Reviews

The John Report: AEW Dynamite 02/19/25 Review

By John Canton • Published 20th February 2025

This week’s AEW Dynamite featured The Opps facing The Patriarchy, MJF’s face-to-face with “Hangman” Adam Page, Orange Cassidy battling Roderick Strong in the main event, and more.

I thought the AEW Grand Slam Australia show from last Saturday was a great show. I would have rated it about an 8 out 10 if I reviewed it. What happened was we got a ridiculous amount of snow where I live in London, Ontario, Canada (not the 51st state) and I was going to write a review on Sunday, but I was so f’n tired of shoveling. I also had to help neighbors as well. It was a lot. Anyway, I watched Grand Slam Australia on the couch that afternoon. I was going to write a review on Monday, but I had too many other things to do that day and then I figured it was too late to do it. My apologies for not doing a review. This is why I stick with the four weekly reviews that I do, plus all PPV/PLE shows. I am also on several news writing shifts at TJRWrestling every week, so I am a busy guy and it’s tough to find time or energy to write about more shows, which is why I don’t write about Collision. Anyway, I am sorry if you were looking for my review of Grand Slam Australia.

As for what happened at Grand Slam Australia, I thought the Omega/Ospreay win over Takeshita/Fletcher was outstanding. I’d probably go 4.5* out of five stars for that match. I was a bit surprised that Moxley & Castagnoli beat Cope & White, but that’s okay. It wasn’t a great match. The fans singing Cope’s song was really cool and a memorable moment. Just average considering the talent involved. The Mercedes Mone-Harley Cameron match was fun to watch. Good stuff by Okada/Matthews even though obviously there wasn’t going to be a title change, so it was hard to get that into it. Toni Storm regained the Women’s World Title over Mariah May, which was expected. I liked how it was done and it was a nice way to end the show because it made the fans happy. I also saw a lot of arguing about the ring size because it was smaller than their usual ring. Does it matter? No. AEW made the best of the situation and I thought the matches were really good for the most part. Wrestling fans today are so picky and fickle sometimes. I don’t get it. I’m happy AEW is doing well. Now we are on the road to Revolution on March 9th.

This was AEW Dynamite episode #281 from the Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport.

The commentary team was Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni and Taz. There was a ramp to the ring connected to the ring in this smaller building. There are about 3,000 fans there for Dynamite and Collision taping later, according to Wrestletix.

Face to Face: MJF and “Hangman” Adam Page

Maxwell Jacob Friedman entered first followed by “Hangman” Adam Page. There were security guys around the ring. The announcers said they were told they couldn’t touch eachother.

MJF said that the first match in the history of this company was the Casino Battle Royal at Double or Nothing 2019. MJF said that he had the match won and Page screwed MJF out of the win. MJF claimed that Page cheapshotted him like a gutless little worm. MJF said that he climbed his way to the top by beating your favorite wrestlers. MJF recalled that he beat Page the first time he won the Dynamite Diamond Ring and he bragged about being a six-time Dynamite Diamond Ring holder. MJF said he main evented and won the biggest event ever at Wembley Stadium. MJF also said he was the best and longest-reigning AEW World Champion of all time. MJF said his name along with his catchphrase: “I’m better than you and you know it.”

Page wondered why MJF was talking to him like he didn’t know who MJF was. Page said that he knows that MJF is 28 years old and already has a history-making career and he should be proud. Page said that MJF sounded angry about all that he had accomplished. Page wondered if it was because MJF hasn’t won something from the fans.

MJF claimed he didn’t care about the fans. MJF said he thinks it’s funny that the hypocrites can decide who is morally redeemable and who is not. MJF complained about how the fans decided Page was the main character. MJF went over some of the disgusting things that Page has done like drink blood and burn a man’s house down to ash. The fans cheered for Page. MJF said that the fans will tell you that Hangman did nothing wrong. MJF said that they’ll chant “Cowboy S**t” and the fans did it. MJF followed up saying that everybody loves Hangman. MJF asked Page if he loved himself. MJF wondered if Page loved himself after he ended the career of his mentor Christopher Daniels.

