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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
MAY 28, 2025
EL PASO, TEX. AT EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM
AIRED LIVE ON TBS & MAX
REPORT BY JOSHUA WHITE, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni, Taz, Tony Schiavone
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reports that 3,611 tickets had been distributed right before showtime; arena is set up for 3,689. The arena has a capacity of 11,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Dynamite’s recently added theme song played over the intro video leading into the live view of the crowd as pyro shot off and Excalibur welcomed everyone to AEW Dynamite. Excalibur threw to Tony Schiavone in the ring.
Schiavone immediately welcomed “Hangman” Adam Page to the ring. Taz and Excalibur discussed the main event at Double or Nothing as Hangman entered with his dark western music with flames shooting from the stage. The crowd cheered loudly.
Schiavone congratulated Hangman on his “incredible, dramatic win” on Sunday, which initiated a “you deserve it chant” from the crowd. Hangman said that “triumph in life Is fleeting.” But so is defeat. He said that in the past two years, or three years, he’s lost sight of that.
Hangman passionately said the win or loss is not what matters, it’s what you decided to do with it that matters. Hangman took a moment to thank Ospreay for the fight of his life and reminding him why he wants to do this. Hangman further said Ospreay can be the kind of man to carry the company forward, and the crowd chanted of Ospreay.
Hangman reiterated that the victory is fleeting, and that he won’t carry to Owen Hart Tournament belt, because there will be a new winner next year. He said he could talk all night about how much it means to him; but he must look forward to the All Elite Wrestling Championship.
Hangman further pontificated on what the AEW title means, lamenting it being hidden away in a briefcase. He said the title is all about compassion and human dignity. Hangman closed by making a promise: “In seven weeks, here in Texas, I will win the AEW World Championship.”
He passionately said he will carry it and defend it with every fiber of his being. The crowd cheered, but what interrupted by Swerve Strickland’s music playing.
No Prince Nana, Swerve marched directly to the ring, all business. Swerve walked right up to Hangman as the crowd chanted “whose house?” Swerve guessed that everyone was wondering why he was out there.
The big screen showed a replay of the Young Bucks the night after Dynasty, explaining that they cost Swerve the title, because Hangman never wanted to Swerve to be champion again.
Swerve told Hangman he had the match won until the Young Bucks cost him the match. He also reminded everyone that Hangman was also in the ring for the moment. Swerve accused them all of collusion.
Swerve reminded Hangman that he had promised that he would not let him become AEW World Champion again. Swerve said he’s going to ask, “and don’t you lie to me, “did you do this?”
There was a pregnant pause as Hangman said “Well, dumbass.” Hangman said that he actually considered helping Swerve at Dynasty, and further clarified that if he wanted to cost Swerve the match he would’ve done it himself.
Swerve said it “sounds good, but you’re still full of shit.” They came face to face until Will Ospreay’s music played. Ospreay stood between Swerve and Hangman in the ring as the crowd chanted “holy shit!” Ospreay appear to be playing peacemaker before addressing Swerve.
Ospreay told Swerve that he’s like a big brother to him, but he’s wrong about Hangman. Ospreay said you learn about someone when you have a big match with them. Ospreay said Hangman shook his hand like a man, and he could see that Hangman cares about this place.
Ospreay reminded Swerve that he did the same thing for Ospreay last year. Will went meta saying “people are starting to believe in us again.” Ospreay said it’s not Swerve. It’s not him. It’s Hangman.
Ospreay said they have one shot, and they have to work together. Swerve didn’t agree and smacked the microphone out of Swerve’s hand. Swerve and Ospreay continued to argue off mic as Hangman looked on. Swerve marched up to aisle and left, leaving Ospreay and Hangman alone.
Hangman told Ospreay that he wouldn’t work with Swerve either. Ospreay was torn as he left the ring.
