The John Report: AEW Dynamite 02/18/26 Review
This is AEW Dynamite, featuring MJF exchanging words with Hangman Page and a big Swerve Strickland-Kenny Omega main event.
I thought AEW Dynamite was great last week and they followed that up with an even better AEW Grand Slam Australia show in the Collision time slot. That one felt like a PPV. I think AEW is really clicking right now.
For this show, I’m going to do a summary style for most of the show and then play-by-play for the main event.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #333 from the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, California. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means. Excalibur was on commentary with Bryan Danielson and Tony Schiavone.
There were pre-tape promos from wrestlers in matches on this week’s show.
Orange Cassidy was interviewed by Renee Paquette earlier today. Orange brought in Tomohiro Ishii as his tag team partner since the yare in The Conglomeration together.
Jon Moxley vs. Mark Davis
This is not for Moxley’s AEW Continental Title, but if Davis wins, then he gets a title shot. I don’t think anybody thinks Davis will win. Davis hit a jumping body attack to knock Moxley down. The fans chanted “F**k Don Callis” even though he wasn’t there, but Davis is in Don’s family. When Moxley tried a sunset flip, Davis sat on him to block that. Davis punched Moxley on the floor, Moxley moved and Davis’ right hand hit the ring post. Moxley followed up with a suicide dive and the fans cheered. Davis was bleeding around his knuckles after punching the ring post. Moxley bit and stomped on Davis’ right hand. They went to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
Davis regained control with a running elbow smash on Moxley against the barricade. Back in the ring, Moxley hit a superplex. They did the “stand and throw strikes” spot that Moxley does in every match and most AEW wrestlers tend to do. After Davis hit a leaping kick, Davis ran the ropes, and Moxley hit a Cutter. Davis kicked Moxley’s arm and hit a lariat to knock Moxley down. Davis hit a gutwrench Piledriver that looked safe, but also not easy to do. Moxley avoided a kick by Davis and Moxley hit a Stomp. Davis went for a move, but Moxley turned it over into a Bulldog Choke and Davis tapped out to give Mox the win. It went about 14 minutes.
Winner by submission: Jon Moxley
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a good brawling type of match that probably would have been better as a 10-minute match instead of going 14 minutes. I think Moxley should win a match like this more decisively. The fans have really gotten behind Moxley as a babyface, even though his group tends to function as heels. Davis did a nice job of selling the right hand injury throughout the match. Moxley winning was the obvious result here.
They showed “Hangman” Adam Page, after Grand Slam Australia, talking about his AEW World Title match against MJF at Revolution. Page said that at Revolution, he is coming for MJF and he will end him to take the AEW World Title. Page told MJF he’s telling the truth and he warned him.
The AEW Tag Team Champions FTR made their entrance for a promo.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from FTR
FTR’s Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler were in the ring as the AEW Tag Team Champions while their manager Stokely aka Big Stoke was still in a wheelchair in the ring. Dax talked about the Young Bucks, so fans chanted “Shut the F**k Up” at him. Dax said that 10 years ago, the Young Bucks coined the phrase FTR but now they are second place to FTR as the best of this generation. Stokely said last week on Dynamite, The Young Bucks shook hands with The Rascalz and Private Party. Stokely complained about the fakeness about The Young Bucks. Stoke said that the Bucks are at the top of their hate list, while trashing the Bucks’ parents and their kids.
The Young Bucks went into the ring behind FTR and The Bucks hit superkicks on FTR. Stoke acted like he didn’t know they were in the ring, btu then he realized they were there. The Bucks superkicked Stokely and it was edited out of TSN’s broadcast here in Canada. I don’t know why. Fake wheelchair guy abuse? I guess. Matt & Nick Jackson talked about being the contenders for the AEW Tag Team Titles. Nick said they’ll challenge FTR at Revolution.
