The John Report: AEW Dynamite 06/25/25 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured “Hangman” Adam Page in the main event, Will Ospreay teaming with Swerve Strickland, and two big four-way matches.
I didn’t do a Dynamite review for last week’s show from Arena Mexico. I saw some of it, but I just wasn’t in the mood after an uncle died last Wednesday, and I didn’t have time or energy in the days that followed. It was the first Dynamite review I missed. Next week, I’ll be off for a week, starting Tuesday, July 1 (Canada Day), so I won’t have the Dynamite review posted until the following Tuesday. It will be my first week off this year. I am looking forward to it.
For this review, I’m going to do a summary style for most of the show and play-by-play for one or two matches.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #299 from the ShoWare Center in Kent (Seattle), Washington. 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. They taped Collision right after it, and that airs on Thursday.
The AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm was shown walking backstage with Luther when TBS Champion Mercedes Mone attacked Storm in the backstage area. They were fighting by the entrance in front of the crowd. Mone called Storm a bitch and attacked her with a submission pulling back on the head. There were referees, officials, and Mina Shirakawa there to stop it. Mone left. Mone: “Let the games begin.” The fans booed.
Analysis: A cheap attack by Mercedes Mone to get some heat on the babyface Toni Storm. I think they’ll have a great match at All In Texas and it was smart to have them start off the show since it’s one of the biggest matches at All In Texas.
The Young Bucks were backstage speaking on camera. They informed Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay that their match is taking place right now, instead of later tonight, as the wrestlers had thought.
Will Ospreay ran out to the ring, taping up his wrist to show that he wasn’t ready for the match, but he’s there now. Will’s boots weren’t even laced up, so he did that while Swerve Strickland made his entrance. Swerve got a big pop since he’s from the state of Washington.
Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) & Will Ospreay vs. Blake Christian & Lee Johnson
It was Lee and Swerve who started the match. Blake knocked Will down with a dropkick and a punch to the jaw. Will came back with an atomic drop, along with a chop. Swerve and Will hit a double boot to knock Lee down. Will was attacking both opponents when The Young Bucks duo of Matthew & Nicholas Jackson made their entrance while their music played and it distracted Will, so Blake knocked Will out of the ring. They went to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
Blake did a spot where Will held his hand and Blake walked the ropes for about 30 seconds. It was too much, but that’s AEW wrestling sometimes. Blake hit a 450 Splash on Will for two because Swerve made the save. The Young Bucks were seated on chairs in the aisle. Will hit enziguri kicks and Swerve got the hot tag as he beat up both opponents, including an elbow to the back. Will hit a Hidden Blade on Lee even though neither of them were legal. Will hit a superkick into a Swerve brainbuster on Blake. Swerve hit a House Call kick on Blake for the pinfall win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay
Analysis: *** A solid tag team match with a predictable outcome. They are building up Will and Swerve as a team due to their rivalry with The Young Bucks. Blake and Lee have a lot of talent, but they don’t get pushed on the main AEW shows. Will and Swerve worked well together.
After the match, Swerve and Will attempted to confront The Young Bucks, but security intervened. Swerve said that he’s tired of dealing with The Young Bucks, so how about they do something about it? Swerve said it should be him and Will Ospreay against The Young Bucks at All In Texas. Will said that they should up the stakes just a little bit. Will said that the people supporting the Bucks are why AEW exists. Will said they’re done with the power that the Bucks keep abusing. Will told The Young Bucks to put the EVP titles on the line at All In. Swerve jumped off the top with a Swerve Stomp a few guys and everybody else bumped. The Young Bucks bailed to the back. The announcers discussed the possibility of Swerve and Will becoming EVPs.
Analysis: It’s a big match for All In Texas that has been building for a long time, with Swerve having issues with The Bucks going back over two months, and Ospreay has been part of it as well. The EVP job titles on the line are an interesting stipulation, assuming it becomes official.
There was a video package about Kenny Omega’s history with Kota Ibushi as his friend to help Omega deal with Kazuchika Okada and the Don Callis Family.
(Commercial)
The Young Bucks appeared backstage, discussing what had happened with Matt Jackson, stating that Swerve Strickland had been suspended without pay. Kazuchika Okada walked in with friends from the Don Callis Family. Matt called Don Callis a prick. Matt said that they shared a common goal of having Okada become the AEW Unified Champion. Matt hyped up Trent for his match against Kota Ibushi. After the others left, Konosuke Takeshita told Kazuchika Okada that this is just temporary. Okada said okay and left.
Kota Ibushi vs. Trent Beretta (w/Rocky Romero)
The former IWGP World Champion Kota is back after nearly two years away. Congrats to Trent on recently getting married. Kota connected with a dropkick early on. Trent got had a flurry of offense that included a running knee smash and a Gotch-style piledriver sometimes called a cradle piledriver. Ibushi hit a Snapdragon suplex. They exchanged pin attempts as Trent got a cradle pin for two. Ibushi did a double foot stomp to the chest. Kota hit a jumping knee smash to the head. Kota held Trent’s arms and hit a knee to the head for the pinfall win. It went about 8 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kota Ibushi
Analysis: **3/4 They kept it short due to Kota likely having some ring rust and it didn’t need to be a long match. Trent hit some big moves for some nearfalls, but it’s the second match in a row on this show where the finish was obvious.
Kazuchika Okada made his entrance as the AEW Continental Champion. Okada got in the ring with his former rival Ibushi. There were some fans chanting “holy shit” for them. Okada got in Ibushi’s face for about ten seconds, and then Okada left as the heel that he is.
It was announced for Dynamite 300 next Wednesday: Kota Ibushi vs. Kazuchika Okada.
Analysis: An easy way to set up a big match for next week. Okada against Ibushi should be great.
The AEW World Champion Jon Moxley was sitting in a stairwell talking to the camera. Moxley claimed that “Hangman” Adam Page is afraid of what the world needs him to be. Moxley said that for a guy like him, who has walked the path he has, to be standing here as the World Champion makes Hangman Page sick. Moxley had no sympathy for his plight. Moxley said that the World Champion doesn’t shy away from responsibility because the World Champion needs to reach out and grab it. Moxley said that Page isn’t what these people think he is. Moxley said that he didn’t care about who is friends with Page. Moxley said that Page will be elbowed in the face, choked and dumped on his head on July 12th and he’ll show the world what a World Champion looks like. Moxley said that Page will need to look for another job.
Analysis: A strong promo from Jon Moxley. His promos are better when he’s backstage like that because when he’s out in front of the crowd, they aren’t as entertaining.
(Commercial)
Ricochet approached AR Fox backstage earlier in the day when Fox was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Ricochet wondered if Fox would team with him since they have known eachother for a long time. Fox thought about it, Ricochet acted like Fox accepted it, and the match was set.
Jetspeed – Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Ricochet & AR Fox
Fox was in control early on with some impressive moves like a double foot stomp on the apron and a dive onto the floor. Knight and Bailey sent both opponents out of the ring, which led to dives over the top rope on both opponents.
(Commercial)
Ricochet and Fox argued about some of the tactics that Ricochet wanted to use. Bailey worked over Fox with kicks to the back and a kick to the body. Bailey hit a running SSP on Fox for two because Ricochet made the save. Knight hit a leaping clothesline onto Fox for two. Fox hit an impressive springboard Spanish Fly on Bailey. When Fox tried to tag out, Ricochet left the apron and walked away. Knight hit a dropkick and Sky High on Fox. Knight jumped off the top with a UFO Splash on Fox for the pinfall win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Jetspeed – Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a fun tag team match that had another predictable outcome since Jetspeed has been pushed and Fox rarely wins matches even though he’s a very good performer. Ricochet is entertaining as a heel, and he came off like a jerk here by walking out on Fox. That UFO Splash by Ricochet is impressive.
Jetspeed’s Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight were interviewed by Tony Schiavone by the entrance. Bailey and Knight talked about how they wanted the AEW Tag Team Titles. Knight said that at AEW All In Texas, they are coming for those titles.
The Hurt Syndicate’s Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, the AEW Tag Team Champions, attacked Bailey and Knight. Lashley and Benjamin beat up Bailey and Knight around ringside while MJF and MVP laughed about it. Benjamin slammed Knight onto the barricade, and Lashley slammed Bailey on the apron. Benjamin hit snap suplexes on both opponents on the floor. MJF and MVP brought out a table. Lashley gave Bailey a Spinebuster onto Knight, who was on the table, so they went crashing through the table.
Analysis: A dominant ass kicking by The Hurt Syndicate. That’s a common occurrence for them.
Let’s Hear from The Hurt Syndicate
The Hurt Syndicate’s music hit as the foursome of Lashley, Benjamin, MVP and MJF went into the ring for a promo. MVP wanted somebody to stand up to the AEW Tag Team Champions, Lashley and Benjamin. MVP said if Jetspeed can stand up after that beating, then they would give them an opportunity for the AEW Tag Team Titles at All In Texas.
MJF tried to speak, but the fans booed him a lot and MVP told them to show MJF more respect. MJF said that next week, he’s going to be entering a qualifying match for the Men’s Casino Gauntlet at All In Texas. MJF said that when he wins, he’ll get what is rightfully his, not Jon Moxley’s or Hangman Page’s, but MJF’s AEW World Championship.
