SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
APRIL 9, 2025
BALTIMORE, MD. AT CHESAPEAKE EMPLOYERS INSURANCE ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON TBS & MAX
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported this week that 3,018 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 3,384. The arena has a capacity of 5,500 spectators when configured for concerts.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Tej Narayanan to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
VIP VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
https://streamyard.com/hez7r9yp78
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine). This is a private link, so don’t share. It’s just for VIP members at this time.
Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER AEW DYNAMITE TONIGHT: CLICK HERE TO WATCH
[HOUR ONE]
-Excalibur introduced the show as pyro blasted in the arena. They showed cheering fans.
-A backstage promo aired with Jon Moxley and his cohorts. Moxley said it’s the greatest assembly of talent ever assembled under one roof, but they too often come up short. He said they need to get their act together when it counts. Clips aired from Dynasty of Samao Joe, Hook, Shibata, “Hangman” Page, and others. He said the real problem is they don’t want it. He said this is his life’s work and it won’t be bought or sold. He said Matt & Nick Jackson have returned. He called them “interested power players.” He said he hasn’t recognized them for a long time. He said they stumbled upon a board and they don’t know what the game is. He said they should be careful before they make any moves.
(Keller’s Analysis: His delivery is top shelf, but I really don’t know what he’s talking about most of the time or why it makes him a villain in the AEW universe.)
(1) JON MOXLEY (w/Marina Shafir) vs. KATSUYORI SHIBATA
As Moxley and Shafir made their way to the ring, Excalibur said if not for the Bucks, they could very well be talking about Swerve Strickland as the new AEW World Champion. The bell rang 5 minutes into the hour. After mostly matwork for five minutes, Mox escaped Shibata’s sleeper and applied his own for the win.
WINNER: Moxley in 5:00.
-The Young Bucks ring entrance music played as Mox was soaking up his win. They walked out and entered the ring. Shafir stood in front of Mox and walked up to the Bucks. Mox then said something to them but the mic didn’t pick it up. He and Shafir then left the ring.
Nick Jackson asked the crowd to “please give it up for your World Heavyweight Champion, Jon Moxley.” He asked the crowd to “show some damn respect for the founding fathers of AEW. Shut the f up!” he yelled. He said the world is wondering why they cost Swerve the championship. He said they have a couple good reasons. He said they did it for their good friend, “Hangman” Adam Page. “You’re welcome, buddy,” he said. He said he never wanted Swerve to be champion again. “We still love you Adam Page and we know you love us, buddy.” Fans chanted, “Who’s house? Swerve’s house!”
Matt said he wished Mox stuck around to hear it. He said what they did for Mox they considered a peace offering. He said they have no issue with him and he hopes they have no issues with them. He said when they were sitting at home watching, they realized they share a lot in common. He said they both want AEW to be the best pro wrestling company and he wants to change the world “just like us.” He said he saw Mox do what they weren’t able to do. He said he succeeded in taking over AEW and obtaining the World Title. “We couldn’t do that,” he said. He said last Sunday was their “elevator pitch” to him. “Can you imagine if the Death Riders and The Elite worked together as one?” he said. He invited the Death Riders to the ring. Instead, Kenny Omega came out. Excalibur said he is a former friend of the Jacksons.
As Omega walked out, fans chanted “Kenny! Kenny!” He said if they did that for their friends, they forgot to “do him.” He said the last time he saw them, they shoved him off a stretcher as he was suffering from diverticulitis. He said he actually forgave them. He said when he returned to AEW, he said his focus was on his legacy and the safety of AEW, “not for revenge.” He said what they’re trying to do is “bring back the feeling.”
He said he used to have a friend back in high school who used to have two yappy little dogs. He said they pooped on the floor when he went over to play videogames. He said the pile got bigger and the stains and smell got worse, so he suggested they play at his house instead. He said that was what AEW was like when he wasn’t around in AEW. He said the Bucks were shredding documents last time they saw him. He said they all know how they operate and how they brag about their money. He said they were tearing up paperwork about their private jet and “the chair you put in your bedroom facing the bed.” (Huh?).
He said that doesn’t matter, but what pisses him off is they almost killed the company that he almost gave his life and health and soul for. He said he can’t lie. He said the time off has done them wonders. He said Nick looks “every bit of that 90 pounds you were before you left.” He said Matt looks about as red as Nick’s lapels. He said now that they’ve gotten to this point, they should cut out the middle man and he’ll just go to the ring and they can fight. When he stood on the ring apron, Kazuchika Okada’s music played and he walked out. Excalibur said this might not be the fight Omega wants now given it’s three on one. Then Swerve Strickland’s music played.
