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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
JULY 24, 2024
NASHVILLE, TENN. AT BRIDGESTONE ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON TBS
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported earlier today that 4,259 tickets had been distributed so far; arena is set up for 5,307. More tickets have been sold since then. Subscribe to WrestleTix on Patreon for detailed up-to-date information.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Joel Dehnel to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER AEW DYNAMITE TONIGHT
[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with Alex Marvez in “the AEW hotel parking garage.” He said he was trying to get “the scoop” from Will Ospreay after a devastating loss to MJF last week. Ospreay ran past him to an SUV and he leaned over to the front tire on the driver’s side and noticed a knife stuck in his tire. He kneeled and then yelled in frustration. He demanded Marvez’s keys. Marvez handed them over. Ospreay tossed Marvez his suitcase and ran over to a white SUV a few yards away. Marvez threw the suitcase into the back seat and then got in the passenger seat. He asked Ospreay if he had ever driven in this country and Ospreay said no.
(Keller’s Analysis: Why did Ospreay kneel in front of the stabbed tire before he noticed the knife? Are we to believe that Ospreay was about to get in his SUV but he had never actually drive in America before otherwise? This was just needlessly campy in its execution.)
-They cut to the arena as Excalibur introduced the show. He and Tony Schiavone and Tazz commented on highlights of the Ospreay vs. MJF match last week including MJF being given oxygen afterward.
-MJF made his ring entrance with cheerleaders on the ramp cheering for him before he walked out. Fans erupted in boos. He wore a suit and showed off his International Title around his waist. He threw his gum into the crowd and then said Ospreay didn’t execute his Tiger Driver ’91 “because he’s a gutless coward.” He claimed he beat Ospreay “without breaking a damn sweat, easiest match of my life, quickly and efficiently.” He said wrestling analysts are calling it the most dominant victory of all time.
He said he thinks a lot of people are telling Ospreay to retire, but he’d suggest he take a long walk off a short pier. “But lucky for you, Will, your grandma died recently, didn’t she?” MJF said. Fans ohhh’d. He said he could dig a grave next to hers, but do it a football field away from his grandmother’s tombstone. “Lord knows that fat skank needs all the room she can get,” he said. “I kill me, I’m the best.” He told fans to shut up. He called Ospreay to come to the ring and face him like a man. He said he won’t because he’s worthless. Excalibur said Ospreay won’t because his car tire was slashed. Schiavone accused MJF of being the one who did it.
MJF said fans love the International Title because it was held by workhorses who wanted to try to earn the fans’ affection by working hard. He dry heaved and said, “What a joke.” He said working hard “is for poors like all of you.” He said fans are unpatriotic and treasonous. He said he deserves a title worthy of his superior intellect, bank account, and upbringing. He said the belt is nothing more than garbage. He dropped it into a trash can at ringside. He said he deserves a title belt that symbolizes the best wrestler and country in the world. He said he’s not talking about “that cesspool of a nation, the U.K.” He then removed a covering and revealed the new “American Championship.” Fans chanted, “USA!” He said when he talks about America, he’s not talking about “nasty-ass Nashville.” He said when he talks about America, he’s talking about Plainville, Long Island, New York. He told fans to God bless their American hero and thank him later. He held up the belt and streamers shot off as a patriotic song played. A huge American flag dropped, but with images of MJF’s face representing each of the stars.
Ospreay ran into the ring and MJF fled up the aisle. Ospreay said MJF was “breathing out your asshole” at the 59 minute mark and he knew he couldn’t beat him, so he reached in his trunks and “went past your tiny little (bleep)” and you pulled out that diamond ring and cracked him in skull. He said MJF would rather cheat than admit a guy like him is on his level. MJF stood on the stage and said he didn’t cheat. Ospreay said he had a meeting with Tony Khan and Christopher Daniels and secured a rematch at All In. He pointed at the All In banner. MJF asked what he was talking about and stormed to the back. Ospreay took the International Title belt out of the trash can and carried it to the back.
(Keller’s Analysis: A good follow-up to last week in terms of MJF as the heel absurdly claiming the win was easy and then Ospreay coming out and framing his method of winning as a sign of a cheating coward. I don’t think the whole Marvez skit was needed, but if they felt it was, it should’ve been done better. It’s worth nothing that went up against President Joe Biden’s Oval Office address to the nation, so I assume AEW will recap that segment later with the assumption being a lot of people missed it.)
