The John Report: AEW Dynamite 12/25/24 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured huge Continental Classic matches with Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher, Ricochet, Darby Allin, Daniel Garcia, and others in action.
This Dynamite episode aired on Christmas Day. I watched it a day later and now I’m writing a quick review on Friday morning. I don’t have the time to write a detailed review, so I’m just going to hit on the key points.
The AEW Worlds End PPV is on Saturday night. My beloved LA Rams of the NFL are playing Saturday night and I’m having a party with friends, so I don’t think I’m going to get the Worlds End review done until Monday morning. I don’t have four free hours on Sunday to do it between church in the morning and wanting to watch NFL games the rest of the day.
I don’t plan to write an AEW Worlds End preview either, but I’ll try to make some predictions throughout this review.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #273 from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York. 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 & Taz, who is back from knee surgery. Welcome back.
Continental Classic Gold League: Will Ospreay defeated Brody King
There was a lot of impressive power from King throughout the match while Will kept trying to fight back. Will hit an impressive Styles Clash, but King hit a lariat and Gonzo Bomb for a two count. After Will hit a Hidden Blade, King kicked out at two. Will hit the Stormbreaker for the win.
Analysis: **** It was a terrific match as usual from Ospreay while King always puts on a great showing when he’s in a match that is given time. King does get some wins occasionally, but he’s not going to beat a top guy like Ospreay. I’d love to see King get a singles push in 2025 although I don’t know if it will happen.
The Hurt Business trio of Bobby Lashley, MVP and Shelton Benjamin were trying to arrive, but AEW EVP Christopher Daniels with security. Renee said that Bobby and MVP were banned from the building. MVP said out of respect for Renee, they’ll honor this request. Benjamin was allowed in since he had a match later.
Continental Classic Gold League: Ricochet vs. Darby Allin was a 20-minute time-limit draw
Ricochet is fully in heel mode now because the fans hate him and he has embraced it. There were a lot of funny moments throughout the match. Ricochet also did his best to piss off the crowd by doing crotch chops to the fans and things like that. They did a big spot where Ricochet did a 630 Splash off the top onto Allin on a table on the floor. There were plenty of nearfalls and near submissions throughout the match. Allin hit a Scorpion Death Drop and didn’t go for a cover. Allin went up top for a Coffin Drop, he hit it and there was no time to make the cover. The 20-minute time limit expired.
Analysis: ***1/2 It was another very good match in this tournament as you would expect from guys like this. The table spot was really cool because you don’t see that kind of thing in most matches. It could be argued that it should be a DQ finish due to a table breaking, but this is AEW. They don’t really enforce rules that well in this company.
The draw by Ricochet meant he clinched a spot in the semifinals of the Continental Classic while Allin was eliminated. The fans booed loudly when it was announced that Ricochet had advanced.
When Komander made his entrance, Darby Allin said something to him and Alex Abrahantes. Komander is the ROH TV Champion.
Jay White did a promo about how he’s going to win the AEW World Title at the Worlds End PPV on Saturday. I don’t expect that to happen.
Continental Classic Gold League: Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Claudio Castagnoli
Going into this match, Komander had no points in the Continental Classic while Claudio needed a win or draw here to advance to the semifinals. There was a spot where Komander was sent out of the ring where he put on some brass knuckles that were on the floor. Komander punched Claudio in the jaw. That’s what Darby told Komander about. Komander hit a Shooting Star Press off the top for the pinfall win. It went about 7 minutes.
Analysis: *** There’s an upset win in this tournament thanks to Darby Allin assisting Komander due to Allin having an issue with Claudio’s Death Riders group. I liked how it was booked to give Komander an upset win.
The loss by Claudio Castagnoli meant that Will Ospreay made it to the Continental Classic semifinals along with Ricochet in the Gold League group.
After the match, the Death Riders Pac, Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir attacked Komander. Orange Cassidy and Jay White made the save. Orange and White cleaned house. After Orange left the ring, Moxley hit White in the back with the metal briefcase that had the AEW World Title in it. Moxley also hit Orange with the briefcase of doom.
Moxley told White and Orange that they are delusional if they think they can even lay eyes on the AEW World Title. “Hangman” Adam Page went into the ring to confront Moxley. That led to Orange hitting Moxley with an Orange Punch, Page hit the Buckshot Lariat and White hit the Bladerunner to send Moxley out of the ring. White, Page and Orange all had their eyes on the briefcase that had the AEW World Title in it.
Analysis: That was a good post match segment to show that Jon Moxley could be in trouble against these three opponents Orange, White and Page. I don’t think Moxley will lose the AEW World Title, but at least they are teasing the idea that it could happen. I think Moxley winning is pretty much a lock. They need to keep the title on him for much longer and not do a title change in a four-way match.
Continental Classic Blue League: Kazuchika Okada defeated Shelton Benjamin
Okada went into this match with 7 points and Benjamin had 6 points, so they both needed a win to make the semifinals. They did this great spot where Okada went for a lariat and Benjamin countered it with a flatliner. When Benjamin went for a suplex, Okada slipped behind him and Okada hit a Rainmaker lariat for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Analysis: ***1/2 I enjoyed that match a lot. Two veterans out there who matched up well. Great counter move by Okada for the finish. I like how Benjamin has been presented like a big deal in AEW, which is different than his last run in WWE for sure.
