AEW Dynamite #289 - Spring BreakThru - Tag 1
đź—“ April 17, 2025
👊🏻 #AdFree
đź‘Ą @WWEalaan2025
⚡Non Title Owen Hart Foundation 2025 Women's Tournament Semi Final Match
Athena vs. Mercedes Moné
⚡Owen Hart Foundation 2025 Men's Tournament Quarter Final Match
Josh Alexander vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
⚡AEW World Tag Team Title Match
The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) (c) vs. Gates Of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
⚡Owen Hart Foundation 2025 Men's Tournament Semi Final Match
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Will Ospreay
⚡AEW World Trios Title Match
Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta) (w/Marina Shafir) (c) vs. The Opps (Katsuyori Shibata & Samoa Joe) & Powerhouse Hobbs
đź—“ April 17, 2025
👊🏻 #AdFree
đź‘Ą @WWEalaan2025
⚡Non Title Owen Hart Foundation 2025 Women's Tournament Semi Final Match
Athena vs. Mercedes Moné
⚡Owen Hart Foundation 2025 Men's Tournament Quarter Final Match
Josh Alexander vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
⚡AEW World Tag Team Title Match
The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) (c) vs. Gates Of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
⚡Owen Hart Foundation 2025 Men's Tournament Semi Final Match
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Will Ospreay
⚡AEW World Trios Title Match
Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta) (w/Marina Shafir) (c) vs. The Opps (Katsuyori Shibata & Samoa Joe) & Powerhouse Hobbs
Category
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PeopleTranscript
00:00Ladies and gentlemen, from the 2011 Stanley Cup champion, Boston Bruins,
00:09ladies and gentlemen, Tuca Rass!
00:14Well, EW, we're glad to be back in Boston, the city of champions.
00:17And speaking of which, we rolled out the red carpet by Boston Bruins.
00:21Tuca Rass, 2011 Stanley Cup champion, alongside the aforementioned Lord Stanley's Cup
00:26and the NHL's action-packed Stanley Cup playoffs.
00:28Beginning this Saturday on TNT and Max, you don't miss a moment with NHL on TNT.
00:35But coming up next on Dynamite, Hangman Adam Page will face the wildcard entry
00:40in the final first-round match of the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
00:58Yes, it's an opening round match of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament set for a one-fall.
01:11A personal ring from Aarons Creek, Virginia.
01:13Weighted to 129 pounds, Hangman Adam Page.
01:23You can hear it's an electric atmosphere for Dynamite 289 here in Boston, Massachusetts.
01:31As Hangman Adam Page takes to the ring to face the wildcard in the final opening round match of the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
01:38Of course, Kyle Fletcher awaiting the winner of this match in the semifinals.
01:42A lot of stories about AEW 289 appeared in Variety.
01:47The Hollywood Reporter, Sports Illustrated, TV Insider with quotes from Tony Khan.
01:53And his opponent.
01:57Let's go, Hangman!
01:59From Toronto, Ontario, Canada, weighing 228 pounds,
02:21The Walking Weapon, George Alexander!
02:29There were a lot of rumors about Josh Alexander exploring free agency.
02:37Where he would go, this man who is one of the toughest, most intense blue-collar athletes that Canada has ever produced.
02:49But it is appearing, Tony, that he has landed in all elite wrestling.
02:53And he is the wildcard that Hangman Adam Page has drawn in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
02:58Yeah, this is the Toronto native, who has had so many championships during his career,
03:05now gets a shot if he can move on and win here to maybe become the AEW World Champion by the time this tournament is over.
03:12Josh Alexander!
03:13Josh Alexander!
03:14Josh Alexander!
03:15Josh Alexander!
03:16Josh Alexander!
03:17Hangman Adam Page!
03:18These two men, no strangers,
03:19sharing the locker room in Ring of Honor earlier on in their career, but they've never met one-on-one.
03:26And every time you have a wildcard, Tony,
03:31it's a nightmare to prepare for, because you don't know who.
03:34You don't know who, it could be anybody, Josh Alexander, he knew he was walking into this match with Hangman Adam Page.
