Winter is Coming 2022 and hits Dynamite with the whirlwind of trios, featuring the surprising victory for Death Triangle over The Elite. Yep, it’s a Bucks/Omega/PAC/Lucha Brothers spotfest, yet, we still enjoy it. I enjoy it because it is fun to watch. I’m sure Jim Cornette will throw a fit or just fast forward past it. Either is fine. Some people like matches like this, some don’t. I can watch Danielson vs. Garcia go hold for hold, and I can watch Death Triangle vs. The Elite do their high flying, high risk antics.
Nick had an injury mid-match, and for a moment it looked legit enough, but then it was used as the factor which gave Death Triangle the advantage for the submission victory. Part of me still think Nick tweaked his ankle on one of his dives, and they all improvised for the finish.
Now 3-1 in favor of the current Trios Champions, is it possible the next two will go Elite, leading to a final?
Probably. Next week will feature a no-rules, no-DQ match.
Backstage: MJF cuts a promo on the main event match against Ricky Starks. It still confuses me why they would lump both the Dynamite Diamond Ring and the AEW World Championship. It does not feel realistic Starks would win the world title, but it would have been realistic if at some point in the future, Starks challenged for the Diamond Ring, and would win… with loads of interference and shenanigans.
The Acclaimed head to the ring for their promo, Caster rapping his way down is blindsided along with Bowens by the group with Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, and Satnam Singh. Caster takes the El-Kabong guitar shot. Jarrett gets to use his “Slap Nuts” catchphrase.
Ugh.
We see a clip of Claudio Castagnoli regaining the Ring of Honor Championship via one of the craziest submissions from Chris Jericho, who tapped to the Giant Swing.
Backstage, Tony Schiavone asks Jericho about tapping to the swing, to which Jericho loses his marbles, and plans on beating up a jobber tonight. Before Daniel Garcia can address his loss of the ROH Pure Championship to Wheeler Yuta, Jericho cuts him off and says he needs to shadow “his elder” Sammy Guevara. Garcia does not look happy.
“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry defeated ROH Trios champion Brian Cage
Decent match, a lot of Cage being a powerhouse and Perry using escape tactics to outsmart and outmaneuver. His speed and resiliency proved too much, as Prince Nana had to resort to a distraction in an attempt to prevent the loss, but Jungle Boy outsmarted him too, rolling up Cage for the pinfall. Post-match, Jungle Boy calls out “Big Bill” – I hate that name – but out comes Stokley Hathaway to taunt him into a fight, and Jungle Boy is then ambushed by both Lee Moriarty and W. Morrisey. However, Jungle Boy is then rescued by… HOOK! Hook sends the heels running.
Jungle Hook? I can get behind this.
Backstage with the Blackpool Combat Club, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castignoli, and Wheeler Yuta promising more pain in 2023.
Promo from Swerve Strickland, he will face Keith Lee next week.
House of Black burns down The Factory
Julia Hart starts by spitting mist in the face of Nick Comorotto, and all hell breaks loose from the bell. Factory members are destroyed and the live crowd loves it and boy, do I love it also. This is the House of Black we want to say.
Backstage: Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. rants about what Hikaru Shida did to her, and takes the conversation away from Shida’s upcoming match against Jamie Hayter for the AEW Women’s Championship. Skye Blue comes in and challenges Baker to a match on Rampage.
Skye Blue has the spunk and personality, but would benefit from more promo practice.
It’s the Action Andretti Upset! – Action Andretti defeated Chris Jericho
This might be my new pick for Match of the Year. Jericho seemed to throw everything he had at Action A – but somehow it was not enough. Andretti would make various comebacks throughout the match, but each rally was halted by one of Jericho’s signature moves. However, Andretti began an onslaught of offensives including a gorgeous rising dropkick and a leg lariat, followed by a countered split-leg moonsault. Jericho got too cocky, and was nearly pinned when applying the Walls of Jericho. After some aerial maneuvers, Andretti planted Jericho on his head, followed up with a running Shooting Star Press, and got the three count!
The live crowd helped make this match fantastic. The chants of “let’s go jobber” and the eruptions for every counter and offensive made the magic. The brief silence broken by the roar at the pinfall was glorious. Aubrey’s hand hit three, the crowd momentarily stunned, followed by an explosion of cheer. I jumped too. It was fantastic.
Backstage, Jericho lost his mind. Then Tony Khan posted on Twitter, Mr. Action Andretti is now “All Elite.”
Ruby Soho defeated Tay Melo
Short match, and afterwards Anna Jay attacked the victorious Soho.
Winter is Coming 2022 Main Event: MJF retains the AEW World Championship and the Dynamite Diamond Ring against “Absolute’ Ricky Starks
Does anyone really care about the diamond ring? No. It lost all meaning once it was lumped together in the match. Match was good, a lot of near falls from Starks. I’ll cut right to the major highlight, with both down, a groggy Starks tries a cover, but MJF immediately grabs the prone arm to lock in the Salt of the Earth armbar. As Starks tries grabbing the ropes to escape, MJF then locks up the other arm. Starks reaches one foot towards the ropes, and MJF locks it up too! With his remaining limb, Starks broke the count.
Also notable moments, MJF using a lot of old school heelery, such as grabbing the ropes on the Abdominal Stretch, as well as working over the ribs with his knuckles, even biting them at one point.
The conclusion of the match, which I think was 100% the right call, using a distracted ref, MJF clearly kicking Starks in the groin, small package, match over. MJF could not win clean, and chances are, had no intention of winning clean. He’s the bad guy. The villain. The DEVIL.
As MJF walks away in triumph, the celebration is interrupted by Bryan Danielson. MJF hightails it through the crowd. He heads into the ring and raises Starks’ arm to close the show. I think it’s funny how Danielson continues to come out through the heel tunnel, but ill then show respect to Starks. This is not necessarily a babyface act, but it’s a respectable wrestling act. This is who Danielson is. It does not matter which tunnel he comes out of, he’s going to be the professional wrestler.
AEW’s Winter is Coming 2022 was a good show. Enjoyable, fun, and with a lot of memorable highlights. This year’s major shocker comes in the form of the “Andretti Upset” and will likely lead Jericho to yet another moniker. Psy-Jeri-Cho?
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