AEW Dynamite Report: Hangman retains, Jurassic Express win titles, Fenix injury

John Siino reviews the first Dynamite on TBS featuring Hangman vs. Danielson II, Jade Cargill becomes TBS champion & new tag champions.

Photo Courtesy: All Elite Wrestling

AEW Dynamite

January 5th, 2022

By: John Siino

Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

Commentary: Jim Ross, Excalibur & Tony Schiavone

AEW World Championship: Adam Page (c) vs. Bryan Danielson

Paul Wight, Jerry Lynn, and Mark Henry are revealed to be the judges, just in case this match goes the distance. Right as the bell rings, Danielson escapes to the outside and starts doing jumping jacks in front of the judges. They lock up, take it to the mat for a little until Danielson escapes yet again. As they lock up again the crowd chants ‘Cowboy shit’. Danielson escapes out of a hold and starts doing jumping jacks in the corner. As they lock up, the chants start getting more divisive, Danielson escapes again but right away gets hit with a suicide dive before dodging a moonsault but receiving a powerbomb onto the apron by Page. Page throws him in and goes to hit the Buckshot Lariat, but Danielson rolls out from the other side. Page tries another suicide dive, but Danielson dodges as Page goes crashing against the barricade. Danielson takes advantage and starts driving Page shoulder first into the ring posts. They go at it for a bit with Page hitting a top rope clothesline for a two count. Danielson tosses Page to the outside, goes for a suicide dive but gets caught and thrown over with a suplex to the outside close to the steel steps, but Danielson trips Page into them instead. We cut to Page, who is busted open on the forehead, as soon as Danielson notices it, he runs over to deliver punches as the match goes to commercial.

When we come back, Danielson is delivering headbutts to Page’s busted forehead. Page tries to chop his way out of it but gets hit with a suplex as Danielson mounts him with elbows into a cross-arm breaker. Danielson runs the ropes but gets caught and hit with a Death Valley Driver. Page comes back with a German suplex for a two count. They fight over trying to suplex each other but end up suplexing to the outside, where Danielson shoves Page into the ring post. They continue to beat each other up with headbutts and take it back inside where Danielson is out, and Page starts doing jumping jacks as they go to commercial again.

When we come back, Page hits a top rope fall-away slam as Danielson is now busted open as well. Danielson goes for a running knee off the apron but gets stopped and hits the Dead Eye on the floor. Page goes for the Buckshot Lariat, but Danielson collapses, only to roll-up Page for the two count right into the LeBell Lock. Page catapults Danielson off, but he hangs onto the rope, only to get knocked off the apron with a boot. Page climbs the top rope and connects with a moonsault to the outside on Danielson. Page goes for the Buckshot Lariat again, but Danielson ducks it and hits the Busaiku Knee for a two count. They both continue with the head butts until Danielson hits Page with the Gotch Style Piledriver for another two. Danielson starts kicking Page’s head in, goes for the running knee but gets hit with a powerbomb instead. Page goes for the pin, but Danielson applies the Triangle sleeper hold, Page tries to power out, but Danielson keeps him trapped with a leg lock. Page escapes out, hits a backdrop driver before setting up for the Buckshot Lariat, hitting it and getting the pin.

Winner: Adam Page by pinfall at 29:04, to retain

The Acclaimed has a backstage segment where Max Caster mentions that Anthony Bowens had Darby Allin beat last week until Sting got involved. They aren’t done with them just yet, as next week they will have a music video for them.

MJF vs. Shawn Dean

As soon as the match starts, CM Punk runs out and chases MJF out of the ring. As Dean is waiting for him, Punk turns around and hits him with the Go to Sleep causing the disqualification.

Winner: Shawn Dean by disqualification at 42 seconds

Main Eventing Mania

CM Punk gets on the mic and says this will happen every single time until MJF decides to step into the ring with him. MJF says it’s bad enough he’s in Newark, when Punk says at least they are winners, unlike MJF. MJF says everything that comes out of Punk’s mouth is fake and induces boredom, as the crowd chants ‘Shut the fuck up’. MJF says last week Punk said he was done with him and wanted to focus on becoming World Champion but look what he’s doing now. MJF knows the truth that without him, Punk is nothing as he gives Punk an edge and makes him relevant. MJF says Punk sold everybody a bill of goods and isn’t the savior everybody is waiting for, unlike himself. MJF brings up the Roddy Piper comparison and is curious if Punk thinks he’s Roddy Piper because unlike him, Piper was talented enough to headline a WrestleMania. MJF says if he isn’t shown the proper respect around here, maybe he’ll main event a WrestleMania. Punk starts laughing and says all he’s trying to do is kick his ass and he’ll do it right there in New Jersey. Punk says if he thinks the grass is greener on the other side, he can go and be part of Day 4 of a buy one, get one free extravaganza, and then get released quicker than MJF lasts in bed. MJF starts screaming and saying next week it will be CM Punk vs. Wardlow. Punk says the difference between himself and Piper and MJF, is that they will fight anybody that is put in front of them and eventually MJF will run out of people to put in front of him and be put to sleep.

