The John Report: AEW Dynamite 09/17/25 Review (September To Remember)

This week’s AEW Dynamite featured Adam Copeland & Christian Cage facing off with FTR, a Hangman Page/Kyle Fletcher contract signing, and plenty of matches.

It’s going to be a different review this week because I was at the show last night for my first AEW event. I live in London, Ontario, where Dynamite was, and it’s only a 10-minute drive, so I planned on going. When AEW came here last year, it was on the day that I left for Philadelphia for my WrestleMania 40 trip, so I didn’t go.

Going into this show, I had asked 10+ different family members and friends, and none of them had an interest in going because they didn’t even know what AEW was. A Wednesday night is also difficult for some people. Some that did have interest had other things going on, like events with their kids or moving into a new home. I didn’t get tickets, and I didn’t want to go alone, so maybe I’d stay home. I’ve been to dozens of wrestling shows in my life (probably over 50, maybe more), and I didn’t need to go. A friend called around 4 p.m. and said he got free tickets through his work. It was about 20 rows deep in the 100 level, so not great, but we could see everything. I drove, paid for parking, paid for our beers, and it was a 3-hour night at wrestling. I didn’t really take any pictures or anything like that. I also didn’t sit down until 7:55 p.m. because we chatted with some friends in the concourse area.

My feeling going in was that the card they announced for the 3-hour show was very predictable, with obvious winners in every match except maybe one. I think AEW would benefit from not announcing the entire card and adding matches during the show because of promos or backstage segments. It would make watching the TV shows more interesting because then you never know who could be in a singles match or a tag. If you announce the whole card every single time, the fans can be like, “I know wrestler A is going to beat wrestler B so why should I watch it?” I understand why Tony Khan likes announcing the full card, but it’s pro wrestling. Be creative. You can do different things when you run a show.

Most people don’t know about London, Ontario, even though we have over 400,000 people, and it’s over 500,000 people if you want to count some of the towns outside the city. There are many American cities with smaller populations that get wrestling shows all the time, yet we don’t get them often here. It’s two hours west of Toronto and two hours east of Detroit, and it has been the home of many wrestling shows over my four decades of going to shows. We’ve had one episode of Raw (the Raw after SummerSlam 2004 when Evolution did thumbs down and turned on Randy Orton) and two SmackDown’s here. Back in the day, before Raw, there were WWE Superstar tapings here all the time. Since WWE cut back on house shows, they don’t come here anymore, so AEW will probably win over some fans after a show like this. I know Tony Khan liked it and put it over on X as well as in the arena. Tony and I have exchanged comments on Twitter/X and we follow eachother, but I didn’t mention this show was in my city. There were about 4,000 people in there. The building holds about 10,000 people for hockey (our OHL team, the London Knights, are a powerhouse), and I’ve been there with about 8,000 people for wrestling shows in the past.

Anyway, since I was at the show and I don’t want to watch it all again, I’m just going to add some thoughts when I write about the matches. I’m not going to include every backstage segment because I could barely hear some of them. Most of them were just, “I’m going to beat you at All Out” style promos.

This was AEW Dynamite episode #311 from Canada Life Place in London, Ontario. 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, Taz, and Bryan Danielson. Tony Schiavone joined later. I’m going to put the broadcast on while I write some of this.

Contract Signing: “Hangman” Adam Page and Kyle Fletcher

The AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page and Kyle Fletcher were seated at a table for the contract signing moderated by Tony Schiavone. The fans hated Don Callis for his promo representing Fletcher. Page talked about how he sees Kyle’s potential, so he sees what he could be as a 26-year-old who can be in AEW for decades to come. Page said if Don or anybody in the Don Callis Family gets involved, then Kyle would be stripped of the TNT Title. Don didn’t like that, but Kyle agreed to the terms.

Analysis: This was fine and continues the Page title reign story where he had terms going into his title defense against MJF. I doubt anybody who watches AEW thinks Fletcher will win at All Out. I certainly don’t think he will win.

