Here are your quick and dirty, editorial-free AEW Dynamite results for June 3, 2020. The show featured matches for the Tag Team Championship and TNT Championship, Big Swole returning to the ring to face Nyla Rose, and more. Make sure you’re here tomorrow for the complete Ins and Outs of AEW Dynamite column.

AEW Dynamite Results:

1. Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page defeated Jimmy Havoc and Kip Sabian (with Penelope Ford) to retain the AEW Tag Team Championship. Ford was ejected from ringside for interfering. Page pinned Havoc after a Last Call

— They showed a clip from social media of Tully Blanchard giving Shawn Spears a very angry pep talk, and then presenting him with a fingerless black glove.

2. Brian Cage (with Taz) defeated Shawn Dean, pinning him quickly with a Drill Claw.

— After the match, Taz cut a promo on Jon Moxley about why he was smiling last week. Moxley showed up and said that fighting a guy as intense as Cage makes him happy.

— Somewhere out in the country, Alex Marvez interviewed Lance Archer, who got really worked up talking about how one loss wouldn’t deter him, because everybody dies. After Archer stalked off, Jake Roberts apologized to Marvez for Archer’s behavior.

— Private Party were having drinks backstage when Matt Hardy showed up to check on how Marq Quen is doing after hurting his knee last week. Private Party suggest that the three of them should team up as Hardy Party.

— Sammy Guevara came out with one leg supported by a scooter and loudly sang along with Jericho’s entrance song, while QT Marshall and Allie were seen with their arms around each other in the crowd.

3. Chris Jericho defeated Colt Cabana by pinfall with the Judas Effect.

— After the match, Chris Jericho said that him versus Mike Tyson is the match everyone wants to see. He repeatedly called for “the Baddest Man on the Planet” to come out and face him, and Orange Cassidy showed up. Jericho and Jake Hager tried to attack Cassidy but failed to touch him.

— We got a montage of Doctor Britt Baker working out in her wheelchair.

4. Nyla Rose defeated Big Swole. It was a close match, but Nyla pinned Swole after a spinebuster.

— After the match, Tony Schiavone attempted to interview Big Swole at ringside, but they were interrupted by Britt Baker, who was sitting in her wheelchair in the back of a golf cart. Swole grabbed a chair and was going to attack Baker, but Britt yelled at Rebel to drive her away.

— Backstage, Darby Allin told Tony Schiavone that life’s a joke but he’ll get the last laugh.

— Tony Schiavone interviewed FTR, who named a bunch of AEW tag teams they’d like to face, but didn’t mention the Young Bucks until Tony asked about them. They said they want to beat the bucks in three minutes, and that they saved the Bucks from the Butcher and the Blade because when they beat the Bucks, they don’t want anyone to have any doubt about them being 100%. The Butcher and the Blade showed up, and FTR said that their attack wasn’t personal, but they can settle it in the ring. They’ll do that next week.

— Alex Marvez was interviewing Colt Cabana about his recent losses, when Brodie Lee showed up and attempted to recruit him into the Dark Order.

5. Cody Rhodes defeated Jungle Boy to retain the TNT Championship. The Crossroads got the pin.

— After the match, Cody helped Jungle Boy up and they hugged as other members of the Nightmare Family and Jurassic Express joined them in the ring.

Last year’s drama Just Mercy did pretty well for a non-blockbuster, raking in a respectable $36 million in an era when moviegoers almost exclusively reward comic book movies. (And that’s despite starring three superhero movie vets: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, and Brie Larson.) But it still mostly fell through the cracks, not attracting much attention, not get any major awards, and not starting any meaningful conversations about its central issue, which is systemic racism.

That was then, this is now. Jump about half a year later and systemic racism is what we’re finally talking about with more passion than in years. The entire nation has erupted in protests, which have come about due to the death of George Floyd last week. The protests have for the most part been peaceful, even if the police (nor the president’s) response hasn’t always been. And if you wanted to watch a movie that will educate you about some of the same issues, then, you’re in luck: As per IndieWire, Warner Bros. has just made it available for free through the month of June.

In Just Mercy, Jordan plays Bryan Stevenson, an idealistic defense attorney working to free an African-American man (Foxx) wrongfully convicted of murdering a white woman, all while exposing a system designed to oppress minorities.

“We believe in the power of story,” Warner Bros. said in a statement released online. “Our film Just Mercy, based on the life work of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson, is one resource we can humbly offer to those who are interested in learning more about the systemic racism that plagues our society. For the month of June, Just Mercy will be available to rent for free across digital platforms in the US.”

Just Mercy isn’t available as of this writing, but you can check places like Amazon and Apple TV when it is.

(Via IndieWire)

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Movie theaters nationwide have been shuttered since around mid-March, but insiders have been cautiously optimistic that they could reopen by July. Will that happen? Will Christopher Nolan’s Tenet really be the first movie people see in an actual movie theater in four months? Maybe! Or maybe not. But whenever theaters do open, one chain won’t make wearing masks a requirement.

This comes from The Wrap, who reported that Cinemark discussed their plans about reopening to Wall Street analysts. And while their employees will be required to wear masks, it will only be recommended that the same extend to their guests.

“We have been intensely focused in developing enhanced health and safety protocols, understanding that these factors will weigh heavily on the confidence and peace of mind of our employees, guests and community as we reopen our theaters,” Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi said during the call. “[We will be] requiring all employees to wear face masks and encouraging guests to do the same.”

When The Wrap asked Zoradi to clarify his language, he made it a bit more clear, saying, “outside of those areas where it is required by local mandates, Cinemark will be encouraging — not requiring — guests to wear face masks.”

Wearing masks, or some kind of facial covering, when outdoors, and especially when anywhere near other people, has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control since fairly early into America’s quarantine era. The idea is not so much to protect yourself but to protect others from you.

In the call, Zoradi discussed other ways Cinemark would be adapting to a changing world, saying they would also be looking into “seat buffering technology,” which would ensure that patrons are seated with enough space between each other — social distancing while reclining and watching a movie. They will also ramp up cleaning and sanitation measures, minimize physical interactions, and staggering showtimes to decrease crowds. The chain, which has over 500 theaters in the U.S. and Latin America, is scheduled to reopen on July 17. For now.

(Via The Wrap)

Welcome to this week’s Wednesday Night Wars open discussion thread. This week it’s an AEW Dynamite featuring Cody Rhodes’ first defense of the TNT Championship and the artists formerly known as The Revival against an episode of NXT featuring the finals of the (Interim) Cruiserweight Championship tournament, Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim, and more.

On tonight’s cards:

AEW Dynamite

• TNT Championship Match: Cody (Rhodes) (c) vs. Jungle (Jack Perry) Boy
• AEW World Tag Team Championship Match: Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page (c) vs. Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc
• Nyla Rose vs. Big Swole
• Tony Schiavone interviews FTR
• Chris Jericho vs. Colt Cabana

NXT

• Interim NXT Cruiserweight Title Tournament Finals Match: Drake Maverick vs. El Hijo del Fantasma
• hopefully nobody else getting abducted by luchadores in the Full Sail parking lot (or attacked by them in the ring) (during tournament finals matches)
• Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim
• whatever else they need to do to sell you on the fact that NXT TakeOver: In Your House happens this Sunday

As always, +1 your favorite comments from tonight’s open thread and if we get enough comments, we’ll include 10 of the best in tomorrow’s Best and Worst of NXT and AEW reports. Make sure you flip the comments by selecting “newest” in the drop down menu under discussion, and enjoy the show!

A ton of attention has been granted the doc-series Tiger King since it premiered in March, and a chunk of that has been about one issue: What happened to Don Lewis, Carole Baskin’s missing husband? The show’s main star, Joe Exotic, has frequently claimed, with not much proof, Baskin, his heated rival, had him murdered. But as per Entertainment Weekly, that part of the story just took a hairpin turn.

