{"id":126344,"date":"2024-08-13T10:00:29","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T14:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=126344"},"modified":"2024-08-13T09:29:26","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T13:29:26","slug":"preview-aew-dynamite-8-14-24-the-young-bucks-defend-their-titles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/08\/13\/preview-aew-dynamite-8-14-24-the-young-bucks-defend-their-titles\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: AEW Dynamite (8\/14\/24)- The Young Bucks Defend Their Titles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After a week away, I\u2019ve caught up on last week\u2019s <strong><em>Dynamite <\/em><\/strong>and the discord. Is there a correlation between the continual (insidious) criticism and what might be <strong>AEW<\/strong>\u2019s best PPV build of 2024?<\/p>\n<p>Two weeks away from <strong><em>All In<\/em><\/strong>, we have six confirmed matches for the main card and one for Zero Hour<em>.<\/em> More will be confirmed.<\/p>\n<p>Has everything been perfect in the build? No.<\/p>\n<p>However, the general consistency and clarity of the top PPV matches have been strong. Has some of the controversy online been valid?<\/p>\n<p>As I\u2019ll discuss with the AEW World Tag Team Championship match, to an extent, yes. Regardless of any negativity, <em>All In<\/em> and <em>Dynamite <\/em>this week are looking stacked.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the excellent in-ring action that is AEW\u2019s bread and butter, there is potential in all the announced matches for storyline progression. Five confirmed matched and several big segments, there are questions that need answers, with fresh questions left for the following weeks.<\/p>\n<p>I won\u2019t be able to preview all of them in detail. But optimistically, if the wrestling gods are on my side, I\u2019d expect <strong>Swerve Strickland<\/strong> to beat <strong>Wheeler Yuta<\/strong> into a pulp.<\/p>\n<p>Would a callback to Wheeler\u2019s tenacity from his series with <strong>Jon Moxley <\/strong>be too much to ask for? Only for Strickland to put Yuta down.<\/p>\n<p>Thus ensuring Yuta&#8217;s mentor, <strong>Bryan Danielson,<\/strong> understands how his career might end at <em>All In<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kyle O\u2019Reilly<\/strong> vs. <strong>Orange Cassidy<\/strong> vs. <strong>Roderick Strong<\/strong> might be a show-stealer. <strong>Claudio Castagnoli<\/strong> and <strong>Kazuchika Okada<\/strong> might surprise fans when they meet in-ring.<\/p>\n<p>Okada will have more for Castagnoli than just \u201cb*tch\u201d. Folks who say Okada has been reduced to just comedy will likely forget that once the bell rings.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, the fuse is lit. Pop!<\/p>\n<h3>AEW Dynamite Announced Card Thus Far:<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Matches announced: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks vs. The Acclaimed<\/li>\n<li>TBS Championship: Mercedes Mon\u00e9 Hikaru Shida<\/li>\n<li>AEW World Champion, Swerve Strickland vs. Wheeler Yuta<\/li>\n<li>\u201cHangman\u201d Adam Page vs. Jay Lethal<\/li>\n<li>3-way for the #1 spot in the casino gauntlet at All In: Kyle O\u2019Reilly vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Roderick Strong<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Other segments announced:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A film by Mariah May<\/li>\n<li>Kazuchika Okada and Claudio Castagnoli meet in-ring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Speculation<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>More All In matches made<\/li>\n<li>Further build towards All In<\/li>\n<li>A recap of MJF\u2019s AEW American Championship defense from RevPro this past weekend<\/li>\n<li>A clearer sense of the AEW World Tag Team Championship match for All\u00a0In<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The Ace vs. The CEO<\/h3>\n<p>When challenging <strong>Dr Britt Baker, DMD<\/strong><strong>\u00a0s<\/strong>everal weeks ago, <strong>Hikaru Shida<\/strong> believed she deserved a TBS Championship shot. Shida lost to Baker in the dentist\u2019s first match back in AEW since her injury.<\/p>\n<p>However, partly what cost the Ace was indecision of whether or not to use the kendo stick. Many fans are ready and willing to see a heel\/Yakuza-inspired version of Shida.<\/p>\n<p>However, against <strong>Mercedes Mone<\/strong>, Shida will be the sentimental favorite. A representation of the foundation of AEW\u2019s women\u2019s division.<\/p>\n<p>Noticeably, in the build to <em>All In<\/em>, Mon\u00e9 has beaten <strong>Nyla Rose<\/strong><strong>, <\/strong>another former AEW original. Subtle storytelling of Mercedes trying to establish her supremacy over the AEW originals? Could a match with <strong>Riho<\/strong> be next?