(White’s Take: Opening Dynamite with a promo segment with Hangman and Ospreay has been working for the past few weeks, and it also worked her. Good promo from Hangman, and the continued issues with Swerve add some twists in the otherwise straight forward of story of Hangman moving onto Moxley and the world title. Will makes perfect sense and played his part well trying to play peacemaker.)
-They threw to a video package of the aptly named Anarchy in the Arena match. Seeing it all together made it look a little better than it was live, but that’s part of the purpose of a video package.
-On the other end of the package, the Death Riders’ truck was sitting in the parking lot. Moxley, Gabe Kidd, Marina Shafir and Wheeler Yuta hopped out of the back of the Chevy and Claudio drove off.
(1) THE DEATH RIDERS (Jon Moxley & Gabe Kidd & Marina Shafir w/Wheeler Yuta) vs. “SPEEDBALL” MIKE BAILEY & MARK BRISCOE & WILLOW NIGHTINGALE
The Death Riders’ music played bring out Moxley, Shafir, Kidd, and Yuta. They entered through the crowd as the announcers put over Gabe Kidd.
Willow’s music hit to the delight of the crowd. Willow entered and clapped and danced towards the ring. “Speedball” was out behind her, followed by Mark Briscoe entering last.
Gabe Kidd and Mark Briscoe started the match 23 minutes into the hour by throwing punches and then chops. Kidd forced Briscoe into the corner, bringing all of his tag team partners into the match and things immediately broke down.
Bailey hit a running kick on Moxley against the barricade while Willow choked Shafir with her foot on the outside. Briscoe threw Kidd out to the floor. Briscoe set up a chair in the ring, got a running start, and took out all of the Death Rider’s with a flipping dive to the outside. This, of course, triggered the first break of the evening. [c]
Back from commercial, Moxley hit a suplex followed by an elbow drop on Briscoe. Moxley went for the pin and got a two count. Marina came in and hit a strong kick on Briscoe in the corner before tagging in Kidd. Kidd hit a few strikes and tagged Moxley back in.
Moxley beat Briscoe down in the corner, but Briscoe fought back. Briscoe rolled under a clothesline and tagged in Bailey. Bailey slammed Moxley’s head into the turnbuckle, hopped to the top rope and hit a missile dropkick.
Bailey followed up with a roundhouse and an axe kick that dropped Moxley. Bailey delivered a running shooting star into a pin for a two count. Bailey set Moxley up on the turnbuckle, but he slipped between his legs and swept Bailey’s feet out.
Moxley went for a suplex, but Bailey countered it into a roll up for a two count. Bailey caught Moxley with a kick and went for the tag. Marina and Willow both got the tag simultaneously.
Willow reversed a whip and knocked Marina down with a pair of clotheslines. Willow connected with a high boot and then drilled Marina with a spinebuster. Willow went for the pin, but Kidd dragged Willow by the hair off the pin.
At this point. everyone entered the ring and Bailey took Moxley down with his repeating kicks. Marina nailed Bailey with a German suplex. Willow dropped Shafir with a clothesline, leaving both women down in the ring.
They both crawled for the tag. Bailey and Moxley both got the tag. Bailey dropped Moxley with another kick and climbed to the top rope. While the ref removed a steel chair from the ring, Yuta pushed Bailey off of the top rope, sending him crashing to ringside.
Kidd grabbed Bailey and ringside, lifted him onto his shoulders. Kidd addressed the camera before finally throwing Bailey over the barricade into the timekeepers area, crashing through a table. They went to commercial. [c]
Back from break, Moxley dropped Speedball across the top rope and Kidd kicked him off it. Kidd went for the cover, but Bailey kicked out at two. Moxley got the tag and stomped Bailey’s hand. Bailey fought back with a chop, but Moxley came back with a forearm.
Bailey connected with an enziguri. Bailey went for t5he tag, but Moxley got to Kidd first. Kidd came in and knocked Bialey’s partners off the apron. He turned around in a series of round kicks. Bailey hit a kick that knocked Kidd into the ropes, but he rebounded into a big clothesline that turned Bialey inside out.
