The John Report: AEW Dynamite 03/25/26 Review
This is AEW Dynamite, featuring Kenny Omega facing Swerve Strickland, Darby Allin against Rush, Thekla battling Mina Shirakawa, and more.
AEW is on the road to the Dynasty PPV on April 12th, so we’ll see how they begin to build that card. We know FTR will defend the AEW World Tag Team Titles against Adam Copeland & Christian Cage at Dynasty.
For this review, I’ll go summary style for most of the show and then play-by-play for one or two matches.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #338 from the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota. 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 Tony Schiavone and Taz. Welcome back, Taz.
Big match to start the show with Kenny Omega making his entrance first, followed by Swerve Strickland. I thought this would be the main event, but they are opening the show instead.
EVP vs. #1 Contendership Match: Kenny Omega vs. Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana)
If Omega wins then he gets to be the number one contender to the AEW World Title. If Swerve wins, then he gets to take Omega’s status as an Executive Vice President.
Swerve was in control early on with some clotheslines. Omega came back with a hurricanrana to send Swerve out of the ring. Omega hit a slingshot dive over the top onto Swerve on the floor. Omega sent Swerve into the commentary table and steel steps around ringside. Omega set up Swerve on a chair on the floor and Omega hit a running knee smash. The referee, Aubrey Edwards, wasn’t counting them out even though they were on the floor for over a minute, so Excalibur explained the lack of a count since it’s a big match. Omega kicked Swerve and a face crusher into the mat. Omega jumped over Swerve, leading to a bulldog for two. Omega hit a rolling senton, along with a moonsault off the middle turnbuckle for two. Omega hit a backbreaker across the knee. Swerve landed on his feet after a German Suplex attempt. Swerve hit some punches, but Omega hit a knee and a spin kick. Omega hit a V-Trigger knee to the back of the head against the turnbuckle. Omega put Swerve on his shoulders and teased a move off the turnbuckle, but Swerve got out of it. Swerve was standing on the top rope with Omega for a belly-to-back suplex. They went to a 90-scond PIP break.
(Commercial)
Swerve and Omega were exchanging forearms, leading to Omega hitting two Snapdragon Suplexes in a row. They went to the apron, where Swerve grabbed onto the referee’s arm and hit a low blow kick to Omega. Edwards didn’t see Swerve kick Omega in the groin. Swerve kicked Omega to knock him down on the floor. They went to the barricade at ringside, they were standing on the barricade and then fell. Swerve picked Omega back up and Swerve gave Omega a piledriver on the barricade. Once again, there was no referee count when the wrestlers were out of the ring. Swerve put Omega in the ring and Swerve hit a suplex into a sitout Powerbomb for two. Omega countered a Swerve move into a pin attempt for two. Swerve hit a running House Call kick to send Omega into the ropes. Swerve jumped off the top with a Swerve Stomp on Omega’s back. Swerve jumped off the top with a Swerve Stomp to the chest for a two count. Great nearfall there. Swerve got a hold of Omega, but Omega backed him into the turnbuckle. Omega unloaded with elbow smashes to the head. Omega kicked Swerve to stun him, but Swerve showed off his power by hitting a powerslam for two. Swerve mocked Omega with a gun hand gesture and Swerve slapped Omega. Omega came back with two knees to stun Swerve against the ropes. Omega hit a V-Trigger knee to Swerve’s head. Swerve blocked Omega going for a One Winged Angel and Swerve tried a Vertebreaker, but Omega got out of that. Omega hit a knee to the back. Swerve gouged the eyes to block Omega. Swerve hit the Vertebreaker for a one…two…no…because Omega got his right shoulder up. It was a tired cover by Swerve. Swerve jumped off the top with a Swerve Stomp, but Omega moved and Omega hit a knee smash. Omega hit a V-Trigger knee and Omega hit the One Winged Angel sitout move into the pin for the one…two…and three. Omega wins. It went about 20 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kenny Omega
The win means Omega is the #1 Contender to the AEW World Title (held by MJF) and Omega remains an AEW EVP.
