***CONTAINS SPOILERS***
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from Landers Center in Southaven, MS.
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Jim Ross were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
Memphis pro-wrestling broadcasting legend Dave Brown joined the trio at the table to call the first match!
“Hangman” Adam Page & Kenny Omega vs. Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) was the opening contest tonight!
“Their young age belies their calm in-ring demeanor,” said Excalibur of the team of Private Party. “Hangman” Adam Page and Marq Quen started off for their respective teams, as the hot Memphis crowd chanted “Cowboy $hit” at the “Hangman.” Private Party were quick to utilize their tandem offense on Page. After a lateral press, Marq Quen covered Page for a one-count. Page powered back with a shoulder tackle and a suplex on Private Party, and tagged in Kenny Omega. Page and Omega seemed to be on the same frequency tonight, with quick tags to each other, in and out, and coordinating their chops on Kassidy and Quen.
Kassidy hit a flat liner on the “Best Bout Machine” Omega from the outside of the ring to the inside, and was able to get the tag to Marq Quen. Marq Quen went vertical on both Omega and Page, and then connected with a 450 splash on “Hangman” Page for a near fall.
“Hangman” caught Marq Quen, who had launched himself off the top rope, and planted him with a fall away slam. Page power bombed Kassidy. Omega, who had been tagged in, hit a V-trigger knee on Kassidy! With their speed and agility, Private Party blasted one of their finishers, “Silly String,” on Omega, but he kicked out!
Private Party hit a double dropkick on Page, who fell into Omega (who had been perched on the top rope). Private Party hit Gin & Juice on Omega, but it wasn’t enough to stop the “Best Bout Machine.”
After a great start, the Elite team of Page and Omega were getting their wires and signals crossed. Finally, after they used a buckshot lariat V-trigger combo, Kenny Omega was able to gain the victory for his team.
The TV crew brought us a look at what was happening in the locker room. “The Bastard” PAC had Michael Nakazawa in the Brutalizer submission hold. PAC demanded his rubber match with Kenny Omega, “…or else things like this will continue to happen!”
Kenny Omega ran to the back to defend his friend Michael Nakazawa from PAC. “Hangman” Adam Page hardly seemed phased, instead grabbing a beer from a fan at ringside.
Brandi Rhodes joined the commentary team for the next bout, which was for the AEW Women’s World Championship Match. RIHO (c.) defended against Kris Statlander.
Hikaru Shida and Dr. Britt Baker were shown watching at ringside.
RIHO delivered strikes to Statlander, and then double-boots and a hurracarana. Statlander caught RIHO with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Statlander missed a moonsault, as RIHO wisely slid out of the way. RIHO climbed to the top rope and Statlander met her there. Statlander gave her a stalling vertical suplex, her power on full display in Memphis. TCB!
“The Nightmare Collective” (Awesome Kong and the newly recruited Mel) casually walked to the ringside. Statlander, like an intergalactic spacecraft, crashed onto Awesome Kong with a tope suicida. Brandi Rhodes left the broadcast table and joined her “Nightmare Collective.”
Statlander left the ring and approached Brandi. Before Statlander could hit Brandi, Luther—the infamous Japanese deathmatch pro wrestler (and the mysterious man seen in previous “Nightmare Collective” videos)—held back her arm. RIHO jumped onto Luther from the top turnbuckle, and the match continued!
RIHO captured Statlander’s leg, but Statlander rolled out. Statlander tried to finish RIHO with a giant gorilla slam, but RIHO took her down with a crucifix bomb! Statlander used her size advantage again; she lifted RIHO, but Awesome Kong pulled out Statlander’s legs right from under her. RIHO was able to capitalize for the roll up victory!
Big Swole, Sunny Kiss, and Shida came to the aid of Statlander, who was being assaulted by “the Nightmare Collective.” Dr. Britt Baker didn’t bother to leave her ringside seat.
A video package of highlights aired of “Superbad” Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford.
Zach Myers of the band Shinedown was sitting in the crowd, taking in all the fiery AEW action.
“The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels vs. “The Spanish God” Sammy Guevara was up next.
The two men locked up, but with over 26 years of in-ring experience, Daniels caught young Guevara with an arm drag. “Daniels is firing on all cylinders,” said Excalibur, as CD slammed Sammy.
The tides shifted, and Sammy stomped on Daniel’s back. Sammy used the ropes to work over Daniels’ throat. Sammy used a hook kick to Daniels’ jaw, and then ascended to the top rope. Sammy went for a 450 splash, but Daniels moved. Daniels used an exploder on Sammy, then a dropkick and a clothesline for good measure! Daniels yelled “Angels Wings,” signaling his finisher, but Sammy avoided it! Sammy hit a running shooting star press, but Daniels kicked out at two!
Daniels planted Sammy with the STO, but Pentagon, standing at the entrance ramp, interrupted, saying, “Hey amigo, show me if you can!” While Daniels was distracted by Penta, Sammy connected with a shot to the back of Daniels’ head for the victory. Excalibur said “The crisis of conscious continues to affect the ‘Fallen Angel’ Christopher Daniels.”
The Dark Order walked down to the ring. Evil Uno had a microphone and admonished the crowd. “Boo all you want, but the AEW faithful are the same ones saying you lost a step, Chris Daniels. I can help you. SCU is a thing of the past. Be one with the Dark Order and wear the mask.” Evil Uno handed Daniels a Dark Order mask, but Daniels threw the mask back into Evil Uno’s face! The Dark Order swarmed Daniels, but Frankie Kazarian, Scorpio Sky, and the Young Bucks, Matt and Nick Jackson, ran down to rescue CD.