The Bucks and Okada stared at the stage, but Swerve came at them from behind. They bailed out of the ring. Swerve held a chair as Prince Nana danced and led the crowd chanting “Swerve’s House!” Omega fist-bumped Swerve and then left.
Swerve pronounced it Buck-hunting season and he had a loaded shotgun ready to blast some EVPs. He said he couldn’t leave well enough alone. Pac then jumped him from behind. The announcers wondered if this would jump-start their scheduled match.
(Keller’s Analysis: In a macro sense, I’m not a fan of wrestling storylines that revolve around wanting the promotion being great. Pro wrestling is an individual or faction-based sports presentation, and this whole issue of individual wrestlers caring about anything but their own success just doesn’t really land with me as a successful approach to drawing fans. It’s kinda what underdog and sometimes loser companies do when they’re way behind to try to rally the fans. Instead, just tell coherent stories where the stakes are titles and personal grudges. In the micro sense, Kenny comes across as weird. It’s sorta charming, but it doesn’t feel “top star” or “main event.” [c]
(2) PAC vs. SWERVE STRICKLAND (w/Prince Nana)
The bell rang after the break 27 minutes into the hour. Pac immediately charged at Swerve. Swerve kicked him in the face and took early control with a Snake Eyes and another high boot.
A few minutes in, Swerve countered Pac and buckle bombed him into the top turnbuckle. Pac yelled out in pain. Swerve leaped off the second rope with an elbow to the back of his shoulders. Swerve celebrated and then moved in on Pac and shoved his boot onto his face. Pac tried to stand, but then rolled to ringside. Something seemed amiss and the ringside doc checked on him. He lay on his back as the doc checked on his ankle or leg. Schiavone said they might have to stop the match, then shifted into a plugs.
Pac gently tried to stand, but didn’t put weight on his right leg. Swerve paced in the ring. Pac returned and hopped on one foot. Swerve kicked him as he entered and then landed the Swerve Stomp for the win. Excalibur said injuries are part of the sport, but he was fair game and Swerve had ever right to kick him and finish him.
As Swerve celebrated at ringside, he said he wanted to see the Young Bucks at Blood & Guts. He said he’s not hard to find.
WINNER: Swerve in 4:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: The injury to his right leg happened when he landed on the bucklebomb. That’s when he let out a yell that put both Swerve and the ref on guard as they could tell that wasn’t just selling a move in a regular way. Pac and Swerve handled it well with an audible that obviously ended the match sooner than planned. Pac could have let them just call off the match, but he was able to hop back into the ring and let Swerve get a more solid win.)
-Excalibur plugged upcoming matches and segments.
-A promo aired backstage with Ricochet, The Beast Mortos, Action Andretti, and Lio Rush. Ricochet said he was the captain and Andretti and Rush took exception. Mortos shook his head.
-A promo aired with Mark Briscoe, “Speedball” Mike Bayley, Kevin Knight, and Will Ospreay backstage. They talked about what they would do with $400,000 if they won. Knight said he’d go to Atlantic City. Ospreay said he’s going to Disney World. Speedball said he’d buy himself some shoes. Briscoe said, “Actually, I plan to diversify my portfolio.”
(Keller’s Analysis: I enjoyed the unexpected twist with Briscoe aspiring to be financially responsible.) [c]
-They went to the announcers at ringside who talked about Swerve saying it’s Buck Hunting season. Then they aired clips of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament matches at Dynasty on Sunday. It included Harley Cameron’s puppet saying, “Harley, next time I’ll do the talking.” Excalibur discussed the updated brackets.
-Backstage, Renee Paquette tried to interview “Hangman” Page about facing a wildcard and how he’d prepare. He said he can’t prepare, then stormed into Swerve’s locker room. Nana was there. He told him to sit and then told him he wasn’t trying to help Swerve. He said if Swerve gets in his way, he will pick up where he left off with him. Nana stood and told him there is something he’s been wanting to tell him for the last year. He said something about regret, but Hangman cut him off and told him not to say another word and said he “doesn’t get that.”
-Ricochet, Andretti, Rush, and Mortos made their entrance. [c]
(3) RICOCHET & ACTION ANDRETTI & LIO RUSH & THE BEAST MORTOS vs. “SPEEDBALL” MIKE BAILEY & WILL OSPREAY & KEVIN KNIGHT & MARK BRISCOE – $400,000 Prize to the Winner
Ospreay and his teammates came out to his music. Speedball volunteered to start against Ricochet. The bell rang 49 minutes into the hour. Ricochet bailed out seconds in and tagged in Mortos. Ospreay offered to tag in and Speedball accepted. Rush then tagged in and took a cheapshot at Ospreay. Ospreay took a beating from his opponents in their corner. Ricochet then was eager to tag in. Ospreay fought back. All eight wrestlers entered and brawled. Fans roared. Team Ricochet cleared the ring of the heels, then they took turns diving onto them. As they celebrated, Ricochet went for a dive, but they all moved. Ricochet landed on his feet, but then he took four chops to the head at once from his opponents. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Back from the break, Mortos was in control against Speedball.
