AEW Dynamite live results: Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Starks, Samoa Joe vs. Darby Allin
Tonight’s AEW Dynamite will be the start of a new era visually and their debut in Seattle, Washington.
The main event will be a first-time-ever match between Chris Jericho and Ricky Starks.
TNT Champion Samoa Joe will defend against hometown favorite Darby Allin in a rematch while Bryan Danielson returns to Seattle for the first time since 2015 as he faces Tony Nese. AEW World Champion MJF will also be in the house, perhaps to confront Danielson.
Another local talent — Swerve Strickland — will look for his second straight win as he battles AR Fox in a rivalry born in Lucha Underground.
The Acclaimed will defend the AEW Tag Team titles against Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal while TBS Champion Jade Cargill teams with Red Velvet against Kiera Hogan & Skye Blue.
Jon Moxley will be on the show as a medical update for Hangman Page is given ahead of an expected match between the two next Wednesday in Los Angeles.
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The new era of AEW Dynamite opened with a fresh opening package, entrance stage and graphics as Excalibur welcomed us alongside Tony Schiavone & Taz. Chris Jericho’s music hit and they’re diving right into the action tonight for a first ever one on one meeting.
Ricky Starks defeated Chris Jericho (w/Angelo Parker & Matt Menard)
(Despite dropping another match on Dynamite, Jericho & his crew had the last laugh following a fun opener. The crowd was loud throughout and really got behind Starks.)
After trying to show each other up, a slap by Jericho fired up Starks to taking the fight outside briefly. Back inside, Jericho took over with corner clotheslines and shoved referee Aubrey in the process. Starks fought back with his rope walk clubbing blow, but Menard tripped him up. Jericho missed his springboard dropkick and both men ended up on the apron where Jericho hit a suplex to the floor.
Jericho controlled the entire commercial break until Starks fired out of the corner with a lariat. Starks strung together offense to get the crowd going and hit a sit out Liger Bomb for two. Jericho responded with a Lionsault attempt, but Starks got the knees up. Starks tried a moonsault off the second rope, missed and was planted by a Code Breaker. Starks blocked Judas Effect, as Jericho blocked Roshambo and sank in the Walls of Jericho. As Starks grabbed the ropes, Parker took the ref and Menard hit Starks with the baseball bat. Ref Aubrey dropped the arm twice, but Starks fired up the third time to escape the hold. Starks got a close inside cradle followed by the swinging DDT off the ropes. Menard & Parker got dropped on the apron, as Jericho was dropped by a Spear to give Starks the win.
Post match, the rest of the Jericho Appreciation Society hit the ring to attack Starks when Action Andretti hit the ring with a chair to clean house. Tay Melo & Anna Jay took the chair away from Andretti and hit a low blow, as the rest of the J.A.S. put the boots to him. Menard & Parker set up a table ringside and Hager powerbombed Starks off the apron through it.
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Tony Schiavone welcomes us back from break and introduces Hangman Adam Page to the ring. Schiavone mentions Jon Moxley challenging Page next week at the Forum, as Page said as of today, he’s not medically cleared to compete. Page looked down at the doctor and said if he doesn’t get into a fight this week, next week he’ll be cleared to knock Moxley’s dick in the dirt.
That promptly brought out Moxley who was surprised Page was even there tonight. He’s sick of the sympathy cards and vigils, as the crowd chanted they couldn’t hear with the mic not working. Moxley dropped a couple F bombs, said Go Seahawks and got the crowd back on track like a pro. Moxley mentions Page being mad at him for knocking him out, which Page took the mic and said he’s not mad about that, it’s how Moxley called him out, making him a joke. Page said Moxley was threatened, he has two in the chamber with Moxley’s name on them and he’ll take his shot at the Forum. Moxley said Page’s punk ass doesn’t belong in the ring with him and next week, he’ll make sure Page doesn’t get back up. This was an excellent face off before their showdown next week.
