Tuesday, December 1, 2020

AEW: Dynamite Review - November 18th, 2020

AEW Dynamite
November 18th, 2020
Jacksonville, FL

1) The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) (c) vs. Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) - AEW World Tag Team Championship Match 

This was an awesome match to open the show. It was very reminiscent of the story of Bucks/PP from the AEW Title tournament, but even more personal as Top Flight’s journey has been SO similar to the YB’s. Just classic Bucks stuff here and Top Flight looked great too. Bucks retain. 

Match rating - ***1/2

Post match, Jack Evans & Angelico attack Top Flight. The Bucks run them off and raise the hands of Darius & Dante.
The Inner Circle really did go to Vegas. After last week, where MJF’s induction into the group saw him gift them all tickets to Vegas. This week, we see them travel around casinos and bars and Jericho & MJF trying to one up each other drinking everclear. They leave drunk and staggering and Santana & Ortiz say they have a surprise and it’s KONNAN whom smokes Jericho & MJF out in a limo.. this is fucking nuts lmao. Wrestling in 2020. Super fun shit here. 

Pre-taped Jon Moxley promo which is great as always. Moxley is the #1 wrestler in the world right now and he shows it every week. Moxley talks about his father and the upcoming contract signing with Kenny Omega tonight. 

2) Orange Cassidy (w/ Chuck Taylor & Trent) vs. Kip Sabian (w/ Penelope Ford & Miro) 

Miro is on commentary for this. This stems from a backstage segment back at the Full Gear PPV where Kip slapped Orange. Lots of conflicting reviews on this when it's literally the epitome of a harmless TV match between an upper mid-card guy and an undercard guy. Orange is always entertaining and this had a little backstory behind it, plus both guys got their stuff in. What's to complain about? Orange wins and Miro attacks post match.

Match rating - **1/4

Kenny Omega hits the ring for his contract signing with Jon Moxley. Tony Schiavone is hosting things. He introduces Moxley and his music hits but he doesn’t come out. Cameras cut to Moxley laid out in the hallway with officials checking on him. Omega deflects any responsibility for the attack and insinuates that he feels like Moxley is trying to find a way out of the title match. Omega signs it himself and leaves. 

Inner Circle in Vegas Part 2. Sammy plays a prank on MJF and writes shit on his face while he was drunk and passed out. Next week it’s Jericho & Hager vs. SCU! 

3) PAC vs. The Blade 

“Ain’t Oreos good or vegan or whatever?” -Eddie Kingston 

Eddie Kingston is on commentary. Although not displayed by the quote I added, he adds to things by giving the story behind this match as he says Blade asked Tony for this match last week after he got busted open last week because he was so fired up. PAC controls early, a distraction from Butcher allows Blade to get some offense in. They do a good bit of stuff down the stretch to make this feel competitive despite it being almost a given that PAC would win. Awesome super plex spot by PAC for a two count. A really sick near fall for Blade holding the tights before the finish with a shooting star press into a submission victory for PAC. Good first match back for him. 

Match rating - **1/2 

PAC stares at Eddie Kingston and goes to cut a promo on him, but The Butcher attacks. Eddie then enters the ring and lays into PAC verbally and it RULES. God Eddie can make anything feel important. Fenix springs in to break this thing up and we get the first real sign that “The Family” is separating into two separate groups. Penta enters the ring with a chair but looks undecided on which side he’s gonna choose especially after the brutal, personal match he had with his own brother Fenix last week, but when all is said and done we get a Death Triangle reunion!!! PAC looks like a face now which I never expected or expected to want, but Eddie made it work and I can’t wait for that singles match. 

Attack on Brandi. Jade stomps arm in chair

4) Serena Deeb (c) vs. Thunder Rosa - NWA Women’s Title Match 

This is a fairly hyped match and it’s honestly the first women’s match in a while on AEW TV to really grab my attention. They build into quite the little match then Rebel & Britt Baker show up and take out Thunder Rosa with a DDT on the stage. Well then. The ref didn’t see it so the match goes on, Serena locks Rosa in a submission but she won’t tap and the drama starts to set in around this point. They trade some awesome strikes, spinning back fist from Rosa and it rules. They trade near falls before Serena puts away Rosa to retain. Real fun stuff. I’m glad the interference didn’t take away from the match or fuck with the outcome too much and I’m interested to see what unfolds from it. 

Match rating - ***1/4 

5) Cody Rhodes & Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage & Ricky Starks

First time seeing these guys in the main event slot of Dynamite in a while, but definitely well deserved especially after last week's awesome segment. So many intertwining stories in this, all of which have been brewing for a while. I love that Cody/Darby has been going since literally the first Dynamite and has developed and is still good and relevant well over a year later. Such fantastic character depth and development. Things start normal then break the hell down. Everybody hits their shit and Brian Cage hits an avalanche drill claw on Darby Allin off the top fucking rope for the finish. WOW. What a way to close this out... god damn. Super fun TV main.

Match rating - ***

Starks attacks Darby post-match. Cody breaks it up, but Cage gets involved and it's too much for the babyfaces to overcome. Will Hobbs hits the ring for the big save as he's become known for. He then grabs the FTW title and taunts Cage with it as the crowd goes nuts. Cody gets to his feet aND HOBBS NAILS CODY WITH THE TITLE WHAT THE FUCKKKKKK. HOBBS IS TEAM TAZ. HOBBS IS TEAM TAZ. I love this more than I ever thought I would. Taz says "We are just getting started" and this feels so legit and Hobbs immediately feels more legit than ever with the Team Taz music and posing with Cage, Starks, & Taz. Wow. Awesome close to the show.

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