[HOUR TWO]
Ricochet delivered a Death Valley Driver on Speedball at 11:00 for a near fall. Speedball made a comeback a minute later against Mortos. Briscoe and Speedball threatened Mortos with Crane Kicks and then kicked him. Knight then landed a top rope turning splash for a near fall, with Ricochet making the save. Knight tagged in Ospreay who delivered a Hidden Blade to the back of Mortos’s head and neck for the win.
WINNERS: Team Ospreay in 12:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: They’re rich! They’re rich! I hope it doesn’t go to their heads. Good action and fun match start to finish. Ricochet seems to be having a blast playing a heel and Speedball seems to sense the crowd is into him early on in AEW.)
-They went to the announcers at ringside. Excalibur threw to a video package on the FTR turn against Adam Copeland. Then the announcers reacted. Excalibur said the injuries Copeland suffered have ruled him out indefinitely. Schiavone said he’s seen a lot of loathsome things over the years dating back to the Four Horsemen, and what FTR did was the worst. He said Dax’s young daughter must be disappointed in what he did to Copeland and he called it premeditated. Excalibur wished Copeland the best.
-The Hurt Business made their entrance. A table was set up in the ring. A clip aired of MJF helping Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin. Fans chanted “MVP!” before he spoke. He said they had an official announcement. He said two more challengers stepped up and two more got beat down. He said they could join them in celebrating another successful defense. As they were about to celebrate with a toast, MJF’s music interrupted.
MJF said they’re dripping in gold. “You’re welcome, by the way,” he said. He said this couldn’t have come at a better time because Tony Khan wanted him to enter the Owen Hart Cup Tournament. He said he doesn’t sweat his balls off and wrestle every week like some schmuck. He said he wrestles smarter, not harder.
He said now that he’s in The Hurt Business, he can “cut in line and get back what’s mine.” He said it’s a perfect relationship that he can help them retain their tag titles, and now they get to help him. He asked MVP what his initiation process is. Lashley told him to shut his mouth. Lashley said he didn’t see what MJF did in their match when it happened. He said it was cute he tried to help them, but he didn’t get the job done. He said they don’t need him. MJF told him not to point at him. They talked over each other. Lashley threatened to hurt him if he talks over him. MVP calmed Lashley down as Shelton had some words with MJF.
MVP told MJF they go way back. He said in order for him to join the Syndicate, though, he needs three thumbs up. MVP pointed his thumb up. Shelton pointed down. MJF was disappointed. “I thought we were cool, man,” MJF said. MVP looked at MJF and shrugged and then left. Taz said the vote was fair. MJF shoved the camera out of his face.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m glad they go to this point pretty quickly. This story was good with MVP being a longtime pal with MJF who is also respecting the opinions of his guys. We’ll see what MJF does next, but it wouldn’t have made sense to have MJF with them for any period of time.)
-Renee interviewed Penelope Ford and Megan Bayne backstage. Ford said Bayne tasted defeat, but Storm barely survived. She said everything will get worse. She said she’ll be at Collision. Bayne said she will “make you bow down.” [c]
-Excalibur commented on the brackets for the women’s Owen Hart tournament. A graphic plugged Billie Starkz vs. Jamie Hayter on Collision on Saturday.
(4) THUNDER ROSA vs. KRIS STATLANDER – Owen Hart Foundation Tournament first round match
Toni Storm made her entrance to do commentary. Toni crawled over the announce desk to get to her seat. She threw Taz a set of keys and said she moved his car and left her chewing tobacco in there. Taz laughed and talked about being double-parked. (Inside joke?) Rosa made her entrance. The bell rang 21 minutes into the hour. Storm said if she and Statlander were a team, they’d be called Thunder Thighs, but if she and Schiavone were a team, “we’d just be called Tits.” Taz laughed. Storm said Texas is big “just like my Big Package that no one has kicked out of.” They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
Storm said, “Kids, do try this at home.” Excalibur said he can’t endorse that advice. Schiavone said Storm is entertaining. Excalibur said Storm is his favorite “Tony/Toni” to work with. Statlander landed a sitout powerbomb for a two count at 8:00. Rosa came back with a Destroyer for a near fall. Statlander came back with Saturday Night Fever for the win. Storm stood on the announce desk afterward. Schiavone said she was giving a standing ovation.
