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I’d like to begin tonight’s blog with a plea to everyone reading for peace. We are living in such uneasy times. The only ones who can make change is us. It’s up to us to try and make the world better for the young who will one day inherit it.
To the surprise of no one, AEW begins with a message of solidary before going to a recap of last week. We’ve got 2 Championship matches tonight, a rarity given that title shots are not randomly handed out here. This has the potential to be a very good episode. The pyro goes off and we’ve got a full ringside area. I see MJF and Wardlow, Vickie Guerrero, the Gunn Club and even Britt Baker, who is sporting a Rolls Royce Wheelchair. Didn’t even know they had those.
AEW World Tag Team Title Match kicks us off as Kip Sabian and Jimmy Haoc enter the ring for what is undoubtedly the biggest profile match they’ve ever had. Jim Ross reminds us that Penelope Ford adds a lot. He ain’t kidding! This is the first title defense for the champions is quite some time, as we hadn’t seen Page at all during the time AEW emanated from QT Marshall’s school. Dasha Gonzalez appears to no longer be Gonzalez, as her crawl reads simply “Dasha”. Referee Rick Knox shows off the gold and we are off and running. An upset here would be interesting, as I think it would give Dynamite an added bonus of being the type of show where anything can happen. The last thing the company wants is to become formulaic. Best Friends are in the crowd, we are reminded that they’ve got the champions (whoever they may be) at FyterFest.
FTR is in the crowd, but hanging back. Champs cutting the ring off nicely. With Knox distracted, Ford tries a rana off the top but gets blocked and then tossed from ringside by Knox. OK here’s a sticking point: With Knox ejecting Ford, Havoc nails Both Omega and Page with a WRENCH! He gets a 2. I’ve luckily never been hit in the head with a wrench, but if I were hit in the head with one, I’d likely be down for at least 5 seconds. If not, I probably wouldn’t be flying around delivering knee strike less than 30 seconds later. That said, Page’s running shooting star is incredible. Havoc introduces a hacksaw to the match. What, exactly, would he have accomplished if he connected? At best, a disqualification. At worst, 1st degree murder. I know Havoc is a death match guy, but can we maybe not incorporate it into this match? This just takes any suspension of disbelief away. The match is fine, but the story is just formulaic. I don’t believe whatsoever, based on the first 10 minutes or so, that the challengers have any shot whatsoever. Last Call by the Champions and they retain their titles. Fine match for what it was but just too ridiculous in some points.
We are treated to the fired up Tully Blanchard promo from over the weekend, imploring Shawn Spears to find his heart. The way to find his heart and soul is apparently a fingerless black glove.
More highlights from last week, including the Mike Tyson angle. Brian Cage is up next with Taz. Cage is going by “The Machine Brian Cage” and immediately goes to work on Shawn Dean. This won’t be pretty and it sure as heck won’t be long. Buckle Bomb and a drill claw and Cage makes very short work of Dean. Taz cuts a fired up promo on Jon Moxley, accusing him of giggling and goofing off while trying to have a conversation and here comes the AEW World Champion. Taz warns him to think clearly before entering the ring. Mox tells us that he was smiling because Cage’s intensity and potential for destruction makes him happy. Moxley concedes that Cage is impressive but he (Moxley) is a different thing entirely. Mox kind of eats him up on the mic, not quite sure what that accomplishes.
Back from commercial and the Murderhawk Monster is beating up a random masked guy.
We see Private Party at their VIP section with Matt Hardy, who tells them he thinks they’re the future. He references the bond he has with his brother Jeff, which is now the 3rd reference to WWE tonight. They form a group called Hardy Party. Another trio faction. I swear this company is going to need a six man title soon.
Fyter Fest has been officially announced as a 2 week event (July 1 and 8 on TNT). Excellent move by giving us an actual date as it would be very off to keep announcing the next big show as happening sometime soon.
Colt Cabana makes his way to the ring to face Le Champion, who I’m sure will invent a new T Shirt for me to buy tonight. Le Champion is accompanied by a singing Sammy Guevara. The Bunny and QT Marshall continue their flirtation. Gotta admit to being a little jealous of QT. Imagine getting that script for the night? Hager is along as well. Cabana in control with an Asai Moonsault, slaps high 5’s with Pineapple Pete (I HATE THAT GUY!)
We’re back and Jericho is in full control until Jericho misses a bronco buster. Cabana nails a splash. Jericho makes Cabana commit to the Superman Splash and reverses it into the Boston Crab but Cabana gets the ropes. Colt off the ropes runs right into the Judas Effect and Jericho with the W. Very good back and forth match. The commercial break hurt its flow a little bit. Jericho with a promo on Iron Mike Tyson. It’s the fight everyone wants to see. Jericho calls out Tyson right now and, right on cue, here comes Orange Cassidy. OC mocks Jericho and escapes before the rest of the Inner Circle comes in.
We get a very inspiring video on the rehab and progress of a true role model, Britt Baker.
Good to see Big Swole. I’ve been impressed so far with her but she’s up against Nyla Rose. I fully expect Rose to win here but I think it’s very important for Swole to look impressive here. AEW World Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida is looking on. Rose gets in the face of Pineapple Pete as we go to commercial.
Swole has control as we come back and gets a 2. This has been the showing she needs. Big spear by Nyla, Swole reverses the power bomb into a sunset flip. Spinebuster power bomb and Rose gets the needed win but Swole absolutely had a good showing. Tony Schiavone gets a word with Big Swole, who gets interrupted by Baker. Swole throws a chair at her.
Darby Allin promises us he’ll get the last laugh on Brian Cage.
Tony Schiavone is back with FTR, who explain that FTR stands for whatever they want it to. They confirm that AEW NOW has the best tag team in all of wrestling. I’d put the ROH roster up against them. They’re sick of all the praise heaped on the Young Bucks. FTR obviously want the Young Bucks. Fighting off Butcher and Blade last week was to make sure the Bucks don’t get hurt before they get their hands on them. The interview is broken up by Butcher and Blade, who will officially be the sacrificial lambs for FTR’s in ring debut. No Bunny with B&B.
Marq Quen will challenge the AEW TNT Champion next week. Also, Sammy Guevara vs. Colt Cabana and the Inner Circle vs. Best Friends and Orange Cassidy.
Backstage, Colt Cabana laments his loss and Mr. Brodie Lee consoles him, wanting him to do what you should do, join Dark Order.
Main Event time as Cody defends the TNT title against Jungle Boy Jack Perry. Back and forth to start off. This should be very good. Cody looks very aggressive, beautiful powerslam off of a dive by Perry. Cody with aggreesive stomps. I was thinking Cody is going to have to start playing a little subtle heel if he’s going to be defending week in and week out. I always enjoyed Cody’s heel work in ROH and NJPW so we know he pulls it off well. Eventually the pressure is going to get to him. Cody throws Perry right over the guardrail into the Gunn Club as we head to commercial.
We are back and Cody is in full control but misses a headbutt into the rail, busting him wide open. MJF gets in Perry’s face and screams how unfair it is that Perry gets a title shot and he didn’t. Cody’s vision seems impaired due to the blood. Jungle Boy gets aggressive, pinning Cody’s hands as he attacks the cut. As a willing bleeder, Cody is channeling some old school NWA here. The two fight on the top turnbuckle and fall back to the floor through a table. Cody got up a little too quick for me. When big moves don’t register, then there are no big moves. Cross Rhodes and Cody retains the TNT Championship. Mutual show of respect as we go off the air.
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