Tag: MJF

MJF updates shoulder injury: ‘I cannot lift my arm all the way up’

The AEW World Champion says the range of motion in his injured shoulder is less than ideal.

MJF’s torn labrum is hardly a secret. Despite remaining on AEW television, he has not wrestled since his successful AEW World Championship defense against Jay White at Full Gear — where he suffered the injury — on Nov. 18, nor has he featured in any lengthy physical segments.

However, the Long Island native is tentatively scheduled to defend the ROH World Tag Team Championship with Samoa Joe on the Dec. 27 episode of Dynamite, and he has a world title defense against the Samoan Submission Machine just three days later at Worlds End. AEW can creatively maneuver out of MJF wrestling on Wednesday, but the pay-per-view is a different story.

Heading into these shows, what kind of shape is MJF in? In an interview with Solomonster, he revealed some of the treatments he has undergone for his injury, while also admitting that he is unable to lift his arm all the way up (h/t Fightful for transcription).

I got PRP done and something called EPAT where what they do essentially is, it’s almost like shock therapy straight onto the muscle. I’m not going to lie to you, I cannot lift my arm all the way up north-south. Point blank. Probably not something I should be discussing publicly. I’m kind of being known for being honest to a fault. I can’t lose this belt. This world title reign, it means too much to too many people. Most specifically, it means too much to me. I’m going to go in there guns blazing, I’m going to give it 110%. I’ve wrestled Samoa Joe before, hardest match of my reign. I believe I’ve had 11 title defenses, I also hold the world of most title defenses of any world champion in the history of the company. Of every single match I’ve had, the one where I was in the most physical danger was Joe at Grand Slam. I know what I’m heading into, but I’m going to win because I have to win.

Obviously, limited range of motion sounds concerning, so it will be intriguing to see how much he can do in the ring next week.

It’s also worth wondering when he’ll take time off. AEW programming would, of course, suffer a big blow with his potential absence, as he has been the centerpiece of weekly shows and the headliner of PPVs for over a year. Additionally, with Kenny Omega also out indefinitely, not having another top babyface around would be a second significant loss for the company. So, as the rest of December plays out, it should spell out what’s next for MJF.

What’s going under Tony Khan’s tree? 6 gifts for AEW this holiday season

In the spirit of giving, here’s a half-dozen things that would help AEW in 2024 and beyond.

Despite breaking world records, releasing a video game, and adding major names to its roster, AEW went through a lot in 2023.

It lost its top star and saw its ticket and television ratings decline. Even the video game game garnered middling reviews from critics and drew the ire of fans for its lack of depth and price.

So if there is any entity in professional wrestling that is in need of some holiday cheer, it is the good folks based out of Jacksonville. So while I was doing my holiday shopping, I made sure to save some imaginary cash for AEW.

Here are the six gifts AEW could use this holiday season.

AEW Dynamite results 12/20/23: Holiday Bash a gift for Riho, Switchblade

See how AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash set up a three-way dance in the Continental Classic for next week.

Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside … inside the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, that is, for an important night in the Continental Classic on AEW Dynamite.

The Gold League is down to its final matches for each man, and there’s plenty at stake (well, except for Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal). It appears Jon Moxley and Swerve Strickland will advance to the semifinals, but Rush and Jay White can still throw a monkey wrench in things.

There’s big stuff going on in the women’s division too, as Riho and Saraya battle to see who gets a shot at Toni Storm’s AEW Women’s World Championship, and we’ll hear from MJF and Samoa Joe as well.

Let’s not waste any time. OKC, let’s start the show!

AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash results from Oklahoma City:

  • Swerve Strickland def. Rush by pinfall in a Continental Classic Gold League match ensuring he will be part of
  • The Continental Classic Blue League participants are shown doing short promos in advance of their final group matches
  • Chris Jericho discusses the news that Kenny Omega being out of action indefinitely, saying the most important thing is Kenny’s health but he’ll be ready to resume The Golden Jets when Omega is back
  • Mark Briscoe def. Jay Lethal by pinfall (with a Jay-Driller) in a Continental Classic Gold League match
  • Footage is shown of MJF’s induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
  • A short Wardlow hype video is shown, as he’s still hunting MJF himself
  • Samoa Joe has more questions about the Devil, including some he’d like to ask to MJF, who in turn points out that the black-clad goons also didn’t lay a finger on Joe; their argument is interrupted by an attack from said goons, and the Devil appears on the big screen to challenge them for the ROH World Tag Team Championship next week … and they accept
  • Renee Paquette talks to Orange Cassidy and friends, and Rocky Romero ends up with a title shot against Orange Cassidy, surprising even himself
  • Riho def. Saraya by pinfall to earn a shot at “Timeless” Toni Storm and the AEW Women’s World Championship at Worlds End, with Storm doing some very entertaining guest commentary during the match; Ruby Soho is also shown watching closely on a backstage monitor, and Riho gets the best of Storm in a brief in-ring melee only to be hit by Mariah May wielding Toni’s title belt
  • Tony Schiavone reads a prepared statement from Christian Cage, who says he took Nick Wayne on a vacation and is returning on Collision to answer Adam Copeland’s Worlds End challenge
  • MJF and Joe bicker for a bit in the back before the champ finds a black mask outside the Mogul Embassy locker room, leading to a testy but awesome exchange between MJF and Swerve
  • Roderick Strong def. Komander by pinfall; afterward, Strong makes his latest plea to Joe that MJF is the Devil
  • A replay is shown of Thunder Rosa coming to Abadon’s aid on Collision, rolling into a preview of what’s in store for Collision this Saturday
  • Jay White def. Jon Moxley by pinfall in a Continental Classic Gold League match, meaning the Gold League semifinal will be a three-way match one week from tonight on Dynamite; after the match, Swerve came to the ramp to stare down the other two men

