Reviews by Dave
By David E Houston II
Show air date: June 18, 2021
AEW Dynamite was an uneven show where the good was really good but when it was off the rails, it did it to death.
Jake Hager defeated Wardlow
AEW Dynamite started immediately with Jake Hager of the Inner Circle facing Wardlow of the Pinnacle in a “MMA” bout. Nah bruh. You would have to hate MMA to think this was any good.
It didn’t make sense as a fight at all. You would not know from looking that Hager ever made a dime fighting for real, much less undefeated in 3 fights. He won, of course, and then they did a bunch of…stuff. Chris Jericho, with a compromised arm, beat up Shawn Spears and Wardlow.
The one true highlight was MJF knocking down Dean Malenko in a real heat seeking moment (don’t smile, Max. It cools off the heat.). Then Sammy Guevara runs down by himself and all of them run from him. Starting off rough.
Team Taz Promo
Good backstage promo with Team Taz.
Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky defeated Darby Allin
“All Ego” Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky beat Darby Allin in a handicap match. Allin was foolish to accept the challenge and acquitted himself well but fell to superior numbers. Good match to be honest with the right side winning.
A Goofy But Solid Segment
AEW World champion Kenny Omega (with the freshly fired Don Callis and flunky, Michael Nakazawa, in tow) interrupts the backstage interview of Jungle Boy Jack Perry, dressed down in a v-neck so he could fight Perry on the spot. Of course, they jump him. Nakazawa must have the hardest laptop in the world. A goofy but solid segment with the champion and his challenger next week.
Are Any of the People in the HFO Benefiting From This?
Another backstage interview, this time with Big Money Matt Hardy and the Hardy Family Office, as he threatens Christian Cage. This is okay, but I don’t see how any of the people in HFO are benefitting from this.
Cody Rhodes and Brock Anderson defeated QT Marshall and Aaron Solow
Cody Rhodes and the debuting Brock Anderson, son of Arn, beat QT Marshall and Aaron Solow. To their credit, AEW has shown an ability to structure matches in a way to protect rookies (Jade Cargill, Shaquille O’Neal) so it was fine as a match. Did Team Cody have to win? No. Should they have? No. But…
Good to have Jake “The Snake” cutting promos for Lance Archer again. Miro beast modes the Varsity Blonds.
So Vickie Booking Herself in Matches Now?
Vickie Guerrero says Tony Khan let her book a match and instead of booking her charge, Nyla Rose, into a title match, she books herself and Rose into a tag match with champion Dr. Britt Baker, DMD, and Rebel. Huh? What?
FTR and Proud and Powerful Promo
Loved the competing promos from FTR and Santana and Ortiz (finally called “Proud and Powerful” on TV).
Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling Work Well Together
Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling click very well.
Main Event: The Super Elite defeated Eddie Kingston, Penta El Zero Miedo, and Frankie Kazarian
The Super Elite team of Matt Jackson and the Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) won the main event over Eddie Kingston, Penta, and Frankie Kazarian in a good main event. The second match I thought the wrong team won but these guys put in some good, fast-paced work and closed the show a lot stronger than it started.
Good show in a lot of ways but man, they really had some “Who booked this sh–?” moments.
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