Greg DeMarco’s Top 5: AEW Dynamite “New Year’s Smash” 12/28/2022

Greg DeMarco takes a look at AEW Dynamite “New Year’s Smash” from Colorado–see the Top 5 including Samoa Joe vs. Wardlow in your main event!

As you might know by now, I am testing out formats for potential analysis next year. So far, we’ve had:

• Greg DeMarco’s Review & Analysis: AEW Dynamite “Winter Is Coming” 12/14/2022
• Greg DeMarco’s Review & Analysis: WWE Smackdown 12/16/2022
• Greg DeMarco’s Top 5: WWE Monday Night Raw: 12/19/2022
• Greg DeMarco’s Top 5: AEW Dynamite “Holiday Bash” 12/21/2022
• Greg DeMarco’s Top 5: WWE NXT 12/27/2022

Tonight we continue might be an easier format for me–but does it translate for you? We’re looking at my Top 5 moments from the final AEW Dynamite of 2022!

Don’t forget, you can get your full recap thanks to Steven Mitchell here.

Honorable Mention

• Hangman Adam Page really does go from hot to cold to hot to cold in terms of his performances. And why would Page be made to travel to Dynamite just to get checked up on for his concussion.
• Commentary on the Jon Moxley/Claudio vs Top Flight match saw Excalibur refer to Moxley/Martin from last week as a “great match,” and Tax refer to Claudio as a brawler, and Tony referred to Darius’ “Brillo Pad Chin.” Yeah…
• Falls Count Anywhere was just the same match they have been doing, but some of it was outside the ring. The Elite (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega) taking Death Triangle (Fenix, Penta El Zero M, and Bastard PAC) going to 7 has been telegraphed all along, especially with Match #7 being a Ladder Match in Los Angeles. But there were positives that I need to point out. The use of multiple referees and split screen was really effective. I liked how the finish was executed by the talent, even if the production screwed it up by not ringing the bell after the 3 count.
• Great rap by The Acclaimed–and I know they made an in-arena appearance between Dynamite and Rampage. Smart move–they are an act the crowd wants to see.
• Why are The Ass Boys “leaving Dynamite” when they were never on Dynamite this week to begin with?
• Great backstage promo by Ricky Starks. I know it won’t happen because he’s Chris Jericho, but Starks should run right through him next week. That wouldn’t end the program, but enrage Jericho to get dirtier in his actions. Do something different–Chris Jericho is great at different.

And Now … Greg DeMarco’s Top 5: WWE NXT 12/27/2022

5. Tay Melo & Anna Jay vs. Willow Nightingale & Ruby Soho

Tremendous performance by all four women. Tay Melo turned in her best performance in a really, really, long time. Anna Jay just keeps getting better. Ruby didn’t blow any spots this time around (except maybe the finish?). And Willow Nightingale proves, with each outing, that she can be the glue for so many matches. Finish was too slow to develop, and the TayKO isn’t a believable finisher–find something else.

Job well done all around!

4. Daniel Bryan Danielson vs. Ethan Page

I liked the start with MJF interrupting Bryan’s entrance and causing a distraction for Page. But in the end, this was Daniel Bryan Danielson proving why he still belongs in the conversation among the best in the entire world.

I say that for a simple, and sad, reason: Ethan Page did not look good here. As his push has intensified, he’s gotten into worse shape. And it showed here, as he was a half step behind at times. He struggled to move a man who weighs considerably less than him. And he has it in him–I know he does. The freedom afforded to many talents by AEW can work against some of them. While in Impact, Page got himself into tremendous shape (and documented it in his vlogs), yet he’s allowed that to regress since Full Gear.

So why is this match Top 5? Because Daniel Bryan Danielson delivered a masterful performance.

I’d rank the participants in this match:

• Daniel Bryan Danielson
• MJF
• Stokely Hathaway
• The woman with MJF in the luxury box
• Ethan Page

It might seem like I am going hard at Ethan Page here, but someone needs to. He is LOADED with talent and potential, and if he can get over this one hump, the sky is the limit.

3. Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin)

I know I criticized commentary for things associated with this match above, but silly comments (and racism) aside, the match itself was really good. Top Flighthad to step their game up being in the ring with two of the best AEW have to offer, and it paid off.

The crowd was also hyped for this match, and it all came together in a match that far surpassed the singles version last week.

2. Hook vs. Baylum Lynx

Yes, I put a two minute squash on the list. And I have my reasons.

First off, having Hook back on TV is a great thing. He’s so different than anything else AEW has, and he’s standing out among talent who have been doing this much longer than him. Second, I love Baylum Lynx. He, along with Gypsy Mac and Lilith Grimm (who got shots on Elevation earlier this evening) deserve every opportunity that comes their way. Yes, I am biased, we use them in IZW.

The match was well done and continued to show off what’s different about Hook. And he just gets better. The post-match shenanigans with Big Bill and Lee Moriarity, led by Stokely Hathaway, along with “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry were executed well, outside of the pyro for Jungle Boy that made no sense. If someone isn’t scheduled to compete, why would they have pyro ready for them?

And stop trying to make Big Bill a thing. It (the name) is not going to be a thing.

1. Samoa Joe defends the TNT Championship vs. Wardlow

Samoa Joe walks, talks, and exudes main eventer. On the flip side, Wardlow forgot to sell his injury halfway down the ramp, and you can see it on his face when he remembers. Don’t @ me, he has 8 years in this business.

The match itself was good, and the post-match angle was even better. The only quip about the finish is that they put someone to sleep in the opener, and in the main. The whole story of Joe’s attack on Wardlow, followed by Wardlow barely making the match and “gutting it out” is quality, only draw back being the selling on Wardlow’s part at times. But when he was selling, the story was told to perfection.

I hope that Joe cutting Wardlow’s manbun leads to a hair vs hair match, because Joe could use a good head shaving with that hairline. As great as MJF is, Joe could easily be pushed as the top heel in the company. It’s crazy how good he is this late in his career–he could still be a top babyface or a top heel in 2022-2023.

Overall

I enjoyed the show overall. Only “bad match” was the Trios Championship, which more overdone than it is bad. I don’t like the lack of focus on The House Of Black, after their dominant performance not long ago. Even a backstage element or a video package would have been welcomed. All in all, I would call this a good episode of the program.

Let me know what you thought of my analysis for this edition of WWE NXT, and if you want me to continue this format over the other option! As I said, I want to get to writing more often, and this could be a good way to make it happen.

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