AEW Dynasty saw the International Title on the line with Kenny Omega defending his title against Speedball Mike Bailey and Ricochet. Despite the odds being against him and the fact that he didn’t need to be pinned to lose the gold, Omega was able to leave the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
All three men were given a chance to shine, complete with flashy entrances before the match got underway. Eventually, Kenny Omega nailed a One Winged Angel off the top rope on Ricochet. With Speedball hung up in the ropes, Omega was able to get the win to retain the gold.
Ricochet taking FULL advantage of 3-Way match rules using one opponent as a WEAPON on the other!
Ospreay didn’t have long to celebrate, however, as he was confronted by Kazuchika Okada after the match. Though the pair did not get physical, its clear that a title match between the two will come when the time is right, perhaps at AEW All In: Texas.
Okada’s confrontation with Omega fuels the speculation that AEW plans on unifying the International and Continental Championships into one title. Whatever comes next, fans can expect magic in the ring when Omega and Okada eventually do battle.
Santos Escobar is a bonafide name in WWE but the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion recently appeared at a non-WWE wrestling event. The SmackDown Superstar was in attendance for Hijo Del Santo’s Todo x Todo event on April 6, and was spotted sitting next to his father El Fantasma.
Santos Escobar, estrella de la WWE, presente en la función de retiro del #Santo, junto a su padre, "El Fantasma". pic.twitter.com/PUymeM5mru
Though Escobar didn’t compete at the event, he did have a role to play. During the show, he was given a gift by Dr. Wagner Jr.
Santos Escobar (Hijo del Fantasma) is at the Santo TxT show in Arena Ciudad de Mexico tonight, was just given a gift by Dr. Wagner Jr. pic.twitter.com/D5KOcRZc1z
Escobar’s presence at the show once again demonstrates WWE’s willingness to let its talent appear outside of their own promotion. Later this month, several WWE Superstars will compete at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII, an event run as part of the GCW Collective.
Back on WWE programming, Santos has been growing increasingly frustrated with Humberto and Angel, while Andrade has encouraged the pair to stand up for themselves. All signs are pointing to the duo leaving Escobar, bringing an end to Legado Del Fantasma, to join Andrade in a new faction. Though it remains to be seen when that’ll happen, Santos Escobar cetainly enjoyed himself out of WWE this past weekend.
AEW Dynasty 2025 took place at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, featuring a lineup of high-stakes matches. In the AEW TNT Championship match, Daniel Garcia defended against Adam Cole in a match with no time limit and no outside interference.
The match commenced with both competitors cautiously feeling each other out. Garcia gained early control, mounting Cole in the corner to deliver punches. After a series of back-and-forth, Cole executed a Panama Sunrise followed by a Boom Kick, resulting in a near fall. Though Garcia tried a top-rope piledriver, Cole fought him off and ultimately secured the victory.
On his 17th Anniversary of beginning his Pro Wrestling journey, will Adam Cole leave Philadelphia TNT Champion?
This marks Cole’s first reguarly defended singles title in AEW, as he is also an Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winner. The match and victory was even more special as it marked Cole’s 17th anniversary since his debut in the world of professional wrestling.
Now, it remains to be seen how far the new AEW TNT Champion goes with the gold. Fans will also have to see what’s to come for Daniel Garcia who had held the title since Full Gear 2024.
Bandido walked out of AEW Dynasty 2025 with both his mask and the ROH World Championship intact after a chaotic and controversial showdown with Chris Jericho.
The match came with high stakes, as Bandido had to put his mask on the line in order to earn a title shot. Initially, Jericho appeared to secure the win after using a hidden baseball bat behind the steel steps to strike Bandido, followed by a pinfall.
Interference played a major role in the outcome, with Bryan Keith attempting to assist Jericho mid-match. However, Bandido and Gravity managed to fend him off. Despite the interference, Jericho capitalized and pinned Bandido following the illegal bat shot.
Before Jericho could remove Bandido’s mask, the luchador’s mother and sister, seated at ringside, informed referee Aubrey Edwards about the weapon usage. This led to Bryce Remsburg restarting the match.
In the restart, Jericho attempted to target Bandido’s sister, only to be slapped in return. Moments later, Bandido landed a decisive pinfall to capture the ROH World Championship for the second time in his career.
