14 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Dec 4)

2. This One Counts

Jon Moxley Joey Janela
AEW

The very notion of Joey Janela main-eventing an episode of Dynamite will send jolts of disgust through certain kinds of viewers, he and Jon Moxley had a great match outwith their usual hardcore world, though both were permitted to indulge in some of their more violent tendencies.

Entering through the crowd, Moxley ground away at 'The Bad Boy' early. He tried to wear him out during the commercial break but Janela showed his chops in fighting back. He literally bit his way out of an STF at one point and got nutty later on, smashing Moxley through a table with a top-rope dive the production team could've done a better job of capturing. "Holy sh*t!" chants and a believable near-fall followed but while Joey got over, he was there to lose, and Moxley scored the pin after a modified top rope Paradigm Shift before the regular version.

It's good to see Janela, who worked tirelessly to become one of the indie scene's most bankable and buzz-worthy stars, in spots like this. AEW definitely have something on their hands with him. Still, Moxley is on a higher tier at the moment and needed that clean victory after so many Lights Out wars.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.