The John Report: AEW Dynamite 02/12/25 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured MJF against Dustin Rhodes, The Hurt Syndicate facing The Gunns, and more.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #280 from the H-E-B Center in Austin, Texas. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport.
They taped this episode on Tuesday night because the AEW crew is heading to Australia for their Grand Slam show that airs on Saturday.
For this review, I’ll do summary style for most of the show and then full play-by-play for one or two matches. Let’s get to it.
There were backstage shots of the wrestlers in matches on the show. I don’t even know what the theme song of this show is anymore. They had an old song “I’m So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters one week and then it went away when people complained.
It’s Wednesday and you know what that means. The commentary team was Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Nigel McGuinness.
Max Caster did a promo in the ring saying he is known as the Best Wrestler Alive. The fans booed him while Caster claimed his phrase was notarized by the US government. Caster bragged about running Anthony Bowens and Billy Gunn from this company. Caster wondered who could survive the Best Wrestler Alive. It’s former AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page, so the fans cheered that.
Max Caster vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
Max tried to run away through the crowd, so Page chased Max back into the ring. Max connected with a headscissors off the middle turnbuckle and that was followed by taunting, so Page was back up with a clothesline. Page hit another clothesline and a sliding clothesline. Page hit the Buckshot Lariat for the pinfall win after just over one minute.
Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page
Analysis: * That was quick. Caster getting destroyed made the fans happy and booking Page to win a squash match is cool with me.
A video package aired about Ricochet beating Swerve Strickland on AEW Dynamite last week. Also, Ricochet stole the Embassy robe belonging to Nana. Ricochet said he was moving on while Swerve Strickland said they are not done. Prince Nana wanted Swerve to not make it so personal and to focus on the AEW World Title. Swerve said he’ll end this.
AEW Trios Tag Team Championships: The Death Riders – Claudio Castagnoli, Pac & Wheeler Yuta vs. The Undisputed Kingdom – Adam Cole, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly
I don’t know when the last time these titles were defended on Dynamite. A long time. The Undisputed Kingdom guys attacked on the floor and the show went to a break quickly.
(Commercial)
Kyle was fighting out of the Death Riders corner and brought in Strong. There was some impressive offense from Strong including a suplex on Yuta onto Pac. After a backstabber by Cole, Kyle hit a running kick on Pac for two because Claudio broke it up. The heel side was in control of Strong as the face in peril. There were quick tags from the Riders as they worked over Strong for a few minutes. The Riders took turns hitting running uppercuts on Strong and Yuta hit a clothesline for two.
(Commercial)
The Riders were still in control with Yuta hitting a dropkick on Strong for two. Strong hit a clothesline leading to Cole getting the hot tag, so the crowd came alive as Cole was on offense. Cole hit a neckbreaker onto the knee on Yuta for a two count. When Pac tagged in, he tried a springboard attack and Cole hit him with a superkick. Great spot. The three UK guys hit kicks on Pac at the same time for a two count because Claudio broke up the pin. Claudio hit a double suplex. Kyle got the knees up to block a top rope splash from Yuta. Kyle got a cradle on Yuta for two and the fans popped for that nearfall. After a high/low combo, Pac and Claudio broke up a pin attempt. Kyle had Yuta trapped in an Ankle Lock. Claudio and Kyle double superkicked Claudio out of the ring after Claudio brought a chair into the ring. Pac fought with Cole out of the ring. Yuta hit a low blow uppercut on Kyle (the referee never saw it due to putting the chair out of the ring) and Yuta cradled Kyle for the pinfall win after 17 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Death Riders – Claudio Castagnoli, Pac & Wheeler Yuta
Analysis: ***1/2 A fun match featuring six talented guys and a match where the result wasn’t that obvious, which is different than most AEW matches. I’m not saying I expected the Death Riders to lose, but I think it was booked in a way where they looked like they might lose and that made me care more about the match. I thought it was a brilliant finish because Claudio brought in the chair, the referee had to put it out of the ring and Yuta hit a low blow leading to the pin. I liked how it was done. It was a cheap win for the heel champions.
The trio of TNT Champion Daniel Garcia, Angelo Parker and Matt Menard went down to the ring, so The Death Riders left to avoid a fight.
The AEW World Champion Jon Moxley was backstage with Marina Shafir, who had the briefcase with the AEW World Title in it. Adam Copeland hit Moxley in the back with a chair, Cope put Shafir in a room and took the briefcase. Jay White was there and he left with Cope. Moxley got Shafir out of the room and went after Cope and White.
Analysis: The stolen AEW World Title should lead to a follow up later in the show.
