After two weeks off for the holidays, welcome, everyone to the latest edition of #MouthingOff (with MikeJC): Dynamite Weekly, the weekly review feature on AEW Dynamite here on SLTDWrestling.com. I will be giving my thoughts and opinions on all the highlights of the show as well as giving the “Remarkable Wrestler” of the week. So here are the highlights of the Wednesday, January 6th edition of AEW Dynamite, New Year’s Smash Night 1.
The Young Bucks & SCU vs. The Acclaimed & TH2
Dynamite kicks off with an eight-man tag team match, the story has been The Acclaimed and TH2 have been thorns in the side of the tag team champions, and SCU is their friends and got tired of seeing them get attacked. This match was a fine match, it was exactly what you’d expect from a match with all these teams, athletic ability on display, high octane action from the get go. The result was also exactly what you’d expect.
The finish came when the Young Bucks were going to go for the Meltzer Driver, but Nick chooses to vault over the top rope to take out the others and Daniels goes for the BME and hits the Best Meltzer Ever, with Matt Jackson for the pin and the win.
Immediately after the match Kazarian gets on the mic and discusses the deal he made with Daniels that the next time they lose a tag match together they will never team again, how that isn’t going to happen on his watch. Daniels then mentions they will always have the backs of the Young Bucks, that is until they challenge them for the tag titles, implying that will be happening soon.
Segment Rating: 5.5/10
I didn’t love this match, and I’ll explain why, I feel like I’ve seen it before. There’s no denying the talent of all four teams and The Acclaimed especially have bright futures. This match however, felt like the kind of match people complain about the Young Bucks having. It was all action no storytelling and it’s okay to do that sometimes, the action as I mentioned was good, just very paint by numbers very predictable result obviously. Jack Evans looked amazing as usual, Young Bucks and SCU were doing big moves together like Kaz and Matt doing the BTE trigger, and the finish of the match as well. Young Bucks versus SCU should good as it always is and I look forward to seeing that again, who knows where these other teams go from here though.
Jon Moxley Returns
Jon Moxley gets straight to the point and talks about how most people would be bitching and moaning about his loss on December 2nd. He explains that sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and endure and bounce back. He questions what should be done about Kenny Omega and his “used car salesman friend”. Initially he would beat them to a bloody pulp with a crowbar. Tonight, the AEW Title is on the line and he’s all about upholding the honor of that belt. Rey Fenix has worked hard 13 years to get to where he is so he’s not going to meddle in that business. Moxley says he will forever be in Kenny’s blind spot. One day he will look into the eyes of the devil and Kenny will beg for mercy when he realizes he “crossed the wrong guy.”
Segment Rating: 7/10
This was another example of Moxley absolutely killing it on the mic. He addressed everything that needed to be addressed…except one thing, who attacked him two weeks before the championship match? I’d like that to be answered, possibly leading to Moxley’s next feud for the time being. We’ve seen how good AEW has been to put things to the side for now and go back to it later and that can be done with this feud with Omega easily. I want to know what Moxley will be doing next, but this promo was perfect for what it needed to be and that is never in question when it’s Moxley.
Jake Hager vs. Wardlow
All of the Inner Circle watched from the stage, while Jericho did commentary (for the entire show by the way) This match was exactly what was expected, two hosses going at it and settling their differences. It also gave the result I expected. This is going to be a theme of this show, very predictable winners. I didn’t hate this match either but, it could have been better. A lot of corner tackles, a lot of big slams, and it came down to the younger of the two out working the other. Hager made the mistake of locking his submission.
On this night Wardlow was quicker, and he was better. He hit a flying senton bomb during the match which got a two count, and Hager immediately went into his arm triangle submission but Wardlow got to the ropes. Hager would go for it again but fight it off and after regaining control he’d hit the F-10 for the pin and the win.
After the match the Inner Circle would check on Hager, who looks frustrated about losing but the rest of his teammates encourage him to give Wardlow a fist bump and put this behind them which he does.
Later in the night MJF would bring a camera man to comfort Hager who was punching a metal door. MJF encourages him to get passed this and remember how good he is in MMA. Hager says normally he’d want to hurt him but not today, and thanks him for checking on him, then asks MJF to leave.
Segment Rating: 4.75/10
The Inner Circle seems to be at a stand still right now, because the group as a whole haven’t really done anything since MJF and Wardlow joined except fight with each other. So I don’t really know what they are doing next. You have to wonder how long this charade with MJF is going to last because I think we all know it’s going to lead somewhere. As I mentioned I didn’t love this match and I certainly don’t need to see it again.
TNT Championship Weigh-In
Tony Schiavone was in the ring and he introduced Team Taz and Darby Allin. Schiavone asks Brian Cage to get on the scale first and for some reason this offends Taz and Taz asks why Cage has to go first, is it because he’s the challenger? That didn’t make much sense to me. So Cage gets on the scale and Schiavone announces him at 272 pounds. Then Darby gets on the scale and he is 170 pounds. Taz complains again and says its wrong because Darby is wearing chains, a jacket and a belt buckle. Again this didn’t make much sense to me at all. So then Darby takes Tony’s mic.
Darby says this has been going on for nine months between him and Team Taz but really it’s been twenty-seven years, because he’s dealt with bullies like Team Taz his entire life, and he knows where this is going so lets just get on with it. So as Taz is saying that his team is gonna destroy Darby the lights go out.
Sting’s music hits, and Team Taz exit the ring thinking Sting is going to enter from the rafters like he did last week. Sting comes out of the tunnel on the stage and enters the ring with his bat in hand. Stares down team Taz as they decide to leave again. He then gets closer to Darby and looks at him in the eyes, and Darby looks on puzzled as to what has been going on (even though they came out together last week).
Segment Rating: 4/10
I don’t understand where this is going. Why is Sting here, what does he want with Darby? Is he only targeting Team Taz because of Darby? We need to get some answers soon because it’s getting too repetitive, it’s time to move forward with this. The weigh-in aspect of this was completely unnecessary Taz’s complaints during it were very unnecessary, I didn’t need any of it, a standard promo to setup the match with Sting actually speaking would have sufficed hopefully we get that soon as something is inevitably going to happen in this match next week involving Sting.
Cody Rhodes vs. Matt Sydal
This was another fine match, with a predictable ending. Snoop Dogg was in Cody’s corner playing the coach role that is usually filled by Arn Anderson. At one point in the match there was a dive to the ramp where Snoop Dogg had to side step it so he wouldn’t get hit because he remained on the stage instead of standing at ringside. There was a spot outside where Serpentico got hit accidently sitting front row which pissed him and Luther off.
The finish came after a good sequence of moves. Sydal hit a nice hurricanrana for a near fall followed by another near fall after a lightning spiral for another near fall. Sydal then goes for a jumping knee strike which Cody dodges and he hits two straight cross rhodes for the pin and the win.
After the match Serpentico and Luther hit the ring and attacked Cody and Sydal. They fight them off and Cody tells Sydal to go to the top for a shooting star, but Snoop Dogg gets in the ring and climbs the to the top rope, and delivers one of the worst diving splashes ever done in wrestling history. It was unnecessary for sure but it was also hilarious.
Segment Rating: 5/10
This match was fine and I actually liked it but, it was way too predictable for my liking. The Serpentico thing, that was done just for Snoop Dogg to deliver that horrible splash was so unnecessary. All this just to promote Cody and Snoop’s new show premiering on TBS tomorrow night, which is just another version of America’s Got Talent. Sydal remains in the jobber to the stars role, which is fine for him. He wins small matches on Dark and loses the matches on Dynamite, that’s what he was brought in for and I just don’t think this match just to promote the other show was needed.
AEW Women’s Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Abadon
Okay so, I really like the Abadon character, and I think she brings a lot to the table, she’s different she’s scary to some, she’s off the wall. This match wasn’t it though. Abadon played up her paranormal aspects to her character but it kind of didn’t help Shida here at all for her to be scared then out of nowhere find the strength to pull out the victory.
There was a part of the match where they were under the ring, and and Abadom bit Shida on the neck, and commentary wonders why it isn’t a DQ (what is a DQ in AEW though?) The finish comes when Abadon has Shida in the Gory Special, bu Shida gets out and hits her knee strike for the pin and the win.
