By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Dynasty
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Liacouras Center
Aired live April 6, 2025 on pay-per-view
AEW Dynasty pre-show results: Lio Rush, Action Andretti, and Nick Wayne defeated AR Fox Dante Martin, and Darius Martin in 11:15, and Anthony Bowens defeated Max Caster in 0:40…
Pyro shot off on the stage. The initial broadcast team was Excalibur, Jim Ross, and Taz. Ring announcer Justin Roberts delivered the introductions for the opening match while the entrances took place…
1. Will Ospreay vs. “The Jet” Kevin Knight in an Owen Hart Foundation men’s tournament quarterfinal match. Ross touted the training that Knight received. Ospreay and Knight shook hands while Ross and Taz told aspiring wrestlers about the importance of getting proper training.
Ospreay popped Knight high in the air and let him hit the ground before hitting him with a big boot that sent him to ringside. Ospreay performed a dive from the ring onto Knight at ringside, then stood up and looked at the Owen Hart Cup that was set up on a ringside podium.
Knight came back briefly, but Ospreay hit him with a Stundog Millionaire and a corkscrew kick, which led to a two count. Knight caught Ospreay with a couple of big boots and then executed a German suplex, but Ospreay landed on his feet. Ospreay put Knight down with a German suplex of his own.
Knight caught Ospreay with a dropkick. Knight went for a follow-up move, but Ospreay put him down with a standing Spanish Fly that left both men down momentarily. Both wrestlers traded elbow strikes in the middle of the ring.
Knight connected with another dropkick. Knight ran into a boot from Ospreay, who went to the ropes only to be pulled down with a huracanrana. Ospreay rolled to the floor. Knight set for a move, but Ospreay walked to the other side of the ring post. Knight adjusted and dove onto him on the floor.
Moments later, Ospreay set up for a Styles Clash at ringside, but Knight countered into a DDT on the floor. Knight returned to the ring and hit a springboard clothesline onto Ospreay on the floor. Knight brought Ospreay back to the ring and then rolled into a DDT that led to a near fall.
Ospreay fought back and set up for a powerbomb, but Knight countered into a huracanrana. Knight stuffed another Ospreay move and then hit a top rope frog splash for a near fall. Knight went for a springboard move and was caught by an Ospreay cutter. Ospreay went for the OsCutter, but Knight countered into a backslide for another near fall.
Ospreay came right back with a Styles Clash and then rolled Knight over for a near fall. Ospreay put Knight down with an OsCutter for a near fall. Ospreay followed up with a Hidden Blade and scored the clean pin.
Will Ospreay defeated Kevin Knight in 13:50 to advance to the semifinals of the Owen Hart Foundation tournament.
The updated brackets showed that Ospreay will face the winner of the Brody King vs. Konosuke Takeshita match. Ospreay and Knight shook hands and hugged. Knight exited to give Ospreay his moment while the fans chanted his name. Ospreay looked at the All In Texas sign and then pointed at it before making his exit…
Powell’s POV: The big spot fest style match that one would expect from these two and the live crowd loved it. Ospreay going over was certainly expected, but Knight got plenty of offense and looked really good in defeat.
A video package set up the AEW Tag Team Title match and then entrances for the match took place…
2. Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin (w/MVP) vs. Big Bill and Bryan Keith for the AEW Tag Team Titles. Tony Schiavone replaced Jim Ross at the broadcast table, and MVP sat in on commentary. Bill hit early big boots on Lashley and Benjamin and then clotheslined them both over the top rope to ringside. Bill played to the crowed. MVP left the broadcast table for a moment to speak with his team.
Lashley drove his shoulder into Bill’s abdomen in a corner of the ring and then tagged out. Bill backed Benjamin into the challenging team’s corner. Keith tagged in and then Benjamin got the better of him quickly. Lashley tagged in and clotheslined Keith and tossed him to the floor before tagging out. Benjamin roughed up Keith at ringside.
Later, Bill tagged in and splashed Lashley in one corner and Benjamin in the other. Bill put Lashley down and then played to the crowd. Benjamin grabbed Bill from behind and suplexed him, which led to a near fall. Bill rallied with a side slam for a near fall of his own. Bill went for a chokeslam, but Benjamin countered into an arm drag.
Bill caught Benjamin with a big boot and then tagged out. Bill splashed Benjamin in the corner, but Lashley put Keith down and then did the same to Bill. Lashley set up Bill for a move, but Bill countered into a clunky Snake Eyes before clotheslining Lashley to ringside.Bill followed and caught Lashley big a big boot.
