AEW Dynamite 1/25 is stacked with a huge lineup, in part due to the much-anticipated match featuring Mark Briscoe vs Jay Lethal. Kicking off the show, the televised program begins with Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara accompanied by Daniel Garcia coming to the ring defeating Ricky Starks and Action Andretti. I enjoyed the predominantly back-and-forth match, lots of near-falls, maybe a tad too many. Everyone had a role, all played well. Jericho as arrogant, Sammy a jerk, Andretti looking to shock, and Starks with revenge. Unfortunately, the JAS stole the victory with blatant cheating, as Garcia clocked Andretti with a bat when referee Aubrey Edwards was distracted.
Good match with a sad result. No revenge tonight. I will say, Andretti certainly gave off some serious Ospreay/Omega vibes, specifically landing on both feet off the top rope countering a hurricanrana. I do believe Andretti may have a bright wrestling future.
Tribute Package for Jay Briscoe (Glad Warner finally allowed it). This brought me to tears. Chills for minutes afterwards. Tonight’s main event will be Jay Lethal vs. Mark Briscoe. No one will be able to hold it back. Excalibur couldn’t.
Up next, we get right to a TNT Championship match, Darby Allin defeated Buddy Matthews in one hell of a match. Matthews has certainly bulked up and let’s be honest, flat out manhandled Darby for majority of the match. Darby just loves taking bumps. Mid-match, the lights go out, coming back on to reveal the appearance of Malakai Black and Brody King. However, the attempted interference is thwarted by a wild kendo stick wielding Ortiz! Sting joins in defending Darby. After an intense volley, Darby connects a Coffin Drop on a rope-draped Matthews for the win.
I’ll admit, Matthews made me a believer he could win. However, Samoa Joe appears on the big-screen, with an eloquent verbal warning, the King of Television plans on reclaiming what is his.
Backstage: Renee Paquette gets uncomfortable as Hangman Page describes how he plans on KO-ing Moxley when he is cleared to wrestle again.
Jungle Hook defeated Ethan Page & Matt Hardy
I’ll be honest, I missed most of this due to interference from children. I caught the end where Matt had victory in-hand, but Page wanted the glory. As a result, he gets caught in the snare trap, tapping out. Seems to mirror Hardy’s “Big Money Matt” persona.
Bryan Danielson defeated Brian Cage
Welp, Danielson made Cage look real good tonight. Cage served his purpose as the hitman to damage Danielson prior to facing MJF at Revolution. It’s not officially announced, but we know where this is heading. Post match, Cage continued to attack Danielson’s arm, with MJF rushing down to aid in damaging Danielson even more. However, Konosuke Takeshita rushes down to make the save.
In the locker room, Doc Sampson warns Danielson, who outright tells the doc he has no plans of listening to caution.
Backstage: MJF has words for both Danielson and Takeshita, making the obvious vulgarity joke with the latter’s name. However, the line of “I’m not the first Jew to hide from someone with blue eyes” was a jaw-dropper. Initially shocking, but again, MJF has no qualms to use his religion and history of his faith for promos. He then announces who next week’s opponent will be…
Timothy Thatcher. I know they’ll have to play up the Danielson injured shoulder bit, but man, this could be a masterclass in submission wrestling if they allow it.
Ruby Soho defeated Toni Storm
Storm used a number of underhanded tactics to gain the advantage and nearly the win, until a distraction from Dr. Britt Baker, DMD allowed Soho to hit Destination Unknown for the win.
AEW Dynamite 1/25 The Main Event: Mark Briscoe defeated Jay Lethal with the Jay Driller for the pinfall victory
Yeah. I’m crying, wrestlers crying, fans crying. This was a really good match, one where you sit back, know why this match is happening while trying to let it sink in when you don’t want it to. No face or heels. Lethal and Briscoe in a straight-up wrestling match. We got some nice spots, Froggy Bow through a table, Jay Driller finisher, and more. The locker room coming out to the stage was a very respectful closing moment, as Mark Briscoe stood tall holding both Ring of Honor Tag Team Championships above his head.
A perfectly fine show this week. Some storylines pushed, but everyone knew it was all about Jay Briscoe tonight and there was no overshadowing it.
Tonight, was just a good ol’ fun night of wrestling.
