By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 275)
Clarksville, Tennessee at F&M Bank Arena
Simulcast live January 8, 2025 on TBS and Max
Excalibur announced Kenny Omega’s return for later in the show. Will Ospreay’s music played, and Excalibur was joined by Matt Menard and Ian Riccaboni. Ospreay was followed to the ring by Buddy Matthews.
1. Will Ospreay vs. Buddy Matthews: The announce team tried to sell the idea that Buddy Matthews was upset that Ospreay had eliminated Brody King from the Continental Classic. Menard pointed out that Ospreay had won fair and square, and the subject was quickly dropped. There were some quick feints and reversals early on in the match with neither man gaining an advantage. Both men traded heavy chops, and then Matthews landed a dropkick that sent Ospreay to the floor. He quickly returned and sent Matthews out a few seconds later, and then splashed him on the floor.
Matthews returned to the ring and landed a snap mare, followed by a series of kicks. Things got moving quickly as both men hit the ropes, and then crashed with a double cross body that left both of them sprawled on the mat. Ospreay managed to land a leaping kick, and then a flying forearms shot. He then covered for a two count with a somewhat lazy cover. Matthews avoided a superkick in the corner, and then delivered a lungblower of sorts. Ospreay rolled to the outside, where Matthews delivered a somersault senton in front of the announce table.
Back in the ring, Matthews delivered a meteora from the top rope and covered for a near fall. Both men ended up on the apron and traded kicks. Matthews landed a knee strike, and Ospreay delivered a superkick. Ospreay attempted an Oscutter, but Matthews caught him and tossed him off the announce table. Matthews remained in control for a moment, but Ospreay fired back with a series of strikes and an Oscutter. He then landed a big knee strike and covered for a close near fall.
Ospreay landed some Kawada Kicks, and then a hard chop across the chest. Matthews fired back with flurry of kicks and strikes, but Ospreay cut him off with an Enziguri. Matthews avoided an Oscutter and landed a Stomp for a 2.999 near fall. Ospreay recovered enough for a Styles Clash, which got another close near fall. He then delivered a Hidden Blade and then covered for the win.
Will Ospreay defeated Buddy Murphy at 13:14
Post match, Ospreay grabbed a microphone and told Murphy that he has admired him from afar, and told him that he and his friend Brody King don’t need to be a follower for anyone. He said he could see him holding tag or singles gold if he worked hard enough, and if he ever needed a man in his corner, he was the guy. Ospreay offered his hand for a handshake, and Murphy accepted.
My Take: A solid opener, but it suffered a bit from that common AEW problem where the outcome was never in question, yet it took Ospreay much longer than you’d expect to put away a wrestler that has been defined well below him on the card.
A video package aired that recapped AEW’s participation in Wrestle Dynasty, including Mercedes Mone and The Young Bucks picking up new Championships. Back in the arena, Private Party took their place behind a velvet rope with a group of women on the stage. They spoke about being a part of the first Tag Team Championship match on both Max and TNT, and said they had left the champions. Just as they were ready to celebrate, they were interrupted by The Hurt Syndicate.
MVP said they were there to party too, because they weren’t all business. He offered a toast to Private Party, and called them talented athletes who successfully defended their Championships. Lashley then toasted The Hurt Syndicate and said they would take the Tag Team Titles. Lashley then continued to the ring for the next match. He was followed by Mark Briscoe.
2. Mark Briscoe vs. Bobby Lashley: Lashley dominated the early going. He delivered a series of slams and covered for a two count. Briscoe got in a flash of offense, but Lashley stuffed him and tossed him to the floor. He then delivered a running body block on the outside…[c]
My Take: Seems fairly inevitable that The Hurt Syndicate capture the tag titles, but hopefully they don’t completely punk out Private Party in the process.
Briscoe delivered some strikes as the show returned. Lashley dumped Briscoe to the apron, and then delivered a running elbow strike that sent him out to the floor. Briscoe went under the ring, and managed to hit Lashley with a chair outside the view of the referee. He then landed a double jump senton onto Lashley on the floor using the chair, and then climbed back into the turnbuckles to deliver a moonsault press to Lashley on the floor.