AEW Dynamite preview 12/20/23: Going long for Holiday Bash

Along with 3 Continental Classic matches, AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash will feature Riho vs. Saraya for a shot at the world championship.

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You know what’s fun? The idea that a wrestling show is bursting at the seams with good stuff that it needs to be longer than usual. That appears to be the case with tonight’s AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash from Oklahoma City, which Tony Khan has already said was granted a five-minute overrun from TBS. Let’s see why it might be needed.

Can Mox, Switchblade or Swerve take control in the Continental Classic Gold League?

We’re getting down to the nitty gritty in the AEW Continental Classic, with the final matches in the Gold League taking place tonight. Jon Moxley is the leader with 12 points, having won every match so far. But he’s not quite guaranteed to finish first in the group, because his opponent tonight, Jay White, can draw even with him if victorious.

There’s drama in one of the other Gold League matches as well, because while Swerve Strickland is in good shape with nine points, Rush can draw even with him at nine by defeating him in OKC. It’s going to be an interesting finish to this group to see who will advance to the semifinals on next week’s episode of Dynamite.

(Oh, and Jay Lethal and Mark Briscoe are facing off as well, but pretty much just for the love of the game since both are winless so far.)

Who will earn a title shot against “Timeless” Toni Storm at Worlds End?

We already know Toni Storm will be defending her title at Worlds Ends on Dec. 30, but what still needs to be figured out is who her opponent will be. Dynamite will settle that with a match between Saraya and Riho.

Both wrestlers have held the AEW Women’s World Championship before, and while Riho feels like a fresher matchup for Storm, there’s more narrative history between Saraya and Toni given their time together as Outcasts. This is a legit pick ’em, which is the best kind of No. 1 contenders bout.

Will the Devil show his (her? its?) hand one last time in 2023?

MJF and Samoa Joe are on a collision course for Worlds End, which is stressful enough. But Joe also promised to keep the world champ in one piece until the pay-per-view, and the Devil and his goons have made that a more difficult prospect than he might have figured.

We’ll hear from both champion and challenger tonight, but it would be shocking indeed if the Devil let them both be just 10 days away from the PPV.

Also on tap for AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash:

  • Roderick Strong takes on Komander

We’re properly stoked for this extra long episode of AEW Dynamite and will have full coverage of Holiday Bash later tonight.

MJF insists he hasn’t re-signed with AEW but ‘I want to stay’

MJF sure wants everyone to believe it’s not a given he’ll remain with AEW into 2024.

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Before he became AEW World Champion, MJF was a detestable heel who made no bones about the fact that he may look to head elsewhere (as in WWE) as soon as his contract with AEW was up on Jan. 1, 2024. Since he won the title and had a change of heart, he’s let up on the references to the “bidding war of 2024” for the most part.

That led many to believe it was all an act in the first place, and that perhaps MJF had signed a contract extension but kept it a secret for the sake of entertainment value. It certainly sounded plausible enough.

According to the man himself, however, that’s not the case. On this week’s episode of the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast, MJF dismissed the notion that he’s locked in with AEW past the end of this year while maintaining that he’d prefer to stay (h/t Fightful for the transcription).

I’ve never lied. January 1, 2024. When stuff like that gets leaked out, it makes me laugh because I remember something got leaked out about Cody having secretly re-signed, and then he showed up. Something got leaked out about CM Punk and Tony Khan are actually fine. I think fans leak out things that they want to be true. I love AEW, I want to stay in AEW. After this pay-per-view, it’s time to assess the situation.

Could he be telling the truth? Sure. But it’s wrestling we’re talking about, so it’s possible, maybe even likely, that this he’s still working the fans here.