Analysis: It was already set up last week when the Bucks earned the right to challenge for the AEW Tag Team Titles and now it’s official at Revolution in LA, which is close to where the Bucks are from. It’s yet another FTR/Bucks match and they are always great. The promos from everybody involved were fine, but nothing special about it.
Brody King and Bandido were shown backstage after Grand Slam Australia. King said that they were this close. The fans chanted “F**K ICE” when they saw King on TV. King said he won’t feel sorry for himself. King said he’s getting back into the World Title hunt, so he wants a match on Dynamite next week because he’s looking for a fight.
TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale vs. Marina Shafir vs. Megan Bayne vs. Mina Shirakawa
Willow is the TBS Champion and Women’s Tag Team Champion with Harley Cameron. The first fall wins.
The champion Willow was attacked by Bayne and Shafir, so Willow fought back to clear them from the ring with clotheslines. Willow hit a cannonball on the floor and Mina hit a cross body block on her three opponents on the floor. Willow was on fire with splashes on two opponents, but Shafir came back with strikes. Bayne hit an impressive hurricanrana off the top on Willow. Bayne tossed Mina over the top onto Willow and Shafir on the floor. That led to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
There was some offense from Mina hitting a Slingblade on Bayne for two. Willow used her power to hit spinebusters on all three opponents. They did spots leading to all four women going to the mat after Bayne and Willow hit a double clothesline. The four women got up and all of them hit moves. Bayne hit a leaping lariat, followed by a suicide dive on the three opponents. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for them. Shafir was kicking Bayne repeatedly in the uh…chest, so Bayne stopped that with a Powerbomb onto a table that didn’t break. Ouch. Willow gave Bayne a German Suplex off the top and Bayne barely flipped over on the landing, but she looked like she was okay. Mina hit a spinning back fist on Willow. Mina went for a Figure Four Leglock, but Willow got an inside cradle on her for the pinfall win. Willow kicked out right after the three count.
Winner by pinfall: Willow Nightingale
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a competitive match to give Willow a win since she hasn’t defended the title that often. Bayne is usually protected in matches like this, so it made sense for Mina to take the pin. It was a close pin with Mina kicking out right after the count and they never showed a replay of it. I can see Bayne winning a singles title at some point this year, but I’m not sure when.
A video package aired about the great Grand Slam Australia show from last Saturday.
The announcers mentioned Kerwin Silfies, who passed away at 75. Kerwin worked for WWE as a director. Tony praised him. Bryan mentioned WWE while speaking about the good man that Kerwin was.
Analysis: That’s a nice tribute by AEW. Rest in peace, Kerwin. I wonder how many times Kerwin had to deal with an angry Vince McMahon. Poor guy.
(Commercial)
Face To Face: MJF-“Hangman” Adam Page
It was “Hangman” Adam Page up first as the number one contender to the AEW World Title. The AEW World Champion MJF made his entrance second to boos. Their match will be at Revolution on March 15th. The announcers said they aren’t allowed to get physical.
MJF said he hates Page’s guts. MJF said he hates the way that Page looks, wrestles and his white knight bullshit. MJF said he hates that the fans think of Hangman as the main character when clearly it’s him. MJF hates that the fans chant “Cowboy Shit” whenever Page is around, so of course, he paused for some fans to chant it. MJF said it makes him want to puke that Page holds two win over his head. MJF said that Page isn’t better, he’s a lucky shot. MJF said that something’s off about Hangman. Maybe it’s because Page’s two boyfriends, Swerve and Kenny, are fighting. MJF said that Page has held the AEW World Title twice, and both times, Page crumbled under pressure. MJF said maybe Page is wondering if he wins the title for a third time then people will realize he’s nothing more than a fraud. MJF said that the man he’s looking at now is not the same man he faced at Revolution last year. MJF said that Page is all out of bullets. MJF said that on his birthday, March 15th, he can’t think of a better present than ending Hangman Page and his Cowboy Shit. The fans chanted “Cowboy Shit” again, but not a lot of them.
