AEW Dynamite Review — 11.16.2022 — Full Gear Go-Home Show
The Final Wednesday Night Before AEW Full Gear 2022 From Newark, New Jersey!
Following last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, an edition of the show that left fans split in regard to the quality of the show, AEW would return with the go-home edition of AEW Dynamite ahead of the AEW Full Gear PPV this Saturday, November 19, live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (tickets are still available to purchase here). With it being one of the company’s final shows before the event, tonight’s card would feature AEW Interim Women’s Champion, Toni Storm, facing off against Anna Jay A.S. in an Eliminator Match, Sammy Guevara & ROH World Champion, Chris Jericho, against Claudio Castagnoli & Bryan Danielson, Anthony Bowens vs Swerve Strickland, a number of promos, from Saraya, Britt Baker, Samoa Joe, Jon Moxley, and MJF, and an AEW World Trios Championship Match between Death Triangle and Top Flight & AR Fox, ahead of the PPV! Would this week’s episode be able to live up to some of the best episodes of AEW Dynamite? Let’s talk about it!
So sit back, and enjoy this review of AEW Dynamite from November 16th, 2022! SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE OF AEW DYNAMITE AHEAD, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Claudio Castagnoli & Bryan Danielson vs Sammy Guevara & ROH World Champion Chris Jericho
Kicking off tonight’s action would be a preview tag-team match for the upcoming Ring of Honor World Championship 4-Way at AEW Full Gear. At the PPV, Chris Jericho will defend the ROH World Title against Sammy Guevara, Bryan Danielson, & Claudio Castagnoli, with dissension amongst the Blackpool Combat Club members and a potential tease of some tension between Jericho & Guevara being the selling points of this match. With this being yet another bout in the overly-long JAS v BCC feud that has dominated much of AEW programming in 2022, this would explode quickly with brawling at ringside before Claudio & Danielson would dominate the heels with stereo Hammer & Anvil Elbows! Great wrestling would follow for the opening half of this, though heading into the first break, Jericho would blindside Danielson with his baseball bat while Aubrey was dealing with Guevara, giving the lads from The Appreciation Society the upperhand.
Back from the break, Danielson would give the hot tag to Claudio who would run roughshod over both Sammy & Chris, showing off his power and intensity, finishing the sequence by nailing a springboard spinning uppercut for a two count. Following an attempted Giant Swing, Guevara would nail Claudio with a superkick that sent Jericho into the corner, with the Champion flying off into a roll-up into the Walls of Jericho while Sammy took out Danielson with a crazy dive! This was a wild sequence to see. Danielson & Sammy would score the tags, coming into fight following their 2-Out-Of-3 Falls Match, with Danielson laying into Guevara with the buzzsaw kicks. An eye rake and jumping knee would allow Sammy to nearly score with the GTH, though Bryan would evade, locking in the Lebel Lock, with Sammy getting his foot to the bottom rope.
Both Sammy & Bryan would head up top, with The American Dragon looking for a Superplex! Sammy would bite the head, preventing the spot, as he would send Danielson back into the ring with a springboard cutter into a lionsault from Jericho! Claudio would break it up at the last moment, before leveling Sammy with a super uppercut! A mid-ring collision would send Danielson and Jericho both down in the center of the ring, as Bryan would tag in and wipe out Guevara on the floor with a dive! Jericho would try to use the bat, but Castagnoli caught him in the Giant Swing, before locking in the Sharpshooter. CHRIS JERICHO TAPPED OUT!
My Thoughts:
This was a super-duper fun opener. Even with this feud going on far, far too long, this PPV 4-Way is at least something new. There’s new dynamics at play with Jericho wanting Guevara to lay down for him, and while Claudio clearly has Jericho’s number, Danielson does not. The two BCC members are seemingly at odds personally right now (in storyline), and that will likely all come to a head at this weekend’s PPV with a possible Blackpool Combat Club implosion! As for the match, there were a to of great sequences throughout, with Sammy & Jericho putting together some great tag-team offense. Now please for the love of god, let this JAS vs BCC feud end.
Coming back from commercial, a Darby Allin vignette would air, showcasing him crowd surfing in a Body Bad before being picked up by Sting in the middle of the desert. Sting says that at Full Gear… It’s Showtime! Lethal, Jarrett, Satnam, and Sonjay would be backstage, with Double J saying that at Full Gear, it’s going to be Sting’s last time.
