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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
OCTOBER 23, 2024
WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH AT MAVERICK CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON TBS
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reports shortly before the show that 2,548 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 2,849. The arena has a capacity of 12,600 spectators when configured for boxing or wrestling.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Joel Dehnel 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.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a video package on Jon Moxley and his crew including Orange Cassidy on Collision telling Daniel Garcia he didn’t want to lead the defense against Moxley. Then they showed Moxley speaking in a desert setting saying someone will be sacrificed tonight for the greater good as he hopped in the back of a pick-up truck that then drove off.
-They cut to the parking lot where AEW wrestlers had gathered to confront Mox & Co. including Dark Order, Private Party, Garcia, and Jeff Jarrett’s crew.
-Excalibur hyped the line-up for Dynamite and then threw to a clip of last week’s main event finish. Excalibur talked about there being so many moving parts, but ultimately “Hangman” Adam Page delivered a Buckshot Lariat to Jay White, costing him the match, as Christian Cage distracted the referee.
-Tony Schiavone stood mid-ring and introduced Hangman. He told Hangman that he lost to White at WrestleDream, then cost White his match against Christian last week on Dynamite. He asked where his mind is at right now. Hangman yanked the mic from him. He said last week he took White’s head off and before that he nearly took Juice Robinson’s life. He said a few weeks ago he knocked out Austin Gunn so hard, he doubts he remembers his brother’s name.
Colten Gunn jumped Hangman from behind with a flying forearm. He pounded away at him until Hangman rolled to the floor. Colten leaped at him, but Hangman moved so Colten landed in the time keeper’s area. Hangman then threw Colten into the ring and pulled off his belt. White and Juice charged to the ring as White’s entrance theme played. Hangman fled the ring and limped away. White told Hangman he’s right where he wants him. He said he can hobble away, but he can’t hide. He said he can try to cover up his shortcomings with blood, barbed wire, and fires, but when the bell rings, he never has and never will be able to measure up to him. He said he hasn’t seen the last of him. He told him to him to ice his leg and he’d see him soon.
-A vignette hyped Sammy Guevara vs. Shelton Benjamin. Guevara said he’s been in AEW for five years and he takes pride in being an AEW original. He said he wants to pay back AEW by giving fans moments to remember. They showed a photo of Guevara as a kid posing with Shelton. Then MVP and Shelton spoke. Shelton said they aren’t there to make friends, but make money and win titles. MVP said they’re merchants of misery.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s good to see a character-reset of sorts for Guevara on Dynamite. Not a fan of him focusing on giving fans moments to remember rather than talking about wanting to win matches, especially since it’s part of his in-ring style approach where he seems more into posing for the camera than staying focused on winning matches sometimes. The continued work AEW is doing to make Shelton feel relevant and not just on TV as some sort of a “gold watch gesture” for a wrestler near 50 years old is the way to get the most out of him, especially in making him seem like a credible opponent for Swerve Strickland next week.)
(1) SAMMY GUEVARA vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN (w/MVP)
Guevara made his entrance first. Matt Menard wished Guevara’s baby daughter well, noting she had been sick all week. The bell rang 13 minutes into the hour. Guevara springboard-moonsaulted onto Shelton at ringside. When he went for a second dive, his boot caught the middle rope and then Shelton caught him and overhead tossed him. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Shelton dominated during the break. Shelton made a comeback at 7:00 and landed two superkicks and a knee strike to send Shelton to ringside. He followed with a corkscrew dive over the top rope to ringside. Shelton eventually made a comeback by catching a flying Guevara with a kick. Then he landed a running knee strike and a powerslam for a clean three count. Excalibur hyped Shelton vs. Swerve Strickland next week on Dynamite.
WINNER: Shelton in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: This might be the landing place for Guevara as a wrestler, which is an athletic affable jobber-to-the-stars who can put up a good fight and create a lot of movements, but ultimately lose most often.)