Analysis: MJF will turn 30 on March 15th. The man still has many great years ahead of him in pro wrestling.
Page ranted about how the fans helped carry him to the AEW World Title twice. Page also said he beat the dogshit out of MJF twice. Page made a remark about MJF having new hair. Page also trashed how MJF won the World Title in a 4-way match and “collected the spoils of greater men.” Page said that MJF hates him, but he hates Max so much worse. Page claimed that when he looks at MJF, he said he has never met somebody who is more like him. Page said that MJF has desperation for love and respect. Page said he knows how loyal MJF is to AEW and it feels like how Page is. Page said that they have always needed to be champion. Page said at Revolution, he wants to end this for good and forever. Page said this can’t be just a normal wrestling match. Page told MJF to think about a stipulation because he has always known what this match should be, and let the fans decide what this match should be. A fan shouted, “Texas Death Match.” MJF didn’t like that.
MJF said he heard people chant Texas Death and MJF told the fans to shut up. MJF made it sound like he wanted to do a normal wrestling match. Page said that MJF is scared and he has always been a coward. Page said he will give MJF his word and all of you his word that if Page doesn’t win this match, then he will never challenge for the AEW Men’s World Championship for as long as he lives. The fans booed that idea, while MJF was smirking. MJF said you have a deal, but he is going to think about his stipulation, so he’ll think over his stipulation for a week because unlike Page, he doesn’t shoot first and ask questions later. Page shouted Texas Death at MJF, but MJF didn’t agree with that.
Analysis: There’s a big statement from Hangman saying that if he doesn’t win the AEW World Title, then he will never challenge for it ever again. We saw Cody Rhodes do that stipulation in the early days of AEW and Cody lost, so he never challenged for the AEW World Title after that. While I would love for MJF to have a long World Title reign like his first time with the title, that stipulation announced by Hangman makes me think that there could be a title change after all. Anyway, we’ll find out more next week when MJF picks the stipulation. I also liked the part where Hangman said they are similar because they are both so loyal to AEW and driven to be the World Champion. While MJF would hate to agree, Page is right about that.
Jon Moxley was backstage in the darkness doing a promo with the Death Riders. Moxley said he doesn’t like wolves and claimed they are more like coyotes, who are survivors. Pac said that the Don Callis Family isn’t like them. Pac challenged the Don Callis Family to a match. Daniel Garcia said that family is just a name for them. Moxley said that he’s not done with Takeshita. Moxley said at Revolution in Hollywood, this time with no time limits, but there must be a winner as long as it takes.
Analysis: That Moxley/Takeshita match will be amazing. I’m all for it.
Orange Cassidy & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Clark Connors & Gabe Kidd
The old guy Ishii was doing his no-selling routine as Clark tried some chops. Ishii worked over Clark with chops, while Orange did his comedy chops. Kidd and Clark took turns hitting moves on Orange on the floor, and the show went to a break.
(Commercial)
Orange was the face in peril until he hit a dropkick and brought Ishii in. Kidd and Ishii exchanged chops, followed by Kidd biting the head. Ishii hit a shoulder tackle to knock Kidd down. Ishii and Kidd exchanged slaps as the fans came alive and Kidd hit a clothesline. Ishii collapsed and grabbed the left side of his hip. The crowd went silent. Clark hit a clothesline for two. It was reported that it was a hamstring injury for Ishii. Ishii fought through it with a belly-to-back suplex. Clark hit a body slam on Ishii, and Orange went in illegally with a DDT on Connors. Darby Allin attacked Kidd with a skateboard from behind and they left through the crowd. The blind referee, Rick Knox, didn’t see it. Orange hit Connors with an Orange Punch while in the ring illegally, and Ishii hit a brainbuster for the pinfall win on Connors. It went about 10 minutes. Ishii was legit hurt after the match.
