Dynamite Review – 12.24.25

AEW’s Dynamite on 34th Street comes to the airwaves on TBS and HBO Max from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The announcing team for tonight’s show are Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Bryan Danielson on match calls and analysis, Justin Roberts on ring announcements, and Renee Paquette and Lexy Nair on backstage interviews and breaking news segments. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Continental Classic Blue League: Orange Cassidy (6 points) vs Konosuke Takeshita (7 points)

Don Callis joins the announce team as usual, but they are not at ringside as apparently the set-up at Hammerstein won’t allow for it. Renee Paquette informs us that Takeshita’s schedule being so busy is the idea of Don Callis so that he’s sharp and fresh for this tournament and his upcoming work in Japan. Takeshita can clinch a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament with a win here.

Cassidy flicks his sunglasses at Takeshita, and when Takeshita bends down to pick them up, Cassidy rolls him up for a quick two. Cassidy wants a sunset flip but Takeshita yanks him up instead. Cassidy rolls through and gets another quick two. Cassidy rolls through a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt and hits a crucifix for a LONG two. Takeshita fires up with a chop and a Helluva kick that sends Cassidy to the floor. Takeshita works over Cassidy along the barricade and then back-drops him on the apron. Takeshita fires an elbow into Cassidy’s back and then works a front facelock once both are back inside. Cassidy manages to break out with some elbows and then he runs Takeshita head-first into some turnbuckles. Cassidy hits a couple of DDT’s and covers Takeshita for two. Cassidy pushes Takeshita into a corner and starts dropping right hands. Cassidy puts the boots to Takeshita who finally has had enough. Cassidy goes to his “hands in pockets low kicks of devastation” move to the delight of the crowd. Cassidy hits a rana and tries a dropkick to no effect. Takeshita shakes off another dropkick but Cassidy finally hits one to drop Takeshita to the mat. Takeshita fires up with a huge Blue Thunder Bomb as we go to commercials.

Cassidy runs into an elbow as Takeshita goes up to the second rope. Cassidy smashes Takeshita with a Stundog Millionaire before DDT’ing Takeshita on the floor. Takeshita hits a huge running knee and grabs a quick two count. Takeshita wants Raging Fire but Cassidy slips out and rolls up Takeshita for two. Takeshita yanks Cassidy up for a wheelbarrow German and then wallops him with a forearm. Cassidy hits the Orange Punch and covers Takeshita for two. We reset with both guys down. Takeshita goes to the apron and knees a charging Cassidy in the face. Takeshita gets dropped with a Beach Break on the apron and both guys go to the floor. Cassidy sends Takeshita into the crowd with another Orange Punch. Takeshita has to literally sprint to the ring to beat the count at 9.5. Cassidy rolls him up for two twice. Takeshita has had enough and waffles Cassidy with Raging Fire before covering and getting three.

The C2 has been loaded with really great matches and this was no different. They traded bombs a lot and the selling was spotty, but if you like hard-hitting affairs with MDK moves (which, let’s face it, the Raging Fire is now one of those moves) this was right in your wheelhouse. The crowd loved every bit of it, and Takeshita had to overcome Cassidy’s incredible knack for knowing how to attack an opponent no matter who it is. Excellent opener. 4.25*

Winner – Konosuke Takeshita (Raging Fire – 10 points, clinches spot in the C2 semifinals)

Here’s Gabe Kidd telling the story of how he dropped Darby Allin down the steps at Hammerstein. Kidd wants Allin at World’s End, which I suspect we’ll get. We go to commercials.

The Bang Bang Gang say that everyone agrees that FTR are probably the best team in the world right now, but they weren’t when the BBG beat them in Manchester. They want FTR in a Chicago Street Fight at World’s End, which I also suspect we’ll be getting.

Continental Classic Blue League: (Roderick Strong – 0 points) vs Mascara Dorada (3 points)

They trade wristlocks to start, and Dorada goes behind only to see Strong grab the wristlock again. Strong grabs a headlock and Dorada immediately goes to the headscissors escape. Strong rolls Dorada over and ties up his legs with a rear chinlock cinched in. Dorada reverses and pulls Strong into a surfboard. Strong slides out of it and grabs a quick two count. There’s some acrobatics and Dorada mashes Strong with a kick to the head from the apron. Dorada hits an armdrag that sends Strong to the floor. Dorada gives chase and Strong crushes him with a backbreaker on the apron as we go to commercials.

