AEW made its debut in Cardiff, Wales, at the Utilita Arena Cardiff for its final Wednesday Night “Dynamite” before “All In.”
Exiting “Forbidden Door,” the build towards “Blood & Guts” and “All In” was electrifying. However, the last three episodes of “Dynamite” have been largely forgettable. Tony Khan’s response was triumphant.
From top to bottom, this was a phenomenal episode of “Dynamite,” in large part due to the raucous Cardiff crowd. There was an infectious energy in Utilita Arena Cardiff, that reverberated through every segment and match — creating more excitement for “All In” in two hours than “Dynamite” collectively has in the last three weeks.
HIT: Mercedes Moné and Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. Contract Signing
Contract signings have become one of the most belabored literary devices in wrestling. Still, this is what we’ve wanted since Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. made her triumphant return on “Dynamite.”
Since their initial encounter, the driving force behind this feud has been Baker’s attempts to attack Mercedes Moné, which has felt like a gross misappropriation of the good doctor’s considerable talents. This was the war of words that this rivalry desperately needed.
Mercedes Moné, Mariah May, and Deonna Purrazzo all made their debuts in Baker’s absence; drastically changing the AEW women’s division. Moné in particular has had one of the most illustrious careers in women’s wrestling history, bringing a prestige to the TBS Women’s Championship that it previously lacked. Has the AEW original been overshadowed by the CEO or can the gold standard overcome the blueprint of the women’s revolution?
This was a great segment, surpassing the threshold that we should expect from two wrestlers of this caliber.
HIT: Will Ospreay Confronts Maxwell Jacob Friedman
This face-to-face confrontation lasted over 20 minutes and was worth every second. What a tour de force from Will Ospreay and Maxwell Jacob Friedman — who were firing on all cylinders, working in perfect harmony with the Cardiff crowd.
When it was announced that Will Ospreay had signed a multi-year deal with AEW at last years “Full Gear” event, the “Aerial Assassin” had this to say about MJF:
“I’m here for a reason. I’m here to go straight to the top. I want MJF. I want that responsibility of being in the ring with him and testing myself[…] I want to see when he says his catchphrase. I want him to look like me in the eye, bruv. Are you a fucking liar? I think you are, bruv.”
While that interview hasn’t been referenced in the last two months, that question has been the driving force behind this feud. Does MJF truly believe he’s better than Will Ospreay? Last night’s exchange brought that question back to the forefront of this rivalry.
The “Aerial Assassin” received a hero’s welcome, showered by a chorus of “Ospreay” chants; further alienating the AEW American Champion. Cardiff’s affection for Ospreay only intensified as the exchange continued, while MJF’s confidence eroded.
After weeks of monotony, this feud desperately needed this shot of adrenaline. Wrestling television doesn’t get much better than this.
HIT: Kazuchika Okada Defends His Continental Championship
Last week, I was pleasantly surprised by Claudio Castagnoli and Kazuchika Okada’s face-to-face meeting. Their contest certainly did not disappoint.
Time limit draws aren’t a common convention in modern wrestling. AEW has had two in the last week, but that isn’t necessarily a problem. This was a fantastic match between two technicians, both of whom needed statement performances. Since losing the Ring of Honor World Championship, success has often eluded Claudio Castagnoli. For Okada, this was a reminder that he’s still the “Rainmaker,” whose championship pedigree and in-ring acumen is second-to-none.
While a rematch hasn’t been scheduled for “All In,” hopefully these two have a rematch in the near future.
HIT: Darby Allin & FTR versus The Elite
Long before I was a wrestling columnist, I was a wrestling fan, and as a fan of Darby Allin and FTR — this was a homerun. Watching Allin, Dax Hardwood, and Cash Wheeler all use the Sharpshooter / Scorpion Death Lock in unison was brilliant.
We need to see more of FTR on Wednesday nights. Dax Hardwood and Cash Wheeler are too good at wrestling to only appear on Saturday Night “Collision.” Hopefully, all three of these men leave London as champions.
HIT: Swerve Strickland and Bryan Danielson’s Face-to-Face
Nigel McGuinness was the perfect moderator for this segment, introducing the AEW World Champion with inspiring conviction. Swerve Strickland addressed Bryan Danielson by reiterating what he said last week: Strickland is going to dissect Danielson — purposefully, menacingly, and scientifically. He’s going to rob Bryan Danielson of his desire to ever wrestle. He’s going to rob Danielson of his ability to ever wrestle again.
Queue “Born for Greatness.”
Bryan Danielson sprints down to the ring and delivers a devastating Busaiku Knee to Strickland. Danielson’s rebuttal was awe-inspiring, rife with expletives and amplified by the audience. For weeks now, this is the moment that Strickland and Danielson have been building towards. Strickland has woken a sleeping dragon and filled him with a terrible resolve.
Seeing the crowd perform the iconic “YES” chant in unison with Danielson was the perfect way to end an incredible episode of “Dynamite.” This is a main event worthy of AEW’s grandest stage.
The rest of the week’s programming includes:
Friday Night “Rampage”
- The Conglomeration vs. Brian Cage, Johnny TV, & The Beast Mortos
- The Von Erichs vs. The Outrunners
- Iron Savages vs. Gates of Agony
- Robyn Renegade vs. Mina Shirakawa
- Roderick Strong vs. Fuego Del Sol
Saturday Night “Collision”
- The Conglomeration are in action
- Top Flight & Lio Rush vs. PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta
“All In”
- Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson
- Mercedes Moné vs. Britt Baker
- MJF vs. Will Ospreay
- Toni Storm vs. Mariah May
- The Young Bucks vs. FTR vs. The Acclaimed
- Casino Gauntlet
- Jack Perry vs. Darby Allin
- Chris Jericho vs. HOOK
- The Patriarchy vs. Bang Bang Gang vs. House of Black vs. TBD
- Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway vs. Willow Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii
Share
