AEW Dynamite New Year's Smash Results: Released WWE star returns, Dissent teased between top faction members, Chris Jericho is back

The last episode of AEW Dynamite for 2021 was not a disappointment. This week's episode was also the last one to air on TNT with Dynamite moving to TBS from next week.

Dynamite's New Year's Smash special featured Kyle O'Reilly's first match in AEW as well as a big debut/return from a former WWE star. We also had Chris Jericho returning to AEW following his hiatus.

Read on for full AEW Dynamite results.

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Lucha Bros, Jurassic Express, Christian Cage vs FTR and HFO on AEW Dynamite New Year's Smash

Christian Cage and Cash Wheeler started off for their respective teams. It was good work from Christian as he got control for his team. He punched Cash in the corner. Dax tried to come in and help but was taken down with right hands.

Jungle Boy and Dax Harwood tagged in. Jungle Boy hit a series of dropkicks to take down Dax. Christian tagged back in and hit Dax with a big right hand across the jaw.

Jungle Boy came back in and went for the Snare Trap. Dax broke free and tagged Isiah Kassidy in. Jungle Boy took Isiah down and tagged in Fenix.

Lucha Bros hit a double-team move to Kassidy before tagging Jungle Boy back in. A back and forth ensued between Jungle Boy and Isiah Kassidy before Matt Hardy tagged in. Hardy cut off Jungle Boy in his team's corner. With the referee distracted, Tully Blanchard got in some shots from ringside.

Jungle Boy finally managed to tag out. The Lucha Brothers came in hot and were all over FTR. Fenix then hit Marc Quen with a senton for a nearfall. Quen hit back with a DDT to Fenix before tagging Harwood in. The heels now had Fenix isolated in their corner.

Luchasaurus finally tagged in for his team and cleared house. He took the fight to both FTR and Private Party. Luchasaurus hit Cash with the Tail Whip followed by a chokeslam to Dax Harwood. Penta was then tagged in with a blind tag and he hit a backstabber to Dax. Things started to break down as Private Party hit the ring. Both Rey Fenix and Jungle Boy took flight, hitting dives out to ringside.

There was an argument between Penta and Christian in the ring after Cage made a blind tag. FTR hit Cage with the Big Rig and pinned him.

Result: FTR and HFO def. Lucha Bros, Jurassic Express and Christian Cage

Grade: B

2point0 and Daniel Garcia vs Eddie Kingston, Santana and Ortiz on AEW Dynamite New Year's Smash

Eddie Kingston and Matt Lee started things off for their teams on AEW Dynamite. Kingston was on top early before the heels ganged up on him at ringside. Santana and Ortiz quickly came in to help Kingston out.

Back in the ring, Kingston dominated Jeff Parker before tagging Ortiz in. Back and forth ensued between both men before Parker took control with a boot to the midsection.

Ortiz hit back with a dropkick before tagging Santana in. We saw some great combination offense from Santana and Ortiz before Parker wriggled away and tagged out. Santana was all over Daniel Garcia, hitting the Three Amigos in a tribute to the late Eddie Guerrero.

Ortiz tagged back in but Lee and Parker managed to subdue him and take control. We saw some good teamwork from 2point0 as Parker isolated Ortiz in their corner and tagged Daniel Garcia back in. Eddie Kingston came in without making a tag and the referee had to force him to leave the ring.

Ortiz eventually tagged Eddie Kingston back in. Eddie was all over Daniel Garcia lighting him up with Machine Gun chops in the corner.

Santana tagged in and we saw more combination offense from the Inner Circle members. Matt Lee then pulled Santana's tights and rolled him up for the win.

Result: 2point0 and Daniel Garcia def. Eddie Kingston, Santana and Ortiz

Grade: B

Daniel Garcia brought the ring bell in after the match. 2point0 held Santana as Garcia smashed him in the head with it. Chris Jericho made his AEW return, coming out to make the save, but it wasn't in time to save Santana.

Chris Jericho and Eddie Kingston got into a heated argument in the middle of the ring and Ortiz had to get between them.

MJF calls out AEW for "unsafe working conditions"

MJF was backstage and accused AEW of unsafe working conditions. He said that he was almost thrown on his face last week by Sting, who he called an untrained outlaw. MJF added that if he worked for a proper company, he wouldn't have been put in such a situation, once again teasing a move to WWE in 2024.

MJF also had a message for Wardlow, who had a TNT title shot coming soon. The Salt Of The Earth said that if the bgi guy won the title he would have to relinquish it to MJF, bringing in Mark Sterling, to read out the fine print in Wardlow's contact with MJF.

They once again teased dissent between both men.

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Christian Cage and Jurassic Express confront the Lucha Brothers on AEW Dynamite

Lucha Brothers were confronted backstage by Christian Cage and Jurassic Express. Christian accused them of going into business for themselves during the match.

Christian then said it was time to stop delaying the inevitable and it looks like Jurassic Express will get their title shot next week on Dynamite.

Penta replied that for a legend, Christian was a bad tag-team partner. Penta also had a message for Jungle Boy, telling him if he wanted to be the future, he needed to let go of the past.

Wardlow vs Colin Delaney on AEW Dynamite New Year's Smash

Wardlow made short work of Colin Delaney on AEW Dynamite, who was a former star signed to WWE between 2007-2008. Wardlow destroyed Delaney with four powerbombs and quickly pinned him.

Result: Wardlow def. Colin Delaney

Grade: C

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Kyle O'Reilly backstage with The Super Elite

Adam Cole was backstage with The Young Bucks, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish. The Young Bucks weren't totally happy with Kyle O'Reilly showing up in AEW. O'Reilly then asked to speak with Adam Cole privately and asked him if he would have his back later tonight.

