SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
JUNE 18, 2025
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO AT ARENA MEXICO
AIRED LIVE ON TBS & MAX
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: The arena has a capacity of 16,500 spectators for pro wrestling.
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 Brian Zilem 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/y7pvxn2ndu
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]
-They opened with a wide shot of the arena as Excalibur introduced the show. The camera panned cheering fans.
-“Hangman” Adam Page made his ring entrance. Hangman spoke to the crowd in Spanish. Excalibur translated as Hangman introduced himself and said he’s not the best at Spanish. Excalibur continued to try to translate in pauses in Hangman’s promo. He thanked the fans for having him in their house and touted AEW’s talent. He then spoke about Jon Moxley.
(Keller’s Analysis: From a standpoint of holding the TV audience, kind of risky to have Hangman cut a somewhat lengthy promo in Spanish with only occasional partial translations from Excalibur. Hangman got a nice reception and, from someone who doesn’t speak Spanish, his Spanish sounded splendid.)
-Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Nigel McGuinness hyped the show’s line-up of matches. Schiavone called this a “bucket list” night for so many.
(Keller’s Analysis: If you you want to know how special and important Arena Mexico is in pro wrestling, you’ll have to read Alan Counihan’s feature column on the PWTorch VIP website and in this week’s PWTorch Newsletter.)
(1) DAX (w/Stokley Hathaway) & VOLADOR JR. & KYLE FLETCHER & KONOSUKE TAKESHITA & LANCE ARCHER & JOSH ALEXANDER & HECHICERO vs. BANDIDO & ATLANTIS & ATLANTIS JR. & DANNY GARCIA & BRODY KING & ADAM COLE & TEMPLARIO
Dax Harwood and Stokely Hathaway walked out. Stokely said he had good news and bad news. He said Cash Wheeler couldn’t be there tonight due to circumstances beyond his control. He said Dax is there, though. Callis noted during ring introductions for the heels that there are “strange bedfellows.” The bell rang 17 minutes into the hour with Takeshita and Bandido. The crowd roared with each move and counter move early as Bandido battled Hechicero next. The wrestlers not in the match stood on the floor as not to block the view for the fans (there are no big screen showing the footage like in the typical AEW arena set-ups). Garcia and Dax did kneeled on the ring apron, indicating they’d be next to tag in.
Brody gave Alexander a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron. Schiavone said he touched the ring earlier in the day and it’s “a hard as hell ring.” At 7:00 the babyfaces cleared the ring and they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
In one corner, Templario took Alexander off the top rope with a nasty looking move where he landed on his head and the announcers gasped. In the opposite corner, Bandido leaped off the top rope and drove Takeshita into the mat at the same time. The ref counted to two for Templario’s cover. Atlantis ran the ramp and leaped over the top rope with a crossbody on Fletcher and Alexander. Four faces punched away at four heels in each of the corners as they went to a wide shot. Schiavone said they had 10,000-plus in the arena. Excalibur called it a sellout. They went into a series of dives to ringside as Fletcher and Cole battled up the ramp to the back.
Brody landed a leg scissors takedown of Hechicero and then dove through the ropes onto Hechicero and Takeshita at ringside for a crowd pop. Atlantis pinned Dax with a small package out of nowhere to win.
WINNERS: Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. & Garcia & Brody & Cole & Brody & Templorio in 16:00.
-A video package aired on the Kenny Omega-Kazuchika Okada-Don Callis angle last week. They showed backstage footage of Omega coughing up blood while being wheeled out.
-Excalibur plugged that Mark Briscoe was looking for revenge against Okada next.
(Keller’s Analysis: They leaned into the graphic blood. They didn’t update Omaga’s condition.)
(2) MARK BRISCOE vs. KAZUCHIKA OKADA (w/Don Callis)
As Briscoe made his entrance, a promo aired on split-screen of Briscoe challenging Okada to a match tonight while also talking about his history with Omega. Okada then made his entrance. Schiavone said they understand Omega will make it to All In, but questioned what condition he’d be in. The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. Callis joined in on commentary. Schiavone expressed disgust with what he orchestrated last week. Callis said it was a masterful move. He defended going after Omega’s abdomen and said if someone had a bad knee, you’d target their knee. Okada dropkicked Briscoe off the top rope to the floor and took over offense as they cut to a break at 4:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, Okada remained on the attack. Briscoe came back with an enzuigiri. Okada gouged Briscoe’s eyes. Excalibur noted Dynamite would last two-and-a-half hours and that Collision would be back to its normal day, time, and network on Saturday. Briscoe made a comeback and landed his top rope frog splash for a two count at 12:00. Briscoe called for the Jay Driller. Okada backdropped out of it. He went for a Rainmaker, but Briscoe ducked and set up a Jay Driller. Okada blocked it and delivered a tombstone and then a Rainmaker for the win.
