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It is Wednesday, and AEW is in the Greensboro Colosseum in Greensboro North Carolina and it's time for the Holiday Bash edition of Dynamite. Our commentary team is Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Taz.
Adam Cole vs Orange Cassidy
The announcers take some time to reap the feud as well as to tell new viewers that Orange Cassidy's looks are deceiving as compared to his skill.
Cassidy starts with some hands in pockets shenanigans and them they trade headlock takeovers. They keep up with trading grappling holds, each doing what they other did. Cassidy doesn't work his lazy gimmick as much as he normally does, but I did like how he tried to work to the ropes when in an arm bar to annoy Cole. Cassidy gets a couple of quick rolls up until Cole hits a back stabber.
As they keep working, this is a traditional match with Cassidy doing a few things here and there for his character, and it works for the match, since they have build this as a bitter feud. As Cassidy is getting the upper hand the Bucks come out in annoying Cxhristmas gear, so the Best Friends show up to event the odds as Cassidy leaps onto first Brandon Cutler and then the Bucks. This allows Cole to take control and toss him into the steel step.
Cole pulls down his knee pad for the Boom, but Cassidy dodges as we go to the small screen.
When we get back to full screen, Cassidy is barely up and throw weak punches and picks, infuriating Cole, which allows Cassidy to trick him and Cassidy gets a flurry of offense, which is how it should be used. Cole reverses a DDT into a shoulder breaker, and then Cassidy reverses a move into a Stundog millionaire. The match goes at warp speed after this with both guys going for finishing movesin the opposite of the match before the break.
Cassidy goes to the top, puts on sunglasses and puts his hands in his pockets, and when he leaps, it backfires. Cole goes for the Panama Sunrise, and covers when it hits for a two count. Cole goes for the Boom, and Cassidy slumps down to dodge it and then hits the Beach Break for a two count.
Bobby Fish distracts the ref after running to ringside, and Kyle O'Reilly sneaks into the ring and nails Cassidy. Cole then runs in and picks the bones to get the pin after hitting the Boom.
Your winner: Adam Cole
Cole and O'Reilly face off after Cole pulls Kyle off of Cassidy. The Best Friends come into the ring,m and get taken out by the former Undisputed Era members (that the crowd chants for them). As they stand in the ring, the Young Bucks come to the ring and have questions about this. Which team is Cole with?
Cole leaves the ring and they all go to the back.
We get a recap of last week's amazing Adam Page vs Bryan Danielson Championship match from last week, and they will have a rematch on the first TBS show in two weeks. If you haven't seen last week's match, make it a mission to go see it. A fantastic match that told a great story on top of having top notch wrestling.
Tony Schiavone is in the ring to interview Adam Page. Tony says that Adam would have won the match if it went a few more minutes. Page says after 60 minutes, he was handed back his championship. He said that after his match he felt less like a champion than even and all he felt was disappointed. This bring out Bryan Danielson. Bryan calls him an entitle millennial cowboy and mocks him for it. He says the fans should be disappointed because HE should be champion.
Bryan makes a series of excuses and that he won't wrestle this week or next week, and not until January 5th. Bryan says that next time,. They will have judges to decide if they go to a time limit draw.
Page says that Bryan took him to deep water and he showed he could swim. He says to get some old guys some paydays, and he has worked too hard for someone to tell him he's a B plus player. And in two weeks, he will beat Bryan in less than an hour.
MJF is in the back with the rest of the Pinnacle. He runs down Wardlow for not being there to protect him last week. MJF then turns to the camera and says it's really Punk's fault. He then runs down Punk and he will retire CM Punk. Dax then runs down Punk and we get a rundown of tonight's card.
The promo itself was average, but Wardlow looking irritated and bored the whole time was fantastic. When they finally pull the trigger on him, it had better he worth it. I think they giving him a bunch of squashes lately has been a good building block for that as well, reminding us that while he is subservient to MJF, he's a monster. And right now, AEW doesn't have a monster dominating things.
Wardlow vs Captain Shawn Dean
Shawn Dean is already in the ring and has mostly been on Dark, so we know how this goes.
