SHOT OF NOSTALGIA #8.5: THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT WARS | AEW DYNAMITE vs. NXT | JANUARY 1 TO JANUARY 29, 2020 | MOXLEY TARGETS JERICHO, OMEGA & HANGMAN WIN GOLD, KEITH LEE MAKES HISTORY & AEW'S TV FUTURE

It's time for the 5th episode of Season 8 of SHOT OF NOSTALGIA and we're continuing our journey through the WEDNESDAY NIGHT WARS between AEW DYNAMITE and NXT. We've officially entered 2020, NXT is coming off its biggest ratings victory of the competition and AEW is looking to recover from a December that exposed some serious creative problems. ACEFIELD RETRO is jumping back into the DELOREAN for January 1 through January 29, 2020, as we revisit the first five Wednesdays of the new year, AEW begins finding its footing heading toward Revolution and NXT builds toward TakeOver: Portland. With the excitement of the original launch and WWE's Survivor Series campaign behind them, both companies are now facing the challenge of keeping audiences invested in their regular weekly television product.

Over on TNT, AEW is beginning to establish a clearer direction for its biggest stars while making some important changes behind the scenes. Jon Moxley rejects Chris Jericho's invitation to join the Inner Circle, survives a vicious attack that leaves him with an injured eye and defeats PAC to earn his AEW World Championship opportunity at Revolution. Kenny Omega and Hangman Page develop an increasingly complicated partnership that leads them to the AEW World Tag Team Championships after defeating SCU aboard Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea, while Cody accepts MJF's humiliating conditions for their eventual confrontation. The company brings back Bash at the Beach, Britt Baker begins developing the arrogant personality that will transform her career and the Nightmare Collective continues struggling to connect with audiences. But the biggest development comes on January 15 when WarnerMedia announces a multiyear extension of AEW's television agreement, reportedly worth approximately $175 million over four years, along with plans for a second television series. We're examining why Tony Khan's increasing involvement in creative oversight was becoming so important, how the company was responding to its December criticism and what the television extension meant for AEW's long term survival. We're also revisiting the Marty Scurll and Dark Order speculation, Brian Cage's reported signing, the Revival's contractual situation and the growing competition for established wrestling talent.

Meanwhile, NXT is attempting to maintain the momentum it established at the end of 2019 while preparing for another major TakeOver event. Keith Lee builds on his breakout Survivor Seri