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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
DECEMBER 17, 2025
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND AT CO-OP LIVE
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuiness
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 10,652 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 11,449. The arena has a capacity of 23,500 spectators when configured for concerts.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Jerud Buhagiar to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite AND DURING COLLISION. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
NOTE: We plan to go live at our usual time as the show is still airing and shifts to the Collision portion, so live-watch the last hour with us as we analyze the first two hours!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine). This is a private link, so don’t share. It’s just for VIP members at this time.
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LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER AEW DYNAMITE TONIGHT: CLICK HERE TO WATCH
[HOUR ONE]
(1) JON MOXLEY vs. RODERICK STRONG – Continental Classic Blue League match
That was a much of a cold open as you’ll ever see on a pro wrestling show with a shot of the ring with Moxley and Strong ready to go as the ref called for the bell. Excalibur ran through the rules of the match including the 20 minute time limit and no one allowed at ringside. Excalibur talked about the points status for both wrestlers. A crawler on the bottom of the screen showed the standings for the wrestlers in the Blue League. A minute in, they played Renee Paquette adding further context into this match and also the past Mox vs. Strong matches; she noted they are 2-2 overall against each other and 1-1 in AEW.
After some mat wrestling and standing striking exchanges, they fought to ringside and into the crowd at 4:00. A fan held up a sign that simply said, “Careful now.” They cut to a double-box break at 6:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, Mox had Strong down on the mat. Strong made a comeback and leaped at Mox at ringside with a flying forearm. He threw him back into the ring and landed a running clothesline and a leaping leg lariat. They advertised some upcoming events with graphics at the bottom of the screen including the tapings on Saturday and Sunday in New York at Hammerstein Ballroom, taping next week’s Christmas Eve Dynamite and Christmas Collision episodes.
Strong tried to slam Mox on the ringside steps, but Mox blocked it and set up a piledriver on the steps. Strong resisted and then drove Mox back-first onto the steps. They returned to the ring and battled back and forth. At 15:00, Mox hit a cutter and scored a near fall. He followed with a leaping piledriver for a near fall. Schiavone noted Mox is the only former AEW World Champion in the tournament.
Mox settled into a sleeper. Some fans chanted, “Roddy! Roddy!” Strong rolled to the bottom rope to force a break. Excalibur said clock management is becoming a serious issue. Strong applied a Boston Crab a minute later. Mox twisted and upkicked out of it. Eventually Mox landed a Death Rider for the win.
WINNER: Moxley in 18:00 to earn 3 points.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good match, as is almost always the case with Strong. Not particularly memorable in any way, but that’s fine. This was fiercely competitive. It also is an AEW Special where you were highly confident in the outcome but had to wait over 15 minutes to get there.)
-Eddie Kingston cut a backstage promo. He said he has nothing in his life other than AEW. He said he never stops or quits because of that and everyone he faces after losing to Joe will find that out. He said he doesn’t let one loss bother him. “I learn and I move forward,” he said. He issued an open challenge for Collision. Fans cheered and chanted, “Eddie! Eddie!”
-Don Callis made his entrance to his renegade subwoofer noise that passes as his entrance theme. He introduced Konosuke Takeshita as the first member of The Don Callis Family. Takeshita made his way out to his music. He then introduced Hechicero. Kazuchika Okada came out on his own after Takeshita and Hechicero made their way to the ring.
(2) KAZUCHIKA OKADA & KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & HECHICERO (w/Don Callis) vs. THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matt & Nick Jackson) & KENNY OMEGA
Excalibur noted that Okada is tied for first place in the CC tournament. He said “cash money” is on the line in this match, not points in the tournament. The Bucks came out to their “Be Elite” theme. Then Omega came out to his theme and joined the Bucks on the stage. The bell rang 26 minutes into the hour with Omega vs. Takeshita. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c/db]
Schiavone touted a sellout crowd of over 10,000 and said they’ve broadcast over 300 Dynamites. Callis said Omega is talented, but lost without him. The Elite rallied and cleared the ring. Then all three built up the moment and then leaped onto the awaiting heels at ringside. (That looked so freakin’ stupid. The heels stood there for around 15 seconds as the babyface trio went through a whole routine of movements. It just made everything feel like a performance of spots without any regard for realism or a sense of urgency to win. It wasn’t worth it.)
They cut to another break as Excalibur said, “This match continues. A million dollars is on the line.” (Talk about stupid stuff.) [c]
Back from the break, Okada was in control against Matt. Nick hot-tagged in a minute later. Nick rallied with a series of flashy moves against all three opponents in and outside the ring. He landed a top rope splash for a near fall on Takeshita.
Omega and Okada finally squared off at 18:00. The crowd popped for their exchanges mid-ring. Chaos broke out with all six taking turns hitting moves. Fans chanted “AEW!” Takeshita then battled Nick. Omega broke up a cover Takeshita had on Matt a minute later after a Power Drive Knee. (Yes, Omega actually forced Takeshita off of Matt, and Matt lifted his shoulders. It can be done!)
