‘AEW: Dynamite’ Review (Jul 30th 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: The Young Bucks def. The Outrunners
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
With the Bucks clearly off their games, the Outrunners got off to a hot start, but it was the former AEW World Tag Team Champions, Matt and Nick, who took control on the outside. Matt even went as far as to hijack the legendary Tony Schiavone’s headset to let the world know that the “superstars” were here and should be afforded the proper respect. Even without their typical executive luxuries, the Bucks obviously still know how to get it done and had Truth Magnum in dire straits. Finally, Magnum was able to find just enough daylight to make the tag to a fired up Turbo Floyd. The fresh Floyd completely changed the momentum of the match and with Total Recall seemingly coming, the Bucks battled back with a set of superkicks only for Floyd to shake off the damage with a desperation double clothesline. Floyd and Magnum hit The Double Bicep Elbow for a near fall. Later, a near collision between Matt Jackson and referee Rick Knox gave Jackson the chance to hit an undetected low blow on Truth Magnum, but a shoving match between Jackson and Knox nearly saw the Outrunners pull the upset. Turbo and Truth hit Total Recall on Matt, which seemed to spell the end for the Bucks, but Nick saved his brother just in time. The Bucks were able to separate The Outrunners and delivered a TK Driver to Truth Magnum for the win and advanced to the semifinals of the AEW Tag Team Eliminator Tournament, much to the chagrin of the Chicago crowd.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: AEW World Championship Match – Hangman Adam Page def. Jon Moxley
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
With security surrounding the ringside area, it was time for the AEW World Championship match with everyone banned from ringside. Challenger Jon Moxley made his usual entrance through the crowd, although he had to do so without Marina Shafir. As chants of “Cowboy Shit” began, the champion, Hangman Adam Page, entered with a purpose. Ring announcer Justin Roberts made the proper championship introductions and it was time for Hangman vs Mox, One. More. Time! A collar-and-elbow tie-up actually opened this match, as there was a level of caution between both men. Hangman quickly threw that caution to the wind and began unloading on Moxley in the corner. That seemed to snap Mox into gear and the two began trading chops. Page ended up choking Moxley from the top rope, only for Mox to bail outside. The champion immediately followed with a massive clothesline sending the leader of the Death Riders into the timekeeper’s area. Back in the ring, Hangman wasn’t in control for long, as Mox took the advantage with a big German suplex. Moxley mounted Hangman in the corner and delivered 10 punches, punctuating his efforts by digging his knuckles into Page’s forehead. However, in a clear example of both men knowing each other so well, it was Hangman who regained control. Mox nearly avoided disaster by ducking Page’s springboard clothesline, but the champ came right back with another from the opposite side. Page got Mox back in the ring and hit a Death Valley Driver for a two-count. Both men spilled back to the outside and you guessed it, the tide shifted yet again. Moxley was able to send Hangman into the steel steps, and quickly snatched the champion up to hit a brutal piledriver on the very same steps. Moxley grinded down Page on the may with various submissions and began hitting kicks on a sitting Page reminiscent of the American Dragon Bryan Danielson. Page snatched a final kick attempt by Moxley to get to his feet and the two began trading chops in the middle of the ring. Hangman hit a Teardrop Suplex, which Mox initially tried to shake off, only to be crushed by another huge clothesline. The two men found themselves back outside and on top of the announce desk. Page reversed another piledriver attempt by Mox into a Deadeye on the table. Page continued the offense in the ring and a big tombstone garnered another late kickout from Moxley. As Hangman looked to the crowd for just a split second too long, Moxley took advantage bringing the champion down to the mat only for Page to turn the situation into a submission of his own. The two men rolled to the apron and it was yet another piledriver by Moxley to Hangman, this time on the hardest part of the ring! Moxley followed that with a Gotch-Style Piledriver, but Hangman kicked out again! A Buckshot Lariat attempt was thwarted by Moxley into an attempt at the Paradigm Shift only for Hangman to hit a Buckshot Lariat. With the referee down, Claudio Castignoli and Wheeler Yuta appeared in the crowd, drawing the attention of the ringside security. Marina Shafir took advantage of the smoke screen and brought the AEW World Championship to Mox who cracked the title over Page’s head…but Hangman kicked out at 2.999999! Once referee Paul Turner saw the Death Riders at ringside, he had security escort them back through the crowd. High above, Darby Allin appeared in a balcony box and came crashing down onto Castignoli, Yuta, Shafir, and security. Back in the ring, Hangman hit Moxley with a Buckshot Lariat and instead of a pin attempt, he went for a Deadeye that Mox nearly turned into a third piledriver, although Hangman would recover to hit the Deadeye and a final Buckshot Lariat to get the pin and retain the AEW World Championship!
