Reviews

The John Report: AEW WrestleDream 2025 Review

By John Canton • Published Oct 18, 2025 19:00 EDT
AEW WrestleDream 2025 Review Tjrwrestling

This is AEW All WrestleDream, featuring “Hangman” Adam Page against Samoa Joe, Darby Allin facing Jon Moxley in an I Quit Match, Kris Statlander taking on Toni Storm, and more.

It’s the third edition of AEW WrestleDream, with this year’s event taking place in St. Louis. They have nine matches scheduled for the main card, so it will be a long night of action. AEW All Out was five hours last month, and AEW All In back in July was six hours. I hope a show that is starting at 8 p.m. ET isn’t more than four hours long.

The pre-show “Tailgate Brawl” matches took place on AEW Collision on TNT before the main show. They put tag team matches on the pre-show. I didn’t see the first two matches because the main show is long enough. Here are the results:

* Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, and Pac) defeated Roderick Strong and The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and Tomohiro Ishii) by pinfall.

* Eddie Kingston and Hook defeated Frat House (Cole Karter and Griff Garrison) (with Jacked Jameson) by pinfall.

* Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale vs. Top Gods (Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford) by pinfall. Willow hit a Powerbomb on Ford to win.

My review will feature some matches where I’ll go summary style for some matches and full play-by-play for other matches. It’s a long night of writing for me after I spent most of the day writing, so writing a bit less about the matches makes sense to me. I doubt many people read the full play-by-play, so I’m sure it’ll be okay. The analysis is what really matters. I ordered from AEW’s YouTube channel for a whopping $63.28 Canadian, which includes tax. Let’s get to it.

AEW WrestleDream
From the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis
Saturday, October 18, 2025

The last match from the pre-show started with four minutes left in the pre-show, so it continued at the start of the PPV. It’s a way for AEW to try something different by having a match going on

It’s Saturday and you know what that means. Excalibur was on commentary with Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness. The pyro went off by the entrance area to start the show.

FTR – Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood (with Stokely) vs. JetSpeed – “Speedball” Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight

Dax hit a piledriver for a two count. Bailey came back with an impressive springboard moonsault onto both FTR guys are on the floor. Knight hit a DDT for two, and a sitout spinebuster for two. Dax grounded Knight with a Sharpshooter. FTR hit an impressive Shatter Machine on Knight, but Bailey broke up the pin with a SSP knee drop. Dax and Bailey got into the slap fest, and the fans got into it. FTR went for the Power and Glory, but Bailey got the knees up. Knight did a UFO Splash and Dax got the knees up. Bailey hit a spin kick on Dax for two because Cash made the save. Knight hit a springboard clothesline on Cash. Bailey did the suplex spot by the apron and Stoke held onto Bailey’s legs, so Dax fell on top for the win. It went about 13 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: FTR – Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood

Analysis: ***3/4 It was a great match, although I admit I wasn’t paying attention as much before the PPV started. That is one of those classic cheap finishes in tag team wrestling, where the manager holds the legs, and that leads to the finish. These teams are really good, and they had an entertaining match.

A video package aired to set up the Jamie Hayter/Thekla match.

Tony Schiavone was at ringside, where he interviewed Charlie Thesz, who is the wife of the late, great Lou Thesz. Charlie said she loved being there and it’s been a long time since she’s been in St. Louis, so it’s wonderful for her to be back.

Thekla vs. Jamie Hayter

It was announced that “everyone was banned from ringside” before the match. Hayter was in control early with some chops on the floor, and Charlie Thesz was holding Thekla to help Hayter. Thekla came back with a kick to knock Hayter down. Thekla hit an impressive top rope cross body block on Hayter on the floor. Thekla refused a handshake from Charlie Thesz, so the fans booed. Thekla did some choking with her legs by the ropes. Thekla was in control for a few minutes. Hayter got some momentum going with an elbow and an Exploder Suplex across the ring. Hayter hit a missile dropkick for two. They battled by the turnbuckle, where Thekla slapped Hayter in the face and Hayter headbutted Thekla to knock her down. Hayter and Thekla exchanged kicks, followed by Hayter hitting a neckbreaker onto the knee. Thekla jumped onto Hayter’s back and applied a submission while pulling on the arm. Hayter hit a backbreaker to get out of it. Thekla tried to use her belt as a weapon, but referee Bryce Remsburg stopped her. Hayter hit a backbreaker. Thekla avoided a clothesline and hit a Spear. Hayter hit a lariat and a short arm Hayterade lariat for the pinfall win after 16 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Jamie Hayter

Analysis: ***1/4 The match was okay between two women who hit hard at times, but there were other times when it wasn’t that interesting. I don’t think this match needed to be as long as it was. However, it’s an AEW PPV where everything goes long, and that’s why they have shows that go so long. Hayter got the win as the babyface because she had been attacked by Thekla and friends in the past. I thought Thekla might win since she’s relatively new in AEW.

