The John Report: AEW Dynamite 05/21/25 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured Jon Moxley teaming up with The Young Bucks against Swerve, Hobbs & Samoa Joe, plus Will Ospreay and Hangman Page exchange words.
It’s the final Dynamite before the Double or Nothing PPV on Sunday night in Phoenix. It’s a show where some major titles won’t be defended, but the Men’s and Women’s Owen Hart Cup Finals will take place and they will be the featured matches.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #294 from the Rio Rancho Events Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 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.
Face to Face: Will Ospreay and “Hangman” Adam Page
Tony Schiavone was in the ring where he introduced the two men in the Men’s Owen Hart Cup Final. “Hangman” Adam Page was up first, followed by Will Ospreay. The fans cheered both guys as two of the biggest babyfaces in AEW. Tony left when the guys got into the ring. Will told the security guys to leave because he and Page agreed they wouldn’t be physical.
Will asked Page if he still drinks? Will said he knows Page likes to drink, so Will brought a couple of beers to ringside. Will handed Page a beer, Will took a sip and they put the beers down. Will said he wants to petition Tony Khan and the Board of Directors that they are the main event on Sunday. Will said that people will think he’s mad to want to follow Anarchy in the Arena and three hours of amazing wrestling. Will said not only is the winner of this going to win the Owen Hart Cup and go on to All In Texas, but the person has to bring back the beautiful gold belt. Will said he really wants this because he has done everything the right way. Will spoke about leaving his country of England on Tuesday, he takes a 7 hour and sometimes 15 hour flight every week. Will said he’s jetlagged all the time. He gets backstage, puts on his crime-fighting pants, and says ring the bell. Will said he wants to wear that belt with pride, show it around the world and most importantly he wants to bring it home. Will said that on August 24th, AEW presents Forbidden Door in London at the O2, which is 30 minutes from his home. Will said he’s grown up in front of them, so he wants to wear it in front of them and thank them for their support. Will said every Tuesday when he flies over there, he leaves his 6-year-old son at home, and he wants nothing more than for him to look at Will as the World Champion. Will said that he understood how much Hangman wanted it, but Will wanted it a little bit more.
Page said that’s the difference between the two of them. Page said he knows that feeling because he has lived it. Page said he knows that there is no prize grandeur than to be the AEW World Champion and he knows that Will knows that. Page said for Will, this could be a professional accomplishment. Page said it would be the biggest professional accomplishment that either of them could dream of having. Page said that this is personal for him. Page said he doesn’t want this opportunity, he needs it. Page said he wasted two years of his life because it was filled with sorrow, grief and hate. Page said that the one thing he won in two years brought him nothing but the same. Page said that the worst of it was when he was home, when his son sat on the floor playing with toys and his dad was staring out the window, looking for something that was never coming back. Page said that he needed this. Page said he needs his wife to not see pity, he needs his kids to look up to him and know that they have the father they deserve. Page said he needs the fans who supported him when he deserved it the least to know that he can be the man that he can be. Page said he needs it for himself to know there’s light at the end of the two-year tunnel of hell. Page said he wanted Will to know he was wrong when he claimed that it was too little, too late for Page.
Will wondered what Page was planning on doing about it. Will wondered if he’d wrap a chair around Will’s skull or beat him so bad he had to retire like Christopher Daniels. Will said he’s been down that path, and it took a lot out of him to come back. Will spoke about how sometimes he’s lost badly. Will said he has lost without using the referee to his advantage and he has lost without whining in the back. Will said if he lost, at least he won the fan’s respect and the fan’s trust. Page wondered if Will had what it takes to beat somebody like Jon Moxley. Will said he didn’t know because he admitted he’d faced Moxley twice and lost. Will told Page that he knows what it takes to win. Will said he wants Page to bring that fire and bring that animal because Will knows if Page brings that then Will can beat Moxley. Will said that Page is a cowboy who has been obsessed with Swerve. Will talked about how an entire year has changed Page. Will said that kids don’t look up to Page and the boys in the back lost respect to him. Will said that he’s a guy that will show up to do his best. Will said his best had beaten MJF, Danielson, Okada, Omega, and Jericho, and he’s proved everybody wrong. Will got in Page’s face and said, “I am the best in the f**king world, bruv.” There were “Ospreay” chants after that. Will said when that bell rings, anything can happen. Will said if it is Page, then he’s happy for him. Will said if Page needs a friend and needs somebody watching his back, then Will has got him. Will said he hopes the same goes back to Page and that if Will wins, he hopes Page has his back.