On Tuesday, 10 Tampa Bay spoke with Hillsborough County sheriff Chad Chronister, who said that what was purported to be Lewis’ will is, allegedly, a fake. They called in some experts to say that the will was a forgery and I had already told them that two months ago,” Chronister told them. “They had two experts deem it 100% a forgery.”

Lewis vanished in 1997 and was legally pronounced dead in 2002. By the time of his disappearance, he’d become a multi-millionaire, and his will reportedly left it all to Baskin, allowing her to cut off his family. Chronister pointed out that the statute of limitations had expired, so any criminal charges could not be filed if wrongdoing had been provably discovered.

An entire episode of Tiger King was devoted to speculations and theories about what may have happened, while Baskin has maintained her innocence. Even with the declaration of death, Lewis’ disappearance remains an open case.

(Via EW)

Let me get this straight: Colin Kaepernick still doesn’t have a job in the NFL. It’s disgraceful to the league. If the NFL is saddened by the events of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tracy Walker, Ahmaud Arbery and many others, then the biggest statement they can make is hire Colin back. It’s never too late. Even if he isn’t a quarterback, there is such an obvious position for him. I will get to that later, but let us focus on his accomplishments on the field for now.

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Stats do not lie. The San Francisco 49ers made a trade with the Denver Broncos to move up and pick Kaepernick as 36th overall in the 2011 NFL draft. After replacing an injured Alex Smith midway through the 2012 season, the quarterback quickly became a defensive coordinators nightmare throwing for 1,814 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 415 yards and five scores on the ground in just seven starts, posting a record of 5-2.

In Kaepernick’s first playoff start, he led his team to a 45-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers while chalking up 181 rushing yards, which was an NFL playoff record for a quarterback. He came within three points of winning the Super Bowl but fell short to the Baltimore Ravens 34-31. The following year, he went 12-4 making it to the NFC championship game.

Football fans know that the eyeball test is often times more important than stats—and to watch Kaepernick play the game was something truly special. He started to tail off after his first initial run. We all saw it. But to say that a talent like his doesn’t belong in the NFL, even as a second or third string quarterback, means you don’t understand football.

But it does mean that team owners and the NFL in general may not understand something essential about race in America in 2020. However, there is a solution.

Not only has Kaepernick been out of the league without the physical wear and tear of four years of playing in the NFL, but he’s entering his 30’s where most quarterbacks hit their prime. The last time I checked, the New England Patriots have won Super Bowls signing players like Chris Long, Jamie Collins and Danny Amendola who were once great and had something to prove. Kaepernick could be the same.

His style fits perfectly with offenses like the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks, where he could easily be a backup. Or if anyone wants to run the wildcat or bring him in as a curveball on third or fourth and short situations. You mean to tell me that the Bengals, the longtime doormats of the league regarding both moral and on-the-field success, can’t use a player like Kaepernick?

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted running back Joe Mixon in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft after a brutal, and I do mean brutal, video that surfaced from a surveillance camera that shows him knocking a woman out. Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was caught on a security camera punching his girlfriend unconscious in an elevator. Ray Rice never played in the NFL again. The difference?

Ray Rice was at the end of his career, so it was extremely easy to say that they didn’t want a guy like that playing on their team anymore. So, what moral high ground did the Bengals take on a guy who had fallen in the draft based on his questionable character? (and by that, I mean, horrifically hurting a woman with one incredibly ruthless and unnecessary closed first to the face). They drafted him.

But heaven forbid any NFL team sign a quarterback who led his team to a Super Bowl his first year playing and decided to speak out on social injustice.

Kaepernick started the movement by sitting down on the bench during the national anthem before a preseason game. The problem people had was that he took a knee in the games to come. For those of you who do not know, Kaepernick took a knee after consulting with his friend and retired green beret, Nate Boyer, who explained the most respectful way to go about making his voice heard. It was Nate who said that it was a sign of respect to take a knee— that’s what soldiers do for fallen brothers.

The question begs which is worse: standing up for something you believe in and being respectful or violently assaulting women? The NFL owners will do right by their fans. Apparently, it is more forgivable to hit women than it is to bring awareness to inequality.

