AEW Dynamite
Winter is Coming
Episode 115
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: December 15, 2021
Event Date: December 15, 2021
(aired live on TNT & the FITE app)
City: Garland, TX (announced as “outside Dallas, TX“)
Venue: Curtis Culwell Center
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Intro Video
“Dynamite” by No One Hero
Match 1
AEW World Title Match
Bryan Danielson vs “Hangman” Adam Page (AEW Champ)
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Time Limit Draw, Adam Page retains the title in his first defense
Time: 1 hour
Match Thoughts
Fantastic match! Danielson started the match arrogant, mocking Page every chance he got. Danielson also tried to frustrate Page early by ducking between the ropes and smiling multiple time when Page came at him. Page did get visibly annoyed, but his rising anger never really hurt him. Instead, we got a superb match of two guys trying to be better than their opponent. Danielson got dirty every once in a while, but Page would always seem to get a few shots back in retribution. Danielson seemed to get the better of the fight overall, but that just showed that Adam Page’s heart is that much bigger. There’s a lot to say about this match, and most of it’s great. The only things I can think about nitpicking are a prolonged break during a commercial where Page was checked to see if he could continue the match, and maybe the finish of the match could have been more definitive. The action was great, but AEW didn’t seem to want either guy to take a loss here, which I don’t think was necessary given how competitive the match was.
Backstage
Adam Cole wonders when the Best Friends will learn to not mess with the Young Bucks (and Bobby Fish). Bobby Fish says they always divide and conquer Best Friends. Nick Jackson suggests an 8-man tag match against Best Friends on Rampage. Matt Jackson goes further, saying after he an his friends beat Best Friends, they’ll destroy Trent’s mom’s van, superkick Sue, and end her career. Cole then teases big surprise on next week’s Dynamite.
Match 2
Wardlow w/ Shawn Spears vs Matt Sydal
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Wardlow wins via pinfall after the Powerbomb Symphony
Time: 1:29
Match Thoughts
This was pretty much a squash. Wardlow looked very strong, mostly delivering powerbombs as he manhandled Sydal. Spears got on the mic and told Wardlow he should go ahead and pin Sydal after a couple of powerbombs, but he did another just for fun.
Ring Area
After the match, Shawn Spears enters the ring and hits a nearly unconscious Matt Sydal with multiple chair shots. Spears then gets a call from MJF, and he reports that MJF wants Wardlow to go pick up some champagne for his post-match victory tonight.
Video
A look at the emerging rivalry between Tay Conti and Penelope Ford. Conti challenges Ford to a submission match. Ford accepts.
Video
Malakai Black speaks about foundations and violence. The House of Black comes before everything, and The House always wins.
Match 3
Serena Deeb vs Hikaru Shida
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Hikaru Shida wins via pinfall with a jackknife cover (after Deeb ran headfirst into a turnbuckle she exposed earlier)
Time: 12:25
Match Thoughts
Great match. I’m really enjoying this rivalry. The action is always great and interesting, and the feud itself is mostly just built on two people disliking each other and wanting to prove they’re better than the other. Tonight’s match was the third in their rivalry, but hopefully the feud will continue in some form so it can be revisited sometime in the future.
Backstage
Tony Schiavone is with the Varsity Blonds. Griff Garrison is still pissed about Malakai Black spitting black mist in Julia Hart’s face. Garrison wants to break Black’s jaw, but Brian Pillman Jr. thinks Garrison is just playing into Black’s game. Pillman urges caution, but that just pisses Garrison off even more.
Video
A look at Hook and his first win in AEW last Friday on Rampage.
Backstage
Eddie Kingston is tired of 2point0 and Daniel Garcia. Kingston says, on Rampage, he will team with Santana, Ortiz, and the Lucha Brothers to take on 2point0, Daniel Garcia, and whomever they choose. Kingston especially wants to get his hands on Daniel Garcia.
Ring Area
Before the main event, MJF comes out and insults the crowd with incest and sex jokes. He then mocks CM Punk for not coming up with good local insults last week… MJF goes on to compare CM Punk to Ryback. MJF doesn’t care about young talent, because he’s the only young talent that matters. So tonight, he’s going to beat Dante Martin (possibly with a headlock takeover).
Match 4
Dynamite Diamond Ring Match
MJF vs Dante Martin
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: MJF wins via submission with Salt of the Earth (after Ricky Starks shows up and puts MJF’s foot on the rope while he was being pinned) and becomes a three-time Dynamite Diamond winner
Time: 12:33
Match Thoughts
Very good match. It seemed like it took a minute or two for them to get going with each other, but once they got into a rhythm this was a good match. Dante kept looking for big dives and flashy moves, while MJF kept trying to avoid them by walking away or taking a shortcut. They matched up well together, and there were a few fun rapid-fire sequences with multiple pins attempts late in the match. I can’t say I’m surprised with who won, but with the way it went down, it wasn’t a bad way for him to get the win.
Ring Area
After the match, FTR head to the ring to celebrate with MJF. When all three of them are in the ring, the lights in the building go out. When the lights come back on, Sting and Darby Allin are in the ring. Sting and Allin attack, but they get overwhelmed after MJF hits Sting with a low blow. After a few seconds of The Pinnacle beating up Sting and Allin, CM Punk runs to the ring with Sting’s bat. MJF and FTR flee as Punk hands Sting the black bat. CM Punk then says the six men out right now will face off in a 6-man tag match next week on Dynamite.
Show Impressions
This was a great show, mostly built off of the AEW World Title match. The Shida/Deeb match was also great, and the Dynamite Diamond match was fun as well.
Match of the Night
Bryan Danielson vs Adam Page
This is a match-of-the-year contender.