AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From Jan. 10
All Elite Wrestling returned to Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida, Wednesday night for a special "homecoming" edition of Dynamite, featuring the stars who made their names competing at the venue in front of only their peers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sting made his debut at the venue as part of Winter is Coming 2020, and he teamed with Darby Allin on Wednesday to battle Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs of The Don Callis Family.
That contest headlined a broadcast that also saw two huge eight-person tag team matches, as well as the latest from AEW world champion Samoa Joe.
What went down, how did it grade out and what does it mean for a company trying to rediscover itself?
Find out with this recap of the January 10 show.
Match Card
1 of 9Announced in advance for Wednesday's show:
- Sting and Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs
- "Hangman" Adam Page vs. Claudio Castagnoli
- Sammy Guevara vs. Ricky Starks
- Adam Copeland, Dustin Rhodes, Preston Vance and AEW international champion Orange Cassidy vs. Lance Archer, Ring of Honor world trios champions Brian Cage and The Gates of Agony
- Willow Nightingale, Thunder Rosa, Kris Statlander and Anna Jay vs. Skye Blue, Saraya, Ruby Soho and TBS champion Julia Hart
- Samoa Joe promo
Hangman Page vs. Claudio Castagnoli
2 of 9
A rejuvenated "Hangman" Adam Page picked up a hard-fought victory to kick off Dynamite, defeating Blackpool Combat Club's Claudio Castagnoli in a damn good, highly physical bout that almost certainly put the former world champion in contention for a shot to regain his title.
The match was a great, energetic way to kick off the show and the crowd responded in kind.
If there was one negative, it was Castagnoli netting another loss. One of the most talented wrestlers in the world, and one of the most gifted technicians on the roster, the idea that he loses as much as he does in these high-profile TV matches is somewhat astonishing.
He has the look and feel of a world champion, with the talent to back it up, but is defined by little more than being a good wrestler. Like he was in WWE.
That may ruffle some feathers and inspire outrage but he very much could benefit from a singles push that is about him, rather than just tagging along with the BCC as an enforcer type who is the setup guy for anyone looking to battle Jon Moxley.
Result
Page defeated Castagnoli
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- This feels and sounds like the hottest AEW crowd in a long time.
- Oh, look, there's the forearm exchange.
- Castagnoli caught an incoming Page with a gorilla press, then slammed him out of the ring and onto the ramp in a very cool, potentially dangerous spot that highlighted the heel's unparalleled strength.
Eight-Man Tag Team Match
3 of 9
Lance Archer, ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions Brian Cage, Kaun and Toa Linoa vs. AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Preston Vance, Dustin Rhodes, and Adam Copeland
Vance was hand-picked by the late Brodie Lee to join The Dark Order and on Wednesday, he paid homage to his mentor and friend by picking up the win for his team in an eight-man tag match.
Despite his official status as a heel member of La Faccion Ingobernable, he showed great fire during the babyface comeback and the crowd was fully into him as he fired off Lee's trademark discus clothesline to put Kaun away.
There was not much in the way of storyline advancement, and the two teams had little in common, but it was a bout designed to honor the memory of Lee and as that, this was a success.
Result
Vance, Copeland, Rhodes, and Cassidy defeated Cage, Kaun, Linoa, and Archer
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- The commentary team openly questioned whether Tony Khan was trying to bring Vance "into the light" by putting him in this match. Just turn him babyface if that is the intent.
- Vance showed great fire and energy during the babyface comeback. Sort of makes you wonder why Khan has been so insistent on positioning him as a heel.
- Cassidy repeatedly tried for a chokeslam and on the third try, finally executed it.
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe Promo
4 of 9
The AEW World Championship picture is brimming with potential contenders, many of whom made their presence felt during Samoa Joe's in-ring promo.
Hangman Page, Swerve Strickland, and Hook all interrupted, coming face-to-face with Joe and making their intentions to challenge him for the top prize in AEW crystal clear.
There was not much to the segment itself, but it continued to plant the seeds for a potential Revolution main event featuring Strickland, Page, and Joe this coming March and set the stage for the showdown between Joe and Hook on next week's show.
Sometimes, simple is best and that was certainly the case here.
On a separate note, there is such an intensity surrounding Page and Strickland that, despite two high-profile PPV matches already, it feels like they could roll out one more showdown between them and still have fans invested and interested in the contest.
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Joe said record and reputation, and the decision of the championship committee, would determine his challengers. Is Bryan Danielson on that committee, too?
- The crowd was overwhelmingly positive toward Joe, even thanking him, perhaps an indication that MJF fatigue was real.
- Strickland was the most over guy in the ring, which continues to bode well for his championship prospects.
Sammy Guevara vs. Ricky Starks
5 of 9
Two of the best young stars in AEW squared off in a match that should have been symbolic of the greatness that awaits the company in the years to come but, instead, was the backdrop for a Chris Jericho save that no one asked for.
The match was perfectly fine, if not relatively subdued for the talent involved, with a finish that should have left fans scratching their heads. Guevara caught Starks with an inside cradle for the win, dealing one of the most organically over and charismatic young stars another unnecessary loss.
