By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite “Winter Is Coming” (Episode 271)
Kansas City, Missouri at T-Mobile Center
Aired live December 11, 2024 on TBS
[Hour One] Excalibur checked in on commentary and was joined by Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness. Ring announcer Justin Roberts stood in the ring and delivered the introductions for the opening tag team match.
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Pac, Marina Shafir, and Wheeler Yuta made their entrance through the crowd. Jay White and Orange Cassidy made separate entrances. All four men brawled to ringside with White and Cassidy being the aggressors. Moxley battled back and ran Cassidy into the ring steps.
1. Jon Moxley and Pac (w/Marina Shafir, Wheeler Yuta) vs. Jay White and Orange Cassidy. White rolled Pac inside the ring and the referee called for the bell to officially start the match. Cassidy set up for an Orange Punch on Moxley, who ducked out to ringside. Cassidy ran the ropes, but Pac cut him off and sent him to ringside where Moxley dumped him on the broadcast table.
Christian Cage, Nick Wayne, Mother Wayne, and Kip Sabian were shown watching the match from a luxury box, which drew boos from the crowd. White put Moxley down with a DDT, but then charged Pac, who put his feet up heading into a picture-in-picture break. [C]
As the match continued, Christian was shown talking his crew in the luxury box. The Waynes and Sabian stood up and exited the suite while Christian smiled. White was isolated by the heels. White put Pac down and then tagged out while Pac did the same.
Moxley and Cassidy met in the middle of the ring and traded blows. Cassidy threw a PK that showed enough light that McGuinness had to acknowledge it. Cassidy hit a nice DDT on Pac, then followed up moments later with another on Moxley that resulted in a near fall.
Moxley sat up and put Cassidy in a sleeper. Cassidy escaped and hit another DDT. Pac ran in and stuffed a Cassidy DDT, but Cassidy hit him with Stundog Miliionaire. White took out Pac with a Dragon Suplex. Cassidy hit Beach Break on Moxley for a near fall.
Yuta climbed on the apron to distracted the referee, but Cassidy shook off Shafir’s attempt to interfere. Cassidy hit Orange Punches on Yuta and then Moxley. Hangman Page ran in and attacked Moxley to end the match.
Jon Moxley and Pac fought Jay White and Orange Cassidy to a no-contest in 14:15.
After the match, Cassidy and Pac fought. Cassidy went for an Orange Punch on Page, who ducked, causing Cassidy to hit White. Cassidy put Page down with an Orange Punch. White hit a Bladerunner on Cassidy.
With White, Cassidy, and Page down on the mat and bickering, Moxley, Pac, Shafir, and Yuta returned to the ring and worked them over. A “f— you, Yuta” chant broke out. Moxley and his crew left the ring and hopped the barricade while White, Cassidy, and Page were down in the ring…
Excalibur hyped the first Continental Classic match of the night for after the break… [C]
Powell’s POV: Good action with a weak finish. I thought they might actually give Cassidy a win over Moxley to justify Cassidy getting another title shot in the expected four-way match after Moxley beat him at Full Gear. Rather, they focused on creating issues between Cassidy, White, and Page to make it feel like it will be every man for himself in the expected four-way title match at Worlds End. The match totally plays into Moxley’s hands given that there are no disqualifications in four-way matches.
The second part of the Bandido vignette aired. They were back on the Old West set and the sheriff and three men wanted to arrest Bandido. This led to Bandido fighting them all off and riding away on a horse…
Backstage, Jon Moxley delivered a promo while the other members of his crew stood by. Moxley said White, Cassidy, and Page all want title shots. He said egos ruin pro wrestling. Moxley then called for a four-way match at Worlds End…
The broadcast team acted like the only people surprised by the four-way match for the AEW World Championship at Worlds End.
Christian Cage interrupted the broadcast team by speaking from the luxury box. Cage said he had a problem with every person in the four-way match. Cage said White cost him the AEW World Championship at Full Gear, and he said Page did as well by not living up to his end of their deal.
Christian said he wants what Moxley has. Christian said he would drive Moxley to drink and send him back to rehab. Christian held up his contract case and said he will be the next AEW World Champion.