The Lucha Bros. (Pentagon Jr. & Rey Fenix) vs. The Brotherhood—“The American Nightmare” Dustin Rhodes & Cody (accompanied by “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson).
“Some consider them the best tag team in the world,” said Jim Ross of the Lucha Bros.
Tony Schiavone added: “Great contrast in styles here.” This was the first time the teams were facing each other.
Pentagon went for the package pile driver, but Cody, utilizing a wide base, escaped and tagged in brother Dustin. Fenix was tagged in by his brother. It escalated in no time, with Fenix diving onto Dustin, and Pentagon stomping onto him (after another quick tag). Pentagon kicked at Dustin’s leg, trying to knot up the thigh muscle.
Dustin tried to fight his way out of the corner. Fenix went to the outside and grabbed a steel chair, but Arn Anderson saw it and knocked it out of his hands. Dustin hit a spine buster onto Fenix and tagged Cody.
Cody’s offense was combustible, as he nailed a tope suicida, then a bicycle kick. He tried for CrossRhodes onto Rey Fenix, but Fenix connected with a cutter! Dustin was tagged in and used a Canadian destroyer on Fenix, and then the Final Reckoning onto Fenix for the pin fall. This match was utterly explosive!
Tony Schiavone joined Cody, Dustin Rhodes, and Arn Anderson in the ring.
“What do you say to all the challenges that MJF has put in front of you, Cody?” asked Schiavone.
Arn Anderson pulled away the microphone from Schiavone. “Let me interrupt,” said the Enforcer. “Somebody died and made MJF God and I don’t know about it? One thing I know for sure. We’re going to talk about it this week and we’ll get back to you.”
Alex Marvez was backstage with Memphis wrestling legend “Leapin’” Lanny Poffo. “Dynamite is the word,” said Poffo. For more on the Memphis wrestling legends, who were honored tonight, watch the next episode of AEW Dark, available for free on AEW’s YouTube channel.
Back in the ring, MJF (with Wardlow) had a live microphone. “I’ll give you to the count of ten to come out and face me like a man, Cody.”
“I don’t even think Cody is still here,” said Jim Ross on commentary.
Diamond Dallas Page’s music hit, and DDP came out to confront MJF and Wardlow!
“Let me explain something Dallie! Even when you were in your prime, you couldn’t hold my jock. And if you want one more match, I’m not going to fight you, but maybe these guys do.”
The Butcher & the Blade (& the Bunny) joined MJF and Wardlow.
MJF said to DDP: “You have two options. Option A is to kiss my ring and get out of my company. Or there’s option B—we can send you straight to hospice, and then I can take one of those nice ‘diamond daughters’ of yours and we can do one thing…”
DDP heard enough! He dished out diamond cutters, first to the Butcher, and then the Blade got one! But MJF hit a low blow to DDP. MJF looked into the camera and said, “Cody, what’s about to happen to your mentor—that’s on you.” QT Marshall and Dustin ran out to stop the attack on DDP before he was permanently injured.
Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy, & Marko Stunt) vs. The Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent) & Orange Cassidy.
Marko Stunt, the hometown hero, was psyching himself up to go at it with Trent. Trent knocked him down. The crowd was firmly behind Marko, who rolled up Trent with an inside cradle. Marko tagged Jungle Boy, and they hit the ripcord combo onto Trent.
Chuck Taylor hit a falcon arrow on Jungle Boy, but a caffeinated Marko made the save. Luchasaurus entered into the mix and hit round kicks to the Best Friends. Lucha’s tail whip leveled Trent!
Orange Cassidy unleashed his “freshly squeezed” offense, wiping out Jurassic Express. Marko Stunt was isolated, but Marko spiked Trent with a Canadian destroyer! Jungle Boy was quick to capitalize on the momentum and picked up the pin on Trent.
The AEW World Champion, Le Champion, Chris Jericho, was out next with “The Spanish God” Sammy Guevara and “the Big Hurt” Jake Hager.
The Inner Circle waited for Jon Moxley’s answer to their proposal to join their faction. A table had been set up in the ring with some chilled Bubbly.
Moxley’s music hit, and Mox walked down the arena steps to deliver his decision.
“The car is gassed up and ready to go, Jon,” said Le Champion. “All right, Mox, this is it. Will you be a part of the Inner Circle?”
“I’ve had a lot to think about this week,” replied Moxley. “Chris, you offered me a car, money, and 49 percent ownership of Inner Circle, LLC. But I can’t be bought. I came to AEW to run roughshod on pro wrestling. And that is why my answer is…yes! There is no more dominant force in AEW than the Inner Circle, and I want to stand with them. I believe in my heart that Chris Jericho is the greatest of all time. There is only one thing left: pop open a little bit of the bubbly!”
Moxley unzipped his leather jacket to reveal an Inner Circle t-shirt, then hugged Jericho, Sammy G. and Jake Hager. “I think you forgot something, Chris,” said Moxley. Chris Jericho handed over the keys to the nearly priceless sports car he promised Moxley.
“Chris, my friend, I was just kidding,” Moxley said. “I would never join the Inner Circle. You have nothing that I want…” Moxley pointed at Jericho’s world championship title, and continued, “…except for that!” Moxley smashed the champagne bottles. Then Moxley delivered a Paradigm Shift to Sammy G., and then one to Jericho. Moxley stormed out of the ring, ripping off his “Inner Circle” t-shirt and clutching the keys to his new car!
Be sure to join us next week on January 15th, for the BASH AT THE BEACH Edition of AEW DYNAMITE, live on TNT from the Watsco Center in Miami, FL.