AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage Live Coverage - January 15th, 2025
https://i.imgur.com/GvtQz4h.jpeg
AEW Dynamite:
Maximum Carnage
This week, Jon Moxley defends AEW World title against Powerhouse Hobbs. Kenny Omega makes his AEW in-ring return against “The Machine” Brian Cage. Christian Cage collides with HOOK. Plus, a Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match for a Women’s World Title shot at Grand Slam: Australia.
:aew:
We open with commentary running down what’s to come, including a video package highlighting the rise of Jon Moxley and the Death Riders ahead of our AEW World Championship match as Mox defends against Powerhouse Hobbs, a man who talks about taking initiative by winning the Casino Gauntlet match to earn his shot. We also get a look at the Women’s Casino Gauntlet tonight and the return of Kenny Omega as he faces Brian Cage…which kicks off the in-ring action tonight at Maximum Carnage!
Kenny Omega vs. Brian Cage
Omega circles the mat as the crowd chants his name before he locks up with Cage, who sends him into the corner…but Kenny gets away to lay in some strikes on Cage. A pair of chops barely fazes the Machine, as Omega gets sent to the ropes but manages to stay in control. He sends Brian to the corner for a running shoulder attack, but Cage fights back with some hard strikes to head back to the center of the ring.
Omega fights back as he looks for a powerbomb, only for Cage to drop him to the canvas with a back body drop. He picks Omega up for some curls before tossing Kenny over, sending him to the corner immediately after as he drives his shoulder into Cage. Brian fends him off, sending him toward the opposite corner before taking him back with a hammer throw…but Omega fights back with a boot to the face!
Omega ends up sending the Machine to the outside, the crowd chanting his name before engaging in a Terminator-style clap…only for Lance Archer to distract him from the apron, leading to a Cage lariat that turns Kenny head over heels! Cage brings Omega to the outside, continuing the attack as he mocks the crowd. He sends Kenny to the apron before hoisting him up for a press slam onto the announce table…and then slides into the ring, distracting the ref while Callis and Archer start beating down on Omega before the Max feed heads to an ad break. So much for “limited commercial interruptions”…(I stand corrected as we got a shorter break, haha)
We go to commercial.
Back from break, Cage has brought Omega back to the ring for a superplex before Kenny rolls to the apron for a breather. Cage follows closely, but Omega fights back with some right hands before the action ends up on the elevated ramp. Omega catches Cage with a knee strike, but is whipped to the ropes by Cage…who catches him with a powerbomb sending Omega back into the ring! Cover by Cage, but Kenny manages to kick out.
Cage stays on top of things, dropping Omega back to the canvas for another nearfall. The action makes its way to the corner as Omega manages to escape the grasp of Cage, leaping up to the top rope for a powerbomb followed by a knee strike…but it’s only good for a two count as the Machine kicks out! “This is awesome” chant (justified, at that!) as Kenny looks for a V-Trigger…but Cage counters. Omega hits the ropes, ducking a clothesline to connect with a knee on Cage followed by the V-Trigger off the ropes.
He sets Cage up on the ropes, connecting with the One-Winged Angel to pick up the win!
Winner: Kenny Omega
After the match:
The celebration is short-lived as Don Callis and his Family go on the attack, beating down Omega until Will Ospreay runs down for the save. Omega and Ospreay clear the ring, with Ospreay going after Kyle Fletcher with a dive to the outside when suddenly, Konosuke Takeshita makes his way down the ramp to go after Omega. The two trade strikes until Fletcher catches him by surprise with a half and half suplex. Ospreay is back in the ring as he goes after Fletcher and Takeshita, but they are overwhelmed as the Family pair take down Omega and Ospreay simultaneously. The crowd lets Callis how they feel as Takeshita’s music hits, with the Family standing tall over Ospreay and Omega before leaving up the ramp to look at the damage they’d caused.
Video Package:
MVP talks about being a managing expert, and the importance of getting back into the ring to help fulfill the Hurt Syndicate’s mission of hurting people.
We get some hype for upcoming AEW events.
We go to commercial.
