By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 145)
Savannah, Georgia at Enmarket Arena
Aired live July 13, 2022 on TBS
[Hour One] Pyro shot off on the stage while Excalibur welcomed viewers to the first of four nights of Fyter Fest. Tony Schiavone and Taz were on commentary with Excalibur, and Justin Roberts was the ring announcer…
Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta, and Chuck Taylor made their entrance. A pre-tape aired with Beretta and Taylor talking about how much bigger Wardlow is and how they intended to cheat a lot. “I don’t care,” Cassidy said. Wardlow made his entrance…
1. Wardlow vs. Orange Cassidy (w/Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor) for the TNT Championship. Cassidy called for a test of strength, then put his hands in his pockets. Wardlow lunged at Cassidy and then slowly removed Cassidy’s hands from his pockets and then tore the pockets out of Cassidy’s pants.
Cassidy responded by pulling up the straps of Wardlow’s singlet over his shoulders. Cassidy went for an early head-scissors takedown, but Wardlow cartwheeled onto his feet. Beretta distracted the referee. Meanwhile, Taylor pulled out a chainsaw and slid it inside the ring. The referee caught him and then ejected Taylor and Beretta for being cheating bastards (or something).
At ringside, Wardlow hoisted up Cassidy, who slipped away. Cassidy tried to shove Wardlow into the ring post, but Wardlow stopped him. Wardlow pulled Danhausen out from underneath the ring. Danhausen thought better of cursing Wardlow and walked away.
Cassidy hit Wardlow with an Orange Punch at ringside. They returned to the ring and Cassidy went for another Orange Punch, but Wardlow caught him and gave him an overhead release belly-to-belly suplex heading into a picture in picture commercial break. [C]
Wardlow went for a powerbomb, but Cassidy countered into a DDT. Cassidy performed another DDT and went for the pin, but Wardlow kicked out immediately. Wardlow performed an F10 and then put one foot on him while posing, but Cassidy kicked out. The broadcast team said it was the first time that anyone has kicked out of the F10 in AEW.
Cassidy sent Wardlow to ringside and hit him with a clunky suicide dive. Cassidy shoved Wardlow into the ring post twice. A “fresly squeezed” chant broke out. Cassidy went to the ropes and leapt off for a DDT, but Wardlow caught him. Cassidy hit a Stundog Millionaire and two Orange Punches for a near fall. Cassidy played to the crowd and went for another Orange Punch, but Wardlow caught him, powerbombed him, and pinned him.
Wardlow defeated Orange Cassidy in 11:35 to retain the TNT Championship.
After the match, Beretta and Taylor returned to ringside. Wardlow pulled Cassidy to his feet and then motioned to the Best Friends duo to stay where they were. Wardlow put his fist out and then Cassidy bumped fists with him…
Powell’s POV: A fun match and one that I was truly surprised by when the match was first announced. I figured we’d get Wardlow plowing through Ethan Page or another heel in his first title defense, but they took a non-formula approach and I enjoyed it. The only spot that didn’t really work was the F10 kickout spot. It didn’t look very good and Wardlow has been using the Powerbomb Symphony, so I don’t think the crowd bought into the possibility of that being the finish. By the way, Jake Barnett is on vacation this week and next week, so you’re stuck with me.
Highlights aired of Pac defeating Shota Umino to retain the AEW All-Atlantic Championship at a Rev Pro event in Sheffield, England in a match that aired on last night’s AEW Dark…
Chris Jericho made his entrance dressed in a suit while “Judas” played. Jericho said he wasn’t there as The Sports Entertainer or The Wizard, he was there as Eddie Kingston’s superior. Jericho said everything Kingston does out of friendship turns to mold. He said being friends with Kingston is worse than any curse that Danhausen could conjure up.
Jericho spoke about what what he and the Jericho Appreciation Society have done to Kingston’s friends Santana, Ortiz, Bryan Danielson, and Ruby Soho. Jericho said Kingston is a mark for Terry Funk, Atsushi Onita, and Sabu, and that’s why they are having a barbed wire match. Jericho asked how many barbed wire matches that Kingston has been in. Jericho boasted that he was in his first barbed wire match when he was 22.
