In this WrestleTalk News, more details on Cody and Brandi leaving AEW, another major
surprise planned for WrestleMania, Oli’s review of last night’s Dynamite, and more.
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There’s a lot happening.
Like a lot.
It’s been two days since the Cody news broke and I’ve still not processed it.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Cody and Brandi Rhodes would be leaving AEW effective
immediately.
Everyone’s natural reaction was wait WHAT?
And since then numerous reports have emerged on details surrounding this decision.
There were two WrestleTalk News videos put out yesterday discussing exactly that, so
go check those out for the full details.
There’s been even more reports to add to the pile, as Sports Illustrated is reporting
that one of the reasons things fell apart between Cody and Tony Khan in AEW was because
of Tony Khan taking over the booking of the show.
This adds to a previous report stating that a Forbes video diving into Tony Khan’s backstory
where he described himself as the booker, the GM etc of AEW upset Cody.
The reason for this upsetting Cody is because he saw it as a “chance to pay homage to
his father [Dusty Rhodes] as a booker while also further cementing his own legacy.
Losing that opportunity in AEW hurt Rhodes more than any loss he suffered in the ring.”
Which makes sense considering Cody wanting to honour his father’s legacy has been a
top priority for him, constantly going back and forth with WWE in trademark battles trying
to get the rights to his father’s creations.
But as previous reports have stated, he may be heading back to the place that owns those
trademarked terms in WWE, with Barrasso speculating Cody could start filming vignettes in the
Performance Center as early as this weekend.
Interestingly though, his wife Brandi may not be joining him.
According to the same Sports Illustrated report by Justin Barrasso, Brandi is “not expected
to join her husband in WWE”.
This doesn’t mean her wrestling career is over of course, as that’s an avenue she
reportedly still wants to pursue, but she seemingly won’t be doing that in WWE.
Another report that dropped from Wade Keller on PWTorch indicated that Brandi Rhodes was
disliked backstage in AEW, however several AEW alumni have come out to speak against
this report.
Nyla Rose tweeted to say: “This is just flat out some bulls***.
Brandi was liked by many people backstage including myself.
Is she a polarizing character, for sure… but don’t work yourself into a shoot.”
While Red Velvet chimed in to say: “@TheBrandiRhodes is very professional and private.
Just because she’s not out there involved in everyones drama doesn’t make her unpopular
backstage.
She as Cody had a big hand in helping me” Amanda Huber also noted: “Also seeing articles
that say “nobody has anything nice to say about Brandi’s departure.
That is such utter bulls***” While Aubrey Edwards said: “The “nobody
has anything nice to say about Brandi” line is such a crock of s***.”
The wrestling world was shaken to its core earlier this week when a report emerged that
Stone Cold Steve Austin could be returning to wrestling!
For a few hours anyway, because then the Cody story broke.
But still, Stone Cold returning to wrestling!
The initial report mentioned that WWE were heavily pitching for Stone Cold to wrestle
at WrestleMania, potentially against Kevin Owens, but now Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men
Podcast is reporting that WWE are hoping Stone Cold’s return to wrestling won’t just
be a one-off at WrestleMania, which has led to natural speculation that Stone Cold could
be offered a contract like Goldberg’s or Edge’s where he wrestles a handful of matches
per year.
Dave Meltzer has noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that Stone Cold might not be the only
major surprise however, and he mentioned that another “Austin-level” surprise is being
planned for the Show of Shows.
No word on who that might be, but the only other Austin-level surprise would be The Rock,
right?
I think those are the only two that are comparable.
And now hot tag to Oli.
Now it’s time for my review of AEW Dynamite… in about 5 minutes.
AEW Dynamite Review I love AEW’s opening credits!
It makes me so excited to see my favourite AEW wrestlertainers!
Like Sting, and Powerhouse Hobbs, and Bryan Danielson, and….
Cody?
Where’s Cody?
Rhoooooooooodes The show opened on CM Punk sitting cross legged
in the ring, and for a second there, I thought he’d suddenly turned heel - speaking about
how he’s straight edge, and that makes him better than you.
Really, it was just a shocking hook into the thesis of his promo: he said that over a decade
ago.
Sound familiar?
It should do because it’s influenced a generation of wrestlers that came after him… like MJF.
It was then time for him to choose the date and stipulation for their rematch.
He considered the aptness of a cage, because Max kept trying to run away from him in the
first half of their feud, and it would stop Wardlow interfering.
That’s certainly the stip I thought he’d go for.
But in true AEW style, they found the better than best version, when he pulled a dog collar
out of the gift box in front of him and asked MJF to be his Valentine.
CM Punk, you saucy dog.
Cody might be gone, but the rasslin is still around.
In the killer spot, Punk got MJF to come out, and then showed him the photo of the together
when Max was a fanboy child - saying for Max it was the best day of his life.
For Punk, it was just a Friday.
MJF sulked out without saying a word.
This was an excellent promo, with excellent structure, and excellent performances.
