All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite: August 7, 2024

August 8, 2024 6:29 PM - Season 5, Episode 45

MJF continues to taunt Will Ospreay (and defend America's... honor?) by challenging his buddy Kyle Fletcher, Kamille trucks through, Jim Ross is back for a sitdown interview with the champ Swerve, and Orange Cassidy and FTR temporarily align. Bryan Danielson and Jeff Jarrett express their mutual respect by beating the everloving mess out of each other.

Couldn't do this one live yesterday because I was away from a computer, so let's partake of the Wrestling Observer's live report.

American Championship Eliminator Match: MJF (c) defeated Kyle Fletcher

"Hell of an opener and one of Fletcher’s best singles matches in AEW to date, as the crowd were loudly behind him. MJF ultimately made an example out of Will Ospreay’s best friend and stayed true to his promise last week in saying he’d make Fletcher bleed. This continues to be a good build for MJF & Ospreay at All In while incorporating Don Callis and The Family as well.

[...]MJF starts paint brushing Fletcher, calling him a wannabe Ospreay and spitting at him, as this only leads to Fletcher hulking up with a thrust kick, but MJF fired off a Canadian Destroyer, only to run into a lariat that turned him inside out for the double down. Lawn dart from Fletcher, as both men traded top rope brainbuster and Tombstone attempts, before Fletcher connected on a wrist clutch Tombstone for the closest two of the match. This caused Callis to leave commentary and come to ringside, throwing the screwdriver to Fletcher, who took too long to debate using it, opting to throw it aside. This allowed MJF to hit a low blow, Kangaroo Kick and brainbuster for the victory.

Will Ospreay tried to leave backstage, but found the door was blocked by cases. He eventually got free just as MJF decked referee Paul Turner with the American Title, placed the Dynamite Diamond ring on and cracked Fletcher with it, busting him open, screaming the blood of Fletcher is on Ospreay’s hands. MJF said he’s going to do what Ospreay doesn’t have the balls to do and went for the Tiger Driver, but Ospreay sprinted to the ring and MJF bailed through the crowd. Ospreay clutched Fletcher’s bloody head, as the doctor checked on Fletcher with Callis & Ospreay arguing with Callis questioning where Ospreay was for his friend."

So obviously MJF is heeling up a storm here, but what is Don Callis going to do? He's got one mega star who just left him, another who is nominally still in the Family but goes out on his own, and neither of them will draw blood with his precious screwdriver! What's a heel manager without a stable? Where are the other fellows in the Don Callis Family -- Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, even Trent Beretta?

Mariah May defeated Viva Van

"May fired off a headbutt at the bell, as both ladies traded standing switches, with May hitting a release German suplex. Big time dropkick off the top, as May relentlessly beat down Van in the corner before going after referee Aubrey. This allowed Van to get one roll-up before May hit another dropkick into picture in picture. When things returned, Van hit a rolling up kick, but May quickly regained control with Sweet Cheek Music. After clubbing Van in the head, she gave a kiss of death before a running knee steamrolled Van. May Day was all she wrote, but instead, May opted for Storm Zero for the win. Post match, May was handed a wrapped poster ringside and showed it was a picture of Toni Storm cradling May during better times. The other side of the photo said “Die, Mariah, Die” as Timeless Toni Storm appeared and the fight was on again."

Nice to see that Van put up a fight rather than go down in a minute. Mariah keeps using Toni's moves and looking deadly doing it. Obviously this rivalry hits its peak at All In, but I would love if Toni could do one last short "cinema", like maybe some kind of hateful noir-inspired vignette about assassinating Mariah.

Jack Perry attempted to cut a promo on how badass he is and how much "sacrifice" is required, but due to commercial push-ins American audiences saw it as a very sinister Taco Bell spot.

Katsuyori Shibata defeated Bryan Keith

"This was Keith’s first match on Dynamite since joining The Learning Tree, as he’d been out of action since May with a broken orbital bone. This was the match of the week that suffered from the commercial in the middle taking up a majority, as Shibata got the win and the bigger story was the post-match with the return of HOOK. I think it’s safe to assume we’re getting HOOK vs. Jericho at All In."

Now Jack Perry could learn a thing or two from HOOK about looking like a cool badass.

Jim Ross sat down with Swerve Strickland

Orange Cassidy & FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated Beast Mortos, Roderick Strong & Rush

"This was your party match of the night, similar to last week and it was just as action packed. Fast tags from Mortos, Rush & Strong, who did locomotion splashes in the corner to Wheeler, who was dropped with a pop-up Samoan Drop by Mortos for two. Wheeler finally fought free and dove for a Harwood hot tag, as he ran wild, including a series of counters on Mortos leading to a nice spinebuster. Quick series of pin attempts on Strong, as Harwood wanted a superplex, but Strong slipped free, Sick Kick, blind tag to Mortos, who flew in with a Swanton Bomb for two.

[...] Rush was about to hit the Bull’s Horns on Harwood, but Cassidy was there with an Orange Punch. Rush fought off FTR, but ate another Orange Punch, this time into a Shatter Machine for the win. The post-match could’ve used some explaining, as the FTR & Acclaimed feud has been pretty much solely on Collision, so if you’ve only been watching Dynamite, you might’ve been confused on why these two teams were having to be separated."

The Acclaimed are inching closer and closer to a return to heeldom.

Kamille (w/Mercedes Mone) defeated Jazmyne Hao & Clara Carter

"Both ladies dodged a corner charge and got off a few boots, but Kamille mowed down Hao with a lariat and pump kick to Carter. Spinning sit-out Torture Rack Bomb on Hao, as Carter was dropped with a sit-out Dominator for the win. Tony Schiavone appeared on stage and said he was informed by Christopher Daniels that Tony Khan had overturned The Young Bucks and lifted the suspension of Britt Baker and she’s here…via satellite, which got booed, disappointing fans she wasn’t actually there."

Christopher Daniels can get overruled by the Bucks, who can suspend Britt, but Tony Khan can undo the suspension, but any of those three groups can book matches? So the Bucks are heel EVPs sandwiched by a babyface showrunner and a benevolent billionaire?

Anything Goes Match: Bryan Danielson defeated Jeff Jarrett

"This recent run of Jarrett’s have had one thing in common, they’ve been a whole lot of fun, as this was a pretty wild main event. You got the brawling, the hard hitting, the crowd was really into it, job well done to all involved. Steamboat didn’t add all that much on commentary, but the visual of him raising both men’s hands post-match was pretty cool to see. Strickland had a great line to close the show, asking Danielson if this is how his body feels after wrestling Jarrett, imaging the pain that’ll happen against Swerve at All In."

Swerve is expertly walking a fine line -- technically he's a face now or at least a tweener, but he's got to threaten the eternally beloved Danielson. So the promo isn't about Danielson's failings, but his limitations, out of a mock concern, and also that Swerve will be proud to take Danielson's legacy, imbuing it with a value that goes beyond the Championship.

posted by The Pluto Gangsta (1 comment total)

I have been catching up so this is definitely not the timeliest commentary but holy shit, do I love the layers to what MJF is doing right now. Setting aside the actual storytelling, it fills me with actual glee to see a Jewish guy from the East Coast laying claim to the Real America/being the only Real American, after so many years of right wing rhetoric to the contrary.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:40 AM on August 9