By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@barnettjake)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 113)
Duluth, Georgia at Gas South Arena
Aired live December 1, 2021 on TNT
[Hour One] Excalibur and Tony Schiavone ran down the card. Bryan Danielson vs. Hangman Page was announced to take place two weeks from now at Winter is Coming. Hangman Page made an entrance and joined on commentary. Bryan Danielson made his entrance for the opening match. He stared down Hangman at the commentary desk as Excalibur confirmed their match will take place in two weeks. Alan Angels then made his entrance for the first match.
1. Bryan Danielson vs. Alan “V” Angels: The bell rang, but the action didn’t start until Angels could soak up some chants from the crowd in his hometown of Atlanta. Bryan went to work immediately and then taunted the crowd after a rope break. Bryan backed Angels into a corner, but whiffed on a punch. Angels landed some chops and mounted punches on the turnbuckle. He then landed a hard chop, but Bryan fired back with a European uppercut that took Angels off his feet.
Bryan landed some kicks and chops in the corner, followed by running dropkicks. Bryan did some crowd work, but got caught with a blackslide for a two count. Bryan replied with a butterfly suplex into an armbar. Angels had to scramble to reach the ropes. The action spilled outside, and Angels landed a suicide dive on Bryan. He then landed a moonsault from the second rope. Angels landed a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall. Angels missed a moonsault press, and Bryan took him out with a Busaiku Knee.
He then stomped repeatedly on Angel’s face, and finished him off with a knee bar submission.
Bryan Danielson defeated Alan Angels by submission at 6:17
After the match, Bryan held the hold for a moment before taunting the TV audience through the mobile camera. Tony Schiavone walked to the ring for an interview. He asked Bryan about the title opportunity he’s going to get in two weeks. Bryan said it was hard to tell, because if that’s the best Atlanta’s got, I whooped his ass. He then said he kicked his head in, and tore his MCL, not that the crowd knows what that means.
Bryan said he knocked out Colt Cabana’s teeth, tore Alan’s MCL, next week he’ll stomp out another Dark Order member in Long Island, and then in two weeks in Dallas he’ll prove Hangman is a one hit wonder. Hangman set out to confront Bryan, but John Silver walked out and said he’s not supposed to touch Bryan, but he can. Bryan bailed out of the ring and walked up to Hangman. He said Tony Khan said they couldn’t touch today or else Hangman would be suspended. Bryan said he’d love to slap Hangman across the face, but these people don’t deserve it…[c]
My Take: An effective opening segment. Bryan has been consistently effective at getting under Hangman’s skin, which is refreshing to watch in comparison to a lot of AEW programs that often lack microphone time. The match was quality, but the outcome was never in question.
We got a Miro vignette. He stood in a white space, and thanked his God for revealing to him what he really is. Miro said the lines have been drawn, and he will invade Heaven and turn the ground red. He then said he was rejected when he wanted love, but now he would bring fear. He then said this was the word of the redeemer.
Lee Moriarty made his entrance for the next match, followed by CM Punk. MJF then made his entrance, and joined in on commentary.
2. Lee Moriarty vs. CM Punk: They started out with some wrist lock reversals, and then Lee took it to the ground with a head scissors. Moriarty pulled Punk into a crucifix into a two count. He then landed a shoulder tackle, followed by an arm drag. Punk fought to his feet and backed Moriarty into the corner. He then drove his shoulder into the ribs of Moriarty repeatedly. Punk landed a leg lariat, and then a springboard lariat from the apron…[c]
Punk and Moriary went back and forth during the break, and Lee fired up with lariat and big boot as the show returned. He then kicked Punk in the elbow, and landed a belly to belly suplex for a two count. A CM Punk chant started, and he came to life with a springboard crossbody. Moriarty rolled through into a pinfall for a near fall. Moriarty then rolled into a crossface, but Punk reached the ropes.
After placing Moriarty on the top rope, Punk slapped him across the face. They then traded a series of pinfall reversals, which Punk ended with a roundhouse kick. After another series of counters, Moriarty landed a huge lariat, and a twisting sit out facebuster for a near fall. Moriarty picked him up again, but got caught with a GTS for the win.
