AEW Dynamite – “Dynamite on 34th Street”
December 25, 2024 (Taped on December 22nd)
By: John Siino
Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
Continental Classic Final Standings
- Blue League
- Kyle Fletcher [12] QUALIFIED
- Kazuchika Okada [10] QUALIFIED
- Mark Briscoe [9]
- Daniel Garcia [7]
- Shelton Benjamin [6]
- The Beast Mortos [0]
- Gold League
- Ricochet [10] QUALIFIED
- Will Ospreay [9] QUALIFIED
- Claudio Castagnoli [9]
- Darby Allin [7]
- Brody King [6]
- Komander [3]
RESULTS
- Continental Classic Gold League: Will Ospreay [9] over Brody King [6] via pinfall (15:30)
- Continental Classic Gold League: Darby Allin [7] vs. Ricochet [10] went to a time-limit draw (20:00)
- Continental Classic Gold League: Komander [3] over Claudio Castagnoli [9] via pinfall (7:37)
- Continental Classic Blue League: Kazuchika Okada [10] over Shelton Benjamin [6] via pinfall (12:37)
- Toni Storm over Taya Valkyrie via pinfall (7:07)
- Continental Classic Blue League: Kyle Fletcher [12] over Daniel Garcia [7] via pinfall (15:06) (Recommended)
Continental Classic Gold League Match: Will Ospreay [6] vs. Brody King [6]
This is the first time these two have shared a ring. The crowd chants for both of these guys before getting more behind Will Ospreay as he tries to circle Brody King before cornering him. Ospreay tries to body slam Brody, but he falls right on him for a two. Ospreay teases the Os Cutter but gets caught only to be taken out by a hurricanrana. Ospreay goes after him and trips up Brody face-first into the steel steps, but Brody comes back with a spine buster to Ospreay onto them. Brody continues to work on Ospreay before sending him back inside. Brody stays in control, as we go to picture-in-picture.
We come back, as Brody hits a release Fisherman’s Suplex. Ospreay comes back sending Brody to the outside with a big boot before hitting him with a Sky Twister. They go into a chop exchange, with Brody’s chops landing harder. Brody places Ospreay down on the top rope before chopping him, making him fall to the outside. Brody places Ospreay on a chair outside, crushing him with a running crossbody before sending him back inside to hit a cannonball in the corner for two. They go back to trading chops and kicks, a bit more ducking and dodging, until Ospreay hits the Styles Clash for two. Brody stops a Hidden Blade attempt with a Lariat, followed by a driver for two, and another Lariat for another two. Ospreay hits a Hidden Blade, as Brody kicks out, so Ospreay finishes him off with the Stormbreaker to finally get the pin and the win.
Winner: Will Ospreay by pinfall at 15:30, to get 3 points in the Continental Classic [9]
Honoring The Request
We see The Hurt Syndicate making their way into the arena, but they get stopped by Renee Paquette, who has Christopher Daniels and security behind her. Renee tells them that MVP & Bobby Lashley have been banned from the building tonight. Benjamin says that Daniels can be a nice little warmup before his match tonight, as MVP tells him to step off the gas a little bit and tells Renee out of respect for her, that they will honor this request.
Continental Classic Gold League Match: Darby Allin [6] vs. Ricochet [9]
Another first-time encounter here, as Ricochet gets showered with toilet paper again here at the Hammerstein Ballroom, like he did on Christmas Collision. Ricochet starts the match by telling Paul Turner that Darby Allin is ‘pulling on his hair’. Funny. They go back and forth, taking each other down in the middle of the ring until Ricochet knocks Darby down with a cheap shot as we head to picture-in-picture.
We come back, with Ricochet still in control, taunting the crowd, before tossing toilet paper back to them. Darby comes back as they start brawling on the outside. Ricochet sends Darby back in and hits a Lionsault for a two, before heading to the top rope but missing a 450 Splash. Darby comes back with pin attempts, sends Ricochet to the outside, and tries a dive, but gets stopped by a knee from Ricochet. Ricochet sets up a table and places Darby on it, heads to the top rope, and hits a 630 Senton, crashing into Darby and the table, as the referee lets all this slide as we head back to picture-in-picture.
We return, as Darby struggles to get back inside the ring as Ricochet is there to meet him with stomps. Ricochet stays on top, attacking Darby on the taped-up ribs. They end up on the top rope and trade blows before Darby hits a Code Red, followed by another one for a two-count. Darby dodges a springboarding Ricochet, and traps on the arm bar as we hear a two-minute warning from Justin Roberts. Ricochet gets his foot on the bottom rope to break it up. Darby hits the Scorpion Death Drop, followed by the Coffin Drop but time runs out.
Winner: The match ends in a time-limit draw (20:00), giving them one point each; Ricochet [10] & Darby Allin [7]
As a result of the finish, Ricochet has advanced to the semi-finals at Worlds End on Saturday. Darby whispers something to Komander & Alex Abrahantes as they head down to the ring for the next match.
