Reviews

The John Report: AEW Dynasty 2025 Review

By John Canton • Published 7th April 2025
AEW Dynasty 2025 tjrwrestling Review

It’s AEW Dynasty featuring Jon Moxley facing Swerve Strickland, Kenny Omega against Ricochet and Mike Bailey, Toni Storm battling Megan Bayne, and more.

AEW Dynasty is the second AEW PPV of the year following the great Revolution PPV from last month. I think Revolution had a stronger card than Dynasty, but most AEW PPVs deliver in terms of match quality and I think this one will too. They have a crowd with over 7,000 fans in attendance according to Wrestletix, so it should be a good crowd in Philly.

Here are the results of the pre-show matches.

* Nick Wayne (w/Mother Wayne & Kip Sabian) and CRU – Action Andretti & Lio Rush defeated AR Fox and Top Flight – Dante Martin & Darius Martin (w/Leila Grey) by pinfall. While the referee was looking at action on the floor, Mother Wayne shoved AR Fox off the top rope. Nick Wayne hit Wayne’s World for the win for his team.

* Anthony Bowens (w/Billy Gunn) defeated Max Caster by pinfall. Bowens won with a rolling elbow to the jaw. It was Caster’s open challenge.

As a reminder, I have reviewed every AEW PPV in company history. I ordered this show on TrillerTV. Let’s get to it.

===

AEW Dynasty
Sunday, April 6, 2025
From the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

There was some pyro that went off to start the show. They didn’t have an opening video package. The commentary team was Excalibur, Jim Ross & Taz to start the show.

Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinals: Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight

The graphic let us know that Will is on a 12-match win streak. The fans were on fire for Will as usual. This is Kevin Knight’s AEW PPV debut after recently signing with the company.

They shook hands to start the match as a sign of respect. Knight did a monkey flip followed by a clothesline and a running forearm. Will tossed Knight into the air near the ropes and Will kicked Knight out of the ring. Will hit a slingshot cross body block over the top onto Knight on the floor. Back in the ring, Will hit a slingshot forearm. Knight hit a hiptoss to get out of an abdominal stretch. Knight hit two clotheslines, he jumped over Will and Knight hit another clothesline. Knight hit a body slam followed by a splash. Will countered a move with a neckbreaker followed by a corkscrew kick for two. They exchanged some moves leading to Will hitting a Spanish Fly counter to put both guys down for a few moments. Will worked over Knight with chops to the chest and they exchanged strikes. Knight hit an elbow strike to the head. Knight hit a dropkick. Will was on the turnbuckle, so Knight did an impressive leaping hurricanrana off the top. Knight hit a slingshot dive over the top onto Will on the floor. Will went for a sunset flip on the floor, Knight countered that, Will tried a Styles Clash on the floor and Knight hit an incredible DDT on the bottom of the ramp. The referee Aubrey Edwards talked to both wrestlers and then went back into the ring to do a very slow count, so Will got back up and Knight hit a springboard clothesline.

They were back in the ring where Knight hit a DDT for two. Will countered a move, he went for a Powerbomb, but Knight countered with an amazing hurricanrana into a pin for two. The fans gave a standing ovation for that. Will hit a hook kick to the head. Will went for the Oscutter off the ropes, but Knight hit a dropkick to block it. Knight went up top and hit the UFO Splash for a two count. Knight went for a springboard attack, but Will caught him with a cutter. Knight countered Will going for a springboard move and hit a backslide pin for two. Will hit a Styles Clash for two. Will jumped off the ropes with an Oscutter for two. Will hit the Hidden Blade elbow to the head for the pinfall at 13:50.

Winner by pinfall: Will Ospreay

Analysis: ****1/4 It was an outstanding match like every PPV match that Ospreay has. It’s smart to put Ospreay on first because the fans are going to be into the match and they were into this one, of course. Knight had no chance to win here, but Knight had a lot of offense and it was a competitive match. I’m already a big fan of Knight and I think anybody who watches him will be a big fan of that talented young man. Will hit his three big moves to get the win, so it was a case of wearing him down before finishing him off.

After the match, Will shook hands with Knight and they hugged. The fans cheered.

Will Ospreay will face the winner of the Brody King-Konosuke Takeshita match in the Owen Hart Cup semifinals.

A video package aired about The Hurt Syndicate facing Big Bill & Bryan Keith.

AEW World Tag Team Championships: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin (w/MVP) vs. Big Bill & Bryan Keith

The Hurt Syndicate feels like faces, especially because the fans chant “We Hurt People” during their entrance. MVP joined the commentary team for the match.

