AEW Dynamite Live Coverage - August 25th, 2021

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AEW Dynamite

This week, CM Punk makes his first DYNAMITE appearance. Orange Cassidy faces Matt Hardy. Also, Brock Anderson seeks revenge on Malakai Black. Watch DYNAMITE Wednesday at 8/7c.


:aew:

– This week's show kicks off with the usual weekly signature and then we shoot into the UW-Panther Arena where pyro and fireworks explode as the camera pans the venue and Jim Ross welcomes us and his fellow commentary team members to the show.

He talks us into a quick video package that shows CM Punk's debut in AEW at last Friday night's Rampage: The First Dance special. They promote his match against Darby Allin at All Out and mention his first Dynamite appearance on tonight's show.

– Excalibur and Tony Schiavone join in to run down the scheduled lineup for tonight's show and then we head down to the ring for our opening contest on Dynamite, which will be a men's singles bout.

Orange Cassidy vs. Matt Hardy

Orange Cassidy's theme hits as "The Freshly Squeezed" one himself makes his way out of the entrance tunnel alongside Chuck Taylor and Wheeler Yuta.

He heads down to the ring where he will be he taking on Matt Hardy in the first match of the evening. With that said, Hardy's theme hits and out he comes ready for action, complete with the fire pyro ring entrance.
Light kicks vs. “Delete” back and forth to get tonight’s opener started. They keep it going until Hardy puts his hands in his pockets and pulls out a bunch of dollar bills. Cassidy with a dropkick and the bills go flying. Cassidy with a suicide dive, caught in midair, Hardy hits a side effect on the floor. Hardy wraps Cassidy around the ring post. Back in the ring, Hardy with a couple side suplex. Hardy ends up grabs all the dollar bills and putting them back in his pockets.

Hardy mocks Cassidy with some light kicks to the back, body slam, elbow drop, cover, two-count. Hardy focusing on Cassidy’s back. Hardy gets his head slammed into a few turnbuckle pads, tries for beach break, but his back is hurting too much at the moment. Hardy with a splash mountain powerbomb, pin, two-count. Hardy looks for twist of fate, Cassidy reverses and tosses Hardy out to the floor. He then hits a suicide dive and tosses Matt back in the ring. Cassidy heads to the top, lands a big splash, twisting DDT, cover, 1-2-no.

Hardy busted open badly after that sequences of moves. Both on the second rope, Cassidy with a flurry of punches, shoves Hardy away. Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets and nails Hardy with a senton bomb. He does some lazy “Delete” taunts. He tries for twist of fate, but Hardy jams him into the corner. Hardy off the second rope with an elbow drop to the back, cover, two. Hardy tries for twist of fate, no, Cassidy hits it instead, cover, two! Cassidy tries for orange punch, no, Hardy looks for his submission finisher, Cassidy fights out of it, does a sit-down pin with his hands in his pocket for the victory.

Winner: Orange Cassidy

– Malakai Black says he agrees with Arn that Brock Anderson is in over his head tonight. Black says Brock should wait for the bell, roll out of the ring and take the loss. Brock is going to then say “I’m sorry.” Black says Brock can then go to the back and talk to his dad about all of this. He continues if this goes any different, he’s going to take out Brock and anyone associated with The Nightmare Family.

– Chris Jericho heads out to the ring to address his future. Jericho takes the mic and says everybody has been celebrating this week in pro wrestling, everyone, but him because he lost to MJF. It was not only the third time he lost to MJF, but he tapped out. Jericho says it’s been bothering him so much that he’s lost sleep and always strives to stay on top. He says it’s driving him crazy that he can’t beat MJF. He says this is going to keep on going and will keep going after MJF. Jericho offers a proposal at All Out for one final match. He asks MJF to come out, but MJF doesn’t. Jericho says if he can’t beat MJF, maybe he doesn’t belong in AEW any longer.

