By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 67)
Jacksonville, Florida at Daily’s Place
Aired live January 6, 2021 on TNT
[Hour One] The Dynamite opening aired and then the broadcast team of Jim Ross, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and guest Chris Jericho checked in. Justin Roberts was the ring announcer…
1. Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Christopher Daniels, and Frankie Kazarian vs. Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, Angelico, and Jack Evans in an eight-man tag match. Excalibur told the story from Dark that Daniels and Kazarian will stop teaming together if they lose a tag match. Jericho said they honor their stipulations in AEW.
The Bucks hit a double team move on Bowens for a near fall. Ross said a normal guy on a normal night would have lost. Nick and Kazarian teamed up for a BTE Trigger and had the match won, but one of the heels broke up the pin. The Bucks hit a series of superkicks on each of their opponents.
The Bucks set up for a Meltzer Driver, but Nick was pulled from the apron. In the ring, Evans rolled Matt into a pin for a near fall. Daniels helped out and then the Bucks set up for the move again, but Nick dove onto the heels at ringside instead. Daniels performed a moonsault into a spike piledriver from Matt, which led to the pin.
Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Christopher Daniels, and Frankie Kazarian defeated Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, Angelico, and Jack Evans in 10:00.
After the match, Kazarian explained that he and Daniels are finished as a team the next time they lose a match. Kazarian said that’s not happening on his watch. Daniels took the mic and said they have the back of the Bucks aside from when they meet for the AEW Tag Titles. Daniels said they don’t just want the titles, they want to beat the best team on the planet to win the titles. The Bucks shook hands with Daniels and Kazarian…
A monster truck was shown driving around in the parking lot. It was a “Go Big Show” truck. The broadcast team hyped upcoming segments, including Sting appearing and a weigh-in for next week’s TNT Title match. Ross noted that Jon Moxley would return after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: A good action packed opener. I like that Caster and Bowens were made to look good despite their team taking the loss. I was also happy to see them explain the Daniels and Kazarian angle from Dark. I’m curious to see if this will lead to the in-ring retirement of Daniels or a heel turn by he or Kazarian or even both. By the way, I’m filling in for Jake Barnett tonight, but he should be back next week. I don’t want to start any rumors, but I believe he was in Washington D.C. earlier today. Okay, not really, just a bad joke.
Jon Moxley made his entrance and delivered an in-ring promo. Moxley said fans may have expected him to cuss up a storm and scream bloody murder about what happened when he lost the AEW Championship. He said bitching and moaning is a waste of time. He said sometimes you’re on the bad end of a bad deal. When that happens, you endure. He said you plant your feet firmly on the ground and stare down that adversity and don’t back down an inch.
Moxley asked what to do with Kenny Omega and the guy who looks like a used car salesman (Don Callis). Moxley said an appropriate response would be to beat them both up with a crowbar, but the AEW Championship is on the line. Moxley said he gave his heart and soul to protect the integrity of that championship. Moxley spoke about Rey Fenix getting the opportunity and it’s not his right to interfere in another man’s destiny.
Moxley said Omega will never be safe. He looked into the camera and said, “I will get even and then some.” Moxley said the boogeyman will be lurking over Omega’s shoulder. He promised that Omega would look into the eyes of the devil and beg for mercy when he realizes that he crossed the wrong guy…
Powell’s POV: The usual excellent mic work from Moxley. I love the way he explained why he wouldn’t be going after Omega before or during the main event.
Dasha interviewed Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy outside the building and asked about Trent. Cassidy said he would be sidelined four to five months with a torn pectoral muscle. Miro, Kip Sabian, and Penelope Ford showed up. Miro said the injury sucks for Trent, but it sucks Taylor and Cassidy because he knows that Trent is the leader of their “little group.”
