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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
ALBANY, N.Y. AT MVP ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON TBS
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone
[HOUR ONE]
-Excalibur introduced the show as pyro blasted on the stage.
(1) JON MOXLEY vs. SAMMY GUEVARA – AEW World Title Tournament semi-finals
Excalibur said they’ll know by the end of the night who will be in the finals next week at the “Grand Slam” episode of Dynamite in New York. Schiavone said Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho is coming up later. Taz said this match will be a clash of styles. Mox came out first. Guevara came out alone second. Mox kneeled in the corner as Sammy walked out. Guevera rolled to ringside in the opening seconds. Taz applauded Guevara’s strategy of playing head games with Moxley. Regal said Mox knows head games well. Excalibur plugged a new TV deal in the Middle East on StarzPlay Sports. A graphic on the screen hyped Jungle Boy vs. Jay Lethal, Lucha Brothers vs. Swerve & Lee, and Toni Storm & Athena vs. Serena Deeb & Britt Baker.
Guevara took over a few minutes in with stomps in the corner. Fans booed. Sammy showboated. Mox recovered and hit him with a hard clothesline. Sammy flip-bumped. Excalibur plugged some upcoming dates including the AEW debut in Seattle, Wash. on Jan. 4, 2023. Guevara ducked a charging Mox and threw him to the floor, then landed two dives at ringside. Sammy kicked Mox backfirst into the ringside steps. Mox held his head. They cut to a split-screen break at 5:00. [c/ss]
Sammy shoved Mox into the ringpost and then beat on him on a ringside table. Mox grabbed Sammy by the throat and got up and threw Sammy into the table. Back from the break, Mox bit Sammy’s forehead and then delivered a superplex. Mox scored a two count, then applied a kimura. Guevara powered out and shifted Mox into a Boston Crab. Mox kicked out, but Sammy came right back with a springboard cutter for a two count.
Guevara lifted Mox for a GTH, but Mox powered out and transitioned into his bulldog headlock. Mox dropped some hard rapid-fire elbows. Guevara then caught Mox charging with a Spanish fly for another two count. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Guevara climbed to the top rope slowly. Mox popped up and German suplexed him off the top rope. Guevara flipped over mid-air before landing. Both were down and slow to get up. Tay Melo and Anna Jay marched out. Jay distracted the ref and Moxley. She threw her jacket into the ring. Mox yelled at her. Melo kicked Mox between his legs from behind. Guevera rolled up Mox for a near fall. Guevara shook his head in disbelief. He then went for a top rope senton, but Mox moved. Mox leveraged Guevara’s shoulders down for a near fall.
Mox absorbed some Sammy strikes and returned fire. Sammy went for a GTH but Mox slipped out and then hit Death Rider for the win. Schiavone called it a hell of a match.
WINNER: Moxley in 14:00 to advance to the final of the AEW World Title tournament.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good match. Guevara definitely looked credible here against Mox, but no doubt Mox should have won.)
-The announcers said MJF was demanding a microphone. [c]
-MJF’s music played. Fans cheered. They cut to fans standing and applauding. He told the fans to “keep your fat mouths shut.” He said he hasn’t slept in seven days since he went toe-to-toe with Moxley last week. He said he saw the look in his eyes of a man with no fear. “And you have no idea how much that pisses me off,” he said. He said he’s not the same kid that Mox crossed paths with back in 2020. “Not by a longshot,” he said. “Because I’m not playing a character, Jon. You are.” He said Mox is as much of a joke as “these schmucks” in the crowd. He said he read his book and liked it. He said he especially liked the part about his childhood. He said fans in Albany are like Moxley was – uneducated, poor, white trash scumbags.” He said Mox got bullied. He said when that happens, it causes people to put up a front. He said fans can chant his name all they want, but he doesn’t buy his act. He said he knows he’s still the same scared, poor little boy. He said Mox is old enough to drown his childhood trauma in alcohol like a worthless drunk.
He said he’ll give him credit for beating the habit. He yelled at a fan, “Shut your mouth, fat boy.” He said it took fortitude, guts, and bravery to defeat his disease. He said his brain is more dangerous than Mox’s disease. He said bad things happen when people get in his way, and he said that applies to Danielson and Jericho too. He told Mox to take his vacation that he was planning and skip Grand Slam. He said the AEW Title is his title, no matter what happens at Grand Slam. He said Mox told a story about a demon after his stint at rehab. He said that demon told him he didn’t deserve anything he accomplished since he left the slums of Cincinnati. He said he will find out, if he doesn’t tread lightly, that he is that demon. “And I’m a demon you cannot slay.”
He said he wanted to get down to business, which he said the fans wouldn’t understand because they’re so poor. He shifted to introducing the men who helped him secure the poker chip. He said Stokely Hathaway is his best friend. He called the faction “Stokely Hathaway and The Firm.” Stokely led his crew out including W. Morrisey, Ethan Page, the Gunn Brothers, and Lee Moriarty. Hathaway took the mic and said he had a meeting with MJF. He said MJF was disenfranchised and wanted to quit AEW. He said that would giving everyone what they wanted. “So we sat down and we prayed and we prayed and we prayed and we came up with a logical solution,” he said. He said this is one of the rare times they will see them together, because when MJF doesn’t need them, they will go their separate ways. Stokely said he isn’t a publicist, a manager, or an assistant. He said he’s just a friend who has the connections and network to make anything happen. He said everything he has done since Double or Nothing has been a con. He said there’s not one rock he hasn’t turned over. He said the juicier the gossip, the more power you have. He said there’s nothing like good, old fashioned blackmail. He said that’s what turns him on and gets him going.
He talked about his wrestlers. He turned to Morrison first and said he does what he wants. He hugged him and said he appreciates and loves him. He said it’s time for Moriarty to become a star and bring some honor back to the ROH Championship. He said the Gunns are not boys, they are men. He said they no longer want to walk in the shadows of their daddy. He said everyone will learn to take them seriously. He turned to Ethan and said they’ve traveled the roads together. He said now that he’s not around those knuckleheads, he wants to win the All-Atlantic Championship. He said they are The Firm and when they’re around, you either have to run with them or run from them.
(Keller’s Analysis: MJF’s over-modulating yelling isn’t pleasant or effective. He’s a top shelf talker, and this had it’s moments and he owned the ring, but he is better when he doesn’t seem desperate to get heel heat. His yelling and crowd insults felt like overcompensating out of concern that fans would keep cheering him. Overall, though, it’s clear he’s in the world title picture. As for Stokely, it was long. Like, self-indulgently long. I get they’re trying to introduce him, but it ultimately felt like he was trying to make sense of abandoning a bunch of stuff he had done for months by over-explaining it and ultimately it didn’t matter. The faction feels mid-card in every way. Ethan doesn’t need someone talking for him and I don’t understand what Morrisey gets from associating with Hathaway. Despite all that talking, I don’t have any idea what Stokely’s character is other than he has a network to make things happen, but what does that even mean?)
-Jungle Boy said it’s time to get back in the swing of things, so he has signed an open contract. Sonjay Dutt then accepted the challenge on behalf of Jay Lethal.
(Keller’s Analysis: I still don’t get what Sonjay is going for.)
(2) JUNGLE BOY vs. JAY LETHAL (w/Sonjay Dutt, Satnum Singh)
JB came out first to his “Tarzan Boy” theme (which seems to have lost some of the crowd enthusiasm it once had). A clip aired of Lethal pinning Dax. Excalibur said Lethal is trying to interrupt Jungle Boy’s path of revenge on Luchasaurus. JB knocked Lethal to ringside and set up a running dive, but Singh stood in his path. JB complained, although technically Singh didn’t do anything wrong. Lethal recovered and knocked JB off balance on the top rope. They cut to a split-screen break. [c/ss]
Back from the break, Lethal was still in control. JB made a comeback and set up a Snare Trap. Dutt jumped onto the ring apron. JB, for some reason, stopped to confront Dutt and knocked him off the ring apron. Lethal got up and rolled up JB for a two count. When Lethal went for a figure-four, JB countered into a Snare Trap for the win.
