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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
MAY 7, 2025
DETROIT, MICH. AT MASONIC TEMPLE THEATRE
AIRED LIVE ON TBS & MAX
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported this week that 2,555 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 3,061. The arena has a capacity of 4,650 spectators when configured for concerts.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Brandon LeClair to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite along with PWTorch’s Gregg Kanner providing an on-site perspective. 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.
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]
-A new opening theme for Dynamite aired.
-They cut to the venue which was built in 1926 and had that vintage vibe to it for sure. Excalibur introduced the show.
-“Hangman” Adam Page made his entrance. The announcers talked about Hangman vs. Will Ospreay in the Owen Tournament Final. He entered the ring and said after all he’s done, he doesn’t understand that even one of them would cheer him. Fans cheered louder and then chanted, “Cowboy Shit!” He said it makes a difference and thanked them.
He said the last two years for him have been a special hell. He said after what happened to him and his family, he sought justice and he found it. He said he took from another man his only hopes and dreams “and I nearly killed him.” He said after the cage match he stood at the top of the ramp and felt he would experience some joy and closure on that awful chapter of his life, but he felt nothing. He said he felt if he got back in the ring and finished the job, he would, but he couldn’t do it. He said he doesn’t know why.
He said he took that anger and bottled it up and unleashed it on anyone who got in his way. He hoped it would give him a sense of catharsis, but instead it tore down everyone around him. He said therefore he had to make a decision. “Swerve Strickland,” he said. Fans chanted, “Whose house? Swerve’s house!” Hangman said he will never forget or forgive what he did to him, but he will have to put it behind him. He said when he made that decision, he decided to enter the Owen Tournament. He said he beat Josh Alexander and Kyle Fletcher in the first two rounds.
He said now he will face someone who everyone says it “the best wrestler in the world, Will Ospreay.” Ospreay’s music played and he made his entrance. He entered the ring and said, “Sorry for interrupting your therapy session, bruv.” He said they’ve been in so many of the same wrestling promotions, but this is the first time they’ve ever spoken to each other. He said, “It’s a pleasure to meet the Hangman.” He said he can see he’s been going through a lot. He said they’ve all seen his journey and he knows what this tournament final means to him.
Ospreay said one of his favorite moments was when he took the misfits known as The Dark Order and he showed then leadership and what it takes to be a cowboy. He said he rode that support and became the AEW World Champion. He said it was perfect. But then everything changed when he lost it. He said after he beat Fletcher last week, they saw something they hadn’t seen in a long time. “You smiled again,” he said. “We haven’t seen that look in your eyes in a very long time, Cowboy.” He said they all want to see him beat his demons and reclaim his spot on top, but he has a problem with that.
He said when he was trying to find himself, he was tearing others apart. He listed Christopher Daniels, Jeff Jarrett, and “one of my best friends, Swerve.” He said he’s been doing all of his jobs. He said he, not Hangman, have been doing the meet and greets and doing media interviews and taking photos with fans. He said when the bell rings, he’s been showing everyone “this is where the best wrestle.” Fans cheered. He got more and more intense as he said now that Hangman’s found himself and is smiling again, he thinks he can take his spot back, “but that don’t mean Cowboy Shit to me, bruv.” He paced and said it’s too little, too late for Hangman. “This isn’t about your redemption, this is about my ascension!” Hangman got in Ospreay’s face and they jawed at each other.
Don Callis walked out with his crew including Lance Archer, Konosuke Takeshita, Trent Beretta, Rocky Romero, and Josh Alexander. He told Ospreay that Hangman is a violent, unstable sociopath who put his beloved mentor into the retirement home. Ospreay held Hangman back and told him to bring any of his two guys to the ring and he and Hangman will face them. Fans chanted, “F— Don Callis!” Hangman pulled Ospreay’s arm off of him. Callis said those two can’t get through a segment without wanting to kill each other, so this is the first good idea Ospeay’s ever had. He said they will face them next week if Hangman doesn’t have a mental breakdown before then. Hangman and Ospreay continued having intense words with one another.
