This week’s Dynamite featured a stacked card with a genuine dream match as the main event as Samoa Joe looked to become ROH World TV Champion by defeating Minoru Suzuki. Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus defended the AEW World Tag Team titles against reDRagon, Shawn Dean faced MJF, Jericho Appreciation Society aimed to put an end to Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz, Marina Shafir made her debut on the show, and Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks squared off against Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland. First up, CM Punk and Penta Oscuro went one-on-one.

Quick Results

CM Punk defeated Penta Oscuro via pinfall. ***

Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus defeated reDRagon via pinfall. ***½

Shawn Dean defeated MJF via count-out. **

Jericho Appreciation Society defeated Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz via pinfall. ***

Marina Shafir defeated Skye Blue via submission. **½

Powerhouse Hobbs & Ricky Starks defeated Swerve Strickland & Keith Lee via pinfall. ***½

Samoa Joe defeated Minoru Suzuki via pinfall. ****

The Matches

CM Punk vs Penta Oscuro W/ Alex Abrahantes

Once again, CM Punk opened up the show with a match against Penta Oscuro. Throughout the match, it felt as though Punk struggled to keep up with Penta. He looked gassed, especially towards the end, but Penta managed to lead the fight and make it a relatively decent one. Penta countered an early GTS attempt with an ankle lock and hit a couple of sling blades for good measure. Punk landed a Tope Suicida and locked in a modified bow and arrow. As Punk stood on the turnbuckle, Penta hit a step-up Enzuigiri and climbed up to him. In an uncomfortable moment, Punk botched a potential big move and fell off the turnbuckle, clutching his left knee. Shortly afterwards, Punk recovered and hit a hurricanrana and a rising knee strike. He went for another GTS but his knee caved in, so he locked in Anaconda Vice to which Penta got a rope break. Punk managed to pick up the win after catching Penta who springboarded off the second rope and hit GTS.

AEW World Tag Team Championship Match: reDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) vs Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus (C) W/ Christian Cage

This one was a great meeting of the minds, as both teams had some strong spots throughout. I honestly thought Adam Cole might come out and cost Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus, but I’m glad it was a relatively fair fight from start to finish. It was an explosive start from Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus until Bobby Fish hit a dragon screw on Luchasaurus into the guard rail. Although Jungle Boy connected with a Tope Suicida on both members of reDRagon, O’Reilly and Fish were able to control the pace of the match by working well together against Jungle Boy. Luchasaurus managed to tag in and hit reDRagon with double clotheslines and chokeslams. The champs connected with an elbow drop off the turnbuckle and sidewalk slam combo on Fish, getting a two-count in the process. reDRagon got back into it with some creative double teamwork. O’Reilly locked in a hanging front chancery on Luchasaurus as Fish hit an avalanche Falcon Arrow on Jungle Boy for another two-count. Luchasaurus launched Fish over his head into a powerbomb by Jungle Boy so the champions could retain the titles. Afterwards, FTR walked out and squared up to reDRagon. It looks as though Harwood and Wheeler want the AEW titles to add to their collection, so we’ll see how it plays out.

MJF W/ Shawn Spears vs “Captain” Shawn Dean

In a company where wins and losses are everything, I can’t believe they gave MJF another loss to Shawn Dean. Although it was by count-out, it was still a loss, and he didn’t look happy about it. Of course, it was all Wardlow’s fault, and I’m loving how this storyline is progressing. As the match began, MJF pretended he couldn’t get his jacket off, but it was all a rouse so that he could hit Dean with a cheap shot. The match never really got going as Wardlow appeared behind MJF at ringside. He went after him, but security got involved again. There were at least twenty of them holding back Wardlow, but they blocked off the path for MJF to get back in the ring. He tried to bribe the ref into not counting him out, but Bryce Remsburg made the count anyway. MJF headed to the ring and tried to intimidate Bryce, but he pushed MJF away. Backstage, Wardlow attacked security and grabbed the camera, telling MJF he wasn’t going to stop until he released him from his contract.

Jericho Appreciation Society (Chris Jericho, Danny Garcia, & Jake Hager) vs Eddie Kingston, Santana, & Ortiz

It feels as though this feud isn’t really going anywhere, especially as Kingston, Santa, and Ortiz picked up another loss. They need another couple of guys to help them out against Jericho and his cronies, so I’m still expecting The Lucha Brothers to join the fray. As for the match itself, it wasn’t a bad one, but it didn’t really do much to elevate the bad blood between them. Much of the match saw Kingston get frustrated by not getting to tag in as JAS worked down Ortiz. Jericho missed a Lionsault which allowed Ortiz to tag in Kingston who beat the crap out of all three guys. Santana connected with the Three Amigos on Garcia and a frog splash but only picked up a two-count. Kingston hit Hager with a Tope Suicida and Ortiz landed on Parker and Menard with a Tope Con Hilo after the two ran out from the back. Kingston landed an exploder suplex on Garcia, but Jericho hit him in the back with something which allowed JAS to pick up the win. Afterwards, the entirety of Jericho Appreciation Society beat down Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz.

Marina Shafir vs Skye Blue

We’ve not seen a squash match on Dynamite for a while, but it made sense because Shafir is incredible. Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling were backstage watching the match, but Cargill didn’t seem interested at all. Kiera Hogan and Red Velvet were shown sitting in the Baddie Section, which seemed a bit odd. As for the match, Shafir locked in a bear hug and then threw Blue into the mat. She hit a palm strike into the stomach of Blue, then locked in a triangle sleeper for the win.