Winners by pinfall: Orange Cassidy & Tomohiro Ishii
Analysis: **1/2 It was just an average match that would have been better, but Ishii suffered a legit injury that ruined things. They managed to get through it with Allin taking out Kidd, which left Clark alone, and he got beaten easily.
The Don Callis Family was featured in a promo backstage as they were beating up random people. Josh Alexander was holding somebody in an Ankle Lock and said they’ll see the Death Riders on Collision. Don Callis said Takeshita isn’t here because he’s celebrating with Kyle Fletcher in Australia. Callis said he heard Moxley, and he accepts the challenge for Takeshita. Kazuchika Okada walked in with the International Champion, saying he is Kyle Fletcher’s best friend, but he is there because he’s a champion, unlike Takeshita. Andrade El Idolo walked in to say he’s coming for the AEW World Title. Callis said that Claudio Castagnoli is prancing around with his CMLL World Title, and Callis said it would look good on the mantle of the Don Callis Family.
Analysis: It’s a way to cover a lot of things quickly with the largest stable in AEW.
(Commercial)
Hook was featured in a video talking about how he’s the new boss of The Opps since Samoa Joe is injured. Hoook said that Shibata is recruiting new members in Japan. Hook said he’s the boss of The Opps, which is recruiting new members. Hook said he was heavily recruited and he’s the greatest second-generation wrestler.
Analysis: The Opps is still a thing? I guess. Too many stables in AEW that don’t stand out much.
The Brawling Birds – Jamie Hayter & Alex Windsor vs. Viva Van & Becca
Hayter and Windsor are two Brits who have nothing else going on, so now they are a team. There were some quick tags from Hayter and Windsor, who unloaded on Van with chops. Van got some offense with some kicks on Windsor. Hayter went into the ring illegally for a suplex attempt, but Van broke free and Becca tagged in. Becca jumped off the ropes with a springboard double Cutter. Hayter and Windsor hit a double team clothesline and then a Hart Attack-style clothesline/spinebuster combo for the finish. It went about 4 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Brawling Birds – Jamie Hayter & Alex Windsor
Analysis: ** A short match to put over Hayter and Windsor as a team. At least AEW was smart enough to book a short match instead of going too long like they often do in matches. I don’t know why Hayter needed to be in the ring illegally for over a minute at the end. You should be able to have a 4-minute match without having illegal offense in there. Just saying.
Kris Statlander and Thunder Rosa were interviewed by Renee Paquette. Rosa is back for the first time since All In Texas last summer. Kris said she can’t wrestle for a few weeks and Rosa called out Thekla. Kris said Rosa should watch her back.
Analysis: Welcome back, Thunder Rosa. Good performer.
Kevin Knight (w/“Speedball” Mike Bailey) vs. The Beast Mortos
This feels like a random match. I read a report that Mortos was a sub for somebody sick or injured. Knight did a pre-tape promo saying if Mortos wins, then LFI can get a shot at the AEW Trios Titles held by Knight, Bailey, and Hangman.
They went to the floor quickly, with Knight jumping off the apron with a clothesline. They took turns running the ropes, doing moves to avoid the other, which led to Mortos hitting a forearm. Mortos missed a move and bumped to the floor, so Knight jumped over the turnbuckles onto Mortos with a cross body block.
(Commercial)
Knight tried a kick, but Mortos blocked it and flipped Knight over the top to the floor. Mortos hit an impressive twisting cross body block onto Knight on the floor. Mortos hit a Samoan Drop for two. After Knight took some more punishment, he came back with an impressive dropkick. Knight hit a body slam and splash for two. Mortos went to the middle turnbuckle for nothing, so Knight hit a hurricanrana and a DDT. Knight went up top and hit a UFO Splash for the pinfall win after 9 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kevin Knight
Analysis: *** A fast-paced match full of action to give Kevin Knight a win since he’s been getting some singles wins in recent months. Mortos is fun to watch as a bigger dude who can move very well.
A video aired about Will Ospreay intending to make a comeback after having neck surgery last summer.
Analysis: My prediction is Will Ospreay wins the AEW World Title at All In this August since it’s in his home country of England.
(Commercial)
Ricochet was backstage with his AEW National Championship talking about The Demand looking for championship gold. Bishop Kaun wanted Hangman and Jetspeed to defend the AEW Trios Titles. Toa Liona said they want to accept Kevin Knight issuing a challenge to defend the AEW Trios Titles. Ricochet said they are taking the titles from Jetset Rodeo aka Page and Jetspeed. Ricochet noticed a knife that was on the door of his locker room. A warning of sorts.
It was main event time with Swerve Strickland up first joined by Prince Nana. Kenny Omega was next.
Kenny Omega vs. Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana)
This is a first-time ever match between two former AEW World Champions. I’m looking forward to it.
Swerve knocked Omega down with a shoulder tackle and Omega came back with a slap to the face. Omega knocked down Swerve with a shoulder tackle, so Swerve slapped Omega in the face. Omega hit a hurricanrana, but Swerve came back with a headscissors to send Omega out of the ring. Swerve did a backflip over the top onto Omega so that Swerve’s knees landed on Omega’s head/neck. Ouch. Omega chopped Swerve and sent Swerve over the barricade. The referee Aubrey Edwards wasn’t counting them out of the ring as Omega hit a moonsault off the barricade onto Swerve on the floor. Omega slipped in his first attempt jumping off the barricade. I wouldn’t call it a “botch” like some fans, but people freak out if somebody slips.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Omega getting a boot up, Swerve hit a hiptoss and Omega smoothly hit a suplex. Good sequence. Omega kicked Swerve in the leg and Omega hit a leg drop to the back of the head to send Swerve into the mat. Omega did his version of a dunk by slamming Swerve’s head into the mat. Omega hit a rolling senton and a moonsault off the middle turnbuckle for a two count. Swerve hit a jumping side kick to the head. Omega countered a move by the turnbuckle and Swerve’s head hit the turnbuckle. Omega hit the Snapdragon Suplex and a knee smash for two. Omega hit two knees to the face, but Swerve blocked a third knee. Swerve hit a backbreaker and a dropkick that sent Omega to the apron. Swerve sent Omega face first into the turnbuckle repeatedly. Omega managed to get behind Swerve and Omega hit a Snapdragon Suplex on the apron. The fans chanted, “This is awesome” for them. Omega teased a suplex onto the floor, Swerve fought it, Omega went for a German Suplex to the floor, and Swerve did a backflip to land on his feet. Swerve got a hold of Omega and hit a suplex on the floor. Good job of selling that. Back in the ring, Swerve hit a 450 Splash on Omega’s back so that Swerve’s knees hit Omega’s lower back. That looked more painful than a regular 450 Splash. Omega was back up with a spin kick to Swerve’s back. Omega hit a running knee to Swerve’s back against the turnbuckle. Omega hit a Snapdragon Suplex off the top with Swerve doing a flip bump to hit hard on his head/shoulders and Omega got a two count. That’s a move where you need a lot of trust in your opponent. Omega went for a V-Trigger knee smash, but Swerve pulled referee Aubrey Edwards in front, so Omega knocked the woman referee down. Ouch. Swerve clearly did it on purpose, but the announcers didn’t think it was on purpose. Swerve countered Omega and hit a House Call kick. Swerve covered for several seconds, but there was no referee. Omega was on the apron, so Swerve jumped off the top with a Swerve Stomp on Omega on the apron. Swerve pulled a padding off a steel bar connected to the ring post and Swerve catapulted Omega throat-first into the steel bar. The fans were booing. Swerve was calling for a referee to come down to the ring. Swerve hit another Swerve Stomp and Paul Turner was there to count one…two…no. Omega got his right shoulder up. Swerve had a great stunned reaction face. Swerve tried a House Call, Omega ducked it and hit a Snapdragon Suplex again. Omega hit a knee to the back. Omega hit a Reverse Rana. Swerve hit a boot to the face, but Omega came back with a V-Trigger knee. Swerve was ready for it with a House Call kick. Swerve hit his Big Pressure sitout slam for the pinfall win after 20 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Swerve Strickland
Analysis: ****1/2 Wow, that was an amazing match! I’m not going to five stars for it, but it was outstanding and certainly close to that level. I enjoyed it a lot. Two of my favorites in AEW going long and kicking out of everything before Swerve found a way to get the decisive win. The drama grew as the match went on, the fans were really into it and Swerve and Omega were both locked in during the match. The aggressiveness shown by Swerve throughout the match also led to what happened after the match as well. The ref bump spot is frustrating because there’s no explanation about why it takes so long for a new referee to get there. Why is there no referee right away? Why does it take a few minutes for a referee to get there? We don’t get those answers. That’s pro wrestling. They don’t explain things logically. Omega put up a fight and there were several points where I thought he might win, but I think it’s the right call to have Swerve win based on what happened after the match.
