Tag: Konosuke Takeshita

Continental & Women’s Tag Team title defenses added to AEW Grand Slam Australia

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley will defend against former IWGP World Champion and former AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita at this month’s Grand Slam Australia — one of two new title matches announced Wednesday.

The Moxley vs. Takeshita match was announced during AEW Dynamite shortly after both men were on opposite ends of a trios match as part of the ongoing feud between the Death Riders and the Don Callis Family.

It will be Moxley’s first defense of the title he won at last December’s Worlds End in the Continental Classic.

This will be their fourth-ever singles meeting dating back to July 2022 when Moxley beat Takeshita in a then-interim World title eliminator match. The two rematched five months later on Rampage with Moxley again winning.

Moxley defeated Takeshita in an then-IWGP World title eliminator at 2024’s Forbidden Door with Takeshita finally defeating Moxley in last year’s Continental Classic in Blue league action.

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Another title match added for Sydney will see AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions Babes of Wrath defending against Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford.

The match came about during Wednesday’s Dynamite when Bayne and Ford picked up a rare title eliminator victory, defeating the champions to earn the title shot. It will the third defense for Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron

The two teams have been feuding in various forms since last fall.

Current AEW Grand Slam Australia card | February 14 | Sydney, Australia

  • Hangman Page vs. Andrade El Idolo World title eliminator
  • Toni Storm & Orange Cassidy vs. Wheeler Yuta & Marina Shafir in a hair vs. hair tornado tag match
  • AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley defends against Konosuke Takeshita
  • AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron) defend against MegaBad (Penelope Ford & Megan Bayne)

First match announced for NJPW The New Beginning USA

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

Konosuke Takeshita lost New Japan Pro Wrestling gold early in January. He’ll have a chance to get some back when he challenges El Phantasmo late in February. 

NJPW has announced that ELP will defend his NJPW World TV Championship against Takeshita at New Beginning USA at the CURE Arena in Trenton, New Jersey, on February 27. Tickets for the event are already on sale. 

The NJPW World TV title is contested under 15-minute time limits, which is notable given the history between ELP and Takeshita. The two have met in four prior singles encounters, with Takeshita winning twice. Takeshita also challenged ELP for the TV title last May at Dontoku, but the match went to a time limit draw. For his part, Phantasmo has one win over Takeshita, beating him in last year’s G1 Climax tournament in a match that went 15 minutes, 2 seconds. 

The two also clashed at New Year Dash on January 5, with Takeshita teaming with Rocky Romero defeating ELP and Shoma Kato in tag team action when Takeshita pinned Kato.

Couple Konosuke Takeshita & Yuka Sakazaki announced for TJPW event

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling is now all set to host their upcoming TJPW Grand Princess 2026 show at Ryōgoku Sumo Hall, and has now officially announced their first match. Earlier today on social media, TJPW pushed out the first match announcement, where AEW star Konosuke Takeshita will team up with his wife, Yuka Sakazaki.

The married couple announced via a social media upload that they will be in action. The couple will take part in a special tag-team against two unnamed opponents. The video segment was recorded last year in December during the AEW Worlds End PPV.

Sakazaki is a TJPW veteran and is a former 3-times Princess of Princess champion. She spent the majority of her career there at the Japanese promotion and is currently an active part of the ROH roster. While Takeshita is one of the top stars in AEW, he is now set to make his TJPW debut.

TJPW Grand Princess 2026 is set to take place on March 29th at Ryōgoku Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

TJPW Grand Princess 2026 lineup | March 29th, 2026

Currently, TJPW has announced only one match for the show, although several other big names have been announced to be a part of Grand Princess 2026, such as Sareee, Léi Yǐng Lee, Aja Kong, and Super Sasadango Machine.

  • Konosuke Takeshita & Yuka Sakazaki vs two unnamed opponents in a special tag match

NJPW New Year Dash live results: The fallout from Wrestle Kingdom 20

Posted on by Corey Michaels

With Wrestle Kingdom 20 in the books, New Japan Pro Wrestling begins the post-Hiroshi Tanahashi era with their annual New Year Dash event.

The card from Tokyo’s Ota City Gymnasium traditionally is left a mystery, but the main event was already announced. In it, the IWGP Tag Team Champions The Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) defended against World Tag League winners Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champs Douki and Sho defended against three other teams.

New IWGP World Champion & Global Champion Yota Tsuji appeared, as did now former champion Konosuke Takeshita, following the events of Saturday night.

Other wrestlers included new NEVER Openweight Champion Aaron Wolf, members of the War Dogs, Andrade El Idolo, United Empire, House of Torture, Hontai, and TMDK.

A former United Empire leader returned, the World Heavyweight Championship received a redesign, and a new faction has been announced.

Our live coverage begins at 4:30 am Eastern.

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Main Card

Team 150 (Satoshi Kojima, Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii) defeated Katsuya Murashima, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura

Uemura and Taichi started the evening with the early lockup. Taichi wriggled out of Uemura’s shoulder control with a lariat. Uemura fired back at opponents Kojima and Ishii. The latter forced Uemura down and shrugged off Murashima. Kojima let loose gnarly chops on Uemura, who rebounded with dropkicks. Umino exploded onto the scene, following through with a flurry of offense to Kojima, complete with a bridging suplex.

A Koji-Cutter gave way for an Ishii rampage. The Stone Pitbull didn’t so much as flinch upon Umino’s chops, but his forearms did the trick, staggering the veteran. Ishii met his match in the young Murashima, who refused to be put down, as he pounced on his now bloody-nosed elder. Taichi attempted intervention, but Uemura trounced him, so that Murashima could slam the still-legal Ishii. Taking a clobbering, Ishii headbutted Murashima as the announcer reminded the competitors of the time limit. Mercilessly sinking in a low, deep Boston Crab, Ishii tapped Murashima out for the win.

Post-match: Uemura and Taichi stared each other down while Ishii brawled with Umino after the former spat blood in the latter’s eye.

(Always a great idea to start the night with some physicality from some absolute beef steakhouses like these men here. If your adrenaline thrives on that type of action, you’ll love this. I felt a sort of generational kinship between Ishii and Murashima, the way they brought the intensity to one another.)

The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero) defeated El Phantasmo & Shoma Kato

Phantasmo, to Takeshita’s amusement, sustained control over the Alpha’s limbs, countering him at every turn. Kato demanded to be tagged in, hoping to tangle with his fellow Osaka-native, but contended with Romero instead, resulting in a forearm laying Azucar flat. Kato and the former World Heavyweight Champion whipped each other into the barricades. Almost tauntingly, Takeshita kept the Young Lion down with several repeated pin attempts. Still bitter at his loss in the Tokyo Dome, Kato laid out all his frustrations on Takeshita, leading to a Boston Crab.

Phantasmo helped Kato in dealing with Romero, but the Westerners quickly found themselves on the outside. Meanwhile, Takeshita struck back on Kato with a Brainbuster. Exploiting his knackered opponent, Takeshita submitted the youngster with a Boston Crab.

(I love to see some character development for the Young Lions, and that testing of Kato was it. Phantasmo, being a gentle and forgiving mentor figure in this match, was nice to see. Romero looked like he was one of those Little Debbie Chocolate Cupcakes.)

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) & Oleg Boltin defeated House Of Torture (SANADA, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi)

Prepared for a House of Torture ambush, Bishamon and Boltin laid out their opponents with an extra barrage of fists on Kanemaru’s back. Exposing the turnbuckle, Takahashi catapulted Goto into its steel. SANADA ate a disastrous lariat from Goto. YOSHI-HASHI stampeded Takahashi and Kanemaru before spanking and dropkicking SANADA off the ropes he was propped upon. Thanks to a low blow courtesy of SANADA, Takahashi had the opportunity to wound YOSHI-HASHI, but a Boltin save put a stop to that.

Suffering a scoop and a slam, Takahashi’s world became a blur after a Boltin Shake rattled him. SANADA and Takahashi sandwiched Boltin between their boots, but couldn’t follow up if an angry Goto had anything to say about it. Bishamon propped up Takahashi for a Boltin Splash to finish the match.

(SANADA looked like he was caught by those trawler men who almost caught Nemo and those other fish in Pixar’s Finding Nemo. I think I like the combination of Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, and Boltin.)

United Empire (Andrade El Idolo, Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young) defeated War Dogs (Clark Connors & Gabe Kidd) & Hiromu Takahashi

Both teams spared no second, engaging in all-out war. Takahashi initially had Akira under his boot, but the freshly returned Italian retaliated with whips into barricades and dominant chops to the chest. Young chipped away with some kicks and bent the Time Bomb’s fingers with gremlin-like joy. Idolo added further punishment with stomps and elbow drops, punctuating with a dive like an exclamation point. Akira added to this with a standing moonsault.

At last, Takahashi found respite in a dropkick to Akira, with a subsequent Dragonscrew Leg Whip. Kidd delivered an onslaught of faceplants to the corners and a lariat to Idolo. La Sombra recovered with a dropkick and knees to the Madman’s face in the corner. Kidd bounced back with a Brainbuster. Connors laid out the United Empire and caught Idolo with a powerslam. After goring Idolo, Connors’s rampage begat all-out chaos. A decisive big boot from Idolo rocked Connors’s brain. He ended the match with a Hammerlock DDT to stamp out Connors for good.

Post-match: Kidd and Idolo brawled, with the former challenging the latter for a title opportunity for Yota Tsuji’s IWGP Global Heavyweight title at New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.

(Andrade wrestled like a star tonight and in the Dome. I hope NJPW and AEW make the best use of him possible because he looks like a million bucks right now. I selfishly want him slotted against Yota Tsuji in lieu of Jake Lee.)

Aaron Wolf, Master Wato, Toru Yano & YOH defeated House of Torture (Dick Togo, Don Fale, EVIL & Ren Narita)

House of Torture immediately isolated Wolf from his partners before bullying him as they pulled out all the stops. Wato, Yano, and YOH prevented their patented Dick-to-Dick Contact, allowing Wolf to hurl Togo clear across the ring. Wato bulldogged the rattled competitor. Fale laid his immeasurable weight on Wato, pressing fully on his back before stepping on him. EVIL doled out additional torment to Wato. Togo struck the ring bell during a pin attempt to cause a disruption. YOH and Yano dropped Narita, but paid dearly for it from a united House of Torture front. This resulted in a successful Dick-to-Dick Contact.

Togo failed an inside cradle to YOH, who replied with a Slingblade. He tapped out Togo with a Texas Cloverleaf for the pinfall.

Post-match: House of Torture assaulted YOH. His partners came to the rescue, but were also clobbered, especially Wolf. Narita clobbered him with a plank of wood, leaving the former judoka to be carried out by Young Lions.

(I would’ve had Wolf featured more in this match, maybe involved him in the finish. However, since it looks like Narita might be his next opponent, I’ll reserve judgment for what may look to be New Beginning in Osaka.)

United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Jake Lee) defeated War Dogs (David Finlay & Drilla Moloney), Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji

Tsuji unveiled the new look of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. True to his word, the belt appeared as the classic V4 IWGP Heavyweight Championship design.

Lee frantically overwhelmed Tsuji, including a Facebreak Shot. Finlay traded forearms with Newman before grounding him with a shoulder tackle. Newman rebounded with a dropkick. HENARE picked up the scraps, nearly following through with a Fireman’s Carry, but Finlay countered with Oblivion. Takagi struggled to topple Khan and Lee in their union against him, so Moloney provided backup. Khan and HENARE sought to whip their opponents into one another, but found themselves on the receiving end instead.

Takagi toppled HENARE, yet Khan stalled his momentum with a Mongolian Chop and an Iron Claw. Moloney smashed him with a spinebuster. HENARE pinned Moloney after a Khan-assisted powerbomb.

Post-match: While Jake Lee rubbed his hands all over the newly redesigned World Heavyweight Championship, Khan and HENARE assaulted Takagi. Tsuji stood unamused by Lee’s antics with the title. The pair paintbrushed each other. Finlay had to be restrained by Young Lions and his teammates after he ripped off the ring apron and tossed chairs into the ring.

Newman took to the microphone to insult Finlay. As though addressing someone else entirely, Newman stated that this was a different United Empire he’d been carrying on his back. Will Ospreay emerged, embracing HENARE and Khan, ignoring Lee completely. Reporting that he had yet to be cleared, but once he handled business in AEW, he’d help Newman in NJPW. He even offered to do it Newman’s way. Newman seemingly agreed before teasing a chair shot. Khan and HENARE quietly prevented this while Ospreay’s back was conveniently turned.

(Lee does not move me at all. Looks like he didn’t move Ospreay either. But HENARE is off to a great start, and Finlay’s strong 2025 continues.)

Ichiban Sweet Boys (Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles) defeated House Of Torture (DOUKI & SHO) (c), El Desperado & Kuukai, and War Dogs (Robbie X & Taiji Ishimori) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

SHO taunted all of his and DOUKI’s opponents before sliding out of the ring. Kuukai dove over the top rope to lay them out. The bell rang, with Desperado and Kuukai ready to level the playing field when DOUKI and SHO tripped them up. Desperado aided Kuukai in elevating him for a missile dropkick to House of Torture. Ishimori and X combined their offense on Desperado. X and Eagles formed a temporary alliance on DOUKI. Since both men were named Robbie, the modest Tokyo crowd chanted “Robbie.”

