‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (May 28th 2025)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast from El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas. Let’s get straight into the review!
Match #1: Gabe Kidd, Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir def. Mark Briscoe, Speedball Mike Bailey and Willow Nightingale
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Wednesday night’s in-ring action kicked off with an explosive Mixed Trios Match featuring Speedball Mike Bailey, Mark Briscoe, and Willow Nightingale battling against the formidable trio of AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Marina Shafir, and Gabe Kidd. The Death Riders made a dramatic entrance, entering the El Paso arena in the bed of a pickup truck, immediately setting the stage for an intense showdown. The match erupted instantly as Mark Briscoe and Gabe Kidd charged at each other, exchanging fierce blows without hesitation. Briscoe displayed impressive athleticism, vaulting over the ropes and employing swift, powerful maneuvers such as a triple jump moonsault off a chair onto Kidd at ringside. Speedball Mike Bailey wowed the crowd with his acrobatic precision, executing high-impact kicks and a missile dropkick that rattled Moxley, while Willow Nightingale aggressively took the fight to Marina Shafir with powerful lariats and hip attacks. The action continued to escalate when Claudio Castagnoli intervened, momentarily distracting Briscoe. However, Komander, Castagnoli’s opponent on Collision this Saturday, swiftly arrived to neutralize Claudio, adding another layer of excitement to the match. Amid this chaos, Jon Moxley capitalized, locking Briscoe into a punishing Bulldog Choke. Meanwhile, Marina Shafir employed her submission expertise with a “Mother’s Milk” chokehold, and Gabe Kidd restrained Bailey, preventing any assistance to Briscoe. Despite Briscoe’s valiant resilience, having already absorbed devastating moves such as Kidd’s vicious exploder suplex and Moxley’s thunderous Paradigm Shift, the Death Riders maintained relentless control. Referee Aubrey Edwards had no option but to end the match via stoppage as Briscoe faded in Moxley’s Bulldog Choke.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: No Disqualification Match – Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford def. Anna Jay and Harley Cameron
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The longstanding rivalry between these competitors ignited immediately once again on Dynamite, as both teams came prepared with weapons, including chairs and trash cans. The match quickly descended into chaos, with Penelope Ford and Anna Jay battling fiercely outside the ring, while Megan Bayne and Harley Cameron exchanged heavy blows inside. Harley delivered a devastating DDT to Megan Bayne onto a trash can, showcasing the ruthless intensity early on. The action escalated further as Anna Jay and Harley Cameron displayed impressive teamwork, utilizing a strategic dropkick and face-first slams onto steel chairs. However, Megan Bayne’s resilience proved formidable as she executed a powerful Death Valley Driver through a table, leaving Anna Jay stunned. Ford and Bayne maintained pressure, deploying tables and chairs strategically to assert dominance. Cameron and Jay fought valiantly, but Bayne’s brute strength consistently shifted momentum back in her team’s favor. The match climaxed dramatically when Harley Cameron suffered a brutal collision, face-first into steel steps, sustaining visible injury as she bled from the nose. Despite this, Cameron showcased remarkable heart, re-entering the fray to disrupt a pin attempt. Ultimately, the relentless aggression and teamwork of Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford culminated in victory as they delivered a devastating Doomsday Device to Cameron, securing the three-count.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: The Opps def. Frat House
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
AEW Dynamite featured an action-packed Trios Match pitting the dominant AEW World Trios Champions, The Opps—Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata—against the brash Frat House, composed of Preston Vance, Griff Garrison, and Cole Karter, accompanied by Jacked Jameson. Frat House entered the match boasting about their party antics in El Paso and mocking the local crowd, quickly drawing disdain from both fans and opponents alike. Samoa Joe immediately silenced their bravado, aggressively attacking Preston Vance while Shibata swiftly handled Cole Karter outside the ring, setting a punishing tone early in the bout. Inside the ring, Powerhouse Hobbs displayed incredible dominance, overwhelming all three opponents with crushing physicality. A brief moment of Frat House offense saw Jameson interfere by striking Hobbs with a fraternity paddle behind the referee’s back, briefly turning the momentum. However, their attempt at seizing control was short-lived. Samoa Joe retaliated fiercely, laying out Vance, while Hobbs swiftly regained dominance with a devastating spinebuster. Cole Karter found himself overwhelmed as Hobbs executed another powerful spinebuster to seal a decisive victory.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: AEW TNT Championship Match – Adam Cole def. Kyle Fletcher (DQ)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
