By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 292)
May 7, 2025, in Detroit, Michigan at Masonic Temple Theatre
Simulcast live on TBS and Max
[Hour One] Dynamite opened with a new theme song “You Wanted War!” by Sum 41 (it was a hell of a run for The Pointer Sisters)… Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Schiavone were on commentary…
Hangman Page made his entrance and delivered an in-ring promo. Page said he’s never understood why even one fan would cheer for him after everything he’s done. A “Cowboy Shit” chant broke out. Page told the fans that it does make a difference.
Page said he thought he would feel closure when he took a man’s hopes and dreams, and nearly killed him, but he felt nothing after the cage match with Swerve Strickland. Page said he thought that if he went back to the ring and finished the job it would help, but he couldn’t do it. Page said he doesn’t know why. He said he took the anger, bottled it up, and unleashed it on anyone who got in his way. Page said it made things bad for everyone around him.
Page looked into the camera and addressed Swerve Strickland. “Swerve, I will never forget what you did to me, and I will probably never forgive you for it,” Page said. “But for me, I will have to put it behind me.” Page said he entered the Owen Hart Cup tournament and beat Kyle Fletcher last week in front of family. Page said he will now face the man that people call the best wrestler in the world.
Will Ospreay’s entrance music played, and then he joined Page inside the ring. A “holy shit” chant broke out while Page and Ospreay stared at one another. Ospreay apologized for interrupting Page’s therapy session. Ospreay said it was strange that this was the first time that they’ve spoken to one another. He said it was a pleasure to meet Page.
Ospreay said one of his favorite moments in wrestling is when he took the Dark Order and showed them leadership and what it takes to be a cowboy. Ospreay said it was perfect when Page took the support and became AEW World Champion. Ospreay said things changed for Page, and he gets it.
Ospreay said he and the fans saw something last week when Page beat Kyle Fletcher. “You smiled again,” Ospreay said. Ospreay added that as much as people want to see Page beat the demons and regain the title, he has a problem with that. Ospreay said he’s not losing.
Ospreay said that while Page was trying to find himself, he tore the place apart. Ospreay mentioned what Page did to Jeff Jarrett, Christopher Daniels, and Swerve. Ospreay said he’s been doing all of the media while Page has not. Ospreay said its far too little, too late for Page’s redemption, because it’s about Ospreay’s ascension. Page and Ospreay went face-to-face and jawed.
Don Callis walked onto the stage with Konosuke Takeshita, Lance Archer, Josh Alexander, Trent Beretta, and Rocky Romero. The fans booed loudly while Callis spoke about how Ospreay shows him how stupid he is every day. Callis asked Ospreay if he knew what was standing in the ring with him. “That is a violent, mentally unstable sociopath, who put his mentor in a retirement home and he can’t talk.
Ospreay stopped Page from leaving the ring. Ospreay called for Callis to send two of his men to the ring. The crowd was censored once while they chanted, “F— you, Callis” and then the same chant went uncensored. Page pulled Ospreay’s hand off his chest. Callis said Page and Ospreay couldn’t even get through a segment without wanting to kill one another.
Callis said he would put any of his two guys against Page and Ospreay, assuming Page doesn’t have another mental breakdown before next week. Page and Ospreay continued to stare at one another while Callis and his crew headed backstage. Ospreay eventually left the ring…
The broadcast team spoke about Page vs. Ospreay in the Owen Hart Cup tournament final for AEW Double Or Nothing, and hyped Jon Moxley vs. Samoa Joe in a cage match for the AEW World Championship for next week’s Beach Break-themed edition of Dynamite. Excalibur ran through the lineup for tonight’s show…
Stokely Hathaway and “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler confronted Tony Schiavone at the broadcast table. Hathaway asked if Schiavone or Nigel McGuinness had an issue with FTR. Hathaway said FTR apologized to both men, but Schiavone still has negative things to say about him and his team.
