Wednesday, 17th December, AEW brings a special three-hour Holiday Bash edition of Dynamite/Collision from Manchester, England, in the United Kingdom, featuring The Elite reuniting! Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks have not teamed together since August 2023, despite being frequent opponents during this more than two-year interlude. It’s a great moment for AEW’s debut Manchester show. I’m sure what we’ll get this weekend in Cardiff will be just as hot.
Given that two of their opponents for the Don Callis Family are Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada, they expect more developments in their rivalry. As much as Callis tries, these two will not co-exist. It’s going to be a story-driven night. That’s without any clarity on the next round of the Continental Classic.
FTR will have their first AEW World Tag Team Championship defense against Austin Gunn and Juice Robinson. Plus, the return of a holiday tradition suggests a big name is about to return.
Gamble of the Night: The Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale
This year’s Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal will be interesting. Based on previous years, we can expect many wrestlers involved, along with their personal issues and intersecting stories. Already confirmed are: Brody King, Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, Mark Davis, Ricochet, and Shelton Benjamin have been named thus far.
There’s going to be chaos. There will be drama. Someone, like previous winners, might emerge as a potential breakout star…
Although historically, that’s a mixed bag. Dante Martin, Ricky Starks, and Juice Robinson had brief glimpses of singles runs before returning to tag teams. Last year, Adam Cole won to finish the Devil storyline with MJF. This Battle Royal doesn’t have the clout and reputation of the much newer Continental Classic.
While the round robin takes some of the biggest potential names away from the battle royal, with a stacked roster, there are plenty of talented wrestlers who could compete and win. It offers either a palate cleanser or a show-stealing opportunity for the wrestlers involved.
In the grand scheme of events, it offers something bigger… whoever wins traditionally faces the current holder of the ring. MJF has held the beautiful Dynamite Diamond ring since its inception. For six years, this has been MJF’s prize. One he defends against the battle royal’s winner. So, is MJF returning? Will it be at Worlds End? Or in Manchester?
There’s a bigger picture. This match might be the outline for it.
Continental Classic Action
We are entering the penultimate round for some of the Continental Classic competitors. The stakes are getting higher, and the potential outcomes may make it easier to determine who advances as we enter the final lap.
A villain takes on the Bastard. This is a pivotal match for both. A win for PAC keeps his chances of advancing alive. Fletcher needs the victory to stay in the chase. More importantly, how will the result impact the tentative Death Rider/Don Callis Family alliance?
Elsewhere, can Roderick Strong pay tribute to Kyle O’Reilly with a huge upset over Jon Moxley? We’re also about to find out what happens when wrestling’s equivalent of a sloth meets an acrobatics artist!
AEW Dynamite/Collision in Manchester Match Card:
- Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale
- Continental Classic Gold League: Kyle Fletcher vs. PAC
- Continental Classic Blue League: Orange Cassidy vs. Mascara Dorada
- Continental Classic Blue League: Jon Moxley vs. Roderick Strong
- 8-woman Tag- Mercedes Mone, Athena, Marina Shafir, and Megan Bayne vs. The Babes of Wrath and the Timeless Love Bombs
- AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR © Vs. The Bang Bang Gang
- $1,000,000 (£750,000) Winner Takes All Trios: The Elite vs. Don Callis Family
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on the AEW Dynamite/Collision Holiday Bash in Manchester, England, 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 Collision airs Saturday at 8 pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube
