AEW Dynamite #276: Maximum Carnage (January 15th, 2025) Review

My first AEW review yet, and one that I actually sort of forgot about. AEW is a promotion that overall I still enjoy, but have a lot of problems with. A lot of problems with their production and storylines, even if the wrestling is good to great.

We see the return of Taz on commentary, which is pretty great before they throw to a video package about all of the matches to see. They really hyped this show up to be a PPV level event, with every match being full of drama and story. Maybe not great stories, but stories nontheless. We see The Death Riders, the culmination of the feud between HOOK and Christian Cage, and we end on Kenny Omega making his grand return.

Match 1: Singles Match

Brian Cage vs Kenny Omega

We start off with a rather major match. The return to Kenny Omega in AEW after 13 months of being gone with illness and injury. Omega returned to Japan first, wrestling an incredible match against Gabe Kidd, but this is his first match back for his "home" promotion.

Cage is a part of the Don Callis Family. Don Callis is a long time veteran of wrestling, acting more as a manager in his career, including being the mastermind and manager for Kenny Omega for many years before he turned on him, calling him a waste of talent and past his prime. Kenny was supposed to het his revenge before he was sidelined.

Omega got a massive entrance, and his new theme song is one that I quite love. As much as I love Battle Cry, this is a new Omega. A new variation and form that is perfect to see and hear.

The look of the arena is interesting. It has a great and unique layout that looks pretty packed, which is always good to see. AEW has had issues recently with filling out shows, so seeing them do a good job here is good to see. Especially for what's being built like a big show.

Omega starts off a little slow, feeling out his first time ever opponent before speeding up and showing that he has barely lost a step. Targeting the leg of the much larger Cage to show some intelligence. They go back and forth, with the early part of the match being the fact that Omega is unable to use any sort of power or lifting moves to Cage, being too weak to do so, while Cage shows that he is a genetic and athletic freak. Throwing Omega around like he is nothing.

Aside from the very early offense from Omega, Cage dominates a lot of the early part of the match. Omega might get some basic stuff in for a few brieft moments, along with a nasty look stumble as he tries to avoid Cage in the corner, before reversing a Powerbomb into a Hurricanrana. Omega ran off the ropes, but other Don Callis Family member Lance Archer distracted him and let Cage get back on top, flipping Omega inside out with a great looking Clothesline.

I want to quickly note that something I have not really enjoyed in a while is AEW commentary. Having 3 people CAN work, but they just don't do it well enough. And adding Don Callis as the 4th man is just too many voices. Excalibur is play by play, talking so fast and trying to cram every single historical moment or reference he can into as few seconds as possible. You have Taz who is there now to try and act as the "inside man", or a former wrestler trying to go over psychology and reason they do things. Tony Schivonie is there as the historical voice that carries weight and drama. Don Callis is in character, rooting for Cage and trash talking Omega.

It's just a lot that distracts and often subtracts from my personal enjoyment. And that's not including when they use other people like Nigel McGuinness, Matt Menard, Jim Ross, or whoever else they have.

We get a brutal looking spot from Cage slamming Omega onto the announce table face down, getting in the ring to distract the ref while Lance Archer and Don Callis attack Omega. We go to commercial break, which is just time for Cage to dominate and work over Omega while most of the at home crowd isn't paying attention or watching in picture and picture. We of course get Cage working over the gut and midsection due to Omega's illness, which is easily going to be a common theme with all of his matches. Omega starts to fight back a bit, but Cage is too strong and hits a Powerbomb from the elevated ramp into the ring, then hit a F5 like move with Omega kicking out.

This match has honestly done a great job at making Cage look like a beast, even if he did have to cheat a little bit. The crowd really lit up for Omega doing stuff or getting beaten down, but overall were not the most energetic you could want for a major return. Omega went for a beautiful moonsault, which is crazy that he can still do that through his history of issues, and Cage hit a wild move I can't even describe for a near fall.

They continued to fight while the crowd was completely silent, the commentary having to make up for it in a bit I didn't love.

