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Enthusiasm Unknown To Mankind – AEW Dynamite Review (05/05/22)

ByChris White

May 7, 2022 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It was a packed show with two more qualifiers in The Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, as Jeff Hardy fought Bobby Fish, and Rey Fénix battled Dante Martin for the last two spots. Chris Jericho went up against Santana, Wardlow faced MJF’s mystery opponent, and Blackpool Combat Club looked to continue their dominance against The Butcher and The Blade, and Angelico. There was also a confrontation between House of Black and Varsity Blonds, Hangman had some words for CM Punk, and the main event saw Mercedes Martinez and Deonna Purrazzo fight to see who would be the undisputed ROH World Women’s Champion. First up, Jeff Hardy battled Bobby Fish.

Quick Results

Jeff Hardy defeated Bobby Fish via pinfall. ***

Blackpool Combat Club defeated The Butcher & The Blade, and Angelico via submission. ***

Wardlow defeated W. Morrissey via pinfall. ***

Chris Jericho defeated Santana via pinfall. ***½

Rey Fénix defeated Dante Martin via pinfall. ****

Mercedes Martinez defeated Deonna Purrazzo via submission. ***

The Matches

The Owen Hart Tournament Qualifier Match: Jeff Hardy W/ Matt Hardy vs Bobby Fish W/ Kyle O’Reilly

Dynamite kicked off with Jeff Hardy making his singles debut, but it wasn’t the most exciting performance by him. Bobby Fish was impressive every step of the way, and it feels like Jeff is a shell of his former self. He struggled to gain much of an advantage throughout and in my opinion, Fish deserved the win. He was able to hit a couple of dragon screws, with one sending Jeff into the guard rail. Darby Allin and Sting were shown watching from the rafters. While outside, Fish wore Jeff down, then tossed him back in the ring where he drove some forearms into his head, followed by a running knee and a backdrop suplex for a two-count. Jeff was able to hit his signature jawbreaker, a Manhattan drop and a double leg drop to the groin, but as he went for the Swanton, Fish climbed the turnbuckle and dropped him with an avalanche Falcon Arrow. After Jeff kicked out, Fish put him in a leg lock, but Jeff grabbed the ropes. Jeff was able to hit Whisper in the Wind and a Swanton to progress into the Quarter Finals of the tournament. After the match, The Young Bucks walked out and stared down The Hardys, alluding to a potential match in the future.

Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Wheler Yuta, & Jon Moxley) vs The Butcher & The Blade, & Angelico

The match started before the bell as a full-scale brawl broke out. As the action calmed down, Angelico and Danielson started things off. Despite an impressive submission by Angelico, Danielson was able to land some big kicks on Angelico’s chest, followed by a boot in the corner. Yuta was a lot better this week, even though The Butcher hit a low crossbody on him and subsequently worked with The Blade to wear him down. He was able to hit a German suplex on The Butcher and tag in Moxley who went nuts. He drove The Blade into the steel steps and hit him with a cutter, then bit The Butcher on the head. Mox landed a huge lariat on Angelico, followed by a shotgun dropkick by Danielson. All three members of BCC got in the ring and beat the hell out of their opponents, with Danielson locking in a triangle submission to make Angelico tap. I’m not completely convinced by Yuta. He’s a good competitor, but these matches aren’t showing him at his full potential.

Wardlow vs W. Morrissey

MJF and Shawn Spears walked onto the ramp after Wardlow made his entrance, and welcomed W. Morrissey to the ring. The match was pretty great in all honesty. Morrissey used a range of sledgehammer blows to beat Wardlow down, followed by a running splash in the corner. Despite Wardlow charging at him, Morrissey hit a big boot and a clothesline over the ropes. The fans started chanting, “we want Enzo, no we don’t,” and it seemed to genuinely annoy Morrissey who yelled back, “this is my f***ing house.” Enraged, Morrissey smashed Wardlow’s head against the apron multiple times, and back in the ring dropped him with a Bossman Slam for a two-count. Wardlow was able to fight back and land a moonsault and a powerbomb to pick up the victory. After the match, Wardlow fought off security and yelled at MJF that it didn’t matter who he threw at him, or how big they were, he’d beat them until he was released from his contract. MJF accepted but said there would be a contract signing in “the most magical place in the world,” and that there would be a couple of conditions.

Santana W/ Ortiz vs Chris Jericho W/ Jericho Appreciation Society

I’m getting really tired of the Jericho Appreciation Society screwing over Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz. This was a solid match until the end where, of course, the JAS cheated to get the win. Santana hit a Tope Suicida before the bell, then went to work on Jericho. Jericho grabbed the camera and pointed it at Santana, where he stuck his middle fingers up at it and booted Jericho in the stomach. With Santana distracted on the apron, Jericho hit him with a dropkick off the turnbuckle. Jericho got in some offence, but Santana rocked him with a big slap, followed by the Three Amigos. After failing the first time, Santana hit a frog splash for a two-count. Jericho locked in the Walls of Jericho, but Santana grabbed the bottom rope. He connected with a cutter on Jericho as Ortiz took out Danny Garcia and Angelo Parker with the bat. In the ring, Santana landed a discus lariat and a cannonball senton in the corner. Matt Menard got on the apron which distracted the ref, allowing Jericho to connect with a low blow and the Judas Effect for the win. After the bell, JAS beat down Santana and Ortiz.

