AEW Dynamite airs tonight (Dec. 31) with a live show from Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Omaha, Nebraska. This is the first episode of Dynamite during the seven week build to Grand Slam Australia, which takes place on February 14.
MJF demands more money from Tony Khan after winning back the world title
A few weeks ago, the AEW world title scene was focused on Samoa Joe, Hangman Page, and Swerve Strickland. But MJF disrupted things when he returned to AEW on Dec. 17, and now he’s already the new world heavyweight champion after winning a 4-way match at Worlds End.
Max will cut his first promo as champion tonight on Dynamite, just as everyone is getting ready to celebrate the upcoming new year. Will he say some harsh things to AEW fans and wrestlers about how he’s better than them and they know it? Yeah, almost certainly. But more than that, it appears that MJF has money on his mind. The new world champion has demanded a bonus from Tony Khan for making him travel to a shit hole like Omaha, Nebraska on New Year’s Eve.
As far as MJF’s immediate business in an AEW ring is concerned, his first title defense is already lined up for Dynamite Maximum Carnage on Jan. 14. He will defend the gold against ROH World Champion Bandido, who just became the first non-MJF wrestler to ever win the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Will MJF up the ante for their title match by demanding that Bandido put the Diamond Ring on the line too?
Tune into Dynamite New Year’s Smash to help ring in the new year with AEW’s new scumbag world champion.
The rest of the card
Mercedes Mone might close out the year by losing another belt from her collection when she defends the TBS championship tonight against Willow Nightingale. Mercedes was heard screaming backstage after Willow pinned her in the AEW women’s world tag team championship match at Worlds End. She then cut a promo on Willow where The CEO said, “I am gonna beat your fucking ass!” at New Year’s Smash. Can Mercedes deliver on those words tonight?
AEW National Champion Ricochet puts his title on the line tonight against “Jungle” Jack Perry, who pinned the champ in a pre-show tag team match at Worlds End. Ricochet also wants a bonus from Tony Khan, for whatever that’s worth.
Finally, new AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley is also in action tonight. After beating two different Don Callis Family members to win the Continental Classic at Worlds End, he takes on another one tonight in the form of Josh Alexander. It’s a non-title match, but Alexander can earn a future championship match by either winning or taking Mox to a 20 minute time limit draw. Will the live audience be behind Moxley as a huge babyface after his post-match celebration interview at Worlds End?
Other stuff to keep an eye on
– Speaking of the Don Callis Family, there are lots of problems to sort out at the top after AEW International Champion Kazuchika Okada used a screwdriver to beat IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita at Worlds End, and that screwdriver was then missing when Kyle Fletcher later looked for it during his tournament loss. Okada and Takeshita both have major matches scheduled for this weekend in Japan at Wrestle Kingdom 20. If they aren’t around on Dynamite tonight, what explanation will Don give Kyle for what happened at Worlds End?
– It sounds like Andrade is free from WWE and able to return to AEW any time now. Will he make his surprise return tonight as part of a major angle at New Year’s Smash?
– Is Jamie Hayter’s chase for the AEW women’s world championship over after she was defeated by Kris Statlander at Worlds End?
– Darby Allin shed a lot of blood but survived long enough to beat Gabe Kidd at Worlds End. Now that Moxley is apparently a babyface, will he tell the rest of the Death Riders to forget about Darby? How do the other Death Riders feel about Jon’s sudden attitude change? Which Death Rider gets to lose next against TNT Champion Mark Briscoe?
– After AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR cleaned the Bang Bang Gang off their plate at Worlds End, is it finally time for Adam Copeland to return to AEW so he and Christian Cage can get their revenge?
– Now that Samoa Joe is no longer the AEW world champion, will he immediately leave that title scene and put his focus entirely on defending the AEW world trios championship with The Opps? With Ortiz back in AEW and aligned with Eddie Kingston, can they find a third man to go after Joe’s group?
– What’s next for Kevin Knight and Speedball Mike Bailey after their impressive outings in the Continental Classic?
– How does someone as lazy as Orange Cassidy ring in the new year? How about someone as horny as Timeless Toni Storm?
– Chris Jericho’s AEW contract is reportedly set to expire tonight at midnight. Keep an eye on the AEW roster page to see if he vanishes from it in the coming days.
– How many times during tonight’s broadcast will AEW remind fans that it cleaned up in SI’s 2025 Pro Wrestling Awards?
– Where the f*** are Britt Baker, Keith Lee, and Danhausen? At least El Clon will be back in AEW in January.
What will you be looking for on Dynamite?
