With “Double or Nothing” in the rearview mirror, the road to “All In” Texas has officially begun. However, there are a few key stops along the way, including next week’s “Fyter Fest” and “Grand Slam: Mexico.”
So, naturally, this was a massive episode — setting the stage for the next seven weeks of programming.
Did this week’s episode stick the landing?
HIT: “Hangman” Adam Page & Swerve Strickland meet face-to-face
The show opened with the winner of “Double or Nothing’s” main event, “Hangman” Adam Page.
Page discussed the fleeting nature of both victory and failure. Three years ago, he allowed the taste of defeat to define him. Now, he’s won the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, proudly wearing the Owen Hart Cup’s commemorative belt around his waist.
However, his triumph pales in comparison to the task at hand. He has to turn his attention to “All In,” where he’ll face Jon Moxley for the AEW world championship.
Enter Swerve Strickland.
At “Dynasty,” Strickland fell victim to Jon Moxley and The Death Riders, when The Young Bucks intervened on Moxley’s behalf. Strickland recalled when Matt & Nick Jackson claimed that their involvement was on behalf of their “friend,” “Hangman” Adam Page.
Page denied any culpability in The Young Bucks’ actions, reminding Strickland that he also walked down the aisle during their match at “Dynasty,” and could have intervened. Page however, opted not to.
Before their war of words could escalate, Will Ospreay intervened. After their battle at “Double or Nothing,” the “Aerial Assassin” has a newfound respect for the “Hangman.” However, he’s also close friends with Strickland, who he’s known since he was 20-years-old.
Ospreay sympathized with Strickland and, while he understands his grievances, assured him that Page isn’t colluding with The Young Bucks.
More importantly, Ospreay knows now that it’s not him nor Strickland, who can save All Elite Wrestling from Jon Moxley. It’s “Hangman” Adam Page.
This was a tumultuous segment, but an exciting one. For the last year and a half, AEW has meticulously devised it’s new main event picture: highlighted by the likes of “Hangman” Page, Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, MJF, “Switchblade” Jay White, & Darby Allin.
All six of these men have so much shared-history. Whether they’re allies, adversaries, or bitter enemies; they all have unique dynamics and depth. In this instance, it’s Page, Strickland, and Ospreay sharing the spotlight together.
Hopefully, a tenuous alliance is formed, in service of defeating a common foe.
HIT: Jon Moxley, Gabe Kidd, & Marina Shafir vs. Mark Briscoe, “Speedball” Mike Bailey, & Willow Nightingale
The opening contest saw Jon Moxley, Gabe Kidd, & Marina Shafir square off against Mark Briscoe, “Speedball” Mike Bailey, & Willow Nightingale in mixed-trios action.
This was a riff on last Sunday’s “Anarchy in the Arena” match, with Bailey joining the fray.
All in all, this was fun. Bailey’s striking always provides a nice change of pace and a little more variety to a tag team contest, while Briscoe and Nightingale are genuinely two of my favorite babyfaces in all of pro-wrestling.
Juxtaposed to Jon Moxley, Gabe Kidd looked like a caricature of the world champion — crudely created by the pro-wrestling god’s in Moxley’s image.
In the end, Briscoe fell victim to Moxley’s Bulldog Chokehold — while the remaining members of The Death Riders’ prevented the babyfaces from intervening.
Rating: **¾
HIT: Hurt Syndicate put AEW on Notice
The Hurt Syndicate (@fightbobby & @Sheltyb803) successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team Titles at Double or Nothing as they continue their path of dominance!
Did you miss the #AEWDoN PPV?
▶️ https://t.co/JlBXZPLNGjWatch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS & MAX pic.twitter.com/5RDsPYSO1F
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 29, 2025
After Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin defeated the Sons of Texas last Sunday, The Hurt Syndicate addressed AEW, backstage.
MJF is adamant that Lashley & Benjamin are the most dominant tag team in the world, capable of defeating any tag team, on any given night. However, they’re not the only ones who deserve championship gold. It’s time for MJF to recapture his coveted “Triple B.” So, The Hurt Syndicate are going to run roughshod of AEW until he’s reclaimed what is rightfully his.
While I’m admittedly a little apprehensive about the integrity of The Hurt Syndicate, this was a powerful backstage segment. The sheer danger that the group poses, now that MJF has joined them, is extraordinarily fascinating.
In a post-Death Riders world, The Hurt Syndicate could be the most imposing force in AEW.
HIT: Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay & Harley Cameron
The second contest saw Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford face Anna Jay & Harley Cameron in a no-disqualification match.
This was a rematch from last Sunday’s “Buy In” pre-show, albeit with the added stipulation
This was quite the violent affair. However, it wasn’t the lead pipes, chairs, trash can lids, or tables that broke Harley Cameron’s nose. Instead, it was a routine slam onto the ring steps from Bayne.
Then, “The Megasus” performed a Fates Descent on Anna Jay, dropping her onto a close chair that seemingly broke her nose.
In the end, Ford and Bayne dispatched Cameron with a Doomsday Device.
