The John Report: AEW Dynamite 12/18/24 Review (Holiday Bash)

This week’s AEW Dynamite featured Will Ospreay in action against Darby Allin, plus Jon Moxley’s Death Riders against Orange Cassidy, Hangman Page & Jay White.

This is the second last Dynamite episode of 2024 with the final episode airing next Wednesday I believe and that’s Christmas night. I don’t know if I’ll review that episode. If I do review it then it might be a day or two later. However, there is the AEW Worlds End PPV on December 28th, so I am looking forward to that one.

Last week’s Dynamite set up the Worlds End main event with Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Title against Jay White,

This was AEW Dynamite episode #272 from the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.

It’s Wednesday and you know what that means. Excalibur was on commentary with Tony Schiavone & “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard. Jon Moxley and the Death Riders group were shown walking outside the building since Moxley’s team was against Moxley’s three opponents at Worlds End.

Jay White and Orange Cassidy were interviewed by Renee Paquette backstage. White said that his focus is on the AEW World Championship, but first, he has to make it to Worlds End so he has to rely on the likes of Orange and Hangman Page. White said they don’t need Hangman on this team. That led to Hangman interrupting the interview to say that tonight, Moxley was his. Hangman left while White yelled at him. Orange said nothing. What a wordsmith.

Analysis: It was an effective way to show that they don’t get along very well even though they are teaming up later on Dynamite.

Darby Allin did a brief promo saying he’s facing Will Ospreay tonight and said it’s showtime, which is a classic Sting line.

Will Ospreay did a promo saying he gets to face off against Darby Allin. Will said he’ll show us why his name is Will Ospreay and he’ll show us why he’s on another level.

Analysis: That’s an interesting way to start the show with quick promos by two guys who are in action later in the show.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman was shown walking around backstage and he’ll be on the show later.

Analysis: A lot of times AEW goes right to the action on their shows. This week they spent about seven minutes to get to the first match. That’s later than usual.

This looked like a smaller building with a very small entrance area. There are about 3000 fans there according to Wrestletix, which has become the new norm for AEW this year and it’s sometimes it’s less than that. I will give AEW credit for being smarter by booking smaller buildings.

TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone vs. Anna Jay

There was some aggressiveness early on with Jay slapping Mone in the face. Mone hit Jay with three suplexes in a row. Mone took way too long going up top, jumped off with a terrible splash and Jay moved. Jay hit a running neckbreaker for two. Mone was in control with a running knee attack for two. Jay tried a move, but Mone hit a Meteora double knees for two again. They went to a picture-in-picture break. Here in Canada, they went to the break before Excalibur could even send it to the break.

(Commercial)

Mone set up a spot that took way too long, so Jay got her feet up to stop a charging attack. Jay hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Jay hit three spin kicks in a row although the third one was more like a running ass splash. Jay slammed Mone off the ropes. Jay gave Mone a Gory Bomb, but she was right by the ropes, so Mone got her hand on the bottom rope. They telegraphed that rope grab too much because of how Jay had to move around the ring to get into position. Jay hit a spin kick followed by a neckbreaker. Jay applied her Queenslayer submission with a body scissors, but Mone but the arm and broke free. Mone barely sold that because she applied her Statement Maker submission and Jay was able to get out of that. Mone tried another move, but Jay drove her into turnbuckle for two. Mone came back with a Sunset Bomb into the turnbuckle and a Meteora knee attack. Mone hit the Mone Maker slam off her back for the pinfall win after about 10 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Mercedes Mone

Analysis: ***1/4 The match was pretty good and felt like a bigger deal than most AEW women’s TV matches. It would be nice if they sold moves a bit more because there wasn’t much selling. Instead, it was mostly about doing fast-paced moves. Jay put up a fight and she has improved a lot, but I didn’t expect a title change here.

Kris Statlander was shown watching on a TV backstage. Mone beat Statlander already at Full Gear.

