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AEW DYNAMITE TV REPORT
DECEMBER 23, 2020
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. AT DAILY’S PLACE
AIRED ON TNT
REPORT BY TYLER SAGE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur
(1) CHRIS JERICHO & MJF vs. TOP FLIGHT
Darius and Jericho started the match, Jericho took command with a series of knife edge chops, and a boot in the corner. A kid to the head of Jericho grounded his attack, Top Flight then hit tandem offense and Donte was now the legal man. MJF was tagged in and he was able to get a good hit on Donte. But, soon Donte Martin was able to regain equilibrium and all four men were in the ring at the same time.
MJF and Jericho regained their advantage on the Martin brothers, on the outside of the ring. MJF and Jericho worked on Donte as both men tagged each other in and out, keeping themselves fresh. Hager even got involved on the beatdown, as the ref was distracted. Donte was able to get the hot tag in to his brother Darius. Who proceeded to get moves in on MJF and a dive into Jericho on the outside.
Darius then got a near fall on MJF, then again for a second near fall. Donte was tagged in and got a near fall of his own on MJF. Jericho was tagged in and hit the Lionsault for a near fall, Darius and MJF fought on the outside. After a few moments, Jericho got a near fall on Darius, the now legal man. MJF was tagged in and both men got offense in. Darius countered a double move into a DDT on both his opponents. Hager planted Martin on the apron and MJF hit a Heat-seeker for the pinfall win.
Winner: Chris Jericho & MJF in 16:00
(Sage’s Analysis: A good spotlight for Top Flight, who Khan and co. are obviously high on. Hopefully some NBA viewers stuck around and saw them. Besides that I think the Jericho and MJF are just a slightly lower version of FTR so there is that. Overall fun open.)
-Hager announced that he and Wardlow would face off next week.
-The Acclaimed had a music video about the Young Bucks. It did not have “The Drip,” in my opinion.
-The announce team ran down the card for the evening. [c]
-Sting was in ring with Tony Schiavone. Sting says that he has come full circle, and has rentered “the jungle.” Sting was asked again why he is here. Sting answered with an anecdote about watching a match with Dusty Rhodes, and how that helped him break into the industry. He said he had to be a part of AEW, he said that he is home. He then turned to Darby. Taz and Team Taz then emerged to interrupt. Team Taz approached the ring, the lights went out, Darby was now in the ring with Sting. Taz announced that Darby would be defending the TNT title against Brian Cage on January 6th. [c]
-MJF was backstage, he walked in on Santana & Ortiz playing cards. MJF said that he heard they lost someone and that he just lost his grandfather. Santana told him to keep his head up and they embraced. MJF and Ortiz shook hands also.
(2) DARK ORDER vs. JURASSIC EXPRESS
Marco Stunt and Colt Cabana started the match. 5 of Dark Order tagged himself in, Jungle Boy was tagged in also for his team. Jungle Boy took control as he tagged in Stunt. 5 got Stunt into Dark order’s corner. Luchasaurus was tagged in and he was able to even the odds. Soon, Jungle Boy and 10 were the legal men. [c]
When the action returned Jungle Boy was getting out of his predicament that he was under during the break. He was able to get the tag in of Luchasaurus, who was able to clear the ring and choke slam 5 and get a near fall. 10, 5, and Cabana hit a three way move on Stunt, Jungle Boy had to break up the pinning attempt to keep the match alive. Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy hit a move to get the pinfall.
Winner: Jurassic Express in 11:00
(Sage’s Analysis: A pretty slow match, anything with Dark Order feels like I’m watching something on WWE television. I did like the FTR video interruption in lieu of a post match attack.)
-FTR interrupted via video as the winning team was being interviewed post match. Tully called Jurassic Express, Jurassic Park, I do not think as a dig. He announced that on January 6th FTR would face Jurassic Express. [c]
-Kenny and Don Callis were at a nearby hotel. Callis says that Tony Khan allows the wrestlers to call the shots at AEW, he says it’s a joke. Omega ran down how many times Rey Fenix choked this year in wrestling, he asked what is gonna happen when he faces someone like him. He is worried that he is gonna hurt him, or retire him. Fenix gets hurt, Omega gets titles.
(3) PAC vs. THE BUTCHER
The men were forehead-to-forehead and then quickly started brawling. Pac ran in and out of the ring to try and wear out Butcher. Pac was able to catch him and get body and head kicks in. Butcher was able to flip the script and he started working on the neck of Pac. Butcher was in control for several minutes. Pac was able to slap Butcher and roll out of the ring. On the outside Butcher was quickly able to take Pac down again into the break [c]
Pac got out of his predicament and was bale to hit a top rope drop kick, he was about to use his finisher, but Blade distracted him and Butcher took him out and hit a power bomb for a near fall on Pac. Lance Archer came out at this point and distracted Butcher. Pac took advantage and hit The Black Arrow for the pin.
