‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (May 24th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. We’ve got Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Taz on commentary so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: AEW International Championship Match – Orange Cassidy def. Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Fletcher charged at Cassidy and nailed him with a brain buster for a near fall. Fletcher flew outside the ring with a tope to Orange. Cassidy shoved Fletcher off the turnbuckles, and Fletcher crashed on the apron. Cassidy followed up with a DDT on the apron! And then Cassidy rocked Fletcher with a Beach Break on the arena floor. Cassidy connected with a dropkick. Fletcher hit Cassidy flush in the face with a dropkick. Fletcher used a delayed vertical suplex on Orange Cassidy. The champ came back with a Stun Dog Millionaire, and then he stuck Kyle with a DDT for a near fall. Kyle intercepted a crossbody press and transitioned to a Michonoku Driver on Orange Cassidy. Fletcher landed a hard right elbow strike on Orange. The champ turned things around with a brain buster on Fletcher. Orange connected with a thrust kick and then a Michonoku Driver. Fletcher rolled through and spiked Orange with two tombstone piledrivers. Fletcher followed up with a sit out avalanche Michonoku Driver. Somehow Orange found the strength to kick out. Cassidy countered the Grimstone piledriver with a DDT. Fletcher came back with a thrust kick. Orange rolled up Kyle and pinned him!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: AEW World Trios Championship Open House Match – The House of Black (Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews & Brody King) def. Blake Christian, AR Fox & Metalik
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Black blasted AR Fox with a back elbow. Brody King got caught with a corkscrew kick from Blake Christian. Black came in and tripped up Blake with a leg sweep. Metalik and Blake flew over the top and out to the House of Black. In the ring AR Fox served up pump kicks to Brody, but Brody clobbered him. AR Fox used an implosion senton and landed on the House of Black. Matthews curb stomped AR Fox and then locked him in a Gorilla Clutch. AR Fox tapped out!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Taya Valkyrie def. Lady Frost
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Taya took Lady Frost down with a waist lock. Lady Frost took Taya down with head scissors, showing that things were evenly matched. Taya came back with a sliding lariat for a near fall. TBS Champion Jade Cargill walked onto the ramp to watch the action. Taya speared Lady Frost. Frost came back with a roundhouse kick. Taya connected with a back breaker. Taya hoisted up Lady Frost and planted her with the Road to Valhalla, good for the pin!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Roderick Strong def. Daniel Garcia
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Strong used his physicality to back Garcia into the corner. Strong chopped at Garcia. Strong followed up with a back breaker on Garcia. Garcia held Strong’s arms back and then curb stomped him. Strong came back with a lariat and then a powerful dropkick. Strong nailed Garcia with another back breaker for a near fall. Garcia locked in the Dragon Tamer, but Roderick turned and pushed Garcia away. Roderick hit the gut buster and then the End of Heartache for the pin on Garcia.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #5: ROH World Tag Team Championship Match – Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) def. The Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The Lucha Bros took flight and connected with tope suicidas on the BCC. Rey Fenix ran the top rope and drilled Claudio with a kick. Wheeler tied up Rey Fenix in a leg lock. Fenix tried for a tag, but Claudio prevented it. Claudio put Fenix in the Giant Swing. Penta El Zero Miedo tagged in and cracked Wheeler with double knees to the back. Claudio came in and booted Penta El Zero Miedo in the head. Penta blasted Claudio with a Canadian Destroyer. Claudio launched Wheeler off the top rope onto Rey Fenix with the fastball special for a near fall. As Alex Abrahantes distracted the ref, the Young Bucks, who were under the ring, pulled Claudio out of the ring. The Lucha Bros double teamed Wheeler Yuta and pinned him!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
A great week for Dynamite that was, at least for me, spoilt by a bunch of promos that felt too forced and in too big a number. Great to see Roderick Strong deliver a fantastic match out of the gate; whilst Orange Cassidy delivered a great match AND told a great story in the opening match (he’s clearly losing the title at Double or Nothing at this rate). Loved the “look” of the Open House match, which made it stand out from the rest of the show and feel like more of a big deal. I expected a little more from the main event but it still delivered, even if the interference spoilt things a bit.
