‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Jul 23rd 2025)

Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dynamite, which was broadcast once again from the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois. Let’s get straight into the review!

Match #1: “Hangman” Adam Page def. Wheeler Yuta

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

With Wheeler Yuta already in the ring, “Hangman” Adam Page made his entrance for the opening contest of AEW Dynamite–but before Page could even step through the ropes, Yuta struck. Launching a surprise assault, Yuta blindsided the AEW World Champion with a cheap shot from behind, triggering immediate chaos even before the bell rang. Yuta’s early momentum continued with a suicide dive to the outside, but Page swiftly regained control, violently hurling Yuta into the barricade multiple times. Back inside the ring, Page showcased his signature power and precision, blasting Yuta with a fallaway slam and a high boot. He then sent Yuta hard into the turnbuckles before catching a back elbow, only to bounce back with a devastating Death Valley Driver squarely in the center of the ring. Yuta kicked out at two, but the champ wasn’t done. Hangman looked to finish it with the Dead Eye, but Yuta clung to the top rope to avoid the maneuver. He then resorted to dirty tactics, gouging at the eyes of Page. But the momentary distraction only delayed the inevitable. Sizing him up from the apron, Page springboarded over the top rope and connected flush with the Buckshot Lariat for the win.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #2: AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Tournament – FTR def. JetSpeed

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

The AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Tournament kicked off in explosive fashion as FTR took on the red-hot duo of “Speedball” Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight, collectively known as JetSpeed. FTR jumped the bell, attacking JetSpeed early. Cash Wheeler sent Knight to the floor, isolating Bailey as Dax Harwood immediately went to set up their foe for a Shatter Machine attempt. Bailey slipped free and rolled Dax into a quick pinning combination for a two-count. From there, it was a frantic exchange of reversals, ending with Bailey and Knight hitting a combination side-kick/German suplex for an early nearfall. The action spilled outside with JetSpeed hitting stereo planchas, though Bailey tweaked his knee on landing, a factor that would haunt him throughout the match. Inside the ring, FTR slowed the pace, cornering Bailey and breaking him down with stiff uppercuts, body blows, and a thunderous chop from Harwood that echoed through the building. A pivotal moment came when Dax attempted a piledriver, only to be countered by Knight with a back body drop, and Cash Wheeler took the same ride moments later. Knight connected with a Pendulum DDT for a two-count, and the crowd in Chicago roared as JetSpeed continued to push the pace. FTR’s veteran instincts kicked in, with Dax dragging Knight to the outside and targeting the knee with a dragon screw leg whip across the ropes, and then another one in the center of the ring. With both JetSpeed members showing signs of damage, FTR locked in stereo Sharpshooters, with Cash restraining Bailey on the floor to prevent a break. Still, Knight clawed to the ropes to force the release. From there, the match hit a fever pitch. FTR went for their signature suplex-splash combo, but Knight got the knees up on the splash. Knight and Bailey stayed resilient, combining for a Doomsday-style elevated dropkick and a wild corkscrew Asai moonsault from Bailey over the barricade onto Cash. Inside, Knight nearly sealed the win with a UFO splash, but Dax kicked out at two-and-a-half. In the closing stretch, Knight countered a slingshot powerbomb into a hurricanrana, and Bailey drilled Dax with a penalty kick. But just as Knight looked to secure the victory with a victory roll, Dax reversed the pin and grabbed the tights. On the outside, Stokely Hathaway provided the leverage with his crutch, which Dax held as the referee counted the three.

My Score: 4 out of 5

Match #3: AEW Women’s World Title Eliminator – Toni Storm def. Billie Starkz

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

In a high-stakes AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match, “Timeless” Toni Storm faced Billie Starkz, the handpicked minion of Ring of Honor Women’s World Champion Athena, with Athena watching from her opera box above the Aragon Ballroom. Right from the opening bell, the tone was clear: Billie wasn’t just looking to win; she was there to hurt. After exchanging side headlocks and pin attempts, Toni Storm landed a big backbreaker and followed with a monkey flip that launched Starkz across the ring. But Billie responded with a sharp legsweep and a basement superkick that staggered the champion. She then charged outside and leveled Storm with a tope suicida, followed by a cannonball senton off the apron. Back from commercial, the momentum swung wildly. Storm landed a sit-out powerbomb and a German suplex that folded Starkz in half. She went for Storm Zero, but Billie countered into a back body drop and rolled into a pin for a nearfall. Starkz hit a high-impact enzuigiri and climbed to the top, but Storm got her knees up to block the senton atomico. Storm went straight into the TCM Chickenwing, and despite a desperate struggle, Starkz had no choice but to submit.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #4: Swerve Strickland def. Hechicero (DQ)

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

The early goings were a clinic in Lucha mat grappling. Swerve worked a top wristlock, but Hechicero quickly countered with double overhooks and tied Strickland in knots, manipulating his jaw and searching for a triangle choke. Swerve rolled out and attempted an abdominal stretch, but Hechicero reached the ropes to break the hold. After absorbing shoulder blocks and chops in the corner, Strickland hit a vertical suplex to shift momentum. A roundhouse kick followed, and Swerve went up top and connected with a 450 splash, but Hechicero kicked out at two. Hechicero battled back, using a sleeper hold and transitioning into a cross armbar, forcing Swerve to roll him into a pin for a two-count. Strickland rebounded with a rolling thunder reverse STO and looked poised to take control when disaster struck. Just as Strickland readied for the killshot, Lance Archer hit the ring, attacking him without provocation. Referee Rick Knox had no choice but to throw the match out.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #5: Mark Briscoe def. Claudio Castagnoli

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

In the main event of AEW Dynamite, Mark Briscoe took on Claudio Castagnoli of the Death Riders in a heated singles bout that mixed brute force with high-stakes emotion. Though the match started with traditional collar-and-elbow tie-ups, it quickly escalated into a slugfest of uppercuts, chops, and brute strength. Claudio hammered Briscoe with overhand strikes, while Mark responded with wild right hands and sharp kicks, even flooring the Swiss powerhouse with a boot to the face. The action spilled to the floor, where Castagnoli whipped Briscoe repeatedly into the barricade before launching him over it. Back in the ring, Claudio maintained control with a sleeper hold, targeting the midsection and trying to wear his opponent down. But Mark Briscoe, as always, proved impossible to keep down. The turning point came when Darby Allin appeared in the crowd, distracting Claudio just long enough for Briscoe to string together offense, including a big suplex, a suicide dive, and a huge elbow drop off the announce desk. Back in the ring, Briscoe climbed the ropes and hit his signature Froggy Bow elbow drop, but Claudio kicked out. Briscoe signaled for the Jay-Driller, but Claudio escaped, only to get caught with a back elbow. He responded with an eye poke and a stiff uppercut, nearly sealing the win. But as he went for the Neutralizer, Briscoe reversed into a small package and secured the three-count.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Final Verdict: 4/5

This week’s Dynamite was an intense, storyline-heavy episode that effectively pushed several rivalries forward while setting the stage for a chaotic stretch heading into Forbidden Door: London. This was a strong, character-driven episode of Dynamite that packed in surprises, faction drama, and meaningful developments. While a couple of finishes felt rushed or messy, the overall momentum was undeniable. Major stars were elevated, the crowd stayed hot, and next week’s episode is shaping up to be a must-see.