XIV uses 2000's WWF format to book AEW Dynamite.
Posted: Dec 28th, '22, 08:26
Following on from my column on lessons learned from watching every major show the WWF put out in the year 2000, I was challenged to put this together as a format for a modern show.
So, a couple of things before we get into it.
I did this based off AEW's current roster for Dynamite and what I know of current goings on. I'm at a slight disadvantage in that I haven't watched a single episode of Dynamite in about two months BUT, I've seen highlights and the like so I've tried to keep the show in keeping where I can. But this is about using the format of 2000's WWF and applying it now, not necessarily the actual booking of the matches and angles.
Note: Times for each segment are in MM:SS format
Show open
Stage fireworks and pan the crowds before cutting to the announcers. Announcers introduce themselves and welcome viewers, state where the show is taking place, push it as an exciting night, then run down following matches set for the show. 3 title matches. The Acclaimed vs The Gunn Club for the Tag Team Championships (mention that GC beat FTR on last show). Hikaru Shida vs Jade Cargill (mention unbeaten streak, mention Shida being ex-champion). Powerhouse Hobbs vs Samoa Joe (put Hobbs over as a genuine threat for the title). The Elite vs Death Triangle #6 (mention current score, match types, mention that it could be level tonight and lead to #7). Mention that we're due to hear from MJF as soon as he arrives.
01:30
Segment
Promo segment: Jericho Appreciation Society in the ring. Generally putting themselves over, talk about Jericho's ROH title reign and how he will get it back, but when he chooses to, everyone's mugging to the crowd, talk about their recent events. Have Menard & Parker take over and talk about being the best tag team but not being allowed to show it. Say they want competition tonight. Pause for a 7 or 8 seconds. FTR enter, FTR offer up the challenge for a tag team match tonight. JAS accept.
06:00
Segment
Match: Darby Allin vs Wardlow. Pre-match, 30 second promo by Wardlow saying that he wants to get back into the TNT Title Hunt and it starts by facing a former TNT Champion. Wardlow goes over clean. Announcers to tie MJF appearance in with phrases like "What will Wardlow's former Employer MJF will have to say when he gets here" push this narrative.
06:30
Segment
5 seconds each of Samoa Joe & Powerhouse Hobbs backstage, walking to the ring. Have the announcers announce it as next!
00:10
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: Powerhouse Hobbs vs Samoa Joe for the TNT Championship. Joe goes over.
08:30
Segment
Camera cuts to Tony Shiavone waiting in the back for MJF's arrival. No sign yet, announcers point this out.
00:15
Segment
Interview: Renee Paquette w/ The Gunn Club. Gunn Club to put over their win over FTR last week and how they'll win tonight. Cut to The Acclaimed w/Daddy Ass pumping each other up leaving their dressing room. Announcers to push that match as "next".
02:00
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: The Acclaimed w/Daddy Ass vs The Gunn Club. Acclaimed do their usual rap stuff. The Gunn Club to get loads of early offense, taunt the crowd, be cocky and distract themselves by doing things for Billy Gunn's attention. This will cost them. Acclaimed go over clean. At low points during match, tie MJF in because of GC's affiliation with The Firm, speak about MJF's arrival and what this may mean for the Championship & AEW.
13:30
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Interview: Alex Marvez w/ FTR. Have FTR admit they've had a few tough breaks in matches, but tonight is the night to put things right. Cut short promo on Menard & Parker. About 1.5 mins into promo, Jake Hager & Sammy Guevara take both out with chairs and a quick 5/10 second assault and leave laughing. Announcers to wonder what this means for their match later tonight.
01:45
Segment
Cut to announcers who move on to recap the first hour and look ahead to the second hour's matches (The Elite vs Death Triangle is the main event, Hikaru Shida vs Jade Cargill for the TBS title, we'll hear from the Blackpool Combat Club and we're still awaiting the arrival of MJF.
01:00
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: Jade Cargill vs Hikaru Shida. Cargill cuts 30 second promo pre-match. She's beaten former World champions before and she's going to do it again tonight. Cargill goes over. Power beats speed match.