-Samoa Joe vs. Darby Allin video package is shown showcasing tonight’s main event. Darby will pay the price in Joe’s kingdom.
The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens w/Daddy Ass) defeated Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal (w/Sonjay Dutt & Satnam Singh) to defend the AEW Tag Team Titles
(This was a perfectly fine tag match, with the fans biting at the false finish with potentially new champions crowned. The pre-match rap from Caster was my favorite part of this entire thing.)
Caster’s rap including saying Karen Jarrett should say less, while comparing her to Skip Bayless. There was a Dixie Carter name drop and said TNA stood for Total Nonstop Acclaimed. Bowens & Jarrett went at it early before Lethal made the tag and had a much faster paced exchange. Caster made the tag, mocked Jarrett with some Kurt Angle mannerisms and ankle lock that led to Scissor Me Timbers on Lethal, as Jarrett suffered the same fate. Daddy Ass jumped in the ring and we got a trio Fargo Strut into scissoring, which is something I just typed in 2023. Lethal slid outside, slapped Daddy Ass, who got fired up to the point of the referee ejecting him.
Jarrett & Lethal took control during break until Lethal missed a top rope elbow on Bowens, who fired back on Jarrett with a back suplex. Caster finally made the hot tag and cleaned house smacking Jarrett with a back hand and wiping out Lethal with a dive outside. Lethal fought off Bowens spinning slam, as Jarrett knocked Caster off the top to the floor. An assisted back drop slam by Jarrett & Lethal only got a two count, as Lethal got the Figure Four on Bowens. Singh threw Caster into the ring steps and the ref ejected him with the help of a bunch of officials.
Bowens blocked a Lethal Injection into a spinning forearm, but Jarrett hit The Stroke, as Lethal made the cover and got the three count, despite Bowens boot being on the ropes, which Dutt knocked off. The supposed new champions celebrated, but with the referees out at ringside with Singh, Dutt was caught and the match was officially restarted. Lethal tried a roll up with his feet on the ropes, but Caster shoved them off and Bowens got a roll up to win the match.
-Tony Schiavone interviewed Jamie Hayter & Britt Baker about their match at the Forum next week against Saraya. Baker & Hayter called themselves AEW Originals and Saraya just doesn’t get it. They worked their way up to the top, while Saraya, despite being friends with Hikaru Shida & Toni Storm, can’t make her decision on who her partner will be. Baker called Hayter The Killer and herself The Pillar. This is the perfect team name for them, as their matching shirts said exactly that.
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-Jungle Boy Jack Perry is backstage and said he never thought he’d have someone to watch his back again after everything he’s been through this year. Perry challenges Big Bill & Lee Moriarty to a tag match with HOOK and himself in Perry’s hometown next week.
Bryan Danielson defeated Tony Nese (w/Mark Sterling & Josh Woods)
(Massive ovation for the hometown boy Danielson, as this crowd was deafening for his performance. The post match went a lot longer than it probably should’ve, but Danielson’s journey to the World Title is officially set with light at the end of that tunnel.)
Sterling took the ref immediately, Woods tripped up Danielson and Nese attacked him with a Running Nese for a close two. Nese’s chop only woke up Danielson, who lit up Nese with corner kicks, moonsault out of the corner into a charging lariat. Yes Kicks connected, but Nese blocked the home run shot and Nese drove Danielson into the corner. Nese missed another charging knee, as Danielson hit the Busaiku Knee. An amped up Danielson stomped away at the head of Nese, sank in the Regal Stretch and Nese was out cold.
Post match, Danielson said it’s great to be home and he’s feeling froggy, ready for another fight. He called out MJF, who walked to the stage and again called him Brain Damaged Bryan and a mark, declining the challenge. MJF is a special attraction who doesn’t wrestle because he needs to. If Lance Storm & Dean Malenko could have a child, he’d be more charismatic than Danielson. MJF wouldn’t be surprised if Danielson’s mother in 1981 opted for a goat instead of a human suiter. Danielson said the boys in the back talk about how many suiters MJF’s mother has had, even folks in the crowd said they’ve been as well.