Hathaway called Schiavone a decrepit, pasty, piece of shit. Schiavone stood up and said that was enough. Hathaway shoved Schiavone back into his chair. Schiavone stood up, but Harwood and Wheeler stood in front of Hathaway. Wheeler told Schiavone to relax and then shifted the focus to Daniel Garcia’s issues with them. Wheeler said that whatever is happening at AEW Collision on Thursday would hurt them more emotionally than it would hurt Garcia. Harwood told Schiavone to tell McGuinness they would see him on Thursday’s Collision…
Powell’s POV: Man up, Tony. Pat McAfee wouldn’t have put up with that shit! Anyway, I enjoyed the verbal exchange between Page and Ospreay. I’m filling in for Jake Barnett tonight. He said something about needing the night off while Jennifer Aniston’s gate was open, but he will be taking my place on Friday night for WWE Smackdown coverage.
Backstage, Harley Cameron and Anna Jay talked. Jay asked Cameron if she had her “fat ass” again this week. Cameron said she has the “T’s” and Jay has the “A”. Jay hopped on Cameron’s back before Cameron walked out of the camera shot…
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm made her entrance while being introduced by ring announcer Justin Roberts. The remainder of the entrances for the four-way match took place…
1. AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm vs. Thunder Rosa vs. Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford in a four-way eliminator match. Storm used a fisherman’s suplex on Jay. Ford kicked Storm in the, um, well, you know to break up the pin. Moments later, Rosa performed a spinning dive onto all three opponents heading into a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Megan Bayne walked out and entered the ring. Bayne hit offensive moves on Storm, Rosa, and Jay. Harley Cameron entered the ring with a pipe in hand. Cameron clotheslined Bayne over the top rope to the floor. Bayne pulled Cameron to ringside. Cameron worked over Bayne with pipe shots while following her to the back.
Ford locked Jay in an Indian Deathlock. Storm kicked Ford, um, south of the border, and then put her in a chicken wing and got the submission win.
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm defeated Penelope Ford, Thunder Rosa, and Anna Jay in roughly 10:55 in a four-way eliminator match.
After the match, Storm and Rosa bumped chests and then hugged…
Powell’s POV: That was fun. I’m not big on the blatant interference in three-way and four-way matches simply because there are no disqualifications. It seems silly that the storyline authority figures in pro wrestling companies would continue to allow this to happen. Putting that aside, Excalibur touted Storm being 12-0 in eliminator matches. You know what would be more impressive? if those eliminator matches had been title matches. Seriously, I don’t understand why they have so many eliminator matches when they could just create storyline reasons for Storm to defend her championship instead.
“Cru” Lio Rush and Action Andretti walked through the crowd…
“The Hurt Syndicate” Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP made their entrance. Once in the ring, MVP said they had an official announcement. MVP introduced his allies and said they are the AEW Tag Team Champions. MVP said AEW is where the best wrestle. MVP asked why teams weren’t stepping up for shots at the tag titles. MVP asked if anyone would step up.
“Top Flight” Dante Martin and Darius Martin made their entrance. Darius said they’ve been down on their luck lately. He said teams like Cru were afraid because The Hurt Syndicate hurt people. Darius said they get knocked down and get up every time. Dante said they’ve held their own with championship caliber teams and he knows they can do it again. Darius asked the fans if they wanted to see a miracle.
MJF ran out and attacked Dante and Darius. MJF ran Darius into the ring post and then threw punches at Dante. Dante bled after being run into the ring steps. MJF held him up and showed his bloody head to the Hurt Syndicate, and then powerbombed Dante onto the ring apron.
MJF entered the ring and went face-to-face with Lashley. MVP handed MJF a microphone. “I hurt people,” MJF said while staring at Lashley, who told him he’d have an answer for him next week…
Powell’s POV: For what it’s worth, Cedric Alexander’s 90-day non-compete with WWE will expire before next week’s show.
Excalibur gave a snotty introduction to The Elite and Ricochet. Backstage, Nicholas Jackson told Excalibur to show more enthusiasm when they pitch to the founding fathers. Matthew Jackson said it was a huge night for The Elite, and noted that Kazuchika Okda would be in singles action. Okada called his opponent Kevin Knight a bitch and then made he exit.