Dorada hits another apron kick before ascending to hit a torneo armdrag. Dorada hits a rana that sends Strong to the floor. Dorada goes out and hits another armdrag that sends Strong to the aisle. Dorada runs Strong back in and ascends. Dorada hits a senton atomico and covers Strong for two. Dorada goes up again and misses a 450 before running into a couple of Strong kicks. Strong waffles Dorada with a knee before dropping Dorada face-first on the mat. Strong’s cover gets two. Strong hits a running kick and covers for two. Strong grabs a double-underhook but Dorada flips out of it and covers Strong for two. Strong fires up with a backbreaker but Dorada slips out of an End of Heartache attempt with a quick boot to Strong’s face. Dorada ascends and crushes Strong with a Shooting Star Press, and that gets three.

Dorada keeps his slim advancement hopes alive, and Roddy stays at zero points after four tournament matches. This did not have the intensity or striking of the first C2 match but the crowd was into Dorada as usual. This was technically proficient and fine for what it was, but the crowd also knew that realistically neither one of these guys has a shot to win the tournament so they only really popped for Dorada’s lucha stuff. 3*

Winner – Mascara Dorada (Shooting Star Press – 6 points)

Sports Illustrated gave out some year-end awards and AEW won a bunch of them. Congratulations to all involved on winning such prestigious accolades.

Here’s AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander to join Renee Paquette in the aisle, followed closely by her World’s End challenger, Jamie Hayter. Paquette asks Statlander about Hayter waffling her with a lariat and posing with her title belt during the Manchester visit. Statlander mentions that their journeys have been similar and she’s the champ because she focused on who she should be, not who she was. Statlander says she’s transforming every single day to better herself and at Worlds End Hayer will be face to face with the COSMIC KILLER. Hayter says she wants to say some stuff, and tries to hit Statlander, but Statlander blocks it as Hayter reminds her the last time she hit her she knocked her out. They go nose to nose as the ref squad pours out to break it up. We go to commercials.

MJF vs Dustin Waller

MJF actually hands over the Dynamite Diamond Ring to Paul Turner before the match starts in anticipation of no longer having that distinction. MJF goes immediately to ground and pound after the bell. MJF wipes out Waller with an elbow and then tea-bags Waller to the mat. Waller fires up with a slap to MJF’s chest but it doesn’t phase MJF in the slightest. MJF hits a DDT and puts Waller into the Salt of the Earth as Waller taps immediately.

Just a quick squash to set up the post-match angle. 0.5*

Winner – MJF (Salt of the Earth)

Post-match sees MJF grab a mic but before he can get a word out, here’s Hangman Adam Page in the crowd, followed by Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana. Page reminds MJF that the “no physicality” agreement got left in England, and dares MJF to cut another “low-brow, 1990’s misogynistic, bottom-of-the-barrel, morally reprehensible joke” at he and Swerve’s expense. Page tells MJF to compare them to another “sex pest in the news” because there’s a lot of them out there right now. Page comes down to ringside and promises that MJF is getting his ass beat tonight. The Opps Dojo morons pour out and Page smashes all of them as Swerve heads to ringside to join Page. AEW Men’s World Champion Samoa Joe appears on the video board and says the men in the ring show that the hatred for him has spread farther than maybe they anticipated. Joe promises that no one is taking the belt from him at Worlds End and tells them to hit their catchphrases. MJF takes a chain to the head from Page and a House Call from Swerve, and then Page wraps his chain around MJF’s neck. Swerve decides to tell the crowd something that MJF probably doesn’t want to come out, and part of it is that he loves the crowd and especially crowds in NYC because it feeds his ego. Swerve says he’s never met anyone like MJF in his entire life, and his power makes him toxic. Swerve says that makes MJF more “of a Diddy than I will ever be”. Swerve runs down the list of people that MJF has screwed over including Adam Cole (shoutout, get well soon dude). Swerve says when he wrestles someone he makes them better and promises that he’s a better person than MJF will ever be. Swerve promises to see MJF at Worlds End and calls him a “bitch” to end the segment.

Renee Paquette is backstage with the AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Babes of Wrath. Willow Nightingale feels like she needs a confidence boost, and Cameron hypes her up as well as Paquette. Cameron promises they’re coming for Mercedes Mone and Athena at Worlds End.