MJF said the title around his waist is what makes him the Best in the World and runs down the marks who’ve never wrestled. MJF said guys in the business like Disco Inferno, Eric Bischoff & Jim Cornette have called him the Best in the World. Danielson said it’s time to fight, he hates MJF, who scurried away and Schiavone pleaded to give him the hook. MJF said if he wants a title shot, Danielson needs to become number one contender and said if Danielson wrestles every week now until February 8th, he’ll get an AEW Title shot at Revolution in March.
Danielson said he’ll just wrestle when he wants to and get the shot when he earns it. MJF snapped and said Tony Khan nor the EVPs run the company, he does. Danielson finally agrees to MJF’s terms only if Danielson can pick the stipulation for their match at Revolution. MJF said fine, he’ll cheat in front of the ref and Danielson said it would be a 60 Minute Iron Man match. Danielson will run through everyone MJF puts in front of him and he’ll expose MJF in the Iron Man match.
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-Video package is shown for Battle of the Belts with Orange Cassidy defending the All-Atlantic Title against Kip Sabian.
Swerve Strickland (w/Mogul Affiliates) defeated AR Fox
(This was a fantastic match that had the crowd chanting This Is Awesome and Holy Sh*t. It should surprise no one, especially those familiar with the history of Killshot & Dante Fox.)
Excalibur mentioned the history these two men had during their time in Lucha Underground, as Fox did a back flip off the apron, right as Swerve did a somersault over the ropes and they had a face off. Fox hit a pump kick and vaulting moonsault off out of the corner. Swerve’s legs got swept out and a slingshot corkscrew brainbuster got Fox a near fall. Corner clothesline from Fox, who tried to skin the cat, but the man Taz called “painted face man henchman” uppercut him to the floor. Swerve hit a nasty pump kick off the apron to the outside to take us to commercial.
Swerve missed a discus lariat, as Fox countered with a kip up enzugiri. Fox looked for a somersault cutter, but Swerve countered into a German suplex and Flatliner for two. Swerve nearly crotched Fox out of the corner, but Fox flipped out into a short cutter and Iconoclasm into another cutter. Fox hit a perfect 450 Splash for a close near fall. Parker Boudreaux snuck a weapon to Swerve, who cracked Fox in the corner while the tattooed henchman had the referee. Swerve hit a gnarly Death Valley Driver off the second rope onto the ring apron and Swerve Stomp for the win, as Excalibur perfectly said he went for the Killshot.
-Backstage Renee Paquette is with Saraya, Toni Storm & Hikaru Shida. Saraya said she’s not surprised by what Baker & Hayter have been saying. Saraya said she’s happy they’ve been trending every week about who her partner will be. Saraya said her partner will be one of the best on the AEW roster, Toni Storm. Shida looked dejected and annoyed, as Saraya & Storm just ignored her, while Paquette sort of just shrugged her shoulders. Saraya & Storm absolutely came across like jerks here, despite being the babyfaces, I guess. I also assume this is the start of a Shida turn potentially, as all those talks of the now Mercedes Mone being the mystery partner will probably be put to rest.
FTR came to the ring to lay to rest FTR’s time in AEW, as a tombstone was shown on the big screen saying FTRIP May 27, 2020 – Dec 21, 2022. Austin Gunn said this is to pay tribute to FTR’s legacy. Colten said they held all tag titles, except AEW and they are 10 stars in their hearts. Tony Schiavone popped Taz when he told Austin Gunn to e-mail his words written instead of cutting a promo. The Gunn’s destroyed their 10 year legacy in 10 minutes. FTR’s music hit, but The Gunn’s faked the crowd out, as FTR is in Japan. The Gunn’s are the new living legends and Top Gunn’s…Out.
-The Best of Seven series is recapped leading to the deciding Match 7 in the Escalera De La Muerte next week.
