It’s a Continental Classic Christmas!

It’s AEW Dynamite on 34th Street, and the greatest Christmas gift is a ticket to the Continental Classic semifinals at Worlds End this Saturday in Orlando! But who reaches the goal while the others get coal?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Will Ospreay VS Brody King; Ospreay wins.
• AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Darby Allin VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
• AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli VS Komander; Komander wins.
• AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Shelton Benjamin VS Kazuchika Okada; Okada wins.
• Toni Storm VS Taya Valkyrie w/ Deonna Purrazzo; Toni wins.
• AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Kyle Fletcher VS Daniel Garcia; wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Taz is back on commentary!

That’s right, the living legend is back from that awful attack by The Patriarchy, and what better place than the Hammerstein Ballroom? But will Taz have something to say about Christian Cage’s cowardly actions?

Here are the current Continental Classic Gold League standings!

Claudio Castagnoli: 3-1, 9 points
Ricochet: 3-1, 9 points
Will Ospreay: 2-2, 6 points
Darby Allin: 2-2, 6 points
Brody King: 2-2, 6 points
Komander: 0-4, 0 points [ELIMINATED]

Here are the current Continental Classic Blue League standings!

Mark Briscoe: 3-2, 9 points
Kyle Fletcher: 3-1, 9 points
Kazuchika Okada: 2-1-1, 7 points
Daniel Garcia: 2-1-1, 7 points
Shelton Benjamin: 2-2, 6 points
The Beast Mortos: 0-5, 0 points [ELIMINATED]

AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Will Ospreay VS Brody King!

The Aerial Assassin wraps his run on Christmas against the King of Death, and both men are in a must-win situation! Will Ospreay be headed to Orlando for Worlds End? Or will the House Always Win?

The bell rings, we’re on the clock, and Hammerstein barks it up for Brody. Brody and Ospreay circle as the fans cheer “Both These Guys! Both These Guys!” Ospreay kicks to test the waters but Brody shrugs it off. Ospreay kicks again, Brody is annoyed, and the fans sing for “Ospreay~ Ospreay Ospreay Ospreay~!” Ospreay gives more kicks but Brody powers him to a corner. The ref counts, Brody lets off, but Ospreay avoids a chop to CHOP! Ospreay whips but Brody blocks! Brody whips, runs up, but into a BOOT! Ospreay runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then RAN- NO! Brody stays up, brings Ospreay up, but Ospreay fires hands!

Brody puts Ospreay back in a corner, then TOSSES him across the way! The fans fire up while Ospreay gets right back up. Ospreay fires forearms, then runs, but Brody CLOBBERS him! Brody barks, the fans join in, and Brody runs in at the corner. Ospreay dodges, and goes to scoop!? Brody is up but he’s too big, Ospreay falls over! Cover, TWO! Brody scoops Ospreay to SLAM him, then he runs to SENTON, onto knees! Ospreay saves himself, and he calls his shot! OSC- NO, Brody CLUBS Ospreay, then has him in a Crucifix! But Ospreay pops up to RANA! The fans fire up while Brody tumbles out!

Ospreay aims, PLANCHAS, but Brody dodges! Brody runs up, Ospreay dodges and then baits Brody. Brody runs up, and Ospreay dropkicks the legs out! Brody hits steel steps with his face! Brody staggers up, Ospreay runs in, but Brody picks him up! SPINEBUSTER on the steps! And perhaps that’s quite literal, as it looked like the edge or even corner of the step got Ospreay in the back. The fans bark it up while Ospreay writhes and Brody checks his teeth. Brody drags Ospreay up to SHOVE into barriers, and then he CHOPS Ospreay down! Brody stands Ospreay back up, and whips him hard into more railing!

The fans fire up as Brody CHOPS Ospreay down! Brody gives thumbs up and a fist bump to the fan in the wheelchair and the fans cheer. Brody puts Ospreay in the ring, storms up on him, and clamps on with a neck wrench. Ospreay endures, the fans rally and duel, but Brody leans on the hold. Ospreay fights with elbows, but Brody CLUBS him again. Brody hauls Ospreay up but Ospreay fires forearms! Brody ROCKS Ospreay right back! Ospreay wobbles but he shakes his head as he stays standing! The fans fire up as Ospreay fires back, but then Brody ROCKS him again! Ospreay SOBATS, then runs, but into a BIG backdrop!

The fans fire up while Ospreay writhes, and Brody still checks his teeth. The fans rally up but Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Brody storms around, drags Ospreay up, and TOSSES him out of the ring. Brody goes out after Ospreay and brings him up, fora  CHOP! Ospreay almost teeters over the railing, but then Broody whips him into more railing! Brody gets space, barks it up, then runs back in. Ospreay moves, Brody stops short, and Brody BOOTS Ospreay! Ospreay staggers to the far side, and Brody smirks as he storms over. Ospreay comes back to fire a forearm! Brody ROCKS Ospreay! Brody refreshes the ring count, but Ospreay fires a forearm! Brody ROCKS Ospreay again! And then CHOPS him! Ospreay scrambles away into the ring.

Brody storms in to SENTON! Direct hit this time and Brody covers, TWO! Brody is annoyed but Ospreay’s a former IWGP World Champion, he’s tougher than that. Brody waits on Ospreay, scuffs him and kicks him, then CHOPS him! Ospreay grits his teeth and rises up, then he fires a forearm! Brody CHOPS Ospreay again! Ospreay wobbles and leans back, but he comes back with a forearm! Brody CHOPS again! Ospreay falls over, but Brody stands him up for a BEARHUG! Dynamite on 34th Street returns to single picture as Ospreay fires forearms. Ospreay is free, but Brody then clamps on a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK!

Ospreay endures, fights to get his own facelock, but Brody fights the suplex! Brody FISHERMAN BUSTERS in return! The fans fire up while both men are down. Brody rises, then storms up on Ospreay. Brody reels Ospreay in, but Ospreay uses that to slide under! Ospreay then dodges a lariat to handspring and NEURALIZER KICK! Brody staggers then tumbles out of the ring! Brody returns to the apron but Ospreay BOOTS him back down! Ospreay goes up a corner and climbs, to then SKY TWISTER! Direct hit and the fans fire up for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” giving this as the opener! Ospreay hurries to put Brody in, then aims again.

Ospreay springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Brody survives but he again checks his jaw. The fans rally up and Ospreay brings Brody around. Ospreay reels Brody in, but Brody backdrops free! Ospreay is right up and all fired up! Ospreay BOOTS Brody, but Brody just glares at Ospreay! The fans bark and Brody winds up to CHOP! Ospreay grits his teeth to stay up, and he CHOPS in return! Brody shrugs that off!? Ospreay CHOPS, Brody barks! CHOP! Bark! CHOP! Bark! Brody corners Ospreay and dares him to bring it! Ospreay fires shot after shot, then eggs Brody on. Brody DECKS Ospreay with one shot!

Brody puts Ospreay on the top rope, and puts some stank on this CHOP! Ospreay tumbles to the apron and then to the floor! The fans bark even louder while Brody goes out after Ospreay. Brody hauls Ospreay up, ROCKS him, and makes him take a seat. Brody walks to the far side and comes back, CROSSBODY against railing! Both men are down but Brody snarls as he rises up already. Brody puts Ospreay in, Ospreay goes to a corner, so Brody just runs in to CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Ospreay survives and Brody grows frustrated. The fans rally up while Brody reels Ospreay in, but Ospreay is a ragdoll.

Brody pushes Ospreay around, stomps him, then steps on him. Ospreay grits his teeth as he pushes up! The fans rally up, but Brody BOOTS Ospreay in the face! Ospreay just gets mad! Brody BOOTS Ospreay again! Ospreay rises and he fires a forearm! Brody fires back! Ospreay staggers but he comes back with another forearm! Brody fires back! Ospreay CHOPS, Brody CHOPS, repeat! Ospreay leans against Brody, but Brody keeps him from falling! Ospreay fires up with that and he CHOPS! Brody CHOPS! The fans “WOO~!” with every CHOP! Ospreay roars and CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Brody CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS!!

Ospreay sputters as he drops to a knee, and Brody says one more time! RIPCORD- HEADBUTT from Ospreay! Kawada Kicks! BOOT! SUPERKICK! But Brody ROLLING ELBOWS! Ospreay wobbles, but he HOOK KICKS right back! HOOK KICK again! Ospreay springboards, but Brody DECKS him outta the sky!! The fans are thunderous as Brody LAR- NO, Ospreay slips through and he lifts Brody up! To then pop into position! STYLES CLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Brody survives and the fans are thunderous! Ospreay throws off the elbow pad and he loads up! Fans hope these two “FIGHT FOREVER!” but there’s still a time limit!

Ospreay runs up, but Brody LARIATS!! Brody hauls Ospreay up to scoop, GONZO BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?! Ospreay survives but Brody just LARIATS again!! Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay survives and Brody is beside himself! The fans rally as hard as they can and Brody hauls Ospreay back up. Scoop and- NO, Ospreay slips free, ducks ‘n dodges, FLYING HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, ONE?!?! WHAT?!? But Ospreay just reloads and runs in, HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, TWO!?!?! HOW?!? The fans are electric and Ospreay stands Brody up! Ospreay underhooks him, STORM BREAKER!! Cover, OSPREAY WINS!!

Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (gains 3 points, Brody earns 0)

A powerful and triumphant victory for Ospreay, but don’t call this a Christmas Miracle just yet! Ospreay still needs Claudio Castagnoli and Darby Allin to lose or this will be all for naught! Can Ricochet and Komander come through for Ospreay so that he can have a spot in the semifinals? Or will there be no golden ticket to Orlando for the Aerial Assassin?

The Hurt Syndicate arrives backstage.

And waiting for them are Christopher Daniels and AEW security. Renee Paquette is also here to note that tonight, there are huge C2 stakes as Shelton Benjamin faces Kazuchika Okada. As for MVP and Bobby Lashley, she has been asked to inform them that they have been banned from the building tonight. Montel Vontavious Porter repeats, “Banned from the building?” The Standard of Excellence says he’s about to get a nice little warm-up in before his match. Daniels asks they not do that, and MVP has his associates “step off the gas just a little bit.” MVP says out of respect for Renee, they’ll honor the request.

MVP fist bumps Shelton, as does Lashley, but he’s still staring down Daniels. MVP wishes Renee a Merry Christmas, he and the All Mighty leave. The Fallen Angel then lets Shelton enter, will Shelton be one of Blue League’s semifinalists? Or will Okada look to make it rain at Worlds End?

AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Darby Allin VS Ricochet!

Back to it, we know that The Relentless One feels he needs to win this tournament as a way to oppose The Death Riders, but The Only & Only only cares about The One & Only. Will Ricochet make sure the C2 continues to be #OuttaThisWorld? Or will Darby take out two high-flyers with one Coffin Drop?

