AEW Dynamite results (7/9): Barnett’s live review of Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and the Young Bucks vs. Hangman Page, Will Ospreay, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata

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

AEW Dynamite (Episode 301)
July 9, 2025, in Garland, Texas at Curtis Culwell Center
Simulcast live on TBS and Max

Excalibur opened the show with a run down of the All In Texas card, and then Mercedes Mone made her entrance for the opening in ring conversation. She said she wanted this to be a civil conversation, and asked Toni Storm to get to the ring. Toni appeared on the screen and said only two things come from Texas, and she’s at least one of them. Mercedes called her a mark, and told her to stop hiding and come down to the ring. Toni said she wasn’t hiding, and then speed walked her way down to ringside.

All of Mercedes’ many title belts hung on the ropes as a backdrop for their conversation. She grabbed a glass of champagne and handed one to Mercedes. She complained that Toni had placed the Champagne out there and it was burnt, that it was frozen at some point in the past. Toni told her to cut the performative bullshit and save it for her entrance. Toni insulted her as a fraud with the authenticity of a spray tan in a rain storm, and the emotional depth of a kiddie pool.

She continued and said all these belts are just a mask for her to hide behind, and demanded to know what she’s so afraid of. Mercedes said they travelled similar paths, but they are truly nothing alike. She called herself better and classier than Toni, and that she had gone to hell and made the devil her bitch, and nobody was going to stop the Mone train, not even her.

Toni responded that legacies don’t exist, and the only thing that matters is the moment they step in the ring and go face to face. She said Mercedes fears an ordinary life, but the only thing she fears is an ordinary death. Toni claimed that Mercedes deserves all the titles in the world, but not hers, and she’ll go down as the woman who could never win the big one.

Mercedes said she wanted this to go down amicably, but she guessed that wasn’t possible, and told Toni that the best woman would win on Sunday….er Saturday. Toni gulped her Champagne and told her to eat shit. They started to brawl, but Mercedes avoided any damage and slipped out of the ring. Toni danced around wearing Mercedes’ cowboy hat and told her one more time to eat shit.

Backstage, Jon Moxley said he had lost their first battle in Texas Death, but that was just one fight. He said he’s never lost a war of attrition, and Hangman won’t be able to handle the pressure of the expectations that are on his back. Moxley continued and said that whether he likes it or not, Hangman is all the way in on Saturday and there’s no turning back now.

Outside the building, The Young Bucks arrived in their ugly limousine. Back in the arena, Bandido made his ring entrance for the opening match. He was followed by his tag partner Brody King. They were followed by Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher.

My Take: Mercedes can claim to be classier than Toni, but she got outclassed on the mic in the opening segment. Toni held the crowd in the palm of her hand and Mercedes struggled to appear comfortable in her own skin.

1. Brody King and Bandido vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher: Brodie King started the match with Takeshita. They fought to a stalemate and Fletcher quickly tagged in. King and Bandido took over the match with Fletcher in the ring with some double team offense. Bandido then tagged in as the legal man. He landed a single leg dropkick that put Fletcher on his ass, and demanded a tag to get Takeshita to get the ring.

He got his wish and Takeshita entered the match. Bandido used his speed to land a few strikes, but Takeshita landed a big lariat. Things got chaotic as everyone took turns landing big dives to the floor, capping off with Brody King diving on both Takeshita and Fletcher. The heels quickly regained control in the ring. Fletcher landed a thrust kick on King and then they both landed a double team facebuster on Bandido…[c]

Bandido fought out of a waist lock from Fletcher and landed a dropkick to knock Takeshita off the apron. He then landed a big swinging DDT on Fletcher and made a tag out to Brody King. He landed a big side slam and then a cannonball in the corner. Fletcher fired back with some kicks, and an impressive Michinoku Driver, but he couldn’t make a pinfall attempt. Bandido landed a big hurracarana on Takeshita for a near fall. Takeshita fired back with some elbow strikes. He and Fletcher then attempted a double team powerbomb out of the corner, but Bandido reversed with a hurracarana.

Brody King got back into the match and assisted Bandido with landing a frog splash. He covered Takeshita, but Fletcher broke up the pin. Brody and Fletcher brawled to the outside, where Fletcher booted King into the crowd. Bandido took out Fletcher on the floor with a Moonsault, and then attempted a Tornillo on Takeshita. He got intercepted by a big Elbow Strike, and then Takeshita delivered a Raging Fire Suplex and got the win.

Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher defeated Brody King and Bandido at 13:19

After the match, a video package aired for the Outrunners. They said their feud with FTR isn’t over yet, and we haven’t seen anything yet…[c]

My Take: A well worked match with a logical finish given Bandido is facing Takeshita at Supercard of Honor on Friday.

