AEW Dynamite 10/25/2023

AEW Dynamite 10/25/2023

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/aew-dynamite-10182023.html 

Next week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/11/aew-dynamite-1112023.html 

MJF is interviewed. He calls Adam Cole. The Kingdom and Roderick Strong walk in. Cole then hangs up. MJF asks Strong what he wants. Strong says MJF is the man behind the devil mask. Strong says he will help him with Bullet Club Gold then MJF pushes him away. MJF then says he will send Jay White a message in blood. He says he has a bullet with his name on it and says he won't miss.

We then see the devil mask person. He doesn't say anything and cuts the feed.

Dynamite Diamond Ring - MJF (c) vs Juice Robinson

MJF hurries down to ringside then takes down Juice. MJF mudhole stomps Juice. Juice is sent into the rails outside then is thrown over a table. MJF spits water in his face then running facekicks him over the rail. Juice is catapulted into the post.

Juice is bleeding and his head is banged off the steps. MJF teases curb stomping Juice. The Gunns distract MJF then MJF is pulled into the steps. MJF is ddt'd on the apron. Juie chokes MJF with his scarf while the ref is arguing with Colten Gunn. Jay White comes out and we go to PiP break.

We return and MJF ends up choking Juice with his scarf. MJF back elbows and slams Juice. Juice's head is banged off the buckles, then he takes corner punches. MJF hits a kangaroo kick and shakes the ropes. MJF takes a leg lariat. Juice eye rakes him then MJF eye pokes him. Juice spits blood in his face then powerbombs him for 2.

MJF springboard double stomps his arm then topes the Gunn's outside. MJF traps Juice in the ring skirt and eye rakes him.  Juice low blows him with the rope while he's getting in then Juice ddt's him. The Gunn's try to get in and the ref kicks the ropes. MJF gets the diamond ring and punches Juice with it. MJF then hits a heatseeker piledriver and wins it.

The match was kind of average but at least they did push that they hated each other. There was lots of shenanigans and cheating.

The Kingdom and Roderick Strong come down to help out MJF, but are lariated over the top. MJF is held up for a beating then The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn come out to make the save. The Bullet Club runs. Jay White then gets on the mic. Jay says MJF will never get his hands on the belt again and says he will pummel his face into the ground. Colten says MJF has his ring back, but not the belt. Colten then challenges MJF for the ROH Tag Titles.

MJF gets on the mic. He stupidly agrees to the ROH Tag Title match. He then says it will be The Bullet Club Gold vs MJF and 3 tag partners. MJF says Jay will then give him the belt back when he wins. Strong yells "Max" and says MJF will pick them, right? MJF tells Strong and Kingdom to roll off a cliff. Max Caster then asks if they will be picked. MJF said he never liked Caster and said he wouldn't tag with him if he had a fire on his body and teaming with Caster was the only way to get rid of it. Caster then said, "so you are saying there's a chance?". MJF then refuses to scissor and heads up the ramp.

Kenny Omega then walks up to MJF on the ramp. They stare down. Kenny says MJF seems to have a lot going on and has something he wants. Kenny said he has something MJF wants and its the AEW title. Kenny said he deserves the right to defend his streak and tells him not to be afraid to show up. MJF challenges him for Collision. They shake on it. MJF says may the best man win and says he will. Kenny then does his stupid kissing goodbye thing and says, "three days, b!tch". 

For a guy who we have been told has no friends, he suddenly seems to have friends coming out of the woodwork. That was weird as was suddenly everyone wanting to challenge MJF. I didn't like them making The Kingdom look like jobbers here. But it did put together some storylines at least. Omega/MJF is a hotshot though, no doubt about it.

Wardlow does a video. He says he was sitting at home for 4 months being depressed. He said he hated seeing MJF become champ and main event their biggest show. He said there is nothing left to take from him and says he will take everything from MJF. Wardlow not being around didn't make sense to begin with and they didn't explain it much better here. Wardlow being depressed isn't a good storyline for him.

Hook and Rob Van Dam vs Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver)

Hook slams down Alex. Hook hip throws him then RVD armdrags Alex. Alex nails RVD from behind then Silver stomps him. RVD monkey flips Silver then Hook and RVD lariat their opponents over the top. Uno gets on the apron and is nailed.

