AEW Dynamite live results: Continental Classic kickoff
The AEW Continental Classic kicks off on tonight's Dynamite with three Gold League matches.
Coming off a win over Hangman Page at Full Gear, Swerve Strickland will take on Jay Lethal in a Continental Classic tournament bout.
After his defeat to Orange Cassidy at Full Gear, Jon Moxley's Continental Classic will begin with a match against Mark Briscoe.
Jay White's tournament will kick off with a battle against Rush in the third Continental Classic match of the evening.
In trios competition, ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata will team with Hook & AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy against Jake Hager, Matt Menard, & Angelo Parker.
The Outcasts' Ruby Soho will face Skye Blue & Anna Jay in a triple threat match.
TNT Champion Christian Cage will have a rechristening for Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne on the program.
New AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm will deliver her championship acceptance speech tonight as well.
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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz as we go over the rules and Leagues of the Continental Classic. There are giant Woooo Energy Drink signs on the Titantron screen, as well as cans of the drink on the announce table.
Swerve Strickland defeated Jay Lethal in the Continental Classic Gold League
(The first points in the inaugural Continental Classic go to Strickland, as these two put on a solid back and forth to kick things off in the Gold League. I’m all for zero interference in this tournament, but this means Strickland will be without Prince Nana and his dancing, which is simply unfortunate.)
The crowd is loudly behind Strickland following his performance in the Texas Death Match at Full Gear this past weekend, as his shoulder is taped up. Quick head scissors sent Lethal to the floor, as Lethal was clotheslined into the ring from the apron, landed on his feet and wrenched onto the bad arm before hitting a tope. Lethal faked a Fargo Strut and flipped off the crowd before Strickland did a misdirect basement dropkick, targeting the leg. Lethal managed to reverse a whip and slam Strickland down onto the shoulder to take control. There’s a slug fest, but both men are striking the others injured body part before a series of reversals led to a snap German from Strickland, only for Lethal to respond with a shoulder breaker into the double down to commercial.
Strickland cut off Lethal in the corner with a huge superplex followed by a rolling Flatliner and brainbuster for two. Lethal countered a Figure Four into an inside cradle before delivering a reverse suplex and top rope elbow for a near fall of his own. Strickland countered the Lethal Injection and applied a Stretch Muffler, but Lethal managed counter into a Crossface. Lethal wanted Lethal Injection, but Strickland dropkicked the leg out, hit House Call and Swerve Stomp for the victory.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Orange Cassidy, HOOK & Katsuyori Shibata. Cassidy asked for this time to make an announcement, which was immediately cut off by Wheeler Yuta, who said it took 17 Orange Punches and exposed buckle to defeat Jon Moxley. Yuta said it makes him sick that Shibata still has ROH Pure Title. Yuta told Shibata to watch his match on ROH this week and left, as Cassidy said he had an announcement, but Paquette said they’re out of time.
MJF & Adam Cole come to the ring with Cole on his crutches and MJF with a cane. MJF said his voice is hoarse because he was pounding beers last night and wants to go deep with the ladies in Chicago and he’s not talking about pizza. MJF put over Jay White as being one of the toughest challengers for his AEW Title and ran down his own resume as AEW Champion before calling himself humble. MJF said none of this would be possible without his brochacho, as its Story Time with Adam Cole Bay-Bay with Cole saying its good news that they’re still ROH Tag Team champions, but with good news, comes bad news. Cole said he’s not even close to being cleared yet as he can’t even really walk yet. That makes the decision for Full Gear to put him in the main event for a few hours leading up even more insane to me.
Cole brings up all the challengers ahead for MJF, but MJF cuts him off and mentions whoever stole his Devil mask and said the hell he’s going to bring to them will feel like heaven. The lights went out and The Devil appeared briefly on screen and laughed before disappearing until Samoa Joe’s music hit and he came to the ring. Joe said MJF stands here still AEW Champion, but also remains ROH Tag Team Champion with the price of giving Joe an AEW Title shot. MJF thought about their deal and his response was simple, “bl*w me” as Joe lunged at MJF and Cole said that’s what the old MJF would say, the new MJF is a man of his word. Cole said he’s been choked out by Joe more times than he can count, but the fans love MJF because when he says something will happen, it happens. Cole told MJF to be a man on his word and give Joe a title shot. MJF said Joe wouldn’t be the first ROH Champion he’s beaten in Chicago and wants to do it tonight, but Joe said absolutely not.
Joe doesn’t want a hurt MJF; he wants the fully healthy and said by Worlds End, MJF should be ready. MJF accepts and shakes Joe’s hand as Joe said he’s good at picking fights too, but all this worrying Max is doing about The Devil should be gone, because MJF is Joe’s property. Joe’s going to make sure he has MJF’s back so he has the best MJF possible before taking the thing he holds dear the most in front of his family and friends on Long Island.
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Orange Cassidy, HOOK & Katsuyori Shibata (w/Danhausen) defeated Angelo Parker, Matt Menard & Jake Hager
(The biggest story is the return of Danhausen and also Hager’s beloved purple hat. Heading into the day I was not expecting to see Shibata & Hager beating the hell out of each other tonight, but I’m sure glad it happened, as it was the highlight of this match.)
Before the match, Cassidy said he had a Thanksgiving surprise, as the big screen played the Danhausen video we’ve seen over the past month. Danhausen made his entrance as the match officially began with HOOK launching Menard & Parker before Hager attacked from behind. Hager Bomb out of the corner connected and we immediately went to picture in picture.
HOOK was isolated the entire break before finally hitting an overhead throw on Parker and made the hot tag to Cassidy, who ran wild until Hager caught him with a takedown. Cassidy fought back with a Stundog Millionaire and tagged Shibata, who slugged it out with Hager. Shibata fired off a pump kick, but Hager mowed him down with a knee lift, only to miss a corner splash. Shibata loudly lit Hager up with chops leading to the stalling dropkick. Parker & Menard made the save, as Parker officially made the tag, wanted a triple powerbomb, but Danhausen appeared with Hager’s purple hat we haven’t seen in months. Danhausen put the hat on, cursed Hager, as Cassidy hit a dive with HOOK & Shibata slapping on dueling REDRUM and rear naked chokes, switching at first because they realized Parker & Shibata were legal. Everyone tapped out as Shibata, HOOK, Cassidy & Danhausen stood tall.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Adam Cole and said they can’t wait to see Cole back healthy until Roderick Strong yells his way into the shot with The Kingdom. Strong asked where Cole was last week when Action Andretti dropped him on his head? Cole screamed at Strong to shut up and get it through his head they aren’t best friends anymore and stormed off. Strong looked heartbroken and told The Kingdom he didn’t mean that.
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