Omega woke them back up with a geniunly insane and impressive jump from the apron to the top rope, balanaced a bit and grabbed Cage by his waist, then hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb. Omega then hit a Knee Strike, but Cage kicked out. Omega went for another, but Cage reversed it.

We got a very quick and sudden exchange of reversals and counters with the crowd building to Omega hitting two big and devastating V-Triggers, then tried to used the ropes in order to help lift up the big Cage for a One Winged Angel, which nobody kicks out of.

Result: Kenny Omega pinned Brian Cage

Star Rating: 3/5 Stars

After the match, Lance Archer and other Don Callis Family member Kyle Fletcher came down to beat up Omega. Fletcher hit a big punch to the gut (because of course he did) until Will Ospreay ran down and laid out Fletcher, then worked together with Omega to get rid of Archer.

The interconnected history is very long and dense, but I'll try to get into it now.

Ospreay and Fletcher were long time friends and partners, with Ospreay hand selecting Fletcher as a bit of an understudy when he ran his own group in Japan. Ospreay was aligned with Don Callis when he first came into AEW, but was too much of a pure hearted good guy that Callis and his Family turned on Ospreay, including a surprising attack from Fletcher. But meanwhile, Omega and Ospreay had their own super intense and violent rivalry, which makes them working together a wild sight to see.

Anyways, other Don Callis Family member and AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita came out and helped lay out Omega and Ospreay. Takeshita is the champion after defeating Ospreay with help from the turning Callis and Fletcher, and he also pinned Kenny Omega twice in 7 days back in 2023. The Don Callis Family stands tall, and is a pretty good way to start the show off with some storyline progression and hinting at the unlikely partnership between Omega and Ospreay in the future.

We get a video package with MVP and the Hurt Syndicate, looking incredible in their suits while MVP said this is the first time he has wrestled a match in years, which...isn't entirely true. But whatever fits the story.

We get another backstage video segment, with ROH World Champion Chris Jericho's "New York Minute" alongside his partners Big Bill and Bryan Keith.

Now as hated and controversial as this current form of Jericho is, I love this character. I laugh most of the time and can't help but smile. Just so ridiculous and funny.

Big Bill and Bryan Keith especially are comedy gold. The matches, especially Jericho's, might not be the greatest of his career...but they're fine.

Justin Roberts announces Ricochet, saying "show some love" when the crowd just rains down boos.

I was incredibly hesitant and worried about Ricochet in AEW, but ever since he brutally attacked Shane Strickland and left him a completely bloody mess, he has been incredible. Finally showing some character and personality, which he has been lacking for most of his career. The crowd is going wild with boos, making him look upset. He even has the golden scissors he used to attack Strickland in his jacket breast pocket, which was a great touch.

Ricochet is in the ring to cut a promo, but lets the crowd keep chanting and booing to stall. He had some great acting facials going on, but it went on just a little bit too long. He finally speaks, showing the picture of him standing over the bloody Strickland, but then Swerve's music played.

The camera angle and production was a little frustrating, as we can see the entire run up through the crowd by Strickland's manager Prince Nana run down, then lay out Ricochet with a steel chair. Swerve comes down with a chain around his neck, going to hit him with it before Ricochet escapes and tries to run away, throwing a security guard at Strickland before running outside to escape.

Strickland comes back in, which is 100% making me think they're gonna have a dog collar or chain match of some kind.

Instead of hearing from Strickland though, we suddenly cut to a video of Mercedes Mone after winning the Revpro British Women's Championships in New Japan and her incredibly long list of media appearances. A "Day in the life of a CEO" type thing.

Mercedes is somebody that I have never really been a huge fan of, even back in her WWE or NXT days. She worked incredibly well with people like Bayley or Charlotte Flair, but outside of that I just have a lack of care for her matches or character. She has put on good matches in AEW and New Japan, but just...she's fine.

