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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
JANUARY 7, 2026
TULSA, OKLA. AT BOK CENTER
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 2,611 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 3,064. The arena has a capacity of 19,199 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a shot of the entrance stage as pyro blasted, and then shots of the energized crowd as Excalibur introduced the show.
-Justin Roberts stood mid-ring and introduced Jim Ross. The OU theme song played and he walked out. He (gingerly) walked down the ramp as Excalibur hyped the scheduled line-up for the show,.
-Renee Paquette announced backstage that Jet Speed (“Speedball” Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight) were “viciously attacked” backstage and no one knows who did it. Ricochet with the GOA and Don Callis walked up to her. Renee told Ricochet that someone perhaps took him up on his bounty. Ricochet denied issuing a bounty, but admitted to saying he’d pay anyone who took them out. Renee said that’s the definition of the word. Callis then admitted who did it – Jake Doyle (a/k/a Jake Something from TNA, who just signed with AEW) and Mark Davis. He slapped their chests excitedly and said they’re going to go kill some people. (Let’s not go there tonight, please. Geesh.)
-Excalibur said the scheduled six-man tag with Jet Speed would change. He continued his plugs.
(1) JON MOXLEY vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN – Continental Title Eliminator
Ross said he is feeling much better “and it’s great to be back; this is great medicine,” regarding a return to the broadcast table. Excalibur said everyone is banned from ringside, but MVP would be with them as an analyst, not a manager. He said if the match goes 20 minutes, that will be enough to earn a shot at Moxley’s title. The bell rang 8 minutes into the hour. They put social media comments on the screen of fans commenting on the new set, the opening match, and the show’s line-up.
Mox absorbed some strikes and then knocked Shelton to ringside. Shelton clotheslined Mox over the ringside barricade. Excalibur said if it’s a double countout, Shelton won’t get a title shot. Mox fought back, but then Shelton leaped off the barricade and clotheslined Mox back at ringside. Mox worked over Shelton’s arm in the ring. They cut to a double-box break at 7:00. [c/db]
At 19:00, Mox landed a Paradigm Shift for a two count. Then he applied a bulldog. Justin announced they were 19 minutes in with 1 minute left. Shelton forced a break and landed a running knee for a near fall. Before the time limit, Mox leveraged Shelton’s shoulders down for a three count as he was in a triangle choke from Shelton.
Mox shook hands with Shelton afterward.
WINNER: Moxley in “just under” 20:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: This felt like a solid Collision main event on a holiday weekend, but not a great way to hold an audience on a Wednesday night in prime time. The was a cold match between two babyfaces over a possible shot at a title without a lot of history or currency.)
-They cut to Darby Allin backstage, skateboard in hand, looking around for Pac.
-Excalibur commented on a clip of Kazuchika Okada beating Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event of WrestleKingdom. [c]
-A brief vignette aired on Kenny Omega calling out MJF last week. Excalibur said Omega would be back next week on Dynamite’s “Maximum Carnage” themed show.
(2) RICOCHET & GATES OF AGONY (Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) vs. “JUNGLE” JACK PERRY & THE YOUNG BUCKS
A clip aired of Ricochet and GOA attacking Luchasaurus with a chair last week. Perry walked out and smiled as his replacement partners were revealed to be The Young Bucks. Perry and Ricochet tumbled to ringside as the bell rang 37 minutes into the hour. As the Bucks rallied a couple minutes in, Schiavone said they look like the Bucks of old. Ross talked about them having a huge fanbase who love them. Excalibur said that was tested recently. They cut to a double-box break at 4:00 as Ricochet and GOA gloated at ringside. Ross said, “Call security.” [c/db]
The Bucks landed top rope moves on Kaun and Liona as they rallied after the break. A minute later, Liona lifted all three opponents on his shoulders and gave then a Samaon Drop at once. Ross said he’s never seen a more impressive Samoan Drop in his life. Ricochet scored a near fall with a 450 splash on Perry at 11:00.
Ricochet landed Vertigo on Perry. The Bucks broke up the cover. Perry and the Bucks battled back. Perry landed a running knee and pinned Ricochet.
WINNERS: Perry & The Bucks in 14:00.
-After the match, Davis and Doyle attacked The Bucks. Speedball and Knight ran out to even the odds, looking like they could have been cleared to wrestle despite the backstage mystery attack. The lights then went out. (Who is in charge of the lights, by the way? Will AEW ever solve how this keeps happening?) Andrade El Idolo in a mask was standing in the ring in a suit. He joined Doyle, Davis, and Callis and unmasked. Lance Archer joined them.
