AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from December 8
With just one week until his AEW Championship match against "Hangman" Adam Page at Winter is Coming, Bryan Danielson headlined an episode of Dynamite Wednesday night that put the final touches on the build to the hotly anticipated title clash.
His opponent, John Silver, sought to end The American Dragon's dominance over The Dark Order and halt his momentum ahead of the blockbuster main event.
Elsewhere on the show, MJF returned home to Long Island, looking to make it three-in-a-row with a win in this year's Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal but did his ongoing feud with CM Punk prove costly?
Find out the answer to that question and what all went down on another explosive episode of AEW's flagship show with this recap of the December 8 broadcast.
CM Punk Roasts Long Island
MJF’s music played to kick off Wednesday’s show, drawing a sizable reaction from his hometown fans, only for CM Punk to walk through the curtain and that goodwill turned to a chorus of boos.
Punk turned to cheap heat, attacking both the hometown hero and the New York Islanders. He proceeded to take exception to MJF’s recent actions, questioning how he can be the crowd’s “guy.” All while wearing a Four Pillars of AEW shirt that replaced MJF with Britt Baker.
Punk admitted he will have his eye on the AEW Championship match next week, not-so-subtly hinting that he will be seeking a shot at the title afterward. He continued to cook Long Island before challenging MJF to a match, evening going as far as to say he’ll wrestle the scarf-wearing sycophant tonight.
He just doesn’t think he will do it. He ended the promo emphatically before leaving to a mostly negative reaction.
Grade
A
Analysis
Punk took entirely too much joy in trolling Long Island for supporting MJF.
From his attack on the Islanders to his take on the pillars shirt, the commentary on Roddy Piper’s performance in Hell Comes to Frogtown and the personal attack on fans, referring to them as “chickens***” for supporting his rival, this was excellence personified.
Punk took a break from his “happy to be here” promo style and absolutely washed the host city of this week’s show and, considering his last heel run was eight years ago, it was a nice reminder of the venomous promos he can cut when he’s pissed off and wants to.
A great start to the show and a nice entry into the promo battles we have seen out of Punk and MJF to this point.
Dynamite Diamond Battle RoyalParticipants: Lee Moriarty, Will Hobbs, Matt Hardy,
Participants: Lee Moriarty, Will Hobbs, Matt Hardy, Jay Lethal, Ricky Starks, Lio Rush, Dante Martin, Lee Johnson, Wardlow, Frankie Kazarian, MJF, Matt Sydal
The Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal kicked off with a few rapid-fire eliminations that gave way to Matt Hardy blasting Jay Lethal with a pair of brass knuckles introduced by The Bunny, a showdown between Powerhouse Hobbs and Wardlow, and a confrontation between Dante Martin and former associate Lio Rush.
MJF eliminated Wardlow in one scene of betrayal while Martin dumped Starks and ripped off his FTW armband, severing ties with Team Taz. MJF and Martin were the final two competitors in the match, cashing their tickets to next week’s Winter is Coming and a match for the diamond ring.
When Starks jumped Martin following the match, MJF teased making the save, only to join the reigning FTW champion in a beatdown of the babyface. Punk made the save and chased the heels off, still drawing a mostly negative reaction in the process.
Result
MJF and Dante Martin co-won the match
Grade
C+
Analysis
The battle royal itself was nothing special. It was too fast to mean anything but it featured a couple of booking choices that were intriguing, to say the least.
Hardy blasting Lethal with the brass knucks set up a program between the two, Wardlow and Hobbs clashing drew a reaction that suggested fans would be down for more heavyweight battles, and Martin dissolved his relationship with Team Taz to resume his breakout babyface run.
For a match that was a sprint that served only to set up a match on next’s show, it featured a few angles to sink your teeth in, elevating it just beyond that of a typical multi-man, over-the-top-rope contest.
Jurassic Express and Varsity Blondes vs. The Acclaimed and 2.0
The Acclaimed and 2.0 battled Jurassic Express and The Varsity Blondes in a big 8-man tag match.
Jeff Parker, Matt Lee, Anthony Bowens and Max Caster dominated the action, isolating Brian Pillman Jr. and cutting him off from his partners. The second-generation star tagged Luchasaurus into the match, sparking a babyface comeback. After several moments of havoc wreaked by the masked man, action broke down.
Eddie Kingston prevented Daniel Garcia from interfering on behalf of 2.0 and moments later, Jungle Boy trapped Caster in a Snare Trap for the submission victory.
After the match, cameras caught up with Kingston and Ortiz backstage, where the heels attacked, leaving both babyfaces lying.
Result
Jurassic Express and Varsity Blondes defeated The Acclaimed and 2.0
Grade
B-
Analysis
Another energetic, action-packed multi-man tag that highlighted the heels for the majority of the match before letting a rejuvenated babyface side steal the spotlight and score the win.
It was the antics of Kingston and the heels’ retribution that will likely have the longest-reaching effects.
The feud between the Mad King and 2.0 and Garcia has intensified with each passing week and now, it appears as though Santana and Ortiz of Inner Circle are about to become entangled in the program. Considering the attack on Chris Jericho that put Le Champion out of action, it makes sense.
Just how long it takes Jericho to become involved in whatever the endgame may be is the question at this point.
Best Friends vs. Superkliq
The new rivalry between The Superkliq and Best Friends wrote its latest chapter Wednesday night as The Young Bucks battled Chuck Taylor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Rocky Romero, Adam Cole and Brandon Cutler accompanying the heels while Orange Cassidy seconded the opposing team.
