Tonight aims to be one of the biggest nights of AEW Dynamite to date as we will see appearances from CM Punk and new stars in the fold with Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole. Plus another new star in Ruby Soho will make her singles debut against Jamie Hayter and in his hometown of Cincinnati, Jon Moxley will battle New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Minoru Suzuki!
Post-show, be sure to join Dominic DeAngelo for a special LIVE edition of 2 Dynamite Dudes On A Rampage and get your questions read on the air @DominicDeAngelo!
AEW DYNAMITE
September 8, 2021, Cincinnati, OH
Commentary: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone & Taz
MATCH 1
Malakai Black vs. Dustin Rhodes
Dustin and Black battle it out and it doesn’t take long for matters to turn to the outside. Dustin goes to attempt a Destroyer through the medical table, but Malakai back suplexes him through it instead. Aubrey goes to check on him as Black removes the turnbuckle. Black breaks the count to attack further and gets him back in the ring. Dustin fights back but Black grounds him with a rear naked choke. Black heel hooks Dustin. Rope break eventually occurs.
Dustin heavily favors his right leg ever since the table spot and Black has made it a major focus. Shots are traded between the two and Dustin gets his signature uppercut in plus the snap powerslam for two.
Cincy is clapping like wild for Dustin. Sunset flip from Dustin and he gets a two count. Ten punch in the corner, but Black kicks him in the leg to stop him at six. Black sizes Dustin up and nails a running knee strike. Near fall. Black goes under the ring and pulls out Cody’s boot from under the ring. He tosses it to Dustin. Black laughs at Dustin. Rhodes takes it to Malakai and then hits his Canadian Destroyer. 1-2-no! “You still got it” chants. Dustin goes for a suplex but Black evades. Dustin goes for a running bulldog, but Malakai trips him up into the open buckle and then connects with the Black Mass for the win.
WINNER: Malakai Black
The Lucha Bros and Alex Abrahantes talk about their major Tag Title victory on Sunday and they accepts all challengers if they have the guts. Punk is up next.
We see Eddie Kingston. He takes exception to Miro cheating and says as much that God doesn’t discriminate. Miro says he’s going to offer Eddie’s bones to his bride and his to to his God.
CM Punk comes out and shouts Cincinnati. He thanks Darby, Sting and the fans for All Out. He says getting back in the ring is like riding a violent bicycle. “You still got it” chants. Punk puts over Mox vs. Suzuki in the main event. Brian Pillman Jr.’s aunt Linda is in the crowd and he calls her an angel. Punk then puts over Ruby Soho, mentions Adam Cole and then Bryan Danielson which leads to “Yes” chants. First person he texted was April (AJ Lee) and she asked him “what’s next?” He starts polling the crowd. Suddenly Taz gets off commentary and grabs the mic. Punk wants to give Taz the time and tells him to not interrupt him again. Taz gets pissed and tells him to not mention facing any member of Team Taz again. Punk says to send Starks, send Hook and send Hobbs. Heck about all four of you? Beat me if you can, survive if I let you!” Punk states.
Punk fist bumps the fans before having a staredown with Hobbs and Hook on stage. Hobbs fights next.
We see Santana and Ortiz and they’re coming for that top spot!
Ruby Soho gets interviewed, but Britt Baker interrupts. She calls Ruby the flavor of the week. Ruby mention that she brought Britt into the business. Ruby goes through all her other nicknames and then Britt says she’s AEW Women’s Champion while Ruby sat in catering for the past four years. That got some “oooo’s.” Ruby tells Tony Schiavone, “I know she’s your girl, but I’m gonna whip her ass.” Nice.
MATCH 2
Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin
Hobbs immediately goes on the offense. Martin flips over Hobbs and dropkicks him to the outside. Hobbs sends Martin face first into the ring post. Back from break, Hobbs pulls down a kneepad and drives himself into the sternum of Dante. Lots of boos for Hobbs. Dante hits a high shotgun dropkick from up top and nails a senton. Two count on Hobbs. He pump kicks Powerhouse to the outside. Hook gets on the apron to stop Martin from diving onto Hobbs. Dante leaps over him and nails Hobbs with a over the top swanton.
Dante hits an enziguri right on the apron and then nails a springboard into a pump kick. Hobbs stops it all with a powerbomb and we got the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Powerhouse Hobbs
Dan Lambert is up top with Men of the Year. He runs down all the new signings as short skinny folk Lambert says that AEW think it’s the hottest thing going, but that’s not true. He open challenges the locker room on behalf of Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page.
Matt Hardy wants to cut Orange Cassidy’s hair. “Whatever,” says OC. MJF speaks next.
Back from break Max walks out with Wardlow. He states he beat Jericho three times and on Sunday, he beat him a fourth time clean. However, due to bias, he was treated unfairly. Everyone in the back wants to beat him, and everyone wants to be him. He calls Cincy the biggest dumpster fire in the world. He then starts insulting Linda Pillman and Brian Pillman’s daughter. Suddenly, out comes Pillman Jr with a Bengals jersey on. “Maxwell Jerkoff Friedman.” He takes exception with his trash talking. He’s from a city that breathes badasses. Badasses like his dad, Moxley. “Welcome to the jungle!” MJF begins to mock Pillman’s mother Melanie. Wardlow stands in front of Pillman, but then Max insullts ardlow and tells him to stand in the corner. Wardlow obliges. Max continues to insult his mother, and Pillman goes on the attack, after a bit, Wardlow helps Max. Griff comes out and tries to even the odds, but Wardlow is too damn big and gets taken out. Pillman puts himself on top of Griff as Max and Wardlow leave the ring.
