A Casino Gauntlet match on tonight’s AEW Dynamite will determine Jon Moxley’s challenger for the World title on next week’s episode.
Jay White earned the first spot in tonight’s Casino Gauntlet with a victory on last week’s show. The bout will begin with two competitors, and ends with the first fall, with more wrestlers being added to the match at regular intervals. The winner faces Moxley for the AEW Word title at next week’s Maximum Carnage edition of Dynamite.
After returning to the ring at Wrestle Dynasty this past weekend, Kenny Omega makes his return to Dynamite on tonight’s episode.
A women’s Casino Gauntlet is set for next week’s Maximum Carnage, but a three-way on tonight’s show will determine which competitor will hold the top spot in the gauntlet, as Toni Storm takes on Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale.
A live appearance by MJF has also been announced for tonight.
Will Ospreay vs. Buddy Matthews, plus Bobby Lashley vs. Mark Briscoe are also set for tonight’s show.
AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Daddy Magic Matt Menard & Ian Riccaboni, as we’re told Tony Schiavone is on assignment. The music for Will Ospreay hits and it’s time for the opening contest of the evening.
Will Ospreay defeated Buddy Matthews
(First ever meeting between these two and should come as no surprise that they had a really good opener with the crowd into it the entire time. Ospreay made a good point in his post-match comments, saying Matthews & King could have success as singles or a tag team, as I agree, but I’m sure those comments won’t sit well with Malakai Black, who I assume is going to face Ospreay soon. That’s a match that hasn’t happened since 2016 in England, so a long overdue rematch is in order.)
Commentary puts over how Matthews wants revenge for Ospreay defeating Brody King in the Continental Classic, as Matthews showed the power advantage in the early going. Both trade finisher attempts, then high kicks, as each avoid into the stalemate. Hard chops are exchanged until a snap hurricanrana sent Matthews to the outside, where Ospreay met him with a slingshot cross body. Back inside, Matthews side-stepped the springboard and kept Ospreay grounded, until Ospreay got a head of steam leading to both collided when each tried for a cross body. After a brief reset, Ospreay hit the handspring corkscrew kick, followed by Pip, Pip, Cheerio for a near fall. Matthews avoided Cheeky Nandos and sent Ospreay to the outside with a backbreaker, as he cleared the top rope with a somersault plancha. Back inside quickly, Matthews went up top for a Meteora and close two.
Both fight to the apron and trade big boots, until Matthews hit a pump knee, only for Ospreay to fire a thrust kick. Oscutter attempt blocked, as Matthews tossed Ospreay off the apron face first onto the commentary table. Taking a page out of Brody King’s playbook, Matthews started barking and hit a pump kick against the railing. He tried it again, but ran right into a thrust kick, as an Oscutter off the barricade. Matthews just broke the count, but rolled into a springboard dropkick and proper Oscutter for two. Ospreay wanted Hidden Blade, but Matthews ducked into a pop-up knee, but Ospreay no-sold and hit a Hidden Blade for a near fall. Kawada Kicks connect, but Ospreay took too long to follow-up, as Matthews fired off a combo. Ospreay responded with a wall walk enzugiri, tried another Oscutter, but Matthews caught him with a reverse Go To Sleep to the neck and Curb Stomp for a super close two. Matthews tried a Rainmaker, but Ospreay floated over into a Styles Clash for another near fall. Ospreay measured, Matthews had a smile on his face, knowing his fate, as he ate a Hidden Blade for the Ospreay win.
Post-match, Ospreay took the mic and put over Buddy Murphy (he corrected himself and said Matthews). Ospreay admired Matthews and said he & Brody King don’t need to be following a leader, they can go about things by themselves. King & Matthews can go for Tag Titles or Singles if they choose and if he ever needs someone by his side, Ospreay is his man. They shook hands and Ospreay went to the back.
Video package of the AEW talent competing in Japan at Wrestle Dynasty.
Private Party Championship Celebration Crashed
Zay & Quen come out with some ladies, celebrating their Tag Title defense on Collision last week, the first defense on MAX. Zay said it’s time to celebrate, but they were cut off by The Hurt Syndicate. MVP said they like to party too and stepped over the velvet rope, saying he was the one to invent this kind of party. MVP says it’s time to raise a toast to Private Party, proposing a toast, but Bobby Lashley says here’s to The Hurt Syndicate taking those Tag Team titles. MVP, Lashley & Shelton Benjamin pour out their drinks and make their way to the ring for Lashley’s upcoming match. Zay & Quen were just left standing there looking disappointed that their party was crashed, but knowing they’ll have to deal with The Hurt Syndicate soon.
