AEW Dynamite 4/9/2025

AEW Dynamite 4/9/2025

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2025/04/aew-dynamite-422025.html

We are in Baltimore, MD.

The Death Riders do a video. Mox says AEW has the best roster but no one can get it together and face them. Mox says the AEW roster doesn't want it. Mox says this is his life's work and it won't be sold. He says The Young Bucks are power players. He says he doesn't recognize them and says they better figure out what the game is. He says they better be careful before they make any moves.

Jon Moxley vs Katsuyori Shibata

They lock up. KS is taken down and does a headscissors. KS waistlock takedowns him. Mox piefaces KS in the corner and is slapped. They trade chops. Mox facekicks him. They butt heads. KS STO's him.

KS facekicks him in the corner. Mox lariats KS then hits another for 2. Mox piledrivers him. KS no sells it and chest kicks him. KS snapmares him and sleepers him. Mox does a grounded sleeper and puts him to sleep.

Thoughts: I'm not a huge fan of Shibata post injury. The early part of this was boring and the match was just so so overall.

The Young Bucks comes out. They look at Mox and Shafir. Mox and Shafir leave after Mox says something. One of The Bucks says to show respect for the founding fathers of AEW. The Bucks says they did what they did to help out Adam Page. They said Page wanted this all along and never wanted Swerve to be champ, so they did that for him. They say they still love Page. They Bucks say what they did for Mox was a peace offering. They say they have no problem with them and says they have in common than you think.

The Bucks say Mox wants to change the world like them. They say Mox took over AEW and got the World Title which they couldn't do. They say that was their pitch to form a team. They ask Mox and The Riders to come out and discuss business.

Kenny Omega comes out. He says they did this all for their friends, huh? He says they forgot to do anything for him. Kenny says when they met last time, they pushed him off a stretcher. Kenny said he never forgot but forgave them. Kenny says we are trying to bring back the feeling here. Kenny said he had a friend who had two yappy dogs. He says the dogs took a "dookie" on the floor and they didn't care. Kenny says as they kept doing it, he said they should go to his house instead. Kenny said that's what having them around in AEW was like.

Kenny said they shred papers the last time they were here. Kenny says The Bucks love money and spent it wildly. Kenny says The Bucks almost killed the company that he gave his life and soul for. Kenny insults The Bucks. He says he will just come in the ring and they will fight. Kazuchika Okada then comes out, wearing a jacket that is too big for him. Swerve then comes out from behind and the heels run.

Thoughts: I hated it. Kenny's promo was terrible as usual and it makes no sense why Kenny wants to go after The Bucks but didn't even try to hit Okada yet even though he's been back for months and was next to him in the ring. At least The Bucks' explanation was somewhat believeable.

Kenny leaves. Swerve says it's buckhunting season and he's here with a shotgun that is ready to blast on the EVP's. Pac then nails Swerve from behind and foot chokes him. We go to break.

Swerve Strickland vs Pac

Swerve his shots on Pac and running boots him. Pac is thrown into the rails and steps. SS catches his flying headscissors and buckle bombs him. SS hits a 2nd rope diving euro to the back of the neck. Pac is checked on outside by the doc. Pac hobbles in and is superkicked. Swerve hits a top rope double stomp and is pinned.

Thoughts: Pac got injured early and that ended this one, so this wasn't much.

Ricochet's team talks about the 8-man tonight. He says he will lead Team Ricochet to victory and says he's the captain. His partners take offense to it.

Mark Briscoe's team talks. Mark says they can make $400k tonight. Will says he wants to go to Disney, Mike says he wants shoes, Kevin says he wants to go to Magic City and Mark says he wants to diversify his portfolio.

We get a package on the Owen Hart Tournament. Harley annoys Mone during it.

Renee talks about The Owen Hart Cup. Adam Page walks in. He says he doesn't know who the wildcard is and says he's doing something big. He goes into Swerve's locker room and tells Nana to sit down. Page says he wasn't trying to help Swerve. He says if Swerve gets in his way next week, he will pick up where he left off. Nana says he wanted to tell him he regretted what happened in the last year. Page stops him and says he doesn't get that.

