7 Ups & 6 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Thanksgiving (24 Nov)

Colt Cabana loses a tooth, CM Punk and MJF spit fire, Page steps to Danielson.

Bryan Danielson tooth
AEW

AEW returned to Chicago, Illinois for last night's Thanksgiving special, having delivered a strong Full Gear 2021 fallout show that set most of its major players off in interesting new directions the previous week.

Sold out for weeks, with a hot crowd all but guaranteed in a city AEW conquered a long time, the show was, unfortunately, a letdown. Its highest highs were tremendous, but the gulf between them and the night's lesser moments could hardly have been wilder. A shame, particularly as the likes of CM Punk and Bryan Danielson were on the lineup.

Perhaps this bum transitional week was by design. Both of AEW's previous pre-Thanksgiving Dynamites have experienced significant drops in viewership, with another likely this week. But the writing was often tedious regardless - especially outwith the two main promo segments.

Danielson wrestled Colt Cabana on his march towards Hangman Page's World Title, Punk got into it with MJF, and Jamie Hayter wrestled Thunder Rosa in the TBS Championship tournament. Elsewhere, Cody Rhodes and PAC joined forces with the Lucha Brothers to face FTR, Malakai Black, and Andrade El Idolo in a convergence of rivalries.

Let's light the fuse...

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.