Jericho says if MJF beats him, he’ll go to the commentary table, full-time, on Rampage and he will never wrestle in AEW again. He wants an answer, cue MJF’s music. MJF comes out with an “MJF – 3, Jeriblow – 0.” MJF says he just wants Jericho to leave him alone, “go away!” MJF says he sees through Jericho, Chris saw MJF’s meteoric rise in AEW and he was looking for the rub from the fastest rising star in wrestling. MJF continues that he promised to himself last week that he would never wrestle Jericho again. However, to say he was the one who could say he ended Jericho — that’s legendary. “You want the match? You got it!” MJF says Jericho should really consider this since he’s already lost three times. “I’m better than you, and you know it.”

– Varsity Blonds get ready for their tournament match. Griff Garrison says they are family and they get that Jurassic Express is the most athletic tag team in AEW tonight. Pillman Jr. says his bond with Garrison is tight and they will win tonight to face the champs at All Out.

AEW Tag Title Eliminator Tournament Match: Lucha Bros with Alex Abrahantes vs. Varsity Blonds with Julia Hart

The Young Bucks head out to the stage to check out the match. Garrison and Fenix get things going. Fenix trying to use his agility to avoid Garrison. Griff tries for a big boot, Fenix with the nice dodge. Both wrestler tag out and do some taunting towards each other. Penta really working over Pillman with a flurry of strikes. Pillman working his way back into this one. Penta ends up on the apron and looks for a piledriver at Garrison. Penta out to the floor. Pillman looks to fly, but Fenix pulls him out. Double superkicks on Varsity Blonds. Fenix then hits an assisted suicide dive on both opponents.

Back in the ring, Pillman able to get a deep stack on Fenix, cover, two. Garrison with a springboard elbow strike, cover, Penta breaks it up. Penta with a superkick to Garrison, then eats a punch. Fenix and Penta with superkicks to Pillman, then stereo superkicks. Assisted package piledriver on Pillman, cover, and that will do it.

Winners: Lucha Bros

– Post-match, Jurassic Express (who were watching from the crowd) get in the ring to face-off with their upcoming opponents. The Elite also make their way towards the ring and end up shoving Jurassic Express into the Lucha Bros. Matt and Nick bail out to the apron, but end up getting kicked off the apron. Fenix and Jungle Boy with dual suicide dives on the champs.

– Quick promo by Andrade on PAC, he says on September 5 they will find out who the better wrestlers is.

– It’s announced AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander is official for All Out.

Jamie Hayter with Britt Baker and Rebel vs. Red Velvet

Red Velvet gets right after Hayer with her speed. Velvet with a dropkick, but it doesn’t seem to affect Hayter. Jamie lands big forearm and then sends Velvet hard into the corner. Low bridge by Velvet, Hayter lands on her feet, but Velvet hammers her with a suicide dive. She runs back into the ring and hits another one on her opponent. Rebel and Baker get in Velvet’s face long enough so Hayter can get a knee to her midsection and throws her against the ring post.

Baker then whips Velvet into the ring post and then the barricade while Hayter gets the ref’s attention. Hayter with all the momentum as they get back into the ring. Both are throws big shots in the middle of the ring. Hayter with a back elbow against the ropes, but then takes one from Velvet. Velvet with a couple clotheslines. Velvet with a face buster. Baker up on the apron, but Velvet pops her off. Hayter avoids a move from Velvet, hits a backbreaker over her knee, huge lariat, cover, 1-2-3.

Winner: Jamie Hayter

– Post-match, Baker and Hayter stomp away on Velvet. Out runs Kris Statlander. She punches and kicks Rebel and Hayter out of the ring. Statlander looks for a move on Baker, but she fights out of it and runs to the floor. Statlander grabs the title (as her music plays) and holds up the title.

– Backstage, Dark Order talks about having some recent obstacles. Uno noticed some of them weren’t out at the ring a few weeks ago during their match. Uno says they should be helping each other! Alex Reynolds laughs and says that’s not what they did for Hangman Page. Uno says they need to honor what Page wanted and maybe Reynolds needs to take a step back and be in John Silver’s shadow. Reynolds is over all of this and leaves with Silver. 10 isn’t happy with Uno as he apologizes for stepping over the line.

