‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Sept 27th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado. We’ve just got Excalibur and Taz on commentary this week, so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: AEW International Championship Open Challenge Match – Rey Fenix def. Jeff Jarrett
The following is courtesy of allelitrewrestling.com:
Rey Fenix hit a high crossbody press to the outside onto Jarrett as Jarrett was making his entrance. Fenix followed up with a moonsault for a near fall. Jarrett DDT’ed Rey Fenix after Satnam tried distracting Fenix. Jarrett tripped up Fenix and Fenix rolled to the outside. Jarrett ordered his posse to swarm Fenix, but ref Aubrey Edwards stopped them. Rey Fenix fired back with a double foot stomp to Jeff Jarrett for a two-count. Fenix followed up with a thrust kick, trying to fight through the pain. Fenix ran the top rope and punted Lethal. Sonjay distracted the ref while Jarrett hit Fenix with a low blow. Jarrett spiked Rey Fenix with the Stroke but Fenix broke the count when his boot touched the bottom rope. Jarrett tried to apply the figure four, but Fenix countered with a cradle and pinned Jeff Jarrett!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #2: 3-Way Blind Eliminator Match for an International Title Shot – Nick Jackson def. Brian Cage & Claudio Castagnoli
The following is courtesy of allelitrewrestling.com:
Brian Cage tossed Nick Jackson over the top rope and out of the ring! Claudio and Cage locked up for a test of strength. Claudio suplexed Cage! Brian Cage retaliated with a vertical suplex of his own. Nick Jackson jumped back into the ring and wiped out Claudio and Cage at the same time! Nick then flew over the top rope and knocked both of them down on the arena floor! Nick displayed creative, fluid offense to clean house on both opponents. Brian Cage planted Claudio with a German Suplex. Nick Jackson blasted Brian Cage with a bulldog. Jackson moonsaulted off the apron but Claudio caught him, and then Nick nailed him with a DDT! Nick Jackson splashed Brian Cage with a 450 for a near fall in the ring! Claudio whipped Nick Jackson into the steel ring steps. Claudio put Brian Cage in the Giant Swing. Brian Cage suplexed Claudio from outside the ring to the inside, while Cage was on the second rope! Nick drilled Claudio and Cage with superkicks. Claudio rammed Cage with a European Uppercut. Claudio clocked Cage with a lariat. Claudio transitioned to hammer and anvil strikes, punishing the jaw of Brian Cage. Claudio hit the Ricola Bomb on Cage. Nick springboarded with a hurracanrana onto Claudio and then landed on Cage, with Nick Jackson grabbing the pin fall victory!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Four-Way WrestleDream Preview Match – Orange Cassidy def. Austin Gunn, Matt Jackson & Penta El Zero Miedo
The following is courtesy of allelitrewrestling.com:
Partners were banned from ringside. Austin sent Orange hard into the barricade. Matt Jackson DDT’ed Penta El Zero Miedo. Austin rolled up Orange from behind for a near fall. Penta connected with a thrust kick to Matt Jackson. Penta blasted Orange with a thrust kick. Austin ambushed Penta! Austin dropped Orange with a big right hand shot. Orange peppered Austin with elbow strikes. Austin countered a hip toss with a neck breaker to Orange Cassidy. Penta nailed Orange with a destroyer. Matt Jackson hit a destroyer on Penta. Orange rocked Matt with a destroyer! Orange smashed Austin with a destroyer! Matt Jackson wiped out Orange with the locomotion Northern Lights suplexes. Matt followed up with a double Northern Lights to Penta and Austin. Penta blocked the BTE Trigger from Matt. Penta took down Austin with a sling blade. Austin smashed Orange with the fame-asser from a near fall, almost stealing a victory. All three men superkicked Austin. Penta and Matt traded kicks. Orange pulped Matt Jackson with the Orange Punch and pinned him!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Julia Hart def. Willow Nightingale
The following is courtesy of allelitrewrestling.com:
Willow’s left eye was bandaged up, a result of the mist attack last week from Julia. Willow poured on the punishment, charging at Julia Hart and hitting her with a flurry of offense. Julia jumped on Willow’s back and grabbed at the bandage over Willow’s eye. Willow grounded and pounded Julia Hart. Willow body slammed Julia. Julia retreated out of the ring and crawled under the ring. Julia snuck up behind Willow and chop blocked her. Julia locked in Heartless, but Willow reached the ropes, forcing the break. Willow pounced Julia out of the corner! Willow hoisted up Julia and placed her upside down in the corner. Julia dodged the cannonball splash. Julia hit the moonsault press and pinned Willow!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
What a comedown from past week’s epsidoe of Dynamite! I know this apparently had a lot of backstage issues – the opening match was only added to the show after Fenix was cleared late in the day, the three-way with Nick Jackson was a last minute addition… All things that affected the show. But… the ret of this episode did NOT need to feel like an episode of Raw. Too many backstage segments, interviews and in-ring waffling. Plus they ended the show on a contract signing. A CONTRACT SIGNING!! What the absolute f**k. Terrible. Just terrible. I apprecaiated the in-ring action, in particular the main event mainly because Julia Hart gets better and better every week and is now pulling out some tremendous moves. And Willow Nightgale was here opponent. On the other hand, having two young stars main eventing an international wrestling show, is what makes AEW different from the competition!
