AEW presents Winter is Coming 2025! In past years the season themed Dynamite brought on some absolute memorable moments, and tonight is no different.
Kicking off the show is the final match in the tournament, crowing the inaugural AEW World Women’s Tag Team Champions. In a very unpredictable and suspenseful back-and-forth matchup, the Babes of Wrath defeated the Timeless Love Bombs. Fantastic opener. Wrestling like it meant everything to all four, each woman contributed their part in the big story of wanting to be the one to claim the championships. Harley has absolutely improved since her debut in AEW. Teaming her with Willow was a great decision, she’s really thrived. Both Harley and Willow are absolutely deserving of being known as the first AEW World Women’s Tag Team Champions. Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa are winners even in loss. They both have infinite momentum. There is no concern about them.
Okada defeated Jack Perry in a C2 Bracket Match
The best part of the C2 Tournament, is the complete unpredictability of the outcome. We’ve seen Kevin Knight defeat Darby Allin. Mascara Dorada defeated Claudio Castignoli and Konoske Takeshita defeat Jon Moxley. The winners do not seem as certain as one might think. Perry and Okada had some unique offense, until Okada stopped Perry by biting his arm. Okada went for a tombstone piledriver until Perry returned the favor… Yep.
After an insane series of reversals, Okada blasted Perry with the Rainmaker Lariat for the win.
After the match, Don Callis is out with his family, invites Perry to abandon The Elite, but Perry declines. A brawl breaks out with Luchasaurus and The Young Bucks driving off the Don Callis Family.
Later on, Callis issues a challenge to a 3-non-3 for next week. The Bucks recruit Kenny Omega.
Mark Briscoe in the ring with Renee Paquette. He is inevitably interrupted by Death Riders Jr. – Wheeler Yuta and Daniel Garcia. Feels like these guys are still the “Young Boys” of the stable. Garcia doesn’t really have a chance of dethroning Briscoe, but at least they are making the young guy angry enough to be a credible threat.
“Hangman” Adam Page & Swerve Strickland defeated Katsuyori Shibata & Powerhouse Hobbs
A Tornado Tag match turned into a wild brawl. This was a cleverly disguised no DQ match. Before the bell rang they brawled all around the arena. Brilliant planning too. Page and Hobbs on one side, with Swerve and Shibata on another. It took a while for them to get to the ring, and then finally Page and Swerve together. Talk about a wild moment. Both feature great facial expressions. They managed to overpower Hobbs and then felled Shibata with a Buckshot/House Call combo for the win.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated “Protostar” Kyle Fletcher in a C2 Bracket match
Believe it or not, this is a Match of the Year Candidate.
Fletcher and Speedball blew the roof off the building. Easily a pay-per-view quality match. The pacing was unbelievably smooth for how fast they were going at times. Action headed to the floor more than once, wth Bailey taking a horrifying bump on the top of the crowd barrier. As the pace slowed, both started breaking out the heavily artillery with slams, drivers, and mega power bombs. As the clock neared a draw. Baliey and Fletcher hit the fast-forward button and started flying through counters, reversals, and pinfalls, until Bailey gained the upperhand in a straightjacket-style rollup for the pinfall.
A shocker of a finish. This might be the best C2 since Eddie Kingston won three championships.
Speaking of Eddie, let’s get to the main event!
AEW Men’s World Champion Samoa Joe defeated “Mad King” Eddie Kingston
While Eddie unfortunately had to tap out or pass out, he still looked like royalty in the ring. Certainly gave the impression of giving Joe a run for his money, and even in defeat came out looking like the tougher man. Joe outlasted and was able to out-wrestle Eddie. Each laid in the hits hard and harder. Joe did, in fact, bring the ROH version to the ring. Eddie was ready for this version with his own barrage of suplexes and grappling holds. However in the end, Joe managed to score the muscle buster and then locked in the submission victory.
Joe offered a nod of respect to John Cena during the match, hitting the Attitude Adjustment and locking in the STF with a quick salute. See? Respect goes beyond promotions.
Overall, a very satisfying episode of AEW Dynamite. Winter is Coming 2025 certainly went above and beyond expectations.
