Before getting into this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Happy New Year to all! Last week, the live show took a break for the holidays, but All Elite Wrestling’s flagship program is back in full swing. There is plenty of action to be seen, live from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, including a four-way bout for the AEW Women’s World Championship. This, and more, will be covered in the Diatribe!
The show opens with a video package chronicling events from Dynamite since its debut episode last year. It ends with the question, “Is The Elite Still Elite?” From there, we cut to ringside. Jim Ross and Excalibur are joined by guest commentator Taz.
Match 1: Darby Allin vs. Cody (w/Arn Anderson)
The match starts slow. Cody lands a series of shoulder tackles. He takes control of the wrist, but Allin does the same. Allin blocks an uppercut and rolls up Cody for a pin attempt. They exchange covers in a quick sequence. Cody catches Allin’s Coffin Drop attempt, Allin evades Cross Rhodes, and they start to trade strikes. Cody tosses Allin to the outside. Allin sweeps Cody’s leg, causing him to crash onto the apron. Back in the ring, Allin lands a springboard back elbow followed by a tope suicida. From there, Allin focuses on the arm of Cody, slamming it against the ring post. In the ring, Cody returns fire with a kick off the second rope.
Back in the ring, Allin continues to focus on Cody’s arm and shoulder. Cody cinches in the figure four leglock. Slowly, Allin reaches the bottom rope, his fingertips against it. Allin dropkicks Cody into the shoulder for a two-count. Quickly, Allin follows up with an armbar, Cody using his leg to reach the rope. Allin removes the top turnbuckle, the crowd jeering in response, before sending Cody into the opposite corner. Cody tosses Allin to the outside. Allin lands on his feet and quickly lands a flying cross body for a two-count. Following another exchange, Cody hits a snap powerslam.
Cody hits a series of punches in the corner followed by the Cody Cutter! They make their way to the top rope, where Cody lands an avalanche reverse suplex! 1… 2… Allin kicks out! AEW Dynamite cuts to commercial before returning to Allin in control, hitting a stunner. Allin goes for the Coffin Drop, to which Cody responds by rolling on the apron to the outside. With Cody in position, Allin hits the Coffin Drop! The action returns to the ring, where Allin evades the Cody Cutter. Allin goes for another stunner and Cody reverses with the Cross Rhodes! 1… 2… Allin kicks out!
Cody dashes at Allin, hitting the exposed turnbuckle. Allin takes advantage by going for the Coffin Drop. Anderson gives instruction to Cody from ringside. Cody gets his knees up and quickly rolls up Allin for the 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Cody
Post-match, AEW Dynamite cuts to a backstage interview with SCU, the AEW World Tag Team Champions. As they continue to speak, Sammy Guevara interrupts, congratulating Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian. He wonders what Christopher Daniels has and if he still has what it takes. Daniels challenges Guevara to a match next week.
Match 2: Nyla Rose vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. vs. Riho (c) (AEW Women’s World Championship)
Before the bell even rings, Rose blindsides Riho and Baker with the title. Shida attacks Rose with the kendo stick before the bell officially sounds. Shida lands a penalty kick on Rose for a two-count. Riho reenters the match and lands a dropkick on Shida. Riho hits a forearm on Baker in the corner before being arm dragged by Shida. Rose drags Shida to the outside before grabbing a table from under the ring. Riho climbs to the top and hits a flying crossbody, hitting Shida before being attacked by Rose. Baker follows and the action continues before AEW Dynamite cuts to commercial.
The show returns to all four competitors inside the ring. Shida counters Rose’s powerbomb attempt and backdrops her. Rose counters Shida’s suplex and drapes her over the top rope, following up with a flying knee drop! On the outside, Rose hits a senton on Shida through a table! Riho hits a double stomp on Rose’s back and Baker follows up with a DDT! 1… 2… Rose kicks out! Baker attempts Lockjaw on Rose, who fights out of it. Baker transitions into a triangle hold, but Rose hoists her up and slams her down. 1… 2… Baker kicks out! Riho reenters the ring and takes control of Rose, following up with a flying double stomp! 1… 2… Baker breaks up the pin!
