‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Jul 9th 2025)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast from Garland, Texas. Let’s get straight into the review of the go-home show for this year’s All In: Texas!
Match #1: Kyle Fletcher & Konosuke Takeshita def. Bandido & Brody King
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
This match opened with a collision of power between Brody King and Takeshita, trading heavy forearm shots and shoulder tackles. Bandido showcased his agility with a swift sequence including an impressive dive. Fletcher quickly responded, displaying his strength with a powerful full-body slam. The momentum swung dramatically when Brody King tagged in, executing his brutal Cannonball Senton in the corner, nearly pinning Fletcher. Fletcher fought back valiantly, hitting a Michinoku Driver on King. Bandido energized the crowd with a precise hurricanrana on Takeshita, prompting Don Callis to momentarily leave his seat at commentary, thinking the match was decided. Brody King continued the offensive, delivering a devastating lariat, but Fletcher crucially broke the subsequent pin attempt. In the closing moments, Fletcher neutralized King by launching him over the barricade with a well-timed boot, leaving Bandido vulnerable. Bandido, attempting his signature “21 Plex,” was abruptly countered midair by a precise elbow from Takeshita. Capitalizing swiftly, Takeshita delivered his signature “Raging Fire” to pin Bandido decisively.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Ricochet def. Blake Christian
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
In an intense singles match on AEW Dynamite, Ricochet took on Blake Christian, who was determined to avenge his friend Lee Johnson, recently sidelined by Ricochet’s allies, Gates of Agony. The match began aggressively, with Christian showcasing his agility with a remarkable corkscrew dive onto Ricochet outside the ring. The momentum shifted dramatically when the Gates of Agony appeared, distracting Christian and allowing Ricochet to gain control by hurling Christian into the steel steps. Back from commercial, Blake Christian fought valiantly, executing a spectacular springboard cutter from the middle rope. Christian followed up with a springboard 450 Splash, nearly clinching victory, but Ricochet narrowly kicked out, surprising the commentary team. The match reached its controversial climax when Christian attempted to evade the Gates of Agony at ringside. After stepping off their backs to return to the ring, Christian was attacked while Ricochet distracted referee Rick Knox. Seizing the advantage, Ricochet landed a devastating Spirit Gun, before decisively ending the match with his finishing move, Vertigo.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: 4-Way Match for the No. 2 Spot in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match: Megan Bayne def. Thekla, Queen Aminata and Tay Melo
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The match ignited immediately with aggressive action, as Melo swiftly removed Bayne from the ring with a low bridge. Thekla then showcased her agility with a “big crossbody” dive onto her competitors, followed closely by Queen Aminata’s aerial senton atomico, effectively wiping out all adversaries on the outside. The action remained relentless with Queen Aminata asserting dominance, snapping Thekla into the barricade. Inside the ring, Megan Bayne leveraged her strength advantage, launching Tay Melo into the barricade and executing a powerful Michinoku Driver on Queen Aminata, nearly securing a victory until Thekla intervened. Thekla continued her assault, attempting a Falcon Arrow only to be thwarted by Melo’s barrage of elbows. This temporary alliance between Melo and Aminata briefly subdued Bayne, but their teamwork dissolved as the match progressed. In a critical sequence, Megan Bayne impressively intercepted Thekla’s attempted diving Codebreaker, powerfully tossing her over the ropes, Bayne then unleashed a suicide dive, adding another layer of chaos to the match. As momentum shifted rapidly, Penelope Ford and Anna Jay became embroiled in their own external conflict in support of their respective allies on the outside. Amidst this turmoil, Megan Bayne capitalized decisively, delivering a devastating running powerbomb to Queen Aminata for the decisive three-count.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Samoa Joe def. Wheeler Yuta
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
In the wake of the Death Riders making it clear they want “their” AEW Trios Championship back from The Opps, Samoa Joe faced Wheeler Yuta in a fierce battle that showcased both competitors’ strengths. Yuta entered the contest solo, his teammates preoccupied with the night’s main event. Yuta initially attempted to counter Joe’s power with technique, employing wrist control strategies. However, Joe’s strength quickly dominated, executing a decisive backdrop and a powerful elbow drop, nearly securing the victory early. Throughout the match, Joe displayed his trademark brutal offense. Yet, Wheeler Yuta valiantly fought back, momentarily turning the tide with a flying elbow. As the match intensified, Wheeler resorted to aggressive tactics, gouging Joe’s eyes to escape a potential Muscle Buster and later biting Joe’s ear in a desperate bid for control. Despite these underhanded maneuvers, Samoa Joe maintained dominance. The contest reached its climax when Wheeler Yuta attempted an O’Connor Roll, only to have Joe expertly counter into the lethal Coquina Clutch, forcing a swift submission.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: All Star 8-Man Tag Match: Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & The Young Bucks def. Hangman Adam Page, Will Ospreay, Katsuyori Shibata & Powerhouse Hobbs
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The match erupted immediately, with Hangman Adam Page aggressively clearing the apron and delivering a powerful boot to Matthew Jackson. Will Ospreay showcased his agility early, executing a stunning double handspring kick, prompting a quick tag to Katsuyori Shibata, who continued the momentum. As the action intensified, Powerhouse Hobbs entered decisively, landing a spinning powerslam and enabling Ospreay’s impressive corkscrew moonsault, a move broken up by the opposing team, sparking a chaotic ringside brawl. Claudio Castagnoli applied a punishing bear hug on Ospreay. Will persevered, escaping and eventually tagging in Hangman Page, whose fiery comeback included a devastating Liger Bomb on Matthew Jackson, nearly capturing victory before Nicholas Jackson intervened at the last second. In a thrilling final sequence, the Young Bucks launched into a Superkick Party. Powerhouse Hobbs was dramatically powerbombed through a table by Claudio and Moxley. With opponents incapacitated, Castagnoli hit a decisive Neutralizer, allowing Moxley to lock Shibata into a tight Bulldog Choke, forcing a referee stoppage and securing the victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
This week’s episode delivered the kind of high-energy, story-driven wrestling that fans expect heading into a major pay-per-view. The main event, a chaotic eight-man tag, was explosive and dramatic, with Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and The Young Bucks scoring the win in violent fashion. But the real show-stealer was the post-match segment, which saw Hangman Page and Will Ospreay laid out before Swerve Strickland made a shocking return, arriving in cinematic style to destroy the Bucks’ limo with a full-blown excavator. It was pure AEW, wild, over-the-top, and unmissable. Elsewhere on the show, Samoa Joe made short work of Wheeler Yuta, asserting his dominance heading into the weekend. The women’s four-way delivered some solid action, with Megan Bayne standing out and punching her ticket into the Casino Gauntlet. Her Liger Bomb finisher looked brutal and got a strong reaction. Promos were a mixed bag this week. The Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Moné segment had great energy, though Storm clearly carried the verbal sparring with her sharp delivery and confident presence. MJF’s interview segment with Mark Briscoe was heavier, emotional at times, but was smartly interrupted by the Hurt Syndicate to keep things from dragging. Overall, this was a strong go-home show. AEW knows how to build anticipation, and with memorable moments, strong in-ring work, and a dose of unpredictability, Dynamite made it clear that All In: Texas is going to be a major event. It wasn’t perfect – some promos could’ve used tightening – but as a whole, the episode really hit the mark.