‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (May 25th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. As usual, we have Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, and Jim Ross on commentary for this pay per view building show… Let’s see what happens on the road to Double or Nothing!
Match #1: Steel Cage Match – Wardlow def. Shawn Spears
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Wardlow was escorted out to the ring in handcuffs by an AEW security detail. MJF couldn’t find the handcuff keys to unlock Wardlow. Shawn Spears jumped the shackled Wardlow. Wardlow pushed Spears back with a kick, but MJF gouged Wardlow’s eyes. They double shoulder blocked Wardlow, shoving him face first into the steel cage! MJF spat at Wardlow and then Wardlow broke his own handcuffs off. Shawn Spears tried to escape the cage but Wardlow scaled the fence and shoved Spears down. Wardlow followed up with a senton atomico but MJF wouldn’t count the pin. MJF begged Wardlow to hit him, because he knew if Wardlow touched MJF, their match at DOUBLE OR NOTHING would be called off. MJF hit Wardlow with a low blow from behind and Spears planted Wardlow with the C4. MJF tried a fast count on Wardlow but Wardlow still kicked out! Spears walked out of the cage to retrieve a steel chair. Spears tried to hit Wardlow with the chair but Wardlow ducked! Spears accidentally clobbered Spears with the chair. Wardlow began conducting the Powerbomb Symphony on Shawn Spears! Bryce Remsburg ran to the ring to take over for an unconscious MJF. Wardlow powerbombed Spears on a steel chair and then pinned him! Wardlow was about to powerbomb MJF but security ran into the cage. Wardlow leveled them one by one! In the melee, MJF escaped the cage.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston def. Private Party
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The Blackpool Combat Club’s William Regal and the Jericho Appreciation Society leader “The Wizard” Chris Jericho were on commentary for this match! The Jericho Appreciation Society— Jake Hager, Angelo Parker, Daniel Garcia, and Matt Menard—stood behind Jericho. Kingston charged up the ramp at Kassidy as the match began. Moxley took it to Marq Quen. Quen hit a moonsault press to Mox and Mox kicked out quickly. Kingston tagged in and used a headbutt on Marq Quen. Kingston splashed Quen in the corner. Kassidy tagged in and Private Party hit a double dropkick on Moxley. Quen connected with a shooting star press on Moxley but Moxley kicked out! Kassidy tagged in and Private Party was searching for Silly String but Moxley and Kingston neutralized Private Party! Moxley used hammer and anvil elbows on Kassidy. Moxley followed up with the Paradigm Shift and pinned Kassidy while giving Jericho and his crew the middle finger!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: ROH World Tag Team Championship Match – FTR vs. Roppongi Vice (DQ)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
ROH’s Caprice Coleman joined the commentary team for this match. Cash and Rocky chain wrestled at the start of the match. Rocky shoulder tackled Cash, taking Cash off his feet. Rocky blocked a dropkick from Cash and then transitioned into a flying cross arm breaker. Cash retreated to the outside of the ring, taking a moment to collect himself. Trent tagged in, as did Dax, and they traded chops to the chest. FTR used tandem offense on Trent for a two-count. Rocky grabbed a blind tag and fired in kicks to Cash Wheeler. Trent used a half and half suplex on Cash. Dax Harwood tagged in but Trent sent Harwood sternum first into the turnbuckles. Rocky double stomped Harwood’s ribs. Rocky got a blind tag to Trent and Roppongi Vice blasted Dax with a double knee strike! They were looking for the strong zero but Dax rolled up Trent for a near fall. Trent came back with a victory roll up on Dax but Dax kicked out. Roppongi Vice finally connected with the strong zero but Jeff Cobb and the Great O-Khan stormed out to the ring and attacked FTR and Roppongi Vice! Cobb gave Rocky a nasty Tour of the Islands! The match ended in a disqualification.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Swerve Strickland def. Jungle Boy and Ricky Starks
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jungle Boy tried for an arm drag off the ropes but Swerve pulled him down. Jungle Boy fired back with a dropkick. Starks snuck up and gained the upper hand on both Swerve and Jungle Boy. Jungle Boy had a pin on Swerve but Starks broke it up. Jungle Boy hoisted up Starks and planted him for a near fall! Swerve placed Jungle Boy on the top turnbuckle but Starks met them up there. They shoved Starks to the arena floor! Jungle Boy tried a poison rana on Swerve but Swerve landed on his feet. Swerve lifted up Jungle Boy for a vertical suplex but Starks speared Swerve! Starks tried to finish off Swerve but Swerve escaped and clubbed Starks with forearms. Jungle Boy grabbed Starks from behind and locked in the Snare Trap! Starks reached the ropes but Jungle Boy pulled him back to the center of the ring. Swerve came out of nowhere with an amazing kick to Jungle Boy. Swerve blasted Starks with the Swerve Stomp and pinned Starks!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Match – Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. def. Toni Storm
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Storm had head scissors on Baker but Baker reached the ropes with her boot. Baker fired a kick to Storm’s midsection. Storm rallied back with a dropkick. They brawled outside the ring. Baker smashed Toni head first into the steel ring steps! Baker used ground and pound striking techniques on Toni Storm on the arena floor. Back in the ring, Toni countered the Pittsburgh Sunrise with a swinging DDT! She followed up with a high velocity hip attack and then a waterwheel drop! Baker countered a strong zero with the Air Raid Crash for a near fall on Storm! Jamie Hayter came down to the ring! Baker used the twisting neck breaker on Storm for a two-count! Baker tried the ripcord lariat but Toni tucked her head under to avoid it. Toni Storm hit Hayter off the ring apron! Britt grabbed the ropes and used them to pin Toni Storm. After the match, Baker and Hayter celebrated!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament Match – Samoa Joe def. Kyle O’Reilly
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Kyle tried kicking Joe in the thigh but Joe moved in and landed shots of his own. Kyle tried to use his hand speed to his advantage but Joe mauled him down to the mat. Kyle grabbed an ankle but Joe escaped and chopped Kyle down to size. Joe followed up with jabs. Samoa Joe body slammed Kyle and then dropped an elbow. Joe headbutted Kyle and then suplexed him for a one-count. O’Reilly wrenched Joe’s arm, yanking him down. O’Reilly launched a knee strike on Joe and then applied a cross arm breaker. Joe reached the ropes, forcing the ref to break the hold. Samoa Joe tackled Kyle O’Reilly with a leg sweep. Joe booted Kyle and then hit a senton for a near fall. Joe turned Kyle inside out with a lariat! Samoa Joe targeted Kye’s jaw with palm strikes. Joe lifted up Kyle for the muscle buster but Kyle managed to escape and transition into an arm bar on Joe. Kyle rolled up Joe but Joe defended with a rear naked choke. Kyle wrenched on Joe’s wrist but he lost consciousness!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This was a good, but not great episode of AEW. The matches were decent but the promos seemed lacking this week. Wardlow’s match wasn’t really much of a match but the atmosphere, THE atmosphere… wow. The audience made this one and proved that AEW have done things right with Wardlow’s story. The Moxley/King versus Private Party seemed like an odd match on paper but proved to be a great match and, honestly, it was good to see PP in a real challenging match; their first in some time. Interesting to note that we got, I think, the first run-in and DQ in AEW history… correct me if I’m wrong! The Women’s Owen Hart Tournament match was good, but it felt like the end was something of a botch… Plus, like a lot of folks, I think the wrong woman won. As for the main event, that was everything anyone could have wanted from a match between those two guys. Plus we get another banger, thanks to Joe getting the win, set for Double or Nothing.
