AEW Dynamite: Results, Highlights, and Grades for Jan 1st, 2020

AEW Dynamite started off 2020 hot with a stacked card and a surplus of storyline updates.

Dynamite started off fast this week with the highly anticipated rematch between “The American Nightmare” Cody and one of his greatest opponents in AEW, Darby Allin.

Cody (0-0 in singles action) vs Darby Allin (0-0 in singles action)

All records have been reset in 2020 so this is a fresh start for both men. This is also Cody’s first match with Arn Anderson in his corner as his personal advisor.

The two men circle one another before locking up. Allin gains the upper hand first but Cody creates some separation and knocks Allin down several times. The two look to lock up again as Cody gains wrist control. Allin rolls out and blocks a sit out punch as the two men both go for quick covers. The two men look evenly matched as they break away and stare each other down. Arn gives Cody some advice in the corner and Cody goes for the Cross Rhodes but fails. Allin gets thrown hard out of the ring after his attempt at a Diamond Dust gets thwarted.

Allin keeps fighting as he sweeps Cody’s legs out from under him on the apron. Allin slides back in and hits a massive suicide dive onto “The American Nightmare”. Allin is focused on Cody’s shoulder as he starts to work it over but Cody fights back and kicks his opponent off the apron.

Allin continues to work over Cody’s hurt shoulder in the corner and in the center of the ring. Cody gets a takedown on Allin and locks in the Figure Four. Cody has the hold in deep as Allin tries to fight out of it. Allin is able to reverse it but only for a second as Cody rolls through. Allin gets a fingertip on the ropes and Cody has to break the hold. Cody attempts to work over the knee but eats a shotgun dropkick into the corner. Allin locks in a Fujiwara armbar as Cody writhes in pain. Allin catches both arms in the submission but Cody is quickly able to get to the ropes.

Allin pulls off one of the turnbuckle pads and attempts top throw Cody into it but Allin is unsuccessful. The two men trade attempts at their signature offense until Cody plants Allin with a powerslam. Cody works over Allin in the corner with his signature punches. Cody hits his newer maneuver “The Cody Cutter” but doesn’t go for the cover. Cody starts to work over the limbs of the downed Allin and hits a MASSIVE inverted superplex. Cody goes for the cover but Allin refuses to say die and kicks out as the feed goes to commercial.

Back from the break, both men are down but Allin seems to be in control. Allin hits his signature Diamond Dust and looks to go for the Coffin Drop but Cody escapes to the apron or so he thinks as Allin hits the Coffin Drop onto his opponent on the edge of the apron. Cody goes for a flatliner back in the ring and attempts his cutter but Allin is in control and goes for the Diamond Dust but gets countered into a Cross Rhodes. 1…2….NO Allin kicks out!.

Cody accidentally runs into the exposed turnbuckle. Allin goes for a Coffin Drop as Arn yells at Cody to move. Cody gets his knees up as Allin crashed onto him. Cody then rolls up his stunned opponents for the win.

Result: Cody  (1-0 in 2020 )

Rating: **** ( 4 stars)

A superb match that gave both men new life. Allin showed off a bit of heelish behavior and Cody showed off how important Arn Anderson is going to be for him in the future.

SCU are shown backstage cutting a promo where they state that they are going to beat down everyone in 2020. Sammy Guevara interrupts the promo and calls out Christopher Daniels. Looks like these two will be having a match next week in Memphis.