Baker hits Riho with a swinging neckbreaker for a two-count of her own. Shida reenters the ring and suplexes Baker back inside. Shida suplexes Riho into the corner, causing her to slam into Rose. From there, Shida hits Baker with a backbreaker. Rose catches Shida with a German suplex. The powerhouse goes on to slam Riho and positions her next to Shida. Off the top rope, Rose goes for a senton, which Shida and Riho avoid. Shida hits the Michinoku Driver on Rose for a close pinfall attempt. Baker catches Shida with a superkick and lands a Russian leg sweep. She tries to follow up with Lockjaw, which Shida rolls out of. In the melee, Riho rolls up Baker for the quick 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Riho
After the match, Rose blindsides Riho before setting up a table. Rose lays Riho on the table before crashing through with a flying splash! From there, we cut backstage to an interview with Joey Janela. As Janela speaks, he’s hit with a low blow by Penelope Ford! She soon leaves the scene, boyfriend Kip Sabian by her side.
AEW Dynamite returns from commercial with a #JoinDarkOrder segment. It recaps Dark Order’s attack on The Elite.
Match 3: Trent (w/Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy) vs. Jon Moxley
Moxley takes down Trent with a side headlock to begin before moving to the arm. Trent counters with a headlock of his own. After an exchange, Trent slaps Moxley, who responds with a series of chops. Trent chops Moxley back and hits the standing double knees. Moxley cuts off Trent’s momentum with a forearm. The action spills to the outside, where Moxley suplexes Trent across the top rope. AEW Dynamite cuts to commercial and returns to Moxley attacking Trent on the outside. Trent fights back with a spear.
The action returns to the ring, where Trent takes control. Moxley whips Trent into the corner. Trent fights back with a half nelson suplex, sending Moxley to the outside. Trent lands a senton before rolling Moxley back in the ring. The Best Friend follows up with a tornado DDT. 1… 2… Moxley kicks out! Moxley lands a running knee before planting Trent face-first into the mat. After a series of counters and pin attempts, Moxley lands a big clothesline. Trent hits a clothesline of his own, but it’s only good for a two-count. Cassidy makes his way into the ring, standing up to Moxley. This gives Trent the opportunity to hit a running knee strike followed by a piledriver! 1… 2… Moxley kicks out!
On the outside, Moxley catches Trent in the air with a kick, following up with the Paradigm Shift! The action returns to the ring, where Moxley plants Trent with another Paradigm Shift for the pinfall victory!
Winner: Jon Moxley
After the match, Guevara makes his way through the crowd with a mic in hand. Moxley grabs a steel chair, but Guevara tells him he doesn’t want to fight. Guevara says The Inner Circle has a surprise for Moxley. AEW World Champion Chris Jericho appears on the tron, saying that he wants Moxley to lead the stable with him. Jericho offers Moxley 49 percent of The Inner Circle LLC, an EVP position, and a brand-new Ford GT complete with a “MOX” license plate. This, and more, can be Moxley’s if he says, “yes.” Jericho wishes Moxley a Happy New Year before leaving in the car in question.
Moxley takes the mic, saying he considered Jericho a friend and a mentor. Next week, he will give Jericho his answer in person.
Match 4: Sammy Guevara vs. Dustin Rhodes
Rhodes appears behind Guevara and attacks with a series of right hands. He levels Guevara with a running clothesline. Rhodes’ attack on Guevara continues in different corners, chopping him across the chest. From there, Rhodes slams Guevara and slaps him across the rear. Rhodes clotheslines Guevara out of the ring and hits a running senton off the apron. Rhodes goes to the top rope, which is when Jake Hager makes his way down the ramp. Off the distraction, Guevara tries to get the advantage. Rhodes shuts him down with a powerslam and rolls him back in the ring.
