AEW Dynamite came into the new year with a brand new look and energy, this is the second week of this and it is still quite jarring but I’m sure fans will get used to it. There were lots of fantastic matches, just like it should be on a wrestling show while being a little light on the promo side. I’m not complaining, I’ve just got out of my New Japan/Stardom/Wrestle Kingdom bubble where we don’t have that, so it’s a nice transition from eaten to western wrestling.

The Matches: Moxley, Danilson, Hayter & The Elite

As always AEW delivers on that front, especially this week. We have five matches during this two-hour broadcast and each one is great in its own little way.

The first match of the night was between ‘Hangman’ Adam Page and Jon Moxley who have always been the ones to deliver when things go wrong. These two are the ultimate faces of the company but for very different reasons, while Moxley gives off an air of Steve Austin, the ultimate tweener and the everyman, Page had always felt more like a Bret Hart, in the sense that he is wholesome and will always do the right thing. This match was lots of fun, hard-hitting and just a joy to watch.

Lee Moriarty and Big Bill accompanied by Stokley Hathaway is the second match of the night against the new team of JungleHook. Yes, you read that right and it is Jungle Boy and HOOK teaming together. This match was fun and allowed everyone to look their best.

Bryan Danielson and Konosuke Takeshita take each other on in one of the best TV matches of the year, so far, add this to your shortlist for Match of the Year NOW. Beautifully put together with a real focus on what they are both good at, technical submissions and strong kicks. Japan is known for its strong style and this gives us just enough, violence is the game but that comes later. It builds and builds which is what a great match should do. if you haven’t seen this yet please go out of your way to watch it.

Toni Storm & SARAYA Vs Jamie Hayter & Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. is the fourth match on the card and there is a lot of history here. Hayter took the championship off of Storm these two have great chemistry and have faced off many times. SARAYA gets in the ring with Hayter next and they are great together, I really hope we get to see them battle for the belt soon. Baker and SARAYA reignite hostility and with these four and also the inclusion of Hikaru Shida this women’s division is really starting to pick up steam. It’s only taken three years but that is down to all their hard work.

The Main Event is here and we have The Elite Vs Death Triangle in their last match in their best of 7 series. Kenny Omega is sporting a brand new belt, The IWGP United States Championship, which he won off of Will Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom 17. Can he become a double champion tonight by defeating Death Triangle and becoming, once again the AEW Trios Champion?

This match is wild, which isn’t surprising considering the last six matches these two teams have had, but when you add Ladders into the mix you know there will be high-flying and terrifying stunts. Did they deliver? I would say they over delivered and that is saying something when you have two of the best tag teams of the last 10 years, The Young Bucks and The Lucha Bros in this match. You also have Omega and PAC two of the biggest stars of the singles scene who have quite possibly mastered every aspect of wrestling.

What a week for Kenny Omega and congratulations to The ELITE. Find this match, watch it now and enjoy how amazing Tag Team Wrestling is and how trios matches should be. These two teams have set the bar really high moving forward.

The Storylines

MJF is the first real storyline of the night, he is here and ready to make a statement. Boos ring out through the arena as the crowd waits for Bryan Danielson to show up. With the belt, he has become even more unlikeable and this promo borders on the racist but luckily Takeshita doesn’t really care and tells MJF to ‘Kiss His Ass’ which I just love. He then insults the celebrities in the audience, especially Freddie Prince Jr. That really saved this segment in a lot of ways.

Juice Robinson is interviewed by Renee Parquette and makes his intentions very clear, he wants to challenge Darby Allin for the TNT Championship. Open challenges are always fun and I actually really want to see him with the belt, yes Darby has had it for a minute by Juice absolutely shines when he is holding gold.

JSA are here and as much as I like the sum of their parts, mainly Cool Hand & Daddy Magic and Chris Jericho it sometimes feels a little manic but it does feel like it is financially coming together. They always make great TV, even if it isn’t your cup of tea. Ricky Starks comes out with Action Andretti and both just tear the team apart. Oh, how I love the way Starks just reads everyone, taking what The Rock has done for years and elevating it to a whole new stratosphere of playground insults.

The Big Surprise

That’s Right, it’s ADAM COLE BAY-BAY. He’s been gone for quite a while, six months to be exact, with a major concussion. This stems from two serious head injuries, as well as a shoulder that could have been beyond repair had he not been put on the shelf when he was. He has fought back and is back on our screens and gave an impassioned speech about the last six months and his journey back. We have really missed you, well I know I have. And from the sound of the crowd in the arena, they agree with me.

AEW: Dynamite Match Results

‘Hangman’ Adam Page defeated Jon Moxley

JungleHook defeated Lee Moriarty & Big Bill

Bryan Danielson defeated Konosuke Takeshita

Jamie Hayter & Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. defeated Toni Storm & SARAYA

The ELITE defeated Death Triangle [04-03]