AEW Dynamite Live 12/23/20
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AEW Starts Right After NBA Game Ends, Approximatly Around 10PM ET
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AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights
- Sana Ejaz Khan
- Credit: All Elite Wrestling
AEW delivered a special Holiday Bash episode of Dynamite on Wednesday night after NBA action. Tag team action and a special interview featuring "The Icon" Sting headlined the show and sought to continue the momentous run the company had been on to end 2020.
Was it successful?
What storyline developments, character advancements and match outcomes will help shape the company entering the new year?
Find out with this recap of the December 23 TNT broadcast.
Top Flight vs. Inner Circle
Credit: All Elite Wrestling
AEW wasted little time trotting out the big guns to kick off Wednesday's show as "Le Champion" Chris Jericho partnered with Inner Circle teammate MJF to battle the team of Dante and Darius Martin, Top Flight.
The up-and-coming babyface tandem dominated early, frustrating the heels until MJF and Jericho downed Dante and worked him over, all while taunting his brother.
Darius tagged in, unleashing a flurry of offense on the heels that had MJF reeling. Dante scored a near-fall off a roll-up, but The Salt of the Earth delivered a powerbomb, followed by a Lionsault from Jericho, for a close two-count.
Darius dropped his opponents with a double DDT and appeared to be rolling after sending Jericho into the timekeeper's position, only to be brought down face-first into the ring apron. MJF capitalized, delivering the Heatseeker piledriver for the pinfall victory.
Jake Hager grabbed a microphone after the match, taking exception to Wardlow's absence of late. He said every member of The Inner Circle has done his job except for him. After getting it cleared with Tony Khan, Hager revealed he will battle Wardlow on next week's show.
Result
Jericho and MJF defeated Top Flight
Grade
C+
Analysis
The action here was fast, furious and never gave the audience a chance to become disinterested. Jericho and MJF worked well together, but it was Top Flight that rose to the occasion and really shined in this opening contest.
Everyone worked hard, the booking was solid and the result was another hard-fought win for an Inner Circle that is still in flux following the addition of MJF.
Hager's challenge to Wardlow sets up further dissension. It will be interesting to see if this is indeed where Sammy Guevara strikes out against Jericho and Co. for their acceptance of young Maxwell Jacob Friedman against his better judgment.
Tony Schiavone Interviewed Sting
Credit: All Elite Wrestling
Sting joined Tony Schiavone for an interview the company has seemingly been advertising for three weeks now.
Sting recalled his introduction to the main event scene after a chance encounter with Dusty Rhodes and how seeing his son, Cody, made him want to be a part of AEW.
Team Taz interrupted the promo.
Taz said he was tired of the nostalgia of Schiavone's "It's STIIIIIING" call, while Ricky Starks threatened The Icon would be hurt if he kept sticking his nose in their business. The faction threatened to hit the ring when the arena darkened.
When the lights came back on, Darby Allin stood side-by-side with Sting.
Team Taz "took the high road" and left as vigilantes both old and young exchanged a look of understanding.
Grade
A
Analysis
Sting absolutely should be utilized to help legitimize Darby Allin as this generation's face-painted icon.
Allin has already broken out, and though he has already shared the ring with Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley and Cody Rhodes, he most certainly could use the boost in credibility and legitimacy that appearing in a high-profile program with one of the greatest stars in wrestling history provides.
Taz and his team continue to be a solid heel act, and every second Starks gets to prove himself as a personality is best for the long-term future of the company.
A solid segment that never overstayed its welcome. It will be imperative for things to move forward next week because the promo segments that keep things status quo can only continue for so long before they become repetitive.
Jurassic Express vs. The Dark Order
Credit: All Elite Wrestling
Jurassic Express' Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt battled The Dark Order's Colt Cabana, Alan "5" Angels and Pres10 Vance in a big Six-Man Tag Team match.
The babyfaces started red-hot, outwrestling the opposition with their unique offense. Cabana ran interference to halt the opposition's momentum, allowing Vance to deliver a slingshot release German suplex to Jungle Boy and seize control for his team.
Luchasaurus tagged into the match, unleashing an onslaught on the opposition slowed only by a perfectly timed bit of interference that prevented a pinfall. At ringside, Cabana sent Luchasaurus into the ring post and the heels appeared on their way to victory.
Stunt sent Angels into his partners, knocking Vance and Cabana off the apron. Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy put Angels down with an assisted powerbomb for the win.
A post-match promo was interrupted by Tully Blanchard and FTR. The Hall of Famer issued a challenge for January 6. "We're on a quest to get those championships back and we're not going to allow dinosaurs to hold us back," Blanchard warned. He ended by threatening a flashback to the '80s if Stunt interfered.
Result
Jurassic Express defeated The Dark Order
Grade
C+
Analysis
Like most tag team matches in AEW, this was super energetic and allowed all involved to get their stuff in. The babyfaces starred as they prepare for their showdown with FTR in the new year, while the commentary did a fine enough job of putting Cabana, Vance and Angels over.
It is disappointing, though, to see Dark Order in its current state given how hot it was with Mr. Brodie Lee leading it just a few months ago. Yes, his unfortunate ankle injury halted the group's momentum, but AEW has done little to nothing to keep it a dangerous threat to the roster since.