They showed Kris Statlander in the back watching the match as Bailey connected with a moonsault double knees onto Kidd. Bailey crawled to his corner and tagged in Briscoe. Briscoe attacked Moxley and Kidd with chops and punches, then knocked Moxley out of the ring with an enziguri
Kidd attempted a piledriver, but Briscoe fought out of it and delivered more punches. Kidd countered by biting Briscoe’s face. Kidd followed up with hard chops in the corner. Kidd charged Briscoe, but he sidestepped it and then delivered a high collar exploder suplex.
Kidd rolled to ringside, but Briscoe caught him with a running dropkick through the ropes. Briscoe took out Moxley with a senton off the apron as Willow his Shafir with the same thing on the other side. Bailey hit a high triangle moonsault that took out Yuta at ringside.
Briscoe went to the top rope and landed the Froggy ‘Bo on Kidd in the ring. Briscoe went hooked the leg but Kidd kicked out at two. Briscoe set up for the Jay Driller, but Kidd blocked it.
Claudio got on the apron to distract Briscoe. Komander appeared from out of nowhere on the tope rope. Komander did his patented rope run and hit Claudio with a huge flipping dive.
Back in the ring, Moxley tried to get a sleeper on Briscoe, but he countered into a rollup for a two count. They got to their feet and Moxley immediately planted Briscoe with the Paradigm Shift.
Moxley locked in his bulldog choke and Gabe Kidd held Bailey at bay while Marina locked Willow into her Mother’s Milk hold. Briscoe refused to tap out but eventually passed out and the referee called for the bell.
WINNERS: Death Riders in 19:00
(White’s Take: Not quite as crazy as Anarchy in the Arena, but another chaotic multiman tag match. It ran a little long,and wasn’t fantastic, but it helped get the Death Rider’s back some of their heat and underlined the threat of Gabe Kidd.)
-They threw to a video of the Hurt Syndicate, with MJF. MVP bragged about this being their fifth title defense. MJF said the belt will soon be around his waist and that anyone getting in their way may wind up in a puddle of their own piss and blood. But it’s not personal, it’s just business.
(White’s Take: No idea where this MJF and Hurt Syndicate thing is going. And that was cool like a month ago, but it’s really dragging now and the alignment of everyone involved is muddled.)
-They went backstage with Penelope and Megan Bayne, saying Anna and Harley had to cheat to beat them, so now it’s a No DQ match. Bayne said they will be her sacrifice. [c]
-Back from commercial, Ricochet cut a promo in the back saying he can now see the landscape. Ricochet said he needs a group to help him on his quest for gold. Ricochet said he will show everyone why Ricochet is “out of this world Ahh-ha”
(2) MEGAN BAYNE & PENELOPE FORD vs. ANNA JAY & HARLEY CAMERA – No DQ match
-Bayne and Penelope entered together to Bayne’s music as they showed a replay of their previous tag match on the pre-show of Double or Nothing. Bayne was carrying a trash can and gold chair while Penelope just had a trash can lid (adorned with a Pegasus emblem of some kind).
Anna Jay and Harley Cameron entered in cowboy gear with a 2×4. The match started immediately 50 minutes into the hour. Penelope and Anna brawled at ringside while Bayne wedged a chair in the corner of the ropes. Penelope sent Anna into the barricade on the outside.
Bayne tried a flipping cannonball on Harley in the corner, but Harley dodged, and Bayne crashed into the chair in the corner. Harley hit Penelope with a DDT right into the trash can lid. Harley went for the pin, but Penelope kicked out at two.
Anna hit Bayne across the back with the 2×4, but she shrugged it off. So, Harley hit her from behind with a lead pipe, and that shook her. Anna and Harley took turns whacking Bayne with a chair and pipe, respectively. But Bayne hit the ropes and dropped both women with a double flying clothesline.
Bayne set up the golden chair and went up for a suplex onto the chair. Harley slipped out and hit a drop toe hold that sent Bayne face first into the chair. Anna followed it up with a dropkick to the chair that took Bayne down.
