The John Report: AEW Dynamite 07/23/25 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured FTR taking on Jetspeed, “Hangman” Adam Page in action and Claudio Castagnoli facing Mark Briscoe.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #303 from the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois. 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.
They are in the same building as last week with about 1,200 fans in attendance. It’s a smaller place, but the crowd is loud in Chicago, and it looks good on TV.
The AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Page said on Saturday, the Death Riders bloodied and hanged Colt Cabana, so Page will punish Wheeler Yuta for it and won’t regret what he does. MJF walked up to Page, saying he’ll beat Page for the AEW World Title, and he won’t need his championship contract. Page told MJF to earn a title shot and called him a gutless coward.
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Wheeler Yuta
The AEW World Champion Page brought a steel chain with him to the ring. Yuta attacked Page and knocked him down. Yuta hit a suicide dive onto Page. They went back into the ring where Page stomped on Yuta. There was a replay shown of the Death Riders bloody attack on Colt Cabana. They left the ring again, where Page sent Yuta into the barricade a few times. Back in the ring, Page kicked Yuta and hit a Death Valley Driver for two. Yuta held onto the rope to avoid Deadeye, followed by Yuta doing an eye rake and some biting. Page hit a clothesline. Page went to the apron and hit the Buckshot Lariat for the pinfall win. Nice job using Logan Paul’s move. I’m kidding! Relax, AEW fans. It went about 3 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page
Analysis: ** Easy win for Hangman. I’m glad that it was kept short, and he looked like a dominant champion. There are too many AEW TV matches that go on too long and they don’t need to be long, but the company loves having longer matches.
After the match, Page grabbed the chain and punched Yuta with it. Page punched Yuta while the chain was wrapped around Page’s hand. Yuta was bleeding from the head. Page put the chain around Yuta’s neck and teased choking him around the neck. Page told Yuta that they weren’t coming to save you. The fans chanted, “He deserves it” at Yuta. Page left.
Analysis: The attack from Page was brutal while it lasted, but he also made a good point that nobody tried to save Yuta. It shows that the Death Riders don’t care about AEW, which we know as fans, but Yuta doesn’t seem to realize it.
The ROH Women’s Champion Athena was backstage with Billie Starkz, who put over how great Athena was. Athena has a contract for the AEW Women’s Title. Athena said that Starkz is going to take her out. Athena told Toni that her movie is almost over.
Analysis: I’m thrilled that AEW is finally utilizing Athena more after keeping her on ROH for years, which has a relatively small audience. I picked her to win the Women’s Casino Battle Royal at All In Texas, and I was so happy she did. More time for Athena is a good thing.
AEW Tag Team Title Eliminator Tournament Quarterfinals: FTR = Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler (w/Stokely) vs. Jetspeed – “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight
This is part of an 8-team tournament where the winners will earn an AEW Tag Team Title match at Forbidden Door. Good to see FTR on Dynamite again since they are usually on Collision, which I don’t watch most weeks. This should be a great match. Stokely has a crutch and was selling an attack by Adam Copeland on Collision last week.
FTR attacked as soon as the bell rang. Bailey got a rollup on Dax. Knight superkicked Dax into a German Suplex by Bailey for two. Jetspeed hit slingshot dives over the top onto the FTR guys on the floor. Back in the ring, Dax chopped Bailey and stomped on him. Dax worked over Bailey with an uppercut, along with a back elbow. They left the ring where Bailey countered Dax and gave him a back body drop on the bottom of the ramp. Bailey hit a back body drop on Cash on the ramp as well.
(Commercial)
Dax was in control of Knight going for a superkick, but Knight knocked Dax down. Bailey went after Cash and hit him with a hurricanrana off the top. Jetspeed each hit missile dropkicks at the same time. Bailey continued the illegal offense while Knight hit a jumping DDT on Dax for two. Bailey was still in the ring illegally for a double team attack on Dax. Knight hit a top rope splash on Dax in the ring while Bailey hit a moonsault onto Cash on the floor and Knight got a two count. Dax wrenched on Knight’s left leg with a dragon screw leg whip in the ring. Dax wanted a handshake from a kid, who didn’t want to do it and Dax flipped off an adult there. Thanks, Dax, for that. Dax rammed Knight’s left knee into the ring post. Dax applied the Ringpost Figure Four like his favorite wrestler, Bret Hart, used to do, but Bailey made the save for his partner by kicking Dax repeatedly. Cash saved Dax by hitting a dragon screw leg whip on the floor. Back in the ring, Knight got an inside cradle on Dax for two. Dax continued the Hitman offense tribute with a Sharpshooter on Knight in the ring. Cash applied a Sharpshooter on Bailey on the floor. Knight broke free after getting to the rope. Dax gave Knight a superplex and Cash wanted a splash, but Knight got the knees up. Bailey hit a Shooting Star Press off the top onto Dax, which got two for Knight. That was some more illegal offense by Bailey since AEW loves the illegal offense.
