Tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage from Cincinatti features a World title bout, plus the AEW in-ring return of Kenny Omega.
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends the title tonight against Powerhouse Hobbs, the winner of the men’s Casino Gauntlet match last week.
Omega will have his first AEW match since December 2023, facing Brian Cage. Omega returned to the ring earlier this month at Wrestle Dynasty against Gabe Kidd.
The first women’s Casino gauntlet match will take place with the winner earning a shot at AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May at February’s Grand Slam Australia.
The Hurt Syndicate will be in action as MVP makes his AEW in-ring debut with Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin against AEW Tag Team Champions Private Party and Mark Briscoe.
The long-simmering feud between Christian Cage and Hook comes to a head with the two finally meeting one-on-one.
Ricochet will share some thoughts two weeks after he attacked Swerve Strickland with a pair of golden scissors.
**********
AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone & Taz as they throw it to a video package highlighting tonight’s card. The highlights did include Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Dynasty, as Omega’s AEW in ring return is the opening contest of the evening.
Kenny Omega defeated Brian Cage (w/Don Callis & Lance Archer)
(This was a good return match for Omega, as he sold a lot of the time before delivering some of his greatest hits. Obviously this was nowhere near the Wrestle Dynasty match and I’d recommend seeking that out if for some reason you haven’t seen it, but it was nice to see Kenny back in an AEW ring. The post-match set up the Takeshita/Fletcher vs. Ospreay/Omega showdown, which could happen either on TV or possibly Grand Slam, which, at this moment, we haven’t been told how we can watch it.)
Omega’s first match on Dynamite since November 15, 2023 in the 8-man Street Fight against, ironically enough, Brian Cage & The Don Callis Family. Loud ovation for Omega, as he fired off early chops, but Cage no sold, so Omega took out the leg. Omega couldn’t power Cage up, allowing Cage to curl Omega before hitting a fall away slam. Cage hit one pop-up powerbomb, tried another, but Omega countered into a hurricanrana to the floor. Omega teased the Terminator Dive, but Archer ran distraction, allowing Cage to turn Omega inside out with a lariat. Cage tossed Omega into the barricade and press slammed him abdomen first on the announce table (I wonder if it’s still “solid oak” like Excalibur told us last week?). Cage took the ref, as Archer & Callis got in their cheap shots as things went to commercial.
Back from break, Cage hit a suplex from the apron back inside for two as Omega crawled to the ramp. Omega tried another hurricanrana, but Cage powerbombed him back into the ring for another near fall. Omega fought off a pump handle, connecting on a face palm slam, but Cage got the knees up during a moonsault attempt and hit the sit-out pump handle for two. Cage went up top, but was cut-off, allowing a springboard sunset bomb before a V-Trigger got a near fall. Omega signaled another V-Trigger, but Cage sidestepped, Omega floated over a German suplex, ducked a discus lariat and popped Cage with a pump knee followed by a V-Trigger. Omega connected on the One-Winged Angel and got the victory.
Post-match, Archer & Kyle Fletcher hit the ring and attacked the midsection until Will Ospreay hit the ring and made the save similar to last week. Ospreay flipped out of an Archer chokeslam, hit an enzugiri, Omega fired off a V-Trigger and Ospreay capped it with a Hidden Blade. Ospreay & Omega had words until Ospreay shoved Omega out of the way and wiped out Fletcher with a dive. Konosuke Takeshita’s music hit and he walked right out and brawled with Omega until Fletcher & Ospreay got back in and the fight continued. Fletcher & Takeshita got the advantage and laid out Ospreay & Omega with the Brainbuster and Raging Fire respectively. The Don Callis Family stood tall over Ospreay & Omega. Despite all of that, Schiavone said that Omega & Ospreay stood tall after Omega’s return, as they were both struggling to their feet after the attack.
-Hurt Syndicate video ahead of MVP’s in-ring debut for AEW, coming up tonight.
**********
-New York Minute with Chris Jericho, who called Cincinnati the Bluegrass State. The Learning Tree talked about the upcoming 12-man tag on Collision, which Bryan Keith reminds us “is a dozen MF-er”. Jericho called Cope a dope and Cash Wheeler…a kneeler. Jericho promised Jon Moxley that The Learning Tree & Death Riders will be on the same page. This wasn’t the best New York Minute segment they’ve done, even Taz said that was so rough it made him sad to be a New Yorker.
