AEW Dynamite 1/4 in Seattle was on fire! Red hot start with Ricky Starks defeating Chris Jericho off a spear! What a match. Jericho putting over wrestlers is always a welcome sight, and tonight was a special one. The crowd was amped from the opening bell, so many mega spot moments, there was no way to tell which way the match would go. Early on Jericho took Starks from the ring, to the floor with a suplex, and later Starks countered both a Lionsault and the Judas Effect. After a lot of back and forth, Jericho locks in the Walls, and with a distracted ref, Menard clock Starks with a baseball bat. However, Starks does not quit. He powers out, inevitable scoring the spear and pinfall victory.
Post-match the rest of the JAS gangs up on Starks until a wild Action Andretti appears, swinging a chair, bashing everyone until Ana Jay and Tay Conti distract the young wrestler, allowing the stable to regroup. Hager winds up plowing Starks through a table.
Another notable moment, massive crowd pops for referee Aubrey Edwards. I do feel this was a missed opportunity to establish two more wrestlers to even the odds against JAS. My picks would have been Eddie Kingston and Ortiz since they have unfinished business.
Tony Schiavone in the ring with “Hangman” Adam Page – Page announces he is not “clear” yet, and has to keep his cool or risk further delay in recovery. Page wants a fight and is not afraid of putting life on the line to earn a victory over Mox. Speak his name and he arrives, adding fire or an already flame-fueled promo. Mox warns Page about his health and future, and boy oh boy are words exchanged. What a promo segment. We know Page will be “100%” for next week, and this could turn into a bloodbath. This is the Page we want. Fired up. Ready for war. Mox is the perfect opponent to bring out the fight.
The Acclaimed retain the AEW Tag Team Championships against Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal
I know Jarrett is universally hated, but the hate makes for great uber-heel heat. Wow. Crowd with frequent obscenities directed towards Ol’ Double J. The rap by Max Caster added to it for sure, making more references to Karen and his runs in TNA/Impact. This was a great match, yes, even Jarrett. Bowens and Lethal had some fantastic exchanges, I think Bowens could be someone who could be a solid singles wrestler someday as well. The raucous crowd added to the electricity and lost their minds when it appeared Jarrett pinned Bowens, winning the championships. Bowens had his foot on the ropes, but Dutt pushed it off as the ref made the three count. Thankfully, the heroic actions of Aubrey Edwards reversed the decision and the match continued.
I will say had they won the belts, Jarrett and Lethal would have entered uber-heel territory, which wouldn’t have been horrible. Would have been a chance for Acclaimed to regain the championships and become two-timers. But, the reversal and Acclaimed officially winning the match also erupted the volcanic crowd.
Promo by AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter and Dr. Britt Baker, DMD hyping up their upcoming tag bout with Saraya and her mystery partner. They talk about how Saraya walks in and tries to take over what they and other AEW originals have built. It’s an interesting promo, which has persisted since Saraya made her AEW debut. While heels, Baker and Hayter play the role of defenders against an outside invader. Later on, Saraya along with Toni Storm and Hikaru Shida, turn it around to claim the heel are “gatekeeping” the women’s division. Saraya then calls Storm the best female wrestler in the world, announcing her as her partner, with Shida looking clearly offended as Saraya and Storm suddenly turn into high school kids and chatterbox away.
That was the strangest end to a pre-taped backstage promo. Honestly, I’d be fine with flipping Hayter and Baker as faces since they’re cheered anyway, and turning Saraya and Storm as heels.
Bryan Danielson defeated Tony Nese
While short, Nese did get opportunities for offense. Danielson eventually bludgeoned him with the running knee for the win. The post-match was longer than the actual match. Danielson calls out MJF and the champ obliges. Of course a match for tonight is denied, but the ensuing promo was out of this world. One of the best verbal exchanges I’ve seen. MJF’s jabs are countered with Danielson getting under the champs skin and involving the crowd adds to MJF’s ire.
Putting the content aside, it’s Danielson feeding MJF’s anger which makes the promo. MJF becomes incensed, and the rage builds and builds as his voice gets louder, the intensity in speech intensifies, and ultimately explodes.
If Danielson can win his matches for the next month, he will become number one contender and then challenge for the AEW World Championship at Revolution in March.
Swerve Strickland defeated AR Fox
Holy crap this match was incredible. I admit to not have known much about Fox until he appeared for AEW. Swerve and Fox put on an incredible show. Excalibur explained their history, which added to the cohesiveness and fluid actions at each moment. Fox put up a believable wrestling contest, if this was anyone else I would have believed Fox could earn the win. Unfortunately, Swerve is on the rise with his new group, so a loss would not have made sense. It did take interference from his henchmen to help Swerve hit a top rope DVD onto the ring apron, followed by the Double Stomp for the win.
The Gunn Club perform a mock funeral for FTR, and even pull the heel move of FTR’s theme hitting only to reveal it was a feint.
TBS Champion Jade Cargill & Red Velvet defeated Skye Blue and Kiera Hogan
This was a match. Velvet made to look weak, Cargill eventually enters and overpowers everyone. End result, Cargill doesn’t need “baddies” since she does everything herself. Hogan and Blue put up a valiant offense. Cargill looked pretty impressive with a big chokeslam and multiple pump kicks for the win.
AEW Dynamite 1/4 Main Event: Darby Allin defeats Samoa Joe to become TNT Champion once again!
Jaw dropping match, and I’m astonished Darby isn’t broken in multiple places. He jumps the gun, as Joe attacks Nick Wayne in the crowd Darby uses the opportunity to blindside Joe, take him up the ramp, hit a leaping skateboard, and then goes bonkers with a leap off a ladder!
Back in the ring, Joe begins to stop Darby’s offensive, tossing him all over and around the ring. It’s painful to watch, but Darby Allin fans know exactly what to expect. What I did not expect was the sudden rally from Darby, hulking out of the choke hold and managing to hit a rolling german suplex, thanks to Joe getting rammed into an exposed turnbuckle. Two coffin drops later, and we have a new champion. Sting comes down to celebrate with the new champion.
What a way to close the show. The hype for next week is real, a loaded card for Dynamite next week. I am stoked.
