Reviews by Dave
Show air date: November 18, 2020
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why AEW had a three-person commentary desk and still finds it necessary to add a fourth person for nearly every match. Back to your regular programming…AEW Dynamite was one of those Dynamites that gives me a Nitro vibe at times and at others, gives me a “Stop this.” vibe.
The Young Bucks (c) defeated Top Flight for the AEW World Tag Team Championships
Dynamite opened with the AEW and national TV debut (to my knowledge) of Dante and Darius Martin, Top Flight, facing AEW World tag champions the Young Bucks, Matt, and Nick Jackson.
They gave Top Flight a great introductory video package so of course, they got in a lot of offense against the tag champs.
The match was particularly good when the Martins were on offense because when the Jacksons were on offense, it went right back to the same old super convoluted and overly choreographed moveset we see in all their matches. Bucks with the win but the young fellas looked really good. Top Flight is then attacked at ringside by Jack Evans and Angelico, TH2. Ugh. This also became a theme of the night.
The Inner Circle Goes to Las Vegas
Ya’ll know I have little patience for the Inner Circle-MJF situation. The only redeeming thing about this is watching Ortiz and Sammy Guevara not want MJF in and watching Santana play the middle.
Orange Cassidy defeated Kip Sabian
Orange Cassidy beat Kip Sabian in a match that felt too long. The best part was when Sabian slipped and missed his spot but Cassidy had the wherewithal to grab him and move on so it wasn’t so obvious. Well done. Sabian’s tag partner, “The Best Man” Miro, ran down like a train and beat Cassidy up, until OC’s associates, Best Friends, made the save.
I LOVED the Director X-helmed video. Just awesome.
Moxley, Omega Contract Signing
Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega were scheduled for a contract signing. Moxley cut a very good promo earlier. Moxley got a nose bleed and took a nap on the hallway floor so just Omega signed.
PAC defeated The Blade
“That Bastard” PAC beat the Blade in a match with good work but also went too long. Blade’s “family” the Butcher and Eddie Kingston, who was great on guest commentary, jumped PAC. Former family member Rey Fenix tried to make the save but was overwhelmed until he was saved by his brother, Penta. Looks like the Death Triangle is back together.
Serena Deeb (c) defeated Thunder Rosa for the NWA Women’s World Championship
We didn’t have much time for the AEW women wrestlers, but Jade Cargill got some heat on Brandi Rhodes. Yawn. At least Jade looked awesome and we got cameos by Nyla Rose, Big Swole, and Red Velvet. Next week, they might actually talk or wrestle or something.
Best wrestling match of the show and as good as any match anyone had on TV this week, NWA Women’s World champion Serena Deeb beat the former champion, Thunder Rosa, with her Swiss Special inverted piledriver move (the Pedigree with the arms tucked differently). They did a bit where Dr. Britt Baker jumped Rosa during the match but it played no part in the finish so it was stupid. Baker doubled down on stupid by not knowing Rosa was going to punch her in the mouth after the match.
This is followed by an excellent video package on the returning PAC.
They finally give the Butcher, Blade, Bunny/Nightmare Family angle some TV time with BBB whooping Dustin Rhodes and QT Marshall’s asses backstage.
Main Event: Team Taz defeated Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin
In a good main event, Team Taz–Brian Cage and Ricky Starks–got a strong win over TNT champion Darby Allin and Cody Rhodes when Cage dropped Allin with a Drill Claw off the top rope. Allin and Rhodes weren’t selling Cage’s powerbombs for anything but it was good otherwise. You know what happened next. Team Taz jumped Allin and Rhodes after the match where they were saved by Will Hobbs…until Hobb hit Cody in the face with the FTW title belt and revealed he had joined Team Taz.
A hot way to finish a show. Good start, eh middle, good finish.