Lashley started with Bill, who managed to break free and cleared Lashley & Shelton from the ring. MVP left commentary to coach his team on the floor. Lashley and Shelton were in control of Bill, so MVP was back on commentary. Shelton went for a suplex on Bill, but that didn’t work and Bill hit a body slam. Keith tagged in with a knee drop. Shelton was back up with clothesline and a back body drop. Lashley tagged in with a running lariat against the turnbuckle. Shelton tagged in, Keith was out of the ring and Shelton sent Keith into the barricade and ring apron. Lashley was back in with a delayed vertical suplex. Lashley went for a spinning slam, Keith landed on his feet and Keith sent a charging Lashley into the turnbuckle. Shelton was back in, Keith tagged out and Bill was in control with clotheslines. Bill hit splashes on both opponents along with a running boot to the face of Lashley. After Bill celebrated, Shelton hit Bill with a German Suplex for two. Bill caught Shelton leading to a spinning Bossman Slam for two. Shelton hit an armdrag and a kick. Bill came back with a boot to the head. Keith tagged in, Lashley went in illegally to clothesline Keith and Lashley hit a flatliner on Bill. Bill picked up Lashley, sent him face first into the turnbuckle and Bill clotheslined Lashley out of the ring. Lashley fought with Bill on the floor, MJF punched Bill with the Dynamite Diamond Ring and Lashley gave Bill a Spear on the floor. The director missed it, so they showed it on the replay. MVP was distracting the referee at that point. Lashley and Shelton didn’t seem happy about MJF’s help. Shelton hit a German Suplex on Keith, Lashley went in illegally and hit a Spear on Keith. Benjamin knelt down onto Keith for the pinfall win. It went 10:24.

Winners by pinfall: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin

Analysis: **3/4 A dominant win for the champions, The Hurt Syndicate, as usual. They are continuing to run through teams in AEW. They got some unwanted help from MJF, who is trying to prove himself to The Hurt Syndicate group so that they can work with him. Bill was impressive in the match while Keith was there to lose.

There was a brief video about the Mercedes Mone-Julia Hart match in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup tournament.

Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinals: Mercedes Mone vs. Julia Hart

The TBS Title that belongs to Mercedes Mone was not on the line here. Mone had her four titles with her for her entrance. Hart is a former TBS Champion.

Mone was in control early on as she set up Hart against the turnbuckle. Harley Cameron was shown watching on a TV backstage with her Mone puppet. Mone and Hart exchanged pin attempts for two counts. Mone slipped on a move by the ropes, so Mone improved with a simple arm drag. Hart got some offense with a running splash against the turnbuckle. Hart jumped off the top rope with a forearm smash, a clothesline and some head ramming on the mat. They left the ring where Mone tackled Hart into the barricade and Mone hit a Meteora double knee attack off the apron onto the floor. Back in the ring, Mone hit double knees for two. Mone hit a dropkick for a two count. Mone hit two vertical suplexes, Hart blocked a third one and Mone got her knees up to block a moonsault attempt, so Mone got a two count. Julia did an upside down suplex while Mone was on the turnbuckle. Mone missed attempt, so Hart hit a cross body block onto Mone on the floor. Back in the ring, Hart hit a DDT for two. Mone caught Hart and hit a slam that sent Hart onto Mone’s knees. Hart countered Mone by the turnbuckle leading to a Tarantula submission by the ropes. Hart applied an Octopus Hold submission until Mone hit the turnbuckle to break free. Hart kicked Mone to knock her down. Hart went up top for a moonsault that didn’t come close since Mone got her feet up to block. Mone hit the Backstabber double knee attack two times in a row. Hart jumped onto Mone’s back and hit a Crucifix Bomb for two. Mone applied the Statement Maker submission (Crossface submission), Hart got out of it and Hart applied the Hartless submission. Mone countered it into a pin for two. Mone applied the Statement Maker submission without trapping the arm. The fans were chanting ‘Julia” for Hart, who got near the ropes and Hart got a pin attempt for two. Mone hooked the arms of Hart and held Hart down for the pinfall win at 12:40. Mone remains undefeated in singles competition in AEW.

Winner by pinfall: Mercedes Mone

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a good technical wrestling match that saw Mone unable to win with one of her finishers, so she found a way to win by hooking the arms to keep Hart down. I don’t know why Hart needs to be protected like that because I would have had Mone win with one of her finishing moves. Hart is solid in the ring, but Mone is on another level from most of the women in AEW because she’s so awesome.

After the match, the ROH Women’s Champion Athena was shown watching on a TV because she could face Mone in the semifinals. Athena faces Harley Cameron in the quarterfinals.

The Trios Tag Team Title match was next, so there was a video about the Death Riders facing Rated FTR.

It was Nigel McGuinness on commentary, joining Excalibur & Tony Schiavone, so Taz was out for now.

AEW Trios Tag Team Championships: Death Riders – Claudio Castagnoli, Pac & Wheeler Yuta vs. Rated FTR – Cope, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler

The fans sang Cope’s theme song after the music played, so they finished off the song. The fans cheered for themselves after that. I like when the crowds do that. I missed the first few minutes of this match Cash was in control of Claudio with a suicide dive onto Claudio on the floor. Pac distracted Cash, Yuta shoved Cash down and Claudio hit an uppercut to knock Cash down. Pac tagged in with a kick to the head. Claudio stomped on Cash repeatedly. After Yuta tagged in, Cash hit a powerslam. Pac knocked Dax down, so Cope punched Pac to knock him down. Dax tagged in to prevent Cash from tagging in Cope and the announcers talked about it. Dax was on fire with punches, an atomic drop and a lariat on Yuta. Dax tried to knock Claudio down, but Claudio no sold it and Dax got a backslide pin for two. Cope applied his Grindhouse (Crossface) submission on Yuta so then Claudio and Dax applied Sharpshooters at the same time. Dax and Claudio had a bald man slap fast. Claudio hit two uppercuts along with a lariat to show his dominance. Claudio hit the Giant Swing and Yuta made the tag, leading to the dropkick for two. The Death Riders trio took turns hitting Dax with a flurry of uppercuts. Pac hit a Tombstone on Dax. Claudio tossed Yuta and tossed Pac off the top for splashes on Dax for a two count because the pin was broken up.

