Dynamite
Date: May 15, 2024
Location: Angel Of The Winds Arena, Everett, Washington
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

We’re a week and a half away from Double Or Nothing and that means we could be in for a show building towards the pay per view. In this case, we have the Blackpool Combat Club vs. the Don Callis Family in what should be quite the fight. Other than that, Swerve Strickland needs some revenge on Brian Cage. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Don Callis Family vs. Blackpool Combat Club

Kyle Fletcher and Jeff Cobb for the Family here, with the latter as a hired gun for the week. The brawl starts on the floor with Danielson’s music still playing and the Club taking over. We settle down for the bell ringing and Danielson striking away at Cobb in the corner. Moxley comes in for a running dropkick to the leg in the corner as the Club starts picking Cobb apart.

Fletcher comes in and fires off some chops, which don’t have much effect on Moxley. A superplex gives Moxley two but Cobb breaks up a cross armbreaker attempt. Fletcher is draped over the top rope so Danielson can hit a top rope knee as we take a break. Back with Moxley staggering out of the corner and snapping off a suplex to Cobb. Danielson comes back in and starts firing off the strikes but Cobb suplexes him out of the air. Moxley and Fletcher trade kicks to the face until Cobb runs Moxley over. What looks to be a Doomsday Device is broken up though and Moxley Death Riders Fletcher for the pin at 12:58.

Rating: B-. Yes the Ring Of Honor TV Champion took the fall again and yes that happens over and over again and yes you are still expected to pay to see the television show (which isn’t on television) he represents. The match was the usual big party fight that you see around here, with Cobb looking like a monster as tends to be the case whenever he’s in AEW. Just find someone other than Fletcher to take the fall next time? Or have him drop the title?

Post match the Family goes after Moxley again but Claudio Castagnoli runs in for the save.

Video on Swerve Strickland vs. Christian Cage.

Here is Adam Copeland for a chat but the House Of Black jumps him from behind. Copeland is knocked out and Malakai Black steals his wedding ring. Kyle O’Reilly tries to make the save but gets beaten down as well.

We look at Eddie Kingston being injured at a New Japan event over the weekend at the hands of the Elite.

The Elite mocks Kingston for getting hurt and think Anarchy In The Arena will be 4-3.

The Young Bucks have their own shoes. Sure.

FTR thinks they have a replacement for Anarchy In The Arena. More on this later.

Young Bucks vs. Matt Sydal/Christopher Daniels

Non-title and Jack Perry is on commentary. For the sake of simplicity, I’ll only refer to Sydal as Sydal and Matt Buck as Matt. Sydal rolls Matt up to start and it’s quickly off to Daniels to hammer away in the corner. Nick comes in and cleans house, followed by Matt’s top rope ax handle to Sydal as we take a break. Back with Daniels coming in to beat up the Bucks, including a Downward Spiral/DDT combination. Sydal misses a dive to the floor though and Matt sends him over the barricade, leaving Daniels to get Tony Khan Drivered for the pin at 8:32.

Rating: C+. This was about what it seemed likely to be, with the Bucks getting beaten up for a bit and then winning in the end. Daniels and Sydal weren’t exactly a major threat to them and it lets the Bucks get a win before going into the pay per view. You know, because they haven’t looked strong enough lately.

Post match the Bucks yell at Daniels for talking down to him last week. They’re trying to clean up the toxicity in the locker room so Daniels is fired. Perry pours a drink on Tony Schiavone too.

Toni Storm, while holding Mariah May, threatens Harley Cameron.

Malakai Black looks at Adam Copeland’s wedding ring and accepts his challenge for a barbed wire steel cage match at Double Or Nothing.

Hook vs. Sebastian Wolfe

Redrum in 28 seconds.

Post match Hook calls out Chris Jericho, so here he is, along with Big Bill. Jericho doesn’t want to hurt Hook but offers him a qualifying match to get a title shot. Hook likes the idea and then hits him in the face, only to have Big Bill get involved. Katsuyori Shibata makes the save.

Swerve Strickland is ready for Christian Cage but first he has to take out Brian Cage.

Swerve Strickland vs. Brian Cage

Non-title and Swerve gets the big hometown reaction. Cage slugs away in the corner to start but gets sent outside with Swerve stomping on the arm. The arm is snapped over the top rope but Cage sends him into the corner again. Swerve’s half nelson is broken up and Cage hits a gorilla press slam into the corner as we take a break.

Back with Swerve slipping out of a powerbomb attempt and sending Cage face first into the buckle. A middle rope elbow to the back has Cage in more trouble and Swerve brainbusters him for two. The rolling Downward Spiral is cut off but Swerve escapes Weapon X as well. Swerve ties him in the ropes for a slingshot stomp to the chest, setting up a 450 for two. Cage’s sitout powerbomb gets two more and they trade shots to the face. Another powerbomb is loaded up but Swerve Stomps his way out in a nice counter. The House Call finishes Cage at 14:48.

Rating: B. This is the kind of match that works well for Swerve: have him get in trouble and then fight back to win in the end. He has a history with Cage and it was nice to see him getting a win that means something to him. Rather good match here, which should completely sever Swerve from the Mogul Embassy.

Post match Swerve grabs a chair but the Patriarchy comes in to beat Swerve down. Nick Wayne breaks a photo of Swerve and his family over Swerve’s head. Christian says that’s payback for Swerve attacking Nick last year and asks if Swerve’s daughter is proud of her absentee father. He rubs Swerve’s blood on the photo for a personal touch.

Hook is willing to face anyone to get the shot at Chris Jericho, including Katsuyori Shibata, who wants Jericho as well. Samoa Joe comes in to yell at Hook for not focusing, with Shibata’s translator saying Joe’s flowery shirt doesn’t look good.

Toni Storm vs. Harley Cameron

Non-title. They trade headlocks to start with Storm taking her to the mat. Storm sends her to the apron and adds a running hip attack to take her down again. Cue Serena Deeb for a distraction though as Cameron takes over. We take a break and come back with Storm hitting a Backstabber into a DDT. A fisherman’s buster gets two on Cameron, who is right back with Eat Defeat. Cameron’s running knee gets two but Storm grabs a chokebomb. Storm Zero finishes Cameron at 7:04.

Rating: C. Cameron seems to be trying but it really isn’t working for her in the ring. She feels like someone who hasn’t been in the ring that long, which might be due to her only debuting about two years ago. I’m not sure why that means she should be in the ring on national TV, but it isn’t exactly working.

Will Ospreay and the Undisputed Kingdom have a staredown in the back, with Ospreay saying he won’t go after Roderick Strong because he knows the rest of the team would be on him. Strong has never had any respect for him and Ospreay’s feelings are mutual. Things get heated, wish Strong bringing up Ospreay’s family and saying Ospreay is a child/fraud. Ospreay accuses Strong of burying him to Ring Of Honor people and promises to take the title. This still feels like a huge downgrade for Ospreay.

Here are Mercedes Mone and Willow Nightingale, with Kris Statlander/Stokely Hathaway, for the contract signing. Willow asks if Mone respects the TBS Title because Willow is the face of TBS. This smiling face comes to the ring every time and says nothing else matters because you can have fun. She isn’t going to let Mone come into AEW and take all of that away.

Willow signs, leaving Mone saying the best part of Willow’s career is beating her, which will be the case after Double Or Nothing. Willow says the last time they wrestled, she walked out a champion but Mone didn’t walk out at all. The fight is on and Mone is put through the table. Mone is going to need to have the match of the century to make up for how useless she’s been since debuting.

Continental Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Dax Harwood

Harwood is challenging and goes after Okada’s legs to start, sending him outside. Back in and Okada shoulders him down and sends Harwood shoulder first into the post as we take a break. We come back with Harwood being sat on top and dropkicked out to the floor. A running boot against the barricade hits Harwood, followed by a DDT to knock him silly.

Back in and Harwood falls down to avoid the Rainmaker, followed by a German suplex. Harwood hits a dragon suplex as well but Okada kicks off a Sharpshooter attempt. Okada goes up and gets superplexed down for the big crash, leaving them both down for a minute in a needed breather.

The slingshot sitout powerbomb is blocked and they fight over a Tombstone until Harwood plants him for two. The Sharpshooter goes on but is broken up just as quickly. Okada is frustrated and goes to grab the belt, which the referee takes away, allowing Okada to get in a low blow. The Rainmaker retains the title at 16:05.

Rating: B. Well, that certainly was a top singles guy taking a long time to beat one half of a tag team who never wins anything important on his own. They’re continuing with the idea of the Elite looking unstoppable going into Anarchy In The Arena, which isn’t exactly making me want to see the match. At the same time, points for not having the Bucks run in, as seeing less of them is nice.

Post match the Elite comes in for the beatdown so Cash Wheeler and Bryan Danielson run in. Darby Allin, in a purple fur coat, runs in from behind for the real save to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was mainly focused on building things up for Double Or Nothing but the show is only looking so good at the moment. The main focus is, again, on the Elite and they aren’t exactly working so far. Allin being back is a good surprise and he’ll help the match, but it feels like the latest way for the Elite to be better than everyone else and that’s not the most thrilling story. Other than that you have Strickland vs. Cage, which is coming off as a rather midcard feud despite being for the World Title. They had a focus here, but the storylines just aren’t doing it for me at the moment.

Results
Blackpool Combat Club b. Don Callis Family – Death Rider to Fletcher
Young Bucks b. Christopher Daniels/Matt Sydal – Tony Khan Driver to Daniels
Hook b. Sebastian Wolfe – Redrum
Swerve Strickland b. Brian Cage – House Call
Toni Storm b. Harley Cameron – Storm Zero
Kazuchika Okada b. Dax Harwood – Rainmaker

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Make sure you check out some recent reviews:

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NXT
Date: May 14, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We’re coming up on Battleground and last week seemed to set the stage for the show’s main event. Noam Dar seems to be coming for Trick Williams and the NXT Title, but Lash Legend is in the middle of the whole thing. Other than that, the Heritage Cup is on the line as Tony D’Angelo challenges Charlie Dempsey. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Noam Dar has been attacked, with the rest of Meta Four arguing about it. Dar looks…confused?

We look back at last week’s combine, which set up the qualifying matches for the Women’s North American Title match.

Kiana James gives Izzi Dame a pep talk.

Sol Ruca won the combine and is ready to win the title too.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Sol Ruca vs. Izzi Dame

Ruca walks to the ring on her hands. Dame grabs an armbar to start but Ruca suplexes her way out rather quickly. A middle rope flipping X Factor sends Dame outside and another dive hits her on the floor. Back in and Ruca tries a headscissors but gets thrown over the top for a face first landing into the steps.

Ruca gets dropped onto the announcers’ table and Dame grabs a backbreaker back inside. The reverse chinlock goes on but Ruca fights up with a springboard elbow to the face. Ruca’s standing moonsault gets two but Dame’s big boot gets the same. Dame sends her into the corner, where Ruca tries another headscissors, with this one being flipped into the Sol Snatcher for the pin at 5:38.