– Clips shown from last week’s Rampage featuring the return of CM Punk.

– In the ring, Tony introduces CM Punk. Loud applause and “CM Punk!” chants for him as he makes his way to the ring. Tony says it’s an honor to be in the ring with him. Tony asks him a question as the crowd yells “CM Punk!” Punk then responds “I can’t hear you, Tony” and the two have a laugh. Punk jokes the crowd is a little too loud, and just wants to hear Tony’s question about what brought him back. It’s guys like Pillman Jr., Jungle Boy, Penta, Rey, and others. Before those guys, there’s only one — Darby Allin.

Punk says he’s not long the “voice of the voiceless” and there are people in the back that listen. He tells Allin that he’s watched him. He thinks Allin is reckless and just wants just end himself, so it makes him think when it comes to facing a guy like that “Can CM Punk still go? Is he still the best in the world?” If the answer is yes, it starts with Allin. Punk says Allin would have been his favorite wrestler when he was 15 years old.

Allin doesn’t fit the mold of what someone else think a pro wrestler is. He’s not the biggest or strongest, but he’s got heart. Crowd chants “Yes! Yes!” Punk says that’s someone else’s shtick and they just have to be a bit more patient. Crowd pops for that. Punk is looking to prove the haters wrong and then finishes by saying hi to his wife (April, fka WWE’s AJ Lee) at home.

– Miro cuts a promo about how God backs him because he is The Redeemer. He wants Eddie Kingston before he burns everything to the ground.

Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston, and Darby Allin with Sting vs. Ryan Nemeth, Cezar Bononi, and JD Drake with Peter Avalon

Allin and Drake get things going. Allin knocks Drake out to the floor, looks for a dive, but Drake runs off to the side. Kingston tags in to a “Eddie!” chant. Nemeth also comes into the match and struts his stuff a bit. He goes for a chop, doesn’t do much, Kingston with a shot and Nemeth quickly tags out to Bononi. Kingston tries to drop Bononi without much luck. Moxley ends up clearing house after tagging in.

Moxley working over Drake, throws a big strike and tags in Eddie Kingston. Kingston drops Drake. Looks to finish things, but Nemeth gets in the way and quickly gets dropped. Drake puts Kingston down and climbs up. Moxley runs over and bits Drake. Allin then jumps up after tagging in and nails a code red on Drake. Allin with some slaps, hits the ropes and Avalon trips him up. Sting gets right in Avalon’s face as Moxley and Kingston swing away on him. In the ring, Nemeth grabs a chair, but just gets run over by Moxley and Kingston. Back in the ring, over-the-top stunner on Drake. He heads to the top and lands a coffin drop, cover, 1-2-3.

Winners: Darby Allin, Jon Moxley, and Eddie Kingston

– Post-match, Daniel Garcia with a blindside on Allin. Sting gets in the ring and Garcia heads up to the stage.

– Women’s Casino Battle Royale gets some new participants: Julia Hart, Big Swole, The Bunny, Thunder Rosa, Red Velvet, Tay Conti, Penelope Ford, and Diamante. Nyla Rose was previously announced.

– Backstage, Alex Marvez talks with Tay Conti about being in the Casino Battle Royale. Marvez asks her about Dark Order having issues. The Bunny rolls up and says why is she bothering with those losers, she should join HFO and hands her a contract. Conti says no and tears up the contract. Bunny slaps her in the face and the two are separated.

– Dax Harwood gives an update on Cash Wheeler and says his injury is still healing up as nerves still aren’t firing up quite right. The two want another match though. Wheeler steps in and says they won’t stop until they get their pound of flesh.

– AEW World Champion Kenny Omega, Don Callis, Brandon Cutler, and MT Nagazawa head to the ring. Tony goes to talk, but Callis takes away the mic and says they are going to take down Christian Cage once and for all. Cage out to the stage with a mic and throws it a video showing off old footage of Christian working for Callis in Canada back in the day. Christian was apparently brought in and quickly let go by Callis. Christian again calls him a “carny piece of s—.” Omega talks some trash. Callis ended up taking a very young Omega under his wing since he was family. Christian can’t believe Omega is still even bothering with someone like Calli. Don is getting mad and asks someone to hold his scarf! He takes off his jacket and tells Christian at All Out, he’ll be what he’s been his whole career — second best. Christian shoves Calli, but gets cold spray in the face by Cutler. The group jump on Christian, but Frankie Kazarian runs out with a weapon in hand to clear out the group.

– Backstage, Jon Moxley isn’t happy. He got one contract back from NJPW and there was only one person who wanted to do it. Moxley says it’s Satoshi Kojima. He says that would be a treat for the fans at the PPV, but he couldn’t believe this “old man” wanted to take him on. Moxley says he’s going to try and break his neck and possibly have to eat through a straw for the rest of his life.

– Paul Wight joins commentary for the next match.

QT Marshall, Nick Comoroto, and Aaron Solo vs. Gunn Club (Austin, Colten, and Billy Gunn)

Comoroto working over Austin. QT gets in some shots and then stares over at the commentary table. The Factory taking turns on Austin during the break. Comoroto with a body slam on Austin. Austin is finally able to get a taunt and bring in Colten. He hits a bunch of splash, then a high dropkick on Solo.

Comoroto with a lariat, but is quickly sent out to the floor by Billy. They hit double clotheslines. In the ring, Marshall and Colten battle. QT with a backbreaker/flatliner combo, kip-up, and he points over at Wight. Paul finally stands up and looks at him. Colten with the roll-up and victory over QT.

Winners: Gunn Club

– Backstage, Dan Lambert is with Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page. He says he’s not getting through to the fans about this dumpster fire of a company. He realized it’s the fans fault the company is this way because this is what they like. He rips on some of the roster like Darby and Cassidy, and calls the fans some more names. He says the fans don’t want to see real men, guys like Sky and Page. “Real men who will stand up to the woke masses.”

– Next week on Dynamite:

* Brian Cage vs. Powerhouse Hobbs with Hook
* Orange Cassidy vs. Jack Evans with Matt Hardy
* FTR with Tully Blanchard vs. Santana and Ortiz
* Jim Ross in-ring interview with Chris Jericho
* Tony Schiavone sits down with MJF

– Friday’s Rampage:

* Jurassic Express vs. Lucha Bros (AEW Tag Title Eliminator Tournament)
* Tay Conti vs. The Bunny
* Kenny Omega and Brandon Cutler with Don Callis vs. Christian Cage and Frankie Kazarian

Malakai Black vs. Brock Anderson with Arn Anderson

Anderson gets right on Black and swings away on his opponent. He throws another punch, but then eats a rising knee strike to the face. Black with a bunch of punches in the corner. He throws some big kicks in the corner. Referee finally backs him up.

Black looks over at Arn. He pulls Brock over by his hair in front of Arn. Brock looks to be bleeding a bit. Arn has a white towel, but ends up throwing it on the ground. Black tells Arn to throw it in the ring! Black turns around to some punches from Brock. Brock takes an exploder suplex. Black then clocks him with a spinning roundhouse and Brock is out. Crowd clapping it up and says one more time. Black goes for the cover, and we’re already done here.

Winner: Malakai Black

– Post-match, Arn gets in the ring to help his son. Black leaps out and grabs a chair. Arn faces up with Black and tells Black to fight him without the chair. Black ditches the chair. He goes for a roundhouse kick and Arn blocks it. Black with a lowblow kick and then hits Arn with a roundhouse. Black sits on the top turnbuckl and looks at both men. Black barking at the camera as Lee Johnson makes his way into the ring. Black decides to bail out as Johnson stares at him. Black makes his way up the ramp as the show comes to a close.