Cope got the tag leading to a double clothesline and a back body drop. Cope hit a flatliner along with an Impaler DDT on Pac for two. Cope gave Pac a superplex while Cash hit a top rope splash and Dax hit a headbutt off the top for two because Claudio made the save. Cope clotheslined Claudio and Yuta hit a top rope missile dropkick on Cope. Dax hit a Powerbomb on Yuta and Pac rolled up Dax for two. Pac applied the Brutalizer submission on Dax while Claudio audio and Cash had to fight to break up the submission. Cash fell on top of Pac/Dax while Yuta was on Cash’s back. Yuta was back in and he ate a Shatter Machine from FTR. Cope hit a Spear on Yuta for two because Claudio made the save with a headbutt. Cash and Pac went tumbling over the top to the floor due to a suplex spot. Claudio sent Cope into the barricade, but Cope came back with a Spear on Claudio the floor. Cope went back into the ring, he charged at Yuta for a Spear, Yuta moved and Cope stopped himself from hitting Dax. Yuta shoved Cope into Dax, so Dax sold that and Yuta hit a Busaiko Knee on Dax for the pinfall win. It went 14:42.

Winners by pinfall: Death Riders – Claudio Castagnoli, Pac & Wheeler Yuta

Analysis: ***1/2 That was an entertaining tag team match with a lot of action going on. It wasn’t that bad in terms of illegal offense. There was plenty of that, but it wasn’t so much that it bothered me. Claudio was so great in the match, Pac had a nice performance and Yuta got the win to show he’s not the weak link of the team. The key spot was Cope nearly hitting Dax with a Spear, but he stopped himself and Yuta shoved Dax into Cope. That led to Yuta getting the win with the Busaiko Knee. I didn’t expect a title change here.

After the match, the Death Riders guys left the ring and went into the back of the arena with their titles. Cope and Cash picked up Dax after the match. Rated FTR posed together in the ring, but Dax grabbed Cope and Dax gave Cope a piledriver. Dax brought two chairs into the ring. Dax wanted Cash to join him in giving Cope a Conchairto, but Cash refused it. Dax and Cash hit the Shatter Machine on Cope! Dax and Cash hit a spike piledriver onto a steel chair. Cope’s head was placed onto a steel chair, so Cash smashed the chair with a Conchairto on Cope! The fans booed loudly. Dr. Sampson finally went into the ring to try to stop FTR, but Cash hit another Conchairto on Cope’s head. The medical staff came out to the ring, so FTR tossed the stretcher over and left to boos.

Analysis: It was a vicious attack that got a lot of heat on FTR because of how cheap it was. FTR had been faces for a long time, but I like them better as heels, so I’m all for this turn. I thought the FTR guys did a great job with the heel turn.

Cope was put on a board and taken away on a stretcher. Excalibur called FTR “assholes” for what they did. There was a replay of the attack on Cope.

Analysis: There’s the heel turn by FTR that I predicted in the preview of the show. I also wrote this: “At some point, Cope has to reunite with Christian Cage as a tag team before they retire. It seems like Nick Wayne could turn on Christian soon, so perhaps the wheels are in motion for Cope & Christian together again and if you turn FTR heel before that, then you do Cope & Christian against FTR as a huge tag team ‘dream match’ down the road.” Perhaps they can do it at All In Texas in three months if Christian becomes a babyface before that. It makes sense to do it at a show like that.

A video aired about the Toni Storm-Megan Bayne match.

AEW Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm (w/Luther) vs. Megan Bayne (w/Penelope Ford)

Storm was dressed like Rocky since it was in Philly. The champion Storm was in control with a cross body block off the turnbuckle. Bayne caught Storm and hit an overhead suplex. Bayne hit a body slam. Bayne hit a fallaway slam followed by a kick that knocked Storm off the apron to the floor. Bayne hit a suicide dive onto Luther on the floor because Storm moved. Storm hit a DDT on the floor. Back in the ring, Ford grabbed Storm’s leg while the referee was looking at Bayne, so Bayne capitalized with a jumping kick to the head. Bayne hit a running splash against the turnbuckle. Bayne hit a suplex across the ring. Ford choked Storm on the ropes while Bayne was distracting the referee. Bayne hit three lariats in a row. Storm hit some forearms to the chest, Bayne caught Storm and hit two overhead belly-to-belly suplexes. Bayne hit another belly-to-belly suplex across the ring for two. After Ford choked Storm for a third time in the match, Luther put Ford on his shoulders and Luther took Ford to the back. Storm hit a forearm to the face followed by a Thesz Press and some punches. Storm hit another spinning DDT. Storm applied an STF submission for a few moments until Bayne got to the ropes to break the hold. Bayne suplexed Strom from the apron into the ring. Bayne went up top, Storm went after her and Bayne hit a belly to back suplex off the turnbuckle. It looked like Bayne landed on her head, but the replay showed she was able to get her hands down so it was like a moonsault bump. Both women were down selling for a few moments.

Bayne and Storm exchanged forearm smashes. Storm hit a German Suplex. Storm went for a hip attack, but Bayne got her and hit a German Suplex. Bayne hit a sitout Falcon Arrow slam for two. Storm countered Bayne with a crucifix pin for two. Storm hit a German Suplex. Storm hit a running hip attack and a headbutt. Storm connected with two hip attacks against the turnbuckle. Storm hit a third hip attack. Storm hit Storm Zero for just a one count. Bayne hit two clotheslines along with a Powerbomb. Bayne wanted to hit Fate’s Descent, but Storm did an inside cradle for the pinfall win. It went 15:25.

