2025 Mar 15, 02:19
AEW World champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman faced off against Samoa Joe in a tag match on the December 27th episode of AEW Dynamite. However, this was not the first time they were supposed to face each other, as their previous attempt was marred by an attack on MJF backstage. Unfortunately, history repeated itself as Joe was assaulted before the match even began during their Ring of Honor Tag title defense. Despite the setback, MJF insisted on proceeding with the match, showing his determination. During the match, MJF tried to unmask one of his opponents, a move that backfired. A third goon emerged from under the ring, attacking MJF's injured shoulder with a steel pipe
This allowed the masked men to secure a victory with the assistance of the goons. Adding insult to injury, MJF also failed to keep his promise to Adam Cole about retaining the ROH Tag titles until Cole's return from injury. It is still unclear who is behind the masks, although Roderick Strong's theory that it is MJF seems unlikely. In a surprising turn of events, Joe made a heroic entrance, hobbling down to the ring and fending off the goons. A message from The Devil appeared on the screen, implying a connection between Joe and The Devil. Joe then delivered a devastating Muscle Buster to the champion, declaring that he was responsible for his predicament. As Tony Schiavone pointed out, it appears that Joe is now aligned with The Devil
The identity of the masked men remains a mystery. Will they continue to assist Joe at the upcoming PPV? And will we hear from Adam Cole amidst this chaos? Stay tuned to find out if this storyline will lose its appeal or continue to captivate the audience. For a comprehensive recap of tonight's New Year's Smash edition of Dynamite, check out the complete results and coverage here.