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AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
NOVEMBER 26, 2025
NASHVILLE, TENN. AT THE PINNACLE
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuiness
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 1,360 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 1,395. The arena has a capacity of 4,500 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 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.
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[HOUR ONE]
-After the Dynamite opening theme, Excalibur introduced the show as the camera panned the audience (making the most out of the intimate setting). They showed the brackets of the semi-finals in the inaugural AEW Women’s Tag Team Tournament:
- Sisters of Sin vs. Babes of Wrath
- Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa vs. Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir
Excalibur hyped the Sisters of Sin vs. Babes of Wrath would take place on the show along with the three Continental Classic matches: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kyle Fletcher, Darby Allin vs. Kevin Knight, and Jon Moxley vs. Mascara Sagrada.
-A video package aired on the bickering between Okada and Konosuke Takeshita at Full Gear.
(1) KYLE FLETCHER vs. KAZUCHIKA OKADA – Continental Classic match (Gold League)
As Fletcher made his entrance, Don Callis joined in on commentary. Tony Schiavone said the last week of professional wrestling was as violent as he can remember. (That’s probably true, and not necessarily a good thing if that leads to everything blending in and nothing really having a chance to stand out and breath and sink in.) The bell rang 6 minutes into the hour. The fans chanted “Holy shit!” and “F— Don Callis!” at the start.
Callis said his analytics expect told him that someone in his family has a great chance to win the tournament. He said Schiavone wouldn’t understand. Schiavone said to try him. Callis moved on. Okada and Fletcher fought back and forth early and soon started shoving each other in the chest. Then they took a deep breath and slapped hands in a sign of mutual respect.
Callis said that had Fletcher defeated Mark Briscoe, and then Briscoe had to join the Don Callis Family, he’d have turned “that Crayola eater” into a functioning member of society. Fletcher had Okada down at 5:00 and climbed to the top rope. Okada kicked the ref into the ropes, which knocked Fletcher off balance. Callis said he’s never seen that before. He said Okada balances out Fletcher’s youth with his own experience. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Okada stayed in control during the break at ringside and then back in the ring. Fletcher kicked the ref into the ropes to knock Okada off balance on the top rope. Fletcher landed a superplex next. Callis said most of his wrestlers are 6-2 or 6-3 and have a Lou Thesz bodytype.
Okada caught Fletcher’s attempt at a kick from teh ring apron and then swept his leg and DDT’d him to the floor. Excalibur said the semi-finals and finals of the Continental Classic would take place at World’s End on PPV on Dec. 27. Fletcher sent Okada head-first with a dart throw into a middle turnbuckle. He followed with a sitout powerbomb for a two count.”This is what happens when a couple of one-percenters go at it, guys,” said Callis.
When Fletcher went for a brainbuster, Okada escaped and shoved Fletcher. Fletcher almost hit the ref. Okada then went for a clothesline, but Fletcher ducked. They battled mid-ring. Okada gouged Fletcher’s eyes. Fletcher rolled up Okada for a three count. Excalibur said for the second time in two Continental Classics, Fletcher has defeated Okada. Fletcher offered a handshake afterward. Okada shook his hand. Callis entered the ring and raised both of their hands.
WINNER: Fletcher in 17:00 to earn 3 points.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good match. A good win for Fletcher after his loss at Full Gear.)
-Excalibur threw to a clip of The Young Bucks deciding to save Kenny Omega. Excalibur kept with the story that by winning the match, but saving Omega from the beatdown, they somehow gave up $1 million. (I don’t get it. It makes no sense they don’t get to keep the money after winning the match.)
-Lexi Nair interviewed Kenny Omega backstage. She asked if he’s on the same page with The Bucks again. Omega said he hasn’t been a model citizen in the past and he once was fooled by Callis. He said he is taking all of that into account when he thinks about where he and the Bucks stand. He said if his friends will accept him for who he is and his faults, and if his fans are after all he has done, who is he to say the Bucks don’t deserve another chance. He returned to his locker room and then The Young Bucks came out. Lexi seemed perplexed.
(Keller’s Analysis: Good human-like interview with Omega. He sounded reasonable in how he was processing everything. The Bucks coming out of the locker room indicates Omega and the Bucks have continued to bond after Saturday.) [c]
-Highlights aired of Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe with freeze-frames of some of the big spots.
-A post-match promo aired with Mark Briscoe and his newly-won TNT Title belt. He reflected on losing his brother and said he wasn’t sure after Jay died if he wanted to go this anymore. He said he wanted to make him proud and “do it for us.” He said it was one loss and disappointment after another. He said they say there is a time and season for everything. He said he has his road family and home family, and the TNT Title is for both of them.
-Excalibur plugged the replay of Full Gear.