Winner by pinfall: Toni Storm

Analysis: ***1/2 A very good and competitive match. It was a tough match for Storm, but the champion retained as expected. When Bayne kicked out of Storm Zero for a one count, it made the fans believe that Bayne could win. In the preview, I predict Storm hitting an inside cradle to win because it made sense for her to win without her finishing move.

The Kyle Fletcher-Mark Briscoe match was next so there was a video about it.

Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinals: Kyle Fletcher (w/Don Callis) vs. Mark Briscoe

Don Callis was on commentary to support his buddy Fletcher. I missed some time in the early going of the match. I picked it up with Mark hitting a forearm along with a Fisherman’s Buster. Kyle hit a superkick, Mark landed on his feet after a move attempt and Kyle launched Mark into the turnbuckle. They were on the apron where Kyle hit two superkicks and a brainbuster on the apron while Mark’s leg hit the top rope. Back in the ring, Kyle hit a sheer drop brainbuster for just a two count. That looked like the finisher, but Mark shot his left arm up to break the count. They battled on the top turnbuckle where Mark gave Kyle a Razor’s Edge off the turnbuckle for a two count. Mark hit a running lariat. Mark went up top with the Froggy Bow elbow for two. Mark went for a move, but Kyle rolled him up for two. Mark picked up Kyle on his shoulders and slammed Kyle on his head onto the mat. Ouch. Kyle rolled out of the ring, so Mark jumped off the top with an elbow onto a standing Kyle on the floor. Mark went up top and went for a Froggy Bow, but Kyle got his feet up to block. Kyle hit two running kicks to the head. Kyle gave Mark a brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle and Kyle covered Mark for the pinfall win. It went 16:15.

Winner by pinfall: Kyle Fletcher

Analysis: ***1/2 This was very entertaining as usual from a Briscoe match while Kyle was impressive in picking up the victory. The ending was a decisive one with the top rope brainbuster. I continue to be impressed by Fletcher because he has performed very well as a singles guy over the last year and he’s clearly on the rise. Briscoe is so good at being a babyface who plays off the emotions of the fans. He’s easy to support too. It was another match with a predictable result.

Kyle Fletcher moves onto the semifinals where he’ll face the winner of Adam Page vs. Wild Card.

There was a video package about the Chris Jericho-Bandido match.

ROH World Championship Title vs. Mask: Chris Jericho vs. Bandido

Bandido’s mother and sister were seated at ringside. Jericho hit a Codebreaker for two and a Lionsault for two early in the match. Bandido sent Jerich out of the ring followed by a suicide dive. Bandido hit a somersault dive over the top onto Jericho on the floor. Bandido sent Jericho into the barricade at ringside and greeted his mother, who he told to stay calm. Back in the ring, Jericho hit a twisting cross body block for two. Bandido held up Jericho in a suplex position for nearly a minute and hit the suplex. Jericho went to the apron, so Bandido hit a running kick to the head. Bandido went for a move on the apron, but Jericho caught him and Jericho gave Bandido a Powerbomb on the floor. That was a loud smack on the floor. Jericho taunted Bandido’s mom at ringside and even held the camera to taunt the crowd. It’s a 20-count in Ring of Honor, so Bandido was back in the ring at the 15 count.

Jericho did a belly-to-back suplex leading to the cocky flex pin that used to get a big reaction, but it barely got a reaction here. Jericho hit a boot to the face for two. Bandido hit a hurricanrana and jumping kick. Jericho countered a Bandido move leading to a dropkick. Jericho stood on the turnbuckle to taunt Bandido’s family, so Bandido countered with a Powerbomb off the ropes. Bandido went up top, Jericho knocked him down, then Bandido went back up to do the spot they had planned. Jericho did ten punches, then Jericho went for a hurricanrana, Bandido held on and Jericho hit a top rope hurricanrana. Bandido caught a charging Jericho and he hit a Gorilla Press Slam. Bandido hit a Frog Splash off the top rope for a two count. Bandido went up top going for a twisting splash, but Jericho hit a Codebreaker into the knees/ribs. They stood back to back, then they walked in opposite directions until Jericho hit a forearm and a pin attempt with his feet on the ropes for two. Jericho got a rollup for two. Bandido hit a knee to the face and he wanted the 21 Plex, but Jericho blocked it and countered it into a pin attempt for two. Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho, Bandido got to the ropes and Jericho shoved the referee Bryce Remsburg, so Bryce shoved back. Bandido hit a superkick. Bryan Keith hobbled down to the ring to help Jericho, so Bandido’s brother Gravity grabbed Keith and they fought to the back. The referee was watching this on the floor, so Jericho hit Bandido with the baseball bat to the shoulder. The referee Remsburg didn’t see it and referee Aubrey Edwards was dealing with the guys fighting on the floor. Jericho covered Bandido for the pinfall win.

The second referee Aubrey Edwards was talking to Bandido’s mom and sister. Bandido’s sister pointed at the baseball bat beside the steel steps, so Edwards grabbed the bat. The referees Remsburg and Edwards talked to ring announcer Justin Roberts, who announced that the match must restart.