Bandido has done it and is now the NEW ROH World Champion!
The match concluded with Bandido celebrating in the ring alongside his family and Gravity, closing out one of the night’s most dramatic moments. One highlight saw Bandido hold Jericho in a vertical suplex for a full minute, showcasing his strength in a bout filled with emotion and controversy.
Toni Storm successfully defended the AEW Women’s World Championship at AEW Dynasty, overcoming a strong challenge from Megan Bayne. The “Timeless” champion endured Bayne’s power-based offense, including a diving clothesline and powerbomb combination.
AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm has done some Philadelphia style preparation as she faces the seemingly unstoppable Megan Bayne with the title on the line!
Bayne appeared close to victory after setting up for her Bow Down finisher, but Storm countered, landing on her feet and rolling Bayne up with a small package to secure the pinfall.
Throughout the match, Luther and Penelope Ford played a role, with Luther eventually carrying Ford away from ringside to reduce outside interference.
Storm entered the bout in a unique boxer-inspired outfit, paying homage to Rocky, complete with a pre-match training montage. Luther also embraced the theme, dressing as her cornerman instead of his usual butler attire.
Megan Bayne is tossing "Timeless" Toni Storm like it's nothing!
Rated FTR is officially finished following a brutal post-match betrayal at AEW Dynasty.
After challenging the Death Riders—Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and PAC—for the AEW World Trios Championships, the team of Adam Copeland, Dax Harwood, and Cash Wheeler fell short. The finish came when Yuta shoved Cope into Harwood before landing a Busaiku Knee on Harwood to secure the win.
— Rock And Wrestling Connection (@RockAndWrasslin) April 7, 2025
In the moments that followed, Cope and Wheeler helped Harwood back to his feet, and the trio shared an emotional embrace. However, the reunion was short-lived. As Wheeler exited the ring, Harwood suddenly attacked Cope with a piledriver.
Wheeler initially appeared stunned, even shoving Harwood to the mat after he introduced two chairs for a Con-Chair-To. But the hesitation didn’t last. The duo reunited to hit Cope with a Shatter Machine and a Big Rig.
Wheeler then delivered two brutal Con-Chair-Tos to Cope before mocking the injured star by placing his neck brace on himself and jumping onto the stretcher meant for Cope.
The shocking ambush leaves Rated FTR dismantled—and Cope sidelined after the vicious assault.
The AEW World Tag Team Championship match at AEW Dynasty saw The Hurt Syndicate — Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin — successfully defend their titles against Big Bill and Bryan Keith, aided by a surprise assist from MJF.
The match, held at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, began with the challengers coming out strong. Keith and Bill controlled early momentum until Shelton Benjamin landed a head kick on Bill, followed by a series of double-team attacks from the champions. Big Bill later regained control with a hot tag, delivering a splash and side slam before dropping Benjamin with a big boot.
As Lashley and Bill brawled outside the ring, MJF appeared at ringside and struck Big Bill with his Dynamite Diamond Ring. The interference allowed Lashley to Spear Bill, leaving Bryan Keith isolated in the ring. Benjamin followed up with a German Suplex and Spear before pinning Keith for the win.
MJF’s involvement added another layer to the ongoing discussions surrounding his potential alliance with The Hurt Syndicate. Despite multiple objections from Lashley and Benjamin, MVP has continued to engage in talks with MJF, drawing on a relationship that dates back to their days in Major League Wrestling in 2018.
While Lashley and Benjamin have resisted bringing MJF into the group, his actions at Dynasty may signal a shift in that dynamic moving forward.
Anthony Bowens made a dramatic return to AEW at the Dynasty 2025 pre-show on April 6 in Philadelphia, debuting a new persona as “The Pride of Pro Wrestling.”
When Max Caster issued an open challenge during the Zero Hour pre-show, fans were stunned to see Bowens appear with a completely new look, accompanied by Billy Gunn. Confronting his former tag team partner, Bowens immediately established dominance by discarding Caster’s trademark plaque before swiftly defeating him with a spinning elbow.
"THE PRIDE OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING" ANTHONY BOWENS HAS ANSWERED MAX CASTER’S OPEN CHALLENGE!
