Welcome, everyone to the latest edition of #MouthingOff (with MikeJC): Dynamite Weekly, the weekly review feature on AEW Dynamite here on SLTDWrestling.com. Back after two weeks off for WrestleMania, I will be giving my thoughts and opinions on all the highlights of the show as well as giving the “Remarkable Wrestler” of the week. So here are the highlights of the Wednesday, April 21st edition of AEW Dynamite.
Ricky Starks vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
Dynamite kicked off with a pretty good match, I enjoyed it very much. I also enjoyed commentary doing their job and making this match matter like they are supposed. They put over that both men have good records in singles action and why this match matters towards the futures of both guys. There was a spot in particular, where Page did a pumphandle fall away slam into a pin, and Starks didn’t kick out he slapped Page, and Taz explained that since the opportunity presented itself Starks didn’t have exert himself and expend energy by kicking out. That attention to detail and that being exactly what a color commentator is supposed to do is so refreshing.
As for this match as a whole, I really enjoyed it as I mentioned. Both guys have so much potential and bright futures in this business. They had great chemistry and showed throughout. There was one spot that was concerning where Starks tried to flip out of a suplex and land on his feet but he landed on his neck but still landed on his feet. He looked a little shaken after that and did hold his neck at one point but he did finish the match and turned it up at the latter part of it, hopefully he is okay. Page would later get the upper hand back, and close out the match with a choke/ankle lock combo for the tap out victory. That was a nice surprise as we don’t see submissions out of Page really ever.
Post match Taz would get on the mic and tell Page to watch his back, which would lead to Hook hitting a chop block and then Page getting double teamed by Hook and Starks, then Brian Cage would come out to continue the attack but before anything could happen the Dark Order would make the save.
Segment Rating: 6.25/10
This was a very good match and I like Team Taz moving on to something different, I was hoping they don’t plan to only feud with Christian but I guess they will be feuding with Dark Order and Hangman a little more which is good for everyone involved. I’m excited to see Page versus Brian Cage which I’m sure will happen in the near future after this one. I’m excited to see what combination of Dark Order gets to shine against them. Should all be good.
Trent? vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
The next match furthered the story between Death Triangle and The Best Friends. While also established Alex Abrahantes as a legitimate second and not just a translator and I like it a lot because it just makes sense. Also I love that Justin Roberts announced Trent? with the question mark that was comical to me and I love the touch. This was a hell of a match that showcased both guys. They traded big moves, Trent? hit a big piledriver on the apron which they made look nasty. The part I didn’t like Alex getting on the mic during the match telling Trent? that Penta said The Best Friends and Trent’s mom sucks, then Trent? got mad of course and chased Abrahantes into the ring which set up Orange Cassidy going to put his hands in his pockets behind him only for Penta to cut it off by kicking Cassidy in the back of the head, then Trent? receives a package piledriver as Penta picks up the pinfall victory.
Segment Rating: 6.5/10
This was a great match with a distraction ending that I felt hindered it a little. It was still a better match then the opener from a wrestling standpoint but the finish kept it from being an amazing match. I’m very excited to see there things between the Best Friends and Death Triangle go from here, this could be another great series of matches.
Pinnacle Interview
We then go to a backstage interview with Jim Ross interviewing The Pinnacle, Tully Blanchard was not present, and Shawn Spears & FTR didn’t speak at all which didn’t help. However, this was good to give Wardlow a chance to talk as well as showcase MJF in what he does best. Since forming The Pinnacle, MJF’s promos have just been on another level.
Wardlow mentioned how Jim Ross called Jericho’s promo last week was an Immortal promo, but when he mentioned Wardlow he stumbled his words because he knew when he did that he was making a mistake. MJF mentions how Jericho hangs around with a bunch of B’s so he looks like an A, and wrestling a bunch of A’s so he feels like one, but Jericho is a B in MJF’s book. I loved that line, he also mentions how Jericho has outsmarted everyone, until he met MJF.