03:39He knew exactly what he was walking into, Hangman Adam Page.
03:41He's got to play this one by feel, no game plan.
03:43Absolutely, and it makes it very tough.
03:45Josh Alexander, if you're wondering about the headgear, I think it's well known, wrestling fans know this,
03:50he wears that amateur headgear because he had a cauliflowered left ear that required surgery to reattach back in 2013.
03:57Yeah, but that wasn't the only surgery that Josh Alexander's had to battle through,
04:02a serious neck injury, fusion of a C5, C6 vertebrae.
04:06But you know what, Alexander, he came back from that surgery, he came back tougher, he came back more determined,
04:12and he captured the first singles championship of his career after receiving that surgery.
04:19And now, entering the Earnhardt Foundation Tournament and just being a handful of wins away, Tony, from becoming AEW World Champion.
04:29But that all begins, or that's all contingent on a victory here tonight against former champion Hangman Adam Page.
04:34It's a tough road, Hangman Adam Page here, and of course, Kyle Fletcher wakes the winner.
04:39We're back in Boston tomorrow night, by the way, for Spring Breakthrough, live on TNT for Collision.
04:44That's a Thursday night collision tomorrow night, right back here in Boston.
04:49That's not all, Tony.
04:50That's right, coming up next Wednesday, Dynamite Collision will be in New Orleans, UNO Lakefront Arena.
04:56And then we go to Norfolk the following week, back at the Chartway Arena on campus.
05:02That is Wednesday, April 30th.
05:04How about the weekend following then?
05:06The Ring of Honor Supercard of Honor on Friday, May 2nd.
05:09That's Friday, May 2nd, in Atlantic City.
05:12We look forward to seeing all of our things.
05:14Ooh!
05:15Tickets on sale at AEWTIX.com.
05:18Hangman Adam Page now with the advantage over the wild card.
05:21Josh Alexander, the walking weapon, as he's been known throughout his career.
05:25But Hangman Adam Page bringing the weapon.
05:27The Lariat first.
05:28Alexander avoids the second one.
05:30Now boot intercepted.
05:31Alexander...
05:32Oh-ho!
05:33Just ate that huge elbow strike.
05:36Alexander was showing a lot of quickness early on here.
05:39Let's see if Hangman can pound that out of him.
05:41I love him.
05:42Alexander, somebody that was known in the early stages of his career, primarily as a tag-team wrestler,
05:46but changing his focus to singles titles, to singles glory.
05:51And you saw him favoring that knee.
05:53That'll be worth observing as he came down on the apron.
05:56And now Hangman Adam Page over the top.
05:58Alexander underneath and Hangman face first in the apron.
06:02Alexander doing a great job of using his environment that time.
06:10And he's gonna go right back after Hangman.
06:12Oh!
06:13Hangman avoids the high boot.
06:15And now it's Alexander's turn to find himself straddling the ringside barricade as Hangman Adam Page.
06:21Taking advantage of this unique setup here in the MGM Music Hall.
06:26Yeah, I don't know what Hangman's got planned, but he's gonna have to dive over some fans to get to his bluff.
06:31Oh!
06:32And he did!
06:33Hangman Page strikes from the air as this match continues live.
06:41All right!
06:42And Max!
06:43How about the first two matches we have had here?
06:52Now they're both tournament matches, as you know, but the physicality we have seen from all four.
06:57The two ladies at the beginning and, of course, then these two gentlemen.
07:01Here it is one more time.
07:03Look at how far he had to come.
07:05Anthony, think about how dangerous we all know.
07:09Leaping off a stage like that is...
07:11I mean, just ask Adam Cole.
07:13He's back to live action.
07:15Hangman is looking for a pinfall attempt.
07:17Josh Alexander kicking out.
07:19I mean, think about it.
07:20It was Grand Slam.
07:21Arthur Ashe Stadium just a few years ago.
07:23Adam Cole leaping off the stage and, unfortunately for him, just obliterated his ankle.
07:29I mean...
07:30And we've...
07:31His career could have ended.