We go to PiP break and return. Silver hits crossface shots on Hook then takes an overhead suplex. RVD superkicks Silver then legdrops him over the back of the neck while he is bent over. RVD springboard back kicks Alex on the apron then hits rolling thunder on Silver. RVD hits a northern lights suplex on Alex. RVD springboard kicks Silver.

Hook hits crossface shots on Silver. Uno goes for a chair shot on RVD but takes a vandaminator. RVD then spin kicks Alex. RVD hits a top rope frogsplash on Alex then Hook puts red rum on Silver and wins it.

It was a basic but okay tag. Nothing too special about it, just basic face and heel stuff. 

We get a Toni Storm skit during PiP break. 

Tony Schiavone brings Sting and Darby Allin out. Sting thanks Tony Khan for bringing him back. Tony Schiavone says 35 years ago, Sting put pro wrestling on the map on TBS. Ric Flair's music hits and Ric Flair comes out.

Ric Flair gets on the mic. He says Sting is the nicest guy he has ever known. Ric gives Sting a chop. Christian. Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne come out. Christian says the gift for Sting seems to be gold chains and a black liver. Christian asks Darby how his arm is feeling. Christian says he wants Sting gone right now and doesn't want to wait until after Revolution next year. Christian says he wants a 6 man tag at AEW Full Gear with Christian, Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne vs Sting and two partners. Sting accepts.

Renee interviews Chris Jericho. Jericho admits his match against Hobbs was a destruction. Jericho says his ribs are still hurting. Jericho said he didn't see Hobbs coming when he fought him. Jericho said he needs to self-reflect and asks if he should step back or get stronger and more intense. Jericho said he has more friends bigger than Hobbs and says maybe it's time he gives them a call.

ROH Six-Man Tag Titles - The Young Bucks and Adam Page (c) vs The Hardy Boyz and Brother Zay

 

 

Nick shoulders over Zay. Zay is then hiptossed and slammed. Zay takes a bridging neckbreaker then a swanton in that position. Zay then takes a cannonball in the corner. Page top rope lariats Zay. Matt Hardy trades shots with a Buck then hits a side effect for 2. Zay does a nice tornillo outside onto Page and Nick. Zay and Matt Hardy then do The Bucks' pose.

We go to PiP break and return. Matt Jackson hits a double northern lights suplex on his opponents. Page springboard lariats Matt. Zay springboard crossbodies Page but is caught with a fallaway slam. Page plancha's Matt Hardy outside then death valley drivers Zay.

Zay does a silly strong off of Jeff's back and tornado ddt's Page. Nick hits superkicks on all opponents. Zay swings Nick's leg into Matt Jackson's head then Zay hits a double dropkick on The Bucks. Zay does a tope con hilo outside off the back of Jeff Hardy. Jeff hits a top rope swanton for 2.

Zay springboards but ends up taking a buckshot lariat off of it. Zay takes a BTE trigger and is pinned.

It was what you would expect with a lot of flying around. The Hardy's didn't look bad here so it was watchable.

We then cut to the tron. We see Prince Nana breaking into Adam Page's house with Swerve. Swerve said this family owes him something for taking his opportunity away and rips up refrigerator art. Swerve plays with some kids book. They then hear something. Swerve goes up to the crib and asks if hangman Jr. is going to give him his opportunities. He then leaves a Swerve shirt in the crib. Nana says they have to go.

Hold on, Adam Page leaves his baby home alone? He should have CPS called on him.

Adam Copeland is interviewed. He said his friendship with Christian is more important than anything else. Darby and Sting come in. Darby says it's kill or be killed and this is not a world where Adam and Christian are going to be friends. Sting says he had the blinders on when he was with Lex Luger and said he learned from Ric Flair. He said he can see through Christian and Adam need to before it's too late. Sting then gets up in his face and says they go way back and not to mess it up now.

AEW Women's Title - Hikaru Shida (c) vs Ruby Soho

Ruby hits chops and Shida messes up a 2nd rope twisting crossbody. Shida slams her then Ruby sto's Shida. Shida rolls her around the ring and hits bad corner punches. Shida dropkicks her off the 2nd rope. Shida is pulled off the apron and Ruby hits a weak no future kick.

