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

Kris Statlander (0-0) vs. Riho (c) (1-0) – AEW Women’s Championship Match

Riho started the match by hitting forearms on Statlander, but Statlander overpowered her with a shoulder tackle. Riho used speed to dodge her attacks and hit a flying rana off the middle rope that sent Statlander face first into the middle ropes. Riho went for a crossbody, but Statlander countered into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

Statlander hit a bodyslam on Riho. Statlander sent Riho chest first into the turnbuckle, but Riho came out of the corner with a roll up into a double stomp. Riho hit a flying knee in the corner and went for a Northern Lights Suplex, but Statlander blocked it. Statlander hit a very hard forearm to the back of Riho and then an electric chair drop. Statlander followed with an axe kick for a 2 count.

Statlander went for a moonsault, but Riho moved and then got a Northern Lights Suplex for a 2 count. Riho went back to the top rope, but Statlander cut her off and did a stalling vertical suplex on Riho. Statlander hit a big boot on Riho as the Nightmare Collective made their way down to the ring.

Statlander hit a dive on Melanie Cruise and on Kong, as Brandi Rhodes made her way down to the ring. Statlander argued with Rhodes as Dr. Luther made his way out from under the ring and blocked her from hitting Brandi. Kong then hit a clothesline on Statlander and put her back in the ring. Riho went up for a double stomp, but hit a crossbody on Dr. Luther instead, to a great pop.

Statlander and Riho exchanged a few more moves before Awesome Kong pulled on Statlander’s feet as she went for a tombstone and Riho was able to get the pinfall. Riho realized she had help afterwards and did not look happy.

Result: Riho (2-0)

Rating: ** (2 stars)

This was a pretty good match with little heat, but Riho managed to pop the crowd multiple times. The fans did not like the ending, and there was almost no heat at all as they attacked Statlander.

Riho jumped on Kong which got a pop, but everything else didn’t. Cruise knocked Riho over and then Big Swole, Hikaru Shida, and Sonny Kiss made the save, while Britt Baker simply sit in the crowd and did nothing.

The Nightmare Collective isn’t working. At all. That finish sucked. The best way to do it was to have Riho and Statlander have a match with no interference, then have the attack on both after the bell. I guess they wanted to give an excuse for the loss to Statlander, but she would have lost nothing losing to Riho.