AEW Dynamite: Results, Highlights, and Grades for Oct 2

Tonight is a big night in wrestling, as AEW Dynamite airs its first ever episode live on TNT. In what will be the first time that significant competition went against WWE head to head since the death of WCW (TNA’s brief Monday night run does not count in my mind, as AEW has already surpassed them in size, even at their peak).

Tonight’s show will feature The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega facing Chris Jericho & Santana & Ortiz (formerly LAX) in the main event and will see Riho vs. Nyla Rose for the AEW World Women’s Championship, Hangman Page vs. PAC, and Cody vs. Sammy Guevara. The show looks like it will be one to watch, and who knows what surprises might be ready for us when it begins to air.

Santana and Ortiz made a surprise debut at AEW All Out, and they will be looking to stamp their names quickly by having a win over The Elite. The Young Bucks are one of the best tag teams in the world, but they lost a ladder match to the Lucha Brothers at All Out, and they will need a win heading into the tag team tournament.

If Kenny Omega manages to pin Chris Jericho in this match, what does that mean for the title picture? We know Cody Rhodes is getting the next title shot, based on his win/loss record, but someone beating the champion would certainly make an argument for them being put into the match.

Speaking of Cody, he has announced that if Sammy Guevara beats him, Sammy will be getting the title shot. In an effort to make wins and losses matter, they are keeping records and using them to drive stories forward. We have seen this with Kenny Omega being on a losing streak and with Cody being on a winning streak. Every win and loss means something, so I expect that we’re going to get some very interesting matchups in the future based on this.

So, tonight, are you ready for the return of wrestling to TNT for the first time since WCW Nitro last aired in March 2001? I am! Read on for the results.

Cody w/ Brandi Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara

Cody and Sammy immediately locked up to a great reaction. Sammy and Cody exchanged holds and neither could get the advantage early on, as Sammy posed with cockiness. After hitting the ropes, Sammy hit a dropkick and then a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cody hit a headlock takeover then a shoulder block before locking on a Figure Four. Sammy made the ropes, and Cody broke the hold.

Cody and Sammy hit a series of hard chops, and then Cody hit a stalling vertical suplex. Sammy hit a kick, but Cody hit the ropes and hit a springboard cutter for a two count! Sammy hit a kick from Cody and then hit a springboard cutter of his own! Cody kicks out. Sammy hit another kick, but Cody responded with a big boot of his own that sent Sammy to the floor.

Cody went for a dive and Sammy pulled Brandi in the way and she went down! Holy crap. Sammy ran Cody into the corner post and climbed the ropes and went for a moonsault press, missed, landed on his feet, missed a standing moonsault, and then hit a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Cody slipped off his shoulders and hit a drop toe hold into the middle rope. As the ref was looking away and Brandi got her revenge and nailed Sammy with her shoe.

Cody hit the Disaster Kick and then put Sammy on the top rope before hitting a reverse suplex off the top rope! Sammy hit a Spanish Fly for a near fall, and as he went for another move, Cody rolled him up for the pinfall! That was fantastic.

Result: Cody

Rating: ***1/2 (3.5 stars)

After the match, Cody and Sammy shook hands, but Chris Jericho ran out and attacked Cody! Jericho beat him down and left him laying in the ring. Jericho nailed Cody and hit him with his title belt. Jericho grabbed a camera from ringside and started taking pictures. He then beat on Cody with a chair and continued the beat down. Jericho powerbombed Cody into two chairs, grabbed a mic and yelled: “I am Chris Jericho, and I am your champion!”