Will picked up his beer. Will told Page to meet him in the desert and said he was calling out Page for a shootout. Will had his beer. Page chugged his beer. Will stared at Page, and Will’s music played for a staredown. Excalibur said that Tony Khan has made it official – Will Ospreay facing “Hangman” Adam Page will be the main event of Double or Nothing. It will be an amazing match. Will and Page walked to the back together while they stood near the Men’s Owen Hart Cup and they had another staredown.
Analysis: It was an awesome promo exchange. Will Ospreay spoke at length at first, then Hangman Page had his turn and then it was Ospreay again. My pick was for Ospreay to win the Owen Hart Cup since it started and that’s still my pick. I think Ospreay is the guy to beat Moxley for the AEW World Title at All In Texas as well. Ospreay made a lot of good points about how he may not know how to beat Moxley, but if he beats Page then maybe Will has what it takes to beat Moxley. I like it as a story because it is Page trying to redeem all the bad things that he did in the past by being a hero for AEW as the guy to take the AEW World Title from Moxley. That story could work well. Ospreay has really improved as a talker over the last year, so good job by him. Page isa strong talker. As I said, though, I’m picking Ospreay at Double or Nothing.
Jon Moxley was backstage with Marina Shafir. Moxley made his entrance saying that tensions are high and he spoke about embracing the anarchy, which was a reference to the Anarchy in the Arena match. Moxley made his entrance for tag team action. The other entrances followed.
Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs & Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) vs. Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) and The Young Bucks – Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
Moxley and Joe exchanged strikes. Joe hit Moxley with a forearm to knock Moxley into the turnbuckle. Matt avoided a slam by Hobbs and Nick tagged in with a dropkick. Swerve tripped up Nick, jumped over him, Swerve went for an overhead suplex, Nick landed on his feet and Swerve hit a backbreaker. Swerve hit an arm drag followed by a suplex. Moxley ran into the ring with a forearm to the back. The six guys fought in the ring. The Bucks tried dives on Swerve and Joe, but Swerve and Joe both walked away doing Joe’s “avoid the move” spot. Moxley hit a suicide dive onto Hobbs on the floor. The Bucks hit a double superkick on Joe. Swerve jumped into the ring with a jumping flatliner on Nick and a flipping dive onto Nick on the floor. Joe hit an elbow suicida dive onto the heels on the floor. They went to the first picture-in-picture commercial break 28 minutes into the show.
(Commercial)
Hobbs was being attacked by the heels. Nick slapped Hobbs in the back, but Hobbs caught him and hit the World’s Strongest Slam. Swerve was back in with two clotheslines and a neckbreaker on Matt. Swerve caught a leaping Nick and hit a spinning powerslam. That was impressive. Nick jumped off the apron to avoid Swerve, but Swerve went after him and hit a backbreaker. Nick hit a cheap shot superkick on Swerve on the floor. The Bucks made some quick tags to work over Swerve. Nick hit a Swanton Bomb on Swerve, but Swerve got his knees up to block. The heel trio hit a combo splash/kick move on Swerve. Moxley hit a suplex slam on Swerve. Matt hit a cross body block on the floor. Nick and Matt hit their Risky Business double team splash for two. Matt held Swerve against the ropes and Nick hit a Swanton Bomb on Swerve. Hobbs made the save on the two count. They went to another PIP break.
