AEW Dynamite Results, Winners, Live Grades, Highlights Before Double or Nothing 2025

Just four days before Double or Nothing 2025, the May 21 edition of AEW Dynamite from the Rio Rancho Events Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico set the final stage for the pay-per-view.

The finalists of the men's and women's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament would face off in the ring.

What would Jamie Hayter and Mercedes Moné as well as Hangman Adam Page and Will Ospreay have to say before two of the biggest matches of the year?

Jon Moxley teamed up with The Young Bucks to face the team of Swerve Strickland, Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs as a preview of Anarchy in the Arena.

MJF officially looked to sign his contract for The Hurt Syndicate. Would everything go smoothly, or was there one last twist set for this story?

Mina Shirakawa battled Julia Hart days ahead of her AEW Women's Championship match with "Timeless" Toni Storm. Could Mina keep her momentum?

This was an important go-home show that needed to solidify the importance of Double or Nothing.

Will Ospreay Challenges Hangman Adam Page to Be His Best in the DoN Main Event

Will Ospreay put over how much he wanted the AEW World Championship and announced they would be the main event of Double or Nothing. Hangman Adam Page explained how much he needed it.

The Aerial Assassin demanded The Cowboy to be his absolute best and make sure that the best man won that could defeat Jon Moxley. They stared each other down all the way to the back.

It was obvious how much both men had thought about what they needed to say in this final face-to-face. They sold what makes them both fan favorites.

Ospreay was the hot head with big dreams for his destiny. He sold his discomfort in this moment, tripping over his words, as well as his confidence in focusing back in each time.

Hangman was the calm but emotional veteran, selling what it meant for him as a person to win the gold. He nearly broke down in moments but held firm to the end.

This was as good as this could have been and sold why this will be the main event for a strong Double or Nothing card.

At this stage, either man could win and rally the entire fan base behind them into All In, and both would be worthy stars to carry the AEW World Championship into the future.

Grade

A+

Notable Moments

- Ospreay asked security to leave before they talked.

- The Aerial Assassin tried to toast with The Cowboy, but Hangman refused to drink with him before they talked.

- Ospreay put over how much it meant to him to beat Moxley and The Death Riders and take the AEW World Championship home for Forbidden Door.

- The way Hangman first said the word "need" was heart-wrenching.

- He called out Ospreay saying his redemption was "too little, too late", and he wanted to "prove him wrong".

- The Aerial Assassin asked The Cowboy to have his back as he would have his against The Death Riders, no matter who wins the men's Owens.

- Ospreay and Hangman downed the beers after their final words.

Jon Moxley and The Young Bucks vs. Swerve Strickland and The Opps

After an intense fight between rivals, Swerve Strickland ducked the EVP Trigger. Samoa Joe caught Nick Jackson in a Coquina Clutch while The Mogul rolled up Matt Jackson for three.

Jon Moxley launched a Death Riders attack on the faces until Katsuyori Shibata made his return. When Marina Shafir low blowed Shibata, Willow Nightingale Pounced her.

Kenny Omega arrived and gave Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta and Matt a Tiger Suplexes followed by a a V-Trigger to Matt. Claudio saved Matt from a One Winged Angel through a table.

If anyone needed a preview to buy into Anarchy in the Arena, this was an incredible sell for the match. Everyone was on point in this high-energy trios battle.

The Samoan Submission Machine looked as smooth as he has in months. Swerve and The Young Bucks have untapped chemistry to explore. Mox made Hobbs look like a beast at every turn.

While the post-match brawl was much less clean, it was good to see Shibata and Castagnoli back in the ring.

It is hard to fully figure out which members of both groups will get involved in this Anarchy in the Arena, but any combination, particularly including Willow, is great.

Result

Swerve, Joe and Hobbs def. The Young Bucks and Moxley by pinfall.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

- AEW transitioned perfectly from the previous segment, showing Mox arriving first on the titantron his future challengers were staring at a moment ago.

- Hobbs stopped the world champion from diving into Swerve, and Mox responded by biting Powerhouse.

