AEW Dynamite Thread 2022

[Chris B]

30 minutes ago, RedRooster said:

I think they're missing a trick by not using Penta as a heel, but if that were to happen, I think Abrahantes would be an integral part of his act. During his ridiculously brief feud with Cody, they were absolutely brilliant together. I can't understand for the life of me why Tony Khan didn't think "yep, this works!" and ran with the pair as a heel duo. 

I think we'll see more of that. What you've got with Penta is a guy who can ALWAYS be slotted into the main event with that heel turn at some point. Last year, though, The Young Bucks needed that stablished face team for their own main event run, and they already had strong heels in place.

Don't get me wrong, it would be a better use for Penta, but I think it was probably a better plan for AEW as a whole last year.

Oh, and Alex Abrahantes is fucking awesome. He comes across as the hardest-working man in wrestling as well, with everything else he does.

[Pinc]

Penta is absolutely tremendous and I'd rather he'd got the Malakai Black push these last few months. One of the least actorly wrestlers I've ever seen. You never for a second think it's just a guy playing a role.

[Jonny Vegas]

I don't doubt he's a great guy and no doubt brilliant at everything else he does but his jumping about dressed like an idiot making hand signs routine is brutal especially if he's not a heel's mouthpiece.

Regarding the Brandi segment from last weeks show, it was utterly bizarre. She clearly was saying things to get a heel reaction but also looked really rattled by the crowd reaction almost as though it was the realisation/confusion at just how eager they are to dislike her despite her thinking in her own head that shes a face and not understanding why shes so disliked.

If we're getting Brandi vs an MMA fighter with zero pro wrestling experience that match could be a real spectacle and not in a positive way.

Edited February 7, 2022 by Jonny Vegas

[Jazzy G]

How's it going to compare to Sharnell Vs Jenna Morasca? 

[RedRooster]

1 hour ago, Chris B said:

I think we'll see more of that. What you've got with Penta is a guy who can ALWAYS be slotted into the main event with that heel turn at some point. Last year, though, The Young Bucks needed that stablished face team for their own main event run, and they already had strong heels in place.

I was genuinely surprised that The Lucha Brothers were the team they chose to unseat The Bucks, instead of Santana and Ortiz. I was even more surprised when Penta/Fenix dropped the tag titles to Jurassic Express relatively soon after. It doesn't really feel like they're heading in an obvious direction at the moment, and the belts feel slightly less important, to me at least, as a result. 

33 minutes ago, Jonny Vegas said:

 

If we're getting Brandi vs an MMA fighter with zero pro wrestling experience that match could be a real spectacle and not in a positive way.

I'm assuming it'll be a tag match, but if it isn't, I can't imagine it won't be extensively rehearsed to ensure it's not horrific. However, if that's indeed what happens, it might still be an absolute disaster depending on the crowd reaction, and any inability to adjust on the fly. 

Edited February 7, 2022 by RedRooster

[Chris B]

3 minutes ago, RedRooster said:

I was genuinely surprised that The Lucha Brothers were the team they chose to unseat The Bucks, instead of Santana and Ortiz. I was even more surprised when Penta/Fenix dropped the tag titles to Jurassic Express relatively soon after. It doesn't really feel like they're heading in an obvious direction at the moment, and the belts feel slightly less important, to me at least, as a result. 

That's a shame - I thought the changeover was superb, and the cage match in particular was sensational. Penta covered in blood, holding the belt, was just savagely cool.

Again, it's about overall booking - Santana and Ortiz were about to be tied up long-term with the America's Top Team stuff, so them holding the belts would have been awkward timing. It's looking like Santana and Ortiz are getting their main event shot soon though.

On a similar 'overall' point, I read an interesting take on the HFO stuff on Reddit recently. Basically, the group has always seemed a bit aimless, but the suggestion was that it was as much about Hardy soaking up criticism while keeping people on the show in a safe area that wouldn't damage their momentum - Butcher was going to be unreliable in terms of dates, and Blade has been pretty open about mental health issues. Private Party were seen as needing time to develop. This basically meant that they were all going to be difficult to book in any kind of long-term way. So, putting them all with a veteran who wouldn't be harmed too much by a lacklustre group (and trying to make the best of it) kept everyone in the mix without damaging anyone too much. Made me think about some of the booking generally differently. 

[RedRooster]

6 minutes ago, Chris B said:

That's a shame - I thought the changeover was superb, and the cage match in particular was sensational. Penta covered in blood, holding the belt, was just savagely cool.

