AEW Dynamite 1-8-20 - Tribute to Memphis Legends

A fantastic show-recapping video package runs through the biggest angles last week - and they gave it a good amount of time. Nothing was rushed. Dave Brown is here calling the action! Adam Page is out and his graphic lets us know that he's not going to pay Private Party the $12 he owes them. Page and Omega face off with Private Party and Dave is asked if he's ever had a $12 cocktail. He can't recall, but if he did, it didn't cause a match the next week. Page suplexes Quen onto Isaiah. Omega chops Kassidy off a springboard. Outside-in flatliner hits for Kassidy. Quen lands some deadman dives and lands flatfooted perfectly.

Pop-up headscissor into a flatliner gets 2 for Quen. Page catches Quen off a crossbody and lands a slick fallaway slam. Kenny pops Quen up into a Page German! Quen misses an SSP which Ross says is due to him getting too high on it. Excalibur says that if you ask Quen, you can never get too high. Page gets knocked into the buckle, crotching Omega leading to the Gin and Juice for 2.9 when Page saves him. Buckshot into the V trigger leads to an OWA to Quen and that's it! Page had THE LOOK on his face as Omega got the pin.

Backstage, Pac has the Brutalizer on Michael Nakazawa. He wants his rubber match with Kenny or the beatings continue. Page tells Omega to take care of business. Page goes to the crowd and gets some drinks. Riho vs. Statlander is up with Brandi burying Kris's alien getup and says this is a great excuse to take a nap. Brandi buries Excalibur and he says that he grew up in lucha and decided to keep the mask on when he retired. Kris goes for a Samoan driver, but Riho armdrags her out.

Kris misses a moonsault and gets locked in a northern lights for 2. Kong and the shaved girl in the Collective come down. Excalibur asks Brandi what they're doing and she says they CHOSE to be here. Mel tosses Riho around on the floor before Kris dives onto her. Luther debuts and holds Kris for Kong to clothesline her. Riho dives on him. SOMEHOW NONE OF THIS HAS BEEN A DQ! Double foot stomp gets 2. Discus lariat leads to a twirling Michinoku driver for 2.9. Kong sweeps Kris and Riho cradles her to win. Shida and Big Swole come down for a save.

A Kip Sabian video package airs. Daniels comes out with his goofy mic stand and gyrates. Love CD, but he's holding back SCU with this getup. Excalibur says that Daniels is a 26 year vet and has more ring time than Sammy has had time on Earth.  Exploder off a 450 miss gives CD some hope. Penta comes out and distracts CD, challenging him to do the Arabian moonsault and then Sammy lands a basement superkick to the neck to win it. They're telling a nice story with him being gunshy and not being himself until he gets over it.

 

Dark Order comes down. Evil Uno in his formal gimp wear is tremendous. Fans boo Uno, but he says that he thanks CD for making him what he is and now he can help him become what he was. He throws the mask in Uno's face and they jump him. SCU and the Bucks save. Yes! Just what the Bucks needed to come off as bigger stars! A FEUD WITH DARK ORDER!

Lucha Bros are out to face the Brotherhood. Nice intro for Dustin while Cody gets a subdued intro until he's with Dustin - then it's the usual. Cody and Penta work for a bit before Fenix and Dustin square off then tag out for a stalemate. Penta is to AEW what LA Park was to WCW. An absolute fountain of charisma that deserves a bigger push. Fenix rains some punches onto Dustin during the break. Fenix avoids Cross Rhodes and Fenix reverse 619s into a sliding kick. Big cutter hits Cody.

Ropewalk PK to Cody by Fenix. Destroyer to Fenix by Dustin! Cody Cutter leads to the Final Recoking/Final Cut from Dustin and the win. I love that corkscrew brainbuster - it's a tremendous-looking move. Tony has been on TV since I was born and he looks great. His return to wrestling over the last few years is one of the best feel-good stories in the business. Arn says that MJF is making stupid stips and he isn't God, and Arn will talk to Cody about it this week and they'll get back to it. 

