AEW Dynamite
Episode 63
Winter is Coming
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: December 2, 2020
Event Date: December 2, 2020
(aired live on TNT & the FITE app)
City: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place
Commentary: Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Don Callis (5)
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Intro Video
“Dynamite” by No One Hero
Match 1
Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal
(outside referees: Rick Knox, Bryce Remsburg, Aubrey Edwards, Mike Posey)
Result: Orange Cassidy & MJF win and will face each other next week for the Dynamite Diamond Ring
Time: 12:21
| Elimnation Order | Wrestler | Time Eliminated | Eliminated By | Total Eliminations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isiah Kassidy | 0:58 | Matt Hardy | 0 |
| 2 | Serpentico | 1:57 | Adam Page | 0 |
| 3 | Luther | 2:15 | John Silver, Alex Reynolds | 0 |
| 4 | Matt Sydal | 3:11 | Shawn Spears | 0 |
| 5 | Shawn Spears | 3:35 | Scorpio Sky | 1 |
| 6 | Scorpio Sky | 4:36 | Wardlow | 1 |
| 7 | Alex Reynolds | 5:06 | Matt Hardy, John Silver | 1 |
| 8 | John Silver | 5:27 | Marq Quen, Matt Hardy | 2 |
| 9 | Adam Page | 6:18 | Matt Hardy | 1 |
| 10 | Kip Sabian | 6:34 | Orange Cassidy | 0 |
| 11 | Lee Johnson | 7:40 | Miro | 0 |
| 12 | Marq Quen | 8:20 | Miro | 1 |
| 13 | Matt Hardy | 8:24 | Miro | 4 |
| 14 | Joey Janela | 8:29 | Miro | 0 |
| 15 | Miro | 10:14 | Wardlow, MJF, Sammy Guevara | 4 |
| 16 | Sammy Guevara | 11:11 | MJF | 1 |
| 17 | Jungle Boy | 11:11 | MJF | 0 |
| 18 | Wardlow | 12:21 | Orange Cassidy | 2 |
| Winner | MJF | 3 | ||
| Winner | Orange Cassidy | 2 |
Match Thoughts
This was fun. They touched on a lot more stories than I thought they would. Adam Page was aided by the Dark Order, Matt Hardy kind of tuned on Private Party early in the match, Spears got revenge on Sydal from the Casino Battle Royal, Scorpio Sky got some revenge on Spears, Miro destroyed a bunch of guys, and of course the rift between MJF and Sammy Guevara was a focus throughout the match. The eliminations happened fairly quickly, so the pace was always high. The actual finish of the match was not a surprise at all (and was telegraphed well in advance by one of the guys involved), but I still enjoyed the match overall.
Ring Area
After the match, Best Friends come out and join Orange Cassidy. Miro, Kip Sabian, and Penelope Ford come out as well, and Miro wants to get his hands on Best Friends. Referees manage to hold Miro back.
Match 2
Frankie Kazarian vs “The Demo God” “Le Champion” Chris Jericho w/ Jake Hager, Ortiz
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Chris Jericho wins via pinfall after the Judas Effect
Time: 11:01
Match Thoughts
Very good match. This was an entertaining match that got somewhat overshadowed by the shenanigans in the final few minutes. For most of the match, Kazarian was having to deal with Jericho with the looming threat of interference from Hager or Ortiz. Kazarian did well, and he had advantages throughout the fight. This could have been a really good match for Kazarian to move up the card a bit in singles competition, but the final segment of the match kind of undercut that idea. Kazarian put Jericho in a Boston crab, and that prompted Ortiz to threaten to attack Kazarian. Hager wisely restrained Ortiz, but then MJF came out to the stage, and he was carrying a towel. MJF was thinking about throwing in the towel with Jericho in Kazarian’s submission (echoing the time MJF threw in the towel to cost Cody a match before he turned against his former friend), but Sammy Guevara came out to argue with MJF. Amid all the chaos around the ring, the match itself got a little chaotic and Kazarian just ran into Jericho’s Judas Effect. The finish felt like an afterthought to the drama of the Inner Circe, which is a bit of a shame in my opinion.
Ring Area
After the match, Guevara shoves MJF. MJF shoves back, and Wardlow and Hager square off against each other. Jericho stops everyone by getting on the mic and making an ultimatum. Everyone has seven days to figure out how to work together, or the Inner Circle will break up.
Backstage
Alex Marvez welcomes the Young Bucks. Next week, the Young Bucks will face The Hybrid2, and if Angelico and Jack Evans can beat the champs, then they’ll get a title shot. The Acclaimed (Max Caster and Anthony Bowens) interrupt, and Max raps about the Young Bucks’ book. It’s all a setup, because The Hybrid2 attack Nick and Matt from behind. After a few seconds, Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian run up to chase The Acclaimed and The Hybrid2 away.
