‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Jun 25th 2025)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast from Seattle, Washington. Let’s get straight into the review!
Match #1: Will Ospreay & Swerve Strickland def. Blake Christian & Lee Johnson
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ospreay and Swerve entered the arena hastily, clearly caught off guard, as Ospreay taped his wrists en route to the ring. Facing Lee Johnson and Blake Christian, the match began with Johnson and Swerve exchanging rapid maneuvers, highlighted by a quick leapfrog sequence and evasion by Johnson. Ospreay, sporting a noticeable black eye from a previous superkick incident, tagged in and executed a sharp Manhattan Drop and a blistering chop on Christian. Despite their abrupt start, Ospreay and Swerve showcased impressive chemistry. A notable moment came when Ospreay launched himself into Johnson on the outside with a dynamic crossbody. However, the Young Bucks appeared ringside, creating a distraction that allowed Christian to capitalize with a precise dropkick. Blake Christian momentarily dominated, impressively connecting with a flawless 450 Splash on Ospreay. Nevertheless, resilience and teamwork prevailed as Swerve exploded into action, delivering a punishing Buckle Bomb followed by brutal uppercuts. Swerve then decisively ended the match with a devastating Swerve Stomp, sealing their victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Kota Ibushi def. Trent Berretta
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The action continued on AEW Dynamite with Kota Ibushi making his anticipated return to singles competition against Trent Berretta of the Don Callis Family, accompanied by Rocky Romero. From the outset, the intensity was palpable, as Berretta appeared fiercely determined to send a message to Kenny Omega by punishing Omega’s longtime friend and ally, Ibushi. Both athletes started evenly matched, trading technical holds and displaying their agility and power. Ibushi showcased his renowned athleticism with a perfectly executed dropkick, while Berretta used distractions provided by Romero to gain momentary advantages. Ibushi retaliated impressively with a standing moonsault press, demonstrating his explosive offense. The match took a punishing turn as Berretta delivered a devastating Gotch-style piledriver, nearly securing the victory. Ibushi fought back resiliently, landing a crisp Dragon Suplex targeting Berretta’s surgically repaired neck. The turning point came when Ibushi unleashed a series of powerful knee strikes, decisively ending the bout with a brutal Kamigoye, driving his knee directly into Berretta’s face to secure the pinfall victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: JetSpeed (Speedball Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight) def. Ricochet & AR Fox
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviewed AR Fox, noting his recent momentum despite a tough loss to Jon Moxley. Ricochet abruptly interrupted, stating he came with “no animosity, with no ill will,” but rather to recruit Fox, recognizing his “unique set of skills” needed for Ricochet’s quest for gold. Ricochet proposed teaming up against JetSpeed (Speedball Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight) to “take ’em out tonight.” In the ensuing match, Ricochet frequently left Fox to fend for himself, initially watching from the sidelines as JetSpeed dominated early with synchronized high-flying maneuvers, including stereo cross bodies. Fox showed incredible resilience, executing a dynamic over-the-rope foot stomp and senton combo onto Bailey. Despite his partner’s indifference, Fox’s innovative offense kept the match competitive. However, Ricochet continued to undermine teamwork, tagging himself in opportunistically and delivering a sharp uppercut and chest kick to Kevin Knight, enjoying the spectacle rather than capitalizing on the momentum. As the match reached its climax, AR Fox desperately sought a tag, only to find Ricochet stepping away and abandoning him entirely. JetSpeed swiftly capitalised on the betrayal; Kevin Knight executed a precise sky-high maneuver, setting Fox up perfectly for Knight’s UFO Splash, securing the victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: 4-Way Match for the No. 1 Spot in the Men’s Casino Gauntlet Match: Mark Briscoe def. Bandido, Roderick Strong & Konosuke Takeshita
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
AEW Dynamite featured an intense 4-Way Match with Mark Briscoe, ROH World Champion Bandido, Roderick Strong, and Konosuke Takeshita battling fiercely for the coveted No. 1 spot in the Casino Gauntlet match at AEW All In: Texas. From the outset, the action was relentless. Bandido demonstrated his incredible agility with a precise dropkick and a fluid hurricanrana. Takeshita’s strategic prowess was on full display as he executed a devastating Blue Thunder Bomb on Roderick Strong, narrowly missing a victory. Strong responded with his signature series of brutal backbreakers, further emphasizing his nickname, “Messiah of the Backbreaker.” Mark Briscoe brought his characteristic toughness and unpredictability, employing a crisp scissor kick through the ropes and a blockbuster neckbreaker combo. The match reached fever pitch as Bandido landed a high-impact Cutter on Strong, only to crash spectacularly after missing a high-risk aerial maneuver. The decisive moments came as Bandido attempted to put Takeshita away with his patented 21-Plex, but Takeshita barely escaped by rolling away from the pinning predicament. Seizing this chaotic opening, Mark Briscoe soared with pinpoint accuracy, hitting his signature Froggy Bow from the top rope onto Roderick Strong, securing the crucial victory.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #5: 4-Way Match for the No. 1 Spot in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match: Kris Statlander def. Willow Nightingale, Athena & Thunder Rosa
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The high-stakes 4-Way Match to secure the No. 1 spot in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet at AEW All In: Texas saw fierce competitors Willow Nightingale, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena, Thunder Rosa, and Kris Statlander collide in a dynamic clash. Athena quickly displayed dominance, using a handspring forearm and a swift DDT to maintain early momentum. Willow Nightingale responded powerfully, utilizing her strength with a double suplex on multiple opponents and an impactful cannonball in the corner. Thunder Rosa brought strategic agility into play, nearly capturing victory with precise dropkicks and an expertly timed double stomp. The turning point occurred amidst chaotic action when Death Riders’ Marina Shafir and Wheeler Yuta intervened. Shafir distracted Willow Nightingale, allowing Yuta to close in from ringside. Capitalizing immediately, Kris Statlander executed a devastating piledriver, swiftly pinning Nightingale to secure the victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #6: Hangman Adam Page def. The Beast Mortos
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The AEW Dynamite main event featured a highly physical battle between Hangman Adam Page and The Beast Mortos. Early exchanges saw Mortos deliver powerful headbutts and explosive offense, but Hangman countered effectively, showcasing his agility and strength with moves such as a fallaway slam. The momentum swung dramatically several times, highlighted by Mortos’ devastating pop-up Samoan drop and lung blower, both nearly securing him victory. Page, resilient as ever, responded with a spectacular Poison Rana followed by a ferocious discus lariat that left Mortos reeling. Seizing the moment, Hangman delivered his signature Buckshot Lariat, decisively pinning Mortos to claim the hard-fought win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.75/5
This week’s show was a strong, forward-moving episode that smartly juggled storytelling, in-ring action, and big match setups as the road to All In: Texas heats up. The show opened with an intense brawl between Mercedes Moné and Toni Storm, injecting some fire into their feud. Kota Ibushi made his long-awaited return in a solid match against Trent Beretta, reigniting excitement around his presence and teasing a major confrontation next week. The two fatal four-way qualifiers for the Casino Gauntlets delivered competitive action, with Mark Briscoe and Kris Statlander both emerging as strong choices to kick off their respective matches. The tag team landscape also got a shake-up with Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland picking up a win and throwing down a challenge that could shift AEW’s power dynamic at All In. Hangman Page ended the show with a hard-fought win but was left laid out in the closing angle, continuing the slow-burning arc around his redemption and frustration. Overall, this episode didn’t waste any time – matches had stakes, stories advanced; all of which means next week’s milestone 300th episode is undoubtedly must-see TV.
