AEW Weekly BreakDown June 24-30

 Written By: Danny Albers

Dynamite 6/26

MJF opened up the segment getting a huge pop from the Buffalo crowd. He was quickly interrupted by hometown kid Daniel Garcia. MJF, who I thought was all about “Hate, Hate, Hate,” cut a 3 minute promo gassing up Daniel Garcia and talking about how much he respects and is proud of Garcia’s accomplishment. But Will Ospreay would come out, and he would steal MJF’s moment doing much of the same. MJF made a match at All In Wembley, and Ospreay gave Garcia a title match next week. MJF was clearly bothered by this intrusion and Ospreay clearly did this to send a shot at MJF for his mocking comments about Ospreay a couple weeks ago. I see what they were trying to do here with setting up beef between Ospreay and MJF, but I think it was poorly executed. I also feel like AEW stars contradict their characters on a week-to-week basis, and to me that means there is no creative planning. The show literally feels like they’re winging it based on the location and how the stars are feeling that night. 

The next match was a triple threat match between BCC (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta) and LIJ (Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, Titan). This to me is what Forbidden Door season is all about. There were Japanese wrestlers that US audiences care about in Takahashi and Takagi. There also was a good level of competitive wrestling mixed with American household names of Claudio and Mox. Both teams were protected with the finish, and it allowed for Danielson to race to the ring and face off with Takagi, his opponent at Forbidden Door. It was a really well done match and segment and I think it left interest for the pay per view next week. 

Jay White and Rey Fenix had a really good match. I hope Jay White wins this Owen Hart Tournament. He’s two good to be in trios matches, and The Gunns and Juice Robinson can world the match with The Patriarchy. Fenix has been really good in this stint after his injury. He’s elevated his opponents in every spot, and I think AEW is using him in the right way. 

This is where my criticism kicks in on AEW. I think AEW has missed on this Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa feud. It’s cartoonish like something you’d see in a sitcom or an improv show. Saraya shouldn’t be wrestling and it’s clear. She’s nowhere near her old form, and it’s clear she’s walking on eggshells in there. Cameron and Jay aren’t bad. And I thought they sold well for Toni and Mina. Toni had to completely water down her offense not to hurt Saraya and it messed up the rhythm of the match. And the ending where Mina tried to hit Toni but hit Mariah on accident with the champagne bottle was terrible. It was so slow and unbelievable. This Japanese hokey style of wrestling is going to be the death of this company. 

The next segment was The Acclaimed who challenged The Elite. Out came the Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada. They made the crowd when Okada said “scissor me bitch.” But Billy Gunn silenced the crowd. He announced that there will be a trios match, and Hiroshi Tanahashi will be the third member of “Scissor Ace” at the Forbidden Door. An old rivalry from Japan reunited. After that, Kyle O’ Reilly and Zach Sabre Jr. put on a technical masterpiece. You have to have an acquired taste for Sabre Jr.’s style. I’m interested to see him and Orange Cassidy work together. The clash of styles will be interesting to watch how it plays out in the ring. This reminds me of a type of match you’d watch in the Cruiserweight Classic. 

The final match was Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland working together to put away Gates of Agony. It was a fun ending to the go Dynamite before a pay per view. Gates of Agony did a good job putting both champions over. Ospreay and Swerve looked natural working together. I’m interested to see how they book this main event for the pay per view. What I think they’re doing, to give Tony Kahn a little bit credit, is having Hangman return to break up the match. Maybe Hangman is working for The Elite, and we’ll get a Blood and Guts match. But I doubt that AEW intends to have a clean finish at Forbidden Door between Ospreay and Swerve. 

Overall Showgrade: C- 

Rampage 6/28 

This is where I get upset with Tony Kahn. What the hell is the point of having a decent tag team in The Outrunners get beat by a small competitor like Orange Cassidy. And it’s not like Orange stole the match. He dominated in a handicap match. I mean, usually if somebody lost a handicap match, it was against Big Show or Kane. A monster competitor, not a guy in sunglasses and his hands in pocket weight 110 pounds soaking wet.. Awful booking for a tag team that I’ve thought showed some potential. 

