‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (May 10th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. We’ve got Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Taz on commentary so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: Double Jeopardy Match – Claudio Castagnoli def. Rey Fenix
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The winner earns a shot at the other man’s championship. Claudio ducked a reverse kick from Rey Fenix. Claudio caught a flying Rey Fenix and nailed him with a vicious backbreaker. But then Claudio got bounced around with two tope suicidas from Rey Fenix. The third time was not the charm, though, as Claudio caught Rey and then dropped him across the barricade outside the ring. Rey Fenix walked the top of the barricade and clobbered Claudio with a hurracanrana onto the floor. Bryan Danielson and Wheeler Yuta watched the match on a monitor backstage. Rey Fenix took down Claudio with a hurracanrana off the turnbuckles. Claudio fired back with a lariat, good for a near fall on Rey Fenix. Claudio hoisted up Rey Fenix and press slammed him over the barricade. Claudio and Rey Fenix exchanged chops and uppercuts. Rey Fenix rocked Claudio with a cutter. Rey Fenix jumped off the top turnbuckle with a moonsault out to Claudio on the arena floor. Back in the ring Rey connected with the Code Red for a two-count. Fenix took Claudio off his feet with a thrust kick. Claudio came back with the Waterslide on Rey Fenix. Claudio hammered down with hammer and anvil strikes. Claudio finished off Rey Fenix with the Ricola Bomb and pinned him!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: AEW International Championship Match – Orange Cassidy def. Daniel Garcia
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
After some dancing, Garcia went for a drop toe hold but Orange escaped. Orange fired back with dropkicks (with hands in his pockets). The champ drove Garcia into the barricades with a tope suicida. Daniel Garcia nearly took Orange’s head off with a running lariat. Garcia followed up by planting Orange onto the ring apron, and then right across the guardrail. Garcia worked over Cassidy’s injured knee in the ring. Garcia booted Orange and then stuck him with a jumping piledriver. Orange fought back with the Beach Break. Garcia locked on the Dragon Tamer in the center of the ring! Orange tried to escape but Garcia applied a cross face and then stomped on Orange’s hand. Orange cradled Daniel Garcia and pinned Garcia!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: No Holds Barred Match – Julia Hart def. Anna Jay A.S.
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
As Julia Hart was making her entrance, Anna Jay A.S. blindsided her. Julia retaliated by whipping Anna into the guardrail. Julia Hart pulled out a kendo stick and cracked Anna across the back with it. Anna Jay A.S. put a garbage can over the head of Julia Hart and then blasted Julia with a kick. Julia Hart was writhing in pain. Anna scattered steel chairs in the ring. Julia fought through the pain, propping Anna on the top turnbuckle. Julia superplexed Anna, with Anna’s lower back hitting the chairs. Julia Hart locked on the Heartless and forced Anna Jay to tap out!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: AEW World Trios Championship Open House Match – The House of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black) def. Bandido & The Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Malakai tied up Trent in a leg lock and Brody barreled down with a senton. Trent connected with a thrust kick to Matthews. Malakai jumped on the apron to distract Trent. Buddy rolled up Trent for a two-count. Bandido tagged in and hit a tornillo off the top. Bandido blasted Brody with a crucifix bomb. Bandido went for a springboard, but Buddy rocked Bandido with a knee strike. Chuck tagged in and nailed Buddy with Sole Food. Brody tagged in, nailed Chuck with Dante’s Inferno, and pinned him!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Steel Cage Match – Jon Moxley def. Kenny Omega
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Bryan Danielson joined the broadcast booth for this match. Moxley charged at Omega as Omega was making his entrance with Don Callis. Yuta and Claudio went after Omega, but the Young Bucks ran down to help their Elite friend. The Elite and the Blackpool Combat Club had to be separated by security. Moxley finally got into the ring and the match began! Omega chopped at Mox, but Mox fired back with chops of his own. Omega moonsaulted onto Moxley for a two-count. Omega pulled out a steel chair wrapped in barb wire from beneath the ring. Omega cracked Moxley in the head with the chair. Omega punctured Moxley’s back with the steel chair. Omega stomped the chair into Moxley’s back. Omega attempted a springboard, but Moxley countered by shoving Omega into the cage. Kenny Omega answered with a bulldog on Moxley onto the chair. Omega body slammed Mox onto the chair. Moxley superplexed Omega onto the chair! Moxley had the top rope and turnbuckle pulled off the ring, hooking the cable around Omega’s mouth. Moxley drove his knee into the mouth of Omega. Moxley pulled out a bag and emptied its contents into the ring: broken glass! Omega rocked Mox with a knee strike. Omega hoisted up Moxley for the One-Winged Angel. Moxley countered out of it with a choke. Kenny had a counter of his own, falling backwards and driving Moxley’s back into the broken glass. Moxley pulled back with a choke. Omega fired back with a knee shot to Moxley. Kenny hit the snap dragon suplex on Mox. Omega decimated Moxley with a V-Trigger, pushing him against—and through—the cage! Omega’s leg was trapped between the cage and the ring. Moxley pulled out a screwdriver. Don Callis jumped in the ring and pulled the screwdriver away from Moxley. Omega smashed Mox with the V-Trigger. Omega followed up with the One-Winged Angel. Omega went for the pin, but Don Callis cracked Omega in the face with the screwdriver! Moxley covered Omega and pinned him!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
This was a very strong show, with a PPV-quality main event and some “interesting” teases regarding the forthcoming future of AEW (*cough* AEW: Collision *cough*) and the backstage appearance of Miro and Thunder Rosa – possibly returning to AEW television on Collision maybe? The only thing that let this episode down was the lack of matches. I get it, stories need to be told, promos need to take place and most of all matches need time to breathe but only five matches on a 2-hour show feels like a letdown. Or the WWE…