The match restarted, Jericho grabbed Bandido’s sister by the hair and Bandido kicked Jericho in the head. Bandido kicked Jericho in the head. Bandido bounced off the ropes with the 21 Plex, which is just a bridging German Suplex, and Bandido pinned Jericho for the win. It went 18:15.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW AEW World Champion: Bandido

Analysis: ***1/4 A title change as expected with Bandido ending Jericho’s boring title reign. It was a solid match, but didn’t feel great at any point. I don’t like that as a finish. The referee can restart a match just because the family at ringside told her something? So why doesn’t it happen in every match with a controversial finish? It’s the problem with AEW and how their referees are presented as fools a lot of the time. You can’t do a finish like that in this match and allow it, yet in other matches the same sort of controversial ending is allowed. I assume they did it this way to set up a Bandido-Jericho rematch for the title, perhaps with a stipulation. I doubt most fans care who is holding the ROH World Title since the brand barely exists at this point.

Bandido celebrated with the ROH World Title with his brother Gravity, along with his mother and sister.

A video aired about AEW Double or Nothing taking place on Sunday, May 25th in Glendale, Arizona, near Phoenix.

There was a commercial promoting the AEW All In Texas show on Saturday, July 12th.

The TNT Title match was up next, so there was a video setting up the Daniel Garcia-Adam Cole match.

TNT Championship: Daniel Garcia vs. Adam Cole

There are no time limits and there is no outside interference in this match. That’s because they had a time limit draw and a match with interference in the past.

Garcia connected with a dropkick followed by some chops to the chest. Garcia followed up with punches. Cole kicked Garcia out of the ring. Cole jumped off the apron, Cole sold it like he hurt his surgically repaired ankle and Garcia capitalized with a dropkick into the barricade. Garcia stomped on Cole’s left leg a few times. Back in the ring, Garcia dropkicked Cole on the left leg. Garcia trapped the leg against the ropes and hit another dropkick on the leg. Garcia continued to work on the legs along with another kick. Garcia wrenched back on the left leg again. The fans were quiet for this match. Garcia hit three neckbreakers in a row. Cole kicked Garcia followed by Panama Sunrise, but Garcia avoided it and Cole got a rollup for two. Garcia hit a lariat for two. Garcia hit a cradle Piledriver for a two count. When I played video games and I created a character, that was my finishing move. True story. Garcia hit a backdrop suplex, Cole hit a pump kick and Garcia hit some chops. Cole hit a superkick and Garcia landed on top for two. Cole got a crucifix pin for two. Garcia caught Cole’s left leg and applied an Ankle Lock submission. Garcia turned it into grapevine on the mat, but Cole still crawled to the bottom rope to force a break. Cole left the ring, so Garcia followed him and sent Cole’s legs into the steel steps. Garcia went for a move on the steps, but Cole countered it with a cradle suplex onto the knee. They were on the floor for over a minute, yet it wasn’t close to a countout because it’s AEW. Cole hit a Panama Sunrise on the floor and that barely got a reaction.

They were back in the ring where Cole went for the Boom, but Garcia collapsed to the mat. Garcia applied an inside cradle for two. Cole collapsed again, so Garcia hit a Panama Sunrise but it didn’t look as good as when Cole does it. Garcia hit a running knee Boom for a two count. Garcia teased a piledriver, but then he stopped himself and stared at the turnbuckle. Garcia wanted a piledriver on the turnbuckle, but headbutted Garcia down. Cole hit a Panama Sunrise off the ropes. Cole hit another Panama Sunrise. The fans were barely reacting to it as Cole hit the Boom running knee to the back of the head for the pinfall win. It went 15:35.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW TNT Champion: Adam Cole

Analysis: ***1/4 A solid technical wrestling match between two babyfaces with Adam Cole winning his first AEW singles title, which felt like the right time for a title change. It never felt like it went to that next level as a match. The fans were quiet for a lot of the match. Cole sold the left foot injury throughout the match and then he forgot about it near the end of the match. The story was that Garcia went for too much with a top rope piledriver, but it didn’t work and Cole capitalized to get the win. It’s two dudes who wrestle in a similar way without much of a gimmick other than Garcia doing his stupid dance and Cole yelling “Boom” sometimes.

After the match, Cole celebrated with the TNT Title. Cole and Garcia shook hands.

The AEW International Title match was next with Kenny Omega defending the gold against Ricochet and Mike Bailey.

Taz was back on commentary with Excalibur and Tony Schiavone for the final two matches.

AEW International Championship: Kenny Omega vs. Ricochet vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey

This is Bailey’s first AEW PPV match. In a triple threat match, there are no disqualifications and no countouts.