Miro said he could be the leader of their group if he washed his car and did other chores. Taylor countered by asking for a match with Miro next week. Miro asked to raise the stakes by saying that Taylor would be his young boy if he loses next week. Taylor agreed, saying whatever gets rid of Miro sooner…
Powell’s POV: Lousy news regarding Trent. Here’s wishing him the best in his recovery. The gimmick of Taylor being forced to be Miro’s errand boy if he loses next week could be fun.
2. Wardlow vs. Jake Hager. Ross noted that Hager is from the same hometown as the late Danny Hodge. A pre-taped Warlow promo aired with him saying that he would give Hager a war. MJF, Santana, Ortiz, and Sammy Guevara watched the match from the stage. They cut to a picture-in-picture break after both men clotheslined each other at ringside. [C]
Hager escaped Wardlow attempting an F10. Hager knocked Wardlow down with a clothesline. Hager slammed Wardlow and covered him for a two count. Hager applied an ankle lock, but Wardlow kicked him to break free. Hager ended up on the apron. Wardlow performed a shoulder block that knocked him to the floor.
Later, Hager put Wardlow in his finishing hold while standing on the ropes. Wardlow dropped down, causing Hager’s head to hit the turnbuckle. Wardlow followed up with an F10 and scored the pin…
Wardlow defeated Jake Hager in roughly 10:00.
Powell’s POV: An entertaining big man match. It was a pleasant surprise to see a clean finish. Wardlow seems to get better with each outing.
Backstage, the Private Party tag team of Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy brought gin and didn’t have the juice. Snoop Dogg showed up and placed juice on the table. Matt Hardy arrived with contracts for Private Party. He said he would get 30 percent, but it’s a fee that would pay off in spades. Hardy said he can’t wait for Private Party to be iconic. Hardy said he’s not a monster, they can still use Cameo and Twitch. Funny…
“Team Taz” Taz, Hook, Brian Cage, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Ricky Starks made their entrance… [C]
Darby Allin made his entrance. Tony Schiavone hosted the weigh-in and pointed out that Allin was holding the new TNT Championship belt because the previous belt was given to Brodie Lee’s son. Cage weighed in at 270. Allin weighed in at 170.
Schiavone noted the 100 pound weight difference. Taz pointed out that Allin was wearing a jacket and chains. Allin took the mic and said people say the match is nine months in the making, but it’s 27 years in the making because he’s put up with shit (kinda censored) his whole life.
Allin said everyone knows how it ends, let’s get to the fun part. Allin picked up his skateboard. Taz started talking about how he gave Allin a chance, but Taz was interrupted.
Sting made his entrance and joined Allin in the ring. Team Taz headed to the stage. Taz said he’s sick of the snow and he’s sick of Allin. Taz vowed that Cage would win the TNT Championship next week. Sting and Allin stood in the ring and looked at one another. Jericho said he likes their unholy alliance. Sting pointed at Allin with his bat, then they left the ring…
Powell’s POV: I enjoy the weigh-in approach. It helps create a big fight feel for AEW’s title matches and it’s a nice change from the overdone pro wrestling contract signing segment.
MJF was shown backstage. There was a commotion in the background. MJF warned the cameraman to stand back. MJF approached an angry Jake Hager and tried to give him a pep talk. Hager said MJF almost got dropped, but he said he was cool and thanked him for checking on him…
Ross hyped Cody vs. Matt Sydal for after the break and said Snoop Dogg would be at ringside… [C]
Highlights aired from AEW Dark of Brodie Lee Jr. telling Marko Stunt that he’s always with people who are bigger than him…
Backstage, Alex Marvez asked Stunt what’s next for Jurassic Express while Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy stood by. Before Stunt could say much, Dax Harwood, Cash Wheeler, and Tully Blanchard showed up and mocked Stunt, who said he would take Luchasaurus’s spot next week and kick their asses. The FTR duo mocked him, then Blanchard told him to worry about a flashback while patting him on the head. Stunt’s partners held him back…
3. Cody (w/Snoop Dogg) vs. Matt Sydal. Snoop came out with Cody and then stood on the entrance ramp to watch the match whole holding Arn Anderson’s playbook.
