The John Report: AEW Dynamite 04/30/25 Review

This week’s AEW Dynamite featured Adam Page battling Kyle Fletcher and an All-Star 8-man tag team match featuring Kenny Omega on one side and Kazuchika Okada on the other side.

This was AEW Dynamite episode #291 from the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. 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.

The first seven minutes of the show featured the entrances of the eight men in the opening tag team match. There was a $400,000 fake prize for the winners of an 8-man tag team match three weeks ago. This week? Zero dollars mentioned. Damn, AEW. Make sure to mention that fake money.

All-Star 8-Man Tag Team Match: Ricochet, Kazuchika Okada and The Young Bucks – Matthew & Nicholas Jackson vs. Kenny Omega, Mark Briscoe, “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight

Okada is the Continental Champion who has a 5-0 record in 2025. That’s not a lot of matches in four months. Omega is the International Champion.

Omega wanted to face Okada to start and the fans were into it, but Okada tagged out. The heel team knocked down Omega’s teammates and then the four of them attacked Omega. Nick walked the ropes leading to an arm drag across the ring. Matt wrenched on Omega’s arm a few times. Okada held Omega’s arm and Ricochet tagged in to stomp on Omega’s arm. Matt continued wrenching on Omega’s left arm. Omega got a hold of Ricochet’s arms and gave it to Matt, who was wrenching on Ricochet’s arm, so it was a comedy spot. Omega hit an atomic drop. Bailey tagged in and then all four members of the face team hit running strikes on Ricochet. Knight hit a splash on Ricochet. Bailey and Knight each hit dropkicks on Ricochet. Mark tagged in, so Ricochet hit him with a jawbreaker. Mark hit two boots in a row to knock down Nick. Mark gave Nick a body slam. They did a sequence where all eight guys missed elbow drops. Oh, what a comedy. All eight guys were back up, leading to a brawl. Tony loved it because he loves everything in AEW. Bailey and Mark hit their karate/kung fu kicks to clear the ring. They went to a picture-in-picture break.

(Commercial)

Ricochet and Bailey were legal, so Knight and Matt went into the ring, leading to double Northern Lights suplexes followed by a Falcon Arrow and another suplex. Matt put his hair against Ricochet’s bald head, so that got heat. The fans still chanted at Ricochet about being bald. Bailey hit a knee strike to knock Ricochet down. Okada called for a brainbuster, but the faces stopped that. All eight guys were in the ring, leading to the four faces each hitting suplexes. The four faces all hit slingshot dives over the top onto heels on the floor. Knight with a clothesline on Okada, Bailey got the tag and Bailey hit a missile dropkick. Knight was back in with two clotheslines on Nick, then a leapfrog and another clothesline. Knight hit a hurricanrana while Nick was on the middle turnbuckle. Knight hit a body slam. Nick blocked a splash by getting the knees up. Omega finally tagged in going after the Bucks, but Okada bailed to the floor. Omega was sent to the apron by Matt and Matt hit a superkick because Okada was holding Omega’s leg. Matt superkicked Bailey. Ricochet and Nick each hit splashes onto Omega and Bailey. They went to another PIP break.

(Commercial)

The heels were in control as Matt hit a DDT to put down Omega. Ricochet tagged in, he went for a springboard splash, Omega avoided it and Omega hit a facebuster dunking Ricochet’s head into the mat. Mark tagged in with strikes for both Bucks, a jumping kick on Matt and Okada tagged in. Mark hit a running kick to knock Ricochet off the apron. Bailey and Knight each hit dives onto heels on the floor. Mark gave Okada a Fisherman’s Buster for a two count. Okada picked up Mark and hit a neckbreaker onto the top of Okada’s thigh. Okada jumped off the top with an elbow drop on Mark. Okada did his middle finger salute to the crowd and to Omega. Bailey kicked Okada’s hand a spin kick to the head. Nick nailed Bailey with a superkick since Matt was also in the ring. Knight hit an impressive backflip kick on the Bucks. Ricochet and Briscoe each hit moves while Okada dropkicked Mark to knock him down. Okada called for Omega to go in, so Omega went into the ring. Omega told the referee not to do anything as if the referee in AEW does things. Okada went for a dropkick, Omega avoided it and Omega hit a Snapdragon Suplex. Omega charged, but Okada was there with a dropkick. The Bucks hit superkicks on Omega and Okada hit a DDT on Mark. The heels did combo missile dropkick, spike piledriver/senton splashes at the same time and that only got a two count on Mark. The Bucks missed BTE Trigger because Mark ducked it, so the Bucks hit their knees against eachother. Mark gave Ricochet a back body drop over the top onto the Bucks. Mark hit a Jay Driller on Okada for two because Ricochet made the save. Taz pointed out that Okada landed on his head, which I noticed, too. Bailey kicked Ricochet and Knight dropkicked Ricochet so that Ricochet did a moonsault bump onto the Bucks. Omega hit a somersault dive over the top onto four guys and even the ones he didn’t touch took a bump. Mark hit a Death Valley Driver on Okada. Ricochet shoved Mark off the top rope and Okada hit a Rainmaker on Mark. The useless referee, Rick Knox, was looking away when Ricochet shoved Mark. Okada covered Mark for the win after about 27 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Ricochet, Kazuchika Okada and The Young Bucks – Matthew & Nicholas Jackson

