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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
NOVEMBER 27, 2024
CHICAGO, ILL. AT WINTRUST ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON TBS
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reports tonight thta 4,271 tickets had been distributed. The arena has a capacity of 10,387 spectators when configured for basketball. Five days ago, 2,681 tickets were distributed, so Full Gear and Continental Classic announcement seemed to lead to a surge in late ticket sales.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Chris Lansdell 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.
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[HOUR ONE]
-A video package opened with highlights from Full Gear to “November Rain” by Guns ‘n’ Roses.
-They went live to the arena and panned the crowd cheering as Excalibur introduced the show. He said the Continental Classic would begin on the show and said there were major format changes they’d get into during the show.
-The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP – walked out to the ring. MVP said he is standing between two of the finest athletes to ever grace a pro wrestling ring. He said it’s like standing between Michael Jordan and Walter Payton. (That got “MVP” chants going briefly. Is MVP going for babyface reactions?) He said when MVP gives you his business card, it’s like getting a golden ticket and a chance to change your life. He said you can smart or like Swerve Strickland, no terribly smart. A “Swerve’s House!” chant rang out with a small group of fans.
MVP pointed at the big screen and showed Lashley powerslamming and spearing Swerve en route to a ref stoppage while in the Hurt Lock. He said Swerve is a former World Champion, but Lashley is the most dangerous man in AEW. He said they win titles and leverage it for more power and money. He said the are the merchants of misery and in the profession of pain. He turned to Shelton and said he’s kicking off the Continental Classic, showing what they do better than anyone else. Schiavone said he hopes Swerve “gets his comeuppance” eventually after putting up a spirited fight against Lashley at Full Gear. (He meant something else, since he wasn’t actually looking for Swerve to punished for past actions.)
(Keller’s Analysis: Solid promo at establishing who they are as a faction and what they stand for. MVP’s not the most dynamic or entertaining talker in pro wrestling, and his pace tries my patience as I find myself wishing for a 1.5x button sometimes as he takes his time meandering his way through his talking points as if everyone is hanging on his every word, so it’s good to keep the content concise and efficient. He did that here. I don’t think Lashley and Benjamin should talk in every segment, but I want to hear from them more often than not in group promos like this.)
(1) SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. MARK BRISCOE – Continental Classic Blue League match
As Briscoe made his entrance, they showed the grid as Excalibur explained the structure of the round-robin tournament and the rules that no one is allowed at ringside. The bell rang 12 minutes into the hour. Briscoe shook hands with Shelton, but Shelton yanked on him and tried to get an early advantage. Excalibur said the Blue League winner will face the Gold League runner-up and vice-versa at World’s End, and then the finals will also take place that night. He said Kazuchika Okada will remain champion until that night if he makes it to the semi-finals. Briscoe took control at ringside until Shelton overhead suplexed him onto the floor. They cut to a double-box break at 3:30 with Shelton in control. [c/db]
They showed the belt at ringside. Nigel said there are no tomato cans in the field of competitors. Briscoe began no-selling strikes to the head by Shelton and then ducked a few big swings before returning fire with chops. Shelton caught a charging Briscoe with a boot. Briscoe fired back with a clothesline and then leaped off the top rope with an elbow drop. Briscoe sold a rib injury after he landed. Odd spot. Shelton rolled away from Briscoe to ringside and collapsed to the mat as Briscoe slowly worked his way to the ring apron. Briscoe landed a running Cactus Jack-style elbowdrop off the ring apron to the floor.
Back in the ring, Briscoe went for another flying elbow, but Briscoe lifted his knees. (Did Briscoe think that spot was supposed to happen a minute earlier, which is why he sold pain when he landed?) Shelton release suplexed Briscoe twice and Briscoe took nasty landings on the back of his head and neck. Shelton caught Briscoe with a spinning wheel kick to the face and then a running knee in the corner followed by a side kick to the chest for a near fall at 11:00. Shelton followed up with an exploder suplex into a powerslam for a clean three count.
