AEW Dynamite Preview (Aug. 4, 2021): Black moon rising

All Elite Wrestling returns to Daily’s Place in Jacksonville on Weds., Aug. 4 for a Homecoming edition of Dynamite.

This Week’s Headliner:

Malakai Black debuted in AEW quicker than anyone thought possible, and immediately entered a high-profile angle with one of the company’s founders, Cody Rhodes. As you’d expect for a storyline that started with Black attacking 62 year old Arn Anderson, Cody’s been itching for a fight, and the two men have ramped up the intensity in the weeks since with pointed promos and a brawl.

It’s built to tonight, Black’s first match in his new home. AEW clearly sees the former Tommy End as a main event player, eschewing the slow rollout they’ve given some ex-WWE talents like Miro and Andrade El Idolo for a fast track approach. We should find out how quickly they pland to shoot Malakai up the card based on how his battle with Rhodes goes.

Cody’s developed a bit of a reputation as AEW’s Triple H, and not just because of his seat at the management table. That mostly comes from his 2020 run with the TNT title. But during that stretch, Rhodes did put over a few people. One was destined for bigger things before his tragic death (Brodie Lee). Another is currently one of the company’s most reliable ratings draws (Darby Allin).

Based on the reception Black’s gotten during his time on Dynamite, tonight should probably go more like Cody’s first match with Lee than any of his other feuds. Malakai’s mysterious, threatening gimmick would be well served by a shocking destruction of the American Nightmare. There are stories to be told from a hard fought battle too, though. A loss would be hard to stomach, and would certainly fuel more criticisms of Rhodes.

We’ll see how they book it.

The Title Scene:

After losing last week’s Elimination match to The Elite, Hangman Page & the Dark Order lost their chances to challenge for Kenny Omega’s World title and The Young Bucks’ Tag Team championship. We’ve only got a month until All Out, so expect new challengers to step to the fore at Homecoming (also, that whole report Hangman won’t even be on the show). Christian Cage would be an option for Omega, if he can get past The Blade tonight.

For The Bucks, it may be #1 ranked Varsity Blondes turn, or perhaps FTR leaps up the charts based on their win over Santana & Ortiz at Fight for the Fallen. If the big name we all think is coming at The First Dance is going to be on the card for the Sept. 5 PPV in Chicagoland, Tony Khan doesn’t need these belts to be in the main event.

Women’s champ Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. and her sidekick Rebel are both injured, so the dentist is teasing a new heater. She’ll need it with old rival Thunder Rosa looming.

God’s (and our) Favorite Champion will defend his TNT title against Lee Johnson on this week’s Dynamite. Thank the lord, and his double-jointed wife.

Other things to keep an eye on:

- No rest for Le Champeon. The Chris Jericho Greatest Hits Tour, aka MJF’s Five Labours, continues. One week after surviving a deathmatch with Nick F’n Gage, Jericho takes on his old rival Juventud Guerrero. He has to beat the legendary luchador with a move off the top rope.

- Is Gage done with AEW? He may not like being stiffed on his payment by Max. And the MDK-affiliated Pabst Blue Ribbon is teasing a commercial on tonight’s broadcast probably means TK and TNT aren’t too shook by last week’s Domino’s controversy.

- They’re back to going by 2.0, but Ever-Rise still rules! Matt Lee & Jeff Parker make their AEW debut at Homecoming, teaming with Daniel Garcia to take on Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston & Darby Allin. They picked this fight, calling out “the three baddest dudes on the roster” in a Twitter promo.

Watch AEW on TNT, and join us in our live blog, at 8pm ET to see how all this plays out.