By Jake Barnett, ProWrestling.net Co-Senior Staffer (@jakebarnett)
AEW Dynamite (Episode 290)
April 23, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana at Lakefront Arena
Simulcast live on TBS and Max
Tony Schiavone stood in the ring and brought out Master P, a New Orleans native. Excalibur and Ian Riccaboni were at the commentary table. Master P gave a brief introduction to the show and brought out new Trios Champions The Opps. Samoa and Master P did some call and response with the crowd and Joe said they were there to celebrate. Joe thanked Master P for everything he does for the City of New Orleans and they plugged his charity for Student Athletes.
Before Joe could formally begin his celebration the Death Riders music played and Marina Shafir walked out through the crowd. They swarmed The Opps in the ring using Shafir as a distraction and Moxley choked Joe against the ropes. Moxley came face to face with Master P, but before he could do anything Joe locked on the Coquina clutch from behind. Master P managed to get in a few cheap shots to the gut. He then narrated the events as Jon Moxley was put to sleep.
The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada then ran down and bailed out Moxley by hitting Joe with a chair. As Moxley got to his feet, Marina Shafir ran into the ring and ushered him away to prevent him from speaking with The Bucks. Swerve Strickland’s music then hit and he headed to the ring to run off The Bucks. Kenny Omega’s music then hit and he walked out on stage. The Young Bucks and Death Riders bailed out from the ringside are and headed to the back through the crowd. The Opps were left standing tall with Omega and Swerve.
Joe got on the microphone and addressed Jon Moxley. He said if he wanted him, he’s got him, and he would choke him out and take back his AEW World Championship.
Backstage, Renee Paquette stood with The Patriarchy and new ROH TV Champion Nick Wayne. She congratulated Nick, but Christian took the title and the credit for Wayne winning the Championship. He asked Wayne if he understood what happens when he listens to him, and Wayne retorted that this is what would have happened for him if he stuck with the plan. Christian said he loved his family and walked away. Back in the arena, Ricochet made his ring entrance. He was followed by Mark Briscoe.
My Take: A brisk opener that didn’t linger on anybody for too long. I assume these are going to be teams for Blood and Guts or Anarchy in the Arena at Double or Nothing.
1. Mark Briscoe vs. Ricochet: Briscoe started out hot and landed a series of punches. He then sent Ricochet to the floor with a front kick, and then followed up with a scissor kick through the ropes. They battled on the floor and then the apron, with Ricochet landing a pump kick. Ricochet then decided to taunt the crowd, which gave Briscoe an opportunity to land a dropkick. Both men worked back into the ring and Ricochet was able to pull the referee in front of himself as Briscoe attacked. He then took some cheap shots and tossed Briscoe to the floor…[c]
Briscoe countered a top rope jumping attack with a Manhattan Drop. He followed up with a flying forearm and a running lariat. He then went for a Fisherman Buster and covered for a near fall. Ricochet fired back to start a comeback, but it was interrupted quickly by a suplex. Briscoe then attempted a Froggy Boy, but Ricochet avoided it. He then landed a springboard 450 for a close near fall. Ricochet then went back up to the top rope, as the crowd chanted that he sucked. Ricochet paused briefly, and Briscoe met him in the corner to battle.
Both men hit the ropes and Briscoe turned Ricochet inside out with a big lariat. He tried to land a Jay Driller, but Ricochet avoided it. He then tried to roll up Briscoe using the ropes, but Briscoe turned it around and stole the win with a stacked pin.
Mark Briscoe defeated Ricochet at 14:21
After the match, Ricochet took out his frustration on Briscoe with a chair. He then grabbed the golden scissors, but that brought out Kevin Knight to make the save. Ricochet took a shot at Knight, but he ducked and punched Ricochet in the face. Knight then claimed the scissors and Ricochet ran off. The Rock ‘N Roll Express were then shown in the crowd…[c]
My Take: A solid match with a surprising finish. I have to assume Ricochet will get his win back at some point and continue kicking off a feud with Knight in the process.
Tony Schiavone was back in the ring, and introduced FTR. Stokely Hathaway walked out instead and said there had been a change of plans, and introduced them himself. Stokely complained about FTR being suspended for accidentally hitting Tony Schiavone, while people like Hangman Page and Jon Moxley committed acts of terrorism. He called the situation unjust and said he would have the suspension expunged from their record and get their fines reimbursed.
Stokely said as of today, he was the agent for the greatest tag team alive today, and any future conversations would have to go through him. Cash Wheeler got on the microphone and said what happened with Daniel Garcia wasn’t an easy decision for them, and it blamed 2.0 and Garcia for the entire situation. Wheeler said they were done putting people like Adam Copeland and Danny Garcia first, and from now on it was FTR first.
