9 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (5 Jan - Review)

1. Samoa Joe vs. Darby Allin

Darby Allin is the new AEW TNT Champion, having defeated Samoa Joe to capture the strap on Dynamite. In victory, he follows in Sammy Guevara and Cody Rhodes' footsteps, becoming the third man to hold the belt more than once, giving him a shot at building on his excellent, excellent first reign after a solid placeholder run from Joe.

Confetti fell from the rafters as a jubilant celebration played out. Out came Sting, too, for what might be one of their last onscreen appearances together before flying to Japan for The Great Muta's final match later this month. It felt like a suitably triumphant, feel-good moment to close the first Dynamite of 2023. Here's hoping it sets the tone for the rest of the year.

The match was a pulse-pounder. Operating at a similar level to their great December clash, Joe and Allin set a furious pace thanks to the ringside Nick Wayne, who was greeted by Darby and attacked by Joe. Allin went nuts following this. Diving on Joe before the bell, he swarmed the bigger man, taking him all the way up the ramp and ollying onto his back from the stage. Darby being Darby, he then pulled out a ladder and dived on the TNT Champion atop the stage.

Minutes later, Darby was taking the bout's most brutal bump as Joe launched him back-first into the edge of the ring step. A more conventional match then played out, with the TNT Champion flattening his opponent's knee. This domineering, bullying performance from the veteran proved that for all the understandable talk of his physical decline, Joe is still Joe when given the right opponent. Darby is the right opponent - and long may they take lumps out of each other.