AEW Dynamite Review – October 4, 2023 (Dynamite’s 4th Anniversary)
Kicking off this week’s Dynamite with a backstage segment as Renee Paquette is with Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho and mentions how 4 years ago, they were on opposite sides and now tonight they are teaming up. Adam Copeland interrupts and says there should be maple syrup flowing with all the Canadians here. He tells Paquette & Jericho that it’s good to see them as Omega says it’s good to meet him and the other night he had him on the edge of his seat as they shake hands. Copeland tells them to take care of Don Callis as he still doesn’t like them before yelling 4 years, baby! Jericho, Omega & Paquette have an awkward exchange before looking into the camera even more awkwardly.
International Title Match
Rey Fenix (c) vs. Nick Jackson
Match starts off with a of back & forth as they are trading pin attempts but Rey Fenix shows a bit of his injury from WrestleDream so Nick Jackson takes advantage of by trying a sunset powerbomb on the floor that Fenix reverses out of and hits an arm drag off the apron to the outside.
Jackson whips Fenix into the barricade and they then fight in the crowd with Jackson springing off the barricade with a hurricanrana then back inside Fenix gets tripped up on the ropes as Jackson hits him with a backstabber.
Fenix escapes to the outside but Jackson misses him and kicks the post instead. Fenix trips Jackson off the apron as he lands on his head before we go to picture in picture.
After the break they are trading kicks until they both get knocked down then they start fighting on the apron before Jackson catches Fenix on the outside with a cutter then back inside, Jackson takes control until they go back into kicking each other.
They start battling on the ropes and onto the top rope where Jackson hits an avalanche cutter for a two count then we get a poisonrana and a destroyer from Jackson for another two count.
Fenix takes advantage with a pair of kicks off the ropes and a frog splash for a two count then Jackson reverses a Fenix Driver into a pin attempt but Fenix reverses that and holds on for the win.
Winner & Still International Champion: Rey Fenix (13:44) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!)
Rate: 8 (Recommend)
We see footage of Adam Cole going to visit Roderick Strong at his house, and we see a comedic montage of them racing around with the wheelchair and a scooter that Strong gifted Cole as The Kingdom looks on disgusted as the audio was garbage on this one.
Wardlow vs. Griff Garrison
Wardlow goes after Griff Garrison right away hitting 5 back 2 back powerbombs as the referee has to stop the match.
Winner By Referee Stoppage: Wardlow (1:02)
Rate: 1
Renee Paquette is backstage with Don Callis & Konosuke Takeshita as Callis says that Sammy Guevara isn’t medically cleared for tonight’s match so on the recommendation of Will Ospreay he has chosen Kyle Fletcher as his replacement. Callis sends a message to Jericho & Omega that nobody remembers who wins the battles but who wins the war and he’s going to win this one no matter what it takes.
They replay the Adam Cole & Roderick Strong segment now with the audio intact as Excalibur mentions TBS (TSN for me) having audio issues the 1st time. Strong tells Cole he needs to move some furniture for him as The Kingdom says he owes him one. Cole says he’s injured but moves a table and coach anyway while showing signs of struggle. Cole asks if they are good now as Strong says he loves what he did as it’s unique just like Cole. Cole says he’s got to get going and get surgery for his ankle but before Cole leaves Strong says he can’t go yet as he seriously needs his help.
Trios Titles Match
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) & Billy Gunn (c) vs. The Butcher, The Blade & Kip Sabian
The Butcher, The Blade & Kip Sabian attacks The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn before the bell rings and start brawling in and out of the ring until The Blade & Max Caster enter the ring to officially start the match.
Sabian takes out The Acclaimed on the outside with a moonsault off the ropes before we go to picture in picture.
After the break Anthony Bowens is attacking The Butcher, The Blade & Sabian until they hit Scissor Me Timbers Caster with Mic Drop to get the win.
Winners & Still Trios Champions: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn (5:18) (STILL CHAMPIONS!!!!)
Rate: 5
We have another RJ City & Toni Storm segment as Storm starts throwing shoes at City when he brings up the amount of time she’s been wrestling. Storm grabs City and starts yelling at him about all her concerns and how a roll of a dice could take everything away. City brings up how Storm isn’t even that old as Storm says she’s timeless.
We see Bryan Danielson & Zack Sabre Jr. after their WrestleDream match Danielson said he had to knock ZSJ out but they didn’t find out who the most technical wrestler is. Danielson says ZSJ doesn’t have the heart & soul to go out there and compete like him.
They show highlights and comments from the Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Page match before announcing next week we will get Danielson vs. Strickland in a TNT Title #1 Contenders match.
The Gunns & Juice Robinson come to the ring as Jay White is still injured from the mysterious attack from last week. Austin Gunn mocks Cole’s storytime line before they start making fun of Cole’s injury & AEW World Champion MJF’s height. They start making fun of the tofu line and say MJF jumps White because he is scared. They call MJF out and he does come out. MJF throws ass boy insults and calls Juice Robinson Talentless Taint which leads to MJF having the Stockton crowd chant both those insults. MJF talks about all the highlights he’s done in the last 4 years bringing up his matches with Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes giving children dodgeball related injuries and almost getting them kicked off the TV when he called Tony Khan a f*cking mark. MJF says they should have a Stockton Street Fight and heads to the ring to try and take on Bullet Club Gold.
