AEW Dynamite: Beach Break- July 3, 2024
by Doc Allen
Live from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. WrestleTix estimates attendance at 5,291. Taz, Tony Shiavone, and Excalibur are on commentary.
Renee Paquette chats with Daniel Garcia (with Daddy Magic). He's finally getting his match against Ospreay, and swears victory on his mother's life. MJF offers to be in Danny's corner, since he's earned so much trust in recent weeks.
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament:
Bryan Danielson vs. Pac
Fans chant "holy sh!t" at the bell. They feel eachother out while fans chant things like "this is wrestling!" Bryan grows frustrated and throws some chops, Pac flips around to annoy him. They collide with stereo crossbody attempts. Pac recovers with an outside moonsault. Danielson survives the Brutalizer. Back from commercials, Pac disrespectfully serves YES kicks. Bryan comes back with clubbing offense, blocks a German suplex, and nails a KO kick. Danielson hits a flying knee from the apron. He's once again selling his neck so well, I'm scared for him. Bryan runs into Pac's thrust kick. Bryan recovers with a crossface, Pac dangles his leg on the rope. Fans chant "Fight Forever!" Corner dropkick by Bryan, Pac answers with an avalanche brainbuster! Pac's slow cover gets 2! Bryan dodges the Black Arrow and nails the BuSaiKu knee! Bryan crawls for the cover, Pac reverses into an extra nasty Brutalizer! Bryan rolls over, cannot get the LeBell Lock, but gains a crucifix pin for the win at 16:45! These two could probably have a four star match together with their eyes closed. Bryan as the wounded babyface continues to make for compelling (and unsettling) drama, ****.Winner: Bryan Danielson
Renee Paquette chats with Willow Nightingale about the Owen Hart tournament. Willow chooses to look on the bright side of life, otherwise she'd be completely miserable. She's going to beat her depression, win the tournament, and keep on smiling! Great promo, Willow is really finding her groove as a relatable and likable hero.
ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe comes to the ring for some words. He failed to become TNT Champion at Forbidden Door, but has the ROH title as a consolation prize, I guess. He thinks Jack Perry must have eaten Lucky Charms and shoved a horseshoe up his (expletive deleted) to have won. But now it's Shark Week, which reminds Mark of Blood and Guts, and he enters himself into the gimmick match, apparently happening in three weeks. Perry interrupts Mark's ranting and raving with a belt shot to the head. Kyle O'Reilly rescues, but Kazuchika Okada sneaks up for a Rainmaker! The Young Bucks happily arrive and give Mark the EVP Trigger. The Elite pose with their respective titles, but The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn chase them away. After Forbidden Door, I think they would have run away from just Billy, but I digress.
Renee Paquette chats with AEW Women's Champion Toni Storm (with Luther and Mariah May). Mariah is resting her head on Toni's chest and is in serious need of a pep talk.
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament:
Kris Statlander (with Stokely Hathaway) vs. Willow Nightingale
Kris charges the ramp, but Willow pounces her away. Fans chant for Willow while she bounces Statlander's skull around ringside. Bell rings with Willow firmly in the driver's seat. Kris rakes the eyes and almost botches a springboard elbow. Back from commercials, Willow attempts a comeback, but Kris snaps her neck on the ropes. Willow blocks a German from the apron and nails a running cannonball! Missile dropkick by Willow, then a lariat for 2. Kris answers with an Ax Kick for only 2. German suplex by Kris, Willow recovers with an avalanche German suplex! Running boot by Kris, but Willow blocks a Tombstone. F5 by Kris gets a high quality nearfall! Stokely passes a chain to Kris, Willow blocks a loaded punch and scores the rollup to win at 8:10! Just balls to the wall action, and the fans were buying what they were selling. The finish was satisfying, yet solves nothing in their rivalry, ***.Winner: Willow Nightingale
Renee Paquette chats with Jeff Jarrett and the Island of Misfit Toys about the Owen Hart Tournament. Jeff is too emotional to speak. Jay Lethal insists that Jeff is prepared to honor one of his best friends.