Though he’s been slowed a bit by injury, MJF remains in the midst of a lengthy world title run. He was front and center of the hottest story AEW cooked up all year, the rivals-turned-BFFs angle with Adam Cole (which ironically ended only because Cole got hurt), and has remained the centerpiece of other narratives as well.

Would Tony Khan and AEW really make him the focus of so much of its programming when there’s a chance he could walk away in January — particularly after seeing the effect that parting ways with CM Punk (albeit under much different circumstances) had on its business?

We can’t say for sure, but one would hope not. The guess here is that MJF and AEW will be sticking together well past Jan. 1, and we won’t have to wait long to see if that is indeed the case.

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Cody Rhodes believes MJF to WWE is inevitable … ‘one day’

Cody Rhodes also credited MJF for putting on more muscle, saying it would serve him well if he ever jumps from AEW to WWE.

Before he made the move to WWE, Cody Rhodes had a history with current AEW World Champion MJF. They only shared the ring once, when MJF defeated Rhodes at Revolution 2020 (they did also tag together once for a match in AAA the previous year), but their on-camera chemistry was apparent.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Rhodes is hopeful that MJF will one day follow in his footsteps and make his way to the even bigger pro wrestling promotion. It might not be any time soon; while MJF has made a running gimmick out of his supposed free agency status in 2024, it’s safe to assume that AEW will do everything possible to keep him in the fold.

Nevertheless, as Rhodes told Peter Rosenberg on the Michael Kay Show, he believes that someday MJF will make the move (h/t Fightful for the transcription).

I think one day you will see MJF in WWE. I’m really proud of him. For those that don’t know, MJF was one of my recruits and probably the one I’m most excited about because of potential and personality and overall professionalism.

Rhodes added that one thing MJF has done that will serve him well if he does decide to switch companies is add muscle to his frame, pointing out that he’d be in the ring with larger opponents on average than he is now.

One thing I’m proud of him for doing is, if you notice, he’s put on a lot of muscle and he’s put it on safely over the last year and a half. When he does make that jump, I don’t know when that is, if he makes the jump. If he comes to WWE, you have to stand across from guys like Drew McIntyre, like Omos, Brock Lesnar. I’m not shaming anyone who is not hitting the gym and clanging and banging with the weights, like The Rock would say, but it is part of what we do now. You have to be able to swing a bat with the big boys.

When might a potential move happen? Rhodes says he never asks MJF about it because he doesn’t want to damage their friendship. It’s worth noting that since he’s become a fan favorite, MJF himself doesn’t reference the “bidding war of 2024” as often as he once did.

But whether it’s next year or sometime down the road, it’s likely that WWE would have interest in signing MJF at any time. If he does, believe that Rhodes will be there to welcome him with open arms.

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AEW Dynamite results 12/6/23: Nick Wayne’s mom swings Christian Cage-Adam Copeland grudge match

Say it ain’t so, Shayna. Also, Riho returned on AEW Dynamite from Montreal.

A long time ago, in a promotion not that far, far away, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage were thick as thieves. They came up together, made history as a tag team and then went on to be successful as singles competitors too. But times done changed since then, and we’re about to see the full extent of how much on AEW Dynamite tonight from Montreal.

When Copeland first made his well-publicized move to AEW a few months ago, he made it clear that he wanted to get the band back together, so to speak, and team with Cage for one last run. Christian, being the villainous sort, not so politely told him to “go f–k yourself.”

After Copeland took out Cage’s minions, the TNT Champion appeared to reverse course and see if his old friend would forgive and forget. But Copeland saw it coming and responded not just by laying Cage out but giving him the same expletive back in return.

As both men are proud Canadians, it’s only fitting that they meet in Montreal. Copeland was quoted as saying that it’s more important to him that their match take place in Canada than on pay-per-view, which says a lot. It should be captivating TV, for sure.

And it’s not the only thing this episode has going for it, not by a long shot. The AEW Women’s World Championship will be on the line as “Timeless” Toni Storm defends against Skye Blue. MJF and Samoa Joe will join forces to take on two of The Devil’s masked men. And there will be three more Continental Classic matches to boot.

We’re ready for this one to begin, so let’s light that fuse.

