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Winfree’s AEW Dynamite Review 8.31.22
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Hello everyone, Winfree tagging in for Tony tonight but the big man should be back next week. Tonight is the go home show for AEW All Out, which largely means they’ve got to figure out who’s wrestling Jon Moxley for the AEW title after Moxley beat CM Punk last week in a couple of minutes. Odds are it’ll be Punk again, but Adam Page is a choice as well, but the world title scene is really ill defined right now. So Moxley will have promo time tonight and we’ll likely find out who he’s wrestling at the PPV. The big match draw tonight is The Elite of Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, and Matt Jackson taking on United Empire of Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher, and Mark Davis in the semifinals for the Trios Title tournament. We got news last week that Thunder Rosa is out of action so we’ll get an interim title in a fatal four way at All Out with Britt Baker vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm vs. Hikaru Shida and in typical preview fashion there will be a tag team match with those four ladies tonight. Well that’s the preamble, let’s get to the action.
Up first here comes AEW World champion Jon Moxley to open the show. Moxley eventually gets to the ring, mixed reaction to Moxley but it leans negative seeing as we’re in Chicago. Eventually a “CM Punk” chant turns into a “Moxley” one, and Moxley jokes that they’re still mopping Punk off the ring in Cleveland. Moxley mentions Punk used to be called the modern 60 minute man, which is a joke because Moxley had 57 minutes left in him after last week but Punk didn’t. When people get in the ring with the heart and soul of AEW we find out what they’re really made of, and last week we learned that Punk is made of because Punk knew Moxley ate his best shot and didn’t care then started looking for a way out. Punk folded and curled up into a little ball, well champions never fold. Moxley is genuinely sorry that Punk didn’t turn out to be what we all wanted him to be when he came back and got his second chance. All in all Moxley has no sympathy for Punk and his fragile ego and body, his weak mind or weak spirit, but it’s a tough business and it’s time to move on. Moxley has an open contract for a title shot at All Out, he’s already signed it and will leave it here in the ring and anyone can come sign it. He does in fact leave an envelope in the middle of the ring and wonders who’ll sign it. Whoever wants to find out exactly what they’re made of on Sunday just remember that Moxley can out marathon, out sprint, out fight, or out wrestle you, and he definitely cares a lot less about his own health. Moxley is the living breathing and fire spitting heart of AEW, and just a reminder that wrestling Moxley may be hazardous to your health, so whoever comes down to sign you’ve been warned. Solid promo from Moxley.
Ace Steel wanders down to the ring and picks up the contract then looks to head out with it.
Excalibur runs down the card for tonight as only he can.
In the back Tony Schiavone talks with Chris Jericho, he says his match with Bryan Danielson this Sunday will be a nightmare for Bryan. He’s been thinking about the question Bryan asked last week about who Stu Hart would prefer if he were still alive, and while Hart would appreciate Bryan’s style they’d favor Jericho’s history and legacy. Daniel Garcia walks up and apologizes for his behavior last week and puts over Jericho then says he believes in him and pledges his loyalty to the JAS. Jericho appreciates that, and calls Garcia the most technical gifted sports entertainer he’s worked with, and warns Bryan that everything is legal in romance and wrestling. We head to the ring where Bryan Danielson comes out as William Regal joins commentary. Jericho comes out with Jake Hager then joins commentary as well.
Match #1: Jake Hager vs. Bryan Danielson
They circle to start and trade some feints. Hager misses a clinch and Bryan lands a leg kick. Bryan tries a single leg, Hager is able to force things into a corner and then lays in body blows. Hager tosses Bryan across the ring but runs into a kick and Bryan grabs a guillotine choke before Hager tosses him away. Bryan sends Hager out of the ring then hits a suicide dive and follows up with a dive from the apron but Hager catches him and drives him through a ringside table and both men are down. Hager regains his feet first and drives Bryan into the ring post a few times then hits a suplex on the floor. They head back into the ring and Hager lays in some mounted elbows but Bryan looks to tie up the legs only for Hager to land another elbow. Hager hoists Bryan up for a slam as we head to picture in picture.