(Commercial)
Bailey got a sunset flip on Dax for two. They did a creative spot with the FTR guys being sent out of the ring, so Bailey hit a twisting moonsault onto both FTR guys on the floor. Bailey barely touched Dax, but he still sold it. Back in the ring, Bailey hit a kick to the chest, followed by a SSP knee drop for two. Knight was back in for a elevated dropkick/chair drop double team move and Cash broke up the pin attempt. Cash sent Bailey into the barricade. Cash charged and Bailey gave him a back body drop over the barricade. Bailey hit a cross body block on Cash on the floor. Knight went for the splash off the top, Dax got the boots up and Dax got a cradle for two. Knight countered a Dax move into a hurricanrana for two. Dax punched Knight. Bailey into the ring illegally and Dax hit a slingshot Powerbomb for two. Knight got a crucifix pin on Dax for two. Knight went for a victory roll, Dax sat on top, held onto Stokely’s crutch as leverage (the referee didn’t see that) and Dax got the three count. It went 18 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: FTR – Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler
Analysis: ***3/4 Awesome match. I would have rated it higher, but there was far too much illegal offense for my liking. You can have great matches without guys randomly going into the ring to do moves and randomly jumping off the top rope to hit a splash. FTR are such good heels while Jetspeed are easy to like as babyfaces because they’re so athletic and pull off a lot of cool moves. I think it would be a better match if they isolated one of the babyfaces, built a hot tag and went from there, but instead it was about doing random moves. The finish was creative with Dax using Stokely’s crutch for the assist, which fits FTR as heels.
FTR and Stokely were interviewed in the ring by Tony Schiavone, who mentioned that Adam Copeland is coming for FTR. Stokely said that Copeland belongs in prison. Stokely said that Copeland had no business putting his hands on Stoke last week. Stoke said that Copeland is a horrible human being, a loser and a cancer to AEW.
On this day, here comes Adam Copeland for the interruption. The Rated R dad in his 50s is here. Stoke told them to cut Cope’s music, so the fans kept on singing the great song. Stoke said that Copeland isn’t allowed to get in the vicinity of FTR.
Copeland said he forgot he can’t get within a certain amount of feet between them. Copeland said he made a business deal with some people to do what he can’t and their business is hurting people.
The Hurt Syndicate’s AEW Tag Team Champions Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin made their entrance, joined by MVP. Cope shook MVP’s hand.
Analysis: That’s an APA throwback for The Hurt Syndicate. The AEW creative team is so creative sometimes, huh? Anyway, I don’t mind it.
The Hurt Syndicate went into the ring to brawl with FTR. Lashley fought with Dax while Benjamin fought with Cash. There were referees and security at ringside trying to break it up. Lashley sent Cash into the barricade. Benjamin worked over Dax with punches. The fans were chanting “We Hurt People” for THS. In the ring, Cope went for Stoke with a Spear, but Stoke put a security guy in front so Cope hit a Spear on the security guy. The director missed it, so they showed a replay of it. Cope’s music played to end it.
Analysis: I think that the Hurt Syndicate fight with FTR is a way to tell us that FTR is winning the tournament for a Tag Team Title match. Having them brawl like that just because Cope paid THS is a nice story to say, but I think it will be a title match next month.
Nick Wayne was backstage with Mother Wayne and Kip Sabian. Nick said that they took a risk at All In Texas and last week they explained themselves. Nick said it’s time to back up those words physically. Nick said that they will prove they are a dangerous faction when they are not held down. Nick said they’ll show what they can do when they are uncaged.
Will Ospreay was shown walking backstage for a promo up next.
(Commercial)
Jon Moxley was featured in a video, along with Marina Shafir. Moxley said he lost the match to “Hangman” Adam Page, but there’s no reason not be a bitch about it. Moxley said that avoiding a rematch isn’t something that Page does. Moxley said that the cowboy doesn’t ride off into the sunset. Moxley said a mistake was made, so he will fix it one way or another. Moxley said that we know who Page was when he rode into Arlington, and by the end of tonight, we’ll find out who he was when he rode out.