-Renee Paquette interviewed Mariah May who was rolling a suitcase. Renee asked if she was leaving the building. Mariah said it wasn’t her bag. She opened the case and threw it. She said Anna Jay doesn’t belong in a locker room with her. Jay attacked Mariah and then Christopher Daniels shows up and broke them up immediately.
-A video package aired on the history of Kyle Fletcher and Will Ospreay as partners and friends.
-Schiavone stood mid-ring and introduced Fletcher and Don Callis, noting that Fletcher said he wanted to speak tonight. Callis entered the ring and yanked the mic away from Schiavone. He said Fletcher had something important to say. Fletcher said the fans can boo him all they want, but the only person he’s there to talk to is Ospreay. He said he cost him his International Championship 11 days ago and he’s been laid up in a hospital bed ever since with numbness and tingling up and down his arms and legs “because of that herniated disk you don’t tell anyone about.” He said he has been wondering, “Why, Kyle, why?” He said that makes him happy.
Fletcher said the fans are as much to blame as Ospreay. He said since he arrived in AEW, fans said he was the next big thing with a great future. “And then you got here, Will,” he said. “And then they started calling me the next Will Ospreay.” He said the “inbred Americans” said he wrestlered and sounded like him, which he took as an insult. He said he is better than him in every single way. He said there was a time he would have liked those comparisons. He said Ospreay had a killer instinct once. Fans chanted, “Wrap it up! Wrap it up!” He said he has all the TV time he wants, “so you will listen to me!” He said he left New Japan and came to AEW. He said Kazuchika Okada mentored Ospreay and he stabbed Okada in the back. He said when Kenny Omega left New Japan, Ospreay became the top foreigner, but people told him he would never fill Omega’s shoes.
He said he used the exact same screwdriver he used to stab him in the head and drop him on his neck with a Tiger Driver. He said he left New Japan because he realized what he had to do to get out of his shadow “because that is the lesson you taught me.” He said Don Callis taught him that Ospreay never wanted him to reach his potential. He said Ospreay is selfish. He said he would give him one chance to save face. Fans chanted, “Shut the f— up!” It didn’t get bleeped. He said Ospreay will ignore doctor’s orders and face him next week, not get more MRIs. He said he will send him back to the hospital bed after burying him into the mat with one Tiger Driver after another “until your brittle neck withers to dust.” He said he has realized to in order take AEW to heights it has never seen before, “I can be nothing like you.”
Ospreay handed Fletcher a razor. He said from this day forward, he is nothing like him. He then shaved several strips of his hair off the top of his head. He yelled, “I am nothing like you! I am nothing like you!”
(Keller’s Analysis: Fletcher did really well there on the mic. He rose to the occasion. I’m not sure about the choice to shave off his hair, though. And why not save that for a hair match instead, if they were going there. Maybe a shaved head look works on him, but it’s not uncommon in pro wrestling and his hair was part of his distinct look.) [c]
-Excalibur commented on a clip of a Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling event last Saturday in Ontario, Canada featuring Konosuke Takeshita defending his International Title. Afterward, Takeshita and Callis stomped away at the opponent that Excalibur didn’t name (Josh Alexander). Ricochet made the save.
-Renee interviewed Ricochet. He told her he is a man of his word and he lived up to his promise to follow Takeshita around the world and call him out. Ricochet challenged him to show up on Friday. “Remember, payback’s a bitch,” he said. MVP and Shelton approached Ricochet. MVP complimented Ricochet’s suit. He handed him his card and told him they wanted a fresh start. Ricochet stared at the card.
(Keller’s Analysis: AEW should institute a “no tired cliches” rule in addition to throttling the use of the word “bitch” to just once a month at a key moment. “Paybacks a bitch” is so unoriginal and tired and eye-rolling to say in 2024. When it’s said like it’s some clever, witty, biting line, it’s even worse. This isn’t a 1985 cop movie.)
(2) BRIAN CAGE & LANCE ARCHER vs. TWO UNNAMED OPPONENTS
Callis joined in on commentary and called Ricochet a scumbag. As Cage and Archer made their entrance, he said Ricochet will pay for showing up and sticking his nose in Takeshita’s business. He then headed to ringside.
WINNERS: Archer & Cage in under 1:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Putting Cage and Archer together as a big dominant team is good use of them at this stage in AEW. I could see them challenging Private Party if they become tag champs soon and feud with Samoa Joe & Hook and FTR next year.)
-Chuck Taylor confronted Cassidy in the parking lot and talked about their history. He said it’s time for Cassidy to step up. “I know you see what they’re doing,” he said. He said he has beaten them before.
(Keller’s Analysis: I like this as a follow-up to the Jerry Lynn pep talk Orange received at WrestleDream. Cassidy being reluctant to step up, but eventually agreeing to, is a good story arc.)
(3) MARK BRISCOE vs. CHRIS JERICHO – Ladder War for the ROH World Championship
Jericho made his entrance first. Briscoe charged out and the bell rang 50 minutes into the hour. Excalibur said Taylor has been working as a backstage producer due to a career-ending neck injury. Briscoe went on the attack and knocked Jericho off the ring apron, crashing through two tables at ringside. Briscoe set up a move off the ring apron through another table at 3:00, but Jericho fought free. Briscoe put him on a ladder at ringside leaning against the barricade and then leaped toward him, but Jericho moved so Briscoe crashed through the ladder. They cut to a double-box break at 5:00. [c/db]
They fought back and forth with some spots on ladders in the ring, with Briscoe bleeding from the forehead.
[HOUR TWO]
They met at the top of a ladder mid-ring. Jericho knocked Briscoe off the ladder. Briscoe then knocked the ladder over, sending Jericho onto the top rope at 8:00. Both were down and slow to get up. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”
Briscoe put Jericho on a table. He climbed the ladder and looked ready to leap off when Bryan Keith entered. Rocky Romero then entered and smashed Keith with a kendo stick.
Briscoe then stood on the top rung of the ladder and leaped off of it with an elbowdrop, crashing Jericho through the table. He played to the crowd, then delivered a Jay Driller. Briscoe then moved the ladder to mid-ring and climbed it. Big Bill entered and chokeslammed Briscoe over the top rope through two tables at ringside. Bill called for Jericho to get up. When Jericho didn’t get up, Bill lifted him onto his shoulders and carried him up the ladder. Jericho reached up and grabbed the belt to win.
WINNER: Jericho in 13:00 to capture the ROH Title.
-Tomohiro Ishii made his entrance, accompanied by Romero. Excalibur said they hadn’t seen him since Jericho took him out. He said he was looking for vengeance.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s strange the men’s ROH Title gets featured on Dynamite, but Athena’s record-length women’s ROH Title reign is off in a separate universe of ROH with no crossover. As for the match, it’s what you’d have expected. Briscoe standing on top of the ladder without any stabilizing help appeared needlessly dangerous if not irresponsible. Jericho put a lot of effort into this and the crowd seemed largely into it. All that said, fans, wrestlers, and promoters have become largely numb to how absurd it is that a title is put on the line in a match with no rules and anyone can interfere. There’s zero prestige associated with being a champion if there’s no structure that assures the person holding it earned it in a situation where there was least an attempt to have an outcome reflective of them being better than their opponent.)
-A video package aired on the Kris Statlander and Kamille feud and hyping their match scheduled for next week’s Dynamite.
-Adam Cole made his ring entrance next. As Cole began to speak, he was immediately interrupted by Roderick Strong, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven. Strong said MJF used Cole to try to get fans to care about him, something he never had in his career before. He said he didn’t even check in on him once when he was injured. He said they did. Cole nodded.
Bennett said the whole group wasn’t formed because of Max. He said their friendship was always way way bigger than Max. He said they started it together and they’ll finish it together. Taven said when he told them about his plan, they said yes right away because of him, not Max. He said the best moments of his life are when they’re all together. Strong said he’s proud of Cole for working his ass off the last year to come back from that serious ankle injury. He said he’s back and now they can finish what they started and take out MJF together. He said he wants Max first. Cole smiled.
“Roddy, you are damn right,” Cole said. He suggested they finish it tonight. He called MJF to the ring so they can take turns giving him “an undisputed ass kicking.” MJF appeared on the screen getting a massage from a woman in a skin tight, revealing black outfit. He reiterated to Cole that he won’t ever get his hands on him. He said whoever wins three matches in a row first can get a match against him at Full Gear. He said he won’t appear in person until Full Gear. He said he hopes they get the happy ending they’re looking for “because I sure will.” The four group-hugged in the ring. They showed Kyle O’Reilly watching in the back.
(Keller’s Analysis: I still wish both MJF and Cole had been booked away from each other as there’s still a bad taste from the debacle of their whole storyline over the last year or what feels like three years. Cole’s acting is all over the place in terms of quality. Strong, Bennett, and Taven reek of mid-card not-serious people, so that brings the whole issue with Cole and MJF down another notch and always has since they were revealed to be part of Undisputed Kingdom. Maybe they’ll salvage this into something half-way decent as it plays out, but I’m eager for everyone to move on. Also, MJF went from vowing Cole would never get his hands on him to telling him that if he gets to three wins before Strong, he gets a match against him at the next PPV. I did get a kick out of MJF cutting his promo from a massage table while getting a massage. He couldn’t resist including a “happy ending” reference, of course.) [c]
-A video aired recapping Penelope Ford’s promo from Collision last week calling Jamie Hayter a “bitch.” She said she won’t let anyone forget who she is.
-Renee interviewed Hayter backstage. Hayter said what Ford said is all b.s. She said she worked for what she has including wrestling in community centers in front of 20 drunk men. She said if Ford does that, then she can tell her about how she was handed everything. She said she’s in Salt Lake City looking for a fight and Ford is nowhere to be found. She asked if she’ll be there in two weeks on Dynamite so she can make her the victim of her return.
(4) HOUSE OF BLACK (Buddy Matthews & Brody King & Malakai Black) vs. KEVIN KOA & JADEN MONROE & PIRATA DE LA MUERTE – AEW Trios Title match
Mendard laughed and said, “Good luck, boys!” as the camera showed House of Black’s opponents. The bell rang 22 minutes into the hour. Matthews landed a stomp on Monroe for the win.
WINNERS: House of Black in 2:00.
-Matthews challenged Cole to a match next week and threw the mic down.
-Renee interviewed Cole, Bennett, Taven, and Strong. She asked for his reaction to the challenge. Cole walked up to Matthews as he arrived backstage. Cole asked if he has a problem with him. “What the deal?” he asked. Matthews said he wanted to prove a point that he’s fragile. He patted him on the shoulder and walked away.
(Keller’s Analysis: Matthews being the first person to lose to Cole is fine. It seems that moment was the entire reason House of Black made a rare Dynamite appearance. It’s such a shame Black’s backstage attitude has cost him years of what could have been valuable contributions to AEW. It’s made worse by the fact that Cody probably wouldn’t have left AEW if fans choosing to cheer Black over him hadn’t been part of the spiraling of Cody’s popularity with AEW fans.)
(5) KAMILLE (w/Mercedes Moné) vs. QUEEN AMINATA
Kamille made her entrance first with Mercedes. The bell rang 28 minutes into the hour. They cut to a partial double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Kamille applied the Torture Rack and then slammed Aminata to the mat for a two count at 8:00. Mercedes told her to finish her. Kamille delivered a face plant for the win.
WINNER: Kamille in 9:00.
-Statlander walked out afterward. Excalibur said she’ll face Kamille for the first time next week on Dynamite. They had a staredown. Mercedes touted Kamille’s size, then hit Statlander from behind. Statlander no-sold it and knocked Mercedes down and then battled Kamille. When Statlander turned back to Mercedes, Kamille dropped her. Kamille and Mercedes stood over her, then left.
(Keller’s Analysis: Given what AEW is paying Mercedes and her overall talent and star power, I’m not sure she should be bumping around to Kamille like she’s a hapless little manager taking a beating.)