MJF continued by discussing how everyone says he’s great for 25, but calls it horse-sh*t because he’s just great in general, and Jericho was jerking curtains for no name companies when he was 25. He talks about how he already beat Jericho, and wonders where that puts him on the totem pole, then says his catchphrase.
He talks about how Mike Tyson put his hands on The Pinnacle, and he didn’t like that and how Jericho called MJF a mark for Jericho, but MJF isn’t a mark for Jericho he’s a mark for Jericho’s spot. Another great line that I loved. He promises that his family will take Jericho’s spot on May 5th, because “When Your in The Pinnacle You’re Always On Top”.
Segment Rating: 6.25/10
I absolutely loved this promo as it was one of MJF’s best and it also gave Wardlow a little chance to talk and what he said meant a lot and added to it. I didn’t like how FTR & Spears didn’t say anything and just sat there, they should’ve added something to the promo about Guevara, Santana & Ortiz, or Jake Hager, that was the only thing missing here, but either way it was great. This was one of the best MJF promos ever I encourage people to watch it.
AEW Women’s Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Tay Conti
If you had told me a few months ago that AEW would have a women’s division that is not only great but better then most wrestling promotions I would have told you you’re crazy. This was a great match, how good both of these ladies are can’t be understated. Tay Conti has improved as wrestler on an insurmountable level. They were trading strikes and they all looked crisp, they all looked good. Tay Conti just proved that she’s not only a good worker, but she’s a good wrestler. Something she never got to do in the other company. Shida did it again as we all expected and she is always good.
AEW made this match feel like a big match and made me look forward to seeing it. That’s what you’re supposed to do, all championship matches are supposed to feel important because that’s what you’re supposed to care about. Shida got the victory as we expected she would and after the match Britt Baker came out and revealed she is the number one ranked woman in the division following Conti’s loss, and I can’t wait for Britt to get her shot.
Segment Rating: 5.75/10
You what I loved the best about this match, Tay Conti didn’t look bad for losing in fact she came off as a star in the ring by giving her all out there which is what you’re supposed to do. Shida has been a great champion and continues to prove it every time she defends the title but we’ve known for a while it’s Britt Baker’s time and I can’t wait.
Inner Circle Interview
Normally I would put the two promos of these groups together but I couldn’t do that this week because the difference in quality were just to drastic for me to do that. This promo was bad. There was only one good thing about it and that was what Santana had to say he was good, everything else was bad. Hager threw straws around and said The Pinnacle would need them to eat, Jericho came off bad by saying MJF’s promo doesn’t make him feel anything and that there’s no substance to MJF’s promos. When that couldn’t be farther from the truth. He made up a song badly making fun of Pinnacle, that was really bad because he forgot the words.
Santana says Pinnacle waits to have a crew behind them to step up, but from where they come from, they call that “bitch moves.” and they’ve seen the color of their blood, but on May 5th they’re gonna see the size of their heart. This was the only thing I liked of this segment.
Jericho continued and said the two groups will meet in the ring next week for a Parlay to go over the battle plans and that the worst is yet to come.
Segment Rating: 4/10
This was really bad, I don’t what the Inner Circle is doing here, they are trying to come off as cool good guys now after we spent a year and half being told we’re supposed to hate them and it just isn’t working. I don’t want to like Inner Circle after this segment I want to see them lose for being dumb here. Jake Hager is bad, I can’t excuse this promo because it’s Jericho, I can’t pretend that just because Jericho said it that MJF’s promo was bad because we all know it wasn’t. This isn’t working, it isn’t good.
Billy Gunn vs. QT Marshall
I want to care about the younger talent of The Factory, but I just can’t get behind QT Marshall, I don’t need to see him wrestle, I don’t need to see him or Billy Gunn having matches on Dynamite, this match isn’t for me. To be fair I don’t know who it’s for. There’s not a lot to talk about as far as the match goes Aaron Solow and Nick Comoroto came out with Marshall and Billy attacked them before the match. Colton and Austin Gunn came in to help their dad while Comoroto was getting involved.