The bell rings and the fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at Ricochet for how he cheated Ospreay just last Saturday. Ricochet tells the fans off because a win is a win. Darby storms up on Ricochet, Ricochet backs away to a corner, and now fans taunt Ricochet with, “Why You Bald?” Ricochet and Darby circle, tie up, and they’re in a deadlock. Ricochet finds a point of leverage but Darby turns things around to put Ricochet in a corner. Ricochet complains Darby is pulling hair, and the ref says what hair? Ricochet’s bald! The fans sing, “OH~ We Want Samantha~!” Darby and Ricochet reset, tie up again, and Darby waistlocks.

Darby wrenches, headlocks, but Ricochet powers up, only for Darby to hold on tight. Ricochet fights up, Darby hits a takeover, and the fans rally up. Ricochet fights up to his feet, pushes Darby back to power up and out, but Darby runs him over! Ricochet kips up, but Darby hits a headlock and takeover! The fans cheer but Ricochet rolls to a cover, ONE! Darby holds on, Ricochet fights to roll him again, ONE! They stand now, and Ricochet puts Darby in a corner. Ricochet then throws Darby away, runs back up, but Darby gets him in another headlock takeover! Ricochet kicks and flails in frustration while he endures the grind.

The fans rally as Darby leans on Ricochet, but Ricochet fights up. Ricochet rolls to another cover, ONE! Darby keeps that headlock on tight, but Ricochet powers his way to a corner. The ref counts the break, Darby lets go slowly, but Ricochet JABS! The fans boo that cheap shot and the ref reprimands, but Ricochet just soaks up the heat. Hammerstein reminds Ricochet that he’s “BALD! BALD! BALD!” while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Ricochet storms back up on Darby, brings him around, and hits a BACKBREAKER! Darby writhes and Ricochet soaks up more heat. Ricochet flips off the fans while Darby goes to a corner. Ricochet runs up and he CHOPS Darby down! Ricochet then scoops Darby for another BACKBREAKER! Darby writhes but Ricochet stands on him, then springboard stomps him! Ricochet stomps Darby more, but lets off as the ref reprimands. Darby crawls along ropes, Ricochet storms up, and Ricochet blocks a boot! Ricochet YANKS Darby from the ropes to SLAM him down! Then Ricochet CLAWS at Darby’s face!

The ref reprimands, Ricochet lets off, and Ricochet soaks up more heat. Ricochet kicks Darby around, taunts him, then BOOTS him down! Ricochet is in control while Dynamite goes to break.

Dynamite on 34th Street returns as Ricochet has Darby in a corner. Ricochet whips Darby corner to corner hard and the fans boo. Ricochet soaks it up while Darby flops out of the ring. Ricochet then goes out to the apron, and he has another of those toilet paper “streamers” from Saturday! Ricochet does the threatening step to one fan, then CHUCKS the TP to the upper deck. A fan catches it with ease, and Darby trips Ricochet up! The fans fire up and Darby hobbles over to Ricochet. Darby tosses the TP to the THIRD deck, but Ricochet BOOTS Darby into railing! The fans rally as hard as they can as Ricochet then RAMS Darby into more railing!

Ricochet stalks Darby, stands him up, and whips him again, but Darby reverses! Now Ricochet crashes into railing! The fans fire up as Darby runs up, COFFIN SPLASH but only into railing! Ricochet comes back to SUPERKICK Darby down! Ricochet hurries to put Darby in the ring, then takes aim. Springboard and FLYING LARIAT! Ricochet keeps moving, LIONSAULT! Ricochet tells the fans to “SUCK IT!” then covers, TWO! Darby stays in this and Ricochet says okay, fine. Ricochet paces around Darby, drags him to a drop zone, then goes to the corner. The fans rally for Darby while Ricochet climbs up.

Ricochet aims, and 450- NO, Ricochet bails out to land on his feet! TIGER WALL KICK, but then Darby shoots around! Waistlock, O’Conner Roll, TWO! Springboard and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Darby hurries to ghost pin, TWO! Darby steps over, LA MAGISTROL! TWO!! Ricochet narrowly escapes, but Darby SHOTGUNS him to the outside! The fans fire up and Darby fires up with them! Darby builds speed to DIVE but into a KNEE! Ricochet shoots Darby outta the sky, then he brings out a table?! Ricochet isn’t thinking about the win right now, and he hauls Darby up. Ricochet RAMS Darby into the apron, then RAMS him in again!

The fans boo as Ricochet pushes Darby onto the table and throws down hands. The ref says don’t do this, they have to end this in the ring. Darby CLAWS at Ricochet but Ricochet rains down fists! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Ricochet lets off. The fans again chant “BALD! BALD! BALD!” Ricochet goes into the ring, climbs up the corner, and he aims at Darby! Ricochet 630 ONTO DARBY AND THE TABLE!!! The fans lose their minds and the ref is furious, but the ref is letting it play for the integrity of the C2! Ricochet talks trash, even as he drags himself to steel steps, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Darby is still down by the wreckage while Ricochet stands up. Ricochet talks more trash on fans, then leaves Darby behind. Doc Sampson checks on Darby, as does the ref, and Ricochet says to just call it. Darby stirs and is conscious, but is he able to continue? The ref has Ricochet calm down and stay back while Doc keeps talking with Darby. Darby clutches his lower back while the ring count climbs. Darby slowly sits up, but then Ricochet goes out to fetch him! And THROW him into railing! Darby slumps down but Ricochet drags him back up, just to throw him back into railing! Ricochet leaves Darby behind and Doc checks him again.

Darby grits his teeth and crawls, but he doesn’t get very far very fast. The ring count is climbing, Ricochet paces, but Darby is up at 7! Ricochet goes out right as Darby slides in! Ricochet then drags Darby out to RAM him into the apron! And RAM him again! Ricochet leaves Darby behind once more, and Doc again checks Darby while Dynamite on 34th Street returns to single picture. Darby drags himself up with the apron skirt, and he slides in at 4 of 10! The fans rally but Ricochet stomps away on Darby! The ref reprimands as Ricochet tears at the tape! Ricochet stops for just a moment, then tears at the tape again!

Ricochet stomps away on Darby’s back, no mercy for Darby’s bad back. Ricochet backs off to go to the apron, then springboards over the ref to DOUBLE STOMP Darby!! The fans boo but Ricochet is merciless! He fires shots on Darby’s back in the corner, stops as the ref pulls him back, and the ref checks on Darby. Darby says he’s not giving up! The fans rally for Darby but Ricochet says this is what he gets then. CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! Ricochet stops as the ref counts 4, and Ricochet puts Darby up top. UPPERCUT! The fans boo but Ricochet CHOPS again! Darby wobbles up top and Ricochet climbs up to join Darby.

Ricochet ROCKS Darby, but Darby growls! Ricochet fires another shot, but Darby fires back! Darby fires again and again, Ricochet drops back! But then Ricochet GAMANGIRIS! And SLAPS! Ricochet climbs up, but Darby fires body shots! Darby CLAWS Ricochet’s back and the fans cheer! The ref still reprimands but Darby sumps Ricochet off buckles again and again! Darby then climbs on for a SUPER CODE RED!! And then he hops on, another CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives but the fans fire up for Darby. Darby hurries to drag Ricochet into a drop zone, and then he goes back up top!

The fans boo as Ricochet rolls far, far away. Darby hops down, hobbles his way over, and he has Ricochet on the apron. But Ricochet HOTSHOTS Darby! And HOTSHOTS again! And HOTSHOTS again! Darby flops back and Ricochet aims again. Springboard 450 FLOPS as Darby moves! Darby hurries to clamp on with a FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Ricochet endures, even as Darby bends fingers! TWO MINUTE WARNING!? Ricochet reaches out, but Darby drag shim back! Darby bends those fingers while holding onto that Fujiwara, but Ricochet moves around with his legs! Ricochet fights his way over, reaches out, but Darby gets BOTH arms!

The fans fire up for this INVERTED RINGS OF SATURN! Ricochet still has his feet and he kicks his way over! ROPEBREAK!! Ricochet survives by a literal foot, and the ref counts as Darby holds on. Darby lets off at 4, and we’re at the literal last minute! The fans rally as hard as they can for Darby as he drags Ricochet into a corner. Darby CHOPS, runs, JUMP KNEE from Ricochet! Ricochet hurries to NORTHERN LIGHTS! Roll through and deadlift, but Darby slips through! Dragon sleeper, SCORPION DEATH DROP!! But Darby can’t make a cover! The countdown! Darby climbs, COFFION DROP!! Cover, TIME’S UP!!!

Time Limit Draw; both men earn 1 point

The fans are disappointed, and the toilet paper returns! Darby only getting one point means he only has 7 points, while Ricochet as 10! Ricochet is guaranteed a spot in the semifinals, so now it is only a matter of first or second seed. Will Komander bring Claudio down so Ricochet can be on top? Or will The One & Only be joined by the Swiss Superman at Worlds End?

Wait, speaking of, Komander makes his way out here! The NEW ROH World Television Champion locks eyes with Darby, and Darby tells him and Alex Abrahantes to get this done! Can the Commander of the Skies pull off the greatest upset in C2 history?

Jay White speaks.

“Well, we are well and truly on the road to Worlds End, and I have been stomped out and choked out by the Death Riders, led by their obviously appointed ‘One True King,’ the AEW World Champion, Jon Moxley. A man that to some seems unbeatable, but Jonny knows the truth. That the biggest threat to him and his reign is a one-on-one match with me. That is why we find ourselves in this 4 way for the championship. Jon Moxley, no matter how you crowd the room, I will find my way to you! And I will find my way to the AEW World Championship.” The Switchblade is ready to cut down The Maniac, but will AEW soon Breathe with The Switchblade?

AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli VS Komander!

Dynamite on 34th Street returns, and Claudio has made his entrance. The bell rings and the clock starts on this moment of truth. The fans rally for Komander as he and Claudio stare down. They feel things out, but then Claudio kicks low and CLUBS away on Komander! Claudio CHOPS Komander, CHOPS again, and Komander flops against ropes. Claudio CHOPS again and Komander almost flops out of the ring. Claudio whips, Komander ducks the boot, then he UP KICKS! Claudio stays up and he BOOTS Komander down! Claudio drags Komander up, TOSSES him to a corner, then runs up, but Komander dropkicks legs, sending Claudio into buckles!

Komander hurries to the outside and he climbs a corner! The fans fire up as Komander tightrope walks to ARABIAN PRESS- NO, Claudio stops the DDT to hit a RUNNING SUPLEX! The fans boo despite the impressive nature of that move. Claudio runs to drop a BIG elbow! Cover, ONE!! Claudio hauls Komander up to scoop and SLAM, then he clamps on a neck wrench. Komander endures and fans rally up. Komander CLUBS at Claudio’s leg, but Claudio whips him to ropes. Claudio then tilt-o-whirl scoops Komander for a BACKBREAKER! Claudio then holds on and lifts Komander back up, to then pop him up into a fireman’s carry!

