New Year’s Smash gave us three members of the Blackpool Combat Club in action, a TNT Title Match, and another action-packed match in the best-of-seven series between Death Triangle and The Elite evening up the series and setting up a final winner-take-all match in two weeks.
Highlights:
- The first of two great back-to-back opening matches, Bryan Danielson defeated “All Ego” Ethan Page. Strong opening match featuring expected Danielson spots, a top-rope powerslam from Page, interference from Stokely Hathaway, and even a cameo from MJF at the beginning of the match from a luxury box.
- Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli defeated Top Flight in a match that underlined the perseverance of Top Flight and continued the more-vicious nature of the BCC foreshadowing an official heel turn for the group which will likely be coming soon.
- The Falls-Count-Anywhere Match in the Best-of-Seven series for the AEW World Trios Titles began backstage with several spots including Matt Jackson suplexing members of Death Triangle down the ramp towards the ring. More fast-and-furious action in the ring, but the end occurred on the stage with Kenny Omega picking up the victory for The Elite and tying the series 3-3.
- The Acclaimed offered their own rap video in reply to Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal.
- Interview segment between Best Friends and Kip Sabian sets up an Orange Cassidy All-Atlantic Title defense against Trent Beretta on AEW Rampage.
- Quick, but effective, Hook squash match continuing to rebuild up the wrestler after a long layoff from TV. Followed up by a faceoff with Stokley, Big Bill, and Lee Moriarty of The Firm and “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry running out to the ring as well to even up the odds.
- Samoa Joe attacked Wardlow prior to their TNT Title Match in a storyline which would pay off in the main event with a limping Wardlow being taken advantage of by Joe leading to an eventual successful title defense. Appearance by Darby Allin to close out the night suggesting Wardlow will be written off with an injury in the short-term and we haven’t yet seen the last of Darby vs. Joe yet.
Lows:
- This one is a bit of a nitpick. Ending an otherwise fine tag-team match, a bit of a botched finish in terms of Tay Jay defeating the team of Willow Nightingale and Ruby Soho with the help of a steel chair (and inability to get it out of the ring in a timely fashion) leading to an awkward “guess I didn’t see that” moment from referee Aubrey Edwards. In terms of storyline, there was also some awkwardness between the babyface team of Soho and Nightingale early on with Soho seemingly disinterested in the tag match she demanded and the partner she handpicked.
Less Notable:
- Interrupting Swerve‘s promo with is new henchmen (saving the segment from being a low point), Wheeler Yuta challenged Swerve to match on AEW Rampage.
- Recap of the beginning of the Ricky Starks / JAS Feud followed up with a Chris Jericho promo and later rebuttal promo from Starks.
- Behind-the-Scenes interview segment suggests “Hangman” Adam Page could be back in the ring in two weeks (if he keeps up his rehab and stops attacking Moxley at ringside).