Tony Shiavone hosts Dr. Britt Baker in the ring. Fans welcome her with "DMD" chants. Britt is trying not to overthink her first interview back, and talks about her past, present, and future. Historically, injuries aren't enough to keep her away from AEW, but this time she suffered a transient ischemic attack, otherwise known as a "mini stroke." Fast forward to Forbidden Door, she was scared that no one would give a damn about her return. Instead, the fans welcomed her back when she needed them the most. Britt advises us to embrace our hard times because it will make it that much better when you reach the other side. Back to business, Britt talks some trash about Mercedes Mone. Britt knocked it out of the park with this comeback promo. Cut to the jumbotron, Mercedes Mone arrives in style and The Young Bucks suck up to her. They order a championship celebration for Mone to begin while Britt is still in the ring. Mercedes struts in with the TBS and New Japan titles and pretends Baker isn't there. Mercedes cuts a condescending promo. Britt reminds us that she wrestled at the first ALL IN, and wants a shot at Mercedes at the next one. They exchange insults but don't come to blows. This is the type of segment that should reward AEW with better ratings, but I guess we'll see.
Renee Paquette chats with International Champion Will Ospreay (with Kyle Fletcher). Don Callis cuts the interview short to clear the air. Ospreay doesn't blame Don for the loss at Forbidden Door, but he wants out of the Callis Family. Don doesn't usually let guys out of contracts, but will this time as a favor, but insinuates that Will will owe him a future favor. Will has broken free, but at what cost?
FTW Champion Chris Jericho (with security) comes to the ring to educate the fans. I have to begrudgingly admit that his "HI, GUYS!" catchphrase is winning me over. He is offended that Hook stole his finisher at Forbidden Door, but is also upset that Taz applauded him like a mark. Jericho cannot possibly sit next to Taz on commentary, so the Young Bucks have banned Taz from the arena for the remainder of the show. "BYE, TAZ!"
Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Brian Cage and The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona)
Joe is more than happy to tangle with Liona. Joe takes over and hits an enziguri. Shibata tags and is happy to boot Cage in the face. Cage explodes into a shoulder tackle. Shibata blocks a suplex and makes a tag to Hook. Bishop snaps Hook's neck on the ropes. Back from commercials, Shibata escapes Liona's neck vice. Shibata reverses a Samoan Drop into a choke, Hook gets the blind hot tag. Kaun ambushes Hook with a double knee gutbuster for 2. Jericho helpfully explains that Hook would have lost had he not kicked out. Shibata tries to help and eats Cage's TKO. Hook hits a reverse DDT on Cage! Joe gets the latest hot tag and runs wild to a great crowd reaction. Hook and Shibata suplex Liona into place for Joe's back senton. The match completely breaks down, the heroes all apply submissions to win at 9:08! Super fun and lively crowd pleaser, ***.Winners: Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata
Big Bill and Bryan Keith help Jericho attack the Samoa DoJoe afterwards. They deliver some Pillmanizers on Shibata and Hook, Bill smashes Joe into the steps with a chair. Jericho clocks Hook with brass knucks. The beatdown reaches overkill when Bill chokeslams Hook through a table. I guess The Learning Tree are serious business. This feud could use some Trios titles.