I don't think she needs to be pushed as heavily as she is, but she is clearly a mainstream star. So it makes sense from a business perspective and I don't blame AEW for it.

Match 2: 3v3 Tag Team Match

The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP) vs Mark Briscoe and Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen)

We go to the ring with The Hurt Syndicate coming out, getting some of the loudest cheers yet. They have been booked incredibly well and carefully, looking like dominant badasses.

Then the other team comes out, getting not even close to the same amount of cheers. Mark Briscoe got a decent pop, but that's just because he is beloved for a large multitude of reasons.

Private Party are the AEW Tag Team Champions. And I am writing that because I completely forgot until they came out to the ring. They won the belts off the Young Bucks, and have been treated like just another team. The same position they've been in for like 5 years. Just...there.

A real shame considering AEW was sort of built on creating the best tag team division possible.

Hurt Syndicate attack their opponents before the bell, with Briscoe and MVP as the first legal men. Great to see MVP still in great shape and looking really good in the ring.

The Hurt Syndicate work over Mark Briscoe for quite a while. Beating him down and not letting him get any momentum or time to catch his breath.

MVP got more time to shine, including hitting his Ballin Elbow with the crowd going along with it.

It's wild to me that such a heel group is SO popular and hotter than most of the other acts in all of AEW.

Private Party finally got tagged in, but the crowd didn't react for them like they did for Mark or the Hurt Syndicate. Private Party wrestle well and have an exciting style, just not treated well enough for people to care.

The match falls into pure chaos with the crowd finally cheering for the tag champs due to them doing great stuff, but then we see Lashley throw Mark like crazy on the floor.

Private Party go for some Hardy Boys moves because of their history, but the Hurt Syndicate takes momentum once again without much of an issue. Lashley lays out Kassidy with a Spear, MVP lays out Briscoe on the floor, and Benjamin finishes off Quen with a Superkick.

Result: Shelton Benjamin pinned Marq Quen

Star Rating: 3.25/5 Stars

Hurt Syndicate are going to challenge Private Party for the belts and are basically guaranteed to win at this point. It's not even in doubt, which is a real shame. Private Party deserve better.

We then get a recap package into a hype package about Rater R Superstar COPE (my least favorite wrestling name today) and FTR. It's all nice and lovely, but over just as quickly.

This whole Rated FTR vs Death Riders thing is so weird and dumb. If the Death Riders are all about raising up the younger guys, why would Cope and FTR even WANT to fight them? They're both long time and successful veterans. Like...it's so dumb to me and a feud I want to be finished sooner rather than later.

We come back from commercial to hear from Jeff Jarrett, who recently announced that he would be going on a retirement tour of sorts. Been wrestling since 1986, and has done a LOT in this business. Even stuff that lead to him being one of the most (legit) hated wrestlers for years and years.

But before Jeff can barely get a sentence finished, he is interrupted by MJF. The current best heel in the entire business.

MJF talks about how he tried to offer Jeff help and a great opportunity, but Jeff squandered it. MJF showed some great acting with a sudden snap and calming himself down.

MJF calls himself a living legend while saying that Jeff claims to be one, but that he isn't as great as he thinks he is.

He says that the legacy of Jeff is the reason that wrestling companies die and fail. MJF also goes into the low hanging fruit, like Jarrett's past with being a recovered alcoholic and then mentioning Jeff's wife, even referencing Kurt Angle (long history that I won't go into)

Jeff Jarrett references his time in the Owen Hart Memorial Tournament last year.

Short sidebar: Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart were incredibly long time, very close friends until Owen's untimely death during an accidental fall from the rafters at a WWE ppv back in 1999.

Back to stuff: Jeff cuts a great promo, calling MJF a arrogant, ignorant kid in a man's world. Having no idea what he is doing or talking about. Telling MJF to mature and learn with some great verbal jabs. But Jeff sounded so humble and honest, trying his best to reach out to MJF while also going over MJF's history in a more respectful way while still giving MJF a taste of his own medicine. Even referencing MJF's current partner and his parents being not the most honest or best people.

