AEW Dynamite Maximum Carnage live results: MJF vs. Bandido
AEW Maximum Carnage takes place tonight in Phoenix.
The AEW World Championship will be on the line when MJF defends against Ring of Honor World Champion Bandido, who earned the title shot by winning the Dynamite Diamond Ring.
Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega is set to return on tonight’s show.
Darby Allin vs. PAC is also scheduled. PAC is the lone member of The Death Riders that Darby has yet to defeat.
Four teams will compete for a chance to earn an AEW World Tag Team title match, as The Young Bucks face GOA, JetSpeed, and The Don Callis Family’s Jake Doyle and Mark Davis.
AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander will team with AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale against The Triangle of Madness: Thekla, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue.
AEW Maximum Carnage takes place at Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage comes on the air with Excalibur & Bryan Danielson, as they run down tonight’s card before we head backstage to Samoa Joe earlier today and said there’s never enough time to deal with fools and their foolishness. Adam Page is one of those fools, as The Opps need to prepare for their Trios Title Match on Collision, so he put out a bounty. The bounty has been posted and the hunter has come to claim his prize. Bryan Keith walks in and said three years ago, Page beat his ass like he stole something, but now, Keith is a different man who will make it personal and cash in, pay up!
Renee Paquette is in the crowd talking about the history between these two and Darby Allin nearly breaking PAC’s ankle last week to get this upcoming match. PAC has won both their singles matches previously and has been firing on all cylinders since his return, but never count out Darby Allin.
Darby Allin vs. PAC
(We’ve grown accustomed to Allin getting beaten up pretty violently and this was no different. The bumps he took were pretty gnarly, making you wonder, like always, how he’s able to walk out on his own when the match is over. I liked how the previous strategy by PAC that got him a win earlier in their feud, backfired and I’m interested in seeing where Allin goes from here, now that he’s conquered all of the Death Riders. Hopefully a run at the AEW Title could be in his future.)
Death Riders accompanied PAC through the crowd and they stopped by Paquette, where he told them all he’s going to do this by himself. They granted his wishes, as Justin Roberts was introducing PAC, who was leveled with a Tope Suicida by Allin, sending him over the barricade, as they brawl into the crowd before the match officially begins. There’s a point where we can barely see them fighting, it’s so dark, but we do catch Allin delivering a Coffin Drop off one of the upper levels. PAC stumbles back to ringside, scrambling away until he side-stepped a charging Allin with a German Suplex on the floor. PAC repositioned the steps and delivered a violent belly-to-belly, thrashing Allin’s back. Both men are back in the ring, as Allin told referee Paul Turner to ring the bell, as PAC immediately hit his sprinting lariat that turned Allin inside out. Placing Allin under the middle rope, PAC guillotined him, but again, Allin kicked out. PAC sent Allin landing face first off a huge back drop, as we go to commercial with PAC in firm control.
Back from break, Allin fought his way out of the corner connecting with a missile dropkick. Danielson talked about the pain he always felt delivering that move, he can’t imagine what Allin is feeling after that suplex into the steps. Allin continues firing up, but sprinted right into a release overhead suplex into the corner. PAC quickly brought Allin up top, this time with an Avalanche Belly-to-Belly, but wasn’t finished, as he connected with an Awesome Bomb from the ring and onto the entrance ramp. PAC waited in the corner, as Allin broke the count at 9 and flipped PAC off, as he jumped to the mat and seemed to tweak his previously injured ankle. Allin pounced, as he sent PAC outside and hit a Coffin Drop off the top, then another onto the apron, landing his own back just as much as PAC. Back inside, referee Turner got too close asking PAC if he wanted to continue in the corner, as PAC pulled him in and Turner took the bullet from a charging Allin.
With the referee down, Allin shot a double leg and sank in the Scorpion Death Lock, as PAC tapped, but called for the troops. Wheeler Yuta sprinted out with a chair, but suffered a Scorpion Death Drop. Allin hit another on PAC before placing the chair around the injured ankle. Allin Pillmanized PAC’s ankle with a Coffin Drop from the corner before re-applying the Scorpion Death Lock and PAC tapped out right as Paul Turner recovered. Post-match, Allin rolled to the ramp, as the rest of the Death Riders checked on PAC. Bryan Danielson questions if with this win and defeating all of the Death Riders, will this bring Allin peace?
