Even a technical glitch could not slow down the locomotive-esque action of AEW Dynamite 1/27. While the majority of the opening match went unseen due to television issues, but AEW would post the match uncut on YouTube shortly afterwards.
“Mad King” Eddie Kingston defeated Lance Archer
It took the help of his family as Butcher, Blade, and Bunny would attack Jake Roberts allowing Kingston to KO archer with a loaded backhand. However, while victorious, Kingston found himself in an unusual position of being overmatched and dominated. A scary toss from the ring, followed by being thrown face-first into a camera paved the way for Archer to stay atop the match.
While the win wasn’t clean, or earned, the vicious Kingston will relish having the W in his column in what looks to be a continuing feud.
If they ever did a BTE Championship with Candy Land, it would have to be “Mad King Candy” Kingston with John Silver dressed up as a gingerbread man.
In pre-taped promos, Moxley tossed more verbal threats towards Kenny Omega and the Good Brothers, while Sting and Darby Allin embrace being called “hoodlums” by Taz and destroy some glass windows.
Promo level 100. I’m not expecting a technical wrestling match involving Sting, but the promos alone are worth the money.
Chris Jericho and MJF defeated The Varsity Blondes
Good match, a “safe” match which drove two points solidly. One, MJF continues to manipulate the Inner Circle. Second, Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison has to tools to be a top team one day. Jericho earns the win as he strikes Pillman coming off the top turnbuckle, but the exclamation point, hitting a picture-perfect Lionsault, making up for last week’s botch.
Also, Garrison is tall. Really tall.
After the match, tension continues between MJF and Sammy Guevara.
Earlier today, during the AEW Awards response from Shaquille O’Neal to Cody Rhodes prompts an in-ring promo from Cody and Arn Anderson. In something different, Arn talked about the importance of family and Cody becoming a father, and referenced how Dusty Rhodes booked it on a flight after a match with Tully Blanchard to get home for Cody’s birth. While circumstances allow Cody to avoid such a rush, he still has new things to consider. This somehow paves a path for Arn to bring out Red Velvet to fill in the mixed-tag team challenge.
Not a bad segment. While the upcoming match at Revolution will draw and make sports headlines, I just hope it doesn’t have negative impact on the show. Then again, we aren’t expecting Shaq to bust out suplexes, as this might focus more on Jade Cargill and Red Velvet.
“Hangman” Adam Page defeated Ryan Nemeth
Probably the weakest match of the night, only due to Nemeth appearing to mimic his brother’s antics. He appears skilled, however some polishing on Dark would benefit the newcomer. Page as usual was awesome, and the banner-line this week, as always, is a laugh. The story out of this match, the appearance of Matt Hardy attempting to court Hangman with supportive words. While Page seems alone, having stables trying to sway him over is a good sign for the prospect.
Maybe Team Taz will want some Cowboy $h!t on their side?
Jungle Boy defeated Dax Hardwood via Submission with the stipulation of Cash and Tully Blanchard handcuffed to Luchasaurus.
It’s early, but this is a Match of the Year Candidate. Yes. You read right, MOTY and Jungle Boy wins via Submission. We got a clean bout with a healthy mix of mat holds and take-flight risks. Dax planting Jungle Boy with a recoiled Liger Bomb shifted control to his side, until Jungle Jack countered out of a full-nelson with a Backstabber followed with rolling German suplexes. The final moments saw pinfall counter-after-counter, culminating with Jungle Boy locking in the Snare Trap (STF) for the tap out win.
Despite the clean win, post-match saw FTR throw powder in the eyes of Luchasaurus, giving advantage, even cutting the horns off the mask, until Marko Stunt rushed the ring with SCU and Top Flight.
I was thinking Dax would have gone with the respect angle with the clean win, but FTR portray the true-old school heel by becoming more vicious after the match.
Dr. Britt Baker DMD defeated Shanna
Another great women’s bout. Shanna had a lot of offensive time, which is needed when re-building a division hurt by pandemic circumstances. Shanna had been overseas and unable to compete until recently. I also love the Dragon Ball Z ring gear. Big gripe, with other matches tonight but was prominent here, the timing of the picture-in-picture commercials which then lead to full commercials, hurting the match. I’m not sure why it bothers as much, maybe in the old television days it was timed better, but it always seems to disrupt the match these days. Baker’s win came as a close call, thanks to Reba/Rebel with the interfering distraction.
Post match, Thunder Rosa stormed the ring. Can’t wait for that match. This build has been one of the best AEW has done for an upcoming match. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.
The Bullet Club (Young Bucks & Good Brothers) defeated The Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds, and John “Johnny Hungie” Silver
John Silver is AEW’s new golden ticket. Last year was Orange Cassidy, this year will be the year of Johnny Hungie. His antics on BTE are hysterical enough, but going toe-to-toe, and head-to-chest with Doc Gallows was funny. The guy is building on a Napoleon complex, overt flexing and challenging the biggest dude in the room. Between in-ring antics, a face which brings out the fun, and the sheer work of art with Alex Reynolds and their series of mid-match move rally, I would bet the stock market on Silver. Story focus more on whether the Bucks and Good Brothers could unite, but Dark Order, despite the loss have become more than the low-tier cult, and I would say, have become beloved by the AEW fanbase. The tragedy of Brodie Lee may still hang over us, but instead of clouds in darkness, there is a brightness from an emerging sun, shining down on all members of the Dark Order. Uno and Grayson should once again be pushed as a major team and I really hope this year they have a run for the tag team championships, whether AEW or Impact, or the next company to partner.
Some fantastic spots during the match, a four-way superkick, the Reynolds/Silver rally rush into Uno/Grayson’s Fatality finish, ultimately concluding with a Meltzer Driver. The announce team calls them the Bullet Club, and post-match “the club” continued the fight, until Rey Fenix and Moxley rushed down, even taking out Kenny Omega to close the show.
The low points of AEW Dynamite 1/27 did not hurt the overall program, AEW continues to push positive into 2021.
