AEW Dynamite tonight comes to us from the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, MO.  After last week drawing 800,000 & 0.28 in the 18-49 demo.  That’s the lowest audience since May; there was also a lot of DVR weirdness and such.

Anyway, some pissing contest we have going tonight right?  My urine’s got no ads!  Well mine’s got no ads and goes ten minutes longer!  My God.

*****

We’ll start with the ‘Buy In’ even though there’s nothing to buy.  Since I’m nothing if not thorough.  Or possibly because Danielson & Suzuki had a beast of a clash on one of these a couple years back.  Reader’s choice.

From the ramp, RJ City and Renee really emphasized this was the ‘biggest Dynamite in history’, pushed the ad-free thing and overrun.  Also fairly sure Renee called BCG the ‘Gang Gang Bang’, so maybe knows something we don’t.

To Schiavone, Excalibur and Taz who threw to:

Edward Kingston vs Murder Granpa (NJPW Strong & ROH Titles)

Backstory: None

Suzuki got his full extended theme and a big pop. Crowd shots tight again.  Fans equally happy to see Herr Kingston.  Loud ‘Eddie’ chants.

Bell rings, the two in opposite corners, more chants for Kingston as he immediately pulled his singlet down and the test of manhood commenced: flesh smacking, dudes yelling, crowd clapping as Suzuki asked for one to the face.  Smiling through it to chants of ‘Suz-u-ki’ and knocking Eddie down via open palm.

Lifting him up to land a straight right, Kingston’s legs wobbly before again collapsing.  Then going to work on the champ’s fingers.  ‘Mur-der Gran-pa!’ from the crowd as he dismissively kicked Eddie against the ropes.  Then back to the chop fight – as Jarrett and all his goons were shown watching – from the serious and sublime to the stupid & s*****.

Kingston made the mistake of flipping off the vet and saw the offending finger mauled.  Yet more stiff chops, Kingston coming out better, Suzuki stumbling to the corner in pain, machine guns next, Suzuki walking through them to the center.

(Rather than sell the physicality, Excalibur made a catering joke about steak.  Which’d be fine if he wouldn’t have done the exact same thing on broadcast television.)

Again he walked through machine guns, screaming ‘hit me!’ until being backed to the corner again, wild swing missing, exploder suplex from Kingston for two.  Suzuki came back – boot in the corner, stiff kick with Eddie on his knees, the champ fired up, popped back up into a seated position, Suzuki nailed another kick to the chest, rinse and repeat, count of two for Suzuki.

Chest bright red, Suzuki beckoned the champ to throw even more chops: another battle ensued – Suzuki cackling maniacally, throwing forearms, Kingston firing up; Suzuki landed a flurry in which there was not a hint of daylight, Kingston hit the deck.  Schiavone mentioned there hadn’t been many pin attempts – Excalibur quipped, ‘Is JR here?’.

They then showed Jarrett and etc.  Again.

Back to Kingston stuck in a choke, Gotch-style coming, Kingston tilted his weight, back body drop, Uriken, two only.  Kingston in disbelief.  Suzuki drop stepped behind, took another Uriken and kicked out at one.  With authority.  A third Uriken, Suzuki’s head dropped but nothing else.  Ducked a fourth, took a fifth, then an enziguri and northern lights bomb as Kingston retained.

Very physical, a good watch but a little chop heavy.

Back to Jarrett and etc.  Poor Eddie.

Suzuki struggled back into the ring, the two came to the middle, crowd chanting for the vet, who clapped the champ, fired another chop to the chest, Kingston reciprocated, then the two hugged.  Unique.  And entertaining.  Hard to think of a bigger disparity in wrestling than going from this to Jarrett.

Kingston hit the announce booth and told us watching to not ‘be idiots’ so we should ‘watch Dynamite’.  He wrapped Taz in a big, sweaty hug.  Then flipped off RJ and high-fived Renee.  Very fun, a little house show-y, like we’re getting a peek behind the curtain.

