AEW Dynamite – “New Year’s Smash”
December 27th, 2023
By: John Siino
Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
Dark Matches
- Serpentico defeated Tony Nese
- The Acclaimed, Billy Gunn & Scott Taylor (Scotty 2 Hotty) defeated The Gunns, Jake Hager & Matt Menard
Continental Classic Gold League Final: Jon Moxley (12) vs. Jay White (12) vs. Swerve Strickland (12)
Excalibur mentioned how there is no time limit in this match, as Jay White gets taken to the outside as soon as the bell starts with Jon Moxley rolling up Swerve Strickland for a two-count. Swerve sends Moxley to the outside and starts attacking him against the barricade. All three start fighting, as Moxley sends both White & Swerve into the crowd and follows them. Swerve placed Moxley on a chair and met him with running knees. They continue fighting for a bit until making it back ringside, where White takes out Moxley with a chop block. They finally take it back inside, where White gets a one-count on Swerve before suplexing him into the corner for two. Swerve kicks White off the apron, but misses the moonsault onto him before finally landing a kick from the apron to White. Moxley & Swerve go at it until Swerve stops Moxley with a bite to the finger and a lariat. Swerve sends White & Moxley to the outside where he hits them with a diving frog splash as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Swerve is working on White on the outside before getting stopped by a dive from Moxley. Moxley follows with a piledriver on Swerve back inside, only getting a two. They head to the top rope, but Moxley eventually ends up hitting a DDT for two as White has been laid out on the outside for a while. As Moxley & Swerve are fighting on the outside, White attacks Moxley with a chair, landing a vicious shot on his left knee. Swerve & White go at it for a while until Swerve hits the House Call, heads to the top rope, and hits a 450 splash, but Moxley breaks up the count as we go back to picture-in-picture.
After the break, all three are in the ring trading punches and chops before White hits a sleeper suplex to Swerve, before getting put in a choke by Moxley but Swerve breaks it up with a House Call. White hits the Blade Runner on Moxley, but Swerve is right there to break it up. White keeps using the chair on both Moxley & Swerve. White sets up a chair in the corner but gets sent headfirst into it. Swerve & Moxley go at it, but White pushes Swerve off the top rope, crashing to the outside, and tries the Blade Runner on Moxley just to get knocked out with a lariat and Death Rider for the three count.
Winner: Jon Moxley by pinfall at 23:14, to win the Continental Classic Gold League
Swerve Is Him
When we come back, Tony Schiavone is backstage with Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana, as Swerve says he didn’t even get a chance to rest before this interview and he talks about how he wanted this Continental Classic so bad. Swerve said he proved that he is one of the best in the industry and said that he didn’t get pinned, but Jay White did. Swerve brings up how Keith Lee is looking for him, and if he is ‘him’ and he has nothing to do at Worlds End. Schiavone brings up how Lee already has a contract for the match, as Nana gets upset that he didn’t even approve this. Swerve says he will see if Lee shows up on Saturday.
All About Mariah
Renee Paquette is on the stage and brings out Mariah May who says she’s there with an important announcement. Before that, Renee asked Mariah to walk her through her actions after attacking Riho last week. Mariah says she was just supporting Toni Storm and she goes to tell everyone when her debut will be. Mariah says 2023 didn’t have enough glamour, so her debut will be next week on the first Dynamite of the new year, as the crowd boos this. Mariah says that 2024 is all about Mariah. Riho interrupts as May runs away to the ring. Toni Storm runs out, but Riho takes her out. Luther rescues Storm before Riho can hit the Tiger Faint kick. As Luther is about to carry out Storm, Riho takes them both out with a top rope crossbody.
Hydration
We go to the back with Action Andretti & Top Flight, so says even though they came up short against The Acclaimed there are plenty of other trios to fight. They go to make a challenge, but Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero walk in and say ‘they were standing five feet away’ and make the match for Friday. Romero says Orange said the same thing to him last week. Then Andretti takes a water bottle, drinks it, and crushes it before saying ‘hydration’.
El Idolo & The Redeemer
We get a video recap of the Miro & CJ Perry saga, as it’s then made official Andrade El Idolo vs. Miro at Worlds End.
