Greg DeMarco’s Review & Analysis: AEW Dynamite “Winter Is Coming” 12/14/2022

It’s an AEW Dynamite review from Greg DeMarco! Oh it’s true–dig in and see if you agree with his assessment of the show!

I know what be might be thinking–and it’s true! I am reviewing an episode of AEW Dynamite. There are a few reasons why:

• I have actually enjoyed more of Dynamite than not over the past few weeks–and I don’t think that gets enough focus.
• I miss writing on a regular basis. So I am ending 2022 by testing a few things out. Let’s see what works, what doesn’t, and what we can do in 2023. Feedback is always welcomed!

Entertainment Differential Explained

No multi-hour long wrestling show should be designed to have every single segment appeal to every single viewer–that’s impossible. You need to present something for everyone over that timeframe. However, it can still be analyzed.

• Typically a match or in-ring segment (or longer out of ring segment) will either be a +1 (added entertainment value or a -1 (subtracted entertainment value)
• I will give a show one pass per hour–not necessarily in that hour. For example: a 2-hour show gets 2 passes, etc.
• I’ll rarely go lower than -1 unless something is so egregious it makes me want to turn off the TV. It takes a lot to do that.
• Conversely, if something is THAT GOOD, I can go +2 or +3. It’ll take a lot, but I watch looking for things to like, so this is more likely than the prior bullet point.
• Short backstage promos can have unlimited passes–they aren’t as consequential as the a match, or in-ring segment. But they can still have +1 or -1 impact on me.
• Extra positive or negative points can be assessed if a match spans one or multiple commercial breaks, as it occupied a larger percentage of the program.
• Finally, I will feel free to add/subtract points at the end for major items, like a lack of women’s wrestling, a moment that will be talked about for years to come, etc.

AEW Dynamite: Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, TX
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Schiavone

Show Opening was good as always, always the NBA background music was odd to me. I kept having to listen to see if that was legitimately it. Weird typing it out–we have two single-named commentators. But Excalibur is vastly underrated. This is also our second week in a row in Texas, and Garland is only 3 hours away from Austin.

Entertainment Differential: n/a

AEW World Trios Championships Best-of-Seven Match #4
The Elite (The Young Bucks of Matt & Nick Jackson and Kenny Omega) vs. Death Triangle (Rey Fenix, Penta El Zero M, & PAC – champions)

#TheELITE are kicking things off for us tonight as they make their way to the ring for Match 4 vs. #DeathTriangle in this #BestOf7Series for the #AEW World Trios Championship!@youngbucks @KennyOmegaManX

Watch #AEWDynamite: #WinterIsComing LIVE on TBS right now! pic.twitter.com/cjqqbltyzl

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 15, 2022

Garland, Texas is definitely a strong AEW market–and I wonder how many made the trip from Austin to see the biggest match of Ricky Starks’ career (so far). They were hot for this match from the start.

Here’s your crowd check: Lighting was strange, with very visible empty seats in the corner opposite the stage (regularly in view). At the last count, 4800 tickets had been distributed:

AEW Winter is Coming
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 6:00PM
Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, TX

Available Tickets => 1,216
Current Setup/Capacity => 6,015
Tickets Distributed => 4,799

Officially passed the last time here (4,772)
[https://t.co/yRCOtL75Yu] pic.twitter.com/hHQiodREQR

— WrestleTix (@WrestleTix) December 14, 2022

Love me some WrestleTix.

Nick Jackson was eventually brought to the back, which to me means Death Triangle is winning to go up 3-1 and still keeping The Elite strong if and when he takes the fall. The action overall was good, but it’s nothing we haven’t already seen between these two trios. That’s the problem with this concept–there’s only so much the Bucks and Omega do, and it’s getting overexposed. Different gear only takes you so far. Death Triangle picks up the win after Nick Jackson comes back, and didn’t really sell the reason he was gone to begin with with any consistency. Taz tried to mansplain it away on commentary, but it didn’t work. Of course, the Bell Hammer came into play once more.

Overall: What do we have tag team rules if they are barely enforced–or outright ignored? At least go back to the 10-count after a tag to make it a little more believable. Speaking of believable, I think inconsistent selling is worse than no selling at all.  This whole Best-Of-Seven is honestly well-placed in the calendar given what TV does in this time of the year. Why is Kenny saying “there’s going to be enough talking on this show as it is”? Then Kenny says what he would say to end a show. One trick pony–change it up. The match itself featured enough good action to counterbalance the issues, meaning this one is a wash.

Entertainment Differential: Wash (pass #1) (Current total: 0)

MJF Backstage Interview/Promo

Overgrown Joey Styles was entertaining as always, and this promo did just fine to add to my entertainment value.

