AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from January 1

A new year, new standings and new opportunities awaited the stars of All Elite Wrestling Wednesday night on TNT as the red-hot company presented its first episode of Dynamite of 2020.

The much-anticipated rematch between Cody and Darby Allin after their Fyter Fest draw headlined a show that also promised an answer to Chris Jericho's invitation for Jon Moxley to join The Inner Circle, as well as a Four-Way for the AEW Women's Championship pitting Riho against Nyla Rose, Britt Baker and Hikaru Shida.

Find out what went down on the first live broadcast of the decade and what each outcome means to AEW's bright future going forward.

Cody vs. Darby Allin

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

After battling Cody to a time-limit draw at June's Fyter Fest, Darby Allin had a second chance at proving himself worthy of sharing the squared circle with the Executive Vice President of AEW as he took on The American Nightmare in the first match of the new year. Arn Anderson accompanied Cody to the ring, announced as his new head coach.

Counters and reversals dominated the opening moments of the match until Cody manhandled Allin, rocking him with a forearm before tossing him to the arena floor. The enigmatic Allin fought back and targeted the arm of his opponent, leaving him reeling. Cody created separation and cut off his opponent's momentum with a Disaster Kick that sent him back to the floor. 

Allin continued to look toward Cody's damaged left arm while The American Nightmare sought to take Allin's unpredictable, unorthodox offense away with a figure four. The competitors teased a turnbuckle pad removal spot before Cody dropped Allin with a snap powerslam that downed both men as Anderson watched on from ringside.

A Cody Cutter dropped Allin and the EVP sent his weight belt soaring into the stands as Justin Roberts alerted the wrestlers and crowd to the fact that the match had hit its 10-minute mark. Cody scored a huge near-fall, leaving commentator Jim Ross in shock, heading into the break.

Back from the commercial, Allin delivered a Coffin Drop from the top rope, onto Cody on the ring apron. Inside, Cody dropped Allin on his head but still failed to put the determined and resilient competitor away. As Allin recovered and scaled the ropes, Anderson climbed on the apron and directed his charge to get his knees up. Cody did, thwarting another Coffin Drop, and scored the win off a rollup.

Result

Cody defeated Allin

Grade

B

Analysis

The commercial break badly hurt the story of Allin and Cody going to another 20-minute time limit but the finish made up for it and went a long way in establishing exactly what Anderson's role as Cody's cornerman will be. As a coach, he brought a sense of realism and strategy to the match that is wholly fresh in today's era of professional wrestling.

Hopefully, he can pay dividends in that role and maybe even transition into a similar role with younger, less-experienced stars who might better benefit from it than a franchise centerpiece like Cody.

It was interesting to see Allin lose here, especially after he had been heated up against the last two weeks, but with no obvious programs or opponents on the horizon, AEW had to make the call to give Cody the win as he marches toward a showdown with MJF.

Four-Way Match for the AEW Women's Championship

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

The second match of this week's show saw AEW women's champion Riho return to action, defending her title against Hikaru Shida, Nyla Rose and Britt Baker in a sudden-death, Fatal 4-Way match in which the first competitor to score a fall would leave with the gold. Awaiting them next week? A showdown with No. 1 contender Kris Statlander, conspicuous in her absence this week.

Rose wasted little time taking the fight to the opposition and retrieved a table from underneath the ring, looking to add any one of her opponents to a list that included Shanna as unfortunate victims of a vicious powerbomb through it. Riho launched herself off the top rope but collided with Shida instead of her intended victim, The Native Beast, as the show headed to break.

Rose dominated throughout the break, laying waste to anyone who stood between her and the title. Back from the commercial, she delivered a top-rope guillotine knee to the Shida and followed with a senton that put the Japanese competitor through the aforementioned table.

A double stomp from Riho, off the top, allowed Baker to take advantage and try for the Lock Jaw. Rose fought out but again found herself on the receiving end of an onslaught by the champion. 

Baker broke up a pinfall attempt but ate a suplex from the apron back into the ring by Shida shortly thereafter. Rose sent Shida to the mat with a German suplex, then slammed Riho. She sought a senton but missed both of her opponents.

Shida delivered a falcon arrow for a near-fall, essentially neutralizing Rose. That allowed the other three competitors to trade near-falls until Riho stacked Baker up and scored the hard-fought victory.

