AEW Dynamite live results: New Year’s Smash

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash is the go-home show for Saturday’s Worlds End pay-per-view. 

The Continental Classic Gold League finals are set for the show, with Jon Moxley, Swerve Strickland, and Jay White squaring off in a three-way to decide who will represent Gold League in the tournament finals at Worlds End. 

The Continental Classic Blue League finals are also set for the show, with Bryan Danielson taking on Eddie Kingston with a spot in the tournament finals at stake. 

Worlds End opponents MJF & Samoa Joe must team up on tonight’s show as they defend the ROH Tag Team Championship against two of The Devil’s masked henchmen. MJF will defend the AEW World Championship against Joe at Worlds End. 

Renee Paquette will interview Mariah May on tonight’s episode. May has been trying to align herself with Women’s World Champion Toni Storm ahead of Storm’s Worlds End title defense against Riho. 

A Keith Lee appearance has also been advertised for the show.

AEW Dynamite: New Year’s Smash comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz as we go right to entrances for our opening contest.

Jon Moxley defeated Swerve Strickland & Switchblade Jay White in the Continental Classic Gold League Finals

(A hell of a way to end the Gold League, as these three delivered a PPV caliber battle in this one. White used the no DQ in regards to it being a three way to his advantage, but it wasn’t meant to be, as Moxley was able to get his win back and revenge from last week. This was also a smart finish to keep Strickland from taking a pin or submission loss.)

White was dispatched early, which allowed Strickland & Moxley to deck each other with strikes before Moxley was dumped outside as well. Moxley sent both Strickland & White into the crowd, where White was crotched on a guard rail. Strickland set up Moxley on a chair, got a running start and connected with a pump knee. The brawl continued up the steps before going back to ringside where White chop blocked the leg of Moxley that was softened up last week. With Moxley down on the floor, White zoned in on Strickland in the ring with multiple near falls. White went after Moxley once more, which allowed Strickland to try a dive, but White side stepped, only to eat a sliding knee on the apron by Strickland. The pace quickened when Strickland & Moxley were in the ring, as Strickland bit the middle finger being flipped at him by Moxley and followed with a lariat. White tried to pull Strickland to the floor, but got caught and had the fingers stomped on before Moxley was sent outside onto White. This led to Strickland connecting on a High Fly Flow cross body on both men into picture in picture.

Moxley flew in with a tope on Strickland when things returned, as back inside a stiff corner lariat, punches and biting at the head led to a stalling piledriver for two. Anvil elbows by Moxley with a transition to a key lock, which Strickland escaped into the corner, went up top, but dove right into a Paradigm Shift for two. Moxley cleared off the ring attendant table as White appeared with a chair shot to the back, as No DQ’s due to this being triple threat, as White cracked Moxley in the bad leg as well. Back inside, Strickland got a wildly close pin attempt before a striking battle ensued. Strickland kicked out the leg and connected on the House Call, which led to the powerbomb transition into the powerslam. Top rope 450 Splash connected, but Moxley flew in to break up the count before our second commercial break.

A three way slugfest welcomed us back from break before White laid out Strickland with a half and half until Moxley applied a rear naked choke on White. Once more, Strickland flew in with a House Call to break it up, but Moxley leveled him with a lariat, only to turn into Blade Runner for two in a great sequence. White again went to the chair and laid out both men before wedging the chair in the corner. To the surprise of no one, Strickland turned the table and sent White crashing into the chair. Strickland nearly stole the win off Moxley the same way Moxley won a few weeks ago, with a handful of trunks, but got two. Two big boots and discus lariat dropped Moxley, who fought off the JML Driver, but as Strickland went to the top for the Swerve Stomp, White sent him crashing to the floor. Moxley nearly beheaded White with a lariat and hit the Death Rider to get the win.