Jeff continues to tear into MJF, calling him lazy and entitled and saying that he understands. MJF is a "scared little boy" who Jeff wants to help, but only if MJF will try to be good again.

Jeff also calls MJF a One Hit Wonder like he did last week, meaning that it is definitely going to come back as the name of a move.

But MJF responds with some great lines. He said that he didn't need his father to make him a top guy, or to start his own promotion to do it. "MJF made MJF" as he says, which is arguably not the case with Jeff.

MJF reveals his motivation. Needing to win the AEW World Championship once again out of spite. Saying that he doesn't want to wait in line for the likes of Jeff Jarrett. A wrestler that "no fan has ever given a sh*t about".

But then MJF begins to use Owen Hart's name, saying that his death is not enough of a reason for Jeff to be given a chance of redemption or success. Saying that Jeff is using Owen's name for popularity and attention. Riding his coattails.

Jeff finally snapped and laid out MJF, beating him down to a rather quiet crowd reaction. The pop was very minor, and even the boos or chants were not very loud. It took Jeff's wife Karen to pull him off, but then MJF got more heat and hatred by using Karen as a human shield before SPRINTING faster than I've ever seen to escape.

We get a run down for Collision on Saturday, including a video package for the AEW Continental Championship match between champion Kazuchika Okada and challenger Tomohiro Ishii.

I don't really know why this match is happening other than the fact that they have history from their time in Japan.

I love Okada and love his character work, but his time as champion has been hit or miss. He's had great matches with the likes of Bryan Danielson, Will Ospreay, and his stuff alongside The Elite...but like...he doesn't feel like a big deal. He just feels like a midcarder.

Match 3: Singles Match

HOOK vs Christian Cage

Christian's entire character is making fun of people with deadbeat or dead dads (yes really) and became one of the most popular people in all of AEW (also really) until he attacked HOOK's father Taz. They've had a very long feud that has had more nothing or bad weeks than good ones.

HOOK attacked Christian during his entrance and dominated the early part of the match while Christian just kept trying to run away.

Christian asked for forgiveness and tried to plead with HOOK, even going for a hug. The crowd went wild when HOOK hit him with a Suplex and just continued to dominate. A great look for the AEW World Champion contract holder.

Short sidebar: Christian Cage won a match where he won a contract that says he can challenge for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship anytime, anyplace. Just because MONEY IN THE BANK WITH CHRISTIAN HA HA!

During the commercial break Christian's "sons" Kip Sabian and Nick Wayne (it's absolutely ridiculous now that I think about it) come out to distract HOOK and help Christian finally get some offense in.

Then we get Katsuyori Shibata come out to show support for HOOK, the ringside area suddenly filling up very quickly.

Christian continued to have the advantage and beat down on HOOK while the crowd was very vocal in support for the young rookie.

Christian continues to dominate for a while, the match becoming a little basic and slow for me. Too formulaic in a sense.

There was a pretty unique counter to a choke hold that lead to a comedic moment, but Christian went to the eyes to cheat and send HOOK to the floor once again. Christian distracted the ref while all the people on the outside had a staredown, but then Christian attacked Shibata. HOOK got up and laid out everybody with ease, but Christian and HOOK go back and forth exchanging finisher attempts. Once HOOK finally gets his choke hold called Redrum on, Kip Sabian and Nick Wayne to attack him and cause the match to end.

Result: HOOK def. Christian Cage via disqualification

Star Rating: 2.75/5 Stars

They plan on attacking HOOK with steel chairs, but then Samoa Joe made his long awaited return to the biggest pop of the night, laying everybody out with ease.

As much as I love Joe and happy to see his union alongside Shibata and HOOK again...why wasn't Joe's return to attack Chris Jericho? Considering that Jericho was the one who "injured" Joe all those months ago?

Seems like we'll get a 3v3 tag or Joe vs Cage in a singles match. Not totally sure what I'm actually looking forward to more, if either of them.

