The John Report: AEW Dynamite 04/23/25 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured Jamie Hayter facing Kris Statlander while The Young Bucks were in tag team action.
I will use a summary style for most of the show and play-by-play for one or two matches.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #290 from the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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, Ian Riccaboni, and Taz.
Master P Introduces The Opps
The show started with Tony Schiavone introducing rapper Master P, who is from New Orleans. Master P was on WCW TV about 25 years ago, so wrestling fans will remember him for that. Master P said it was his pleasure to introduce the new Trios Tag Team Champions, The Opps trio of Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs & Katsuyori Shibata. They won the Trios Tag Team Titles last week on Dynamite.
Joe said that The Opps are there to celebrate. Joe thanked Master P for welcoming them to the city and for all that Master P did for it. Joe discussed how New Orleans is a great place to celebrate a championship.
The Death Riders interrupted as Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta attacked The Opps while Marina Shafir provided a distraction. Moxley started at Master P, but Joe was back up with a Coquina Clutch on Moxley. Master P punched Moxley in the ribs a few times. The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada made the save. Matthew Jackson hit Joe in the back with a steel chair. The announcers reminded us that Moxley didn’t want help from The Young Bucks. Moxley approached the Bucks, but Marina Shafir got Moxley out of there.
Swerve Strickland made his entrance, so The Bucks and Okada left. Kenny Omega made his entrance as well. The Death Riders left at that point.
Samoa Joe said Jon Moxley wants him, so Joe said he will beat his ass, choke him out and Joe will take back his AEW Championship. As Joe said that last part, he stared at former AEW World Champion Swerve, so that was an interesting line to end it.
Analysis: We know that AEW likes to do a 5-on-5 Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing, so they are setting the stage for that. It looks like it will be Omega, Swerve and The Opps against Death Riders and Young Bucks. Perhaps Okada will be in it instead, but the teams are set even though the match isn’t official yet.
The Patriarchy was interviewed by Renee Paquette backstage. Nick Wayne is the new ROH TV Champion. Christian Cage said if it wasn’t for Nick’s father Christian then Nick wouldn’t be the champion. Christian said he forced Nick to spread his wings. Christian said they were proud of him, they all celebrated and Christian said that he celebrated with Nick’s mother extensively that night. Nice line. Christian told Nick when he lists, good things happen. Nick said what happens when you stick to the plan is you actually win championships. Christian gave him the title back. Christian said, “I love my family,” and left.
Analysis: I don’t know when the split is coming or how it’s going to happen, but at some point, they need to do the Christian Cage reunion with Adam Copeland. It may seem impossible to turn Christian into a face based on his character, although I think it’s likely to happen.
Mark Briscoe vs. Ricochet
Mark was in control for the first few minutes. Ricochet charged while on the apron, but Mark hit him with a dropkick and Mark hit a Cactus Jack elbow off the apron onto Ricochet on the floor. Ricochet did a clever heel move hiding behind the referee and Ricochet sent Mark into the ropes.
(Commercial)
Ricochet was in control with a Cutter. Mark came back with a clothesline, some slapping to Ricochet’s bald head and Mark hit a Fisherman’s Buster for two. Ricochet hit a Northern Lights Suplex into a brainbuster for two. Mark caught Ricochet and hit an Exploder Suplex for two. Mark hit a sliding clothesline. Mark went up top and went for a Froggy Bow, but Ricochet avoided it. After Ricochet used the ropes to knock Mark down, Ricochet hit a springboard 450 Splash for two. The fans chanted, “You still suck” at Ricochet even though he just did a fantastic move. Mark hit a somersault suicide dive on the floor. Back in the ring, Mark hit a running lariat for two. Ricochet tried a pin while using the ropes, Mark countered it and Mark sat on top while holding the legs for the pinfall win. It went 14 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Mark Briscoe
Analysis: ***1/2 It was an entertaining match between two veterans. You could call it an upset since Ricochet is featured more than Mark. I’m happy to see Mark getting the win because he’s a likable guy who doesn’t get to win as much as he should. There was no story going into the match, but there was a story coming out of it because of what happened next.
After the match, Ricochet hit Mark with a chair to the ribs. Ricochet hit Mark in the back. Ricochet grabbed the dreaded scissors, so Kevin Knight ran out to the ring to make the save. Ricochet ran away.
Analysis: They can do a Ricochet-Briscoe rematch because of Ricochet’s cheap attack.
The legendary tag team, The Rock N Roll Express, was shown in the crowd.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from FTR
Tony Schiavone was about to introduce FTR, but he was interrupted by Stokely Hathaway. Hathaway said that FTR are Living Legends, Top Guys and 10-time World Tag Team Champions, so that led to FTR’s Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler making their entrance.
