‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Dec 8th 2021)

Welcome to this weeks rebview of AEW: Dynamite, with comes from Long Island, New York and features this years Dynamite Diamond [Ring] Battle Royale and more build to the “Hangman” Adam Page & Bryan Danielson match at next weeks Winter is Coming special edition of Dynamite.

Match #1: The Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

The last two men standing will wrestle next week at AEW DYNAMITE: Winter is Coming for the Diamond Ring prize! Long Island’s own MJF was out to the ring with Wardlow and Shawn Spears! Jay Lethal almost eliminated MJF at the start but Wardlow saved MJF. Wardlow eliminated Lee Moriarty with a press slam over the top rope! The Bunny slipped brass knuckles to Matt Hardy and he knocked out Jay Lethal and then eliminated him. As Hardy was celebrating, Dante Martin flipped Hardy over to the arena floor! Powerhouse Hobbs and Wardlow, two big hosses, rammed into each other like two bulls colliding in the center of the ring! Lio Rush did a hand stand flip and kicked Hobbs out of the ring, eliminating one of the members of Team Taz! MJF took a cheap shot at Dante Martin and the hometown crowd cheered him on. Lio Rush charged at MJF but Wardlow grabbed Lee Johnson and Lio Rush. MJF picked up Lee Johnson and Lio Rush over the top but in the process he eliminated Wardlow, like a sacrificial lamb. Frankie Kazarian charged at MJF but MJF ducked and sent Kaz flying over the top rope. This left Dante Martin, Ricky Starks and MJF. Dante Martin turned around at Ricky Starks and hoisted him over the top rope! Dante Martin tore off his FTW armband! Dante Martin and MJF will be wrestling next week. MJF walked out of the ring and then Ricky Starks jumped into the ring and blindsided Dante Martin. MJF was at the top of the ramp, conflicted, and he charged at the ring. MJF looked at Ricky Starks and then he and Starks continued the beat down on Dante Martin. CM Punk rushed to the ring but MJF retreated. Ricky Starks puffed his chest at CM Punk. Dante Martin kicked Starks behind the head and then Punk hit the GTS on Starks!

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #2: Jurassic Express & Varsity Blonds def. The Acclaimed & 2point0

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Christian Cage gave Jurassic Express a pep talk and then headed to the back. Jungle Boy and Anthony Bowens began the match for their respective teams. Bowens shoulder tackled Jungle Boy. He blasted Jungle Boy in the chest with a stiff chop. Caster tagged in but Jungle Boy took down Caster with a hurracanrana. 2point0 came in and Jungle Boy single handedly cleared the ring of all four men! Griff Garrison soared over the top rope and landed on all four members of the opposition. The Varsity Blonds used some combo offense and Pillman hit a beautiful high dropkick. Bowens stomped on Pillman in the corner and 2point0 taunted Pillman. Jeff Parker hit a back heel kick on Pillman for a near fall. Pillman backdropped Parker but Caster tagged in and prevented Pillman from tagging out. Jeff Parker tagged in and put the pressure on Pillman. Bowens tagged in and kicked Pillman directly in the face. The Acclaimed tried to suplex Pillman but Pillman escaped with double knees and tagged in Luchasaurus! Luchasaurus stacked up the opposition and splashed them! He double clotheslined 2point0! Luchasaurus sandwiched The Acclaimed with a double chokeslam! Pillman tagged in and hit Bowens with a fisherman’s falcon arrow! Daniel Garcia jumped onto the apron but Eddie Kingston ran down and pulled Garcia down and rammed him into the steel ring steps! Max Caster tried for the Mic Drop but Jungle Boy locked in the Snare Trap and forced Caster to tap!

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #3: The Young Bucks def. CHAOS’ Rocky Romero & Chuck Taylor

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Rocky and Nick locked up. Nick Jackson had wrist control on Rocky but Rocky hip tossed Nick. Rocky followed up with a dropkick. Rocky pulled Nick down with a deep arm drag. Chuck Taylor tagged in but Matt Jackson grabbed a blind tag. Taylor wasted no time and sent Matt Jackson head first into the corner. The Young Bucks fired back with tandem offense but Rocky hit a tope suicida on Nick Jackson. Matt Jackson dropkicked Rocky! Back in the ring, Rocky fired a right-handed knife edge chop at Matt Jackson. Nick hit a senton fist drop on Rocky. Chuck Taylor tagged in and hit a DDT/flatliner combo on the Bucks! He followed up with a tope con hiro on the Bucks! Chuck turned around to taunt Cutler but the Bucks caught him with superkicks. They superkicked Romero next! Matt set up Chuck Taylor on the outside and Nick Jackson flattened him with a flipping senton. Nick Jackson blasted Chuck Taylor with another senton in the ring! Adam Cole shocked Orange Cassidy with a pump kick on the outside! Rocky finally got the tag in, harkening back to his days as a Forever Hooligan with running clotheslines to the Bucks. He hit the running sliced bread on Matt Jackson for a near fall, very nearly pulling off the upset! Matt Jackson tried for three Northern Lights suplexes, but before the third, Rocky countered with a DDT! Brandon Cutler jumped in the ring with the cold spray and distracted ref Rick Knox. Brandon Cutler accidentally sprayed Matt Jackson with the cold spray instead of Rocky, and Rocky almost got the pin on Matt! Romero nailed Matt with a heel kick! Matt Jackson countered Romero and the Bucks finished off Rocky with the Meltzer Driver!