Back and forth action dominated the opening moments until the Bucks capitalized on a distraction by Cutler to level Taylor with a double superkick. A flipping senton over the top rope and onto Taylor continued the heels’ control of the bout and allowed them to isolate the Kentucky Gentleman.
Back from the break, Romero finally received the hot tag and exploded into the match, unloading on his opponents and scoring a dramatic near-fall on Matt Jackson. A tornado DDT put Matt down and in enough jeopardy for Brandon Cutler to get involved.
Cole entered the fray, as did Cassidy, as the action broke down. Cutler botched the cold spray, hitting Nick instead of Romero. After a few more near-falls by Romero, the Bucks managed to put him down with a Meltzer Driver and thwart any threat of an upset.
After the match, Trent Beretta made his long-awaited debut, driven into the arena by mother Sue. He unloaded on the heels and Best Friends cleared them from the ring before standing tall alongside the aforementioned Sue and Kris Statlander.
Result
The Young Bucks defeated Taylor and Romero
Grade
B
Analysis
Trent’s return felt like a big deal and reunited Best Friends, one of the best babyface acts in the company. He showed intensity, looked more driven and determined than ever before and cleared the ring of the heels in an emphatic statement.
One of the more underrated performers on the roster, his absence was felt. While Wheeler Yuta filled in admirably for him and had some solid chemistry with Taylor, Trent and Chucky T’s tandem hits differently. Bringing Beretta back in time for the feud with The Superkliq is the right call and adds levity to the feud.
Now bring on the hella awesome multi-man match that is sure to come of all of this.
Riho vs. Jamie Hayter
Sammy Guevara joined Tony Shiavone on the stage for a promo, only to be interrupted by Cody Rhodes, who revealed that he will challenge for the TNT Championship on Christmas Day. The Men of the Year’s Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky cut a scathing promo on Guevara from the stands and revealed Dan Lambert will be back soon.
On the heels of Dr. Britt Baker costing her a shot at the TBS Championship, Jamie Hayter looked to rebound as she battled presumptive No. 1 contender Riho in singles action, all while the good doctor and associate Rebel watched from ringside.
Hater controlled the pace of the match, punishing the former AEW women’s champion with her size and strength advantage. A big tilt-a-whirl backbreaker continued her assault on the upper body of her opponent. Riho delivered a double stomp to her opponent but the Brit answered with a massive brainbuster for two.
The babyface, ever resilient, kicked out of everything thrown at her, proving double-tough in the face of a focused and determined attack by her larger opponent. Riho fought back and delivered a Code Red for two. She added the diving double stomp for two.
Rebel interfered, slowing Riho’s momentum but failed to stop her completely. The babyface delivered a crucifix bomb from the top and added a running knee strike for the win.
Baker attacked after the match and applied the Lockjaw.
Result
Riho defeated Hayter
Grade
B+
Analysis
This was, arguably, Hayter’s best match to date in AEW. She was fantastic as she worked over Riho with a crisp, power-based offense that overwhelmed her smaller opponent and had her poised for victory. Interference backfired and the Brit lost again, furthering the idea that she will eventually grow frustrated and leave Baker and Rebel behind.
Riho is such a great, resilient babyface and showed off what it is that keeps her over with fans even when her appearances are inconsistent.
Her match with Baker will be great and should help further establish the champion as the face of women’s wrestling in AEW, thanks especially to the credibility that comes with defeating the first women’s champion in company history.
Bryan Danielson vs. John Silver
The Varsity Blondes and Julia Hart joined Tony Schiavone on the stage for a promo but were interrupted when the arena darkened. When the lights came back up, Malakai Black appeared and sprayed black mist in Hart’s eyes. The young woman screamed in agony as her male counterparts called for help.
Moments later, chants of “Johnny Hungee” spilled from the stands as The Dark Order’s John Silver battled Bryan Danielson in the main event.
The No. 1 contender to the AEW world title absorbed a spirited attack by the hometown hero Silver before slowing the pace and wearing down his opponent. A middle-rope dropkick by Danielson was met with a midair powerbomb before Silver applied a kneebar.
Bryan escaped a German suplex attempt but ate another just moments later. He recovered, delivered a Gotch-style piledriver out of the playbook of Minoru Suzuki and finished him with a modified Full Nelson for the referee stoppage.
Danielson cut a promo about kicking The Dark Order’s heads in before attempting to do the same to Silver. Hangman Page made the save, taking Danielson down before the heel escaped. “Next week, I’m gonna kick the cowboy s*** out of you!” Page exclaimed to close out the show.
Result
Danielson defeated Silver
Grade
B+
Analysis
This was a good, physical match between the great Danielson and the vastly underrated Silver.
Every time Johnny Hungee gets a shot at proving himself in singles competition, he excels, thanks to a raw athleticism from a guy the size of a human bowling ball. The powerhouse hung in there with the best wrestler on the planet Wednesday night, delivering a match in which the outcome was never really in question but still had fans holding out hope for the upset win.
It didn’t come, though, as the studious Bryan borrowed from Suzuki to put his opponent away.
It would have been nice to see more of an interaction between the top contender and Page to really hammer home the hatred that exists between them ahead of next week’s blockbuster main event but there’s been plenty of talking and teased physicality so it’s no big loss to wait until next week to really let Danielson and Hangman beat the hell out of each other.
This was a great way to conclude another strong episode of Dynamite ahead of what has the potential to be an all-timer in seven days.