Swerve Strickland vs Anthony Bowens
Ahead of the third chapter of Swerve In Our Glory vs The Acclaimed this weekend, Swerve Strickland and Anthony Bowens would go one-on-one on Dynamite, with a music video premiere from The Acclaimed. This would feature the AEW debut of Paul Wight’s Captain Insano, as well as parodies of Keith Lee and Swerve. The rap would feature lines about the way Keith speaks, Swerve being sneaky and a D List celebrity, and bringing up how the fans turned on Swerve In Our Glory beginning at All Out. The fans have fully embraced Strickland as a heel at this point, with his attack on Daddy Ass heavily helping it, as before the match, Billy Gunn and Swerve would get into it, allowing Bowens to take control to kick things off.
While he spent a decent amount of the year sidelined with an injury, before going down, Anthony Bowens was turning heads with a number of singles matches, including an impressive showing against Bryan Danielson. This would be another showcase for current AEW Tag Team Champion, as he would not only get to show off some great offense, but his strong selling ability. After taking control, Strickland would get drowned in boos while setting up his Step-Up Kick, though it would only score a nearfall! Swerve would stomp on Bowens’ shoulder in a very nasty-looking spot, allowing him to nail the Swerve Stomp for another big-time narfall. Bowens would look for a roll-up, but Sneaky Swerve would catch him with the JML Driver for the win.
My Thoughts:
This was yet another good match on the show tonight, with it feeling like a showcase for the future of the company with both Bowens and Strickland being two stars with major potential outside of the tag-team division. Bowens is a highly underrated wrestler in this company and this match showed that, while Swerve continues to impress on a weekly basis.
A vignette would air for the AEW TBS Women’s Championship Match at Full Gear, detailing the feud between Nyla Rose & Jade Cargill over the past several weeks. While the feud has been not-really-great, this did a good job at making it look good.
Samoa Joe Speaks
Following his shocking (or not-so-shocking) heel turn against Wardlow last week, Samoa Joe would be interviewed in the center of the ring. Before being able to speak, Joe would receive loud “Wardlow” chants before beginning to explain his actions. The ROH TV Champion would claim that Wardlow ran his mouth every week without realizing that he was the most dangerous man in the room. If anyone disagrees, they can take it up with him. Powerhouse Hobbs would arrive on the scene to step up to Samoa Joe, saying that for the past several weeks, he’s been the one targeting Wardlow lately. The TNT Champ’s music would hit, as he would take out Joe from behind, with Hobbs coming in as a three-way brawl would break out with the locker room heading out to try and break things up. Wardlow would stand tall following an insane dive over the top-rope for the big man!
Back from commercial break, Britt Baker would speak, letting Saraya know that over the past 3 years, she went from a nervous, “happy to be here girl” to the face of the division. As the leader of the division, she has taken so much blame while becoming her own role model. She took the opportunity that she was given until she became undeniable. She didn’t wrestle in Madison Square Garden, but she wrestled in Daily’s Place for over a year while the fans couldn’t come, as AEW kept the fire burning during an era that Saraya will never know. She respects that Saraya paved the way for Britt, that she came back from drug addiction and a neck injury, but this business owes her nothing. Baker won’t stand by while she is belittled, and she is the heart, soul, and pulse of AEW. It is Britt’s house.
This was a fantastic promo from Britt.
Death Triangle vs Top Flight & AR Fox — AEW World Trios Championship Match
Arguably the hottest match coming into tonight’s show, Death Triangle would put the AEW World Trios Titles on the line against a reunited Top Flight, with Darius Martin back from injury, and AR Fox! While there would not be much story behind this bout, it had the attention of fans for obvious reasons following teases of the returning Elite over the past few weeks. Darius Martin would jump into the deep end, starting against Fenix as the two would wrestle to a stalemate before tagging out to their respective brothers. Not to be outdone, Dante Martin would go crazy against Penta with his athleticism before tagging in AR Fox who got a great reception from the fans as he would face off against PAC. Death Triangle would take control, taking it to Top Flight and nailing Fox with a triple-team move to head into the commercial break.
During the break, PAC would keep control over AR Fox, though Fox would get the tag to Darius Martin, allowing for Top Flight to get some crazy double-team offense in on Fenix and PAC, including what could only be described as a super-leapfrog. The Martin brothers would take it to Death Triangle with a pair of dives, setting up Fox for a wild-looking flipping springboard senton! Fox would take Fenix off the rop rope, before landing a huge 450 Splash for a nearfall! PAC & Penta would take out Top Flight, as Fenix would take out Fox with a heel kick, opening the gates for the Fear Factor from Penta, a huge dive from Fenix to keep Top Flight down, and a Black Arrow from PAC on AR Fox to retain the belts!