(Keller’s Analysis: Tremendous segment. They were both effective in their messages as babyfaces, standing up for themselves and building their match next week. I really liked Hangman marching through his journey and framing it in the context of where he is today. Ospreay acknowledged that, but had an edge to him as he tried to hold Hangman accountable and also make it clear he’s not stepping aside for him. The set-up for next week’s tag match was solid, too.)
-They went to the announcers at ringside who discussed the segment and hyped next week’s Beach Break episode of Dynamite and Double or Nothing and upcoming matches on this episode.
Stokely Hathaway walked up to Tony Schiavone with FTR. He confronted Schiavone over referring to him as “a snake in the grass” last week. He called Schiavone “a decrepit, pale pasty piece of shit.” Schiavone stood up and said, “Please, we’re trying to do a show here.” Hathaway shoved him back into his chair. Schiavone stood up again. Cash told Schiavone to cool down. Cash said Daniel Garcia turned his back on them. He said his dad told him that sometimes he has to learn lessons the hard way. He said tomorrow night on Collision, “Danny, this is going to hurt you a hell of a lot more than it’s going to hurt us – emotionally.” Dax told Schiavone to tell Nigel McGuinness they’ll see him tomorrow night. He said, “Top guys, out.” Then he threw down the mic.
-Excalibur clarified that Garcia challenged either Dax or Cash to face him one-on-one tomorrow night.
-Harley Cameron was giving Anna Jay a pep talk for her match. [c]
-Toni Storm made her entrance.
(1) “TIMELESS” TONI STORM vs. THUNDER ROSA vs. PENELOPE FORD vs. ANNA JAY – AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator match
They cut to a double-box break after Thunder Rosa leaped off the top rope onto all three opponents below waiting for her to land on them. [c/db]
Megan Bayne entered the ring after the break and attacked Ford and Storm. The ref told her to get out of the ring. Anna entered and attacked her. Ford hit Anna from behind. Bayne then gave Anna sitout powerbomb. Cameron entered the ring and clotheslined Bayne out of the ring. Bayne and Cameron fought at ringside. Cameron bashed Bayne with a pipe. Bayne retreated. Back in the ring, Ford applied an Indian Death Lock on Cameron. Toni attacked Ford and applied a TCM Chicken Wing for the win.
WINNER: Storm in 11:00.
-Excalibur hyped Samoa Joe vs. Claudio Castagnoli as the main event of the show. [c]
-The Hurt Syndicate walked to the ring. Taz said they need to admit MJF into the group. “I think he helps them,” he said. Schiavone said MJF is out to have them help him ascend to the AEW World Title. Taz said it’d be collaborative. MVP said they had an official announcement. He asked who was going to step up to try to take the tag team titles from them. “We like to hurt people, but who’s going to hurt us?” he said. He asked if anyone has what it takes. Top Flight walked out to their music.
Darius Martin said they’ve been down on their luck lately, so they can’t sit back and not step up. He said when they get knocked down, they get up every single time. He said they are a team that just won’t die. He said they can try their best. Dante said no one has their money on them, but they have proven they can get in the ring with championship teams and hold their own. Darius said, “Hey, Motor City, do y’all want to see a miracle?” MJF then attacked them from behind. Excalibur said this was MJF responding to Bobby Lashley challenging him last week to hurt someone to impress him. MJF beat up Dante and Darius at ringside as MVP, Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin watched. MJF powerbombed Darius hard onto the edge of the ring apron.
MJF entered the ring and got in Lashley’s face. He then yelled, “I hurt people!” Fans cheered. Lashley stared at him blankly, then took the mic from him. MVP shrugged his shoulders as he looked at Lashley. Lashley broke into a smile and said, “I’ll have an answer for you next week.” Some booing. MJF’s music played and he left the ring.
-They went to the announcers. Excalibur begrudgingly threw to The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada. Nicholas said Excalibur should have more respect for “the founding fathers.” Okada called Knight “bitch.” Ricochet walked in and said he’s already defeated Swerve twice, so he suggested they follow his lead and he’ll take them to victory. They walked in their locker room where Jon Moxley, Claudio, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir were standing.