SHO launched Fujita at Kuukai, who ducked and united with him for the latter’s missile dropkick. Dissolving their brief partnership, Fujita and Kuukai collided. Ishimori sent Fujita and Eagles down in a Tower of Terror spot. Before X could get the 3-count, Yoshinobu Kanemaru pulled the referee out of the ring. He, SHO, and DOUKI teased weaponry, but Fujita laid them out with SHO’s black sheet pan. A double-Thrillride from Fujita and Eagles lent the former a pinfall win over X. Ichiban Sweet Boys are the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.

Post-match: As Chris Charlton mentioned, a new faction was forming backstage via Yota Tsuji as “Unbound Company”. Francesco Akira laid out the competitors from the match, with special attention directed to Ishimori. Hiromu Takahashi came to their rescue.

(I so wish Kosei Fujita could win some singles gold. But he and Eagles are so good together, so I’m not mad at it. I’m moreso curious as to Tsuji’s new faction.)

Main Event

Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) (c) defeated TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.) for the IWGP Tag Team Championship

Oiwa and Yuto-Ice initiated the bout with a slobberknocker brawl that saw the Knockout Brother laid flat. Sabre equalized OSKAR as he joined Oiwa to stretch Yuto-Ice’s limbs. OSKAR returned, his size nearly circumventing TMDK’s attempts to topple his giant stature. Back on his feet, Yuto-Ice fired back at Sabre, kicking him down with an assist from OSKAR.

Sabre challenged the towering OSKAR and paid the price with the German’s knee pressed on his chest. Yuto-Ice was equally as unforgiving, beating down on the blonde Brit. Oiwa decapitated Yuto-Ice with a lariat and stomped the back of OSKAR’s knee from the bottom rope. Yuto-Ice flung Oiwa’s face into OSKAR’s large boot. Sabre incurred the wrath of OSKAR for the sin of a Penalty Kick, eating stiff forearms as recompense. The Knockout Brothers maintained their dominance with a Backbreaker + knee strike combination.

Sabre planted his boot on OSKAR’s head, wrenching his arm back behind his shoulder as he screamed sweet agony, climaxing into a rope break. OSKAR bore down upon the Englishman with a booming elbow drop. By a miraculous last-second resurgence, Sabre thudded the ring with a Zack Driver for a nearfall. Oiwa matched Yuto-Ice’s fire with his own to land a Tenzan Suplex. Beheaded by lariats, Yuto-Ice watched in hazy eyes as Oiwa vertically suplexed OSKAR. Sabre tagged in, peppering Yuto-Ice with slaps until he lost focus; this gave way for Oiwa to bridge a suplex for Sabre to exploit a jackknife pin. Yuto-Ice bypassed Oiwa’s Grip for a rolling elbow. OSKAR broke Sabre’s Ankle Lock on Yuto-Ice for a life-squeezing sleeper hold. Leaking blood from his nose, Oiwa tried another Grip on Yuto-Ice. Knockout Brothers pinned Oiwa with a ruinous K.O.B. to retain their gold.

Post-match: Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura approached Knockout Brothers while the crowd was still chanting for Ryohei Oiwa. While Yuto-Ice was receptive towards Uemura, OSKAR sidestepped Umino. Tomohiro Ishii and Taichi joined the quartet, positioning themselves as next in line. Knockout Brothers suggested that the two teams face each other before taking them on at New Beginning in Osaka. Alone, OSKAR and Yuto-Ice thanked the crowd. Following the emotional retirement of Hiroshi Tanahashi the night before, Ice declared himself the “Ice” of NJPW in a compelling promo that rallied the fans and commentary.

(The long build to this match continues to pay off. This isn’t some technical chess game; this is physicality and hatred made manifest by two teams with ill regard for each other. Just as the match seemed in its final gear, another was added, and yet it was hard to pull away for even a second of its engrossing action. But the post-match promo itself is required viewing, because this is the burning passion that the roster should have following the end of its star performer’s illustrious career.)

Final thoughts

New Year Dash was a successful follow-up to Wrestle Kingdom 20. Many questions to be asked and storylines continued. Yota Tsuji’s new faction amid his new championship redesign adds interest to the main event, even amid a lukewarm Jake Lee return. The United Empire drama with the excitement of a Will Ospreay reunion adds a wrinkle with the Emerald faction turning heelish. SANADA teased leaving NJPW or wrestling as a whole, so I’m curious about that and what it means. Andrade El Idolo’s involvement left me excited for what’s to come from him in 2026, now that he’s free from WWE’s despicable year-long non-compete clause.

My only complaints are that the follow-up to Aaron Wolf’s impactful Wrestle Kingdom 20 performance didn’t feel as strong as it could be, and Jake Lee was done a disservice in this push he’s receiving. Hopefully, the booking sees Yota Tsuji as the future and keeps him a strong champion. Ideally, he should mow over Lee to establish himself as a force to reckon with.

Congratulations to Ichiban Sweet Boys for the title win. That Junior Heavyweight Championship match, in my opinion, was the match of the night. As a whole, New Year Dash is the show to watch for the many new developments spiraling out of it.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 live results: Hiroshi Tanahashi’s final match

Posted on by Corey Michaels

The final match in the legendary career of Hiroshi Tanahashi takes place in the Tokyo Dome as part of tonight’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20.

Tanahashi takes on longtime NJPW rival and current AEW roster member Kazuchika Okada on a night that will also feature a retirement ceremony.

IWGP World Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji in a winner takes all bout.

Olympic judo gold medalist Aaron Wolf makes his pro wrestling debut against NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL.

In another winner takes all match for the IWGP Women’s Championship and NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, Saya Kamitani goes one-on-one with Syuri.

NJPW TV Champion El Desperado defends against Chris Brookes while El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishimori vs. Sho will decide the next IWGP Junior Heavyweight title challenger.

In a 10-man tag, the Bullet Club War Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd & Drilla Moloney) and Unaffiliated (Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi) take on Andrade El Idolo and United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, Henare & TBA).

The show will also feature a Ranbo match for the NEVER Six-Man Tag Team titles.

Our live coverage begins at 1:15 PM Eastern.

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Pre-Show

Katsuya Murashima & Masatora Yasuda defeated Shoma Kato & Tatsuya Matsumoto

Murashima and Matsumoto began grappling to a standstill in the Tokyo Dome. Yasuda gained control following two suplexes. Kato quickly recovered with a suplex to Murashima. Three consecutive bodyslams saw Kato maintain an edge over Murashima. He bounced back with a Back-Body Drop. and a Murashima Stampede. Through gritted teeth and applied pressure, Murashima’s Boston Crab tapped Kato.

(Crisp match with a quick pace. While the Young Lions were hungry, they stayed coloring in the lines, so as not to take any unwanted risks. Just enough to have a serviceable match.)

El Phantasmo (c) defeated Chris Brookes for the NJPW World Television Championship

Phantasmo and Brookes wrestled to a standstill. Employing sportsmanship with a handshake, Phantasmo earned a kick to the midsection as recompense for his good deed. Attacking Phantasmo’s ally, Jado, Brookes exploited the confusion and the environment using his DDT cohorts to inflict whiplash via a brightly colored rope.

Brookes from the top rope landed a senton that rattled the champion. Phantasmo slingshot himself from the ropes to deliver a Thunderkiss 86. His UFO attempt nearly finished the match. Brooks regained control, sneaking his knees up to disrupt another Thunderkiss 86. The challenger’s Brainbuster resulted in a nearfall. Phantasmo’s CR2 preceded a final Thunderkiss 86 that secured a title retention over Brookes.

(Phantasmo and Brookes had chemistry. The Dome sizzled with this one, and I imagine Brookes will revisit this bout with Phantasmo in the future to build something else. There’s something here, but not enough to go nuts over. Solid affair.)

Main Card

TMDK eliminated Oleg Boltin & Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) in the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship Rambo

House of Torture (SANADA, Ren Narita, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) promptly went to work on Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino, & Kaisei Takechi. They bounced back, however, flinging Narita into the corner as War Dogs (Yuto-Ice, OSKAR, & Clark Connors sauntered to the ring, accompanied by AEW’s Thekla. Narita unwisely took this time to sneak up on Umino, Uemura, and Takechi and was stomped out. War Dogs barreled into the standing babyfaces.

Thekla distracted House of Torture so Connors could batter them with a tire. TMDK emerged next, featuring Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa, and Hartley Jackson. Oiwa and Yuto-Ice clobbered each other with forearms. Connors punctured Sabre with a Gore to allow Yuto-Ice more breathing room. Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Togi Makabe joined the four teams as Oiwa battled OSKAR and Yuto-Ice in the ring. Oiwa flung OSKAR out, thereby eliminating War Dogs. They were replaced by Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) & Oleg Boltin.

Team 100 (Taichi & Satoshi Kojima) & Tomohiro Ishii were the new entries as Boltin eliminated Tiger Mask via pinfall. Boltin and Ishii teetered in a vertical suplex standoff, which the latter gained the upper hand in. The champions Toru Yano, Master Wato, & YOH rounded out the participants; YOH came out emulating “Toru YOH-no”. Taichi and Uemura tumbled into the ropes, each spilling outside, therefore eliminating their teams.

YOH singlehandedly stood his own against the challengers. Wato and Yano saved YOH from elimination. However, House of Torture pulled him off the ropes after nearly toppling SANADA, who fell out as well. Bishamon and Boltin coordinated well to disorient TMDK. Sabre outwrestled Boltin’s Kamikaze attempt to secure a pinfall with a bridged pin.

(This Rambo Match felt like a party. It won’t be for everyone, but the chaos was a part of the charm. I genuinely didn’t expect TMDK or Bishamon & Oleg Boltin to be the final two.)

Syuri (c) defeated Saya Kamitani (c) for the IWGP Women’s Championship & NJPW Strong Women’s Championship

Despite the swift agility of both champions, each woman evaded the other’s lethal strikes to a stalemate. Syuri trapped Kamitani’s arm, but a rope break was her salvation. Kamitani used the referee as a shield to break up Syuri’s momentum. H.A.T.E. pulled Syuri out of the ring, allowing Kamitani to dive at her into the steel blue barricade.

Kamitani weakened Syuri following a spiteful forearm exchange. A Bridging Northern Lights Suplex lent the Strong champion more momentum. Syuri swung a comeback as she dragged Kamitani over the top rope and cranked back on her opponent’s arm. The terrified and panicking Kamitani squirmed to a rope break, even though both of her arms were within Syuri’s grasp. A confident Blue Thunderbomb placed Kamitani inches from victory, as did a Star Crusher. Syuri grounded Kamitani with a Fujiwara Armbar, followed by a knee to the face. Kamitani garnered some steam, but Syuri caught her with a roundhouse kick. A Buzzsaw Kick dazed Kamitani. Syuri became a double champion by use of her signature Syu-Sekai.

(To the surprise of absolutely no one, this match was a classic. A hard-hitting bout with close nearfalls, this added poignancy to the seriousness of tonight. If this match doesn’t land in the conversation of match of the year in most, if not all, circles, then I’d be surprised.)

United Empire (Jake Lee, Andrade El Idolo, Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & HENARE) defeated War Dogs (David Finlay, Drilla Moloney & Gabe Kidd) & Unaffiliated (Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi)

Finlay quickly went to work on Lee. Meanwhile, Kidd contended with Idolo, whose conditioning overwhelmed the madman, resulting in a Flying Crossbody. Takagi and HENARE collided, two bulls clashing in tackles, the former gaining an upper hand with a DDT. HENARE withstood most of Takagi’s offense, but couldn’t survive a lariat. Moloney outcircled him, leading to a dropkick. Reunited with Takagi, HENARE fell prey to an elbow from him and Moloney.

Takagi’s lariat and Moloney’s Gore continued to rock the Maori wrestler. Finally, HENARE snagged a comeback with a Berserker Bomb. Finlay and Newman’s hate boiled over in their hot tags; a backbreaker crushed the latter. Lee joined in, powerslamming Finlay. Takahashi and Finlay used each other as a weapon, flinging the other into Lee in the corner. By way of Finlay’s Dominator, Takahashi landed on Lee in a 2-count pin attempt. Moloney endured Newman’s onslaught to return fire with a Drilla Killa. Finlay tossed Takahashi into the sea of War Dogs and United Empire members. Irate, Takahashi flipped him over onto all their partners and opponents.

The jubilant Takahashi, now isolated, looked at the lights after Lee’s Facebreak Shot awarded him the pinfall victory.

Post-match: Jakob Austin Young joined the group in a white-collared shirt and tie. A masked figure also joined the United Empire’s celebration, revealed to be Francesco Akira.

(This match had some unhinged energy to it, with so much going on. I loved the chaos. Social media may be divided on Jake Lee, but the overall storytelling and action in this match was truly something to behold.)

El Desperado defeated Taiji Ishimori, SHO, Kosei Fujita for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Contender

SHO found himself on the receiving end of everyone’s ire, absorbing everyone’s kicks. He pointed into a random corner and scurried away. Desperado and Ishimori formed a temporary alliance toward Fujita. SHO returned to the fray and promptly fell to a drop toe-hold from Fujita (with a Desperado and Ishimori assist). Ishimori left Desperado reeling with a La Mistica. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI swarmed Ishimori with stomps and a lead pipe from the latter. SHO almost struck Ishimori with a wrench when Robbie Eagles, Robbie X, and Kuukai came to his rescue.

Fujita would have helped them, had it not been for SHO striking him with a black sheet pan. He followed up with a Shock Arrow. Desperado usurped him, nevertheless, with a Pinche Loco.

