AEW Dynamite results (6/11): Barnett’s live review of the first half of the Summer Blockbuster

By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)

AEW Dynamite – The Summer Blockbuster (Episode 297)
June 11, 2025, in Portland, Oregon at Theater of the Clouds at Moda Center
Simulcast live on TBS and Max

Excalibur welcomed the TV audience to the show while Toni Storm was shown being wheeled around the back. Christopher Daniels warned Hangman Page that Jon Moxley wouldn’t be alone between now and All In Texas, so he needed to find some friends. Moxley was shown incognito nearby, sending his goons after Hangman once Daniels left him alone. Excalibur was joined on commentary by Taz and Ian Riccaboni…

In the arena, Will Ospreay made his ring entrance for the opening match. He was followed by Swerve Strickland…

1. Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana): Both men traded reversals along with back and forth tijeras’ to start the match. Ospreay got popped in the nose at some point in the chain wrestling and was bleeding from the nose almost immediately. Swerve took advantage by winning a chop battle and then landing a leaping kick from the top rope. Ospreay responded by sending Swerve to the floor, but it was answered with a kick to the face and a flatliner. Swerve was firmly in control early on.

Swerve focused on attacking Ospreay’s nose and cutting off his air supply. Ospreay was able to recover and sent Swerve to the floor, and delivered a Sasuke Special onto Swerve on the outside…[c]

My Take: A good start to the show. Swerve and Ospreay are working at a deliberate pace by their standards. I’m not sure if Ospreay’s nose is broken or if he just caught an errant shot and has a bit of a nose bleed.

Swerve regained control with a neckbreaker on the apron, and then draped Ospreay over the top rope. He then performed a double stomp and Swerve covered for a two count. Ospreay fired back with a huge kick and attempted to go for Stormbreaker, but Swerve avoided it. Swerve then went for Big Pressure, but Ospreay countered with a Stunner. He then went for an Oscutter, but Swerve countered into a cross armbreaker. Ospreay then lifted Swerve up and heaved him into the turnbuckles in the corner. 

Ospreay then fired up with a Poison Rana and then lined up for a hidden blade, but couldn’t pull it off. He did land an Oscutter a moment later for a close near fall. Swerve rolled to the floor, and Ospreay performed a dive through the ropes that became a Hidden Blade on the outside…[c]

Ospreay and Swerve traded heavy strikes in the ring. He lined up for Hidden Blade again, but Swerve avoided it and Ospreay crashed into the corner. Swerve the placed Ospreay on the top turnbuckle and landed an overhead throw while torquing his arm on the way down. Swerve attempted another armbar, but Ospreay picked him up for a Styles Clash as a counter. Swerve managed to avoid that and land a Deadeye for a close near fall.

Both men got to their feet and Ospreay landed a Hidden Blade in the ring for another near fall. They then traded big punches back and forth, with Swerve getting the best of it. He landed a big house call kick at the end of the series and then went up top for a Swerve stomp. He covered and got a 2.9 near fall. Swerve then grabbed Ospreay’s arm and snapped it with his leg. Ospreay surprised Swerve with a big back elbow and a Stormbreaker for another 2.9 fall.

Ospreay attempted a Tiger Driver, but lost strength in his damaged arm. Swerve then landed a Vertebreaker, followed by House Call Kick, and both men were down. Swerve climbed to the top rope for another Stomp, but the bell rang at 30 minutes for a time limit draw.

Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay ended in a draw at 30:00

After the bell, Swerve got on a microphone and demanded sudden death, but before the match could be restarted, Jon Moxley’s music hit and the Death Riders headed towards the ring. Swerve geared up to throw down with them, but was jumped by The Young Bucks from behind. They landed a BTE Trigger. Nana tried to pull him to safety, but got superkicked in the face. Swerve was then handcuffed to the ropes and kicked in the face repeatedly.

Wheeler Yuta then delivered a duffel bag to the ring, and The Bucks pulled out their shoes with tacks embedded in them. Before they could kick Swerve, Ospreay jumped in the ring and took the bullet for Swerve. Ospreay’s head was then quickly covered by a towel and convulsed with pain. A video package was promised for later to explore the feud between Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega.

