AEW Dynamite Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from July 23

The Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom again hosted All Elite Wrestling for the July 23 edition of Dynamite, a night that would start the hype for Forbidden Door.

"Hangman" Adam Page looked for revenge against The Death Riders after they attacked his friend, Colt Cabana, on Collision. He would take it in a one-on-one match against Wheeler Yuta.

While "Timeless" Toni Storm waited for Athena to sign her contract for their AEW Women's World Championship match, the champion decided to fight Billie Starkz.

Swerve Strickland looked to take a shot at The Don Callis Family after stepping up to Kazuchika Okada last week, fighting Hechicero one-on-one.

Nothing had been announced yet for Forbidden Door, and signs pointed to this show beginning to fully tease what fans can expect in London on August 24.

What would AEW deliver on this big night of action? Could one or both world champions suffer shocking losses in their non-title bouts?

'Hangman' Adam Page vs. Wheeler Yuta

"Hangman" Adam Page made clear he was going to make Wheeler Yuta pay for what The Death Riders did to Colt Cabana on Collision.

While Yuta started strong, he was overwhelmed by The Cowboy, who sealed the win with the Buckshot Lariat.

He threatened to hang him with the chain but stopped short, telling a bleeding Yuta that The Death Riders did not care enough to save him.

This could have gone longer (more of a squash than most Dynamite matches not including Max Caster), but the goal was accomplished.

Hangman destroyed Yuta, leaving him a bloodied mess in a fight Yuta had no chance of winning.

It looks like a glimmer of hope has arrived for Yuta. Can The Cowboy convince him to break away from The Death Riders when Cope failed at the same task?

It feels like The Death Riders without the gold could fall apart piece by piece. Turning Yuta against his own mentors would serve as a huge blow to the stable, who have relied on him for constant interference.

Result

Hangman def. Yuta by pinfall.

Grade

B-

Notable Moments

- MJF interrupted Renee Paquette's opening interview with Hangman to try to goad the champion into a title match.

- Yuta attacked The Cowboy during his entrance and choked him out.

- Many in the audience wore shark fins in honor of Shark Week.

- Yuta was bleeding heavily after the match and shaking, selling his fear at what Hangman almost did to him.

- The crowd wanted Yuta to suffer, including a "He deserves it" chant.

Tag Team Eliminator Tournament: FTR vs. JetSpeed

After an incredible back-and-forth between these great teams, Dax Harwood stacked up Kevin Knight and grabbed Stokely Hathaway's crutch for leverage on the three-count.

Afterward, Tony Schiavone interviewed an injured Hathaway until Cope arrived. The Rated-R Superstar announced a business deal with The Hurt Syndicate, who could do what he wanted to do to FTR.

Unsurprisingly, this last-minute addition to the Dynamite card was a treat from all involved. "Speedball" Mike Bailey and The Jet continue to deliver every time.

Cash Wheeler and Harwood have been in peak form since turning heel, helping JetSpeed look great while never losing their experience edge as the veteran team.

All signs point to FTR winning this tournament to challenge The Hurt Syndicate, but AEW is keeping the remaining teams a mystery.

It's possible AEW may delay that tag match by selling the post-match brawl as debilitating. The story is already building for Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin vs. FTR to battle at any time.

Announcing the World Tag Team Championships eliminator tournament on the same night as the first round was a surprise move and not typical of AEW's presentation style.

Perhaps the eight teams are not confirmed yet. The talent in AEW as well as exciting additions from NJPW and CMLL should make for a great series of matches.

Result

FTR def. JetSpeed by pinfall to advance in the World Tag Team Championships eliminator tournament.

Grade

A-

Notable Moments

- Excalibur announced a World Tag Team Championships eliminator tournament starting Wednesday to crown the title challengers for Forbidden Door.

- Harwood caught Knight in a figure four leg-lock around the steel post. Speedball saved his partner by battering Harwood with kicks.

- Speedball got Harwood up for a high leaping dropkick from Knight for a near-fall, but Wheeler saved the pin.

- Cope tried to spear Hathaway again, but Big Stoke pushed a security guard in the way instead.

- Nick Wayne announced that The Matriarchy would start a quest for dominance on Collision, showing what they could do when "uncaged."

- Backstage, MJF questioned The Hurt Syndicate helping Cope, which got on Lashley's nerves. The All Mighty wanted The Salt of the Earth out of the group.

Will Ospreay Confirms Neck Injury, Expects to Return at Forbidden Door

Tony Schiavone interviewed Will Ospreay, who said he found out after All In that he had multiple herniated disks in his neck.

However, doctors have advised that he will be back healthy by Forbidden Door where he will be looking to bring the fight to The Death Riders.

This segment felt foreboding at first, especially after recent injury announcements in wrestling. It was good news to hear The Aerial Assassin will only be out for another month with the help of treatment.

Multiple herniated disks is a scary injury, especially for a wrestler who takes big bumps on his neck due to his in-ring style.

Because it's a short-term injury and Ospreay was able to shift this to a story focus with his final words about The Death Riders, it was an ultimately happy moment and fans will eagerly await his return.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

- Jon Moxley called his shot at Adam Page, promising to test him by the end of the night.

- Ospreay said Tony Khan did not even expect him to be at Wednesday's show.

- Swerve Strickland came out to hug Ospreay

- In a vignette, Julia Hart, Blue Skye and Thekla delivered a dramatic warning that they would be taking over AEW.

- Willow Nightingale responded to the vignette with a challenge for Thekla.

- Ricochet and GOA advised that they were reinvesting their $200,000 won last week into aspirations of capturing gold.

