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Analyzing the art of wrestling isn't that simple, it's unfair to even when especially the wrestling in question promises to start something special. We all know that wrestling is due some change, some upheaval in this past decade and it comes the way of All Elite Wrestling.
While the prematurely year old brand features a veteran class of superstars who know what they are doing, their first foray into primetime deserves the title of wrestling as an art.
As such while the première itself is critically untouchable, the rest of AEW's foray with Dynamite to change the world of wrestling deserves to be viewed.
With episode two of AEW's Dynamite, there's no need to worry. If anything the show is better than its blockbuster premiere, proving hopefully that the company can bring a change to wrestling.
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Of course, there is still, a lot to dissect about the episode, particularly how it carries forward the idea of a statistics-driven league and builds story threads from the premiere episode. So let's then just dive into night two of AEW Dynamite and see if the Elite can change the world on its own or does it need a big villain to help, with a bit of the bubbly!
#1 A Big League Upset
Round One of the AEW Tag Team Championship Tournament: The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy)
Positioned as a match between the first and last seeds of the tournament, for the most part, this one seemed like a forgone conclusion. Of course, that depends on whether fans realize the Young Bucks and AEW EVP's aren't foolish enough to build a company, just to put themselves over.
Commentary though sold this as perfectly as they could, to bring the best out of both teams in a fast and furious bout.
The Jacksons positioned as veterans facing down quicker and flashier men reminiscent of their youth, gives this contest a fascinating tale to hang on.
It also allowed the Bucks to play more psychologically sound games, particularly being their cocky jerk like selves and targeting the hurt back of Isiah Kassidy. At the same time, the fight never releases a hold with constant motion thanks to a standout Marq Quen just beating down on the Bucks.
A few sequences later, with the two sides trading the advantage sees Quen roll up and defeat the Jackson brothers for the unlikely win. With this in motion, the Young Bucks are out of the tag tournament while also putting over Private Party huge. The Boston crowds favoured chants for the underdog side, not to mention the volume at which the fans were through the contest makes it a huge win for the opening of the second night for Dynamite.
Result: Marq Quen rolls up Nick Jackson for an unlikely win as Private Party move onto the next round.
Rating:
#2 Chris Jericho makes his List
Seriously, by the time Jericho's promo came to an end I'd half expected him to name his rag-tag faction as the List. Smartly avoiding this, AEW now has the right faction to oppose the Elite in Chris Jericho's Inner Circle. It was the right faction because Chris Jericho sold it as such, proving once again why he is, in fact, AEW's greatest get and a smart choice for its first world champion.
Jericho at his smarmiest best declared the Inner Circle as a vital step he had to take against the Elite and AEW. He convincingly proved their necessity of being together, by highlighting each of his partners' worth to the viewers. From the young prodigal mind of Sammy Guevara to the street smart team that is Santana and Ortiz. Of course, Jericho lavished most of the praise to his biggest get, the stone-cold MMA giant Jake Hager. That Jericho also managed to shut down the 'We the People' chants with such efficiency, is the icing on the cake.
A promo that not only establishes the status quo head-on but keeps it simple and reminds us why Jericho is an all-time great. While at first this faction may seem thrown together, the elements within are a perfect fit for the Painmaker to mold into huge stars for AEW. A year from now, look to Hager and Guevara, making big breakthroughs.
Meanwhile, Jericho can hold down the fort, as over as he is even when rattling the crowd or sweetly giving a mention to birthday boy; Eddie Guerrero. This is a reminder that these unscripted from the heart promos are definitely much better.
#3 A Hardcore No.1 Contender
No. 1 Contender's Match for the AEW World Championship: Darby Allin vs. Jimmy Havoc
Of course, Jericho's promo overlooked two men gunning for his championship, besides Cody. So the next match had to showcase why they were capable, despite the two men's stellar if somewhat muted records. Neither Havoc or Allin have made a huge impact in this short time, especially when PAC is waiting for a shot but both staked their claim easily.
Prior to the match, Havoc delivered a maddening promo about why this match was fifteen years in the making for him. Meanwhile, Allin's brilliant draw against Cody is enough proof to highlight his credentials, despite a triple threat loss to Havoc. Jim Ross (despite some commentary hiccups) smartly questioned how the two men would fare outside a hardcore environment. For the most part, they held it through in a quick if unspectacular bout.
Havoc played it ruthless, really digging into Allin and gaining him some of the audience's voracious sympathy. AEW would do good to pace their big star sequences and let such matches open to a hot crowd, the next time.
While slightly drowned of energy, the crowds backing of Allin towards the blistering end with the coffin drop (an over move) is proof of the big star he is to become in this business. Next week he gets the biggest shot to prove it.
Result: With a Coffin Drop, Darby Allin secures a huge win and title shot
Rating:
#4 The Women's Division of All ELITE
Bea Priestley and Emi Sakura vs. Riho and Dr. Britt Baker DMD
It's a question as to where AEW is really headed with this Britt Baker's dentist gimmick. It's understandable that she is tough for giving focus full-time to two demanding careers, but does it really call for a mention every other moment. At the same time, Baker's performances are brilliantly typical for the divisions' top face, with a devastating submission finisher.
The Dentist isn't fully checked in, but her teammate and rivals are. You can't say much about Emi Sakura as the Joshi legend really strung together the contest with her hard-hitting style and mannerisms.
