AEW closes out the year with intent tonight as Holiday Bash takes over with a special three-hour Dynamite & Collision broadcast, live from Manchester, England. This isn’t a throwaway holiday edition or a glorified clip show—this is a strategically loaded card designed to push multiple storylines forward at once while tightening the road to Worlds End.
At the center of the night is a rare reunion, a massive payday, and a war of legacies as The Elite return to action together in a $1,000,000 Winner Take All trios match against the dangerous and calculating Don Callis Family. Championships are on the line, the Continental Classic continues to define AEW’s hierarchy, and the AEW World Championship picture moves one step closer to collision with a contract signing involving Samoa Joe, Hangman Page, and Swerve Strickland.
Holiday Bash isn’t about celebration—it’s about positioning. And by the time the three hours are over, several divisions may look very different.
Here is everything advertised for tonight’s show
- $1,000,000 Winner Take All Trios Match
The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks) vs. Don Callis Family (Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita & Hechicero) - AEW World Tag Team Championship
FTR (c) vs. Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson & Austin Gunn) - Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royale
- AEW Worlds End Contract Signing
Samoa Joe vs. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland - 8-Woman Tag Match
Mercedes Moné, Athena, Marina Shafir & Megan Bayne
vs.
Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron) & Timeless Love Bombs (Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa) - Continental Classic – Gold League
Kyle Fletcher vs. PAC - Continental Classic – Blue League
Orange Cassidy vs. Máscara Dorada
Jon Moxley vs. Roderick Strong
Analysis & Breakdown
The Elite vs. Don Callis Family: Legacy, Money, and Trust Issues
This match is about more than a million dollars. It’s about whether The Elite can still access the version of themselves that once defined AEW’s identity. Omega and The Bucks aren’t walking into a feel-good reunion—they’re stepping into Don Callis’ world, where alliances are weapons and trust is nonexistent.
On the other side stands a terrifying trio: Okada, the standard-bearer; Takeshita, the rising force with history tied directly to Omega; and Hechicero, whose unpredictability turns any trios match into chaos. This is a chess match disguised as a brawl, and whichever side controls the pace controls the money.
FTR vs. Bang Bang Gang: Champions Under Pressure
FTR pride themselves on surviving adversity, but Bang Bang Gang have proven they can beat them. This isn’t a novelty title defense—it’s a legitimate threat to FTR’s grip on the division. Bang Bang Gang thrive in chaos and momentum, and Holiday Bash provides both in abundance. If FTR slip for even a second, the tag division could flip instantly.
Worlds End Contract Signing: Controlled Environment, Uncontrolled Men
Contract signings are supposed to finalize matches, but this one feels more like a pressure cooker. Samoa Joe brings dominance. Hangman Page brings emotion and unresolved history. Swerve Strickland brings calculated cruelty. The real tension isn’t whether the match gets signed—it’s what happens immediately after.
Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royale
The Diamond Ring is one of AEW’s sneakiest prizes. It’s not a title, but it creates leverage, shortcuts, and instant relevance. This match always produces either a statement win or a surprise moment, and with Worlds End approaching, the timing couldn’t be more dangerous.
Women’s 8-Woman Tag: Power and Personality Collide
This match blends star power, physicality, and long-term tension. Mercedes Moné and Athena anchor one side with dominance and experience, while Willow Nightingale, Toni Storm, Mina Shirakawa, and Harley Cameron bring chemistry, crowd connection, and momentum. This isn’t just about a win—it’s about who stands tall in a crowded women’s division heading into the new year.
AEW Continental Classic Standings Heading Into Holiday Bash
Gold League
- Kazuchika Okada — 6 points
- Kyle Fletcher — 6 points
- “Speedball” Mike Bailey — 6 points
- Kevin Knight — 3 points
- PAC — 3 points
- Jack Perry — 0 points
Tonight: Kyle Fletcher vs. PAC
A win gives Fletcher separation at the top. A PAC upset throws the entire league into chaos.
Blue League
- Claudio Castagnoli — 7 points
- Konosuke Takeshita — 7 points
- Jon Moxley — 3 points
- Orange Cassidy — 3 points
- Máscara Dorada — 3 points
- Roderick Strong — 0 points
Tonight:
- Orange Cassidy vs. Máscara Dorada
- Jon Moxley vs. Roderick Strong
The margin for error is gone. One loss tonight could quietly eliminate someone from contention.
Closing Thoughts
Holiday Bash is less about holiday cheer and more about separation—who pulls ahead, who falls behind, and who walks into Worlds End with momentum instead of regret. With money, championships, and tournament survival all on the line, AEW has crafted a card that demands attention from start to finish.
Three hours. One stage. No filler.
What to Watch For Tonight
- Can The Elite function as a unit under real pressure?
- Is Bang Bang Gang ready to shock the tag division?
- Does the Worlds End contract signing stay verbal—or turn violent?
- Which Continental Classic upset changes the tournament math?
- Who uses the Diamond Ring to fast-track themselves into 2026 relevance?
Holiday Bash isn’t a pit stop—it’s a turning point.
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