Jericho said Kingston won’t be facing him, he will be facing The Painmaker. Jericho pointed out that his alter ego is unbeaten in AEW. Jericho called the barbed wire match the final saga of his feud with Kingston. He said one he finishes with Kingston, he can go back to drinking, drugging, and depression, and any other excuse he has. Jericho said that if Kingston wants blood, he’ll get it. “You’re not a liar, you’re a loser,” Jericho concluded…
Powell’s POV: A good promo from Jericho. It was a nice touch to have him come out and delivered it by himself as opposed to having the rest of his faction with him. The faction is fine, but this needed to be all Jericho without any visual distractions.
The broadcast team hyped the AEW Tag Title match for later in the show and said the eliminator match was coming up next… [C]
Eddie Kingston, Ruby Soho, and Ortiz stood in front of the interview set. Kingston grumbled about how much time Jericho was given compared to him. He encouraged Jericho to bring the Painmaker persona. He pointed out the brace on Soho’s hand, Ortiz’s short hair (Jericho beat him in a hair vs. hair match), and said Jericho is going to pay and he’s going to enjoy it…
2. Interim AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Kenosuke Takeshita in an eliminator match. Both entrances were televised, and William Regal sat in on commentary for the match. Takeshita caught Moxley with an early dropkick. Moxley came back with a clothesline. Moxley followed up with a piledriver and got a two count.
Both men ended up on the apron where Takeshita performed a German suplex. Moxley recovered a short time later and ended up performing a running boot that knocked Takeshita off the apron heading into a PIP break. [C]
Takeshita was a bloody mess coming out of the break. The broadcast team attributed it to a Moxley boot to the face. Takeshita put Moxley down with a brainbuster for a two count. Takeshita followed up with a top rope splash, but Moxley put his knees up. Moxley put Takeshita in a submission hold that was broken when Takeshita reached the ropes.
Takeshita performed a Frankensteiner. Moxley ended up at ringside. Takeshita hit Moxley with a flip dive, which drew a “holy shit” chant. Back in the ring, Takeshita performed a top rope splash for a close near fall. Moxley and Takeshita threw clotheslines at one another. Moxley applied a sleeper, which Takeshita escaped and then put Moxley down with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall.
Moxley rallied and went for the Paradigm Shift, but Takeshita avoided it and got a good near fall off a suplex. Takeshita set up for a German suplex, but Moxley fought free and hit him with headbutts. Moxley performed a Paradigm Shift and then threw shots to Takeshita’s head. Moxley applied the Bulldog Choke, forcing Takeshita to tap out…
Interim AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defeated Konosuke Takeshita in 13:10 in an eliminator match.
Powell’s POV: A highly entertaining match with some strong near falls. There was a lot of online chatter that Takeshita should win this eliminator match. I strongly disagreed. As much as I enjoy his matches, it would be a bad idea to have an interim champion lose clean in a non-title match.
They raced from the match to a video package with House of Black members Malakai Black, Brody King, and Julia Hart talking about Darby Allin…
Christian Cage and Luchasaurus made their entrances onto the stage while “The Varsity Blondes” Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison were already inside the ring. Cage addressed the Blondes even though television viewers had only seen them from a long range spot from behind at this point.
Cage mocked Pillman’s mullet and said he fits right in with the Georgia fans. Cage said that like Jungle Boy, Pillman had a father. Cage said he felt that Pillman’s father was average at best, but he respected that he poured his blood, sweat, and tears into the business. Cage said Pillman’s father would be disappointed that his final contribution to the business was Pillman Jr.
Cage had a photo of Garrison appear on the big screen. He said it annoyed him for some reason. He asked Luchasaurus if his Garrison looked like Jungle Boy. Luchasaurus headed to the ring…
3. Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage) vs. Griff Garrison (w/Brian Pillman Jr.). Luchasaurus dominated Garrison. At ringside, Luchasaurus put Garrison’s face against the ring post and then kicked it. Back inside the ring, Luchasaurus chokeslammed Garrison. Cage called for another and then Luchasaurus obliged. Luchasaurus applied the Tarpit and got the win.
Luchasaurus defeated Griff Garrison in 1:30.
After the match, Luchasaurus went to ringside and was confronted by Pillman. Cage distracted Pillman and then Luchasaurus headbutted him. Luchasaurus placed Pillman on the broadcast table and the chokeslammed Garrison onto him, but the table didn’t break. Luchasaurus performed the move again and the table broke the second time…
Powell’s POV: As much as I enjoyed Cage’s first two scorched earth promos, this one felt a little repetitive and predictable. Pillman looked really bad for not going after Cage during the match, instead opting a failed attempt to get the crowd to clap along in support of Garrison.
