AEW Dynamite - 7/29/2020

[tbarrie]

9 hours ago, MavsFan77 said:

Any woman they found has to be better than fricken Cameron. 

Is that who that was? They really doubled down on the WWE castoffs last night.

9 hours ago, MavsFan77 said:

Next week should be fun too with Darby vs Mox in the main event. I could definitely see them doing a 3 way at All Out with Darby, Mox, and MJF if next week ends in a screwy fashion. 

I suspect we're getting Mox vs MJF for the AEW title and Darby vs Cage for the FTW title. But who knows, really?

[A_K]

15 minutes ago, Technico Support said:

Speaking of career midcarders, nice to see the woo woo woo guy get a job from his pal while Kingston hasnt yet.

Yeah. Absolutely no idea what Cardonna gives them that they don't already have. At this rate they're just going to end up with tons of generic, built white dudes in a quasi-WWE style but without the decades of built-up brand loyalty & prestige that let WWE slack with it for so long. That's not even really a critique on who is already there of that ilk, we just don't need more of them. There are already so many loose ends; why add even more? Painfully looks like "jobs for the boys".

Was this one of the heaviest shows yet on direct Tony Khan references? Like really, if its a sort of cosplay Bischoff thing going on here (given they wanted to raise the Moxley/Austin analogy), at least Bischoff worked his way up through the company from nobody to somebody back then legitimately. What possible legitimate, good-for-the-show reason is there to start name dropping Khan. Surely he's not going to make an actual physical appearance or else they're really veering towards Dixie Carter territory.

A Russo-rific show (in the worst ways) was probably a decent way to describe this one. Hopefully they get back to last week's quality in the coming shows.

Edited July 30, 2020 by A_K

[Godfrey]

Is Cardona officially on the roster? He may be in for a one and done next week to promote his action figures or whatever.

[hammerva]

The only positives that I see from signing Cardonna is that he will constantly plug AEW on his action figures podcast and how hilarious it will be listening to Meltzer and Alvarez who have spent years telling us how much of a geek he is try to treat him like a superstar

 

[Casey]

He might be a geek but I wish I could sell one action figure for $45K.

[Goodear]

The thing with Cardonna is a double edged sword and they really should have let him wander the indys for a while and build up some good will. If they push him immediately, it feeds the narrative that ex-WWE guys go to the head of the line and they can't make their own stars. If they don't push him, AEW is not the land of opportunity its commonly portrayed as. It's really the same issue they have with Shawn Spears who got his one real shot with Cody and then slid right back to the lower midcard picking up new gimmicks like I pick up snacks at 7-11. They'd have been better off avoiding the issue.

[Craig H]

People really need to chill with the Kingston stuff and complaining about why AEW hired one person over Kingston. You really don't even know what Kingston's position is. We've said it multiple times, but the dude is still under contract to NWA, NWA isn't going anywhere, and talent can take dates elsewhere for now. So I mean, would you rather they not have brought in Kingston at all because you feel teased by the prospect of him being a full time wrestler for AEW when that isn't an option? Everyone expects stuff to happen way too quickly. Just have some patience to see how things play out.

As for Cardona, the level of his popularity is orders of magnitude greater than Shawn Spears, who people understandably compare his hiring too. Yeah, I'm cautious about hiring another ex-WWE midcarder, but I try to level set with that mindset because nearly everyone is an ex-WWE midcarder. Ryder was someone who could have been a huge star for WWE, he got over on his own and built his own following, crowds were consistently hot for the guy, and his reward for all of that was getting punished, buried, teased with title runs, etc. I'd rather have Cardona as a full time wrestler on the roster than Spears and use Spears instead as a trainer. 

[Technico Support]

28 minutes ago, tbarrie said:

Is that who that was? They really doubled down on the WWE castoffs last night.

 

LOOOL I forgot to mention that.  I had no idea who that was but it felt like I was supposed to.  It felt very TNAish.  "WE KNOW WHO THAT IS!"