Dax Harwood got on the mic and called out the RNR Express, and asked them to come into the ring with them to give them credit. Harwood called them one of the greatest Tag Teams of all time, and asked them what their greatest match ever was. He didn’t allow them to answer, and said it was Philadelphia with the Midnight Express, and said the Midnight were better than them. Harwood then asked how old they were, and once again wouldn’t let them answer and said they looked 100.
Ricky Morton refused to let the embarrassment continue, and grabbed the mic. Stokely threw and FTR T-Shirt at the RNR Express, and then FTR ambushed them. They gave Morton a spike piledriver, which brought out the Paragon to make a late save…[c]
My Take: FTR vs. The Paragon? I’ll keep an open mind but both teams really need a win at this point.
The Young Bucks made their entrance, followed by Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey.
2. Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight vs. The Young Bucks: Knight and Bailey got off to an early advantage, sending the Bucks to the floor and making a double team splash to the floor. The Bucks turned things around quickly. They cut off the ring and began a double team of Mike Bailey quickly afterward…[c]
Bailey countered a vertical suplex into a rollup for a two count. Nick Jackson quickly ran into the ring and knocked Kevin Knight off the apron. Bailey fired up and took down both Bucks with a series of lightning fast kicks. Knight then tagged in and delivered a flurry of offense on Matt Jackson. Bailey and Knight got caught in a double Northern Lights Suplex a moment later that cutoff their momentum. Matt Jackson then landed a sit out powerbomb on Knight and got a close near fall.
Knight made a tag to Bailey, who ate a DDT as soon as he entered the ring. Nick Jackson then tagged in and ate a kick. This set up a series of kicks that resulted in everyone being down on the mat. Matt Jackson was cleared from the ring, and Knight and Bailey performed a slick backstabber and powerbomb combo on Nick Jackson. Matt returned to break up the pinfall.
Bailey kept Matt Jackson busy on the outside while Knight landed a UFO drop on Nick. Matt battled and shoved Bailey into Knight in order to break up the fall. Everybody ended up back out on the floor, where The Bucks landed a Doomsday Device from the ring barricade to the floor. Bailey tried to moonsault them both, but got caught and put down with the Meltzer Driver.
Knight tried to take on both members of The Bucks and managed to land a double DDT. He set up for a Springboard, but Ricochet interfered to trip him up. This led to a BTE Trigger from the Bucks, who covered knight and got the win.
The Young Bucks defeated Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight at 15:46
My Take: A fun match, with a finish that makes sense for the Bucks heel characters. Nobody sold anything, but you know what you’re getting with Bucks matches at this point.
Backstage, Toni Storm was interviewed by Renee Paquette. They plugged her appearance at a Film Festival this coming weekend. Queen Aminata showed up and accepted Toni’s challenge for an eliminator match on Collision this Saturday. In the arena, The Hurt Syndicate made their entrance.
MVP got on the microphone and put over Benjamin and Lashley as monsters. Before Lashley could get in the microphone and speak, MJF was shown getting out of a sports car backstage. He headed to the ring with a microphone. MJF said he knew they had a good time last week, and if they wanted to have a great time for the rest of their lives he just needed three thumbs up. MVP gave his first thumbs up, and Benjamin gave his reluctantly
Benjamin said he didn’t give MJF a thumbs up because of a bunch of broads and a watch, he did it because of MVP. MJF said we all love Montel, and our good friend Bob. Lashley put his thumbs in the middle, and MJF asked for a second. He told Lashley he brings a lot to the table, and brings some things to table that Bobby doesn’t. He said he knows AEW better than anybody, and cuts corners better than anybody. MJF said if he’s in the syndicate they won’t just run AEW, they’ll run professional wrestling.
He then said they got off on the wrong food, and thought he wouldn’t accept blame, he would do something he’s never done before. MJF then struggled, but eventually told Bob he’s sorry. He then offered Lashley the car he drove up in. Bobby asked for the keys, and MJF said they were in the back. Lashley asked to see the car, and they all headed to the back.
The announcers killed time for a minute, and they all surrounded MJF’s Corvette. Lashley and Benjamin then got in the car and drove off with the car while giving MJF a thumbs down…[c]
My Take: Another week, another somewhat mediocre MJF and Hurt Syndicate segment. I don’t mind pushing out the decision a little bit, but it would be nice to do a little more character development than we’re seeing here. It feels like we’ve watched a couple variations of this same segment now.
Backstage, Hangman Page was interviewed about Kyle Fletcher. He said he would put him in the ground on sight. MJF walked up and said his haircut makes him look inbred. Hangman said MJF hasn’t changed since he was 12. MJF said he was going to stroll back into the World Title picture with the Hurt Syndicate and become a two time champion. Hangman said he needed to do something after he beat his ass and he knows he can’t win matches or hang with him in the Owen. MJF said they are 1-1 and if they meet again, he would send Seabiscuit back to the Glue Factory. He then said if Hangman manages to make it to the finals of the Owen, he would do what he does best and choke. Page said he would give MJF something to choke on after he walked off.