The FTR duo of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler were shown in a room talking about being attacked by Jon Moxley’s Death Riders group on Collision last week. Cash Wheeler talked about how they were attacked because they helped somebody out. Dax said that Doc Sampson told them they wouldn’t be cleared before the end of the year. Dax said that on January 1st, they will be there and they will fight the Death Riders. Dax said that they aren’t coming alone.

Analysis: I think Dax Harwood saying they aren’t coming alone could be a reference to their friend Adam Copeland returning since it’s in Asheville, NC where Adam lives and FTR are Carolina boys too.

Let’s Hear from MJF

It was a festive Maxwell Jacob Friedman this week wearing a Hannukah-style jacket. MJF mocked the NBA’s Washington Wizards, who are terrible and the fans even chanted “Wizards suck” too. MJF said Hannukah was the most important holiday while also telling us that Santa is not real and he’s not sorry for it. There was a “Santa” chant. MJF said that Santa didn’t give you a lump of coal as a gift, it’s because your parents were poor. MJF claimed he started a fundraiser while teasing that he might cry. MJF put a photo on the screen of a very skinny Adam Cole and encouraged fans to buy Worlds End for MJF’s foundation to help put this small child out of his misery. MJF said he’ll prove he’s better than you and you can thank him later.

Adam Cole appeared on the video screen saying he’s against MJF at Worlds End for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Cole said that Matt Taven and Mike Bennett will be there to make sure MJF doesn’t get his hands on the diamond ring. Cole said he was forgetting something. Then Cole asked if he’s kicking his ass yet.

It was a taped message because Adam Cole was in the ring behind MJF. Cole tackled MJF and hit him with some punches. Cole hit a superkick. MJF went for Panama Sunrise, but MJF grabbed his scarf and left the ring.

Analysis: That was okay. MJF has had much better promos in his AEW career, but this feud just isn’t that interesting to me. I think MJF is going to beat Cole while Cole’s friends Taven & Bennett are going to turn heel on Cole.

There was a clip from Collision when Julia Hart nailed Jamie Hayter with a DDT.

Jamie Hayter was backstage saying you can’t fight what you don’t see. Hayter called Hart a coward for attacking Hayter from behind. Hayter challenged Hart for a match at Fight for the Fallen on New Year’s Day and serve her up a heavy dose of Haterade.

A brief video aired about former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega, who has been out of action for over a year. Kenny is coming back soon. Omega is in action against Gabe Kidd at NJPW-AEW Wrestle Dynasty in Japan on January 5th.

There was a light “Kenny” chant from the crowd that was very brief. Tony Schiavone tried to put it over as a big chant, but it was light.

Analysis: I’m glad Kenny Omega will be back soon. He has been missed. Tony trying to act like the whole crowd was chanting for Kenny was kind of sad.

Christian Cage and The Patriarchy entered for a tag team match.

(Commercial)

Hook & Katsuyori Shibata vs. The Patriarchy – Christian Cage & Nick Wayne (w/Kip Sabian & Mother Wayne)

Hook had a light cast on his left arm after taking a chair shot to the arm two weeks ago. I missed a few minutes at the start as Shibata worked over Christian with some chops. Nick tagged in against Hook, who sent Nick out of the ring. Hook did a back body drop to send Christian over the top onto Nick on the floor. Nick sent Hook into the ropes, the referee made Hook back away and Christian wrenched on Hook’s injured left arm against the ropes. The heels took control as the show went to break.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Hook suplexing Nick so that Shibata could get the tag leading to a kick on Nick. Shibata hit another boot on Nick along with some chops to the chest. Shibata hit a running dropkick along with a double underhook suplex on Nick for two. Shibata applied an armbar, but Nick managed to get to the ropes. Nick kicked Shibata, who delivered a kick in return. Shibata did a back heel trip on Nick and a trip for Christian too. Nick rolled up Shibata for two. There was some move in the ring that the director missed. Hook suplexed Christian on the floor. Nick jumped off the turnbuckle, but Shibata caught him in a sleeper hold. Shibata hit a running boot on Sabian on the apron. Shibata did a running kick on Nick. Mother Wayne was on the apron, so the referee was distracted and Christian did an eye gouge on Shibata. Christian hit Killswitch on Shibata and Nick covered Shibata to win by pinfall. It went about 11 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: The Patriarchy – Christian Cage & Nick Wayne

