The John Report: AEW Dynamite 03/19/25 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured Jon Moxley defending the World Title against Cope in a Street Fight.
There are some people in AEW who had travel issues getting to this show because of the snowstorm in Nebraska. That’s wild because it is getting warm in a lot of North America now (I am in shorts in the most southern part of Canada), but some places still get snow occasionally.
I’m going to do a summary-style review for most of the show and then play-by-play for one or two matches.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #285 from the Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Omaha, Nebraska. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means. The commentary team was Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Taz.
Ricochet vs. Orange Cassidy vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Mark Davis (w/Don Callis)
The first fall wins. No DQ’s and no countouts. Whoever wins gets to face Kenny Omega for the International Title at AEW Dynasty.
Orange and Bailey cleared the ring of their opponents. Orange did his stupid comedy kicks and put his hands in his pockets. Ricochet sent Orange into the barricade. Davis gave Bailey a Powerbomb on the apron and he slammed Orange on the apron. Ricochet left the ring and joined commentary saying you had to know when to pick your spots. Davis dominated the match for a few minutes due to having the size advantage. Bailey hit a double knee drop on Davis’ back and a missile dropkick as the fans chanted “Speedball” for Bailey. The three shorter guys kicked Davis at the same time and didn’t even knock Davis down. Davis knocked the three smaller guys down. They went to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
Orange and Davis battled in the ring while Bailey was watching on the floor. Orange suplexed Davis and the fans popped as if Davis was Andre the Giant. He’s not that big, but the other three guys are skinny. Orange hit a Stundog Millionaire on Ricochet and Orange was holding his right arm a lot during the match. Bailey hit a moonsault onto two guys on the floor. Bailey hit a superkick on Orange for two. Bailey hit a Shooting Star Press that looked like his knees hit Orange in the ribs, but Davis broke up the pin. Ricochet dove onto Davis on the floor. Ricochet jumped off the top with a Shooting Star Press on Orange for two. Good nearfall. Ricochet worked over Bailey with strikes and a lariat. Orange hit an Orange Punch on Davis for two, but he had to throw Ricochet out of the ring so it was a slow cover. Davis fought back with two Powerbombs and a spinebuster. Davis gave Orange a piledriver for two because Bailey made the save. Bailey did a backslide pin on Davis and Ricochet pinned Davis at the same time while Ricochet had his feet on the top rope. It was a double pin. The match lasted 18 minutes. The referee never saw Ricochet’s feet on the ropes during the pin.
Winners by pinfall: “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Ricochet
Analysis: ***3/4 It was a great match that got a lot of time and there was a title shot on the line, so it was a meaningful match. Davis was the powerhouse of the match who took a lot of punishment and dished it out throughout the match. Orange got plenty of offense and nearly won a few times. Bailey is such an impressive athlete and I’m glad he’s having the chance to shine in AEW so far. Ricochet is excellent as a heel too. The finish was controversial with Ricochet pinning Davis at the same time that Bailey pinned Davis, so it’s the classic “tie” finish to set up a triple threat match.
The referee Bryce Remsburg talked to Justin Roberts, who announced that challenging Kenny Omega at Dynasty will be Mike Bailey and Ricochet, so it will be a triple threat match.
A graphic was shown to make it official for AEW Dynasty on April 6: Kenny Omega defends the AEW International Title vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Ricochet.
Analysis: That should be an outstanding match. I don’t expect Omega to lose.
A commercial aired for the AEW Dynasty PPV.
(Commercial)
There was a quick video about The Hurt Syndicate as the dominant AEW Tag Team Champions.
TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone vs. Billie Starkz
A video aired about Billie Starkz showing her success on the ROH brand. She is 20 years old. I have been writing about Mone’s matches since she was about 22 years old and she’s 33 years old now. Mone has been TBS Champion for 297 days.
Billie was aggressive early on after knocking Mone out of the ring and Billie jumped off the turnbuckle onto Mone on the floor. Back in the ring, Billie hit a Senton Bomb on Mone for two. Mone hit a Backstabber and they went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Mone continued her favorite double knee offense with a double knee attack to the ribs. Billie countered a suplex attempt with a brainbuster onto the knee. Billie hit a German Suplex for two. There were several nearfalls for both women. Billie slammed Mone back-first into the turnbuckle. Billie did a slam off her shoulders and it looked like she spiked Mone into the mat. I don’t know how Mone wasn’t knocked out by that, but Mone got her foot on the middle rope for a two count. Billie missed a Senton Bomb on the apron, so Mone got a crucifix pin for two and Mone applied the Statement Maker crossface submission for the tapout win. It went about 11 minutes.
Winner by submission: Mercedes Mone
Analysis: ***1/4 That turned into a pretty good match, which is not a surprise when Mone is involved because she’s so talented. That spot where Billie slammed Mone to the mat and it looked like Mone’s head hit the mat was a brutal spot, but I’m glad that Mone was able to continue. The story was that Billie went for a high-risk move off the top, it missed and Mone followed up with the Statement Maker submission. Billie is impressive for somebody so young.
The Outrunners were there to wish the Omaha Mavericks good luck in the NCAA college basketball men’s tournament against St. John’s. They will lose to St. John’s, who are one of the best teams in the tournament.
This Saturday & Sunday have AEW Slam Dunk Saturday and AEW Slam Dunk Sunday instead of AEW Collision. Those shows will air on TNT after college basketball games this weekend.
(Commercial)
Maxwell Jacob Friedman was backstage somewhere talking about how people were trying to decide who is going to be the next AEW World Champion. MJF mentioned other guys like Darby Allin and “Hangman” Adam Page while MJF said that it’s going to be him. MJF said that “Dictator” Jon Moxley is surrounded by animals. MJF looked at the card that MVP handed him last week, so maybe he should have backup of his own. MJF said that the last time he had a partner and backup, it didn’t end well. MJF said he’ll answer MVP next week. MJF said that the time to cry over spilled milk is over and the time to smile over popped champagne has just begun.
Analysis: I don’t think MJF is going to align with The Hurt Syndicate. I’m not sure where that story is headed.
I’m surprised that the AEW World Championship match was up next in the middle of the show, but here we are.
AEW World Championship Street Fight: Jon Moxley vs. Adam Copeland aka Cope
I’ll go play-by-play here. A Street Fight means anything goes and it ends by pinfall or submission.
Jon Moxley was shown walking outside the building when Cope attacked him from behind. Moxley had the AEW World Title in a briefcase. Cope fought with Moxley onto a truck and Cope hit Moxley with a guitar. Moxley threw Cope into a garage door. Moxley grabbed the AEW World Title briefcase and hit Cope with it a few times. They made their way ringside where Cope hit Moxley with a trash can and Cope suplexed Mox on the floor. Cope kicked Moxley in the head while Moxley was on a chair on the floor. Moxley rammed Cope’s head into the LED barricade at ringside. Moxley hit Cope in the back and ribs with a kendo stick. Cope fought back and they went fighting into the crowd where Cope threw a trash can at Moxley’s head. Cope drank some beer (or perhaps something else) and chopped Moxley a few times. Moxley worked over Cope with forearms. They were back at ringside where Cope hit Moxley in the back with the top of the barricade to the back. Cope cleared off the commentary table at ringside. Moxley did an eye gouge on Cope on the commentary table and Moxley hit a DDT on the commentary table. It didn’t break the table while Cope rolled to the floor. They went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Moxley was in control of Cope in the ring as Moxley choked Cope with a neck. Moxley put the chair around Cope’s neck, then Moxley took way too long to go up top and Cope was back up to throw a chair into Moxley’s face. Cope did the dreaded back rake to Moxley which Moxley likes to do. Cope gave Moxley a superplex off the top rope. They exchanged punches. Cope hit three suplexes in a row along with a flatliner into the mat. Cope left the ring where he found his spiked cricket bat named Spike. When Cope went into the ring, Moxley hit Cope with a Cutter. Moxley grabbed a table from under the ring and put it into the ring. Moxley set up the table vertically against the turnbuckle. Cope got Spike the bat and hit Moxley in the ribs and back with Spike. Cope suplexed Moxley onto Spike the bat so the nails were stuck into Moxley’s back. The fans were going crazy while Moxley was screaming in pain. Wheeler Yuta went into the ring and hit a Busaiko Knee on Cope. Yuta pulled Spike off Moxley’s back and the referee had to help to get it off. Moxley was bleeding heavily on the back. Cope gave Yuta Powerbomb through a table that was on the floor. Claudio Castagnoli and Pac showed up to attack Cope with punches and kicks. Back in the ring, Pac and Claudio took turns running at Cope with uppercuts and Pac kicked Cope to knock him down. Claudio took a long time to bring a chair into the ring, so that allowed FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler to make the save for their pal Cope. Dax and Cash took care of Pac and Claudio to clear them out of the ring. Dax gave Moxley a piledriver. Cope got back up and he gave Moxley a Spear through the table against the turnbuckle. The fans were chanting “AEW” for this. Cope pulled Moxley out from the corner and Marina Shafir showed up to break up the pin. Marina Shafir punched Cope a few times, so Willow Nightingale ran down to the ring and hit a clothesline on Marina. Willow hit a cannonball off the apron onto Shafir on the floor. Kip Sabian went into the ring, so Cope hit Sabian with a Spear. Nick Wayne jumped off the turnbuckle with a Wayne’s World cutter. Sabian and Wayne are Christian Cage’s buddies. Moxley applied a Bulldog Choke and Cope passed out, so the referee Paul Turner called for the bell. It went about 20 minutes.
