‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Mar 8th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. We’ve got Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Taz on commentary so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: All-Atlantic Championship Match – Orange Cassidy def. Jay Lethal
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Cassidy was wrestling a very scientific match early on. Lethal was looking for the Lethal Injection but Cassidy anticipated it and tried to counter with the swinging DDT but that was scouted by Lethal. Orange Cassidy rammed Lethal into the ring post. Lethal fought back by whipping Orange into the steel ring steps. Cassidy reversed a hammer throw into the ropes, but Lethal chop blocked Orange’s knee. Lethal picked up Orange and plowed him into the steel ring post with a knee breaker. Cassidy rallied back with two DDTs for a near fall! Orange tried to push off his leg for the Orange Punch but his leg gave out. Lethal tried to capitalize with a figure four. Orange made a gator roll to the bottom rope to force the ref to break the hold. Lethal taunted Orange on the apron, encouraging him to hit him. Orange clobbered Lethal with a lariat. Orange cradled Lethal inside the ring but Lethal was quick to his feet and fired off the Lethal Combination. Jay Lethal climbed to the top rope, searching for the elbow drop, but Orange blocked it. Lethal countered the Orange Punch. Jay Lethal attempted the Lethal Injection but his arm collapsed when he tried to plant the handstand. Orange rocked Jay Lethal with the Orange Punch and then pinned Lethal!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Ruby Soho def. Skye Blue
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ruby planted Skye Blue with a back heel trip. Ruby sent Skye soaring and then crashing hard to the mat with repeated side suplexes. Ruby charged into the corner but Skye dodged her. Skye connected with a cross body press off the top rope. Skye connected with a thrust kick. Ruby pulled Skye by the hair, planted her with Destination Unknown, and then pinned Skye.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Jericho Appreciation Society (Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia & Sammy Guevara) def. AR Fox & Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
AR Fox went over the top rope and rocketed at Chris Jericho. Sammy tagged in and body slammed AR Fox. Dante tagged in, spring boarded off the ropes and into a right hand from Daniel Garcia. Fox tagged in and splashed Garcia in the corner. Fox hit Garcia with a cutter. Fox dropkicked Jericho and then came down on the back of Sammy’s head with 2-for-1 offense. Fox smashed Garcia with a cutter for a near fall. Jericho tagged in and Darius was there with a one-hand Spanish Fly for a two-count. Darius connected with a backflipping kick on Jericho. Chris Jericho was looking for the Walls for Darius turned it around for a near fall. Darius ran into the ropes but Hager cracked Darius with the baseball bat, and then Jericho finished of Darius with the Judas Effect for the victory!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: The Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley) def. The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Moxley and Silver exchanged chops. Claudio tagged in and he steamrolled over Silver with a lariat. Silver had a leverage advantage and suplexed Claudio. Mox tagged in and stomped away at Silver. And Claudio tagged back in and smashed Silver in the face with a leg drop. Silver dropped Claudio chin-first on the turnbuckle and then tagged to Reynolds. Alex Reynolds served up a shot to Moxley with a tope! Back in the ring, Reynolds climbed to the top rope but Claudio shoved him to the arena floor. Mox quickly ran up to Reynolds and hurled him across the timekeeper’s table. Silver tagged in and clobbered Moxley with a German suplex! Moxley got to his feet and hit Silver with round kicks. John Silver clubbed Mox with hammer fists and started to blast Mox with thunderous knee strikes. Claudio came in and kick Silver. The Dark Order connected with combo offense on Claudio and then Moxley. Moxley grabbed a rear naked choke on Reynolds and then threw him with a half and half suplex! Moxley put Reynolds in another choke and forced Reynolds to tap out!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: TNT Championship Match – Falls Count Anywhere & Anything Goes – Powerhouse Hobbs def. Wardlow
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Justin Roberts introduced Wardlow but after some time, the broadcast team wondered where Wardlow was. A camera crew was in the parking ramp. Wardlow and Powerhouse Hobbs were brawling. Hobbs heaved a keg at Wardlow but Wardlow ducked. Hobbs suplexed Wardlow onto the hood of a car. Wardlow backdropped Hobbs onto the windshield of the car. They raged throughout the backstage area and then brawled into the arena. Hobbs spiked Wardlow with a spinebuster but Wardlow got right back up to his feet! They slugged it out in the center of the ring. Wardlow took Hobbs off his feet with a massive lariat. Wardlow connected with the F-10 for a near fall on Wardlow. Hobbs drilled Wardlow with the third spinebuster of the match! Hobbs set up a table. Wardlow spat a drink into Hobbs’ face. Wardlow jumped off the top rope with a senton press down onto Hobbs, smashing Hobbs through the table. Wardlow powerbombed Powerhouse Hobbs onto the ramp! They battled in front of the broadcast booth. QT Marshall came out of nowhere and cracked Wardlow with a steel chair! QT Marshall had a polo shirt with the logo QTV embroidered onto it. QT helped Hobbs get to his feet. QT yelled, “It’s your time!” Hobbs and QT powerbombed Wardlow off the stage! Wardlow couldn’t get to his feet, knocked out, and lost the belt as he couldn’t answer the 10-count!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Overall this was a solid episode of Dynamite but one that suffered from one too many promos/interviews and THAT ending to the main event… Seriously, Stripping Wardlow of the title straight away? And having it due to interference from QT Marshall of all people? Someone needs to go back to booking school. This didn’t make Powerhouse Hobbs look strong at all, the fact he needed help to win took away, IMHO, everything they had been working towards with his promos. Though I do like Hobbs as a title holder and I don’t mean the FTW championship! Some people online have decried the BCC/Dark Order/Hangman/Moxley match but hell, I’m hoping this entire thing leads to a stronger, more badass Dark Order – those guys deserved some respect on their factions name!