Analysis: **3/4 It was a basic tag team match with the heel side cheating to win as you would expect. The fans came alive a bit for Shibata’s comeback, but it wasn’t a loud crowd for most of it. That’s how a lot of Christian matches go since he has allies on the floor and he uses them to outsmart his dumbass opponents. Hook has been booked like shit since he beat Chris Jericho in a feud while Jericho went on to win the ROH World Title and gets featured a lot more.

There were plugs for matches on AEW Collision.

A video aired about the ROH World Champion Chris Jericho claiming he was the King of New York. It featured Jericho in the streets of New York City.

At ROH Final Battle on Friday night, Chris Jericho defends the ROH World Title against Matt Cardona.

There was a brief video about Bandido.

(Commercial)

The AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May did a promo about her Wolds End opponent Thunder Rosa and that’s a Tijuana Street Fight. May said that she’s spent her career looking out for her and she’s eclipsed everybody here. May said if she was here four years ago then Rosa would never be hired. May told Rosa to bring her father to the match while wondering if being a failure runs in the family. May said she won’t bring her father to Worlds End so he doesn’t see what she’s going to do.

Let’s Hear from Ricochet

Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Ricochet, who was in a suit. Ricochet is facing Will Ospreay in the Continental Classic on Collision this Saturday. Tony mentioned that Ricochet has six points so far in the Continental Classic. Tony talked about how Ricochet had a change in demeanor and Ricochet said it looked good.

The Hurt Syndicate’s Bobby Lashley, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin interrupted the interview. They joined Ricochet in the ring.

Ricochet said that they all look good. Ricochet asked MVP if he saw how Ricochet beat the breaks off Komander and he handled Brody King. Ricochet said after Benjamin’s match, he might have six points and they could face eachother in the future. Ricochet said this Saturday, he has Will Ospreay and he’ll face a different side of Ricochet. MVP wondered if you still had his business card. Lashley grabbed Ricochet by the throat and MVP ripped up the card. MVP said that nobody likes a kiss ass. Lashley let Ricochet go, so Ricochet left the ring.

Analysis: It was Ricochet’s attempt at being a heel a bit by supporting The Hurt Business, but then THB shut that idea down by intimidating Ricochet. I’m not sure where that story is going. It wasn’t a smooth segment.

Continental Classic Blue League: Shelton Benjamin vs. The Beast Mortos

MVP was on commentary for this match. Shelton Benjamin is 1-1 with 3 points while Mortos is 0-3 with 0 points.

Shelton overpowered Morton with an overhead suplex. Mortos ran the ropes leading to a headscissors. Mortos captured the leg and wrenched on the leg to the mat. Mortos tried a rope walk, but Shelton stopped that to crotch Mortos on the top rope. Shelton hit a jumping knee smash to knock Mortos down to the ring to the floor.

(Commercial)

The match returned with Mortos getting a cradle for a two count. Mortos hit an uppercut followed by a jumping kick. Mortos hit a powerslam for two. Shelton hit a spinning kick to the head. Mortos headbutted Shelton followed by a facebuster into the mat. Mortos went up top and hit a spinning splash onto Shelton for a two count. Shelton hit a running powerslam. Mortos no sold that by sitting up, Mortos hit a forearm to the head and then Mortos ran the ropes leading to Shelton hitting a superkick. Shelton hit three straight release German Suplexes in a row. Shelton nailed a running knee smash two times in a row. Shelton hit the T-Bone Suplex for the pinfall win after eight minutes. MVP called it the Hurtfall.

