AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from August 27
Just nine days from All Out on pay-per-view, All Elite Wrestling hit the TNT Network airways for a special Thursday episode with a stacked card aimed at building to the company's most prestigious event.
What went down when combustible elements Jon Moxley and MJF shared the ring for the contract signing ahead of their AEW Championship match on September 5 and what did new TNT champion Brodie Lee have to say when he addressed the wrestling world?
Find out the answers to those questions and more with this recap of the August 27 broadcast.
Tag Team Gauntlet Match
With fans in the stands, AEW kicked off this week's Dynamite with Chris Jericho joining Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone at the announce position and a tag team gauntlet match.
The Young Bucks and Natural Nightmares kicked off the festivities.
Dustin Rhodes and QT Marshall worked over Matt Jackson early, cutting the ring off and isolating him from brother Nick. The Bucks fought back into the match momentarily before Rhodes delivered a destroyer piledriver and tagged Marshall back into the bout.
The Bucks set up for More Bang for Your Buck but Marshall escaped and scored a very close near-fall. Matt and Nick delivered a BTE Trigger on Marshall moments later to score the pinfall win. Natural Nightmares eliminated.
Best Friends entered next, immediately working over Nick.
Jericho questioned what kind of name "Best Friends" is and then insisted Chuck Taylor and Trent would "stab each other in the back for a paycheck." This came as they dominated the action against the Bucks.
Matt finally tagged back into the match and exploded with a burst of energy, taking the fight to the opposition. Nick came back in, and Best Friends regained control with the Soul Food half and half. The Bucks rebounded as Nick delivered a 450 to Trent.
The Bucks set up for the Meltzer Driver, but "Hangman" Adam Page appeared from out of nowhere, holding Nick's leg and allowing Trent to pick up the win for his team. Young Bucks eliminated.
The commentary team questioned Page's motivations while the Bucks looked on, befuddled by the events that had just unfolded.
During the break, FTR joined the match and targeted the injured knee of Chuck Taylor. They worked him over in their corner of the ring, punishing him as fans sought to will Best Friends back into the match. With Taylor’s knee already (and, potentially, legitimately) damaged from earlier in the match, Dax Harwood forced a tapout. Best Friends eliminated.
After the match, Harwood and Cash Wheeler celebrated alongside Tully Blanchard, one step closer to the AEW Tag Team Championships.
Result
FTR defeated Best Friends, The Young Bucks and Natural Nightmares
Grade
B
Analysis
The finish of FTR-Best Friends appeared to come from nowhere, almost certainly confirming a real injury to Taylor. That is unfortunate because that portion of this match could have been a lot of fun, especially considering how hot a streak Taylor and Trent had been on here in 2020.
With that said, it almost benefits FTR because it makes them look like relentless heels, willing and able to exploit an injury until the opposition has no choice but to submit.
Hangman Page costing the Bucks, realizing that they pose a real threat to him and Omega’s titles while also protecting a blossoming relationship with FTR and Tully Blanchard, was a great bit of storytelling.
That they did not rush to give the entire story away, instead letting it breathe, was also a wise decision.
This was a great way to kick off the show and a fantastic spotlight for the deepest division on the roster.
Lance Archer vs. Sean Maluta
Lance Archer made his return to Dynamite this week, the same night he was confirmed for the Casino Battle Royale.
The Murderhawk Monster battled Sean Maluta in what amounted to a glorified squash.
After several minutes of punishment, Archer put him away with the Blackout, followed by the EBD Claw.
After the match, Jake "The Snake" Roberts put Archer over as the favorite in the Casino Battle Royale, only for Team Taz to interrupt. Darby Allin followed, attacking Ricky Starks and brawling with him to the locker room.
Meanwhile, Roberts and Taz separated Archer and Brian Cage while the crowd chanted "Let them fight!"