Match Result: Darby Allin submitted PAC
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Hangman Adam Page vs. Bryan Keith (w/Big Bill)
(This was Keith’s first singles match on Dynamite since February of last year and while I firmly believe Chris Jericho is WWE bound, it’s a shame we never got a pay-off to The Learning Tree. Keith & Bill have seemed to be floundering ever since and I don’t think that should be the case, as Keith showed tonight he can certainly hang as a singles, while Bill always can be a heater for whomever. After a solid match, the post-match was a bigger story, as Page, Strickland & Omega all made their intentions known and it’s not a matter of if, but when, these three will collide on their quest to getting a World Title shot.)
Keith tried a sneak attack, but Page avoided and Keith almost collided with Bill, only to put on the brakes in time. A quick early scramble led to Page clocking Keith with a big boot and corner forearms before connecting on his springing clothesline and slingshot cross body to the outside. Page stares down Bill, as that brief delay allowed Keith to get one shot in until Page bounced back with clubbing blows. Back inside, Keith took a rolling elbow flush, but Bill tripped up Page, allowing Keith to fire off an uppercut headbutt. The Bounty Hunter controlled the action heading to break.
When things returned, Page no sold a corner big boot, but Keith lured him in with a drop toe hold into the corner buckle, followed by an Exploder for two. Keith charged, only to run into a Page fall away slam, as Keith answered with a roll-up and overhead suplex into the corner for another near fall. A visibly frustrated took too long to follow-up, as Page spun out of a Tiger Driver, looked for a Buckshot, but was tripped by Bill again. Keith missed a baseball slide, Page missed a moonsault off the apron, as Keith slid back in and took the ref, as Bill grabbed Page, wanted a choke slam, but Swerve Strickland flew in with the chain and choked out Bill. This allowed Page to clobber Keith with a Buckshot Lariat and get the pin.
Post-match, Page grabbed the mic and said called Keith a dumbass before telling Samoa Joe he’s going to take everything from him. Strickland said he has a message for MJF, if he is victorious tonight, it means he lost, as WE will be coming after him relentlessly. Page & Strickland look right at the camera, as Strickland said it’s been a while since he’s had a World Title around his waist, as this year, we get back on the top of the mountain and make this Swerve’s House.
Kenny Omega’s music hits and even he was surprised by the amount of pyro he got. Omega, Page & Strickland all share the ring, with Page giving a smile, while Strickland didn’t look very happy. Omega said he had his own time etched out for what he was going to say, but why not come out here now when three of the greatest AEW Champions are sharing a ring. Omega doesn’t want to speak for anyone else, but it feels like they have something in common. When the fans called Omega the God of Pro Wrestling, it meant something and if they still believe, so does Omega. Being an EVP, you can’t just snap your fingers and get a title shot, you have to earn a shot, so he’s got to get some wins, so whether it’s friend or foe, he’s coming for that belt. Page said unfortunately, this isn’t a team effort, so if they cross paths on the way to the championship, sincerely, may the best man win. Page & Omega shook hands, as Page left the ring, with Strickland giving a long stare at Omega before leaving with Prince Nana.
Omega was going to hit his go home line, when the Don Callis face appeared on the Tron and he came to the stage with Lance Archer, Josh Alexander & Rocky Romero, saying he has something important to say. Callis said Omega wants to wrestle, kid? How about you wrestle against the man who broke Kota Ibushi’s leg, Josh Alexander. Omega told Uncle Don he could barely hear him over the fans booing, but tells Alexander he has a little bit of time, tonight. If the fans want it and Tony Khan wants it, he’s ready to go, but Callis stopped Alexander. Callis said Omega forgot how their relationship works, you do what daddy says, daddy decides what happens when matches happen up in here and it’s next week on Dynamite. The Callis Family leaves, as Omega said today was a big first step, phase 1, of Kenny Omega becoming AEW World Champion once again. Omega hit his Goodbye (smooch) and Goodnight line.
Match Result: Hangman Adam Page defeated Bryan Keith
-Renee Paquette is walking backstage with Brody King, asking his thoughts on tonight’s main event, when they’re interrupted by Jon Cruz, telling him to tell his masked friend to never put his hands on him again. King said that’s fine, but up next is a standby match and Cruz said he’s wearing a suit, he can’t wrestle before scurrying away. That slaughter, I mean, match, is up next.