After the match, Queen Aminata went into the ring to hug Hayter. Thekla’s friends Skye Blue and Julia Hart were watching from the ramp. That was it.

A video package aired for the Young Bucks’ match against Jurassic Express.

The Young Bucks’ entrance video claimed their current balance is $32.17, and the phrase “Insufficient Funds – Transaction Denied” played repeatedly. Jurassic Express got a big pop, and they sang along with their theme song.

$500,000 Match: The Young Bucks – Matt & Nick Jackson vs. Jurassic Express – “Jungle” Jack Perry & Luchasaurus

There was a bag of money at ringside that would go to the winners since the Bucks are “broke” in this comedy storyline.

It was Jack and Matt who started, with not much happening. Luchasaurus tagged in with some power moves. Luchasaurus caught Nick and gave him a Powerbomb onto Matt. Jack was back in with a dropkick as the Bucks retreated to the floor. Luchasaurus hit a moonsault off the apron onto both Bucks. After Jack sent both Bucks out of the ring, Jack ran the ropes and hit a somersault dive onto both Bucks on the floor. The Bucks were able to take control and isolate Jack as the face in peril for a few minutes. Jack finally got some offense going with a clothesline. After Luchasaurus got the tag, the pace picked up. The Bucks managed to isolate Jack again, but then Luchasaurus saved his partner from a double team move. Matt avoided a Chokeslam on the apron and Matt hit a Cutter on Luchasaurus on the floor. Nick hit a Destroyer on Jack, and all four guys were down selling.

The Bucks hit an impressive Powerbomb on Jack on the apron. The Bucks hit a package piledriver/double foot stomp combo for two, but Jack kicked out. Nick took out Luchasaurus with a suicide dive on the floor. The Bucks took way too long to set up for their double knee, so Jack fought back. The Bucks still managed to hit the BTE Trigger for two because Luchasaurus made the save at two. Perry and Luchasaurus each hit some big moves. Jack hit a Canadian Destroyer. Luchasaurus had Matt on his shoulders, and Jack hit the Doomsday Device lariat on Matt for two because Matt kicked out. Jack punched Matt in the ribs. Jurassic Express hit a double team spike piledriver on Matt, but Nick was there to break it up at two. The Bucks hit a double superkick on Luchasaurus twice and a double superkick on Jac. The Bucks hit the BTE Trigger double knee on Jack for two count. The fans popped for that nearfall. Luchasaurus gave Nick a Chokeslam off the top. Jack hit a Reverse Rana on Matt. Luchasaurus spun Matt in the air and then Jack hit sitout Powerbomb for Countdown to Extinction for the pinfall win. It went about 22 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Jurassic Express – “Jungle” Jack Perry & Luchasaurus

Analysis: ****1/4 Excellent tag team match that was very long and had a lot of big kickouts throughout the match. Many Young Bucks matches have illegal offence throughout the match, but this one wasn’t that bad and that made me like it more than most Young Bucks matches. I figured Jurassic Express would win since they are reunited and it’s the right call to give them some positive momentum as a team.

Jurassic Express were presented with the AEW bag since they won $500,000 for winning it. After the match, Perry teased as if he wanted to hug The Young Bucks. Jack wanted to give them some money, but then members of the Don Callis Family attacked Jurassic Express. It was Josh Alexander, Mark Davis and Lance Archer. The Bucks walked away instead of attacking Jurassic Express some more.

Kenny Omega made his entrance since he had nothing else to do on the show. Omega walked by the Bucks and went into the ring to help the faces. Jack and Luchasaurus got back into it. The babyface trio of Omega, Luchasaurus and Perry cleared the ring. The babyfaces celebrated with the fans.

Analysis: That’s all they have for Kenny Omega to do? I would use him more.

A video package aired to set up The Hurt Syndicate against The Demand.

