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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
JANUARY 10, 2024
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. AT DAILY’S PLACE
AIRED LIVE ON TBS
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
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[HOUR ONE]
-The Dynamite opening theme aired closing with images of Wembley, Swerve Strickland, and Samoa Joe.
-They cut to Daily’s Place with fans cheering. The announcers touted this as “Homecoming.”
(1) “HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE vs. CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI
Hangman came out first with a determined, fierce expression. Claudio came out second. Hangman kicked him as he entered the ring and the referee (ridiculously) called for the bell two minutes into the hour to start the match and thus reward Hangman’s pre-bell illegal attack. Hangman threw Claudio to the floor and continued on the attack until Claudio reverse-whipped him into the barricade. As Claudio went on with a methodical attack in the ring, Excalibur plugged upcoming matches, including noting Jim Ross would be on commentary for the main event. Schiavone noted that fans were wearing jackets because it was an outdoor amphitheater. (It’s about 49 degrees there.)
Claudio gave Hangman a giant swing. Hangman came back with a Death Valley Driver at 5:00. Schiavone noted these two have never had a singles match before. Hangman dove onto Claudio at ringside. Hangman took a sip from a cup of beer from a fan at ringside. (Is there any rule AEW distributed last year that is honored by the top wrestlers?) Schiavone said it reminded him of the early days of AEW. Claudio pressed Hangman and tossed him over the top rope onto the ramp. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
They fought to the entrance stage. Hangman clotheslined Claudio back into the ring and then went for a Buckshot Lariat, but Claudio gave Hangman a lift-and-drop European uppercut for a near fall. They exchanged rapid-fire slaps a minute later. Hangman clotheslined Claudio and both tumbled over the top rope to the floor. Claudio rammed Hangman into the barricade. Hangman moonsaulted off the ring barricade onto Claudio. Fans chanted “AEW!” (Why not chant “Hangman Page!”?)
Hangman delivered a tombstone piledriver back in the ring for a near fall at 14:00. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” (Why not chant, “Let’s go, Hangman!”?) Hangman set up a Dead Eye, but Claudio reversed it and launched Hangman into the corner turnbuckle. Claudio landed a short-arm lariat for a near fall. Hangman landed a Dead Eye seconds later for a near fall. Claudio went for a powerbomb off the top rope, but Hangman head scissored out of it and then hit two Buckshot Lariats for the win. Excalibur said Hangman came looking for a fight and he got one.
WINNER: Hangman in 17:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Excellent match. Good strong win for Hangman.)
-Clips aired of Brodie Lee wrestling in AEW’s early days at Daily’s Place. They showed a fan saying they miss him. [c]
(2) ORANGE CASSIDY & PRESTON VANCE & ADAM COPELAND & DUSTIN RHODES vs. LANCE ARCHER & BRIAN CAGE & BISHOP KAUN & TOA LIONA (w/Prince Nana, Jake Roberts)
Orange Cassidy made his ring entrance first. Everyone got their individual ring entrance. The announcers talked about Orange’s team being an example of “strange bedfellows.” Excalibur said perhaps Tony Khan was trying to bring Vance into the light. Schiavone said Brodie would’ve wanted Preston to be teaming with the fan favorites. The bell rang 30 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, Archer was beating up Cassidy. Archer mistakenly kicked Leona. Cage shoved Archer and clotheslined him over the top rope. Copeland speared Cage. Archer then landed a discus lariat (which the director missed as he was showing Dustin at ringside) for the three count.
WINNERS: Vance & Rhodes & Cassidy & Copeland in 10:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Lots of moves, lots of tags, some miscues among the heels, and the crowd seemed into it start to finish.) [c]
-Renee Paquette interviewed Bullet Club Gold backstage. As Jay White was talking, The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn interrupted. Anthony Bowens said it’d be great if they united and all of them held gold. (There’s that many belts in AEW?! Oh yeah.) Max Caster said they don’t have to be friends and watch sports and “The Office” together, but they could be a super faction. White said they’d ponder it and told them to sit by their phones. Austin told Billy to sit by his fax machine “because I know you’ve got one of those.” Taz said he has a fax machine, too. Bowens said, “Bang bang, scissors gang.” Renee said she liked it.
