Reviews by Dave
By David E Houston II
Show air date: January 5, 2022
AEW Dynamite started the TBS era with 3 huge title matches from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Hangman Adam Page (c) defeated Bryan Danielson
AEW World Championship
I was surprised they went with the Hangman Page-Bryan Danielson World title rematch to open the show again. It shows the confidence they had in the other title matches to be booked to follow this. Excellent match that had Page and the “American Dragon” not just having a “wrestling” match but it felt like they were fighting to be the world champion, countering the favorite moves of each other and breaking out a few new ones.
I don’t remember the last time I saw Danielson bleed in a match and both guys were busted in this one. Page finally got a big win over a top guy on Dynamite and ended the unbeaten run of Danielson in AEW.
The Acclaimed had a decent promo on Sting (who actually is a boomer technically) and Darby Allin. Eh. They can do better.
Capt. Shawn Dean defeated MJF
By DQ
Maxwell Jacob Friedman came out for his match with Capt. Shawn Dean.
An interesting twist where CM Punk came down and hit Dean with his GTS finish, giving The Captain the win by dq. Punk promised to do this until MJF gives him a match.
MJF was better this time with Punk (Punk still ate him up) but you know, I’ll give him Piper in Portland comparison since people who actually know shit know that wasn’t Piper’s best work. They need to find a way to book MJF that doesn’t involve his opponent having to fight all his friends first. We’ve done this already.
FF Until They Started Beating Up Jericho
“Le Insurrection” Chris Jericho came out. Yawn. FF. 2point0 came out. Still, FF until they start beating up Jericho. YAAAYY! Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz returned his favor from last week and let him take some punches and then saved him.
Wardlow defeated Antonio Zambrono
Wardlow hit his Powerbomb Symphony on Antonio Zambrono. Shawn Spears hit a Death Valley Driver on Zambrono before the bell so he put up even less resistance than a normal Wardlow foe. They’re getting Wardlow over as a monster face. His match with Punk next week should be interesting.
Jade Cargill defeated Ruby Soho
For the TBS Championship
Jade Cargill, dressed as vintage Storm of the X-men, became the first-ever TBS champion, defeating Ruby Soho in the TBS Tournament Final (with a brief cameo by Mercedes Martinez and Thunder Rosa). Solid match. Not as good as Cargill vs Rosa but solid. They need to give Cargill something between big slams. She looks like she could make a headlock spot look great.
That’s a Heel
Serena Deeb was great in her short interview with Jim Ross. That’s a heel, ladies and gentlemen.
Malakai Black defeated Brian Pillman Jr
Malakai Black beat Brian Pillman Jr (with Julia Hart, borrowing Jon Moxley’s old eyepatch). You know Pillman meant business since he tied the mullet back. Nothing special but fine for what it was: a vehicle to further along Black. The Lucha Bros got a problem with Black? Hm.
Good one from Aaron Solo.
Main Event: Jurassic Express defeated The Lucha Brothers (c)
For the AEW World Tag Team Championship
The final match saw the Jurassic Express–Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy Jack Perry with Christian Cage–finally win the AEW World tag titles from the Lucha Bros–Penta and Rey Fenix with Alex Abrahantes in a barnburner.
I wasn’t feeling it at first as it felt like they were trying to do everything in the first five minutes but once they settled down, it got really good. The lights went out for 5 seconds but it was nothing (this time).
Welcome back Jim Ross, calling out the ref for allowing the endless double-teaming without even counting. Just as I was irritated by Perry kicking up from a Fear Factor piledriver, Fenix Sid Vicioused his arm, being choke slammed through a table by Luchasaurus. Perry countered a Penta’s Made in Japan slam for the pin and winning the world tag titles for the first time. Good match, second-best on the show, and continues the rise of Perry.
Very good show.
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Reviews by Dave is the best wrestling review on the internet! It’s written by David Houston II, who writes about WWE NXT 2.0, AEW Dynamite, and IMPACT Wrestling.
