By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 270)
Fishers, Indiana at Fishers Event Center
Aired live December 4, 2024 on TBS
[Hour One] Excalibur checked in on commentary while the camera panned a crowd and seemed to stop for a moment on a “Free Fenix” sign… A video package recapped the Continental Classic matches and the leaderboards were shown. Tony Schiavone and Matt Menard were also on commentary…
Ring announcer Justin Roberts delivered the introductions for the opening match. Shelton Benjamin came out with Bobby Lashley and MVP, who headed backstage while he headed to the ring. Kyle Fletcher made his entrance and the tournament rules graphic was shown…
1. Kyle Fletcher vs. Shelton Benjamin in a Continental Classic blue league match. Don Callis sat in on commentary. The crowd chanted “Ospreay’s better” at Fletcher. Callis said they already proved that’s not true and then he took a jab at the intelligence of the Indian fans.
Fletcher took a suplex and then avoided another move attempt. Fletcher clotheslined Benjamin and both men tumbled over the top rope to ringside heading into the first picture-in-picture commercial break. [C]
Benjamin clotheslined Fletcher to ringside and then ran him into side of the ring, the barricade, and the ring steps. Benjamin charged Fletcher, who moved, and Benjamin tentatively ran his head into the ring post. Benjamin barely beat the referee’s count.
Fletcher caught Benjamin with a kick and then hit him with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Fletcher hit a Helluva Kick, but Benjamin came right back with a kick of his own.
Benjamin powerbombed Fletcher for a two count and then immediately transitioned into a leg lock and Camel Clutch combo submission hold. Fletcher reached the ropes to break the hold. There were boos over Fletcher not tapping.
Fletcher caught Benjamin with a superkick. Fletcher followed up with another kick and then went up top and performed a flying elbow drop for a near fall. Fletcher showed frustration over not getting the pin.
Fletcher charged Benjamin, who caught him with a superkick. Benjamin followed up three German suplexes. Benjamin hit Fletcher with a knee strike in the corner. Fletcher rolled under the ropes.
Fletcher shoulder blocked Benjamin and then performed a sunset flip for a two count. Fletcher rolled up Benjamin and held the middle rope while getting the three count…
Kyle Fletcher defeated Shelton Benjamin in 15:50 in a Continental Classic blue league match to earn three points.
The updated leaderboard showed Fletcher leading with six points, though only he and Benjamin have had two matches thus far…
Highlights aired from of the Continental Classic matches from Saturday’s Collision…
Powell’s POV: A good match, but the most encouraging aspect is that Fletcher had real heat even while working with a fellow heel. AEW is doing a good job of recapping the past Continental Classic matches while also showing the rules and leaderboards.
Hook made his entrance dressed in non-wrestling attire. Hook said he heard Nick Wayne say he wants to fight him in New York City. Hook said he had a better idea. He said he’d rather fight Wayne’s father (Christian Cage) and leave him in worse shape than they left his father Taz. Hook called out Wayne.
Christian Cage’s entrance theme played and he made his entrance with Mother Wayne. Christian held the dented case that contains his contract for a shot at the AEW World Championship.
Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian jumped Hook in the ring. Hook got the better of both men. Mother Wayne distracted Hook, which led to Christian hitting him with the contract case. The heels ganged up on the Hook.
The heels wrapped a chair around the wrist of Hook and then Nick slammed another chair on it. Hook sold a wrist injury while the heels left the ring…
Backstage, Renee Paquette caught up with Mercedes Mone, who told Indianapolis to say hello to their CEO. Paquette asked Mone about Kamille being found knocked out backstage on Rampage. Mone said she told Paquette not to say Kamille’s name. Mone switched the focus to Anna Jay and said she would be watching her match with Penelope Ford very closely… [C]
Backstage, MVP told Shelton Benjamin that he loved him, but he was disappointed in him. MVP said that’s not how they do things. MVP and Lashley walked away.
A crew member walked behind Benjamin, who turned around and beat him up. MVP and Lashley returned to beat up the security guards who tried to intervene. “That’s what we do,” MVP yelled at Benjamin…
Adam Cole’s entrance was televised while the other battle royale entrants were already in the ring…
2. Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale. The entrants were Cole, Lance Archer, Brian Cage, The Butcher, Evil Uno, Rocky Romero, Dante Martin, Darius Martin, Action Andretti, Lio Rush, Mark Davis, and Kyle O’Reilly.
Evil Uno was the first man eliminated. Rush and Andretti eliminated the Martins, who headed to the back with Leila Grey. Archer and Cage eliminated Davis heading into a PIP break. [C]
The final four were Cole, O’Reilly, Archer, and Cage. Archer skinned the cat and stayed on the apron. Cage did the same on the other side and then pulled Cole onto the apron with him.
Archer chokeslammed O’Reilly on the top turnbuckle. Cole escaped Cage and then superkicked him. Cole and O’Reilly simultaneously kicked Cage and O’Reilly off the apron.
Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly won the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale in 10:30.
Excalibur explained that Cole and O’Reilly will meet on next week’s show for the right to challenge MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. O’Reilly bumped shoulders with Cole before exiting the ring…
Powell’s POV: Was there a single regular AEW television viewer who didn’t think Cole and O’Reilly would be the final two? Is there a single AEW television viewer who actually wants to see this never ending Kingdom saga?
A Julia Hart video aired and focused on Jamie Hayter photos and a bloody mask. “The House always wins,” Hart said at the end of the video…
Max Caster was telling an annoyed Anthony Bowens and Billy Gunn to let him do the talking. Renee Paquette asked if everything was good. Caster said everything was great. Gunn said that wasn’t true. He said they’d been trying to talk Caster out of facing Swerve Strickland.
Gunn said Caster was going about this all wrong. Caster said no. Bowens said Caster calls himself the best wrestler alive and he should go prove it. Caster thanked him for the support and then tried to lead a cheer that Bowens and Gunn ignored…
Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana made their entrance. Max Caster rapped as he made his entrance and had lines about Hunter Biden and being the best wrestler alive. Caster climbed on the apron and was booted off by Swerve, who roughed him up at ringside…
3. Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) vs. Max Caster. The referee called for the bell once both men were in the ring. Serve dominated the offense and hit a pair of House Call kicks. Swerve looked to the crowd and got a lot of cheers before hitting a third House Call and scoring the pin.
Swerve Strickland beat Max Caster in 2:10.
Swerve teased leaving, but he stopped on the apron and looked back at Caster, who was still down on the mat. Swerve looked to the cheering crowd before hitting a Swerve Stomp from the top rope. Swerve looked into the camera and said there’s a little bit left in 2024 and it will belong to him. “Lashley, this isn’t over yet,” Swerve said before leaving the ring with Nana…
Excalibur hyped upcoming matches and then an ad aired from the company’s daily fantasy sports partner… [C]
Powell’s POV: It’s only one crowd, but Swerve didn’t seem to lose any popularity despite taking the clean loss to Lashley at Full Gear. This crowd was really hot for him, which is great to see. On the flip side, Caster had heat, but he came off like a goofball pest heel who was already put in his place by Swerve.
Excalibur recapped the “photo finish” in the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale. Excalibur said it was clear that Adam Cole wanted no part of Kyle O’Reilly…
MJF was shown seated at a bar. MJF laughed and said this was classic. MJF said he and Adam Cole were white hot and everyone in the company was happy. MJF spoke about record breaking business while he was champion.
MJF said Cole turned on him and it created a butterfly effect that left Roderick Strong with a broken arm and now Cole has to face O’Reilly. MJF blamed Cole for Jon Moxley taking the world championship and ruling over AEW with an iron fist.
MJF said he’s sick of Cole walking around and pretending he’s the hero when he’s the villain. MJF labeled Cole a jaundice infected villain.
[Hour Two] MJF said Cole can’t beat O’Reilly and it will be proven next week on Dynamite. MJF said Cole could thank him for that. MJF kissed the Dynamite Diamond Ring…
Excalibur hyped Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly for next week and said the winner will face MJF at the Worlds End pay-per-view…
A video package aired on Jay White and Pac, and then both men made their entrances…
4. Jay White vs. Pac (w/Wheeler Yuta). Excalibur said where there’s one Death Rider, there’s usually many. Yuta pulled White from the apron and drilled him with a clothesline while the referee was tied up with Pac. A “Yuta sucks” chant broke out. Pac went to ringside and ran White in the barricade and then played to the crowd for heat head into a PIP break. [C]
White put Pac down with a DDT for a near fall. Pac battle back and went for a top rope move that he had to roll through once White moved. Pac hit White with a series of kicks, but White avoided one kicka nd suplexed Pac, who landed on his feet. White followed up with a wicked half-and-half suplex.
Pac caught a standing White in a Brutalizer. White, who was bleeding from the mouth, fell toward the ropes and grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold. Cool spot.
