{"id":155158,"date":"2026-03-20T09:15:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T13:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=155158"},"modified":"2026-03-25T07:23:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T11:23:19","slug":"aew-dynamite-preview-3-25-26-swerve-vs-omega-2-the-1-contender-vs-the-evp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/03\/20\/aew-dynamite-preview-3-25-26-swerve-vs-omega-2-the-1-contender-vs-the-evp\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW Dynamite Preview (3\/25\/26) &#8211; Swerve vs. Omega 2: the #1 Contender vs. the EVP"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When AEW Dynamite returns to St. Paul, Minnesota, the live crowd will be spoiled when Swerve Strickland takes on Kenny Omega. This will be one of the biggest and most anticipated rematches of 2026 in AEW, due to what&#8217;s at stake. Beyond an AEW World Championship shot at AEW Dynasty, it&#8217;s about power.<\/p>\n<p>Considering AEW World Champion\u00a0 MJF also returns this week, things are looking spicy. After returning from a celebratory trip to Disneyland, The Salt of the Earth will find out who faces at AEW Dynasty.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Wednesday Night <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AEWDynamite?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AEWDynamite<\/a><br \/>LIVE, 8\/7c on TBS + HBO Max<br \/>This Wednesday, 3\/25!<\/p>\n<p>AEW World Champion <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/The_MJF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@The_MJF<\/a> Returns to Dynamite!<\/p>\n<p>After surviving Texas Death at <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AEWRevolution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AEWRevolution<\/a> with the Triple B in tow, Maxwell Jacob Friedman returns to Dynamite, THIS WEDNESDAY! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2ma43fNkmT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/2ma43fNkmT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AEW\/status\/2034479979199627449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>There are still plenty more announcements to come. More graphics with tantalising prospects and potential for all kinds of possibilities. Check back throughout the week for the latest details. And in the meantime, if, like me, you are already looking forward to AEW All In London 2026, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/03\/19\/way-too-early-predictions-for-aew-all-in-london-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">here are some very early predictions<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>RODERICK(!) Strong is officially a member of The Conglomeration! Confirming his place within the odd-couple faction on Slam Dunk Sunday, I\u2019m hopeful that Strong and Orange Cassidy\u2019s characters were going to see some character development and a new direction. Although Darby Allin\u2019s issues with Gabe Kidd are over with the latter pushing up daisies, David Finlay and Clark Connors are not satisfied after their six-man tag match loss at AEW Revolution.<\/p>\n<p>Clark Connors is not a stranger to disrupting, tangling, and manhandling Orange Cassidy. David Finlay made his debut and left a shillelagh-shaped bruise on Cassidy. The Dogs might be former top-NJPW stars, but like many who cross over into AEW, there is an adjustment period. Taking the L on PPV and Kidd\u2019s loss last week, can the Dogs claim the W?<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Orange Cassidy &amp; Roderick Strong vs Lethal Twist HIGHLIGHTS | AEW Collision Slam Dunk Sunday\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LbMaQ5apb0s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>The #1 Contender vs. The EVP<\/h2>\n<p>At AEW Revolution, Kenny Omega returned to save Brody King from being taken out of action. King also received a similar cinderblock treatment that put Strickland\u2019s former tag team partner, Keith Lee, on the shelf. Rightly, Omega is unhappy with more than the result of their first match. Omega wants revenge for the way Strickland almost broke his neck with the vertebreaker through the announce table.<\/p>\n<p>Yet the Best Bout Machine wants something else, besides evening the score. Omega knows the clock is ticking. Implying that Strickland is the unofficial, unnamed number one contender for the AEW World Championship played into the Realest\u2019s justifications. Omega, as an EVP, has the power to abuse.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/swerveconfident?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@SwerveConfident<\/a> wants <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KennyOmegamanX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@KennyOmegamanX<\/a>&#39;s EVP status on the line in their rematch along with the #1 Contendership for the AEW World Championship! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tbDB7luDt5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/tbDB7luDt5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AEW\/status\/2034435876202131923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In his reply this <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/03\/18\/aew-dynamite-results-and-live-updates-3-18-26-no-holds-barred-coffin-match\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">past week on Dynamite<\/span><\/a>, Strickland feels he has nothing to gain from beating Omega twice, except for one thing: power. If Strickland wins, he wants Omega\u2019s power. Strickland, if he can beat Omega, will gain Omega\u2019s EVP status!<\/p>\n<p>This type of wager, for a title that has more to do with authority behind the scenes than in the ring, feels like new ground. Both for each character and AEW creatively. That is, if they avoid dangerously mirroring WCW and WWE&#8217;s follies with authority figures. We had a taste of this previously with the <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/25\/the-corporate-elite-is-the-aew-faction-whats-best-for-business\/\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Corporate Elite<\/a><\/span>? Yes, Strickland with Will Ospreay battled The Young Bucks last week over their EVP status. However, this was to rid the brothers of their status, rather than take it for themselves.<\/p>\n<p>The possibilities with the outcome are immense. If Strickland wins, does The Realest become what he hated last year? Undergoing his own <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/08\/07\/aews-hangman-adam-page-and-mental-health-relapse\/?utm_source=us.vnexplorer.net&amp;utm_campaign=vnexplorer.net\" style=\"color: #0000ff;\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">dark mirror character arc like frenemy Hangman Adam Page<\/a><\/span>? But if Omega wins, are we heading to AEW Dynasty for a rematch between The Best Bout Machine and MJF? That\u2019s without considering the action itself!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Swerve Strickland vs Kenny Omega | AEW Dynamite, 2\/18\/26\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S2-q7FqHnZU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>AEW Dynamite (3\/25\/26) &#8211; Matches Announced<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>#1 Contender vs. EVP Status match: Swerve Strickland vs. Kenny Omega<\/li>\n<li>AEW Women&#8217;s World Championship: Thekla (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa<\/li>\n<li>RUSH vs. Darby Allin<\/li>\n<li><span>Orange Cassidy &amp; Roderick Strong vs. The Dogs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>AEW Dynamite (3\/25\/26) &#8211; Segments Announced<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>AEW World Champion MJF returns to AEW Dynamite<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This Wednesday, 3\/25!<\/p>\n<p>Don&#39;t miss a LIVE night of wrestling on Wednesday Night <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AEWDynamite?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#AEWDynamite<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>The show KICKS OFF at 8\/7c on <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TBSNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TBSNetwork<\/a> + <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SportsonMax?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@SportsOnMAX<\/a>, WEDNESDAY! <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HIbTQDcUiA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/HIbTQDcUiA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AEW\/status\/2036216420468662581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">March 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When AEW Dynamite returns to St. Paul, Minnesota, the live crowd will be spoiled when Swerve Strickland takes on Kenny Omega. This will be one of the biggest and most anticipated rematches of 2026 in AEW, due to what&#8217;s at stake. Beyond an AEW World Championship shot at AEW Dynasty, it&#8217;s about power. Considering AEW [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":155165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4677,6,2192],"tags":[5730,5894,386,2546,8520],"class_list":["post-155158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aew","category-north-america","category-wrestling","tag-aew-dynamite","tag-dynamite","tag-kenny-omega","tag-mjf","tag-swerve-strickland"],"modified_by":"Steph Franchomme","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=155158"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":155736,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155158\/revisions\/155736"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=155158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=155158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=155158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}