Swerve Strickland was backstage with Prince Nana for an interview with Renee Paquette. Swerve said that he had a special connection with the fans after the year he had. Swerve was talking about what he would do in 2025, but Ricochet interrupted to say that he’s going to win the Continental Classic like Swerve couldn’t do last year. Swerve told Ricochet not to blow it because if he does then Swerve will embarrass him. After Swerve left, Ricochet said that’s why you don’t have a house anymore. Nice line to end it.
Analysis: That is teasing a Ricochet-Swerve rivalry for 2025, which should be a lot of fun since Ricochet is thriving as a heel character right now.
Chris Jericho, the ROH World Champion, did a New York Minute promo. Jericho talked about facing Anthony Bowens on Rampage this Friday.
Analysis: It’s the last Rampage ever since it’s been canceled. Rest in peace, Rampage. It went out with a whimper.
Toni Storm defeated Taya Valkyrie (w/Deonna Purrazzo)
There’s a fun gimmick with Toni Storm right now where she is acting like she has some sort of memory lapse and she acts like she’s new to AEW. What that means is Toni doesn’t remember her success as “Timeless” Toni Storm. I think my fellow Canadian Taya and Deonna should both be in better spots, but hopefully they can do okay as The Vendetta group. There was a bit of interference from Purrazzo although she didn’t do much. Storm hit a hip attack against the corner. Taya regained control and was talking shit, but Storm got an inside cradle for the pinfall win. It went 7 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Toni Storm
Analysis: **1/4 It was a solid match between two veteran women. It’s typical AEW where the women have a shorter match compared to the men and they don’t get as many storylines as the guys either. Anyway, it seems like Storm is being built up for an AEW World Title match against Mariah May, who she lost the title to, even though Storm apparently doesn’t remember. Could it be mind games by Storm? Perhaps.
A video package aired about the MJF-Adam Cole match at Worlds End for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. They did a face-to-face promo on AEW Collision to add more to the rivalry between the former friends.
“Hangman” Adam Page was interviewed by Renee Paquette saying that Jon Moxley will walk into Worlds End as the AEW World Champion for the last time. Christopher Daniels interrupted Page by saying if he needed anything and Page wondered why he would need an office stooge like Daniels to help. Daniels pointed out the other guys in the World Title match have groups watching their backs. Daniels said he’s known Page for 15 years and if Page needs a friend, Daniels will be there. Page said something about how it’s Christmas and he left.
Continental Classic Blue League: Kyle Fletcher defeated Daniel Garcia
Going into the match, Fletcher had 9 points while TNT Champion Garcia had 7 points. Fletcher just needed a win or draw to advance while Garcia needed to win this match to advance. They had a lot of time for the match and it was very even most of the way. Garcia got a great nearfall with a jackknife pin. Fletcher came back with two running kicks to the head. Fletcher hit the turnbuckle brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle. Fletcher covered Garcia to win the match. It went 15 minutes.
Analysis: ***1/2 It was another great match in this tournament. Garcia is so good technically while Fletcher has all the tools physically and he’s been getting a big push as a singles guy. I’m not surprised that Fletcher got the win here to make the CC Semifinals because I expected Fletcher to be there when the tournament started.
After the match, Will Ospreay made his entrance and had a staredown with Kyle Fletcher since they will meet at Worlds End. They had an amazing match at Full Gear last month, so it should be an outstanding rematch.
The AEW World Champion Jon Moxley was in a darkened area of the building with Marina Shafir standing by. Moxley said that they will continue their crusade against ego and delusion. Moxley trashed Page, White and Cassidy for not having the heart that he is. Moxley said he’s not about showing off his trophy (AEW World Title). Moxley said he is king, he was born to be king and he is the only king there has ever been. That was it to end the show.
Analysis: It was a confident promo from Moxley as usual. As I mentioned earlier in the review
Here are the Continental Classic Gold League final standings. Ricochet won the group. Will Ospreay finished as the runner-up due to his win over Claudio Castagnoli.
Here are the Blue League standings. Kyle Fletcher won the group while Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada was the runner-up.
At Worlds End, Ricochet faces Okada while Fletcher faces Ospreay. The winners of those match also meet at Worlds End for the Continental Title.
Analysis: I’m going with Ricochet beating Okada and Ospreay beating Fletcher. I think Ricochet will beat Ospreay in the finals to become the AEW Continental Champion.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Will Ospreay
- Kyle Fletcher
- Ricochet-Darby Allin
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.5 out of 10
Last Week: 7.75
2024 Average: 7.45
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
There were great matches throughout the show, so that should satisfy the hardcore AEW fans who love this product for the awesome matches. I think storyline-wise, the Worlds End card could certainly use more of a boost, but in AEW the creative stories are not the strength of the company. The final four in the Continental Classic are strong with Okada facing newly turned heel Ricochet and the Ospreay-Fletcher rematch, which should be awesome to watch.
They did a nice job of building to the Moxley-Page-Cassidy-White four-way match at AEW Worlds End. For most of the other non-Continental Classic matches, they just did video packages, which is fine but didn’t necessarily get me excited about those matches.
The next AEW pay-per-view is called Worlds End and it takes place on Saturday, December 28th in Orlando. I’ll put my predictions for the matches in bold.
* 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
* Continental Classic Semifinals: Ricochet vs. Kazuchika Okada
* Continental Classic Semifinals: Kyle Fletcher vs. Will Ospreay
* AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
* TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Kris Statlander
* Continental Classic Tournament Finals for the AEW Continental Championship (I have Ricochet winning)
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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