Rating: C. There are certain moves where you know it’s over as soon as they connect and the Sol Snatcher is the newest on the list. I’m still not sure I can believe she’s doing it every time and you do not see a move like that very often. It’s pretty clear that Ruca is destined to be a star so her winning here was hardly a big surprise.

Ava isn’t happy with the D’Angelo Family for switching referees last week but they claim a bad case of bronchitis. Tony can still have his title match, but he’s getting fined $20,000. That’s fine, as an envelope full of cash (more than $20,000) is handed over.

Brinley Reece fires up a nervous Edris Enofe (with his rabbit’s foot) and Malik Blade.

Shayna Baszler, with Lola Vice implies she’s coming for the Women’s Title but Natalya and Karmen Petrovic run in for the brawl.

OTM vs. Edris Enofe/Malik Blade

Jaida Parker and Brinley Reece are here too. Nima picks Enofe up to start as it’s off to Blade for a double drop toehold. Some rapid fire elbows stagger Nima but he’s up for the tag to Price. Everything breaks down and OTM get caught with stereo hurricanranas and dropkicks. Parker grabs Enofe’s foot though and the women get in a fight on the floor as we take a break.

Back with the women getting into it again and this time they go up the aisle, with referees getting rid of them. Enofe gets knocked down out of the corner for two, setting up a standing camel clutch (with Enofe’s legs wrapped around the standing Price’s ribs). That’s broken up but Enofe, who is losing his boot, can’t get over for the tag. The assisted Alabama Slam to Enofe is enough at 10:43.

Rating: C. It’s a bit weird to see a team whose story is bad luck but it’s not like Enofe and Blade have anything else going on at the moment. They still feel like a team who could go somewhere if they were treated as a basic, athletic team but instead they’re in a spot like this. OTM is already better without Scrypts, as he really didn’t add anything to the team.

Meta Four is still arguing about Noam Dar but Lash Legend doesn’t have time for this.

Ridge Holland praises Chase U to Axiom and Nathan Frazer. The OC come in to mock him but Holland is willing to find a partner for a match tonight.

Women’s North American Title Qualifying Match: Ivy Nile vs. Lash Legend

Jakara Jackson is here with Legend who wastes no time in knocking Nile out to the floor. Nile fights up and glares at Jackson, followed by a spinning kick to Legend’s head. Legend’s super chokeslam is countered into a super bulldog for two and the Diamond Chain Lock goes on. Jackson offers a distraction though and Legend hits the pump kick for the pin at 3:56.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what happened to Nile but she has fallen through the floor. There was a time where she seemed primed for at least a title run but it never came together. Now here she is, more or less just a jobber to a potential big star like Legend. There wasn’t much to the match, but Legend has come a VERY long way in the last few months.

Je’Von Evans doesn’t know who attacked Noam Dar but he’s ready to face Oro Mensah.

Carlee Brights wants to face Lola Vice tonight but Ava isn’t sure after Bright’s combine score. Then she gives Bright the match anyway.

Oro Mensah vs. Je’Von Evans

Jakara Jackson is here with Mensah, who strikes away to start and rakes Evans’ eyes over the top rope. Mensah sends him crashing out to the floor and we take a break. Back with Mensah hitting Big Show’s old Alley Oop for two but Evans fights up. Evans goes up top and kicks Mensah down, setting up a springboard clothesline. A springboard cutter sends Mensah outside and of course Evans is right there with the dive. Cue Lash Legend with a chair but Trick Williams pops up to glare at her. Evans fights out of a powerbomb and hits a superkick into the corkscrew splash for the pin at 10:10.

Rating: C+. It was good, though not quite up to the levels of excitement that Evans has shown in his previous outings. He’s athletic and the fans like him, but right now he still needs wins like this one to boost him up. That is a necessary thing, but it might not make for the most riveting action.

Post match Williams shows respect to Evans.

Charlie Dempsey is on his own tonight and promises violence and revenge against Tony D’Angelo.

Here is Wes Lee for a chat. Last time he was in this ring with this mic, things were going very badly for him. He wasn’t sure if he was ever going to be able to get back but dang did he miss this. Fans: “WE MISS YOU!” He is back six months earlier than scheduled because he missed this so much. Lee needs a minute to compose himself but Oba Femi interrupts. Femi respects him but Lee has taken the title as far as he can. While Lee has shown the spirit of a warrior, Femi is a real warrior. Lee says he wants a title shot, but Femi tells him to prove it.

Cue Ivar to interrupt, saying he knows what it’s like to have a career ending injury. He and Lee even had the same spinal surgeon! They both want a title shot, but here is Josh Briggs to interrupt and try to get in on this too. He came this close at Stand & Deliver with broken ribs, but now he’s all healed up. Femi likes the arguments, so Femi says make it a fatal four way. Instead, Femi says fight among yourselves and the winner gets the title shot. This was really basic simple stuff but it did its’ job.

Chase U comes up to see Ridge Holland, who can have Riley Osborne as his partner tonight. Holland is very grateful.

We hear an alarm clock go off but see nothing.

Lexis King hits on some women when Jazmyn Nyx comes in with a get well soon card for Jacy Jayne. King signs but gets the name wrong.

OC vs. Ridge Holland/Riley Osborne

The rest of Chase U is here with Holland and Osborne. Holland trades shoulders with Gallows to start, with a jumping version putting Gallows down. Osborne comes in and is quickly taken into the wrong corner. Some dropkicks get him out of trouble in a hurry though and a standing shooting star press gives Osborne two. Gallows isn’t having that and knocks Osborne into the corner again and we hit the chinlock.

