PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

AEW DYNAMITE BLOG

Welcome one and all. We are LIVE at Dailey's Place in Jacksonville, Florida.  We've got 2 big championship matches on the docket for tonight as Darby Allin defends the TNT Title against Jungle Boy and Hikaru Shida makes her 8th title defense of the AEW Women's title against Tay Conti.  Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone and Excalibur have tonight's call of AEW Dynamite and we are kicking things off with Ricky Starks going against #1 Contender Hangman Page.  Starks may be the only member of Team Taz hurt the least with how they've used this group. 

Hangman Page, he of "Poor Interview Etiquette" comes out second as Taz joins the booth.  We definitely have a stacked card tonight.  Now here's my question about this match, which I'm sure will be excellent: How long are they going to go with Page as number one contender until he gets his title shot?  The inherent problem with Page in this spot is that eventually he has to get his chance BUT it's absolutely not the right time for him to be AEW World Champion.  Call me crazy, but a Starks victory wouldn't be the worst thing for this situation.  Omega is nowhere near ready to be beaten for the title (in fact, I'm assuming he wins the Impact World Title this weekend).  I'd hate to waste Page in a situation where he blows it on a PPV main event.  

Starks has come a long way.  Damn I thought he just broke his neck on a German Suplex by Page.  We're told the TNT title match will be tonight's main event.  Page kicks out of a power bomb at 2.  Not an indictment of AEW, but I really miss the days when a Sid Vicious or Big Van Vader power bomb meant the absolute end to a match.  These two guys are smooth as silk.  Ross is right when he calls Starks a future champion.  Might not be in this company per se, but he's a genuine star in the making.  Page puts it away with a Bully Choke, nice touch as it gives more versatility to him.  Taz is not happy with Page at all and distracts him while Hook nails a chop block.  Brian Cage comes out for a triple team but the Mighty Dark Order makes the save.  Nice to see them avoid the obvious and have Cage somehow stop the attack.  I won't gripe about Team Taz getting run off by greater numbers for once.

The Elite has their own trailer.

Penta El Zero Meido with Alex Abrahantes.  I admit I really like Alex as the mouthpiece here.  Trent with a question mark (not THE Question Mark, may he rest in peace) comes out.  Is this the first time he's had a question mark follow his name?  Even Justin Roberts' intro came in the form of a question.  Oddly, the announcers haven't brought up Death Triangle as of yet.  The group has been on again/off again as far as continuity goes since Pac's return.

TNT with an Impact Rebellion Plug.  I'm wondering how that show'll do, buy-wise.  Clearly the star power is in the AEW infusion and, clearly, Rich Swann isn't even close to Omega's level in terms of fan credibility.  There is just no way anyone on planet Earth can see him winning this.  Clearly, Swann isn't winning the AEW World Title.  I guess my question is what (other than a one time potentially good buy rate) exactly is Impact getting out of this?  The Executive VP, Callis, clearly has bigger fish to fry with Kenny.  My belief is that Omega wins and puts to bed whatever credibility the Impact name has.

Back to the issue at hand, Trent? and Penta are having the high quality encounter you'd expect.  Alex's facials at ringside belie his experience in wrestling.  Piledriver by Trent? on the apron.  God I wish they'd stop doing that.  And the good vibes I had with Alex are pretty much out the window as he grabs a mic and tells Trent that his mom sucks.  You know when you see a really good movie but the ending is complete and total garbage?  That's what we got here as Penta scores the pin after Alex nails Trent? with a mic.

Jim Ross is backstage in a pre recorded interview with The Pinnacle (sans Tully Blanchard, who's writing up the playbook for Blood and Guts).  MJF has a new silk scarf and Wardlow actually gets a decent little promo in here.  Shawn Spears is back to a black Mohawk and beard.  We get some words of warning for the Inner Circle about May 5th Blood and Guts.  I have a LOT that I want to say about this match happening on May 5th.  Look, I'm sure it'll be great.  It'll be a spectacle.  It'll be however many stars you think it'll be but it's too damn early.  It took Dusty and the Horsemen almost 2 years to come to WarGames.  Not suggesting they wait 2 years, but I think there's a sweet spot somewhere between 7 weeks and 2 years, especially when you've got a PPV on Memorial Day weekend, a (likely) big July episode of Dynamite and then a Labor Day Weekend PPV.  Too soon, AEW is blowing the feud off way too soon. Prediction, by the middle of June, these 2 groups will be like they've never even met.

AEW Women's World Title time!  Tay Conti, with Dark Order (where or where of -1?) vs. Hikaru Shida.  Is a title change possible here? It's not completely out of the realm of possibility.  Conti looks every bit of worldwide superstar.  How the hell did the E mess up with her?  Stupid question, I know.  Those Conti knee strikes look solid.  If that didn't hurt, then Conti is a better worker than I give her credit for.  They've made way too many references over the last month that Britt Baker is going for the belt.  My guess is that, sooner than later, she's getting it.  I guess my question is who they'll have her win the title from.  It's in that vein that I think we have a shot at an upset here tonight.

We're back from break and the champ is in full control but Conti's fighting hard. Clearly this is the biggest spot Conti has ever been in. To her credit, the moment isn't getting to her.  She's hanging in with a great one in there.  She looks like she belongs in this spot, which was something I feared she wouldn't.  Beautiful jumping knee by the champ.  That one also looked like it hurt like heck. Shida with a spine drop on the top turnbuckle.  Nice move.  TAY-KO gets the challenger a ridiculously close 2 count.  Hard palm strikes and Shida nails a backbreaker and spinning knee for the pin.  Shida retains but this was seriously a situation where Conti should absolutely nothing, including her #1 contender status.  Here comes the presumptive new #1 contender Dr Britt Baker.  She's makes her intentions crystal clear.