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #4: Riho def. Jamie Hayter

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Hayter scoop slammed Riho. Hayter swatted Riho out of the way when Riho attempted a dropkick. Hayter charged in but Riho countered with a drop toe hold. Riho connected with a diving cross body press for a near fall. Riho jumped off the top turnbuckle to the outside but Hayter caught her and then rammed her into the steel ring post! Back in the ring, Hayter rammed Riho into the turnbuckles. Hayter rocked Riho with a vertical suplex. Jamie Hayter stomped all over Riho. Hayter reversed the leverage of Riho and whipped her into the turnbuckles. Riho rolled up Hayter out of desperation and then double stomped Hayter! Britt Baker was silenced on the outside of the ring. Riho stuck Hayter with a Dragon Suplex! Hayter rallied back with a brainbuster for a near fall! Then Hayter spiked Riho with a back breaker! Hayter charged in and Riho met her with a leaping knee strike! Riho very nearly scored a victory with a Code Red on Hayter! Riho, like a lightning bolt, dropped the diving foot stomp on Jamie Hayter. Riho climbed back up the turnbuckles but Hayter met her up there. Hayter tried to superplex Riho but Riho sent her back to the mat with hammer fists. Rebel grabbed Riho’s ankle and Hayter climbed back up top. Riho sent Hayter crashing with the crucifix bomb and then the running knee! Riho pinned Hayter!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #5: Bryan Danielson def. Dark Order’s John Silver

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Bryan ran off the ropes and smashed Silver with a shoulder block. They locked up and Silver nailed Bryan with a shoulder block of his own and then Silver flexed. Bryan Danielson stormed Silver with kicks. Silver fired back with roundhouse kicks! Danielson dropped to a knee but lured Silver to the outside. Danielson rocked Silver with strong European Uppercuts. Danielson dropped a diving knee on the back of Silver’s head. Danielson jumped off the turnbuckles but Silver countered with a powerbomb. Danielson and Silver traded kicks! Silver rolled through with a heel hook! Danielson rolled to the bottom rope to get the rope break! Silver launched himself with a cannonball senton onto Danielson outside the ring! Back in the ring, Silver used a German Suplex on Danielson but Danielson landed on his feet. Silver tripped Danielson and sent Danielson flying with a German Suplex! Silver was looking for the Spin Doctor finisher but Danielson gouged Silver’s eyes. Danielson hammered down with elbows on Silver. Danielson picked up Silver and spiked him with a Gotch style piledriver. Danielson went for the Le Bell Lock but Silver was knocked out and the ref stopped the match!

My Score: 3 out of 5

News of the Night:

• Dante Martin will face MJF in the Dynamite Diamond Ring final next week.
• Trent returned to Dynamite after being out with injury.
• Cody Rhodes will be Sammy Guevara’s next open challenge opponent for the TNT Championship.
• Malakai Black attacked the Varstiy Blondes, spraying Julia Hart with the black mist.
• Serena Deeb will fight Hikaru Shida [again] at Winter is Coming.
• Hook will make his AEW in-ring debut against Fuego Del Sol on Rampage!

Final Verdict: 3/5

This episode of Dynamite put its foot to the floor and keep on the gas right through the first 3 matches and ALL the promos too… at least that kept excitement levels high – as did the crowd reaction to all the matches. When things calmed down – with Riho’s match against Jamie Hayter – we got some great one on one wrestling, with that match being the particular highlight of this weeks show with what is probably one of Riho’s best matches in recent memory. Once again AEW hit it out of the park when it comes to the Bryan Danielson/Dark Order/Adam Page feud, with Jon Silver looking strong even in defeat. Even moreso given he passed out rather than submitting! Overall this was a great episode that only made me more excited for next weeks “Winter is Coming” episode of Dynamite!