It was another packed Dynamite this week as we got six big matches. There was a huge 8-man Tornado Tag that saw The Hardys team with Darby Allin and Sting to take on The Butcher and The Blade, and Private Party. Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson were looking to teach Varsity Blonds a lesson, Leyla Hirsch fought Red Velvet, and the Jericho Appreciation Society took to the ring for the first time against Jon Silver and Alex Reynolds. Adam Cole and Jay Lethal fought for dominance, MJF had some words for Wardlow, tension continued to grow within the ranks of Best Friends, and more. First up, CM Punk fought Dax Harwood.

Quick Results

CM Punk defeated Dax Harwood via submission. ***½

Darby Allin, Sting, and The Hardys defeated Private Party and The Butcher & The Blade via pinfall. ****

Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson defeated Varsity Blonds via submission. ***½

Adam Cole defeated Jay Lethal via pinfall. ****

Leyla Hirsch defeated Red Velvet via pinfall. ***½

Chris Jericho and Danny Garcia defeated Jon Silver and Alex Reynolds via pinfall. ***½

The Matches

CM Punk vs Dax Harwood

The night started off with the return of CM Punk after his war with MJF at Revolution. It was a decent match, as both guys had some strong moments throughout. Dax started off with some big chops to Punk but got caught by a powerslam and an arm lock. He managed to resume his aggressive assault with a knee to the stomach of a running Punk, followed by a backbreaker and a back body drop. The Gunn Club were shown at ringside taunting Dax. He missed a diving headbutt on Punk but managed to connect with another following a huge superplex. Both guys tumbled over the ropes after Punk suplexed Dax, but he refused to let go. Back in the ring, Punk landed a diving crossbody and locked in the Anaconda Vice, but Dax escaped. Punk attempted a rising knee strike, but Dax countered with a slingshot powerbomb. After hitting a rising knee strike, Punk went for GTS, but Dax reversed into a sharpshooter (Bret reference number one). Punk was able to reverse into an Anaconda Vice to make Dax tap out. As Punk celebrated the win, he gestured for a belt around his waist.

8 Man Tornado Tag Match: Sting, Darby Allin, & The Hardys (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) vs Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Mark Quen), The Butcher, & The Blade W/ Andrade El Idolo & Jose

As expected, this was utter carnage from start to finish. There were loads of big spots, but the moment of the match came from Jeff Hardy who is still willing to put his body on the line for a pop. Allin was first to attack as he flew through the ropes like a bullet and took out The Butcher, as Sting dived at the other three. Everyone started to brawl in and around the ring. Sting hit a Stinger Splash onto Kassidy who was leaning on the guard rail. Allin fought The Butcher into the crowds as Jeff Hardy did the same with The Blade. They fought towards a stairwell up in the rafters. Andrade made his way up and smacked Allin in the back with his belt. The Butcher then whipped Allin’s body into the railings, then threw him down the stairs. Back in the ring, Quen hit Matt with a trash can as he was about to land the Twist of Fate on Kassidy. The camera cut to the concourse area where Jeff and Sting were fighting The Butcher and The Blade. Matt was fighting Private Party on the top ramp, where Quen and Kassidy were able to hit a double Twist of Fate off it and into some tables. Back at the concourse, Jeff Hardy climbed up a huge ladder onto a high platform, then hit a Swanton Bomb on The Butcher and The Blade through two tables. I’m surprised he’s alive after that. Sting headed back to the ring to help Matt even the odds against Private Party. He hit Stinger Splashes on Quen and Kassidy. He missed another on Quen, which allowed Private Party to attempt Gin and Juice, however, Sting countered with a Dragon Sleeper. Matt hit a Twist of Fate on Quen as Sting planted Kassidy with a Scorpion Death Drop to pick up the win. Another fun match, but I am concerned about Jeff. I get he’s earned a reputation for being a daredevil over the years, but he’s 44-year old and needs to take care of himself.

Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson vs Varsity Blonds (Brian Pillman Jr & Griff Garrison) W/ Julia Hart

Once again, Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson showed just why they are two of the best in the business. Despite some impressive offence from Varsity Blonds, they just couldn’t match the intensity of Mox and Danielson. Julia Hart was sat on the steel steps throughout, looking uninterested and concerned about something. Are we finally going to see her ditch the Blonds in favour of the House of Black? As for the match, Danielson and Mox were in charge of most of it. Danielson landed a diving knee drop onto Garrison. Pillman tagged in and connected with a corner clothesline and a Jackknife Powerbomb. Mox delivered a King Kong Lariat as Danielson hit a release German suplex on Pillman. Varsity Blonds got in some more offence on Mox, until Danielson hit a Busaiku Knee on Garrison. Mox hit the Paradigm Shift on Pillman, followed by a rear-naked choke to make Garrison tap out. After the match, Mox grabbed a mic and said he was a very lucky man to compete with the best and also learn from the best. He said the only advice he ever cared about was from “his lordship” William Regal, and that a seal of approval from him is a badge of honour. Mox said they were forged in combat, referring to his team as the Blackpool Combat Club. Oh, nice. A reference to where Regal made his name.

Adam Cole vs Jay Lethal

This was a superb fight from start to finish. Both guys were intense, showing off just how skilled they are in the squared circle. Lethal was able to hit a backbreaker and faceplant combo. He missed an Enzuigiri on Cole who was standing on the apron. Cole was arrogant, so Lethal dropkicked him off to the outside. He then hit three Tope Suicidas in a row. reDRagon came out and stood on the apron to distract Lethal, allowing Cole to connect with a pump kick. He threw Lethal into the steel steps, then landed a neckbreaker in the ring. They traded strikes until Lethal got the upper hand. He went for a couple of figure fours, but Cole tried to roll him up twice. Lethal was finally able to lock in a figure four, but Bobby Fish got on the apron. Cole took advantage to hit a superkick, but he missed the Boom as Lethal hit a cutter. He went for Lethal Injection, but Cole superkicked him. Cole connected with Panama Sunrise, but Lethal kicked out. reDRagon got up on the apron again as Cole low-blowed Lethal, then hit the Boom to pick up the win. After the match, Cole grabbed a mic and said nobody deserved to be AEW World Champion more than he did. Hangman caught lightning in a bottle at Revolution, and he would shove it up his ass. He called Hangman a coward, but the champ came out and attacked all three guys with the belt off his trousers. reDRagon and Cole were able to beat Hangman down until Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus made the save.

Leyla Hirsch vs Red Velvet

This match was further proof we need more than one women’s match on Dynamite every week. Although Hirsch won, Red Velvet was exceptional throughout. She launched Hirsch into the guard rail, then connected with a hurricanrana off the steel steps. The match finally started as Red Velvet hit a standing moonsault. Hirsch dropped Velvet with two gutwrench suplexes, then hit a double knee and double boot into Velvet as she lay against the bottom turnbuckle. Red Velvet fought back with a jawbreaker, double knees into the back, and a spinning heel kick. She dropped Hirsch with an iconoclasm off the top turnbuckle for a two-count, then hit her with a corkscrew kick. Hirsch grabbed a spare turnbuckle from under the rope, but the ref took it off her. As he tossed it outside, she pulled another from her trunks and hit Velvet with it to pick up the win. Kris Statlander came out from the back and attacked Hirsch. I was gutted for Red Velvet. She was by far the better fighter, but once again, Hirsch decided to cheat with that damn turnbuckle part.

The Dark Order (Jon Silver & Alex Reynolds) W/ Preston Vance & Alan Angels vs The Jericho Appreciation Society (Chris Jericho & Danny Garcia) W/ Mike Menard, Angelo Parker, & Jake Hager

Silver exploded as the bell rang and hit a flurry of punches and a flying European uppercut. They connected with a double basement dropkick on Jericho, but he rolled out the ring. Silver and Reynolds hit a brainbuster and Tope Suicida combo on Jericho that looked awesome. Back in the ring, Garcia stomped Reynolds. Jericho threw Reynolds outside and distracted the ref, allowing the JAS to attack him at ringside. Reynolds fought back in the ring, countering Jericho in mid-air with a dropkick. Jericho missed a Lionsault as Reynolds tagged in Silver. Silver took out Jericho and Garcia, then went outside and steamrolled every member of JAS. He hit a diving crossbody on Jericho, but only got a two-count. Jericho then hit a Codebreaker, only getting a two-count himself. Dark Order showed off some phenomenal teamwork, ending it with a cutter to German suplex pin attempt. Silver went for a Tope Suicida on Hager, but he caught him and slammed him to the floor. Jericho hit Reynolds with his baseball bat as Garcia locked in a Scorpion Death Lock to make him tap out. A valiant effort by The Dark Order, but Jericho’s new faction came out with the win.

