A huge three-hour Holiday Bash edition of AEW Dynamite pits us closer to World’s End. Taking place in Manchester, UK, AEW delivers a ton of action and surprises. Lots to unpack, and a lot to be very attentive to as the night unfolds. As always, the UK crowd is hot and I can’t understand half their chants. That being said, you want to talk about hot crowds, you can’t beat a UK crowd. Unless it’s NJ. You don’t beat us Jerseyans.
Mox defeated Roderick Strong in a C2 Bracket Match
Roddy played the aggressor for most of the match, keeping the trend of Mox being perceived more like an underdog. However, Mox often fought back and would aggressively take control. Mox wins following a Paradigm Shift followed by a big Death Rider.
Mox’s losing streak appears to have ended following a loss to Claudio. Suddenly he seems to be back in his more intimidating role, which some may feel diffuses the notion of him being forcibly dethroned as leader. However, just because he is back on a hot streak doesn’t mean his teammates are tired of his antics.
The Elite defeated The Don Callis Family
The Bucks coming out to the classic BTE theme followed by Superkick Party was a nice touch. Kenny Omega still comes out to his own theme, which consistently pops the crowd. When you are in the UK, it doesn’t take much. Initially starting out as a fast-paced sprint, is uncharacteristically slowed down by the heels. Two stories woven in, The Elite unified and seeking another form of revenge against Don Callis, and the other sees Okada and Takeshita refusing to get along. Hechicero tried, but he wound up taking the pinfall loss.
Face off with AEW Men’s World Champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, “Hangman” Adam Page and… MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN?!
If you haven’t heard by now whether via spoiler or watching on TBS/HBO Max, as Page cut another great promo against his opponents, it was interrupted with a lights out return by none other than the Salt of the Earth, MJF.
One of the promotions core strengths is having wrestlers who cut excellent promos in the ring. Samoa Joe, Swerve, and Hangman are atop the best. Brining back MJF elevated this segment into unfathomable heights. Four of the best talkers, and MJF in one fell swoop outclassed all of them.
Main points: Goes right back after Page, continuing to dismiss him as a non-threat, despite being handed a loss before his departure. Gets in Joe’s face and reminds him of their unfinished business from their last encounter, in which Joe defeated MJF for the title at World’s End. Finally, turns to Swerve, calls him Shane throughout, and without hesitation nor subtlety, digs at his abysmal run in WWE and lackey to Top Dolla.
MJF is never lacking in the promo department.
This creates huge intrigue for the end of 2025 and the championship scene into 2026. MJF opening the year as champion would be a welcome choice. Could Hangman take the championship back for a third reign? Swerve would benefit from another run, as there are a number of individuals who would love to go after him.
If there was ever a way for Joe to lose the championship again, this would be it. He does not have to take the fall to be dethroned. However, it would feel odd for him to lose so soon after winning. Then again, Page only lasted a couple months.
AEW deserves some solid praise for making the main event completely unpredictable.
Backstage: Eddie Kingston shakes off his loss, calls it “learning from history” and vows to climb the ladder. He feels he has his groove back and issues an open challenge for Collision. Even his tamest of promos still get huge reactions from live crowds.
TBS and Multi-Champion Mercedes Mone, ROH Women’s World Forever Champion Athena, Megan Bayne, and Marina Shafir defeated AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions Babes of Wrath and the Timeless Love Bombs
Fun match. Mercedes and Athena led in personality while Bayne and Shafir stood out in power and intimidation. All women involved displayed a more aggressive and competitive stance, as it seems a lot will be at stake in the coming weeks. Willow blasting Mone with a Pounce was a thing of beauty. Mone sold it like death itself, it looked like her body didn’t give her a choice. The end felt a bit rushed, perhaps giving this match a few more minutes to breathe could have improved the end, but the story is still told.
Athena and Mone, despite their odd couple behavior managed to double-team and surprise Willow with a pinfall victory. This sets up Mone & Athena vs. Babes of Wrath at World’s End.
Will Mone and Athena win? Probably not, but it will be an excellent match.
PAC defeated Kyle Fletcher in a C2 Bracket Match
Fletcher’s flash and finesse would prove his undoing. PAC would pull Fletcher out of the sky and keep him firmly grounded throughout the match. While Fletcher did score with a number of high risk and impactful moves, ultimately PAC’s strength and ability to pull out the most insane maneuvers would win the day. PAC destroying Fletcher with a top rope Poison-rana followed by the gorgeous Black Arrow scores the pinfall.
Tons of near falls throughout, led to one of the themes of the tournament, unpredictability.
The C2’s story is rather straightforward. It’s all about putting on the most competitive matches. PAC and Fletcher is a great example. If there was a storyline involved, perhaps PAC would not have come out on top. Kevin Knight defeated Darby Allin. Mascara Dorada defeated Claudio Castagnoli. Not in my wildest would I have thought either scenario possible. AEW thrives when outcomes are unpredictable, and this might be the most unpredictable C2 in history.
Ricochet and Bandido win the Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royale
A quirky match. Participants seemed to spend more time on the outside than in. It’s kinda weird when two guys are brawling on the floor, go into the ring, only for one to eliminate the other.
Boiling down to Ricochet and the GOA against Brodido, the action got meat-heavy, until Brody King seemed to sacrifice himself to eliminate Toa Liona, which somehow allowed for Bandido to dispatch Bishop Kaun. Next week, Ricochet and Bandido will go one-on-one to claim the Diamond Ring and earn a title shot in 2026.
I guess MJF has officially relinquished the ring?
Max Caster and Anthony Bowens started working together again… Keep eyes… or scissors out!
The Collision Portion begins with Orange Cassidy defeating Mascara Dorada
Probably the most different clash of wrestling styles, the somewhat-sloth-like-but-can-go-serious-when-needed Freshly Squeezed against the blink-and-you’ll-miss-him Dorada. It’s something when two wrestlers with such varying skills have a good match with an incredible finish. Early on they traded lucha-style armdrags. Cassidy seems to learn quickly and mimicked the same. After a number of close calls, Cassidy uses Dorada’s blinding speed against him to roll him up, trapping for a pinfall.
Jamie Hayter defeated Ilsa Dawn
Hayter winning was never in question, however Dawn was very much given the time and opportunity to stand out on her own. This was a solid singles match which both women shined in. After the match, the Triangle of Madness interfered. AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander attempted a save, but was inadvertently clotheslined by Hayter.
Hayter, didn’t seem too remorseful.
Collision Main Event: FTR defeated Austin Gunn and Juice Robinson
There must be something with FTR and The Bullet Club Gold/Bang Bang Gang where it seems impossible for them to have anything less than a ‘Grade A’ match. I flash back to the 2-of-3 Falls between Dax and Cash retaining in an hour-long match against Juice Robinson and Jay White.
Did Juice and Gunn really have a shot at winning? No, but boy was it believable. The action picked up with a lot of extremely close near falls. There was one where I legit thought the ref’s hand hit three. Nice feint with the ref counting three while Dax had his foot on the ropes. Love those.
Matches such as these are a reminder of why tag team wrestling is so important to the industry and has been something AEW excelled at.
World’s End is getting ever-so-close. Don’t sleep on this one. If Full Gear was any indication, one simply cannot underestimate a card based on appearance.
 to Manchester, England for a killer show filled with the C2, Dynamite Diamond Ring & more.){kind=link}