Preview: AEW Dynamite (1/29/25) – Jeff Jarrett Chases the AEW World Championship

How will AEW follow up on a momentous Homecoming? With so many talking points and only a sample of the card on offer, a huge gamble related to the AEW World Championship picture could define this week’s AEW Dynamite.

Contrastingly, a potential opener between Will Ospreay and Brian Cage could capitalize on last week’s vibe-making opening ruckus. Ospreay and Kenny Omega are enemies. Yet the enemy of their enemy, Don Callis, and his Family make them friends for now. Yet in facing The Machine, Brian Cage, who Omega defeated in his first match back in AEW since December 2023, Ospreay may be tempted to one-up The Cleaner.

Grand Slam draws nearer, as does Revolution. After Homecoming, expect more follow-up across various divisions. Yet the elephant in the room is Jeff Jarrett. Despite the home-territory advantage, will Huntsville be a sweet home for The Last Outlaw?

Speak your mind.

Match Card and Preview: AEW Dynamite

• Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett gets a world title shot with a win.
• TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone vs. Yuka Sakazaki
• Will Ospreay vs. Brian Cage

Show Stealer of the Week: TBS Championship Match

#AEWDynamite WEDNESDAY!@VonBraunCenter | Huntsville, AL
LIVE at 8pm ET/7pm CT on @TBSNetwork & @SportsOnMax

TBS Title Match@MercedesVarnado vs @YukaSakazaki

After winning #AEWCollision’s 4 Way Eliminator, Yuka Sakazaki faces TBS Champ Mercedes Moné for the title WEDNESDAY! pic.twitter.com/43sIKMaEGb

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 26, 2025

Huntsville may not give its CEO a warm welcome, but I dare any crowd not to fall in love with Yuka Sakazaki. The contrast of personalities will make this a fun character contest, at least. The eternally happy and positive Sakazaki, frustrating and pushing the buttons of the arrogant champion, will entertain.

Likewise, their styles could mesh well with the right in-ring story and amount of time. This could be Mone’s best Dynamite match to date, especially as Mercedes Mone is on form in the ring. Plus, some of Mone’s best matches post-WWE came against Joshi wrestlers.

Mone, like many former WWE wrestlers arriving in AEW, needed time to adjust. Sheathed in belts, and after a series of critically acclaimed defenses, this week’s contest against The Magical Girl could steal the show.

Additionally, after last week’s guitar interruption from Harley Cameron, I’d expect some possible follow-up. Harley Cameron makes the most of her minutes and is still seeking her first AEW win. Could a possible defense down under be on the setlist?

Gamble of the Week: Jeff Jarrett’s Last Shot

The wave of good faith and momentum built throughout Jeff Jarrett’s AEW run grew to new heights after his emotional promo in last year’s Owen. The Last Outlaw has, at times, captured fans’ attention, leading some to re-evaluate Jarrett’s career.

The one final gamble storyline, one more shot at the world championship, had legs. Then, that microphone performance for many fans two weeks ago against MJF cut them down. Much of that good faith was betted away.

Claudio Castagnoli, AEW’s man for all seasons, remains evergreen. As the Death Riders’ enforcer, few men have found a way to fairly beat the Swiss Superman.

Castagnoli’s current brand of strength, violent intent, and ruthlessness adds another unique chapter to an already astounding back catalog. When opponents found a way to beat Castagnoli, like Will Ospreay via a sneak pin or Kommander via cheating, those victories felt huge.

Regardless of his words, Jarrett’s nearly four decades of experience make him a master of wrestling’s dark arts. Manipulation got fans behind Jarrett, even as a heel. No stranger to gambling throughout his history, many attempts failed, but every so often, Jarrett’s won.

The odds might seem against Jarrett, but wrestling is full of surprises.