Performance Review – AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash (12/23/20)

Overall Evaluation and Achieved Goals

As soon as Dusty Rhodes’ favorite team the Boston Celtics escaped with a victory on TNT, the wrestling program his boy runs with the family of Florida’s NFL franchise came on. I do not know if poetic is the word, but there should definitely be a word.

Even with a couple championship matches this was a second quiet show in a row, more about announcing matches for early next week and next year – which it did pretty well. Nothing shook up a Year in Review, but the approach remains positive.

Performance: 3.0 / 5.0 (SATISFACTORY)

Areas of Excellence Within Performance

AEW did well showcasing new faces early on, but they’re making big moves towards the end of the year to highlight even more: Top Flight shined in the opener around a slow Chris Jericho, Lee Johnson has a new role as Dustin Rhodes’ trainee, Alex Garcia got a title shot, and The Acclaimed got a main event title shot.

Jade Cargill crushed another promo too, claiming Brandi Rhodes is making up her pregnancy. The audacity! The insanity!

Some old or old-adjacent guys got some shine too: The Butcher/PAC dragged a bit but I love a good unique match like that, and Evil Uno looked like the man against Dustin.

Sting in AEW definitely feels more contractually required to be live on TV every week rather than someone who absolutely needs to be live on TV every week, but between Team Taz and another Darby Allin staredown there was enough to dig here.

Suggested Areas of Improvement

Not sure if two championships should’ve been on the line during a show that was more about building up other matches, some not for championships. Felt like the titles were on the line to add importance, but it did the opposite.

Miro???? What’s going on buddy? What’s the angle here man??

ALL for a man or lady cursing on wrestling TV but why does AEW have to have one person do it then have 3 other people do it in a kind of similar way throughout the show?

Abadon seems cool, but a neck bite? Come on. This isn’t some bush league Monday Night RAW crap.

My Favorite Things

3. Tony Schiavone
2. Dustin Rhodes wins with a Bulldog
1. Sting’s Dusty Rhodes impression