The John Report: AEW Dynamite 11/26/25 Review
This week’s AEW Dynamite featured the Continental Classic tournament with Kyle Fletcher facing Kazuchika Okada, Claudio Castagnoli against Orange Cassidy, and more.
The AEW Full Gear PPV was last Saturday. I liked the show, although it may have been the bloodiest AEW PPV ever. They love the blood, I guess. Anyway, Samoa Joe became a two-time AEW World Champion after beating “Hangman” Adam Page thanks to a heel turn from Hook. I didn’t expect that title change.
This week’s show is the beginning of the Continental Classic. I like the tournament and the matches are good, but the prize is weak. The winner gets a shot at the AEW Continental Title held by Kazuchika Okada, who hasn’t had to defend the title for at least four months because it got merged with the International Title to form the AEW Unified Title. So why are these guys fighting for a shot at a title that has been ignored for months? It’s not a coveted title. There are already four singles titles in AEW. They should say that the winner gets a shot at the AEW World Title, not the Continental Title. The hardcore AEW fans won’t care, but the casuals may be wondering why there’s such a big deal for a shot a title that has been benched for over four months. Weird booking, to me.
I’ll go play-by-play for one or two matches and summary style for the rest.
This was AEW Dynamite episode #321 from The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee. Follow me on Twitter/X @johnreport. Let’s get to it.
It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means. Excalibur was on commentary with Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone. There was a ramp connected to the ring.
A video package aired showing the problems between Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita. They are both in the Continental Classic and so is former TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher, who is with them in the Don Callis Family.
The wrestlers in the Continental Classic are:
Blue League
- Jon Moxley
- IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita
- Claudio Castagnoli
- Orange Cassidy
- Roderick Strong
- Mascara Dorada
Gold League
- AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada
- Kyle Fletcher
- Darby Allin
- Pac
- Kevin Knight
- Mike Bailey
Analysis: I think the finals will be Konosuke Takeshita against Kazuchika Okada and I want Takeshita to win. There are other options for the finals, but I think that’s what it should be.
Here are some Continental Classic Tournament Rules:
* 20 Minute Time Limit
* 3 Points for a win
* 1 point for a draw
* Everyone is banned from ringside
The two finalists in the Continental Classic tournament will compete for the AEW Continental Championship at the World’s End PPV on December 27th. What that means is Okada can lose the Continental Title if he’s not in the finals of the tournament.
There’s more about the Continental Classic on AEW’s website. They do a good job of updating it.
Continental Classic – Gold League: Kyle Fletcher vs. Kazuchika Okada
Don Callis was on commentary for this match since they are both in the Don Callis Family. I’ll go play-by-play here.
Okada and Kyle spent a couple of minutes doing some basic moves without hitting eachother hard to show they are friends. Okada stopped himself from doing a chop. They each went for moves, leading to Kyle hitting a shoulder tackle. Kyle hit a body slam for a two count. Kyle chopped Okada two times. Kyle worked over Okada with some stomps, along with a body slam. When Kyle went up top, Okada kicked the referee into the ropes to crotch Kyle on the top rope. Okada dropkicked Kyle to the floor. Okada said, “I’m so sorry” to the referee. Heel Okada makes me laugh. They went to a picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
Okada hit a body slam. Okada went up top, so Kyle shoved the referee into the ropes, so Okada was crotched on the top just like Okada did to Kyle earlier. Kyle also said he was sorry to the referee. Kyle hit a superplex on Okada. Kyle hit a running boot on Okada, followed by a forearm and a belly-to-back suplex. Kyle teased a piledriver, Okada countered it and hit a neckbreaker onto the thigh. Okada went up top, knocked Kyle down and hit an elbow drop off the top. Okada did his middle finger salute to the crowd. Kyle countered Okada with a Half N Half Suplex. Kyle charged, Okada bailed to the floor and Okada tripped Kyle on the apron. Okada hit a draping DDT on Kyle on the floor. Back in the ring, Okada hit a slam off the shoulders for a two count. Kyle hit a superkick. Okada hit a dropkick. Okada hit another impressive dropkick. Okada hit a Tombstone that didn’t look great, but it was safe. Kyle came back with a Michinoku Driver. The fans were cheering the great action and chanting “AEW” for them. They were 15 minutes into the match, so 5 minutes left in the time limit. Okada went for a backslide pin for two, then he held on and hit a Rainmaker lariat. Kyle ducked another lariat and Kyle lawn darted Okada into the middle turnbuckle. Kyle hit a sitout Powerbomb for two. Kyle hit a running kick on Okada against the turnbuckle. Okada countered a move with an eye gouge. Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Kyle countered without rollup where he sat on top of Okada for the three count. It went 17 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kyle Fletcher
Analysis: **** A great match between two of the best wrestlers in AEW and I thought it was a four-star match. They started slow because they are friends, but then it really got going and they had some believable nearfalls throughout the match. Kyle beating Okada with a cradle like that is a way to show it was a close match and a finisher wasn’t used to win the match. Okada losing is rare, but I liked how this was booked. A match like that sets the tone for the Continental Classic tournament.
