With the “modern” AEW Triple Crown now just a memory after Eddie Kingston’s loss to Kazuchika Okada Wednesday, AEW head Tony Khan explained how the Continental title will work in relation to the annual Continental Classic tournament.
In an interview that debuted prior to Dynamite, Khan said that whoever holds the title after November’s annual Full Gear pay-per-view will get an automatic spot in the Classic. However, the titleholder will have to win the tournament final at December’s Worlds End PPV in order to keep their championship.
Okada won the Continental title Wednesday by defeating Kingston to become the second-ever titleholder.
Khan also reiterated that the rules around the Continental title will remain the same: no interference and no one allowed at ringside.
Kingston won both the inaugural title and round robin tournament at this past December’s Worlds End by defeating Jon Moxley in the final. Kingston put both his Ring of Honor World title and the men’s NJPW Strong Openweight title up going into the tournament, thus winning what Khan called the Continental Crown.
Kingston will defend the ROH title against Mark Briscoe at next month’s Supercard of Honor while Okada is expected to defend the Continental title against PAC at next month’s AEW Dynasty PPV.
Eddie Kingston and Kazuchika Okada will meet next week on AEW Dynamite.
It was announced on Wednesday’s Dynamite that Kingston will defend his Continental title in Toronto against Okada and it will be held under Continental rules which means no interference. The other two titles as part of the modern Triple Crown are not on the line.
This week’s show saw Okada pin Kingston in a trios match. Following the bout, Okada grabbed the Continental title and posed with it before dropping it back to Kingston who was still recovering from the match.
Next Wednesday will also feature another appearance from AEW’s newest star Mercedes Mone. The end of Dynamite saw Mone make the save for Willow Nightingale after she was attacked by Julia Hart and Skye Blue.
Hook will square off against Chris Jericho. After the two were successful in a tag team match over The Gates of Agony, Jericho told Hook that he wanted to know more about him, and needed to know what it would be like to stand across from him in the ring. The two agreed to a match.
A tag team match will also take place, with Deonna Purrazzo and a partner of her choosing squaring off against Toni Storm and Mariah May.
Here is the lineup for next week’s AEW Dynamite:
I Quit match for the TNT Championship: Christian Cage defends against Adam Copeland
Continental Championship: Eddie Kingston defends against Kazuchika Okada
We’ll hear from Mercedes Mone
Deonna Purrazzo & a mystery partner vs. Toni Storm & Mariah May
A trios match has been added to this coming Wednesday’s Dynamite.
Eddie Kingston will team with FTR to take on the Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, and Jon Moxley) following events that took place on Collision. After Danielson defeated Jun Akiyama, he mockingly shook Akiyama’s hand to taunt Kingston, who was at ringside. Akiyama noticed what was happening and slapped Danielson, who attempted to make amends, but then low blowed Akiyama. Kingston stormed the ring but was taken down by the other Blackpool Combat Club members until FTR ran down for the save.
Danielson and Kingston will meet at AEW Revolution on March 3. The stipulation Kingston gave Danielson was that if he should win the match, Danielson would have to shake his hand, despite Danielson making it clear he has no respect for Kingston.
Here is the updated card for Wednesday’s Dynamite in Huntsville, Alabama:
AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, February 28) —
Sting makes his final Dynamite appearance before retirement
A new riot rules match has been announced for NJPW’s Windy City Riot event.
April 12 in Chicago will see Eddie Kingston and three mystery partners take on Gabe Kidd and three mystery partners in an eight-man tag team match. The match will have no disqualifications or count outs, and will be contested under tornado tag team rules. Kingston and Kidd’s tag team partners won’t be known until they make their way to the ring.
Kingston and Kidd previously faced off at Battle in the Valley on January 13 for Kingston’s Continental Crown title. That match ended in a double count out. Members of Bullet Club War Dogs attacked Kingston after the match.
Already announced for the show is a special singles match between Jon Moxley and Tetsuya Naito and Mustafa Ali making his NJPW debut by taking on Hiromu Takahashi.
Here is the updated lineup for Windy City Riot:
Tetsuya Naito vs. Jon Moxley
Hiromu Takahashi vs. Mustafa Ali
Riot rules: Eddie Kingston & three mystery partners vs. Gabe Kidd & three mystery partners
Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson will meet at Revolution.
On Saturday’s Collision, Kingston challenged Bryan Danielson to a Continental Crown title match for March 3. He said that there would be one stipulation: if Danielson lost the match, he would have to shake his hand. Later on social media, Tony Khan confirmed the match for next month:
Kingston beat Danielson back in December to advance to the Continental Classic finals, which he ultimately won. In the weeks since, both have continued their feud, with Danielson making it clear that he has no respect for Kingston. After Kingston defeated Bryan Keith on last week’s Collision, Danielson interrupted the celebration between the two when it was announced that Keith had signed with AEW, walking to the ring for his match against Hechicero.
Here is the updated lineup for AEW Revolution:
Sting’s retirement match
AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe defends against Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy defends against Roderick Strong
AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm vs. Deonna Purrazzo
AEW Continental Crown Championship: Eddie Kingston defends against Bryan Danielson
AEW’s Continental Crown Champion will be in action on this Saturday’s Collision episode.
As revealed during Wednesday’s Dynamite, Continental Crown holder Eddie Kingston will wrestle on this week’s Collision as he takes on Bryan Keith in a non-title match.
Kingston was victorious in a Continental Crown title eliminator bout on last week’s Collision episode over Willie Mack. On the prior Collision, Kingston & Ortiz lost to Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli in tag team action. Kingston was on commentary for Danielson’s match against Yuji Nagata on this past week’s episode as a feud between the two continues to build.
Keith has scored two victories in four matches on ROH programming since last December, but remains winless in his seven career AEW bouts.
Earlier on Wednesday, Danielson was also announced for a singles bout on Saturday’s Collision. Danielson will face CMLL’s Hechicero. CMLL wrestlers will also take on Danielson and the Blackpool Combat Club on next week’s Dynamite as Danielson, Castagnoli & Jon Moxley face Hechicero, Mistico & Volador Jr.