Fans boo while Claudio goes to a corner and climbs up! Claudio gorilla presses Komander, to SUPER GUT BUSTER!! Komander flounders, Claudio covers, TWO!! Komander survives and the fans fire up! Claudio looms over Komander while he seethes, and then he stalks Komander to a corner. Claudio UPPERCUTS again and again, sits Komander down, then stomps him. The ref counts, Claudio lets off, and Claudio brings Komander up. Komander fires KICKS and forearms and CHOPS! But then Claudio UPPERCUTS him down! Then DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans boo, Claudio covers, TWO! Claudio is annoyed but he stalks Komander.

Claudio sits Komander up to clamp on a chinlock, but the fans rally as Komander fights up. Komander fires body shots, Claudio whips, but Komander ducks ‘n’ dodges ‘n’ RAN- NO! Claudio blocks the rana, and he swings Komander back up! But Komander slips around, POISON- NO! Claudio stops that rana, but Komander gets back up! They go to ropes, Komander RANAS Claudio up and out, but Claudio holds onto Komander! Claudio then ELECTRIC CHAIR SLAMS Komander on the apron! Komander staggers and sputters but Claudio pushes him back in. Claudio hears the fans chant “BALD! BALD!” at him while he steps inside.

Claudio stands Komander up but Komander fires body shots! Komander KICKS away on a leg, then runs side to side! Komander goes up, up, and FLYING RANAS! Claudio is sent into the POST! The fans fire up as Komander then RAMS Claudio into steel steps! Komander has Hammerstein behind him like they were for Final Battle, but then Claudio THROWS him into railing! Komander sputters, Claudio runs up, but then Komander dodges! Claudio crashes into the railing and Komander hurries into the ring. Komander runs corner to corner and back again, to then go up, up and AWAY! Saluting swanton takes Claudio down!

The fans fire up with Komander, this is starting to feel like Final Battle! Komander puts Claudio in, then runs and runs, but into a POP-UP, NO! Komander lands in a way to have the ELEVATED COBRA TWIST! The same move he used on Brody King last Rampage! But Claudio RAMS him into buckles! Claudio then runs up, but into a BOOT! Komander runs, rolls, and FACEBUSTERS! The fans fire up while Claudio is down, and Komander goes to a corner! Komander climbs, but Claudio hurries to trip him up! Komander flops to the mat and Claudio catches his breath. Claudio then hauls Komander up, to CROTCH him on the ropes!

The fans boo and the ref reprimands, but Claudio BOOTS Komander to the floor! Claudio drags Komander up, but the ref reprimands him again. Claudio argues with the ref, but Komander looks under the ring? He finds Darby’s pink jacket! Is this the thing Darby really whispered to Abrahantes earlier!? Komander looks in the pockets, and surprise! BRASS KNUCKLES! Just like what Claudio used to win against Darby! Claudio storms back over, and BRASS KNUCKLE PUNCH!!! Komander hides the evidence then goes up a corner! The fans are thunderous for CIELIETO LINDO!! Cover, KOMANDER WINS!!!

Winner: Komander, by pinfall (gains 3 points, Claudio earns 0)

No one is allowed ringside, but they said nothing about someone leaving something behind at ringside! And with that, Komander pulls off the spoiler! And now Gold League is sending Ricochet and Will Ospreay! Will they end up meeting at the end of the Continental Classic to fight for it all?

Wait, speaking of a fight, The Death Riders attack Komander and even run off Abrahantes! The ringside ban is lifted with the bell, but the fans boo as Yuta & Pac stomp away on Komander. Marina fetches a chair and brings it into the ring! But here comes Jay White! We knew he was here tonight, so the Switchblade wants him a piece of Moxley’s minions! Oh, well, add Orange Cassidy to that as he runs in from the crowd! Freshly Squeezed DUMPS Claudio up and out, then DUMPS Yuta! Pac takes a swing, Cassidy ducks ‘n’ dodges to DIVE onto Yuta! White slides in, and he gets The Bastard with an URENAGE!

The fans fire up as Yuta returns for White to UPPERCUT! Cassidy adds a BEACH BREAK! White and Orange nod, they seem to agree that for the greater good, they gotta work together against The Death Riders. But wait, as Cassidy checks on Komander, someone else slides in! That’s Moxley with the championship briefcase! Moxley CLOBBERS White from behind!! The fans boo but then Cassidy gets in! BRIEFCASE SHOT from Moxley! The fans boo while Moxley storms around.

Moxley grabs a mic to say, “As long as my heart is still beating, this is the closet you two will ever come to the AEW World Championship, and you are delusional if you think either one of you even deserves to lay eyes on it!” The fans boo more, but here comes Hangman Page! The Blackhat Cowboy glares right at The Maniac as he storms down to the ring. Moxley keeps his eyes locked on Hangman, but Cassidy and White are each getting up! Moxley sees he is surrounded by his challengers! The fans fire up again, and Moxley takes a swing! Hangman dodges, Cassidy hits an ORANGE PUNCH on Moxley!

Hangman loads up on the apron, BUCK SHOT!! Moxley staggers back up, into a BLADERUNNER!! The fans fire up as Moxley is sent rolling! And then White grabs the briefcase, only for Hangman to stand on it. The challengers are united against Moxley, but still have a lot of beef with each other. Cassidy has them all back up, and Cassidy puts on his sunglasses. Will these three keep level heads long enough to take off Moxley’s head? Or will this title be far too tempting for any alliance to stand?

BREAKING NEWS: AEW is bringing MAXIMUM CARNAGE to Cincinnati!

That’s right! AEW Dynamite & Collision in Cincy will be the brand new special, AEW: Maximum Carnage! Ticket presale begins this Friday, but the question is: When AEW returns to Cincinnati, will hometown “hero” Jon Moxley still be AEW World Champion?

AEW Homecoming 2025 is set!

AEW returns home to Jacksonville, and it will be a Collision on Saturday, January 25th! Everyone has one month to prepare, who will have the sweeter Homecoming when we get there?

AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Shelton Benjamin VS Kazuchika Okada!

The Standard of Excellence was already put in a fighting mood by Christopher Daniels laying down the law, and he might just need that when he’s taking on arguably THE best tournament wrestler today. Will Shelton be able to rebound from losing to Daniel Garcia? Or will the Rainmaker secure a spot in the semifinals and truly defend the Continental Championship?

The bell rings and we’re on the clock. Fans chant, “We Hurt~ People!” to go with the Hurt Syndicate’s song, but Shelton offers a handshake. Okada is hesitant, but he takes it. There is respect here and the fans cheer that. Okada and Shelton circle, feel things out, and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Okada slips around to waistlock. The fans are on Okada’s side but Shelton wrenches out to a wristlock. Okada reaches for ropes but Shelton keeps him away. The fans start to duel, Okada rolls and wrenches and wristlocks in return. Shelton drops to arm-drag Okada away! The fans cheer the standoff, and the two reset.

Okada and Shelton feel things out, tie up again, and they’re in another deadlock. Shelton finds a point of leverage to push Okada to the ropes. Okada turns things around while the ref calls for the break. Okada lets off slowly, but then fakes the chop, to pat Shelton on the shoulders. The fans cheer that and Shelton stays cool. The fans duel, “We Hurt~ People!” “O-KA-DA!” Okada dares Shelton to take a shot, and Shelton runs up, but Okada gets around to waistlock. Ripcord, but Shelton ducks the lariat! Shelton then clinches, but Okada fights free of the exploder! Okada dodges a shot, and he arm-drags!

Shelton gets up to arm-drag back! Okada and Shelton have another standoff and the fans cheer. Shelton and Okada reset, circle again, and the fans rally up. Okada and Shelton feel things out, but Okada backs off to bail out. The fans boo but Okada just grins. Okada walks around the outside while he catches his breath and thinks on what’s next. Okada goes to the apron but he wants Shelton to back up. Shelton rushes out instead! But Okada kicks low and DDTS to the floor! The fans are torn but the ring count starts. Okada brings Shelton up and into the ring at 4 of 10, and the fans rally up as Okada steps back in.

Okada stands Shelton up to scoop and SLAM, then the standard formula leads him to the corner. Okada climbs, but Shelton springs up! And climbs up like a cat! Then he SUPER ARM-DRAGS Okada down! The fans fire up and Shelton covers, TWO! Okada stays in this but he rolls away while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Okada goes to the apron then the floor, but Shelton storms out after him. Shelton drags Okada up to SHOVE into the apron, then the railing, then the apron! Then he sends Okada into the steel steps! Okada goes down in a heap while Shelton leaves him behind. The ring count begins again but Okada stirs at 3. Shelton slides out to fetch Okada and ROCK him with a forearm! The count restarts but Shelton brings Okada around to the ramp side. Shelton ROCKS Okada again, then follows him around the way. Shelton RAMS Okada into the railing, then puts him in the ring. Shelton paces around Okada, and he mocks the Rainmaker Pose!

The fans seem torn on that, but it’s not like Okada does the pose anymore. Shelton rains down fists on Okada, then clamps on a chinlock. Okada endures while Shelton squeezes tight and leans on the hold. Okada fights up to his feet, but Shelton wrangles him back down! The fans rally as Okada fights up again, and Dynamite on 34th Street returns to single picture. Shelton CLUBS Okada, then ROCKS him with a right! Okada fires forearm sin return! Shelton fires some forearms of his own, then taunts Okada. Okada shakes his head and he fires forearms! Shelton ROCKS Okada again and again, then whips, but Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges!

Okada comes in with the BIG ELBOW! The fans fire up while both men are down! Shelton goes to a corner, Okada to the other, and then Okada runs up! BACK ELBOW! Kick and DDT! Cover, TWO! Shelton stays in this, but Okada drags Shelton up. Shelton kicks, Okada blocks, but the DRAGON WHIP comes around! Shelton hurries back after Okada to scoop, but Okada fights free! Okawa waistlocks, Shelton rolls to pick an ankle! ANKLE LOCK! The fans fire up as Shelton uses what Kurt Angle has passed down to him! Okada endures, the fans duel, and Okada fights his way forward! Okada turns over and BOOTS Shelton away!

Shelton comes back but Okada catches him into a MONEY CLIP! Shelton endures and flails around, but Okada has him caught! Shelton is fading already and he drops to a knee. Okada cranks on the hold but Shelton claws at Okada. Shelton RAMS Okada into the corner, but Okada holds on! Shelton RAMS him in again and is free! But then Okada pops Shelton up into an Alabama Lift! REVERSE NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up while and Okada nods. Shelton sits up in a daze but Okada drags him to his feet. Okada scoops and SLAMS Shelton, and now he goes up the corner. The standard formula is back again, MACHO ELBOW!

Okada stands and the fans fire up! Okada winds it up, and Rainmaker MIDDLE FINGER! Okada brings Shelton up, but Shelton fights the ripcord, so Okada GERMAN SUPLEXES! Okada holds onto Shelton and he GERMAN SUPLEXES again! Okada roars as he drags Shelton up again! The fans fire up and Okada ripcords! RAIN- NO, Shelton ducks to GERMAN SUPLEX! Shelton roars and the fans fire up! Shelton waits on Okada, waistlocks again, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Okada goes flying out of these release Germans and the fans want it “ONE MORE TIME! ONE MORE TIME!” Shelton will oblige, GERMAN SUPLEX!

