IN LAIMAN’S TERMS #437
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Thoughts on AEW Dynamite – July 12th, 2023
1. Opening up with Jericho, and he’s in a storyline enough that it’s in the small lettering above the nameplate. I am curious to see where this goes, given the relative aimlessness this year of this version of Y2J.
2. He’s facing Komander, who has lost some high-profile matches since being here. Jericho’s been on an uncharacteristic (in AEW) losing streak, so I’m interested which one will reverse the trends.
3. We get the Cocky Pin and then Taz putting over how much it annoyed him back in the day. Once. Some things never change.
4. Winnipeg getting heat during the commercial break here in Saskatoon. Thankfully they explained what the chant was because I could only really tell the rhythm.
5. Abrahantes always has so much energy as a manager. We don’t see enough of managers being more into the match than everybody anymore.
6. I continue to be glad that AEW is hitting these places they’ve never run before. Some cities have been spoiled in terms of having AEW around, so this is a good way to keep things sounding good. They can always come back to the staples.
7. The rope walk shooting star press is freaking incredible no matter how many times I see it. As is Komander springboarding after a rope run. That could’ve been worse, Jericho barely caught him.
8. Komander gets a Phoenix press, but… was that supposed to be countered? Or did he miss? Time stood still at the Iron Hill and in that moment, it was awkward.
9. Jericho catches Komander mid-air and turns it into the Liontamer to get the win. Hell of a match. Sad to see Komander lose yet again, but Jericho also needed one. Best Jericho match since the (first) Ricky Starks match, in my opinion.
10. Speaking of time standing still, that Don Callis noise for an entrance always sounds like the screen froze. It seems to keep getting louder each time though. Callis calls the 50-year-old “kid” and that makes me laugh out loud.
11. They follow up on their promo last week, and we get some truly old-school flashbacks, narrated by the both of them. They’re building it up nicely from where they left off last week. They reference Bad News “looking down” at them with a smile on his face, and unfortunately this is all I can see in my head.
12. The saga of Jack Perry running away from Hook continues. Jack won’t come out of his car, peering out like the bad guy in an 80s movie when the kids start jumping on the limo. Then Hook gets inside the other way, and… Jack gets stuck with the child safety locks. HAM likely over. Intentional or not, it didn’t feel like it was, and that made it even better.
13. I think this is the most consistently Hook has even been on TV since he debuted as a wrestler.
14. Renee follows up with Don Callis and his coral-colored phone case. He bridges his two storylines, Jericho’s status, and number five in the BnG.
15. Back to a new episode of Max and Adam doing stuff. They’re hit on by definitely not some local indy wrestlers, but AC has no desire to participate. AC makes them do what he wants to do next, and they’re playing Fight Forever in a hotel room. Some sincerity and vulnerability on MJF’s part makes them both admit they were both gonna turn on each other, but all I can hear is MJF saying “I’m a snake” one of the previous times he was doing something similar. They manage to win the tag titles despite their tag record being 0-0, that’s impressive!
16. Darby’s going on before Nick Wayne. I wonder if he’ll get taken out beforehand to prevent the balancing out of allies. The blind tag tourney continues with Darby and OC. This theme has really grown on me. At first I missed the Pixies, but this just fits so well.
17. They’ll be facing the JAS Boys, who are having separate entrances still. Sammy seems more annoyed than he has been in a while.
18. It’s Orange Cassidy who does the fakeout hands in pockets this time, that’s an interesting reversal of sorts.
19. Sammy Guevara fills the absence of Bandido with a stalling vertical suplex, nicely done!
20. Orange Cassidy has an amazing hot tag where he doesn’t come in, but instead runs Garcia back and forth from the apron to throw Garcia’s head into each of the turnbuckles on that side.
21. Keeping up the level of HAM these two are bringing tonight, they have a roll-up contest before kicking each other in the face.
22. Speaking of the match later tonight, Prince Nana makes the distraction while Swerve kicks Darby right in the fuck. This sends the JAS to the finals. I suppose they need someone to get booed against Adam Cole and MJF.
23. Darby tentatively shakes hands with Sammy, despite what happened.
24. Another Nick Wayne preview where Issaquah specifically is mentioned. I’ve gone hiking there a lot at Cougar Mountain.
25. I wish these previews had gone on longer than two weeks, but at least they exist in the first place.
26. Meanwhile, Renee follows up with Adam Cole, who has fallen further for the game, much to the dismay of Roderick Strong. Adam Cole is starting to care more now, and he’s not rolling his eyes nearly as much. AC says Roddy has to trust him, which… we’ve all been there, on both sides of the equation most likely.
27. “MJF and Adam Cole beat Magic Meat in the quarterfinal.” You know what you did, graphics people.
28. They say “this all sucks” right on a close-up of Big Bill with a lollipop. Talk about appropriate timing.
29. He wore the matching shirt. If they do the double clothesline, we’ll know he’s screwed and has completely fallen for the setup.
30. MJF tries to bodyslam Big Bill, fails, and then decides to quit the match. This is my favorite thing going on Wednesday nights right now. I could very easily just give these two the HAM until the inevitable turn comes.
31. MJF wants a BodySlam, version 2. He gets a bit closer this time, but again fails. Rule of three?
32. There are so many push-ups in this match. At least they’re not DDPY 10-second push-ups, though I’m sure no one in this match would struggle too much doing those.
33. Uh-oh, Big Bill wiped with the shirt. He’s done it now, he’s gone and made a big mistake. He can’t allow Big Bill to just walk away. So turn around and face the Maxter, you’re gonna pay. Cause the end is now, this is Better Than You, Bay Bay!