There was a rundown of the AEW Grand Slam Australia card. It airs late Saturday night. I’ll have a review on Sunday morning or afternoon.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman was interviewed by Renee Paquette. MJF said that no amount of paint on your face will hide your shame. “Hangman” Adam Page interrupted, MJF made a booze joke and Page said that’s the best you got. MJF said that whatever this is, this is not who Page is. MJF said that Page lost his friends and he wants a little apology. MJF complained about the schmucks (the fans) believing in Page. MJF said he is going to beat Dustin Rhodes and accomplish what Page has failed to do, which is become a two-time AEW World Champion. Renee tried talking to Hangman, but Page didn’t want to talk.
Analysis: I like the MJF/Page interactions. That’s going to be one of the better rivalries in AEW as it continues.
Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Jon Cruz, Aaron Solo & Rosario Grillo
Hook gave Solo an overhead suplex across the ring. Shibata and Joe took turns chopping Grillo in the chest. Joe did a comedic trip and a senton splash. Joe beat up Cruz with a hard chop and a Muscle Buster for the pinfall win. It went under two minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata
Analysis: * An easy squash match win. No tags. It was a dominant showing.
Samoa Joe did a promo saying this is his brother Hook and his brother Shibata. Joe said what stands before you are three men who have misunderstandings that lead to violence. Joe said that they always have a problem and they will fight to solve it. Joe said that they are The Opps. Joe mentioned Christian Cage’s group The Patriarchy saying they could have taken this ass kicking like men. Joe said next week on Dynamite, he wants it to be The Partiarchy vs. The Opps in a six-man tag team match. That was it.
Analysis: I don’t think The Opps is a great name for a group, but I like all the wrestlers, so that’s what matters.
The ROH World Champion Chris Jericho and Bryan Keith were interviewed by Renee Paquette. Jericho complained about Bandido saying he wanted Keith to watch Jericho collect the bounty for Bandido. Jericho challenged Bandido to a showdown. Keith told Renee not to embarrass him in front of Jericho again.
(Commercial)
Willow Nightingale was interviewed by Renee Paquette, who mentioned Willow is going to Japan next month. Marina Shafir attacked Willow and threw her into some object in the background. Jon Moxley walked in saying that Adam Copeland was a dead man walking.
Analysis: Poor Willow.
Chris Jericho’s Showdown With Bandido
Chris Jericho made his entrance as the ROH World Champion with a cowboy hat. The story is there’s a $200,000 bounty on Bandido. Jericho stood face to face with Bandido. There was a bell noise and then they walked to opposite turnbuckles while the lights were off. Jericho and Bandido took their hats off, so then Bryan Keith tripped up Bandido. The lights came back on as Jericho and Keith attacked Bandido. The Outrunners duo of Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum went to the ring to fight with Jericho and Keith. Big Bill walked out with the $200,000 Bounty poster for Bandido. Bill teased a Chokeslam, but then he stopped because Powerhouse Hobbs made the save. Bandido kicked Bill and Hobbs hit a spinebuster on Bill. That was the end of it.
Analysis: I think the Jericho/Bandido “bounty hunter” story is lame, but the fans are getting behind Bandido and maybe he’ll take the ROH World Title from Jericho, so that could help Bandido. Since I don’t watch ROH, I don’t have much of an interest in who the champion is. That’s nothing against ROH. I watch too many wrestling shows and don’t have time for more. The Hobbs/Bill feud is going well.
Jay White and Adam Copeland aka Cope were backstage with the briefcase that had the AEW World Title. White said he wanted Moxley to make sure that the Death Riders get to Australia for their tag team match. Cope mentioned carrying around briefcases in the past referring to his WWE Money int eh Bank history. Cope said if you want this back then meet them in the ring by the end of the night.
(Commercial)
Dustin Rhodes was interviewed by Renee Paquette in the backstage area. Dustin said that he brought the devil and MJF is going to find out why Dustin is the last of his kind…bitch.
Dustin Rhodes vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman
The fans were strongly behind Dustin in his hometown of Austin. They hated MJF as usual. I’ll go play-by-play for this match.
