SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
JANUARY 3, 2024
NEWARK, N.J. AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON TBS
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with Samoa Joe standing backstage with the AEW World Title over his shoulder backstage after winning the belt last Saturday night. He was sweaty and breathing heavily as he addressed beating MJF. He said MJF embarrassed him, cheated, and used everything at his disposal to try to keep that belt from him. He said he took everything from him in front of his friends and family. “You may be a scumbag, MJF, but I’m a heartless son of a bitch,” he said. He added that there’s not enough room in the world for both of them. “I am Samoa Joe and I am the AEW World Champion and I will take everything from anyone who tries to take this from me,” he said.
(Keller’s Analysis: I like the post-match setting from Saturday when the adrenaline was flowing. I really like that they started the show with Joe and the AEW World Title rather than the Devil reveal.)
-They went to the arena and Excalibur said it’s Samoa Joe’s world and they’re just living it.
-Adam Cole’s music began, but then it stopped. Instead, new music played and Cole came out in crutches, flanked by Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett dressed in black. Strong spoke first. He told everyone to shut up and listen to his best friend. He yelled, “Adam!” Cole sat on a chair and asked if the fans don’t have sympathy for him. He said he finds it so ironic that so many people were shocked and disgusted at what happened at the end of Worlds End. He said that means they’re all stupid and they don’t understand right from wrong. He said they think they’re the bad guys because he betrayed MJF. He said MJF has created more enemies in AEW than anyone else. He said he’s run his mouth for years. He said if turning on MJF makes him the Devil, “then buy me a one-way ticket straight to hell.”
Cole said MJF is a narcissist and the only person he cares about is himself. He said it was time for a change. He said most of the wrestlers in the back will eventually thank him. He said that’s true of the fans and Tony Khan, too. He said MJF is gone and isn’t coming back.
He said there are a lot of reasons he did what he did. He said MJF would’ve done the same thing to him the second he didn’t need him anymore. He said Cole never needed MJF. He said he sacrificed everything in that friendship. He said he broke his ankle, so he lost something, not MJF. He took credit for the fans falling in love with MJF. He said in the beginning this was all about the AEW World Championship, but then it turned out to be more than that. He leaned forward and said it became about ripping the heart out of a man and bringing him to his knees. He said MJF is dead.Fans chanted, “Shut the f— up!”
He said his group has one goal in common, which is winning gold. He pointed out that Taven & Bennett are ROH Tag Team Champions. He said Strong is going after the International Title. He said Wardlow is finally with a group who respect him, and he’s going to go after the AEW World Championship. He said when he’s healed, Wardlow will do the right thing and forfeit the AEW Title and give it to me. Wardlow nodded like he was trying to convey he will even though he won’t. (This is too much like Christian Cage and Luchasaurus and way way too early to be hinting at the eventual break-off of Wardlow from Cole.)
Cole said it was an absolute pleasure doing business with Joe. He said they were happy to take out “Hangman” Page for him. He said when Wardlow rises through the ranks and earns a title shot against him, he hopes Joe isn’t champion “because it’d really, really suck to hurt a friend.” He said self-esteem is built on action and they took action. He said AEW needed change and they made it happen. “The Undisputed Kingdom starts a new chapter here in AEW and the Devil is here to stay, bay-bay,” he closed with.
Tony Schiavone said it was an elaborate plan that took a long, long time, but it worked. Jay White’s music suddenly played and he walked out alone. Excalibur said he was the first victim of the Devil and his henchmen. White said he’s glad to see Cole didn’t lose his edge afterall. He said he’s a fan of what he did to MJF, but he doesn’t like being collateral to his cause. He asid he’s not alone now, unlike when Cole had his men attack him. Austin and Colten Gunn came out and they charged into the ring and brawled. The Acclaimed then charged out to the ring. Schiavone said they remember what happened to them. The Undisputed Kingdom bailed out. Excalibur said he didn’t expect to see The Acclaimed come to the aid of Bullet Club Gold. The Bullet Club left the ring. The Acclaimed played to the crowd as their music kicked in again.