Osborne fights up again but gets sent hard into the corner. A quick flip dive out of the corner finally gives Osborne a breather and the diving tag brings Holland in to clean house. Holland loads up an Alabama Slam but Osborne misses a springboard dropkick and hits Holland by mistake. That’s enough for Anderson to roll Holland up for the pin at 5:10.

Rating: C. The OC might be stars but they’re not exactly the most thrilling addition to the show. They’re the same team they’ve been for years now, meaning they’re here to collect a check and follow the formula they’ve had for far too long. The ending was what mattered here, as it is going to be an issue for Holland and his path to redemption.

Video on Carlee Bright.

Carlee Bright vs. Lola Vice

Vice has Shayna Baszler in her corner. Bright tries some early rollups to start but Vice kicks her off the ropes. More kicks and strikes set up a dance, allowing Bright to grab a rollup for two. A front flip kick to the face in the corner gets two more but Vice kicks her out of the air. The spinning backfist finishes Bright at 3:10.

Rating: C+. Bright has been around on NXT LVL up in recent weeks and it’s nice to see her do some things that she hadn’t done around there. Right now though, she’s just another newcomer in great shape and that isn’t going to be enough to carry her to the next level. It was a nice match, but little more than a decent first step.

Post match Natalya and Karmen Petrovic come out for the brawl, with the villains bailing in a hurry. The tag match is made for next week.

Riley Osborne apologizes to Ridge Holland in the back but Holland says it’s cool. Holland hopes Chase U trusts him and that seems to be the case, albeit a bit tentatively.

We look back at Noam Dar being attacked. NXT loves itself some mystery attacker stories.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Heritage Cup: Tony D’Angelo vs. Charlie Dempsey

D’Angelo, with the Family, is challenging. Round One begins with D’Angelo taking over and grabbing an early rollup for two. Dempsey isn’t sure what to do to start and D’Angelo takes him down again to make it worse. A cravate finally slows D’Angelo down for a bit, only to have him reverse into a cradle for the first fall at 2:46.

We take a break and come back with just under a minute to go in Round Two. They trade forearms until Dempsey suplexes him into a cross armbreaker but D’Angelo survives until the round ends. Round Three begins with D’Angelo’s arm in trouble so Dempsey goes right for the cross armbreaker. With that broken up, Dempsey grabs a Fujiwara armbar. That’s reversed into a rollup but D’Angelo misses a charge into the post, allowing Dempsey to German suplex him and tie it up at 2:10 of the round and 9:14 overall.

Round Four begins with D’Angelo going right after the arm, including some stomps into a short armscissors. D’Angelo can’t quite roll out so Dempsey pulls him into a triangle choke. A powerbomb gets D’Angelo out and a belly to belly puts Dempsey down. D’Angelo grabs a spinebuster but can’t cover as the round ends. Round Five begins with D’Angelo grabbing a German suplex as the rest of the No Quarter Catch Crew, looking a bit banged up, arrives. They’re dispatched just as fast and Forget About It gives D’Angelo the pin and the cup at 1:08 of the round and 14:08 overall.

Rating: B-. I was a bit surprised by the ending as they seemed to be setting up the No Quarter Catch Crew interference to retain the Cup. D’Angelo needed to win something on his own and it’s nice to see him finally do it. He has the talent and has managed to get this rather stupid gimmick over, which is more than I would have expected. Solid stuff here, with the Crew’s run already looking to be in trouble.

We cut to the back where Wes Lee, Josh Briggs and Ivar have been attacked. The camera pans up to Gallus, as the trio is back (I wonder if they attacked Noam Dar) to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t the strongest show from a wrestling standpoint but the main event was good and it had a nice surprise at the end. You can see at least some of the Battleground card coming together and there is almost a month to go before the show to fill in the gaps. Not their best show here, but it covered a bit of ground, including the first few qualifying matches.

Results
Sol Ruca b. Izzi Dame – Sol Snatcher
OTM b. Edris Enofe/Malik Blade – Assisted Alabama Slam to Enofe
Lash Legend b. Ivy Nile – Pump kick
Je’Von Evans b. Oro Mensah – Corkscrew splash
OC b. Ridge Holland/Riley Osborne – Rollup to Holland
Lola Vice b. Carlee Bright – Spinning backfist
Tony D’Angelo b. Charlie Dempsey 2-1

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

DDT Goes Philadelphia
Date: April 4, 2024
Location: Penns Landing Caterers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Dave Prazak, Lenny Leonard

So last year, DDT put on a show that had good moments, but it also had more than a few things that made me want to throw my TV through the wall. I’ve seen enough DDT to know that it can be better though so I’ll give it another chance here. There is always the chance that is a terrible idea but let’s get to it.

Note that I do not follow DDT whatsoever so I apologize in advance for missing any storyline or character development bits.

CCK vs. Bryan Keith/Shota

CCK is Chris Brookes/Kid Lykos and they jump Keith and Shota to start fast. Lykos even puts on Keith’s….whatever you call that thing he wears to the ring, earning himself a beating from Keith. A slam puts Lykos down so Shota can add a slingshot hilo. Lykos is right back with a Codebreaker into a backsplash from the rather tall Brookes, followed by a legdrop for two.

Brookes adds some mocking kicks to the face, which fire Shota up enough to hit a quick Backstabber for a breather. It’s back to Keith to pick up the pace and clean house, including an exploder suplex for two on Brookes. We get the “here, let me stand still so you can chop me” exchange until Keith hits a running knee to the head for the double knockdown. Lykos and Shota come in to pick up the pace, with Lykos’ sunset flip getting two.