Let’s Hear from Will Ospreay
Will Ospreay was interviewed by Tony Schiavone. Will was wearing his soccer/football style “Bruv” shirt. Will was brutally attacked by the Death Riders at All In Texas, so he is back after a week off.
Will Ospreay said he asked for five minutes on the show to give everybody an update on what’s going on with him. Will said he’s been struggling with his neck now for about ten months. Will talked about how the neck injury has given him some issues. Will admitted that he has been keeping it to himself and that’s on him because he should have told the medical staff. Will said he really wanted to get AEW over the finish line. Will talked about making promises to Swerve and Hangman and he would play a part in retrieving that AEW World Championship. Will said he’s proud that they got the belt back. Will said he was rushed to the emergency room after what the Death Riders did to him. Will said he had two herniated discs – C2 and C6 – going to his spinal cord. Will said that, as bad as that sounds, every doctor he’s spoken to has said it is treatable. Will said that, hopefully, with everything crossed, he should be back for Forbidden Door in England on August 24th. Will said he loved Swerve, it was an honor for Hangman Page, and he will be wanting that rematch. Will said to the Death Riders, the moment he’s fit and healthy, he’s coming for each and every one of you dickheads.
Swerve Strickland walked onto the stage and hugged Ospreay.
Analysis: It sucks that Will is hurt, but I’m glad he’s taking some time off to recover. One month off doesn’t seem like a long time, but Will said it’s treated, so I’ll trust that he was being truthful. I love his matches, and I also write often about how he takes some crazy head neck/bumps in matches that make me feel sorry for him. You need to smarter in the ring and not kill your body as much as he does. We have some comments up on TJR from Dave Meltzer saying it sounds like something that would require Will to take possibly a year off, but according to Will, he can be back from it. I look forward to seeing Will in the ring again, and I hope he wrestles a smarter style without all the insane head/neck bumps. You can still have incredible matches without getting spiked on your head, bruv.
A video aired about the trio of Julia Hart, Skye Blue, and Thekla the spider woman as a new group. Whoever is not with them is against them.
Willow Nightingale was interviewed by Renee Paquett,e talking about how there’s a sense of renewal in the air. Willow mentioned she had Thekla pinned last week before Thekla’s friends got involved and told Thekla she could find her in the ring.
(Commercial)
The Hurt Syndicate was in the locker room where Renee Paquette asked what they were doing with Cope. MJF walked in wondering what they were doing with Cope. MVP said that they were in the business of hurting people. MJF said they should be in the business of helping him win the AEW World Title. Renee left. Lashley shoved MJF up against a locker. Lashley told MJF that they don’t have to help him with shit. Lashley said that every week is “I, I, I” with MJF. Lashley said as far as he’s concerned, he wants MJF out of The Hurt Syndicate. Lashley left, Shelton followed, and MVP shook his head at Max. MJF was frustrated.
Analysis: MJF in The Hurt Syndicate never felt like something that would last that long, so we’ll see where it goes. We know MJF is a selfish jerk, which means he’ll have to continue proving himself to The Hurt Syndicate guys.
“Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Billie Starkz
It’s an AEW Women’s World Title Eliminator match. Athena was watching in the opera box/balcony area. Starkz is 20 years old and has a bright future. Storm got a couple of pin attempts early on. Storm knocked down Starkz with a shoulder tackle and low dropkick. Storm hit a backbreaker onto the knee. Storm did a monkey flip out of the corner. Starkz chopped Storm and looked at Athena for approval. Starkz hit a suicide dive onto Storm on the floor. Starkz hit a senton off the apron onto Storm on the floor. Starkz hit a suplex.
(Commercial)
The match continued with Storm doing the dreaded Mongolian chops and a Thesz Press, followed by punches. Give her a hell yeah. Sorry, that’s another popular babyface. Storm hit a Sky High for a two count. Starkz hit a knee to the face and a suplex onto the knee for two. Storm got a victory roll for two and Starkz countered it into a pin attempt for two. Storm hit a German Suplex. Storm hit a running hip attack against the turnbuckle. Starkz countered a move and sat on top for two. Starkz nailed Storm with a kick to the head. Starkz jumped off the top with a senton, Storm blocked with the knee and Storm applied the Chickenwing submission for the tapout win. It went about 10 minutes.