<\/p>\n<p>Some fans online have been frustrated that this match is being put on<em> Dynamite<\/em> without much build. There has been a one-sided build from Shida.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, I can understand the frustration. Partly because, as AEW fans, we feel Shida deserves more.<\/p>\n<p>This feels like it could be a bigger contest than what we are getting.<\/p>\n<p>When evaluating Mone&#8217;s opponents in AEW (\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/18\/potential-opponents-mercedes-mone-aew\/\" target=\"_self\">Following the Mon\u00e9<\/a>\u201d), I ranked Shida as a deserving long-term prospect. If a match between them was rushed, it would harm the division.<\/p>\n<p>Differently from when I wrote this insight, the women\u2019s division is in a stronger place. This match doesn\u2019t have to be a one-and-done.<\/p>\n<p>It could, with the right storyline elements, be revisited for a fuller feud later. Shida is going through her own story arc that will eventually lead to her turning heel.<\/p>\n<p>It feels inevitable that Mone will win. With some help perhaps from <strong>Kamille<\/strong> at ringside to keep Shida strong.<\/p>\n<p>Or maybe fresh from suspension, Baker\u2019s interference costs Shida?<\/p>\n<h3>The Hangman to Administer the Lethal Injection?<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Jay Lethal\u2019s <\/strong>reputation in AEW as a designated pinfall-taker is not likely to change on Wednesday. Lethal will be the sacrificial lamb to <strong>\u201cHangman\u201d Adam Page<\/strong>, but the intrigue comes in terms of the storytelling and how Page continues to break bad.<\/p>\n<p>Hangman showed no mercy in his match with <strong>Jeff Jarrett<\/strong>. Against Danielson, Page\u2019s focus on inflicting hurt and addressing past issues with The American Dragon cost him.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, against <strong>Darby Allin<\/strong>, Page lost again because this darkness really isn\u2019t him. In this side-step away from his desire to take everything from Strickland, by seeking vengeance on Jeff Jarrett, Page may unleash more brutality.<\/p>\n<p>In each of the previous encounters discussed, there has been a consistent attempt by Page to show and not tell the struggle the character is experiencing. It\u2019s a diversion from feuding with Strickland, but that fire will be stoked again soon.<\/p>\n<p>Some fans are keen for Page to face Strickland sooner rather than later. Yet, perhaps they haven\u2019t considered the possible mirroring of Page\u2019s road to redemption from his first arc.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, I shared two articles discussing the overarching theme of mental health in Page\u2019s arcs. The first on his first arc to becoming the AEW World Champion.<\/p>\n<p>This focused on imposter syndrome at the core of his anxiety (<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/08\/05\/aews-hangman-adam-page-and-mental-health-imposter-syndrome\/\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a>). The second on this current arc is where I argue the character is relapsing and regressing rather than moving forward (<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/08\/07\/aews-hangman-adam-page-and-mental-health-relapse\/\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>How many buckshots or deadeyes is Lethal likely to receive? How low will Page sink?<\/p>\n<p>And what will this mean perhaps for <em>All In<\/em>? It\u2019s clear throughout his AEW run, Jarrett can thrive still in hardcore stipulation matches.<\/p>\n<p>The idea that, like a Western, the Cowboy taking out The Last Outlaw could be cinematic.<\/p>\n<h3>20 Years of The Young Bucks &#8211; Proving Ground<\/h3>\n<p>Last week, <strong>The Young Bucks<\/strong> celebrated twenty years of being in the wrestling business and, of course, discord followed. Recently, discussion around the creative and the lack of championship defenses by the EVPs has rightly been discussed.<\/p>\n<p>With news of the potential loss of <strong>The Lucha Brothers<\/strong> and a reduction in the status of the AEW tag team scene, the Bucks have become both scapegoats and reasons for problems. Already experiencing a controversial summer due to the mixed results of <strong>The (Corporate) Elite<\/strong> takeover and the expectation that The Bucks would be featured more regularly on TV in matches has made this a valid conversation.