Omega faced off with Bailey, Ricochet pulled Omega out of the ring and sent Omega into the commentary table. Omega sent Ricochet out of the ring. Omega hit a diving cross body block off the top. Omega gave Bailey a hurricanrana. Ricochet went after Omega, who applied an armbar, but Ricochet got out of it and left the ring. Omega hit a running kick on Ricochet and Bailey kicked Omega out of the ring. Bailey jumped onto Omega on the floor, leading to a hurricanrana. Bailey and Omega said “Bald” to Ricochet so they slapped Ricochet on his bald head. The fans liked that because fans chant “Bald” at Ricochet. Bailey kicked Omega in the chest a few times while they were on the floor. Ricochet went on the barricade and slammed Bailey onto Omega’s back. That was a creative spot. Ricochet worked over Bailey while the fans chanted “Bald Forever” at Ricochet. Ricochet hit Bailey with two backbreakers and a sidewalk slam. Ricochet kicked Omega off the apron to the floor. Omega was back in with a kick to Ricochet’s ribs. Ricochet gave Omega a neckbreaker at the same time that Omega gave Bailey a DDT. Ricochet hit a suicide dive onto Bailey on the floor and a suicide dive onto Omega on the other side of he floor. Ricochet put a headset on bragging about how this is why he’s so damn good. Bailey superkicked Ricochet while Ricochet was talking. Back in the ring, Bailey hit a missile dropkick. Omega hit a rolling senton and Bailey avoided a splash. Ricochet knocked Omega down and Ricochet went for a moonsault that Omega avoided, so Ricochet hit the mat. Ricochet did a double pin on Omega and Bailey at the same time. Bayley did a crucifix pin on both guys at the same time. Omega did backslide on both opponents for nearfalls. Ricochet, Bayley and Omega all received kicks, so then they decided to sell and the fans cheered them. The fans were into this match a lot more than the match before it.

Omega tossed Ricochet out of the ring. Bailey battled with Omega, Ricochet was back in and Bailey tossed Ricochet out of the ring. Omega punched Bailey a few times along with a chop. Bailey kicked Omega in the chest a few times. Ricochet was back up, he grabbed Bailey’s hair and Bailey kicked him down. Bailey hit a moonsault off the turnbuckle onto Ricochet on the floor. Omega hit a sliding dropkick to knock Bailey down on the floor. Omega hit a somersault dive over the top onto Ricochet and Bailey on the floor. Ricochet dropkicked Omega off the apron to the floor. Ricochet hit a twisting cross body block over the top onto both guys on the floor and Ricochet landed on his feet. That was so impressive. Ricochet tried a move to the floor, Bailey went back into the ring and Bailey hit a moonsault off the top onto both guys on the floor. That was a wild sequence. Back in the ring, Bailey got a hurricanrana on Omega for two. Bailey placed Ricochet on top of Omega and Bailey flipped over both guys followed by a double knee drop. Bailey hit a spin kick on Omega for two because Ricochet pulled the referee’s leg to stop the count. Bailey battled Ricochet on the apron, Bailey went for a double knee drop on the apron, Ricochet left and Bailey hit the apron. Ricochet hit a chop block on Bailey’s left knee and referee Rick Knox bumped as well, but the referee was back in there quickly.

Ricochet battled Omega in the ring with Ricochet hitting chops to the chest. The fans chanted “Bald” while Ricochet punched Omega. Bailey was back up so the three guys were by the turnbuckle where Bailey hit a reverse Rana off the top turnbuckle. That was amazing. Omega countered Bailey by sending him face first onto the turnbuckle. Omega hit a Snapdragon Suplex on Bailey. Omega hit a Snapdragon Suplex on Ricochet. Omega hit another Snapdragon Suplex on Bailey. Omega got a hold of both opponents and hit a double Snapdragon Suplex. Bailey held onto Ricochet for the spot. Omega hit V-Trigger knees on Ricochet and Bailey. Ricochet countered Omega, but Omega managed to catch Ricochet and Omega hit a bridging German Suplex for two. Bailey kicked Omega and Bailey went for backslide pin while Ricochet joined in the pin attempt for a two count. Ricochet had his feet on the ropes for the pin attempt. Ricochet did a dragon screw leg whip on Bailey. Omega gave Ricochet a back body drop over the top to the floor. Bailey nailed Omega with a superkick. Bailey nailed a spinning kick to the head. Bailey went for an SSP knee drop off the turnbuckle, but Omega moved and Bailey was selling the left knee injury. Omega applied a kneebar submission on Bailey, so Ricochet hit a springboard 450 Splash on Omega for two. Bailey and Ricochet exchanged pin attempts. Ricochet kicked Bailey on the left knee. Ricochet hit his Vertigo slam on Bailey for two. Omega pulled Ricochet out of the ring. Bailey rolled up Omega for two. Bailey hit a spinning kick to the face. Ricochet shoved Bailey off the turnbuckle and Bailey was screaming in pain. Ricochet hit a Shooting Star Press off the top onto Omega for a two count. Ricochet hit a running dropkick on Bailey. Ricochet went for a SSP again, but Bailey got the knees up and Bailey did a cradle pin for two. Bailey worked over Ricochet with kicks, but Ricochet punched Bailey’s injured left leg a few times. Bailey hit a jumping kick to Ricochet’s face after doing a Karate Kid pose. Bailey hit a flipping knee drop known as Ultimate Weapon on Ricochet for two. Omega hit a V-Trigger on Bailey to break up the pin. Ricochet gave Omega a Poison Rana to spike him on his head. Ricochet went after Bailey on the top rope, but Omega got a hold of Ricochet and gave him an Avalanche One Winged Angel off the middle turnbuckle and Omega pinned Ricochet for the pinfall win. It went 31:04.