AEW Dynamite results from Montreal:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Jon Moxley def. Rush by submission in a Continental Classic Gold League match, meaning others in the group are now in danger of elimination
  • A promo is shown for the Jay White-Jay Lethal match coming up later tonight
  • Renee Paquette welcomes Roderick Strong (and The Kingdom), who says that MJF is going to put the dagger into Samoa Joe’s back tonight and that actions have consequences .. but he’s not going to suffer his any more, as he discards his wheelchair
  • While Paquette waits to talk to MJF, she instead catches up with Hangman Adam Page, who admits that Swerve Strickland has beaten him but he still took something from Swerve he’ll never get back, and it’s not over between them; MJF pops out and congratulates Page sarcastically, and after some more pleasantries, they accuse each other of being the Devil, and Samoa Joe has to step in before they come to blows

  • Swerve Strickland def. Mark Briscoe by pinfall in a Continental Classic Gold League match
  • Mariah May tells Paquette that her meeting with Tony Khan went well but says tonight is all about Toni Storm
  • Samoa Joe heads to the ring for his tag team match and soon finds himself surrounded on all four sides by the Devil’s minions, who then disappear … and on the big screen, MJF is shown laid out backstage, apparently by a bottle to the head
  • Moxley says he expected to win the Continental Classic because he’s the Ace of the World, but Swerve shows up to threaten him while Prince Nana laughs
  • Ben Mankiewicz does his thing, introducing “Timeless” Toni Storm
  • Toni Storm def. Skye Blue by pinfall to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship …
  • … but she’s confronted by a returning Riho, who drives her out of the ring and makes it clear she’s hunting that championship
  • AEW is returning to Canada in March for a four-city tour, and tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 15
  • A hype video is shown for the Adam Copeland-Christian Cage main event
  • Jay White def. Jay Lethal by pinfall in a Continental Classic Gold League match
  • Christian Cage def. Adam Copeland by pinfall to retain the AEW TNT Championship, in large part due to Shayna Wayne hitting Copeland with the title belt
Image credit: All Elite Wrestling

Jon Moxley puts Rush to sleep, gets to 9 points

The announcers point out that a Moxley victory can start eliminating some people from contention to advance from the Gold League since he’ll be at nine points. They get right to the strikes once the bell rings, to the surprise of absolutely no one.

Rush hits a belly-to-belly throw and a dropkick to force Mox out to the floor. Into the crowd they go, with Rush maintaining his grip on the action.

Moxley finally retaliates by hurling his foe into the barricade and they fight way out past the floor seats again. One random security guard’s empty chair is used as a prop before they head back toward the squared circle.

Rush has Moxley down in the corner, the perfect place for him to do his tranquilo pose. Mox comes right back with double birds, letting his foe know exactly what he thinks of that, and the fans respond.

A Rush powerslam gives him a near fall, the first of the bout. Moxley offers a cutter as a reply, hammers Rush in the corner and follows with a superplex for a two count.

The battle goes outside again, which is unfortunate for Moxley as he is powerslammed into the barricade. Commercials arrive for side-by-side picture time.

Rush lands hard and is holding his leg when we return, with Taz noting both his legs are banged up. He powers through and hits a piledriver, forcing a kickout from Mox.

A superplex allows Rush to get another near fall, but his confident look is washed away when Moxley hits him with a suicide dive, and the ref tells both men they need to get it back in the ring.

They do so they can trade strikes, and a stiff forearm sends Moxley to his butt in the corner. He pops up to stop the Bull’s Horns on the way in but gets pummeled in the corner … until he hits a King Kong lariat. Mox executes the Death Rider but only gets two.

An undeterred Moxley switches to his bulldog choke, and though Rush fights it, he eventually goes out.

Image credit: All Elite Wrestling

Swerve Strickland joins Mox with 9 points, Mark Briscoe is mathematically eliminated

It’s win or the end of the tourney for Briscoe, and Swerve is one of the hottest stars in AEW right now, so that’s not good news for Mark. Briscoe tries to slow the pace and keep Strickland from getting any momentum, which seems wise.

Briscoe crashes home a high boot and chokes Swerve along the turnbuckles. Strickland fights back and earns the first near fall, but Briscoe sends him to the outside and hits a dropkick through the ropes.

Onto the apron they go, both landing shots until they spill to the floor. Briscoe is right at home there, but Swerve sends him over the barricade into the crowd and then suplexes him off the barricade back onto the floor. Ouch.

Strickland looks extremely confident after commercials, with the announcers noting that he really should since he’s been in full control for several minutes. He works over Briscoe’s left arm on the mat but gets a taste of Redneck Kung Fu.

A high boot in the corner lands for Briscoe, followed by a fisherman’s buster for a two count. Swerve fires through a flurry of offense for his own near fall, with the fans seemingly as surprised as Strickland to see Briscoe kick out.

A hard uppercut sends Strickland off the top rope to the floor, where Briscoe quickly finds him before delivering a huge lariat back in the ring. It’s two again, and that’s not great for him as Strickland lands the House Call … but not the 450 splash as Mark gets his knees up. He covers and sees Swerve kick out again.

Briscoe puts his foe back down and tries the Froggy Bow, but Swerve counters and nearly pins him. The fans come alive in appreciation as Justin Roberts announces that only five minutes remain.

Strickland executes a Death Valley Driver on the apron, then a Swerve Stomp back in the ring. Is it enough? Yes it is, as Briscoe is mathematically eliminated from the tourney.