Anna and Harley hit a combination kick and Russian leg sweep on Penelope. Harley went for the pin, but Penelope kicked out at two. The crowd chanted “we want table,” and Harley and Anna obliged. The grabbed a table from under the ring and set it up as they went to commercial. [c]
They returned from break with Bayne setting Harley up on the apron to slam her through the table. Harley countered out of it and went for a sunset flip powerbomb off the apron through the table, but Bayne held onto the ropes.
Anna tried to knocked her loose with some punches, but Bayne wouldn’t budge. Penelope came from behind, but Anna grabbed the golden chair and hit Penelope in the gut. Anna used the golden chair and cracked Bayne over the head, allowing Harley to finish the powerbomb, sending Bayne finally crashing through the table.
Anna turned around into a pump kick from Penelope. Nenelope got Anna onto her shoulders and connected with a gut check. Penelope set Anna onto a chair and went for a standing moonsault, but Anna rolled out of the way.
On the outside, Bayne struggled to her feet. Harley ran at her and leaped, but Bayne caught her in in midair and slammed Harley face first into the steps. It looked rough, and the ref called the doctor over, and Harley was busted wide open.
Harley got onto the apron, but Penelope knocked her off with a. forearm. Anna grabbed Penelope from behind and landed a Gory bomb that sent Penelope face first into a chair. Anna went for the cover, and Bayne just barely made the save.
Bayne got Anna up and hit Fate’s Descent on Anna, planting her right down into a chair. Bayne went for the easy cover, but Harley came out of nowhere to break up the pin. Bayne took Harley down with her flying clothesline and went for the pin, but Harley kicked out at two.
Bayne threw chairs at Harley as she got to her feet. Penelope went to the top rope and Bayne got Harley up onto her shoulders. Penelope came off the top rope and Bayne slammed her in a not-great-looking Doomsday Device. Bayne went for the cover and got the three count.
WINNERS: Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford in 12:00
-Bayne taunted Harley before the doctor tended to her bleeding face.
(White’s Take: Good to get Bayne back into a dominant position after losing on the Double or Nothing preshow, even though Penelope ate the pin. Harley looked good, but she’s such a silly character it’s weird to see her in a violent match like this, much less covered in blood. All in all, it seemed like a Collision match; that is to say, it went too long and was just okay. Also, I think Penelope 100% missed the Doomsday Device.)
[HOUR TWO]
-A video played of Mercedes rolling into the parking lot in a low rider, in cowboy gear holding up one of her titles. The driver helped her out of the car, and she strutted into the building.
(3) THE OPPS (Samoa Joe & Powerhouse Hobbs & Katsuyori Shibata) vs. THE FRAT HOUSE (Griff Garrison & Preston Vance & Cole Karter w/random frat dudes) – Trios Title match
The Opps made their entrance to chants of “Joe” as the showed a replay of Hook’s interreference at Anarchy in the Arena. Some unfamiliar music played to bring out The Frat House.
They showed a video of The Frat House partying in the area. Jacked Jameson cut a promo about how much they party and how they’re looking for another member. He said all the guys in El Paso are weak and skinny while the girls are fat and ugly. He said they’re walking out new Trios Champions. Preston Vance took the mic and said the number one rule is “win or lose, we boooooo” and I think he was gonna say “booze,” but Samoa Joe walloped him, and the match start seven minutes into the second hour.
Joe beat Vance down in the corner while the rest of the Ops took out Cole and Griff at ringside. Joe hit a senton on Vance and Griff tagged in. Joe tagged in Shibata who went to work on Griff with chops. They traded chops, but Shibata absorbed Griff’s strikes.
Shibata landed a suplex and floated over into the pin, but Griff kicked out in two. Hobbs and Cole tagged in. Hobbs threw Cole into the corner and hammered him while the crowd chanted “meat.” Hobbs dropped Cole with a short arm clothesline and lowered the straps on his singlet.
