AEW Dynamite Preview – Lights Out Match, Moxley vs. Benjamin, Storm vs. Shafir, More

The first AEW Dynamite of the year is LIVE tonight at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on TBS and streaming on HBO Max from Tulsa, Oklahoma!

Swerve Strickland and “Hangman” Adam Page want payback against Powerhouse Hobbs and HOOK in the most violent way possible, so tonight, these four will fight in a LIGHTS OUT match! And what will AEW World Champion MJF have to say after Strickland, Page, Samoa Joe, Kenny Omega, Darby Allin, Brody King and Bandido all made it clear last week that they want the AEW World Title?

Meanwhile, AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley has another Continental Championship Eliminator when he takes on the dangerous Shelton Benjamin of The Hurt Syndicate. And it’ll be a busy night for the Death Riders, as “The Problem” Marina Shafir battles “Timeless” Toni Storm!

Plus, ROH World Champion Bandido is one week away from challenging MJF for the AEW World Championship at Maximum Carnage, but tonight, one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions, Sammy Guevara, wants to take out Bandido when they go one-on-one.

All that and more will go down tonight on Dynamite in Tulsa! Here’s your complete AEW Dynamite preview for January 7, 2026.

AEW Dynamite Matches, Preview for Wednesday, January 7

Lights Out: “Hangman” Adam Page & Swerve Strickland vs. HOOK & Powerhouse Hobbs of The Opps

Swerve and Page both still want to regain the AEW World Championship from MJF, but first, they want payback on HOOK and Hobbs for getting in the way of their ultimate goals. 

Specifically, Swerve and Hangman want to take care of HOOK and Hobbs with no holds barred and no disqualifications in a Lights Out match! Violence is on the menu for these four men tonight.

AEW Continental Championship Eliminator: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Shelton Benjamin

Jon Moxley gets no rest as the AEW Continental Champion, and we’re pretty sure he likes it that way. A week after he beat Josh Alexander in a Continental Championship Eliminator, he’ll be back at it against The Hurt Syndicate’s Shelton Benjamin! 

Benjamin confronted Mox after last week’s win to make his intentions known, and tonight, they meet one-on-one for the first time. If Benjamin beats Moxley or lasts the 20-minute time limit, he’ll get a shot at the AEW Continental Championship!

AEW World Champion MJF Appears Live!

After revealing his new Triple B last week to kick off his second reign as AEW World Champion, MJF learned former champion Kenny Omega wants to revisit what an AEW World Championship match would look like between the two of them, after MJF won their first and only meeting in October 2023. 

MJF also heard from “Hangman” Adam Page, Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe, all of whom want to be AEW World Champion again. First up, however, is the ROH World Champion and Dynamite Diamond Ring holder, Bandido, who gets his chance at MJF’s AEW World Title next week on Maximum Carnage. What will MJF have to say in Tulsa tonight?

ROH World Champion Bandido vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion Sammy Guevara

Speaking of the aforementioned Bandido, last week, he beat The Beast Mortos as he continued his march towards Maximum Carnage and his shot at AEW World Champion MJF. However, the Dynamite Diamond Ring holder was confronted by Guevara on Collision, who said he wants revenge for the injured RUSH and to fulfill his destiny of becoming AEW World Champion, so tonight, he wants to beat Bandido so bad he won't make it to Maximum Carnage! 

Tonight, Bandido will try to defeat the other half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions before the match of his life next week! 

“Timeless” Toni Storm vs. “The Problem” Marina Shafir

Does love rule all? Shafir said she’s not affected by love the way Storm is when she gets in the ring. Yet Storm is fueled by love, especially for her Timeless Love Bombs partner, Mina Shirakawa. 

The difference in philosophy is one of many reasons these two have been at each other’s throats for months, so Storm and Shafir finally go one-on-one tonight on Dynamite!

Trios Match: “Jungle” Jack Perry & JetSpeed (“Speedball” Mike Bailey and “The Jet” Kevin Knight) vs. The Demand (AEW National Champion Ricochet, Toa Liona and Bishop Kahn)

At New Year’s Smash, GOA brutally attacked and injured Luchasaurus’ shoulder during and after Ricochet’s successful AEW National Championship defense against Perry. Plus, Ricochet contributed to the bounty on the heads of JetSpeed that was nearly collected by Big Bill and Bryan Keith days ago on Collision. Tonight, Perry and JetSpeed look for revenge against The Demand!

NEW TBS Champion Willow Nightingale Live Celebration

It’s time to celebrate the NEW TBS Champion and one-half of the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions, Willow Nightingale! Last week, Nightingale beat Mercedes Moné to become the first two-time TBS Champion and the first woman to hold two AEW titles at the same time. She’ll have plenty to celebrate on Dynamite!

Jim Ross Returns to AEW!

The legendary voice of wrestling, Jim Ross, returns to AEW in his home state of Oklahoma and will join the announce team tonight in Tulsa for Dynamite! Boomer Sooner!

How to Watch AEW Dynamite  

• Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026

• Start Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT

• Location: BOK Center – Tulsa, Oklahoma

• TV: TBS

• Streaming: HBO Max