Biased Thoughts: AEW Dynamite #214
MODA Center, Portland. Oregon. 4,5k Tickets Sold. November 8th 2023
Another opener having MJF talking with Cole via skype, Cole mentions to MJF that he should pick Joe as his partner. This segment was so weird because MJF was the one pushing the comedic shit all over the show and now he is the on screen catalyst of changing the stupid comedy to something of actual quality, back to be a pro wrestling show. Either way whatever it takes to get way less of caricature characters and awful comedy segments. I´m ok with this segment because set the tone change because AEW when they want to change something they aren´t quiet about it and I like that.
MJF vs Daniel Garcia for the AEW World Championship (***1/2) Good match, but I´m absolutely not feeling it with MJF as Champ, for some reason because I was all in on him when he won at AEW Full Gear. I guess the storyline of Danny continues and it looks promising but we need to have it with a payoff, if they fumble this other chance well…
Darby Allin & Sting vs The Outrunners (***) This was very sweet. Is not like Sting was a legend in Portland or something like that BUT Sting is having his last matches in this different parts of the US. This was a nice piece of business.
Swerve Strickland vs Penta El Zero Miedo (***3/4) Great matchwith Swerve showing more agresiveness in the way that it should in pro wrestling, brutalizing your rival in the ring. The post match angles was what this feud has need for a long time. The best Hangman is the pissed off motivated for glory Hangman, that´s why his chase and battle against the odds vs The Elite for the AEW World Championship is legendary.
Samoa Joe vs Keith Lee (***1/2) I really liked this one, big guys doing athletic stuff from Keith Lee while Joe mixing in a more grounded work too. This guys hopefully run it back at some point because there´s something. Glad to see Keith Lee doing great.
Julia Hart vs Red Velvet (***1/4) Fantastic bumping and selling by Red Velvet in her comeback match after months of been out for an injury, Julia is growing as a wrestler and that is always great.
Mariah May is All Elite, I have hype to see how she does in this division.
Jay White vs Mark Briscoe (***1/2) This match was a good main event, with Jay White getting another clean win and letting Mark Briscoe shine. I would say this, I expect even better matches from Jay in TV. He really hasn´t cracked the 4.5 stars in singles matches yet. I think he can do it, this are still good performances but we are talking about one of the most talented NJPW Dojo products and a Tokyo Dome main eventer. The post match was interesting but I´m still not that in this devil storyline but that´s more on my issues with MJF as Champ.
Rating of the Show: 7/10
We are not back, but this is a step forward to the right direction. There is still some overgoofiness here and there and some things that are weird but are necessary pains for an organical change in booking philosophy as well that we will start a new PPV cycle. Good Dynamite. The rating won´t matter because there was just too much comp but no matter the number just keep going back to what make AEW different and hot business wise.