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament:
Jeff Jarrett (with Karen Jarrett, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, and Sonjay Dutt) vs. Hangman Adam Page
Hangman is the Wildcard entrant in the tournament and has new, menacing music to signal that he's EVIL now. Jeff has none of his usual swagger, he's wearing his emotions on his sleeve. They trade punches, Hangman goes into a blind rage and kicks Jarrett while he's down. Jarrett comes back, but Hangman blasts a brutal lariat. Fallaway slam by Page, then a powerbomb to the ring frame! Hangman continues the assault during the break, hitting a DDT onto the steps. Back from commercials, they trade punches on the apron until Hangman bites the forehead. Jarrett blocks Deadeye on nails The Stroke onto the frame! Jarrett builds momentum with a leg sweep and enziguri. They block finishers until Hangman nails Deadeye. Hangman is ready for a Buckshot, but Jarrett can't seem to stand up. Page stands him up, but Jarrett reverses the Buckshot into a Sharpshooter! Fans go nuts for this! Sadly, Hangman escapes and nails the Buckshot! Rather than go for a pin, Hangman pummels Jarrett and hits another Deadeye to win at 11:15! Wow, this might be the first time I've ever felt sad that Jarrett lost a match. This match accomplished a lot, not only did it give Jarrett a big moment fighting for Owen, but this reintroduced Hangman as a serious villain, ***½.Winner: Hangman Adam Page
Backstage, The Learning Tree assault Hook and throw a fireball into his face. That's what Hook gets for not respecting Jericho.
Renee Paquette grills Hangman Adam Page for the level of aggression he showed Jarrett, but the Young Bucks interrupt to congratulate him. They try to recruit him for Blood and Guts, but Hangman refuses to be a puppet and play games. He's focusing on winning the Owen tournament. Good on him!
AEW International Championship:
Will Ospreay © vs. Daniel Garcia (with MJF)
Fans are hot for this one. The guys feel each other out, Ospreay hits a shoulder block. Snapmare by Garcia, but Ospreay chops him to the mat. They trade rapid counters until Garcia hits a clever short piledriver on the mat. Delayed neckbreaker by Garcia, Ospreay answers with a stuffed superkick. Slingshot crossbody by Ospreay, MJF gets right in his face. Back from commercials, Ospreay controls the action with slicing chops. Garcia returns fire and delivers rolling neckbreakers. Ospreay blocks the third neckbreaker, so Garcia hits a DDT and THEN the final neckbreaker. Will kicks out! Springboard crossbody by Ospreay gets 2. Will offers a free shot, so Garcia pelvic thrusts his head. Saito suplex by Garcia, Ospreay counters into a ridiculous Spanish Fly for 2. Daniel reverses Stormbreaker! Ospreay answers with a powerbomb, then a Styles Clash, GARCIA KICKS OUT! Fans chant "fight forever!" Garcia reverses the Hidden Blade into a rear naked choke! Garcia blocks the Oscutter and nails a driver for an excellent nearfall! MJF passes the Dynamite Diamond ring to Garcia, who doesn't seem sure what to do. Ospreay gains some nearfalls, Garcia blasts a clothesline, MJF eggs him to use the ring. Garcia returns the diamond ring and turns around for Ospreay's Hidden Blade! That ends Garcia at 14:20! Red hot main event with high end soap opera drama to boot, ****.Winner and still AEW International Champion: Will Ospreay
Garcia weeps in the corner, Ospreay offers him encouraging words and leads the fans in some applause before departing. MJF helps Garcia up to a standing ovation. MJF then kicks Garcia square in the balls! MJF backtracks on the character development from Double or Nothing and puts the Dynamite Diamond back on his hand for a loaded punch! He fights off Daddy Magic and security and continues assaulting Garcia's bloody forehead. Christopher Daniels runs in to plead for mercy, but MJF gives Garcia an avalanche piledriver anyway. Will Ospreay returns, forcing MJF to flee into the stands. I'm surprised that they're turning MJF heel again so soon, especially after months and months of evolving his character into an unlikely babyface, but I guess it wasn't helping the ratings, so here we are. Garcia gets stretchered out, and you have to believe that Ospreay vs. MJF is penciled in for ALL IN.
Final Thoughts: Beach Break was exactly the kind of show you want to do after a pay-per-view. Just stellar matches and interviews from beginning to end. It would be nice if the ratings could start improving. Strong recommendation.
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