On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, AEW Dynamite roared to life from the Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas, turning a standard midweek show into a high-stakes chess match for the Blood & Guts cage match next week. The stakes? The advantage — who enters first in the brutal, multi-team war. And after two decisive wins and one shocking twist, the battle is tied 1-1. AEW Dynamite wasn’t just entertainment; it was a pressure cooker, and the lid is about to blow off on November 12.
Women’s Battle: Bayne’s Grit Overcomes Shirakawa’s Speed
With Queen Aminata sidelined by injury, Mina Shirakawa stepped in for the Women’s Blood & Guts Advantage Battle Match 1 — and she came out swinging. Early on, she targeted Bayne’s ribs, chopped at her legs, and even launched a crossbody from the top rope. But here’s the thing: Bayne doesn’t just absorb punishment — she turns it into momentum. When Shirakawa went for the Glamorous Driver, distraction struck. Marina Shafir lunged from the crowd, choking Toni Storm on commentary, causing Shirakawa to glance away. In that split second, Bayne hit the running Liger Bomb. The crowd erupted. Bayne took a 1-0 lead. And Storm? She fought off Shafir like a woman who’d been waiting for this moment since her return.
Men’s Battle: Allin’s Blood, Garcia’s Brain, and a Twist of Fate
Darby Allin vs. Daniel Garcia was a masterclass in desperation and technique. Garcia, the cerebral technician, locked in the Sharpshooter. Allin, bleeding from a gash above his eye, refused to tap. He reversed it — into the Scorpion Deathlock. Garcia’s face twisted. His arm twitched. And then… he tapped. Allin won. But the twist? Claudio Castagnoli had already won his match against Orange Cassidy earlier in the night. Castagnoli’s gut-wrench suplexes, machine-gun uppercuts, and that Liger Bomb out of nowhere had given his team the first men’s point. So now, it’s 1-1. The advantage is still up for grabs.
The Bigger Picture: Why Advantage Matters in Blood & Guts
Here’s why this isn’t just another match. In the Blood & Guts cage, the team that enters first controls the early chaos. They can isolate, swarm, and break momentum before the other side even gets in. That’s why All Elite Wrestling built this entire advantage battle format — it’s not just about who’s stronger, but who’s smarter. The next two matches on Collision — Jamie Hayter vs. Skye Blue and Harley Cameron vs. Thekla — could decide everything. And if it’s still tied? Then Roderick Strong and Jon Moxley go to war.
Undercurrents: Chaos Beyond the Ring
Amid the structured warfare, chaos brewed. Big Stoke was grabbed by a giant fist outside Brodido’s locker room — a clear tease of Brody King’s return. Then, in the ring, FTR had Gravity set up for the piledriver — until Stoke burst in. King and Bandido stormed the ring, scattering FTR. No pins. No title changes. Just pure, unscripted tension. This isn’t just about Blood & Guts anymore. It’s about a new war brewing in the shadows.
What’s Next? The Countdown to the Cage
Next week’s Collision is the real decider. Jamie Hayter — a former world champion with a chip on her shoulder — faces Skye Blue, who’s been riding a wave of momentum since her surprise win over Thekla. If Hayter wins, her team gets the advantage. If Skye Blue wins? The momentum shifts. And don’t sleep on Roderick Strong and Jon Moxley. Their rivalry isn’t just personal — it’s legendary. If it comes to them, expect fireworks.
Why This Matters Beyond the Cage
This isn’t just about who enters first. It’s about narrative control. All Elite Wrestling has spent months building the Blood & Guts concept as a modern-day war story. Every bump, every distraction, every near-fall is a chapter. The fact that Claudio Castagnoli and Darby Allin both won — despite wildly different styles — shows how deep this roster runs. And the return of Toni Storm to commentary? That’s not just nostalgia. It’s a signal. She’s not just calling matches anymore. She’s part of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Blood & Guts advantage determine entry order?
The first team to win two singles matches in the advantage battle earns the right to enter the Blood & Guts cage first. Entering first allows a team to control the early chaos, isolate opponents, and set the tone — a massive tactical edge in a six-person, multi-team cage match. If the series ends 1-1, the final match on Collision decides it.
Why was Queen Aminata replaced by Mina Shirakawa?
Queen Aminata suffered a legitimate injury during last week’s tag team tournament opener, and medical staff cleared her as unfit to compete. Aminata wanted to wrestle through it, but AEW prioritized safety. Shirakawa, fresh off a loss to Thekla, stepped in with added motivation — making her loss to Bayne even more emotionally charged.
What’s the significance of Toni Storm’s return to commentary?
Storm’s return isn’t just a nostalgia move — it’s narrative. She’s been absent since her departure from AEW in 2023, and her presence signals deeper involvement in the Blood & Guts storyline. Her reaction to Marina Shafir’s interference suggests she may have a personal stake — possibly tied to her past with The Bunny or her rivalry with Bayne.
Could Brody King’s return impact Blood & Guts?
Almost certainly. The giant fist that grabbed Big Stoke and King’s subsequent appearance in the ring suggests he’s not just a sideshow. With FTR distracted and Gravity targeted, King may be positioning himself to enter the Blood & Guts cage — either as a wildcard or to settle old scores with Bandido or the rest of the Blackpool Combat Club.
What happens if the advantage battle ends in a 2-2 tie?
AEW has not officially confirmed a tiebreaker, but historically, they’d likely schedule a final decider match — possibly a six-person scramble or a surprise entrant. Given the stakes, expect a wildcard like Brody King, Adam Cole, or even a returning veteran to be inserted to break the deadlock.
How does this affect the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament?
Mercedes Moné and Athena advanced past Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale in a chaotic quarterfinal, but Aminata’s injury and Shirakawa’s substitution have disrupted team chemistry. The tournament continues, but the shadow of Blood & Guts looms — with many competitors now prioritizing their advantage battle roles over the tag title.