(Commercial)
Moxley was in control as he hurt Swerve with a piledriver for two because Joe made the save. Swerve managed to break free after hitting Moxley with a headbutt. Joe was on fire after the tag with an STO and a powerslam for a two count. Joe hit a splash/enziguri kick combo. Hobbs went up top and hit a Frog Splash off the top. Swerve was legal and he got a two count on Matt because Moxley and Nick made the save. Everybody took turns running into the ring to do spots. The Bucks hit a double DDT on Hobbs, Joe ran over the Bucks with a double clothesline, Moxley hit a Paradigm Shift on Joe and Swerve hit a House Call kick on Moxley. Swerve jumped off the apron with a double stomp on both Bucks on the floor. Everybody decided to sell on the floor at that point. Hobbs was legal for his team as he hit a spinebuster on Moxley, on Matt and Hobbs gave Nick a spinebuster onto Matt. Moxley gave Hobbs a Cutter. Joe clotheslined Moxley out of the ring. The Bucks hit a double superplex on Joe. The Bucks hit a double superplex on Swerve. The Bucks went for the EVP Trigger on Swerve, who avoided it and Joe applied a Coquina Clutch on Nick. Swerve did a ROLLUP OF DEATH~! on Matt and sat on top for the pinfall win. It went 21 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs & Swerve Strickland
Analysis: ***3/4 It was a great tag team match. It seems like every week, there’s a 6-man or 8-man tag team match on Dynamite. There was a lot of action. They had less illegal offense compared to most AEW tags, so that was good. The inside cradle finish is something that Matt used to beat Swerve last week, so this time, it’s Swerve beating Matt with the same move. Somebody in AEW has gotten to like the idea of doing rollup finishes instead of having wrestlers take finishers to lose matches. AEW is good at doing these long tags with many wrestlers involved.
After the match, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta joined the heels in an attack on the faces. Katsuyori Shibata returned to help the faces. Shibata beat up Yuta and Claudio with strikes. Shafir hit Shibata with a low blow uppercut. That brought out Willow Nightingale to fight with Shafir and Willow hit a Spear on Shafir. Kenny Omega saved his Double or Nothing partners by beating up Yuta, Claudio, and Matt Jackson with Snapdragon Suplexes. Omega hit a V-Trigger on Matt. Swerve set up a table on the floor. Claudio saved Matt from Omega trying to put Matt through a table. The heels from the Death Riders and the Young Bucks left through the crowd.
Samoa Joe did a promo warning Moxley and friends that they are coming after them tonight instead of just waiting until Double or Nothing.
Analysis: It was a nice way to tease the Anarchy in the Arena match by having these teams brawl around the ring. Joe’s promo told the fans there was more to come, which is smart because then the audience will want to see what happens later.
The Hurt Syndicate was interviewed by Alicia Atout. MJF walked in with a flashy suit, and he was excited. MVP and The Hurt Syndicate left the room. MJF told Atout, who is his girlfriend that she could leave. MJF spoke to his lawyer, Mark Sterling, and The Hurt Syndicate’s lawyer. After MJF shook hands with THS’ lawyer, MJF asked Mark for some hand sanitizer. That was funny. That segment was coming up.
(Commercial)
MJF Officially Joins The Hurt Syndicate
There was a table in the ring and a black carpet. The Hurt Syndicate’s AEW Tag Team Champions Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin made their entrance along with their buddy MVP. The THS lawyer was in the ring along with MJF’s lawyer Mark Sterling. MVP said tonight is a special night to introduce the newest member of THS.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman made his entrance wearing a gold/black suit. A fan had a “PLZ Hurt MJF” sign, so Max wrecked it. MJF joined them in the ring.
MJF said that his mom said that the most important day of your life is when you marry the love of your life. MJF said that clearly, that dumb bitch never joined The Hurt Syndicate. The fans were booing MJF, so MVP told them to show respect to MJF, the young genius. MJF said that it’s such a shame that this has to occur in a state that nobody knows exists. Mark Sterling said that the lawyers agreed that MJF would sign first, followed by the three Hurt Syndicate members, and that will make it official. MJF signed first. MVP signed, Benjamin signed and Lashley was last. Lashley picked up the contract, looked it over, and hesitated to sign it. Lashley signed it after thinking about it for about a minute. MJF said he loved Bob. MJF said that this was the greatest moment of his life.
Analysis: There wasn’t much talking in that segment, but they confirmed MJF in The Hurt Syndicate. I’m glad it’s official, and I’m interested to see where it goes. MJF is better off as a heel on his own, so I wonder how long this lasts, or maybe MJF turns on the group and forms his own heel stable.
The Sons of Texas team of Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara interrupted the signing. They are the ROH Tag Team Champions that will challenge Lashley and Benjamin for the AEW Tag Team Titles at Double or Nothing. MJF said that they had no right to interrupt The Hurt Syndicate. Dustin told Max to shut his mouth. Dustin said MJF doesn’t have a strong work ethic. Dustin said he hated MJF’s guts and told MVP to watch for this snake in the grass. Dustin spoke about how he and Sammy are Day 1 guys. Dustin said that six years ago at Double or Nothing, they changed the wrestling landscape. Dustin talked about how they wanted more gold, they are undefeated as ROH Tag Team Champions and they’ve earned this title match. Dustin dared The Hurt Syndicate to hurt him. Dustin said they work around the clock with no off time. Dustin talked about how much heart they have and you can’t touch their work ethic. Dustin said if he was a betting man, he’d bet on the Day 1 guys.
Analysis: I don’t watch ROH, but I know Dustin & Sammy are good performers, so I’m happy about them getting a title shot. There isn’t much to the story other than Dustin & Sammy challenging the champions because there are few other teams worthy of a shot. Dustin did a good job with his promo, but it also dragged a bit.
The AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Okada said that at Double or Nothing, “Speedball” Mike Bailey will find out why Okada is the champion. When Renee mentioned Bailey hasn’t been pinned yet in AEW, Okada didn’t seem too worried about it and said there’s a first time for everything. Okada: “Trust me.” Okada didn’t say “bitch” to end it as usual.
(Commercial)
Anthony Bowens (w/Billy Gunn) vs. Ricochet
There was a jumping DDT-like move like Bowens and then a clothesline that sent Ricochet out of the ring. Ricochet got in the face of old man Billy on the floor, so Bowens slapped Ricochet on the head. Bowens sent Ricochet into the barricade. Excalibur was way too excited about Bowens doing the scissor thing with Gunn, who tossed Ricochet into the ring. The referee Paul Turner told Gunn not to do that. Ricochet held onto the referee’s shirt to avoid being slammed by Bowens. Ricochet sent Bowens into the barricade.
(Commercial)
Bowens hit a spinning slam for a two count. Ricochet got in some kicks, but Bowens came back with kicks and hit a superkick for two. Ricochet connected with his own spin kick to the head. Bowens avoided a clothesline and hit The Arrival slam. Bowens hit Ricochet in the back with a forearm that knocked Ricochet out of the ring. Gunn went toward Ricochet, but referee Paul Turner stopped that, and Ricochet jabbed Owens with the dreaded scissors that the referee never saw. Ricochet hit the Spirit Gun lariat for the pinfall win. It went about 9 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Ricochet
Analysis: **3/4 A cheap win for Ricochet, as you would expect, since he’s in a Double or Nothing match while Bowens is not. The finish was booked poorly because it made Gunn look like an idiot for distracting the referee and allowing Ricochet to cheat to win. I didn’t like the referee spot because it’s rare to see a referee leave the ring just because Gunn approached Ricochet. I know they set it up earlier by having the referee, Paul Turner, admonish Gunn for touching Ricochet, but I still didn’t like the spot. I thought that was poorly done, and it hurt the finish.
After the match, Ricochet was celebrating his win. Mark Briscoe showed up with a stretcher. Mark beat up Ricochet around ringside and put Ricochet on the stretcher. Mark wanted a Froggy Bow onto the stretcher, but Ricochet left and went to the back.
Analysis: An easy way to build the Ricochet/Briscoe match some more. I think Ricochet should beat Mark in that PPV match, but it could go either way.
There was a rundown of AEW Double or Nothing matches.
The Anarchy in the Arena graphic was shown to reveal the 12 wrestlers in the match: Kenny Omega, Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, Swerve Strickland. Powerhouse Hobbs, and Willow Nightingale Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Young Bucks, Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir.
Analysis: It’s a 6-on-6 tag rather than 5-on-5 because the women are involved. It makes sense in the storyline, but it’s going to be hard to film all that and show all the action on screen.
(Commercial)
Stokely was with FTR talking about how there will be a contract signing at Collision on Thursday for their match against Daniel Garcia and Nigel McGuinness at Double or Nothing. We have AEW Collision spoilers up here in case you really want to know what happened.
Face to Face: Mercedes Mone and Jamie Hayter
Jamie Hayter was introduced first, followed by the TBS Champion, Mercedes Mone. Renee Paquette was in the ring with them, moderating the interview. Hayter said that looking past her is a way to get yourself hurt. Hayter said it means more to her than it does to Mone. Hayter said this about more than a title shot – it’s about not being forgotten.
Mone claimed she was a revolution and the Beyonce of women’s wrestling. Mone said her reality is she’ll go to All In Texas to be the AEW Women’s World Champion. Mone bragged about being TBS Champion for 360 days, and she’s 25-0 in singles competition. Hayter mentioned Mone recently lost the NJPW Strong Women’s Title, so Hayter thinks it is Mone’s destiny to lose everything. Mone did a cheap shot and knocked down Hayter with punches. Hayter hit a Hayterade lariat to knock Mone down.
Analysis: It was fine, but not nearly as interesting as what the guys said. I think Hayter will put up a fight against Mone and Hayter is likable. However, I think everybody who watches AEW knows Mone is going to win.
The AEW Women’s World Champion, “Timeless” Toni Storm, showed up with Luther to do commentary for the final match of the show.
(Commercial)
Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart
Toni Storm was on commentary. Mina picked Toni in a four-way non-title match last week, so Mina will challenge Storm for the AEW Women’s World Title at Double or Nothing.
They did a rope walk spot where Hart hit a punch to the back. Mina came back with a chop, then Mina did her own rope walk and hit a knee drop. Mina kicked Hart in the head, along with a dropkick to the knee. Mina tripped up Hart and taunted Storm on the floor. Hart went after Mina on the floor and sent her into the apron. They went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Hart was in control, but Mina made the comeback with a knee smash. Mina hit a rolling elbow and a clothesline. Mina took down Hart with a dragon screw leg whip. Storm said you can’t do that to her because you need a crowbar to get to her thighs. Hart did her version of a Tarantula hold on the ropes, but Mina came back with a spinning back fist. Mina jumped off the top with a neckbreaker/crucifix bomb style move for a two count. Hart took down Mina with a back heel trip. Hart went up top for a moonsault, Mina moved and Hart was selling a left knee injury on the way down. Mina hit a dropkick to the back of the knee. Mina rammed the left knee into the mat. Hart got a cradle for two. Mina hit Hart with an elbow and a back fist to knock Hart down. Hart countered a move into a rollup for two. Mina hooked the arm of Hart and rolled her up for the pinfall win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Mina Shirakawa
Analysis: *** It was a competitive match to give Mina a win going into her Women’s Title match at Double or Nothing. Mina won with a cradle while holding onto Hart’s arms, so it was a creative finish like when Mina beat Storm last week. Hart had no chance here, but she has improved a lot over the years.