Winner: Eddie Kingston

Tony Khan with an announcement.  An ‘unfortunate one’ – Moxley isn’t cleared.  Fenix will defend the title – Hook wandered in to say it should be against Cassidy.  Khan agreed, asked Orange what he thought – Cassidy feigned being disinterested but when pushed made it clear he wanted the match.

He wished Khan happy birthday; Hook gave Khan a Dorito.  Glad they’re being careful with Mox, who wasn’t cleared as of Sunday so tonight always seemed a risk.

Dynamite Starts Here

Christian Cage in the truck to intro the ‘biggest Dynamite ever’; fitting since he’s the biggest star.  As for the next contender to his title – if Swerve wins he cost their team at All In; Danielson thinks he’s the best – Cage’s title says otherwise.  And Copeland/Luchasaurus is main eventing.

Well that’s a shame.  There was me wondering which out of BD/Swerve or White/Page would close the show.

Cage claimed it was him who’d got the show to be ad free since he’s such a big star – nice touch – he barked at the guys in the truck to start the show, they did.

Bryan Danielson vs Swerve Strickland

Backstory: Winner faces Christian for the TNT Title on Collision

Interesting to see how this goes down.  Assume Danielson wins but that’d hurt Swerve after a big win.  My guess is he and Page cost one-another tonight.  Excalibur now said ’30 mins plus’ would be commercial free.

‘Swerve’s House’ chants as the two locked up, Danielson wrestling Strickland to the mat, pinning his shoulders for early one-counts.  Strickland reciprocated, Danielson monkey flipped free – the two locked eyes, crowd clapping, nice start.

The two rolled through leg lock attempts, duelling chants, to their feet, Swerve got the rope break then paintbrushed Danielson.  Not smart.  Danielson hit back harder.  Strickland landed on his feet out of a monkey flip, a dropdown tripping BD, crucifix pin for two, the pair rolling in and out of small packages, tilting their weight back-and-forth for a series of close counts.

Reset.  Crowd clapping again, TiA starting early.

Back to a lockup, Danielson got the break this time, Swerve shot to the gut, Danielson landing on the apron out of a suplex, Swerve vaulting over to eat Danielson’s boot and stiff chops, the pair throwing heavy, clasping the rope with their off-arm until Strickland dumped Danielson against the apron via side slam, dropping to ringside, Danielson tumbling after.

Before throwing BD back inside, diving elbow to the back of the neck off the top, knee drop, pin, quick kickout.  Danielson sent to the corner, Swerve firing rights and lefts to the gut, off-the-shoulder powerslam right into a brainbuster, pin with his knees on the chest for two.

The way Strickland stacks moves together so smoothly is great to watch.

Chinlock in the middle, Danielson back elbow to escape, boot up in the corner but caught by Strickland who dropped the vet across his knee via backbreaker.  To some cheers.  Back up top for a 450, Danielson got the knees up, Strickland to ringside to recover, the vet following via leaping knee off the apron, beckoning the quiet crowd to make some noise.  Swerve sent back in, BD to the top, shotgun from upstairs, both guys selling, Danielson favoring his ribs/side.

The vet up first, Strickland on his knees, you know what’s next – yes! kicks, round kick, cover, two.  To the corner, chops from the vet before being whipped across, kip off the buckle, duck under; Swerve caught him with a kick to the gut, Danielson to the outside, Swerve came after him, Danielson slipped back in looking for a tope, Swerve met him with a forearm as he arrived through the ropes.

Then set Danielson hanging from the top buckle over the apron – Swerve Stomp.  I give Nana a lot of crap but that cackle’s excellent.  Back up there, second Stomp coming, Danielson rolled through into a half crab, dead center.  The vet switching into a heel hook, Swerve screaming before finally grabbing the rope.

Danielson now upstairs, Swerve caught him up there, superplex coming – right from the top, Dragon slipped behind, crotching the youngster then dumping him via belly to back off the buckle.  Danielson of course landing with his broken arm under Swerve, selling it as he clambered to his feet: head kicking time – wrist captured, angry stomps to the face, Swerve no sold, climbing to his knees until a vicious flurry sent him back down, into the LeBell Lock, other arm pinned, Strickland used his legs to get the break.

