Welcome to Fightful's live coverage of AEW Dynamite for January 25, 2023.
Here is what's on tap for the show:
AEW Dynamite (1/25)
- TNT Championship: Darby Allin (with Sting) vs. Buddy Matthews (with Julia Hart)
- Jay Briscoe Tribute Match: Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Lethal
- Toni Storm vs. Ruby Soho
- Ethan Page & Matt Hardy vs. JungleHOOK ("Jungle Boy" Jack Perry & HOOK)
- Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara vs. Ricky Starks & Action Andretti
- Bryan Danielson vs. Brian Cage
- Family Therapy with The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens), Billy Gunn, and The Gunns (Austin & Colten Gunn)
Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara vs. Ricky Starks & Action Andretti
Sammy Guevara and Action Andretti kick off the night. While both men go back and forth, Sammy is able to keep control of the early portions of the match. Andretti eventually takes out Daniel Garcia, who is on the outside, with a Suicide Dive. Sammy keeps control, but Andretti finds his way out of a Hurricanrana by landing on his feet. Andretti hits a Spanish Fly. both men make a tag, and Jericho and Starks are legal.
Ricky Starks is in control and goes for his walking the Rope maneuver, but Sammy Guevara cuts him off with a very impressive Cutter. Jericho and Guevara spent the next few minutes working over Starks. Ricky is able to get the tag into Action, who works over both members of Le Sex Gods. Andretti successfully hits more Suicide Dives. Ricky hits a tornado DDT while Chris Jericho distracts the referee, and Andretti gets a near fall on Sammy with a Double Jump Crossbody off the top rope.
Ricky and Sammy are legal again. Ricky gets a near fall with a Spear. Jericho gets one by Rolling him up and pulling the tights. Ricky gets another near fall with a Sit-Out Power Bomb. Andretti tags in and hits a Tope Atomico and a variation of John Morrison's Flying Chuck Norris kick. Chris Jericho is able to avoid a Moonsault and tag in Sammy. Andretti hits a Poison Rana and a Spinning Rack Pancake Neckbreaker for two. Meanwhile, on the outside of the ring, Ricky Starks hit the Rochambeau for two.
In the end, Daniel Garcia uses Floyd the bat on Andretti, allowing Sammy to hit the GTH for the win.
Winners: Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara by pinfall.
- Excalibur runs down the card and announces that Jay Briscoe's tribute match will close the show. The company then shows a lovely tribute to Jay Briscoe.
TNT Championship: Darby Allin (with Sting) vs. Buddy Matthews (with Julia Hart)
The match starts off with Buddy Matthews hitting a Running Jumping Knee. Darby quickly takes control, but Matthews is able to counter a Suicide Dive with a suplex on the apron. Matthews then swings Allin into the guardrail but Allin counters a running powerbomb with a Rana. Matthews is able to take advantage of Darby's injured leg to get an advantage and hit a Meteora on the apron. Darby eventually gets a bit of momentum and hits a Coffin Drop to the outside.
The lights go out and Malakai Black and Brody King appear on the ramp way. Ortiz comes out from behind, nailing Black with a Kendo stick. Sting, Ortis, Black, and King all brawl away. Meanwhile, Buddy gets a near fall with a Sit-Out Powerbomb. Buddy keeps control and locks in an Inverted Texas Cloverleaf.
Darby hits a Poison Rana and attacks Buddy as the action spills to the floor. Back in the ring, Buddy counters a Crossbody into a pinning combination for a near fall. both men begin exchanging strikes, Buddy locks in a quick backslide for two. Buddy hits the Seth Rollins combination of a Buckle Bomb and Curb Stomp for another two. Matthews goes for his Pumphandle Driver, and Darby rolls through for two. Darby hits Code Red, and gets another two. On the top rope, Buddy goes for a Superplex, but Darby counters it into a Scorpion Death Drop. That gets another near fall. The end comes when Buddy is draped over the middle rope, and Darby nails a Coffin Drop to the back.
Winner and still: Darby Allin by pinfall.
- Tony Schiavone looks to interview Darby, but Samoa Joe interrupts on the video wall and says he is coming to take back his title.
- A new vignette covers Adam Cole's recovery journey as he trains inside an empty ring.
Ethan Page & Matt Hardy vs. JungleHOOK ("Jungle Boy" Jack Perry & HOOK)
Matt Hardy and Ethan Page work decently well as a team despite their issues with one another. JungleHOOK also works well together, with Jack Perry saving HOOK from an Ego's Edge on the floor. When Hardy was finished working over Perry and ready to hit him with the Twist of Fate, Page demanded to be tagged in, going for a Twist of Fate of his own, but he took too long gloating, and Jack Perry locked in the Snare Trap for the victory.
Winners: JungleHOOK by submission.
- Family therapy takes place between The Gunns & The Acclaimed. Austin & Colten complain that they were always without a father growing up because Billy was on the road. Billy asks what will make them happy. The Gunns say they want the Tag Team Championship.
- Renee Paquette interviews Hangman Page. Hangman says next week, he wants to knock out Jon Moxley in Ohio. Wheeler Yuta arrives on the scene and accepts the challenge on behalf of Moxley. Also, Page & Yuta agreed to fight on AEW Rampage this week.
Bryan Danielson vs. Brian Cage
Cage starts off the match by showing off his strength. Danielson tries to quicken the pace to his advantage and gets an early LeBell Lock. Cage is able to get out of this by reaching the ropes. Danielson hits a crossbody off the top rope to the floor. Eventually, Cage completely targets the arm of Danielson.
While Bryan Danielson tries to fight back, Cage dominates the match with intense power displays, including a Standard Suplex and a German Suplex from the apron to the ring.
In the end, Brian Cage tries to hit a succession of Powerbombs, one of which Bryan counters and gets the roll-up win.
Winner: Bryan Danielson by pinfall.
- After the match, Maxwell Jacob Friedman commands Brian Cage to keep working on the arm of Danielson. Eventually, Konosuke Takeshita comes out to make the save.
- Backstage, Bryan Danielson ignores the doctor's advice and says he will continue to wrestle.
Toni Storm vs. Ruby Soho
Britt Baker was supposed to be in this match but was removed due to an injury. Both women go back and forth. Storm gets near falls with a Tornado DDT. Eventually, Baker shows up on stage to distract Toni. Ruby hits her Flatliner for the victory.
Winner: Ruby Soho by pinfall.
- MJF announces that next week Bryan Danielson will face Timothy Thatcher
Jay Briscoe Tribute Match: Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Lethal
Mark Briscoe entered carrying both Ring of Honor Tag Team Championship belts. Jay Lethal and Mark Briscoe lit each other up with some chops. Mark hit the Iconoclasm for two. Mark also hit his Froggy Bow through a table on the floor. In the end, although it took three tries, Mark Briscoe hit the Jay Driller and scored his first victory over Jay Lethal in his career.
Winner: Mark Briscoe by pinfall.
- After the match, Mark hugged Jay Lethal. On the ramp, several performers that knew Jay Briscoe very well gathered on stage to applaud both men and pay tribute to Jay Briscoe as the show went off the air.