CM Punk defeated Lee Moriarty at 11:18
After the match, MJF grabbed a microphone and told “PG Punk” that it takes balls to call himself the Best in the World when he’s struggling to defeat QT Marshall and Lee Moriarty. He then called him the best at trying to get into Britt Baker’s pants. He then said he looked confused, which would be Baker’s expression if he got her into a bedroom. MJF then called him “One Punk Chump”. Punk grabbed a microphone and said MJF had a lot of nerve talking about pants when he’s wearing Larry David’s pajamas.
Punk said MJF can talk all he wants about QT Marshall and Lee Moriarty, but they are both better than him, and he knows him. Punk then demanded that MJF bring his needle dick into the ring so he can kick his ass all the way to Long Island. MJF said no, and told Punk that he needs him more than MJF needs him. He said he would win the Dynamite Battle Royal next week in the most magical place in the world Long Island. He said he would be better than Piper in Portland, Bret in Canada, or Punk in Chicago.
Punk laughed, MJF then brought up Punk’s dog Larry, and said he shouldn’t bring him around the arena anymore, because if he does he’ll put Larry to sleep. Punk gave chase, and Wardlow walked out to shield MJF from Punk…
Backstage, Britt Baker said it was disgusting that Tony Khan forced her to wrestle Riho, who stole a win and won a title shot. Baker and Hayter had a little conflict over losing their recent matches, and Baker said they had put that behind them. Hayter would face Riho next week on Dynamite and they would take her out for good…[c]
My Take: A really good showing for Lee Moriarty, who is a very good technical wrestler. This Punk and MJF promo was a significant step down from last week, but how couldn’t it be? Hopefully they have more material going forward than MJF just digging right back into the shock jock material about killing Punk’s dog.
Adam Cole made his entrance, and he walked to the ring to fire up the crowd before returning to the commentary desk. Orange Cassidy made his entrance, and stared down Cole. They approached one another, and Cassidy took off his glasses. Cassidy put his hand in Cole’s face, and then put his hands in his pockets. The Young Bucks snuck up behind Cassidy, who turned around and gave them some light kicks. Cole low blowed him, and then the Bucks mocked him with light kicks of their own before giving him a double superkick. They set up for a triple knee strike, but Wheeler Yuta and Chuck Taylor made the save…
We then got a vignette from Tony Nese, who said he would challenge Sammy Guevara on Rampage for the TNT Championship. He said he would put the TNT Title around the waste of a premier athlete…
In the arena, Wardlow made his entrance with Shawn Spears in tow. AC Adams was already in the ring…
3. AC Adams vs. Wardlow (w/Shawn Spears): Adams tried real hard to start, but was quickly cut down by a lariat. Wardlow then landed a powerbomb, and then landed three more before pinning him.
Wardlow defeated AC Adams at 1:27
After the match, Spears wailed on Adams with his chair. They then raised their arms and left. Gunn Club vs. Sting and Darby Allin are next. Both teams are undefeated…[c]
My Take: Cole walking to the ring for his entire shtick, just to walk back to the commentary desk and start an angle with Cassidy was hysterical. What a bizarre way to start a segment. Wardlow continues to kill people. I’d like to see him get his own feud with somebody like Jungle Boy or Cassidy.
Backstage, it was revealed Rey Fenix has an injury and can’t compete on Friday’s AEW Rampage. Pac will replace Fenix in their match on Rampage. Penta said they will destroy FTR for what they did to Fenix. Pac had an eyepatch on, but still said he wouldn’t let it stop him from taking out FTR…
In the arena, Gunn Club made their entrance. Footage was shown of last week’s angle with Darby and Sting. The team of Sting and Darby then made their entrances. Sting and Darby wore identical face paint that merged their two styles together.
4. Sting and Darby Allin vs. “Gunn Club” Billy Gunn and Colten Gunn (w/Austin Gunn): Darby and Colten began the match. Colt landed a back elbow, but Darby replied with a series of dropkicks and sent him back into the corner.
[Hour Two] Billy tagged in and stared down Sting, who tagged into the match. Sting landed a series of chops and backfists, followed by a Manhattan Drop and a lariat. Sting set up for a Stinger Splash, but Billy quickly escaped the ring.
Billy sent Colten into the match to get pummeled. Darby tagged back in, and Colten quickly made a blind tag and landed a Cobra Clutch slam on Darby. The heels then began to work over Darby in their corner…[c]
During the break, they opened up a cut on the top of Darby’s head. After a reversal, Darby caused a collision between Billy and Colten and tagged out to Sting. He entered the match and took out the heels and landed Stinger Splashes for everybody. He landed a spinebuster on Colten and then applied a Scorpion Deathlock. Billy caused a distraction, and then Austin Gunn punched Sting to break the hold.
Darby took out Austin, which let Billy enter the ring and land a Fameasser. Colten covered for a near fall. Darby took out Billy on the outside with a dive. Darby then attacked Colten, and Sting finished him off with a Scorpion Death Drop.
Sting and Darby Allin defeated Gunn Club at 10:12
After the match, Darby and Sting stared down Gunn Club at ringside…
Backstage, Chris Jericho cut a brief interview about how he wasn’t out there last week to aid Eddie Kingston, he wanted to take out 2point0 and Daniel Garcia. Suddenly, 2point0 and Garcia showed up and kicked the crap out of Jericho, before hitting him in the head with a chair…[c]
My Take: I like Sting and Darby, but a feud with Gunn Club never did much for me. Also not much of a fan of chair shots to the face. It did look like Jericho got his hands up somewhat.
Taz remained on commentary and said that Jericho would not be able to appear on Rampage after that attack. Lio Rush walked out to address Team Taz. Lio said Taz is a commentator, so he should know him, because that’s his job. He said if he knew him, he’d know he had the odds stacked against him his entire career. Lio resented the fact that Taz said that his crew had a 100% chance of winning the Dynamite Dozen battle royal next week, because it implied that he had a 0% chance and everyone knows he’s a fighter. Taz told him that he might as well retire. Ricky Starks and Dante Martin walked out to join Hook and Hobbs, and they all laughed in his face…
Backstage, Mark Sterling and Jade Cargill said they had a match on Rampage with Thunder Rosa’s student Janai Kai. Rosa walked up and said she would be a commentator for their match, and she couldn’t wait to watch her student take Jade out. Cargill rolled her eyes and walked away…
In the arena, Kris Statlander made her entrance, followed by Ruby Soho…
4. Ruby Soho vs. Kris Statlander in a TBS Title tournament match: Dueling chants rang out in the crowd as the match began. They worked some mat wrestling and Statlander took Soho down with a side headlock. Ruby broke free and they wrestled for leverage in a backslide. She twisted free and had a chance to punch Statlander, but backed off. Ruby rolled up Statlander, but she kicked out and pulled back on a knee strike. She then booped Soho on the nose.
Statlander and Soho traded more reversals and pinning attempts. Statlander stylishly escaped a hold by walking on her hands. Soho landed a series of arm drags and covered for a two count…[c]
Soho landed a top rope Senton as the show returned for a two count. She then landed a kick to the face and covered again for a near fall. Soho went for a back suplex, but Soho blocked it and landed a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Statlander applied a spider submission, but Soho quickly broke free. She then landed a Michinoku Driver for a near fall.
Statlander complained about the count, and then landed a running elbow strike. Soho replied with elbows and kicks. She then landed a series of punches, and tried to land a knee drive into the turnbuckle, but Statlander blocked it. Soho then landed a poisoned huracanrana and then a seated head scissors driver for a close near fall.
Ruby then attempted to land the “No Future” finisher. Statlander avoided it and went for Big Bang Theory, but Soho reversed into a pin and got the win.
Ruby Soho defeated Kris Statlander at 10:12 to advance to the TNT Title tournament semifinals.
After the match, Soho offered a handshake and gave Statlander a hug. Vickie Guerrero walked out on the ramp and got in the face of Kris Statlander. Nyla Rose then attacked Soho from behind in the ring. Statlander ran back to make the save, and Rose bailed…
The announce team plugged the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal, and Winter is Coming in two weeks. Andrade vs. Cody Rhodes in a street fight is next…[c]
My Take: A good match. I thought this one could have gone either way, but I like Soho getting the win because she has a stronger character identity at this point than Statlander. I’d be surprised if Soho didn’t face Jade Cargill in the finals.
