By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 284)
March 12, 2025 in Fresno, California at Save Mart Center
Simulcast live on TBS and Max
The show opened with Kenny Omega making his ring entrance. Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Taz were the commentary team for tonight’s show. Video clips were shown of Omega’s victory at Revolution. He was announced as an AEW Grand Slam Champion.
Omega reflected on his comeback and said his return felt like a dream state. He thanked the fans and doctors who supported him, as well as Will Ospreay. Kenny declared that not only is he back, but he’s back with something he never thought he’d ever hold again, a singles title. He said there was one more person he truly needed to thank, and said it was controversial, and thanked Konosuke Takeshita. Omega said he had pushed him to a place he wouldn’t have been able to reach himself, and for making the International Championship a Global title.
He continued and referenced the Dynasty International Championship Eliminator Tournament, and said he would be watching closely for who will face him at Dynasty on April 6th. Omega said goodbye to the crowd and greeted folks on his way to the back. As he reached the stage, the Opps made their ring entrance, with Shibata having a brief staredown with Omega.
1. The Opps (Shibata, Joe, Hook) vs. Vinny Pacifico, Eli Theseus, and Gabriel Aeros: Joe started the match with Theseus. He got in some quick strikes and tagged in Hook. Aeros joined from the opposition team. Hook quickly landed a hip toss, and Aeros ran to tag Pacifico. Shibata tagged in and landed some kicks and strikes in the corner. He then landed a running dropkick and a suplex. Shibata then finished him off with a PK.
The Opps defeated Vinny Pacifico, Eli Theseus, and Gabriel Aeros at 2:17
After the match, Ricochet gave a backstage interview. He said he was screwed at Revolution, and he didn’t want that stupid robe anyways. Ricochet said he entered the Eliminator Tournament because he still wants gold, and he offered his first round opponent Katsuyori Shibata a chance to quit ahead of Collision and save himself the embarrassment.
Excalibur then introduced a video package that showed highlights from AEW Revolution over the weekend. Swerve Strickland was interviewed after the Revolution PPV and was asked about when he wanted to challenge for the AEW World Championship. He answered Dynasty in Philadelphia, because one year ago at Dynasty he became the first Black AEW Champion and he planned to do it again. Adam Copeland approached him and told him that he didn’t get beat, and he plans to get another shot at the AEW World Championship…[c]
My Take: A busy opening quarter hour. Omega’s speech was fairly short but got his message of gratitude across well. The Eliminator Tournament feels less interesting than setting him up with a strong feud partner. I’m hoping the Copeland stuff is a fake out and we don’t have to deal with him hovering around the AEW World Championship for very much longer.
Jon Moxley cut a promo backstage. He said everyone should appreciate the irony of an opportunist telling him that he got a gift. Moxley was mad at himself for putting Copeland away before Christian got involved. He admires Copeland for coming forward even after he knew he hurt him, but he doesn’t respect anybody who complains about the rules. Moxley said he’ll take the rules and throw out Copeland’s excuses. He declared himself a professional, and one of the things that makes him a professional is that he doesn’t make the same mistakes twice. A graphic appeared that said Copeland will face Moxley in a street fight for the AEW Championship next week in Omaha.
Hologram made his entrance with “Harleygram” Harley Cameron behind him. He was then joined by Powerhouse Hobbs. They were followed by Dralistico and Brian Cage.
2. Dralistico and Brian Cage vs. Powerhouse Hobbs and Hologram: Cage and Hobbs brawled on the floor before the match officially got started. Dralistico controlled the action in the ring early on, and tagged in Cage as they focused on Hologram. Cage was sent to the floor by a head scissors, but Cage caught Hologram’s dive and delivered a suplex on the floor. Cage then used Hologram for some bicep curls and tossed him back into the ring…[c]
The Beat Mortos showed up at ringside to beat down Hologram. Harleygram then showed up to perform a dance that distracted Mortos enough that he lost interest. Hologram got hit with a Crucifix Bomb by Dralistico in the ring, but was able to scramble for a tag to Hobbs. The match started to break down a little bit, as all four men ended up in the ring. Hobbs landed a big powerslam on Cage. A moment later, Cage used a double team with Dralistico to land a German Suplex, and then a vertical suplex on Hobbs from the apron back into the ring.