Shota calls for a brainbuster but gets flipped into a dropkick from Brookes instead. Keith plants Lykos so Shota adds a frog splash, followed by a suicide dive for the big crash. Another frog splash only hits knees back inside though and Brookes dropkicks Shota into the corner. The brainbuster gives Lykos the pin at 8:27.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of hot opener that you want on any show and it worked well here. CCK is a team I’ve seen before and they work well together, while Keith has enough star power from being a regular in AEW. There didn’t seem to be any kind of a backstory here and sometimes that works just fine, as they had a fast paced match here and kept the crowd energized.

Andrew Everett vs. Tetsuya Endo

Everett is the guy who thinks he’s the Giant from WCW and it still doesn’t really work. Endo on the other hand has done quite a few good things around here and I remember him being pretty solid. They lock up to start and Endo hits a quick dropkick into a slam to take over. Endo’s version of the People’s Elbow misses (apparently a tradition) and Everett missile dropkicks Endo outside.

The Asai moonsault hits Endo as well, with commentary saying other giants can’t do that. Back in and the chokeslam gives Everett two (with a bit of a nasty landing), only to miss a rope walk 630. Endo sends him outside for a Sasuke Special but Everett is right back with a chokebomb for two of his own.

The shooting star press misses for Everett and Endo’s spinning torture rack bomb gets two. It’s Everett’s turn now as he snaps off a poisonrana, only to have another chokeslam countered into a Canadian Destroyer (that was nifty) for another double down. They both head up top, where Everett tries the chokeslam but gets reversed into a super torture rack bomb. The Burning (shooting) Star Press finishes for Endo at 11:32.

Rating: B-. These two had a rather nice back and forth match, with the only downside being the whole Giant thing, which isn’t funny and is more of a distraction than anything else. Endo continues to be someone who does well every time I see him out there and this was no exception. That rack bomb would have been enough to finish but adding in a gorgeous shooting star isn’t a bad thing.

Here is Dan The Dad (a caricature of the perfect neighborhood dad) to interrupt despite not being invited. He was told there was no room for him on any of the Collective shows so now he’s issued a challenge to the toughest star in all of Japan. And we have an answer.

Chiitan vs. Dan The Dad

Chiitan is a yellow mascot who is apparently an otter (who wears a hat). Dan starts with his coffee cup in hand but Chiitan slaps it away. A bunch of right hands don’t hurt Chiitan because it’s a big helmet, meaning Chiitan can hit some sumo strikes. Chiitan’s slingshot hilo connects as commentary says don’t worry because they don’t know what is going on either.

Old School staggers Dan but he’s back with a spinebuster into an elbow for two. Dan throws in some chairs and a door, the latter of which has no effect. Another shot puts Chiitan down and the door is bridged between the chairs. Chiitan catches him up top though and a superplex through the table finishes Dan at 5:29.

Rating: C. I think we’re going to call this “not for me” as I have never heard of Chiitan and the match was a bit less than serious. The fans were way into it and Dan is a goofy enough guy that beating him in a match like this won’t matter. It wasn’t serious and it was fast so we’ll call it harmless enough.

Post match Chris Brookes, who HATES mascots, comes in to destroy Chiitan, with an assist from Dan. Cue Yoshihiko (a blow up doll) to crossbody both of them for the save. While Yoshihiko is here, we might as well have our scheduled match.

Yoshihiko vs. Kazuki Hirata

They fight over a lockup to start with Hirata taking it to the mat, only to have Yoshihiko come back with a headlock. That’s broken up and Hirata hammers away in the corner but gets caught in a cross armbreaker over the top. A Fujiwara armbar sends Hiarata to the rope for the break, allowing Hirata to grab a brainbuster.

Hirata hits a rather hard clothesline in the corner and a top rope superbomb gets two. Another superbomb is countered into a super hurricanrana for two so Yoshihiko goes back to the Fujiwara. That’s broken up as well so Yoshihiko rolls some German suplexes for another near fall. A very spinning headscissors into a hurricanrana gives Yoshihiko the pin at 5:31.

Rating: C+. Again, I’m not sure what to make of something like this, though Hirata does deserve points for wrestling himself with a prop out there. Yoshihiko is the definition of a thing that pretty much only works for the right audience and that was the case with these people. It wasn’t a match, but it was a rather impressive performance.

Universal Title: Mao vs. Billie Starkz

Mao is defending and this is No Rules. Starkz offers a handshake and gets flipped off instead, as tends to be Mao’s custom. A quick takedown gives Starkz two and she…puts Mao’s hands in his pockets for an odd counter. That’s fine with Mao, who does an Orange Cassidy impression with a dropkick into a nip up despite his hands in his pockets. The hands (with the middle fingers extended) come back out and he loads up a hanging DDT, only to flip off the crowd as he lets Starkz drop instead.

Starkz snaps off a German suplex but gets kicked in the head. A pop up Stunner doesn’t work for Mao as Starkz hits a fireman’s carry backbreaker onto the knee for the double down. They both grab chairs and have a duel, with Starkz cracking hers over Mao’s back. Mao is right back with a kick to the face and a Michinoku Driver onto the chairs gets two. Starkz fights out of something on the top and hits a kind of Black Out onto the chairs for two of her own.

The stacking of chairs takes too long and Mao hits a super Michinoku Driver onto the chairs for another near fall. A frustrated Mao loads up a door in the corner and lawn darts Starkz through it (GEEZ that looked scary) for one, giving us the stunned reaction. Another door is bridged between some chairs but Starkz is up to flip Mao off for a change. Mao’s 450 only hits door so he grabs a German suplex but all four shoulders are down for the double pin at 10:54.