Okada was interviewed backstage by Renee Paquette, but was interrupted quickly by Don Callis. He asked why Takeshita and Fletcher aren’t in the match with Omega, because they’ve had a better six months in the ring than him. Okada grabbed Callis’ finger and twisted it, which caused his crew to show up and defend him. Okada called Callis a bitch and walked away…

Mistico is up next…[c]

My Take: A strong match to start the show, and a good angle afterwards to set up what I assume will be Swerve and Ospreay vs. The Young Bucks at All In. I figured a few months ago it would be Swerve and Hangman against The Bucks, but it seems like they just swapped the positioning of Swerve and Hangman based on the fan response and I can’t say I disagree. It works either way.

The Hurt Syndicate was shown backstage earlier today attacking Komander, who was later replaced in the six-man tag with Mascara Dorada due to Komander being ruled out due to injury…

In the arena, Mistico made his ring entrance for the next match, and his opponent Blake Christian was already in the ring.

2. Blake Christian (w/Lee Johnson) vs. Mistico: Mistico used his agility early on, but Christian pulled him out of the corner for a hard landing on his tailbone. Mistico recovered and sent Christian to the floor, and then performed a suicide dive onto Christian. He then performed a head kick on the apron, followed by a springboard cross body for a two count. Mistico then fired up the crowd, and took to the top rope. Lee Johnson provided a distraction, and Christian sent Mistico to the floor.

He then performed a dive onto Mistico on the floor, and then a 450 in the ring for a close near fall. Christian went up top again, but Mistico stuffed him and landed a Spanish Fly for the win.

Mistico defeated Blake Christian at 4:33

After the match, Mistico was confronted by the Hurt Syndicate. MVP said MJF had an official announcement from the Hurt Syndicate. They heeled on the crowd and demanded respect, which just caused louder boos. MJF said he was granting Mistico a match with a Patriot, and for one night only he would dust off the Red White and Blue. He then played Stars and Stripes Forever as a giant American Flag with MJF faces dropped from the ceiling with streamers.

MJF got in the ring and Mistico said a few words. He said he would see him next week in his house Arena Mexico, and then switched to Spanish to say some insults about his mother. MJF called him sloppy Sin Cara. Mistico then threw some punches, but was overwhelmed by the Hurt Syndicate. Jet Speed and Mascara Dorada made the save, and set up the six man tag.

3. MJF, Shelton Benjamin, and Bobby Lashley (w/MVP) vs. Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Mascara Dorada: The Hurt Syndicate jumped off to a hot start and tossed everybody around on the floor. MJF and Dorada were the legal talent, and MJF wore MVP inspired gear. Dorada managed to gain an early advantage with head-scissors. Bailey and Knight then landed some quick aerial attacks and covered MJF for a two count. Lashley sent Dorada flying to the floor when he got within range of him on the apron…[c]

My Take: It’s wild to me that the Hurt Syndicate is heeling on the crowd after months of the crowd essentially deciding they were babyfaces despite their initial introduction. Aren’t they eventually just going to have to be babyfaces again when MJF eventually betrays them? Odd creative choices with this group.

Kevin Knight got a tag and went in on MJF with a nice dropkick. He then delivered a running frog splash for a close near fall. The party didn’t last as Lashley and Benjamin got involved and quickly overwhelmed Bayley and Knight with power moves. They got thrown around with suplexes and spinebusters, and MJF asked for a tag back in. He then landed a pump-handle into a driver for a close near fall. Bailey fired back with a thrust kick. Dorada took out MJF with a flying kick, but Lashley cut him down a few seconds later with a spear.

Speedball landed rapid fire kicks on Lashley. He and Knight then landed a double dropkick. The babyface trio then dove on all three men at ringside. MVP took a cheap shot with his cane on Bailey, and MJF delivered a hammerlock DDT and got the win.

“The Hurt Syndicate” Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MJF defeated Mascara Dorada and “Jet Speed” Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight at 9:37

After the match, the Hurt Syndicate continued the attack. Lashley and Benjamin destroyed Jet Speed, and then MJF removed the mask of Mascara Dorada. Mistico returned to the ring and took down MJF with La Mistica, and escaped before Lashley and Benjamin could get a hold of him. Hangman Page will speak up next…[c]

My Take: If they were trying to make me interested in Jet Speed taking on Lashley and Benjamin….it didn’t work. MJF will get mega heat in Arena Mexico next week, which should make for a fun spectacle.

Hangman Page’s music hit. Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta dragged Page to the ring with his mouth duct taped and hands zip tied together. Jon Moxley eventually made his way to the ring along with Marina Shafir and the world title briefcase. Moxley said he was “terribly sorry about all this”. He said he wanted to have a real conversation, but he knows how distracted he can get worrying about everybody else. Moxley told him he needed to focus, because All In was do or die for him. 

