24th Jan2025

‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Jan 22nd 2025)

by Phil Wheat

Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast from the Knoxville Coliseum in Knoxville, TN. We’ve got Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Schiavone on commentary, so let’s get into the review!

Match #1: AEW World Tag Team Championship Match – The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) def. Private Party (Zay & Quen)

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Zay launched off the back of Quen and dropkicked Lashley. Bobby bulldozed Zay with a running lariat in the corner. Quen held Shelton while Zay landed a senton. Private Party flew through the ropes with topes, but Shelton and Bobby caught them and tossed them with belly to belly suplexes. Lashley smashed Zay through the announce table. Benjamin and Lashley focused all their fire on Quen, whipping him into the barricade, as Zay was down. Quen kicked Shelton in the back of the head and finally tagged in Zay. Zay dished out forearms and dropkicked Shelton in the chest. Quen connected with a 450 splash on Benjamin, but Bobby ran in to break up the pin attempt. Bobby speared Zay and covered him, but Quen broke up the pin! Lashley hurled Quen with a release German Suplex. Bobby choke slammed Quen and then speared Zay. Bobby covered Zay and picked up the victory!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #2: Swerve Strickland def. AR Fox

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Swerve back elbowed Fox and then flipped onto Fox from the apron and down on the arena floor. Ricochet was shown walking backstage with a pair of golden scissors in his suitcoat pocket. Swerve nailed Fox with a backbreaker. AR Fox caught Swerve with a DDT. Fox launched off the ring post with a moonsault to Swerve on the floor. Swerve power slammed Fox. Swerve was lining up Fox for the House Call, but Ricochet jumped on the apron and tried to hit Swerve with the scissors. AR Fox landed a pump kick while Prince Nana chased Ricochet to the back with a pipe. Swerve dodged a 450 splash! Swerve blasted Fox with the House Call kick! Swerve smashed Fox with the Swerve Stomp and pinned Fox!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #3: “Hangman” Adam Page def. Tyler Shoop

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Hangman took out his frustration on Tyler and quickly pinned him. Hangman was looking to make an example of Tyler and nailed him with Angel’s Wings after the match, sending a message to Christopher Daniels!

My Score: 0 out of 5

Match #4: Jamie Hayter def. Julia Hart

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Hayter whipped Hart into the barricade. Hayter flung Julia into the steel steps. Hayter followed up with a missile dropkick. Julia Hart tried to match power with power and swept out Hayter’s legs. Julia mounted Jamie and began to bash Jamie’s head on the mat. Hayter chopped at Hart’s knee as Hart climbed the turnbuckles. Hayter suplexed Hart off the ropes with an avalanche backdrop. Hayter nailed Hart with three consecutive German Suplexes. Hayter spiked Julia with a spinebuster for a near fall. Hayter applied a single leg crab, but Hart reached out to the ropes to force the break. Julia locked on the flying octopus hold. Hayter escaped with a back breaker. Julia nailed Hayter with a crucifix bomb for a near fall. Hayter hit the Hate Breaker and then the Hayter Ade and picked up the pinfall victory!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #5: “The Rated R Superstar” Cope def. “The Bastard” PAC

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Pac grappled Cope to the mat, but Cope escaped and applied a hammerlock. Cope grabbed Pac and planted him face first onto the ring steps! Cope sent Pac into the barricade! Pac saw an opening, used the ring as a weapon, and began to assault Cope with kicks to the neck and head. Pac jumped over the top rope with a plancha to Cope. Pac rocked Cope with a snap suplex. Cope came back with a John Woo dropkick! Cope planted Pac with a sky-high! Cope swung for the fences and drilled Pac with a lariat. Cope spiked Pac with the Impaler. Cope went for a spear, but Pac anticipated it and jumped over Cope. Pac applied the Brutalizer! Cope collapsed as he got to the ropes, forcing the break. Pac pump kicked Cope to the back of the head. Pac followed up with a suplex. Pac slid in and applied the Brutalizer again! Cope got to his feet with Pac on his back! Cope drove down Pac on his back. Cope speared Pac in the lower back! Cope speared Pac in the abdomen, attacking the core. Cope rocked Pac with a TKO style cutter and pinned Pac!

My Score: 3 out of 5

Final Verdict: 3.5/5

Like the past two weeks, this was a super-solid episode of Dynamite across the board, with a brilliant opening tag title match that set the standard for the rest of the show. And live up to it they did. Well, except for the main event which let the team down. I joke, of course, what REALLY let the show down was the ridiculous squash match – which was uncalled for and definitely unneeded. The best match of this episode of Dynamite was, IMHO, the women’s match between Jamie Hayter and Julia Hart, easily two of AEW’s best female performers, who showed why that’s the case this week!

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