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AEW Dynamite
October 21, 2020

by Samoa Rowe

From Daily's Place, from now until the end of eternity. Our hosts are Jim Ross, Tony Shiavone, and Excalibur.

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament:
The Wardlow vs. Jungle Boy (with Luchasaurus and Marko Stunt)

Wardlow fails to intimidate with his size and Jungle Boy slaps him. Jungle Boy speeds things up with rapid running dropkicks. He dives into Wardlow's arms but leaps onto the apron, but Wardlow counters a senton into a ringpost powerbomb. Wardlow targets the back with power moves. Jungle Boy nearly reverses into a rana but Wardlow answers with a lariat. Wardlow looks for a chokeslam but Jungle Boy knees his jaw. Missile dropkick by Jungle Boy and then a tope suicida into the rails. Springboard tornado DDT by Jungle Boy. Wardlow kips up in order to hit a super Samoan Drop, but Jungle Boy reverses into a super rana! Backstabber by Jungle Boy and a diving knee drop only gets 2! Wardlow counters a DDT on the stage and throws JB back into the ring with the F10! A second F10 finishes Jungle Boy at 8:24! This is something of an upset. I have to say, these two showed some surprising chemistry. You can see why AEW is investing so much in them, ***.
Winner: The Wardlow

HIghlights from Eddie Kingston berating Jon Moxley after Dyanamite went off the air last week. Kingston is crushing this golden opportunity.

Jon Moxley promo video. He has loved Eddie Kingston for years, but he refuses to apologize for his success or being able to buy his mother a house and feed his family. Moxley admits that Eddie didn't tap in their last match, but only because he was too busy blowing snot bubbles. When he beats him in their upcoming “I Quit” match, there will be no more excuses.

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament:
Sonny Kiss vs. Kenny Omega

Omega is once again THE CLEANER, accompanied by broom dancers. Kiss is a last second sub for Joey Janela, who may have been exposed to COVID this week. Omega hits a V-Trigger and One Winged Angel to win at 0:29! I've been begging AEW for months to have Omega squash someone like a bug, and I'm a bit sad that it finally happened at Kiss' expense. Still, it's hard not to feel pumped for Omega signalling a return to New Japan form.
Winner: Kenny Omega

Omega helps Kiss up and almost sarcastically puts him over.

Tony Shiavone interviews Orange Cassidy backstage. OC isn't concerned that things didn't go his way against Cody, but he'll see him in Cincinnati. Tony reminds him that they're in Jacksonville, and OC just stares off and plays with the monitor.

Dasha interviews Cody and Arn Anderson as they arrive at the venue. Cody is surprised that Cassidy wants another shot at him so fast, but he'll take care of him. Dasha asks Cody about how he bulked up on his hiatus, and Cody explains he felt it was time to hulk up into a true heavyweight, with guys like Archer and Lee lurking around.

Eddie Kingston is having a good laugh in response to Moxley. He suggests that the champ take a close look at Fenix vs. Pentagon, because they're two of the best. Eddie admits that he's a bitter man who can't look in the mirror, but this is the way he needs to be, and since it's earned him a World title shot, how can anyone argue with him?

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament:
Rey Fenix vs. Penta El Zero M

Eddie Kingston joins commentary to talk up his guys. Lucha Bros. share a solemn handshake before locking up. They trade fierce reversals and speed things up until Penta hits some kicks to the gut. They resume their sprint and reach a stalemate. Penta doesn't like this one bit, so they trade stiff shots. Fenix springboards into a superkick for 2. Fenix blocks a package piledriver and lands a tornado senton to ringside. Penta trips Fenix while tightrope walking the ropes and takes over just in time for a commercial. Back from break, both men are down on the floor. A replay reveals that Penta injured his hand by inadvertently chopping the post. Back to the ring, Penta urgently hits Sling Blade for 2. Fenix answers with a springboard rana out of the buckles. They appear to have a miscue on a rana attempt, and Penta saves face with an implant DDT for 2. Fenix may have been knocked loopy, but still lands a major superkick. They meet on the top rope and Fenix hits a Spanish Fly but Penta kicks out! Penta recovers with a flipping pop-up powerbomb, but Fenix kicks out! Penta viciously snaps the arm, which Fenix sells like a major injury, Penta apologizes for what he has to do, but Fenix pops up to hit a DESTROYER and win at 14:13! This was awesome and exactly what I imagined Dynamite would be like when I was imagining it in the abstract 18 months ago, ****.
Winner: Rey Fenix

Replay of Best Friends accidentally destroying Kip Sabian's arcade machine, which lead to Miro unleashing his rage on the duo. That was Sabian's most prized possession and now they will pay.

Alex Marvez interviews Dark Order members Colt Cabana, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds, who all have big matches tonight. Reynolds says Mr. Brodie Lee taught them to seize big moments, so he and Silver will become the #1 contenders to the tag titles. Cabana says he's on a mission to become AEW Champion, and feels zero pressure. Silver is enraged by this and rants about all the people who are about to lose to the Dark Order. He vows to beat up whoever wins the TNT title next week, on behalf of the Exalted One.

AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament:
Colt Cabana (with Evil Uno) vs. Hangman Adam Page

Cabana might not be feeling any pressure, but Page is, and gets outwrestled by Colt early on. Page angrily repays an armdrag, and throws a chop. Page runs into an elbow, but saves face with a big boot and standing SSP. They trade tight shots and Page lands a slingshot plancha to ringside. They cut to commercial. They return with both men trading desperation punches. Fallaway slam by Hangman, but Colt responds with a headscissors takedown. Colt tries to crawl through Hangman's legs, gets blocked, but improves with a neat pin attempt. Page answers with a German suplex for 2. Page looks for a top rope moonsault but Colt shoves him hard onto the ring frame, and hits a leaping senton for a rough landing. Colt misses a diving headbutt, and Page nails a powerbomb for 2. Colt awkwardly cuts off a Buckshot, Page blocks the Chicago Skyline, but Colt flies into a Superman press for 2. Page bounces up for the Buckshot Lariat and the win at 10:55. This had it's moments, but struggled a bit after the commercial to maintain intensity, **¾.
Winner: Hangman Adam Page

Spooky Sammy Guevara promo where he lights a photo of Matt Hardy's house on fire. I hope this is leading to a cinematic blow off at the Hardy compound, because I fear for both mens' lives (well, mostly Matt's, but you know what I mean).

Team Taz arrives on the stage to talk. Taz demands a response from Will Hobbs, who was invited to join them. He's also furious that Darby Allin is getting a TNT title shot at Full Gear, especially after Tony Khan told him that Ricky Starks would be in contention had he beaten Allin. Starks pipes in that he's proven his worth with his winning record and someone will have to pay and calls Allin a face-painted little b!tch.

Le Dinner Debonair, with Chris Jericho and MJF! They are seated together at a fancy restaurant. MJF is rude to the waitress and demands a well-done steak. Jericho wants his steak cooked medium well. MJF changes his mind and wants his steak medium. The one-up-manship continues, as now Jericho wants his steak rare. In fact, he wants it extra bloody rare, and he calls out MJF for being rude to everyone at the restaurant. Jericho isn't sure that MJF is Inner Circle material. MJF wants to cut the bull, he just thinks that he and Jericho are money together. And then they BREAK INTO SONG!

Oh my gawd, everyone on Twitter is going to hate this, but I'm laughing my head off as they bust out a Stewie and Brian Griffin-esque showtune, and are joined by dancers. They finish their musical number and solemnly return to their seats as their uncooked steaks are served. They both agree that their meals are disgusting and call for the waitress. This segment is going to divide fans, but I loved it.

Dr. Britt Baker (with Rebel) vs. KiLynn King

They trade wristlocks and Baker hits a snapmare into a chinlock. King reverses into a wrist lock, but Baker counters. The chain wrestling leads to King reversing Lock Jaw with a pin attempt. Baker hits a brutal curb stomp and knees King in the face. King's elbow strikes have little effect, and Baker elbows the head and hits a flatliner into the buckles. Baker stomps KiLynn's fingers and follows with sling blade and a DDT. Fisherman neckbreaker by Baker sets up a proper curb stomp. Baker fetches her pink surgical glove and finishes with Lock Jaw at 4:07. Nice squash for Baker, who continues to look more aggressive since her return from injury.
Winner: Dr. Britt Baker Steve-O is hanging out with Darby Allin at the skate park. Allin prepares for Full Gear by rolling down the ramp in a body body bag.

AEW Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match:
The Butcher and The Blade (with The Bunny) vs. The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver) vs. Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassid) vs.The Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson)

Yeah, Allie is back with Butcher and Blade. No, there is no explanation, and honestly, I don't really care. The entire thing with her aligned with QT Marshall was confusing and random, so I'm relieved it's over. Also, FTR join have joined commentary to scout the competition. Bell rings and Matt catches Reynolds with a dropkick. Silver gets trapped by Bucks and eats double knees to the arm. Blade enters and gets swarmed by Bucks, so Butcher storms in to eat a tandem dropkick. Kassidy has better luck, countering Nick into a step up enziguri. Private Party block superkicks, accept handshakes, and then hit superkicks of their own. Butcher and Blade crash the party and put the boots to the flyers. Quen goes on a hot streak and clears house. Quen's SSP on Blade is broken up by Butcher, and the bad guys take over in time for a commercial. Back from break, the match has completely broken down. Silver becomes a one man wrecking machine, and Reynolds helps him hit Quen with a jawbreaker and back suplex for a great nearfall. Quen blocks a double suplex and Kassidy gets a hot tag and Silly String on Reynolds. Private Party hit stereo high flying attacks on Reynolds, but Silver makes the save. Butcher and Blade return for a suplex/lung blower combo on Quen, but Bucks make the save. Nick tags himself in and cleans house in spectacular fashion. Bucks drop Butcher and hit the Meltzer Driver on Kassidy for 2! Kassidy's sneaky school boy gets 2 on Matt, while Nick pulls everyone else off the apron. Quen interrupts the Meltzer Driver, and Nick reverses Kassidy's roll-up for the win at 13:29! For lack of better words, this was an elite spotfest, this would have killed just about any arena crowd, ****.
Winners: The Young Bucks

FTR bring the tag titles to the ring to confront the Young Bucks. They offer a toast, but the Bucks kick the beer out of their hands. The Bucks are ambushed by the timekeeper with a chair shot, and FTR lay waste to them. The masked timekeeper assists in a spiked piledriver, and then holds Matt in place for FTR for the Pillmanizer! The masked man is revealed to be Tully Blanchard, and he stands tall with his guys. I guess the Young Bucks' heel turn has been canceled.

Final Thoughts: This was one of the better Dynamites in terms of in-ring action, but I know the only thing I'm going to hear about this week is how awful the MJF/Jericho musical number was, and how it's an insult to the industry, yada yada. I don't care, it was hilarious, and just enhances the dynamics between them. This will likely go down as a truly polarizing edition of Dynamite, but I say it's a Thumbs Up.

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