AEW Results & Review (7/20/22): AEW Star Returns
AEW Dynamite was set to be a violent show. It was filled with a couple of grudge matches and a barbed wire everywhere death match. This was the first show of Week 2 of Fyter Fest. Fyter Fest is a two-week event with four total shows. It is essentially a pay-per-view caliber show being put on during the weekly show slots. AEW Dynamite built up a lot of hype for this show, but it fell short in the end. In case you missed it, this is everything that happened on AEW Dynamite.
Brody King (of House of Black) vs Darby Allin
King and Allin finally had the chance to fight each other one-on-one. These are two men who absolutely do not like each other. Their rivalry dates back before AEW but has been rekindled recently. Brody King eliminated Allin from the Royal Rampage match about a month ago, but he wasn’t done there. He attacked Allin at an autograph signing event a couple of weeks ago. Allin got his revenge by attacking King on AEW Rampage last week, after King’s match. After that, the match was made official. The match was as physical as you could expect. King was in control for most of the match because of his size advantage. The two fought all around the ring, trying to inflict the most pain on the other. Allin had a few flurries of offense but it wasn’t enough to overcome the brute strength of King.
After the match, King attacked Allin again by putting him in a chokehold. Out came Darby Allin’s friend and mentor, Sting. Sting walked down to the ring and attacked King. During the attack, the lights went out, and when they came back on, Malakai Black was standing face-to-face with Sting. King grabbed Sting from behind and Black spit his black mist in the face of Sting. After that, Miro came out. He was sunglasses that were two different colors. Prior to this, Miro was contemplating if he should join or fight the House of Black. Miro didn’t do anything besides just staring at King and Black.
Winner: Brody King (of House of Black)
Review
The match was pretty entertaining. It is always fun to watch two people who simply don’t like each other fight. Not to mention, the size difference between these two elevated the match. With Black spitting the black mist in the face of Sting, I’m curious to see if Sting will join the House of Black. Miro coming down wearing sunglasses that were two different colors was intriguing. It is unknown if he will join the House of Black or not, but I’m excited to watch it unfold.
Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta (of Best Friends) vs Jon Moxley (c) & Wheeler Yuta (c) (of Blackpool Combat Club)
Taylor and Beretta were set to take on members of the Blackpool Combat Club, Jon Moxley, and Wheeler Yuta. Moxley and Yuta are both champions in their own rights. Moxley is the interim AEW World Champion and Yuta is the ROH Pure Champion. Blackpool Combat Club have proven that they are one of the best factions in all of professional wrestling. Beretta and Taylor were looking to score a huge win that could get them back on the right track. Yuta is a former member of Best Friends. Chuck Taylor recruited him while Trent Beretta was sidelined with an injury. Beretta and Yuta never got along, once Beretta returned. Orange Cassidy and William Regal joined the commentary team for the match.
The match was pretty hard-hitting, as most Blackpool Combat Club matches are. Moxley and Yuta showed they can work together even though they are primarily singles competitors. It was pretty even for the most part, but Blackpool Combat Club proved their dominance yet again, by picking up the victory.
Winner: Jon Moxley (c) & Wheeler Yuta (c) (of Blackpool Combat Club)
Review
Blackpool Combat Club is one of my favorite factions right now. I really enjoyed this match because Best Friends got in some solid offense. Usually, Blackpool CombatClub just dominates most of their matches, so it was nice to see the opposing team get their fair share of offense in. The match felt personal, which it should have. Yuta being a former member of Best Friends and Beretta not liking him, this one was a classic grudge match. It will be interesting to see where both teams go from here.
Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland Tag Team Championship Celebration
Lee and Strickland were in the ring celebrating their tag team championship win. World famous rapper, Kevin Gates was ringside for the celebration. Lee was thanking all of the fans for their assistance in helping them gain the tag team titles. Shortly after Lee’s promo, Mark Sterling and Tony Nese came out. Nese and Sterling have been trying to get a petition signed to ban Swerve Strickland from the AEW roster. Sterling tried to get Kevin Gates, who is friends with Strickland, to sign the petition.
After Gates refused to sign the petition, Sterling told him his music sucks. Gates then walked up to Sterling and Nese and got in Nese’s face. Gates punched Nese right in the jaw and Strickland threw a cake in the face of Sterling.
Review
As far as celebrations go, this one was a bit underwhelming. All there were was two glasses, a bottle of champagne and a cake which was ringside. There were no decorations or anything that has to do with a celebration. That being said, I still did enjoy the segment. I thought it delivered everything it should have, besides feeling like a celebration. I like Lee and Strickland as a team, so I hope they get a long run as champions.
John Silver & Alex Reynolds Backstage
John Silver and Alex Reynolds were backstage. They mocked the Butcher and the Blade, until the Butcher and the Blade had enough. They attacked Silver and Reynolds until Hangman Page came to the rescue. The Butcher and the Blade are now facing off against John Silver and Hangman Page on AEW Rampage.
Varsity Blonds (Griff Garrison & Brian Pillman Jr.) vs Christian Cage & Luchasaurus
Cage has been on a run of cutting extremely personal promos on AEW Dynamite ever since he turned on Jungle Boy. He recruited Luchasaurus to join him and the two have been causing chaos every week. Last week, their attacks were on Pillman Jr. and Garrison. Luchasaurus had a match with Garrison because he looked like Jungle Boy. Pillman Jr. and Garrison have a chance to get revenge with this match. Luchasaurus and Cage, well just Luchasaurus, made quick work of the Varsity Blonds. Luchasaurus was in the match for the entire beatdown until Cage demanded he tags him in so Cage can score the pin.
