The dust barely settled from Double or Nothing before AEW Dynamite delivered another knockout punch from El Paso, Texas. Wednesday night’s fallout episode packed more drama than a telenovela, featuring championship upheaval, a shocking international debut, and enough bad blood to fill the Rio Grande.
From Hangman Page’s world title aspirations to a mysterious masked assailant making waves, this Dynamite proved why the post-pay-per-view shows often steal the spotlight.
Opening Tensions: Three Men, One Complicated History
Hangman Adam Page opened the show riding high from his Double or Nothing victory, which earned him a shot at Jon Moxley’s AEW World Championship at All In: Texas. The Anxious Millennial Cowboy delivered an emotional promo about his classic with Will Ospreay, calling it “one of the greatest matches of his life.”
Page’s moment of reflection quickly turned into a powder keg when Swerve Strickland crashed the party. Swerve wasted no time reopening old wounds, accusing Page of secretly working with The Young Bucks to cost him the title at Dynasty.
“If I wished harm on Swerve, I would have done it personally and openly,” Page fired back, emphatically denying any involvement.
Will Ospreay tried playing peacemaker, arguing that Page had shown nothing but integrity during their recent encounter. The Aerial Assassin proposed an unlikely alliance between the three former world champions for AEW’s greater good.
Swerve wasn’t buying what Ospreay was selling. He slapped the microphone from Will’s hands and stormed off, leaving the tension thicker than Texas barbecue smoke.
Death Riders Roll Into Town
Mixed Trios Mayhem Opens the In-Ring Action
Jon Moxley’s Death Riders made a statement entrance, literally rolling up in a pickup truck bed like they owned the place. The AEW World Champion teamed with Marina Shafir and Gabe Kidd against the unlikely trio of Mark Briscoe, Speedball Mike Bailey, and Willow Nightingale.
This wasn’t your typical opening contest. Briscoe and Kidd went at each other like they had personal business to settle, while Bailey showcased his trademark kicks against Moxley himself.
The chaos multiplied when Claudio Castagnoli tried interfering, only for Komander to appear and neutralize the Swiss Superman. With all the moving parts, something had to give.
That something was Mark Briscoe, who found himself trapped in Moxley’s Bulldog Choke while Shafir applied her “Mother’s Milk” submission and Kidd restrained Bailey. Despite his legendary toughness, Briscoe faded, forcing referee Aubrey Edwards to call for the stoppage.
Ricochet’s New Mission Statement
The One and Only delivered a brief but impactful message backstage. After defeating Briscoe at Double or Nothing, Ricochet acknowledged the obvious: AEW’s landscape is dominated by factions like the Death Riders, The Opps, and The Don Callis Family.
His solution? Build his own crew. Ricochet promised to assemble “a loyal and formidable” group to help him chase championship gold, because apparently flying solo isn’t cutting it anymore in Tony Khan’s faction-heavy promotion.
No Rules, All Violence
Women’s Division Gets Hardcore
Anna Jay and Harley Cameron took on Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford in a No Disqualification slugfest that lived up to its stipulation. Chairs, trash cans, and tables became the evening’s most popular accessories.
The bout showcased everything from Cameron’s DDT onto a trash can to Bayne’s Death Valley Driver through a table. The violence reached its peak when Cameron took a sickening face-first collision with the steel steps, leaving her bloodied but not broken.
Bayne and Ford’s teamwork ultimately proved decisive, finishing Cameron with a devastating Doomsday Device. Both Jay and Cameron needed medical attention afterward, proving that sometimes the women’s division hits harder than anyone expects.
Champions Handle Business
The Opps Remind Everyone Why They Hold Gold
AEW World Trios Champions The Opps faced off against the cocky Frat House trio of Preston Vance, Griff Garrison, and Cole Karter. After Frat House spent their entrance mocking El Paso, Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata decided to educate them on respect.
This was less competitive match and more public service announcement. Despite Jack Jameson’s interference with a fraternity paddle, The Opps controlled the tempo throughout. Hobbs delivered spine-rattling spinebusters to multiple opponents, while Joe and Shibata picked apart the challengers with surgical precision.
The message was clear: these champions aren’t just holding gold – they’re defending it with authority.
International Intrigue Arrives
The Toxic Spider Strikes
Jamie Hayter’s interview segment with Renee Paquette took an unexpected turn when the lights went out in the El Paso County Coliseum. When they returned, AEW had a new player in the women’s division.
Thekla, known as “The Toxic Spider” from her controversial Stardom tenure, made her debut by ambushing Hayter with a vicious assault. For those unfamiliar, Thekla was famously fired from Stardom for physically confronting company management – exactly the kind of chaos AEW seems to attract.
Her arrival adds another international flavor to an already stacked women’s roster, and her methods suggest she’s not here to make friends.
TNT Title Picture Gets Complicated
Adam Cole Retains, But Problems Persist
Adam Cole’s TNT Championship defense against Kyle Fletcher showcased the size disadvantage “Panama City’s Favorite Son” often faces. Fletcher dominated early with power moves, including a brutal apron powerbomb that had Cole seeing stars.
The champion showed his veteran savvy, using quick strikes and his speed advantage to stay competitive. But just when the match reached its crescendo, Josh Alexander decided to play spoiler.
Alexander’s blatant interference caused a disqualification, allowing Cole to retain his title but resolving absolutely nothing. Brody King rushed in with a steel chair to even the odds, but the damage was done.
Fletcher later expressed frustration backstage, claiming he didn’t need Alexander’s help. Cole responded by attacking Fletcher, promising severe consequences for the interference. This feud is far from over.
International Championship Opportunity Emerges
Brody King Fights Through Adversity
The impromptu singles match between Brody King and Josh Alexander stemmed directly from their TNT title altercation. Alexander targeted King’s injured hand and arm, showing the technical prowess that makes The Don Callis Family so dangerous.
Despite the compromised limbs, King’s raw power kept him competitive. A devastating crossbody into the barricade nearly ended Alexander’s night early.
The turning point came when Alexander attempted a high-risk moonsault, only to meet King’s raised knees. Fighting through the pain, King connected with a massive lariat and finished Alexander with the Gonzo Bomb, becoming the first qualifier for the AEW International Championship 4-Way Match at Fighter Fest.
Championship Showdown Preview
Storm vs. Moné Set for All In: Texas
The show closed with a heated face-off between AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm and Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winner Mercedes Moné. Their verbal sparring provided a perfect preview of their upcoming All In: Texas collision.
Moné confidently proclaimed herself superior to wrestling legends, declaring that icons like Owen Hart and Eddie Guerrero “don’t even compare to the greatness of Mercedes Moné.”
“I have lived for this. I have cried for this. I have bled for this. And I have died for this,” Storm responded, emphasizing her dedication to the championship.
The exchange grew personal when Storm questioned why Moné had avoided her for 441 days since arriving in AEW. Moné highlighted her global dominance, while Storm made it clear she only needs one title – the one around her waist.
Their near-physical altercation teased the intensity awaiting fans at All In: Texas, with both women nearly executing their finishing moves before cooler heads prevailed.
This Dynamite proved that AEW’s post-pay-per-view shows pack just as much punch as the main events themselves. With new faces arriving, championships creating complications, and personal vendettas reaching boiling points, one question remains: can AEW maintain this momentum heading into All In: Texas, or will the chaos consume itself?