Analysis: ****1/4 It was an outstanding match that I enjoyed. I’m sure the people who ignored the illegal offense throughout the match enjoyed it more than I did, but I have a tough time watching these matches where guys are in the ring for several minutes without being the legal man. Tag team wrestling should be about selling, building to hot tags and going from there. It shouldn’t be about random people going into the ring so eight guys in a row can miss elbow drops. I know that, as an AEW watcher for over six years, we should be accustomed to it, but I don’t have to like it. In terms of the work, the athleticism, the moves, the exciting spots, it’s a lot of fun. No denying that. I think there are better ways to tell stories in tag team wrestling. What I found funny, too, is they had a referee distraction spot to have Ricochet do a cheap shot on Mark to set up Okada’s pin for the win. You had to distract the referee, who never enforces the rules anyway? It seems so silly. Guys like Knight and Bailey are so talented. I was happy to see them get moments to shine. The Young Bucks were good in the match, but they also do the illegal offense spots more than anybody. The Okada-Omega spots were fun, even though I think they could have been set up better.

The Hurt Syndicate trio of AEW Tag Team Champions Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin, along with MVP, were backstage. Some indy wrestling losers were backstage singing “We Hurt People” so MVP, Lashley and Benjamin beat them up easily. Benjamin said that MJF joining them is about trusting MVP. They discussed MJF’s interest in joining the group, with MVP arguing that Max could be beneficial to them. MVP said he’s never let them down. MVP said that if MJF lets them down, then they will hurt him like he has never been hurt before. Lashley and Benjamin seemed okay about that.

(Commercial)

The Opps – Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata & Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Nick Comoroto, Myles Hawkins & Rhett Titus

The Opps are Trios Tag Team Champions, but they aren’t defending the titles here. Joe was in control of Titus with punches and a jumping kick to the head. Shibata knocked Nick down with a pump kick. It was Hobbs’ turn to get in there as he hit a powerslam and clotheslines on Hawkins. Hobbs hit a massive spinebuster on Hawkins. The partners of Hawkins didn’t even attempt to make a save. It went about three minutes.

Winners by pinfall: The Opps – Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata & Powerhouse Hobbs

Analysis: *1/2 A tag team squash match to put over The Opps. They all spent about a minute in there before Hobbs got the easy win. I remember Comoroto having an impressive look years ago and he still does, but they don’t seem to do anything with him.

After the match, The Death Riders Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta showed up for a cheap attack on The Opps. Marina Shafir was there with the guys too. Joe got a hold of Moxley, and Joe gave Moxley a sleeper hold. Claudio gave Shibata a Neutralizer slam onto an open chair in the ring. The director could have shot that better, but the idea is that Joe was too far away, choking out Moxley to make the save.

Samoa Joe did a promo from the ring while Moxley left with his friends in the back of the crowd: “Mox! It seems to me that Moxley likes to come out here and act like he’s the boss, but when we start throwing hands, he acts like a little bitch. Mox, you came out here weeks ago and you begged for me, one on one. And all I’m trying to do is give you what you want. But it seems like you don’t want that. But you’ve already made your request. I say let’s give the people what they want. If I’m going to fight you for the AEW World Championship, Mox, you cowardly SOB, let’s do it inside the steel cage! Because my name is Samoa Joe and I will be your next AEW World Champion.” (Thanks, AEW, for the transcript.)

The Jon Moxley-Samoa Joe match is on AEW Dynamite Beach Break in two weeks on May 14th.

Analysis: A Steel Cage makes sense because Jon Moxley has had help from his allies in his title matches, so a Steel Cage will keep the allies out of the ring. I doubt Moxley will lose to Joe, but it should be a good match between two talented veterans.

