AEW Dynamite Maximum Carnage Review. 15.1.2026.
Samoa Joe Segment.
AEW kicked off the show with Samoa Joe stating that he's not done with Hangman Adam Page, and he's hired a bounty hunter to take him out, enter stage left Bryan Keith. I'm done with this Samoa Joe, and Hangman Adam Page storyline. It's needs to be brought to an end, because this started off last September, and were now in mid January. I mean seriously.
Pac vs Darby Allin.
I loved this. From the start both of these two thought in the fans, before the Match had even got underway. Pac used the ring steps with the essence of ultra violence, and Darby got thrown around like a wet hoodie with ease by Pac. The man from Newcastle Upon Tyne owned Darby throughout most of the Match as his dominance sold the story. Darby was allowed to come into his own towards the end of the Match. The interference spots that came Wheeler Yuta allowed for Darby to get the win, after he had some ankle fun with Pac, making him submit. This was a class opening affair, that I enjoyed very much.
Bryan Keith vs Hangman Adam Page.
This Match followed the template of how I thought this would play out. It was predictable, rushed, and if i'm honest flat. Hangman got the win, and hello Swerve Strickland. but it was came next that stole the early part of the show. Hangman took to the mic and said that he's going to take everything away from Samoa Joe. I'm not interested. Swerve Strickland then called out MJF, and said that he wants his gold back. This brought out Kenny Omega. I loved all of this. This looks like clear direction for when AEW goes to Australia next month with the winner facing MJF at Revolution. All three men showed each other respect, and then then the ring cleared, giving Kenny time to talk to the fans, but TDCWO had other ideas. I liked the dynamics here. Kenny tried to stand his ground, but this was done at the behest of Don Callis after Kenny issued to face anyone from his crew, but Don turned this down and said that he decides when this will happen, so Next week Kenny Omega will face Josh Alexander, and I can't wait to see it unfold.
Brody King Commits Murder On Live TV.
Here lys John Crews, he came, he saw, he got killed by Brody King. He will be missed as MJF's talking lackey.
Mark Davis And Jake Doyle vs Jetspeed vs GOA vs The Young Bucks Tornado Tag Team Match.
With the winners going on to face FTR at a later Aussie date when you think about it, this Match did what it said on the tin. It was a party good time Match, and that's what I got from this. The flow was solid, and the Matches within the Match gave way for the story to be told. The near falls came in thick and fast as the finish was just around the corner. Davis and Boyle got the win, and then had a face with FTR. This is going to be a stomper when it goes down in Australia.
Cosmic Babes Of Wrath vs Triangle Of Madness.
As much as I like the talent involved in this Match, overall this wasn't for me. The in ring work went from good to phoned in, and by the fact that Statlander who's the AEW Womens champion took the pin, said everything that I needed to know, this was a Match that needed more time, but my question is this. Would more time have helped this Match? I'm undecided.
MJF vs Bandido AEW World Championship.
I loved this. When you isolate this Match, and take a deep dive after watching this from the start. This was a perfect TV Match. It was easily Matched in the levels that both men used to perform there offence. This was Mexican style meeting together with pure bred Americana, and it was glorious. The pace of the Match came in stages. the first slow and methodic. The second high pace, and the third, which gave way for the final sequences to play out, was rapid speed. Max paid shade to Bryan Danielson by finishing Bandido with the labelle lock. Max later praised Bandido stating that he's going to be a World Champion in AEW one day, he laughed at first, then admitted that those who told him this, were right. This meant that he has to show his real hand, so he did. Dynamite Maximum Carnage came to an end with Max decking Bandido, pulling back the curtain on his devil persona. Because in reality Satan wears two faces. And his name is Maxwell. Brody King vs MJF in Australia. Yes please.
Overview of AEW Dynamite Maximum Carnage.
This was a solid outing for AEW, and the definition of day and night from last weeks show. The in ring work felt a bit more crisp, and storylines developed a bit more with creative ease.
AEW Dynamite Maximum Carnage is an decent 8/10.