AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights From January 22

All Elite Wrestling presented the January 22 edition of Dynamite live from the Knoxville Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee, promising big action and top-star appearances.

The World Tag Team Championships were on the line in a battle between Private Party and The Hurt Syndicate. Could Isiah Kassidy and Marq survive the powerful alliance of Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin?

The Rated R Superstar Cope continued his journey toward earning a World Championship opportunity by battling The Death Riders' Pac. Could he defeat the former multiple-time AEW champion?

Kenny Omega would come face to face with Will Ospreay, who has recently had his back in the battle with The Don Callis Family. What would both men have to say?

Julia Hart and Jamie Hayter once more met one on one. Could Hayter avenge her loss, or would she continue to suffer in the wake of Hart's darkness?

Swerve Strickland also returned to an old rivalry and friendship in a battle with AR Fox. Would his mind stay focused on the action with Ricochet watching closely?

This was a major show highlighted by the veteran talent of AEW, which is looking to make major statements about its future in 2025.

Will Ospreay tried to play nice with Kenny Omega, but The Cleaner said he would "never trust" The Aerial Assassin. Don Callis arrived, and Omega went right after him.

Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher saved Callis and battered Omega and Ospreay. When the tide began to turn, Lance Archer and Brian Cage came out to uneven the odds again.

Omega and Ospreay dived onto the crowd and then climbed one of the support beams together. The Cleaner admitted he could trust Ospreay and challenge Takeshita and Fletcher to a tag team match at Grand Slam: Australia.

A short opening promo broke out into a brawl that was basically a short match for how much action was packed in. They used the unique setup of the arena for an exciting brawl.

AEW has not opened this hot in a long time, and that is not just because Omega and Ospreay were involved. This wild energy feels uniquely AEW.

Even if Omega forgiving and trusting Ospreay over just ten minutes was rushed, the story still worked wonders. They looked too good together not to team more in the future.

The tag team match for Grand Slam should be a major selling point for that event in Brisbane, Australia. It is likely to steal the show.

Grade

A

Notable Moments

• "Kenny" chants echoed through the arena after his arrival to Battle Cry.
• Ospreay clarified that he wanted to go after Jon Moxley, but The Don Callis Family kept getting in his way.
• The Aerial Assassin hesitated to help The Cleaner but eventually went after Fletcher with a clear focus.
• The fight went all the way to the merchandise stand where Omega and Ospreay suplexed Archer through a table.

The Hurt Syndicate hurt Private Party throughout this match. While Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen fought hard, Shelton Benjamin held the ring while Bobby Lashley hit a pair of Spears to seal the win and title change.

This was the best performance of Lashley's short AEW career so far, delivering an impactful performance alongside Benjamin.

The veterans looked dominant while still making Private Party look great in their final effort with the gold. It was the kind of match the champions needed more time to deliver.

The right team won, but it does not make Private Party's loss hurt any less.

Timing is everything, and AEW did not allow Private Party to capitalize on their momentum once Zay and Quen won the gold.

Just two title defenses in less than three months with the titles did not allow the now former champions to stand out.

This does not diminish the match or moment on Dynamite, but it shows a lack of foresight in the tag team division, which has hurt this aspect of AEW for a while.

Hopefully, with Lashley and Benjamin as the two dominant forces at the top of the division, a clearer picture will form to make Private Party, Top Flight, and other rising young teams take the next step.

Result

The Hurt Syndicate def. Private Party by pinfall to become the new World tag team champions.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• MVP joined commentary while also calling the shots. He directed Lashley to send Zay through the announce table early.
• While the crowd was split at first, it was clear that the fans got fully behind the brutality of The Hurt Syndicate.
  

Jeff Jarrett apologized for getting in the gutter with MJF last week and promised to deal with The Salt of the Earth away from the cameras.

The Last Outlaw then called out Jon Moxley, still wanting a world title shot. Claudio Castagnoli attacked him from behind. They agreed to a match next week where Jarrett would get his title shot if he won.

This was significantly better than last week, but Jarrett is still not delivering like the veteran he is on the microphone. He is stumbling over his words and struggling to keep the crowd.

The best part of this segment was how the Death Riders handled the situation. Although they have struggled to deliver a cohesive vision in recent months, this was a strong start to rebuilding.

Claudio stepping up to put down potential challengers to Moxley is a perfect role for him. He should beat Jarrett decisively next week.

Grade

C+

Notable Moments

• After blasting him with an uppercut, Claudio told Jarrett that no one would get to Moxley without first going through him.
• Mariah May delivered a pre-taped warning to Toni Storm ahead of their meeting next week.
• Storm responded in an interview but was quickly interrupted by Harley Cameron. They went full Australian as they considered heading back home for Grand Slam.

• AEW aired a hype video for Megan Bayne, promising that this was only the beginning of her career with the company.

Ricochet distracted Swerve Strickland until Prince Nana ran him off. AR Fox was close to an upset thanks to the distraction, but The Mogul found his footing for a House Call and Swerve Stomp for the win.

The One and Only interrupted the celebration, threatening Nana with the scissors. Ricochet promised he would speak his mind next week.

Swerve remains the gold standard for stardom in AEW. His reign of world titles elevated him to the top of the business, and he remains in that spot, making every segment matter.