AEW Dynamite featured an intense TNT Championship bout as champion Adam Cole faced off against challenger Kyle Fletcher, representing the Don Callis Family. Fletcher, riding momentum from his squad’s impactful win at Double or Nothing, aggressively pursued the title, immediately asserting his physical dominance with impactful strikes and a devastating apron powerbomb that severely rattled Cole. Despite early adversity and Fletcher’s significant size advantage, Adam Cole showcased his resilience and fighting spirit, managing to mount strategic comebacks. Utilizing swift kicks and his trademark quick offense, Cole aimed to counter Fletcher’s strength advantage. However, Fletcher maintained relentless pressure, bolstered by Don Callis, who interfered opportunistically, further complicating matters for Cole. The match’s intensity peaked dramatically when Josh Alexander of the Don Callis Family interfered blatantly, attacking Cole and causing a disqualification. This prompted Brody King to rush the ring wielding a steel chair, swiftly chasing Alexander away and protecting Cole from further harm. Though Cole retained his title via disqualification, the chaotic aftermath underscored the growing hostility between Paragon and the Don Callis Family, setting the stage for continued rivalry and heightened stakes in AEW’s competitive landscape.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: AEW International Championship 4-Way Qualifier Match – Brody King def. Josh Alexander
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
From the outset, Alexander utilized technical prowess and targeted aggression, notably exploiting King’s hand and arm after King struck the ring post, severely compromising his power moves. Alexander further showcased his ring intelligence by delivering a punishing German suplex on the unforgiving apron and repeatedly leveraging King’s injuries to his advantage. Despite his compromised limbs, King demonstrated immense resilience and raw power, responding with impactful strikes and a devastating crossbody into the barricade, nearly incapacitating Alexander. As the match escalated, Alexander attempted a risky moonsault but was met with King’s raised knees, shifting momentum decisively. The match culminated with Brody King executing a massive lariat despite his injured arm, finally subduing Alexander enough to finish him off with the Gonzo Bomb. This decisive blow secured the pinfall victory for King, making him the first qualifier to advance to the AEW International Championship 4-Way Match at Fyter Fest.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This week’s Dynamite was a strong follow-up to Double or Nothing and set a confident tone for the weeks ahead. Hangman Adam Page’s emotional promo to open the show was a standout moment, as he vacated the Owen Hart Cup and declared his intent to reclaim the AEW World Championship. His vulnerability blended with intensity, and the interruptions by Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay added fire to what promises to be a thrilling three-way feud. The energy was palpable and instantly raised the stakes for the summer. In-ring action was solid throughout the night. The Death Riders’ chaotic win in a mixed trios match kept their momentum going while showcasing underutilised talent like Mike Bailey and Willow Nightingale. The no-DQ women’s tag match was surprisingly vicious – Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford looked dominant, and it’s refreshing to see the women’s division getting room to breathe and evolve with grittier storytelling.
Brody King defeating Josh Alexander to move into the AEW International Championship picture was the right call; he’s on a roll, and AEW would be wise to capitalise on his physical style. Meanwhile, The Opps (Shibata, Joe, and Hobbs) steamrolled The Frat House, and while the squash was predictable, it solidified their dominance as a dangerous unit. The emotional high point came from Mercedes Moné, whose tribute to Eddie Guerrero was heartfelt and perfectly executed. Her segment didn’t feel forced – it felt real, and it added even more emotional weight to her upcoming match with Toni Storm. Their final confrontation was a fiery way to close the show and built strong anticipation for their AEW Women’s World Championship clash at All In Texas.
Ultimately, this was a well-paced, story-heavy episode that found a strong balance between emotional depth and physical intensity. Dynamite continues to feel like must-watch wrestling, with AEW firing on all creative cylinders heading into the summer.