Battle for the Dynamite Diamond Ring: AEW National Champion Ricochet vs Ring of Honor Men’s World Champion Bandido

Ricochet is seconded by GOA as usual. Ricochet works some chain wrestling to start and grabs a quick crucifix for two. Ricochet bails to the floor to bark at the crowd before re-entering. There’s some more acrobatics and Bandido hits a rana and a dropkick to drop Ricochet. Ricochet fires up with a forearm and hits some Macarena moves, so Bandido sneaks back in and slaps Ricochet on the top of his head. Ricochet fires up with some chops but runs into a Bandido press-slam that sends Ricochet to the floor. Bandido hits some Macarena moves to a pop. We go to commercials.

Ricochet yanks Bandido down to the mat by his hair when the show returns. Ricochet stomps away as Excalibur reminds us that the winner here will get a title shot on January 14th in Phoenix. Ricochet hits a Northern Lights and then rolls through with a full suplex. They go to the apron and Bandido reverses to suplex Ricochet on the floor. Both are down and they make it back in at the same time. Bandido eats an elbow and a couple of kicks before Ricochet pops him in the back of the neck with an elbow. There’s an exchange of covers that get two, and Bandido gets yanked down again by his hair. Ricochet hits the Vertigo drop and covers Bandido for two. Ricochet wants the Spirit Gun but Bandido slips it. Ricochet hoists Bandido but he slips off and wallops Ricochet with a poison rana. Bandido hits the 21 Plex but Ricochet rolls through and covers for two. Bandido catches Ricochet out a rana attempt and hits a sit-out Liger Bomb for two. Bandido ascends and misses a frog splash but he waffles a charging Ricochet with a superkick. Bandido hits another 21 Plex but Bishop Kaun grabs Ricochet’s hands and he’s able to low-blow Bandido while the ref is trying to get Toa Liona off the apron. Ricochet wants the Spirit Gun but Bandido rolls him up and gets three.

This was fun and the crowd was into it in a big way. Ricochet’s heel shit is really getting over and having those two goons with him helps the act a lot, especially when Bishop Kaun wears ugly Christmas sweaters while being a dastardly sidekick. Bandido’s candidacy for Male Wrestler of the Year continues on, and this was a good athletic contest with a bunch of solid transitions into big moves. I enjoyed it thoroughly. 4*

Winner AND NEW owner of the Dynamite Diamond Ring – Bandido (roll-up off a Spirit Gun attempt)

Post-match sees Ricochet continuing to pummel Bandido which draws out Brody King to chase him and GOA off. King helps Bandido up and hands him the ring. Bandido will face whomever the Men’s World’s Champion is after Worlds End in Phoenix.

Here’s Darby Allin with Lexy Nair, as Gabe Kidd sneaks in from behind to attack him. Kidd pummels Allin and once again tosses him down the staircase. We go to commercials.

Marina Shafir vs Mina Shirakawa

We’re shown that earlier Shirakawa begged Toni Storm to let her do this fight on her own, and Storm reluctantly agrees. Shirakawa smashes Shafir with some kicks to start and then rolls her into a Dragon Screw leg whip. Shirakawa smashes Shafir’s knee into the mat a bunch of times. Shirakawa guillotines Shafir’s leg over the ropes and then hits a rolling splash for one. Shafir dumps Shirakawa to the floor but gets tripped up when she tries to approach. Shirakawa ascends and hits a shotgun dropkick for two. Shiriakawa hits some leg kicks and then drops some rights on the back of Shafir. Shafir hoists Shirakawa and drives her back-first onto the mat as we go to commercials.

Shirakawa hits a jumping neckbreaker and covers Shafir for two as the show returns. There’s a slap fight and Shirakawa wins it and then smashes Shafir with a backfist. Shirakawa slaps on the Figure Four and Shafir screams at her that she’ll never tap. Shafir grabs a finger-snap but eats another backfist when she charges. Shafir has had enough and slaps the Mothers Milk on Shirakawa after a charge. The ref checks Shirakawa’s arm, and it slumps to the mat. The ref calls it for Shafir.

Mina got a lot of offense here before succumbing to the Mother’s Milk, so I’m inclined to be kind to this despite Shafir’s overwhelmingly boring moveset otherwise. Like, she’s supposed to be this awesome judoka but she’s got about a tenth of the personality and moves of say, Ronda Rousey in a pro wrestling setting. I don’t know, I just have never bought into Shafir as a talent. Mina held her own here, and kind of carried this whole thing, so the star rating is entirely due to her. 3.25*

Winner – Marina Shafir (Mother’s Milk)

Post-match sees Shafir continue the attack which then draws out Toni Storm. Shafir drops Storm with a with a high kick and Storm lands directly on top of the fallen Shirakawa. Shafir grins and finally makes her exit while giving the crowd the double bird. Arian Moayed of Succession fame is in the crowd, and apparently he and Tony Khan are on the board of Kulture City together.

