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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
“SUMMER SPECTACULAR”
JUNE 11, 2025
PORTLAND, ORE. AT MODA CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON TBS & MAX
Commentators: Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni, Taz, Tony Schiavone
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reports that 3,354 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 3,724. The arena has a capacity of 6,000 spectators for this set-up and over 20,000 for concerts and basketball.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorch’s Chris Griffin 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.
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.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Excalibur introduced the show as Luther pulled Toni Storm in a bike cart trailer. Then Christopher Daniels talked to “Hangman” Page backstage. He said he can’t fight all of Jon Moxley’s crew by himself. He said he has friends in his locker room who will be there for him when he needs it. He said he wants to try to rectify the harsh feelings others have about him. He told him he gave him something to think about. (The mic sounded like wind was blowing on it the whole time.) As the camera watched Hangman enter the arena, Jon Moxley appeared and his crew followed behind Hangman.
-The Dynamite opening theme aired. Then pyro blasted as they showed the entrance stage and a impressive looking crowd of under 4,000. (The set-up genuinely looked really good for a crowd of this size.)
(1) WILL OSPREAY vs. SWERVE STRICKLAND (w/Prince Nana)
Ospreay made his entrance first. Excalibur talked about their match at Forbidden Door last summer. The bell rang 5 minutes into the hour. Swerve held out his hand. Fans chanted “Shake his hand!” Ospreay did. Fans cheered. They held on and it turned into a test of handshake strength. The crowd went entirely silent, which was weird. (Also weird is the announcers are on camera opposite the hard camera.) They engaged in a series of moves and counter-moves that got a rise out of the crowd. As they faced off again, Ospreay began bleeding from his nose. The ref put on his gloves. Ian mentioned it and said perhaps it was early “inadvertent” contact or flight-related. They followed up with a traditional collar and elbow hookup. Swerve elbowed Ospreay across the side of his head. More blood flowed. Ospreay kneeled for a few extra seconds, then ran the ropes and took Swerve down with a head scissors and standing Skytwister Press for a near fall. Excalibur said, “We can only speculate what’s going on with Ospreay’s nose.” He said if he has a broken nose, he will have labored breathing.
Swerve avoided a leaping Ospreay at ringside and then kicked him from teh ring apron. He hit a Flatliner in the ring and then scored a two count. Ospreay lifted his shoulder. Taz said he thinks hooking a leg on a pin attempt is overrated. A minute later Ospreay caught Swerve in the throat with a chop. Swerve gasped and then rolled to ringside. Ospreay fired up the crowd and then landed a handspring backflip onto Swerve at ringside. They cut to a double-box break at 10:00. [c/db]
Swerve took control at ringside after the break. Then he put Ospreay over the top rope and then landed a top rope Swerve Stomp to Ospreay’s back leading to a two count. Swerve grounded Ospreay next. Ospreay leveraged Swerve’s shoulders down for a two count. Swerve upkicked Ospreay’s face. Ospreay caught Swerve with a sudden Hidden Blade. Swerve countered a Storm Breaker, but Ospreay countered his brainbuster into a Stun Dog Millionaire. Swerve caught Ospreay springboarding at him with an Oscutter into a short-arm scissor attempt. Ospreay heaved Swerve backwards hard into the corner turnbuckle. Taz talked about the danger of that move.
They went into a flow of more moves, counter moves, and two counts at 17:00. Some fans chanted “This is awesome!” Swerve backdropped Ospreay to ringside, then slingshot himself toward Ospreay. Ospreay moved and when Swerve landed, he favored his knee. Ospreay then leaped through the ropes and hit Swerve with a Hidden Blade. Fans chanted “Holy shit!” as they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Ospreay had Swerve in a figure-four during the break. Ospreay landed a sharp standing sidekick to Swerve’s face four times. Swerve dropped to his knees. Ospreay charged for a Hidden Blade, but Swerve ducked. Ospreay hit his head on the middle turnbuckle. They battled for leverage on the top rope. Swerve threw Ospreay to the mat. Ospreay held his left forearm afterward.
Ospreay went for a Styles Clash, but Swerve countered into Dead Eye for a near fall. Sserve leaped off the top rope, but Ospreay avoided a Swerve Stomp and landed a Hidden Blade for a near fall. Both were down and slow to get up. A “This is awesome!” chant started. Swerve sat up and smiled. They stood and exchanged strikes. Swerve landed a House Call leaping sidekick. He followed with a top rope Swerve Stomp for a near fall. Swerve went after Ospreay’s arm, but when he charged. Ospreay hit a back elbow and then a Storm Breaker for a two count at 28:00. “What are we watching here?” exclaimed Excalibur.
Swerve came back with a Vertibreaker a minute later. He let out a “Whose house?” and then landed a House Call. Ospreay was on his back on the ring apron. Ian said they were in the final minute of the match. Swerve eyed Ospreay as fans chanted “Swerve’s House!” Swerve then climbed to the top rope, but lost his balance as he set up a stomp. The bell rang. Fans booed. Taz said he understood the fans’ frustrations wanting to see a finish, but those two wrestlers gave it their all.
WINNER: Time limit draw in 30:00.