The Biggest Threat
We go to Jay White in the back who says he has been stomped out & choked out by the Death Riders. He says that Jon Moxley knows that the biggest threat to his reign is a one-on-one match with Jay White. He will find his way to Moxley and the AEW World Championship.
Continental Classic Gold League Match: Komander [0] vs. Claudio Castagnoli [9]
Claudio Castagnoli starts the match attacking Komander against the ropes, but Komander comes right back by running the ropes just to get caught into a suplex by Claudio. They head to the top rope, where Claudio hits a gut buster for two. Komander tries to fight back but gets sent right back down with a European uppercut. They end up spilling to the outside while Komander is on Claudio’s shoulders and gets sent face-first onto the apron. They start brawling around the ring before Komander runs back inside just to jump over the corner onto Claudio. Komander heads to the top rope but gets knocked down by Claudio, who then drapes Komander on the ropes and kicks him off. Komander looks under the ring and finds Darby Allin’s jacket which has brass knuckles in them, which Komander puts on and knocks Claudio out with them. Komander follows with the rope walk moonsault to get the upset win.
Winner: Komander by pinfall at 7:37, to get 3 points in the Continental Classic [3]
Four Way Frenzy
As soon as the match is over, the Death Riders (sans Jon Moxley) enter the ring and attack Komander. Marina Shafir brings a chair into the ring before Jay White’s music hits to distract them. Orange Cassidy enters the ring from the crowd and takes out Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta before White enters and takes out PAC with a uranage before Orange hits a Beach Break on Yuta. Moxley enters the ring with his briefcase and takes out White & Orange with it. Moxley gets on the mic and says as long as his heart is still beating, this is the closest White & Orange will come to the AEW World Championship and they are delusional if either one of them thinks they deserve to lay eyes on it. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page makes his way down as he, Orange & White have Moxley surrounded before they take him out with an Orange Punch, a Buckshot Lariat, and the Blade Runner. Page, Orange & White then stand above the briefcase together.
They formally announce that Ricochet has earned the #1 spot in the finals of the Gold League, while Will Ospreay is at #2, holding a tiebreaker over Claudio Castagnoli.
Continental Classic Blue League Match: Kazuchika Okada [7] vs. Shelton Benjamin [6]
These two have faced a bunch in tag matches for NJPW, but the first time a one-on-one encounter. Kazuchika Okada toys with Shelton Benjamin against the ropes and taunts him to strike him back before they trade arm drags. Okada escapes to the outside and takes his time entering before Benjamin follows him and gets taken out with a DDT. Okada goes to the top rope, just for Benjamin to run up and toss him off as we head to picture-in-picture.
We return with them trading blows that Okada stops with a running back elbow. Benjamin comes back with an ankle lock, that Okada twists his way out and puts on the Money Clip before transitioning into a neckbreaker. Okada heads to the top rope and hits an elbow drop before he flips off the crowd. Okada hits two back-to-back German Suplexes before Benjamin dodges the third and hits his trio of German Suplexes. Okada stops Benjamin with a dropkick, and Benjamin comes right back with a Flatliner for two. Benjamin goes for his finisher, but Okada reverses it and hits the Rainmaker to get the pin and the win, guaranteeing him a spot in the Semi-Finals.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada by pinfall at 12:37, to get more 3 points in the Continental Classic [10]
Benjamin goes to shake Okada’s hand after, but Okada teases flipping him off before shaking it.
Stephon & Trevor
Renee is in the back with Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana. After having an incredible 2024, Renee asks Swerve what 2025 has in store for him. Swerve says he has a connection with these people chanting his name after having the type of 2024 that he had, calling himself a championship winner, history maker, and franchise definer. He said he’s lost a lot in 2024, but it doesn’t compare to the amount that he’s gained and by 2025 he plans to rebound. He gets interrupted by Ricochet, who says he knows Swerve saw how he beat Darby Allin’s ass out there. Ricochet says he’s going to do what Swerve couldn’t do last year and win the Continental Classic before referring to him by his real name Stephon. Swerve says Ricochet has got this all wrong, and he isn’t rooting against him and he wants AEW to succeed, but if Ricochet blows it he will embarrass him and make it big.
Jericho, Ho, Ho
We get another New York Minute as Chris Jericho is outside the Manhattan Center with Big Bill & Bryan Keith. Jericho says that he is feeling the Christmas Spirit here in the ‘heart of Astoria on 34th Street’. Jericho says he still has one more Christmas miracle to grant, one more gift to give and that is to Anthony Bowens. Jericho wasn’t ready when Bowens challenged him on Collision, but he will be ready this Friday on Rampage, and he hopes things get better for Bowens because it doesn’t seem that he has many friends lately.
Toni Storm vs. Taya Valkyrie (w/ Deonna Purrazzo)
This is only Taya Valkyrie’s second match on Dynamite this year, with the first one being in January against her now partner Deonna Purrazzo, while it’s Toni Storm’s first Dynamite match since August. Storm goes to shake Taya’s match to start the match, but gets attacked instead. Taya stays on top as the crowd chants ‘She’s a rookie’ at Storm. Taya stays in control attacking Storm in the corner, but Storm bounces back with a couple of shoulder blocks before Deonna Purrazzo holds onto Storm by the foot as we head to picture-in-picture.