Winner: Pac in 12:00
(Sage’s Analysis: I did not love the Archer distraction finish as he feels very shoehorned into this whole angle. I continue to be impress with Butcher and Blade. Both guys are the MVP’s of Dynamite the last two months. They are great as a team and as singles guys. They should get a big push in 2021.)
-Jade Cargill cut a promo on Brandi and the woman’s division.
-Miro, Kip, and Penelope Ford were on the stage for their big announcement. When they were going to announce the date of their wedding, The Best Friends video and music played. Kip and Miro laughed because they had that video place. Then a live shot of Trent being loaded into an ambulance was shown. The wedding was announced at Beach Break on February 3rd. [c]
(4) DUSTIN RHODES vs. EVIL UNO
Uno got a cheap shot in on Rhodes before the match started. Dustin was able to regain momentum as the bell rang and he was able to get shots in on Uno. That was until Uno stepped on Dustin’s hand and then on the outside Uno was able to work his offense. That was until Rhodes was able to throw Uno’s hand into the turnbuckle.
Rhodes then beat on Evil in the corner once both men were back in the ring. Uno hit a Senton and regain the match control into the break. [c]
When the show retuned Uno was still in control, as Dustin kicked out of a Piledriver. The two men traded strikes in the ring, with Rhodes winning the exchange. Dustin hit a Bulldog and got the pinfall.
Winner: Dustin Rhodes in 8:00
(Sage’s Analysis: A fairly average match, the promo last week was better then the match. Again Dark Order feel so so so inconsequential.)
-Uno again offered Dustin to join The Dark Order. He refused, Dark Order took out Lee Johnson and QT Marshall. Lee Johnson came back and saved the day.
-Shawn Spears had a sit-down interview with Tony Schiavone. He complained about his placement in AEW. He said that he will come back to AEW if he feels like it.
(5) HIKARU SHIDA vs. ALEX GRACIA
Shida started in control and tried to hit the Falcon Arrow. Gracia got in some offense but soon Shida hit a forearm on the outside and Shida got a near fall. Gracia snuck in an inside cradle for a two count. Gracia continued to get some offense in. Shida countered with a vertical suplex and a knee on the apron.
Abadon appeared ring side, Shida attacked her at ringside. Shida then missed a knee on Gracia and was almost pinned. Shida then hit the Falcon Arrow for the pin. [c]
Winner: Hikaru Shida in 4:00
(Sage’s Analysis: This was weird, it really buried Gracia which is not really important as if she becomes a main stay then this won’t matter. But, the Abadon character playing opossum and then the fake blood bite thing was pretty lame.)
-The announce team ran down the card for next week. Night 1 of New Year’s Smash. They then ran down the next show, night 2.
(6) THE YOUNG BUCKS vs. THE ACCLAIMED
Matt Jackson and Caster started the match. The two tumbled around and did some mat based moves and transitions. Nick Jackson joined in and they hit tandem offense on both Caster and Bowens. The match broke down at this point and moved to the outside. The Bucks remained in control and the brothers continued the 2 on 1 assault of each member of The acclaimed.
Caster and Bowens used The Bucks technique against them, but Matt Jackson was able to thwart the attack and Nick Jackson was able to take out both members of The Acclaimed. Bowens got his knees up on a Senton attempt. [c]
During the break Caster and Bowens worked on Nick Jackson, once the show retuned Nick was still at a disadvantage. Matt Jackson was finally tagged in and he DDT’d both members of the opposing team. Matt and Bowens were in the ring and Matt locked in the Scorpion Death Lock, Nick did the same to Caster on the outside. Bowens was able to grab the bottom rope to break the hold.
The Bucks teamed up for a near fall on Bowens. Caster then superplexed Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson broke up the pin. Nick made the tag to Matt. After chaos, Nick Jackson accidentally super kicked the ref. The Acclaimed ht a low blow and hit Nick with a boom box. A second ref came out and Nick kicked out. Matt and Nick hit the BTE Trigger on Caster and got the pinfall.
Winner: The Young Bucks in 16:00
(Sage’s Analysis: There was a lot going on in that match. It felt like they wanted to make The Acclaimed feel like a big time team. I don’t really think that was accomplished here.)
Overall thoughs on the show: This was a weak episode overall. Way to much Dark Order, the opening tag match was a little bland, The stuff with Shida and Abadon was weird at best. I did like some of the promo’s and the pac/butcher match. It was a holiday episode and it sure felt like it.
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