Page shouted about how he wished he could give his spine to Daniels and put him over for fighting over 30 years in his career. Page said that Daniels died a warrior’s death and Page knows that Daniels would never have it any other way. Page said that Daniels took care of pro wrestling even when pro wrestling didn’t care for him. Page said that Daniels is the best of us. Page told MJF to not forget that men like Daniels are why they can be in a ring like this. Page told MJF he doesn’t understand humility because MJF doesn’t have the stomach for it. Page said if MJF’s career ended tonight, what would they say about MJF? Page wondered if they would say that MJF was a selfish coward who took shortcuts. Page said he knows what is right, he knows what is wrong and he tells the truth about it. Page said that he probably lied 100 times in five years, but never once has he lied to the fans. Page said that if he has a problem, he faces it head on, eye to eye. Page said that everything he has had, he has worked for it, and his family has stood by it. Page told MJF that he has schemed his way to the top and MJF has told them that he is better than them. Page told MJF that he might wonder if it’s true and deep down, Page thinks MJF knows it.

MJF mocked Page for trying to make MJF feel bad. MJF said that the history books don’t care how you got the job done because MJF earned everything. MJF talked about how Page was promoted heavily when this company started. MJF said all he needed was a scarf and a mic. MJF said that he is better than Page. MJF told Page to name something that he does better than MJF and Page said: “I am real.” MJF told Page he can be the main character all he wants because MJF has no problem being the bad guy. Both guys threw their microphones down. They took their jackets off to tease a fight, but the security guys were on the apron. MJF was about to leave, but then MJF spit on Page’s face. Page went after him, but MJF left the ring and the security guys held Page back. Page beat up the security guys. Christopher Daniels went to the ring to pull Page off a security guy. Daniels told Page this is what he has been fighting for the whole time. Daniels said he knows who Page is and Page knows who he is. Page left.

Analysis: That was great. They got a lot of time to talk, they made their points well and it was given a lot of time. Remember when MJF was feuding with Jeff Jarrett and then it just ended? I’m so glad because this feud is way better. Page did a lot of things to make him hellish last year, but he’s back in the babyface role and the fans love him as a guy who is like the heartbeat of AEW. Meanwhile, MJF is at his best as this conflicted heel who has to try to insult others because of his insecurities. I hope this feud lasts a few months and it isn’t rushed. This should lead to a Page/MJF match at Revolution and it will be one of the better matches on the show.

There was a video package showing AEW Grand Slam Australia highlights.

The Patriarchy group led by Christian Cage made their entrance for their match. They went to a commercial about 23 minutes into the show.

(Commercial)

Roderick Strong was interviewed backstage by Renee Paquette while Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly were standing by. Strong said that he knows Orange Cassidy is friends with Kyle, but Strong is going to beat him. Kyle said that The Conglomeration is more of a lifestyle rather than a stable. Cole said that Strong is going to whip Orange Cassidy’s ass and that is undisputed.

The Opps – Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata vs. The Patriarchy – Christian Cage, Kip Sabian & Nick Wayne (w/Mother Wayne)

The bell rang for the first match on this show at 8:29 p.m., which is later than usual for Dynamite. The hard cam in this area was on the side of the building where you can see the entrance in the background.

Shibata nailed Kip with a knee to the ribs. Joe tagged in so they could take turns chopping Kip. Joe tripped Kip followed by a senton splash. Shibata tripped Nick and Joe hit a senton on Nick too. Joe worked over Nick with hard chops to the chest. Shibata was back in for chops of his own. Hook tagged in for some more chops. Mother Wayne was on the apron, so Cage and Kip did cheap shots on Shibata. Nick hit a suplex on Shibata for a two count. They went to a picture-in-picture break.

