Posted on 5/18/123 by Colin Vassallo
AEW Dynamite tonight comes to us from the Moody Center in
Austin, Tx. After last week drawing 877,000 & 0.32 in the
18-49 demo.
First thoughts on Collision? The artwork sucks – looks too
much like Nitro. As the Ed. noted in the newsletter, though
he’s not a miserable bastard like me so he was being
positive.
Second thoughts, no brand split = good.
*****
Continuing the WCW theme, a wolf’s howl kicked off the show
as Wardlow headed to the ring. Healthy ‘Wardlow’ chant from
what looks a healthy crowd. Straight to business, the big
man said Christian last week made a lot of promises he
wonders if the vet’ll follow through on, demanding he come
out and try to spit in his face.
Captain Cheap Heat obliged, Luchasaurus in tow. Face to
face, neither with a mic, Christian said Wardlow was done as
champ, Wardlow grabbed him by the throat, he and Luchasaurus
slugged it out, Cage was about to be powerbombed when
Saurus’ distraction allowed Cage to hit a low blow.
The vet launching shots from the mount after beckoning
Saurus to grab a ladder. Hope this isn’t going where I
think it is. He then had Luchasaurus chokeslam Wardlow onto
the propped-up ladder, bending it in half. Cage then posed
with the belt.
Wardlow continues to be booked into the ground. He looked
stupid here, calling out the heels and quickly getting his
ass kicked. And this is not a match that needs or is ready
for a stip. like a ladder. Nor should Christian be
competing in one at his age. He’s done enough of them.
*****
They then recapped Don Callis’ attack on Kenny Omega last
week. He’ll attempt to explain his actions later.
*****
And of course, there’s only one man who can open up
Dynamite:
Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy vs Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
Backstory: None
Both heels came out to Moriarty’s theme. Why did they sign
Big Bill again? And why are Firm members teaming up after
it was ‘deleted’?
Cassidy’s back was all taped-up as Moriarty fired uppercuts
before the two rolled in and out of one-counts, the crowd
counting along with every number. Hands in the pockets, he
propelled Moriarty up into the air with his feet then tagged
Darby as Big Bill came in too.
Dumping the title contender with ease via spinning
chokeslam. Allin paint-brushed him, bridged him outside,
propelled Moriarty into him before both faces hit stereo
suicides to a nice response from the crowd. Excalibur put
across that they’d been teaming on house shows, the crowd
hot for both as the ads arrived.
Bill was on top as we returned, Cassidy in a delayed suplex,
Allin tagging himself in but the ref didn’t see. The crowd
hot at that as Bill mocked Cassidy’s pockets thing – Orange
leapfrogged free but his back seized-up and he couldn’t get
the tag.
Moriarty in to block it too, Cassidy slipped behind out of a
suplex and collapsed into the tag, Allin launching a
springboard at both, crashing into each repeatedly across
opposite corners until being snatched into a chokeslam but
fighting his way free.
Moriarty went after his leg, both heels in for ages
simultaneously until Bill bagged two via a nice Bossman
slam. ‘Let’s go Darby!’ This crowd is great so far.
Fighting free of a double team, he tagged Cassidy: tornado
ddt to Bill, Moriarty rolled him up for two, spinning slam
into a crossface, Cassidy fought free, tag to Allin, both
set Moriarty atop the buckle before dragging him off via
superplex. Orange again selling the back as Bill came in to
run through both faces via clothesline.
A Big Bill suplex was turned into a very lick stundog/code
red combo, another double team leading to a Beach Break on
Moriarty, Cassidy Orange Punched Bill off the apron as Allin
came off the top via Coffin Drop. Only to haul Moriarty up
to pin him via headlock takeover.
Message sent.
Really good opener with two guys the crowd loved, great
energy, great synergy too from what could be an excellent
babyface tag team.
Only nitpick, I kinda accept the ‘anyone’s legal’ stuff in
trios and Lucha matches. But it’s too much in tags. And
happened throughout here.
