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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
DECEMBER 31, 2025
OMAHA, NEB. at LIBERTY FIRST CREDIT UNION ARENA
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Bryan Danielsont
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 1,822 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 2,328. The arena has a capacity of 4,600 spectators when configured for NCAA Div 1 baskeTball.
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[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a scene of pyro blasting on the stage as Excalibur introduced the show. He ran through scheduled matches and segments.
-A highlight package aired on Worlds Collide ending with MJF winning the AEW World Title.
-They cut to the parking lot where MJF stepped out of a white SUV. Excalibur said the MJF era of AEW has resumed. Schiavone said he cannot think of a more despicable human being in his life. He said he’ll be more cocky and obnoxious than ever.
-MJF made his ring entrance. He stared into the camera. He listed his opponents at Worlds End and said, “That’s your big three, right? That’s cute.” He said he is the AEW World Champion. He held up the belt and then threw it through the ropes to the floor. He then lifted a red cloth to reveal his new AEW World Title belt. He said he knows a lot of people are upset with him now after annihilating verbally and physically all of their fan favorites. He said he’s not supposed to take it easy on them. He said if any wrestler in his sport is dumb enough to think they’re on his level, “step up or get stepped on.” He said he’s a stallion. He said he tired of slot trotting around so all the donkeys in the back can keep up. He said from now on, he’s sprinting until he establishes he is the greatest of all time. He closed with his catch phrase, but then was interrupted by Kenny Omega who was dressed like he was going to a high-class New Year’s party in a nice house.
Omega said he was sorry to interrupt as he was probably getting to the good part. He said it made him feel a certain way, like he’s closer to the end of his career than the beginning. He said he doesn’t like feeling “what if?” so he is aiming to become World Champion again. He suggested they find out what would happen if they wrestled again. He said he’s not collecting belts, but rather just aiming for one. He said he’s willing to scrape and crawl his way to the front of the line. He said they’ll be seeing more of him.
MJF said he wasn’t man enough to say that to his face. “Hangman” Adam Page’s music then played. He showed up in the crowd. Then Swerve Strickland’s music played. He showed up in the concourse tunnel entrance with Prince Nana. Hangman and Swerve walked down the steps. As security held them back from crossing over the barricade, MJF told them to calm down. He said he believes wins and losses matter, and they’re both losers. He told them to pick up some wins and talk to Tony Khan. He said if they earn a match, he’ll whip both of their asses, just as he did at Worlds End.
MJF left the ring, but then Hangman and Swerve broke past security. Hangman and Swerve beat up several members of the security team. Schiavone said he wanted to give security credit for trying their best, but Hangman and Swerve were angry. Hangman and Swerve asked for microphones. Fans chanted, “AEW!” Hangman paced and said he will strangle MJF with “that ugly ass belt before I take it away from you.” Swerve said he’s only shown him a piece of what he’s capable of. He said the hunt is on and may the best man win.
Joe then appeared on the big screen with Hook and Powerhouse Hobbs. Hook was snacking on chips. Joe said he was robbed and always faces obstacles. He said Hangman had the nerve to put his hands on Hook, whom he called the greatest second-generation wrestler in history. He told Swerve that “meat is back on the menu” and Hobbs is hunting for him. Joe said they should face off next week because he didn’t want to spend another moment in that down. Hangman said, “Please send me Hook.” Swerve suggested no holds barred, no DQ, lights out.
(Keller’s Analysis: Babyfaces beating up security guys just doing what they were hired to do by their bosses continues to be a tired, overdone, stupid trope. MJF was restrained and uncontroversial, which freed up viewers to absorb the core unlikability of his character rather than being distracted by him trying to get “OMG!” gasps like an insult comic. Cheers to that. He carried himself like an arrogant alpha World Champion in his prime with nothing to prove other than that he’s the best wrestler. I liked that he referred to pro wrestling as a sport, not a business. Hangman was his usual “slightly too angry” self. Swerve was cool. Joe stopped short of overmodulating the mic, so that’s a victory. I liked Joe sending Hook and Hobbs to do his dirty work.)