Winner by pinfall: Shelton Benjamin

Analysis: *** A solid match to put over Shelton, who took a lot of Mortos’ offense throughout the match. Mortos was in this tournament to lose matches since this was his fourth match and it was his fourth loss. Benjamin’s offense is always fun to watch.

After the match, Bobby Lashley punched Mortos repeatedly. Benjamin hit a German Suplex on Mortos. MVP mentioned Daniel Garcia facing Shelton Benjamin on Collision. Daniel Garcia, the TNT Champion, said it would be pretty stupid to go fight them, but he didn’t care. Mark Briscoe joined Garcia so Garcia and Briscoe fought with Lashley and Benjamin. MVP hit Briscoe with a cane to the back. Lashley hit a spinebuster and clothesline. Benjamin superkicked Garcia. MVP handed the TNT Title and handed it to Benjamin, who trash-talked Garcia on the mat. Benjamin placed the TNT over Garcia to end it.

Analysis: Daniel Garcia won the TNT Title recently, so I can see Benjamin challenging Garcia for it, but I don’t see there being a title change.

There were highlights shown from the Continental Classic matches on Collision last Saturday. Kazuchika Okada beat The Beast Mortos and Mark Briscoe beat Kyle Fletcher.

The first-ever Will Ospreay-Darby Allin match was up next.

A video aired about AEW All In Texas on Saturday, July 12th. Tickets are on sale now.

(Commercial)

Ricochet was interviewed by Renee Paquette backstage. Ricochet said he wasn’t worried about what happened with The Hurt Business. Ricochet mentioned he has to face Will Ospreay on Collision. Ricochet said he came to AEW to show that he can beat Will and that’s why he will have his eyes on this next match. Swerve Strickland was standing there with Prince Nana. The fans were chanting “Swerve’s Houe” repeatedly. Swerve mentioned Ricochet’s real name “Trevor” saying he’s known him for 14 years and Swerve said that Ricochet was a follower. Swerve said that won’t work in AEW. Ricochet said that Swerve didn’t win the Continental Classic last year and Ricochet will win it this year.

Toni Storm “Portrait of a Rockstar” Interview

Toni Storm was interviewed by RJ City in a room. Toni said she loved wrestling, rock music, and the grind. Storm said it led her here to AEW. RJ asked about her history with AEW. Storm said she can’t believe she made it here. RJ mentioned how she was a three-time Women’s World Champion and Storm reacted like that would be amazing even though she’s done it. RJ mentioned some big name AEW women like Saraya, Mercedes Mone & Mariah May and Toni complimented them. RJ mentioned “Timeless” and Toni didn’t do much other than hug RJ and Toni left.

Analysis: It’s an interesting gimmick for Toni Storm going back to her old look and acting like she doesn’t remember her history in AEW. She is pulling it off well even though the whole thing is a bit silly. Perhaps it will be revealed as mind games leading to Storm outsmarting Mariah May whenever they have another match.

AEW Continental Classic Gold League – Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin

Will Ospreay is 2-0 with 6 points in the Continental Classic while Darby Allin is 1-1 with 3 points.