(Keller’s Analysis: I guess you take what you can get if you’re AEW, and Andrade has had good matches, but it always feels to me like he’s treated like three-times a bigger deal than he actually is.) [c]
-Willow Nightingale made her ring entrance to celebrate her TBS Title victory. She was accompanied by Harley Cameron and Kris Statlander. Renee interviewed her mid-ring. She asked how she was feeling. Willow said she is feeling complete. She said it’s the first stop in the Willow Two-Belts Tour. She said now the hard work really begins.
[HOUR TWO]
She said it’s important to take in all the good moments and celebrate when things really matter. She said she’s with her “beautiful busty blonde bombshell babe” Harley Cameron. She said she has also been reunited with “the incomparable, the amazing” Kris Statlander. Statlander kissed Willow on her cheek.
Willow said they’re going to celebrate with cake. She said she loves the fight and competition, but they’re going to get cake and talk to their challengers. She said she’ll fight twice in one night if she has to because that’s what pro wrestling is about. She said she also knows someone wants to crash her party, but they’re having a good time and she welcomes anyone to join them. She told Mercedes Mone to join them. “Please, I invite you, she said.” And, as luck would have it, Mercedes was apparently standing by backstage for an unlikely invite.
She walked to the ring, dressed with a veil like she was going to a funeral. When she entered the ring, and revealed her disheveled hair and face. She shrieked and knocked over the table. Willow instructed her to calm down. Mercedes charged at Willow. Willow side-stepped her and Mercedes bumped into Statlander who was holding the cake. Willow then powerbombed Mone onto the cake. “What a freaking scene,” said Schiavone.
(Keller’s Analysis: I kinda enjoyed the cartoonishly distraught Mercedes here, but the setup for it was weak.)
-A promo aired with Mark Briscoe who congratulated Willow for winning the TBS Title. He had his TNT Title over his shoulder. (The percentage of wrestlers on this show so far who have a belt (or two) in their hands is crazy.) He said it’s been too long and he has “an itch that needs scratching” and “a dog that needs a feeding.” He said he wants to defend his title against Hechicero.
-Excalibur plugged MJF vs. Bandido on next week’s show in an AEW Title match.
-The Triangle of Madness cut a promo aimed at Willow, Statlander, and Cameron. Thekla closed with, “Come on friends, let’s get toxic.”
-Excalibur announced that for next week.
-A clip aired of Sammy Guevara challenging Bandido to a match tonight so he can do something “so heinous” that he’ll take his place against MJF. (Is that how it works?)
(3) BANDIDO vs. SAMMY GUEVARA
The bell rang 12 minutes into the hour. Excalibur seemed to back up that if Guevara won here, he’d get Bandido’s title shot. Guevara outmaneuvered Bandido a minute in and then made a gunshot gesture toward Bandido’s head. (Is he connected to the news today at all? Can he have the good sense not to do that today?) Sammy jumped to ringside and gloated to the announcers. They cut to an early double-box break. [c/db]
Guevara, with a bloodied nose at this point, landed a top rope shooting star press and yelled at the handheld camera lens that he’s going to become the AEW World Champion. Back in the ring, Bandido countered Guevara and scored a leverage two count. Guevara countered a 21 Plex with a springboard leaping cutter for a two count at 10:00. Ross said he thinks it’s bad luck to wear your wedding ring when you’re wrestling. Bandido then delivered a 21 Plex, but Guevara landed on his feet and scored a two count on Bandido after a running knee and a face plant.
Bandido landed 21 Plex a moment later for the win.
WINNER: Bandido in 11:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: A good match, as you’d expect with these two. That said, Bandido didn’t look impressive enough because of how long it took him to win to convey any sense he has a chance to end MJF’s reign.)
-After the match, MJF came out to the ring to his music. He patronized Bandido by saying he’s “one heck of a talented little luchador.” He said he has sold out Arena Mexico multiple times and is a former CMLL World Champion. He said he’s a bigger star in Mexico than Bandido will ever be. He said he has a lot of potential, though. He brought out Jonathan Cruz, his “personal translator.” He then spoke to Bandido in Spanish. He thanked Cruz for coming to “an absolute dump” like Oklahoma to do his job.
MJF said the Dynamite Diamond Ring that he was wearing should be his. He then told Bandido that he doesn’t have a prayer next week. Fans chanted “Asshole.” He told him he will walk to the back now and pull Tony Khan to the side “and I’ll put you over to him.” He said he’ll even tell him he’d be proud to wrestle him on PPV in five or ten years. “That’s a good deal!” he said. Bandido yanked the mic away from Cruz and then told MJF, “I can speak English, you stupid son of a bitch.”