Hopefully, Sakura can make a bigger move in AEW, even if she isn't going full-time. Her protégé Riho, the first Women's Champion of AEW, is incredibly over with the crowd as her stellar move set gets the job done.
As mentioned, Emi Sakura built a well-gelled match but it is really Bea Priestley to watch out for. Though still finding her steps outside the Joshi elements of Stardom, Priestley shined carrying the thin thread of the story to the bout.
Her targeting of Baker, particularly during the early goings is what lost her team the edge. It is this obsession, however, that adds layers to the danger she presents in the woman's division.
Watch out for her next week as Britt Baker challenges her partner Riho for the AEW Women's Championship.
Result: Britt Baker locks in an abdominal stretch with the mandible claw to make Emi Sakura tap out and win the match for her team with Riho
Rating:
#5 Moxley makes A Dynamite Paradigm Shift!
Jon Moxley vs. Shawn Spears/with Tully Blanchard
Preceded by a Best Friends video and interview, cut short due to Shawn Spears entrance; Moxley's first Dynamite bout had a lot of moving pieces to it. Interestingly conspicuous by his absence in the number one contender's list, PAC made his presence felt here in the commentary booth. It's an intriguing wrinkle to add later to this match.
Initially, though this seemed like a dog fight between the rabid Moxley and irate Spears. Spears took to Moxley in a hard-hitting match up, highlights it is his forte in AEW despite the range to his game as proven in Japan. Blanchard's involvement is warranted, though JR calling out the referee's blatant ignorance of this, is a reminder of some kinks AEW might want to figure out.
Nothing out of the ordinary, and featuring a crowd going wild for Moxley this becomes a somewhat inconsequential good fight. The real question is how will Shawn Spears bounce back from two major losses, despite his reinvention. Some of the Perfect ten mannerisms need to go, especially if Tully is to make Spears the star he promised.
Moxley, on the other hand, ended the win with a confrontation with Kenny Omega. Not just any Omega though, one handing Moxley a barbed wire bat to combat against his barbed wire mop (the Cleaner is back!). This was of course cut short by an irate PAC, taking it to Omega for not being a No.1 contender despite a perfect record. Surprisingly Moxley sent PAC running and left Omega to recover, proving the Death Rider has a strict fighting code.
Result: Jon Moxley manages blasts Shawn Spears with a Paradigm Shift for the win!
Rating:
#6 An Inner Circle Main Event!
Inner Circle (Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara/with Jake Hager) vs. 'Hangman' Adam Page and 'The Natural' Dustin Rhodes
Commentary wonderfully placated the idea of Page and Rhodes teaming up, positioning it as a sort of successor to the tag team of Dustin Rhodes with Barry Windham. This is a particularly interesting point they returned to, positioning Page for a tag team run from where he can pick Dustin's brain and get refined in competition.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the ring is Jericho and Guevara, the former adding weight to the team and also giving Guevara some shine. The two experienced men of both teams took the fight like fire. Dustin, in particular, still able to go and raise the crowd for a huge roar in the end stretch. Meanwhile, Guevara's flashes of brilliance including some smart ring awareness kept Page down, till the hot tag to The Natural.
Hager also played his part well, managing to use Guevara's distractions to first take out Page then run wild on Dustin, allowing Jericho's Judas effect to give his team a huge win. If AEW can continue this Page/Dustin dynamic they'll manage to work around Hangman long enough to get into the main event. Meanwhile, Jericho's veteran instinct gels well with his two partners full of potential.
Result: The Inner Circle sneaks out with a hard win on Dustin and Page!
Rating:
#7 Is Darby Allin an All ELITE Performer?
Of course, the match isn't the end of the show with the Inner Circle going classic WCW by destroying Dustin and Page.
Cody would make the save only to get beaten down by the complete Inner Circle, bringing out an irate chair wielding MJF. In a genius bait and switch tactic, AEW had the crowd believing MJF is to turn only to smash the Inner Circle and celebrate arrogantly before being beaten as well.
Young Bucks would finally make the save, but no one could get to Jericho apart from his opponent next week, Darby Allin.
In a sequel to last week's big plunder brawl, not only did a refreshing tag team make Page, Hager and Guevara look good but AEW ended the night on one man having the leg up on Jericho; Darby Allin. This proves the company has its priorities straight. AEW is building to the future.
#8 Overall
AEW's second show is a surprising sequel that gets better than its predecessor. In all honesty, despite being a game-changing night, AEW's premiere wasn't a terrific show. That is for good reason, often middling premieres can give birth to stellar programs especially with wrestling as the ELITE slowly figure what is working and what is not. There is only upwards to go from here.
That proof comes with a second blast of Dynamite. With five different matches to spare, the company proves it is a renaissance for tag team competition but also has the variety to make this league count. Addressing its issues regarding the factions wars and stats head-on also means that Cody and the team are listening to the audiences.
The commentary has its kinks but with Excalibur slowly gaining form and Tony able to anchor Jim Ross, they can go to great places.
It will remain to see if AEW can support a hot crowd for every episode, so far they've given no reason for the crowd not to get invested. Credit to the fans, they keep their spirits high for two hours of wrestling that isn't reinventing the wheel but actually just doing the basics right.
Final Rating:
