AEW Dynamite live results: Christian Cage vs. Adam Copeland for TNT title
Christian Cage defends the TNT Championship against Adam Copeland on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.
The lifelong friends and former tag team partners-turned bitter enemies will settle their feud with a TNT title bout on tonight’s episode in Montreal.
“Timeless” Toni Storm is also set to defend the AEW Women’s World title tonight against Skye Blue. Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies will introduce the Champion prior to the bout.
The Continental Classic also continues tonight with three Gold League bouts.
The undefeated Swerve Strickland (6 points) faces the winless Mark Briscoe (0 points), undefeated Jon Moxley (6 points) faces Rush (3 points), and Jay White (3 points) takes on the winless Jay Lethal (0 points) in the night’s Continental Classic tournament bouts.
AEW World Champion MJF and his Worlds End title challenger Samoa Joe will be in tag team action on tonight’s episode as they team against two of The Devil’s masked men.
AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz as we get a recap of the Continental Classic rules and standings before going to our opening contest of the evening.
Jon Moxley [9] defeated Rush [3] in the Continental Classic Gold League
(Moxley is the first to 9 in the Gold League and it came after an excellent, hard hitting battle. Rush put up one hell of a fight, working heel throughout, but ultimately Moxley had him scouted in the end. I really loved Moxley’s match with Briscoe, but I would say this was Rush’s best tournament match so far.)
Both men wasted no time throwing chops before Moxley was dropped on his head with an overhead belly to belly. To the floor they went, as both spilled into the crowd with Moxley’s chest already beat red. The referee was lenient with the count as Rush smacked Moxley in the face with a fans drink before going back to the ring, as Rush is heeling it up early. The stalling boot by Rush connected before posing, as Moxley flipped him off to respond. A snap powerslam put Rush in control, but played too long to the crowd and Moxley fired up with a cutter. Moxley got a near fall off a superplex, as both threw forearms to the apron where Moxley blocked an overhead belly to belly, only to suffer one on the floor against the barricade.
After Rush controlled the entire break, Moxley answered with a DDT to regain control briefly, but was stuck by a Rush piledriver for two. Rush returned the favor from earlier, hitting a superplex off the top, but Moxley escaped a DDT, sent Rush to the floor and connected on a Tope. Both men barely beat the count, which led to another intense striking exchange, with Moxley ultimately taking Rush’s head off to cut off Bulls Horns and hit the Death Rider, but Rush kicked out. Moxley slapped on the rear naked choke and Rush passed out. Rush woke up and he was furious since he didn’t tap out, as the referee had to tell him he lost consciousness.
-A video package for the upcoming Jay White & Jay Lethal match is shown, with White saying he looked up to Lethal when he was younger in ROH, but tonight, he’s getting the 3 points in the Gold League. Lethal realizes his back is against the wall and it’s a must win for him.
-Renee Paquette announces Roderick Strong & The Kingdom to the stage. Strong said it’s obvious tonight MJF will stab his best friend by proxy, SAMOA…Joe, in the back. Paquette asks what if Max isn’t The Devil like Strong assumes? Strong called her crazy and said he’s in the wheelchair because of decisions he’s made. Strong rose up from his wheelchair and said he’ll no longer be held back, throwing the wheelchair off the stage, saying it’s held him back for far too long. Taven & Bennett celebrated this resurrection of Strong like it was some sort of miracle.
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-Renee Paquette was standing outside MJF’s locker room, wanting to get a word on his upcoming tag match when Hangman Adam Page walked into her shot. Paquette asked how he was feeling since it was the first time seeing him since Full Gear? Page said he’d felt better, brought up the lengths Swerve Strickland went to in their feud, recognizes when he’s lost, but took something from Strickland he’ll never get back. Their feud is not over and realizes what Strickland wants the most in life and he’ll make sure Strickland never gets it.
