AEW DYNAMITE RESULTS (8/30): Keller’s report on Adam Cole’s promo, Moxley vs. Kommander, Statlander & Baker & Shida vs. Shafir & Rose & Sazkura

AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
AUGUST 30, 2023
CHICAGO, ILL. AT NOW ARENA
AIRED ON TBS

Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts

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[HOUR ONE]

-The opened with a rapid-fire video package on each of the finishes of the matches at All In.

-They cut to the arena with pyro blasting as Excalibur introduced and previewed the show.

(1) JON MOXLEY vs. KOMMANDER

Excalibur explained that on Sunday night at All Out on PPV, Moxley will face the winner of the Orange Cassidy vs. Penta match tonight on Dynamite for the AEW International Title. The bell rang five minutes into the hour. Mox went on the attack at the bell. At 1:30, Kommander landed a top rope bodypress at ringside onto Mox. Kommander went for a top rope Cancun Tornado, but took FOREVER to set it up, so Moxley moved out of his way. Mox then took over again. They cut to a split-screen break at 3:00. [c/ss]

Mox beat up Kommander at ringside during the break. Kommander made a comeback after the break, but Mox absorbed two running clotheslines. Kommander took Mox down with a flying bodypress. Mox stood, but was off-balance. Kommander went on the attack with kicks and then a DDT. Kommander landed a Lung Blower for a two count at 7:30. Schiavone said Kommander was raising his game. Kommander walked the top rope and went for a 450 springboard splash, but Mox lifted his knees.

Mox hit a King Kong Lariat and a piledriver for a near fall. Mox then got a tapout with an armbar. Badass heel Mox greeted a little girl at ringside holding a sign that said it was her birthday.

WINNER: Moxley in 8:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: A good mix of sizes and styles there, and Mox looked good here without weapons or blood or much brawling. He made Kommander seem tough which ultimately made his win mean more.)

-A video aired with Orange Cassidy talking about his title defense later and his wild mtach at All In. He said he’s not the same Orange Cassidy that Mox knew four years ago and he’ll show him why.

-They went backstage at All In to The Young Bucks. They were asked a question by someone off camera (Brandon Cutler?) Nick said they were disappointed in the outcome because they wanted to get “their” titles back. FTR walked in. Dax asked why they disrespected them after the match. Matt said things didn’t go how they wanted and he lost his cool in front of 80,000. Nick said they were disappointed. Matt said, “We created this show and we lost in front of everybody.” They stood and seemed ready to reconcile when Bullet Club Gold interrupted and taunted them. Jay said they’re on top of the world. “What a cute little foursome we have here,” Jay said. He suggested a match at All Out. Dax said he’d do it next week. Cash suggested at All Out. Bullet Club agreed.

(Keller’s Analysis: That match deserves a storyline and more build, but it’ll be a hell of a match and it’s another big spotlight match for the rising Gunn Club. I’m curious if FTR and the Bucks will get along through the match or this is setting up a harder heel turn by the Bucks than occurred at All In.) [c]

-Clips aired of the dissension within The Outcasts at All In and Saraya’s title win.

-Renee Young interviewed Toni Storm who had her hand on her chest and looked distressed. She brought up to Toni the trouble within The Outcasts. She said Ruby Soho left hero out there alone and she can’t trust her anymore. She said Saraya broke from their gameplan and forgot her part to enhance her performance. She took digs at all of her opponents and also the referee. She said she can’t calm down because she can’t trust anyone. She wandered off fretting and threw a shoe at Renee.

(Keller’s Analysis: I don’t have a sense yet if Toni Storm is going to snap out of this or if this is going to be her new persona indefinitely, but I’m enjoying it.)

-Chris Jericho made his ring entrance as fans sang his song. Jericho said they should happy and festive after what happened at Wembley. He said it was one of the greatest weekends of his career. He talked about a Fozzy performance and said the 81,000 tickets sold is “a shoot, baby.” He said it’s a show he’ll never forget. He said he regrets how he treated Sammy Guevara, though. He invited him to the ring. Schiavone said he was glad to see this. Guevara came out.

As Jericho began talking, fans began chanting “Sammy!” Jericho paused and said he agrees. He said when he shoved Sammy, he was frustrated after losing to Will Ospreay. He said he shouldn’t have taken it out on him. He said he didn’t think he had necessarily done all he could have to help him win the match. He said he watched it back and saw that he helped him with the bat, KO’ing Ospreay. He apologized for not thinking he did all he could have. He offered a handshake. Guevara paused, but shook his hand. He told Jericho he’ll always have his back “and a little push isn’t going to break us up.”

