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COMPLETE AEW DYNAMITE BLOG

The Thanksgiving Eve Tradition continues from Dailey's Place in Jacksonville FL.  Your announcers are JR, Tony Schiavone and Excalibur for tonight's "Take a Drink Everytime We Say Winter is Coming" edition of AEW Dynamite.  We kick things off with the Mighty Dark Order.  It's been so long, PLEASE join them.  The Meat Man John Silver takes on Adam Hangman Page.  Very kind and malevolent of John Silver to offer Page a fist bump.  Page, in a breathtaking display of poor sportsmanship.  This is Page's first AEW match since losing the title tournament eliminator final to Kenny Omega.  Big night for the Dark Order, as Silver is getting the spotlight here and Anna Jay has probably the biggest match of her career as she challenges Hikaru Shida for the AEW World Women's Championship.

I find the rise of Silver interesting. The guy is showing a TON of personality on Being the Elite.  However, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind, your mind, anyone's mind as to who is actually winning here.  Silver will be competitive, I'm sure, but he'll lose.  His loose cannon gimmick now is as far away from the Dark Order's gimmick as it gets.  BTW is Brodie Lee even still a thing in AEW?  The announcers haven't brought him up, haven't referred to him, nothing.  I get the fact that he's injured but the character's actual presence isn't 100% necessary but there needs to be a real consistency as to whether or not he still runs Dark Order.

By the way, props to AEW for getting Dark finished in time for tonight's broadcast.

Great snap German by Silver.  Guy is strong, no doubt about it.  What the announcers HAVE brought up is that Page didn't bring a drink to the ring with him.  I'm glad he didn't as the Page the character needs to begin evolving from that.  Silver just met a buckshot lariat attempt with a hurancanrana into a brainbuster.  These 2 aren't holding back.  A second Buckshot Lariat and Page gets the pin.  Heck of a solid opener as the mighty Dark Order come out to confront Page.  Evil Uno offers praise to the Hangman.  Uno offers him a spot in the Dark Order.  Again, no mention of Brodie Lee at all.  Is Colt Cabana even a thing with these guys anymore?

Kenny Omega is with Alex Marvez.  I have to admit this presentation of Omega is the best I've seen in AEW so far.  Omega offers a gentleman's agreement to beat him next week with no garbage wrestling whatsoever.  He offers congratulations to Jon & Renee Moxley

"Winter is Coming" references- 1

More black and white video of Darby Allin committing arson on a car.  Luckily we're on a dirt road so a forest fire is unlikely.

Newly minted Powerhouse Hobbs with Taz is up next.  His opponent is the dreaded unnamed guy already in the ring (Lee Johnson).  Both these guys are real up and comers.  Obviously, Hobbs' star is on the rise right now.  Johnson strikes me as a worthwhile investment for AEW.  Hobbs is decked out in the orange and black.  Standing powerslam and Powerhouse Hobbs scores his first win of the Team Taz era.  Taz is in the ring with the FTW belt and sends Hobbs to the back.  That can't be good.  Taz isn't yielding the ring until someone in management comes out and officially recognizes the FTW Title.  Management keeps cutting Taz' mic until Cody Rhodes comes out.  Rhodes tells him he has the audacity to waste TV time on this. 

Cody sarcastically tells him that management is here and he will "run the request up the flagpole".  Situation get a LOT more personal when Cody asks Taz why his son is training with Cody and QT and not his own father.  Taz turns back the clock and slaps the Tazmission on Cody before the Gunn Club runs him off.  Taz' son (Hook) walks off with his father.

Marvez talks to Eddie Kingston about his best friend Penta leaving the Family.  I remain convinced 100% that Penta will end up back with Eddie and company.  Lo and behold, here comes Jon Moxley and he gets in Kingston's face.  Kingston flat out tells Mox that he didn't attack him.

Week #2 for Top Flight, as they take on TH2. I really enjoyed what the Martin Brothers brought last week.  They are signed now.  They're going to be fine.  Now, however, is not the time to push them to the moon.  It's time to remind us how good Angelico and Jack Evans are.  Top Flight are about my sons ages.  I have failed as a father.  I am also shocked by the lack of "Winter is Coming" references.  Last week it seemed as though they were pushing December 2nd as a PPV esque show.  Tonight, they've barely referenced the importance of next week's main event. I'd say this is poor promotion but the reality is that AEW has its rabid fanbase that will tune in.  I'm wondering why they're trying to grab that fringe, casual audience that may be checking them out for the first time. Last week they were very proactive.  We're a little over 45 minutes into tonight's episode and...nothing.

While we're in commercial, I do want to remind everyone that Cory Strode and I are absolutetly accepting your questions.  I can be reached at anthonypires@verizon.net.

Top Flight is earning their contract.  They sell, they're beliveable.  They're not just doing spots for the hell of doing spots.  Neither are Angelico and Evans.  Very solid match thus far, not the kind that'll set the internet on fire but the kind that will make you appreciate the two teams and (most importantly) WANT TO SEE THEM AGAIN.  JR doing a good job pointing out the little rookie mistakes Top Flight are making. TH2 scores the impressive win here.  Second match tonight where the winner looks great and the loser gained a TON of credibility with the performance.  Post match attack by TH2 brings out the Young Bucks.  Are they faces or heels?  I can't figure out where this is going (Midnight Express v Dynamic Dudes angle, maybe?)

