**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Tonight’s episode of AEW DYNAMITE: Holiday Bash was broadcast live from the historic Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, TX!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
“Absolute” Ricky Starks came down to the ring to kick off the show!
Starks: “It would be really nice to be standing here as your new AEW World Champion but that’s not how things turned out because I lost. That’s on me. At least I lost like a man while Max won like a coward.
“If I was this close to beating you MJF, just imagine what happens next time. Because guess what? There will be a next time between you and me. It doesn’t mean this is the end of the road. Look at me. This is just the start. And if that means I gotta work my way back up to a title shot, line ‘em up so I can strike ‘em down.”
Chris Jericho with Daniel Garcia and Sammy Guevara walked onto the stage, with Jericho’s theme interrupting Ricky Starks.
Jericho: “Ricky, Ricky, Ricky. I’ve been watching you for a long time Ricky Starks, a long time. I saw you last week and you’re right, you did come this close to winning the world championship. You’re not a dollar store version of anybody. You’re a million-dollar talent. And I guarantee you’ll be a world champion someday but you’re just not ready yet.
“I don’t want you to be a flash in the pan, Ricky Starks, and after talking things over with Sammy and Danny, we think you have everything it takes to be a big star in AEW. All you need though is a little influence, a little advice, a little Chris Jericho. We talked it over and Ricky Starks, we want you to join the Jericho Appreciation Society.”
Starks: “You know what I like about you Chris? You know how to stay relevant. You’re lean and mean and shredded. While the offer is very tempting to join your little boy band, I’m going to say hell nah, I don’t want to join JAS. You think I want to be a part of that? No, no, no. Just last week you lost to Action and your stock has kinda dropped. The J in JAS should stand for jobbers.
“Those two jassholes with you have not done anything. I have a question. Danny, what has Chris done for you since you joined? You lost your title. And Sammy, I could care less about you. But you’re not going to suck the life out of me because I’m not going to let it happen. How about January 4th, new city, new AEW, it is you Chris Jericho taking on me, “Absolute” Ricky Starks.”
Jericho: “Wow, was that ever the wrong answer, Ricky. Get him boys!”
Jake Hager ambushed Ricky Starks from behind and then Sammy and Garcia jumped into the ring and began to kick Starks!
Action Andretti ran to the ring and cleaned house on the JAS!
Match 5 in the Best Of 7 Series: No Disqualifications!
Death Triangle—PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo, & Rey Fenix (3)
vs.
The Elite—Kenny Omega, & The Young Bucks—Nick & Matt Jackson!
“It is win or go home for the Elite here tonight,” said Excalibur.
Death Triangle blasted the Elite with thrust kicks and then took flight and took out the Elite on the arena floor!
Don Callis joined the commentary team for this match.
Penta El Zero Miedo cracked a trash can over Kenny’s head! He followed up by dropkicking the can against Kenny’s groin area. Death Triangle nailed Matt Jackson with triple dropkicks!
Penta El Zero Miedo stuck Nick Jackson with the sling blade clothesline outside the ring. PAC and Rey Fenix set up tables on the arena floor. Penta El Zero Miedo propped up an artificial Christmas tree in the ring and Matt and Kenny were hit with the artificial pine needles.
PAC began to dissect Nick’s tweaked right ankle. Matt Jackson wiped out the Lucha Bros outside the ring by doing a breathtaking moonsault off the turnbuckles. Kenny took a trash can and used it as he moonsaulted PAC inside the ring for a near fall!
Kenny Omega pulled out a barbed wire broom from beneath the ring! He grabbed Fenix and smashed him face first into the broom!
Matt dropped an elbow through Penta on the table. Nick used a senton onto PAC through the table!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome! This is awesome!”
The Bucks lifted up Rey Fenix for the BTE Trigger but Alex Abrahantes interrupted it by grabbing Kenny’s ankle! Kenny managed to rock Rey Fenix with the V-Trigger. Rey took down Kenny with a hurracanrana for a near fall!
Rey Fenix pulled out a hammer and cracked Kenny in the forehead with it for a near fall! PAC locked in the Brutalizer. Rey Fenix captured Nick’s ankle in a submission. Matt Jackson jumped in the ring and stomped his opponents, forcing them to release their submissions on the Elite members.
Kenny sent Rey Fenix down hard to the mat with a snap dragon suplex out of nowhere. Matt pinned Rey Fenix after Nick Jackson did a Meltzer Driver on Fenix, who crashed down on a steel chair!
“The Elite really needed that to survive and continue in this series,” said Taz.
After the match, Death Triangle attacked the Elite! Nick was busted wide open by a hammer shot!
“This story isn’t over but the Elite are just completely decimated,” said Excalibur.
Footage was played from last week of AEW World Champion MJF following his match!
MJF: “Bryan Danielson, you stuck your nose in my business. Guess what Bryan Danielson? When it comes to the Reign of Terror, you will eat less of what you desire and more of what you deserve!”
Tony Schiavone interviewed Action Andretti backstage!
Action said he had Ricky’s back. Matt Menard and Angelo Parker distracted Action Andretti while Jericho threw a fireball into Action’s face!
Renee Paquette was in the ring to interview the “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
Danielson: “I don’t expect the Blackpool Combat Club to forgive William Regal. He’s done some pretty bad things. But here’s the thing: I first trained to wrestle right here in San Antonio, Texas. My very first match was 15 minutes up the road. The man who turned me into the wrestler I am today is William Regal. He turned me into the person I am today.
“I understand that Mox, Claudio, and Wheeler, they don’t have the same relationship. But when Regal was in the hospital and I didn’t think I’d see him again, I cried. Because that man made my life better.
“So then he gets to come here and I loved having William Regal in AEW. And one thing William Regal taught me is there are consequences to your actions. One thing MJF needs to learn is that there are consequences to your actions. Max, don’t think for a second that I haven’t been listening to every word you’ve said. MJF you call me a coward, get your ass out here right now!”
“All Ego” Ethan Page’s music hit! Page and Stokely Hathaway walked onto the ramp!
Ethan Page: “For some odd reason vegetable man here thinks he gets to jump ahead of the line.”
Hathaway: “That’s crazy!”
Danielson: “It sounds like you just insulted me by calling me vegetable man.”
Page: “I want to make something very clear. I didn’t call you vegetable man because of what you eat and the way you live your life. I called you vegetable man because if you think you’re jumping ahead of Ethan Page, I will literally turn you into a vegetable.”
Danielson: “Why don’t you do it right here, right now, in San Antonio, Texas!”
Page: “I have no problem popping off the top, but these pants are staying on. I say we do it next week. You guys suck! I’m not doing it for San Antonio. I’ll see you next week Bryan!”
AEW World Champion was watching on the monitor backstage, smiling.
FTW Champion Hook vs. Exodus Prime!
Hook grappled Prime to the mat. Hook slugged away at Exodus Prime in the corner. Hook used a high cradle suplex on Exodus. Hook leaned in and walloped Prime with a lariat.
Hook locked in RedRum and left Exodus Prime no choice but to tap out!
There was a camera backstage and Lee Moriarty and Big Bill were attacking “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry. Big Bill choke slammed Jungle Boy into a dumpster! Stokely Hathaway was sending a message to Hook!
Jon Moxley (with the Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Top Flight’s Darius Martin (with Dante Martin)!
Darius tried a shoulder tackle on Mox and Mox barely budged. Darius tripped Moxley and followed up with a dropkick.
Moxley booted Darius in the midsection. Moxley suplexed Darius on the concrete floor of the arena!
Dante went to check on his brother and Moxley shoved him out of the way. Darius flew out of the ring and smacked into Mox with a tope!
Moxley turned Darius inside out with a suplex type maneuver. Mox stomped on Darius’ elbow and then chopped away at Darius’ chest. He headbutted Darius. Mox propped up Darius on the turnbuckles and superplexed Darius back into the ring!
Moxley was looking for a brainbuster but Darius floated over. They traded strikes in the center of the ring. Moxley kicked Darius in the kneecap. Darius fired back with a running European uppercut and then a shoulder to Mox’s midsection. Darius nailed Mox with a flatliner off the bottom rope for a near fall!