Hook showed outside the door to Christian’s suite. Hook broke the glass on the door with his cast and then unlocked the door. Hook attacked Christian and dominated him until Nick Wayne and Kip Sabian returned and chased him away…
Will Ospreay made his entrance. Claudio Castagnoli entered through the crowd…
2. Will Ospreay vs. Claudio Castagnoli in a Continental Classic gold league match. Ospreay started the match with a standing Spanish Fly for a two count. A short time later, Ospreay went for a springboard move and was hit by an uppercut from Castagnoli, who covered him for a two count before a PIP break. [C]
Ospreay and Castagnoli ended up on the ropes. Ospreay headbutted Castagnoli off the ropes and then teetered as if he might fall to the floor. Ospreay went for a top rope move that Castagnoli avoided. Castagnoli hit him with an uppercut for a near fall.
Castagnoli hit Ospreay with several uppercuts. Ospreay came back with a springboard into a cutter. Casagnoli rolled to the floor to avoid being pinned. Ospreay went to the floor and rolled him back inside the ring. Ospreay set up for a Hidden Blade, but Castagnoli popped him up and hit another uppercut for a near fall.
Castagnoli hit Ospreay with a lariat for a two count. Castagnoli set up for The Neutralizer, but Ospreay countered into a jackknife pin and got the three count.
Will Ospreay defeated Claudio Castagnoli in 13:25 in a Continental Classic gold league match to earn three points.
After the match, Castagnoli attacked Ospreay and put him down with a Neutralizer. Castagnoli went to ringside and grabbed a chair.
Darby Allin’s entrance music played and he ran out with a baseball bat. Castagnoli hopped the barricade. Allin stood on the floor and looked at Ospreay, who nodded at him. Allin nodded back at Ospreay while the broadcast team hyped their gold league match for next week’s show…
The updated leaderboard showed Ospreay and Castagnoli with six points, though Castagnoli has wrestled one more tournament match than Ospreay…
Powell’s POV: The well worked match one would expect from these two. Ospreay hitting a the standing Spanish Fly for a near fall to start the match popped the crowd, but it was tough to take seriously because all of the Continental Classic matches seem to be 50/50 battles that go long. Hopefully the company will shake things up by actually having a quick finish, even if it’s a match involving wrestlers with low point totals.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviewed Ricochet and asked how he prepares for an opponent like Brody King. Ricochet said he came to AEW for the competition. Ricochet said King is one of the toughest guys in the tournament, but he’s not Ricochet. After noting that they are both 1-1 in the tournament, Ricochet pulled out MVP’s card and said, “Tonight I hold all of the cards”…
An SUV arrived in the parking area. A man stuck his hand out and was wearing the Dynamite Diamond Ring. The broadcast team said MJF was in the building, though MJF’s face was not shown… [C]
Highlights aired of the Chris Jericho and Matt Cardona segment from Friday’s Rampage…
Backstage, Paquette interviewed Cardona and asked if he’s ready for Jericho. Cardona said it was great to be back in AEW. Cardona said he belongs in AEW. He said he’s busted his ass to reinvent himself over the last five years. Cardona said he has the biggest opportunity of his career facing Jericho at Final Battle. Cardona challenged Bryan Keith to a match for Rampage…
Powell’s POV: The biggest opportunity of Cardona’s career is challenging Jericho for the ROH Championship? I get that Cardona has to do his best to sell the match, but he doesn’t have to throw out his credibility while doing so.
[Hour Two] Adam Cole made his entrance. Kyle O’Reilly was warming up backstage when Paquette approached him and asked how he prepared for the match. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett interrupted before O’Reilly could respond. Taven said they didn’t have to go through with the match.
Bennett said the match was going to happen and then told O’Reilly to remember that they are still brothers. O’Reilly said he should have thought about that before they let one of their brothers (Roderick Strong) get hurt. O’Reilly made his entrance to a flat reaction…
3. Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly for a spot in the Dynamite Diamond Ring match with MJF at AEW Worlds End. Cole extended his hand and then O’Reilly slapped it before the opening bell. Both wrestlers ended up at ringside a couple minutes into the match. O’Reilly hit Cole with a series of strikes that concluded with sweeping Cole’s leg before a PIP break. [C]
Cole set up for a Panama Sunrise, but O’Reilly caught him with a knee to the gut. O’Reilly performed a neckbreaker onto his knee and then covered Cole for a two count. O’Reilly threw a kick at Cole that sent him to ringside. O’Reilly hit a flying knee from the apron.
A short time later, both men ended up on the ropes. Cole hit O’Reilly with several headbutts to knock him off the ropes. Cole hit a Panama Sunrise. Cole played to the crowd and set up for his knee strike, but O’Reilly tripped him and put him in an ankle lock.
Cole rolled out of the ankle lock, which sent O’Reilly to the floor. O’Reilly pulled Cole to ringside and set up for a brainbuster, but Cole hit him with a knee to escape it. Cole superkicked O’Reilly and then rolled him back inside the ring.