WINNER: Statlander in 10:00 to advance.
-Don Callis cut a promo backstage with Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita. He said they are heading toward them facing off in the finals of the tournament. He said Fletcher and Takeshita are in their 20s, oiled up, and hot. He said that the Don Callis Family, given the rash of injuries that have taken place, is accepting applications for new members.
-Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong congratulated Adam Cole on winning the TNT Title. Strong said it’s time for him and O’Reilly to have their moment. Cole said the last two years have been the most challenging of not just his career, but his life. He said this is just the start for the three of them “and it’s a new era.” He added, “We are The Paragon and that is undisputed.”
(Keller’s Analysis: I’d vote for a clean break from Cole talking about “era” and “undisputed” and even drop “Story Time.” Convey a fresh start rather than living off the past achievements and trying to be cute about referencing his past faction names.)
-Chris Jericho made his entrance for a Learning Tree segment. He said he is the legendary Chris Jericho. He lamented losing a tooth, the match, and his title on Sunday. He said Bandido won with the assistance of his family and “his stooge of a mother.” He called Big Bill and Bryan Keith to the ring. He scolded them for failing to win the AEW Tag Team Titles. Bill stopped him. Fans chanted “Bill! Bill!” Bill said he has every right to be angry. He said he’s been getting angry lately and he has something to say to Jericho.
He told Jericho he is one of the greatest of all time and he greatly respects him. He said that is why he decided to join The Learning Tree. “I wanted to learn from you,” he said. “But I did not sign up to be your punching bag whenever things go wrong.” He said if he wants to teach them, that’s fine, but if he’s going to keep berating and humiliating them, let them know because he can leave. He said Bryan feels the same way.
Jericho leaned in and asked Keith if that’s true. He said he didn’t bring them to the ring for that. He said if they think that, they have a lot more to learn. He said he cares about both of them. He said he hand-picked them to teach them and help them. He said their victories are his victories and their failures are his failures. He said he lost the ROH Title “and you weren’t there!” He said, “Some might say it’s your fault I lost that match.” He said he’s not saying that, though, and he doesn’t believe that. He said he’s not angry, just disappointed. He bashed the TV screen with his bat over and over as he yelled that he’s disappointed. He got bleeped. Bill got wide-eyed as Jericho pointed the bat at him and said, “I’m disappointed IN YOU!” He said it’s best that he leaves. Taz said Jericho was unhinged. Fans sang “Na na na na, good bye!”
-A clip aired of Anthony Bowens answering the challenge of Max Caster with soundbites from Bowens about his being unshackled. Excalibur said he’ll face Blake Christian on Collision, plus FTR will address their attack on Copeland, Takeshita vs. Brody King, Hayter vs. Starkz, and Cameron vs. Athena. Then he plugged next week’s “Spring Breakthru” Dynamite with Mercedes facing the winner of the Cameron-Athena match.
-Lexi Nair interviewed Hurt Syndicate backstage. Lashley said he doesn’t like MJF “and we don’t need him.” Shelton agreed they don’t need anyone, but he said, “Little George Costanza is kinda funny.” Shelton and Lashley left. MJF knocked and entered. He told Lexi to “get your skank ass out of here.” She hung her head and left. MJF asked if he looks like a female dog. MVP said no. He asked why they’re treating him like a bitch. He asked if they know who they are. MVP said his reputation precedes him. MVP said in business, you need to know your consumer and you give them what they want. [c]
-They showed Jericho in the parking garage walking with determination. He bashed some trays of beverages and then got in an SUV and sped off.
(5) HOOK & SAMOA JOE vs. WHEELER YUTA & CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI
Yuta and Claudio came out first. Then Hook and Joe. The bell rang 54 minutes into the hour. Joe opened. When Hook tagged in, Claudio interfered to help Yuta take control. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
[OVERRUN]
Late in the match, when Mox came out, Shibata stopped him and put him in a sleeper. Yuta tapped out to Hook as Joe had Claudio contained at ringside.
WINNERS: Joe & Hook in 12:00.
-Afterward, Shafir hit Joe in the leg with a chair. Then Death Riders slammed Hook abdomen-first onto a chair set up in the ring. As they fled, they showed a fuming mad Joe in the ring. Joe then yelled into the mic, “Death Riders, you cowardly sons of bitches.” He said they came to Baltimore to get into a fistfight. He called them to the ring. When they didn’t come out, he challenged them to a Trios Title match.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Tej Narayanan to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
VIP VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
https://streamyard.com/hez7r9yp78
Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine). This is a private link, so don’t share. It’s just for VIP members at this time.
Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.