Bobby Lashley (w/MVP & Shelton Benjamin) defeated Mark Briscoe
(Good competitive match, with Briscoe getting the crowd behind him during his comeback. He had his hope spots, but Lashley wasn’t going to lose here and was simply too much. The tease of Benjamin & Lashley going for the Tag Titles is interesting and they could win the titles and have a nice run with them.)
Lashley patted Briscoe on the head and held the ropes open, offering him a chance to leave, which just fired Briscoe up early on with strikes. Lashley caught a charge into multiple Flatliners and suplex to the corner. Lashley immediately hit a spinning sit-out Dominator for a near fall, as Briscoe battled back with some redneck kung-fu, but jumped off the top into the clutches and launched to the floor, where Lashley steamrolled him with a Pounce.
Back from break, Briscoe mounted a comeback, but was cut off, as Lashley hit a tackle that had Briscoe take a nasty back bump off the apron. Lashley slowly went out after, but didn’t realize Briscoe was under the ring, where he popped Lashley with a chair, unbeknownst to the referee and hit a springboard dive to follow. MVP is losing his mind on commentary about how Briscoe should be DQ’d, as Briscoe hit a corkscrew moonsault from the top to the outside. A shoutout to Big Tom, as Briscoe hit Ishii’s sliding lariat followed by the Froggy Bow, but Lashley kicked out at 1. Briscoe couldn’t believe it, as Lashley dodged a corner charge and hit the Spear, massive spinebuster before applying the Hurt Lock for the submission.
Post-match, Benjamin & Lashley attacked Briscoe until Private Party sprinted out with chairs and had a face-off. MVP held back Benjamin & Lashley and retreated as Zay & Quen checked on Briscoe.
Powerhouse Hobbs won the Casino Gauntlet to earn an AEW World Title match next week at Maximum Carnage
(These Gauntlets are typically always a good time and this was no different. It’s a match that usually sets up battles in the upcoming weeks and you could see a few coming out of this. Hobbs winning it was unexpected, but he was made to look really strong throughout this whole match, so we now have a rematch from last year in a match that saw Hobbs get injured. It should be a good match, but I definitely expect Moxley to retain.)
Switchblade Jay White (earning the first spot in last weeks 3-way) & Hangman Adam Page were the first two to start as after some early jaw jacking, started chopping the hell out of one another. They traded pin attempts until Page wanted a Buckshot, but flipped into a Blade Runner attempt. Page dodged, tried Dead Eye, but White brought him up the ropes with a superplex. Wheeler Yuta is next and slowly came in from the crowd, but rolled right into a Blade Runner, only for Page to break the count. Page took both White & Yuta out with springboard lariats, as he was left alone for the fourth entrant, as Whose House hit and everyone thought it was Swerve Strickland, but it was a swerve, so to speak, as Ricochet walked out. Excalibur had a great line saying last week, scissors beat paper, after Ricochet stabbed Strickland. Ricochet ran wild as he & Yuta put the boots to White & Page during commercial.
Back from break, Ricochet & Yuta were both sent outside, as Adam Cole was out next and had his own Superkick Party before hitting his pose. Cole hit a Panama Sunrise on Ricochet, who kicked out at two. TNT Champion Daniel Garcia is in at 6, as he had a nice sequence with Cole, as Garcia stacked Cole, White & Page in the corner for punches in bunches. Yuta & Garcia traded stiff slaps until Ricochet cleared Garcia with a pump kick. Powerhouse Hobbs is next and launched Ricochet to the outside before rag-dolling everyone in his path. Page mocked Hobbs, which proved a mistake, as Hobbs threw him clear across the ring, as Hobbs was in control heading to another break.
We return to Ricochet foolishly trying a slug fest with Hobbs, who turned him inside out with a lariat. White dropkicked out Hobbs’ leg, as Roderick Strong is in at 8, dishing out backbreakers aplenty. Ricochet found himself surrounded and beaten down by Cole, Strong & Garcia. Everyone starts recovering and hitting high impact moves, including White spiking Ricochet with a Sleeper Suplex. White wanted Blade Runner, but again, Yuta stole a win from him with a low blow. Lance Archer was 9 and met a diving Yuta with a chokeslam on the apron. Archer kept up the chokeslams in the ring before taking turns chucking Ricochet back and forth with Hobbs. Meat chants from the crowd, as each no sold powerslams and Boss Man Slams, as they slug it out until Kyle O’Reilly is 10 and beats the hell out of Yuta on the stage. Undisputed Kingdom used their strength in numbers to stand tall until Jeff Jarrett is out at 11, but was attacked by Yuta on the stage. They fight to the back, leaving Archer & Garcia to fend off the Undisputed Kingdom until Hobbs ran through them all. Archer wanted Black Out on Hobbs, who wiggled free, sent Archer to the outside, as O’Reilly fired off a combo of kicks, but ran into a big time spinebuster allowing Hobbs to get the pin.