We had a recap video of the Casino Gauntlet match from last week, which isn't really a match type I'm a major fan of. It feels too chaotic and wild for me.

We hear from the Undisputed Kingdom, Daniel Garcia, and Jay White. So who knows the progression for any of them truly other than Kyle O'Reilly vs Garcia for the TNT title or the continuing feud between Jay White and Death Riders pest Wheeler Yuta.

We come back from commercial break to see a backstage interview with Jeff Jarrett. (whole lot of talking and video packages on this show huh?)

But only acts as a way for Jeff Jarrett and Dustin Rhodes to have an interaction, with Dustin being the Ring of Honor Tag Team AND 6-Man Tag Team Champion.

Dustin just gives Jeff a motivational speech and that's it.

I am honestly shocked with how Dustin has stayed in AEW for so long. I think he's a great hand to have and can still wrestle at a very high level, but I don't totally get why he is used just in ROH now for not really much to do. He honestly feels like a guy there to try and get Sammy Guevara cheered.

Match 4: Women's Casino Gauntlet Match

The rules of the Casino Gauntlet are as follows:

1. Wrestlers come out at random intervals

2. Wrestlers in the match are unknown (unless they have to fight for a certain spot)

3. First person to get a pinfall or submission wins

This match just ignores me because of how random and chaotic it is. Something like the Royal Rumble in WWE or Aztec Warfare in Lucha Underground or Battle Riot in MLW are all much better to me.

Anyways, we start of with Jamie Hayter and Kris Statlander. Kris has been consistently one of the best women in AEW since she arrived, and I think Hayter is somebody who should be pushed as the absolute top of the women's division. Sure she was gone with a long injury, but she is so charismatic and talented.

The next entrance comes in quickly, being the independent wrestler Megan Bayne.

She arrived in AEW years ago in mostly loosing matches, but has been wrestling in Japanese women's promotion STARDOM for a while.

They tried to treat this like a major thing and Women's Champion Mariah may on commentary (yay, another 4 person team) tried to sell it like the biggest thing ever.

The crowd popped at first, but then went quiet.

Bayne looked good and powerful, but I have not seen her wrestle before and don't know how she normally looks. She was impressively strong at moments, but AEW does not need more women signed if they aren't going to give the women's division more time.

I'll admit that they are doing a lot better, but they have years and years of history with matches going just a few minutes, and only having one per show.

The next entrant out is Julia Hart, somebody who has been embroiled in a physical feud with Jamie Hayter since she returned. Jamie goes out to fight her during her entrance to continue hostility while Kris and Megan fight it out on the floor.

While the match is in commercial break, it just becomes a bunch of moves and no real drama or story. A lot of trading moves back and forth with Megan Bayne looking impressive, but the crowd is just dead for most of it. Even when the tv feed comes back, the crowd is dead silent.

They light up to countdown from 10 though.

Willow Nightingale comes out, one of the most popular women in all of AEW due to her incredibly honest and light hearted character. The definition of a golden retriever as a wrestler in my mind. She gets laid out pretty quickly though by Bayne before helping Kris lay her out.

But then Kris and Willow are respectful friends who are happy to be together and wrestle...which makes no sense considering their last meeting was trying to kill each other in a death match. Then Kris suddenly became a babyface again with NO explanation.

Toni Storm comes out next, a wrestler who is a former 3 time Women's Champion and was the one who lost the belt to current champion Mariah May, but now Toni is going through an amnesia character arc which is...interesting.

Toni Storm is a long time veteran of wrestling and a bonafide legend who has shown next levels of creativity in AEW. Honestly one of the best AEW signees ever.

But going from her basic Steve Nicks cosplay into The Outcasts alongside Saraya and Ruby Soho into Timeless Toni Storm into this amnesia version has been so much so quickly. Good to evolve, but maybe not this much.

Out next is Harley Cameron, who is incredibly charismatic and funny...but is barely treated as much more than a jobber in AEW. (Jobbers are people who loose matches very quickly in order to make their opponents look good and strong)

We get a quick few things like Julia Hart spitting mist at Harley Cameron and some wild stuff, but then Toni Storm suddenly gets the shocking and quick win.

