Who gets a semifinals bid for Christmas?

The AEW Continental Classic’s Blue League wraps the round robin phase, with so many possibilities! Will Eddie Kingston survive to fight for his titles in the next phase? Or is this where it all ends for The Mad King?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Bryan Danielson VS Claudio Castagnoli; Bryan wins.
• AEW World Trios Championships: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn VS Top Flight & Action Andretti; The Acclaimed & Billy win and retain the titles.
• Keith Lee VS Brian Cage w/ Prince Nana; Keith wins.
• AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Brody King VS Daniel Garcia; Garcia wins.
• Julia Hart & Skye Blue VS Abadon & Thunder Rosa; Abadon & Rosa win.
• AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Andrade El Idolo VS Eddie Kingston; Eddie wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Bryan Danielson VS Claudio Castagnoli!

No need to open with talking tonight, this is all about the action! And at this point, it is win and you’re in for the Blackpool Combat Club’s best! Will it be the American Dragon or Swiss Superman who finds themselves holding a ticket to the semifinals?

The bell rings and we’re on the clock. Fans cheer as the two shake hands then circle. They tie up, Claudio rolls Bryan, ONE! Bryan and Claudio reset, feel things out, and tie up again. Claudio headlocks, Bryan powers out but Claudio runs him over! Cover, ONE, and Bryan wrenches to an armlock. Bryan arm-drags Claudio down, covers, ONE! Claudio floats, waistlocks and bridges, ONE! The two stand off and the fans fire up again. Claudio and Bryan feel things out again, then knuckle lock. They go shoulder to shoulder but Claudio powers Bryan down to his knees. The fans rally up, Bryan rolls back and turns things around on Claudio.

Bryan hooks a leg, Claudio bridges back, and Claudio then trips Bryan by a leg. Cover, ONE, Bryan trips and toeholds. Bryan turns Claudio over, hooks the legs up, but Claudio powers up! But Bryan fishhooks Claudio! Bryan pulls the arms, but can’t get Claudio up so he just STOMPS the knees and KICKS Claudio in the back! Cover, ONE!! Bryan wrenches but Claudio UPPERCUTS Bryan down! Even Bryan’s surprised by that one. The fans fire up and Bryan grins as he backs away to a corner. Claudio storms up, they knuckle lock but Claudio RAMS into Bryan again and again and again! The ref counts so Claudio lets off.

Claudio UPPERCUTS Bryan, scoops and SLAMS him, and then runs for an ELBOW DROP! Cover, ONE!! Bryan hangs tough, but Claudio pushes him around. Bryan goes for a leg, shifts around to get the other, but Claudio fights back. Bryan turns Claudio over again, hooks the legs up in a Deathlock, and Bryan reaches back to get the arms. SURFBOARD COVER, but Claudio gets his arms up! They roll back the other way, and Bryan stands to knuckle lock with Claudio. Claudio pushes up, then MOKNEY FIPS! Claudio rolls back, Bryan turns things around to MONKEY FLIP in return! Both men are down, ONE as they get an arm up!

The ref checks and counts again, ONE as both men bridge up! The fans fire up, and then Bryan turns to kick Claudio in the face! Claudio shrugs that off as the fans rally up again. Bryan and Claudio reset, tie up, and Claudio powers Bryan onto ropes. Claudio grinds Bryan along ropes, pushes him into a corner, but lets off as the ref counts. Claudio pokes the good eye! Then UPPERCUTS, then short arm LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Claudio reels Bryan in, Gotch Lift, but Bryan back drops free! Claudio sunset flips through, TWO and Claudio has the legs! But Bryan twists for a victory roll, TWO!! Claudio gets up, and he LARIATS Bryan down! Cover, TWO!

Bryan hangs tough and Claudio grows annoyed but the fans fire up. Claudio trips Bryan, has the legs, and SWINGS, but Bryan sits up! Bryan has Claudio’s arm and wrangles him down, LEBELL LOCK! Claudio scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, then goes to the apron. Bryan lets go, builds speed, and he WRECKS Claudio with a dropkick! Bryan then aims from the apron, to FLYING KNEE Claudio down! Fans fire up and Bryan storms up on Claudio. Bryan wrenches the arm, hammerlocks it, then RAMS Claudio into steel steps! Bryan refreshes the count, KICKS Claudio in the chest, then KICKS and KICKS and CHOPS!

Bryan puts Claudio in the ring, climbs up a corner, and MISSILE- UPPERCUT! Claudio takes Bryan down then covers, TWO! Claudio ELBOWS away on Bryan’s back, then drags Bryan up again. Claudio UPPERCUTS, forearms, and whips corner to corner, to UPPERCUT again! Claudio whips again, Bryan drop toeholds Claudio into buckles! Bryan KICKS the ropes to jam up Claudio, and then he CHOPS! And CHOPS! Bryan runs corner to corner, to DROPKICK! And then another DROPKICK! And then another- NO, Claudio catches Bryan and SWINGS him!! The fans are thunderous as Bryan goes around and around and around!

Claudio lets go at TEN and the fans fire up again! Cover, TWO! Bryan survives and “This is Awesome!” Claudio drags Bryan around, steps in, but Bryan scrambles to resist the turnover! ROPEBREAK, and Claudio lets off. Claudio drags Bryan up to HEADBUTT, then LARIAT! Bryan goes up and out of the ring! Fans rally, Bryan crawls to a corner, and Collision goes picture in picture, right as Claudio UPPERCUTS Bryan into railing!