-Nick Wayne walked out to his music, which was quickly overridden by Christian’s theme. Christian led him, Kip Sabian, and Mother Wayne to the ring. [c]
(2) NICK WAYNE (w/Christian Cage) vs. RHINO – ROH TV Title match
Rhino came out after the break as a surprise challenger. The bell rang 52 minutes into the hour. Taz said Rhino has decades of experience and an extra hundred pounds. Wayne bailed out to ringside after being overpowered. Christian gave him advice. Wayne took over and applied a chinlock as the announcers hyped upcoming dates including their debut in Albuquerque, New Mexico on May 21 for Dynamite.
Christian distracted Rhino, but when Wayne charged, Rhino gave him a spinebuster and scored a two count at 3:00. Wayne sidestepped a Gore and then gave Rhino a Killswitch for the win.
Christian began to put the belt around Wayne’s waist afterward, but then pulled it away and dropped it disrespectfully in front of him.
WINNER: Wayne in 4:00 to retain the ROH TV Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: A fun special appearance by Rhino. The action wasn’t crisp, but the crowd enjoyed it and it gave Wayne a win over a known hometime veteran and also provided more of the interaction dynamic with Christian and Nick.)
-A clip aired from Collision of Sammy Guevara winning a four-way match to “win $100,000” and then eying Adam Cole on headset afterward.
-A promo aired with Rush who blamed Kevin Knight for costing him that four-way match. (So know everyone knows how the Okada-Knight match is likely to end.)
-Mark Briscoe, “Speedball” Mike Bailey, and “Swerve” Strickland made their ring entrance. The Young Bucks and Okada then made their entrances.
[HOUR TWO]
(2) THE YOUNG BUCKS & RICOCHET vs. “SWERVE” STRICKLAND & “SPEEDBALL” MIKE BAILEY & MARK BRISCOE
Ricochet wasn’t happy the Bucks made him start the match. Swerve took it to Ricochet after the bell rang 2 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 5:00. [c/db]
Everyone was down at 11:00 after a wild sequence. Fans chanted “AEW! AEW!” Speedball tried to crawl over and tag in Swerve. The Bucks stopped him. Swerve tagged in and rallied and then celebrated to fans’ cheers. He passed Matthew to Briscoe who landed a Death Valley Driver. Bailey kicked Matthew. Briscoe then landed his top rope elbow for a near fall, broken up by Nicholas. Ricochet knocked Swerve off the top rope. Briscoe landed a leaping neckbreaker on Nicholas at ringside. Matthew surprised Swerve with an inside cradle during the chaos for the win.
WINNERS: The Young Bucks & Ricochet in 14:00.
-Renee Paquette interviewed Ospreay. MJF interrupted quickly. He made a pitch for merch. Ospreay asked what he wanted. MJF asked what was up with his hostility. MJF said he was just there to wish him luck in the Owen Tournament Final. He said he then wants him to go win “my AEW World Championship, so that way when I wrestle you, I’m going to get another easy dub.” He said it’ll be like taking candy from a little British baby. Ospreay asked if it’s that easy, why didn’t he enter the tournament. Ospreay said it’s because he knows their next match will end the way it did at Wembley. MJF said he’s obviously the reason they put instructions on shampoo bottles. He said Ospreay will find out next time they wrestle that there’s nobody on the level of the devil. Ospreay pulled him in close and said he’s on another level. [c]
-A sit-down interview aired with Renee and Jamie Hayter. SReneehe asked about her facing Mercedes Mone in the Owen Tournament Final, and the winner of that getting a shot at All In: Texas for the AEW Women’s World Title. Hayter said it means more to her than it does to Mercedes. She said she won’t let Owen’s legacy be represented by Mercedes because Mercedes is the antithesis of what Owen stands for. Renee touted Mercedes’s resume. She said Mercedes said she reminds her of herself. Hayter said it’s insulting because they’re nothing alike. She said she doesn’t have her resume, accolades, and star power, but she has integrity, grit, and truth. She said this is about showing Mercedes she isn’t untouchable. She said she won’t let her get away with saying whatever she wants as if she’s the second-coming. Hayter cut off Renee when she asked about her past back injury. She said Mercedes is looking past her, “which is fine.” Mercedes then attacked her. Renee fled. Mercedes ran as soon as Hayter fought back.