WINNER: Okada in 14:00.
-After the match, Callis joined Okada in the ring. Callis held Briscoe in place as Okada bashed him in the ribs and then the face with his belt.
(Keller’s Analysis: The match itself was good, but there wasn’t any real drama over who would win, so 14 minutes of action without suspense over the finish isn’t great. Okada came off sufficiently heelish overall, especially in the post-match attack.) [c]
REPORT CONTINUES BELOW…
[HOUR TWO]
(3) MJF (w/MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley) vs. MISTICO
MJF made his entrance with Lashley, Shelton, and MVP first. They replayed clips on split-screen of last week’s build for this match. Mistico made his long entrance. The bell rang 4 minutes into the hour. MJF tossed Mistico down after a lock-up. He then played to the crowd, which was red-hot for this. On the next lock-up, Mistico threw MJF down. MJF claimed Mistico pulled his hair. MJF got in sustained offense and gloated quite a bit. MJF powerbombed Mistico onto his knee at 5:00. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
MJF settled into a headlock early in the break. Back from the break, MJF remained in control. They showed on split screen Lashley and Shelton attacking Mistico at ringside during the break. Mistico rallied at 9:00. MJF rolled to ringside. Mistico springboarded onto MJF at ringside. Both were down at ringside and slow to get up.
MJF and Mistico brawled up the ramp onto the stage. MJF delivered a tombstone. Both were down and slow to get up as MVP gloated. MJF dragged the ref to the ring and demanded he begin to count out Mistico. Mistico sat up during the count and and stumbled to the ring to beat the count.
Mistico applied an armbar. MJF tapped out, but the ref was distracted by MVP. MJF then gave Mistico a low blow for a believable near fall. MJF then gave Mistico another low blow for the DQ. MJF then shoved the ref down. Excalibur said MJF’s mission was humiliation tonight.
WINNER: MJF via DQ in 17:00.
-Afterward, MJF signaled that he was going to remove Mistico’s mask. He then tore it off. Mistico covered his face and held it in the air as fans booed. He then put on the Mistico mask. Bandido, Templario, Titan, Kevin Knight, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey all came out to knock MJF out of the ring. Templario gave Mistico a replacement mask and helped him to his feet. [c]
(4) HOLOGRAM vs. RICOCHET vs. LIO RUSH vs. MASCARA DORADA – 4 Million Pesos Prize (roughly $210,000 U.S.)
The bell rang 32 minutes into the hour. Rapid-fire non-stop action early. Ricochet landed a twisting dive onto Dorada at ringside as Rush landed on Hologram at ringside. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Back from the break, they showed a wide shot of the crowd as Excalibur touted the sellout crowd. Rush and Ricochet slapped hands in celebration, but then Rush rubbed Ricochet’s bald head. Ricochet didn’t like that. Rush shoved him. Ricochet shoved back. As they argued, Dorado dropkicked Ricochet into Rush. Dorada and Hologram cleared the ring of Ricochet and Rush. Then they landed dives onto Ricochet and Rush at ringside.
Dorada and Hologram then battled with flashy lucha-style exchanges. Ricochet and Rush eventually took over and then battled each other. Hologram ran back into the ring and lifted Rush. Rush slipped free, but Hologram shoved him into Ricochet. Hologram gave Rush an airplane spin into a powerbomb for the three count.
WINNER: Hologram in 16:00 to win 4 million Pesos.
(Keller’s Analysis: Drinks are on Hologram tonight at the bar, everybody! This is totally what you’d expect from these four for 16 minutes. A lot of cool sequences and some bickering amongst the two heels.) [c]
(5) ZEUXIS vs. MERCEDES MONE – CMLL Women’s Title match
The bell rang 53 minutes into the hour. Zeuxis scored a couple early near falls including after a lung blower at 2:00. Mercedes took over with a mat hold, but Zeuxis reached the ropes to force a break. They fought at ringside. Mercedes landed a Meteora back in the ring for a two count. Zeuxis dove through the ropes and tackled Mercedes, but also landed on her head on the floor. She seemed to shake it off as they cut to a double-box break at 4:00. [c/db]
Mercedes took over at ringside during the break and threw Zeuxis back into the ring.