(Commercial)

The match returned with Kip preventing Shibata from tagging out. Shibata knocked down Kip and kicked Wayne, so Hook got the tag. Hook unloaded with two clotheslines and a T-Bone Suplex on Kip. Hook hit a T-Bone Suplex on Cage and a clothesline out of the ring. Hook hit a Northern Lights Suplex on Nick for two. All six guys ran into the ring to do moves. Joe sent Cage out of the ring and Joe hit a suicide dive forearm on Cage on the floor. Hook and Nick were legal in the ring as Nick got a rollup with a rope grab for a two count. Nick went for Wayne’s World off the turnbuckle, but Hook caught him and Hook applied the Red Rum submission. Joe was standing in front of Cage to stop Cage from trying to make a save. Nick tapped out to give Hook’s team the win after 10 minutes.

Winners by submission: The Opps – Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata

Analysis: **3/4 It was a dominant win for The Opps to show that they are going to be a tough group to beat. Christian was barely in the ring for his team since he is a cowardly heel who is scared of a guy like Joe, who kept Christian at bay to prevent him from making the save. Hook beating Nick clean was a decisive ending.

It’s official for AEW Revolution: MJF vs. “Hangman” Adam Page.

Analysis: That will be one of the best matches of the show. I’m looking forward to it.

(Commercial)

The ROH World Champion Chris Jericho was interviewed by Renee Paquette backstage, who mentioned Jericho was binned at ROH Global Wars Australia. Jericho claimed there would be no AEW if Jericho wasn’t there. Jericho said he gets treated with vitriol and disrespect. Jericho said he’s a 9-time World Champion. Jericho talked about how Bandido got the biggest win of his life in Australia. Jericho said he’ll give Bandido an ROH World Title match on Collision this Saturday. Jericho said that people around here are getting too comfortable around him and he called himself Chris “F**king” Jericho to end it.

Analysis: I am not a huge fan of the current Jericho gimmick, but at least feuding with a younger, rising star babyface like Bandido is the right thing for him to do.

Street Fight: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Big Bill

This has been building over the last month. The only way to win is by pinfall, knockout or submission. Street Fight rules mean that anything goes.

Bill kicked Hobbs to start and they went fighting into the crowd. The fighting around the fans ended as they went back to ringside where Hobbs hit a clothesline. Hobbs sent up Bill against the barricade where he hit a splash. Bill threw a sound mixer at Hobbs’ left knee so Hobbs was down. Bill grabbed a big wrench from under the ring and Hobbs avoided it three times. Hobbs jabbed Bill in the ribs with a chair and Hobbs hit Bill with chair shots to the back. Bill got a hold of the wrench and he hit Hobbs in the head with it. The camera was on Bill, so Hobbs did a blade job and was bleeding from the head after the wrench attack. Bill gave Hobbs a Chokeslam onto the top half of the steel steps. They went to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

Bill set up a table vertically against the turnbuckle. Bill’s buddy Bryan Keith was at ringside. Hobbs was bleeding and he was back up with a trash can that he used to hit Bill in the head two times. Keith went into the ring with a chair, so Hobbs punched the chair and Hobbs gave Keith a Chokeslam into the table that was against the turnbuckle. Bill was back up to kick Hobbs out of the ring to the ramp. Hobbs picked up Bill and gave him a front slam onto the stage. Hobbs grabbed Bill’s backpack and hit Bill with the backpack. Hobbs dumped the backpack out to reveal that there were bricks in it. Bill was bleeding from the forehead also. They exchanged punches Hobbs sent Bill’s “head” into the steel steps repeatedly but they shot it from the worst angle where we could see it was just Bill’s hands hitting the steps. I’m not saying I want a guy’s head to hit the steps, but they should shoot it from the right angle. Anyway, Hobbs knocked Bill off the steel steps and Bill went back first through a barbed wire table. Bill was caught in the barbed wire and had blood on his arm from the bump. The referee Aubrey Edwards counted Bill down for a ten count, so Hobbs won by knockout. It went about 11 minutes.

Winner by knockout: Powerhouse Hobbs

Analysis: ***1/4 This was a pretty good brawl with some big bumps from both guys, including Bill with that huge bump at the end. Since the feud has been about Bill getting cheap shots, it made sense for the babyface Hobbs to get the win. I assume this will likely end this feud, but maybe it will keep going with Hobbs going after Jericho or something like that.

