AEW New Years Smash Review – December 27, 2023
Triple Threat Semi Final Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Gold League Winner 1 Jon Moxley vs. Gold League Winner 2 Swerve Strickland vs. Gold League Winner 3 Jay White
Jay White gets taken to the outside with Jon Moxley rolling up Swerve Strickland for a two count then Strickland sends Moxley to the outside and starts attacking him against the barricade.
All 3 start fighting as Moxley sends both White & Strickland into the crowd and follows them then Strickland places Moxley on a chair and met him with running knees.
They continue fighting for a bit until making it back ringside, where White takes out Moxley with a chop block then they finally take it back inside where White gets a one count on Strickland before suplexing him into the corner for two.
Strickland kicks White off the apron but misses the moonsault onto him before finally landing a kick from the apron to White.
Moxley & Strickland go at it until Strickland stops Moxley with a bite to the finger and a lariat.
Strickland sends White & Moxley to the outside where he hits them with a diving frog splash as we go to picture in picture.
After the break Strickland is working on White on the outside before getting stopped by a dive from Moxley. Moxley follows with a piledriver on Strickland back inside only getting a two count.
They head to the top rope but Moxley eventually ends up hitting a DDT for a two count as White has been laid out on the outside for a while.
As Moxley & Strickland are fighting on the outside White attacks Moxley with a chair landing a shot on his left knee.
Strickland & White go at it for a while until Strickland hits House Call then heads to the top rope and hits a 450 splash then goes for the cover but Moxley breaks up the count as we go to a 2nd picture in picture break.
After the 2nd break all 3 are in the ring trading punches and chops before White hits a sleeper suplex to Strickland before getting put in a choke by Moxley but Strickland breaks it up with House Call.
White hits Blade Runner on Moxley then a cover but Strickland is right there to break it up then White keeps using the chair on both Moxley & Strickland. White sets up a chair in the corner but gets sent headfirst into it.
Strickland & Moxley go at it but White pushes Strickland off the top rope crashing to the outside and tries Blade Runner on Moxley just to get knocked out with a lariat then hits Death Rider for the win
Winner: Jon Moxley (23:14)
Rate: 8 (Recommend)
After the break Tony Schiavone is backstage with Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana as Strickland says he didn’t even get a chance to rest before this interview and he talks about how he wanted this Continental Classic so bad. Strickland said he proved that he is one of the best in the industry and said that he didn’t get pinned but Jay White did. Swerve brings up how Keith Lee is looking for him and if he is ‘him’ and he has nothing to do at Worlds End. Schiavone brings up how Lee already has a contract for the match as Nana gets upset that he didn’t even approve this. Strickland says he will see if Lee shows up on Saturday.
Renee Paquette is on the stage and brings out Mariah May & says she’s there with an important announcement before that Paquette asked May to walk her through her actions after attacking Riho last week. May says she was just supporting Women’s Champion Toni Storm and she goes to tell everyone when her debut will be. May says 2023 didn’t have enough glamour so her debut will be next week on the 1st Dynamite of the new year. May says that 2024 is all about Mariah. Riho interrupts as May runs away to the ring. Toni Storm runs out but Riho takes her out. Luther rescues Storm before Riho can hit Tiger Faint kick as Luther is about to carry out Storm, Riho takes them both out with a top rope crossbody.
We go to the back with Action Andretti & Top Flight so says even though they came up short against Trios Champions The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn there are plenty of other trios to fight. They go to make a challenge but Best Friends walks in and say they were standing 5 feet away and make the match for Friday. Rocky Romero says International Champion Orange Cassidy said the same thing to him last week then Andretti takes a water bottle drinks it and crushes it before saying hydration.
We get a video recap of the Miro & CJ Perry saga as it’s then made official Andrade El Idolo vs. Miro at Worlds End.
Tony Schiavone is in the week and says they will do a celebration for Boxing Week before introducing The Don Callis Family & Don Callis says it’s been a very difficult 2 weeks for him. In times like this he needs his family and there is a way of saying thank you and honoring Boxing Week so he got them all gifts. Callis starts showing each member exaggerated portraits of him with each member each one showing a buff shirtless Callis, including him & Kyle Fletcher boxing with kangaroos. Callis talks about them not being complete as Sammy Guevara’s music hits.