WINNER: JB in 9:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: I think JB’s character was damaged by being so grumpy and almost churlish in his feud with Christian.)
-A video on Hook training with Action Bronson.
-Alex Marvez introduced pro wrestling’s premiere pizza maker, Luigi Primo. Ethan kicked him as he was tossing pizza crust. Marvez asked what he was doing. Ethan said he’s going to try to take things seriously. Danhausen walked up to him and asked how he liked his win on AEW Dark. Ethan said he wanted to face the jester of AEW on Friday. Danhausen said they’ll get that jester, then seemed to realize Ethan meant him.
(Keller’s Analysis: Did Tony Khan bring back whoever did the first-ever Buy In pre-show for AEW?) [c]
-A clip aired of Darby Allin doing some sort of a stunt at Nitro Circus where he rode down a ramp and crashed into a pad.
-Matt Hardy mock-applauded Darby. He said he raises the bar when he does extreme things. He said he respects Darby and called him one of his greatest rivals and partners. He said he’s looking to refocus his career and scratch and claw his way to the top. He challenged him to a match on Rampage.
(Keller’s Analysis: I like that AEW promotes what’s going to be on Rampage, but some of it feels manufactured. There is some backstory with Hardy and Darby, but I’d rather matches were presented as if AEW management booked then rather than wrestler issuing challengers left and right. Then have the wrestlers bring up the backstory in a promo once it’s established that it was booked.)
(3) POWERHOUSE HOBBS vs. MATT DIMARTINO
Hobbs won with a spinebuster a few seconds into the match.
WINNER: Hobbs in under 30 seconds.
-Hobbs held the mic after his win. Fans chanted, “We Want Ricky!” He was bleeding from his mouth or lip. He said he beat Ricky at All Out. He said he spent 20 months with him, but at All Out it only took him four minutes, 35 seconds to beat him. “But who’s counting,” he said. He said that chapter is closed, so it’s time to open up a new chapter in the Book of Hobbs. He said it starts tonight. Starks walked down the steps amongst fans in the stands. He charged past security and went after Hobbs. Hobbs bailed out and looked up at Starks, who looked dead serious. Starks’s music played and he struck his pose to end the segment.
-Excalibur threw to a video on the signing of the title match between Lucha Bros. and Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland. Alex Abrahantes and Pac gave the Lucha Bros. some encouraging words.
[HOUR TWO]
(4) SWERVE STRICKLAND & KEITH LEE vs. THE LUCHA BROS. (w/Alex Abrahantes)
Fans booed as Strickland walked out. Taz said it’s a big time match. Lee patronizing applauded some early offense by Fenix against Strickland. Taz touted the size of Lee when he tagged in. They cut to an early split-screen break. [c/ss]
Penta scored a near fall on Lee after a Destroyer. The fans chanted “Holy shit!” Taz said it was amazing. Fenix climbed to the top rope, but Strickland shoved him off the top rope. Lee then gave Penta a powerslam for the win.
WINNERS: Lee & Strickland in 9:00.
-Afterward, The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn walked out. Max Caster said if he ever interrupts his rap again, he’ll beat his ass. He told Strickland to keep nut-hugging every famous person he knows. He told him to roll Lee to Queens, N.Y. next week so they can become AEW Tag Team Champions. Anthony Bowen closed with mic work including “Everybody loves the Acclaimed!”
-Backstage, Marvez interviewed Pac. The Lucha Bros. were in the background returning to their locker room. Pac took issue with Marvez calling it a bump in the road. He said they are the AEW Trios Champions and he’s the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion, the first ever dual AEW champion. He told him to put some respect on the name and mind his own business. Orange Cassidy hit Pac and knocked him out cold with an Orange Punch. Cassidy stooped next to him and said he won’t be a double champion for long. [c]
-A soundbite aired with Storm and Athena. They said they’d win tonight. Storm wondered why Baker was attacking Hikaru Shida instead of making things right with Jamie Hayter.