<\/p>\n<p>As characters, The Bucks negging on their haters throughout this heel run have walked a tightrope as thick as dental floss. It\u2019s fair to say some AEW fans have been alienated by this approach to addressing their critics (a full analysis can be found <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/25\/the-corporate-elite-is-the-aew-faction-whats-best-for-business\/\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>The prospect of either The Bucks vs. <strong>FTR <\/strong>or\/and <strong>The Acclaimed<\/strong> at <em>All In<\/em> does not seem as inspired as it might have been a year ago. And yet\u2026 The Young Bucks have shown already this year that they can still recapture that magic.<\/p>\n<p>The Bucks when they have been in action, as characters and wrestlers in-ring still prove they can be great, if inconsistent and not performing to the standards many want them to be performing on a weekly basis. In their first eliminator match against The Acclaimed, the EVPs made the former tag team and trios champions seem like a credible threat again.<\/p>\n<p>The Acclaimed&#8217;s promo work in recent weeks has shown a fire that\u2019s been missing. For both teams, this match is the opportunity to address criticism and put tag wrestling back into AEW\u2019s USP.<\/p>\n<p>Prove themselves ahead of AEW\u2019s biggest summer show.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Looking for an AEW Deep Dive?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>James has also written a series that takes a deep dive into\u00a0<\/em><strong>AEW<\/strong><em>\u2019s\u00a0short but impactful history. In part 1, James discussed how AEW changed the wrestling industry (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/06\/02\/five-years-how-aew-changed-the-wrestling-industry\/\" target=\"_self\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><em>).\u00a0In Part 2, James discussed how\u00a0AEW\u2019s\u00a0continued existence benefits wrestlers and fans alike (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/06\/03\/five-years-how-aew-changed-wrestling-for-everyone\/\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a><em>).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Part 3 has\u00a0been divided\u00a0into two articles. One discusses the differences between in-ring action and storytelling (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/06\/09\/aews-polarising-present-wrestling-nirvana-potholed-creative\/\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a><em>). The other excellent in-ring action is compensating for\u00a0wider\u00a0issues in AEW creative (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/06\/14\/aews-polarising-present-the-limitations-of-where-the-best-wrestle\/\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a><em>). The final part will discuss\u00a0AEW\u2019s\u00a0future.\u00a0Including discussing\u00a0the problems that AEW faces\u00a0and\u00a0questions\u00a0<\/em><strong>Tony Khan<\/strong><em>\u00a0will have to address. In a bonus article, James evaluates the criticism levelled at the company on social media and podcasters as well as the company\u2019s response (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/06\/17\/aews-polarising-present-aew-is-under-attack\/\" target=\"_self\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><em>). In the final upcoming part, James examines how for AEW\u2019s future <strong>Tony Khan<\/strong> can compete with\u00a0<\/em><strong><em>WWE<\/em><\/strong><em>\u00a0beyond just in the ring (<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/07\/02\/aews-future-who-aew-needs-to-compete-with-wwe-on-all-levels\/\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a><em>).\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/h3>\n<p><em>Header photo \u2013\u00a0AEW\u00a0\u2013 Stay tun<\/em><em>ed to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"1\" target=\"_self\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for 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.\u00a0 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\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@AEW\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">YouTube<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a week away, I\u2019ve caught up on last week\u2019s Dynamite and the discord. Is there a correlation between the continual (insidious) criticism and what might be AEW\u2019s best PPV build of 2024? Two weeks away from All In, we have six confirmed matches for the main card and one for Zero Hour. More will [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":126359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4677,2192],"tags":[8232,4133,5730,5894,4972,8521,6967,176],"class_list":["post-126344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aew","category-wrestling","tag-hangman-adam-page","tag-aew","tag-aew-dynamite","tag-dynamite","tag-hikaru-shida","tag-mercedes-mone","tag-the-acclaimed","tag-the-young-bucks"],"modified_by":"Chinyere Okafor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126344\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}