**********

-Tony Schiavone is backstage with Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana, who is frustrated following the loss. Strickland said he wanted this so badly, as the Continental Classic was breathing life back into the wrestling business. Strickland brings up Keith Lee wanting to pay him a visit tonight and said he’s not busy on Saturday. Schiavone said Lee is there tonight, but in case he missed Strickland, there was a contract for him for a match at World’s End. Nana was furious this didn’t get his approval and Strickland calmed him down saying they’ll see if Lee shows up on Saturday. The match graphic is shown and I guess this match is official, even though Strickland never signed the contract. Also, Schiavone said Lee was there tonight, why couldn’t he just give Strickland the contract himself? Regardless, we’re most likely getting this match, one year in the making, this Saturday.

-Renee Paquette is on stage and welcomes Mariah May, asking her why she attacked Riho last week? May said she did so to support Toni Storm, which we all should be doing. May felt 2023 didn’t have enough Glamour, so the first Dynamite of 2024 will be her in ring debut. 2024 will be the year of Mariah, which got a few boos from the otherwise quiet crowd. Riho’s music hit, as the chase to the ring was on, as May begged off as Toni Storm ran to the ring and tried to attack with her AEW Women’s Title, but Riho dodged. Luther saved Storm from a Tiger Feint Kick, as Riho dropped them both with a cross body to the floor as May checked on Storm, who was distraught as being upstaged.

-Top Flight & Action Andretti are backstage and said they aren’t taking their loss to The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass to heart, but want to keep going. Before they could make their open challenge, Orange Cassidy saunters in with Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero and accepts the match for Rampage. Romero said don’t worry about Cassidy; he did the same thing to him last week. Andretti said they’ll be ready and randomly drank quickly a bottle of water for hydration. We got the Taz giggle on commentary as a result.

**********

-A video package for Miro was shown saying only once the Continental Classic was finished would he seek to fight Andrade. Miro doesn’t want to fight Andrade because he’s a client of his wife; he wants to fight because Andrade is an A-hole. The match will be happening at World’s End.

The Don Callis Family Boxing Week Celebration

Tony Schiavone introduces Don Callis, Konosuke Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher to the ring. Callis said there’s been a lot of stuff going on outside of wrestling for him the last two weeks, which has been very difficult. Callis couldn’t have gotten through it without his Family, so to honor them, he got them all portraits. All of these were hilarious, with the Hobbs portrait having Callis throwing up a West side sign and the one with Fletcher was of them boxing kangaroos. There was a fourth portrait we didn’t see, as Sammy Guevara’s music hit and Callis was caught off guard by the return. Guevara cut off Callis and said long time no talk, as Callis asked if Guevara got his gift for his newborn? Callis revealed the fourth portrait was of the entire Family with Guevara holding his child in the middle. Guevara was upset and asked who the hell told Callis to put his baby in the picture? Callis said Guevara wasn’t mentally capable of being a parent, so they’re there for him. Guevara said Callis is making things about himself and never heard from Callis when he was out with a concussion.

Callis said he was disappointed Guevara dropped the ball, got hurt and left for five months to have babies. Callis put out the ultimatum to choose his other family or the Don Callis Family. If Guevara picks the wrong choice, he’ll be remembered as big of a disappointment as a wrestler as he will be as a parent. Guevara shoved down Callis before Hobbs and crew attacked Guevara from behind. Chris Jericho made the save with his baseball bat and smashed all the portraits but one, as Jericho handed off the bat to Guervara, who smashed his painting. Jericho & Guevara slowly teased shaking hands, but hugged before Big Bill & Ricky Starks appeared and attacked both men. The lights went out and Sting & Darby Allin showed up to make the save and drop the Tag Team champs with baseball bat shots. Sting, Allin, Guevara & Jericho all stared each other down. Jericho needed a partner now that Kenny Omega will be out for an extended time, so ending the Guevara heel run makes sense in this regard, even though I wish it went longer.

-Roderick Strong & The Kingdom are in the back showing off their bulletin board of who is and isn’t The Devil. All signs pointed to MJF as The Devil and Strong promises to expose Max. This board gave off Charlie from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia vibes with his Pepe Silvia scene.

Eddie Kingston defeated Bryan Danielson in the Continental Classic Blue League Finals

(The match these two had a few weeks ago was fantastic and I thought this was even better. The story they told of Danielson wanting Kingston to quit like he always does, just had the fans behind Kingston even more than before. The heart and drive of Kingston led him to defeated Danielson for the first time in his career. The post match back and forth was just excellent stuff between Moxley & Kingston.)