Hobbs landed a gnarly sprinbuster on Cage on the apron. Dralistico tried to trade strikes with Hobbs, but got caught with a spinebuster off of a springboard and Hobbs got the win.
Powerhouse Hobbs and Hologram defeated Brian Cage and Dralistico at 10:34
After the match, Hobbs had a staredown with Cage and Lance Archer. Alicia Atout then interviewed the Hurt Syndicate about what’s next. Shelton Benjamin said they wanted to know who’s ass they would kick next. MVP told them to take the week off, and he would handle TV. We then got a video package that focused on the Timeless Toni Storm character and her feud with Mariah May. Toni Storm then made her entrance onto the stage.
She said she had stitches in her lip, staples in her head, and glass in her ass, this tramp is still the champ. Toni said Revolution was her Hollywood Ending, and part of her heart will be gone forever, and it was well worth it. She said it was time for a new beginning, and this was the most talented locker room in the history of pro wrestling. Toni said the other world title is in a briefcase, and they have belt collectors and forever champions.
Toni said fighting with her is like a zoo, because she bleeds like a pig and fights like a lion, but she’s no pussy. She said nobody swings like Toni Storm, so put your keys in the bowl and lets get this orgy started. As she dropped the mic, she was attacked from behind and left laying on the ground by Megan Bayne…[c]
My Take: Hopefully Strom can help Bayne along in the character department because we know very little about her at this point. Storm’s promo was a lot of fun, though.
The Beast Mortos was back out for an Eliminator Tournament Match. His opponent is a wildcard, who turned out to be Speedball Mike Bailey.
3. Speedball Mike Bailey vs. The Beast Mortos: Bailey landed some flash kicks, but Mortos fired back with a big strike of his own. Bailey landed a standing side kick and then sent Mortos to the floor with a flurry of kicks. He then attempted to dive to the floor, but Mortos avoided it and landed a huge shoulder block. Bailey recovered enough to land some strikes and another kick. He then followed up with a flip dive from the ring to the floor to take down Mortos…[c]
Mortos avoided a roundhouse kick and rolled to the floor. Speedball landed a big boot when Mortos climbed back to the apron, and then leapt onto him with a moonsault on the floor. He then delivered a Liger Bomb using the second rope for leverage for a two count. Mortos was able to recover and fire back with a pop up Samoan Drop for a near fall of his own.
Mortos climbed the ropes, and Bailey followed him. Mortos managed to take control and land a top rope press slam for a close near fall. He followed up with a nasty backbreaker and a discus lariat. Bailey fired back with a seated PK and a standing moonsault knee drop. He then followed up with a spinning crescent kick for the win.
Speedball Mike Bailey defeated The Beast Mortos at 10:54
After the match, Renee Paquette asked Christian questions about his contract cash in on Sunday. Christian refused to speak to Renee because she’s related to Jon Moxley. Once she left, Christian said the referee screwed him because he demanded a one on one title match with Cope, and instead he made it a triple threat. He demanded his contract be returned to him, and claimed he would still be world champion one day. Nick Wayne stood up to him, and told him he was making excuses and should have stuck to their original plan and he would be World Champion.
Christian got in his face and told him he wasn’t a loser like his biological father, and said he and his loser Dad knew nothing about winning world championships. He said the next time they have this conversation would be the last time, and he would be the AEW Champion one day if it’s the last thing he does on this earth.
A video was from backstage at Revolution PPV, with MJF calling himself a fraud into a mirror after his match with MJF. He then made his entrance in the arena. MJF said he wasn’t angry anymore, and he would get his back. He said he got a cheap win on Sunday, but it wasn’t over between them, not by a long shot. Just as he said that, MVP made his ring entrance.
