8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite: New Year's Smash (Jan 6)

1. Horror Show

Hikaru Shida vs. Abadon was abject, and the worst possible start for a division that badly needs to rebuild in 2021, but at least it's over. 'The Full Metal Champion' beat the monster clean, in the middle of the ring, with her finisher, ending a useless rivalry that had blighted Dynamite for too long.

Goofy cartoon "violence" was the theme here. Abadon, who according to Jim Ross "lives a very unique lifestyle," kept trying to bite Shida throughout. Recovering from a kendo stick shot after a failed entrance ambush, Abadon went for Shida's flesh several times, succeeding only after dragging Hikaru under the ring, with Shida's neck bloodied when she emerged a few seconds later.

If this was a horror movie, it'd be straight-to-DVD and the bottom of the bargain bucket.

The zombie stuff would have been more palatable if the actual wrestling was any good, but it wasn't. Shida's intensity aside, this was sloppy and janky, particularly when Abadon was in control. While her gimmick is easily her most marketable aspect, it may be getting in the way of her work, which was all over the place even against a capable carrier in Shida.

Let's elevate a Britt Baker, Thunder Rosa, or Serena Deeb now that this tripe is out of the way.