Miro, without Kip again, basically wants both the AEW and TNT Champions.

Tony Schiavone brings out the Inner Circle.  Please don't pander too hard to the audience, please don't pander too hard to the audience, please don't pander too hard to the audience.  Strange that the Judas singalong seems quieter since the Inner Circle's turn.  Can't explain it, there a crowd there for sure.  The fans are now the "Inner Circle's Squad".  Oh he's pandering.  Lots of threats for May 5th.  Oh god they're talking about show tunes.  Jericho doubles down on show tunes. At least this wasn't choreographed, basically a few rhyming lines ending with a swirly joke.  Something is happening next week where the Inner Circle and the Pinnacle get together to discuss battle strategy.  I'm not sure what that does, exactly.  Please don't have a giant brawl one week before the big match.  Make us want it a little.

Billy of the Gunn Club/Nightmare Factory takes on QT Marshall.  Right away, Billy lays young prospects Comorato and Solow to waste as they come out.  Anthony Ogogo isn't out with them.  Action spills to the outside and, of course, Solow and Comorato back off, only attacking when Billy turns his back.  This brings out Austin and Colton Gunn and they all conveniently brawl to the back.  QT needs a sold W here to build up his rep and the rep of his students.  First time I ever saw Billy was 28 years ago.  He looks like he's aged about 6 weeks since then.  Ogogo comes out and nails a gut shot to Billy.  A cutter later and QT has the win.  QT has a wooden chair and Dustin Rhodes makes the save.  Why isn't Agogo doing anything now?  Here he comes, and Comorato comes back. Dustin nails him directly to the head with the wood chair.  I prefer they not do these chair shots but the thing seemed to explode on impact so I'm guessing it was gimmicked to the 9s.

The Elite are in their trailer.  For some reason, Michael Nakazawa is Elite.  I think the Bucks are full on heel.  There's no ambiguity.  On cue, a car starts honking the horn outside the trailer.  It's clearly Moxley and Kingston and the Elite act like it's a car alarm.  Moxley runs his pickup into the trailer and he and Kingston search the trailer but the Elite appear to have escaped unharmed.

Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Christian Cage is up next with Taz joining commentary, who tells us that Brian Cage will face Hangman Page.  To my chagrin, the AEW Dark results flash and I discover that Sonny Kiss defeated the Manscout Jake Manning.  I love Manning, he's great.  Hobbs out there looks like he's dropped about 15-20 lbs in the last month or so.  Looks lean as heck.  Does it come at the expense of his more menacing "power" look (think Jeff Cobb or Mark Henry )?  Not sure because we really haven't been given a real solid look at what Hobbs can do in there.  Christian should be a great dance partner for him.  Cage gets his knees up and blocks a Vader Bomb. Hobbs kind of landed on his feet, he might not have been too confident trying the move.  One thing had NO problem executing was a near picture perfect spinebuster.  They've never really properly addressed the Christian Cage-Kenny Omega confrontation from a few weeks back.  Cage escapes a stampede power bomb and nails a Killswitch for the pin.  Not a bad showing for Hobbs at all, but will anyone from Team Taz ever win a match on Dynamite?

We get a Jade Cargill promo where she talks about all the managers wanting her.  Sage advice to Ms. Cargill, DO NOT SIGN WITH AN AEW MANAGER!!!!  None of them ever do anything productive for their charges.  Jake Roberts? Matt Hardy? Vickie Guerrero? Maybe Don Callis but that doesn't really fit the character.

 

Main Event time as Jungle Boy Jack Perry challenges Darby Allin for the TNT Title.  Mark my words, ladies and gentlemen, this is match #1 of what I think will end up being one of the signature rivalries in AEW's history, which we all hope will last a long time.  I am going to be so curious as to what the demo rating will be on this specific match, as these two check every box the network would be looking for.  Nice little surprise to kick things off as they're starting pretty methodical, not a stunt show-spot fest.  They'll get there, I imagine.  When they do, it'll mean something.  Action spills to the outside as we head to picture in picture.  This match has a lot of intrigue for me so I'm paying close attention.  Amazing how good a match can be when 2 guys go out there and look like they're trying to win a fight for a prize.

Allin hits a nice superplex for the first "high spot" of the match.  Perry hits a tiger suplex and Allin's head was bent at an angle science never intended for it to.  I really like Darby, I am just so afraid for his long term health.  Guy has absolutely no regard for his safety.  I do NOT find him careless with his opponents, it's just Cactus Jack-like recklessness, and Darby doesn't have anywhere near the size of Mick Foley.  Darby with a coffin drop on the ring apron.  Ouch!  Luchasaurus and Sting, for an oddly convoluted reason, brawl to the back.  At least Luchasaurus didn't run away.  We are running way low on time here, unless TNT is allowing this to go OT.  Quick Last Supper by Allin for the pin.  I know these guys had to take it home but I could have watched 10 more minutes of this.  Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky go on the attack.  Lance Archer saves Jungle Boy and Darby and Sting runs in to help out as we go off the air.

I'm going to need to give this week's episode a solid leaning thumbs up.  Really wish we had more time for that main event.  The Elite could have taken the entire show off.  That would have given them a solid few more minutes.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet