AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights June 11
Pac and Penta El Zero Miedo teamed with Eddie Kingston to battle AEW tag team champions The Young Bucks and Brandon Cutler in a huge six-man tag team match Friday night on TNT as All Elite Wrestling presented another Dynamite on a special night.
That bout was the highlight of a broadcast also featuring the latest title defense by TNT champion Miro, special announcements from top stars like Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin, a retort from The Pinnacle following their Stadium Stampede loss and Christian Cage in action.
What went down and who emerged victoriously? Find out with this recap of the June 11 episode.
Christian Cage vs. Angelico
"Big Money" Matt Hardy, still reeling after Christian Cage eliminated him in the Casino Battle Royal back at Double or Nothing, accompanied The Hybrid 2's Angelico to the ring for his match with Captain Charisma at the top of Friday's show.
Angelico worked over the arm and shoulder of his opponent in hopes of applying the Navarro Death Roll and collecting on Hardy's bounty. The resilient Cage fought back and finally downed his game opponent, finishing him off with the Killswitch for the hard-fought victory.
Hardy attacked after the match, delivering a Twist of Fate. He sought to further punish Cage, but Jungle Boy made the save, chasing Hardy and TH2 away.
Result
Cage defeated Angelico
Grade
B+
Analysis
Angelico always leaves a lasting impression whenever he has the opportunity to perform on Dynamite. This was no different, to the point that Jim Ross suggested it was his finest performance in a long while.
He shined in a match designed to further the feud between Cage and Hardy. The in-ring product was strong, the post-match, complete with Jungle Boy aiding Christian as their paths continue to cross post Double or Nothing, helped make this a strong opening segment.
Props to Cage, too, for taking on matches with stars whose styles don't necessarily mesh with his and still managing to deliver fun, high-quality matches.
Cody Rhodes' Special Announcement
Tony Schiavone announced that next week, Aaron Solow will team with QT Marshall to battle Cody Rhodes and his debuting partner, Brock...Anderson. The American Nightmare, coach Arn Anderson and son Brock made their way to the ring to address the big match.
Rhodes expressed faith in his partner before Marshall made his way to the ringside area. He challenged Rhodes to a South Beach Strap Match on July 7 in Miami. Marshall eventually delivered a cheap shot to Arn, whipping him across the back with his belt. Brock took the heel down and hammered away before referees broke things up.
Grade
C
Analysis
This feud, no matter how many fresh new faces are introduced or how it attempts to intensify with every passing week, has failed to generate the excitement you would expect from something involving Rhodes.
It feels like a waste of one of the biggest stars in the company, especially when it doesn't feel like Marshall and Co. are any better off for having worked with him.
It is a feud that needs to wrap up, and hopefully it does.
Before then, here's to a big ol' spinebuster from Brock to really hammer home who his daddy is.
Trios Match
Pac, Penta El Zero Miedo and Eddie Kingston teamed up to battle The Young Bucks and Brandon Cutler in a trios match next. Cutler, as expected, did not fare well as he was ragdolled by the opposition. A well-timed dropkick by Matt Jackson to Pac, though, allowed the heels to seize control entering the break.
The heels isolated The Bastard throughout the break, but Pac's tag to Penta sparked a comeback.
Kingston and Pac set aside their differences momentarily to wipe out the heels. A backfist from Kingston to Cutler allowed Pac to cover the tracksuit-wearing lackey for the win.
After the match, the heels beat down the victors with the help of The Good Brothers until "The Elite Hunter" Frankie Kazarian made the save.
Result
Pac, Penta and Kingston defeated The Young Bucks and Cutler
Grade
B+
Analysis
This was exactly what you would expect from a match with this crop of talent involved. It was action-packed, told the story of Kingston and Pac overcoming their differences and put them over Cutler in a way that doesn't hurt the tag champions.
It would be nice for one week to go by where the Bucks don't get their heat back through some overbooked heel beatdown also including The Good Brothers, but at least this one saw the inclusion of Kazarian to break up the monotony a bit.
Even if the booking does lean a bit too much on those beatdowns, the matches have almost always been fun, above-average affairs, so there's not much to complain about.
Shoutout to Penta, who consistently finds himself involved in some of the best matches and moments of any AEW presentation.
The Pinnacle Responded to Stadium Stampede
The Pinnacle returned to Dynamite for the first time since their Stadium Stampede loss to The Inner Circle.
FTR delivered a promo on Santana and Ortiz, Shawn Spears cut a scathing one on Sammy Guevara, Wardlow accepted Jake Hager's challenge for a cage fight next week and MJF addressed Chris Jericho and Guevara.
Jericho and The Inner Circle interrupted via video from the parking lot, where they demolished The Pinnacle's limousine, all while the heels watched on helplessly from the squared circle.
Grade
C
Analysis
The biggest takeaway from this one is an apparent match between Guevara and MJF coming in the near future, as well as Hager-Wardlow being made official.
Beyond that, the segment felt like the latest chapter in a story that overstayed its welcome after Blood and Guts. Even if you accept that Stadium Stampede should have happened, anything beyond that night on pay-per-view would be absolutely too much.
That is where we are now.
Inner Circle vs. Pinnacle ended at Double or Nothing. What we have now are the last vestiges of the feud, an attempt by AEW officials to break faction warfare into individual programs. Any way you try to slice it, this is still a feud between two factions who have run out of things to fight about after the definitive conclusion to their pay-per-view encounter.
TNT Championship Match: Miro vs. Evil Uno
The Dark Order's Evil Uno competed in his first match for a singles title Friday, challenging TNT champion Miro. Fueled by his love for former champion Mr. Brodie Lee and determined to win the title in his name, Uno started fast. Miro, though, halted his momentum and worked him over during the break.