[HOUR THREE]
Back from the break, Zeuxis snap powerslammed Mercedes on the ring apron. Then she landed a Spanish Fly for a two count. Nigel questioned the positioning of her cover where she put no weight on Mercedes’s shoulders during the count. Mercedes landed a back stabber and then went for a Bank Statement. Zeuxis battled back, but Mercedes rolled through on a top rope powerslam and leveraged Zeuxis down hard and scored a three count. Mercedes draped yet another belt around her body for a total of five.
WINNER: Mercedes in 10:00 to capture the CMLL World Title.
-Toni Storm appeared on the big screen with a black and white vignette walking the streets of Mexico and speaking like an old pulp detective movie character. Then on the stage, Mina Shirakawa appeared on the top of the ramp and waved. Storm showed up behind Merdedes and whispered something to her before German suplexing her, leading to all of Mercedes’s belts flying off of her. Referees separated them on the ramp. Storm shouted into a mic, “Let the games begin!” Excalibur said the statement was made by the champ Storm, so how would the challenger respond in Texas. [c]
(6) WILL OSPREAY & SAMOA JOE & POWERHOUSE HOBBS & KATSUYORI SHIBATA & SWERVE STRICKLAND (w/Prince Nana) vs. THE YOUNG BUCKS & JON MOXLEY & WHEELER YUTA (w/Marina Shafir) & THE BEAST MORTOS
Excalibur said he’s called Young Bucks matches since early in their careers and he is profoundly disappointed in them. Excalibur said the Bucks weren’t the only “founding fathers” of AEW as “there were others.” Fans chanted “Ospreay!” The bell rang 17 minutes into the hour. Nicholas took over against Ospreay early with a kick to the head of a charging Ospreay. The Bucks double-teamed Ospreay and then struck a pose flexing their arms. Schiavone said the Bucks are the greatest team he’s ever seen despite misgivings about their personalities.
Swerve and Yuta tagged in and battled. Schiavone said they’d stay with the action as long as needed. After a brawl with everyone in the ring, the action spilled to ringside. Ospreay landed a Sky Twister onto a crowd of wrestlers. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Ospreay and Yuta tagged in after the break. Hobbs tossed Yuta around and rammed him into the corner turnbuckles. He then bashed him over and over with his forearm followed be a hard short-arm lariat. When he lowered his straps, the Bucks entered and went after him. Hobbs snarled and the Bucks backed away. The Bucks then went for kicks, but Hobbs grabbed their legs. Mox and Yuta intervened. Hobbs knocked all four heels down, so they rolled to ringside. Ospreay and Swerve slingshot themselves onto the Bucks at ringside.
Hobbs and Shibata went after Yuta next. Hobbs landed a powerslam on Yuta, but Mortos broke up the cover. Mortos speared Hobbs, who rolled to ringside. Mortos then landed a tornado crossbody through the ropes onto Hobbs. Back in the ring, he attacked Shibata. Joe and Mortos then battled mid-ring. Joe landed a uranage. The Bucks went after Joe. Ospreay leaped in for the save, but the Bucks kicked him. Ospreay delivered a double OsCutter. Swerve then landed a dive at ringside.
Mox tagged in against Swerve a minute later. They exchanged strikes mid-ring. Ospreay kicked Mox. Ospreay and Swerve double-teamed Mox. The Bucks intervened. Shafir distracted the ref. Mox rolled up Swerve and scored a three count with a yank of the tights.
WINNERS: Mox & Yuta & Mortos & The Bucks in 17:00.
-Afterward, Mox and the Bucks triple-teamed Swerve. Hangman then made the save. He went forehead to forehead with Mox. Yuta entered. Hangman knocked him down. Mox attacked Hangman. Hangman went for a Buckshot on Mox, but Mox moved and the Buckshot hit Matthew instead. Nicholas yelled at Hangman. Joe, Ospreay, Hobbs, and Hangman stopped Mox from using his briefcase as a weapon. The heels retreated as Hangman’s music played. Hangman pursued Moxley’s crew, who fled to the back. He eyed the Bucks as he returned to the ring to join The Opps as Excalibur signed off.
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 Brian Zilem 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/y7pvxn2ndu
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.