AEW Dynamite – “Holiday Bash”
December 20th, 2023
By: John Siino
Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK
Commentary: Excalibur, Taz & Tony Schiavone
Continental Classic Gold League Match: Swerve Strickland (9) vs. Rush (6)
They start the match trying to take each other down and start running the ropes, taking each other down with arm drags. Rush is able to dodge Swerve Strickland in the corner and send him to the outside with a back elbow, before diving onto him. Rush keeps Swerve grounded in the corner where he teases doing the Bull’s Horns, before hitting the Tranquilo pose. Swerve takes advantage and goes right after Rush with an arm bar. They take it to the outside where they start fighting against the barricades before we head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, they are battling each other before both taking the fall down on the mat. Rush takes control and goes for the Bull’s Horns, but his leg gives out as Swerve goes right after his left leg, twisting it up into a Stretch Muffler. They start trading chops until Rush hits a nasty-looking straight-jacket piledriver, for a two. They start trading chops on the apron before Rush sends Swerve flying to the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex. Back inside, Rush struggles to get to the top and ends up missing a senton. Swerve takes advantage and hits a 450 splash, but Rush kicks out at one. Swerve comes back with a brainbuster for a two, followed by the House Call and the Swerve Stomp for the pin and the win.
Winner: Swerve Strickland (12) by pinfall at 14:53, to get 3 additional points in the Continental Classic.
Wishing Kenny Omega The Best
Chris Jericho is in the back with a microphone and talks about last Thursday when Kenny Omega ended up in the hospital because of diverticulitis. As a result, Omega is out of AEW indefinitely and it has affected The Golden Jets’ opportunity to go after the AEW World Tag Team Championship. Jericho wishes Omega the best in his road to recovery and when he’s ready to come back, he will be waiting for him and he does Omega’s send-off.
Continental Classic Gold League Match: Mark Briscoe (0) vs. Jay Lethal (0)
They start the match by testing each other, with shoulder blocks before going into a big chop exchange. They end up running the ropes until Jay Lethal takes down Mark Briscoe with a dropkick. Briscoe comes back with a missile dropkick for one count before they go back and forth with a suplex attempt until Lethal holds on and delivers it. Lethal sends Briscoe to the outside and meets him with a dive as commentary is grateful their commentary table isn’t there. Lethal tries another dive, but gets caught, and suplexed to the floor, before Briscoe hits the Nestea Plunge as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, the crowd is booing the referee for getting rid of the chairs that Briscoe had tossed in, as Lethal hits his Lethal Combination. They head to the top rope, but both come crashing down, as Lethal heads back up just to get punched to the outside by Briscoe, Briscoe meets him with a dropkick through the ropes before grabbing another chair that he uses to dive off of onto Lethal. Lethal catches Briscoe with a German Suplex, and some kicks, before hitting a rolling Torture Rack, heads to the top, and hits the flying elbow drop for two. Briscoe comes back with a Fisherman’s Buster for two. Briscoe goes for the Froggy Bow, but Lethal puts his knees up. Briscoe counters the Lethal Injection, but Lethal turns it into the Jay Driller for two. Briscoe blocks another Lethal Injection and hits the Burning Hammer, followed by the Jay Driller for the pin and the win.
Winner: Mark Briscoe (3) by pinfall at 13:53, to gain 3 points in the Continental Classic
We see highlights of MJF getting inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame with comments from MJF about how much this means to him.
The Payment for MJF’s Sins
We see a video from Wardlow who says MJF’s clock is ticking and we are getting closer and closer to his world ending. We’ve seen MJF run, cry, weak, and soon the world will see him broken. Wardlow says the payment for MJF’s sins can’t be delayed any longer and he will be the one to bring the devil to his knees.
Are You A Hero, Max?
Samoa Joe makes his way to the ring and says he has come here seeking answers. Last week, he was asking the right questions to the wrong people and says Roderick Strong brings up a good point. For some odd reason, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page was a victim and brings up how footage of MJF being taken out was never seen, but when the other attacks happen, cameras are there. Joe then calls MJF to come out and answer a few questions.