Rating: C+. Mao seems like someone who is holding the title so that someone can beat him to take it in a big moment. That’s not the worst way to go but Starkz wasn’t the one to take it from him here. I guess they were going for a good/innocent vs. evil here and it worked well enough, but the match was hardly memorable.

Since there is no winner….we do Rock, Paper, Scissors (seriously) with Mao retaining (scissors to paper).

Damnation T.A. vs. Nick Wayne/Takeshi Masada

That would be Daisuke Sasaki/Kanon, who get jumped before the bell as the fight starts fast. The fight heads outside with Sasaki taking over on Masada, allowing Kanon to come in with a backbreaker. Some knees to the back get two and a swinging neckbreaker gives Kanon the same. Masada gets up with a dropkick and Wayne comes in to pick up the pace. An Asai moonsault takes out T.A. and a fisherman’s suplex gets two on Sasaki back inside.

Sasaki is back with a superkick into a quickly broken crossface but Masada is sent outside. Wayne slips out of a powerbomb attempt and it’s Masada coming back in with a brainbuster for two. Everything breaks down and a double Wayne’s World is broken up. An accidental (allegedly) low blow puts Wayne on the floor and an over the shoulder powerbomb/top rope elbow combination gives Kanon the pin on Masada at 7:07.

Rating: C. This was a rather basic tag match and that is not the worst thing. What matters is that an established team (they have a name so they must be a regular team) gets a win with Wayne’s AEW connections offering some star power. They didn’t have much time to get very far here but what they got in wasn’t bad.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Shunma Katsumata

Takeshita is a bit popular. Shunma jumps him on the floor to start and hits a running dropkick in the corner as the bell rings. They head outside with Shunma hitting a DDT on the floor but some forearms just wake Takeshita up. Back in and Shunma scores with a top rope Meteora into a double stomp but Takeshita casually dodges a dropkick. Some kicks to the head have Shunma on the floor and there’s a brainbuster to drop him on his head.

Back in again and Shunma dives into a powerbomb, followed by another brainbuster for two. The one armed camel clutch goes on but Shunma fights out and slugs away. More forearms just annoy Takeshita again so he hits one heck of a forearm to drop Shunma hard. Shunma’s clotheslines finally put Takeshita down for two but a top rope splash only hits raised knees. An elbow to the face and the running knee give Takeshita two each so he grabs a Liontamer for the win at 9:42.

Rating: B-. They got a bit more time here and it was cool to see Takeshita shrug off so much offense and then end Shunma without much trouble. This was more about Takeshita getting a big showcase and he felt like a huge star out there. Shunma seems to have a history with Takeshita and tried to do everything he could, but this was Takeshita’s match and it went well.

Yuki Ueno vs. Mike Bailey

Ueno’s KO-D Openweight Title isn’t on the line for some reason. We get a rather intense handshake to start before Bailey hits a brainbuster for two less than ten seconds in. They slug it out with Bailey being knocked to the floor but managing to kick a dive out of the air. Another strike off on the floor sees Bailey kick the post by mistake and a running knee puts him down again. Bailey’s foot is kind enough to kick Ueno off the apron and hit a triangle moonsault to the floor.

Back in and Bailey hits a top rope double stomp to the back of the head for two, followed by some kicks to the chest for two each. Bailey grabs a kneebar, with Ueno making the rope rather quickly. Ueno shrugs off some shots to the head and grabs a brainbuster for two. Bailey is knocked outside for a corkscrew dive, followed by a running crotch attack to the back of the head back inside. Naturally Bailey shrugs it off and kicks away, with a running shooting star press connecting for two.

Ueno grabs some German suplexes but Bailey keeps popping up with kicks to the face. They finally both collapse before coming back up to trade forearms. Ueno takes him to the apron for a German suplex and they crash to the floor with the hold not being broken. Bailey blocks another suplex and hits the moonsault knees.

Back in and Ueno snaps off a super hurricanrana for two but a springboard moonsault misses. Bailey kicks him in the head for two more but the tornado kick misses. Ueno gets kicked down again and Bailey hits the Ultimate Weapon for two. The poisonrana into a running knee gives Ueno two and another running knee gets one. A big dropkick sets up something like a DDT STO to give Ueno the pin at 18:53.

Rating: B. This one is going to depend on your tolerance for Bailey no selling most of the offense against him and throwing a bunch of kicks. Other than that, they had a hard hitting match and beat on each other until Bailey couldn’t get up after a kind of lame finisher. The match’s intensity made it work, though why was this not a title match? Does it make that much of a difference?

Overall Rating: B. I had a lot of fun with this one as they didn’t waste any time and were flying through a bunch of stuff. Nothing on here was bad and it made for a rather entertaining two hours. There was just enough of a mixture of good action with goofiness to make it work and this was one of the more enjoyable shows of the weekend. Maybe just go a bit longer, but what we got was quite effective.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Monday Night Raw
Date: May 13, 2024
Location: Bon Secours Wellness Center, Greenville, South Carolina
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

The tournaments continue as we are less than two weeks away from King And Queen Of The Ring in Saudi Arabia. That should make for a big night as the matches are starting to get interesting. Other than that, we could use some more matches on the card, which is only starting to come together. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is Drew McIntyre to get things going. The fans chant for CM Punk but McIntyre talks about how Punk only makes the big town. The greatest trick that Punk ever pulled was looking like a drug addict despite never taking any drugs. Punk keeps messing with the fans but they keep taking him back. McIntyre is going to get his hands on him one day and he’ll beat Punk so bad that Punk will wish he had a torn tricep.