-Samoa Joe walked out in a suit with the AEW World Title belt over his shoulder. He said when you’re world champion, everyone is looking for him, including “a Devil who made a bad deal.” He said they are making changes to the championship protocol. He said no more whining on the mic or making “ho ass comments” on social media. He said you bring your record and your reputation, and you submit it to the championship committee and if you’re deemed worthy, you get an express pass to get your ass stomped in front of anyone who has ever cheered for them. Fans began chanting “Joe! Joe!” He said it’s a new championship era and anyone who wants of a piece of him will find him waiting. “Whose house!” blared over the p.a. system.
Swerve Strickland, Prince Nana, Brian Cage, Kaun, and Liona walked out. Swerve said this is his first time at Daily’s Place. He asked whose house and fans said Swerve’s house. As he entered the ring, he said he told Hangman he was after his spot. “And look what happened; I took it,” he said. He said it’s not personal with Joe, either. “I just want the AEW Championship, and I’m going to take it.” He said after that, he’d be more than happy to make it personal. Hangman’s music then played as Joe and Swerve got into a staredown.
Hangman marched out and said last year he lost sight of the AEW World Title, but in 2024, he will make it his again. He got in Swerve’s face. Schiavone said Joe was loving it. Nana talked Swerve into leaving the ring. Hangman asked Joe who he was smirking at. Hangman said he hasn’t forgotten what he did to him, so he’s going to take his belt from him in retaliation.
As Joe was about to leave the ring, Hook came out with his FTW Title belt. He leaned into Joe’s forehead. He poked Joe’s belt with his finger and said he wants it in one week. Excalibur said Joe is a marked man and could have a very short reign.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good segment from Joe acting like an alpha champion. Just when it seemed like fans were going to have choose between cheering for one of two popular heels, out came Hangman who then gave fans a third choice. It’s good to see Hangman being serious and intense like this. I’d have had the announcers present the case for Hook, but also sprinkle in a dose of skepticism that he’s ready yet since he has a great record, but almost no statement wins against top talent. Pitch him as an underdog who is a mix of brave and brazen.)
-Renee Paquette interviewed Toni Storm and Mariah May backstage. May asked Toni if she saw her in-ring debut. Toni said she got a screener and didn’t see any of her match. She asked if she performed an armdrag and patronized her. Renee said May won, but then Deonna Purrazzo debuted and said she’s aiming for Storm. May said she kicked her in the face. Storm said she wanted a meeting with Purrazzo.
(3) SAMMY GUEVARA vs. RICKY STARKS
Guevara made his ring entrance first. Then Starks made his entrance.
[HOUR TWO]
Guevara got in early offense. They battled on the ring apron. Starks cross-chopped Guevara’s neck and dropped him over the ring apron. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
For the finish, Starks blocked a move and scored a near fall with a jackknife cover. Guevara came back with a superkick to a charging Starks’s chin and rolled him up for a three count. Taz said Starks got rocked with two kicks late in the match.
WINNER: Guevara in 10:00.
-Guevara bent down to check on Starks. Starks offered a handshake. As Guevara shook Starks’s hand, Big Bill then attacked Guevara from behind. Jericho charged out to his song and made the save. They played his song the entire time, which is a good way to block out any boos or negative chants. He brawled into the crowd as “Judas” continued to play. They showed Jericho high-fiving a gathering of cheering fans in the crowd. [c]
(4) KRIS STATLANDER & WILLOW NIGHTINGALE & ANNA JAY & THUNDER ROSA vs. JULIA HART & SKYE BLUE & SARAYA & RUBY SOHO
Willow came out first. Then Statlander. The announcers noted that Stokely Hathaway wasn’t shy about wanting to manage Statlander. The bell rang 21 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00 with Willow taking a beating from the heels. [c/db]
Willow made a comeback after the break and then tagged in Statlander, who rallied. They did a four-on-four vertical suplex spot. The ring cleared to Julia and Anna who battled. Skye Blue tagged in. A minute later, Anna applied a sleeper and Skye Blue quickly tapped out.