Tornado Tag Team Match: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin & MVP vs. The Demand – Ricochet, Bishop Kaun & Tio Liona

It is tornado rules, meaning that anything goes in the match, and they don’t have to tag. The winners get a shot at the AEW Trios Tag Team Titles.

I stepped away for the first five minutes of the match or so. There was a spot where Lashley tried a suplex off the middle turnbuckle, but it was countered by two guys on The Demand. Kaun hit a slingshot cross body block on Shelton on the floor. It looked like the wrestlers were talking to eachother to try to set up a spot, so they went to one side of the ring where Shelton suplexed Ricochet over the top onto his teammates on the floor. Shelton hit an impressive somersault dive onto the guys on the floor. Shelton superkicked a running Kaun. Ricochet sent Shelton out of the ring. MVP hit the knee smash on Ricochet, and the Ballin’ elbow drop got a big ovation. Toa hit a headbutt on MVP to stop a Fisherman’s Suplex attempt. Toa tried a Cobra Clutch, but Shelton hit a rising knee. Lashley hit a Spear on Toa to knock him out of the ring. Ricochet was all alone in the ring as the fans chanted ‘We Hurt People” and Kaun tried to fight three faces. Shelton hit Kaun with a knee, and Lashley hit a Spear, so Shelton covered Kaun for the win. It went about 13 minutes.

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

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a solid tag team match that never felt like it got that next gear where I’d call it a great match. It was mostly about how The Hurt Syndicate guys worked well together to wear down their opponents, and they finished off Kaun after some big moves. My favorite part was when Shelton hit the suplex over the top and then hit a dive over the top right after. I picked The Hurt Syndicate to win because I thought this would be the feud ender, and that’s what happened.

The win means The Hurt Syndicate earns a shot at the AEW Trios Tag Team Titles.

The TNT Title match between champion Kyle Fletcher and Mark Briscoe was up next, so there was a video package to set it up.

TNT Championship: Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe

Don Callis joined commentary to support Kyle. Mark clotheslined Kyle out of the ring and hit a cross body block on the floor. Mark remained on an attack with a somersault dive through the ropes onto Kyle on the floor. Mark tried a somersault dive on the floor, but Kyle moved, so Mark hit the floor hard. Kyle gave Mark a Powerbomb onto the steel steps. Ouch. Kyle remained in control with a body slam. After Mark hit some chops, Kyle caught him and hit a Michinoku Driver for two. Kelly hit a belly-to-back suplex. Kyle ran the ropes, hit a boot to the face and Mark came back with a boot of his own. They did a double clothesline spot and flip bumps to sell them. After a chop fest, Mark hit a jumping forearm smash. Mark hit a jumping kick to the head and a Fisherman’s Buster suplex for two. Fletcher hit a Half N Half Suplex and a jumping side kick to the jaw. Kyle hit a sitout Powerbomb for two.

Kyle hit a running boot to the face. Mark tried to grab hold of Kye, but Kyle hit another running kick. Mark headbutted Kyle a few times while they were on the turnbuckle. Mark tried a move, but Kyle broke free and hit a jumping kick to the back. Kyle hit a superplex off the top. They left the ring again, where Mark intercepted a kick. Kyle hit a couple of kicks on the apron, but Mark stopped a move on the apron. Mark hit a Jay Driller on the apron and you could tell he protected Kyle well with that, but it still looks brutal. Back in the ring, Mark went up top and missed an elbow drop because Kyle moved out of the way. Kyle hit another running kick to the face. Mark punched Kyle while on the turnbuckle, then Kyle was on the top rope and Mark hit an elbow drop. Mark went up top and hit a Froggy Bow onto a standing Kyle on the floor. Back in the ring, Mark went up top and hit a Froggy Bow for two. Kyle and Mark each got pin attempts. Kyle tried a lift, Mark got a backslide pin and that got a two count. Kyle got a jackknife pin for two. Mark hit an Exploder Suplex. Kyle blocked a move. Kyle hit a Half N Half Suplex, Mark no sold it and Mark hit a clothesline. Mark hit a Jay Driller for one…two…no, because of a lazy cover, and Kyle got one finger on the bottom rope to break up the pin. Kyle grabbed the referee to avoid a move and shoved Mark into the referee. Kyle hit a low blow kick that the referee didn’t see. Kyle hit a Brainbuster for one…two…and no! Mark kicked out. That was a shocking kickout. Kyle hit a running knee. Kyle launched Mark into the middle turnbuckle, running kick and Kyle hit a Brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle. That looks so nasty. Kyle crawled into the cover for the pinfall win after 23 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Kyle Fletcher

