Pipe Bombs and Nukes
Dynamite began with Chicago’s own CM Punk coming out to a big reaction from his hometown crowd. Before he can start his match, Punk is immediately interrupted by MJF.
The two would then go back and forth in a classic war of words and one of the best promo segments of the year. They both traded cutting lines including Punk calling MJF a lessor version of The Miz and MJF comparing Punk with John Cena.
MJF questioned Punk’s confidence throughout and claiming that Punk hasn’t shined that much when it comes to in ring action. There was a lot to this promo including Punk calling MJF ‘my jealous fan’ and bringing up how Punk never mentioned MJF on his list of wrestlers he would like to compete against in AEW.
Punk also mentioned how MJF doesn’t realise that Britt Baker has replaced him as the fourth pillar in AEW, how Punk defeated Darby without the use of a ring, and that MJF is envious that he could never be the heart and soul of AEW.
They tease that it’s going to get physical, but MJF leaves Punk in the ring as the crowd boo him.
They got around twenty minutes to take the feud to the next level and make it now one of the hottest feuds in professional wrestling. It was two of the best on the mic, from different generations coming together to create compelling television.
I guess the only question now is where to next? You can argue that the match is ready now, but they’re going to save it for a bigger event and with this segment setting the bar at a very high level it’ll be interesting how they continue to advance the story.
CM Punk vs QT Marshall
The promo leads into the opening match with Punk taking on QT. The match was fine, but nothing spectacular and QT got a lot more in than what I was expecting, but ultimately it led to CM Punk hitting QT with the GTS for the win.
Some moments in the match included Aaron Solow and Nick Comoroto getting ejected from ringside after multiple attempts at trying to get under Punk’s skin. Punk had a moment where he was hitting repeated body slams to QT and took a dive off the apron as he tackles QT down on the outside floor.
The opening segment and the match took up a big chunk of television time and felt like how they set up Adam Page and Bryan Danielson. I had no issue with it, and Chicago wanted Punk, so they were happy.
Gunn Club vs Bear Country
Billy teamed with Colton to take on Bear Country. It was basically a match taken from an episode of Dark and put on Dynamite. Not that it was bad or anything, it was just short and basic and used to give the Gunn Club another win except this time in front of a larger audience.
With that being said though I do enjoy Bear Country and think they have potential. Their size could bring something different to the AEW tag team division so hopefully they continue to improve and sometime in the future we see them more mixing it up with some of the best tag teams in the company.
Sting appeared on the stage as the match ended. Austin Gunn charges Sting only for Darby Allin to running out from the entrance and taking out Austin at full speed in a spot that needs to be seen as I wouldn’t be able to do it justice.
Thunder Rosa vs Jamie Hayter
This was a hard-hitting fight which the crowd really got into. It was the match of the night for me, with Jamie Hayter targeting the back of Thunder Rosa including slamming her into the ring post on the outside.
Thunder Rosa looks like a star whenever she is given the time to go out and there and show her talent, but I also thought Jamie Hayter showed a lot, and both clicked well.
The ending of the match came when Britt Baker and Rebel got involved. With the referee distracted, Baker went for a superkick on Rosa, but Rosa ducked, and Britt connected with Hayter instead as Thunder Rosa scores the win and advances into the semi final round of the TBS Title Tournament.
They teased descension between Hayter and Baker post-match as Jamie stormed off and left Britt and Rebel in the ring. Britt needs some challengers for Women’s Title so it wouldn’t surprise me if they were to speed up the breakup and go to the Baker vs Hayter match sooner than later.
Bryan Danielson vs Colt Cabana
Colt got a nice reaction back in his hometown. The match lasted around five minutes with the story being Bryan looking to destroy each member of the Dark Order until he competes against Adam Page.
Bryan is great with his aggression and now that he has more of a heel edge it adds even more to his match as he looked ruthless going after Colt Cabana with a barrage of vicious strikes and moves.
Colt did get a hope spot with a big moonsault, but Bryan kicks out and not long after he makes Colt submit with the LeBell Lock while also showing off with a cocky pose.
The camera closes in on what appears to be a broken tooth that Colt lost in the match, and they put over Bryan’s aggression and that if he can do that to someone he has known for a long time and has respect for, then what would he be willing to do to Adam Page to capture the AEW World Championship.
Tony is in the ring to try an interview Bryan, but Adam Page makes his way down. Page says they don’t have to wait and can fight right now, but Bryan says that he just wrestled and that wouldn’t be ‘cowboy shit’ but rather be ‘coward shit.’
Page is still ready to fight and offers Bryan the first shot. Bryan considers that an insult but still strikes him and the two get into another brawl but before Hangman can nail Danielson with the Buckshot, Bryan escapes the ring.
Other Notes
- Eddie Kingston was trying to eat backstage but is interrupted by Daniel Garcia and 2.0. They insult Eddie and mention Mox’s name before throwing coffee in the face of Kingston as a brawl erupts.
- Christian Cage and Jurassic Express backstage segment with Cage putting over that Jurassic Express have momentum on their side and are next in line for a shot at the tag titles. Cage says with him on their side that he will make sure they win.
- Tony is backstage with Team Taz and Dante & Lio. Dante much to the surprise of Lio signs the contract and is now part of Team Taz.
- Britt Baker, Rebel and Tony are at a Thanksgiving Dinner table. It’s announced that because Riho never went over the top rope in the All Out battle royal, it means that she will get a match against Baker where if she wins, she receives a Women’s Title match.
- Daniel Garcia and 2.0 interrupt a Chris Jericho interview and tease a future feud with him.
Cody Rhodes & Death Triangle vs FTR, Malakai & Andrade El Idolo
The first half of the match felt like a standard eight-man match as each competitor gets their opportunity to get offence in. They continued telling the story revolving around the issues between Cody and Pac with them not being on the same page.
The Chicago crowd also continued to the negative reactions towards Cody including a funny spot where Cody throws his weight belt into the audience only for someone to throw it back into the ring. Savage.
The match really picks up though in the second half of it with all eight men providing a lot of great action in particular Rey Fenix who again has a show stealing performance.
At one point in the match, we are teased with a physical confrontation between Tully and Arn, which the crowd wanted, but instead Andrade’s assistant enters the ring, so Arn and Tully put their differences to the side for a mini-Horsemen flashback as they take him out.
There was also a moment where Cody accidentally hits Pac which keeps the descension between them going on and I assume it’ll lead to a match between the two. The ending saw Malakai spit the mist in the face of Pac which leads to Andrade hitting the El Idolo for the pinfall victory.
Dynamite goes off the air with the heel team celebrating. Overall, it was a great main event featuring multiple feuds and advancing them.
Final Thoughts
Strong episode of Thanksgiving Dynamite with a lively crowd in Chicago. Action packed main event, a great women’s match, and the opening segment between Punk and MJF is one of the most must see promo battles in years.