AEW Dynamite: New Year's Smash 1/3/24
from Newark, NJ
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*Pyro*
*Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Tazz introduce the show*
International Championship Match
Orange Cassidy (c) vs Dante Martin
Dynamite's opener comes courtesy of a match announced in a backstage segment at World's End, where an increasingly paranoid Orange Cassidy jumped the gun on accepting a challenge from Top Flight's young star. The match is as back-and-forth as one would expect, with Cassidy exerting his full energy in order to keep his title. Martin's otherworldly athleticism helps him keep Cassidy off balance, gaining nearfalls off a couple high-flying moves before Cassidy gets back into the fight. Cassidy connects with an Orange Punch while Martin is ascending to the top rope, sending him crashing to the floor. OC finally gets Martin back into the ring, but he kicks out at 2 dramatically. With the crowd frenzied, Cassidy loads up for another Orange Punch, which Martin manages to dodge and shove his opponent chest-first into the corner. Remarkably quickly, Dante springboards to the top for a double jump moonsault and hooks both of Cassidy's legs for a pin attempt.
1... 2... 3!
NEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION:
DANTE MARTIN
Darius Martin and Action Andretti make their way to the ring to celebrate Dante's improbable upset to kick off AEW's 2024. There's a mix of shock and excitement in the audience as Martin raises the belt above his head and the shot fades to backstage.
In the back, Samoa Joe is standing with the original AEW Championship belt draped over his left shoulder on top of the white towel wrapped around his neck. He's dressed in his yellow and black wrestling gear, wrists taped as he stands beside Renee Young in the interview area.
Renee: Thanks Tony, I'm standing by with our new AEW Champion, Samoa Joe, whose deal with the devil seems to have paid off as he came away from World's End victorious. Joe, you stated in the media scrum that you're coming into this title reign putting targets on your challengers rather than the other way around. My question is: is there anybody in particular you might be going after for your first title defense?
Joe: Renee it's funny you asked that actually, because I requested this interview time for a purpose. First and foremost, to answer your question, I don't have anybody in mind. I commit acts of violence indiscriminately. And to prove my point, I'm doing what any self-respecting fighting champion, unlike Max, should do. I'm issuing an open challenge for my AEW Championship... tonight. I don't have to play up to any of these fans that I'm some type of valiant fighting champion, because it goes without saying. The King of Television has become the King of AEW, and tonight, I feel sorry for whatever poor soul tries to come get the crown.
Joe exits frame with a smirk, leaving Renee standing on camera as the show fades to a commercial break.
Dynamite returns from commercial with the entrance for the in-ring debut of "The Glamour" Mariah May, who is met with much fanfare thanks to her role as "Timeless" Toni Storm's biggest fan. She makes her way to the ring and awaits her opponent, when...
the returning JAMIE HAYTER makes her way to the ring, exploding the crowd as the former AEW Womens Champion steps out from behind the curtain. Mariah looks terrified, arguing with the referee as if she had agreed on a different opponent for her debut match.
"The Glamour" Mariah May vs Jamie Hayter
Despite being visibly shaken by the reveal of her opponent, Mariah does an excellent job of avoiding Jamie's offense in the early going, although she doesn't do a great job of dishing out any offense of her own. Mariah does eventually fight back, but Jamie's unrelenting attack just ends up being too much. May manages to avoid Hayter's first attempt at a vicious lariat, but she's caught rebounding off the ropes with one that nearly decapitates her, and Hayter picks up the three count spoiling Mariah's AEW in-ring debut.
Jamie pantomimes a belt around her waist into the camera as Mariah sulks in the corner with her head in her hands before the camera fades to the interview area once more, where Renee Young is standing with the first American Triple Crown winner, Eddie Kingston.
Renee: Eddie, at World's End you not only won the Continental Classic tournament by defeating Jon Moxley, but you captured the first ever American Triple Crown, adding the Continental Championship to your ROH and NJPW Strong Openweight titles. We all know this means the world to you, but can you put in your own words how it feel-
Renee is cut off by the presence of the Blackpool Combat Club, with Bryan Danielson standing in front of Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta directly across from Kingston. Recognizing the situation, Renee backs up and gives some space as Eddie obviously looks ready for a fight.