They brawled into the crowd and then onto the stage. Mercedes escaped, but as soon as Hayter let her guard down, Mercedes jumped her and applied a Statement Maker. Taz said it was a brilliant move.
-Backstage Alicia Atout interviewed Willow Nightingale about her run-ins with The Death Riders. Kris Statlander interrupted and said since she doesn’t want to talk backstage, she will to talk to her in front of everyone. Willow said she couldn’t won the Owen Tournament if not for her, so this conversation is over. As Statlander began to walk away, Willow challenged her to a match in Detroit. She said she knows a whole lot of sickos who would love to see it. Statlander shook her hand and said, “See you there”
(3) KAZUCHIKA OKADA vs. KEVIN KNIGHT – Continental Championship Eliminator Match
Okada made his entrance. Excalibur resuscitated the phrase “renting space in someone’s head” when talking about Okada’s strategy with Kenny Omega. Rush attacked Knight on his way to the ring. Dralistico cheered him on. Speedball came out for the save. Rush yelled at Speedball, then left. Schiavone said there is no way for Knight to wrestle this match. Excalibur said this is such a big opportunity for Knight. Okada stood and observed with a mock look of sympathy. The ref told Speedball he had to leave ringside. When Knight rolled into the ring, the ref checked on him and then called for the bell 32 minutes into the hour. They cut to a very early double-box break. [c/db]
Eventually Knight made a comeback and went for a UFO Splash, but Okada lifted his knees. Knight then countered Okada and landed a dropkick. Okada dropkicked Knight out of mid-air and then hit the Rainmaker for the win.
WINNER: Okada 10:00.
-Don Callis, with the Don Callis Family, spoke backstage about The Outrunners challenging them. He told them to find two partners and they can take on his men. He said they’ll kick their asses back to Tennessee like it’s 1983.
-Excalibur said that’s the first time they’ve seen Fletcher next to Callis since his loss. He hyped Collision tomorrow night: Speedball vs. Dralistico, Anthony Bowens vs. Lee Johnson, Garcia vs. Cash or Dax, and Statlander vs. Willow. He also hyped next week’s Dynamite “Beach Break” featuring Takeshita & Alexander vs. Ospreay & Hangman and Moxley vs. Samoa Joe in a cage match for the AEW World Title. [c]
-Backstage, Alicia asked The Hurt Business where their mind is at. Lashley began to speak, but then his lawyer advised him not to speak. MVP said when he speaks, they listen.
(4) SAMOA JOE vs. CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI
Claudio made his entrance first. Then Joe. The bell rang 53 minutes into the hour. Joe put Claudio in an early Coquina Clutch, but Claudio forced a break in the ropes. They cut to a double-box break at 4:00 after back and forth action. [c/db]
[OVERRUN]
Claudio grounded Joe during the break. Joe scored a near fall after a snap powerslam at 9:00. Schiavone asked if anyone can take punishment better than Joe. Joe scored another two count. Claudio made a comeback and landed a leaping back elbow to Joe’s chest. He signaled for the Giant Swing. Joe up-kicked and applied a Coquina Clutch for an immediate tapout by Claudio.
WINNER: Joe in 11:00.
-Afterward, the rest of the Death Riders came out. Powerhouse Hobbs entered the ring with a chair to fend them off. Hobbs then bashed Claudio across his back with a chair. Joe dropped Claudio ribs-first over a chair set up in the ring. Mox looked on in frustration, but didn’t make a move to protect his cohort. The crowd chanted “Joe! Joe!” as his music played and Excalibur hyped next week’s line-up.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good match that provided a good backdrop to hype next week.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: Strong episode of Dynamite start to finish.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Brandon LeClair to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite along with PWTorch’s Gregg Kanner providing an on-site perspective. 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.
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.
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