A stacked card gave fans a lot to enjoy this past Wednesday night, as Dynamite provided two solid hours filled with wrestling, some short and to the point promos. So let’s get to it.
In the Opening match Will Ospreay defeated Buddy Matthews. To be perfectly blunt, Matthews was the MVP of the match. AEW has a roster of so many super talented wrestlers, it’s a damn shame some of them aren’t featured more regularly. Matthews is one of them. He’s come a long way since his days on 205 Live, honestly believing he could be a solid top-tier wrestler if given the right opportunity. This is evident by the dueling crowd chance for both wrestlers, and I’m pretty certain I heard a few boos directed towards Osprey when he overpowered Matthews on more than one occasion.
After the match, Osprey cut an intriguing promo stating how he’s gone to the distance with both Matthews and his partner Brody king. In this promo He suggests that Matthew’s tag with Brody and pursue the tag team titles, or go off on his own individually. without being told what to do, not needing a stable, and striking out on his own. This is pretty interesting considering all the rumors we hear on a regular basis about a certain House of black member leaving the company. but that’s a rumor that’s gone on for more than a year so I wouldn’t put too much stock in anything until something is legitimately publicized.
Private Party was engaging in some celebratory libations Until the Hurt Syndicate decided to invite themselves. MVP initially put over the tag team champions, until revealing that Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin intend on taking those titles away. In the ring, Lashley defeated Mark Briscoe in one-on-one competition. Very entertaining match, and went a lot longer than one would expect. I actually like that Lashley isn’t being built up to be this impossibly undefeatable individual. If that were the case he would have defeated Briscoe in minutes. Instead we got a longer match with Briscoe giving it his all until eventually lastly was able to outmaneuver him for the win.
Up next was the casino Battle Royal to determine the number one Contender ship, to face Jon Moxley next week at the special Dynamite episode, Maximum Carnage. Hangman Adam Page, Jay White, Wheeler Yuta, Ricochet, Daniel Garcia, Adam Cole, Powerhouse Hobbs, Lance Archer, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, and Jeff Jarrett were the participants in the match.
Ricochet and Yuta were the clear heels who rightfully earned a lot of disdain and Venom from the live crowd. Surprisingly Jeff Jarrett got one of the loudest pops out of all the participants. In a big shocker, Hobbs would win the match, pinning Kyle O’Reilly after a vicious spine buster. I popped hard because a guy like Hobbs should certainly get a push and this is the right way of doing it. granted Hobbs has little chance of becoming Champion next week, but he’ll make it look damn good.
After the match, Jeff Jarrett sulked to the ring to talk about his goals for his final contract. However, MJF interrupted. Initially putting him over, but ultimately turning to old geezer jokes before turning up the heat By questioning whether he really has it in him to last another year as a wrestler. Both men cut some pretty sharp promos on one another, so it’ll be very curious to see how this Feud unfolds. I did not have MJF versus Double J on my bingo card.
Cope, Adam Copeland, cut a promo threatening mocks and the Death Riders. this didn’t go over very well as his targets came out and stomped on him in the middle of the ring. FTR rushed out to make the save but were nearly overwhelmed until Powerhouse Hobs rushed the ring and chased everyone away. good hype for next week, showing Mox is uncertain how to prepare for a guy like Hobbs.
Kris Statlander defeated Willow Nightingale and “The Rookie” Toni Storm to earn the #1 spot in the Women’s Casino Battle Royal at Dynamite: Maximum Carnage next week. This was a damn good match to watch. a lot of fun too. well Tony storm broke out a few comedy spots by hitting the snap-mare ten times to each competitor, overall a phenomenal match of wrestling. Statlander winning was a good call, I’m genuinely curious who shows up next week in the first-ever Casino Gauntlet Match. After the match Toni storm cut a promo backstage upset about losing and it seemed to imply she may back off from the title picture because she needs more training.
In a pre-taped promo Harley Cameron and Mariah May cut a goofy promo with May challenging Cameron to a match next week. Keep these two women together for a while, it’s comedy gold.
In the final segment of the night, Kenny Omega came to the ring to cut a promo being appreciative to be able to come back and be clear to wrestle. He talked a little bit about his match with Gabe Kidd at New Japan WrestleDynasty and is looking forward to his first match back in AEW. His promo was interrupted by Don Callis, who doesn’t get a single word out as Omega bolts from the ring and attacks him. However, Fletcher, Cage and Archer all attack Omega, but he’s saved by Will Ospreay. An epic stare down in the ring occurs between the two fan favorites, teasing perhaps a temporary alliance against a common foe.
It is later revealed that Kenny Omega will wrestle next week against Brian Cage.
AEW Dynamite 1/8/25 was a lot of fun, a lot of great in-ring action. I’m still thrilled that William Hobbs got the nod to win the casino this year, and very much looking forward to next week, the special edition of Dynamite being called Maximum Carnage.