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #3: Billie Starkz and Athena def. Toni Storm and Alex Windsor
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
It was Windsor and Athena starting things off, or maybe we should say picking things up from their match this past Saturday on Collision. Storm tagged in and it looked like her and Athena were about to throw down, but it was not to be. Starkz tagged in and went right to Storm, bringing us back to their matchup last week on Dynamite. Storm and Windsor decided to honor the rich history of the Byline Aragon Ballroom by slow-dancing their way into a double boot for Starkz in the corner. With Athena and Starkz in firm control, they looked like a unit that has been together for much longer. Windsor suffered the brunt of that, including a brutal double-team on her neck. Unable to get to Storm, Windsor somehow battled back with a flurry of offense and actually had Athena pinned following a powerful discus clothesline. Finally, Storm was able to tag in! The Mongolian Chops rained down upon Starks and Storm continued the offense with a vengeful fury. Storm hit a huge hip attack on Starkz in the corner, but Storm was unaware that Athena had tagged in and hit the O-Face to pin the AEW Women’s Champion!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Mark Briscoe def. Ricochet
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Before Ricochet and Mark Briscoe locked up, we saw highlights of their bloody Stretcher Match from Double or Nothing back in May. On that night, Ricochet was victorious thanks in large part to the golden shears he’s been utilizing as a weapon. The match started off quickly, as Briscoe fed off a crowd that was fully behind him. As noted by Tony Schiavone, Briscoe seems to be fighting with more of an edge since his various back and forths with MJF both in and out of the ring. Briscoe continued to control the pace with an increased level of intensity, cutting off Ricochet from building any kind of offense. Ricochet tried to find some separation but was knocked from the top rope to the outside. As Briscoe fired up for a dive, the Gates of Agony, Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun made their way down the ramp. Their presence paid immediate dividends, as Ricochet was able to attack the distracted Briscoe from behind. Being in control wasn’t enough for Ricochet, as he tried to introduce a chair into the match, only to be stopped by referee Bryce Remsburg. Briscoe got a schoolboy for a two count and appeared to be turning the tide. He hit a chop directly to bald head of Ricochet. Ricochet had the Spirit Gun loaded up, but Briscoe was ready and ducked it, taking control back once again. Briscoe went for a kick through the ropes but it was Bishop Kaun taking the shot, getting Ricochet out the way. Briscoe wasn’t done, though, as he springboard somersaulted himself off a chair to take out Ricochet and Toa Liona on the outside. Briscoe went to the top for a Froggy Bow. With wounded, Ricochet hit a Vertigo, and somehow Briscoe kicked out. Before GoA could cause any more damage, Brodido hit the ring and took them out. Those two teams meet in the quarterfinals of the AEW Tag Team Championship Tournament. Without any distractions on the outside, Mark hit a huge lariat followed by a Jay Driller for the win!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
This week’s Dynamite delivered a high-energy, impactful episode this week, anchored by a thrilling AEW World Title main event between “Hangman” Adam Page and Jon Moxley. The match was a hard-hitting, emotionally charged war that managed to top even their previous clashes thanks to its clean finish and no-nonsense storytelling. It gave the show a strong spine and reminded fans of what AEW does best—gritty, athletic drama with stakes. Elsewhere, The Young Bucks moved forward in the tag team eliminator tournament with a lively victory that kept the tournament’s momentum going. The women’s tag match also stood out, with Athena and Billie Starkz scoring a meaningful win and continuing to build toward bigger things in the division. A brutal post-match ambush involving MJF and Mark Briscoe added some welcome intensity to the undercard and set the stage for future conflicts, with Hangman’s late save hinting at a potential new rivalry. Christian Cage also returned in a lengthy promo segment that, while storyline-relevant, dragged the pacing down a bit. Overall, the show was strong outing that combined excellent in-ring action with meaningful story advancement.