Reviews by Dave
By David E Houston II
Show air date: August 11, 2021
AEW Dynamite had a decent show this week. A clear step down from the bangers they’ve put on the last month but good stuff as they’re building for the Rampage debut episode and the All Out pay-per-view. The only thing worth time during MJF’s promo was his jab at Wardlow. The rest, eh.
The Elite defeated The Sydals and Dante Martin
I’d never heard the “The Elite” theme song before. That is some good, douchebag heel entrance music right there. Why have your world champ, Kenny Omega, and world tag champs, The Young Bucks, come out first? Either have the Sydals and Dante Martin come out first or already be in the ring so they don’t come out to crickets so noticeably on national TV. Very well-done trios match that really shined a light on Martin, who got the crowd fully behind him before falling to Omega’s One-Winged Angel and the triple team BTE V-Trigger.
Very Good Segment!
Very good segment immediately after with The Elite facing off with Christian Cage and his allies, Jurassic Express–Jungle Boy Jack Perry and Luchasaurus–where they announced Cage will get an IMPACT World title shot on the Rampage debut and Jurassic Express getting a tag title shot at the Bucks on Dynamite.
Two Great Promos
Great, just great video/promo package by Malakai Black, followed by nearly its equal in one for TNT champion Miro, who will be defending his title against Fuego del Sol on Rampage. AEW hit their “shit” quota pretty fast this week. They can stop this.
Darby Allin defeated Daniel Garcia
Darby Allin (with Sting) beat Daniel Garcia in a good match but since AEW has done nothing to give Garcia any credibility going in, how is he going toe to toe with a top guy? We know AEW. They’re not going to be doing anything with him next week either. The match was too long and way too much NeverRose but they got beat up by Sting so I was happy.
Backstage Death Triangle Promo
PAC’s accent was so thick in that backstage promo from Death Triangle, Alex Abrahantes should translate for him too. Chavo Guerrero Jr with Andrade El Idolo is working well. I hope they keep them together longer than they kept Andrade with Vickie. Andrade vs PAC at All Out should be good.
Hardy Family Office defeated The Best Friends and Wheeler Yuta
Matt Hardy and Private Party–Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy–of the Hardy Family Office beat Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, and Wheeler Yuta. It was fine but it got long and it was overly messy. Hardy got to look like a real jerk but really one of PP should have gotten the pin since they’re somehow the number 3 ranked team.
Santana and Ortiz kept the streak of hot promos going.
Kris Statlander defeated Nyla Rose
Kris Statlander looks to have put herself in a position to challenge for the Women’s title, upsetting former champ, “The Native Beast” Nyla Rose. The work was good but, like the last OC match, a little too much extra.
I had no love for The Young Bucks-Jurassic segment. Reel them in, Tony Khan.
The Promos Were the Strenght of this Show
The promos are the strength of this show as Red Velvet was great as she’s set to challenge for the Women’s title at Rampage. Women’s champion, Dr. Britt Baker DMD, was again red hot with her in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone. Baker does a great job of knowing the fans are getting behind her but still maintaining her heel swagger. Probably shouldn’t have had Velvet come out at all.
Good package on Brian Cage vs Ricky Starks with the only negative was Hook being lame.
The Good Brothers defeated Evil Uno and Stu Grayson
Impact World Tag Team Championship
Impact tag champions, The Good Brothers–Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson–beat Evil Uno and Stu Grayson of the Dark Order. I liked seeing Impact Wrestling Executive Scott D’Amore making an appearance at commentary. Good match.
Nah Bruh! I Had No Love for This Segment
Talk about segments I had no love for, QT Marshall and his Factory proteges Aaron Solo and Nick Comoroto beat up Tony Schiavone’s son and before they beat up Tony, he was saved by…Paul Wight, the commentator. Nah bruh. You got too many young guys back there that would work in this spot.
Main Event: Chris Jericho defeated Wardlow
I know they want this Jericho-MJF thing to be big but this has not held up at all and this week’s Labor of Jericho facing Wardlow was underwhelming.
Wardlow is too green and lumbering to carry a match and “Le What Insurrection?” is clearly too old and not in the shape to carry one either. The bigger, younger guy having the advantage made sense but they took too long. This was one that needed to be shorter. Jericho won with the Judas Effect spinning elbow.
Pinnacle member Shawn Spears jumped Jericho, Sammy Guevara jumped Spears. MJF announced that the Judas Effect will be illegal in his and Jericho’s match. Okay close to a solid show.
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