Analysis: ****1/2 It was an outstanding match for two of the best wrestlers in AEW. They got plenty of time, they built it up well with big moves throughout the match and it could have gone either way, but Omega found a way to win. There were some believable nearfalls for Swerve, even though I figured Omega would win since it makes sense for him to be against the heel AEW World Champion MJF. I thought they might even go up to 30 minutes for a match like this, but 20 minutes is certainly long enough. What I like about these guys is that they know that pacing is important, and they actually sell moves well. There are some guys in AEW who want to rush through everything, and it hurts the match, but Omega and Swerve are smart wrestlers who know how to tell a story the right way.
A video aired about Darby Allin’s journey in AEW, including his tag team run with Sting and doing crazy things throughout his career. Allin is against Rush in the main event.
(Commercial)
Will Ospreay did a backstage promo, saying he has a problem with anyone who is friends with Jon Moxley. Will said if Pac is going to remain loyal to Jon, Ospreay will handle him personally and they can fix this. Ospreay talked about how his time at home has given him bonding time with his son. Ospreay said that Moxley may have reasons why he snapped Will’s neck in front of Ospreay’s family, including his mom. Ospreay said he’s going to alter Moxley’s life like he did to Ospreay and pointed at the scar on his neck where he had neck surgery. Ospreay said he wants to face Moxley at Dynasty and called him a “motherf**ker” to end it.
Analysis: A Will Ospreay match with Jon Moxley is a big deal, and it should be awesome, assuming it happens at Dynasty.
Death Riders – Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia & Marina Shafir (Wheeler Yuta) vs. Top Flight – Dante & Darius Martin and Zayda Steel (w/Christopher Daniels)
Top Flight is from Minnesota, so they’re the hometown favorites in the match. I missed a few minutes of the start of this, and then they went into a break when I came back.
(Commercial)
It was the Death Riders group in control as Moxley and Garcia were working over Dante. After Moxley tried a slam, Dante landed on his feet and hit a dropkick. Shafir grabbed Dante by the hair, so Dante hit a jumping kick on Shafir. Steel tagged in against Garcia and hit a DDT for two. Steel hit strikes, then Yuta grabbed Steel’s foot (the referee never saw it) and Shafir kicked Steel. Moxley tagged in and Steel broke free to avoid getting hit by Moxley. Garcia was legal, Steel broke free, and Top Flight hit some tag team moves, including a sitout front suplex. Yuta hit a knee on Daniels on the floor, so then Steel dove onto Yuta on the floor. Garcia had Darius trapped in a Dragontamer submission and Moxley knocked Dante off the apron. Moxley hit The Stomp on Darius and Garcia pinned Darius for the pinfall win.
Winners by pinfall: Death Riders – Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia & Marina Shafir
Analysis: *** A solid TV match to give the Death Riders the obvious win over a trio that rarely gets to wrestle on Dynamite. It would have been nice to see Top Flight get more offense and put up more of a fight. This was all about the Death Riders looking dominant. No surprise that Moxley’s team won here.
After the match, the AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley said it’s not nice to say mean things about people on TV. Moxley said he knows Ospreay is upset, but for them, it’s not even personal. Moxley said if you want a match at Dynasty, then you’ve got it. Moxley warned Ospreay: “Until then, don’t let your mouth get you in trouble.” The graphic was shown for Moxley-Ospreay on Dynasty.
Analysis: That Moxley-Ospreay match at Dynasty will be one of the biggest matches at the show. It should be awesome.
The Young Bucks were featured in a promo talking about how, after a big loss, you lick your wounds and come back better. Matt Jackson said their goal is to win the AEW Tag Team Titles for a fourth time. Nick Jackson said that 2026 will be the year when the Young Bucks are back, and Matt said it doesn’t matter who stands in their way.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Rocky Romero
Bailey is one third of the AEW Trios Champions. Bailey worked over Rocky with kicks as Bailey tends to do. After Rocky was knocked out of the ring, Bailey jumped off the turnbuckle with a moonsault onto Rocky on the floor. Rocky did his celebration in front of the camera like an idiot, and Bailey hit a spinning kick to the head. Bailey hit a Shooting Star Press knee drop for the pinfall win after about 3 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Analysis: *3/4 A quick match to give Speedball a win since he’s been building momentum. It’s the second match in a row with an obvious result since I don’t think I’ve seen Romero win a match on Dynamite. I know Romero is a talented veteran wrestler, but he’s not somebody who is pushed.
