AEW Dynasty 2025 takes place live on Sunday April 6 from The Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The show will stream live Prime Video, Triller, PPV.com, YouTube, and other PPV outlets.
The show is hot off the heels of one of AEW’s best PPV’s in recent memory, Revolution. The conclusion of that show saw Swerve Strickland leap from the audience and take out the retaining world champion Jon Moxley. At Dynasty, these two will battle it out for the title.
Pop Break’s senior wrestling writer and editor Michael Dworkis and editor-in-chief Bill Bodkin give their thoughts on the PPV.
Please Note: As of the writing of this article AEW announced a Max Caster Open Challenge and a trios match of Cru & Nick Wayne vs. Top Flight & AR FOX for Zero Hour.
Women’s Owen Hart Memorial Cup Round 1 Match: “The CEO” Mercedes Mone vs. Julia Hart
Mike’s Thoughts: I am really torn about this. I have a strange conspiracy theory that Mercedes will find a way to intentionally lose just to avoid facing Athena in the semi-finals. but that would be crazy, right? Mone has been delivering fantastic matches as of late, so while I would not mind seeing her edge her way towards the finals, I’m also getting a little sick of the belt collector routine. If the Owen Championship Belt just becomes another prop I will be disappointed. I’d rather Julia Hart win, but Mone brings money.
Prediction: Mercedes Mone
Bill’s Thoughts: Mercedes has been absolutely on fire, so I cannot see her losing to Julia Hart in the opening round of the tournament. Now, if Athena cost Mercedes the match and Mercedes did the same to her — now that’d be some wild booking and I think it’d be awesome. However, I’ll go chalk her and say Mercedes gets the dub here, but we’re treated to a really terrific match.
Prediction: Mercedes Mone
Men’s Owen Hart Memorial Cup Round 1 Match: “The Aerial Assassin” Will Ospreay vs. “The Jet” Kevin Knight
Mike’s Thoughts: I cannot think of any other match in the card that would absolutely electrify as an opener. There is little doubt we’re going to get some of the fastest, high paste, and high risk action of the night. it’s going to be great, it’s going to be crazy. Kevin Knight is going to be given an amazing opportunity to showcase on an epic scale. He’s been in the company for a week and he’s already going to be featured on pay-per-view. If you don’t know who he is, go look him up right now. That being said, it’s still pretty clear who is going to advance to the next round.
Prediction: Will Ospreay
Bill’s Thoughts: Absolutely going to be one of the show stealing matches of the evening. Ospreay is going to go out of his way to make Kevin Knight look like a god in this match (especially since Knight was just announced for the Best of the Super Juniors), and I think the new signing is going to rise to the occasion. Ospreay for the W, is not a doubt.
Prediction: Will Ospreay
Men’s Owen Hart Memorial Cup Round 1 Match: “The Protostar” Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe
Mike’s Thought’s: Call me crazy but I’m really looking forward to this. Briscoe defeated Fletcher cleanly in the Continental Championship tournament. While we may not get the same outcome here, I can easily predict we are in store for a great match. I know many will dismiss this match as predictable, but one can’t discount the possibility of Briscoe getting another win. You know what, I’m going with the guy who is just happy to do what he does without the need for a spotlight.
Prediction: Mark Briscoe
Bill’s Thoughts: I love Mark Briscoe. He’s the best. However, I don’t see him having a chance in hell of beating young Kyle, here. Fletcher is a guy AEW firmly believes in and him advancing through the Owen Tournament and potentially winning is the right move. These two do not miss when they tangle in the ring, and this will be no exception.
Prediction: Kyle Fletcher
Ring of Honor World Title Hair vs. Title Match: “The Learning Tree” Chris Jericho © vs. Bandido
Mike’s Thought’s: I feel like this was supposed to be saved for ROH in Atlantic City, but putting such a high stipulation for Dynasty should garner some attention. It felt as though the angle slipped in the background. Jericho and Bandido appeared to work well in their past outing, so this should be no different. I can’t fathom they’ll unmask Bandido. I often feel when Luchas lose their mask, part of their identity can become lost, especially for American audiences.