We go to PiP break and return. They trade forearms and Shida punches her. Shida running forearms her for 2. Ruby throws her off the buckles and pulls off the middle turnbuckle pad. Ruby then gives Shida spray paint. The ref sees it and Shida says she didn't do it. Ruby grabs the title belt and blocks spray paint with it. The ref takes the belt, Ruby chokes Shida with something and hits a blade runner for 2. Shida blocks a no future kick and hits a spinning knee.  Shida pumping knees her and hits a falcon arrow for 2. Ruby reverses it, is sent into the exposed buckle and takes a spinning knee. Shida wins.

This was really bad. Everything before the break looked awful and the stuff after it wasn't much better. It had the usual shenanigans with Ruby and was just ugly all around.

Toni Storm then comes out with some guy in a suit. 

MJF is interviewed in the back. Samoa Joe comes in. He says MJF suffers from a lack of friendship. Joe says he will be his friend. MJF agrees then Joe says it's only if MJF gives him his rematch for the AEW Title. Joe said he doesn't have to give him his answer now, but will get it soon enough with how things are going.

Orange Cassidy and Kazuchika Okada vs The Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Bryan Danielson)

Bryan drops him with a leg kick and works the arm. OC just lays on the mat while in a wristlock. CC does nice slams on OC then Okada is tagged in. Okada elbow drops CC's back then trade forearms with him. Okada slams CC and OC does some silly top rope elbow on CC.

OC is put on the top rope and Bryan knees him off the top. We go to PiP break and return. CC is back body dropped over the top. They block each others moves and OC is pulled up into a ddt on CC.

Bryan and Okada get tagged in at the same time. Bryan hits kicks on Okada then Okada running back elbows him. Okada hits a ddt for 2 and slams him. Bryan takes a flapjack for 2. Bryan its chest kicks on Okada then is rolled up for 2. Bryan puts him in the lebell lock.

Bryan and Okada trade shots. Bryan flips over him from the buckles and they collide in mid-air. OC top rope crossbodies CC, is caught and Okada boots CC to knock him over. OC does his usual weak kicks on CC then hits better kicks. CC counters OC's ddt then is cuttered off a suplex. OC tornado ddt's CC. OC plancha's Bryan.

CC giant swings OC and sharpshooters him. Okada breaks the hold then over the back neckbreakers him on the knee. Okada top rope elbow drops CC. Okada and OC hug then take a double dropkick from the top. Okada dropkicks Bryan then rainmakers him. CC 2nd rope twisting euros Okada then pop-up euros OC to win it.

OC brought it down as usual, doing his usual comedy spots in a match that should have been heated. The whole premise of this was dumb. Bryan and Okada hadn't referenced each other in months and OC chose Okada as a partner over Hook and Best Friends for unknown reasons. Okada also isn't a big draw in the US, so he was brought in essentially to bring down ratings.

Bryan holds his face after. Book and Best Friends come down. Okada kind of stares at Bryan and maybe makes a gesture, but it wasn't that easy to make out. I don't know what they were going for, but it didn't work.

Overall thoughts: Ir was a middle of the road show. Everyone being after MJF is kind of out of nowhere and MJF suddenly having all of these friends is odd too, but at least they are trying to do something with MJF. The main and the angle after didn't work and the women's match was awful. Adam Page seemingly leaving his baby home alone was a stupid moment as well.

WWE NXT 10/24/2023

WWE NXT 10/24/2023

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/10/wwe-nxt-10172023.html 

They had a band called New Years Day performing a song called Vampyre that was pretty good. The lead singer of it looks like Shotzi and was rather attractive. They playd clips of some of the ongoings in NXT during this. I liked this one.

Shotzi is dressed up like pinhead and Scarlett is dressed up like an 1800's woman. They introduce us to the show and Shotzi's look is just something else here. 

Devil's Playground Match - Roxanne Perez vs Kiana James

KJ = Kiana James

They have a playground out there with a swingset, a slide and a see-saw, plus a kid's pool with some stuff in it.

