AEW New Year's Smash

New Year's Smash was a series of professional wrestling television special episodes produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The events took place on January 6 and 13, 2021 at Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida and was broadcast on TNT as a special of AEW's weekly television program, Dynamite. Night 1 aired live on January 6, while Night 2 was pre-recorded on January 7, and aired on January 13.

New Year's Smash
Promotional poster for Night 1 featuring various AEW wrestlers
PromotionAll Elite Wrestling
DateJanuary 6 and 7, 2021
(aired January 6 and 13, 2021)
CityJacksonville, Florida
VenueDaily's Place
AttendanceNight 1: 770[1]
AEW Dynamite special episodes chronology
← Previous
Brodie Lee Celebration of Life		 Next →
Beach Break

Production
Other on-screen personnel
Role Name
Commentators Jim Ross
Tony Schiavone
Excalibur
Chris Jericho (Night 1)
Taz (Allin vs. Cage)
Ring announcer Justin Roberts
Referees Aubrey Edwards
Bryce Remsburg
Mike Posey
Paul Turner
Rick Knox
Interviewers Alex Marvez
Dasha Gonzalez

Background

On the December 9, 2020 episode of Dynamite, it was announced that the December 30, 2020 and January 6, 2021 episode will be titled "New Year's Smash". A special guest appearance from Snoop Dogg was also announced.[2]

On December 23, at Holiday Bash, it was announced that Jon Moxley will return on Night 1 of New Year's Smash.[3]

On December 28, it was announced that Night 1 and 2 were rescheduled to January 6 and 13, 2021, due to the death of AEW wrestler Brodie Lee on December 26.[4] Therefore, the December 30 episode will instead be the Brodie Lee Celebration of Life, featuring matches and segments with fellow wrestlers honoring and paying tribute to Lee.[5]

On December 30, at the Brodie Lee Celebration of Life, it was announced that Sting will make an appearance on Night 1. Also announced for Night 1, an AEW TNT Championship weigh-in between the champion Darby Allin and the challenger Brian Cage, with the title match taking place on Night 2.[6]

Storylines

New Year's Smash featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[7] Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly shows Dynamite and Dark and The Young Bucks' YouTube series Being The Elite.

Rey Fenix was originally scheduled to face Kenny Omega on October 28, 2020 in the AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament, but was replaced by Penta El Zero Miedo due to a injury Fenix sustained in his previous bout.[8] On the December 16, 2020 episode of Dynamite, it was announced that Omega would defend AEW World Championship against Fenix on Night 1.[9]

On the November 25 episode of Dynamite, Hikaru Shida retained her AEW Women's World Championship against Anna Jay. After the match, Abadon made her return and went after Shida and her title.[10] On December 23 at Holiday Bash, it was announced that Shida would defend her title against Abadon on Night 1.[11]

Taz first offered to help Darby Allin as his manager during a backstage interview on May 6, 2020, after Allin lost to Cody Rhodes one week prior.[12] On May 23 at Double or Nothing, Taz accompanied the debuting Brian Cage in the Casino Ladder match, a match Allin was also competing in, which Cage won.[13] On September 5 at All Out, Cage eliminated Allin in the Casino Battle Royale after putting him in a body bag with thumbtacks and powerbombing him over the top rope.[14] On November 7 at Full Gear, Allin defeated Rhodes to win the AEW TNT Championship and after the match, Team Taz (Cage and Ricky Starks) beat down Allin and Rhodes.[15] This led to a tag team match on the November 18 episode of Dynamite, pitting Team Taz against Allin and Rhodes, in which Cage pinned Allin to win.[16] On December 23 at Holiday Bash, it was announced that Allin would defend the TNT Championship against Cage on Night 2.[17]