MVP and Lashley walked out and raised Shelton’s arm. Shelton refused to let the ref raise his arm before that.
WINNER: Shelton in 12:00 to earn 3 points.-A video package aired on the Continental Classic. [c]-Standing on the entrance stage, Schiavone introduced Mercedes Moné. She walked out with Kamille. She said, “Chicago, say hello to their CEO.” Schiavone said her match with Kris Statlander was the longest women’s match in AEW history “and some are calling it the Women’s Match of the Year.” Mercedes said Statlander proved she’s one of the very best in the ring, but she’s the greatest TBS Champion of all time and she showed how a real woman gets the job done right. She said since Kamille can’t get anything done right, she wanted to tell her something. Kamille interrupted and told her to shut up. “Are you stupid or are you dumb?” she said. “You can’t fire me because I quit.” She shoved the mic into Mercedes’s chest. Mercedes screeched, “What?! She quit on me?!” Fans chanted, “You deserve it!”
-A highlight package aired on the Q.T. Marshall vs. Big Boom A.J. match at Full Gear.
(2) CHRIS JERICHO (w/Big Bill, Bryan Keith) vs. TOMOHIRO ISHII – ROH World Title match
Jericho came out first. As Ishii came out, they recapped a silly chase through the arena last week when Ishii pursued Jericho at a leisurely pace. Bill presented Schiavone with a plant which he said one day might grow into a learning tree. The bell rang 35 minutes into the hour. Jericho and Ishii exchanged chops at the start. Bill said a tree that is taller than the forest will get blown down by the wind, so no one is their Learning Tree group is taller than the other. Excalibur said Bill is taller than Jericho and Keith. Bill said it’s a figure out speech. Jericho DDT’d Ishii on the ring apron at 3:00. Jericho lifted the announce desk lid and lightly dropped it so it sorta floated onto the back of Ishii who sold it like he was hit with a sledgehammer. Exacalibur said he “drove” it into the “lower back and kidneys” of Ishii. Back in the ring, they went back to chops. They simultaneously slapped each other. They cut to a double-box break at 5:00. [c/db]
Jericho was bleeding from his mouth. Ishii began no-selling Jericho’s strikes. Jericho caught him with a boot as he charged. Ishii clotheslined him in response. Bill said he seems indestructible. Jericho delivered a released German suplex. Ishii got back up and clotheslined Jericho to block a Judas Effect. Bill said Jericho keeps one-upping Ishii. Jericho hit a Judas Effect and a Code Breaker for a mere one count. Ishii popped up but then collapsed. Ishii countered a Walls of Jericho and then tackled him for a two count at 12:00. Ishii then hit a Code Breaker. Jericho stood and ate a running clothesline for a near fall. Ishii was bleeding from his nose.
Ishii landed an enzuigiri, but then Jericho caught a charging Ishii with a Judas Effect. He hit a second Judas Effect for the win.
WINNER: Jericho in 13:00 to retain the ROH World Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: This delivered what you’d expect from these two. Bill was entertaining on commentary. The hard-way blood was visible evidence of how stiff they were with each other. The crowd wasn’t reacting. This style isn’t for me, and it’s apparently not something this crowd is all that into at this point. The ROH Title means so little, and it’s never been put in any context why it exists in AEW.)