We get a promotion for Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara on Battle of the Belts that is presented by the Go-Big Show premiere.

Square Head or Pinhead

Chris Jericho comes to the ring in what is presented as his first time on TBS since April 7th, 1999, on WCW Thunder losing to Booker T. Jericho mentions how he got taken out by 2point0 and Daniel Garcia and he’s back for revenge, which prompts 2point0 to come out. Jericho introduces them as Terrence and Philip (from South Park), but Matt Lee says last time they ran into each other they gave Jericho a taste of a steel chair. Jericho says he can’t pay attention as he keeps looking at Lee’s square head and asks the crowd if he looks like a square head. Jeff Parker tells Jericho he can’t call him a square head, so Jericho calls him a pinhead before surveying the crowd what to call him. Jericho grabs a bat and just says he’ll knock both their heads out, which prompts Daniel Garcia to run in from the crowd as all three started attacking him. Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz run out to save Jericho.

One-Way Ticket to Orlando

Adam Cole is backstage with Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish and says he knows for sure O’Reilly kicked him in the face was an accident. And they are a supergroup, and these are exciting times, before calling out Jake Atlas. And says in two days, at AEW Rampage, Cole will take him on and remind everybody why everybody is talking about Cole and give Atlas a one-way ticket back to Orlando before telling Brandon Cutler to cut the camera, in which O’Reilly says, ‘Cut it, Landon’.

Wardlow (w/ Shawn Spears) vs. Antonio Zambrano

Zambrano escapes to the outside before the bell rings, where Shawn Spears takes him out with a Death Valley Driver before tossing him inside. Wardlow doesn’t look so happy, as Spears tells him to cover him, but Wardlow decides to powerbomb Zambrano instead. As Spears screams that he’s done, Wardlow powerbombs him four more times before finally pinning him.

Winner: Wardlow by pinfall at 1:25

ABS TBS Championship Tournament Final: Jade Cargill (w/ Mark Sterling) vs. Ruby Soho

They cut to show Jade’s family including her daughter watching from the crowd. Jade takes Ruby down right away, but Ruby is able to fight out, knock Jade to the outside and kick her from the apron, followed by a shotgun dropkick off the apron. Jade takes Ruby back inside, where she stomps Ruby and hits a double ax handle off the middle rope, followed by another attempt, but Ruby gets up and arm drags Jade off. As Ruby is on the outside being attended to, Mercedes Martinez goes to confront her, but Thunder Rosa runs out to fight her off to the back.

When we come back, Ruby dodges out of the corner and hits Jade with a couple of running kicks, followed by more kicks and a Saito Suplex attempt, but Jade is able to stop her. As Jade gets whipped to the corner, her knee seems to give out in which Ruby goes right to it with kicks. Jade comes back with a shoulder breaker and a pump kick for a two-count. Jade picks Ruby up in a Fireman’s Carry, but Ruby slips out and tries another Saito Suplex. Jade finally hits the Saito Suplex, as Mark Sterling gets on the apron and gets ejected by Aubrey Edwards. This distraction causes Jade to try the Jaded, which Ruby escapes for a roll-up attempt, followed by the No Future Kick for a two count. Ruby tries another roll-up after a Jaded attempt, before chopping and striking Jade in the corner. Jade gets put on the top rope, where Ruby runs up to try and arm drag her up. Jade catches her and hits an Avalanche Jaded for the pin.

Winner: Jade Cargill by pinfall at 11:13, to become the AEW TBS Champion

The Professor of Professional Wrestling

We go to a sit-down interview with Jim Ross and Serena Deeb where he asks about her rivalry with Hikaru Shida. Deeb says Shida got some fluke victories, so now it’s about her hurting Shida and claiming her top spot in the women’s division. Ross says it seems like Deeb is taking this personally, but he can’t quite put his finger on what it is. Deeb turns it out and asks Ross if there are any women on the roster on her level, to which Ross says no. Deeb says they call her the professor of professional wrestling is because she has a Ph.D. in this shit and today, she walked into Tony Khan’s office and she demanded a match against Shida for next week on Dynamite and will take 17 years of anger and frustration on her to the point where Shida won’t walk out on her own.

