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The Three Count: AEW Dynamite Was Full Of Surprises

By Colin Tessier

If nothing else, the November 2 episode of AEW Dynamite was newsworthy. From cameos by Rick Ross and Lamar Jackson to a stunning debut and an unexpected return, there were plenty of takeaways coming out of the show. With that said, let’s dive into three of the main talking points in the aftermath of AEW Dynamite.

Ain’t He Great?

Few things are guarantees in life: death, taxes, and Jeff Jarrett securing the bag. In all seriousness, Jarrett’s arrival in AEW is the latest in a long line of examples that showcase Jarrett’s value in the wrestling industry. On Wednesday night, the WWE Hall of Famer showed up and smashed Darby Allin with a guitar. He then effectively declared war on AEW, calling its fans delusional and saying that the company will need body bags buy the time he’s through. Love it or hate it, Jarrett’s debut got people talking, and that’s half the battle these days.

As revealed by AEW president Tony Khan, Jarrett will also have a backstage role; he has been named the Director of Business Development. It’s unclear what exactly this role will entail, but in the announcement, Khan noted that he’s looking forward to expanding AEW’s live events calendar with Jarrett and the team. With this in mind, it’s fair to assume that there might be at least some similarities with the responsibilities Jarrett had as WWE’s Senior Vice President of Live Events. Either way, both as an on-screen talent and an influential figure behind the scenes, Jarrett will likely make an impact in AEW.

Boom Boom

Colt Cabana is back. On Wednesday night, ROH World Champion Chris Jericho held an open challenge and invited former ROH champions to step up. Heading into the match, speculation ran wild as to the identity of the mystery opponent. Rumors suggested that the reveal would be a shocker that would generate a lot of buzz. This chatter garnered plenty of excitement, so when Cabana’s music hit, the moment fell flat for some fans who were hoping for a major swing like Nigel McGuinness or even a curveball like PCO.

Make no mistake, Cabana’s return was remarkable; prior to Wednesday night, he hadn’t competed on AEW TV since November 2021. He hadn’t competed in a stateside AEW ring since an AEW Dark taping in March; while he wrestled at AEW’s Fight Forever showcase at Gamescom, the event was held in Cologne, Germany. Cabana is certainly one of the faces of ROH at this point, and he was a fitting opponent for Jericho. Still, for fans who were hoping for a more exciting moment, this reveal was a bit of a letdown.

The House of Black Lives?

Is the House of Black returning? It certainly seems like it, based on the vignette that aired on Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite. In it, Julia Hart initially lays her stablemates’ bodies to rest, but they eventually come back to life. At the end of the clip, Malakai Black was clearly shown, and a voice that sounded an awful lot like him said, “Father of the black light, giver of the scythe that takes, giver of the scythe that creates, forget me not, father. See me now, mother.”

Right before that, a mysterious voice stated that all must end so that all can suffer anew.

The vignette was encouraging for fans of the stable. Black had been absent since his match at AEW All Out, where he, Matthews, and King lost to Miro, Sting, and Darby Allin. Black went on to deny reports that he requested his release, though he noted that he’d be taking some time away. Matthews and King haven’t been seen on AEW TV since Sting and Allin beat them on AEW Rampage: Grand Slam. The House of Black has been divisive, but Black, King, and Matthews are immensely talented.

They could thrive in AEW’s trios division, which has been somewhat limited during The Elite’s absence. Factor in Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks, along with the House of Black, and suddenly a number of compelling matches become possibilities. Hopefully, this potential return will allow the group to tweak or refine their characters and execute what had been a promising vision before their run got derailed.

Catch up on our coverage of AEW Dynamite here.

RELATED: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Orange Cassidy Set For 11/4 AEW Rampage, Updated Card

Colin Tessier
Colin Tessier

Colin Tessier is a lifelong fan of all things Marvel and DC, and he has used this passion to write about them for several years. Likewise, having been a fan of wrestling since he was a kid, he also covers professional wrestling. You can find him on Twitter at @ct_2110.

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