We get another “New York Minute” from Chris Jericho, as he hypes up the big 12-man tag team match on Collision. They run down Rated FTR while guaranteeing that the Learning Tree and the Death Riders will be on the same page.
In Ring:
Ricochet makes his way out to plenty of jeers from the crowd. We get a look back at what went down two weeks ago as Ricochet heads to the ring. He taunts those in the crowd booing him before entering the ring, the boos only getting louder before he can speak. We hear chants of “Whose house? Swerve’s house” as Ricochet tries to quiet them down, but it only gets them going louder in response.
Ricochet’s efforts to quiet the crowd continue to fail, before Ricochet simply says “that’s how it’s gonna be” before pointing to the screen for a snapshot of his handiwork…when suddenly, Swerve’s music hits!
Ricochet looks ready to deal with Strickland, but it’s Prince Nana blindsiding him with a chair shot before Swerve makes his way out. He’s got a chain on his neck that he tries to use upon entering the ring, but Ricochet escapes into the crowd as Strickland follows him. The chase ends when Ricochet narrowly leaves through an exit to the outside, the crowd continuing to chant for Swerve as he makes his way back to ringside.
Video Package:
A day in the life of the CEO as Mercedes Moné is seen making media appearances and training in the ring, eager to take on any challenge.
Non Title Match
The Hurt Syndicate (MVP, Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley) vs. Mark Briscoe and AEW World Tag Team Champions Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy)
We start things off with the Syndicate rushing their opponents, eventually clearing the ring of everyone but Briscoe and MVP. Porter sends the former ROH champion to the corner for some strikes, followed by a suplex that Mark counters out for some strikes of his own!
Briscoe sends MVP down hard for a cover, but it’s only good for a two count. Porter is sent to the ropes as Mark continues to go after him, but MVP is able to turn it around to send him out of the ring before tagging in Lashley, who lays in a beating on Briscoe before we get an assist from Shelton as we go to ad break.
-Commercial Break-
Back from break and MVP is back in the match, taking Briscoe to task before letting the crowd know he is Ballin’ with an elbow drop for a nearfall. Both men back on their feet, with Briscoe fighting back to take MVP to the mat as he looks for a tag…with Zay getting the tag just as Benjamin does as well. Zay gets a cross body on Shelton, keeping him down before Private Party hit a double-team dropkick on Benjamin and Lashley.
They stand on the ropes, keeping them open for a dive from Briscoe onto Benjamin before going after Lashley and MVP. Quen’s still in the ring as MVP gets sent out of the ring by Zay, only for Lashley to lay into Quen. Zay comes back into the ring as Shelton and Lashley take Quen out before Bobby hits a spear on Zay. They send Quen and Briscoe out of the ring as Shelton nails Zay with a superkick for the win!
Winners: Hurt Syndicate
We get a look at the World Title match later tonight as well as COPE taking on PAC next week on Dynamite after the former’s return to AEW to kick off 2025.
Video Package:
Rated FTR stand side by side to defend AEW.
We go to commercial.
Commentary hypes Swerve Strickland taking on Ricochet in three weeks after what we saw earlier.
In Ring:
Jeff Jarrett makes his way down to a pop from the crowd. Jarrett has a mic in hand, talking about how humbling the past few weeks have been for him…before MJF’s music cuts him off, signaling the arrival of the former World Champion. He heads to the ring with a mic of his own, staring down the Last Outlaw before saying he has yet to learn the definition of the world “humbling.”
Jarrett cuts him off calling him lazy for not getting into the Casino Gauntlet last week, but Friedman yells at him before running down Jarrett and the crowd. He offers a real look at the Last Outlaw…emphasizing the word “last” because Jarrett’s face is the last thing you see before a wrestling company dies. He mocks Jeff some more, trying to needle the former NWA World Champion while also shouting at the crowd for interrupting him.
He starts bringing up Jarrett’s wife before Jeff cuts in, saying he’s heard these types of comments so many times before before addressing how the crowd has fired him up for this last run and his attempt to become AEW World Champion.
He then circles back to MJF’s remarks, saying he was MJF before he was MJF…perhaps even better than him. He’s interrupted by a “he’s our scumbag” chant before giving us a “family history” of MJF…running down the parents of the former AEW World Champion in the process. What happens next I can best describe as Jarrett going tit-for-tat with MJF, turning the tables on Friedman before calling him a coward.
