AEW Dynasty predictions

Check out who our panel is picking in the matches coming our way during AEW’s April 6 PPV in Philadelphia. Then let us know who you’ve got!

All Elite Wrestling is back on Mar. 9 with their second annual Dynasty PPV! The main card starts in Philadelphia at 8 p.m. ET, with a free streaming pre-show that starts 90 minutes earlier.

Seven titles will be on the line at Dynasty, and the show will also kick off the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournaments which determine who challenges for AEW’s World championships at their big All In Texas stadium show this July.

It’s a lot to process. But our motley crew is back to make predictions about the matches coming our way tonight from the Liacouras Center, and muse about all things AEW along the way.

Let's get to it.

AEW DYNASTY PREDICTIONS

Jon Moxley (c) vs. Swerve Strickland for the AEW World championship

Sean Rueter: While I believe the plan was to have Mox carry the belt (in a briefcase) until All In Texas, I don’t think we can wait until Darby returns from Everest. Strickland’s earned the right to head into Arlington as champion... especially when he just started a fresh chapter with his greatest rival. Pick: Swerve Strickland

Claire Elizabeth: Something’s gotta give. Jon Moxley is one of the toughest men in pro wrestling, but I think Swerve might just be tougher. No matter what way it goes, it’s no blowout, but I gotta go with my heart, and that means Strickland repeating and setting up a Dynasty tradition. Pick: Shane “Swerve” Strickland

Cain A. Knight: Hangman Page’s potential involvement is the most intriguing aspect of this championship match. Regardless of what AEW’s main character decides to do, Moxley’s eventual title loss should be a pretty big deal when it happens. Unfortunately for Swerve, the story between him and Mox was put together a little too quickly for this to be the payoff for all the Death Rider shit we’ve had to watch over the last six months. Pick: Jon Moxley

Manolo H. Pizzazz: At this point, nobody has shown the intelligence yet to stifle the Death Riders’ numbers game. I don’t think Swerve will win in the first few minutes before Mox’s backup arrives, so that leaves time for shenanigans and Moxley keeping his gold. Pick: Jon Moxley

Marcus Benjamin: I think the initial plan was for Moxley to retain. I think. But if there was ever a time for an audible, it’s now. There’s intrigue with Swerve and Hangman, as always, and Swerve going into Texas with the belt around his waist, either for a rematch with Max or setting off a new chapter with Hangman sounds like the perfect summer story. Pick: Swerve Strickland

Kyle Decker: The most I feel I can reasonably hope for in this match is that after Moxley wins, Hangman reluctantly saves Swerve from a beatdown. We’re too close to All In for Moxley to lose it prior. Pick: Jon Moxley

Timeless Toni Storm (c) vs. Megan Bayne for the AEW Women’s World title

Sean Rueter: Awkward alliance with Penelope Ford notwithstanding, The Megasus has been built up for this spot pretty perfectly. The question is how AEW (and Bayne herself) follow up on that, because she should not win the championship here. Pick: Timeless Toni Storm

Claire Elizabeth: I’m having a little bit of a hard time getting a read on Bayne, and her somewhat superfluous alliance with Penelope Ford isn’t helping, so I’m gonna hedge bets, assume this is gonna run a nice long time, and surmise that Ford is gonna muck it up for Megan here somehow. Pick: Toni Storm

Cain A. Knight: Toni Storm is leaving with Megan’s tits in her purse, most likely because it’s going to be Toni vs. Mercedes at All In. Pick: Timeless Toni Storm

Manolo H. Pizzazz: This is shaping up to be a Timeless sword-and-sandal picture. The Megasus will be slayed. Pick: Toni Storm

Marcus Benjamin: Next to Swerve, Toni Storm is the hottest thing going in the territory. She retains here and keeps her tits intact for the summer. Pick: Toni Storm

Kyle Decker: There is no reason for me to think that Megan Bayne is going to win this match. I could also argue that they could have built this match to a point the outcome didn’t feel so obvious. Pick: Timeless Toni Storm

Kenny Omega (c) vs. Ricochet vs. "Speedball" Mike Bailey for the AEW International championship

Sean Rueter: This will get all the stars and deserve all the adjectives thrown at on social media, but it won’t result in a title change. It’s a fun diversion before soon moving on to bigger things (Okada for the champ, and I guess a feud with each other where Ricochet can further define his character and Bailey can flesh out his). Pick: Kenny Omega

Claire Elizabeth: A three-way always makes it easy for the retaining champion, and Ricochet cutting corners and targeting the new guy sure seems like an easy way to lose, annoying bird laugh. Pick: Kenny Omega

Cain A. Knight: Kenny probably can’t do a title versus title match against Okada at All In if he loses this bout, so that must mean he’s not losing this bout. Pick: Kenny Omega

Manolo H. Pizzazz: It is too soon for Omega to lose the title. He is in legacy building mode. Pick: Kenny Omega

Marcus Benjamin: I’d love for Ricochet to get a championship here. Really would. But he’s up against Kenny and, yeah, the champ retains. Pick: Kenny Omega