Ricochet joined the Jacksons and said he knew they had a Swerve Strickland problem. Ricochet said he’s beaten Swerve twice and has his number. Ricochet said that if the Jacksons follow his lead, he will lead them to victory. The Jacksons were cool with Ricochet’s comments and then Ricochet made his exit.
The Jacksons entered The Elite locker room and found “The Death Riders” Jon Moxley, Marina Shafir, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta waiting…
Nick Wayne was introduced as the ROH TV Champion. Christian Cage’s entrance music interrupted the introduction and walked onto the stage with Mother Wayne and Kip Sabian. Excalibur said Nick would be facing someone from Christian’s past… [C]
Rhino made his entrance as Wayne’s challenger…
2. Nick Wayne (w/Christian Cage, Mother Wayne, Kip Sabian) vs. Rhino for the ROH TV Title. The Detroit fans popped big for hometown hero Rhino. After putting Wayne down with a suplex, Rhino set up for his finisher. Rhino spotted Christian approaching. Wayne tried to take advantage of the distraction, but Rhino gave him a spinebuster for a near fall. Rhino went for a Gore, but Wayne sidestepped it and then hit the Killswitch and got the pin…
Nick Wayne defeated Rhino in 3:25 to retain the ROH TV Title.
After the match, Christian entered the ring and grabbed the ROH TV Title belt.. Nick tried to take it, but Christian calmed him down and then acted like was going to put it around Nick’s waist. Christian looked at the belt. When Nick demanded that he hand it over, Christian dropped the belt and made his exit. Sabian followed Christian. Mother Wayne stayed in the ring and hugged Nick…
Powell’s POV: The friction between Christian and Nick is making for good television. Good use of Rhino. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him again on Thursday’s Collision since it’s being held in the same venue.
Highlights aired of Sammy Guevara winning a four-way for $100,000 on Saturday’s AEW Collision…
A Rush promo aired. Rush stood on a stairway and blamed Kevin Knight for costing him $100,000. Rush said Knight will pay…
Swerve Strickland, Mark Briscoe, and Mike Bailey made their entrance for a trios match.
[Hour Two] Ricochet and The Young Bucks made separate entrances… Excalibur hyped a new book on AEW…
3. Ricochet and “The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson vs. Swerve Strickland, Mark Briscoe, and Mike Bailey (w/Prince Nana). Nana led “Whose House/Swerve’s House” chants. The babyface trio hit simultaneous dives a few minutes into the match. Ricochet and The Bucks had a great sequence of offense heading into a PIP break. [C]
Late in the match, Briscoe hit Matthew with Froggy Bow. Swerve made the cover, but Nicholas broke up the pin. Swerve went up top and was cut off by Ricochet, who pulled him onto the apron. Swerve sent Ricochet to the floor. Briscoe hit a dive on Nicholas, and then Bailey took out Ricochet with a dive of his own. In the ring, Matthew caught Swerve in an inside cradle and got the three count.
Ricochet and “The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson beat Swerve Strickland, Mark Briscoe, and Mike Bailey in 14:15.
Powell’s POV: I don’t think anyone would have predicted that Swerve would take a clean loss in this match. He acted stunned by the loss, so they are definitely telling a story. This was a hot spot-fest style match minus the comedy that turned me off from last week’s spot-fest match.
Backstage, MJF interrupted Renee Paquette’s interview with Will Ospreay. MJF looked into the camera and plugged that Dynamite Diamond Rings are available for purchase. “Make me richer and you poorer, shop now,” MJF said. Funny. MJF said he hopes Ospreay wins the Owen Hart Cup tournament and then the AEW World Championship because taking the title from him will be like taking candy from “a little British baby.”
