AEW Dynamite (June 7, 2023) came out of Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, CO. The show featured MJF Adam Cole roasting, Forbidden Door news, Bullet Club bullshit, Orange Cassidy finds a way to victory and more.
Find out all the details of Dynamite with Claire Elizabeth’s excellent play-by-play guide.
MJF toasts Adam Cole
MJF needed a challenger for the AEW World Championship, and it was Adam Cole’s turn. In her first promo battle, MJF roasted Cole. Not even Mr. BayBay is on the devil’s level.
MJF felt that no one in AEW was a competition for him. When Cole arrived at the crime scene, MJF told the story of how he discovered Cole back in ROH. After proving to be a disappointment in young Maxwell’s life, CM Punk found motivation in the work of Cole. He studied Cole’s matches and tried to follow in his footsteps. MJF boosted Cole’s career and then flushed him down the drain.
MJF made fun of this version of Cole standing in front of him. This wasn’t the same man MJF idolized. Cole switched from Panama Playboy to Panama Gameboy. MJF criticized Cole’s frail physique and agreed with Vince McMahon’s assessment that Cole lacks top-type potential.
Cole took it easy, likening MJF to a toxic social media troll. He then accused MJF of taking steroids. Cole continued to talk about how no one respects MJF. Cole eventually found a sore spot to manipulate the champion. A struggling champion would compete, but Cole portrayed MJF as someone who knew full well he was going to lose that match. MJF exploded with the feeling that he could hit Cole at any time. Cole used this statement as consent to a match. Mic Drop, Baybay.
Check out the section for yourself.
AEW announced MJF against Cole in a title eliminator next week.
The first round between MJF and Cole is over and my score goes to MJF. It wasn’t even close. I’m fully aware that opinions on this ad campaign will vary depending on how much the individual viewer sees Cole as a superstar. I’ve tried to live with Adam Cole’s experience, but he doesn’t do anything for me. MJF led this segment with the history lesson, trying to overplay Cole as a top talent. He fueled Cole with truths while Cole relied on denial, accusations, and hackneyed arguments. It’s a shame AEW caused MJF to fall for Cole’s verbal tricks. I suppose that’s how a Weasel heel should be.
With that scene over, I was most curious about when AEW would start this feud. MJF’s promo began as a path leading to an NJPW challenger. Would AEW really keep MJF away from Forbidden Door map? If not, then why juice this feud now? I wonder where it fits on the calendar. All In is too far away. They pretty much did all the talking that was needed in this promo. What more needs to be said to continue this feud longer? The way the outcome of next week’s game turns out to be revealing. It’s hard to imagine that MJF will lose unless he’s caught cheating, resulting in a disqualification.
Forbidden Door
The Forbidden Door PPV is just around the corner on June 25th. You may have missed the build if you blinked at the wrong time. AEW announced two crossover matches with NJPW. The news had already circulated on social media, but it was important to be broadcast on TV.
Bryan Danielson will wrestle Kazuchika Okada in a dream match.
On Dynamite, Blackpool Combat Club fought Best Friends and Rocky Romero as representatives of the Chaos faction led by Okada. BCC won. There didn’t seem to be any obvious storytelling that could lead to the PPV. I suppose Chaos could send some NJPW wrestlers to challenge Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta.
The other fight will be for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship when Kenny Omega defends against Will Ospreay.
Both Forbidden Door matches should be great, however the dynamite factor is pretty low for the PPV right now. Granted, the novelty of a supershow sells to a degree. I feel like AEW has veered too far in the other direction after legitimate criticism of NJPW showcases tarnishing the Dynamite product en route to Forbidden Door last year. AEW has two more weeks to bring it to the masses.
Let’s jam through the rest of Dynamite.
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy retains against Swerve Strickland. Cassidy continued with the wear and tear story. It also didn’t help that Swerve OC’s hand hit the ring post. This damage prevented Cassidy from making clean covers, such as Swerve surviving the Superman punch-to-beach break combo and being eliminated. In the end, Cassidy showed his championship ability by performing a flying double stomp. When Swerve attacked the JML driver, Cassidy was able to escape and roll over. Swerve turned to the top position and grabbed the pantyhose. Cassidy was able to break free, then grabbed Swerve’s tights to secure the winning pin.
After that, the embassy stormed to the ring. Lights off, lights on. Sting and Darby Allin were there with baseball bats. AEW announced Swerve & the Embassy against Cassidy, Allin, Sting and Keith Lee in an 8-man tag for next week.
That was a nice match to open the show. The story of Cassidy’s medical condition added drama and the ending was smooth. Cassidy found a way to win by hook or by crook. It worked here, giving Swerve a taste of his own medicine. Many assumed that Swerve’s gold win that night was a given. In my eyes, the Cassidy win makes sense. Swerve’s talent is clearly visible, but I don’t think AEW built him up enough to become a singles champion. It wouldn’t have felt special if Swerve had won here, and the end of Cassidy’s reign has to be a special moment. As it stands now, AEW has the edge when it comes to leaving us wondering who the man could be to dethrone the champion. In the meantime, enjoy Cassidy’s great run.
Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta defeated Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor and Rocky Romero. Chaos caused chaos before the bell took the fight to the Blackpool Combat Club. They almost got a quick win if Claudio hadn’t held onto the pin. BCC regained their composure and the rest of the game was hard fought. The closing sequence began with Romero flipping Moxley with the armbar. Trent tried to take out Claudio, but the ROH champ countered with an uppercut. Moxley countered the submission with a bulldog choke. Yuta hit Chuck with a dropkick and violent elbows to prevent a save. Moxley switched to a rear choke for the win as Azucar retired.
That was a surprisingly good game. Given the great talent in the ring, the quality wasn’t surprising. I was impressed how Chaos showed a real lead over the BCC. I wouldn’t say they used illegal tactics, but they definitely had some dirty moments. Even though the best friends hugged, they still brought the intensity with them. The game was about separating the pros from the amateurs. Chuck lost his focus at a crucial moment. Best friends meet Mox with a Flying Stammp Strong Zero combo. As Chuck hit the mat in anticipation of victory, Claudio ran in and broke the pin. If Chuck had his head on a swivel, they would have won. Compare that to how Yuta defeated Chuck to prevent the save on Mox’s winning assist.
And speaking of Yuta and Chuck, please give me this one-on-one fight. Yuta exploded with elbow strikes at the end and continued to do so long after the bell. There were real bad feelings in Yuta’s anger. It seemed like a hard-hitting way to set up a match.
Backstage, the Hung Bucks challenged BCC to a match next week. Danielson didn’t hesitate to accept on behalf of his friends.
Texas Tornado: Jungle Boy & Hook def. Preston Vance & Dralistico. This fight was crazy from the start. Hook shone with the top spots. He delivered a Superman hit with the chain fist to Vance and jumped off the barricade. Perro Peligroso was a bloody mess after impact.
Vance later thought he was going to retaliate with a table, but Jungle Boy hit him with a chair to save Hook. The FTW Champion’s T-Bone knocked Vance through the woods with a suplex.
Jose, the assistant, tried to falsify the result. Hook choked him in Redrum. This cleared the way for JB to push Dralistico to victory in the snare trap submission.
Damn, Hook was on fire. Despite his level of experience, he takes advantage of every opportunity AEW offers him. I’m hesitant to push it too fast, but it’s passed every test so far. Hook might just be ready to move up the map. Vance was spot on and played the bigger foil so Hook could throttle. Jungle Boy and Dralistico also did their part to make this match a real entertaining one.
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Damon Ace. Squash victory via running knee. Takeshita was drenched in boos. After that, Don Callis tried to speak but was drowned out by mockery. His point was that Kenny Omega was a cancer that needed to be removed.
This nuclear heat is amazing. I love seeing such a visceral reaction.
TBS Championship: Kris Statlander retains against Anna Jay. Daddy Magic was ringside to intervene. Anna secured the Queen Slayer chokehold, but Statlander rose to rally for the Tombstone Staker.
The champion took care of business in a solid challenge. The real intrigue was that Taya Valkyrie eyed Statlander’s success with a stinky eye as she watched on a backstage monitor.
“Switchblade” Jay White defeated Ricky Starks. Juice Robinson and FTR were banned from the ring. On the course, White raised his knee to parry a javelin. White went to deal with the Blade Runner, but Starks escaped and ran through the ropes to grab a spear. Starks wasn’t satisfied with winning like this. He wanted to rub the Roshambo on it. Success! Unfortunately, White’s feet collided with the referee. The ref was down and no one was there to count the pin for Starks. The Gunns scored the 3-10 win over Yuma. White beat the Blade Runner and won the Main Event.
It was an over the top finish that left nobody looking better as a result. I think Starks has every right to brag that the win should have been his. AEW protected White with the interference run-in. Basically, nothing has been resolved in this feud and White has failed to promote, despite taking the victories.
Remarks: Matt Hardy’s goal is to make Ethan Page a better person. Jeff Hardy wants Page to use his ego forever. I like this perspective on the contractual history of forced labor. Sure, Matt will ensure that Page becomes a maker, but there’s something hearty about the story.
Tony Khan announced the main event for Collision’s debut on June 17th. Get ready for CM Punk & FTR vs Samoa Joe & Bullet Club Gold. I’m curious to see if any kind of relationship develops between Joe and Bullet Club.
Christian Cage had Luchasaurus beat up Brock Anderson backstage. This was revenge for Arn Anderson’s interference in the TNT title fight. It’s interesting for me to see Arn’s reaction, although not so much to a rematch between Christian and Wardlow. Let’s keep Wardlow busy with new challengers.
To clinch the women’s world title at Rampage, it will be a four-way battle between Dr. Britt Baker DMD, Skye Blue, Mercedes Martinez and Nyla Rose. The outcasts will watch.
Tony Schiavone loves jokes.
Star of the show: Wheeler Yuta
elbow! Angry Elbows.
Game of the Night: Texas Tornado
Jungle Boy, Hook, Preston Vance and Dralistico had a wild time in the name of entertainment.
grade B-
This episode of “Dynamite” was pretty decent on the in-ring fun scale. The show lacked on the plot level. Aside from MJF and Adam Cole, there wasn’t much juiciness.
Share your thoughts on Dynamite. How do you rate it? What were your favorite moments from the show?
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