On the December 2, 2020, AEW produced a special episode of Dynamite, titled ‘Winter Is Coming’, headlined by “the biggest match in Dynamite history”, which may still ring true to this day. The show went down a storm, filled with hugely significantly moments that changed the course of wrestling forever, making this the most important special episode of Dynamite to date.
It Was Billed To Be A Major Show, So It Had A Lot To Live Up To
AEW have produced many special episodes before, putting together PPV worthy cards on free TV. With the small schedule of major PPV events, with just four per year, it allows AEW to give the culminations or beginnings of huge feuds, and have big title matches on their weekly programming. It helps to make their television shows feel must-watch, and this couldn’t have been truer when it came to Winter is Coming.
The show was built around the rematch between Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega, the two highest profile names in the company, with the AEW World Championship on the line. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and it felt exactly as it was billed – the biggest match they’d ever had on Dynamite. Whilst there had been several title matches on Dynamite prior, many were anticipating a major title change, an occurrence unseen for the AEW title on free TV. Whilst the show wasn’t the greatest in terms overall quality, it was certainly the most important.
The Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royal Was A Great Showcasing Of Talent
And that’s for several reasons. Starting with the first match of the night, the Battle Royal to determine the two competitors who would face off for the Dynamite Diamond Ring, saw a wonderfully produced match in which multiple stories were intertwined. The story between Adam Page and the Dark Order was progressed, as was Matt Hardy’s alliance with Private Party. Miro also had a strong showing, before being eliminated.
The climax of the match increased tensions between MJF, Sammy Guevara, and Wardlow, in a story which has stretched to the present. Jungle Boy was once again given a platform to shine, to lose out just at the end, which was a great precursor to his multiple battle royal losses, before his big win during the Casino Battle Royal the following year. The match left Orange Cassidy and MJF in the ring, signalling big things to come for both, laying a groundwork for the two competitors, and the younger stars of AEW.
Winter Arrived In A Stunning Surprise
Other matches went by without much commotion, with some solid in-ring work. Then came a tag team match with Darby Allin and Cody Rhodes taking on Team Taz. A beatdown from the heels followed a solid affair. The lights went out, snow began billowing into the arena, and despite a show named ‘Winter Is Coming’, many people weren’t expecting anyone to be debuting. Yet out walked The Icon, Sting, in an astonishing moment. Sting’s shocking Dynamite appearance proved that true surprises could still occur in the wrestling business, and that AEW was a draw to the legends of the industry.
Sting faced off with Arn Anderson, Dustin Rhodes, Cody, and then Darby Allin, walking through generations of talent, but making it clear that his eyes were set on the youngest of the four, which gave Allin a big rub, and set up their eventual pairing which would see Sting returning to the ring alongside Allin, in a fan favorite act that has built up momentum over time, becoming a major part of Dynamite.
The Title Match Was Everything A Main Event Should Be
The main event, however, was perhaps even more shocking. Omega was on the periphery of a heel turn, and this match cemented it. Omega’s long-time friend, Don Callis, left the commentary desk to undertake in shenanigans, causing a big distraction which allowed Omega to pick up a cheap victory, resulting in the biggest title change in AEW history. The two men ran backstage from their screwjob, to complete their getaway, but not before being halted for an interview, in which Callis infamously proclaimed ‘This Tuesday, Impact Wrestling on AXS TV, me and Kenny will tell you all about it’, amongst outcries from the commentators, and shock worldwide.
This moment signified the opening of the 'Forbidden Door' for the very first time in AEW, crossing major promotions and acknowledging the wider wrestling world, in a move that would change the landscape and trajectory of modern professional wrestling. Since that moment, AEW has crossed paths with multiple companies, namely Impact and NJPW, bringing stars like the Good Brothers, Minoru Suzuki, and KENTA.
The main event of the show was everything you could possibly dream of for a TV main event. There was a stunning, in-ring contest between the two biggest names the company had to offer, stretching nearly thirty minutes, along with a major heel turn, a shocking angle, and a ground-breaking cliff-hanger. It was the perfect way to set up a new era of wrestling, one which is still very much in effect to this day. It began a new chapter for AEW, with everything following this moment continuing to make the promotion of the most exciting companies in the world, and this episode was essential to letting that happen.