(AEW)
The Oct. 28 edition of AEW Dynamite was highlighted by the semi-finals of the eliminator tournament to find the number one contender for the AEW Championship.
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is etching closer and closer to its next pay-per-view Full Gear, and this week’s Dynamite was fully loaded with action.
Announced for the card was Serena Deeb defending her newly won National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Women’s Championship, Eddie Kingston against Matt Sydal, and a TNT Championship lumberjack match between Cody and Orange Cassidy.
The show also featured the semi-finals of the eliminator tournament to crown the next number one contender for the AEW Championship. The two semi-finals matches were Wardlow vs ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, and it was supposed to be Rey Fenix vs Kenny Omega, but Fenix was injured so he will be replaced by his brother Penta El Zero M.
We also saw a town hall meeting hosted by Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) and Chris Jericho to discuss the future of The Inner Circle. Excalibur also held an interview with the AEW Tag Team Champions, FTR, and their challengers for Full Gear, The Young Bucks.
As per usual, to find out how this loaded card came to be, Joseph Casciaro and Gavin Axelrod have the scoop.
Mox and Kingston feud is heating up
(AEW)
In a very brief backstage interview, Jon Moxley sent a very personal message to his Full Gear challenger, Eddie Kingston. He told him this title defence is unlike any other because this one is personal.
He also said there is no room for him in AEW, and that at Full Gear he was going to crush his ego. Then later on in the night, Kingston returned a message to the champions.
When Kingston competed against Matt Sydal, he defeated him using Moxley’s bulldog choke and would not release until Sydal said ‘I quit.’ At Full Gear, there will be a battle between two former friends, but I think both these men are going to go out there and look to seriously hurt each other.
Bucks vs FTR just got a lot more serious
(AEW)
In the interview with The Young Bucks and FTR held by Excalibur, the Bucks looked like the Bucks of old. They guaranteed the world that no matter the condition of Matt’s ankle they would be at Full Gear.
They also said that because of FTR manipulating their friends, their drive and fire was re-lit inside of them. The match at Full Gear means more to them than just the championships, and this match reflects on their whole career.
So, they said if they are not able to win the titles at Full Gear, they will never challenge for the titles again. The Bucks of the past are now a part of AEW and at Full Gear, we are in for a breath-taking match.
MJF vs Jericho at Full Gear
(AEW)
In the town hall meeting to decide if MJF would be joining The Inner Circle, I was personally very surprised by the outcome. Throughout the whole meeting, the common question was if MJF and Jericho would ever be able to coexist in one group.
This was a question that bothered Jericho as well, but it seems he’s come up with the perfect idea. At Full Gear, he said he would go one-on-one with MJF and if MJF can defeat him he will allow him to join The Inner Circle.
I like this idea, but Ortiz and Sammy Guevara of The Inner Circle certainly did not. They told MJF they do not want him in their faction, and next week they would team up against MJF and Wardlow to make sure MJF cannot make it to Full Gear.
Taz sends another message to Will Hobbs
(AEW)
Two weeks ago on Dynamite, after Brian Cage defeated Will Hobbs, Taz was impressed with Hobbs. So impressed that he offered Hobbs a spot on Team Taz alongside Cage and Ricky Starks.
Hobbs has yet to respond to this offer, and Taz let him know once again that the clock is ticking. Taz promised that if time runs out Cage and Starks would be coming after Hobbs.
Cody retained in a very cheap way
(AEW)
In the TNT Championship lumberjack match between Cody and Orange Cassidy, Cody may have retained, but it didn’t feel right. Cody was not able to retain on his own, and after over ten minutes of battle, he got some ‘unwanted’ help.
First, Dark Order stormed the ring and John Silver was able to connect on Cassidy with a pump kick. Arn Anderson then also took a shot and punched Cassidy right in the face.
Cody took advantage of this by then hitting the Cross Rhodes to get the win and retain his title. He couldn’t get the job done on his own, and that is twice now that Arn has helped Cody retain.
Cody feels like a slimy heel that is barely holding on to his title and I can only wonder what is going to happen when he meets Darby Alin at Full Gear.
AEW showcasing the wrong women’s title
(AEW)
No disrespect to Serena Deeb or her challenger Leyla Hirsch, but why is the NWA Women’s Championship being featured and not the AEW Women’s Championship. We have not seen Hikaru Shida compete in forever, and they could have done something with her here.
However, after Deeb retained her title, all we got was ten words from our AEW Women’s Champion. She said that at Full Gear she would be defending her title against Nyla Rose, and I really hope Nyla takes the title.
Shida has had one of the worst title reigns I have ever seen in wrestling history, so I hope this women’s division gets a fresh start with Nyla Rose as the champion.
Page vs Omega is finally happening
(AEW)
Tonight was the semi-finals of the eliminator tournament to find the number one contender for the AEW Championship. First, we saw ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and Wardlow deliver a spectacular match.
It would take Page an avalanche fall-away slam and two Buckshot Lariats to secure the win and advance to the final. This made everybody’s eyes look towards the main event with Kenny Omega and Penta El Zero M in the other semi-final match, people were salivating at the thought of Page vs Omega.
Omega and Penta put on a clinic, and this match had Gavin and myself on the edges of our seats the entire match. There were many times where we both really thought Penta may be able to defeat Omega.
Eventually, Omega was able to hit a V-trigger in mid-air and follow it with a One-Winged Angel to get the win and advance to the finals. That means in the finals at Full Gear it will be a battle of the former AEW Tag Team Champions and very good friends, Kenny Omega and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page.
There are so many questions surrounding this match considering their past, and both Gavin and I are wondering if The Young Bucks find their way into this feud.
Next Week: Ortiz and Sammy Guevara vs MJF and Wardlow, Miro vs Trent, Shawn Spears vs Scorpio Sky, Cody and Gunn Club vs Dark Order, and Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston will meet face-to-face before Full Gear!