As expected, Okada and Takeshita had a near miss and shoved each other. Hechicero played peacemaker. Takeshita blocked a Matt kick, but shoved it into Okada’s face inadvertently. Omega tagged in and gave Snap Dragon Suplexes to Takeshita, Hechicero, and Okada. The Bucks and Omega played to the crowd and then triple superkicked Hechicero. Omega then delivered a V-Trigger to Hechicero followed by an assisted One-Winged Angel for the win.
WINNERS: Okada & The Bucks in 23:00 to win $1 million.
-As The Elite celebrated, the heels jumped them. Okada gave Omega a Rainmaker. Okada and Takeshita had a tense staredown, but then turned to attacking The Bucks together. Okada shoved Takeshita afterward. Callis was about to enter the ring to try to separate them, but Omega entered the ring with a broom and caused the heels to flee. The ref presented Omega with the duffel bag full of cash as his music played.
-Excalibur plugged the contract signing up next. [c]
-“Hangman” Page his entrance first. Swerve and Prince Nana made their entrance next. And finally, Samoa Joe accompanied by Powerhouse Hobbs and Hook. Schiavone introduced the segment and said they have all seen the contract. Samoa Joe said, “Tony, sometimes I wish you’d shut your big yapper.” He yelled that he will see both of his challengers at Worlds End and walk out as champion. He said he hopes they both make it there in one piece.
[HOUR TWO]
Swerve said he came back to AEW to pursue the AEW World Title. He turned to Hangman and said he’d take aim at him if he were champion. He said they’ve caused each other hell, but they’ve earned “mutual respect in some weird way.” He said there’s mutual hatred for Joe. He reminded Joe that he took his title away from him. He said he’ll Swerve Stomp him and leave a boot imprint on him that he’ll have a mark on his face that is so bad and ugly and permanent than the fake tattoo he had on his face in 2007. He told Hangman and Joe to bring their big guns to Worlds End. He asked whose house. Fans chanted, “Swerve’s House!”
Schiavone looked at Hangman and said they have two signatures. He told Joe that last July they were fighting together to end the tyranny and bullshit of The Death Riders led by Jon Moxley. He talked about his World Title reign and that one-by-one, each of them would end up facing him for his title. He told Joe he gave him that opportunity at WrestleDream and he failed against him. He said instead of accepting defeat, he turned to Shibata, Hobbs, and Hook. Hangman said Joe is worse than the Death Riders on their worst day. He said all Joe has is the title, because he has no self-respect or dignity left. He said in the twilight years of his career, he’d hate for the legend of Joe to be remembered “as the piece of shit that you are today.” Fans chanted, “Piece of shit!” Joe said if anyone would know about that, “it’s this god-forsaken town.”
Hangman said he planned on defending his title against Darby Allin and Will Ospreay. Fans sang for Ospreay. Hangman said he knew there would come a time where he’d once again stand across the ring from Swerve. He said if Swerve beat him, he’d have accepted the defeat and handed the belt over to him. He said that’s not the world they live in. He said after Worlds End, Joe will not be champion. He said he has messed up more than he knows by making an enemy of the two of them. Hangman then signed the contract.
Schiavone said they have all three signatures and they will wrestle in 10 days. The lights went out. MJF then showed up and strutted out to the ring. (All everyone was thinking is “his hair looks really weird.” It’s actually kinda what C.M. Punk has done.) MJF then added his name to the contract. Schiavone said MJF has just cashed in his guaranteed World Title shot to be added to All In. He said it’s now a four-way match.
MJF yanked the mic from Schiavone and told him to get out of his ring “you tub of goo.” Fans chanted, “MJF!” MJF said he’s sure why everyone is wondering why a guy like him would choose to face three men instead of one. He said since the inception of the company, he Hangman called him a coward. He said he took time off to get himself together and film a movie, he was festering and thought maybe Hangman was right. He said the past him would have looked for shortcuts, but now he can beat all three in one fell swoop and no one will have any excuses.
When Joe interjected, MJF yelled at him to shut his mouth. Joe and MJF went face-to-face. MJF imitated Joe’s voice and said he still hates him. He said when he took the AEW World Title from him, the fans turned on him. He said the fans get to dictate who goes down as an all-time great. He said he doesn’t want that, he needs that. He said Joe made the people question his abilities. He said he’s about to make Joe fall back harder than his hairline. Joe and Hook chuckled over that one. MJF said the same way Joe ended his reign, he’ll end Joe’s.