4 Power bombs and a foot on the chest later, Wardlow wins
Your winner: Wardlow
Shawn Spears has told Wardlow to stop after the third power bomb, but he still comes in and nails Dean with a chair.
We get a nice video package building to Sammy Guevara vs Cody Rhodes on Christmas Rampage for the TNT title.
Dan Lambert is up in the rafters where he mocks the crowd and talks about leadership. He then builds up the Men of the Year about how unfair it is that they don't have any title matches because Tony Khan plays favorites. He then says that he has been asked to get the fans to cheer for Cody Rhodes. His only concern is that one of the Men of the Year gets the next match for the TNT Title.
Tony is backstage with Britt Baker, Rebel and Jamie Hayter. Tony asks her about Riho, and she talks about how much better than Riho she is, and that that she has built the women's division. Again, Jamie does not take part in the DMD.
Tony is backstage with Britt Baker, Rebel and Jamie Hayter. Tony asks her about Riho, and she talks about how much better than Riho she is, and that that she has built the women's division. Again, Jamie does not take part in the DMD. Also, a small thing, but when Baker talks about how great she is, Rebel will mouth “And me.” The little touches like this are something that builds to characters for AEW.
As the commercials run, I would like to remind everyone that I have no interest is cartoon bear bathroom wiping habits as I see an ad for the second time about how their habits or so bad their behinds itch.
We have a touching tribute to Owen Hart to start building to the Owen Hart tournament. I like that they are going to take time to let the younger audience know who he is. A bunch of wrestlers tell their stories about Owen.
Nyla Rose vs. Ruby Soho in the TBS Tournament
Nyla attacks before the bell and stomps her down, traps her arms in her jacket and keep beating her down. Ruby frees herself and hits a series of strikes and kick and that Nyla shrugs off. After more offense from Nyla, Ruby traps her arm and gets in some attacks that score on Nyla.
Nyla recovers quickly and after a few more strikes is tosses from the ring and Nyla starts beating her down outside the ring. Ruby hits a series of head butts and goes to charge into Nyla, but Vickie Guerrero pulls Nyla out of the way and Ruby goes into the steel steps as we go picture in picture.
When they return to full screen, Ruby is trying a series of clotheslines and kicks on Nyla. Ruby hit the slingshot DDT off the ropes for a two count. They go to the outside and Nyla grabs a chair. Ruby is able to hit a drop kick off the apron into the chair, knocking Nyla for a loop. Ruby rolls Nyla into the ring and goes to the top. Vickie climbs up with her and pushes her off onto the top rope. Nyla hits the flying knee drop onto Ruby for a two count.
Ruby reverses a pickup and locks on a dragon sleeper, and motions for Vickie to distract the ref. Ruby lets go of the hold and nails Vickie. This allows Nyla to get a beast bomb for a two count. Nyla pulls Ruby to the turnbuckle with her injured arm, but Ruby is able to hit the No Future and cover Nyla Rose for the three count.
Your winner and moving to the TBS Tournament finals: Ruby Soho
We do get Taz singing Ruby's theme, but still, no dancing Taz, which si what I wanted for Christmas.
We get a recap of the rivalry between Serena Deeb and Hikaru Shida. Deeb says it will go on and on until her work is done. AND I AM FINE WITH THAT.
By the way, another fast paced show, and I have liked every match so far.
The lights go out because it's time for:
Malakai Black vs Griff Garrison
Griff runs in hot to attack Black and runs right into a round house kick. Black rolls out of the ring to menace Brian Pillman Jr. That gives Griff a chance to leap onto Black outside the ring, and Griff rolls him into the ring and starts a strong attack, but Black is able to turn the tables and takes down Griff with kicks and strikes with Griff offering no defense.
Griff is able to get a kick and a rolling elbow, but Griff doesn't follow up and Black drops him with a strike. Black hits an ankle pick, locks in the single leg crab and Griff taps out.
Your winner: Malakai Black
Pillman comes in to check on Griff, and Black takes him out with a spin kick.
