AEW Dynamite live results: Winter is Coming
Six matches, plus the return of The Von Erichs to Texas are set for tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming.
Four of the scheduled bouts will be Continental Classic matches, with three Gold League contests and one Blue League matchup.
In the Gold League, the undefeated Jon Moxley faces the undefeated Swerve Strickland. Both wrestlers are 3-0 in the tournament thus far.
In another Gold League bout, the 2-1 Jay White faces the 0-3 Mark Briscoe.
The third Gold League match features 1-2 Rush against 0-3 Jay Lethal.
In Blue League action, 2-0 Andrade El Idolo takes on 2-0 Brody King in another matchup of unbeatens.
After returning to AEW on last week’s Dynamite, Riho will be back in the ring against Ruby Soho.
Hangman Page vs. Roderick Strong is also set for the show.
Kevin Von Erich, Marshall Von Erich, and Ross Von Erich will appear on the show in Arlington, Texas, just outside of Dallas where the family made their name in World Class Championship Wrestling.
Promo segments with The Golden Jets (Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho), and Samoa Joe have also been announced.
Tonight’s episode will have a five-minute overrun.
AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming comes on the air with Samoa Joe’s music hitting immediately as Excalibur welcomes us before throwing to highlights of last week and MJF being laid out.
Joe said he had come here tonight looking for answers, as he made a promise to MJF to keep him whole before dismantling him personally at World’s End. Joe was made into a liar last week when he saw MJF laid out in the back, jeopardizing his AEW Title opportunity. Joe said he saw a certain beer bottle of a certain brand that a certain cowboy drinks, smelling of desperation, so he searched for Hangman, but he was nowhere to be found.
Hangman Page immediately came to the ring, as Excalibur brought up how maybe MJF is trying to frame Page after their run in last week. Page said if Joe thinks it’s him responsible, he’s wrong, as he doesn’t care about the bromance or the game of clue whodunit. Joe said maybe he’s already made up his mind and he’s about to be the executioner. Roderick Strong & The Kingdom interrupt and said Joe should listen to Page, who Strong called his young boy (a reference Excalibur reminds us is from their Ring of Honor days). Strong recaps the list of people laid out at the hands of the Devil’s goons, never actually seeing MJF himself attacked. Strong pleaded with Joe that MJF is the Devil, shoves Page, who decked Strong. Page & Joe had a stare down, allowing Strong to attack from behind, as referee Aubrey appears and our opening contest is underway, as Joe just left.
Hangman Adam Page defeated Roderick Strong (w/The Kingdom)
(Excalibur said these two shared the ring in Ring of Honor over a dozen times both as opponents and tag partners. This was Page’s first match since the Texas Death Match with Swerve Strickland and I’d say he needed the win more than Strong here, as this was a really good opener. I like the seeds being planted for Page’s involvement in this MJF/Joe/Cole storyline. Do I think it’s actually Page? No, but it gives another option on who The Devil could wind up being.)
Page fought back from the attack, connecting on a fall away slam into a kip up, leading to a standing shooting star for two. Matt Taven is jumping around ringside with a fans Neck Strong sign, as Strong fought his way back into things with chops and boots. Strong tried to keep Page grounded, but Page responded with a big boot and snap suplex. Page connected on a springboard clothesline to send Strong outside, where he was met with a slingshot cross body. Page wanted his moonsault, but Mike Bennett took the ref to allow Matt Taven to distract Page enough for Strong to take control with a violent back breaker onto the top turnbuckle.
Strong was in charge the entire break until Page mounted a comeback by winning a strike exchange until both went for an collided with rolling forearms into the double down. Page started firing off strikes in the corner until ref Aubrey had to pull him away. Strong tried a jumping knee, but leapt right into a Death Valley Driver by Page for two. Page wanted a superplex, biting at Strong’s head, as Strong slid out, but Page tried a moonsault and landed on his feet. Strong dodged, charged and ran into a pop up powerbomb for a Page two count. Strong kicked free from Dead Eye, pancaked Page before connecting on an Angle Slam into a Tiger Driver into the Strong Hold.
Page got the ropes and fought to the apron, as once again Bennett took the ref, but this time Page was ready for Taven, who he took out with a moonsault. Bennett joined his partner and Page hit a top rope moonsault onto both men.Page tried a Buckshot but Strong was there to counter, only Page got a roll up for two. Strong stumbled to his feet, as Page dropped him with a Dead Eye for the victory.
