‘AEW: Grand Slam Mexico’ Review (Jun 18th 2025)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW, which was a HUGE cross-promotional show with CMLL, Grand Slam Mexico – taking place at the historic Arena México in Mexico City. With that, let’s get straight into the review!
Match #1: Adam Cole, Brody King, Bandido, Daniel Garcia, Atlantis, Atlantis Jr. & Templario def. Dax Harwood, Volador Jr. & The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Lance Archer, Josh Alexander & Hechicero)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The atmosphere reached fever pitch with an explosive 14-man tag team showdown. The match began with electrifying exchanges, notably Bandido showcasing agility with a beautiful flying headscissors on Takeshita. The pace remained relentless, Hechicero creatively tying Daniel Garcia in a hammerlock hold before executing a devastating, innovative maneuver described aptly by Excalibur as a “mad scientist bomb”. One of the most stunning spots came when Templario executed a breathtaking dive to the outside, wowing the crowd and escalating the action even further. Archer notably slammed Garcia onto the top turnbuckle with a powerful chokeslam, demonstrating his imposing physical dominance. The match reached a dramatic peak when Brody King delivered a punishing Death Valley Driver onto the hard apron to Josh Alexander, drawing gasps from the commentary team who emphasized this particular apron’s notoriously unforgiving nature. Another stunning moment occurred when Templario and Bandido ascended opposing corners and landed a massive double avalanche fallaway slam on Alexander and Takeshita. Tony Schiavone reacted with concern, exclaiming, “That was a rough landing,” underscoring the high-risk nature of the maneuver. In a memorable sequence, the legendary veteran Atlantis traded fierce strikes with Dax Harwood, leading to an intense brawl that the crowd passionately supported. Ultimately, Atlantis leveraged his veteran instincts, rolling Harwood up in an inside cradle for a decisive three-count victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Kazuchika Okada def. Mark Briscoe
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Mark Briscoe confronted AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada, determined to avenge his close friend Kenny Omega after Okada’s vicious assault last week at AEW Summer Blockbuster. Briscoe, passionate in his pre-match statement, underscored his commitment to Omega, promising, “I had your back in Anarchy in the Arena. I got your back here now”. The bout was intense from the start, with Briscoe’s aggressive offense reflecting his determination to send Okada into his upcoming All In: Texas match against Omega weakened. Briscoe quickly showcased his unorthodox style, unleashing rapid strikes and powerful chops. Okada, however, utilized his height and leverage advantage to neutralize Briscoe, executing a precise dropkick that sent Briscoe crashing hard to the arena floor. In a pivotal sequence, Briscoe rallied impressively, delivering a Fisherman Buster that nearly secured victory. The momentum continued with Briscoe hitting an Exploder Suplex, setting up for his signature “Froggy Bow” elbow drop. Despite a perfect landing, Okada resiliently kicked out at two. The match climaxed with both men exchanging desperate counters, Briscoe repeatedly attempting his devastating Jay Driller. Okada skillfully reversed these attempts and eventually seized control by delivering a precise Tombstone piledriver, stunning Briscoe. Capitalizing immediately, Okada unleashed his devastating Rainmaker lariat, securing the pinfall victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Mistico def. MJF (DQ)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Arena México erupted in an unforgettable moment as lucha libre legend Mistico faced off against the controversial MJF. The Mexico City crowd passionately sang along to Mistico’s iconic entrance music, “Me Muero,” creating a genuinely goosebump-inducing atmosphere of unity and pride. The intense matchup saw Mistico, wearing colors of El Tri, immediately controlling the pace with swift lucha libre offense, including a dazzling tijeras takedown early on. MJF quickly resorted to dirty tactics, repeatedly retreating outside the ring, seeking assistance from The Hurt Syndicate—MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin. Mistico rallied back spectacularly, executing an impressive springboard crossbody to the floor, soaring through the air onto MJF. The momentum continued as Mistico delivered a crisp tornado DDT and a breathtaking Spanish Fly from the top rope, leaving the crowd breathless. In the match’s dramatic climax, Mistico locked MJF into his trademark submission, La Mistica. MJF began tapping, seemingly conceding defeat. However, the referee, distracted by MVP, failed to see MJF’s submission. Capitalizing on the chaos, MVP delivered a low blow to Mistico, allowing MJF a near victory through blatant interference—yet Mistico kicked out defiantly, igniting the crowd further. Frustrated and desperate, MJF took matters to extremes, unleashing another low blow directly in front of the official to draw a disqualification.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: 4 Million Pesos High Flying 4-Way Match – Hologram def. Ricochet, Lio Rush and Mascara Dorada
