‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (May 3rd 2023)

Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. We’ve got Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Taz on commentary so let’s get into the review!

Match #1: Orange Cassidy, Adam Cole, Bandido & Roderick Strong def. Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, Daniel Garcia & Jake Hager

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Before the match began Chris Jericho walked onto the ramp. He was wearing a T-shirt with a graphic of Dr. Britt Baker. Jericho taunted Adam Cole and then joined the commentary team. Daniel Garcia and Roderick Strong began the match for their respective sides. Garcia shot for a single leg takedown, but Roddy sprawled. They traded forearms and then Roddy chopped at Garcia’s chest. Adam Cole tagged in, but Garcia used a knee to Cole’s abdomen. Garcia tagged out to Angelo Parker. Bandido scoop slammed Parker. There was a standoff between the two teams with all eight-man standing in the ring. Hager delivered hard rights to Orange Cassidy, but Orange battled back with a DDT. Hager caught Orange who had attempted a tope suicida. Hager rammed Orange into the steel ring post. Bandido was there, jumping out and landing right on Hager. Adam Cole was walking up the ramp, headed toward Jericho, until Angelo Parker jumped Cole from behind. Bandido suplexed Menard and Parker at the same time. Jake Hager pressured Orange Cassidy with a bear hug. Orange tried to tag Roddy but Daddy Magic stopped him. Finally, after a Stun Dog Millionaire, Orange hit the tag to Roddy. Roderick cleaned house on the J.A.S.! Orange rocked Garcia with the Beach Break for a near fall! Adam Cole tagged in, lowered the boom on Parker with the running knee, and then pinned “Cool Hand” Angelo Parker. After the match Adam Cole sprinted up the ramp and tackled Jericho at the broadcast booth. Security had to pry Adam Cole away from Jericho.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #2: Saraya def. Willow Nightingale

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Saraya jumped on Willow’s back, but Willow tossed her down. Willow followed up with a shoulder tackle, trying to keep her eyes on the other two Outcasts who were at ringside. Toni distracted Willow and Saraya made Willow pay with knee strikes. Willow fell to the arena floor and Toni Storm and Ruby Soho swarmed her. Willow rallied back with a Death Valley Driver on Saraya. Toni distracted the ref while Ruby jumped in the ring. It didn’t matter as Willow pounced on Saraya. As Willow was dealing with the other Outcasts, Saraya walloped Willow with the Goodnight and pinned her.

My Score: 2 out of 5

Match #3: Tres De Mayo Battle Royale – The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) and Daddy Ass def. The Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) & El Hijo del Vikingo and Kip Sabian & The Butcher & The Blade and The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno & John Silver) and Varsity Athletes (Ari Daivari, Josh Woods & Tony Nese) and QT Marshall, Powerhouse Hobbs & Aaron Solo!

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Rey Fenix eliminated Tony Nese with a swift kick. Vikingo took out Josh Woods with a hurracanrana. QT cut off Reynolds with a knee to the ribs. QT and Solo were taken out by the Lucha Brothers. The Lucha Bros rocked Hobbs with a stereo thrust kick. QT and Solo pulled the Lucha Bros out of the ring. Powerhouse Hobbs tossed Vikingo to the floor. Hobbs charged at the Acclaimed and they dodged him. Hobbs’ momentum forced him out of the ring. Butcher eliminated Max Caster, and then the Blade rocked Anthony Bowens. Silver hoisted up Blade with a delayed vertical suplex and then planted him. Silver nailed Butcher with a pump kick. The Blade grabbed Silver and threw him over the top rope. Bowens and Billy Gunn had to take on Sabian, Butcher and Blade. Blade rocked Billy with a big stunner. Butcher blasted Billy with a lariat. Bowens mounted a comeback and eliminated Blade. Bowens and Gunn used stereo fame-assers and then threw Sabian and Butcher over the top, winning the match!

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #4: Wardlow def. Logan

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Wardlow pressed Logan up in the air and then planted him. Wardlow followed up with a lariat. Wardlow finished off Logan with the Powerbomb Symphony and then pinned him.

My Score: 1 out of 5

Match #5: Ricky Starks def. Juice Robinson

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Jay White walked to the back, opting to let Juice handle this match on his own. Juice tried for a piledriver on the arena floor, but Ricky countered with a backdrop. Juice Robinson rallied back by whipping Ricky into the steel ring steps. Juice body slammed Starks on the floor. Ricky Starks body slammed Juice off the steel ring steps and down onto the cold arena floor! Ricky connected with a lariat inside the ring. Starks spiked Juice with a DDT for a near fall. Starks jumped off the top rope, but Juice raised up his knees to counter. Juice sent Ricky flying with a hurracanrana off the top turnbuckle. Juice rocked Ricky with a clothesline for a two-count. Starks countered the Juice Is Loose with a spear! Starks hit the Roshambo in the center of the ring and pinned Juice! Jay White ambushed Ricky after the match. Jay White tried for the Blade Runner, but Ricky escaped and attempted the Roshambo. Before Ricky could hit the move, Juice grabbed Jay White and the Bullet Club Gold left the ring.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #6: Four Pillars Tag Match – Darby Allin & “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry def. MJF & Sammy Guevara

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Darby rolled up MJF in a cradle, but MJF escaped. Jack Perry tagged in and chopped MJF in the chest. Sammy distracted Darby long enough for MJF to connect with a cheap shot. Sammy choked Darby with the scarf behind the ref’s back. MJF jumped in the ring and Darby hit MJF with an over-the-top stunner. Darby attempted to tag out to Jungle Boy, but MJF pulled Jungle Boy off the apron. MJF whipped Jungle Boy into the barricade. Jack Perry got the tag and hit MJF and Sammy with a cross body block off the top rope. Jack followed up with tope suicidas to MJF and then to Sammy. Jack Perry planted Sammy with a Tiger Driver for a near fall. Jack went to the top rope, but Sammy countered with a Spanish Fly. MJF tagged in and grounded and pounded Jack Perry. Sammy tried for an assisted senton, but Jack moved and tagged out to Darby. Darby rocked Sammy with the Code Red. Darby tried for the Code Red on MJF, but MJF countered. Jungle Boy grabbed a blind tag and locked MJF in the Snare Trap! Sammy ran in and smashed Jungle Boy with a double stomp. MJF drilled Jack Perry with a DDT for a two-count. Things began to break down between MJF and Sammy. Sammy fired back with a shot. Jack Perry connected with a thrust kick. Darby grabbed a tag and hit the Coffin Drop on Sammy for the pin!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Final Verdict: 3.5/5

Another good episode of Dynamite. Good but not great… Unfortunately, at least for me, I think too much time was spent on promos and that RIDICULOUS video package at the Briscoe farm (WTF was that all about?!) rather than wrestling. Though what wrestling we did get was great – the opening 8-man tag started the show off on a high and then the last two matches – Ricky Starks vs. Juice Robinson and the Four Pillars match – ended this week’s Dynamite on a high. The advertised matches for next week, in particular the cage match, should let Dynamite really deliver; and the show needs to given that AEW’s new show is now only a month away!