-Swerve grabbed the mic and said he is in so much pain. He said they showed they are the best because AEW is where the best wrestle. He said you can’t prove you’re the best unless you finish matches. He said he knows the man he is and he wants to try to beat him right now. He said, “Sudden death!” (How is that different than any other stretch of a match?)
Moxley’s music played and he walked out with his crew. The Young Bucks ran out and attacked Swerve from behind. Nicholas Jackson pulled out handcuffs. Nana tried to pull Swerve out of the ring, but Nicholas landed a superkick. Nicholas and Matthew then handcuffed Swerve’s wrists to the middle rope. They landed a series of superkicks as fans booed. Mox and his crew watched from ringside. Wheeler Yuta slid a duffel bag into the ring. They put shoes on that thumb tacks on the soles. Matthew told Swerve if he messes with them, he’s a deadman. Ospreay got in front of Swerve and took the stereo superkick from the loaded shoes. Ian said, “There is blood just pouring out of the skull of Ospreay.” The ringside physician checked on Ospreay as the Bucks left. A ref got Swerve uncuffed.
(Keller’s Analysis: Excellent match. I didn’t mind the draw at all. Taz was right; the fans shouldn’t have booed, or the boos should have shifted into a standing ovation or something.)
-They cut to the announcers at ringside. Taz said it was a blockbuster of a match and it was a shame what happened afterward. They pivoted to talking about the Kenny Omega-Kazuchika Okada contract signing tonight for their match at All In Texas. Excalibur said they’d have a special video on their feud “which refined pro wrestling as an art form.”
-Renee Paquette interviewed Okada backstage. Before he could answer her first question, Don Callis interrupted. He said he’d like to pose his own question. He asked why Okada was in the match and not Kyle Fletcher. He asked who between them has had a better six months. He asked Okada. Okada grabbed and twisted Callis’s wrist and said “Bitch.” Then he walked away. [c]
-The camera showed MVP pulling a curtain back and showing Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MJF attacking Komander. MJF had Komander’s mask on his fist. Callis said Komander was medically ruled out of the match, so Mascara Dorada would take his place.
(2) MISTICO vs. BLAKE CHRISTIAN
The bell rang 50 minutes into the hour. Blake took early control, but then Mistico landed a diving shoulder tackle through the ropes to ringside. Back in the ring, he landed a springboard crossbody for a near fall. Mistico tried to ge tthe fans to clap, then climbed the ropes. Lee Johnson yanked on his leg. Blake then kicked Mistico off the ring apron to the floor. Blake then landed a flip dive through the ropes. He followed with a springboard 450 splash for a two count. When Blake climbed back to the top rope, but Mistico popped up and kicked Blake in the head. Then he landed a Spanish Fly off the top rope for a three count. Ian touted next week’s event at Arena Mexico.
WINNER: Mistico in 5:00.
-The Hurt Syndicate music played and MVP led his guys out. Fans chanted, “We Hurt People!” MVP said they had an official announcement. He said MJF would handle it. Fans booed. MVP insisted “some respect for the young genius.” He said he’ll give Mistico a match next week. He said he looked forward to “ripping that dime store mask off your stupid face.” He said he’s getting The Patriot. He said he’s dusting off the red, white, and blue for him. A giant American flag dropped and red, white, and blue streamers filled the ring.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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[HOUR TWO]
MJF entered the ring. Mistico grabbed the mic and said he’d see him next week in Mexico City. He said something in Spanish. MVP told MJF what Mistico just said to him off-mic. MJF told Mistico he’s “sloppy Sin Cara” to him. He said he’s about to get dropped. Mistico attacked MJF. Lashley and Shelton attacked Mistico. MJF threatened to take off Mistico’s mask. Instead, “Speedball” Mike Bayley’s music played and he and his team showed up at ringside. They leaped onto Hurt Syndicate at ringside. Excalibur said the MJF-Mistico match was now official.
(3) MJF & SHELTON BENJAMIN & BOBBY LASHLEY (w/MVP) vs. “SPEEDBALL” MIKE BAYLEY & KEVIN KNIGHT & MASCARA DORADA
The bell rang two minutes into the hour. MVP joined in on commentary. Fans taunted him with “You look stupid!” chants, apparently a comment on his black and gold Hurt Syndicate singlet. MJF took control with an early eye poke against Dorada. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00. [c/db]
At 8:00, with Lashley in control of Speedball, MJF asked for the tag. MJF smiled and went on the attack on Speedball. Speedball recovered as MJF mocked the set-up for a Crane Kick. He landed a side kick to MJF. Dorada then landed a springboard dropkick. Lashley speared Dorado. Speedball countered Lashley and landed a rapid-fire series of roundkicks with both legs. He launched Knight into Lashley who landed a DDT. Speedball and Knight then landed a double-dropkick. They celebrated and then all three babyfaces landed a series of moves to ringside onto heels. Dorado postured so long before hitting his move that MJF had to stand there and look up at him for ten seconds before getting hit with a Shooting Star Press.
When Speedball climbed to the top rope, MJF hit him with his cane from behind. MJF then gave Speedball a hammerlock DDT for the three count.
