That was another really fun show.
Didn't have any major technical issues watching via FITE, only thing I noticed was the sound on the MJF inset promo took a few seconds to cross over from the entrance music to MJF, that should've been done quicker but we heard
Opening with Mox quickly murdering HBK was a good way to go, instant crowd pleaser and the crowd stayed hot all the way to the end of the main event. Jericho and the Circle come out to face Mox and we get a nice serious Jericho promo where Jericho brings up his and Moxley's past experiences with each other, I'm glad they showed restraint here and Jericho didn't shoot on any of the dumb stuff WWE made them do. And it helped set up the first AEW show of next year. Good stuff all round.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Cody/B&B match, we all knew the result coming in, Cody wasn't gonna lose himself and B&B weren't gonna lose their first match either so the match really came down to QT Marshall. The guy is a nobody, people forgot that he's been on Dynamite before, but he impressed early on and got "Cody's partner" chants lol. He has played a heel previously in AEW but here he was a face and fans bought into him the longer the match went on and popped big for a dive to the outside. B&B rightly won, QT rightly takes the fall, Cody is distraught but Darby Allin comes out to pick Cody up and tell him he still has allies.
That was followed up by giving MJF a live mic and he really took advantage of his opportunity and showed what an incredible little asshole he truly is. Mocking the fans. Got some tech crew up to kiss his ring and then mocked Cody's lisp. MJF was great here and on January 1, he will announce the stipulations he wants in his eventual match with Cody.
A new Dark Order promo featuring HBK in a hotel room and the Join Dark Order advert is on TV and it speaks directly to HBK asking him if he's fed up of being a jobber. Short and sweet. Dark Order is now officially teasing actual wrestlers joining them now. The new logo is great.
Really enjoyed Swole/Sakura, I think it got 10 mins or so? I was never bored. This was another showpiece match up for a new AEW signing and much like Statlander, Swole really impressed, particularly with her personality and charisma. Swole going James Brown on Emi's Freddy was a fun moment.
Omega/Page vs Sabian/Spears was a fun match with clear Page heel turn foreshadowing.
I loved Hangman's entrance infographic "Drank a bottle of whisky home alone last week". That had me rolling for a good min.
This crowd was really into Page, from the second his music popped, even got a standing ovation for one sequence he had with Spears and Sabian. Penelope Ford got moments to shine attacking the faces while the ref was distracted (don't go overboard and book her in a 1 on 1 match AEW please). Everyone looked at least good here, even Spears.
Only thing I didn't like about the match was Janela's angle with Tully. No problem with Janela going after Tully, even if it did come across as kind of a heel move, but it was the lights going out to do the angle. AEW are using the lights going out too much. I guess it was supposed to be Joey using Spears entrance against Spears but at the time it didn't feel that way and the crowd didn't react to it either so I think you can only consider this angle a fail really.
A Brandi Rhodes promo followed that up and there sure was some shooting on particular members of the women's division involved here (minus Stat) but did it help? Eh. She teased a new member, a bald male but she hid his face, was it a fully shaved head Havoc? I couldn't tell.
At some point during the show they announce that Riho will defend the title on January 1. Good to have her back. Also announced for next week that Britt and Stat will fight to be #1 contender. Two issues with this. Britt lost her last shot and hasn't done much since. And why isn't Shida in the match? At least make it a triple threat. Shida loses one match to Stat and that's it? Out of the title picture? Bollocks decision.
Luchasaurus and Sammy had a match. Sammy jumped and bumped a lot. Luchasaurus got the win. It wasn't a squash but the result felt inevitable. Jericho was on commentary putting over Jurassic Express even though he doesn't like them. Good. If you call a guy a loser and then you beat him then you've only beaten a loser and it means nothing. Loved Jungle Boy unofficially pinning Jericho in the brawl and then offscreen Jericho interrupting the announcers to confirm it was unofficial.
Oh look AEW is running a show in Chicago, bet they regret that now after that crowd reception two weeks ago.
Main event time and, while it wasn't as nasty as Mox/Omega or the CBC, it was a fun street fight. Loved the helmet spot and the visual of the garbage can bending with Nick inside as PnP pummel the sides of it. Favorite moment of the match was Nick apologising to Aubrey for pulling her out of the ring to break up the 3 count.
Really fun show that set up a whole bunch of stuff for shows for the immediate and long term future. Can't complain.
