AEW Dynamite results and highlights (Jan. 29): Jeff Jarrett almost gets his world title shot

Yahoo

30-01-2025

Huntsville, Alabama, hosted "AEW Dynamite," and it was weird. Not the city, despite taking a brutal shot from AEW Women's World Champion Mariah May, who requested the "H" be replaced with a "C." However, the show itself had one serious extension of a reoccurring problem with the company's centerpiece, The Death Riders.
I'm really proud of this heading, guys. Let's talk about...
What's happening with Jeff Jarrett in AEW right now is downright maddening. The man wants his world title shot, and that's okay and understandable. There are ways to have fun with that and play with it wisely. Unfortunately, that is not happening.
As soon as Jarrett's match with Claudio Castagnoli began — where if he won, he'd challenge the champion Jon Moxley — he got off far too much offense. Then Jarrett continued to remain in a competitive match with the AEW Trios Champ and NEEDED HELP TO WIN. WHAT.
Claudio is already calling in reinforcements!Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @SportsOnMax@RealJeffJarrett | @ClaudioCSRO | @WheelerYuta pic.twitter.com/KUIT28rSru
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 30, 2025
This very well may have been the most pathetic booking I've seen in AEW history. I've said it throughout the Death Riders' saga, but they shouldn't need any cheap tactics or aid in any of their victories — especially considering the mentality they have. Castagnoli waving for Wheeler Yuta mid-match had me audibly groaning in disbelief. No matter how bewildered Castagnoli could be by a competitive Jarrett, he should never have even considered needing help.
Jon Moxley behind the referee's back!Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @SportsOnMax@RealJeffJarrett | @ClaudioCSRO | @WheelerYuta | @JonMoxley pic.twitter.com/R3dQ0tLfC8
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 30, 2025
The Sharpshooter to Sharpshooter counter from Jarrett was kind of cool, but this match was beyond pathetic, and Moxley — WHO SHOULD NOT CARE — hit a Paradigm Shift on Jarrett during a referee distraction to help Castagnoli win. What should have been a squash match to extend Jarrett's story differently was instead a colossal waste of time and an absurd booking choice.
To top it off, MJF came out after the loss so that he could punch the old man with his diamond ring. This helps and serves no one — other than maybe Jarrett so that he can get TV time.
Is Jeff Jarrett going to give "The Devil" MJF his due?!Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @SportsOnMax@RealJeffJarrett | @The_MJF pic.twitter.com/6QaYSlUiPW
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 30, 2025
From the bottom of the barrel to the tip-top, let's talk about May and Toni Storm's absolute brilliance from "Collision" last Saturday.
In case you missed it, watch the entire segment from the show because it was absolute brilliance. "Timeless Toni" went nowhere, and her amnesia act was entirely that — Storm playing the old version of herself as the actress character rather than a female version of "Broken" Matt Hardy. The swerve could have been drawn out a tad longer, but it landed so epically because of what it was. This is the wrestling cinema we desire and contrasts AEW's garbage with Jarrett.
How can these stories exist within the same company?
AEW Women's World Champion Mariah May has a harsh message for Timeless Toni Storm!Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @SportsOnMax@MariahMayX | #TimelessToniStorm pic.twitter.com/LQF78lKcXS
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 30, 2025
May spoke on Dynamite on the ramp with Renee Paquette before she lashed out at mentions of Storm and what happened. "She's not real!" May exclaimed before she collected herself. The champion displayed signs of bother on this show and "Collision" but remained arrogantly confident.
Both women are such great titleholders that I'm unsure which direction the feud will go. Seeing how much further into a chaotic force May can be after a title loss probably has the most meat on it and gives an easy extension to an eventual trilogy.
I have no idea, and that's perfect. We're sitting back and happily enjoying the ride with this one. May and Storm's story is the best thing going on in AEW right now — aside from Will Ospreay matches and Harley Cameron, of course.
No, it's not Sheamus, but he'd fit right in with Ospreay or Brian Cage.
I really wish Cage had played a more significant role in AEW from the start. He should have been a bigger player than he's been. Sure, he had some world title shots, but the guy could have been special. I mean, he hit an F5 off the top rope, man. Brock Lesnar could never.