In other news Jey Uso lost another match so McIntyre will deal with him later. For now, McIntyre wants the World Heavyweight Championship and here is Damian Priest to interrupt. Priest says if McIntyre has something to say, say it to his face. McIntyre praises Priest for his success, but he doesn’t deserve to be champion. The title has made the man but now the title needs McIntyre to make it. Priest calls McIntyre delusional and accuses him of blaming everyone for his troubles.

The reality is Priest wanted to cash in on Seth Rollins and then they could have gone at it at Wrestlemania. But who stopped Priest from cashing in so many times? McIntyre! All he had to do was have his moment at Wrestlemania, take his wife by the hand, and then go about his business. Instead, he got beaten up by a guy with one arm. If McIntyre wants a title shot he can have one, but he better be ready to eat his words. That’s a match that needs to happen and this exchange was a good way to get us there. If nothing else, it’s weird seeing someone stand eye to eye with McIntyre.

We look back at last week’s first round of the Queen Of The Ring.

Earlier today, Shayna Baszler and Iyo Sky yelled at each other in the parking lot.

Queen Of The Ring Quarterfinals: Iyo Sky vs. Shayna Baszler

Damage CTRL and Zoey Stark are here too and Baszler gets in a cheap shot before the bell. We take a break and come back joined in progress with Sky missing a charge out to the floor. Commentary talks about these two fighting in Stardom and NXT but stop to notice the weird graphic popping up on screen again. Baszler sends her into the apron and wraps the arm around the structure underneath the ring skirt. Back in and Sky grabs a running hurricanrana before they go up top. Baszler’s leg gets tied in the corner so Sky sends her to the floor for the big springboard moonsault.

We take a break and come back with Sky snapping the leg over the middle rope, setting up some running knees to the back for two. A kick to the head sets up a very bridging rollup for two but Baszler pulls her into the Kirifuda Clutch. That’s reversed as well so Baszler hits a running knee to the head for two. Another knee is countered with a dragon screw legwhip and Over The Moonsault finishes for Sky at 10:38.

Rating: B-. I would have loved to see more of this one as they were starting to cook near the end. It’s no surprise that they have good chemistry together given their history as they’re both talented and know each other well. At the same time, it would be nice to see Baszler actually win something important on her own, though I’m not sure I can imagine it actually happening.

Post match Sky says something in Japanese.

Damian Priest comes into the Judgment Day’s clubhouse, with Carlito around again. Carlito thinks the team could use some help with all of their injuries. Priest is fine with him helping the boys, but not him. Carlito: “You don’t trust me?” Priest: “Nope.”

Chad Gable doesn’t like what the Alpha Academy has been doing lately but Otis has a chance to redeem himself against Sami Zayn. Akira Tozawa is facing Bronson Reed, but Gable DOES NOT want to see that dance. The men leave and Ivy Nile comes in to ask why Maxxine Dupri didn’t ask for help in training for the Queen Of The Ring (Perhaps that Dupri had only a few hours’ notice that she was competing?). Apparently Gable says no training outside of the Academy but Gable comes in to break it up. Gable advises Nile to stop talking to “Taylor Not So Swift, referring to Dupri.

We recap last week’s first round King Of The Ring matches.

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are fired up for Kingston’s match against Gunther, because Kingston can teach him a lesson.

Awesome Truth are in the back with Adam Pearce, who tells them that they won’t be defending the titles tonight. Kiana James comes in and says she’s here to adjudicate. R-Truth doesn’t know what that means but doesn’t think it’s PG.

King Of The Ring Quarterfinals: Kofi Kingston vs. Gunther

Lilian Garcia pops up in a cameo to introduce the match. Kingston jumps him before the bell and hammers away on the floor before going after Gunther’s knee in a smart move. The knee is rammed into various things and we get the bell with Gunther still down. Kingston comes off the top to send Gunther outside but a dive is cut off. Gunther drives him into various things, including the announcers’ table for a crash. The Boston crab on the table has Kingston in trouble as we take a break.

Back with Gunther stomping away as Cole says this is somehow only Kingston’s third King Of The Ring tournament. Kingston reverses a backbreaker into a rollup for two and Gunther is all the angrier as a result. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker hits Kingston but Gunther’s knee is banged up as well. The SOS is blocked so Kingston hits a high crossbody instead. That doesn’t work for Gunther either, as he grabs another Boston crab (minus the table).

Kingston slips out and knocks Gunther down so we can get a double breather. Gunther dropkicks him into the corner and hits a clothesline for two as some frustration is setting in. Kingston’s back is bent around the post but he slips out and hurricanranas Gunther into the post. Trouble In Paradise connects on the floor but they both beat the count back in. Another Trouble In Paradise misses back inside and Gunther powerbombs him into the Boston crab for the tap at 13:51.

Rating: B. These two have worked well together before and it’s nice to see Gunther adding something different with the submission wins. It makes him feel all the more dangerous and I’m curious to see who, if anyone, is going to be able to knock him off in the thing. At the same time, Kingston can still go in the ring and it’s kind of a shame that he doesn’t get some bigger singles matches, as he can more than hang in there. Rather nice match here, with Kingston holding his own against the monster.

We look at Liv Morgan challenging Becky Lynch for a Raw Women’s Title match last week. Lynch accepted, but then Lyra Valkyria had to save Lynch from Damage CTRL.