The Promos

The Jericho Appreciation Society were backstage talking about their match later on tonight with Jon Silver and Alex Reynolds. Jericho poked fun at the photo Silver shared of him meeting Jericho when he was a kid. He told Dark Order he’d be taking them to school, but it wouldn’t be pretty. Danny Garcia made some comments about them being sports entertainers, but I gave up listening. I really don’t like this angle. Garcia is one of the best up and coming wrestlers, and it makes no sense why he’s entertaining this stupid faction.

Tony Schiavone was interviewing FTR backstage. Wheeler said that despite losing, Dax Harwood wrestles with “heart” (Bret Hart reference number two). He said the Ass Boys were still babies in this business. Dax continued by saying FTR are the absolute best in the business, and they’d see Colten and Austin Gunn next week on Dynamite.

MJF hit the ring with Shawn Spears as security guards stood between the ring and the ramp. MJF grabbed a mic and said it was a shame Wardlow couldn’t get the job done against Scorpio Sky. He turned his attention to CM Punk and said he didn’t know where or when, but there would be another match. It wouldn’t be over until he attends Punk’s funeral and pisses on his grave. MJF returned to his feelings on Wardlow. He said he was going to start calling him a pig. He said he made Wardlow and it was because of him that Wardlow got his opportunity in AEW. MJF said Wardlow signed a deal with the devil, and that deal is ironclad. He was going to make his life a living hell, and strap him to a cross just like Jesus. Wow, MJF. He is not afraid to speak his mind and take the risk of offending the masses. Wardlow walked out but was restrained by security. As he was being held back, MJF said Wardlow didn’t work for AEW, he worked for him. He would still pay Wardlow, but it would be to stay at home. “Have fun in the mud, pig,” said MJF. Before the segment ended, MJF acknowledged The Pinnacle weren’t over, contrary to popular belief. Spears agreed, saying, “when you’re in The Pinnacle, you’re always on top.” Another solid promo by MJF. This is only the beginning of his feud with Wardlow, and I’ll be excited to see the Wardog thrive throughout.

Best Friends were backstage with Tony Schiavone. Trent Beretta was annoyed with Wheeler Yuta’s actions from last week. He said he never liked Yuta, and that he was done with him. Yuta said he wasn’t trying to be a best friend, he was trying to be the best wrestler he could be. Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor just stood there looking uncomfortable with what just went down.

A promo aired to hype Dustin Rhodes vs Lance Archer this Friday on Rampage.

Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti were stood in the ring with Tony Schiavone. Guevara talked about how he always gives it his all, regardless of being the TNT Champion or not. He said despite people telling him he can’t do the high spots forever and the bumps will catch up with him, it was worth it. Tay Conti talked about Paige Van Zant. She said Paige would get her ass kicked just like she had throughout her MMA career. Dan Lambert, Ethan Page, and Scorpio Sky walked out. Lambert slated Austin, Texas, then said they could pay $9.99 to check out Van Zant’s Only Fans page to see why Orange Cassidy keeps his hands in his pockets all the time. Page and Sky walked off after Lambert talked about how Sky was undefeated in over a year. Guevara talked about living rent-free in Lambert’s head since he arrived in AEW, then said if only Lambert knew what he and Conti did with that belt, he’d know they lived in his mouth now. I love Guevara, but I’m not keen on his relationship with Conti being so forced on us. OK, we get you, guys have sex, but it just comes across as unnecessary and crude. It doesn’t help that I’m not a big fan of Conti, either.

A promo aired featuring Swerve and Ricky Starks talking about their upcoming match on Rampage.

Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling were backstage with Tony Schiavone. He asked them who would be the next challenger for the TBS Championship, but Cargill talked about what her celebration should feature instead.

Thunder Rosa walked out to meet Schiavone on the ramp. He congratulated her, but as she began to speak, we heard those horrendous words from Vicky Guerrero’s mouth. “Excuse me,” Guerrero said, as she talked about how Rosa wasn’t a true Texan. Nyla Rose came out and attacked Rosa from behind. Yes please, Tony. I’ll take this match any day of the week.

Match of the Night: Adam Cole vs Jay Lethal

Best in Show: Red Velvet

Overall Rating: ***½

All pictures and videos courtesy of AEW

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