Analysis: ****1/4 It was an excellent match. Fletcher continues to put on awesome matches every time he is on a PPV, and Briscoe can bring it too. I like their chemistry a lot. There were so many nearfalls throughout the match. When Briscoe kicked out of that Brainbuster it drew a big pop because it looked like the finish, yet Briscoe kept on fighting and that’s why people love the guy. Fletcher using the low blow helped him a lot and shows why he’s a heel that will do anything to win. I didn’t expect a title change, but I definitely got into that match as it went on. Great work by both guys.

The AEW Women’s World Championship Match between champion Kris Statlander and challenger Toni Storm was next. A video package aired to set it up.

AEW Women’s World Championship: Kris Statlander vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm

This is a first-time ever match. Storm was wearing some white face paint as part of her unique outfit. They spent a few minutes doing some mat wrestling and fighting over armbars without much else going on. Storm hit a shoulder tackle, Kris got right back up and hit another shoulder tackle. Storm knocked down Kris with a shoulder tackle, followed by a hip attack. Kris did a catapult into the apron. Kris hit a standing moonsault onto a standing Storm on the floor. Kris hit a slingshot leg drop onto Storm in the ring. Kris hit a body slam and a running lariat for two. Storm ran the ropes and Kris hit another lariat for two. Storm kicked Kris, who came back with a belly-to-back suplex. Kris hit a splash off the turnbuckle for two. Kris hit a spinning elbow drop off the ropes for two. Storm got some momentum going with elbows to the jaw. Kris kicked Storm in the head and hit a facebuster into the mat. Kris hit a running uppercut. Storm came back with a DDT out of the corner. Storm hit a Tiger Driver for a two count. Storm lifted up Kris in her arms and hit a move where she sat on the mat while holding Kris, and that got a two count. Kris avoided a hip attack, Kris put Storm on her back and slammed Storm face first to the mat. Kris applied a submission with a leg across the throat, but Storm got her legs on the bottom rope to break the hold.

Storm applied the Chickenwing submission hold on the mat, but Kris got to the ropes to break it. Kris held onto the arms, Storm kicked her way free and got a cradle for two. Kris hit a sitout slam, along with a Michinoku Driver for two. The fans were not reacting to much of this, even though they are hitting big moves. They exchanged kicks, Storm countered a move and Storm hit a hip attack against the turnbuckle. Storm hit a Storm Zero, but Kris bounced back by protecting her neck and kicked Storm. Kris hit an impressive 450 Splash off the top for a two count. Storm hit a German Suplex and this time connected with the Storm Zero for a two count because Kris got her left arm up. Kris hooked the arms and applied the Seatbelt pin for a two count. Kris hit a German Suplex, no sold by Storm, then Storm hit a German Suplex that was no sold by Kris, who hit a lariat. Kris hit the Saturday Night Fever slam. Kris applied her submission move with the leg across the throat, Storm tried to fight it and Storm nearly passed out. Storm said, “F**king kill me.” Kris picked her up and hit Saturday Night Fever again and pinned Storm for the win. It went about 17 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: Kris Statlander

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a pretty good technical wrestling match between two talented women, but not at the level of Storm’s better PPV matches. This match surprisingly didn’t get loud reactions from the crowd for some of the nearfalls. They liked both women, but they didn’t react to a lot of the big moves that they did. Even when Statlander did moves like a 450 Splash off the top for a two count, the fans barely reacted to it. I didn’t like all the no-selling by both women because it makes big moves look weak. There’s too much no-selling in AEW. I’m surprised it wasn’t a better match. It just didn’t click that well. I expected Statlander to win, so that result was no surprise.

After the match, Storm presented Statlander with the AEW Women’s Title and they hugged. Statlander celebrated the win.

Mercedes Mone made her entrance as the TBS Champion and she had the Frat House guys holding her 9 other titles while Mone had her TBS Title.

Mercedes Mone congratulated Kris Statlander and told her to get the hell out of the ring, so Statlander left. Mone said that she is the greatest TBS Championship ever and said she was Ultimo Mone. Mercedes wondered what champion wanted to defend her title against Mone right now.