The real reason no team would touch Colin Kaepernick is because they think it will hurt their fan base. Football fans are extremely patriotic and cheer when the national anthem reaches the line “and the rockets’ red glare,” and go nuts when the fighter jets roar above the stadium. Of course, I also love a good flyover. But it was the action of kneeling that people took as disrespecting the flag. Except it wasn’t.

Had Kaepernick raised a fist instead, I don’t know if we would be having this conversation, which is the point. He made us have this conversation. That was his biggest crime. He was simply exercising his right to freedom of speech without saying a word. That sounds pretty damn patriotic to me.

Even if there is not one NFL team that thinks Colin Kaepernick can make their team better, there is the other role he can play. The National Football League, a multi-billion-dollar machine, can hire him to be a racial liaison. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell claims the league is serious about implementing change. He issued a statement on Saturday:

“The NFL family is greatly saddened by the tragic events across our country. The protesters’ reactions to these incidents reflect the pain, anger and frustration that so many of us feel. Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. George Floyd and to those who have lost loved ones, including the families of Ms. Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and Mr. Ahmaud Arbery, the cousin of Tracy Walker of the Detroit Lions. As current events dramatically underscore, there remains much more to do as a country and as a league. These tragedies inform the NFL’s commitment and our ongoing efforts. There remains an urgent need for action. We recognize the power of our platform in communities and as part of the fabric of American society. We embrace that responsibility and are committed to continuing the important work to address these systemic issues together with our players, clubs and partners.”

So, I ask you Mr. Goodell, why not hire Collin Kaepernick as a racial liaison, the man who brought this awareness to the national stage? Rather than talking about change, be the change.

More importantly, say his name: Collin Kaepernick. Hire him.

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A number of athletes from across the sports world have spoken out about the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer that sparked protests in all 50 states (and numerous major international cities) over the past week. Among those was Drew Brees, who like so many participated in #BlackOutTuesday, posting a black square to Instagram on Tuesday in supposed solidarity with protesters and the black community in the fight against racial injustice and police brutality.

However, on Wednesday, Brees was asked about Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players protests about the same thing that has brought millions into the streets around the world, and continued to insist he doesn’t support anything that “disrespects the flag.” Brees spoke of his grandfathers who fought in World War II and how the anthem and flag represent those who fought for freedom, and quickly received backlash from teammates and beyond in the sports world.

Michael Thomas was among the most vocal of his teammates in offering their frustration and disbelief that he still doesn’t get the message and purpose of the protests. LeBron James explained why his comments about his grandfather fighting in World War II fails to understand the thousands of black veterans that returned from war only to be on the receiving end of racism and hate despite also having fought for freedom. Aaron Rodgers even posted to Instagram about how Brees and others continue to misconstrue the point of protests from Kaepernick and others.

Shortly after, Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins joined that group in offering a response to Brees by posting a forceful video echoing what LeBron said about how Brees’ statement fails to understand or care about the experience of the black veterans that fought with his grandfather and ended with a forceful “sometimes you should shut the f*ck up.”

Jenkins said he filmed the video before talking with Brees and posted it after, but would later delete it. Still, the message and fury over Brees’ comments are more than understandable. Jenkins and others who participated in the protests have been saying forever that they aren’t protesting the flag or the anthem, but are protesting systemic racism and police brutality, using their platform prior to games to do so.

Jenkins would later post another video — he said he recorded a number — and while it ends with a less aggressive closing remark (this time he says “I can’t let this slide”) the overall message remains the same, calling out Brees for not understanding his privilege and not being a willing advocate for the people he calls his brothers on the field.

Protests aren’t meant to be comfortable, they’re meant to cause people to take notice and to capture the attention of people otherwise unaffected by these issues, you have to protest during times they are paying attention. Jenkins said he hopes Brees “rectifies [his comments] with real action” and it will be very interesting to see how Brees responds after being swiftly criticized by some of his most prominent teammates.