Did you watch AEW Dynamite? I hope you, my dear friendly wrestling-loving readers, tuned in to either TBS, HBO Max, or however you consume your action, as tonight was absolutely loaded with mega action leading into this Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view. Tonight featured a three-hour extravaganza, combining both Dynamite and Collision into one program.
Before the recap, it was announced earlier today on social media, MICK FOLEY will be All Elite as he joins the AEW Buy-In Pre-show event. This is HUGE for AEW. They are in Long Island and having the hometown favorite involved is going to be so much fun to watch.
Mark Davis, Andrade, and Ricochet defeated Two Names, One Team or Y2Jackson or Bucks of Jericho
Funny opening pre-tape with Jericho and the Jackson boys hashing their history and figuring out their team name for the night. Fast paced match with many of the typical spots, but fun to watch. Jericho and the Bucks coordinated their triple-team moves very well, while Andrade, Davis, and Ricochet each had their turns slowing down the pace and dominating the babyfaces. Say what you will about matches with spots, this was great. The heels take the win after interference by The Dogs. After the match, all participants of the upcoming Stadium Stampede match rushed the ring to brawl.
Mark Briscoe defeated Tommaso Ciampa in an Anything Goes Match
A bloody affair worthy of an ECW PPV should have been featured at the AEW Double or Nothing PPV. An absolutely gruesome yet awesome match. While they threw each other around with suplexes and slams, it then turned to an absolute gore-fest with Ciampa taking a cheese grater to Briscoe, barbed-wire, and chairs being creatively used. Also, enter The Chicken. There was a chicken, who nearly got pinned. A staple gun came into play with horrifying results. Briscoe takes the win with a forward slam off the corner, cracking Ciampa’s spine over the top of two metal chairs. A Jay Driller through a barbed-wire table followed by the Froggy Bow for the pinfall.
Excellent and bloody good match.
In the ring: Prince Nana introduces Swerve Strickland who is immediately attacked from behind by Bandido. They brawl around the ring, Bandido gets a bit overzealous and things get a bit wonky as Swerve retreats. The segment felt a bit off, but the message was clear, their upcoming match at Double or Nothing is gonna be good. Swerve will likely win.
Kyle O’Reilly and Jon Moxley go to a Time Limit Draw
Another great wrestling match. Emphasis on wrestling. Like their previous encounters, Mox and KOR put on a clinic. Mox, however, resorts to some underhanded and less-than-respectful tactics with some brawling bodyshots, then biting him a few times. While it did not surpass their encounter at Full Gear 2025, it didn’t have to. With Mox trapped in the ankle lock as the time limit expired, this now sets up a title match between them for Double or Nothing.
A prime example of AEW’s knack for long-term storytelling, Mox is still unable to find a way to beat Kyle. I would love to see Kyle notch yet another win at Double or Nothing, continuing to be “the one guy” whom Moxley just can’t seem to bear. However, I fear Mox will get his win at the PPV.
Backstage: Willow Nightingale sadly announces she must bow out of the Owen Hart Memorial and vacate the TBS Championship due to suffering a major shoulder injury, taking her out of action. This is such a bummer. Very disheartening.
Willow Nightingale: The Heart of a Champion Heading into ‘AEW: Double or Nothing’
The Triangle of Madness and ROH Women’s Champion Athena defeat The Brawling Birds, Mina Shirakawa, and Thunder Rosa
Another fun eight-women tag match. Athena was the clear MVP. She’s just so damn good at both wrestling, hitting big time moves, and selling every slam and strike so perfectly. Thunder Rosa fits well with Hayter and Windsor’s hard-hitting style. Ultimately, underhanded tactics allowed the heels to prevail, as Julia spit the mist in Rosa’ face, allowing Thekla to pin for the win.
Backstage: RUSH demands a match for the World Championship.
Darby Allin retains the AEW World Championship against “Speedball” Mike Bailey
The final match of the Dynamite portion of the show is a solid showing. Bailey was portrayed as an underdog but also someone who could keep pace with the world champ. MJF joining commentary was very entertaining, and even interjected by putting Bailey’s foot on the ropes to stop a pinfall. Kevin Knight rushed out to confront MJF. Both Bailey and Darby continued to try and one-up each other, but ultimately Bailey tapped to the Scorpion Deathlock. After the match, MJF attacked Darby and tried shaving his head, but Darby fought back and chased him away.
Let’s be honest, was Speedball really going to win?
The Collision portion of the program begins with Kevin Knight cutting a long promo putting over Bailey, and hyping up Darby, overall a bit over-the-top. The only reason I can see a purpose to his intentionally lengthy promo is perhaps he heel-turns and costs Darby the championship.
Will Ospreay defeated Katsuyori Shibata
Good match, both men getting very technical early on until the hard-hitting stuff came out as the match progressed. A few moments where it seemed Shibata could have believably won, but then resorted to a low blow and interference from Anthony Bowens. Ospreay nailed the hidden blade for the win.
After the match, Samoa Joe arrived to deliver a threatening promo, promising Ospreay will regret his decisions. While the live crowd chants “Joe is gonna kill you” repeatedly, Ospreay fires back, saying that while the Death Riders killed the “old Ospreay” they have also rebuilt him into a murdering machine. He will bleed for this, and will have to be killed to stop him from going to All In at Wembley Stadium, the biggest stadium for the biggest night of his career, to win the Owen Hart Memorial and challenge for the AEW World Championship.
Very intense words from both Joe and Ospreay. Gotta love it when you put two great mic masters together.
Promo from Cope and Cage: Cope talks about the bond between them, but Cage just opts for the vulgarity, threatening mortal harm on their opponents.
RUSH defeated Local Talent Guy (TJ Crawford)
Another easy squash for RUSH. I get they want to get him over, but the jobber matches need to be strategically used better. The announce team tried to put over the win like commentary would back in 1991.
Divine Dominion defeated Local Tag Team in the Five Minute Survival Challenge.
I hope the local women get paid extra, aside from taking some massive hits and slams, they sold it all like death itself came. Their selling was better than the regulars.
FTR retain the AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championships against Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong
Overall a good match, but it felt like it went about five minutes too long. Lots of near falls, close calls, false finishes, etc. It made it seem believable The Conglomeration could win, but once reminded this was a title match, the feeling slipped away. This is still my gripe about AEW’s match-making. Having championship bouts just a week before a major PPV doesn’t feel believable. Unless it’s a 1993 situation where someone’s contract ends and a title needs to change quickly, it’s just not realistic.
The matches are great. But just became a champ in a match, doesn’t need it to be a title defense.
Regardless, Double or Nothing is shaping up to be a stellar event which will clearly have long-term effects heading into the summer.