(Thrilling Junior Heavyweight action here, don’t get me wrong. But this match was so disorganized in the end. Though I’m excited to see the Robbies and Kuukai involved, I could have sworn the House of Torture interference had resulted in a bell being rung, so I thought this had already ended in disqualification with a wild post-match angle. Whatever. It should’ve been Fujita with the win, though.)

Death Vegas Invitacional and further event dates

An April 16, 2026, show in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, was revealed to be titled “Death Vegas Invitacional”. Further shows revealed were the New Japan Cup, Sakura Genesis, Wrestling Red Zone in Hiroshima, Wrestling Dontaku, and G1 Climax 36 (with U.S. dates).

Aaron Wolf defeated EVIL (c) for the NEVER Openweight Championship

Wolf emerged with a shaved head and black trunks, eschewing his judogi.

EVIL and Wolf wasted no time, sharing forearms. The fiery Wolf used EVIL’s headlock against him, hurling him every which way. An elbow drop left EVIL fleeing to the outside. Propping a chair on Wolf’s neck, EVIL swung like he was famed baseball player Ken Griffey Jr in 1997. The arrogant EVIL taunted Wolf after an Irish Whip into the corner wrecked the former judoka.

Another whip into the corner devastated Wolf. EVIL tried several pinfalls to no avail. Using his judo experience, Wolf overcame the flood of House of Torture members with relative ease. EVIL swung powder in his face and sank in a deep Texas Cloverleaf. Tokyo erupted as he crawled to the bottom rope. EVIL regained dominance as he bullied Wolf with strikes. Wolf found his spirit with an Olympic Slam. He rocked EVIL with a Splash. House of Torture stole the referee before he could get a pin. Preventing further aid, the team wiped out YOH, Master Wato, and Toru Yano, who stormed in on Wolf’s behalf.

Don Fale erected a wooden table and splashed Wolf through its unforgiving structure. Miraculously, Wolf kicked out of EVIL’s lariat. Wrapping his legs around EVIL’s neck, Wolf stretched EVIL’s arms until he was left unconscious. Wolf became the new NEVER Openweight Champion.

(Tokyo was not ready for, yet hotly anticipated, Aaron Wolf. The long build to his debut and the overall execution made for a special moment and atmosphere. EVIL was actually in good form here, and the House of Torture antics added to the drama to give a superhuman performance. Wolf is a made man, and I hope the booking has the vision to ensure he is a successful prospect.)

Yota Tsuji defeated Konosuke Takeshita for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship

Exchanging headlocks, both men remained remarkably calm. Reaching a standstill, Tsuji paintbrushed Takeshita in the face. He sent Takeshita reeling courtesy of a hurricanrana. Slowing the match to a crawl, Takeshita took a stroll to regain composure. The audience audibly grimaced, hearing the thud of Tsuji’s chest from Takeshita’s chops.

Tsuji rocked Takeshita with the double-knee Gut Buster. The World Heavyweight Champ retaliated with a vertical suplex. Takeshita dropped Tsuji with a DDT onto the apron, to head-crunching effect. He sent Tsuji outside with a Frankensteiner. Tsuji countered a Power Drive with a backbreaker and a stomp to grasp a comeback. Tokyo clamored for Tsuji following a well-executed Fosbury Flop.

Takeshita’s Power Drive hit its mark on Tsuji, and he hit his own version of the Gene Blaster. Escaping Takeshita’s forearms, Tsuji was devastated with an elbow low blow. Takeshita lay dizzied on the mat after suffering a Destroyer. Though he suplexed Tsuji, Takeshita still ended up on the receiving end of a Gene Blaster. Readying for another Blaster, Tsuji withstood Takeshita’s knee, a Blue Thunderbomb, and a Raging Fire with a rope break. Takeshita found some wiggle room with a Poisonrana. Tokyo became unglued after a top rope Blue Thunder Bomb and Power Drive failed to put Tsuji away. Aiming for one last Power Drive, Takeshita instead fell victim to a Gene Blaster. Tsuji sank in a Boston Crab and lowered it further to keep Takeshita grounded. Ultimately, Takeshita acquiesced, tapping out to Tsuji’s pressure.

Post-match: Tsuji celebrated, enjoying sportsmanship from Takeshita and expressing his pride as the new World Heavyweight Champion, as well as retaining his Global Heavyweight Champion. Jake Lee attacked him from behind and tossed his title carelessly into his lap.

(Yes. I agree with this. The absolute correct call, and I am a Takeshita fan. But man, this match’s intensity became so stressful, so compelling that any meandering spots were meaningless to the overall spots that elevated it to another level. Takeshita and Tsuji have such gripping chemistry that reliably results in instant classics.)

Main Event

Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tanahashi soon wrestled control of the match in his favor. Okada wrenched it to his with a relentless headlock, taunting him by saying, “Go, Ace!” Tanahashi retorted with an elbow drop and a senton. Slamming his opponent to the mat, he teased a High-Fly Flow when Okada dropkicked him to the ringside. The Rainmaker faced Tokyo with a cheesy grin as he tormented Tanahashi with a knee to the barricade and a DDT off of it.

Bullying his old rival in the corner, Okada planted him with a DDT. Fighting back with punches, Tanahashi dazed Okada with a slam and a senton. Okada flung Tanahashi over the top rope, but he ricocheted back, replying with a Dragonscrew Leg Whip. Recuperating on the outside, Okada returned to the floor upon a top rope High-Fly Flow. Giving the camera the middle finger, Okada hinted at a Rainmaker Lariat, only for Tanahashi to flop him around with three successive Twist ‘n’ Shouts. A Tombstone from Okada was The Ace’s reward. The crowd pleaded with Okada not to drop Tanahashi with a Tombstone on the ramp, but he did it anyway. With the weight of the world and the match crushing his body, Tanahashi narrowly slipped back in the ring at a close 19-count.

Okada greeted him with a series of Rainmakers, with a third one eliciting a fire from The Ace. Wrist control firmly locked, Okada resumed his unloading of Rainmakers. With a second wind, Tanahashi reversed one with a Rainmaker of his own. Okada employed one more Rainmaker with some extra emphasis added to it. Changing strategies, Okada targeted Tanahashi’s knees with a Boston Crab. As though holding his last breath to savor life itself, Tanahashi refused to give in, grasping for that rope break. Distancing himself from another of Okada’s Rainmakers, Tanahashi pulled out a Slingblade.

Sitting Okada down with a sleeper hold, Tanahashi evoked Katsuyori Shibata with a Penalty Kick. He then paid homage to Shinsuke Nakamura with a Bomaye. While he did land a High-Fly Flow, Okada denied him a successful pinfall. Once more, Tanahashi reversed a Rainmaker with a Slingblade. At the last second, Okada lifted his knees to rupture Tanahashi’s midsection to disrupt a High-Fly Flow. Tanahashi absorbed a series of uppercuts, doling out forearms in return. Battling for leverage, Okada stole Tetsuya Naito’s Destino, followed by a Cobra Flowsion. Visibly exhausted, he struck with a stiff Rainmaker. Using a classic Rainmaker pose, Okada followed suit with his patented lariat and retired Hiroshi Tanahashi in the middle of the ring.

Post-match: Okada bowed to Tanahashi, and on the microphone, he said, “Thank you.” Officials gifted Tanahashi his flowers. Former NJPW talents Jay White, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, and a tearful and agonized Kota Ibushi gave The Ace more flowers, embracing him with a hug as the locker room joined at ringside.

Katsuyori Shibata, playing heel, wearing an Opps t-shirt, handed Tanahashi his own bouquet, and they locked up one last time before hugging. Keiji Muto also gave his flowers, as did Tatsumi Fujinami. Just when it seemed everyone had their moment, BUSHI and Tetsuya Naito surprised Tokyo with his presence as he gave his own flowers, taking his time as he did so, as is his wont. He took the microphone and said that even if he didn’t ever wrestle in an NJPW ring again, he’d hope to meet Tanahashi again someday. Tanahashi concluded the evening’s proceedings, giving a heartfelt thank you and a couple of air guitar solos. As was the case throughout the last dates of his run, Tanahashi greeted every fan he could feasibly reach.

(Okada was exceptional here; trying to be a heel, delighting in mischief, only to give in to his emotion for a memorable last encounter. A bittersweet finale for a wrestler who changed the game. Tanahashi, even in his final year, contributed so much. Elevating younger talent, earning accolades (such as his 100th G1 Climax victory), all while embodying the spirit of The Ace. I watched this match, as I had all his other matches in 2025, holding in each moment in my mind so as to remember the feeling of a Tanahashi match. Inevitably, we all have to let go. In the end, it was an honor covering Tanahashi’s final bout on this platform. Thank you, Ace.)

Final Thoughts

While I think poorly of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship contender match and was unmoved by Jake Lee’s return, I found social media’s reactions to the show to be exaggerated. Plenty of matches were either satisfying or good. Great, even. Saya Kamitani and Syuri had an incredible workrate display. Aaron Wolf and EVIL moved the entirety of the Tokyo Dome in a feel-good debut. Yota Tsuji and Konosuke Takeshita thrilled in a dramatic match that could easily be taken as a message of Japan placing its homegrown talent first. But everyone likely was here for Tanahashi and Okada running it back one last time.

And to that effort, they did exactly what they were supposed to do. All emotions on the line. Okada, breaking away from his Don Callis Family persona over time, ended the match on that cathartic note.

NJPW sold the Tokyo Dome out on this night, January 4. I hope the company learned the right lessons from the show. Japan may still be struggling economically, but if it pivots correctly, the lion crest may find its bearings and become a driving force in 2026. This is the year to be forward-thinking. The Ace won’t be here this time to turn things around as he did against Inoki-ism.

Once more, thank you, Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Dave Meltzer’s top-rated matches of 2025

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: Ring of Honor

With the year officially wrapped up and with the posting of last week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, we now have Dave Meltzer’s complete set of match ratings for the entirety of 2025.

Of the thousands of matches that took place over the year, Dave rated 40 of them as either five stars or above — the full list of which can be found below. From AEW to NJPW to Ring of Honor to WWE, you’ll find them all here. (Big thanks to Cagematch for making them very sortable for exercises like this.)

And, as a personal editor’s note, ratings and reviews are subjective and shouldn’t affect your ability to enjoy what you like from wherever you like. Keep that in mind the next time you log into your social media platform of choice.

And now, Dave Meltzer’s top-rated pro wrestling matches of 2025:

5 stars:

40) Jon Moxley vs. Kyle Fletcher Continental Classic finals | AEW Worlds End | December 27

39) Komander vs. World Historic Welterweight Champion Mascara Dorada | CMLL Domingo Familiar | November 23

38) TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe no DQ | AEW Full Gear | November 22

37) AEW World Tag Team Champions Brodido vs. FTR | AEW Full Gear | November 22

36) Men’s Blood & Guts match | AEW Dynamite | November 12

35) AEW World Tag Team Champions Brodido vs. Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita | AEW WrestleDream | October 18

34) Torneo Cibernetico | CMLL Grand Prix International | August 29

33) Death Riders & Young Bucks vs. Darby Allin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay & Kota Ibushi Lights Out cage match | AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door | August 24

32) Cody Rhodes vs. WWE Champion John Cena street fight | WWE SummerSlam | August 3

31) TNT Champion Dustin Rhodes vs. Kyle Fletcher street fight | AEW Collision | July 31

30) Mascara Dorada vs. Neon Torneo La Leyenda De Plata finals | CMLL Viernes Espectacular | July 25

29) Bandido & Hologram vs. Mascara Dorada & Mistico | CMLL Fantastica Mania | June 20

28) ROH World Champion Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada | CMLL Martes Populares | June 17

27) Anarchy in the Arena | AEW Double or Nothing | May 25

26) Motor City Machine Guns vs. WWE Tag Team Champions Street Profits vs. DIY TLC match | WWE SmackDown | April 25

25) WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair | WWE WrestleMania 41 | April 20

24) Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher steel cage match | AEW Revolution | March 9

23) AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kenny Omega | AEW Revolution | March 9

22) AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm vs. Mariah May Hollywood Ending match | AEW Revolution | March 9

21) Saya Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano loser leaves town | Stardom Nighter in Korakuen | March 3

20) Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn unsanctioned match | WWE Elimination Chamber | March 1

19) Kenny Omega & Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher | AEW Grand Slam Australia | February 15

18) IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji vs. Gabe Kidd | NJPW New Beginning in Osaka | February 11

17) AZM, Miyu Amasaki & Starlight Kid vs. Natsupoi, Saori Anou & Tam Nakano | Stardom 14th Anniversary Supreme Fight | February 2 | *****

More than 5 stars:

16) Kyle Fletcher vs. Mike Bailey | AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming | December 10 | ***** 1/4

15) AEW World Champion Hangman Page vs. Kyle Fletcher | AEW All Out | September 20 | ***** 1/4

14) AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mascara Dorada | AEW All Out | September 20 | ***** 1/4

13) Sareee vs. IWGP Women’s Champion Syuri | Stardom The Conversion | June 21 | ***** 1/4

12) Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay | AEW Dynamite: Summer Blockbuster | June 11 | ***** 1/4

11) Kosei Fujita vs. YOH | NJPW Best of the Super Juniors finals | June 1 | ***** 1/4

10) Saya Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano career vs. career | Stardom All-Star Grand Queendom | April 27 | ***** 1/4

9) Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd | NJPW Wrestle Dynasty | January 5 | ***** 1/4

8) IWGP World Champion Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Konosuke Takeshita | NJPW King of Pro Wrestling | October 13 | ***** 1/2

7) Mistico vs. MJF mask vs. title | CMLL 92nd Anniversario | September 19 | ***** 1/2

6) ROH World Champion Bandido vs. Hechicero | ROH Death Before Dishonor | August 29 | ***** 1/2

5) AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page Texas Death Match | AEW All In | July 12 | ***** 1/2

4) Young Bucks vs. Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay | AEW All In | July 12 | ***** 1/2

3) Hangman Page vs. Will Ospreay Owen Hart tournament finals | AEW Double or Nothing | May 25 | ***** 1/2

2) Konosuke Takeshita vs. Will Ospreay Owen Hart tournament semifinals | AEW Dynamite: Spring BreakThru | April 16 | ***** 1/2

And Dave Meltzer’s top-rated match of 2025 is…

ROH World Champion Bandido vs. Konosuke Takeshita | July 11 | ROH Supercard of Honor | ***** 3/4

From that week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

“With all the great wrestling from this past weekend in the U.S., which had two other very legit match of the year contenders, the match of the weekend was Bandido retaining his ROH title over Konosuke Takeshita on the 7/11 Supercard of Honor show.

The show wasn’t going to have a lot of impact given all the other higher profile events, but that match was among the best bouts I’ve ever seen. Takeshita is always great and the two showed excellent chemistry in their television tag match. I do worry about Takeshita working a harder schedule than most, especially with G-1 coming, and with all the stuff he does at his size. Bandido clearly got his confidence back working as a headliner in Mexico and it’s transferred to the U.S. He lost prime years of his career with a broken wrist that required two surgeries, and then got a concussion as soon as he was cleared.

It was great from start-to-finish, built well and the last few minutes were unreal. This was basically the ultimate in the modern style with everything fans who like that style love and everything people who hate the style complain about.”

    Daily Update: Triller TV, Drew McIntyre, Konosuke Takeshita

    Posted on by Joseph Currier

    Daily Update

    Latest News

    Latest Audio

    Latest YouTube Video

    This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    The new issue of the Observer is up on the site covering the following topics:

    • Where AEW stands today, and the key out of the ring and out of their hands challenges that will face them between now and the end of 2027
    • AEW’s ratings growth outside the U.S. this past year
    • AEW’s television ratings decline with the different factors involved
    • Key aspects of the WBD sale and what it means to AEW
    • What AEW didn’t do in 2025 as far as new deals that were talked about one year ago
    • Estimating using different methods how many U.S. viewers AEW Dynamite really gets
    • How things have changed greatly in the past year
    • Business of AEW Worlds End
    • Gambling odds for matches
    • A look at AAA Guerra de Titanes, one of WWE’s best shows of the year
    • Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul and business numbers and record level manipulation of numbers
    • Ric Flair and Mike Tyson file lawsuit against former business partner
    • The life and times of Roland Bock, one of the most intriguing pro wrestling characters of the 1970s, his famous matches with Antonio Inoki, the reality of those matches, his tough guy reputation, the legendary tough guy whose career he ended and just how different pro wrestling was back then. We go from being tortured as a child, to developing a street fighter rep, going to the Olympics in wrestling, his attempt to pioneer a promotional style that got big in Japan several years later, why his career didn’t explode in Japan and everything from wrestling bears to bulls
    • Who is eligible for the 2025 Rookie of the Year award
    • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week
    • Update on 2025 Arena Mexico attendance
    • A look at CMLL Dream Match Night
    • Ozawa talks awards
    • Wrestle Kingdom updates
    • A look at the life and career of Mark Wolf
    • Rick Link goes into hospice care
    • Jerry Lawler returns to WMC
    • Grandson of Hawaiian pro wrestling legend is starting QB at USC, headed to a bowl game an an NFL prospect
    • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA shows
    • Lots of AEW news notes
    • Jim Ross responds to DVon Dudley
    • Updates on multiple lawsuits against TKO and judges concerns about evidence in two different cases
    • WrestleMania ticket sales as well as the next two AEW PPV sales

    This Week’s Back Issue

    FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

    Wednesday Update

    WWE

    • WWE uploaded the complete Ricky Saints vs. Je’Von Evans main event from last night’s NXT.
    • Blake Monroe surprised her family in the United Kingdom by traveling home for Christmas.
    • In a tweet today, Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Yoshiki Inamura thanked Shawn Michaels, Matt Bloom, and everyone at NXT for playing a role in his excursion:
      • 2025 was truly an unforgettable year.
      • Being in NXT was an amazing experience.
      • I am deeply grateful to Shawn, Bloom, all coaches, staff members, wrestlers & fans.
      • Because of all of you, I was able to become a champion in NOAH.
      • I look forward to seeing you all again.
      • #WWENXT
    • IYO SKY wished everyone a happy New Year and called 2025 the best year of her career.
    • Damian Priest posted a New Year’s message to fans:
      • Wishing you all the best New Year! We focus so much on what we want, what we believe should be that we forget about what is. Life is so good. Smile. Laugh. Enjoy. Pass that on to someone. To anyone. To everyone. We ain’t sh*t. But we can do more for others. Let’s try together. I’m with you.
    • At WWE’s house show in Detroit last night, Drew McIntyre taunted Brandi Rhodes and her family as they were in the front row. The main event of the show was Cody Rhodes defeating McIntyre in a street fight to retain the WWE Championship. Rhodes won by splashing McIntyre through a table.
    • Carmelo Hayes commented on his United States title win:
      • Closing out the year coming off one of the greatest achievements and moments in my career so far. I appreciate everyone who stayed down and welcome everyone who just jumped on. Enjoy the ride, we going up
    • Natalya told Undisputed that she’s happy to see a diversity of ages represented on the WWE roster:
      • When I watched John Cena and AJ Styles wrestle at Crown Jewel, I wished they’d both never retire. The match was that good. I love that we’re celebrating a diversity of age in WWE. Asuka is in her mid-40s, she is a mother, she’s been wrestling for decades, and no one talks about her age. She’s also doing the best work of her career. She’s captivating, she’s intriguing, and the audience connects with her.
      • That’s the biggest thing in storytelling, the emotional connection with the audience. I’m not thinking about when she’s going to retire–I’m just thinking about when I can see her wrestle again.

    Other Wrestling

    • Sports Illustrated shared full video of their nearly two-hour interview with Tony Khan.
    • While speaking with NJPW for an in-character interview, Konosuke Takeshita addressed whether he’s gotten used to the schedule of being under contract with all three of AEW, NJPW, and DDT:
      • I don’t think it’s something anybody can get used to, heheh. But I’ve gotten to know what it takes. You have to have your mind in a few different places at once, but at the same time you have to have your focus on the thing that’s right in front of you, and once you do that the mental aspect gets a lot easier. If you think too far ahead then everything gets on top of you.
    • Takeshita noted that all three promotions have different styles – and he brings his own style to the table as well:
      • They’re definitely all different, and the way the fans of each see pro-wrestling is very different. So there’s my own style and then there’s adapting that to the different tastes. It’s been about three and a half years since I went to America, and at first it really was a difficult change of gears. Now I wrestle much more in America than in Japan, so when I’m in Japan I have to change modes the other way.
    • Takeshita noted that, by wrestling overseas, he hopes to bring more of a spotlight to Japanese wrestling:
      • I am a Japanese wrestler, you know. I debuted in Japan. And now I’m wrestling in America, gained a ton of experience there, and I think that I can really bring Japanese pro-wrestling into the spotlight in a major way. I see my work overseas as my way of repaying the Japanese scene.
    • TNA put together a video of their top 10 moments of 2025.
    • Ahead of appearing in his retirement match for Beyond Wrestling tonight, indie wrestler Dan Barry thanked everyone who supported him as he chased his dream
      • Today is my last day as a professional wrestler. Thank all of you who supported me as I chased a dream I’ve had since I was a little kid. 
      • I’ve been blessed to meet tons of people, see hundreds of cities, and chase a dream that was thought to be unobtainable. 
      • Thanks for the memories.
    • Stardom’s AZM is set to compete for Pro Wrestling Eve at Wrestle Queendom VIII in London on March 8.
    • Triller Group Inc, the parent company of Triller TV, announced that it is appealing Nasdaq’s decision to suspend trading of Triller stock and delist Triller from the stock exchange:
      • Triller Group Inc. ( ‘Triller Group’ or ‘the Company’) today announced that it received a determination letter from a Nasdaq Hearings Panel on December 26, 2025, confirming the suspension of trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market effective at the open of the market on December 30, 2025 and delisting of the Company’s securities. This decision stems from the Company not having been able to file two periodic reports by a deadline of December 24, 2025 set by the Hearings Panel.
      • The Company’s operations have been progressing in a normal manner, and no deficiencies or irregularities have been identified that materially affect the Company’s financial position or operational integrity. The filing delay is attributable primarily to one remaining technical matter involving the consolidation of accounts for a U.S.-based operation within Triller Group. Management is highly confident that the Company will regain full filing compliance within weeks, positioning the Company for robust revenue growth, product development, and expansion in 2026.
      • The imposed timeline does not account fully for the substantial remediation efforts that the Company has already achieved in resolving non-recurring integration challenges following the October 2024 business combination with legacy Triller Corp. The Company’s team, in collaboration with its advisors and auditors, has spent more than a year addressing all accounting and audit matters related to legacy Triller Group’s pre-merger operations. Prior to the merger’s closing, the Company (then operating as AGBA) was in full compliance with all Nasdaq listing requirements.
      • The Company is also in the final stages of implementing a comprehensive upgrade to its accounting systems and processes in partnership with a leading accounting and finance consulting firm in Los Angeles.
      • Triller Group is fully committed to exhausting all available appeal avenues. We intend to pursue an appeal through the Nasdaq process, and to the Securities and Exchange Commission and United States Court of Appeals if necessary. We expect to regain full filing compliance and return to regular trading on a major Exchange soon. The Company has retained Jacob S. Frenkel with Dickinson Wright PLLC as counsel to appeal the decision of the Hearings Panel and pursue all possible legal challenges to the Hearings Panel’s decision and the Nasdaq’s suspension of trading and delisting of our securities. On December 29, 2025, Mr. Frenkel filed an emergency application to the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) requesting, among other things, that the SEC stay (prevent from going into effect) the trading suspension.
      • This procedural issue has no bearing on the Company’s ongoing operations, strategic priorities, or underlying financial strength.
      • The Company looks forward to achieving key growth milestones in 2026 and will provide timely updates to the market regarding progress on its financial filings and the Nasdaq appeal process and challenges to the Nasdaq’s decisions.

    Did the right Continental Classic story unfold at AEW Worlds End? | Nason’s Notes

    Posted on by Josh Nason

    Image: AEW

    Like most of you reading this, I had some thoughts from Saturday’s AEW Worlds End ranging from how the Continental Classic played out to Kris Statlander to long title reigns to people being upset MJF won the AEW World title to something to put a pin in for the next two Worlds End PPVs and a few more items.

    In lieu of putting them on my podcast (tired), these are Nason’s Notes (wired!) an incredibly savvy name encompassing perfect alliteration (a word I definitely had to spell check).

    **********

    I was not expecting THAT story to be what the AEW Continental Classic was all about.

    Before the tournament even began, I did a preview pod with AEW PPV previewer Mike DellaCamera where I opined that the Continental Classic was going to be Konosuke Takeshita’s full coming out party with him beating Kazuchika Okada in the finals as the obvious approach.

    A sentiment I completely appreciate is that fans will often be negative about a show if things play out in a way they didn’t predict. It’s the curse of fantasy booking, but also something all of us do to some extent in our heads. With that floating over my head, while I was certainly wrong in my prediction, should I have been?

    Due to a travel day, I was late to the PPV and was stunned when I read Takeshita had lost in the semifinals and that Okada would be facing Jon Moxley instead. (And that was before I read about the screwdriver finish.) I think my surprise was because a big AEW story over the second half of the year has been the growing dissent between Okada and Takeshita.

    It seemed to be lined up perfectly for Takeshita to beat Kyle Fletcher in a semifinal, move on to beat Okada in the finals, end his tournament winning streak and win the CC, tell the Don Callis Family to pound sand, and become a massive babyface en route to an AEW World title run.

    What I wasn’t ready for was the STORY (a word I have seen way too much in the last 24 hours) Tony Khan really wanted to leave fans with which was the redemption arc of Moxley and his shift back to being a babyface. The assumption, of course, are the Death Riders are going to turn on him which took a bit away from Moxley’s passionate post-match promo as I think we were all expecting it. Alas, that’s a story to be told another day or perhaps never at all.

    The Okada/Takeshita blowup is coming, but we’re probably months away as there’s no AEW PPVs until March. We’ll have to see if how they get there is any better than what could have been last night and if the follow-up achieves what could have been started last night.

    And yes, I understand NJPW Wrestle Kingdom is next week but allow to me to be selfish: I don’t want to have to care about what happens in a completely separate promotion affecting what happens in the promotion I’m trying to follow. Not all AEW fans also watch and follow, nor should be expected to watch and follow, NJPW and vice versa.

    Are you ready for a PPV on Christmas?

    Khan was asked on a Monday media call about whether he’s considered moving the CC due to its proximity to the holidays and the end of the tournament taking place, for example, on actual holidays. He didn’t seem concerned in the least, taking “a very glass half-full perspective on some of the benefits” and that he likes how there’s a tradition of wrestling around the holidays and the added importance of the shows:

    “I would love it for people to want to watch AEW, potentially I hope, with their family and friends on the holidays, and having great wrestling on these days can be, I would hope, a draw, and make people watch AEW. Certainly, that is always a goal and makes these must-see episodes when there could be an incentive to watch these episodes around the holidays and make them must-see programming and just like big sporting events that happen on these holidays and are associated with these holidays, like big football games and such, make them part of the holiday season and try to make that a positive.”

