AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, Dec. 3 was driven almost entirely by the Continental Classic, and the focus helped produce one of the stronger episodes in recent weeks. The tournament matches delivered, with combinations that highlighted AEW’s rising talent and put stablemates in fresh matchups.
Beyond the in-ring action, the show also moved several storylines forward ahead of next week’s Winter is Coming special, as Samoa Joe and Eddie Kingston continued to build their AEW World Championship match.
There was also a surprise injury update, Continental Classic results, and other developments that will shape December’s programming.
So with that, here’s what stood out this week’s Dynamite:
Up: Samoa Joe And Eddie Kingston Sell Their Match
It can be hard to sell a match when the outcome feels inevitable. Samoa Joe is not losing the AEW World Championship in his first defense next Wednesday, Dec. 10, but he can still make you believe in the fight.
Just like he did with the short build to his title match against Adam Page at WrestleDream, Joe elevated his match with Eddie Kingston by framing Kingston as someone who has never fully reached his potential. He said the New York native won’t cross the finish line, despite his talent, because he plans to “choke him unconscious.” It’s a strong way to talk trash without diminishing your opponent on the microphone.
Kingston answered by calling for the best version of Joe, the one who was one of the top Ring of Honor World Champions ever. If that version shows up, he believes he can take him down. It hit unlike anything else he’s said since returning earlier this fall.
Now the match has real heart and emotion behind it, not just a title bout thrown on television. It works.
On top of that, Hook’s backstage promo, since realigning with the Opps, showed even more growth. He’s sounding more confident and comfortable on the mic, and he looks like he’s headed toward the breakout fans have been waiting for.
Down: Darby Allin Not Medically Cleared
A tough moment this week came when Excalibur announced that Darby Allin was taken to a hospital after last week’s match with Kevin Knight. AEW even aired footage of him in a hospital bed.
They added that Allin is not medically cleared and can’t travel, with an update on his status expected by Saturday’s Collision.
It’s unfortunate timing with the Continental Classic just getting underway. If he ends up being out for an extended period, it could impact the tournament lineup. For now, we wait to see what comes next.
Up: Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight Excel
If you wanted a look at the future of AEW, or really the present, this was the match. It’s the perfect example of why the Continental Classic exists.
The match showed how far Kyle Fletcher has come in AEW. He’s now established enough to elevate others, and that’s exactly what he did for Kevin Knight, who has looked like a rising star for a while now. They absolutely delivered, producing the best match of the tournament so far.
Fletcher is also in a strong position to potentially run away with his side of the bracket, unless AEW is building toward the Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita showdown they’ve continued to tease through mostly backstage segments.
One day, these two are going to meet again for a title, possibly even the AEW World Championship. And when that happens, it’s going to be special.
Down: Explaining The Unified Title Split
Don Callis explained on Dynamite that the AEW Unified Championship was essentially made up of two parts: the International Championship and the Continental Championship. That is why Kazuchika Okada relinquished the Continental Championship for the Continental Classic and is no longer recognized as the Unified Champion.
Why not make the Continental Classic a trophy and let the winner earn a chance at the AEW World Championship? While it copies the G1 Classic, this concept just works.
The explanation didn’t really make things better or worse. It still results in splitting one title into two while AEW also just introduced the National Championship. It’s a lot of belts, arguably too many, and while the attempt to clarify the situation is appreciated, it doesn’t change the fact that the company is juggling more championships than it needs.
Up: Castagnoli Over Moxley Plants Yet Another Seed
The Continental Classic is a long tournament, and upsets are always part of the story. Still, Claudio Castagnoli beating Jon Moxley stands out in a meaningful way for the Death Riders.
Moxley has been dropping big matches for a while now, dating back to losing the AEW World Championship at All In. He has tapped out quickly in key moments and has drawn some frustration from his stablemates along the way.
There’s no obvious turn happening yet, but this feels like another small development in the larger picture of Moxley’s struggles. Whether it eventually leads to Castagnoli stepping into a stronger leadership role or something else entirely, it’s clear the group is heading toward some kind of shift. This result in the Continental Classic adds another piece to that unfolding story.