AEW Dynamite 12/7 kicks off with Ricky Starks winning the Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royal to challenge MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Lots of good potential contenders in Jungle Boy, Ethan Page, Dustin Rhodes, and even Captain Shawn Dean. This is long-term storytelling, The Captain has two wins over the AEW Champion.
While I enjoyed the match, there was way too much outside interference which directly impacted most of the wrestlers. I did NOT like the spot where W. Morrisey powerbombed Jungle Boy on the ring apron. It looked like he caught the edge in a bad spot. Also, please don’t call him “Big Bill.” Just…Sounds wrong.
Post-match, MJF hits the ring and cuts a scathing promo, again bridging reality to television, calling Starks a “Dollar Store Dwayne” and more insults. Despite MJF’s attempts to shatter his confidence, Starks blows past MJF, grabbing the mic and delivers a fantastic counter-promo, rallying the live crowd to epic volume. I was very impressed by Starks. I knew he could cut a good promo, this one was great. Catch this one on YouTube if you can.
The one thing I am slightly confused about, but I believe was clarified later, is next week at the Winter is Coming supercard, Ricky Starks will challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship, and at a later date of his choosing, will face MJF again for the Dynamite Diamond Ring.
Pre-tape/backstage with Jon Moxley: He wants less talking and more wrestling. This isn’t the Blackpool Talking Club, it’s the Combat Club! He then cuts a promo on “Hangman” Adam Page, so it seems they will collide at some point in the future. Bryan Danielson is not here tonight because he is “still with William Regal” in the hospital.
Yeah, because no one reads the internet.
Samoa Joe retains the AEW TNT Championship against Darby Allin
Hey, this was better than expected. I anticipated a complete and utter demolishment of Allin. We did get just that, primarily from Darby crash-and-burning himself more than once, starting with a missed stuntman dive through the ropes and onto the concrete floor. Joe hurls him all over the place. Ringpost, ring barrier, even a powerslam on the concrete floor. Surprisingly, Darby gets a second wind, beating a 10-count and goes on an offensive rally of his own. However, this does end with Joe catching a Coffin-Dropping Darby into the Koquina Clutch, causing him to pass out. “The King of Television” continues his reign. In a twist, Darby snaps up and demands a fight, but is immediately put down with a headbutt to the face, dropped with a Muscle Buster onto the wheels of his own skateboard, then choked out a second time.
This was a peculiar move, having Darby suddenly no-sell passing out. I get he’s tenacious, but perhaps the viciousness of Joe could have been displayed differently. However, this second beating resulted in the arrival of Wardlow to chase Joe off.
Lots of promos hyping up ROH Final Battle
Backstage, Kip Sabian and Orange Cassidy banter, and Kip will bring a mystery opponent to challenge Freshly Squeezed for the All-Atlantic Championship on Rampage.
Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta defeated Jake Hager and ROH Pure Champion Daniel Garcia
Another fun match. Yes, I said fun. I enjoyed a wrestling match. I know people crap on Hager for being a big lanky dude with so-called limited ability, but the former Jack Swagger still has a lot of gas in the tank. He’s been flexible with his character like many other wrestlers, and in the ring, he wrestles his style which has been consistent since WWE. Is it entertaining? I’ll agree it’s questionable, but embracing his goofiness is to be commended. He’s got something going with “the hat.” Just go with it. Don’t analyze.
I get why AEW kept Garcia a heel, it was a swerve. Got everyone thinking Garcia would join BCC or at least abandon Jericho. Not going down that way, while a disappointment, did break the norm of good guys prevailing. Garcia was not swayed to the light, remaining to be a wrestler among sports-entertainers. This being said, it doesn’t mean we won’t see Garcia break away in the future.
Post-match, Tony Schiavone is in the ring with Mox, Claudio, and Yuta, and reluctantly plays a “pre-taped video” with William Regal. In the video, Regal gives the warning, “if you’re seeing this, it means something bad happened to me.” He talks about embracing the villiainous side, and giving MJF a teachable moment, giving him what he wanted so badly, but now has to contend with possibly regretting what he wished for. Even at the expense of Mox, whom Regal believes doesn’t need a title to claim being the best, and can mentor Yuta and others into becoming great professional wrestlers.
Mox and company seem a bit perturbed by the video, but what was confusing for me was Mox immediately using it to hype up matches for ROH Final Battle. I would imagine Mox could have taken the verbally symbolic torch passed to him by Regal, using it to establish himself as the new “mentor” of BCC. It’s not a major detraction from the segment, but I do feel the conclusion missed the mark.
We all know by now Regal is leaving AEW, returning to WWE in order to work with his son, Charlie Dempsey on NXT. This isn’t a bad thing. There is no anti-AEW or WWE sentiment, Regal just wants to work with his kid and that’s all there is to it. He was written off TV in the ways of old, the villain being dethroned and now a greater, sinister character takes the spotlight.
Jade Cargill, Red Velvet, and Leila Grey defeated Kiera Hogan, Skye Blue, and Madison Rayne
Skye Blue had solid exchanges with Red Velvet and Leila Grey. In fact, everyone had solid exchanges because Jade was absent from the match until the very end, where, I’m sorry, but Madison Rayne took two hits and ate a finisher from Jade.
Yes, it’s the heel tactic. I can go with it. However, I still don’t like it. This gimmick just isn’t working for me. Wish I could tell you more specifically, but when I see it, I just don’t like it. This could have been an opportunity for Kiera Hogan to gain a slight measure of revenge on Jade and the other Baddies, but she appeared mostly ineffective. This segment just didn’t work for me.
Jamie Hayter gets her “sit-down interview” with Tony Schiavone
You know what? It was good. I enjoyed it. She speaks well, sounds like a champion, and presents like a champion. We know this will predictably go towards a rivalry with Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. Hopefully not too soon, and this will be a longer story.
Backstage, Dr. Britt Baker challenges Saraya to a tag team match in January. Saraya now needs a partner. Who could it be?
Main Event of AEW Dynamite 12/7: The Acclaimed retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships against FTR
CLEAN.
You read it right. They won the match, clean. Reversal into a rolling pinfall.
What a match. Kudos to everyone. I’m sure many are disappointed FTR are not Quad-reigning champions, and it is possible it may never happen. However, I am hopeful FTR will earn one more chance to hold all the gold, perhaps at the upcoming Revolution Pay-per-view in March.
A fantastic match. I am so damn impressed with Max Caster and Anthony Bowens on how they became a prominent duo in AEW. Both on the mic and in the ring, they worked the craft, honed the skills and worked hard to earn their well-deserved spot.
Post-match, the four showed respect, to a standing ovation from the live crowd. However, the good moment was cut short as The Gunn Club appeared on the big screen, with a terrifying message from Dem Boys, the Briscoe Brothers.
Austin and Colt pull out dog collars, signifying the match pitting the Briscoes against FTR will be a Double Dog Collar Match for the Ring of Honor Tag Team Championships.
I wonder, will the ROH tag titles be first to fall off their waists?
I enjoyed this week’s episode. MJF cutting scathing promos are figurative fire, and needs to happen on a weekly basis, with a few breaks tossed in so it doesn’t lose its novelty. Ricky Starks will be a solid first contender, although we know full well he won’t win the AEW Championship, but perhaps MJF might lose the Dynamite Diamond Ring instead?
The direction of AEW seems to be straightening out, hopefully some consistency and stability will start to appease many of the nay-sayers out there.
Oh, who am I kidding? We’re in the internet age.