Winner by submission: Jon Moxley
Analysis: ***1/2 I thought it was a pretty good match that was better than what they did at Revolution. I wouldn’t call it an amazing match or anything like that, but I was entertained by it. They had a match with a lot of interference that was not unexpected considering it was a Street Fight match. That spot with Moxley taking the bump onto Spike the bat was brutal and the bat was stuck in Moxley’s bat, so that was a bloody visual. The fans reaction to it was perfect. I wasn’t surprised by Moxley getting the win because I expected him to retain.
Prince Nana was shown watching on a TV backstage and he made a phone call since Swerve Strickland was not there.
Jon Moxley left with his Death Riders friends by going through the crowd. The win by Jon Moxley means his next AEW World Title defense will be against Swerve Strickland at AEW Dynasty on April 6th.
Cope was frustrated about the loss while FTR and Willow Nightingale were in the ring to support him. Cope put out his arm for Dax to pick him up, but Dax left the ring. Cash wondered what Dax was doing, so Dax walked to the back alone looking frustrated. The fans booed Dax walking away while Cash helped Cope back to his feet. Cash and Willow hugged Cope. The fans cheered Cope as he looked around at the fans. Cope left with Spike the bat.
Analysis: That’s an interesting development with Dax of FTR not helping Cope back to his feet. I like FTR as faces, but it wouldn’t shock me if they went back to the heel role because they can say that they wasted their time helping Cope try to get the title and he failed in two attempts to win.
(Commercial)
Bandido was interviewed by Renee Paquette backstage. Bandido was angry about what Chris Jericho did to his brother Gravity along with Bandido’s mother and sister. Bandido said he’d never forgive Jericho for making Bandido’s mother cry. Bandido wanted Jericho to give Gravity’s mask back. Johnny TV showed up to challenge Bandido to a match on Collision on Sunday and Bandido accepted. Johnny left.
Analysis: It seems like Bandido is being built as the guy to beat Chris Jericho for the ROH World Title. I don’t watch ROH, but I do think it’s the right move to have Jericho lose to a guy that is popular with the fans and Bandido is that.
Will Ospreay vs. AR Fox
It’s the heavily pushed Ospreay against the rarely used Fox, who is a talented veteran. They shook hands to start the match. Will and Fox each tried to do a Cutter, but they were able to counter eachother and got back to their feet. Will countered a Fox move with a Stunner-like move to send Fox out of the ring. Will followed up with a dive over the top onto Fox on the floor. They went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Fox was in control since Will was selling a left hip/side injury. Will came back with an enziguri kick. Will hit a standing Spanish Fly for two. Fox hit an impressive move jumping to the top turnbuckle and hitting a flatliner on the way down. Fox missed a 450 Splash off the top when Will moved, so Will hit a Hidden Blade running elbow for the pinfall win after 7 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Will Ospreay
Analysis: **3/4 A decisive win by Will Ospreay in under ten minutes. I think it’s the right call to have Will win decisively like that rather than having a competitive 15-minute match. Every match doesn’t need to go long. Will didn’t do most of the high-risk moves he does in some of his matches. It took one finisher to get the win this time, which is certainly fine.
After the match, Will Ospreay celebrated the win while looking at the All In Texas banner.
There was a quick video about Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Title against Swerve Strickland at Rampage. Moxley attacked Swerve on Collision last week.
“Hangman” Adam Page was asked by Renee Paquette what he thought about the Moxley-Swerve match. Page said he won’t let Swerve Strickland be AEW World Champion again and he meant it, but he has to focus on himself too. Page said that he will join the party by being in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament and he will win the Owen Cup to become the next AEW World Champion. Whoever wins the Owen Cup gets to challenge for the AEW World Title at the All In Texas PPV.