Oh, don't get me wrong - I absolutely loved the changeover, I just didn't expect it. I think it's the follow-on that disappointed me. Even though I was caught off guard, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing - I looked ahead to the potential feuds that Penta and Fenix could have, and in the end we had very few of them. 

13 minutes ago, Chris B said:

Again, it's about overall booking - Santana and Ortiz were about to be tied up long-term with the America's Top Team stuff, so them holding the belts would have been awkward timing. It's looking like Santana and Ortiz are getting their main event shot soon though.

You might be right. If they're going to break away from The Inner Circle, with the idea being that Jericho was holding them back from winning the titles, the logical direction may well be to have them win the belts. That said, I wouldn't be against them failing in that quest, with the House of Black winning the titles from Jurassic Express. The House of Black as tag champs feels genuinely exciting to me - whether you pair them with The Acclaimed, The Bucks, The Hardy Boys (assuming AEW signs Jeff), FTR, Kingston and Moxley, a reunited Jerishow, FTR, or Santana and Ortiz...it all feels fresh and exciting. 

Plus, I think they have something unique in Santana and Ortiz in that you have a main event level tag team that has never held the belts. If they play their cards right, they could have one hell of a moment through that delayed gratification. 

20 minutes ago, Chris B said:

On a similar 'overall' point, I read an interesting take on the HFO stuff on Reddit recently. Basically, the group has always seemed a bit aimless, but the suggestion was that it was as much about Hardy soaking up criticism while keeping people on the show in a safe area that wouldn't damage their momentum - Butcher was going to be unreliable in terms of dates, and Blade has been pretty open about mental health issues. Private Party were seen as needing time to develop. This basically meant that they were all going to be difficult to book in any kind of long-term way. So, putting them all with a veteran who wouldn't be harmed too much by a lacklustre group (and trying to make the best of it) kept everyone in the mix without damaging anyone too much. Made me think about some of the booking generally differently. 

That's really interesting, and I can't say that I'm not enjoying their association with Andrade. I'm really curious as to what the end game to this actually is. 

[Infinity Land]

Tonight's show is going to be interesting. A lot of last minute hype being drummed up by TK.

Pretty scarce card with only two matches announced. Hangman v. Archer for the World Title in a Texas Death Match. ??? v. Isiah Kassidy in a qualifier for the Face of the Revolution Ladder match. Inner Circle team meeting and MJF speaks.

 

[69MeDon]

19 minutes ago, Infinity Land said:

Tonight's show is going to be interesting. A lot of last minute hype being drummed up by TK.

Pretty scarce card with only two matches announced. Hangman v. Archer for the World Title in a Texas Death Match. ??? v. Isiah Kassidy in a qualifier for the Face of the Revolution Ladder match. Inner Circle team meeting and MJF speaks.

 

I've been pulled in by his hype operation of the last few days. I expect Hardy, Lee, Wyatt, Shane McMahon and John Cena to appear on this show

[Nick James]

B&M tweeting a GIF of Hook to Tony Khan is the interaction I didn't expect to see today. Maybe the forbidden door signing is Sandra from the tills at the Fulham branch and they are announcing a new range of AEW related Tupperware priced at £2.99 a tub.

Tony HAS to deliver this time, surely? After the hype of Christian where he bigged the debut up so much people genuinely thought it might be Cena and now dropping hints that it could be a contracted WWE talent, this one has to land. 

As much as I like Keith Lee, it would be a let down for me.

Edited February 9, 2022 by Nick James

[Infinity Land]

5 minutes ago, 69MeDon said:

I've been pulled in by his hype operation of the last few days. I expect Hardy, Lee, Wyatt, Shane McMahon and John Cena to appear on this show

 

I'm wanting Regal. You can have him be the talent scout for Danielson's new fight team  

[Supremo]

The lack of matches announced, the hype going into it, and how obvious Keith Lee feels, I’m wondering if they’re going to do a repeat of that Brodie Lee/Matt Hardy episode where they have more than one big name debut on the same show.

Samoa Joe and Keith Lee, please.

[Merzbow]

Isiah's waiting in the ring and that Godzilla intro kicks in...

vincemcmahoncumface.png

[DavidB6937]

There are so many obvious names it could be but he's REALLY hyping this up. I'm also guessing it's probably multiple signings but 1 really unexpected name.

As long as Ric Flair doesn't turn up I'm okay.

[Supremo]

MJF and Wardlow squaring up to CM Punk and Samoa fucking Joe making the save? Fuck’s sake, Tony! Look at the fantasy booking your hype is creating in my head! This show needs to deliver!

Extra points if Joe debuts in a poncho.