MJF responds by saying he’s not scared, and that he didn’t need anyone to make him. MJF made MJF. He talks about what has happened since he was the king of the mountain, saying he is the one who should be thanked for so much of AEW’s success. People have since put his name in the mud, treating him like he’s nothing. He would love to put them all in their place, but he has to wait in line for people like Jeff Jarrett?
With all due respect, no one has (er, cared) about Jeff Jarrett, says MJF. What really makes him mad, though, is that just because he was best friends with Owen Hart he is owed a grand finale. MJF says he sees right through Jeff Jarrett, calling him a leech riding off the coattails of his deceased friend.
Jarrett is visibly upset by this, something MJF tries to dig in deeper on before taking a big right hand by Jarrett! He goes after MJF until his crew and some security rush in to break things up. MJF tries to grab Karen before being run out of the ring by the Last Outlaw.
Video Package:
The history between Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada ahead of a big Continental Championship bout on Collision!
Christian Cage makes his way out for our next match…before being blindsided by HOOK! The ref calls for the bell to get things underway.
Christian Cage vs. HOOK
We start off with a bit of brawling outside the ring, HOOK taking the Patriarch to the stage before pulling him down the ramp to get back in the ring. Cage tries to suggest he’ll take HOOK to a higher level, but a hug leads to HOOK sending him up and over with a T-bone suplex! Cage is beaten down some more before leaving the ring, embracing Mother Wayne as we go to ad break.
We go to commercial.
Back from break, Cage has taken control as he mounts up on HOOK in the corner for some punches…until the former FTW Champion sends him down to the floor. HOOK follows him, attacking the Patriarch before looking to stomp on his hand against the steps…but Cage manages to evade it! Cage takes advantage, dropping him on the steps before bringing HOOK back into the ring for a frog splash. Cage hits a second and a third one, but HOOK manages to kick out at two.
HOOK fights back until Cage evades a knee, taking him down for a one count. Cage argues with the ref as HOOK gets back to his feet, only to be sent to the ropes by Cage…who takes a clothesline from HOOK for his troubles! Cage sent to the corner as HOOK continues the attack, hitting a Northern Lights suplex with a bridge for a nearfall.
HOOK fights out of a Killswitch attempt, connecting with a fisherman suplex for another two count on the Patriarch. HOOK has Redrum locked in, but Cage elevates himself on the ropes as the ref counts…before HOOK drops him to the canvas to break the hold! Cage fights back from this, sending HOOK into the ring post with the impact forcing him down to the floor. Shibata has arrived to even the odds but is hit with a Killswitch by Cage, who brings HOOK back into the ring for a Killswitch…only for HOOK to counter into the Redrum!
He brings him into the middle of the ring, but just as it looks like Cage is about to tap out we see Kip Sabian run in to break it up! The ref calls for the bell!
Winner:: HOOK by DQ
After the match:
The Patriarchy continue the beatdown on HOOK after the match, teasing the possibility of Taz having to step into the ring…but instead we get the return of Samoa Joe! The former AEW World Champion rushes to the ring, clearing house until the Patriarchy leaves the ring to escape his wrath.
Video package:
We look back at last weeks Men's Gauntlet match
We go to commercial.
Backstage: Dustin Rhodes talks to Jeff Jarrett about the road they’ve been down in this business. He is behind Jarrett’s dream of becoming World Champion and stands beside him against people like MJF.
Mariah May heads down to keep a close eye on our next match. Out first in this Women’s Casino Gauntlet match is Kris Statlander, and the second participant is Jamie Hayter.
Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match
For a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship at Grand Slam Australia on Feb 15th
The two women circle the mat before locking up, neither getting an advantage as they trade strikes until Statlander takes Hayter down with a shoulder tackle. Hayter gets back to her feet, fighting back until Statlander takes her down with Staturday Night Fever as the countdown reveals our next participant…Megan Bayne!
