AEW Dynamite- Fyter Fest Week One: July 13, 2022
by Doc Allen
Live from Savannah, Georgia. Our hosts are Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Shiavone.
TNT Championship:
Wardlow © vs. Orange Cassidy (with Best Friends)
The Best Friends admit up front that they intend to cheat a lot. Cassidy isn't fazed by much, including Wardlow's size, and mockingly puts hands in pockets. Wardlow doesn't take the bait, instead rips out the inside of Cassidy's pockets. OC keeps the mind games going by lifting up Wardlow's straps. They block each other's signature moves and reach a stalemate. Chuck slides a chainsaw into the ring, which gets the Best Friends ejected. Meanwhile, Wardlow blocks the Orange Punch and instead tolerates OC's sloth kicks. Cassidy goes for a dive, escapes a powerbomb, but fails to drive Wardlow into the post. Wardow senses danger and finds Danhausen under the apron. Danhausen pleads for mercy in exchange for not cursing Wardlow, and Cassidy finally connects with an ambush Orange Punch to send us to commercials. Back from break, Cassidy is controlling the match as a de facto heel. Cassidy targets the knee, which allows him to reverse a powerbomb into a DDT! Wardlow ducks an Orange Punch and nails the F10 for only 2. Cassidy tenaciously blocks another powerbomb and nails a dive. Wardlow blocks a diving DDT, but Cassidy recovers with Stundog Millionaire. Orange Punch and Beach break connect, but Wardlow kicks out! Cassidy goes for one-too-many Orange Punches and Wardlow counters with a single powerbomb to win at 11:38. This was nothing great, but it made me chuckle throughout. The chainsaw gag was pretty funny too, **½.Winner and still TNT Champion: Wardlow
Footage from Dark, in which Pac beat New Japan's Shota Umina to retain the All-Atlantic Championship.
Chris Jericho comes to the ring to talk about his feud with Eddie Kingston. Jericho is here simply as a living legend and as Eddie Kingston's superior. He makes an argument that it's dangerous being friends with Eddie because they all get hurt, like poor Ruby Soho. Jericho says he won the first ever barbed wire match in Canadian history at age 22, so he shouldn't be underestimated in their upcoming Barbed Wire Everything match. The fans chant for Eddie while Jericho fantasizes about all the blood Kingston will lose. Good, straightforward promo, Jericho seems locked in.
Eddie Kingston rants to the camera about how Jericho will pay for hurting his friends.
Konosuke Takeshita vs. AEW Interim World Champion Jon Moxley
They trade holds and then exchange shoulder blocks. Moxley hits a chop and side headlock, Takeshita answers with a leg lariat and chop. Moxley wins a chopfest with a big clothesline. Piledriver by Moxley gets 2. Takeshita isn't playing and serves a German suplex onto the apron! Moxley shakes it off a bit too quickly and we're off to commercials. Back from break, Moxley nails a German suplex and Takeshita is a bloody mess. Takeshita desperately hits a flipping clothesline. Takeshita follows with a teardrop brainbuster but Moxley kicks out! Moxley blocks a frog splash with his knees and lunges into a chokehold. Fans chant “This is awesome!” Hurricanrana by Takeshita sets up a dive to outside! Frog splash by Takeshita gets a heartbreaker nearfall! Takeshita reverses a sleeper into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a less dramatic nearfall. Moxley looks for the Death Rider, but Takeshita cuts him off with a bridged German for a 2.9999 count! Moxley throws a series of headbutts and powers into Death Rider! Moxley elbows the shoulder and finishes with the Bulldog Choke at 13:14. Hell of a fight, the fans were invested in Takeshita's possible upset, ***¾.Winner: Jon Moxley
House of Black video promo. They've got their sights set on Darby Allin. Brody King beat up Darby at a recent autograph signing, so it's on.
Christian Cage and Luchasaurus are here to continue their feud with Jungle Boy. First, Christian buries the Varsity Blondes for their stupid hair. Christian thinks Brian Pillman would be appalled that his final contribution to wrestling would be Pillman Jr. He can't help but notice that Griff Garrison looks a lot like Jungle Boy, and Luchasaurus agrees.
Luchasaurus (with Christian Cage) vs. Griff Garrison (with Brian Pillman Jr.)
It doesn't take long for Luchasaurus to hit a German suplex. He then boots Griff's head against the post. Luchasaurus follows Christian's orders to hit a pair of chokeslams and then finishes with the Snare Trap at 1:30. Proper squash.Winner: Luchasaurus
Luchasaurus chokeslams Garrison onto Pillman and a table, but the table doesn't break. Luchasaurus tries again and this time the table does the job.
Tony Shiavone is backstage with the Jericho Appreciation Society. They have to be locked into shark cages while Jericho has his Barbed Wire Everything match with Kingston, and they're not happy. Daniel Garcia gets it, because he's violent and nasty.
Tony Shiavone talks to Hangman Adam Page backstage, but they're interrupted by John Silver and Alex Reynolds, who are p!ssed off with the House of Black and want a piece of those spooky perverts.
Jim Ross joins commentary for the second hour! Let's rejoice!