After the match, Kyle and Okada shook hands while the fans chanted “F**k Don Callis” since Don was in the ring with them.
A clip was shown of The Young Bucks saving Kenny Omega from the Don Callis Family instead of keeping the $1 million they won in a tag team match. They hugged Omega at the end of it.
Kenny Omega was interviewed by Lexy Nair outside of his dressing room. She asked if Omega was reunited with the Young Bucks. Omega said he was once fooled by Don Callis as well. Omega said if his friends can accept him for his faults and if the fans can accept him, then who is he to say the Bucks don’t deserve a second chance? Omega went back into the room. After a few seconds, The Young Bucks walked out of Omega’s room. The Bucks said what’s up to Lexi and left.
Analysis: That likely means that Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks are reunited, but we’ll see if they start teaming together again. I like the Bucks more as heels, although I think they have been in that role for a long time, so I get why they likely wanted to be faces again.
(Commercial)
They showed highlights of Mark Briscoe beating Kyle Fletcher to win the TNT Title at Full Gear.
A bloody Mark Briscoe was backstage with the TNT Title after his match at Full Gear. Mark said he lost the most important thing to him, his brother. Mark said it’s been a long road since then. Mark spoke about all the failures, losses and disappointments. Mark talked about his family in The Conglomeration. Mark said he’s got his road family and his home family. Mark said this is for both of them, while mentioning his nephews, nieces, parents, wife, kids, Delaware, and so on. Mark pointed to the heavens and said this is for you as he spoke to his late brother, Jay. That was it.
Analysis: I’m genuinely happy for Mark Briscoe as the TNT Champion. That was one of the best “feel good” title changes in AEW history.
AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinals: Babes of Wrath – Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron vs. Sisters of Sin – Julia Hart & Skye Blue
I like both team names. Just saying. Anyway, Willow and Harley hit an assisted senton on Hart where Harley was on Willow’s back as they splashed Hart. The heel side of Hart and Blue worked over Harley for about a minute. Willow was able to help her partner by sending Hart into the barricade. Harley hit a Slingblade on Blue. After a Hart distraction, Blue hit a neckbreaker on Harley.
(Commercial)
Hart was in control of Harley with a clothesline. Blue hit a dropkick while Hart held Harley against the ropes. Willow got the hot tag and unloaded on Hart with clotheslines and a spinebuster. Blue tagged in to hit an impressive DDT on Willow. The powerful Willow hit a double suplex on Hart and Blue. Harley was back in, so Willow slammed her partner onto Blue. The heels got control as Hart botched a moonsault, which led to an awkward elbow drop. Don’t do a move unless you can nail it every time. Harley was sent into the ropes, Willow made the blind tag and clotheslined Blue. Harley hit a backstabber on Hart and Willow hit a sitout Powerbomb on Hart for the pinfall win. It went about 12 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: Babes of Wrath – Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron
Analysis: *** A solid tag team match. I wouldn’t say great or anything, but it had some fine moments. This was more of a traditional tag team match instead of the usual AEW tag team match, where people randomly go into the ring to do moves. In this match, Harley was isolated and then Willow got the hot tag. That moonsault miss by Hart led to some awkward moments after, but they got through it.
