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AEW DYNAMITE TV REPORT
FEBRUARY 9, 2022
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ AT BOARDWALK HALL
AIRED ON TBS
REPORT BY TYLER SAGE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur
-Wardlow walked out with standees of MJF against CM Punk from last week. FTR and Shawn Spears then came out to the ring. Justin Roberts then read a written statement by MJF to introduce MJF. MJF then came out and entered the ring, like an emperor with six men carrying him on a golden chair. MJF then kissed a women that was part of the entrance group and then celebrated with the rest of The Pinnacle. MJF said that he made it clear that he was the best wrestler on the planet. It is not Omega, Cole, Page or Danielson. He said that he beat Punk twice in Chicago last week, but it was a bit bitter sweet for him. He said that he beat someone he grew up watching on TV and that he whispered “you suck,” to Punk once he beat him.
MJF then seemed to be about to praise Wardlow, but instead praised Spears. Spears then showed MJF his new shift design. MJF then said that he proved that he is the best, he said that it is time for him to become the new AEW World Champion. CM Punk then walked out to the stage area and Tony Schiavone met him with a microphone. Punk said that MJF’s win was suspect last week. Punk said that he had some friends to help. Darby Allin and Sting walked out to back up Punk. CM Punk declared that he wanted a rematch, not with MJF but against Wardlow. Punk implored Wardlow to leave his group or get a beating. MJF said that he won on his own and Punk called out Wardlow for MJF’s lies.
Dax Harwood then grabbed the mic and said that he wanted a rematch as well. MJF said that if Punk and an opponent of his choice could beat FTR then he could get a rematch. But, his partner could not be Darby Allin or Sting. Could it be a hot new free agent? [c]
-Sting and Darby were backstage with Andrade. He said that he was happy to meet Darby’s boss, Sting. In turn, Sting told Andrade to talk with Darby one-on-one, Darby said that he wanted to be the next TNT Championship. Andrade said he will work for him because he will be the next TNT Champion.
(1) WARDLOW vs. THE BLADE
The Blade took out the leg of Wardlow from behind before the bell rang. The Blade then hit moves on Wardlow for a few moments. Wardlow then took Blade to the mat and then hit a series of belly-to-belly suplexes. The match moved outside where Wardlow slammed Blade into the ring post. [c]
When the show returned Blade and Wardlow traded chops, Wardlow bull rushed Blade into the corner. Blade hit back-to-back knees until Wardlow was able to hit a series of power bombs. After four power bombs he put his foot on The Blade and got the pinfall win.
WINNER: Wardlow
(Sage’s Analysis: A good match for Wardlow and Blade, it is an advance of the “Wardlow match,” but a good entertaining elevated squash match.)
-A video featuring Penta El Zero was shown with him digging a grave and calling out Malakai Black.
-Chris Jericho, Sammy and Hager walked out to the ring to Jericho’s music. Jericho said that they haven’t seen Santana or Ortiz all day, their music hit and they walked out to the ring. Jericho said they had a cute entrance, but the not tagging him in as part of their match. He asked why they did it. Santana said that he has seen things clearly, he said that Jericho only cares about Chris Jericho. He said that Inner Circle has only fought his battles and that if Santana & Ortiz get any spotlight they need to stop and rescue Jericho. Santana said they came out to say they are done playing second fiddle to him. Santana said it was Jericho who kept them back, but the fans that kept them going. Santana said that if it wasn’t for Ortiz he would have dropped Jericho a long time ago.
Jericho said that Santana reminds him of Eddie Guerrero, and that Kingston had poisoned his mind. He has gotten them in main events and more money than they have ever made. He said that they had their chance to be tag team champions and they lost all on their own. He said that he brought them into the Inner Circle and can kick them out. He said maybe he offered a spot to the wrong LAX. Santana attacked and Sammy pulled him off and tried to reason with Santana. Jericho told him to shut up, and then seemed to regret that.
