AEW Dynamite 1-1-20 - Homecoming

It's a new year and the first show I've covered since Spud died. She spent the majority of the TLC show on my lap - so that was pretty enjoyable. She made it to 22 1/2 and was the greatest cat I could ever hope to have. Super-sweet, tiny and a perma-kitten until the end. She was born one June 12, 1997 and lasted until December 16, 2019. I was lucky enough to have her be really youthful and kitten-like for 20 years and even until the last month, she could still jump around a lot. Her kidneys had been in rough shape for a couple years, and a hyperactive thyroid amplified issues too. I'm glad that her suffering was kept to a bare minimum though and thanks to Ridge Lake having a Christmas tree setup, I was able to get a 23rd set of Christmas photos with her.

Show opens with the Elite doubting themselves. Video package is too cute by one with all of these guys saying the same shit in sync. AEW returns to Dally's Place, which looked tremendous at Fight for the Fallen. Taz is in filling in for Tony. Card is rundown and the main event should be incredible. Darby burns things and walks on his hands in his pre-match video before facing Cody, with Arn who is now the Head Coach of the Nightmare Family. So is Brandi's goofy voodoo group part of the Nightmare Family and if so, is she to blame for Arn's hair loss?

 Darby gets an Oklahoma roll to counter the drop-down uppercut. Super-fast tope from Darby lands hard. Triangle disaster kick on the apron gives Cody a break. I like that Arn's pupil is suffering from non-stop moves to the arm. Figure four by Cody, but Darby gets out of bounds and locks on a nice Fujiwara armbar, but Cody gets the ropes. Darby goes up and Cody tosses him onto the ramp, but Darby lands on it and leaps onto him into a crossbody that gets countered for 2.

Inverted superplex lands for Cody, but only gets 2. COFFIN DROP ON THE APRON. Jesus. I love Ross saying it hurts both the coffin dropper and droppee. Cross Rhodes hits and gets 2.9! Darby goes for the coffin drop after Cody misses a corner charge, but Arn tells him to get the knees up and he does, so Cody gets a cradle and wins it. I love it - Arn's already paying off for Cody. SCU chats about everyone wanting a shot at their titles - even Dark Order, and no one likes spooky perverts. Sammy stirs shit up saying that Daniels is a loser who just has wrinkles, so he messes up Sammy's vlogging lens. Sammy G battles CD next week.

The stars seem like bigger stars having their trons facing the hard camera taking up so much room. It's a shame they don't run here more often - but then it would be less special. Nyla plays a fun monster while she demolishes everyone and hits the draping legdrop off the top to Shida.  Riho gets a double stomp off the top on the apron to Nyla before Britt goes for Lockjaw, but Nyla avoids. Britt gets a triangle, but Nyla gets a Rampage bomb for 2. Pair of double stomps from Riho gets 2 on Nyla before Britt superkicks her and gets a neckbreaker for 2. Powerplex from Shida to Britt and suplexes Riho into Nyla in the corner. Nyla lands a deadlift German to Shida and slams Riho onto her. Shida gets a falcon arrow to Nyla for 2.999! Riho jackknifes Britt off of Lockjaw and wins it! Nyla botches a table setup, gets it and splashes Riho through it.

Alex Marvez chats with Joey Janela before Penelope Ford ballshots him. ShopAEW ad airs. Dark Order beatdown from the last show is recapped with better camera shots. This bizarre sex cult has quite the budget for their videos - good on them. The Leader in the Simpsons was hurt by his cheapness. Trent comes out to die against Jon Moxley. Biggest JYYYOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN in history there.

Mox whips that ass until Trent gets a somersault dive and then throws the shoulder around a bit. Big shotgun lariat from Trent gets 2. Cassidy and Mox have a POCKETS!-off before a busaiku knee and a piledriver hit for Trent and get 2.5. Paradigm Shift hits on the ramp and lands the lifting variant to end it. Mox is THE MAN. Super-fun match here. JR puts over Mox's travels this week while saying that nothing is more important than tonight. Sammy comes out and calls him MOX BABY!

Sammy walks through the crowd and bums food and drinks off people saying that now he knows why he does this. Sammy wears new years gear and Jericho offers up 49% of Inner Circle of LLC and EVP alongside co-heading the group with him. They even got him a Ford GT with MOX plates.

Sammy does a wacky sign gimmick for the Picture in Picture ad. Dustin jumps him and sends him out for an apron cannonball. Hager comes out and Sammy tries to jump him into the post, but Dustin blocks and lands a snap slam. CANADIAN DESTROYER ON THE APRON FROM DUSTIN! Dustin gives him a wedgie, but the ref prevents the ball kick before Hager ballshots Dustin and Sammy wins. Page is a prick backstage to Private Party.

MJF walks out and says that the fans have their heads shoved up their asses so far they can't see shit clearly. He lists the stips and says it can only happen at Revolution. If Cody touches him AT ALL, there is no match there or ever. And before MJF faces Cody, he must face an opponent of MJF's choosing - WARDLOW!  Oh great - so now Wardlow gets Big Show'd in his first big match in the company to further a "bigger" story. MJF wants the match and he wants it in a cage! He also wants to whip him. MJF with prime Mean Street Posse as his backup would be so money.

Jungle Boy vs. Jericho is recapped. PERFECT fiery babyface promo from Jungle Boy here. He says it's a new year and a fresh start and the Jurassic Express is ready. Page is out drinking in his obnoxious shirt. Britt cuts an echoey bitchy promo about Riho coming and going while she's here all the time AND IS A DENTIST!

Kenny gets the glove of Penta and slams him, leading to Excalibur saying he demands satisfaction. Next week's show will honor Memphis legends. I hope the Memphis tribute includes a music video shot with a budget of $50 at a hotel bar and pool. Everyone does stuff at a rapid-fire pace. Omega eats a Fosbury flop by Pac at 53 after. Excalibur and JR hype up Shawshank and Page says he's never seen it. Wacky double wheelbarrow destroyer before the Bucks hit stereo destroyers! Knee to the neck by Kenny leads to a snapdragon and a Ligerbomb for 2.9. HE ABSORBED A SNAPDRAGON!? fenix is nuts! Page says "I need a drink!" PAC HITS THE BLACK ARROW BUT THE BUCKS SAVE! Brutalizer leads to the Bucks trying to save, and Matt does to save him. Fenix runs cockeyed, leaps into a V Trigger and loses to the OWA. This was nuts, but a ton of fun. Cody and The Elite celebrate. Cody's ridiculous suit is something else. They invite Hangman in, but he won't go in.