Hager stalls then works a rest hold. Chops from Hager in the corner, then more of his slow paced control work. They head out of the ring and Hager tosses Bryan into the barricade a few times before they head back into the ring. Some more corner work from Hager then he sets Bryan on the top rope as the broadcast returns. Hager lands a few more chops then hops down but that allows Bryan to hit a drop kick and begin his comeback. Bryan fires up with leg kicks while avoiding strikes from Hager, then the Yes kicks and he connects with the Buzzsaw kick for a 2 count. Hammer and anvil elbows from Bryan but Hager counters into a fireman’s carry, Bryan grabs at an armbar but Hager fights free. Now Bryan grabs a triangle choke and lands elbows to the head but Hager powers him up for a powerbomb to break the hold. Hager goes to hammer fists, but Bryan catches him in the LeBell Lock, Hager counters into an Ankle Lock which Bryan counters back into the LeBell Lock. It takes a second but Hager reaches the ropes and forces a break. Now Bryan lays in strikes in the corner, hits a running drop kick but he’s caught in an ST-Joe, Hager tries the arm triangle but Bryan rolls through into a pin, Hager kicks out but then eats a Busaiku Knee and Bryan gets the pin.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Bryan Danielson won
Rating: 3 stars
This one took a while to get going, everything pre break when Hager was in control dragged but once they could pick up the pace things improved. Bryan Danielson is still a really good wrestler.
Matt Menard and Angelo Parker run down after the match and start attacking Bryan, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta show up to force a brawl and chase off Menard and Parker. They brawl to the back and Jericho runs down with a chair to attack Bryan more, but now Daniel Garcia runs down and takes the chair from Jericho. Jericho is perplexed by this, then turns into a Busaiku Knee from Bryan. Bryan smirks at Garcia as he walks by him, Garcia is conflicted as he wants Jericho to win but to not be a terrible person and Jericho has always been a terrible person. That sends us to break.
Post break the Wingmen (Ryan Nemeth, JD Drake, Peter Avalon, and Cesar Bononi) are in the ring protesting their lack of booking for Dynamite. Wednesday nights will be Wingman Wednesday’s going forward, but this is interrupted by W. Morrissey. Morrissey walks to the ring and boots down Bononi. Clotheslines for Nemeth and Avalon, then Morrissey no sells a chop from Drake before chokeslamming him down. Stokely Hathaway walks to the ring looking like he’s drooling as Morrissey chokeslams Nemeth then boots Bononi out of the ring. Avalon tries to beg off, then decides to go down swinging and runs into a massive chokeslam from Morrissey. Hathaway grins in the ring and offers his card to Morrissey, Morrissey accepts the card then seems to head out with Hathaway. On the entrance ramp Hathaway is asked by Tony Schiavone about the cards, Hathaway says it’s none of his business and we get a little dust up but Morrissey is able to stare things into peace.
In the back United Empire gets an interview, Will Ospreay starts to talk but Don Callis interrupts things. Callis sucks up to Ospreay for a bit and feels this will be the most exciting match he’s seen since the last time Ospreay and Kenny Omega had a match. Ospreay just tells him to leave, then ejects the interviewer as well.
Back to the ring, here come Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter for the tag team match.
Match #2: Dr. Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter w/ Revel vs. Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida
Shida and Hayter start things off and they start trading strikes right away. Hayter lands a shoulder block but Shida kips up only to be blocked down again. Shida avoids a scoop slam and hits a running hurricanrana and that spiked Hayter in a scary way. Storm tags in and stomps on Hayter then Shida tags back in and they start working the back of Hayter. Again Storm tags in and they’re just working Hayter over. Hayter with a jawbreaker and she tags in Baker but Storm cuts off Baker and hits an uppercut in the corner then kicks Hayter but the distraction lets Baker try and make a comeback but Storm cuts her off with strikes. Hater trips up Storm and the heels swarm Storm as we go to picture in picture action.
Baker with her usual control stuff in the corner, then Hayter tags in as they’re isolating Storm at the moment. Stomps from Hayter then a snap suplex. Baker tags in and Hayter cheap shots Shida then chokes Storm while Baker distracts the ref. Baker runs into a back elbow in the corner and she and Storm wind up fighting on the top rope where Storm knocks her down with strikes as we come back to action. Tornado DDT from Storm and Baker tags out, then Storm does as well. Shida lays in strikes to Hayter including a 10 punch in the corner and drop kick then a suplex. Meteora from Shida connects and Baker has to break up the pin. Storm drop kicks Baker, sort of, then Hayter blocks a double suplex and hits a suplex to Shida and Storm then tags out. Baker with a spinning fisherman’s neckbreaker to Shida which gets a near fall. Shida rolls up Baker for 2 but eats a super kick after the kick out. Baker misses a Stomp and hits a rolling elbow then calls for the glove. Shida catches Baker with a kick from the ropes then rolls out of the ring to pull Hayter off the apron as Storm hits a hip attack to Baker then she follows up with a DDT through the ropes to Hayter on the floor which frees Shida to hit the Katana on Baker and pick up the pin.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida won
Rating: 3 stars
The intensity was on point here, but I worry for Hayter after a couple of those bumps.