Boxing Week + Sammy Guevara Returns
Tony Schiavone is in the week and says they will do a celebration for ‘Boxing Week’ before introducing Don Callis and the Don Callis Family’s Powerhouse Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher. The crowd barely lets Callis talk as he says it’s been a very difficult two weeks for him. In times like this, he needs his family and there is a way of saying thank you and honoring Boxing Week, so he got them all gifts. Callis starts showing each member exaggerated portraits of him with each member, each one showing a buff shirtless Callis, including him and Fletch boxing with kangaroos. Callis talks about them not being complete, as Sammy Guevara’s music hits.
Callis tells Guevara even though he didn’t know he was going to be here, he brought him a gift anyway. Guevara goes to unveil a portrait, and it shows Guevara with his baby being surrounded by the rest of the Don Callis Family. Guevara gets in Callis’ face and asks him who permitted him to use his baby’s image. Callis says Guevara is going to need all the help he can get with his parenting, as Guevara starts mentioning the fans not remember moments from Takeshita & Hobbs, as Callis overshadows them. Guevara talks about not hearing from Callis when he was concussed, as Callis starts talking about his disappointment in Guevara dropping the ball when he got hurt. Callis gives Guevara the ultimate to choose the ‘other’ family or the Don Callis Family. Callis tells Guevara to think about it, or it might make him a failure such as his failure as a parent. Guevara takes out Callis, but then gets taken out by the rest of the Don Callis Family. Chris Jericho runs out with his bat and chases them all off before smashing the portraits with his bat. Jericho gives the bat to Guevara who smashes the portrait with him on it. Jericho extends his hand, but Guevara hugs him instead. As they are hugging, they get attacked from behind by Ricky Starks & Big Bill.
The lights go out, but when they come back on we see Sting & Darby Allin in the ring who join Jericho & Guevara in attacking Bill & Starks.
MJF Is The Devil!?
Renee Paquette is backstage with Roderick Strong and the Kingdom who reveal a board with all the clues that prove that MJF is The Devil. Strong tells MJF that he’s going to prove he’s the Devil, whether it’s tonight or tomorrow, it doesn’t matter as MJF will be exposed.
Worlds End Lineup
- AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs. Samoa Joe
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (c) (w/ Luther) vs. Riho
- Swerve Strickland vs. Keith Lee
- Andrade El Idolo vs. Miro
- TBS Championship: Julia Hart (c) vs. Abadon
- TNT Championship No DQ: Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland
- Continental Classic Final: Jon Moxley vs. the winner of Bryan Danielson & Eddie Kingston
Continental Classic Blue League Final: Bryan Danielson (10) vs. Eddie Kingston (9)
Eddie Kingston tries to start the match going after Bryan Danielson, but Danielson keeps cornering as the referee keeps Kingston away. Kingston eventually connects with the Saito suplex, and as Danielson is on the outside hits him with a tope suicida. Kingston stays on top with chops against the barricade to Danielson, before sending him back inside. They end up fighting on the apron, where Danielson knocks off Kingston and hits him with a flying knee as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Danielson is kicking away at Kingston shouting at him that he’s a bum but Kingston catches Danielson right into an exploder suplex. Kingston stays in command, with big chops in the corner while stomping out Danielson. The crowd is behind Kingston, but Danielson reverses a suplex attempt into the LeBell lock. Kingston escapes out and starts chopping Danielson, who is on the top rope. Kingston joins up top, but Danielson slips down and places Kingston in the Tree of Woe while kicking away at him. Danielson follows this with a running dropkick, places Kingston back on top, drops elbows, and tries a back suplex, but Kingston hits Danielson in the eye on the way out, as we go back to picture-in-picture.
After the break, they are chopping away before Danielson adds in kicks as well. Kingston brings Danielson to his knees and keeps landing chops but Danielson captures Kingston in a suplex, for two. Now with Kingston on his knees, Danielson starts delivering kicks to the back and chest but Kingston is able to dodge the last one, dodges Danielson off the corner, hits a lariat, and the Northern Lights Bomb gets a two. They go back and forth a bit until Danielson hits the Busaiku Knee for two. Danielson goes to kick Kingston’s head in, but he just ends up flipping off Danielson. Danielson goes for the Busaiku Knee again, but Kingston ducks it and hits the Uraken. More back and forth until Kingston hits another Uraken and a stacked power bomb to get the pin and the win.
