Thoughts on AEW Dynamite 26.04.23:
It kicked OFF on Dynamite this week
I think I’d forgotten Orange was facing Bandido (and nearly missed the beginning, having to sign into Fite.TV again). Bandido was solid as always, and Orange obviously. Very nice ending (if a little awkward)
The guy in the back was equally entertaining and annoying. Him wearing an MJF scarf made me forgive him a LOT
God Jungle Boy and Darby are boring. And I don’t particularly want to listen to Darby full stop. Just please have something other than mumbling about how great you are in your character.
I don’t know why we CAN’T STOP having Jeff Jarrett, but I like Dax, so I liked seeing him tonight.
Honestly it was interesting seeing Jeff Jarret in a singles match, but he also looked slow as fuck to me - maybe that was as much Dax, after the time FTR have spent out of the ring? It was fine, just not particularly great fun to watch. And then the ending that was really pretty predictable, because we must make a storyline out of this. Pisses me off that the more J+ piss me off the better heels they actually are and the more valuable to the company I guess, but sakfdjkd They have fans I assume. At least it’s not the whole show.
Tony Khan is such an awkward speaker, but it is nice to hear from him as the CEO, and especially honouring someone like with Owen Hart. And holding the tournament in Canada is a nice move - and a show in Calgary! I’ve heard a lot about ‘Piper in Portland, Bret in Calgary’. Could be special.
Wardlow - I’m putting up with this because he SPECIFICALLY referred to Tully when he revealed he was working with Arn Anderson, which makes me think it’s a callback to The Pinnacle and a lead-in to a reunion, and a storyline for Max. But he’s bored me for a while, and squashing people doesn’t make it better.
DON’T YOU TALK ABOUT CARRYING THE COMPANY ON HIS SHOULDERS, DON’T YOU PUT HIM THERE! HE’S NOT THERE!
But it’s whatever I guess. I find it less boring than Wardlow on his own. I preferred Hobbs as a champion, but apparently that’s still going, so we’ll see where it goes I guess. Nice to see Cage and Luchasaurus ARE having storylines still, too.
Four kisses in that promo. FOUR.
Max looked AMAZING in paisley, how does he do it?? I thought he couldn’t look any better than in dark red, but apparently bright red and nearly neon orange, unbuttoned at the front, is ALSO a great look for him. And then the vest - alksfdjlska. It’s just klsdjflks with Max no matter what I guess
I love that the scarf he got for Sammy was clearly a cheap knock-off, like he used to wear.
NOTHING WRONG WITH PAYING HIM TO LAY DOWN.
Have they changed Yuta’s hair? I don’t know that it looks better, but it looks different. Less swoopy.
Maxwell on commentary, God be praised
WITH PICKLES. EATING INTO THE MICROPHONE. SHILLING HIS OWN PICKLE BRAND.
Taz is my best friend, I recognise no other commentators
Literally hard not to root for Sammy, given all the circumstances
‘The cheque’s not gonna clear unless he lays down for daddy’, oh my god
Taunting the true daddies out there
Some beautiful, seamless teamwork from Sammy and Max out there.
WHAT A HORRIFIC, TREACHEROUS SWAMP MAX IS FORCED TO WORK IN
I have a hard time reconciling the Tony Khan we sometimes see speaking onscreen with the one apparently decisively putting a stop to Max’s scheming, but okay. Suspension of disbelief.
Wouldn’t be totally surprised if we see Max dragging TK’s unconscious body around someday like he did with Sting that one time, but you know. Not yet.