After the match, Swerve Strickland attacked Kenny Omega with punches and forearms as the fans booed. Swerve tossed referee Paul Turner out of the ring. Swerve grabbed a chain from Prince Nana. The announcers talked about how Swerve felt disrespected by Omega thinking Swerve wasn’t the most dangerous man in AEW. Swerve choked Omega with a chain against the ropes. Nobody was trying to help Omega. Swerve cleared off the commentary table and put the steel steps beside the table. Danielson was telling Swerve he didn’t need to do this. Swerve picked up Omega and gave him a Vertebreaker through the table. Swerve spoke into the camera: “I needed this.” Swerve said it a few times. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: I think that’s the heel turn for Swerve Strickland and I’m all for it because he’s been an outstanding heel in the past. I like Swerve as a face too, but as a heel he knows how to turn up the violence and aggressiveness. It was a rough attack with the chain around the throat and the massive table bump. Swerve saying, “I needed this” was a nice touch to show that he wanted to prove he is the most dangerous man in AEW, which Omega doubted. One of the problems with AEW when they do these attacks is that they don’t have anybody trying to help somebody getting assaulted the way Swerve attacked Omega. Why are there no referees or security guys there to try to stop Swerve? It looks silly when there’s nobody there trying to help a guy because pro wrestling needs to look realistic and it’s unrealistic that nobody tried to help Omega during a 3-minute attack by Swerve. AEW has to get better at that. I get that they want to let the angle play out because it’s a big turn by Swerve. I just think you can book it more logically. Anyway, enjoy the break, Omega.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Swerve Strickland
- Kenny Omega
- Jon Moxley
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 8 out of 10
Last Week: 8.25
2026 Average: 7.54
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
A great show carried by the amazing Swerve/Omega main event. They got 20 minutes, they put on a PPV main event caliber match and I liked it a lot. Swerve also turned heel with his actions after the match, which I don’t mind because he’s an awesome heel. I did mention some things I didn’t like about it in terms of the lack of logic, but I’d call it a minor complaint.
The second hour was mostly average stuff compared to the first hour, which was stronger.
They are building a good card for Revolution with some big title matches confirmed so far. I’m intrigued by the MJF/Hangman AEW World Title match and the stipulation that Hangman won’t get another title shot at the AEW World Title if he loses. We’ve seen that in AEW before, so it will be interesting if Hangman loses, which I expect to happen since I want MJF to have a long title reign.
The next AEW PPV is AEW Revolution on March 15th in Los Angeles. Here’s the lineup so far.
* AEW World Championship: Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. “Hangman” Adam Page – If Page loses, he cannot wrestle for the World Title again.
* AEW World Tag Team Championships: FTR vs. The Young Bucks
* AEW Continental Championship No Time Limit Match: Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita
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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: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @johnreport