Alex Marvez chats with Lanny Poffo to honor Randy and Angelo. Lanny has packed on a lot of weight and needs to get back on the Gazelle. MJF comes out to his perfect theme. MJF gives Cody till the count of 10 to come out and face him. DDP comes out and Excalibur talks about the ring worth $45,002. DDP puts himself over - boy is he good at that. DDP talks MORE ABOUT HIMSELF, puts Dusty over a bit whlie MJF tweets about this old fart not shutting up.

DDP talks more about himself before MJF says that Butcher and Blade are interested in him. MJF says that WCW is dead and so are many of his fans. MJF lets him either kiss his ring and leave the company, or just go with option B and kick his ass and send him to hospice. MJF says he'll gladly take a Diamond Daughter. Butcher and Blade eat Cutters before MJF avoids one and kicks him low before Dustin and QT Marshall make a save.

Jurassic Express comes out during the break with pyro. Jurassic Express is 80% intro and this is the first time the original unit has been on TV. So let's put their intro on during the break. Best Friends are out to make them look good. Marko squares off with Trent as JR puts him over as the biggest little man in AWE. Or AEW even!

LEAPING HEADLOCK doesn't work for Marko. Luchasaurus runs wild with kicks before Orange runs wild with shin kicks! Pockets dive to Luchasaurus! Baby Destroyer to Trent! Prehistoric Press to the Best Friends on the floor! Jungle Boy rana to Chucky T gets the win! This was a blast!

DDP, Dustin and QT face MJF, Butcher, and the Blade with some slick graphics for BATB. Loving the Rager comic graphics too. Sammy singing along to Jericho's theme is tremendous. His Lodi cards mention not only booty calls, but also put over the post-AEW programming on TNT. Jericho says that January 8 is always important in Memphis - and not due to Elvis' birthday, because the Beatles were better.

Mox comes down looking serious and says that the people don't really know him. Chris doesn't either because he offered him a car, money and 49% ownershp - but he doesn't want any of it. He can't be bought and he came to AEW to dominate! AND THAT'S WHY HE SAYS YES! Fitting on a night with DDP on it that Moxley will turn on the Inner Circle wearing their shirt. Mox enjoys some bubbly then winks to the camera. He wants the car and gets the keys.

Mox gets a you sold out chant and he says he bought a 2015 Dodge Ram that he paid cash for that he was going to run until the wheels fell off. Jericho says they won their matches at Wrestle Kingdom in the the Tokyo Dome. Sammy and Hager leave the ring while Mox waits for the music to end and says Jericho has nothing he wants but the belts. He smacks a bottle on his head and hits the Death Rider and kicks Sammy before hitting one there and then he runs with the keys before Hager runs it. Tremendous!

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 1-5-20 Night 2 Live Coverage

NEVER 6 Man tag title gauntlet and NO PIETER WITH YUJIRO! They bury Gino for getting coffee on his shirt, when they should be burying him for his jacket. Chase calls Fale's shot, which fails and he eats lariats and superkicks. Rewind mule kick from YOSHI-HASHI leads to an Ishii lariat and a brainbuster takes out the BC. Great bit with Kevin and Gino. "FALE JUST TOOK OUT A YOUNG LION! HE'S CONVULSING!" "THAT'S WHAT YOUNG LIONS DO - THEY CONVULSE!" Taichi takes off his stripper pants and superkicks Ishii. Robbie beats Taichi, leading to EVIL. More greatness with Kevin and Gino. "EVERYTHING IS EVIL!?" "Not everything - some things are bullshit!" Bushi and Shingo are with him.

Shingo wins a lariat battle with Yoshi-Hashi! Darkness Falls to Ishii for a 2.9...maybe 3. 3. Well that was botched up a bit. Yano eats the exposed buckle and a suplex gets 2.Bumaye meets a dropkick before mist and a pumping bomber lands and Made in Japan gives LIJ the win and the titles! Titles could be on the line tomorrow, but nothing is known beyond the Liger retirement ceremony.