Mina Shirakawa answered the challenge of Mercedes Mone. Mina is the ROH Women’s Interim TV Champion, so both titles will be on the line.

TBS Championship & ROH Interim Women’s TV Championship Match: Mercedes Mone vs. Mina Shirakawa

Mina got some offense early on with a legsweep and a surfboard submission. Mone was able to get a nearfall after hitting a double knee attack to the body. Mone got another nearfall after the double knee drop to the ribs. Mina came back with a Tornado DDT off the ropes. Mone hit the Three Amigos suplexes and didn’t attempt a Frog Splash, but Mone hit the double knee attack for two. Mone jumped off the top with nothing that was going to connect because Mina got the knees up. Each woman hit a dropkick. Mina wrenched on the knee of Mone and worked over the knees a bit. Mina hit a spinning splash for two. Mina jumped off the top with a Slingblade for two. The fans barely reacted to that. Mone hit another double knee attack, and this time it was to the back like a Backstabber. The announcers screamed about Mina nearly winning, even though the fans were dead quiet. Mone hit a double knee attack, Lung Blower, and a double knee Meteora on the apron for two. Mone hit another double knee Meteora attack for two. Mone missed a running knee attack and Mina hit two forearms, along with a kick. Mina hit a back fist to the face.

Mina applied a Figure Four Leglock. Mone broke free, sent Mina into the middle turnbuckle and got a rollup using the ropes for two. Mone hit behind the referee and did an eye poke. Mone got a rollup for two. Mone countered Mina and got a cradle for two. Mone had Mina on her back and hit the Moneymaker for two because she did a lazy cover, so Mina got her hand on the bottom rope. Mone was shocked by that and the fans woke up with “Mina” chants. Mina splashed Mone against the turnbuckle. Mone got a backslide pin and put her feet on the ropes (the referee never saw it) for the pinfall win after 16 minutes.

Winner by pinfall AND NEW ROH Interim Women’s TV Champion: Mercedes Mone

Analysis: ***1/4 A solid match with Mone winning as expected. Mone hit a lot of double knee attacks throughout the match, which is usual for her. Mina is talented and showed off her personality throughout the match. I didn’t expect a title change. Cheap win by knee lady Mone is fitting for her.

Mercedes Mone celebrated with the TBS Title and the ROH Interim Women’s TV Championship. She now has 11 titles.

After the match, Kris Statlander went into the ring and threw her AEW Women’s World Title down. Mone tried a punch, but Kris stopped it and hit Kris hit a Samoan Drop. Kris held up the AEW Women’s World Title, so Mone left.

Analysis: There’s a tease for a Statlander/Mone match. Mone beat Statlander before, but now Statlander is the AEW Women’s Champion, so we’ll see if Mone can do it again.

The AEW World Tag Team Title match was next with Brodido defending the gold against Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita of the Don Callis Family.

AEW World Tag Team Championships: Brodido – Brody King & Bandido vs. Don Callis Family – Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita

Kazuchika Okada is the AEW Unified Champion and Konosuke Takeshita is the IWGP World Champion. Don Callis joined commentary.

Bandido hit an impressive arm drag on Okada, who came back with an elbow drop to the back. Bandido hit an impressive hurricanrana on Takeshita. King tagged in with a double back elbow and Bandido hit a dropkick to the head. King smashed Takeshita with an elbow to the jaw. Takeshita came back with a running kick, and a jumping forearm to the face. Okada was back in with a running elbow smash on King against the turnbuckle. Okada hit a neckbreaker. Takeshita worked over King with punches. King chopped both opponents since they were in the ring, and then King hit a double clothesline. King sent Takeshita out of the ring and King hit a lariat on Okada. Bandido tagged in with a twisting cross body block on Okada. Bandido dropkicked Okada out of the ring and dropkicked Takeshita off the apron. Bandido hit a moonsault off the top rope onto both opponents. Bandido and King each hit running attacks on their opponents against the barricade. The challengers finally got some momentum as they took down Bandido and a forearm smash sent King out of the ring. Okada did middle finger salutes to the fans. Okada and Takeshita took turns working over Bandido’s injured left shoulder that had tape on it. When Bandido tagged out, the challengers still got some offense as Okada hit a neckbreaker across his knee. Bandido was back in and hit a dragon screw leg whip on Takeshita, who barely sold it. Bandido hit a flipping move into a Powerbomb for two. Takeshita avoided a move, hit a German Suplex and thy each hit suplexes. Bandido charged, Takeshita caught him and Bandido landed on his feet. They each hit moves and sold it. Bandido hit a Reverse Rana and Takeshita hit a Reverse Rana in response.

King hit a splash against the turnbuckle. Takeshita put him down and Bandido hit a Shooting Star Press for two. Okada and Takeshita had some problems in terms of tagging issues. Bandido hit an incredible dive over the top onto Takeshita. Bandido hit a kick into a Ganso Bombo by King on Okada for a two count because Takeshita made the save. Okada put Bandido on the top ropes and Takeshita punched him there. Takeshita got a hold of King and hit a spike sitout Tombstone, followed by a pick up into a German Suplex. King no sold that and hit a lariat. Bandido jumped off the top and Okada hit an amazing dropkick! The four guys did a spot against the turnbuckle where King gave a German Suplex to three guys at once. The fans have come alive for this match. Okada and Takeshita hit a dropkick/knee at the same time to knock King out of the ring. Okada hit a slam off the shoulders on Bandido. Takeshita went for a knee, Bandido avoided it and Okada hit a Rainmaker on Takeshita by accident. Don: “Oh no!” Okada seemed like he was smiling. Bandido had Okada on his shoulders and hit a knee smash to the face. Okada blocked a suplex attempt and Bandido was selling the shoulder injury. King hit a sitout slam off the shoulders. King hit a suicide dive on Takeshita on the floor. Bandido hit a 21 Plex with one arm on Okada for the pinfall win after 28 minutes.

Winners by pinfall: Brodido – Brody King & Bandido

Analysis: ****1/2 That was a f’n awesome match as I expected. It tired me out a bit because it went so long. It’s not because it was bad, because it was a lot of fun to watch obviously. I’m just saying, when you’re three plus hours deep into the show, it’s tough to stay hot for a 30-minute match like this. There were so many awesome moves by all four guys and they make it look easy. The key spot was when Okada clotheslined Takeshita by accident, but then Okada laughed about it, so obviously, he liked doing it. They continue to have issues that make me think that Takeshita will turn babyface because of it. Bandido is so impressive and King is right there with him. The chemistry of Brodido is off the charts. I enjoyed the match a lot. I can see some wrestling observers rating this five stars, but I think it was a notch below it.

After the match, Bandido brought a kid into the ring with a Bandido mask, and they celebrated the win. King and Bandido did a little Macarena dance to celebrate.

Toni Storm was sad while sitting against some equipment cases, so Renee Paquette tried asking where do you go from here? Mina Shirakawa walked in. Storm said they lost everything. Mina said that they have eachother. Mina picked up Storm, and they hugged.

Analysis: I think we might see Storm and Mina go for the new Women’s Tag Team Titles and they might be the first champions. Just an idea I had.

The AEW World Championship match is next with “Hangman” Adam Page against Samoa Joe, so there was a video package to set it up.

AEW World Championship: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Samoa Joe

It was a physical match early on and both guys connected with some big moves as I took a bathroom break after writing for 3.5+ hours at this point. Page hit a running dropkick on the floor. Back I the ring, Joe hit a uranage slam. Joe hit a running bot to the face. Page was bleeding from the mouth, or maybe just the lip. Joe hit a knee to the ribs. Joe hit an atomic drop, along with a kick to the face and a senton splash for two. Page hit some chops, but Joe came back with a powerslam for two. Joe hit some jabs to the face, so Page no sold them and they exchanged chops. Page hit an enziguri kick to the head. Joe hit a German Suplex, Page flipped over and Page hit a backdrop driver. Joe went to the apron and Page kicked him down to the floor. Page went up top and Joe went back into the ring. Page jumped way too far with a moonsault and still covered for two. Page punched Joe, who came back with kicks and Joe hit a Powerbomb for two. Joe applied a Crossface, so Page tried to break free, and Page got his foot on the bottom rope.

Joe put Page on the top turnbuckle and teased a move, but Page blocked that as best he could. Page jumped off the top and hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb for a two count. Joe blocked a move and kicked Page a few times. Joe yelled, “Come on, motherf**ker” and Page hit some forearms. They exchanged pin attempts. Page went to the apron, he kicked Joe and Page went for a Buckshot Lariat, but Joe caught. Joe was able to get the Coquina Clutch on, but Page got out of that by putting his left foot on the bottom rope. Joe went for a Muscle Buster, Page got out of it and hit Deadeye. Ouch. That got a two count. Page hit the Buckshot Lariat once, twice and a third time in a row for the pinfall win. It went about 19 minutes.

Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page

Analysis: ***1/2 It was a very good AEW World Title match, but not at the level of most Hangman PPV matches. Joe is still a talented wrestler, although he is definitely past his prime and near the end of his career. There were times in the match where the fans were quiet because they are two babyface guys without much of a story, so it was tough for the fans to get into it. I wrote in my preview that I thought Page would have hit the Buckshot Lariat twice to win, but it ended up being three times in a row to defeat Joe, so that puts over Joe as a guy who is tough to beat.

After the match, Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata went into the ring with Samoa Joe. Joe held up Page’s hand and Joe decked Page with a lariat. Hobbs and Shibata held Page, so Joe hit Page with the AEW World Title to the head. Hobbs put Page on the turnbuckle. Joe gave Page a Muscle Buster onto the AEW World Title. Ouch. The fans booed as Joe gave an evil stare into the camera. Nobody tried to help Hangman until Joe and The Opps left. Page was helped to the back by AEW staff.

Analysis: There’s a heel turn from Samoa Joe and The Opps, so at least there was some story development on this show with a surprising heel turn. I think Joe and The Opps as heels could be a great thing. It also sets up Joe for another shot at Hangman, who will want to get revenge on Joe for what he did.

Mercedes Mone did a promo as 11 Belts Mone. Mercedes said she’s already beaten Kris Statlander twice in the past, so now she’s coming after Statlander’s title. Mone said that at Full Gear, Statlander’s title belongs to Mone. Cool.

This Tuesday on AEW Dynamite:

* AEW Trios Tag Team Championships: The Opps vs. The Hurt Syndicate

* Women’s Tag Team Titles Brackets Revealed

* AEW Unified Championship: Kazuchika Okada vs. Bandido

The video package aired for the Darby Allin-Jon Moxley match.

Jon Moxley made his entrance in the back part of the arena, and he was joined by his buddy Marina Shafir as usual. Darby Allin was up next and he got a big pop from the fans. The main show was past four hours at this point.

I Quit Match: Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) vs. Darby Allin

Allin hit a dropkick early on and a suicide dive onto Moxley on the floor. Back in the ring, Moxley hit a dropkick of his own. Moxley grabbed a steel chain and punched Moxley’s mouth with it. Moxley used the chain to choke Allin. The fans chanted “F**k you Moxley” at him. Moxley pulled on Allin’s arms so that Allin’s left ear hit the ropes. Moxley said he tried to help Allin, so what he does to him is not his fault. Moxley sent Allin back first into the steel steps. Moxley put Allin’s left arm against the top of the steel steps and Shafir handed Moxley some skewers. Moxley put a skewer into the middle finger of Allin and the fans were grossed out by it. They were exchanging strikes again. They went to the apron where Allin went for Coffin Drop, Moxley moved thanks to Shafir and Allin hit ribs first for a rough landing.

Moxley took Allin’s leather belt off and Moxley whipped Allin in the back with the leather belt for about five hard shots to the back. Moxley hit a piledriver. The referee asked Allin if he wanted to quit, but Allin refused. Allin turned his back to Moxley, so Moxley hit Allin with the leather belt to the back about eight more times. Allin jumped on Moxley’s back and Allin hit several slaps to the face. Moxley caught a leaping Allin and hit a German Suplex. Allin reached into a big and sprayed lighter fluid into Moxley’s eyes and he sprayed it all over Moxley’s body. Allin sprayed the chemical spray into the eyes of Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta. Moxley used a towel to wipe the lighter fluid off him. Moxley grabbed the cattle prod from Allin’s back and tried to use it. Shafir went into the ring and Moxley used the cattle prod to zap Allin a few times. Moxley hit The Stomp. Moxley also hit a Paradigm Shift spike DDT through a table in the ring. Allin would not give up. Moxley applied a Bulldog Choke submission and Allin did two middle finger salutes to stop that. Claudio was back in the ring. He pressed Moxley overhead and tossed Moxley onto the commentary table at ringside. That was nuts. There were two tables on the floor, so Moxley gave him a Death Rider through the two tables. The fans were chanting, “This is murder” for them. There was a fish tank in the ring and the guys in the Death Riders group filled it with water. Moxley grabbed Allin by the head and dunked his head into the water. Moxley was trying to make Allin pass out from it. Moxley pulled Allin back up, so Allin said no. Moxley held Allin’s head in the water while holding on the left arm and Moxley let go. Moxley told Allin you can’t win and told him to just say it. Moxley put Allin’s head into the water again to try to get him to give up.

