5 Ups & 8 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Jan 8)

1. Moxley Swerves The Inner Circle

One might expect a glowing review for the biggest Up in a weekly column that leans positive more often than not. Not this week, though. The Jon Moxley/Inner Circle segment was good and yes, it accomplished what it needed to, though it wasn't anywhere near as electric as some of AEW's other big angles.

Nonetheless, this was a decent execution of a classic layout. The Inner Circle buttered Moxley up, with Chris Jericho putting him over as his "friend and protégé", and the ruse was well-played. The group celebrated with a little bit of the bubbly after Moxley unzipped his jacket to reveal a custom Inner Circle tee and pledged to stand alongside "the most dominant and influential force in AEW," and his music hit, signifying would usually be the end of the segment. Not this time, though.

"I forgot one thing," Mox said. "Chris, I was just kidding. I would never join the Inner Circle; it's a stupid group and you have nothing that I want... except that."

He was, of course, talking about the AEW Championship, and the segment finally heated up as Moxley smashed the bubbly bottle over 'Le Champion's' skull, then hit the bricks before Jake Hager could cave his skull in.

Predictable? Perhaps. Fun? Absolutely, and the Jericho vs. Moxley feud can now begin properly.