Friday night’s episode of Dynamite is the go-home show before this Sunday’s Pay-Per-View, Double or Nothing, and there is so much to cover for that event, that I don’t even know how AEW is going to squeeze it all in for one show. There will be TWO different types of celebrations, a rematch from All In 2018, the weight-in for a big Double or Nothing clash, and the new TNT champion will have his first title defence opportunity.
All that and SO much more, and here is where we’ll break it all down.
Miro (C) vs Dante Martin
This will be the first match that Miro will be having since defeating Darby Allin two weeks ago to become the new TNT champion. Miro has made it known that he will take on anyone, and there is already a long list of wrestlers who want their shot at the champ.
Dante Martin broke in to AEW with his brother, Darius, as a part of the tag team Top Flight. Dante has been a solo act for the better part of 2021, due to the injury of Darius. This is easily the biggest opportunity that Dante has received as a singles competitor, but I don’t expect it to go to well for him…
Miro is finally looking like the dominant force everybody wanted him to be as soon as he came to AEW, and I think he is going to win Friday night rather routinely. Miro won’t have too much time to rest, as he’s set to have his second title match on Sunday at Double or Nothing vs the Murderhawk Lance Archer.
Joey Janela vs Hangman Page
This is a rematch of the Cracker Barrel Street Fight that these two had at All Out in 2018, the event that many see as the main reason AEW became a promotion. That match was absolutely wild, and while a still think this match will be entertaining, I don’t think we’ll see barrels thrown around in this one.
Hangman Page was the #1 ranked singles competitor for weeks, before his untimely loss to Brian Cage 2 weeks ago. Page will have his chance for redemption at this Sunday’s PPV, but he better not overlook his opponent Friday night.
Joey Janela has been in some of the most memorable matches in the history of AEW, against some of the biggest names. The unsanctioned match vs Jon Moxley, and the lights out match vs Kenny Omega to name a couple. It’s all great to have memorable matches, but the Bad Boy needs to start winning them… Janela is one of my personal favourites, and I’m happy to see he’s slowly starting to get some wins on dark.
My ideal scenario for this match, is that Janela gets the win because of distractions by Brian Cage and Team Taz. In this situation, it’s a loss that Hangman could immediately get right back on Sunday, and it would be a MASSIVE win for Joey Janela…Hopefully Tony Khan is reading this!
Celebrations for the Inner Circle + Hikaru Shida Year Long Reign as Champion
The Inner Circle have been feuding for the past couple months with MJF’s newly formed faction, the Pinnacle. Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle came up short in the first ever Blood and Guts match on May 5th, but goaded the Pinnacle into a rematch in a Stadium Stampede match at Double or Nothing.
The stipulation that MJF added to the match, is that if the Inner Circle lose again, they have to break up as a group. That’s why I find it interesting that AEW will be holding a celebration of the Inner Circle, because it seems as though they might be preparing for this to be there last appearance on Dynamite as a faction…
There will also be a look back at the last 365 days of the AEW women’s champion, Hikaru Shida. Shida has held the the women’s championship for a full calendar year, and really carried the division through the pandemic era. This is a celebration that feels more deserved, but also has the sense that the title reign might be coming to the end. Hikaru Shida has a title match at Double or Nothing against Britt Baker, and it’s hard to find a wrestler who has more momentum then Baker at this point in time.
There is tons more going on for tonight’s show, including the weight-in between Cody Rhodes and Anthony Ogogo. Darby Allin will be in singles action against big Cezar Bononi. The Dark Order’s Evil Uno and Stu Grayson take on Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page, and Jade Cargill will issue an open challenge.
All this and so much more can be seen on TNT (TSN in Canada) at a special day and time of Friday at 10PM.
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