Kiana James has a new tron with a helicopter dropping her off, which is awesome. KJ tries to hit her with a bag but Perez avoids it. Perez's head is hit off the buckles. Perez 2nd rope Thez presses her then does a rotation headscissors. KJ takes a back body drop to the floor. KJ blocks a tope and Perez sunset flips her off the steps.

KJ is hit with the swing on a swing set then Perez is suplexed on the floor. KJ hits her with a laptop. We go to PiP break. Perez's head is banged off the steps and she is hit with a trash can lid. Perez is backdropped on the apron and KJ whips her into the rails with a chain.

Perez has a chain pulled across her face. Perez's shoulder is pulled into the post then KJ's shoulder is pulled into the post. KJ hits her with a trash can in the gut then Perez uses the swingset to dropkick the can into her. Perez topes her then grabs a piece of wood from a fence and hits her with it.

Perez russian legsweeps her into a slide. Perez tries to jump off a rail to hurricanrana her, gets caught then is swung into the rail and powerbombed on a trash can. KJ hits her with a see saw and chokes her with it. Perez hits her with her bag then hits pop rocks on the bag to win it.

It was a fun Halloween themed hardcore match. We got to see some different weapons here like the slide and see saw. It wasn't a classic and I thought they could have done a little more with the props, but I liked it.

Perez pulls out KJ's bag after and pieces of brick fall out of it. It was obviously fake though and was kind of silly.

Carmelo Hayes is interviewed. He said he didn't take out Trick but said they both wanted the NXT Title. Melo says the NXT Title and the title of "Him" are his motivations. He said he can't call himself him without the title. Melo is asked if he would still be in the title match if Trick was in it. Melo said he would. Melo then leaves the interview early and says "justice for Trick".

Meta-Four are playing tarot cards with Scarlett and Shotzi and are told there is devastation, loss and pain in their future. Dar's mad at this, saying they paid money for good news. Scarlett says their joy will turn into intense grief and to hold the things they cherish closely. Meta-Four plays with the tarot cards then Tozawa comes in and steals the Heritage Cup trophy.

Lexis King vs Dante Chen

This is Lexi King's WWE TV debut. He says "Brian Pillman is dead, long live Lexis King". Chen headflips out of a wristlock. King kicks him in the gut and drops him wit ha punch. Chen does a back elbow and back fast.

Chen hits a nice dropkick and takes an upkick. King double footchokes him in the corner then running knees him. King kind of running kitchen sinks him in the back of the back of the head. Chen hits punches then a nice lariat. Chen hits a pump kick to the side of the head then is superkicked. King does a spinning neckbreaker over the 2nd rope and wins it.

This wasn't good. Chen looked better than King did here. King's stuff didn't hit clean and his finisher took a long time to set up.

Chase U is in the back. Chase says they are bringing tag team gold. Thea says she will be sure not to thrown in any towels. Tony D and Stacks come in. Tony says it's good to see them again. Chase says they will see them out there and Tony says good luck tonight. Tony said they couldn't ask for better opponents. Duke asks Chase what he is talking about and Chase says it's a long story and not to worry about it. I have no idea what they are talking about.

NXT Women's Breakout Tournament Semi Finals - Kelani Jordan vs Arianna Grace

 

Grace offers her a chance to kiss her hand to start. Kelani uses the ropes to armdrag her then hits a nice dropkick. We go to PiP break and return. Kelani suplexes her then Grace hits a bad neckbraker. Kelani rolls her up and crossbodies her. Kelani backslides her then lariats her. Kelani cartwheels into a back elbow then flips into a legdrop on her.

Kelani is pulled into the 2nd rope then backdropped. Kelani hits a split legged moonsault then wins it.

It was rough and both girls looked green here with a lot of stuff not hitting clean.

We see Von Wagner trying to walk with a walker. Von asks if Stone has a death wish going up against Bron Breakker. Stone says he knows he is getting his @ss kicked, but if he hits one punch ,it will be worth it. Stone calls Von his friend and Von is surprised. Von says he's not ready to be out there will him next week but Stone says he got this. Stone says next week is for him. 

Shotzi and Scarlett talked about the show. Diamond Mine came out and Julius said Angel and Humberto cost them the tag titles. Shotzi said the match between those teams shouldn't be a normal match and said they should let the wheel decide. The wheel landed on "tables, ladders and scares". Julius said that's Angel and Humberto's grandfather telling them they messed up. Julius said let's run it next week then Tony D and Stacks' music interrupted.