-They went outside the arena as a black SUV arrived. The gathered wrestlers were ready for a fight, but Christian and his crew walked out. The camera panned over and showed Kip Sabian standing between two cars, lurking. Christian and his crew chased him away.
-They went to Excalibur, Schiavone, and Menard at the announce desk. As Excalibur plugged the main event, Christian, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne followed Sabian to the ring. Hook made his way through the back. Renee asked if he knew who attacked his dad. Hook said the security footage showed it was the scumbags in the ring. He made his way to the ring.
Hook gave a T-Bone to Nick Wayne. Sabian gave a low-blow to Hook. Christian then looked at Sabian and said he knows why he’s been doing what he’s been doing. He said he’d deal with him later. He ordered him to stand in the corner and wait. Wayne and Christian then attacked Hook. Then they hugged. Sabian smiled. Christian then gave Hook a Killswitch onto the briefcase. He then kneeled down and told Hook “it’s not what it seems.” Excalibur said Taz is still recovering from knee surgery needed due to the attack by Wayne.
(Keller’s Analysis: Sabian joining Christian’s crew is a twist. It’s too early to evaluate what they have in mind, but Sabian is talented and has been spinning his wheels in AEW for years. Maybe this helps make him relevant. I still enjoy everything Christian does these days.) [c]
(6) PRIVATE PARTY & DANIEL GARCIA vs. THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) & JACK PERRY
Private Party came out first followed by Garcia. When the Bucks and Perry came out, Excalibur said the Bucks are not coming to the defense of AEW against Mox and his crew. He said they are loyal to themselves, not AEW. He noted Garcia was wearing an AEW t-shirt. Garcia fought back at ringside against Perry attacking him before the bell. The ref called for the bell 50 minutes into the hour when they entered the ring.
The Bucks took control against Kassidy for a stretch of time. They showed wrestlers still gathered outside the arena awaiting the arrival of Mox and his crew. They cut to a double-box break with the Bucks and Perry in control. [c/db]
The Bucks landed Ricky Business on Kassidy for a near fall at 10:00.
[OVERRUN]
Kassidy hot-tagged in Quen who rallied with a flurry of moves against both Bucks. The Bucks came back with stereo superkicks. Nicholas scored a near fall after a Poison Rana. Excalibur reset the match for viewers just tuning in. Quen broke up a cover by Matthew after another double-team move. Garcia yanked Perry off the ring apron to prevent him from interfering. Garcia kicked Perry into the crowd. Quen pinned Matthew with a small package seconds later.
WINNERS: Private Party & Garcia in 13:00.
-Afterward, Kassidy said they proved they have their number and they want a rematch for the AEW Tag Team Titles. The Bucks retreated up the ramp. Kassidy said if they give them the match and they lose to them, they’d break up for good. Quen didn’t know that was coming, based on his reaction. Nicholas said he liked that. They agreed.
The big screen showed the pick-up arriving in the parking lot. Marina Shafir got out. Meanwhile, Yuta and Claudio attacked Garcia and Private Party from behind in the ring. Mox dragged Chuck Taylor to the ring. Excalibur said Taylor’s career ended when his ankle was shattered. Mox put a chair around his neck and then Claudio stomped on it. Mox, Claudio, and Yuta retreated through the crowd. Cassidy and the rest from the parking lot arrived in the ring just a bit too late to save Taylor. Excalibur said they’d update Taylor’s condition as soon as they were able.
(Keller’s Analysis: The Moxley story is still weird. Fans like Cassidy enough that he’ll probably get cheered against him. Same for Garcia. So they’re good starting places for Mox as a heel to give him the best chance to get booed. His message and motivation isn’t really heelish, though. He seems to have sound reason for being disgruntled. Taking out Chuck in this way should be what flips the switch with Cassidy and gets him to take up the battle against Moxley’s crew. The idea that Mox is trying to takeover AEW with brutal tactics, but only select portions of the babyface mid-card and lower-card are taking up the fight instantly undercuts the storyline’s core foundation.)
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Joel Dehnel 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.
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