MJF walks out and says hello to Seabiscuit, saying it was impressive watching a match where both men saw how many STD’s they could get. Page said he didn’t have 30 minutes to have MJF talk to him and MJF said the reason he talks for 30 minutes is to wake the crowd up after Page putting them to sleep. Page asks if this is what he wants to do? MJF said he does and brings up verbally bending over Page in front of Bret Hart at Double or Nothing a few years ago. MJF brought up beating Page for the Dynamite Diamond Ring, as Page said he consoled himself by becoming AEW Champion. MJF said it was only 6 months, while Max’s has been over a year. Page said when he’s 70 years old Max can tell his 9th cat about his one year title reign. MJF accused Page of being The Devil and Page was caught off guard, denying it, telling MJF to be honest and admit he’s the one behind the mask. Samoa Joe showed up and stepped between them, making sure MJF stayed healthy like he had promised. This was a fun backstage exchange, perhaps planting the seeds for a future program.
Swerve Strickland [9] defeated Mark Briscoe [0] in the Continental Classic Gold League
(I feel bad that Briscoe is mathematically eliminated from the Continental Classic now, as he’s been having the best matches of the tournament so far. Now he can play spoiler going forward, as I’m sure his remaining matches will be just as great as the previous ones. Strickland continues to ride the momentum he’s had since Full Gear, as I really hope he goes far in this tournament. The promise from Hangman Page earlier tonight makes me now believe he’s not winning this, however.)
For being a win or get eliminated match for Briscoe, I’m surprised the match started with ground work, trading headlocks. Taz brought up it as more strategic by both men, as Briscoe was the first to fire off chops. Tony Schiavone said there are guys in WCW that love to play spoiler and Taz corrected him that this is AEW. Strickland turned the tables on Briscoe and connected on a uppercut to the back off the second rope. Delayed neckbreaker from Strickland netted a two count, but Briscoe reversed a whip and hit a diving dropkick through the ropes to the floor. Both went to the apron, where strikes were traded until Strickland sent Briscoe into the front row. While standing on the barricade, Strickland hit a superplex back to the floor heading to commercial.
It was all Strickland during the break, but Briscoe escaped an arm bar with some Redneck Kung-Fu. Briscoe started to run wild with a charging boot in the corner followed up by a Fisherman’s Buster for two. Strickland fought back with a beautiful step over gut wrench German, rolling Flatliner and Buzzsaw Kick for a close near fall. Briscoe cut off Strickland in the ropes, sending him to the floor, where a dive followed. Briscoe hit a home run lariat, but Strickland kicked out. Strickland rolled through a Jay Driller into a House Call, but Briscoe got the knees up on a 450 Splash attempt, nearly getting a roll up for two. A rolling DVD from Briscoe, who wanted a Froggy Bow, but Strickland got the knees up. With 5 minutes left, both men went to he apron, where Strickland fought off a Jay Driller into a DVD. Strickland connected with the Swerve Stomp back inside to get the victory, eliminating Briscoe from the Continental Classic.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Mariah May and asks about her meeting last week with Tony Khan. May said it went well, he’s a fan of her time in Stardom in Japan, saying she’s bringing some much needed glamour to AEW, saying her in ring debut is not Paquette’s business, as tonight is about Timeless Toni Storm.
AEW World Champion MJF & Samoa Joe vs. The Devil’s Henchmen never happened
Samoa Joe made his way to the ring, but before MJF made his, the lights went out and Joe was surrounded by The Devil’s Henchmen ringside. The lights went out again, this time, all of the folks were gone and The Devil appeared on the big screen before it cut to MJF backstage unconscious and laid out. Excalibur said they need to take a look at this, which, yeah, of course. Joe ran to the back and I guess that’s the match we were supposed to get.
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Jon Moxley is backstage and said he’s expected to be 3-0 and to win the Continental Classic because b*tch, he’s the Ace of the World. Swerve Strickland walked in with Prince Nana and said he’s not the only one undefeated in this thing, saying he’ll do whatever it takes to win. Moxley said that’s good, he’s the same way and they’ll see each other in Texas next week at Winter in Coming.
-We go to Turner Classic Movie’s host Ben Mankiewicz (who is also the grand-nephew of Joseph Mankiewicz, the writer and director of All About Eve, which the Toni Storm & Mariah May storyline has been based off of) in the TCM studio saying every generation a performer comes along that redefines what it means to be human. To some it could be Garbo, Brando or Groucho, but could also be Toni Storm. Every slam or piledriver paints a picture and lists off the silent films Storm has starred in before saying chin up, chest out and watch for the shoe, introducing the AEW Women’s Champion ahead of her title match. The fact that they got Mankiewicz to do this is kind of perfect and must make RJ City so proud. If he had anything to do with this, Tony Khan needs to finally give RJ his All Elite graphic.
Timeless Toni Storm (w/Luther & Mariah May) defeated Skye Blue to retain the AEW Women’s Title
(I will say this was the best Blue has looked in a singles match, as she more than held her own against the AEW Women’s Champion. She had some close near falls throughout, but there was no way Storm was losing this one. Post match, we got a set up for what will assumingly be Storm’s next challenger and a welcome return for sure.)
After an early back and forth sequence into a stalemate, Storm just charged and decked Blue with a forearm until Blue answered with a tilt a whirl head scissors. Storm went outside to regroup and cut off a Blue dive, with Luther placing Storm on his shoulders and hit an assisted suplex off the apron as the camera went black and white as Storm posed. With Blue set up against the barricade, Storm connected with a Sweet Cheek Music that took us to commercial. Unfortunately, Storm didn’t throw it to break like she’s done in the past.
Storm wound up for a right hand, but Blue ducked into a dropkick and step up knee in the ropes. A spinning kick to the head led to a cross body off the top for a near fall. Storm avoided Skye Fall and hit a release German sending Blue to the corner. Blue avoided a hip attack and hit a Sweet Cheek Music of her own, with a charging boot to follow. The Code Blue connected for the closest near fall of the match for Blue. Storm cut off Blue in the corner and hit a superplex, with Storm posing for the camera, hit another Sweet Cheek Music, but Blue briefly got a flash roll up, only for Storm to counter into one of her own for the win.
Storm celebrated post match until Riho made her return to a huge ovation. Riho pointed to the Women’s Title before dropkicking Storm to the floor. She teased a dive, but Luther made the save, with Storm repeatedly saying “how dare you!” with Riho patting the Women’s Title left in the ring.
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-Excalibur ran down AEW’s next tour of Canada in 2024 with shows on April 10 in Winnipeg, May 8 in Edmonton, May 11 in Vancouver and July 10 in Calgary. Tickets go on sale December 15 for those shows.
-A video package highlighting the long history between Christian Cage & Adam Copeland is shown ahead of their main event tonight.
Switchblade Jay White [6] defeated Jay Lethal [0] in the Continental Classic Gold League
(A very back and forth match here, with both trying to break out heel tactics to gain the advantage over the course of this. It was even for a majority of this, as White needed the victory to keep up with the leaders and this resulted in Lethal being eliminated from contention. Much like Mark Briscoe, Lethal can play spoiler in his final two matches.)
After firing off early chops, White traded hip toss attempts, with Lethal getting the upper hand, as he did a quick Fargo Strut, something White mocked previously. Both men took turns escaping a fireman’s carry with an eye rake before White wrenched at both legs before throwing more chops. We got a great series of counters until White snapped off a DDT to take control into picture in picture.
Lethal battled back when things returned with a Lethal Combination into a Torture Rack and hit almost a reverse You Can’t Escape, only capped off with a top rope elbow instead of a moonsault. White managed to kick out, as Lethal wanted Lethal Injection, but fired off a combo of kicks instead. White answered with a knee breaker and suplex into the corner before a brainbuster got two. A chop exchange led to both trying for eye rakes and blindly throwing shots until White hit a sleeper suplex. Both men traded finisher attempts until White chop blocked the leg out of a Lethal Injection attempt. After trading pin attempts, White got the high stack and the win with Lethal trying his best to kick out.
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Christian Cage defeated Adam Copeland to retain the TNT Title
(It wouldn’t be a Cage match without at least some shenanigans and you knew it was going to happen, just didn’t know when. If you think about it, it does make total sense for Shayna Wayne to make the decision she did after Copeland delivered a Con-Chair-To to her son two weeks ago right in front of her. The match itself was excellent, as it was the first singles match these two have had since May of 2010 on an episode of RAW. With this finish, it certainly won’t be the last time these two wrestle in AEW. I can’t wait for what’s next in this story.)
After a stare down, Copeland slapped Cage and applied a choke, leaving Cage to scatter to the ropes. Sheamus-like sledgehammer shots to the Cage on the apron before Copeland charged and launched Cage into the barricade. Copeland repeatedly smashed Cage into the announce table until back inside, Cage wanted a low blow for the DQ, only for Copeland to block it and step on Cage’s hand. Back to the floor, Copeland punted Cage in the face against the barricade, posting him to follow up. Cage finally got in a cheap shot and pulled Copeland’s arm to drive him throat first into the steel, tossing Copeland into the front row heading into commercial.
Cage continued his assault during break, as Copeland tried to mount a comeback, but was floored with a back elbow. Cage wanted corner punches, but Copeland bit at the bad hand and followed with a leg sweep off the second rope. Cage side stepped a Spear through the ropes, wanted a pendulum kick, but Copeland countered and hit a diving clothesline off the second. Cage answered with a drop toe hold into the steps as back inside, Cage hit a Frog Splash for two. Cage wanted a Spear, but Copeland countered into an Impaler DDT for a two of his own.
Cage cut off Copeland in the corner, but Copeland wrenched at the bad hand, slid through and connected on a running Liger Bomb for two. Copeland avoided the Killswitch off an eye poke into an inside cradle for two. Cage went for it again, but this time Copeland hit a sit out slam before applying a crossface. Cage got the rope break, as Copeland mounted and repeatedly hammered forearms before signaling for the Spear. Cage leapfrogged and hit the Killswitch, but Copeland kicked out. Cage charged for a Spear, but Copeland side step, accidentally running into referee Bryce in the process. Cage realized what happened and punted Bryce before getting the TNT Title. Cage charged with the title, but both he & Copeland collided for the double down.
Shayna Wayne then walked to the ring and grabbed the TNT Title. She gave a long look at Cage before decking Copeland with the title. She walked off, as Cage connected with another Killswitch and placed Copeland’s head under the title, stomping on it right as Bryce recovered long enough to make the pin. Post match, Cage stopped the doctor from checking on Copeland as he trash talked him before the show went off the air.
Continental Classic Gold League Standings
9 Points: Jon Moxley, Swerve Strickland
6 Points: Switchblade Jay White
3 Points: Rush
0 Points: Jay Lethal, Mark Briscoe
Continental Classic Blue League Standings
6 Points: Brody King
3 Points: Claudio Castagnoli, Andrade El Idolo, Bryan Danielson
0 Points: Daniel Garcia, Eddie Kingston
AEW Rampage 12/8/23
· Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Matt Sydal & Christopher Daniels
· Abadon vs. Trish Adora
· Orange Cassidy & Danhausen will appear
· Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia in the Continental Classic Blue League
AEW Collision 12/9/23
· Kenny Omega vs. Ethan Page
· Bryan Danielson vs. Andrade El Idolo in the Continental Classic Blue League
· Claudio Castagnoli vs. Eddie Kingston in the Continental Classic Blue League
· Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Martinez
· Wardlow vs. Willie Mack
· Penta El Zero Miedo & Komander vs. Angelo Parker & Matt Menard
AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming 12/13/23
· Jon Moxley vs. Swerve Strickland in the Continental Classic Gold League
· Switchblade Jay White vs. Mark Briscoe in the Continental Classic Gold League
· Rush vs. Jay Lethal in the Continental Classic Gold League
· Hangman Adam Page vs. Roderick Strong
· We hear from Samoa Joe
· The Von Erichs return to Dallas