by Tony Ramos
AEW Dynasty 2025: A Night of Highs, Lows, and Questionable Booking Decisions
AEW’s Dynasty 2025 was a show that undoubtedly delivered action, but whether it truly advanced the company’s narratives in a meaningful way is up for debate. While there were standout performances, some questionable booking choices left fans with mixed emotions.
The Good: High-Octane Wrestling and Star Performances
Jon Moxley vs. Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship was an intense, hard-hitting affair. Strickland has established himself as a top-tier talent, and many believed this could be his crowning moment. However, the match was overshadowed by interference from The Young Bucks, which felt like a cheap way to keep the belt on Moxley. While this keeps the Bucks relevant, it robbed Swerve of what could have been a defining victory.
Kenny Omega once again stole the show in his triple-threat match against Ricochet and “Speedball” Mike Bailey. This match showcased AEW’s in-ring excellence at its peak, but it also highlighted an ongoing issue: the International Championship often gets better in-ring treatment than the AEW World Title.
The Bad: Predictable Turns and Stale Storytelling
FTR’s betrayal of Adam Copeland was telegraphed weeks in advance. While their heel turn shakes up the tag division, the execution lacked surprise. AEW has developed a pattern of “turn for the sake of turning,” rather than storytelling that builds organically.
Bandido’s victory over Chris Jericho in the Mask vs. Title match was a great moment, but the need to restart the match after a controversial finish felt unnecessary. If AEW wanted Bandido to win clean, why not just book him strong from the start?
The Ugly: Women’s Division Still Feels Secondary
Toni Storm defended her AEW Women’s World Championship against Megan Bayne, but the match placement and lack of meaningful build continued the trend of AEW treating its women’s division as an afterthought. While Mercedes Moné advancing in the Owen Hart Cup is a positive move, AEW still struggles to give its women’s matches the same weight as the men’s.
Final Verdict: A Solid Event With Flawed Execution
Dynasty 2025 had its moments of brilliance but suffered from AEW’s recurring issues—overreliance on interference, predictable turns, and an inconsistent focus on its divisions. While the action was great, the booking choices left more questions than excitement for what’s next. With All In on the horizon, AEW needs to tighten its storytelling or risk losing momentum.
⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5) – Good wrestling, frustrating booking.