MJF stood up behind the barricade and then spun Bill around and punched him with the Dynamite Diamond Ring. The production team missed the spot live and then replayed it. Security escorted MJF away from ringside. Meanwhile, Benjamin hit a German suplex on Keith. Lashley speared Keith and then Benjamin pinned him…
Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin defeated Big Bill and Bryan Keith in 11:00 to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: The match was laid out to make Bill look competitive with Lashley and Benjamin, but they didn’t seem to have much interest in selling for Keith. This was fine for what it was. The live crowd chanted “we hurt people” at various points throughout the match, but they still popped for Bill’s offense.
A video package set up the women’s Owen Hart Foundation match and then entrances took place…
3. TBS Champion Mercedes Mone vs. Julia Hart in an Owen Hart Foundation women’s tournament quarterfinal match. The bell rang and the wrestlers stood across the ring from one another and seemed to be waiting for cheers that didn’t come. Harley Cameron was shown watching the match on a backstage television and had the Mone puppet on her hand.
Hart performed Old School. Hart mounted Mone on the mat and then slammed the back of her head on the mat repeatedly. Mone ducked to ringside. Hart went to the apron and did a cartwheel over Mone’s attempt to swipe her legs. Mone drove Hart into the barricade and then hit her with a meteora from the apron. Mone got Hart back inside the ring and covered her for a two count.
Mone followed up with a running meteora and got another two count. Mone performed two of the Three Amigo’s. Hart wrenched Mone’s arm and got her on the mat. Hart went for a standing moonsault, but Mone put her knees up. Mone covered Hart for two.
Mone tied up Hart in a tree of woe. Mone went to the ropes, but Hart sat up and flipped Mone back inside the ring. Mone got up a charged Hart, who moved, causing Mone to end up on the floor. Hart hit a crossbody block onto Mone. Back in the ring, Hart dropped Mone with a DDT and covered her for a two count.
Mone cut off Hart’s offensive run with a lung blower. Mone set up Hart for a Moneymaker, but Hart escaped. Hart put Mone in the Tarantula. Back in the ring, Hart applied the octopus hold. Mone broke it by driving Hart into the middle turnbuckle.
Hart got Mone down and when went for a top rope moonsult, but Mone booted her in the face. Mone followed up with a pair of Backstabbers. Mone grabbed Hart from behind, but Hart caught her with elbows. Hart used a crucifix bomb to get a near fall. Hart set up for her finisher, but Mone applied the Statement Maker.
Hart escaped the hold and countered into her submission finisher, which Mone escaped. Mone reapplied the Statement Maker. Hart crawled toward the ropes while the fans chanted her name. Mone tried to roll her back into the middle of the ring, but Hart countered into a pin for a two count. Mone hooked Hart into a pin and got the three count.
Mercedes Mone defeated Julia Hart in 13:00 to advance to the semifinals of the Owen Hart Foundation women’s tournament.
Taz said Mone got kind of l;ucky and said the match could have gone either way. Athena was shown watching the match on a backstage monitor. The updated brackets showed that Mone will face the winner of the Athena vs. Harley Cameron match in the semifinals…
Powell’s POV: The first half of the match felt a little flat, but it came together nicely with some good back and forth action that got the crowd behind Hart.
A video package set up the AEW Trios Title match and then entrances took place. The challengers came out first and were dressed in Rated FTR gear. The crowd continued to sing Adam Copeland’s entrance theme after it stopped playing. Excalibur pointed out that Paul Turner was the referee and said his integrity would not be called into question despite recent events. The champions made the usual Death Riders’ entrance through the crowd. Schiavone noted that it was a homecoming of sorts for Yuta…
Powell’s POV: For anyone who may have missed it, Dax Harwood put his hands on referee Paul Turner during a Collision match. On Wednesday’s Dynamite, Harwood presented Turner with a check for $10,000, which he said was fine money that Tony Khan permitted him to give to Turner directly. It was a turn your brain off moment for anyone who watches sports and knows that an athlete would never be allowed to give money to a referee.
4. Pac, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta vs. “Rated FTR” Adam Copeland, Dax Harwood, and Cash Wheeler for the AEW Trios Titles. Nigel McGuinness replaced Taz on commentary. A few minutes into the match, Wheeler hit Castagnoli with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Wheeler went up top and was shoved off by Yuta into an uppercut from Castagnoli while Pac distracted the referee.
Wheeler was isolated and eventually was able to reach for a tag. Harwood reached out and took the tag that was intended for Copeland. Harwood worked over Castagnoli and set up for a Sharpshooter. Yuta ran in and kicked Harwood. Copeland enered the ring and put Yuta in a submission hold.
Harwood and Castagnoli put Wheeler and Pac in Sharpshooters while going face-to-face. They fought and eventually released the holds to continue fighting. Moments later, Castagnoli performed the Giant Swing on Harwood, who was booted by Yuta, who then covered him for a near fall. A “F— you, Yuta” chant broke out.
Castagnoli launched Yuta from the top rope onto Harwood and then did the same with Pac, who had the pin until Wheeler broke it up. Harwood made a hot tag to Copeland, who worked over Pac and Yuta. Copeland put Pac down with an Impaler DDT for a near fall that seemed to excite Schiavone more than the live crowd.
Copeland superplexed Pac and then Wheeler and Harwood followed up with top rope splashes, but the pin that followed was broken up. Harwood powerbombed Yuta, only to have Pac hook Harwood into a pin for a two count. Pac put Harwood in the Brutalizer. Yuta reached over the ropes and put Wheeler in a sleeper while Castagnoli kept Copeland at ringside. Wheeler pulled Yuta over the top rope and was able to break up Pac’s submission hold on Harwood.
Yuta ran into a Shatter Machine from Harwood and Wheeler. Copeland followed up with a spear on Yuta. Harwood had Yuta pinned, but Castagnoli broke it up at the last moment. Copeland and Castagnoli fought to ringside where Copeland speared Castagnoli.
Copeland returned to the ring and charged Yuta for a spear, but Yuta leapfrogged him. Copeland stopped short of hitting Harwood, but Yuta shoved Copeland into Harwood, causing them to bump heads. Yuta followed up with a Busaiku Knee on Harwood before pinning him.
Pac, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta defeated “Rated FTR” Adam Copeland, Dax Harwood, and Cash Wheeler in 14:45 to retain the AEW Trios Titles.
After the champions made their exit, Copeland and Wheeler stood in the ring while Harwood was on the mat. Copeland and Wheeler pulled Harwood to his feet and they all hugged and raised their arms. Harwood grabbed Copeland and gave him a piledriver. Wheeler acted surprised.
Harwood went to ringside and returned with two chairs. Harwood placed Copeland’s head on one chair and then offered the second chair to Wheeler, who threw it aside and then shoved Harwood to the mat.
Wheeler pulled Copeland to his feet and then joined Harwood and hitting Copeland with a Shatter Machine. The FTR duo performed a spike piledriver onto a chair. Wheeler capped it off with a Conchairto on Copeland. The crowd booed. Wheeler knelt down and spoke to Copeland while the AEW trainer entered the ring.
Wheeler grabbed the chair and gave Copeland another Conchairto. Paramedics arrived at ringside. Wheeler grabbed the neck brace and put it on. Wheeler hopped onto a stretcher and then Harwood acted like he was pumping Wheeler’s chest. Schiavone wondered if it was premeditated or a spur of the moment move. The FTR attack on Copeland was replayed. The broadcast team was shown at their desk. Excalibur said that what FTR did was disgusting and they can’t condone their actions…
Powell’s POV: The match was enjoyable and it was encouraging to see Yuta play more of an opportunistic weasel than a badass. You could see the FTR turn on Copeland coming a mile away, but that doesn’t justify the last ditch attempt to swerve the fans by having Wheeler shove Harwood to the mat before he followed through on the turn. It was completely unnecessary in that it’s not like they needed to swerve Copeland, who was already down and out. But I’m happy to see FTR working as heels again, and one can only assume that it’s the first step toward a Copeland and Christian Cage reunion.
The AEW Women’s Championship match was set up with a video package. Megan Bayne made her entrance with Penelope Ford. Justin Roberts introduced “our feature presentation.” A Toni Storm video package showed her training and jumping on a bed. She put a pillow over her face while lying in the bed and screamed. Storm made her entrance dressed in a boxer’s rope. She was accompanied by Luther, who was apparently playing the role of Mick from Rocky…
Powell’s POV: CM Punk must be so confused if he’s watching this match.
5. Toni Storm (w/Luther) vs. Megan Bayne (w/Penelope Ford) for the AEW Women’s Championship. The crowd sang “Toni, Toni Storm” in European fan style. Bayne was dominant early. Storm, who had boxing themed gear, ended up at ringside where she spoke with Luther. Bayne went for a suicide dive and took out Luther. Storm went on the offensive and rolled Bayne back inside the ring before hitting her with a crossbody block from the top rope, which led to a two count.
Bayne regained offensive control. Ford choked Storm over the bottom rope while referee Aubrey Edwards was focused on Bayne. Ford choked Storm a second time and licked her face. Bayne performed three belly-to-belly suplexes and got a two count. Ford choked Storm a third time, but this time Luther put Ford on her shoulders at ringside and carried her backstage.
Storm performed a Thesz Press and followed up with a DDT. Storm put Bayne in a variation of the STF, but Bayne reached the ropes. Storm ended up on the apron and was suplexed back into the ring by Bayne, who then walked over her. Bayne went to the ropes. Storm grabbed Bayne and then executed a wicked suplex. It looked nasty live, but fortunately the replay showed that Bayne didn’t land on the top of her head.
