AEW Dynamite
Episode 120
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: January 19, 2022
Event Date: January 19, 2022
(aired live on TBS)
City: Washington DC
Venue: Entertainment and Sports Arena
Commentary: Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, MJF (2)
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Intro Video
“Dynamite” by No One Hero
Ring Area
Jon Moxley heads to the ring. Moxley talks about a dream he had about a cloud and a demon that had been following him. Everyone goes through hard times, and everyone carries scars. We try to hide the scars, but those are what make us who we are. No one should be ashamed of their scars. He thanks everyone who supported him through the bad times, and he says he is now truly free. Moxley has been through Hell, and if there’s anyone who thinks they can put him through anything worse than he’s already been through, well, Moxley is thirsty, and all he drinks now is blood.
Backstage
MJF says last week was an embarrassment. CM Punk couldn’t take a loss like a man, and instead he had to cheat. MJF then addresses Wardlow, saying he can’t allow Wardlow to get away with putting his hands on MJF. Therefore, Wardlow is docking Wardlow’s pay.
Match 1
Mixed Tag Team Match
Adam Cole & Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs Kris Statlander & Orange Cassidy
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Adam Cole pins Orange Cassidy after The Boom (and a low blow)
Time: 14:26
Match Thoughts
Good match. Cole and Baker tried to get cute early in the match by tagging out quickly and forcing Statlander and Cassidy to also switch, but that backfired on Cole and Baker. Then Cassidy and Statlander tried to get cute with some tandem moves, but that also backfired. Once the match actually got going, it was good. Statlander and Cassidy were smarter and had better teamwork, but an accidental bump into Baker from Cassidy that sent Baker into a table at ringside powered up Cole’s anger advantage late in the match.
Backstage
Alex Marvez is with Chris Jericho, Santana, and Ortiz. Marvez mentions Eddie Kingston’s injury at the hands of Daniel Garcia and 2point0 last week, and he says that the trio of Garcia and 2point0 will face the Inner Circle next week. Jericho doesn’t care about Eddie Kingston. Ortiz tells Jericho that he and Santana do care about Kingston. Santana wonders if Kingston was right about Jericho not truly caring about him and Ortiz. Jericho is speechless.
Backstage
Alex Marvez is with Adam Cole. Cole angrily tells Marvez to leave. Cole then says Orange Cassidy has been a thorn in his side for too long. So next week at Beach Break, Cole wants a Lights Out match with Cassidy in an attempt to end Cassidy’s career.
Video
A look at the growing rivalry between CM Punk and Shawn Spears (and by proxy, MJF).
Match 2
“The Chairman” Shawn Spears vs CM Punk
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: CM Punk pins Shawn Spears after GTS
Time: 0:12
Match Thoughts
A one move match. GTS, the end. It’s fine for a story line match.
Ring Area
After the match, while CM Punk is looking out towards the crowd, MJF slides into the ring. Punk sees MJF before any attack happens, and MJF runs away.
Backstage
Billy tells Christian Cage that he thinks Austin and Colten Gunn deserve a tag title match against Jurassic Express. Christian says the Gunns are talented, but like Billy, they could never get “that statement win.” Christian wants the Gunns to make a statement before they get a shot at the titles. Christian begins to leave when Austin and Colten Gunn attack him from behind. Christian and beaten up, and Austin says “statement made.”
Ring Area
Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. At ringside, Cody pulls a ladder out from under the ring and sets it up in the center of the ring. Cody talks about the start of a revolution ignited by CM Punk’s pipe bomb. Punk couldn’t accomplish the revolution he began, but Cody did. Cody traveled the world, and he built the “forbidden door.” He talks about various people within AEW, and then he talks about the TNT Championship.
Cody says there is no secondary title in AEW. The TNT Title is only “secondary” right now because there are two of them. Cody says it’s clear to him what should be done as he looks up at the ladder in the ring. Cody proposes a TNT Title unification ladder match with Sammy Guevara at Beach Break next week.
Backstage
Tony Schivaone is backstage to announce that Anna Jay has answered Jade Cargill’s open challenge for the TBS Championship. Tony tries to get a word from Anna Jay, but Mark Sterling interrupts. John Silver responds to Mark, then Anna says she will do whatever it takes to win. Jade doesn’t appear to be worried.