Moxley called Hangman complicated, he doesn’t understand him and he doesn’t like him. He said Hangman has been searching high and low for something. Moxley said he doesn’t know what it is, but he’s got four weeks to get it done or he can get the hell out. Page then headbutted Moxley. Claudio and Wheeler put a chair around his head. 

“The Opps” Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata showed up, and the Death Riders hit the bricks. Hangman got on the microphone and said that better not be the best they got because he would ride through death to take the World Championship from Moxley. He then told them if he finds even one of them tonight, he would have their heads. Hangman then walked off holding a chair…[c]

My Take: Hangman is about to test whether Wheeler Yuta’s beard is flammable. In all honestly, the segment was fine but I am completely tapped out on Jon Moxley trying to sound profound while largely talking in circles.

Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford made their ring entrance for a tag match. Footage was shown of Tay Melo returning to defend her friend Anna Jay on Collision last week. Anna Jay and Tay Melo then made their entrance…

3. Tay Melo and Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford and Megan Bayne: After some jockeying, all four women ended up in the ring. Melo and Bayne had a faceoff, but Bayne shoved her away quickly. Ford then pulled Melo to the floor and shoved her into the ring steps. Bayne and Ford then focused on Jay, who quickly pulled herself together. Ford delivered a big kick in the corner on Ford, and then followed up with a dropkick. Jay and Melo traded off taking shots at Ford until Bayne entered the ring to restore order. She knocked Melo off the apron, and then a big boot on Jay…[c]

Melo landed some elbow shots on Bayne, but was leveled by a big strike in return. Melo avoided a splash in the corner, and followed up with a series of running kicks. Bayne tried to deliver a power move, but Melo avoided it and applied a calf slicer. Bayne bounced Melo’s head off the mat to escape. Melo low bridged Bayne out to the floor and followed up with a flip dive off the apron. Jay then followed up with a flying cross body. Ford then took both women out with a moonsault from the top.

Bayne showed off her power and picked up both Jay and Melo with a fallaway slam and samoan drop combo. Jay managed to apply a Sleeper to Bayne. Melo then landed a Gory Special into a Knee Strike for the win.

Anna Jay and Tay Melo defeated Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford at 11:01

After the match, a video package was shown that explained Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada’s feud from New Japan Pro Wrestling. It showed highlights from their four New Japan classics, and claimed their All In match would put their feud into legendary status. They will sign their contract next…[c]

My Take: I enjoyed the Omega and Okada video package. I think it will be difficult to reclaim the atmosphere of their New Japan feud in AEW given the time that has elapsed and the divergence of their careers, but it will be interesting to see them try.

Kazuchika Okada made his ring entrance to begin the contract signing. Omega then followed. There was a title belt under cloth in the ring in between the International and Continental Titles. Tony Schiavone said it was an incredible moment to be a part of. He said the winner takes all, and the winner would be crowned the new AEW Unified Champion. The side plates featured the One Winged Angel and a Rainmaker.

Okada signed the contract first, followed by Omega. Omega said it was seven years since they had their last match. He said he watched the video package, and barely recognized himself. Omega told Okada they should leave it in the ring one final time. He offered Okada a handshake, and he accepted, but they pulled in tight and shared some competitive words.

Don Callis then appeared, and told Omega that he should be ashamed of himself because Fletcher and Takeshita should be in the match. Omega told Callis to cut the shit, and that if Fletcher and Takeshita wanted a title shot, they would have to get in line like everybody else. He told Callis he knew all of his tricks. Callis asked if he knew about this one, and Okada clubbed him from behind. Callis produced a police baton, which Okada used to hit Omega in the gut, and then another shot to the back of the neck.

Omega was attended to by AEW medical, who rolled him onto a backboard. This is where AEW Dynamite came to an end. Okada continued the assault on Omega after he was placed on the backboard. Eventually Okada landed another elbow drop to the gut that resulted in Omega spewing blood from his mouth…

My Take: I’m not a fan of another mega star joining forces with Callis on first blush. I understand the personal history with Omega and Callis, but I’m not sure if it will improve the competitive rivalry between Omega and Okada. Maybe they’ll win me over with it over time. The attack was brutal and shocking to a degree, but I rather liked the formula of Omega and Okada respecting one another despite having no love lost between them. Check out our coverage of AEW Collision via the main page.