AEW Dynamite: New Year's Smash Live Coverage - December 31st, 2025
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AEW Dynamite
New Year's Smash
Nearly two years to the day he lost the AEW World Title, MJF reclaimed the championship this past Saturday when he pinned the man who took that title from him, Samoa Joe, at Worlds End, as part of a 4-Way Match that also included “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland. What will MJF have to say to start off his second reign as AEW World Champion?
:aew:
— Excalibur and Tony Schiavone greet audiences at home before throwing it to a video recapping what went down at Worlds End.
— We then head outside the arena and see MJF pull up. He then makes his way to the ring.
MJF says while Swerve Strickland may be "The Franchise", Samoa Joe is "The Samoan Submission Machine" and Adam Page is "The Main Character" as the big three, he's still the new AEW World Champion. He throws down the belt, then unveils a second custom one made just for him. He says a lot of the fans around the world are upset with him and think it's not fair he's outclassed and outwitted all the fan favourites, then continues to gloat. He says he's better than everyone and they know it.
Kenny Omega appears on the jumbo screen and apologizes for interrupting MJF, but MJF made him feel a certain way. He says he hates the feeling that he's closer to the end of his career than the beginning, then says he's been asking himself what if he became AEW World Champion again. He says he's not collecting belts like he used to, but he's collecting one in the AEW World Championship whether he challenges next week or has to claw to the front of the line.
MJF says Omega wasn't man enough to say any of what he just said to his face, but Page's music hits and he appears in the crowd with a chain around his neck. Strickland's music then hits and he appears in another section of the crowd with a chain on his neck and Prince Nana. Page, Strickland, and Nana all make their way to the ring, but security holds them back as MJF says he's a professional wrestler. He says he believes wins and losses matter, then says Page and Strickland are both losers. He says if Page and Strickland earn themselves matches with wins, he'll let them have title shots. Page and Strickland then take out security guards in the ring after MJF leaves, attacking two of the guards. Page and Strickland use one of the chains to level one of the guards, then deliver a Buckshot Lariat and House Call to the guards and put MJF on notice.
Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and HOOK appear on the jumbo screen. Joe makes it clear he wants a rematch of his own for the AEW World Championship, then challenges Page and Strickland to a tag team match on behalf of HOOK and Hobbs. Page and Strickland agree, with Strickland upping the challenge to a No Disqualification Lights Out Match.
— From there, we shoot backstage, where we see The Conglomeration. Mark Briscoe talks about the group coming into 2026 strong, invoking the name of Ted Turner in the process. They talk about a match coming out of the Mixed Nuts Mayhem match at Worlds End.
— Storm, Cassidy, and Strong will team up later tonight. The word of the day according to Briscoe is asphyxiation, because the Death Riders will choke on these nuts tonight. Toni Storm appears along with Mina Shirakawa and Luther, with the Timeless One promising her “wife” that she still loves her.
— After that, she calls for Orange Cassidy to dance tonight. As everyone else walks away, Roderick Strong insists that he wants no part of this before leaving as well. The segment wraps up and we return live inside the arena.
— Toni Storm, Roderick Strong, and Orange Cassidy then make their way to the ring. Marina Shafir, Daniel Garcia, and Claudio Castagnoli of The Death Riders follow.
Mixed Tornado Trios Match: Timeless Toni Storm, Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong vs. Marina Shafir, Claudio Castagnoli & Daniel Garcia
The bell rings and everyone begins brawling with one another. Storm connects with a Thesz Press on Shafir and lands a shotgun dropkick on her, but Castagnoli dumps Storm out of the ring. Strong sneaks up behind Castagnoli and fires off chops on him, then rains down right hands on him.
Cassidy rains down right hands on Garcia in the corner, then rolls up Shafir. Garcia, Shafir, and Castagnoli take turns firing off clotheslines and uppercuts on Cassidy in the corner, and Garcia and Shafir then level Cassidy with a double boot.
Back from the break, Castagnoli, Shafir, and Gardia fire off stomps on Strong in the corner. Strong lands a chop on Garcia, but Castagnoli holds him in place for Shafir to fire off chops on him. Strong escapes and lands a back suplex on Castagnoli.
