It was AEW Dynamite featuring Samoa Joe defending the AEW World Title against Hook and Christian Cage putting the TNT Title on the line against Dustin Rhodes.
This episode took place at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, SC. The announcers were Excalibur, Taz and Ian Riccaboni, who was replacing Tony Schiavone this week.
A video aired promoting the Samoa Joe match against Hook later in the show.
Match #1: Christian Cage defeated Dustin Rhodes by pinfall to retain the TNT Championship. Dustin nearly won with Cross Rhodes. Christian hit Killswitch twice to get the win.
Chris Jericho was interviewed backstage complaining about Konosuke Takeshita costing Jericho & Sammy Guevara the AEW Tag Team Titles. Matt Sydal interrupted saying he wanted a match. Jericho said you were “born” to do this as a reference to Sydal’s WWE name Evan Bourne. Jericho suggested they have a match on Rampage on Friday. Rampage is taped after Dynamite.
Match #2: Trent Beretta & Orange Cassidy defeated Penta El Zero Miedo & Komander by pinfall. Trent got the win for his team.
After the match, Undisputed Kingdom’s Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett confronted Orange Cassidy and friends. Strong challenged Cassidy to an International Title match. Orange said fine let’s do it right now, but Strong said no let’s wait until the Revolution PPV on March 3rd.
Mark Briscoe appeared on the stage to talk about his brother Jay Briscoe, who died in a car accident one year ago on this day. Other members of their family were at ringside. Mark said that his nieces were in the car with Jay and they told his niece that she wouldn’t be able to walk, but then two girls and a boy walked on the stage with Mark. Mark hugged his family on the stage.
A video aired in tribute to the late, great Jay Briscoe.
The Young Bucks did a sitdown interview with Renee Paquette. Nick Jackson reminded her they were EVPs and they wanted to be addressed as Nicholas and Matthew. Renee mentioned rumors about them and Matt didn’t address that specifically although he said he would do it all over again. Matt spoke about how they used to say “change the world” and they were rebels that spat in the face of tradition. Matt said that somewhere along the way, toxicity crept into the locker room and it was all different.
As Matt Jackson continued, he added that they (AEW) started to lean on self-serving cancerous superstars. Matthew said that Sting is not any of those things and Sting is a role model employee while saying that he’s envious about how people talk about Sting. It was added by Matt that Sting is the last of a dying breed. Matt said that they would say goodbye to Sting and everybody who is like Sting. Renee wondered if that was an official callout to Sting for his final match. Nick pulled out his phone as if they got a message and they left while mentioning they are EVPs again. Matt said they had a meeting to go to.
Match #3: Bullet Club Gold – Jay White, Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn defeated Mogul Embassy – Toa Liona, Brian Cage & Bishop Kaun to win the ROH Trios Tag Team Championships. Prince Nana tried to do a title shot attack, but Anthony Bowens stopped it. White won for his team with a Bladerunner.
After the match, the AEW Trios Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed were on the stage looking at Bullet Club Gold because they wanted to create a supergroup.
Match #4: Deonna Purrazzo defeated Anna Jay by submission. AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm was on commentary. Purrazzo won easily with the Venus De Milo submission pulling back on both arms. Purrazzo shook hands with Jay after the match.
Post match, Deonna Purrazzo was interviewed by Renee Paquette in the ring. Purrazzo said she has known Toni Storm for many years, but Storm has never met the greatest technical wrestler, The Virtuosa (that is Deonna’s nickname). Storm said that her past is nothing of her concern. Storm said that they must go for a commercial so chin up, tits out, and watch for the shoe. Storm threw the shoe, so Purrazzo threw the shoe back.
Match #5: Private Party – Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen defeated Top Flight – Dante & Darius Martin by pinfall. Quen rolled up Darius with a pin sitting on Darius and Quen held onto the top rope for the cheap victory.
A video aired featuring Sting & Darby Allin, who mentioned they were 26-0 as a tag team. Allin said that this story is going to end with Sting & Darby as AEW Tag Team Champions.
Sting and Darby Allin have one goal before the end.
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on TBS!@Sting | @DarbyAllinpic.twitter.com/soGmhzXYnR
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 18, 2024
AEW Dynamite Main Event
Match #6: Samoa Joe defeated Hook by submission to retain the AEW World Championship. Joe dominated most of the match. Hook got a bit of offense near the end. Joe trapped Hook with a Coquina Clutch submission and Hook passed out to give Joe the win.
After the match, Hook wanted to keep fighting Joe, so Joe hit Hook with a Muscle Buster. Hook wanted Joe to come back for more, but that led to “Hangman” Adam Page making the save. Joe left the ring at that point. Swerve Strickland also appeared at ringside for a staredown with Page. Swerve held up two fingers since he’s 2-0 against Hangman. Hook left the ring on his own. That was the end of the show.