It’s All Hallow’s Eve, and you know what that means! It’s “Fright Night!”
AEW returned to the Wolstein Center in Cleveland for a special “Fright Night” edition of Wednesday Night “Dynamite.”
Did this week’s festive episode improve upon last week’s mundane outing?
Let’s dive in.
HIT: A Halloween Themed Program
I love Halloween, so this was guaranteed to earn an obligatory hit.
While “Fright Night” wasn’t quite the spectacle that “Halloween Havoc” was in the mid-nineties, this was very atmospheric for a televised event. The graphic design, orange ropes, tombstones, pumpkins, orange tunnel, and video package to open the show was fantastic.
I just wish Jeff Jarrett had defended his Texas Chainsaw Massacre Deathmatch Championship.
MISS: Orange Cassidy Challenges Jon Moxley
“Dynamite” kicked off with another cold open from the Blackpool Combat Club, filmed moments after the group broke Chuck Taylor’s neck last week. However, the cold open was interrupted by Orange Cassidy, who made his way down the aisle to finally address the BCC. Time after time, Cassidy has answered the call and confronted the BCC, flanked by the Dark Order and a host of young babyfaces. However, Freshly Squeezed won’t allow the future of AEW to be snuffed out by Jon Moxley and the rest of the BCC. So, at “Full Gear,” Orange Cassidy will face Moxley for the AEW World Championship.
In theory, I love this pairing. Cassidy defeated Moxley at last year’s “Full Gear,” retaining his AEW Inte A rnational Championship. Since then, only two other men have beaten Moxley in AEW: Jay White and Eddie Kingston. So, it’s logical that Cassidy would feel inclined to face Moxley.
In practice, this just didn’t feel right. Cassidy is an oddity in professional wrestling. He lacks ambition and rarely emotes, so his persona is rendered in stark contrast. While this was a departure for Orange Cassidy, it didn’t elicit the urgency and intensity that it should have. Cassidy shouldn’t have worn his sunglasses or rolled in the ring. He shouldn’t have mentioned putting the AEW World Championship in his backpack. I expected this to be brief, but provocative. Instead, I was left wanting more in all the wrong ways.
MISS: Adam Cole vs. Buddy Matthews
Adam Cole began his road to “Full Gear” in the evening’s opening contest, facing the House of Black’s Buddy Matthews.
Cole has his sights set on his former best friend, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, concluding a feud that began over a year ago. Cole has to earn his match against MJF at “Full Gear” though, by winning three consecutive matches. Last week, Buddy Matthews announced that he’ll be Cole’s first opponent; questioning Cole’s mental and physical fortitude.
Juxtaposed to Buddy Matthews, who looks like he was sculpted from granite by Michelangelo, Adam Cole’s physique is jarring. While I don’t intend to participate in “body-shaming” Cole, there’s no denying that it’s hard to suspend disbelief. This was a David & Goliath tale, compounded by the fact that Cole seemingly re-aggravated his ankle.
Cole nearly left the match, until Matthews called him a “bitch.” Cole returned to the match and delivered a flurry of superkicks, running knees, and Panama Sunrises to finally put Matthews away. Afterwards, Matthews acknowledged Cole’s valiant effort, and both men shook hands. That was, until the lights went out. Malakai Black emerges from the darkness, shaking Adam Cole’s hand when the lights returned. Next week, the two former NXT stars will take center stage.
If the purpose of this match was to reintroduce Adam Cole as a determined babyface, then it failed miserably. Like the audience, I found myself rooting for Buddy Matthews, and next week I’ll be rooting for Malakai Black.
Rating: **½
HIT: Mark Davis Returns
The “Protostar” Kyle Fletcher and Don Callis stood at the entranceway, challenging Will Ospreay. The former International Champion of course did not travel to Cleveland. However, a former member of the United Empire did answer Fletcher’s call: Mark Davis.