This was a fun tag team match. With the series tied, I hope there’s a rubber match on the horizon. These women have earned the opportunity.
Rating: ***
MISS: The Opps vs. The Frat House
The third contest saw The Opps crush The Frat House, a stable of rejects from Ring of Honor.
The Frat House, which consists of Preston Vance, Griff Garrison, Cole Karter, & Jacked Jameson, were given an inordinate amount of time before this match to introduce themselves. They even received a short vignette that was supposedly filmed the night before at a sports bar, where they were looking for new recruits.
On one hand, I appreciate the effort here. I actually like The Frat House gimmick. It was a clever way to repurpose a bunch of homogenous rejects, who are all moderately talented. On the other hand, this was a massive episode of “Dynamite,” and this felt very expendable. Not to mention, the effort didn’t amount to much. The Frat House were easily dispatched by Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, & Katsuyori Shibata.
Rating: N/A
HIT: Mistico vignette
With “Grand Slam: Mexico” on the horizon, a short vignette aired to introduce CMLL superstar Mistico.
I loved this. Mistico is one of the most commercially significant superstars of the 21st century and will assuredly be one of the featured attractions for “Grand Slam: Mexico.”
While Mistico has competed in AEW before, it’s nice to see AEW highlight some of CMLL’s stars prior to their show in Arena Mexico.
HIT: Thekla debuts
Last Sunday, Jamie Hayter failed to defeat Mercedes Moné in the finale of the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. So, last night, Hayter joined Renee Paquette in the ring to discuss her future. However, Hayter’s promo was interrupted when the light’s were inexplicably turned off.
Once the lights returned, Hayter was lying in a heap. The perpetrator was none other than the “Toxic Spider,” Thekla.
The Austrian-born wrestler rose to prominence in STARDOM, where she was most recently a founding member of the H.A.T.E. faction.
I’d consider this a huge acquisition for the women’s division. Now, we just need more opportunities for women’s wrestlers.
Nonetheless, It’ll be interesting to see Thekla collide with the hardest hitting woman in AEW.
HIT: Adam Cole [c] vs. Kyle Fletcher
Last Sunday, the Paragon faced the Don Callis Family in trios action.
Last night, Adam Cole defended his TNT championship against Kyle Fletcher.
I was a little taken aback by how supportive the El Paso fans were of Adam Cole. They were heavily invested in Cole, who had his hands full against the “Protostar.”
While Fletcher physically overwhelmed Cole, it was the champion’s experience that evened the odds.
While RPG Vice tried to intervene, they were ultimately neutralized by Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly — amounting to little more than a distraction for Fletcher.
Cole leveled Fletcher with a Panama Sunrise. Before he could punctuate the affair, Josh Alexander intervened, forcing the referee to disqualify Fletcher.
Alexander landed a barrage of punches to Cole, before Brody King intervened — ahead of their International Championship Qualifying match.
Kyle Fletcher was apoplectic in his post-match interview, frustrated over the Don Callis Family’s involvement. So was Adam Cole, who attacked Fletcher backstage, and threatened to “kill” him.
Rating: ***¼
MISS: Brody King vs. Josh Alexander
After the commercial break, Brody King and Josh Alexander took center stage, squaring off in an International Championship Qualifying match. The winner will advance to next week’s fatal fourway at “Fyter Fest,” against Kenny Omega and two opponents that are to-be-determined.
Brody King embodies the smash-mouth wrestling archetype. While Alexander is more than capable of handling his own in a fire fight, he quickly found himself outgunned.
This was a highly physical affair. Unfortunately, in the context of this week’s episode, it paled in comparison to the match that preceded it — and subsequently only seemed to drag on as a result of it.
I was glad when this was over, for all the wrong reasons.
Rating: **¾
HIT: “Timeless” Toni Storm & Mercedes Moné Face-to-Face
In a sense, this was the main event of the evening.
Last Sunday, Mercedes Moné defeated Jamie Hayter in the finale of the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Now, she will advance to “All In” Texas, where she’ll face “Timeless” Toni Storm.
Last night, the “CEO” went face-to-face with the AEW women’s world champion, for the first time since her arrival in AEW.
This was a tremendous promo. Moné reiterated all of the tried-and-true cliches. She’s the “conversation,” “revolution,” and the “Beyonce of professional wrestling.”
Storm is excited to share the stage with Moné and create a new standard for women’s wrestling.
Before the show ended, Storm recognized Moné as the greatest women’s wrestler of all time. However, Toni Storm is “timeless.”
I can emphatically call this a homerun.
Final Verdict
This was a massive episode of “Dynamite,” propelling us towards both “Grand Slam: Mexico” and “All In” Texas. The matches were inoffensive enough. However, it was the promotional material that sold this episode. The opening and closing segments were tremendous, while The Hurt Syndicate’s backstage interview and Mistico’s vignette thoroughly intrigued me. Thekla’s debut was also a huge bonus. Hopefully, she makes a huge splash.
Rating: ****
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