Cassidy and Storm dance in the ring with one another, taking out Shafir and Garcia in the process. They deliver a double Hip Toss to Castagnoli, and Cassidy runs over Castagnoli with a boot to his face. Garcia runs over Storm with a boot to her face, but Cassidy takes him out with an Orange Punch. Shafir sneaks up behind Cassidy, but Strong delivers a backbreaker to Shafir.
Cassidy lands a Stun-Dog Millionaire on Castagnoli, and Storm follows it up with a Hip Attack. Cassidy responds with a Tornado DDT on Castagnoli, but Wheeler Yuta sneaks up behind Cassidy on the ring apron and takes him out. Castagnoli then takes advantage and delivers a pop-up uppercut to Cassidy for the win.
Winners: Marina Shafir, Daniel Garcia, and Claudio Castagnoli
— After the match, Strong extends his hand to Cassidy and helps him up.
— Bandido then makes his way to the ring. The Beast Mortos and Sammy Guevara follow.
Bandido vs. The Beast Mortos (w/ Sammy Guevara)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Bandido grabs his cape and shakes it as Mortos to get him to charge at him twice, but pulls it away at the last second as a means of getting Mortos to avoid missing him. Motors finally grabs the cape from Bandido and lands a Tornillo on him through the middle rope to level him on the outside.
Back from the break, Mortos lands a pop-up Fallaway Slam on Bandido. He turns Bandido inside out with a clothesline, but Bandido responds with a 21 Plex to Mortos for the win.
Winner: Bandido
— Brody King then makes his way to the ring. Lee Johnson is already waiting inside.
Brody King vs. Lee Johnson
The bell rings and Johnson flies over the top rope to level King on the outside and take the fight to him. He rains down right hands and left hands on him, but King sends him crashing into the barricade and dumps him in the ring.
The bell sounds and King charges at Johnson. Johnson sees King coming, but King turns him inside out with a clothesline and follows it up with a cannonball. He then sends Johnson crashing into the mat face first with a Falcon Arrow for the win.
Winner: Brody King
Eliminator Match for the Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Josh Alexander
The bell rings and Alexander blindsides Moxley as he gets in the ring. He fires off right hands on him, then continues wearing him down and fires off more right hands of his own. Moxley and Alexander then exchange chops with one another, but Alexander cinches in an Ankle Lock. Moxley escapes, then sends Alexander crashing into the corner and lands a clothesline on him. Alexander sends Moxley crashing out of the ring, and Moxley grabs onto his injured ankle. Alexander continues targeting it by kicking it, then sends Moxley crashing into the ring apron face first.
Back from the break, Moxley fires off a series of chops on Alexander's chest on the ring apron. Alexander and Moxley then exchange right hands with one another, but Alexander lands a slam on Moxley on the ring apron. He ascends to the top rope and looks to deliver a moonsault to Moxley, but Moxley rolls out of the way and exchanges right hands with Alexander once again.
Moxley sets up for a cutter on Alexander, but Alexander avoids it. Moxley then manages to land a second cutter on him and goes for a pin, but Alexander kicks out. Moxley cinches in a Bulldog Choke on Alexander, but Alexander escapes and Moxley catches him with a back suplex. Alexander sends Moxley crashing into the corner with a shotgun dropkick, but Moxley sends Alexander crashing out of the ring and delivers a tope suicida to him.
Alexander uses the ring post to cinch in a Figure Four Leg Lock on Moxley, but Moxley cinches in a Bulldog Choke on Alexander. Alexander escapes, but Moxley rains down Hammer and Anvil elbows on him. He locks the Bulldog Choke back in on him, but Alexander fades.
Winner: Jon Moxley
— After the match, Shelton Benjamin and MVP appear on the entrance ramp and stare Moxley down.
— Jurassic Express makes their way to the ring. The Demand follows.