Hobbs knocked Griff off the apron. The distraction allowed Jacked Jameson to slip into the ring and hit Hobbs with a paddle. Hobbs shrugged it off and chased Jameson out of the ring. The random frat dudes slid into the ring and they both ate a big spinebuster courtesy of Hobbs.
Hobbs hit a spinebuster on Vance and then caught Cole coming of the top rope and hit yet another spinebuster. Hobbs went for the pin and got the three count.
WINNERS: The Opps in 3:00
(White’s Take: Good to get The Opps on TV, but there’s no indication on why The Frat House should be getting a shot at the Trios Title. There’s not even indication why they’re on AEW TV. The individual wrestlers may be talented, but that act would be too goofy for NXT 2.0.)
-The Opps celebrated their victory as Excalibur ran down the rest of the nights matches before going to break. [c]
-Renee was in the ring when the returned from commercial. Renee welcomed Jamie Hayter to the ring following her loss at Double or Nothing. Renee said Jamie was concerned about her future on the other side of the tournament.
Jamie said that is the question, but the lights suddenly went out. Excalibur said it was a technical issue, but the lights came back on with a big red spider on the big screen, and Jamie was on her back. Thekla was standing in the ring, picked Jamie up and dropped her again with a forearm.
Excalibur told us Thekla had been fired from Japan for striking officials and the president of the company. She struck the Bray Wyatt spider pose as Excalibur referred to her as the “Austrian badass.” Jamie rolled limply out of the ring as they threw to a video package.
(White’s Take: I would’ve been interested in what Jamie had to say first, but I guess this is a good first impression for Thekla. Lights out gimmick aside.)
-A video played showcasing Mistico in CMLL. It was a highlight reel of impressive moves as the announcers said that Mistico is the biggest and most renowned lucha libre star of the modern era.
-Justin Roberts was in the ring when they returned, and he announced that the next match was for the TNT Championship.
(4) KYLE FLETCHER (w/Lance Archer & Don Callis) vs. ADAM COLE – TNT Championship match
As Fletcher and company entered, they showed a replay of Fletcher pinning Kyle O’Reilly at Double or Nothing and their postmatch attack. Callis joined the announce team as Adam Cole’s music boomed through the arena. Cole entered and posed.
The crowd chanted for Cole as the bell rang 22 minutes into the second hour. They locked up to start, with Fletcher forcing Cole back into the corner. Fletcher broke and posed, mocking Cole’s ”bay bay” pose.
Kyle handily threw Adam Cole to the mat. Cole attempted a headlock takeover, but Fletcher pushed him into the ropes and dropped him with a shoulder block. Cole slipped out of a scoop slam attempt and landed a pair of forearm strikes. Fletcher went for a second one, and Cole escaped again.
Cole caught Fletcher with a jumping enziguri that rocked Fletcher. Cole stomped Fletcher into the corner before posing for the crowd. Fletcher reversed a whip into the corner, but Cole backdropped Fletcher onto the apron. Cole hit a thrust kick that knocked Fletcher to ringside.
Cole set up for the Panama sunrise to the floor from the apron, but Rocky and Trent showed up to get in between them. Strong and O’Reilly hit the ringside area and brawled with Rocky and Trent to the back.
Free from distractions, Cole jumped from the apron, but Fletcher caught him with a kick to the face. Fletcher hoisted Cole up and powerbombed him onto the apron. It was a nasty landing, with Cole’s head taking the majority of the bump. The ref checked on Cole as they went to commercial. [c]
-Fletcher was in control when they returned from break. Fletcher hit a scoop slam and held onto Cole’s wrist. Cole tried to come back with some forearms, but Fletcher hit another scoop slam.
Fletcher charged Cole in the corner, but Cole came out with a big super kick. Both men were down as the crowd chanted for Cole. Cole landed a pump kick that stunned Fletcher. Cole tried to get Fletcher onto his shoulders, but Fletcher elbowed out of it.
Fletcher hit the ropes and ran into another pump kick. Cole got Fletcher up and landed the fireman’s carry into the neckbreaker across his knee. Coel went for the cover, but Fletcher kicked out at two.