This is a first-time-ever match so the fans chanted “holy shit” for two of AEW’s most popular wrestlers. Allin went for an armdrag off the ropes, but Will did a flip to land on his feet. Allin hit a springboard cross body block and then they did a sequence of moves where they avoided eachother. Will worked over Allin with chops and Allin hit a dropkick that sent Will into the turnbuckle. Will nailed Allin with an elbow to knock Allin out of the ring to the floor. Will went for a slingshot dive onto Allin on the floor, but Allin avoided it leading to a cannonball suicide dive on the floor. Will was on the apron, so Allin tried a Coffin Drop, Will moved and Allin hit the Coffin Drop on the ring apron so that Allin’s back hit the apron hard. Allin was down on the floor. That looked like a painful bump.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Will working on Allin’s back during the break. Allin did a springboard Coffin Drop back attack. Will tried a move, but Allin flipped over leading to a Stunner. Both guys were down. Allin went up top, Will went after him and Will superkicked Allin against the turnbuckle. Will tried a move off the top, Allin avoided it and Will hit a Hidden Blade. Will tried another move looking like a Stormbreaker, but Allin countered it with a Code Red for a two count. Great nearfall. Will and Allin exchanged strikes as Will took control with a hard chop. Will went for a cradle pin for a two count. Will went for an Oscutter, Allin avoided it and Allin jumped off the ropes with a Coffin Drop onto Will for two. The fans chanted “this is awesome” for them and it’s deserved. They tried a move by the turnbuckle, Will kicked Allin and Will gave Allin a Styles Clash from the apron to the floor. That was crazy. Will was grabbing his right knee to sell that while Allin sold it like he was out because it was a hard bump for him. Will went back into the ring while the referee Paul Turner counted out Allin, who got back into the ring before the ten count. Will jumped off the ropes leading to an Oscutter. Will went for a Stormbreaker, but Allin countered it with a Scorpion Death Drop. Allin went up top and hit a Coffin Drop to Will’s back. Allin went up top again for another Coffin Drop for the pinfall win after about 15 minutes. Will got his shoulder up after the three count to show that it was close.

Winner by pinfall: Darby Allin

Analysis: ****1/2 I was excited to see the match and it lived up to the hype. There aren’t a lot of TV matches that are this good, but these two delivered a Dynamite classic with an epic battle that was very even the whole way. I was very impressed by some of the big bumps that Allin took throughout the match, yet Allin was able to make the big comeback to get the win. There wasn’t a story going into the match other than it was a tournament match, but when you put in two of the most popular guys in AEW, it’s going to be a match that the fans are going to care about. Some of the spots they did were incredible like when Allin countered Will and hit a Code Red for a two count. The fans thought that was it, but then it kept on going. That Styles Clash from the apron to the floor looked very dangerous. They are probably fine from it. I’m just saying it looked nasty. Anyway, Darby getting the win makes sense to me although this really could have gone either way. Whenever they do the replay, I’m sure Will and Darby will do what they can to try to top it.

Post match, Claudio Castagnoli of the Death Riders had a long-distance staredown with Darby Allin since they have a match at Collision on Saturday night.

(Commercial)

Death Riders – Jon Moxley, Pac & Wheeler Yuta (w/Claudio Castagnoli & Marina Shafir) vs. Jay White, Orange Cassidy & “Hangman” Adam Page

I could refer to White, Cassidy & Page as the babyface team, but Page isn’t that much of a babyface right now except that he is against Moxley. Shafir had a briefcase with Moxley’s AEW World Title in it.

Orange started against Yuta with a running dropkick. Orange went after Moxley, who bailed to the floor. Orange hit a springboard dive onto Pac & Yuta on the floor. Moxley punched Orange in the throat. Moxley tagged in. Orange did a back body drop to avoid a piledriver. Page tagged in leading to a lariat on Pac and fallaway slam on Yuta. Page left the ring, Shafir stepped in front of him and Yuta hit Page in the back with a forearm. Back in the ring, Page hit legal man Yuta with a lariat. Page wanted Moxley to tag in, but White tagged himself in so Page yelled at White. Page walked backstage at that point while the fans booed. Moxley was legal and he decked White with a lariat. Claudio did a cheap shot uppercut on Orange on the floor.