Analysis: I think an Owen Cup final match between Page and Ospreay sounds good.
There was a rundown of AEW Slam Dunk Saturday and Sunday matches.
Next week on AEW Dynamite: Kenny Omega will be there live.
(Commercial)
Mercedes Mone was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Mone had her four titles with her and Renee noted it was 16 title defenses. Mone said that it takes heart to beat her. Mone said that the stupid kid Billie learned there was no stopping the Mone Train.
The Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm made her entrance and got a big pop from the crowd. Storm joined commentary with Luther by her side.
Megan Bayne (w/Penelope Ford) vs. Kris Statlander
There was a clip shown from Collision when Bayne did her Fate’s Descent (F5) slam on Storm. It’s obvious that Bayne is the next title contender against Storm, but first, they have to do this match.
Kris hit some forearms, Bayne came back with a forearm and they exchanged forearms. Bayne clotheslined Kris over the top to the floor. Kris kicked Bayne while on the apron and Kris jumped onto Bayne on the floor. Kris hit a missile dropkick along with a running clothesline. Kris worked over Bayne with punches. Kris hit a sliding kick to the head. Kris hit a back elbow off the turnbuckle. Kris hit a running kick. Bayne kicked Kris and hit an exploder suplex. Kris went to the turnbuckle, Ford distracted and Bayne hit Kris with a forearm. Bayne hit a belly-to-back suplex into the ring. They went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
They were past the 10 p.m. ET hour as the match continued with Kris in control by the turnbuckle. Bayne came back with a Powerbomb. Bayne tried a move, Kris broke free and Kris hit a scissors kick to the back of the head. They did the “sit and throw strikes” exchange so the fans can get into it. Kris hit a jumping kick. Ford tripped up Kris, the referee Aubrey Edwards saw it and Ford was ejected. Bayne charged, Kris avoided it and Kris hit a thrust kick. Bayne hit a kick, Kris hit a kick and Kris hit a Powerbomb. Kris hit a sitout Michinoku Driver for two. Kris jumped off the turnbuckle with nothing and they exchanged German Suplexes while not selling them much after they hit the moves. Bayne hit a running clothesline. The referee was giving them time cues as Bayne hit a suicide dive on Kris on the floor. Back in the ring, Bayne hit a Falcon Arrow slam for two. Kris avoided a charge and Kris hit a DDT. Kris hit a cannonball off the apron onto Bayne on the floor. Bayne threw Kris into Storm by the commentary table. Bayne hit Fate’s Descent (F5) on Kris on the floor. Back in the ring, Bayne hit Fate’s Descent on Kris for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Megan Bayne
Analysis: ***1/2 A competitive match that was given plenty of time and Bayne won decisively. I liked the effort of both women. Kris is so good at just about everything in a match and Bayne was able to show off her power throughout the match. They worked well together.
Toni Storm was back up to her feet as she taped up her right hand and went into the ring. Bayne and Storm exchanged punches. There were referees and security guys there to break it up. Bayne shoved Storm to knock her down. Storm clotheslined Bayne over the top to the floor and Bayne landed on her feet. There were “Toni” chants.
Storm said that Bayne was a big bitch. Storm said it’s about time that they got tantric. Storm said that Bayne looks at her title, but she doesn’t have much to say. Storm said that they would have a date at Dynasty. Storm said she’ll make her thighs shake and body quake and Storm will leave with her title. Storm’s music played while Bayne watched from the floor. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: It makes sense to do the match at Dynasty since Bayne has been picking up wins.
The show ended at 10:08 p.m. ET this week.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Ricochet and “Speedball” Mike Bailey
- Jon Moxley/Cope
- Mercedes Mone/Megan Bayne
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.5 out of 10
Last Week: 6.5
2025 Average: 7.23
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
I enjoyed the show and I liked it more than last week. Last week’s show had a lot of talking and this week there was a lot of in-ring action. I don’t know if the weather played a part in that, but there was barely any talking this week and instead, they focused on the matches.
The Moxley-Cope match was better compared to their Revolution match. This one had a lot of interference, but I still liked it. The 4-way opener was very good too.
It’s rare to see two women’s matches on AEW Dynamite, so it was good to see more of a spotlight on the ladies this week. Good wins by Mone and Bayne. Both matches were predictable, but they were fun to watch.
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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