- The heels isolated Swerve until The Mogul was just fingertips away from the tag out. Swerve had to headbutt his way free to get the hot tag.

- Joe promised to keep hunting The Death Riders and The Elite through the night.

MJF Signs with The Hurt Syndicate; The Sons of Texas Deliver a Warning to Tag Champs

"Smart" Mark Sterling facilitated the signing of MJF into The Hurt Syndicate, requiring that MVP, Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley also sign.

Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara interrupted the celebration. The Natural warned The Hurt Syndicate that they were "day one guys" and had faced worse than Benjamin and Lashley could dish out.

This felt awkward, but some of that was intentional. It seemed like something could go wrong at any moment, particularly for MJF.

In the end, it all went down clean for the moment. It may take a while to find out what was on that contract everyone signed.

In the meantime, the focus shifted to the AEW Tag Team Championships match at Double or Nothing.

While this Hurt Syndicate vs. Sons of Texas match has been rushed, Dustin did a good job selling what this means to him.

Sammy probably should have been given at least a couple lines to sell his investment in this feud, but the rowdy crowd might have booed him, which would have been counter productive.

Grade

C

Notable Moments

- Before heading to the ring, MJF showed respect to The Hurt Syndicate and shook hands with The Hurt Syndicate's lawyer.

- The crowd booed MJF heavily throughout this segment, causing MVP to go full heel throughout by yelling at the fans.

- Lashley was reluctant to sign but eventually agreed with the confirmation of the lawyer that it was a good idea.

- Backstage with Renee Paquette, Kazuchika Okada promised he would be the first one to pin "Speedball" Mike Bailey at Double or Nothing.

Ricochet vs. Anthony Bowens

Anthony Bowens had Ricochet on the ropes, but The One and Only stabbed him with the gold scissors and hit the Spirit Gun to win.

Afterward, Mark Briscoe came out with a stretcher and teased hitting Ricochet with a Froggy Bow on the stretcher, but The One and Only escaped.

This was a surprise match to throw together just before Dynamite started, but it worked as a valuable test for Bowens rising up the ranks.

He never looked out of place, fighting Ricochet blow for blow. This was not a spot where Bowens could win, but he looked like the better man before the cheap victory by Ricochet.

While this was arguably unnecessary, it will all come down to the aftermath. Will Bowens rebound and set himself up as a more regular performer on Dynamite?

If Bowens goes back to squashing ROH talent on Collision, only the last minute of the segment will truly matter as Briscoe teased what was to come in their stretcher match.

Result

Ricochet def. Bowens by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

- Ricochet immediately tried to hit the DX chop at Gunn, but Bowens stopped him and took over the early action.

- Bowens ducked the Spirit Gun and hit the Arrival followed by the Molly Whop. Ricochet rolled outside to outside the pin.

- Backstage, Stokely Hathaway challenged Daniel Garcia and Nigel McGuinness to meet FTR in the ring for a contract signing on Collision.

Mercedes Moné and Jamie Hayter Come to Blows Again Ahead of Double or Nothing

Mercedes Moné and Jamie Hayter tried to stay calm for Renee Paquette, who facilitated the face-to-face.

However, after both sold why they needed to win, Hayter brought up The CEO losing the NJPW Strong Women's Championship, and Moné lost it.

In the brawl, Moné struck first, but Hayer laid her out again with the Hayterade.

It was always going to be tough to live up to the example of Hangman Adam Page and Will Ospreay earlier, but this was a great promo on his merit.

In particular, Hayter sold her position in this match and why she cannot afford this loss. She was poised and confident without discounting her top-level opponent.

The CEO put over what makes her a step above the competition, which is exactly why she is in this spot.

The reason for Moné to win is that her against "Timeless" Toni Storm is the biggest women's match that AEW could deliver.

However, on the other hand, Hayter could use this win to launch her back into the top woman conversation, and Moné had plenty of women she could fight at All In for her TBS Championship instead.

