AEW Dynamite Blood and Guts 2025 delivered as advertised. With a show advertising three matches plus a two-and-a-half hour show, there can be some anxious anticipation of how the program will deliver.
Additionally, with Full Gear less than two weeks away, it’s astonishing to see a major supercard pull off memorable action which we can be absolutely certain is going to bleed over into the PPV.
To be perfectly blunt, this was a fantastic show.
Megan Bayne, Marina Shafir, Mercedes Mone, Thekla, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue defeated Toni Storm, Mina Shirakawa, Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale, Harley Cameron, and Jamie Hayter
Dynamite kicks off with the Women’s Blood and Guts match. Having different intervals for each participant worked very well, allowing individuals and groups to clearly and definitively have their time to dominate the match. The majority of the match was in the hands of the Triangle of Madness. Skye Blue was busted open within the first ten minutes. Jamie Hayter and Willow Nightingale’s experience in participating in No DQ, falls count anywhere, and multiple street fights gave them an advantage.
Even Queen Aminata made an appearance as she was supposed to have been a participant. Toni Storm seems to be going full on Joker, this is the sort of match to bring out that type of personality. Let’s not forget the absolutely dominant Megan Bayne. Her entry would see her running roughshod over all challengers, however in a match where there could be multiple double teams and weapons used, even the giantess can be worn down. Finally, enter Marina Shafir, appearing to be more comfortable and confident in the unstructured sort of match. While she does not compete often, the “street fight” style contests seems to be where she thrives.
Crazy spot with Kris Statlander falling onto a bed of nails, later on dropping through a table off the side of the cage wall.
The end of the match would be called, as the kids would say “Absolute Cinema.” Toni Storm held down by her foes as Mina Shirakawa was beaten mercilessly until Storm would call to submit in order to save “her wife.”
Another mind-blowing spot saw Mercedes Mone bring in all her independent championships, distributing them to her allies, using them all as weapons. The indy promotions must have been loving this.
Honestly, the entire match was damn near perfect. The first Women’s Blood and Guts match might be the best Blood and Guts match to date. All women involved looked like major stars. Big win for everyone involved.
In the second match of the night, AEW Men’s World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page defeated “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs.
The biggest takeaway is how much Hobbs has progressed into the main event scene. A great match where Hobbs used the opportunity to display how much of a wrecking machine he could be. His persona is versatile, he can do the same moveset and execution of absolute power regardless of being a babyface or heel. That being said, his current heel persona alongside Samoa Joe fits perfectly. He’s out to hurt people. This also brought out both the resilient and then crazy side of the AEW Men’s World Champion to fire us all up ahead of his challenge at Full Gear.
After the match, Joe and Shibata attacked the champion, but they were driven off by Eddie Kingston and Hook before they could be trapped in the cage. Hangman used this opportunity to make their match into a Steel Cage Match for next Saturday night.
In the back, the Don Callis Family assault Jurassic Express. Out of the trailer emerge the Young Bucks, seemingly hesitant to join the faction. Okada tells the Bucks time is almost up.
Next week, a decision must be made. I am curious how this goes. Could we see both the Bucks and Mark Briscoe forcibly join the faction in just a matter of days?
In the ring, Tony Schiavone is with Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. They are interrupted by FTR who initially praise the legendary wrestler before running him down. The segment felt like it dragged a bit, but acceptable given Steamboat’s age and the purpose of the segment. Ultimately they attack Steamboat who is saved by Brodido.
Not the best segment, but not the worst either. Stokely has UNREAL HEAT.
The second Blood and Guts Match saw Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, and Darby Allin defeat The Death Riders
Kyle. O. Reilly. This man has been MADE.
He is the story to talk about. Kyle O’Reilly forced Jon Moxley to tap out. This was the payoff from their previous encounters with controversial conclusions. A quick rewind, 2025 has been O’Reilly’s year. From his antics in the Conglomeration to racking up wins left and right on both Dynamite and Collision, the guy I hope is being built up to be a major singles wrestler for 2026. Tapping out the final level boss of the Death Riders, the guy who held a championship hostage, the guy who vowed to remake AEW in his own image, is akin to strapping the rocketpack and hitting the ignite switch.
This is also the story of the rise and fall of Jon Moxley. Once champion. Once feared. Once unbeatable. Now, a man without a championship. Is vulnerable, the fear has faded. He is not invincible, he is human. Mox has lost to Hangman. Then shouted “I quit” in submission to Darby Allin. Now forced to tap out to Kyle O’Reilly. Mox’s story would be in the category of “long-term storytelling.” Amazing how not a loss of the AEW Men’s World Championship, not the loss to Darby Allin, but the loss to Kyle O’Reilly seems to be the culmination of his fall.
Darby was a psycho as usual. I can’t imagine the conversations in the back before a match like this. Darby is insane for the bumps he takes. Orange Cassidy the individual is a genius with his character. Sloth-like and violent when provoked.
The surprise appearance by Gabe Kidd was an added bonus. Kidd and PAC tossing Darby through flaming tables definitely had the ECW vibe.
The bit with the Don Callis Family potentially injuring and preventing Briscoe from entering the match didn’t feel necessary but did add an element of the babyfaces being at a disadvantage.
Claudio is a monster and no more needs to be said. The man is a one-human wrestling machine.
As a long-time fan, I have to say the women of AEW have exponentially succeeded tonight. The division as a whole has been getting better and better, to where we have seen on social media fans demanding the women rightfully earn more time on air. Their Blood and Guts match won the night and the stock on the Women’s Division continues to rise because of it.