After the match, a frustrated Rose attacked Riho and set up a table. She laid the champion out across the table and delivered a big splash from the middle rope, driving Riho through it.

Result

Riho defeated Shida, Baker and Rose

Grade

B

Analysis

This was another instance of the AEW women delivering between the ropes in spite of creative shortcomings. The match itself was compelling and kept fans guessing as to which woman would score the win. More importantly, it gave the impression that the typically resilient Riho might not be able to escape the very game competition.

Now, imagine how much better and more engaging it would have been with characters fans could invest in. Baker, we know, is a dentist but has very little in the way of motivations beyond that little factoid. Shida has been one of the highlighted competitors since last May's Double or Nothing, yet has no discernible character to speak of. Only Rose's frustrated, so-close-yet-so-far heel has been truly established by the creative team.

Until that changes and fans have a reason to care about these immensely talented individuals besides their abilities between the ropes, the division will continue to be frustratingly solid, but capable of being so much more. 

Jon Moxley vs. Trent

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Best Friends' Trent repeatedly demonstrated the ability to be a breakout star in AEW in 2019 and in his first showing of the new year, with Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy watching from ringside, had the unenviable task of squaring off with No. 1 contender Jon Moxley in singles competition. 

The potentially imposing match-up did not intimidate Trent, who took the fight right to Moxley early. A big right hand by the Death Rider stunned his opponent, allowing him to drop him on the entrance ramp heading into the commercial timeout.

Moxley dominated the action throughout the break as Jim Ross compared the bout to a physical slobberknocker. Trent rebounded off the guardrail with a big spear that created separation and allowed the talented competitor to fight his way back into the match. A big snapdragon suplex allowed him to build momentum, though Moxley rolled to the floor in an effort to lessen his opponent's momentum. 

Trent wiped him out with a tope on the floor but, upon returning to the squared circle, Moxley dropped him face-first for a near-fall. As Moxley began to roll, Cassidy entered the ring to a huge ovation. The distraction allowed Trent to deliver a big knee strike and a stuff piledriver for a near-fall. 

Moxley recovered and dropped him with the Paradigm Shift for the hard-fought victory.

After the match, Sammy Guevara of The Inner Circle arrived and reminded him of the big surprise the group has in store for Mox. He directed attention to the video screen and Chris Jericho, who offered Moxley the opportunity to co-lead The Inner Circle, not to mention a brand new Ford GT, complete with a custom license plate.

Moxley said, out of respect to Jericho, he would provide an answer on next week's show.

Result

Moxley defeated Trent

Grade

B

Analysis

Trent continued to impress in singles competition, really hammering home the idea that he could be a successful singles wrestler if AEW management ever opted to transition him into that role. 

This was all about Moxley and his interactions with The Inner Circle, though. Moxley picked up the harder-than-expected victory and immediately turned his attention to the proposition set forth by Jericho. The commentary team put over the idea that he was contemplating the offer, and therein lies the problem.

Given what we know about Moxley and his character, there is nothing about him that would be even the slightest interested in a fancy car or part-ownership of an Inner Circle LLC.

It is so out of character that he would even consider it, unless this ends up with Moxley catching Jericho off-guard and getting the upper-hand of the AEW champion next week.

If not, the angle is tone-deaf in terms of the characters involved and something management must address to prevent in the future.

Dustin Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Dustin Rhodes sought revenge for the broken arm suffered by Jake Hager and Sammy Guevara back in October, squaring off with The Spanish God in singles action. The veteran competitor attacked from behind, catching the arrogant young star off-guard. He proceeded to dominate the action, taking Guevara to the proverbial woodshed until Hager made his presence felt, providing just enough of a distraction for the heel to take control.

Guevara’s offensive was short-lived as Rhodes delivered a wicked snap powerslam on the exposed arena floor. The self-proclaimed Best Ever delivered a kick through the ropes that allowed him to take control of the match ahead of the break.

Guevara controlled during the timeout but Dustin mounted a momentary comeback upon the return from break. The Spanish God tried for a Shooting Star Press but Rhodes rolled out of the way and planted the heel with a powerslam.

