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This popped me. Also, I have an airtight alibi.

Love the idea of Sato as a huge OC fan.

"We didn't train him for hardcore!"

I love how all these factions are interconnected and fighting each other. It feels like an episode of Oz.

Man, how could I forget that we even got an appearance by Kansas City legend Tech N9ne on this show. I swear to god AEW get's the most random, yet absolutely awesome cameos on their shows. Martin Kove, Tech N9ne, Billy Mitchell, I'd think TK has an implant in my brain and just knows what fancy to tickle.

There's a way to make it work and the way to make it work would have been having Kenny outright punch Hangman and the two of them get into it immediately based on what happened. After that, even if there's some understanding that something more was going on, there's still bad blood.

Sheesh, Vikingo with strong “seeing Rey Mysterio for the first time in 1995” vibes

I dunno what the situation is, but it's Tony Khan's fault. What?

I like Claudio. I like Yuta. Eddie Kingston, ROH Champ, sounds like a hell of a thing though. And I guess Shibata as Pure Champ if they can get dates on him leading into a defense at Forbidden Door?

Love heel BCC. It's tough because the crowd never wants to boo them, but are willing to as long as they are against Hangman (still so over! still such a classic white meat babyface!) and Kenny (a great wrestler). So, tough to make undercard guys off them, because of how beloved they are, but I like them as realistic obstacles for Page etc. I think the Elite are best as heels, but the crowd never wants to let them be that for some reason. Adam Cole should be a face, so I am excited to see him do that even though he is not my cup of tea. Who is the better casual bisexual in AEW? Ricky Starks or Daniel Garcia? Maybe they are both straight! Just going on vibes here. Both charming and terrifying and I think are natural enemies. Would love to see them talk shit at each other and then grapple at a high level. A lot of business with jackets and sunglasses. Toni has a classic "Dick Jacket." I am pro Dick Jackets. Only dicks have these jackets and you know they are dicks because they wear them. Doesn't always work but it does let you know how you should feel about the performer. Billy Kidman's WWE run was a classic example. Love the development of Skye Blue. She has had a really natural growth. Love Pipe Riho. Hope this all becomes Blood and Guts. GTV is stupid but fine. A little dated but that is the nature of pro wrestling. Pulling from Popstar: Never Stop Not Stopping etc. Anything that allows Hobbs to be on the show every week and have people around him to make him a heel is good because nobody wants to boo him because he kicks ass and his book thing is so vague as to be meaningless. Vikingo and Kenny was a delight. I love Kenny (and AJ, in this same way) as a guy you throw into dream matches that the audience will show up to watch. He is not my favorite pro wrestler (or sports entertainer) but I absolutely want to see him wrestle Vikingo or Ibushi or Claudio or Ospreay or many, many other people. But the real superstar who can do any style of match with anyone who shows up from anywhere in the world is Orange Cassidy.

Tangential, but to everyone's point about Vikingo, WWE absolutely CANNOT afford to fuck up Dragon Lee. He has to be a major star within a year if they want to have any chance in future luchador sweepstakes.

You gotta think someone from the E was watching the show tonight and said "Holy shit, we need that guy". I'm dead serious too. Vikingos fluidity and smoothness was unparalleled. The guy doesn't botch. Absolute freak of nature and someone I want to see more of desperately. Can we get Vikingo through the Forbidden Door for a match with Hiromu?

