Maximum Carnage - Dynamite recap for January 14, 2026

Backstage, we hear from Samoa Joe, who calls "Hangman" Adam Page's journey to win back the AEW World Championship "foolishness." He states that he has put out a bounty, and now "The Bounty Hunter" Bryan Keith has posted it. Bryan Keith mentions his last match with Hangman three years ago, then says that tonight is personal and that he is cashing in.

Darby Allin beats PAC by submission with the Scorpion Deathlock. During the match, referee Paul Turner gets squashed as Darby goes for a running back elbow to PAC only to take out Turner. Darby makes PAC tap to the Scorpion Deathlock, but Paul Turner is out. Wheeler Yuta shows up with a metal folding chair, but Darby Allin fends him off and wraps the chair around PAC's left foot before hitting the Coffin Drop on the chair. Darby then gets rid of the chair before putting PAC in the Scorpion Deathlock again. This time, referee Paul Turner comes to, and PAC taps, this time with the referee seeing it.

"Hangman" Adam Page beats "The Bounty Hunter" Bryan Keith after Big Bill tries to attack Hangman on the outside only for Swerve Strickland to show up and choke Big Bill with a chain, allowing Hangman to hit the Buckshot Lariat for the win. After the match, Hangman dares Bryan Keith to claim his bounty now, then says Samoa Joe is not man enough to face him himself. He says that he will take everything from Samoa Joe. Swerve Strickland then warns MJF that if he wins and stays AEW World Champion, then he will have actually lost, for he and Hangman will be coming after him and he plans to become AEW World Champion again. All of a sudden, Kenny Omega shows up and enters the ring, stating that three of the greatest challengers for the AEW World Championship are right here, right now. He says that he, Swerve and Hangman have something to prove, and that he must prove that the nickname of "The God of Professional Wrestling" still means something, and if anyone still believes, then so does he. Omega says he must win a couple of matches first despite being an EVP, and regardless of whether he has to go through friend or foe, he is coming for the title. Hangman says that there are three men who want the AEW World Championship and that it is not a team effort, and if he and Omega cross paths, then hopefully the best man will win. Omega and Hangman shake hands. Hangman and Swerve leave, with Swerve none too thrilled about Omega's sudden appearance in the World title picture, then The Don Callis Family (Don Callis, Lance Archer, Rocky "Azucar" Romero, "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander) show up. Callis says he has always been a big fan of MJF, but he is questioning MJF's logic of associating with "a scumbag" like Omega. He then challenges Omega to a match with Josh Alexander. Omega admits he can barely hear Callis over the crowd, but if Josh Alexander wants a match with him, then he has a little bit of time tonight to make his record towards the World title more sparkling clean. Callis says that he and Omega have known each other for many years, but reminds him that he does what "Daddy" says and that "Daddy" decides when the matches happen, and says the match will happen next week because what he says goes. As The Don Callis Family leaves, Omega says that today was a very big first step and that the fans have bore witness to phase one of him become AEW World Champion again.

Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews Brody King when Jon Cruz shows up and takes offense to Bandido attacking him, telling him to tell Bandido not to hit him ever again. Brody King tells Jon Cruz that it is his turn and that they have a stand-by match. Jon Cruz retreats while trying to take his jacket off.

Brody King quickly beats Jon Cruz. After the match, Brody King tells Bandido that he wants him to beat MJF's ass from pillar to post, and that after tonight, it will be an honor to step in the ring as the first new AEW World Champion.

We get a video package chronicling the events leading up to tonight's main event of Bandido vs. MJF for the AEW World Championship.

Don Callis and Ricochet guest on commentary for the next match.

The Don Callis Family (Mark Davis and Jake Doyle) beat JetSpeed ("The Jet" Kevin Knight and "Speedball" Mike Bailey), Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona) and The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) to become #1 contenders for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. During the match, Ricochet pulls referee Rick Knox out of the ring during a pinfall attempt only to be attacked from out of nowhere and chased to the back by "Jungle" Jack Perry. After the match, FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) show up with a wheelchair-bound Stokely Hathaway and have a staredown with Davis and Doyle. This leads to a brawl that security and referees have to break up.

AEW acknowledges the passing of Grateful Dead guitarist and founding member Bob Weir.

We hear from Skyflight (Christopher Daniels, Darius Martin, Dante Martin, Scorpio Sky, Zayda Steel). Zayda Steel looks forward to facing Marina Shafir, while Top Flight (Darius and Dante Martin) look forward to taking on The Don Callis Family ("The Protostar" Kyle Fletcher and "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander).

Triangle of Madness (Julia Hart, Skye Blue, "The Toxic Spider" Thekla) beat Kris Statlander and The Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron) in a trios match after Statlanders shoves Willow out of the way to take a Spear from Thekla.

Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews JetSpeed ("The Jet" Kevin Knight and "Speedball" Mike Bailey), who are suddenly met by Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana. Swerve wants to face Speedball one-on-one, and states that Kevin Knight's time will be coming. Swerve and Nana leave, then "Hangman" Adam Page tells JetSpeed that he will take everything from Samoa Joe before telling JetSpeed that the three of them will face The Opps (Samoa Joe, Hook, Powerhouse Hobbs, Katsuyori Shibata) on Collision.

The Rascalz (Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz, Dezmond Xavier, Myron Reed) are coming soon to AEW.

MJF retains the AEW World Championship against Bandido by submission after reverting from Salt of the Earth to a LeBell Lock as he keeps Bandido away from the ropes. Bandido goes unconscious in the latter hold, and MJF wins and retains. After the match, MJF admits that he laughed when everybody said that Bandido would become AEW World Champion, and that everyone was right about Bandido. He says that Bandido will be World Champion in AEW, which means he has to attack him, which he does. MJF hits Bandido with the World title before punching him, then chases the referee out of the ring before attempting to unmask Bandido. Brody King runs into the ring, and MJF immediately runs to the back. Brody King checks on Bandido and helps him up, then both men celebrate to end the show.