Result: Toni Storm pinned Julia Hart

Star Rating: 3/5 Stars

As soon as Toni begins to celebrate and Mariah laughs, the video cuts to commercial and we prepare for the main event. Way to make this historic "rematch" be treated like a big deal for a big show. Good job!

We come back from commercial and go straight into the main event.

Main Event: AEW World Heavyweight Championship Match

Jon Moxley (Champion) vs Powerhouse Hobbs (Challenger)

Moxley has been leading the Death Riders in order to try and "fix" AEW into becoming something of violence and actual wrestling skill. It's incredibly confusing and isn't all that well done anymore. They started off perfect with nearly murdering Bryan Danielson, but now they don't feel special at all. Moxley has never really looked worse in AEW in my opinion.

Meanwhile Powerhouse Hobbs is incredible and a great rookie with a bright future, the exact person who SHOULD be fighting against the Death Riders.

Before the match even started, The Death Riders came out to distract Hobbs and let Moxley attack him from behind for a cheap advantage.

They didn't even do proper announcements to make the title match feel like a big deal.

Hobbs fights back with his impressive power and strength.

It was an even match for a while, both men getting a good amount of offense until they began to fight into the crowd (why isn't this a count out?) with the crowd lighting up a but. They just brawled and traded blows back and forth, going back to the ring in a weird and unnatural way.

They got back into the ring and Hobbs tried to bite off Moxley's earring to make the match more violent and physical and dramatic I guess.

Molxey is bleeding from the ear and Hobbs keep targeting it as they continue to fight at ringside, which has been 60% of this match if not more.

Hobbs keeps targeting the wound and Moxley sells it like death, doing whatever he can to make Hobbs look as good and powerful as possible.

We come back from commercial break to more of the same action. Just trading blows and moves with blood all over the place.

Moxley ONCE AGAIN sends Hobbs to the floor, while Marina Shafir at ringside lays out Hobbs.

This match is just a lot more basic than I was expecting it to be. A whole lot of repeated strike exchanges and power moves. Hobbs hit some great moves, including a Spinning Powerslam off the top rope, but Moxley immediately goes into an Armbar after.

We get an advertisement for Collision on Saturday, which made me think of something.

On Saturday, we are getting Cope, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, Turbo Flyod, and Powerhouse Hobbs against Chris Jericho, Bryan Keith, Big Bill, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castignoli, and Pac.

I simply ask:

Why?

Why is that match happening AFTER this World Heavyweight Championship match? Why would it be announced beforehand? Why not have the match made AFTER this match or even push this match a week back?

Anyways, Wheeler Yuta runs out and lays out Hobbs on the floor while the ref is checking on Moxley. Hobbs still fights back before Marina then hits him with the briefcase holding the Championship belt and then a Death Rider (Moxley's finisher) but kicked out. THEN we get Moxley choking him out to win.

Result: Jon Moxley choked out Powerhouse Hobbs to retain

Star Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

After the match, The Deathriders run down to attack and try to injure Hobbs. They use steel chairs and break his ankle.

ONLY AFTER THEY INJURE HIM AND BREAK HIS ANKLE DO COPE AND FTR MAKE THE SAVE!? WHY COULDN'T YOU RUN DOWN SOONER AND STOP IT FROM HAPPENING!? WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL!?

AND THEN THE SHOW JUST ENDS!!!

That frustrating ending aside, I didn't dislike most of this show. It was a good watch and something that had a good crowd in a great looking arena. My only problems are just the same things that have been bugging me for weeks, like the commentary and women's division and tag division.

But overall, this show was enjoyable.

I thought it built towards the future quite a good amount, even if the future is one that I'm hesitant or pessimistic about.

An intriguing and fun show with good enough action, heavy on segments and promos, but some good moments for the live crowd.

Overall Rating: 7/10