Winner: Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy
Alex Marvez with the Bucks in the parking lot looking for an
update on Kenny, getting no further than ‘He’s banged up’
before the BCC (sans Danielson) circled behind. Nick was
dumped on a car’s hood by Claudio, Yuta blasted Matt’s arm
into a car too. Mox said ‘We are the Elite in this
business, the only Elite in this business’.
Nice line which would’ve been a much simpler and better way
to explain this feud at the outset.
*****
Wardlow being looked over by the doc. An angry Arn Anderson
approached, saying he should’ve been out there. Asking
Wardlow to stop protecting him. He’s seen what Christian
can do, ‘what’re you prepared to do?’
And yep, the champ demanded a ladder match. This shocked
the announcers. This match is such awful booking. It’s a
stip for the sake of a stip. Utterly meaningless.
*****
Renee backstage with Orange to ask about Kyle Fletcher. He
told any contenders that if they wanted a shot they could go
see Tony Khan and ask to face him at Double or Nothing. A
concerned Renee asked for a chair for the suffering champ.
Sammy Guevara vs Exodus Prime
Backstory: None
Knee strike, GTHH, which this week stood for Go The Hell
Home.
Grabbing a mic, he talked about the struggles he’d had here
before getting to AEW but they all made him who he is today.
He’s not perfect, he’s made mistakes. Sometimes it takes a
few wrong turns to get to the right place. And the right
place is at DoN.
He listens to what’s in his heart. And his heart says he
will be the new AEW champ. Mic drop.
This is either the strangest U-turn from money-grubbing heel
to follow your dreams babyface in history. Or it’s setting
up a Swerve Bro! at the ppv as Sammy does indeed lay down
for the money.
Decent number of cheers here for Sammy.
Winner: Sammy Guevara
Package recapping all Four Pillars from their starts in the
company until now. Nothing special.
*****
Schiavone called Jarrett, Lethal etc. to the ring. Dutt had
guitars with ‘Dax’ and ‘Cash’ written on them. As FTR
attacked from behind, shoving Singh off the stage, brawling
with the J’s, Dax undressing Lethal as Cash smacked Jarrett
which a chair.
‘FTR’ chants from the crowd as they brought Jarrett into the
ring, readying the Shatter Machine until Karen Ang – sorry
Jarrett low blowed them. Yaaaay, the whole family’s here.
Anyone else from TNA want to join? There’s a new show
coming.
Singh recovered just in time to chokeslam both champs before
they broke yet more guitars. Still no dimes drawn, RIP Mike
Graham.
They posed with the belts. Gee, what a novel ending after a
heel attack. That last happened a whole thirty minutes ago.
*****
Renee with Darby. The headlock takeover was a direct
message to MJF. As Sammy interrupted, to say he took
Darby’s words to heart a few weeks ago when he told him to
stop being a follower. Whoever it is, ‘one of us needs to
take the belt off that prick’. Sammy held out a fist, Allin
reciprocated – ‘May the best man win’.
I’ve both really liked and hated parts of this story. But
at the very least I’m intrigued at where the characters will
end up. There’s a decent chance any one of the three will
turn at the ppv.
Britt Baker & Hikaru Shida vs the Outcasts (Toni Storm &
Ruby Soho)
Backstory: Short-ish version – Shida sided with the
Originals after returning recently, tricking and destroying
the Outcasts with a kendo stick
Jamie’s not cleared here (not sure if that’s legit or
story), so the six-person’s been made a tag. Presumably
this sets up Hayter’s challenger for the ppv she doesn’t
have one?
Shida has new music. Didn’t like it as much as her previous
theme on first listen. As they replayed her return last
week. She and Britt fist-bumped before making their way
down to the ring.
Where the heels raced at them: Shida countered a hip attack
via hurracanrana, dumping Soho onto Storm via snap suplex
before throwing punches in the corner, the crowd solidly
behind her.
Missile dropkick to Ruby, who blocked a suplex and tagged
out, Storm stomping away, Shida briefly fighting back but
cut off only to come back via enziguri, tag to Britt, flurry
of shots to the face, spinning neckbreaker, two slaps of the
mat.
Curb Stomp ready, Saraya grabbed her leg, setting up Toni
hip-attacking her off the apron, where Saraya threw knees to
the gut while the ref was being read a bedtime story. Baker
back inside, being stomped down in the corner two-on-one as
the break beckoned.