Callis tells Guevara even though he didn’t know he was going to be here, he brought him a gift anyway. Guevara goes to unveil a portrait and it shows Guevara with his baby being surrounded by the rest of The Don Callis Family. Guevara gets in Callis’ face and asks him who permitted him to use his baby’s image. Callis says Guevara is going to need all the help he can get with his parenting as Guevara starts mentioning the fans not remember moments from Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs as Callis overshadows them. Guevara talks about not hearing from Callis when he was concussed as Callis starts talking about his disappointment in Guevara dropping the ball when he got hurt. Callis gives Guevara the ultimate to choose the other family or The Don Callis Family. Callis tells Guevara to think about it or it might make him a failure such as his failure as a parent. Guevara takes out Callis but then gets taken out by the rest of The Don Callis Family. Chris Jericho runs out with his bat and chases them all off before smashing the portraits with his bat. Jericho gives the bat to Guevara who smashes the portrait with him on it. Jericho extends his hand but Guevara hugs him instead & as they are hugging they get attacked from behind by AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill.
The lights go out, but when they come back on we see Sting & Darby Allin in the ring who join Jericho & Guevara in attacking Bill & Starks.
Backstage Renee Paquette is with The Kingdom & Roderick Strong & they reveal a board with all the clues that prove that MJF is The Devil. Strong tells MJF that he’s going to prove he’s The Devil whether it’s tonight or tomorrow it doesn’t matter as MJF will be exposed.
Semi Final Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Blue League Winner 1 Bryan Danielson vs. Blue League Winner 2 Eddie Kingston
Eddie Kingston starts the match by trying to go after Bryan Danielson but Danielson keeps cornering as the referee keeps Kingston away.
Kingston eventually connects with the Saito suplex and as Danielson is on the outside hits him with a tope suicida.
Kingston stays on top with chops against the barricade to Danielson before sending him back inside. They end up fighting on the apron where Danielson knocks off Kingston and hits him with a flying knee as we go to picture in picture.
After the break Danielson is kicking away at Kingston shouting at him that he’s a bum but Kingston catches Danielson right into an exploder suplex.
Kingston stays in command with big chops in the corner while stomping out Danielson before Danielson reverses a suplex attempt into the LeBell Lock.
Kingston escapes out and starts chopping Danielson as he is on the top rope then Kingston joins up top but Danielson slips down and places Kingston in the tree of woe while kicking away at him.
Danielson follows this with a running dropkick places Kingston back on top as he drops some elbows then tries a back suplex but Kingston hits Danielson in the eye on the way out, as we go back to picture in picture.
After the break they are chopping away before Danielson adds in kicks as well then Kingston brings Danielson to his knees and keeps landing chops but Danielson captures Kingston in a suplex for a two count.
Now with Kingston on his knees Danielson starts delivering kicks to the back and chest but Kingston is able to dodge the last one then dodges Danielson off the corner & hits a lariat then Northern Lights Bomb gets a two count.
They go back & forth a bit until Danielson hits Busaiku Knee for a two count then Danielson goes to kick Kingston’s head in but he just ends up flipping off Danielson.
Danielson goes for Busaiku Knee again but Kingston ducks it and hits Uraken then more back & forth until Kingston hits another Uraken and a stacked powerbomb to get the win.
Winner: Eddie Kingston (22:37) (He will face Jon Moxley in the Finals)
Rate: 9 (Recommend)
After the match Jon Moxley heads down to the ring gets on the mic and says all he’s ever asked for Kingston is to give him his best and he admits that Kingston has a lot of people who love him including everyone here and everyone watching. Moxley says they don’t care if Kingston wins or loses but they deserve his very best and maximum effort. The problem is that Moxley knows that Kingston can’t beat him so for his money Kingston has already lost and given up. Moxley talks about this time Kingston won’t get any favors and he’s going to have to earn every inch. Kingston grabs the mic away and says Moxley has talked enough and tells Moxley that he’s not a young boy like Wheeler Yuta and how he came into this business before Moxley. Kingston said on Saturday the King Of The Bums is going to take on Moxley and he will give him everything he has and says he’s going to bring his Fighting Spirit at Worlds End.