Image credit: All Elite Wrestling

Toni Storm retains her title against a game Skye Blue

This is a big opportunity for Blue, who battles alone while the champ has both Luther and Mariah May supporting her at ringside. Both women have their moments in the opening mat exchanges, though an angry Storm ends that by hammering some forearm shots.

Blue is thinking tope but Storm greets her with a right hand. Toni gets on Luther’s shoulders and he runs along the floor so she can fling her challenger off the apron.

Storm lets Blue have it with some chops and delivers a hip attack along the barricade before ads slide in. The full broadcast returns to see Blue nail a high cross body for a two count, but Storm slows her right back down with a nasty suplex.

Blue sees the hip attack coming and hits a thrust kick, and her hip attack doesn’t miss. Code Blue is on target, and Storm barely manages to avoid a three count.

Headbutts from the champ stop whatever Blue has planned from the top rope, and Storm is able to execute a superplex. Storm’s hip attack hits, and when Blue tries to roll her up as a counter to Storm Zero, Toni counters with her own pinning predicament and holds Blue’s shoulders down for three.

Image credit: All Elite Wrestling

Jay White stays alive to advance from Gold League at Jay Lethal’s expense

Like Mark Briscoe earlier, Jay Lethal is in must win territory to stay alive to advance from the group. White is not, but he’d be in big trouble if he lost, so both men look a little cautious early on.

White is able to capitalize when Lethal tries to strut, but Lethal takes control of the next few minutes, earning a near fall and then getting to strut after all. Some back and forth exchanges lead to a DDT for White, and he covers for two prior to picture-in-picture action.

Lethal hits the first big move after we return with a tope suicida. He gets White in the fireman’s carry position and hits a rolling slam, then his big elbow off the top. Lethal covers but sees White strain to kick out in time.

Several kicks spin White around, but he fights out of the corner and hammers Lethal’s left knee in multiple ways. A sheer drop brainbuster leads to a cover, but Lethal kicks out in time.

The Lethal Injection is countered, so Lethal tries a rollup for two; White immediately bounces up for a chop block. As they jostle for position on the mat, Switchblade manages to roll on top of Lethal’s shoulders, and now Lethal is out of contention to advance.

Image credit: All Elite Wrestling

Christian Cage retains in grudge match with Adam Copeland thanks to Nick Wayne’s mom

Here we go. Copeland gets off to a strong start, knocking his former friend off the apron and into the barricade and smashing Cage’s head off the announce table. He’s fired up, for sure.

Cage begs off back in the ring, hearing boos from the fans. He tries for a low blow but Copeland sees it coming, stomping on his hand. The champ is hurled into the barricade multiple times, slumping down on a chair as Copeland breaks the ref’s count.

Cage finally gets some offense in, dropping Copeland’s throat on the barricade and tossing him over it before ads break up the flow. He remains in charge throughout the half-break and is measured as he keeps the pressure on.

The fans get on him as he rains down left hands in the corner, but Copeland bites his other hand and delivers a Russian leg sweep off the second rope — which doesn’t really land right, drawing some jeers from a few members of the crowd.

With Cage on the apron, Copeland climbs to the middle rope to deliver a diving clothesline. The champ fights back with a drop toehold, then returns to the ring with a frog splash that earns him a near fall.

Cage stalks Copeland and rushes in for a spear, but it’s countered by an Impaler for a two count. They fight up to the top rope, where Cage manages to get the upper hand until Copeland pulls on his right fingers and runs out for a Liger Bomb and a closer two count.

The champ thinks Killswitch, setting off a series of counters that ends with an inside cradle for two by Copeland … then another off a counter inverted facebuster.

Copeland switches gears applying a crossface that forces Cage to extend his leg to get a rope break. The challenger just mounts his foe and drops some bombs, and he’s got that look until Cage leaps over a spear to hit the Killswitch. That might be it, but Copeland is able to kick out.

With the ref taking a partial bump, Cage sees an opportunity and kicks him in the groin before grabbing his title belt. He misses his belt shot, but both men go for spears at the same time and end up down on the canvas.

That brings Nick Wayne’s mom to the ring, and she gets the TNT title belt. Alas, she decides to hit Copeland, probably for taking out her son, and Cage delivers another Killswitch. He stands over Copeland holding his title, then stomp’s Adam’s neck into the belt. The ref finally recovers and makes the three count.

AEW Dynamite preview 12/6/23: Adam Copeland, Christian Cage finally square off in Montreal

We’ll also see Skye Blue challenge Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship on AEW Dynamite tonight.

When you have some of the most prominent Canadian pro wrestlers around on the roster, it’s never a bad time to swing through Canada. That’s what AEW Dynamite is doing tonight, with a card that has the potential to keep viewers entertained throughout.