Storm followed up with a German suplex. Bayne came right back with one of her own and then hit a falcon arrow for a near fall. Bayne hoisted up Storm, who countered into a pin for a two count. Storm executed a German suplex and then hit a Hip Attack in the corner. Bayne stood up, but Storm put her right back down with a headbutt. Storm hit three more Hip Attacks.
Storm followed up with Storm Zero and covered Bayne, who kicked out immediately. “She’s in there with a monster,” McGuinness said. Storm acted stunned while Bayne pounded her own head. Storm went for Storm Zero, but Bayne backdropped her. Bayne hit a couple of clotheslines and a powerbomb. Bayne set up Storm for her Fate’s Descent finisher, but Storm caught her in an inside cradle and got the three count…
Toni Storm defeated Megan Bayne in 15:25 to retain the AEW Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: This was fun aside from the needlessly high risk suplex from the ropes. Bayne did a nice job in her highest profile match to date. Kicking out immediately after Storm Zero was a bit much even if the crowd popped. I was curious to see how Bayne would be protected if she took loss. The inside cradle worked in that it felt like veteran Storm pulled off a veteran move as opposed to simply dominating and pinning Bayne.
A video package set up the last Owen Hart Cup tournament match of the night and then entrances for the match took place. Don Callis accompanied Kyle Fletcher to the ring, and then Mark Briscoe made his entrance. Fletcher hit Briscoe with a suicide dive and then rolled him inside the ring.
6. Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe in an Owen Hart Foundation men’s tournament quarterfinal match. Don Callis sat in on commentary. Referee Rick Knox idiotically rewarded Fletcher for the pre-match attack by immediately calling for the bell without checking on Briscoe (why does AEW keep doing this?).
Briscoe came back quickly and hit a Cactus Jack style elbow drop from the barricade. Briscoe threw a bunch of chairs in the ring. Idiot Knox turned his back to the wrestlers while clearing all but one chair from the ring. Fletcher suplexed Briscoe onto the remaining chair and then Knox turned around and made a two count.
Konosuke Takeshita was shown watching the match on a backstage television. Fletcher dominated the new few minutes of offense following the chair spot. Fletcher powerbombed Briscoe onto the barricade. Briscoe came back and bit the head of Fletcher before hitting him with a shotgun dropkick. Brody King was shown watching the match on another backstage television.
Late in the match, Briscoe had a flurry of offense and hit the Froggy Bow. Fletcher kicked out at the last moment, which didn’t seem to surprise the crowd. Briscoe set up for a Jay Driller, but Fletcher countered out of it. Fletcher set up for a brainbuster, but Briscoe countered into a Death Valley Driver.
Fletcher rolled to the floor to avoid being pinned. Briscoe hit a top rope elbow onto Fletcher at ringside. Briscoe rolled Fletcher back inside the ring and went for Froggy Bow, but Fletcher put his feet up. Fletcher hit running kicks in the corner and then hit a brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle before getting the three count…
Kyle Fletcher beat Mark Briscoe in 16:15 to advance to the semifinals of the Owen Hart Foundation tournament.
The updated brackets showed that Fletcher will face thew inner of the Hangman Page vs. the wild card in the next round…
Powell’s POV: Another strong match from Fletcher and Briscoe, but it feels like we’ve reached a point in the night where the rapid fire match structure of the show took a bit of a toll. The crowd was into the match, but I think there were more subdued than they would have been had this match taken place during the first hour. These brief video packages in between matches just don’t provide the crowd or the viewers with enough time to catch their breath between matches.
A video package set up the ROH Championship match. Bandido made his entrance and hugged his mother and sister, who were in the crowd. Chris Jericho’s entrance followed and he came out alone…
7. Chris Jericho vs. Bandido in an ROH Championship vs. mask match. Jericho immediately hit a Codebreaker and covered Bandido for a two count. Bandido battled back and held up Jericho for a vertical suplex with one hand and led the crowd in counting to 50 before he followed through with move. Bandido covered Jericho for a near fall.
Jericho acted woozy from the suplex spot, but then he caught Bandido on the apron and dropped to the mat with a powerbomb. Jericho approached Bandido’s mother and asked if she was going to cry again. Jericho grabbed a camera and pointed it at Bandido’s mother, who chanted her son’s name.
Referee Bryce Remsburg counted to 15 before Bandido returned while the broadcast team reminded viewers that they go with a 20-count in ROH. A short time later, Jericho taunted Bandido’s family while standing on the middle rope. Bandido pulled Jericho down with a powerbomb that resulted in a near fall.
Bandido went back to the ropes and was cut off by Jericho, who joined him on the top rope and threw punches that some fans counted along with it. Jericho went for a huracanrana, but Bandido stuffed it and powered up Jericho, who executed a huracanrana.