[Hour Two] The match spilled to ringside. Cody tried to punch Sydal, who moved, causing Cody to hit Serpentico, who was behind the barricade in the spectator wrestler section. The wrestlers were back in the ring heading into a PIP break. [C]
Sydal avoided Cody’s attempt to moonsault onto him. Sydal hit Cody with a knee strike, then went for a shooting star press, but Cody put his knees up. Cody performed a reverse DDT for a two count. Cody went up top and jumped over a charging Sydal, who then put him in a hold that Cody broke out of.
Cody clotheslined Sydal near the ropes and both men tumbled to ringside. Cody hit the Disaster Kick and scored a two count. Sydal came back with a huracanrana into a pin for a two count. Sydal tagged Cody with a kick and a neckbreaker for a near fall. Cody came right back with a pair of CrossRhodes and scored the pin.
Cody defeated Matt Sydal in 10:05.
After the match, Serpentico and Luther attacked Cody. Sydal cleared Luther from the ring with a kick, then threw one at Serpentico. Cody slammed Serpentico and motioned for Sydal to go up top, but Snoop indicated that he wanted to do it instead. Snoop went to the top rope and performed a splash onto Serpentico. Cody counted a three count for Snoop over Serpentico. Snoop went to the broadcast desk and hugged Jericho, then shook hands with the others. Jericho smiled and laughed, then yelled, “I still hate that guy”… [C]
Powell’s POV: That was an ugly top rope splash by Snoop, but it was still really fun to see him do it. The actual match between Cody and Sydal was entertaining. I remain anxious to see Cody really sink his teeth into a storyline feud like he did early on with Shawn Spears and Dustin Rhodes.
4. Hikaru Shida vs. Abadon for the AEW Women’s Championship. Abadon entered first and then attacked Shida on the stage when she came out. Shida hit Abadon with a kendo stick. Abadon eventually got up and tried to bite Shida’s neck. The referee called for the bell to start the match once they entered the ring.
The women ended up at ringside. Abadon pulled Shida under the ring. Both reemerged and returned to the ring. Abadon slammed the head of Shida into the mat repeatedly and worked her over with punches head into a PIP break. [C]
Shida slammed Abadon’s head into the ringside barricade coming out of the break. Back inside the ring, Shida performed a superplex from the middle rope. Abadon sat up crab style, then clotheslined Shida and covered her for a two count. Shida came back with a running knee strike and scored the clean pin.
Hikaru Shida defeated Abadon in 8:20 to retain the AEW Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: I wasn’t surprised to see Shida retain, but I thought we would see Abadon do an Undertaker-like sit-up or something similar once Shida exited the ring.
The broadcast team listed the following matches for next week’s New Year’s Smash night two: Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage for the TNT Title, Chuck Taylor vs. Miro (Taylor must become Miro’s young boy), Serena Deeb vs. Tay Conti for the NWA Women’s Championship, The Elite in action, Marko Stunt and Jungle Boy vs. FTR, and Pac vs. Eddie Kingston. Jericho also said the Inner Circle would offer their New Year’s resolutions. Plus, Cody will be the guest on Britt Baker’s Waiting Room talkshow…
In between the announced matches, a pre-taped Tay Conti promo aired. She was with Anna Jay, Alex Reynolds, and John Silver. Conti said she wouldn’t be coming alone. Jay said she would have the Dark Order on her side…
Justin Roberts delivered the introductions for the AEW Championship match. Rey Fenix made his entrance. A pre-taped promo aired with Pac doing the talking while Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo stood by. Pac said Kenny Omega’s collection would end. Roberts delivered the over the top introduction of Omega, who had the sweeping women on the stage before coming out with Don Callis… [C]
5. Kenny Omega (w/Don Callis) vs. Rey Fenix for the AEW World Championship. Aubrey Edwards was the referee. Jericho made a fuss over Omega being introduced from Manitoba and said it’s the true pro wrestling capital of Canada. Fenix performed a early leap from the ring onto Omega on the floor and hit him with a huracanrana in the same motion.