We get a video of Kip Sabian talking about last week being the perfect opportunity to take out Pac. Pac gets Sabian’s desire for a title shot. Sabian says on Sunday Pac will have to embrace the change. Not a great line, but it does send us to break.
Miro is talking via video, he mentions that his god made a deal with the devil to try and take him out via the mist, but the mist has no power over Miro. Darby Allin walks in and says Malakai Black is afraid of what Brody King has done without Black’s help, King’s biggest accomplishments have been done without Black at all. Black needs King and Matthews, but they don’t need him. Sting walks in and mentions the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Not logic that has worked out for Sting historically. To close Miro promises to ruin some pagans on Sunday.
Back to the ring, here comes CM Punk. Punk gets to the ring and grabs a mic, he’s trying to do the “lost my smile” facial expression and sell this as a serious moment. He brings up breaking his foot on June 1st, which would have been bad enough but he wrestled after that and now his surgeon told him he pulverized the bones in his foot. Well he had surgery and now has plates and 16 screws in his foot, mocks a fan who’s been talking at him, then laments he probably shouldn’t have said that. But he shouldn’t have done a lot of things in his career including coming back so soon from a serious injury, and last week he got beat up in Cleveland and had to drive home with just his thoughts. It wasn’t the first time he got beat up in Cleveland but this time it didn’t sit well with him. His foot should be 100%, but it’s a different 100% than before and he doesn’t know if his new best is good enough. He came back to wresting a year ago because he loves this business but he knows the business doesn’t love anyone back. But he also loves the fans, and the fans do love him back, which is what makes it hurt to feel like he let everyone down. He feels like he let a lot of people down, including his little sister in the front row tonight. Maybe that love just isn’t enough anymore. Ace Steel predictably interrupts this with a mic, he asks what this is. He says this isn’t what they talked about in the back, and this isn’t Punk. Steel apologizes for interrupting and brings up training Punk and being his coach since the first day Punk walked into the Steel Domain. He says he’s proud of his career but he’s more proud of Punk’s career. They’re not just friends, they’re family and you don’t let family down. He reminds Punk that Punk filled an arena on a rumor that he’d come back, and Steel isn’t going to let him walk away now. Punk might have thought too much with his heart and balls in Cleveland, but it’s about how you get up and keep fighting. Steel slaps Punk, tells him he’s going to fight on Sunday, tells the crowd to remind Punk who he is, and demands Punk sign the contract. Punk hugs Steel and says he was just a punk rock kid from Chicago, he was born lonely and blue in the face with a cord around his neck, they’ve been trying to kill him since day one and they’ve yet to find the man who can do it, and Moxley ain’t that guy. Punk walks through the crowd with a few platitudes about Chicago and says at All Out Moxley can’t break his bones or drink his blood because he, no we, are Chicago. After that Punk signs the contract. Everything before Punk got the contract from Steel didn’t really work for me, a giant part of Punk’s appeal is his authenticity and the set up to his fired up rhetoric was anything but that. Once Punk did fire up it definitely worked though.
Video of the sit down between Christian Cage and Jungle Boy moderated by JR. Christian calls himself a professional and on Sunday Jungle Boy will turn into a has been at 25 years old. Jungle Boy would love to say he hates Christian, but it’s more complicated than that. The relationship they had felt familiar, and he loves Christian and felt that Christian loved him too. Christian says he’s here to make money, this is the real him, he’s here for selfish reasons not to be a father figure. Jungle Boy says he learned from his father to be a man, and on Sunday Christian isn’t wrestling Jungle Boy, he’s going to fight Jack Perry. That felt very rushed, not sure if it was an editing call or not but some character depth on Jungle Boy is a good thing.
Back to the ring and here come FTR for the next match.
Match #3 – Trios Match: Wardlow and FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. Vic Capri, Sylas Young, and Red Jones
Wardlow stares down Jones, and headbutts him then drops him with a lariat. Wheeler tags in and lays in a back elbow then a snap suplex. Dax tags in and lays in chops in the corner. Jones lands a right hand and tags in Vic who lays in strikes but Dax levels him with a clothesline. Wardlow tags in and Vic takes a Big Rig, FTR wipe out the guys on the apron, and Wardlow lays in a powerbomb to start the Symphony. Another powerbomb from Wardlow, this time assisted by Dax and Wheeler gets the pin.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Wardlow and FTR won
Rating: Casertarmis. . . SQUASH
Delicious squash sends us to break.