-Renee Paquette interviewed Mark Briscoe, Roderick Strong, and Orange Cassidy backstage. Renee said they’d be doing another Mixed Nuts match. He said the word of the day is asphyxiation because The Death Riders “will be choking on these nuts.” Toni Storm walked up to Cassidy and called him “Citrus Boy.” She said he has nice moves for someone so acidic. Mina Shirakawa walked up acting jealous. Storm said it’s not sexual. She said: “This man is a professional; besides, he’s not my kind. He’s barely awake.” Storm took a bite of an orange like an apple, chewing on the peel. Shirakawa yanked Storm away. Briscoe asked for a bite of the orange. Strong yelled, “Renee! I don’t want a part of this.”
-They briefly went to Excalibur and Schiavone at ringside.
(1) ORANGE CASSIDY & RODERICK STRONG & TONI STORM vs. DANNY GARCIA & CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI & MARINA SHAFIR – Mixed Nuts match
The babyfaces made their entrance first. Then the Death Riders trio made their way to the ring from the back. The bell rang 24 minutes into the hour with everyone brawling. Cassidy celebrated early. Shafir put him in a Full Nelson from behind. Cassidy put his hands in his pockets to “force a break” and then rolled up Shafir for a two count. Shafir, Garcia, and Claudio took turns charging at Cassidy in the corner. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
The babyface trio made a comeback. Toni set up a Giant Swing on Claudio, but Garcia gave her a running boot to the face. Fans booed. Garcia acted like it was totally justified and didn’t understand why they were upset. Cassidy leaped off the top rope with a crossbody. Claudio caught him, but Cassidy delivered a Stun Dog Millionaire. Storm entered and landed a hip attack on Claudio. Cassidy then gave Claudio a tornado DDT. Claudio held the ref to block Cassidy’s Orange Punch. Wheeler Yuta yanked on Cassidy’s hair. Claudio then gave Cassidy a lift-and-drop uppercut for the win.
Mina and Luther checked on Storm afterward. Storm stood over Orange as he was recovering from the uppercut. He eventually half-heartedly offered to help him.
WINNERS: Claudio & Garcia & Shafir in 9:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: A fun match.)
-A promo vignette aired with Mercedes Moné. She said every division she enters get elevated and every era she’s part of gets defined. She said she is a global phenomenon and her mission in 2025 was accomplished. She said she’s not chasing history anymore, but rather she is it. She said she’s the standard, the blueprint, and the ceiling. She said she’s the CEO of pro wrestling and the greatest TBS Champion of all-time.
(2) BANDIDO vz. THE BEAST MORTOS
The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Excalibur plugged Bandido’s title match against MJF in two weeks. He also plugged upcoming AEW events. Bandido a bull fighting spot with a cape. Mortos headbutted Bandido and stomped on the cape. He then dove through the ropes and landed on Bandido at ringside. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Bandido avoided a top rope moonsault from Mortos and then landed a GTS and a 21 Plex for the win.
WINNERS: Bandido in 9:00. [c]
-Renee interviewed Bandido and Brody King backstage. Bandido spoke about his match against MJF in two weeks in Spanish. He had his ROH Title belt over his shoulders. Brody predicted he’ll become Brodido Two Belts and then he’ll be first in line. He said in the mean time, he had business to take care of.
(3) LEE JOHNSON vs. BRODY KING
Johnston flip dove onto Brody over the top rope to ringside before the match. Brody popped up and chopped Johnston and threw him around ringside and then into the ring. The ref called for the bell 58 minutes into the hour. Brody finished Johnson shortly thereafter with a cannonball into the corner and then a powerbomb piledriver.
WINNER: Brody in 1:00.
-A vignette aired with Darby Allin saying he isn’t numb to the pain, but he knows what it gives him. He said he understands arguments against his way of life. He said he wished he could relay the beauty. He said it gives him peace. He said in 2025 he stood on top of Mt. Everest and in 2026 he wants to stand on top of AEW. He said he has defeated every member of the Death Riders other than Pac. He said he needs the win to set himself free and finish what he started.
[HOUR TWO]
(4) JOSH ALEXANDER vs. JON MOXLEY
Alexander made his entrance first. Then Moxley. Renee at ringside said in 2026, it will be the Death Riders against The World, but right now it feels like Death Riders vs. the Don Callis Family. The bell rang 5 minutes into the hour. Schiavone said fans were chanting for Moxley, and while he hasn’t always endeared himself to fans, he speaks authentically and from the heart and fans appreciate that. They cut to a double box break with Alexander in control. [c/db]
Excalibur said many counted out Mox at Worlds End, but he defied the odds. At 11:00 Mox and Alexander exchanged strikes mid-ring. Mox hit a running lariat and both were down and slow to get up. Fans chanted, “Moxley! Moxley!” Mox applied a figure-four around the ringpost at 13:00. Excalibur said Alexander only has to survive 20 minutes to earn a shot at Moxley’s Continental Title. Mox applied a bloodied Alexander in a sleeper and then landed elbow strikes beofre applying a sleeper again. Alexander tapped. Excalibur said it was another in a series of gutsy performances for Moxley. Schiavone said there’s no one quite like him.