The updated Collision lineup for the Saturday, February 3 episode:
AEW Collision returns with a Continental Crown title match in Charlotte, North Carolina.
After a one-week absence, Collision returns for the first time following the events of last Saturday’s Worlds End. Eddie Kingston will make his first defense of the Continental Crown, taking on Trent Beretta. Beretta won a four-way match on Wednesday’s Dynamite to secure a title match for Saturday, defeating Brian Cage, Bryan Keith, and Hijo Del Vikingo in a four-way match.
FTR will also be in action, taking on The House of Black. The two groups have been feuding for much of 2023, rekindling their feud in recent weeks with The House of Black insisting that FTR no longer have any friends within the company.
Sting will also team up with Darby Allin on Saturday to take on The Workhorsemen. It is being billed as Sting’s final match in Charlotte, as he plans to retire after AEW Revolution in March.
Join us for live coverage of Collision starting at 8 pm ET.
*****
No pre-show promos tonight, as Sir Elton John plays us into the first Collision of 2024. Tony Schiavone, Kevin Kelly, and Nigel McGuinness were on the call. Hometown legend Ric Flair makes his entrance to be at ringside for the opening match.
Darby Allin & Sting (w/ Ric Flair) defeated The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)
A perfect match for Sting to have on his retirement tour. Sometimes, especially on PPV, they ask Sting to do a little too much for his age. This was just right, as he got to shine, run wild, and score the win in a great showcase.
Henry and Drake jumped Sting and Allin before the bell, with Henry dropping Sting with a chop block before hitting a charging leg lariat to Allin against the barricade. In the ring, Allin demanded to start the match, but the Workhorsemen took him down quickly with a powerslam/diving headbutt combination for a nearfall. Henry hit a double knee backbreaker for a nearfall as the Workhorsemen continued to clubber on Allin in their corner.
We Want Sting chants rang through the building as Drake knocked Sting off of the apron before hitting a Magnum-style belly-to-belly suplex. Allin avoided a Drake moonsault, allowing Sting to tag in. Allin hit a Code Red on Drake before Sting hit a Stinger Splash. Allin hit a Coffin Drop to Henry on the floor before Sting hit the Scorpion Death Drop on Drake to score the win.
We got a video package hyping this Wednesday’s tag team match, featuring Darby Allin & Sting vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs.
AEW Continental Crown Title Match – Eddie Kingston (c) defeated Trent Beretta
This was one hell of a battle. Beretta is getting used a lot more in these showcase scenarios lately, and he continues to answer the call in this gritty, bloody title fight. This was definitely a match to seek out.
During Beretta’s entrance, they reminded us that these two were part of the same team for the Stadium Stampede match back at All In: London. They traded strikes, with Beretta unsuccessfully trying to avoid Kingston’s chops. Beretta avoided a corner charge and hit a tornado DDT for a one-count. Beretta held control until Kingston countered an Irish Whip before hitting the Machine Gun chops in the corner. Beretta slapped Kingston in the face, with Kingston responding with a chop to the face.
Beretta came up with a bloody nose as Kingston sidestepped a plancha. Kingston dropped Beretta with a Saito suplex on the floor as we went to a commercial. After the break, Kingston hit Beretta with a face wash as Trent’s mother Sue was shown worried at ringside. Beretta went to the middle rope, but Kingston pulled his feet out from under him. Beretta came back with a jumping knee before punching Kingston repeatedly against the ropes. Beretta sent Kingston to the floor before hitting a dive to Kingston against the barricade.
Beretta and Kingston brawled on the top rope before Beretta pulled Kingston down into a powerbomb for a nearfall. Kingston came back with a strike combination, ending in an enzuigiri for a nearfall. Beretta came back with a trio of German suplexes before hitting a running knee and a Gotch-style piledriver for a nearfall.
The two men traded strikes as they fought to their feet before Beretta hit a half-and-half suplex. Kingston caught a charging Beretta with a half-and-half suplex of his own before hitting a backfist and a Northern Lights Bomb for a nearfall. Kingston then hit a second Northern Lights Bomb for the win. Sue gave her son Trent a thumbs up for a hard-fought match.
Earlier today, Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, and Statlander’s pet Komodo dragon Boots were backstage with Tony Schiavone. Schiavone asked about Stokely Hathaway’s interest in both of them, but they blew him off. They talked about their accomplishments in 2023 and said that their focus was on keeping their good momentum rolling in 2024.
Hook spoke in a pre-tape. His winning percentage was second to none in this company, so it was time for him to go after more gold. He had an eye on a bad man who he’s been watching through personal connections. He called out Samoa Joe, saying he was coming for the AEW World Title.
[Whoa. Hook stepping up in class here is a long-awaited move, and I’m interested to see how the fans take to him going for the gold.]
Proving Ground Match – ROH World Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven w/ Roderick Strong) defeated Komander & Bryan Keith
This was a nice showcase for Keith and Komander, as the crowd got into his comeback and bought the idea of the challenger team winning. A strong, clean win for the new unit.
Proving Ground matches are non-title matches in ROH, where the challengers can earn a title match if they win or survive the ten-minute time limit. Bennett and Taven worked on Komander early on, clubbering on him in their corner before Komander caught Taven with a hurricanrana. Keith tagged in and laid in strikes to Taven. Bennett got a blind tag in and caught an unaware Keith with a forearm as we went to a commercial.
Bennett and Taven were clubbering on Keith in the corner after the break, with Taven scoring a nearfall with an elbow drop on Bennett’s knees. Keith sent Bennett into the corner with a belly-to-belly throw before Komander tagged in and ran wild. Komander hit a superplex to Taven off of Keith’s shoulders before Keith launched Komander onto the Kingdom on the floor.
