Samoa Joe defeated Eddie Kingston via submission to retain the AEW World Championship within the fundamental event of “AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming.”
Joe was defending the title against Kingston in his first defense since capturing it from “Hangman” Adam Page within the fundamental event of Full Gear in November.
Hook accompanied Joe to the ring, but was quickly expelled by the referee from ringside despite his best protest. Kingston got the higher end of the early goings, forcing Joe to the canvas and wearing him down. Then they got right into a chopping exchange in the midst of the ring, which Kingston got the higher of and continued to strike away on the champion in each corner.
Joe looked to seek out his way back into the competition, but was quickly stopped with a lariat from Kingston to drop him over again. Nonetheless, Joe reversed momentum over again with an Uranage. Joe continued to lock within the STF, throwing a salute to the camera in presumed homage to John Cena, until Kingston bit his hand to interrupt the hold. Kingston connected with a cutter to drop Joe, in search of the spinning backfist only to get caught within the Coquina Clutch and being forced to tap out after 13 minutes.