The front row fires up with Claudio and he gets some space. Claudio runs back in to UPPERCUT Bryan again! Claudio slides into the ring and lets the count handle Bryan. Bryan crawls his way over, flops at 5 of 10 but slides in at 8! Claudio applauds, then STOMPS Bryan down! Cover, ONE!! Claudio wraps Bryan up in a REAR NAKED CHOKE! A very Moxley move here but Bryan moves around. The fans rally up, Bryan fights free of the body scissors, but Claudio clinches and puts Bryan in a corner. Then he UPPERCUTS! Claudio eggs Bryan up, UPPERCUTS again, then hoists Bryan up top.

Claudio throws forearms and UPPERCUTS, then climbs up after Bryan. Claudio CLAWS Bryan’s back as Collision returns to single picture. Claudio then stands Bryan up, but Bryan resists the lift! Bryan throws shots, slips under, and trips Claudio up! Bryan then drags Claudio into the Tree of Woe, to KICK! And KICK! And KICK! Fans chant “YES! YES! YES!” and Bryan hoists Claudio back up. Bryan climbs up behind Claudio, stands him up, SUPER BACK SUPLEX!! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Bryan crawls his way over to Claudio, covers, TWO! Bryan sits Claudio up for HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS!

Fans fire up but Claudio blocks a shot! Claudio fireman’s carries but Bryan slips free. Bryan BOOTS back, then runs up, tilt-o-whirl, LA MYSTICA! Into the LEBELL LOCK!! Claudio endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The ref takes a moment to see it! And even then, Bryan holds until the ref counts 4! Bryan puts Claudio in the corner, CHOPS and CHOPS, then he hoists Claudio up. We hit the five minute warning, Bryan hits the SUPER STEI- NO! Claudio blocks the Steiner, CLUBS away on Bryan’s face, then hoists Bryan up, for a SUPERPLEX REMIX!! Cover, TWO!! Bryan survives and Claudio is stunned!

Fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” but they can’t, we have less than five minutes here! Claudio snarls, Bryan rises, and Claudio UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Claudio then crisscrosses Bryan’s arms, reels him in, RICOLA- NO, Bryan fights it to a TRIANGLE HOLD! Bryan drags Claudio down like that, but Claudio deadlifts for a NEUTRALIZER!! Cover, TWO!! Bryan survives again and Claudio is beside himself! Claudio drags Bryan back up and reels him back in. Gotch Lift, but Bryan back drops free! Then Bryan ducks ‘n ‘dodges and BUSAIKU KNEES!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio survives but Bryan says time to kick his head in!!

Bryan gets Claudio’s hands, and he DRAGON STOMPS away! Claudio gets a leg up to push Bryan down, and now Claudio DRAGON STOMPS! But now Bryan gets a leg up and pushes Claudio down! They STOMP each other while sitting down! They go back and forth with these Dragon “Boots” but Bryan falls back! It’s a cover now, TWO! Bryan kicks and kicks, but so does Claudio! Claudio has the edge, he stacks, TWO!! So Claudio steps through, SHARPSHOOTER!! Bryan endures, reaches out, and we have ONE MINUTE LEFT!! Bryan crawls, reaches out again, but Claudio drags him away!!

Fans are going nuts as time is ticking away! Can Bryan endure for another 30 SECONDS?! Claudio sits deep on the hold, but Bryan refuses to give in!! The fans are going nuts as Bryan reaches. Claudio hears TEN seconds, so he hauls Bryan up! Bryan resists, Claudio UPPERCUTS!! Cover, TIME’S UP!!!!

Time Limit Draw; both men earn 1 point

The fans are losing their minds over how the first draw in the Continental Classic happens in the final round! But given that Claudio now only has 7 points and Bryan has 10, BRYAN advances to the semifinals!! Claudio cools off, he did all he could against Bryan. They shake hands and hug it out to show respect. But now, Bryan holding on to his own Continental Classic hopes, who meets him Wednesday on Dynamite?

AEW World Trios Championships: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn VS Top Flight & Action Andretti!

Max Caster disowned MJF as a friend after The Devil’s Minions attacked, so now he, Anthony Bowens & Daddy Ass are getting back on track with their Scissor World Tour. But will even that be cut short by The Martins and the Sight to See?

But part of The Acclaimed’s return means the return of the diss tracks! “Acclaimed on the mic, if you ever want static, I’ll run you outta town like my name’s Greg Abbott! Dante spent the whole year laid in bed. I hope you have a good match, man, break a leg. Andretti got into a major fed. Beat Jericho, now his career’s playing dead. I bring drama, bring it to your mama. Ask around cuz I’m long like Wembanyama!” Spurs fans cheer that. Bowens then says, “SAN ANTONIOOOOO~! The Acclaimed have arrived! Scissor Me, Daddy Ass~!” And he does! But will this be a Merry Christmas for the champs?

The belts are raised, the trios sort out and Darius starts against Caster. The fans sing “OH~ Scissor Me Daddy~!” Caster and Darius tie up, Caster headlocks, but Darius powers up and out. Caster runs Darius over, but Darius gets up fast, only for Caster to headlock and takeover. Darius headscissors, Caster kips free but Darius turns things around with his own headlock takeover. Caster scissors, Darius kips free, so Caster arm-drags him down to an armlock. Fans cheer as Caster bends Darius’ fingers. Darius fights up, moves around, whips, but Bowens tags in. Sunset flip NECKBREAKER BACKBREAKER COMBO! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally as Bowens runs up, but into BOOTS! Darius reaches out but Bowens KICKS him first! Action sneaks a tag as Bowens whips. Darius reverses, snapmares, and KICKS, followed by Action’s basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Action ROCKS Bowens, fires body shots and haymakers, then whips. Bowens returns to SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Bowens says Rock Paper Scissors Shoot, then fires off his strike fest! Cover, but Darius breaks it! Darius swings on Bowens, Bowens dodges and Caster fires off on Darius! Dante gets in to DROPKICK Caster! But Billy TOSSES Dante out!