 

 

The show-opening video showcases Liger alongside double gold. Liger's final match is coming up in mere moments - unreal. Ryu Lee, formerly Dragon Lee is out to team with Hiromu Takahashi against Liger and Sano. Fujiwara is out to "Flight of the Valkyries" as his replacement theme, which is still absolutely perfect for him. YES! '80s Japanese porno jazz music is here! Sano's out and now it's Liger's final entrance. Wow. Since April, we've known it's the end for him - and it's here.

 

 

Liger and Hiromu tie-up to start. Modified Romero Special to Hiromu! Bow and arrow leads to the Romero Special. Kevin talks about Pillman vs. Liger and how Liger and Pillman Jr. had a tag match before Ryu and Hiromu double team Liger! Hiromu does a Fujiwara armbar to Liger before both run into tilt-a-whirls.

Sano comes in and takes out Hiromu! Ryu and Sano go at it with forearms before a knee knocks Sano down. Hiromu's gear has a nice mirror image Liger homage on it. Snap powerbomb out of the corner by Liger! Big slaps on the ground from Liger before Ryu takes Sano down with a shotgun dropkick. Liger and Sano avoid a Ryu flip dive and Hiromu takes the shot. Shotai leads to a brainbuster before Ryu Lee gets 2 and Kevin calls him Dragon accidentally.

Falcon arrow to Liger by Hiromu gets 2! Pumping knee by Ryu leads to a corner DVD by Hiromu. Liger cradles him off of Time Bomb for 2.9! - showing that Liger COULD still beat the Jr champ. Time Bomb hits and as it should be, Liger loses his final match to the current Junior Heavyweight champion. Stream went wonky on me right as they're standing over Liger.

 

Feed is still down in English, but up in Japanese on the NJPWWorld site. Jr. tag is up as Ishimori and ELP face Roppongi 3K. ELP's backflip into a backrake seems like the kind of trolling bullshit that RVD should've used in ECW in '98. ELP gets a Clash for 2. ELP goes for a low blow, but a GOLDEN NUT CUP! saves him! Package driver into a dragon suplex leads to a 3K win.

ZSJ vs. SANADA hype video airs. SANADA is so fucking great. TNA was oh so close with him being a top-ish guy. They actually did a billion times better with him than Okada. Gorgeous running abdominal stretch by ZSJ before a wicked dragon screw leads to a knee collapsing sell by ZSJ. KAIJU UPPERCUT BATTEL! Stream had some issues and when it came back, Juice is coming out. Apparently, ZSJ beat Sanada. JUICE SPENT MONEY TO LOOK THIS SHITTY.

Juice jumps him to start, but Mox brawls better and wins that battle before getting a figure four. RINGPOST FIGURE FOUR BY MOXLEY! Mox puts a chair on Juice, but Juice hits the Left Hand of God to a charging Moxley with a chair! Juice hits a superplex and then a jackhammer for 2. Pulp Friction countered into a German by Mox. Death Rider into a rolling ELEVATED DEATH RIDER wins it! Moxley wants anyone and MINORU SUZUKI COMES DOWN! HE DROPS HIM WITH THE GOTCH PILEDRIVER! HOT DAMN IS THIS GOING TO RULE.

Goto's out like a man possessed and jumps KENTA right away. GORGEOUS ushigoroshi from Goto hits and lands right on the back hard. Umaplata crossface is on by KENTA before a stiff slap battle. GTR off the DVD gets 2.9 before a regular GTR ENDS IT! GOTO WINS THE NEVER TITLE! No post-match Shibata involvement of any kind... well that's a bit anti-climatic.

 

New Japan 2020 big event rundown - G1 is moved to October due to the Olympics. White vs. Ibushi is up. Ibushi necks himself again before White stalls a bunch. CRADLE TOMBSTONE BY IBUSHI! Ibushi fires up and beats the fuck out of him! Ibushi avoids the sleeper suplex, but eats a snap Saito suplex! SUPER SAMBO SUPLEX BY WHITE GETS 2! Blade Runner meets a V TRIGGER! Ref bump leads to Geto getting a chair and hitting him, BUT IBUSHI IS IN EVIL RYU MODE! Big knee and a sitout last ride, but there's no ref.