Championship Eliminator: 'Timeless' Toni Storm vs. Billie Starkz

Billie Starkz nearly caught "Timeless" Toni Storm multiple times in this match, but the champion used the Crossface Chickenwing to force a submission.

Afterward, Starkz blasted Storm with her Women's World Championship. Athena beat her down, but as she prepared to sign the championship contract, Alex Windsor arrived to make the save.

Starkz and Storm have chemistry to explore, highlighted by how nicely this match flowed. The Timeless One sold big for Athena's minion while never losing full control.

It was a fun way to highlight Starkz is here to stay on AEW television, continuing to deliver in these big matches.

Storm needed to win here as no one is more protected in championship eliminator matches. The post-match beatdown was a nice tease, even if it is too early for Athena to get her shot.

The post-match put Windsor in a big spot right away. Helping out the top woman in AEW and further hyping her ROH Women's Championship match on Collision, she looked like a star in week two of her AEW journey.

Result

Storm def. Starkz by pinfall.

Grade

B+

Notable Moments

- Before the match, Athena warned Starkz that her goal was to do damage not win.

- Athena watched the match from the balcony, setting up a great shot after the match where she and Starkz smiled together over a fallen Storm.

- Athena cheered on Starkz as she hit the Kneecap Brainbuster on Storm but was not happy when Athena's Minion almost got three off of it.

Swerve Strickland vs. Hechicero

Swerve Strickland found a way to counter each big offensive weapon in Hechicero's playbook. As The Mogul prepared to seal the win, Lance Archer and Josh Alexander attacked to cause a disqualification.

Brody King and Bandido arrived to send the others packing. Kazuchika Okada used the distraction to blast Swerve with a chair, but The Mogul fought back and sent him running.

This was a good match that could be great down the line. Some of the sequences down the stretch of this match were unlike what anyone else brings to the ring.

That is especially a testament to how unique Hechicero is as a technical wrestler in 2025, but Swerve also clicked immediately with The Alchemist's style.

A rare DQ protected both men to some extent, but Swerve was clearly established as a threat to every member of The Don Callis Family.

This should be one of the biggest matches for Forbidden Door. Before that match, though, The Rainmaker will need to make a statement at the expense of Swerve to heat this rivalry up to the next level.

Result

Swerve def. Hechicero by disqualification.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

- Callis interrupted Justin Roberts to give Hechicero a broken Spanglish hype introduction.

- Callis made clear on commentary that he respected Swerve's athleticism but felt he was outmatched in talent by Hechicero.

- Swerve began to bulk up after a quick kick-out. Hechicero hurt his hand trying to punch The Mogul.

- Hechicero went for El Conjuro, but Swerve blocked the sleeper. The Alchemist transitioned the move effortlessly into an armbar.

MJF Refuses to Fight Mark Briscoe/Mark vs. Claudio Castagnoli

After the earlier altercation between MJF and Bobby Lashley, The Salt of the Earth said he did not need The All Mighty to get back his AEW Men's World Championship.

Mark Briscoe interrupted to challenge The Salt of the Earth. MJF refused and made clear that Briscoe was not "worth his time," unlike his late brother, Jay. Mark ran MJF off ahead of his match.

Claudio Castagnoli wore down Briscoe throughout their battle, but a distracting appearance from Darby Allin turned the tide. Briscoe managed to catch him with a roll-up for three.

Jon Moxley led a beatdown on Briscoe before calling out Adam Page. The Cowboy marched out and declared he would fight Mox next week for the world title with everyone banned from ringside.

MJF's latest digs at Briscoe clearly established the goal in their rivalry. This is a story meant to position the latter as a potential top guy.

Similar to rises of underdog babyfaces such as Mankind of past eras, this story could lead him all the way to the top titles in AEW.

Hopefully, that is the plan for the end of this story because otherwise it will just be filler to distract MJF until he goes after Hangman.

This was a good pairing of talent for the main event, even if it was only truly the main event for the aftermath.

Briscoe looked good as the scrappy underdog while Castagnoli was the destructive force he could barely survive. He picked up a nice win to prove MJF's earlier statement incorrect.

Ending the show with a world title match announcement was a phenomenal hook, especially after a week when the card felt a bit thrown together.

It was especially effective because The Cowboy walked in and out without fear. He clearly established that he knew he had the power and did not fall into any of Mox's ploys.

Next week's title match is guaranteed to be must-watch.

Result

Briscoe def. Castagnoli by pinfall.

Grade

B

Notable Moments

- For his latest entrance visual, Castagnoli positioned himself underneath an arch halfway up the stairs to the arena seating.

- While Allin dd appear in the crowd, he continues to only lurk, watching The Death Riders closely for his best opportunity to strike.

- Mox showed a small bit of affection at the end of the show to Wheeler Yuta whose head was bandaged after the opener.

Overall Show

This was a solid building-block edition of Dynamite, but certainly a less eventful show than the stretch going into All In.

In particular, only FTR vs. JetSpeed was a true show-stealer. Swerve Strickland vs. Hechicero was also a standout, but it felt like a preview where neither man was going all out.

The stories developing post-All In are fascinating. MJF got all he wanted, only to potentially lose it all due to his own ego not clicking with The Hurt Syndicate.

"Hangman" Adam Page refuses to show fear in the face of The Death Riders and will look to definitively put Jon Moxley behind him next week.

Athena is a constant, almost overwhelming threat to "Timeless" Toni Storm, but she cannot quite figure out how to take her shot.

The AEW World Tag Team Championship elimination tournament is an exciting wrinkle, setting the stage for a well-established challenge to The Hurt Syndicate come Forbidden Door.

All in all, these are big stories, but the flow of the night lacked that edge of shock and awe that makes the AEW product shine.

Overall Grade: C+