They greeted one another with a sneer, but it was a fake out and eventually exchanged a hug. MVP offered a history lesson about meeting MJF when he was 18 years old. He recalled MJF driving him around for a documentary film for the low low price of asking him questions in the car. He said he was proud of him because he did everything he said he was going to do, including becoming a Heavyweight level Champion.
MVP said he wasn’t proud of what happened to him on Sunday, because he was out here whining instead of hiring people. He said he’s lost his edge, and the boys in the back no longer respect or fear him. He said that’s what he’s missing, and he was able to help him once in the past, and maybe he can help him again. He said maybe it was time for them to discuss business, and handed him a card.
MJF refused it, and said whether these people recognize it or not, he was the World Champion for 406 consecutive days. MVP offered the card again, and told him to focus on the word “was”. MJF took the card and put it in his breast pocket.
My Take: Speedball had a solid debut. He’s going to be a special talent for AEW if they can find a way to make his quirky personality come across well on screen. He’s already a world class talent in the ring, which will take him a long way in AEW as it is. MVP and MJF forming a partnership is an interesting idea, but it seems like MVP told Lashley and Benjamin to stay away so he could have this conversation, so I’m guessing they won’t be thrilled about it.
Max Caster was in the ring and claimed to be the biggest star of The Acclaimed. He started a bad chant, and the crowd laughed at him. He said the people of Fresno are stupid, and so is whoever answers his challenge. Konosuke Takeshita made his way to the ring. Caster asked if Takeshita was there to invite him to be in the Don Callis family, since he can’t be there to fight him, since he’d kill him.
4. Max Caster vs. Konosuke Takeshita: Takeshita interrupted Max’s speech with a big elbow shot that put him to sleep. He then hit him with Raging Fire and picked up the win.
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Max Caster at 0:14
After the match, footage was shown of The Learning Tree’s attack on Gravity and Bandido. Jericho then cut a backstage promo, and said gravity has been introduced into their situation. He said he embarrassed him in front of his family. Jericho said he made his sister afraid and made his mother cry. He said maybe Bandido is just the unlucky SOB who was the guy in front of him when he decided to stop letting people get too comfortable around him.
In the arena, Willow Nightingale made her ring entrance. She was followed by Penelope Ford.
5. Penelope Ford vs. Willow Nightingale: Both women traded strikes early, but Willow used her power to get the advantage. She landed a suplex, but Ford recovered and sent her into the turnbuckle in the corner. Ford then followed up with a dropkick in the corner and then a stomp to the chest on the apron…[c]
Ford controlled the action during the break. Willow fired back with a lariat and an elbow strike in the corner. She then delivered a big spinebuster for a near fall. Willow went for her Doctor Bomb, but Ford escaped. Ford then attempted a backslide, but Willow caught her in a Gory Special. She bit Willow to escape, and then hit a diving crossbody a moment later for a two count. Willow fired back with a big powerslam and covered for a two count of her own. Ford was able to deliver a stunner after ducking a lariat.
Willow fired back with a big pounce a moment later and covered for the win.
Willow Nightingale defeated Penelope Ford at 8:44
After the match, Ford delivered a chair shot to the gut and across the back of Willow. Kris Statlander ran into make the save. Willow and Statlander did not immediately get along, and Megan Bayne was able to run down cut them both down with a lariat. She then delivered an F5 to Kris Statlander.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviewed Mercedes Mone, who was sporting a huge bruise on her face form getting kicked in the jaw by Momo Wantanabe. Renee then introduced Billie Starkz to the interview. Billie said they were a lot alike, and she says Mone changes everything, and she was looking to change into a champion next week. Mercedes laughed and told her she was out of her league, and told her there would be a price to pay next week for messing with Mercedes Mone.