His rivalry with Ricochet has already elevated The One and Only as a character performer, and this feud is as good as anything in AEW right now.

This match was a good reminder of what Fox can do, though he might have gotten a bit too much offense against a former world champion.

Maybe this is a sign that Fox will be used more often in future weeks to sell why he is more than a glorified enhancement veteran on this roster.

Result

Swerve def. Fox by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Ricochet was shown backstage with the golden scissors in his pocket.
• After the win, Swerve and Fox showed each other respect, indicating their friendship may be fixed.
• Ricochet said that he was the new "landlord" in AEW with rent now due.
• Swerve delivered his own warning to Ricochet later, promising to get him before their singles match in February.
  

MJF interrupted Hangman Adam Page's time to deliver a strong warning to Jeff Jarrett that he will come crawling back to him after Claudio Castagnoli beats his brains in.

After demanding The Salt of the Earth leave, The Cowboy made quick work of his opponent with a clothesline.

Afterward, Hangman hit his opponent with the Angel's Wings. Christopher Daniels arrived in a neck brace to tell The Cowboy that he would never wrestle again after their match on Collision.

As another direct response to last week's terrible segment, MJF rebounded with a simple, straightforward promo that delivered his primary point: Jarrett will soon realize how much he needs MJF.

The tease of Hangman vs. MJF was a welcome sight, setting up an interesting rival in the future that could help turn The Cowboy face again.

What has made Hangman such a big star in AEW is that his character motivations are always consistent. He may be the heel at present, but realizing what he did to his former friend affected him.

This was far more promo than match, and it was most effective in that way. Hopefully, these hints will play out in a big way because these teases may lead to some of AEW's biggest moments in 2025.

Result

Hangman def. local competitor by pinfall.

Grade

A

Notable Moments

• Hangman was visibly shaken after realizing he had retired Daniels and pushed the camera out of his face.
• Harley Cameron sang a song for Mercedes Moné to convince her to put up the TBS Championship at Grand Slam. The CEO refused.
• During the New York Minute, Chris Jericho challenged Big Bill to make Powerhouse Hobbs pay for beating The Learning Tree.
• Hobbs responded with a warning that he would find Bill in the parking lot on Collision.
  

Jamie Hayter came out striking viciously against Julia Hart, clearly more motivated to win this rematch. She blasted Hart with the Hayterade for the victory.

Afterward, Hayter grabbed a microphone to put over Hart, agreeing to a rubber match whenever her new rival wanted it.

This was an improvement on the first clash between these two, moving at a much brisker pace that serves Hayter's style.

It was hard-hitting and it sold that Hart is still trying to figure herself out in a new landscape. Hopefully, their third clash will get the necessary spotlight and possibly a stipulation to make the most of this trilogy.

These two should be at the forefront of AEW's 2025 plans for the women's division. Later in the year, they could be interesting rivals for Mercedes Moné or Mariah May.

Result

Hayter def. Hart by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

• Hart's entrance was updated from "The House Always Wins" to "The Hart Always Wins".
• Brody King, Buddy Matthews and Hart delivered an emphatic message about their future, clearly moving on without Malakai Black.
  

"The Bastad" Pac found an opening to target and injure "The Rated-R Superstar" Cope, focusing on his neck. Cope struggled to return but hit a pair of Spears into a TKO for the win.

Afterward, The Death Riders revealed they had attacked the Rock 'N' Roll Express in the back and tied up FTR. They headed to the ring to attack Cope until Jay White tried to make the save, only to get laid out as well.

As White was held down, Jon Moxley choked out Cope with the Bulldog Choke until he passed out. He promised that he would break Cope's neck next time if he did not back off.

Cope can still deliver in the ring as he showed once again in the intense main event. The systematic attack on The Rated R Superstar's neck sold his vulnerability and sold the possibility of a shock loss.

The Death Riders finally did what they should have done weeks ago, taking out FTR and The Rock 'N' Roll Express with emphatic focus.

This almost felt like a reset for the group, reminding everyone of their brutality. While White worrying about Cope only somewhat made sense, it does set him up as a welcome next challenger to Moxley at Grand Slam: Australia.

Overall, this was as good as the Death Riders vs. Rated FTR story has ever been, even if it was mostly to make up for recent missteps in selling Moxley as an unrepentant destroyer.

Result

Cope def. Pac by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

• These two fought viciously on the outside until Pac sent Cope's neck into the steel of the apron. He stomped repeatedly on the neck until the referee forced him off.
• Cope finally got back into the action with a big clothesline and Impaler.
• A pair of Brutalizers nearly won, leaving Cope selling his neck as if he could not compete.

Despite lacking the loaded card of previous weeks, especially due to travel issues limiting the available roster, this was the best show AEW delivered in 2025.

Every segment moved the company's key stories forward. The action was consistently strong, even if the show lacked a clear show-stealer.

The best part was the energy. Perhaps due to the limited roster, nothing was rushed, allowing each moment to shine.

Opening with an arena brawl and ending with a brutal stable beatdown highlighted what AEW has always done well, elevating the tension in the biggest stories.

With the large roster, AEW understandably cannot keep every week this tight and focused, but this is a strong example of how the company should lean in 2025.

Overall Grade: A-