Post break Jon Moxley walks to the ring and gets a mic. Moxley drops the belt and says if that’s what Punk wants that’s exactly what he’s gonna get. If Punk wants to go out on his shield in front of Chicago then Moxley will oblige him. But if Punk thinks he has one more miracle left in him he better find it fast because Moxley is going to take his head off from the first minute, and he’s going to put on a display of glorious pro wrestling violence, then show the world the difference between a fake messiah and legend being made right before your eyes. Not a bad response from Moxley there.
Tony Schiavone is in the back with Dark Order, 10 is injured and out of the match against Best Friends, but Evil Uno has a plan and will replace 10 in the match. Andrade walks up and asks what happened to the power Dark Order used to have and has Jose offer money. He was thinking of offering Dark Order a contract to work for them, he thinks 10 has a good body but needs to lose the mask and get a suit. Uno hands him back the money and tells him to leave, leading to Andrade flooring Uno then whacking him with one of 10’s crutches while Jose threatens 10 with a taser.
Back to the ring here comes Dante Martin as we’ve got a match coming up.
Match #4 – Fatal 4-Way Match: Dante Martin vs. Rush w/ Jose vs. Rey Fenix w/ Alex Abrahantes vs. Wheeler Yuta
William Regal has joined commentary, and this one gets nuts right away. Yuta and Rush run the ropes then Rush avoids an Octopus Stretch with a back drop. Snap powerslam from Rush, Martin flies in with a crossbody to Rush but Fenix flips into the ring and tries a Gory Bomb but Martin counters into a Code Red for 2, Fenix then hits a Frankensteiner for 2 and hits a dive onto Rush. Yuta then dives onto Fenix, setting up Martin to hit a springboard twisting dive onto the pile of bodies. Back in the ring Martin flies at Rush who headbutts him down then drop kicks Yuta and Fenix off of the apron and dives onto all three men. That sends us to picture in picture action.
Rush and Fenix brawl around the entrance ramp, including Rush whipping Fenix with a cable. Yuta feels the wrath of Rush next with a kick and another shot from the cable. Back in the ring Rush kicks Yuta a few times, but Yuta tries to fire up only to be out gunned by the big man. Rush sets for the Bulls Horns but fakes it to land a kick and pose. Yuta winds up on the top rope, but Rush has to deal with Fenix and Martin now, he lays in chops to Martin and Fenix. Rush heads up to superplex Yuta, but Martin gets involved and Rush winds up hitting a German suplex onto Martin that sends Martin into Fenix. Knee to Yuta from Rush then a straighjacket piledriver but that only gets Rush a near fall. Fenix lands an enziguri to Rush but Martin catches him with his half nelson slam which gets a 2 count. Fenix with a facebuster then a twisting powerbomb but Rush breaks up the pin. Rush tires to toss Fenix but Fenix lands a wheel kick that sends him out of the ring. Martin takes down Fenix with a poisoned rana then Yuta shoves Martin off the top rope when Martin went for a Nose Dive. Yuta heads up top, Fenix intercepts him with a strike then dives onto Rush. Yuta heads up top again but Martin avoids a double stomp. Seatbelt pin from Yuta to Martin gets the 3 count.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Wheeler Yuta won
Rating: 3.5 stars
That was exactly what you’d expect it to be, and I mean that as a compliment in this case.
Tony Schiavone has Alex Reynolds and John Silver in the back and talks about them now missing a third person, Reynolds says they’ll go at it 2 on 3 if necessary. Adam Page walks in and says he wanted this to be about Dark Order, but if they need a partner with Uno and 10 out of action then they’ve always had a partner in Page. So on Rampage Page will team with Reynolds and Silver against Best Friends.
Excalibur does his usual preview of upcoming action, and God bless him for it. Eddie Kingston vs. Tomohiro Ishii on the All Out prelim show could be a ton of fun, they’re going to beat the crap out of each other. That preview for All Out sends us to break.
Back from break and it’s main event time.
Match #5 – AEW Trios Title Tournament Semifinal Match: United Empire (Will Ospreay, Mark Davis, and Kyle Fletcher) vs. The Elite (Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson) w/ Jay Cutler and MT Nakazawa
God help us Don Callis has joined commentary. Omega starts us off with Ospreay and Ospreay gets right on offense but can’t knock Omega over with a shoulder block. They get face to face and jaw jack, then Omega knocks Ospreay down with a shoulder block only for Ospreay to bounce up and start chopping at Omega. Chops go back and forth then Ospreay unloads with strikes in the corner and things break down as Nick and Matt jump in to save Omega, Fletcher and Davis get involved but Nick and Matt low bridge them. Omega lands some chops, but Ospreay clotheslines him out of the ring, Nick then hits a a hurricanrana. Matt and Nick try to dive, but Fletcher and Davis catch them then squash Omega with them. Ospreay heads up top for a Sky Twister Press onto Omega and the Bucks. They all start brawling on the entrance ramp and Fletcher starts unloading on Nick, Matt then back drops Ospreay as we go picture in picture.
