AEW Dynamite Recap: July 9th

AEW Dynamite aired live on July 9, 2025, from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. It served as the final episode before the highly anticipated AEW All-In: Texas PPV on July 12. This go-home show delivered a mix of explosive matches, heated promos, and storyline advancements. It set the stage for one of AEW’s biggest events of the year.

The show kicked off with TBS Champion Mercedes Moné entering the ring to address the Texas crowd. She called for a “civilized” face-to-face with AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm ahead of their championship clash at AEW All-In. Moné’s request dripped with sarcasm, given her recent attacks on Storm. Toni appeared on the big screen from backstage. She delivered a scathing promo, accusing Moné of having “the emotional depth of a kiddie pool” and declaring, “You fear an ordinary life, but I only fear an ordinary death.” The segment escalated when Moné taunted Storm’s theatrical persona. This prompted Storm to storm the ring. A brawl ensued, with security intervening, only for Storm to land a parting shot, raising her title defiantly.

The Moné-Storm feud has been a masterclass in blending personal animosity with psychological warfare. Moné’s heel persona thrives on her arrogance and calculated attacks. At the same time, Storm’s eccentric “Timeless” character has evolved into a hard-hitting champion who channels her theatrics into raw intensity. This segment highlighted their contrasting styles…Moné’s corporate swagger versus Storm’s larger-than-life charisma…while reinforcing the stakes of their title match.

The promo was a mixed bag. Storm’s lines were poetic and impactful, cementing her as one of AEW’s best talkers. Moné’s delivery felt flat, struggling to match Storm’s energy. The segment was “clunky” and didn’t fully live up to the hype of their in-ring potential. However, the physicality at the end ensured the feud retained its heat. This face-to-face successfully set the tone for a marquee women’s match at AEW All-In, though Moné needs to elevate her mic work to keep pace with Storm’s brilliance.

In a fast-paced tag team match, Don Callis Family members Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher faced ROH World Champion Bandido and Brody King. Bandido energized the crowd with a hurricanrana on Takeshita, while King delivered a devastating lariat. The match saw Don Callis briefly leave commentary. Callis was rattled by Bandido’s near-pinfall. Fletcher’s timely interference, including a boot that sent King over the barricade, isolated Bandido. Takeshita countered Bandido’s “21 Plex” with a precise elbow and sealed the victory with his “Raging Fire” finisher.

This match advanced the Don Callis Family’s dominance, with Takeshita and Fletcher positioned as rising stars. Bandido’s high-flying heroics and King’s powerhouse style reinforced their fan-favorite status. Their loss highlighted the Callis Family’s cunning teamwork. The match also subtly tied into the broader AEW All-In card, as Fletcher’s momentum builds toward his title match.

The match was a strong showcase of contrasting styles, with Bandido’s acrobatics and King’s brute force meshing well against Takeshita’s technical precision and Fletcher’s opportunism. Excalibur’s commentary noted Callis’s strategic distractions. While the outcome was predictable to elevate the Callis Family, the action kept the crowd engaged. This bout served as a solid appetizer for AEW All-In.

In a backstage segment, The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd) cut a passionate promo about their recent Collision match against FTR. They vowed to “never give up” and promised to climb the tag team ranks. The promo was brief but heartfelt. The Outrunners are being positioned as underdog fan favorites, with their old-school aesthetic and earnest promos endearing them to audiences. Their mention of FTR suggests a match where they aim to prove themselves against AEW’s elite. This segment also subtly builds FTR’s credibility as gatekeepers of the tag division.

The Outrunners’ promo was a refreshing change of pace, injecting personality into the midcard. Their sincerity contrasts with the more cynical heel teams. While they’re not yet in the AEW All-In picture, this segment plants seeds for a future FTR match, possibly at AEW All-In.

This four-way match determined the number two entrant in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet at AEW All-In. Megan Bayne dominated early with her power-based offense, while Tay Melo showcased her judo-inspired strikes. Queen Aminata’s technical prowess and Thekla’s unpredictable style kept the pace frenetic. Bayne secured the win with a decisive Tombstone Piledriver on Thekla, earning her a prime spot in the Gauntlet.

Bayne’s victory solidifies her as a breakout star in the women’s division. Her powerhouse persona is drawing comparisons to AEW’s top heels. The match also gave exposure to Melo, Aminata, and Thekla. The Casino Gauntlet’s importance was emphasized. The winner earns a future world title shot. The match was a concise sprint that highlighted each competitor’s strengths without overstaying its welcome. Bayne’s win was the right call, as her momentum positions her as a credible threat in the Gauntlet. However, the lack of a clear favorite in the Gauntlet match itself dilutes the stakes slightly. This bout added depth to the AEW All-In card but felt like a placeholder compared to the show’s bigger segments.

MJF and Mark Briscoe engaged in a heated “talky-talk” segment ahead of their Men’s Casino Gauntlet match at AEW All-In. MJF invoked the late Jay Briscoe to provoke Mark, leading to a fiery response from the ROH veteran. Briscoe promised to honor his brother’s legacy by winning the Gauntlet. The segment spiraled into a brawl involving The Hurt Syndicate, JetSpeed, and The Patriarchy, teasing their tag team title match at AEW All-In.