Hayter is out of the ring as Bayne heads down the ramp, standing off against Statlander before sending Kris into the corner for some shoulder strikes. She sends Kris to the corner before being sent herself by the former TBS Champion…who gets taken down with a flying clothesline by Bayne, who drops Statlander down hard for a cover…but Hayter breaks it up to save the match for herself.
Bayne goes after Hayter, who counters out as the countdown reveals our next participant…Julia Hart! Hart has her eye on Hayter, who meets her on the ramp to trade strikes while Statlander and Bayne go at it on the floor as we go to ad break.
-Commercial Break-
Back from break, we see Hart fighting Hayter on the outside with Statlander and Bayne back in the ring as the countdown reveals our next participant…Willow Nightingale! She’s sent to the corner by Bayne before joining Kris in taking the surprise entrant down. The alliance doesn’t last long as Statlander goes after Nightingale, only to be sent out of the ring with a pounce as the countdown next reveals…Toni Storm!
Toni rushes to the ring, taking whoever she can down with snapmares aplenty…before Bayne sends the “rookie” into the corner. Willow takes Megan down before laying out Hart with a clothesline, follwed by a dive onto Bayne on the outside with a smile before Megan fights back…but this comes to an end when Statlander dives onto both of them from the ramp! Back int he ring, Hart sends Storm to the outside before turning her attention to Hayter. The pair go at it as the countdown reveals…Harley Cameron!
Cameron goes on the attack in the corner before Hayter takes control…only to be rolled up by Harley for a nearfall. Hayter fights back with a Hatebreaker on Cameron, but Cameron ducks a Hayterade…only to be hit with mist by Julia Hart! Hart goes after Hayter, but is cradled by Toni Storm who gets the victory and the title shot.
Winner: Toni Storm
After the match:
The champ looks pleased at facing this version of Toni Storm, who celebrates on the ramp as we go to ad break.
AEW World Championship Match
Jon Moxley (c) (w/ Marina Shafir) vs Powerhouse Hobbs
Mox gets Hobbs by surprise, laying into him with strikes in the corner. Hobbs responds with a big overhead suplex before sending the champ into the corner for forearm strikes of his own. He continues with a big chop to the chest, forcing Mox into a different corner before sending him to the ropes. Mox catches him with a kick but is taken down by a Hobbs shoulder tackle for his troubles.
Hobbs brings the champ to the outside, laying into him against the barricade before returning Mox to the ring. Mox fights back with a set of boots that eventually sends his challenger to the outside for a dived, sending Hobbs into the barricade. He brings the Powerhouse back into the ring, mounting up on him in the corner for some punches before running him down…and this gives Hobbs an opening to pick the champ up, driving him into the turnbuckle instead!
Hobbs goes after the ear of Mox now, possibly trying to forcibly remove the champ’s earring which throws Mox off as he leaves the ring for a breather before we go to ad break.
We go to commercial.
Back from break, Mox has regained control as he takes Hobbs to the canvas. Both men get to their feet to trade strikes, before Hobbs manages to power out of a Death Rider attempt to send the champ to the corner. Mox gets back up after a clothesline from Hobbs, only to be dropped down before the challenger sends him into the corner for some corner lariats.
Mox gets out of a powerslam, but Hobbs reverses out of a Death Rider for a big fall forward slam that gets him a two count. Hobbs hits a powerslam, but Mox counters into a cross arm breaker that keeps the challenger grounded! Hobbs gets to the ropes, forcing a break.
Hobbs rolls out of the ring as Mox argues with the ref…allowing Yuta to sneak attack the Powerhouse with a Busaiku Knee! Hobbs is brought back into the ring by the champ, but he gets dropped hard by Hobbs. Mox escapes a backbreaker attempt, sending Hobbs into the ropes as the ref is distracted from seeing Shafir attack him with the briefcase…but the Powerhouse kicks out at a two count from the champ!
Mox hits him with a Paradigm Shift, but it’s not enough to keep him down…and the champ locks in a bulldog choke instead, forcing a submission victory as the ref calls for the bell.
Winner: Jon Moxley (retains championship)
After the match:
The Death Riders look to pick apart the Powerhouse as they beat Hobbs down. A chair comes into play, but the arrival of Rated FTR clears the ring as the Death Riders escape through the crowd.
End of show.