(5) TONI STORM & ATHENA vs. SERENA DEEB & BRIT BAKER (w/Rebel)
As Baker walked out, Excalibur said he’s heard that Baker hasn’t spoken to Hayter since All Out when she cost her the interim AEW Championship. Athena wore a high school science project on her back on her way to the ring. Storm came out next, carrying herself like a top tier star. They cut to an early break. [c]
Rebel distracted the ref as Baker held up a chair. Deeb shoved Storm head-first into the chair, then rolled her up for the three count.
WINNERS: Baker & Deeb in 9:00.
-Afterward, Athena attacked Baker and Deeb. Baker landed a superkick and a stomp on Athena, though. She then picked up a chair. Jamie Hayter ran out and yanked the chair away from Baker. Then she jabbed Storm with the chair. Baker was surprised and then said she said she was sorry as Hayter dropped to ringside.
-Excalibur hyped Samoa Joe vs. Josh Woods on Rampage.
-A promo aired with “Smart” Mark Sterling, Tony Nese, and Josh Woods. Sterling said they can finally get the TV representation that AEW and ROH needs after winning the ROH World TV Title on Friday.
-The announcers plugged other Rampage matches: Danhausen vs. Ethan, Penelope Ford vs. Willow Nightengale, and Hardy vs. Darby. Then “Grand Slam” will feature the AEW Title Tournament final, the tag title match, and Storm vs. Deeb vs. Athena vs. Baker in a four-way for the title, and Pac vs. Cassidy for the All-Atlantic Title. Then Rampage a week from Friday will feature Action Bronson & Hook vs. Matt Menard & Angelo Parker. [c]
(6) CHRIS JERICHO vs. BRYAN DANIELSON – AEW World Title Tournament semi-final
They showed Danny Garcia watching on a monitor backstage. They cut to a spit-screen break a few minutes in. [c/ss]
Danielson did some push-ups during the break. Jericho took advantage and landed a Lionsault for two count. Danielson avoided a Code Breaker and hit a Psycho Knee. Both were down and slow to get up. Fans chanted, “Fight forever!” They stood and exchanged chops. Jericho backdropped Danielson over the top rope. Danielson sold an ankle injury. He began to unlace his left boot. A trainer checked on him. Jericho yanked off Danielson’s boot and stomped on his ankle. Schiavone said you might not like it, but it’s getting the job done. Jericho yanked Danielson’s leg around the ringpost twice. Then he applied a figure-four leglock around the ringpost. The ref nearly disqualified Jericho, so he released the hold.
Back in the ring, he clipped Danielson’s leg from behind. Jericho’s chest was beet red from the chops. Danielson resisted Jericho’s next move and elbowed him over and over to break his grip. Jericho blocked a dropkick and applied the Walls of Jericho mid-ring. A fan held up a sign front row that said, “C.M. Punk Owns The Bucks.” He switched to a single-leg crab. Danielson crawled toward the bottom rope, but Jericho pulled him back to the middle. He shifted to a spinning toe hold. Danielson kicked Jericho off of him and rolled him up for a near fall. Jericho took Danielson down with a Dragon Screw and then applied a figure-four. Danielson countered by twisting Jericho into a crossface. He torqued back. Then he grabbed Jericho’s nose and yanked back harder. Jericho tapped out. They showed Garcia watching and reacting backstage. He seemed cool with the way it played out.
WINNER: Danielson in 19:00 to advance to the AEW World Title Tournament final.
-Moxley walked out to the ring. They showed Regal watching from a distance. Schiavone said both men are deserving to be the next world champion. They stared at each other mid-ring. Fans chanted “BCC.” Danielson offered a handshake. Moxley accepted.
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