Danielson: We're not here to start anything, we had our chance in the Continental Classic. I just wanted to tell you what I said on commentary at World's End since you probably didn't hear it, but I-
Kingston rolls his eyes as he cuts off Bryan, snatching the mic from Renee and pointing a finger in Danielson's face.
Kingston: Yeah yeah, I heard the whole deal. You still think I'm a bum but you respect me as a wrestler, blah blah blah. I ain't here to tell people I respect 'em, dawg. I might still think you're one of the most condescending little rats I ever met, but I'm willing to shake your hand for the wars we've been through in that ring.
Kingston extends his hand towards The American Dragon, and his handshake is reciprocated immediately. Danielson exits frame past Kingston, and the BCC follows. Mox gives King a fist bump as he walks by, and Eddie shares vaguely confrontational staredowns with Claudio and Yuta. Renee steps forward and goes to ask her question once again, but this time they're interrupted by another group: The Don Callis Family. Eddie and Renee both roll their eyes this time, as Callis grabs the mic and shoos Renee away.
Callis: Y'know Eddie, I think it's really great that you won the Continental Classic. Considering you grew up watching all those great round robin Japanese tournaments, idolizing guys like Kawada and Kobashi. But I also think it's a bit of a sham considering the best Japanese wrestler in the entire company, didn't even get an invite to the tournament!
Callis is clearly primed to continue talking, but Eddie interjects by leaning into the mic.
Kingston: And why is that, huh? Don't you have the power to enter your boy in the tournament?
Slightly panicked, Don snatches the mic back to his mouth and begins talking a mile a minute.
Callis: A master never reveals the secrets of his trade, Eddie, you know that. But if you're half the man you claim to be, you'd put that Triple Crown on the line against Takeshita this Saturday on Collision, where he'll prove to you and everybody else that he's better than Kawada, better than Kobashi, and clearly better than Eddie Kingston.
King smacks his lips together, visibly offended by the challenge and insinuation that Takeshita outdoes his heroes.
Kingston: That's what you interrupted my interview for? Yeah, I don't care, you got your match partna'. Bring Hobbs, bring the Aussie Open guy, I don't really care. Just know that you ain't never gonna have what it takes as long as you're rolling with this clown.
Eddie points right at Hobbs and Kyle Fletcher as he berates them, before shoving Callis back into Hobbs and walking away, all three of his belts in tow.
A recap video plays from World's End, showing the events of the Adam Copeland/Christian Cage match. Copeland won the match initially, but Killswitch forfeited his any time, any place TNT Championship match over to Christian Cage who won his title back. The video fades out and the show goes to commercial.
The Hardy Boyz & Brother Zay vs Mogul Embassy w/ Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana
Unsurprisingly, the Hardys come out like a house of fire, jumping on Cage and Gates of Agony early, allowing Zay to hit a massive dive to the floor. When they fail to put them away early, though, the walls cave in rather quick. Zay becomes isolated, and despite making a crucial tag to Jeff, Matt becomes the legal man and falls victim to a brutal onslaught from Cage and the Gates of Agony, culminating in a double facebuster from Gates of Agony that leads to a three count for Toa Liona over Matt Hardy. Following the match, Swerve celebrates with his stablemates and their ROH Trios Championships, showing their dominance as a group.
The shot changes to the backstage area, where paparazzi are lined up as "Timeless" Toni Storm enters the building flanked by Luther. She's dressed in the black fur coat, hat, and gloves that she wore for her entrance at World's End, waving off the photographers with her hand when she's approached by a distressed and frantic Mariah May.
Mariah: Miss Storm, did you see my match? I can't believe what ha-
Toni puts her hand up and silences Mariah while lowering her glasses and glaring at her.
Toni: I'm sorry darling... but who are you?
Clearly frustrated with this ongoing trend, Mariah takes a deep breath and continues speaking.
Mariah: Miss Storm, I just had my debut match while you were out, and Jamie Hayter returned and beat me. You know, the woman you won the title from?
Toni's eyes grow wide as she clutches her AEW Womens Championship and looks off into the distance.
Toni: Jamie Hayter... alright then. This will make for some wonderful drama! Luther, dear, I'm knackered. Carry me to my dressing room.
Toni jumps into Luther's arms and is carried away, leaving Mariah to sulk by herself over her loss.