Anthony Ogogo came out during the match and punched Billy in the gut leading to a cutter by Marshall for the victory. After the match Marshall pulls out a wooden chair and went to use it on Gunn but Dustin Rhodes made the save. Comoroto came in after Dustin took out Marshall and Dustin took the chair and broke it over the head of Comoroto but it had no affect and then referees came out and broke it up.
Segment Rating 3.75/10
This was not a Dynamite match, I didn’t need this at all. QT should be the manager of the younger guys, showcase them, not QT it’s not necessary. I also don’t need Billy Gunn in singles matches in 2021, that’s unnecessary as well. I want to care about this because Comoroto and Solow are very good, and Ogogo can be, so they should be continuously showcased not QT.
Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Christian Cage
This match surprised me, it probably shouldn’t have because Christian is that good but this being only his second singles match with someone he’s never worked was really impressive to me. Christian once again worked from behind in the beginning and Hobbs was in control for the first half of the match. Christian had quickness that he used to his advantage to get the upper hand, powerbombing Hobbs off the top rope and hitting a big frog splash for a near fall.
Christian fights back in after a pounce by Hobbs and locks in a sleeper to ware down Hobbs and then hits a Killswitch off of the sleeper for the big victory. After the match Starks came out and had a little stare down with Christian potentially setting up a match between the two.
Segment Rating: 5.5/10
This was a fine match and showcased both guys. Christian got the win in his second singles match since coming to AEW and he did a great job fighting back from Hobbs being in control early. Hobbs is good he has a bright future as well. I look forward to Christian continuing to winning matches and building momentum. Him versus Starks should be good when it happens. I just really enjoyed the work of this match.
TNT Championship: Darby Allin (c) vs. Jungle Boy
This was such a good match. These two work great together, and I don’t remember seeing them in singles competition before. These two left it all out in the ring and I loved it. Jungle Boy gets better and better, and Darby can seemingly work well with anyone. The action here was fast paced, and hard hitting. Jungle Boy doing three straight dives to the outside showed off his stamina and athletic ability. Darby followed that up by hitting a Coffin Drop on Jungle Boy on the apron.
Luchasaurus gets involved and helps Jungle Boy back into the ring after this and Sting doesn’t like that and they fight to the back. Back in the ring and the match shifts a mat based contest as Jungle Boy focuses heavily on trying to lock in the snare trap. He locks it in twice but Darby gets to the ropes each time, also at one point raking the eyes to get out of it. The finish comes when Jungle Boy goes for a sunset flip but Darby reverses it into the Last Supper pin for the three count victory.
As soon as the match ends Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page attack both guys and Lance Archer comes out to take them out but the numbers advantage becomes too much, until Sting returns with the bat and they leave as the show goes off the air.
Segment Rating: 7/10
This was such a good match, they left it all out in the ring and killed it. I loved it and just love these two talents as their futures are very bright in this business and Jungle Boy’s time with that belt will come, it wasn’t the right time for him. I also love Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky getting involved after, those guys are so good too and it seems they are both targeting Darby and his championship. I could do without Sting physically getting involved every week, and brawls breaking out every week, none of that is necessary at all. We’ll see what the future holds for all these talents. The Lance Archer element to this is odd to me at one point it felt like Archer and Sting would be fighting, now Sting is saving him and showing respect, I don’t get it, and I don’t know what they are doing their at all.
Remarkable Wrestler of the Week
For this episode of AEW Dyanmite, the Remarkable Wrestler of the Week is Tay Conti
I’m giving Conti the RWOW this week because even in a loss she did everything in her power to put on a show and came off as a star by doing it, even in a loss. I look forward to continue to see her improve and that’s why I’m giving it to her.
Overall
There was a lot of great wrestling on this show, it was a really good one, also everything for the most part made sense and they made me care about it, overall I give this episode at 5.6 out of 10. Great title matches, great showcase matches, great MJF promo, a lot to be desired here, and the good outweighed the bad.
What are your thoughts on AEW Dynamite? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @SLTDWrestling.
Follow Mouthing Off: @MikeJC821
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