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Dan Lambert calls out Cody Rhodes and Brandi

Dan Lambert was in the ring with Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky. Lambert kept taking shots at Cody Rhodes and Brandi. Lambert blasted Cody Rhodes for cutting a backstage deal with Tony Khan to become his pet project.

Brandi Rhodes then took a mic and came out, calling Dan Lambert a cheaper version of Paul Heyman and Jim Cornette.

Brandi Rhodes then threatened to beat him up. Dustin Rhodes came out to try and restrain his sister-in-law, but Ethan Page took him down with a cheapshot.

Thunder Rosa vs Jade Cargill (AEW TBS title tournament semifinals)

Thunder Rosa didn't waste any time, quickly taking out Mark Sterling at ringside on AEW Dynamite. Jade Cargill capitalized, hitting a backbreaker at ringside after catching Rosa in midair. The former NWA Women's Champion hit back, going after Jade's knee and the back of her thigh.

Thunder Rosa continued going after Jade's leg, trying to keep her grounded. The power advantage was still there for Cargill as she tossed Thunder Rosa into the barricade. She then threw Thunder Rosa head-first into the ring post.

The match finally headed back into the ring but Thunder Rosa quickly took control. She headed to 'Bret's Rope' and hit an elbow strike before we cut to a commercial.

Jade Cargill attempted a Big Boot but Thunder Rosa dodged it and went after the leg again.

Jade overpowered her opponent and locked in a front chancery. Jade went for a lariat but Rosa ducked it and followed it up with more low kicks. Thunder Rosa briefly took control but Jade hit back with a Samoan Drop.

Jade Cargill went to follow up with a modified Torture Rack/Backbreaker and ended up hurting her knee further.

Thunder Rosa hit back with a kneebreaker and locked in a Figure 4 but Jade managed to reach the bottom rope.

Cargill booted Thunder Rosa over to the corner and we saw a hooded figure smash Thunder Rosa across the head. Jade then hit the Jaded to pick up the win.

Result: Jade Cargill def. Thunder Rosa

Grade: C

Jade Cargill's undefeated streak continues and will be heading to the finals of the TBS title tournament. The hooded figure in the ring turned out to be former WWE star Mercedes Martinez, who made her AEW return tonight.

CM Punk makes his Daily's Place debut and throws shade at MJF on AEW Dynamite

CM Punk first paid tribute to AEW's Jim Ross, who returned to the commentary booth tonight. Punk then spoke about being in Daily's Place for the first time and all the names who had graced the building, including the late Mr. Brodie Lee.

Punk then moved on to talk about MJF, categorizing him as a copy of an internet troll. Punk added that even if MJF was done with him, he was okay with it because he got the chance to team up with Darby Allin and 'The Icon' Sting last week.

The Straight Edge Superstar added that he was done with MJF, calling him a bigger waste of money than former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.

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Brian Pillman Jr calls out Malakai Black

Brian Pillman Jr. was in the ring after we came back from the break. He called out Malakai Black. Pillman Jr. said that he learned from his father that you get only one life, and promised a new version of himself next week.

Malakai Black briefly appeared on the entrance ramp before disappearing.

Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish vs Best Friends on AEW Dynamite New Year's Smash

Kyle O'Reilly and Chuck Taylor started things off for their respective teams on AEW Dynamite. O'Reilly quickly forced Chuckie T to tag out and Trent came in as the legal man.

Both KOR and Trent hit each other with stiff shots, as both men went down and then tagging out.

Orange Cassidy and Bobby Fish tagged in as the legal men. Orange Cassidy got a quick rollup for a two-count. Fish went for a senton but Cassidy rolled out of the way. Cole then took out Orange, giving Fish the chance to connect with another senton.

Adam Cole tagged in as Trent came in for his team. The Best Friends were all over Cole but O'Reilly and Fish came in to break it up. Best Friends cleared the ring.

Taylor and Cole were the legal men at this point. O'Reilly hit a Dragon Screw before Fish sent Chuck crashing into the apron. The heels traded tags, isolating Chuckie T in their corner.

Back from the final commercial break, Adam Cole superkicked Orange Cassidy off the apron. Trent tagged in and was all over the heels.

He hit Fish with a Half and Half Suplex followed by a suplex and a tornado DDT on Kyle O'Reilly. Fish tagged in as he and KOR double-teamed Trent. Fish hit a Tilt-A-Whirl Backbreaker and O'Reilly followed it up with a legdrop.

Orange Cassidy and Kyle O' Reilly tagged in. Cassidy hit a tope suicida out to ringside followed by a Stundog Millionaire to Adam Cole.

O'Reilly and Fish hitan impressive combination offense on Orange Cassidy but he kicked out from the ensuing cover. O'Reilly and Fish followed it up with the High Low to Cassidy, but Chuckie T broke up the cover.

Adam Cole went for a Panama Sunrise on the entrance ramp but Chuckie T countered it into a backdrop. Back in the ring, Orange Cassidy hit a diving DDT to Adam Cole but he kicked out at the last second. Orange Cassidy then hit Cole with the Beach Break but the pin was broken up.

O'Reilly went for a running boot to Orange Cassidy but took out Adam Cole by mistake. Best Friends capitalized taking out Fish with a Soul Food/Half and Half combo.

Brandon Cutler ran into the ring after this but was immediately taken down. The Bucks ran out and hit a double superkick. This saw Kyle O'Reilly take out Chuck Taylor to pick up the win.

Result: Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish def. Best Friends

Grade: A