Back in the ring, Keith caught a charging Taven with a knee, but Bennett cut Keith off with a lariat. Bennett dropped Komander with a piledriver as Taven hit Just The Tip on Keith. The Kingdom hit Keith with Rockstar Supernova to score the win.
Bullet Club Gold was backstage with Renee Paquette. The Acclaimed quickly interrupted, noting how they saved Bullet Club on Dynamite and their mutual problems with The Undisputed Kingdom. White said that The Kingdom was the Bullet Club’s problem to solve. Tensions got heated, but Anthony Bowens calmed everybody down. He said the only way to get anything done in AEW was through factions. He noted White’s history with Bullet Club in Japan and Billy Gunn’s history in factions, no doubt talking about the 4 Live Kru in TNA. Bowens told them to give his words some thought.
Adam Copeland Speaks
Adam Copeland made his way to the ring in his gear. He recapped the events of Worlds End, where he beat and lost the TNT Title to Christian Cage. He said that he was entitled to an automatic rematch as a former TNT Champion, but he was fine working his way to another title match. Copeland said that Christian believed that he was handed everything, but the difference between them was that Copeland worked harder than Cage. He noted that he was in his gear and issued an open challenge.
Griff Garrison, Cole Karter, and Maria made their way to the stage, making me wonder if I put Ring of Honor on by accident. Garrison introduced himself as a man who takes advantage of opportunities before getting into the ring with Copeland. Copeland said that Garrison reminded him of himself at that age, but Garrison was stepping up above his class. Garrison slapped him in the face, and Copeland booted him in his to get this impromptu match started.
Adam Copeland defeated Griff Garrison (w/ Cole Karter & Maria)
This wasn’t a particularly standout performance from Garrison in the big spot. A nondescript affair here to kick off Copeland’s road back to the TNT Title.
Copeland beat up Garrison with little resistance until Maria and Karter ran interference, allowing Garrison to hit a big boot. Garrison clubbered on Copeland for a while, hitting a wheelbarrow facebuster for a nearfall. Copeland came back with a baseball slide on Karter before hitting a crossbody on Garrison for a nearfall. Copeland went for a spear, but Garrison caught him with a rolling elbow for a nearfall.
Garrison went to the top rope, but Copeland cut him off with punches and headbutts. Copeland hit a superplex and the Impaler DDT before tapping him out with a crossface. After the match, Karter caught Copeland with a dropkick. Karter went for a 450 splash, but Copeland moved out of the way and hit a spear to leave both men lying.
Sting, Darby Allin, & Ric Flair were backstage. Flair hyped up Sting’s final match in Charlotte and their match on Dynamite against Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs. Sting warned Don Callis that he wasn’t going out easily and that it would be showtime in Jacksonville.
Skye Blue defeated Kiera Hogan
Skye Blue seems to be AEW’s Iron Woman, as she’s all over these shows.
On commentary, Kevin Kelly claimed that there was something interesting about Skye Blue. I would personally argue that point, but that’s neither here nor there. These two went back and forth before Hogan fired up with a pair of slaps, leading to an offensive combination ending with a superkick for a nearfall. Blue landed a pair of strikes to the back of the head before hitting a running boot as we went to a commercial.
Blue clubbered on Hogan as we came back from the break. Blue went to the middle rope before jumping into a Hogan superkick. Hogan made a comeback, hitting a Rick Rude-style neckbreaker for a nearfall. Hogan went for the ten punches in the corner, but Blue hit a head trap superkick. They traded superkicks before Blue hit a TKO. She transitioned into a Dragon Sleeper to score the submission win.
We got a video package hyping the return of Serena Deeb. Deeb used her technical wrestling ability to escape from a straitjacket.
Claudio Castagnoli defeated Andrew Everett
In a pre-tape during his entrance, Castagnoli called out Hangman Adam Page for a match on Dynamite. Castagnoli manhandled Everett, a seven-footer in his own mind. Castagnoli hit a chokeslam before hitting a charging uppercut against the barricade. Castagnoli got Everett in the Giant Swing, going for ten revolutions.
Everett came back with head kicks and a Pele kick, but Castagnoli moved out of the way of a Shooting Star Press. Castagnoli hit the Neutralizer and a short-arm lariat for the win.
AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill were backstage with Lexy Nair. Starks hyped his return to Daily’s Place this Wednesday against Sammy Guevara, where he debuted. He lost a title match on that night – naming Cody Rhodes as the man who beat him – but he’ll be returning as a champion. Big Bill made their title defense against Guevara & Chris Jericho official. It will be next Saturday night on Battle of the Belts, and it will be a street fight.
FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated House Of Black (Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black)
A very good main event, although I would go short of calling it great. FTR feels like they have lost some steam as of late. Despite this match being in their neck of the woods, by the end of the post-match beatdown, there was a sizeable House of Black chant. FTR got cheered within the match though, and I do like seeing Daniel Garcia not forgetting about Brody King’s bullying of him after their Continental Classic match.
Harwood and Matthews started, fighting to a stalemate before Wheeler tagged in. Wheeler outwrestled Matthews, leading to an FTR double-team Russian Leg Sweep for a nearfall. Black tagged in, with him and Harwood evading strikes before Black sat cross-legged in the ring. Harwood sat with him, flipping him off in the process. Black exited the ring and walked towards Harwood’s family in the front row before FTR chased him away.
Harwood clubbered on Matthews in the corner, but Matthews caught Harwood on a corner charge with an elbow and got a tag to Black. The announcers had a great conversation about the history of wrestling in this building, with Schiavone noting the number of Flair/Steamboat matches he’s personally seen in this building. Wheeler tagged in and ended up getting his leg swept by Black on the apron before Matthews dropped him on the apron. Black hit a moonsault to Wheeler on the floor.
Wheeler got worked on in the House of Black corner before sending Matthews into Black in the corner. Wheeler fought off Matthews and Black in the attempt to make a tag, but Matthews booted Harwood off the apron to keep Wheeler in the ring. After a commercial, Harwood tagged in and ran wild, hitting a brainbuster on Black for a nearfall. Harwood had to fight two-on-one for a while, and it came back to bite him as Matthews caught him with a kick. That led to a Black back elbow for a nearfall.