07:32I mean, that's how serious that injury was.
07:35Oh, brother.
07:39Now that had a lot of steam behind him.
07:41So did that forearm.
07:43Yeah, Josh Alexander, for those that are seeing him compete for the first time.
07:48Very physical competitor.
07:51Very grizzled.
07:52He's tough.
07:53But he's somebody that has a high degree of technique as well.
07:59Big time Samoan drop.
08:01And now Alexander drops that knee like a guillotine on the back of the neck.
08:07A hangman.
08:08Alexander, the lateral press.
08:10Hangman able to kick out.
08:12We're talking about the physicality of the matches so far.
08:15How about this tag team match we had tonight for the championship?
08:18It's going to be some physicality in that one.
08:21Oh, brother.
08:22I feel like that's going to be a don't blink match because I think both sides, on both sides,
08:27they're going to be throwing haymakers.
08:29Yes, they are.
08:30Of course, the main event.
08:36The Ops.
08:37Katsuri Shibata Samojo down a man after the attack.
08:41Unhooked by the Death Riders.
08:46Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and the AEW World Champion Jon Moxley stepping in
08:53to defend the AEW World Trios Championship later on tonight in our main event.
08:56You know what?
08:57The Death Riders, Excalibur, always have a plan, and more than likely, many times,
09:06it's worked most of the time.
09:08He certainly has thus far for Jon Moxley and the death grip he has around the AEW World Championship.
09:18Alexander, scissor to the leg, the knee to the face.
09:21Hangman Adam Page, his turn to kick out.
09:23Alexander protesting the count, but to my eyes, Tony, seemed on target.
09:28It was.
09:29Rick Knox did a great job.
09:30Now it's Xander, tight grip around the neck.
09:39The former AEW World Champion, Hangman Adam Page.
09:43Who will capture a spot in the semifinal round of the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament.
09:52Will it be Hangman Adam Page or will it be the wild card, the walking weapon?
09:56Josh Alexander, who right now has the former AEW World Champion at a disadvantage.
10:02Alexander, the cover, the leg is hooked, and Hangman able to kick out.
10:06Saw the three tears of a sellout crowd here at the MGM Theater.
10:10It's been a great night for us.
10:13We've got another night tomorrow night.
10:15Take a look at this Excalibur.
10:16Got German suplexing.
10:17What about this for Josh Alexander, Tony?
10:19Not just an opportunity to advance to the semifinals of the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament,
10:24but his first night on the job with AEW.
10:26If he gets a victory here over Hangman Adam Page, he gets to say that he defeated a former AEW World Champion.
10:31In his first time out, and gets to say he will face Kyle Fletcher in the semis.
10:38Of course, other side of the bracket, Will Osprey, Kunosuke Tekesha,
10:41they'll be battling later on tonight in the semifinals.
10:44Hangman Adam Page, they'll absorb the contact to the lariat.
10:49Those eyes.
10:52Josh Alexander says, come on, bring it. He's not backing down at all.
10:55Not an ounce of back down in Alexander.
10:58These two men carved from a very similar club as Hangman lands on his feet.
11:04Rolling lariat from the Hangman!
11:07He got the momentum from the rolling, but right at the index caliber,
11:11Hangman just forced himself up with his hips and his legs.
11:16Boom! Into that lariat. What a move that was.
11:19Wow.
11:20This is a first-round slugfest, as you see.
11:23Alexander the Block, the German suplex attempt,
11:27but Hangman so agile, so dexterous, and so dangerous.
11:32Not all of his body into that did Hangman.
11:36And right now, Alexander moving very slowly.
11:39Alexander may be thinking to put some distance between himself and Hangman,
11:42at least from the ropes where we know how dangerous Hangman could be
11:46with the dead eye on the apron.
11:48Well, you know what? You caught it. That's what he's trying to do right now, Excalibur.
11:52Very dangerous for Josh Alexander with his history of neck injuries, but...
11:57Both men jogging for advantage, but it was Hangman, the back body drop.
12:01That sends Alexander crashing.
