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

4. Rhodes & Sydal Go Big

Yes, the Dogg Splash spot was rubbish, but Cody Rhodes vs. Matt Sydal was a fun television bout that began with Sydal setting a brisk pace, leaving 'The Prince of Pro Wrestling' struggling to keep up. A Meteora to the outside almost wiped Snoop out, an errant blow to Serpentico set up the post-match angle, and the action was tight and competitive throughout, with Cody hitting two Cross Rhodes to eventually put Sydal away.

Snoop was a lot of fun during the bout itself. His remixed version of Cody's ring entrance heralded 'The American Nightmare's' arrival and the idea of him playing the Arn Anderson role, calling Rhodes' wrestling plays, is too preposterous not to be entertaining. A hoot.

Elsewhere, Snoop was backstage with Private Party and Matt Hardy, bringing the juice for Isiah Kassidy's gin. A tidy gag to compliment a segment that saw Kassidy and Marq Quen sign 30% of their earnings over to Hardy in exchange for whatever he brings to the table.