Dante and Billy stare down, The Acclaimed whip Action at Darius but Action rolls off Darius’ back. Then Darius & Action DOUBLE DROPKICK The Acclaimed! The teams stand off and the fans cheer! Caster has Bowens tag Billy, and fans fire up. Billy circles with Action, choke grips and THROWS him down, then says SUCK IT! Action kips up to say SUCK IT! Things speed up, Action tilt-o-whirls but into a SIDEWALK SLAM! Fans fire up and Billy bumps Action off buckles as Collision goes picture in picture.

Billy soaks up the singing while Bowens & Caster CLUB Action down. Billy ROCKS Action, tags Caster, and Caster whips Action to CLOBBER him! Cover, TWO! Caster drags Action into a chinlock and grinds him down. Action endures, fights up, and Caster knees low. Caster fireman’s carries, Action slips free and rolls Caster up, TWO! Caster holds onto Action’s leg, tags Bowens, and Bowens stomps Action down. Bowens drags Action up, CLUBS away on him with forearms and elbows, then shouts “EVERYONE Loves The Acclaimed!” Bowens wrenches to back suplex but Action slips free, slides under, and reaches out, only for Bowens to anchor him! Collision goes to break!

Collision returns and Billy has Action in a corner. Billy runs corner to corner, but Action dodges and Billy hits the corner! Billy staggers around, Action crawls, but Billy grabs a foot. Action ENZIGURIS! Billy wobbles, then falls, Action hot tags Dante! Caster tags in but Dante rallies! Angel Dorado whips Platinum but Platinum reverses, and then runs in, but misses the body block! Dante BOOTS Bowens, goes up and around to GAMANGIRI Caster, then springboards to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up with Dante, he tags Darius. Bowens runs in, Dante flips up and over and Darius GAMANGIRIS!

Dante mule kicks, Darius springboards in, COMPLETE SHOT! Tag to Action and Dante whips Caster. Caster reverses to send Dante at Darius but Darius pops Dante up and over! Then ASSISTED TORNADO DDT! Action jumps in to STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, Billy breaks it! Top Flight goes after Billy with fast hands! Fans boo but Billy explodes free! Dante runs in but is put on the apron. Dante springboards, into a HAYMAKER! Action ducks ‘n’ dodges then handsprings, but into Billy’s arms for the COBRA CLUTCH SLAM! Darius mule kicks, runs, but Billy scoops to a SLAM!

Fans fire up with Billy and he brings Darius around, another scoop and SLAM! Caster joins in, then Bowens does! Billy & Caster hold the way open, Bowens says SCISSOR ME- NO, Dante & Action DOUBLE MISSILE DROPKICK Billy & Caster! Bowens still jumps but Darius BOOTS him! Bowens fires off his strike fest but Darius SUPERKICKS first! Darius dumps Billy out, Action HANDSPRING KICKS! Then Dante runs up, POETRY IN FLIGHT! Billy & Bowens regroup on the outside, only for Top Flight to DOUBL EDIVE! All four hit barriers! Action aims at Caster, and he SPRINGBOARD 450!! Cover, TWO!!

Fans fire up as Action resets, and he STANDING- NO, Caster avoids the Shooting Star, roll-up WITH TIGHTS! Acclaimed wins!!

Winners: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn, by pinfall (still AEW World Tag Team Champions)

Top Flight regroups and Action takes the blame for the loss. But despite how sneaky Caster had to win that one, he and his team show respect to Top Flight. Did that attack by The Devil’s Minions do more than just take The Acclaimed out of action all those weeks ago?

Hook speaks.

The FTW Champion sits on the stoop, and he says, “Ey yo, Wheeler. So you wanna fight me with my rules, for my title? Well that’s fine by me. Let’s do it on my home turf: New York. Next week, Nassau Coliseum, Worlds End. I’ll see you there.” The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil has set the terms, will The Decoder still find a way to bend the rules when there are no rules?

Keith Lee VS Brian Cage w/ Prince Nana!

The Limitless One called “him” out, then settled things with Shane Taylor at Final Battle last week. Plot twist: Shane wasn’t “him.” Keith is coming back for revenge on Swerve Strickland, will he send a message to The Realest through The Machine?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Keith uses his size to push Keith back. The fans rally, Keith shoves Cage away, and Cage says okay. They go again, Cage headlocks, but Keith powers up to pick Cage up! Cage kicks and returns to his feet, but Keith powers out. Cage RAMS Keith, Keith rebounds and RAMS Cage! Cage rebounds and RAN- NO! Keith stops that, and he swings Cage up! Cage slips free of the bomb, ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirls to RANA after all! Fans fire up and Keith nods. Keith and Cage reset, the fans chant “BEAT THAT MEAT!” Things speed up, now Keith RANAS!!

