The March 25 episode of “AEW Dynamite” opened up with a bang as the highly anticipated rematch between Kenny Omega and Swerve Strickland kicked off the show. Strickland’s number one contender spot and Omega’s Executive Vice President status were both on the line, but the man leaving “Dynamite” with the power and the potential future glory of becoming the AEW Men’s World Champion was Omega.

With the match airing with limited commercial interruptions, both men threw everything they could at each other in the early going. Strickland tried to exploit the neck of Omega which was injured after their initial bout in February, while Omega entered with an extra level of intensity as he looked to gain a measure of revenge. It was Omega who had control on the outside, much to the delight of the live audience, but Strickland was able to keep himself in the match when the action was between the ropes. Omega did go for an Avalanche One Winged Angel, but Strickland escaped and landed a huge Back Superplex as the match entered its only commercial break. During the break, both engaged in an evenly matched strike exchange that saw both men take each other out with a pair of high boots.

Coming out of the commercial break, Omega hit a pair of Snap Dragon Suplexes and looked to hit a third on the apron, but Strickland grabbed referee Aubrey Edwards in order to hit a Low Blow to take back control. Strickland dragged Omega to the barricade and after briefly falling in the crowd, he landed a Piledriver before returning to the ring. Omega managed to avoid the Big Pressure but couldn’t avoid a House Call and a pair of Swerve Stomps. However, Omega was able to kick out as the referee’s hand was coming down for the three count. Strickland went for another House Call but Omega couldn’t keep himself upright, and as Strickland got Omega back to his feet, Omega fought back with elbows in the corner.

Another back-and-forth exchange led to another near fall for Strickland, who decided to try and hit a V-Trigger which only angered Omega. A trio of V-Triggers landed successfully but Strickland countered the One Winged Angel twice, eventually hitting a Vertebreaker for yet another near fall. A frustrated Strickland went for another Swerve Stomp but Omega moved hit and hit a pair of V-Triggers, and he finally landed the One Winged Angel to get the win and become the number one contender to MJF’s AEW Men’s World Championship.

Later in the show, Omega interrupted an MJF promo segment and challenged him for the world title at AEW Dynasty 2026. MJF accepted, making the match official.

One of the most hyped matches ahead of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas is the bout pitting “The Ruler” Oba Femi against “The Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar. Lesnar put forth an open challenge in the weeks ahead of the big event, seeking an opponent, which was answered by Femi in a big way when he hit Lesnar with a Fall From Grace powerbomb, put a foot on his chest, and pointed to the WrestleMania sign during an episode of “WWE Raw.” 

WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray has consistently put Femi over on “Busted Open Radio,” and on a recent episode, he revealed he is as excited for Lesnar vs. Femi as he is is for the main event title matches. He said within two weeks, WWE has gotten him invested by keeping it simple.

“Oba Femi is a brand new talent called up from ‘NXT.’ Looks the part,” he explained. “Presented as big of a star as anybody else on the roster right now. ‘The Ruler,’ not afraid to get face-to-face with ‘The Beast.’ Brock Lesnar is the baddest mother f***** in the WWE, end of story. Last week we saw Oba Femi sit down powerbomb Brock Lesnar. We all gasped. Wow. Brock got manhandled. Manhandled by Oba Femi. Not only did Oba Femi get Brock up for the powerbomb, he held him up for the powerbomb and then dropped him when he felt like dropping him.”

WWE has not officially confirmed what matches will take place on either night of WrestleMania. The main events of the “Showcase of the Immortals” will see Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defend against Randy Orton, and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk will face Roman Reigns.

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After her impressive first WrestleMania appearance last year where she defeated Charlotte Flair to retain her WWE Women’s Championship, Tiffany Stratton is not yet officially set for a match at ‘Mania 42 in Las Vegas. There have been reports, however, that Stratton will challenge Women’s United States Champion Giulia for her gold on the “Grandest Stage of Them All.” That match may not be set in stone, as Stratton addressed those reports in a recent interview with “The Schmo.”

“I’ve heard those rumors, too, and I feel like they’re just rumors, because I haven’t really been told anything that I’m at WrestleMania, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Stratton said. “I hope there’s a championship involved.”

Stratton has been feuding with Giulia on recent episodes of the blue brand, and defeated the manager of the “Beautiful Madness,” Kiana James, on the March 13 edition of the show. She’s set to challenge Giulia for the women’s US title on the upcoming March 25 episode. The former WWE Women’s Champion returned from a hiatus following the loss of her title to Jade Cargill at Saturday Night’s Main Event as the 30th entrant into the Women’s Royal Rumble.

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The bell rings and Speedball fires off his signature rapid fire kicks on Romero. He flies off the top rope to deliver a moonsault to Romero on the outside, then connects with his signature flipping double knees on Romero off the middle rope for the win.

Winner: “Speedball” Mike Bailey

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Tributes to Dennis Condrey of the Midnight Express continue to pour in from those throughout the wrestling world following the news of the star’s passing at the age of 74 on March 21. One of those who offered their condolences to Condry’s widow and shared memories of their time with him was former WCW commentator Tony Schiavone, who paid tribute to Condrey during an episode of “What Happened When.” Schiavone said he was going to miss his fellow WCW alum as a wrestler, a person, and a good guy who “f***** around with him” a lot.

“Dennis was one of my favorite guys, he and Bobby [Eaton],” Schiavone said. “It’s hard to believe that Bobby is gone, and now Dennis is gone… I had so much fun with those guys in the studios of TBS. [Jim] Cornette was always so focused on what he was going to say that he never did screw around with me, he was always the mouthpiece, right? But, as we were going on, and you can go back and watch any of the interviews or promos that the Midnight Express did at the set with me, and you look at it closely and you watch it a couple times, you will see Dennis and Bobby f****** with me endlessly.”

Schiavone said the tag team would step on his feet and say things in his ear when their manager was talking, trying to make him laugh. He said he knew why AEW’s Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler pay homage to Midnight Express all the time, because of how great they were, and how they set the standard for tag wrestling.

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