Result
Archer defeated Maluta
Grade
B
Analysis
It was interesting to see a renewed emphasis on Archer after he had essentially become an afterthought since his Double or Nothing loss to Cody. His squash victory over Maluta was effective, reminding the viewing audience of his unabashed violence and unbridled fury.
This was more the exception to that rule, though.
AEW cannot cool off talent like that on a regular basis and expect to heat them up to great effect whenever it is convenient. It is not realistic, nor will it work every time.
The tease of a battle between him and Cage was certainly enough to capture the attention of the viewing audience while Allin and Starks escalated their rivalry with their latest brawl.
The positives outweigh the negatives, for now. Whether AEW can follow up and keep all involved relevant beyond their next PPV is the real question.
Jon Moxley and MJF Sign the Contract for All Out
AEW world heavyweight champion Jon Moxley and MJF made their way to the ring for the contract signing for their All Out main event.
The challenger's attorney reminded the titleholder that the contract called for no Paradigm Shift finisher in the match.
After some back-and-forth, MJF touted his abilities as a wrestler and claimed he would not fall into the same traps that Moxley's other opponents fell into. He wouldn't be suckered into a brawl because he is a "pro wrestling prodigy."
MJF vowed to become AEW world champion, reiterating that "we deserve better." He mentioned Moxley's wife, Renee Young, which sparked further tension.
Moxley said he doesn't need the Paradigm Shift, but he would like to dump his opponent on his head and neck because he just doesn't like him. "Nothing you say matters. Nothing I sign matters. On September 5, you're a dead man," he said.
The heel and his team celebrated, only to find out Moxley added a stipulation to page 17: next week, the champion vs. MJF's attorney. If the lawyer doesn't show up, MJF loses his title opportunity.
The champion exited while MJF and Co. appeared distraught by the developments.
Grade
A
Analysis
This was a nice twist on a tired segment.
There was no table spot, as we have come to expect, but the heel also didn't get the best of the babyface. Instead, Moxley outsmarted the loudmouthed baddies, and the result is a match that will prove either wildly entertaining or set the stage for the dismayed heels to heal their fractured pride.
Either way, the promo work was strong, and MJF continues to prove he is on the level of his more experienced dance partners—on the mic at least.
Eight-Man Tag Team Match
After Eddie Kingston brought them together on last week's show, Lucha Bros, The Butcher and The Blade teamed up to battle the hodgepodge team of Joey Janela, Sonny Kiss, Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison in an eight-man tag team match.
A hot back-and-forth start gave way to the heels beating down and working over Janela during the break. They teed off on The Bad Boy until an ill-advised blind charge by Rey Fenix allowed him to create separation. A hot tag to Kiss sparked a babyface comeback.
As the action broke down, Fenix dropped Kiss with a superkick and Pentagon Jr. obliterated Janela with a package piledriver on the ring apron. In the ring, Butcher and Blade double-teamed Pillman Jr., and Lucha Bros followed up for the hard-fought win.
Result
Lucha Bros, Butcher and Blade defeated Pillman Jr., Garrison, Kiss and Janela
Grade
C+
Analysis
This was a sprint of a match that showcased the heels while giving the underutilized babyfaces a platform to prove their value.
After the match, Kingston announced the heels would be involved in the Casino Battle Royale at All Out and vowed one of them would win. While that doesn't seem particularly likely given some of the other names in the bout, it could be a great way to strengthen the credibility of the united front while setting them up for a higher-profile role in the company.
Pillman looked like a star in the making—and even in defeat was hyped by the commentary team—and will be a major force in the bright future of AEW...if and when he is free to sign with the company exclusively.
Brodie Lee Celebrates His TNT Championship Victory
After a rousing introduction from a more animated Dark Order than we have seen before, new TNT champion Mr. Brodie Lee made his triumphant entrance.
He declared the open challenge series dead and vowed that Cody would never regain the title. He then ordered The Dark Order silenced and introduced Anna Jay as the newest member of the family, No. 99 and "The Queen Slayer."
