AEW Dynamite 10/7/2020
- Sean Covington
- Oct 9, 2020
- 7 min read
Celebrating 30 Years of Jericho
We open with members of the AEW roster discussing some of their favorite moments involving Chris Jericho.
Match #1 FTW Championship Brian Cage (C) vs. Will Hobbs
Taz is on commentary, putting over the significance of the FTW title, considering it the anti-establishment title as Will Hobbs is out first followed by the champ. As the bell rings, the two behemoths collide. Both men take turns showing off their agility. Will gets some offense in setting up some 10 count punches as Cage is able to slip under and connect with a cheeky Nando’s kick, followed by an electric chair front suplex for a two count. Cage maintains the advantage with a big fall away slam and standing moonsault combo. The Machine goes shoots Hobbs into the ropes, but Will is able to counter with a backdrop. Will connects with a series of clotheslines, a shoulder tackle and powerslam. Cage tries to maneuver out of another suplex but eats a spinebuster for his trouble. Momentum goes back to Cage he turns an Irish whip attempt into a pump-handle Michinoku driver followed by an F5 for a two count. Hobbs and Cage exchange suplexes and collide into each other with a double lariat. As they get up, we get a fighting spirit spot as they take turns landing some heavy strikes before Hobbs hits with another spinebuster for a two count. It looks like the pressure is getting to Will. Hobbs goes for a drastic measure as he goes for a frog splash but misses. Cage uses this to connect with the drill-claw for the win. Ricky Starks enters the ring as Taz grabs a mic. He offers Hobbs a chance to join Team Taz, suggesting that it’s an easy call: join or get wrecked. Before Taz gets his answer, Darby Allin comes down armed with his trusty skateboard, chasing off Team Taz.
We have out first video package celebrating tonight’s guest of honor. Slash, Dennis Miller, Bully Ray, and the ace of NJPW himself, Hiroshi Tanahashi, along with Chris’s dad all wish the Demo-God well.
Next, we see a very well done video package from Lance Archer hyping up his match with Jon Moxley next week. There’s a few references to their match from WrestleKingdom earlier this year.
Match #2 TH2 vs. FTR
This is the second of FTR’s Brush with Greatness challenge. TH2 is out first followed by the AEW tag champs. The Young Bucks are shown watching backstage from a very unnatural angle. Jack Evens starts the match showing off his agility against the slower Dax Harwood. Angelico gets tagged in and he gets an opportunity to show off some technical prowess. FTR goes to the outside and get met by a diving cross body by Angelico but they both catch him. Jack Evans lands a somersault senton on all three men as Jack puts Dax back into the ring. He goes for another top rope maneuver but gets tripped up by Cash, allowing Harwood to get the edge before tagging in Cash. FTR take turns working over Jack’s leg, hoping to minimize his offence. Angelico is finally back in the match and he cleans house, going for a double submission on the champs. We see the Young bucks again watching…intently. Both teams show some great double team moves until FTR is able to regain the advantage for a moment. Evans attempts a flipping leg drop but misses by longshot and goes for a moonsault instead. Jack and Dax for back and forth a moment with Dax even hitting a tiger driver. FTR wins with the superplex/splash combo. The Young Bucks are shown again, this time noticing the cameraman and decides to superkick him. Back to the ring, a graphic is shown on screen with the tag champs dressed as hotdogs. The Best Friends are out wearing shirts with the same graphic, reminding FTR that they are in fact, weenies. Chuckie T lets us know that next week, we will be seeing the Best Friends take on FTR for the titles.
Next, there is short segment with MJF talking about how much Chris Jericho means to him and he suggests that he may join in the festivities later. This is followed by another celebrity session. This time it’s Shaq, Gene Simmons, Don Callis, Lars Ulrich, and DDP.