Mox says Minoru Suzuki is “in the jungle and you gonna die.”
MATCH 3
Jamie Hayter vs. Ruby Soho
Hayter grapples Soho and soon cinches in a side headlock. Soho blocks a hip toss and hooks the arm, but a shot to the throat frees Jamie. Ruby hits a knee to the face of Hayter until Jamie throws Ruby twice against the ropes. We go to picture-in-picture.
Back from break, Ruby drives her knees into the back of Hayter and then a series of kicks to Hayter before hitting an innovative slingshot DDT for a two count. Soho goes for a Saito suplex, but Hayter blocks it for an electric chair drop. Ruby topples it down on top of Hayter. DVD backbreaker by Hayter and then a big elbow for a two count. Ruby nails soccer kick to the jaw of Hayter and gets the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Ruby Soho
Post-match, Britt and Rebel attack Soho and it’s Riho who comes in for the save, but Hayter hits her with a backbreaker. Out comes Statlander with a chair. That sends the bad guys bailing.
Brian Cage and Ricky Starks aren’t done. They want one more time in the ring together.
MATCH 4
The Pinnacle (FTR & Shawn Spears with Tully Blanchard) vs. Dark Order (John Silver, Stu Grayson & Evil Uno)
Before the match we see a video clip of still tension with DO. Anna Jay tries to play peacemaker. Spears and Silver start it off. Spears knocks him down, but he nails Spears with a bodyslam. Apprehensive tag to Grayson and Cash gets tagged in. JR mentions how Dark Order doesn’t have a leader. Uno and Grayson hit a double team. Dark Order is on the offensive. Dax gets tagged and attacks Silver with some old school wrestling and pin attempts. Powerful suplex by Silver and the Pinnacle thwart his tag attempt. Silver handles all members of the Pinnacle. German to Dax for a near fall. Silver inadvertantly headbutts a team member and a triple team DVD gets the W for Pinnacle.
WINNERS: The Pinnacle
Post-match, Dark Order brawls with one another as 10 and Colt try to calm everyone down as Anna Jay and Taya Conte come out.
Tully is interviewed by Schiavone. He had kind of flashback. He says everyone just watched leadership. Tully says Sting acts like a leader, but he isn’t. He wants Spears and Darby next week. And soon enough, it will be Tully and Sting…one more time.
It’s gonna be Pillman Jr. vs. MJF at Arthur Ashe Stadium on September 22. The Acclaimed come into the medical room that Griff is being tended to and Max Caster reveals that it’ll be him vs. Brian Pillman Jr. this week on AEW Rampage.
Out come The Elite to see Tony Schiavone in the ring. Don Callis grabs the mic and puts Kenny over in the PWI Top 500 as #1. He hypes all the efforts of The Elite at All Out. Those belts were stolen from The Bucks Don states and Nick Jackson introduces Adam Cole back into the fold. Big chants for Cole. “Who’s ready for storytime?” he asks, but first of all, he stares down Tony Schiavone. He tells Tony Schiavone that he knows he’s real close with Britt Baker, but if he ever looks at her the wrong way, he’ll slap the glasses of his face. He tells “nerd” Tony to leave. “Tony” chants. All Elite Wrestling is the greatest pro wrestling company in the world and that’s in thanks to The Elite. He’s always been elite for a very long time. He puts over Kenny Omega and The Bucks as the greatest wrestlers in the world. Now The Elite has Adam Cole. The Elite is complete bay bay. Cole reveals he’s going to make his in-ring debut in AEW. Kenny grabs the mic and it seems that a celebration is in order. He hates interruptions and before he can finish, he’s interrupted by Bryan Danielson. Kenny is pissed and asks The Elite if he can “have the room.” It’s just him and BD in the ring. “Yes” chants. He’s just the guy he wanted to speak with. Bryan grabs the mic. He asks the crowd if Bryan Danielson should fight Kenny Omega. Bryan says how Kenny says he’s the GOAT, but he thinks Kenny is intimidated. Bryan thinks Kenny is not on his level. Bryan puts Kenny in a LaBell lock. Elite come in to ambush but out come Jurassic Express, Christian Cage and Frankie Kazarian. They clear house as Adam Cole brawls with Jungle Boy. Brandon Cutler soon finds himsel alone in the ring with the good folks. Bryan nails his running knee on Cutler to end the segment. Main event is next.
MAIN EVENT
Minoru Suzuki vs. Jon Moxley
The bell rings and the two men talk trash. Crowd is very into it. Hard shots get traded. We go to break.
Back from it, Mox grabs a leg and bites Minoru on the face. Minoru does the same. Headbutts traded. They hit it at the same time and collapse. Slugging it out on their knees. Suzuki gets nailed with a Paradigm shift and his right eye is bleedly badly. Suzuki hits a running calf kick. He rubs his own blood on himself and goes for a sleeper. Mox nails a Paradigm Shift again and gets the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Jon Moxley
Post-match, Jon goes in the crowd and celebrates as highlights are shown.