That means Babes of Wrath move on to the AEW Women’s Tag Team Tournament semifinals.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Samoa Joe With The Opps
The new AEW World Champion, Samoa Joe, made his entrance, joined by his allies in The Opps, Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata. The trio of Joe, Hobbs and Shibata are the AEW Trios Champions. Tony Schavone introduced them for an interview, but Joe told Tony to get his hillbilly ass out of there. Before Joe could say much, a car was shown driving up to the building.
Swerve Strickland and “Hangman” Adam Page were shown walking in the parking lot and both of them had chains with them.
Joe told Shibata to go get the scrubs. Joe had a gash at the top of his head since he bled heavily at Full Gear. The Opps Dojo guys went down to the ring. Joe called himself a strategist of unparalleled splendor. Joe talked about how everything went to plan, ending with Joe beating Hangman to win the AEW World Title. Joe called for a video package.
The video package aired about how Hook aligned with Eddie Kingston and Hangman Adam Page, but then we realized perhaps Hook never left The Opps in the first place.
Joe said it was incredible and some of his best work. Joe said now you have a champion that can be called the greatest in this industry. Joe brought out Hook and hugged him, so the fans booed Hook following his heel turn.
Hook said that Joe was right, and Hook said that these rednecks are looking at the greatest second-generation wrestler that this business has ever seen.
Analysis: That’s a bold statement that I don’t agree with. Heels lie, my friends. As for Joe, he is a better heel mastermind than Jon Moxley with the Death Riders at least.
Swerve Strickland made his entrance as his music played. “Hangman” Adam Page was at a bar and had a shot on his way to the ring. They were in the back part of the arena. Page and Swerve beat up some Opps Dojo guys who are indy wrestlers. Swerve and Page each had chains with them. Joe and The Opps ran away while The Opps dojo guys got beaten up by Swerve and Page. Swerve used a staple gun on a guy’s head. Swerve tossed a guy out of the ring, Page and Swerve each hit Powerbombs. Page and Swerve choked two members of The Opps Dojo with chains around their necks. Referees finally ran out there to try to stop it.
Analysis: It is a strange sight to see Page and Swerve working together, considering their bloody past history, but they have a common enemy in Samoa Joe, so they are getting along because of that. The fans love Page and Swerve, so they are a pairing that is easy to like.
A video package aired that showed Jon Moxley after losing to Kyle O’Reilly at Full Gear. Moxley was angry, while the rest of the Death Riders just watched him without saying a word.
Continental Classic – Blue League: Jon Moxley vs. Mascara Dorada
They were exchanging holds early on. Dorada went for a dive outside the ring, Moxley avoided it, and Moxley hit a suicide dive into the barricade. They battled on the ramp, Dorada sent Moxley to the floor and Dorada went for a move, but Moxley hit him with a forearm to the face. Moxley hit a release suplex into a slam as the show went to a PIP break.
(Commercial)
Dorada sent Moxley into the steel steps on the floor, followed by a hurricanrana and a Cutter against the barricade. Back in the ring, Dorada did a kick combo and a Code Red for two. After Moxley bailed to the floor, Dorada hit a twisting suicide dive over the top on Moxley on the floor. Moxley got out of an armbar and hit a running knee to the head. Dorada got an inside cradle for two. After a superkick, Dorada went up top and hit a 450 Splash off the top for two. Good nearfall. Dorada went for an SSP off the top, Moxley blocked with the knees, and Moxley applied with a Sleeper variation. Dorada passed out, and Moxley wins after 13 minutes.