WINNERS: Hurt Syndicate in 11:00.
-Afterward, MJF punched away at Speedball. Lashley and Shelton then attacked Knight and Dorada. MJF then yanked off Dorado’s mask. Ian and Excalibur emphasized this was “humiliating” for Dorado. Mistico then ran out and put MJF in his armbreaker. MJF frantically tapped. Mistico then bailed out when Lashley and Shelton charged into the ring.
(Keller’s Analysis: MJF’s heel work helped get fans rooting for Mistico and Dorado, who most fans otherwise don’t have a lot of emotions invested in.) [c]
-Back from the break, Hangman’s music played. Moxley and his Death Riders crew dragged Hangman out with his mouth wrapped in duct tape. In the ring, Moxley said they need him focused because All In is “do or die time” for him. Fans chanted, “Shut the f— up!” Mox said he’s been watching him for a long time and he’s complicated. “I don’t understand you, I don’t like you,” he said. He said he has been searching high and low for a long time for something. He said he has exactly four weeks to find it and “step up and become the man everybody wants you to become.” He said if he’s not prepared to do it, “you can pack your shit and get the hell out.” Hangman broke free from the grip of Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta and headbutted Mox. Shafir put Hangman in a bulldog choke and then Claudio and Yuta put Hangman’s head in a chair. Mox backed Claudio off. Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata ran out. The Death Riders retreated.
Hangman in a rage said that he has come too far and am too close for that to be the best they got. He said he would ride through death itself to take that AEW Championship from him. He said if he finds even one of them tonight, he’ll take their heads. His music played as he marched to the back with a chair in hand.
-Excalibur plugged the Omega-Okada contract signing. [c]
(4) MEGAN BAYNE & PENELOPE FORD vs. TAY MELO & ANNA JAY
The bell rang 31 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 3:00 as Bayne and Ford celebrated a stretch of offense. [c]
Melo applied a Calf Slicer on Bayne at 9:00. Melo side stepped a charging Bayne and then leaped onto her at ringside with a cannonball senton. Anna Jay leaped off the top rope with a crossbody onto Bayne. Ford then flip dove off the top rope onto an awaiting Melo and Jay at ringside. Back in the ring, Bayne overhead tossed both Jay and Melo. Anna held back Bayne on the ring apron as Melo delivered her finisher to Ford.
WINNERS: Melo & Jay in 10:00.
-They went to the announcers at ringside. Excalibur said he realizes a lot of the history between Okada and Omega took place outside of AEW. He said they had four epic matches in New Japan. He threw to a narrated video package chronicling their four match series in New Japan and then their respective arrivals in AEW.
(Keller’s Analysis: This was smart to take out to present on TV. I’m curious about the minute-by-minute trend during this, which I’ll seek out and report later this week or next week. They did a good job, and it’d be hard not to, given the epic intensity and athleticism and the impressive presentation of their matches.) [c]
-Tony Schivone stood mid-ring and introduced the segment, characterizing the Okada-Ospreay match as the most anticipated in AEW history. He introduced Okada first. The Omga, who wore a suit. Schiavone said the winner will be crowned the new AEW Unified Champion. He revealed a new belt that would represented the merged International and Continental championships.
Omega said watching that video package, he barely recognized himself. He said he wanted to leave it all in the ring at All In one final time. He signed the contract. Fans respectfully applauded. Omega offered a handshake. Okada shook his head and nodded. things got a little more intense as they had words off mic. Don Callis’s music then played. He walked out, mic in hand. He said he had something important to say. Fans chanted, “F— Don Callis!”
Callis said Omega should be ashamed of himself. He said the match should be between Okada vs. Takeshita or Okada vs. Fletcher. Omega told him to “cut the shit.” He said everybody has heard enough. He said he has been there and done that and beaten them. He said they have to get in line like everybody else if they want a shot at that belt. He said there isn’t one trick in his playbook to ruin it. OKada nodded in the background. Callis said if he knows all the tricks, he didn’t know “this one.” Okada then hit Omega from behind with a championship title. Callis handed Okada a steel baton. Callis held Omega as Okadfa bashed him with the baton in the abdomen. Fans chanted “You sold out!” The ringside doc checked on Omega as Callis and Okada gloated.
[OVERRUN]
Okada landed a top rope flying elbowdrop. Medics came to ringside and pulled Omega onto a gurney at ringside. Fans chanted, “Fallen Angel!” as Christopher Daniels yelled at Callis and Okada. He scolded Okada who backed off and pretended to have regrets, it seemed. But then he leaped off the ring apron with a flying elbowdrop onto the gurney. Omega fell to the mat and coughed up blood. That was graphic. Callis and Okada left with Okada’s Continental Title. Fans booed.
In the parking garage, Alex Marvez told Callis and Okada that what they did was absolutely disgusting. Callis frantically said they had to go. They sped out of the garage in an SUV.
-They transitioned into Collision at this point with Schiavone and Nigel McGuiness reacted with stunned disgust. We’ll have our full Collision report posted tonight, but I’m moving to the live YouTube Dynamite post-show I host now…
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 Chris Griffin 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.
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.
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