"Winter is Coming" references- 1 (I can admit when I'm wrong)

 

Vickie Guerrero and Nyla Rose complain about Nepotism...because they...don't like Brandi?  And now Vickie is linking herself to Jade Cargill.  Great...

FTR and Tully Blanchard want their rematch for the AEW Tag Team Championship.  Tully is really coming into his own as a manager.

SCU, Daniels and Kazarian, take on Jake Hager and Chris Jericho.  I'm so happy to see Le Champion in the ring, as he can't be in Vegas, he can't be at a steak dinner.  We might, MIGHT, get the Jericho worth watching.

Before I proceed, I'd like to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Bob Ryder.  It is not hyperbole to suggest that you may not be enjoying this PWInsider community today if not for him.  Rest in Peace, sir.

The ENTIRETY of the Inner Circle are at ringside.  We are told that, in their combined 57 years experienced, this is the first time Jericho and Daniels have ever touched in a sanctioned match.  I'm pretty saddened to see what became of SCU here.  Kaz and Scorpio Sky were the first tag team champions, Daniels kind of settled into the player/coach role.  Pretty rapidly, the powers that be took away any and all aspects of SCU that gave them personality.  All things being equal (AEW money, I'm referring to) I honestly feel as though the trio would have been better off remaining in Ring of Honor. They were a top act, treated as such.  They would have absolutely been elevated in the company given the exodus at the end of 2018.  Sinclair Broadcasting proved they were willing to spend money on talent.  Speaking of Ring of Honor, I cannot recommend their weekly show more.

Thus far the match here is exactly what it should be.  Please don't infer by my earlier comment that SCU is relegated to squash city.  They could have an excellent match against the Dream Team of Anthony Pires and Cory Strode, managed by Krazy Joe Ryder.  Daniels wresltes like a 26 year old.  Kazarian looks and wrestles like a 26 year old. As expected, Hager and Jericho get the win.  Nice match and Scorpio Sky makes a cameo, saving his team from a post match beating.

BTW we're told that MJF will defend the Dynamite Diamond Ring next week in a battle royal.

The Miro and Kip Video Game Extravaganza is next.  Umm..Orange Cassidy turns off the monitor and we get a BAD looking brawl with Miro and Kip and Best Friends.  It's been an enjoyable night so far.  It's not going to be gold, folks.

"Winter is Coming" References- 2

Contract signing, Take 2.  Tony Schiavone brings out the challenger. I really like the obnoxiousness that his entrance has become. FINALLY a Kenny Omega I can get behind.  Confession: I rewound the entrance and watched it twice.  

Moxley with an assault on Omega in full silhouette. apparently it was Omega who made the attack on Moxley.  Paradigm Shift on the belt.  No, I was wrong.  Mox blames Omega for putting a hit on him.  Moxley wants the real Kenny Omega next week.  Moxley puts pen to paper.  I'm begging AEW to put this match on early next week. Give these two the time they need.

"Winter is Coming" References-3

 

Frankie Kazarian vs. Chris Jericho next week.

Very nice video package leading to tonight's AEW Women's Title match.  Interesting that Anna Jay comes out with Tay Conti and not the mighty Dark Order.  Shida's presentation is 100% star.  AEW has had way more downs than ups with the women's division in their short history, but they absolutely nailed it with Shida as champion. Here comes Silver, 5 and 10 to offer moral support.

Shida's specialty has been taking opposition up to her level.  See the great matches she's had with Britt Baker and Penelope Ford as proof.  Jay has main event looks and presence.  She's going to be a major star.  Personally I'm rooting for her, but realistically Shida is 1 or 1A as far as the best woman wrester in North America (Bayley and Thunder Rosa are in that conversation, don't @ me).  JR just made a comment that I 100% agree with: Anna Jay looks VERY comfortable in there.  She's in a situation over her head.  BRILLIANT piece of heel work.  Jay wanted Conti to hand her a chair.  Conti wouldn't do it and the ref got distracted.  Silver ran down and gave Jay a kendo stick and she took out Shida's knee.

Shida is cemented her rep here.  This is good stuff.  Shida gets the win with the running knee.  Jay had no business going 30 minutes here, so they kept it short and fast paced.

I'm not going to lie, I'm enjoying the heck out of this show tonight. 

Main Event time, Butcher and Blade v. Pac and Rey Fenix with the incomprable Eddie Kingston on commentary.  Full on brawl to kick things off. Penta is at ringside.  Again, I'll admit to being wrong but Penta's going to turn soon and rejoin Eddie.  There's no way one argue the skillset of these 4, I'm not convinced that Butcher and Blade are main event quality as of yet.  I say they need some really solid wins, not even necessarily the titles, to get to this level.  For what this is, a grudge match where they act as proxies for a bigger star, I completely understand.  

Kingston antagonizing the announce crew, especially Tony, is a real highlight.  How this guy wasn't a huge star 10 years ago, I'll never know.  Butcher looked like he beheaded Pac, that was painful.  This is a solid match, a heck of a fun brawl.  Eddie Kingston's interference leads to a big win for Butcher and Blade.  They needed this win in a bigtime way and they got it.  Penta's getting beat down so the turn ain't tonight.  The Family is laying into the Death Triangle big time but Lance Archer (?) makes the save. JR summed it up nicely, "how'd he get attached to this situation".  Definitely a surprise ending.

Other than the 90 second Miro and Kip Sabian skit, this was one enjoyable show.  Thanks for reading.  Cory and I will be up later tonight with the post game party

WOAH!  Here comes Abadon.  Shida seems terrified as Abadon makes her presence felt. 

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