AEW Dynamite: Preview and Predictions for August 25, 2021
So unless you have been living under a rock, you have undoubtedly heard the news that the one and only CM Punk is now a part of AEW. And this Wednesday, CM Punk is scheduled to make his AEW Dynamite debut.
In his hometown of Chicago, Punk made his promotional debut on Rampage last Friday in what was one of the most memorable segments of professional wrestling history.
The crowd was absolutely electric, some were so moved that they were even brought to tears.
It was one of those special moments that stick with you. From the moment that “Cult of Personality” by Living Colour hit until Punk’s promo came to an end, he had the entire sold-out crowd at the United Center in the palm of his hand.
And while CM Punk most likely won’t make his in-ring debut for AEW until All Out, he and Darby Allin will definitely spend the next couple of weeks creating even more hype for their upcoming, must-see match. And the build will continue on Dynamite this Wednesday.
And if you had any doubts or needed any proof that AEW made the perfect decision in choosing Darby Allin for Punk’s first opponent, Friday’s episode of Rampage should have erased all of those doubts.
When Punk called out the name Darby Allin during his promo, the 100% pro-CM Punk crowd did not start booing Darby Allin, but instead the chants of Darby! Darby! Darby! rang through the United Center.
Along with Britt Baker, Darby Allin and CM Punk are two of the hottest things going in AEW right now and the thought of them tearing down the house in front of a raucous crowd at All Out is undeniably appealing to fans of professional wrestling.
But as much as I would love to just talk about CM Punk and Darby Allin, there are actual matches scheduled for Dynamite this week as well.
What should we expect from the scheduled matches on this week’s episode of Dynamite?
Orange Cassidy vs Matt Hardy
In the latest installment of Best Friends versus the Hardy Family Office, Orange Cassidy will take on Matt Hardy.
This has been a long-running feud and this match should be the finale as the de facto leader of the Best Friends faction takes on the unquestioned leader of the HFO.
The fact that Matt Hardy always travels with a number of “associates” makes this match one that could truly go either way.
But a look back at Matt Hardy’s matches in AEW shows a pattern. Hardy is much more successful when participating in tag matches or against lesser competition in singles matches than he is when he goes up against the upper echelon of singles competitors.
And Orange Cassidy is indeed in the upper echelon of singles competitors.
Hardy has lost recent singles matches to Christain Cage, Darby Allin, and Adam Page.
And there is no reason to believe that is going to change when he takes on Orange Cassidy.
At some point in the match, the other members of the HFO and Best Friends will get involved and chaos will ensue. But when the smoke clears it will be the “King of Sloth Style” that earns the victory over a very game Matt Hardy. Winner: Orange Cassidy
Malakai Black vs Brock Anderson
Defending the honor of his family, Brock Anderson will step up to try to right a wrong bestowed upon his dad’s chin by the foot of Malakai Black, when he and Black compete in a single match on Dynamite.
This match should really resemble nothing more than a predator toying with his prey before devouring it.
Brock Anderson has a great pedigree and comes from an outstanding wrestling family. But Malakai Black’s squash of Cody Rhodes has elevated him to a level that allowing Brock Anderson to be competitive in this match would undo some of the great work that AEW has done making Black look unstoppable.
This match makes more sense as a setup for Cody Rhodes to come back and challenge Malakai Black to a rematch at All Out.
Expect a quick dominant win by Black, and when Black turns his attention to Arn Anderson, Cody Rhodes will reappear and make the save, setting up the next chapter between the two. Winner: Malakai Black
Red Velvet vs Jamie Hayter
Jamie Hayter is back with AEW after a nearly two-year hiatus. Hayter reappeared at the end of the debut episode of Rampage as Britt Baker’s muscle, laying waste to Red Velvet.
So much so that Red Velvet will attempt to find some retribution when she welcomes Hayter back to the AEW ring.
There are two possible outcomes to this match.
Red Velvet overcomes all odds and scores the win over Hayter, leading to Velvet getting another opportunity at Britt Baker at All Out.
That’s a nice story and one that Velvet would be worthy of, given her recent good work in the ring.
But that would be the third time that Red Velvet and Britt Baker would have squared off in less than a year and the second time in a matter of weeks.
The more likely scenario is that Hayter wins the match and proceeds to beat down Red Velvet (with the help of Britt Baker), leading to Kris Statlander making the save.
This should eventually lead to Statlander challenging Baker for the title. Baker will accept with the condition that Statlander has to beat Hayter to earn the shot, which of course she will, and we will get Statlander vs Baker for the AEW Women’s Title at All Out. Winner: Jamie Hayter
Varsity Blonds vs Lucha Bros in a Tag Team Title Eliminator Semifinal Match
The Varisty Blonds and the Lucha Bros will meet up to decide who gets to move on to face Jurassic Express in the finals of the tag team eliminator tournament.
As talented as the Varsity Blonds are, the match to make here is clearly the Lucha Bros versus Jurassic Express.
These two teams are easily two of the most popular tag teams in AEW and will put on a great match to decide who gets to move on to All Out for a chance at the AEW Tag Team Titles inside a steel cage against the Young Bucks.
Pairing Jurassic Express and the Lucha Bros also will play a pivotal point in the upcoming stories of both teams.
When Jurassic Express ultimately beats the Lucha Bros it will set up Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus to beat the Young Bucks at All Out and capture the AEW tag team titles. This will be a great story and continue to propel the popular Jungle Boy to new heights in his young career.
It will also push the Lucha Bros frustration levels to an all-time high, causing them to turn on Pac, costing Pac his match against Andrade El Idolo at All Out, and aligning Penta and Fenix with Andrade and Chavo moving forward. Winners: Lucha Bros