After the match, PAC would ask the fans if they think Death Triangle are stupid. They’ve seen the videos, and if any people in the company think they can make their return to the company and dethrone them, they are mistaken. Death Triangle runs from nobody, and they have zero fear. This Saturday… DEATH TRIANGLE VS THE ELITE! PAC warns them that they have been waiting for them.
My Thoughts:
While the crowd was not as hot as some AEW crowds, they came to life throughout this, including giving a great reception to AR Fox during his Dynamite debut. This got pretty bonkers in the end and was a great way to reestablish Top Flight who have not teamed in 7 months. AEW would also confirm what fans expected; The Elite are back and they are returning at Full Gear to challenge Death Triangle for the AEW World Trios Championship! Very exciting stuff. Now please offer AR Fox a contract Tony!
Ricky Starks would address Lance Archer ahead of their AEW World Title Eliminator Match this Friday, saying that on Rampage, they should start their fight backstage.
Ethan Page vs Bandido — AEW World Championship Eliminator
Ethan & Stokely would arrive, saying that no matter who walks out of the PPV as AEW Champion, at Winter is Coming, he’s next. Bandido would try to take control early on here, attempting to get the best of Ethan in the early going, even scoring a deadlift suplex that looked great! Back from break, Bandido would break out of Page’s control that was gained during the commercial, sending Ethan to the floor before flying high with a massive moonsault off the corner post! Back in the ring, Bandido would fly off the top rope with a spinning tornilo for a big two count, with it being a very, very cool move. The 21-Plex would get looked for, but Ethan Page would hang onto the rope, launching himself off the ropes with a flying cutter for his own nearfall. Up top, Ethan would look for the deadly Avalanche Ego’s Edge, but Bandido would escape with a huge hurricanrana! Frog Splash from Bandido for another crazy nearfall, leading to a fantastic reaction shot from Hathaway.
Bandido would get crotched on the top rope, falling nasty-like as Ethan would then climb, with the two meeting up there once more. Page would body slam the luchador off the top rope before leveling him with a crazy torpedo shoulder tackle, following up with the Ego’s Edge. Ethan Page moves onto the AEW World Championship Eliminator Finals!
My Thoughts:
This was yet another very, very strong match on this episode, with Bandido continuing to prove that he is a major signing for AEW. Seriously, we now have Kenny Omega & Bandido in the same company. We need to get a singles match between these two at some point. Ethan Page is being elevated, and as someone familiar with his work in Impact Wrestling, this is a great thing! Page is money and this World Title Eliminator Tournament being used to elevate him and Ricky Starks is great to see. The final sequence from Ethan here was nuts, as was Bandido’s counter for the top-rope Ego’s Edge!
Saraya & Renee Young would appear backstage with the two talking about her return to the ring for the first-time in nearly five years. She was told it was never going to happen, but now we’re here. Saraya says that she chose to be here. She wants to beat the best in AEW, and that’s Baker.
Dueling promos from Eddie Kingston & Ortiz and Konosuke Takeshita & Jun Akiyama would air, with Eddie selling this as a dream match for himself. This feels like we could be getting Akiyama vs Kingston at the PPV. Yes.
Toni Storm vs Anna Jay A.S.
Originally scheduled as a match between Toni Storm and The Bunny, this would be changed earlier today following Allie coming down with sickness. Early on here, Toni would send Anna across the ring with a boot into the corner and a monkey flip, before the champ would eat a backcracker and a sliding kick to the head to give Jay control into the break. Returning from the picture-in-picture, Toni & Anna would trade blows to a fairly-engaged crowd, with Toni winning the exchange and taking Anna down with a Thesz Press before just nailing her across the back, following up with a lariat and a fisherman suplex for a two count! The hip attack would send Anna reeling on the floor, though the younger lady would lay out Toni with a series of gory-bomb facebusters for a nearfall. Commentary would do a great job to sell Anna as a threat, noting that she’s only lost 4 matches in 2022. Toni would nail Anna with another hip attack in the corner before locking in the Texas Cloverleaf, forcing Anna to tap out!
Following the win for Toni, Jamie Hayter would strut down the ramp with Britt Baker and Rebel in tow. Hayter & Storm would come face-to-face in the ring, with Toni holding the belt high as they would go chest to chest, with Jamie backing off as Toni would stand tall to end the segment!
