AEW Dynamite Results: Darby Allin appears, helps Hangman

July 16, 2025 John Kleinchester NEWS, RECOMMENDED, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: AEW

July 16, 2025
Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL

By: John Kleinchester

AEW Dynamite Results

  • Kyle Fletcher over Máscara Dorada via Sheer Drop Brainbuster in 10:52
  • Josh Alexander, Hechicero, & The Young Bucks over Jetspeed, Bandido, & Brody King via Submission in 13:36
  • $100,000 4-Way: Thekla over Queen Aminata, Kris Statlander, & Willow Nightingale via Stomp in 10:43
  • Kazuchika Okada over Rafael Quintero via Rainmaker in 1:03
  • Adam Page, Mark Briscoe, & Powerhouse Hobbs over The Death Riders via Jackknife Pin in 17:41

 

Hangman Speaks

The first of six AEW shows from the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago kicked off with the new AEW World Champion Hangman Adam Page to a huge pop. The crowd chanted “you deserve it,” and Hangman retorted that the crowd deserved it, to which the crowd chanted “we deserve it”. Hangman (who was visibly limping) also thanked everyone who helped him fight the war against the Death Riders: Orange Cassidy, Jay White, Adam Copeland, The Opps, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, and Will Ospreay.

Page continued, not sure if Swerve Strickland helped for himself, for AEW, or Page himself – but thanked Swerve as well. Hangman admitted that he shed tears as well as blood at All In, but he is “the champion of the fucking world”. This was not bleeped on Triller nor was it on Twitter. 

The Young Bucks Arrive

A video was shown from earlier in the day, featuring the Young Bucks arriving at the arena in what appeared to be an Uber, rather than a limousine, as they tried to hide their faces from the camera. A little later, the former EVPs were attempting to find their locker room and ran into Marina Shafir, who stared them down. Ricochet and Gates of Agony approached and said it sucked to be them. Don Callis then entered and said that they could conduct some business now that Kenny was “dead.” Matt said they would never join his family, but he could see it working, and the three hugged. 

 

Kyle Fletcher vs. Máscara Dorada 

The first match of the evening saw Kyle Fletcher taking on CMLL’s Máscara Dorada. Dorada impressed with his high-flying moveset, while Fletcher attempted to keep him grounded. Dorada fought off Fletcher’s attacks and wowed the crowd with moves that I’m not even sure what to call (and neither did Excalibur). There was also an excellent “oner” camera shot that tracked around the ring as the two went back and forth. 

Then out of nowhere, Fletcher lawn darted Dorada into the second turnbuckle and followed that up with his Sheer Drop Brainbuster for the win. Dorada impressed here and got most of the offense before Fletcher pulled out the win. After the match, Kyle addressed Dustin Rhodes directly to the camera, saying he took away his big moment at All In, and he would see him very soon. 

Nice Guys Finish Last

A video was shown of The Hurt Business backstage after their victories at All In, with MVP again begging for competition. MJF said that he was happy that Hangman won, and he has a lot to prove against him, and he couldn’t wait to push him back into a pit of despair. MJF said nice guys finish last, and they are not nice at all.

Don Callis Family & Young Bucks vs. Jetspeed, Bandido & Brody King

The next match up was Josh Alexander, Hechicero, and The Young Bucks taking on Jetspeed, Bandido, and Brody King. During their entrance, the Bucks were waiting for their pyro to go off when their music stopped, and an MS Paint-looking “Matt & Nick” appeared on the screen, much to their chagrin.

This was the second match in a row with some impressive high-flying action, as expected considering the participants. At one point, the Bucks attempted to hit the EVP Trigger on Kevin Knight but stopped when they realized they could no longer call it that, allowing Knight to regain control.

The finish sequence featured numerous big team-based moves and ended when Hechicero caught Bandido in a submission, with it unclear whether Bandido had tapped or passed out. 

This match was a lot of fun; however, it was yet another 8-person tag, which has undoubtedly become a trope in AEW over the last month or two. 

