AEW Dynamite Preview (2/26/25): Cassidy vs. Takeshita

With only two more weeks until Revolution, AEW Dynamite returns to California with momentum and suspense on their side. At time of writing, only three matches have been confirmed for this week’s show.

Expectations remain high as AEW started 2025 with strong performances and story developments across two weekly shows. It feels like AEW is addressing some fans’ New Year’s Resolutions. Yet, there are still issues to address.

After Collision, there’s still slots to fill on the Revolution card. There are matches to be confirmed and surprises to occur before March 9th. There are still developments to build those matches already announced.

For example, when Bryan Keith tries to collect the bounty on Will Ospreay. Will The Bad Apple collect the money Don Callis has put on the Aerial Assassin’s head? Will this overlap Chris Jericho’s faction with The Family?

Also, after last week’s blistering promo battle between MJF and Hangman Page, what’s next? The same for “Timeless” Toni Storm after Mariah May left her bloody at the start of Collision. What about “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Gabe Kidd, or Clark Connors?

Let’s skip the music reference and get straight to it.

AEW Dynamite Announced Card:

• Revolution International Championship Series: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Orange Cassidy
• Deonna Purrazzo vs. Harley Cameron
• Bounty Match: Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Keith

Feeling The Wrath

Harley Cameron maximizes her minutes like no one else in wrestling right now. Although she did not get the huge upset win and TBS Championship from Mercedes Mone, Cameron has the crowd in her hands. Puppeteering us with strings than a hand up our- anyway.

She might not be riding the money train, but the wrath continues, and looks now for her second singles win in AEW. This teased match with Deoanna Purrazzo goes back to when Cameron scored her first singles victory over Purrazzo’s Vendetta partner, Taya Valkyrie.

Purrazzo, with her experience and championship pedigree, feels Cameron stole her chance to challenge Mone in Australia. The Virtuosa sees Cameron as a flash in the pan. Purrazzo will look to prove this on Wednesday.

Personally, I hope this will become a proper feud and not just a one-off match. While Cameron has earned and deserves more matches, so do other women like Purrazzo who sometimes get rotated in and out due to time management.

It’s a problem of spotlighting that still plagues the AEW’s women’s division. Regardless, with time and care, this match could be a great showcase for both women.

Banger of the Night: International Championship Series

The return of Orange Cassidy last week to Jane and his traditional faded denim felt nostalgic. It seems like the old Cassidy is back. The Cassidy who made the International Championship a coveted prize.

Defeating Roderick Strong last week, the man who took the International Championship from Cassidy when differently to last week was worn down and broken by the weekly grind. On Wednesday, we might potentially witness the best TV match of the year so far.

Konosuke Takeshita against smaller opponents can play the bully and monster with mastery. I’m expecting Takeshita vs. Darby Allin vibes from this match. Rather than slaughtering his opponent for victory, Cassidy’s resilience and mind games might push Takeshita in a way that will frustrate and push him mentally to a new limit.

The winner faces Kenny Omega in the final stage of the series. Will this match be the peak of Takeshita’s international title reign?