Andrade made his entrance first, carrying a knife for some reason. Cody Rhodes made his entrance next. Andrade intercepted him at the top of the ramp. Arn Anderson took a spill near the stage. Jose had to help him up so they could continue brawling.
5. Cody Rhodes (w/Arn Anderson) vs. Andrade (w/Jose) in an Atlanta Street Fight: The match started with a walking brawl through the crowd. Cody landed a moonsault off the apron. He also looked to have either peeling skin or some other substance on his back and shoulders. Andrade dropped Cody on the ring steps. Cody recovered and got a chair from T-Pain at ringside. He also gave T-Pain a hug. The announce team said the stuff on Cody’s back was the remnants from being hit with a trash can?
Cody landed a powerslam in the ring and took off his weight belt. He teased the crowd with tossing it into the stands, and then turned into a low blow from Andrade, which was legal in the street fight. Andrade whipped Cody with the weight belt, and then smashed him in the head with a laptop that was in a bag in the ring.
Andrade grabbed a chair and smashed it into Cody’s shoulder. He then grabbed a table from under the ring, but put it back when the crowd cheered. Andrade tried to swing a chain at Cody, but he got out of the way. Cody struggled to his feet, and Andrade slammed him back down with a fireman’s carry. He then placed a chair on him, and landed a split legged moonsault for a two count.
Cody recovered and landed some strikes. He went for a Cody Cutter, but got shoved out of the ring…[c]
Arn continued to brawl with Jose on the ramp during the break. Andrade set up for another moonsault onto Rhodes with a chair on his chest, but Cody shoved the chair into his face as he flew through the air. Cody managed to wrap a chain around his fist and land a flush punch into Andrade with it. He then landed a slam center ring. Andrade rolled to ringside. Cody attempted to splash him, but Cody wasted time firing up the crowd and got smashed with a chair.
Andrade exposed the concrete floor and set up for a hammerlock DDT. Cody reversed into a back body drop. Cody came up bleeding after the chair shot. Cody pulled some weapons from under the ring. He threw a sledgehammer to the side, and pulled out a Golden Shovel. Jose ran back to ringside with a taser in his hand, and Cody hit him with the shovel. Andrade dove at Cody and took him out on the floor.
Back in the ring, Andrade mashed a chair into Cody in the corner, and landed some hard punches. He then landed double knees with Cody obviously holding the chair up. Andrade made a cover after the ref checked on him, and got a two count. Andrade set up a table in the corner. Cody tried to rush him and send him through it, but Andrade replied with a hip toss and broke the table.
Andrade then grabbed yet another table, and then he and Cody fought over it. The table got set up, and Cody was slammed into it. Andrade climbed to the top, and Cody knocked him into position for a superplex. Andrade recovered and headbutted him down. Brandi Rhodes then entered the ring and set the table on fire. Cody then landed a reverse suplex through the table. It appeared Cody went through the table and Andrade landed past it. Cody covered and got the win. Andrade had a burning piece of the table on top of him during the pin, and they quickly brushed it off before the ref made the count.
Cody Rhodes defeated Andrade at 19:46 in an Atlanta Street Fight
After the match, Cody and Brandi celebrated the win. Cody looked to be in some serious pain and was in tears.
My Take: Why? Ok, so it became obvious at the end that Cody was wearing some kind of fire retardant on his back, and wasn’t actually shedding his skin like a lizard. Or maybe that’s the cover story? We’ll never know. In any case, this was a hard fought match, but it felt like the violence far exceeded what was justified for the story so Cody could get cheered for the finish in his hometown. He was very emotional about it after the match. This feels like it should end a feud, but which one? Cody’s recent booking has meandered and lost focus, and they need to get him back on track. Andrade also can’t afford any more major losses, and could use a feud to rebuild him a bit.
Show started strong and went rapidly downhill. Finishing with 20+ minutes of delusional Homelander vs some random Applebee’s waiter was bad enough, but throwing Brandi out there again is just a giant FU to everyone except their hometown fans. AEW should be much better than this.
Totally agree about the Brandi thing. She is addicted to attention and there’s no reason for her to be there. And the fire table spot really was over the top. I love AEW but this episode ended with a dud. Should’ve just been a really good match between two wrestlers.