-Renee Paquette interviewed Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana backstage. Swerve said rebuilding is something he does very well. He said after a win or a loss, he figures it out. He said he’s never been hit so hard by someone in his life. Max Caster walked behind him laughing and said, “Brutal.” Swerve yelled at him, “Hey, my man, what’s so funny?” Caster turned back around and said Swerve lost at the Prudential Center, which is where he beat him for the tag titles. He said Swerve used to be a house a’fire. Swerve grabbed him and beat on him and then threw him into the rolling crate. Nana pulled Swerve away. [c]
-Schiavone stood mid-ring and introduced “Hangman” Adam Page. Schiavone asked him about losing his match at Full Gear to Jay White and then he attacked Christopher Daniels and then attacked Wheeler Yuta and then seemed to be helping Christian Cage secure his World Title match. “Help us wrap our head around that,” he said. Hangman yanked the mic away. Hangman yelled that if Daniels wants to get in his face again, he’ll knock him down and he won’t get back up. He said he made a deal with Christian and he held up his end. He said if Christian held up his end, he’d be going to Thanksgiving dinner with a belt wrapped around his waist. He said his intention has always been to be the AEW World Champion. He said it should have never been Sweve’s or Bryan’s or Christian’s. He said it’s always been his.
Jay White then came out to his music. Jay said, “Guns up for by Chicago gold members!” He taunted Hangman for losing to him at Full Gear. He brought up WrestleDream, also. He said he lost both of those matches. He said if anybody is going to become AEW Champion, it’s going to be him. He stood on the ring apron and offered to fight him again. Pac showed up and yanked White off the ring apron. Wheeler Yuta then attacked Hangman. Pac joined Wheeler in stomping down Hangman. White got rid of Yuta and Pac, but Hangman caught him with a lariat. Marina Shafir bashed Hangman with the briefcase. White ducked another swing by Shafir and set up a Blade Runner. Jon Moxley charged into the ring and attacked White.Shafir choked out White as Yuta, Pac, and Moxley stalked them. She tossed White to the mat. All four then stomped away at White. Mox lifted White and then Pac bashed him with the briefcase with the AEW Title belt presumed to be inside it.
-A commercial hyped World’s End on Dec. 28 by showing the Death Riders driving through a desert in Ram pick-up truck.
(3) CLAUDIO CASTAGOLI vs. RICOCHET – Continental Classic Gold League match
Claudio made his entrance first. Excalibur said Collision starts at 4 ET this Saturday immediately followed by Rampage. The bell rang 5 minutes into the hour. Claudio caught Ricochet leaping off the ring apron and tossed him onto the security barricade. They cut to a break at 4:00 after a running uppercut by Claudio back in the ring. [c/db]
Claudio continued to control the match after the break. Ricochet made a comeback at 9:00 including a springboard clothesline and moonsault for a two count. They continued to battle back and forth, including back at ringside. Claudio returned to the ring with Ricochet battered at ringside. Ricochet beat the ten count. Claudio then hit Ricochet with a running clothesline for a three count.
WINNER: Claudio in 13:00 to earn 3 points.
(Keller’s Analysis: If Ricochet was expecting to be featured in AEW differently than WWE, it’s not happening yet. The action was good here.)
-Excalibur commented on highlights of “The Protostar” Kyle Fletcher beating Will Ospreay at Full Gear.
-Renee interviewed Fletcher and Don Callis backstage. She said they seem to be on a mission to destroy Ospreay. Callis yelled that is the business they’re in. He said they did more than beat him, they skinned him. He said Fletcher is bigger, faster, stronger, smarter, and better looking than Ospreay. He said they’re just getting started. Fletcher said they proved he is better than Ospreay in every single way, and the Continental Classic will prove it another way in case there are any skeptics left out there.
-Adam Cole came out to the ring to his song with Mike Bennett and Matt Taven. Excalibur wished Strong luck in his recovery from an arm injury he suffered at Full Gear. Cole said he is “so sick and tired of playing this game.” He said MJF is a little bitch who won’t fight him. (Reset the Bitch-o-Metter. It had been a while.) He said he’s going to beat MJF within an inch of his pathetic life when he gets his hands on him. He was interrupted by Kyle O’Reilly coming out to The Conglomeration entrance theme (also known as the Most Generic Pro Wrestling Entrance Song ever). O’Reilly said he wanted to fight MJF. As he called out MJF, Cole interrupted him. Cole said he doesn’t want to fight his friends’ battles. O’Reilly said he wouldn’t be doing it for him, he’d be doing it for Roddy. MJF appeared on the big screen.
