The October 30 edition of AEW Dynamite takes place live from the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio. This is a special Halloween edition of Dynamite.
It’s the night before Halloween, once again it’s Swerve’s house
There’s business to resolve after MVP ran his mouth;
Elsewhere The Young Bucks address criticism of their decline
Against Private Party who are putting it all on the line;
Kamille takes on Kris Stalander in what should be a snug fight
While Jon Moxley will again try to snuff out someone’s light.
Enough rhymes and fun. Last week’s Dynamite delivered mixed results that embody the not-perfect state of AEW’s current creative direction. And yet, I’m excited about storyline beginnings, conclusions, and progression for this week’s spooky season edition.
Halloween-themed episodes in the past have provided memorable visuals and moments. The parallels between horror and wrestling are not that different (as Ryan Page has just discussed here). It will be seen how this will mesh with the dangerous threat and actions elicited by Jon Moxley and Blackpool Combat Club.
Will Orange Cassidy be willing to step up after Chuck Taylor was maimed? Could Will Ospreay return, and may an “All Mighty” one debut? Might Adam Cole vs. Buddy Matthews steal the night?
Tricks and treats on this evening are welcome.
AEW Dynamite Announced Card Thus Far:
Matches announced:
- Swerve Strickland vs. Shelton Benjamin
- World Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks vs. Private Party*
- Adam Cole vs. Buddy Matthews
- Kamille vs. Kris Statlander
*If Private Party loses they will split up
Other segments announced:
- Orange Cassidy to appear
Speculation:
- Further build and more matches made official for Full Gear?
Banger of the Night: Strickland Returns to Conduct Business with The Hurt Syndicate
Shelton Benjamin has defied age, time, and transitioning to AEW’s in-ring style which other ex-WWE wrestlers have struggled with at first. Made to appear like an absolute killer, playing with his food, against Lio Rush and Sammy Guevara, Strickland is going to be tested. A rebound victory isn’t going to be easy.
If an upset occurred with the right finish, inference, or debut of one Bobby Lashley, I don’t think many folks would be upset. The booking’s success has been in both teasing the arrival of Lashley, while also offering this potential barnburner of a match. Benjamin is no tomato can; no stepping stone.
Instead, Benjamin feels like the gold standard that his time in WWE never allowed him to be. Both the match and its outcome are anticipated.
Given how MVP has been giving out his cards, the potential for a swerve with someone besides Lashley to be involved before, during, or after the match is there. This incomplete stable already feels like the hottest act in the promotion. Where this takes Strickland’s character and fits into his own recovery after the violent splendor of All Out feels must watch.
Everyone is ready for business to begin.
Gamble of the Night: Oh my God… Can Private Party Do It?
The Young Bucks are far from wasted, sub-par, or dull. Yet, when you are one of the greatest tag teams of all time, the standard set is incredibly high.
This AEW World Tag Championship reign has been cold and mechanical. At worse, dead. And yet, at WrestleDream, it felt like for the first time in months that a pulse emerged.
Private Party, like The Acclaimed at All Out 2022, turned in a performance that made fans believe they could win the championships. Unlike The Acclaimed at that time, years of inconsistency with booking and injuries meant Private Party was stuck on the treadmill. The recent storyline that developed after BCC challenged the pair to step up and redefine themselves lit a spark that caught alit in Tacoma, Washington.
Like The Acclaimed who had their Grand Slam moment in 2022, this could be their time to ascend. To lead the division, which will be short and long-term has its own risks due to a lack of depth and focus. To put out another everything on the line performance and make up for the past by changing the present.
Or maybe that’s it. It’s time for Isaiah Cassidy and Marq Quen to split. Try something new.
The gamble is two-fold. The risk of the match not meeting expectations and just being mechanical and cold without heart and dampening either a title switch or a day one homegrown team dissolving. Flatlining was caused by a lack of emphasis and care on what was once one of the most important divisions in AEW.
The history is undeniable. At WrestleDream they brought something to life. One more big push.
An all-out affair. The foreshadowing of something with a sneak from The Jacksons and party time?
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube.
