By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 215)
Ontario, California at Toyota Arena
Aired live November 15, 2023 on TBS
[Hour One] The Dynamite opening aired and then pyro shot off on the stage. Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Schiavone checked in on commentary and recapped the Devil Mask orchestrated attack on The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn, followed by Samoa Joe having a laugh at MJF’s expense.
Excalibur said security had been increased, but anyone associated with MJF could be a target. He noted that MJF would speak during the show and then hyped the street fight…
Ring announcer Justin Roberts handled the introductions for the opening tag team match. Hook and Orange Cassidy made standard entrances. Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta entered through the crowd and were attacked by their opponents before they could get to ringside.
1. Orange Cassidy and Hook vs. Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta. The wrestlers brawled in the crowd while the broadcast team noted that the match had not officially started. Once they entered the ring, the referee called for the bell to start the match.
Hook performed an early German suplex on Moxley, who came right back and then held Hook while Yuta kicked him. Cassidy was down on the floor selling his arm from the pre-match brawl. Moxley tagged in and then stood on the ropes and played to the crowd above Cassidy.
Hook went for Redrum, but Moxley backed into his corner and then Yuta took Hook to the floor. Cassidy returned and dive onto Yuta. Back in the ring, Hook put Moxley down with a t-bone suplex. Cassidy tagged in and jumped off the ropes and hit Moxley with a DDT on the way down.
Cassidy threw light kicks at Moxley that turned into regular kicks. Moxley came right back and held up Cassidy while Yuta hit him with a Hart Attack clothesline. Yuta tagged in and then Cassidy was isolated heading into the picture-in-picture break. [C]
Cassidy had his hands in his pockets when the dropkicked Moxley. Hook and Yuta tagged in and traded strikes. Cassidy tackled Moxley and took him to ringside, but Moxley ran Cassidy in to the barricade. Hook suplexed Yuta and then set up for his finisher.
Moxley returned to the ring and dropped Hook with a cutter. Cassidy hit Moxley with an Orange Punch. Moxley stayed on his feet and glared at Hook before kicking him out of the ring. Hook went for Redrum on Moxley, but Yuta hit Hook from the apron. Moxley hit a Death Rider on Hook. Yuta tagged in and rolled Hook into a pin for the three count…
Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta defeated Orange Cassidy and Hook in 11:25.
After the match, Moxley took the mic and said Cassidy is nothing and has never been anything. Moxley said it was time for a course correction. He said he would grind Cassidy to dust and walk out of Full Gear as the new AEW International Champion and there was nothing that Cassidy could do to stop him…
The broadcast team set up an ad from the company’s daily fantasy sports partner… [C]
Powell’s POV: Moxley didn’t sell anything for long during this match, so I guess they want him to look really strong heading into his match with Cassidy at Full Gear. The broadcast team made a big fuss over Moxley absorbing the Orange Punch.
“The Golden Dragons of Dojima” Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Kota Ibushi, and Paul Wight were shown arriving at the building while dressed in suits…
Tony Schiavone stood in the ring to host a face-to-face meeting between Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland. He said that if there was any physicality, the person responsible for it would be suspended for the remainder of the year and their Texas Death Match at Full Gear would be called off.
Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana made their entrance and then Schiavone introduced Hangman page. Page and Swerve went face to face and then Schiavone reminded them about the terms of the segment.
Schiavone started to ask Strickland how he could justify going into another man’s house, but he had the mic taken away from him. Page said Swerve is a waste of life and said he’s dumber today than when his “dumb ass got fired” two years ago.
Page said he could tell by looking at Swerve that he can’t cut it. He said that’s the reason why his fiancee left him and his kids won’t talk to him. Page said Swerve is a coward who hangs with Brian Cage and Gates of Agony.
Page said Swerve is too stupid to realize that Nana uses him. He accused Nana of buying weed from high school kids and said he would take his weed. Nana got fired up and said he would not.
Page said Swerve never should have entered his house. He said they don’t need lawyers because he will be Swerve’s judge, jury, and executioner. Page dropped the mic to end the segment, but he picked it up and said he had one more thing to say. Page noted the stipulation of their face-to-face meeting and then pointed out that it didn’t pertain to Nana.
Page attacked Nana while the broadcast team pointed out that Swerve couldn’t help him. There were security guards who ran in. Page fought the security guards and hit one of them with a Buckshot Lariat while Swerve and Nana left the ring…
Powell’s POV: Good fire from Page, but I hope we get a go-home promo from Swerve either tonight or on Friday.
Backstage, Lexi Nair spoke with Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett. Strong claimed he knew the identity of the Devil Mask mystery man. Strong called Adam Cole, who appeared on television screen. Strong claimed that MJF is the devil, but Cole didn’t believe him and ended the call.