The Murder Machines duo of Lance Archer & Brian Cage were interviewed by Renee Paquette. Cage claimed that they had something to say to The Hurt Syndicate, but they heard they weren’t there. Archer said that they heard that The Hurt Syndicate will be at Collision, so they’ll see them there.

It was mentioned by ring announcer Justin Roberts that AEW is bringing Double or Nothing to Phoenix on May 25th. The fans cheered. It was made official earlier in the day.

Analysis: Double or Nothing has been a Las Vegas show in the past, but now it’s in Phoenix. Since Vegas is hosting WrestleMania one month earlier, I think AEW wanted to go to another city.

Let’s Hear From “Timeless” Toni Storm

The new AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm did a promo in the ring with a spotlight on her. Luther was with her for her entrance. Storm is now a four-time AEW Women’s World Champion. Storm said that she faced a woman from hell who broke her heart and ruined her soul. Storm called Mariah May a “sick bitch.” Storm said that May gave Storm the fight of her life and Storm beat her with her small package. Storm told May she should have worn protection because Storm railed her with the biggest package there’s ever been. Storm said that May has been compromised to a permanent end. Storm mentioned he is in the Queen of the Ring. Storm said if she’s going to be the best then she has to face the best. Storm mentioned Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale, and even Wendi Richter as possible opponents. Storm said if you want to go face to face, tit to tit or lip to lip, Storm is not hard to find. Storm mentioned she was Timeless to end it.

Analysis: Good stuff from Toni Storm, who has obviously perfected this “Timeless” gimmick and she gets great reactions from the fans. I thought it was a funny promo as usual. I thought there would be an interruption there, but there wasn’t one.

A video aired about NJPW’s Gabe Kidd saying he was coming to Collision this Saturday night.

(Commercial)

Willow Nightingale was interviewed by Renee Paquette complaining about Renee’s husband Jon Moxley and his Death Riders group attacked her. Marina Shafir interrupted and beat up Willow easily.

Let’s Hear from Jon Moxley

The AEW World Champion Jon Moxley showed up with his Death Riders group including Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir. Moxley went into the ring to say he’s the champion of the world. Moxley said that this is his ring, his building and you are in his damn seats. Moxley said nobody can lay out a challenge to him. Moxley talked about how Adam Copeland is not here because he’s probably face down in the dirt in Australia. Moxley said if Cope shows up at Revolution then Moxley will finish the job.

Jay White made his entrance while Pac snuck up from behind White on the ramp. Cope made his entrance so Moxley was wrong about Cope not being there. Cope attacked Moxley with punches. White hit a Bladerunner on Pac on the ramp. Cope nailed Yuta and Claudio with a Spear. Cope got his bat named Spike with nails in it and tried to attack Moxley with it, but Moxley ran away. Moxley went up the steps to leave the arena, Cope went after him and Cope couldn’t find them.

Cope spoke into the camera telling Moxley that this isn’t your arena, these aren’t your seats and these aren’t your people because Cope said these are his people. Cope said that Moxley is a coward, he has no guts and he has no spine. Cope said that as of now, he is going to take out Moxley’s goon squad one by one by one, so when they get to Revolution, it is man to man and Cope is going to kick his ass.

Analysis: I liked the segment and the promos. Moxley is a delusional heel who is drunk with power, so Cope put him in his place and delivered a promo that makes it easy for fans to support him. I’m probably going with Moxley for the win at Revolution because I think somebody like Darby Allin, Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay or “Hangman” Adam Page should beat Moxley rather than Cope.

The TBS Champion Mercedes Mone was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Mone had her four belts with her. Mone said that she didn’t want any interruptions and no puppets. Renee said that Mone is 14-0 as the TBS Champion. Mone said that Harley Cameron learned there’s a price to pay when you mess with Mercedes Mone. An interview was shown with Stardom’s Momo Watanabe challenging Mone for a TBS Title shot at Revolution because Momo earned it. Mone said that if you want a title shot then you have to show up at Dynamite to tell Mone to her face.

