December 31, 2025 — Nightingale Wins TBS Championship, Omega is Coming for MJF, More

We closed out the year with AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash on TBS and HBO Max from Omaha, Nebraska! The last day of 2025 brought us the start of new reigns and the continuation of others.

In the main event, Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Moné to win the TBS Championship for the second time, becoming the first ever two-time TBS Champ! Then, she celebrated with the other half of the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions, Harley Cameron, and the Conglomeration, in addition to a surprise embrace with AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander!

Meanwhile, our night began with NEW AEW World Champion MJF revealing his new Triple B title. However, he didn’t have much of a chance to show it off because Kenny Omega interrupted with a message from the video screen to inform MJF that he’s coming for the AEW World Championship. “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland also tried to get to MJF, but were stopped by security, although that turned into a LIGHTS OUT challenge by Swerve and Page to The Opps!

The Death Riders avenged their loss at Worlds End in the Mixed Nuts Mayhem Match by defeating “Timeless” Toni Storm, Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong. However, the winning combo of Marina Shafir, Claudio Castagnoli and Daniel Garcia got a timely distraction from Wheeler Yuta to achieve victory.

Speaking of the Death Riders, AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley turned away Josh Alexander in a Continental Eliminator. After the match, MVP and Shelton Benjamin stared down Moxley from the top of the ramp, showing interest in Moxley’s new gold.

Plus, AEW National Champion Ricochet retained his title in a hotly contested defense against “Jungle” Jack Perry. And ROH World Champion Bandido looked ready for his AEW World Title match with MJF in two weeks at AEW Dynamite Maximum Carnage! All that and so much more!

Here’s everything that went down in the final Dynamite of the year from Omaha!

After we saw a recap of the wild night that was Worlds End, an SUV pulled up in the parking lot containing the NEW AEW World Champion, MJF, who was sporting both the AEW Title and a fur coat. He made his way to the ring, which was covered with a familiarly patterned carpet and a display covered in a red sheet.

MJF ran down how Swerve Strickland is the franchise, Samoa Joe is the Samoan Submission Machine, and “Hangman” Adam Page is the main character, but if that’s the big three, he’s MJF, the AEW World Champion! He then threw down the AEW World Title and revealed the brand new Triple B version of the AEW World Championship. MJF said he’s done trotting around and now he’s going to sprint, and he won’t stop until he goes down as the greatest of all time. 

“Max, Max, Max. Look, I’m sorry to interrupt…”

Kenny Omega appeared on the video screen!

Omega said MJF made him feel a certain kind of way. He said old Kenny Omega is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, and he hates that feeling. What if he could become AEW World Champion again? What if MJF didn’t beat Omega years ago to become the longest-reigning AEW Champion of the World? What if they met again today? 

“It wouldn’t be MJF vs. The Cleaner. It wouldn’t be MJF vs. The Best Bout Machine. This isn’t about a best bout, it’s about winning. And this certainly isn’t about MJF vs. The Belt Collector. I’m not collecting belts, I’m collecting one. And whether I get a shot next week or whether I’ve got to scrape and claw my way to the front of the line to prove I am worthy of a challenge, you’re gonna be seeing a lot more of me. So until next time, MJF, and everyone else vying for that championship belt, I must bid you adieu. Goodbye and goodnight. BANG!”

Omega disappeared from the screen as the crowd chanted his name. MJF said they can chant that all they want, but it doesn’t change the fact that Omega didn’t come out and say it to his face.

“Hangman” Adam Page’s music hit, and he appeared with a chain in the crowd! Swerve’s music hit, and he had a chain and Prince Nana with him. Everyone made their way towards MJF, but security rushed the ring to stop them from hopping the barrier. MJF said if you wanted a shot at him, wins and losses matter, so they need to pick up some wins and talk to Tony Khan, and then he’ll beat both their asses again as he did at Worlds End.

Just then, Hangman and Swerve broke free to destroy security around and in the ring as MJF escaped! Page got a mic and said that when he gets a hold of MJF, he’s going to strangle him with that “ugly ass belt” before he takes it away from him. Swerve said MJF had better pray Page gets to him first because he’s only shown MJF a piece of what he’s capable of. 

“And now that you have something that I want, the hunt is on! And may the worst man win!”

On the video screen, Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and HOOK were shown, and Joe apologized for interrupting. He called Page and Strickland buffoons for thinking they should be #1 contender because the only person who should be #1 contender is him! 

“The rightful and wronged champion. A man who has been robbed!”

Joe sees the eternal obstacles in his way, like Page, who had the audacity to put his hands on HOOK. Joe said HOOK is ready to beat Page down and choke him on sight! And there’s meat on the menu for Swerve because Powerhouse Hobbs is coming for him. And Joe wants to do this all next week because he doesn’t want to spend another second in this “broke-ass, busted, cowtown!”

Page responded, “Well, Joe, it seems like with you, it’s new year, same dumbass. So give us Hobbs, and please, I swear to god, send HOOK. Send me HOOK!”

Swerve continued, “Since we got some dangerous men in a dangerous situation, this is what we’re gonna do. No holds barred. No disqualification. LIGHTS OUT!”

Renee Paquette was with TNT Champion Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong to talk about the busy night for The Conglomeration, including AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champion Willow Nightingale challenging TBS Champion Mercedes Moné. He said after tonight, they’ll have the TNT Title and the TBS Title.

“Hell, I’d be surprised if the old boy, Ted Turner, didn’t want to Conglomerate himself!”

After Paquette mentioned that Cassidy, Strong, and “Timeless” Toni Storm would be tagging up tonight again against the Death Riders, Briscoe said the world of the day is “asphyxiation.” 

“And you know why? Because just like at Worlds End, the Death Riders will be choking on these nuts, tonight, baby!”

Storm’s arm appeared from off-screen, and Cassidy spun her into the frame.

“You’ve got some pretty sweet moves for someone so acidic.”

Mina Shirakawa showed up with Luther and demanded that Cassidy take his hands off Storm. Storm calmed the situation by saying it wasn’t sexual because he’s a professional. Besides, he’s not her type because he’s barely awake. Mina warned Cassidy to watch himself. Storm said tonight they have a date with a fig on Peach Street. Then she asked Luther for an (unpeeled) orange and took a bite. Mina was taken aback by this and stormed away. Briscoe chased after trying to get a bite. Strong yelled, “RENEE!” and said he wanted no part of this.

The match began as soon as the Death Riders got in the ring, as all six competitors paired off! Storm mounted Shafir in the corner for 10 punches, but was thrown from the ring by Castagnoli. Strong took over on Castagnoli and got 10 punches on him in the corner. Garcia came in and gave Strong the same treatment. Cassidy came in and hit one punch on Garcia, so he celebrated only to be put in a full nelson by Shafir. He broke out of it by putting his hands in his pockets. Shafir shot him off the ropes, but he rolled through for a near-fall. She threw him into Garcia for a suplex, and then all three Death Riders took turns crushing Cassidy in the corner, just as they did at Worlds End. The Death Riders had complete control!

Strong was the latest to get the same treatment from the Death Riders until he avoided a charge in the corner from Shafir, took out Garcia, and nailed Castagnoli with a fireman’s carry slam! Cassidy and Storm wound up together in the middle, so Cassidy danced Storm into a back elbow on Shafir, and Storm did the same with Cassidy to Garcia, and then they both hit elbows on Shafir and Garcia. Castagnoli came back in to get hip-tossed by Storm and Cassidy, so Storm called for the giant swing! 

Cassidy first caught Castagnoli with a PK, so Storm thought it was time, but when she went to pick him up, Garcia clobbered her to stop it! Omaha hated that! OC came back with an Orange Punch on Garcia, only to get caught in Mother’s Milk by Shafir. Strong saved OC and nailed Shafir with a backbreaker. Castagnoli returned to drive Strong to the mat, but OC was back for a Stundog Millionaire on Castagnoli to send him into the corner. Storm came back with a large hip attack on Castagnoli, and Cassidy followed with a DDT! He called for an Orange Punch, but Castangoli distracted the ref, allowing Wheeler Yuta to stop Cassidy. When Cassidy turned around, he ate a diving uppercut from Castagnoli, which got the Death Riders the three-count and the win. After the match, Mina Shirakawa and Luther consoled Storm in the ring.

Before our next match, we saw a highlight reel of Ultimo Moné, showcasing her accomplishments in 2025, including an unscathed record in TBS Championship defenses. She’ll try to add one more tonight against AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champion Willow Nightingale in the main event!

In two weeks, at AEW Dynamite Maximum Carnage, Bandido will meet MJF for the AEW World Title as a result of Bandido capturing the Dynamite Diamond Ring by beating AEW National Champion Ricochet last week. But first, he had to face down The Beast Mortos on New Year’s Eve.

Mortos tried to attack Bandido from the jump, but Bandido wound up using the cape of his entrance gear to tame Beast Mortos until Mortos sent Bandido to the outside and stomped on the cape. Mortos kept control until Bandido put the cape back on and crashed down onto Mortos on the floor! 

Mortos recovered and punished Bandido on the outside before depositing him back in the ring. He appeared to be going for Bandido’s mask, so Bandido rolled him up for a nearfall. Bandido came back with a headscissors to take down Mortos. Mortos got up right into a thrust kick from Bandido, who scaled the ropes and nailed a frog splash from the top! Mortos was able to kick out at two!

Bandido ran into an elbow from Mortos, who followed with a Samoan drop to get a two-count after a hesitation on the pin attempt. Mortos caught Bandido on his shoulders and dropped him for a backbreaker, followed by a discus lariat that got another two-count! Mortos hit another lariat and went to the top, but missed on a moonsault and crashed hard onto the mat! Bandido hoisted Mortos up for the X-Knee and followed with the 21 Plex to get the win!

Renee Paquette caught up with Brodido, as Brody King was getting ready for his upcoming match, and Bandido had just defeated Beast Mortos minutes ago. She asked Bandido if this gives him the momentum he needs for his AEW World Title match with MJF at Maximum Carnage in two weeks.

Bandido directly addressed the man he’ll challenge on January 14 in Phoenix, Arizona. He spoke to MJF in Spanish and vowed to become AEW World Champion. King said Bandido is the most wanted because people from AEW, CMLL and ROH are all gunning for him. And on January 14, he’s gonna have an even bigger target on his head when he walks out as AEW World Champion. 

“And he and I already spoke, after he becomes Bandido Two Belts again, I’m first in line.”

As King made his entrance, Johnson came flying over the top rope and crashed onto King! He celebrated too quickly, as King got up and chopped him before chucking Johnson into the barrier. King hit another chop and threw Johnson back in the ring to officially begin the match. King nearly beheaded Johnson with a lariat and followed with a cannonball in the corner. King hit a Gonzo Bomb to make short work of Johnson with the pinfall victory!

We heard from Darby Allin following his victory over Gabe Kidd at Worlds End.

“I went to hell with Gabe Kidd. Sometimes this life catches up to you. I’m not numb to the pain. I would argue that I’m more aware of it than anybody. But I’m also more aware of what it gives me. I see the arguments against the way I live my life. I do. I wish I could relay the beauty. It gives me peace. You know, earlier this year, I stood on top of the world, Mount Everest. And in 2026, I want to stand on top of AEW. But before I do that, I want to finish something with the Death Riders. I beat every single one of them, except PAC. I don’t know when, and I don’t know where I’ll have this match, but I need this win, PAC. I need to set myself free. And I need to finish what I started.”

Moxley made a rare mistake of turning his back on Alexander in the ring to soak in the adulation from the crowd, so Alexander attacked from behind, and we were underway! Alexander chopped Moxley around the ring until a strike battle turned into Alexander working Moxley’s injured ankle on the mat and in the corner. Moxley fought through the pain to get the upper hand and rain down 10 punches on Alexander in the corner, drawing blood on Alexander. Mox dragged Alexander along the top rope while holding him in a headlock. Alexander avoided a Mox charge by sending him over the top rope for another bad landing on the injured ankle. Alexander followed with a front suplex onto the apron. He hanged Moxley in the tree of woe and crushed him with a running crossbody! Alexander is all over Moxley and is putting all his focus on Moxley’s ankle.

An ankle lock did some damage, but Moxley made it to the ropes and rolled to the apron. Alexander went out to meet him, as the two traded reversals before transitioning into another strike battle that saw Alexander front slam Moxley onto the apron at the 10-minute mark! Alexander went to the top, but missed a moonsault when Mox moved! Alexander and Mox got into an elbow exchange until Mox nailed a cutter out of nowhere! Alexander kicked out at two, so Mox tried for a choke, but Alexander suplexed his way out only for Mox to shake it off and nail a suplex of his own. Alexander dropkicked Moxley into the corner, but Moxley took a few beats and came flying out of the corner with a clothesline!

Alexander bailed to the outside, so Moxley followed with a dive that connected! He threw Alexander back in the ring, so Alexander rolled to the other side. Moxley tried to follow, but got tripped up and put in a figure four on the ring post until the referee broke it up. Back in the ring, Alexander went to the inside of Moxley’s leg, only for Moxley to lock in a rear-naked choke! He let go of it to hammer down on Alexander with elbows, which knocked Alexander’s headgear off, as he continued to bleed from the head! Moxley reapplied the choke, and the referee called for the bell when Alexander didn’t respond! Moxley takes care of business with less than five minutes remaining!

While Moxley celebrated in the ring, MVP and Shelton Benjamin appeared at the top of the ramp, showing a clear interest in the AEW Continental Championship, which Benjamin missed out on this year after an impressive performance in last year’s Continental Classic.

Thekla watched Sisters of Sin do what they do best at Worlds End: come for the win. She also liked seeing AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander spit in Jamie Hayter’s face and drop her on her head. She’s not buying the cosmic stuff and knows it’s lonely at the top, so let them take your place, and they can make it really toxic.

What looked like an early advantage for Perry was quickly erased by the distraction of Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona on the outside. Luchasaurus tried to come to Perry’s aid, but GOA overcame him, as Ricochet dropkicked Perry off the apron and to the floor! Meanwhile, Liona and Luchasaurus fought up the ramp and to the back.

Perry fought from behind for several minutes until turning things around in a big way with a German suplex. However, it was short-lived, as Ricochet turned a DDT attempt into a Northern Lights suplex chained to a brainbuster! Perry kicked out at two! Perry nailed a big lariat to get a two-count of his own. Perry lined up Ricochet for his running knee strike, so Ricochet rolled to the apron. Perry followed, so Ricochet hung him over the top rope. Ricochet went back outside on the opposite side, so Perry slid after him and was caught by Ricochet, only to turn it into a bulldog on the floor! 

With Ricochet back in the ring, Perry had his sights on going to the top, but he was interrupted by Kaun on the floor. Perry kicked Kaun away, but Ricochet had already recovered and met Perry on the top rope. Perry pushed him off and hit a jumping DDT from the top! Ricochet kicks out to save the AEW National Championship!

Perry called for the knee again, but Kaun grabbed his leg from the floor while Ricochet distracted the referee. With Perry paying attention to Kaun, he turned right back into a Spirit Gun to give Ricochet the pinfall victory!

Back at the top of the ramp, Liona returned with Luchasaurus and threw him to the ground. Ricochet took Perry out with another Spirit Gun in the ring! Liona used a barricade to slam Luchasaurus’ bandaged shoulder over and over until he left the barricade on the injured arm, while Kaun smashed it with a chair repeatedly! Liona finished the damage by slamming a member of security onto the barricade to inflict even more pain on the shoulder!

With the Death Riders standing behind him, including Marina Shafir with the AEW Continental Championship over her shoulder, Jon Moxley addressed Shelton Benjamin and “The People Who Hurt People,” whom he referred to as “my guys.” He said they didn’t have to come out looking at him a certain way because he’s not hard to find. Ending the year how he started, on top. Shafir and Castagnoli backed him up, and then Yuta said he heard Darby Allin’s revisionist history. Yuta said Allin forgot about the most “unhinged” member of the Death Riders, and if he wants to get to PAC, he has to get through Yuta. Garcia finished things up by saying, in 2026, it’s Death Riders vs. The World!