NXT Tag Titles - Tony D'Angelo and Stacks (c) vs Chase U

 

 

Stacks armdrags Chase then Chase armdrags himn. Chase then says it's a techable moment. Duke is pulled over he top rope then Stacks plcnahs Duke. Tony hiptosses Stacks over the top onto his opponents and we go to break.

We return and Chase takes a stun gun + kick. Stacks slams Chase and misses an elbow drop. Chase then punches him. Duke gets the hot tag in and overhead belly to belly suplexes Stacks. Duke hits his Dusty Rhodes punch flurry then Stacks is slammed on Tony. Duke side slams Stacks for 2.

Duke black hole slams Stacks for 2. Stacks avoids the fratliner then Tony gets in. Tony belly to belly suplexes Duke then spinebusters Chase. Chase takes a running euro into a german then a 2nd rope euro into a german.

Stacks comes off the apron onto Duke but meets a boot. Chase hits punches on Tony then russian legsweeps him. Chase hits the Chase U stomps. Dukes a ddt on the apron and does a huge bump for it. Chase then takes a powerplex from Tony and Stacks. Duke germans Tony onto Chase to stop the pin count.

Chase sunset flips Tony then spinning neckbreakers him. Jacy throws Chase a crowbar to use. Chase gives it back to her. Jacy gets knocked off the apron by Tony. Chase then rolls up Tony and wins it!!! Title change!

It was a good match with a super surprise ending. We've seen Chase U lose tag title matches so many times and it was just great to finally see them win. Chase U bumped big here for Tony and Stacks and they busted out some bigger stuff here. Obviously, the finish wasn't clean and will likely play a role in the story going forward. I thought they could have built up the title change more.

We get a Hard Hitting Home Truths segment with Nathan Frazer. He said Dom doesn't like him and he doesn't like him either. He said Dom has a face that he wants to slap and he's only champ because his mami keeps bailing him out. Frazer challenges Dom to a title match next week.

Baron Corbin is interviewed. He said he was close to winning last week and did all the work, but someone else won. That's why he said he doesn't like triple threats and that's the story of his career. He said it should be him vs Ilja and not Melo. McKenzie asks if Corbin took out Trick Williams. He said he doesn't like him but said it could have been Dijak, Axiom, Wes Lee or Melo. He said none of that is his concern though and he doesn't care. He said if Ilja survives next week, he better have his head on a swivel.

Lights Out Match - Gigi Dolin (c) vs Blair Davenport

Blair came out in a raincoat and a balloon. I assume that's from something, but I don't know why. The lights are out but the ropes and stuff glow in the dark. Gigi baseball slides Blair through the ropes then crossbodies her off the apron. Blair's head is banged off a chair and Gigi's head is banged off the steps.

Gigi puts her in a chair and hits punches, then meteora's her off the apron while she is seated. We go to PiP break and return. Blair is seated on the top rope and Gigi hangs upside down and hurricanrana's her off of it. Gigi pulls a table out.

Gigi is tripped into an open chair then thrown into the post shoulder first. Blair whips her then Gigi whips her. Gigi hits a short arm lariat. Blair dangerously throws a chair at Gigi's face then backdrops her. Blair, like Gigi earlier, struggles to get a table set-up outside (the other table wasn't used). Gigi hits Blair with a trash can on the apron then shotgun dropkicks her.

Gigi dropkicks her against the bottom rope then blue thunders her on a trash can for 2. Blair falcon arrows Gigi through a table. Blair then kicks her and wins it.

Due to the lights being out, it was a bit hard to see at times and it was hard to get that into it due to that. It wasn't that great though maybe the lights being out helped out some of the sloppiness. It went longer than I had expected.

Ilja Dragunov is interviewed. He said his life has been a struggle since he was born. He said we born in Russia and moved to Germany. He said he's proud to be the NXT champ and said his son held his NXT title. He said it was the most excellent motivation to carry on as a great champ. Ilja said next week will be another classic where he will bend but not break. He said Melo will break. Ilja said he doesn't need to adjust to Melo, Melo needs to adjust to him. He said Melo is a desperate man and said his title represents 30 years of sacrifice.