Jericho said he’s trying to figure out what he could have done to beat Ospreay. He said maybe he should have held him tighter and pulled his tights, or maybe Guevara could have hit him harder with the baseball bat. Guevara asked him to say that again. Jericho repeated himself. Guevara said when he was watching it, he thought maybe Jericho could have hit him harder with the Judas Effect, maybe he could have gotten it done.

Jericho said sometimes when he asks him to do something, he doesn’t do it as he envisions it. Guevara brought up that he left his pregnant wife to be on the show. Jericho said some wrestlers in the locker room would have killed to be part of that show. Guevara agreed, and he said if he hadn’t been so focused on watching his back, he could have wrestled on it. Jericho said if he follows his advice, he can be on All In next year. Guevara said he can learn how not to lose by watching Jericho’s match. Jericho brought up that Guevara lost to MJF when he had a shot at the AEW Title.

Guevara said he won the AEW Title four years ago, but 24 hours later he lost it outside a steakhouse. He said, “Some champion!” He got in Jericho’s face. Jericho snarled but told Guevara to hold on so they don’t say something they’ll regret later. He said they’ve been together since the first Dynamite episode. He suggested they reunite the Sex Gods and go after the AEW Tag Team Titles. He said they should reunite next week. Guevara thought about it, then hugged Jericho. Jericho said they’re the next tag champions.

(Keller’s Analysis: This has not been the perfect storyline so far, and Guevara looks like a wishy-washy sucker at this point for hedging and ultimately siding with Jericho, but this segment played up the believable idea that Guevara is a wishy-washy sucker who just wants to be friends with Jericho despite his flaws… or that Guevara is taking him on a ride and faking this all along. But if Guevara reveals he’s been playing Jericho for a sucker, then Jericho is going to look bad for not seeing through it and because, frankly, Guevara will have a good reason to not stay loyal to Jericho. This segment is consistent enough with both of those scenarios, so it didn’t seem like they were doing swerves for the sake swerves mid-segment; rather, they come across as two people with loyalty and mixed emotions and inconsistent constitutions guiding their decision-making.)

-They went backstage to Blackpool Combat Club’s Moxley, Claudio Castanoli, and Wheeler Yuta. Mox said they’re not about bark. He said the wrestlers to leave Chicago with the International Title will be the wrestler with the most bite.

(2) EDDIE KINGSTON vs. WHEELER YUTA – New Japan Strong Openweight Championship

Wheeler Yuta made his ring entrance first. The bell rang 38 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early split-screen break. [c/ss]

Yuta got in extended offense after the break, including a barrage of elbows mid-ring to Kingston’s shoulder and jaw. Kingston landed a sudden half-and-half suplex and then a hard spinning chop. Yuta called for him to bring on more. Kingston landed two spinning backfists for the win.

WINNER: Kingston in 9:00.

(Keller’s Analysis: Good battle, as you’d expect with these two.)

-A video package aired on the MJF vs. Adam Cole match.

-They showed MJF with an ice pack on his shoulder. Cole walked in and congratulated him on the win. MJF cut him off and said he almost broke his neck six times. He said Tony Khan said there’s going to be a battle royal to determine who will face them at All Out for the ROH Tag Team Titles and a tournament will take place to determine who faces him at Grand Slam. He said he’s going vacation in Paris, bang some rats, and then meet him in Chi-Town and have some deep dish. Cole said it sounds good. He said he has earned a week off and told him to get some rest. MJF said to himself, “A week off, finally!” [c]

-Renee interviewed Guevara backstage. As he said he and Jericho were back on the same page, Don Callis walked in and said it’s tough being Jericho’s friend. He asked if he has trouble dealing with a sociopath like that. Callis said he just heard he’s pregnant. He put his on his shoulder. Guevara told him to take his hand off of him. He told him he doesn’t need a new family and he told him to keep his family out of his mouth. “Get lost,” he said.

(Keller’s Analysis: I love that Callis just heard that Guevara is pregnant when it’s been known for weeks. If Guevara is working with Callis, this was quite the ruse. If he’s not, he can still change his mind. If he stays babyface, though, rejecting Callis so forcefully is a good character-building moment for him.)

-Excalibur said the tournament for a shot at MJF’s title starts next week on Dynamite, with the winner getting the title shot at Grand Slam in New York.

-Adam Cole made his ring entrance. He said All In was the most special night of his career and he thanked the fans. He said they told a great story. He said they won the ROH Tag Team Titles and then challenged MJF. He said it hurt losing that match. He said he knows at some point he’ll get another shot at the AEW Title.