Ricochet Addresses the Attack on Swerve Strickland
Crowd booing Ricochet big time, as he has the gold scissors in the breast pocket of his suit. The crowd wouldn’t let him talk, drowning him out with Swerve’s House chants. Ricochet said a picture is worth a thousand words and showed the bloody attack on Strickland on the big screen before Strickland’s music hit. Prince Nana snuck in from behind and cracked Ricochet with a chair before dancing over him. Swerve Strickland slowly walked out with a chain and went to whip Ricochet, who ran for higher ground, as Strickland stalked him down. Ricochet chucked a security guard into Strickland and bailed out the door through the snow.
-Video package of the media tour the TBS Champion Mercedes Mone has been on lately. The Sherri Shepard Show, Sirius XM, shopping, training at Create-A-Pro Wrestling, as she told us Mone Changes Everything.
The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & MVP) defeated Mark Briscoe & AEW Tag Team Champions Private Party (Quen & Zay)
(This was about 90/10 Hurt Syndicate and there’s really no reason why Lashley & Benjamin shouldn’t be tag team champions after a performance like this. Hurt Syndicate looked incredibly strong here to the point where I almost felt bad for Briscoe & Private Party getting darn near squashed here.)
MVP wrestled a few times on the indies at the end of last year, but prior to that, it’s been a little over 2 years since he has competed on TV. Meanwhile, this is Private Party’s first match on Dynamite since winning the Tag Titles last October. Hurt Syndicate wasted no time attacking at the bell, as MVP & Briscoe slugged it out in the ring, as Zay & Quen got beat down outside. Briscoe answered with some Redneck Kung-Fu, but MVP regained advantage, tagging Benjamin, slamming Briscoe repeatedly from apron to barricade, as things went to commercial.
Back from break, MVP hit the Ballin elbow for two, but Briscoe ducked a clothesline, hit a leaping back elbow into the double down. Zay made the hot tag and ran wild briefly on Benjamin until Quen tagged in and we got a series of double dropkicks. They held the ropes open as Briscoe hit a somersault dive onto Lashley. MVP & Benjamin were flattened back inside, as MVP & Zay tumbled outside, as Quen laid out Benjamin with a Flatliner for two. Lashley launched Briscoe with an overhead belly to belly, as Private Party hit Poetry in Motion on Benjamin. Lashley got in the ring and squashed Quen with a spinebuster and Zay with a Spear as Benjamin hit a superkick on Quen and got the pin, while MVP hit a charging knee on Briscoe ringside.
-We’re told Cope vs. PAC will happen next Wednesday as a quick video package on the friendship of Cope & FTR was shown after.
**********
-Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet will take place 3 weeks from tonight on Dynamite
Jeff Jarrett & MJF Face-to-Face Part 2
Jarrett came to the ring to a nice ovation from the crowd, as he said the last few weeks have been humbling before immediately being interrupted by MJF’s music. MJF walked to the ring and said last week he gave Jarrett an opportunity of a lifetime, but was turned down. Jarrett cut him off and said MJF was too lazy to enter the Casino Gauntlet and tried to scheme, when MJF screamed for Jarrett never to interrupt him again. MJF cooled down and said he’s a living legend, as Jarrett has convinced these dumb schmucks he’s one, too. MJF said Jarrett is the Last Outlaw because he’s the last thing you see before your favorite wrestling company dies. MJF called Jarrett a pro wrestling Grim Reaper and said thinking of his career makes him want to drink. MJF apologized and called Jarrett a raging…recovering alcoholic and said he’ll send Jarrett’s ass packing back to rehab where he belongs. MJF said to make sure his sexy MILF of a wife sticks around, as he’s a fan of Karen, but when he’s done with her, he’ll ship her back to Nashville so Jarrett knows what a Generational Talent & Olympic Gold Medalist balls taste like.
Jarrett said all MJF does is make cruel insults and said he knows his best years are behind him, but entering the Owen Hart Cup last year made him realize he still wants to keep going. Jarrett said it’s exactly what’s needed to get him on track to become AEW World Champion. MJF thinks he can hurt Jarrett’s feelings, but he did everything like this before MJF and better than him. Jarrett is confused whether MJF is a dumbass, scumbag or all of the above. Jarrett said it must be tough being raised by a call girl mother and knows for a fact when his father knocked his mother up, she still made him pay for it. Jarrett said the old saying is we’re married to our mommies, MJF’s is nothing but a Canadian call girl. While MJF was burning it up for 60 minutes with Will Ospreay, his old lady was doing the same thing with a bunch of wrestlers in the back. Jarrett said MJF is drowning in his own sh*t, an entitled prick, a scared little boy, who won’t enter the Gauntlet, scared of becoming a one hit wonder.