-Excalibur plugged Blood & Guts as they showed the two rings and the cage hanging above them.
-They cut backstage for the traditional coin toss. Daniels was down, having apparently been attacked. Matt Jackson tossed a coin that he said had
“AEW” on one site and “Elite” on the other. It came up “AEW” so he said they got the advantage. Nick Jackson asked Matt, Kazuchika Okada, and Jack Perry where “Hangman” Page was. Matt said they made a deal so he’d be there.
(1) CHRIS JERICHO vs. MINORU SUZUKI
As Jericho made his entrance, they showed Jericho injuring Hook and Samoa Joe recently. Suzuki came out second. The bell rang 16 minutes into the hour. Fans chanted, “Suzuki! Suzuki!” Jericho chopped Suzuki at the start; Suzuki no-sold it and chopped Jericho. This went on for six minutes. Excalibur plugged upcoming scheduled segments and matches. A “Chop forever!” chant broke out. Excalibur said it’s a battle of egos as neither man wants to relent to the other. Suzuki stuck his tongue out at Jericho. They cut to a double-box break at 6:00 right after Jericho finally went down after a chop. [c/db]
They returned from the break and the chopping continued. Jericho finally kicked Suzuki. Blood was pouring out of an open wound on Jericho’s chest from the chops. Suzuki applied an armbar while tied up in the ropes and hanging upside down. Suzuki put Jericho’s arm in a chair and then smashed that chair with another chair. They went back to chopping each other at ringside. Jericho sold that his hand hurt from throwing a chop.
Suzuki threw him back into the ring and then dropped him to the mat with a Fujiwara armbar. Jericho stood and raked Suzuki’s eyes and then gave him a Code Breaker for a one count. Fans popped for the quick kickout. Jericho looked at Suzuki wide-eyed in disbelief. Suzuki put Jericho in a sleeper. Jericho slipped out of a piledriver attempt and applied a Walls of Jericho mid-ring. Suzuki twisted out of it and then put Jericho in another sleeper. Suzuki went for a Gotch-style piledriver. Jericho escaped with a low-blow and then landed a Judas Effect for a three count.
WINNER: Jericho in 14:00.
-As Jericho held the belt in the air, Suzuki stood. Jericho took a swing at him. Suzuki ducked and then gave Jericho a Gotch-style piledriver. Bryan Keith and Big Bill attacked Susuzki. Katsuyori Shibata’s music played. Bill and Keith stood and waited, but Shibata came at them from behind and cleared the ring of them. The heel trio gathered on the stage.
-Renee Paquette interviewed Willow Nightingale and congratulated her on winning the CMLL Women’s Title. Stokely Hathaway showed up and then Kris Statlander attacked her and gave her a Death Valley Driver onto crates and threw the belt on her. Hathaway suggested an eliminator match next week on Dynamite. [c]
-They aired Bryan Danielson earlier in the day telling Renee that his doctor told him his neck is fixable but he has to make sure it stays fixable. He told him to enjoy the moment at Wembley Stadium. Jeff Jarrett walked in said Danielson overcame the odds that he didn’t and he couldn’t have been more proud than to stand in the ring and hand him the Owen Hart Tournament Cup. He told Danielson he has a lot of physical healing, but also mental healing. He said it sounds like he’s got one foot out the door and is even making an excuse. “If you’re going to go all in, then go all in,” Jarrett said. He sat next to Danielson and said a lot of people believe in him, “and I’m at the very top of the list.” Jarrett left. Renee asked how that sits with him. Danielson said a lot of what he said is true and he has some work to do.
(2) BRITT BAKER vs. HIKARU SHIDA
Baker came out first. As Shida made her entrance, they showed clips of their previous battles including Baker bleeding from a broken nose. The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Shida took control at ringside at 2:00 and landed a running kneelift to Baker as she lay on the ring apron. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
At 6:00 Baker made a comeback and knocked Shida to the mat with a Sling Blade. Rather than go for the finish, she turned her back on her opponent and pulled out her glove and mouthed, “DMD!” When she turned around, Shida was there attacking her. Schiavone said Baker made a mistake turning her back on her.