This decisive victory marks Bowens’ first appearance since January’s Collision Maximum Carnage, where tension between The Acclaimed members reached a breaking point. While Bowens has been absent from television, Caster has continued his unsuccessful “Best Wrestler Alive” open challenge series, suffering quick defeats across AEW programming.
Bowens’ reinvention as a “five-tool player” signals an exciting new chapter in his career following the dissolution of The Acclaimed.????????????????
The 5 Tool Player, Anthony Bowens is BACK and faces his former Tag Team Partner Max Caster RIGHT NOW!
Will Ospreay is confident his steel cage match against Kyle Fletcher at AEW Revolution 2025 set a benchmark that others couldn’t reach, but that hasn’t stopped people like CM Punk and Seth Rollins from trying.
Reflecting on the acclaimed performance, Ospreay said the match delivered a rare blend of stunts, storytelling, and emotional impact. He said on the Battleground Podcast:
“I can’t think of another Cage Match off the top of my head that had done the stunts, the storytelling, the drama as well as that,” he said.
He pointed to the immediate response from fans and peers, noting how the match resonated beyond expectations.
“I mean, people tried to top it the next day, and they couldn’t. I just could not believe the output and the support that we got afterward, and just how people just thought it was one of the greatest Steel Cage Matches ever.”
Ospreay will be in action at tonight’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view, where he’ll battle newcomer Kevin Knight in a quarterfinal match of the Owen Hart Men’s Tournament .
Pop star Olivia Rodrigo appeared at a CMLL wrestling event while in Mexico City for her Guts World Tour. The singer performed at Estadio GNP Seguros on April 2 and 3, drawing the largest audience of her career so far at a venue capable of holding 65,000 attendees.
During her Mexico City concerts, Rodrigo mentioned to the crowd that she had experienced a lucha libre wrestling match while in the city, along with trying traditional tacos and visiting the Museo Casa Azul dedicated to Frida Kahlo.
The 22-year-old star took her appreciation for Mexican wrestling culture a step further by attending a CMLL show at Arena Mexico, as confirmed by her recent Instagram post where she shared a photo wearing a traditional Lucha Libre mask. Fans on Reddit’s r/SquaredCircle community have already begun discussing her appearance at the event.
Rodrigo joins a growing list of young female celebrities who are avid wrestling fans. Vanessa Hudgens has been spotted at WWE events in the past, and Danielle Fishel (known for her role as Topanga on “Boy Meets World”) is known to be a passionate wrestling enthusiast. The Guts World Tour marks Rodrigo’s first stadium performances in Latin America, with shows in Brazil and Mexico being significant milestones in her career.
After her Mexico City performances, Rodrigo is scheduled to continue her tour through July 1, 2025, when it concludes in Manchester, England.
Here’s the preview for Monday’s WWE Raw, broadcasting live on Netflix at 8/7c from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Monday, April 7, 2025. With less than two weeks until WrestleMania 41, tensions are rising and championship opportunities are on the line. This week’s show marks WWE’s return to the USA after their European tour, with several exciting matches and appearances scheduled.
The main event features Lyra Valkyria defending her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Bayley, who previously defeated Valkyria in a non-title match. The champion specifically requested this rematch to avenge that loss.
El Grande Americano returns to action after his debut win against Dragon Lee. He’s replacing Chad Gable, who is unable to compete in his hometown due to illness.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Bayley
WWE World Tag Team Championship: War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (c) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio
El Grande Americano in action against a mystery opponent
CM Punk and Paul Heyman to make an appearance following Friday’s SmackDown announcement that Heyman will be in Punk’s corner for his WrestleMania 41 triple threat match against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins
Seth “The Visionary” Rollins to make an appearance
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther to appear
Jey Uso confirmed to be on the show
Adam Pearce to address the Women’s World Championship situation between Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, and Bianca Belair following Belair’s controversial guest referee decision last week
What Happened Last Week
Ahead of this week’s WWE Raw, here’s a quick recap of last week’s show (March 31, 2025):
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defeated Jimmy Uso in singles action
After the match, Gunther tied Jey Uso to the ropes and brutally attacked Jimmy, leaving him bloodied
Lyra Valkyria was attacked by WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez before Bayley made the save
Bianca Belair, serving as guest referee, threw out the WWE Women’s World Title match between Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY
Cody Rhodes and John Cena had another heated confrontation during the European tour
Seth Rollins made his presence felt as WrestleMania approaches
Will Ospreay is embracing the opportunity to honor Owen Hart’s legacy as he prepares to compete in the Owen Hart Cup tonight at AEW Dynasty. Set to face Kevin Knight in the tournament’s opening round, Ospreay reflected on the personal significance of participating in a tribute that celebrates one of wrestling’s most respected figures.