Powerhouse Hobbs & Ricky Starks vs Swerve Strickland & Keith Lee

I really enjoyed this match. All four guys were strong throughout, and it was good to see Starks pick up the win for Team Taz despite the way it ended. Hobbs hit a fallaway slam on Strickland, and Starks strutted along the top rope before delivering an elbow strike Undertaker-style. Lee tagged in and delivered a monstrous double palm strike on Starks’ chest as Strickland trapped his arms. In the best moment of the match, Strickland jumped off Lee’s chest to land a moonsault onto Hobbs and Starks who were at ringside. After Strickland got worn down by Hobbs and Starks, Lee tagged in and headbutted Starks, then leapfrogged over Hobbs who accidentally speared his teammate. Starks was able to hit a spear and a flipping DDT on Strickland. Taz walked out as Starks speared Lee and went for a pin, but Strickland broke it up by landing a 450 splash. As Keith Lee ran at the ropes, Taz grabbed his foot which allowed Hobbs to connect with a spinebuster for the three-count.

ROH World Television Championship Match: Samoa Joe vs Minoru Suzuki (C)

I’ve seen Suzuki slap the hell out of a lot of wrestler’s chests over the years, but this one was one of the worst. The entire match was everything I wanted it to be, and as much as I’m happy for Joe, the ending kind of ruined it for me. Suzuki and Joe traded so many palm strikes and forearms I lost count. Joe’s chest was severely bruised as Suzuki slapped it continuously. Suzuki locked in his signature armbar over the ropes, but Joe got out of it. They continued to beat each other up at ringside before getting back in the squared circle for more chop trading. Suzuki worked on Joe’s arm before Joe hit multiple headbutts and a powerbomb for a two-count. Joe locked in an STF and a crossface, but Suzuki wouldn’t tap. Suzuki got ready to deliver his Gotch-style piledriver but decided to deliver more punishment. The Murder Grandpa locked in a sleeper and went for the Gotch-style piledriver, but Joe got out and hit the Muscle Buster to become the new ROH World TV Champion. After the match, Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt started trash-talking the champ. The lights went out and when they came back on, Satnam Singh appeared behind Joe. Singh, Dutt, and Lethal beat down Joe in the ring which ended with Lethal hitting Lethal Injection. Honestly, this made no sense whatsoever. After such a good match, why ruin it by introducing a heel that nobody really knows who he is. It ruined an otherwise great show and made no sense whatsoever. Tony Kahn needs to work out what to do with Ring of Honor so that AEW can breathe. Unless people watched Supercard of Honor, they’re going to be confused as to why Lethal is now a heel. Also, Suzuki was incredible, and it was disappointing to see him lose the title already.

The Promos

Jericho Appreciation Society were shown arriving on a private jet from earlier in the day. Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz pulled up in a car and hit Matt Menard and Angelo Parker before driving off.

Tony Schiavone was backstage with Blackpool Combat Club. Yuta was wearing the BCC hoodie, so it seems as though he’s now an official member of the team. It was announced they’d be facing Gunn Club on Friday, to which Yuta said it would be when the real work begins.

Jamie Hayter and Toni Storm were with Schiavone. Hayter was trash-talking Storm who didn’t say anything but smiled as she walked off. The two will be meeting in the first round of the women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament.

A promo aired where Darby Allin challenged Andrade El Idolo to a coffin match.

Malakai Black appeared in a promo seemingly aiming it toward Fuego Del Sol. It was a bit odd as the House of Black could turn their attention to anyone. No offence to Del Sol, but it made no sense at all.

Alex Marvez was backstage with MJF, Shawn Spears, and Mark Sterling. MJF was annoyed about the Wardlow situation and said the best way to slaughter a pig was with a butcher. The Butcher walked in and growled at the camera. Really, MJF? That’s the best you can do? The Butcher is going to be the one to get slaughtered.

Lexi Nair was backstage trying to get a word out of Hook when Mark Sterling and Tony Nese walked in. Hook stood up as they walked off, and Danhausen appeared behind him. Hook launched a medicine ball at Danhausen and he fell over. I know some people don’t ‘get’ Danhausen,’ but I love him, and this section made me laugh more than it probably should.

Dan Lambert, Ethan Page, and Scorpio Sky were backstage cutting a promo on Sammy Guevara and Tay Conti. Lambert said they were the most obnoxious couple in AEW, and I have to agree. Sky talked about his match with Guevara at Battle of the Belts and said the only thing bigger than Texas was his streak. I never thought I’d say this, but I don’t want Guevara to win.

Thunder Rosa was with Schiavone backstage when Nyla Rose and Vickie Guerrero walked out with a cake. Rosa pushed the cake in Rose’s face, but the Native Beast responded with the line of the night. “Jokes on you, I love cake and violence.” She then proceeded to beat down Rosa before walking off.

A hype video for Adam Cole and “Hangman” Adam Page’s match on Rampage aired.

Match of the Night: Samoa Joe vs Minoru Suzuki

Best in Show: Minoru Suzuki

Overall Rating: ****

All pictures and videos courtesy of AEW

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