(2) WILLOW NIGHTINGALE & HARLEY CAMERON vs. SKYE BLUE & JULIA HART – AEW Women’s Tag Team Tournament match
The bell rang 35 minutes into the hour. Schiavone said Willow & Harley were all smiles, while the heel duo were frowning and had bad attitudes. They cut to a break at 4:00 with Blue in control. [c]
Harley and Skye both tagged out after the break. Willow took control against Julia right away. Julia eventually took control against Harley and went for a top rope moonsault, but overshot and awkwardly adjusted and scored a two count. Nigel rewrote history as he said it appeared Harley was going to move even though she didn’t at all. Skye and Julia double-teamed Harley. Willow (sorta of) blind tagged in and went after the heelsincluding a gut-wrench powerbomb on Skye for the win.
WINNERS: Babes of Wrath in 12:00 to advance to the final of the AEW Women’s Team Team Tournament.
(Keller’s Analysis: Decent enough match, brought down by some timing and clunky sequences. The “blind tag” by Willow where she walked so far from her corner felt like a stretch (literally) and then it didn’t seem she really hit Harley. I’m an advocate for wrestlers having to hold the tag ropes and actually tag hands, and forcing wrestlers to work around those parameters so the rules of a tag match have some semblance of logic and consistency. But this is AEW, home of The Young Bucks, so it’s unlikely!) [c]
-Tony Schiavone introduced Samoa Joe and The Opps. Joe walked out with Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata. Excalibur said Joe is the first wrestler to hold two AEW titles at the same time. Nigel talked about Hook helping Joe win. Joe yanked the mic out of Schiavone’s hands as he was about to ask his first question. Joe said tonight is about him and his celebration, “so take your hillbilly ass out of here.” The big screen showed Swerve Strickland getting out of an SUV driven by Prince Nana. “Hangman” Adam Page joined him, chain in hand. Joe told Shibata to go get those scrubs so he could celebrate.
As Joe began to talk, fans chanted for Swerve. Joe told them to shut the hell up. Joe said everything went according to plan. He said Shibata nullified Eddie Kingston. He touted Hobbs’s feats of strength. He then said he pinned Hangman in the middle of the ring. He said “the simpletons” will have trouble understanding, so he prepared a video the showed his brilliance.
A video aired entered on Hook’s interactions with The Opps and his interference at Full Gear. The key points here were:
- Hook saying: “I think it’s time for Hook to stand on his own, or maybe not?”
- Samoa Joe telling Hook: “What do Opps do? We take the opportunities. At some point, we’re still going to have your back.”
- Hook tapping out quickly to Samoa Joe to help him become no. 1 contender with Bryan Danielson reacting on commentary. (Joe and Hook beat each other up throughout that match, and Joe even gave Hook a Muscle Buster, and there were many instances where Hook and Joe could have orchestrated a tapout sooner to assure Joe the win. The tapout wasn’t any sooner than it usually happens with Joe, either)
- Hook hitting Hangman with the title belt when the ref was down and then laying out the belt for Joe to drive Hangman onto with a Muscle Buster
Joe declared that was “incredible” and “some of his best work” and the fans now have a champion that is worthy enough to be called “the greatest in this industry.” He introduced Hook, who came out to boos. Hook strolled out, smiling. He slapped hands with Hobbs and Shibata, then Joe embraced him.
Fans booed as Hook took the mic. He said Joe is right that the “rednecks are too stupid to realize they are looking at the greatest second-generation wrestler this business has ever seen.” (Why not call it a sport instead of a business?) Swerve’s music interrupted and then Hangman’s music played.
[HOUR TWO]
Hangman and Swerve got past The Opps dojo guys and charged into the ring. Other dojo guys slowed them down, so Joe, Hook, Hobbs, and Shibata were able to leave. Swerve used a staple gun and Hangman used a chain to beat up the Opps dojo guys. Excalibur said it’s unbelievable seeing those two working in tandem. One of the guys overacted ridiculously as Hangman took his time wrapping a chain around his neck. Swerve and Hangman hung two of the dojo guys over the top rope by their necks with a chain.
(Keller’s Analysis: The violence with Swerve and Hangman there is like someone who isn’t artful with their language and has a small vocabulary, so they just sweat gratuitously to try to emphasize their points. Ultimately, the you just get numb to the swearing and look down on them for not having another way to express themselves. This was just over-the-top stupid and it’s too often where AEW goes with angles. Seriously, hanging two guys by their necks with a chain while making cartoonishly angry faces? Joe didn’t provide any new knowledge about the plan or why Hook took the path he took. Joe just insulted the fans for being dumb and said he is smart and great. The video suggested Hook was in it all along, and the quick tapout was apparently the most compelling evidence since it was his way to helping Joe get the rematch. They had a lot more they could’ve gotten into, including what they actually gained from the ruse. At least this explains booking-wise why Hook was given a no. 1 contendership match, although it still doesn’t make sense he’d be granted it in terms of the storyline world. It wasn’t as bad as his first promo after his heel turn, but there’s so much more material here in this story to work with, and they’re just doing C-level material here. Seeing Hangman and Swerve together is cool, but we didn’t get any context provided around what happened Sunday. Why was Swerve there? Why does he care about Joe beating Hangman that way? Are they pals or just sharing a common enemy? I hope we get some of that soon.)