Backstage, Matt Hardy talks about how Jurassic Express is the top contender for the tag team title, and Matt wants Private Party to be the top contender, and on Christmas, they will pound Jungle Boy's ass.
PHRASING.
Christian Cage says that they will not pound Jungle Boy's ass...
PHRASING!!!
...and works in a plug for the new Jurassic Express t-shirt.
We then get a rundown of the cards for the next few shows. They announce when Jim Ross is coming back, and Taz keeps talking about how he's out and it's not fair. Good stuff
30 minutes left in the show and we've got out main event starting.
MJF and FTR vs CM Punk, Sting, and Darby Allin
Punk has Sting-like face paint on and scorpion tights on. Sting has Punk;s symbols on his face paint. Very cool.
Punk and MJF are going to start off the match, but MJF tags in Dax before they can hook uyp.
Dax hits a series of headlock take overs and then run the ropes.
Cash tags in and Punk tags in Darby
They work arm drags on each other util Cash tags in MJF
Darby tags in Punk and MJF bails and they run around the ring. Mjf tags into the ring and tags in Cash
They trade wristlocks and Sting is tagged in
Sting keeps the wristlock and yanks Cash down over and over and goes to the Scorpion Death Lock and Cash bails
Cash returns to the ring and they have a tug of war over tagging out. Sting tags Punk and Cash tags MJF and they start chasing around the ring and then up through the crowd.
MJF makes it to the ring first and tags in Dax. I like this bit.
MJF and FTR are on the floor and Darby leaps onto them as we go picture in picture
When they go back to full screen, Darby tries to escape, but they drop him on the apron and then hit a suplex on the floor leaving him hurt.
Dax tags in and works over Darby in the middle of the ring
MJF tags in and takes over. He runs over a spits water at Punk, which draws him in and allows FTR to keep working on Darby.
Dax tags in and they keep Darby in their corner for quick tags.
Darby is able to get a scoop and slam on Cash
Darby tags in Sting who cleans house
Sting may wrestle in a t-shirt now, but he still looks amazing when he does his comeback moves.
Sting locks in the scorpion death luck and while Cash distract the ref, MJF comes in and attacks Sting.
Dax gets a two count on Sting as we go picture in picture
When they come back to full screen Sting and Cash hit a double clothesline and both are down.
Dax is tagged in and when he goes for a splash, Sting catches him and slams him.
MJF is tagged and and Sting slams him for the “both men struggle to their corner” bit.
MJF gets up and Sting gets up next under MJF, nailing MJF in the yam bag.
Punk is tagged in and MJF rolls out and Punk takes out both members of FTR
Still keeping Punk away from MJF. I LOVE IT.
Punk motions that Cash is about to go to sleep,.
Punk picks up Cash, and Dax tags in and they double team him. He gets a neck breaker on Dax for a two count
MJF is hiding
Punk goes to the top and Cash tries to stop him, but Punk kicks him away. Dax is able to get up and nail Punk
Everyone but Darby has had a hot tag to clean house.
Punk is suplexed off the top and Cash leaps onto Pun k from another corner for a two count
Something happened at the timekeeper's table we didn't see between Darby and Cash
MJF is hiding behind the table
Punk and Dax trade blows in the middle of the ring
Punk goes for the GTS, but Dax escapes and Cash is in the ring for the Big Rig
Sting breaks up the pin and MJF sneaks into the ring, kicks Sting in the belly and hits a DDT
MJF celebrates but Sting has popped up behind him.
Sting tosses MJF into FTR on the floor
Sting goes to the top and leaps onto all three.
STING IS OVER 60, EVERYONE.
Sting picks up MJF, tosses him into the ring and tags in Punk.
Punk hits the GTS on Dax, who shoved MJF out of the way, Sting hits the Scorpion Death Drop on him, and then Darby hits the Coffin Drop and MJF is pinned for the three count.
Your winners: CM Punk, Sting and Darby Allin
The ending was a mess with no one being the legal man, and I hope FTR brings that up next week, but a fun match and MJF kept away from Punk the entire match. MJF said that P8unk was running from him the whole night when he gets to the commentary table.
And we are desperately out of time!
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