$400,000 Tag Match - Kevin Knight, Mark Briscoe, Mike Bailey & Will Ospreay vs. CRU (Action Andretti & Lio Rush), Ricochet & The Beast Mortos

Why this is worth $400k, I don't know.

Ric runs away from Mike and tags Mort in. Mort blocks Mike's headscissors. Mike 2nd rope diving headscissors Mort. AA hits Will from behind then Will is triple stomped on. The 8 stand off then fight.

Will's team hits corner punches. Ric takes corner attacks. Will slingshot plancha, Mark tope con hilos through the ropes, Kevin dives over the ropes and Mike triangle moonsaults outside. Will's team then does a cheer. Ric flips over the top to try and get them, misses and lands on his feet, then takes a 4 person chop.

We go to PiP break and return. Mike hits kicks on Mort then running ssp's him for 2. Mort drops Mike onto his own knees. Ric M. Bison stomps Mike. Mark pele kicks Ric. Mort pop-up samoan drops Mark. Kevin ddt's Mort. Kevin takes a stunner then a running torture rack neckbreaker. Will hits a double cardiac kick on Cru.

Mike PK's Ric and misses a moonsault double knee. Ric death valley drivers Mike for 2. Mark lariats Ric over the top and goes with him. Mike front kicks Mort. Will hits an os cutter on Mort. Kevin hits a top rope splash on Mort for 2. Will hits a hidden blade on Mort and wins.

Thoughts: It was a high flying match was expected. It was fine but nothing too memorable. I don't think it's good for Kevin and Mike that they are already getting grouped with a bunch of people who aren't very different from them, just less pushed.

Tony Schiavone rips Dax for what he did to Copeland.

The Hurt Syndicate come out for a celebration with some champagne, a table and a photo. MVP says punks jump up to get beat down. They toast and MJF comes out. MJF says, "we hurt people, baby". MJF says we are dripping in gold. He says Tony wanted him to do the Owen Hart Tournament and wrestle every week like a schmuck. He says he works smarter, not harder and gets to cut the line with The Syndicate. He says he gets to cut the line to get to the title. He says he helped them keep their tag titles and they help him get the title.

MJF asks how the initiation works here. Bobby tells him to shut up. He says he didn't see what MJF did at the time. Bobby says MJF tried to help but didn't get the job done. Bobby says that's anotherreason why they don't need him. They argue. 

MVP says MJF has to get three thumbs up to join them. MVP agrees, Shelton doesn't and Bobby says, "thank you". The Syndicate walk off and MJF isn't happy.

Penelope Ford and Megan Bayne are interviewed. Ford says the loss to Toni by Bayne meant nothing. She says Toni barely survived. She says everything will get worse and says the division can't move on because she won't let it. Bayne says she will make you bow down.

Women's Owen Hart Cup Tournament 1st Round - Thunder Rosa vs Kris Statlander

Toni Storm is on commentary. Rosa takes her down by the arm. Kris side headlocks her. Toni shoulders her over. Rosa armdrags Kris. Kris armdrags her then dropkicks her. Kris misses a slingshot elbow drop. Rosa dropkicks Kris through the ropes.

Rosa la silla's Kris off the apron. We go to PiP break and return. Rosa pulls Kris off the buckles. Rosa uses the ropes to headscissors her then northern lights suplexes her for 2. Rosa does a half heavenly lock.

Rosa is caught with a blue thunder for 2. Rosa armdrags her then does a canadian destroyer. Rosa flying knees her for 2. Kris lariats her then hits a half-package tombstone to win.

Thoughts: They did too much here with the canadian destroyer just being another move though the work was okay otherwise. This was all about Toni doing dirty jokes on commentary.  

Don Callis does a promo with Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita. Don says all signs lead to a Proto-Shita final in the Owen Hart Cup. Don says Brody beat Lance Archer but won't beat Takeshita. Don says they are accepting potential new members due to injuries.

Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong are interviewed. Kyle says they are the elite of AEW. Strong says it's time they had their moment. Cole says it's a new era and says they are The Paragon. He says that's undisputed.

Thoughts: I'm not a fan of the new name but a new name was needed. Wardlow and Taven/Bennett aren't being used and it's not the same group anymore. The old group sucked anyway so it's no loss.

TV Time with The Learning Tree Chris Jericho

CJ says he's no longer the ROH champ. He says he lost his match, tooth and title. CJ says Bandido needed help to win with his family. CJ says Bandido has his family and then he says he has his. Bill and Bryan Keith come out. CJ says he was hoping the three of them would have titles but they didn't do it. Bill grabs the mic from CJ.

Bill says CJ has every right to be angry. Bill says he's angry and has been getting angry a lot as of late. He said he joined the group to learn from him, but didn't want to be his punching bag when things went wrong. Bill says if they are here for CJ to teach them, then teach. Bill says if CJ wants to berate them now, let him no so he can leave. He says Bryan feels the same way.

CJ asks if Bryan feels the same way. CJ says he didn't bring them out here to do that. He said he meant it when he wanted them to be the tag champs. He says he picked them so he could help them. He says they have potential and are future world champs. He says their wins and failures are his. CJ said he needed Bill when he lost the title but Bill wasn't there. CJ says some would say it's Bill's fault he lost.

CJ says he doesn't believe it though. He says he's not angry, just disappointed. CJ then breaks his tron with a bat and says he's disappointed...in Bill. He says until they change that, it's best that he leaves.  

Anthony Bowens says he has 5 tools and 1 rule. He says he wants to prove them wrong.

The Hurt Syndicate are interviewed. Bobby says MJF can't be trusted. He says he doesn't like him and they don't need him. Shelton agrees but says MJF is funny. MJF comes in as Shelton and Bobby leave. MJF apologizes and asks if he looks like a female dog. MJF asks why he keeps being treated like a punk. He asks if they don't know who he is. MVP says they know he is and that's the problem. he says this is business. He says you find out what your consumer wants and gives it to them.

CJ is hitting stuff with his bat in the parking lot. He then drives off.

The Ops (Samoa Joe and Hook) vs The Death Riders (Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli)

Joe wristlocks Yuta. Yuta kips up and rolls out. Yuta forearms him then runs. CC and Joe trade shots. Joe corner enzugiri's CC. Hook hits CC in the gut and CC slams him.

Hook avoids a springboard from Yuta and hits germans. Joe hits punches and chops on Yuta. Joe elbow drops him. Yuta is knocked off the apron then Hook is double stomped on the apron by CC.

We go to PiP break and return. Yuta chinlocks Hook. Hook arm throws Yuta and Yuta olympic slams him for 2. CC knees Hook in the gut then Hook overhead suplexes CC into the buckles. CC running back elbows Hook. Joe uranages CC on the outside and Hook goes for redrum on Yuta. Mox then comes out.

Yuta eye rakes Hook. Hook comes out and chokes Mox. Hook does red rum on Yuta and submits him. Shibata has Mox choked out on the floor.

Thoughts: It was short and not much. It was just by the numbers and really not anyone's best effort. 

Shafir hits Joe with the briefcase in the knee after. CC and Yuta beat up The Ops. Pac doesn't come out. Hook takes a neutralizer on the bottom rungs of the chair while the chair is upside down. The Riders run as Joe gets a chair.

Joe gets on the mic after. He calls them cowardly. He says they came to get into a fist fight and The Riders are being ____ (it was bleeped out). He says they should do a trios title match.

Overall thoughts: It was an average episode of Dynamite. Omega's promo was definitely the low light of this one and the show had a ton of Death Rider segments on it. I liked the Jericho segment and while MJF needing friends doesn't really fit what he does at least they explained it some by saying he wants help in winning the title. The main wasn't much and Pac got injured in his match. I'd say the 8-man was the best match of the night. I'd give this a 5 out of 10 and wouldn't recommend it.