Someone else said here that they're more interested in AEW's indy type talent than their WWE casoffs and, maybe aside from Moxley, I can't agree more.  I can definitely tell you I didn't watch the first episode of Dyanmite and find myself thinking, "this is a great show but you know what it really needs?  That Woo Woo Woo geek."

[John from Cincinnati]

11 hours ago, For Great Justice said:

The Cody/FTR/Hangman setup is so obvious they have to be going with the Omega swerve.

 

10 hours ago, Casey said:

FTR, Hangman and Cody as the new Four Horsemen? Inject it into my veins.

With all the Tully teases, I've got to think Spears can weasel his way into this. Maybe over Hangman? Not sure. I'm very interested in which way people's shifting alliances break.

Re: An Omega swerve, as evidenced a couple weeks back he's great with the Bucks when they really let that trio shine. Him becoming part of the Horsemen group that's forming feels like it'd be a mistake.

[tbarrie]

7 minutes ago, Technico Support said:

Someone else said here that they're more interested in AEW's indy type talent than their WWE casoffs and, maybe aside from Moxley, I can't agree more.

See, I wouldn't agree with the implication that Moxley was a WWE castoff at all. Not everybody who's been in WWE is a castoff. Moxley and Jericho clearly are not. Tye Dillenger, Zack Ryder, and Cameron clearly are IMO. The others I could see an argument either way.

[Technico Support]

2 minutes ago, tbarrie said:

See, I wouldn't agree with the implication that Moxley was a WWE castoff at all. Not everybody who's been in WWE is a castoff. Moxley and Jericho clearly are not. Tye Dillenger, Zack Ryder, and Cameron clearly are IMO. The others I could see an argument either way.

Good point and that's probably why I said maybe not Moxley.  You're right.  He left WWE, wasn't fired, and definitely feels like a bigger deal than Cody's jobber friends and The Lesser Funkadactyl. 

Edited July 30, 2020 by Technico Support

[Craig H]

One last note about Cardona and then I'm moving on, Alvarez really had the best, most level headed take on the guy. It isn't fair to someone like Cardona that he should never get another chance and it's not his fault that WWE and Vince and such fucking garbage that they used the guy as a jobber for all that time. If it works then great, and if not, move on. We know Cardona can at least work, he's very charismatic and likable, and he deserves more of a chance than immediately writing the guy off as a former WWE guy because WWE has shitloads of workers that they don't use or misuse and nearly everyone is a former WWE guy. Another worker they mentioned was Gable. If this was Gable, would you wind up feeling the same way considering Gable is also basically a geek and a jobber right now because of how WWE used him?

[HarryArchieGus]

Heavily flawed show, but still enjoyable.  

The MJF and Ricky Starks promos were the highlights for me.  MJF's was kinda expected to be great and was.  The exit music felt a little - get off the stage, and he oughta responded to that, but small nitpick.  I'd seen Starks talk on Power, so I knew he was capable, but this was the best I've seen from him.  That said, very awkward set-up for the promo.  It should've been earlier in the show.  Why are they talking to a camera to Mox when the curtain is open and he's right there on the other side?  Regardless Starks was on fire.  The match was good too. But for fuck sakes, can we call a moratorium on flimsy garbage cans?  Is the purpose of them to make the wrestlers look weak?  

Funny that MJF would claim 'cosplay' in AEW on a night where there was sooo much cosplay looking nonsense.  Case in point the first half of the 10 man tag.  Kinda proved that this sorta match ought not to be done.  Adding a 12 man tag for next week feels like they aren't watching their product to see what doesn't work.  AEW's short history reveals they fail every time they involve too many bodies (Casino Battle Royals, Dark Order minions run ins, gauntlet ladder match, etc.).  That said, things came together a bit better in the second half and Luchasaurus again looked really good.   

Page/Omega-Dark Order was solid.  Maybe a little less than I was hoping, but entertaining and good.  Also dug seeing Arn during the FTR signing.  The post match here felt silly and unncecssary.  I really don't need a 12 man tag against the DO.  The booking formula of run-ins equaling immediate matches next week works on paper, but it'd be nice if, at least occassionally, things got a bit more fuel before instant booking.  That said, sometimes it does work.  And it's better than most modern booking.  