Malakai Black vs. Brian Pillman Jr. (w/ Julia Hart)

Julia Hart makes her return by Pillman’s side, wearing an eye patch. Right away Black goes for the Black Mass kick, but Pillman is able to dodge it and hit a dropkick before tossing Black to the outside where Pillman hits a dropkick through the ropes as they go to commercial.

When we come back, Black takes Pillman down with a roundhouse kick before setting up for the Black Mass. Pillman is able to trap Black’s leg though and takedown Black with a couple of clotheslines and getting a two count. Pillman gets up and tries the Air Pillman but lands right into a Black Mass kick.

Winner: Malakai Black by pinfall at 6:01

After the match, Black goes back inside where Julia Hart is trying to help Pillman up, but the Lucha Brothers run out for the save. The lights go off and on and Black and the Lucha Brothers traded spots from the ramp and inside the ring.

Coming Up Short

Ruby Soho is being interviewed backstage by Tony Schiavone following her loss but gets interrupted by Dr. Britt Baker who says she came up short again. Soho points to Rebel and Jamie Hayter and says she can’t beat anybody without their help and brings up not being able to beat Riho ever. She tells Baker to leave them at home and leave her alone, in which Baker attacks Ruby before Riho comes out for the save.

Upcoming Shows

·       Rampage: Adam Cole vs. Jake Atlas

·       Rampage: Daniel Garcia & 2point0 vs. Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz

·       Rampage: Hook vs. Aaron Solo

·       Rampage: Dr. Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter vs. Riho & Ruby Soho

·       Dynamite: CM Punk vs. Wardlow

·       Dynamite: Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb

·       Dynamite: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin

·       Battle of the Belts: Dr. Britt Baker vs. Riho

·       Battle of the Belts: Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara

Stretch Me If You Can

Aaron Solo and QT Marshall are backstage, where Marshall says everybody is talking about Hook, but Hook learned he knows from Marshall at his school and says Hook used to show up to his class late, was lazy, and just ate chips the whole time. Solo said on Rampage, he will stretch him if he can and survive if he lets him.

AEW World Tag Team Championship: Lucha Bros. (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) (c) (w/ Alex Abrahantes) vs. Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus) (w/ Christian Cage)

Rey Fenix and Jungle Boy start the match with suplex and pin attempts before Penta and Luchasaurus tag in as all four men square up. Jungle Boy and Fenix both get kicked out, before Penta does his Ciero Miedo slap to Luchasaurus. All four men come back in and start exchanging strikes and kicks before Jungle Boy attempts to springboard off the ropes, only for Luchasaurus to stop them as Fenix and Jungle Boy both springboard off the ropes instead. Jungle Boy tries a suicide dive attempt but gets tossed onto the apron where Fenix takes him out with a kick as they go to commercial.

When we come back, Fenix stops Jungle Boy with the pin attempt, but Jungle Boy comes back with a lariat. Luchasaurus comes in and attacks both Lucha Brothers, going for a double chokeslam attempt but gets kicked out of it and hits with another double kick to the head. Jungle Boy hits a Canadian Destroyer on Penta, in which Luchasaurus gets a two count on. Jungle Boy tags in, as Fenix hits a destroyer off the ropes to Luchasaurus, while Penta hits the Made in Japan on Jungle boy for a two count. As the Lucha Brothers go for their finisher, the lights go off and on again.  They all start fighting on the apron, where Penta hits the Fear Factor on Jungle Boy, while Fenix dives and takes out Luchasaurus. Penta and Fenix then hit a combination Fear Factor on Jungle Boy, but only get a two. Abrahantes goes and grabs the table from the timekeeper and tells Fenix to use it, before getting chased away by Christian Cage. Fenix and Luchasaurus start fighting on the apron before Penta kicks Luchasaurus a couple of times, but Luchasaurus is able to get him off and catch Fenix, choke slamming him through the table. Penta goes for the Fear Factor on Jungle Boy, but Jungle Boy reverses out and goes for a Killswitch, but Luchasaurus reverses it, only for Jungle Boy to roll-up Penta for the pin and the win.

Winner: Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus) by pinfall at 14:34, to become NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions

As Jurassic Express is celebrating, we see the rest of the AEW tag team roster come out on the entrance ramp to watch as Malakai Black, Chris Jericho, Santana and Ortiz are watching from the crowd.

About John Siino 409 Articles
New York native and reporter at POST Wrestling. He is also Associate Producer at POISONRANA, co-host of 'Collision Course' and the host of the 'Shot in the Dark' podcast.