More yes! kicks in the corner, running dropkick coming, another coming when Danielson dropped clutching his ribs/liver, House Call, Swerve Stomp, kickout at 2.9!  Had me there.

The vet ran at Swerve in the corner and was snagged into a killer off-the-shoulder slam right in the corner for another close call.  Sigh – Nana to the apron, Aubrey desperate for some company, Swerve grabbed a weapon.  Hangman hit the scene to take the crown away, to some boos, Danielson countered the JML Driver into a rollup for two, busaiku knee for the win.

What a match.  That was a belter.  Built brilliantly, Danielson now insisting on ‘wrestling’ early after being criticized by Saber and selling his side.  And built the Page/Swerve feud with not-too-awful booking.  At least the interference wasn’t solely to ‘protect’ someone.

Winner: BD

Another Samoa Joe package – suited, booted, cigar and whisky once more – he introduced himself as the ROH tv champ, while clips of him destroying people played.  On Collision, his path to titles starts: ‘take what I want from anybody I want to… (Saturday) I begin my ascension towards greatness’.

Another really effective package with good music adding to the mood.  Excalibur talked about MJF having a bigger and bigger target on his back.  As he should, it’s about time someone wanted the damn belt.

Powerhouse Hobbs vs Chris Jericho

Backstory: Hobbs joined the Callis Family last week, laying out Jericho & Omega

Tough act for these two to follow.  Seems like they want their biggest names out early to grab audience while there are no ads.

Jericho rushed the youngster and was quickly beaten down.  Whip to the corner, boot up from the vet before running out into a Spinebuster, didn’t get the pop they probably expected, crowd didn’t seem to know that’s his/one of Hobb’s finish(es).  Jericho kicked out.  Boos as Callis joined – ‘FU Callis’.

Hobbs shots from the mount, another Spinebuster.  Hobbs grabbed him by the throat, yelling at the vet, big headbutt, Jericho tried to fight back, a single shot to the back laid him down, another Spinebuster.  Taz keeps saying Hobbs never liked Jericho.  As Callis yelled ‘hurt him’ from outside.

Hobbs choked the Ocho with his boot, the vet stumbled up into another Spinebuster.  He dragged Jericho up, the vet fired a few shots, running shoulder, a second, no dice; he was flung to the corner, avoided a charge, Codebreaker for two.

Another Spinebuster, again with no cover.  Hobbs yelled at Jericho to quit.  Crowd very quiet here, beginning to clap now as Jericho got to his feet, slipped behind, kick to the knee, chop block, seeking the Walls, struggling to turn the big man, finally doing it to a cheer, sitting back, Hobbs struggling, turning his weight to free himself, to his feet, tree slam for a close count.

Shots from the mount.  This has gone too long now.  It’s very repetitive.  And slow.  Perhaps not the best way for AEW to use their ad-free time.

Hobbs hit another slam then pinned Jericho with a nonchalant cover.

So this time last year, Jericho put over Action Andretti.  It’s what comes next for Hobbs that counts.  But Jericho did everything he could here to make Hobbs a monster.  And while it went a little long this was clearly supposed to emphasize Hobbs as a force to be reckoned with.  And did.

Per Excalibur, Kenny Omega wasn’t cleared to be here after that beating last week.  Otherwise no mention of a chair shot to the head or his condition.

Winner: Powerhouse Hobbs

Crappy comedy time.  Cole is still at Strong’s house.  He complained that he’s been there since last week, he needs to get surgery; they yelled at him to cut the grass.  Cole just did it.  Struggling on that scooter thing while they told him he missed a spot.

Cole said he had to go home and change – they gave him a ‘neck strong’ tee.  They had a giraffe toy since it’s neck strong too.  Cole asked why there was no cell service or tv.  Strong said tv was the devil.

Cole said he’s off to get surgery now.  He got up, Strong yelled ‘ADAAAM’ again.  He just needs one more thing.  Cole grimaced cause he’s going to do whatever it is cause he’s a damn moron.

This suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked.  It’s not funny and makes Cole look dumb.  There’s being nice and then there’s being stupid.

