AEW Dynamite Preview: May 21, 2025 – Mox & Bucks vs. Swerve, Samoa Joe and Hobbs, MJF Joins The Hurt Syndicate, More

AEW Dynamite emanates from the Rio Rancho Events Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, tonight at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on TBS and Max. With Double or Nothing in Glendale, AZ on Sunday, May 25 just days away, tensions are at an all-time high.

Tonight brings a stacked episode featuring an All-Star Trios match pitting Jon Moxley and the Young Bucks against Swerve Strickland, Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs. We’ll also see Mina Shirakawa take on Julia Hart with Toni Storm on commentary. Plus, MJF is set to officially sign the contract to join The Hurt Syndicate, and the Owen Hart Cup Tournament finalists in both the men’s and women’s brackets will come face-to-face.

Here’s your full AEW Dynamite preview for May 21, 2025.

AEW Dynamite Tonight: Preview for May 21 in Albuquerque

All-Star Trios Match: Jon Moxley & The Young Bucks vs. Swerve Strickland, Samoa Joe & Powerhouse Hobbs

In a blockbuster All-Star Trios match, AEW World Champion Jon Moxley teams up with the Young Bucks to face Swerve Strickland and two-thirds of the AEW World Trios Champions, Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs. The May 14 edition of AEW Dynamite: Beach Break featured a brutal Steel Cage Match between Jon Moxley and Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship. Moxley retained his title with assistance from Gabe Kidd, who handed him the briefcase that (ostensibly) contains the AEW World Title, which Moxley used to strike Joe, securing the victory.

Post-match chaos ensued as members of the Death Riders, the Elite, and the Opps brawled in and around the cage. Swerve Strickland made a dramatic entrance, scaling the cage and delivering a double-stomp onto the fray. He then issued a challenge for an Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing, which Jon Moxley accepted on the subsequent episode of AEW Collision. 

In the lead-up to this confrontation, bad blood had been building between these factions. The Young Bucks had previously cost Swerve a World Title opportunity at AEW Dynasty, leading to his vow for retribution. Additionally, Powerhouse Hobbs joined the Opps, aiding in their capture of the AEW World Trios Championships from The Death Riders. These events helped set the stage for tonight’s trios match on AEW Dynamite, as well as Anarchy in the Arena in Glendale on Sunday.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart (Toni Storm on Commentary)

Wednesday’s match between Mina Shirakawa and Julia Hart on AEW Dynamite is rooted in recent events and Hart’s relationship with Skye Blue.

At the May 14 Beach Break edition of Dynamite, Mina Shirakawa secured a significant victory in a Four-Way AEW Women’s Title Eliminator match against Toni Storm, AZM, and Blue, positioning herself as the next person to earn an opportunity for the AEW Women's World Championship. Hart, a former TBS Champion and mentor to Blue, is now looking to even the score on behalf of her protégé.

Adding another layer to this encounter, AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm will be on commentary during the match, closely observing her upcoming Double or Nothing challenger.

MJF Officially Signs with The Hurt Syndicate

The relationship between MJF and The Hurt Syndicate has been developing for several weeks. While MVP and Shelton Benjamin were receptive, Bobby Lashley remained skeptical, demanding that MJF prove his commitment by demonstrating a more aggressive side.

On the May 7 episode of AEW Dynamite, MJF took a significant step by attacking Top Flight, showcasing the ruthless behavior that Lashley had been seeking. This act appeared to sway Lashley, leading to a pivotal moment on the May 14 Beach Break edition of Dynamite, as all three members of The Hurt Syndicate gave MJF their approval, symbolized by the "three thumbs up" gesture, indicating his acceptance into the group.

However, MJF, known for his meticulous nature, stated that he would have his attorney, Smart Mark Sterling, review the contract before making the alliance official – a decision that seemed to visibly displease MVP, although he acknowledged he understands this is how business is done. Now, the official contract signing is scheduled for tonight's episode of AEW Dynamite.

Owen Hart Cup Tournament Finalists Come Face-to-Face

As the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament finals approach Sunday in Glendale, tonight's AEW Dynamite will feature pivotal face-to-face confrontations between the men's and women's finalists, intensifying the anticipation for their upcoming clashes at Double or Nothing.

On the May 14 Beach Break edition of Dynamite, Will Ospreay and Hangman Adam Page teamed up to face the Don Callis Family's Konosuke Takeshita and Josh Alexander. Despite securing a victory, the match was marked by underlying tension. A near-miss Hidden Blade from Ospreay to Page highlighted the fragile alliance between the two. Post-match, a miscommunication led to a brief physical altercation, underscoring the competitive friction ahead of their tournament final.

In the women's bracket, the animosity between Mercedes Moné and Jamie Hayter has been escalating for weeks. Following Moné's attack on AZM after a Fatal 4-Way match on May 14, Hayter intervened, applying a crossface on Moné before security intervened. This followed Moné ambushing Hayter during the latter’s sitdown interview with Renee Paquette on the May 7 edition of Dynamite in Detroit.

Tonight's face-to-face encounters will provide a final opportunity for these competitors to address their grievances and set the tone for their decisive matches at Double or Nothing.

How to Watch AEW Dynamite

• Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

• Start Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT

• Location: Rio Rancho Events Center — Albuquerque, NM

• TV: TBS

• Streaming: Max