Match 3
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. w/ Rebel (not Reba) vs “Legit” Leyla Hirsch
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Britt Baker wins via submission with Lockjaw
Time: 8:45
Match Thoughts
Good match. It definitely felt like Baker was in control of most of this match. Hirsch had some nice sequences here and there, and I really enjoyed the way she kept going after the cross arm-breaker late in the match, but Baker was always able to reclaim the dominant position in the match pretty quickly. I think both women benefited from the match. Hirsch got some more exposure on Dynamite with a good performance, and Baker looked strong in a match with very few shenanigans.
Ring Area
Immediately after the match is over, Thunder Rosa appears and attacks Britt Baker. Referees have to come out and separate them as Baker and Rosa continue to swing at each other. Rebel tries to get in some cheap shots on Rosa as she’s being held back, so Hirsch grabs Rebel from behind and slams her. The commotion allows Rosa and Baker to get free, and they start hitting each other again. Jerry Lynn and BJ Whitmer run out to join the referees in trying to regain control as the show moves on.
Video
A look at how tonight’s tag match between Team Taz and Cody Rhodes & Darby Allin came together.
Match 4
Darby Allin (TNT Champ) & Cody Rhodes w/ Arn Anderson vs “Absolute” Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs w/ Taz
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Darby Allin pins Ricky Starks after the Coffin Drop
Time: 11:23
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Rhodes and Allin isolated Starks for quite a while from the start of the match, but Hobbs was able to give the math a bit of a reset once he was finally able to get into the action. Hobbs was dominant, but he also wasn’t legal in the match very often. Starks struggled against the team of Rhodes and Allin who had some nice chemistry as a tandem. This was a fun match, and I’d like to see more from any and all of these guys against each other.
Ring Area
After the match, Powerhouse Hobbs attacks Darby Allin. Arn Anderson gets into the ring to stop Hobbs, but the numbers of Team Taz are too much for him. Hobbs holds Anderson while Starks attacks The Enforcer. Anderson goes down, and Dustin Rhodes runs out. Dustin does well to fight off Hobbs and Starks, but Brian Cage runs out next. Cage slams Dustin, and Team Taz has control of the ring. Cody gets slammed, but before Hobbs can attack him with the FTW Title belt, the lights go out.
A video plays, and winter arrives. As snow falls, Sting comes out and walks to the ring.
Team Taz quietly exits the ring as Sting pulls out his bat and approaches. With the music still playing, Sting slowly walks over to Arn Anderson, Dustin Rhodes, and Cody Rhodes, giveing each of them a look. Sting then walks over to Darby Allin. Sting looks at both sides of Allin’s face, unpainted and painted, then he turns to the fans in attendance. After a couple of shouts, Sting leaves the ring as the snow continues to fall.
Backstage
Alex Marvez welcomes Hikaru Shida. Shida isn’t afraid of someone doing zombie cosplay. Then she hears a noise, gets scared, and walks away quickly.
Backstage
Earlier today, Jon Moxley said tonight feels special. He and Omega have been on a collision course for their entire careers. They’re the two best wrestlers in the world, and everything is on the line. There’s just one thing left to do…
Match 5
AEW World Title Match
Kenny Omega vs Jon Moxley (AEW World Champ)
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Kenny Omega wins via pinfall after the One-Winged Angel (after hitting Moxley in the head with a microphone and a bunch of knee strikes)
Time: 28:27
Match Thoughts
Great match. There was a fair amount of ringside brawling in the first part of the match, but most of the action did take place in the ring. I don’t think it was quite the “gentleman’s agreement” that Omega suggested for a technical wrestling match, but that was part of the point. Whenever Moxley wanted to strikes, Omega matched him. When Omega started to use his speed, Moxley slowed him down. The match went on like this with the momentum shifting back and forth, and that kept the tension high. Big moves were also hit somewhat early in the match, though knowing that there was a lot of time left in the show, it was clear that those earlier moves wouldn’t end the match. That assurance started to go away as the match went longer and some shenanigans started to happen.
Omega was slammed into some heaters at ringside late in the match, and the referee called the ringisde doctor over to check him out. That was the start of the final segment of the match. Don Callis was doing commentary, and he came over to check on Omega. Callis ended up staying at ringside after Moxley pulled Omega back into the ring to continue the match, and Callis played a role in the finish of the match. Ican’t say it was exactly how I wanted this match to end, but I was still very entertained by it. It definitely sets up a lot of intrigue for what’s to come, and it could possibly be setting up a huge rematch at Revolution.
Show Impressions
This was a very good show. The focus was definitely centered on the main event, and it delivered in a way I didn’t expect. Plus, seeing Sting was a fantastic moment. The undercard matches were entertaining as well, and they filled up most of the rest of the show. The show was almost all wrestling with no long talking segments, and I like that. This was probably the first real step towards Revolution, and it felt important in that way.
Match of the Night
Jon Moxley vs Kenny Omega
I expect they’ll have a rematch that might top this one, but I still enjoyed this very much. There was a fair amount of strong style going on here, and I appreciate that very much.