This week’s Dynamite saw a huge main event for the TNT Championship as Sammy Guevara defended the belts against Darby Allin. The Inner Circle continued to implode as Santana and Ortiz faced Chris Jericho and Jake Hager. Mercedes Martinez looked to destroy Thunder Rosa in a No Disqualification match, Bryan Danielson was hoping to teach Lee Moriarty a lesson in violence, Wardlow and Max Caster fought for a spot in the Face of the Revolution match, and Adam Cole had some choice words for the World Champion, “Hangman” Adam Page. First off, CM Punk chose the date and stipulation for his rematch with MJF.

Quick Results

Bryan Danielson defeated Lee Moriarty via submission. ***

Wardlow defeated Max Caster via pinfall. **½

Santana & Ortiz defeated Chris Jericho & Jake Hager via pinfall. ***

Thunder Rosa defeated Mercedes Martinez via pinfall. ***½

Sammy Guevara defeated Darby Allin via pinfall. ****

The Matches

Bryan Danielson vs Lee Moriarty W/ Matt Sydal

The shift in AEW with older and more experienced talent shining a light on the younger guys has been so refreshing. Although he’s playing the heel, Danielson is doing a great service to professional wrestling, and he showed it in his match with Moriarty. Danielson spent a lot of the match controlling Moriarty with signature kicks and strikes, deploying some devastating European uppercuts in the process. He put Moriarty in the LeBell Lock, to which he got to the ropes and then unloaded a strong offence, ending it with a belly to belly suplex. He locked in the Border City Stretch, but Danielson was able to break free and drop him with a shoulder capture suplex. Following a Busaiku Knee, Danielson locked in a triangle sleeper and got the win. Moriarty put on a great display, and although Danielson won, he showed just how capable he is within the ropes. After the match, Danielson called out Jon Moxley. Mox entered the ring and talked about how he was once like Moriarty, and how he’d faced Danielson early in his career a decade ago in Ohio. He said he’d never beaten Danielson in any of the promotions they’d met. When Danielson turned up in AEW, Mox saw how everyone was frightened, but he saw an opportunity to slay the dragon. Mox theorised that Danielson wanted to stand by his side rather than stand across the ring from him. He asked him whether he did indeed want to face Mox. As Moxley finished his promo, he said he doesn’t stand side by side by anyone until he bleeds with them first. Chills, Mox. We all know Dean Ambrose and Daniel Bryan, but this is much different. They are their truest selves in AEW, and a match at Revolution could be near incredible.

Face of the Revolution Qualifying Match: Wardlow W/ Shawn Spears vs Max Caster W/ Anthony Bowens

Seeing Wardlow in some better matches against the likes of The Blade and Caster as of late have been much more enjoyable. Yeah, he’s going to crush them, but at least there’s been somewhat of a challenge. Caster was able to use his heel status to send Wardlow into the steel steps, and after Bowens gave Caster his chain to smash Wardlow’s head when the referee wasn’t looking (due to Shawn Spears interfering, nonetheless), Wardlow hit three powerbombs to pick up the win. Afterwards, Bowens attacked Wardlow, but he dropped him with a powerbomb. Spears ran in and hit them with a chair, to which Wardlow looked annoyed. Wardlow in a match with Keith Lee is super exciting. Revolution is shaping up nicely.

Chris Jericho & Jake Hager vs Santana & Ortiz

It’s pretty clear that Inner Circle is done now, and this match only cemented their demise. Before the match got underway, Eddie Kingston came out to stand in Santana and Ortiz’s corner. Chris Jericho and Jake Hager both looked in great shape, but Santana and Ortiz were ace tonight. Jericho hit a dropkick and a back suplex on Ortiz, then landed 10 corner lariats. Santana came in and unloaded on Hager, then hit a Russian leg sweep on Jericho who was being held on the ropes by Ortiz. Ortiz landed a cannonball on Hager to the outside. Proud & Powerful then connected with Street Sweeper on Jericho, but he kicked out at two. Santana ran at Jericho in the corner and hit a cannonball after jumping on Ortiz’s back, but Jericho caught him and put him in the Liontamer. Santana eventually grabbed the ropes as Jericho delivered a dropkick to Kingston who got on the apron. Ortiz distracted Jericho as Santana hit a discus lariat to pick up the victory. After the match, Jericho hunted down Kingston as the two fought at ringside. Fingers crossed we get Santana and Ortiz back in the tag team title picture, and Jericho takes on Kingston at Revolution. The mic work we’ll get over the next few weeks will be fantastic, as both guys can kill it in their promos.

No Disqualification Match: Mercedes Martinez vs Thunder Rosa

Both women put on one hell of a show, and it made me happy. I’ve never been a huge fan of Martinez, but she was great tonight. Thunder Rosa launched Martinez through the barrier, then hit a cross body off the railings on the nearby stairs. They headed back to the ring and Martinez struck Rosa with a steel chair. She threw loads more chairs into the ring. Martinez hit a fishermen buster off the apron onto a table Rosa had set up, but it didn’t break. Back in the ring, Rosa landed a hurricanrana, placed a trash can on Martinez’s body, then smashed her with a thumping dropkick. Martinez hit a devastating Spider German Suplex off the turnbuckle, then followed up with an elbow drop. Rosa kicked out and landed a Crucifix Bomb. She picked up the victory after dropping Martinez with a Thunder Bomb onto a pile of chairs. Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, and Rebel walked out as Martinez and Rosa were about to shake hands. They attacked Rosa after Michael Kove from Cobra Kai was at ringside who told Baker to “finish her.” Baker handed the metal pipe to Martinez who so far had abstained from attacking Rosa post-match. As Martinez stood over Rosa, Hayter attacked her from behind.

