AEW returns to Washington, D.C., for its fifth annual AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash. Four contests have been announced for this week’s Dynamite, the graphic drop weeks ago offered us a huge dream match that could be a late contender for match of the year if given the time. Read on for a full preview of that match.
Elsewhere, another Continental Classic match-up offers another intriguing contest. The formidable Shelton Benjamin faces Beast Mortos in what could be a battle of strength and resilience. Benjamin may need help throwing around and dominating this opponent. This could be a real test for the Hurt Syndicate enforcer.
MJF returns, hopefully, live and in person, after he attempted to interfere in last week’s Dynamite Diamond Ring contender match. Likewise, there will be plenty more developments that AEW has planned on the road to Worlds End.
Let’s go for a ride.
Announced Card Thus Far for AEW Dynamite:
Matches announced:
- Continental Classic Blue League: Shelton Benjamin vs. Beast Mortos
- TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone vs. Anna Jay
- Continental Classic Gold League: Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin
- Death Riders (Jon Moxley, PAC and Wheeler Yuta) vs. Jay White, Orange Cassidy and “Hangman” Adam Page
Other segments announced:
- We’ll hear from MJF
Gamble of the Night: TBS Championship Match
#AEWDynamite #HolidayBash
THIS WEDNESDAY in Washington, DC
8pm ET/7pm CT LIVE on TBSTBS Championship
Mercedes Moné vs Anna Jay@AnnaJay___ challenges “The CEO” @MercedesVarnado for her TBS Title NEXT WEDNESDAY at #HolidayBash! pic.twitter.com/HAqEfP8s6h— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 15, 2024
Mercedes Mone aims to complete her eleventh defense of the TBS Championship against the homegrown Anna Jay. This will be an underdog story that will allow Mone to mock, bully, and thrive if all goes well. Anna Jay, once against, steps up and swings for the fences.
After failing to capture the AEW Women’s World Championship from Mariah May, Jay’s determination and growing confidence have led her to challenge one of the greatest women’s wrestlers of her generation.
Form and consistency have been an issue for Mone and Jay this year, which is why this match is a gamble. Although Mone has performed better as a character and in the ring over the past few weeks, the pressure on Mone to carry Jay could be the problem.
Although Jay has progressed since going to Japan, her performance against Penelope Ford needed to be improved and, at times, disconnected.
The good of Jay’s year outweighs the bad, but there is a price when you mess with Mone. Especially since Mone has faced scrutiny from all sides this year. In some ways, this feels like a stopgap defense for Mone. However, could Jay ruin the final quarter of the CEO’s year? If not, where does Anna Jay go next?
Banger of the Night: Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin
The Continental Classic this year has already delivered surprises, character development, and story arcs, all of which have helped solidify the tournament’s reputation. Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin be the match of the group stages?
When you put two of the best wrestlers in the ring against each other, who in some ways are so similar and yet distinctively different from each other, there is an expectation of magic.
Few wrestlers can match Ospreay or take him to places in the ring that are out of his comfort zone. Darby Allin will always be the underdog. Unafraid to play dirty and use his speed and size to trick and maneuver around his opponents, Ospreay might be grounded to Allin’s level.
Allin is also likely to be able to match Ospreay’s speed, determination, and resilience. Ospreay might be elevated, but Allin’s got plenty of experience crashing and burning. Ospreay doesn’t.
This was reflected in their post-Dynamite conversation, which aired on last week’s Collision. Ospreay made it clear his focus is on winning the tournament and regaining the momentum he has lost.
However, Allin focuses on the bigger picture, and the injuries from Claudio Castagnoli and Brody King might be his undoing.
I’ve written elsewhere about how Darby Allin is chasing the AEW World Championship and could be the man to dethrone Jon Moxley. Yet that doesn’t mean Allin didn’t get the upset win and had further complications to Ospreay’s journey.
The win could go either way on AEW Dynamite. Both men need it to achieve their respective goals and pathways. One must be elevated, and one must fall.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube.
