AEW Dynamite IGNITE for 2/01/23 – No Holds Barred For The TNT Championship!

Welcome to another edition of AEW Dynamite IGNITE, Pro Wrestling Posts’ weekly preview of All Elite Wrestling’s flagship show. This week’s AEW Dynamite IGNITE for 2/01/23 has an absolutely stacked card, featuring an AEW debut, a star on the rise, another chapter in a storied AEW rivalry.

But that’s not all, as there will be not one, but TWO championship defenses! So, without further ado, let’s get right into what’s happening tomorrow night when AEW Dynamite comes to you live from Dayton, Ohio!

AEW Dynamite IGNITE for 2/01/23
The Acclaimed In Action

On Wednesday night we will see the AEW World Tag Team Champions hit the ring for what is sure to be an exciting match. As of writing, All Elite Wrestling hasn’t named their opponents, but Max Caster and Anthony Bowens will surely see this as more of a tune-up than a title defense. With Revolution coming up on March 5th and a title defense on the horizon, who might step up to the tag team champions? And will The Gunn Club get involved?

Last week, Austin and Colten Gunn expressed their frustrations with their father, Billy Gunn in family therapy. Lately, Billy Gunn has been seen chumming around with the AEW World Tag Team Champions than with his own sons. This has triggered feelings of abandonment dating back to their childhood. It seems like the only way for Austin and Colten Gunn to earn their father’s affection is to become AEW World Tag Team Champions. If they aren’t the surprise opponents of The Acclaimed, they’re sure to make their intentions known to Max Caster and Anthony Bowens on Wednesday night.

AEW Dynamite IGNITE for 2/01/23
Konosuke Takeshita vs Brian Cage (w/Prince Nana)

Last week, Bryan Danielson took on Brian Cage as part of his quest to face AEW World Champion MJF at Revolution. Cage lost the match after a surprise sunset flip into a pin by Danielson. After the match MJF made his entrance with evil intentions on his would-be challenger. The AEW World Champion took a chair from ringside, and began a targeted assault of Danielson’s left arm. MJF had the aforementioned arm trapped in the chair, and had ordered Cage to stomp on it, when Konosuke Takeshita hit the ring. The Japanese rising star hit a running knee strike on Brian Cage, causing MJF to flee.

On Rampage, we learned that Konosuke Takeshita would be facing Brian Cage on Wednesday night. Takeshita has had an incredible run in AEW since his debut almost one year ago. In that time, his only losses have come to the likes of Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and “Hangman” Adam Page. Does Brian Cage have what it takes to join the illustrious ranks of men who’ve defeated Konosuke Takeshita? Or will Takeshita continue on his upward trajectory in AEW?

AEW Dynamite IGNITE for 2/01/23
Bryan Danielson vs Timothy Thatcher

When Bryan Danielson challenged Maxwell Jacob Friedman for the AEW World Championship at Revolution, he specifically requested a 60-minute Iron Man match. MJF agreed to the stipulation, on the condition that Danielson wins all of his matches in the leadup to the pay-per-view event on March 5th. So far, he’s defeated Konosuke Takeshita, Bandido, and Brian Cage. It seems that the challengers in AEW simply weren’t enough of a challenge for The American Dragon. But MJF thinks he knows a man who is.

Enter: Timothy Thatcher, American indie wrestler with nearly 20 years of in-ring experience. Thatcher’s last appearance for a major American wrestling promotion was in 2021, where he was teaming with Tommaso Ciampa. Since then, Thatcher has been working primarily for Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan, but has made appearances for Defy, Beyond, and GCW. The Sacramento grappler practices a similar style to Danielson, emphasizing brutal strikes and intense mat prowess. But will those mat skills be enough to bring Danielson’s championship momentum to a halt this Wednesday night?

AEW Dynamite IGNITE for 2/01/23
‘Hangman’ Adam Page vs Jon Moxley

At AEW Title Tuesday on October 18th, 2022, Hangman Page suffered a concussion in his title match against then-champion Jon Moxley. This injury brought an early end to the match, and Adam Page had to be carried out of the ring. After two months of recuperation, doctors gave Hangman Page clearance to compete, and he went right back at it with Jon Moxley. In his return match, Page pinned Moxley to get his win back. But it seems like things aren’t over.

Last week Renee Paquette got an interview with ‘Hangman’ Page, where he spoke a bit about his match with Moxley. When asked if he would face his foe for a third time, Page responded with an emphatic yes, before adding that he would love to beat Jon Moxley in his home state. But can he follow through with it? And will we see any chicanery in this rubber match between two former champions? Tune in for Page vs Moxley III to find out!

AEW Dynamite IGNITE for 2/01/23
Red Velvet vs Jade Cargill (c)
– TBS Championship

AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill has yet to suffer a defeat since her debut in AEW almost two years ago. Along the way to a 49-0 record, she picked up an entourage of Baddies and not only the TBS Championship, but the longest title reign of any woman in AEW history. Truly, Jade Cargill is turning out to be the Goldberg of our era.

Last week, Jade Cargill gave an interview on her upcoming 50th match, only to be interrupted, once again, by Red Velvet. The former Baddie has a deep history with Jade Cargill, being among the first women she defeated in singles action. But Red Velvet has grown as a competitor since 2021, and she believes she deserves not only a rematch, but a championship rematch. Cargill accepted the challenge with aplomb, and promised to give us the same performance she did so long ago at Daily’s Place.

AEW Dynamite IGNITE for 2/01/23
Samoa Joe vs Darby Allin (c)
– TNT Championship, No Holds Barred Match

Just under a month ago, Darby Allin defeated Samoa Joe for the TNT Championship. Following the hometown victory, Darby Allin has been on a tear, defending his title against any and all challengers. Last week, after Darby finished his fourth TNT Championship defense against Buddy Matthews, Samoa Joe cut a promo from the big screen. That night, he told Darby that taking away the TNT Championship was the biggest mistake of his life. The ROH TV Champion then issued his challenge for the TNT Championship in a No Holds Barred match.

While Samoa Joe is one tough customer, always willing to throw down, Darby Allin is something of a daredevil, with a notably high tolerance for pain. Will that be enough to pull out another win over Samoa Joe? And if he wins for a second time, will Allin challenge for the ROH TV Championship? Find out in the climactic main event of AEW Dynamite this Wednesday night!

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