Wheeler yanked Matthews to the floor, leading to Harwood getting a nearfall on an inside cradle. Harwood cut off Black on the top rope, leading to an FTR Powerplex for a nearfall that got broken up by Matthews hitting a Meteora onto the pile. Wheeler sent both Black and Matthews to the floor but got caught on a dive. Black and Matthews hit a lifting knee before sending Matthews over the announce table.
Black brought a chair into the ring before chirping to Harwood’s family at ringside. Harwood cut off Black with a punch and sent him out of the ring. Wheeler slipped back into the ring to catch Matthews with a Shatter Machine out of nowhere for a nearfall that was broken up by Black. FTR hit Black with a spike piledriver on the apron. Brody King made his way to the ring, but Daniel Garcia cut him off with a chair. Garcia rooted FTR on, but Harwood got caught with a stomp from Matthews for a nearfall. Matthews hit a powerbomb, but Harwood reversed the cover into a pin of his own to get the win.
The House of Black jumped all three men after the match. Matthews stomped Wheeler’s head onto a chair before Black hit the Fade To Black on Harwood with the chair in his face. King drilled Garcia with the chair, then hit him with the Gonzo Bomb as Julia Hart gave their fallen opponents a ten-bell salute.
Eddie Kingston will defend the Continental Crown for the first time on this week’s AEW Collision.
Trent Beretta won a four-way title eliminator match on Wednesday’s Dynamite to earn the right to challenge Kingston on Saturday’s Collision episode.
El Hijo del Vikingo, Brian Cage, and Bryan Keith were the other three participants in the title eliminator bout.
Kingston won the Continental Classic to become the first-ever AEW Continental Champion, defeating Jon Moxley at last week’s Worlds End pay-per-view in the tournament finals. The Continental Championship was unified with the NJPW Strong Openweight & ROH World Championships in the Continental Classic tournament, and AEW commentary has taken to calling the new title the Continental Crown.
A tag team contest between FTR & House of Black has already been announced for Saturday’s Collision, as Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler team against Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews.
Saturday’s announced Collision lineup:
Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston defends against Trent Beretta
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. House of Black (Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews)
New York native Eddie Kingston became the winner of both the first-ever AEW Continental Classic and the first-ever Continental Crown championship at Saturday’s Worlds End on Long Island, New York.
Kingston, winner of the Blue League portion of the tournament, pinned Jon Moxley, winner of the Gold League portion, following a spinning backfist that concluded a striking exchange between the two.
HE DID IT! Eddie Kingston is the FIRST EVER #AEWContinentalClassic winner and the FIRST #AEW Continental Champion!
The Continental Crown Championship is what AEW is hailing as the “modern” triple crown, made up of the new AEW Continental Championship, the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, and the Ring of Honor World title.
Kingston went into the tournament as both the ROH and NJPW titleholder, offering to put both titles up on the line in the tournament.
Kingston earned his way into the final with a win over Bryan Danielson while Moxley defeated both Swerve Strickland and Jay White in a three-way.
Your #AEWContinental Classic Winner and modern day Triple Crown holder, EDDIE KINGSTON!
The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects the views of the author.
AEW’s gift to us this holiday season was a wonderful wrestling tournament that got us through the winter doldrums and into the always promising new year.
By any objective measure, the Continental Classic was/is a tremendous success — a reminder and throwback to the foundation that AEW was built on which is an incredible in-ring product. Building a series of shows around high-quality matches has breathed much-needed life into AEW as it feels exciting again and reinvigorated.
The best Dynamite of the past few months was the December 13th episode. No skips, no filler, just good in-ring action with some necessary story exposition. Folks, that’s all it takes. The Devil storyline took a deserved backseat — the sooner this is and the rest of MJF’s version of As The World Turns is over the better — and the focus was almost entirely between the ropes. The sun AEW should revolve around is whatever happens between the bells, not who is under a Party City mask.
Everything falls neatly into place when the shows have something to revolve around rather than just someone. Anchoring the show around one main character can be burdensome to the viewer. How many 20-minute MJF solo promos can we take? This is not a reflection of his talent, which remains generational, but it’s not working as well as it should. For over a year, MJF has been the linchpin of the show, for better or for worse. Giving so much focus to the Continental Classic gave him space to breathe and gave him time to rest. And let’s face it, the last few months in the MJF-verse haven’t been good. When he first won the title, he talked about going on a HHH-esque reign of terror. If only we knew how accurate that would turn out to be.
Saturday’s Worlds End looks strong on paper and with AEW never missing at pay-per-views, I have high hopes for the last big show of 2023. Let’s run through the matches and give some predictions.
Andrade El Idolo vs. Miro
Andrade was one of the breakout performers in the Continental Classic. It might seem strange to refer to someone who has been wrestling since the early 2000s as a breakout, but this was by far his best work — not just in AEW, but since he’s been a regular in a major US wrestling promotion. The dude had his working boots on for every match and fully opened up the engines. When engaged and motivated, there is nothing he can’t do in the ring. Being reminded of that these past few weeks was wonderful. Let’s hope he carries the momentum into 2024.
It would have been easy to do something corny about Miro and CJ Perry’s IRL marriage. Instead, AEW decided to tell a story with nuance and layers which are things not typically associated with wrestling storylines. CJ wants to get back to what she was great at; managing and elevating talent. She’s upset that her husband wants to wrestle on his own, but she’s soldiering on doing what she wants. Miro, now no longer feuding with God, just wants to focus on wrestling.
It’s not going to win any awards or breathlessly be described as cinema, but this is a program that means something without any gold attached to it. This should be a good one!
