With this being one of the biggest week’s on the wrestling calendar year, AEW always delivers that extra umph on WrestleMania week. This year they  even have something to celebrate as it overtakes Nitro to become the longest running Wrestling program on Turner Broadcasting. This week we have The Death Riders defending the Trios Titles against The Opps, and The Hurt Syndicate defending against Gates of Agony. We also have some Owen Hart Tournament matches. Here is a look at the announced card:

  • AEW World Trios Championship: Death Riders (c) vs. The Opps
  • Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament: Hangman Page vs. The Wildcard
  • Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament: Mercedes Moné vs. Athena
  • Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament: Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Hurt Syndicate (c) vs. Gates of Agony

So without further ado, let’s get to the action.

Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament: Mercedes Moné vs. Athena

Athena was looking for a Piledriver on Mone, but Mone escapes and is able to reverse it into a Lung Blower on Athena. Mone with a Tornado DDT and The Three Amigos. Athena comes right back and lands Three Powerbombs on her. Mone sends Athena of the ring and onto the apron. Mone follows her there and Athena with a Scoop Powerslam on Mone. Both women are still outside of the ring as Athena locks in a Cross Face on Mone, but Mone sends her crashing into the barricade. Athena returns the favour with a dropkick of her own and sends her back inside the ring and sets up for the O-Face, but Mone counters into a roll up and gets the win to advance to the Semis.

Winner: Mercedes Mone

After the match, Toni Storm and Luther appear in the balcony section of the arena with the fans and has a stare down with Mone.

Hangman Page is backstage with Renee Paquette. The Elite show up before he can say much and The Young Bucks say they can fix things between him and the Death Riders and that Hangman can bring the AEW World Title back to The Elite. Okada asks Hangman why he’s always so angry and says he should smile more and as Hangman leaves, Okada calls him a bitch. This prompts Page to come back and confront Okada.

Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament: Hangman Page vs. Josh Alexander

The Wild Card is the newest signing to AEW, Josh Alexander! Page with a Moonsault and follows that up with a Sit-out Powerbomb, but it was only good for a 2-count. Alexander with Page on his shoulders drops Page, then locks in an Ankle Lock on Page. Page crawls over to the bottom rope to escape, then follows it up with a Dead Eye. Alexander is up and hits a Crossbody on Page through the bottom rope as Page was sitting on the apron. Alexander is looking for another Ankle Lock, but Page with a rolls up for the win.

Winner: “Hangman” Adam Page

After the match, Kyle Fletcher and Don Callis are out. Page takes out Fletcher. Callis whispers sweet little nothings to Alexander and ends up attacking Page from behind. Fletcher delivers a Brainbuster.

Nick Wayne, Kip Sabian, and Mother Wayne are backstage. Wayne is interrupted by Christian Cage. The two go back and forth a but as Wayne asks why Cage abandoned them? Cage tells Wayne not to make assumptions. Cage says he is the reason why he is heading to Japan for the Best of the Super Juniors tournament in New Japan. Cage announces that Wayne will face Komander tomorrow night on Collision for the Ring of Honor Television Title. Christian smacks Wayne and walks away with everyone including Mamma Wayne leaving Wayne alone.

AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Hurt Syndicate (c) (w/ MVP) vs. Gates of Agony

Liona takes out Benjamin with some elbow strikes, then hits a Samoan Drop and even takes out Lashley with a Clotheslines. Lashley is in and quickly gets in The Hurt Lock on Liona. Kaun comes and sends Lashley to ringside. Kaun dropkicks Benjamin in the corner. Benjamin has had it and hits a series of German Suplexes to Kaun. At ringside, Lashley spears Liona. Lashley is in the match and hits a Spear on Kaun for the win.

Winners (and still): The Hurt Syndicate

After the match, MJF comes to the ring and tries to convince Lashley and Benjamin that he has a lot to offer for joining The Hurt Syndicate. MJF calls out a line up of women to win them over.  MVP says yes. Benjamin asks for MJF’s watch but ends up saying no. MJF says he thinks he’s growing on Benjamin and gives him the watch and the women anyway. MJF calls Lashley the Almighty, but he always gets what he wants, and he will be a member of The Hurt Syndicate eventually. After the commercial break, The Hurt Syndicate are backstage and MVP asks Lashley to be nicer to MJF, but if he steps out of line he can hurt him.

Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament: Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis)

Takeshita with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a 2-count then hits Ospreay with an elbow. Moments later, the two men are on the ropes and Takeshita hits a Takeshita Line on Ospreay from the top rope. Ospreay comes right back with a Hidden Blade for a 2-count. Ospreay hits a Styles Clash on Takeshita, but once again it wasn’t enough to put him away. Ospreay is finally able to end things when he hits a Storm Breaker on him for the win.

Winner: Will Ospreay

AEW World Trios Championship: Death Riders (c) (w/ Marina Shafir) vs. Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, and Powerhouse Hobbs

With HOOK injured, Hobbs replaced him. After some intense back and forth action, Shafir wiith a chop on Hobbs. Castagnoli with a Stunner on Shibata. Shibata comes right back and connects all the strikes on Castagnoli. Yuta and Joe are in the match. Joe with an Atomic Drop on Yuta, followed by a running Senton and a Powerslam. Mox gets a chair from under the ring. Willow Nightingale is out and takes the chair from Mox. Castagnoli with a Pop-up Uppercut on Joe and Yuta with a Spinebuster. Joe recovers and hits a huge Clothesline on Mox.

The Young Bucks make their way out and Matt grabs a chair, but Swerve Strickland grabs it from him and lands a Swerve Stomp off the barricade on The Young Bucks. Its a full-on brawl now. On the ramp, Shibata takes out Castagnoli. Hobbs sends Yuta crashing on top of the announce desk. Shafir hits Hobbs with a chair, but Nightingale takes her out with a clothesline. Mox is lookiiing for a Death Rider on Joe, but Joe reverses it and locks in the Coquina Clutch for the win.

Winners (and new): The Opps and Powerhouse Hobbs

AEW Dynamite: April 16, 2025
4.5

Summary

This was a strong edition of Dynamite that did a good job of moving all the stories further including The Death Riders story. While we aren’t sure what The Elite are doing yet, its adding a layer of intrigue to things. We are clearly heading to Anarchy in the Arena OR Blood & Guts, but its a fun ride. Also, congrats to Canada’s own Josh Alexander on joining AEW. While I don’t agree with him losing or even being in the tournament for him to lose his debut match, it is good to see him there.