-A video aired with Mox backstage after the loss to Kyle O’Reilly saying the battle continues as the rest of the Death Riders stood behind him. He closed with the line that the playoffs are about to start and The Conglomeration are just celebrating a regular season win.
(3) JON MOXLEY vs. MASCARA DORADA – Continental Classic match (Blue League)
The Death Riders made their way to the barricade, but then everyone but Mox returned to the back. Excalibur recapped the rules that no one can be at ringside. The bell rang 6 minutes into the hour. They cut to a double-box break at 5:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, Mox set up a move on the ringside steps, but Dorada slipped free and then shoved Mox into the steps. He then landed a leaping head scissors to take Mox down. He then dropped Mox throat-first over the barricade.
Dorada landed a neckbreaker for a two count. When Dorada applied an armbar, Mox panicked and escaped quickly. Dorada landed a 450 splash for a near fall. When he went for a shooting star press, Mox lifted his knees. Mox then took over and applied a Darce Choke for the win after the ref called for the bell.
WINNER: Moxley in 13:00 to earn 3 points.
-As Mox celebrated with Shafir, Toni Storm sauntered out to her music. She said when they operate in fear and hate, she operates in love. She said what she does for love is far more violent than he could ever imagine. He told Mox, “I have a message for your cave woman daughter.” He said per their win at Full Gear, they get to determine the special stip in their upcoming tag match. She said it has to be brutal enough to exact revenge and entertaining enough for all the sickos in the crowd. She said she has stayed up every night and she can’t come up with a match. She then said she saw her “sweet, sweet Mina.” Shirakawa walked out. She said she realized she hadn’t gotten her anything for Christmas. She said her gift to her is the heads of two “slop tarts on a silver platter.” She said the match will be a Hardcore Holiday Death Match with no DQs, no tags, no disqualifications. Storm and Shirakawa struck a pose on the stage.
-Renee Paquette interviewed Kris Statlander backstage about her win. Renee told Stat she is the greatest in the galaxy right now and is only the second to pin Mercedes in AEW history. Statlander said everyone is asking waht’s next for her. She said you can tell what you’ve done by the looks on people’s faces. She said she people look on in disbelief at her accomplishments. She said they have three options now to turn and face the past, stay in the present, or head off into the future. She said she knows where she is going and she asked who is coming with her. [c]
(4) DARBY ALLIN vs. KEVIN KNIGHT – Continental Classic match (Gold League)
The bell rang 30 minutes into the hour. They battled at a fast pace in the ring and at ringside. They cut to a double-box break at 4:00. [c/db]
They eventually fought up the ramp. Knight was in control, so he dragged Darby back into the ring. He then went for his UFO, but Darby moved. Darby then hit a Code Red for a near fall at 11:00.
Knight hung Darby upside down in one corner and then hit a Coast to Coast. Knight then hit a UFO splash for the win. The announcers reacted with surprise and called it the biggest win of Knight’s career in AEW by far. Darby shook Knight’s hand afterward.
WINNER: Knight in 12:00 to earn 3 points.
(Keller’s Analysis: Wow. That sent a message to viewers not to assume any outcome. Yes, Darby was really beat up going into the tournament and they talked about it, but it’s still a big win.)
-A video package aired on FTR. [c]
-Eddie Kingston cut a backstage promo. He said he doesn’t want to talk about what happened with Hook. He suggested he face Shibata on Collision on Thanksgiving evening.
(5) CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI vs. ORANGE CASSIDY – Continental Classic match (Gold League)
The bell rang 51 minutes into the hour. They fought at ringside three minutes in. Claudio swung Cassidy into the ringside barricade. They cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
[OVERRUN]
They countered each other for a few minutes. Cassidy landed a Beach Break for a dramatic near fall. Schiavone said if that didn’t keep Claudio down, what would. Cassidy charged with an Orange Punch, but Claudio ducked and then hit Cassidy with a lariat. Cassidy countered Claudio into a roll-up, but Claudio then hit a lift-and-drop European Uppercut for the win.
WINNER: Claudio 13:00 to earn 3 points.
-Afterward, Renee entered the ring to interview Claudio and Mox about their wins. She asked Claudio how it felt to set the pace with that win. Wheeler Yuta taunted Cassidy, so Cassidy shoved him. A brawl broke out with everyone, with Roderick Strong joining in. Konosuke Takeshita, Fletcher, Knight, Dorada, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey joined in. Nigel said they were getting a taste of what would happen on Collision on Thursday night. Dorada landed a top rope flip onto a crowd at ringside. Cassidy took Yuta down with an Orange Punch. His music played as The Death Riders retreated.
(Keller’s Analysis: A weird finish to the show.)
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/8uuy35ip6c
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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