Yuta pulled White to ringside and hit him with a Busaiku Knee while the referee was distracted by Pac. Yuta rolled White back inside the ring. Pac picked up White, who hit him with a Bladerunner and scored the pin.
Jay White defeated Pac in 13:25.
After the match, Yuta went after White, who also put him down with a Bladerunner. Marina Shafir showed up and entered the ring, which distracted him long enough for Jon Moxley to arrive and hit White from behind. Moxley hit a Death Rider on White.
Hangman Page made his entrance as Moxley was about to make his exit over the barricade. Moxley went to the entrance aisle and faced Page. A masked production crew member used a cable to choke Moxley. Shafir pulled the hood back to reveal Orange Cassidy.
Shafir went after Cassidy, who dumped her over the barricade. Pac and Yuta worked over Page and then tossed him out of the ring. Cassidy drilled Yuta and then Pac with Orange Punches.
Moxley turned around and showed anger. Cassidy blasted Moxley with an Orange Punch. White stood up and hit Moxley with a Bladerunner. When Moxley got to his feet, Page hit him with Buckshot Lariat. “AEW” chants broke out.
Christian Cage walked out holding his contract case while Moxley was recovering in the entrance aisle. Christian headed to the back while Moxley was surrounded by his allies… [C]
Powell’s POV: A cool match. The referee looked like a bit of a schmuck for having no clue that Yuta interfered, but I liked the way that both of those sequences put a lot of heat on Yuta. They also made White’s win feel all the more impressive. The post match sequence was strong with the babyfaces finally getting the better of the Death Riders. Well, at least Cassidy and apparently White are babyfaces. I’m not sure what Page is these days. Even so, this was really good.
A brief Worlds End video aired…
Jamie Hayter delivered a backstage promo and said that Julia Hart’s mind games don’t work for her. She said she’s more of a face-to-face type of gal. She asked if this was about her triumphant return at Wembley Stadium. Hayter said she came back to right a wrong and settle a score that has nothing to do with Hart. Hayter said the International Women’s Cup means a lot to her and she’s determined to take it all the way. Hayter said she’s ready to fight any time, any place, but you can’t fight what you can’t see. Hayter said when Hart comes back, she’ll be laid out on the mat and she will be the last thing that Hart sees… [C]
Chris Jericho stood next to a TV screen that had a Breaking News graphic on it. Jericho hyped ROH Final Battle and the other Hammerstein Ballroom shows, as well as AEW All In Texas. Jericho said he would have a special TV Time segment on tomorrow’s ROH television show and would have more details about who he will face at Final Battle. “I’m Chris Jericho and this has been a New York Minute,” Jericho said to close…
A old west style video aired with a sheriff and another man talking about a wanted man. The sheriff posted a “wanted” sign for Bandido…
Powell’s POV: That was a corny ass vignette, but it’s great that Bandido is finally on the verge of returning.
Anna Jay made her entrance and then a video package aired on her grudge match with Penelope Ford, who then made her entrance…
5. Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford. Jay offered a handshake, but Ford kicked her hand away. Ford had Jay down at ringside heading into an early PIP break. [C]
Jay was in offensive control coming out of the break and performed a neckbreaker over the middle rope. Ford came back with a pump kick, but Jay caught her with a superkick. Jay blocked a Ford move and put her in the Queen Slayer, but Ford escaped and used a cutter to get a near fall.
Ford went up top and went for a moonsault that Jay avoided. Jay dropkicked Ford and set up for a move that Ford avoided. Ford dropkicked Jay against the ropes and covered her for a two count. Ford went for a bridging death lock, but Jay reached the ropes.
Ford jawed at the referee. Jay tripped Ford into the ropes and then hooked Ford on her back and slammed her down face first before getting the pin.
Anna Jay defeated Penelope Ford in 8:45.
After the match, Jay called out Mercedes Mone, who made her entrance. Mone said that if Kris Statlander can’t beat her, then what makes Jay think she can.
Mone entered the ring and told Jay that if she wants a title shot, then she needs to come back in ten years once she’s actually done something in the business.
“Something like this?” Jay asked before slapping Mone, who grabbed her title belts and exited the ring. Mone said she didn’t have time for this and they will do things on her time…
Excalibur announced Mercedes Mone vs. Anna Jay for the TBS Title and Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin in a Continental Classic match for two weeks on the Holiday Bash themed edition of Dynamite. Excalibur also hyped this episode’s main event as coming up next…
An ad aired for AEW All In Texas to tout the pre-sale and VIP packages being on sale now, and the general public sale starting on Monday… [C]
Powell’s POV: A solid match. I like Ford and I hope they do more with her, but I think they would have been better off having Jay plow through an opponent to make her look stronger heading into her title match with Mone.