As MJF has his back turned, Jay White attacks him from behind as Bullet Club Gold stands over MJF. White takes the AEW World Title and starts to leave. White gets on the mic and says the AEW World Title looks nice and right on him. White says MJF’s games don’t work here and he isn’t fooling anybody and calls him a bunch of insults and says they need a truly elite champion as MJF is not him. White challenges MJF for the AEW World Title at Full Gear on November 18th. MJF says if White wants him at Full Gear then he’s on.
Renee Paquette is with FTW Champion Hook & Orange Cassidy as Hook says they would have been great champions if they won their match at WrestleDream. Cassidy says Hook is still a champion as Hook says Cassidy should be getting the International Title shot next week instead of Jon Moxley. Cassidy mentions how long he was International Champion for compared to Moxley before they offer chips to Paquette which she declines.
Tag Team Match
Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher vs. Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho
Konosuke Takeshita & Chris Jericho start the match but Jericho takes control and quickly tags out to Kenny Omega. Jericho & Omega stay in control going into picture in picture.
After the break Jericho hits the Lionsault on Kyle Fletcher and tags out to Omega & Omega starts attacking both Fletcher & Takeshita but they both reverse out of dragon suplex’s attempts and take out Omega.
Fletcher & Takeshita start attacking Omega & Jericho in the corners with kicks before hitting a Blue Thunder Driver & Michinoku Driver at the same time for a two count.
Both teams go at it with knees and kicks until Fletcher hits a brainbuster on Omega then Jericho & Fletcher start exchanging blows from their knees to their feet and take each other down after running the ropes before we go to picture in picture again.
After the 2nd break Omega & Fletcher are trading blows after the break then both teams go at it for a while until Omega hits Fletcher with One Winged Angel for the win.
Winners: Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho (15:15)
Rate: 7
After the match Powerhouse Hobbs shows up from behind and attacks Jericho & Omega then he sends Omega over the barricade onto the chairs in the crowd. Hobbs traps Omega’s neck in between the bars of a barricade then Takeshita sends Omega back in the ring as they start taping Omega onto the ropes with duct tape and hit him with an unprotected chair shot.
Renee Paquette is in the trainer’s office with MJF as Trios Champion Max Caster shows up and starts massaging MJF’s shoulders. MJF starts yelling at Caster to stop it with all the harassment he’s been getting from him. MJF goes to call Adam Cole but it goes to voicemail which upsets MJF.
We get a video from Samoa Joe who says he’s focused and ready to be AEW World Champion and tells MJF that when he’s hungry he’s always ready to eat.
Toni Storm vs. Skye Blue
Toni Storm introduces herself to Paul Turner & Skye Blue before attacking Blue as the match officially starts. Blue dodges Storm in the corner and heads to the top rope but Storm chops her down and sends her to the outside with a hip attack.
Storm looks into the camera and pictures to commercial before promising a titty slap.
After the break Blue is in control with multiple pin attempts including hitting a superkick for a two count. Storm starts pleading with Blue as she tells her to get off of her.
Storm follows this distraction with a German suplex then asks for a close up and hits the hip attack follow by Storm Zero for the win.
Winner: Toni Storm (6:49)
Rate: 6
Tony Schiavone introduces Adam Copeland & he avoids going to the right side during his entrance then Copeland tells Schiavone he was the soundtrack to his childhood but jokingly tells him to leave the ring as it’s now his. He gets an Adam chant which he admits he’s never heard before. Copeland continues that he was told he could never wrestle again but now he’s here in AEW and talks about the reasons why he’s here and mentions the people he can wrestle like Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, Miro, Powerhouse Hobbs, Jay White & Juice Robinson. The main reason he came to AEW was because he sat down with his family and asked his 7 & 9 year old girls Lyric & Ruby what he should do and asked them if he should retire.
Lyric tells him that he should go have fun with Uncle Jay and calls out TNT Champion Christian Cage so he can tell him the real reason he’s here & after a slight delay Christian comes out, without Luchasaurus. Copeland knows Christian is questioning why he did what he did at WrestleDream but it’s quite simple as he says Christian looks more like a dick than usual. Copeland brings up how he attacked Sting and says how he used to want to be like Sting as he looked like Lex Luger. Copeland talks about his wife’s parents even loving Sting despite not being able to speak English. Copeland brings up how Nick Wayne & Luchasaurus will drop Christian like a bad habit once they suck the knowledge out of his brain but he won’t see it. Copeland says he’s here because it’s time and for the 1st time since 2011 and for the 1st time properly in over 20 years for them 2 to team together again and face teams like FTR, Young Bucks and to show a whole generation of fans how they are one of the greatest tag teams of all time. Copeland says they should show everyone what they could do and end their careers together. Christian asks for the mic and hugs Copeland but says go fuck yourself. Christian goes to leave but reminds Copeland what he has in store for next week as Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne come out and stand with Christian to stare at Copeland to close out this week’s Dynamite.
Friday’s Rampage
8 Man Tag Team Match
The Hardys (Matt & Jeff) & Best Friends (Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor) vs. Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, Jake Hager & Daniel Garica
Tag Team Match
TBS Champion Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose & Marina Shafir
ROH World Title #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way Match
Johnny TV vs. Komander vs. Lince Dorado vs. Pentagon Jr
Saturday’s Collision
AEW World Tag Team Titles Match
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (c) vs. Ricky Starks & Big Bill
Toni Storm vs. Kiera Hogan
Next Week’s Dynamite
Women’s Title Match
Saraya (c) vs. Hikaru Shida
Adam Copeland vs. Luchasaurus
TNT Title #1 Contenders Match
Bryan Danielson vs. Swerve Strickland
International Title Match
Rey Fenix (c) vs. Jon Moxley
Hangman Page vs. Jay White
Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Chris Jericho