(Keller’s Analysis: A lot covered in the first 15 minutes of the show. They attempted to tie up a lost of lose ends and have key people react to being victims of Cole’s actions in recent months. Cole was good here. Are Taven, Bennett, and Strong capable of being serious people in this group, because it’ll define it down if they continue to act like they’re holding in laughter over a silly inside joke constantly? With C.M. Punk gone and Bryan Danielson planning to retire at the end of this summer, Cole could still end up being the most valuable of the three in the long-run for AEW among the three who showed up together. If Cole turns babyface again – which I hope is not within the next two years because AEW turns people way too often – when that music returns, it’ll get a big pop. As noted, I’m not thrilled they’ve already hinted at a break-up between Cole and Wardlow, especially because it so closely resembles the Christian-Luchasaurus dynamic. I hope everything gets sorted out in the next couple weeks with it being clear who is in a babyface role and who is in a heel role, which applies here to Joe and Bullet Club Gold in particular.)
-A vignette aired on Eddie Kingston winning the Continental Classic with new soundbites from Kingston. He said he’s so confident now, it’ll take someone special to take those three championships from him.
-Excalibur plugged the four-way later to earn a shot at Kingston’s Continental Crown.
(Keller’s Analysis: So any hope that the Continental Crown would be something other than yet another men’s singles title in the AEW Dynamite ecosystem is extinguished already.)
-A vignette aired on Daniel Garcia with Garcia talking about his scheduled match against Swerve Strickland. He said no matter how much pressure Swerve puts on him, he won’t break. He said he will not beat him because he will fight through the pressure.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good vignette to build the main event and lay out the stakes.)
(1) ORANGE CASSIDY vs. DANTE MARTIN – AEW International Title match
Hook and Danhausen accompanied Cassidy onto the stage before returning to the back. The bell rang 21 minutes into the hour. They locked up mid-ring. They fought back and forth in the early minutes. Schiavone said this match could set the tone for AEW this year. He said Cassidy had more wins than anyone in AEW in 2023. At 3:00 Cassidy dove through the ropes and checked Dante into the barricade. Dante suplexed Cassidy on the floor. With both down, they cut to double-box break. [c/db]
Cassidy controlled the action during the break. Dante landed a top rope crossbody after the break for a two count at 9:00. Dante engaged in slo-mo kicks with Cassidy. Cassidy rallied and landed a spike DDT for a near fall. Dante blocked a Beach Break attempt and landed a lift-and-drop kneelift to the chin for a near fall. Dante landed a splash off the top rope and landed on Cassidy nearly entirely across the ring and scored a two count. They exchanged leverage near fals. Cassidy avoided a senton and then landed a sudden Orange Punch for the win.
WINNER: Cassidy in 13:00 to retain the AEW International Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good match, as you’d expect from these two.)
-Action Andretti and Darius Martin came out to check on Dante.Danhausen and Hook came out to congratulate Cassidy. Top Flight’s music then awkwardly played as the two threesomes stood and eyed each other. Cassidy shook hands with Dante. Private Party’s music then played. Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy came out. They said the tag division has been missing flavor and excitement since they were gone. They entered the ring and said they are putting every tag team on notice. They listed FTR, The Young Bucks, “and even the Hardys.”
(Keller’s Analysis: Not the best promo. A bit clunky. Also, how are fans supposed to feel about them? The crowd didn’t seem to know.)
-Renee Young interviewed Toni Storm in black and white. She was taken aback by being in New Jersey instead of New York. She said he’s heading to Broadway. Renee asked if she’ll watch Mariah May’s match later, as she’s been practically begging her to do. Storm said she doesn’t watch wrestling. Storm said Mariah May is going to pay her dues, “and what better place to do that than in New Jersey?” She threw a shoe at Renee as she left.
-A House of Black vignette aired. Malakai Black said they accept the challenge from FTR, but they want to beat them in front of their family in North Carolina. He said they will find out if their family truly truly loves them.
-Exclalibur said that match will take place on Saturday on Collision.