TONY NESE! MARK BRISCOE! Mark Briscoe is so fucking awesome. Briscoe is INSANE bumping off the apron to the floor. Nese crushes Mark's lil Briscoes! Nese does a workout on the abs of Briscoe! Nese looks great in this, a lot having to do with Mark Briscoe. REDNECK KUNG FU! ICONOCLASM! GREAT EXPLOIDER by Briscoe! This match is fucking GREAT! LARIAT! ROLLING DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! TOPROPE ELBOW! That was great. TRUSTBUSTERS! AR FOX! METALIK! BLAKE CHRISTIAN! Yessss! More Slim J! Jeeves Kay looks all peppy in this. ROH is squashless AEW and it RULES! Jeeves Kay and Slim J CHEAT in the corner! Slim J HAS THE BEST PUNCHES IN PRO WRESTLING. Metalik COMES IN HOT! Metalik with the Negro Navarro takedown! Metalik becomes our face in peril! Trustbusters are great Southern tag heels. AR Fox is PREPOSTEROUS as the Man Who Would Make The Hot Tag! DEATHRIDER by Jeeves Kay! A LOT OF STUFF HAPPENS! AR FOX WITH A TOPROPE CUTTER! FOR THE WIN! GATES OF AGONY HIT THE RING! That was a lot of stuff! Lady Frost! Skye Blue! Lady Frost is all graceful and stuff. She kicks Skye dead in the face. A very gymnastic tumbling Cannonball into the corner! Cannonball off the apron to the floor. Lady Frost is all about cannonballs! Skye Blue makes a comeback! GREAT Gymnastic Air Raid Crash by Lady Frost! FOR TWO! Skye Blue makes another comeback and wins with her kinda crappy looking Flatliner. Lady Frost looked fucking GREAT. It's Rhett Titus and Tracy Williams against RUSH and Dralistico! I wonder if Titus will take a bigger assbeating from RUSH than what he took from Minoru Suzuki for the TV title. Tracy Williams is all hard-edged and stuff. OH MAN, RUSH AND WILLIAMS ARE MAGIC TOGETHER! Oh man, this match is fucking GREAT! Tracy Williams is my new secret favorite wrestler in ROH. Behind Shane Taylor. MAN, Rhett Titus and RUSH is fucking great in the ring together. This MATCH IS FUCKING AWESOME! Rhett Titus messes with the bull and gets the horns! Oh man, that was fucking GREAT. And we have a PPV Main Event! It's Matt Taven! He is very underrated. ROH is it's own universe because Dante is hurt but they wrestled the Ass Boys last night! I don't really care. Can Taven get out match out of Darius like Mike Bennett got out of Dante? EVERYBODY CHEATS ON THE OUTSIDE! Man, Taven is so good. The Kingdom are just rock solid wrestlers. This is good. Not as good as Mike Bennett vs Dante, but good. MARIA KANELLIS- BENNETT grabs Darius leg and Taven hits his finisher and wins! That was good. Tony Deppen and Brian Cage have a wrestling match! Brian Cage is made for ROH. He likes a long wrestling match that tells a little story. Cage has a lot of offense to make it interesting as he is beating the heat on Tony Deppen! Deppen makes a comeback! GREAT TOPE by Deppen! Deppen is all fiery and stuff! DRILL CLAW! That was good. POSTMATCH! Gates of Agony takes LIBERTIES with Deppen! FoxMetalikChristian make the save! That'll be fun at the PPV. SHANE motherfucking TAYLOR! YES! FUCK YEAH! It's Silas Young! This should be good. This is good. Shane Taylor WILL FUCKING LAY IT IN! Silas Young is good. Taylor is bumping all over the ring for Young. Great Elbow Drops by Young. TAYLOR FUCKING KILLS HIM WITH A LARIAT! Taylor fucking DESTROYS Young! Young makes a comeback with a STIFF knee to the face! Taylor with a total Fat Boy Splash! FOR TWO! YOUNG GETS TAYLOR UP FOR THE SAMOAN DROP! Taylor CRUSHES Young with a Knee To the Face and THEN a FUCKING TOTALLY GNARLEY K-DRILLER BY TAYLOR FOR THE WIN! SHANE TAYLOR FUCKING RULES THE WORLD! Miranda Alize returns to ROH! Billie Starkz! Space Jesus! Alize is EVIL! Starkz with the Tequila Sunrise Suplex and THEN a wacky TOPE! Alize is a HEAT MACHINE! Miranda rolls into a CROSSFACE! Billie rolls through! Alize hits a NASTY low Rana into a DDT thingy! Billie misses a Swanton! Billie hits a Tombstone for the win! That was great! I know Alize has a lucrative day job but I'd like to see her wrestle more. AUSSIE OPEN! AUSSIE OPEN! AUSSIE OPEN! It's Matt Sydel and Christopher Daniels! Kyle Fletcher and Sydel are good in the ring together. Mark Davis channels his inner Doctor Death Steve Williams. Christopher Daniels throws good punches. Aussie Open are OVER in Orlando! Aussie Open are great at making Daniels and Sydel look like they are killers. GREAT NEARFALL on the Meteora by Daniels! Suplex by Fletcher! Death Valley Driver by Daniels! ANOTHER GREAT NEARFALL as AUSSIE OPEN DESTROYS SYDEL! Daniels with the BLUE THUNDER BOMB! This match is FUCKING GREAT! Aussie Open CRUSH Daniels with the Double pendulum slam thingy! Fucking awesome. It's Cheeseburger! Ready to get demolished by Samoa Joe! Annnnnd Joe destroys him. And DESTROYS HIM AGAIN! ROH SO FUCKING RULES THE MOTHERFUCKING WORLD!