Hathaway said that FTR was suspended and fined for accidentally hitting somebody and touching Tony Schiavone. Hathaway said that Darby Allin has set people on fire, Adam Page has committed arson, Ricochet shanks people with scissors and he spoke about Jon Moxley’s acts of terrorism while he walks around AEW unpunished. Hathaway said he would have the suspension removed from FTR’s permanent record and ensure their fine is reimbursed. Hathaway said if you want to talk to FTR, then you have to have a conversation with him. Hathaway said he’s the new agent of FTR.
Analysis: I like Hathaway working with FTR. Hathaway is good in his role, so now he’ll be featured more.
Cash said that Daniel Garcia said that Garcia was their friend. Cash said that they came to FTR when Garcia helped them, and they got Garcia to the TNT Title. Cash said that they put Garcia, Adam Copeland and AEW first and it got them nothing.
Dax pointed out the Rock N Roll Express duo of Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson in the crowd. The legendary RNR boys went into the ring and they still have long hair as 11-time Tag Team Champions. Dax said that RNR had some of the greatest matches of all time. Dax asked Ricky about their greatest match, and Dax said that their greatest match was in Philadelphia against the Midnight Express. Dax said that the Midnight Express was better. Dax said it’s been 40 years of RNR. When Dax asked their age, he pulled the microphone away before Ricky could talk. Dax thinks they are 108 years old. Ricky told Dax that they are not going to embarrass Ricky & Robert tonight. Hathaway threw a shirt at Ricky. Cash knocked down Gibson and Dax/Cash gave Ricky a spike piledriver. The Paragon trio of TNT Champion Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong ran out for the save, so FTR and Hathaway left.
Analysis: This is the classic “beat up old guys to get heat” angle. Dax was disrespectful to Ricky on the microphone and then they beat up RNR to further the heel turn of FTR. Classic cheap heat. I assume we’ll see RNR again and they’ll get revenge against the Bucks. I had forgotten about Cole’s group changing their name to Paragon because I don’t watch Collision. That Undisputed Kingdom name went away and the group was a big failure.
(Commercial)
The Young Bucks – Matthew & Nicholas Jackson vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight
This is the Young Bucks first AEW match in over six months. What a grueling schedule. The pace of this match was very fast early on with flips, kicks and chaos all over the place. The Bucks hit their double team facebuster and Nick hit a moonsault onto Knight on the floor.
(Commercial)
The Bucks isolated Bailey until Bailey broke free with some kicks. Knight was on fire with multiple clotheslines, a body slam and a splash. Matt did his impressive Northern Lights locomotion combo on both opponents. The Bucks hit a combo move. Poor Bailey had to hold onto the ropes for about 15 seconds, waiting for Nick to hit him with a Backstabber. They did a ridiculous sequence where all four guys hit strikes and then bumped to the mat. The fans went for it, although if you like logic in pro wrestling, it looked ridiculous. Knight hit a dropkick on Nick. All four guys were in the ring doing spots as Knight hit a top rope hurricanrana. Knight and Bailey hit a dropkick/Backstabber combo on Nick, but Matt was there to make the save. I have no idea who was legal at this point and the referee had no idea as usual. Knight and Bailey each hit impressive leaps off the top for two. Bailey was illegal in the ring and hit a knee attack on Nick. Knight hit his UFO Splash on Nick, but Matt broke up the pin. The Bucks hit the Doomsday Device on Knight on the floor. The Bucks caught Bailey and hit their Meltzer Driver on Bailey on the floor. Knight avoided both Bucks and hit a backflip kick along with a double DDT. Ricochet grabbed Knight’s leg while the referee wasn’t looking. Knight kicked Ricochet down. The Bucks hit their EVP Trigger double knee attack. It went 14 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Young Bucks – Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
Analysis: ***1/2 It was a very good spot fest match, with the heel Bucks getting the cheap win. If it was a Tornado Tag it would have been even better. Instead, it was an illegal offense fest. This is the kind of match that some AEW fans are going to love as long as you ignore things like selling, multiple wrestlers being in the ring illegally for way too long, and a lot of superkicks. I don’t like it when matches have four guys in the ring for two minutes or more. It’s silly. Anyway, the Bucks got the win, but it wasn’t clean, so it gets them heat for their actions.
Renee Paquette interviewed AEW Women’s Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm. Storm made her usual sex jokes about the Women’s Owen Hart Cup tournament, where the winner gets to face Storm for the Women’s World Title. Storm claimed she’ll have a match on Collision, so Queen Aminata walked in, and they’ll have a match.
Let’s Hear from The Hurt Syndicate
The Hurt Syndicate song featuring the “We Hurt People” part of it is always good to pop the crowd and the fans like to chant it. Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin are the AEW Tag Team Champions, joined by MVP. MVP reminded us that they hurt people. MVP said that the teams they have faced are at home, convalescing from their injuries. MVP said you won’t see the Gates of Agony in the future, but now is not their time. Bobby Lashley was about to speak, but there was an interruption.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman was shown driving a sports car in the parking lot. MVP tossed the keys to a guy and punched him in the groin. MJF made his entrance in the arena.