Brian Cage has Will Ospreay completely scouted!Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @SportsOnMax@WillOspreay | @BrianCageGMSI | @TheDonCallis pic.twitter.com/dUIweIxw8e
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 30, 2025
Ospreay jumped into a suplex outside the ring early in the match and was carried all the way toward the announce table by Cage. The camera work here was exceptional; I'd never seen a spot like that before. Considering how long Ospreay had to escape, it's admittedly silly, but Cage is incredible and can do anything — including taking a Styles Clash for the loss.
Lance Archer attacked Ospreay after the match before Kenny Omega came to make the save. Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita appeared to make the counter save, but then they beat up the two for an awkwardly long time. This honestly felt like a mistake because their music played three times. I'm not kidding. It got comical.
Nonetheless, Cage and Ospreay are an awesome combination. More matches between them won't garner a complaint from me.
I was very pleased to see some love for the TBS Championship match on "Dynamite" and, more so, the spotlight on Japan's Yuka Sakazaki.
The first Moneymaker counter from Sakazaki was awesome, but the ending of this match felt a little weird and maybe even botched after the Magical Girl Splash roll-up. Referee Aubrey Edwards seemed to have made a miscount. Thankfully, it led to a pretty lovely follow-up sequence and a Moneymaker win for Mercedes Mone.
Is this Yuka's chance?!Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @SportsOnMax@MercedesVarnado | @YukaSakazaki pic.twitter.com/THVQAMkfeq
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 30, 2025
These women's chemistry was good and worthy of the closer. However, I don't know what the idea here is with Mone. The belt-collector gimmick is always fun, but there's no substance to it right now, and she doesn't have a rival. There's Kris Statlander. We've seen her keep falling short, though. Jamie Hayter feels like the obvious choice to push toward the belt since the world title picture is occupied.
1. AEW is teasing something between MJF and Hangman Adam Page. We'll take that all day, every day over MJF in a Jarrett program.
2. Ricochet vs. AR Fox was a good match, and more than anything, it kept Fox looking strong in back-to-back defeats.
"Rico" kind of looked like an Assassin's Creed villain on his way to the ring, which is a nice contrast to Ospreay's hero. Before he left the arena, Swerve Strickland went on the attack, serving a small appetizer for next week's match.
Swerve Strickland is here, but Ricochet still has the scissors!Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @SportsOnMax@KingRicochet | @ARealFoxx | @SwerveConfident pic.twitter.com/FddGId6UHx
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 30, 2025
3. The New York Minute is always fun, and it seems to be building toward Big Bill leaving The Learning Tree as Chris Jericho keeps talking down to him.
1. As I said earlier, it's a loss anytime Cameron isn't on TV. However, Deonna Purrazzo and Taya Valkyrie aren't happy with everyone's favorite wrathful Aussie. They made it a point to put a target on her bogan backside. Talk about some rude Sheilas...
The Vendetta Deonna Purrazzo & Taya Valkyrie sends a message to Harley Cameron!Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @SportsonMax @DeonnaPurrazzo | @thetayavalkyrie pic.twitter.com/nZueZCpCXj
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 30, 2025
A Yuta loss is always welcome!
Jay White got to put it on his floppy-haired rival in a very solid match. That's the thing about this iteration of Yuta; he's just a brainwashed bozo. In reality, he's an excellent wrestler who can go. Remember how he was built up early into his AEW career? The dude had some serious star potential.
The match relied heavily on each man exploiting the other's legs, and ultimately, White hit a pair of Bladerunners on the Death Rider. As they always do, though, nothing with the Death Riders can end without them attacking someone. Rinse and repeat.
SUPERPLEX FROM JAY WHITE!Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @SportsOnMax@JayWhiteNZ | @WheelerYuta pic.twitter.com/k5Bpfxs3BP
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 30, 2025
Rated FTR made the save when White needed it, leading to FTR vs. Moxley and Yuta in a "Midsouth Street Fight" on Saturday. That should be one hell of a match. I'm just ready to end the Death Riders as soon as possible.
👑The bad was very bad on this "Dynamite," so our crown scale is out of whack. This one gets a 4.5/10 score. 👑