The TBS Champion Mercedes Mone did a taped sitdown interview with Renee Paquette. Mone talked about having the four titles that she currently holds as an example of her global domination. Mone said that the Harts have a special place in her heart and that winning the Women’s Owen Hart Cup is about her legacy. Mone said that a year ago at Double or Nothing was when she won the TBS Title, so what makes you think this will be different? Mone said she’s not underestimating Jamie Hayter. Mone bragged about her greatness, while Renee noted she is 25-0 in singles matches in AEW. Mone said she is the greatest because every time she steps into the ring, she changes the game. Mone credited Jamie Hayter for her talent, but mocked her Scooby Doo-style looks. Paquette plugged the Mone-Hayter match at AEW Double or Nothing as the finals of the Women’s Owen Hart Cup.

Analysis: It’s easy to hate Mone as a cocky heel character, but she also makes valid points about being the best since she wins so much.

(Commercial)

The Patriarchy group was interviewed backstage by Renee Paquette. When Renee tried to ask Nick Wayne a question, Christian Cage said questions should be directed to him. Jay Lethal interrupted to challenge Nick Wayne for the ROH TV Title, as Nick is the youngest champion, and Jay had held the title the longest. Nick didn’t seem interested in a match, but Christian Cage accepted the challenge for Nick. Cage told Nick to get his head in the game.

“Timeless” Toni Storm (w/Luther) vs. Miyu Yamashita

This was an AEW Women’s World Title Eliminator Match. If Miyu wins, then she gets an AEW Women’s World Title. Miyu is from Tokyo Joshi Pro in Japan. Storm got a big reaction. The crowd barely reacted when Miyu made her entrance. There was a Thesz Press and punches by Stone Cold Toni Storm. Sorry. I had a flashback there. Storm hit a backbreaker. Miyu kicked Storm to knock her off the turnbuckle. Storm tried a hip attack, Miyu avoided it and Miyu kicked Storm in the butt a few times. Miyu kicked Luther when he got in the way. Thanks, Miyu. They went to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Storm hitting forearms, Miyu no sold them, and Miyu hit a roundhouse kick to the head. Storm hit a German Suplex. Miyu hit a spinning heel kick to the head. Storm hit a Sky High for a two count. After Miyu hit another kick to the head, Storm hit another German Suplex. Storm hit the running hip attack and a Storm Zero for the win. It went about 10 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: “Timeless” Toni Storm

Analysis: *** A solid match to give Storm a win over a woman who was there to lose. Miyu is obviously very talented, and to her credit, the fans grew more interested in her as the match progressed. I don’t see Storm losing before All In Texas in July, especially in a singles match.

Mercedes Mone appeared after the match for a promo by the entrance area. Mone told the fans to shut up and say hello to your CEO. “Toni, darling, good to see you. After I beat Jamie Hayter at Double Or Nothing and win the Owen Cup, I’m coming for what I deserve and coming for the AEW Women’s World Championship, darling!” Jamie Hayter interrupted and punched Mone in the mouth. Mone ran away. Storm did some dancing/swimming on the mat while Hayter’s music played, so the crowd was laughing at that.

Analysis: I think Mercedes Mone will beat Jamie Hayter to earn the AEW Women’s World Title match at All In Texas. I think Mone will beat Storm at All In Texas, too.

Don Callis was with the Don Callis Family’s Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita & Josh Alexander backstage. Callis discussed Konosuke Takeshita and Josh Alexander winning last week over Will Ospreay and Brody King. This week, Kyle Fletcher will dismantle the Hangman, and Fletcher will win the Owen Hart Cup by ending Will Ospreay at Double or Nothing. Fletcher talked about how he was going to wi,n and you will have no choice but to say his name. Don Callis said his name excitedly.

Let’s Hear from The Hurt Syndicate and MJF

It was time for the weekly promo segment featuring The Hurt Syndicate’s MVP along with the AEW Tag Team Champions Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin. The fans shouted “We Hurt People” along with the song. MVP mentioned that they have been discussing adding a fourth member to their group. MVP said that the prospect has to receive a unanimous three thumbs up. MVP invited Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) to join them in the ring.

MJF kissed Shelton’s ass saying look how great this guy is. MJF sucked up to MVP, saying he loves him and MVP is one of his oldest friends in this sport. MJF spoke to Lashley: “Bob.” That led to a “Bob” chant. MJF asked if Lashley had a good car ride in. MVP said it was time to vote. MVP & Shelton gave MJF a thumbs up, but Lashley gave MJF a thumbs down.