After an eight-month absence from television, Pac returned to AEW on the November 11, 2020 episode of Dynamite, where he confronted Eddie Kingston. During Pac's absence, Kingston had formed a stable composed of The Butcher and The Blade and Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo), the latter of the two being Pac's former stablemates.[18] Fenix and Penta would reunite with Pac on the November 18 episode of Dynamite to reform their stable Death Triangle.[19] The trio began feuding with Kingston, The Butcher and The Blade, and on December 30 at Brodie Lee Celebration of Life, it was announced that Pac vs. Kingston would take place on Night 2.[20]

Reception

Night 1 was attended by 770 fans (650 paid, 120 comps), which was a bigger crowd than usual. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter gave Omega–Fenix 5 stars, the eight-man tag team match 4 stars, and Allin–Cage 4.25 stars.[1]

Aftermath

During Night 2, the match card for the next Dynamite on January 20 was announced: Jon Moxley in action, Penelope Ford vs. Leyla Hirsch, Chris Jericho and MJF vs. Santana and Ortiz vs. Sammy Guevara and Jake Hager to determine the official tag team of The Inner Circle, Matt Sydal and Top Flight vs. Matt Hardy and Private Party, Cody Rhodes vs. Peter Avalon, and Adam Page and The Dark Order (Colt Cabana and Alex Reynolds and John Silver) vs. Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico) and The Hybrid 2, billed as Brodie Lee Jr.'s (-1) birthday celebration match. Page has said he will reveal whether or not he will join The Dark Order after their match. Several segments were also announced: AEW World Champion Kenny Omega reflects on his dominance, Sting congratulates AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin, and an update from Miro and his new butler Chuck Taylor.[21]

Results
Night 1 (January 6)
No. Results Stipulations Times[22]
1 The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) and SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) defeated The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster) and The Hybrid 2 (Angelico and Jack Evans) Eight-man tag team match[23] 9:59
2 Wardlow defeated Jake Hager Singles match[11] 10:17
3 Cody Rhodes (with Snoop Dogg) defeated Matt Sydal Singles match[23] 10:03
4 Hikaru Shida (c) defeated Abadon Singles match for the AEW Women's World Championship[11] 8:27
5 Kenny Omega (c) (with Don Callis) defeated Rey Fenix Singles match for the AEW World Championship[11] 15:03
  • (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
Night 2 (January 13)
No. Results Stipulations Times[24]
1 Pac (with Lucha Brothers) defeated Eddie Kingston (with The Butcher, The Blade, and The Bunny) Singles match[20] 9:31
2 Miro (with Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford) defeated Chuck Taylor (with Orange Cassidy) by submission Singles match[20]
Because Taylor lost, he will be Miro's butler until Sabian and Ford's wedding at Beach Break.[25]		 3:32
3 The Elite (Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) (with Don Callis) defeated Danny Limelight and Varsity Blondes (Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison) Six-man tag team match[26] 9:21
4 FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) (with Tully Blanchard) defeated Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt) Tag team match[17] 12:16
5 Serena Deeb (c) defeated Tay Conti (with Anna Jay) Singles match for the NWA World Women's Championship[27] 9:28
6 Darby Allin (c) defeated Brian Cage (with Ricky Starks and Hook) Singles match for the AEW TNT Championship[17] 13:47
  • (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match

