Reviews

The John Report: AEW Dynamite 10/01/25 Review

By John Canton • Published Oct 02, 2025 10:13 EDT

This week’s AEW Dynamite a mixed tag team tornado match main event, two 6-man tags, Kyle Fletcher facing Orange Cassidy, and more.

Happy sixth anniversary to AEW Dynamite. I have reviewed the show since it debuted six years ago and probably missed only about four or five episodes in that time. That means I’ve reviewed over 300 episodes of AEW Dynamite. I’ve also reviewed all the AEW PPVs, and I enjoy them. I’m certainly happy that AEW exists, as it allows many people to earn a good living in the pro wrestling business, both in the ring and behind the scenes. Congrats to Tony Khan and his team.

I did the same format for this week’s show that I did last week. I watched this episode of Dynamite live on Wednesday and wrote a results-only post here on TJRWrestling without analysis or ratings. I like doing it this way instead of doing a 5,000-word play-by-play review, so sometimes I will do it this way. I’m going to be flexible a bit in terms of the format of reviews moving forward and try different things.

This was AEW Dynamite episode #313 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. 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. This episode was 2.5 hours long.

The Young Bucks were shown earlier in the day. Matt Jackson had plans to spend their money on a big celebration. They went to a casino where Nick Jackson spent all their money. The graphic on screen called them “The Broke Bucks.” They were in a 6-man tag team match to open the show.

Analysis: This counts as “comedy” in AEW. Riveting television. Truly.

Match #1: Brodido – Brody King & Bandido and Kenny Omega defeated The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson and Josh Alexander by pinfall. Bandido hit a 21 Plex on Alexander and King hit a suicide dive to take out both Bucks on the floor. Omega hit a One Winged Angel on Alexander for the pinfall win. It went 16 minutes.

Analysis: ***1/2 Good tag team action. What I found weird about this whole thing is that Kyle Fletcher gave Kenny Omega a brainbuster through a table a few weeks ago and Omega didn’t do a thing to try to get revenge on Fletcher during this show. Shouldn’t Omega be mad about that? Anyway, this was the typical AEW 6-man tag full of chaos and guys randomly running into the ring to do spots. I’d like to see my fellow Canadian, Josh Alexander, used better instead of being the guy who is obviously getting pinned in a match like this. Bandido and King are so fun to watch as a team. Omega getting the win was the right call.

After the match, Josh Alexander attacked Kenny Omega, so the Jurassic Express duo of Jack Perry and Luchasaurus made the save. Omega argued with Perry. Jurassic Express fought with The Young Bucks to the back.

Analysis: It was promoted that the reunited Jurassic Express would be on this show. They were on it for about two minutes and didn’t say a word. Maybe they’ll do Jurassic Express against The Young Bucks at WrestleDream.

Kenny Omega spoke about six years of AEW Dynamite, and he said that you can take pride in the journey. Omega thanked the fans for the support, whether it’s been six years or one day, and he said he’s a better person for it. Omega signed off with his catchphrase, but then the lights went out in the building.

When the lights came back on, Andrade was in the ring with a mask on. Andrade clotheslined Omega and hit a lifting double underhook neckbreaker. Don Callis went into the ring and shook hands with Don Callis, so it appears as though Andrade has joined the Don Callis Family. Andrade is back in AEW.

Analysis: I wasn’t surprised to see Andrade back in an AEW ring again after WWE fired him about three weeks ago. Andrade is a talented guy who can have good matches with anybody. I don’t think throwing him into the Don Callis Family with about ten other dudes is a wise move, but we’ll see how it goes. The stable is too big. Anyway, it does set up Andrade for a big rivalry with a top guy like Kenny Omega, so at least Andrade is in a featured rivalry early on in his return. They can easily do Andrade-Omega at WrestleDream.

A video package aired showing AEW Dynamite highlights over the last six years.

Mark Briscoe did a promo discussing his past issues with MJF and how he defeated MJF at All Out. Briscoe said he is happy for his friend Orange Cassidy getting a TNT Title shot while MJF will be picking tacks out of his ass.

Match #2:TNT Championship– Kyle Fletcher defeated Orange Cassidy by pinfall with a brainbuster. There was somebody dressed up as Hologram, who helped Fletcher get the win. It went 14 minutes.

Analysis: ***1/4 They worked hard and had a good match, of course, but the finish was lame. I don’t think it helps Fletcher that he needs help to beat Orange Cassidy. I also realize that it was done to introduce a new wrestler to the Don Callis Family, as if that stable needs more wrestlers. Anyway, it protects Orange and maybe he’ll get a rematch with Fletcher down the line. I assume this was going to be the finish if Fletcher faced Hologram, who is injured.

Kyle Fletcher and the wrestler dressed as Hologram attacked Cassidy. However, Cassidy’s friends in The Conglomeration made the save. The wrestler dressed as Hologram was the Clone of Hologram, and his name is El Clon. The massive Don Callis Family stable celebrated on the stage.