Rey Fenix vs Orange Cassidy (International Title)

Backstory: Cassidy replaces Mox who isn’t cleared

They showed Cassidy winning the belt from Pac last year.  He brought his empty backpack with him.  The pair ran to fight in the middle, Fenix hit a pair of lariats, but hurt his back looking for a German, springing to the top though for a rope walk punt that missed to the degree the announcers debated if it’d hit.

Frogsplash to follow, count of two.  Fenix trying to win early since he’s hurt.  Again he couldn’t carry Orange on his shoulders, he rolled outside favoring his back – Cassidy flung him aggressively into the barricade, then up and over it.  The announcers talked about Cassidy’s eyes.

He kept shoving the champ’s back into the ringpost, took a weak baseball slide but then tripped Rey who smacked hard on the apron on his back.  Cassidy to the top, Fenix landed a rolling uppercut straight out of Streetfighter – low duelling chant from a quiet crowd – as Cassidy fought Rey off to land a diving ddt then tornado ddt for a near fall.

Punch coming, Fenix hit back with a thrust kick, but hurt his back again looking for his rolling cutter, Beach Break for two.  Punch readied again, hit, Mouse Trap for the win.  Which says Mox ain’t coming back anytime soon.

Because going back to this after concluding it so well is a little strange.

Confetti fell, an emotionless Cassidy stared at his belt until the Best Friends, Rocky Romero and Hook came to greet him, he dapped them up.

Winner: Orange Cassidy

Backstage with RJ and Toni Storm.  Black and white again.  She said there isn’t enough ‘cinemaaaa(r)’ so she’s made a film called ‘Lover’s Lament’.  It’s a silent film because who needs all the other fuss when we have ‘faaaaace’.

Cut to the film with old-timey music.  She awoke in a chair, showing her legs.  Then kept running off and back on screen – it’s a fixed camera with a single shot.  She then ran on the spot.  Might have been dancing.  If it was it was deliberately bad.  She kept nearly falling over, pretended there was a fly buzzing around then pretended to be driving a car and had to hit the breaks hard.

She then collapsed back into the chair.

This isn’t meant to sound patronizing: A+ for effort.  She put her all into that.  It was vaguely amusing and added a little to her character.

Wardlow vs Matt Sydal

Backstory: None

Sydal was already in the ring, Wardlow plucked him out the air then hit a bunch of powerbombs.  We may have seen this before.

The slight twist now is he’s now winning by ref stoppage then leaving through the crowd.

Winner: Wardlow

Renee backstage for an update on Jericho.  Daniel Garcia came to check on him.  Matt Menard wasn’t happy at this.  He told Garcia, ‘we’re better than this’.  Garcia looked torn but followed Menard.  So that’s going in circles too.

We did not get an update.

Switchblade Jay White vs Hangman Adam Page

Backstory: White is 3-0 vs Page, promised to show MJF how a real champion does it

Psyched for this.  BCG came with Jay – on trikes.  Enjoy these guys more each week.  We were shown White stealing MJF’s belt last week.  On the subject, where the hell is he?  Shouldn’t the show have started with that?  Him demanding his belt?  Shouldn’t someone stealing the world title be headline news?

The other BCG members stood back against the barricade in a neat line after being ordered to by their leader.  White held the belt in Hangman’s face, said Page would never take it, slapped him then fled outside.  As he does basically every match.

Back in, lockup, Page rushed him to the corner, break.  White again slapped him and headed out, Page launched a vaulting cross body onto him then jawed at the BCG.

Ads.

Back to stinging chops from the ‘champ’.  Excalibur used that overused ‘dream match’ phrase again.  As Page struck back with a big right but had his leg caught into a dragon screw.  White mockingly played the air guitar a la Tanahashi.

Page blocked a suplex, White hit another hard chop, floated over, Page landed rights and chops then plucked White out of the air into a DVD.  Crowd clapping as both climbed to their feet, Page again on top in a slugfest, White got a quick blow but was caught into a fallaway, kip-up, gorgeous running shooting star, for two.  Page selling his knee heavily.

The Bucks are with Omega too apparently.