Darius hit Mox with a diving crossbody but Mox rolled through, capturing the wrists. Mox stomped down on Darius. Mox followed up with the hammer and anvil elbows. Mox spiked Darius with the Death Rider and then was victorious via pin!
AAA & IWGP Tag Team Champions FTR—Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood
vs.
The Gunns—Austin & Colten!
Cash elbowed Colten in the back and then delivered an atomic drop to Austin. Cash backdropped Austin.
FTR took the fight to the Gunns outside the ring, whipping them into the barricades.
Dax tagged in and cleaned house on the Gunns with right hands. Dax fought through his injuries and nailed Colten with a lariat. Colten grabbed the boot of Dax and then smacked Dax’s face into the ring apron. Cash flew out of the ring with a tope to Colten!
Austin rammed Dax into the steel ring steps. Austin applied the Sharpshooter to Dax but Cash ran in with a body block to break up the hold.
Dax attempted a piledriver on Austin but due to injury, he couldn’t hoist up Austin. Austin reversed a roll-up and with the assistance of Colten, pinned Dax!
Rick Ross mediated a face-to-face meeting between Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland in the ring!
Keith Lee was in the ring. Rick Ross tried to introduce Swerve but Swerve casually strolled out.
Swerve: “Swerve is not waiting for nobody. Swerve is gonna start doing things Swerve’s way. Keith I really tried with you bro. Me and you we should own everything. Ross, I can’t deal with all the accusations that Keith Lee…Keith, you can’t keep your eye on the ball. And honestly, you need to keep your eyes on the back of your head from now on.”
Parker Boudreaux attacked Keith Lee from behind! Keith Lee rallied back and clotheslined Parker over the top rope!
Keith Lee marched towards Swerve but Keith Lee was jumped from behind by one of Swerve’s affiliates! Parker swung a steel chair at Keith Lee’s back. Swerve’s affiliates continued to assault Keith Lee.
Rick Ross: “It’s time to make history.”
Keith Lee was set up on the steel ring steps! Swerve jumped off the top rope and used a double foot stomp on top of Keith Lee, smashing a cinder block across Keith Lee’s chest!
Main Event Time!
AEW Women’s World Championship Match!
Jamie Hayter (c.) (with Dr. Britt Baker. D.M.D. & Rebel) vs. Hikaru Shida!
Hayter went for a wild swing but Shida ducked and countered with elbows of her own. Hayter battered Shida with strikes. Shida dropped Hayter with a knee strike.
Shida suplexed Hayter into the turnbuckles. Shida rocked Hayter with a big knee strike!
Hayter and Shida collided in the center of the ring with clotheslines on one another, each wrestler having the same strategy in mind.
Shida blasted Hayter with a missile dropkick. Hayter used a snapmare off the turnbuckles on Shida, sending Shida crashing on the ring apron. Shida nailed Hayter with a brainbuster off the apron and onto the arena floor!
Hayter tried for a moonsault but Shida rolled out of the way. Shida followed up with a running knee for a near fall on Hayter!
The champ rallied back with a sliding lariat for a near fall on Shida!
The fans chanted “This is awesome! This is awesome!”
Shida rocked Hayter with a combination assault and then a release German suplex! Dr. Britt Baker jumped on the ring apron with the kendo stick while Rebel distracted the referee. Shida grabbed the kendo stick and whacked Baker. Hayter powerbombed Shida for a near fall!
“An absolute barnburner here in our main event!” said Excalibur.
Hayter cracked Shida with the Hayter-Ade and then pinned Shida!
“What a battle! Both ladies…amazing!” said Taz.
Baker and Rebel attacked Shida after the match! Toni Storm sprinted to the storm to even up the odds! Hayter hit Storm in the back of the head with the title belt! Saraya sprinted to the ring and sent Baker flying out of the ring with a thrust kick!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE: New Year’s Smash on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, CO!
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE: Holiday Bash on TNT at 10pm ET!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
Happy Holidays!