Post-match, Renee Paquette came to the ring and congratulated Hobbs on his win. Hobbs said let’s shoot for a second, let it be told, Jon Moxley was the one who brought Hobbs to AEW, but next week, he’ll shock the world and make Moxley his bitch. As Hobbs celebrated up the ramp and to the back, Jeff Jarrett was standing there and shook Hobbs’ hand before heading to the ring.
We get a video package highlighting the feud between Christian Cage & HOOK and a match that finally happens next week at Maximum Carnage.
Jeff Jarrett Gets an Unexpected Offer
Ian Riccaboni is in the ring with Jeff Jarrett and said he must be disappointed he couldn’t win a title shot in Tennessee. Jarrett questioned whether The Last Outlaw still has what it takes to become AEW World Champion when he was cut off by the music of MJF, who came to the ring. MJF calls Riccaboni a bible thumping prick and tells him to leave, as he tells Jarrett he’s never had the pleasure of meeting him in the ring before and introduces himself. MJF said he wants his Triple B back, but the World Title picture is too crowded right now. MJF said it’s Jarrett’s fault that Hobbs won tonight, as he got beat up by…Wheeler Yuta. MJF said there’s people like Adam Copeland wanting the AEW World Title before putting over Jarrett, ran over his resume, which he had to look up because he’s not a dinosaur. MJF said Jarrett’s clock is ticking, but hasn’t been honest with the fans, as the contract Jarrett signed is only for 1 more year. MJF said Jarrett didn’t want to retire, but it’s the contract that pro wrestling thinks that’s all Jarrett has left to give.
MJF is here to help Jarrett prove he’s still got it. One year for Jarrett to make it back to the mountain one more time, as without MJF’s help, Jarrett couldn’t win a match. All MJF asks is one favor, first in line for a World Title shot. MJF offers a handshake, as Jarrett takes the mic and puts over MJF for being the longest reigning AEW World Champion of all time. Jarrett said they call MJF a one hit wonder in Music City. Jarrett knows the road he has to go down, as he’s been at rock bottom before, but it’ll allow him to fight his way back to the top of the mountain. Jarrett said MJF had a chance to enter the Gauntlet tonight but opted to scheme to get a shot instead. Jarrett is going to make the most of 2025, he doesn’t need MJF, he’s not buying what he’s selling and called MJF an entitled prick before leaving the ring. MJF was left looking dejected.
We see the footage from the final Rampage and the Death Riders shoving Darby Allin down a flight of stairs. Excalibur said no one has heard from Allin since and he’s practically fallen off the map.
Cope Addresses Jon Moxley
It’s going to take me a while to get used to calling Adam Copeland “Cope”, as for the second week in a row, commentary really is driving home the Cope name. Cope ran through Jon Moxley & the Death Riders’ carnage since he’s been going including Bryan Danielson & Darby Allin. Cope said the biggest mistake was going after his good friends, FTR. Cope said no one has fought through what he’s fought through just to be standing in the ring and he’ll die on that hill. Cope is a different animal than Moxley has face before and mentioned breaking his neck in a match against Eddie Guerrero, but kept going for 20 minutes and winning the match. Cope fought Malakai Black in a barbed wire cage, broke his leg, but got up and won the match. Cope knows Moxley is one of the toughest in the game, but questioned what Moxley can do to him that hasn’t been done before?
Jon Moxley’s music hits and the AEW Champion walks out from the crowd with Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta. FTR attacked Castagnoli & Yuta from behind, as the fight is on, as Cope & Moxley brawl in the ring. Marina Shafir sprinted to ringside, slide the briefcase in to Moxley, as Cope grabbed Shafir, was distracted long enough for a returning PAC to appear and attack from behind. Moxley applied the Bulldog Choke, as FTR was taken out ringside. Shafir handed a bag for Moxley, but Powerhouse Hobbs’ music hit and he slowly walks out from the back. Showing no fear, Hobbs got in the ring and all the Death Riders retreated.