Shida and Baker rolled on the mat with moves and countermoves. Shida came out of it with a guillotine. Baker escaped and side-kicked a charging Shida. Shida jackknife covered Baker for a two count. The exchanged two counts. Shida had a chance to grab a kendo stick, but opted not to. Baker then landed a rip-cord elbow and neckbreaker for a two count. Shida came back with a Falcon Arrow. Baker countered a spinning kick by Shida and applied the Lock Jaw for the tapout win. Schiavone called it a tremendous comeback win.
WINNER: Baker in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Not everything was the smoothest, but a hard effort and ultimately a dramatic match. They did a good job recapping their history.)
-Afterward, Mercedes Moné walked out to her theme song. She told Baker she knows she wants a shot at her TBS Title at All In. “So let’s get to it,” she said. She then said, “Everyone is waiting for my answer, and that answer is no.” Kamille then kicked Baker. The announcers stammered and said who she was and that she hadn’t been in AEW in a while, but is very dangerous. Excalibur said he heard rumors she’s a free agent. She put Baker in a Torture Rack and then took her to the mat with a sitout powerbomb. Mercedes joined her in the ring. [c]
-Christian Cage, Nick Cage, Nick’s mom, and Killswitch stood backstage. Christian said Friday on Rampage, Nick is entered in the Royal Rampage and he’ll walk out as the new no. 1 contender for the AEW World Title. Christian said Nick earned the right to talk. Nick began to talk, but then noticed Kip Sabian off to the side. He asked why he was lurking. Nick said he’ll see him on Rampage on Friday and he said he’ll be the one to throw him out. Nick added, “No one cares your dad is dead, so suck it up.”
[HOUR TWO]
(3) PAC vs. IRON SAVAGE’S BOULDER (w/Bronson, Jacked James)
Excalibur noted that MJF will put the AEW American Championship on the line against Templario in Mexico City. Boulder got in some early offense, but Pac finished him with a brainbuster suplex shortly thereafter.
WINNER: Pac in 1:15.
-Swerve Strickland led a promo backstage with his teammates. He said they’d show everyone what elite is all about. Darby told Swerve that he’s not the leader and they’re never going to see eye-to-eye. Swerve said if he wants to get violent with him, he’s more than happy. Max Caster said he would get violent with either of them. Anthony Bowens said they want to eliminate The Young Bucks. Mark Briscoe jumped in and tried to play peacemaker. He said they are Team AEW and trying to take out The Elite.
(4) MARIAH MAY vs. KAITLAND ALEXIS
Mariah May made her ring entrance with her opponent already in the ring. Mariah landed a leaping dropkick at the bell. Schiavone said Mariah knew what she wanted from day one. Taz said she wanted to be a leader, not a follower, and said that’s a good thing, but how she went about it was scummy. Mariah charged into Alexis with a hip attack and finished her with a Storm Zero.
WINNER: Mariah in 1:30.
-Toni Storm’s music played and Mariah jerked her head to look over the stage. Storm entered the ring behind Mariah (just like Shibata earlier) wearing a wig. She took off the wig and waited for Mariah to turn around. They brawled and then were separated. Storm yelled, “Are you ready to die? Because I am!”
-Dean Malenko narrated a video package previewing Blood & Guts.
-Excalibur explained the rules.
-Justin Roberts then introduced the match from ringside as the double-cage was lowered.
-Perry made his ring entrance. [c]
(5) JACK PERRY & THE YOUNG BUCKS & KAZUCHIKA OKADA & “HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE vs. SWERVE STRICKLAND & DARBY ALLIN & THE ACCLAIMED (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & MARK BRISCOE – Blood & Guts double-cage progressive entrance match
Darby made his entrance after the break. The match began 16 minutes into the hour. Perry attacked Darby as he was entering the cage and beat on him at ringside. They brawled into the crowd and then back to the ring. Perry dart-threw Darby into a trash can wedged in the corner of the ring. Nicholas Jackson entered at 5:00 and they double-teamed Darby.
Briscoe came out at 10:00 to even the odds. Darby recovered and joined him in beating up Nicholas and Perry. Briscoe jabbed Nicholas with a ladder as Darby used a chair against Perry in the other ring. Matthew Jackson entered next and helped Team Elite get the advantage. Matthew catapulted Darby into Perry swinging a briefcase at him. The heel trio celebrated in the ring as their two opponents were down.
Anthony Bowens came out next. He gave Perry a Fameasser. Matthew hit Bowens with a briefcase. Okada came out next with a “Rainmaker” metal street sign which he used as a weapon. They cut to a double-box break.
Caster came out next with a mic in hand. Schiavone said it’ll be amazing that when everyone is in the ring, there will six champions in the match. A “Holy shit” chant broke out when Matthew splashed Bowens who was sandwiched between two barbed-wire tables. Next, Okada poured a handful of thumb tacks into the mouth of Caster. Matthew then pumped his sneakers and superkicked Caster in the mouth. Schiavone said, “We have seen it all now.”
The Elite waited for Hangman to come out next. Excalibur said his focus wasn’t on helping The Elite, but rather getting his hands on Swerve. Hangman’s music played, but he didn’t come out. The Elite went back to fighting their opponents in the ring. Excalibur said Team Elite were getting cocky. Five minutes later, with Team AEW in control, Swerve made his entrance down the ramp with Prince Nana leading the way. Hangman charged down the ramp and jabbed Swerve with a chair in the shoulder from behind. Swerve went down hard. Hangman handcuffed Swerve’s wrists to the cage.
Okada knocked a bloodied Briscoe into the corner where a barbed wire board was leaning. Hangman yelled at Swerve at ringside that he never deserved the AEW World Title belt. He hit him in the face with it and then punched away at him. Matthews yelled down at Hangman and asked what he was doing. “We had a deal!” he said. Matthew said the last time they suspended him, he sat at home. He said if he doesn’t get his ass in the ring, he’s fired. Hangman stopped punching Swerve and entered the cage. Matthew then told them to lock the cage. He said he’s an EVP to get the ref to do it before Swerve entered.
Okada shoved Hangman. Darby leaped onto Hangman’s back. Excalibur said the Blood & Guts officially began and they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Back from the break, Jeff Jarrett came to ringside with a guitar. Brandon Cutler ran out and warned Jarrett not to get involved. Billy Gunn came to ringside and crotch-chopped at Cutler and punched him. Jarrett bashed a guitar over his head. Jarrett and Gunn disconnected Swerve’s cuffs from the cage. Swerve entered the ring. After fighting other Elite members, he and Hangman squared off. They fought. Hangman went for a Buckshot Lariat, but Swerve ducked. Hangman rubbed a barbed wire board into Swerve’s forehead. Okada went after Swerve. The Elite took staple guns out of a case. Swerve fought back and used the staple gun against Matthew and Perry. When Okada set up a Rainmaker and gestured at Swerve with a middle finger, Swerve used the staple gun on his finger. Hangman went for a Buckshot, but Swerve ducked so Hangman hit Okada instead. Swerve then gave Hangman a staple gun to the jaw. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
During the break, Hangman and Swerve crashed off the staging area. Back from the break, Excalibur said they were effectively eliminated from the match. Bowens pursued Matthew up the cage. Matthew knocked him off the side and through two sets of stacked tables. In the ring, Briscoe gave Jay Drillers to each of his four remaining opponents in the ring. Briscoe landed a leaping splash onto Matthew through a table set up between the rings. Darby then pulled himself monkey-bar style to the middle of the ring and then dropped onto Perry on a table mid-ring with a Coffin Drop. Fans chanted “Holy shit!”
Caster brought a briefcase into the ring and tossed Briscoe two pairs of handcuffs. They cuffed Perry to the cage on the inside. They attacked Perry. Darby asked if he quit. When Perry didn’t, Darby was happy. Briscoe smashed Perry with a chair to the skull. “That’s not good,” said Schiavone. Darby entered with a plastic gas can and a lighter. He squirted Perry with the fuel. Taz asked if he was really going to set Perry on fire. Darby said, “I’m going to light your ass on fire if you don’t quit.” Matthew, also cuffed to the bottom rope, begged Darby not to. Matthew said it’s gone too far and it’s ridiculous. “We quit!” he said. The bell rang to end the match. Excalibur plugged Rampage’s Royal Rampage on Friday as the show ended.
WINNERS: Team AEW in 49:o0.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Joel Dehnel to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER AEW DYNAMITE TONIGHT
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