‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Aug 21st 2024)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast from the Utilta Arena in Cardiff, Wales. We’ve got Excalibur, Taz and Tony Schiavone on commentary, so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: Chris Jericho def. “Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Billington used an arm drag to take down Jericho. Billington hit Jericho with a shoulder tackle and a body slam. Billington connected with a dropkick. Billington whipped Jericho in the steel guardrail. As the ref was distracted, Big Bill rammed Dynamite Kid into the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Jericho landed a lionsault for a near fall. Billington fired back with a German Suplex. Jericho swept out Billington’s legs and applied the Walls. Billington managed to reach the ropes to force the ref to break the hold. Billington nailed Jericho with a snap suplex. He followed up with a tombstone piledriver on Jericho. Tommy climbed to the top turnbuckle and wiped out Bryan Keith outside the ring with a dive! Tommy side stepped Big Bill! Tommy climbed back up and went for the diving headbutt, but Jericho countered with the Code Breaker and picked up the pin!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: AEW Women’s World Championship Match – Toni Storm def. Saraya
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Saraya kicked Toni in the midsection. Toni employed some catch-as-catch-can wrestling for a near fall on Saraya. Saraya rag dolled Toni with knee strikes. Saraya followed up with a cannonball off the apron, flattening the champion on the arena floor. Champion and challenger slugged it out in the ring. Toni drilled Saraya with a DDT and followed up with a fisherman’s suplex for a two-count. Saraya stunned Toni with the Knight Cap for a near fall. Saraya caught Toni with a DDT and covered Toni, but Toni grabbed the bottom rope to stop the ref’s count. Toni planted Saraya with a Sky High. Harley jumped on the ring apron to distract the referee, but Toni grabbed Harley and planted a kiss on her! Saraya tried to blindside Toni, but Toni moved out of the way and Saraya inadvertently collided with Harley who was still on the apron. Toni rolled up Saraya for a near fall. Toni kissed Saraya and then scored the victory after hitting the Storm Zero on Saraya!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: AEW Continental Championship Match – Kazuchika Okada vs. Claudio Castagnoli
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Claudio ducked a rainmaker attempt and stunned Okada with a European Uppercut. Okada hit the ropes and charged at Claudio with a big back elbow. Claudio planted Okada with a vertical suplex. Claudio tried for the Giant Swing, but Okada kicked his way out of Claudio’s grasp. Okada and Claudio traded forearms. Okada spiked Claudio with a DDT. Okada followed up with a neck breaker for a near fall. Both men tumbled over the top rope to the floor after Claudio clocked Okada with a lariat. Claudio hoisted up Okada with a gut wrench suplex and then smashed Okada with a double foot stomp. Okada dropkicked Claudio off the turnbuckles, sending Claudio to the arena floor. Okada and Claudio jockeyed for position on the turnbuckles. Okada sent Claudio stumbling back into the ring with a headbutt. Okada connected with a John Woo style dropkick. Okada followed up with an elbow drop from the top rope. Claudio grabbed Okada out of nowhere and took Okada for a ride with the Giant Swing! Claudio connected with an upper cut. Claudio was looking for the Neutralizer, but Okada countered with a neck breaker! There was one minute remaining in the match. Okada and Claudio exchanged strikes in the center of the ring. Claudio cracked Okada with the pop-up uppercut! Claudio stomped on Okada’s chest for a near fall and then time expired! The official decision for the match was a time limit draw.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #4: Darby Allin & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) def. The Elite (The Young Bucks – Matthew & Nicholas Jackson, and Jack Perry)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Both teams began to brawl right out of the gate! The bell rang and Jack Perry and Dax Harwood squared off. Darby tagged in and Jack Perry tagged out. Darby jumped out of the ring with a tope suicida on Jack Perry! Darby nailed the Bucks with a Coffin Drop from the top. Nicholas fired back with a kick to Darby while Darby was on Matthew’s shoulders. The Elite triple teamed Darby with Perry buckle bombing Darby into a pair of superkicks from the Bucks. Dax sent Jack flying with German Suplexes and then a brain buster for a near fall. Cash came in and cleaned house on the Elite. The Bucks went for the EVP Trigger, but Cash avoided it. FTR swept out the legs of the Bucks and locked on Sharpshooters. Meanwhile Darby applied the pressure on Jack Perry with a Scorpion Deathlock. Jack Perry planted Darby with a Scorpion Death Drop! Darby dodged a running knee strike and FTR wiped out Perry with the Shatter Machine! FTR hit the Power and Glory combo on Matthew, and then Darby finished off Matthew with the Coffin Drop to win the match via pinfall!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
Now I would normally complain about the lack of matches on Dynamite, especially as this was only a four-match show and state how there were far too many promos, backstage segments etc, on the show, but… This episode of Dynamite did more to build excitement for All In than ANY other episode of AEW television this entire month! I think the Welsh crowd added a LOT to this week’s show and that, coupled with some stunning promos – especially that last speech by Bryan Danielson, elevated this show far and above what it would have been on a “normal” week. Plus we got a goddamn stone-cold classic between Claudio and Okada that is up there for match of the year, even with the time-limit draw ending! An unmissable show this week folks!