Jungle Boy, who we have not seen since Cage trend on him, made his return. He had a fierce look in his eyes and calmly walked down to the ring. Luchasaurus stood guard outside the ring and when Jungle Boy got to him, Luchasaurus aligned himself with Jungle Boy. Showing that it was all a part of a plan for him to join Cage. Cage made a run for it and Jungle Boy chased him throughout the arena.
Winner: Christian Cage & Luchasaurus
Review
Although I’m sad to see Luchasaurus become a good dinosaur again, I am happy to see him back with Jungle Boy. I couldn’t figure out when Jungle Boy was going to return, but I think it was done nicely. The match between Jungle Boy and Cage hasn’t been made official yet, so I expect we are going to get it at All Out in September.
*FTW Championship Open Challenge*
Cole Karter vs Ricky Starks (c)
It was announced on Twitter a couple of hours prior to the show, that Starks was going to hold an open challenge for the FTW title on AEW Dynamite. Cole Karter, who is formerly known as Troy “Two-Dimes” Donovan, is a former NXT wrestler. He was killed off of NXT television since he was released from the company. Karter had a shot to claim gold and put his name on the map. Although Karter got in some offense, it always felt like Starks was in full control. Starks went on to pick up the victory and after the match, he grabbed a mic. Starks told everyone he still had more left in the tank and issued another open challenge. Danhausen answered the call and was looking for his shot. Starks claimed he didn’t mean right then and there and that next week, Danhausen will get his shot.
Winner: Ricky Starks (c)
Review
I thought the match was about as good as it could have been. Starks is one of my favorite wrestlers currently and one of the most underrated wrestlers on the planet. I wish this would have been a squash match for him, but he was in control for the most part. I like the idea of him taking on Danhausen for the FTW title. Whoever wins that match, I think HOOK is next in line for the title.
We Hear From FTR
FTR was in the ring getting interviewed by Tony Schiavone on AEW Dynamite. They were promoting their match against the Briscoes, which takes place this Saturday at ROH Death Before Dishonor. Both Wheeler and Hardwood cut an emotional promo. If you weren’t excited about the match before this, now you are. FTR once again proved they are the best tag team in the world.
Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh Backstage
Lethal, Dutt, and Singh were backstage at AEW Dynamite promoting Lethal’s match against Samoa Joe at ROH Death Before Dishonor. He was taking shots at Joe, until Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe’s best friend, interrupted them. Lethal is now facing Daniels this Friday on AEW Rampage.
Athena & Willow Nightingale vs Jade Cargill (c) & Kiera Hogan
This match was originally supposed to be a six-women match with Kris Statlander and Leila Grey involved. AEW didn’t say why Grey couldn’t wrestle, but it turned into a tag team match. Statlander and Athena have been chasing Cargill down for the last couple of weeks. They wanted a shot at her TBS Championship. Prior to the match, Athena told Statlander she should go after the AEW Women’s Championship and that she will go after the TBS championship. The match went back and forth for the most part. Both teams got in some solid offense. Athena and Nightingale looked strong as a team and Cargill asserted her dominance. Athena and Nightingale’s effort wasn’t enough to score the victory.
Winner: Kiera Hogan & Jade Cargill (c)
Review
The match was pretty good. I wasn’t too interested in it prior, but I was happy after I watched it. I think all four women did a great job and put on a great match. Athena showed that she can hang with Cargill. She proved that she is a threat to the TBS Championship. Hopefully, we will get Athena vs Cargill at All Out and Statlander vs Thunder Rosa as well.
*Barbed Wire Everywhere Death Match*
Chris Jericho vs Eddie Kingston
This is being advertised as the last match between Kingston and Jericho for their feud. These men have been having their issues with each other for months. Kingston wanted to make Jericho bleed as a form of revenge for all of the pain he has caused him. Jericho was the only one who wasn’t bleeding at the AEW Dynamite Blood & Guts show and Kingston didn’t like that. The two faced off in a barbed wire everywhere death match with the Jericho Appreciation Society suspended in a shark cage above the ring. Barbed wire was wrapped around most things, even the announcer’s microphone.
Barbed wire was between the ropes and there were items outside of the ring that was wrapped in barbed wire. Kingston took the fight to Jericho by hitting him with the barbed wire-covered mic before the bell. The match quickly started and Kingston was on top early. Kingston was in control to start the match putting Jericho through pain-inducing move after move. Jericho got in some offense late, but out came Tay Conti. Conti attacked Ruby Soho who was in charge of the mechanics for the shark cage. During that attack, Anna Jay came out. Jay attacked Soho too which was a heel turn. Conti had a key for the shark and the Jericho Appreciation Society was freed. They all attacked Kingston until Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Ortiz came down to even the odds.
Kingston and Jericho went back and forth with moves until Sammy Guevara came out to help Jericho. He attacked Kingston and helped Jericho hit the Judas effect with his arm wrapped in barbed wire, ultimately giving Jericho the win.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Review
AEW Dynamite had a lot of hype built up for it, especially this match. It was the final match between two men who absolutely hate each other. I think as a whole it was underwhelming. AEW does a good job at putting on death matches, but this one lacked. Yes, there was barbed wire around most things, I was expecting more. There were only a couple of spots that I can remember that were crazy. There were a bunch of botches in the end as well, including Tay Conti failing to unlock the shark cage. I really think Kingston needed this victory and I don’t understand why Jericho won. I think all around, this match underdelivered and did not live up to its expectations.
