The TNT Championship has changed hands.
On the February 1 episode of AEW Dynamite, ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe challenged Darby Allin for the TNT Championship in a No Holds Barred Match. Allin previously beat Joe to win the title on the January 4 episode of AEW Dynamite. Over the next few weeks, he defended the gold against Juice Robinson, Mike Bennett, KUSHIDA, and Buddy Matthews.
Joe sought to regain the gold on Wednesday night, and the two stars clashed in a violent match. Allin made it clear that he was ready for war right away by wearing a thumbtack-studded jacket to the ring and using it as a weapon against Joe. He also put his body on the line by diving full speed into Joe as the challenger was grabbing a table. Still, Joe overpowered Allin throughout the bout. He slammed him onto the stairs when they fought in the crowd, and he floored him with another slam in the ring. Joe also tossed Allin out of the ring and sent him crashing to the floor at one point.
Allin refused to give up, and he hit a Coffin Drop while he was wearing the thumbtack-studded jacket for a near fall. He cut the canvas up in order to expose the ring post, but this strategy backfired. Joe hit the Muscle Buster onto the bare ring boards and pinned Allin for the win to kick off his second reign with the title.
#AndNEW!!! The King of Television reigns again as @SamoaJoe reclaims the TNT Title, after a BRUTAL match here on #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/xtulq2FUlf
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 2, 2023
After the bell, Wardlow crashed Joe's celebration. "Mr. Mayhem" came to the ring and took the fight to Joe. He went for a powerbomb, but Joe escaped, so the powerhouse started attacking security guards instead. Wardlow had been sidelined since he lost to Joe on the December 28 episode of AEW Dynamite.
LOOK WHO'S BACK!!!@RealWardlow has his sights firmly set on newly crowned TNT Champ @SamoaJoe!#AEWDynamite is LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/PvRu7wHHVj
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 2, 2023
Joe previously won the TNT Championship at AEW Full Gear 2022; he scored the decisive fall on Powerhouse Hobbs in a three-way match that included Wardlow.
Catch up on our coverage of AEW Dynamite here. For a full review, check out our post-show podcast on our YouTube channel.