White again headed out, Page tried another vaulting cross body and hurt his knee further but snatched Jay up to powerbomb him against the apron.  Another inside bagged two, White dragged up, almost out of it as the crowd chanted ‘Cowboy S’.  White blocked Deadeye by targeting the knee, grabbed the leg again, Page blocked a dragon screw but was suplexed into the ropes/corner.

White then hit a kneebreaker onto the apron.

They had to put all the damn ad breaks in this one.  It’s good but we missed how Page hurt his knee and the thread of the match is being lost a little.

Back to both atop the buckle, Page headbutt, fallaway from the top, White down but Page landing on his knee, unable to capitalize.  TiA from the crowd.

Hangman up first, White raked the eyes into the corner, Page got a boot up but hurt his knee again in so doing, deep uranage from White for two, into a chinlock, sleeper suplex coming, blocked via Page elbow, White down, Page to the apron, White ran towards and snapped Page’s leg against the middle rope.

White took him upstairs looking for a uranage, Page snapped White’s head against the buckle instead, Ourihara time, of course landing on the knee once more, limping as he flung White back in and the crowd yelled about his excrement again.

Buckshot coming, White ran to the other side of the ring to escape then landed a German with a bridge for two.  Chopblock to the knee, sleeper suplex, Page rolled straight back up, big lariat to White, Page to the apron once more, Buckshot coming, his knee buckled on the landing, into a Bladerunner which he blocked, hit Deadeye, BCG took the ref for just a second, which was all White needed to kick out.

Such a crutch.

All of BCG then hit the apron, Nana turned up with the crown, White used the distraction to rollup Page.  Nana fled up the ramp, Page couldn’t run on his knee.

MJF comes out

Max had very kindly decided to politely wait till now to come out yet was apparently steaming mad, yelling for them to cut his music.  He demanded White look at him and called him an SOB then demanded his belt back.  Excalibur said it meant more to Max than anything in the world.  (So why has White had it a week without anything from MJF?)

White said no-one wanted to hear from Max.  He called the ‘BBB’ the Bang Bang Belt.  The crowd chanted STFU.  White said he was going to give it back till they were so rude.  Max said he knows what White’s like cause he used to be the same.  They both know he could ‘give a shit’ about the rest of the BCG, he’s using them.

But unlike White, he tries to be a better man.  It’s hard, he hates it, but it’s working because he no longer wants to punch out the mirror and has earned the fans’ respect.  There are two things he cares about – his brother Adam Cole – who needs surgery.  And the other… White calls it a belt; it’s Max’s legacy because it makes him the best in the world.

If White didn’t have goons with him he’d have already beaten White up and taken his belt back.  Though he knows how good White is and one day will be champ, but that day is not today.  He again demanded White give back ‘what you have not yet earned’.

White asked how just asking for it back was earning it.  That’s not how it works.  You have to win it.  And Max has that match coming up at Full Gear.  Where he’ll fail.  But if he can’t wait, he could just come down and take it.  But he has no friends so he won’t.  But if he can find three people, he can try and take his belt back.

Juice took the mic to say next week is the Diamond battle royal thing and he’s entering to whup MJF’s ass and take everything he loves.  Then give him a present – he had a pack of quarters with ‘Friedman’ written on them.  (That’s disgusting.  Always comes off as desperate when companies use angles like this)

Max snapped, threw the mic down and threatened Robinson he’d kill him if he brought those quarters near him.

Very mixed on this.  Both were very good on the mic and made the belt seem important.  On the other, there’s the already mentioned stuff about taking so long to come out – actions over words.  And the bottom-rung xenophobic cheap heat.

Lastly, this company sucks at hooks: why not tease this at the top of the show or show MJF arriving intent on getting his belt back instead of people mowing the lawn or dancing in black and white?  There’s definitely a place for other stuff but none of it should supersede the world championship.

Winner: Jay White

Speaking of, more Toni Storm.  ‘Act 2’.

This time the music was more suggestive.  And she was sort-of performing a striptease but ended up getting annoyed at her jacket and just throwing it off.  She then pretended to make out with the camera, the music then stopped for a while, she crawled suggestively toward the camera and was talking all the time though we obviously couldn’t hear it.