Prior to the next match, Tony Schiavone gave condolences to Dustin Rhodes, who lost his mother today, as well as Justin Roberts, whose mother has been ill. Excalibur gave condolences to the family of Don West also.
TBS Champion Jade Cargill & Red Velvet (w/Leila Grey) defeated Skye Blue & Kiera Hogan
(This was your standard Dynamite tag match where most of it took place during commercial, as they continued to further the story of Red Velvet breaking off from Jade.)
Rapid fire near falls by Velvet & Blue to start until a tag to Hogan led to a snap dropkick and step up leg drop for two on Velvet. Blue spiked Velvet with a DDT as Cargill made the tag right when they went to picture in picture. Cargill put a beating on Blue, but Blue escaped a press slam, made the tag to Hogan, who was promptly flattened with the Eye of the Storm. Cargill trash talked her own partner, tapped her on the head and seemed insulted when the ref told her that was a legal tag. Hogan quickly took Velvet down with a sliding corner dropkick. Velvet fell into her corner; Cargill made the tag and laid out Blue & Hogan with thrust kicks. Choke slam on Hogan, but as she went to her corner, Velvet bailed on her partner. Cargill still wiped out Hogan with a pump kick and got the win.
Darby Allin defeated Samoa Joe to win the AEW TNT Title
(Fantastic main event that, if I’m being picky, wish would’ve had more time, especially with this being Allin’s home town. In the end, that didn’t matter, as the crowd would’ve reacted the same regardless of match length. The post match moment shared between Sting & Allin was great.)
Prior to the main event, Darby Allin had a really cool video package leading up to this match and hugged Nick Wayne ringside, the 17 year old prodigy on an AEW Futures Contract. Joe grabbed Wayne by the throat and Allin hit a dive, hitting Joe with his skateboard repeatedly. Allin hit an Ollie off the stage onto the back of Joe with the skateboard. Allin pulled out a huge ladder on the stage and did a somersault senton off of it onto Joe, really tweaking his leg in the process.
Both men went to the ring and the match officially began, as Joe went right back ouside, where Joe hit a brutal slam on the steps on a charging Allin. Similar to their first match a few weeks ago, Joe chucked Allin into the ring post while on the apron and Allin went spinning to the floor. Joe continued to beat Allin down before Allin got a desperation rear naked choke, as Joe fell with all his weight back to break it up. Joe crossed up Allin’s legs and hit a double knee breaker in a very cool looking move. Joe hit a running senton to the leg and slapped on a half crab.
Joe went for a Muscle Buster, but Allin slid out, got a roll up, as Joe countered into the Rear Naked Choke, which Allin countered into a pin attempt for two. As that happened, Joe pulled off the corner buckle pad. Allin tried a float over stunner, but fell right into the Rear Naked Choke again. Allin hit his chest like Sting, ran Joe head first into the exposed corner, hit a Code Red and multiple Coffin Drops to get the win and the title as the crowd exploded. Confetti poured down, as Sting came to the ring, lifted Allin up and they celebrated with the TNT Title to end another fantastic episode of Dynamite.
AEW Rampage 1/6/23
· Bryan Danielson & Jon Moxley vs. Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin)
· We hear from the House of Black
· Perro Peligroso will be in action
· AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter & Dr. Britt Baker take on The Renegade Twins (Charlette & Robyn)
AEW Battle of the Belts V 1/6/23
· The Acclaimed defend the AEW Tag Team Titles against Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal in a No Holds Barred Match
· Jade Cargill defends the TBS Title against Skye Blue
· Orange Cassidy defends the AEW All-Atlantic Title against Kip Sabian
AEW Dynamite 1/11/23
· Match Seven in the Best of Seven Series between Death Triangle (3) and The Elite (3) in an Escalera de la Muerte for the AEW Trios Titles
· Saraya & Toni Storm take on AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter & Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.
· Bryan Danielson vs. Konosuke Takeshita
· Jungle Boy Jack Perry & HOOK take on Lee Moriarty & Big Bill
· Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Adam Page