AEW Dynamite 2/9: A Limitlessly Good Episode

Well, AEW Dynamite 2/9 from Atlantic City starts off with a segment which could only be described as MJF’s second Bar-Mitzvah!

Justin Roberts gets the unfortunate task of calling down each member of The Pinnacle except for Warlow who is tasked with lugging down the cardboard cut outs. The group jumps around like the Horah while Wardlow clearly has no interest in participating. MJF proclaims himself as “Better than Best in the World.” The profanity-laced chants start in earnest very quickly as MJF defeated Punk twice in his hometown of Chicago. He then thanks the man who assisted him in winning the match… Shawn Spears!! Guess who isn’t happy about that?

In any case, MJF declares himself ready to challenge for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. This is interrupted by CM Punk who admits he realizes he made a mistake by not bringing in back up. Out comes Sting and Darby Allin wielding baseball bats. Punk then directs his attention to the man who “really” beat him last week, Wardlow. He offers Wardlow the chance to man up and assert his independence. MJF declines a rematch, but tonight Punk will find a partner to face FTR.

AEW Dynamite 2/9 from Atlantic City was heavy in MJF putting down Wardlow over and over. Completely dismissing him. The face turn is going to happen, and when it does, it will be one of the best long-term storytelling yet. 

Backstage: Andrade El Idolo confronts Sting and Darby Allin in another attempt to recruit Darby. This fails, and it looks like we’re going to get an Andrade vs. Darby in the near future. 

Wardlow defeats The Blade – Well, not against lightweights anymore, and Blade made a valiant attempt to take Wardlow down, but this did not last long. Wardlow earning some “Goldberg” style chants lobs Blade all over the ring with numerous overhead belly to back suplexes. A longer match this time, but the result still winds up the same.  

In the ring, The Inner Circle and Chris Jericho holds their meeting. Santana and Ortiz come out to their own entrance, Jericho not happy. Santana cuts a killer promo on Jericho and his selfishness, and as things get heated, Sammy attempts to intervene, only for Jericho to lambast him as well. This results in Sammy revisiting his earlier disdain for the Inner Circle, removing his jacket and leaving the group yet again. Ortiz defends his friend Eddie Kingston, and then throws down the challenge for a tag match between themselves against Jericho and Hager. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, bye bye Inner Circle. Called it. 

#AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/hwnTRTtuz1

— Switchblade Jay White (@JayWhiteNZ) February 10, 2022

Backstage, Trent and Rocky Romero hype their upcoming match against The Young Bucks on Rampage, but are soon attacked by the Bucks and Adam Cole. But before they can finish them off, Cole motions off camera and JAY WHITE ARRIVES TO FINISH THE JOB!!!

In the ring Isiah Kassidy awaits his opponent and HOLY PRIMUS IT’S KEITH LEE!! KEITH LEE!!

KEITH LEE!!

KEITH LEE!!

KEITH LEE!!

HOLY CRAP IT’S KEITH LEE!!

Good match, Kassidy did his best but DAMN Keith Lee looks fantastic. Lee gets the win with some uber-impressive stuff tonight. Matt Hardy, sensing inevitable defeat bails on Private Party in a similar fashion when Jeff Hardy bailed on his tag match a few months ago, escaping through the crowd. 

KEITH LEE IS AEW.

I AM SO DAMN HAPPY.

Up next, FTR heads out for their match against CM Punk and his mystery partner… JON MOXLEY!!!

Match is fantastic. What a roller coaster! So many close calls and a ton of double-team moves from everyone. Mox and Punk make one hell of a team. FTR are so good at their old school heel tactics, and lots of double-team moves, nods to both Road Warriors and Americas Most Wanted. Tully Blanchard gets involved at eats a GTS for his efforts. Lots of suplexes being thrown left and right. 

Prime example of how AEW makes tag team wrestling important. Conclusion of the match sees a complete brawl in the ring, culminating with Punk and Mox locking in signature submissions, with Punk locking in the Anaconda Vice for the tap out victory. 

Jade Cargill retains the TBS Championship against A.Q.A.

Top prospect from Booker T’s wrestling school (and formerly NXT). She gets some very impressive offense at points during the match, hitting a DDT followed by an amazing Shooting Star Press. Unfortunately, Cargill’s strength is too much and she is able to put away the newcomer. 

Professor Serena Deeb defeated Katie Arquette

Match lasted a little over a minute, ends with a submission victory. 

“Hangman” Adam Page defeated “Murderhawk” Lance Archer in a Texas Deathmatch

This one gets bloody really fast. Ropes get torn down, weapons everywhere, and Jake Roberts almost hits his DDT but is stopped by Archer. Poor Snake is disappointed which allows Hangman to hit the DDT instead. Jake flips him off. Archer pulls out a fork and drives it into the already busted open head of Hangman. Good lord. Archer then goes crazy and plants Hangman on the ring stairs with the Blackout! Hangman then wraps his arm in barbed wire, using Referee Paul Turner as a slingshot for the BUCKSHOT THROUGH TABLES!! Archer can’t get up by the ten count and it’s all over!!

No! It’s not! ADAM COLE is out and delivers the message he wants next at the AEW World Championship as the show closes!

HOLY CRAP Tonight has been awesome! AEW delivers on multiple surprises and I’m drooling for what comes next!

AEW Dynamite 2/9 from Atlantic City is now on demand and streaming on the TNT app.