AEW Dynamite Beach Break 2025 Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights

The May 14 edition of AEW Dynamite promised a Beach Break with multiple huge matches from the All Elite Wrestling greats at the NOW Arena in Chicago.

Samoa Joe has menaced The Death Riders for weeks, and he finally got his shot for the AEW World Championship against Jon Moxley inside a steel cage.

Will Ospreay and "Hangman" Adam Page tried to get on the same page to battle Konosuke Takeshita and Josh Alexander of The Don Callis Family.

Toni Storm again put a title shot on the line in a Championship Eliminator against Mina Shirakawa, AZM and a returning Skye Blue.

MJF looked for a final answer from Bobby Lashley, hoping to join The Hurt Syndicate in his pursuit of the AEW World Championship.

Zach Gowen made his in-ring return against Ricochet, looking revenge after his attack on Collision.

Great action and more surprises were expected on the road to Double or Nothing on May 25.

'Hangman' Adam Page and Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Josh Alexander

"Hangman" Adam Page and Will Ospreay worked great together for a while until some miscommunications almost ruined everything.

They refocused enough to hit a Buckshot Lariat and Hidden Blade combination on Josh Alexander to win.

Konosuke Takeshita attacked after the result, but The Aerial Assassin fought him off. Ospreay took an inadvertent shot at Hangman, and the two almost came to blows.

This was a phenomenal opener, helped by the tag team chemistry of both teams. Hangman and Ospreay looked phenomenal together despite no experience teaming up.

If AEW wanted to build a full tag team story with these two men, it could genuinely sell fans on a title run for Ospreay and Hangman.

Takeshita and Alexander are both great wrestlers, too, but their chemistry has taken time to solidify. This was the best they have looked together.

Some of the shots from this match will fit perfectly in the future video package for their Double or Nothing match. The miscommunications were perfectly executed.

Ospreay vs. Hangman already feels like the most important match AEW can deliver right now, and the two have shared the ring for just two weeks.

Result

Hangman and Ospreay def. Takeshita and Alexander by pinfall.

Grade

A

Notable Moments

—Page signed the shirt of a young child at ringside during his entrance. Ospreay looked surprised that The Cowboy was showing a softer side.

—Don Callis joined commentary for this match.

—Over the course of the match, Ospreay started to pull out impressive double-team offense.

—Hangman hit a moonsault to the floor on Takeshita followed quickly by a Sky Twister from Ospreay to Alexander.

—Hangman and Ospreay started to lose focus down the stretch. The Cowboy almost clotheslined The Aerial Assassin, who almost hit him with the Hidden Blade.

Ricochet vs. Zach Gowen

Ricochet mocked Zach Gowen early but quickly found himself out of sorts fighting Gowen's unique style.

However, The One and Only dodged a moonsault and hit the Spirit Gun to win.

After the victory, Mark Briscoe made the save when Ricochet attacked Gowen from behind.

This was shockingly good. Gowen had not wrestled a match for over a year and rarely worked a major televised match since his WWE release in 2004.

Despite all this, the 42-year-old looked incredible working with Ricochet, coming off as a genuine threat to The One and Only despite the expected difference in their skills in 2025.

In the end, it always helps to work with a hot heel and great athlete like Ricochet, but Gowen more than held his own.

The drama of this match was limited, but as a celebration of Gowen's wrestling career that gave Ricochet another solid win, it worked wonderfully well.

Result

Ricochet def. Gowen by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

—Gowen's children were in attendance for the match. Ricochet mocked them while Gowen gained confidence with their support.

—The One and Only hit a 450 splash and Vertigo on Gowen but only for near-falls.

—Ricochet grabbed the gold scissors, but referee Rick Knox caught him. With the official's head turned, Gowen blasted him with his prosthetic leg for the near-fall.

The Hurt Syndicate vs. Top Flight

After some short resistance, Bobby Lashley speared and then locked Dante Martin in the Hurt Lock for the submission while Shelton Benjamin kept Darius Martin from interfering.

