AEW Dynamite
Episode 18
#AEWDynamite
Original Air Date: January 29, 2020
Event Date: January 29, 2020
(aired live on TNT)
City: Cleveland, OH
Venue: Wolstein Center
Commentary: Jim Ross, Excalibur, Tony Shiavone
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Video
Clips from last week’s episode of Dynamite, plus some previews for upcoming matches.
Ring Area
Jon Moxley heads to the ring through the crowd. He says the time for fun and games with Jericho is over. Moxley talks about the kind of man Jericho is and lists some of the terrible things he’s done. He says he might not be a great man himself, but he has honor and he lives by a code. Jericho is a manipulator, a coward, a liar, and a bully. Moxley hates bullies. Moxley will take Jericho out and take his title, and there’s not anything Jericho can do about it. Moxley then calls Jericho to the ring so he can go ahead and take his beating tonight.
Jericho comes out to the stage. He says it’s funny to hear Moxley talk about what he earned and what he deserves. Moxley earned and deserved a spike to the eye for turning down Jericho’s offer to join Inner Circle. Does Moxley want a fight tonight? Does the crowd want to see that? Not tonight. Jericho then brings out the rest of the Inner Circle.
Moxley looks at the Inner Circle on the stage, and he says it’s not five against one right now. Moxley is from Ohio, so it’s five against Moxley and everyone in the arena. Moxley approaches the stage, so Jericho calls him stupid. Jericho also tells Santana and Ortiz to bring out their south Bronx street thugs. Five more guys come out, and they all approach Moxley.
Moxley starts the attack by headbutting and DDTing Ortiz. A brawl erupts, but security and referees are quick to separate everyone. Moxley DDTs one of the security guys before leaving through the crowd.
Video
MJF and Wardlow visit The Butcher, The Blade, and The Bunny in a dirty kitchen. MJF hands The Bunny an envelope with the words “Young Bucks” written on the front.
Match 1
The Butcher & The Blade w/ The Bunny, MJF, Wardlow vs The Young Bucks
(referee: Rick Knox; guest commentary: MJF)
Result: Nick Jackson pins The Blade after the Meltzer Driver
Time: 8:39
Match Thoughts
Very good match. The Young Bucks started strong right from the start, but the power of The Butcher turned the match out of the Bucks’ favor for a while. There would be a comeback from the Bucks later on of course. I really enjoyed the energy and speed of this match. The Bucks’ quick, chaotic style meshes well with the power and anger of Butcher and Blade.
Ring Area
After the match, The Butcher attacks the Young Bucks. Kenny Omega runs to the ring and hits The Butcher with a V-Trigger. Adam Page walks to the ring, hands Matt his beer, then hits The Blade with the Buckshot Lariat. Page drinks his beer and leaves as Omega and the Young Bucks celebrate in the ring.
Match 2
“The Native Beast” Nyla Rose vs Big Swole
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Nyla Rose wins via pinfall after a sit-out powerbomb
Time: 8:43
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Big Swole put up a great fight, and that led to some fun and exciting near falls. The fight Big Swole gave made Nyla Rose look even better for surviving and fighting back.
Match 3
“Superbad” Kip Sabian w/ Penelope Ford vs “The American Nightmare” Cody w/ Arn Anderson
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Cody wins via pinfall after three CrossRhodes
Time: 11:27
Match Thoughts
Great match. Sabian and Ford cheated as much as possible, and it began to look like Cody might be headed for a frustrating loss. Arn Anderson got so pissed that he ended up getting kicked out of ringside by the referee and a little altercation in the ring. Joey Janela showed up at one point as well. This was a lot of fun, and the finish was a fantastically satisfying release for all the frustrations being built up.
Ring Area
From the stage, Tony Shiavone welcomes Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. Baker says she was offended by Jim Ross when he interrupted her last week. She doesn’t like the fact that Ross is getting a big paycheck for sitting and judging Baker and her division while they do all the work. She also doesn’t like Riho. Also, Shiavone needs to pick up a toothbrush. Lastly, she insults the Cleveland crowd with what I assume is a sports reference.
Backstage
Lexy Nair congratulates The Young Bucks on their victory tonight. They are happy to start climbing back up the tag team ranks. Adam Page walks up with a drink in his hand and gives the Bucks title belt name plates with their names on them. He says they might need them one day. Page walks away, and Kenny Omega suggests maybe next week the Bucks could team with him and Page versus The Butcher, The Blade, and a team of their choosing. The Bucks seem okay with that.
Match 4
Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky w/ Christopher Daniels vs The Hybrid2
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Scorpio Sky pins Angelico after SCU Later
Time: 10:08
Match Thoughts
Very good match. TH2 looked good, but SCU looked like they want to get back in to the title hunt right away. This was very fun.
Ring Area
After the match, the Dark Order appears on the screen. They address Christopher Daniels, saying the exalted one is upset with him. They are going to start attacking Daniels’ friends, and this is a warning. SCU isn’t happy about what they just saw.
Video
From a dark staircase, Pac addresses Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega. Pac might pluck out Moxley’s other eye after Jericho is done with him. Also, Pac is tired of waiting. He’s coming for Omega next week.
Match 5
Private Party & Darby Allin vs Santana & Ortiz & Chris Jericho (AEW World Champ) w/ Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Chris Jericho pins Isaiah Kassidy after the Judas Effect
Time: 12:17
Match Thoughts
Great match. The action was fast and exciting pretty much bell to bell. Even though this match didn’t really mean anything as far as ongoing stories go, I think Allin and Private Party made sure that no one will forget them in the shuffle of high-profile matches.
Ring Area
After the match, the Inner Circle attacks Private Party and Darby Allin. Sammy Guevara in particular focuses on Darby Allin. Guevara attacks Allin repeatedly with his own skateboard until Jon Moxley runs to the ring with a baseball bat. Moxley chases the Inner Circle away from the ring as the show ends.
Show Impressions
I liked this show. It felt like an episode built on building up the upcoming PPV, and for that I think it worked well. Plus, the matches were quite good.
Match of the Night
Private Party & Darby Allin vs Inner Circle
I think I could’ve chosen a few matches tonight, but the main event really did have me smiling the most.