Entertainment Differential: +1 (Current total: +1)

In-Ring Promo: The Acclaimed

Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, and Sonjay Dutt attack, and unlike most of the internet, I like it. Do Jarrett and Lethal deserve a title opportunity? Maybe not. But this isn’t ACTUALLY a sport, and if Jeff Jarrett’s impact (pun intended) means more storytelling for The Acclaimed, then I am 100% on board. IT also gives The Acclaimed a longer reign. Attacking during The Acclaimed’s intro is a plus for me–I love the intros, but that’s heat, baby!

Entertainment Differential: +1 (Current total: +2)

Jericho Appreciation Society Backstage Promo

The worst part of this is Tony Schiavone’s haircut. Sammy Guevara shouldn’t talk, and Daniel Garcia probably shouldn’t either. Jericho telegraphed the “jobber” match for later a little bit too much. In the end, Jericho made this inoffensive.

Entertainment Differential: Pass #2 (Current total: +2)

Brian Cage (with Prince Nana) vs. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry

This would have been a great place to show The Eebassy winning the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championships over the weekend. I did like them showing Jungle Boy eliminating Brian Cage from the battle royal last week–they need to do as much of that as possible if they want to retain any new fans that might be watching. Aubrey Edwards is your referee, which is a recipe for a negative rating if she Aubrey’s too hard.

Jungle Boy overcame Luchasaurus, and was attacked by Big Bill Colin Cassidy Morrissey XL. Now he’s working Brian Cage. Type-cast much?

So Jungle Boy wins, with a crappy O’Connor Roll (no one called it that, though), and did so after a making Cage tap out (ref didn’t see it). Not a good showing for Brian Cage, especially after winning a championship over the weekend. But in the end, the match did enough to even out and be categorized as “inoffensive.”

Post-match beatdown from Stokely Hathaway, Lee Moriarity Big Bill (Colin Cassidy Morrisey XL) that led to the return of Hook, which the crowd loved. But for some reason, that was enough to run off three men.

'Jungle Boy' Jack Perry @boy_myth_legend Picks Up a Win & an Unlikely Ally | #AEWDynamite: #WinterIsComing@730Hook
▶️ https://t.co/svge8Zy5ir pic.twitter.com/LflWoKC3Ui

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 16, 2022

Entertainment Differential: Pass (Current total: +2)

We are now out of match passes for this week’s edition of AEW Dynamite.

Blackpool Combat Club Backstage Promo

Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta cut a very generic backstage promo that falls under “inoffensive.”

Entertainment Differential: Promo Pass (Current total: +2)

(Remember, backstage promos have unlimited passes.)

Video Package: Swerve Strickland vs. Keith Lee

Now we get ROH Final Battle footage? It makes sense, this was telegraphed, but not in a bad way. The video package did a great job selling the whole advancement of their feud, but we gotta do something about Limitless Buffet Keith Lee. He’s growing, and now in a good way.

But this did enough for me.

Entertainment Differential: +1 (Current total: +3)

House Of Black (Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews, & Brody King, with Julia Hart) vs. The Factory (QT Marshall, Cole Carter, Aaron Solow, and Nick Comoroto?)

Our second trios match of the night, coincidentally. This is their big return, so I can’t hold that against them. I am not sure who the actual members of the enhancement team was, as they all got destroyed until Black destroyed and pinned QT.

A message sent loud and clear from the #HouseOfBlack as @malakaiblxck decapitates @QTMarshall!

Watch #AEWDynamite: #WinterIsComing LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/aTf1QWVjWW

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 15, 2022

But here’s the thing–this is all it needed to be! This was done right, and didn’t need to be more than it was. A rarity for AEW, and I’ll take it!

Entertainment Differential: +1 (Current total: +4)

Backstage Promo with Britt Baker and Rebel

So, we sell Hikaru Shida vs. Jamie Hayter with Britt Baker? Sure. But Skye Blue is here, and cuts a perfectly fine promo. She says Britt can prove that she’s a good wrestler against her? She’s a former champ, bro. She has nothing to prove. Inoffensive.

Entertainment Differential: Promo Pass (Current total: +4)

Chris Jericho vs. Action Andretti (with Chris Jericho lower third)

I really wish Jericho hasn’t referred to his opponent at all in his prior promo. If I had this to produce, Andretti would have gotten in zero offense until after kicking out of the Codebreaker, then kicking out of a Judas Effect, then getting out of the Walls Of Jericho. Talk about a series of pop, and the the crowd would believe even more! I loved the crowd pro-jobber chants. This match should have played out in one segment, not over a picture-in-picture commercial break.

As you know by now, Action Andretti wins! Brilliant idea from Chris Jericho, and if this kid is a star, he’ll always be on Jericho’s island. This was also a great crowd to do this in front of. It may have taken a tad too long, but I am sure Jericho was trying to let Andretti show off as much as possible. He can do that in future weeks. But all in all, this was well done, effective, and a perfect surprise. Give it double points!