Prediction: Andrade El Idolo
Keith Lee vs. Swerve Strickland
For whatever reason(s), Keith Lee in AEW hasn’t worked out like most (I am most) thought. The AEW Tag Team title run with Strickland was excellent, but other than that, nothing has been memorable. He has, somehow, become an afterthought. Or perhaps he’s been surpassed by others with greater gifts than his own. Maybe even a bit of both. There was a time when he was looked at as a no-doubt future World champion. Does that ceiling still exist? I hope it does. Wrestling is more fun when Keith Lee is regularly hossing people around the ring and making everyone roll their eyes when he’s doing a backstage promo.
This is going to be good, but it’s not hot. I’ll give AEW some grace on this one, though. Too often they are pumping the card full of last-minute matches, but with the C2 running until this week, they had no choice here. This does feel like a step down for Strickland who remains on a months-long heater. He might not have won the C2, but he maintained his momentum coming out of it and is positioned for a massive year in 2024 – one that should include an AEW World Championship reign. Anything less would be uncivilized.
Prediction: Swerve Strickland
Big Bill, Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher vs. Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin
I continue to love the Bill/Starks pairing. It’s self-aware and smart enough to work. They aren’t friends and there is no ‘can they co-exist’ storyline. This is just two dudes who recognized each other’s immense talents and thought ‘Yeah, this should work.’ Wrestling is better when it’s not all brothers and best friends tag teams. Homogeneity is boring. There’s a reason Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors.
Guevara continues, unceasing, ebbing and flowing, between character alignments like tides that lick the coast of the Atlantic. He turned on Jericho in October, went on paternity, and came back to his waiting arms. Sure, whatever. Why was he so upset about the painting of his daughter? A young queen with five kings supporting her? Seems good to me! But alas, here we are yet again, closing 2023 with another Guevara/Jericho pairing that no one asked for and even fewer wanted.
Prediction: Jericho, Guevara, Sting & Allin
Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston in the Continental Classic finals
The Continental Classic was destined to come down to this. The King of The Bums vs. the man who has done everything in pro wrestling. It took Kingston into his 40s to achieve what Moxley was doing in his late 20s. Bound together since the early years of AEW, the two men who know each other best go to war on Saturday. It’s going to be messy, it’s going to be brutal, and it’s going to be beautiful. Sometimes wrestling is just two dudes hitting each other really hard and is the most perfect thing in the world.
This year checked a lot of boxes for Kingston. The absolute madman won the Ring of Honor World title from his forever rival, wrestled in the G1, and is now in the finals of the C2. He is primed to win the American Triple Crown and follow in the footsteps of all his heroes. Getting to do it in his home state is the cherry of all cherries to cap off a hell of a 2023.
There are certainly people who don’t love or believe in him, but those are the exceptions that prove the rule. Those who love him do so loud and love him fiercely. They will be out in full force for his coronation on Long Island.
Prediction: Eddie Kingston
TBS Champion Julia Hart defends against Abadon
Hart just won the TBS Championship and is going to stay winning. She continues to grow in the ring and adds to her overall presentation on what seems like a weekly basis. She is AEW’s biggest homegrown success and her future is bright…or dark…or however she prefers it, really.
Abadon’s look and presentation are just incredible. Even the most ardent of haters have to admit that her character just works. In a sea of similar gimmicks and aesthetics, she stands out. She’s just not going to win the TBS title. Too much time was invested in building Hart into what she is now for her to lose the title less than two months after she won it.
Prediction: Julia Hart
TNT Champion Christian Cage defends against Adam Copeland in a no DQ match
It’s likely that you, the intelligent wrestling consumer that you are, have already decided if you’re going to like this match. This is the Copeland special. These are the matches he loves to have with plunder and weapons galore. It will likely be too long. It will likely have a few missed pinfalls and submissions. It will likely be a bit overwrought. It can be all of those things and still be good because as always, this is subjective. If that is your type of match, I have some good news. You’ll probably get an excellent version of it on Saturday night. If this is your preferred brand of vodka, get ready for top shelf. If not? You can probably squeeze in a 40-minute nap during the match.
Recently, AEW has shied away from doing trilogies. The Orange Cassidy vs. Jon Moxley and Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Page programs wrapped up (for now) after two matches. I can’t help but feel that will be the case at Worlds End, too. Christian has done yeoman’s work making the TNT title important again — important enough that Copeland winning it will feel like a big deal.
Prediction: Adam Copeland
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm defends against Riho
Your opinion on Storm is a telling character decoder. Do you think she’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen? Perhaps broaden your comedic horizons. Do you think it’s terrible and an embarrassment to this business? I would encourage you to allow a little light and levity into your life. The highs are high and the lows are cause for shaking your head, not changing the channel. The truth is this probably skews more towards good than a transcendent character, but Storm is the singular focus of the women’s division.
There is too much juice left in the Storm orange to change the title here. AEW is invested in her current character and future program with Mariah May. Taking the title from her here makes no sense.
Prediction: Toni Storm
AEW World Champion MJF defends against Samoa Joe
There is no good reveal for the Devil. It’s low floor, low ceiling storytelling and the type of storytelling that AEW should do well to avoid. What is a good reveal here? It’s a rhetorical question, but is there anyone on the roster that would make this amount of TV time worth it and make some storyline sense?
Even if it leads to a returning Kyle O’Reilly, would an Adam Cole reveal really move the needle? The best they could do in that situation would be if the entire injury was a work, leading to him costing MJF the title. Even if that’s the case, we’re still in for another long MJF melodrama program — the same type of program Cody Rhodes would get killed for if he was still in AEW, by the way — and something has to change. After Wednesday night’s show-closing angle, something has to change immediately. Put this to bed and never talk of it again.
Regardless of anything else that happens at Worlds End, Samoa Joe should walk out with a World title on his shoulder. Even at 44, he remains a singular force of nature in wrestling. His presence and menacing delivery on the microphone scream monster. He can be that final boss. He can be the person everyone is terrified of. Let him run roughshod over AEW for a few months while the next big babyface (Swerve Strickland) gets primed for a run on top.
