Week 7 of the Wednesday Night Wars. It’s the first “AEW Dynamite” show after a PPV and NXT continues to push towards War Games & Survivor Series. NXT will nearly a 250K viewership bump last week and AEW saw a 60K increase. This week’s shows went up against the CMA Awards. Who cares, right?
Head to head TV ratings:
Week 6: AEW (822K), NXT (813K)
Week 5: AEW (759K), NXT (580K)
Week 4: AEW (963K), NXT (698K)
Week 3: AEW (1.014 million), NXT (712K)
Week 2: AEW (1.018 million), NXT (790K)
Week 1: AEW (1.409 million), NXT (891K)
AEW Dynamite
1st match: Jon Moxley v. Michael Nakazawa
Mox makes his way through the crowd and squashes Nakazawa. Mox on the mic and says he has beaten all the AEW stars and whoever wants to set up, kiss their family goodbye.
2nd match: Dark Order v. Marko Stunt & Jungle Boy
Crowd behind Jurassic Express, but Uno pins Stunt after a “Fatality.” Uno then tells Stunt he can join Dark Order, Jungle Boy intervenes and Dark Order with a beat down. HOLD ON A MINUTE…Luchasaurus is back and he cleans house! Huge pop from the crowd.
3rd match: Shawn Spears v. Darby Allin v. Peter Avalon
Darby is so over with the AEW crowd. Not much of a match, though. Joey Janela out to scrap with Spears and Darby hits Peter with the “Coffin Drop” for the win. Darby grabs the mic and accepts Moxley’s challenge <insert fire emoji>.
4th match: Nyla Rose vs. Dani Jordan
Another squash match. Nothing to see here.
*Tony Schiavone interviews Allie…But the arena lights go out and here comes Awesome Kong with Brandi Rhodes. After Kong delivers a spinning backfist, Brandi cuts a lock from Allie’s weave.
*AEW Le Champion Chris Jericho is in the ring, but is interrupted by MJF. Tons of heat for MJF…He and Jericho go back and forth with a cleaver promo and hug it out as MJF joins the Inner Circle. Cody is out…He and Jericho botch a powerslam (prob because he can’t pick up Jericho’s fat ass in those fancy shoes). Newly signed Wardlow (WHO?) is out who helps MJF lay out Cody.
5th match: PAC v. Hangman Page
Probably not the best match placement, but the best match on the card. PAC locks in the “Brutalizer” and the ref ends the match.
*Backstage we have the Young Bucks brawling with Santana & Ortiz. Matt gets powerbombed through the stage and their BFF/roster-space-waste Brandon Cutler tries to make a save but gets stomped as well. Good to see 5 seconds of Orange Cassidy standing in the bathroom.
*It’s announced that AEW will hold a “Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal” next week and the winner gets a ring…Huh?
6th match: Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara v. SCU
The AEW tag team titles are on the line. Match didn’t get a lot of time, but some decent spots. Scorpio Sky rolls up Jericho for the finish. Show ends with Jericho throwing chairs in the ring.
*Announced for next week: Battle Royal; Moxley v. Darby; & Santana/Ortiz v. Private Party.
Final thoughts… Not one of the better wrestling match shows (too many squashes), but several good segments and promos made it enjoyable. Great to see Luchasauras back in action. Women’s division seems lost.
Grade: B-
AEW Dark match results: Riho & Britt Baker def. Big Swole & Kris Statlander; Best Friends def. Private Party; Young Bucks def Strong Hearts.
NXT
1st match: Lio Rush v. Angel Garza
The NXT cruiserweight title is on the line and these 2 dudes had the match of the night topping anything on TNT as well. Both had great spots and the fans ate it up with dueling chants. Rush had to hit 2 “Final Hours” for the win.
*Backstage we see Tegan Knox and Rhea Ripley have both been laid out.
2nd match: Xia Li v. Aliyah
Quality women’s match. Li converted a cartwheel forearm then wins the match with a roundhouse kick, which busts Aliyah’s nose wide open.
*Finn Balor out for a promo. He shits on NXT asking the crowd “what’s happened to this place?” Matt Riddle enters the ring and attacks Balor. Undisputed Era surrounds the ring, but Riddle gets help from Tommaso Ciampa and Keith Lee.
3rd match: Keith Lee v. Roderick Strong
Another solid outing for Keith Lee. He keeps getting better and gets the non-title win over Strong via a “Jackhammer Slam.” Brawl postmatch and Dominic Dijakovic out to help Lee and Ciampo.
*Backstage we see the MMA Horsewomen and Candice LeRae have all been KO’d.
4th match: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott v. Bronson Reed
Fan of both of these gents. Nothing bad here. Swerve with the “House Call” for the win.
*Cathy Kelley tells us Finn Balor v. Matt Riddle will take place at NXT War Games. Dominik Dijakovic will replace Riddle on Team Ciampa.
5th match: Pete Dunne v. Killian Dane
Dain is immediately attacked by Damian Priest. Match never gets started. Priest takes out both Dain & Dunne who are at it outside the ring.
*Cathy Kelley interviews Mia Yim. Dakota Kai let’s her know she has her back.
6th match: Mia Yim v. Io Shirai (Ladder Match)
Very physical match that probably went on a little too long for my taste. Shirai springboard and kicks the ladder into Yim’s nose and we have blood everywhere! Dakota Kai is out to check on Yim. HERE COMES NXT UK Women’s champ Kay Lee Ray, who throws Kai into the steel steeps and attacks Yim, which allows Shirai to climb the ladder and win. Bianca Belair out to celebrate as is Shayna Baszler, who appoints Ray as the final member of her team at War Games…BAH GAW IT’S SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S CHAMP BAYLEY and she attacks Baszler then runs off like a scalded dog!
Final thoughts… Again and without a doubt, NXT continues to deliver better wrestling matches each week. I heard Chelsea Green got a pre show match…It’s a start.
Grade: A
Announced for next week: Adam Cole v. Dijakovic.
Ranking the AEW/NXT matches:
1-NXT: Rush v. Garza
2-NXT: Keith Lee v. Roderick Strong
3-AEW: PAC v. Hangman
4-AEW: SCU v. Jericho/Guevara
5-NXT: Mia Yim v. Io Shirai
6-NXT: Swerve v. Reed
7-NXT: Li v. Aliyah
8-AEW: Dark Order v. Jurassic Express
9-AEW: Spears v. Darby v. Avalon
10-AEW: Moxley v. Nakazawa
11-AEW: Nyla Rose vs. Dani Jordan