By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 330)
Cedar Park, Texas, at HEB Center
Simulcast live January 28, 2026, on TBS and HBO Max
Kenny Omega’s music hit and he headed to the ring for the opening match. Rocky Romero is already in the ring. Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Schiavone joined the show on commentary.
1. Kenny Omega vs. Rocky Romero: The match started with Romero jumping off to a fast start with strikes. Omega quickly turned the tables and took the action outside. Romero used a ref distraction to get back into the match with a cheap shot. He landed a Sliced Bread that didn’t go perfectly, and then covered for a two count. Kenny went for a snap dragon suplex, but Romero avoided it and gloated to the crowd. Omega used the unforced error to land a V-Trigger Knee. He then followed up with a second one. He then delivered a One Winged Angel and got the win.
Kenny Omega defeated Rocky Romeo at 3:47
After the match, Omega celebrated his win. Tony Schiavone entered the ring with a microphone. He called the match a high stakes win for Omega, and talked about the current battle over the number one contendership. He said the winner of the main event between Swerve and Andrade will face Omega next week. Omega said he hasn’t felt this good in years, and if he didn’t feel like he was at the top of his game, he wouldn’t have put his name in the ring for a title shot.
Omega then said it didn’t matter whether he had to go through somebody he hates, or somebody he loves, he was all business and he wanted to be the World Champion. Hangman Page interrupted and told Kenny he looked good. He then said even after all these years, he’d rather fight with him than against him, but when the world championship is at stake so be it. Page said he lost his Championship because of Hook and the kick in the balls from MJF.
Page said despite how great he looks, Kenny would not be the next Champion. He said it would be Andrade and Swerve either, because the next Champion would be Hangman Adam Page. Swerve then walked out and said he came back to AEW to become World Champion, and he hasn’t been pinned. He said he has as much right to a title shot as anyone, and his mission remains the same. Swerve called himself the most dangerous man in AEW, and he doesn’t care who he has to stomp out to get what he wants. He said it could be against anybody, and he does mean anybody.
Kenny replied that he fancies himself pretty good at reading the room, and he senses a little animosity. He asked Swerve if he was looking for a fight, and he responded “more than you know”. Don Callis walked out and said Andrade would end Swerve’s undefeated streak, and told Omega that after Andrade beats Swerve he’s coming for him. He then addressed Page that he has something in mind for him too, and they would all learn that the Don Callis Family runs this show.
Omega responded that he’s telling everyone what they have to worry about, but he should have been thinking about himself. Omega ran after him, and Callis took off to the back. Jon Moxley vs. Ace Austin is up next. We then got a video package that focused on Kris Statlander vs. Thekla for the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Back in the arena, Jon Moxley made his ring entrance. He was followed by Ace Austin.
2. Jon Moxley vs. Ace Austin: Moxley jumped out to an early advantage with some heavy strikes, followed by mounted punches in the corner. The match took an odd turn with some acrobatics from Austin that Moxley didn’t seem prepared for. After a moment of confusion, Moxley ended up on the floor. He then backed into a corner behind the commentary desk, while Austin seemed to be setting up for a springboard that Moxley was not in position to catch…[c]
My Take: The opening match wasn’t much of anything, but I think the segment afterward focused on the World Title Challengers was well done. Everybody has a solid foundation for their title motivations, and the crowd seems to be firmly behind Omega. Swerve could be heading for a heel turn, which wouldn’t be a bad thing necessarily.
Moxley pulled Austin into the ring with a Superplex shortly after the show returned from break. Austin fired back with some strikes and a flying lariat in the corner. Moxley landed a lariat of his own. They traded some pinning combinations and reversals for two counts. Moxley landed a big forearm strike, but Austin replied with a hook kick and covered for a near fall. Moxley recovered and charged at Austin in the corner, but he evaded and landed a kick. Moxley replied with a cutter, and then a Death Rider and got the win.
Jon Moxley defeated Ace Austin at 9:49
After the match, Moxley celebrated briefly before being interrupted by Konosuke Takeshita. He pointed at Moxley’s Continental Championship and called his shot. Moxley nodded yes, and then Takeshita backed out of the ring. Davis and Doyle then entered from behind and took a cheap shot at Moxley…[c]
My Take: I wanted to like that match, but there wasn’t a lot of instant chemistry between Austin and Moxley.
El Clon made his ring entrance when the show returned. He was followed by Mark Briscoe.
3. El Clon vs. Mark Briscoe for the TNT Championship: There was no clear advantage early on until El Clon landed a back elbow that dropped Briscoe. The action spilled to the floor where Briscoe battled back into things with some redneck Kung Fu. He tossed a chair into the ring and attempted to use it to vault himself over the ropes, but El Clon stopped him and tossed the chair out of the ring. Briscoe sent Clon back to the floor and then landed a splash off the apron. He then fired up the crowd. Clon trapped Briscoe in the ring apron and delivered a kick to the face…[c]
El Clon delivered a springboard moonsault for a two count. Briscoe fired back with some jabs, but Clon staggered him with a roundhouse kick. Both guys had the same idea and landed a double clothesline. Briscoe landed a suplex, a lariat, and then a Froggy Bow for a close near fall. He then went for a Jay Driller, but Clon somehow avoided it and popped right back to his feet. Clon delivered a kick, and then a moonsault from the apron to the floor. He went up top and delivered a double foot stomp, and then attempted the portal driver. Briscoe escaped out the back door and rolled him up for a three count.
Mark Briscoe defeated El Clon at 11:39 to retain the TNT Championship
After the match, Briscoe grabbed a microphone and fired up the crowd. He said he wasn’t ducking or dodging, and he wanted to continue the TNT Title Open Challenge. He said the only asterisk for Saturday was that no one from the Callis Family could challenge him, because he was tired of them. The arena went dark, and a black heart appeared on the screen. A Psycho Killer graphic then appeared and Tommaso Ciampa then made his ring entrance and headed to the ring.
They circled one another and then went face to face. Ciampa gave Briscoe a kiss and left the ring. The match was made official for Saturday’s Collision…[c]
My Take: Briscoe vs. Ciampa is a nice hook for Collision. I’m interested to see what kind of impact Ciampa can make in AEW and how he’s used. He might make an interesting stylistic matchup for Jon Moxley if he doesn’t immediately capture the TNT Championship.
Backstage, Kazuchika Okada explained to Kyle Fletcher that when he grabbed the screwdriver at World’s End, he just wanted to win and didn’t mean to hurt him. He told him he was sorry, and wanted to face him in the Finals. Fletcher said he was very angry after World’s End, but it takes a big man to admit his faults and apologize, and that he accepted his apology.
In the arena, MJF made his ring entrance. He asked what they were doing in a dump like his. Before he could speak further, Brody King made his entrance to confront MJF. The crowd barked and MJF told them to shut up. MJF called Brody big and stupid, and then backed away when he got close to the ring and called for a timeout. He asked if they were going to speak like Men, and Brody nodded along. MJF reiterated that Brody needed to beat somebody that matters if he wants a title shot.
He called him a follower, and said Brody had followed around both Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews like a puppy dog. MJF said maybe Brody should follow him around instead of Bandido, and he would pay him handsomely. He offered to fix his aesthetic, and said he’d never met a liberal man who looks more like a Nazi. MJF called Brody’s idea of beating him a pipe dream, and said in order to hold the World Championship you need to be a leader like him, and said he was nothing more than a follower.
Brody said what he described were his friends, and that’s something Max has never had in his life. He admitted MJF was right about needing to beat someone credible to earn a title shot, and he and Tony Khan came up with a solution. Brody said he would face MJF next week in an eliminator match, and when he wins, he will face MJF for the World Championship at Grand Slam Australia.
Backstage, a video package aired for the Young Bucks about going back to their roots. They put the Tag Team Division on notice. Back in the ring, Justin Roberts made ring introductions for the AEW Women’s World Championship Match. First out to the ring was Thekla, followed by Kris Statlander.
4. Thekla vs. Kris Statlander for the AEW Women’s World Championship: Thekla used her speed early on to avoid Statlander, but eventually flew too close to the sun and got dropped on the apron. Statlander then delivered a long stalling vertical suplex on the floor on the outside. She followed up with a catapult into the ring steps, and then played to the crowd. Thekla took advantage of the loss of focus and landed a running kick. She then stomped on Statlander on the floor…[c]
My Take: This might be the best setup AEW has done for an eliminator match. It’s nice to see a story lead to one being made rather than having them fall out of the sky.
Statlander shipped Thekla into the turnbuckles, and followed up with some knees and elbows. She then delivered a Michinoku Driver for a close near fall. Thekla recovered and sent Statlander to the floor, where she followed up with a big cross body block from the top. Back in the ring, Thekla hit a spear but was unable to make a cover. Both women fought to their feet and Thekla spit in Statlander’s face. Thekla applied a Spider Submission and then landed a running stomp for a near fall.
She entered her spider pose, but Statlander caught her with a thrust kick. Statlander missed a discus lariat, but was able to connect with a gutwrench powerbomb and her Night Fever finisher and got the win.
