The last show before Revolution! Shaq appearing on Dynamite! The Women’s Elimination Tournament Final! A Press Conference! There’s a lot to discuss on this Dynamite, a new layout to this review as well, so let’s get started!

Quick Results:

• Shaq & Jake Cargill defeated Cody Rhodes & Red Velvet when Cargill pinned Velvet.
• Rey Fénix & PAC beat John Skyler & D3 when Fénix pinned Skyler.
• FTR & Tully Blanchard defeated Jurassic Express.
• AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament Finals: Ryo Mizunami pinned Nyla Rose.
• Max Caster pinned Preston Vance.
• Hangman Page & John Silver defeated Matt Hardy & Mark Quen when Page pinned Quen.

The show:

Cody Rhodes & Red Velvet vs. Shaq & Jake Cargill

The match that has been hyped by AEW for weeks through there programming and social media, strangely nothing from Shaq, was finally upon us. However, the mainstream star of this tag team match may have been Shaq but the actual wrestler to focus on was Cargill.

It began with Cody attempting a hammerlock and Shaq swiftly threw him down. Cody connected with a chop and then Shaq did the same. The difference in results was devastating with Cody on the receiving end as Shaq then inflicted a back body drop that showed exactly the size difference between the two. Cargill tagged herself in, meaning Velvet had to tag in as well and immediately the strength of Cargill was on display, an example being when she caught Velvet from the top turnbuckle and connected with a fallaway slam.

From out of nowhere, Cody knocked Shaq off the apron and Austin Gunn, who was watching from the audience, struck him with a chair only for Shaq do dust it off and launch Gunn elsewhere as the rest of the Nightmare Family interjected only to be swatted away like flies. I guess this turned into a no DQ match.

As Cody argued with Cargill on the outside, Velvet leapt from the turnbuckle and connected with two back elbows as she hit the floor. Immediately Cargill returned to the ring herself and locked in a figure four leg lock on Velvet. Realising that Velvet wasn’t going to tap out Cargill when out to the floor and brought out tables from underneath the ring.

The tag was made to both men, and Shaq hit a devastating powerbomb giving a Brodie lee tribute beforehand. However, Cody almost immediately got up afterwards and then slamming Shaq. The tag to Velvet and Cargill was made and both traded punches and kicks until Cargill hit a spine buster, near-fall. Right after that, as Shaq was on the apron above the table, Cody bounced off the ropes and dived at him and both fell onto the tables. Distracted, Velvet hit Cargill with a spear, near-fall. But Cargill wasn’t to be denied a win as she fought back to lift Velvet up and hit a face-buster for the pin.

Commentator Quote: “Look how long and lean she is, my god take a look at that…” – Tony Schiavone as Jade Cargill made her entrance.

My Take: This match was A LOT better than I thought it was going to be, Cargill and Velvet were the wrestlers to focus on and Cargill is definitely someone AEW need to push to the top because based on this performance alone, the sky’s the limit. If Cargill is to be pushed to the moon, Velvet would be the rocket to help her get there, as these two can do more to further each other careers in that ring. Shaq took a lot of bumps in that ring, hell he took a lot more bumps than some UK Wrestlers I’ve seen on the scene and credit it to him. My only criticism’s was Cody barely selling that gorgeous powerbomb and Tony Schiavone sounding way too creepy on Cargill’s entrance.

Rey Fénix & PAC vs. John Skyler & D3

Straight away as soon as the bell rang, PAC tore Skyler apart with kicks while Fénix hit D3 with his running along with the top rope kick. Immediately after PAC hit D3 with a Tope through the ropes. Fénix then planted Skyler on the ground as PAC hit a 450 splash and Fénix hit a package cutter for the win. Seriously it was a match under two minutes.

Commentator Quote: “Put him out his misery will ya!” – Jim Ross

My Take: I can picture the scene, Fénix and PAC walk up to the AEW team, “We haven’t had a squash match in a while”. AEW team, “Well its too late to put you on DARK, so we’ll get you a match under two minutes after Shaq/Cody that cool?”. This match was exactly that. Did nothing for anyone except send the message, Don’t have Fenix and PAC versus non-main eventers. As for John Skyler and D3? They sold better than Cody did.

Press Conference with Chris Jericho and MJF

Jericho and MJF answered questions from Various Wrestling Press and Eric Bischoff regarding Sammy Guverra and the condition of Papa Buck. The AEW Tag Team Champions, The Young Bucks arrived and cut a blistering promo on the Inner Circle duo. A fight then developed and The Bucks were outnumbered until the Good Brothers arrived to help. As Jericho and MJF retreated, The Bucks separately leapt from the ramp and tunnel putting the KO’d Santana and Ortiz through tables.