Analysis: The Mone match with Momo will be another win for Mone. They are going to continue to book her as strong as anybody in the company.

Kris Statlander vs. Megan Bayne

They are two powerful women, so they took turns trying to do power moves and neither woman had the advantage. Bayne hit a shoulder tackle, but Kris was back up to her feet. Bayne went for a senton, Kris hit a senton and a moonsault. Kris hit a running kick to the head. Kris hit a roundhouse kick to the head. Bayne sent Kris into the turnbuckle. Kris tried a charge, but Bayne hit a Spear to knock Kris down. They went to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

Bayne hit a boot to the head, but Kris came back with a clothesline. Kris hit a scissors kick to the back of the head for two. Bayne came back with a deadlift German Suplex. Kris went to the apron, Bayne went after her and Kris hit a belly-to-back suplex on the apron. Bayne was back up with a suplex from the apron into the ring. Kris was up top, Bayne fought her up there, Penelope Ford showed up and she shoved Kris off the top. The referee was looking at Bayne, so he never saw it. Bayne hit her spinning slam off the shoulders like an F5 for the pinfall win after 9 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Megan Bayne

Analysis: *** A hard-hitting match that I was really enjoying. It ended abruptly after Ford knocked Statlander off the top rope leading to Bayne getting the win. I’d like to see this match again and I hope they get more time in the future.

After the match, Penelope Ford went into the ring to attack Kris with punches. Thunder Rosa made the save with a steel chair. Rosa teased hitting Bayne with it, but Bayne and Ford left.

Analysis: That sets up a tag team match while Bayne and Ford appear to be an alliance.

Max Caster was interviewed by Renee Paquette, who mentioned that Max is 0-2 in his open challenges. Max complained about “Hangman” Adam Page chasing him around. Max claimed he was the Best Wrestler Alive and he was going to continue the open challenge on Collision. Max said that he’ll prove to his opponent and everybody else that you can’t be better than the best.

Analysis: I don’t think this Max Caster “Best Wrestler Alive” gimmick is going well. It feels like comedy tome, but it’s not really working.

Let’s Hear from Ricochet

Ricochet made his entrance wearing the Embassy robe belonging to Prince Nana. Ricochet said that Phoenix is a poor man’s Las Vegas. Ricochet said he’s leaving in a helicopter and much like Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns, he’s going to try to get out of this town. Ricochet spoke into the camera saying that the people booing him doesn’t matter because when you a winner, you boo into a void of nothingness and Ricochet is a winner. Ricochet said he proved it two weeks ago when he pinned Swerve Strickland. Ricochet bragged about beating people in AEW. Ricochet bragged about having Nana’s robe. Ricochet said that he came to AEW to win championships. Ricochet claimed he would be a champion because he’s too good looking not to be a champion.

Swerve Strickland’s music hit as Prince Nana arrived without dancing and got into the ring. Nana said he asked Swerve to stay home so Nana could talk to Ricochet. Nana told Ricochet he was wearing something that doesn’t belong to him. Nana said he’s been in this business for three decades in the ring, out of the ring, making deals and making history and that robe has a lot to do with it. Nana said that the robe represents pride and integrity. Nana said that whoever wears that robe has the opportunity to be great and Nana never gave him that opportunity. Nana asked Ricochet to give the robe back to him. Ricochet told Nana to take it. Ricochet told Nana he’s not getting the robe back and Ricochet did his “Haha” thing to Nana’s face. Ricochet left while Nana shook his head in the ring.

Analysis: It continued the story between Ricochet and Swerve while trying to make us care about Prince Nana’s robe. Ricochet won over Swerve two weeks ago on Dynamite, but I think the feud is going to continue leading to a match at Revolution.

The Orange Cassidy-Roderick Strong main event was up next.

(Commercial)

The legendary Jim Ross joined commentary for the main event.

Orange Cassidy vs. Roderick Strong (w/Adam Cole & Kyle O’Reilly)

This was an AEW International Championship Series Match, which might sound confusing and I’ll explain it after the match. Orange is 97-27-2 so he’s closing in on 100 wins in AEW.