Afterward, Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara came out to call their shot for an AEW World Tag Team Championships match. CRU interrupted, and MVP agreed to let the winner on Collision face The Hurt Syndicate at Double or Nothing.

Dante and Darius deserved a little more respect than they got here. This was barely more than a squash. Hopefully, Top Flight does not disappear from TV after this.

While Lio Rush and Action Andretti had slowly built their way up to a title shot, it was odd to see the ROH tag team champions call for a chance out of nowhere.

The aftermath will decide if this was the right move. It could set up The Sons of Texas as a strong presence on AEW television into All In.

CRU should get a shot at The Hurt Syndicate sooner than later, whatever happens against The Sons of Texas on Collision.

Result

The Hurt Syndicate def. Top Flight by pinfall.

Grade

D+

Notable Moments

—Backstage, Top Flight talked with confidence ahead of their match. Dustin and Sammy wished them good luck.

—Renee Paquette talked to a confident MJF backstage before he got an answer from The Hurt Syndicate, warning him that something could go wrong.

MJF Gets 3 Thumbs Up from The Hurt Syndicate

MJF was genuinely terrified of receiving another "No" from Bobby Lashley and hid behind Tony Khan backstage.

When Shelton Benjamin got him to come out, MVP, The Gold Standard and The All Mighty gave him a thumbs up. MVP announced a contract signing for MJF next week.

This was short, sweet and to the point. MJF almost flaking out at the end was completely in character, helped by much teasing that it all might go wrong at the end.

Instead, the long-awaited moment has arrived. MJF is joining The Hurt Syndicate. This is likely the best option at this stage, setting up fresh stories for him and the group in the coming months.

It is disappointing that another segment is needed to make it official with a "contract signing" because it could still lead to a swerve that makes all of this pointless.

Hopefully, it will just be a chance for MJF to find out what his role will be in The Hurt Syndicate and perhaps realize a run to the world title will take more time.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

—Commentary mentioned Lashley wearing a thumb-down shirt for his match as an indication of what was coming.

—MVP signed off from the previous segment before the commercial by teasing that MJF would "get what he deserves,"

—Benjamin teased superkicking MJF as he waited for Lashley's answer.

—Later, MJF said he needed his lawyer, "Smart" Mark Sterling, to look over his contract with The Hurt Syndicate before the signing.

Championship Eliminator: Toni Storm vs. AZM vs. Mina Shirakawa vs. Skye Blue

After some wild action in this Fatal 4-Way, Mina Shirakawa caught Toni Storm with a reversal small package to her Large Package to win.

A graphic quickly went up for Storm vs. Mina at Double or Nothing with the AEW Women's World Championship on the line.

Aubrey Edwards tried to help AZM to the back. Mercedes Moné attacked her, but Jamie Hayter made the save and locked The CEO in a Statement Maker until officials broke it up.

The official debut of Mina as a member of the AEW roster was a major success. This was a fun match with a great result where Mina showed she could defeat Storm.

The action was solid though not the cleanest of the night. Blue is clearly still putting it all back together in the ring, but AZM was a major star throughout this contest.

The booking smartly protected the NJPW Strong women's champion as she always seemed to be working at the same speed and level as Storm in this contest.

While the AEW Women's World Championship match comes off a bit rushed, Mina has plenty of history with Storm to explore in their bout.

Result

Mina def. Storm, AZM and Blue to earn an AEW Women's World Championship match at Double or Nothing.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

—Before the match, AEW highlighted the NJPW Strong Women's Championship match where AZM pinned Mina to win the gold from Moné.

—AEW did not properly update AZM's titantron for this match, still showing her alliance with Queen's Quest, which dissolved in July 2024.

—Mina had a new theme for her official first match as a member of the AEW roster, which also led to a new dance in her entrance.

—The red spider again appeared on TV, sliding all the way down the screen.

—Storm hit both Blue and Mina with double hip attacks, but AZM ducked it and sent her outside with speed.

—Storm nearly beat AZM with the Storm Zero, but Mina caught her.