WINNERS: Statlander & Rosa & Nightingale & Jay in 9:00.
-A vignette aired with Wheeler Yuta who challenged Eddie Kingston to a title match on Rampage.
(5) BRYAN KEITH vs. RODERICK STRONG (w/Adam Cole, Wardlow, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett)
The bell rang 34 minutes into the hour. The announcers discussed how it hurts more landing on the mat when its cold out. Strong won after hitting his suplex onto his knees finisher, although Keith’s back missed most of Strong’s knees.
WINNER: Strong in 5:00.
-Adam Cole sat mid-ring and said he and the entire Undisputed Kingdom are not concerned with earning the respect of the fans. He touted Strong as one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers alive today. He then touted Taven & Bennett as the greatest ROH Tag Team Champions of all-time. He touted Wardlow last and called him “the dominator” and said he’s vicious. He said they’re going to be in control for a long time. Excalibur asked who can stop those five men.
(Keller’s Analysis: It’s good to try to frame them as serious wrestlers since Strong, Taven, and Bennett have been doing comedy for months.)
-Renee interviewed Deonna Purrazzo backstage, who said she’s on cloud nine and she has set her sights on Storm. She said Storm can pretend she doesn’t know who she is. She said she’ll have her people send her a screener. She said she’ll be making her in-debut for AEW on Saturday. In walked Red Velvet who said she’ll be making her AEW Collision in-ring debut also. [c]
(6) STING & DARBY ALLIN vs. POWERHOUSE HOBBS & KONOSUKE TAKESHITA (w/Don Callis) – Tornado Tag match
Justin Roberts introduced Ric Flair who came out in an actual dignified suit jacket. Ross had joined in on commentary. Ross said getting a ticket to Sting’s final match was like getting a ticket to ECW Arena when Taz was on top. Taz chuckled. The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. Sting and Hobbs brawled outside the ring at the start as Darby battled Takeshita in the ring. Ross said they “can’t bitch about the officiating because there are essentially no rules.” Sting put Hobbs on a rolling crate and shoved him into plastic trash cans. Ross said he doesn’t think anyone has a better upside than Hobbs. Darby leaped off the top rope toward Takeshita at ringside, but Takeshita caught him and gave him a German suplex. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Takeshita and Hobbs tossed Darby across the ring. Sting landed a Stinger splash on Hobbs. When he went for one on Takeshita, Takeshita caught him with a high knee and Sting took a bump. Flair entered the ring. Ross said he doesn’t belong in there. Flair chopped Hobbs’s chest and then poked him in the eye. Sting recovered and clotheslined Takeshita over the top rope. Darby leaped through the ropes and crashed into Takeshita. Sting gave Hobbs a spinebuster.
All four brawled on the stage. Darby put a sleeper on Takeshita and rode his back. Takeshita rammed him into the ringside barricade to break it. He charged, but Darby side-stepped him. Darby then leaped off the ringside barricade and went for a Coffin Drop. Takeshita sorta caught him and suplexed him, so it wasn’t really a Coffin Drop. Both were down and slow to get up. Fans chanted “This is awesome!”
Hobbs carried Sting past the front row of fans on the stage. Sting slipped free and delivered a Scorpion Death Drop off the stage through one of two tables set up below. They overshot the first table. Sting crawled over and covered Hobbs for the win. Fans chanted “Holy shit!” Flair went over to check on Sting who was slow to get up. The ringside doctor also checked on him as he began to slowly try to stand. Sting rolled into the ring and whipsered something to Darby about his condition. Darby looked concerned.
WINNERS: Sting & Darby in 11:00.
-Schiavone entered the ring. The Young Bucks music played and they walked out. Excalibur wondered if they were there to call out Sting for his final match. Taz said they had an entirely different look. Nick Jackson was wearing an all white suit and Kangol hat. Matt Jackson was dressed in all black. Taz called it interesting. Excalibur said they were trying to upstage Sting in Daily’s Place. Ross shifted to plugging Rampage, Collision, and Battle of the Belts. Excalibur said Joe vs. Hook was official for next week’s Dynamite.
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