Matt Cardona's debut really missed the mark.  As good as AEW has been they've had a bit of trouble debuting new talent.  I haven't seen more than a few highlights of the former Zack Ryder.  Sounds like a lot of you are already underwhelmed.  What I saw here matches that sentiment.  He looked like a bloated orange musclehead with a mediocre Mr. Ass like finisher.  His size within this company is gonna make it hard for them to book him as anything but a powerhouse; which is problematic from they way he was booked in WWE.  It kinda does seem like they should've let him re-establish himself before coming in.  And c'mon, at least give a whiff of reason as to why Reynolds and Silver are jumping Cody.  That whole segment was really off the mark.  Warhorse looked like he just isn't ready.  I like his gimmick and skillset, but he needs to develop.  Not a bad match tho, and they did seem to be working hard.  

I really like Nyla Rose.  She's getting better in ring, and she's fun on the mic.  This association with Vicki is fun too.  The 'Women's Tag Team Cup Tournament' seems like a good attempt at bringing some meaning to the roster, but I can't seem to muster any care for it.  Tho I do like the battle bowl concept and always hope, with anything in this division, that exceeds my expectations.  I know they're trying, but they need so much work for it to be on the level.  Funny Britt Baker promos are entertaining, but don't add anything to the in ring.  Not the point I know, but it's the only thing going on in the division that I care about.  Shida is talented, but she needs some better partners.  Diamante looked, not unlike most of the roster, in need of some serious reps.  

Well, ya can't win em all.  The show has been as it's titled over the last few weeks, but this week they gained some things to learn from.  That said, still an entertaining show.  And I have no doubt they could very easily bounce back next week.  

Edited July 30, 2020 by HarryArchieGus

[EVA]

Hangman is staying a face.  I feel like that’s obvious, and I don’t know why people keep booking him into the hypothetical Cody heel group.  Good on the booking for creating doubt, I guess.  Like I said last week, this is clearly FTR buddying up with him to sow discord among the champs to make it easier for them to win the belts.  

To me, the money payoff is Page revealing that he knew what they were doing all along and he was playing them too...but then Kenny going mental in the background of all this and costing them the belts anyway, which then segues into building their singles feud.

[J.T.]

It was a fundamentally solid show, but it had none of the craziness that made last week's show truly great.  The tag-team championship match was the second best match on the card.  Uno and Stu are fucking solid.  I was really hoping they'd pull off the win since the Dark Order roster is the perfect stable to rock Freebirds Rules defenses of the tag belts. 

I'd like to see Stu / Uno & Best Friends beat the shit out of each other in a #1 Contender's match.

They really slept on Anna Jay / Newest Member of Dark Order.  Didn't they?

Warhorse was Warhorse.  I am guessing he is a shit promo guy since he didn't get the mic like Starks and Kingston did when they challenged Cody.

Shida is a good worker, but she isn't the face to carry a match and Diamante isn't the opponent that can carry Shida through the slow periods of a bout.

The more I see FTR mugging it up the more I hate them.  Hangman Page's ability to drink whiskey is what saved that segment.

I hope Sammy Guevara cripples Matt Hardy, but not before Matt sells a billion Multiverse of Matt shirts.

Mox / Allin vs. Cage / Starks was fucking great!  God bless Starks for taking that thumbtacks spot.  I'm looking forward to Mox defending against Darby even though I know they probably won't take the belt off of Mox.  I know that Cage & Starks will probably get booked to run in and ruin the finish so that Mox retains.

AEW should've paid WWE so that Matt Cardona could keep his gimmick.   I will miss Long Island Iced Z. 

 

Edited July 30, 2020 by J.T.

[Technico Support]

17 minutes ago, Craig H said:

One last note about Cardona and then I'm moving on, Alvarez really had the best, most level headed take on the guy. It isn't fair to someone like Cardona that he should never get another chance and it's not his fault that WWE and Vince and such fucking garbage that they used the guy as a jobber for all that time. If it works then great, and if not, move on. We know Cardona can at least work, he's very charismatic and likable, and he deserves more of a chance than immediately writing the guy off as a former WWE guy because WWE has shitloads of workers that they don't use or misuse and nearly everyone is a former WWE guy. Another worker they mentioned was Gable. If this was Gable, would you wind up feeling the same way considering Gable is also basically a geek and a jobber right now because of how WWE used him?