In the ring, Will Ospreay was interviewed by Tony Schiavone. He was all wrapped up and said he had stitches in his head and his chest was wrapped up from being stabbed. Ospreay said Kyle Fletcher will be a World Champion someday, and he hopes the next time they meet he can still call himself the better man. He said he’s in a bit of trouble with his wife, and told a story about how he promised her he wouldn’t jump off the cage, and realized he was in trouble when he remembered he was on Prime Video and saw all the camera phones.
After the story, he said the only way he can’t be the guy unless he has something around his waist. He said Cope has his shot next week, and Swerve has his shot at Dynasty, so he’s calling his shot for All In Texas. He said if it’s Swerve, he looks forward to his rematch, and if it’s Moxley, he’ll be an Assassin coming for the throne. Ospreay said he wants to be World Champion because the people trust him with AEW, and he’s on another level.
Backstage, Jay White addressed Ospreay and said he hoped they would end up in the ring again someday. He said in order for Ospreay to win the championship at All In, the powers that be would have to keep protecting him and keep Ospreay out of the ring with him. White then said he did not hit Copelan on purpose on Sunday, and that had failed in his promise to help him dethrone Jox Moxley. White said he wouldn’t let anybody stop him from destroying the Death Riders and becoming the AEW World Champion…[c]
My Take: A solid match from Ford and Willow. I’m curious to see how they handle Megan Bayne being tied up with basically all of the top babyfaces at once. Ospreay’s interview was pretty clumsy, but he was in good spirits so I guess that counts for something. Jay White still cuts promos that are somewhere halfway between heel and babyface, which makes him tough to figure out at times.
Backstage, MJF approached Hangman Page while he spoke to Renee Paquette. Hangman said he didn’t believe MJF was going to light him on fire next week, and he was right about something else, and that’s the fact that MJF cares about what the fans think of him. MJF replied that he was going to go and do what Hangman never could, and that’s win the AEW World Title over and over again, while Hangman climbs the mountain and falls down just before he reaches the top. He then told him that Page doesn’t think he deserved the crowd’s love, and he’s right, because he’ll never win the big one and make them proud. Page said I guess we’ll find out, won’t we.
Orange Cassidy made his ring entrance for the Main Event, followed by Hechicero.
6. Orange Cassidy vs. Hechicero: The match began with Hechicero applying holds, and also preventing Orange Cassidy from putting his hands in his pockets. Cassidy did a rope walk about halfway around the ring, and then put his hands in his pockets to annoy Hechicero. Cassidy performed a rollup with no hands and got a two count….[c]
My Take: A little follow up from MJF and Page, but it was consistent with the crux of their feud. Hangman is a has the love of the fans but doesn’t think he deserves it, and MJF is someone who desires the love of the fans but doesn’t actually deserve it.
Hechicero applied a sleeper over the ropes, and then worked over his legs with a dragon screw. He followed up with a Hammerlock backbreaker for a near fall. Cassidy fired back with stundog millionaire and a DDT, but wasn’t able to follow up effectively because of the damage to his knee. Hechicero applied an armbar, but Cassidy was able to escape. He then managed to roll up Hechicero with a straight jacket pin and get a victory.
Orange Cassidy defeated Hecichero at 10:30
After the match, Mike Bailey walked back out and pointed at Cassidy, as he will face him next in the semi finals…[c]
My Take: A decent match, but the finish felt like it came out of nowhere. Hechicero is a lot of fun to watch, but he hasn’t been much of a threat to top level competition in AEW.
Speedmidget Bailey is an absolute zero. He’s just another 5’5″ boring white guy with zero physique and no promo skills who does the same stupid flippy bullshit that everyone else on the god awful AEW roster.
Would you say the same things if he had signed with WWE?
Yes. I have no use for boring midgets. WWE should dump absolute no talent midget losers like Gargano and Ciampa immediately.
Orange Cassidy in the main event yet again?!Just WOW..
Wowsers, dreadful episode. Did Dralistico-Hobbs have a language barrier issue or what? They botched several things together.
Will Willow ever recover from that brutal chairshot from Ford?
How many times is boring Cassidy going to main event? This show was a wreck and there’s really no direction for this company.