This marks the second major point in Ospreay’s career where he’s felt a connection to Hart. The first came in 2017 when he won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in NJPW—a title Hart previously held in 1988.
“The best thing about that belt is everyone that held it has their name on it, and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have a piece of history that Owen Hart was part of as well,” Ospreay tells Sports Illustrated.
A three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Ospreay said he was deeply appreciative of being listed among champions tied to Hart’s legacy. He views the Owen Hart Cup as a chance to continue that history by delivering standout performances.
“I feel like the history behind ‘The Owen’ has been pretty well-received. And I’m looking forward to continuing the legacy and putting on great showcase matches.”
Ospreay also spoke about Hart’s impact beyond the ring, citing his commitment to family despite the demands of constant travel—something Ospreay relates to in his own career.
“I watched a lot of his junior heavyweight stuff from Japan. He had a snap to him like no one else,” Ospreay said. “What I respect most is how much he loved his time with his family and was always in a rush to get back to them. That’s the situation I’m in now, constantly flying back and forth to the U.K.”
Ospreay’s tribute underscores the enduring influence of Hart’s career, both in the ring and in life.
I’ll update your WordPress HTML preview to include the new match information and corrections. Here’s the updated version:
All Elite Wrestling returns to pay-per-view this Sunday, April 6, 2025, with Dynasty emanating from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This marks AEW’s first PPV event in Pennsylvania and the second annual Dynasty event.
With seven championship matches on the card, including Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland, fans are in for an action-packed night of professional wrestling.
How to Watch
Start Times:
United States: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT (Main Card)
United Kingdom: 1:00 AM BST (early Monday morning)
Zero Hour Pre-show: 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT
Broadcast Details:
Amazon Prime (new for this event – requires active Prime subscription)
Triller TV (formerly Fite)
PPV.com
Traditional cable/satellite providers (US and Canada)
YouTube (Zero Hour pre-show only)
Match Card
AEW World Championship Jon Moxley (c) w/ Marina Shafir vs. Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana
One year after capturing his first AEW World Championship at Dynasty, Swerve Strickland looks to reclaim gold against Jon Moxley. Mox has maintained a stranglehold on the World Title since defeating Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream last October, finding ways to choke out every challenger that has come before him. This main event promises to be an intense battle between two of AEW’s top stars.
AEW Women’s World Championship “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) w/ Luther vs. Megan Bayne
Toni Storm faces perhaps her most daunting challenge yet as she defends her championship against the powerful Megan Bayne. The champion’s theatrical persona will be put to the test against the raw power of “The Megasus” in what could be a show-stealing contest.
AEW International Championship – Triple Threat Match Kenny Omega (c) vs. Ricochet vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Three of the most athletic performers in professional wrestling collide in what promises to be a high-flying spectacle. Newly crowned champion Kenny Omega puts his title on the line against two challengers known for their innovative offense and aerial abilities.
AEW World Tag Team Championship The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) (c) vs. The Learning Tree (Big Bill & Bryan Keith)
The Hurt Syndicate puts their tag team gold on the line against the imposing duo from The Learning Tree. This match adds another championship contest to an already stacked card, bringing the total to seven title matches for the evening.
AEW World Trios Championship The Death Riders (PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) (c) vs. Rated FTR (Cope, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
Team tensions are running high as Adam Copeland teams with FTR to challenge The Death Riders. With dissension already showing in the challengers’ camp after Cope’s failed attempt to capture the AEW World Title from Moxley, this match could see a potential heel turn from Dax and Cash if they fail to capture the titles.
ROH World Championship vs. Mask Match Chris Jericho (c) vs. Bandido
In a high-stakes encounter, Chris Jericho has agreed to defend his ROH World Championship against Bandido only if the challenger puts his mask on the line. This title-versus-mask stipulation adds an extra layer of drama to an already compelling matchup.