Match 3
Kings of the Black Throne vs Varsity Blonds w/ Julia Hart
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Brody King pins Brian Pillman Jr. after Dante’s Inferno
Time: 1:54
Match Thoughts
Squash. Brian Pillman Jr. was mentally checked-out in this match, and that led to a very quick finish as Brody King and Malakai Black ran through the Varsity Blonds. Though, really, the Kings of the Black Thone would have won anyway.
Ring Area
After the match, Pac appears on the video screen. Pac addresses Malakai Black, saying that despite Black’s efforts, Pac is incorruptible.
Video
Jake Roberts issues a warning to Adam Page on Lance Archer’s behalf. Adam Page says he’ll bring the fight to Archer.
Backstage
Brandon Cutler holds a camera for a Young Bucks promo, but Rocky Romero and Trent (Roppongi Vice) walk up instead. Rocky says the Best Friends are tired of losing to the Elite week after week. Romero issues a challenge for Roppongi Vice versus the Young Bucks this Friday on Rampage.
Match 4
Frankie Kazarian vs “The Murderhawk Monster” Lance Archer w/ Dan Lambert, Jake Roberts
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Lance Archer wins via pinfall after Blackout
Time: 10:02
Match Thoughts
Good match. The result felt inevitable right from the start, but it was still well done.
Ring Area
Tony Schiavone is in the ring after the match. Dan Lambert takes the mic from Tony and insults Hangman Adam Page. Archer takes the mic from Lambert and says he’ll show Adam Page what he’s going to do. Archer throws Kazarian out to the ramp and prepares to chokeslam him onto a chair. Adam Page comes out, and Archer lets Kazarian go. Page and Archer trade strikes, Page goes down, Archer gets the chair, and Page hits Archer with a boot. Then, in the ring, Page knocks Archer out to the floor. Lambert holds Archer back from getting back into the ring.
Backstage
Alex Marvez is with Dante Martin, Lee Moriarty, and Matt Sydal. Dante says Matt Sydal has been like a brother to him. Moriarty says he and Sydal have Dante’s back in his feud with Team Taz.
Backstage
Ricky Starks wonders how many brothers Dante Martin has. Starks says nobody is Dante’s friend. He’s all alone. Powerhouse Hobbs says Dante should get someone to watch his front as well as his back.
Backstage
Tony Schiavone is with Kris Statlander and Red Velvet. Leyla Hirsch walks up and complains about Statlander being selfish recently and causing them to lose a tag match on Rampage last week. Red Velvet tries to calm Hirsch down, but Hirsch attacks Velvet. Statlander tries to help Velvet, but Hirsch puts Statlander in a cross arm breaker. Referees swarm in to break it up.
Match 5
Skye Blue vs Serena Deeb
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Serena Deeb wins via submission with the Serenity Lock
Time: 2:51
Match Thoughts
This was almost completely one-sided. Skye Blue tried for some offense, but Deeb shut her down and controlled the ring. A dominant performance.
Backstage
Dan Lambert is with the Men of the Year. Ethan Page says he’s not afraid of Jon Moxley. If Moxley wants an opponent, Ethan Page is right here.
Video
A look at Hook.
Video
Sammy Guevara holds up signs during a commercial break from a hotel on a beach. He addresses the TNT Title ladder match next Wednesday, saying Cody took the belt and Sammy wants it back.
Video
A look at the feud and upcoming title match between Sammy Guevara and Cody Rhodes.
Backstage
Matt Hardy announces that he has decided to sell 51% of the Hardy Family Office to Andrade el Idolo. From this day on, they will be known as the AHFO. The first signing of the AHFO might be Darby Allin…
Match 6
The Acclaimed vs Darby Allin & Sting
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Darby Allin pins Anthony Bowens after the Coffin Drop
Time: 9:22
Match Thoughts
The Acclaimed attacked Darby Allin before the bell, slamming him into the ring post with a chair wrapped around Allin’s head. With Allin being attended to by medical staff, Sting decided to start the match on his own. For that reason, most of the match was fought as a handicap match. The Acclaimed dominated most of that time, but Sting survived long enough for Darby Allin to return. Sting took out Max Caster with a dive from the stage through a table, and Allin took care of Bowens in the ring.
Show Impressions
Good show. It was great to see Moxley back and looking good. The rest of the show was good as well, though nothing too significant happened other than Mox being back.
Match of the Night
The Acclaimed vs Darby Allin & Sting
Predictable, though very fun.