06:30
Segment
Interview: Renee Paquette w/Saraya near a monitor where they've just seen the previous match. Renee to ask what's next type of interview, Saraya hints that she's capable of beating either Cargill or going after the World Title, but that's she's taking her time.
01:30
Segment
Sit down interview: 3 members of Blackpool Combat Club lightly discuss recent events, deciding whether or not they're going to continue as a group or go their own separate ways. Leave this open ended, but strongly hint at unity.
03:50
Segment
Cut to a break with announcers saying that they've heard FTR have insisted the match with 2.0 goes ahead, and that match will be next.
00:10
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: FTR vs 2.0. FTR continue selling the chair shots from earlier. 2.0 go over with the pin coming with either assistance or feet on the ropes, roll up with tights etc. Announcers now state that FTR have been beaten their last 4 matches.
08:00
Segment
MJF arrives in a limo, Tony Shiavone has been waiting all night for him. MJF gets out of the limo puts the belt over his shoulder. Tony asks a question but MJF blows him off. Announcers push to commercial wondering what he's going to say tonight. 01:30
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Video package summing up the previous matches in the best of 7 series between the Elite & Death Triangle. Announcers to push to commercials stating that the main event, is coming up.
02:30
Segment
Entrances for The Elite vs Death Triangle
02:00
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: The Elite vs Death Triangle #6. Falls Count Anywhere. Have 18 minutes, go nuts. Elite go over to level the score. Push when match #7 will be and what match type this will be.
18:00
Segment
Promo: MJF's music cuts over The Elite's and he walks past all of them as he goes to the ring casually and paying little attention to anyone he walks by. He's more important. Cuts promo about getting here when he feels like it and that the fans should appreciate what precious minutes he's willing to give them. Put over beating Ricky Starks, being AEW Champion is easy for someone like him because he's better than the whole locker room and you know it. MJF to state that he's sent Mox packing, he's sent Regal into irrelevancy and now Starks is at the back of the line he doesn't know who's next... to be cut off by Ricky Starks who goes all the way to the ring. Ricky wants another shot, MJF isn't interested, trade insults until Starks hits a nerve and have MJF hit Ricky with the Diamond Ring and leaves. We got off the air with announcers saying "it isn't over between these two" and the two staring at other while MJF retreats.
06:30
Show Ends after 01:59:40
So, a couple of things before we get into it.
I did this based off AEW's current roster for Dynamite and what I know of current goings on. I'm at a slight disadvantage in that I haven't watched a single episode of Dynamite in about two months BUT, I've seen highlights and the like so I've tried to keep the show in keeping where I can. But this is about using the format of 2000's WWF and applying it now, not necessarily the actual booking of the matches and angles.
Note: Times for each segment are in MM:SS format
Show open
Stage fireworks and pan the crowds before cutting to the announcers. Announcers introduce themselves and welcome viewers, state where the show is taking place, push it as an exciting night, then run down following matches set for the show. 3 title matches. The Acclaimed vs The Gunn Club for the Tag Team Championships (mention that GC beat FTR on last show). Hikaru Shida vs Jade Cargill (mention unbeaten streak, mention Shida being ex-champion). Powerhouse Hobbs vs Samoa Joe (put Hobbs over as a genuine threat for the title). The Elite vs Death Triangle #6 (mention current score, match types, mention that it could be level tonight and lead to #7). Mention that we're due to hear from MJF as soon as he arrives.
01:30
Segment
Promo segment: Jericho Appreciation Society in the ring. Generally putting themselves over, talk about Jericho's ROH title reign and how he will get it back, but when he chooses to, everyone's mugging to the crowd, talk about their recent events. Have Menard & Parker take over and talk about being the best tag team but not being allowed to show it. Say they want competition tonight. Pause for a 7 or 8 seconds. FTR enter, FTR offer up the challenge for a tag team match tonight. JAS accept.
06:00
Segment
Match: Darby Allin vs Wardlow. Pre-match, 30 second promo by Wardlow saying that he wants to get back into the TNT Title Hunt and it starts by facing a former TNT Champion. Wardlow goes over clean. Announcers to tie MJF appearance in with phrases like "What will Wardlow's former Employer MJF will have to say when he gets here" push this narrative.
06:30
Segment
5 seconds each of Samoa Joe & Powerhouse Hobbs backstage, walking to the ring. Have the announcers announce it as next!
