AEW Dynamite opened this week with MJF versus Rush. The two started quickly and intensely with a brawl-style match. It continued, and both men got some work in. It became very stiff as the two battled along the outside. Rush seemed to have the better of MJF, slamming him into multiple barricades before using a camera cable as a weapon. Once back in the ring, MJF made a comeback. After a great match, the finish felt a little lackluster. Otherwise, they still put on a great match. MJF won after hitting a brainbuster.
MJF is UNLOADING!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@The_MJF | @RushToroBlanco pic.twitter.com/A5TGt5uNF6
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 20, 2024
The World Champion and the International Champion met in the ring for the next segment in anticipation of their upcoming match at Forbidden Door. The promos were very personal, but nothing ever came of them.
"Don't make this personal, bruv."
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@SwerveConfident | @WillOspreay pic.twitter.com/m0MdQ3eFnN
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 20, 2024
The next match was an eight-man all-star tag team match. Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, Orange Cassidy, and Dante Martin would take on Roderick Strong, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, and Zack Sabre Jr. If you like pace and high spots, this was a great match for you. A lot of athleticisms was on display. Dante seemed to excel in the air while Sabre Jr. looked so smooth in mat-based chain wrestling. The action picked up and scattered everywhere between all members; it was hard to keep up with it all. When it came to Dante and Takeshita being the legal men in the ring, Dante would get the hot tag. The match broke down again. I’m not sure any tags were being made as people were rolling in and out of nowhere every ten seconds. Orange Cassidy would get the pin to secure the win for his team. A very exciting match but with very little structure.
Four Flying Fighters!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@orangecassidy | @SussexCoChicken | @KORcombat | @lucha_angel1 pic.twitter.com/9Dc75lKcnj
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 20, 2024
The Young Bucks would take on The Acclaimed next. The two would brawl on the ramp before the bell would even ring. Once it started, they would have a good back-and-forth match. Throughout the match, Bowens had a worked-on leg injury. The Acclaimed would outsmart the heel antics of The Young Bucks, dodging and forcing friendly fire to win the match.
What a double team manuever from the EVPs!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@YoungBucks | @Bowens_Official | @PlatinumMax pic.twitter.com/qTrAwby1xA
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 20, 2024
Mina Shirakawa and Toni Storm would come to the ring for a contract signing for the AEW Women’s Championship. This also seems to be about winning over Mariah May for the two women. Afterward, Saraya came down, and there seemed to be a three-way battle brewing. Not the best championship storyline I’ve ever seen.
https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1803600506557722879?s=19
The next match was a first-round match in the women’s division of the Owen Hart Tournament. Kris Statlander faced Nyla Rose. It was an average match until Kris Statlander went for the 540, and Nyla rolled out of the way. Statlander decided to go to the top herself. Statlander recovered in time to kick Rose off the top rope and hit her with a vicious tombstone to secure the pinfall.
"But the pool was empty!"
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@CallMeKrisStat | @NylaRoseBeast pic.twitter.com/sBahUX6t2f
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 20, 2024
The next match would have Daniel Garcia win a squash match over Rhett Titus. After the match, the Gates of Agony would take out everyone in sight. This would bring out MJF, who fought everyone off for quite a while, but the numbers were too great. Will Ospreay decided to try and even up the numbers further and was able to clear the ring. It would result in a face-to-face between Ospreay and MJF (mostly just another teaser for their upcoming pay-per-view match).
Daniel Garcia is LASER focused on the #AEW International Championship!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@GarciaWrestling | @RhettTitusANX pic.twitter.com/3LwkR1xsfN
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 20, 2024
The main event would see Claudio Castagnoli take on Pac in the first round on the men’s side of the Owen Hart Tournament. Great stiff match right at the bell. Claudio would have Pac deep in a Sharpshooter after a vicious back and forth match, which transitioned to a cross face. Pac would force the rope break. They did the overplayed segment in wrestling of having the talent roll over and over for numerous 2 counts, but the surprising part was Claudio lost at the end of it all. Strange finish to a banger of a match. The main event saw Claudio Castagnoli take on Pac in the first round on the men’s side of the Owen Hart Tournament. It was a great, stiff match right at the bell. Claudio had Pac deep in a Sharpshooter after a vicious back-and-forth match, which transitioned to a cross face. Pac forced the rope break. They did the overused segment in wrestling of having the talent roll over and over for numerous two counts, but the surprising part was that Claudio lost at the end of it all. It was a strange finish to a banger of a match.
What a transition from Claudio!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@ClaudioCSRO | @BASTARDPAC pic.twitter.com/L8pl9Nhzsg
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 20, 2024
That wraps up AEW Dynamite this week, stay tuned to Greenville Sports Media for more of my regular wrestling articles
Howe Fresh (of The Wrasslin Corner on The Real Fresh Channel)
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