AEW Dynamite (Nov. 12, 2025) delivered Blood & Guts from First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, NC. It was a double dose of Blood & Guts with Jon Moxley tapping out for the men and Toni Storm surrendering for the women. There was also an electric finish to Hangman Page’s Falls Count Anywhere win. Let’s break down all the action from this special episode.
Jon Moxley taps out in Men’s Blood & Guts
The men’s Blood & Guts main event featured Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, Wheeler Yuta, & Daniel Garcia versus Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, & Roderick Strong. The action was as violent as expected. Blood was flowing. There were a few surprises with the biggest one being the finish.
In the middle of the match, AEW orchestrated an angle for the Callis Family to attack Briscoe backstage. He was supposed to be third for his team, however, his status to compete was now in question. Briscoe eventually made it out as the final man to kick-start a babyface rally. I’m not sure what this angle brought to the match. They could just as easily had Briscoe be the tenth man without injury drama and the match would have been the same. Anyway, Briscoe’s big spot was the Jay Driller to Yuta on top of the cage.
On to a lighter note, I love Claudio’s swings. Double the pleasure, double the fun on a combo swing to Cassidy and Allin.
The funniest moment of the night was Moxley stapling Cassidy’s hands in his pockets.
Gabe Kidd arrived as a surprise to attack Allin. This fits in story from when Allin dragged him away behind a truck. Kidd lit tables on fire, and PAC pressed Allin off the top of the tunnel to crash through tables. PAC cackled with laughter like a maniac.
On to the finish. The Death Riders went to work with domination. Moxley used a chain to slap on the bulldog choke to O’Reilly. This felt like it would be Moxley’s vindication to finally beat O’Reilly. Think again. O’Reilly showed tremendous intestinal fortitude to flip the bird rather than quit.
Cassidy made the save to start the final rally. He knocked Moxley silly with superman punches. The Conglomeration pounded the Death Riders to clear space. O’Reilly snatched an ankle lock on Moxley. Drama increased when Mox countered into the bulldog choke. O’Reilly was able to reverse for a grapevine ankle lock. Moxley had no escape, and nobody was coming to save him. The leader of the Death Riders tapped out.
In terms of entertainment, that was an excellent finish to the men’s Blood & Guts. Kyle O’Reilly was boosted with the star treatment of submitting Moxley, and it fits well into the series of singles matches they had. The submission exchanges really brought excitement. I bit hook, line, and sinker on Moxley’s chained bulldog choke. Based on the flow of the match, that would have been a perfectly acceptable finish in its own right. O’Reilly winning was a huge surprise in my eyes, and it was all the more sweeter given the context of his recent feud with Mox.
The follow-up will be important. The Death Riders had all the momentum only to have Moxley quit again. This has to lead into the crew questioning his rank as leader. Claudio or PAC need to test Moxley’s heart. AEW can’t leave that go unanswered. And I do think this is part of AEW’s plan for the longer story of Mox’s arc, wherever that leads. In the meantime, it would be funny if Moxley gets demoted to young boy status below Yuta.
Toni Storm surrenders in Women’s Blood & Guts
The women’s Blood & Guts opener featured Thekla, Julia Hart, Skye Blue, Megan Bayne, Marina Shafir, & Mercedes Moné versus Jamie Hayter, Willow Nightingale, Harley Cameron, Mina Shirakawa, Toni Storm, & Kris Statlander. The blood started early when Willow executed a slingshot suplex to send Blue into the cage then pounced her into the corner. Blue’s wound was a gusher to set the mood. These women were not playing around.
On the chaos tip, Shafir kicked Statlander onto a bed of nails.
Storm’s plan with a mirror backfired when Shafir broke the glass over Timeless’ head.
After Mercedes stood tall from hitting signature moves on Storm and Statlander, the CEO had to deal with a familiar face. The men’s match had the Gabe Kidd guest spot. The women’s match had a guest spot from Mini Moné! That was a trick for Harley to clock Mercedes with brass knuckles. Feel the wrath!
The most creative moment of the evening came when Thekla and Hart slipped through the truss holes to exit the cage.
There was a method to their madness, and this played toward the finish. Thekla speared the referee, and Hart took the key to open the cage door. Mercedes shoved opponents out the door tumbling down the steps. The action continued with Statlander on the prowl. Mercedes tried to escape by climbing up, however, Statlander snatched her for a Samoan drop through a table.
The Triangle of Madness’ plan went into effect. They locked the door for a numbers advantage. The heroes fought hard, but the villains were ruthless. The finish came down to Shafir choking Shirakawa as Bayne whipped her with a title belt. The Triangle of Madness forced Storm to watch. Storm surrendered to save her lover from the pain.
Overall, great job by the wrestlers. I enjoyed the women’s Blood & Guts more than the men’s. It had a better flow, and the violence wasn’t as over the top. The order of entrance worked well for the stories and feuds. Mercedes and Shafir were the standouts in my eye. Mercedes was the catalyst for sports entertainment moments. Shafir was the anchor of her team. That was surprising to me when considering how little she gets used in the ring.
The game plan for the finish was smart. I like seeing strategy from Triangle of Madness compared to the usual blunt force trauma in Blood & Guts. That intelligence helps enhance their characters. Storm surrendering to save Mina may have touched an emotional chord for fans, and it will definitely be fuel for the next Timeless chapter for revenge. That will be good television moving forward. Hayter should have had a bigger role since she was the one who called for Blood & Guts. Her story was hijacked by the star power of Storm.
I was a little disappointed that neither Blood & Guts resolved any issues. It feels like a footnote in the ongoing soap operas. There’s a bigger discussion to be had about the purpose of using these types of matches beyond entertainment for entertainment’s sake.
Hangman Page and Will Hobbs rumbled in Falls Count Anywhere. This was a non-title match for the world champ. That didn’t matter to Hobbs. The mission was to inflict pain prior to Samoa Joe’s PPV bout at Full Gear. Powerhouse laid his licks in, however, it was the cowboy who had the last laugh. In a callback to last week when Hobbs powerslammed Hangman off the stage through a table, the cowboy did one better. Hangman took off his boot to clobber Hobbs falling off the balcony through the electrical table as sparks flew. Hangman moseyed downstairs to make the pin.
That finish put a smile on my face. Credit to AEW for success on the exploding special effects. Hangman and Hobbs gave the people what they wanted. It was a slobberknocker making good use of Falls Count Anywhere. That stipulation was a smart choice by the bookerman when considering the double rings of Blood & Guts. Hangman and Hobbs wrestled in a fun way across the rings then brawling through the crowd. The intensity fit the feud to make the result satisfying.
The larger story continued afterward. Joe and Shibata attacked Hangman. Joe tried to lower the cage to isolate the cowboy, but Eddie Kingston and Hook were able to make the save in time. The Opps scattered away. Hangman upped the ante to a cage match against Joe for the AEW world title at Full Gear.
Hangman’s challenge has A Bronx Tale vibes. “Now youse can’t leave.”
Notes: FTR interrupted Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat with insults. Tensions flared. At 73 years of age, Steamboat decided to be the smarter man and exit the ring. FTR tried to attack him anyway for a piledriver. Brodido made the save, and Steamboat showed some flash in his fists to help clear the ring. Fun segment earning simple heel heat for the babyface pop.
Ric Flair was advertised, but he didn’t appear on screen. The rumored update is an injury issue.
The Callis Family attacked Jurassic Express. This was an effort to recruit the Young Bucks. Okada warned that it is decision time. I cracked up at Okada’s delivery.
For more play-by-play details, be sure to read the excellent live blog from Claire Elizabeth.
Stud of the Show: Kyle O’Reilly
Biggest win of his AEW career.
Match of the Night: Hangman Page vs. Will Hobbs
Great execution of stipulation tied into the story.
Blood & Guts delivered as advertised. That style is not for everyone, so enjoyment will vary for that reason.
Share your thoughts about Dynamite. How do you rate it? What were your favorite moments from the show? Who impressed you the most?
