AEW Dynamite: Preview and Predictions for June 18, 2021

AEW: Dynamite is back on Friday night this week as it continues to be shifted to a less ideal time slot thanks to the NBA Playoffs.

This week’s episode includes several announced matches, including an MMA-style cage match, a handicap match, and the debut of a wrestling legend’s son.

Jim Ross will also sit down with AEW’s newest signee, Andrade El Idolo, as we will hopefully get a clearer picture of who Andrade will feud with first.

Let’s take a look at the announced matches on the card and what to expect from each.

Orange Cassidy vs Cesar Bononi

Cesar Bononi will go one on one with Orange Cassidy this week. Bononi is part of a group called “The Wingmen”, which also includes Ryan Nemeth, Peter Avalon, and JD Drake.

There may not be a more random stable in any wrestling promotion today, but for whatever reason, The Wingmen work. They will never be a group that makes enough waves for any of them to get into title contention, but the distinct differences in all four members make for good comedy.

The Wingmen have an issue with Orange Cassidy and so they will send their powerhouse, Cesar Bononi, to try to take “The King of Sloth Style” out.

While Bononi’s distinct size and power advantage will lead to him getting some offense in, Cassidy will get the last laugh, delivering an Orange Punch for the win. Winner: Orange Cassidy

QT Marshall & Aaron Solow vs. Cody Rhodes & Brock Anderson

The feud between The Factory and The Nightmare Family continues this week, as Brock Anderson, the son of wrestling legend, Arn Anderson, will make his AEW debut, teaming with Cody Rhodes to take on QT Marshall and Aaron Solow.

With the upcoming South Beach Strap Match, it seems unlikely that either Cody or QT will suffer a pinfall here, as that would be better saved for when they meet one on one. And with Brock Anderson making his debut, it is hard to imagine that he will suffer the pinfall either.

So, it seems like Aaron Solow will be the fall guy here, and it will most likely be at the expense of Brock Anderson.

QT and Cody’s animosity will most likely take them to a brawl outside the ring leaving the two young stars in the ring to decide the outcome of the match.  Look for the son of AA to score a point for the Nightmare Family by pinning Solow, as the rivalry continues to build to the upcoming strap match. Winners: Cody Rhodes & Brock Anderson

Good Brothers & Matt Jackson vs Eddie Kingston, Frankie Kazarian & Penta El Zero Miedo

After weeks of sneak attacks at the end of matches involving The Elite, Frankie Kazarian will step into the ring with some of the men who are responsible for ending the team of SCU a few weeks earlier.

Kazarian will team with Eddie Kingston and Penta El Zero Miedo to take on the Good Brothers and one-half of the AEW Tag Team Champions, Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks.

This match could really go either way, as most six-man tag team matches end up breaking down into anarchy before the finish is finally reached.

The smart money says that the Elite will have the numbers advantage in this one, as Nick Jackson, Brandon Cutler, and Don Callis are all but guaranteed to be lurking around the ringside area.

So, even if PAC can put his differences with Eddie Kingston aside for another week and he joins the team of Kazarian, Penta, and Kingston at ringside, the good guys are still at a distinct disadvantage in the numbers game. This will most likely lead to a tainted victory for the Elite as this feud continues to rage on. Winners: Good Brothers & Matt Jackson

Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky vs Darby Allin

As a fan of all three of these performers, I really dislike the fact that AEW decided to go the handicap match route in this feud.

On one hand, I get it. AEW is showing that Darby Allin, outside of his relationship with Sting, is indeed a loner. Allin has a complete distrust of most people, and would rather go it alone against Page and Sky than picking a partner that he doesn’t fully trust.

But making this a handicap match leaves only one acceptable option for the outcome of this match: Page and Sky need to beat Darby Allin.

Even though Allin is one of the biggest stars in AEW and he should be in serious AEW World/TNT Championship contention within the next year, having Allin go over Sky and Page here would cripple the credibility that the duo has built over the past couple of months.

Allin should absorb a tremendous amount of punishment in this match. He should also kick out of both of his opponent’s finishers to accentuate just what a tough out that Darby is.

But this match needs to end with Sky and Page victorious. Any other result would be a disservice to all the hard work they have put into their heel characters. Winners: Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky

Jake Hager vs Wardlow (MMA Cagefight)

The Inner Circle and the Pinnacle will continue their rivalry, as Wardlow and Jake Hager will meet in an MMA-style cage match.

In past matches, Wardlow has been able to get the upper hand on Hager, so Hager decided to challenge Wardlow to a match in a style that Hager will have a huge experience advantage in.

As much as I believe Wardlow is an absolute star in the making, this match seems set up for Hager to take Wardlow down. Hager currently has a 3-0 MMA record, so losing in an MMA fight to Wardlow in AEW doesn’t seem real likely.

Having the match be contested in this style also protects Wardlow, as he won’t suffer a loss on his AEW record and gives him a built-in excuse for the loss to Hager.

While I would prefer Wardlow to take Hager out inside the MMA cage to accentuate Wardlow’s dominance over Hager in every way, shape, and form, I just don’t see it happening. The Inner Circle will continue to build momentum over the Pinnacle via Hager choking Wardlow unconscious. Winner: Jake Hager