Kyle Decker: I see no reason for Kenny to lose here. Pick: Kenny Omega

Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta) (c) vs. Rated FTR (Cope, Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) for the AEW Trios titles

Sean Rueter: Even heading into last week’s Dynamite, on the odd occasion I remembered AEW had Trios belts I would have to take a second to think who held them. This program finally made me remember. Now feed the winners to The Opps. Pick: Rated FTR

Claire Elizabeth: FTR aren’t on the same page right now and honestly I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that they’re not reading from the same book, even. Copeland’ll do his best to hold the team together, but I don’t think his best is enough to win them the titles here. Pick: Death Riders

Cain A. Knight: The story they’re doing with Dax Harwood doesn’t seem to work if Rated FTR wins this match. Pick: Death Riders

Manolo H. Pizzazz: One of the results on this show needs to be unexpected, so I’m rolling with the trios titles changing hands. Adam Copeland, Dax Harwood, and Cash Wheeler have decades of experience inside the ring to overcome any rough patches outside the ring. Pick: Rated FTR

Marcus Benjamin: Rated FTR aren’t in a great place right now. Death Riders have to win for that tale to continue. Pick: Death Riders

Kyle Decker: This is definitely going to further an FTR breakup, maybe Dax heel turn. But the titles don’t change hands. Pick: The Death Riders

Chris Jericho (c) vs. Bandido in a Title vs. Mask match for the ROH World championship

Sean Rueter: With The Learning Tree wilting, it’s almost time for another Jericho reinvention. It ended up having its charms, but I doubt it will be in the top five or even ten on The List of his gimmicks. Point is, it’s a much smaller deal for him to lose El Nueve than it would be for Gravity’s brother to lose that sick mask. Pick: Bandido

Claire Elizabeth: Dollars to donuts, I’m willing to bet real money that Bandido’s handsome enough under that mask that a loss here would be at least somewhat tolerable to his future fortunes, but what I’m not willing to bet against is Bandido’s steel resolve to beat a man who has tormented his entire family over these last weeks. Say goodbye to the Nueve, y’all. Pick: Bandido

Cain A. Knight: I guess Tony Khan is finally giving up on getting a TV deal for ROH. Pick: Bandido

Manolo H. Pizzazz: Losing the mask is a huge deal in lucha libre culture. Plus, it can be worth a major payday. Bandido didn’t even get a promo to accept the match. The storyline is effective, however, it’s not big enough yet for Bandido to lose his mask. New ROH world champion incoming. Pick: Bandido

Marcus Benjamin: Yeah, I don’t see how they unmask Bandido here. Jericho does the favors. Pick: Bandido

Kyle Decker: I don’t think they’re going to unmask Bandido, ipso facto Jericho loses. Pick: Bandido

Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Adam Cole for the TNT title (no time limit or outside interference)

Sean Rueter: My question from the Revolutions predictions post stands... has a gimmick ever hurt a wrestler more than “The Devil” hurt The Panama City Playboy? Getting hurt did too, but they have to do something to get the stink of that whole program (and its ham-fisted aftermath) off him. Heel turn? Heel turn. Pick: Adam Cole

Claire Elizabeth: Adam Cole has aged like bad leather bathed in milk, and Daniel Garcia is the future. Pick: Daniel Garcia

Cain A. Knight: Adam Cole winning the title seems like the most interesting outcome for both wrestlers, so I’ll go with that one. Pick: Adam Cole

Manolo H. Pizzazz: The arrogance in Adam Cole’s promos for this story rub me the wrong way. Something seems fishy, and desperation is setting in on Cole winning his first title in AEW. Watch out for funny business. Pick: Adam Cole

Marcus Benjamin: Adam Cole needs a spark. This is that spark. Pick: Adam Cole

Kyle Decker: Maybe the do a switch here, but I think that may harm DG too much at this point. Pick: Danny Garcia

The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin) (c) vs. The Learning Tree (Big Bill and Bryan Keith) for the AEW Tag Team championship

Sean Rueter: There’s a lot of suspense here, but it’s about whether MJF will get involved in the match, and what will happen if he does. Pick: The Hurt Syndicate

Claire Elizabeth: What tension has been teased among the Hurt Syndicate as far as their overall direction goes, I don’t think it affects their performance here. (And furthermore, I don’t think it means anything in the long term— MVP is a businessman and Bob is here to win, they’ll find their same page soon enough.) And the Learning Tree is a house built on a sinkhole just waiting to give out, so... Pick: The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin)

Cain A. Knight: Bob Lashley doesn’t need MJF’s help to destroy Bryan Keith. Pick: The Hurt Syndicate

Manolo H. Pizzazz: Pain for Bryan Keith. Pick: Hurt Syndicate

Marcus Benjamin: Seriously? Pick: The Hurt Syndicate

Kyle Decker: Most of these matches I think there’s little to no chance of a change. Pick: The Hurt Syndicate

Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight in an Owen Hart Foundation Tournament first round match

Sean Rueter: If this had been Jay White as planned, I wouldn’t know who to pick. Here I do. Pick: Will Ospreay

