AEW Dynamite Episode 16 Review

January 22, 2020 · The Norwegian Pearl Cruise Ship · TV viewers via Fightful: 871,000

We’re playing with our dinghies this week because it’s the Bash at the Beach event night two. It was also done in partnership with a cruise experience Chris Jericho annually hosts called the Rock ’N’ Rager at Sea.

Also, I decided that I’m not rating with stars anymore. Instead I’ll go with four choices of either bad, average, good or great.

Tag Team Championship Match

SCU defends against Kenny Omega and “Hangman’ Adam Page

The crowd noise was very low in their response to SCU being announced. They were cheering for Omega and loudly chanting “cowboy shit”. It followed with them not cheering for Frankie Kazarian, who was doing cool moves. They were behind the challengers.

All four did cool moves and worked seamlessly together. The match looked competitive from the start to the finish.

Page did a spot, like it seems he does every match, where he jumped from the top of the ropes down to the ground. It’s a cool stunt but he does it so often and it seems dangerous.

Result: Page and Omega win the titles

Rating: Great

Post-Match: Page distanced himself from the Young Bucks and being a part of the Elite with them and Omega. It wasn’t that interesting.

Priscilla Kelly vs Dr. Britt Baker

Kelly looked like a veteran and led the match. She slowed down to get into position and often pushed Baker into position. The match wasn’t bad, mostly because of her lead.

Result: Baker wins

Rating: Average

Post Match: Baker had a microphone and started being mouthy with Tony Schiavone. I remember it as being a star making performance, so to speak, but watching it here was different. Baker was soft spoken but she was saying heel stuff like, “I’m the hottest girl on this boat”. It was kind of funny and interesting. Maybe she was a little lost in what she was doing, or it wasn’t produced well, because as she was talking commentary cut to a commercial break. That left a bad impression about it. But it was oddly good to see her stepping out to try something.

Rating: Bad (but good)

There was a long and boring Jungle Boy video segment

Jurassic Express vs Inner Circle

Ortiz acted goofy a bunch. It’s a performance that a younger audience would probably like but it wasn’t clicking with the other performers or the target demographic it seemed. Jurassic Express were over with fans.

It was as I rated it.

Result: Inner Circle wins

Rating: Average

There was an MJF/Cody Rhodes video which was interesting unlike the other video packages. Where MJF excelled beyond his peers was him actively playing a part in interesting feuds. Compared to Jungle Boy who wasn’t fully comfortable with himself or playing a character.

MJF vs Joey Janela

MJF played to the crowd by having them kiss his diamond ring. It was alright. Janela had some success with getting the audience to respond.

Janela was whipped into the corner turnbuckle and started selling it by screaming like his back was broken. And when MJF kicked him after. It wasn’t the right vibe. He also didn’t look good physically, which hurt my perception of him as some kind of serious competitor.

MJF gave him a Cross Rhodes and Janela fell into it awkwardly landing straight down on his neck in MJF’s arm. That wasn’t cool either.

Result: MJF wins

Rating: Bad

Post Match: MJF got some mic time and he was good, especially for the time and place. He didn’t go over the top with yelling like he typically does. Here he spoke with a low voice and was taunting. It led to the Young Bucks attacking him on Cody’s behalf and they threw him into the pool on deck. Jim Ross quipped, “MJF has been humiliated and embarrassed at the hands of Cody and the Young Bucks”.

Number One Contender Match

Pac vs Jon Moxley

A video played of Pac basically complaining that he doesn’t get opportunities and that he’s angry. It honestly came across as selfish. Now that I think about it, is that good heel work?

Moxley had one eye bandaged over and covered up with a band aid patch, selling what Chris Jericho did to him the previous week.

The crowd became distracted by a few things outside of the match. Moxley threw up a middle finger at it and that got the people back for a little bit. Then they started up again. Jericho was on commentary and said they were yelling “Your ship sucks,” at another boat.

Pac decided not to try a move jumping from the top rope because his balance was off and I respected him taking time to make sure he was ready or not. They worked it into him jumping down into Moxley’s knees.

Jericho was great on commentary. He was funny and did well selling not wanting to have a title match against Moxley.

Moxley sold Pac as having pushed him to the brink of being on wobbly legs, but he fought through it to get his finisher.

Result: Moxley wins

Rating: Average

Episode Rating: Good

A mixed bag like usual but this week it came from a unique venue. It’s pretty cool that Jericho put together a concert and wrestling cruise and they filmed the week’s show from it. The Young Bucks were doing their stuff with Being the Elite and it was all a great time in history. Just good ol’ fun. What’s to get so hung up about?