A video package aired about MJF beating “Hangman” Adam Page to retain the AEW World Title at Revolution. MJF is up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from MJF
The AEW World Heavyweight Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman made his entrance in dress clothes as usual, with the Triple B (the AEW World Title) around his waist. MJF told the fans to show him respect as the World Champion. MJF bragged about how he hanged the Hangman. MJF said thanks to him, Hangman can’t ever…ever…ever (he said it many times) be AEW World Champion again. MJF sarcastically said that it was the easiest match of his career. MJF said that the facts are that he still holds the championship that every man on the planet can ever hope to attain. MJF claimed there is no grander prize or higher honor, and no one deserves it more than him. MJF called himself “Big Hebrew,” and there’s even a “Big Hebrew” sign in the crowd. Max did his catchphrases, including the one about how nobody is on the level of the devil.
Kenny Omega made his entrance still in his wrestling gear after his big win over Swerve Strickland earlier in the show. Omega got in the ring with MJF, who asked, “Can I help you?” Omega got a microphone.
Omega said that you may have to excuse how he’s dressed and smells, so what is MJF’s excuse? Good line. Omega said he’s heard MJF talk all smug about what he’s done in AEW. Omega referred to him as The Cleaner, the Best Bout Machine, the God of Pro Wrestling. Omega said even at the height of his bad guy-ness, he was never so silly as to call himself a God and put himself above others. Omega said that, when it comes to somebody who can take that title, why not the God of Pro Wrestling himself? There were “Kenny” chants. Omega talked about how he didn’t listen to his body when it failed on him. Omega said MJF beat a 60-80% Omega, and Max beat him, which Omega can admit. Omega said now that he’s back, it’s not just what happens in the ring. Omega said that he’s not going to fall for MJF’s bulls**t. Omega said he’s 100% now, and he probably is better than MJF, and the fans know it. Omega said that the most important part is that MJF knows it, too. Omega said let’s just make this official and see who the better man is at Dynasty.
MJF said that at Dynasty, it’s the God (Omega) vs. the Devil (MJF), and MJF said: “You’re on.” Omega wanted a handshake, but MJF said, as far as that is concerned, there was no handshake. MJF walked away from Omega at that point. Omega ended it on his catchphrase.
Analysis: I liked that promo exchange with MJF refusing the handshake to end it. It sounds like it will be a regular match with MJF and Omega, which is fine by me. The AEW World Title is officially on the line at Dynasty with MJF facing Kenny Omega. I’m not going to predict a title change, but it is possible. I think MJF is going to carry the AEW World Title into All In London and lose it to Will Ospreay there. That’s just my hunch, anyway.
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage were interviewed by Renee Paquette earlier in the day. Cage said that FTR chose to turn their back on Cope. Cage said that FTR chose to attack Cope and Cage after they won at All Out. Cage mentioned how they piledrove Cope’s wife, Beth Copeland, and Cage said even worse than that, they piledrove him. Cope called Cage an “a**hole” and Cage walked away. Cope talked into the camera about his history with FTR, and he understands throwing their friendship away because he’s the ultimate opportunist. Cope said that FTR has been to Cope’s house, their children have played together and they have had dinner together. Cope said they are going to take the Tag Team Titles and Cope said he’ll end FTR’s careers.
The AEW Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) and Stoke appeared by the entrance area. Stoke said you should care what FTR has to say. Cash said they made the choice that they weren’t going to carry Cope’s carcass at the finish line of his career. Cash said they take a backseat to nobody. Cash said Cope let him stay in his guest house in 2009, but he didn’t need Cope. Cash said he didn’t need him. Cash said that Cope’s time has passed, and FTR are living legends. Dax Harwood said that Cope & Cage are shells of their former selves. Dax said C&C are nostalgia acts – the fans know it, our boss knows it, and C&C knows it. Dax said that he loves Cope’s wife, and it made Cope question if this is worth it. Dax said if he’ll drop Cope’s wife on her head then what will he do to Cope? Top guys out.
Analysis: Those promos from C&C and FTR were both very good. They know their roles and it’s a personal rivalry that will lead to a great match at Dynasty.