AEW TNT Championship – No Time Limit, No Outside Interference Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Adam Cole
Daniel Garcia defends his TNT Championship against Adam Cole under special stipulations that ensure a definitive winner. With no time limit and outside interference banned, these two technical wrestlers will have to rely solely on their in-ring abilities to emerge victorious.
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Men’s Bracket Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Men’s Bracket Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Women’s Bracket Mercedes Moné vs. Julia Hart
These quarterfinal matches in the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament will have significant implications for Double or Nothing on May 25, where the tournament finals will take place.
With WrestleMania season in full swing, AEW’s Dynasty looks to make its own mark on the wrestling calendar with a stacked card of ten matches, including seven championship bouts and three tournament matches that could reshape the company’s landscape moving forward.
Vince McMahon is actively pursuing new ventures in the combat sports space, according to recent comments from WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff. Speaking with CanadaCasino.ca, Bischoff revealed that McMahon had been involved in discussions with individuals from the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship—talks that mirrored Bischoff’s own negotiations with the promotion.
Though neither party ultimately moved forward, the conversations suggest McMahon remains interested in reentering the sports entertainment industry.
“I know for a fact that Vince is exploring opportunities in combat sports, at least as recently as about three months ago,” Bischoff says. “He was dealing with someone that I was dealing with at the same time… it was substantiated and confirmed by another third party.”
Bischoff added that McMahon’s passion for high-stakes ventures remains intact, even at age 78.
“Vince will work until the day he draws his last breath. He’s passionate. He loves a challenge, and Vince loves to fight.”
While McMahon has kept a low profile since exiting the TKO Group Board of Directors in early 2024, speculation about a return to entertainment has persisted.
In January 2025, reports emerged that McMahon was working on a new entertainment company to fund, develop, and produce TV and film projects. Bischoff has also revealed that he’s heard McMahon “purchased some pretty significant production facilities in Santa Monica” and assembled a “skeleton staff.”
McMahon’s efforts come as he continues to face legal challenges stemming from a January 2024 lawsuit filed by a former WWE employee accusing him of sexual misconduct. Fox Sports has denied involvement in any rumored McMahon project, with a spokesperson explicitly refuting such claims.
The fiery in-ring confrontation on WWE SmackDown between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton took an unexpected turn when Charlotte Flair accused Stratton’s boyfriend, WWE star Ludwig Kaiser, of sliding into her DMs. The remark came during a tense exchange that saw Stratton reference Flair’s divorces before exiting the ring.
Kaiser wasn’t going to let that remark just hang there unanswered, and responded with a vintage WWE clip of Shawn Michaels telling Diana Hart, “Please, don’t flatter yourself,” clearly rejecting the implication.
WWE later removed the more personal moments from its digital versions of the segment. According to reports, the back-and-forth went off script, with both women allegedly unaware of some of the remarks beforehand.
The situation caused such a storm that Flair’s latest ex-husband, WWE star Andrade, came to her defense on social media.
WWE’s involvement in Bloodsport XIII on April 17 has reached an unprecedented level, with Shayna Baszler now confirmed for a high-profile bout against Stardom’s Konami. This marks her return to the shoot-style event, where she remains undefeated.
With seven WWE-affiliated names featured, the card reflects a dramatic shift in WWE’s traditional stance on talent appearing at independent events.
The full lineup now includes Natalya, Charlie Dempsey, Pete Dunne, Karmen Petrovic, Karrion Kross, Tavion Heights, and Baszler—making Bloodsport XIII feel more like an unofficial WWE showcase than a standalone indie event.
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII
Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Time: 8 PM (Local Time)
Venue: Pearl Concert Theater, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas
Streaming: TrillerTV+
Confirmed Match Card:
Shayna Baszler vs. Konami
Natalya Neidhart vs. Miyu Yamashita
Charlie Dempsey vs. Shinya Aoki
Pete Dunne vs. Timothy Thatcher
Karmen Petrovic vs. Maika
Karrion Kross vs. JR Kratos
Tavion Heights vs. Royce Isaacs
Baszler’s return is especially notable, as she brings a 2-0 Bloodsport record into her match. Her appearance reinforces WWE’s growing openness to external collaborations and aligns with a broader strategy of cross-platform exposure for its talent.
