Results
- Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia & Marina Shafir def. Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong & Toni Storm (Tornado Tag) (9:37)
- Bandido def. The Beast Mortos (9:56)
- Brody King def. Lee Johnson (0:52)
- Jon Moxley def. Josh Alexander (AEW Continental Championship Eliminator) (15:33)
- Ricochet def. Jungleboy Jack Perry (AEW National Championship) (10:19)
- Willow Nightingale def. Mercedes Moné (TBS Championship) (15:23) (Recommended)
More than a couple of men are after MJF’s Triple B
Before we all finally said goodbye to 2025, AEW presented a special “New Year’s Smash” edition of Dynamite from the Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Ralston, Nebraska on Wednesday night. The first show since AEW’s Worlds End pay-per-view opened with an appearance from the winner in the main event of last weekend’s show, newly-crowned world champion MJF.
Back on top of AEW for the first time in two years, a cocky MJF was seen pulling up backstage before strutting his way to the ring. He pulled out a Kendrick Lamar quote to start things, referring to the trio of opponents he overcame at Worlds End: “F*** the big three, it’s just big me.” He tossed the AEW title to ringside, then revealed the return of his “Triple B” title.
MJF sent out a warning to the rest of the locker room: “Either step up, or get stepped on.” The gloating promo was eventually cut off by former AEW world champ Kenny Omega, who appeared on the screen.
Omega said that he has recently been met with questions of “What ifs,” and made it very clear that many of those questions revolve around AEW’s top belt. “What if I could become champion again? … What if you and I met in this ring as we were today, what would happen then?” Omega questioned.
Omega said he wants a shot at the belt, whether that means getting an opportunity soon or having to work his way up the rankings. Either way, “you’re gonna be seeing a lot more of me,” he said.
Just as MJF was focused on the challenge from Omega, the champ was reminded that the entire locker room has placed a target on his back. Appearing in the crowd were both Swerve Strickland and Hangman Adam Page, making their way toward the ring and looking for a fight.
Security appeared at ringside to hold back the two challengers. MJF said that Page and Strickland are currently both “losers,” and they will only get a shot at his title once Tony Khan has decided they should. MJF ran for the hills once Strickland and Page finally got past the wave of security who were holding them back.
Strickland and Page weren’t able to get their hands on MJF, but beat up a few security guards to let out their frustrations. Afterward, Page threatened to strangle MJF with his belt, and Strickland said that “the hunt is on” for his title.
The parade of former champ appearances continued with a backstage promo from Samoa Joe, who said he is “the rightful and wronged champion.” Joe enlisted his fellow Opps members to take on fellow MJF contenders: He wants Hook to fight Page, and Hobbs to beat up Strickland.
Strickland pitched the idea of a no-holds-barred, “lights out match” next week in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was confirmed later on the show that Page and Strickland will team against The Opps’ Hook and Hobbs next week.
This segment did a decent job at outlining the many options for MJF’s first match. However, it felt that the return of Omega to the AEW world title scene, something he hasn’t challenged for since 2023, felt a little overshadowed by three other contenders stepping into the segment as well.
Death Riders get a win back against Storm & The Conglomeration
Following up on the momentum of last weekend’s great “Mixed Nuts Mayhem” tag match at Worlds End, AEW booked another tornado mixed tag bout for the opening contest of this evening’s card. This one saw Roderick Strong team with the somewhat unofficial duo of Orange Cassidy and Toni Storm to take on Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia and Marina Shafir of the Death Riders.
The Death Riders tried to get the jump on the babyface trio, but it backfired immediately, leading to some early momentum for Storm in the ring. Cassidy found himself in a three-on-one beatdown at the hands of the Death Riders as the show went into a commercial break. Dominance from the ‘Riders came to an end after the show returned, with Storm and Cassidy teaming up once again to take on opponents.
Storm optimistically tried to give Castagnoli a taste of his own medicine with a swing, but was stopped. As part of a fast-paced sequence in the middle of the ring, Strong gave Shafir a huge backbreaker and Cassidy caught Castagnoli with a Stundog Millionaire.
Storm hit Castagnoli with a hip attack in the corner, then Cassidy followed up with a swinging DDT to the Swiss talent. Cassidy started setting up for an Orange Punch, but Wheeler Yuta suddenly appeared at ringside and distracted him. This slight pause allowed Castagnoli to take out Cassidy with a huge uppercut, earning him the pinfall win in just under 10 minutes.
This was nowhere near the wild fun that was Saturday’s mixed tag match. But this one still had its moments.
Bandido picks up win ahead of AEW title bout
Hoping to gain some steam ahead of his world title matchup against MJF in two weeks, ROH champ Bandido went head-to-head with The Beast Mortos in the second bout of the evening.
Beast Mortos sent Bandido out of the ring for a beautiful torneo through the ropes just a minute into the bout. Bandido got payback just before a commercial break, coming off the top and to the outside with a big crossbody.
