AEW Dynamite on 34th Street live results: Continental Classic continues
AEW Dynamite on 34th Street airs tonight at a special 6 p.m. Eastern start time for the Christmas Eve episode.
The Continental Classic enters the final stretch with two Blue League matches, plus a Gold League bout on the show.
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita faces Orange Cassidy in one of today’s Blue League matchups. Roderick Strong takes on Mascara Dorada in the other Blue League tilt on today’s episode. In the Gold League, PAC faces Jack Perry.
The winner of the Dynamite Diamond ring will be decided on today’s show, with Ricochet and Bandido squaring off for the right to wear the Dynamite Diamond for the next year.
MJF returns to in-ring competition on today’s show ahead of his participation in the World title four-way at Worlds End.
Worlds End opponents Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter will have a face-to-face interview on today’s show before their AEW Women’s World title match at the pay-per-view.
Mina Shirakawa and Marina Shafir will also go one-on-one on today’s episode.
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AEW Dynamite on 34th Street comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone & Bryan Danielson as we go right to the entrances for our opening contest.
Konosuke Takeshita (7) vs. Orange Cassidy (6) in a Continental Classic Blue League Match
(It’s hard to believe these two have only wrestled one singles against one another prior to this match. They worked incredibly well with one another, as Cassidy’s frequent near falls and counters had the crowd biting at every single one. Takeshita is simply on another level right now and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take this whole tournament.)
Cassidy had one streamer thrown for him during his entrance, which for him, was perfect. Don Callis joined commentary, as the voice of Renee Paquette said Callis told her Takeshita’s tough schedule is by design, as if anyone can keep up with it, it’s The Alpha. With a win here, Takeshita would advance to the semi-finals at Worlds End.
Cassidy lightly tossed his sunglasses at Takeshita, but it was a ruse, as Takeshita went to pick them up, only Cassidy exploded out with quick pin attempts. They teased one was three (Danielson even said he thought it was), but referee Paul Turner said it was two. Cassidy floated over in the corner, but was decked with a Helluva Kick, putting Takeshita in firm control. Battling back, Cassidy connected on a slingshot and spinning DDT variations followed by ten corner punches. While standing on the bottom rope, Cassidy fired off ten more punches to the downed Takeshita before ramping up the boots. Takeshita started to rise, swung for the fences, Cassidy did a Matrix move, hands in pockets and threw some little kicks. Corner hurricanrana (hands still in pockets) as Takeshita no-sold two dropkicks, but went down on the third. Cassidy played to the crowd, allowing Takeshita to hit a Blue Thunder Bomb heading into break.
Things return with footage of Cassidy hitting a desperation PK, but as Takeshita brought him up for an Avalanche Raging Fire, it was countered into an Avalanche Stundog. Takeshita rolled outside to create distance, but Cassidy quickly followed with a Tope DDT. Cassidy took too long back inside and was waffled with a home run shot for a near fall. Signaling Raging Fire, Cassidy tried another Stundog counter, only Takeshita countered into a Bastard Driver, which briefly turned into a Cassidy roll-up, only Takeshita held on into a release German. Cassidy popped up quick, threw and Orange Punch, only getting two. Rolling to the apron, Takeshita dodged another Orange Punch and hit a pump knee, dragging Cassidy out with him, but Cassidy quickly got Beach Break, resulting in both crumbling on the floor.
Takeshita crotched himself on the guard rail after missing a boot, Cassidy hit another Orange Punch, with Takeshtia tumbling into the front row. Cassidy dove into the ring, as Takeshita beat the count at 9. Lighting quick pin attempts from Cassidy, countering Raging Fire into a small package, but Takeshita rolled through, held on and hit Raging Fire for the win in an excellent finishing sequence.
Match Result: Konosuke Takeshita (10) defeated Orange Cassidy (6) to earn 3 Points in the Continental Classic Blue League and Advance to the Semi-Finals
-Video on Gabe Kidd saying he will be the one to drag Darby Allin down and pleads for Allin to meet him at Worlds End.
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-Video package of the Bang Bang Gang talking about FTR wanting to be the best tag team in the World, but brought up the shenanigans involved last week in Manchester (the foot on the rope by Dax Harwood as the three count was made was shown). Juice Robinson said he grew up South of Chicago and you have to get violent and dirty in the street, while Austin Gunn challenged FTR to a Chicago Street Fight at Worlds End for the Tag Team Titles.
Mascara Dorada (3) vs. Roderick Strong (0) in a Continental Classic Blue League Match
(While I understand we have a lot more on the show tonight, I wish these two had more time, as it felt like a good chunk happened during commercial. What we saw, though, I really enjoyed, as Dorada looked crisp on his dives, while Strong was able to fire off his signature backbreakers aplenty.)
Commentary talked about Daniel Garcia & Mark Briscoe playing spoiler in previous Continental Classics and ultimately led to them having success in the singles ranks, so the same could apply to Strong. Dorada needs help and mainly needs to win his final two matches to have a shot at advancing in his League. The crowd started singing Feliz Navidad to start this match and impressively maintained unison. Dorada locked in an early surfboard, switched to a pin attempt, which Strong escaped. Wild series of flips caught Strong off guard, sending him outside, where he side-stepped Dorada, who baseball slid out. Strong caught a charging Dorada with a spinning backbreaker onto the edge of the ring heading into picture-in-picture.
We return with a Tornillo arm-drag and spinning hurricanrana for Dorada, battling his way back into it, as Strong bailed outside, only for Dorada to dive between the top and middle ropes for a Tope arm-drag. Back inside, Dorada connected on a huge Senton Atomico for a near fall. Strong fought back with chops and what he dishes out best, backbreakers, until a front slam got a close two. Sick Kick clobbered Dorada, who responded with a hurricanrana counter to a Tiger Driver. Strong quickly was up with another backbreaker, looked for End of Heartache, which Dorada escaped into a kick to the face. Dorada hit a perfect Shooting Star Press and got the victory.
Match Result: Mascara Dorada (6) defeated Roderick Strong (0) to earn 3 Points in the Continental Classic Blue League
-Video package on All Elite Wrestling winning 10 End of Year Awards from Sports Illustrated, a near clean sweep for AEW.
Kris Statlander & Jamie Hayter Face-to-Face
Renee Paquette introduced Champion & Challenger to the stage, where she asked Statlander about Hayter hitting her with a lariat last week and posing with the title. Statlander said she knows what it’s like being on top of the world, only to have it taken away. There was a time when Statlander was a loser, leg shredded, lost friends, only to realize her sob story was over and she’s the Champion of the World after focusing on who she deserves to be. Hayter shouldn’t pity her for what she’s been through, fear her for what she’s become. When Hayter said she’d be a different person when they wrestle, it felt all too familiar. Hayter might’ve beaten her before, but at Worlds End, she’ll be facing a Cosmic Killer. Hayter said she has plenty to add, swung for a lariat but was caught. Hayter reminded Statlander the last time she hit her with the lariat, Statlander didn’t get back up. Referees came out and had to separate both ladies, as cooler heads prevailed.
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Since 2022, Ryan has been the Recapper/Reviewer for both AEW PPVs & Dynamite for F4WOnline & the Wrestling Observer. Previously, he recapped AEW Dark from 2021-2022 for PWTorch.