And speaking of burying tag teams. Remember when The Infantry was feuding with FTR? Well now they had Gabe Kidd and Roderick Strong show up and bury them. Gabe Kidd is a talented wrestler. But outside of Japan or the UK, you probably have no idea who this guy is. There was no build to his appearance, or an explanation why he’s working with The Kingdom. And speaking of not introducing someone. El Phantasmo took on AR Fox in a TNT Title ladder match. El Phantasma is another great talent, but outside of people who love New Japan, fans don’t really have an idea of who this guy is. These guys had a great match, and I wish they’d get more time and more video packages. Phantasma will be competing in the TNT ladder match. Some of the waste of time being displayed on Rampage and you put on a matchup like this. It insults me as someone who watches the show. That I end up having to watch a Dark Order VS jobbers match 75 times when AEW is capable of having high level wrestling like this. 

Shingo Takagi faced Dalton Castle in the next match. Takagi has had some good exposure to the AEW audience. He's a hard hitter and beat the crap out of Dalton Castle who I gained a lot of respect for in this match. Takagi picked up the win in this match. Takagi and Danielson should put on a banger Sunday. I’d like to see Takagi hang around, and AEW put Takagi over by having him beat some more AEW stars. It will never happen, but I think it would be great in the partnership for the two companies and it wouldn’t take Takagi long to get over with the crowd. 

The final match was Skye Blue and Queen Aminata facing each other once again. Aminata got the pinfall win on the main show over Skye Blue. Blue got angry and attacked Aminata, while Red Velvet came down to the ring to help out Aminata. Here’s my final say with AEW. This was the main event with Red Velvet in a spot that usually a star would be in closing the show. When was the last time we saw Red Velvet? These people need to work or they will never get over with the crowd. 

Overall Showgrade: B- 

Collision 6/29 

The show opened with the cronies of Zack Sabre, Robbie Eagles and Shane Haste of TMDK facing Orange Cassidy and his friend Tomohiro Ishii. Orange Cassidy pinned Robbie Eagles for the win. This was obviously to get Orange over to look like a threat to Zack Sabre Jr. who is well renowned as one of the best wrestlers in the industry. They’ve been selling it like Orange has to prove it to himself and everyone that he can hang with this caliber of an opponent. So taking on TMDK to make a statement to his opponent just one night ahead of their match seems like something someone would do to prove a point. Strong booking here, and a fun opening match. 

Stephanie Vaquer was in the house to show off before she faced the franchise player Mercedes Moné. She took on Lady Frost, who’s slowly becoming a fan favorite with her ability in the ring. This match was all Vaquer so she looked like a menace with Mercedes ringside. An interesting decision to have Zeuxis get involved. This might be foreshadowing a win for Mercedes at the pay per view, and a feud between Zeuxis and Mercedes to give Zeuxis exposure. 

Samoa Joe, Hook, and Shibata attacked The Learning Chris Jerico and Big Bill. But Jericho had a trick up his sleeve. It appears his mystery partner is none other than Jeff Cobb. He helped the learning tree break down their 3 opponents for Sunday pay per view. After this segment, Serena Deeb faced a Buffalo jobber Kelly Madan. Deeb one pretty quickly and cut a promo about falling short. She proclaimed herself as the best, and Riho showed up. I guess her 4-weeks off, 2-week on cycle has brought her back to television. I’m sure she will be Deeb next week on Collision, and then disappear for another 4-weeks. 

Hechicero faced a local wrestler Kevin Blackwood. He destroyed his opponent and mocked the crowd embracing his heel persona. He locked in a submission and wouldn’t release the hold. Daniel Garcia and The Butcher were next, two Buffalo hometown boys. I love both guys, Butcher looks excellent and his moves really sold as devastating. Garcia looked like he genuinely had to work for the win in this match. 

Before the main event, we got a Women’s Tournament Quarterfinal in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament. Hikaru Shida and Deonna Purrazzo. I thought Shida looked like a shell of herself in this match. She’s not looking nearly as fast or powerful, and she’s relying too much on the kendo stick now. I wasn’t impressed knowing what both ladies are capable of. After Shida won the match she was attacked from behind by Purrazzo. I’m not sure the reason behind it, especially after she lost clean. 

The action wasn’t done there. We had a trio tag team match. El Phantasmo, Jack Perry, and Konosuke Takeshita beat Mark Briscoe, Lio Rush, and Dante Martin. The match was sold, but the result was irrelevant. All men turned on eachother and the TNT title somehow made its way to the ring. Each man would have a high spot knocking each other outside of the ring before Mark Briscoe took them all out flying off the ladder. The night ended with a weight in between Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland. I don’t typically like weigh-ins for wrestling matches, but the smack talk was great. Will Ospreay leveled Swerve Strickland which could win a Golden Globe for how he sold the finish to the show. I’m ready for the pay-per-view.