Dustin followed up with a Canadian Destroyer on the ring apron but was unable to capitalize on it, his attention averted by the interfering Hager. Rhodes set Guevara up for Shattered Dreams but Hager interfered, again, delivering an undetected low blow that allowed the heel to score the win.

Result

Guevara defeated Rhodes

Grade

C+

Analysis

So much of Guevara’s control of the match was relegated to the commercial break that the majority of the bout was him bumping around the ring for Rhodes, rather than gaining any ounce of credibility from sharing the ring with a future Hall of Famer.

The money-match has been Hager vs. Rhodes since the former broke the latter’s arm prior to AEW Full Gear in October. That rivalry lost some steam in recent weeks but appears to be heating up in time for Revolution and a showdown between them.

It’s too bad Guevara’s legitimacy has to suffer in order to get to that match because The Spanish God has been sacrificed far too often since joining The Inner Circle, becoming that group’s tackling dummy. Yes, the win helps, but the way it came about made him look anything but credible or even competent.

An Appearance by MJF

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

MJF made his way to the ring, seconded by the massive Wardlow, almost certainly to address the stipulations for his proposed match with Cody.

The silver-spoon heel insulted the crowd and referred to his former friend as a mouth-breathing moron. He said their match would be at Revolution and if Cody touches him before then, the match was off and would never happen. He also proposed that The American Nightmare face, and defeat, Wardlow in a steel cage to earn the match.

The third and final stipulation would see MJF whip Cody ‘like the dog he is,’ 10 consecutive times.

MJF fired off his catchphrase to close out the segment.

Grade

B-

Analysis

MJF is such an engaging, compelling talker that he can take the most convoluted subject and make it interesting. He did just that here, making the most out of an unnecessarily complicated scenario and still managing to drum up interest in the culmination to one of the hottest rivalries in the sport.

One has to wonder if it was better to have MJF lay everything out in one promo or be an even more insufferable heel by constantly coming up with hurdles for Cody to overcome if he is to earn the much-anticipated match.

That setup would have allowed things to breath rather than having MJF rattled off everything in a relatively quick promo.

The Elite vs. Lucha Bros and Pac

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

The Elite reunited in the main event of Wednesday’s show and rivalries were revisited as Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks battled Lucha Bros and “The Bastard” Pac in a barnburner of a tag team bout.

Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson and Kenny Omega caught Pac, Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix off-guard early while “Hangman” Adam Page watched from the commentary position.

Neither team was able to successfully retain complete control of the match as the back-and-forth action of most Young Bucks matches reigned supreme.

A pair of destroyers from the Bucks had the babyfaces rolling. That gave way to Omega and Pac pairing off, the former delivered a snapdragon suplex and sit-out powerbomb for a near-fall, which was broken up only when Pentagon interjected himself in the match.

The action continued, nonstop, until Pac launched himself off the top rope with the Black Arrow on Omega. Before the official could count three, the Bucks interfered, breaking up the pin at a time when The Cleaner most needed it.

Pac applied The Brutalizer, looking for a submission win, when the Bucks broke the hold. 

Moments later, Omega caught Fenix mid-flight with a V-Trigger and scoring the win off the One-Winged Angel.

After the match, Page left, opting not to join the victors and Cody in the ring to close out the show.

Result

The Elite defeated The Lucha Bros and Pac

Grade

A

Analysis

The match was the non-stop car wreck of a match that fans have come to expect from the performers involved. The Bucks and Lucha Bros are ridiculous in terms of the athleticisms and creativity they display when they share the ring. Omega and Pac continued to give fans a taste of what they can come to expect when they meet in their feud’s rubber match, if and when that happens.

With that said, the real reason for the generous grade is the story involving Hangman Page.

The young star feels isolated from his fellow Elite mates, and rightfully so.

Where were they when he was unsuccessfully competing for the AEW Championship against Chris Jericho? Why was he not invited to participate in the pre-show promos from Cody, the Bucks and Omega ahead of Double or Nothing and All Out? He was, after all, a major character on the Being The Elite web show that indirectly sparked the AEW revolution. 

Perhaps worst of all is the idea that his friends are all EVPs of the company while he has to scratch and claw for everything he gets.

Sprinkle in some professional frustration and you have a character that is descending into professional madness with every passing week. His admitted attempts to distance himself from the group, only to constantly wind up in their shadows, will only quicken his eventual heel turn.

And rightfully so.