Coming off what many state to be one of the best AEW pay-per-views, we get a red-hot Dynamite to kick off the next series of feuds heading towards Dynasty.
Kenny Omega in-ring promo: Kenny thanks the fans, as well as putting over Takeshita for giving him the match of his life at Revolution. Omega states Takeshita has given credibility to the International aspect of the championship. He turns his attention towards the Dynasty tournament.
This is good for Kenny, doesn’t push him right back to the main attraction of the show. Doesn’t need to be. His name and appearance anywhere on a program is well-received. I wonder who will get the push to challenge him at Dynasty though. Short, and to the point.
I really liked how he lingered around ringside before and after to sign autographs and take photos.
The Opps squash Vinny Pacifico, Eli Theseus, and Gabriel Ares
This takes me back to my childhood, ’80s and early-’90s where the name wrestlers would show off against jobb… Uh, I mean, “enhancement talent.”
Shibata has a brief stare down with Omega. Sign of things to come?
Announced for next week: AEW Championship match between Cope and Mox in a Street Fight. I’m sure there is a lot of eye-rolling and frustration to run this again. My guess is they want to make up for the lackluster performance from Sunday. It seems Mox and Cope couldn’t pull off a technical wrestling match, so let’s throw them into a brawl.
Backstage, Cope runs into Swerve Strickland. Cope says he hopes to face off with Swerve after beating Mox.
What I think is a pre-taped segment, Mox cuts a long-winded promo about fighting and toughness and blood, and… I don’t know. It was aimless and will give more ammunition to those who want the Death Rider arc to end.
Unless… Oh no. Unless Mox is leaning into it. Leaning into how much we want this gone.
Powerhouse Hobbs & Hologram w/ Harleygram defeated Dralistico & Brian Cage
I don’t care why or how. Keeping Will Hobbs on television as often as possible should be a priority. Put him in oddly paired tag team matches or have him face off against The Meaty Members of the Don Callis family weekly. Cage and Hobbs pulled off some very impressive feats throughout the match. Another highlight saw Hologram moonsault off of Hobbs.
Also, could we get a Beauty and the Beast story between Harley Cameron and The Beast Mortos? Do it!
“Timeless” Toni Storm segment
Before Toni graces us with her presence live, we are treated to a stellar video package encapsulating the long and storied feud between champion Toni Storm and Mariah May.
With every great story, comes a great HOLLYWOOD ending as Toni Storm & Mariah May clashed for the AEW Women's World Title.
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS + Max#ToniStorm | @MariahMayx pic.twitter.com/zJJtr9SNol
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 13, 2025
Toni Storm comes to the stage to announce a new era for the AEW Women’s Division, inviting anyone to “throw their keys in the bowl” to step up to challenge her in the future. The future struck immediately as Megan Bayne attacked the champion from behind.
While I am looking forward to Bayne challenging for the championship, I am concerned this is happening too soon. Time will tell.
Backstage: MVP gives Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley the night off.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated The Beast Mortos to advance in the AEW International Championship tournament
While Bailey performed as a human highlight reel, I gave the MVP of the match to Mortos. Dude looked like a monster. Throwing Bailey around like nothing. Fantastic match.
Backstage: Christian Cage refuses to interview with Renee Paquette because she is married to Moxley. Christian claims he enacted a contract to face Copeland in a one-on-one match for the AEW Championship. He then goes on to make excuses until Nick Wayne interrupts by calling him out. What ensues is a verbally violent promo from Christian belittling Nick and Shayna Wayne to a point where I thought I’d have to call Child Protective Services.
Not sure where this is going but it seems The Patriarchy is heading towards rocky territory.
MJF in-ring segment – MJF promises his beef with “Hangman” Adam Page is far from over. Before he can continue, MVP interrupts and comes to the ring. Tensions appear to run hot, until the two embrace with open arms and smiles. MVP goes into detail how the two initially met over eight years ago as MJF sought out advice and knowledge from him. To sum it up, MVP is proud of his accomplishments… Until now. MVP offers MJF a chance to join the Hurt Syndicate and to regain his edge and be considered a threat again.
In the ring, Max Caster throws up another open challenge, which is answered by Konosuke Takeshita. As the crowd lights him up for his major error, he halts Takeshita and teases joining the Don Callis Family. He makes a big oopsie by bringing up Kenny Omega, which results in Takeshita committing murder on live television. The “Best Wrestler Alive” is now dead.
Recap of Chris Jericho’s violent attack on Gravity. In a backstage promo, Jericho cuts a cryptic promo on Bandido.
Willow Nightingale defeated Penelope Ford
Fun match! I expected as much and was happy with the delivery. After the match things got interesting as Ford took a chair to Willow after the match. Kris Statlander rushed in to save the day. However, before the former best friends could hash it out, Megan Bayne returns to flatten them both.
Backstage: Mercedes Mone had trouble speaking during a backstage interview, party because her voice is not at 100% since being kicked in the throat by Momo Wantanabe, and a disruption by Billie Starkz.
I think the AEW Women’s World Championship picture is going to get very interesting in the next few weeks.
Back in the ring, Will Ospreay declares his intent to pursue the AEW World Championship, in a comedic tone highlighting some trouble with the missus. However comedy turns serious as he points to the All In banner. Ospreay intends on winning the Owen Hart Memorial Tournament to become #1 Contender.
Backstage: Jay White has words of his own regarding the world title and controversy whether he had intent to clock Cope or not. He denies it of course.
In the words of Good Ol’ J.R., “Business is about to pick up.” With Swerve, Ospreay, Cope, White, Mox, and potentially MJF or Hangman thrown in, we may see a string of solid contenders for the championship. Who AEW pulls the trigger on is still a mystery. I’m still waiting for Eddie Kingston to show up, dethrone Mox and end this mercilessly.
Mox has been calling himself “King” and I would think a certain Mad King would take ire.
Backstage with “Hangman”, Renee Paquette tries an interview, but they bump into MJF. This gets interesting as they tear into each others’ insecurities. While Page won the match at Revolution, MJF seemed to successfully get into his head. If this feud continues, I am here for it. Give me a feud with this level of cerebral depth which gives us the stellar match we saw, I am here for it.
Orange Cassidy defeats Hechicero in the main event to advance in the AEW International Tournament
Fast-paced and definitely enjoyable main event. It would have been a shocker for Hechicero to win, but against Cassidy it couldn’t have been clean. It seems AEW is trying to stay away from resorting to interference or otherwise, so Cassidy going over clean is the predictable move. Given Cassidy was International Champion, his inclusion makes sense, adding to his championship story. After the match, “Speedball” Mike Bailey came out, showing respect to his future opponent. Hechicero is fantastic. Always impressive to see a big guy move like a cruiserweight. I’d like for him to be featured more often as well.
The early years of all elite wrestling had more unpredictability and surprise victories from wrestlers we didn’t expect. I wish there was a way they could go back to that and be a little more flexible with their stories. Titles do not have to be on the line every time the champion wrestles. Do more of these Eliminator matches if you have to but we need more surprise wins. predictability often impacts the fans perception of the show.
Overall, a really good show following the pay-per-view. It felt like a low-key episode which makes sense given how the pay-per-view was so intense, a cool-down episode of Dynamite was necessary. Collision looks loaded and next week’s Dynamite will likely kick start the road to Dynasty in full force. Tonight, it felt as if those seeds were being planted, and next week they will start to flourish.
