AEW Dynamite Review - December 2, 2020

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

MJF and Orange Cassidy Were the Two Remaining Participants in the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal

As far as Battle Royals go, this was no better or worse than most Battle Royals AEW has done to date. Yes, a shot the Dynamite Diamond Ring was on the line, but how much does that really mean? The answer is not much at all. That said, I was glad that several stories progressed here and that Miro lasted as long as he did (despite having an underwhelming run in AEW so far). MJF defending the ring next week makes sense, but Orange Cassidy being his opponent is questionable. I guess it's AEW's way of giving Cassidy something somewhat notable coming off his two wins over Chris Jericho because it's clear he isn't winning that AEW TNT Championship any time soon.

Chris Jericho def. Frankie Kazarian

I never thought we would see Jericho and Kazarian go one-on-one, so it was cool we finally got that here. It helped that Kazarian has been built up a bit as a singles star recently on Dark (for whoever watches it, that is), so he felt like more of a threat to him than most. Jericho won following a perfectly solid match, but the real focus was on the tension teased within Inner Circle with MJF almost throwing in the towel but pawning it off on Sammy Guevara instead. Next week's "ultimatum" should be interesting, as I don't think Inner Circle is over just yet.

Britt Baker def. Leyla Hirsch

Hirsch has impressed me any time I've seen her in action and I was happy she had another opportunity to shine here against one of AW's top female talents. It was a fun match while it lasted with both women looking great. If Hirsch doesn't end up with an AEW contract at some point, I'd be shocked. Additionally, Baker's feud with Thunder Rosa was also effectively furthered afterward.

AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin and Cody Rhodes def. Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs; Sting Debuted

Obviously, the tag team match completely paled in comparison to what came after it, but it was enjoyable for what it was. All four guys worked well together, Hobbs held his own, and Allin avenged his loss from a few weeks ago. A big brawl ensued before the lights went out, leading to the shocking arrival of Sting. Regardless of what your thoughts are on AEW bringing in Sting for a full-time gig, there can be no doubt it was an amazing moment that felt special. It would have been even more special under different circumstances in a packed arena, but I digress. Sting facing off with all of the babyfaces, specifically Allin, was super cool. I legitimately have no idea what he does from here and that's why I'm excited to hear what he has to say next week. Does he manage Allin on occasion? Does he team with Rhodes and company against Team Taz for a one-off return to the ring? Does he become on an on-air authority figure maybe? The possibilities are endless.

Kenny Omega def. Jon Moxley to Win the AEW World Championship

AEW definitely deserves props for giving this such a big fight feel, even though it didn't ultimately live up to the hype. I think that was done by design to allow for Omega's heel turn to come across like a major moment. Those final few minutes were chaotic, but most of the match was very good and held my interest. I'm hoping they're waiting until Revolution to deliver that instant classic I know they're capable of. Nonetheless, Omega using a microphone of all things to cheat and beat Moxley was underwhelming and should have packed more of a punch. Omega capturing the championship and cementing his heel turn was the right call and an alliance with Don Callis is the best thing for him considering Omega isn't the strongest talker. Lastly, Callis teasing an explanation for their actions on Tuesday's IMPACT! Wrestling has me intrigued and if that means an alliance between the two companies, then that could be beneficial for both parties and especially IMPACT.

Overall Show

This special "Winter is Coming" edition of Dynamite was hyped heavily in advance and it did not disappoint. The jury is still out on Omega winning the title in the fashion he did and what the future will hold for Sting, but it was surely a newsworthy night that will keep fans buzzing for days to come and leave them looking forward to what will happen next. The two hours flew by because of everything that happened and were excellent on the whole. There's still a handful of episodes of left in 2020, but this was a hell of a way to lead into the new year. Now the key is keeping this momentum going.