WINNER: Moxley in 15:00.
-MVP and Shelton Benjamin walked out onto the stage and eyed Moxley. Fans chanted, “We hurt people!” Mox favored his leg on his way to the back. The announcers speculated on whether he’d need surgery.
-Backstage, the Triangle of Maddness (Julia Hart, Tekla, Skye Blue) spoke about Worlds End. Tekla she loved seeing Kris Statlander drop a friend on her head and win. She said it’s lonely at the top, so she offered to let them take her place so they can make it real toxic. [c]
(5) RICOCHET (w/GOA) vs. “JUNGLE” JACK PERRY – National Title match
The bell rang 28 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
After back and forth action, they battled on the top rope. Perry shoved Ricochet down and then leaped off with a tornado DDT for a two count at 10:00. After interference at ringside from Bishop Kaun, Ricochet landed a Spirit Gun for the win.
WINNER: Ricochet in 10:00.
-Toa Leona carried Luchasaurus onto the ramp. He rammed a ringside barricade segment over his arm. Ricochet gave a cheap shot Spirit Gun to a distracted Perry in the ring. Kaun smashed a chair against the barricade and Luchasaurus sold that it was crushing his arm. GOA bashed a security guy across his back with a chair and bodyslammed another on the barricade.
-The Death Riders (sans Pac) were gathered backstage. Mox said brought up Shelton. He said they are setting the standard. Yuta said if you want to get to Pac, you have to go through him. Garcia said it is Death Rider against the world in 2026.
(Keller’s Analysis: So the Death Riders are just babyfaces now without any dissension?)
-Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron were backstage. Willow said she’s going to end the near year with a bang. [c]
-Renee interviewed MJF backstage. She asked about everyone gunning for him. MJF said he’s not worried because he is a generational talent. Brody and Bandido walked in. Brody said MJF should be worried about Bandido who will win and come home with his Triple B – Bandido’s Big Belt.
(6) MERCEDES MONE vs. WILLOW NIGHTINGALE – TBS Title match
After formal ring introductions, Mercedes dropkicked Willow at the bell 50 minutes into the hour and went on the attack at ringside. Willow came back with a Pounce at ringside. Back in the ring, she scored a two count. Mercedes went back on offense as they cut to a double-box break at 4:00. [c/db]
Willow made a comeback with a pounce at 9:00 center-ring. She followed with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Willow landed a sitout powerbomb, but Mercedes had her leg on the bottom rope. Excalibur noted that Jim Ross will join them on commentary next week from Oklahoma. Willow leaped off the top rope with a moonsault, but Mercedes moved. Schiavone said they were in overtime.
[OVERRUN]
Willow went for a cannonball off the ring apron to ringside, but Mercedes moved. Mercedes landed three vertical suplexes at ringside. Willow made a comeback and took the lid off the announce desk and then cleared it of the equipment. She then threw Mercedes onto the desk and set up a move, but Mercedes blocked it and then suplexed Willow onto the desk. Willow beat the ten count barely.
Willow blocked a roll-up by Mercedes. Mercedes rolled over into a Statement Maker. Willow rolled Mercedes’s shoulders back for a two count. She stood. Willow blocked a Mone Maker and then set up a powerbomb. Mercedes slipped free. Mercedes leveraged Willow’s shoulders down for a near fall. Mercedes then scored a two count with a jackknife cover. Willow then landed a sitout powerbomb for a three count.
As Willow celebrated, Cassidy, “Speedball” Mike Bailey, and Harley Cameron came out. Kris Statlander entered the ring, and after a moment of tension, they hugged.
WINNER: Willow in 16:00 to capture the TBS Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Nice, hard-fought back and forth match with a dramatic sequence at the end.)
Announced Matches & Other Notes
- Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale – TBS Championship match
- Jon Moxley vs. “The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander – AEW Continental Championship Eliminator match
- Ricochet vs. “Jungle” Jack Perry
- MJF to speak
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