Prediction: “And New…” Bandido.
Bill’s Thoughts: Hear me out. Bandido wins. But Jericho refuses to have his head shaved so he commands either Bryan Keith or Big Bill to shave their head. This leads to the dissolution of The Learning Tree. Although, Jericho going bald would get a big pop from the crowd. While many are going to roll their eyes at Jericho being on the PPV — he and Bandido have phenomenal in-ring chemistry. This is also going to be a bit of a cluster as we’ll likely see Gravity, The Learning Tree and Bandido’s family involved in this match.
Prediction: “And New…” Bandido.
AEW Tag Team Title Match: The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) © w/MVP vs. The Learning Tree (Big Bill & “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith)
Mike’s Thoughts: Anyone thinking this will be a squash will be horribly wrong, yet pleasantly disappointed. I can’t wait to see Bryan Keith and Shelton Benjamin exchange and compete with each other on the number of suplexes thrown. Big Bill and Bobby Lashley will have a typical big man stare down, and hopefully Bill won’t be easily humbled by the more dominating Lashley. In fact it’s an opportunity to let Big Bill really stand out as a star on his own.
Prediction: “and still…” The Hurt Syndicate
Bill’s Thoughts: While this feels a bit thrown together (reports are this spot was for the Murder Machines but Brian Cage has an injury), this match should be better than The Hurt Syndicate’s last PPV outing. I really want Big Bill to shine in this one as it feels like he’s on the verge of breaking out and being a huge star. However, you can’t take the belts off Bobby & Shelton any time soon.
Prediction: “and still…” The Hurt Syndicate
TNT Title Match – No Time Limit: Daniel Garcia © vs. Adam Cole
Mike’s Thoughts: I would have preferred a best two out of three, but a no time limit rule should suffice for these two. This one is a tough call, mostly unsure where either one goes regardless of title holder. It’s felt that both Garcia and Cole have stagnated. Garcia chased the title, finally won, and now feels somewhat of an afterthought. Adam Cole just feels like something’s missing and I can’t exactly put my finger on it. If Garcia wins, who chases him for the title? Cole wins, will he regularly defend it? Will a new contender immediately show himself? Shane Taylor should have been inserted into this match somehow. I think a title change is an order just to shake things up a bit and prevent the title from feeling too stagnant.
Prediction: “and new…” Adam Cole
Bill’s Thoughts: I worry about this one. Garcia and Cole should be able to go out there and have an absolute banger, right? However, it feels like neither man has found their footing post their big angles. Garcia since holding the TNT Title (outside of the C2) has been doing well, but hasn’t ascended the card. Cole still has the MJF hangover and needs a signature win. I think Garcia wins here, and we take Adam Cole out of his quasi-babyface role and just go full blown heel with him.
Prediction: “and still” Daniel Garcia
AEW Trios Title Match: The Death Riders (PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) © vs. Rated FTR (Cope and FTR)
Mike’s Thoughts: I’m torn on this one. I could easily see FTR turning heel on Copeland which allows the Death Riders to retain the trios championships. however I would like to see cracks start to form amongst the Death Riders so losing the trios titles would be a way to start. One of the problems facing AEW are its championships not feeling very valued. you want titles to be chased over and regularly defended. Time to give it up.
Prediction: “and new…” Rated-FTR
Bill’s Thoughts: The trios division does need some freshening up and if Moxley loses the world title, then the Riders have got to drop their belts too. I think Death Riders need a bit of a vacation or head off to NJPW to just get away from the AEW scene, then have a grand return later this year. Meanwhile, the heelish tendencies coming from FTR could lead to them and Cope as a new heel group in AEW, supplanting the Death Riders, and making the trios titles relevant again.