MJF told Bob he was sick of his shit. MJF wondered what Lashley wanted since MJF had given him women, helped him win matches, and given him cars. MJF suggested some Rogaine for Lashley and MJF called Lashley a “big, bald son of a bitch.” Lashley grabbed MJF by the throat and spoke to him near the camera. Lashley told MJF that they hurt people. Lashley told MJF to hurt someone if MJF wanted to impress Lashley. MJF said that you made your point while MVP made Lashley let go of him. MVP got The Hurt Syndicate to leave. As he left the ring, MVP signaled to MJF that he talked too much. MJF was frustrated by it as the segment ended.

Analysis: I like all the wrestlers involved in it, but it feels like it is dragging a bit. At least we can’t say they are rushing through it. I’m not sure where it’s going, but I assume MJF will join the group and then maybe they can use MJF to turn heel on the group by getting a tag team as allies. The Hurt Syndicate seem like babyfaces at this point, so I’d rather see MJF the heel doing something else. Anyway, MJF hasn’t had a match in two months, so maybe he’ll be put in a match and do some angle where he hurts his opponent.

A video aired about FTR joined by Stokely (no longer Hathaway, just Stokely) as their manager. Stokley said that he gets things done. A video aired about FTR beating up various people over the last few weeks. Stokely said that FTR wants to solidify their legacy and win back their AEW Tag Team Titles.

Analysis: I’m glad that FTR is featured more. I assume they’ll get built up for a title shot against The Hurt Syndicate, who are on their way to being babyfaces, so maybe that’s a match at All In Texas in July.

Nick Wayne made his entrance as the ROH TV Champion. After Nick’s music started, Christian Cage’s music played instead. Christian walked out with Mother Wayne and Kip Sabian to watch from ringside.

ROH TV Championship: Nick Wayne (w/Christian Cage, Kip Sabian & Mother Wayne) vs. Jay Lethal

I don’t remember the last time Lethal has wrestled on Dynamite. It’s been a very long time. Lethal hit some arm drags, along with a dropkick. After Nick left the ring, Lethal hit a suicide dive, but Nick came back with a hurricanrana on the floor. Nick sent Lethal into the steel steps. They went to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

The match continued with Lethal getting multiple two counts with different moves. Lethal hit his Lethal Combination for two. Lethal went up top and hit a top rope elbow since he did the Macho Man imitation many years ago and Nick turned it into a two count. Nick did an eye gouge to a move, Nick sent Lethal into the turnbuckle and Nick hit a kick to the head. Nick hit a Fisherman’s Buster move for the pinfall win after 9 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Nick Wayne

Analysis: **1/2 This felt like an average match to me. Nick didn’t do much of the high-flying stuff. It was a competitive match to give the young guy Nick a win over a veteran like Lethal, who barely gets any TV time. The Christian-Nick split is coming at some point in the coming months, and I think Nick has a bright future as a babyface.

After the match, Christian put the ROH TV Title around Nick’s waist, and Christian applauded his “son” for the win.

It was confirmed that in two weeks on AEW Dynamite Beach Break on May 14th, Jon Moxley will defend the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe in a Steel Cage match.

Analysis: I’ll pick Jon Moxley to win there. I think Will Ospreay will win the Men’s Owen Hart Cup and beat Moxley for the AEW World Title at All In Texas in July.

Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Kyle Fletcher (w/Don Callis & Lance Archer)

The winner faces Will Ospreay in the finals of the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals. Don Callis joined commentary.

Page is in his home state of Virginia, so he has a lot of crowd support, as usual. Page chopped Kyle hard, so Kyle bailed to the floor. Kyle did some taunting by riding on cowboy Hangman’s back, so Page punched him a few times. Page hit Kyle with a boot and Kyle bailed to the floor to avoid a Buckshot attempt. Page hit Kyle with a running lariat over the barricade at ringside. They went to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

