Elite Heat is back for 2026, and Tim and Dug are diving headfirst into a packed episode of AEW Dynamite, attempting once again to compress two hours of wrestling into about 30 minutes (with mixed results).

This week’s discussion covers standout matches, questionable booking decisions, surprise returns, and one of the most unhinged cake segments in recent memory.

🔥 Topics Covered in This Episode:

• Jim Ross Returns
  JR opens Dynamite, and while it’s great to see him back, Tim and Dug discuss how AEW handled the moment—and why cutting away at the right time mattered.
• The Don Callis Family Grows
  Ricochet shines in a strong promo, Mark Davis gets direction, and a mysterious new member appears… who neither host recognizes.
• Jon Moxley vs. Shelton Benjamin
  A very good match with a baffling finish. The guys debate Shelton’s place in AEW, the overuse of eliminator matches, and why the ending made Shelton look far less savvy than he should.
• Trios Match: The Bucks & Jack Perry vs. The Don Callis Family
  Old-school Young Bucks energy, wild offense, new moves, and a finish that actually worked. Match of the night honors go here.
• Andrade Makes His AEW Return
  Andrade is back in dramatic fashion, but the moment gets confusing when FTR randomly appears. What exactly are we setting up here?
• Willow Nightingale Celebration (feat. Mercedes Moné)
  Positivity meets chaos. Statlander saves the cake, Mercedes snaps (again), and everyone agrees: unhinged Mercedes is the best Mercedes.
• Mark Briscoe’s Crystal Ball Promo
  Not his strongest promo overall, but the crystal ball bit? Absolute gold.
• The Sisters of Sin Promo
  Thekla impresses on the mic, while Skye Blue and Julia Hart feel more ornamental than essential...by design or by mistake?
• Sammy Guevara vs. Bandido
  Sammy’s return to Dynamite is welcomed, Bandido delivers as always, and the interpreter steals the segment with an all-time great bump.
• Toni Storm vs. Marina Shafir
  The match was fine. Toni remains gold. Marina gets more personality, Claudio comes in hot, and Luther continues to be one of the most underrated acts in AEW.
• PAC and Darby Allin
  A feud that just isn’t clicking yet. The hosts break down why stretching this story might have worked better than forcing the confrontation.
• Lights Out Tag Match
  The lights literally went out when they shouldn't have, and Hangman and Swerve should chase gold.

🎙 Final Thoughts:

From excellent in-ring work to head-scratching creative choices, this episode of Dynamite gave Elite Heat plenty to chew on. Some stories feel perfectly set up for Revolution… others feel like they’re spinning their wheels.

If you’re looking for an honest, fan-focused breakdown of AEW World’s End, this episode covers what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to happen next to keep AEW moving forward.

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AEW World’s End Recap: Broken Necks, Missing Teeth, and Big Title Moves

In this episode, we break down AEW World’s End from top to bottom, including standout matches, questionable finishes, and what the results mean heading into the next phase of AEW storytelling. From Okada vs. Takeshita to MJF reclaiming the AEW World Championship, there was no shortage of chaos, controversy, and physical punishment.

We discuss the Continental Classic finals, Jon Moxley’s surprising win and even more surprising promo, the state of the AEW tag team division, and why Chicago crowds usually never miss — except maybe this time. Plus, we dive deep into where AEW goes next with MJF, Hangman Adam Page, Swerve Strickland, and the rest of the main event scene.

Episode Highlights:

• Okada vs. Takeshita delivers early match-of-the-night energy
• Jon Moxley wins the Continental Classic (and loses a tooth)
• Fletcher vs. Moxley and the storytelling threads that carried through the night
• FTR vs. Bang Bang Gang ends with an anticlimactic thud
• Mercedes Moné and Athena tease a potential money feud
• Darby Allin once again flirts with disaster
• Mixed Mayhem delivers unexpected fun (and Tony Storm steals the show)
• Kris Statlander vs. Jamie Hayter suffers from crowd fatigue
• MJF wins the AEW World Championship — and why it’s the right call
• Where AEW’s world title, tag titles, and Death Riders storyline go next

Key Topics Discussed:

AEW World’s End review
AEW Continental Classic finals
Jon Moxley face turn speculation
MJF AEW World Champion
Okada AEW run
AEW tag team division struggles
Hangman Adam Page vs Swerve Strickland future
Mercedes Moné AEW storyline
AEW booking analysis

If you’re looking for an honest, fan-focused breakdown of AEW World’s End, this episode covers what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to happen next to keep AEW moving forward.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
👍 Like, share, and support independent wrestling podcasts

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If you love deep-dive AEW analysis, weekly breakdowns, and honest wrestling talk, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more fans discover the show!

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It's Christmas Eve! What better way to spend it than watching wrestling together?

Doug made the bold choice to prioritize family over grappling, which means Tim is flying solo on this holiday episode of Elite Heat. Coming out of AEW Dynamite, there's plenty to break down about the Continental Classic, and the road to Worlds End.

Tim dives into:

• Konosuke Takeshita reaching the Continental Classic semifinals and what it signals for AEW’s future
• Gabe Kidd vs. Darby Allin and why that match will be uncomfortable in all the right ways
• FTR vs. the Bang Bang Gang in a Chicago Street Fight and why the rivalry still works
• What AEW should do with Roderick Strong moving forward
• The Worlds End main event and the smartest possible outcome
• The state of the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles
• Marina Shafir: good concept, uneven execution
• “Jungle” Jack Perry breaking out moves we’ve never seen before

Grab a drink, hide from your relatives, and spend Christmas Eve talking wrestling with us.

👉 Subscribe, rate, and review Elite Heat wherever you listen.

Follow Elite Heat

If you love deep-dive AEW analysis, weekly breakdowns, and honest wrestling talk, hit follow and leave a review — it helps more fans discover the show!

Follow us on social media!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eliteheatpod
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