Dustin started with a powerslam after MJF ran at him. MJF tried to leave, so Dustin punched him and brought Max into the ring. MJF wrenched on the left arm against the ropes and MJF hit a knee drop onto the left arm. Dustin went for a sunset flip, MJF blocked it and wrenched on the left arm. MJF gave Dustin a belly-to-back suplex. MJF ran the ropes leading to a thigh to the head, which drew more boos from the crowd. Dustin fought back with punches. MJF did an eye gouge. MJF did a Goldust-style taunt, which led to Dustin hitting a Powerbomb out of the corner. Dustin hit an atomic drop followed by ten punches while against the turnbuckle. Dustin hit a running bulldog. MJF hit Dustin with a back elbow and a double foot stomp on the left arm. Dustin got a counter for a two count. MJF teased a Cross Rhodes, but Dustin got out of it and hit his own Cross Rhodes for two. MJF and Dustin each got inside cradles for two counts. MJF faked a knee injury and MJF hit a piledriver for a two count. MJF brought a steel chair into the ring, put it on Dustin’s arm and the referee Bryce Remsburg took the chair away. That was done so Dustin could crotch MJF against the turnbuckle and Dustin hit his Shattered Dreams low blow kick. Dustin hit the Final Reckoning brainbuster for two. MJF wrenched on Dustin’s left down to take him down. MJF hit his own version of the Final Reckoning for two. MJF applied the Salt of the Earth armbar, then Dustin was close to the ropes and MJF applied a Crossface submission. Dustin passed out in the hold, so MJF got the win. It went 11 minutes.
Winner by submission: Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Analysis: ***1/2 I thought it was a great match even though it was a predictable result with MJF getting the win. Dustin is so good at selling and making the babyface comeback. The fans got behind him throughout the match until MJF was able to put him away. I liked the match that was full of action and it felt right in terms of the length because it didn’t need to be a 20+ minute match. It was fine how it was around 11 minutes.
After the match, MJF applied the Salt of the Earth armbar on the left arm of Rhodes. “Hangman” Adam Page made the save while MJF let go of Rhodes. Page had a staredown with MJF in the middle of the ring. MJF was about to leave, but then he tackled Page and they brawled on the mat. There were a bunch of security guys out there to try to separate MJF and Page. Both guys managed to break free for some more fighting. MJF and Page exchanged punches while on the floor. MJF hit Page in the throat and MJF tried to leave. MJF went up the steps and threw a drink at Page. The security guys managed to separate MJF and Page while the fans were chanting “let them fight.” A fan gave MJF his drink and MJF tossed the drink onto the fan. That was awesome.
MJF did a promo saying that the fans chanted “let them fight” while MJF claimed that Page is afraid of him and MJF said that Page is a gutless coward. Page ran back out to the ring and brawled with MJF again. The fans chanted “let them fight” again. The security guys and officials held the two men back.
Analysis: Great segment. I enjoyed that. It is obviously going to lead to a Page/MJF match. That will probably be at Revolution next month. They are two of my favorites in AEW, so I like it as a rivalry.
A video package aired promoting the AEW Grand Slam matches.
(Commercial)
There was a replay of the MJF/Adam Page fight. During the break, Page hit a Buckshot Lariat on a security guy.
It was announced that there would be an MJF-Adam Page face to face next week on Dynamite.
Megan Bayne vs. Maya World
Bayne was in full control with a shoulder tackle early on and a leaping clothesline. Bayne hit her version of an F5 spinning slam off the shoulders for the pinfall win. It lasted about one minute.
Winner by pinfall: Megan Bayne
Analysis: 1/2* A squash match to put over Megan Bayne. She is an impressive athlete. Maya may have a bright future, but she wasn’t allowed to show much here.
Kris Statlander made her entrance for a match and had a staredown with Bayne. Two women’s matches on a Dynamite episode? That’s rare.
Kris Statlander vs. Penelope Ford
They did a spot where Ford licked the side of Statlander’s face, so Kris broke free and hit a clothesline. Ford tried a sunset flip, but Kris rolled through and hit a dropkick. Kris hit a delayed vertical suplex leading into a break.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Kris hitting a powerslam. Ford hit a neckbreaker after Kris missed a corner attack. Ford hit a Poison Rana that the announcers got excited about, but Kris barely sold it. Kris hit a clothesline and Wednesday Night Fever for the pinfall win after about 8 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kris Statlander
Analysis: **1/2 This match could have been a lot shorter and Kris could have had a more decisive win. Nobody watching this thought that Ford had a shot here.
After the match, Megan Bayne went down to ringside. Ford knocked Kris off the apron to the floor. Bayne gave Kris her spinning slam off the shoulders and Bayne stood tall over a fallen Kris.
Analysis: That should set up Megan Bayne for a match with Kris Statlander soon.
There was a music video featuring Harley Cameron with a Mercedes Mone puppet to hype up their match at Grand Slam Australia. When the video stopped, Harley said that Mercedes is one of the greatest wrestlers alive, but you have to start somewhere. Harley said that Mone pushed her to work harder and inspired her to be different. Harley said that she’s going to win the TBS Championship in her home country. Harley said she wasn’t going to ride the Mone Train because she was going to drive it. Harley ended it by saying “Feel The Wrath.”
