AEW Dynamite (1/18) Preview: Two Title Matches, Danielson vs. Bandido, Hangman Talks To Renee, More
It’s Wednesday, January 18, 2023, and you know what that means!
It’s time to break down tonight’s AEW Dynamite on TBS.
AEW Dynamite looks to build off of the successful start to the year thus far. Tonight, the stars of All Elite Wrestling head to the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, with new champions and returning faces.
Tonight’s episode will feature Bryan Danielson in a dream match against Bandido, two championship matches, Hangman Page sitting down with Renee Paquette, and more.
Here’s everything you need to know before tonight’s AEW Dynamite on TBS.
Hangman Page Sits Down With Renee Paquette
In what could prove to be a very awkward interview, Hangman Page will speak with Renee Paquette, the wife of Jon Moxley, on tonight’s episode. Page and Moxley have developed a heated rivalry. Last week, Jon Moxley required medical attention following his match with Hangman. In the past, Hangman has said that a concussion he received following a match with Jon Moxley caused him to forget his son’s name for a short time. Hangman and Renee are professionals, but tensions may be high during tonight’s interview.
Darby Defends Against KUSHIDA
Tonight, KUSHIDA walks through the Forbidden Door as he challenges Darby Allin for the AEW TNT Championship. A star of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, KUSHIDA recently picked up a victory in X-Division action on the countdown show before IMPACT Hard to Kill 2023. Darby, a daredevil in his own right, is all for challenges and looks to turn back his second TNT Title challenger just two weeks after he captured the belt from Samoa Joe.
The Young Bucks Look To Ground Top Flight And Assert Their Dominance
Tonight, Matt and Nick Jackson, The Young Bucks will face the challenge of Dante and Darius Martin, Top Flight. These two brother tandems will meet in a colliding of eras. Top Flight has recently been trying to prove that they are the future of tag team wrestling. On the other hand, The Young Bucks, fresh off their Trios Title victory with Kenny Omega, look to prove that they are still the Best in the World.
In what is surely seen as a dream match, Dante and Darius have the chance to change the landscape of tag team wrestling with a strong victory tonight.
Danielson vs. Bandido
Bryan Danielson must win every match between now and February 8 in order to make sure he faces MJF for the AEW World Championship at AEW Revolution. Tonight, Danielson’s journey puts him in front of Bandido after successfully defeating Konosuke Takeshita last week. In a battle of former Ring of Honor world champions, Bryan Danielson looks to take Bandido to the Limit en route to getting his hands on MJF.
Ricky Starks Takes On Jake Hager And His Hat
Ricky Starks is firmly embroiled in a rivalry with Chris Jericho and the Jericho Appreciation Society, and tonight, he will take on “Rock Hard” Jake Hager, who likes his hat. Ricky looks to maintain momentum after scoring a major pinfall victory over Chris Jericho. On the other side, Jake is looking to slap Ricky’s face off his face.
With many potential outside factors at play, including Chris Jericho and the rest of the JAS and the potential appearance of Action Andretti, the upstart that recently defeated Chris Jericho and has formed a bond with Ricky Starks, this match tonight may prove to be one volatile situation.
Willow Nightingale vs. Toni Storm
Tonight, Willow Nightingale and Toni Storm will meet one-on-one to move up the AEW women’s division rankings. Neither has animosity toward the other, and both are coming off the backend of tag team bouts. Willow picked up a win when she teamed with Ruby Soho on AEW Rampage in a Street Fight against Anna Jay A.S. and Tay Melo. As for Toni Storm, she suffered a loss alongside Saraya to Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter last week.
Tonight, both women look to move forward in a singles capacity at the expense of the other. The good news is that fans will witness a match between two of the brightest stars in the division.
Jay Lethal Looks To Take Orange Cassidy’s Top Prize Away
Jay Lethal wrestles Orange Cassidy tonight, and if he can beat him, he will win his first title in AEW, the All-Atlantic Championship. Orange Cassidy has been burning the belt at both ends, defending the gold any chance he gets. Tonight, Jay Lethal looks to exploit Cassidy’s willingness to be a fighting champion and add to his impressive legacy.
The updated card for the January 18 episode of AEW Dynamite is as follows:
AEW Dynamite (1/18)
- Hangman Page speaks with Renee Paquette
- Toni Storm vs. Willow Nightingale
- Bryan Danielson vs. Bandido
- Ricky Starks vs. Jake Hager
- Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)
- AEW All-Atlantic Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Jay Lethal
- TNT Championship Match: Darby Allin (c) vs. KUSHIDA
Fightful has live coverage of AEW Dynamite every Wednesday night as it airs on TBS. We will also have a podcast breaking down all the action after the show goes off the air on our YouTube channel.