Jake Hager vs. Claudio Castagnoli (with William Regal)
Hager bursts into a running uppercut, blocks the big swing and Neutralizer, and flees to ringside. Fans chant “We, the people” while Hager connects with a clothesline at ringside. Claudio blocks the Hager Bomb and quickly escapes an ankle lock. Claudio grins as he hits a 619 for 2. They exchange blows until Claudio hits a low bulldog. Hager answers with a running body slam. Hager Bomb gets 2. Back from commercials, Claudio hits a springboard flying uppercut to give them a breather. Back to their feet, Claudio makes a heroic babyface comeback. Claudio uses the giant swing to set up a Scorpion Deathlock. Hager considers tapping, but 2point0 run in for the distraction. Hager serves a tight uranage for a good nearfall. Claudio fends off an ankle lock and hits a belly to back suplex. Claudio lets 2point0 distract him again, but manages to hit Hager with a pop-up uppercut. The Ricola Bomb ends it at 11:30. Formulaic match with the physicality turned up a few notches, ***.Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
Backstage interview with Cold Hearted Handsome Devil Hook, but he has nothing to say.
Tony Shiavone talks to AEW Women's Champion Thunder Rosa and Toni Storm backstage. Rosa lost to Miya Yamashita in Japan, so she's going to have to deal with her again in AEW. They're interrupted by Britt Baker and friends for the usual disrespect.
Serena Deeb vs. Dark Order's Anna Jay
Anna hails from Georgia and has reverted to her Zatanna cosplay persona. They exchange holds until Anna hits a flatliner. Serena rolls Anna into a reverse crossface, but Anna reverses into the Queenslayer. Serena escapes with a stunner in the ropes. Twisting neckbreaker by Serena gets 2, and whaddya know, it's time for commercials. Back from break, Anna is punching her way into a comeback. Jay's vertical suplex gets 2. Serena breaks the Queenslayer again and spins Anna around repeatedly to nice crowd heat. Jay answers with a back body drop, but Serena sits on her shoulders and pulls her arms up. Anna escapes and hits a heel kick, which allows Deeb to hit a nasty dragon screw. Anna desperately goes for another Queenslayer, Serena scrambles into an armdrag. The Serenity Lock ends it at 8:25. Okay-ish match, but it's a bit of a bummer to see AEW jobbing a babyface in their hometown like this, **¼.Winner: Serena Deeb
ROH Women's Champion Mercedes Martinez stops Serena from beating up Anna afterwards.
Backstage interview with TBS Champion Jade Cargill and entourage. Stokely Hathaway does the talking, as Jade's baddies can't seem to get along.
Jay Lethal crashes commentary for a short promo declaring victory over Samoa Joe at ROH Death Before Dishonor.
The friendship between Tay Conti and Anna Jay is over, as Tay gloats over Anna's injured knee. Tay boasts that since she went bad, she's been on TV more, so maybe Anna should think about joining her.
AEW Tag Team Championship:
The Young Bucks © (Nick and Matt Jackson) vs. Swerve in Our Glory (Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee) vs. Team Taz (Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs)
Matt uses his quickness to outmaneuver Lee, and still almost gets caught by a martial arts kick. Nick and Swerve tag in to show off their athleticism. They reach a stalemate at ringside and sprint into the ring for a Nick armdrag. Starks tags himself in. Nick and Ricky tightrope walk into a confrontation and both get crotched on the ropes. Matt puts Starks through his rolling Northern Lights suplexes, and gets Swerve with the last suplex too. Lee and Hobbs slam Matt together before facing off, but their hoss fight is postponed by interference. Matt dropkicks Swerve into Lee, but Starks tags himself in again. Starks slams Swerve onto Hobbs' knee, and Team Taz is in charge heading into commercials. Back from the break, Swerve catches both Bucks with a dropkick. Lee gets a hot tag and mows down the competition. The Bucks try a diving sequence, but Lee powerbombs Nick onto a draping Matt. Hobbs tags himself in so he and Lee can finally have their hoss fight. Hobbs blocks a superplex and nails a frog splash! Fans reward them with “This is awesome!” Starks then walks the ropes to give Nick a cutter off of Hobbs' shoulders! More tags are made, Swerve hits Matt with a backbreaker and lariat to the face. Swerve ducks Matt's superkick, but eats Nick's superkick. The SUPERKICK PARTAY continues until all challengers are down. The Bucks go for their gold, but Starks cuts Matt off with a superkick of his own. Swerve boots Starks to gain control of a title belt, and thinks about attacking his own partner for a moment. Swerve's hesitation allows Matt to go on a belt clobbering spree and nearly steal the pin. BTE Trigger on Swerve, but Starks saves the match. Lee interrupts the Meltzer Driver, and Matt eats the Swerve Stomp, but Team Taz breaks the pinfall to a huge reaction. Hobbs goes on a murderous spinebuster spree to a massive ovation. Starks spears Swerve, Nick breaks the cover. Lee pulls off Matt's shoe to use as a weapon. Lee suplexes Hobbs over the ropes! Lee gets stuck in the ropes, so Swerve springboards off his chest onto the others at ringside! Lee takes everyone down with a massive dive, leaving Swerve to finish off Starks with the flying double stomp at 18:14! Stellar spotfest that benefited greatly from subverting expectations and heavily involving the hosses, ****.Winners and new AEW Tag Team Champions: Swerve in Our Glory
Final Thoughts: This was a good show that tried to do many things at once and mostly succeeded. This had to feel like a special event thanks to the Fyter Fest branding, put over the ROH pay-per-view, set up week 2 of Fyter Fest, and lay the groundwork for All Out. The title change in the main event definitely caught me off guard and I wouldn't be surprised to see the belts back on the Bucks sooner than later. Cheerful thumbs up.
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