Winner by submission: Jon Moxley
Analysis: ***1/4 A solid match with an obvious outcome since Moxley was obviously not going to lose to Dorada in a match like this. Dorada is in this tournament to lose nearly every match he has. The clash of styles made this interesting, but Moxley is good when he’s interested in selling for his opponent, and he was in this case. Moxley needed a win after losing several matches in recent weeks, so he got his win here.
After the match, Marina Shafir went into the ring with Moxley. “Timeless” Toni Storm went into the ring wearing a robe and dress. Storm said she really liked Jonny despite his love of cargo pants. Storm spoke about how what Moxley does for violence, she does what she does for love. Storm said he had a message for his cavewoman “daughter.”
Storm mentioned that her and Mina Shirakawa get to pick the stipulation for their match against Shafir and Megan Bayne. Storm admitted she can’t come up with a match. Storm mentioned seeing her sweet Mina, who arrived on the ramp, and Storm said her gift for Mina is two sloptards on a silver platter. Storm said next Wednesday, it will be a Hardcore Holiday Death Match. The fans cheered that, of course.
Analysis: That’s an interesting match for next week. As usual, Storm had a unique way of speaking, and the fans loved it.
The AEW Women’s World Champion, Kris Statlander, was interviewed by Renee Paquette, who asked Kris what was next. Kris wondered what was next. Kris said that there’s disbelief about how she has won the TBS and World Titles and she’s beaten Toni Storm and Mercedes Mone. Kris said you can stay in the past or look ahead to the future, so who’s coming with her? Good luck in the future.
(Commercial)
Continental Classic – Gold League: Darby Allin vs. Kevin Knight
The announcers mentioned Darby Allin still had burns from Blood & Guts a few weeks ago and Allin had tape on his right arm. They exchanged some holds, leading to Knight doing a monkey flip that sent Allin’s left leg into the ropes. While on the floor, Knight hit a moonsault off the barricade onto a standing Allin on the floor. Allin was able to come back quickly with a suicide dive. They went up top, where Knight hit a belly-to-back suplex off the top.
(Commercial)
Knight connected with a dropkick that sent Allin out of the ring. Allin came back with a dropkick off the ramp that sent Knight into the barricade. They did a double clothesline spot that knocked both guys and they did flip bumps after that. They went onto the ramp where Knight hit a DDT on the ramp. Allin was able to counter Knight and hit a Code Red for a two count. Knight went up top and hit a Coast to Coast dropkick on Allin against the turnbuckle. Knight went up top and hit the UFO Splash for the pinfall win. It went about 12 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Kevin Knight
Analysis: ***1/2 That’s what I like to see with a result that surprises some people. AEW books too many favorites to win matches, and they need more upsets like this. In a tournament format like this, you should book more upsets. Knight is so good. They use him in a tag team, but I think he can be a singles star too. There was also the story that Allin is likely not 100%, so it shows that Knight was aggressive and smart in hitting big moves for the win. It was a clean win.
After the match, Knight and Allin shook hands while Allin continued to sell that he was hurting.
A video aired about FTR beating Brodido at Full Gear to win the AEW World Tag Team Titles for the third time.
(Commercial)
Eddie Kingston was backstage talking to the camera. Eddie said he didn’t want to talk about Hook right now. Eddie said he heard Samoa Joe mention his name. Eddie spoke about how he might take out Joe’s boy, Katsuyori Shibata, on Collision. That match is set for Collision.
Analysis: They put Collision on Thursday, aka US Thanksgiving, this week to avoid WWE Survivor Series on Saturday. They taped it after Dynamite. Going against the NFL on Thursday isn’t that smart either. Collision has such a small audience at this point.
Continental Classic – Blue League: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Orange Cassidy
It’s the main event, so I’ll go play by play here. Orange got a few nearfalls early on. Claudio tried a power move, but Orange turned it into an inside cradle. Claudio connected with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Claudio put Orange on his shoulders and sent Orange face-first into the turnbuckle. Claudio hit a running uppercut against the turnbuckle. Orange did his comedy kicks to the legs, Claudio went for a clothesline, Orange ducked, and Orange hit a superkick. Orange hit an arm drag to send Claudio out of the ring. Orange hit a suicide dive, but Claudio bounced off the barricade with a clothesline. Claudio hit a running uppercut on the floor. Claudio sent Orange into the barricade. Claudio broke the referee’s count, so then Orange avoided an attack. Claudio came back with a swing into the barricade twice. Ouch.
(Commercial)
Claudio was in control as he pulled on Orange’s arms and spun him around. Claudio hit a stomach breaker across the knee three times. Orange came back with a DDT counter. Orange hit a running dropkick, along with a PK running kick. Orange went for a lift, Claudio was too big, and Claudio charged, so Orange sent him into the ring post. Orange hit a diving DDT on Claudio on the floor. Orange sent Claudio into the turnbuckle. Back in the ring, Orange hit Stundog Millionaire. Orange jumped off the top and Claudio hit an uppercut for a two count. Claudio did the Giant Swing. Claudio took his elbow pad off, then he charged and Orange hit an Orange Punch. Claudio caught Orange and went for a move, but Orange countered that into a DDT. Orange hit another Orange Punch to the head. Orange hit the Beach Break for a two count. Great nearfall there. Orange charged, Claudio avoided it, Claudio went for a move, but Orange countered with a hurricanrana. Claudio popped up Orange, and hit an uppercut for the pinfall win after 13 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Claudio Castagnoli
Analysis: ***1/2 A typical very good TV match by two veterans who know what they are doing out there. Orange took a beating, made the comeback, hit a bunch of DDTs and it looked like Orange might win, but Claudio found a way to win with that dreaded uppercut. It’s not an upset to have Claudio get the win, but I thought Orange would win this match. I believe these guys have wrestled many times over the years, so they had a lot of chemistry as usual.
Next week on Dynamite in the Continental Classic: Jon Moxley will face Claudio Castagnoli, so it’s a matchup between two Death Riders.
After the match, Renee Paquette tried to talk to Claudio Castagnoli in the ring, but that didn’t work. The Death Riders attacked Orange Cassidy, so Renee got out of there. The Don Callis Family guys in the Continental Classic tournament went into the ring to attack the faces. The babyfaces in the Continental Classic also went out there to fight. Mascara Dorada went up top and hit a moonsault onto a bunch of guys. Orange hit the Orange Punch on Wheeler Yuta in the ring. Kazuchika Okada was on the ramp watching all the chaos, but he didn’t get involved in the fighting. The wrestlers were separated, and the show ended there.
Analysis: A chaotic ending featuring the wrestlers in the Continental Classic. It was a bit sloppy, but it’s just a way to end it on a happy note since Orange hit the Orange Punch on jobber Yuta to end it.
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Three Stars of the Show
- Kyle Fletcher and Kazuchika Okada
- Kevin Knight
- Claudio Castagnoli/Jon Moxley
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The Scoreboard
This Week: 7.5 out of 10
Last Week: 7.5
2025 Average: 7.42
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Final Thoughts on AEW Dynamite
A good wrestling show. I can’t say my interest in the Continental Classic is high, though. It just isn’t. As I stated in the opening, there’s all this focus on a tournament where the winner gets a shot at the Continental Championship that hasn’t been defended in over four months because it got unified with another title, so how important is this title? I think AEW should change the rules so it’s for a shot at the AEW World Title instead.
There was plenty of great in-ring action on this show. I expect that every week from AEW, so there’s nothing unusual about that. The Fletcher/Okada match stood out the most, while I enjoyed seeing Knight beat Allin, and other matches were solid too.
My concern with the focus on the Continental Classic is that there will be a lack of stories throughout the rest of the show. It takes up so much time, and it’s just match after match. They are trying to do the story with Samoa Joe as the heel AEW World Champion while dealing with Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland. I just worry that there’s so much attention on the Continental Classic that it can hurt the rest of the show.
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Thanks for reading. Go Los Angeles Rams, Toronto Raptors, and Toronto Maple Leafs. You can contact me using any of the methods below.
John Canton
Email: [email protected]
Twitter/X: @johnreport