AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash 2021 – the final episode of Dynamite on TNT — kicks off strong with a standing ovation for the return of Good Ol’ Jim Ross back on commentary. You can tell he’s just so damn happy to be there and just loving every moment of being behind the announce desk.
The first match is a doozy, a high-octane 10-man tag with Private Party, FTR, and Matt Hardy getting a win over Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus, Christian Cage, and the AEW World Tag Team Champions, the Lucha Brothers. Fantastic match, what a fun opener this was. This set the tone for the night as each match, while storyline-driven, was just so much damn fun to watch on television. Miscommunication on the babyface team led to their defeat, and later on an accepted challenge for next week on TBS, the tag team championships on the line with the Lucha Brothers defending against Jurassic Express.
Next up is another bigtime wrestling match, again, with graduating to uber-heel status is 2point0 and Daniel Garcia defeating Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz. What a wrestling match and fight this was. Facial expressions by Kingston were pure gold. Dude looked like a rabid animal hungry for some chow. Always glad to see Ortiz and Santana control a tag match. 2point0 and Garcia become sleazier each week with their devious antics, once again scoring a sneaky win with a distraction and a roll-up victory pinfall. Post-match took a violent turn as Santana is clobbered with the ring bell, to which after the incident Chris Jericho runs down, chasing off the heels. This doesn’t sit well with Kingston who feels Jericho’s save was too late. Ortiz prevents a brawl.
This is something AEW excels at. One storyline slowly evolving into another.
Remember when Wardlow made his debut in AEW? When “Smart” Mark Sterling was in MJF’s corner? Remember the contract signed? Well, it came back to rear its ugly-ass head. Backstage, MJF says he’s “done” with CM Punk and moving on to championships. He wants Wardlow to chase the TNT title because, it’s in the contract, read by Mr. Sterling, anything Wardlow wins, goes to MJF. The bored Wardlow now appears to be angry Wardlow.
MJF also asks him to stop spotlight stealing with his consecutive powerbombs.
Wardlow defeated Colin Deleany with consecutive powerbombs.
Shawn Spears felt the need to clock him with a chair as well. Wardlow is unimpressed.
2022 will have the long-anticipated face turn for Wardlow. Wardlow versus Pinnacle has a fun ring to it.
In the ring, Dan Lambert is back and I can’t hear a damn thing because of all the booing. Holy hell this guy generates mega-heel heat just by existing. He throws some pretty nasty slander towards Brandi Rhodes who comes out and apparently is ready to fight Lambert. Things get awkward for a moment until Dustin Rhodes enters and is attacked from behind by Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky.
Lambert’s promo got the heat it intended to get, but involving Brandi for easy boos from a live crowd felt predictable and the tease of a fight a little forced. That being said, the chances of Rhodes dropping the TNT championship to either Page or Sky just increased exponentially. The question is, who? Scorpio Sky or Ethan Page?
What if…? Dan Lambert?
Please don’t hurt me.
Jade Cargill defeated Thunder Rosa to reach the finals of the TBS Championship Tournament,
Ugh. I’m sorry, I really am. The match slowed down way too much after five minutes. Cargill has potential and she will be good, really good in the future. But the match felt “off” and on more than one exchange a slowed pace easily showed. It’s not a horrible thing, really. They still put on a decent match, but it lost the fizz the longer it got. Look, it’s been obvious from the get-go this tournament was made for Cargill to win. If she doesn’t, I will be shocked. She defeated Red Velvet in her first match, the defeated Thunder Rosa in her next round with interference. It doesn’t make Cargill look great going into the final, it feels predictable with the debut of Mercedes Martinez as the one helping Cargill advance, Ruby Soho will walk out of Newark empty handed.
CM Punk in-ring promo – Punk starts with “giving flowers” to Jim Ross, and then extends a tribute to the late Brodie Lee. Well done. Well spoken. Punk then turns and talks about how MJF says he’s moving on, which is fine, because Punk never was interested in dealing with a real-life bona-fide Twitter troll. Saying MJF laces running shoes instead of boots, Punk pictures himself chasing titles. He heard MJF say he has a similar plan. Wouldn’t be a shame if someone spoiled MJF’s plans in the future.
Seems we are taking a break from a possible MJF/Punk match, but as AEW seems to do very well, is run the long game and let things play out over time.
During break, Sammy Guevara did his sign shtick, ultimately revealing he plans on challenging Cody Rhodes for the TNT Championship again.
Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Bobby Fish defeated The Best Friends
Prior to the match, The Young Bucks are wary of ReDragon being in AEW, however Cole tries to downplay any possible conflict. However, Kyle O’Reilly reminds Cole they had unfinished business from elsewhere and he’s not so sure about burying the hatchet just yet.
Fantastic main event match. Trent looks incredible and busted out suplexes which would make 1995 Taz jealous. Fish and KOR using ReDragon is awesome. Phenomenal match, even though “Undisputed” dominated, the true MVP award goes to Trent.
Even though ReDragon wins, it was not without drama. KOR inadvertently superkicks Adam Cole, which post-match, Nick and Matt Jackson jump to sway Cole to their side claiming it was intentional. Look, all Cole has to do is re-watch the match and he would see what happened. But, this is wrestling after all and I guess nobody ever watches a replay of their matches.
In any event, AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash 2021 was a superb send off for Dynamite on TNT, with a lot to look forward to next week on TBS, live from Newark, New Jersey.
AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash 2021 is now on demand and streaming on TNT.