Back in the ring, Briscoe delivered a sliding lariat, followed by a Froggy Bow for just a one count. Lashley avoided a charging Briscoe in the corner, and then delivered a spear. He then delivered a spinebuster, and locked in the Hurt Lock for the pass out victory.
Bobby Lashley defeated Mark Briscoe at 9:37
After the match, Benjamin and Lashley both delivered some extra shots to Briscoe, but were run off by Private Party with some chairs. The Casino Gauntlet match is up next…[c]
My Take: Another solid match where the outcome never felt in question. I’m still a bit puzzled by what the Hurt Syndicate are going for. They clearly want to be cool heels, but it doesn’t seem to be getting them any real heat. If anything they get more cheers than boos.
Switchblade Jay White made his entrance for the Casino Gauntlet Match. The second man out was Hangman Adam Page.
3. Casino Gauntlet Match: Hangman and White barked at each other to start the match. They bag to trade chops and punches. Hangman landed a shoulder block and covered for a one count. He then went for a fallaway slam, but got cradled up for a two count. They traded some reversals on signature moves, and then ended up in the corner. White pulled Hangman into the ring with a superplex, and then the countdown started for the next competitor.
Wheeler Yuta entered the match as the third entrant
Jay White immediately delivered a Blade Runner on Yuta, but Hangman broke up the fall. Hangman landed a fallaway slam, followed by a lariat in the corner. White fired back with a big chop. He then delivered springboard lariats on both Yuta and White. The countdown began again for the next competitor. Swerve Sticklands music played, but it was interrupted by Ricochet’s music.
Ricochet entered the match as the fourth entrant
Ricochet took out Jay White with a suicide dive, and then delivered a springboard elbow to Hangman. He then tried to begin a truce with Wheeler Yuta…[c]
Adam Cole entered the match as the fifth entrant
Cole cleaned house in the ring, and then the countdown started again quickly.
Daniel Garcia entered the match as the sixth entrant
Garcia piled everybody up in the corner and delivered mounted punches to White, Cole, and Page. He was then confronted by Wheeler Yuta and slapped in the chest. They proceeded to trade slaps until Yuta kicked him in the knee. Ricochet then cleared Garcia from the ring. The countdown began once again.
Powerhouse Hobbs entered the match as the seventh entrant
Hobbs slingshotted Ricochet out of the ring using the ropes, and then began tossing people around. He threw Cole and White with overhead suplexes, and then delivered another one to Hangman Page…[c]
Hobbs cut Ricochet down with a huge lariat, and then delivered a scoop slam to Jay White. No one would step to Hobbs, and then the countdown started.
Roderick Strong entered as the eight entrant
Garcia, Cole, and Strong formed an alliance to take out Ricochet and Hobbs. White recovered enough to setup for a Blade Runner on Ricohet, but Wheeler Yuta landed a low blow on him. The countdown started again.
Lance Archer entered the match as the ninth entrant
Archer delivered a chokeslam to Yuta, and then threw Ricochet across the ring. Hobbs then picked up Ricochet and tossed him back at Archer’s feet. Archer returned the favor, but Hobbs quickly delivered a powerslam to Archer. He no sold it, and they began to trade strikes. The countdown began again…
Kyle O’Reilly entered the match as the tenth entrant
KOR delivered a dragon screw to Archer, and then he and Roderick Strong formed up with Adcam Cole. They landed a flurry of offense on Hangman Page and Powerhouse Hobbs. Daniel Garcia then re-entered the match to assist them, and the countdown began again.
Jeff Jarrett entered the match as the eleventh entrant
Wheeler Yuta jumped Jarrett form behind as he walked to the ring, and then dragged him to the back through an area next to the stage. Hobbs and Archer regained control of the ring, and then began battling with one another. Archer attempted a blackout, but Hobbs slipped free and sent him to the floor with a lariat. Hobbs then delivered a spinebuster to Kyle O’Reilly and covered for the win.