Rhodes stares down Hager, giving Guevara the opportunity to hit a baseball slide. AEW Dynamite goes to commercial once more, returning to Guevara in control of Rhodes. The elder Rhodes fights out of a headlock and rolls up Guevara for a two-count. Guevara nails a clothesline for a two-count of his own. Off the rope, Guevara misses a top rope maneuver, eating a powerslam by Rhodes for his troubles. Rhodes follows up with a series of attacks, including an inverted atomic drop. Guevara avoids the Final Reckoning and hits a running shooting star press! 1… 2… Rhodes kicks out!
On the apron, Rhodes lands a Canadian Destroyer! Hager gets on the apron and Rhodes hits him with an uppercut to send him to the floor. Rhodes sends Guevara to the outside, causing him to crash onto Hager. Rhodes sets up Guevara for Shattered Dreams, but the referee intervenes, stopping the attack. Behind the official’s back, Hager lowblows Rhodes! Guevara takes advantage to get the 1… 2… 3!
Winner: Sammy Guevara
AEW Dynamite cuts to an interview with Private Party, who are asked about their New Year’s resolutions. Hangman Page enters to pour himself a drink. Private Party admit they’re worried about Page, who responds angrily before leaving the scene.
DURING THE BREAK: Would you kiss the ring?
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama 8e/7c #AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/bhdOolU2h1— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) January 2, 2020
MJF, accompanied by Wardlow, makes his way to the ring to address Cody.
After running down the crowd, MJF sets his sights on Cody, listing his stipulations for a match at Revolution. They include not being touched by Cody prior to Revolution, for Cody to beat Wardlow in a steel cage match beforehand, and for Cody to get literally whipped by MJF ten times with his belt. MJF says Cody will realize his name is Maxwell Jacob Friedman, he’s better than Cody, and Cody knows it.
AEW Dynamite returns from break with an interview with Jurassic Express. Jungle Boy says he went ten minutes with Jericho, which he claimed he would, and he’s looking for a win in 2020. The show then transitions to an interview with Riho. She’s interrupted by Baker, who says she’s there week in and week out, believing Riho stole the victory.
Match 5: The Lucha Brothers (Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix) and Pac vs. The Elite (The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega)
Pentagon and Omega start things off. Omega catches Pentagon’s glove before the action begins. They exchange chops. Pac catches a running Omega in the back, allowing Pentagon to hit an enziguri. Pentagon tags Fenix, but Omega takes control with a double atomico. Fenix avoids the One-Winged Angel. Nick Jackson is tagged in and he and Fenix exchange tackles. They exchange fast-paced maneuvers before the action goes to the outside. Back in the ring, Fenix dropkicks Nick out of the ring. In the ring, Fenix and Nick trade kicks, kipping up at the same time.
AEW Dynamite comes back from another commercial break to Pac dragging Omega out of the ring. Pac follows up with a tope over the top rope. Fenix tags Pac, who continues to attack Omega in the corner. Omega starts to fight back in order to get to his corner. Eventually, Omega tags Nick, who lands a series of kicks followed by a bulldog on Pac. With the help of Matt Jackson, Nick lands a Canadian Destroyer! The Young Bucks hit double Destroyers on The Lucha Brothers! Matt tags Omega, who stands up to Pac. They exchange strikes. Pac hits the German suplex and Omega returns fire with a snap dragon suplex. Omega lands a sit-out powerbomb, but Pentagon kicks him in the face to break up the pin.
Pentagon hits a series of sling blades before landing the backstabber on Omega. Fenix is tagged in as The Lucha Brothers go for a combo move. In the midst of the action, Fenix hits Omega with a cutter before tagging Pac. Off the Black Arrow, Pac goes for the pin, only for The Young Bucks to break it up. Pac locks in the Brutalizer. The move is broken up before Fenix tags himself in. Omega catches Fenix in the air with a knee followed by the One-Winged Angel for the 1… 2… 3!
Winners: The Elite
Cody joins The Elite in their celebration. Page, who was on commentary for the match, decides not to join his stablemates as the first episode of AEW Dynamite in 2020 comes to a close.