-Renee interviewed Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana. Nana wondered if Garcia comprehends who he is getting in the ring with. Swerve said he’s getting the match because he respects that Garcia is aiming for championship gold. He said Garcia says he won’t fold under pressure, but unfortunately Garcia will have to go through pain. He said he wants to accomplish in 2024 something he didn’t in 2023. He said he thought it’d be MJF, but his body couldn’t take it anymore, so it’ll be Samoa Joe he’s going after. He told him to be ready. Nana said, “Who’s house?” He smiled and walked away.
(2) MARIAH MAY vs. QUEEN AMINATA
The bell rang 47 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early double-box break with May on offense. [c/db]
May grounded Aminata during the break. Back from the break, Aminata kicked May and then slapped her hard three times and then chopped her to the mat. Aminata continued on the attack and showed fire. May caught a charging Aminata with a slingblade. She followed with her Mayday finisher for the win.
WINNER: May in 6:00.
-Renee interviewed May in the ring afterward. May said she was excited about winning her AEW debut, but it’s unfortunate she had to do it in New Jersey. Deonna Purrazzo then made her way to the ring. Purrazzo said she is from New Jersey. She said if Storm doesn’t want to be there, none of them want her there, either. She told May to tell Storm that she will find her eventually because she is All Elite. “Oh, wow,” said Taz. May said she’s not the messenger, “so tell her yourself, bitch.” She slapped her. Purrazzo slapped her back and then kicked her. May rolled out of the ring.
(Keller’s Analysis: So May and Storm are both heels, even though Storm has been blowing off May lately. Good to see Purrazzo added to the AEW roster.) [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-Christian Cage, Nick Wayne, Shayna Wayne, and Killswitch made their entrance. Schiavone interviewed them mid-ring. He brought up Christian winning his second TNT Title at Worlds End. Shayna took issue with the fans booing her. She demanded they get on their feet and pay respect to the greatest TNT Champion who has ever lived. Christian said his second TNT Title reign has been a historic run already. When Schiavone objected, Christian said he’d order Shayna to punish him if he didn’t stay quiet. He thanked Shayna for being so loving and nurturing. He said a mother’s work is never done.
He then thanked Nick Wayne for selflessly putting his body on the line. He said Adam Copeland tried to put him through a burning table and end his career at age 18. Christian told Nick he loved him. He said lastly he wanted to thank the man who sealed the victory at Worlds End. Killswitch was ready to accept praise, but Christian said, “I would like to thank myself.” The announcers said he should be thanking Killswitch. Fans chanted, “Luchasaurus!”
Christian said it’s his duty to address Copeland “for what I hope is the final time.” He said its to the back of the line for him. He said Copeland grew up without a father and his mother is dead, and now he has to look in the mirror and accept that he proved that he, Christian, is superior to him. He said they dragged each other through the mud. He said one of them doesn’t have a soul and that’s why he stands before them as the TNT Champion. He said he’ll hold the title until he passes it down to Nick Wayne.
-Renee interviewed Ruby Soho, Harley Cameron, and Saraya backstage. Ruby said having another blonde whose out of her mind didn’t work well for them last time, but she appreciated Cameron’s help. Saraya told Cameron not to make it obvious. Renee asked what was going on.
(3) KONSUKE TAKESHITA vs. DARBY ALLIN
Don Callis joined in on commentary. The bell rang 13 minutes into the hour. When Callis touted height in wrestlers, Taz said he is 5-8 and asked Callis if he has an issue with people under 6-3. Callis said generally yes, but Taz was a special exception. When Darby went for a dive through the ropes, Takeshita kneed him. They replayed it. Takeshita continued on the attack at ringside including a rolling German suplex. Fans chanted “You sick f—!” briefly. [c/dbn]
Takeshita attempted a move off the top rope, but Darby countered with a cutter and then connected with a dive through the ropes to the floor. Darby leaped off the top rope onto Takeshita on the floor at 8:00. Schiavone said the match is absolutely insane. Callis stood and checked on Takeshita. Takeshita just beat the ten count. Darby scored a sudden near fall after a Code Red. He followed with a Coffin Drop attempt, but Takeshita lifted his knees. They continued to exchange big moves for several minutes ending with Takeshita landing a powerdrive knee after Darby told him to bring it on.
