‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Mar 12th 2025)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, CA. We’ve got Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Taz on commentary, so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: The Opps (Samoa Joe, Shibata, & HOOK) def. Vinny Pacifico, Eli Theseus, & Gabriel Aeros
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Samoa Joe jabbed and hammered away at the opposition. Hook tagged in and continued to dish out punishment on Gabriel Aeros. Shibata came in and cleaned house on all three members of the opposing team. Shibata finished things off with the PK and scored the pin.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #2: Hologram & Powerhouse Hobbs def. Brian Cage & Dralistico
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Dralistico chopped Hologram to the mat and then tried to rip Hologram’s mask off. Cage tagged in and went for a press slam, but Hologram turned it into a hurracanrana. Hologram went for a tope, but Cage caught him and converted it into a vertical suplex. The Beast Mortos stomped on Hologram. Harleygram ran over to distract Mortos with a dance, and it worked. Hobbs tagged in and hit some big shots on the head of Dralistico. Cage came in and traded forearms with Hobbs. Hobbs powerslammed Cage for a near fall. Dralistico and Cage hit a German Suplex thrust kick combo on Hobbs. Cage power bombed Hologram and then buckle bombed Hologram right into Hobbs. Hobbs got nailed with a running discus lariat from Cage! Hobbs fired back with a spine buster on the apron. Hologram jumped off the chest of Hobbs and landed onto Cage on the floor! Dralistico went for a springboard, but Hobbs countered with a spinebuster and scored the pin on Dralistico!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: “Speedball” Mike Bailey def. The Beast Mortos
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Bailey used his legs to kick at Mortos. Bailey nailed The Beast with a beautiful high round kick. He rocked the head of Mortos with rapid fire kicks. The Beast Mortos rammed into Bailey with a shoulder block. Speedball took to the skies, flipping over the top rope and wiping out the Beast. Speedball connected with a running shooting star press. Bailey power bombed the Beast out of the corner. Mortos crushed Bailey with a Samoan Drop for a near fall. The Beast Mortos press slammed Bailey off the top rope, but Bailey kicked out at the two-count! The Beast Mortos bashed Bailey with a discus lariat. Bailey retaliated with a standing moonsault knee dropkick and then knocked out Mortos with a crescent kick to score the victory and punch his ticket for next week!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Open Challenge – Konosuke Takeshita def. Max Caster
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Takeshita cracked Caster with a forearm shot. Takeshita rocked Caster with the Raging Fire and pinned Caster, quickly back in the win column!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #5: Willow Nightingale def. Penelope Ford
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Willow scoop slammed Ford. Willow used her power to wear out Penelope in the corner with short arm lariats. Penelope dropkicked Willow in the spine. Penelope followed up with a double knee stomp. Willow walloped Penelope with a spinebuster! Willow planted Penelope with a power slam. Penelope hit a stunner, but Willow pounced Ford with a shoulder tackle and pinned Penelope, earning the victory in a hard fought battle.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: Orange Cassidy def. Hechicero
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Cassidy used a hurracanrana. Orange dodged a dropkick from his opponent. Hechicero drilled Orange with a dragon screw leg whip, punishing the leg. Hechicero followed up with a hammer lock into a back breaker. Orange staggered Hechicero with a stundog millionaire and then a DDT! Orange climbed to the top turnbuckle and went for a diving elbow drop but Hechicero countered with an arm bar. Orange reached the ropes with his foot, breaking the hold. Orange locked in the mouse trap out of nowhere and pinned Hechicero!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Another week, another squash match for The Opps… OK, so we’re selling this newly-formed, and newly-named team as badass hard men but come one 2 weeks of fighting jobbers. Means nothing IMHO. We got some good matches this week AND the AEw debut of Speedball Mike Bailey but… but… we also got FAR too many interview segments, promos etc. I get it, AEW needs to tell the story of what happened at Revolution and also build the next set of stories but damn, it felt far too long in between matches for me. Still, we got more Megan Bayne this week and that’s never a bad thing!