Either result makes sense, but fans have an easy answer in Hayter on who to root for in this women's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament final.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

- Excalibur announced Moné would face CMLL's Reyna Isis for the TBS Championship on Collision followed by a hype package for the challenger.

- The CEO came out in a jumpsuit similar to Beyoncé's from her Renaissance Tour then called herself the "Beyoncé of women's wrestling".

- Storm interrupted Hayter's celebration to head to commentary for the main event match.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart

Mina Shirakawa struggled throughout this match to keep the advantage in this match against Julia Hart, but she finally caught her with a stack-up pin for three.

Afterward, an angry Hart attacked Mina until Skye Blue made the save. Storm and Mina worked together to clear the ring.

The Double or Nothing opponents then wrestled over the AEW Women's World Championship. Mina snapped and went after the knee of Storm, wrapping her leg around the steel post for a Figure-Four Leg Lock.

While it is nice to see the women in the main event spot, this was not a full main event as it was not the last segment of the night.

For that reason, this did not feel as big as it could have, and Mina is still defining her character in AEW. It was still a good match that further allowed the No. 1 contender to shine.

Hart did good work in putting over Mina without losing her own mystique, only falling to a surprise roll-up at the end.

The aftermath was more important long term as it both confirmed Hart and Blue are working together again and showed more of Mina's unpredictable persona.

At multiple points in the match and especially afterward, Mina leaned heel but seemed to visually play the face. Her moments of brutal intensity sell that she may not just be the fun-loving babyface.

Storm should no longer underestimate what Mina is willing to do to win. Hopefully, Double or Nothing will further illuminate her intentions in AEW beyond gold.

Result

Mina def. Storm by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

- Mina had early control but got distracted by Storm on commentary, allowing Hart to lay her out and take over.

- Hart went for the moonsault, but Mina ducked it. Hart hurt her knee on the impact, and Mina went right after the injury with offense.

Anarchy in the Arena Starts Early with End-of-the-Show Brawl

The Young Bucks called Samoa Joe a liar as the show was about to end, but The Samoan Submission Machine came running in with a trash can.

A brawl broke out between all members of Anarchy in the Arena that led back to the ring. Kenny Omega and Swerve Strickland held the ring while Willow Nightingale and The Opps dominated outside.

Gabe Kidd arrived to blast Samoa Joe with the briefcase and turn the tide. The fight ended with The Young Bucks diving onto Omega and Swerve through tables outside.

If the early trios match was the conventional in-ring preview for Anarchy in the Arena, this was the brutal follow-up, teasing what violence will come.

Everyone got in their shots along the way, and it was the man not competing in Anarchy in the Arena that turned the tide.

There is nothing to stop Kidd from doing this again on Sunday, but the face team has time to figure out who they need in reserve to balance the scales again.

If Eddie Kingston is cleared, he would make the most sense as Kidd put him on the shelf last year. Darby Allin might get involved, but that may be asking too much given his current status on Mount Everest.

Bryan Danielson would also make sense if he is ready to appear again. The most likely answer would be a returning Hook, though that would be a letdown in comparison to other big names.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

- The Dynamite theme played as the violence continued.

- Mox put over the strength of Willow when she blasted him.

Overall Show

This was a talky episode of Dynamite, which has not been the norm in recent weeks.

It made sense as part of the final build of this go-home show, even if it would have been nice to see more action as well.

Hangman Adam Page and Will Ospreay set the highest bar possible, and nothing was quite able to match up.

Mercedes Moné and Jamie Hayter though also played their role well throughout, selling a much different dynamic for their Owen Hart Foundation Tournament final.

The best action of the night focus on Anarchy in the Arena as Swerve Strickland, Kenny Omega, Willow Nightingale and The Opps brought a grand fight to contend with the top heels in AEW.

The rest of the night was solid but fairly unmemorable in comparison. It was clear what three matches are the must-see moments for Double or Nothing.

Hopefully, Collision will give a bit more focus to the rest of the card, so the hype continues to build for one of AEW's most important nights.

Overall Grade: B-