‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Aug 9th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. We’ve got Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Taz on commentary so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) def. The Hardys (Matt & Jeff)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Matt Jackson and Jeff Hardy locked up. Jeff used an atomic drop and then a neck breaker on Matt Jackson. Jeff tagged in Matt Hardy. The Hardys planted Nick Jackson onto Matt Jackson. Matt Hardy power bombed Matt Jackson. Nick tagged in and cleaned house on the Hardys. Nick faceplanted Matt Hardy. The Jacksons hit Risky Business on Matt Hardy. Nick went over the top rope and wiped out the Hardys on the floor. Matt Hardy rallied back with a Side Effect on Matt Jackson. Jeff and Nick tagged in for their respective teams. Jeff Hardy dropkicked Nick and went for the pin but Matt Jackson broke it up. Jeff Hardy jumped off the top rope with Whisper in the Wind for a near fall on Nick Jackson! Nick Jackson connected with a superkick to Jeff Hardy. The Young Bucks hit the 3D on Jeff Hardy for a two-count. The Hardys laid out the Bucks. Jeff jumped onto Nick with a Swanton Bomb, but Matt Jackson broke up the pin this time. Jeff spiked Nick with the Twist of Fate. Matt Hardy superkicked Jeff off the top rope. The Bucks blasted Matt with the BTE Trigger and pinned him!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: FTW Championship Match – Jack Perry def. Rob Van Dam
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jack Perry was wearing Jerry Lynn-inspired ring attire. Jack Perry blindsided RVD as Justin Roberts was making the ring introductions. RVD nailed Jack Perry with a leg lariat in the corner. Jack Perry gouged RVD’s eyes. RVD hoisted up Jack Perry and then dropped him on the ring barricade. He followed up with a spinning leg drop to Jack Perry on the outside. Back in the ring, Jack Perry was looking to hit Rolling Thunder on Jack Perry, but RVD dodged it. RVD monkey flipped Jack Perry halfway across the ring. He followed up by using his educated feet to smash a steel chair into Jack Perry’s face. RVD crushed Jack Perry with the Rolling Thunder onto a steel chair for a near fall. Jack Perry dodged a split legged moonsault. Jack Perry threw a chair at RVD, but it inadvertently hit the referee, knocking Bryce to the mat. RVD shoved Jack Perry off the top rope. Jack Perry crash landed through a table on the arena floor! RVD climbed to the top rope and smashed Jack Perry with the 5 Star Frog Splash! Ref Aubrey Edwards sprinted to the ring to make the count, but Jack Perry kicked out at two! As RVD was questioning Aubrey’s count, Jack Perry hit RVD with a low blow from behind. Jack Perry cradled RVD, holding onto RVD’s trunks, and scored the pin.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) def. The Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The Lucha Bros snuck up from behind and blindsided Mox and Claudio with thrust kicks. They took flight, jumping over the top rope and landed on Claudio and Moxley! Rey Fenix followed up with a tope suicida to Moxley. Penta smashed Claudio with the Made in Japan for a near fall! Rey Fenix connected with a diving cross body on Claudio, but Claudio retaliated with European Uppercuts to the Lucha Bros. Moxley tagged in and battered Penta El Zero Miedo in the corner. Moxley double DDT’ed the Lucha Bros. As the ref was distracted, Wheeler Yuta rocked Rey Fenix by smashing him in the skull with the ROH World Championship! Claudio pressed up Rey Fenix into a cutter from Moxley for a near fall. The BCC cut the ring in half, keeping Rey Fenix in their corner. Moxley nailed Fenix with a spike piledriver for a near fall. Rey Fenix countered the Doomsday Device by rolling through and stomping on Claudio’s chest. Penta El Zero Miedo tagged in and hit a DDT on Moxley. He followed up with a back stabber on Claudio. Fenix attempted a frog splash, but Claudio rolled out of the way. Claudio and Rey Fenix exchanged forearms in the center of the ring. Claudio headbutted Rey Fenix but Fenix fired back with a heel kick! Penta tagged in, jumped off the top rope, but Claudio countered with a European Uppercut. Moxley dared Penta to hit him. They traded chops, going toe to toe. The Lucha Bros stuffed Moxley with a stalling spiked piledriver for a near fall! Rey Fenix climbed to the top rope, as the Lucha Bros were looking for the Fear Factor. Wheeler Yuta jumped up and tried to grab Fenix’s boot Alex Abrahantes pulled Yuta down off the apron! Rey Fenix moonsaulted onto Yuta on the arena floor! Moxley cradled Penta El Zero Miedo, pulled his trunks, and pinned him! They had also torn Penta’s mask, so Penta was preoccupied with covering up his face.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: AEW Women’s World Championship Match – Hikaru Shida def. Anna Jay
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Shida and Anna Jay locked up. Shida shoved Anna Jay to the mat. Anna Jay slapped Shida in the face. Shida staggered Anna Jay with a jumping knee strike. Shida battered Anna Jay with stiff strikes and then suplexed the challenger. Anna cracked Shida with a heel kick. Shida pulled a chair out from beneath the ring. She set it up and ran to launch herself off the chair, but Angelo Parker jumped in the way, preventing Shida from jumping. Anna Jay grabbed a distracted Shida and planted her face first onto the steel ring steps. Anna applied the Queen Slayer to Shida. Shida was fading fast, but Shida broke the grip of Anna Jay. Anna jumped onto Shida’s back. Shida climbed up the turnbuckles and fell backwards onto Anna Jay. Shida hit the Falcon Arrow on Anna Jay, but Anna Jay was able to kick out at the two-count. Shida nailed Anna Jay with the Katana and pinned her!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Only four matches? On a two-hour show? What is this, the WWE? For me personally, FAR too much time was spent on in-ring promos this week. The opening JAS segment was weak, whilst the Adam Cole/MJF stuff ran out of steam the longer it went on. Luckily the matches were good, with the BCC/Lucha Brois match, as usual, being the highlight of the show. Nice to see the women main event this week, with Shida getting a great performance out of Anna Jay – I honestly can’t wait to see Shida at Wembley later this month!
