The John Report: AEW WrestleDream 2025 Review

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.