Kyle was in control with some downward elbow strikes. There was some blood on Kyle’s lower back. They replayed when Kyle’s lower back hit the upper part of the LED barricade, so he was bleeding on the back. They both tried to hit some moves, but Page nailed Kyle with a lariat that sent Kyle flipping over for a big bump. Page gave Kyle a back body drop. Page hit a clothesline and he caught Kyle on his back, which led to Page hitting a Death Valley Driver for two. Page worked over Kyle with repeated clotheslines against the turnbuckle. Page hit a fallaway slam that sent Kyle to the apron. That was nice of Kyle to go right there so that Page could hit his springboard clothesline on the apron. Page went up top, Kyle grabbed his foot and Kyle hit Page with a superkick. Kyle gave Page a brainbuster on the apron and they both bumped to the floor. That looked rough initially, but Page took the bump perfectly. Page and Kyle were on the barricade, Page grabbed the foot and sent Kyle onto the barricade. Page jumped onto Kyle, Page caught him and hit a Tombstone on the floor. That was a great sequence, but I also wouldn’t mind it if Page sold the brainbuster for more than five seconds. Selling is important, but they want to move on too quickly. Anyway, they went to a PIP break.

(Commercial)

Page hit a superplex off the top rope. Page hit a clothesline. Kyle hit a Half n Half suplex, but Page didn’t sell that much because he hit a Ligerbomb for a two count. Kyle hit a boot to the face, but Page recovered quickly and hit a Deadeye slam, which always makes me feel bad for Page’s knees, and that got a two-count for Page. Page went up top for a moonsault, Kyle got his knees up and Kyle hit a Ligerbomb of his own for a two count. Kyle hit a running boot. Page came back with a rollup for two. Page tried going for the Buckshot, but Kyle hit a jumping kick to the head. Page gave Kyle the Deadeye slam on the apron. Page went up and hit a perfect moonsault onto Kyle on the floor. Kyle pushed the referee, and Page jumped into the ring. Kyle then kicked Page in the groin while the referee had his back turned, due to the shove. Kyle hit a brainbuster for the one…two…no! Page kicked out. Kyle hit a running kick against Page by the turnbuckle. Page blocked a superplex attempt and Page hit three lariats from the top rope. Page hit a Buckshot Lariat off the top rope! Page hit a Buckshot Lariat regular style and covered for the one…two…and three! Hangman wins it after 24 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page

Analysis: ****1/4 It was a fantastic match, as expected by two of the best in-ring performers in AEW. I praised a lot of it in the play-by-play, but I also think they need to sell moves better and sell them longer. If you are going 24 minutes, then sell more and make the moves mean more. It’s not a major complaint because I loved the match and rated it highly. I’m just saying it’s important to sell more than what they do. Fletcher has done very well over the last year and is an ascending star. That low blow into a brainbuster spot by Kyle was really good because it was the one spot in the match where it looked like Kyle might win. You need at least one or two spots like that. Page getting the win is what I expected because it sets him up for the finals against Will Ospreay, which is a big match and a smart match to do in the finals. I liked how they laid out the finish with Page hitting a Buckshot Lariat off the top turnbuckle and then doing the usual Buckshot Lariat to win. That puts Kyle over as being tough to beat.

That means the finals of the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament is Will Ospreay against “Hangman” Adam Page. The winner will challenge for the AEW World Title at All In Texas in July.

Analysis: That was the finals I predicted, just like I predicted the Women’s tournament finals correctly. AEW is very predictable when it comes to tournaments. Tony doesn’t like booking upsets in these tournaments. I’m going with Ospreay over Page in that match.

“Hangman” Adam Page celebrated in the ring while Fletcher was down on the mat selling. That was the end of the show.

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Three Stars of the Show

1. “Hangman” Adam Page
2. The 8 guys in the opening match
3. Kyle Fletcher

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The Scoreboard

This Week: 8 out of 10

Last Week: 7.5

2025 Average: 7.38

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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite

Two matches took up about half the show and they were both awesome. They both went around 25 minutes, so when you have half the show featuring great matches like that, it’s a thumbs up from me. I have my issues with AEW tag team matches that I point out all the time, and this one was no different, but there’s still a lot of good action. It was a big win for Okada, while his interactions with Omega drew big pops from the crowd. There are too many comedy spots for my liking in matches like that. I know some fans like it, though.

The Hangman Page match with Kyle Fletcher was given a lot of time, and it was a “banger,” as some people like to say. Fletcher is an ascending star, while Hangman found a way to get the big win. I loved the nearfall that Fletcher had near the end of the match. I thought Hanger was going to win, so I’m glad he did.

Everything else in the show between those two matches felt average to me. There were predictable matches, and the story with The Hurt Syndicate/MJF just keeps on going.

The next AEW PPV is Double or Nothing on May 25th in Phoenix:

* Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals: Will Ospreay vs. “Hangman” Adam Page

* Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals: Mercedes Mone vs. Jamie Hayter

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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