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Brody King vs. Jon Cruz
Cruz sprinted to the ring, running for his life, as King stalked him down. The bell sounded and Cruz tried a cross body and bounced off King like a bouncy ball before being turned into a mannequin after a big forearm. King missed a corner charge, as Cruz quickly went up top for a dive, but King swatted him out of the air like a fly before hitting a Gonzo Bomb for the easy win.
Post-match, King took the mic and told Bandido he wants to see him kick MJF’s ass, as it’ll be an honor to face Bandido for the AEW Title and walk away champion.
Match Result: Brody King defeated Jon Cruz
-Video package on MJF’s return, winning the AEW World Title at World’s End, Bandido winning the Dynamite Diamond Ring and their face-off last week. This was a good video leading to tonight’s main event.
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. G.O.A. (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) vs. JetSpeed (Kevin Knight & Speedball Mike Bailey) vs. Don Callis Family (Mark Davis & Jake Doyle w/Don Callis) for a Future Shot at the AEW World Tag Team Titles
(This was one hell of a party match and chaos the entire time, with tags not being necessary. I would’ve called this a Tornado Tag in that aspect, but regardless, every team got a chance to shine, especially the new duo of Doyle & Davis. Commentary really put over how big of an upset this was, with this being their first time teaming, but they more than held their own. I really hope we get them as a permanent duo going forward and this isn’t a temporary type deal. I’m looking forward to seeing the Tag Title match with them & FTR, whenever that might be, we weren’t told at this moment when it would happen.)
Ricochet & Callis join commentary, as the bell sounds and JetSpeed & The Bucks hit double dives on G.O.A, Davis & Doyle before facing off in the middle of the ring, slugging it out. Each team had the other scouted perfectly, until G.O.A, Davis & Doyle cleaned house and both of these teams face-off, but never go at it, as JetSpeed flew in with double dropkicks. JetSpeed & The Bucks do a double chicken fight to hit dueling DDT’s, as Matt, Knight & Bailey all tried dives, but were caught, resulting in Nick doing a springboard somersault dive onto the entire pile. Taking turns delivering 10 corner punches to Davis & Doyle, both miss charges, run into each other, which seemed to hype one another up. JetSpeed & The Bucks fire off superkicks and try a double BTE Trigger, but Davis & Doyle his a quadruple powerbomb on both teams. Liona ended up being the last man standing, as he floated over the corner onto the apron and did a moonsault onto the pile, which popped the entire crowd and leaving Ricochet cackling on commentary heading into break.
Things return with Knight trying a rolling leaping lariat, but Doyle threw himself at him with a huge body block in mid-air. Nick floated over a double hip toss, as Matt joined for a huge assisted pop-up dropkick before sending Davis crashing outside. Nick floated over and punted Davis in the face, Matt hit his somersault stunner off the apron. The match breaks down back in the ring, as JetSpeed & The Bucks hit stereo quadruple dives from the top before Knight ate a Superkick, Bailey matrixed out, pump kick, leg sweep, moonsault double knees, as Knight flew in with a springboard lariat on Matt for the reset.
Doyle tried an Awful Waffle on Nick, but Kaun put a stop to it, causing Doyle to tumble outside. G.O.A. lay waste to The Bucks, as Fall From Grace (the former Open The Gates) takes out Nick, but Knight broke the count. Liona tried a double Samoan Drop on The Bucks, but Bailey miraculously hit Ultimate Weapon onto the pile before Knight flew half way across the ring with a UFO Splash for two. Kaun broke up the count, as Bailey charged, only to eat a Superkick from The Bucks, who ramped up a Superkick Party. Liona ate four of them before Bailey was set-up and took enough of a bounce back double stomp powerbomb combo. Knight took a BTE Trigger, as Ricochet left commentary and pulled Rick Knox out of the ring during the count. Ricochet said he can’t be disqualified, as Jack Perry flew in off camera and brawled with Ricochet into the crowd.
Davis & Doyle were left in the ring with JetSpeed, as Bailey fired off multiple kicks, round house to Doyle and Time Adventure to Davis before trying a corner hurricanrana on Doyle, who held on, rolled up and launched Bailey onto the pile outside. Davis quickly grabbed Knight, pulled him up by the legs into a stuff piledriver to get the win.
Post-match, FTR’s music hits and the AEW Tag Team Champions walk out pushing Stokely in a wheel chair. Davis & Doyle mockingly applaud as Wheeler & Harwood get in the ring, hold their titles up and have a face-off before Davis & Doyle start the brawl. Security & referees hit the ring, as Callis said his guys need to pound those two hillbillies. FTR retreat, as Stokely watched on from his wheelchair, sadly no miracle tonight and he didn’t get to his feet.
Match Result: Mark Davis & Jake Doyle defeated The Young Bucks, JetSpeed & G.O.A. to Earn a Future Shot at the AEW World Tag Team Titles when Davis pinned Knight
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-Excalibur gives a nice tribute to Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir, who we’re told was a friend of Tony Khan.
-Sky Flight are backstage and said Collision this week is a big week for them. New member Zayda Steel called out Marina Shafir saying she a bully of bullies. Top Flight can change El Clon being said Fletcher & Josh Alexander aren’t ready for what’s next. Scorpio Sky said everyone is worried about what’s next, when they should be worried about the now. Christopher Daniels said the morning doesn’t matter when you can’t survive the night. We’re told Sky Flight vs. El Clon, Fletcher & Alexander and also Steel vs. Shafir will happen on Saturday.
AEW Women’s Champion Kris Statlander & AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Babes of Wrath (TBS Champion Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron) vs. Triangle of Madness (Thekla, Julia Hart & Skye Blue)
(It’s about time Thekla gets a big win, as they’ve been teasing having her in the title picture for a while now. I did like how they had Statlander take the bullet for her former long-time rival and it ultimately led to the finish. Another title match down the line that should be good whenever it happens.)
Statlander won the early exchange with Hart, before using Cameron for an assisted splash and near fall. Hart ran into a high kick from Cameron, who followed up with a Sling Blade for another near fall. Nightingale tagged in, planted Hart and used Cameron with a cazadora splash. Hart finally got a jawbreaker to break free and tag Blue, who hit a cartwheel forearm in the corner. Blue charged and ate just enough of a Nightingale enzugiri. Quick series of sliding strikes to Blue, which Excalibur said is called the Long Island Railroad. Cameron was decked from behind, allowing Blue to recover and control the action heading into break.
Cameron was worked over the entire break, as Sisters of Sin stopped Nightingale & Statlander from initially making the hot tag, only to be beaten down by Statlander, who did make the tag and faced off with Thekla. Front-face driver from Statlander, as Hart tried a sneak attack, but was caught into a back breaker, while Blue was catapulted into the corner. Running corner charges to Thekla led to a spinning fisherman’s driver, but Blue made the save and spiked Statlander with a DDT. Nightingale planted a posing Blue with a spinebuster, but Thekla took her head off with a Buzzsaw Kick. Cameron returned with a backstabber, allowing Statlander to make the legal tag to Cameron, who hit a Sling Blade to Thekla’s feet, causing Statlander to swing her down face first to the mat. Nightingale backpacked Cameron onto a splash on Thekla, but Sisters of Sin broke the count and laid out Cameron with their spinning side slam.
Thekla took out Statlander, but Nightingale met her with a discus lariat. Nightingale wanted a Doctor Bomb, which Thekla spun out of, did her Spider pose, went to Spear Nightingale, but Statlander took the bullet. Curb Stomp delivered to Statlander, as Thekla pinned the AEW Women’s Champ.
Match Result: Triangle of Madness defeated Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron when Thekla pinned Statlander
-Renee Paquette is backstage with JetSpeed talking about their rocky start to 2026. Swerve Strickland interrupts and said whenever he & Bailey mix it up in AEW, they’re going to have a fire match. Strickland told Knight he’s the future of this business and his time is coming. Before Knight could respond, Hangman Page walks in and said he told Samoa Joe he would take everything from him and said this Saturday, he takes the Trios Titles from him this Saturday. Hangman & JetSpeed against The Opps, which Bailey was shocked and asked if Page was for real. Page said of course, he just made the match and walked away with JetSpeed high fiving.
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-A quick video of a dancing mushroom graphic is shown, saying The Rascalz are coming soon to AEW
MJF vs. ROH World Champion Bandido for the AEW Men’s World Title
(A great main event that felt very refreshing as the heel champion didn’t resort to any sort of cheating, aside from an eye poke early in the match. While I don’t think many thought Bandido was winning, he put up one hell of a fight and the crowd was still supporting him, even in defeat. The post-match, of course, the dastardly heel MJF came out and we got the actions we’ve grown used to. While Brody King was promised the first shot had Bandido won, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bandido still grants him one for the ROH Title possibly.)
Bandido had new entrance gear, including helmet and sword, while MJF did his entrance and huge banner fell from the rafters. MJF hit an early shoulder block and mocked a shimmy before hitting a Fargo Strut. Bandido rolls through a monkey flip, fires off an arm drag and head scissors before multiple leg sweeps for near falls. MJF dodged one, called Bandido a dumbass, only to get swept again and Bandido pointed the finger gun at MJF, who raked the eyes. Gorilla Press lands, until MJF takes a powder, dodging a Bandido dive initially, but as he walked around ringside, Bandido readjusted and wiped out MJF with a quick dive. Back inside, MJF rolled away from a Frog Splash, suckering in Bandido to the apron to hang him up by the left arm, zoning in. Gnarly pump handle driver nearly spiked Bandido on his head for a near fall, as MJF mocks the Macarena, which gave Bandido time to recover, do the Macarena of his own, but MJF avoided a handspring by kicking out the bad arm. Butterfly shoulder breaker connects, as MJF snapped the arm into the corner for a near fall, with MJF in control heading to commercial.
Back from break, MJF tried to mock the Three Amigos, did the shimmy, but Bandido powered through and delivered a stalling vertical suplex into the reset. With the good arm, Bandido delivers his one arm Gorilla Press, but MJF avoided 21-Plex and hit a double stomp to the bad arm out of the corner. Bandido side-steps a charge and completely clears the top for a Somersault Suicida. MJF leapt over the barricade to create distance, as Bandido went up top, cleared the entire barricade and wiped out MJF with a cross body. Both men back inside, Bandido delivered a Tornillo for a close two, which was followed up with a Poison Rana and Code Red for another near fall. Bandido wanted a 21-Plex, but MJF held on while Bandido’s bad arm gave out. MJF stunned Bandido with a big boot, wanted Heatseeker, but was thrown off, only to hit his Slingshot Cutter for two.
Bandido back out to the apron, as MJF again looked for Heatseeker, missed again, tries the Cutter again, this time Bandido had it scouted and hit a enzugiri followed by a Shooting Star Press for two. MJF floated over a 21-Plex, avoided Code Red into a small package, as both trade two counts, then one counts before Bandido got the closest near fall of the match. X-Knee caught MJF flush, as Bandido finally hit the 21-Plex, but couldn’t keep the bridge, the delay allowing MJF to kick out, but right into Salt of the Earth. Bandido tried crawling to the ropes, MJF repositioned into the LeBell Lock, as Bandido flipped MJF off initially, but faded.
Post-match, an exhausted MJF took the mic and said when he laughed when heard people call Bandido a future AEW World Champion, but after wrestling him, they were right. As much as it pains him, Bandido will be champion one day in AEW. Unfortunately, that means MJF has to do this…he slammed the AEW Title belt onto Bandido and signaled he was going to unmask him, but Brody King sprinted out and MJF hightailed it to the back. King helped Bandido up and the crowd cheered as the show went off the air.
Match Result: MJF defeated Bandido to retain the AEW Men’s World Title
AEW Collision: Maximum Carnage 1/17/26
- The Opps (Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs & Katsuyori Shibata) vs. Hangman Adam Page & JetSpeed (Speedball Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight) for the AEW Trios Titles
- Eddie Kingston & Ortiz vs. Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
- Andrade El Idolo vs. Angelico
- Kyle Fletcher, Josh Alexander & El Clon vs. Sky Flight
- Zayda Steel vs. Marina Shafir
- Jack Perry vs. Anthony Bowens for a shot at the National Title
- Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford In Action
AEW Dynamite 1/21/26
- Kenny Omega vs. Josh Alexander
Since 2022, Ryan has been the Recapper/Reviewer for both AEW PPVs & Dynamite for F4WOnline & the Wrestling Observer. Previously, he recapped AEW Dark from 2021-2022 for PWTorch.