-A fitting final match to the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship tournament. This tournament buoyed AEW television while it was going on and Willow Nightingale, Harley Cameron, Mina Shirakawa, and Toni Storm gave it an ending to remember. The match was solid from an in-ring perspective, but did a nice job of showcasing the teamwork of both sides. From the beginning, the tournament prioritized teams over big stars paired together and this match capitalized on that narrative.
Babes of Wrath
-Babes of Wrath were the right team to be crowned the first-ever women’s tag champions in AEW. Toni Storm is already a made star and Mina Shirakawa is a complimenting piece for her act. Nightingale and Cameron are elevated with this win as the first time champs. Plus, of everyone in the tournament, their pairing felt most like a true and tested team.
-Did a pig just fly over my head? AEW ran backstage promos by both Samoa Joe and Eddie Kingston this week ahead of them fighting for the world championship in the main event. Just perfect. Neither reinvented the promo wheel or anything like that, but it did a nice job focusing on the main event, making it feel big, and hyping it. More of this.
From The Takedown on SI
-Kind of a babyface promo from Jon Moxley this week. Noting that his back was against the wall in the Continental Classic will naturally pull fans to his side — only for The Death Riders to turn on him and cost him advancement. At this point, I’d be shocked if this story goes any other way.
-Kazuchika Okada vs. Jack Perry was a fine match, but a disappointing one because Darby Allin wasn’t in it due to injury. The Perry matches are going to be tough to get through, not because they are bad, but because he’s clearly not a focus of the tournament as a fill-in entrant. Glad to see Okada get the victory to improve his record in this year’s Continental Classic.
-Boy, they are still doing a Young Bucks vs. Callis Family story? Yawn. There just isn’t heat there.
The stars of the show
-Adam Page and Swerve Strickland are the biggest stars on the show. Their tag team oozed charisma and the audience ate out of the palm of their hand throughout their entire match. A strong win for them over The Opps. Curious as to where they go next? Both are lined up to face Samoa Joe, but both likely will in the near future.
-Kyle Fletcher vs. Mike Bailey in the Continental Classic Gold League was a phenomenal match. Precise action, selling, psychology, and unique spots all tied together in a crazy-paced match. Surprised to see Bailey get the win, but the entire thing built to the underdog victory. These kind of matches are what this tournament needs to be about. Thumbs way up.
-The Elite vs. The Don Callis Family next week on Dynamite? Fine. Good. Just get it over with already. Here’s hoping it’s a good match and there isn’t a reason it shouldn’t be.
Not Eddie’s time
-A strong main event between Eddie Kingston and Samoa Joe, but not very much room for drama. Joe was winning the entire way and everyone knew it. The more Kingston has championship matches, the more championship matches I want him to have. If AEW wants it, there is an Eddie Kingston chasing the title storyline that fans would get behind in a major way.
What did you think of this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite? Let us know in the comments!
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