My Thoughts:
This was nothing to write home about compared to the rest of the show, but it was Anna Jay’s best showing in quite some time, especially since becoming a heel. Toni Storm continues to be the pinnacle of the division, and with her set to face off against Jamie Hayter this Saturday, the same night as Saraya vs Britt Baker and Nyla Rose vs Jade Cargill, the division feels more alive than ever.
Jon Moxley & MJF Close The Show!
For the first time in forever, AEW would close the show not with a match, but with a talking segment, as Jon Moxley, William Regal, and MJF would be set for the main event of the show. Moxley has traveled the world and has sought out the hardest challenges while defining the AEW World Championship. While the announcers may say that Moxley’s fighting spirit is admirable, it’s not a good thing. He is sick in the head. He is addicted to the pain and the violence, he loves it! Moxley notes that MJF has only won one match in the last six months, took a summer vacation, and had a ladder match win given to him while wearing a Halloween mask. Mox sees a man that lives in fear, that maybe he won’t live up to the hype. This weekend at Full Gear, fans are going to see the World Champion challenge MJF, as he wants Max to show him why everyone thinks he’s going to be the future of the industry. Stokely Hathaway would walk down the ramp as The Firm would attack Moxley and William Regal.
MJF’s music would hit, as the man challenging for the AEW World Championship would make his way out, laying out Austin and Colten Gunn before moving onto Lee Moriarty. Max would low blow Morrissey and Ethan Page, laying out The Firm one by one. Regal and MJF would standoff as Max said that he saved him because he doesn’t want Moxley’s fans to make excuses for him this weekend when he beats Mox without the Dynamite Diamond Ring. The Greatest Trick that the Devil Ever Pulled, was making the world believe he didn’t exist. This weekend, Max proves that he’s the Devil. Moxley gets back up and cuts off MJF’s catchphrase. He says that this weekend, we’ll all find out if Max has what it takes to be what the fans want him to be. This Saturday, the training wheels come off.
Overall Thoughts:
This was genuinely a fantastic episode of Dynamite. It felt like it was all killer, no filler, with it delivering the goods as one of the final two stops ahead of Full Gear this weekend. Filled with some great in-ring action, great storyline development, and all-around great promo work from all involved, AEW knocked it out of the park this week after a string of somewhat polarizing episodes of Dynamite. This weekend, the company runs AEW Rampage live from the Prudential Center on Friday night before returning the following night for AEW Full Gear. I will be in attendance for both nights, so if you’re going to the shows, lemme know!
Pros:
- Opening Tag Match was super fun!
- Swerve vs Bowens
- The Acclaimed’s Music Video
- Death Triangle vs Top Flight & AR Fox, yes yes yes yes
- Ethan Page vs Bandido!
- Britt Baker’s Promo
- Samoa Joe’s Promo
- The Elite are back!
- Toni Storm continues a strong reign as AEW Interim Women’s Champion
- Anna Jay had a good match!
- A fantastic show-ending promo from MJF & Jon Moxley, with lots of intrigue surrounding the main event of the PPV thanks to The Firm, William Regal, & MJF as a whole.
Cons:
- I really don’t have any this week…
AEW Dynamite, November 16th, 2022 Overall Rating: 9 out of 10
AEW Rampage — Friday, November 18th, 2022
- Lance Archer vs Ricky Starks — AEW World Title Eliminator First Round Match
- Eddie Kingston & Ortiz vs Konosuke Takeshita & Jun Akiyama
- Lee Moriarty vs Hook — FTW Championship Match
- Athena vs Madison Rayne
AEW Full Gear — Friday, November 19, 2022:
- Jon Moxley vs MJF — AEW World Championship Match
- Toni Storm vs Jamie Hayter — AEW Interim Women’s World Championship Match
- Death Triangle vs The Elite — AEW World Trios Championship Match
- Ethan Page vs ??? — AEW World Title Eliminator Finals
- The Acclaimed vs Swerve In Our Glory — AEW World Tag Team Championship Match
- Jade Cargill vs Nyla Rose — AEW TBS Women’s Championship Match
- Saraya vs Britt Baker
- Sting & Darby Allin vs Jay Lethal & Jeff Jarrett
- Wardlow vs Powerhouse Hobbs vs Samoa Joe — TNT Championship Match
- Chris Jericho vs Claudio Castagnoli vs Bryan Danielson vs Sammy Guevara — Ring of Honor World Championship Match
- Luchasaurus vs “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry — Steel Cage Match
TICKETS ARE STILL ON SALE FOR AEW FULL GEAR AND CAN BE FOUND HERE!
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