The event, streaming live on TrillerTV+ from Las Vegas, blends top-tier WWE talent with respected names from the global independent scene, highlighting a new era of cooperation that benefits both WWE and promotions like Bloodsport.
AEW has turned the tide ahead of Dynasty 2025, with ticket sales surging in the final stretch before tonight’s event at Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
According to a final update this morning from WrestleTix, 7,020 tickets have already distributed. The current seating setup accommodates 7,575, indicating a near sellout. This marks a significant jump from the 4,320 tickets reported just over two weeks ago.
AEW also expanded capacity by opening Section 208, reflecting the rising demand as showtime approached.
This year’s turnout has already eclipsed that of 2024’s Dynasty in St. Louis, which drew 6,619 attendees.
AEW enters tonight’s show with clear crowd energy and a packed house, setting the stage for one of its most well-attended Dynasty events to date.
Lucien Price has made his return to in-ring action after being sidelined for nearly three months with a hand injury. The WWE NXT star, a key member of the OTM faction, stepped back into competition during the April 5, 2025 live event in Gainesville, Florida.
Price teamed with his partner Bronco Nima in a tag match against Trick Williams and Wes Lee. Despite the duo’s efforts, they came up short in the bout. The match marked Price’s first since January 18, when he was pulled from action due to injury.
The injury not only kept Price off television but also impacted Nima, who remained inactive on NXT programming despite being healthy. In late February, Price hinted at his recovery progress with a gym photo on social media, showing minimal bracing on his wrist.
With Price now cleared and back in the ring, OTM is expected to reenter the NXT tag team scene. The division is currently led by reigning champions FraxiOM—Nathan Frazer and Axiom—who continue their dominant reign.
Price’s return also comes as Trick Williams prepares for a high-stakes NXT Championship match at Stand & Deliver on April 19, where he’ll face Oba Femi and Je’Von Evans in a triple threat bout.
WWE’s new faction Darkstate — Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, Osiris Griffin, and Dion Lennox — made their in-ring debut during the NXT live event on April 6, 2025. The group secured a decisive win in an eight-man tag team match against Javier Bernal, Drako Knox, Uriah Connors, and Drake Morreaux.
Their first televised match is scheduled for the April 8 episode of NXT, where three members of Darkstate will face NXT Champion Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans in a six-man tag match. NXT General Manager Ava announced the match following Darkstate’s attack on all three competitors during the April 1 broadcast.
Darkstate initially emerged at NXT Vengeance Day in February, debuting with an ambush on Oba Femi. Since then, the group has repeatedly targeted high-profile names, including Fraxiom, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, and Tony D’Angelo. WWE officially revealed the group’s name in mid-March through social media.
Of the four, Dion Lennox is the only member with previous NXT television experience, having competed in the 2024 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament. Cutler James, who joined WWE in 2023, has appeared on WWE: Next Gen and WWE: LFG, while Shugars and Griffin are new to the WWE audience. Lennox is believed to be the group’s leader, based on backstage commentary from Tony D’Angelo’s Family.
Darkstate has made clear they’re done waiting for chances and intend to disrupt NXT while taking what they want. Their televised in-ring debut on April 8 marks the next step in their rise within the brand.
All Elite Wrestling returns to pay-per-view tonight, April 6, 2025, with AEW Dynasty 2025 emanating from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This marks AEW’s first PPV event in Pennsylvania and the second annual Dynasty event.
With seven championship matches on the card, including Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland, fans are in for an action-packed night of professional wrestling.
How to Watch
Start Times:
United States: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT (Main Card)
United Kingdom: 1:00 AM BST (early Monday morning)
Zero Hour Pre-show: 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT
Broadcast Details:
Amazon Prime (new for this event – requires active Prime subscription)
Triller TV (formerly Fite)
PPV.com
Traditional cable/satellite providers (US and Canada)
YouTube (Zero Hour pre-show only)
Match Card
AEW World Championship Jon Moxley (c) w/ Marina Shafir vs. Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana
One year after capturing his first AEW World Championship at Dynasty, Swerve Strickland looks to reclaim gold against Jon Moxley. Mox has maintained a stranglehold on the World Title since defeating Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream last October, finding ways to choke out every challenger that has come before him. This main event promises to be an intense battle between two of AEW’s top stars.
