The January 25th edition of AEW Dynamite offered a title defense for Darby Allin, the return of JungleHOOK, Toni Storm versus Ruby Soho, the JAS, Ricky Starks, Bryan Danielson, The Acclaimed, MJF, and Mark Briscoe versus Jay Lethal in the main event to honor the departed Jay Briscoe.
Highlights:
- Video package celebrating the life and career of Jay Briscoe which would be followed later in the night by Mark Briscoe‘s match against Jay Lethal featuring the Ring of Honor commentary team. Briscoe pulls out the win of the emotional match with the Jay Driller and joins several ROH alumni of the AEW roster at the top of the ramp to end the show.
- Opening match featured the team of Ricky Starks and Action Andretti beating Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara featuring a top-rope cutter by Guevara, multiple topé suicida dives and top-rope moves from Andretti, and Jericho eating a Roshambo on the floor before Daniel Garcia‘s interference captured the win for the JAS.
- Darby Allin defended the TNT Championship against Buddy Matthews with both Sting and Julia Hart at ringside in a match that played on the story of Darby’s recent injuries. Ringside action included Sting and Ortiz getting into things with Malakai Black and Brody King. The match was followed by a challenge from Samoa Joe setting up a rematch between the pair next week.
- Pre-taped segment with Adam Cole chronicling his return after injury and suggesting a possible return at Revolution.
- JungleHOOK took on the team of “All-Ego” Ethan Page and Matt Hardy with the latter working well together as a team right up until the moment Page’s ego costs them the match.
- With threads playing out throughout the show, Bryan Danielson defeated Brian Cage in a match commentators built up as both between possible #1 contenders for the AEW Championship and MJF‘s plan to have Cage hurt Danielson by targeting his arm and shoulder. Extended action after the match with both Cage and MJF working on Danielson’s arm which was eventually broken up by Konosuke Takeshita. Back from commercial, the segment was followed up with questions about Danielson’s current medical condition and his declaration that nothing will prevent him from continuing to wrestle (even a match next week against Timothy Thatcher) and a later backstage promo by MJF with words for both Danielson and Takeshita.
- Toni Storm, playing up her new heel angle against the “homegrown” AEW women took on Ruby Soho. Soho pulls out the win with the help of a distraction from Britt Baker.
Lows:
- Family therapy between The Acclaimed and The Gunns hit the expected notes without any memorable moments or advancing the storyline. Wrestler Tiffany Nieves played the therapist in the segment.
Less Notable:
- Backstage interview with Renee Paquette and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page interrupted by Wheeler Yuta setting up a match with Moxley next week and a match with Yuta on Rampage.
- Promo for the Emi Sakura / Jamie Hayter match on Rampage.