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Andrade El Idolo [9] defeated Brody King [6] in the Continental Classic Blue League
(Our first look at the Blue League on Dynamite and it was one hell of a hard hitting battle with two of the League leaders. This was anyone’s game here, with the way Andrade escaped with the win was rather brilliant, as he found a way to defeat King, who had been on one heck of a roll lately. This was also one of the first times in the tournament I can remember, Excalibur brought up how if two men tie in their Leagues and wind up the two highest scorers, then the tie goes to their League match winner. So if King & Andrade end at the top of their League, then Andrade advances to the finals.)
Excalibur pointed out that despite Andrade putting on size recently; it’s certainly not enough to match King. Andrade continuously tried to work a headlock early, but King rose to his feet and flattened Andrade with a shoulder tackle and senton. A loud chop battle started up until Andrade floated over in the corner, nearly got caught in the sleeper, but escaped and hit a top rope cross body for one. King rolled to the floor, where Andrade met him with a moonsault off the second rope. Back to the ring they briefly went, as Andrade was placed on the ropes and chopped violently to the floor, putting King in control during picture in picture, where he hit a charging cross body on Andrade against the barricade.
Andrade tried to start a strike exchange, but King easily won that, until a corner charge missed and King ran head first into the buckle. Andrade blocked a boot and hit multiple dragon screws, finally taking King down with a flying forearm. Andrade finally hit a bodyslam, went up top and connected on a perfect split legged moonsault for two. King dodged the running double knees and turned Andrade inside out with a lariat for a close near fall of his own. King connected on his corner cannonball, but Andrade escaped at two, as he dodged a Gonzo Bomb until both men just threw heavy shots. King went for another lariat, but Andrade met him with the spinning back elbow. Andrade took too long going up top, as King cut him off, but couldn’t manage a superplex. Instead, Andrade fell back and drove King head first on the exposed part of the buckle and followed with his El Idolo DDT for the victory.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Kevin, Ross & Marshall Von Erich as Kevin said he loves AEW and has so many friends here. Danhausen, Trent Beretta & Orange Cassidy interrupt and Cassidy said he has a match on Rampage and asks Ross & Marshall to team with him. They accepted and did an all hands in, so that six man is coming up on Rampage this week. At this moment, we never found out who their opponents would be. I guess that’s all we’ll see or hear from the Von Erich’s tonight.
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The Golden Jets Return
Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho are met with their first ever Golden Jets chants from the crowd. Jericho, wearing an arm brace, talks about how Ricky Starks & Big Bill attacked him after the press conference at Full Gear and wants them to get their asses out to the ring.
Starks & Bill walk out as Starks said he doesn’t have a problem with Omega, thanking him for AEW, while Jericho sucks the life out of everything. Starks brings up the Inner Circle and J.A.S. and asks Omega if he can truly trust Jericho? Bill said if Jericho attacked Omega at any moment, no one would be surprised. Omega said Jericho knows he doesn’t trust him and brings up The Firm and said that angle with MJF was more like The Flaccid or more up Bill’s alleyway of Sawft. Omega said their future Tag Team title match is going to happen at World’s End and called them the Winnipeg Jets before correcting himself with the Golden Jets.
Starks accepts the challenge and brings up this past January beating Jericho, as Bill mentioned Starks beat him twice, again at a PPV. Starks said they don’t need a team name, but Jericho said he has a few names The Absolute A-Holes, The Rick & The Dick or Big Billy Starks, which fell completely flat. Excalibur wisely points out Billie Starkz is actually challenging Athena this Friday at ROH Final Battle. Starks brings up Jericho shopping at Hot Topic, with Jericho saying Starks is a less charismatic version of Enzo Amore. Omega said at least Enzo would hype up Big Bill, not take the whole spotlight. Taz said that line was stiff.
Starks said he’s sick and tired of all this as they’re the best tag team there is and for the Winnipeg Scumbags to bring it at World’s End. Omega said they should bid their titles adieu and hit his go home line to end the segment. I still think calling Starks & Bill ‘Absolutely Big’ is the way to go.