Orange and Strong exchanged holds leading to Orange doing a comedy chop to the chest. Orange left the ring to hug Kyle while Cole stared at Orange, so the fans booed that. Strong knocked down Orange, which led to Strong hugging both of his friends on the floor. Orange hit a suicide dive on Strong on the floor. Orange hugged Kyle again. Back in the ring, Orange jumped off the top with nothing and Strong hit a dropkick. Strong chopped Orange in the chest a few times. Strong hit a slingshot powerslam for two. They went to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

The match returned with Orange jumping from the apron into the ring with an impressive DDT. Strong chopped Orange a few times, so Orange no sold it and Orange put his hands in his pockets. Orange ran the ropes leading to the running dropkick. Orange sent Strong into the top turnbuckle a few times. Orange jumped off the top with a cross body block. Strong and Orange each tried moves, but there were counters. Orange hit a spinning DDT for a two count. Strong came back with three kicks and Orange hit a sunset flip for two. Orange hit the Beach Break slam for a two count. Strong hit a running knee followed by two backbreakers onto the knee. Strong hit End of Heartache (a slam onto double knees to the back) for a two count. Orange fought out of the Strong Hold attempt and got a cradle for two. Strong hit another backbreaker followed by Strong applied a Texas Cloverleaf submission, but Orange quickly crawled to the bottom rope to force a break. Orange worked over Strong with repeated kicks to the body. Strong tossed up Orange leading to knees to the ribs. Strong hit a Sick Kick. Orange countered Strong and hit a Stundog Millionaire. Orange hit an Orange Punch for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Orange Cassidy

Analysis: ***1/2 A very good match between two veterans who know what they are doing out there. This is the kind of stuff that the AEW fans really like where it’s two people out there having an entertaining match. Orange does a good job of selling and found a way to put Strong away. At least there was a reward for the winner getting an International Title match, so it makes it mean something.

The win by Orange Cassidy means he gets to challenge AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita next week on Dynamite. Whoever wins that match will defend the title against Kenny Omega at Revolution.

Analysis: It’s a weird booking method to have two matches leading into somebody defending the title against Kenny Omega at Revolution. It doesn’t bother me or anything. I just think it’s a strange way of doing it.

Orange Cassidy was about to be interviewed in the ring by Tony Schiavone, but it was interrupted by the Don Callis Family including Konosuke Takeshita, Mark Davis, and Don Callis, who called Orange a redheaded hippie. Davis and Takeshita attacked Orange with punches. Callis kicked Orange a few times. Kenny Omega made the save for Orange. Davis tried to choke out Omega while Takeshita hit Omega with a forearm to the head. Orange sent Davis out of the ring. Cassidy hit Stundog Millionaire on Takeshita, Orange hit a V-Trigger knee on Takeshita and Orange hit an Orange Punch on Takeshita to clear the ring. Omega held up the AEW International Title in the ring to taunt Takeshita. Omega and Cassidy looked at the International Title while Takeshita went to the back without his title. Omega posed for the fans. That was the end of the show.

Analysis: An easy way to get Omega on the show by making him the hero doing the big save. I think Takeshita beating Orange next week makes sense so that can lead to Takeshita against Omega for the International Title at Revolution. I also think Omega will win the International Title, which is fine, but I’d rather see him go after the AEW World Title in the coming months.

===

Three Stars of the Show

MJF & “Hangman” Adam Page
Orange Cassidy
Powerhouse Hobbs

===

The Scoreboard

This Week: 7.5 out of 10

Last Week: 7.5

2025 Average: 7.25

===

Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite

I thought it was an entertaining show. Four matches for an AEW show are less than what they usually do, but I don’t mind it. There were clean finishes in three of the four matches and I don’t think those matches were as predictable as some AEW matches tend to be.

There were some interesting storylines and promos throughout the night. My favorite story right now involves MJF and Hangman Page, which was given a lot of time at the start of the show. I was happy to see that. I think the lineup for AEW Revolution looks great at this point and they are going to add to it.

The next AEW PPV is Revolution on March 9th in Los Angeles. Here is the lineup so far: