The last Dynamite of January comes live from the H.E.B. Center in Texas, where AEW lined up a monster show featuring three championship bouts and a few surprises. Included with some stellar matches we saw the World Championship picture widen a bit more as another potential contender makes his mark on the show.
Kenny Omega defeated Rocky Romero – Interview Segment with Toni Schiavone interrupted by Swerve Strickland and Adam Page
Omega continues to dispatch members of the Don Callis Family with a relatively quick win over Romero. The meat of the segment is the interview afterwards, it is revealed the next contender to MJF will be in a series of matches, where Omega will face the winner of Swerve and Andrade, and then the winner of that match will face “Hangman” Adam Page, and then the winner of that match will face MJF.
Apparently Samoa Joe was to be included, but he injured himself while working out. Bummer.
Jon Moxley defends the Continental Championship against Ace Austin
While the result was never in doubt, Austin put up a decent fight. Mox initially didn’t sell a damn thing until Austin’s fancy footwork dazed the champ. Despite hitting some hard signatures, Mox planting him with the Paradigm Shift DDT ended it. After the match, Konosuke Takeshita confronts Moxley, demanding a match. However, Davis and Doyle attack Mox from behind.
It seems like a second match in a row where the aftermath was the real story. The Death Riders and the Don Callis Family will continue to feud, despite it not being clear whether this is a heel vs heel feud. Mox gets cheered, but yet gets booked as heel alongside his stable. Is it possible we are temporarily doing away with the babyface and heel monikers?
Takeshita vs. Mox will be excellent
Mark Briscoe retains the TNT Championship against El Clon
Fantastic matchup. This is the first “real” match I have seen for El Clon, and he did not disappoint. While he had some matches in the past, it felt like he was still feeling things out. Against Briscoe, the evil version of Hologram was unleashed and believably appeared to be able to defeat Briscoe. Clon has a number of counters and reversals at his disposal, using them in unique fashion to shock champion and fans. One was somehow countering the Jay Driller by flipping out of it. Briscoe managed to outsmart the challenger, wrapping him up with a rollup cradle for the pinfall.
Briscoe, on the mic, says he plans to continue his defense of the championship on a regular basis, and calls out anyone who is not part of the Don Callis Family.
The lights go out, and Psycho Killer is seen on the screen, out comes Tommaso Ciampa! Holy cow! The former Ring of Honor and NXT mainstay has arrived in AEW, and will face Mark Briscoe for the TNT Championship on Collision.
Yes, I will tune in.
Backstage: An apologetic Okada explains his actions and seeks forgiveness from Kyle Fletcher. Reluctantly, the Protostar grants it. Later on in the night, Takeshita learns of this and is disappointed.
Promo for the Young Bucks airs, Matt and Nick says they are going back to their humble roots, with the promise of unleashing a Superkick Party, and everyone’s invited.
MJF is interrupted
MJF is set to gloat some more, but Big Bad Brody King immediately comes out to challenge for the AEW World Championship. MJF initially tries to verbally put him down, saying how he follows people like Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews, and Bandido around. This fails to get Brody riled up, instead informs MJF he will have an Eliminator Match next week. If he wins, he gets a title shot. MJF looks like he pooped himself.
MJF is great at selling fear. Does Brody have any chance of becoming champ? Not at the moment, but could definitely be a world champion later in the year if a feud continues or in the future. The only problem is every seemed to forget or gloss over this later on when Renee Paquette interviews MJF at the end of the show, highlighting potential challengers like Omega, Swerve, Hangman, and another individual, but neglects to mention Brody King. If you are going to make him look like a serious contender, then don’t gloss over his challenge.
Backstage: The Demand beats up Jungle Jack Perry, again.
Kris Statlander retains the AEW World Championship against Thekla
If I didn’t know otherwise, this could have main evented Dynamite or even showcased on a PPV. Excellent match, it was 100% believable for Thekla to win. Working very well together, both women unleashed some astonishing wrestling in and out of the ring. Out of the ring, Statlander held Thekla up for what felt like eternity on a suplex. Tons of counters, and a stretch where Thekla had the champ on the ropes. Towards the end, Thekla gets caught, and Stat counters into a Doctor Bomb of her own, followed by Staturday Night Fever for the win.
As Willow and Harley join Stat to celebrate, Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford appear.
FTR retain the World Tag Team Championships against Davis & Doyle
The mammoth duo of Davis and Doyle could, and should have been new champions if not for the interference from The Death Riders. It is unfortunate the Death Riders had to interfere, or we could have believable seen new champions. I believe Davis and Doyle will be tag champs in the future, as long as they stay together. Dax took one too many hard chops, his chest turned bright red and bloodied from the impacts. Not entirely outclassed but Dax and Cash appeared overwhelmed. First time in a long time FTR didn’t come out looking strong at all.
Backstage, a segment with Orange Cassidy goes south as Wheeler Yuta and the Death Riders go at it, until “Timeless” Toni Storm interrupts, scaring Marina Shafir and everyone else away.
Andrade el Idolo defeated Swerve Strickland
Certainly a surprise to the live crowd and fans at home. However, Andrade, even though only back a short time, has seen a surge in popularity and in push. He looked like a main eventer, like he’s been one all along. Andrade and Swerve put on a hell of a back-and-forth match with tons of near-falls and close calls. Each one seeking to overpower the other. It was thanks to a cheap trick, which allowed Andrade to sneak a low blow followed by the DM-DDT and the pinfall.
Andrade, for the second time, takes a selfie and hits on a woman in the front row. Obvious plant but still emphasizes he is both a cunning wrestler and ladies man. It appears AEW has a lot of faith in him, giving a big win over Swerve just like that. Andrade appears to be enjoying his rejuvenation here.
After the match, Renee talks to MJF who opts to flee the building. Omega, Hangman, and Andrade all appear to be number one contenders. They also appear to be gunning for each other too.