In the arena, Will Ospreay made his entrance with Brodie King. They were followed by Josh Alexander and Konosuke Takeshita.
3. Will Ospreay and Brodie King vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Josh Alexander: Takeshita and Alexander took control in the early going and isolated Will Ospreay. Alexander applied an ankle lock, and then scoop slam when Ospreay scrambled free.Ospreay fired back with a head scissors and an arm drag. Brodie King then tagged in and used his power to reclaim control. He took down both Alexander and Takeshita and landed a running senton. Ospreay tagged back in and attempted a springboard, but got stuffed by Takeshita and knocked to the floor by Alexander…[c]
My Take: Hangman and MJF will be a good time when they get back to it. Hopefully one of them is a World Champion again, but I’m not sure it will be in 2025.
Ospreay battled to break free of Alexander and make a tag to King. Takeshita tagged in and Ospreay managed to take down both heels with a flipping kick. He then tagged in King, who landed a big lariat on Takeshita. King took the action outside, where he sandwiched Takeshita and Alexander against the barricade. Ospreay then tagged in and they hit a double team on Takeshita. Alexander had to fight back into the ring to break up the pin.
Takeshita landed a Blue Thunder Bomb a moment later for a near fall. Samoa Joe and Jon Moxley were confirmed on commentary for May 14th on Dynamite. King landed another big Lariat on Alexander in the ring for a near fall. Lance Archer jumped on the apron to distract Brodie King. Ospreay dove on Archer on the floor. Alexander put Ospreay down with a powerbomb, and Takeshita landed a running lariat on King. Alexander and Takeshita landed heavy rolling elbows on King simultaneously, and Alexander covered for a cloe near fall.
Alexander then followed up with a C4 Spike on King and covered for the win.
Konosuke Takeshita and Josh Alexander defeated Will Ospreay and Brodie King at 13:08
After the match, the attack continued on King. Ospreay tried to get back in to defend him, but got put down with a chokeslam from Archer. Kyle Fletcher then headed to the ring and clapped for his mates. They wanted to continue the assault on Ospreay, but Hangman Page made his entrance to break it up. Before Hangman could get involved, Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta jumped him. The numbers game won the day again, and Fletcher put down Hangman again with a Brainbuster…[c]
My Take: The Don Callis family may be the size of the Peak NWO in a few months at this rate. This was another solid match, but it seemed odd for a powerbomb to put Ospreay out on the floor for several minutes while they worked to the finish.
Jamie Hayter made her entrance in the arena, followed by Kris Statlander.
4. Kris Statlander vs. Jamie Hayter in a Owen Hart Cup Tournament Semi-Final: Both women tied up to a stalemate early on. They then traded strikes with nobody getting a clear advantage. Hayter struck the first major blow with a german suplex. She then landed a second rope dropkick for a two count. They traded reversals in the corner and Hayter was sent into the second turnbuckle face first. The action then spilled to the apron, where Hayter was tripped to the floor. Statlander then attempted a moonsault, but crashed and burned to the floor. Hayter followed up with boot to the face…[c]
Statlander and Hayter traded submissions and holds on the mat as the show returned. Statlander managed to power her way to her feet and slam Hayter face first to the mat. She then followed up with double knees to the back for a near fall. Both women trade some rapid fire pins. Statlander managed to land a powerbomb, but didn’t make a pin attempt. Hater fired back with a backbreaker but was too fatigued to cover Statlander.
Hayter lined up for a ripcord lariat, but Statlander replied with a powerbomb. She then went up top and landed a 450, but Hayter kicked out at 2.9. Statlander went back to the top rope, but Hayter cut her off and set up for a superplex. Hayter then put Statlander down with two big lariats and covered for the win.
Jamie Hayter defeated Kris Statlander at 12:10
After the match, Hayter celebrated momentarily until Mercedes Money walked out on the stage. She will face Hayter in the Owen Cup Tournament finals. They jawed at each other as the show wound down and went off the air.
My Take: A good match to close the show. Hayter and Statlander work well together, and there was enough mystery around the finish to make the near falls a bit more believable. I think they went with the right call for Double or Nothing with Hayter facing Mercedes. While I don’t think Mercedes takes her first loss until after she captures all the belts, it has the potential to be a fantastic match. Overall, this show was a step back from last week, but still a worthwhile watch. I’ll be by later with my audio review for members.
Master P? From WCW’s Hall of Shame? Right off the heels of the Travis Scott debacle?