Back inside the ring, Omega performed a tornado DDT, but Fenix no-sold it while popping back onto his feet. Omega ended up knocking Fenix to ringside and followed him there. Omega drove the back of Fenix into the apron. Omega performed a wicked snap dragon suplex on the floor. Jericho said there might be a mat on the floor, but it’s still harder than concrete (huh?).
A short time later, Fenix came back with a somersault style suicide dive. Back inside the ring, Fenix performed a vicious German suplex for a near fall. Jericho said he was looking at the face of Jake Roberts, who couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Jericho said you only have so many of those on your bump card and called it a career ender. They cut to a PIP break. [C]
Omega caught Fenix with a knee strike, but Fenix kipped up and superkicked him, then both men stayed down. Fenix went for a springboard move and was apparently caught with a knee. Omega powerbombed Fenix for a two count, then followed with a V-Trigger for another two count.
Omega delivered another V-Trigger. Omega went for a One Winged Angel, but Fenix countered into a Poison Rana. Fenix went to the ramp and was distracted by Callis for a moment. When Fenix tried to return to the ring, Omega hit him with a V-Trigger knee.
Fenix came right back and went to the ramp, then ran and leapt over the top rope and performed a cutter on the way down for a near fall. Fenix performed a tombstone style piledriver for a near fall. Fenix went to the ropes and gave an Eddie Guerrero shimmy before going for a frogsplash, but Omega put his knees up.
Omega caught Fenix backflipping from the ropes and performed a piledriver on the way down. Omega used a V-Trigger, then hit the One Winged Angel and scored the clean pin…
Kenny Omega defeated Rey Fenix in roughly 18:00 to retain the AEW World Championship.
After the match, Callis joined Omega in the ring and motioned for Omega’s music to be cut. Callis said they witnessed history. Callis said he was getting a message that something terrible was happening in the back.
They turned to the big screen where The Butcher and The Blade were holding Pac and Penta. Callis told Fenix that they told him Pac and Penta wouldn’t be coming for him.
Jon Moxley came out with a baseball bat wrapped in barbwire, which he hit Omega in the gut with. Callis left the ring. Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson entered the ring wearing their Impact Wrestling Tag Titles and attacked Moxley. Gallows and Anderson put Moxley down with a Magic Killer.
Omega slammed the barbwire bat over the back of Moxley multiple times. Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison ran in to help, but they were quickly cleared from the ring. Some of the other spectator wrestlers tried to help, but they were also taken out. “This is a hostile takeover,” Ross said (in what was quite the timely line on this date).
Gallows and Anderson held Moxley, then Omega hit him with the bat again. Jericho ranted about how Callis, Gallows, and Anderson are not under contract to AEW. Omega looked into the camera and said Moxley made them flip the switch.
The Young Bucks ran out and tried to talk sense to their former Bullet Club brothers. Pillman and Garrison grabbed Omega. Gallows hit one with a title belt while Matt Jackson superkicked the other. Excalibur wondered aloud if we were seeing the band get back together.
Omega held up the Bullet Club “too sweet” hand sign. Gallows and Anderson did it with him, then the Young Bucks joined them in doing it to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A hot match to close the show with an equally hot angle. Gallows and Anderson were expected to show up at some point, but it was still fun to see them in an AEW ring for the first time. The Bucks joining Omega, Gallows, and Anderson with the hand sign at the end was an unexpected twist. Overall, this was a really good edition of Dynamite.
I will be back shortly with my weekly same night audio review of Dynamite for Dot Net Members. Let me know what you thought of the show by assigning it a letter grade below.
” I don’t want to start any rumors, but I believe he was in Washington D.C. earlier today. Okay, not really, just a bad joke.”
Yeah, bad joke is an understatement.
Yeah, that was tone-dead stupidity on Jason’s part. It’d probably be a good idea to edit that out.