Jericho played to the crowd and then ran toward Bandido, who pressed him overhead and held him up with one hand before slamming him to the mat. Bandido went up top and did the shimmy before hitting a frog splash for a near fall. Bandido went up top and went for a corkscrew dive, but Jericho caught him with the Codebreaker on the way down.
Jericho and Bandido did their five paces spot. Jericho turned around early and struck Bandido and then used the ropes for leverage while doing a two count. Jericho went for a move and yelled “Hi, Guys” only to have Bandido stuff the move.
Bandido went for a 21 Plex and he struggled to roll back into position for the move, but Jericho countered out of it and applied the Walls of Jericho. Bandido reached the ropes to break the hold and then put Jericho down with a kick.
Bandido hobbled to the ring and made it to the apron before Gravity pulled him down and fought with him. The referee turned his back to the action like a moron and then Jericho pulled a bat out from behind the ring steps and struck Bandido with it. Jericho put the bat back and then covered Bandido for the win.
Referee Aubrey Edwards showed up at ringside and spoke with Bandido’s mother and sister while Jericho celebrated in the ring. Bandido’s mother and sister were allowed to go to ringside where they pointed to the ring steps. Edwards pulled the bat out and showed it to Remsburg, who told the ring announcer that he was restarting the match.
Jericho grabbed Bandido’s sister until she slapped him. Bandido hit a GTS and then hit the 21 Plex and scored the pin.
Bandido defeated Chris Jericho in 18:15 to win the ROH Championship in a title vs. mask match.
After the match, Bandido’s mother, sister, and brother Gravity entered the ring and hugged him before Remsburg gave him the ROH Title belt.
Powell’s POV: Remember this finish the next time they tell you that referees can only call what they see. Ugh. I watched Wheeler Yuta hit Dax Harwood with a hammer on Collision that somehow didn’t leave a mark, and now Bandido was able to make a quick recovery and win after being struck with a baseball bat. It’s turn your brain off nonsense. The crowd was in and out of the match. They’ve seen a way too many near falls, so they’re not biting on them like they did earlier. I still don’t understand the point of ROH, but if they are going to move forward with it, then they should at least try to make their matches stand out. The used an AEW ring announcer, and AEW referee, didn’t change anything about the look of the ring, and stuck with the AEW broadcast team. Both wrestlers worked hard, but they had a lot working against them. On the bright side, Bandido’s emotional mom is great.
An All In Texas ad aired… A video package set up the TNT Title match…
Justin Roberts announced that there would be no time limits and no outside interference (as if outside interference is allowed in standard matches). Adam Cole made his entrance by himself and then Daniel Garcia made his entrance…
8. Daniel Garcia vs. Adam Cole for the TNT Title with no time limit and no outside interference. The wrestlers met in the middle of the ring and jawed at one another after the bell rang. Excalibur noted that this was the anniversary of Tony Schiavone’s debut on the TBS network. Excalibur wasn’t going to say the year, but Schiavone said it occurred in 1985.
Cole jumped off the apron for a Panama Sunrise on the floor. Garcia moved out of the way. Cole sold his surgically repaired ankle. Garcia drilled Cole with a kick and then threw kicks at his knee and ankle until the referee stepped in. Cole returned to the ring and continued to sell the ankle. Garcia kicked Cole’s bad leg and continued to target the injury.
The crowd was quiet as Cole eventually came back for a hope sequence. Garcia turned him inside out with a clothesline and got a two count. Garcia put Cole down with a Gotch style piledriver for a near fall.
Cole caught Garcia with a superkick and fell to the mat. Garcia fell on top of Cole and got a two count before Cole hooked him into a pin for a two count of his own. Garcia put Cole in an ankle lock. Cole crawled toward the ropes, but Garcia pulled him back to the middle of the ring and then grapevined him. Cole eventually reached the ropes and then rolled to the floor.
Garcia went to ringside and ran Cole’s bad leg into the ring steps. Garcia stood on the steps and mocked Cole’s “Boom” schtick and received minimal heat in return. Cole joined him on the steps and eventually hit a ushigoroshi on the steps. The fans woke up with dueling chants for a moment, but they faded quickly. Cole hit a Panama Sunrise off the steps and then rolled Garcia back in the ring and followed him.
Garcia lowered his kneepad and ran the ropes, but Garcia fell to the mat. Cole approached Garcia, who used an inside cradle to get a two count. Garcia hit Cole with a Panama Sunrise and then hit him with his own Boom knee strike for a near fall. Cole came back with a Panama Sunrise. Cole went to another corner and hit another Panama Sunrise. Cole played to the crowd and got a polite response before hit he hit the Boom knee strike and scored the pin.
Adam Cole defeated Daniel Garcia in 15:35 to win the TNT Championship.