Ibushi picks up Marty Asami and throws him in for a Kamigoye, but Jay flattens out. Ibushi gets an arm and lands a series of buzzsaw kicks before a kamigoye hits BUT GEDO TAKES THE REF OUT. Jay hits a vile chair shot and then Gedo hits him with knuckle dusters! Straightjacket Bloody Sunday hits and he winds up for the Blade Runner and gets it! So Ibushi's story gets even better as he has to fight from underneath to get into the title picture again in 2020. And hey, Gedo actually proves that he's an effective manager by doing something meaningful! Ibushi wakes up and wants to kick more ass - so he looks on pissed at the seconds.

Tanahashi, air guitar God,  mocking Jericho for being a fake rockstar is next-level great. Jericho the rockstar should at least be able to afford a windscreen for a camera mic. GO ACE remix! It's so weird that I love GO ACE more than High Energy. Neon yellow also works shockingly well for Tana too. Jericho's out with no belt and a replacement theme.

 

 

 

Ah, he had the belt hidden! AND HE FLEXES. Oh my Jesus. Slapfight after a bird flip. Crossbody by Tana gets 2. Traditional floor brawling with bird flip at the camera. Jericho calling Gino a fatass is just tremendous. DDT through the ringside table. Jericho goes up for an air guitar frog splash and fails at both things. Jericho eats a crosschop and avoids a corner splash by pulling the ref in. Jericho eats a low blow! STANDING HIGH FLY FLOW TO THE FLOOR!

 

Dragon screw in the rope and then a dropkick to the knee! Dragon screw again and then a basement dragon screw! Reverse dragon screw! Knees up on the High Fly Flow and the lionsault hits, but he jams his knee! Long Walls of Jericho leads to Tana escaping and hitting a slingblade! Nightmare on Helms Street hits for Tana. Standing high fly flow leads to a PERFECT Codebreaker! Tana avoids the elbow and lands his own codebreaker! Jericho gets cradled off the Walls for 2. TWIST AND SHOUT TO JERICHO! Slingblade hits! Crossbody leads to a rollthrough and Jericho wants the Walls and gets it! HIGH ANGLE LIONTAMER GETS THE TAP! Kevin puts the move over as something rooted in the Boston crab that Young Lions have to learn and master.

Double Gold Rush is up! Chris Charlston hypes up Naito's entire history with pro wrestling - and damn is he incredible. Chris just told us Naito's entire journey with pro wrestling to such an extent that if Naito wins, he's an all-time great and if he loses and goes out, he's a legend who went out on his shield doing it his way. Incredible. One little thing that I love here is that beyond just looking cool, Okada's entrance gear also matches the IC Title perfectly.

 

 

It's physical from the get-go with neither man wasting any time. Naito eats some big shots but lands a series of quick, sharp elbows in the corner. Okada out-finesses him and hits the dropkick to Naito up top. Naito crashes on his knee on the floor, so Okada lands a kneebreaker on the table over the barricade! Naito gets a high angle Gloria! POISON RANA OFF THE TOP FOR NAITO GETS 2.9! DESTINO GETS 2.999999! Back and forth forearms lead to a Rainmaker, but Naito slaps him off! Spinning Rainmaker hits! Spinning tombstone and a rainmaker gets 2.9999999!

Okada wants a sitout tombstone, but Naito fights out! DESTINO, BUT HE JAMS THE KNEE AND ONLY GETS 2! Naito goes up and HITS THE STARDUST PRESS FOR 2.9! Emerald Flowsion hits and then DESTINO GETS THE WIN! Okada gets helped out and Naito says that winning in the main event of the Tokyo Dome feels great. He wants another one with Okada and he puts a fist up to agree to that.

He closes the show off leading the crowd in a cheer before KENTA jumps him! MAIN EVENT KENTA! So now if KENTA wins either of those belts and Shibata came come back, maybe we'll get an IC Title battle. GTS! Love Kevin, Chris, AND Rocky cussing him out for this. SHIBATA POSE ON HIM WITH THE BELTS!