AEW Women’s World Championship “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) w/ Luther vs. Megan Bayne
Toni Storm faces perhaps her most daunting challenge yet as she defends her championship against the powerful Megan Bayne. The champion’s theatrical persona will be put to the test against the raw power of “The Megasus” in what could be a show-stealing contest.
AEW International Championship – Triple Threat Match Kenny Omega (c) vs. Ricochet vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Three of the most athletic performers in professional wrestling collide in what promises to be a high-flying spectacle. Newly crowned champion Kenny Omega puts his title on the line against two challengers known for their innovative offense and aerial abilities.
AEW World Tag Team Championship The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) (c) vs. The Learning Tree (Big Bill & Bryan Keith)
The Hurt Syndicate puts their tag team gold on the line against the imposing duo from The Learning Tree. This match adds another championship contest to an already stacked card, bringing the total to seven title matches for the evening.
AEW World Trios Championship The Death Riders (PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) (c) vs. Rated FTR (Cope, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
Team tensions are running high as Adam Copeland teams with FTR to challenge The Death Riders. With dissension already showing in the challengers’ camp after Cope’s failed attempt to capture the AEW World Title from Moxley, this match could see a potential heel turn from Dax and Cash if they fail to capture the titles.
ROH World Championship vs. Mask Match Chris Jericho (c) vs. Bandido
In a high-stakes encounter, Chris Jericho has agreed to defend his ROH World Championship against Bandido only if the challenger puts his mask on the line. This title-versus-mask stipulation adds an extra layer of drama to an already compelling matchup.
AEW TNT Championship – No Time Limit, No Outside Interference Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Adam Cole
Daniel Garcia defends his TNT Championship against Adam Cole under special stipulations that ensure a definitive winner. With no time limit and outside interference banned, these two technical wrestlers will have to rely solely on their in-ring abilities to emerge victorious.
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Men’s Bracket Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Men’s Bracket Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Women’s Bracket Mercedes Moné vs. Julia Hart
These quarterfinal matches in the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament will have significant implications for Double or Nothing on May 25, where the tournament finals will take place.
With WrestleMania season in full swing, AEW’s Dynasty looks to make its own mark on the wrestling calendar with a stacked card of ten matches, including seven championship bouts and three tournament matches that could reshape the company’s landscape moving forward.
MLW Battle Riot VII took place last night at Thunder Studios Arena in Long Beach, California, featuring several major surprises and title changes:
Main Event
• Matt Riddle successfully retained his MLW World Heavyweight Championship in the 40-person Battle Riot match, entering at #25 and outlasting the entire field • The match concluded with Riddle shoving Rob Van Dam off the top rope as RVD attempted a Five-Star Frog Splash
• Alex Hammerstone made his return to MLW after leaving over a year ago for TNA, entering at #1 • Raj Dhesi (formerly Jinder Mahal) entered at #2 • Chris Adonis (formerly Chris Masters) appeared at #22 • Independent star Titus Alexander was a surprise entrant at #38 • Rob Van Dam made his first-ever MLW appearance as the final entrant at #40
Title Changes
• Shoko Nakajima defeated Delmi Exo to become the new MLW Women’s World Featherweight Champion • Mistico vacated the MLW World Middleweight Championship, announcing his move to the heavyweight division
• Austin Aries returned to MLW as part of the commentary team alongside Joe Dombrowski • Bishop Dyer (formerly Baron Corbin in WWE) made his MLW debut in the Battle Riot match, though his appearance had been announced beforehand • A mysterious teaser aired featuring imagery of a bullet, beer, and tape recorder with the message “They’re Coming” and the number 626, which looks like The Good Brothers are headed to MLW
Mick Foley has expressed his gratitude to his fans following his first public appearance after his recent car accident. Taking to Instagram, Foley shared his thanks to the fans alongside pictures of some of the fans who met him at the Dallas Vintage Toys event.
Foley took to Instagram earlier this week to share that he had been involved in a serious car accident and that he was dealing with soreness and a minor concussion. His post sparked hundreds of well-wishes from fans and those from within the wrestling industry. In an update, Mick’s daughter Noelle shared that the WWE Hall of Famer was lucky to be able to walk away from the serious accident.
