8 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (January 3 - Results & Review)

By Michael Hamflett /

1. Konosuke Takeshita Vs Darby Allin

Darby Allin Vs Konosuke Takeshita was much more than just a glorious festival of wrestler-on-wrestler violence, but what a festival it was.

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Yet more evidence that the company might have been looking at the turning over of the calendar as an excuse to just rip up what didn’t work in 2023, the agenting of Takeshita as the latest Darby-killer was a giant leap even more pronounced than the top rope German suplex he folded Allin’s body up with. Patience with praise should be extended here - many wrestlers have their best night in AEW smashing Allin half to death - but it was impossible to hold back screams of joy watching the action itself. Great wrestling has never been more normalised than right now, but this broke through the rote stylings in the first 20 seconds and didn’t stop to check itself as it roared along.

Almost as encouraging as the match itself was the booking. Takeshita went over strong here, and riding a wave of momentum Don Callis offered up a tag match for next week’s show featuring Sting and Powerhouse Hobbs as the respective partners. In this, he noted the babyfaces’ unbeaten record, and how the Callis Family were ready to snap it. The power, and Takeshita and Hobbs are tentatively back.

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They won’t get it done of course, but the mere mention of all of this drives yet more speculation towards whatever captivating choice the company makes for Sting’s last night in March. FTR? The Young Bucks? Ricky Starks & Big Bill for the belts? If it means a return to a rankings-based product, beating the latter duo and retiring on top would be a wonderful way to close out ‘The Stinger’s iconic and legendary run.