Boot up in the corner, Baker hit a neckbreaker to Toni, both
down, Shida ready for the tag, Britt struggling, finally
getting there, Ruby in too. Elbow strikes exchanged, Soho
down to her knees before a running elbow dropped her, Storm
and Saraya fought off, all three heels sent outside where
Shida hit a diving cross body. The crowd hot for her again
as she bagged two on Soho after a leaping knee.
Storm in illegally once more, Shida fought her off, Falcon
Arrow to Ruby for two. Britt in, butterfly suplex, meteora
off the top from Shida, Storm made the save as Britt forced
Toni to ddt her own partner.
Lockjaw ready, Ruby rolled her up for two, hit No Future,
tag to Storm, Britt countered into an air raid crash, hit
the stomp, Saraya hit the apron, the ref was with her for
ages AGAIN, Storm used the spraypaint to bag the pin.
The refs in AEW must have to pool braincells just to open
the door to their locker room.
Largely fun match before the best crowd for a women’s match
in ages. Shame about the usual lame interference. Shida
exceptionally over and looked really good. Excalibur
emphasized Storm’s recent winning record. So seems it’s a
rematch from Full Gear for the belt.
Winner: the Outcasts
Renee with Cassidy once more. Apparently twenty people went
to talk to Tony. Cassidy said he guesses he’ll fight them
all. In a Black Jack Battle Royal since he makes 21.
Unless Renee wants to be in it too? She declined.
Really hope this isn’t where he loses it. They’ve done such
a good job emphasizing how beat up he is that he really
needs to lose it in a singles. Preferably to a heel who’s
had more than a slither of tv time.
*****
They finally remembered there was a big grudge match
tonight, the first mention of Jericho/Strong. So either
Starks/White or Perry/Rush is the main event. Neither seems
like one. Then again, neither does Jericho/Strong.
*****
Tony Khan reiterated the earlier announcement of Collision,
the new show on Saturday nights. Pretty muted crowd
response. Ton of the first episodes in Canada, including
the night before Forbidden Door. Next week, he’ll announce
where the premiere will be taking place (It was certainly
supposed to be Chicago, though there was no mention of Punk
today when WBD announced the show).
Chris Jericho vs Roderick Strong, Falls Count Anywhere, JAS
& Adam Cole banned from the building
Backstory: Strong challenged Jericho last week after he
again called his friend Cole a coward, Jericho accepted
thinking he had the JAS in his pocket, only for Strong to
have them banned
After the heel Jericho was sung to the ring, the face Strong
attacked while he had his back turned, hitting a ton of
running elbow strikes and chops until a chop battle ensued,
ended by a Strong knee lift before a suplex bagged an early
two.
Another exchange saw Jericho clothesline Strong outside, the
pair fighting on the apron where Strong hit a belly to back.
Count of two on the outside. Where Strong fired more stiff
chops and forearms; Jericho responding via knee to the gut
then flinging Strong into the table at ringside.
Jericho’s chest bleeding as they made their way back inside.
Where a Codebreaker was blocked, Jericho countered back into
the Walls, synching back, right in the middle, Strong
finally grabbing the bottom rope, tumbling outside to bring
the break.
Up in the stands with the fans, Strong bagged two on the
stairs, the pair making their way into the arena corridors.
As Excalibur announced that Superstar Billy Graham just
passed away. RIP. While Jericho smashed Strong through a
table via suplex. Not the best timing but can’t be helped.
Brawling along the corridor, a flood of fans following,
Jericho went after Strong with a stanchion as the crowd
loudly chanted ‘Y2J’. They fought onto a ledge above some
stairs, exchanging more stinging chops, count of two for
Jericho. Before coming back into the corridor, flurry from
Strong, he poured ice cream onto Jericho before eating some
himself, and why the hell not! Looked good too.
The brawl continuing, Jericho using something out of trash
can to wipe his face clean, the ‘Y2J’ chants following as
they made their way outside the building, Storm begging off,
as Adam Cole appeared behind the Ocho. That was clever –
Strong leading Jericho to right where Cole could get him.