The Dogs – David Finlay & Clark Connors vs. The Conglomeration – Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong
Strong and Orange took turns chopping Clark, although in Orange’s case, it was the comedy chops. They did some more comedy spots with Orange, who hit a double hurricanrana on his opponents. Finlay caught Orange doing a suicide dive and sent Orange into the barricade. Clark hit a shoulder tackle on Strong into the barricade. They went on a PIP break.
(Commercial)
The Dogs were in control of Orange with strikes to the head. Orange hit Stundog Millionaire on Finlay to break free. Strong got the hot tag with knees and backbreakers. Strong hit a spinning slam on Clark for two. After Strong dominated for a few minutes, Orange was back in as Strong used Orange as a weapon and Orange hit a DDT on Clark for two. Finlay saved Clark from a move by Strong. The Dogs hit a Spear/chop block combo on Strong. Orange hit another DDT. He likes doing those. Orange was favoring his left knee, so Finlay hit him with a chop block to the knee. Finlay held Orange in a suplex, and Clark hit a Spear for the pinfall win. They call it the Full Clip, according to Excalibur. It went about 11 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Dogs – David Finlay & Clark Connors
Analysis: ***1/4 A good match that was competitive with The Dogs getting the win as a newer AEW team. Orange and Strong are AEW veterans, so it’s fine for them to lose a match like this. This match was like a traditional tag, building up to the hot tag, and then the pace picked up from there. I liked the tag team finisher that The Dogs used.
Divine Dominion’s Megan Bayne and Lena Kross did a promo about being the Women’s AEW Tag Team Champions. They trashed the former champions, Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron. Bayne said there are no second chances, just a fatality.
(Commercial)
The TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher did a backstage promo about beating his mentor Robbie Eagles on Collision last week. Kyle said he’s really as good as he says he is. Kyle said he’s undefeated in singles action in 2026, which Kenny Omega and MJF can’t say. Kyle said that he doesn’t like Don Callis having a business arrangement with MJF and said that he wanted to bring the AEW World Title to the Don Callis Family. Kyle brought in Konosuke Takeshita. Kyle mentioned that Takeshita has issues with Kazuchika Okada, but Kyle and Takeshita are on the same page. Takeshita said that nothing can ever come between them, not even Okada. Takeshita said that Protoshita came first, and they hugged.
AEW Women’s World Championship: Thekla vs. Mina Shirakawa
Mina was very aggressive early on with kicks, and they left the ring. Mina hit a suplex on the floor. Thekla sent Mina into the middle rope with a drop toe hold. They battled on the apron, where Mina tripped up Thekla, and Mina gave Thekla a DDT on the floor.
(Commercial)
The champion Thekla was in control after stomping on Mina’s back on the floor during the break. Mina countered Thekla with a dropkick and a Slingblade. Mina hit a running back elbow on Thekla against the turnbuckle. Mina jumped off the top with a missile dropkick for two. Mina applied a Half Crab submission on Thekla, who got to the ropes to break the hold. Mina hit a forearm, but Thekla came back with a Spear. Both women were down selling. Thekla took her belt off, then the referee took the belt away and Thekla reached into her braw to get some brass knuckles. Thekla tried a punch, but Mina hit a spinning back fist. Mina picked up Thekla, who used the brass knuckles to punch Mina in the head with the brass knuckles. Thekla covered for the pinfall win. The referee never saw the brass knuckles that were used. It went about 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Thekla
Analysis: ***1/4 A physical match for the AEW Women’s Title with Thekla getting the cheap win like the heel champion that she is. It felt like Mina was on offense for about 75% of the match and Thekla was fighting from behind the whole way, so it made sense for Thekla to go the desperate route with the brass knuckle attack. I don’t mind it because heels should cheat to win sometimes.
Kenny Omega was on the show yet again for an interview with Renee Paquette backstage. Renee said there’s an AEW World Title contract signing next week, but there’s no physicality allowed. Omega said it’s been a while since he’s been in a position like this. Omega said it sounds kind of odd that people call him the God of Pro Wrestling and he may be the guy to end the Devil’s title reign. Mike Bailey walked up to Omega, saying he hopes Omega takes the AEW World Title from MJF, and if he does, Bailey wants the first shot. Omega said you got it and they shook hands.