Analysis: That was cool. I like Harley a lot. I like her not just because she’s a beautiful woman, but I also admire her creativity and how she is smart enough to be a character. That character of hers makes her stand out. With that said, I’ll pick Mone to win at Grand Slam Australia.
AEW Tag Team Championships: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin (w/MVP) vs. The Gunns – Austin & Colten Gunn
Lashley used his power to run over Colten with a shoulder tackle. Austin tagged in, so Lashley sent him into the mat. Lashley caught Austin on his shoulder and Lashley launched Austin over the top to the floor. Shelton sent Austin over the barricade at ringside. Shelton was legal as he hit an overhead suplex on Austin.
(Commercial)
The show returned with Lashley giving Austin a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Shelton made the tag, Austin broke free and hit a neckbreaker on Shelton, but Lashley pulled Colten off the apron to stop the tag. The fans were chanting “We Hurt People/Gunns Up” to show their support for both teams. Austin managed to break free, which led to Colten tagging in with leaping clothesline. Colten dropkicked Lashley to the floor. Colten hit a neckbreaker on Shelton for two. Colten rolled up Shelton for two, but Shelton countered that leading to an Ankle Lock. Austin broke that up with a neckbreaker. Austin hit an assisted Blockbuster on Lashley. Austin hit a Fameasser on Shelton for two even though Colten was legal and Colten covered for two. Lashley went into the ring illegally with a clothesline and Shelton nailed a superkick to knock Austin down. Shelton gave Austin a German Suplex two times in a row. Shelton gave Colten a German Suplex and Lashley hit a huge spinebuster on Colten. Shelton hit a knee lift on Austin followed by Lashley hitting a huge Spear. Shelton covered Austin for the pinfall win. It went about 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a pretty good match with the champions retaining as expected. It’s not like The Gunns had a shot to win this match, but at least it was competitive most of the way before the champions put them away. I like The Gunns more as heels, but they got their “Gunns Up” phrase to try to get the fans behind them. I like Lashley and Shelton as the champions.
After the match, the team of Lance Archer and Brian Cage showed up for a staredown with Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin. It was a tease of a future match.
Mariah May, the Women’s World Champion, was backstage saying that everybody will realize that Mariah did it better. May claimed that Toni Storm wouldn’t exist without May and it stops now. May said maybe she loves Storm because this is going to be a mercy killing.
Analysis: I’m going with Storm beating May to win back the AEW Women’s Title.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Cope and Jaye White
The duo of Adam Copeland aka Cope and Jay White arrived with Cope holding the silver briefcase that has the AEW World Title in it. Cope said the AEW World Title has been hidden in this briefcase and Cope asked if they wanted to see it, so the fans cheered. Cope left the ring and brought in a case that said “Spike” on it and he opened it up to reveal it was a bat with nails on it. Cope told Jon Moxley to get out here and give Cope his AEW World Title match.
Jon Moxley arrived with Marina Shafir. Moxley told Cope he was making a big mistake. Moxley said that he has left pieces of his soul in that ring for the AEW World Championship because he is its protector. Moxley said he’ll show you how much he cares. Moxley said that at Revolution, he’s going to break Adam Copeland’s neck. Moxley said if you want your shot at the championship then you’ve got it. Cope said he’ll show us how much he cares about the AEW World Championship. Cope used Spike to hit the case, but it didn’t open it. Moxley’s buddies like Wheeler Yuta and Pac went down to ringside. White fought with Yuta, Cope looked at Pac and Shafir took the briefcase out of the ring. Moxley and Pac fought with Cope, but Cope hit a Spear on Pac. Claudio Castagnoli went into the ring and hit Cope with an uppercut. White caught Claudio and hit Claudio with a Bladerunner. Moxley had Spike in his hands, he was looking at White and Cope hit a Spear on Mox. Cope and White left.
White said that you have Revolution set, but before you get there, White said that he and Cope will put the Death Riders in the ground at Grand Slam Australia. There was some staring between the two sides. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: It was an effective angle to end the show. Cope finally gets his match with Moxley at Revolution, which has been obvious for over a month now, so I’m glad it’s official. White and Cope got the upper hand even while having the numbers disadvantage. It was a fine way to end the show.
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Three Stars of the Show
- MJF/Dustin Rhodes
- The Hurt Syndicate
- The Death Riders
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.5 out of 10
Last Week: 7.75
2025 Average: 7.21
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
I thought it was a very good episode of Dynamite with a nice balance of entertaining matches, plenty of promos to advance stories and they built to the Grand Slam Australia show well. I’m looking forward to that show.
We also finally got the official announcement of Moxley facing Cope at Revolution, which has been obvious for over a month. I’m glad it’s official now.
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X: @johnreport