Sammy said he didn’t know what was going on, but he loves them all. He said that he wants to be the best champion and this group is not going to help him. He said that they need to figure it out or he will quit the group again. Ortiz then said that Jericho was wrong about Kingston, he has always had their back. He said that they need to have a fight, it will be Santana and Ortiz vs. Jericho and Hager. Jericho accepted the challenge.
-Tony was backstage with Trent and Rocky, The Young Bucks then came into frame and beat up the two with the help of Adam Cole. They two teams will battle on Friday. Jay White than entered the frame. [c]
(2) KEITH LEE vs. ISIAH KASSIDY
Keith Lee pushed Kassidy into the corner, and then rag dolled Kassidy to the opposite corner. Lee then jumped dover Kassidy and then body splashed his combatant. Lee then made a gesture toward Hardy on the outside, he then stood over Kassidy who ran out of the way. Lee then shoulder blocked Kassidy out of the ring. Marc Quen grabbed the boot of Lee, Kassidy then did a spinning dive out toward Lee.
With both men back in the ring, Kassidy hit a number of strikes and kicks, Lee quickly knocked down. Lee then hit his finishing move on Kassidy for the pinfall win.
WINNER: Keith Lee
(Sage’s Analysis: There is really no better way to debut in my opinion. Kassidy and Marc Quen bumped their asses off, helping Lee look like a big star. I didn’t think that a ladder match would be the best way to debut someone like Lee. But, a show down in that match between Lee and Wardlow is must see TV.)
-Marc Quen attacked Lee after the match, Lee caught Marc Quen on a dive and power bombed him into Kassidy.
-Britt Baker had a video to verify that she paid Mercedes Martinez, and it was announced that Martinez would take on Thunder Rosa next week in a no DQ match. [c]
(3) CM PUNK & JON MOXLEY vs. FTR
CM Punk and Dax Harwood started the match, after some 50/50 grappling Harwood sent Punk the mat and then Punk countered and the two reset. Cash Wheeler was tagged in and worked holds on a less fresh Punk. After a counter and controlling holds of his own, Punk tagged in Moxley. Harwood was the legal man and the two men traded holds. Moxley hit a rebound scoop slam and then a running kick on a seated Harwood. Punk tagged himself in and continued the beatdown on Harwood. Cash Wheeler got a cheap shot on Punk and FTR were able to take advantage and trade tags as they worked over CM Punk.
Harwood hit his head on a strike attempt and Punk was able to tag in Moxley, who took out both Wheeler and Harwood. He then hit a double DDT on both members of FTR. CM Punk then did a dive out and was caught by FTR, Moxley then dove out and took out all three men. [c]
When the show returned a recap of Moxley being sent through a table was shown, Moxley just beat the ten count and was taken out by Wheeler as soon as he entered the ring. FTR then traded tags to continue the beatdown on Moxley. Jon Moxley was able to battle out and went for the tag, but he was preoccupied with Dax Harwood. Cash Wheeler took advantage and hit a tandem move to get a near fall on Moxley. Harwood then went to the to and tried for an elbow drop, Moxley rolled away and hit a lariat on Wheeler.
He then got the hot tag to Punk, who took out FTR. A big knee became a near fall on Harwood, he looked for a tag but Moxley was still down. Moxley was back and he put Harwood on his shoulders, Punk then hit a lariat off the top rope leading to a near fall. Cash Wheeler hit Punk with the ringside bell, Harwood hit a brain buster and got a near fall on Punk. FTR then hit Big Rig on Punk, but it was broken up by Moxley.
All four men were laying in the ring after the breakup. All four men traded shots in the middle then broke off into pairs. Moxley took out Harwood as Punk had the Anaconda Vice locked in on Wheeler. Tully Blanchard broke the hold and Punk hit a GTS on Tully. Wheeler then tried a roll up. Punk than hit a GTS on Wheeler and got the pinfall win. [c]
WINNER: CM Punk & Jon Moxley
(Sage’s Analysis: A really good match, one of the better random tag matches (mystery partner) I can remember seeing on TV. The end was not perfect with Tully, but I truly believed that FTR was going to win on several occasions. Great ring work, great selling, great near falls and the story with MJF continues, all positives.)
