Greetings and salutations! It is indeed Wednesday so that means it’s time for a new edition of AEW Dynamite. We will find out who goes to Maximum Carnage next week to face AEW World Champion, Jon Moxley as we will have a Casino Gauntlet to determine that. The rookie, Toni Storm will taking on Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander in a Three-Way Match, and the winner will get the Number One Spot in next week’s Women’s Casino Gauntlet match. Will Ospreay is hoping for a rebound win as he takes on House of Black’s Buddy Matthews. And after a lengthy absence, Kenny Omega will be making his long awaited return to AEW tonight. With all of this and so much more, let’s get to the action.

Will Ospreay vs. Buddy Matthews

Ospreay with a few kicks to Matthews head, but then Matthews comes back and the fight is taken outside as Matthews sends Ospreay into the announce desk, and then hits a huge boot to the face of Ospreay. Ospreay, in Ospreay fashion comes right back and hits an Os-Cutter off the barricade. Back in the ring, Ospreay hits a second Os-Cutter for a close pin. Ospreay sets up for the Hidden Blade, but Matthews moves out of the way, but Ospreay still manages to chop the living hell out of Matthews. Matthews connects with a GTS on Ospreay, followed by a Neck Stomp. The two continue to battle, until Ospreay hits a Styles Clash and the Hidden Blade for the win.

Winner: Will Ospreay

After the match, Ospreay shows respect to Matthews and says he would be in his corner anytime as they shake hands.

We get a recap of Wrestle Dynasty

Private Party Celebrate

AEW World Tag Team Champions Private Party come out to the stage with a bunch of women. Isiah Kassidy says they are here to celebrate their championship win from last weekends Collision. As Kassidy speaks, The Hurt Syndicate and MVP are out and say they aren’t all business all the time, and want to party too. MVP says he made the velvet ropes and the VIP status gimmick. MVP toasts Private Party as does Lashley, but his toast was more of the The Hurt Syndicate will take the AEW World Tag Team Titles. This leads us to the next match with Lashley…

Bobby Lashley (w/ MVP and Shelton Benjamin) vs. Mark Briscoe

Lashley has tons of control in this match. Lashley with a Back Elbow on Mark that makes him crash to ringside from the apron. Lashley follows Mark to ringside. Mark gets some control and grabs a chair from under the ring, then sets it up and uses it to launch himself over the top to crash on Lashley. Mark sends Lashley into the ring post, then hits a flying clothesline, followed by a Basement clothesline. Mark then hits a huge Flying Elbow on Lashley for a nearfall. Lashley fights back and hits a HUGE Spear to Mark and follows it up with a chokeslam and The Hurt Lock for the win.

Winner: Bobby Lashley

After the match, Lashley and Benjamin beat Mark down, but Private Party is out with chairs in hand to save the day.

Men’s Casino Gauntlet Match

As always, unless its the Royal Rumble, I summarize Battle Royals and Gauntlets with key points. Here is the entry order:

  1. Jay White
  2. Hangman Page
  3. Wheeler Yuta
  4. Ricochet
  5. Adam Cole
  6. Daniel Garcia
  7. Powerhouse Hobbs
  8. Roderick Strong
  9. Lance Archer
  10. Kyle O’Reilly
  11. Jeff Jarrett

Jeff Jarrett was the last to enter but is attacked by Yuta from behind. Jarrett and Yuta end up brawling their way to the back. Archer looks for a Blackout on Hobbs, but Hobbs escapes. O’Reilly with kicks on Hobbs, but Hobbs with a HUGE Spinebuster to pick up the win.

Winner (and new Number One Contender): Powerhouse Hobbs

After the match, Renee Paquette interviews Powerhouse Hobbs in the ring. Hobbs says Jon Moxley is the one who brought him to AEW and next week he’s going to shock the world and make Moxley his bitch.