MJF said that we know The Hurt Business had a good time last week. MJF said that if they want a good time all the time, then all he needs is three thumbs up. MVP and Shelton gave MJF the “thumbs up” sign, so MJF celebrated. Shelton told MJF that he didn’t give him a thumbs up because of broads and a watch. Shelton said it’s because of this man referring to MVP. MJF said they all love Montel. MJF said they loved our good friend Bob, referring to Lashley, so there was a “Bob” chant. MJF told Lashley to put the hand down. MJF said if he’s in the Syndicate, they’ll get all the power and all the gold. MJF said that he knows this place better than anybody, he knows how to cut corners, and he knows how to win by any means necessary better than anybody. MJF said if he’s in the Syndicate, they’ll run all of pro wrestling. MJF admitted he’s been a bit prickly toward Lashley, so from the bottom of his heart, MJF almost said, “I’m sorry,” and then he stopped himself. The fans chanted “Say you’re sorry” at Max. MJF said: “Bob, I’m sorry.” MJF struggled to say it. MJF told Lashley that the car he drove up in was Lashley’s car if Lashley gave MJF a thumbs up. Lashley said let’s go take a look at the car.
Analysis: This took a while to get through, but it continues the story of MJF trying to buy his way into The Hurt Syndicate group. The story just keeps on going.
The Hurt Syndicate and MJF were shown in the parking lot area, looking at the expensive sports car that MJF drove up in. Lashley took the keys, so he drove the car while Shelton went in it. Lashley drove off with the car. MJF said with a thumbs up, it is all Lashley’s car. Lashley drove away and did a thumbs down gesture. MJF: “What!” MJF was mad, so MVP told MJF to give the people what they wanted.
Analysis: Nice car. Poor MJF isn’t accepted in the group yet, so the bribery will continue. I don’t think it’s a great story, even though I like everybody involved in it. It will depend on where it’s going, what the payoff is, and what it leads to.
(Commercial)
“Hangman” Adam Page was interviewed by Renee Paquette, who asked about Page’s match against Kyle Fletcher in the Owen Hart Cup Semifinals next week. MJF mocked Page’s haircut saying it makes him look like he met his wife at a family reunion. Page trashed MJF and mentioned MJF’s car being gone. MJF said that he’s going to go through the back door with The Hurt Syndicate and become the AEW World Champion. Page wondered how that gets MJF closer to the World Title. Page said that MJF can’t win matches or hang with him. MJF said that they are 1-1, so if they have a match again, he’s sending Seabiscuit (that’s Hangman) to the glue factory. MJF said if Page gets to the finals of the Owen Hart Cup, he’s going to choke.
Analysis: I think Page should beat Fletcher to set up Page against Ospreay in the finals of the Owen Hart Cup. They could go with Fletcher against Ospreay yet again, but I’d rather see Page against Ospreay. I think Ospreay will win the Owen Hart Cup and then go on to be the AEW World Champion at All In Texas.
Will Ospreay & Brody King vs. Don Callis Family – Konosuke Takeshita & Josh Alexander (w/Don Callis Family & Lance Archer)
Don Callis joined commentary for this match. Takeshita and Josh hit a double elbow on Will, followed by a double team belly-to-back suplex. Will hit an atomic drop and a chop on Josh, who came back with an Ankle Lock until Will got out of that. Josh hit a body slam, along with a knee drop. Will hit a running hurricanrana followed by an armbar. King knocked down Josh with a shoulder tackle, body slam on Takeshita and splashes by Will and King followed that. King worked over Josh with chops and kicks. King chopped Will which led to Will taking over with a chop to Josh’s chest. Takeshita tripped up Josh on the apron and Josh hit a cross body block to knock Will down on the floor. They went to a picture-in-picture break there.