Bandido dropped Beast Mortos with a thrust kick after the show returned then came off the top with a big frogsplash, earning him a two-count. The crowd was digging the work from these two, beginning to chant, “This is awesome.”
Mortos battled back, scoring a pop-up Samoan Drop for a near fall of his own. After a back-and-forth struggle, Mortos scored a gnarly backbreaker then a discus lariat for another close count. Mortos was getting a solid amount of work in here.
Mortos connected with another discus lariat, then went to the top for a moonsault. Bandido avoided the dive, then, in a testament to his strength, picked up Mortos and connected with an X-Knee. Bandido followed that up with a 21-Plex, earning him the pinfall victory. Solid showcase here from Bandido, who will likely put together a great match against MJF next month. While a title win in two weeks seems unlikely, I really hope Bandido gets more big opportunities in 2026.
Backstage, Bandido and Brody King cut a promo about the Luchador’s upcoming MJF title matchup. King mentioned that, once Bandido wins the AEW world title next month, he’ll be first in line for a title shot.
Brody King returns with quick victory
In what was described on the broadcast as a “standby bout,” we saw Brody King get showcased in a singles match against Lee Johnson next.
Johnson caught King coming down the ramp during his entrance, diving over the top rope to the outside. Johnson’s head-start lasted only seconds, as King regained control of the bout with a brawl at ringside.
The match went into the ring, where Johnson was turned inside out with a huge lariat. King landed a Cannonball in the corner, then an awesome Gonzo Bomb for the win in 52 seconds.
Good to see King back on TV, as he had been out of the spotlight ever since he dropped his tag belts a month back.
In a pre-taped promo, Darby Allin said the only way to “set myself free” and “finish what I started” is to face PAC in a singles match.
Jon Moxley taps out Josh Alexander in Continental title eliminator
Don Callis Family member Josh Alexander attempted to earn a future title shot at the AEW Continental Championship on Wednesday, facing newly-crowned champ Jon Moxley in a title eliminator bout. Commentary noted that Alexander didn’t need a win to earn a title fight tonight, as lasting 20 minutes with Moxley would also earn him a future championship fight.
Moxley, who had been selling a leg injury throughout the Continental Classic, continued to do so tonight. He was sent feet-first to the outside by Alexander early on, then dumped knee-first onto the ring apron before the fight returned to the ring.
Alexander started to bleed just a little early in the match, but it wasn’t entirely clear what caused it. The Canadian talent draped Moxley upside down in the ring then landed on him with a high-speed crossbody, continuing his success as the show went into a break.
Moxley and Alexander traded submissions as the show returned: Moxley tried for a sleeper, Alexander searched for an ankle lock. Moxley escaped the ankle lock by reaching the ropes. The fight went to the ring apron, where, after a lengthy back-and-forth, Alexander scored a nasty World’s Strongest Slam.
Alexander tried to follow up with a moonsault from the top rope, but Moxley was able to roll out of the way. It was around this point that the match hit its 10-minute mark, meaning Alexander was halfway to earning himself a title shot via the match reaching its time limit.
Moxley ended a striking exchange with a cutter, giving him a two-count. He then tried for a bulldog choke, but Alexander escaped by scoring a back suplex. Moxley powered up and responded with a back suplex of his own.
Moxley was dropkicked into the corner, but sprang back up to knock down Alexander with a lariat. Alexander rolled to the outside, where Moxley came flying through the ropes with a tope suicida.
Alexander continued to target Moxley’s left leg as the match continued, wrapping his limbs around a ringpost at one point. Back in the ring, Alexander came off the top with a kneedrop to the left leg of Moxley.
Moxley escaped a leg submission and caught Alexander with another sleeper, then eventually transitioned the submission into a series of Hammer and Anvil elbows. After bashing his head with the thudding blows, Moxley re-applied the sleeper for a submission win in 15 minutes.
I really enjoyed this. The element of Alexander earning a title shot via a time limit added some tension here: Alexander beating Moxley felt less likely, but surviving 20 minutes with him seemed plausible, especially as the fight went into deeper waters. The working of Moxley’s left leg was a strong theme to the match, both in Moxley’s selling and Alexander’s crafty in-ring work.
MVP and Shelton Benjamin appeared on stage following Moxley’s win, making it clear that The Hurt Syndicate has its eyes on the Continental Championship.
Ricochet defends National title against Jack Perry, avenging pin defeat from Worlds End
The co-main event of the night saw Jungle Jack Perry look to end Ricochet’s run as the inaugural AEW National Champion. Perry earned the title opportunity last weekend, scoring a pinfall victory on him in a six-man tag bout at Worlds End.
A distraction at ringside from the Gates of Agony helped Ricochet take control of the match early on, allowing him to drop Perry with a springboard dropkick just before the break.
Perry had some momentum as the show returned, getting a near fall after a hard lariat near the eight-minute mark. He called for a knee strike, but Ricochet was wise enough to roll out of the ring and avoid the move. Perry scored a slick bulldog on the floor at ringside.