(Commercial)

The Death Riders were in control of White as Yuta hit a knee drop on White. The fans were chanting “f**k you Yuta” at Wheeler. That is harsh. White gave Yuta a suplex over the top to the floor. White tried to tag, but Orange was out on the floor while Page left. Pac tagged in, charged at White and missed because White moved. White hit a back body drop on Pac. White sent Pac to the apron and Pac jumped over the top with a neckbreaker. Pac tried a dropkick, but White moved and White hit a lariat. White hit a Cutthroat Suplex on Pac. Claudio distracted White by going to the apron, so Pac hit White with a snap German Suplex. Moxley tagged back in, White hit a Cutthroat Suplex, Moxley no sold that and White hit a DDT on Moxley. Orange tagged in with a Diving DDT off the top rope. White worked over Moxley with kicks followed by a Tornado DDT. Yuta was back in illegally and Yuta hit a German Suplex on Orange. White hit a suplex on Yuta. Pac got his boots up to knock down a charging White. Pac went up top, Orange hit a superplex from the middle turnbuckle and Moxley hit a Cutter on Orange to counter a move. Page went back into the ring illegally, Page kicked Moxley and Orange hit an Orange Punch on Moxley. Page was mad about that. Yuta sent Orange into Page, Orange hit Stundog Millionaire and Page hit a Buckshot Lariat on Yuta after Orange moved. White hit Bladerunner on White. Page argued with White in the ring, so Moxley rolled up Orange with the ROLLUP OF DEATH~! for the pinfall win. It went about 12 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Death Riders – Jon Moxley, Pac & Wheeler Yuta

Analysis: ***1/4 This was mostly about the story of the Orange, Page & White team not getting along and it ended up costing them the match. I thought Yuta would take the loss in this match, so seeing Moxley win with a ROLLUP OF DEATH~! was a surprising result that I didn’t expect. There was a lot of illegal action in the match, which is typical for AEW tag team matches and something that I think hurts their tag team matches.

After the match, Death Riders tried an attack, but Orange, Page and White fought back. Orange nailed Pac with an Orange Punch at ringside. Shafir helped Moxley walk to the back. Page, White and Orange were all standing tall at ringside while Moxley was out in the crowd avoiding his Worlds End opponents. The camera kept cutting between Moxley, Page, White and Orange as the show ended there.

Analysis: I don’t know if any of this match or post-match stuff is going to get the average AEW fan more excited about the AEW World Title match at Worlds End. I don’t see Moxley losing to any of them, but I understand AEW trying to make it seem like Moxley is worried and that’s why he backed away in that situation. I’m just saying four-way match builds are not as interesting as a singles match.

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Three Stars of the Show

1. Darby Allin & Will Ospreay
2. Death Riders – Jon Moxley, Pac & Wheeler Yuta
3. Mercedes Mone

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The Scoreboard

This Week: 7.75 out of 10

Last Week: 7.5

2024 Average: 7.45

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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite

I liked Dynamite this week. The in-ring action was strong most of the show while the Darby Allin-Will Ospreay was one of the best matches I saw on any television show this year. They really had great chemistry together. The main event and other matches were solid, but that Allin-Ospreay match really stood out.

I thought some of the promos were just average. That’s rare for me to say about an MJF segment, but I don’t think his promo was that interesting and the feud with Adam Cole feels like a failure to me.

There was a lot of focus on the Continental Classic and I get it, but I think they could have and should have tried to spend more time on the Worlds End PPV. Next week’s Dynamite is on Christmas, so it’s going to have a low audience so they should have focused on promoting Worlds End more.

The next AEW pay-per-view is called Worlds End and it takes place on December 28th in Orlando.

* AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Orange Cassidy vs. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Jay White

* Dynamite Diamond Ring Match: Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) vs. Adam Cole

* AEW Women’s Championship Tijuana Street Fight: Mariah May (c) vs. Thunder Rosa

* AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

* Continental Classic Semifinals: Gold League winner vs. Blue League runner-up

* Continental Classic Semifinals: Blue League winner vs. Gold League runner-up

* Continental Classic Tournament Finals for the AEW Continental Championship

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Thanks for reading. Go Los Angeles Rams, Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.

John Canton

Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @johnreport