Cole went to the middle rope in preparation for the Panama Sunrise. He went for it, but Fletcher caught him into a pin for a two count. Fletcher landed a half and half suplex and followed it up with a running kick into the corner.
Fletcher went for the brainbuster, but Cole countered it, lifting Fletcher up into a brainbuster onto his knee. Cole went to the middle rope again, and this time he connected with the Panama Sunrise.
Cole set Fletcher up for his Boom finisher, but Josh Alexander slid into the ring and dropped Cole. The ref called for the bell, ending the match in disqualification
WINNER: Adam Cole by DQ in 10:00
(White’s Take: What was this, a Raw main event? Part of me wants to forgive the finish because AEW almost never does it, but it’s still lame. On the plus side, it may lead to a further feud between these two and the match was pretty good while it lasted. Getting the TNT title around Fletcher’s waist would be a step up for the maligned title belt.)
-After the match, Alexander and Fletcher attacked Cole. The announcers noted that Cole’s guys were indisposed, off fighting with Rocky and Trent. Brody King’s music played as he ran to the ring with a chair in hand.
The Callis Family retreated as King paced the ring with the chair. King and Alexander were up next and they went to commercial. [c]
(5) BRODY KING vs. JOSH ALEXANDER – International Title qualifying match
Security was clearing everyone out of the ring as they returned from break and the bell rang to officially start the match 36 minutes into the second hour. Brody and Alexander brawled with Brody pushing Alexander back into a corner and delivering heavy chops.
Brody ran into double boots in the corner and Alexander followed it up with a diving dropkick from the second rope to take Brody down. Alexander took off Brody’s shirt and briefly choked him with it.
Brody reversed a whip and connected with a back body drop, sending Alexander rolling to the apron. Brody retrieved his shirt and held it over Alexander’s face. Brody landed big clubbing strikes on Alexander, who collapsed off of the apron.
At ringside, Alexander ducked a chop and Brody’s hand inadvertently slammed against the ring post. Alexander broke the count and attempted to throw Brody into the barricade, but Brody reversed it. Brody lifted Alexander up and slammed him onto the barricade and followed it up with a chop to the chest.
Brody rolled Alexander into the ring where Alexander caught him with a big boot. Brody run right through a clothesline and knocked Alexander out of the ring. Brody set up for a dive top the outside, but Alexander met him with a big forearm shot. Alexander grabbed Brody and dropped him headfirst onto the apron with a DDT.
Alexander followed up with a chop as Brody lay on the apron. Alexander knocked him off with a running cross body block. The crowd chanted “you suck” at Alexander as he slammed Brody’s arm into the ring post.
Brody came back with some heavy chops and Alexander fought back with one of his own. Alexander whipped Brody into the steel ring stairs. Alexander rolled into the ring as they went to commercial. [c]
Back from break, Alexander had Brody in an arm hold, but Brody fought to his feet. Alexander went for a German suplex, but Brody powered out and hit a German suplex of his own. Brody was favoring his right arm and Alexander kicked him a few times, but Brody came back with a clothesline with his left arm.
Brody pulled Alexander up onto the turnbuckle. Alexander slipped the turnbuckle pad off as they fought. Alexander grabbed Brody and slammed his arm onto the exposed turnbuckle. Alexander followed with an armbreaker and then a German suplex on the apron.
Brody crashed to ringside as the crowd chanted “holy shit.” Alexander continued to attack Brody at ringside. He sat him in a chair against the barricade. Alexander charged but Brody got his feet up. Brody came back with a big chop eliciting barks from the crowd.
Brody put Alexander onto the chair and then crushed him against the barricade with a running cross body. Back in the ring, Brody went for the running canon ball, but Alexander rolled out of the way. Alexander locked in an ankle lock on Brody.
Bordy kicked his way out of it and set up Alexander for a Gonzo bomb. Alexander backdropped Brody out of it. Alexander Trapped both arms and hit a German suplex into a pin. Bordy kicked out at two.