Lee slapped an overzealous John Silver and claimed no one could touch him. This brought Dustin Rhodes and QT Marshall to the ring, only to be beaten down and dismissed unceremoniously by The Dark Order.
Scorpio Sky hit the ring and cleared the ring of the minions, only to be slapped by Jay and laid out by Lee. Matt Cardona arrived and joined the other babyfaces in sending The Dark Order packing, and he stood tall alongside them as Lee and Co. retreated.
Grade
B
Analysis
This was a great bit of business from Lee, and his introduction of Jay as the newest member of The Dark Order—complete with her own number and nickname—instantly made her feel like a big deal. His own promo made him feel like a huge star, commanding the audience's attention and controlling his minions.
Dustin and Marshall making the save would have meant more had we not just watched them lose earlier in the night, while Cardona making the save was a nice bit of continuity. Sky really should have been the last star out, if for no reason other than being the savior would have elevated him as much as his performance against Cody did two weeks ago.
The segment would suggest a tag team match is on the horizon, even if Sky vs. Lee is more appealing.
Big Swole vs. Britt Baker, Penelope Ford and Rebel
In a bar at an undisclosed location, Dasha caught up with Hangman Page and asked about his actions from earlier in the night. The Young Bucks interrupted and kicked Page out of The Elite, leaving the tag team champion to look at himself in the mirror.
Big Swole, looking to get a one-on-one match with Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D., competed in a 3-on-1 Handicap match against Baker, Rebel and Penelope Ford.
She laid Kip Sabian out at ringside and dodged a crutch shot by Rebel, surviving to pick up the win over Ford.
After the match, an apologetic Rebel checked on the good doctor while Swole celebrated her victory.
During the commentary team's rundown for next week's show, Anna Jay and The Dark Order invited Taynara Conti to join them. She embraced Jay but looked torn as to what to do.
Result
Swole defeated Baker, Rebel and Ford
Grade
C
Analysis
The backstage developments? Earth-shattering because The Elite, as we knew them, are done.
Page's alliance with the Bucks is over, but the question now is what that means for a partnership with Kenny Omega that has been tumultuous, to say the least.
The match that followed that development? Bad.
As entertaining as the Swole-Baker feud has been, this just wasn't good. It was rushed, it was sloppy (despite the efforts of the performers involved), and it felt far too convoluted for what it bred.
Hopefully, Swole and Baker's match proves the fitting payoff to the program.
Tables Match: Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara
The intense rivalry between Matt Hardy and Sammy Guevara culminated in a tables match in the night's main event.
A great deal of the bout took place during the commercial break, when Hardy busted The Spanish God open, leaving him sporting a crimson mask.
Back from the timeout, Hardy missed a dive that ended with him crashing through a table as the commentary team reminded viewers that a competitor can only win with an offensive maneuver to their opponent through a table.
Late, Hardy produced a table that read "deleted" and sought to put his opponent through it. But Hardy appeared dazed from a head bump earlier and Guevara took advantage, driving him through the table.
In the closing moments of the show, Orange Cassidy came from out of nowhere, jumping Chris Jericho at the announce table and engaging The Demo God in a pull-apart brawl to close out the broadcast.
Result
Guevara defeated Hardy
Grade
C
Analysis
What a disappointing main event, through no fault of the performers themselves.
The timing of the show felt off, particularly as it got later and later in the broadcast. Hardy and Guevara took to the ring with just about 10 minutes left to have a match over a month in the making. The result was a rushed encounter that featured the sort of hard-hitting action you would expect but was more of a greatest hits romp than a suitable conclusion to a blood feud.
It's a shame, too, because they probably could have had a great match if given more time to do so.
The Cassidy-Jericho brawl was fine, but we have seen so much out of those two that it almost feels like the feud has run its course and we're now limping to a close rather than ramping up to one last encounter. Hopefully, their All Out contest is awesome because they are equally engaging.
The build to said match? Not so much.
Jericho was great on commentary, though, walking the fine line between heeldom and promoter, and doing so to great effect.