‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (May 29th 2024)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast from the KIA Forum in Los Angeles, California. We’ve got Excalibur, Taz and Tony Schiavone on commentary this week, so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: Swerve Strickland def. Killswitch
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Killswitch shoved Swerve over the top rope with a hand to the throat. Swerve kicked Killswitch and then dropkicked Killswitch, knocking Killswitch to the mat. Swerve nailed Killswitch with a draping neck breaker from the edge of the ring to the arena floor. Killswitch grabbed Swerve’s arm and yanked Swerve off the ring apron and into the steel ring steps. The champion rallied back with a flurry of European Uppercuts. Swerve suplexed Killswitch. Swerve was looking for Big Pressure, but Killswitch escaped. Killswitch headbutted Swerve and then choke slammed Swerve for a near fall. Killswitch grabbed a steel chair and almost clocked Swerve with it until Prince Nana grabbed it out of Killswitch’s hands. Swerve took down Killswitch with the Swerve Stomp from the apron to the arena floor. Swerve went for the House Call, but Killswitch choke slammed Swerve and followed up with a standing moonsault. Swerve ducked the Extinction lariat. Swerve rocked Killswitch with the House Call! Swerve jumped to the top turnbuckle and smashed Killswitch with the Swerve Stomp for a two-count! Swerve served up a second House Call and scored the pinfall victory over Killswitch!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Jon Moxley def. Rocky Romero
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Rocky went right after Moxley’s arm, walloped Mox with kicks. Moxley grabbed Rocky and pummeled him with hammer and anvil strikes and kicks to the spine. Rocky jumped off the turnbuckle and stomped on Moxley’s arm. Moxley knocked Rocky off the barricade with a lariat. Rocky turned things around, whipping Moxley into the steel ring steps. Moxley chomped on Rocky’s forehead. Moxley superplexed Rocky back into the ring. Jon Moxley planted Rocky with an explosive cutter in the center of the ring. Rocky rallied back with a DDT. Rocky applied an arm bar on Moxley. Moxley escaped and put Rocky in the bulldog choke. Rocky snuck out and snapped Mox’s left arm backwards. Rocky took Moxley off the ropes with a flying arm bar. Rocky pulled back on Moxley’s left arm. Moxley got on his feet and stomped his way out of the arm bar. Moxley hit a King Kong Lariat and then spiked Rocky with the Death Rider for the victory via pin!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: TBS Championship Match – Mercedes Moné def. Skye Blue
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Skye whipped Mercedes into the corner. Mercedes dodged Skye and countered with an arm drag. Mercedes smashed Skye with a diving meteora from the apron to the arena floor. Skye rallied back with a draping neck breaker for a near fall on Mercedes. Mercedes cracked Skye with a backstabber. Mercedes climbed the turnbuckles, but Skye kicked her in the face. Skye went for a power bomb, but Mercedes reversed it. Skye Blue hoisted up Mercedes and planted her for a near fall. Skye went for the Code Blue, but Mercedes countered with the Moné Maker and pinned Skye Blue!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Forbidden Door Casino Gauntlet Match – Winner: Will Ospreay
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
“Switchblade” Jay White was the first entrant. “The Bastard” Pac came to the ring next. Pac went right after Jay White with a pump kick! Pac whipped Jay White into the barricade. Pac took down Jay White with a step up hurracanrana in the ring. Pac blasted Jay White with a shotgun dropkick off the top rope for a near fall. The third entrant was CMLL’s Mistico! Mistico took down Pac with a thrust kick. As Jay White and Pac slugged it out on the arena floor, Mistico took flight off the top rope with a cross body press, knocking both men down. The fourth man was newly crowned AEW International Champion Will Ospreay! “The Aerial Assassin” chopped at Jay White. Pac jumped in and rolled up Ospreay for a near fall. Mistico rocked Pac with a thrust kick. Shota Umino was the next contestant to enter the match. Umino clubbed Mistico. Umino hit a running uppercut to Ospreay. Umino connected with a dropkick to Will! Umino spiked Ospreay with two DDTs! Umino went for the cover, but Jay White broke up the pin. Jay White blistered Umino’s chest with chops. Out next—Claudio Castagnoli! Claudio booted Umino. Claudio plastered Pac with a running European Uppercut. Claudio hurled Jay White in the Giant Swing! Lio Rush was the next wrestler to enter the match. Lio had a stare down with Claudio. Lio threw his body into Claudio. Lio clocked Umino with a toe kick. Orange Cassidy staggered to the ring, bandaged up. Orange hit the Stun Dog Millionaire and then a DDT on Claudio. Jay White jumped in and dropped Will with a dragon suplex. CMLL’s Hechicero came into the match next! Hechicero put Ospreay into an arm bar, but Ospreay escaped thanks to offense from Orange. Mistico wiped out Hechicero with a diving hurracanrana. Juice Robinson ran to the ring and assisted Jay White, knocking Pac off the turnbuckles. Ospreay nailed Jay White with the Hidden Blade! Will served up an Os-Cutter to Orange and pinned Orange!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
What a great show this was. In a contrast from recent weeks, this entire thing flowed brilliantly – with each and every match delivering in spades and with some great storytelling too (I’m truly invested in the Orange Cassidy story). Plus we got an appearance by Stephanie Vaquer, who will seemingly challenge Mercedes Mone at Forbidden Door and, thanks to Adam Copeland’s injury, we get Ospreay versus Strickland at Forbidden Door too! The only let down this week? Chris Jericho’s ridiculous segment, but that may just be me, For the rest of you YMMV.