    In other words, he likes it as is and it’s going to stay that way.

    But while Khan won’t potentially have to worry about a Dynamite or Collision on Christmas until 2030, the next two Decembers will be interesting to track when it comes to Worlds End scheduling and how AEW approaches the holiday week with the CC.

    Join me on a brief look ahead on the Google calendar, will you?

    If Worlds End in 2026 takes place on Saturday, December 26, Dynamite on 34th Street would fall on Wednesday, December 23 and the assumed Christmas Collision would take place on Christmas Eve. If they taped those shows the weekend before, it’s the same issues as we had this year in terms of spoilers and, frankly, time to watch among holiday commitments.

    However, 2027 is what really intrigues me.

    That’s because Worlds End, if still held on a Saturday during the last week of the year, would fall on Christmas Day. If Khan adjusts the schedule, he would either have to run it the week before (honestly, the ideal for all the reasons) or the week after which would be on New Year’s Day.

    The other intriguing thing is that month *could* be the final one in AEW’s media deal with WBD depending on whether their option is picked up or a new deal is signed which, I mean, who frickin’ knows where WBD will be in 2027 anyway.

    All of this is to say Khan clearly wants AEW to be associated with the big holidays and is just fine with potentially sacrificing part of his audience for his biggest tournament of the year to do so. Best for business? It remains to be seen (or perhaps not seen by some).

    Quick hitters

    • I guess some people don’t like MJF as AEW World Champion? I don’t get that. I assume he’s back full-time and fully engrossed into wrestling which really didn’t feel like was the case in 2024 and 2025. He physically looks ready (OH, THAT HAIR!) and if they are giving him the big belt again, Khan must have confidence he’s going to be active. It’s been two years. It’s time.
    • I think everyone expects the Dynamite Diamond ring to be put up in the MJF-Bandido title match and for MJF to reclaim it. I think it’s far past time to retire the ring thing, don’t you?
    • A PSA should be annually be put out after Full Gear that it’s WORLDS END, not World’s End. I fear we are stuck with the apostrophe conundrum with this show until our eventual end (looking at you, Bryan Alvarez).
    • I have been watching Kris Statlander matches since November 2018 which was my first Limitless Wrestling show (Maine indie). She’s always had a connection with fans and is obviously very capable in the ring. But…this AEW Women’s title run isn’t working for me and it’s because she still hasn’t found what character/presentation she is going with. Long memorized promos aren’t it, so what is?
    • Having written all that, Marina Shafir should be the next AEW Women’s World Champion and Willow Nightingale should be the next TBS Champion. I can’t believe I’m typing that about Shafir who, just a few years ago, was about as exciting to watch in the ring as as doing your taxes. Now, she has meaning and an aura. To the point about Statlander, all it takes is one shift and you’re there.
    • I strongly agree with the sentiment that shorter title reigns should be normalized. If you have a talented roster with plenty of parity, it’s 100% reasonable that champions would lose in six months or even less. I can argue that the lengthy runs of Mercedes Mone and Athena have hurt the rest of their respective divisions more than they have helped.
    • I have questions about the amount of times the Sports Illustrated awards were mentioned this week by both Khan and AEW and the timing of a two-hour interview with Khan with SI dropping Monday.
    • Was I the only one who completely forgot Tailgate Brawl pre-shows were a thing that quietly didn’t happen Saturday?
    • I was surprised to see no Jim Ross on the call for at least the CC finals and perhaps the World title match. He tweeted that he was watching the show, so I’m guessing/assuming it was health-related reasons for not traveling which is unfortunate.
    • The Mixed Nuts Mayhem match was WAY more fun and entertaining than I had thought going in. Once a year? Let’s do it.
    • Khan deserves credit for slowly building up an upper tier men’s World title picture this year that may include Kenny Omega sooner than later. We’ll see if we get that Andrade match first.

    And that will do it. See you soon.

    AEW Worlds End preview & predictions: The end comes for us all

    Posted on by Mike DellaCamera

    Image: AEW

    Editor’s Note: The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects that of the author and not the website.

    Another year in the books, friends. All in all, it was a pretty rough one for, well, just about everyone. But we soldier on, marching slowly into the sea. As always, a sincere thank you to anyone who’s read even a single word I’ve written over the past 365 days and an extra thanks to the site editors who keep letting me do this.

    Extra, extra thanks to my wonderful wife, my sounding board, who patiently listens as I explain why Diddy is somehow a talking point on “the wrestling show that’s somehow always on.” I love everyone, but love her most of all.

    With all that said, let’s run down the final big AEW show of the year: tonight’s Worlds End from Chicago, Illinois (8 PM PPV start time).

    Continental Classic semifinals & finals

    If you’re like me and toil away in the white collar mines, this is also the season of end-of-year check-ins: a famously delightful and productive exercise (sic). Personally, it’s the highlight of my year, especially if you’re someone I work with and happen to be reading this (I actually like my job very much).

    In that spirit, it feels like the right moment to check in on the remaining four wrestlers and where they stand now and going forward.

    • Jon Moxley: The formerly loathed leader of the Death Riders is dangerously close to being loved again. This run was supposed to burn off goodwill and to sandpaper the audience into rejecting him. Instead, it reminded everyone why he’s the company’s emotional constant. He bleeds, he loses, he stays true to himself and keeps going. That still plays. Moxley will be embraced again; it’s just a matter of how loud it’s going to be when it happens.
    • Konosuke Takeshita: He’s already held the International Championship and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, but he’s still circling something bigger. Takeshita’s problem has never been credibility; it’s been timing and commitment. If 2026 isn’t the year AEW finally lets Takeshita define himself outside of utility, matches of the night, and faction warfare, then the promotion risks turning inevitability into a missed opportunity.
    • Kyle Fletcher: Same question as Takeshita — How long can they reasonably hold off crowning him World champion? That’s no longer a rhetorical question. Fletcher has crossed the line from “promising” to “ready” and every month he isn’t positioned as one of the absolute top stars feels more deliberate rather than patient. The Don Callis association has done its job. The reps are there. The confidence is through the roof. Everything one would need to be a champion exists inside the young Aussie. At some point, AEW has to decide whether Fletcher is the pillar he is, or just another name they were high on for a while. The real challenge will be balancing his ascent with Takeshita’s without sacrificing either.
    • Kazuchika Okada: We know what Okada is in AEW. He’s settled into a reliable upper-mid card act that, on occasion, can reach back and create something great. He isn’t asked to do that often, nor does he seem to have a particular interest in doing so. There might be another classic or two left in him, but they’ll be fewer and far between. 

    Predictions: Fletcher over Mox, Okada over Takeshita, Fletcher over Okada to win the CC

    Mixed Nuts Mayhem: Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia, Wheeler Yuta & Marina Shafir) vs. The Conglomeration (Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong) and Toni Storm

    A match called “Mixed Nuts Mayhem” (!?!?!?!?) was added on Christmas Day. I will not be previewing it. There are limits. The sickest thing Tony Khan has ever done.

    Prediction: I abstain.

    Darby Allin vs. Gabe Kidd

    The older I get, the saltier I become. That’s not exactly a profound or unique statement, but a true one. I have less and less patience for the Gabe Kidd type. The repeated insistence that he is, in fact, a madman? None of it works for me, brother.

    As the year went on, it became clear that Kenny Omega made their Wrestle Kingdom match work through the sheer force of his own greatness. The man held together by tape and love dragged an incredible match out of a slightly above-average wrestler. There’s a non-zero chance that was the last ‘Kenny Omega Match’ we’re going to get. Gabe Kidd! January optimism turned December disappointment — same as it ever was. 

    Allin occupies a rare space in wrestling. He exists almost entirely outside of the World title scene yet constantly elevates whatever he’s involved with. He’s now the “big name” others are brought in to have big matches with. He has become a true attraction. This little freak somehow achieved a 99th-percentile outcome before his body gave out which is a remarkable talent.

    Prediction: Allin

    AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR defend against Bang Bang Gang in a Chicago street fight

    Austin Gunn has, no pun intended, a bit of the juice. He can be corny, funny, serious, and he can come out to “Many Men.” Once he figured out who he was as a performer, the in-ring work followed. Watching someone put it together in real time is always a treat, and it’s clear who the breakout star of his family is.

    The Bang Bang Gang are fun, loud, and still figuring out how seriously they want to be taken. FTR has long since solved that problem. A street fight narrows the talent gap temporarily. It lets Juice Robinson’s manic charisma shine through and gives Gunn more room to lean into his natural swagger.

    Eventually, this becomes what most FTR matches are: a lesson in timing, positioning, and why fundamentals still matter, even when the rules might not.

    Prediction: FTR

    AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions Babes of Wrath defend against Mercedes Mone & Athena

    The Babes of Wrath have become something surprisingly compelling. They’re a team built on vibes, volume, and Willow Nightingale’s undeniability. Harley Cameron certainly brings an energy, though a brand that I grow less fond of as time passes, but this act only works because Willow is a genuine star hiding inside a fun enough gimmick. At some point, that tension between her joy for life and drive for success must be resolved, or she’ll never reach the heights she deserves.

    Across the ring are two wrestlers who seem like they wandered in from a more serious division. Mercedes Mone and Athena have nothing to prove. They have collectively done it all while their opponents have barely done anything. What they do need is purpose. Athena continues grinding away in largely unseen ROH. Mone floats in and out of programs, parading her collection of belts while seething about the one she can’t win. This is a transitional program, nothing more, nothing less. Even though Mercedes and Athena should never, ever lose to The Babes, somehow they will.

    Prediction: Babes of Wrath retain

    AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander defends against Jamie Hayter

    Jamie Hayter is trapped where Kris Statlander used to live: talented, credible, clearly capable of more, but unable to shift the energy around her. Blood and Guts was a proper spectacle, but that was a group effort. Her injury layoff didn’t just stall her momentum; it erased it. The in-ring work still hits. The strikes are still crispy. Between the bells remains vibrant, but everything surrounding it feels inert. Timing is everything in pro wrestling and Hayter’s timing has been cruel. 

    Statlander is no longer a what-if. She’s established. She’s bona fide. She wrestles like someone who belongs at the very top. Her reign has been about legitimacy more than spectacle. It’s solid more than spectacular. For a wrestler who spent years lost in the creative wilderness, that consistency is everything.

    If you’re frustrated with Hayter’s position, Statlander is the proof of concept. This is what making it out the other side looks like. Hayter doesn’t need to win to benefit here (though it wouldn’t hurt); she needs to remind people who she is. Statlander needs to keep doing what she’s been doing: beating excellent wrestlers clean and stacking wins.

    Prediction: Statlander

    AEW World Champion Samoa Joe defends against Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page and MJF in a four-way

    Strip away the noise, the borrowed outrage, the winking-at-the-camera seriousness, and what you’re left with is a ridiculous amount of star power sharing one ring. That’s the frustrating part. This didn’t need help.

    Samoa Joe is gravity. He warps the match simply by standing there, turning every exchange into something consequential. Swerve is violence with intent, a main eventer who has long since crossed the moral event horizon and never looked back. Hangman remains AEW’s emotional barometer, even when his righteousness becomes something more interesting and dangerous. MJF is still the company’s great disruptor, incapable of existing in a scene without bending it toward himself, sometimes for better, often for worse.

    If we could wipe away the last few weeks of Diddy-related promo work, this match would be much better served. All they needed to do was ring the bell for this to feel special. I can’t shake the feeling that we’re in for another MJF title reign, especially with Dynamite Diamond ring wearing Bandido waiting for the winner on January 14.

    Prediction: MJF

    AEW Collision Winter is Coming live results: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Claudio Castagnoli

    Posted on by Josiah MacDonald

    AEW returns to Cardiff, Wales, for today’s Winter is Coming edition of Collision at a special start time of 4:30 PM Eastern.

    One of the featured bouts is former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland taking on former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander for the first time ever in a match that will likely have implications on this month’s Worlds End.

    The Continental Classic will continue with two matches.

    Blue league co-leaders Konosuke Takeshita and Claudio Castagnoli will do battle in a clash of the IWGP World Champion and CMLL Heavyweight Champion.

    Coming off his highlight reel match against Kyle Fletcher Wednesday, “Speedball” Mike Bailey will look to grab another three points when he takes on tag team partner Kevin Knight in the Gold league.

    TNT Champion Mark Briscoe defends against former champion Daniel Garcia.

    AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander teams with former champion Jamie Hayter against The Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue).

    **********

    AEW Collision opened with a recap of Samoa Joe and Eddie Kingston and Hangman Page & Swerve Strickland vs. Shibata & Will Hobbs, with Hangman making his intentions clear – he wants Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End.

    Swerve Strickland (w/ Prince Nana) vs. Josh Alexander (w/ Don Callis)

    The crowd was immediately red hot, cheering for Swerve and singing for him. Alexander tried to hit a shoulder tackle on Swerve, but he just shook it off. Alexander went for a leg pick, but Swerve cartwheeled over it and hit a fireman’s carry into the top turnbuckle before hitting a pump kick that drove Alexander into the corner. Swerve hit a big back breaker on Alexander, leading to Alexander going for a takedown, but Swerve hit a snapmare and a knee drop.