The crowd is loudly behind Kingston here and Danielson knows it, as Kingston connected on a Saito suplex and huge tope to the floor to follow. Loud chops around ringside from Kingston before heading back in the ring where Danielson got his revenge with chops of his own. Kingston exploded out of the corner with a double hand chop before going to the apron where Danielson punted out the leg and hit a DDT on the edge of the ring, followed by a flying knee on the floor.

Danielson controlled the entire break and dodged a Kingston comeback that led to trash talk, saying Kingston is just going to ultimately quit like always. The insults and kicks fired Kingston up, as Danielson was planted with an Exploder to give Kingston hope. Danielson countered a back fist, but Kingston countered a LeBell Lock into a DDT for the double down. Machine gun chops from Kingston, as Danielson spat at Kingston during the onslaught, which resulted in just more chops. Danielson countered another Exploder and sank in the LeBell Lock, but Kingston got the ropes. Both men fought up in the ropes, where Kingston found himself trapped in the Tree of Woe, as Danielson hit a running dropkick. To the ropes they went again, this time with Danielson hitting anvil elbows, but Kingston spun out of a back superplex, landing on Danielson’s face for the double down into commercial.

We come back to a chop battle until Danielson changed levels and put in kicks, but Kingston fired back with more super loud chops. Danielson’s chest is beat red, but still managed to block a chop into a bridging suplex for two. During the Yes kicks, Kingston spat at Danielson, avoided the corner dropkick and turned Danielson inside out with a lariat followed by a Northern Lights Bomb for two. Both traded pin attempts and home run shots, as Danielson connected with the Busaiku Knee, but Kingston barely kicked out. The facial expressions of Kingston when he ate a series of anvil elbows were a master class, as Danielson opted to kick in Kingston’s head and demanded referee Bryce stop it, but Kingston lifted one finger to flip off Danielson. Wanting the final shot, Danielson charged for another Busaiku Knee, but ran right into a backfist and half and half suplex. Another wild backfist led to a Kawada powerbomb high stack to give Kingston the pinfall win. 

Post match, Jon Moxley came to the ring to check on Danielson before Kingston stared down his best friend. Moxley took the microphone and said all he’s ever asked from Kingston was 100% his best. For someone who thinks the whole world hates him, Kingston sure has a lot of people behind him. AEW fans love Eddie Kingston and they deserve his very best. The problem is, Moxley knows Kingston better than he knows himself and knows Kingston can’t beat him. Moxley said he’s done favors for Kingston in the past, but if Kingston wants the Triple Crown, he’s going to have to earn it.

Kingston said Moxley talked enough and said not to treat him like his young boy bitch, Wheeler Yuta. Kingston reminded Moxley he broke in before him. Kingston the King of the Bums is going to push Moxley on Saturday. Kingston reminded that Moxley said the company needs people like Kingston around to shape the younger guys. Kingston said Moxley needs to show his fighting spirit and he’s going to bust Moxley up and enjoy it before saying that was his out line.

**********

Lexy Nair is backstage with Christian Cage and Nick & Shayna Wayne, as Cage was furious that he was sitting here all night waiting for Adam Copeland, who ran in and attacked Nick Wayne and started brawling with Cage before security showed up. Copeland had no problem going through them, as the brawl with Cage spilled into the hall and other wrestlers had to separate the two, with Copeland breaking free from the group to get in a few more shots. Copeland yelled that Cage is his, with Cage saying Copeland was a coward.

Skye Blue defeated Kris Statlander

(This turned into a pretty solid match, with Blue picking up the biggest win in her AEW career as a result. The seeds are being planted by Hathaway for dissention between Statlander & Willow and I need more Stokely on commentary, his banter with Taz was hilarious.)