Claire Elizabeth: Good luck Kev, you’re gonna need it. Pick: Will Ospreay

Cain A. Knight: I think there’s a decent amount of pressure on Kevin Knight to make sure this is the best match of his career. Pick: Will Ospreay

Manolo H. Pizzazz: No upset of the century here. Pick: Will Ospreay

Marcus Benjamin: This should be fun. But it’s also obvious, bruv. Pick: Will Ospreay

Kyle Decker: When I starting to wear down as this show pushes 4 hours, I’m going to think that this was one of the matches that, while will be very good, should have been on Dynamite or Collision. Pick: Will Ospreay

Mercedes Moné vs. Julia Hart in an Owen Hart Foundation Tournament first round match

Sean Rueter: PHILLLADELLLLPHIA! Say hello to your C.E.O. Pick: Mercedes Moné

Claire Elizabeth: I got a weird feeling about this one. Maybe it’s because her title isn’t on the line, maybe it’s because it’s a tournament and anything can happen in a tournament, but I think this isn’t gonna be Mercedes’ night. Pick: Julia Hart

Cain A. Knight: Mercedes isn’t choking and suffering her first AEW singles loss in the opening round of The Owen. Pick: Mercedes Moné

Manolo H. Pizzazz: The Moné train doesn’t stop for spooky girls. Pick: Mercedes Moné

Marcus Benjamin: Another match where I’d love to pick the person I know won’t win. Mercedes stays hot and Julia can afford an L. Pick: Mercedes Moné

Kyle Decker: It’s Mercedes. Pick: Mercedes Moné

Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe in an Owen Hart Foundation Tournament first round match

Sean Rueter: Screw it. I will not pick against The Sussex County Chicken, at least not when they’re only a couple hours away from Sandy Fork. Pick: Mark Briscoe

Claire Elizabeth: I love Mark Briscoe dearly and Fletcher is great and I have no doubt they’re gonna turn in fifteen minutes of wrestling that’s just swell, but this is the part of the card where I start to feel my pulse in my wrists and curse Tony Khan’s name for putting TV matches on PPV. Pick: Kyle Fletcher

Cain A. Knight: The winner likely faces Hangman Page in the next round, so I’m going with the heel who needs a PPV win after losing at Revolution. Pick: Kyle Fletcher

Manolo H. Pizzazz: Fletcher has had a great rise. He took the cage match loss to Ospreay. Now, Fletcher needs to win these level of bouts against quality competition to prove he isn’t a flash in the pan. Pick: Kyle Fletcher

Marcus Benjamin: I’m going with Kyle here. Gives him some props for the excellent match with Hangman the last time AEW put on a ppv. Pick: Kyle Fletcher

Best Wrestler Alive open challenge: Max Caster vs. mystery opponent

Sean Rueter: I doubt we’ll even be able to see this one, what with the cameras shaking along with the entire building as the fans all chant “LET’S GO MAX, YOU’RE THE BEST WRESTLER A-LIVE” at the top of their lungs. Pick: Either a returning Anthony Bowens or an ECW legend (that isn’t RVD)

Claire Elizabeth: Lemme take this time to give you my pitch for where this Caster business is going, okay? So he keeps losing and losing and losing and eventually, maybe tonight, it finally breaks him, and he says “Y’know what, I am actually the worst wrestler alive” and then he keeps doing the open challenges except he wins by accident. And then he wins by accident again. And he keeps winning by accident until whoops he wins the TNT or something and defends it by accident until the gimmick gets old. It’d be fun! Pick: Whoever isn’t Max Caster

Cain A. Knight: Satnam Singh or Paul Wight should probably squash Max before this gimmick runs its course, so maybe something like that will happen here. Pick: Not Max Caster

Manolo H. Pizzazz: Platinum Max guaranteed victory. He’s never told a lie, so no need to start lying now. Pick: Max Caster

Marcus Benjamin: Wouldn’t be hilarious if Max wins? Pick: Not Max Caster

Top Flight & AR Fox vs. CRU & Nick Wayne

Sean Rueter: There’s someone on one of these teams that’s about to go work a tournament in Japan and will probably feud with Christian at some point this year. I’m going with that guy’s side. Pick: CRU & Nick Wayne

Claire Elizabeth: I love AR Fox too much to pick against him when literally nothing is on the line. Pick: AR Fox & Top Flight

Cain A. Knight: Wayne is the one being pushed and Action Andretti is from Philadelphia, so I’m sticking with them. Pick: CRU & Nick Wayne

Manolo H. Pizzazz: Young Wayne is valuable. Pick: CRU & Nick Wayne

Marcus Benjamin: Andretti is the hometown boy. Pick: CRU & Nick Wayne

[Editor’s note: The pre-show matches were added late, so we only would have had a handful of predictions for each. But as longtime readers may know, one cSs staffer likes to make placeholder picks for late additions, and we didn’t want you to miss her latest beaut.]

Claire Elizabeth: I’m just gonna go ahead and say it I think the wrestler that wins in this match is gonna be whoever hits their finisher and successfully gets the referee to count to three after, folks. Pick: Whoever gets a three count

That's who we've got. Who are you taking, Cagesiders?