Can Christian Cage cope with Adam Copeland’s rage?

Anyone who’s been a fan of pro wrestling for more than about 10 years knows all about the long friendship between Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, and the last few weeks of AEW programming have been an excellent primer for everyone else. The question was never whether they were going to face off but when.

Montreal seems like the perfect place. And really, this is a problem of Cage’s own making, as he prodded at Copeland until he snapped. Angry Adam is perhaps the best version of him, as no one does a deranged look quite like him.

Can Copeland take the TNT Championship, or does the Patriarch have one last trick up his sleeve?

Can Skye Blue take gold from “Timeless” Toni Storm?

Considering that Toni Storm just won the AEW World Championship again at Full Gear, it seems unlikely she’d lose it this quickly. But considering the run that Skye Blue is on, you can’t fully rule it out.

Always a talented performer, Blue has found her groove by switching from a happy-go-lucky persona to a darker and more driven character, with AEW explaining the change by her exposure to the House of Black’s mist. She could have easily just turned heel, but her tweener positioning is more interesting.

Will that be enough for her to take a title from Toni? Probably not, but we’re anxious to see what goes down tonight.

Will we learn more about the Devil when MJF and Samoa Joe face two of his (her?) masked men?

The identity of the Devil has kept AEW fans engaged for months now, with the masked person and their small army of goons messing with MJF and others at every turn. The AEW World Champion jumped at the chance to get physical with his attackers, and will get the chance to do so on Dynamite alongside protector/contender Samoa Joe.

While you’d expect MJF and Joe to prevail over whoever it is they’re facing (AEW is humorously promoting the match as them vs. “The Devil’s masked men”), the big question is whether there will be more tidbits to latch onto on who might be under that Devil mask.

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Will there be any Gold League upsets in the Continental Classic?

The Continental Classic continues in Montreal as well with three more matches in the Gold League. On paper, all three of tonight’s pairings have a clear favorite, but could there be an upset brewing in one of them?

Keep an eye on Jon Moxley vs. Rush. It would behoove AEW to create some doubt about who might advance from the group by having the top stars face some adversity, and something about Moxley’s excellent promo after his last match just makes us think maybe he’s going to stumble before righting himself.

AEW Dynamite comes our way from the Bell Centre in Montreal at 8 p.m. ET tonight, and we’ll have live results and updates here on Wrestling Junkie starting at that time.

Did Wardlow just become the top suspect for the AEW Devil?

Some clues on this week’s AEW Dynamite suggest Wardlow is part of the group plaguing MJF. But is he behind the Devil mask?

The identity of the AEW Devil has been one of the company’s great mysteries to date, and it added a few new twists on this week’s episode of Dynamite.

For starters, the Devil’s goons attacked MJF directly, something they’ve largely avoided doing in favor of going after people associated with them. One of them was wielding a baseball bat, but they were eventually chased away by Samoa Joe.

The other new development was that the Devil communicated by text through the giant video screen, challenging MJF and Joe to a tag team match next Wednesday. The AEW World Champion angrily accepted, leaving Joe looking a bit upset for doing so.

The implication of MJF and Joe facing “the unknown,” as the Devil put it, is that they’ll take on the person behind the mask and one random goon. We just don’t know who the former actually is.

Or do we? A point of interest that spread quickly around social media Wednesday night was that Wardlow, who won a typically quick match against AR Fox, had his hair looking a little sloppy.

You know, like when you take off a mask and don’t have time to fix it.

The only problem with the Wardlow theory is that when the Devil has made brief on-screen appearances, it doesn’t look like someone with his unmistakable build. This has led to some suggesting multiple people have been sharing the Devil mask — that there’s a group of wrestlers with grievances against MJF that are working together to engineer his downfall, and the mask is worn by all of them at some point.

Regardless, that was a very large human being in the ring with the bat in Minneapolis, and along with the hair thing, Wardlow seems likely to be involved even if he’s not the mastermind. He certainly has motive as his history with MJF is more personal than most. The whole Devil storyline feels like it’s building to a crescendo, and it might finally all get revealed at Worlds End a month from now.

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AEW Dynamite results 11/29/23: Moxley, Swerve grab 3 points, Devil makes a challenge

A TBS Championship match was also a highlight of AEW Dynamite from Minneapolis.

The Continental Classic remains front and center for AEW Dynamite tonight from the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Three Gold League matches are on the card, including one that should be the featured bout between Jay White and Swerve Strickland. Both men won their tournament opener, so a victory tonight could go a long way toward earning one of the spots in the semifinals. Since they’re so evenly matched, a draw seems possible too, which could let some of the other participants back in it.

Speaking of those other men, they’ll be in action too. Jon Moxley will try to run his record to 2-0 against Jay Lethal, looking to rebound from an 0-1 start. The final round robin bout tonight features Mark Briscoe and Rush which should be a banger even though both lost their opening matches.

AEW often announces an intriguing match just hours before the show, and that was the case today as well, with Tony Khan casually tweeting that Julia Hart will defend her TBS Championship against Emi Sakura. It’s not going to completely shut down criticism of the women’s division getting short shrift on AEW shows, but it’s a start.

All this plus we get Bryan Danielson on commentary and we’ll hear from Christian Cage. Light the fuse!

AEW Dynamite results from Minneapolis:

Bryan Danielson is rocking the eye patch as he joins Excalibur and Taz at the announce table.

Jon Moxley def. Jay Lethal by submission in a Continental Classic Gold League match, is first to 6 points

This seems like much more of a must win for Lethal after he dropped his opener. The announcers discuss the tournament format and how a loss in your opener doesn’t mean doom, but having zero points after two matches is pretty bad news.

Danielson criticizes Lethal for strutting on the apron after hitting a suicide dive, and if you guessed Mox makes him pay for it, you guessed right. But Danielson is concerned about the way Moxley’s knees bent back on the landing.

Lethal works over Moxley’s left knee before dropping a top rope elbow. Mox kicks out at two only to get blasted into the barricade as commercials slide in.

The announcers admire Lethal’s transitions, though they wonder if his weak covers may cost him. Sure enough, Mox looks like he’s going to rally even though he’s still selling his knee damage, but Lethal snuffs it out with a Figure Four.

Jay is thinking Lethal Injection after that hold, but Moxley turtles up to avoid it and surprises his foe with a Paradigm Shift. A King Kong lariat and stuff piledriver lead to a two count, after which Moxley immediately wraps Lethal in a choke. Jay fights it briefly but has to tap.

Eddie Kingston is shown musing about his opening match loss, wondering if he came in too cocky by putting his titles on the line. He’s behind the 8-ball with Danielson up next but says he’s not going back to his old mentality and will be ready for Bryan.

Tony Schiavone reveals that AEW Revolution will take place Sunday, March 3 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Sting and Ric Flair talk about their history with that location, and the Nature Boy puts over Sting’s 45-minute match with him there that helped put him on the map.

Rush def. Mark Briscoe by pinfall, gets on the board in a the Continental Classic

Nothing subtle about this, as you’d expect. Briscoe gets the upper hand first by sending Rush to the floor and hitting a dropkick through the ropes, but he finds himself facing chops and being sent into the barricade multiple times.

Briscoe drops an elbow off the apron in response and has the fans fired up. Rush dumps him on his head with a release German suplex but takes a huge lariat seconds later.

During commercials, it appears Rush is having some leg issues, so he tries his best to ground Briscoe. They decide to stand and trade chops again until Briscoe can hit an exploder suplex; Rush answers with a belly-to-belly into the corner.

Briscoe charges out of the corner with a spear, good for a near fall. A neckbreaker gets another in quick succession.

Maybe the biggest move yet comes when Rush manages to throw Briscoe back first onto the floor from the apron. Briscoe beats the ref’s count but appears to be in trouble on the top turnbuckle … until he sends Rush to the mat for the Froggy Bow. Rush kicks out at two.

Another suplex into the corner and an elbow strike has Briscoe in the corner to take the Bull’s Horns, and Mark isn’t able to recover before the ref counts to three.

RJ City gets an audience with “Timeless” Toni Storm, who scoffs at the idea that she’d be worried about her upcoming title defense.

MJF, Samoa Joe get a challenge from the Devil

Walking out with his cane again, MJF hypes up his Worlds End title defense against Samoa Joe. The champ doesn’t like Joe as a person but respects him as a person and for his belief in AEW.

MJF recalls seeing TNA on TV when he was younger, opening his eyes to a lot of new wrestlers, but especially Samoa Joe. He reminds everyone that Joe never got a world championship opportunity in WWE, but without a guy like Joe, there may not be an AEW. So he reluctantly says thank you, and the crowd joins in.

However … MJF says he’s not too shabby himself and has helped build AEW brick by brick since day one. Their match won’t be about Joe’s legacy, but Max’s, to see if he can outlast “the final boss” of this sport one last time.

MJF says he doesn’t care about his ailments or what else might happen, and that on Dec. 30, Joe will have to put him down to take his title.

The lights go out, then start strobing before the Devil’s henchmen appear in the ring. One has a baseball bat, but Joe is able to help fight them off before the whole feed goes black.

A printed message appears, word by word, challenging MJF and Joe to a tag team match against “the unknown.” An angry Max vows to unmask the Devil and accepts the match though Joe seems less than thrilled about it.