O’Reilly tried to stand up and then fell face first to the mat. The referee checked on O’Reilly. Meanwhile, MJF showed up and tried to hit Cole with the Dynamite Diamond Ring, but Cole ducked it. Cole superkicked MJF off the apron. O’Reilly rolled up Cole for a two count. Cole caught O’Reilly in an inside cradle moments later and got the three count.
Adam Cole defeated Kyle O’Reilly in 10:50 to earn a match against MJF at AEW Worlds End.
After the match, MJF sold jaw pain and then exited via through the crowd. Cole stood on the ropes and jawed at MJF, who stood on the floor and barked back at him. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett were in the ring. Cole offered O’Reilly a handshake, but O’Reilly rolled out of the ring…
Powell’s POV: MJF returned for that? Anyway, O’Reilly being pissy with Cole, Taven, and Bennett over Roderick Strong’s injury is a turnoff and it doesn’t even make sense. How is it their fault that MJF wrapped Strong’s arm in a chair and then stomped on it? Cole, Taven, and Bennett came out to help Strong BEFORE O’Reilly did. On the bright side, at least they didn’t stretch this out even more by having O’Reilly win this match to put off Cole vs. MJF again.
Excalibur said Tony Khan made Jon Moxley vs. Jay White vs. Hangman Page vs. Orange Cassidy in a four-way for the AEW World Championship official for the Worlds End pay-per-view…
Backstage, “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler spoke about the Fight For The Fallen edition of AEW Dynamite that will benefit their home city of Asheville, North Carolina. Harwood said the show needs a big match and suggested they put their names in the hat for it. Harwood also challenged the Death Riders to show up on AEW Collision to have a conversation…
A video aired for next week’s AEW Holiday Bash event that will feature Darby Allin vs. Will Ospreay in a Continental Classic match, and Mercedes Mone vs. Anna Jay for the TBS Title… [C]
Chris Jericho hosted a New York Minute while Bryan Keith stood by. Jericho said Keith will face Cardona on ringside while he’s on commentary. Jericho also hyped a contract signing segment between him and Cardona for this week’s ROH on HonorClub…
A video package recapped the Continental Classic matches that played out on Saturday’s Collision…
Excalibur hyped Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe in a Continental Classic blue league match for Saturday’s AEW Collision. He also hyped Darby Allin vs. Will Osprey for next week’s Dynamite…
Tony Schiavone’s interview with Darby Allin from earlier in the day was shown. Allin said the Death Riders are slowly chipping away at everything that makes AEW what it is. Allin said he understands that a lot of young guys don’t want to get involved because it’s the first time they’ve made a living in pro wrestling. Allin said if they don’t get involved then it’s going to keep happening.
Allin punched himself in the face a few times and bled from the mouth. Allin said the blood and violence don’t bother him. He said the thing that bothers him is no one doing anything about it. Allin spoke about the Continental Classic and said he needs to win it because it represents the passion of AEW. Allin said nothing fools Moxley better than the lies he tells himself…
Excalibur once again hyped Darby Allin vs. Will Osprey for next week’s Dynamite…
Ricochet and Brody King made their entrances for the second Continental Classic match took place…
Powell’s POV: I guess this means they are going to close the show with the AEW Women’s Championship match even though it’s barely been mentioned tonight.
4. Brody King vs. Ricochet in a Continental Classic gold league match. Both men ended up at ringside a couple of minutes into the match. King powerbombed Ricochet on the apron. King sat Ricochet in a chair next to the barricade and then hit him with a running crossbody block going into a PIP break. [C]
Ricochet hit a nice dive from the ring onto King on the floor. Ricochet threw King back in the ring and then hit a springboard 450 splash and went for the cover, but King kicked out at one.
King remained seated and encouraged Ricochet to kick him. King took a couple of kicks before firing back. King put Ricochet down with a lariat for a near fall. King powered up Ricohcet for a Gonzo Bomb, but Ricochet countered into a pin for a two count.
Ricochet caught King with a couple of knee strikes. Ricochet went to power up King, who caught him with an elbow. King hit Ricochet in the corner. With Ricochet seated in the corner, King hit him with a cannonball and covered him for a near fall.
Both men ended up on the ropes. Ricochet performed a sunset bomb. Ricochet went up top again and did a crotch chop before hitting a shooting star press. King grabbed Ricochet by the throat and then stood up and put him in a sleeper. Ricochet grabbed the ropes to break it.