Segment Rating: 3/10
I don’t understand why AEW is so good (usually) at booking everyone else except their women. This match helped nobody, it was the perfect example of this entire division needing an overhaul and I hope it changes soon. I have nothing else to say, except AEW needs to be better here.
AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Rey Fenix
This was one hell of a match, just amazing. The action, the storytelling before and after. Really, really good. It was nonstop action from the get go. It was fast paced, it was brutal, and exactly the kind of title match I expect from these two. This was hands down the best match I’ve seen out of these two ever.
Mid-way through the match, there was an amazing spot where Fenix hits a moonsault into a German suplex, it was one of the coolest transitions into a German suplex I’ve seen in a really long time. Another great sequence saw Omega hit a jumping V-Trigger which Fenix follows up by immediately kipping up into a thrust kick. Then when Fenix goes for a springboard Tornillo Kenny hits another jumping V-Trigger. Kenny follows this up with a combination of V-Triggers.
Fenix then reverses a one-winged angel attempt and hits a reverse hurricanrana followed by an outside-in cutter for a two count, then a Fire Thunder Driver for another two count. Fenix then goes for a frog splash but takes too long, and Kenny gets his knees up. Omega puts Fenix on the top rope and Fenix fights off and flips off the top, but is caught by Omega in a Butterfly Piledriver, which he hits, followed by a One-Winged Angel for the pin and the win. What a match.
After the match Don Callis gets on the mic and says he’s hearing of something happening in the back, and we see a video of Eddie Kingston, The Butcher, The Blade and The Bunny beating up and taunting Penta and PAC. Callis and Omega inform Fenix his buddies aren’t coming to save him. Kenny goes to do another One-Winged Angel to Fenix but he is saved by Jon Moxley, wielding a barbed wire wrapped baseball bat. He hits Kenny in the gut with it once and then out of nowhere, The Good Brother, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows appear.
They attack Moxley and hit the magic killer on him followed by Kenny hitting him with multiple shots from the barbed wire baseball bat. The front rows start to clear as a bunch of wrestlers enter the ring to stop it but they are all taken out by Kenny and The Good Brothers. The Good Brothers then hold up Moxley by each arm for Kenny to hit him one final time in the gut with the bat. Kenny looks right into the camera and says that Moxley made him flip the switch, Moxley tries to fight back by hitting Anderson with one single punch, but he is then assaulted by The Good Brothers once again.
Then the Young Bucks finally run out, and are trying to understand what is going on, then for some reason The Varsity Blondes grab Kenny’s arms and the Young Bucks superkick them off of Kenny. Kenny and The Good Brothers put up the Too Sweet sign, and the Young Bucks possibly reluctantly join them to close the show.
Segment Rating: 9/10
Alright so after all that, we have more questions, but not to be forgotten what a freakin’ main event. That match was dramatic, back and forth, told a story, furthered the story of Kenny and his transformation since winning the belt. I was not kidding when I said earlier this was the best match these two have ever had together I meant every word of it. This match is worth another watch if you ask me. Now everything after was the first signs of something big happening between this relationship with Impact. We’ve been waiting for what was next with this relationship. We’ve seen Kenny on Impact multiple times, but we never saw anyone from Impact (other then Don Callis) show up on Dynamite.
Things are starting to fall into place, what does it all mean though. Is this a real Bullet Club reunion in AEW and Impact? Are The Young Bucks really on board with all of this? What happens next? There is still a lot of questions but I’ll be glued to the TV watching everything including Impact and their upcoming pay-per-view to find out.
Remarkable Wrestler of the Week
For this episode of AEW Dynamite, the Remarkable Wrestler of the Week is, Kenny Omega.
Could it have been anyone else this week? Omega gets the RWOW for the stellar match him and Fenix put together tonight, and furthering this storyline that also involves Impact. I’ve been very intrigued when something big would happen and it did tonight.
Overall
So that’s all the highlights for this special episode of AEW Dynamite, New Year’s Smash Night one, overall I give this episode of Dynamite a 5.5 out of 10. The wrestling for the most part was fine on this episode, the opener was fine, Moxley had an amazing promo, the main event was one of the best matches on Dynamite ever, but some of the other matches and whatever that weigh-in was brought it down.
What are your thoughts on AEW Dynamite? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @SLTDWrestling.
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