Yes, but what does that have to do with this?

But if I can be serious for a minute ... Did Punk say he wasn't cleared the night he lost to Moxley? But he WOULD be cleared a week and a half later for the PPV? I don't think you flip from "can't hardly walk" to "work a long, debilitating title match" in an instant. If he was good for that then, surely he was good for the squash on TV?

First off, good on Mox for giving Philliam the old “that doesn’t work for me comma brother.” Secondly, I flat out refuse to believe that no one’s ever told Punk they aren’t losing to him before…

AWESOME!

Callus' "doooon't huuuurt meeeee" was some real Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith shit

Honestly the biggest reason I wouldn't want them to go this route is heel Yuta as Pure champ just being dickish and stretching people. It also occurred to me last night that we might finally be getting the Stop The Moxley angle you predicted.

Let this be a lesson to everyone else -- put me on ignore and you miss out on hilarious Simpsons memes!

That sounds like exactly what I saw on TV before the show ended?

Skye Blue v Storm was meat and potatoes wrestling something you can eat every day, Kenny v Viking was like the seven course meal that’s special if you don’t try to do it every day

This match made me realize, I was a little overly harsh on Skye last week when we were talking Jade challengers, and I said that she needed a lot more work - she was really, really good last night except for one notable exception, so I guess the real post I should have made is: 'Skye should stop doing that crouching-crossover-enziguri thing, cause it looks like she's underwater - and everything else is looking more crisp with every outing; good on her' Of course, dance partners matter - so obvious kudos to Storm here as well

Rey was 20 when he debuted against Malenko in WCW. In a sense there is much similarity between that match and Kenny v Vikingo, albeit total products of each time periods respective style. Rey however, was three times the worker Vikingo is and he has to strike more balance for longevity sake. Yes the match was designed as a total showcase for Vikingo, but I’ve seen enough of him prior to know it’s a regular pattern. Absolutely he is money but there has to be more than big spot, sell, big spot. Admire Kenny giving the whole match over to him and it was wildly entertaining. Given his lengthy rehab, Kenny really needs to stop with the multiple high angle bumps however, it’s just too much. Not MOTYC for me but I did love it for what is was.

I don't care how much they want, give AAA whatever amount of money they ask for so you can have Vikingo full time in AEW.

Some one took out the bucks… has anyone seen @just drew?

I lost my God damn write up fucking shit. attempt two: —- When AEW was first announced I had hoped we’d get these exciting special matches from luchadores like we’d see on Nitro (not me though, I was a WWF kid). In addition to Joshi crossover and New Japan/ DDT appearances/ excursions. I’m glad we can get Vikingo randomly on tv and Riho running around with a pipe. —— I loved the opening with the ambulance. Page staying with the Bucks and even traveling to the hospital with them while Don Callis pulls Kenny away so he can focus on his match. I hope this leads to an exiled Callis seeking revenge in the Elite with a newly mean Cinnabon-hatin Takeshita. ——- woah. I like this. Especially if it it a swerve and we expect it to be Danielson but we get a Punk return again (like at Quake by the Lake. Cult of Wiiiiild Thing, you make my Personality sing Based on my vast knowledge of Blackpool (so they dye their pools black, huh?) it is basically Atlantic City. I’ve seen enough episodes of Boardwalk Empire to know there is always drama. That’s why they were always slapping each other. ——— I still have a lot to watch and we’re still so early in the year, but… My match of the year is: MJF vs Bryan Danielson. I was very moved by it. —— I’m a fan of story progression after a match as long as it is after and not in place of a finish.