WINNER: Takeshita in 12:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: During ring introductions, this match felt like a match that deserved more build than, well, no build at all. Geesh.) [c]
-Backstage, Callis, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Kyle Fletcher were congratulating Takeshita. Renee walked up and asked Takeshita for comment. He said something in Japanese. Callis told Darby to bring Sting and then Takeshita & Hobbs will beat them and give them their first loss as a team.
(4) VIKINGO (w/Alex Abrahantes) vs. TRENT BERETTA vs. BRIAN CAGE vs. BRYAN KEITH – Winner Earns Triple Crown Title match
Eddie Kingston came out with his three title belts and joined the announcers on commentary. The bell rang 33 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 2:00. [c/db]
Excalibur plugged the Ric Flair-sponsored energy drink as a graphic appeared in the corner of the screen. Cage landed a sitout powerbomb for a near fall on Beretta. Danhausen entered the ring and tried to cast a curse on Cage. Cage lifted him. Keith and Vikingo then took shots at Cage. Vikingo flip dove onto and over Cage on the floor. Keith rallied against Beretta in the ring and scored a near fall. He set up a Tiger driver, but Beretta countered into a Crunchy for the win.
WINNER: Beretta in 9:00 to earn a shot at the Continental Crown.
(Keller’s Analysis: What a random group of four contenders this match was. What was the criteria that anyone in this group was qualified to be the first Continental Crown challenger? The title is already defined as “just another title” along with the TNT and International belts.)
-Renee interviewed “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard. “Hangman” Adam Page interrupted the interview in a rage and said was there to beat somebody’s ass because of what Samoa Joe and the Devil’s thugs did to him. [c]
(5) SWERVE STRICKLAND (w/Prince Nana) vs. DANIEL GARCIA
Menard joined in on commentary. Garcia did a little hip swivel on his way to the ring. The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. At 2:00, Garcia knocked Swerve to ringside. He threw him into the barricade. Nana yelled behind him. Garcia turned around and got in his face. Nana did his dance. Garcia then did his hip swivel. Nana danced. Garcia danced. Swerve attacked Garcia from behind, but Garcia quickly threw Swerve into the ringpost and then set up a move on the ring apron. Nana yanked on Garcia’s boot. When Garcia turned to him, Swerve attacked Garcia and gave him a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Swerve took over and mocked Garcia’s hip swivel dance. Garcia made a comeback and punched away at him and then stomped him in the corner. He followed with a face wash knee and a Saito suplex for a near fall. Menard said he was starting to smell victory. Swerve came back with a backbreaker. They continued to fight back and forth. When they fought at ringside, Swerve and Menard got into a verbal spat. Garcia attacked Swerve and cleared the announce desk. Garcia then applied a sharpshooter on the table, but they slipped right off of it and fell awkwardly to the floor. Yikes. Fans chanted, “You f—ed up!” They both crawled back to the ring to beat the ref’s so-called count. Schiavone said Sting & Darby have accepted the challenge for the tag match next Wednesday in Jacksonville, Fla. He added that they’ll be on Collision this Saturday in Charlotte first.
[OVERRUN]
After more back and forth action and an exchange of near falls, Swerve finished Garcia with a package piledriver for the win.
WINNER: Swerve in 14:00.
-Afterward, Swerve seemed about to shake hands with Garcia when Nana low-blowed Garcia from behind. Menard made the save. Hangman then came out and interrupted Nana boasting on the mic. He had a staredown with him, and then they exchanged wild swings.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good action. It’s an odd match, though, to be the first Dynamite main event of 2024. It didn’t feel at that level. It ultimately appeared to be mostly a path to (a) have a good match and (b) have Swerve in the ring for a show-closing pullapart brawl between Hangman and Swerve.)
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