Mercedes Martinez w/ Diamante vs Anna Jay
Mercedes dominates at the start, using her superior wrestling knowledge and power to keep the young Anna Jay grounded. Of course, Anna makes a comeback, even nearly locking in the Queenslayer near the closing stretch, but Mercedes is able to escape the attempt and lock in the Brass City Sleeper for a submission victory.
The camera now travels to the commentary desk where Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Tazz run us through the events of the night to this point. Dante Martin's improbable International Championship win, then Jamie Hayter's incredible return and the official announcement of Eddie Kingston vs Konosuke Takeshita for Collision this week. As they wrap up, "The Prodigy" Nick Wayne begins to make his way to the ring with his ribs and back heavily taped up following his run-in with Adam Copeland at World's End, as commentary mentions that Christian Cage insisted on Wayne wrestling tonight despite the injury.
"The Prodigy" Nick Wayne w/ Killswitch vs Daniel Garcia w/ Daddy Magic
Matt Menard veers off during Garcia's entrance to join the commentary table, leaving Garcia to go it alone against a pair of underhanded opponents, although Christian Cage and Mother Wayne are nowhere to be found. Nick Wayne struggles to get out of the blocks against an opponent with as much momentum as Red Death, who systematically breaks down Wayne's body, targeting the injury to his singed lower back. Eventually Wayne finds some offense thanks to a bit of intervention from Killswitch on the outside, but Garcia is still mostly shutting down all of Wayne's big moves. Killswitch gets on the apron at one point, distracting Rick Knox while The Prodigy attempts to hit DG with a chair. Garcia moves, then shoves Wayne into Killswitch and catches him on the rebound with a vicious backdrop driver for a three count.
As Garcia celebrates his victory and Nick Wayne argues with Killswitch on the outside, Matt Menard begins talking DG up on commentary, claiming that the next step is to get him some championship gold. Garcia hits his dance in the middle of the ring as the show returns to commercial.
YOU KNOW IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BOOM
The show comes back from commercial with Adam Cole heading to the ring with a smug look on his face, flanked by The Kingdom, Roderick Strong and Wardlow. He steps between the ropes with his walking boot on, receiving an oddly mixed reaction from the Newark crowd. Cole grabs a microphone and positions himself in the center of the ring, making sure the camera can see him clearly with his new team behind him.
Cole: Who's ready for story time with Adam Cole, baybay?
Cole says his signature line slower than normal, the audience booing now while Roderick Strong tries to rile them up in the background.
Cole: I just want us to get our facts straight. Everyone has been pestering me, asking why I would do such a terrible thing to my best friend, but the reality is, I've been just as much of a victim as Max is. While I spent months turning that egotistical jerk into a real human being with empathy, while I put up with him every single day trying to turn him from a scumbag to YOUR scumbag, he was just using me to keep the AEW Championship around his waist. And even though it would've been sweeter to take the belt for myself, well, the opportunity to watch Samoa Joe choke his ass out was too good to pass up.
The crowd starts to boo a bit more intensely as the grin on Cole's face widens.
Cole: It wasn't particularly tough to find a group of people with the same interest as me, either. MJF tried to convince Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett, three of my closest friends on planet Earth, that I was closer to him than them. That was NEVER the case, and the fact that any of you ever believed him makes me sick. He's no different now than he ever was, and it infuriates me to no end to see you people rooting for that narcissistic, cheating, lying scumbag.
"He's our scumbag" chants rain down from the New Jersey crowd.
Cole: Yeah, you know, he really is YOUR scumbag. Because just like the rest of you he's at home. Too scared to fight for himself, and left without any friends to defend him. There was a time where he had a monster like Wardlow in his corner, but he went and pissed that away too. Do you guys even remember Double or Nothing 2022? When Wardlow powerbombed Max 10 times? You all cheered. And what changed? Max certainly didn't. Wardlow didn't either. And yet all you people fell for the same manipulation that got Wardlow to sign a contract with Max in the first place. I'm not trying to play holier than thou, although I clearly am smarter than the rest of you. I'm just trying to warn you the same lesson that a lot of us had to learn: MJF is not to be trusted.
The crowd engages in a "shut the f*** up" chant now, with Taven and Bennett covering Cole's ears before he begins once more.