Match #1: Jon Moxley defeated Roderick Strong by pinfall

A good match between two veterans with an obvious result (I’ll use that ‘obvious result’ phrase a lot during the review) since Moxley is in a big match at All Out while Strong is not pushed much in AEW. Strong had a staredown moment with his wife, Marina Shafir, at ringside, and I put the broadcast on for that, with the announcers not mentioning they are married. Strong did get plenty of offense, and they used Wheeler Yuta to trip up Strong, even though he nearly missed the spot. Moxley hit a Paradigm Shift and Bulldog Choke for the tapout win. Rating: ***1/4 (out of 5).

A clip aired from Collision with MJF talking to Tony Khan (behind a door) saying he wanted out of the Tables And Thumbtacks Match with Mark Briscoe, but Tony said no.

Match #2: Bobby Lashley defeated Toa Liona by pinfall

The fans reacted to Lashley as a superstar and it’s a good theme song. I think Toa could be a big singles star in AEW, but they limit him as a tag team wrestler in Gates of Agony with Bishop Kaun. I was surprised at how loud the crowd was for an exchange of strikes, but it’s great to see. The spot where Lashley hit a Spear on Toa on the floor got a huge reaction. Lashley applied the Hurt Lock submission for the win. It was an entertaining match between two powerhouses. Rating: ***

After the match, The Hurt Syndicate’s MVP and Shelton Benjamin cleared the ring of Ricochet and Bishop Kaun. There were a lot of “MVP” chants.

Face to Face: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage and FTR – Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler (w/Stokely)

I am rewatching this one on TV just because this was my favorite segment of the night as we sang Adam Copeland’s legendary “Metalingus” theme song. We love our fellow Ontario boys, Cope and Christian Cage, who also have a great theme song, even though it doesn’t have lyrics. FTR and Stoke had security guys with them. Tony Schiavone said there would be heavy fines if there was physicality for this segment. Stoke also made up fake dollar amounts for fines, saying $100,000 for hitting FTR and $500,000 if you hit him.

Cash Wheeler talked about how he met Cope 16 years ago, they became friends, and they became living legends. Cash complained about how Cope put the spotlight on himself while FTR did all the work. Cash said they’ll take Cope’s career. Dax Harwood said they have cemented themselves as the generational tag team over the last 11 years and mentioned great tag teams. Dax said they have 10 Tag Team Champions in 7 different brands, so it’s a dream match for Cope & Cage.

Cope told Cash he helped him get hired, and he never asked for anything in return. Cope said that the reason you weren’t in the spotlight is that the fans wanted Cope, not FTR. Cope said that FTR is in the discussion as one of the best teams of all time, they’ve been there for 25 years and they revolutionized tag team wrestling. Cope said they created a match that became a pay-per-view (TLC). When Cope said “Cope & Cage” there was an interruption from Christian saying “Cage & Cope.” Cope said that you will understand why C&C are better than FTR.

Cage said if Stokely got $500,000 in a fine, then maybe he’d get himself some hoes. Good line. Cage said the fines don’t mean a lot to him because he’s rich. Cage punched Dax with a microphone. The security guys got in the ring and took finishing moves from the wrestlers. Dax & Cash left.

Analysis: I enjoyed this a lot. There wasn’t anything special about it, and it was typical of a Face to Face type segment on a go-home show, but being a part of it in the arena was fun. The energy from Cope and the words from Cage fired up the crowd. I would have liked to see them in action, even in a short match, but the entrance of Cope was still fun to be a part of. That will be a great match at All Out.

Match #3: AEW World Tag Team Title Match Qualifier: The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson defeated Bang Bang Gang – Juice Robinson & Austin Gunn by pinfall

The Bucks are “rich” again after they won $500,000 in a tag team match last week. It was a good match as usual with the Bucks involved, but that also means both guys randomly going into the ring to do double-team moves. At least in this case, they did try to tell the story with Austin as the face in peril. Juice is really talented, while Austin has improved a lot in the last few years. It was a very good match that went longer than I thought and once again had a predictable result. The Bucks beat Juice with the TK Driver for the win. Rating: ***1/2

The Young Bucks move on to the 4-way Ladder Match at AEW All Out for the AEW Tag Team Titles.

Match #4: Mascara Dorada defeated The Beast Mortos by pinfall

This was the only match on the show where the result wasn’t that predictable because either guy could win here and move on to the AEW Unified Title match at All Out. This felt like one of the best matches on the show, and it went about 10 minutes, even though I think if they had gone another five minutes, it could have been over a four-star match. Dorada is so talented, and I admit I haven’t seen him that much, but he is so fun to watch. Mortos is a talented athlete who is quicker than he appears. Dorada hit a backbreaker, and then a Shooting Star Press off the top for the win. Rating: ***3/4. A lot of fun to watch and full of action.