Winner by submission: “Timeless” Toni Storm
Analysis: *** A good match with an obvious result. It could have been a few minutes shorter, but I didn’t mind it. Starkz got some nearfalls and showed she’s capable in the ring. Storm finished her off with the submission rather than Storm Zero.
After the match, Starkz hit Storm in the head with the Women’s Title. Athena went down to the ring. Starkz tossed referee Aubrey Edwards out of the ring. Athena hit Storm with the contract. Athena sent Storm into the steel steps. Athena hit a running attack against the steel steps, but the angle they shot it from showed she didn’t touch Storm. Athena hit Storm with the contract to the head. Athena teased signing her contract for the title match, but Alex Windsor made the save. Windsor tackled Athena and punched her. Windsor headbutted Starkz out of the ring. Windsor is against Athena on Collison. Windsor helped Storm up and Storm was selling the attack.
Analysis: It seems like Toni Storm gained an ally in Alexa Windsor, who is Will Ospreay’s fiancée. It gives Storm an ally and they can obviously do a tag team match out of it.
(Commercial)
Swerve Strickland made his entrance with Prince Nana. Don Callis introduced Hechicero while claiming he was the greatest luchador in the history of Mexico. The fans booed a lot.
Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) vs. Hechicero (w/Don Callis)
Don Callis joined commentary. Hechicero pinned Bandido in a tag team match last week, so the announcers tried to put him over as a threat even though we know who is winning here.
They spent about a minute exchanging holds, going for submission attempts. The director needs to cut back on the wide-angle shots and show the action. Hechicero slapped Swerve in the face. Swerve came back with a hard slop, along with a chop. Hechicero spun Swerve around, followed by a backbreaker. Swerve came back with his own backbreaker, along with a suplex.
(Commercial)
Hechicero sent Swerve into the turnbuckle and hit a jumping knee. Hechicero hit a spinning slam for just a one count. Swerve blocked a move and hit a headbutt. Swerve dove off the turnbuckle and hit an uppercut to the back. Swerve hit a roundhouse kick to the head. Swerve went up top and hit a 450 Splash for two. Hechicero grounded Swerve with an armbar on the left arm, but it was brief. Hechicero rolled up Swerve for two. Swerve got out of a move and hit a jumping flatliner. Swerve went up top and Lance Archer shoved Swerve off the top. Lame finish. It went about 10 minutes.
Winner by disqualification: Swerve Strickland
Analysis: **3/4 It felt like an average match that wasn’t at the level of Swerve’s usual matches. The announcers were trying really hard to put over Hechicero. AEW doesn’t book a lot of DQ’s, but they wanted to keep them both strong. So why book a singles match? I don’t know. I’m just saying it was a DQ for that reason.
The Callis Family guys, including Lance Archer and Hechicero, attacked Swerve, so Bandido and Brody King fought with them to the back. Kazuchika Okada showed up from behind Swerve and hit Swerve with a chair to the back. Swerve countered an Okada move and hit a headbutt. Swerve put a chair around Okada’s neck, set up for a move and Okada bailed.
Analysis: The Swerve-Okada match should be great when it happens. I assume that will be at Forbidden Door next month, but it’s not official yet.
Ricochet and GAO (Gates of Agony) were interviewed by Alicia Atout. Ricochet said that they had back to back victories on the same night on Collision last week. Ricochet said that they are now $200,000 richer, so they will invest in their quest for gold. Ricochet said you will respect them or fear them.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from MJF
Maxwell Jacob Friedman made his entrance for a promo and he was booed as usual. MJF was alone without The Hurt Syndicate members by his side. MJF had his World Title match contract with him. MJF said he doesn’t need Bobby Lashley to get back his World Championship. MJF said as far as “Cowboy” (Hangman Page) goes, MJF said he’s going to beat Page fair and square and his belt will be around his waist.
Mark Briscoe interrupted the promo due to his past issues with MJF. Mark said he’ll keep this short like MJF’s kosher pickle. Mark said all he wants to do is shove the microphone up MJF’s ass, but Mark has all these kids and they’ll dock his paycheck because they won’t get the mic back. Mark said that MJF stole the Casino Battle Royal from him. Mark wanted to face MJF in a match next week.