We return with them trading blows before Taya takes down Storm with a clothesline off the ropes. Deonna keeps interfering but Storm mounts Taya with punches and hits her with a hip attack in the corner. They trade slaps before Taya hits a spear and starts yelling that she ‘knows who he is’, but Storm comes right back with an inside cradle to get the pin and the win.
Winner: Toni Storm by pinfall at 7:07
“If You Need a Friend, I’ll Be There”
Renee is in the back with Adam Page and asks if he, Orange Cassidy & Jay White are working together. Page says that Jon Moxley will walk into Orlando for the last time with the world championship, but Christopher Daniels interrupts and says that Page was right and has gone through a lot, and the last thing he needs is someone telling him what he should do and starts asking if Page needs anything for Worlds End. Page stops him and asks why he would need help from an ineffectual office stooge like Daniels. Daniels says that’s fair but the other guys in this match have Bullet Club Gold, The Conglomeration & Death Riders and he can relate to not having friends anymore as SCU is not here anymore and Matt Sydal is gone and he’s alone in this locker room. All he’s saying is that he needs Page more than he thinks and if he needs a friend at Worlds End, he’ll be there.
Continental Classic Blue League Match: Daniel Garcia [7] vs. Kyle Fletcher [9]
Kyle Fletcher starts the match by cornering Daniel Garcia, but Garcia comes back with the same thing before doing a bit of his dance, which Fletcher responds with by going outside. They start trading some offense before Garcia gets a kick to the face that fires him up as he hits the ten punches in the corner. They start fighting on the outside where Fletcher catches Garcia against the barricade and powerbombs him onto the apron as we head to picture-in-picture.
We return with Fletcher still in control, but Garcia comes back with a flurry of punches before taking Fletcher down with a big clothesline. Fletcher goes spilling to the outside where Garcia hits him with a running dropkick. Garcia comes back with a spinning neckbreaker for a two-count before trapping on a guillotine, but Fletcher powers him off. Garcia traps it again while in the ropes, but Fletcher stops it with a brainbuster on the apron followed by a sit-out powerbomb for a two. Garcia tries the Sharpshooter, but he gets pushed off and almost collides with Aubrey Edwards. During all this distraction, Fletcher hits a low blow followed by a brainbuster for two. They head to the top rope, where Garcia escapes another brainbuster attempt as they come crashing down. They start trading blows and chops, before Garcia rights into the Dragon Tamer, but Fletcher breaks it up by smashing Garcia’s head into the mat. Fletcher stays in control, before placing Garcia on the top rope and hits an ugly-looking Brainbuster, with them both spilling onto the ropes. Despite that, Fletcher makes the cover and gets the pin and the win.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher by pinfall at 15:06, to get 3 points in the Continental Classic [12]
It is made official for the semi-finals for Worlds End being Gold League winner Ricochet vs. Blue League runner-up Kazuchika Okada, and Blue Leaguer winner Kyle Fletcher vs. Gold League runner-up Will Ospreay, with the winners of those two matches meeting in the 2024 Continental Classic final at Worlds End on Saturday.
Will Ospreay makes his way down to the ring and goes face-to-face with Fletcher.
The Only King There Has Ever Been
Before the show signs off, we go to Jon Moxley in the back with Marina Shafir. Moxley says he almost forgot that it’s three for the price of one at Worlds End, and that’s a hell of a deal. Everything is working out in his favor just like it’s supposed to, even if it isn’t always pretty and comfortable. After Saturday, they will continue their work as there’s a lot of work to do, and not a lot of time to do it as they continue their crusade against ego and delusion. His three opponents lack will, spirit, and heart as nobody wants it in AEW. If you are not willing to sacrifice, then he will sacrifice you. These guys think the AEW World Championship is something you can win, but it’s something you are, who you are and it’s not for him to parade trophies around by showing off his gold. He knows exactly who he is because when he speaks they listen and when he’s on the move they get the hell out of the way. He is the king, and he was born to be king and born for all the things that come with it, and he is the only king there has ever been.
Worlds End Line-Up
- Continental Classic Semi-Final: Kyle Fletcher vs. Will Ospreay
- Continental Classic Semi-Final: Kazuchika Okada vs. Ricochet
- Continental Classic Final
- AEW Women’s World Championship Tijuana Street Fight: Mariah May (c) vs. Thunder Rosa
- AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
- Dynamite Diamond Ring: MJF vs. Adam Cole
- AEW TBS Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Kris Statlander
- AEW World Championship 4-Way: Jon Moxley (c) vs. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Jay White
Dynamite ‘Fight for the Fallen’ Line-Up
- Jamie Hayter vs. Julia Hart
- FTR throws out a challenge to the Death Riders
- Start of simulcast on Max