MJF said he didn’t need his daddy to make him a top guy or start his own company to be a top guy, MJF made MJF. We know what happens when Jarrett is King of the Mountain, while MJF is to thank for record PPV buys, ticket sales and is the Best in the World, but then he got screwed. His name, reputation, legacy, dragged through the mud, as he doesn’t want to win the World Title, he needs to win it, to shove it down all his detractor’s throats, but has to wait in line for Jeff Jarrett? With all due respect, no wrestling fan has ever given a sh*t about Jarrett. What pisses MJF off is just because Jarrett was best friends with Owen Hart, he’s owed a grand finale, but he sees through his BS. Jarrett is nothing more than a leech, riding the coattails of his deceased friend. Jarrett finally popped MJF with punches until security hit the ring to pull him back. Karen Jarrett came in and tried to calm Jeff down, but MJF grabbed her and threw her into Jeff before bailing. This was a long segment, but had some good lines.
HOOK (w/Katsuyori Shibata) defeated Christian Cage (w/The Patriarchy) via disqualification
(This feud started back in October and we finally got the one-on-one showdown and it’s obvious that they aren’t done yet, especially with the big return of Joe after. The match itself was fine, but I wasn’t begging to see a rematch after this. The Patriarchy just don’t feel like that strong of a group right now. I always seem to forget Cage has a guaranteed World Title shot in his back pocket, too.)
HOOK attacked during Cage’s entrance and even had a brief stare down with Mother Wayne, as Cage tried bailing up the ramp, but was backdropped over the top into the ring. Cage backed off, tried apologizing, hugging HOOK, who turned it into an overhead suplex. Cage took a hard corner buckle before being comforted by Mother Wayne into commercial.
During break, Kip Sabian & Nick Wayne came out to corner Cage, as Katsuyori Shibata is out to back HOOK. Cage was sent over the top to the outside, as HOOK hit a diving forearm off the apron. HOOK tried stomping the hand on the ring steps, but Cage swept out the leg and HOOK smacked spine first. Back inside, Cage hit three Frog Splashes for two, as Cage wanted a Spear, HOOK avoided at first, but struggled to recover, as Cage ultimately hit a Spear, but HOOK kicked out. HOOK battled back with clotheslines and throws, hitting a Fisherman’s Suplex for two. REDRUM applied, but Cage climbed the ropes to break it, so HOOK just sent him crashing down. Cross face shots from HOOK, but Cage slid through REDRUM and posted HOOK. Shibata held off Wayne & Sabian from attacking, but Cage laid him out with a reverse DDT ringside. Back inside, Cage wanted a Killswitch, but HOOK countered into REDRUM. Cage signaled to Sabian & Wayne, who pounced in the ring for the DQ.
The Patriarchy went to Pillmanize the arm again, when Taz was about to leave commentary, but the music of Samoa Joe hit and he came to the ring to clean house to a massive ovation. Sabian & Wayne were tossed around and destroyed by Shibata & Joe, as Cage & Mother Wayne retreated.
-Video package of Switchblade Jay White saying he’s going to get his hands on Wheeler Yuta, The Undisputed Kingdom say they will get gold in 2025 and Daniel Garcia telling them to bring it on.
**********
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Jeff Jarrett, when Dustin Rhodes walked into the shot before Jarrett could talk about MJF. Rhodes said MJF doesn’t know a thing about the miles Jarrett has had in his career. Rhodes put all his support behind Jarrett and said MJF has no clue what they’ve been through during their career. Rhodes hyped up Jarrett and said he’s a 12-time World Champion, Outlaws never die and they’re the last of their kind.
Toni Storm won the Women’s Casino Gauntlet to earn an AEW Women’s Title match at Grand Slam: Australia
(They never actually told us the time on commentary, but a graphic read Grand Slam will be shown on TNT & MAX on February 15 during Collision’s time slot. They should probably inform the crowd about this, you’d assume. As for the match, it was fine, the surprise of Bayne was pretty much the most noteworthy thing to happen here aside from the finish. She looked strong throughout, as once Storm showed up, you knew she was winning this thing. We’re finally getting a rematch from All In in Australia between May & Storm.)
Mariah May joined commentary for this match, as Kris Statlander is first after winning the three-way last week to get this spot. Jamie Hayter was second, as she & Statlander had a nice back and forth, as May took a shot at Anna Jay not being allowed in this match, having lost any future shots at the Women’s Title last month against May. Megan Bayne is in third, as May is almost speechless, but asks what Bayne eats for breakfast, babies? Bayne flattened Statlander with a leaping clothesline and Falcon Arrow for two, as Hayter broke it up. Hayter fired off shots, but Bayne no sold, tried a suplex, but Hayter reversed into a DDT. Julia Hart is 4, out through the babyface tunnel and brawls with Hayter on the ramp, as Statlander & Bayne fight ringside, with things going to commercial.
