Posted on 1/01/126 by Bob Magee
We closed out the year with AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash on
TBS and HBO Max from Omaha, Nebraska! The last day of 2025
brought us the start of new reigns and the continuation of
others.
In the main event, Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Moné
to win the TBS Championship for the second time, becoming
the first ever two-time TBS Champ! Then, she celebrated with
the other half of the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions,
Harley Cameron, and the Conglomeration, in addition to a
surprise embrace with AEW Women’s World Champion Kris
Statlander!
Meanwhile, our night began with NEW AEW World Champion MJF
revealing his new Triple B title. However, he didn’t have
much of a chance to show it off because Kenny Omega
interrupted with a message from the video screen to inform
MJF that he’s coming for the AEW World Championship.
“Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland also tried to get
to MJF, but were stopped by security, although that turned
into a LIGHTS OUT challenge by Swerve and Page to The Opps!
The Death Riders avenged their loss at Worlds End in the
Mixed Nuts Mayhem Match by defeating “Timeless” Toni Storm,
Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong. However, the winning
combo of Marina Shafir, Claudio Castagnoli and Daniel Garcia
got a timely distraction from Wheeler Yuta to achieve
victory.
Speaking of the Death Riders, AEW Continental Champion Jon
Moxley turned away Josh Alexander in a Continental
Eliminator. After the match, MVP and Shelton Benjamin stared
down Moxley from the top of the ramp, showing interest in
Moxley’s new gold.
Plus, AEW National Champion Ricochet retained his title in a
hotly contested defense against “Jungle” Jack Perry. And ROH
World Champion Bandido looked ready for his AEW World Title
match with MJF in two weeks at AEW Dynamite Maximum Carnage!
All that and so much more!
Here’s everything that went down in the final Dynamite of
the year from Omaha!
AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash Recap Tonight for Omaha
MJF Unveils New Triple B As Challengers Lurk
After we saw a recap of the wild night that was Worlds End,
an SUV pulled up in the parking lot containing the NEW AEW
World Champion, MJF, who was sporting both the AEW Title and
a fur coat. He made his way to the ring, which was covered
with a familiarly patterned carpet and a display covered in
a red sheet.
MJF ran down how Swerve Strickland is the franchise, Samoa
Joe is the Samoan Submission Machine, and “Hangman” Adam
Page is the main character, but if that’s the big three,
he’s MJF, the AEW World Champion! He then threw down the AEW
World Title and revealed the brand new Triple B version of
the AEW World Championship. MJF said he’s done trotting
around and now he’s going to sprint, and he won’t stop until
he goes down as the greatest of all time.
“Max, Max, Max. Look, I’m sorry to interrupt…”
Kenny Omega appeared on the video screen!
Omega said MJF made him feel a certain kind of way. He said
old Kenny Omega is closer to the end of his career than the
beginning, and he hates that feeling. What if he could
become AEW World Champion again? What if MJF didn’t beat
Omega years ago to become the longest-reigning AEW Champion
of the World? What if they met again today?
“It wouldn’t be MJF vs. The Cleaner. It wouldn’t be MJF vs.
The Best Bout Machine. This isn’t about a best bout, it’s
about winning. And this certainly isn’t about MJF vs. The
Belt Collector. I’m not collecting belts, I’m collecting
one. And whether I get a shot next week or whether I’ve got
to scrape and claw my way to the front of the line to prove
I am worthy of a challenge, you’re gonna be seeing a lot
more of me. So until next time, MJF, and everyone else vying
for that championship belt, I must bid you adieu. Goodbye
and goodnight. BANG!”
Omega disappeared from the screen as the crowd chanted his
name. MJF said they can chant that all they want, but it
doesn’t change the fact that Omega didn’t come out and say
it to his face.
“Hangman” Adam Page’s music hit, and he appeared with a
chain in the crowd! Swerve’s music hit, and he had a chain
and Prince Nana with him. Everyone made their way towards
MJF, but security rushed the ring to stop them from hopping
the barrier. MJF said if you wanted a shot at him, wins and
losses matter, so they need to pick up some wins and talk to
Tony Khan, and then he’ll beat both their asses again as he
did at Worlds End.
Just then, Hangman and Swerve broke free to destroy security
around and in the ring as MJF escaped! Page got a mic and
said that when he gets a hold of MJF, he’s going to strangle
him with that “ugly ass belt” before he takes it away from
him. Swerve said MJF had better pray Page gets to him first
because he’s only shown MJF a piece of what he’s capable
of.
“And now that you have something that I want, the hunt is
on! And may the worst man win!”
On the video screen, Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and HOOK
were shown, and Joe apologized for interrupting. He called
Page and Strickland buffoons for thinking they should be #1
contender because the only person who should be #1 contender
is him!
“The rightful and wronged champion. A man who has been
robbed!”
Joe sees the eternal obstacles in his way, like Page, who
had the audacity to put his hands on HOOK. Joe said HOOK is
ready to beat Page down and choke him on sight! And there’s
meat on the menu for Swerve because Powerhouse Hobbs is
coming for him. And Joe wants to do this all next week
because he doesn’t want to spend another second in this
“broke-ass, busted, cowtown!”
Page responded, “Well, Joe, it seems like with you, it’s new
year, same dumbass. So give us Hobbs, and please, I swear to
god, send HOOK. Send me HOOK!”
Swerve continued, “Since we got some dangerous men in a
dangerous situation, this is what we’re gonna do. No holds
barred. No disqualification. LIGHTS OUT!”
The Conglomeration Has a Busy Night
Renee Paquette was with TNT Champion Mark Briscoe, Orange
Cassidy and Roderick Strong to talk about the busy night for
The Conglomeration, including AEW Women’s World Tag Team
Champion Willow Nightingale challenging TBS Champion
Mercedes Moné. He said after tonight, they’ll have the TNT
Title and the TBS Title.
“Hell, I’d be surprised if the old boy, Ted Turner, didn’t
want to Conglomerate himself!”
After Paquette mentioned that Cassidy, Strong, and
“Timeless” Toni Storm would be tagging up tonight again
against the Death Riders, Briscoe said the world of the day
is “asphyxiation.”
“And you know why? Because just like at Worlds End, the
Death Riders will be choking on these nuts, tonight, baby!”
Storm’s arm appeared from off-screen, and Cassidy spun her
into the frame.
“Hello, citrus boy!”
“Hey!”
“You’ve got some pretty sweet moves for someone so acidic.”
Mina Shirakawa showed up with Luther and demanded that
Cassidy take his hands off Storm. Storm calmed the situation
by saying it wasn’t sexual because he’s a professional.
Besides, he’s not her type because he’s barely awake. Mina
warned Cassidy to watch himself. Storm said tonight they
have a date with a fig on Peach Street. Then she asked
Luther for an (unpeeled) orange and took a bite. Mina was
taken aback by this and stormed away. Briscoe chased after
trying to get a bite. Strong yelled, “RENEE!” and said he
wanted no part of this.
New Year’s Eve Mixed Tornado Trios Match: Death Riders
(Marina Shafir, Claudio Castagnoli and Daniel Garcia) def.
“Timeless” Toni Storm, Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong
The match began as soon as the Death Riders got in the ring,
as all six competitors paired off! Storm mounted Shafir in
the corner for 10 punches, but was thrown from the ring by
Castagnoli. Strong took over on Castagnoli and got 10
punches on him in the corner. Garcia came in and gave Strong
the same treatment. Cassidy came in and hit one punch on
Garcia, so he celebrated only to be put in a full nelson by
Shafir. He broke out of it by putting his hands in his
pockets. Shafir shot him off the ropes, but he rolled
through for a near-fall. She threw him into Garcia for a
suplex, and then all three Death Riders took turns crushing
Cassidy in the corner, just as they did at Worlds End. The
Death Riders had complete control!
Strong was the latest to get the same treatment from the
Death Riders until he avoided a charge in the corner from
Shafir, took out Garcia, and nailed Castagnoli with a
fireman’s carry slam! Cassidy and Storm wound up together in
the middle, so Cassidy danced Storm into a back elbow on
Shafir, and Storm did the same with Cassidy to Garcia, and
then they both hit elbows on Shafir and Garcia. Castagnoli
came back in to get hip-tossed by Storm and Cassidy, so
Storm called for the giant swing!
Cassidy first caught Castagnoli with a PK, so Storm thought
it was time, but when she went to pick him up, Garcia
clobbered her to stop it! Omaha hated that! OC came back
with an Orange Punch on Garcia, only to get caught in
Mother’s Milk by Shafir. Strong saved OC and nailed Shafir
with a backbreaker. Castagnoli returned to drive Strong to
the mat, but OC was back for a Stundog Millionaire on
Castagnoli to send him into the corner. Storm came back with
a large hip attack on Castagnoli, and Cassidy followed with
a DDT! He called for an Orange Punch, but Castangoli
distracted the ref, allowing Wheeler Yuta to stop Cassidy.
When Cassidy turned around, he ate a diving uppercut from
Castagnoli, which got the Death Riders the three-count and
the win. After the match, Mina Shirakawa and Luther consoled
Storm in the ring.
ROH World Champion Bandido def. ROH World Tag Team Champion
The Beast Mortos
Before our next match, we saw a highlight reel of Ultimo
Moné, showcasing her accomplishments in 2025, including an
unscathed record in TBS Championship defenses. She’ll try to
add one more tonight against AEW Women’s World Tag Team
Champion Willow Nightingale in the main event!
In two weeks, at AEW Dynamite Maximum Carnage, Bandido will
meet MJF for the AEW World Title as a result of Bandido
capturing the Dynamite Diamond Ring by beating AEW National
Champion Ricochet last week. But first, he had to face down
The Beast Mortos on New Year’s Eve.
Mortos tried to attack Bandido from the jump, but Bandido
wound up using the cape of his entrance gear to tame Beast
Mortos until Mortos sent Bandido to the outside and stomped
on the cape. Mortos kept control until Bandido put the cape
back on and crashed down onto Mortos on the floor!
Mortos recovered and punished Bandido on the outside before
depositing him back in the ring. He appeared to be going for
Bandido’s mask, so Bandido rolled him up for a nearfall.
Bandido came back with a headscissors to take down Mortos.
Mortos got up right into a thrust kick from Bandido, who
scaled the ropes and nailed a frog splash from the top!
Mortos was able to kick out at two!
“THIS IS AWESOME!”
Bandido ran into an elbow from Mortos, who followed with a
Samoan drop to get a two-count after a hesitation on the pin
attempt. Mortos caught Bandido on his shoulders and dropped
him for a backbreaker, followed by a discus lariat that got
another two-count! Mortos hit another lariat and went to the
top, but missed on a moonsault and crashed hard onto the
mat! Bandido hoisted Mortos up for the X-Knee and followed
with the 21 Plex to get the win!
Brody King Will be First in Line for His Partner, Bandido
Renee Paquette caught up with Brodido, as Brody King was
getting ready for his upcoming match, and Bandido had just
defeated Beast Mortos minutes ago. She asked Bandido if this
gives him the momentum he needs for his AEW World Title
match with MJF at Maximum Carnage in two weeks.
Bandido directly addressed the man he’ll challenge on
January 14 in Phoenix, Arizona. He spoke to MJF in Spanish
and vowed to become AEW World Champion. King said Bandido is
the most wanted because people from AEW, CMLL and ROH are
all gunning for him. And on January 14, he’s gonna have an
even bigger target on his head when he walks out as AEW
World Champion.
“And he and I already spoke, after he becomes Bandido Two
Belts again, I’m first in line.”
Brody King def. Lee Johnson
As King made his entrance, Johnson came flying over the top
rope and crashed onto King! He celebrated too quickly, as
King got up and chopped him before chucking Johnson into the
barrier. King hit another chop and threw Johnson back in the
ring to officially begin the match. King nearly beheaded
Johnson with a lariat and followed with a cannonball in the
corner. King hit a Gonzo Bomb to make short work of Johnson
with the pinfall victory!
Darby Allin Needs to Beat PAC
We heard from Darby Allin following his victory over Gabe
Kidd at Worlds End.
“I went to hell with Gabe Kidd. Sometimes this life catches
up to you. I’m not numb to the pain. I would argue that I’m
more aware of it than anybody. But I’m also more aware of
what it gives me. I see the arguments against the way I live
my life. I do. I wish I could relay the beauty. It gives me
peace. You know, earlier this year, I stood on top of the
world, Mount Everest. And in 2026, I want to stand on top of
AEW. But before I do that, I want to finish something with
the Death Riders. I beat every single one of them, except
PAC. I don’t know when, and I don’t know where I’ll have
this match, but I need this win, PAC. I need to set myself
free. And I need to finish what I started.”
AEW Continental Championship Eliminator: Jon Moxley (c) def.
“The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander
Moxley made a rare mistake of turning his back on Alexander
in the ring to soak in the adulation from the crowd, so
Alexander attacked from behind, and we were underway!
Alexander chopped Moxley around the ring until a strike
battle turned into Alexander working Moxley’s injured ankle
on the mat and in the corner. Moxley fought through the pain
to get the upper hand and rain down 10 punches on Alexander
in the corner, drawing blood on Alexander. Mox dragged
Alexander along the top rope while holding him in a
headlock. Alexander avoided a Mox charge by sending him over
the top rope for another bad landing on the injured ankle.
Alexander followed with a front suplex onto the apron. He
hanged Moxley in the tree of woe and crushed him with a
running crossbody! Alexander is all over Moxley and is
putting all his focus on Moxley’s ankle.
An ankle lock did some damage, but Moxley made it to the
ropes and rolled to the apron. Alexander went out to meet
him, as the two traded reversals before transitioning into
another strike battle that saw Alexander front slam Moxley
onto the apron at the 10-minute mark! Alexander went to the
top, but missed a moonsault when Mox moved! Alexander and
Mox got into an elbow exchange until Mox nailed a cutter out
of nowhere! Alexander kicked out at two, so Mox tried for a
choke, but Alexander suplexed his way out only for Mox to
shake it off and nail a suplex of his own. Alexander
dropkicked Moxley into the corner, but Moxley took a few
beats and came flying out of the corner with a clothesline!
Alexander bailed to the outside, so Moxley followed with a
dive that connected! He threw Alexander back in the ring, so
Alexander rolled to the other side. Moxley tried to follow,
but got tripped up and put in a figure four on the ring post
until the referee broke it up. Back in the ring, Alexander
went to the inside of Moxley’s leg, only for Moxley to lock
in a rear-naked choke! He let go of it to hammer down on
Alexander with elbows, which knocked Alexander’s headgear
off, as he continued to bleed from the head! Moxley
reapplied the choke, and the referee called for the bell
when Alexander didn’t respond! Moxley takes care of business
with less than five minutes remaining!
While Moxley celebrated in the ring, MVP and Shelton
Benjamin appeared at the top of the ramp, showing a clear
interest in the AEW Continental Championship, which Benjamin
missed out on this year after an impressive performance in
last year’s Continental Classic.
Triangle of Madness Send a Message to Kris Statlander
Thekla watched Sisters of Sin do what they do best at Worlds
End: come for the win. She also liked seeing AEW Women’s
World Champion Kris Statlander spit in Jamie Hayter’s face
and drop her on her head. She’s not buying the cosmic stuff
and knows it’s lonely at the top, so let them take your
place, and they can make it really toxic.
AEW National Champion Ricochet (c) def. “Jungle” Jack Perry
What looked like an early advantage for Perry was quickly
erased by the distraction of Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona on
the outside. Luchasaurus tried to come to Perry’s aid, but
GOA overcame him, as Ricochet dropkicked Perry off the apron
and to the floor! Meanwhile, Liona and Luchasaurus fought up
the ramp and to the back.
Perry fought from behind for several minutes until turning
things around in a big way with a German suplex. However, it
was short-lived, as Ricochet turned a DDT attempt into a
Northern Lights suplex chained to a brainbuster! Perry
kicked out at two! Perry nailed a big lariat to get a two-
count of his own. Perry lined up Ricochet for his running
knee strike, so Ricochet rolled to the apron. Perry
followed, so Ricochet hung him over the top rope. Ricochet
went back outside on the opposite side, so Perry slid after
him and was caught by Ricochet, only to turn it into a
bulldog on the floor!
With Ricochet back in the ring, Perry had his sights on
going to the top, but he was interrupted by Kaun on the
floor. Perry kicked Kaun away, but Ricochet had already
recovered and met Perry on the top rope. Perry pushed him
off and hit a jumping DDT from the top! Ricochet kicks out
to save the AEW National Championship!
Perry called for the knee again, but Kaun grabbed his leg
from the floor while Ricochet distracted the referee. With
Perry paying attention to Kaun, he turned right back into a
Spirit Gun to give Ricochet the pinfall victory!
Back at the top of the ramp, Liona returned with Luchasaurus
and threw him to the ground. Ricochet took Perry out with
another Spirit Gun in the ring! Liona used a barricade to
slam Luchasaurus’ bandaged shoulder over and over until he
left the barricade on the injured arm, while Kaun smashed it
with a chair repeatedly! Liona finished the damage by
slamming a member of security onto the barricade to inflict
even more pain on the shoulder!
Jon Moxley Invites The Hurt Syndicate to See Him
With the Death Riders standing behind him, including Marina
Shafir with the AEW Continental Championship over her
shoulder, Jon Moxley addressed Shelton Benjamin and “The
People Who Hurt People,” whom he referred to as “my guys.”
He said they didn’t have to come out looking at him a
certain way because he’s not hard to find. Ending the year
how he started, on top. Shafir and Castagnoli backed him up,
and then Yuta said he heard Darby Allin’s revisionist
history. Yuta said Allin forgot about the most “unhinged”
member of the Death Riders, and if he wants to get to PAC,
he has to get through Yuta. Garcia finished things up by
saying, in 2026, it’s Death Riders vs. The World!
Willow Nightingale Knows How She Wants to End the Year
Before the match, Harley Cameron fired up Willow Nightingale
in the back, as Nightingale remembered that it had been 584
days since she lost the TBS Title to Mercedes Moné, so
tonight she’s going to end this year with a bang!
Brodido Come Face-to-Face with MJF
Renee Paquette ran down everyone who wants a shot at the AEW
World Championship, and MJF asked if he’s supposed to be
scared. He’s a generational talent, and he’s going to make
his last championship reign look short. Brodido showed up,
and Brody King said the man MJF should be most worried about
is Bandido because on January 14 at Maximum Carnage, he’s
coming home with the Triple B.
“Bandido’s Big Belt!”
TBS Championship Match: AEW Women's World Tag Team Champion
Willow Nightingale def. Mercedes Moné (c) – NEW TBS CHAMPION
Moné pie-faced Nightingale before the championship
announcements, though order was restored until the bell
rang, when Moné dropkicked Nightingale in the knee and then
out of the ring! Moné continued by running Nightingale into
the barricade and followed with a second throw, but then
missed running knees and bounced off the barricade, which
allowed Willow to pounce Moné into the adjacent barricade!
Nightingale went for the cover back in the ring, but only
got a two.
Moné tried for a couple of quick pin attempts, only for
Nightingale to flatten her with a lariat to get another
near-fall. Moné tried to toy with Nightingale, but Willow
cartwheeled out of a whip, blocked a knee strike, and then
nailed a dropkick from the second rope. She crushed Moné
with a cannonball in the corner for another two-count, so
Moné rolled to the outside. Nightingale followed with a
running cannonball from the apron! Nightingale tried to
throw Moné back into the ring, but Moné tripped Nightingale,
sending her face-first into the steel steps! Moné followed
with running knees into Nightingale’s face, sandwiched in
the steps!
The punishment continued from Moné, although the more
Nightingale fought back, the more frustration appeared all
over Moné’s face. Finally, Nightingale powered out of the
corner with a Death Valley Driver! Nightingale fired up with
lariats and another in the corner, but then Moné caught her
boot. Willow shook her off and tried for a spinebuster, but
Moné escaped, so Willow hit her with another pounce!
Nightingale hit another Death Valley Driver for a two-count!
Moné fought back with a backstabber, only for Nightingale to
escape her grasp with a rebound Doctor Bomb! Moné saved her
TBS Title by rolling her foot on the rope just in time!
Nightingale went to the top and missed a moonsault, which
was a rough landing on the mat! Moné went to the top for a
Frog Splash, but Willow got her knees up! Nightingale hit
yet another Death Valley Driver, only this time onto the
apron! She tried to roll Moné in, so Moné rolled out the
other side. Nightingale tried to follow with a running
cannonball, but missed! Moné started Three Amigos until
Nightingale broke loose and took the top off the announce
desk. With both women on the table, Moné got out of another
Doctor Bomb and suplexed Nightingale off the desk onto the
floor! Moné returned to the ring and tried to take the
countout victory, but Nightingale got back just before the
10 count!
A furious Moné brought elbow strikes down on Nightingale
before locking in the Statement Maker! Nightingale reversed
it into a near-fall and then lifted Moné on her shoulders.
Moné elbowed her way out, but Nightingale blocked the Moné
Maker by running Moné into the top turnbuckle. She tried for
a Babe with the Powerbomb, but Moné escaped, and the two
traded backslide positions until Nightingale trapped Moné in
the same pinning predicament that beat her at Worlds End,
only this time, Moné kicked out! Moné tried another Moné
Maker, so Nightingale swung her around. Moné tried to sweep
Willow into a jackknife for a pin attempt, but Nightingale
rolled over and nailed a Babe with the Powerbomb to get the
pinfall victory! WILLOW NIGHTINGALE IS THE NEW TBS
CHAMPION!
Harley Cameron came out to celebrate with Nightingale, as
she became the first woman ever to hold two AEW titles
simultaneously and the first ever two-time TBS Champion! The
Conglomeration was also out to celebrate with Willow, and
then here came AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander.
As the tension of their history lingered, they ran to the
middle of the ring and embraced!
And that beautiful scene (and a crying Moné) is how we end a
fantastic 2025! Thank you for watching, and we’ll see you
Saturday night!
Catch AEW Collision back in its regular date and time of
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on TNT and HBO Max from
Arlington, Texas!
And remember… We are AEW—Where The Best Wrestle!