‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Feb 22nd 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. We’ve got Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Taz on commentary so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: AEW All-Atlantic Championship – Orange Cassidy def. Wheeler Yuta
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Yuta and Cassidy countered one another with a plethora of pinning combinations. Wheeler used a front leg sweep on Orange. Yuta rolled up Orange for a near fall. Cassidy used Yuta’s pinning technique, the seatbelt, for a two-count on Wheeler. Claudio Castagnoli came out to ringside and didn’t look so happy. Claudio gave a pep talk to Yuta in the form of a slap to Yuta’s face. Yuta nailed Orange with a tope and then whipped Orange into the barricades. Yuta sent Orange shoulder-first into the steel ring post. Wheeler Yuta battered Orange Cassidy in the corner with chops. Orange fired back with a dropkick. Orange jumped off the top but Yuta countered with a knee. Wheeler came off the top with a big elbow strike. Wheeler sent Orange to the outside with a dropkick. Wheeler countered a spin through DDT from Orange with a brainbuster for a near fall. Yuta rocked Orange with a German suplex. Orange answered with a German suplex of his own. Wheeler pulled out the mousetrap, a move from Orange’s arsenal, for a near fall on Orange! Yuta and Cassidy traded shots in the center of the ring. They had the same idea and took one another down simultaneously with clotheslines. Wheeler tried for a piledriver on the apron but Orange backdropped out of it. Orange spiked Yuta with a diving DDT on the floor! Orange followed up with a DDT in the ring! Yuta countered the Beach Break with a piledriver for a near fall. Orange connected with the Orange Punch for a two-count on Wheeler Yuta! Orange landed the Beach Break but Yuta kicked out right at two! Orange clocked Wheeler with another Orange Punch and pinned Yuta.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #2: The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) def. (The Firm) Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Caster shoulder blocked Moriarty and then took him down with a big arm drag. The Acclaimed used tandem offense on Lee for a near fall. Big Bill blew through Bowens with a rolling elbow strike. The Gunns came down the ramp and began to stomp a mudhole in Daddy Ass. The champs ran away once Caster moved toward them. Bowens blasted Lee with the Arrival. Caster hit the Mic Drop and pinned Lee Moriarty!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Saraya def. Skye Blue
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Skye Blue charged at Saraya. Skye Blue climbed to the top turnbuckle and Toni intervened to buy Saraya time. Saraya pulled Skye Blue from the top and sent her crashing down onto the mat. Saraya planted Skye Blue on the back of her head for a near fall. Saraya battered Skye Blue on the ropes but Skye Blue countered with a body press. Skye followed up with a knee strike and a dropkick. She attempted to pin Saraya but Toni jumped on the apron. Saraya nailed Skye with a thrust kick as Skye was distracted by Toni. Saraya forced Skye to tap.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Revolution Tag Team Battle Royale – Winners: Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The winning team will face AEW World Tag Team Champions The Gunns and The Acclaimed and another team (to be determined next week) at Revolution. Penta El Zero Miedo and Tony Nese traded chops on the apron. Mark Briscoe ran to the ring and went right after Josh Woods. Penta El Zero Miedo spiked Nese with the Made in Japan and eliminated him. The Lucha Bros tossed Ari over the top rope onto “Smart” Mark Sterling on the arena floor. Butcher and the Blade eliminated Aussie Open! Silver threw the Blade over the top rope and to the floor. Butcher hoisted Reynolds and chucked him over the top rope like a slab of meat. Vance ate a kick from Penta El Zero Miedo and was sent over the top rope. Rush kicked Penta El Zero Miedo out of the ring and eliminated him. Rey Fenix punted Rush out of the match. Butcher tossed out John Silver. Danhausen entered the ring and tried to curse Parker and Menard but they threw him over the top rope. Danhausen distracted them while Best Friends came up from behind and tossed Parker and Menard outside the ring. Butcher was thrown over the top by Rey Fenix but then Lethal and Jarrett flipped Fenix over the top to eliminate him. This left Lethal and Jarrett with Trent. They double teamed Trent but Trent did his best to fight the odds. Trent nailed Lethal with a DDT. Jeff Jarrett connected with the Stroke on Trent. Lethal was flipped over the top by Trent. Jarrett rocked Trent with another Stroke and then eliminated him!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #5: Jon Moxley def. Evil Uno
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Evil Uno charged at Moxley to start the match! Evil Uno raked at Mox’s back. “Hangman” Adam Page was watching from backstage. Evil Uno whipped Moxley with his leather vest. Evil Uno splashed Moxley in the corner. Moxley tried to rip off the mask of Evil Uno. Evil Uno booted Moxley in the face! Evil Uno smashed Moxley with a senton off the top and to Moxley on the arena floor. Moxley whipped Evil Uno head first into the metal ring steps! Evil Uno was busted open! Evil Uno spiked Moxley with two consecutive piledrivers! Moxley rallied back and drove his elbow into Evil Uno’s jaw. Moxley locked in the bulldog choke and the ref stopped the match!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This week’s Dynamite started off oh-so-strong and then went downhill from there! The tag team match was more of an angle for the Revolution match/feud between The Gunns and The Acclaimed, as was the women’s match this week. The Tag Team Battle Royale looked good on paper but was won by the worst possible team (and people) that AEW could have chosen! F*ck that match IMHO. The main event wasn’t tremendous but I’m giving it an extra point for having Evil Uno not only main event Dynamite but also seemingly rejuvenate his character in the space of two weeks!