It should be a big deal when MJF drops his belt as he is the longest reigning champion in company history, after all. But the reign has been lackluster ever since Cole became his best friend and why am I still writing about a friendship storyline in December?
If Joe doesn’t win here, I don’t know what’s left to do. MJF is hurt and carrying 1.5 lame-duck storylines by himself. Let him heal up and give Joe the one thing he’s never had and the one thing he deserves: a World title in a major company.
The Continental Classic finals are set for Saturday’s Worlds End pay-per-view.
Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley will meet after winning their league finals on Wednesday’s Dynamite. Moxley was the first to advance, winning the Gold League by defeating Jay White and Swerve Strickland in a three-way match. Later in the show, Kingston won the Blue League by defeating Bryan Danielson.
After Kingston’s win, Jon Moxley came to the ring as the two cut promos on one another. Moxley said that for someone that thinks the world is against him, these fans love him and they deserve Kingston’s maximum effort on Saturday. But Moxley said that he knows Kingston better than himself. He told Kingston that if he wants to become a Triple Crown Champion like his heroes, he will have to earn it.
Kingston replied by telling Moxley to quit treating him like a young boy as he broke in before Moxley did. On Saturday, the king of the bums is going to push Moxley.
The winner of the Continental Classic will win a new Triple Crown Championship consisting of the ROH World Championship, the NJPW Strong Openweight title, and a new championship called the AEW Continental Championship.
Here is the updated card for Worlds End on December 30:
AEW World Championship: MJF defends against Samoa Joe
AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm defends against Riho
TNT Championship, no DQ: Christian Cage defends against Adam Copeland
AEW Continental Classic finals: Eddie Kingston vs. Jon Moxley
TBS Championship: Julia Hart defends against Abadon
Swerve Strickland vs. Keith Lee
Andrade El Idolo vs. Miro
Sting, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, and Chris Jericho vs. Big Bill, Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Kyle Fletcher
Zero Hour: FTW rules for FTW Championship: Hook defends against Wheeler Yuta
Zero Hour: 20 man battle royale for a TNT title match anywhere, anytime
Last night’s holiday weekend edition of SmackDown averaged 2.01 million viewers in the overnight ratings, down from last week’s overnight average of 2.15 million. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.5. The episode was taped one week in advance.
PWInsider reports that Xavier Woods, who has been banged up and off the road for WWE, is tentatively expected to be back on the road within the first two weeks of January.
WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura posted a one-word response to the news that Hiroshi Tanahashi has been named the new president and representative director of NJPW: “Wow”
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Eddie Kingston detailed how nervous he was before his first NJPW G1 Climax match:
I threw up before my match against Shingo. I always get nervous before matches, but I’ve never been that nervous. So I got to the ring, talked to myself and said, ‘Yup, I’m in the G1.’ That helped. Then Shingo hit me really hard with the first forearm, and I knew I was ready.
Kingston further reflected on competing for NJPW in the G1:
Walking through the curtain at Sumo Hall, and I’ve seen so many great matches there, like the first G1 Finals between Keiji Mutoh and Masahira Chono, I couldn’t believe I was there. There’s a picture of me with my mouth open, looking around in astonishment, at Sumo Hall. That summed it up, right?
I had a lot of good guys around me in Japan. The New Japan locker room is the best locker room I’ve ever been part of. They showed me around, and I tried everything. I don’t like fish, but I did in Japan. I loved it there.
Kingston said about the AEW Continental Classic:
The G1 is already established. Every year, you know it’s going to be great. It’s the greatest tournament in professional wrestling. We’re just starting the Continental Classic. We’re setting the tone and building it. Then, next year, we’ll need to be even better.
While appearing on Casual Conversations with The Classic, Ric Flair praised MJF:
Well number one, I think he’s (MJF) actually — he comes across as confident in real life as he comes across with his confidence in the ring and he’s got a good interview, he’s got a great look, he worked hard. I think he’s got the confidence in real life that he portrays on TV and I think the future is unlimited for him and he’s really good. He could be the next Randy Orton. That’s about as high a praise as I can give him.
Amanda Huber commented on being part of Titus O’Neil’s Joy of Giving event in Tampa: “So incredibly thankful to @TitusONeilWWE & @BFFTampa for the incredible #JoyOfGiving event. I am so blown away by this and so thankful to have been involved. Can’t wait for more opportunities to do good around Tampa”
Matt Riddle will make an on-air appearance during MLW’s Holiday Rush special that’s airing on Christmas Eve. Riddle’s MLW in-ring return will be against Jacob Fatu at Kings of Colosseum on Saturday, January 6.
Three ROH champions will be in action on HonorClub this week.
Thursday’s episode will be the go-home show before Friday’s Final Battle pay-per-view in Garland, Texas.
Eddie Kingston vs. Evil Uno in a Proving Ground match is scheduled to air. The match took place in front of Uno’s hometown Montreal fans.
ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta will also be in a Proving Ground match on Thursday. He faces Jason Geiger, who has now wrestled ROH matches in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, and Montreal this year.
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena will be on the show as well, although her opponent’s name has not been advertised. She suffered a broken nose at the tapings but still plans on working Friday’s PPV.
Matches for this week’s episode were taped on December 5 at the Bell Centre. Spoilers from the taping are available here.
ROH on HonorClub December 14 lineup:
ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston vs. Evil Uno in a Proving Ground match
ROH Pure Rules Champion Wheeler Yuta vs. Jason Geiger in a Proving Ground match
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena vs. TBA
Leyla Hirsch w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett & Rachael Ellering vs. TBA
The Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) & Jacked Jameson vs. Dalton Castle & The Boys (Brandon & Brent Tate)
ROH Final Battle 2023 December 15 lineup:
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defends against Billie Starkz
Survival of the Fittest six-way elimination match to crown a new ROH World Television Champion: Dalton Castle vs. Komander vs. Lee Moriarty vs. Lee Johnson vs. Kyle Fletcher vs. TBD
Keith Lee vs. Shane Taylor
I Quit match: Ethan Page vs. Tony Nese
Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Bryan Danielson vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) & Mark Briscoe
Ring of Honor presents its weekly show on HonorClub tonight.