See also

References
  1. Observer Staff (January 8, 2021). "January 13, 2021 Observer Newsletter: More on the death of Brodie Lee, Tokyo Dome, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  2. Rose, Bryan (December 9, 2020). "AEW announces Holiday Bash, New Year's Smash special events". Figure Four Online. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  3. All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (December 23, 2020). "Here's a look at your match card for next week and as well as Jan 6th. Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama" (Tweet). Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via Twitter.
  4. Khan, Tony [@TonyKhan] (December 28, 2020). "AEW New Year's Smash will now take place across the first 2 weeks of 2021, on January 6 + January 13 on @tntdrama. I'll announce the card for this week's #AEWDynamite Celebration of Mr. Brodie Lee's Life in a moment. Thank you to all who have shared their love for Jon this week" (Tweet). Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Twitter.
  5. All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (December 28, 2020). "Watch the Brodie Lee Celebration of Life episode of #AEWDynamite this Wednesday LIVE on TNT Drama at 8e/7c. Tickets are ONLY available by emailing [email protected] or calling 904-633-2000" (Tweet). Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Twitter.
  6. Lambert, Jeremy (January 5, 2021). "Sting Appearance, TNT Title Match Weigh-In Added To 1/6 AEW Dynamite". Fightful. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  7. Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  8. Thompson, Andrew (October 23, 2020). "Fenix injured, Pentagon Jr. facing Kenny Omega in AEW World Title Eliminator tournament". POSTWrestling. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  9. Rose, Bryan (December 16, 2020). "Omega vs. Fenix title match set for AEW New Year's Smash Night One". Figure Four Online. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  10. Lambert, Jeremy (November 25, 2020). "Abadon Returns On AEW Dynamite, Targets Hikaru Shida". Fightful. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  11. Nason, Josh (December 23, 2020). "Jon Moxley's return set for AEW New Year's Smash night one". Figure Four Online. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  12. AEW Staff (May 6, 2020). "AEW DYNAMITE Results for May 6, 2020". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  13. S. Lealos, Shawn (May 23, 2020). "AEW: Former World Champion Debuts, Wins BIG at Double Or Nothing". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  14. Thomas, Jeremy (September 6, 2020). "AEW News: Update on Darby Allin and Matt Sydal After All Out, New Video of Chris Jericho Falling Into Mimosa". 411 Mania. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  15. Klyn, Parker (November 7, 2020). "AEW Full Gear live results: Five title matches, Omega vs. Page". Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  16. AEW Staff (November 18, 2020). "AEW Dynamite Results for November 18, 2020". Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  17. DeFelice, Robert (December 23, 2020). "FTR vs. Jurassic Express, Darby Allin Defending TNT Title Added To AEW New Year's Smash Night 2". Fightful. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  18. Thompson, Andrew (November 11, 2020). "PAC returns, set to compete against The Blade on 11/18 AEW Dynamite". POST Wrestling. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  19. Thomas, Jeremy (November 18, 2020). "Death Triangle Reunites on AEW Dynamite (Video)". 411 Mania. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  20. Nason, Josh (December 30, 2020). "PAC vs. Eddie Kingston added to AEW New Year's Smash night two". Figure Four Online. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  21. AEW Staff (January 19, 2021). "https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-dynamite-preview-for-january-20-2021". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved January 20, 2021. External link in |title= (help)
  22. Acero, Tony (January 6, 2021). "Join 411's Live AEW Dynamite New Year's Smash (Night One) Coverage". 411 Mania. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  23. Nason, Josh (December 30, 2020). "Eight-man tag team match added to AEW New Year's Smash night one". Figure Four Online. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  24. Barnett, Jake (January 13, 2021). "1/13 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of New Year's Smash night two with Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage for the TNT Title, Miro vs. Chuck Taylor, FTR vs. Marko Stunt and Jungle Boy, Serena Deeb vs. Tay Conti for the NWA Women's Title, Pac vs. Eddie Kingston". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  25. All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (January 7, 2021). "We get an update on the current condition of @trentylocks and an interesting challenge made between @SexyChuckieT & @ToBeMiro. WATCH #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
  26. All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (January 6, 2021). ""Let's have an Elite reunion as @KennyOmegamanX the AEW World Champ & the World Tag Team Champs have a 6-man tag-team next week!" - @TheDonCallis. Night Two of our New Year's Smash this Wednesday on @TNTDrama at 8e/7c" (Tweet). Retrieved January 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
  27. All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (January 6, 2021). "Next week during Night Two of our New Year's Smash we have a STACKED card for you! WATCH #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama" (Tweet). Retrieved January 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
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