Big Bill made the save for his tag team partner and a beatdown of The Spanish God ensued before Jericho made the save, his theme music playing for the duration of the run-in. That odd production choice aside, this entire ordeal failed to heat up the AEW World Tag Team Championship feud, which culminates Saturday at Battle of the Belts.
Maybe that is because Starks has now netted two losses when he really should be winning to build momentum up for the champions.
Result
Guevara pinned Ricky Starks
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Guevara took a nasty face-first bump off the ring apron that left him reeling entering the commercial break.
- Starks had the tightest jackknife pin on Guevara that this writer has seen in some time.
- Leaving Jericho's theme music on throughout his run-in in hopes of drowning out the boos only makes it more obvious that is what is going on.
Eight-Woman Tag Team Match
6 of 9
Anna Jay, Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, and Thunder Rosa vs. Skye Blue, Saraya, Ruby Soho, and TBS Champion Julia Hart
Anna Jay followed in the footsteps of her former Dark Order teammate Preston Vance, dedicating her performance to the late Brodie Lee and scoring a big win in eight-woman tag action.
An action-packed match that highlighted all involved, this was a fun highlight reel of the various competitors that make up a women's roster loaded with talent, but waiting for consistent creative effort and opportunity.
Jay tapped Skye Blue out with the Queenslayer sleeper and appeared to set herself up for a showdown with Hart over the TBS title. Should that be the direction, it would be a nice showcase for two of the young competitors who got their starts in Daily's Place.
Result
Jay, Statlander, Nightingale, and Rosa defeated Blue, Saraya, Soho, and Hart
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Five of the women involved in this match made their debuts in AEW during the company's residency at Daily's Place: Jay, Statlander, Rosa, Blue, and Hart.
- Oh, look, there's the forearm exchange.
- Jay wore her Brodie Lee shirt, another nice tribute to one of the greats in AEW history and a guy gone way too soon.
"Bounty Hunter" Brian Keith vs. Roderick Strong
7 of 9
Roderick Strong continued to build momentum for the Undisputed Kingdom Wednesday by earning a hard-fought victory over a game "Bounty Hunter" Brian Keith.
The match highlighted Strong, who will likely target Orange Cassidy's AEW International Championship in the coming weeks, while also ensuring fans knew that Keith is one of the bright, potential breakout stars in the company.
After the match, Adam Cole cut a promo surrounded by the victor, as well as Wardlow and Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions Matt Taven and Mike Bennett that was almost the same as the one he delivered a week ago.
Result
Strong defeated Keith
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Cole cut the same promo from last week, laying out the championship course for the Undisputed Kingdom.
- Keith is going to end up signed by AEW and he will have earned it through his work over the last two months.
Sting and Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs
8 of 9
Sting remained unbeaten in AEW in Wednesday's main event, teaming with Darby Allin to defeat The Don Callis Family's Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs in a Tornado Tag Team Match.
The match was wild, and chaotic, and did a nice job of accentuating positives and hiding negatives. It also put Sting firmly in the spotlight following a Scorpion Death Drop from the stands, through tables on the floor.
It was most certainly alarming when it took much longer for Sting to get to his feet and he had obvious dialogue with both Allin and the referee. Ultimately, he was able to stand up, just in time to be asked who his retirement match on March 3 at Revolution would be against.
Cue The Young Bucks, now sporting eye-roll-worthy mustaches and setting themselves up for the spot.
Siphoning off a little bit of the hype surrounding Sting's retirement is on point for a team.
Perhaps saving such a significant match for someone, or some team, more closely linked to The Stinger would be a better option but who knows, perhaps he hand-picked the Bucks. If so, then good for them.
Result
Sting and Allin defeated Hobbs and Takeshita
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
- Do you know what this match needs? More Ric Flair. Said no one ever.
- it may be a broken record at this point but Allin is seriously going to hurt himself one of these days.
- Sting delivered a Scorpion Death Drop from the stands, through tables at ringside for the win. Considering the Revolution pay-per-view is being built around Sting's retirement match, maybe preserving your drawing card's body would be best for business.
Overall Grade
9 of 9There was plenty to like about this show.
The "Homecoming" tag was appropriate, as was highlighting two stars (Vance and Jay) so closely linked to the late Brodie Lee, who left such an indelible mark on AEW and its fans during the company's long COVID-19 pandemic stint at Daily's Place.
Continuing to tease a potential three-way dance between Hangman Page, Swerve Strickland, and Samoa Joe was also well done as those three have history and are, arguably, the three hottest singles competitors in the company.
The randomness of some of the matches was interesting, and Adam Cole essentially regurgitating the same promo from a week ago was odd, but neither was enough to hurt the overall broadcast.
The Young Bucks returning and inserting themselves into Sting's retirement match feels desperate, though, and forced.
Maybe there is a story that can be told to try and justify it but it feels extremely unearned. A star the stature of Sting has so many different directions to go in that simply using his retirement to try and get the Bucks over again feels counterproductive.
A solid show with a "meh" ending, this one earns the grade that the majority of its matches did.
Grade: C+
.jpg?w=600 "Grading Day 3 Picks 🔠")
.jpg?w=600 "McVay Explains Viral Presser")
.jpg?w=600 "Thibodeaux, Diggs Top Landing Spots 🛬")