I don’t really get where Sammy’s coming from in this feud, it was him offering friendship (after Max gave him a massive cheque), so it’s not like Max is out to try to fool him. Max is the one not paying for the blue tickmark on Twitter right away and giving him an obvious knock-off scarf - and Sammy’s gesturing he’s going to get the belt during matches, making it seem like he’s not really being totally honest with Max. But then they’re also playing it like he really thinks he and Max are friends - after everything that happened in the Inner Circle - and being let down when Max obviously isn’t that invested in it. It seems like a weird way to have Max still be The Real Heel Here - maybe a shortcut into a ‘Max doesn’t have friends, doesn’t really get attached to anyone’ statement? But I feel like we already knew that? And Sammy is a really weird character to try to play that out with, given their history and Sammy’s personality? Idk. I don’t totally get who’s supposed to be feeling what in this sidestory, and it’s confusing.
But it was cute as hell that Sammy walked out of the arena with Max, leaving his wife behind, and tried to get in his car back to the hotel with him, in his little short-shorts, not even having gotten changed or showered. He thought he was getting SUCH a blowjob. But no. Not from Max.
Adam Cole and Jericho - .... but it was sweet to see Orange stick up for Cole, and Bandido helping him out. And I have no idea who Roderick Strong is, but the audience seemed happy and the dash seems happy, so I’m interested.
Angelo’s floral shirt 😍😍😍 Angelo and Matt working on the one enemy together because they’re a team 😍😍😍
How was Taya vs Jade not the main event?
Especially when we didn’t see anything about how this match finally got arranged, when Jade apparently didn’t want that?
A great match. They are both great. But it is starting to be less interesting, when no matter how much an opponent is hyped up Jade always wins. I’m not saying she has to lose or stop being champion - I’m very excited they might get her to 60-0 - but I feel like they could do something to liven it up. She used to have matches where she was struggling, even about to lose, and then someone ran in and interfered and stopped it. Wouldn’t mind a little of that action, just for a change. I don’t know. It just seemed very hyped up and then rushed - maybe it’s leading to a rematch at DoN, where Taya can use the Road to Valhalla? But I also just feel like I’d like to see Jade have more storylines - winning or losing - with established wrestlers in the company. Like her storyline with Nyla was amazing. I don’t know. Something feels a little underwhelming about it all, but maybe that was just the way they handled it last night.
HOW was it not the main event? But I know how, because BCC vs The Elite is the big storyline.
Evil Taya???? Though???? Poor Aubrey
I genuinely thought some of the ‘beating’ Britt took last week from the Outcasts was to cover from her ongoing back issues and the fact she might take a break from wrestling because of them, but apparently not, apparently she and Jamie are still in fighting spirits. Maybe they’re both going to be ‘offscreened’ until DoN now, with kayfabe injuries
Jamie looking hella, she never misses a chance to hit it with her eyeshadow, even when she’s not wrestling <3
Bryan Danielson in sleeveless ANYTHING is a lot to deal with
Bryan on commentary AND Max on commentary, in one night, be still my fluttering heart. The only thing that could be better is them on at the same time, especially after their feud, and I pray one day it happens.
Bryan SO SAD about Takeshita, ‘after everything I’ve done for him’
He did talk about just stealing and hoovering up all the young talent into their fight club when he first suggested the idea of the BCC to Moxley, so he’s really staying on brand there
‘Has [Kenny] pursued MJF?’, NO HE HASN’T BRYAN, NO HE HASN’T AND IT’S BULLSHIT. EVERYONE should be pursuing MJF all the time. He should be drowning in offers.
Kip’s trying out a lot of different looks at the moment, I hope he’s well
The Elite are a what on the company, Bryan?????
Kenny and Takeshita both wrestled amazingly, obviously
YOU STUMBLED THERE BRYAN AND WE ALL HEARD IT, but I forgive you
Poor Takeshita HE DIDN’T SIGN UP FOR ANY OF THIS. He didn’t know Danielson was going to go insane. Although one look at Max, when Bryan was feuding with him, should have let him know it was a possibility.
And he did sort of take Don up on his offer of a business partnership, so...maybe yeah. The inklings were all there.
:( Takeshita :( But it is nice they’re giving him proper storylines, and treating him like a real talent the other wrestlers respect and want on their teams <3