Winner by pinfall: Kenny Omega

Analysis: ****3/4 It was an outstanding match that was given a lot of time and they did a lot of amazing stuff. Did it need to go 30 minutes? No, I don’t think so. It’s AEW loving long matches and giving them a lot of time. I’m not one of those people who say it’s five stars just because Kenny Omega was in a 30-minute match. Yes, it was awesome, but it was a bit below that for me. That’s just how I felt about it. Omega getting the win was the obvious result since he just won the title last month and he’s not going to lose it so soon. Ricochet and Bailey are incredible athletes who can do it all in the ring and they showed it in this match. They did a lot of combo moves in the match where guys did moves on both guys at the same time. I think Omega pinned Ricochet because AEW might do Omega against Bailey as a singles match at Double or Nothing next month. I wouldn’t mind seeing Omega against Ricochet in singles as well.

Kenny Omega was exhausted after the match. The AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada walked out to the ring with his rarely defended title. Okada got into the ring with Omega while certain wrestling observers were creaming themselves at this visual. Okada stared at Omega and Omega left. Notice the All In Texas sign in the background? Yeah. Omega left. Okada walked around the ring a bit and left.

Analysis: I think the Omega-Okada match will be at All In Texas and the International & Continental Titles could be merged at that point.

The AEW World Title match between champion Jon Moxley and challenger Swerve Strickland was up next. There was a video package to set it up.

AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) vs. Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana)

The referee Paul Turner held up the briefcase above his head because that’s where the AEW World Title is. It looks awkward. Moxley still had scars and wounds on his back from his bloody battle with Cope on Dynamite a few weeks ago. It started out with some mat wrestling for a few minutes as Moxley went for a wrist lock until Swerve got to the turnbuckle. Swerve unloaded on Moxley with forearms along with the uppercut to the back. Moxley hit some chops to the chest. Swerve did a headscissors to send Moxley out of the ring. Swerve went to the apron where he kicked Moxley down to the floor. Swerve sent Moxley into the barricade. When they went back into the ring, Swerve went up top and Moxley punched Swerve to knock him off the apron to the floor. Moxley kicked Swerve’s head onto bottom of the steps. Moxley sent Swerve into the steel steps. Shafir hit some cheap shot kicks on Swerve on the floor. Moxley worked over Swerve with forearms and headbutts. They left the ring where Moxley tossed Swerve over the commentary table at ringside. Swerve was bleeding from above his right eyebrow. Moxley was beating up Swerve by the steel steps and Swerve was bleeding more. The referee wasn’t counting them out even though they were on the floor for over a minute. Moxley went back out and hit a double arm DDT onto the top of the steel steps. The referee was counting this time. I’m not saying I want the match to end in a countout, but there is lack of consistency in AEW. Swerve got back in the ring before the ten count.

Moxley remained in control with a piledriver for two. Swerve was bleeding from above the right eyebrow. Moxley punched Swerve’s wound and even bit Swerve’s bloody head, which is gross. Moxley hit a running kick to the chest. Moxley hit a suplex into a slam. Moxley bit Swerve’s head again. Swerve fought back with strikes, including a hard punch to the jaw. Moxley liked that. Swerve and Moxley exchanged forearms just like in every Moxley match. Swerve kicked Moxley a few times, Moxley hit a forearm to the jaw and Moxley applied a Kimura Lock submission on the left arm. Moxley turned it into an armbar and then a Triangle Choke submission. Swerve managed to power Moxley up and Swerve hit a move like a Powerbomb to break free. Swerve worked over Moxley with strikes along with a hiptoss and a vertical suplex for two. The blood above Swerve’s eye was mostly gone at this point. Swerve countered Moxley and went for a pin for two. Swerve hit a backbreaker. Swerve did a jumping attack, but Moxley hit a Cutter to counter. Moxley applied the Bulldog Choke submission. Swerve managed to get out of it and hit a flatliner. Swerve hit a running House Call kick for two. Swerve hit another House Call kick, but there was no pin attempt. Swerve charged at Moxley, who hit a clothesline and Swerve did a flip bump. Swerve got back up and hit a House Call kick to the head again. Both guys were down selling. Marina Shafir went into the ring with the briefcase, the referee wanted her to leave and Nana confronted Shafir in the ring. Nana turned his back like a dumbass, so Shafir hit Nana in the back with the briefcase. Moxley spun Swerve around, Swerve moved and Moxley hit Shafir with a Cutter. Swerve hit a Paradigm Shift (double arm DDT) for a two count. The crowd came alive for that one.

Swerve went up top for a move, but Moxley shoved him down and Swerve bumped to the floor. Moxley brought out a ladder from under the ring. Moxley set up the ladder beside the Spanish commentary table and the steel steps were there as well. The referee Paul Turner was outside the ring with the wrestlers as Moxley and Swerve climbed the ladder. I guess it’s a no countout match again? Sure. It’s AEW. They don’t really care about rules. Swerve did a dreaded back rake while on the ladder. Swerve bit Moxley in the head. Swerve jumped off the top of the ladder and gave Moxley a Swerve Stop through the table. The fans chanted “Holy Shit” for that. After selling for about a minute, Swerve and Moxley were back in the ring. They were on the floor for over three minutes without a count. Moxley and Swerve exchanged strikes again. Moxley kicked Swerve in the left knee. Shafir gave Moxley a chair, so Moxley threw the chair at Swerve, who moved and the chair hit Turner. Referee Turner was knocked out. Swerve hit a Vertebreaker. Page walked out to ringside and he was setting up for a Buckshot Lariat on Swerve, but then he looked at Moxley. Pac went on the apron and kicked Page. Claudio Castagnoli, Pac and Wheeler Yuta beat up Page. The referee was nowhere to be seen. Yuta hit Claudio with a Busaiko Knee after Page moved and Page sent Pac out of the ring. Moxley went after Page, who countered and hit a Deadeye slam on Mox. Claudio sent Page into the steel steps. The Opps trio of Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata fought with Claudio, Pac & Yuta to the backstage area. Swerve threw the steel chair at Moxley. Swerve went up top and Swerve hit a Swerve Stomp on Moxley. Swerve was too hurt to make the cover and there was still no referee in the ring. The lights went out in the arena.