Stokely Hathaway joined commentary for this match, as Excalibur said Hathaway is trying to drive a wedge between Statlander & Willow Nightingale, as Hathaway was insulted at such an accusation. Statlander got an early takedown and no sold a shot from behind by Blue, who was rag dolled with multiple bodyslams. Blue tried a head scissors, but Statlander cart wheeled out and hit a dropkick for two. A delayed vertical suplex from Statlander, as Hathaway talked about the toughness of Statlander coming back from injuries while his cousin, Leon, works at Auto Zone, twisted his ankle and has been out for five years.

Blue gained control right before picture in picture until Statlander fired back with a series of clotheslines. Statlander connected with a Chaos Theory for two, but Blue answered with a Code Blue for a two count of her own. Blue wanted a second rope hurricanrana, but Statlander countered into a powerbomb. While going back and forth on commentary with Taz, I should point out Hathaway made a Tevin Campbell reference. Blue & Statlander fought in the corner, where Blue slid out of a superplex attempt and took the ref. This allowed Julia Hart to appear from under the ring and deck Statlander with the TBS Title. Blue connected on a Cheeky Nandos kick, followed by an Avalanche Code Blue for the victory.

Post match, Blue kept attacking Statlander with Hart delivering a sliding clothesline to the neck. Blue slapped on a Dragon Sleeper before Willow Nightingale ran to the ring and cleaned house. As Hart & Blue retreated, Abadon appeared on the stage and the duo high-tailed it.

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Ruby Soho & Saraya, who interrupted to tell her she has a birthday present for Soho. Harley Cameron walked in and Saraya said she’s a good little helper who will do anything; she’s good with her hands. Soho said so she hears before getting a phone call from Angelo Parker. Soho walks off and Paquette asked how this partnership with Saraya & Cameron happened as Cameron brought out a butcher knife and Saraya had to calm her down. What an odd turn that took to end the segment.

**********

The Devil’s Henchmen defeated MJF for the ROH Tag Team Titles

(While I’m not a fan of your World Champion taking a pin right before the PPV, at least we finally have those ROH Tag Titles off MJF. This was all storyline, as the match started at the top of the hour. The reveal that Joe has been in cahoots with The Devil was a nice little swerve before the main event this Saturday. I do think we still need a Devil reveal at World’s End, hopefully the reveal delivers.)

The two henchmen came in through the crowd and MJF walked out first, but Samoa Joe was shown screaming in pain backstage, clutching his leg. MJF told referee Bryce he’s doing this on his own, as his shoulder is heavily bandaged up. MJF rushed one of the henchmen at the bell and tried to unmask the man, but was hung up by the other, who was ultimately back dropped to the floor. MJF tried to unmask the man, but the ref was distracted by henchman 1, allowing a third henchmen to attack MJF with a pipe ringside. Back inside, MJF was dropped with the Heatseeker and pinned.

Post match, all three henchmen attacked MJF when Samoa Joe hobbled to the ring with a chair with the henchmen bailing. As Joe helped up MJF, The Devil appeared on the big screen with the words Pleasure Doing Business With You shown. Joe then laid out MJF with the chair, revealing he wasn’t injured and he’s been working with The Devil. Joe told MJF he did this to him and laid out MJF with the Muscle Buster, holding the AEW World Title high with his boot on MJF to end the show.

AEW Rampage 12/29/23

· AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero vs. Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) & Action Andretti

· Wheeler Yuta defends the ROH Pure Title against Matt Sydal

· Ruby Soho vs. Marina Shafir

AEW World’s End 12/30/23

· MJF defends the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe

· Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston in the Continental Classic Championship Final for the Triple Crown Title

· Christian Cage vs. Adam Copeland in a No DQ Match for the TNT Title

· Timeless Toni Storm defends the AEW Women’s Title against Riho

· HOOK defends the FTW Title against Wheeler Yuta under FTW Rules

· FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. House of Black (Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews)

· Julia Hart defends the TBS Title against Abadon

· Chris Jericho, Sting, Darby Allin & Sammy Guevara vs. Ricky Starks, Big Bill, Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher

· Swerve Strickland vs. Keith Lee

· Miro vs. Andrade El Idolo

· Zero Hour: 20 Man Battle Royale for a shot at the TNT Title Anytime, Anywhere

AEW Dynamite 1/3/24

· Mariah May makes her AEW in ring debut