That's a good point and you're right that guys in general shouldn't be painted with broad brushes after failed WWE runs.  But I'll counter with this.  For all the shit I talk on Cody, the guy deserves respect at least for seeing the writing on the wall at WWE, deciding that being a job guy there was not for him, and taking the reigns on his own career.  He went to the indies, ROH, NJPW, and made something of his career.  Contrast that with Cardona who kept re-upping his contract, ostensibly fine with his career going nowhere, until he was fired.  And after the firing, did he go anywhere else to better himself?  Or did he just get on the gas and then take a job at his pal's company? 

[EVA]

I can understand not being overly enthused about Cardona—I’m certainly not—but I’m willing to give him a chance.  He’s shown an aptitude for being creative and getting himself over in the past, and he’s also shown himself to be a solid dude in the ring when motivated and given opportunities.  I remember when he got bumped down to NXT and thrown in a team with Mojo; he worked his butt off to make the Hype Bros a really solid team.  Easily the best Mojo has even been, that’s for sure.

[MavsFan77]

2 minutes ago, Technico Support said:

That's a good point and you're right that guys in general shouldn't be painted with broad brushes after failed WWE runs.  But I'll counter with this.  For all the shit I talk on Cody, the guy deserves respect at least for seeing the writing on the wall at WWE, deciding that being a job guy there was not for him, and taking the reigns on his own career.  He went to the indies, ROH, NJPW, and made something of his career.  Contrast that with Cardona who kept re-upping his contract, ostensibly fine with his career going nowhere, until he was fired.  And after the firing, did he go anywhere else to better himself?  Or did he just get on the gas and then take a job at his pal's company? 

Hey Cardona did more than just get on the gas. He got on Twitter constantly bitching about Wal-Mart not stocking the precious action figures he’s looking for. It’s like the guy is so self centered that he doesn’t realize we’re in the middle of a pandemic, and Wal-Mart has more important things to stock than action figures (especially as he’ll be gifted whatever he wants for free by the toy companies). 

You hit the nail on the head too in that if he was so unhappy with WWE never pushing him why did he keep resigning? Oh that’s right it’s more fun to make every dime you can, and then bitch and moan about Vince instead of leaving and going to ROH or Impact making a name for yourself, and then either going back to WWE after having shown them your worth (like Drew did) or go to AEW with an actual fan base behind you (like Cody did). 

[J.T.]

13 minutes ago, Technico Support said:

That's a good point and you're right that guys in general shouldn't be painted with broad brushes after failed WWE runs.  But I'll counter with this.  For all the shit I talk on Cody, the guy deserves respect at least for seeing the writing on the wall at WWE, deciding that being a job guy there was not for him, and taking the reigns on his own career.  He went to the indies, ROH, NJPW, and made something of his career.  Contrast that with Cardona who kept re-upping his contract, ostensibly fine with his career going nowhere, until he was fired.

Some dudes have the entrepreneurial spirit and other guys are content to do their thing and get paid.  It's life.  I can't really blame Cardona for riding the storm out and collecting paychecks.  Making money is better than not making money.

 

Edited July 30, 2020 by J.T.

[Technico Support]

1 minute ago, J.T. said:

Some dudes have the entrepreneurial spirit and other guys are content to do their thing and get paid.  It's life.  I can't really blame Cardona for riding the storm out and collecting paychecks.  Making money is better than not making money.

 

Oh absolutely.  I was just countering the argument that Cardona shouldn't be painted as a geek and a job guy.  My argument was that he was fine with it. 

[J.T.]

5 minutes ago, Technico Support said:

Oh absolutely.  I was just countering the argument that Cardona shouldn't be painted as a geek and a job guy.  My argument was that he was fine with it. 