He said regarding MJF, he’s not in great shape. He said his neck is pretty banged up, but this Sunday at All Out, MJF will be ready to go. Roderick Strong interrupted. He walked out, followed by Matt Taven and Mike Bennett.

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[HOUR TWO]

Strong told Cole that he cares more about MJF’s neck than his neck being in a brace. Cole said, “This is getting so ridiculously absurd.” He asked if it’s because he’s listening to Taven and Bennett. Bennett said it’s “Storytime with Mike Bennett.” He began to talk about 2010 in ECW Arena. Fans chanted, “Shut the f— up!” He said a 21 year old Cole was there and they got themselves signed to ROH and he felt they were bonded for life at that point. He said he was at his wedding and hosted his bachelor party the night before. He talked about all of the arenas they traveled to, but said Chicago is the worst. He told Cole he cares too much about what idiot fans think.

As Cole began to talk, Taven told him to shut his mouth. He said Cole needed The Kingdom to take over ROH, and when he achieved that, he jumped ship to The Bullet Club to pad his wallet with merch money. He said went to Florida and surrounded himself with all of their friends so they could prop him up and help him hold “that title as long as you did.” He said he is the same leech he’s always been and now he’s latched onto “that corny Melvin” because he thinks that’sa. gateway to the AEW Title. He said he thinks Cole thinks he’s gotten to where he is alone because that’s the only person he has ever cared about.

Cole said they know that’s not true. He said they were all close at one point. He said he has learned about friendship over the years that it’s important to be understanding of each other. He said they need to accept that Max is his best friend now. Strong said he can’t accept that. He said he’s entering the Grand Slam tournament and he’s going to beat MJF in the middle of the ring and become the new AEW Champion with his real friends, Mike and Matt, by his side. Cole said that’s a terrible idea with his neck. Strong said he suddenly cares about him. Strong said he’s breaking everybody’s back in that tournament because he’s a wrestling legend. He threw down the mic and left. Cole yelled at them as they left, “I have done nothing wrong!”

(Keller’s Analysis: I’m on board with this version of Roderick Strong. Everything about how he’s acting is cringy right now, now, but in a way that serves this story. He’s seething mad that Cole has befriended this jerk MJF and you can imagine him being completely preoccupied by this every waking moment. I like the idea of Strong winning the tournament and facing MJF at Grand Slam, perhaps with Cole at ringside getting involved in some way. That could be where Cole turns or seeds are planted that the Cole-MJF relationship has some cracks in it.)

-They went to the announcers on camera who talked about All Out. Excalibur hyped the main event of Cassidy vs. Penta.

-A promo aired with Penta and Alex Abrahantes. Alex said he took notes when he was out there with Kommander earlier.

(3) KRIS STATLANDER & HIKARU SHIDA & BRIT BAKER vs. NYLA ROSE & EMI SAKURA & MARINA SHAFIR

The bell 10 minutes into the hour. They cut to a split-screen break at 3:00. [c/ss]

Baker and Shida has some miscues in the match to create tension or distrust. Statlander leaped onto a crowd at ringside at 6:00 and then hit her Wednesday Night Fever tombstone and pinned Shafir.

WINNERS: Shida & Baker & Statlander in 7:00.

-Baker tried to explain what went wrong to Shida at ringside. Ruby Soho jumped Statlander and took her title belt. Baker tried to celebrate with Shida and Statlander. Shida seemed unconvinced it was an accident.

(Keller’s Analysis: Hey, Brit Baker in a new storyline!)

-A vignette aired on Shane Taylor hyping their ROH TV Title match at All Out with Taylor vowing he’s taking back the title.

-Excalibur hyped Joe vs. Taylor at All Out.

(Keller’s Analysis: Samoa Joe didn’t need to be on All Out so badly that they needed to rush an introduction of Shane Taylor onto Dynamite four days fans are asked to invest in him in a title match on a PPV. This felt very thrown together due to other plans falling apart. I’m against AEW hot-shotting matches that deserve more hype than four days, but they can do better than this in terms of patching together a full PPV on Sunday.)

-They went to Callis leading a strategy session with Takeshita. He showed X-rays of Omega’s damaged knee and neck. He showed him clips on the monitor of Takeshita offense he liked and how to target vulnerable areas of Omega. Callis said if all else fails, his back-up strategy is to utilize a screwdriver.