MJF comes out and asks Joe if he is accusing him of being the devil, which he says is correct. MJF recalls Joe saying that he was going to protect him before their main event at Worlds End and it’s clear that he cares about his property as much as he cares about his diet. Since they are throwing accusations out, MJF throws one out that he doesn’t recall the masked men ever laying a finger on Joe. MJF says he doesn’t like Joe, trusts him, and is confused about why he is waiting for Worlds End when he can end his world right now, as they go face-to-face. MJF ends up pushing Joe before a dozen or so masked men run out, just for Joe & MJF to easily take them all out. More masked men come from the crowd and start surrounding Joe and MJF in the ring. The lights go out, and when they come back on we see The Devil on the screen with the message ‘Where can you go? Who can you trust? Next week, will you accept a challenge for your ROH World Tag Team Championship? Are you a hero, Max?” MJF gets on the mic about making a promise to defend those titles until Adam Cole comes back, as Joe accepts saying next week they will be the Devil’s boys’ asses.
I Didn’t Mean That
Renee Paquette is backstage with Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta, Kris Statlander & Rocky Romero and talks about Cassidy & Statlander’s recent wins and asks with 2023 winding down, what does the future look like for Romero & Beretta. Romero talks about his reign as CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion and talks about getting more gold around his waist, as Cassidy says he will see him Friday. Romero looks surprised at getting the match and said he didn’t mean that.
AEW Women’s World Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Saraya vs. Riho
Toni Storm joins commentary and calls Taz a landlord, ‘The Human Duplex Machine”, as Saraya and Riho battle to see who will face Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship at Worlds End. Saraya goes right after taking Riho down with pin attempts as we see Ruby Soho watching from the back. Riho sets Saraya up on the ropes, but Saraya is able to escape to the outside where Riho chases her and takes her down with a couple of headscissors all around the ring before Saraya goes to hide behind a security guard who was ringside. Saraya takes advantage of this and starts swinging Riho against the barricades as we head to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Riho hits a Tiger Faint kick and a top rope crossbody, not catching all of it, for a two. Riho heads to the top again, but Saraya catches her with a kick for two. Riho hits a Northern Lights Suplex for a two, followed by a top rope stomp and running knees for the pin and the win.
Winner: Riho by pinfall at 7:41
We see Ruby Soho smiling in the back, as Luther carries Toni Storm to the ring, where she looks at Riho with opera glasses. Riho goes after her, but Riho sends Storm on the ropes and hits her with the Tiger Faint Kick. Mariah May runs out and takes out Riho with the AEW Women’s World Championship. Toni Storm looks confused as if she doesn’t know who May is.
Christian Cage’s Prepared Statement
We go to Tony Schiavone with a prepared statement from Christian Cage that says that if Schiavone phones it in like he usually does, Cage will slap him. Cage’s message tells this crowd to shut their mouth and have some respect. The message continues with Cage saying he took Nick Wayne on a vacation after his win against Adam Copeland. In regards to Copeland’s challenge at Worlds End, he will address and answer it on this Saturday’s episode of Collision. Cage expects nothing less but a hero’s welcome upon his return.
Is Swerve The Devil?
After the break, we see MJF & Samoa Joe arguing a bit in the back as MJF tells Joe to keep standing there as he will keep walking. MJF then sees a mask on the floor in front of the Mogul Embassy’s door, which he knocks on. As Prince Nana answers, MJF corners him and asks what the mask is about. Swerve Strickland takes over and says it’s nice to finally see MJF eye-to-eye. MJF starts mimicking Swerve’s theme song and talks about the history they have together making long car rides while doing the independents together. MJF says he’s proud of Swerve, and the reason he’s been ducking Swerve is because there’s a level to this shit and Swerve isn’t on his. Swerve calls MJF the best chauffeur he’s ever had in his life and brings up how MJF failed his tryout with William Regal and tells MJF to be careful how he talks to him. MJF says Swerve is getting good at talking but tells him to watch his tone and watch his mouth. MJF brings up how Swerve hates Hangman, and is begging to be AEW World Champion so putting those two together, why wouldn’t he jump Hangman and get in MJF’s head and ask him straight up if he’s the devil? Swerve says he isn’t the devil MJF is looking for, but if he keeps swinging that title by his face, he’s going to bring him hell. Mogul Embassy joins Swerve as Joe pulls MJF away and says they have business elsewhere. Nana tells Swerve he forgot to put him on about Collision last week.
Roderick Strong (w/ Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs. Komander (w/ Alex Abrahantes)
Komander starts the match trying to dodge Roderick Strong but ends up getting a knee to his face for his trouble. They end up running the ropes, as Komander takes advantage after a dropkick but the momentum gets stopped by a kick from Strong. Strong follows with a backbreaker as Taz puts over Strong’s new mustache. Strong pushes Komander, who is sitting on the ropes, but Komander ends up flipping Strong to the outside as we go to picture-in-picture.
When we come back, Komander stops Strong off the corner with a kick as both men are now laid out. Komander bounces off the ropes with a crossbody for two. Strong places Komander on the top rope, but Sunset flips his way out and knocks Strong off the ropes. Komander heads back to the top and hits a Phoenix Splash for a two-count. Strong heads to the outside, where Komander meets him and The Kingdom with a dive. Komander tries to springboard back in, but gets stopped with a kick from Strong, followed by a wild-looking End of Heartache, with Komander during a couple of extra rotations to get the pin and the win.
Winner: Roderick Strong by pinfall at 9:55
Renee Paquette joins Strong in the ring and asks why he and The Kingdom are handing out ‘MJF is the Devil’ signs to everybody in the crowd. Strong tells Samoa Joe that it’s so obvious now that MJF is the devil. When Adam Page mentioned MJF, he got taken out and told Joe to wake up and believe him. Strong says that Samoa Joe is his best friend by proxy and calls Renee crazy for doubting him.
Collision Line-Up
- Thunder Rosa & Abadon vs. Julia Hart & Skye Blue
- Brian Cage vs. Keith Lee
- We’ll hear from Christian Cage
- AEW World Trios Championship: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn (c) vs. Action Andretti & Top Flight
- Blue League: Claudio Castagnoli (6) vs. Bryan Danielson (9)
- Blue League: Brody King (6) vs. Daniel Garcia (0)
- Blue League: Andrade El Idolo (9) vs. Eddie Kingston (6)
Continental Classic Gold League Match: Jay White (9) vs. Jon Moxley (12)
Jim Ross joins commentary for this match, in which Jay White must win to be in the semi-finals, which would then be a triple threat with Swerve Strickland. If Jon Moxley wins, he will go head-to-head against Swerve Strickland in the Gold League Final next week. As soon as the bell rings, White heads to the outside and when he goes back in starts talking trash about not being intimidated by Moxley. Moxley puts on a sleeper hold right away, then hits elbow drops and a piledriver for a two-count. They fight on the outside for a bit, with Moxley dragging White up the ramp. White goes for a piledriver, but Moxley counters into a backbody drop. Moxley corners White with ten punches in the corner with a bite, but White escapes out of the corner and takes down Moxley with a chop block, before pushing him to the outside of the apron, as we go to picture-in-picture.
We come back, as White is in command, attacking Moxley with chops to the back of the head/neck. This only gets Moxley upset and he comes back with a forearm, taking White to the corner where Moxley stomps him out. Moxley sets White to the top rope, where he rakes his back and bites White some more, before hitting a superplex. Moxley sends White to the outside with a clothesline, before meeting him with a dive. They start fighting on the outside, where White drops Moxley on the steel steps, right on his knee. White attacks Moxley’s knee with a chair, as the referee is distracted. Moxley just makes the 10 count back inside and hits the Paradigm Shift for a close, two-count. They fight in the corner before White hits a Dragon Screw. After a pin attempt, Moxley hits a running knee strict for another two. White comes back with a Dragon Suplex and uranage for two, then the Kiwi Crusher for another two. White hits another Dragon Sleeper, but Moxley comes back with two lariats and a stomp, followed by a Death Rider attempt, but White reverses it and hits the Blade Runner for the pin and the win.
Winner: Jay White (12) by pinfall at 15:09, to gain 3 additional points in the Continental Classic
Swerve Strickland comes out and stares down his two opponents in next week’s triple threat in the Gold League Final, as White attacks Moxley from behind with commentary talking up the story being Moxley’s injured knee going into the finals.
Final Gold League Standings
- Jon Moxley (12)
- Swerve Strickland (12)
- Jay White (12)
- Rush (6)
- Mark Briscoe (3)
- Jay Lethal (0)
Blue League Standings
- Andrade El Idolo (9)
- Bryan Danielson (9)
- Brody King (6)
- Eddie Kingston (6)
- Claudio Castagnoli (6)
- Daniel Garcia (0)