    Swerve hit a few rolling neckbreakers, working over the previously injured neck of Josh Alexander. Josh Alexander pulled Swerve from the ring and suplexed him knee first on the announce table. That was brutal. Alexander hit a crossbody that sent Swerve to the floor as they went to the ad break. When they came back, Swerve and Alexander were exchanging forearms. Swerve hit an upkick on Alexander but stumbled when he tried to roll onto his feet. Alexander trapped the knee, hit a knee crusher, and then hit a back suplex. Swerve countered Alexander trying to pick him up into a powerbomb into a powerslam before collapsing to the mat selling his knee.

    Swerve hit an uppercut off the middle rope. Swerve missed a kick and Alexander pulled his leg over the rope, and then hit a world strongest slam on the apron. Swerve went for the JML Driver, but Alexander rolled him up for a nearfall. Alexander went for a sliding lariat which Swerve countered into a crucifix pin for a 2-count. Alexander went right back after the knee and did a single leg crab that forced Swerve to the ropes. Alexander missed a knee drop off the top rope and Swerve rolled up to his feet and hit a flatliner and hit the House Call that knocked the headgear of Alexander before hitting a JML Driver for the pinfall.

    Result: Swerve Strickland defeated Josh Alexander

    –Swerve Strickland grabbed the mic and said that he did not come back to face the Don Callis Family. He came back for the AEW World Championship, and Hangman Page was not the only guy after Joe. Swerve wanted his title back.

    –Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa said they were going to join the toast to celebrate the new AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions.

    Kris Statlander & Jamie Hayter vs. The Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue) (w/ Thekla)

    Hayter immediately slammed Blue and tagged out to Statlander who slammed Hayter on Blue, and then Hayter slammed Statlander on Blue. Statlander and Hayter tried to show each other up by slamming Blue, who unfortunately had to face hitting the mat repeatedly. Hart tagged in and did a rope walk into a hurricanrana on Statlander and Hayter tagged in, hitting an exploder and then a snap suplex for a two count on Hart.

    Hart hit a standing moonsault on Hayter as they went to the break. When they came back Hayer knocked Hart from the apron and hit a running knee on Sky Blue. Statlander went for Staturday Night Fever, but Blue cradled Statlander for a 2-count before tagging out to Hart, who hit a double front suplex and double superkick for a 2-count. Blue hit a Code Blue for a 2-count, and Hayter made the save. Julia Hart hit a lung blower of sorts on Hayter and everyone was laid out.

    Blue hit a thrust kick on Hayter and tagged out to Hart to went for a rope walk again, dropping Hayter’s arm across the ropes and then holding her arms. Blue charged, but Hayter dodged and Blue knocked Hart off the apron while Hayter hit a back breaker and then a Hayterade for the pinfall.

    Result: Jamie Hayter & Kris Statlander defeated The Sisters of Sin

    –Jamie Hayter, once backstage, challenged Kris Statlander to a title match at AEW World’s End, and Statlander accepted before they started arguing.

    Claudio Castagnoli vs. Konosuke Takeshita – C2 Blue League Match

    Both guys started with some grappling, feeling each other out, with both exchanging holds building to a forearm and uppercut battle until Castagnoli raked the eyes and hit a lariat. Takeshita tried to hit a running knee off the apron but Castagnoli caught him with a European Uppercut that sent Takeshita crashing to the floor. Takeshita blocked a suplex attempt on the ramp and turned it into a DDT. Castagnoli countered a knee charge into a backbreaker as they went to an ad break.

    Takeshita fought out of a sleeper hold and hit a hurricarana that sent Castagnoli to the floor. Takeshita hit a tope gon giro and then a blue thunder bomb in the ring, but Castagnoli kicked out and did the giant swing before locking in the sharpshooter. Castagnoli transitioned into a crossface, but Takeshita got out of it. Castagnoli was frustrated and started lightly kicking Takeshita to taunt him. Takeshita and Castagnoli started exchanging forearms and uppercuts.

    Takeshita hit an inverted piledriver and then a hidden blade for a 2-count. Castagnoli hit a pop up uppercut and then a springboard uppercut. Castagnoli went for the Neutralizer, but Takeshita countered and went for a back body drop, but Castagnoli landed on his feet and both hit lariats and collapsed. Takeshtia hit a series of forearms on the apron, and Castagnoli hit a series of his own. Takeshita hit a big boot to block a European uppercut, and then Takeshita charged but Claudio got a big boot. Then both men hit big boots and collapsed to the floor. Both men started exchanging strikes on the floor until Castagnoli hit a big boot that sent Takeshita crashing to the mat before he also collapsed. Takeshita hit a hard forearm that kept Castagnoli from getting in the ring. Castagnoli barely made it back into the ring, and then both men exchanged finishers but couldn’t finish each other until the time limit was up.

    Result: Claudio Castagnoli & Konosuke Takeshita went to a draw

    This match was awesome. What a tremendous match, and it protected both guys where the CMLL Heavyweight Champ and IWGP World Championship didn’t take loss.

    –Speedball Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight were backstage talking about how they are going to give it their all when they face each other later.

    –Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron came down to the ring to celebrate the world tag team title reign. Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa came down to the ring to celebrate with them, but said that they gave the audience a fight to remember. Mercedes Mone came to the ramp and said that they couldn’t have a championship celebration without her. Mina Shirakawa told her to shut up, and Toni Storm challenged her to a match. Harley Cameron noted that Mercedes had no friends, but Mercedes challenged the four women to a tag match next week on Dynamite.

    –Ricochet was backstage with his AEW National Championship, and he said he was going to win the AEW Diamond Battle Royale next week and take the title shot he would get out of it to become Ricky Two Belts.

    –A promo video aired for the AEW Diamond Battle Royale, with everyone talking about why they wanted to win. This was good.

    Kevin Knight vs. Mike Bailey – C2 Gold League Match

    As expected, both guys started very fast here exchanging strike attempts and countering each other at every move. Knight did an armdrag that sent Bailey to the floor, but Bailey dodged a plancha and then hit a triangle moonsault as they went to an ad break. Knight clotheslined Bailey to the floor as they came back from the ad break and hit a spring board clothesline to the floor. Knight hit a jumping hurricanrana on Bailey who was on the top rope and then a DDT for a 2-count.

    Bailey hit a kick on Knight when he was on the top rope and sent Knight crashing into a camera man. Bailey hit a moonsault into double knees on the apron. Bailey shoved Knight off the ropes, but Knight ran back and vertically leaped onto the top rope into a suplerplex for a 2-count. Bailey hit a Spanish Fly on Knight before hitting a rolling forearm, but Knight hit a dropkick. Knight went for a springboard lariat again and Bailey hit a spinning kick that dropped Knight and both men were down.

    Both men went to the opposite sides of the ring and tried to hit coast to coast strikes, but took each other out with lariats. Knight hit a coast to coast dropkick, but Bailey blocked the UFO splash. Bailey and Knight exchanged pinfall attempts rapidly until Bailey hit a spinning kick and then hit the Rubix Cube for the pinfall.

    Result: Mike Bailey defeated Kevin Knight

    This was a tremendous match, with Bailey and Knight putting on a fantastic performance.

    –Kyle Fletcher was backstage and he cut a promo about how angry he was about losing to Bailey on Dynamite, but he was going to take PAC on and get his momentum back in Manchester on Dynamite.

    –PAC answered him, saying that while he thought Fletcher was brilliant wrestler, nothing brilliant was going to happen in Manchester.

    Mark Briscoe vs. Daniel Garcia (w/ Marina Shafir) for the TNT Championship

    Garcia tried to out wrestle Garcia in the match, but Briscoe hit a forearm that sent Garcia to the floor before hitting a dropkick. Briscoe hit a flipping dive through the ropes onto Garcia. When they came back from the ad break with Garcia in control. Briscoe hit an exploder suplex for a 2-count. Briscoe went for the Jay Driller, but Garcia hit a back suplex. When Garcia grabbed the referee Shafir tripped Briscoe, and he crashed into the top turnbuckle. The referee missed it, but teased tossing her out.

    Garcia hit a superplex on Briscoe and then floated over into another suplex, but put Briscoe on the top rope for another superplex. Garcia did another one, but Briscoe fired up and hit a brainbuster, which baffled Garcia while also leaving him in pain. Briscoe and Garcia exchanged some forearms in the middle of the ring, and Briscoe kept asking for more, firing up. After some chops, Briscoe hit a lariat and then called for the Jay Driller.

    Garcia blocked the Jay Driller and Briscoe kept going for it, but Shafir grabbed the ankle of Briscoe and get sent backstage. As Shafir was leaving Wheeler Yuta ran in and hit a low blow on Briscoe, allowing Garcia to hit a piledriver for a 2-count. Briscoe rolled him up for a 2-count, and then hit the Jay Driller after countering a move for the pinfall.

    Result: Mark Briscoe defeated Daniel Garcia to retain the TNT Championship

    Excellent main event on a very good AEW Collision. The C2 always brings out the best in AEW, and it really makes the booking so focused.

    AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash – December 17, 2025

    • The Elite vs. Don Callis Family
    • Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale
    • Mercedes Mone, Athena, Megan Bayne, Marina Shafir vs. Babes of Wrath & Timeless Love Bombs
    • Mascara Dorada vs. Orange Cassidy
    • Jon Moxley vs. Roderick Strong
    • Kyle Fletcher vs. PAC
    • AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR vs. Bang Bang Gang
    • AEW World Championship Contract Signing with Hangman Adam Page, Swerve Strickland, & Samoa Joe

    Champion vs. champion match added to AEW Collision Winter is Coming

    Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

    AEW has officially announced a huge Continental Classic match for Saturday’s Winter is Coming episode of Collision.

    CMLL World Heavyweight Champion Claudio Castagnoli takes on IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita in Blue league action this Saturday in Cardiff, Wales.

    On Wednesday’s Winter is Coming edition of Dynamite, Kazuchika Okada defeated Jack Perry to earn three points in the Gold League while Speedball Mike Bailey defeated Kyle Fletcher to gain his first three points.

    The Continental Classic tournament is slowly nearing its end with Okada and Fletcher are currently at the top of the Gold league with six points each. Takeshita and Castagnoli are also at the top of the Blue League with six points each.

    The semifinals and final of the tournament are scheduled to take place at this month’s Worlds End pay-per-view.

    AEW Collision lineup | Saturday, December 13th, 2025 | Cardiff, Wales

    • TNT Champion Mark Briscoe defends against Daniel Garcia
    • Julia Hart & Skye Blue vs. Jamie Hayter & Kris Statlander
    • Swerve Strickland vs. Josh Alexander
    • Continental Classic Blue league: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Konosuke Takeshita

    AEW Collision live results: Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita

    Posted on by Josiah MacDonald

    For the first time in some time, tonight’s AEW Collision from Columbus, Ohio, has a true air of importance with several key figures on the show.

    In an important Continental Classic Blue league bout, former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley goes one-on-one with IWGP World Champion Konosuke Takeshita with each looking to add to their three point totals.

    Blue league leader Claudio Castagnoli (six points) will also be in action against Mascara Dorada who is looking for his first points while Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong (zero points each) will compete in another Blue league match.

    A night after losing the ROH Women’s TV title, Mercedes Mone will defend the TBS title against Leila Grey.

    In his first live promo since returning from injury, former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will make an appearance.

    The first televised AEW National title defense will take place as Ricochet defends in an open challenge.

    Our live coverage begins at 8 PM Eastern.

    **********

    Orange Cassidy (0) vs. Roderick Strong (0)

    Collision started with a match I was really looking forward to with Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong. Strong and Cassidy started with some basic wrestling until Strong hit a backbreaker and then several chops that sent Cassidy to ringside. Cassidy was then back suplexed on the guardrail, and got hit with more hard chops. Strong hit another hard backbreaker that left Cassidy in pain on mat, rolling to the apron. Strong chopped Cassidy again and then hit a slingshot into the bottom turnbuckle from the apron.

    Strong hit another backbreaker, followed by a few more. As Strong did these backbreakers he held on for a submission attempt and then would pick Cassidy up and hit another backbreaker. At the last one of these, Cassidy countered into a DDT on Strong. Cassidy stood up, but his hands in his pockets, and hit a monkey flip on Strong before hitting a tope suicida.

    Cassidy drove Strong into the turnbuckle and went for a flying crossbody, but Strong caught him and hit a powerslam for a 2-count. Strong attempted to hit a backbreaker on the top rope, but Cassidy shoved Strong from the ropes, causing him to get his knee wrapped in the ropes and allowing Cassidy to hit a tornado DDT for a 2-count. Cassidy missed an Orange Punch and ate another backbreaker and then End of Heartache for a 2-count that Strong immediately went into a Stronghold, but Cassidy countered into a pinfall attempt and then hit Stundog Millionaire. Cassidy blocked another End of Heartache before grabbing the legs of Strong and pinning him.

    Result: Orange Cassidy (3) defeated Roderick Strong (0) via pinfall

    –Tony Schiavone announced that Darby Allin was removed from the C2 tournament after an injury in his match with Kevin Knight. Jack Perry would be stepping in to take his place in the tournament.

    –Darby Allin did an interview saying he wasn’t sure what was next for him, but if Jack Perry was going to be in the tournament, he hoped Perry was going to win the whole thing.

    –FTR & Stokely Hathaway came down to the ring to address what happened with Bullet Club Gold on Dynamite. The fans chanted something very rude at Hathaway, wishing him to cease talking. Hathaway called out Juice Robinson and Austin Gunn and they did not disappoint coming down to the ring. Cash Wheeler acknowledged that Robinson and Gunn were the last people to beat them, they would never do so again. Harwood dared Robinson and Gunn touch their belt again,

    Gunn said that FTR was right – he was a son of a Gunn. Robinson was the son of a carpenter. Wheeler was the son of his cousin, and Harwood was a son of a… well, you get the idea. Gunn demanded they give them a tag title shot, reminding them yet again that they were the last team to beat FTR, and Robinson said that the next time they touch the tag titles, it will be when The Bang Bang Gang won the tag titles in the United Kingdom.