Excalibur throws to an interview that Lexy Nair conducted with The Elite after winning in Manchester. The Bucks confirm that they are not medically cleared for a bit, and Kenny Omega says that they will always have each other’s backs. Omega says that while the Bucks are resting up, he’s going to take care of something he should have done awhile ago. We’ll see what that task might be soon, I’m guessing. We go to commercials.

Excal runs down the huge Collision show for Christmas night featuring SIX C2 matches and a squash for Willow and Harley. I’ll have that review up tomorrow morning!

Continental Classic Gold League: PAC (6 points) vs Jack Perry (3 points)

Renee Paquette tells us that this is the first time PAC and Perry have faced each other. If Perry wins this, there will be a six-way tie with everyone on six points heading into Collision. Huh, I wonder what will happen.

There’s a clean break off the ropes as PAC decides to let Perry go. PAC works a wristlock and then there’s a bunch of reversals. PAC hits a snapmare and Perry responds with a dropkick. PAC grinds his boot on Perry’s face after snapping him down again, and Perry hits an armdrag in response. Perry hits a rana and PAC bails. Perry chases out and hits a bulldog before scrambling back in to smash PAC with a tope suicida. Perry ascends and waffles PAC with an elbow that gets one. Perry ascends again and PAC bails to the floor once again. PAC kicks Perry and hits Perry with a snap suplex when he gives chase. We go to commercials.

PAC hits a shotgun dropkick from the top rope as the show returns. PAC’s cover gets two. PAC runs into a Perry superkick and they start slugging it out. PAC gets caught by a Perry brainbuster and both guys are down. Perry starts clubbering away before waffling PAC with a release German. Perry hits a running implant DDT and covers for two. PAC fires up with a kick and then sends Perry flying into the turnbuckles with a release suplex. PAC mounts Perry on the top turnbuckle and hits an overhead release suplex from the top. PAC’s cover only gets two and he seems flummoxed. PAC bullies Perry who tries to fire up with a forearm. PAC and Perry exchange high boots and superkicks. Perry snaps off a poison rana and a huge lariat before covering and getting a long two. Perry’s knee strike gets caught but he hits a superkick and a back suplex. Perry hits a huge knee strike and covers for two, but PAC rolls out of it and slaps on the Brutalizer. Perry makes the ropes to force the break. PAC smashes Perry with a lariat and rolls into the Brutalizer again. Perry rolls him over for two. Perry bites PAC to prevent another Brutalizer and hits a quick roll-up for three.

So, everyone in the Gold League is on six points as we go into the Collision showdown that will determine the other semi-finalists for the C2. Perry held his own with PAC here, and it was quite a war. Perry is dealing with his ongoing kayfabe ankle issues, so it forces him to wrestle and sell a little differently. Still though, he’s in the mix for tomorrow night and that’s what matters. A very solid main event. 4*

Winner – Jack Perry (roll-up – 6 points)

Post-match sees a disgusted PAC leave in a huff while Santasaurus emerges with milk and cookies for Perry. Perry offers them to a little kid in the front row who immediately refuses them to Perry’s chagrin. The happy crowd sings along with Baltimora as Excal runs down the Collision card and the credits roll.

Listen, I hear the complaints about the C2 being a tournament for a mid-level belt that barely matters in the grand scheme of things, but the truth is that the wrestling has been tremendous and it’s been worthy of viewing. Now, how it all goes after Worlds End remains to be seen, but a holiday period filled with great matches is definitely a treat I can get behind. The opener and the main event were excellent, and while Roddy-Dorada was a bit low-key, it still delivered in the way that it needed to. I enjoyed Shafir-Shirakawa because Mina basically carried the whole thing to watchability. Collision will tell the tale about the semis and given that Bandido is the next challenger and is an overwhelmingly popular babyface, I’m guessing you can figure out that either Joe or MJF is probably winning at Worlds End. We’ll see, though. Thumbs up from me for Dynamite.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a Merry Christmas if you’re celebrating it today, and make sure to give your people some love. I’ll be back with Collision tomorrow morning. Y’all be cool.