Everything is bigger in Texas, right? AEW Dynamite 5/28/25 starts off big with “Hangman” Adam Page, winner of the Owen Hart Memorial Tournament. Page passionately shares his one goal at All In, to defeat Mox and bring back the AEW Championship. However, Swerve Strickland interrupts and revisits their history. He plays a clip from Dynasty where The Young Bucks cost Swerve his match against Mox. Swerve feels Page’s path has been orchestrated. Swerve’s demand for truth incenses Hangman, who reminds Swerve he would do it to his face. Ospreay quickly comes out to play peacemaker, to rally the troops against The Death Riders. However, this does not go as planned as Swerve bails and Page is angry. I’m not doing this promo any justice. Watch it for yourselves. Page comes off as extremely passionate and dedicated to being a positive contributor to the business.
It seems this might be the start of a war for the soul of AEW.
There seems to be similarities when the WCW troops were being assembled to go up against the NWO. I wonder if Swerve will be the “Sting” in this scenario. Disappears because he feels like everyone has turned their backs, but will return to turn the tide.
The Death Riders (Moxley, Kidd, Shafir) defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Mark Briscoe, and Willow Nightingale
I’m sure a lot of fans were scratching their heads about the purpose of this match. This question was answered very quickly as the baby faces appear to catch the heels very much off guard, and portrays the Death Riders as the ones under pressure now. Following the loss of the trios titles, and the rise of Adam Page, it appears that Moxley is no longer the invincible behemoth his group has built him up to be. Willow was fantastic, even throwing them in around for a while. Gabe Kidd came off exactly like his New Japan persona — a violent, vicious, insane powerhouse. Mark Briscoe is always an MVP in whatever match he’s in. The dude is crazy and entertaining all the same time. A match like this was a good reminder that while the Death Riders are being threatened they can still menacingly defeat opponents.
Kris Statlander was watching backstage. No follow up though.
Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford defeated Anna Jay and Harley Cameron
This was a fun plunder match. Anna Jay and Harley Cameron used weapons relentlessly, trying to gain the advantage over the Powerhouse who is the Megasus. She was the clear standout, enduring everything being thrown at her, leaving both Jay and Cameron bloody messes by the end of the match.
Backstage: MVP and MJF both talk up their intent for more championships. MJF really wants the World Championship back.
It seemed as though MJF was trying to take the verbal reins so to speak, repeating MVP’s lines and asserting himself a bit more. I really hope he doesn’t cost Hangman the title at All In and leaves Mox remaining as champion. That would be mega-heel stuff, but I don’t think it would be a good idea.
Also backstage: Ricochet openly admits to seeking out a “crew” for himself. With everyone else grouping up, he wants some people watching his back too.
If the use of the word “crew” was intentional, perhaps the “CRU” might be in line. Could be a good change for Andretti and Rush who seem to be struggling as life-size Pokemon.
The Opps defeated The Frat House
Pre-match video showing who they are was nifty, but perhaps needed a bit more. They come off as the “easy heel heat” stable, with the classic “you’re all ugly” zingers. Not sure if this was the right call to bring them out only to get mauled rather quickly. Powerhouse Hobbs splattered all members, including non-combatants, with spinebusters to win the match.
Commentary team talked about Hook, but no follow-up.
Renee Paquette attempts to interview Jamie Hayter, asks what is next following her loss at Double or Nothing. Before she could answer, the lights go out, and come back on to a downed Hayter and “The Toxic Spider” has arrived! Thekla takes out Hayter and does a creepy spider-walk/pose in the ring before leaving.
I’m torn. Hayter would be a good first opponent to elevate the newcomer, but if it is at the expense of Hayter’s own stock, I’m not sure it’s a great idea. Hayter taking two major losses in a row doesn’t feel right.
Kyle Fletcher vs. Adam Cole, TNT Championship Match goes to a DQ
A rare disqualification finish. Not a bad match, but a few scary spots derailed it. Fletcher’s apron powerbomb missed, with Cole’s head appearing to hit and scrape against the edge of the ring. The match continued but it was clear from the live crowd going silent the match could have ended and everyone would have been fine, considering how it concluded. Josh Alexander made an unnecessary save, Paragon brawled with Roppongi Vice, and then Big Brody King stormed the ring. The latter then segued into the final match of the night, Brody vs. Alexander.
Being the finish was a DQ by way of interference, someone could have called an audible to prompt the finish sooner than scheduled.
Brody King defeated Josh Alexander to qualify for a 4-Way International Championship Match
Excellent match. Both looked strong in their various styles of in-ring wrestling. Alexander often would use King’s size and speed against him, however King appeared to counter “The Walking Weapon’s” own arsenal with surprisingly fast reversals. A wild finish saw Alexander somehow getting busted open the hard way, likely an inadvertent collision, and wound up very bloody. King scooped him up and destroyed his spinal column with a wild Gansobomb. Very glad to see King getting a championship spot. Well deserved.
The final segment of the night featured the face off between TBS Champion Mercedes Mone and AEW Women’s Champion, “Timeless” Toni Storm.
Within seconds, their confrontation sparked the “big fight feel.” Initially Mone went to her usual phrases and cliches, however as she progressed in the promo, her tone became a bit more threatening and took jabs at Toni Storm from both the present AND the past. This prompted Storm to put over the factual information where they had to prove themselves on the independents and elsewhere, leading them both on a path to AEW where they can become the stars and champions they earned the right to be. At this stage Storm completely dominated over Mone, as intended by Mone’s facial expressions of anger and rage building. A handshake at the end nearly turned into a brawl and they attempted their finishers but each escaped.
Storm’s antics prove once again how creative she can be to insert her comedic innuendos into a serious segment and make it work to near-perfection. Much like the confrontation between Adam Page, Swerve Strickland, and Will Ospreay, my words will not do justice here, this closing segment must be watched.
Overall, not a bad Dynamite. It’s clear everyone needed more time to recover from Double or Nothing, and it showed during the matches and segments. It seems Collision will be where a lot more action will take place as a lot of CMLL wrestlers will be in action along with those not involved at the PPV.
