MJF steals the win at AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming.
The December 14 episode of Dynamite was headlined by MJF defending both his Dynamite Diamond Ring and the AEW World Championship against number one contender Ricky Starks. The two battled back and forth as Starks bounced back from everything the champ dealt. In the final seconds, MJF put the ref between them before shoving him away. MJF then low-blowed Starks and pinned him for the three-count.
After the bout, Bryan Danielson confronted MJF on the ramp, which sent MJF running through the crowd to escape what appears to be his next challenger.
#AndSTILL! #AEW World Champion @The_MJF walks away with both the title and the Dynamite Diamond Ring, after an incredibly physical battle against @starkmanjones!
Watch #AEWDynamite: #WinterIsComing LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/v7ib6bXqhy
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 15, 2022
Here’s a recap of how the match broke down, courtesy of our play-by play coverage:
MJF gets in Starks’ face and raises the title. The two men have a heated staredown and trade words. They feel each other out. MJF struts and plays to the crowd. Starks sends MJF to the outside, and the champion walks into the crowd. MJF gets back in the ring and scores a two count on a pin attempt. He gets a few more two counts on some pin attempts. Starks drops MJF with a clothesline. MJF thumbs Starks in the eye and slings him into the ropes. The challenger rolls out of the ring as the champion takes control. MJF grounds Starks. The challenger gets a two count on a pin attempt, but MJF traps him in an abdominal stretch. Starks rallies with a clothesline. He catches MJF by surprise with a flurry of offense. Starks gets a two count with a Liger Bomb. MJF counters the Roshambo. They trade pin attempts, and MJF powerbombs Starks on his knee.
The competitors trade blows. Starks kicks MJF in the face and drops the champion with a Spear, but his hurt arm prevents him from going for the pin. He eventually goes for the pin, but MJF kicks out and immediately locks in the Salt of the Earth armbar. MJF wrenches the arm, and Starks reaches the ropes. He reverses another attempt at the armbar into a pin attempt for a two count. They trade pin attempts, and Starks hits a superkick, MJF counters the Liger Bomb and a Roshambo. MJF uses the referee as a human shield, shoves him aside, and kicks Starks below the belt. He then rolls Starks up for the win.
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