Powerhouse Hobbs won the Casino Gauntlet Match at 26:45
Renee Young entered the ring to interview Hobbs. She asked him what it meant to challenge Jon Moxley next week. Hobbs said that Moxley was the one who brought him into AEW, but make no mistake, he plans on going to Cincinnati next week to make Moxley his bitch. Jeff Jarrett returned to the ring after the match, and a video package was introduced for Hook vs. Christian Cage coming up next week.
Ian Riccaboni interviewed Jeff Jarrett in the ring, and said he was hoping for the storybook ending tonight. Jarrett said it’s 2025, and the Last Outlaw has to ask himself whether he still has what it takes to climb the mountain. MJF’s music then hit, and he headed to the ring. MJF called Riccaboni a bible thumping prick and told him to get out of his ring. He then introduced himself to Jarrett, and compared the AEW World Title picture to a Dr. Seuss Nightmare. He said Dictator Jon has his belt, and Powerhouse Hobbs is the number one contender due to Jarrett’s failure.
MJF complimented Jarrett on beating some of the biggest stars in the history of the sport, and said he had to google that earlier because he’s not a dinosaur. He then revealed that Jarrett had only signed a one year contract, not because that’s what Jarrett wanted, but that’s what pro wrestling still thinks he’s got left to give. MJF said he had one year to prove himself and get back to the top of the mountain, and offered to help him become the World Champion one more time. All he asked in return is that he is first in line for a title shot after he wins it.
MJF mocked Jarrett’s manner of speaking and offered his hand for a handshake. Jarrett responded that MJF was the longest reigning World Champion in AEW history, and that was impressive, but he’s too young to understand that you learn more from failure than you do from success. He said there’s no guarantee that he’ll get back to the top again, and MJF may just end up being a one hit wonder.
Jarrett said he was comfortable being at rock bottom, but it’s just another opportunity to scratch and claw his way back to the top. Jarrett said he didn’t need MJF, and he wasn’t buying whatever he was selling. He called MJF an entitled prick and left…[c]
My Take: Hobbs winning a title shot is fun, but I hope it doesn’t lead to him sliding all the way back into obscurity after what will most likely be a loss. Jarrett and MJF were entertaining but I’m not particularly interested in seeing Jarrett challenge for a World Title and even less interested in him becoming an albatross around the neck of MJF.
Footage aired of the Death Riders taking out Darby Allin’s neck with a chair and kicking him down a flight of stairs. Adam “Cope” Copeland made his entrance with a microphonel. Footage was shown of Rated FTR defeating the Learning Tree on Collision.
Cope addressed Jon Moxley and his Death Riders, and talked about him taking out Bryan Danielson and Darby Allin. He then said he crossed a line with him when he went after FTR, and reminded everyone of how close they were. Cope recalled Moxley saying that Orange Cassidy and Jay White didn’t have what it takes to grind their way to a World Championship, but reminded him that nobody has gone through more than he has to be standing in the ring.
He then went on to recall breaking his neck in a match with Eddie Guerrero, and then breaking his leg in a match with Malakai Black. Cope said he got up and continued those matches and won both of them. The Death Riders then started making their way to the ring through the crowd, but were jumped from behind by FTR as they got close to the ring. Cope joined in and singled out Moxley in the ring.
Marina Shafir slid the briefcase into the ring, and then Pac flew into the ring and took him out with it as he was distracted with Marina Shafir. Moxley then applied a Bulldog Choke as FTR were tied up with Yuta and Claudio. Shafir then produced a plastic bag, but before he could place it around the neck of Cope, Powerhouse Hobbs made his way back out to the ring. The Death Riders retreated when Hobbs got to the ring. Toni Storm is up next…[c]
My Take: Cope is still not winning me over from a name standpoint. I struggle with the fact that every promo I hear from Adam Copeland seems to rely on me recalling earlier more interesting parts of his career. Here’s hoping the company eventually shifts priorities towards using people like Cope to build up its talented roster of younger stars.
Mariah May cut a backstage promo about the first ever Women’s Casino Gauntlet match. She said she would watch those women kill themselves for a shot at her title, and then burn the winner to the ground. Harley Cameron then approached Mariah and sold her on the idea of a non-title match with her on Collision. Mariah agreed and said she’d rip her head off.