Cole blasted Jericho with the Boom, Strong hit a leaping
knee to bag the win. A little surprised at Jericho losing
here. Cole kinda got his revenge and Britt certainly wasn’t
selling any after-effects during her match.
Very entertaining brawl.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Jack Perry vs Rush
Backstory: None
Forgoing the shenanigans, a stern-looking Perry marched
straight to the ring. And was immediately sent back out via
clothesline, Rush running him round ringside, aggressively
flinging him into every barricade he saw.
Then repeatedly smashing his head into the barricade before
trash talking MJF via the camera and posing in the ring.
The beating continuing as he flung Perry over the barricade
into the fans as the break beckoned.
Someone needs to teach that ref how to count to ten. Any
kindergarten teachers in the crowd? Perry absolutely
annihilated thus far.
Fighting back, Perry hit a clothesline out of the corner
which Rush no-sold, planting him with a headbutt, Perry
bleeding from the forehead but firing chops, a kick to the
stomach and high dropkick finally taking Rush down, Perry
firing up but running into a thrust kick, Rush heading
upstairs; Perry meeting him up top.
Where another chop fight took place before Perry took him
down via leaping hurracanrana. As Jose grabbed the boot,
didn’t matter, Perry hooked the Snare Trap anyway, right in
the middle; Rush got the ropes.
Should’ve been the finish.
On the apron, Rush tasted Perry’s blood before they
blistered one another once more, Rush then flung a running
Perry off the apron via overhead belly to belly. I audibly
gasped, he came so close to landing right on his head.
Dragging him inside, Rush got two with a cocky one-footed
cover. Then stomped away in the corner before shoving the
ref away; Perry rolled him up for three. What the utter
f***!????
Rush and Vance began beating down Perry, Darby Allin tried
to make the save but got beat down too, the crowd chanting
for Sammy who was supposed to have left the arena.
But evidently decided to return, running through the heels,
he and Darby removing Preston Vance before the three title
challengers locked eyes.
The booking in this match was utter, utter, complete and
total s***. If you asked a first-time viewer which of the
two in that match was going for the title, they would’ve
said Rush. Without hesitation.
In a continuing theme, the action around the booking was
very good. An intense match.
And I do like the emphasis that MJF doesn’t have to lose to
lose his belt, that’s crucial to this match, it’s the only
thing that makes it interesting.
Winner: Jack Perry
MJF backstage with Renee. He’d been watching what just
happened and wasn’t happy. She emphasized that he didn’t
need to be pinned or submitted to lose. He slapped the mic
away. Mox gon’ give it to ya for that.
*****
They replayed footage of Toni Storm injuring Jamie Hayter’s
shoulder as Toni cut a promo saying that while she’s winning
four matches in five nights (they didn’t say where or who
against) Jamie’s doing nothing of the sort. Becoming
angrier as she went, Storm emphasized that she’s not the
same person who faced Jamie in November and if she’s got any
guts she’ll face her at Double or Nothing.
Pretty good promo here, achieving being a little unhinged
without overacting.
Ricky Starks vs Jay White
Backstory: White debuted by attacking Starks, then did so
again after he beat his partner Juice Robinson last week
If Ricky Starks’ win over Jericho at the last ppv had been
followed-up on, if Jay White had been portrayed as a big
deal since arriving, if this feud hadn’t been so stop/start,
this would absolutely be a valid main-event. But none of
those things happened.
Though thinking about it we still haven’t heard from Callis.
Jay White twice bailed outside before taking advantage as
Ricky followed him back in. Didn’t last long, Starks
stomping away in the corner, White again headed outside,
again taking advantage by flinging Starks to the apron.
Starks came back by charging White to the guardrail, then
had a nice interaction with fans at ringside.
Before taking things back inside as chants of ‘Ricky’ and
‘Too Sweet, Whoop Whoop’ competed among the crowd and White
got two after a stun gun. Stiff chops knocked Starks to the
mat, Ricky came back via back body drop then stopped to
pose. Isn’t this a heated rivalry Ricky’s been ranting
about during promos?