Swerve said if MJF should be afraid of anyone, it should be him. He said he reminds him of a famous musician. He said they both call themselves moguls and they both rock chains and too much baby oil “and you’re both dogshit rappers.” He said he reminds him of P-Diddy. Fans asked, “Whose house?” MJF said fans know him as Swerve, but when he was 18 years old, they were both grinding it out on the indy scene trying to be a star. He said he went on to be the biggest AEW star in history, whereas Swerve went to WWE. Fans booed. “Your run there, ehhh, not great,” he said. He said he totally enjoyed him twerking for top dollar.
He said Swerve won the AEW Title for 106 whopping days. He said they now have a problem because he’s in his way and biting the hand that feeds him. He said he’s Swerve Stomping around like he owns the place. He said it’s not Swerve’s House, it’s his house, rent is due, and the Devil has come to collect. He said he’s about to handle all his family business in one night. He closed with his signature phrase about being better than everyone. Excalibur called it an explosive return.
(Keller’s Analysis: MJF certainly added a new element to a triple threat match. Zack Heydorn and I discussed in today’s Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast special Mailbag episode – dropping tonight, search “wade keller” in your podcast app to listen – that if MJF were added to the match, he would even out the face-heel balance in the match. He, of course, also adds fresh star power to the PPV that otherwise might feel lacking anything all that novel in the midst of holiday chaos. His promo was a good solid version of MJF being MJF.)
-A soundbite aired with “Speedball” Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight. Speedball said he’s coming off his two biggest victories. He plugged his match against Jack Perry on Saturday’s Collision.
(Keller’s Analysis: This TV schedule is chaotic. Usually, a one-hour Collision add-on to Dynamite is indicative of Collision being preempted on the weekend. Now they’re promoting Hammerstein Ballroom events this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday night, which are tapings for Christmas and Christmas Eve, and also a Collision airing Saturday afternoon “coast-to-coast” at 2:30 ET and 11:30 PT. I don’t blame anyone for being confused.)
(3) THE BABES OF WRATH (Harley Cameron & Willow Nightingale) & TIMELESS LOVE BOMBS (“Timeless” Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa) vs. MERCEDES MONE & ATHENA & THE MEGA PROBLEMS (Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir)
The bell rang 23 minutes into the hour. They cut to a break at 2:00 as they were all brawling in the ring and at ringside. [c/db]
Willow leaped off the ring apron onto Bayne at ringside. Athena then gave Willow the O-Face as Willow re-entered the ring and then Mercedes made a quick cover for the win.
WINNERS: Mercedes & Athena & Bayne & Shafir in 8:00. [c]
(4) PAC vs. KYLE FLETCHER – Continental Classic Gold League match
The bell rang 37 minutes into the hour. Fletcher took control at ringside and then strutted and flexed after a clothesline. Fletcher tossed Pac back into the ring and settled into a sleeper mid-ring. Pac battled out of it with a jaw-breaker and then ducked a charging Fletcher, who flew to the floor. Pac the landed a diving huracanrana off the ring apron. He tossed Fletcher back into the ring. Pac climbed to the top rope, but Fletcher rolled out of the ring. Fletcher kicked Pac in the jaw as he charged. Fans were chanting for Pac.
Fletcher climbed to the top rope, but Fletcher met him up there and overhead tossed him to the mat. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Fletcher again rolled out of the range of Pac as Pac climbed to the top rope. Pac landed a reverse huracanrana. Fletcher popped up and kicked Pac and then delivered a leaping sitout powerbomb for a near fall at 11:00. Pac applied a standing Brutalizer. Fletcher collapsed to the mat and faded. The ref checked on him. Fletcher draped his boot over the bottom rope. Pac landed a lariat seconds later for a near fall.
Pac once again climbed to the top rope and yet again Fletcher moved and the knocked Pac off the top rope. He landed three kicks and a sheer drop brainbuster for a near fall. Excalibur called it a certainty it would end during the ref’s count.
Pac gave Fletcher a top rope reverse huracanrana a minute later and then landed a top rope Black Arrow for a three count.
WINNER: Pac in 15:00 to earn 3 points.
(Keller’s Analysis: That lived up to expectations with a hard-hitting match.)
-A graphic showed Pac with 6 points with two matches to go, tying Bailey and Okada. Fletcher has 6 points with only 1 match to go. Knight is at 3 points with 2 matches to go. Perry is at 0 points, but three matches to go. [c]
COLLISION COVERAGE CONTINUES AS WE PODCAST LIVE TO DISCUSS DYNAMITE
- Orange Cassidy vs. Máscara Dorada – Continental Classic Blue League match
- FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robison & Austin Gunn) – AEW World Tag Team Championship match
- Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Jerud Buhagiar to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite AND DURING COLLISION. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
NOTE: We plan to go live at our usual time as the show is still airing and shifts to the Collision portion, so live-watch the last hour with us as we analyze the first two hours!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
VIP VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
https://streamyard.com/6hgftkfub4
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine). This is a private link, so don’t share. It’s just for VIP members at this time.
Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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