Cole: You can deny it all you want, but what I did at World's End was a service to all you fans and especially this company. With Max gone, this place can finally thrive. And I'll be in the clear to fulfill my destiny as AEW Champion once this ankle is healed, especially with this unstoppable group standing in my corner. If I were Max, I'd stay home, because The Devil's Kingdom isn't afraid to make sure you never get back in a wrestling ring, no matter how bad these selfish fans want to see you get us back. The sad truth is, Max made the same mistake that he manipulated so many others into making. He trusted me, and he paid for it with his title and his career. I hope you're watching at home, Max, because I want you to hear this.
Cole addresses the camera directly now, staring right down the barrel as he pauses and lifts the microphone once again.
Cole: I'm better than you... and you know it.
The newly christened Devil's Kingdom leaves the ring, heading back up the stage as Excalibur primes us for our main event at the commentary booth. Samoa Joe comes to the ring first, the AEW Championship slung nonchalantly over his shoulder as he stomps down the ramp and slides beneath the bottom rope. He poses for the crowd that chants for him, then paces around the ring as he waits to find out who his opponent is.
DARBY ALLIN makes his way to the ring, unaccompanied by Sting and riding a skateboard down the ramp. Joe nods in approval as Darby steps between the ropes, a brawl ensuing before Darby can even get his entrance jacket off as Joe jumps him in the corner and the bell rings.
AEW Championship Match
Samoa Joe (c) vs Darby Allin
Being that Joe and Darby are so familiar with each other through their wars for the TNT Title from the previous year, this match is as fast-paced and hard-hitting as you would expect. Joe does his best to keep Darby at bay, but the high octane offense doesn't stop as Darby connects with a tope suicida to the floor and a coffin drop from the top to the outside. Joe manages to stop the bleeding with a big lariat that turns Darby inside out, then applies the pressure himself. He mostly keeps Darby trapped in the corner, connecting with his signature running elbow/enziguri combination. Allin doesn't stay down, though, catching a charging Joe with a boot to the face and ascending to the middle rope. Joe recovers quickly, catching Darby with a massive forearm strike and trying to stack him up for the Musclebuster. As Joe walks him towards the center of the ring, Darby slips out and hits the AEW Champion with a Scorpion Death Drop! Darby scrambles to the top rope, looking to secure his first World Championship with the Coffin Drop, but Joe is able to open up and catch him in the Coquina Clutch!
Darby scrambles, rolling back into a pinning situation that forces Joe to release the hold to kick out. Darby explodes in a flurry of offense, hitting a low dropkick and then a mini Coffin Drop off the second rope for a quick nearfall. Allin charges him in the corner and is nearly flattened by Joe's signature uranage, but Darby is stunningly able to slip behind him and land on the middle rope. Like a flash, Darby jumps on his back and attempts to float over with the Stunner, but this proves to be costly as The Samoan Submission Machine catches him on the way down and locks in the Coquina Clutch once more, this time sinking it in deep and hooking the legs. While Darby is tantalizingly close to the ropes, he can't quite get there and he passes out to allow Joe to retain his title.
Joe's hand is raised and while he does celebrate the victory a bit, he's visibly pissed off at the challenge provided to him by Darby. He scoops his light, lifeless body off the mat and sets him in the corner, connecting with a vicious Musclebuster as a group of officials tries to get him to stop. Joe puts the boots to Darby, ignoring and tossing aside AEW officials until...
IT'S STIIIIIIIIIING
The Icon comes to the ring, bat in hand, and goes to work on the AEW Champion. Joe takes a couple shots from the bat to his midsection as the crowd is whipped into a frenzy, but he blocks one and manages to take Sting down with a violent headbutt. Joe tosses the bat aside and stomps Sting out, before scooping him up and seemingly looking to lock in the Coquina Clutch on the soon-retiring legend when...
HANGMAN PAGE storms to the ring, sliding in and taking Joe off his feet! The last time we saw Hangman was a few weeks ago, when he argued with Joe and wound up laid out by The Devil's Kingdom. Hangman rains in right hands on The King of AEW, then positions himself on the apron for the Buckshot Lariat, but Joe powders out of the ring, belt in hand, and heads back up the ramp. The two exchange barbs while being separated by AEW officials as the show goes off the air.