MJF’s heel work remains top-tier, using personal jabs to generate nuclear heat. Briscoe’s emotional retort grounded the segment in authenticity. The brawl tied into the AEW World Tag Team Championship storyline, where The Hurt Syndicate, JetSpeed, and The Patriarchy vie for supremacy. The mention of Jay Briscoe added a controversial but effective layer to the feud.

The segment was polarizing, as MJF’s reference to Jay Briscoe drew criticism for exploiting real-life tragedy. However, it undeniably intensified the MJF-Briscoe rivalry, making their Gauntlet match a must-watch. The subsequent brawl felt chaotic but effectively previewed the tag title match’s stakes. This was a high-risk, high-reward segment that leaned into AEW’s edgy storytelling, though it could’ve been streamlined to avoid overshadowing the tag teams.

Samoa Joe faced Wheeler Yuta in a hard-hitting singles match stemming from tensions between The Opps and the Death Riders. Joe dominated with his signature strikes and submissions, while Yuta’s resilience shone through with high-impact counters. Samoa Joe secured the win with a Muscle Buster, standing tall as a dominant force.

This match reinforced Samoa Joe’s status as a powerhouse babyface aligned with The Opps, who’ve thwarted the Death Riders’ dominance. Yuta’s valiant effort furthered his underdog arc within the Death Riders, setting up potential dissension with Jon Moxley. The bout also built momentum for The Opps’ trios title defense at AEW All-In.

Samoa Joe and Wheeler Yuta delivered a physical, no-nonsense match that played to their strengths. It effectively advanced the Opps-Death Riders feud without giving away too much before AEW All-In. However, the lack of a direct AEW All-In singles match for either competitor made this feel like a detour. The clean finish protected Joe’s credibility while keeping Yuta sympathetic.

The main event saw AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and The Young Bucks face Hangman Adam Page, Will Ospreay, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata. The match was a chaotic brawl, with Page and Moxley’s animosity taking center stage. Ospreay dazzled with aerial maneuvers, while Hobbs and Shibata brought stiff strikes. The Young Bucks’ heel tactics, including an attempted thumbtack-laden superkick, were thwarted by Ospreay. Page nearly pinned Moxley after a Deadeye, but interference from Marina Shafir allowed Moxley to escape. The match ended in a no-contest when Swerve Strickland drove an excavator through The Young Bucks’ limousine, prompting a massive brawl to close the show.

This match encapsulated multiple AEW All-In storylines: Page’s quest for Moxley’s world title in a Texas Death Match, Ospreay and Strickland’s feud with The Young Bucks, and the Death Riders’ ongoing war with The Opps (represented by Hobbs and Shibata). Swerve’s dramatic intervention escalated his rivalry with The Young Bucks, tying into their tag team match at AEW All-In. Moxley’s smug demeanor contrasted with Page’s desperate intensity, while Ospreay’s leadership solidified his babyface role.

The 8-man tag was a thrilling microcosm of AEW All-In’s top feuds, delivering non-stop action and crowd-pleasing spots. The no-contest finish allowed Swerve’s limo destruction to steal the spotlight. Page and Moxley’s interactions were electric, teasing a brutal Texas Death Match. However, the chaotic ending risked overshadowing the trios and Gauntlet storylines. This was a strong go-home moment, though it leaned heavily on spectacle over resolution.

Swerve’s excavator attack on The Young Bucks’ limo was a highlight, reinforcing his unpredictable edge. His feud with The Young Bucks, rooted in their betrayal at AEW Dynasty, feels personal and high-stakes. This sets up a potential show-stealer at All In.

NJPW’s Gabe Kidd made a surprise return, aligning with the Death Riders and teasing a trios match at AEW All-In. This adds intrigue to the Death Riders’ arc, though its placement on Dynamite felt underplayed.

Ricochet defeated Blake Christian in a quick match, continuing his heel turn alongside Gates of Agony. This feud with Christian and Lee Johnson feels secondary, but adds depth to the midcard.

Page’s promos and in-ring intensity portray him as a man on the edge. He’s desperate to reclaim the AEW World Championship. His Texas Death Match with Jon Moxley is poised to be a defining moment in his redemption story.

The AEW Dynamite July 9th episode was a solid go-home show that prioritized building anticipation for AEW All-In: Texas. The main event and Swerve’s limo destruction were standout moments, effectively hyping the world title and tag team matches. The Moné-Storm segment, while flawed, maintained its feud’s momentum. The MJF-Briscoe “talky-talk” added emotional weight to the Casino Gauntlet. Matches like Takeshita and Fletcher vs. Bandido and King and Bayne’s four-way victory provided quality in-ring action, though some felt disconnected from the PPV card.

This Dynamite succeeded in its primary goal: making AEW All-In: Texas feel like a can’t-miss event. The top storylines of Page vs Moxley, Swerve and Ospreay vs The Young Bucks, and Moné vs Storm are firing on all cylinders. However, the midcard and women’s division need tighter focus. AEW’s willingness to take risks (e.g., the limo stunt, Jay Briscoe reference) keeps the product bold, but refining the pacing could elevate future go-home shows. Fans should head into AEW All-In with high expectations for the marquee matches.