Reviews by Dave
By David E Houston II
Show air date: July 28, 2021
Being in Charlotte for AEW Dynamite this week. had Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, and Excalibur popping all the old-school references. They hit Johnny Valentine, Wahoo McDaniels, and Don Jardine in the first 60 minutes of TV time alone. This show did its best to live up to the legacy of the building.
The Super Elite defeated The Dark Order and Adam Page
Thrilling opener with World champion Kenny Omega, AEW tag champs the Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson) and Impact tag champs the Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) beating Hangman Page and The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds in a 5 on 5 elimination match with Page and the Dark Order getting AEW title shots if they win.
Put aside Page’s ridiculous moonsault where he doesn’t even look back to make sure his opponent is where they need to be, this was a fun match where they got the most out of the Dark Order as they have in months, eliminated the Good Brothers in the most protected way possible and built up some excellent babyface sympathy for Page, as he was the last man for his team, facing Omega and the Bucks.
A lot of heels do comedy and they do it in a way to get cheers and laughs, diluting any heat they might get. That is not Omega and the SuperElite. They’re heels in a mocking, annoying (and funny) way, like old-school heels like Jim Cornette’s Midnight Express.
New Japan superstar Hiroshi Tanahashi challenges the winner of the Lance Archer-Hikuleo IWGP US title match.
I enjoyed the segment with Andrade El Idolo and Chavo Guerrero Jr. doing their best impression of an NCAA coach as they try to recruit the Lucha Bros from PAC and Death Triangle.
Why Was Hook Out There?
I have no idea why Hook had to be in the ring during Ricky Starks’ FTW title win. Hook standing there with those roses, and looking lost when Brian Cage came out.
FTR defeated Proud and Powerful
FTR-Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood (with Tully Blanchard, working in the original Charlotte Coliseum for the first time I can recall in a long, long time) beat Proud and Powerful (Santana and Ortiz with Konnan) in a solid match. They seemed to be rushing a bit, probably trying to match the opener and they shouldn’t have. Wheeler got cut in a freak accident and they wrapped it up.
Great promo by Women’s champion Dr. Britt Baker, DMD but what else is new.
Who is the Best in the World?
In an interview backstage, Darby Allin–chilling with Sting–spits game at anyone who thinks they’re the best in the world. Hm. Okay. Rampage looks to have a pretty impressive debut set.
Lance Archer (c) defeated Hikuleo
for the NJPW IWGP US Championship
Hikuleo has the looks of a promising young giant but no one cared about this match and it was only “decent”. I’m down for doing business with New Japan but this would have fit better on DARK or Elevation. Made Jim Ross dust off “bowling shoe ugly”.
Black Was The Biggest Babyface
Malakai Black was the biggest babyface of the night, stopping Cody Rhodes from one of his rambling promos. Charlotte loved Dusty and loves Dustin. Cody? Eh. Not so much.
TNT champion Miro never has to wrestle. Dude’s promos are fire enough. Good luck, Lee Johnson.
Jurassic Express and Christian Cage defeated The Hardy Family Office
Jurassic Express and Christian Cage beat the Hardy Family Office (Private Party and Angelico). Fine. Better angle after with the Blade ambushing Cage and laying him out. The 10 lbs Ortiz seems to have lost, Jungle Boy Jack Perry found and he’s filling out well.
Jon Moxley has smoke for Tanahashi. Good promo but they have no one in AEW for him to work with?
Main Event: Chris Jericho defeated Nick Gage
Le “COVID is a hoax but I’m getting my vaccine anyway” Chris Jericho broke out his New Japan “Painmaker” alias for his no-DQ match with modern deathmatch icon Nick “F’N” Gage in Gage’s AEW debut, the second of the Five Labors of Jericho series. Started off sluggish, probably too much “wrestling” and not enough brawling but they picked it up with the big spots with Jericho winning with the Judas Effect elbow.
MJF reveals Labor 3: he has to win his next match with a top rope maneuver against his old WCW rival Juventud Guerrera (great callback). Juvie’s name got a bigger pop than Cody Rhodes.
Pretty wild show. They’ve found another gear and it’s helped tremendously.
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