After the match, Cole celebrated and then offered his hand to Garcia. A dejected Garcia pulled himself off the mat, shook Cole’s hand, and then pointed at him. Garcia headed to the back while Cole continued his celebration…
Powell’s POV: I’m happy they didn’t go needlessly long despite the match not having a time limit. The live crowd was tame for the second straight match. The pacing of the show is an issue and they’ve had way too many near falls again, but it’s not like anyone expected either match to play to hot crowds. AEW pay-per-view crowds typically come back to life for the last hour of the show.
A video package set up the AEW International Championship match and then entrances took place…
9. Kenny Omega vs. Mike Bailey vs. Ricochet in a three-way for the AEW International Championship. Taz was back on commentary in place of McGuinness. There was a “Kenny” chant before the opening bell. Excalibur said he called Omega’s singles matches against both opponents in the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla promotion. He said he beat Bailey but lost to Ricochet.
Ricochet shoved Omega into the broadcast table a little over a minute into the match. Omega returned to the apron quickly and put Ricochet down. Omega ran Bailey into the corner while still on the apron, then went up top and hit a crossbody block on him.
Omega caught Ricochet in a crossarm breaker for a moment. Bailey hit Omega with rapid fire kicks. Ricochet went for a springboard move that Bailey avoided. Bailey dove through the ropes and took Omega down with a huracanrana. Both men avoided Ricochet and then took turns slapping his bald head while saying “bald.”
Powell’s POV: The disrespect shown to my bald brother has gone too far. Rick Knox is a member of the fraternity and should do the right thing by fast counting Ricochet to victory over these follically unchallenged freaks.
Omega hoisted up Bailey, who slipped away and landed in the front row. Bailey threw kicks at Omega, who was then draped over the barricade. Bailey pulled Ricochet onto the barricade. Ricochet thumbed Bailey’s eyes and then gave him a Death Valley Driver on top of Omega. “I look too damn good,” Ricochet said. A “bald forever” chant broke out while Ricochet was on the offensive.
Later, Omega and Bailey ended up alone in the ring together. Omega threw a series of right-handed punches at Bailey and then dropped him with a chop. Bailey fired back with kicks, including one to the chest that knocked Omega to the mat. Ricochet grabbed Bailey from behind, but Bailey knocked him off the apron with a kick. Bailey followed up with dive from the middle rope into a moonsault over the top rope and onto Ricochet on the floor. Cool spot.
Omega caught Bailey with a kick that sent him to ringside. Omega hit both opponents with a flip dive. A “fight forever” chant broke out. Ricochet performed a dive onto both opponents and landed on his feet. Moments later, Bailey hit the most impressive dive onto both opponents.
Back inside the ring, Bailey backdropped Ricochet onto Omega and then hit them with an Ultima Weapon style move. Bailey dropped Omega with a big kick and covered him, but Ricochet pulled Rick Knox’s leg to break up the pin. Bailey got pissed and then roughed up Ricochet with punches. Bailey got Ricochet on the apron and went for a backflip into a double knee driver, but Ricochet moved. Knox checked on Bailey, who had a leg clipped from behind by Ricochet that also knocked Knox down.
Ricochet mounted Omega on the ropes and bit his forehead. Bailey returned and performed a Poison Rana on Ricochet. Bailey joined Omega on the ropes. Omega pressed Bailey up and dropped him on the top turnbuckle. Omega hit snap dragon suplexes on both opponents. Bailey tried to fight off another, but Omega ended up performing a double snap dragon suplex on both opponents, which got a big reaction from the crowd.
Omega hit Ricochet with a V-Trigger on one side of the ring and then hit Bailey with another, which knocked Bailey out of the ring. Omega set up for a One Winged Angel, but Ricochet slipped out of it. Ricochet caught Omega with an elbow and went to the corner, but Omega grabbed him and suplexed him for a two count.
Bailey returned and slipped out of Omega’s One Winged Angel attempt and sent him crashing into Ricochet. Bailey caught Omega with a kick and then used a backslide. Ricochet joined the pin and used the ropes for leverage, but Omega still kicked out.
Omega backdropped Ricochet to ringside. Bailey caught Omega with a couple of kicks and then went for the Ultima Weapon, but Omega avoided it. Bailey sold knee pain again. Omega got up and rolled him into a knee-bar. Ricochet hit Omega with a springboard 450 splash to break the hold and for a near fall.
Ricochet kicked Bailey’s bad leg and followed up with his finisher for a near fall. Ricochet set up for the Spirit Gun, but Omega broke it up. Bailey rolled up Omega for a two count and then caught him with a spin kick. Bailey went to the middle rope. Ricochet pushed Bailey onto Omega. Bailey sold knee pain. Ricochet hit a shooting star press on Omega and flipped off Ricochet while going for the pin, but Omega kicked out.