Nick starts dragging Ospreay back to the ring while Matt chops both Davis and Fletcher out by the entrance stage. Omega and Ospreay start going at it again with strikes then Nick tags in. Both Matt and Nick start going after the arm of Ospreay. Ospreay keeps trying to go after Omega which is letting Nick cut him off. Fletcher and Davis have returned to the apron now. Matt tags in but Ospreay hits a hand spring double back kick to lay out both Nick and Matt. Davis tags in and drives Nick into Matt then starts laying strikes to both Jackson boys. Nick and Matt eat double clotheslines then Davis picks both of them up, sort of, for a double scoop slam. Fletcher tags in and starts kicking Matt then hits an assisted Cutter leading to Omega breaking up the pin. Davis tags back in, but Matt fights off the Coriolis and hits a back body drop then a flipping Styles Clash to Ospreay. Omega takes the hot tag and starts laying into Davis, a few minor botches but Omega hits a leaping bulldog for a 2 count. Snap Dragon suplex to Fletcher, then one to Davis. Ospreay looks to skin the cat, and does so then super kicks Omega and tries the Oscutter, the flips out of a Dragon suplex to hit a hurricanrana. Omega rolls out of the ring and avoids a dive then hits a snap Dragon suplex on the floor. Omega heads up top but Fletcher kicks him then he and Davis head up top as the crowd does a “fight forever” chant. Double superplex attempt to Omega, they delay but do connect the superplex and Nick has to break up the pin. Davis lays in strikes to Omega then tags in Ospreay and Ospreay yanks off the shirt of Omega to reveal bandages on the rips and shoulder, plus bruises on the lower back. Now Ospreay starts going after the back of Omega with strikes then a spinning back breaker for a 2 count. That sends us to picture in picture again for our last commercial break.
Davis tags in and starts laying in strikes to the body of Omega. Spinebuster from Davis and Matt has to break up the pin, leading to Davis ejecting him from the ring. Fletcher tags in and hits a scoop slam then some mounted elbows to Omega. More body work to Omega then Ospreay tags in. Ospreay with knees to the body then an abdominal stretch. Omega fights back with a hip toss, then fights out of the corner but he’s too slow making the tag and Ospreay is able to grab a leg and stall him out. Headbutt from Omega then he crawls for the tag and in comes Nick to hit a slingshot Canadian Destroyer. Nick runs wild for a bit and hits a double X-Factor then a tornado DDT onto the floor on Ospreay. Back in the ring Nick heads up top but Ospreay gets his knees up on the 450 splash then hits a snap Dragon suplex. Ospreay calls the V Trigger but Omega gets in and starts trading strikes with Ospreay. Omega avoids an enziguri but Ospreay counters a clothesline into a Liger Bomb. Davis tags in and Nick counters a Coriolis with a Cutter, Matt makes a blind tag and Fletcher eats a bevy of kicks then takes a powerbomb from Omega and the BTE Trigger connects but Davis breaks up the pin. Nick dives onto Davis on the outside. Fletcher is set for a Meltzer Driver but Ospreay intercepts Nick with an Oscutter then we get a super Meltzer Driver to Matt, but instead of a 450 to assist the Tombstone Osprey does a Shooting Star Press because he’s a mad lad, which just gets a near fall. If you’re busting out that move the other guy shouldn’t be kicking out. Omega with a knee to Ospreay then Nick super kicks Fletcher and Davis takes a double super kick. Fletcher eats a triple super kick then Matt tags in Omega. Omega sets for the V Trigger, but Ospreay intercepts with a knee strike. A bunch of super kicks but Ospreay is caught in a Meltzer driver but Ospreay isn’t the legal man. Omega aims at Fletcher again, hits the V Trigger then the One Winged Angel ends things.
OFFICIAL RESULT: The Elite won
Rating: 4 stars
High pace and the intensity between Ospreay and Omega was palpable. This was a bit too choreographed for my tastes and there are a few moves that I don’t think should be kicked out of that were here, but there was a lot good here.
Post match Ospreay sits on the entrance ramp and glares at Omega while a battered Omega celebrates with the Bucks to end the episode.