When the lights came back on, The Young Bucks duo of Matt & Nick Jackson were in the ring. The Bucks hit the V-Trigger knee on Swerve. The fans booed that loudly. Moxley crawled over to Swerve and he covered Swerve while referee Paul Turner was recovered enough to count the one…two…and three. It went 31:35.

Winner by pinfall: Jon Moxley

Analysis: ***1/4 A long match with a cheap ending. It was like a lot of Moxley’s title defenses during this reign with a controversial finish to have the champion retain. During past title reigns of Moxley he had better matches, but during this reign, it’s about having matches that are brutal in nature. The fans weren’t into this match like most AEW World Title matches and that’s because it was a long night. It was also a match that was good technically, but not that exciting to watch. It picked up in the final third of the match. There was also a time where they were outside the ring for over three minutes and no count was administered by the referee because it’s AEW where the rules only matter sometimes. Speaking of the refereeing, the finish to the Jericho/Bandido comes to mind with this match because that match had a finish that changed due to weapons being used and in this match, that wasn’t the case at all. That’s why booking a finish like they did for the Jericho/Bandido was a dumb move. Anyway, Moxley and Swerve worked hard. The fans did get into it more as it went on, but then the Young Bucks made their return after being away for several months and they cost Swerve the title. Why? Find out on Dynamite, I guess.

Jon Moxley left with the AEW World Title briefcase and his buddy Shafir. They showed Swerve in the ring, The Young Bucks in the crowd and Hangman Page at ringside. That was the end of the show.

Analysis: There was a part of me that thought Swerve would win, but I expected Moxley to retain the title. When Will Ospreay said he was going to be in the Owen Hart Cup where the winner gets a shot at the AEW World Title, I believe that Ospreay will beat Moxley for the AEW World Title at All In Texas and I still think that’s the plan. As for the Young Bucks, I think we’ll see Swerve & Page become allies due to having common enemies and it will lead to Swerve & Page against The Young Bucks, perhaps at All In Texas as well.

AEW Dynasty had a runtime of 4:22:30 on pay-per-view.

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Five Stars of the Show

  1. Kenny Omega
  2. Will Ospreay
  3. Ricochet & Mike Bailey
  4. FTR’s heel turn on Cope
  5. Swerve Strickland/Kevin Knight

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Final Thoughts

It gets a 7.5 out of 10 from me.

This was a very long show at nearly 4.5 hours and I don’t think it needed to be that long. Matches like Fletcher/Briscoe and Mone/Hart could have been TV matches, but I think it’s a case of AEW wanting to get those wrestlers on the PPV. I understand wanting to give the wrestlers at least 15 minutes in most of the matches, but I think it’s important to not go too long when you’re going past midnight on a Sunday night. I was exhausted writing about it and I liked most of the show. You could tell there were some matches where the crowd was tired, but they were a very good crowd for many of the big matches.

It’s not a surprise that Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay were in the standout matches, which is typical for them. The Omega/Ricochet/Bailey match was crazy with all the spots that they did. Ospreay’s match with Knight was a smart choice for the opener. The FTR heel turn on Cope was predictable and it should lead to Christian Cage reuniting with Cope at some point in the months ahead, which is fine with me. I thought the heel turn was one of the best parts of the show.

I didn’t like some of the match finishes, so that hurt the show a bit. The ending to the Bandido/Jericho match was likely done that way to set up a rematch. I understand why it’s done. I just think they could have come up with a better ending. The same logic that changed that finish could have been used for the Moxley/Swerve finish, but instead it’s an overbooked ending to get heat on the champion Moxley thanks to the Young Bucks costing Swerve the match.

As I wrap up this review, I wanted to address something else in the news about AEW. There has been a lot of chatter online about a recent report about AEW’s audience on the Max streaming service being so high that more people are likely watching AEW weekly than ever before. I don’t really believe it. The source that reported it is questionable, and it has been reported that Warner Bros Discovery doesn’t share the Max streaming audience even with AEW people. With that in mind, I doubt very much that AEW’s viewership is up significantly because of Max or at all time highs or anything close to that. I can remember when WBD used to send out press releases about AEW’s viewership number and they would claim 4 million viewers or whatever because they try to inflate it. If WBD was so happy with AEW’s Max numbers, I guarantee you they’d be bragging about it, but there’s nothing that has come out from them. I still like AEW, and I will continue to cover it. I’ve literally paid for every PPV they have ever had, so I have spent thousands of dollars to support AEW. That’s more than a lot of people can say. Anyway, my point is some “reports” on pro wrestling are fabricated just to make a company look better or because a reporter knows they are going to get page views from it. It doesn’t necessarily mean the report is accurate. Just saying.

Here are my AEW PPV reviews of 2025 so far:

Revolution – March 9 (8.75 out of 10)

Dynasty – April 6 (7.5)

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Thanks for reading this review. My contact info is below.

Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter/X: @johnreport