Coming up, Tony Khan has some sass for WWE over them competing at the same venue, Kyle
O’Reilly confirms NXT departure and a Candice LeRae contract update, plus plus Oli is going
to be reviewing AEW Dynamite.
Last night’s AEW Dynamite took place in Long Island, the home of grotty little scumbag
MFJ, and the home of a brand spanking new stadium, the UBS Arena.
Interestingly AEW’s visit came just over a week after WWE stopped by with Raw.
Now as far as we know AEW had planned their show at the UBS Arena before WWE and the E
jumped in to get a week and a bit’s head start with Raw, so it becomes something like
head to head competition over the same territory.
AEW President Tony Khan has often said that he isn’t looking to compete directly with
WWE, but boy howdy he loves an opportunity to shoot them down when they come for him
and beef it.
AEW Dynamite outdrew Raw by a significant margin and almost sold out the arena, MJF
marks represent, and Tony told News 12 his thoughts: “I just came to run a show in
Long Island and like - it’s like, hey, you know, they’re jumping to the front of the
line.
Run a show ahead of me.
Try to beat me to market.
Well, how did it work out?”
Ooh Tony you little sasstronaut Now the fallout from this week’s NXT confirmed
the departure of Johnny Gargano who got to cut a heartfelt goodbye promo and get attacked
and sort of Kyle O’Reilly who got to do a curtain call for the fans in attendance
after being bested by Von Wagner earlier in the show.
Kyle was radio silent after NXT before resurfacing to bid farewell to the former black and gold
brand on Twitter: “Truly overwhelmed by all the love and heartfelt
messages.
By no means does this mean goodbye… just smell ya later.”
AGAIN!
No confirmation that he is AEW bound.
Unless… smell you later… what smells?
Fish smells, Bobby Fish, Undisputed Era reunion on AEW confirmed.
With O’Reilly on the way out and Johnny Gargano having left NXT too to go on maternity
with his wife Candice LeRae, it raises the question what Candice will now decide to do
once her WWE contract comes up.
Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select had an update on this saying that they learned that originally
“Candice LeRae’s WWE deal was scheduled to expire in the spring of 2022.”
Now WWE usually adds time onto contracts if people have to take time out with injury or
injuries to your social life like having a baby, but Candice has continued to appear
on NXT TV while pregnant working with Indi Hartwell and The Way until the group disbanded,
so some time could be added, but not necessarily loads.
Fightful were also reportedly told “iinternally, there hasn't been much discussion on LeRae
re-signing as of yet, since WWE generally waits much closer to the expiration date to
broach the subject.”
Final bit of news before the Dynamite review, and sadly Jim Ross took to Twitter last night
to announce the passing of WWE Hall of Famer ‘Blackjack’ Lanza.
Saying: “Just heard from old, Winnipeg friend Bob Holliday that Jack Lanza has passed away
at the age of 86.
Jack was our lead agent during the Attitude Era.
Helluva hand.”
John Lanza made his wrestling debut in 1961 and retired in 1985, worked as a road agent
and producer after that and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Vince McMahon posted a tribute on Twitter saying: “He was a man’s man, respected
and beloved by all.
He worked for and loved WWE for many years.
His loyalty and dedication will never be forgotten,” Our condolences go out to Lanza’s family
and friends.
Before CM Punk returned to wrestling, many fantasy booked an angle of MJF coming out
in Chicago to Cult of Personality for that heel heat.
A fine idea, but as Punk has pointed out since, also obvious, low hanging fruit.
So swerve, he’s going to do it to MJF!
This episode in MJF’s hometown of Long Island, New York, opened on MJF’s music hitting
to a monster babyface reaction, but out came CM Punk instead.
This was one of the most hidden in plain sight angles of the year.
I was well and truly worked, and I loved it.
Work me again, Tony, work me!
It’s been a while since mainstream professional wrestling was booked competently, so forgive
my gushing here: this entire segment was a masterpiece, arguably one of the bravest and
successful set pieces they’ve done all year.
AEW turned an entire city heel.
Punk played every cheap heat trick in the book.
Your local sports team sucks.
Chicago was way louder.
All while Long Island heavily booed the babyface, nearly drowning him out, while me, the viewer
at home, was in no way confused about who the good guy was.
Punk is the best, Long Island is a dick.
