This was the final edition of “Dynamite” before this weekend’s PPV, setting the stage for “Dynasty.”
The penultimate show on the road to “Dynasty” proved to be yet another solid outing from AEW. Despite “Revolution” having only been one-month ago, AEW has managed to build yet another dynamic and enthralling card — both concluding a variety of storylines and beginning the longer road towards “All In.”
Rating: ***¼
HIT: Owen Hart Cup Tournament Bracket
For weeks now, we’ve heard wrestlers declare themselves for the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. This week, the brackets have finally been announced. Unfortunately, “Switchblade” Jay White will not be able to compete in the tournament as advertised, after suffering an undisclosed injury. Excalibur, Taz, & Tony Schiavone attributed White’s injury to the Death Riders, who reportedly attacked him prior to the show beginning backstage. Unlike every other backstage assault in professional wrestling, this one was, unfortunately, not recorded.
Without further ado though, here are the first round matches:
Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament
- Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight
- Brody King vs. Konosuke Takeshita
- Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher
- “Hangman” Adam Page vs. WILD CARD
Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament
- Jamie Hayter vs. Billie Starkz
- Thunder Rosa vs. Kris Statlander
- Julia Hart vs. Mercedes Mone
- Athena vs. Harley Cameron
Like last year’s iteration of the tournament, the winner of both tournaments will advance to “All In,” where they’ll challenge the world champions. So, it’s only fitting that this year’s field is a veritable murder’s row.
HIT: Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir vs. Swerve Strickland & Willow Nightingale
Swerve Strickland and Willow Nightingale’s war against the Death Riders continued last night in mixed-tag team action. The pair faced the duo of Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir, marking Shafir’s first match in an AEW ring since Dec. 2024.
This match observed tornado tag team rules, allowing the competitors to freely enter the match without tagging their partners.
It’s very rare to see mixed tag matches on national television, from either AEW or WWE. So, for that reason alone, this was an interesting matchup. Fortunately, it was a raucous affair.
Not only did both the men and women respectively have great back and forth action, but there was a fair amount of crossover, pitting Moxley against Nightingale and Strickland against Shafir.
In the end, Nightingale tackled Moxley off the ring apron onto a table — creating an opportunity for her to deliver a Doctor Bomb to Shafir for the victory. Afterwards, Moxley interrupted their celebration and delivered a vicious Paradigm Shift to Nightingale, before fleeing with Shafir.
After the match, Strickland vowed that he would get his hands on Moxley before the night’s end.
Rating: ***¼
HIT: “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Penelope Ford
The next contest saw “Timeless” Toni Storm face Penelope Ford, in hopes of exacting some measure of revenge for Ford’s trangression’s last weekend, on Saturday Night “Collision.”
The “Superbad Girl” has officially become the AEW women division’s bum of the week, suffering one singles loss after another. Fortunately, there’s no shame in losing to the AEW Women’s World Champion this week.
All in all, this was an enjoyable bout, with exciting efforts from both women. Yet again, Ford excelled as a punching bag. For Storm, this was a statement performance after last week’s defeat at the hands of Ford and Megan Bayne; the latter of which Storm will be facing at “Dynasty.”
Will Storm successfully defend her title or will the “Megasus” prove too invulnerable for AEW’s timeless champion? We’ll find out this Sunday.
Rating: ***
HIT: MJF confronts The Hurt Syndicate
The Hurt Syndicate are hosting a town hall meeting in Peoria, sans Shelton Benjamin, who missed last night’s episode due to inclement weather. However, before MVP or Bobby Lashley could address the audience, MJF interrupted them.
The self proclaimed “devil” tried his best to convince Lashley of his inherent value to the Hurt Syndicate, but Lashley didn’t find MJF’s bravado very amusing. In deference to his colleague, Lashley refrained from any physicality. However, that didn’t stop him from trying to intimidate the former AEW World Champion. So, MJF settled for another means of capitulation: MJF will prove his worth and loyalty to the Hurt Syndicate?
How will MJF prove his loyalty to Lashley and Benjamin? Therein lies the intrigue. All I know is that I’m thoroughly intrigued.
HIT: The Learning Tree in action
Immediately after MJF exited the ring area, Big Bill & Bryan Keith followed in short order; just in time for their match against CJ Esparza & Gaige Noonan.
This was one of the most enjoyable shellackings that I’ve seen in quite some time. Big Bill was ruthless, leveraging his decisive advantages in both strength and size over both men.
As a “squash-match,” this was a five-star affair.
Now, with this win and Bill & Keith’s victory over Top Flight on last Saturday’s “Collision,” the duo have earned their shot at the Hurt Syndicate’s AEW World Tag Team Championships.
Rating: N/A
HIT: Will Ospreay & Kevin Knight vs. Black Christian & Lee Johnson
Last Saturday, former NJPW performer Kevin Knight made his presence felt on “Collision,” making his grand reintroduction as AEW’s most recent free agent acquisition. Knight is a phenomenal athlete, who rose to prominence as one-half of the Intergalactic Jet Setters with Kushida.
Last night, it was announced that he’ll be facing Will Ospreay in the first round of the Owen Hart Cup at “Dynasty.” So, last night he joined forces with his soon-to-be-opponent. Their opponents were Lee Johnson and the returning Blake Christian, who debuted last week against Kenny Omega.
Both Johnson and Christian were able to mount a great deal of offense, thanks in large part to their chemistry and Christian’s unorthodox offense. However, Ospreay and Knight’s athletic prowess couldn’t be denied.
Now, both men will square off at “Dynasty,” to see who advances to the second round of the Owen Hart Cup.
Rating: ***
HIT: Brody King vs. Lance Archer
In anticipation for Brody King’s first round matchup against Konosuke Takeshita, the Hounds of Hell’s own faced another member of the Don Callis Family: Lance Archer.
This was more than a contest. It was a smash-mouth match between two hosses. In the end, it was King who prevailed, thanks in large part to his explosiveness.
Rating: **½
HIT: Adam Copeland vs. Claudio Castagnoli
The evening’s main event saw Adam Copeland face Claudio Castagnoli, ahead of their trios match at “Dynasty” for the AEW World Trios Titles.
Copeland and Castagnoli have never met in singles competition before, adding another layer of depth to this encounter. Unfortunately, I don’t think their lack of familiarity helped the affair. Moreover, Copeland’s physical limitations are becoming increasingly more apparent as time passess.
Still, this was a serviceable main event, thanks in large part to Castagnoli. In the end, it was Copeland who was victorious, avenging Dax Harwood’s loss to Wheeler Yuta last Saturday.
I’m looking forward to Rated FTR’s match against the trios champions, simply to see what happens afterwards. Both Copeland and FTR’s future hands in the balance.
Rating: **¾
HIT: Swerve Strickland & Jon Moxley War Becomes Personal
After the main event contest, the attention shifted backstage, where Renee Paquette was seeking an update on Willow Nightingale’s condition. Paquette interrupted Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana, who were in the midst of a heated argument.
After Nana abandoned Strickland, the former AEW World Champion was confronted by “Hangman” Adam Page, who vowed to intervene in Strickland championship pursuits. During the course of their argument, Strickland rebuked Page for burning his house down. Page said that Strickland “deserved it.” Strickland shockingly agreed, finally acquiescing and accepting the consequences of his actions.
In an instant, their rage simmered. At a loss for words, Page simply retreated.
While Strickland was regaining his composure, Moxley pounced. Flanked by Shafir, Yuta, Castagnoli, and PAC; the Death Riders descended on Strickland like jackals. After viciously assaulting Strickland, the Death Riders slammed him through a glass panel. That wasn’t the end, though,
Afterwards, The Death Riders ushered him to the ring, where Castagnoli power bombed Strickland onto a bed of broken glass.
From start-to-finish, this was a roller coaster ride of a conclusion to last night’s “Dynamite.” Has Swerve Strickland finally been redeemed? Can Page and Strickland finally reconcile in some form or fashion? Will “Hangman” Page even go as far as to intervene on Strickland’s behalf this Sunday?
This was more than a hit. It was a homerun.
The rest of the week’s programming
“Collision”
- Mercedes Mone & Harley Cameron vs. Athena & Julia Hart
- Top Flight vs. CRU
- “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Dralistico
- Cash Wheeler vs. PAC
- Powerhouse Hobbs & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kyle Fletcher & Konosuke Takeshita
“Dynasty”
- Jon Moxley [c] vs. Adam Copeland
- Toni Storm [c] vs. Megan Bayne
- Kenny Omega [c] vs. Ricochet vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
- Chris Jericho [c] vs. Bandido [MASK]
- Death Riders [c] vs. Rated FTR
- The Hurt Syndicate [c] vs. Big Bill & Bryan Keith
- Daniel Garcia [c] vs. Adam Cole
- Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight (Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament Quarter-Finals)
- Mercedes Mone vs. Julia Hart (Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament Quarter-Finals)
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