‘The End’.

Miss Storm’s very attractive so neither of these were a complete waste but two of these on one show’s probably overkill.

Saraya vs Hikaru Shida (Women’s Title, Ruby Soho banned from ringside)

Backstory: Shida won a shot on Rampage in a match you never saw any of unless you watch Rampage

Off the top of my head, this is the best worker Saraya’s been paired with in a singles since returning; be interesting to see how good it is.  Her theme’s a banger at least.

Saraya yelled ‘loser’ then shoved Shida who launched a flurry.  Saraya went for the rope break then took a cheap shot.  Before wailing on Shida in the corner; the challenger returned the favor, avoided a charge, hit a running knee and enziguri.  Saraya staggered outside yelling for Ruby.

Then walked round ringside for a bit jawing with fans.  Back in to an exchange of shots from the mount, each having their turn on top.  Saraya missed a kick, Shida got a torture rack-style backbreaker, dumped the champ down then placed her hanging off the apron for her running knee strike.

Someone in head-to-toe black came out with the spraypaint, Excalibur wondered if it was someone from production.  Of course it was Ruby.  Shida blocked the paint, sprayed Ruby with it, Toni Storm came out to smack Soho with her shoe and chase her away.  Saraya got a cheap shot from behind to bring the break.

Nothing much so far, your usual gaga-filled Saraya match.

Back to an exchange of rights, Saraya missed a lariat and took a running knee, ten in the corner, twenty even.  Missile dropkick from the middle buckle, two count.  Saraya then dragged Shida off the top to land back-first on the apron and spill outside.  The challenger fought back with a – thankfully very safe – stalling German on the apron.  And hit a knee back inside for two.

Excalibur yelled ‘she’s gonna do it!’, just in case you thought she might win.

While we were being shown a replay, Saraya blocked the Katana, took a question mark kick, Shida to the top, she just jumped down to be kicked – then took a Knightcap.  But kicked out.

Crowd behind her.  As they tend to be despite her disappearing from tv all the time.  Saraya grabbed a kendo stick, the ref took it, she sprayed Shida instead and hit another Knightcap, Shida kicked out.  She hit a Falcon Arrow then bagged the win after going back and forth with rollups.

Not much of a match even without the relentless interference.  Hopefully Shida can hang on to the title and have some good matches.

Winner: Hikaru Shida

Excalibur told us Jericho had gone to the hospital to be checked for internal injuries.

Schiavone then revealed AEW were donating 50,000 toys for Christmas to Toys for Tots.  That’s nice work.  Even nicer if it’s done quietly.

During the break, Callis was with Takeshita.  He asked for time to talk and had been denied his requested ten minutes.  So – in homage to Sammy – took a sharpie and drew blood on a sign of Omega being hit with a screwdriver.  Takeshita held up signs saying ‘Hobbs destroyed Omega’, ‘then Jericho’, the Family are out for revenge and Guevara will be back soon.  ‘You will pay for what you did to him’.

The crowd were silent for this.

*****

MJF with Renee.  He politely said he’s not in the mood to be interviewed and needs to talk to his ‘boy’ and get some advice.  He begged Cole to pickup, Cole answered to say he’s still at Roddy’s.  Max rolled his eyes and said he needs help too – BCG have taken his belt, Joe’s on the warpath – Cole then cut out mid-way through saying Roddy needed something.

The Acclaimed turned up and Caster volunteered them to help MJF.  The champ walked off.  Billy asked why he’d volunteered all of them for that, Bowens said Max was ‘sus’.  Caster said he’s known Max ten years and is his friend and likes when he plays hard to get.

Presumably they’re setting Caster up to be the man in the mask since he’s coming off like such a geek in these.  If he’s not, they are doing him no favors.

Luchasaurus vs Adam Copeland

Backstory: Saurus attacked Edge Saturday (& apparently broke a finger in so doing)

If they have ten mins and maybe more overrun, this one’s going long for a match with no build and such a clear winner.

