7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (December 20 - Results & Review)

by Michael Sidgwick

1. Belt Up Mark Briscoe

Imagine having Mark Briscoe on your roster.

He's an ageless, incredible worker who doesn't even need a mastery of playing babyface, because he's so inherently likeable, but has it nonetheless. He is piss-funny. He can do the TV format in his sleep. The guy must win a belt next year. Not that Jay Lethal wasn't very good in this C2 wooden spoon match, but Mark Briscoe is a delight. He elevated a match with zero stakes, that might as well have not happened, against an opponent whose work can be dry on occasion, into the most entertaining segment of Dynamite this week. It was a riot.

After Lethal had an answer for redneck kung fu, and attempted to flatten Mark with a dive, he was caught mid-attack. Mark turned it into a suplex on the floor. He then commanded the best atmosphere felt throughout the entire Gold League - in a pointless match against Jay Lethal - with his sensational babyface stylings. He first borrowed a ringside fan's hat and celebrated with him, just casually making someone's life, before attempting over and over and over again to throw a chair in the ring. This was a great, irreverent running gag because, within the strict confines of the C2, it made no sense to do it even once. Eventually, Mark propped it up and launched himself from it, Sabu-style, to smash Lethal with a somersault plancha on the outside. A trusting Lethal ate it so well. This was just one of several moments in which their chemistry was on full, striking display.

Mark won with the Jay Driller after talking one of his own, which looked a bit more brutal than intended. Still, it helped the drama of the near-fall, if nothing else. Belt the guy up.

He's the best.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!