-Timeless Toni Storm made her way to join commentary ahead of the next contest, as she is joined by Mariah May. Storm asks if the gentlemen would prefer she does color or play by play? Taz prefers she do play by play, as Storm said he truly is a Tazmaniac. Storm also says Luther is not here tonight because he has a case of the gout.
Riho defeated Ruby Soho
(A good return victory for Riho, who hadn’t been in an AEW ring since April. She seems to be next for Timeless Toni, who was hilarious on commentary tonight.)
Soho attacked right at the bell, but Riho bridged out of a pin and hit a quick dropkick. A running corner knee and bridging suplex got Riho two, as she followed with a wheelbarrow into a double stomp. Soho tried for a back superplex in the corner, but got caught up in the ropes and Riho hit a violent double stomp as she waved at Storm before things went to commercial.
Soho gained control during break, but Riho quickly turned the tide with a head scissors into the ropes followed by a Tiger Feint Kick. A high cross body off the top hit for two, as both ladies had a series of pin attempts, with Soho up first with a Saito Suplex. Storm randomly calls for her close up and gets a zoom in before Riho hit a crucifix bomb for two. Riho missed a top rope stomp, as Soho met her with No Future for a near fall. Riho avoided Destination Unknown and countered a guillotine into a Northern Lights followed by a Dragon Suplex and charging double knees for the victory.
-A video package of the destruction Wardlow has left since his return is shown. Just like the archangel Michael, he will be the one to bring The Devil to his knees. MJF’s world is coming to an end.
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Rush [6] defeated Jay Lethal [0] in the Continental Classic Gold League
(This was by far the quickest match of the tournament, as Rush was a man on a mission tonight. Excalibur pointed out Rush needs some serious help to win his League, but it’s still mathematically possible. I’m paying attention to where Lethal goes after the tournament wraps, as his reaction with his crew on the stage was interesting.)
Lethal was able to survive the early onslaught of chops from Rush and get the takedown so he could do a Fargo Strut. That was enough time for Rush to recover and hit a bounce back German suplex and knee to the floor, as Rush’s tournament life is on the line here tonight. Rush was relentless with corner strikes, did his LFI pose until Lethal caught him with a Lethal Combination. Rush did a misdirect, but Lethal blocked the discus elbow into an enzugiri. Lethal wasted too much time and was launched into the corner by an overhead belly to belly. Lethal blocked Bulls Horns, but Rush side stepped Lethal Injection and sank in a rear naked choke for the quick submission. Sonjay Dutt, Jeff & Karen Jarrett came to the stage to console Lethal, who sort of shrugged it off and was visibly upset as Rush celebrated with the fans, spraying a drink everywhere in the process.
Switchblade Jay White [9] defeated Mark Briscoe [0] in the Continental Classic Gold League
(I know Briscoe was eliminated from contention last week, but you can’t help but root for him to win no matter the circumstance. I bit at the near falls he had in this one and wondered if White would suffer his first loss. It was not meant to be, as I believe with this win, Rush is also mathematically eliminated from winning Gold League.)
Briscoe charged in with a running corner boot, as White answered with a high stack for two. A loud Dem Boyz chant for Briscoe, who hit a rolling Death Valley Driver and Froggy Bow, as White wisely rolled to the floor. White actually wrapped himself up in the cable chord and gave himself at least a little breather with Briscoe trying to untangle him, as back inside, Briscoe fired off chops. Briscoe charged, but White hit an overhead throw and resulted in Briscoe smacking his back on the edge of the apron. Briscoe’s Redneck Kung-Fu helped avoided Blade Runner, but White quickly followed with a short DDT to control during break.
White worked over the leg during picture in picture, but Briscoe fired off a wild lariat into the double down. More Kung-Fu fired off by Briscoe, who followed with a flying forearm and charging boot. Briscoe hit his running elbow off the apron to the floor, as back inside; White escaped Splash Mountain into a chop exchange. White fought out of the corner, but Briscoe was there with an uppercut chop to the neck and Splash Mountain for two. Briscoe wanted a Jay Driller, but White answered with multiple dragon screws and multiple Sleeper Suplexes. White wanted Blade Runner, but Briscoe spun out into an Exploder, wanting a second Froggy Bow, but White got the knees up and hit Blade Runner for the win.