Shotzi and Scarlett are dressed up as twins and go up to Melo, which is watching the Ilja interview. They say all signs point to him attacking Trick. Melo said he doesn't believe in this and says to go mess with someone else.

 

Tiffany Stratton is interviewed about the women's tournament. Someone, maybe Kiana James, then walks in dressed up like her. She talks like her and mocks her, asking why she is so rich and says she is the center of the universe. She says, "you can go now, toodles" then Tiff nails her. They fight and people try to break it up.

NXT Women's Breakout Tournament Semi Final - Karmen Petrovic vs Lola Vice

KP = Karmen Petrovic

No intro for either girl here which sucks. KP drops her with a nice leg kick. KP does a nice pin attempt then running back leg sweeps her. KP hits a screw kick to her back for 2. Vice spin kicks her hard off the apron and dances.

Vince does a nice takedown and hits mounted forearms. Vice does a nice hip shot. KP brazilian kicks her then takes a kick combo from Vice. KP takes an irish whip into a side kick. KP lariats her then rolls into a high kick. KP then low pump kicks her for 2.

KP does a tope crossbody on her. KP misses a spinning high kick then Vice hits her own spinning high kick to win it.

KP's offense wasn't the best here though she did debut some new moves. Vice was okay, but the match was short and not that special.

Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice pose for a photo after.

Chase U is celebrating in the back. Duke says this means they have to start travelling with the belts and says they are leaders now. Duke says the locker room will expect more of them now. Duke says they went from boys to men. Thea says she is so proud of her. Jacy said they know how it feels to be winners now. Piper Niven and Chelsea Green walk in. Green complains about the noise. Green says she is filing a formal complaint as no one speaks to the women's tag champs like that. Jacy said she will guide her to Shawn Michaels' office and is going to ask for a tag title shot against them. 

Meta-Four ask security about the missing cup. Lash Legend pulls up a photo and sees Tozawa holding it. Dar is told to go into a haunted house to get it.

Melo is in the back and talks to Bron Breakker. Bron says Melo has a trick up his sleeve. Bron said him and Melo were the talk of the entire industry and said they will fight for the top spot for decades to come. Bron said he proved he has what it takes to stay here and says Melo proved it by taking out his best friend. Melo said he didn't do it and Bron said he has to do what he has to do. Bron says if he brings that attitude next week, he will beat Ilja. He then says he will beat Stone next week and it'll be back to them running things soon.

Jade Cargill arrives and sits on a throne on a riser to watch the main event.

NXT Women's Title - Becky Lynch (c) vs Lyra Valkyria

Lyra misses a high kick and we go to PiP break. We return and Lyra's head is banged off the top buckle. Lyra crossbodies her and Becky 2nd rope twisting crossbodies her. They crossbody each other in mid-air at the same time. They trade forearms.

Becky euros and spin kicks her then Lyra spin kicks her. Lyra headbutts her in the gut then they hit each other on the ropes. Lyra lariats her over then northern lights suplexes her. Becky chinbreakers her then exploders her.

Lyra dropkicks Becky through the ropes and Becky sends her into the post. Lyra top rope single leg drops her on the back of the neck over the 2nd rope. Lyra step up enzugiri's her then top rope dropkicks her.

Becky hits a diamond dust off the 2nd rope. Becky goes for the armbar then Lyra fisherman suplexes her. Lyra misses a top rope splash and Becky fujiwara armbars her. Lyra hits a sitout powerbomb for 2. Becky superplexes her then hits a ddt for 2.

Becky hits mounted forearms then Lyra spinning high kicks her. Becky hits a stiff uranage for 2. Becky goes for another uranage and Lyra rolls her up to win it.

The crowd loved this and was super into it, but I just thought it was average. Better than the usual women's fare for sure, but not even the best match on this show.

I don't know about Lyra winning. It's not an awful idea but I just didn't think it was the right time and I didn't think it had enough focus with everything else going on.

Overall thoughts: A pretty good show from start to finish. We had 2 title changes, a debut, a band and lots of costumes and gimmicks all night long. What could more could you want really?