Prediction: “and new…” Rated-FTR
AEW International Title Match 3-Way Dance: Kenny Omega © vs. Ricochet vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Mike’s Thoughts: It’s an easy one to predict but that doesn’t take away from the incredible match we’re going to have. three of the most talented wrestlers in the sport today. Speedball, is another guy who’s been with the company for a short time and is going to be featured on pay-per-view. He’s been wrestling for a tremendously long time and definitely deserves the spot. I honestly can’t wait to see what type of shenanigans Ricochet is going to play into. It’s going to be a great match and there’s no question about it. but I highly doubt that Omega is going to drop the title he most recently won.
Prediction: “and still…” Kenny Omega
Bill’s Thoughts: No-brainer. Kenny retains. However, I don’t think we see the end of Kenny rumbling with either one of these guys. There’s money to be made with a Kenny and Speedball singles match, a Ricochet and Kenny match and an extended Ricochet and Speedball program. I do wonder if we get an Okada tease here. Maybe the Young Bucks? Who’s to say.
Prediction: “and still…” Kenny Omega
AEW Women’s World Title Match: “Timeless” Toni Storm © w/Luther vs. “The Megasus” Megan Bayne
Mike’s Thoughts: This is the hardest match for me to predict. Toni Storm has been on a run of her career. It honestly doesn’t matter whether she has the championship or not, as long as she can maintain this level of momentum with her character, she will always be deserving of a high profile spot. This sort of gimmick is the type of gimmick that will be remembered for an extremely long time. That being said, one could see Megan Bayne winning the championship leading to storm going on a Rocky Balboa-like journey to reclaim the title. Here is the predicament. Bayne has been portrayed as an unstoppable machine since her debut. She has not lost a match yet, so losing to the champion Wouldn’t seem like such a stretch. but I do worry that having someone as dominating lose in a championship scenario would suddenly tank her stock value. Given that Storm excels no matter where she ranks, a loss of the championship would not hurt in the slightest. This one is too close to call.
Prediction: “and still…” Toni Storm
Bill’s Thoughts: AEW has often had a hard time pulling the trigger on someone who’s red hot. I can easily see Toni retaining over Bayne in an absolute banger of a match. However, I’m going to go a different way. I’m going to say the Age of the Megasus starts at Dynasty. Bayne has established herself as a force to be reckoned with and her winning here would be a massive moment and a new star being born. I’m pushing my chips to the center of the table on her, but would also not be surprised to see Storm retain.
Prediction: “and new…” Megan Bayne
AEW Men’s World Title Match: Jon Moxley © w/Marina Shafir vs. Swerve Strickland w/Prince Nana
Mike’s Thoughts: If you’ve read any of my columns, you know where I’m going to stand on this. If it’s not going to be Eddie Kingston, it better damn well be Swerve Strickland. Pull the damn trigger already and put the death Riders angle out of its misery. It’s sad to say but this is the most interesting it’s been since Swerve became involved. My true worry is that Hangman Adam Page will return and interfere, continuing to fulfill his promise of preventing swerve from becoming champion. I’m hoping that smarter booking decisions prevail and we get the outcome we’ve been waiting for. It’s not going to be a clean finish by any means, I expect a lot of interference. Who knows maybe Eddie Kingston will show up and be the guy to cost Mox the championship.
Prediction: “and new…” Swerve Strickland
Bill’s Thoughts: Swerve is on an undeniable hot streak. The internet has wanted Mox to drop the title to Darby, Ospreay, Hangman, and a litany of others (just not Cope). Based on the ending of Revolution, all the momentum is on Swerve’s side. I want to see him win this one because here’s the money feud — Hangman wins The Owen to challenge Swerve at All In in Texas. That’s the match people want. Give it to them. Meanwhile, you can have Darby or Kingston come back for an emotional feud with Moxley at the same show. I do not think, based on the end of Dynamite, that Hangman costs Swerve. I could see an angle where Hangman looks like he’s going to clobber Swerve, but instead clobbers Mox. Why? Because he wants to win the Owen to take the belt from Swerve.
Prediction: “and new…” Swerve Strickland
