Chex Mix is a great bag of snacks. Do we like every piece added? No. One may never like every ingredient, but overall one is typically satisfied with the mixed bag.
Dynamite indeed was a mixed bag. Some head-scratching finishes, predictable outcomes, and of course, no night of wrestling would be complete without a venomous tirade on social media. Let’s remember, everyone sitting in a basement furiously typing away on a keyboard can book a wrestling show better than anyone. Right?
I would love for “Wrestling Twitter” to take a day off. It would be good for the mental health of everyone.
Onwards!
Show opener features Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O’Reilly, staking claim to running roughshod in AEW. However, they are soon interrupted by The Young Bucks, and Brandon Cutler reminding them AEW is their company and the pursuit of the Tag Team Championships is their goal. Turns out, ReDragon has the same goal. Their promo was immediately interrupted by Orange Cassidy and the Best Friends. No banter here, but an immediate fight breaking out with Super Elite standing tall after underhanded tactics. Before the final blow could strike, Kris Statlander stopped Cole, however this was countered by the surprise arrival of Dr. Britt Baker, DMD. After dispatching everyone from the ring, Cole kneeled for his Young Buck Pucker Up which was STOPPED by Baker, who planted a big ol’ smoochie of her own. Live crowd loved it. The At-home crowd loved it.
CM Punk defeated Wardlow
Forget the quality of the match for a moment. We saw Wardlow doing what Wardlow does best. Destroy. He mauled Punk relentlessly, even hitting the Powerbomb Symphony. However, MJF orders Wardlow to continue the attack, putting Punk through the time keepers table. Wardlow sensed an easy pinfall, but MJF stopped it. Annoyed, Wardlow and MJF had words, which allowed Punk to snatch the bigger man for a small package which the big man was too tied up to kick out from.
While it seemed predictable toward the end, I did believe Wardlow was going to get a clean win.
I thought we would have gotten something crazy, where Punk lay down for Wardlow, thus giving Wardlow a head start on a championship pursuit which MJF is stuck at zero. Didn’t happen.
This could be the tipping point for Wardlow to finally break off from MJF. First he’s going to destroy Shawn Spears.
Backstage: Super Elite berate Landon-Brandon-Butler-Cutler while recording a threat to Best Friends. Dr. Britt Baker arrives to challenge Statlander and Cassidy to a mixed tag between herself and Adam Cole.
Hell yes.
Dante Martin defeated Powerhouse Hobbs
This ran the same play as the previous match. Big man completely dominating, however Martin did get in some moments of offense. While it seemed Hobbs would take the win, interference by Ricky Starks led to a surprise save by Jay Lethal to give Martin an advantage to win.
Not the greatest finish, but without a doubt a very enjoyable match. Certainly gives some added intrigue as to who Martin will need by his side to fight off Team Taz.
This should lead to the inevitable match between Dante Martin and Ricky Starks… But man, I really want to see Dante versus HOOK.
Backstage: The Inner Circle appears a bit out-of-sorts with the constant antics by Daniel Garcia and 2point0. This interview is interrupted with the ever-so-not-so-subtle appearance of Eddie Kingston who continues to take offense at Jericho continually butting into his business. Kingston then reminds Santana and Ortiz they should be AEW Tag Champions but are held back. They exit with much dissatisfaction, while Hager, silent the whole time, lumbers away shrugging. Kingston and Jericho promise to hurt each other if there is interference during the main event.
The prospect of a Chris Jericho/Eddie Kingston match has me giddy. I’m even more intrigued with the notion of the Inner Circle members being dissatisfied and perhaps resigned to going their separate ways. Given we haven’t seen much of Hager recently, Sammy’s pursuit of singles matches had been on his own, while Santana and Ortiz do seem to dominate their tag bouts.
Perhaps the time of the Inner Circle is nearing its end.
In the ring – “Hangman” Adam Page is out to offer his praise for Bryan Danielson and talks about it being a new year and a year of new challengers. However, the biggest verbal heel, in my opinion, Dan Lambert interrupts and while compliments Page on his successful title run thus far, he is outraged at his “gimmick” of being a so-called Cowboy – While referencing legendary wrestlers such a Dick Murdoch, The Blackjacks, Terry Funk, Dory Funk, Bill Watts, and others. Hangman retorts with his creed, which doesn’t impress Lambert at all. Lambert breaks a fourth wall, telling Page to keep the attitude, keep the wrestling, but ditch “the Cowboy s***.”
Before it heats up too much, lights go out and Lance Archer storms the ring. Lambert, scared out of his boots, runs in hopes of being saved by Hangman, but to no avail. Archer turns and clobbers Page, then slamming him through a chair with the Blackout.
Archer will have the appearance of a credible title challenger, but there’s no way in hell Hangman is dropping to him.
Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb went to a no contest/DQ?
Not sure the official ruling, but Deeb went cutthroat right away, threatening to break the leg of Shida. At some point it became too much for the ref to allow, and the bell was called. Deeb gloats at her accomplishment, and Shida is now once again an underdog in this ongoing feud.
I don’t mind multiple matches, they’ve all been fantastic. I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get more from them tonight, but this will build more hype to an inevitable match where someone gets taken out on a stretcher.
Backstage, Arn Anderson praises the work by his son Brock and Lee Johnson. They are approached by Tully Blachard and FTR who offer an invitation to Arn to join them, rekindle some good ol’ Horsemen days. Instead we have a match signed between Arn’s protégés and FTR. No glocks were drawn.
Penta El Zero M defeated Matt Hardy
In a pre-match interview, Hardy praises Rey Fenix, while also promising to hurt Penta so he’ll have plenty of time to visit, or perhaps share a hospital room.
Good back and forth match, however I was surprised at Hardy losing. Both in his home state, plus his wife and children featured in the audience. Matt had the appearance of being out-of-it at times, which leads into the subject of his post-match interview…
But first – The lights go out and Malakai Black appears in the ring, knocking out Alex Abrahantes. Penta and Black brawl, and is aided by Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr. However, Julia Hart appears to stop the beatdown, not sure exactly why, but leads to Black cackling as the lights go out once more.
Lights back on and BRODY KING IS HERE!!! Complete annihilation by King and Black, as the House of Black is formed. One has to wonder if Julia Hart will play a role as well. But this new tag team is going to be the unstoppable force this year.
Backstage… Where Matt reveals he is going to relinquish his focus on the HFO and feuds in order to take a step back, just “be Matt Hardy” and consider what his next steps in AEW will be. Before we could see an automatic face turn, Andrade El Idolo arrives with an offer to make a lot of money.
We’ve seen in the past few weeks Andrade seems persistent in forming, or hiring a group. I’m not sure what the purpose or angle necessarily is, but hopefully it does come out to be something worthwhile.
Yes, we know Jeff Hardy will be 100% free agent soon.
Just don’t get your hopes up.
The Acclaimed defeated Bear Country
I like Bear Country, and disappointed they’ve been on the losing end so much. Please give them better in the future. Acclaimed took the time to run down Sting and Darby Allin during their opening rap, so of course post-match they decided to strike.
Unfortunately, this didn’t do anything for me.
Max Caster’s elbow drop though. Damn.
Sammy Guevara defeated Daniel Garcia
Prior to the match it was announced Cody Rhodes will appear next week. Unless he’s taking extended time off, I’m a little confused why we needed an “interim champion” so soon. I will say, boxing and other sports have the same concept, this is interesting to see it used in pro wrestling as well.
This match was El Fuego. Not going to lie, but there were many moments I thought Garcia was winning it, and I would have applauded. Such a great match, the opening minutes with the two grappling and rolling, trying to gain the upper hand. Amazing mat wrestling. Garcia is a freaking suplex and submission machine. He may not have won a championship today, but if the stars align, maybe late 2022 or 2023 he could be. He may be a skinny dude, but look at Zack Sabre Jr. and Will Ospreay. Lanky guys who can out-grapple anyone if they wanted. Just don’t let them go off-script and break bones. Of course, 2point0 inevitably got involved, but not enough which allowed Sammy to score with the GTH for the win.
Point of note, Sammy struck with a Cross-Rhodes. Shots continue to be fired.
Of course, Kingston and Jericho got involved, but noticeably while Kingston had a grasp on Parker, Jericho re-introduced him to Floyd the Bat. Kingston was not happy and it seems this pot has just boiled over.
Takeaways from tonight, it seems some factions will be ending their tenure, with Hardy essentially disbanding the HFO and the Inner Circle seems ready to amicably split. I’ll even go as far to say perhaps The Pinnacle will also see a breakup as FTR doesn’t seem too involved anymore, and Wardlow leaving seems inevitable.
Perhaps the run on stables has hit its end, and 2022 will see a new theme develop.
