AEW Dynamite – ‘Holiday Bash’
December 21st, 2022
Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, TX
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
Influence, Advice & Chris Jericho
Ricky Starks starts the show by coming to the ring to speak. Starks starts by saying it would be nice to be standing here as AEW World Champion, but he lost and that’s on him because he should have known better. At least he lost as a man, as MJF won as a coward, and says MJF doesn’t have a pair of balls. Starks says he will get another chance as this is just a start and he will work his way back up to a title shot. ‘Judas’ interrupts him as Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara and Daniel Garcia come out.
Jericho says he’s been watching Starks for a long time and he did come close to winning the world championship and calls him a million-dollar talent and guarantees he will be world champion one day, but he’s not quite ready yet. After talking things over with Guevara and Garcia, they think Starks has everything it takes to be a big star in AEW, all he needs though is a little influence, advice, and a little Chris Jericho. The crowd starts chanting ‘Sammy sucks’ as Jericho says he wants Starks to join the Jericho Appreciation Society. Starks says he likes how Jericho evolves and stays relevant, and says he was just built like an air fryer but now he’s just like a single father on his fifth divorce. And while the offer is very tempting, he’s going to say ‘hell nah, I don’t want to join JAS’ and doesn’t want to be part of the Clout Vampire and his stock has dropped since losing to Action Andretti and the J in JAS might of well stand for Jobbers. Starks calls Guevara and Garcia a pair of ‘JASsholes’ and asks what Jericho has done for them since they joined him. After telling a dick joke, Starks proposes himself against Chris Jericho on the January 4th edition of AEW Dynamite. Jake Hager shows up from behind and takes out Starks before the rest of JAS joins in on the attack. Action Andretti runs out and takes out the JAS to save Starks including hitting Jericho with a split-legged moonsault.
AEW World Trios Championship Best of 7 Series (Match 5) No Disqualification Match: The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) (w/ Brandon Cutler & MT Nakazawa) vs. Death Triangle (PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) (w/ Alex Abrahentes)
Death Triangle is up 3 to 1 in this best-of-7 series as commentary plays up Nick Jackson’s ankle injury as Don Callis joins their table. Right away all six men start brawling before The Elite are taken to the outside with super kicks and get hits with in-stereo dives. The Elite take advantage and attack Penta El Zero Miedo in the corner. MT Nakazawa joins in the attack, but as Brandon Cutler tries he gets stopped by Alex Abrahentes before they both get taken out. Penta comes back in and takes out Kenny Omega with a trash can before PAC and Rey Fenix join in on a triple-team attack. They continue to brawl in and out of the ring until they go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, there is an artificial Christmas tree in the corner as Nick Jackson hits a top rope crossbody to the Death Triangle before missing a super kick and hitting a steel chair in the corner. Omega hits a moonsault to PAC while holding a trash can for a two-count. Omega goes and finds a barbed wire broom from under the ring and attacks Fenix with it. The Young Bucks take out PAC and Penta on the outside as they were on tables, as Omega hits Tiger Driver ‘98 to Fenix on top of the broom as the broom is stuck to him as well, but Fenix kicks out at two. Omega goes for the BTE Trigger, but Abrahentes grabs his leg, but he ends up hitting a V-Trigger on Fenix, but Fenix reverses into a hurricanrana for a two count. Abrahantes hands Fenix a hammer that he uses to take out Omega, but Omega still kicks out. PAC puts on the Brutalizer with barbed wire, but Matt Jackson breaks it up. Death Triangle then with a hammer each tries to attack Omega, with it but the Young Bucks save him. The Young Bucks hit Fenix with a Meltzer Driver on top of the chair to get the pin for the win.
Winners: The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) by pinfall at 13:40, Death Triangle leads the series 3-2
Death Triangle continues to attack The Elite after the match, busting them up.
The Reign of Terror
We see footage from last week where an angry MJF is upset that Bryan Danielson ruined his moment last week after beating Ricky Starks. When it comes to the reign of terror, you will eat less than you desire but more of what you deserve.
You’re On Fire
Tony Schiavone is backstage with Action Andretti as Andretti said last week he did the unthinkable and what some are saying is the biggest upset of the decade when he defeated Chris Jericho. Ever since, his life hasn’t been the same but he knew the Jericho Appreciation Society would take it out on someone, in that being Ricky Starks. He gets interrupted by Matt Menard & Angelo Parker who say he’s on fire, as Andretti turns around and gets hit with a fireball from Chris Jericho.
Consequences To Your Actions + Vegetable Man
Renee Paquette is in the ring and introduces Bryan Danielson. Renee asks Danielson now that William Regal is gone, where does that leave the Blackpool Combat Club. Danielson doesn’t expect forgiveness for Regal, before bringing up how he started training right around here and even had his first match 15 minutes away. Danielson brings up being trained by Shawn Michaels and Rudy Boy Gonzalez, but Regal is the one who turned him into the wrestler and person he is today. Danielson said he loved having Regal in AEW, but one thing he told him is there are consequences for your actions and MJF needs to learn that and tells MJF to get out there. Instead, Ethan Page and Stokely Hathaway make their way out.
Page talks about his recent accomplishments and how Danielson hasn’t done any, and if he faced MJF last week he would be world champion. They talk about how Danielson cut them in line and how ‘Vegetable Man’ should just stay home and go to Trader Joe’s. Danielson says that Stokely’s bald head is causing a glare and isn’t offended by his ‘Vegetable Man’ line. Page says he will literally turn Danielson into a vegetable, as Danielson jokes about Page ‘threatening’ him and says he can try to do it right here, right now. Page teases getting ready, as the crowd won’t let him talk, so Page says they should do it next week as San Antonio sucks. MJF is seen watching from backstage.
Teaching A Hard Lesson
Jon Moxley is backstage and talks about the $300,000 Three Kings Christmas Casino Trios Royale on this Friday’s episode of Rampage and says he and Adam Page can just settle this in the ring before questioning what is there to settle, as Page got knocked out. How did Page see that playing out any differently and is getting tired of the somber tones and the accident that wasn’t supposed to happen? Moxley just said he’s good at his job before saying Darius Martin is talented, but he’s injury prone and will teach him a hard lesson tonight.
All The Holiday Cheer Ends
We see Samoa Joe from earlier today in Tampa, Florida where he says he’s taking time out of his busy schedule to wish everyone a happy holiday, especially Wardlow. After giving Wardlow exactly what he asked for, he will take from him but come December 28th, all the holiday cheer ends.
Hook vs. Exodus Prime
Right away, Hook takes Exodus Prime down to the mat, before cornering him with punches. Hook throws Prime down, before hitting him with a suplex and a lariat. Hook starts hitting crossfaces, before putting on Redrum as Prime taps out.
Winner: Hook by submission at 1:03
We see Big Bill & Lee Moriarty attacking Jack Perry backstage, as Stokely Hathaway pours out a bag of potato chips. Big Bill chokeslams Perry into a dumpster as Hook makes his way to the back.
Jon Moxley (w/ Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Darius Martin (w/ Dante Martin)
They start the match fighting in the corner, before Jon Moxley hits a snap mare with a kick to the back of Darius Martin. Darius tries to run the ropes, but Moxley smacks him. They keep running until Darius dropkicks Moxley to the outside. Moxley takes Darius to the outside and starts tossing him into the barricade, before they take it into the crowd where Moxley hits Darius with a suplex. Dante Martin gets in Moxley’s face, distracting him long enough for Darius to hit a suicide dive from the ring to Moxley. Moxley takes control and starts twisting up Darius’s limbs. Moxley places Darius on the top rope and rakes his back, before hitting a superplex. Darius escapes a Brainbuster attempt, as they go into a forearm exchange. Moxley goes after Darius’ knee brace of his injured knee, but Darius takes him down with a Pele kick. They go back and forth until Darius hits a flatliner for a two count. Moxley blocks a top rope crossbody and goes into stomping Darius’ face before transitioning into elbows and the Death Rider for the pin.
Winner: Jon Moxley by pinfall at 8:49
The Next Chapter in The Book of Hobbs
Powerhouse Hobbs says his first memory of seeing his uncle choke to death and he’s been beaten, robbed and stabbed growing up as a child, and only monsters would do that. What they didn’t know was that they created a monster themselves. And now it’s time that he spills everybody else’s blood and goes to the next chapter of the Book of Hobbs.