(Keller’s Analysis: I liked this. I’m all for Callis being a central figure on Dynamite in multiple segments each week. The more he’s on TV, the better he gets as refining his character and building that scumbag persona with the audience. Takeshita has turned out to be a natural heel who plays well off of Callis in a way Solo Sikoa plays off of his Bloodline brethren.) [c]

-The Acclaimed made their way to the ring. Caster rapped about winning the Trios Title in front of 80,000. He said they never froze like Mitch McConnell and made a reference to looking pissed like Trump in his mugshot. Billy Gunn was waiting for them in the ring wearing all pink. Schiavone asked Taz for his thoughts on Gunn wearing all pink.

Billy Gunn said Daddy Ass was back and he had a great day winning the Trios Titles. Caster gave credit to Chicago for initially giving them a lift and they plan to give the Trios Titles a lift and dominate the division.

Caster then shifted to a ribbon cutting ceremony. Billy said his scissors was small and he had a bigger one (double entendré). He pulled out a huge scissors and cut a ribbon. Taz said history was just made but he wasn’t sure what that history was. Anthony Bowens declared it a new era. He said they will now be known as The House of Ass. He said they wear pink in their house. He lifted the black covering on new Trios Title belts with pink straps. Caster threw his old black belt out of the ring. He said they’d defend them on Saturday at Collision. Then they scissored their new title belts together.

(Keller’s Analysis: I’m with Taz. But boy do those three have fun with the fans doing their thing.)

-A video package aired on the tag team battle royal on Rampage on Friday.

-Excalibur hyped Collision: The Outcasts vs. Statlander & Baker & Shida, Dax vs. Jay White, Acclaimed & Gunn vs. Angelo Parker & Matt Mendard & Danny Garcia. Then All Out: Omega vs. Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Miro, FTR & Young Bucks vs. Bullet Club Gold, Lucahsaurus vs. Darby Allin, Stalander vs. Soho for the TBS Title, Shane Taylor vs. Samoa Joe, Orange Cassidy or Penta vs. Jon Moxley for the International Title, and MJF & Cole defend the ROH Tag Team Titles.

(Keller’s Analysis: It’s worth noting to this point there’s been no mention of C.M. Punk or Jack Perry, nor any sense that the crowd is preoccupied with Punk’s absence. This is Dynamite, though, and fans wouldn’t expect him there on a Wednesday.)

-Penta made his ring entrance. [c]

(4) ORANGE CASSIDY vs. PENTA EL ZERO MIEDO (w/Alex Abrahantes) – AEW International Title

As Cassidy made his entrance, Excalibur talked about the stack of injuries Cassidy is facing. The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. They cut to a partial split-screen break at 2:00 when Penta caught Cassidy and threw him into the ringside barricade. [c/pss]

Back from the break, Penta landed a flip dive onto Cassidy. Excalibur plugged that after Collision would be a Countdown to All Out special on TNT. They cut to another split-screen break at 7:00. [c/ss]

Cassidy and Penta exchanged Canadian Destroyers. “What in the hell are we watching!?” exclaimed Schiavone. “Amazing!” Penta scored a near fall after a package piledriver. A minute later Penta landed a package piledriver on the ring apron. Cassidy grabbed the bottom rope during the cover to stop the third count. Penta yanked on Cassidy’s arm and then delivered another Fear Factor mid-ring. Cassidy kicked out. Cassidy then leveraged Penta’s shoulders down for the sudden three count. Schiavone said Cassidy stole it. Taz said he earned it with an amazing counter. Schiavone said it was just a figure of speech.

WINNER: Cassidy in 16:00 to retain the International Title.

-Cassidy sat on a chair and said he doesn’t usually talk. He said his body hurts, but he’s there and he’s wrestling and he’s defending his title. He said he’s been told he’s too short or too different, but he’s the champion, so he’ll continue to defend it as long as he wants and there’s nothing anyone can do to take it. He told Moxley to bring more than a fork. He said he’s freshly squeezed and he does not have a catch phrase.

Mox marched out to the ring and got in Cassidy’s face. He shoved him. Cassidy punched him and then shook his injured hand. They went forehead-to-forehead. Mox then gave Cassidy double-middle fingers to close the show.

(Keller’s Analysis: Wow, look at Cassidy stepping up and cutting a go-home babyface promo! Cassidy seemed genuinely nervous cutting a more traditional babyface promo, but he did well here. Does that move that match into the main event spot? I’m not surprised Tony Khan would look to Cassidy and Moxley to step up and become a very unlikely key match near the top or at the top of the All In line-up on Sunday. That should be a hell of a match and it’s my pick to be the main event, with FTR & The Bucks vs. Bullet Club Gold a close second choice.)

FINAL THOUGHTS: AEW had a lot of challenges this week, some of their own making and some not, and they came through with a solid episode that filled out the PPV card on Sunday.