AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming Show Predictions

Will this week’s AEW Dynamite be the best episode of Dynamite to date?

With roughly three months until the next AEW pay-per-view, we can expect some stacked episodes of AEW Dynamite from time to time.   This week’s episode definitely fits that bill.   The show will include an AEW World Championship Title match, a tag team match that we saw get real personal last week, and the second annual Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale.   Here are the announced matches for the show and what to expect on Wednesday.

Britt Baker vs Leyla Hirsch

Leyla Hirsch is a newcomer to AEW and this will be her fifth appearance with the company.   She was able to pick up her first win in her last match and has some momentum heading into her upcoming clash with Britt Baker.  Unfortunately, this is where her momentum ends.   Hirsch will impress and have her moments, but Baker is on her way to the AEW Women’s Title.  Hirsch will be nothing more than a stepping stone on Britt Baker’s way.

Winner: Baker by Submission

Frankie Kazarian vs Chris Jericho

Tempers flared between SCU and the Inner Circle last week during a tag-team match that saw Jericho and Jake Hager pick up a win over Kazarian and Christoper Daniels.  Kazarian caught MJF with what Jericho considered a cheap shot which led to this match.

Kazarian is a veteran and whether it is singles or tag-team matches he always puts on a good show.   There is some thought that MJF tries to get revenge on Kazarian, botches it, and costs Jericho the match but it seems a bit premature to start the dissension between those two already.  The numbers will catch up to Kazarian and the Inner Circle will make sure the match goes their way.  It won’t be a clean win, but it will still be a win for Le Champion.

Winner: Chris Jericho by pinfall

Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale

This will be the second installment of this match with MJF winning the first.   The prize is a diamond ring which MJF has used quite frequently to win matches and further his career.   So this year’s winner may be set up to do the same.   We can safely eliminate Reynolds and Silver, Private Party, Matt Sydal, and Kip Sabian as potential winners.

That leaves us with nine possible winners.   While the diamond ring is a nice prize it loses most of its meaning if the winner isn’t using it to win matches going forward.   That being said, let’s eliminate the babyfaces as well (Hangman, Scorpio Sky, Orange Cassidy, Matt Hardy).   That leaves us with Sammy Guevara, MJF, Shawn Spears, Miro, and Wardlow.

Miro and Wardlow don’t need the ring to add power, they already have it in spades.  Shawn Spears doesn’t feel like the right answer either, so we are left with Sammy Guevara and MJF.   Sammy has put in his time taking losses over the past year.  It is time for him to start his ascent up the ladder.  And what better way to cause more dissension in the Inner Circle than Sammy winning the ring that MJF has so proudly carried for the past year?

Winner: Sammy Guevara

Cody Rhodes & Darby Allin vs Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs

We saw this rivalry become very personal between Cody and Tazz last week.   Cody asked Tazz that if Tazz is so great then why is his son training with Cody, which led to Tazz locking Cody in a Tazz-mission.   There are bound to be a lot of outside variables in this match.

It is quite probable we see Arn Anderson, Tazz, Hook (Tazz’s son), and Brian Cage all getting involved in the match at some point.  While it seems unlikely that Cody and Darby would drop two straight matches to Team Tazz that is exactly what needs to happen.  Cody and Darby are over and dropping a couple of tag team matches won’t hurt them.   This match needs to be more about Starks and Hobbs looking like viable threats moving forward.   Expect Darby to take another awesome bump and pinfall at the hands of Team Tazz.

Winners: Starks and Hobbs by pinfall

Kenny Omega vs Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship

This match is truly tough to call. It is widely believed that Kenny Omega will be the next AEW World Champion.  The question remains will it be on Dynamite or are we just seeing the first match between these two with Omega taking the title at Revolution?  These are two of the best wrestlers in the world and the outcome could go either way.

However, with only four pay-per-views a year, it would be detrimental for AEW to only have their most prestigious title change hands at their pay-per-view shows.   It would lead to fans not taking these championship matches on Dynamite seriously, as they know a title change wouldn’t be happening.  If the plan is to put the title on Omega this is the time and the place to do it.   Unpredictability and great storytelling have led to AEW creating a strong following and it is vital that they continue this trend into year two.  It is time to let the reign of The Cleaner begin.

Winner: Kenny Omega by pinfall