TNT Championship Match: Darby Allin W/ Sting vs Sammy Guevara (C)

It was inevitable we were going to get professional wrestling gold here, and these guys didn’t disappoint. Guevara looks so smooth in the ring and has improved drastically over the last year. He’s also made the TNT Championship an important belt in AEW. Guevara was strong in the early stages, dropping Allin with a buckle bomb that sent him crashing to the outside. He landed a senton on Allin who was balancing on the ropes, then hit some knife-edge chops in the corner. Allin ended up reversing an Irish whip and nailed a couple of Coffin Splashes. With Guevara in the Tree of Woe, Allin wrenched at Guevara’s knee. Guevara fought back to land a Spanish Fly off the top turnbuckle. Allin locked him in a Figure-Four. He hit a Stunner on Guevara, and as he went for a Tope Suicida, The Spanish God countered with a cutter. Guevara went for a senton off the top turnbuckle onto Allin who lay on the apron, but he moved out of the way. Jose and Andrade El Idolo interfered, with Andrade smashing Allin with the tablet. Guevara connected with GTH to pick up the win. After the match, Matt Hardy ran out and attacked Allin. Guevara ran in as Andrade hit him to the mat. Andrade held up the TNT Championship belts. Sting chased him out as Andrade and Hardy stood on the ramp and looked on.

The Promos

The show kicked off with CM Punk sitting in a very familiar position. Sat on the mat with his legs crossed, he talked about inspiring fans and wrestlers with his Straight Edge philosophy. Punk turned his attention to MJF and brought up how he keeps referring to Piper in Portland, Bret in Canada, and Punk in Chicago, but he’s “shitty little Max from shitty little Long Island.” Would Punk pick a cage match? He said he’s won more of them than he’s lost. He brought up Piper in Portland again and reached into a box that was in front of him. He pulled out a dog collar and asked if MJF would be his Valentine, referring to the infamous match between Roddy Piper and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine’s Dog Collar match at Starrcade ’83. CM Punk then called MJF out and once he appeared on the ramp told him to look at this picture closely. Punk had the popular picture where a young Maxwell Jacob Freeman was getting Punk’s autograph. He said the price MJF paid for this autograph would be nothing compared to the price he’ll pay when the two meet at Revolution. MJF held the mic to his mouth, then threw it to the ground and walked off. A top segment made better by MJF’s terrified walk off. If they really want to make this match as brutal as Piper and Valentine’s, I’m all for it. Their match at Revolution will be the culmination of a fantastic feud. The road to Revolution is well on its way.

Keith Lee was featured in a video where he talked about making the TNT Championship his regardless of who he has to face.

Tony Schiavone was backstage with Britt Baker, Mercedes Martinez, Jamie Hayter, and Rebel. Baker talked about Martinez putting an end to Thunder Rosa. Martin Kove from Cobra Kai walked in as Martinez said it was time to “murder a bitch.” Baker then asked Kove what she should do, to which he said she should “end her.” It was random seeing John Kreese turn up, but pretty damn cool.

Tony Schiavone introduced “Hangman” Adam Page to the ring. The champ had only just started to talk when Adam Cole interrupted him. Cole came out and said Hangman had the right to call himself a champ after his recent victories. Cole said he had been champ everywhere he’s been. Page said it must eat him up knowing the AEW World Championship would be the only belt he’d never get. Cole talked about Page being without any of his friends, saying The Young Bucks hadn’t mentioned him in weeks, and the Dark Order have been nowhere near him in months. Page retaliated by saying Cole stabs his friends in the back. Cole said they’ve been friends for a decade, and regardless of where they’ve been, Page was always known as “the other Adam.” Page rolled up his sleeves and laid his belt on the mat. Cole told him to calm down and said he only had some love for Adam Page. After shaking hands, Cole walked away only for reDRagon to attack Page from behind. Cole got back in the ring and they beat him down. Dark Order ran out as security followed. As Cole and reDRagon were on the ramp, Dark Order’s ’10’ beat down the security. A strong segment that made Cole and Page’s inevitable match at Revolution one to watch.

Later in the night, Adam Cole and reDRagon were backstage with The Young Bucks. O’Reilly asked where they were earlier. Matt said at this point, beating down Hangman would be like flogging a dead horse. The tag teams argued about who would win the tag team battle royal to go on to face Jurassic Express in the triple threat match for the Tag Team Championships at Revolution. Cole talked about beating Preston Vance on Rampage and Jay White defeating Trent. The two tag teams walked off, leaving Cole to choose which team to go with. They are definitely laying the groundwork for a split between The Young Bucks and Adam Cole, and I am all for it. I’ve got a feeling Adam Cole might end up winning the AEW World Championship, leading to a match with a returning Kenny Omega.

The House of Black cut a promo in a magnificent cinematic segment. Black said violence begets violence, and they were waiting on one more member. My bet is Buddy Murphy will be joining them soon. If that is the case, we are going to get some incredible matches and videos in the coming months. They might even do a switch where Penta Dark is the third member and ends up turning on PAC. Time will tell, I guess.

Jay White cut a promo where he talked about it still being his era, and how the Switchblade would continue to dominate the professional wrestling scene regardless of where he is.

Match of the Night: Sammy Guevara vs Darby Allin

Best in Show: CM Punk

Overall Rating: ***½

All images and videos courtesy of AEW – Very special thanks to Fite TV for the captures

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