Renee Paquette conducted a sit-down interview with AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May. Paquette brought up May’s issues with a woman she claims she still loves. May asked if Paquette had friends or if she just sits and pokes holes in everyone else. Paquette was going to leave, but May told her to sit and listen.
May spoke about giving her friend a title shot. She said shaking your tits will only get you so far and it’s time to go to work.
Mina Shirakawa could be seen stomping through the hallway behind Paquette, but neither she nor May noticed. May said the women’s division is shit and implied that it’s because she’s such a dominant champion.
Shirakawa showed up with a champagne bottle, which sent Paquette scurrying out of the picture. Shirakawa simply handed the bottle to May. Shirakawa told May to say it to her face and then said Winter is Coming. “Make me work,” Shirakawa said to close…
Entrances for the main event took place…
6. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King in a Continental Classic gold league match. Castagnoli targeted the right arm of King. Excalibur noted that King’s arm was surgically repaired ahead of last year’s Continental Classic. Castagnoli worked over the bad arm heading into a PIP break. [C]
King put Castagnoli down with a Death Valley Driver for a two count. The bridge of King’s nose was bleeding. Castagnoli popped up King and caught him with an uppercut and then covered him for a near fall.
[Overrun] King picked up a near fall and then Excalibur read through the previously advertised Continental Classic matches for Friday’s Rampage and Saturday’s Collision.
Castagnoli went for a springboard move and was blasted by a King punch that led to a near fall. Castagnoli wrenched the bad arm and then went to the ropes, but King cut him off and superplexed him. King followed up with a piledriver for a nearfall. A “Let’s go, Brody” chant broke out.
King set up for a move, but Castagnoli ducked out to ringside to avoid it. King went to the floor and was caught by a kick. Castagnoli slammed the bad arm on the apron, but King no-sold it and then worked over Castagnoli with chops and forearms.
King sat Castagnoli in a chair next to the barricade. King went for a crossbody block, but Castagnoli moved, causing King to crash and burn. Castagnoli hit King with an uppercut that sent him over the barricade. Castagnoli returned to the ring with the hope of getting the count-out win, but King beat the count.
Castagnoli ran the ropes and ate a big lariat. King covered Castagnoli for a near fall. King set up for the Gonzo Bomb, but Castagnoli raked his eyes and then shielded the referee while he threw a low blow kick. Castagnoli hit the Neutralizer and scored the pin…
Claudio Castagnoli defeated Brody King in roughly 14:15 in a Continental Classic gold league match to earn three points.
The updated leaderboard was shown with Castagnoli in the lead with six points…
Schiavone credited Tony Khan for informing him that next week’s show will feature Claudio Castagnoli vs. Will Ospreay in a gold league match, and Jon Moxley and Pac vs. Jay White and Orange Cassidy on the Winter Is Coming themed edition of Dynamite…
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable match. It would have felt out of place as a Dynamite main event under normal circumstances, but it worked because it was a Continental Classic match. The finish was fine in terms of putting heat on Castagnoli and protecting King.
Overall, a better than usual edition of Dynamite. There was the usual quality wrestling, plus some good angles and promos, and the pacing of the show was less chaotic as usual. I will be back later tonight with my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
I would rather see Adam Cole and O’Reilly than MVPs stable or the death riders
Can’t you just go back and watch their last ten years of matches in ROH and NXT so the rest of us can see something new?
MVPs stable is new?
And we don’t know where the storage going maybe they’ll give us something new.
The stable isn’t new, but they have fresh matchups. Meanwhile, I don’t want to see The Kingdom together or as rivals. Taven and Bennett are fine as a team, but beyond that I just want them to finally move on and do something new. I’ve seen them do this in three promotions now for roughly a decade. But to each their own. Like what you like. I’m just over it.
Garsh, I never saw Cole and O’Reilly as the final 2…Even worse, the announcers talked more about the jobbers than Cole, and he wasnt spotlighted until the final 4 or so. I’m just not seeing fans clamoring to see Cole vs MJF. I’m going to World’s End and I hope that’s not one of the matches.
I am so sick and tired of this never ending Adam Cole storyline with The Kingdom. It has go away heat with me.