Mark Briscoe interrupted, saying we know MJF could listen to himself talk all night long, but a producer told Mark that he had to get out there to have his match. MJF said he doesn’t give a damn about what time it is because they can take up as much time as they want because they are actually stars. MJF said they can relate to Mark because they grew up dirt-ugly and dirt-poor. MJF told Mark to go back to his farm in Delaware and “pick up chicken shit, you blue collar, bitch.” Mark said that he sees the inner turmoil that MJF has. MJF said the word of the day is empathy, so the fans chanted “Empathy” at Max. Mark said that Max is trying to compensate for something and it comes from a place of insufficiency due to the “kosher pickle” in his pants and that’s why MJF wants to hang out with these guys. MVP calmed MJF while the fans chanted “Kosher Pickle” at MJF. MVP said that they will exit the ring and watch Mark Briscoe lose.
Analysis: There was a report of MJF wanting to feud with Mark Briscoe, so that was the start of it with the personal insults. It should escalate from there. I like it as a rivalry because Mark is a beloved babyface while MJF is hated as a heel.
(Commercial)
Mark Briscoe vs. Bandido vs. Roderick Strong vs. Konosuke Takeshita
The winner gets the #1 spot in the Men’s Casino Gauntlet Match at All In Texas. Bandido is the ROH World Champion. The first fall wins in a match like this with no disqualifications and no countouts.
Bandido kicked Takeshita out of the ring and they battled on the floor. Mark nailed Strong with a forearm. Mark kicked Takeshita and hit a neckbreaker on Bandido on the floor. Strong kicked Mark down on the floor, followed by a backbreaker. They went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Strong did a flurry of offense with a backbreaker and a clothesline. Strong sent Mark through the ropes onto Takeshita on the floor. Strong and Bandido hit a running double clothesline so all four guys were down. Bandido lifted up Strong and hit him with a Cutter. Takeshita shoved Bandido off the top and crashed to the floor. Mark shoved Takeshita off the top to the floor. Mark went up top with a Froggy Bow, Strong avoided it and Strong got a pin attempt for two. Strong kicked Mark in the jaw, followed by an Olympic Slam. Strong hit the running elbows on Mark, but Takeshita was back in there with a running kick to Strong’s face. Takeshita hit a superplex on Strong. Both guys had to lie on the mat, so Bandido hit a Frog Splash and Mark hit a Froggy Bow, which led to multiple two-counts. Mark hit an uppercut on Bandido, who came back with a clothesline. Takeshita caught Bandido and Mark at the same time for a double German Suplex for a two count because Strong made the save. Strong hit a knee to the arm, followed by Strong hitting the knees to the ribs. Takeshita hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count, which is the usual for that move. Bandido hit a running kick on Takeshita. Bandido put Takeshita on his back and hit a jumping knee. Bandido hit the 21 Plex on Takeshita, who rolled out of the ring. Strong hit a leaping knee on Bandido. Strong hit the End of Heartache onto the double knees. Mark jumped off the top with a Froggy Bow on Strong for the pinfall win. The match went about 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Mark Briscoe
Analysis: ***3/4 It was a great match that was full of action. These four-way matches are usually fun to watch, and this one was no different. Unlike the previous matches on this show, this one was harder to predict a winner, so I was more invested in it. Mark getting the win was cool to see because, as The Hurt Syndicate pointed out, Mark tends to lose these kinds of matches. Seeing Mark get big wins like this will make fans believe in him more. Takeshita was protected because he wasn’t pinned in the match, which is good to see, as I think Takeshita is a guy who needs to be used better in the future.
The TNT Champion, Adam Cole, did a promo saying he wants to defend the TNT Title against a member of the Don Callis Family on Collision. It was later revealed that the opponent would be Josh Alexander.
Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Thunder Rosa vs. Athena (w/Billie Starkz)
The winner gets the #1 spot in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match at All In Texas. Athena is the ROH Women’s Champion who doesn’t get to wrestle on Dynamite that often.
Willow and Athena went to the floor quickly, where Willow hit a senton. There were several headscissors takedowns early in the match. Kris hit Athena with a boot while on the top rope. That led to a Powerbomb Tower of Doom with Willow doing the slam. I literally saw the same spot in an NXT women’s four-way match one day earlier. I’m not saying they copied because it happens on all wrestling shows, but it’s less impactful when you see the same spot one day earlier.
(Commercial)
They returned from break with Rosa in control of Athena while the other two were relaxing on the floor. Rosa jumped on Athena’s back, leading to a crucifix pin for two. Kris and Willow cleared the ring, so then they did got to perform in the ring while the other two women took a break on the floor. Willow and Kris hit elbows on eachother. Kris and Willow hit a double suplex on Athena. Rosa jumped off the top with a missile dropkick. Rosa hit a stomp on Willow for two. Athena and Rosa exchanged pin attempts while Kris hit a running neckbreaker. Willow hit a Full Nelson Slam on Athena for two because Rosa broke up the pin. Rosa hit a running dropkick on Kris against the ropes. Athena yelled at Starkz to get Athena’s title. Rosa sent Athena into the steel steps. Athena suplexed Rosa off the steel steps onto the floor. Back in the ring, Willow hit a cannonball on Kris. Marina Shafir of the Death Riders went to the ring to distract Willow, and Wheeler Yuta was in the ring. Willow hit the Pounce on Yuta, so Kris capitalized with a Wednesday Night Fever piledriver on Willow for the pinfall win. It went 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kris Statlander
Analysis: ***1/4 It wasn’t as exciting as the men’s match, but it was still a good match where it was tough to predict who would win. There has been a story recently about how the Death Riders might want Kris Statlander to join them, so the Death Riders helped Kris win this match. Willow has had a long issue with Shafir, so they did a nice job of tying that into the finish. The Athena-Rosa parts were interesting and continued their rivalry that is happening on the ROH brand.
A video aired featuring Christian Cage stating that he wanted to be the first father-son AEW Tag Team Champions alongside Nick Wayne.
(Commercial)
There was a clip from Collision showing FTR having issues with The Outrunners.
FTR and Stoke were interviewed by Renee Paquette. Stoke said that they had an excellent victory on Collision, but then The Outrunners interrupted them. Stoke said on Collision, FTR can clear the air with The Outrunners. That was it.
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. The Beast Mortos
I’m not sure why The Beast Mortos is in a main event, but he is dating Mercedes Mone, so that might be a reason. I’m kidding. It’s the main event because Hangman Page is in the match.
They exchanged some holds early on until Mortos hit a headbutt. Page and Mortos each hit clotheslines against the turnbuckles. Mortos missed a knee attack and bumped over the top to the floor. Page clotheslined Mortos off the apron to the floor. Page gave Mortos a fallaway slam into the turnbuckle for two.
(Commercial)
Page hit a Powerbomb for a two count. Page tried a moonsault from the top to the floor, but Mortos avoided it, and Page landed on his knees. Mortos hit a twisting suicide dive onto Mortos on the floor. Mortos hit a popup Samoan Drop. Mortos hit a Lung Blower and a lazy pin attempt for a two count. Page tried a move, but Mortos spiked him with a counter. Page came back with a Poison Rana, a discus lariat, and the Buckshot Lariat for the pinfall win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page
Analysis: *** It was a physical match to give Page a warmup before his AEW World Title match at All In Texas. Easy win for Hangman over a guy who doesn’t get pushed that much. It only took three moves for Page to get the win after Mortos got some nearfalls. The flurry of offense by Page did pop the crowd.
The lights went out in the building. When the lights came back on, The Young Bucks were in the ring with Page and they hit the EVP Trigger double knee attack on Page. Nobody tried to help Page in the ring as The Death Riders made their entrance in the back part of the arena.
It was Jon Moxley in the ring with Wheeler Yuta, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson and Marina Shafir. Moxley choked Page with a chain around the throat. Page sold it like he was choked out. The Opps trio of Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata went down to the ring for the save while Moxley continued to choke out Page. Will Ospreay went into the ring, so The Death Riders and Young Bucks left the ring. Page was down in the ring, selling the attack and coughing. The AEW medical team and referees were in the ring to check on Page. The show ended there.
Analysis: A cheap attack by Moxley and friends, which is fitting for them. The babyfaces in this company suck at helping eachother out. I think Page will beat Moxley at All In Texas, and it’s going to be a match that has a lot of interference.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Mark Briscoe
- Kris Statlander
- Will Ospreay & Swerve Strickland
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.25 out of 10
Last Week: No review
2025 Average: 7.36
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
A pretty good episode of Dynamite. I wouldn’t call it great. I thought the second hour was a lot better than the first hour, especially in terms of matches. The four-way matches stood out because they were great, but also because they weren’t as predictable as the other matches.
They did a nice job of building All In Texas matches throughout the show while continuing some of the major stories going into it. I think the All In Texas card is strong.
The next AEW PPV is All In Texas on July 12th, with this lineup so far:
* AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
* AEW Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Mercedes Mone
* Winner Takes All Unification Match for the Inaugural AEW Unified Championship – Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. International Champion Kenny Omega
* The Young Bucks – Matthew & Nicholas Jackson vs. Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay
* Men’s Casino Gauntlet match for a future AEW World Championship match
* Women’s Casino Gauntlet match for a future AEW Women’s World Championship match
* AEW Tag Team Championships: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin vs. Jetspeed – Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey
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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