MJF gave Bandido a kick to the crotch and then took his Dynamite Diamond Ring from him. MJF swung at Bandido, but Bandido moved and MJF punched Cruz by mistake. Bandido then kicked MJF in the crotch. “How do you like them apples, MJF?” said Excalibur. Bandido then gave Cruz a 21 Plex. He followed with a 21 Plex to MJF, who then rolled out of the ring.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good heel promo from MJF. He kept it basic and straight forward, letting his smarmy, patronizing personality sell fans on wanting to see him be defeated next week by Bandido.) [c]
-A vignette aired with Brody King showing him leaping off a stage at a concert or dropping people on their heads. “This is me. I want everyone to know who is watching Brody King is coming for the throne.”
(4) “TIMELESS” TONI STORM (w/Luther) vs. MARINA SHAFIR
The bell rang 38 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-break at 2:00. [c/db]
Storm scored a two count at 8:00 with a “big package.” Wheeler Yuta yanked the ref out of the ring to stop the count. The ref DQ’d Shafir.
WINNER: Storm via DQ in 8:00.
-Afterward, Roderick Strong and Orange Cassidy saved Luther from harassment. Claudio Castagnoli joined Yuta and Daniel Garcia at ringside and stared down the babyfaces, but then left. Cassidy put his arm around Storm and Mina Shirakawa as Luther looked on. [c]
(5) “POWERHOUSE” HOBBS & HOOK vs. SWERVE STRICKLAND (w/Prince Nana) & “HANGMAN” ADAM PAGE
The bell rang 57 minutes into the hour. They brawled at the start and cut to an early double-box break.
[OVERRUN]
[c/db] When Hook suplexed Hangman through a table leaning in the corner leading to a two count, Ross said: “And the fat guys at home who say, ‘They know how to fall.'” Hangman shoved Hobbs into a chair wedged in the corner and then used a staplegun against Hook’s shoulder, back, and chest. He followed with a pop-up powerbomb. Excalibur said Hook deserves every bit of it. Ross said it seemed pretty harsh to him. Swerve got out of a suplex attempt by Hobbs by using the staple gun. Hangman swung a piece of drywall at Hobbs’ head. He then used a staple gun on Hobbs’s crotch.
Swerve and Hangman pulled cinder blocks on a wooden plank out from under the ring and shoved it into the ring. Hobbs took Swerve down with a clothesline. Ross predicted Hobbs will be a future AEW World Champion. Hobbs put Swerve on the cinder blocks. Hobbs wound up. Nana ran in and yanked it away. Hobbs then charged into Nana in the corner. Swerve went for a back suplex of Hobbs onto the blocks. Hobbs countered with a spinebuster attempt. Swerve blocked that. Swerve then bashed Hobbs with a chair three times. Hobbs brushed it off and then powerslammed Swerve onto the cinder blocks. Hangman broke up the cover.
Hangman set up a Buckshot Lariat, but Hobbs stopped him. The Opps “goons” from the dojo attacked Hangman. Hobbs wrapped a chain around the necks of Hangman and Swerve mid-ring as they were placed back-to-back mid-ring. Nana stood on the ring apron and threw his “hot” coffee at Hobbs. Swerve and Hangman broke free from the chain.
Hook suplexed Nana at ringside. Hobbs charged at Hangman, but instead knocked Hook off the ring apron. Hangman clotheslined Hobbs and then went for a Buckshot. Hobbs powerslammed Hangman as a counter. Swerve broke up the cover and then climbed to the top rope. He leaped to ringside with a Swerve Stomp onto a gathering of Opps “goons” at ringside. He then leaped off the top rope with a Swerve Stomp on Hobbs as Hangman was delivering a Dead Eye on the cinder blocks.
Hook entered and went for Red Rum on Hangman. Hangman blocked it. Hook swung a bat at Hangman, but Swerve headbutted him. Hangman wrapped a chain around his forearm and hit Hook with it. He then held Hook with the chain wrapped around his neck as Swerve landed a House Call. “Now get it over with, already?” said Ross. He started to complain about Hangman and Swerve strutting around with their chests out. Excalibur covered for him by saying Hangman won’t let this chance to get revenge go by after his championship was stolen from him. Hangman then hit a Buckshot Lariat. He followed by hanging Hook over the top rope by the chain. Hook tapped out.
WINNERS: Hangman & Swerve in 21:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Is there anything Hangman and Swerve do that isn’t over-the-top too much by a factor of four? I mean, that was a wild and brutal brawl that will satisfy a segment of the fanbase, but it was just a lot of violence and comebacks with weapons. Ross was pretty rough all night, and especially in this match.)
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