On this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, it’s down to the Semi-finals of the AEW Tag Team Tournament as The Lucha Bros battle Private Party and Dark Order battle SoCal Uncensored for the finals next week. We also have PAC vs. Jon Moxley in the main event.
Semi-final Tag Team Championship Match: Private Party vs. The Lucha Bros
As soon as the show started both teams were already in the ring waiting for the bell to ring. I felt it was odd to begin the episode like this without the opening pyro and the entrances but these two amazing teams make it for it though. HOLY FREAKIN SHIT! That’s my thoughts for this match seriously as this was one insane move after another.
The Lucha Bros picked up the victory after executing an impressive double stomp/package piledriver combo. After last week’s vicious attack on SCU’s Christopher Daniels, this sets up an intense feud between the two teams.
Semi-final Tag Team Championship Match: SoCal Uncensored vs. Dark Order
I’m still new to the product and since I’ve never even heard of Dark Order I didn’t really know what to expect. Last week was my introduction to SoCal when I watched their match other than that I’ve seen them on Being The Elite videos. The menacing heels Stu Grayson and Evil Uno took control after some painful double-team maneuvers.
SCU made their comeback and we saw The Inner Circle making their entrance through the crowd to their private VIP room. I thoroughly enjoyed SCU’s finisher dubbed SCU Later and they picked up the win here. A great back-and-forth match but in my opinion, there was no way it was going to top the excitement from the opener.
Kenny Omega vs. Joey Janela
They showed a fascinating video package highlighting Joey Janela’s hardcore match with Jon Moxley at Fyter Fest and then Omega/Janela on AEW Dark. Omega and Janela started things off with a handshake and I was surprised to see both competitors keeping the pace slow in a feeling-out process. We return from commercial to see Omega fully in control executing a fireman’s carry slam and a wicked Snap Dragon Suplex.
Janela goes on the offense now after a misstep from Omega flying right into a German suplex and a fun series of intense strikes.
Janela attempts a 450 splash but Omega moves to send him crashing into the ring apron. Omega follows up with the lightening-fast V-Trigger knee and the One-Winged Angel for the hard-fought victory. Given more time I feel like these two could have a fantastic match but this was still a fun ride.
The Young Bucks vs. Best Friends
Another team I’m unfamiliar with is Best Friends Chuck Taylor and Trent alongside the ridiculous Orange Cassidy. Both teams tore the house down with a phenomenal wrestling match. In what has been typical of every Matt and Nick Jackson are in action it’s one insane move after another.
The entire crowd was on the edge of their seats as The Bucks escaped a Doomsday Device. Matt superkicked anyone in his path and followed up with More Bang For Your Buck for the win. After the match, The Bucks grabbed a mic and made the match official between Santana and Ortiz at Full Gear!
Britt Baker vs. Jamie Hayter
This was Jamie Hayter’s AEW debut and this was the Doctor Britt Baker’s homecoming in Pittsburgh, PA. The doctor sold like crazy for her. Britt Baker withstood an extreme amount of pain and punishment from Hayter who cut her off at every turn. The twenty-four-year-old took the fight to the hometown heroin but maybe she bit off more than she could chew.
With the entire AEW crowd behind her, Baker mounted a comeback hitting a top-rope brainbuster for a near-fall. Hayter wasn’t finished though as she continued the assault until The Doctor locked in the Lockjaw for the submission. What an amazing homecoming for the hometown hero.
Main Event: Jon Moxley vs. PAC
Moxley was blindsided by PAC with a chair shot on the ramp and choked before the bell rang. The Bastard beat the holy hell out of Mox on the outside before climbing into the ring so the match could officially start. AEW made a bold decision by not allowing PAC to suffer his first singles loss.
They also made Mox look like a million bucks with his no-quit attitude and the ability to withstand the storm. In my opinion, the match ending in a draw was the right call as both rivals can continue the ass-kicking for another day under a stipulation and it should take place at a major pay-per-view.
This is my third week to watch AEW Dynamite and it’s amazing. I love the layout and how there are few and far between promos all the talking is done in the ring. The tag team division is hot as hell and one can only imagine how much that will increase after we have inaugural tag team champions crowned. It’s a great time to be a wrestling fan and I’m loving every minute of it!