Perry knocked down Bishop Kaun at ringside then climbed to the top, but was knocked off-balance by Ricochet, who wobbled the ropes. A battle on the top rope between the two ended with Perry scoring a diving DDT, giving him a two-count.
Perry tried to score his knee strike once again, but this time was stopped by Kaun at ringside, who grabbed his legs to hold him back. Ricochet got back to his feet and scored a Spirit Gun to retain his AEW National Championship in 10 minutes.
The Demand continued to attack Perry ally Luchasaurus after the match, trapping his injured left arm with a guardrail, then wailing away with steel chair shots. The attack concluded with Toa Liona slamming a security guard onto the guardail which Luchasaurus’ arm remained stuck.
Jon Moxley addressed The Hurt Syndicate in a backstage promo, saying he’s not hard to find. Wheeler Yuta responded to Darby Allin’s call-out of PAC, saying: “If you want to get to PAC, you have to go through me.”
Announced for Saturday’s Collision:
- Shelton Benjamin vs. Scorpio Sky
- Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta
- El Clon debuts
- Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa vs. Hyan & Maya World
It was also confirmed that Jon Moxley will face Shelton Benjamin in an AEW Continental Championship title eliminator on Dynamite next week.
Willow Nightingale ends Mercedes Moné’s historic TBS title run
The main event of the night saw Willow Nightingale attempt to end the 585-day TBS Championship reign of Mercedes Moné, kick-starting her second run with the title. This matchup was made after Nightingale beat Moné last weekend at Worlds End in an AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship match.
Worth noting that Nightingale and Moné have a history: Nightingale scored a shock win over Moné back in 2023 at an NJPW card. That loss was avenged in 2024, when Moné ended Nightingale’s brief TBS title reign at AEW Double or Nothing. Spread out over numerous years, this was technically the trilogy.
Moné had a hot start to the match, sending Nightingale out of the ring with a baseball slide kick then running her into a barricade twice. Nightingale dodged a double knee attack from Moné at ringside, then sent the champ flying into a barricade at high speed with a pounce.
Nightingale got a near fall with a hard lariat in the second minute of the match. She came off the middle rope with a dropkick then hit the champ with a hard Cannonball in the corner, but it only gave her a two-count.
Moné rolled to the outside, but Nightingale followed her with a Cannonball dive off the ring apron. Nightingale was tripped by Moné on the ring apron, causing her to fall to the outside and smack her head on the steel stairs. Moné connected with a double knees to the head of Nightingale as the show went to its final break.
Nightingale was still in the match as the show returned, slamming Moné down then scoring a series of clotheslines. Moné came running off the ropes for a move but was hit with another pounce from Nightingale.
Nightingale scored a nasty Death Valley Driver, but Moné remained alive! She was getting hit with a lot here but wasn’t out of the fight just yet.
Moné scored a backstabber, but a follow-up move was reversed by Nightingale into a powerbomb (commentary was talking about the Collision lineup during this moment… Who cares! This is way more important). Moné narrowly avoided a pinfall loss by getting a leg on the ropes.
Nightingale came off the top for a moonsault, but Moné avoided it. Moné tried for a frogsplash, but Nightingale put up her knees to counter the move. “This is awesome,” chants were heard as Nightingale connected with a painful Death Valley Driver onto the ring apron.
Nightingale tried to come flying off the apron with a cannonball, but Moné avoided the move. After Nightingale took the nasty floor bump, Moné followed up with a pair of suplexes. Nightingale escaped the third suplex, stopping a full Three Amigos from being hit.
The fight went onto the commentary desk, where a powerbomb from Nightingale was reversed into a suplex from Moné. The desk didn’t break, making this look even more deadly.
They both narrowly avoided a count-out, then traded roll-up pins in the ring. Moné scored a series of hard elbow strikes then locked in the Statement Maker submission, but Nightingale escaped the move. Moné tried for a Moné Maker, but was run into a set of turnbuckles by Nightingale to prevent the move.
They both escaped each other’s finishers, tried for more roll-up pins, then Nightingale suddenly connected with Babe with the Power Bomb, earning her the pinfall win in 15 minutes! Nightingale is heading into 2026 as the TBS Champion! Nightingale was joined by many in the ring after the match, including friend-turned-foe Kris Statlander, whom she hugged. Looks like they have finally reunited.
This was a super physical, fantastic match. Nightingale was established early on as someone who had a real shot against the multi-year champ, and it was edge-of-the-seat action as it reached the final stretch. Easily the highlight of the night. It will be interesting to see how they build Moné from here, with pivotal losses recently likely sending her into a dark place.
Final Thoughts
If you can only catch one part of this show, the main event is undoubtedly what you need to see. Not just because it was the end of a long title reign, but also because it was some great in-ring. While I didn’t particularly love the opening segment of the night, most of the show was entertaining and nothing overstayed its welcome. Not a bad way to put a bow on 2025.