Eddie Kingston will wrestle Lee Johnson in a Proving Ground match on Thursday’s episode. There will also be two Survival of the Fittest TV Title Eliminator bouts featuring Gringo Loco vs. Komander and Dalton Castle vs. The Dark Order’s Evil Uno.
Thursday’s episode was taped on Wednesday, November 22 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Spoilers from the show are available here. The advertised lineup is below.
Ring of Honor on HonorClub November 30 lineup:
ROH World Champion & NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston vs. Lee Johnson in a Proving Ground match
Marina Shafir vs. Billie Starkz
The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo) vs. The Boys (Brandon & Brent Tate)
Trish Adora vs. Emi Sakura
Survival of the Fittest TV Title Eliminator match: Evil Uno vs. Dalton Castle
Survival of the Fittest TV Title Eliminator match: Gringo Loco vs. Komander
Brian Cage vs. Action Andretti
The Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) vs. The Butcher & The Blade
Willie Mack vs. Robert Anthony
Dralistico & Preston Vance vs. Serpentico & Angelico
Leyla Hirsch “In Action”
**********
ROH started with Women’s Champion Athena alongside Billie Starkz and Lexy Nair. She told Starkz that she embarrassed her last week with her loss and that she had the chance to make things right tonight with a win against Marina Shafir. After dismissing Starkz, Athena turned her attention to Eddie Kingston. She took issue with the ROH World Champion saying that certain champions weren’t carrying their weight in the company, as she had been carrying the show on her back since she became champion. Athena wanted everyone to show her the proper respect.
Proving Ground Match – Eddie Kingston defeated Lee Johnson
It’s noted that if Johnson wins, he will get a match against the Triple Crown Champion after the Continental Classic concludes. Johnson caught Kingston with a dropkick that threw him off balance, but Kingston came back with a Magnum-style belly-to-belly for a nearfall. Johnson slid through Kingston’s legs before hitting a pendulum DDT to create space.
Johnson hit Kingston with a power slam for a nearfall. Kingston drilled Johnson with elbows before a pair of overhead suplexes scored a nearfall. Johnson ducked a backfist and hit an acrobatic neckbreaker for a nearfall.
Johnson hit a frog splash for a nearfall before hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb for another nearfall. Kingston hit another suplex before landing the backfist for the win.
The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) defeated The Boys (Brandon & Brent)
As the Boys now wear Mardi Gras masks, it becomes even harder to tell them apart. They double-teamed Bravo, scoring a nearfall after a backstabber. Dean tagged in, but the Boys kept control of him with quick offense. Bravo got a tag in, allowing The Infantry to take control.
After a few minutes, the Boy got a tag out to the fresh Boy, who ran wild on Dean. The Infantry came back quickly, scoring the win with Boot Camp.
Rachel Ellering was backstage with Lexy Nair. Ellering brought up Leyla Hirsch’s knee injury, which brought in Maria, who noted that Hirsch was doing well. Ellering asked what Maria was doing when she spoke to the Renegade Sisters last week when Hirsch walked in. Hirsch also asked about Maria’s conversation, with Maria blowing it off. Hirsch wanted to know if she’d have her back tonight, with both Maria and Ellering saying yes.
Emi Sakura defeated Trish Adora
After avoiding a stretch by the hair, Adora hit a Bubba Bomb on Sakura. Sakura slipped out of a submission attempt and laid in the chops to Adora, but Adora came back with a pump kick for a nearfall. Adora hit a lariat that sent Sakura to the ropes. Sakura fought out of a German suplex attempt before hitting a German of her own for a nearfall. Sakura hit a butterfly backbreaker to score the win.
Does Hirsch want Maria’s help or not? Let’s get to the next step of this story here.
Hirsch noted her height advantage before taking Reckless down with a shoulder block. Hirsch flung Reckless around with suplexes and gutwrenches before running into an uppercut. Hirsch countered a neckbreaker into a cross-arm breaker to score the submission win. After the match, Maria went to give a handshake but Hirsch blew her off again.
Willie Mack defeated Robert Anthony
Mack scored a quick win, hitting a powerbomb after catching a crossbody attempt.
Billie Starkz defeated Marina Shafir
Between the crowd not being into it and Shafir’s style making for a tough matchup, this was rough.
Starkz piefaced Shafir when Shafir wouldn’t let go of the handshake at the start of the match. Starkz stalled outside of the ring, giving her best Larry Zbyszko impression. Shafir got her hands on Starkz and threw her around. Starkz sent Shafir to the floor, but Shafir caught her dive and flung her into the barricade.
They battled on the floor, with Starkz hitting a suplex on the floor. Starkz set up a Swanton Bomb in the ring, but Shafir cut her off. Starkz hit a rebound kick instead, following with a bridging German suplex for a nearfall. Starkz taunted Shafir with kicks before Shafir caught the foot. They scrambled before Starkz hit a forearm that knocked Shafir down. Shafir dropped Starkz and laid her out with a kick for a nearfall.
Shafir dropped Starkz with a lariat. The two traded strikes before Shafir fired up with forearms. Shafir laid in kicks before tying Starkz up with a submission. Starkz pushed Shafir to the floor and hit a dive. Shafir got her knees up on a Swanton attempt before hitting a powerbomb for a nearfall. Starkz hit a Gory Bomb before hitting the Swanton for a nearfall. Starkz hit a spin kick before hitting the Star-Ten for the win.
After the match, Starkz jumped Shafir after the bell and sent her out of the ring. Athena and Lexy Nair came out with a cap and gown for Starkz. After giving a speech, she made sure to name Nair the valedictorian of the Minion In Training Class of 2023, to the disappointment of Starkz. Nair gave an acceptance speech before Athena signed off. Starkz bowed up to Athena but relented and left the ring. They posed on the ramp before Starkz turned on Athena, sending her into the barricade and standing over her with the title.