FTR was with The Patriarchy backstage. They are teaming against Jet Speed and The Outrunners on Collision this week. Christian said everyone’s pedigree speaks for itself, and everyone would do their best on Collision and at All In. He said if FTR scratches their back, then they will scratch theirs when they become AEW Tag Team Champions. Stokely Hathaway listed off all the miscarriages of justice perpetrated against FTR, and said they should be getting a tag title shot on Saturday. As far as the back scratching goes, they’d see how it went on Collision.

In the arena, Ricochet made his ring entrance. Blake Christian was already in the ring. We got a picture in picture promo where Blake Christian complained about the Gates of Agony taking out his boy Lee Johnson, and hoped that Ricochet would keep them on a leash tonight.

2. Ricochet vs. Blake Christian: They pushed the pace early with Christian getting off to a hot start with strikes. The crowd chanted “bald” at Ricochet as he went back on offense. Blake regained control and landed a splash onto Ricochet on the floor. The Gates of Agony appeared on the stage and provided a distraction, which allowed Ricochet to shove Christian into the ring steps…[c]

Christian continued to control the offense with some strikes and a second rope cutter. He then delivered a springboard 450 for a close near fall. Ricochet distracted the referee so the Gates of Agony could pick apart Blake Christian on the floor. Ricochet delivered a Spirit Gun on Christian as he got back in the ring. He then delivered his Vertigo finisher and got the win. 

Ricochet defeated Blake Christian at 7:32

After the match, Ricochet and the Gates of Agony continued to beat down Christian for a few seconds before celebrating the victory. MJF was interviewed backstage, and said Mark Briscoe was about to get a beat down from The Syndicate. MVP, Benjamin, and Lashley excused themselves to go grab their tag title belts, but found them stolen by Jet Speed, who had left them a note. MJF discovered he would have to go face Mark Briscoe one on one for their “talky talk”. 

We then got a video package for Okada vs. Omega that recapped their history and the developments of their rivalry since Okada had joined forces with The Young Bucks and eventually Don Callis…[c]

My Take: I like the Ricochet and Gates of Agony pairing, but the optics of Ricochet needing them to beat Blake Christian were a bit puzzling.

Mark Briscoe made his ring entrance for the talky talk. He was followed by MJF. The crowd chanted “tiny pickle”. Briscoe asked the crowd to simmer down for a minute so they can have a their talky talk. MJF said that was the dumbest shit he’s ever heard, and then mocked Briscoe and the crowd for being stupid hicks. He told Briscoe in his worst Texas accent that he would dog walk him at All In on Saturday. He told Briscoe that he was throwing rocks at a man with a machine gun.

MJF told Briscoe to walky walk back to his meth lab in Dumpster Fire, Delaware and feed his 90 children shoe leather and chicken feed. Briscoe said what MJF needed was a country ass whooping, and said he would deliver that ass whooping on Saturday in the likes he had never experienced before. Briscoe said Wednesday was talky talk day, and his trash talk didn’t work because he was proud of being country. He said he was proud of being a redneck and having to earn every dollar he’s ever put in his pocket.

Briscoe said Max calls himself rich, but he’s bankrupt, and called it the word of the day. He called him morally bankrupt and soulless, He said he sees right through Max, and he’s about to say some dumb shit about his brother to get him riled up. MJF said he’d never say anything bad about his brother, and called him one of the greats who has a special place in heaven. However, he does pity his brother, not because he passed away, but because he has to look down and see what Mark has become.

MJF continued and said he has to see his brother going from being one half of the greatest tag team of all time, Dem Boyz, to becoming a joke. He said if Jay could be there in the flesh, he’d tell Mark it should have been him in that accident instead. Briscoe took down MJF and landed a series of punches. He set up for a Jay Driller, but The Hurt Syndicate made their entrance. Jet Speed ran down to even the odds a bit, and MJF bolted through the crowd.

Briscoe gave chase as The Hurt Syndicate beat down Lashley and Benjamin with the Tag Team Title belts. They then sent Benjamin into the ring steps, and landed double team kicks on Lashley. The patriarchy chowed up and picked the bones of Bobby Lashley. They performed two Conchairto’s on onto Lashley’s knee. Jet Speed then delivered a spin kick into a UFO splash on Benjamin into the ring.

After a draft kings ad, Megan Bayne made her entrance for the next match with Penelope Ford. She was followed by Thekla, Queen Aminata, and Tay Melo.

3. Queen Aminana vs. Thekla vs. Tay Melo vs. Megan Bayne: Aminata splashed all three women at ringside near the start of the match, and then tossed Thekla into the ringside barricade…[c]

My Take: An interesting final push for the MJF and Briscoe match…er opening 5 minutes of the Gauntlet. I’m not a huge fan of using Jay Briscoe for some cheap heat for a match that will end up involving 10 people or whatever the number is. I don’t think it makes a huge difference in the long run because the crowd was already where they wanted them in terms of character response for MJF and Mark.