Rey Fénix W/ Death Triangle vs Dante Martin

This match was mind-blowing. Both guys were exceptional, with plenty of excitement and superb offence. Fénix hit an impact dropkick that sent Martin to the outside, then walked the ropes and delivered a flying crossbody. Back in the ring, Martin landed a pop-up headscissors and one hell of a Canadian Destroyer, followed by a hanging Tope Suicida. Fénix fought back and connected with a backflip Russian leg sweep off the top turnbuckle, and after being the victim of a crossbody by Martin, landed a hurricanrana for a two-count. Martin hit a gorgeous superkick. They both flipped off the top turnbuckle and landed on their feet, only for Martin to hit a Poisonrana. Fénix was able to pick up the victory after landing a hanging Falcon Arrow. They both embraced after the match.

Undisputed ROH Women’s World Championship Unification Match: Mercedes Martinez vs Deonna Purrazzo

It was a slow and methodical start as Purrazzo tried to injure Martinez’s arm with an arm lock through the ropes. Martinez delivered a spear on the apron, but Purrazzo whipped her into the ring post. Back in the ring, Martinez landed two clotheslines, a back body drop, and a high running boot for a two-count. Purrazzo attempted the Fujiwara Arm Bar but couldn’t lock it in, so hit a moonsault press instead. Martinez landed a running knee and a fisherman buster for a two-count. After both women connected with a double clothesline, Martinez locked in a Romero Special into a Dragon Sleeper to make Purrazzo tap. Having Martinez as the new champion is a good call. She has been great since arriving in AEW, and if Tony Kahn does do something with ROH, she’s a great woman to lead the charge. I can’t help but be gutted for Purrazzo. She’s lost both her championships now, so where does she go from here?

The Promos

An excellent promo aired featuring William Regal and the Blackpool Combat Club in training.

Tony Schiavone was backstage with Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs when Jurassic Express and Christian Cage interrupted. Jungle Boy said before Starks and Hobbs could get a shot at the tag team gold, he wanted a shot at Starks’ FTW Championship. The match was made official for next week’s show.

Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland cut a promo where they talked about having unfinished business with Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs. Lee ended the promo by saying they would “Swerve in our glory,” and I squirmed a bit.

Toni Storm, Ruby Soho, Britt Baker, and Jamie Hayter were backstage with Schiavone. Britt mocked Soho and Storm for wearing matching crop tops, as Soho said she was counting down the minutes until they could humble them, like they deserve, on Rampage.

Tony Schiavone stood in the ring and welcomed out “Hangman” Adam Page. He came out and said it would be easy to talk about how he’s looking forward to facing CM Punk at Double or Nothing, or having an all-time classic, but that’s not going to happen. He said he would destroy and embarrass Punk, before saying their match would be the fight of Punk’s life. There was a notable shift in cheers and boos for Hangman here, but I doubt there’s any kind of heel turn in the near future. It was just good to see this side of Hangman.

Excalibur mentioned that Konosuke Takeshita would be appearing on Rampage. Backstage, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, and Sonjay Dutt had a few words about it. Lethal said he would get his red carpet on Rampage by challenging Takeshita.

Samoa Joe cut a promo on Jay Lethal, saying he would be coming after him on Rampage.

The Gunn Club were backstage with presents and gave them to The Acclaimed. Bowens and Caster unwrapped them to reveal a couple of pairs of scissors. Bowens then said they were the keys to their hearts.

Varsity Blonds were stood in the ring as Pillman cut a promo. He said his father’s best friend John Harbaugh (who was at ringside) once gave him some advice to “attack each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.” Pillman said he’d got complacent and lost sight of the quote, but not anymore. He said he was enthusiastic about protecting the one thing that made them whole (Julia Hart), and he was ready to fight. The House of Black made their way to the ring and decimated the Varsity Blonds. They loomed over Hart, then put a chair in her hands as she stood over Pillman. Death Triangle ran out to make the save.

Mark Sterling, Jade Cargill, Red Velvet, and Keira Hogan were backstage talking about having two champions in the Baddie Section.

Excalibur pointed out there was a Joker in the brackets for the Quarter Finals of The Owen Hart Tournament. My guess is, it’s either Johnny Gargano or Claudio Castagnoli fka Cesaro aka CSRO.

Darby Allin and Sting were backstage, talking about how it would be a special night when Allin faces Jeff Hardy in the Owen Hart Tournament.

Thunder Rosa was on the ramp talking about her story coming into AEW, and how she had become the bloodline and backbone of the company. She then turned her attention to Serena Deeb who walked out. Deeb said AEW could have the best women’s division in the world, and that she was the best woman to lead it. They then said they’d face each other at Double or Nothing, where Rosa would defend the title against her.

John Silver cut a promo about facing CM Punk in his hometown of Long Island next week.

Match of the Night: Rey Fénix vs Dante Martin

Best in Show: Rey Fénix

Overall Rating: ***

All pictures and videos courtesy of AEW

By Chris White

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