(I could personally do without the NXT-style graduation segment, but this was effective in getting the split done.)
Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match – Dalton Castle (w/Brandon & Brent) defeated Evil Uno (w/Negative One)
The two traded lariat attempts in the corner, missing them all until Uno landed a chop to send Castle to the floor. Castle spent some time recovering on the floor before getting back in the ring. Castle teased a chop before taking Uno down with an ankle pick. Castle hit a pair of splashes before Uno bailed to the floor. Uno threw Castle around at ringside before clubbering on Castle in the ring.
Castle came back with chops of his own before Uno caught him with a half-hatch suplex. Uno fired up with clotheslines. Uno shoved the Boys into each other on the floor before walking into a set of Castle suplexes. Castle got a nearfall with a Slingblade bulldog before rocking Uno with a back elbow. Castle hit the Bangarang to score the win and punch his ticket to Final Battle.
Tony Khan was backstage with Lexy Nair. Khan plugged Final Battle before Billie Starkz entered the frame. She asked for a title shot against Athena. Khan noted that Starkz had won nine singles matches in a row before making the match official for Final Battle.
Cutler and Cabana came out to the Being The Elite theme song, the only place you’ll be hearing that song any time soon. The local guys tried to isolate Cutler, with Outlaw hitting a Magnum-style belly-to-belly for a nearfall. But Cutler eventually got the tag to local guy Cabana, who ran wild. Cabana and Cutler won with a tag team neckbreaker.
Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match –Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Gringo Loco
Komander dropped Loco with a pair of armdrags before Loco did a handstand out of a rana attempt. Komander sent Loco to the floor and went for a handspring, but Loco caught his hands and dragged him to the floor. Loco pinballed him around before getting a nearfall in the ring. Loco caught Komander with a powerslam for a nearfall. Komender fought out of a Gorilla Press before hitting a step-up armdrag for a nearfall.
Komander sent Loco to the floor before hitting a step-up rana to the outside. Komander hit a springboard 450 splash for a nearfall. Komander hit a tilt-a-whirl rana for a nearfall. Loco popped Komander on the apron, but Komander knocked him down. Loco caught Komander on his shoulders before dropping him with a spin-out powerbomb on the ropes. Loco hit the Gringo Cutter for a nearfall.
Loco went for a moonsault, but Komander cut him off. They both ended up on the top, with Komander hitting a top-rope rana for a nearfall. Komander went to the top, but Loco cut him off. Both men ended up on the top rope again, with Loco hitting an Inverted Spanish Fly for a nearfall. Komander avoided a moonsault before hitting a gutbuster. Komander hit the ropewalk Shooting Star Press for the win.
Tony Nese & Mark Sterling were backstage with ROH Board of Directors member Jerry Lynn and Lexy Nair. Sterling wanted to make sure he was ringside for Nese’s rematch against Ethan Page. Page came in, unsurprised that the two men wanted to cheat their way to another win. Lynn said a rematch would happen, with Sterling handcuffed to the post. They will sign the contract next week.
Serpentico and Dralistico started, with Serpentico having the upper hand until Vance tagged in and booted him. Angelico came in and took down Vance by the arm before Serpentico tagged in. Vance dropped Serpentico with a German suplex before tagging in Dralistico. They double-teamed Serpentico for a while before Serpentico came back, answering a Dralistico Destroyer with a Destroyer of his own.
Tags were made on both sides, with Angelico running wild. Dralistico cut off a submission attempt before Vance hit a main event spinebuster on Angelico. LFI isolated Serpentico, with Vance scoring the win with a discus lariat.
Nyla Rose defeated Zoey Lynn
Lynn went to jump Rose at the bell, but Rose overpowered her quickly. Lynn fought back, but Rose clubbed her out of the air on a high cross attempt. Lynn fought out of the Beast Bomb but couldn’t fight out of a chokeslam. Rose hit the Beast Bomb for the win.
The Butcher & The Blade defeated The Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) (w/ Jacked Jameson)
Boulder and Bronson, or Beavis and Butthead? I’m tired of the innuendos, the joke got old.
Butcher and Bronson traded shots, with Bronson winning and sending him into Boulder’s chest. Boulder took down Blade with a suplex. The Savages went for the Savage Sauce, but Butcher took out Jameson on the floor. Butcher and Blade worked over Bronson before getting the tag out to Boulder, who ran wild on both men.
Boulder hit a splash on Butcher for a nearfall. They went for the Transformer Slam, but Blade kicked Boulder low while the referee had his back turned. They hit Full Death for the win.
Brian Cage (w/Prince Nana) defeated Action Andretti
Cage hammered Andretti with strikes to start before Andretti staggered Cage with dropkicks. Andretti caught Cage with a pop-up rana for a nearfall before Nana tried to cut him off from the floor. Andretti sent Cage to the floor, but Cage caught a dive and sent Andretti into the post with a Gorilla Press.
Cage pinballed Andretti around the floor before sending him back into the ring, where Andretti ran into a big boot for a nearfall. Cage flung Andretti overhead with a German suplex for a nearfall. Andretti went for a handspring elbow, but Cage caught him and sent him into the corner. Andretti booted Cage before hitting a springboard clothesline.
Andretti sent Cage to the floor with a rana before hitting a moonsault to the floor. Andretti hit a springboard kick for a nearfall. Andretti hit a running knee before Cage dropped him with a lariat. Cage dropped Andretti with a reverse flapjack for a nearfall. Cage hit the outside-in superplex for a nearfall.
Cage went for Weapon X, but Andretti fought out and hit a tornado DDT for a nearfall. Andretti went for the split-legged moonsault, but Cage moved. Andretti escaped Weapon X again before hitting the hanging neckbreaker. Andretti hit the springboard 450 for a nearfall. Andretti and Nana got into it, with Nana leading Andretti into a pop-up powerbomb. Cage hit Weapon X for the win.