The lights went out in the arena and the fans cheered. When the lights came back on, the legendary Sting was in full attire and had a beard as well. Sting had his bat in his hand and choked Moxley with it. Sting used the bat to hit Claudio Castagnoli and Pac to knock them out of the ring. Sting hit the fish tank as well to break it. Sting tossed Allin the baseball bat and left. Shafir confronted Sting, so Sting grabbed her and carried her to the back.

Allin had the bat in his hands as he hit Moxley in the ribs. There was water in the ring and glass that was broken. Alli hit Moxley in the left knee with the bat. Allin hit the Scorpion Death Drop. Allin went up top and hit the Coffin Drop. Allin applied the Scorpion Deathlock in the middle of the ring while there was water in the ring. Moxley quit to give Allin the win. It went about 30 minutes.

Winner: Darby Allin

Analysis: ***3/4 It was a very entertaining match as expected from two top guys. I didn’t predict the Sting involvement, but that was cool to see, and the fans loved it. I was surprised that Moxley gave up so easily after Moxley hit a few moves and applied the Scorpion Death Lock. It made Moxley look weak. Allin took so much punishment and never quit, so he looks like a badass and the toughest guy in AEW, yet Moxley quit way too easily. I think Allin should have done way more to beat him, so that surprised me. Most of the match was Moxley in control with his buddies helping him, so that’s why Sting had to show up to neutralize the help, and that set up the finish. I get it from a story standpoint. I’m just saying that more should have been done to beat Moxley. I also expected it to be more violent and bloody than it was, so I’m surprised by how tame it was for a Moxley-Allin match. The drowning in a pool of water visual is a bit extreme, at least. Anyway, I fully expected Allin to win here, so it was the right guy going over in the end.

Darby Allin celebrated with the AEW flag. That was the end of the show.

AEW WrestleDream had a runtime of 4 hours, 30 minutes.

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Five Stars of the Show

  1. Brodido – Brody King & Bandido
  2. Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita
  3. “Hangman” Adam Page
  4. Kyle Fletcher
  5. Jurassic Express/Young Bucks

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Final Thoughts On AEW WrestleDream

It gets a 7.75 out of 10 from me.

The usual AEW PPV with many great matches throughout the card and a lot of predictability. I feel like this card was lacking in terms of surprising moments and delivering the kind of memorable things that fans want in a PPV. The wrestling was good, of course. Other than Samoa Joe and The Opps turning heel and Sting beating people up who are half his age, there weren’t many big surprises on the show. I’m guessing Joe turned heel because they know they are lacking main event heels other than Moxley and MJF, both of whom Page already beat, so at least Joe going heel can extend the story.

I enjoyed several of the matches with Brodido beating Okada/Takeshita as the best one in my opinion. Kyle Fletcher continues to impress in his match with Mark Briscoe. Jurassic Express and The Young Bucks had an outstanding match as well, even though I think the “Young Bucks are broke” story is about as lame as it gets in wrestling stories. I thought the Allin/Moxley match would be better than it was, but the ending fell flat.

It was exhausting writing about that many matches over 4.5 hours. If I were lying on a couch watching a show that long, would I fall asleep? Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never watched an AEW PPV on a couch. I’ve watched them on a chair while writing about the matches. Thankfully, the match quality is strong and I enjoyed it a lot, but I really don’t think a show like WrestleDream needs to be 4.5 hours. I also don’t think that AEW cares that I think the show is too long when it goes over 4 hours, so they’re going to keep doing it, and that’s fine. I paid my $60 to watch it, so I feel like I have a right to voice my opinion, and that’s what I’m doing. I still think it was a show that was just under 8 out of 10 in terms of quality, so I did enjoy it.

Here are my AEW PPV reviews of 2025 so far:

Revolution – March 9 (8.75 out of 10)

Double Or Nothing – May 25 (8.5)

All In Texas – July 12 (8)

WrestleDream – October 19 (7.75)

All Out – September 20 (7.75)

Forbidden Door – August 24 (7.75)

Dynasty – April 6 (7.5)

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