Wardlow squashes AR Fox by referee stoppage

Can Fox fare better than some of the lesser lights who Wardlow has run through over the past few weeks? He gets his licks in outside the ring before the match officially starts, but getting in more will be the issue.

Well, he does hit a 450 Splash, so that’s something. But his kicks to the head just sort of piss Wardlow off, and he effortlessly chokeslams Fox, delivers a lariat and starts with the powerbombs.

A Swanton Bomb leads to a third powerbomb, and referee Bryce Remsburg calls a stop to it.

Dante Martin is back, sealing a win for Top Flight and Action Andretti over The Hardys and Brother Zay

Not going to do play-by-play for this one, just going to enjoy Dante Martin back in action after his horrific injury (which AEW shows again for some reason).

Andretti gets some nice time to show his stuff against Matt Hardy before making a popular hot tag to Dante. It’s great to see him fly around the ring, looking like he’s fully healthy and confident.

Some cool spots on the outside take the Hardys out of the mix, and Dante is able to pin Zay after some triple team offense to get a nice comeback victory.

Top Flight and Andretti get a backstage visit from Penta El Zero Miedo, Komander and El Hijo del Vikingo, who look like they’re issuing a challenge for a trios match.

Julia Hart retains her TBS Championship, pinning Emi Sakura

Hart sneers at her more experienced challenger, definitely not intimidated in any way. Sakura doesn’t care, of course, hurling the champ into the steel steps and splashing her there.

Things get no better for the hometown champ during commercials, as Sakura holds Hart upside-down and shows her to all four sides of the arena before dropping her down for a backbreaker.

The House Rules stipulation that Sakura selected was no wins by submission, so Hart can’t use Hartless to finish the challenger. Sakura regains the upper hand as the crowd chants for Hart. She gets Hartless applied, and even though Sakura is tapping, the match continues, with Aubrey Edwards reminding Julia about the rules.

Hart launches into a moonsault (that Sakura has to roll back into a tad) and gets the pinfall to retain.

Mariah May thanks RJ City for connecting her with Storm before going to visit Tony Khan.

Adam Copeland gives Christian Cage a taste of his own medicine

Christian Cage has plenty of security with him as he takes the ring to a chorus of boos, and he may need them as he invites Adam Copeland to the ring. He seems a little flustered when Copeland doesn’t come out immediately.

The Rated R Superstar eventually obliges, sneering at Cage behind his wall of security. Christian asks the guards to step away and says they won’t make it to next week at Montreal … because “I’m sorry.” Wait, what?

Cage says he knows everyone thinks he’s only sorry because he’s on his own as a “bulls–t” chant starts up in the crowd. But he maintains he had a road trip of reflection and soul searching after seeing Copeland Conchairto his underlings, remembering the good times he and Adam had together.

After that, they went on to become the greatest tag team ever and world champions individually. Cage says they were brothers and his dad was essentially Copeland’s father, and still Adam’s biggest fan to this day.

“I love you man. We are family.”

Cage says they should have one last run together for Copeland’s late mom. But when Copeland’s back is turn, Cage tries to attack him from behind … but Adam is ready and kicks him in the crotch.

He tells Cage to get the belt shined up because it’s going home with him and says “go f–k yourself,” which the TBS censor misses wildly so is clearly audible.

Swerve Strickland joins Mox with 6 points after Continental Classic victory over Jay White

Danielson is back on commentary, watching White send Swerve halfway over the barricade and just kind of stick there. Switchblade mocks the “Who’s house?” catchphrase before continuing his assault in the ring.

Both men light each other up with chops but White is still in command when the final commercials slide in.

Back from break, the announcers say we’ll stay with this match even if it overruns the 10 p.m. ending time for Dynamite. It’s still White in command, with Taz saying he’s executed a great game plan.

Strickland finally manages to slam White shoulder first, setting off a series of counters that Swerve ends with a Flatliner rolled into a vertical suplex. Strickland covers but White kicks out at two.

Both men hit some moves that impress Danielson before they end up on the mat together. They rise forehead to forehead as the fans get the “this is awesome” chant going. Strickland gets the better of an exchange of forearm shots, but White hits him with a chop block to the left knee.

An uranage gets White a two count as Excalibur reminds us there are about nine minutes left in the 20-minute time limit. White wants an armbar, but Strickland rolls through and snaps White’s left arm with his boot in painful fashion.

The ref nearly takes a bump, but Strickland sees the low kick coming that White used last week and hits a backbreaker. The House Call is next, and the Swerve Stomp … but White kicks out before the three.

Switchblade hits a Blade Runner out of nowhere only to see Strickland roll to the floor. White has to force him back in the ring, where his schoolboy goes for naught and Swerve’s pinning attempt does too.

Five minutes are left now, but when White goes for a Blade Runner, Swerve counters with a rollup and gets the three count.