We’re a week and a half away from AEW’s next pay-per-view, “All Out” in Toronto. However, with the majority of the matches announced, this week’s rendition of “Dynamite” had more room to breathe than recent episodes.
The show began with a grudge match, where “Hangman” Adam Page settled his score with the Don Callis Family’s own Josh Alexander. Afterwards, the men’s world champion accepted Kyle Fletcher’s challenge —making their match at “All Out” official.
The episode was bookended by yet another all-star tag match. This time it was Brodido and the Opps facing the Death Riders and Young Bucks in a 10-man tag match — with a $500,000 purse on the line. After the match, Darby Allin came to Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata’s rescue — bringing him face to face with Jon Moxley. However, their skirmish was interrupted when a hooded figure attacked Allin. That assailant proved to be the Death Riders’ newest acolyte, Daniel Garcia, who ruthlessly attacked Allin at Moxley’s behest.
Elsewhere, Tony Khan defied my wildest expectation and booked two women’s matches on this week’s episode of “Dynamite.” The first saw Alex Windsor and Riho square off against the latter’s former mentor, Emi Sakura, and Mercedes Moné. The second was a Philadelphia street fight between Skye Blue and “Timeless” Toni Storm — who paid homage to ECW legend Sandman.
Shelton Benjamin faced Ricochet in singles competition, after both performers agreed to leave their respective associates backstage.
Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler tried to fight the city of Philadelphia, by attempting to coerce fans into jumping the guardrail. FTR’s focus quickly shifted to renowned pro-wrestling grifter, Brandon The Heel, who was sitting ringside. Instead, the duo settled for the production team—viciously attacking a camera man before being escorted out of the 2300 Arena.
This week’s episode of “Dynamite” was a serviceable stop on the road to “All Out.” While AEW’s over reliance on all-star tag team matches has been derisive as of late, Khan has cracked the code to these affairs. In this instance, it helped create a unique juxtaposition between all five matches — making this week’s episode feel a little more digestible.
Rating: ***½
Matches
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Josh Alexander
This match was doomed from the start.
Ostensibly, Josh Alexander is a former two-time TNA world champion. So, he has every right to be billed as a credible challenger.
Alexander gave the AEW World Champion the fight of his life in this match, though — taking him to the brink and back. Therein lies my issue. There’s an artfulness to punching down. Not necessarily in the same vein as a squash match, but where the champion has to put forth minimal effort to secure victory and assert his dominance.
This would have been far more interesting if it were shorter than 10 minutes, as opposed to exceeding the 16-minute mark. Still, it was entertaining nonetheless.
Rating: ***¼
Mercedes Moné & Emi Sakura vs. Alex Windsor & Riho
I applaud Tony Khan for booking two women’s matches on the same episode of “Dynamite.” Since Mercedes Moné won the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament in May, she’s been inextricably tied to the world champion. So, it’s nice to finally see both the TBS Champion and AEW Women’s World Champion featured separately on “Dynamite” again.
Rating: **¾
Ricochet vs. Shelton Benjamin
At 50 years old, Shelton Benjamin is still one of the most dynamic performers in all of professional wrestling. Here, he was suffocating —bmeeting Ricochet at every pass with unrelenting force. Every thrust kick, rising knee, and German suplex hit its mark with heavyweight stopping power.
SHELTON BENJAMIN WITH AN INSANE THRUST KICK #AEW #AEWDynamite
— Self Made AO 💫 (@KXNGAO) September 11, 2025
To Ricochet’s credit, his desperation was palpable. Everything felt like a Hail Mary. However, his efforts alone weren’t enough to swing the pendulum — so he relied on a little help from Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun.
Rating: ***½
MATCH OF THE NIGHT: “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Skye Blue
AEW has found ways to subtlety pay homage to ECW since their residency in the 2300 Arena began. “Timeless” Toni Storm is bereft of subtlety.
Here, she blatantly dressed in the likeness of RCW alumni, Sandman, complete with a kendo stick that said “E-C-F’n-W.”
Her opponent, Skye Blue, is no stranger to plunder. In fact, it’s the element that she thrives in. And, this may have been the most impressive match of her single’s career.
For better or worse, these two used everything but the kitchen sink. Chairs, kendo sticks, staple guns, traffic signs, trash cans, an electric fly swatter, VHS tapes, sheet pans, a VCR. The most perplexing instrument was a table full of mousetraps.
Skye Blue stapling Toni Storm’s body parts
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/5aaIGl5Rlm
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) September 11, 2025
In the end though, the women’s champion punctuated the affair with a Storm Zero onto a steel chair.
Rating: ***¾
Brodido & The Opps vs. The Death Riders & Young Bucks
The Death Riders and Young Bucks joined forces the umpteenth time this year. This week, their opponents were Brodido and The Opps.
The formula has been tweaked, though. Instead of an eight-man tag match, this was a 10-man tag match. And, there’s a $500,000 purse on the line. To motivate the downtrodden brothers, Moxley offered Matt and Nick Jackson the entire purse — if they could guarantee the Death Riders victory.
To their credit, they made good on their promise — albeit through illegal means.
The star of the babyface faction was Bandido, who has emerged as a centrifugal force in Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland’s absence. After all, the luchador is the ROH World Champion.
Rating: ***¼
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