    Juice Robinson and Austin Gunn were awesome here again, stealing the segment with an excellent promo.

    –Marina Shafir, Wheeler Yuta, and Daniel Garcia were backstage cutting a promo on Mark Briscoe, saying that Garcia was going to bring the TNT Championship back to the Death Riders when he faces Briscoe.

    Claudio Castagnoli (3) vs. Mascara Dorada (0)

    At this point in the show technical issues started with the Triller feed of AEW Collision – The recap will be updated as soon as the show resumes.

    I only had audio at this point of Claudio & Mascara Dorada. I finally got picture back at the end of the match. The match came back just as Dorada was hitting a shooting star press on Castagnoli for the win.

    Result: Mascara Dorada (3) defeated Claudio Castagnoli (3)

    –Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa, and Harley Cameron & Willow Nightingale were interviewed by Tony Schiavone about their upcoming world tag team title match AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming. Storm pointed out that Nightingale and Cameron have been unable to beat Storm, but Cameron followed up by pointing out that her and Nightingale were better than they have been in the past, and Shirakawa interjected, saying that they were all there for the tag titles, and they needed to keep that in focus. Tony Schiavone then drank champagne with them.

    –Swerve Strickland came down to the ring, talking about his return at AEW Full Gear. Swerve said that he worked hard at recovering from his knee injury the last 3 months so he could come back more dangerous than ever, and he came back because he wants the AEW World Championship again. Swerve makes his intentions very clear, saying that the last time he and Joe faced off, Swerve was the one that took the title off him last time.

    Swerve mentioned cutting through all of Joe’s fodder he put in front of him like enemies in Dynasty Warriors. I appreciate a good gaming reference. Swerve assured Joe that he was going to fall to him again. Swerve talked about Hangman Page next, and said that while they may never see eye to eye, there was no better rivalry than those two, and if he needed another person to ride with him into battle, Swerve would back him up, but after that, they will have a very long conversation.

    Josh Alexander came down to the ring. Alexander said that it was not Swerve’s House, but Alexander’s and the Don Callis Family. Alexnader said that he was the one that deserved a title shot ahead of Swerve, and that maybe they should do something about it and fight. Swerve challenged him to a match and it was made for Cardiff, but as he making that challenge, Katsuyori Shibata attacked Swerve from behind, kicking him in the knee that was injured and slowly walking away.

    –Lexy Nair was with Mercedes Mone, and Nair wanted to address Mone losing the ROH Television title on the ROH PPV, and Nair was wondering if the two big losses she felt lately would cause her issues when she faced Leyla Grey tonight. Mone said that she was going to make Grey pay, and Mone would get back on track soon.

    TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone vs. Leyla Grey (w/ Christopher Daniels)

    Mone attacked Grey right at the start of the match and hit Daniels with meteora on the floor. Mone countered a bulldog and hit a meteora on Grey for a 2-count. Ian Riccaboni made a “6-7” reference here, and I wanted to turn off my TV. Sorry, Ian. Mone grabbed Grey by the hair and pulled her to the mat before slamming Grey’s face into the turnbuckle. Nigel Guinness was talking about understanding Mone’s frustration in losing a title. He said it was something Tony wouldn’t understand since he never held a title. He then asked what the greatest victory in his life was, and Schiavone responded “Overcoming you.” Nigel legitimately laughed. Grey hit a running knee on Mone and a bulldog, but Mone countered the pinfall attempt into a statement maker for the submission.

    Result: Mercedes Mone defeated Leyla Grey

    –Eddie Kingston had an absolutely incredible pretape promo. Kingston put over Joe as the best wrestler in the world because he has the world title, but Kingston is disgusted with him, because he is doing the very thing that Joe hated for years – cheating, lying, and backstabbing people. Kingston said that he was going to take the title from Joe to show the young people in the back how to do it the right way. This was awesome.

    –The Triangle of Madness beat up some women backstage and said they were coming to Cardiff for Jamie Hayter & Statlander.

    AEW National Championship: Ricochet (w/ the Gates of Agony) vs. Ace Austin

    Austin is one of the few people out there that can keep up with Ricochet in the ring, so the opening part of this match was very fast paced as Austin repeatedly sent Ricochet to the floor, and he yelled with rage at the announce desk. Ricochet grabbed the bell hammer and as the referee was taking it from him, Bishop Kaun tripped Austin, allowing Ricochet to get the advantage.

    Ricochet ripped a sign away from a fan and then tried to give Austin a papercut with it. Ricochet hit a dropkick in the middle of the ring after reversing an Irish whip. Ricochet missed a running kick in the corner and ended up landing on the back of his head, which looked brutal. Austin hit a Russian Leg Sweep and a series of lariats in the corner. Austin fought off an attempt by Toa Liona to trip him up, hit a springboard clothesline, and a doctor bomb for a 2-count.

    Austin hit a forearm in the corner, but Ricochet rolled him up, hit a dropkick, and a standing shooting star press for a 2-count. Ricohcet missed a spirit gun and fought with Austin over a suplex, but Austin cradled Ricochet for a 2-count. Austin hit a superplex on Ricochet. Austin hit a bellringer on Ricochet, stomping his head into the mat. Austin went for the Fold, but Ricochet pulled the referee in the way, went for a low blow that Austin blocked, but Ricochet flipped backwards, hit the spirit gun, and vertigo for the win.

    Result: Ricochet defeated Ace Austin

    –FTR ran down to attack Ace Austin, beating on him to send a message to Bullet Club Gold. Juice Robinson & Austin Gunn ran down to make the save and drove FTR from the ring. The Bang Bang Gang threw the tag titles back at FTR, sending them packing.

    Jon Moxley (3) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (3)

    The fans were very positive towards Moxley when he came out in this match, so it seems to me that this slow burn babyface turn for him is working. The fans, of course, also loved Takeshita. The fans saw this as two huge stars meeting for the first time, which is a testament to how Takeshita has gotten himself over, especially since winning the G1 and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Both guys exchanged a lot of technical wrestling at the start, and it started to turn back for Moxley once Takeshita started hitting dragon screws to the knee of Moxley.

    Moxley sold the knee very well, looking like Takeshita was making it difficult for him to walk. Great stuff here. Takeshita tried to hit 10-punchces in the corner, but Moxley gouged the mouth and nose of Takeshita and hit 10 punches of his own, but Takeshita sent Moxley into the opposite corner and he crashed to the mat again selling his knee. Takeshita hit a DDT on the leg of Moxley, who looked at Takeshita in pain but nodded and stood up, limping and started exchanging chops with Takeshita until he dropped Moxley with a forearm.

    Takeshita faked Moxley out with a forearm and instead kicked Moxley right in the shin. Takeshita charged Moxley, but Moxley hit a forearm and tried to suplex Takeshita off the apron. Takeshita blocked it, but Moxley dropkicked him in the ankle and hit a curb stomp on Takeshita on the apron while selling the knee. Moxley hit a back suplex on Takeshita, and Takeshita popped up, hit a German suplex, and then both men went down after double lariats.

    Moxley and Takeshita kept exchanging forearms until neither of them could continue, and both men hit the ropes and Moxley took Takeshita’s head off with a King Kong Lariat. Takeshita went for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Moxley shifted his weight and took Takeshita over into an armbar before transitioning to an ankle lock on Takeshita. Takeshita continued to sell the ankle that Moxley dropkicked earlier. Moxley tried to piledrive Moxley on the apron, but Takeshita hit a back body drop. Takeshita went for a dive, but couldn’t run due to his ankle. Moxley got back in the ring, and Takeshita hit a hard forearm and managed to hit the ropes and hit a tope con giro.

    Takeshita went to take apart the announce table, and it partly collapsed due to it, but Takeshita hit a blue thunder bomb onto one of the walls of the table, which still looked brutal. It was probably worse than the usual table bump. Moxley barely made it back into the ring, and as he rolled in Takeshita flew through the air and hit a frog splash for a 2-count. This match rules. Takeshita went for the power drive knee, but Moxley collapsed. As Takeshita tried to pick him up Moxley baited him in and cradled him for a 2-count. Moxley hit a cutter and went for a piledriver, but Takeshtia picked the leg and stepped over and dropped a knee on Moxley’s knee.

    Takeshita charged Moxley and Moxley hit a hard forearm and a Paradigm Shift, but Takeshita got his feet on the ropes. Moxley hit two hard lariats which Takeshita no sold, and then a big boot, but Takeshita got up immediately. Moxley hit some hard strikes and went to the ropes again, but collapsed due to his knee, and Takeshita hit the power drive knee for a 2-count. Takeshita hit a second power drive knee and a Raging Fire for the pinfall. This match was absolutely incredible.

    Result: Konosuke Takeshita (6) defeated Jon Moxley (3)

    This match was fantastic. One of the best matches of the year for Collision, and maybe one of the best matches of the year for all of AEW. It won’t top Will Ospreay vs. Adam Page, and a few others, but it was easily one of the best Collision main events all year. Jon Moxley and Konosuke Takeshita are fantastic pro wrestlers, and it is a pleasure to watch them work.

    –After the match the Death Riders started to make their way down to the ring, looking very disappointed in Moxley. The Horsemen beatdown is coming for Moxley. It is only a matter of when, and not if.

    Final Thoughts

    The C2 always produces excellent television for AEW, and this was no exception. Simple storytelling, great matches. It’s my favourite time of the year as a fan of the wrestling in AEW. The C2 and the G1 both are my favourite ways to watch wrestling, as the tournament format makes it so easy to build stories with every win, loss, or draw, and Moxley losing twice is a very big deal. Add in that he has lost now to Hangman Page, Kyle O’Reilly twice, Claudio Castagnoli, and now Konosuke Takeshita? Bad, bad things are about to happen to him with the Death Riders, and his babyface run afterwards is going to be so great. Jon Moxley is awesome.

    C2 Standings Update

    Only the Blue League was active tonight, so nothing to update on the Gold League.

    AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming (December 10, 2025)

    • AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Eddie Kingston
    • AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship: Timeless Love Bombs vs. Babes of Wrath
    • Hangman Adam Page & Swerve Strickland vs. Powerhouse Hobbs & Katsuyori Shibata

    AEW Continental Classic results & updated standings

    Posted on by Josh Nason

    Following Thursday’s Thanksgiving night edition of AEW Collision, the first week of the 2025 Continental Classic is complete.

    Thursday’s show from Nashville, Tennessee, featured one match in the Blue league and one in the Gold League.

    In that Gold league battle, PAC picked up his first win in his Classic debut, defeating fellow debutante “Speedball” Mike Bailey to earn three points. He already has his next match booked as he will take on Kazuchika Okada who is coming off a loss this past Wednesday. PAC now ties Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher with three points a piece.

    The Blue league closed the show with another pair of Classic debutantes as IWGP World Champion Konosuke Takeshita defeated Roderick Strong to pick up his first victory. He joins Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli with three points a piece.

    AEW Continental Classic Blue League standings

    WrestlerCurrent Points
    Orange Cassidy0
    Konosuke Takeshita3
    Jon Moxley3
    Claudio Castagnoli3
    Roderick Strong0
    Mascara Dorada0

    AEW Continental Classic Gold League standings

    WrestlerCurrent Points
    Darby Allin0
    PAC3
    Kevin Knight3
    Mike Bailey0
    Kyle Fletcher3
    Kazuchika Okada0

    Upcoming Matches (Wednesday on Dynamite):

    • Jon Moxley vs. Claudio Castagnoli (Blue League)
    • PAC vs. Kazuchika Okada (Gold League)

    AEW Collision Thanksgiving live results: Continental Classic continues

    Posted on by Josiah MacDonald

    The first week of Continental Classic action continues on tonight’s special Thanksgiving night edition of AEW Collision.

    In the Blue league, IWGP World Champion Konosuke Takeshita and Roderick Strong will do battle in their first ever singles meeting while in the Gold league, PAC will face “Speedball” Mike Bailey as they both open up tournament action.

    After the events of Full Gear, Eddie Kingston will go one-on-one with Katsuyori Shibata of The Opps while in another grudge match, Daniel Garcia will take on Daddy Magic.

    Thekla will take on Tay Melo in a singles clash.

    The show will also feature comments from new AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR in addition to new National Champion Ricochet. New TNT Champion Mark Briscoe will also have some words to say for the second straight night.

    Our live coverage begins at 8 PM Eastern.

    **********

    AEW Collision wasted no time with PAC and Mike Bailey making their entrance for their first matches in the AEW Continental Classic.

    PAC (0) vs. Mike Bailey (0) in a C2 Gold League Match

    Bailey and PAC started the match exchanging chops, ending with Bailey hitting rapid kicks, but missing a pump kick when PAC was on the apron. PAC pulled Bailey to the floor and hit a snap suplex. PAC drove Bailey into the guardrails around ringside a few times before throwing him in the ring for a pinfall attempt. PAC dodged a kick from Bailey, but Bailey hit a dropkick of the middle rope and followed up with some hard kicks and a standing shooting star press for a 2-count.