MJF was playing piano. He said he’s thought long-and-hard about fighting them for the last 20 seconds and his answer is no. He said his mind is on something more important. He said next week is the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal, so he won’t be dealing with them in the foreseeable future. He played them out on the piano and faded.
Cole then said he’s going to enter “that damn battle royal.” O’Reilly declared himself also.
(Keller’s Analysis: This was fine in terms of setting the table for some conflict in the battle royal next week, but it’s sad seeing Cole feel so cold with his swagger feeling forced. Taven and Bennett are just lightweight personas, it drags him down. It’s time to move on, please.) [c]
-Excalibur said Hangman will face Yuta on Collision this Saturday on Collision.
-Excalibur said they are kicking off the WrestleDynasty International Women’s Cup Qualifier Tournament featuring Jamie Hayter vs. Queen Aminata (next) and Serena Deeb vs. Willow Nightingale on Dec. 7. The final takes place at WrestleDynasty on Jan. 5. Excalibur said Stardom, CMLL, and Ring of Honor will be holding qualifiers also to send representatives to the tournament.
(4) JAMIE HAYTER vs. QUEEN AMINATA – WrestleDynasty International Women’s Cup Qualifier
The bell rang 30 minutes into the hour. Hayter took early control with chops. Aminata fired back with her own chops. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [d/db]
Aminata snap-suplexed Hayter and double chopped her chest. She played to the crowd and then landed a running low boot to the chin, sending Hayter to the floor. Aminata scored a two count. Hayter came back and applied a sleeper on the mat. She then finished her with a lariat.
WINNER: Hayter in 10:00.
-After the match, the lights went out and it appeared Julia Hart was taunting her as a blue spotlight shined on an empty stage. Hayter’s music then played.
-Renee conducted a sitdown interview with Mina Shirakawa. She said she couldn’t imagine her heartbreak at Mariah May turning on her. She said she never wanted it to happen. She said this revealed the real Mariah May. She said she is so selfish and has to turn on anyone who gets close to her. She said she’s going to introduce Mariah to the real Mina. May hit Mina with a bottle from behind and then bashed her on the ground with her belt and said she wants her.
-Excalibur said Mina has been cleared for Dynamite’s special “Winter is Coming” episode in two weeks to face Mariah.
-A clip aired of Jack Perry tapping out to Danny Garcia at Full Gear. Excalibur announced that Okada would face Garcia on Collision this Saturday. [c]
(5) BRODY KING vs. DARBY ALLIN – Continental Classic Gold League match
The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. Nigel said Darby’s focus could be elsewhere after happened at the end of Full Gear. Darby offered a handshake. Brody hesitated, but shook his hand. Darby’s ribs were taped up. Brody fended off Darby’s early offense by overpowering him. He landed two quick sentons and scored a two count a minute in. Brody tossed Darby across the ring. Darby moaned in pain. Brody chopped Darby off the top rope to the floor. They cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
Darby avoided a charging Brody at ringside. Commentary cut off for a minute after the break ended. Brody took over back in the ring and bashed Darby across the back over and over in the corner. Darby bit Brody’s forehead. The audio came back on. Darby leaped onto Brody at ringside and then landed a Coffin Drop at ringside. He leaped off the top rope and landed a second Coffin Drop. The announcers noted a double countout would result in both men receiving one point. Both were slow to get up.
Back in the ring, Darby landed a Coffin Drop, but Brody turned it into a sleeper. Darby leveraged Brody back for a two count. Brody held on with a sleeper. He then lifted Darby and slammed him to the mat for the win.
WINNER: Brody in 10:00 to earn 3 points.
-Afterward, Claudio stepped onto the ring apron with a chair. Brody re-entered the ring and eyed Claudio. Excalibur said they face off next week on Dynamite.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Chris Lansdell 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.
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