No matter how many times it tries to recruit Dustin Rhodes or Hangman Page.
Pac vs. The Butcher
Credit: All Elite Wrestling
Alex Marvez caught up with Kenny Omega and Don Callis at an undisclosed location. The AEW World champion criticized Rey Fenix for his injury history and threatened to send him back to Impact Wrestling or AAA. "You get injured, I get titles."
The promo gave way to Fenix's Death Triangle teammate, "The Bastard" Pac, battling The Butcher in singles competition. The Blade and The Bunny supported Butcher from ringside, while Penta El Zero M backed up Pac. Eddie Kingston joined Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross and Excalibur on commentary.
The big man overpowered Pac and worked him over, somewhat surprisingly dominating the action. Butcher grounded Pac, scoring a picture-perfect gut-wrench suplex during a commercial timeout. A beautiful powerbomb earned Butcher a two-count, igniting frustration within the bassist that threatened to take his focus off his opponent.
Kingston rose from the commentary position and was greeted by Lance Archer, providing a distraction that allowed Pac to recover and rock Butcher with a kick. The Black Arrow followed and Pac scored the win. Archer engaged in a tense staredown with Pac to end the segment.
Result
Pac defeated Butcher
Grade
C+
Analysis
The Butcher might be the single most improved wrestler of the last year. He is more confident and faster than he was when he first arrived in the company.
His work is crisp, his power-based arsenal grows with every passing match. With The Blade, he has established an upward trajectory that should have fans of tag team wrestling excited about their future.
Pac winning was the right call as he remains a star in the upper echelon of AEW, and the staredown with Archer continued to tease a loose alliance as they confront an eventual war with Kingston and company.
Kip Sabian, Penelope Ford and Miro Announce the Wedding Date
Credit: All Elite Wrestling
Tony Schiavone joined Miro, Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford for the announcement of the latter's wedding date.
After teasing an appearance by Best Friends, Miro threw to footage from out behind the arena, where an ambulance took a clearly injured Trent away.
Afterward, the heels revealed the wedding will take place February 3 at Beach Break.
Grade
C+
Analysis
This was a short, sweet segment that added a layer to the rivalry between Miro, Sabian and Best Friends by taking Trent out of the equation with an injury while setting up a grand wrestling wedding for the big Beach Break show.
It accomplished what it set out to, and for something as short as it was, one could not ask for more.
Hikaru Shida vs. Alex Gracia
Credit: All Elite Wrestling
AEW Women's champion Hikaru Shida shook off a cheap shot and attempted attack by Abadon in time to battle Alex Gracia in non-title action.
Shida dominated the action before becoming distracted by her top contender. She attacked Abadon, dragging her over the guardrail and pummeling her. She returned to the ring in time to defeat Gracia before returning her attention to Abadon on the floor.
The dangerous potential challenger rose from unconsciousness and attacked Shida, culminating with a sickening bite that broke skin on the champion's neck.
Result
Shida defeated Gracia
Grade
B
Analysis
The match itself was largely a glorified squash but still featured flashes from Gracia that suggest, with a bit more seasoning, she could very well be a key cog in the future of AEW's women's division.
This was all about Abadon terrorizing Shida and being presented as a genuine threat to the title. In that regard, it worked extremely well.
Abadon appears impervious to pain and has clearly struck a nerve with Shida, genuinely threatening her. Throw in the bite, a mark of the demon if you will, and you have a mental hurdle the champion will have to overcome if she wishes to remain that way.
AEW World Tag Team Championship Match: The Young Bucks vs. The Acclaimed
Credit: All Elite Wrestling
The brash, arrogant, cocky and supremely talented young duo of Anthony Bowens and Max Caster challenged AEW Tag Team champions The Young Bucks in the night's main event.
Early on, they looked like a largely inexperienced team struggling to find their footing as Matt and Nick Jackson outclassed and outwrestled them. The Acclaimed finally wrested control of the bout away from its opponents, dropping Nick back-first on the ring apron to do so.
Back from the commercial break, the challengers continued their success, working over Nick. The dynamic brother fought from underneath and made the hot tag to Matt, who exploded into the match and dropped the challengers with a double DDT.
The Bucks dominated late until Caster sent Matt over the barricade and into the stands. A superplex into a crossbody by Bowens led to a near-fall broken up with no time to spare by Matt.
A ref bump occurred and Bowens rocked Nick with a boom box to the face. A second referee arrived and counted two before Nick kicked out. Matt powerbombed Bowens through a table, and back inside, the champs delivered the BTE Trigger for the win.
Result
The Young Bucks defeated The Acclaimed
Grade
B
Analysis
It cannot be understated how much Matt and Nick Jackson took their young opponents and dragged them up to their level.
While The Acclaimed has shown flashes of potential, it was clear last week against SCU that Bowens and Caster were not at the level of Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian, and they definitely are not at the level of the Bucks.
Still, despite some timing weaknesses and a general understanding of what to work in when, they are clearly learning on the job. There is no better team to be shown them the ropes than The Young Bucks.
An energetic, fun match that Matt and Nick very likely could have worked in their sleep, it was a suitable main event to a show that was just that: fun and energetic.
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