This was a flawless segment, and it set the tone for this whole episode - which was damn
near perfect, especially because SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH IS ALL ELITE.
Cody who?
I got me Clarissa now.
Bryan Danielson then beat Lee Moriarty in a fantastically fun technical match, which
got so technical at one point, both men had their legs pretzeled around each other while
doing headstands and punching the crap out of each other.
Even Zack Sabre Jr is watching that spot going, um, how’d you do that?
Mox came out after to address Danielson’s offer.
Join him, and create a toxic working environment for AEW’s younger wrestlers!
Mox confessed he’d never beaten Danielson… and he doesn’t stand side by side with anyone
until he bleeds with them first.
So he’s not saying yes, but he’s not saying no either.
Which to me suggests we are both getting our violent cake and eating it.
We can still get the Mox vs Danielson match we want at Revolution, and hopefully have
them earn each other’s respect to start their faction afterwards.
Max Caster got all the local hometown heat in his opening rap.
Which made Wardlow’s inevitable powerbomb symphony all the sweeter for the crowd.
He beat Caster despite heavy Bowens interference.
Hangman Page managed about two words to Tony Schiavone for his in-ring promo when Tony’s
Britt Baker love rival Adam Cole Bay-Bay interrupted.
Defeated male leaves.
They had some great lines back and forth.
The Cole had to watch his best friends build a wrestling empire without him, that neither
man is good at friendship, and whenever they’re in the same company together, Hangman just
becomes known as the ‘other Adam’.
Cole finished saying when they do come face to face, may the best man win.
He shook his hand and left, leaning more into a respectful, tweener character for-OH GOD
DAMMIT RED DRAGON JUST JUMPED HANGMAN.
Why do I keep letting him in?
The Dark Order ran down to save Page, but then 10 weirdly beat up all of security in
anger.
It certainly is a way to set up Cole vs 10… but I’d argue not the right one, as the
viewer should’ve been left thinking about Cole and Page here, not… that was weird
with 10?
The Young Bucks didn’t seem happy that RedDragon attacked Page with Cole.
It was announced that Jurassic Express will defend their tag titles in a triple threat
match at Revolution…
who you’d think would be the Bucks and RedDragon.
Eddie Kingston made his surprise return next - I know him, I know that guy!
He’s my friend - where he stood in Santana and Ortiz’s corner against Chris Jericho
and Jake Hager.
This match totally exceeded my expectations, as Jericho has struggled to make this feud
work so far.
Turns out, you just needed to add Kingston - which completed the storytelling layers
to this match.
It let Santana and Ortiz shine, particularly Santana’s intensity, who actually pinned
Jericho relatively clean after Jericho got distracted by Kingston.
Full credit to Jericho.
There was a Jake Hager right there to take the loss, but he put over Santana strong,
and it gives even more fire for his feud with Kingston.
Mercedes Martinez vs Thunder Rosa is exactly what AEW should be putting on for their women’s
division.
I’m starting to think the ‘put more than just one women’s segment on a show’ is
misguided.
We should be asking for the women’s segments to be showcased properly first.
This felt like a big time match, with brawling in the crowd, hardcore spots and Rosa even
cosplaying as…
Becky Lynch that one time.
The excellent Nashville crowd weren’t just politely cheering, they were genuinely into
this great match.
Rosa hit a driver on a pile of chairs to win, but then Baker, Hayter and Rebel beat down
both women, encouraged on by Sensei John Kreese from Karate Kid in the front row.
Maybe this Forbidden Door thing is getting out of hand?
Malakai Black and Brody King teased a new member in a short film.
Jay White cut a promo on Trent ahead of Rampage.
And the main event, with 20 minutes left, was Sammy Guevarra vs Darby Allin for the
TNT title.
He may be gone, but you could feel Cody watching on from the sky like Mufasa in Lion King.
These are two guys he was instrumental in getting over.
With two of AEW’s four pillars in, though, I felt like this match could’ve done with
more of a story or angle in the run up.
It’s a special clash, and it should’ve been built as such.
Obviously it was bloody fantastic though.
Great counter sequences, Darby working over Sammy’s leg, Guevara continuing to have
even better cutter timing than Randy Orton, catching a Darby bullet dive in one.
But Andrade attacked Darby behind the referee’s back, letting Sammy retain, for Andrade and
Matt Hardy to beat both guys down and leave with the TNT titles.
Yes it was a dirty finish, but I’m all for it to give the TNT title picture an actual
story for a change, and setting up Andrade as its next holder.
What did you think of Dynamite?
Let me know in the comments.
68% of you voted for Be my Dog Collar Valentine?
CM Punk, you so kinky.
This episode might not have had an all time classic match, or a shock debut, but it was
damn near flawless.
Every segment advanced the storylines and made them even better.
There wasn’t a dud moment in the whole two hours.
And sometimes I love these solid shows even more than the big ones.
This week’s Dynamite is 88%.
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