Christmas comes early for AEW!

For one night only, free on YouTube, AEW presents AEW Dark: Stocking Stuffer! But will the Death Riders be having the merrier Christmas in Cardiff?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Marina Shafir VS Isla Dawn; Marina wins.
• Six Man Tag: Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong & Mascara Dorada VS Mark Andrews, Kid Lykos 1 & Kid Lykos 2; Cassidy, Roddy & Dorada win.
• Six Man Tag: Jon Moxley, PAC & Wheeler Yuta VS Nathan Cruz & The Grizzled Young Veterans; Moxley, Pac & Yuta win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Marina Shafir VS Isla Dawn!

Christmas is just over a week away, and Cardiff has a Problem! Will Marina earn herself even more coal than she has all year? Or will the White Witch of Scotland dispel the evil this holiday season?

The bell rings, the fans rally, and the two circle. They tie up, Marina powers Isla to a corner, but the fans sing for “Isla, Isla Dawn~!” The ref counts, Marina backs off, and Isla smiles as the fans are on her side. Marina shrugs that off and eggs Isla on. They knuckle lock, and Marina puts on the pressure. Marina wrangles Isla, Isla fights back up, but Marina THROWS Isla down! The fans still rally for Isla as she fights up, but Marina spins her around. Isla spins through, they spin again, and Marina spins Isla to a straitjacket takedown. Marina kneels on Isla’s chest, shifts around, and has the headlock.

Isla fights up while the fans rally, and Isla powers up, only for Marina to hold on tight. Isla stomps Marina’s foot, powers up and out, but Marina drops down onto Isla to tie up the legs and roll her around! Isla kicks free, Marina cartwheels through, and Marina KICKS Isla in the back! The fans boo, but Marina soaks that up. Marina fires body shots on Isla, SCRAPES her against the ropes, then BODY BLOWS! Isla sputters and slumps down in the corner, but Marina brings her up. Marina swings, Isla ducks and Isla CLUBS Marina! And ROCKS her! And UPPERCUTS! And KICKS, KICKS, KICKS! Marina eggs Isla on!

Isla KICKS, Marina tells her to bring it! Then Marina ducks the kick to go for a sleeper! Isla powers up and arm-drags free! Marina comes back, Isla dodges, and Isla BOOTS her! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but the fans rally up. Marina trips Isla, covers, ONE! Marina avoids the sweep to KICK Isla! Marina scuffs Isla, stalks her to the ropes, then runs to TIGER FEINT SPIKE-RANA! The fans boo but Marina soaks up the heat. Marina drags Isla up to CHOP her, then refreshes the count to CHOP again! Marina talks trash, then puts Isla in the ring. The fans rally but Marina stalks Isla again.

Marina CLUBS Isla, CLUBS her again, then ties up the legs. Isla reaches out, but Marina pulls her into the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Isla pops free, covers, TWO! Isla trips Marina, covers, TWO! SHOTGUN from Isla and Marina tumbles! The fans fire up as Isla runs up, JUMP KNEE! Then a SAI- NO! Marina stops the saido, SAYANAGIS free, then runs up, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! The fans fire up, and Isla hits that SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Marina survives, but Isla fireman’s carries. Marina slips free, COBRA- NO, Isla JAWBREAKERS free! But Marina holds on to short arm LARIAT! MOTHER’S MILK!! Isla TAPS, Marina wins!

Winner: Marina Shafir, by submission

Marina mocks the fans with fake concern, but now she rolls into the Holiday Bash with momentum. Will Marina help Megan Bayne, Athena & Mercedes Mone ruin the festivities for Toni Storm, Mina Shirakawa, Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron? Or will the Timeless Love Bombs & Babes of Wrath make sure they all #FeelTheWrath for Christmas?

Six Man Tag: Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong & Mascara Dorada VS Mark Andrews, Kid Lykos 1 & Kid Lykos 2!

While Holiday Bash is going to be Freshly Squeezed with Continental Classic action between amigos, Cassidy is going to team with The Savior of the Backbreaker & The King of the Ropes for a bit of holiday fun! But will they make it through the “pregaming” here in Cardiff? Or will the High-Fiving, Stage-Diving Welsh Rockstar have the huge hometown advantage alongside both Problem Childs?

The teams sort out, and the fans are fired up already as Dorada starts against #Mandrews. The two tie up, Dorada wrenches and wristlocks, but Andrews rolls, handsprings, and wrenches back. Dorada uses the ropes to flip through, but Andrews whips him away. Andrews avoids the handspring, then puts Dorada on the apron. Dorada blocks a shot to knuckle lock, CJHOP, and flip in to ARM-DRAG! Dorada then wrenches to DREAMCASET KI! The Lykos run in, Dorada dodge and runs up, ARABIAN PRESS DOUBLE ARM-DRAG! The fans fire up, Dorada builds speed, but Andrews intercepts, victory roll and STOMP 182!

Andrews runs up and BLASTS Roddy! He avoids Cassidy’s counterattack, then slides under a lariat, to pop up and ENZIGIRI! The Lykos return, JAWBERAKAER, LSEG WEEP, PENALTY KICK, and MARIPOSA! The fans fire up for the UK boys while they set up at the ropes. Lykos 1 PLANCHAS onto Cassidy while Lykos 2 and Andrews DOUBLE ASAI MOONSAULT! Down goes The Conglomeration and Andrews puts Dorada in the ring! DOUBLE KNEES in the corner, tag to Lykos 1 and he fires hands! Dorada fires back, theN CHOPS, and CHOSP! Lykos KNEES low, runs, but Dorada slips through the lariat to CODE RED!

Both men are down, the fans fire up, and Dorada crawls! Hot tag to Cassidy! Well, lukewarm tag as Cassidy takes his time getting in. Lykos 1 isn’t sure what to do, but Casidy ducks his kick, avoids the sweep, and then avoids the leg trip. And he puts hands in pockets! Cassidy runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then arm-drags! Cassidy hurdles, then he MONKEY FLIPS Lykos away! But Andrews & Lykos 2 double whip, only for Cassidy to DOUBLE SHOTGUN! Cassidy kips up, but Lykos 1 CLUBS Cassidy! Lykos 1 calls his shot, suplexes, but into STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! Tag to Roddy, and Roddy reluctantly works with Cassidy.

Roddy whips Lykos, then sends Cassidy in! Cassidy back body blocks but he’s a bit surprised by that. Roddy runs in, Cassidy gets outta the way, LARIAT on Lykos! Cassidy still asks what’s going on, but Andrews waistlocks! Roddy CHOOPS Andrews down! Cassidy dodges Lykos to feed him to Roddy’s BACKBREAKER! Cassidy wants a high-five but Roddy is again reluctant, Lykos 1 hot tags Lykos 2! Lykos 2 goes up, leaps, but Roddy saves Cassidy! Then another feed, POP-UP GUTBUSTER! ORANGE PUNCH for Andrews! Dorada DIVES onto Andrews & Lykos 1! Roddy gives Lykos 2 END OF HEARTACHE! Cover, Conglomeration wins!

Winners: Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong & Mascara Dorada, by pinfall

A great win for this modified combination of Conglomeration, but Roddy’s only going to celebrate with himself. Dorada and Cassidy shake hands, ready to have their Continental Classic clash! Who will get those critical three points to stay afloat in the block?

Six Man Tag: Jon Moxley, PAC & Wheeler Yuta VS Nathan Cruz & The Grizzled Young Veterans!

The Maniac is struggling in the C2, Red Death failed to take the TNT Championship form Mark Briscoe, and well, no one likes The Decoder. But The Bastard is going strong in his own run, and we just saw Marina kick things off with a win. Will The Death Riders dominate the Stocking Stuff and put AEW Dark to bed? Or will the Showstealer help Zack Gibson & James Drake teach The Death Riders how to #GritYourTeeth?

The teams sort out and the Death Riders just attack! The fans are torn as Yuta stomps Drake, Moxley TOSSES Gibson, and Pac stomps Nathan! Moxley then whips Gibson into steel steps, but the ref reprimands them all as the mugging continues! Pac drags Nathan out, so Yuta and Drake will start with the bell. Pac SMACKS Nathan off the apron, Drake CHOPS Yuta in return! Yuta CHOPS back, Drake CHOPS again, but then Yuta BITES Drake’s forehead! The fans boo, Yuta whips corner to corner, but Drake goes up and over! Drake ducks ‘n’ dodges to CROSSBODY! And then he ROCKS Yuta with a forearm!

Drake tags Gibson, they whip and corner Yuta, to then ELBOW and LARIAT! Then WHEEL KICK! Pac tags in, he RAMS Gibson, and Pac slingshots up and over. Pac SOBATS, then runs, but Gibson avoids the basement dropkick. Gibson headlocks, Pac powers up, but Drake tags in before Pac powers out. Gibson redirects Pac, Drake dropkicks the legs out, and Gibson basement dropkicks Pac! Gibson then sets up so Drake can run up, MAYHEM IN MOTION on Yuta! The fans fire up while the Death Riders regroup. Gibson tags Nathan, Drake sends Pac to him for a FLAPJACK! Nathan then hoists Pac up, to SLINGSHOT BACK SUPLEX! Cover, Mox breaks it!

GYV storms in, they brawl with Moxley & Yuta, and the fans rally up! Moxley whips but Drake stops himself! Drake TOSSES Moxley out, Gibson LARIATS Yuta up and out, then GYV crisscross! They DOUBLE DIVE to take out Yuta & Moxley! The fans fire up, and Nathan waits on Pac. Fireman’s carry, but Pac CLAWS eyes! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Nathan runs up. Pac BOOTS Nathan down, Moxley WRECKS Gibson with a dropkick, and Moxley sends Drake into steel steps! Pac stomps Nathan, Yuta whips Gibson into railing! The fans boo but Pac stomps Nathan in the Death Rider corner.

Pac digs his bots in, eggs the fans on, but the ref counts. Pac stops at 4, tags Moxley, and they mug Nathan. Moxley drags Nathan up, puts him on ropes, and CLUBS away with crossface forearms! The ref counts again, Moxley stops at 4, but this lets Yuta BOOT Nathan! Moxley stomps Nathan’s hand, then drags him up again. Tag to Yuta, Moxley hangs Nathan out to dry, and Yuta GUILLOTINE KNEE DROPS! Cover, TWO! Nathan reaches out but Yuta keeps him down. Yuta uses Nathan’s hand to clap and mock the fans. Yuta bends the fingers and elbow, isolates the arm, then STOMPS it! The fans boo, Yuta covers, ONE!!

Yuta facelocks but the fans rally and chant a taunt at Yuta. Nathan fights up, UPPERCUTS, but Yuta CLAWS eyes! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Yuta stops at 4 to soak up heat. Yuta mockingly pats Nathan on the back, whips him corner to corner, but Nathan goes up, under, and reaches out! Yuta grabs a leg, but Nathan ENZIGIRIS free! Hot tags to Gibson and Pac! Gibson rallies on Pac, whips, but Pac reverses! Gibson reverses back to CLOBBER Pac! Gibson says this is what Pac wanted! Gibson SMACKS Pac off buckles again and again! Abd again! Yuta waistlocks, but Gibson wrenches out! Gibson ducks, pump handles, and EXPLODERS!

The fans fire up, Gibson tags Drake, and GYV gets Pac up. Whip and scoop, DROPKICK MICHINOKU DRIVER COMBO! Cover, TWO!! Pac survives but Drake tags Gibson. Gibson drags Pac up, Electric Chair Lift, and Drake is up top! But Pac fights with fists! Pac slips down, and he SHOVES Gibson into Drake! Tag to Moxley! The fans oddly cheer The Maniac as he hits the CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Gibson survives and Moxley mockingly acts surprised. Moxley sits Gibson up to KICK! And KICK! Gibson shakes his head, Moxley KICKS again! Gibson SLAPS Moxley, Moxley SLAPS Gibson! Moxley runs, Gibson LARIATS!

The fans fire up as Gibson goes to a corner. Moxley rises, Gibson BOOTS him! Gibson goes up, and FLYING CODE BREAKERS! Hot tag to Nathan! Drake runs to WRECK Pac with a dropkick! Gibson RAMS Moxley into a corner, Nathan sends Drake in, DROPKICK! And the feed to the fireman’s carry! LANDSLIDE DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Moxley survives, Yuta & Pac attack! Yuta & Pac drag GYV out of the ring, and Pac sends Drake into railing while Yuta does the same to Gibson! Moxley SHOTGUNS Nathan, tags Yuta, but they all get in. Yuta whips Pac in, UPECUT! Yuta ELBOWS! Moxley LARIATS! And repeat!

The cycle of violence continues, Yuta FLIES to take out GYV! Pac builds speed so Moxley can feed Nathan tot he LARIAT!! And then the BRUTALIZER!! Moxley flexes while Nathan TAPS, Death Riders win!

Winners: Jon Moxley, PAC & Wheeler Yuta, by submission

Garcia talks trash to the fans as his guys win out! But now, Moxley and Pac must each prepare for critical Continental Classic matches! Will Pac take the lead in Gold League? Or will he be shot down by The Aussie Arrow? As for Moxley, he is truly in a do or die situation with Roderick Strong, who stays alive in the Blue League?

My Thoughts:

A very fun return of AEW Dark just for the holidays, though I’m not even sure why. Did they absolutely have to get these tune-up matches in before Holiday Bash? Did they just not want these to be on ROH instead? Still good matches, even with their very obvious outcomes. But now everyone has momentum going into stuff for the Holiday Bash super show and who knows who wins what. Dorada and Cassidy are probably non-factors in the semifinals and finals, and I feel like we could see another draw from Moxley and Roddy since that would keep them both in the running for one more night.

My Score: 8.3/10