Ospreay questioned why MJF wasn’t in the Owen Hart Cup tournament if beating him is so easy. Ospreay suspected there was some fear in MJF that he would pick him up and drop him on his head. MJF said Ospreay is the reason they put directions on shampoo bottles. Ospreay laughed. MJF said he hopes they wrestle again because Ospreay will find out that nobody is on the level of the devil. MJF turned to leave, but Ospreay pulled him back and delivered his “on another level” catchphrase… [C]
Renee Paquette’s sit-down interview with Jamie Hayter aired. Hayter, who was dressed like a Scooby-Doo character, took issue with Mercedes Mone talking about Scooby-Doo characters and her legacy. Hayter said she’d be damned if Owen Hart’s legacy would be represented by Mone, who is the antithesis of what he stood for. Hayter said she wants to get to know the real Mercedes.
Hayter said she doesn’t have Mone’s star power or credentials, but she has integrity. Paquette brought up Hayter missing time due to a back injury. Hayter cut her off and said her back is fine. Hayter said Mone was looking past her. Mone showed up and grabbed Hayter’s hair, but Hayter stood up and hit Mone and then battled off-camera with her.
The broadcast team spoke briefly, and then Mone and Hayter brawled in an area next to the stage. They eventually fought on the stage and then Mone headed backstage. Hayter turned to play to the crowd. Mone returned and hit Hayter from behind, and then put her in her submission finisher. Mone released the hold when a referee showed up. Mone stood up and posed next to the Owen Hart Cup while Hayter sold lower back pain…
Powell’s POV: Are they playing up Hayter’s back injury to give her an out for losing to Mone or to make it more impressive she beats her? Either way, I wish Hayter would ditch the Scooby-Doo character look.
Backstage, Alicia Atout spoke with Willow Nightingale about her issues with The Death Riders. Willow said luckily she’s not alone because the list of people who want to put an end to the Death Riders gets longer and longer.
Kris Statlander showed up. Statlander told Willow that if she wouldn’t talk to her in the back, then they would do it here. Willow said she didn’t think there was much left to be said. She said Statlander is disappointed that she didn’t win the Owen Hart Cup. Willow recalled that she could have won it last year had it not been for Statlander.
Willow ended the conversation. Statlander started to walk away, but Willow pulled her back. Willow said that if Statlander wants to meet in the ring on Collision, there’s a whole bunch of sickos who would love to see that. Willow offered Statlander her hand. Statlander shook Willow’s hand and said she would see Willow there…
AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada made his entrance. Okada’s opponent Kevin Knight’s entrance followed. Rush came out and attacked Knight from behind. Dralistico walked out and fought off security while Rush ran Knight into the ringside barricade a few times. A security guard tried to step in, but Rush blew him off and wrapped a cord around Knight’s neck. Mike Bailey came out and fought off Dralisto quickly. Rush made his exit when Bailey arrived at ringside. Knight rolled inside the ring while Bailey made his exit…
4. AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Kevin Knight in an eliminator match. Okada got a quick near fall. Schiavone explained that Mike Bailey had to leave because no one is allowed at ringside per Continental rules. Okada placed Knight on the top turnbuckle and then dropkicked him. Knight tumbled to ringside heading into a PIP break. [C]
Knight went on the offensive coming out of the break. Okada eventually cut him off with a neckbreaker over his knee. Okada slammed Knight and then went up top and hit an elbow drop. Okada teased a Rainmaker pose and then flipped off the camera and the fans. Knight caught Okada in an inside cradle for a two count.
Knight performed a top rope frog splash, but Okada put his knees up. Knight came right back with a dropkick. Knight went for a springboard move and was caught by an Okada dropkick. Okada followed up with a Rainmaker clothesline and then got the three count.
AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada defeated Kevin Knight in 9:35 in an eliminator match.
After the match, Okada hit Knight with another Rainmaker. Okada set up Knight for another Rainmaker, but he gave it up and exited the ring when Mike Bailey ran out…
Powell’s POV: Again. I would prefer to see title matches over eliminator matches more often than not. It would feel like something is at stake and like something meaningful could actually happen. Putting that aside, there was zero mystery regarding the outcome of this match even before Rush attacked Kevin Knight. At some point, they need to get serious about showcasing Okada before his showdown match with Kenny Omega at All In Texas. Yes, the match means a lot to those who watched their NJPW matches, but AEW needs to work harder to make this feel special for the fans who didn’t follow their work in Japan.