The fans fire up as New York City becomes Suplex City! Shelton runs corner to corner, STEP-UP KNEE! And then a clinch, but Okada cradle counters! TWO!! Okada BOOTS Shelton, but Shelton stays up and Okada falls! Shelton shakes his head and he fires forearms! Shelton runs, but Okada DROPKICKS! Okada brings Shelton back up, ripcords, but Shelton hits PAYDIRT! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives but Shelton stays focused, and the fans rally up even harder. Okada rises but Shelton has him! But Okada sips around, ripcord, RAINMAKER!! Cover, OKADA WINS!

Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (gains 3 points, Benjamin earns 0)

Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, The Continental Champion stands at 10 points, and he is guaranteed a spot in the semifinals! The main event pits Kyle Fletcher against Daniel Garcia, will it be The Protostar that joins The Rainmaker? Or will both Continental and TNT Champions be heading for Orlando?

As for Shelton, he started the match showing respect, and he ends this showing respect. He offers a handshake, Okada considers it, and then Okada raises his fist… to then shake hands! Shelton at least earned that much from Okada, but Okada does sneak a middle finger as he scratches his face. Will the Standard of Excellence still be eyeing something shiny and gold in the New Year?

Backstage interview with Swerve Strickland.

Renee Paquette is now with The Realest, who is also accompanied by Prince Nana. Renee says Swerve is coming off an incredible 2024, in which he at one point captured the AEW World Championship. As this year comes to a close, what does 2025 have in store for Swerve? Swerve asks Renee if she hears the fans. The fans are indeed audibly chanting, “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Renee nods, she hears that. Swerve says hearing the people, this is the type of connection you gain when you have the 2024 that he had. Championship winner, history maker, franchise definer. Nana says, “That’s right!”

But Swerve says not to get him wrong. He has lost a lot this year, too, but it doesn’t compare to the amount that he has gained. And in 2025, Swerve plans to rebound and- Wait, Ricochet walks in laughing, much to Swerve’s annoyance. Ricochet asks if Swerve saw what Ricochet did. No, no, he knows Swerve saw how Ricochet beat Darby’s ass out there. And just like Ricochet said he would, “ya boi” is going on to Worlds End, and he will do what Swerve could not. Ricochet will WIN the Continental Classic, Stefan. NOW Swerve is pissed. Swerve steps up and Ricochet asks if he’s good.

Swerve clenches his fist, but he chuckles and says Ricochet has this all wrong. Swerve is not rooting against Ricochet. If they all succeed in AEW, then AEW succeeds. And trust Swerve when he says he wants AEW to succeed. “But don’t blow it. Because if you do… I’m going to embarrass you. And I’m going to make it big. HAHA~!” Swerve throws that laugh back at Ricochet then heads out, and Ricochet says that’s why he doesn’t have a house anymore. But will Ricochet have anything at all after he goes through Worlds End?

Chris Jericho speaks.

The “King of New York” is once again live in New York with his New York Minute. “And here on 34th Street, in the heart of Historia, I’m still feeling the Christmas spirit. Can you feel it?” Big Bill feels it! Jericho says that is why he has one more Christmas miracle to grant, one more gift to give, and that is to Anthony Bowens. Bowens challenged Jericho on Collision, Jericho was not ready then, but he’ll be ready this Friday night on Rampage. Jericho VS Bowens, and Jericho hopes things get better for Anthony, as he doesn’t seem to have a lot of friends anymore. Isn’t that right, Scissor King?

Let’s hope Bowens didn’t bite off more than he can chew here in “The Grand Apple.” So that’s it, another New York Minute! See you Friday, Anthony! Merry Christmas, everybody, and to all a good night! Jericho waves bye, but will Bowens make sure to cut down The Learning Tree for New Year’s Smash?

Toni Storm VS Taya Valkyrie w/ Deonna Purrazzo!

The Portrait of a Rockstar: A new psychotic break in the already fractured mind of the former AEW Women’s World Champion? Or just a new timeless ruse? It doesn’t really matter to The Vendetta, so long as they can take down said former Women’s World Champion. Will Taya prove there’s only room on the roster for one crazy blonde? Or will it be #ToniTime for Christmas?

The bell rings, and Toni wants a handshake? Taya takes it, just to reel Toni in for a knee down low! The fans boo but Taya stomps Toni, kicks her to ropes, then stands her up. Taya CHOPS Toni, CHOPS again, then whips. Toni reverses but Taya reverses back to mule kick, knee lift, and LARIAT! Taya soaks up heat while Toni stands. Fans chant “She’s a Rookie!” so they’re either playing along or enabling the delusion. Taya blocks a kick, trips Toni, and then floats around a la Johnny TV to rain down fists! The fans boo but Taya soaks up heat. Toni goes to a corner, Taya runs up and Taya ELBOWS Toni!

Taya LARIATS, then she sits Toni down. Taya scowls then smirks, before she HIP ATTACKS! Then she rubs it in with a STINK FACE! The ref reprimands, Taya grins as she lets off, then comes back with a METEORA! Taya drags Toni to a cover, ONE!! Toni shows that toughness, but Taya whips her to another corner. Toni comes back to CLOBBER Taya! And LARIAT! Toni runs in at a corner, but Taya dodges! Toni ELBOWS Taya back, but Taya distracts the ref so Deonna can grab Toni’s foot! Toni kicks free, but Taya runs up to slide and trip Toni! Taya YANKS Toni back into the post, then SLAMS the legs into the steel!

The fans boo but The Vendetta soaks it all up while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Taya goes back for Toni, drags her out of the ring, and ROCKS her with a right. Toni staggers away, Taya pursues, and the ring count is climbing. Taya whips Toni hard into steel steps! Toni writhes and Taya soaks up more heat. Taya gets Tomi up to then snap suplex to the floor! Toni crawls away but Taya stalks her. Taya KICKS Toni in the side, then puts her in the ring. Taya stands on Toni in a corner, soaks up more heat, then steps off as the ref counts. Taya CLUBS Toni, but Toni fires body shots in return! Taya CLUBS Toni down, then drags her by a foot. Taya stomps away on the leg, then drops an elbow on the knee!

Taya has the toehold, throws down more elbows, but Toni endures. Taya fires more elbows into the leg but Toni fires forearms into Taya’s back! Taya cranks the leg, turns Toni over and ties those legs up. Taya pulls on the legs, throws down elbows, and has an INVERTED BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Toni endures, Taya is pulling hair so the ref counts, and Taya stops. She reminds the ref she has ’til 5. Dynamite on 34th Street returns to single picture as Toni turns bow ‘n’ arrow into ghost pin! TWO, and Toni stands to ROCK Taya! Taya ROCKS Toni, then fires a flurry! The fans fire up as Toni fires more shots in the corner!

Deonna protests, the ref counts, and Toni stops. Toni runs up but Taya slips out to the apron! Taya slides in, sunset flip, TWO! Toni is up, Taya ducks a kick to trip Toni up! But Toni kicks Taya away! Toni blocks Taya’s boot now, but Taya breaks free to KNEE back! Taya runs, redirects, and LARIATS Toni down! Taya roars but the fans boo, and Taya goes back for legs. Taya ties the legs up but Toni crawls to the ROPEBREAK! Taya argues with the ref, and Deonna gets a cheap shot in! Taya then lets off, runs up, but Toni sends her into ropes! Then THESZ PRESS! Toni rains down fists and the fans fire up!

Toni lets off and Taya goes to a corner. Toni runs in to HIP ATTACK! Toni drags Taya right up and in, STORM- NO, Taya fights the lift to wrench and SLAP! Toni is upset, but then she SLAPS back! Deonna says KILL HER! Taya runs up to SPEAR! Taya then talks trash on Toni, saying the real Toni is pathetic! Taya drags Toni up, reels her in, but Toni cradle counters! TONI WINS!!

Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall

In Toni’s mind, this is a huge upset for an “AEW Rookie” over a woman who has 600 matches in her career! Will The Vendetta ever live this down? Will Toni ever realize the truth about herself?

Backstage interview with Hangman Page.

Renee is with the Cowboy and says we’re literally days away from Worlds End, but we have no idea what’s going on. Are Moxley’s challengers working together? What is happening? Hangman says he will tell us exactly what is going on. At Worlds End, Moxley walks into Orlando for the last time as AEW World Champion. But then in steps Daniels, and he says he has to tell Hangman something. Daniels says Hangman was right last time. Daniels doesn’t know what he’d do if he’d gone through what Hangman’s gone through. The last thing Hangman needs is someone talking at him, telling him what to do.

But when Worlds End comes, if Hangman needs anything- Hangman stops “CD” there and asks why he would need help “from an ineffectual office stooge” like him. Daniels does his best to laugh that off, saying that is fair. But see, these other guys have groups: Bullet Club Gold, Conglomeration, and Death Riders. Daniels knows Hangman thinks he stands alone, having absolutely no friends, but Daniels can relate. SCU is not here anymore, Matt Sydal’s gone (surgery on an old injury), so Daniels is alone in the locker room. But Daniels has known Hangman for 15 YEARS, and they’ve been AEW before AEW was even a thing.

All Daniels is saying is that he knows Hangman better than he thinks. And at Worlds End, if Hangman needs a friend, Daniels will be there. Daniels leaves to let Hangman think on that. Hangman says the interview’s over, it’s Christmas. But will the Cowboy call upon the Fallen Angel in his time of need?

AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Kyle Fletcher VS Daniel Garcia!

The last round robin match is here, and it’s for that final spot in the semifinals! The Protostar could advance with even just a draw, so he might just play defense the entire time. Will that work out for the Don Callis Family’s pride and joy? Or will Red Death be headed for even more gold?

Golden tickets make for great stocking stuffers!

With Nathan Frazer & Axiom still NXT Tag Team Champions, they need new contenders for New Year’s Evil! Who wins a Fatal 4 Way to head for LA?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade; Vaquer wins.
• NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Charlie Dempsey w/ No Quarter Catch Crew VS Lexis King; King wins and becomes the new NXT Heritage Cup Champion.
• Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx w/ Fallon Henley VS Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn; Alba & Isla win.
• Ashante THEE Adonis VS Dion Lennox; Adonis wins.
• NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Christmas Chaos Fatal 4 Way: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights VS Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino VS OTM VS Hank ‘n’ Tank; OTM wins and will challenge Nathan Frazer & Axiom for the titles.

PLAY BY PLAY

Santa Claus is here!

Lowell, Massachusetts is excited that Kris Kringle is going around ringside, but enough about him, it’s time for action!

Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade!

The Dark Angel is here on this not so silent night to shut up her opponent. The Generation of Jade doesn’t care that she’s on the naughty list, but will she get herself on the short list of contenders to a women’s title? Or will Vaquer give Cora a nightmare before Christmas?

The bell rings and Vaquer circles with Cora while the fans rally up. They tie up, Cora pulls hair, but the ref reprimands. Cora puts Vaquer in a corner, lets off, but then Vaquer rushes up. Vaquer waistlocks and SLAMS Cora, then clamps on a facelock. Cora fights up, wrenches out and steps over, La Magistrol! TWO, Vaquer turns things over to a cover, ONE! Vaquer sweeps legs, cover, ONE! Cora sweeps legs, covers, ONE! Cora knuckle locks but Vaquer fights up and RAMS Cora. Cora cranks the wrist but Vaquer RAMS her again. Vaquer then goes up, ARABIAN PRESS ARM-DRAG! Cora staggers away while fans fire up.

Vaquer runs up on Cora, victory rolls her, TWO! Cora scrambles away but Vaquer eggs her on. Cora runs up, tilt-o-whirls and RANAS, then she runs at the ropes! Vaquer dodges, then comes back to 6- NO, Cora ducks the 619 and wags her finger. The fans cheer, Vaquer smirks, and the two rush in. Vaquer catches and wrenches Cora to a snap suplex! Vaquer drags Cora into the headscissors! The fans fire up as Vaquer turns Cora over, but Cora rolls and rolls to get the ROPEBREAK! Vaquer lets Cora go and Cora bails out to the outside. Vaquer hurries after Cora, they cat ‘n’ mouse around the ring, but then Vaquer and Cora slide into the ring.

The fans fire up as things speed up, Vaquer ducks ‘n’ DROPKICKS! Cora sputters, the fans fire up, and Vaquer smirks as she looms over Cora. Vaquer pushes Cora down to then IMPLODER KNEE DROP! Something similar to Cora’s move set, and Vaquer whips Cora to a corner. The fans rally, Cora goes up but waits to lure Vaquer in! BACKSTABBER! Cora laughs at Vaquer and fans boo, but NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Cora has a motorcycle stretch on Vaquer. The fans rally as Vaquer endures and fights to her feet. Vaquer turns things around, arm-drags Cora away, and Cora goes to a corner. Vaquer runs up, Cora dodges then comes back to SHINING WIZARD! Snapmare and cover, TWO! The fans rally but Cora clamps onto Vaquer with a chinlock. Vaquer endures, even as Cora leans on the hold. The fans rally again and Vaquer fights up. Vaquer turns around to JAWBREAKER free! Cora blocks a kick, ROCKS Vaquer, but then Vaquer pulls hair to reel Cora in! BIG back suplex and the fans fire up!

The ref checks, both women stir, and they go to corners. Cora runs in but Vaquer dodges the shining wizard! SOLE FOOD! Vaquer runs corner to corner to LARIAT! Cora sits down, so Vaquer goes again, METEORA! Vaquer drags Cora to center, then wraps on the headscissors! The fans fire up but Cora rolls and rolls to ropes again! Vaquer just puts on the squeeze, and rolls Cora back! HEADSCISSOR DRILLER! Cover, TWO! Vaquer brings Cora up but Cora pulls hair! The fans boo, Cora kicks but Vaquer blocks it! Vaquer turns things into a STANDING STF!! Cora endures, hops on one foot, and she THROWS Vaquer onto ropes!

Cora runs to BACK ELBOW! And then GUT WRENCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! Vaquer stays in this and Cora shrieks. The fans boo Cora’s tantrum, but Cora hauls Vaquer up. Vaquer fights the underhooks to ROCK, SOBAT and underhook in return! PRIMERA BACKBREAKER! Cover, Vaquer wins!

Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall

Cora gets coal for Christmas in the form of a loss, but that’s not all! Kelani Jordan runs out here to SMACK away on Cora with a kendo stick! Vaquer has Kelani stop, if only to keep from wearing out that kendo stick. The Standout still wants to stomp Cora out, when and where will she get her fight with the Generation of Jade?

The D’Angelo Family speaks.

Stacks likes Luca’s vest, and Luca likes Stack’s jacket. Tony D tells his guys that they’ve been doing great, and Luca thanks The Don for getting them an early Christmas present. They have a spot in the Christmas Chaos Fatal 4 Way! Tony says it’s about time the entire family has some gold. That reminds Stacks of Christmas Eve as a kid: staying up late, camping on the couch, waiting for Santa to come. Stacks remembers one night when he was half asleep, seeing Santa digging through his gifts like a raccoon in a dumpster! Santa was shaking ’em around and acting like he owns the place! Before Stacks could do anything, his mom runs in with a broomstick and starts hitting Santa in the face!

Adriana Rizzo says Diana Lorenzo is a saint among women. Stacks says, “A saint? She’s a freakin’ enforcer!” But turns out, it was just Mr. Fabrizio from down the street. He didn’t go Christmas shopping, the cheapskate. Tony says no one should be snoopin’ around like The Grinch. The point is, “presents under the tree, a tag team title opportunity for Luca and me. So Hank ‘n’ Tank…” “NQCC…” “And OTM… You try to take that from us, we’ll bash your heads in like my mother.” Like his mother! The warning has been issued, will someone be sleepin’ with the fishes for Christmas?

Lexis King prepares backstage.

Mr. William Regal walks over to say hello. He has been watching Lexis these past few months, and both his growth and dedication have been remarkable. Lexis deserves this opportunity. Regal would be honored to be in Lexis’ corner again this time. Lexis really appreciates that, he is very honored, because he is finally becoming the best version of himself. So then, is he going to do it? Yes, of course. Lexis will become the NEW Heritage Cup Champion! Lexis heads out, and Regal brings out the brass knuckles. Regal says that wasn’t what he was asking. Will the Drama King claim his crown the right way? Or will he do it regally?

NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Charlie Dempsey w/ Wren Sinclair VS Lexis King w/ William Regal!

It is another clash of second generation superstars, each trying to prove they’re not like their fathers. Though, that only makes it all the more intriguing that Dempsey’s father is trying to help his opponent. Will Lexis finally have his moment? Or will Regal still expect the worst out of him?

The introductions are made, the cup is raised, and we see just how far the King has come!

The bell rings and round one begins. The fans rally as these two tie up, and then King headlocks. Dempsey powers right out, and King goes toa  corner. The two reset, tie up, and King waistlocks then headlocks. Dempsey powers up and out, but King runs him over! Things keep moving, King turns hip toss into takedown, roll, ghost pin! TWO, but King is right up, only for Dempsey to deflect the dropkick! Dempsey grabs a leg, ANKLE LOCK! King rolls free, but Dempsey RAMS him, then whips. King reverses and DROPKICKS! Dempsey flounders, the fans fire up with King, but Regal has a point that King needs to focus on Dempsey.

King and Dempsey reset, tie up, and Dempsey waistlocks. King breaks that to switch, but Dempsey drop toeholds into a HEEL HOOK! King hurries to turn but Dempsey floats to the arm! FUJIWARA! King rolls, arm-drags and has the wristlock! King makes it a cording hold and the fans rally. Dempsey bridges, rolls back, then stands. They fight for wristlock control but Dempsey spins, slips through and wrenches for a wristlock! Dempsey wrangles King, twists that arm around, and we hit a minute. King reaches up but Dempsey fights the headscissors. They both stand, and Dempsey shifts to a cravat neck wrench.

King endures, powers up and out, and King hits a hip toss! Cover, TWO as Dempsey bridges, then CRAVAT PLEXES! Cover, TWO, but Dempsey keeps that cravat. King fights up and we’re at 30 seconds. Wren coaches Dempsey but King scoops to SLAM! Dempsey still drags King down! The neck wrench is on tight but King fights up. Ten seconds, King fires hands as the fans count it down. King gets his headlock on Dempsey, the bell sounds for the round!

Round 1 – Dempsey: 0; King: 0

King holds on and thrashes Dempsey, but then Dempsey hits a BACKBREAKER! The ref reprimands them both, and tells them to listen better. Both men refresh in their corners, and now it’s round two! Dempsey runs up but King dodges! King CHOPS and CHOPS and whips corner to corner. Dempsey reverses with a BRIDGING whip! King hits buckles hard! Dempsey storms up to KNEE King in the side! King goes to a corner but Dempsey brings him out. Dempsey fires forearms and UPPERCUTS, then ROCKS King again. King hits back but Dempsey KNEES and GUT WRENCH PLEXES! Cover, TWO!

Dempsey keeps on King with a shove and a forearm to the back! King hobbles to a corner but Dempsey is on him. Dempsey digs a knee in, the ref counts, but Dempsey lets off to CLUB King. Dempsey UPPERCUTS King int he back! King CHOSP! And CHOPS! Dempsey knees low then CLUBS King again! Dempsey hauls King up with a GOTCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! King stays in this but Dempsey stays on him with a HALF CRAB! King endures, uses his free leg to push up, but Dempsey digs his elbow into the lower back! Dempsey makes King drop to his stomach and then sits deep on the hold! King endures, we drop under a minute, and King fights!

King turns, kicks free, and goes to another corner. Dempsey CLUBS him again! Dempsey fires a forearm, whips corner to corner, but King SUPERKICKS! King goes up to FLYING SUNSET FLIP! High stack, TWO!! Dempsey gets lucky, and then he blocks a kick! DRAGON SCREW! Dempsey waistlocks and GERMAN SUPELXES! Bridging cover, TWO!! King escapes that one but we hit 10 seconds as Dempsey has the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! King endures, so Dempsey stomps away! The bell rings to end the round!

Round 2 – Dempsey: 0; King: 0

Dempsey gets more stomps in but the ref backs him off! The ref warns Dempsey, this is two rounds in a row that there’ve been extracurricular activity. But at the same time, two rounds and no score, that is rare for Dempsey. King crawls his way to Regal to refresh while Wren helps “Charles,” and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and apparently round three all happened during break! No one scored a fall, so this is already round 4!

Round 3 – Dempsey: 0; King: 0

The bell rings on this fourth round, and both men run up! King CLOBBERS Dempsey! And CLOBBERS him again! The fans fire up as King ducks a shot to then BACK SUPLEX BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! King stays on Dempsey with a chinlock and he grinds Dempsey down. Dempsey fights around, the fans rally up, and Dempsey fights up. Dempsey fires body shots, then he snapmares free. Dempsey CHOPS, so King CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! King whips Dempsey corner to corner hard, and the fans fire up as King runs in! LARIAT, then CHOP, then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!

The fans rally and Regal seems impressed as King climbs. Dempsey stands, and King CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! King is frustrated but he and Dempsey rise again. Dempsey UPPERCUTS King, King UPPERCUTS Dempsey, repeat! They go back and forth, again and again! King CHOPS, UPPERCUTS, but Dempsey hooks the arms! King fights it so Dempsey spins him around! King fights the underhooks and SUPERKICKS! Dempsey rebounds to KNEE! We’re under a minute as both men run! DOUBLE ROLLING ELBOWS!! Both men fall and the fans fire up! Wren shouts at “Charles” to get up, and the ref tells her to get off the apron.

Regal takes this distraction as an opening to slide the brass knuckles right into King’s hand! King is dazed, but he knows what those are! King argues with Regal that this is not how he wants to do this! We’re under 25 seconds as REGAL DECKS KING?!? The fans boo but Dempsey sees the knuckles! Dempsey picks those up, we hit 10 seconds, but the ref sees Dempsey with the knuckles, too! The ref assumes the worst and DISQUALIFIES Dempsey!!! That’s an automatic WIN for King!!!

Winner: Lexis King, by disqualification (NEW NXT Heritage Cup Championship)

That’s right! No Champion’s Advantage in a Heritage Cup match! Regal ended up helping King after all, but not in the way anyone thought! King kisses the cup, and even Regal is shocked, though also a bit amused. Will this Christmas miracle lead King to become not only the best version of himself, but the best Heritage Cup Champion yet?

OTM speaks.

Bronco Nima says everyone’s excited about the holidays. But for them, OTM gives it to you real as the realest tag team in NXT. And for them, the holidays ain’t nothing but a facade. Lucien Price says tomorrow, you’ll wake up, open presents, and be disappointed when it hits you like a brick. You’ll look at your family, tell ’em all thanks, knowing damn well what they got you was trash. And let’s be honest, you probably don’t even like your family. You can’t wait for them to leave! Just like NQCC, Hank ‘n’ Tank and the D’Angelo Family. OTM can’t wait for them all to be out of this tag title picture. OMT have next!

And unlike Frazer & Axiom, OTM doesn’t pretend to have each other’s backs, they are for real. And this Christmas Chaos is about to be real. All three other teams will move out the way! Best believe that in 2025, OTM will be the NEW NXT Tag Team Champions! Will Nima & Price drag the rest of the division down so that they can get #OutTheMud?

Kelani Jordan argues with Stephanie Vaquer backstage.

The Standout says La Primera had no right to stop her from going after Cora. Respectfully, Kelani does not need Stephanie to protect her. Stephanie had her match with Cora, she won it, congratu-freakin’-lations! Lola Vice walks over to calm Kelani down. Stephanie was just looking out for her. Kelani tells Lola that Lola cannot tell her to calm down. Lola is the last person to tell someone to calm down! Lola interfered in every single one of Jaida Parker’s matches to get at her, and it’s FINE~! Lola says Jaida started that beef. Kelani says no, they both started it. Kelani says, “Don’t don’t even get me started on you,” Stephanie.

Stephanie and Giulia were best friends one week, fighting the next, and it’s FINE~! But now that Kelani wants retaliation on Cora, now Kelani’s the problem? How about they all practice what they preach and get outta her face! Kelani storms off and both Lola and Vaquer are stunned. Is the Standout about to stand alone against the world?

Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx w/ Fallon Henley VS Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn!

The Fatal Influence are a bunch of haters hating on the “freaky” girls, such as Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin and Shotzi Blackheart. But according to the Unholy Union, at least those three have unity while Jacy, Jazmyn & Fallon are just faking it. Will Jacy & Jazmyn make sure this NXT homecoming is very toxic for the former tag team champions? Or will Fyre & Dawn make sure there’s a mean girl meltdown for Christmas?

NXT returns as the Fatal Influence makes their entrance. The fans boo but the Influence just soaks it up. Oh hey, “Santa” is in the upper deck, and he has some special guests! It’s KC Squared, Katana Chance & Kayden Carter! They’re also home for the holidays, will they like what they see out of all these former rivals? The teams sort out and Isla starts against Jazmyn in a battle of the pigtails. They circle, tie up, and go around. Jazmyn powers Isla to a corner, the ref counts, and Jazmyn shoves Isla. So Isla SHOVES Jazmyn! Jazmyn runs up, but Isla puts her in the corner and KICKS her!

Isla snapmares Jazmyn then UPPERCUTS her in the back! Cover, TWO! Isla whips Jazmyn, DROPKICKS her down, but Jazmyn flounders away. Tag to Jacy and she tells Isla to back off. Jacy runs up, but Isla dodges! Isla wrenches and SAIDOS! Jacy flounders, Isla runs up and ELBOWS her! Isla sits Kacy down, tells Jazmyn to kiss this, and then she HIP ATTACKS Jacy! Tag to Alba and she drags Jacy up to send her at the corner! Isla catches Jacy into a TARANTULA, and then Alba SUPERKICKS Jacy! Jacy falls, Alba covers, TWO! Alba drags Jacy up but Jacy mule kicks! Jacy shrieks, whips, but Alba wrenches to HOOK KICK!

Alba CHOPS Jacy, CHOPS her again, but Jacy catches a shot to swing around. Alba stays up, swings Jacy but Jacy arm-drags Alba. Alba comes back but Jacy ducks under. Jazmyn sneaks a tag before the RANA! Then PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Alba stays in this, Kayden & Katana are mildly amused, but Jazmyn KICKS Alba in the back. Jazmyn clamps on a chinlock and she grinds Alba down. The fans rally, Alba endures and fights up, and Alba fires elbows. Jazmyn throws Alba down by her hair! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Jazmyn talks smack as she drags Alba up again. Jazmyn snapmares and KICKS Alba again!

Jazmyn taunts Isla, drags Alba up again, but Alba CHOPS! And wait, here come Tatum, Gigi & Shotzi! Jazmyn ROCKS Alba, but now the “freaks” outnumber the mean girls 5v3. Wait, now we see Shawn Spears, Brooks Jensen & Niko Vance watching this backstage. The Chair Man still wants female representation in his faction, who could he be scouting this time? As for ringside, Fallon shouts at “the freaks” to go away, but no, they’re here to stay. As for in the ring, Alba rolls up Jazmyn! TWO!! Jazmyn escapes, Alba JAWBREAKERS her! Tag to Isla, and then they GOURD BUSTER to METEORA! The fans fire up with the “freaks” while NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Jazmyn taunts Isla while pulling her hair. Isla takes swings on Jazmyn but Jazmyn CLUBS her down. Jazmyn whips Isla to the corner, then tags Jacy. Jacy stomps a mudhole into Isla, digs her boots in, but lets off as the ref counts. Jacy taunts everyone, then runs up to STOMP Isla! Jacy drags Isla up, snapmares her and KICKS her in the back! Then mule kicks her down! Jacy howls, the fans boo, and Jacy does a two-step. Jacy KNEES and ELBOWS Isla, then clamps on a chinlock. Isla endures, the fans rally, and Isla fights up. Isla fires elbows into Jacy, breaks free, then rolls her up! TWO, and Jacy CLOBBERS Isla!

Fallon applauds but the fans boo as Jacy rains down fists. Jacy traps Isla’s arms to rain down more shots, then she lets off to talk more trash. Jacy bumps Isla off buckles, digs her boots in, but lets off to tag Jazmyn. The Influence mugs Isla, then Jazmyn whips Jacy in. Jacy ELBOWS Isla, then feeds her to Jazmyn’s drop toehold. Jazmyn says kiss this, and she hits a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Jazmyn CLUBS Isla. Isla hits back with body shots and forearms! Jazmyn ROCKS Isla, then runs, but Isla dodges! Jazmyn CALF KICKS first! Cover, TWO! The fans rally but Jazmyn stays on Isla with a chinlock.

Isla endures, fights up, and fires body shots! Jazmyn KNEES low, whips Isla to the corner, but Isla BOOTS Jazmyn! And ELBOWS Jacy! Fallon freaks out but Isla dodges Jazmyn! Jazmyn hurries to grab a foot, but Isla hops up, reaches out, but Jazmyn drags her back! Isla turns around to ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up as Isla crawls, Kayden & Katana are now on the ground floor. Jazmyn grabs legs again, Isla BOOTS her away! Hot tag to Alba! Alba is on fire as she DOUBLE CHOPS again and again! Then she scoops to SLAM Jazmyn! Jacy gets in but Alba SUPERKICKS! Alba wrenches Jazmyn, KICKS Jacy, TORNADO DDT on Jazmyn!

Alba keeps going, GOURD BUSTER! Alba tells Jazmyn to get up, and then SUPERKICKS her down! Cover, Jacy breaks it! The fans boo but Isla TOSSES the toxic rockstar! But then Jacy drags Isla out and SMACKS her off the apron! Jazmyn ENZIGIRIS Alba! Hot tag to Jacy, and Jacy runs up to BOOT Alba! Jacy vows to end this! Jacy whips, Alba reverses, DOUBLE HEADBUTTS collide!! The fans fire up while everyone in the match is down. As for everyone else, Fallon argues with Kayden & Katana about why they’re even here. Jacy BOOTS Alba from the corner, but Gigi SHOVES Jacy down! Tag to Isla!

Alba hooks Jacy up, SOMETHING WICKED!! Cover, Unholy Union wins!!

Winners: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn, by pinfall

Fallon freaks out, realizing what just happened! She got distracted by everyone else and left her supposed friend hanging! And while the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships are out there, there is a title much closer in the NXT Women’s North American Championship. Will the walls close in on the toxic cowgirl? Or can Fallon keep NXT under the Influence?

Myles Borne & Tavion Heights prepare backstage.

They’re both upset over the Heritage Cup match. Dempsey got robbed! Disqualified for something he didn’t even do. Now King has the Cup. Heights says it’ll be fine, Dempsey will figure something out. But for them, they gotta win the Fatal 4 Way tonight so they can go after Frazer & Axiom again! And after how close Deadline was, Fraxiom doesn’t want a round two with NQCC. Myles says yeah, but for tonight, they’ll focus on the Christmas Chaos. Heights says there will be bodies and presents flying everywhere! It’ll be like Christmas growing up for him. What was Christmas like for Myles? Myles says Christmas was always pretty quiet.

Myles says he’ll go get taped up, and Heights thinks on that last part. But can Myles & Heights go the distance against three other teams?

Zaria and Sol Ruca talk backstage.

After last week’s loss to Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson, the Agent of Change has to know: Did Sol mean to push her out of the way of that boot? Sol says yes, she did. Then… thanks. Zaria knows they don’t know each other that well, but- But losing to Meta Four sucks? Yeah, it does. But then in steps Izzi Dame, and she says these two are prime examples of why Izzi doesn’t team up with anyone. She learned early on that she’s better off alone. But then in steps Spears and his team. He says that just because Izzi is alone doesn’t mean she has to be alone. No one should be alone this time of year. Okay, ew, is Spears stalking her?

Plus, what has being with anyone ever done for Izzi anyway? Just leave her alone. Spears and his group move on, and Izzi tells Zaria that she’s better off alone. Zaria tells them all that she’s good for right now. But will things change in the New Year?

Ashante THEE Adonis VS Dion Lennox!

The NXT romcom/dramady/whatever it’s supposed to be continues, but now a misunderstanding has turned Adonis against his “best friend.” Dion says he’s done with the drama, but will he at least leave things with a win? Or will we see that Adonisly, love conquers all?

NXT returns and Adonis makes his entrance. Lowell boos, they apparently don’t like guys who can’t just commit. The bell rings, Dion tries to explain to Adonis that the hug was just a hug. Adonis doesn’t believe him, and he shoves Dion! Dion shoves back, so Adonis UPPERCUTS! Dion drops to a knee, Adonis feels bad because that’s still his friend, but then Dion FLAPJACKS Adonis real high! Then Dion DROPKICKS Adonis and Adonis goes to a corner. Dion runs up, Adonis BOOTS him, then Adonis fires off hands! Adonis ROCKS Dion, whips, but Dion reverses. Dion BACKDROPS Adonis away!

The fans fire up while Adonis flounders to ropes. Dion storms up, scoops Adonis, but Adonis slips free and throat chops! The fans boo but Adonis stomps and KNEES away! Wait, here comes Nikkita Lyons! Fans like seeing the Lyoness, but Adonis doesn’t appreciate her being out here. Lyons says she’s cheering Adonis on! Adonis CLUBS Dion, KICKS him around, then soaks up heat. Adonis drags Dion up and turns him, but Dion turns that into a backslide! TWO, and Adonis CLOBBERS Dion! Cover, TWO! Adonis is frustrated and conflicted, but he kicks Dion around. Dion goes to a corner, but then he fires hands!

Dion fires haymakers and backs Adonis down! Dion whips, Adonis reverses and he ELBOWS Dion down again! Adonis swaggers, Lyons likes what she sees, and Adonis clamps onto Dion with a chinlock. Adonis squeezes tight, the fans rally up, and Dion rises. Adonis throws Dion down and grinds the chinlock tighter. Dion endures, fights back up, and he throws body shots. Adonis clamps on another chinlock but Dion powers out! Dion THRWOS Adonis into a corner, Adonis staggers out, and Adonis takes a swing! Dion ducks it to DECK Adonis! And DECKS him again! Dion runs corner to corner to LARIAT!

Adonis almost goes up and out of the ring, but Dion brings him in to OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Dion kips up, and he hits a SPINEBUSTER! Dion is all fired up and the fans are with him! Dion scoops Adonis to POWERSLAM! Cover, Lyons helps with the ropebreak! The fans boo but Lyons acts all innocent. Dion suspects something and argues with the ref. Adonis tries to tell Lyons that he didn’t need help, but Dion O’Conner Rolls him! TWO and Adonis has it, bridging back! Adonis wins!!

Winner: Ashante THEE Adonis, by pinfall

Lyons celebrates with her man, but Adonis keeps trying to refute that. Actions speak louder than words, but will Karmen Petrovic have something to say?

Hank ‘n’ Tank speak.

The smell of peppermint is in the air, and “it’s giving candy cane.” Hank corrects Tank, that’s more like a cinnamon smell. Cinnamon cookies in a peppermint forest? And chocolate chip! It’s that time of year for sure. How much does Tank love Christmas? “Uh, I dunno, Hank, it’s the one time of the year that we get to eat, drink and be merry! You could even say it’s the MO-” Hank stops Tank there. No singing. Okay, good call. But it is the most wonderful time of the year, and how much does Hank like… chaos? Chaos?~ You mean eight men, smashing into each other, anything goes, like a jingle bell mosh pit?!

Yeah, Hank likes that. Then how about adding some stakes. Steaks? Sirloin? No, no, stakes. High stakes! Something on the line! Because when Hank ‘n’ Tank win tonight, they will be the #1 contenders to Fraxiom. Oh, that’s a present Hank wants in his stocking. Then let’s bring those titles ho-ho-home in 2025! Three teams are waiting out there for Hank ‘n’ Tank to deliver that Yuletide HONK HONK! Let’s go! Milk ‘n’ cookies, golden tickets, will Hank ‘n’ Tank have it all for Christmas?

Tatum, Gigi & Shotzi regroup backstage.

They had so much fun messing with Fatal Influence. Gigi’s so smart. Well, she had a plan and it all came together. What a great look on Jacy’s face while she was falling. And then they cross paths with Kayden & Katana. Hello, ladies, they saw you out there tonight. What are they doing back in NXT? Well, same goes for Shotzi. We all know NXT has the best women’s division, so they all wanted to check it out. But then SKIRRRR~! Lash Legend slams on the brakes as she and Jakara pull up. If you wanna talk the Women’s Tag Division, then look no further than the Meta Girls. Oh, yeah, Kayden & Katana do see you, but they aren’t worried about you.

Oh, excuse you! You better recognize. No, you heard Kayden right. Oh snap! Kayden & Katana head out, Shotzi says those girls got balls. Not sure about Meta Four. Ew, wait a minute, why is Shotzi talking? The Bougie Bully & Miss Jackson argue with the Power Goth Girls, will all these teams go after gold in the New Year?

Roxanne Perez speaks.

“When I first walked through the doors of the WWE, nobody imagined that I’d be one of the greatest NXT Women’s Champions. I was just a 20-year-old girl from Laredo, Texas who had some buzz from the little name I’d made on the independent scene. But when the WWE signed me, they didn’t realize that they’d made one of the greatest free agent signings in company history. Is that a cocky statement? Some will say yes. Name the accolade, I’ve achieved it. Women’s Breakout Tournament winner, Women’s Tag Team Champion, Iron Survivor, TWO-TIME NXT Women’s Champion, and I could go on and on and on.

“Were there some bumps along the road? Yeah, absolutely. Everyone knows that the climb to the top is never a straight line. But I have dedicated the last three YEARS of my life to get in the conversation of NXT greats that have carried the NXT Women’s Division, and now I am at the forefront. I’ll put this division against any NXT Women’s Division of the past. I called my shot the day that I stepped foot in the ring and called myself the Prodigy, and every single day, I live up to that legacy. At 23 years old, most women don’t even know what they wanna do with their lives, and here I am, breaking records and writing down history.

“I wouldn’t expect anyone to understand the greatness that they see before them, but maybe if you were someone like Simone Biles or Caitlyn Clark, you would understand. In two weeks, Giulia walks into New Year’s Evil the underdog to someone who is a bit younger, a little smaller, and the woman who is gonna carry this division into 2025. That doesn’t speak to how good Giulia is. That speaks volumes to how great The Prodigy, Roxanne Perez, is.” The most confident she’s ever been, will Roxie be able to survive Giulia a second time at New Year’s Evil?

Lexis King is backstage with the Heritage Cup.

Sarah Schreiber finds him to congratulate him, but she does want to ask him about how it happened. Lexis says this is his first championship. His first championship! And he just knew that if he stuck to being a man of integrity, stuck to his gut, that he would take the night, and he did it! Yes, but the fact is- Lexis says he could’ve cheated. He could’ve taken shortcuts. But he proved to himself, to everyone here and to everyone back home that he is a man of integrity who doesn’t need those shortcuts to win. Then Sarah does need to know how-

Lexis knows she needs to talk to him as the new Heritage Cup Champion, but there is a lot going through his head, he’s very emotional, and a huge weight has been lifted off his shoulders. He needs some time to let that sink in. Lexis heads out, but then… does he not know that a misunderstanding and a disqualification led to this moment?

Ethan Page speaks.

“I’ve seen the outrage on social media. ‘Ethan Page, how could you break the jaw of NXT’s favorite son, Je’Von Evans?’ Well, the person to blame for my heinous act is Je’Von Evans. I had to listen to you carry on about how great your year was. Well now, it’s ending with you eating through a straw, thanks to me. Je’Von, you’ve talked about my personal life. You want to show the world the real Ethan Page? Well, you’ve got it. I can still hear the sound of your mandible cracking. You laying there in shock, pain, and fear. No longer the kid with an infectious smile. Because I took that from you.

“I’ve had a week to reflect on my actions. Maybe I should feel some remorse or regret. But I don’t. Last week was the highlight of my year. So thank you, Je’Von, for helping me find my smile… by taking yours.” Ethan does smile a sinister smile, is there no stopping the Ego Maniac now?

NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Christmas Chaos Fatal 4 Way: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights VS Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino VS OTM VS Hank ‘n’ Tank!

‘Tis the night before Christmas, and right here in Lowell are four hungry tag teams all with the same goal. There can be only one team that heads for the gold, who will be the three left out in the cold?

NXT returns as the NQCC have already made their entrance, and the same for Nima & Price. That leaves Hank ‘n’ Tank and their entrance for last! The bell rings and the brawl is on! Hank CLOBBERS Heights with a Christmas tree! Myles goes out to help Heights while the D’Angelo Family brawls with OTM! The fans fire up as Hank pushes the shopping cart, with Tank inside! HONK HONK, Christmas tree JOUST! Down goes Myles! The brawl in the ring spills outside, and OTM storms up on Hank ‘n’ Tank. Hank ‘n’ Tank just pick up their cart and RAM it into OTM! It’s like a Black Friday sale but somehow less violent.

Wait, hold on, Luca & Stacks are setting up a table in the ring, but not on its legs. They’re using it as a barricade so they can SNOWBALL FIGHT! Stacks is chucking baseballs at Hank ‘n’ Tank so they take cover under the apron. The fans fire up already with “This is Awesome!” Hank ‘n’ Tank both rush in, but Luca uses a fire extinguisher to blast ’em!! That’ll cool off Hank ‘n’ Tank a bit, but now Myles & Heights get in! Myles CLOBBERS Stacks with a present box, Heights throws one to Luca, and Myles DROPKICKS it into Luca! Heights then takes the extinguisher to BLAST Stacks! Heights is all fired up and the fans are, too!

Myles puts the table aside, Nima gets in with a chair, but Heights BL- Wait, no, hold on. BLA- Uh oh. Is it out? Heights wants Nima to forgive him, but Nima JAMS him with the chair instead! And then he JAMS Myles! SMACK for Heights, but Myles DROPKICKS the chair into Nima! Price is back to LARIAT Myles! The fans are torn as OTM regroups, but Hank ‘n’ Tank are back, and so is the Christmas tree! TANENBAUM LARIAT! The fans fire up and even Santa approves! The fans cheer on “SANTA! SANTA!” but Stacks & Luca have regrouped. Luca SMACKS Tank with a present box while Stacks uses a stocking madball on Hank!

The fans fire up with every SMACK, and hey, it’s a briefcase! Just what Luca wanted! Thanks, Santa! Luca CLUBS Tank down with the briefcase, then he and Stacks each have the legs! The fans wanna see it, and we get STEREO LEG SPLITTING LEG DROPS! Somewhere, the Charismatic Enigma is smiling. The D’Angelo Family see Tank go to a corner, so Luca whips Stacks in to CANNONBALL! Rizzo hands Luca a present, and he opens it up. It’s a bowling ball! The fans fire up for this, and Luca takes aim. The Legal Eagle bowls himself a STRIKE!! Hank’s jingle bells are rocked and the fans fire up!

The fans cheer “NXT! NXT!” for giving them this gift of a main event. Then Luca slides out to go after OTM while Stacks PLANCHAS at NQCC! They both get caught! APRON POWERSLAM for Luca on one end, and then DOUBLE SPINEBUSTER through a table for Stacks! There go the cookies for Santa! The fans fire up more as NQCC and OTM stare down from across the way. They all rush in and start throwing hands! Price DECKS Myles but Heights TACKLES Nima! Nima and Heights fall out of the ring, Price hauls Myles up. Price choke grips, and CHOKE- RKO?! Myles is looking like a Legend Killer as he covers, but Hank ‘n’ Tank break it!

The fans are thunderous as all eight men are down around ringside, and NXT goes to break!

NXT returns once again and NQCC is literally gift wrapping Price up! Then Myles goes out to fetch a particularly long gift box. He opens it up and surprise! It’s a kendo stick! Myles gives that to Heights and he SMACKS Price! Myles finds a candy cane kendo stick, and he SMACKS everyone else around! Then he joins Heights to SMACK Price! Then NQCC winds up, but Hank ‘n’ Tank slide in! Hank LARIATS Heights up and out while Tank LARIATS Myles up and out! And then they HONK HONK! BIG BELLY SANDWICH for Price! Hank scoops Price but Nima slides in! Hank has to drop Price so he can dodge Nima!

Tank then runs up to get the BOOSTED LEG LARIAT! Cover, but Heights SMACKS it apart with the kendo stick! Myles returns so he can SMACK away on Hank! NQCC take it to Hank ‘n’ Tank, and put them in corners. They climb up, CHOKE Hank ‘n’ Tank with the sticks, but then Luca & Stacks return, with extra big candy canes! They use those hooks to trip up Myles & Heights! Then they use the candy canes to CHOKE Myles & Heights! Myles & Heights endure, reach out for each other, but OTM gets in! Luca & Stacks let go of Myles & Heights to swing on OTM! but OTM both block the candy cane strikes!

Price TOSSES Luca while Nima BREAKS Stacks’ candy cane! Nima then TOSSES Stacks out the side! OTM see Hank ‘n’ Tank still in corners, so Nima BOOT WASHES Tank while Price LARIATS Hank! Nima fetches a chair and slides that in to Price. Price positions it just right, brings Myles up, but Myles fires hands first! The fans fire up as Myles runs, but Nima clinches! URENAGE onto the chair! Nima then gets Heights up, back suplex FACEBUSTER onto the chair! Price drags a table into the ring and the fans fire up! The table is propped up in a corner, OTM gets Myles up. They aim and DOUBLE HIP TOSS him through the table!!

The fans are thunderous while OTM is all fired up! But Hank FLYING LARIATS Price! Tank dodges Nima to go up, up and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans are going wild as Hank ‘n’ Tank clear the ring. Then they both climb a corner, to STEREO VADER BOMB to the outside!! But wait, Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont attack Hank ‘n’ Tank?! It seems what Wes Lee said last week not only got through to Tyriek, it convinced Tyson to do the same! They brawl with Hank ‘n’ Tank to the back and the fans boo. The Don says now’s the right time, and he gives Stacks & Luca some candy cane crowbars! And they use those to CRACK Myles! Then they CRACK Heights!

The family waits on Price as he staggers to his feet, SHATTER MACHINE!! Cover, Nima breaks it! Tony is upset, but wait, Santa attacks Tony!? We know The Don’s been a touch naughty but c’mon! REDEEMER DDT?!? Nima HEADBUTTS Luca, then he hauls Stacks up. OTM hit the GTA!! High stack, OTM wins!!

Winners: OTM, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championships)

Nima & Price waited for their opening and they took it! The fans boo them and they boo Santa, because surprise! That’s RIDGE HOLLAND! The Yorkshire Grinch just stole Christmas away from The D’Angelo Family, is he gonna take that North American Championship in the New Year? Will OTM do the same to Fraxiom?

Trick Williams is here!

Lowell chants along, “Whoop Dat Trick!” as the NXT Champion returns after last week’s clearly controversial conclusion to his match with Eddy Thorpe. Trick echoes Booker T on the mic, “Uh-huh! I like it!” But let’s talk about it. Last week, all y’all saw what happened! Wait, here comes Oba Femi! The Ruler has a mic already and he says no, we’re done talking about last week. Now, we look to the future. Well, no, because here comes the Alpha Wolf himself. Eddy has them cut his music so he can tell Oba that while Oba may not care about last week, Eddy sure does. So Oba will have to deal with this, too.

Eddy joins Trick and Oba in the ring, and he claims he didn’t get pinned last week. Eddy’s foot was under the rope, and the referee raised his hand in victory. Trick did not beat Eddy, he escaped! And he should be ashamed to call himself a champion. Trick says Eddy should shut the hell up! The fans cheer that! Trick says we all know Trick had Eddy beat. In fact, the idea of them being on the same level just sounds crazy. Oba says hold on, Trick. Trick is champion right now, isn’t that right? Yes, Trick IS the champion. Then it only remains that way for two more weeks, up until New Year’s Evil.

Eddy tells Oba that while Oba won the Iron Survivor Challenge (pause for the massive booing), Eddy and Trick have unfinished business. Oba’s title match will just have to wait. Wait? Is Eddy telling Oba to wait? Oba is done waiting! Two weeks ago, Eddy came out here, claiming Oba screwed him out of the Iron Survivor, and he put that on his people! HIS PEOPLE! And then he still got a title opportunity, because he LIED. Trick says both Oba and Eddy need to shut up. Trick is tired of Eddy talking about the past, and he is tired of Oba talking about the future. Let’s talk about right now. The fans like that.

Trick says right now, he and Eddy have a problem. Right now, he and Oba have a date for New Year’s Evil, correct? Then this is how we do it. They’ll just make it a TRIPLE THREAT! Trick is putting his title on the line, and before anyone gets carried away, yes, Trick Willy does know that he doesn’t have to get pinned to lose the title. But he also knows that once he beats both Eddy and Oba, he’ll shut up all the haters and the doubters, and he’ll prove to everyone he can Whoop Dat Trick. Oba laughs, and says Trick sure is slick. This is very slick. Trick might be the slickest man in all of WWE today.

Because see, Trick knows he can’t beat Oba 1v1, so he added Eddy to make it a Triple Threat so Trick can just pin Eddy and escape with the title. Eddy speaks up, fans boo, and Oba tells Eddy to be QUIET. Oba says Eddy couldn’t beat Trick 1v1 either, so now with Oba in this match, Eddy’s chances are literally zero. ZERO. Wait, here comes Ava Raine to sort this mess out. Before this goes any further, if this is what Trick wants, then she is more than happy to sign off on it. Trick says yeah, set it up, Ava, this is what he wants. Ava says okay then. In two weeks, in Los Angeles, for New Year’s Evil, it will be Trick VS Oba VS Eddy for the NXT Championship!

The fans cheer and Trick nods. Eddy swings on Trick! Trick ducks, the haymaker hits Oba, so Eddy just keeps swinging! Trick turns Eddy around to fire hands on him! Oba runs up, Eddy & Trick both dodge, but then Oba comes back with a DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! Oba has the fans all fired up, and he UPPERCUTS Eddy in a corner! UPPERCUT for Trick! Repeat! Trick staggers up, into a POP-UP POWERBOMB! Oba brings Eddy over, but Eddy slips away! The Alpha Wolf is more like a chicken right now, but Oba holds up the belt. Will this still be the scene at New Year’s Evil? Or can Trick find a way to still be NXT Champion?

My Thoughts:

A great NXT, lots of great build towards New Year’s Evil but also all the other stories. Great opening match from Vaquer VS Cora, and great win for Vaquer, but Kelani does have a point that she didn’t need to stop Kelani from beating up on Cora. I feel that Kelani getting upset with Vaquer and Lola is them bringing back that unfinished “new attitude” storyline Kelani had going with Dana Brooke. Mean Kelani is here, and I feel like the counterpoint will be Lola and Vaquer just wanted Kelani to keep that positive attitude. Cora might even take credit for corrupting Kelani, only making Kelani angrier to where that’ll be her downfall.

Very good promo from Regal and Lexis before the Heritage Cup match, clearly foreshadowing what was going to happen in the match. I’m a little disappointed round 3 was skipped during a commercial, but I really liked that finish. Regal got mad, tried to screw Lexis over, but then they use the fact there’s no Champion’s Advantage in the Heritage Cup Division. And Lexis’ promo after was great, because he was clearly still out of it from getting punched, and had no idea what rule even won him that match. I’m sure Dempsey will bring that up next week, maybe there’s another Heritage Cup match for New Year’s Evil, it’s going to be great stuff.

The tag match of Fatal Influence VS Unholy Union was a lot of fun, especially with the overbooking happening. Good promo from Tatum’s trio with KC Squared and Meta Four, and that’s certainly some sort of tag team match in the making. Speaking of, good promo from Zaria, Sol, Izzi and Shawn Spears. Spears’ group needs a name already, I can’t keep typing out all the names or just saying “Spears’ group.” But clearly Spears still wants Izzi on his team, she doesn’t care, and she even takes a jab at the short lived team-up of her and Kiana James. Zaria and Sol don’t really need to be a real tag team, but there do need to be loose alliances between Faces for when Heel groups like Fatal Influence come around.

A good match from Adonis VS Dion, and I should’ve figured Lyons would show up on behalf of Adonis. The drama continues, and I’m sure there will be more of this for New Year’s Evil, such as another mixed tag. I know I said this should end on Vengeance Day, aka the NXT Valentine’s Day special, but I overestimated them being able to stretch this out. Good promo from Ethan Page, though he didn’t exactly add much from what he physically did to Je’Von. And good promo from Roxanne Perez, though what is there to add when she pretty much already is a top star? Plus, it’s a rematch with Giulia, they already did plenty the first time around.

Very good promos from all four tag teams tonight going into their great Christmas Chaos Fatal 4. Lots of fun stuff with the winter and Christmas themed weaponry, and I’m rather surprised Tyriek & Tyson got on the same page so quickly. They’re both Heels, they’ll feud with Hank ‘n’ Tank a little more, and then depending on how the tag title match goes, maybe Hank ‘n’ Tank win to get at the titles themselves. OTM winning was itself a surprise, but I suppose with Myles & Heights already having a turn, Ty & Ty taking Hank ‘n’ Tank out of the equation, and the D’Angelo Family being Faces, it had to be OTM.

And we also got payoff on Santa showing up here and there, but I’m pretty sure it changed to Ridge before the end of the night. For all anyone knows, Ridge mugged the guy who was in the costume off camera, then came out in the suit so he could get closer to Tony D. Ridge going for the North American Championship is fine, and I feel like that should’ve been his first step before trying for Trick and the NXT Championship, but whatever. And speaking of Trick, very good promo from him, Oba and Eddy, and I suppose we should’ve seen this Triple Threat coming. Oba has a good point, Eddy’s taking that loss. And unless they just leave go-home math behind, Trick probably does pin Eddy to retain the title. Oba stood tall, and when you stand tall, that usually means you don’t win.

My Score: 8.9/10