7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash (21 Dec - Review)

2. The Elite Vs. Death Triangle

The Elite and Death Triangle have thus far succeeded in their endeavours to do something different in each of their trios matches so far. While each revolves around wild, chaotic action, they have taken on different themes, with Nick Jackson's ankle injury the latest. Transitioning now into gimmick match territory should help in that regard, too.

While not the best of the series, Holiday Bash's No DQ bout hit all the right notes. A stipulation designed to minimise Death Triangle's hammer-driven advantage started with a brawl encompassing Michael Nakazawa, and Brandon Cutler dressed like an elf. Spiced with similar moments of Elite-branded comedy, it escalated in violence, peaking when Rey Fenix took a Tiger Driver '98 onto Kenny Omega's barbed wire broom (a crime Omega paid for when said barbed wire got stuck to his backside).

Things started coming to an end when Kenny kicked out of Fenix's hammer shot, which ended the warring faction's first bout. Matt Jackson then broke Omega and Nick out of tandem submissions. A Snapdragon on Fenix preceded the Meltzer Driver, with Nick laboured to hit thanks to his bad ankle, wobbling before flipping.

A brutal, bloody beatdown by Death Triangle ensued, raising the temperate ahead of next week's Falls Count Anywhere.