AEW Dynamite Review - May 12, 2021

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley def. Yuji Nagata

For what it's worth, I believe Moxley coming out to "Wild Thing" was a one-time thing as it was supposed to be a tribute to Atsushi Onita, but either way, it was cool. This was a very enjoyable opener. I didn't know much about Nagata coming into this show, but they did a nice job of catching unfamiliar viewers up to speed with video packages and making him feel like a Japanese legend. He had a strong showing as these two had a hard-hitting affair. Unlike most fans, I figured there was a chance Nagata would win and take the title back to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, but Moxley's record-setting reign rolls on instead. Hopefully this is the beginning of more NJPW guys coming over and making AEW appearances.

Cody Rhodes Challenged Anthony Ogogo to a Match at Double or Nothing

We haven't heard Cody cut a meaningful promo in some time. He's been involved in forgettable feud after forgettable feud, but I was happy that he had an ample amount of time to talk for a change. That said, the material was all over the place and didn't fit his current storyline with Ogogo at all. He played up this angle that Ogogo is disrespecting America by coming to the country and wreaking havoc, except we haven't heard much from Ogogo at all so far on Dynamite. I think he laid an English flag on Cody last week and that was it. Don't get me wrong, his emotion was excellent, but this could have been a lot simpler considering the end result was a challenge for a match at Double or Nothing, a rivalry that only started a week or two ago. Props to Cody for trying to elevate a new star, but he would have been the perfect opponent for Kenny Omega at Double or Nothing if that stupid stipulation preventing him from contending for the AEW World Championship wasn't in place.

AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks def. SCU (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian)

SCU said months ago that the next match they lost, they'd be done as a team. They should've said that they'd only break up if they didn't win the tag titles eventually because that would've made this more unpredictable. Then again, I don't know if anyone actually saw the titles changing hands with Double or Nothing in a few weeks and the duo of Moxley and Eddie Kingston being set up to face the Bucks on that show. The match itself was entertaining as these teams have had great chemistry in every company they've had matches. The blood was a little over the top, but at least it made for memorable visual. I wasn't big on all of the interference, but that's become par for the course with The Elite. My biggest issue was that AEW immediately cut away from the aftermath instead of letting it sink in. I mean, SCU have been a team for almost a decade. To not let that sink in a little longer was a mistake.

Pac vs. Orange Cassidy in an AEW World Championship No. 1 Contender's Match Ended in a Draw

Cassidy's first singles match came against Pac at last year's Revolution pay-per-view, so it was cool to see them run it back here. They were having a good match up until the lame finish. I don't know if that was always the plan or if the contest was cut short because Cassidy was possibly hurt, but either way, it fell flat. Kenny Omega interfering and thinking that he could get way with not defending the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing because this resulted in a draw was incredibly dumb. We see it all the time in WWE and it always ends up being a three-way. Omega vs. Pac vs. Cassidy should be fun, but it doesn't feel like a pay-per-view world title matchup to me.

The Pinnacle Agreed to Face Inner Circle in a Stadium Stampede Match at Double or Nothing

Even though his bump off the top of the cages was shot terribly, I was hoping Chris Jericho would be left off the show for at least a few weeks to sell it. But nope, he was already back this week, just wearing an arm brace. I know they had to set up Stadium Stampede 2 for Double or Nothing, but they should have held Jericho off until the event. Either way, the segment was solid up until the bubbly bath from Inner Circle. It was a clear rip-off from when "Stone Cold" Steve Austin did it during the Attitude Era, and while I realize angles are recycled all the time, it just didn't look good and will probably be forgotten about in a week or two. I'm fine with another Stadium Stampede match, but I wish they hadn't done Blood and Guts in that case. That should have been saved for the blow-off and not been used as a transition match right before a big pay-per-view. Does Inner Circle lose and break up? I don't think so, but I'd personally be in favor of those guys going their separate ways at this point.

Jim Ross Hosted a Sit-Down Interview with Britt Baker

This was a pre-taped segment. I like the in-ring interviews with Tony Schiavone, but I appreciate whenever they switch it up and do the interviews in the back like they did here. Baker has been firing on all cylinders for months and there's no doubt in my mind that she should walk out of Double or Nothing as AEW Women's World Champion. She came across very well here as always and the footage from her previous match with Shida from last week (where Baker got bloodied up) was a nice touch.

Thunder Rosa def. Jazmin Allure

I was going to say I was glad Rosa has been maintaining a presence on Dynamite after winning that huge main event Unsanctioned Lights Out two months ago, but then I realized all of the appearances I'm thinking of happened on Dark and Dark: Elevation. This was actually her first match on Dynamite since beating Britt Baker. The AEW Women's World Championship is still on her radar, but she said she wants to go back after the NWA World Women's Championship first. Speaking of which, Serena Deeb is back next week defending the title against Red Velvet, which is great news.

Miro def. Darby Allin to Win the AEW TNT Championship

It was heavily foreshadowed that Allin was losing when Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page throwing him down the stairs last week was shown and mentioned several times. However, that didn't make this any less excellent. Allin sold Miro's offense extraordinarily well and even came close to pulling out the win on a few occasions. I loved the dynamic they had and it made for an above-average main event. Miro winning the title was the right call as Allin and Sting shift their focus to Sky and Page, presumably at Double or Nothing. I assume that's where we'll also get Miro vs. Lance Archer for the TNT title, which has the potential to be a hell of a hoss fight.

Overall Show

With everything that was advertised, I was looking forward to this show on paper and it delivered. Miro winning the AEW TNT Championship in a top-notch main event was newsworthy, the opener was a blast, the tag title match was as well-wrestled as you'd expect, and we finally got real build for Double or Nothing. The AEW World Championship picture has been disappointing and Rhodes vs. Ogogo feels rushed, but I believe the good has been outweighing the bad in AEW lately and I've been digging the shows more often than not.