I'm not huge on spotfests but if you're gonna do one... then fuck it, go all out. Vikingo was bringing the early ECW/WCW Mysterio feelings back. Great to see Omega back in singles action again too. I've enjoyed the last two Dynamites. They are setting up some longterm stories too.

Wow, that’s a spot on description for how I’m feeling. Just unreal.

Interesting rope color change, Americana.

Ok, but let's do Orange Cassidy vs. Suzuki before we stop having him in.

we got this match once

I'm getting my discussion of the endless Punk drama out of my system now. God forbid we get to enjoy the afterglow of a well-received Dynamite or anything like that. CM Punk has the right to tell his side of the story and Meltzer continues to look dumb. But if Punk really managed to make enemies out of The Elite, Jericho and Moxley that quickly then why the hell would he even want to come back? How are you gonna defend yourself against accusations of being a "locker room cancer" when you literally made foes out of every single AEW World Champion up until that point?

Also, rename Blackpool Combat Club to the Cincinnati Combat Club Punishers...

Last night's show was really good. I had never seen Vikingo wrestle before so it was a real treat. I really hope FTR isn't going out by losing to The Gunn's. The Gunn's are getting so much XPac heat it's not even funny. That would just be terrible if they lost and left AEW that way. I like BCC going all heel with the beatdowns. Those Blackpool Wrestling pullover's they had on looked really swank. Overall a great show last night. The red/white/blue ropes were weird though.

2 of Starfleet's most famous and highly decorated Captain's, in the same building as a (presumably more stable) Genesis Torpedo and an advanced version of the Human/Synth hybrid that we already know works. Nothing nefarious Section 31 can do with those things at all. I get why Picard's remains would be valuable to the Changelings, but, ya'know, a fucking Genesis Torpedo exists. Daystrom doesn't seem like something you want to leave as lightly guarded as it was.

Christopher and Taylor were such good stooges. The platonic ideal of Memphis heels, dirty fighters always looking for a shortcut and never afraid to embarrass themselves to get the face over in the comeback.

You know how YUTA had to wrestle Danielson (and fight Moxley) to get initiated into the BCC? Wouldn't it be cool if the backstage beatdown on Stu Grayson was stage 2 of him getting jumped in, and he's now the new 4th member on the sly?

Also, for the comedy bits. "You weren't the legal man, you need to hold the tag rope to be tagged in!" "There's no tag ropes backstage!" "That's NOT MY PROBLEM. It's in the rulebook. You need to be holding a tag rope." "Fine.. Hangman, you got a rope I can borrow? See, I'm holding a rope." "Ok, close enough. You're the legal man now" Bonus points if it's Rick Knox, because we know he's such a stickler for the letter of the rulebooks...

Man, that one, out of all the craziness (because the match was fucking CRAZY, and also because that moment was simple and awesome) made so much sense. What a great match. And I was never on the Kenny bandwagon, but him playing under-acting, stiff-ass heel the entire match and then face getting jumped, was perfect work. Vikingo is absolutely MADE in North America now. No question. And he deserves it.

I probably underrate Kenny as an all timer if I’m honest with myself. Dude can go have this match, go have a Frank Gotch match with Danielson, can go bleed with Mox, can go do a five star tag. His greatness doesn’t give a shit what kind of match it is.

My top three MOTY looks like: 3. Kenny Omega vs. El Hijo Del Vikingo. AEW Dynamite, 22nd March. *****. 2. MJF vs. Bryan Danielson. AEW Revolution, 5th March. *****. 1. Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay. NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, 4th January. *****. Might switch #1 and #2 round.