FTR Tries to Convince Daniel Garcia and Nigel McGuinness to Fight Them

Nigel McGuinness apologized to Tony Schivaone and Daniel Garcia for getting involved in Garcia's match with Dax Harwood.

Garcia tried to convince the commentator to keep up the fight with FTR. Stokely Hathaway offered a tag match where Garcia and McGuinness teamed against FTR.

FTR attacked their rivals in the ring until "Daddy Magic" Matt Menard made the save with a crowbar.

As immediate follow-up to Collision, this was strong storytelling, aided in particularly by McGuinness telling the truth of his chances against FTR.

This is not a fight he expects to win, but he may just take it anyway due to his pride. In general, this is not a must-see match but it could tell a great story, particularly highlighting McGuinness' prowess once again.

If this match makes Double or Nothing, that will likely be where Cope returns for revenge on FTR.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

—Commentary delivered a tribute to Sabu, particularly allowing Taz to talk about his relationship with his friend.

—McGuinness did not want to wrestle FTR as he knew he and Garcia would lose.

—Harwood tore up a sign mocking FTR on their way up the ramp.

AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Samoa Joe

After a violent and brutal match, Samoa Joe caught Jon Moxley in a Coquina Clutch.

Willow Nightingale and Powerhouse Hobbs stopped The Death Riders from interfering, but Gabe Kidd threw in the briefcase for Mox.

The Death Riders leader used it to blast The Samoan Submission Machine and take the win.

Afterward, The Young Bucks came out to do more damage. Kenny Omega tried to make the save, but Kazuchika Okada hit him and sent him into the ring.

The Elite lowered the cage again. Swerve Strickland blasted everyone with a Swerve Stomp. The heels bailed, and The Mogul announced Anarchy in the Arena for Double or Nothing.

It was a night of solid action that ended with a main event that was consistently solid. Joe and Mox delivered what was expected of one another, brutalizing each other in the steel cage.

The Samoan Submission Machine never had a real chance to win, but he always brought his best to what may be one of his last world title opportunities.

While the surprise arrival of Kidd left far more questions than answers, these should be fun questions to answer on the future of The Elite and The Bullet Club.

In the meantime, Anarchy in the Arena has been announced, and any combination of the men and women involved promises a brutal and consistently fun brawl.

The stage has been set well for Double or Nothing to deliver chaotic action on top of great matches, even if it will likely be most focused on setting the stage for an even better All In.

Result

Moxley def. Joe by pinfall to retain the AEW World Championship.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

—Hobbs and Willow came out early to make sure the other Death Riders stayed out of the action.

—Mox got broken open early and left plenty of blood in the ring throughout this contest.

—Joe almost got the Death Riders leader to tap out to a crossface.

—Mox tried to escape, and Joe went for a Muscle Buster. The Death Rider fought him off by biting him, spraying blood on the challenger.

—Mox locked in the Bulldog Choke, but Joe got his hand up before the third check. The champion followed up with the Paradigm Shift. Joe kicked out.

—"Speedball" Mike Bailey fought off Okada after his attack on Omega, likely setting up a future Continental Championship match at Double or Nothing.

Overall Show

For a night with a specific title, this was no more than a typical Dynamite beyond the AEW World Championship match in the main event.

The opener was by far the best action of the night with the strongest story development. "Hangman" Adam Page and Will Ospreay made a strong case for their match as the Double or Nothing true main event.

It is more likely The Death Riders and The Elite vs. Swerve Strickland, Kenny Omega and friends in Anarchy Rules will take that spot instead.

Jon Moxley vs. Samoa Joe was a strong physical battle between veterans that was more about the aftermath than the title being on the line.

The women also delivered throughout the night, particularly the Fatal 4-Way that set up a fun title match between Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa.

As a whole, the biggest takeaway is less how good this night was and more how easily it flowed and how strong the build has become for Double or Nothing.

In that regard, this was a great night, even if it wasn't a Beach Break to remember on its own merit.

Overall Grade: B-