12:03I think Alexander hit his left shoulder first.
12:08And as Hangman is up on the able to ring this.
12:12That's how, right now, Alexander's on all fours, making his way towards the...
12:16Hangman and Alexander right in front of our broadcast position.
12:18Towards the table.
12:21As Hangman Adam Page...
12:22Oh, shit!
12:23Yeah!
12:24Oh, my God!
12:25Oh, my God!
12:26Oh, my God!
12:27Oh, my God!
12:28Oh, my God!
12:29Oh, my God!
12:30Oh, my God!
12:31Oh, my God!
12:32And Hangman, the sense of urgency now kicking in.
12:34Sense of desperation, perhaps, for Alexander!
12:37Ligerbomb!
12:38Two!
12:39No!
12:40Alexander able to kick out!
12:44We have had so many big matches in the years that we've been bringing you dynamite since October of 2019.
12:52And this is our seventh time we've had dynamite here in Boston.
12:56Our second dynamite.
12:59Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara against Hangman Adam Page and the natural Dustin Rhodes.
13:04And here he is.
13:05Hangman once again on dynamite in a feature match and a chance to move on to the tournament.
13:12As we've mentioned, Kyle Fletcher awaits the winner of this match in the semifinal round.
13:17And Hangman now with Fletcher, or excuse me, with Alexander on the shoulders, but Alexander reverses.
13:26Oh, shit.
13:27And Hangman drops to his feet, but no!
13:29Two!
13:30Alexander, great counter there on the pinning predicament.
13:33Hangman, aggression used against him.
13:36A wild swing, Alexander, the shot to the base of the neck.
13:39And now Alexander drives down Page!
13:43The leg is hooked!
13:44The cover's made!
13:45And no!
13:46Hangman able to kick out!
13:47Had his leg, had his arms out wide that time, and then just rotated to get out of it.
13:52And now the ankle lock, and this is trouble.
13:54I talked about how similar these two athletes are, but this is where they differentiate Josh Alexander.
14:02A great submission background as he is looking to punish Hangman Adam Page, take away that vertical base, and possibly force the former world champion into submission.
14:10Hangman hopping on one foot, delivers to Enzi Gary, stunning Alexander.
14:20But was it enough?
14:21Alexander, as we mentioned, native of Toronto.
14:23It's great to have a Canadian native in this Owen Hart tournament.
14:28Hangman lands on his feet.
14:31He's got Alexander in front!
14:33Boom!
14:34Stone!
14:35Piles over one!
14:36Two!
14:37No!
14:38No!
14:39Alexander kicks out!
14:40Still alive is the Toronto native!
14:44Wow, what a matchup!
14:45Holy smokes!
14:46A back and forth battle.
14:49And remember, two more tournament matches await the winner of this one.
14:54Of course, Kyle Fletcher in the semi-finals, and then the final round match at Double or Nothing, Sunday, May 25th, Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona,
15:03and live around the world on Prime Video and Pay-Per-View.
15:09There you see it.
15:10Tickets are on sale now at AEWTIX.com.
15:13Oh!
15:14Hangman was lining Alexander up for the Buckshot Lariat.
15:16Alexander taking himself out of range.
15:19It was a smart move if somewhat unpopular here in Boston.
15:23Yeah, you don't have to have been in the ring against Hangman to know what he's going to go for.
15:28He's been on television many, many times!
15:30Oh!
15:31Just a right hand on the outside as Alexander!
15:34Hosting up Hangman with ease!
15:39Driving Hangman down on the apron.
15:40Some innovative wrestling right there from Josh Alexander.
15:43And Hangman just hanging on.
15:46Oh!
15:48Great explosion there by the walking weapon!
15:53And now it's his turn.
15:54Alexander's turn to return.
15:56Page back to the ring with that urgency.
15:58Well, Alexander seems to think this is it.
16:05He's had enough.
16:06A wrong note.
16:07Hangman lands on his feet.
16:08Enzigiri attempted.
16:09Alexander back to the ankle.
16:11Hangman, the up kick.
16:13Alexander off the ropes.