Bayne landed a big brainbuster on Thekla, but got a two count. Tay Melo attacked Thekla, but got quickly tossed aside. Bayne grabbed Thekla and tossed her over the top rope onto Melo and Aminata at ringside. Bayne then dove through the ropes and landed on all three of them. Melo landed her Tay Kick on Bayne in the ring, but Bayne rolled to the floor before she could make a cover.

Thekla landed a big elbow strike on Thekla, followed by a spear. She covered, but Aminata broke it up immediately. Aminata then went for a swinging neckbreaker, but Thekla avoided it. Aminata landed a running kick on Thekla. Anna Jay and Penelope Ford brawled on the floor. Bayne landed a running powerbomb on Aminata in the ring and got the win.

Megan Bayne defeated Queen Aminata, Thekla, and Tay Melo at 8:19

Bayne celebrated after the match. Kris Statlander was shown observing in the crowd…[c]

My Take: Tony Khan seems to think Bayne vs. Statlander is a showdown match, but the crowd didn’t seem to respond to the visual.

Backstage, Aminata and Thekla brawled as Renee Young tried to do an interview with Thekla. In the melee, Mark Briscoe approached Renee and told her he was going to win on Saturday and kill MJF in the process. In the arena, Samoa Joe made his entrance for the next match. He was followed by Wheeler Yuta.

4. Wheeler Yuta vs. Samoa Joe: The crowd chanted for Yuta to get a haircut. Joe took Yuta down to the mat and paint brushed the back of his head. The action spilled outside, where Yuta attempted a dive but Joe walked out of the way…[c]

Yuta gained control with some strikes and a flying armbar out of the corner. He then applied a double wristlock, but Joe quickly fought to his feet. Joe landed a Manhattan Drop, followed by a big boot and a running senton for a two count. He followed up with a snap powerslam and covered for a two count. Yuta attempted an O’Connor roll on Joe, but he reversed out of it into the Koquina Clutch and got the flash submission.

Samoa Joe defeated Wheeler Yuta at 8:39

After the match, Gabe Kidd showed up and attacked Samoa Joe from behind, but he was saved by Shibata and Hobbs quickly. The main event is up next…[c]

My Take: Not much to that match, but it had the right finish as there’s no reason for Yuta to win there. Gabe Kidd shows up again here. Are we going to see a Trios match added last minute?

Will Ospreay and Hangman Page made their entrances for the main event. They were followed by The Young Bucks, Claudio Castagoni, and Jon Moxley.

5. Hangman Page, Will Ospreay, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Nick Jackson, and Matt Jackson: Hangman Page landed some punches on Matt Jackson early on. He attempted to go after Jon Moxley, which opened the door for The Young Bucks to double team him with strikes. Hangman made a tag to Ospreay while The Young Bucks taunted the crowd, and he flew into the ring to take them both out.

The babyface team then isolated Nick Jackson for a bit until the heels had to run in to break up a pinfall. All eight guys then ended up involved. This set up a big pile of guys on the floor for Hangman Page to take down with his signature Moonsault off the ring post to the floor…[c]

Moxley retained control of the match as the show returned. Hangman Page made a hot tag and nearly took down the heels by himself. He delivered a sitout powerbomb to Matt Jackson, and Nick had to break up the fall. He then set up for Deadeye on Matt, but Claudio made a blind tag that Hangman didn’t see. Hobbs tagged in to face up to Claudio, and they traded big forearms in the ring.

Hobbs got the advantage and tagged Shibata, who landed some kicks. The Young Bucks entered the match and took out Hangman and Shibata with superkicks. Moxley and Claudio then put Hobbs through a table at ringside after a pair of Superkicks. The Bucks then landed an EVP trigger on Shibata. Moxley tagged in and applied a Bulldog Choke on Shibata to get the win.

Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and The Young Bucks defeated Hangman Page, Will Ospreay, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata at 10:39

After the match, Wheeler Yuta and Gabe Kidd joined the heels in beating down everyone in the ring. They made an example out of Ospreay and Moxley. Marina Shafir supplied the Young Bucks with Plastic Bags. Swerve Strickland appeared on the screen piloting an Excavator. He destroyed the Young Bucks Limo as Samoa Joe showed up to rescue the babyfaces in the ring. \

Ospreay dove onto Gabe Kidd and Yuta at ringside. Hangman Page then delivered a discus lariat to Moxley. Claudio prevented a buckshot lariat, and Marina Shafir cleared Moxley from the ring before Hangman could do more damage. The show went off the air with the Young Bucks freaking out as they inspected their hideous limo. Prince Nana laughed at them, and then Swerve stomped them jumping off a piece of equipment. The show closed with Swerve walking into the building and gloating with Ospreay.

My Take: A wild close to the show. It was a bit of even steven booking in the sense that Moxley won the match but the babyfaces got their shine back immediately as the show went off the air. They saved the Buckshot Lariat, so I assume that will be the fulcrum on which the main event rests on Saturday. As far as the overall show is concerned, it was entertaining, but I don’t think it moved my excitement level for All In as much as I hoped. I’ll have more to say in my audio review for members later tonight.