This episode of AEW Dynamite may not have contained any bombshell announcements or truly blowaway segments, but was an entertaining tv episode with good wrestling and intelligent showcasing of top matches for Dynasty. The shows highlights included an outstanding piece of internal development for Swerve and Hangman Page, a terrific main event between Cope and Claudio, and a very fun showcase for newest signing Kevin Knight. Moxley feels like a dangerous threat and the set ups for various Owen Hart Cup matches was strong. There were some issues, with a horrific looking head bump for Willow Nightingale and Bobby Lashley struggling on the microphone against MJF, but otherwise there was little to complain about. A very entertaining show with a nicely hot crowd.
Tonight on AEW Dynamite, Willow Nightingale and Swerve Strickland team up to take on The Death Riders of Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir. The main event sees a Moxley henchman in action as Claudio Castagnoli takes on Cope. Elsewhere on the card, Toni Storm takes on Penelope Ford and Lance Archer battles Brody King. Let’s get at it!
GOOD Willow Nightingale and Swerve Strickland vs Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir
A reasonable opener here with some nice sequences teased between the male and female participants. Marina and Willow had some very awkward moments including an abhorrent looking powerbomb through a table in which Willow’s head appeared dangerously close to the floor. The final sequences picked up well including a much safer and more fun table bump with Moxley, but the lack of chemistry between Marina and Willow did to me hurt this match overall. The post match beat down was interesting and played into a solid show-long story.
Results: Willow Nightingale by Pinfall via Gutwrench Powerbomb
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.25 Stars
Simple backstage segment with FTR showing more hints of dissention against a very apologetic Dax.
GREAT Toni Storm vs Penelope Ford
Some great chemistry on display here between both these women. Beyond the bizarre lip biting spot which was certainly innovative, there wasn’t a ton new here, but the action was nicely stiff and the two had a solid back and forth. A simple heater for the Bayne match this weekend.
Results: Toni Storm by Pinfall via Storm Zero
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.5 Stars
Swerve promises vengeance on Moxley in a very strong and intense backstage promo.
GOOD MJF/Hurt Syndicate Promo
This was about what I expected, MJF promises he can help Lashley win gold, Lashley retorts he doesn’t trust Max and Max disappears to ‘prove himself’. Max did his usually entertaining delivery and Lashley was sadly rather traditionally bland. I feel that Shelton is the better talker of the two, though given Shelton was absent from this week’s show because of travel issues it forced Lashley into speaking. The content was good, I just wished for more from Lashley’s delivery in particular which would’ve spearheaded some more life into the segment.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.25 Stars
SQUASH Big Bill and Bryan Keith vs Local Talent
Quick and enjoyable drubbing, particularly with Big Bill’s high level of charisma.
Result: Big Bill by Pinfall via Chokeslam
GOOD Big Bill Promo
Bill takes the mic to challenge The Hurt Syndicate for a match at Dynasty. A short promo without response from Lashley, but Bill did well at hyping the crowd.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3 Stars
Mercedes Mone has more backstage fun with Harley Cameron, who continues to be the funniest wrestler on tv. They will tag together (with great reluctance) on Collision
GREAT Will Ospreay and Kevin Knight vs Blake Christian and Lee Johnson
This was a very clever match, as Kevin Knight went from little reaction on making his entrance to a great reception when he won. Part of that is smartly associating him with a very over Will Ospreay, and the other is his impressive move set and charisma. The match had very little story, but the moves were impressive and very fun, and Ospreay and Knight worked well together. Very fun matchup.
Result: Big Bill by Pinfall via Chokeslam
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.5 Stars
The Opps tease an appearance at Dynasty, curious to see what they do.
GREAT Brody King vs Lance Archer
MEAT! This was the beginning, middle and end of the story, and I lapped it up with full fervour. Lance and King and had good chemistry throughout while Callis was a constant nuisance. Some surprisingly innovative bits for guys their size before a nicely out of nowhere finish. Gives King some good momentum before the Owen Hart Cup
Result: Big Bill by Pinfall via Lariat
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.75 Stars
AMAZING Cope vs Claudio Castagnoli
I will confess that when this match started I groaned. I had seen this dynamic over and over again and I truthfully really struggled to care. However, Cope and Claudio threw every single ounce of themselves into this match, and it truthfully resulted in a terrific main event. Their chemistry is excellent, their innovation strong and they attempted some wild things for a TV main event in which one participant is 51 years old. It had a few minor slips in fundamentals, but I was overjoyed at how exciting I found this. Easily the best match of the night.
Result: Cope by Pinfall via Spear
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 4.25 Stars
Swerve is still on the hunt for Moxley. He gets into a backstage scuffle with Hangman Page, in which Swerve brilliantly admits he deserved to have his house burned down. The reconciliation and consequences of both men’s actions in their wars of the past is unbelievably compelling. Swerve is then attacked by The Death Riders and dropped onto glass, but Swerve rises from the ashes to laugh back at Moxley. Fun final angle, but the Page/Swerve dynamic remains the company’s most compelling.
Overall…
This episode of AEW Dynamite may not have contained any bombshell announcements or truly blowaway segments, but was an entertaining tv episode with good wrestling and intelligent showcasing of top matches for Dynasty. The shows highlights included an outstanding piece of internal development for Swerve and Hangman Page, a terrific main event between Cope and Claudio, and a very fun showcase for newest signing Kevin Knight. Moxley feels like a dangerous threat and the set ups for various Owen Hart Cup matches was strong. There were some issues, with a horrific looking head bump for Willow Nightingale and Bobby Lashley struggling on the microphone against MJF, but otherwise there was little to complain about. A very entertaining show with a nicely hot crowd.
Matches: 0.75/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling – April 2nd 2025
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here :
