July was an incredible month for AEW. Exiting “Forbidden Door,” the initial build towards “All In” was phenomenal: highlighted by Maxwell Jacob Friendman and Mariah May’s heel turns, Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D’s return, and Bryan Danielson winning the mens’ Owen Hart Cup and challenging Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship.
Unfortunately, AEW has failed to carry that momentum into August.
By and large, this was a bizarre episode of “Dynamite.” We’re only 10 days away from the largest show on AEW’s calendar and two championships were on the line last night that are already being defended at “All In.” What’s worse is that neither match was the main event.
Let’s dive in.
HIT: Mercedes Mone vs. Hikaru Shida
Mercedes Moné defended her TBS Women’s Championship against Hikaru Shida in the opening contest.
It would previously have been inconceivable to see a former three-time AEW Women’s World Champion challenge for the TBS title. Historically, this championship has been an invisible line for the AEW women’s division — dividing the roster between potential TBS challengers and world championship-caliber contenders. This is the value of Moné, whose reputation alone has elevated the stature and prestige of the TBS Women’s Championship.
While it was a little obtuse to put Moné’s title on the line, less than two weeks away from her highly anticipated match against Britt Baker, this was still a fun bout — from two of AEW’s premier wrestlers.
MISS: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Jay Lethal
While Renee Pacquette was interviewing Jeff Jarrett, accompanied by Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and Karen Jarrett regarding last week’s digital exclusive segment that transpired after “Dynamite” — “Hangman” Adam Page attacked Jarrett and Lethal. Page dragged Lethal through the curtain and out into the ring, beginning their scheduled match.
As a wrestling fan, there’s something disturbing about watching the most prolific Ring of Honor champion being beaten senseless on “Dynamite.” Lethal was in the main event of the first “Dynamite” show in Norfolk — wrestling Sammy Guevara for the TNT Championship. Like last night, Lethal lost that contest. Unlike last night, Lethal at least had a competitive contest with Guevara. Lethal continues to be the most poorly utilized wrestler on Tony Khan’s roster.
There’s fascinating symmetry between where Page is now, compared to nearly three years ago, when AEW debuted in Norfolk shortly after he won the AEW World Championship. Given that contrast and Lethal’s championship pedigree, this easily could have been the evening’s main event. Instead, it was completely forgettable. What a shame.
HIT: Darby Allin Vignette
There’s a famous expression in wrestling: “don’t work yourself into a shoot.” Not to belabor the insider baseball terminology, but this definitely blurred the lines between “working” and “shooting.”
Jack Perry’s backstage incident with CM Punk at last year’s “All In” is infamous. It’s well documented how close Punk and Darby Allin became during the former’s tenure with AEW. How much animosity does Allin harbor towards Perry and the Elite for their involvement in Punk’s departure? This vignette brought that question to the forefront of this feud.
Shortly after the vignette, Perry attacked Allin while the latter was on his way to the ring. Perry dragged Allin backstage and viciously assaulted him, forcing the security team to intervene. While the TNT champion was being restrained, he challenged Allin to a coffin match — which was later made official by Tony Khan.
Hopefully Allin buries him, figuratively, of course.
HIT: Claudio Castagnoli and Kazuchika Okada Face-to-Face
Claudio Castagnoli is one of the most likable figures in all of professional wrestling. Not because of his ridiculous physical strength or Swiss accent, but because his love of pro-wrestling is infectious. Nobody wants to see Claudio Castagnoli versus Kazuchika Okada next week in Cardiff for the AEW Continental Championship more than Claudio Castagnoli.
Okada caustically dismissed Castagnoli, reminding fans that he’s the greatest tournament performer in wrestling history — winning New Japan Pro Wrestling’s famed G1 Climax Tournament four times. Okada assured Castagnoli that not only will he retain his Continental Championship next week, but he’ll win the Continental Classic. The “Rainmaker” punctuated his face-to-face meeting with Castagnoli by calling him… “a bitch.”
Castagnoli condemned Okada for his lackadaisical attitude since joining The Elite. Castagnoli wants the “Rainmaker.” He wants the man who main evented the Tokyo Dome and won four G1 Climax tournaments. He wants to face the most prolific IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in New Japan’s illustrious history.
Wrestling fans do, too.
HIT: AEW World Tag Team Championship Bout
There’s something magnetic about great tag team wrestling. The Acclaimed and The Young Bucks are two masters of their craft, applying their trade on network television with the AEW Tag Team Championship on the line. For that reason alone, this match was fun to watch.
With “All In” less than two weeks away, it wasn’t surprising that there wasn’t a definitive ending between these two teams. After Rick Knox was laid out, FTR’s interference was obvious — leading to a match between The Acclaimed and FTR to determine the true number one contender for the tag team titles at “All In.”
Last week on Saturday Night “Collision,” Christian Cage served as a referee for a match between the House of Black and Bang Bang Gang to determine the number one contender for the AEW World Trios Championship. That match ended in a double count-out, setting the stage for a three-way match for the trios title.
Whether we see a similar outcome this week on “Collision” or a definitive challenger emerge for the Young Bucks at “All In” is to be determined. Regardless of who challenges the Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team championship, hopefully they end their title reign at “All In.”
HIT: A Tribute to the “American Dragon”
This was a beautiful tribute to the extraordinary career and legacy of Bryan Danielson. The inclusion of Green Day’s iconic hit “Good Riddance” only made this phenomenal package that much better. This was genuinely one of the greatest things that AEW has ever produced and easily the highlight of this episode.
MISS: The Main Event
This was a lackluster main event, from beginning to end. Swerve Strickland has officially turned heel, but even the world champion’s inclusion in this match couldn’t warrant its main event billing. In lieu of a TBS championship match; a world tag team championship match; and Virginia’s own “Hangman” Adam Page facing former ROH champion Jay Lethal: this was a poor decision on Tony Khan’s part.
For what it’s worth, Wheeler Yuta’s performance was admirable, but it was obvious from the moment that this match was announced last week what lengths Strickland would go to mutilate Yuta. After the match, Strickland delivered a House Call to an unsuspecting Danielson, assuring the “American Dragon” that he’s going to do more than just end his career. At “All In,” in front of 50,000 fans and Danielson’s own daughter — Strickland promised that he’s going to cripple him.
Even though this segment would have been a better opening contest than the main event, it didn’t do anything to detract from the spectacle of the main event at “All In.” I suppose that’s a silver lining.
The rest of the week’s programming
Friday Night “Rampage”
- The Conglomeration vs. The Outrunners and The Butcher
- Top Flight vs. MxM Collection
- Nick Wayne vs. Kip Sabian
- Nyla Rose in action
- Rush & Kyle Fletcher in action
- We’ll hear from Saraya
Saturday Night “Collision”
- FTR vs. the Acclaimed
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