Mark Davis was previously Kyle Fletcher’s tag team partner, in a team known as Aussie Open. Davis has been absent since last year’s “WrestleDream” Pay-Per-View, after suffering a wrist injury.
Davis wanted to know why Fletcher had abandoned the United Empire and betrayed Ospreay. Fletcher is still adamant that Ospreay had been manipulating them. Fletcher, however, hadn’t forgotten his tag team partner, extending an invitation for him to join the Don Callis Family. Davis refused, turning his back on Fletcher.
I really enjoyed this segment. I love Aussie Open, so I’ve often wondered how Mark Davis will be reintroduced into the fold. It’s quite astonishing how much Fletcher has grown, in all respects, in Davis’ absence. Fletcher resembles a young Randy Orton with his shaved head and the comparisons are warranted.
While this feud might seem rather mundane, there’s a possibility it might culminate in their reunion; just in time for “Grand Slam” in Australia. That alone is an exciting prospect. Consider me enthralled.
HIT: “Hangman” Adam Page Addresses “Switchblade” Jay White
Renee Pacquette is backstage with “Hangman” Adam Page, who addresses “Switchblade” Jay White and the Bang Bang Gang.
This promo was phenomenal. I implore you to watch it, if you haven’t already. It was both concise and poignant. I’d much rather use this opportunity to express my admiration for Page. Quite frankly, it’s absurd how versatile he is. At times, I forget that he doesn’t actually hate Jay White or Swerve Strickland. His facial expressions, diction and syntax, and tone always perfectly convey his temperament. Whether he’s being the company’s top face or its most destructive heel, his actions seem genuine.
MISS: Blackpool Combat Club vs. the World
I really enjoyed how the Blackpool Combat Club’s entrance was presented in this episode. While it’s probably more practical for them to strike in a more discrete fashion, I still appreciated it.
Jon Moxley addressed Orange Cassidy’s “challenge,” but wanted to set the record straight. Cassidy wasn’t the one issuing a challenge. Moxley challenged Cassidy when he broke Chuck Taylor’s neck.
Moxley wanted to remind everyone who the puppet master is, so Marina Shafir and PAC abruptly restrained Wheeler Yuta and wrapped a chair around his neck. Right before Claudio Castagnoli can break Yuta’s neck, Cassidy comes to his rescue. The BCC quickly outnumber Cassidy with the help of Wheeler Yuta, until the Dark Order come to his aid. Suddenly, Darby Allin repelled down from the rafts on a rope, and attacked Claudio Castagnoli. In short order, Top Flight, Lio Rush, and Private Party joined the fight — forcing the BCC to retreat. As all the combatants slowly filter out through the audience, all that remain are Private Party, queuing the arrival of The Young Bucks.
The beginning of this segment was great. The BCC using Wheeler Yuta as bait was genuinely compelling, but the aftermath was pure pandemonium. So much was happening, that the camera’s didn’t know who to focus on. The most disappointing aspect was the anticlimactic return of Darby Allin.
With more time, this could have been likened to Sting returning to face the New World Order. Instead, it was largely forgettable. If it weren’t for how hilarious he looked dangling from the rope, it would have been an afterthought.
HIT: The Young Bucks [c] vs. Private Party
I don’t like to exercise hyperbole when I discuss wrestling matches. The ratings themselves are designed to accurately surmise my feelings. This match was superb.
For Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. If Private Party lost to the Young Bucks, then they would be forced to disband forever. If they win, then they would finally capture the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
For fans closely following the program, Stokely Hathaway has been sowing the seeds of dissent within Private Party; prompting Kassidy to suggest the stipulation last week.
In past reviews, I’ve complimented the Young Bucks and Private Party’s chemistry. I enjoyed their match at “WrestleDream” and their brief encounter last week was the highlight of the main event. Exiting “WrestleDream,” it was obvious that the fans were ready for Private Party to finally ascend to the mountaintop. However, the outcome wasn’t obvious. Given Stokely Hathaway’s previous comments, it wasn’t inconceivable that Private Party would lose.