(Commercial)
The heels were in control as Josh had Will grounded with a chinlock. Will broke free and hit a jumping back kick on both heels. King tagged in and ran over both opponents. King nailed Takeshita with a lefty clothesline. King hit a suicide dive onto both opponents on the floor. King set up Josh and Takeshita on a chair, which led to King hitting a cross body block against the barricade. King hit a clothesline, Will tagged in and hit a double foot stomp for two because Josh made the save. Josh sent King into the steel steps at ringside. Takeshita hit Will with an elbow to the head. Will came back with a kick to the head. Takeshita hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two, which is the usual for that move. King tagged in against Josh, which led to King hitting a huge lariat to knock Josh down. King hit a running cannonball on Josh. Archer distracted the referee, so King knocked him down and Takeshita hit an elbow to stun King. Will dove onto Archer on the floor. Will jumped off the top with a springboard, Josh hit him with a forearm, and Josh hit a Powerbomb on Will, who was not legal. The illegal man Takeshita hit a Helluva Kick and German Suplex. Josh hit a German Suplex. Josh and Takeshita hit King with forearm smashes. Takeshita and Josh hit elbow smashes on King. Takeshita hit a running knee and Josh hit a C4 spike piledriver on King for the pinfall win. It went 13 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Don Callis Family – Konosuke Takeshita & Josh Alexander
Analysis: ***3/4 It was a great tag team match that did a better job of following the tag team rules and having less illegal offense, but there was some of it in the final few minutes. I think Takeshita was in the ring illegally for over two minutes to do double team moves. That’s a rare loss for Ospreay, but of course it was King taking the pin because they are always going to protect Ospreay. It’s good to see Josh win a match since he lost his first singles match in AEW.
During that match, they announced Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe on the May 14th edition of Dynamite.
After the match, Josh and Takeshita beat up Ospreay with kicks. Archer hit a Chokeslam on Ospreay. Kyle Fletcher went to the ring to join the attack. “Hangman” Adam Page tried to make the save, but Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero attacked Page from behind. Trent and Rocky joined the Callis Family on Collision. Page was beat up by the Don Callis Family guys. Fletcher gave Page a brainbuster.
It’s Fletcher against Page next week on AEW Dynamite, so Fletcher celebrated the attack.
Analysis: The classic “numbers game” advantage for the heels led to the cheap attack. We see it often in AEW with all of the groups they have.
(Commercial)
Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Semifinals: Kris Statlander vs. Jamie Hayter
Kris is a former TBS Champion and Hayter is a former Women’s Champion.
They did a double shoulder tackle to knock eachother down. Hayter hit a German Suplex and a missile dropkick for two. Kris countered a Hayter move by sending Hayter into the turnbuckle. Kris tripped up Hayter on the apron. Kris tried a moonsault on the floor, but Hayter moved, so Kris hit the floor. Hayter hit a running kick to knock Kris down. They went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Kris hit a jumping kick to the head, Hayter hit a back elbow, Kris hit an elbow and Kris hit a German Suplex for two. Kris grounded Hayter in a submission. Hayter got out of it and Hayter applied a headscissors around the neck. Kris slammed Hayter down to the mat face first. Kris hit a running double knee attack to the back of the head for two. Hayter and Kris countered each other, leading to two counts. Hayter hit a thrust kick, Kris hit a roundhouse kick, Hayter hit another kick and Kris hit a Powerbomb. Hayter hit a Hayt-breaker backbreaker move for two. Kris countered Hayter, leading to a spinning slam. Kris jumped off the top with a 450 Splash that didn’t look amazing, but it was enough for a two count. Kris went up top again, Hayter fought her there, Kris jumped off the turnbuckle and Hayter nailed a clothesline. Hayter hit her Hayter-ade lariat for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Jamie Hayter
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a good match that was competitive between two babyface women who were evenly matched. It’s nice to see the women in a main event, and there was a lot of good counter-wrestling throughout the match. It never felt like a great match to me, but I appreciated the effort of both women. They are very talented. I figured Hayter would win since Statlander has faced Mone several time while Hayter is a fresh opponent for Mone. It was a solid finish, with Hayter countering Kris coming off the ropes, and Hayter hit the clothesline for the win.
The win by Jamie Hayter means she’ll face Mercedes Mone at Double or Nothing on May 25th in the finals of the Women’s Owen Hart Cup.
Mercedes Mone arrived with her titles, including the TBS Title. Mone and Hayter did some long-distance trash talk while Mone was standing by the Women’s Owen Hart Cup. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: I predicted a Mone-Hayter final. I think Mone winning is pretty much a lock to set up Mone against Toni Storm in a Champion vs. Champion match at All In Texas.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Don Callis Family – Konosuke Takeshita & Josh Alexande and Will Ospreay & Brody King
- Mark Briscoe & Ricochet
- The Young Bucks
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.5 out of 10
Last Week: 9
2025 Average: 7.34
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
I liked the show. It wasn’t as good as last week’s best episode of the year, but it ended up being a fun episode with some great tag team wrestling. I liked the Briscoe/Ricochet match and a big win by Jamie Hayter in the main event.
The non-wrestling segments didn’t work that well. The story of MJF trying to bribe The Hurt Syndicate continues to go on, and I don’t know where it will end. FTR getting cheap heat by attacking old guys like the Rock N Roll Express is about as cheap as it gets. It’s not that creative.
As for Master P, it did nothing for me, but I guess it was nice for the locals. It helped set up the Moxley-Joe match for Dynamite in a few weeks, and I think they’re on the road to Anarchy in the Arena at Double or Nothing, too.
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Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter/X: @johnreport