No Touching

Adam Copeland was out next and said he didn’t try to save Christian Cage at All In, calling him an asshole. Copeland said he didn’t blame Nick Wayne and company for what they did to Christian. Copeland said he returned at All In to end FTR. Cope noted that FTR started complaining that he was holding them back when they were on the same side. This brought out Big Stoke, accompanied by several security guards to protect him. Stoke said that WarnerMedia received three anonymous emails complaining about Copeland’s behavior after All In. Stoke said that if Copeland touches FTR, he gets fired. Copeland pointed out that he didn’t mention touching Stoke himself. Copeland then fought off security and hit Stoke with a spear.

Note: Well-known indie wrestler Kevin Ku was one of Stoke’s security in this segment. 

Mark Briscoe cut a promo backstage, calling MJF a bitch for avoiding him in the Casino Gauntlet Match, and they were just getting started. 

$100,000 4-Way

Next was the $100,000 4-Way featuring Thekla, Queen Aminata, Kris Statlander, and Willow Nightingale (all participants from the Women’s Casino Gauntlet at All In). This match effectively highlighted the strengths of all four competitors, with no one dominating the field. At one point, all four women went down, and the crowd gave them a standing ovation. Willow seemingly had the match won after hitting Thekla with the Doctor Bomb, but Kris Statlander pulled the referee out of the ring. Statlander and Willow battled up the ramp while back in the ring, Aminata and Thekla continued their fight. Skye Blue and Julia Hart then entered the ring with Julia Hart misting Aminata in the face, allowing Thekla to hit the stomp for the win. The segment ended with Thekla, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue raising their hands together. 

 

This Tramp is Still the Champ

Timeless Toni Storm then appeared on a balcony and cut a promo about how she’s still the champ. She thanked Mercedes Moné for their match and said she is ready for a rematch at any time. Toni said that Luther was injured in the match and required “reattachment surgery,” but her tits are pointing to the future. Athena and Billie Starkz interrupted, and Athena said that she will be the “forever AEW champion,” and she hurt Mina Shirakawa with the O Face, so Toni has no one left to help her. Athena teased when she would execute her contract, and it was announced that next week, Toni Storm would face Billie Starkz on Dynamite.

Nick Wayne, Mother Wayne, and Kip Sabian cut a backstage promo on Christian Cage, saying that he was past his expiration date when he attempted to become the world champion. Wayne noted that he was the youngest champion in the company, and he would win “more champions” as he was the new face of AEW. 

The First-Ever AEW Unified Champion

Don Callis was out next and introduced the AEW Unified Champion, Kazuchika Okada. Okada had a brand new theme, which was markedly different from his classic one. Notably, Don Callis still held the original Continental and International Championship belts, while Okada wore the Unified belt. Okada beat Rafael Quintero (who wasn’t even named on-screen) in just over a minute. Okada then called out Swerve for screwing over his friends, The Young Bucks. Swerve came out and said he did screw the Bucks and asked what Okada would do about it. The two had a staredown, and the segment ended abruptly. 

 

Death Riders vs. Hangman, Briscoe, & Hobbs

The main event of Dynamite saw the Death Riders taking on Hangman, Mark Briscoe, and Powerhouse Hobbs. This was a pretty straightforward trios match with the expected involvement of Marina Shafir behind the referee’s back. 

Things started getting rolling once Hangman got tagged in, with the crowd reacting strongly in his favor. Suddenly, everyone was spamming their finishers, ending with Page missing the Buckshot on Claudio and then reversing the Neutralizer into a jackknife pin for the win. The Death Riders then started beating down Hangman when Darby Allin appeared up in the balcony, distracting Jon Moxley and allowing Hangman to hit the Buckshot on Moxley. Hangman, Briscoe, and Hobbs stood tall as the show went off the air. 

About John Kleinchester 277 Articles
John Kleinchester is a wrestling reporter from New Jersey, covering the sport since 2022. He is a graduate of Ithaca College and can be reached at jkleinchester@gmail.com.
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