34. Started with a “You fucked up” chant, finishes with a bodyslam. This is perfection.
35. They got a “double clothesline” chant in the year 2023, this is amazing. They tease it but don’t get it, because Bill does one of his own. Bill has been such a good sport in this match. Not to be outdone, Brian Cage does a double clothesline and then a double fallaway slam. But that moment when AC and MJF get their double clothesline, the pop will be massive. They’ll probably save that for the finale.
36. Adam Cole hits the Boom and wins, and they’re facing the JAS, so yeah, they’re gonna win that. As they should. Much less likely that they’ll win the titles, although I wish they would.
37. The two continue with their post-match crowdwork, clearly having the time of their lives. AC buys in even more, as everyone else warns him that the train is coming on the other side of the bridge.
38. Renee has more work to do, and she’s got Biff outside Jericho’s locker room this time. After the angry, neckbraced Roddy watching on, Hager gets to do pretty much the same thing. Hager gives the hat back, oh no! But he loves that hat!
39. Now it’s time for Ruby and Skye, and whoever wins this one will likely telegraph the other on Rampage. The match means a lot more since Skye has finally gotten some big wins, but yet again, she doesn’t bring out anyone with her to balance things out despite the Outcasts interfering in literally every match one of them is involved with.
40. Not much to say about it, Ruby gets to the finals again, so we’re all but assured that Athena’s gonna lose a match for the first time in a long time. Kay.
41. I’m very excited to see what Nick Wayne can do on the national stage.
42. A QTV thing happened.
43. Nick Wayne makes his debut, and Darby comes out on the stage with him. Why he doesn’t stick around to balance out Prince Nana at ringside, I haven’t the slightest idea. Faces just don’t do that here.
44. Swerve does his best to hide his “I’m so proud of you” smile. I love little moments like that.
45. Nick’s signature move is called Wayne’s World? That’s freaking amazing. I’ll do my best to not think about how that movie is more than a decade older than he is…
46. Amazing counter to the Wayne’s World by Swerve. We’ve seen a lot of “catch you midway through a move” spots this evening, but that isn’t a complaint. It takes so much skill and timing to do that.
47. Darby now comes back out. Why he didn’t just stay out there, I don’t know, but let’s just go with it.
48. Wayne hits a reverse hurricanrana followed by the Wayne’s World for a near-fall that everyone in the crowd bit on. Swerve barely got a foot on the rope. What a moment!
49. Nick Wayne also gets a surprising kickout moment. The crowd chants that it’s awesome, and I’m so happy for him.
50. Swerve finally gets the win after an amazing effort. Darby comes to the ring to help him out, and Swerve makes a face at Nick’s mom. Well done, everyone involved with that match brought exactly what they needed to.
51. The sound freezes again, so Don Callis is staring into your soul from the screen. Time to announce the fifth members of the teams in BnG. Before they can, Omega’s music hits. Someone’s pyro is ready to go on the stage there too.
52. Ohai, Pac! I suppose you would have a vendetta with the Elite. He can be angry and stoic with the rest of them, fits perfectly. Callis kicks Kenny with the glitter loafers. Not the glitter loafers!
53. They set up the throat chair spot, so time for the face fifth to make the save. The lights go out, and… is it who everyone expects? YES! Does it matter that it’s who everyone thought it would be? Absolutely not!
54. The BCC get taken out easily at the end of Dynamite for the second week in a row. Kenny says they’re down but never out. Yeah, down… Won two stable war matches in a row and disposing of the BCC at the end of shows with ease, but sure. The match next week will be incredible, I have no doubt.
55. This show felt like a go-home show, and I suppose in a way it is. A lot of tourney semi-finals, the preview for BnG, everything’s shaped up very nicely.
1/4/23 – The Gunns
1/11/23 – Daddy Magic
1/13/23 – Danhausen
1/18/23 – Sonjay Dutt
1/20/23 – Stokely Hathaway
1/25/23 – Tony Schiavone
1/27/23 – Danhausen
2/1/23 – Jade Cargill
2/3/23 – Ethan Page
2/8/23 – MJF
2/10/23 – STIIIIIIING
2/15/23 – Ruby Soho
2/17/23 – Dustin Rhodes
2/22/23 – Chris Jericho
2/24/23 – Matt Hardy
3/1/23 – Big Bill
3/3/23 – Jungle Boy
3/5/23 – MJF
3/8/23 – Anthony Bowens
3/10/23 – Riho
3/15/23 – MJF/Darby Allin/Jungle Boy/Sammy Guevara
3/22/23 – STIIIIIING
3/29/23 – Juice Robinson
3/31/23 – Eddie Kingston
4/5/23 – MJF
4/7/23 – Darby Allin/Julia Hart
4/12/23 – STIIIIIIIIING
4/14/23 – 2.0/Biff Hager
4/19/23 – Sammy Guevara
4/26/23 – MJF
5/3/23 – Triple J/Mark Briscoe
5/5/23 – The Firm Deletion – All of it
5/10/23 – Chuck Taylor and Trent Baretta
5/17/23 – Toni Storm
5/24/23 – Jay White
5/28/23 – Darby Allin
5/31/23 – Juice Robinson
6/7/23 – MJF
6/9/23 – Ethan Page
6/14/23 – The cardboard cutout of Saraya
6/17/23 – CM Punk
6/21/23 – Adam Cole/MJF
6/23/23 – Anthony Bowens
6/24/23 – Powerhouse Hobbs
6/25/23 – Will Ospreay
6/28/23 – Keith Lee
7/1/23 – Andrade
7/5/23 – Adam Cole/MJF
7/7/23 – Daniel Garcia
7/8/23 – Samoa Joe
7/12/23 – Jack Perry (yes, could’ve given it to MJF and Cole again, but…)