Welcome to the 5 Biggest AEW Stories of the Week for 12/18/22, where we break down the biggest All Elite Wrestling stories both in the ring and beyond.
This week brought us an action-packed special edition of Dynamite with Winter Is Coming. Next week we can look forward to a special Dynamite Holiday Bash. With that in mind, we bring you the five biggest AEW stories of the week for 12/18/2022.
5 Biggest AEW Stories of the Week for 12/18/2022
- MJF Reigns On
The main event of Wednesday’s Dynamite: Winter Is Coming saw MJF defend both the AEW World Championship and Dynamite Diamond Ring against Ricky Starks. The finish of the bout saw Starks attempt a Roshambo, but MJF countered with a low blow while the referee was distracted and rolled his challenger up for the win.
As MJF exited up the ramp following his first successful title defense, Bryan Danielson’s entrance theme played as the American Dragon chased the AEW World Champion off into the crowd. It seems a title match between Danielson and MJF could be on the horizon. Fans quickly turned MJF running from Danielson into a meme, with the company already releasing it as a t-shirt design.
5 Biggest AEW Stories of the Week for 12/18/2022
- Action Andretti’s Upset of the Decade
Dynamite also saw former ROH World Champion “The Ocho” Chris Jericho still irate after his defeat to Claudio Castagnoli at ROH Final Battle. Jericho decided he’d take his frustration out on a jobber, that being Action Andretti.
However, “The Ocho” severely underestimated his opponent. After a very competitive match and with the crowd firmly behind him, Andretti was able to pull off the upset of the decade by pinning Jericho.
Following the matchup, AEW President and CEO Tony Khan took to Twitter to announce Andretti has signed with AEW and is officially All Elite.
5 Biggest AEW Stories of the Week for 12/18/2022
- Death Triangle Make It 3-1
The opening matchup of Dynamite: Winter Is Coming saw the fourth outing in the AEW World Trios Championship Best of 7 Series between Death Triangle and The Elite. Penta El Zero Miedo once again used the timekeeper’s hammer, smashing Nick Jackson’s already injured ankle for the victory. PAC and The Lucha Brothers now lead the series 3-1, with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks now facing elimination.
After the matchup, Omega took to the microphone with a challenge for his opponents. Since Death Triangle continue to make use of the hammer, he proposed they make their next matchup, No DQ. Later in the evening, the commentary team announced it had been made official and also announced the following stipulations for the next three matches:
- Match 5: AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash, Dec. 21 – No DQ Match.
- Match 6 (If necessary): AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash, Dec. 28 – Falls Count Anywhere.
- Match 7 (If necessary): AEW Dynamite, Jan. 11 – Ladder Match.
5 Biggest AEW Stories of the Week for 12/18/2022
- Hangman and Moxley Brawl
Friday’s edition of Rampage saw Jon Moxley take on Sammy Guevara, with Mox putting “The Spanish God” to sleep for the win. Afterwards, the former three-time AEW World Champion took to the mic to call out Hangman Adam Page.
Page charged to the ring and began to brawl with Moxley. Hangman attempted the Buckshot Lariat, but Moxley moved, and Page hit a security guard. The two once again had to be separated by security, with a physical matchup almost guaranteed to be in the pipeline for the two.
5 Biggest AEW Stories of the Week for 12/18/2022
- Dynamite to get a Makeover?
After a rollercoaster year in 2022, changes appear to be on the horizon for AEW’s flagship program. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported that Tony Khan and Warner Bros. Discovery have decided to change up the look of AEW Dynamite.
No details have been given on what the makeover could entail or if Rampage and Pay-Per-View events will be included. Dynamite has had the same overall presentation since it began in 2019.
This week also saw the announcement of Michael Mansury’s hiring as co-executive producer of AEW and senior vice president. Mansury previously spent eleven years with the WWE.
Please share with us what you thought of the 5 Biggest AEW Stories of the Week for 12/18/22 in the comment section below.
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