New Year's Smash - Dynamite recap for December 28, 2022

Before the next match, Hathaway shows up wearing a hat and angry at "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson for making fun of his bald head. Also, MJF is in the skybox with a beautiful woman, and he taunts Danielson before the match, allowing Ethan Page to hit Danielson with a cheap shot.

"The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson beats "All Ego" Ethan Page after kicking his head in prior to a submission, knocking Ethan Page out.

We see a video package for Samoa Joe vs. Wardlow for later tonight. Afterwards, Renee Paquette interviews Wardlow, who says that there has been too many words and that tonight is about powerful action before Wardlow attacks him with a pipe.

Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews "Hangman" Adam Page, who says that there is no real update on his condition, but he finds out that he is doing well and that he may come back in two weeks if he does not get riled up by Jon Moxley again.

The Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli) beat Top Flight (Darius and Dante Martin).

Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews Kip Sabian, Penelope Ford and Best Friends (Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, Danhausen). Kip Sabian says this has been going on for too long and that the final act where he takes the All-Atlantic Championship from Orange Cassidy. Trent Beretta reminds Kip Sabian that he eliminated him after Kip eliminated Orange Cassidy in last Friday's battle royale and that he is more deserving of a title shot, and Orange Cassidy agrees and gives him the title shot. Kip Sabian reluctantly says he looks forward to seeing it before leaving with Penelope, then Orange says the title match will happen on Rampage.

Hook quickly beats Baylum Lynx with Redrum. After the match, Stokely Hathaway shows up with Big Bill and Lee Moriarty and says that while he is repeatedly told Hook is a badass, he will not get the job done against them, as he is like "the Southwest of AEW." Before the three of them can get in the ring, "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry runs out and fights Lee Moriarty while Big Bill and Hook stare down in the ring. Big Bill goes for a choke slam, but Jungle Boy hits him with a 2x4 after taking Moriarty down. Big Bill is forced to retreat along with Moriarty and Hathaway.

We see a video package chronicling what has happened to Chris Jericho in the last few weeks. We then hear from Chris Jericho, who says "Absolute" Ricky Starts turned out the opportunity of a lifetime to join The Jericho Appreciation Society and mocked them instead, then calls him foolish, small-minded and a flash in the pan. He says Starks has the arrogance and the confidence of a superstar, but he does not have the tools to succeed that he does. He says that he will take Starks to the top of the mountain to the bottom of the ocean and back because he is Chris Jericho and he always wins. He brags about throwing a fireball at Action Andretti and tells Andretti to get out of AEW and back to the indies before saying he will beat Starks and put an end to "the Starks experiment."

Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews Swerve Strickland, Parker Bordreaux and his tattooed affilitate. Swerve says Keith Lee had to go, then Wheeler Yuta shows up and challenges Swerve to a match on Rampage after criticizing him for having to get some outside help to make a point.

The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson) and Death Triangle (PAC, Penta el Zero M, Rey Fenix) are seen attacking each other backstage prior to their Falls Count Anywhere match. Don Callis guests on commentary for the next match.

The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson) beat Death Triangle (PAC, Penta el Zero M, Rey Fenix) in a Falls Count Anywhere Match in Match 6 of their best-of-seven series after Omega hits Fenix with a One-Winged Angel through a table as PAC has Nick Jackson in the Brutalizer and gets the pinfall victory before PAC can win by submission. Both teams are tied at three wins (3-3) apiece.

We see a music video from The Acclaimed ("Platinum" Max Caster and Anthony Bowens) where they diss Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett.

Tay Melo and Anna Jay A.S. beat Ruby Soho and Willow Nightingale after the referee is preoccupied with keeping Anna Jay from using a chair on the outside, allowing Tay Melo to kick a chair into Ruby Soho's head for the win.

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews The Gunns (Austin and Colten Gunn), who have reservations for a party. Colten says they will address their big win against FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) next week.

Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews "Absolute" Ricky Starks. Starks says he is feeling better than Action Andretti, who is the victim of a fireball to the face, and says he will get some revenge for him next week. He says that Chris Jericho is right about him being a star, but he is a star Jericho cannot control and that Jericho does not like that. He says he will beat Jericho and take him down several notches.

Before the next match, Samoa Joe says Wardlow is suffering from stage fright and will not be out here right now before Wardlow shows up with a limp while medical staff and officials tell him not to wrestle. Wardlow gets in the ring and wrestles anyway.

Samoa Joe retains the TNT Championship against Wardlow with the rear naked choke after Wardlow's left knee gives out before he can powerbomb Joe. After the match, Wardlow gets back on his feet, but Joe blasts him with the TNT Championship before looking underneath the ring, pulling out a toolbox and finding a pair of scissors. Joe shoves referee Paul Turner down before cutting Wardlow's bun and claims it as a trophy, then Darby Allin shows up from behind Joe and smacks him with a skateboard. Joe and Darby stare each other down from both sides of the ring as the show ends.