just a blip on the way to the big blowout.
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