16:14Inside cradle.
16:15One, two, three!
16:21Hangman, Adam, Payne!
16:24That was an incredible win!
16:26I mean, he just...
16:27And Alexander can't believe it.
16:29And I don't...
16:30I don't blame him!
16:32Dare I say, Hangman Adam Page pulling out a victory from the jaws of defeat.
16:38And the final four are set.
16:40Hangman Page will meet Kyle Fletcher.
16:42And later on tonight, Dynamite spring breakthrough.
16:45Kanosuke Takeshta.
16:47Will Ospreay.
16:48One on one for a spot in the final.
16:53Hangman and Kyle Fletcher.
16:54How about that?
16:55For a semi-final match.
16:57I know Josh Alexander is disappointed, but he wrestled a hell of a match.
17:01Wait.
17:02Admin it.
17:07And look at this.
17:08The pro star, Kyle Fletcher, alongside Don Callis.
17:12Coming to greet.
17:16I say greet.
17:17I say greet because they're definitely not here to congratulate Hangman Adam Page by earning a spot in the seminar.
17:22No, they love to intimidate.
17:26Hangman's not going to be intimidated by these two.
17:28No, and they should know that.
17:30It looks like it.
17:31I don't know if Kyle going to get in the ring or just showing from...
17:34Look at this Don Callis.
17:35Look at that putting himself...
17:36I don't know if he caught that.
17:37Putting himself behind the security guard.
17:38At ringside as...
17:39Cal Fletcher and Hangman Page striding forward.
17:40Cal Fletcher goes.
17:41Hangman's got a short fuse.
17:42Here we go.
17:43And these two men not waiting for the semifinals.
17:44They're teeing off on one another here tonight.
17:46That's Fletcher.
17:47Oh, Hangman!
17:48Very agile landing on his feet.
17:51As Fletcher charging out!
17:52And!
17:53Oh!
17:54Hangman!
17:55Oh!
17:56Oh!
17:57Oh!
17:58Oh!
17:59Oh!
18:00Oh!
18:01Oh!
18:02Oh!
18:03Oh!
18:04Oh!
18:05Oh!
18:06Oh!
18:07Oh!
18:08Oh!
18:09Oh!
18:10Oh!
18:11Oh!
18:12Oh!
18:13What is Don Callis doing?
18:16I don't know.
18:17It can't be good.
18:20Because Hagmat Page is lining up Fletcher to the bar.
18:22Wait a second.
18:25Alexander.
18:27Now seemingly in the direction of Don Callis who said something too.
18:32Alexander, he's got a lot of personal history with Don Callis.
18:35I didn't think any of it was good.
18:37But now, Alexander.
18:38Oh, no.
18:41Nothing that Don Callis does is good.
18:44Whatever Don Callis said to Josh Alexander, it was the right thing at the right time.
18:51And the wrong thing for him, man.
19:00A very giddy Don Callis.
19:04Remember what he said last week, Tony?
19:07The Don Callis family.
19:09It's open enrollment.
19:10They are recruiting.
19:11And now, look at this, Excalibur.
19:14Picking up the piece is what it is.
19:17That's Fletcher.
19:19The brain buster on the man he will meet in the semifinals of the Owen.
19:24Now, if you can better believe, at least we hope a Hagmat will recover.
19:35But what a match it's going to be.
19:37Fletcher, Hagmat, awake.
19:39But coming up next, EW World Tag Team Championship on the line.
19:42Gates of Agony hurts syndicates.
19:45The patriarchy is a hierarchy.
19:54And who's at the top?
19:57The father.
19:58So...
19:59The father.
20:00The father.
20:01The father.
20:01The father.
20:02The father.
20:02The father.
20:03The father.
20:03The father.
20:04The father.
20:04The father.
20:05The father.
20:05The father.
20:06The father.
20:06The father.
20:07The father.
20:08The father.
20:08The father.
20:09The father.
20:10The father.
20:11The father.
20:12The father.
20:13The father.
20:14The father.
20:15The father.
20:16The father.
20:17The father.
20:18The father.
20:19The father.