Mariah May is backstage and talks about the Women’s Casino Gauntlet next week and tells the women competing to dance like the marionettes they are before she cuts their strings and burn them alive. Harley Cameron screams her way into the shot and said she wants to give fans an appetizer on Collision. May said she’s not getting a title shot, but Cameron says it’s fine, Hot Girl Graps. May said she’s going to rip Cameron’s head off, which Cameron said is alright, but screamed that May will Feel the Wrath! Harley Cameron is great, the more we get of her on TV in 2025, the better.
Kris Statlander defeated Toni Storm & Willow Nightingale to earn the number 1 spot in next week’s Women’s Casino Gauntlet
(I wish this match had more time, as they really seemed to be hitting another gear at the finish. This was a needed win for Statlander, who gets back on track following her loss to Mone and it leaves the “rookie” Storm to regroup. They teased the potential reunion with Statlander & Nightingale, but it didn’t dominate the match, so it’s better that be a slow build.)
All three ladies try early pin attempts, until Nightingale hit an enzugiri on Statlander before running through Storm with a shoulder tackle. Misdirect spinebuster by Nightingale, who stood tall until Statlander is back in, trading more near falls. Storm kept being tossed to the floor, as she finally was able to put a stop to it with a cross body off the top onto both. Storm tried a sunset flip on Statlander, who didn’t budge, posed and didn’t realize Nightingale sneaking from behind to deliver a low blow via slingshot on Storm as things went to break.
Storm tried for the cross body again, but this time, caught, as Nightingale & Statlander hit a double fall away slam. Statlander tried to offer a handshake to Nightingale, but Storm cut them both off and a three way slugfast ensued. Storm delivered a headbutt, as Nightingale hit the discus lariat into the triple down. Statlander backdropped out of Storm Zero, hit a shotgun dropkick, but as she charged, Nightingale met her with a Pounce out of nowhere. Sweet Cheek Music on Statlander, as Nightingale hit a Cannonball on both before laying out Storm with a DVD for two.
All three start trading suplexes and discus lariats, as Storm avoids Chaos Theory, but Nightingale was there to hit a double German suplex. Storm nearly got a flash cradle, but Statlander put a stop to it, countered the Doctor Bomb, as Statlander sent her to the floor and laid out Storm with Wednesday Night Fever for the win. Nightingale was left visibly dejected, as Statlander celebrated the victory.
Renee Paquette is backstage with Toni Storm, who said she gave it her best, but clearly isn’t ready yet. It was an honor to be in there with Statlander & Nightingale, but she’s going to keep working hard, as it’s not Toni Time all the time.
Kenny Omega Returns to Dynamite
New entrance video and music play, as Omega makes his way out high fiving fans with a smile on his face. Loud welcome back chants, as Omega’s head is still bandaged from his match at Wrestle Kingdom, but it’s never brought up by commentary. Omega said it was a little over a year ago that he found out he had diverticulitis and had to have two feet of his intestines removed, as the doctors said he would’ve been dead had he delayed any longer checking himself into the hospital. Omega asked the doctor how long recovery is, but was told he’d be lucky to return to his normal way of life, let alone to the ring. Omega said he pushed things too hard and found himself in the hospital four more times for four more weeks and questioned if he could still do this. Omega said there was a time he thought giving up was the safest option, but once considered, what purpose would he have on the planet without the fans with him. Omega said a few days ago, he tested his theory in Tokyo, Japan, just like he found his purpose tonight. If Omega isn’t in the ring giving fans everything he has every single week, then he is not living. Even though he’s not the same guy, the new version, the one not worried about money, power, revenge, can still prove he has what it takes.
Don Callis’ music plays and he slowly walks out to loud boos. Callis got off two words before Omega bolted from the ring and tackled Callis on the ramp with punches. Brian Cage & Lance Archer ran out and attacked, dragging Omega back to the ring, as Omega attempted to fight back, but Kyle Fletcher hit the ring to make it 3 on 1. Fletcher & Archer held Omega as Cage delivered a right punch to the lower body. Cage was about to hit a powerbomb when Will Ospreay ran out with a chair, took out Archer on the ramp and chased off Fletcher & Cage. The Don Callis Family retreated, as Ospreay tossed the chair aside and had a stare down with Omega to “Holy Sh*t” chants. We’re told it’s official, next week, Omega will face Brian Cage in his first match back in AEW in over a year. Ospreay makes his way to the back, as Omega was left in the ring with a microphone in hand, looking like he was going to talk, but the show ended before we could hear him.
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