A Midget Quest with Thomas, Chapter 3: Cody’s Awakening
Well my DVR FINALLY decided to let me watch Dynamite from this past week, and I am up against the clock with a speeding deadline to get my minute-by-minute review in…
*DEEP BREATH*
Here we go!
The show kicks off with Benny Mouse and Danhausen coming out, almost no-selling what we saw at the conclusion of last week’s show. PATIENCE, CHRIS, I SAID “ALMOST”!
Benny’s frothing at the mouth with the urge to confess his sins to the world. He reveals what we over in ULW have been predicting for some time: he is Danhausen’s puppet. Ok, I guess that he didn’t exactly say that he was a puppet, but he did admit that he is dependent on Danhausen; whom Benny asserts saved his life.
So, Benny acknowledges that he was exposed by the waste-of-breath brigade last week, but more or less says that he plans to keep moving forward without a care in the world for them. Instead, he instructs Danhausen to get Armageddon on the line…is Benny also incapable of using a phone? I suppose that’s what you’d see with a puppet.
He also promises to give the Harlem Turtles a shot at the tag titles, and I am left saddened by the fact that Stevie R and Booker D will fall short of another tag title reign in any recent era. Those good old days really are dead, aren’t they??
Then, Benny is insistent that Megan be found in order to be prepped to take the reins properly when the time comes. Danhausen must have a hell of a time talking to himself, huh?
Our next sight is of Riddle looking nervous as he asks Kevin Nash to bring the group to the ring later tonight for the reveal. He says that they need to be ready for a reaction to what’s about to be told, and Nash recognizes what he has to do, saying that he hopes Riddle knows what he is doing.
Basic stuff here, but a good way to get us ready for what’s to come. I’m nervously awaiting what’s to come. Who did it???
What comes next is a hellacious opening bout for the AEW Championship with Jay White damn near stealing the gold (I never thought he would, but a solid effort to justify his ongoing losing streak). But wait! White doesn’t lose! He wins…by DQ!
Thanks to MVP and Shelton, Jay now has an argument for a second go at the world title down the line. The commentary team was really selling the whole “beware of MJF’s motives” trope as they piggybacked on my doubts of Max’s loyalties. Smart move. The real victim in all of this isn’t White, but Lashley, who was manipulated into a humiliating defeat at the hands of a seemingly-overrated star. We’ll see where Lashley goes from here. As for White, this was a showcase for him, and it broke his streak. So, good all around.
The feed then cuts to another great Blair Witch-style vignette by the Briscoe Brothers. They are bitter about seeing the Harlem Turtles earn a shot, and they reveal they will also have another crack at greatness in the near future. These guys will hold the gold very soon, and I can’t wait!
A frustrated Shocker – sounds like a sex move with some anger behind it – is seen pouting about these duties that he has inherited as he is interrupted by the perennially absent Pretty Deadly, who think they have earned a tag title shot…simply for being magnificent at dressing nice. Shocker is determined to escape their pressure campaign as he tells them that they will get their opportunity if they can beat the former tag champions, the Acclaimed. Well, sorry that you had to be introduced this way Kit and Elton, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
Jade Cargill then makes her impressive debut against Beth Phoenix. I never had a doubt about who would win this one, and I loved the little acknowledgment by commentary about her taking this personally. Good to see Beth in a supportive role for someone like Jade. Cargill’s journey back to Toni is going to be soooo good!
After the break, we see High-Minded come out for the big reveal. What does the envelope say? Boy or girl…er, wrong kind of reveal. *Checks Notes* It’s time to see who done it!
I’m not going to lie, outside of Riddle, the best alternative candidate for who hired an attacker was always Midget Hogan. So, I wasn’t terribly surprised there. However, I was taken aback by the fact that Jesse Hash continued in his evil ways by being the hired assailant. Nice touch! Moreover, seeing the chaos amongst the group members as Midgey acted incredulous was great. Is this the end for High Minded?
Now, we have the closer, the Main Event, the match we’ve all been waiting for: Cody v. Page. Winner earns a shot at Lashley or whomever at All Out on October 5th (same night as the premiere of ULW Ascendant, by the way, but I digress).
This match was a lot of fun, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. The chaotic climax was great and saw the continued storytelling amongst the players and their respective foes and allies, but the ultimate conclusion saw Cody emerge victorious in glorious fashion!
Could this really be the moment that we FINALLY see Cody reach for the stars? I am definitely feeling hopeful, and it would leave Lashley with a respectable reign under his belt. Cody is one of AEW’s golden gooses, and with AJ Styles out of the picture, that path for Cody to the top of the mountain opened wide for him!
Time will tell what comes down the line for Mr. Rhodes, but now he has to survive an angry and hungry Matt Cardona as well as the fallout from this skirmish with Page. A lot of great tales to be told here, and I am feeling encouraged that we are potentially on the cusp of the Rhodes era!
That’s all for today. Brace yourself for the Awesome Aggression V card announcement. Big whoop, wanna fight about it?!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 