King reapplied the hold, but Ricochet went over the top rope and clotheslined King over the top rope. King dropped Ricochet with a big chop and then pulled him onto the ropes where they fought for position. Ricochet hit a DDT on an exposed turnbuckle.
Once King was on the mat, Ricochet hit him with an elbow strike to the back of the head. Ricochet followed up with another elbow strike and scored the pin…
Ricochet defeated Brody King in 12:50 in a Continental Classic gold league match to earn three points.
The updated gold league leaderboard was shown…
Powell’s POV: Ricochet’s tease regarding the Hurt Syndicate didn’t lead to anything, but this was my favorite match of the night.
“Private Party” Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy spoke from “the vault.” They had the tag team title belts and drinks on a table. Action Andretti and Lio Rush showed up and spoke about wanting a title shot.
“Top Flight” Dante Martin and Darius Martin showed up with Leila Grey. The Martins pointed out that Rush and Andretti haven’t won many tag matches. Rush and Andretti recalled eliminating the Martins from the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale.
Kassidy suggested that Top Flight face Andretti and Rush on Collision and the winners would get a title shot. Rush said no hard feelings and had an awkward handshake with Darius…
Excalibur hyped the main event… A video package recapped Monday’s AEW All In Texas on sale party. Bryan Danielson said he wouldn’t miss the event for anything. Sting was also at the event… An All In Texas video aired to push tickets for the Globe Life Field event… [C]
Powell’s POV: What a strange way to reintroduce Bryan Danielson to the television audience. The last time the fans saw him was when the Death Riders tried to kill him by putting a plastic bag over his head. But now he’s just the same old happy go lucky Danielson at the on sale party.
Renee Paquette was joined by Mercedes Mone and Anna Jay in a backstage area to promote their TBS Title match on next week’s show. Paquette noted that this is the 200th day of Mone’s reign.
Paquette also brought up Mone defending her NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. Mone spoke briefly and was about to leave when Jay stopped her. Jay said that when Mone makes a mistake, she will capitalize on it and shock the world by becoming TBS Champion…
A video package aired on the history between Mariah May and Mina Shirakawa… Entrances for the match started less than eight minutes before the top of the hour…
5. Mariah May vs. Mina Shirakawa for the AEW Women’s Championship. Shirakawa targeted May’s left leg. Excalibur said May beat Shirakawa in their only previous meeting. Shirakawa put May in a Figure Four and then rolled to ringside with May locked in the hold. May came back by running Shirakawa into the ring steps and then the barricade.
Thunder Rosa was shown holding up a sign in the crowd that read: “Mariah May??? You may not.” May returned to the ring and shook her breasts to mock Shirakawa. May returned to the apron and then went for a kick, but Shirakawa blocked it and tripped May. Shirakawa put May in a Figure Four around the ring post and released the hold heading into a PIP break. [C]
[Overrun] May caught Shirakawa with a headbutt. Shirakawa hit May with a back fist and then both wrestlers fell to the mat. Shirakawa followed up moments later with a suplex. Shirakawa went to the ropes, but May used her legs to pull her down.
Shirakawa hit May with another back fist and got a near fall moments later. Shirakawa hit a Draping DDT and went for the pin, but May grabbed the ropes at the last second. May came back with and hit a running knee strike. May hit Mayday and made an arrogant pin, which led to Shirakawa kicking out. May acted stunned.
A “Mina” chant broke out. May hoisted up Shirakawa, who countered into a crucifix pin for a near fall. Shirakawa went to the ropes and hit a sling blade clothesline. Shirakawa hit May with her finisher for a near fall. May came right back with Storm Zero and scored the pin.
Mariah May defeated Mina Shirakawa in 11:10 to retain the AEW Women’s Championship.
After the match, Thunder Rosa held up a sign that read, “Not my champion.” Toni Storm’s entrance theme played. Storm came out dressed in her regular attire. Storm stood on the stage and looked around. May and Rosa were both shown looking surprised by Storm’s appearance to close the show…
Powell’s POV: A good main event despite the lack of hype for hit throughout the night. I’m not sure what the point of having Rosa at ringside was because it basically told me that May was going to retain. Storm returning with her original look was a fun and unexpected surprise. The company would be wise to promote the hell out of Storm appearing on next week’s show.
Overall, a solid show. It was a notch below last week’s episode, but I enjoyed the tournament matches and the main event. I still can’t believe MJF’s return was so flat. I will have a lot more to say about Dynamite later tonight in my weekly same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the Winter Is Coming edition of Dynamite by grading it below.
I loved this show!