Cage came out with Saurus and did his usual cheap heat while 800,000 people not from the locality sat and watched.  AEW haven’t mentioned all night that Cage promised to give Copeland his answer – they’re so bad at building hooks.

Cage took veiled shots at (the?) Judgment Day, saying Edge had tried to be a leader; Cage is a father.  And though Copeland asked him to team last week, that same help wasn’t there while he was being held back and Copeland was being ‘pushed to the moon’; why didn’t Copeland want to team up again back then?

He said his career was on the up, he’s the biggest star in the business and Copeland needs him more than he needs Copeland.  Cage then made his usual remark about someone’s relatives – implying he and Beth had a thing and he’d take care of Copeland’s girls.

I’m out.  Same old ish and more insider stuff.

As was Copeland, who flew to the ring, Nick Wayne followed, grabbed his boot, Saurus hit the Extinction Lariat (to the back of the head), Copeland crumpled, holding his neck.

They did the really lame heel attacks ‘before the bell’ and ref asks babyface if he’s good to go thing.  If Copeland is that damaged after a lariat, he probably should retire.  Saurus hit a tombstone then beat Copeland round the ring.  Cage sat watching from the top of the ramp.

Crowd exceptionally quiet.

Saurus hit a bodyslam; Excalibur said we could be watching Copeland’s last match…’ever’.  They seem to be going with ‘Cope’ judging by the commentators.  ‘Cope’ came back with a couple lariats but was smacked in the corner.  Saurus hit a kick, ‘Cope’ landed outside.

Ads.  Questionable booking here: exceptionally similar to Hobbs/Jericho, which the crowd also sat through silently.

Copeland finally landed a low dropkick and diving ddt off the apron to interrupt several long minutes of Luchasaurus setting up ringsteps.  To the top, splash/cross body across the back of Luchasaurus.  Saurus came back by booting Copeland off the top buckle then looked to suplex him off onto the ringsteps he set up earlier.

Copeland fought back, ten shots to the back, crowd chanting along – they do want to participate but this isn’t giving them much.  Copeland hit a superplex down into the ring, both down, ref counting, Copeland first up.  In a night full of interference, Wayne placed a chair against the buckle since the ref was obsessed with Cage walking down the ramp.  Copeland speared himself into the chair but kicked out of a pin attempt.  Then ducked another Extinction Lariat.

He tried to spear Saurus off the apron, was goozled, chokeslam to the stairs coming, Copeland dropped down and snapped Saurus against the ropes, then used the steps as a springboard to just about hit a Spear.  Wayne again on the apron, Copeland grabbed the belt off Cage and hit Luchasaurus, who thought Cage had done it, Copeland hit a Spear to end Jericho vs Keith Lee’s only competition for most boring main event of the year.

Wayne immediately chop-blocked Copeland, Bryan Danielson came out but took a boot from Saurus.  Claudio and Yuta came to even things up; the Mogul Embassy came down and a brawl ensued.  Hangman hobbled down to help, his brawling still more energetic than that match while selling his knee.

As Danielson tapped out Cage in the LeBell Lock.

Winner: Adam Copeland

 ________________________________________________________________

Next Collision:

• Christian Cage vs Bryan Danielson (TNT Title)
• Nothing else

Next Dynamite:

• Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal
• More announced on Rampage and Collision aka We have nothing planned

Thumbs Up/Down

• Loaded card – White/Page & Swerve/Danielson in particular were fresh, ppv-level matches
• Danielson vs Swerve
• Putting Hobbs over – let’s hope they have a plan
• What we saw of Page/White
• White/MJF exchange was generally good, not their fault they were booked to wait an hour
• Samoa Joe package

 *****

• A good chunk of what happened outside the ring
• A ton of interference happened in it: mind-numbingly repetitive
• Tag belts? Do the Bucks even care?  They haven’t been on tv since winning the shot
• Ditto MJF and the world title – his words were good but (not his fault) his actions didn’t match them since he waited to come out
• Can we have a show without Jew baiting or jokes about dead people? There may be people watching who really need an escape

Appreciate you reading.  Have a good week.