Bandido triumphed over Ricochet at AEW Dynamite on 34th Street to claim the Dynamite Diamond Ring, marking the first time in seven years that someone other than MJF has won this distinction. This opportunity arose after Bandido, the ROH World Champion, and Ricochet, the AEW National Champion, both endured the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal at AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash, guaranteeing that MJF would not compete for the ring this year—a break from tradition since 2019. This year’s prize also featured a title match set for AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage on January 15. Meanwhile, the AEW World Championship will be contested at World’s End in a four-way match with Samoa Joe defending against Swerve Strickland, “Hangman” Adam Page, and MJF.
During the match, Ricochet seemed poised to win, but the referee was distracted by the Gates of Agony, allowing Bandido to deliver a low blow before executing his Spirit Gun finisher. Bandido then countered Ricochet’s move with a backslide pin, securing the three-count and the victory. Although the match ended, Ricochet assaulted Bandido post-match until Brody King intervened to fend off Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun. King then handed the ring to his tag team partner, closing out the segment.
Fan Take: Bandido’s victory over Ricochet shakes up AEW’s status quo, signaling a potential shift in power dynamics beyond MJF’s dominance. This fresh storyline injects excitement for AEW fans and underscores the growing competition and unpredictability that keeps the sport thrilling.