Winner: Eddie Kingston by pinfall at 22:37, to win the Continental Classic Blue League
The King Of The Bums
Jon Moxley heads down to the ring, gets on the mic, and says all he’s ever asked for Kingston is to give him his best and he admits that Kingston has a lot of people who love him, including everyone here and everyone watching. Moxley says they don’t care if Kingston wins or loses, but they deserve his very best and maximum effort. The problem is, that Moxley knows that Kingston can’t beat him, so for his money, Kingston has already lost and given up. Moxley talks about this time Kingston won’t get any favors, and he’s going to have to earn every inch. Kingston grabs the mic away and says Moxley has talked enough and tells Moxley that he’s not a young boy like Wheeler Yuta and how he came into this business before Moxley. Kingston said on Saturday, the King of the Bums is going to take on Moxley and he will give him everything he has, and says he’s going to bring his Fighting Spirit at Worlds End.
Coping With Cage
Lexy Nair is backstage with Christian Cage, Nick Wayne & Shayna Wayne as Christian is upset that he’s been waiting all night for Adam Copeland to show up. Copeland rushes in and starts attacking Christian & Wayne while fighting off security. Copeland & Christian keep fighting in the hallway, as numerous wrestlers and officials, try to keep them apart before eventually separating them.
Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue
Stokely Hathaway joins commentary, as they bring up how Stokely is trying to stir stuff up for Kris Statlander. Statlander stays in control, hitting Skye Blue with body slams as Stokely says he has Statlander’s best interest in mind. Statlander counters out of a hurricanrana and hits a dropkick on Blue for two. Statlander hits a delayed vertical suplex, but Blue takes over and attacks Statlander on the apron, sending her face-first onto it, as we go to picture-in-picture.
Back and forth with both, as Blue hits Code Blue for two. Blue heads to the top rope, but Statlander catches her and hits a powerbomb for two. They head to the top rope, but Blue slips down and starts distracting Aubrey Edwards. Julia Hart attacks Statlander on the top rope, as Blue takes advantage and hits an avalanche Code Blue for the pin and the win.
Winner: Skye Blue by pinfall at 9:14
Blue & Hart keep attacking Statlander after the match until Willow Nightingale runs out for the save. As Blue & Hart are making their way up the ramp, they get stopped by Abadon.
Renee is backstage with Ruby Soho & Saraya and asks Ruby for her thoughts on her upcoming Rampage match with Marina Shafir. Saraya cuts her off and says she has a present for Ruby before introducing Harley Cameron. Ruby walks off as she has a phone call from Angelo Parker, and Cameron pulls out a knife.
Rampage Line-Up
- Ruby Soho vs. Marina Shafir
- We’ll hear from Chris Jericho
- ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta (c) vs. Matt Sydal
- Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero vs. Action Andretti & Top Flight
Worlds End Zero Hour Line-Up
- 20-man Battle Royale – Winner gets a TNT Title shot anytime, anywhere
- FTW Championship FTW Rules Match: Hook (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta
They also announce for the main card; Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin vs. Ricky Starks, Big Bill, Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher.
ROH World Tag Team Championship: MJF & Samoa Joe (c) vs. The Devil’s Masked Men
The Devil’s Masked Men make their way through the audience, with no music. MJF makes his way out, but Samoa Joe doesn’t come out. We cut to the back, where we see Joe has been taken out. MJF insists on defending the titles on his own, as the referee rings the bell. MJF starts attacking one of the masked men in the corner. MJF goes to take off the mask yelling he wants to see his face, but the other masked man snaps MJF on the ropes and tags in. MJF starts attacking one on the outside and asks the crowd if they want to see who he is. As the referee is distracted, a third masked man comes from under the ring and attacks MJF with a steel pipe on his injured shoulder. The masked man hits the Heatseeker on MJF, while the other masked man is holding his foot on the ropes, as they get the pin and the win.
Winners: The Devil’s Masked Men by pinfall at 1:48, to become NEW ROH World Tag Team Champions
Pleasure Doing Business With You
More masked men join in the ring and start attacking MJF, as Samoa Joe hobbles down to the ring with a chair chasing them away. Joe helps MJF up, as we see an image of The Devil on the screen with the message ‘pleasure doing business with you’. Joe then attacks MJF from behind with the chair as the commentary says Joe has been working with the devil all along. Joe takes out MJF with the Muscle Buster.