As the match progressed, Private Party’s hopes seemed to diminish. Marq Quen was left for dead outside of the tunnel, after Kazuchika Okada delivered a tombstone piledriver. Kassidy was left alone in the ring, forced to withstand the combined assault of both Matt and Nick Jackson. However, Kassidy survived one finishing maneuver after another, barely scraping by until Quen ultimately returned to the ring. Kassidy and Quen quickly recovered and rallied back from the brink of defeat, pinning Nick Jackson after landing the Gin & Juice.
The crowd erupted when Private Party finally won. After the match, the Young Bucks paid respect to Private Party; teasing a potential face-turn for the Executive Vice Presidents in the near future.
Rating: ****¼
HIT: Chris Jericho is the face of Ring of Honor
Chris Jericho and the Learning Tree address the future of Ring of Honor, now that Jericho has won the ROH World Championship. While I didn’t want Mark Briscoe to lose the title to Jericho, there’s a possibility that Jericho will be relegated to Honor Club from now on. If that means Jericho won’t be featured on AEW programming anymore, then you can consider me a fan of this decision.
HIT: Kris Statlander vs. Kamille
This was a fun match, between two of the most powerful wrestlers in AEW’s women’s division. Kris Statlander did a phenomenal job of accentuating Kamille’s strength, mounting a comeback in the latter half of the match. Statlander finished the affair with a tombstone piledriver,
After the match, Mercedes Moné blindsided Statlander with her TBS Championship belt and accosted Kamille, forcing her to leave the ring and wait backstage. If it wasn’t abundantly clear already, Statlander and Moné are destined to collide at “Full Gear.”
This was a fun match. It’s unfortunate that Kamille has already been beaten, given her stature and championship pedigree, but Kris Statlander is one of this division’s brightest stars. I’m excited how this feud continues to unfold.
Rating: **¾
HIT: Swerve Strickland vs. Shelton Benjamin
Tony Khan has spent three weeks establishing Shelton Benjamin as one of the most intimidating and legitimately dangerous wrestlers in AEW. Last night, he tested his mettle against the company’s former world champion.
For Swerve Strickland, this was an opportunity to further establish Benjamin as a credible threat going forward — in whatever capacity he’s used.
As far as a match itself was confirmed, it would have been hard for any wrestlers to follow Private Party and the Young Buck’s performance; even Shelton Benjamin and Swerve Strickland. Still, this was a great contest. Shelton Benjamin is the perfect foil for any opponent, given his unique combination of dexterity, strength, speed, and experience. While he ultimately lost to Strickland, it was yet another reminder that, even at 49-years-of-age, Benjamin is still one of the best workers in the world.
After the match, MVP made a phone call; prompting the arrival of the former WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley.
MVP used his cane to restrain Prince Nana, while Lashley and Benjamin made short work of Strickland. Lashley ultimately used his patented Hurt Lock to incapacitate the former AEW World Champion; leaving the Hurt Syndicate towering over an unconscious Strickland to end the program.
Rating: ***½
Final Verdict
This special “Fright Night” edition of Wednesday Night “Dynamite” was phenomenal. While I didn’t enjoy every segment, the high-points were extraordinarily high. It’s rare that we see two matches as good as the Young Bucks versus Private Party and Swerve Strickland versus Shelton Benjamin. Bobby Lashley’s debut, “Hangman” Adam Page’s promo, and the wonderful Halloween aesthetic rounded out a terrific program.
The rest of the week’s programming
Friday Night “Rampage”
- Lio Rush vs. Komander
- La Facción Ingobernable vs. The Butcher, JD Drake, and Beef
- Dark Order vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti
- Leili Grey vs. Queen Aminata
- Taya Valkyrie in action
Saturday Night “Collision”
- Mariah May [c] vs. Anna Jay
- Thunder Rosa vs. Harley Cameron (Day of the Dead Match)
- Kyle Fletcher vs. Komander