Tony Schiavone interviewed Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard, and Angelo Parker about having to be in a shark cage next week during the barbed wire match. Menard and Parker grumbled about being stuck in another cage. Garcia said he understands why he’s being placed in a cage. He also called Wheeler Yuta a cosplay version of himself and said he would take the ROH Pure Rules Championship from him…
A video package hyped AEW All Out week with the August 31 Dynamite, the September 2 Rampage, and the September 4 pay-per-view being held in Chicago at NOW Arena… [C]
Hangman Page was interviewed backstage by Schiavone. He was quickly interrupted by John Silver and Alex Reynolds, who issued a challenge to the House of Black, calling them spooky perverts. Schiavone said it looked like they had a Rampage match…
Jim Ross made his entrance to the Oklahoma fight song and joined the broadcast team for the second hour of the show… Jake Hager made his entrance…
[Hour Two] Claudio Castagnoli made his entrance with William Regal, who went right back to the broadcast table…
4. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jake Hager. Hager performed a Hager Bomb a few minutes into the match and got a two count heading into another PIP break. [C] Castagnoli dropped Hager with a springboard spinning uppercut.
Castagnoli hit running uppercuts in the corner and then dropkicked Hager, who rolled to the floor. Castagnoli followed and hit him with another running uppercut against the barricade. Back inside the ring, Castagnoli performed The Swing and then put Hager in a Sharpshooter, which Excalibur labeled the Scorpion Death Lock.
Matt Menard and Angelo Parker ran out and distracted Castagnoli, who released the hold. Hager put Castagnoli down with a uranage slam for a near fall. Hager followed up with an ankle lock. Castagnoli kicked his way out of it, suplexed Hager, and then reapplied the Scorpion Death Lock.
Parker climbed onto the apron and Castagnoli released the hold and knocked him down. Castagnoli hit a popup uppercut on Hager. Castagnoli followed up with a sit-out powerbomb and then pinned Hager…
Claudio Castagnoli defeated Jake Hager in 11:35.
Powell’s POV: I guess they can’t say Sharpshooter? A solid match between the former WWE on-air allies. The crowd was into the match, but they didn’t go as crazy as I would have anticipated for Castagnoli afterward.
Hook was interviewed in a stairwell by Lexi Nair, who noted that he has an undefeated record and asked if a title match would be in his future. Hook walked away without saying anything… [C]
Footage aired of Miyu Yamushita defeating Thunder Rosa in an eliminator match in Japan in a match that aired on AEW Dark…
Thunder Rosa and Toni Storm were interviewed by Schiavone in the backstage area. Rosa called the match with Yamashita a banger. She said she was sad that she didn’t get the win in Japan, but she said Yamashita is coming to the United States to get a title shot. Rosa changed the topic to her Thunderstorm tag team.
Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter showed up and told lame thunderstorm jokes. They said they know how to handle the damage that thunderstorms create. Rebel showed up and with a sandbag, which was handed to Schiavone. Baker said to try carrying her for a month…
Powell’s POV: I guess this is funny to the online fans who know about Rosa being accused of sandbagging, but I wonder what casual viewers thought about it. Either way, the joke felt a couple weeks late.
5. Serena Deeb vs. Anna Jay. Both entrances were televised. The broadcast team noted that they were in Jay’s home area and she had family in the crowd. Deeb applied an early submission hold. Jay rolled onto Deeb to break the hod. Jay went for the Queen Slayer, but Deeb made it to the ropes and clotheslined Jay over the top rope. Deeb performed a neckbreaker for a two count heading into a PIP break. [C]
Jay went for the Queen Slayer again, but Deeb escaped. A short time later, Deeb spun around Jay several times in what appeared to be a setup for a backslide, but she went for a piledriver instead. Jay performed a backdrop and fell onto Deeb’s face.
A short time later, Jay caught Deeb in the Queen Slayer. Deeb once again broke the hold and rolled Jay into the Serenity Lock for the win…
Serena Deeb defeated Anna Jay in roughly 7:00.