Jeff Jarrett is in the ring with Ian Riccaboni. Jarrett is asked if he still has what it takes to climb the mountain. Jarrett doesn’t get much out before MJF interrupts. MJF tells Riccaboni to get out of his ring, and then proceeds to introduce himself to Jarrett as the greatest AEW Champion of all time. MJF says he wants his Triple B back but right now it is too much work and says anyone pursuing that title right now isn’t even worthy of it. MJF says if anyone is worthy of holding the Triple B title, it’s Jeff Jarrett. MJF says he knows Jarrett wants to be AEW World Champion, but the clock is ticking as he only has one year left on his contract.

MJF says he can help Jarrett get to the top of the mountain again, but he wants to be first contender for it. Jeff Jarrett says MJF’s title reign was impressive, but he’s still too young to know you learn more from your failures than your successes. Jarrett then calls MJF a one-hit wonder. Jarrett then reminds MJF that he could have entered the Casino Gaunttlet, but chose not to and instead is trying to make a deal. Jarret says he’s going to make the most of 2025 and doesn’t need an an entitled prick like MJF to help him. f

We get a recap of Moxley turning off the lights to Rampage and then out comes The Rated R Superstar, Cope.

Cope Talks…

Cope says Mox crossed the line when he attacked FTR. Cope says no one has overcome more to be in the ring than him and he will die on that hill because he’s a different animal. Copeland names a few injuries he’s encountered in his career and say that despite all that, he’s always managed to win those matches. Cope wants to know what Moxley can do to him that hasn’t been done before. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta come out through the crowd.

FTR is out and they attack The Death Riders from the crowd. Copeland and Moxley brawl in the ring. Marina Shafir and PAC help Moxley out, and Moxley puts the Bulldog Choke on Copeland . Moxley takes out a plastic bag, but before he can attempt to murder Cope, Powerhouse Hobbs makes the save, forcing the Death Riders to run away.

Mariah May is putting over the Women’s Casino Gauntlet match that is taking place next week. Harley Cameron shows up and challenges May to a match on Collision. May agrees to a non-title match.

 Toni Storm vs. Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale

Winner enters #1 in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet. Statlander and Nightingale give Storm a double Fallaway Slam. Nightingale thinks about giving Statlander a knuckle sandwich, but Storm make the pair crash together. Statlander with a kick that sends Storm into the corner. Nightingale with a huge Cannonball to both women on the corner, and follows that up with a Death Valley Driver to Storm. Storm with a German Suplex on Statlander, but Statlander with a huge punch that sends Storm crashing into the corner. Nightingale then delivers a double German suplex to both Storm and Statlander. Storm rolls up Nightingale, but Statlander breaks the fall. Statlander then tosses Nightingale out of the ring and hits Storm with a Saturday Night Fever for the win.

Winner: Kris Statlander

In the back Toni Storm addresses Renee Paquette and the crowd as she says she cannot continue with the Gauntlet next week (Is this the return of Timeless?)

Kenny Omega is BACK!

Kenny Omega is out to and the crowd chants “Welcome back.” Omega says it’s been just over a year since he had to be checked into the hospital and was diagnosed with diverticulitis. Omega says the disease took two feet of his intestines away from him and it could have ended with him dead if he didn’t get checked out when he did. Omega says the last year has been a roller coaster ride. Omega says after surgery he wasn’t sure how long recovery would be and says the doctor told him he’d be lucky if he could get back to a normal life. He was told he would likely never return to the ring. Omega says he went back to the hospital four times and began to question whether he would be able to get back to the ring. Omega said that he tried to get back in Tokyo first and tonight he found his purpose. Omega says even though he might not be the same guy, this new version who isn’t concerned about money, power, or revenge, can still go….

Don Callis interrupts Omega mid sentence and before he can say anything, Omega chases him onto the stage and attacks him. Lance Archer and Brian Cage are out to attack Omega. Kyle Fletcher is out now and and all three men attack Omega in the ring. Cage punches Omega in the stomach. Will Ospreay is out and clears the ring. Ospreay teases a confrontation with Omega as they face off to end the show…