Toni Storm made her entrance in the ring. She was followed by Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale.
4. Willow Nightingale vs. Toni Storm vs. Kris Statlander for the first position in the Casino Gauntlet Match: Willow sent Statlander to the floor with a kick, and then delivered a spinebuster to Toni Storm. Statlander re-entered the match and traded reversals with Willow. Storm attempted to get back into the match, but was quickly sent back to the floor. This process of Storm entering and getting cleared from the ring repeated itself.
Storm managed to climb the ropes and dive onto both Willow and Kris. A moment later, Willow then catapulted Storm directly into the groin of Statlander in a funny moment…[c]
Willow and Kris caught Storm coming off the turnbuckle and tossed her with a fallaway slam. Storm recovered and landed a kick to Statlander, and then Willow delivered a huge lariat. All three women ended up down on the mat. Statlander recovered and delivered a dropkick to Storm. She then attempted a charge into the corner, but Willow cut her off with a big pounce. She then sent both Statlander and Storm into the corner and delivered a cannonball.
The action broke down as all three women traded haymakers. Willow delivered a double German Suplex. She setup for another suplex on Storm, but got rolled up by Storm. Statlander pushed the pile and broke the pin. She then cleared Willow from the ring and delivered Saturday Night Fever to Storm for the win.
Kris Statlander defeated Willow Nightingale and Toni Storm at 10:12
Kenny Omega is up next…[c]
My Take: This was a fun match. Willow really shined despite not getting the win. Storm’s amnesia story needs to progress or it’s going to lose it’s way. Hopefully they have more in mind for her soon.
Backstage, Toni Storm said it was an honor to be out there with Willow and Kris, but she’s just ready for the big stage. She said she’ll keep working hard, but it can’t be Toni Time all the time. She apologized and left the interview on a sad note.
In the arena, Kenny Omega made his entrance to the new theme he debuted at Wrestle Dynasty over the weekend. He grabbed a microphone and soaked up chants from the crowd. Kenny opened and said it was a little over a year ago when he checked himself into a hospital and told he had diverticulitis. He said it took two feet of his intestines from him, and if he hadn’t checked himself when he did, he might not have lived to talk about it.
Kenny continued and said that his first two questions from the doctor were how long would recovery take and how long until he could get back in the ring. The Doctors told him that he’d be lucky to return to a normal way of life, let alone return to being the old Kenny Omega again. He recalled going back into the hospital four more times for a month at a time, and he questioned whether it would be safer to call it a career. He recalled thinking about whether it would be worth carrying on without the people, and he decided he would fight to make his return.
Omega recalled that he tested himself in New Japan over the weekend, and he found that even though he wouldn’t be the man he used to be, this new version of him was just as dangerous because he wasn’t in it for the money or the power anymore. Don Callis then made his entrance, but before he could speak Omega charged him on the stage, and started to deliver punches. The Don Callis family then interrupted and beat down Omega. Cage delivered a big body punch that collapsed Omega. Before more damage could be done, Will Ospreay ran down to the ring and ran everyone off with a chair.
The show ended with both men sharing a staredown. The announce team then ran through the card for next week, including Kenny Omega vs. Brian Cage.
My Take: I liked Kenny’s promo, he did a nice job laying out expectations for himself upon his return. I can’t say I’m thrilled about the idea of him spending considerable time feuding with the Don Callis family, but it does make sense for a short program if they don’t drag it out. Overall, this was a decent episode of Dynamite, but too many segments felt a bit old for my liking. I don’t mind AEW having a mix of veterans and young talent, but having so much of the show dominated by Cope, Jarrett, The Hurt Syndicate, etc makes them feel considerably older than WWE’s television product at this point. I’m not sure that’s the kind of alternative they were seeking to be at the outset.
They booked Ricochet like a jabroni, one week after killing a top star with scissors. Dumb
I’m beginning to dread Adam Cope with a microphone almost as much as Callis.
A lot of beat downs by factions and saves this episode.