Fans are thunderous as Keith dusts himself off. Keith smirks at Cage, then runs in. Cage dodges, UPPERCUTS, GAMANGIRIS, and then waistlocks. Keith fights the German Suplex, ELBOWS Cage away, then blocks the superkick! Cage dropkicks a leg out, runs up to HEEL KICK! Then Cage goes up and up and TORNADO DDTS! These two are playing this like they’re Cruiserweights! Brian asks, “Who Betta Than Cage?!” as Collision goes to break.

Collision returns and fans chant “HOLY MEAT! HOLY MEAT!” Cage brings Keith up, Keith throws body shots, but Cage knees low. Cage wristlocks, Keith breaks free to swat and ROCK Cage! Cage wobbles and staggers to a corner, then Keith runs in to SPLASH! Keith fires off fast hands from all sides, then an UPPERCUT! Keith ROCKS Cage again, then wrenches to whip. Cage reverses, and goes to fireman’s carry! Keith’s too big, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cage lands on his face! Cover, TWO! Keith grows frustrated but fans rally with “BEAT THAT MEAT!” Keith stands Cage up, whips him, and pops him up! But Cage slips free!

Cage drop toeholds Keith onto ropes, dials it up, #MEAT-1-9!! Fans fire up and Cage storms back in. Cage has Keith at the ropes, drags him up, but Keith HEADBUTTS Cage down! Keith steadies himself, then climbs?! The fans are thunderous already, but Cage GAMANGIRIS first! Cage climbs up, brings Keith up, and he SUPERPLEXES!!! The fans lose their minds, because the craziest part is the ring didn’t break! Cage crawls to a cover, TWO!? Keith survives but Cage drags him back up. SOBAT! KICK! And SUPERKICK! Cage fireman’s carries, and manages a SUPERHEAVYWEIGHT F5!!! Cover, TWO!!!

Fans fire up again while Cage is stunned! So Nana says use the cinderblock!! Cage brings that around, because this isn’t about winning but about keeping Keith away from Swerve! Nana does his dance, but Keith ROCKS, ELBOWS, HEADBUTTS and GRIZZLY MAGNUMS! Then a fireman’s carry, BIG BANG CATASTROPHE!!! Cover, Keith wins!!

Winner: Keith Lee, by pinfall

Nana is freaking out! How could his Machine, the Vanilla Gorilla, lose!? But Keith gets a mic and he says, “Almost exactly a year ago, someone took me out for almost two months, with this.” Keith picks up the cinderblock, and Keith says he’s been trying to send a message to that man, but that man is not listening. So it would seem that at Dynamite: New Year’s Smash, Keith will make his message clear. Keith has a house to tear down, and he’ll do it brick by brick. Keith drops the cinderblock, drops the mic, and has issued his ultimatum! Will the Limitless One demolish whose house for the holidays?

Backstage interview with “Timeless” Toni Storm.

Renee Paquette is with the AEW Women’s World Champion, and her butler Luther, and her superfan Mariah May, all in black ‘n’ white, and notes that we know now it will be Storm VS Riho for the title at Worlds End. Riho won big over Saraya, only to be taken out by Mariah. What was Storm’s reaction to that? Sorry, by whom? Uh, Mariah. She’s right here. Nice to meet you, dear. Uh, they’ve already met… Oh, yes, her and a thousand others. Well, okay, but Mariah has an exciting announcement! Her American wrestling license was approved, her debut is coming! Great! When and who against? Renee sure asks a lot of questions.

But it will be very soon, and… Mariah hopes Miss Storm has some advice. Sorry, she didn’t hear a word Mariah said, was busy playing to the camera. But as for Riho, she is very small and light. Winter is coming, and Storm has no problem packing it on for a role. She can easily gain 8 to 11 pounds just like that. So Riho will leave Storm no choice but to gobble her up like the cream crepe that she is! Until then, chin, tits, and SHOE! Renee narrowly avoids it, and Storm says she has a lot to learn. Will Storm still be AEW’s leading lady after Worlds End? Or will the original champion become the NEW champion?

Christian Cage is here!

Just as his written statement said on Dynamite, Captain Charisma is back, and he’s brought his Prodigy, his “adopted” son, Nick Wayne! The Patriarch of AEW steps into the ring, grabs a mic, and tells San Antonio to sit down and shut their mouths while he conducts business. “And the business at hand… are the events that transpired a couple weeks ago on Dynamite in Montreal. People wanting to know why Nick’s mom smashed the Rated R Superstar, Adam Copeland, in the head with my TNT Championship. Now I could sit here and I could explain it to you myself, but why should I do that… when she can do it herself?”

Without further ado, San Antonio, show some respect for Shayna Wayne! Fans boo as Nick’s mom makes her way out here now. Shayna joins her son and the man who brainwashed him in the ring, and Christian says the floor is hers. He hands over the mic, fans boo more, and Shayna can’t believe the fans are booing! “You boo me? You boo a mother? How dare you! You all wanna know why I did what I did in Montreal to Adam Copeland? Nick Wayne is MY son. He’s MY baby boy. MY pride and joy.” Nick smiles while fans continue to boo. Shayna says she sat in this ring and watched Edge SMASH a chair into Nick’s head. The fans cheer that!

Fans wonder why Shayna did what she did? She did what any loving mother would do and protected HER son! And through it all, something was made very, very clear to her. The one person that loves and cares for her son as much as she does… is the Patriarch, Christian Cage. Fans boo even harder! Christian takes the mic back and says that Shayna realized what he’s always known, and now the world realizes what he’s always known, and that is Adam Copeland is a piece of crap! Shayna worked as a waitress for $40,000 a year, and other bottom feeder low-end jobs, just to put food on her son’s plate and make his dream come true of becoming a pro-wrestler!

