AEW Dynamite Preview: Kenny Omega Returns, Casino Gauntlet Headlines First 2025 Show

One Big Thing

“The Cleaner” Kenny Omega makes his first Dynamite appearance since May 2024, headlining a stacked card from Clarksville’s F&M Bank Arena that features a high-stakes Casino Gauntlet match for an AEW World Title shot.

Why It Matters

• Omega’s return signals a major shift in AEW’s landscape after his eight-month absence
• The Casino Gauntlet winner faces Jon Moxley for the World Title at Dynamite: Maximum Carnage
• MJF makes his first live Dynamite appearance since losing the World Title at Worlds End 2024

Match Card Breakdown

World Title Contender’s Casino Gauntlet Match

• Jay White enters first
• Other confirmed participants: Powerhouse Hobbs, Jeff Jarrett
• Additional mystery entrants expected
• Match can end at any time with a single pinfall or submission

Three-Way Women’s Match

• Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Toni Storm
• Winner enters #1 in next week’s Women’s Casino Gauntlet
• Title shot at Dynamite: Grand Slam Australia at stake

Featured Singles Matches

• Mark Briscoe vs. Bobby Lashley (First-time-ever meeting)
• Buddy Matthews vs. Will Ospreay

By The Numbers

• 406: Days of MJF’s first World Title reign
• 3-3: Head-to-head record between Statlander and Nightingale
• 6-0: Toni Storm’s record since her AEW “debut

The Bottom Line

Tonight’s Dynamite kicks off 2025 with major implications for multiple title pictures and the return of one of AEW’s biggest stars. The unpredictable Casino Gauntlet format adds an element of surprise that could reshape the World Title scene.

What do you think about Kenny Omega’s return to Dynamite? Share your predictions for tonight’s Casino Gauntlet in the comments below.