Match #3: TNT Title Dog Collar Match Mr. Brodie Lee (C) vs. Cody
Cody is out first with the big entrance accompanied by Brandi and Arn Anderson. The Exalted One is out next with John Silver and Anna Jay. Justin Roberts starts with ring introductions, giving this a serious big fight feel. The match begins as the dog collars are secured. Brodie overpowers Cody early on. Cody manages to bust Silver open as Brodie ducks a strike. Cody goes a disaster kick but is simply yanked out of midair. Brodie gets really creative with the chain for a few spots. This leads to Cody bleeding profusely as Lee works the cut. Cody uses the chain to set up a Russian leg sweep. We go to the outside as Lee sets up a table. Cody is able to pull Brodie off of the ring apron and turns it into a Cody cutter on the floor. Back to the apron, Cody drills Brodie with a package piledriver to the outside, through a table (during a picture in picture break.) The Exalted One is bleeding buckets. Cody is fired up, whipping Brodie with the chain, even wrapping Brodie around the ring post. We get a trademark hangman’s spot with Cody dangling over the rope. Brodie pulls him back for a boss man slam. Arn Anderson tries to coach Cody from the outside as Lee launches a chair towards him. This makes Arn enter the ring. Alex Reynolds tries to cut him off but eats a big Double A spinebuster. Brodie attacks Anderson which lights a fire under Cody. Cody manages to connect a cross-rhodes but barely gets a one count. He then tries for a vertebreaker but is too weak to lift Mr. Lee. Brodie answers with a power bomb but gets the two count. Commentary does a great job of putting over that both men are completely worn out and are therefore making mistakes. Cody pays homage to his dad and his brother by landing a series of Dusty style punches and a final cut. After nearly choking out Brodie with the chain, Cody gets in another cross-rhodes for the win. After the match, Cody cuts a very Cody promo. He talks about how everyone expected him to take a darker path but, he won’t. He is still fighting for the fans. He talks about new challengers which brings out…Orange Cassidy. Looks like we are getting Cody vs. Cassidy next week for the anniversary show.
Later, it is announced that Wardlow, Colt Cabana, and Adam Page will be joining the upcoming number one contender tournament. Alex Marvez is with Kenny Omega to hear his reaction. Kenny goes into full Kenny Omega mode, rambling about tournaments he has won before and how he will get back on track and win this one, too.
Match #4 Big Swole vs. Serena Deeb
This was a fairly short match. There’s a whole lot here. Commentary frames this match as Swole’s power versus Deeb’s experience. Serena is able to pull off some really impressive pinning combinations and submissions. Swole gets the win with the rolling elbow. Swole’s streak continues.
After, Jon Moxley gives his retort to Lance Archer’s video. He references their earlier match, too. He explains that at some point, all champions lose and next week may be his time.
Main Event: Chaos Project vs. Chris Jericho and Jake Hager
After Luther and Serpentico enter the ring, there is one more celebrity segment. This time we see Lance Storm, Kevin Smith, Eli Roth, Gabriel Iglesias (with Chavo Guerrero), the band Steel Panther, Ultimo Dragon, and Paul Stanley. The guest of honor along with Hager and the rest of the Inner Circle come next to a huge ovation. Chris and Serpentico start things off. Serpentico’s speed is showcased for a while until Jericho is finally able to catch him. This leads to Luther being tagged in. Luther gets to show off a little bit and Chaos Project displays a few double team moves. Jericho gets a shot in and hits Luther with a lionsault before tagging in Hager. Hager and Luther exchange blows. Serpentico tags in and again, is able to outmaneuver the larger opponent. The snake man tries for a cross body but gets caught and slammed by Jake. After a brief back and forth, Chaos Project take out the Inner Circle with some dives. Back inside, Luther gets several moves in before getting distracted by Sammy Guevara. This allows Jericho to hit the Judas effect for the win.
After the match, Jericho begins to start talking about what it means to be in wrestling business for thirty years. He is interrupted by MJF and Wardlow. MJF congratulates Chris on his anniversary and reveals that he has a gift for the million-viewer man. Chris is presented with a clown…not just any clown but, Clownicho the clown. MJF also reveals that he has another gift, a framed picture of himself. Jericho breaks the picture over the clown’s head and nails him with a Judas effect. Chris reminds MJF that he hates clowns and that he should never interrupt him again as they square up. Jericho says that he’s kidding as the heels of AEW come down to celebrate. The show goes off the air with an SNL style ending.
Final Thoughts:
For a show built around the 30th anniversary of Chris Jericho, he kind of felt like an afterthought in places.
I really appreciated the old school vibe of the dog collar match. AEW does a nice job of bridging wrestling’s past with it’s present. That being said, I’m not sure if they should have had this on a Dynamite. This could have easily been a PPV match.
I’m excited for the AEW title match next week. I firmly believe that Lance should get the title here.
All in all, good show, and an improvement from last week.
There were a lot of references to NJPW tonight. Could the “forbidden door” be opening?
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