After the match, Julia Hart attacked with punches, but Mina fought back. Mina applied a Figure Four Leglock to Hart after the match. Skye Blue went into the ring and kicked Mina to break it up. Toni Storm went into the ring to save Mina from the cheap attack. Storm German suplexed Blue to send her out of the ring. Mina hit a back fist on Hart to knock her out of the ring. Mina held up the AEW Women’s World Title, and Storm tried to take it from her. Mina did a dragon screw leg whip on Storm. Mina applied the Figure Four Leglock around the ring post until she was forced to let it go. Storm was selling the attack.
Analysis: It was an angle to give Mina the advantage going into Double or Nothing since she beat Storm last week and Mina beat up Storm here. I doubt that Mina will win at Double or Nothing, but at least it makes Mina look like a threat.
Anarchy In Arena Brawl Tease
The Young Bucks were interviewed backstage where they said Samoa Joe was a liar because he said they’d get their hands on the Young Bucks before the end of the night. That led to Joe showing up to attack the Bucks, of course. Powerhouse Hobbs showed up to fight with Joe against the Bucks. The other wrestlers involved in Anarchy in the Arena got into a fight in the backstage area, and they went fighting into the arena. There was fighting on the floor while The Young Bucks beat up Omega in the ring, and the Bucks hit the EVP Trigger on Omega. Moxley was choking out Joe with a chain. Joe turned it around on Moxley to attack him with the chain. Gable Kidd was in the crowd, and he attacked Joe to break that up.
There were two tables set up on the floor by the Death Riders/Young Bucks team. Nick Jackson went up top and hit a Frog Splash on Swerve through a table. Matt Jackson jumped off the top with an elbow drop to put Omega through a table. The Death Riders and The Young Bucks looked dominant to end it.
Analysis: It was an exciting final segment to give the heels the advantage going into Double or Nothing. Gabe Kidd isn’t part of the Anarchy in the Arena match officially, but he helped Moxley this week just like last week, so he’ll likely be involved in the match as Moxley’s ally. I think the babyface team will win at Double or Nothing.
The show ended at 10:08 p.m. ET this week.
===
Three Stars of the Show
- Will Ospreay and “Hangman” Adam Page
- Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs & Swerve Strickland
- Jon Moxley and The Young Bucks – Matthew & Nicholas Jackson
===
The Scoreboard
This Week: 7 out of 10
Last Week: 7.5
2025 Average: 7.37
===
Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
A solid edition of Dynamite, but not really a great show. The first hour was a lot better than the second hour, which wasn’t that interesting. I think they had better shows in recent weeks. An AEW Dynamite episode with only three matches and about 40 minutes of in-ring action is rare. They had a lot of promos and segments building up the Double or Nothing PPV on Sunday, so I get why there was less in-ring action. The 6-man tag was great. The other two matches were just average.
I liked the Will Ospreay-Hangman Page promo a lot. Will spoke a lot more about how why he needs to win while Page said that he needs to win to make the last two years of chaos worth it. The Mercedes Mone-Jamie Hayter promo exchange was less interesting. MJF also joined The Hurt Syndicate officially, but there wasn’t much to that segment.
They pushed the Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing a lot since it was a long match and also the last 10 minutes of the show. The heels stood tall here, but I think the faces are going to win at the PPV.
The next AEW PPV is Double or Nothing on Sunday, 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
* Anarchy in the Arena Match: Kenny Omega, Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, Swerve Strickland, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Willow Nightingale vs. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Young Bucks, Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir
* AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa
* AEW Tag Team Championships: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin (c) vs. Sons of Texas – Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara
* AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
* Stretcher Match: Mark Briscoe vs. Ricochet
* FTR – Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler vs. Daniel Garcia & Nigel McGuinness
===
Thanks for reading. Go Toronto Blue Jays. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @johnreport