‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Sept 13th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast live from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. We’ve got Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Taz on commentary so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: AEW International Championship Match – Jon Moxley def. Big Bill
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Moxley used some round kicks to try to topple Big Bill. Bill blasted the champ with a massive right hand. Big Bill followed up with overhand chops. Big Bill was taking the fight right to Moxley and manhandling him. Moxley fired off two clotheslines, but Bill booted Mox in the head, knocking him out of the ring. Ricky Starks kicked Moxley outside the ring. Moxley reversed an Irish whip and sent Big Bill into the steel ring steps. Big Bill sent Jon Moxley over the timekeeper’s table. Moxley was busted wide open! Back in the ring, Moxley regained momentum and dug his fingers into Big Bill’s flesh! Moxley superplexed Big Bill. Big Bill hit the Bossman Slam on Jon Moxley for a near fall. Moxley and Big Bill traded shots in the center of the ring. Moxley countered a boot with a King Kong lariat for a two-count. Moxley punished Big Bill with the hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Moxley planted Big Bill with a cutter, but Big Bill rolled out of the ring. Moxley climbed to the top rope, but Ricky shoved Mox as the ref was checking on Big Bill. Bryan Danielson sprinted to the ring and peppered Ricky Starks with right hands, evening up the odds! Starks whipped Danielson into the ring steps. Big Bill chokeslammed Big Bill for a near fall on Moxley. Big Bill tried to hoist up Moxley with a chokeslam, but Moxley countered with a submission hold and forced Big Bill to tap out!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Women’s World Title Eliminator Four Way Match – Toni Storm def. Dr. Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida & Nyla Rose
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The winner will face AEW Women’s Champion Saraya next week at Grand Slam. Nyle Rose plowed into Baker and Shida with double clotheslines. Toni Storm shoved Shida into Britt Baker, with Baker tumbling out of the ring. Shida followed up with a crossbody onto the women on the arena floor. Shida nailed Baker with a brain buster. Baker was looking for a thrust kick on Shida, but Shida turned around and Baker stopped herself. Nyla Rose chokeslammed Britt Baker. Shida cracked Nyla with the Katana Kick. As Shida was going for the cover, Britt Baker blasted Shida with a thrust kick. Toni Storm saw the opening, rolled up Britt Baker, and pinned her, stealing the victory!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: “Hangman” Adam Page def. “The Machine” Brian Cage
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Cage clocked Page with an elbow strike. Page retaliated with two big boots to Brian Cage. Hangman hit a lariat off the turnbuckles to the Machine. Hangman went over the top rope, but Brian Cage intercepted him. Page reversed a powerbomb with a hurracanrana, sending Brian Cage into the steel ring post. Brian Cage nearly decapitated Page with a lariat. Page sent Cage into the ropes after a hurracanrana. Page hit the area code shot on Cage. Swerve Strickland’s music hit, and Swerve walked out onto the ramp! Cage took advantage of the distraction and hurled Cage from the ring apron on the outside to the inside of the ring with a German Suplex! Brian Cage powerslammed Page and followed up with a moonsault, but Hangman dodged it. Hangman rocked Brian Cage with a lariat, the momentum carrying both men over the top rope and onto the floor. Hangman jumped off the top rope and Cage caught him again. Adam Page countered with a crucifix bomb. Hangman climbed to the top turnbuckle and hit Cage with a moonsault on the arena floor! Hangman followed up with a big crossbody press for a near fall on the Machine. Brian Cage dazed Page with a German Suplex. Hangman swept out Cage’s legs. Hangman attempted the Buckshot Lariat, but Cage countered, but Page fired back with a Deadeye in the center of the ring, scoring the pin!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Darby Allin & Nick Wayne def. Matt Menard & Angelo Parker
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
As the match started, Christian Cage and TNT Champion Luchasaurus walked onto the ramp and then joined the broadcast booth. Christian Cage said Nick Wayne needed a better mentor than Darby Allin. Nick Wayne clipped Matt Menard with an enziguri. Jake Hager grabbed Darby from outside the ring. Matt Menard powerbombed Nick Wayne. Darby tagged in and nailed Menard and Parker with the Coffin Splash! He followed up with a dropkick in the corner on both men. Darby connected with a Code Red on Parker for a near fall. Nick grabbed a blind tag and walloped Parker with Wayne’s World. Matt Menard pulled Parker out of the pinning predicament. Darby flew off the apron with a senton on Menard. Darby hit the Coffin Drop on Parker and pinned him!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Grand Slam World Title Eliminator Tournament Finals – Samoa Joe def. Roderick Strong
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Samoa Joe applied a wrist lock and then headbutted Roddy’s hands, trying to neutralize Roddy’s infamous chops. Roderick Strong was wiped out with a shoulder tackle from Samoa Joe. Joe followed up with jabs in the corner, breaking down Strong in the corner. Roddy rallied back with a quick kick to Samoa Joe’s face. Strong connected with a dropkick. Strong cranked on Joe’s neck. Samoa Joe nailed Roddy with the Manhattan Drop and followed up with a senton. Samoa Joe powerslammed Roderick Strong for a near fall. Roddy escaped a powerbomb and staggered Joe with a shoulder tackle. Roddy blasted Joe with a knee strike underneath the jaw. Samoa Joe planted Strong with a uranage! Samoa Joe was looking for the Muscle Buster, but Mike Bennett jumped on the apron to distract Samoa Joe. Roderick Strong stunned Samoa Joe with the Sick Kick for a near fall. Samoa Joe battered Roderick Strong out of the air and then applied the submission, forcing Roderick Strong to tap out! Samoa Joe will be facing AEW World Champion MJF next week on Dynamite: Grand Slam!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Well this was a bit of a letdown from the highs of last week and pretty much all of AEW since All In London. Only five matches, and far too many long-drawn-out and flubbed promos (talk about people stumbling over their words, jeez!) made this episode a bit of a chore to sit through. Even Jon Moxley could saved this episode from mediocrity. What did help pull this one out of the doldrums was a great match between Adam Page and Brian Cage, and the main event between Samoa Joe and Roderick Strong – and I’ll admit, I really HATE Strong’s current “injured neck”, whining persona, but he can still go when it comes to wrestling. He just needs to drop the crappy gimmick! Probably a show you could just watch the highlights of on AEW’s YouTube channel.