Before the match, Harley Cameron fired up Willow Nightingale in the back, as Nightingale remembered that it had been 584 days since she lost the TBS Title to Mercedes Moné, so tonight she’s going to end this year with a bang!

Renee Paquette ran down everyone who wants a shot at the AEW World Championship, and MJF asked if he’s supposed to be scared. He’s a generational talent, and he’s going to make his last championship reign look short. Brodido showed up, and Brody King said the man MJF should be most worried about is Bandido because on January 14 at Maximum Carnage, he’s coming home with the Triple B.

“Bandido’s Big Belt!”

Moné pie-faced Nightingale before the championship announcements, though order was restored until the bell rang, when Moné dropkicked Nightingale in the knee and then out of the ring! Moné continued by running Nightingale into the barricade and followed with a second throw, but then missed running knees and bounced off the barricade, which allowed Willow to pounce Moné into the adjacent barricade! Nightingale went for the cover back in the ring, but only got a two.

Moné tried for a couple of quick pin attempts, only for Nightingale to flatten her with a lariat to get another near-fall. Moné tried to toy with Nightingale, but Willow cartwheeled out of a whip, blocked a knee strike, and then nailed a dropkick from the second rope. She crushed Moné with a cannonball in the corner for another two-count, so Moné rolled to the outside. Nightingale followed with a running cannonball from the apron! Nightingale tried to throw Moné back into the ring, but Moné tripped Nightingale, sending her face-first into the steel steps! Moné followed with running knees into Nightingale’s face, sandwiched in the steps! 

The punishment continued from Moné, although the more Nightingale fought back, the more frustration appeared all over Moné’s face. Finally, Nightingale powered out of the corner with a Death Valley Driver! Nightingale fired up with lariats and another in the corner, but then Moné caught her boot. Willow shook her off and tried for a spinebuster, but Moné escaped, so Willow hit her with another pounce! Nightingale hit another Death Valley Driver for a two-count!

Moné fought back with a backstabber, only for Nightingale to escape her grasp with a rebound Doctor Bomb! Moné saved her TBS Title by rolling her foot on the rope just in time! Nightingale went to the top and missed a moonsault, which was a rough landing on the mat! Moné went to the top for a Frog Splash, but Willow got her knees up! Nightingale hit yet another Death Valley Driver, only this time onto the apron! She tried to roll Moné in, so Moné rolled out the other side. Nightingale tried to follow with a running cannonball, but missed! Moné started Three Amigos until Nightingale broke loose and took the top off the announce desk. With both women on the table, Moné got out of another Doctor Bomb and suplexed Nightingale off the desk onto the floor! Moné returned to the ring and tried to take the countout victory, but Nightingale got back just before the 10 count!

A furious Moné brought elbow strikes down on Nightingale before locking in the Statement Maker! Nightingale reversed it into a near-fall and then lifted Moné on her shoulders. Moné elbowed her way out, but Nightingale blocked the Moné Maker by running Moné into the top turnbuckle. She tried for a Babe with the Powerbomb, but Moné escaped, and the two traded backslide positions until Nightingale trapped Moné in the same pinning predicament that beat her at Worlds End, only this time, Moné kicked out! Moné tried another Moné Maker, so Nightingale swung her around. Moné tried to sweep Willow into a jackknife for a pin attempt, but Nightingale rolled over and nailed a Babe with the Powerbomb to get the pinfall victory! WILLOW NIGHTINGALE IS THE NEW TBS CHAMPION! 

Harley Cameron came out to celebrate with Nightingale, as she became the first woman ever to hold two AEW titles simultaneously and the first ever two-time TBS Champion! The Conglomeration was also out to celebrate with Willow, and then here came AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander. As the tension of their history lingered, they ran to the middle of the ring and embraced! 

And that beautiful scene (and a crying Moné) is how we end a fantastic 2025! Thank you for watching, and we’ll see you Saturday night!

Catch AEW Collision back in its regular date and time of Saturday, 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on TNT and HBO Max from Arlington, Texas!

And remember… We are AEW—Where The Best Wrestle!