Ricochet dropkicked Bailey in a corner of the ring and then went up top. Ricochet went for a shooting star press, but Bailey put his knees up and then hooked him into a pin for a near fall. Bailey screamed to sell knee pain. Ricochet begged off and encouraged Bailey to go after Omega instead. Bailey threw kicks at Ricochet, who caught his bad leg and worked it over.
Bailey struck the crane kick pose, which stopped Ricochet in his tracks. Ricochet told Bailey and the crowd that it doesn’t work. Ricochet charged at Bailey, who dropped him with a crane kick. Bailey followed up with the Ultimate Weapon on Ricochet and had him beat, but Omega drilled Bailey with a V-Trigger. Omega picked up Bailey in electric chair position, but Ricochet shoved him, which led to Omega setting Bailey on the top turnbuckle.
Ricochet put Omega down and then went to the ropes with Bailey. Omega recovered and went to the middle rope. Omega put Ricochet on his shoulders and hit him with the One Winged Angel. Omega covered Ricochet and got the three count while Bailey was caught in the tree of woe.
Kenny Omega defeated Mike Bailey and Ricochet in 31:00 to retain the AEW International Championship.
Kazuchika Okada’s entrance theme played while Omega was celebrating his win. Okada came out wearing a suit and headed to the ring. Okada went face-to-face with Omega, who left the ring. Omega turned and held up his first before heading backstage. Okada quickly departed the ring and held up the AEW Continental Championship belt on the ramp before going backstage…
Powell’s POV: The wild match that one would expect from these three and then some. I’m surprised that Ricochet took the pin, as he’s now lost back-to-back pay-per-view matches to Swerve Strickland and Kenny Omega. There’s no shame in losing to those guys, but hopefully he gets a big win to make sure that he continues to feel like he belongs in the upper mix. The post match angle with Okada felt really rushed. Is this show going to run past midnight eastern?
A video package set up the AEW World Championship match. Swerve Strickland had a flashy entrance and had superhero themed gear. Swerve was accompanied by Prince Nana. Jon Moxley made his entrance through the crowd with Marina Shafir…
10. Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) vs. Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) for the AEW World Championship. Justin Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Paul Turner was the referee. Moxley dumped Swerve over the broadcast table roughly seven minutes in. Swerve came up bleeding from the forehead. Moxley booted Swerve and then grabbed his face and asked whose house it is.
Moxley bit Swerve’s head and then threw punches at the cut. Moxley bit Swerve’s bloody head again. Moxley got Swerve on top of the ring steps and DDT’d him. The referee’s count reached nine when Swerve rolled back inside the ring. Moxley gave Swerve a piledriver and covered him for a two count. The match officially went past the top of the hour as Moxley once again bit Swerve’s bloody forehead.
Swerve fired back. Moxley smiled and cracked his neck and then traded forearms. Swerve slapped Moxley and kicked him several times. Swerve bounced off the ropes and ate a forearm from Moxley, who put him in a double wristlock, which drew some boos. The fans clapped in support of Swerve as Moxley transitioned into a crossarm breaker and then a triangle. Swerve eventually powered up Moxley and slammed him to the mat to break the hold.
A short time later, Swerve gave Moxley a backbreaker. Swerve went to roll into a move, but Moxley caught him with a cutter. Moxley set up for a Death Rider, but Swerve avoided it. Moxley avoided a vertebreaker attempt and then took Swerve down and caught him in a bulldog choke. Moxley hooked his legs around Swerve while keeping him locked in the choke. Swerve got to his feet and rolled out of it.
Swerve rolled into a Flatliner and then followed up with a kick. Swerve hit the House Call kick. Swerve backed up and went for another, but Moxley turned him inside out with a clothesline. Swerve popped up and hit another House Call kick.
Marina Shafir entered the ring with the briefcase and looked at Swerve. The referee yelled no and ejected her from ringside. Prince Nana got in Marina’s face and she eventually hit him with the briefcase. Moxley went for a cutter on Swerve, who shoved Shafir and she ended up taking the cutter instead. Swerve hit the Paradigm Shift on Moxley for a near fall.
Swerve went up top, but Moxley got up and pushed Swerve to the floor. Moxley followed and set up a ladder in front of the ring steps that were pulled away from the corner earlier in the match. Moxley stood on the ring steps and jawed at the fans for some heat. Moxley shoved Swerve onto the ladder and then climbed up the other side.
Swerve racked the back of Moxley and then threw punches at him before biting his forehead. Swerve put his feet on Moxley’s side of the ladder and then hit a Swerve Stomp that drove Moxley through a broadcast table. A “holy shit” chant broke out. Swerve came up flexing and holding his left knee.
Moxley and Serve eventually ended up in the ring and traded strikes. Marina Shafir returned to ringside with the briefcase. Moxley threw a chair at Swerve, who moved, and the chair hit Turner. REF BUMP!!! Swerve put Moxley down with a move.