Promo Quote: “If there was no AEW, Chris you’d probably be jerking the curtain at the performance centre” – Matt Jackson

My take: I’ve listened to Jericho’s Judas theme song as he comes out for the past four weeks, I’ve seen the AEW crowd chant away and I can honestly say, this song is as detestable as Jericho is in the real world. This ‘Press Conference’ was nonsense. When watching this, the only necessary moments to watch was when The Young Bucks came out and that was because it furthered the storyline and something happened. Hopefully, in storyline, they have taken out Ortiz and Santana with the table spot so that way The Bucks have reduced the Inner Circle’s numbers. This was the most animated I’ve seen The Bucks in months and GIVE ME MORE OF THIS! Also, is WWE living rent-free in AEW’s head right now, another WWE reference that wasn’t needed was on this show. 

Promo Video for the Barbed Wire Exploding Deathmatch: A video package for Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley focused on the brutality of the Deathmatch. Incredibly it featured Atsushi Onita, the innovator of the match, cutting a promo on the match itself.

FTR and Tully Blanchard vs. Jurassic Express

Before the match, Blanchard arrived in the ring with his classic robe with the old NWA U.S. title and FTR brought JJ Dillon with them as well.

It was Blanchard starting off with Stunt and he easily overpowered him, then forcing the smaller wrestler to the FTR corner. From there, the match was all FTR until Jungle Boy came in and he showed exactly why he is a must-see talent. The battle raged to the floor and Jungle Boy locked in the submission forcing Harwood to tap, but as it was on the outside so meant nothing.

Dillon then gave his shoe to Dax to use as a weapon to strike Jungle Boy and that he did but it was a near fall. Luchasaurus finally got the hot tag and dismantled everyone else. Showcasing his power, he connected with a German suplex on both FTR members at the same time and as he was distracted, Wheeler spiked him with a DDT at ringside to halt the momentum. Jungle Boy kicked out of several pinning attempts while the action reached its climax.

Suddenly a man dressed as a camera operator struck Luchasaurus with a camera and as he was limp, FTR and Blanchard hit the spike piledriver on Luchasaurus, leaving Blanchard to get the pin.

As the nostalgia trip was in full flow, Arn Anderson arrived on the ramp and displayed the four fingers to Dillon and Blanchard. Then the masked man was shown to be Shawn Spears.

Commentator Quote: “What the hell in the world!” – Jim Ross

My Take: Hey everyone, do you like nostalgia? Do you miss seeing the NWA on Youtube? Well, you got a dose of it right here and you know what, overall I wasn’t complaining. If you liked everything I just mentioned then guess what, this match ticked your boxes. However, was the Spears reveal essential? Was the unveiling of the hooded figure angle done a few weeks ago with KENTA and to a much bigger surprise? Sometimes AEW, keep it simple, Dillon, Blanchard and FTR, they could be the future of the Four Horsemen. 

Tony Schiavone speaks to Paul Wight: Paul Wight came out in a “No More B.S” T-shirt. He discussed how happy he is to be joining AEW, the new AEW Dark: Elevation show and the ‘Biggest Scoop Ever’ he’ll showcase this Sunday at Revolution. AEW is going to sign a Hall of Fame-worthy talent.

Quote: “Raise your hand if you saw this turn coming” – Paul Wight.

My Take: Tune into the PPV to find out who it is? I’m sure TNA did that move. I’m looking forward to seeing Max Moon? Hardcore Holly? Possible Kurt Angle? Joining AEW. I’m sorry but fans saying that Lesnar or CM Punk will be joining AEW is laughable, unless that cheque book got a whole lot bigger. No more B.S T-shirt? Bullshit or Big Show? Another WWE reference again.

Nyla Rose (w/ Vickie Guerrero) vs. Ryo Mizunami – AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament Finals

Both wrestlers tested each other with shoulder blocks and it was Rose who came out on top. The two traded the advantage several times during the course of the match. But it was Rose who was the aggressor, punishing her opponent, choking Mizunami over and over again and with relentless kicks.

Mizunami fought back into the match after Rose missed a senton bomb from the top turnbuckle and threw Rose off the apron with a shoulder block and she fell into the railings. As Rose tried to recover, Mizunami was relentless as she hit a guillotine leg drop on the apron. Rose staggered into the ring as she was almost counted out and was struck again with another guillotine leg drop, this time from the second turnbuckle, near-fall.