Foley is no stranger to concussions and faced more than his fair share throughout his wrestling career. Last year, Foley shared that he was cancelling plans to wrestle one final death match after experiencing concussion-like symptoms. The fact that Foley had not done anything to cause these symptoms were an eye-opener showing that a career risking it all for wrestling continues to affect Foley years after his in-ring career ended.
Mark Nash is WWE SmackDown’s newest announcer and recently, a comment on X by NXT announcer Mike Rome sparked a lot of attention. Rome noticed that Nash was reading off cards during the April 4, edition of WWE SmackDown and questioned when this was introduced.
Wait, we get to read off of cards now??? Asking for a friend lol#wwesmackdown
— Austin Romero (aka: Mike Rome) (@AustinMRomero) April 5, 2025
This comment caught the attention of many fans as well as former Raw announcer Samantha Irvin. After Irvin seemed distraught that she wasn’t given cue cards for her tenure, Rome pointed out that Nash has been using cards for two weeks now.
That’s two weeks I’ve seen one ?
— Austin Romero (aka: Mike Rome) (@AustinMRomero) April 5, 2025
Some fans took Rome’s comments as a dig at Nash who debuted for the blue brand in late March 2025. Feeling it necessary to clarify, Rome wanted to make clear he wasn’t insulting Nash’s work. Instead, Rome is merely hoping that he soon gets to have cards in his role with WWE NXT.
To clarify, @MarkShunock is absolutely crushing it. Don’t look for a deeper meaning to my tweet lol ? I think the card is a killer tool, especially for many of the long ass things we have to say, I want one!
— Austin Romero (aka: Mike Rome) (@AustinMRomero) April 5, 2025
Nash himself would comment, appreciating that Rome’s comments weren’t meant to be insulting. Rome went on to praise the work of the new SmackDown announcer.
Dude, love the style. Keep crushing it. Was watching Friday, gave me Bruce buffer vibes. See you in Vegas!
— Austin Romero (aka: Mike Rome) (@AustinMRomero) April 5, 2025
Nash is new to his role with WWE, which may explain why he is using cue cards to help him remember the stats of the Superstars of the blue brand. It remains to be seen if these cards are here to stay as Mike Rome would love to have some cards of his own.
During Bayley’s initial run in WWE NXT, a young fan named Izzy proved to be the most loyal supporter of the Hugger. Now, Izzy is all grown up and is ready to take the WWE ring by storm just like her hero.
On X, Izzy Moreno cut a passionate promo about the WWE ID Championship, vowing she’s ready to risk it all in the upcoming tournament. Moreno declared that the tournament will be one step closer to her lifelong dream: becoming a WWE Superstar.
What if…..I mean what if @WWEID called me to be in the opening round of the WWE ID Championship tournament at @GCWrestling_ on April 16th in Las Vegas?
Moreno has been making a name for herself in the ring in recent years. In June 2024, Moreno won her first championship, the MPW Championship, a title she holds to this day. Now, Moreno is ready for more gold in her future and believes that the WWE ID Championship will soon be hers.
WWE introduced the WWE ID Men’s and Women’s Championships in February 2025 with Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque doing the honors. The tournaments to crown both champions will begin at GCW’s event on April 16 in the middle of WWE WrestleMania week in Las Vegas. With a historic first up for grabs, Moreno is ready to risk it all, but becoming champion will not be an easy feat of the superfan who aims to become a Superstar.
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Matt Riddle proved his Battle Riot 2024 win was no fluke by winning this year’s massive match. Enntering at number 25, Riddle last eliminated Rob Van Dam, the #40 entrant to win the entire thing. Van Dam’s critical error came when he went up top for the five-star frog splash, giving Riddle the opportunity to throw him from the ring to win.
BRO IS HERE!!! ?
MLW World Champion Matt Riddle has entered the Battle RIOT, taped-up ribs & all!
This win wasn’t just a big victory for Riddle but also a historic one. This year’s Battle Riot marked the first time in history that the MLW World Heavyweight Championship had been on the line in te match. Previously, the match had earned a wrestler a shot at the title. With his victory, Riddle has certainly proved that he deserves to be called the MLW World Heavyweight Champion.