Hangman Page walked out and stood on the apron while both wrestlers got to their knees. Before Page could choose which one to hit with a Buckshot Lariat, Claudio Castagnoli, Pac, and Wheeler Yuta attacked him. Yuta went for a Busaiku Knee that Page avoided. Page cleared the Death Riders from the ring and hit the Deadeye on Moxley. Castagnoli pulled Page from the ring.
“The Opps” Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata ran out and fought Castagnoli, Pac, and Yuta to the back. Swerve threw a chair at Moxley. Swerve went up top and hit a Swerve Stomp. Swerve held his left knee and tried to crawl toward Moxley.
The lights went out. When the lights turned on, “The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson were standing in the ring holding Swerve’s arms. The Bucks hit the BTE Trigger on Swerve. The Bucks exited the ring while Moxley covered Swerve and got the three count…
Jon Moxley defeated Swerve Strickland in 31:35 to retain the AEW World Championship.
Powell’s POV: If you keep viewers up 22 minutes past midnight when they have work and school the next morning, the least you can do is close the show in a satisfying manner. Instead we got the return of a tag team that nobody seemed to be clamoring for and a shit finish to the world championship match. Going past midnight eastern on with a show that started on a Sunday night is ridiculous. I’m a night owl so it doesn’t affect me, but Tony Khan needs to learn discipline when it comes the length of these shows or at least have the decency to start his shows earlier.
Overall, it was a typical AEW pay-per-view both good and bad. They had the usual strong matches, but it was overindulgent with hardly any time between the match and almost every wrestler on the card attempting to steal the show. I’d love to see them trim time off their pay-per-view events or at least try a different pace. I know there are AEW fans who would strongly disagree, but the company has the sickos and they’re not going anywhere. It’s time to think of the larger audience. I will have a lot more to say when Jake Barnett and I team up for our audio review of Dynasty for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of the show by grading the show and by voting for the best match below.
Myself, Adam Cole, Bryce Remsburg and Paul Turner all live in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. I saw Turner buying a Rolex the other day. I think he cashed that check.
Some of the choices are inexplicable. Fletcher-Briscoe 16+ mins?!? Last 2 matches each get 31 mins each?!? Put the Fletcher win on TV or preshow, shave 10 mins off each of the final 2 matches. That’s 36 mins saved right there, it’d be easy to find another 30 mins+. This felt like a transitional ppv between Revolution and All In. Very poor build.
I skipped liberally, was there any blood? This had to be the least blood ever on an aew ppv
So does Mox have actual photos of Tony doing a coke deal or something? How does this awful title reign that pretty much nobody wants KEEP GOING?!?
Glad the AEW record of tasting bodily fluids continued. Well done, Mox.
Is every Latino wrestler mandated to do the Eddie tribute?
So I guess there was blood? I skipped 90+% of the main event.
This review justifies me not watching a minute of this dogshit. What a fucking terrible company run by a retarded nepo baby.
Gee, then why would you always…ALWAYS…seem to show up in the comments of any AEW article, since you don’t watch the product? OH, that’s right, because you’re a poor soul with no life. Thanks for reminding us, again, of the fact that, no matter how useless we feel, you prove it could always be worse.
Kudo’s!
Despite some of the negative comments in this section and in the review, this show was very good, but everything in life is subjective at least these days and everyone is entitled to an opinion.
If I was going to harp or point out a negative it would be the over predictability of most of the matches on the show… that being said I wanted to see Swerve win and end this death riders and moxley title reign that i never have liked(however) if you’re a WWE fan then this main event was the most WWE-ish match you are ever going to see, and you’ll see it again in two weeks because that’s the way WWE books it’s stories, the only difference being they usually go with lets send the fans home happy instead of what AEW did here which is ok since it separated it from what else took place on the card plus more importantly if foreshadowed what is to come.( if you think where WWE was coming out of the royal Rumble that’s exactly pretty much what they did here)
Rumors persist that Bryan Danielson was backstage and perhaps maybe he’ll come back and defeat moxley and face ospreay at all in…. just an uneducated guess but who knows? I could also see hangman and swerve facing the young bucks based on what happened at the end of the match..but again … as much as I wanted Swerve to win, it created endless possibilities which is why you don’t always go with the satisfying finish afterall do you think the Duke fans went home happy and will stop watching college basketball after their loss to Houston the other night?
Again i reiterate if you’re a diehard WWE fan and say you hated the show then I have a hard time believing you watched it or are telling the truth …because both companies for the most part are doing the same type of storytelling…lets be honest with a six week build to wrestlemania which for the most part has been panned universally as lame and underwhelming, with two weeks left …the most intriguing thing at this point is charlotte/stratton , even if not by design and awkward at times should probably headline night one instead of the three way, with where they stand currently.