Willow Nightingale is 5, as Bayne was waiting for her, as the two started throwing shots immediately. Statlander cut things off, attacking Bayne, as the double team suplex left Nightingale & Statlander smiling at one another, until they both chopped the hell out of each other. Nightingale pounced Statlander, as Toni Storm, the hottest AEW “rookie” is 6 and she runs wild with snapmares and shoulder blocks aplenty. Bayne launched Storm onto Statlander on the ramp, but turned into a Nightingale missile dropkick. Hart & Hayter suffered the same fate before Nightingale wiped out Bayne with a dive off the apron. Statlander flew off the stage onto both ladies, but Storm took her out with Sweet Cheek Music. Hayter & Hart were left with a hockey fight in the ring, as Harley Cameron is 7, as she scrambled for pin attempts.
Hart avoided Hayterade, but not the Hayt-breaker, as Cameron nearly stole a pin on Hayter for two. Another Hayt-breaker to Cameron, who ducked Hayterade, only to be misted by Hart. Thrust kick delivered to Hayter, as Hart went to end things on Cameron, when Storm slid in and got an inside cradle to pin Hart and win the match.
**********
Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) defeated Powerhouse Hobbs to retain the AEW World Title
(I thought the match was good, but Moxley’s matches have this formula now that he’s a big heel and it’s gotten incredibly repetitive. I know it took a lot to put Hobbs away, but it was just overkill. I’m not sure why they’d Pillmanize the leg, as that usually is a way to write people off for a few weeks, but Hobbs is scheduled for the 12-man tag on Collision, so we’ll see where it goes. I just hope Hobbs stays in the upper-level of guys and doesn’t fall down the ladder, he’s been able to hang with the main eventers.)
Moxley entered the arena with Shafir walking through the cold, snowy Cincinnati night, as before the match was about to begin, Claudio Castagnoli & PAC ran distraction at the bell to allow Moxley the upper hand. They immediately retreated, but Hobbs gained control soon after with clubbing blows. Taz said he was proud of former Team Taz members Hobbs, Brian Cage & HOOK (no mention of Ricky Starks) as he quickly said for being part of this show. Moxley was able to battle back with a dive to the outside, but it was short lived, as Hobbs won the brawl in the crowd. They head back to the ring, as Moxley quickly took over with punches in bunches in the corner, but opted to trash talk, only pissing Hobbs off, as he drove Moxley to the corner where he bit at the ear, apparently trying to bite off the ear ring. Moxley was sent crashing outside, as Hobbs was in control during commercial (Schiavone had said they were sticking with this til the end, but that wasn’t the case if you’re watching on TBS).
Hobbs kept biting at the ear and now has Moxley’s blood on his mouth, as Moxley fired off a cutter for the reset. Forearm exchange until Moxley sent Hobbs to the floor, he took the ref and Shafir got in some cheap shots. Quickly back inside, Moxley wanted Death Rider, but Hobbs powered out into a shoulder tackle. Hobbs mowed down Moxley with a series of clotheslines and World’s Strongest Slam for two. Hobbs connected on an Avalanche powerslam, but Moxley used the momentum to roll through into a cross-arm breaker. Hobbs got the ropes, as the ref backed Moxley off. That distraction allowed Wheeler Yuta to sprint in for a Busiaku Knee and hightail it, as Moxley wanted a Death Rider, but Hobbs hit a desperation Spinebuster. Hobbs lowered the straps, wanted a Torture Rack, but Moxley got the rear naked choke. Moxley stumbled out, grabbed the ref, allowing Shafir to smack Hobbs with the briefcase and Death Rider but kicked out at two. Moxley sank in the Bulldog Choke and Hobbs passed out to give Moxley the win.
Post-match, Death Riders hit the ring as a group, but Hobbs briefly fought them off. Castagnoli used a chair on the previously injured leg, as they tore the brace off it and took turns smacking the leg with the chair. They Pillmanized his leg with the chair and right after it happened, Rated FTR made the save and chased off Death Riders to end the show.
AEW Collision 1/18/25
- Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith vs. Cope, Dax Harwood, Cash Wheeler, Powerhouse Hobbs, Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd
- Hangman Adam Page vs. Christopher Daniels in a Texas Death Match
- Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the Continental Title
AEW Dynamite 1/22/25