Anyway, he again paid for being dumb, pursuing White outside
again and being driven into the apron again before taking
more chops, briefly fighting back until distracted by Juice
Robinson as competing chants again played in the crowd,
about a 50/50 split.
In the corner, Starks was lighting up White with chops and
stomps, White threw a knee to the gut, Ricky rebounded out
of the corner with a big lariat, both guys down. Inverted
atomic, running dropkick, splash in the corner, tornado ddt
blocked but White ran right into an overhead belly to belly.
Tornado ddt this time landed, count of two. Excellent
flurry from Starks.
Who White hit with a quick kick to the midsection and ddt,
very Jake the Snake, following up via running uppercut in
the corner, hauling him up into a German which was blocked
but landing a high-angle uranage. Starks kicked out at two.
White said it was night-night time, looking for the
Bladerunner; Starks fought him off with back elbows but was
dumped outside, almost smacking his previously broken neck
on the apron. White hauled him back in, Starks snagged a
close two via cradle, White back up to drop Starks with a
chop, Ricky hit a swinging neckbreaker then got 2.9 via a
suplex/slam hybrid.
Before readying Roshambeaux, White fought out, both hit the
ropes, Robinson grabbed the boot, White hooked the
Bladerunner, Starks slipped out into a rollup for another
very close two (might’ve been three by mistake), both popped
up to hit the ropes once more, Starks again readied
Roshambeaux, White gouged the eyes to escape.
Robinson came in with a chair, wild swing and a miss, the
ref distracted, Starks smacked Juice across the back then
took the chair to White for the DQ. Very lame finish to cap
a night of poor booking as the crowd booed and Robinson
pulled White to safety.
Clearly there are no special plans for Jay White.
Winner: Jay White via DQ
As we sprinted away to race through upcoming matches. After
announcing nothing for the ppv till 10 days before, they
absolutely blazed through those announcements, barely
pausing for a second on each graphic.
*****
A flood of boos greeted Don Callis, a hoard of security
lined the ramp as the crowd chanted ‘Piece of s***’.
Schiavone asked him ‘Why?’
Instead, Callis wanted to talk about what Kenny did to him.
He’s the victim. After everything he did for Kenny – the
titles he won him, the match against Jericho in New Japan –
‘without me, there is no Kenny Omega’. As Omega’s music
hit. He started attacking security until the BCC attacked.
Mox gave him a ddt on the ramp as Danielson joined them
here. Mox took the mic to give Omega a ‘final warning’ to
‘stay down’, right before the Bucks’ music hit, the duo
limping to the ramp with a garbage can full of weapons, the
announcers emphasizing that it was still three vs four
before Hangman’s music hit, the eye-patch clad Cowboy handed
a broom by Omega, storming to the ring as an all-out brawl
ensued (just read that back, was not intended as a ref. to
Brawl Out).
Omega destroying Yuta with a trash can lid, BTE Trigger from
the Bucks before they held him in place for a Buckshot. The
crowd chanting ‘Cowboy S***’ as Page took the mic to
proclaim that ‘we’ are the ‘heart’ and ‘soul of this place’.
‘We are… the Elite!’ Big cheer from the crowd. As Page
warned the BCC to run and hide while they can because at
Double or Nothing it’s the Elite vs the BCC, Anarchy in the
Arena.
Page had a genuine smile on his face as the four raised each
other’s arms in the ring.
______________________________________________________
Next Rampage (6.30 Eastern):
BCC (it showed all four) vs Best Friends & Bandido
Acclaimed & Daddy Ass vs Varsity Athletes
Jade Cargill open challenge for TBS Title
Bishop Kaun vs Dustin Rhodes
Hear from the Hardys
Next Dynamite:
Lucha Bros vs Claudio & Yuta, ROH Tag Titles
Added to Double or Nothing:
Black Jack Battle Royal for the International Title
Wardlow vs Christian Cage, Ladder Match for TNT Title
Toni Storm vs Jamie Hayter, Women’s Title
The Elite vs BCC, Anarchy in the Arena
Thumbs Up/Down
Fantastic crowd made for a great atmosphere all show long
Very good action all night – the show whizzed by, it
certainly wasn’t boring