They got to their feet and Alexander was bleeding. Alexander went to the top rope and went for a moonsault. But Brody got his knees up and Alexander landed hard. Brody connected with a running lariat.
Brody got Alexander right back up and drilled him with the Gonzo Bomb. Brody went to the pin and got the victory.
WINNER: Brody King in 14:00
(White’s Take: This one was a good, hard-hitting match. Their previous encounters have been good despite unsatisfying finishes. I was surprised to see Brody pick up the win here, as Alexander is new enough you wouldn’t expect him to be taking clean losses. However, it’s good, as Brody loses too much and could be a very valuable part of the roster.)
-Fletcher was backstage, upset about the DQ, saying he didn’t need any help. Adam Cole appeared suddenly and attacked Fletcher. Cole screamed that he’s going to kill Fletcher as security separated the two men.
-Back in the arena, Mercedes made her entrance adorned with multiple belts, and a cowboy hat that matched her white outfit. Mercedes invoked the name of Eddie Guerrero, which of course caused cheers. She said that legends like that don’t even compare to Mercedes.
She may have had more to say, but she was interrupted by “Timeless” Toni Storm’s music. Toni entered in black and white with Women’s World title with Luther. Tonin went to the ring alone.
Mercedes addressed Toni and said the fans were sick of the black and white, to which the crowd booed. Toni said she’s waited for Mercedes. Toni said that in all the time Mercedes has been there, they haven’t spoken.
Toni asked Merecedes what took so long to get to the match with her. Mercedes said “patience,” because it’s not about her. Mercedes once again referred to herself as the Beyonce of women’s wrestling.
Toni was not impressed by her boasts. Toni said she’s “the Toni Storm of professional wrestling.” Mercedes says she’s beaten the best around the world, and then proclaimed that they would have the greatest women’s match of all time at All In.
Toni ran down some of their shared history, both of which lead them to AEW, where they became who they were meant to be. Toni said there is one glaring difference. Toni said while Mercedes wants all the titles, she needs only one. Toni said she’s lived, bled, and died for the title. The crowd cheered for Toni.
Toni said if Mercedes wants to ride the Mone train through the Toni Tunnel, she better be prepared to go deep enough. Mercedes said even Toni’s hips aren’t wide enough or the Mone train.
Toni said they would meet again in 45 days. She said somewhere in the world a little girl will be watching, and she’ll say “holy shit, these bitches are crazy.” And then she’ll find out who the better woman is. Toni said she believes Merecedes is the best of all time, but she happens to be “Timeless.”
Mercedes said she can call herself timeless, but her time is coming to an end. They said they’ll see each other at All In. Mercedes extended her hand and Toni shook it. She pulled Mercedes in and took a whiff of her neck before kissing her hand.
Mercedes tried to pull her in for the Mone Maker, but Toni dodged it and went for the Storm Zero. Mercedes slipped out and escaped to ringside as Toni’s music played. Toni danced in the ring, and Mercedes did her dance in the aisle. Toni continued to dance in the ring and posed suggestively with the title as they went off the air.
(White’s Take: This was a good promo segment between one good talker and one awul, eye-rolling trainwreck of a talker. That said, Mercedes did well for the most part; it was probably her best live mic performance in AEW. Toni was great as always. It veered into some silly stuff, as any Toni Storm promo is wont to do, but was still focused on the stakes of their upcoming match. Despite my constant delight with Toni, the dancing at the end was unnecessary and silly).
FINAL THOUGHTS: A good follow up on the main stories coming out of Double or Nothing. Hangman’s opening promo with Swerve and Ospreay was well done and highlighted the stakes of Hangman’s upcoming title match. The Toni and Mercedes face-to-face did the same for the Women’s title match. Brody King and Josh Alexander had a good match while Cole and Fletcher had a good match with a bad finish. However, there were still plenty of yawns and eyerolls to be had, making the show a mixed bag overall.
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