The Start if the Swerve Era

Before sitting down to this review how about watching the last time the top NJPW title was defended on US Television by a promotion that wasn't NJPW. Scott Norton would retain in 16 seconds.

Now, after that blast from 1998 lets get into AEW Dynamite. Dynamite started with a video of The Elite arriving. Horrible audio. Security did "try to stop" Jack Perry from entering. From there it proceeded to Orange Cassidy being attacked by Trent Beretta.

This attack led to Trent calling out Chuck Taylor. Trent says Orange made them lackeys for the past five years. He then tells Chuck Taylor that he loves him and to do what the people want. Chuck attacks Trent. Chuck Taylor calls for a parking lot brawl against his former tag partner there in Dailey's Place. A back lot that made the two men iconic in AEW.

For the third quick promo, Mox hypes up his abilities. He also says that Hobbs in for a tough match tonight.

The action finally kicks of with a champion v champion match. Kyle Fletcher is given the unthankful task of losing to the new champion. Kyle Fletcher has too much of a future to do this in my opinion. Hopefully he shows whoever needs to see it in the back just how good he is and then someday it will be a wrestler losing to him in his first defense. This match starts with some technical wrestling. Fletcher seems to get an advantage with a pin before Swerve puts hi in a wrist lock. The two men follow up showing that they are on equal footing by dodging and catching each other's kicks. Once Swerve starts to get the advantage he hits some nice moves, starting with a jumping thrust kick. Swerve Strickland appears to hurt his ankle off a stomp. Kyle Fletcher would then focus on that using an ankle lock. With all the flips that Swerve does after that injury spot he is either not letting the legit injury show or forgot that he was supposed to be suffering an ankle injury. Just kidding he didn't forget wrestler's seldom sell injuries in modern wrestling. Swerve stomp to Fletcher as he dangled from the ropes for a near fall. A House Call will finish the match.

Yet another backstage segment this time with Thunder Rosa talking about how she isn't going to whine about not winning. Deonna Purrazzo interrupts and a fight breaks out.

Mena and Anna Jay start out by ducking tie ups. A strong debut match for Mena Shirakawa. Anna Jay is another wrestler that can be trusted to make people look good. Mariah May is on the outside but not dressed as Toni Storm. Has that story fizzled out? Mena would start to really shine with a series of spinning back fists to Anna Jay. Anna Jay supposedly kicked out of a falling knee strike. However, to me it looked like Mena Shirakawa pulled up off her. After Mariah distracts Anna Jay by simply standing ringside; Anna Jay gets rolled up and loses. An unhappy Anna Jay attacks after the match. Toni Storm out for the save. Serena Deeb then makes her presence felt by coming to the ramp and sitting next to the women's championship. This is a very full segment.

Stokely and Kris Statlander start off the celebration by hyping Willow in the ring. Caprice Coleman is on commentary for this segment. I guess it was just to rap her entrance. Decent promo before Mercedes Mone came out as was expected. The fans are electric for the CEO as they have been since her debut. Mone makes it official that at Double or Nothing it will be Mercedes Mone against Willow. Mone then asks if it was Willow who attacked her two weeks ago. Just like the CM Punk incident at Wembley these two ladies cannot let the past die. They should build the feud a little better. Kris does get Willow slapped by pulling on Merccedes Mone's arm.

Announced on air was a Casino Gauntlet Match. Winner gets a shot at the International Championship. Starting it is Jay White and Dante Martin. Commentary is being very confusing on the rules. Tony makes it sound like a regular gauntlet match. Excalibur makes it sound like first pin or submission ends the match. Both men who started this match are doing a good job of entertaining. Jay White did a exploder type suplex to Dante sending him outside. The match seems to be how Excalibur is stating as Penta El Zero Meido enters the match. Like with the Royal Rumble or any match with offset participants Penta is getting his time to shine. The fourth participant is Kyle O'Reilly. I am biased and would love to see him win. Kyle shows off that he is a submission specialist by switching from attempting a submission on Dante Martin to effortlessly locking on on Jay White. Then a massive surprise of Will Ospreay. When Jay and Will face off alone the fans chant "Holy Shit!" A standing Spanishfly is hit and good for a two count before Lance Archer's music hits. A large forearm knocks Ospreay to the mat. Ospreay falls like a tree that was fell. Lance Archer is looking like the monster he should be booked. Lance Archer delivers a Blackout onto Will Ospreay but throws him out of the ring. The only two men in this match so far that has not held NJPW gold is Dante Martin and Penta. Kommander is the latest person to enter the match. He reverses a powerbomb into a hurricanrana on Lance Archer into some tables. Will Ospreay counters a Bladerunner into a Liger Bomb. Jay Lethal enters as Ospreay is signalling for the Hidden Blade. Lethal Combination on Ospreay. Will is taking a lot of big moves and selling their execution nicely. Tony Schiavone announces up to 21 wrestlers can be a part of this. Will Ospreay has a near fall on Kyle O'Reilly. Ospreay goes for the Tiger Driver 91 put stops and Kyle hooks a arm bar on him. Ospreay wins after hitting a Hidden Blade on Kommander. Sad that Kip Sabian did not get a chance to participate and shine.

Jericho has changed the championship name to for the world. Chris evoked Terry Funk saying that the Funkster put the mandate of teaching and elevating the next generation on the Learning Tree Chris Jericho. Big Bill seems to be the next person that Chris Jericho will partner with as he came out and asked for a seat under the learning tree.

As mentioned at the start of this articl this is the first time the IWGP Heaveyweight Championship has been defended on American TV on a different Promotions since 1998. This is also Powerhouse Hobbs first World Title Match. Hobbs starts with exhibiting his strength. He also no sells a German Suplex by Mox. The match style feels very NJPW to me. This match is contested under NJPW rules so there is a 20 count for participants outside of the ring. One small mistake allows Mox to start brawling and beating Hobbs down. Hobbs is choked out. IWGP World Heaveyweight Champion retains. Takeshita stares down Mox after the match.

The fans are really receptive of the returning Jack Perry. He immediately says he wants to settle business with Tony Khan in the ring. Jack respectfully asks to be reinstated. Tony shakes his hand and the two men hug. Then the obvious attack flattens Tony Khan. The rest of the Elite comes out and pretend to chastise Jack until the Young Bucks hit a Meltzer Driver on Tony Khan.

This was a so-so start of a build to Double or Nothing. I am curious to see how they will book Ospreay as rumours are he will be going against the Champion at Wembley and if he wins the International Title that may put that tile in a weird spot

All images and video are taken from AEW social media.