AEW Dynamite for January 8, 2020: Results, Highlights and Grades

AEW Dynamite left us wondering what was next for Adam Page last week, and left us wondering if Jon Moxley was going to join the Inner Circle. This week, we are set to find out.

AEW Dynamite kicked off with a recap of the events with Hangman Page and The Elite, and with Chris Jericho offering a spot in the Inner Circle to Jon Moxley.

As it is now 2020, all the records in AEW reset for the calendar year.

Hangman Page (0-0) & Kenny Omega (1-0) vs. Private Party (Isiah Cassidy & Marq Quen) (0-0)

Hangman started the match with Quen, with Quen barely ducking a kick from Hangman. Quen dropkicked Hangman into the corner, and then held him up for Cassidy to hit a double stomp Page. Cassidy knocked Omega off of the apron, who immediately started selling his knee. Hangman kicked out, but then fell victim to double team offence from Private Party.

Quen and Cassidy exchanged some double team offence, as the crowd chanted “We want Kenny!” Hangman suplexed Quen onto Cassidy and tagged out to Omega. Omega and Hangman chopped Cassidy, who screamed in a high pitch voice. He needs to stop that. That is no good at all. Omega and Page exchanged some tags, keeping the offence up on Cassidy.

Cassidy managed to hit a flatliner on Omega and made his way over to Quen for the tag. Omega tagged out to Page, but Quen hit Page with a cross body and then hit Omega with a suicide dive, and Hangman with a tope, then Omega with a tope con giro, and then Hangman with a Fosbury Flop. I know he does that spot often, but it doesn’t make it any less impressive.

Cassidy went for a springboard but ate a big boot from Hangman. Quen went for a crossbody, but Hangman caught him and hit a fall away slam. Hangman and Omega hit a few double team moves, with Hangman hitting a German suplex on Quen after Omega threw him into the air. That was awesome. Omega sent Cassidy into Hangman, who hit a pop-up powerbomb, and then Omega hit him with a V-Trigger.

Omega went for another V-Trigger on Cassidy, but Quen cut him off and sacrificed himself, eating a Snap Tiger Suplex. Private Party then hit Silly String on Omega, and it was the least contrived way to hit it. Quen went for a shooting star press, and Omega moved. Omega kicked Cassidy off the apron and tried to hold him up for a Buckshot Lariat, but Cassidy ducked.

Page held back and almost hit Omega, but Cassidy then sent Page into Omega. Omega hit Cassidy with a V-Trigger and went for a Doomsday Device on Quen, but Cassidy saved him and they hit Gin and Juice on Kenny. Hangman broke it up. Omega caught a kick and flipped him backwards, but Quen hit Page. Omega looked shocked that he hit his partner accidentally.

Page and Omega then hit a double team Buckshot lariat and V-Trigger, before Omega hit Quen with the One Winged Angel for the pinfall victory.

Result: Hangman Page (1-0) & Kenny Omega (2-0)

Rating: ***1/2 (3.5 stars)

This was excellent storytelling in terms of the slow build Hangman Page turn. Kenny apologized for throwing Quen into him, and Page seemed to accept it, but he didn’t look happy. This is an excellent slow burn. Hangman is clearly unhappy with Omega. PAC attacked Michael Nakazawa backstage and Page encouraged Omega to go and save him, while Hangman went into the crowd to drink beer with the fans.