Backstage, Don Callis stood with Kyle Fletcher, Lance Archer, Trent Beretta, and Rocky Romero. Callis took issue with The Outrunners wanting to face Beretta and Romero. Callis told The Outrunners to find a couple of partners, and they could take on his family…
Excalibur listed the following matches and segments for Thursday’s AEW Collision: Mike Bailey vs. Dralistico, Anthony Bowens vs. Lee Johnson, Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander, and Daniel Garcia vs. a member of FTR…
Excalibur listed the following matches and segments for next Wednesday’s AEW Beach Break-themed edition of Dynamite: Will Ospreay and Hangman Page vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Josh Alexander, and Jon Moxley vs. Samoa Joe in a steel cage match for the AEW World Championship. Excalibur hyped the Samoa Joe vs. Claudio Castagnoli main event for after the break… [C]
Backstage, Alicia Atout asked “The Hurt Syndicate” MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin about making MJF wait until next week for a potential thumbs up. Lashley was about to answer, but a man whispered in his ear. Lashley said that per the advice of his legal counsel, he would have an answer next week. MVP said the lawyer’s name is Harrison Landau…
Claudio Castagnoli made his entrance through the crowd for the main event. Samoa Joe’s made his entrance via the stage…
5. Samoa Joe vs. Claudio Castagnoli. A few minutes into the match, Joe no-sold some uppercuts in the corner and then blasted Castagnoli with a chop. Joe set up for a Muscle Buster, but Castagnoli gouged his eyes and then wrenched his arm over the top rope going into a PIP break. [C]
[Overrun] Schiavone said they’d taken their final break and would stay with the match as long as it took. Castagnoli hit a springboard flying elbow. Castagnoli called for the Giant Swing. Joe kicked Castagnoli and then pulled him into a Coquina Clutch and got the submission win.
Samoa Joe defeated Claudio Castagnoli in 10:40.
Jon Moxley, Marina Shafir, and Wheeler Yuta walked through the crowd. Shafir and Yuta hopped the barricade. Moxley stopped in his tracks when Powerhouse Hobbs entered the ring with a chair. Hobbs slammed the chair over Castagnoli’s back multiple times while Moxley watched from ringside. Joe set up the chair while Schiavone said this was payback for Hook and Katsuyori Shibata.
Joe picked up Castagnoli in suplex position and then dropped him on top of the chair. Joe stood on the middle rope and held up the chair while Excalibur hyped Moxley vs. Joe in a cage match for next week’s Beach Break-themed edition of Dynamite. Joe and Hobbs dropped down from the ropes and shook hands while Excalibur told viewers he would see them Thursday night on Collision…
Powell’s POV: A solid main event with the logical outcome of Joe going over heading into next week’s title match. The post-match angle was underwhelming in terms of delivering final hype for the cage match, although I suppose they could do something on Collision.
Overall, this was another solid edition of Dynamite. The brisk pace made it tough to add a lot of commentary, so I’ll have plenty to say about this show during my same night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of Dynamite by grading the show below.
I will be out tomorrow night, so we will not have a live review of AEW Collision. However, Don Murphy’s review will be available late night, and Will Pruett will be by with his weekly audio review for our members.
Can someone please explain how Magnum LGBTA can complain about what Swerve did to him when his character burned Swerve’s house down?
I have never understood wby champions are in eliminator matches. It makes zero sense. Wrestling the champion, whoever they may be, should be reserved as a big deal. Championships and championship matchss don’t mean anything when the champion is wrestling every midcarder every episode.
Eliminator matches in boxing are #1 contenders matches. They exist between two contenders and the winner gets to fight the champion for the title.
Once again, Tony is doing something that makes no sense because he doesn’t understand the thing he’s trying to imitate.
Good show. Joe/Claudio didn’t disappoint Glad to see AEW is finally having storylines, and I hope that keeps up.
Hobbs and Joe as a tag team would be awesome, too.