True enough.  I also have to think that Cardona knew what Cody was planning and chose to keep cashing checks until Cody was ready to bring him in to AEW after Cardona's no compete clause had expired.  Those guys run in tight circles.  They always stay in contact with each other.

Anderson & Gallows recently shot that they were also trying to bide their time and jump ship to AEW, but they could not pass up Impact's offer.  Bills gotta get paid.

Edited July 30, 2020 by J.T.

[EVA]

Yeah, I mean, I get annoyed by people who grumble on the internet and wear their booboo face on camera but keep re-signing, but at the same time, I respect the fact that folks got mortgages and families and interests outside of wresting that they’re trying to subsidize.  WWE wrestlers are certainly not the only people who continue to do jobs they hate because the pay is good.  Not everybody is in the position to walk away from that and a take a gamble on themselves.

[John E. Dynamite]

Cody getting patted on the back for being brave enough to leave when others weren't overlooks the fact that he was born rich. Walking away from your soul-sucking but high-paying job is a privilege of those with million-dollar daddies.

[Fighting a man with a perm]

I'm about halfway through the show so far. Some things I liked:

There's 4 potential feuds in the opening match (jericho/oc, best friends/PNP, Lucha/hager and most intriguingly sammy/JB) that would deliver. So why is Matt Hardy involved? Did enjoy sammys reaction though. Sammy has a perfect "oh shit" face when he gets himself in trouble like landing in the middle of 5 opponents. 

"smells like cat pee, Tony" - love that Ortiz! 

I dig Warhorse's character. Can't say I've seen him wrestle but I like that he sticks to the headbanging Mid-match. Small things like that make me smile. Plus he looks a lot like Bobcat Goldthwait to me, which adds to it. 

Arn joining up with FTR was unexpected. Presumed Tully would have joined there. Page made that segment! 

Tag title match was good stuff, the Grayson dive over the top looked unique as hell. He has something about him. If Ciampa can be a big star in NXT, think Stu has a role to play. Big laugh from the moment I saw the papers in Brodies hand

Look, JR ain't my cup of tea but he was really bad tonight (to my tastes). Not least his weird comments about Anna Jay, and his rant about Covid, "look I have my mask" like a petulant child. He's detracting from the product for me. Sad, because I loved his calls when I was younger. 

[HarryArchieGus]

2 hours ago, Casey said:

I suspect that Eddie Kingston hasn't been hired because of his NWA contract. I think it was a different story with Ricky Starks, wasn't it? His contract or whatever legitmately ended, whereas I don't know if Corgan is letting people out of their deals (but he's definitely letting them work wherever they can right now, but AFAIK nobody has signed anywhere except Starks). I might be wrong, but that's how it's coming off. Either that, or maybe one side (or both) just has no interest in a long term contract.

You may be correct, but I think not announcing a signing leads to Kingston showing up 'rogue'.  I hope that's the case.  AEW seems to care about it's fanbase, and Eddie's is an inspirational story that's always needed.
 

32 minutes ago, EVA said:

I can understand not being overly enthused about Cardona—I’m certainly not—but I’m willing to give him a chance.  He’s shown an aptitude for being creative and getting himself over in the past, and he’s also shown himself to be a solid dude in the ring when motivated and given opportunities.  I remember when he got bumped down to NXT and thrown in a team with Mojo; he worked his butt off to make the Hype Bros a really solid team.  Easily the best Mojo has even been, that’s for sure.

As somebody that knows next to nothing of Cardona's Zack Ryder I hope this is correct.  The debut was weak, but that was more a misstep in creative.  I was never a fan or consistent viewer of TNA, so I don't have a trigger over ex-WWE guys coming in and being pushed.  I generally pull for misused former WWE talent getting a shot to show their stuff.  Before TNA's bad creative, Paul Heyman used to relish taking 'WWE castoffs' and making them stars.  See Al Snow, PJ Walker (some would obviously argue), Chris Candido, Bigelow, etc. etc. etc.  I can't remember him ever failing.  

That said a bit worried about the gassed orange look and that atrocious finisher.  

Edited July 30, 2020 by HarryArchieGus