Rather than have the two directly interact, though, Punk left for MJF’s following match:
The third annual Diamond Battle Royal, for which Maxwell got a hilariously over the top
video of him walking around Long Island with a voiceover putting him over as a hometown
hero.
Including the accomplishment of being the captain of the all male acapella group at
college.
He then proceeded to do nothing in the match, hiding behind Wardlow the entire time, but
having the crowd go crazy for him throughout - even getting a holy s-word chant when he
snuck in a gave Dante Martin a tiny kick.
I am stunned how well AEW leaning into a crowd trolling its major storyline has worked.
If only all characters were so self-aware.
Aside from MJF eliminating Wardlow along with Lio Rush and Lee Johnson, the other story
of the match was Dante Martin turning on Team Taz to make it to the final two.
I appreciate AEW giving Martin a storyline, but as any writing class well tell you, you
need a character first, and I could not tell you what Dante’s is.
But MJF had one fantastic heel spot left in him.
Ricky Starks began to beat Martin down as MJF was leaving up the ramp.
He looked over this shoulder three times before finally deciding to run down and help, where
he just beat up Martin too.
Punk made the actual save.
On top of this entire opening half hour being incredibly fun, AEW have really perfected
their show structure this last month.
The Punk promo into MJF match led into each other seamlessly, acting more like a chapter
in a book, rather than a number of scattered segments throughout a show.
Jungle Boy got the win in an 8 man tag of Jurassic Express and Varsity Blondes vs The
Acclaimed and 2.0 - thanks to Eddie Kingston stopping Daniel Garcia getting involved, prompting
a Kingston, Santana and Ortiz brawl with 2.0 and Garcia backstage afterwards.
I love the idea of the LAX faction working together, as Santana and Ortiz are some of
the most underused talents on the roster.
But the feud you did not know you wanted award this episode actually goes to Malakai Black
vs Julia Hart, when Black spat mist in her face during their interview later on.
Black standing near the Varsity Blondes looks like a high school horror movie.
The Young Bucks are incapable of a sub-4 star match, and they drew the crowd in with high
spots and heel shenanigans in their match against the Best Friends to see who the bestest
Best Friends really are.
It’s the Bucks, who won with a Meltzer Driver.
But the real bestest best friends reunited right after, because as the SuperKliq beat
down the faces, Trent made his AEW return by being dropped off by his mum, presumably
after a Summer at military school - as he’s looking super lean and now has a shaved head.
He cleared house, and the Best Friends all posed with Trent’s mum for a lovely moment.
I think that makes Sue a member of Chaos too now.
They’re such a weird faction.
Sammy Guevarra was being interviewed about his TNT title open challenge, when Cody Rhodes
interrupted, probably still on fire from last week, to say from one good guy to another,
he’ll be facing him on the Christmas Day episode, and then teased leaving through the
heel tunnel.
Say what you will about Cody, he is a fascinating blend of kayfabe and reality.
Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky cut a promo afterwards, saying Dan Lambert is coming back soon.
Riho beat Jamie Hayter in a really good match of big vs small, which played into both women’s
strengths.
There was some great offence in this match, including Hayter catching a Riho dive outside
and slamming her into the post, and an insane Avalanche crucifix bomb on Jamie.
Hayter is really good.
Hopefully she gets into a position soon where she’s not just the person you beat before
you face Britt Baker.
Taz announced Hook is making his in-ring debut this Friday against Fuego del Sol.
Write the headlines now.
Rampage beats SmackDown in all possible demos!
And the main event saw Bryan Danielson beat his latest Dark Order hometown boy, John Silver.
Danielson was terrific as always, giving Silver some great spots to shine, but a Gotch Piledriver
and LaBell Lock won him the match.
Hangman Page then saved Silver from a further beatdown afterwards.
It wasn’t the hottest go-home angle for their title match next week, and I think Page
should’ve wrestled more matches since Full Gear - as now he’s going in totally fresh,
whereas the heel has wrestled every week.
What did you think of Dynamite?
Let me know in the comments.
82% of you went for ‘So Long Island turned heel?’ in our poll on a pole match on the
community tab.
Punk and MJF’s opening half hour, and the Long Island crowd, set the tone of this show
to maximum fun.
It felt like every wrestler who went out there afterwards was having an awesome time.
There wasn’t a bad thing on this episode, making it a very, very, very, very high 4
out of 5.
Now watch Luke’s recap of
the 10 most explosive shoot interviews of 2021!