AEW Crossroads features Cody Red Velvet vs. Shaq and Jade Cargill.
AEW Dynamite: Crossroads offered an action-packed go-home show for AEW Dynamite featuring the heavily anticipated in-ring debut from NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq and Jade Cargill will team up against Cody and Red Velvet. AEW Dynamite also advertised the debut of Paul Wight, Matt Hardy and Marq Quen vs. Hangman Adam Page and John Silver, Tully Blanchard and FTR vs. The Jurassic Express and a press conference with MJF and Chris Jericho.
Last week’s broadcast of AEW Dynamite was up big with 831,000 viewers compared to 734,000 for WWE NXT.
AEW Dynamite Ratings, Last Five Weeks
- February 24, 2021—831,000
- February 17, 2021—747,000
- February 10, 2021—741,000
- February 3, 2021—844,000
- January 27, 2021—734,000
AEW Dynamite: Key Competition
- WWE NXT
Pro Wrestling Bits—Bobby Lashley, Future WWE Champion
AEW Dynamite YouTube Viewership Last Wednesday 2,113,449 (Down from 2,224,000)
- Most-Viewed: Sting is Back and Ready to go to War (856,145 views)
- Least-Viewed: Nyla Rose vs. Dr. Britt Baker (58,202 views)
- Median Viewership: 211,109 views
AEW Dynamite Results: Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Shaq and Jade Cargill def. Cody and Red Velvet
I love how serious Shaq was to begin this match.
Shaq delivered the Big Show chops almost as well as Paul Wight.
Jade Cargill doesn’t even have to be a good wrestler in order to cash in on her superstar potential, she just has to be okay. Having said that, her debut—while not perfect—was excellent.
Shaq went full monster heel on the Nightmare Family—particularly The Gunn Club—and it was very convincing.
This match was fantastic even before Shaq just did a tribute to Brodie Lee.
Pac and Rey Fenix def. John Skyler and D3
This match was so quick and decisive, the announcers barely had time to say the names of the local competitors.
If this is the last we see of Rey Fenix, that means AEW is really going to move forward without him in this weekend’s Face of the Revolution Ladder Match.
MJF and Chris Jericho Press Conference
Brandon Walker of Barstool Sports pulled a “Ravishing Rick Rude” by appearing on AEW Dynamite just days after appearing on a WWE NXT pre-show.
This segment was great exposure for Conrad Thompson’s bevy of podcasts, including 83 Weeks and Grilling J.R.
Eric Bischoff asked a question about stupid ideas in what I could only assume was intentional irony.
FTR and Tully Blanchard def. The Jurassic Express
Much to my surprise, this was really treated like Tully Blanchard’s return match as Blanchard even donned a robe and a pair of two-tone boots. The man even brought the ageless JJ Dillon.
Tully Blanchard’s ring gear was akin to peak Elvis Presley.
The biggest pop of this match came when Blanchard hit a slingshot suplex on Marko Stunt.
Excalibur and Tony Schiavone was very slow to come around to the fact that the masked cameraman was a nefarious plant, and Jim Ross was having none of it.
This marks at least Shawn Spears’ third return in the year he’s been with AEW.
Paul Wight Appears Live
Paul Wight: “Raise your hand if you saw this turn coming?”
No more B.S. is a very clever slogan for the artist formerly known as The Big Show.
According to Paul Wight, AEW has signed yet another wrestling Hall of Famer, as if they needed another one.
Ryo Mizunami def. Nyla Rose
Ryo Mizunami is a one-woman charisma machine. She seems like the type of talent who would have an instant connection with child viewers given her playfulness and very colorful gear.
This tournament continues to feature some of the best women’s wrestling you’ll see in all of 2021, and this match was no exception.
Watching Nyla Rose getting her shoulders pinned to the mat by an outsider like Mizunami felt legitimately shocking.
Sting Appears Live
The next phase of Hotel California: Sting is The Stinger making his signature comeback every week, but thankfully their pay-per-view match is this weekend.
Even though Sting clearly has something left in the tank, this match will be far less stressful to watch if it is a cinematic match.
Max Caster def. 10
Max Caster had yet another timely and fire line about Lady Gaga’s dogwalker and this crowd swooned throughout. He even had bars for -1.
Scorpio Sky appeared on commentary for this match and he surprisingly sided with The West Texas Rednecks after Max Caster’s rap.
Jack Evans laid out 10, and despite the referee seeing 10 out cold for no reason, he asked no questions and counted the three.
Scorpio Sky came off quite heelish during his stint on commentary, even seeming to celebrate the heel finish.
Hangman Adam Page and John Silver def. Matt Hardy and Marq Quen
It was well over a full commercial break before Hangman Adam Page tagged in.
Even though it took a while for Hangman Adam Page to tag in, his hot tag made it well worth it.
Suffice it to say, Private Party was a step or two slower with Matt Hardy in the Isiah Kassidy role.