Analysis: It was a way to promote the MJF/Omega contract signing for next week. Bailey has consistently shown respect to Omega in the past, so it continued here. Good to see my fellow Canadians there, and that included Renee, too.
(Commercial)
Ricochet was backstage with GOA as The Demand. Ricochet complained about how he was unjustifiably screwed by AEW when he lost the AEW National Title in a battle royal, even though he wasn’t beaten. Ricochet said he’s tired of people like Kenny Omega being handed opportunities for doing the bare minimum. Ricochet said that he beat Omega the last time he faced him. Ricochet said some more threatening words to end it, while Loa and Kaun finished it with some yelling.
No Countout Match: Darby Allin vs. Rush
This was announced as a No Countout Match. Why do you need that stipulation when the referees rarely count to begin with? I assume there are no rules here. Just call it No Holds Barred or a Street Fight.
Darby Allin made his entrance and Rush knocked him off the turnbuckle to the floor. Rush sent Allin into the barricade a few times. Rush sent Allin into the steel steps. Rush hit Allin with a forearm and a whip into the steel steps. Rush sent Allin into the steps again, so Allin did a flip bump into the barricade. That looked rough. The show was past the 10 p.m. ET time because Dynamite usually goes longer than two hours. Allin tripped up Rush on the apron skirt. Allin tried a suicide dive, but Rush avoided it, and Allin crashed on the floor. When Allin got up, they exchanged strikes and Rush hit a belly-to-belly suplex off the apron to the floor. Ouch. That led to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
The match returned with Allin trying to mount a comeback, but Rush knocked him down again. Allin was bleeding from the forehead. Allin trapped Rush against the ropes and Allin hit a Coffin Drop onto Rush’s back on the floor. Allin hit a suicide dive on Rush on the floor. The announcers were plugging Collision matches while Allin was doing crazy moves. Allin did some forehead biting while outside the ring. Allin went up top and hit a missile dropkick while Rush was seated on a chair on the floor. Ouch. Back in the ring, Allin covered and Rush kicked out. Rush and Allin took turns smacking eachother in the face. Allin stunned Rush a bit, and Allin hit a Code Red for a two-count. Allin charged at Rush, who launched Allin into the turnbuckle with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Taz said it’s not No Disqualification, yet they have literally used weapons throughout the match and those would be a DQ in a regular match. Anyway, Rush rocked Allin with a forearm. Rush went for the running knee, but Allin moved out of the way. Allin pinned Rush with a jackknife pin and it was enough for the three count. Excalibur put over Allin, saying he has won 7 matches in a row. It went about 12 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Darby Allin
Analysis: ***1/2 It was a wild match with big bumps and weapons throughout the match, yet it was a jackknife pin that got the win. Funny how that works. I think Rush is a guy who should be pushed more, but they don’t use him enough. In this match, Rush’s role was to put up a fight and look like a threat. However, we know he wasn’t going to get the win here.
After the match, Mark Davis of the Don Callis Family walked out from behind Allin and gave Allin a piledriver on the floor. Other members of the Don Callis Family went out to the ring as well while Andrade was asking Don what they were doing. The announcers mentioned MJF wanted them to take out Allin. Lance Archer gave Allin a Chokeslam. The show ended with Allin out on the mat.
Analysis: Poor Darby. Apparently, he has no friends since nobody tried to help the guy.
Dynamite had a runtime of 2:11 this week.
===
Three Stars of the Show
- Kenny Omega
- Swerve Strickland
- Darby Allin
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.5 out of 10
Last Week: 7
2026 Average: 7.52
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
I enjoyed Dynamite this week, and it was an improvement over last week. I’m not sure if I’d call it a great episode, but it was easy to watch and solid wrestling all night long.
The Kenny Omega/Swerve Strickland match was the best part of the show, and it took up the first quarter of the show. It was tough for anything else to follow that. With that said, I think the matches were all very predictable, other than the Omega/Swerve match, so that hurts the show a bit.
They are building Dynasty well with some big matches already locked in, and others will follow.
The next AEW PPV is Dynasty on Sunday, April 12th. Here’s the lineup so far.
* AEW World Championship: Maxwell Jacob Friedman (c) vs. Kenny Omega
* AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Will Ospreay
* AEW World Tag Team Championships: FTR – Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler (c) vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto Raptors, and Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @johnreport