That win means Mascara Dorada is in the AEW Unified Championship match against champion Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita in a triple threat match.

After the match, Okada had a staredown with Takeshita. Dorada hit a springboard cross body block on Okada on the floor and Dorada stared at Dorada.

Analysis: It should be an outstanding match without much of a story. Okada will likely beat Dorada. I’m excited about Okada against Takeshita in a singles match when you

Toni Storm Promo

The AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm did a promo referring to herself as a slut, whore, tramp and other things. There was a spotlight on her by the entrance. Storm talked about her title reign while wondering how much longer she can be champion. Storm said she’s risking it all against three women worthy of this mantle – Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander & Thekla. As Storm kept going, Hayter said she’s not a fan of the spotlight, but she did want the AEW Women’s Title and Hayter said that Hayter hits hard. Kris said she hasn’t wrestled for this title in four years. Kris said that you can’t stop Stat. Storm told them to “trim your bushes” because they are going All Out and Thekla made her entrance for her match.

Analysis: Toni is a great talker, and it helps that she gets to say things that others don’t say. The 4-way match should be fine, but again, there isn’t much of a story going into that kind of match. I think Storm could lose, but it would be better if she lost in a singles match, which would help the person who beat her.

Match #5: No Holds Barred Match – Thekla defeated Queen Aminata by pinfall

I don’t think the crowd was that familiar with either woman, but using weapons helps a lot. Fighting into the crowd also helps. That spot where Thekla smashed Queen with the trash can by the turnbuckle drew a big reaction. Some of the spots on the chairs looked nasty. When Thekla hit a Stomp onto a chair and got the pin, it looked awkward. It looked awkward on the TV broadcast, too. Queen’s right shoulder was definitely up before three. Rating: ***. Bad finish, but good effort by both women. Thekla winning was the right call (and another obvious result) since she’s in the title match at All Out.

Thekla did a promo calling out Toni Storm, who went into the ring to fight her with punches. Jamie Hayter and Kris Statlander joined the party with a fight at ringside. They also pushed the story of Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir trying to recruit Kris, who didn’t want a part of that. Storm cleared the ring of Julia Hart and Skye Blue. Storm and Hayter got into an argument to end it.

Analysis: Just another AEW post match fight. They happen a lot. I think Storm should keep her title at All Out.

Match #6: AEW World Tag Team Title Match Qualifier: Jetspeed – Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated Killswitch & Kip Sabian by pinfall

Bailey is Canadian, but I’m not sure all fans know that and they didn’t announce it. This was all about the story with Sabian and Killswitch not working well together. When Sabian wanted Killswitch to cheat during the match, Killswitch wanted no part of it. Killswitch dominated most of the match, but he wanted nothing to do with Sabian and Killswitch walked out on the match. Knight capitalized with a top rope clothesline and Bailey hit a spinning kick. Rating: *** That’s likely the end of Killswitch with Sabian. I think Killswitch should go back to the Luchasaurus name as a babyface.

Jetspeed moves on to the 4-way Ladder Match at AEW All Out for the AEW Tag Team Titles.

Darby Allin was interviewed by Bryan Danielson earlier in the day. Allin wanted Bryan to give his word that Bryan won’t get involved in the Allin-Danielson match at All Out. Bryan promised him that he won’t get involved. Danielson also wanted to do something and he said it in his ear without us hearing it.

Match #7: Riho defeated Robyn Renegaed by pinfall

The TBS Champion Mercedes Mone, who has many other titles, was on commentary. It was just a match to give Riho the win to give her momentum going into the TBS Title match against Mone at All Out. Riho jumped on Robyn’s back and hit a Crucifix Bomb for the pinfall win. It went about five minutes. Keeping it short was the right move. Rating: **1/4

After the match, Robyn Renegade held onto Riho’s foot and Mone went into the ring and hit a Backstabber on Riho. Mone stood tall. There are rumors of Mone having a heel stable, so maybe Robyn and her sister will be part of it.