AEW National Championship Match: Ricochet (w/ The Gates of Agony) (c) vs. Jack Perry (w/ Luchasaurus)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Ricochet dumps Perry out of the ring as Luchasaurus stares down Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun stands right behind Liona. Perry gets back in the ring and pins Ricochet, but Ricochet kicks out and Perry levels him with a shoulder tackle. He sends Ricochet crashing out of the ring with a kick and connects with a dive on him that sends him crashing into the barricade, then dumps him back in the ring.
Kaun grabs onto Perry's ankle as he gets inside, but Luchasaurus grabs him by the throat. Liona attacks Luchasaurus from behind and sends him crashing into the ring post, and Ricochet flies out of the ring with a tope suicida to level him on the outside.
Back from the break, Perry lands a German suplex on Ricochet. Ricochet responds with a vertical suplex to Perry, but Perry rolls up Ricochet. Ricochet kicks out before Perry dumps him out of the ring and looks to fly. Ricochet sees Perry flying and looks to send him crashing into the floor face first, but Perry counters into a move of his own and drives Ricochet into the floor.
Perry ascends to the top rope when the pair return to the ring, but Kaun looks to trip him. Perry fights him off and lands a diving Tornado DDT on Ricochet, but turns around into a Spirit Gun while getting in Kaun's face from inside the ring. Ricochet then pins Perry for the win.
Winner and STILL AEW National Champion: Ricochet
— After the match, Liona takes out Luchasaurus on top of the entrance ramp. Ricochet runs over Perry with a Spirit Gun in the ring as Liona lays a barricade on Luchasaurus' arm and Kaun hits Luchasaurus' arm with a chair. Security appears, but Ricochet takes one of them out with a Spirit Gun and Liona sends another crashing into the barricade with a bodyslam.
— We then head backstage, where MJF speaks with Renee Paquette. Bandido and Brody King confront MJF ahead of Bandido's AEW World Championship match against MJF and the "Dynamite" Maximum Carnage special.
— Willow Nightingale makes her way to the ring. Mercedes Mone follows.
TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Willow Nightingale
The bell rings and Mone beats down Nightingale on the outside. She sends her bouncing off the ring apron face first, then sends her crashing into one of the barricades shoulder first and looks to land a meteora on her. Nightingale moves out of the way and sends Mone crashing into the adjacent barricade with a shoulder pounce.
Nightingale dumps Mone back in the ring, then lands a missile dropkick on Mone off the middle rope and follows it up with a cannonball to her in the corner. She goes for a pin, but Mone kicks out and Nightingale levels her with a cannonball off the ring apron. Mone then sends Nightingale crashing into the ring steps and runs her over with a meteora.
Back from the break, Nightingale sends Mone crashing into the mat spine first and runs over her with a trio of clotheslines. She fires off a clothesline on her in the corner, but Nightingale runs over Mone with a shoulder pounce and follows it up with a Death Valley Driver. She goes for a pin, but Mone kicks out.
Mone delivers a backstabber to Nightingale, but Nightingale sets up for a moonsault on Mone off the ropes. Mone moves out of the way and looks to land a Frog Splash on Nightingale off the top rope, but Nightingale gets her knees up.
Nightingale looks to land a cannonball on Mone off the ring apron, but Mone ducks out of the way and delivers The Three Amigos to Nightingale on the outside. Nightingale blocks the third suplex and clears the announce desk, then drags Mone on top of it. Mone delivers a suplex to Nightingale on top of the announce desk that sends Nightingale crashing off the announce desk.
The referee begins a ten count, but both women beat it and Mone fires off a few elbows on Nightingale. She cinches in the Statement Maker on her, but Nightingale rolls through and gets Mone up on her shoulders. Mone escapes and sets up for the Statement Maker, but Nightingale escapes and delivers the Doctor Bomb to Mone for the win.
Winner and NEW TBS Champion: Willow Nightingale
— After the match, Harley Cameron, Orange Cassidy, "Speedball" Mike Bailey, and Kevin Knight join Nightingale in the ring to celebrate her win and hug her. Kris Statlander appears behind Nightingale and gives a big hug to her, celebrating Nightingale's win with her as the show goes off the air.