2. Skye Blue vs. Red Velvet for a spot in the three-way for the TBS Title match at Full Gear. Both entrances were televised. Excalibur noted that Velvet beat Blue in their three previous meetings. Kris Statlander was shown watching the match on a backstage television. Blue stood on the apron and drove Velvet’s face into the mat going into a PIP break. [C]
The wrestlers went back and forth with pin attempts that was capped off by Velvet getting a two count. They stood up and it looked like they were going for simultaneous kicks, but only Velvet’s connected, yet both wrestlers sold. A short time later, Velvet avoided Code Blue, but Blue hit the Skye Fall for a near fall.
Velvet came back with a powerbomb for a near fall of her own. A light “this is awesome” chant broke out briefly. Both wrestlers ended up fighting on the ropes. Velvet called for silence and then chopped Blue. Velvet pulled Blue off the ropes using her legs and got another near fall.
Blue caught Velvet with a superkick, then ran into a superkick from Velvet. Blue caught Velvet going for another kick and then tagged her with a knee strike. Blue performed a terrible looking Code Blue and scored the pin…
Skye Blue defeated Red Velvet in roughly 10:45 to earn a spot in the three-way for the TBS Title match at Full Gear.
Blue stood in the ring while her entrance music played and they eventually showed Julia Hart watching on a backstage television…
Powell’s POV: There was a lot more good than bad during the match, but they botched the finish. They really need to end this evil mist nonsense. The fans just sit there and have no idea how to react when she does the blank look before and after her matches
A Miro video package aired. He said he stood by and let CJ Perry do whatever she wanted for years. He said she will bring the worst out of herself and it brings the worst out of him. He spoke of facing Daniel Garcia while footage aired of Garcia performing his dance in front of Perry… [C]
RJ City and Mariah May stood outside a room that had “Not Toni Storm” on the sign. City recalled telling May that he would introduce her to Storm. Luther answered the door and eventually let May enter the room, where she excitedly introduced herself. Storm got annoyed and said she was indisposed. Once May left the room, Storm told Luther to call “Mr. Khan” so that he could book her in a tuneup match on Friday. She also asked for a loofah and then Luther looked into the camera and smiled…
3. Samoa Joe vs. Jon Cruz. Joe no-sold leg kicks and then put his opponent down with a big boot to the face. Joe dominated the match and hit a lariat before putting Cruz away with the Coquina Clutch.
Samoa Joe defeated Jon Cruz in 1:35.
After the match, Joe took the mic and noted that he comes from Southern California. Joe said that since MJF was in his hood, he was once again extending his offer of friendship. Joe said MJF’s time was limited because he would find out that whether he has his friendship or not, he is Samoa Joe and he is inevitable…
Footage aired from AEW Collision of Tony Khan announcing the Continental Classic tournament and then adding that Bryan Danielson is the first entrant…
Penta El Zero Miedo and Kommander made their entrance along with Alex Abrahantes.
[Hour Two] The Young Bucks made their entrance and their parents were shown in the crowd.
4. “The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson vs. Penta El Zero Miedo and Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes). The broadcast team recapped Tony Khan’s pre-show tweet about coming to terms with “one of the world’s best wrestlers” and adding that the person would sign their contract at Full Gear. The Bucks were in offensive control heading into a PIP break. [C]
Penta and Komander rallied coming out of the break. Penta performed a dive onto both opponents. Back in the ring, he put Matt down with a sling blade clothesline and then performed another dive onto Nick. Once everyone was back in the ring, Komander jumped from the top rope and executed a double DDT. Penta hit Made in Japan on Matt for a near fall. “This is awesome” chants broke out.
Komander went up top and went for a rope walk into a flip, but Matt was waiting for him and hit him with a pair of Northern Lights suplexes. Penta ran in to break it up, but Matt hit opponents with another Northern Lights suplex. Moments later, Penta hit Nick with Fear Factor on the apron. Komander executed a huracanana on Matt and hooked his legs for a near fall.
A short time later, Matt and Penta went face to face and then traded strikes. Penta superkicked Matt, who returned the favor. They traded simultaneous kicks. Nick tagged in and superkicked Penta, who tagged out. Komander went for a springboard move, but Nick kicked him in the balls.
Nick followed up with a kick to Penta’s balls while the referee was checking on Matt. The broadcast team pointed out that the Bucks were getting booed in their hometown. The Bucks followed up with a BTE Trigger on Komander and then Matt pinned him.
“The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson defeated Penta El Zero Miedo and Komander in 12:00.
