5 Match Star Ratings For AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming
4. Chris Jericho Vs. Frankie Kazarian
A very tidy if not super-dramatic piece of business, there was such an elegance to the way in which it was laid out, and the way in which the layout mirrored the wider storyline the post-match angle advanced.
Kazarian had Chris Jericho scouted virtually step of the way in another effective stature-enhancing loss. He countered the Lionsault and vaulted on top of the winded Jericho with his springboard leg drop in one neat variation of the narrative through-line. This story reached its apex when Kazarian locked Jericho in the Walls. This was more trademark doubling from AEW; the tale of the match reflected that, in the Inner Circle, MJF is one step ahead of Chris Jericho in his meticulous plot to usurp the group from him altogether.
Jericho is losing ground on the newer generation.
The towel tease was cracking stuff, too - it should have made clear to Jericho that MJF thinks of him as another Cody, just another scalp to take to empower him further. But the angle was skilfully arranged to convince Jericho, even if he watched it back, that Sammy was the man set to betray him.
MJF was in rich form all night - he knew he was going to eliminate Sammy Guevara by eliminating Jungle Boy, but can claim ignorance - in a superb continuation of the storyline.
Star Rating: ★★★¼