Match #8: AEW World Tag Team Title Match Qualifier: Josh Alexander & Hechicero defeated Top Flight – Dante & Darius Martin by pinfall

When this match started, a guy sitting around me asked me if this was the last match. I said that based on the time of the show, it most likely is. And the guy was not impressed, so he left with his son and didn’t come back. There was some support for Josh since he’s from Toronto, but as a heel in the match, it wasn’t that loud for him. Top Flight is exciting to watch. It just feels like they’ve been together in AEW for over five years and never seem to progress much. The heels Josh & Hechicero won when Josh shoved Dante off the ropes, and Hechicero hit a headscissors spike into the mat for the pinfall win. Rating: *** The matches end with another obvious result.

Josh Alexander & Hechicero move on to the 4-way Ladder Match at AEW All Out for the AEW Tag Team Titles.

There was a post-match brawl involving the tag teams in the ladder match. After a high spot from Bandido, they went fighting to the back.

There were members of The Don Callis Family attacking Christopher Daniels (who is with Top Flight), so the AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page made the save for his mentor Daniels. Page cleared the ring of Lancer Archer and Rocky Romero.

Kyle Fletcher went into the ring with Page and took him down after Romero held Page’s leg. The fight led to Fletcher fighting Page by the apron while a table was on the floor. Page went for a Buckshot Lariat, but Kyle hit him in the head with a title. Fletcher gave Page a suplex from the apron through the table on the floor. The announcers called it a Brainbuster since that is Fletcher’s finisher, but it’s really more of a suplex. Page sold it like he was knocked out on the floor. Kyle Fletcher celebrated in the ring by holding the AEW World Title and TNT Title. The fans booed.

Analysis: It was a good ending to the show to get heat on Fletcher going into the All Out match with Hangman. Does that mean that Fletcher has a shot to beat Hangman at All Out? No. It’s not happening, but at least he looks like a threat since he put Page through a table to end this show.

===

Three Stars of the Show

1. Mascara Dorada
2. The Young Bucks
3. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage and FTR

===

The Scoreboard

This Week: 7.25 out of 10

Last Week: 7.5

2025 Average: 7.41

===

Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite

It felt like a 7 or 7.5 out of 10 show live and watching some of it while writing this review, I feel the same way now, so I’ll go 7.25 out of 10. A show full of three star matches, but nothing that really stood out or got to that next level. The first two hours were really good in the regular Dynamite hours, and then that third hour felt like a poor episode of Collision, which may have been by design because they knew that fans would tune out in the third hour.

I did like that a lot of the matches had stakes, meaning that the winners would move on to PPV matches at All Out, but at the same time, some of those matches at All Out lack in-depth stories.

I was going to go to All Out in Toronto, but with WWE Wrestlepalooza being on the same day, I decided it’s better for my career with TJRWrestling to sit at home and write about the shows. Plus, I hate Toronto traffic, and it saves me a lot of money doing that. September 20th may be the busiest day of my year, just saying.

Here’s the AEW All Out PPV lineup for September 20th in Toronto.

• AEW World Championship: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Kyle Fletcher
• Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
• AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Kris Statlander vs. Thekla
• The Hurt Syndicate (Shelton Benjamin, MVP & Bobby Lashley) vs. Ricochet and the Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
• Coffin Match: Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin
• TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone vs. Riho
• Tables and Thumbtacks No DQ Match: MJF vs. Mark Briscoe
• Eddie Kingston vs. Big Bill
• AEW Unified Championship: Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mascara Dorada
• Ladder Match for the AEW World Tag Team Championships: Brodido (Brody King and Bandido) (c) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. JetSpeed (“Speedball” Mike Bayley & Kevin Knight) vs. Hechihero & Josh Alexander
• Harley Cameron, Mina Shirakawa, Queen Aminata, and Willow Nightingale vs. Divine Vanity (Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford) and Triangle of Madness (Julia Hart and Skye Blue) – Eight-woman Tornado Tailgate Brawl (PRE-SHOW)
• Daniel Garcia vs. Katsuyori Shibata (PRE-SHOW)
• Samoa Joe & Powerhouse Hobbs vs. The Workhorsemen (PRE-SHOW)

I’ll have a preview of AEW All Out on Friday, most likely, and I’ll write a review of it either live or the next day.

===

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