After the match, ROH Women’s Champion Mercedes Martinez ran out and pulled Deeb off of Jay. Martinez tossed Deeb to ringside…
TBS Champion Jade Cargill, Kiera Hogan, Stokely Hathaway, and “Interim Baddie” Leila Grey. Cargill told Grey to fetch some water. Hathaway told Cargill and Hogan to trust him, then said they would be watching Kris Statlander and Athena on Rampage…
Excalibur hyped previously advertised matches and segments for Friday’s AEW Rampage, the barbed wire match for next week’s Dynamite, and previously advertised matches for the ROH Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view on July 23…
Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh crashed the set. Lethal spoke into a headset about his match with Samoa Joe. Once he left, Excalibur hyped the AEW Tag Title match as coming up next… [C]
Excalibur announced The Varsity Blondes vs. Christian Cage and Luchasaurus, and Brody King vs. Darby Allin for next week’s Dynamite…
Anna Jay was backstage holding her knee on a trainer’s table when Schiavone attempted to speak to her. Tay Conti showed up and mocked her. Jay said at least she didn’t slam Ruby Soho’s hand in a car door. Conti said maybe she should have because then she would be on television a little bit more. Conti said she likes Jay, but she needs to make better choices for her career. Conti told her to think about it…
Entrances for the main event took place. Justin Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the title match…
6. “The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson (w/Brandon Cutler) vs. Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland vs. Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs in a three-way for the AEW Tag Titles. Rick Knox was the referee, which Ross indicated is typically the case for most Bucks’ matches. Two men were allowed in the ring at once (at least in theory).
Nick and Strickland had a fairly even exchange to start. Starks was tagged in. Nick and Starks both walked the ropes and met in the middle, slapped one another, and then crotched themselves in a comedy spot. Matt checked in and failed to suplex Lee and then Lee and Hobbs, who squared off briefly.
Ross spoke about the depth in the tag division and said there’s no team in the world that’s hotter than FTR. Meanwhile, Matt set up for a superkick on Strickland, but Starks tagged himself in before Matt could execute the move. Hobbs whipped Strickland toward Starks, who dropkicked him heading into a PIP break. [C]
Later, Hobbs held up Nick in electric chair position and tagged in Starks, who walked the rope and performed a cutter, which led to a near fall. Matt and Strickland tagged in. Nick made a blind tag.
Matt threw a superkick that Strickland ducked, but Nick immediately hit him with another. The Bucks and Starks threw superkicks at Lee, who dropped to one knee, so they teamed up an hit a triple superkick.
The Bucks immediately blasted Starks with a double superkick. Hobbs crashed into the referee in the corner. Ref bump!!! The Bucks got one of the tag title belts, which Starks ended up taking away. Strickland kicked Starks and took the title belt. Strickland looked at his own partner and ended up tossing the belt aside.
Matt low-blowed Strickland and then hit him and others with the belt. Matt covered Strickland for a two count. The Bucks hit Strickland with the BTE Trigger and then Matt covered him, but Starks broke up the pin.
The Bucks set up for a Meltzer Driver, but Lee caught Nick. Moments later, Strickland and Lee hit their powerbomb and double stomp combo move on Matt and had him pinned, but Hobbs and Starks broke it up.
Hobbs performed spinebusters on all four opponents in a row. Starks tagged in and worked over Strickland and got a two count even though the broadcast team had just stated that Matt Jackson was the other legal man (who knows at this point?).
Lee stuffed a Matt superkick and ended up with his shoe, which he hit both Bucks with and cleared them from the ring. Lee also dumped Hobbs over the top rope. Starks hit Lee, who awkwardly tumbled through the ropes. Lee headbutted Starks.
[Overrun] Starks used Lee as a base by flipping off of him and onto opponents at ringside. Lee performed a flip dive multiple opponents. In the ring, Strickland performed a double stomp onto Starks and pinned him.
Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland defeated Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs and “The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson in a three-way in 18:10 to win the AEW Tag Titles.
Confetti shot off. Knox raised the arms of the new champions and then the show went off the air…
Powell’s POV: A chaotic main event, as you had to know it would be. The tag title change was a surprise since everything seemed to be pointing to a Young Bucks vs. FTR showdown match with title belts from multiple companies on the line. I suppose they could tell a story that the legal man wasn’t pinned, but good luck figuring out who the legal men actually were in this match. My guess is the title change sticks and we have champions in Lee and Strickland whose characters are not always on the same page.
Overall, a good show with a nice variety of match styles and a surprising tag title change to close. I will have more to say in my weekly same night AEW Dynamite audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons).
I agree Takeshita shouldn’t have beaten Moxley, but I want them to stop the “look how valiant in defeat he was” matches now and give the guy some wins on TV.
Overall this was an enjoyable show. Jericho was excellent here. I am not sure what Oddities-era Kurrgan will think about Adam Page stealing his t-shirt.