Starting off surprisingly because @Matt D books DYNAMITE NOW! - as the Young Bucks and Hangman Page are carted off to hospital! To be operated on by Doctor Konosuke Takeshita! NOW! It's Orange Cassidy! Darby Allin! STING! The Butcher and the Blade! Kip Sabian is added because someone has to lose! Tony Schiavonne has to be reminded by TAZ that Tony is a dope some times. STING takes a back bump at his age. Sting rules. Allin tags in, Penelope Ford distracts the ref and Allin assumes the role of our face in peril! I await the International Feed because Kip Sabian appears to be a total HEAT MACHINE in picture in picture. The Butcher sinks in a Texas Cloverleaf as we are distracted by the Big New Yorker Pizza. Orange Hot Tag! STING channels Orange Cassidy! Allin goes CRAZY on Butcher and the Blade! STING hits a Scorpion Death Drop on Kip Sabian! That was a hoot! Dante Martin! Darius Martin! Colton Gunn! Austin Gunn! Colton is sporting a Pretty Deadly-esque top! AWESOME! The Ass Boys are FUCKING AWESOME bumping for Top Flight. Colton CHEATS to get Dante to assume our face in peril. Colton CHEATS even more in picture in picture! The Gunns are great heels, cutting off the ring! Darius is waaaaay fun as a house afire! GREAT NEARFALL ON THE NOSEDIVE! THE KINGDOM! DANTE DIVES ON THEM! 310 TO YUMA! GUNNS WIN! GUNNS WIN! FTR! DID THEY SIGN OR DIDN'T THEY! This is fun. FTR versus Pretty Deadly! Coming soon! OR FTR versus the AEW Pretty Deadly, the Gunns, for eternity! Stokely Hathaway takes on Hook! How can Stokely win? Stokely is a BUMP MACHINE! Stokely with a fire extinguisher! Hook with a Exploider onto the guardrail! Red Rum! Next up- Hook versus Ethan Page! Adam Cole is the most over guy in AEW! Daniel Garcia is a HEAT MACHINE! LOCKER ROOM LEADER! Well THAT'LL be fun! I LOVE that the more evil and bastardly the Blackpool Combat Club becomes, the more OVER they become. They ARE the new Four Horsemen! Stu Grayson! This is quite the slobberknocker! MAN! GREAT GOTCH STYLE PILEDRIVER in picture in picture. JESUS! MOX is fucking LAYING IT IN! GRAYSON is AWESOME on his comeback! 450 by STU! FOR TWO! MOX counters into a Bulldog Choke! STU with a Cannonball into the corner! TOPROPE DEATHRIDER! That was fucking great! BCC is EEEEVIL! PENTA! versus POWERHOUSE HOBBS! Many on the board will be ANNOYED! It's Skye Blue! She gets to get the hell beaten out of her by Toni Storm! Ruby Soho wearing leather paunts! SO EVIL! Soho and Saraya CHEAT at ringside! Toni Storm is so fucking AWESOME. She is totally laying it in and alos making Skye Blue look like a threat on offense. GREAT punch by Skye onto the face of Ruby Soho. Storm beats on Skye to get the crowd behind her STRUGGLE to escape the IMMENSE STIFFNESS of Toni Storm! Skye has a good comeback! VISUAL PIN BY SKYE! WRECKED EM! GERMAN! STORM ZERO! RIHO WITH A PIPE! HOLY SHIT! JAKE HAGAR vs BRODIE KING! MOX ATTACKS STU! AGAIN! El Hijo del Vikingo is wearing a GREAT helmet! I'm so glad Kenny Omega is back to being a singles wrestler. Well THIS is going to RULE! Kenny gives Vikingo EVERYTHING to start. FISHERMAN BUSTER by Kenny! Kenny is all about the backbreakers! Kenny is redoing his Will Ospreay match by beating the shit out of Vikingo! Crazy Monkey Flip onto the apron. So that is called a Dragon Rana? THIS MATCH HAS GONE FUCKING INSANE! V TRIGGER! SNAP DRAGON! INSANEST POISON RANA EVER! HOLY FUCK! 360 THROUGH THE TABLE! GREAT FUCKING NEARFALLS! V TRIGGER! ONE WING ANGEL! So. Fucking. GREAT. BCC ATTACKS KENNY! HANGMAN! Kenny has a Mr Furley moment! AEW RULES THE MOTHERFUCKING WORLD!

That main was.... fucking bananas

We already had a reimagining of Day of the Jackal where Jack Black got his arm blown off by a cannon so I don't know how they'll improve on that.