And with one swing of the Con-Chair-To, Edge tried to take that away! And you’d think if anyone could understand the Wayne family’s situation and would be empathetic to it, it’d be Edge. Edge himself grew up with a single mother that did those same crappy jobs to make sure Edge could realize HIS dream. Fans boo but Christian says there is a very, very small part of him that wishes Edge’s mom was still alive so that she could DISOWN Edge on behalf of all single mothers around the world. But this is about Edge’s rage, his anger issues. He’s never been able to harness his anger properly, and it cost him in Montreal.

Montreal was not a good night for Edge, but it was a great night for Christian. Not only did Christian score the biggest victory of his career to retain this title, but he scored in other ways that night when Christian walked out of Montreal with his Matriarch. When Christian walked out of Montreal with Mama Wayne! And now that the family is secure and complete, Christian will address the challenge for Worlds End and the TNT Championship in a No Disqualifications match. Christian will accept the invitation, but not as a challenge, because Edge is NO CHALLENGE.

Christian already beat Edge and now Edge is realizing what Christian’s known all along! Christian is levels above Edge and everyone else in this business, and is on the mountaintop as the very best! And so at Worlds End, on behalf of Edge’s mother and on behalf of all single mothers in the world, Christian will take Edge behind the woodshed and put him down in Long Island for the last time! So then the match is set! The Rated R Superstar gets his one shot at revenge, will he be able to hit the mark this time? Or will there be no stopping The Patriarchy?

Backstage interview with Ricky Starks & “Big Bill” Morrissey.

Lexi Nair is with the AEW World Tag Team Champions, and says they were meant to face The Golden Jets at Worlds End. However, we’ve since learned Kenny Omega is out of action indefinitely, so where do the champs go from here? Bill says Omega has diverticulitis. Wow, that sounds made up. Bill’s Uncle Joe has gingivitis and he’s doing just fine. But here’s what Bill thinks is happening: Kenny is just afraid to face the greatest tag team in the history of pro-wrestling. That’s these two, by the way. Starks says Omega doesn’t have the guts to face them. Heh, good one. Starks has a million of ’em.

But the point being, The Golden Jets forfeit their title match at Worlds End, leaving Starks & Bill to partay in New York Citay~! But then Jericho walks in! Jericho says yeah, the Golden Jets are on hiatus, Omega out indefinitely. But no one is forfeiting anything. Jericho still has a signed contract for the match, and he doesn’t know where or when it’ll be, but he’ll find someone. And when he does, they will take those titles from Starks & Bill. And that is the Absolute truth. Oh, by the way, Uncle Joe sucks. Jericho leaves, Bill says Jericho doesn’t even know Joe. But who will join The Wizard in dethroning the champions?

AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Brody King VS Daniel Garcia!

With The American Dragon through to the next round, there’s only one spot left in the semifinals. The King of Death MUST win if he wants to advance, but he’d also need Andrade to lose later tonight. But Red Death has nothing to lose as he’s already mathematically eliminated, so will he go for broke and spoil Brody’s run?

The bell rings and we’re on the clock again. Garcia and Brody circle, then step up. Garcia SLAPS Brody and fans fire up! Brody BOOTS Garcia down! Garcia ends up in a corner, Brody SPLASHES him, then fires off forearms! The ref counts, Brody lets off and the fans hot and bark along with him. Brody runs in, CANNONBALL! Cover, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Brody is annoyed, and Brody CHOPS Garcia back to the corner. And CHOPS again! Garcia staggers away but Brody CHOKES him on ropes! The ref counts, Brody lets off, and he kicks Garcia around. Brody drags Garcia up to CHOP him back down!

Brody CHOPS Garcia again, then Garcia goes to the apron. Brody ROCKS Garcia, and again! Garcia flops to the floor, Brody eggs on “Red Death” but then swings into a GUILLOTINE! The ref counts, Garcia lets off, and Brody CHOPS again! Brody storms out to the apron to drag Garcia up! HANGING SLEEPER! Garcia is fading out! The ref counts, Brody DROPS Garcia to the floor! Daddy Magic on commentary says Brody’s an absolute monster, and Collision goes picture in picture.

Garcia sputters awake, Brody paces around, and a ring count begins. Garcia pushes up, Menard coaches him, and Garcia flounders around. The count passes 5, then 7. Garcia staggers and lunges in at 9! Brody is on Garcia with stomps, then TOSSES him out! Brody pursues and drags Garcia up, to whip him hard into railing! Brody storms up on Garcia, soaks up the cheers and jeers, then stands Garcia up. Brody CHOPS Garcia, brings him around and whips him hard into more railing! Garcia flops over, Brody refreshes the ring count, and then Brody stands on Garcia’s face! The ref counts, Brody lets off, and he drags Garcia up.

Brody SMACKS Garcia off the desk! Menard says to do this in the ring, but Brody tells Menard to mind his business. Garcia CHOPS, but Brody CHOPS! Brody refreshes the count, then shoves Garcia back in. Garcia goes to a corner, Brody stands him up and ROCKS him over and over with forearm shots! Brody then whips corner to corner hard and Garcia falls! Garcia sputters as he sits back up, but Brody storms up on him again. Brody CHOPS Garcia, Collision returns to single picture, and Brody CHOKES Garcia on ropes. The ref counts, Brody lets off, and then Brody runs in again. Garcia BOOTS him! And BOOTS again!

Fans fire up as Garcia BOOTS a third time! Garcia storms up, waistlocks, but Brody’s too big for a lift! Brody throws Garcia down then SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Garcia hangs in there, and he even kicks from below. Brody laughs, a bit amused by Garcia’s fire. Brody drags Garcia up, CHOPS him down, then paces. Brody eggs Garcia on, Garcia rises, so Brody CHOPS him again! Fans rally as Garcia fights back up. Brody CHOPS, but Garcia manages to stay on his feet! Garcia seethes as he stands tall, so Brody CHOPS again! Garcia roars as he staggers, and he comes back. The CHOP doesn’t affect him!

The fans are thunderous as Garcia stares Brody down. Brody dares Garcia to try then. Garcia CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP!! Brody ROCKS Garcia in return! Garcia returns to ROCK Brody! Garcia runs, ROCKS Brody again, and fans fire up! Garcia builds speed to ROCK Brody again! But then Brody swings, but Garcia gets around! Garcia tries but Brody CLUBS him off the suplex! Wait, Garcia comes back! But Garcia’s neck holds him back! Brody says that was Garcia’s last chance. Brody stands Garcia up, and Garcia does his dance! The fans fire up but Brody swings! Garcia dodges, to SAIDO!!! Cover, TWO!!

Garcia snarls, he storms around, and he runs up, but into a fireman’s carry! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Then the LARIAT!! Cover, TWO?!?! Garcia survives and shocks even Brody! Brody hauls Garcia up, scoops him, GONZO BOMB!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? HOW?!?!? No one can believe it, least of all Brody!! The fans are thunderous for Garcia but Brody hauls him back up. But Garcia is dead weight! Brody snarls, drags Garcia up but Garcia flops over again. Fans hoot and bark, Brody drags Garcia up and slaps him around! Then reels him in, but Garcia trips Brody! JACKKNIFE BRIDGE, GARCIA WINS!!!!

Winner: Daniel Garcia, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Brody earns 0)

Everyone is stunned but loving it! Garcia FINALLY scores points, and he SPOILS things for Brody!! Now it’s all on the main event, Andrade VS Eddie! But then the lights turn out! And when they come back on, Malakai & Buddy have Garcia! Menard storms up! No more ringside ban, but then Buddy KNEES Menard down! Brody SNAPS Garcia’s fingers! Menard scurries to shield Garcia, saying the House has done enough! But wait! Here comes FTR! Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler is not gonna let the House of Black do what they want! Malakai, Buddy & Brody fall back, and Malakai says it is only a matter of time.

Dax gets the mic and says he is tired of the fairytales and magic tricks. If The House wants FTR to join the family, then dammit, Dax will be the tequila drinkin’ uncle who beats everybody’s ass! Dax & Cash want it! First-time-ever 2v2, FTR VS House of Black! #TopGuysOut! When and where will these hard-hitting teams collide once and for all?

Julia Hart & Skye Blue VS Abadon & Thunder Rosa!

The Princess of the Black Throne’s influence finally got through and now The Chicago Skye is dark and brooding. But will they make a dangerous tag team after all? Or will La Mera Mera’s return to action help the Living Dead Girl be ready for the TBS Championship at Worlds End?

The teams sort out and Abadon starts against Skye. The fans are fired up for Rosa but Skye and Abadon circle. They stare down, Julia shouts at Abadon to distract her, and Skye CLOBBERS Abadon! Skye stomps away, drags Abadon up, then bumps her off buckles. Skye digs her boots in, tags Julia, and Julia fires forearms. Julia snapmares Abadon, pushes her down to dribble her off the mat, then lets off to loom over her. Julia drags Abadon up, but Abadon throws body shots. Fans rally, Julia fires forearms, but Abadon counterpunches! And again! Julia ROCKS Abadon, runs, but Abadon scoops her for a SWINGING SIDE SLAM!

Fans fire up as Abadon shrieks, and she rains down fists! The ref reprimands, Abadon lets off to glare at Skye, then she goes back to drag Julia up. Abadon runs, SLIDING KNEE! Abadon then looks to Rosa, reaches out, but Skye runs up to BLAST Rosa first! Fans boo but now Abadon has Skye trapped. But Julia CLUBS Abadon, she and Skye stomp away on her, and then Skye SMACKS Abadon off the mat. Julia CHOPS Abadon, Skye CHOPS Abadon, repeat! Then they both SLAM Abadon down! Fans are torn as Skye & Julia loom over Abadon. Julia stomps Abadon while Skye returns to the corner, and Collision goes picture in picture.

Julia CLUBS and stomps Abadon some more, then brings her around to CHOKE her on ropes! The ref counts, Julia lets off, then HEEL KICKS Abadon down! Julia stomps Abadon, pushes her down, then rains down forearm shots! Abadon reaches up but Julia throws down hands. Julia CLUBS Abadon, stands her up and fires forearms, but Abadon hits back! Abadon UPPERCUTS Julia down! Fans rally as both women are down, and Abadon crawls. But Skye runs around to YANK Rosa off the corner! Then she RAMS Rosa into steel steps! Julia drags Abadon back into a chinlock, then CLUBS her down!

Julia has Abadon on ropes again to CHOKE! The ref counts, Julia lets off but Skye KNEES Abadon down! Julia then wrangles Abadon back into a chinlock and shifts to a dragon sleeper! Abadon endures, reaches out, but Collision goes to break.

Collision returns and Julia has Abadon down in a motorcycle stretch. Abadon fights up, and she BITES Julia’s arm! Then she HEEL KICKS! Btu Skye tags in! Skye drags Abadon back, Julia helps out, but Abadon rolls free to DOUBLE FLATLINER! Fans fire up as Abadon crawls over, hot tag to Rosa! Rosa rallies with DOUBLE LARIATS, then LARIAT after LARIAT! Rosa runs up at Julia in the corner, A-LIST LARIAT! Rosa swings in, DOUBLE KNEES! Skye is up, she gets an A-LIST LARIAT and SWINGING KNEES! Fans fire up for Rosa and she has Skye at center. Rosa runs to basement dropkick! Rosa then hits a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, Julia breaks it!

Fans fire up for Rosa as she stares Julia down. Then Rosa whips, but Julia reverses to send Rosa out. So Abadon CLOBBERS Julia! Skye SUPERKICKS Abadon! Rosa returns, Skye dodges and CLUBS Rosa as she goes up! Skye tucks Rosa in, CHEEKY NANDOS! And then a POWER- NO, Rosa fights free, so Skye SUPERKICKS! Rosa falls, Skye snarls and she looks to Julia. Skye drags Rosa into the drop zone and Julia climbs, but Abadon is back! Abadon trips Hart, but Skye swings on her! Abadon gets away then ROCKS Skye! Rosa fires off on Skye, whips her and Skye runs into Julia’s knees! Then Rosa kicks Skye low, reels her in, and puts one out!

Abadon makes Julia watch as Rosa hits a TIJAUNA BOMB!! Cover, Rosa & Abadon win!

Winners: Abadon & Thunder Rosa, by pinfall

Rosa says she’s back, baby! Abadon is rolling towards her match with Julia, will we have a new champion with the New Year? Or will The House Always Win when it’s 1v1?

AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Andrade El Idolo VS Eddie Kingston!

It all comes down to this! Bryan Danielson is moving on to Dynamite: New Years Smash, and only ONE of these men can do the same! Will The Ungovernable Idol make a big push for the semifinals? Or will the Mad King still be connected to the ROH World & NJPW Strong Openweight Championships?

The bell rings and we’re on the clock one more time! The fans rally for Eddie as he and Andrade feel things out. Andrade offers a handshake, so Eddie takes it. The fans cheer the sportsmanship, and then Andrade shoves Eddie. Eddie shoves back, then he avoids boot and elbow! Eddie knows about the feint and Andrade smirks. The two circle again, tie up, and then Andrade avoids the Uraken! Eddie smirks now, seems Andrade’s seen Backfist to the Future a few times, too. The two reset again, tie up, and Andrade headlocks. Eddie powers up to pry at the hold but Andrade clamps on tighter. Eddie powers up again, wrenches out, but Andrade wrenches back.

Andrade pushes on the wristlock, Eddie stays standing, and Eddie wrenches back. Eddie wristlocks back, Andrade pushes him to a corner, and the ref counts. Andrade lets off, to then kick low! Andrade whips corner to corner, Eddie reverses but Andrade goes up and out! Andrade then ROCKS Eddie, climbs up, and he CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Andrade keeps Eddie down with an armlock but Eddie fights up. Eddie throws body shots, Andrade grinds the hold, and fans rally up. Eddie fights up again, but Andrade puts him on ropes. Andrade whips, Eddie reverses, and Eddie knees low to then snapmare. DOUBLE STOMP!

Fans rally and duel while Eddie shakes out an arm. Andrade sputters but Eddie circles around him. Eddie hauls Andrade up but Andrade JAWBREAKERS free! Andrade runs, into a LARIAT! Fans rally up as Eddie storms up on Andrade and facelocks him down. Andrade endures, and Collision goes picture in picture.

Eddie grinds Andrade down, but Andrade fights up. Andrade pushes Eddie into a corner, gets free, and runs up to ROCK Eddie! But Eddie turns things around to CHOP! Andrade CHOPS in return! Eddie CHOPS again! Andrade CHOPS again, but Eddie knees low! Eddie puts Andrade up top, then DECKS him to the floor! Eddie shakes out the arm and catches his breath while Andrade clutches a leg. The ring count climbs, Andrade rises up, and he slides in at 7, but just slides back out! Andrade uses the ring count for a breather, but Eddie eggs him on. Andrade storms in at 5 of 10, runs up on Eddie, but Eddie blocks the boot! Then CHOPS!

Andrade wobbles and staggers to ropes, Eddie clamps onto him for a neck wrench! The ref counts, Eddie lets off, then he brings Andrade around to snapmare. Eddie has a chinlock but Andrade endures. Collision returns to single picture, the fans rally up, and Andrade fights up. Andrade throws body shots, but Eddie knees low! Eddie suplexes, Andrade slips free, but Eddie throws elbows! Eddie runs at the corner but Andrade dropkicks the legs out! Eddie writhes and clutches the knee, and Andrade stalks up behind him. Andrade gets the leg to DRAGON SCREW! Eddie storms back up, but into another DRAGON SCREW!

Eddie still stands, takes another swing, but Andrade dodges to CLOBBER Eddie! Fans fire up, and Andrade kips up! Andrade flexes and the fans fire up more! Andrade drags Eddie up, bumps him off buckles, and stomps him back down. Andrade rallies the fans, they chant “SI! SI! SI!” CIEN KNEES!! Then cover, TWO!! Eddie survives but Andrade keeps his cool. Andrade paces around, brings Eddie up, and he reels Eddie in. Andrade gives some Latino Heat, to snap suplex! Uno Amigo and the fans fire up! Dos Amigos, and Andrade stands back up! A little extra helping of Latino Heat, and then THREE AMIGOS! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally as Eddie hangs in there. Andrade smirks, he drags Eddie to a drop zone and he goes to the corner. Andrade climbs, but Eddie rises! Andrade still leaps, but into a GAMANGIRI! That was rather double-edged given Eddie’s bad leg but the fans rally up again. Andrade crawls to a corner, Eddie runs in, but into a BOOT! Eddie still LARIATS! And then MACHINE GUN CHOPS! But Andrade shoves him! So Eddie CHIOPS! And CHOPS! And then Eddie clinches to EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Andrade hangs tough and Eddie grits his teeth, but more from pain in his leg than frustration.

Eddie stalks Andrade, drag shim up to half nelson, but Andrade fights free with elbows! Eddie wobbles, Andrade snapmares Eddie out of the ring! Then WRECKS him with a dropkick! Andrade goes up to SUPER ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit and fans fire up again! Andrade puts Eddie in, goes up the corner, and the fans rally for “IDOLO! IDOLO!” MOONSAULT, Eddie moves, so Andrade MOONSAULTS again!! Cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous, “This is Awesome!” Andrade seethes as he stands, and Andrade drags Eddie up. Andrade reels Eddie in, hammerlocks, but Eddie fights the DDT!

Eddie RAMS Andrade into buckles again and again, and is finally free of the facelock! Then he SAIDOS Andrade away! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up, and Eddie rises again. Eddie drags Andrade up but Andrade is dead weight. The ref checks, Andrade is still in this, so Eddie half nelsons. But Andrade RAMS Eddie into buckles! Andrade throws elbows, but Eddie RIDGE HANDS! Andrade boot feints and ELBOWS!! Cover, TWO!!! Eddie survives and Andrade can’t believe it! The fans are thunderous as Eddie reaches around. Andrade drags Eddie by a leg, “WOO~!” and a step through, FIGURE FOUR!!

Eddie tries to block the locking leg while also crawling for ropes! Andrade still gets the hold, but Eddie gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Andrade lets off in frustration, and we hit the five minute warning! This is starting to parallel the opening match, but Andrade drags Eddie up. URAKEN!! Then a clinch, and URAKEN again!! Then the NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!!! Cover, EDDIE WINS!!!!

Winner: Eddie Kingston, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Andrade earns 0)

Just as time was running out in more ways than one, Eddie finishes this off! Perhaps a Christmas Miracle, or perhaps just Eddie’s iron will seeing him through! But wait, here comes Bryan! Bryan beat Eddie in their 1v1 match earlier in the tournament, and now they’re gonna go one more time. Will Eddie slay the American Dragon and prove he’s NOT a bum? Or will Bryan be the one to take The Mad King’s crowns away from him?

My Thoughts:

A great episode for Collision with AEW continuing their “all thriller, no filler” streak. Great promo from Christian Cage and Shayna Wayne to explain what I figured the night of the AEW Montreal Screw Job: Shayna was being mama bear rather than accepting the truth that her son got/is screwed up. But now with the No Disqualification match for the TNT Championship, I am so hoping we get the flipside and Luchasaurus returns to screw Christian over. And I’m even more confident now that Mariah May turns on Toni Storm for how Storm was so dismissive of her tonight.

Hook has a good promo that is very much Hook style, and we establish the FTW Championship match under FTW rules. And good promo from Starks, Morrissey and Jericho to establish what I was hoping for: Jericho holding on to the tag title match opportunity so he can get a substitute partner. I still feel like Paul Wight should be the choice, so that he and Jericho can also settle things with The Don Callis Family, namely Will Hobbs. Great match from Keith and Cage with Keith of course winning to head towards Swerve and them finally getting a blowoff match. Now, given that match is coming, it is certainly a sign Swerve isn’t winning the Triple Threat, which is a shame because I thought he was getting the Triple Crown.

But at the same time, they teased Swerve jumping up to the world title scene given his promo with MJF. So win or lose against Keith, maybe Swerve still finds his way to a title match in time for Revolution in March 2024. Great Trios Championship match, and a great detail in how Caster was getting aggressive and chippy in the match. Possibly a Heel turn in the future for The Acclaimed? It is also a good example of when a spookier Heel affects a Face in a way to make them change their attitude. Speaking of which, great tag match from Julia & Skye VS Abadon & Rosa. Great win for Abadon & Rosa, but as it stands, that makes me think Julia retains the title at Worlds End. And with Rosa back, I feel like she’s the one to take the TBS title from Julia to continue where Rosa left off.

And awesome stuff in the Continental Classic. So great that they gave us a time limit draw here so that Bryan advances without winning and hurting Claudio’s power rankings. Also great that Garcia got the spoiler win over Brody, the fans were perhaps hottest all night for this because they wanted to see Garcia win that badly. It was also a great way to tie The House of Black and FTR into things. House of Black VS FTR will be great stuff but feels like we could see a Six Man Tag sprout from this, Garcia joining FTR in a sort of one off moment. And an awesome main event, and the right choice of Eddie winning out.

Bryan VS Eddie the rematch is going to be awesome, and I’m saying Eddie wins. With Bryan needing to be prepared for his rematch with Okada at WrestleKingdom on January 4th, I don’t see Bryan going all out on December 30th, or even having a match at all. Bryan needs to take it easy if he wants to finish out this “last year,” so missing an AEW PPV to make a NJPW PPV is just fine by me.

My Score: 8.9/10