(4) JADE CARGILL vs. A.Q.A
Jade Cargill locked in a side headlock on A.Q.A and then threw her to the mat. Another lock was applied by Cargill, which turned into a wrist lock. A.Q.A then hit an arm drag, but Jade stood up and picked up A.Q.A form the mat and slammed her. The match went to the outside and Jade took out A.Q.A with a running elbow strike. [c]
When the match returned A.Q.A made a brief comeback after being dominated throughout the break. A.Q.A hit a sling blade, but Jade hit chops and then went for a slam, but A.Q.A countered with a DDT. A.Q.A went to the top and hit a Shooting Star Press and got a near fall on Jade. A.Q.A went up went up once more and then fell, here jade took control and put her opponent on the top rope and hit a spinning slam into Jaded for the pinfall win.
WINNER: Jade Cargill
(Sage’s Analysis: A good match, that highlighted A.Q.A in a really good way. Jade also did well in this extended match, the extended length of the match is good progress for the Jade character.)
-The Young Bucks and Adam Cole were backstage and The Bucks were asking why they didn’t get a heads up. Cole said to trust him and that they said they were bullet club for life and walked off.
-Serena Deeb came out and offered a rookie five minute challenge.
(5) SERENA DEEB vs. KATIE ARQUETTE
Serena Deeb got her opponent in the corner and then gave her back up. Arquette attacked and Deeb immediately reversed it and then tapped out her opponent.
WINNER: Serena Deeb
-The Announce team ran down Rampage and next week’s Dynamite. [c]
(6) ADAM PAGE vs. LANCE ARCHER
Adam Page and Lance Archer were already fighting as Archer’s entrance music started playing. The bell rang as each man was on the stage. Page threw Archer though a pane of glass, Archer emerged bleeding and Page sent him to the ring. Page hit a Buckshot Lariat, but Archer rolled out as the ref started the “knockout,” count. Archer grabbed a trashcan lid and hit Page as he dove out toward Archer.
Dan Lambert came out and unscrewed the top rope, to cancel out Page’s finisher. Meanwhile Page and Archer battled outside in the crowd area. Page threw Archer back in the ring, but the top rope was down. Archer took control as the commercial break started. [c]
Archer tried a blackout on Page through some tables, Page battled out and then hit a big boot as his was bleeding really bad. Archer took the fight to the outside and Jake Roberts hit a clothesline on Page, Archer pulled up the mat and then Page hit a DDT on Archer. Page put Archer in the ring again and grabbed a kendo stick and beat Archer with it. Archer grabbed the stick and then choke slammed Page through a trash can.
Page was able to beat the ten count, but Archer used a fork on the face of Page. Archer then did a cannonball senton out onto the floor where Page was. Archer threw Page and multiple chairs into the ring. Archer then pulled out a barbed wire chair and entered the ring. Archer then hit the Blackout off of the apron onto the stairs. Archer went for a power bomb but Page grabbed the barbed wire and fought back with that as a weapon.
Page hit a suplex and then dove over the ref and hit a Buckshot Lariat with the barbed wire off of the apron and into two tables.Hangman beat the ten count and retained the title as a result.
WINNER: Adam Page
(Sage’s Analysis: Wow what a bloodbath, that match went from ok to crazy extreme after the commercial break. Archer really is at his best in these environments. Page also really delivered and I think that he really wants to excel as champion. If you just look at the in ring he is having the best and most consistent run of any AEW champion. His match with Kenny, both Danielson matches and now this is beyond an impressive body of work. I though Cole would beat him easily at the PPV but know I am not so sure.)
-Adam Cole walked down to the ring and grabbed the AEW Championship and put the belt on the shoulder of Page and walked away as the show ended.
FINAL THOUGHTS: I hate to live in the world of hyperbole, but I will. This may have been the best episode of Dynamite minute-to-minute, ever. It was not perfect, but the debut of Keith Lee and Jay White; along with the excellent tag match at the top of hour two and the great main event. This show felt like a real PPV and had a level of intensity and seriousness the entire time and was a greta example of what AEW can be at its peak or near peak.
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