    PAC blocked another pump kick with PAC on the apron, but Bailey was smart this time and dropped down and swept the legs of PAC before hitting a triangle moonsault to the floor. Clever little spot there. Bailey hit several hard kicks to the chest of PAC, leaving him laying on the floor. PAC hit a belly-to-belly suplex on Bailey off the top rope when Bailey was going for something as they came back from break. PAC went to the top rope, but Bailey rolled away, and threw a kick that PAC leaned back to dodge. After dodging a second kick, PAC hit a pump kick and a German suplex.

    Bailey stopped a sunset flip and hit a moonsault into double knees on PAC. Both men hit pump kicks at the same time and ended up rolling out of the ring on opposite sides of it. They decided to run around the ring and charge again, hitting double pump kicks again. PAC blocked a kick from Bailey, Bailey flipped out of it, but PAC sent Bailey into the announce table and hit a German suplex on the floor. Bailey got back onto the apron at 9 and charged Bailey, but Bailey leaped onto the top rope and as PAC slid to the floor, Bailey hit a moonsault.

    PAC dodged Ultima Weapon and went for his running lariat that he has been using as a finishing move lately, but Bailey hit a spinning kick and went for another, but PAC ducked. Bailey managed to hit a thrust kick and went for Ultima Weapon again, but PAC dodged and hit a hard running lariat before locking on the Brutalizer for the submission victory as Bailey passed out in it.

    Result: PAC (3) wins via submission (referee stoppage)

    –Daniel Garcia was backstage with Jon Moxley, and he spoke with Lexy Nair, saying that he was finally going to put an end to Matt Menard tonight.

    –Brodido were backstage with Renee Pacquette, and Bandido talked about how he felt terrible because it was his fault that they lost the tag team titles. Brody King said that he had nothing to be ashamed of, and that Brodido was not done yet, and they would challenge for the tag titles again. King then said that Bandido was defending his title at ROH Final Battle.

    –The announcers then informed us of a change to the ROH Final Battle card with Rush being injured, and the title match was changed to a Survival of the Fittest match (a 6-man elimination match) featuring Blake Christian, Sammy Guevera, The Beast Mortos, Komander, & Hechicero.

    Daniel Garcia (w/ Jon Moxley) vs. Matt Menard

    Menard tried to turn this into a brawl early on, sending Garcia to the floor and throwing him into the guardrails. Moxley, on commentary, noted that fighting with emotion like Menard was usually doesn’t end well. Moxley said that Menard was not about living the life of a pro wrestler, and that no one trained harder than the Death Riders, and Menard was the past while Garcia is the future.

    Garcia hit headbutts on Menard and busted him open, and Garcia went right after hit, rubbing his elbow on the forehead and biting Menard as they went to an ad break. When they came back from break, Garcia had Menard in a Boston crab, but Menard was able to fight out and lock on his own Boston crab. Garcia sent Menard’s head into the announce table right in front of Moxley, who continued to cheer Garcia on. Garcia sent Menard crashing into the steps and earned a talking to from the referee. The announcers complained about the rule breaking, but Moxley said quickly that wrestling wasn’t pretty, and if AEW was a wrestling promotion, especially during the C2 month, it was going to be violent

    Moxley said that Menard was tough, and he wouldn’t take that away from him, but said that he did not have what it took to beat Garcia while also putting the commentators over for doing a good job, despite pushing against some of what Moxley said. Garcia locked on the bulldog choke on Menard, and Menard fought for as long as he could, but eventually collapsed, passing out and the referee stopped the match.

    Result: Daniel Garcia wins via submission (referee stoppage)

    –Moxley said that this was the difference between people who know what the wrestling business is, between professionals and amateurs, and that Garcia got it. As he was talking, Mark Briscoe came out, and Moxley put him over, saying Briscoe was a real as it gets when it comes to pro wrestling, but that he wasn’t going to do a thing to Garcia.

    Briscoe said that he was thankful today (Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends) that he was TNT Champion. Briscoe said that he heard Garcia wanted to challenge for the TNT title, and Briscoe said that he needed to be sure that did not bite off more than he can chew. Briscoe said that like how he is going to devour a Thanksgiving meal, he is going to devour Garcia when they fight over the title.

    There was not a lot of heat for Garcia and Menard, but I will say that the story told here was great, especially with Moxley on commentary, and the dynamic with Briscoe is an interesting one. It makes me wonder if we are going to see Briscoe and Moxley down the line, which would be a tremendous match.

    –Ricochet was backstage with the Gates of Agony, and he talked about how The Demand has done everything they have ever said they were going to do. Ricochet said he was thankful that he had to do nothing since he was not in the C2 this month, but that he was going to go around the world defending the AEW National Title. Toa Liona said that he arranged a meal for them to celebrate at a 5* restaurant and they left.

    –Stokely Hathaway and FTR came out, and Hathaway claimed that it was the best day of his life, as FTR finally won back their world tag team titles. He said that FTR has been fighting since they were 16, and they overcame every obstacle they ever faced to win the tag titles again.

    As Dax Harwood was about to talk the lights went out and The Gunn Club came out. Juice Robinson said that he knew how good FTR was, but since they beat FTR two weeks ago, and it wasn’t the first time they have beat them (in a different combination of wrestlers), but that since they won $200k last week, they wanted to win some gold now.

    The Gunn Club challenged them to a match, and Harwood said that he didn’t want Robinson to touch his belt again. Austin Gunn slapped the mic out of Harwood’s hands, giving Harwood a taste of his own medicine in interrupting people, and Robinson continued saying that maybe next time, it was there time. Gunn said that they were fighting for Colton Gunn and Jay White who were injured at home, and they were going to take the titles. Robinson and Austin Gunn were awesome here. This was one of the best promos they have had in several weeks, and now I want to see this match. It is not hard, folks. Good, short promo that establishes motivations that make sense. Excellent stuff here.

    –MxM TV came out came dressed out as characters from the Wizard of Oz. They continued their open challenge, and The Outrunners and Dalton Castle answered the call. Dalton Castle greeted Michael Ray in the crowd, a country music star.

    The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum) & Dalton Castle (w/ the Boys) vs. MxM TV (Mansoor, Mason Madden, & Johnny TV) (w/ Taya Valkyrie)

    As the match started Johnny TV powerbombed Valkyrie into Dalton Castle on the floor, but this did not really cause much trouble, as Castle immediately got up and helped Truth Magnum powerbomb Mansoor. MxM missed their version of the SOB Elbow and Turbo Floyd tagged in Dalton Castle who threw Mansoor and Johnny TV around the ring. Castle hit a suplex on Madden, then they hit a collective SOB elbow on Mansoor, followed by a Bangarang by Castle for the win.

    Result: Dalton Castle & The Outrunners via pinfall

    –As they were celebrating, Ricochet came out. It appears they did not go out for food. Ricochet demanded the fans not boo him, so they booed him more. Bishop Kaun attacked Dalton Castle from behind as Ricochet claimed that this segment should be his championship celebration. Ricochet got in the face of Michael Ray, and Ray shoved Ricochet down and jumped the rail. Security got between them as Ricochet taunted him.

    –The Don Callis family were backstage and Callis talked about how he was thankful for the family getting 3 points in the C2 last week. Rocky Romero said that he was grateful for new Don Callis family merch. Hechicero spoke in Spanish, and like the Don Callis Family, I only picked up on the word family, which they cheered. Mark Davis said he was thankful for nothing. Josh Alexander said he was thankful for Callis’ wisdom. Fletcher said he was thankful for his wealth in the family. Konosuke Takeshita said he was thankful to be a part of the family. Kazuchika Okada said he was thankful he wasn’t teaming with Takeshita. Takeshita and Okada got in each other’s face as Don quickly shooed the cameras away.

    Katsuyori Shibata vs. Eddie Kingson

    Kingston came right out and started brawling with Shibata on the ramps. Shibata hit some kicks on the floor to a seated Kingston before going into the ring and beginning to exchange strikes with him. Kingston hit a hard chop, but Shibata ducked another and hit a German suplex. Shibata grinded his foot against Kingston’s face, did a double wrist lock, and stomped on Kingston’s arm.

    Shibata worked over the arm over the next bit, going for a kimura before transitioning into an armbar, but Kingston rolled to the ropes to break the hold. Kingston and Shibata exchanged chops in the middle of the ring. After a long exchange, Shibata went for a chop, stopped, and poked the eye. Shibata hit a kick, but Kingston responded with an enziguri and a neckbreaker. Kingston hit some hard chops but ate an STO from Shibata.

    Shibata hit a German suplex after Kingston made the ropes in a choke. Kingston hit a suplex of his own when they got up. Shibata low blowed Kingston right in front of the referee, which was weird, and the referee refused to acknowledge the armbar that Shibata locked on due to the low blow. Kingston followed up by hitting a DDT for the win.

    Result: Eddie Kingston via pinfall

    Eddie Kingston is still not quite back to 100%, but this was easily his best match back. The finish was a bit abrupt, but it was not bad.

    –Eddie Kingston took a mic and said that Hook has chosen his path, and he would have to pay for what he did from Hangman and Swerve. Kingston said that he was not a character, and while a fan said that he loved Eddie, Eddie said that for the longest time he believed that he did not deserve that love. However, it wasn’t about the fans loving him – Kingston said he loved the fans because they loved pro wrestling. Kingston said that Samoa Joe has tried to corrupt Hook, but before he can corrupt him more, Kingston was going to take the fight to Joe directly and challenged him to world title match at Winter is Coming in December. This promo was incredible, and the fans were going insane for him by the end of it. Kingston celebrated with a kid from the front row, putting him on his shoulders, and suddenly I wanted Eddie Kingston to win everything all over again. What an incredible babyface. This was such a fantastic promo.

    –Red Velvet was backstage and she challenged Mercedes Mone to a rematch for the ROH Women’s Television title at ROH Final Battle.

    Thekla vs. Tay Melo

    Melo started the match throwing Thekla with judo throws and going for submissions. Thekla hit a drop toe hold that sent Melo into the ropes, and Thekla hit a running knee and then a suplex on the entrance ramp, which came right up to the ring tonight. They went to an ad-break just as Thekla was beating up Melo at ringside.

    Melo hit a hard forearm on Thekla when they came back, but Thekla laughed and asked for more. Melo but her hair up and slapped Thekla, but Thekla hit a forearm on the rebound that dropped Melo, and Thekla locked on the Deathtrap. Melo nearly went out, but she rolled backwards into a pinfall attempt. Thekla kicked out and went for a spear after her spider walk. I suspect the spider walk took way too much time and gave Melo a chance to hit a flying knee and a Gotch style piledriver on Thekla for a 2-count. Melo went for the TayKO, but Thekla stomped on her feet, ducked a clothesline with her spider walk, and hit a spear and a curb stomp for the pin.

    Result: Thekla via pinfall

    –The Triangle of Madness came down to the ring to attack, but Jamie Hayter and Kris Statlander ran down to make the save.

    Konosuke Takeshita (0) vs. Roderick Strong (0) in a C2 Blue League Match

    Takeshita and Strong started off with quick chain wrestling, hard strikes, and Strong, as expected, hit a backbreaker that stopped Takeshita’s offence. Strong hit a dropkick through the ropes onto the floor as he continued to work over Takeshita’s back, trying to suplex him into the guardrail. Takeshita, however, back suplexed Strong onto it instead, and it looked like he hit his head directly onto the guardrail. That was brutal. I hope his neck is okay.

    Takeshita hit hard forearms, and nearly sent Strong into the front row. Takeshita brought Strong back to the ring and continued the beatdown. Strong hit a few forearms, but Takeshita responded with his forearm of death that dropped Strong. Takeshita actually tried to lock on Okada’s Money Clip, by the looks of it, but Strong fought out and Strong hit a dropkick that dropped Takeshita.

    Strong hit a lariat, but Takeshita tried to hit a blue thunder bomb, and Strong slipped out and hit an Olympic slam followed with a series of running forearms. Strong hit a tiger driver for a 2-count, but as Takeshita kicked out, Strong tried to lock on the Stronghold. However, Takeshita got his foot loose and dragged to the ropes.

    Takeshita hit a Yakuza kick on Strong and called for the Raging Fire off the middle rope into the ring, but Strong countered and hit a backbreaker on the turnbuckle for a 2-count. Strong hit a gutbuster and a torture rack into backbreaker, but Takeshita managed to avoid a sick kick and hit a German suplex for a 2-count. Takeshita hit the power drive knee and hit the Raging Fire for the pinfall victory.

    Result: Konosuke Takeshita (3) via pinfall

    Final Thoughts

    Any time AEW runs the C2 the shows usually turn out to be great from an in ring perspective. This show did not disappoint, but it was Eddie Kingston’s promo that stole the show. Kingston is such a tremendous babyface that gets me to believe in him and want to see him win. This was no different here.

    AEW Dynamite (December 3, 2025)

    • C2 Blue League Match: Jon Moxley (3) vs. Claudio Castagnoli (3)
    • C2 Gold League Match: Kazuchika Okada (0) vs. PAC (3)
    • Timeless Love Bombs vs. Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir

    AEW C2 Gold League Standings:

    AEW C2 Blue League Standings:

    JNPO: AEW Continental Classic predictions & preview

    Posted on by Josh Nason

    On a new Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, Josh takes a break from the pro wrestling year in review series to delve into the current day and the AEW Continental Classic.

    The tournament kicks off tonight so returning guest & our AEW pay-per-view previewer Mike DellaCamera returns for a 30-minute talk about the leagues, the matchups in the Gold and Blue league, and our picks for both the semifinals and finals at Worlds End.

    Listen for free here or on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts (search Wrestling Observer).