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Early in the contest, Ricochet and Lio Rush momentarily teamed up, executing synchronized kicks that sent both Dorada and Hologram sprawling. However, the luchadors quickly rallied, retaliating with swift double dropkicks and innovative arm-drag maneuvers, showcasing their impressive agility and teamwork. The action intensified when Ricochet and Rush’s partnership dissolved due to miscommunication and rising tensions. A fierce sequence saw Hologram delivering a spectacular Spanish Fly to Dorada, while Ricochet intervened to break a near-pinfall attempt. The closing sequence proved chaotic and breathtaking. Lio Rush dazzled with three consecutive attempts at a Poison Rana, finally connecting beautifully on Mascara Dorada, nearly securing the victory. Ricochet responded emphatically, landing a devastating Meteora to halt Rush’s momentum. In an adrenaline-packed final showdown, Ricochet attempted an ambitious top-rope maneuver but was disrupted by Lio Rush, leading to a precarious top-turnbuckle struggle. Hologram capitalized, attempting a dramatic Tower of Doom-style powerbomb. Amidst the melee, Rush cunningly rolled Hologram into a pinning predicament, illicitly using the ropes for leverage, but referee Bryce Remsburg caught Rush in the act. In the ensuing confusion, Hologram seized the moment, reversing Rush’s attempted stunner and executing the one-of-a-kind Portal Bomb, earning the pinfall victory and claiming the 4 million pesos prize, much to the raucous delight of the passionate Arena México crowd.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #5: CMLL Women’s World Championship Match – Mercedes Mone def. Zeuxis
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Mercedes entered confidently, already draped in multiple championships and looking to add the prestigious CMLL belt ahead of her anticipated showdown with AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm at AEW All In: Texas. Zeuxis, a determined champion, wasted no time attacking Mercedes aggressively with rapid pin attempts and explosive moves, including an early, impactful lung blower. The match escalated quickly with Zeuxis executing an ambitious yet costly tope suicida. She crashed brutally on the floor, shifting momentum significantly in Mercedes’ favor. Mercedes immediately capitalized, landing her signature Meteora and later countering Zeuxis’s offense with a punishing backstabber, nearly securing a pinfall. Zeuxis rallied bravely, landing a stunning Spanish Fly from the top rope, only narrowly missing a three-count. The action intensified further as Mercedes countered again, escaping a pump handle slam with resilience. In the climax, Zeuxis positioned Mercedes for a top-rope maneuver, but Mercedes fought back viciously. In a dramatic and swift ending sequence, Mercedes reversed Zeuxis’s grip from the top turnbuckle on a brutal power slam variation from the top rope, clinching a decisive three-count and the CMLL World Women’s Championship.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #6: Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, The Beast Mortos & The Young Bucks def. Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland & The Opps (Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata & Will Hobbs)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
In the electrifying main event of AEW Grand Slam Mexico, a star-studded 10-man tag team battle headlined the unforgettable night at Arena México, with the Death Riders’ Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta joining forces with LFI’s mercenary monster The Beast Mortos and AEW founding fathers The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson), taking on the formidable team of AEW World Trios Champions the Opps (Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, and Powerhouse Hobbs), Swerve Strickland, and Will Ospreay. The match ignited immediately, driven by lingering tensions and scores to settle. Will Ospreay—sporting a visible injury and bandaged black eye from a previous encounter with the Young Bucks—was a key target early on. Despite the injury, Ospreay dazzled the Mexican crowd, executing a stunning Sky Twister Press off the top turnbuckle onto a pile of opponents outside the ring, demonstrating why he’s known as one of wrestling’s most spectacular performers. Mid-match chaos ensued with relentless teamwork from both sides. Samoa Joe unleashed devastating strikes, while Shibata employed precision with his brutal kicks and signature PK. Powerhouse Hobbs showcased his raw strength with an impactful short-arm lariat and a massive powerslam, repeatedly overpowering the competition. The Young Bucks responded with their signature tandem offense, including sharp double superkicks. In the decisive moments, Marina Shafir distracted the referee, enabling AEW World Champion Jon Moxley to seize an unfair advantage. Amid the confusion, Moxley rolled up Swerve Strickland, gripping a handful of trunks to secure a controversial pinfall victory for his team.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
AEW: Grand Slam Mexico was a dynamic showcase of cross-cultural wrestling brilliance, packed with bold match-ups, emotional crowd moments, and major storyline progressions. The night kicked off with a wild 14-man tag that gave legends like Atlantis a spotlight moment, setting the tone with a perfect mix of chaos and nostalgia. Okada and Mark Briscoe delivered a sharp, storytelling-heavy bout, with Okada’s post-match assault teasing deeper tensions. MJF vs. Místico brought molten heat, ending in a DQ after classic heel tactics and a dramatic mask rip. The Lucha crowd erupted, setting the stage for an escalating feud. Hologram’s win in the Four-Way for 4 million pesos was a fast-paced spectacle that cemented him as a breakout star. Mercedes Moné’s capture of the CMLL Women’s Championship was both history-making and technically excellent, with a tense post-match confrontation between Mone and Storm adding intrigue. The main event, a 10-man tag war, saw Moxley pin Swerve in a controversial finish that ignited post-match brawling and a heated confrontation with Hangman Page. From start to finish, AEW delivered a high-energy event that felt like more than just a location shift… it was a love letter to lucha libre and a powerful evolution in AEW’s global presence!