00:10
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: Powerhouse Hobbs vs Samoa Joe for the TNT Championship. Joe goes over.
08:30
Segment
Camera cuts to Tony Shiavone waiting in the back for MJF's arrival. No sign yet, announcers point this out.
00:15
Segment
Interview: Renee Paquette w/ The Gunn Club. Gunn Club to put over their win over FTR last week and how they'll win tonight. Cut to The Acclaimed w/Daddy Ass pumping each other up leaving their dressing room. Announcers to push that match as "next".
02:00
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: The Acclaimed w/Daddy Ass vs The Gunn Club. Acclaimed do their usual rap stuff. The Gunn Club to get loads of early offense, taunt the crowd, be cocky and distract themselves by doing things for Billy Gunn's attention. This will cost them. Acclaimed go over clean. At low points during match, tie MJF in because of GC's affiliation with The Firm, speak about MJF's arrival and what this may mean for the Championship & AEW.
13:30
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Interview: Alex Marvez w/ FTR. Have FTR admit they've had a few tough breaks in matches, but tonight is the night to put things right. Cut short promo on Menard & Parker. About 1.5 mins into promo, Jake Hager & Sammy Guevara take both out with chairs and a quick 5/10 second assault and leave laughing. Announcers to wonder what this means for their match later tonight.
01:45
Segment
Cut to announcers who move on to recap the first hour and look ahead to the second hour's matches (The Elite vs Death Triangle is the main event, Hikaru Shida vs Jade Cargill for the TBS title, we'll hear from the Blackpool Combat Club and we're still awaiting the arrival of MJF.
01:00
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: Jade Cargill vs Hikaru Shida. Cargill cuts 30 second promo pre-match. She's beaten former World champions before and she's going to do it again tonight. Cargill goes over. Power beats speed match.
06:30
Segment
Interview: Renee Paquette w/Saraya near a monitor where they've just seen the previous match. Renee to ask what's next type of interview, Saraya hints that she's capable of beating either Cargill or going after the World Title, but that's she's taking her time.
01:30
Segment
Sit down interview: 3 members of Blackpool Combat Club lightly discuss recent events, deciding whether or not they're going to continue as a group or go their own separate ways. Leave this open ended, but strongly hint at unity.
03:50
Segment
Cut to a break with announcers saying that they've heard FTR have insisted the match with 2.0 goes ahead, and that match will be next.
00:10
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: FTR vs 2.0. FTR continue selling the chair shots from earlier. 2.0 go over with the pin coming with either assistance or feet on the ropes, roll up with tights etc. Announcers now state that FTR have been beaten their last 4 matches.
08:00
Segment
MJF arrives in a limo, Tony Shiavone has been waiting all night for him. MJF gets out of the limo puts the belt over his shoulder. Tony asks a question but MJF blows him off. Announcers push to commercial wondering what he's going to say tonight. 01:30
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Video package summing up the previous matches in the best of 7 series between the Elite & Death Triangle. Announcers to push to commercials stating that the main event, is coming up.
02:30
Segment
Entrances for The Elite vs Death Triangle
02:00
Commercials 04:00
Segment
Match: The Elite vs Death Triangle #6. Falls Count Anywhere. Have 18 minutes, go nuts. Elite go over to level the score. Push when match #7 will be and what match type this will be.
18:00
Segment
Promo: MJF's music cuts over The Elite's and he walks past all of them as he goes to the ring casually and paying little attention to anyone he walks by. He's more important. Cuts promo about getting here when he feels like it and that the fans should appreciate what precious minutes he's willing to give them. Put over beating Ricky Starks, being AEW Champion is easy for someone like him because he's better than the whole locker room and you know it. MJF to state that he's sent Mox packing, he's sent Regal into irrelevancy and now Starks is at the back of the line he doesn't know who's next... to be cut off by Ricky Starks who goes all the way to the ring. Ricky wants another shot, MJF isn't interested, trade insults until Starks hits a nerve and have MJF hit Ricky with the Diamond Ring and leaves. We got off the air with announcers saying "it isn't over between these two" and the two staring at other while MJF retreats.
06:30
Show Ends after 01:59:40