Rose wasn’t down yet, hitting a DDT, a suplex from the top turnbuckle and then her signature diving knee for a near-fall. Mizunami wasn’t out and recovered to hit an exploder suplex and then a guillotine leg drop for the win.

After the match AEW Women’s Champion, Hikaru Shida congratulated Ryo Mizunami, only to be met with a slap and she responded by putting Mizunami down, hard.

Commentator Quote: “It doesn’t look too likely but if Mizunami can survive this and win the match, Rose could look back it and say I screwed up by wasting time.” – Jim Ross

My Take: This was it, the conclusion to the AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament Finals and it was a damn good match. The apparent spoilers that had many fans up in arms proved to be wrong and do I think AEW will have a new Women’s Champion on Sunday? Nope, but it will be an excellent match and a fantastic way to showcase Japanese Women’s promotions. If Mizunami is not staying in AEW the sad fact will be the Championship match will not be showcasing the AEW Women’s Division.

Preston Vance vs. Max Caster

An even match from the beginning as they both traded blows before Vance hit a running crossbody for a near fall. He pressed his advantage with the ten right hands in the corner before clotheslining Caster out of the ring.

Caster took control as the action continued outside the ring, but it was short-lived. Vance was on the attack as he hit a spinebuster, then a slingshot spear, near-fall. Caster fought back into the match with an arm drag and hit a brainbuster. The match drew to a close when the official was distracted with Caster and as Vance was leaning on the ropes Jack Evans struck him with the boom box, and Caster covered for the win.

Why Evans? Apparently, he was hired by Matt Hardy to continue Hardy’s promise to destroy all of the Dark Order.

Rap Quote: “I’ll light you up like Lady Gaga’s dog walker” – Max Caster

My Take: It was an okay match, but something was missing, it seemed disconnected. I’m glad we got to see two wrestlers get more time on Dynamite but something was missing.

Hangman Page & John Silver vs. Matt Hardy & Mark Quen

To begin the match Hardy hit a cheap shot on Silver early on, allowing his team to take control. Page and Silver eventually took control and remained in control for the bulk of the match as they beat down Quen.

Hardy was the difference-maker once he got tagged in, he caught Silver on the ropes and connected with a Side Effect on the apron. The duo of Hardy and Quen beat down Silver with frequent tags and had several near falls.

Once Page was tagged in, he was on a roll as he hit the fallaway slam on Quen and a plancha onto Hardy on the floor. As Page returned to the ring, Quen was waiting on Page as he re-entered the ring to strike but was caught with a Death Valley Driver. Throughout the match, Page would demand that Hardy tag in, but nope. Quen capitalised on Page’s distraction and then Hardy tagged in. Page was playing possum and struck with a back suplex before tagging Silver in.

Silver was a force of nature as he destroyed Hardy with a Spear and a brainbuster. Quen then blindsided Page, the distraction allowing Hardy to strike Silver with a back suplex, and Quen pressed the advantage with a missile dropkick.

The conclusion of the match occurred then Page got the hot tag and the duo of himself and Silver worked fantastically together before Page ended the match with the Buckshot Lariat for the win.

After the match, Hardy jumped Page with the microphone and beat him down while cutting a promo at the same time. The ending descended into chaos as all the teams from the Casino Battle Royal arrived into the ring to fight closing the show.

Quote: “This was just a setup and you fell for it” – Matt Hardy.

My Take: Hopefully this feud ends at “Revolution” and Page can move forward into the title picture, We’ve seen Hardy portray many characters and better ones than this, Hardy is coming off as a cheap rip off of Million Dollar Man or even JBL. But, hopefully, he loses on the PPV and Hardy can portray another aspect of this persona. 

The AEW ‘Revolution’ card so far:

• Buy-In: Riho & Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. & Reba
• Miro & Kip Sabian vs. Orange Cassidy & Chuck Taylor
• TNT Championship #1 Contender ‘Face of The Revolution’ Ladder Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Lance Archer vs. Penta El Zero M vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Max Caster vs. ???
• Paul Wight’s major announcement regarding AEW’s next signing
• AEW Women’s World Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Ryo Mizunami
• Big Money Match: Hangman Page vs. Matt Hardy
• Street Fight: Sting & Darby Allin vs. Team Taz (Brian Cage & Ricky Starks)
• Casino Tag Team Battle Royal: Bear Country, Alex Reynolds/John Silver, Evil Uno/Stu Grayson, Santana/Ortiz, The Butcher/The Blade, Private Party, Top Flight, PAC/Rey Fénix.
• AEW Tag Team Championships: Young Bucks (c) vs. Chris Jericho & MJF
• AEW World Championship Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Jon Moxley

Photos – All Elite Wrestling