New challengers and familiar faces returned on the Jan. 19 edition of Dynamite
(AEW)
By Gavin Axelrod
All Elite Wrestling returned with another loaded show Wednesday, just one week away from the Beach Break special.
The card saw Adam Cole and Britt Baker face Orange Cassidy and Kris Statlander, the return of TNT Champion Cody Rhodes, Jon Moxley return and more.
Elsewhere on the card, CM Punk defeated Shawn Spears, Serena Deeb beat Skye Blue and Kings of the Black Throne beat the Varsity Blonds
Jon Moxley’s return
(Twitter via @AEW)
Wednesday's show opened with the familiar tune of Wild Thing and out from the shadows, Jon Moxley emerged.
Moxley has been absent for three months, but the crowd certainly didn’t forget him. The fans were electric as he made his way to the ring.
The “Purveyor of Violence” cut a passionate promo, which should also remind the wrestling world how great he is on the stick.
Later on, in the show we found out Moxley would face Ethan Page on this Friday’s episode of Rampage.
Mixed Tag Mayhem
(AEW)
The first match on Wednesday’s card saw Kris Statlander and Orange Cassidy take on Britt Baker and Adam Cole.
This contest was a high-octane affair with plenty of cool spots. The highlight of the match saw Baker hit a Pittsburgh Sunrise on Statlander on the ramp, followed by Cole delivering one to Cassidy in the ring.
However, that wouldn’t be enough to win the match and it caused Baker and Cole to take desperate measures. AEW’s power couple brought a table to ringside, but Cassidy accidentally hit Baker who went crashing through it.
While the referee was distracted, Cole used the opportunity to deliver a low blow and Lower the Boom for the pin and win
Cody is the forbidden door
(AEW)
Cody Rhodes made his return to Dynamite Wednesday night and it’s safe to say he wasn’t in a good mood.
Rhodes mentioned how he left for two weeks and suddenly all hell has broken loose. He also took a shot at how while AEW isn’t in the renaming business, it takes “balls” to show up in the company with the name Brody. He even mentioned the hot rumour about not being signed to a contract.
But Brodys, contracts and gripes aside Rhodes did mention that he’ll be in a match next week. It’ll be TNT Champion vs Interim TNT Champion Sammy Guevara in a ladder match next week in Cleveland, winner takes all.
Mediocre main event
(AEW)
Wednesday’s main event featured Sting and Darby Allin taking on The Acclaimed.
Personally, out of all the matches on the card I would’ve gone with the mixed tag team match in the main event instead. But even with that comment out of the way, this match still had its bright spots.
For starters, Sting looks like he hasn’t missed a beat. The “icon” had to handle most of the match on his own due to Allin being taken to the back. Whenever these two hoodlums team up, it’s like a game of one-upmanship to see who can take the bigger bump.
On this night, it was Allin who won as he leaped from the stage and narrowly avoided being decapitated by the steel steps. Allin would use this momentum to help propel himself and sting to victory in the main event.
NEXT WEEK: Cody Rhodes vs Sammy Guevara winner take all, Adam Cole vs Orange Cassidy and more!