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-A video package of Bryan Danielson challenging FTR & Mark Briscoe to a six man tag at Final Battle is shown. It will be Danielson, Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. FTR & Mark Briscoe to honor Jay Briscoe this Friday night.
Jon Moxley [12] defeated Swerve Strickland [9] in the Continental Classic Gold League
(If there was any match in the Gold League I would’ve thought would go the time limit, this would’ve been it. Strickland certainly has a gripe though, not because Moxley used the trunks, but because his shoulder was nowhere near the mat for the pin. Prior to that, these two had the best match in Gold League and I hope this is the final two headed to the semi-finals. This was an excellent main event.)
Holy Sh*t and AEW chants ring out before the match even begins, as mat work from both men led to a break my Moxley in the corner, where he kissed Strickland on the nose. Strickland won the next scrap and returned the favor before working a headlock. A series of reversals led to a Strickland head scissors that sent Moxley to the floor, frustrated. A stiff forearm and chop battle ensued until Moxley went to the second rope, had his legs kicked out and Strickland hit a nasty leaping DDT as a result for two. Moxley tried to regroup outside, but this time, Strickland was out after him to continue the assault. Back inside, Moxley exploded out of the corner with a lariat and poured down punches before biting the arm and hitting a stalling piledriver for two. Moxley went to the floor and crotched Strickland on the apron before driving him into the ring steps.
During picture in picture, Moxley remained in control by hitting a superplex and keeping Strickland grounded. Moxley absolutely crushed Strickland with a lariat, but Strickland fought back with a duck down into a backbreaker, giving him time to recover. A diving uppercut off the second led to a rolling Flatliner attempt, which Moxley was ready for and hit a leaping Cutter for two. Moxley connected on the Gotch Style Piledriver, but Strickland kicked out. Both men traded headbutts and big boots until Strickland got his rolling Flatliner into a suplex, which Moxley surged to his feet, as Strickland was there with a charging boot for two.
Strickland stomps down with boots and anvil elbows, catching Moxley in the chops with the House Call. Strickland wanted the Swerve Stomp, but Moxley exploded to his feet and dumped Strickland to the floor, demanding Paul Turner put the 10 count on him, which Strickland broke, only to roll into the Curb Stomp for two. With 5 minutes remaining, Moxley applied a cross arm breaker, but Strickland got the ropes. Moxley grabbed a chair, but took too long, as Strickland flew in with a dive and pump kick on the apron, setting Moxley up on the chair and connecting on a Swerve Stomp. Back inside, Strickland hit a proper Swerve Stomp, but Moxley kicked out. Strickland went for the JML Driver, but Moxley rolled him up with a handful of trunks and also Strickland’s shoulder was up, but Paul Turner counted the three. Moxley said to the camera “whatever it takes.” Moxley left through the crowd, as Strickland was left visibly pissed off.
-We cut backstage where Hangman Adam Page was being attacked by four of the Devil’s Henchmen until The Devil gets out of a car, nods and two of the men chokeslam Page through the window. I’m not going to say it’ll definitely be them, but one of the builds of the henchmen were the size of Brody King and it almost looked like you could see a back tattoo on him when tackling Page against the garage door. I could be completely wrong, but perhaps The House of Black are more names potentially involved in this story?
Continental Classic Gold League Standings
12 Points: Jon Moxley
9 Points: Swerve Strickland, Switchblade Jay White
6 Points: Rush
0 Points: Jay Lethal, Mark Briscoe
Continental Classic Blue League Standings
9 Points: Andrade El Idolo
6 Points: Brody King, Bryan Danielson
3 Points: Claudio Castagnoli, Eddie Kingston
0 Points: Daniel Garcia
AEW Rampage 12/15/23
· AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy, Ross & Marshall Von Erich in Six Man Tag Team Action
AEW Collision 12/16/23
· Andrade El Idolo vs. Claudio Castagnoli in the Continental Classic Blue League
· Eddie Kingston vs. Daniel Garcia in the Continental Classic Blue League
· Bryan Danielson vs. Brody King in the Continental Classic Blue League
AEW Dynamite 12/20/23
· Jon Moxley vs. Switchblade Jay White in the Continental Classic Gold League
· Rush vs. Swerve Strickland in the Continental Classic Gold League
· Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Lethal in the Continental Classic Gold League