Analysis: I think El Clon is a terrible name, but there are a lot of bad names in pro wrestling in different wrestling companies. It’s part of the business, sadly. The ridiculous Don Callis Family could use some more members like Horace Hogan, Stevie Ray, and Scott Norton, too. Making WCW NWO references over 25+ years later rules.

Mercedes Mone, the TBS Champion, was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Mone said she would defend the TBS Title on next week’s Title Tuesday edition of AEW Dynamite against somebody from Florida since it’s in Jacksonville. Mone mentioned the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles, so Harley Cameron and a puppet suggested they team up. Mone shut that idea down.

Match #3: AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page, Samoa Joe & Powerhouse Hobbs defeated Death Riders – Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Daniel Garcia by pinfall. Page hit Deadeye and a Buckshot Lariat on Castagnoli for the pinfall win. It went about 15 minutes.

Analysis: ***1/4 This felt like the 6-man tag team match earlier in the show, just with less flips and more power moves. Why book another six-man tag team match on the same show? It’s so repetitive. Moving Daniel Garcia to the Death Riders hasn’t helped his career much since he’s losing six-man tags instead of standing out more. The action was fine, but nothing really stood out in the match.

After the match, Hangman handed the Trios Tag Team Titles to Hobbs and Joe, but when he handed the title to Joe, the title fell to the mat. Joe wasn’t happy about that. Joe confronted Hangman and they argued briefly, with Joe feeling like Page disrespected him. Joe told Hangman that he had never beaten him. Joe punched Page, and they were separated by security. Hobbs helped Joe to the back.

Analysis: The belt spot was what appeared to be a small thing that was actually big because it was done to set up a PPV World Title match. Joe saying that Hangman had never beaten him was the key thing here to make it feel more personal than a guy dropping a title on the mat.

Jetspeed (Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight) and Willow Nightingale were featured in a video talking about how they worked together last week, and Willow was excited to have them as friends. Kevin Knight challenged one of the FTR guys to a match on Collision. FTR and Stokely responded to accept the challenge.

Following a break, “Hangman” Adam Page was interviewed by Renee Paquette and said Samoa Joe was angry because Page handed Joe his title, and it fell to the mat. Page said he won’t forget that Joe helped him win this AEW World Title. Page told Joe he’ll defend the AEW World Title against him at WrestleDream on October 18th. Page said he respects Joe, but if Joe does anything like that to him again, then Page will ruin his life. Page left.

Analysis: The babyface AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page is proving again to be a nice guy who is issuing another challenge for his title. It makes him look like he’s not afraid to defend the title, which is what you want out of the babyface champion.

Match #4:“Timeless” Toni Storm defeated Tay Melo by pinfall. Storm won with the Storm Zero. It went about 8 minutes.

Analysis: **3/4 It was fine for a TV match. Easy win for Storm against Tay, who doesn’t get to beat the top stars, but is capable in the ring. I think Tay and Anna Jay could be the first Women’s Tag Team Champions. In singles, I don’t see Tay getting pushed much. Anyway, this was just a W to get Storm some momentum for what happened later.

After the match, Toni Storm called out AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander for a singles match for the title. Storm told Statlander to name the time and place.

Samoa Joe was interviewed by Renee Paquette. Joe was fired up and used some aggressive language to accept the challenge by welcoming Page to a “world of deep s**t.”

A graphic was shown for AEW WrestleDream on October 18th with “Hangman” Adam Page defending the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe.

Analysis: I don’t think Samoa Joe has won a meaningful singles match in a while to earn an AEW World Title match. However, Joe is a former AEW World Champion with credibility, so he’s a guy for Page to beat at WrestleDream. Page is obviously going to keep his title, just like Kyle Fletcher wasn’t a threat to win.

Match #5:Gates Of Agony – Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (w/Ricochet) defeated The Swirl – Blake Christian & Lee Johnson by pinfall. GOA spiked Johnson with a double spinebuster for the win. It went about 8 minutes. Post match, Ricochet hit his Spirit Gun lariat on Christian.

Analysis: **1/4 Easy win for Gates of Agony to build them up for what happened next. I don’t know who thought The Swirl was a good name. It’s not.

The Hurt Syndicate walked out in dress clothes as usual. MVP shouted out area codes, saying this is his neighbourhood, so the fans popped for a guy who knew area codes. Wrestling fans are easy to pop sometimes. MVP said he didn’t want to wrestle them. MVP said he wanted a No Disqualification Street Fight for The Hurt Syndicate against The Demand (Ricochet and GOA) next week on Dynamite. Ricochet accepted the challenge for The Demand.

Analysis: I wonder if Bobby Lashley is bored by his AEW run and being put in these tag team feuds. I just think a guy like Lashley could be doing a lot more and pushed as a singles guy instead of being part of these tag team rivalries. My guess is AEW is paying Lashley to be a main event guy, so use him that way, not as a tag team wrestler. It should be fine as a match, and the crowd likes cheering The Hurt Syndicate these days, so that’s cool. I think they should win.

Kris Statlander, the AEW Women’s World Champion, was interviewed by Renee Paquette and accepted Toni Storm’s challenge for a title match at WrestleDream.

Analysis: It’s a logical step in the story since Statlander beat Storm in a 4-way to win the title. Storm gets her rematch in a singles match, so Statlander has to prove she can do it again. I think Statlander will win.

Don Callis was with his Family members, Kazuchika Okada, the AEW Unified Champion, and Konosuke Takeshita, for an interview with Alicia Atout. Callis challenged Brodido (AEW Tag Team Champions Brody King & Bandido) to a match against Okada and Takeshita for next week on Dynamite. Takeshita didn’t seem thrilled about it, but Okada was okay with it. Callis said it would be great.

Analysis: The family is way too big, but this angle seems like it is setting up Takeshita for a babyface turn, which is fine because the fans love him as a talented wrestler with upside. The Takeshita/Okada singles matches will be amazing when the feud really gets going.

Match #6:Mixed Tornado Tag Team Match: Darby Allin & Kris Statlander defeated Death Riders – Wheeler Yuta & Marina Shafir by pinfall. There were tacks dumped into the ring, and Shafir was sent into the tacks. Statlander and Shafir also did a table-breaking spot by the barricade. Yuta threw powder into Shafir’s face by accident, and Shafir choked Yuta because she couldn’t see. Statlander hit a 450 Splash on Yuta and Shafir. Allin hit a Coffin Drop on Yuta, so Allin and Statlander covered Yuta at the same time for the win.

Analysis: ***1/4 Easy win for the babyface team with some weapon spots to generate cheap pops from the crowd. Yuta and Shafir shouldn’t be wrestling in main events, so it’s a weak main event match, but it was put in this spot because of the babyface team and what happened after. Allin didn’t go crazy with some of the spots, so good job by him.

Toni Storm was on the ramp after the match. Kris Statlander faced off with her, and they exchanged punches. Security broke it up, and they went to the back.

Analysis: That’s two “let’s throw punches on the ramp and then fight to the backstage area” spots on the same show. One is too many. It looks silly. Do it less often.

Darby Allin attacked Wheeler Yuta after the match, so Pac of the Death Riders showed up and attacked Allin. Pac choked Allin with his leather belt. Jon Moxley walked out to the ring and told Allin that he doesn’t know how he’ll do it, but at WrestleDream he’ll make Allin say, “I Quit.” Pac hit Allin with a clothesline, and Allin did a flip bump. The Death Riders left while Allin was down in the ring. That was the end of the show.

Analysis: It gets heat on the top heel, Jon Moxley, for using his friends to cheap-shot Darby Allin, who did a tremendous job of selling that clothesline from Pac. When the Death Riders were destroying the roster about a year ago, the story was that the babyfaces in AEW needed to work together to get rid of them. Here we are watching a babyface like Allin get beaten up by the Death Riders for several minutes while nobody attempts to help him. So is Allin an asshole with no friends? It feels like that to me since nobody tried to help the man. Poor guy.

The show ended at 10:30 p.m. ET this week.

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Three Stars of the Show

Darby Allin and Kris Statlander
Brody King & Bandido and Kenny Omega
“Hangman” Adam Page, Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs

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The Scoreboard

This Week: 7.25 out of 10

Last Week: 7.25

2025 Average: 7.40

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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite

It felt like a typical Dynamite episode that was solid most of the way, and it had some slow points. I think the first hour was very good, but having two six-man tags in the first three matches felt repetitive. The second hour and the extra 30 minutes weren’t that interesting. Some of the booking bothers me, like Kenny Omega should go after Kyle Fletcher for putting him through a table a few weeks ago, yet there was no follow-up. Also, Daniel Garcia turned heel, it’s supposed to be a big deal, and his team loses a tag. There’s just a lack of following up on storylines that continues to hurt AEW’s booking, in my opinion.

They did a nice job of building some WrestleDream matches, so at least it was productive in that sense. Andrade is back in AEW. I don’t feel like it’s a big deal, but I wish the man well. Joining the extremely large Don Callis Family may be a bad thing at this point because it has too many people. I think the Jon Moxley/Darby Allin feud is the best thing in AEW right now, and it should headline WrestleDream even though it’s not a title match. It will be a tough match to follow.

Next week’s Dynamite is a “Title Tuesday” show on Tuesday night, competing against the NXT show, which features the “Showdown” with TNA. As a result, both shows are attempting to load up with bigger matches. I’m surprised AEW didn’t announce more big matches for next week, but they can do that in the coming days.

The next AEW PPV is WrestleDream on Saturday, October 18th, with this lineup so far.