Reviews by Dave
By David E Houston II
Show air date: April 21, 2021
AEW Dynamite was pretty good this week, with some normal AEW flaws. Jim Ross got in references for Killer Karl Kox, Dick Murdoch, Danno O’mahoney (!!!),Harley Race and Hacksaw Butch Reed. He was getting it and I’m jealous.
Adam Page defeated Ricky Starks
Hangman Page got a nice win over “Absolute” Ricky Starks in a very good match to start the show. It still doesn’t make sense for Taz to have a member of his Team Taz in a big match and he goes to do commentary, leaving his son–looking like an extra from Sha Na Na–at ringside to look “tough”. Page wins, Hook (ew) and “The Machine” Brian Cage put a beatdown on him and he’s rescued the Dark Order.
Penta El Zero Meido defeated Trent?
Everyone should love their job like Alex Abrahantes, the translator for Penta El Zero Meido, who faced Trent? in another good match. I appreciate Jim Ross asking why Trent’s name is now a question and the answer apparently is “I don’t know. They just let these mofos do what they want.” While the match was good, the finish was a bit overbooked as Trent? got distracted by Abrahantes talking about his mother and Orange Cassidy getting involved, ref distracted…yawn.
The Pinnacle Interview
The Pinnacle–MJF, Wardlow, Shawn Spears, and FTR–give an interview to Jim Ross and it was fine. Much like their Inner Circle rivals, it’s a one man centered group and that relegates some top talent to flunky roles when they should be all doing their own thing with their own goals. It’s hard to find anyone doing factions right.
Hikaru Shida (c) defeated Tay Conti
for the AEW Women’s World Championship
AEW Women’s World champion Hikaru Shida successfully defended her title against Tay Conti of the Dark Order. Solid match. Conti continued to show she’s improved but she’s still a big-time work in progress. Her selling can be bizarre at times. Shida hits her Witch’s Shot turnbuckle move to Conti’s back and Tay sells her stomach. Nah sis. Dr. Britt Baker DMD steps out and, thanks to some help from the graphic dept, reveals she’s the new number, one contender. Good segment.
Great promo from Miro
He’ll be wearing gold by the summer.
Inner Circle Interview
Inner Circle had an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone. It was what it was. At least this time he let the other guys get in some lines but they weren’t particularly good lines. How is it a “bitch move” for guys to get a crew to face the Inner Circle? ‘Splain that, Santana.
QT Marshall defeated Billy Gunn
QT Marshall beat Billy Gunn in a decent enough match. Nothing special and seemed to focus on all the extracurricular stuff like Gunn’s kids getting into it with Marshall’s Factory students Aaron Solow and Nick Comoroto and Anthony Ogogo landing one of his body shots on Gunn behind the ref’s back (they made the refs look real stupid this week) to set up Marshall’s win. Ogogo looked sharp as usual and when I saw that wooden chair and Dustin Rhodes came out to save Gunn, I was hoping for a Big Bubba Rogers spot and they gave it to me with Nick Comoroto.
Why Are They Still Doing This?
A basically nothing segment with The Elite–World champion Kenny Omega, tag champs the Young Bucks, the Good Brothers, and Don Callis–where they put themselves over and give a slight plug to Omega chasing the Impact World title. Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston interrupt them and frankly, I didn’t care. Why are they still doing this? Move on.
Christian Cage defeated Powerhouse Hobbs
Christian Cage defeated Powerhouse Hobbs of Team Taz in a very good, well structured match that saw the smaller veteran in Cage have to extend the match and catch Hobbs out of nowhere with his big finish–the Killswitch–to win. They did explain why Taz was at commentary rather than ringside this time.
All the AEW managers vying for Jade Cargill?
Interesting. It worked for Randy Savage in the WWF in 86 and it should work here.
Btw, seems everyone has a long win streak going. Who the hell is doing the losing?
Main Event: Darby Allin (c) defeated Jungle Boy
for the TNT Championship
TNT Champion Darby Allin successfully defended his title against the challenge of Jungle Boy Jack Perry in the main event, the second consecutive week Allin defended the title in the main event and a whole notch better than his match last week with Matt Hardy. With Perry being the most pure of white meat babyface, it was refreshing seeing Allin work a little grittier and dirty as a defending champion should. Even Sting seemed to be coming across a little closer to the “dark” side, getting into a scuffle with Luchasaurus outside the ring, down the walkway.
Fans chanting “This is awesome!” way too fast aside, this was a very good and athletic match and another good match for both young men. Finally putting everyone on notice of their new alliance, Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page (who couldn’t wait to rip off his shirt because he knows he’s the new Lex Luger) hit the ring and attack both men. For some reason, Lance Archer tries to make the save but needs saving his damn self by Sting and his bat. Good show but I don’t know why every match has to be on the floor with them. Mix it up sometimes. Great week of spotlighting their young talent.
Thanks for reading!
