‘All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite’ Review (March 25th 2020)
Welcome to this week’s AEW: Dynamite review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we’ve got more phantom zone matches to get to, which is actually quite entertaining to me. Having no crowds has been very liberating and I hope it starts to become a trend when the crowds do get to return (AEW Dark doesn’t need a crowd, dude). Okay, we’ve got a AAA title match to get to, so shaddup and…read? That’s a let-down. Just go watch the matches instead, you kook.
Match #1: Cody Rhodes defeated Jimmy Havoc
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Brandi Rhodes was the ring announcer tonight! She gave Cody a kiss as he entered the ring. Havoc got Cody down with some leg sweeps, and an arm drag. Cody used his bulk and brawn to push Havoc into the corner, but Havoc rolled through for a near fall. “I think the more this match becomes a mat-based contest, the more it favors Cody,” said Kenny Omega. Cody hit a cutter off the ropes, and then went for a figure four leg-lock. Havoc poked Cody’s eyes to break the hold. Cody knocked Havoc outside and then blasted him with a tope suicida! They brawled on the outside, and this style favored Havoc. Jimmy Havoc suplexed Cody into the turnbuckle, wrenching Cody’s legs on the ropes in the process. Havoc stomped on Cody’s hands and right elbow. Cody went back to the entrance tunnel, ran down the ramp, and used a running lariat on Jimmy Havoc…”shades of the Great Muta!” said Tony Schiavone. Cody attempted a cutter but was caught in an arm bar by Havoc! Cody rolled to the ropes, and Havoc took him down with a clothesline. Jimmy Havoc was laying in the shots in the corner, but Cody put the brakes on it. Down to the mat they crashed as Cody gave Havoc a reverse suplex! Cody spiked Havoc with two CrossRhodes for the victory via pin fall!
My Opinion: 3.3 out of 5 – This was another good match from both of these guys. I wouldn’t go looking for Savage/Steamboat levels of quality here, but this was a fine way to start the show without having to kill anybody. Cody is definitely a star by now and this match benefited from his star power. All in all, this was not bad at all.
Match #2: Darby Allin defeated Kip Sabian
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
“Do you get the young Sting vibes when you look at Darby Allin?” asked Cody. “I get that,” replied Schiavone. Darby got tremendous elevation off the top rope and pulled Kip down with an arm drag. Things escalated quickly on the outside of the ring, with Darby getting launched into the metal barricade. Penelope Ford got physically involved in the match, and Cody compared her to legendary pro wrestling valet Baby Doll. Darby smashed Kip with the John Woo dropkick, and then a stunner, good for a two count! From the ring apron, Ford grabbed Darby’s legs, giving Kip enough time to switch gears. Kip smacked Darby with a right hook, but Darby pulled out the win using the Last Supper leg submission!
My Opinion: 3.4 out of 5 – This turned out to be quite good. Darby winning was the right call and I’m glad that Kip got on the main show. Darby was compared to Sting once or twice and, I must say, he has a bit of that charm, but not as much as they were implying. The action was swift but measured, so don’t expect to be left in the dust watching this sucker take off.
Match #3: Jake Hager defeated Chico Adams
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Hager rammed Chico into the corner post. He followed up with a Vader Bomb! Chico tried to fight back but Hager squashed him with a chokeslam. Hager put him to sleep with an arm triangle in a quick, decisive victory!
My Opinion: 0.9 out of 5 – This was a squash.
Match #4: Brodie Lee defeated QT Marshall
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
“QT has an uphill battle for sure,” said Cody on commentary. Brodie booted QT to the mat! He slammed QT into the metal barricade on the outside. Brodie used a running back elbow in the corner and then two vertical suplexes! “QT may have a stinger,” said Cody. Brodie picked up QT and after a few glimmers of hope from QT’s offense, Brodie gave him a spinning sidewalk slam. Brodie then turned QT inside out with a discus lariat. Brodie was victorious in his AEW debut!
My Opinion: 2.1 out of 5 – This wasn’t much of a match, but Lee won, so that’s good.
Match #5: (Main Event) Kenny Omega defeated Sammy Guevara – AAA Mega Campeon Championship Match
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
“Sammy needs to stay light on his feet here,” said Tony Schiavone. Sammy and Kenny grappled on the mat until Sammy gouged Kenny’s face. They went to the outside and traded chops, slugging it out. Sammy lured Kenny in and clocked him with a forearm! Sammy ducked a clothesline but Kenny followed up with a vertical suplex onto the floor. “I love Kenny but he’s a shark and he smells blood,” said Cody. Kenny went up top for a crossbody block on Sammy. Kenny missed a splash and Sammy countered with an arm bar. Kenny forced the break when he touched the ropes. Sammy continued to work over Kenny’s arm and hand. Sammy missed a moonsault and Kenny capitalized with strikes and a head-butt. Somehow Sammy managed to roll up Kenny with a pinning combination but Kenny kicked out! The AAA Mega Campeon was in trouble as Sammy was connecting with serious shots to Kenny’s jaw! Sammy was rocked with a swift boot from Kenny! He followed that up with double ax handles to Sammy G.! Kenny hooked Sammy and attempted a snapdragon suplex but Sammy rolled out and stomped onto the Cleaner with double boots to the midsection! Sammy used the ropes to springboard and drop Kenny with a cutter! Sammy was caught by Kenny, who powerbombed the Spanish God, then used a V-Trigger! Sammy escaped a Liger Bomb attempt by Kenny! Sammy missed a shooting star press, as Kenny moved just in the nick of time! Kenny wiped out Sammy with a V-Trigger, and then another! Sammy flipped out of Kenny’s snapdragon suplex, but Kenny outsmarted Sammy with the J-Driller! Kenny Omega grabbed the victory after the One-Winged Angel!
My Opinion: 4 out of 5 – This was a great match that went upwards of a half hour. Kenny and Sammy made for a great duo that was willing to try new things and take big chances, even with no crowd. It’s not every-day that a big match happens like this at random, but when it does, we should take notice. On this night, Sammy actually out-performed Kenny, which is saying a lot (Kenny kicked ass here too). If you want a mixture of lucha and strong style (with a hint of catch) then this was the match for you.
News Of The Night:
- Jake Hager is being teased as the next challenger for Jon Moxley’s World Title.
- Kenny Omega and Cody Rhodes helped Tony Schiavone with commentary.
- Chris Jericho and Matt Hardy had a really weird promo where Jericho tried to recruit Vanguard-1 and Matt to the Inner Circle.
- The Dark Order wants QT Marshall to join the group.
Final Verdict: 3.7/5
This was a strong edition of the show that continued the trend from last week and made the most of the least.