Kris Statlander defeated Thekla at 12:18
After the match, Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron walked to the ring to celebrate with Statlander. Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford then walked onto the stage, presumably to set up a Tag Title Challenge. Backstage, Don Callis spoke about mobilizing the resources to capture more AEW Gold. Callis encouraged Takeshita to forgive Okada, and then directed Kyle Fletcher to go after the winner of Ciampa vs. Briscoe for the TNT Championship. After Callis left, Takeshita expressed disappointment that Fletcher had forgiven Okada…[c]
My Take: A solid match, but I never really bought into the threat Thekla posed to the title. It feels like the Statlander title run has stalled a bit. The weakness of her character is further compounded by challengers that aren’t able to take up the slack in that area.
A video package aired for Jack Perry. Ricochet appeared on the screen and said we were supposed to hear from Jack Perry, but that has been cancelled. The Gates of Agony beat up Perry and tossed him around backstage while Ricochet gloated. They put him through a table to end the beatdown. In the arena, Davis and Doyle made their ring entrance. They were followed by FTR. Stokely Hathaway joined on commentary.
5. Mark Davis and Jake Doyle vs. Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood “FTR” for the AEW Tag Team Championships: Doyle and Wheeler started the match, with Doyle showing off his power advantage with a big body block. Davis tagged in, along with Harwood, and the action quickly spilled outside. Davis and Doyle used Wheeler as a battering ram to knock down both members of FTR…[c]
Dax Harwood was bleeding from the chest as the show returned. Davis landed a big lariat on Harwood. Wheeler landed a counter suplex on Doyle, but he quickly fired back with another body block. Doyle and Davis then took turns splashing FTR in the corner. Doyle went up top for a superplex on Harwood, but Wheeler prevented it and slammed Doyle on the apron. Davis tried to finish the job, but Harwood slipped free and delivered a top rope back suplex.
Wheeler followed up with a top rope splash, but Davis kicked out. Davis sent Cash to the floor, and then applied a sleeper to Harwood. The Death Riders returned to ringside and Moxley smashed Davis with the Continental Championship belt. FTR followed up with a Shatter machine and got the win.
FTR defeated Davis and Doyle at 9:34 to retain the Tag Team Championships
After the match, FTR celebrated their win with Stokely. Backstage, Orange Cassidy was interviewed by Renee Paquette. This quickly devolved into a confrontation between Cassidy, Wheeler Yuta, Toni Storm, and Marina Shafir. Storm promised that Shafir was in deep shit when they get in the ring again…[c]
My Take: A decent match, but the writing was on the wall about the finish when Davis and Doyle attacked Moxley earlier in the show.
Swerve Strickland made his ring entrance for the main event. He was followed by Andrade El Idolo.
6. Andrade El Idolo vs. Swerve Strickland: They circled each other early on with some evasions and reversals along the way. Andrade went for a House Call Kick and Andrade narrowly escaped. Swerve pulled Andrade off the ropes with a hurracarrana. Andrade retreated to the floor. Swerve tried to dive onto him, but Andrade avoided it and sent him into the ring steps. There was what appeared to be a staged fan interaction at ringside for Andrade. A woman took a photo with him and then pulled out a bar napkin from her bra and gave it a kiss, and then handed it to him. It was revealed to have her number written on it…[c]
My Take: The joke will be on Andrade when he calls that number and it’s just a local Pizza Hut.
Andrade landed a tornillo over the top rope and to the floor. He then delivered a double jump moonsault in the ring for a near fall. Swerve climbed back into the match as the action spilled back to the floor. He brought Andrade on top of the guardrail. He attempted a piledriver on top of it, but Andrade reversed into a back body drop. Andrade managed to land on his groin. Both men were barely able to answer the ten count.
Both men traded punches and forearms. Andrade managed to land his famous feint into a back elbow for a close near fall. Swerve replied with a house call kick and covered for a close near fall. Both men went to the top rope, and Andrade pulled down Swerve with a poisonrana. He followed up with a Meteora and a Hammerlock DDT for a close near fall.
Swerve avoided another back elbow and landed another House Call. He then went for Big Pressure, but Andrade landed a low blow after spinning around Aubrey Edwards. He then delivered his DM finisher and got the win.
Andrade defeated Swerve Strickland at 15:18
After the match, Swerve sold the pain of the low blow while Andrade gestured for the AEW World Championship. MJF was asked about his Eliminator Match with Brody after the match. Kenny Omega walked up and reminded him that he was one more week and one more win away from the AEW World Championship match. MJF then ran into Andrade, who said he wanted to slap MJF right now, but first he wanted the World Championship. MJF then walked out of the arena, where Hangman Page stared him down before he drove away in an SUV.
My Take: The Sharks are circling around MJF, which is the best thing that could have happened for his title reign. Andrade getting the win in the main event lends itself to my theory that Swerve is going heel soon. I guess we’ll see the teases continue. Overall, the AEW Title picture is the most interesting thing happening in AEW right now. Hopefully they can create some momentum elsewhere on the card.
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