After the match, Taz said the Bucks weren’t playing by the rules and added that he liked it. Schiavone said he’s seen the Bucks bend the rules, but never kick an opponent below the belt while the referee’s head was turned. The Bucks headed up the ramp. Matt stopped and signed a shoe for a younger fan, then turned back toward the camera and shrugged his shoulders… [C]
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable spot-fest style match with a nice finish that played into the new heelish Bucks’ persona. I’m kind of surprised that they didn’t wait until they got through this series of shows in Bucks Country to turn them, but I dig that they are going for heat despite being in their hometown.
Backstage, Nair interviewed the Young Bucks and asked why they cheated in their hometown. Matt said sources were telling him that the Bucks no longer give a damn about rules or what to say or do.
Kenny Omega showed up and took issue with the what the Bucks did while noting that they did it in front of their friends and family. He asked if that’s who they want to be. Matt said look who’s talking and said that’s how Omega was most successful. Omega said they should keep it clean until the pay-per-view. Nick said something about Chris Jericho. Matt said the pay-per-view would be the last time Omega and Jericho team and then they could do The Elite thing.
Chris Jericho walked onto the set dressed in his suit. Jericho told Omega not to waste his time with “these jackasses.” Jericho said he and Omega had a match to win. They turned to leave and then Matt shoved Jericho from behind. Security quickly pulled the two teams apart…
The Gunns made their entrance with Juice Robinson…
5. Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn vs. Peter Avalon and Jacoby Watts. The Gunns went right at their opponents. They hit Watts with the 3:10 to Yuma and got the quick pin.
Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn beat Peter Avalon and Jacoby Watts in 0:23.
After the match, Robinson ran in and lifted his leg over Watts. Colten cut a promo about what they did to two men and said imagine what they will do to MJF. Austin did the tired “Gunns Up” line to close…
A Wardlow video package aired. He said he saw fear in the devil’s eyes. He said that he would make the devil his bitch. The Devil Mask figure was shown at the end of the video…
Entrances for the street fight took place…
6. Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Paul Wight, and Kota Ibushi vs. Brian Cage, Powerhouse Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita, and Kyle Fletcher in a Like a Dragon Street Fight. Don Callis sat in on commentary. The heels left the ring and fought with the babyfaces, who came out second. Jericho and Wight wore their suits, while Omega and Takeshita wore their usual gear.
Wight chokeslammed Fletcher off the stage and through a table below. Wight and Hobbs fought to the back. There were two signs for the video game sponsor on the apron. Six wrestlers brawled at ringside and they cut to a shot of Wight working over Hobbs outside the building.
Omega tried to use a barbed wire bat, but Takeshita fought him off and ran him into another sign that was on the floor. Ibushi ended up on the stage where he got on a bicycle and rode it slowly to ringside while hitting a couple of opponents with weak ass shots with a pipe. Cage clotheslined Ibushi off the bike to end that silliness.
Outside the building, Hobbs stood on a pile of wood and then bodyslammed Wight onto the hood of a car. In the ring, Takeshita battered Omega, Jericho, and Ibushi with the bike. Back outside, a referee checked on Wight and called for help. In the ring, Takeshita performed a brainbuster on Ibushi onto the bike. Takeshita came up holding his shoulder heading into a PIP break. [C]
Takeshita and Jericho were brawling in the backstage area coming out of the break. In the arena, Cage set up a couple of tables at ringside. In the ring, Cage and Fletcher double suplexed Omega onto a pallet. Fletcher wanted to hit Omega with a bottle, but Omega fought free from Cage and blocked it.
Omega picked up the bottle and eventually slammed it over Fletcher’s head. Cage turned Omega inside out with a clothesline. Takeshita was shown talking shit into the camera while Jericho was down in the concourse. Takeshita climbed onto drink refrigerators at a merch stand and jumped at Jericho, who sprayed him with a fire extinguisher.
Omega and Ibushi set up for a double team move on Cage, but they gave it up when they saw Hobbs coming. Fletcher was down at ringside and bleeding from his forehead. Cage suplexed Omega from the apron through the two tables on the floor. Omega came up holding his head. Hobbs performed a spinebuster on Ibushi heading into a PIP break. [C]
Jericho hit a Codebreaker on Hobbs. Cage hoisted up Jericho and gave him an F5. Omega clotheslined Cage. Fletcher hit Omega with a snap dragon suplex. There were a stack of chairs with one of the video game signs on top of it. Fletcher picked up Ibushi on the apron and hit him with a tombstone piledriver onto the sign and chairs, which drew “holy shit” chants.
Omega and Jericho double teamed Hobbs in the ring and then used duct tape to tie him to the top rope. Hobbs barked at Jericho, and then Jericho and Omega wrapped tape around the mouth of Hobbs. Omega slammed one fo the video game signs over the head of Hobbs.
Cage returned and put Omega down with a clothesline. Cage executed a pump-handle slam on Jericho. Cage set up for his Drill Claw finisher on Omega, who slipped away. Jericho hit Cage with a baseball bat from the floor and then Omega followed up with a Poison Rana. Omega hit Cage with a V-Trigger, then hit Hobbs with the same move. Omega hoisted up Cage and hit the One Winged Angel, which led to the three count…
Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Paul Wight, and Kota Ibushi defeated Brian Cage, Powerhouse Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita, and Kyle Fletcher in 21:00 in a Like a Dragon Street Fight.
After the match, Callis said Cage screwed the family. Omega, Jericho, and Ibushi celebrated inside the ring. Excalibur hyped MJF’s appearance for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: I hope the video game company paid well because the game related aspects added a level of campiness to the match that brought it down a notch. I’m happy Wight checked out early, but I could have done without him taking a bump onto a car given how much he seems to be ailing these days. The rest of the crew worked really hard and it was a wild garbage brawl.
Excalibur announced the following matches for Friday’s AEW Collision: Dax Harwood vs. Rush, Ruby Soho and Saraya vs. Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander, and Miro vs. Daniel Garcia.
Excalibur announced the following matches for Friday’s AEW Rampage: Renee Paquette conducts sit-down interviews with MJF and Jay White, Toni Storm vs. Emi Sakura. Excalibur said Tony Khan(!) will announce more matches…
AEW World Champion MJF made his entrance. Once in the ring, MJF said he was sorry The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn got caught in the crossfire of his life and he hopes they feel better. MJF admitted that he was afraid he could lose it all in the blink of an eye. He said he was worried that he would let the fans down, just as he did Adam Cole and The Acclaimed.
MJF said he’s afraid, but that doesn’t mean he’ll quit or give up his spot at the top of the mountain. He said he’s afraid, but it will take a whole army to take him down. MJF said Jay White has been walking around with a title that he didn’t earn. MJF said he doesn’t think White can beat him.
MJF delivered his closing line. MJF said he had a message to the man who stole his devil mask and hired goons. MJF said he would find out who that person is and when he does, there will be hell to pay.
Jay White made his entrance and was holding MJF’s title belt. White said MJF was embarrassing himself. White said MJF was trying hard to be the hero, but he’ll always be the villain. White said MJF is the devil. He said MJF isn’t the hero or the people’s scumbag. White said the fans will drop MJF because he means nothing to them, and then said the fans mean nothing to MJF.
White said MJF hasn’t changed. White said MJF knew he was speaking the truth and he also knows that his days as AEW World Champion are numbered. White said MJF knows that White is better than him. White said if you’re not down with that, he had two words for you. “Get him.”
[Overrun] Austin Gunn, Colten, Gunn, and Juice Robinson entered the ring. MJF fought them off briefly, but Robinson ended up dropping him with the Left Hand of God punch. The Gunns hit the 3:10 to Yuma on MJF. White entered the ring and picked up MJF so that he could put him down with a Bladerunner. White hooked MJF’s leg and then Robinson made a three count.
White put his foot on MJF and held up the AEW World Championship while the broadcast team hyped MJF’s two matches at Full Gear. Samoa Joe was shown watching everything play out on a backstage television. Taz said MJF may want to take up Joe on his offer…
Powell’s POV: The promo and angle felt a bit rushed, but this was still a good final heat segment for White heading into the title match at Full Gear. Overall, this was a solid go-home style episode of Dynamite. The street fight felt like it was wedged in, but they did a pretty nice job of pushing Full Gear otherwise. I will have more to say about Dynamite in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Join me for live coverage of AEW Collision and Rampage on Friday, and AEW Full Gear on Saturday.
“Moxley didn’t sell anything for long during this match”
He never sells anything for long. He’s a fucking moron.
I know Moxley believes he’s a badass, and I know the orange punch is a really stupid finishing move coming from someone as scrawny looking as Cassidy, so I get why Moxley didn’t wanna sell it.
But come on Mox, in kayfabe they’re giving THIS as the possible move that put Danielson on the shelf! At least sell it for him if nothing else!
Hats off to Hangman Page for really stepping up his promo game in the last couple of weeks. I have to disagree with the praise for the finish of the Young Bucks match, which once again featured Rick Knox turning his back on the action for no reason at all.
But he had to check on the health Meal Ticket Matt. That felt like the biggest shoot moment of the night! Yes, I’m kidding (kinda).