Stu Grayson and Alan Angels checked on Uno after the break, encouraging him to fight back into the match. Uno did, rocking his opponent with a Brodie-like big boot. With the other members of Dark Order watching and cheering from the entrance ramp, Uno scored numerous near-falls.
Uno tried a discus lariat, but it did not faze Miro. The Best Man obliterated him with a clothesline of his own and applied Game Over for the submission victory.
Result
Miro defeated Uno
Grade
B
Analysis
This was infinitely better than anyone could have imagined, thanks in large part to the emotional connection to the late Brodie Lee. Uno fed off the crowd and his Dark Order teammates, and the result was a dramatic encounter that had the audience buying into the idea that he might actually dethrone Miro.
In great heel fashion, Miro shut down the threat to his title, not giving a damn about the motivation surrounding the match. He was focused, retained his title and is suddenly among the hottest stars in the business.
And it's about damn time.
Kenny Omega's Message to Jungle Boy
AEW world champion Kenny Omega and Don Callis made their way to the ring for a promo and wasted little time discussing top contender Jungle Boy. Callis said, much like Baltimora, who performs Jungle Boy’s theme song, he is a one-hit wonder.
Omega backhandedly put him over before the young competitor interrupted the proceedings. After a ranting promo from Omega, Jungle Boy told him he talked too much. This ignited a brawl between the two that saw the Casino Battle Royal winner in position to apply the Snare Trap until the Young Bucks made the save.
Jungle Boy escaped up the ramp, sending a message loud and clear to Omega.
Grade
B+
Analysis
Much like he did with Orange Cassidy prior to Double or Nothing, Omega overlooked Jungle Boy and got his ass handed to him tonight. As the overconfident, braggadocious heel champion, Omega has been excellent and is in a position to give Jungle Boy the type of match that could solidify him as one of the cornerstones of AEW's bright future.
At least, that is the hope.
Kudos to Jungle Boy, whose intensity of late has been a major element of his improved and evolving in-ring performance.
Lance Archer in Action
Lance Archer squashed Chandler Hopkins in singles competition, defeating him with the Blackout in a non-competitive match.
In a pre-taped promo, Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page chastised Darby Allin for deciding to face them in a Handicap Match before coining themselves The Men of the Year.
Result
Archer defeated Hopkins
Grade
C+
Analysis
The Archer squash matches would mean more if there was ever any sustained or upward momentum to speak of. Instead, AEW tends to heat him up, just to sacrifice him to another act it has more interest in pushing.
Until that pattern changes, the squash matches will be a fun waste of two minutes or so.
The promo from Sky and Page was fun and allowed them to show some personality after a month of randomly interfering in Sting and Darby Allin's matches. The Men of the Year is a catchy team name and lends them some credibility if they are to remain a team for the long term.
Given how both sought singles pushes as early as three months ago, the tag direction is certainly an interesting one to head in.
Nyla Rose vs. Leyla Hirsch
After a week of short jokes aimed at her opponent, Nyla Rose battled "Legit" Leyla Hirsch in singles competition.
Rose overpowered her smaller opponent early, but the gutsy Hirsch stayed in the fight until late in the bout, when she focused on the arm of The Native Beast. Clearly looking for a submission, she tenaciously targeted the limb before the action moved to the ropes.
There, Rose delivered a Beast Bomb from the top and scored the hard-fought pinfall victory.
After the match, Tony Schiavone caught up with AEW women's champion Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D., who claimed Rose needs the title to make her legit whereas she legitimizes the title.
Result
Rose defeated Hirsch
Grade
C+
Analysis
This was a good, hard-hitting match that gave Rose a big victory as she heads toward a showdown with Baker. It also spotlighted Hirsch, who has all the tools to be a major star for the women's division in the future.
The post-match promo from Baker was great. It created doubt about Rose and emphasized her standing as the division's leader.
There have been better women's matches, but this accomplished what it set out to and that is what the grade reflects.
Hangman Page and Preston Vance vs. Team Taz
Team Taz sought to recover from recent in-fighting and losses to rebuild momentum as Brian Cage and Powerhouse Hobbs battled Hangman Page and Dark Order's Preston Vance.
The heels dominated Vance through the final commercial break of the night, cutting the ring off while punishing him with their power-based offense. A hot tag to Page sparked a comeback for the babyfaces. Hangman teed off on Hobbs, giving way to some wild, chaotic and action-packed final minutes.
Hook hit the ring late and provided a distraction. Ricky Starks threw the FTW Championship to Cage, who sent it back to the arena floor. Starks slapped Cage, leaving The Machine to chase after him and abandon Hobbs.
Vance rocked Hobbs with a cutter, and Page delivered the Buckshot Lariat for the pinfall victory. Page joined Dark Order for a round of beers to close out the show.
Result
Page and Vance defeated Cage and Hobbs
Grade
B
Analysis
And with that, Team Taz was no more.
At least, not as we have known it.
Cage has been on his way out for months now, and this, coupled with the conclusion of the Double or Nothing match with Page, should do it for The Machine's run with the faction. And that is not a bad thing. Cage vs. Starks is a natural match and could do wonders for both men, who have lost more than they have gained under Taz's guidance.
What better way to accentuate that than by having Cage go his own way and beat Starks?
Hangman remains one of the most popular and enduring performers on the AEW roster and the obvious choice to dethrone Omega as world champion. Hopefully, that is coming sooner than later because he has earned it as one of the most consistent characters in AEW.