Entertainment Differential: +2 (Current total: +6)

I sincerely hope this leads to a big career out of Action Andretti–he seems to have “it.”

Ricky Starks Backstage Promo

Good backstage promo by Ricky Starks, a little too “hey cheer for me I am the babyface,” but still effective. I was ready for this match regardless of his promo, and it didn’t change anything for me. I’m not 100% sure “Absolute” Ricky Starks–the coldest and most stylish MFer–can really sell himself as a man of the people without outing that those aspects of his character are just character. But it’s Ricky, and I am biased.

Entertainment Differential: +1 (Current total: +7)

FTR/The Gunns Video Package

This is a hell of a video package–MORE OF THIS. Only draw back was referring to one’s “gimmick name.”

Cap it off with Chris Jericho throwing a hilarious backstage tantrum, and I am good.

Entertainment Differential: +1 (Current total: +8)

Tay Melo (with an apparent 42-7 record?) vs. Roby Soho

This is 101 days in the making from ALL OUT when the TayKO broke Ruby’s nose–called a grudge match. Did we see any video to back this up? Nope–apparently the women can’t get that.

Tay Melo still works like a half-trained wrestler–including the worst kickout I’ve ever seen after taking three Saito Suplexes. We got a commercial–another match that didn’t need a commercial break.

Tay can hit a few moves–which is the most AEW thing ever. Nice Pump Kick, Nice Gotch Piledriver (bad kickout, though). Ruby mercifully ends this match, and sadly the only women’s match on the show drags it down just a bit. Anna Jay attack at the end helps nothing.

And I’m all out of passes I can give.

Entertainment Differential: -1 (Current total: +7)

Hangman Adam Page Background “Condition Update” Promo

Sorry–this was terrible. I can’t even give it a promo pass. It was that bad. Do it in the ring, maybe it works better. Evil Uno didn’t help things, either.

Entertainment Differential: -1 (Current total: +6)

Dustin Rhodes, Best Friends, and Danhausen Promo

They are flattening some people on Friday. Yeah…

Entertainment Differential: Promo Pass (Current total: +6)

AEW World Championship Match
Ricky Starks vs. MJF (champion)

It’s laughable that MJF is defending his world championship AND some ring. Don’t devalue your world title like that. Save for the shitty haircut, MJF looks like a professional wrestler more than anyone on this show tonight. I’ll be interested to see MJF’s hair in about 6 years when he’s 30 and male pattern baldness has set in.

Could be worse, he could have Austin Theory’s hairline.

But this isn’t about hairlines–if it was, Ricky would have to win by default. We hit a picture-in-picture commercial break, and this is one match where it would have been nice to be “presented commercial free by [some sponsor].”

Crowd, by the way, has not let up all night. And they are WHITE HOT for all of this.

SPEAR by @starkmanjones but he's unable to capitalize!

Watch #AEWDynamite: #WinterIsComing LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/uh6SG2wNg3

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 15, 2022

INSANE nearfall for Ricky, ref’s hand hit for three but MJF (barely) kicked out. I am shocked the crowd didn’t buy it more, it was perfectly done. Commentary didn’t sell it enough, either. One of them should have been campaigning for that to be it and Ricky to have won the championship.

Brilliant submission spot where MFL was able to control three out of four limbs–but the fourth limb got to the ropes. That led to what seemed like second gear, but then we got to the abrupt low blow and ending.

Honestly, this played like a guy who has been champion for a year getting closer to dropping his title, not a successful first defense.

Daniel Bryan Danielson coming out took away from things a little for me–we all know that’s the real feud, but give Starks his moment solo, he doesn’t need DBD raising his hand.

Still, this was a great main event for Ricky, and MJF’s reign is in fact off to a good start. We were a half gear away from bonus points.

Entertainment Differential: +1 (Current total: +7)

Overall

As you can see by the positive score, I enjoyed this edition of Dynamite. The good outweighed the bad, and by a lot. Ricky Starks is a star, but they better find something MAJOR for him to do next. Chris Jericho would be my choice for Ricky’s next program.

Speaking of Chris Jericho, he contributed a moment that has the potential to be relevant ten years from now. For that, this show earns…

Bonus Points: +1 (Final total: +8)

AEW Dynamite Historical

• 12/14/2022 – Winter Is Coming (Garland, TX): +8

Let me know what you thought of the review, and if you want me to continue this format for Dynamite and other shows I can target. As I said, I want to get to writing more often, and this could be a good way to make it happen.

Hit me up:

• https://instagram.com/gregdemarco44
• https://facebook.com/gregdemarco44
• https://twitter.com/gregdemarco44

Until next time, remember: enjoying wrestling is a choice…make the right choice!