Backstage Lexy Nair is with TNT Champion Christian Cage & The Waynes as Christian is upset that he’s been waiting all night for Adam Copeland to show up. Copeland rushes in and starts attacking Christian & Nick Wayne while fighting off security. Copeland & Christian keep fighting in the hallway as numerous wrestlers and officials trying to keep them apart before eventually separating them.
Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue
Kris Statlander stays in control by hitting Skye Blue with body slams before Statlander counters out of a hurricanrana and hits a dropkick on Blue for a two count.
Statlander hits a delayed vertical suplex but Blue takes over and attacks Statlander on the apron sending her face first onto it as we go to picture in picture.
After the break Blue hits Code Blue for a two count then Blue heads to the top rope but Statlander catches her and hits a powerbomb for a two count.
They head to the top rope but Blue slips down and starts distracting Aubrey Edwards.
TBS Champion Julia Hart attacks Statlander on the top rope as Blue takes advantage and hits an avalanche Code Blue for the win.
Winner: Skye Blue (9:14)
Rate: 6
After the match Blue & Hart keep attacking Statlander after the match until Willow Nightingale runs out for the save as Blue & Hart are making their way up the ramp they get stopped by Abadon.
Backstage Renee Paquette is with The Outcasts and asks Ruby Soho for her thoughts on her upcoming Rampage match with Marina Shafir. Saraya cuts her off and says she has a present for Soho before introducing Harley Cameron. Soho walks off as she has a phone call from Angelo Parker & Cameron pulls out a knife.
AEW World Champion MJF makes his way out but Samoa Joe doesn’t come out. We cut to the back where we see Joe has been taken out. MJF insists on defending the titles on his own.
ROH World Tag Team Titles Match
AEW World Champion MJF & Samoa Joe (c) vs. 2 Masked Men
MJF starts attacking one of the masked men in the corner then he goes to take off the mask yelling he wants to see his face but the other masked man snaps MJF on the ropes and tags in.
MJF starts attacking one on the outside and asks the crowd if they want to see who he is.
As the referee is distracted a 3rd masked man comes from under the ring and attacks MJF with a steel pipe on his injured shoulder then the masked man hits Heatseeker on MJF for the win.
Winners & ROH World Tag Team Champions: 2 Masked Men (1:48) (NEW CHAMPIONS!!!!)
Rate: 1
After the match more masked men join in the ring and start attacking MJF as Samoa Joe hobbles down to the ring with a chair chasing them away. Joe helps MJF up as we see an image of The Devil on the screen with the message pleasure doing business with you. Joe then attacks MJF from behind with the chair then takes out MJF with Muscle Buster then holds up the AEW World Title with his foot on MJF’s chest to close out News Year Smash.
New Years Smash Day 2 Card (Dec 29th)
Trios Match
Best Friends (International Champion Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero) vs. Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) & Action Andretti
Ruby Soho vs. Marina Shafir
ROH Pure Title Match
Wheeler Yuta (c) vs. Matt Sydal
Updated Worlds End Card (Dec 30th)
Finals Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Gold League Winner Jon Moxley vs. Blue League Winner Eddie Kingston
AEW World Title Match
MJF (c) vs. Samoa Joe
Women’s Title Match
Toni Storm (c) vs. Riho
8 Man Tag Team Match
AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill & The Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher) vs. La Sex Gods (Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara), Darby Allin & Sting
FTW Title FTW Rules Match
Hook (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta (Pre Show)
TBS Title Match
Julia Hart (c) vs. Abadon
TNT Title No DQ Match
Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland
Swerve Strickland vs. Keith Lee
Andrade El Idolo vs. Miro
TNT Title #1 Contenders 20 Man Battle Royal
20 Man TBD (Pre Show)
Next Week’s Dynamite
Mariah May vs. TBD