MJF said no, followed by MJF mocking Mark with an impression. MJF told Mark that when the pressure is on, he loses. MJF said that, unlike the fans, he wins. MJF said he’s the most complete professional wrestler in the world today. MJF told Mark that he think he sucks and he’s white trash just like the fans from the Midwest. MJF admitted he knows that the world loves Mark Briscoe and these fans can’t get enough of Mark. MJF said Mark is funny, entertaining and makes the people feel warm and fuzzy. MJF said not even Mark’s biggest fans actually think he’s a top guy. MJF said they don’t think Mark is near MJF’s level. MJF told Mark he’s a joke that is a circus clown that gets paraded around for cheap pops. MJF told Mark that they don’t respect. MJF claimed he knows another guy from Delaware who is worth his time. MJF told Mark that nobody would respect him as much as they did his brother Jay. Mark ran into the ring, so MJF left and ran up the ramp to the back.
Analysis: That’s the cowardly behaviour we are used to seeing from MJF since he ran away from the fight after insulting Mark and his family. Great promo work by MJF as usual, while Mark can handle his own too.
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Mark Briscoe
Mark and Claudio exchanged strikes to start the match. Mark got some offense going with a boot to the face, followed by some stomps against the turnbuckle. Claudio sent Mark face first into the turnbuckle, followed by a clothesline. Mark hit some chops, Claudio came back with chops and Mark did an eye gouge. Mark pulled Claudio over the top to the floor. When Claudio got back in the ring, Mark hit a clothesline to knock Claudio out of the ring. Claudio caught Mark and swung him into the barricade two times.
(Commercial)
Claudio set up Mark on the top turnbuckle, but Mark fought back with chops to knock Claudio down. Mark jumped off the top and Claudio hit an uppercut for two. Claudio stepped on Mark’s hand while Darby Allin was standing in the crowd to stare at Claudio. Mark came back with strikes, along with a jumping elbow smash. Mark hit a jumping enziguri kick and an overhead suplex for two. Mark kicked Claudio out of the ring. Mark hit a somersault suicide dive through the ropes onto Claudio on the floor. Mark hit an elbow drop off the commentary table onto Claudio. Mark jumped off the barricade and hit a Blockbuster on the floor. That was a creative spot. Mark went up top and hit a Froggy Bow for a two count. Mark set up Claudio on the top turnbuckle, leading to a slap to the face. Claudio set up Mark groin-first across the top rope. Claudio hit a body slam off the middle turnbuckle for two. Mark tackled Claudio into the turnbuckle, Claudio did an eye poke that the referee didn’t see and Claudio hit an uppercut. Mark got an inside cradle pin for the win. It went about 13 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Mark Briscoe
Analysis: ***1/4 A pretty good TV match between two veterans, but it didn’t feel like a big main event match or anything like that. Since Briscoe has the feud with MJF going, it made sense for him to get the win, while Claudio is usually there to put people over. Mark getting the win with an inside cradle shows that it was a close match.
After the match, Marina Shafir went into the ring and did a chop block to Mark Briscoe. Claudio suplexed Mark ribs-first across a steel chair.
Jon Moxley did a promo saying that they want to make sure nobody around here gets too comfortable.
“Hangman” Adam Page walked down to the ring to join Moxley, along with Claudio, Yuta and Shafir. Moxley held his group back. Page: “When you told me I didn’t want Texas Death, you were lying; we both know that. But when you say I can’t handle the pressure, that I can’t do it again and again, I think you believe that. So I will prove it to you.” Page said he’ll prove it to the Moxley who has carried this company for six years. Page said next week on Dynamite, it’s Hangman against Mox for the AEW World Championship. Hangman said this time they’ll play by his rules. Page said that everybody is banned from ringside, so it will be the two of them and the referee. Page told Moxley he already knows the answer is yes. Page said he’ll see Moxley next week and called Moxley a dumbass.
Page walked away. The graphic was shown for next week when Page defends the Moxley for the AEW World Title, so it’s already been made official. Moxley walked away with his group. End show.
Analysis: Huge match for next week that should be very good. It wouldn’t shock me if they booked a draw and then had a rematch at Forbidden Door, but there could be another plan for the AEW World Title at that show.
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Three Stars of the Show
- FTR
- Jetspeed
- “Hangman” Adam Page
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.25 out of 10
Last Week: 7
2025 Average: 7.39
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
A solid wrestling show, but nothing special about it. I’d call it good. Not great.
The FTR/Jetspeed match was outstanding as expected. It would have been better without the illegal offense that dominated the match, but it’s AEW, and that’s what their tag team matches always have. It’s nice to see FTR featured in a long match like that.
I liked the way they set up the Hangman/Moxley rematch for next week. It’s a World Title match on Dynamite with nobody allowed to interfere. It should be fun to watch and get more interest in next week’s show.
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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