The Gunns (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
Dax Harwood and Colten Gunn start the match as the crowd rains down ‘Ass Boys’. Colten goes right after Harwood’s injury, as Cash Wheeler asks to be tagged in. Wheeler hits a pair of Atomic Drops, before Austin Gunn runs in and gets a couple himself. Wheeler starts whipping Colten into Austin, before FTR clotheslines The Gunns to the outside and starts attacking them on the outside as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Harwood is going after The Gunns taking Colten out with a lariat and Austin with a Manhattan Drop, into a Sharpshooter attempt, but Colten grabs Harwood and brings him to the outside where Wheeler stops them with a tope as they were trying to do a spiked piledriver. Back inside, Austin teases Sweet Chin Music and a sharpshooter, but Wheeler and Colten break it up. Harwood blocks a Famouser and tries to pile drive Austin, but his hip gives out. They go back and forth with roll-ups, as Colten holds Austin’s hand as he gets the pin on Harwood.
Winners: The Gunns (Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) by pinfall at 9:10
Sonjay-Z
We have a video package as Sonjay Dutt is rapping to The Acclaimed theme song, as Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh & Jay Lethal are doing a rap parody in the background.
The Mogul Affiliates
Tony Schiavone is in the ring and introduces Rick Ross before Keith Lee makes his way to the ring. Ross says they have business to discuss before introducing Swerve Strickland. Swerve’s music doesn’t hit as Ross calls Lee a ‘big motherfucker’. Swerve eventually strolls out and says we aren’t doing this on Keith Lee’s time and we will be doing this Swerve’s way. Swerve tells Lee he needs to keep eyes in the back of his head, as Parker Boudreaux comes out and attacks Lee from behind wearing the same merch that Swerve has. Lee is able to fight him off, before getting attacked by an unknown guy that’s covered in tattoos. Swerve, Parker and this unknown man start attacking Lee as Ross is calling them The Mogul Affiliates showing affiliation with them. Swerve uses a cinder block with a diving foot stomp as they hold Lee down on the steel steps.
Rampage Line-Up
- $300,000 Three Kings Christmas Casino Trios Royale w/ The Varsity Athletes (Josh Woods & Tony Nese) & Ari Daivari, Spanish Announce Project (Serpentico, Angelico & Luther), La Facción Ingobernable (Rush, Dralistico & Preston Vance), Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) & AR Fox, Kip Sabian, The Butcher & The Blade, Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta) & Orange Cassidy, Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta), Dark Order (Evil Uno, John Silver & Alex Reynolds)
- We’ll hear from Eddie Kingston & Ortiz
- TBS Championship Eliminator Match: Jade Cargill vs. Vertvixen
- We’ll hear from Wardlow
- Anthony Bowens & Daddy Ass vs. Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal
Dynamite ‘New Year’s Smash’ Line-Up
- AEW World Trios Championship Best of 7 Series Match 6 – Falls Count Anywhere: Death Triangle (3) vs. The Elite (2)
- Ethan Page vs. Bryan Danielson
- TNT Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Wardlow
AEW Women’s World Championship: Jamie Hayter (c) (w/ Dr. Britt Baker DMD & Rebel) vs. Hikaru Shida
They start the match pretty fast and viciously before Hikaru Shida takes Jamie Hayter to the outside where she hits her with a knee strike. They take it back inside, before heading to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, they are exchanging strikes, before Hayter hits a power slam for a two-count. They start fighting on the apron before Shida hits Hayter with a brainbuster on the apron before going on another break.
Hayter misses a moonsault press, as Shida hits a running knee for a two-count. Shida sets up for the Kitana, but Hayter keeps dropping down, just to lift up Shida into a backbreaker and a sliding lariat for a two. Hayter comes back right back with a choke breaker for another two. Shida blocks a lariat with a knee strike, question mark kick, and axe kick, before Hayter ducks the Kitana. Dr. Britt Baker DMD gets on the apron, but Shida brings her inside the ring and hits her with a springboard kick before attacking her with a kendo stick. Hayter is able to stop Shida in the corner, rolling her up into a powerbomb for a two-count. Hayter comes back with a lariat, for another two before hitting the Rip Cord Lariat (The Hayter-Ade) before finally getting the pin and the win.
Winner: Jamie Hayter by pinfall at 16:17, to retain
Baker and Rebel keep attacking Shida after the match before Toni Storm runs out for the save and takes out Baker but Hayter takes out Storm with her title. They go to attack Storm, but Saraya runs out for the save and takes out Rebel and Baker.