Valkyria says she has Lynch’s back anytime, with Lynch popping in to thank her. With Lynch gone, Morgan comes in to ask if Lynch has always been such a b****. Valkyria says ask her yourself, with Lynch returning to shove Morgan down. Lynch says she isn’t the one scared of a face to face fight.

Kofi Kingston is walking through the back when Karrion Kross pops in to say there’s always more time. Kross leaves and Xavier Woods shows up with some ice for Kingston, who isn’t sure what Kross wanted.

Bronson Reed vs. Akira Tozawa

Chad Gable is here with Tozawa, who slugs away to start to little avail. A spinning kick to the head works a bit better and a missile dropkick actually puts Reed down. Gable is VERY happy as Tozawa goes up again, only to flip into the Death Valley Driver. The Tsunami finishes for Reed at 1:14.

Ludwig Kaiser is NOT happy with Gunther being interrupted with annoying questions. Gunther leaves and Kaiser is asked about Gunther’s loss to Ilja Dragunov and the interference that cost Jey Uso his match against Gunther. Kaiser lists off Gunther’s accomplishments and says he has nothing to prove.

As for Sheamus, he was delusional for thinking he can beat Gunther. Sheamus has never beaten Gunther despite a legendary career and it is never going to happen. In reality, Sheamus should be right here thanking Kaiser for last week. That’s the most fired up I’ve ever heard Kaiser before as he was sounding like a preacher for a bit.

Adam Pearce has an announcement about the Raw Tag Team Titles when the New Catch Republic comes in to interrupt. Pearce gives them a welcome to the show but Pete Dunne grabs Tyler Bate’s arm and leaves. Pearce’s announcement is a four way for the #1 contendership to the Tag Team Titles. With that out of the way, Pearce is asked why Bron Breakker wasn’t in the King Of The Ring. Breakker doesn’t have that kind of experience yet but here is Breakker to say his opponents would have been the ones in the deep end. He would have smiled while he watched them drown. That’s a bit much.

McAfee barks a lot.

We look at more of the Queen Of The Ring.

Queen Of The Ring Quarterfinals: Zoey Stark vs. Lyra Valkyria

Valkyria grabs some armdrags into an armbar to start as commentary talks about the inspiration behind Valkyria’s name. A hurricanrana takes Stark to the floor, where she drops Valkyria with a clothesline as we take a break. Back with Stark hitting a springboard missile dropkick for two and grabbing the cravate. That’s broken up and Valkyria manages a quick jumping enziguri for the needed breather.

Stark hits her in the face and adds a spinning kick to the ribs for two of her own. Something misses off the top though and Valkyria is back with a running spinwheel kick. Stark suplexes her into the corner for two and frustration is starting to set in. The Z360 is loaded up but Valkyria blocks the knee, setting up Nightwing for the pin at 8:57.

Rating: C+. They were starting to hit a wall near the end there and thankfully they went home when they did. Valkyria is getting a heck of a run in this thing and while it might end against Iyo Sky next week, it’s nice to see her getting a chance. They’re doing a good job with making the tournaments interesting and Valkyria is a part of that.

Post match Valkyria says something in Gaelic, promising that we’ll learn what that means. She only travels as the crow flies, which is straight to the top.

More from last week’s King Of The Ring first round.

Jey Uso is ready to give Ilja Dragunov a Yeetdown, just like Gunther is getting one next week.

Sami Zayn vs. Otis

Non-title and Chad Gable is here with Otis. The beating is on fast and Zayn is dropped through straight power, only to have Gable cut off the Worm attempt. Otis rips the shirt off anyway and drops the elbow, drawing Gable to the apron. The Vader Bomb misses for Otis and the Helluva Kick gives Zayn the pin at 2:03.

Post match Zayn leaves so Gable berates Otis, earning him a suplex from the returning Zayn. Otis helps Gable up but Gable blames him for everything. Gable slaps Otis and leaves on his own before stopping to say let’s go, with Otis following.

Braun Strowman (in a snazzy hat) gives the Creed Brothers a pep talk before their four way match tonight. JD McDonagh comes in to give him an official Judgment Day warning, which is quickly shrugged off.

Becky Lynch vs. Dakota Kai

Non-title and the rest of Damage CTRL is here with Kai. Lynch starts fast and stomps away in the corner with Kai falling out to the floor. There’s the baseball slide to drop Kai again, with Lynch adding a clothesline from the apron. Kairi Sane offers a distraction though and Kai manages quick kick to the head. Kai’s running kick in the corner….is mistimed as Lynch comes out of the corner and gets dropped by a regular kick to the ribs instead.

The chinlock goes on but Lynch fights up and we get a double knockdown as we take a break. Back with Kai striking away until Lynch catches her over the middle rope. Kai’s running kick in the corner connects for two but Lynch is back up with some rollups. Lynch finally pulls her into the Disarm-Her but Damage CTRL runs in for the DQ at 10:00.

Rating: C. This was a weird one as they didn’t feel like they were on the same page more than once. At the same time, it was a bizarre choice for an ending, as you would think Lynch should be able to beat Damage CTRL’s designated jobber in Kai. Not their greatest match, and I’m not sure why they did what they were doing.

Post match the beatdown is on but Lyra Valkyria runs in for the save. Liv Morgan sneaks in to send Lynch shoulder first into the post.

Ilja Dragunov is ready to beat Jey Uso to move closer to being the Czar of the Ring. He’s different because he beat Gunther….who comes in for the staredown.

Creed Brothers vs. Judgment Day vs. New Catch Republic vs. Authors Of Pain

For a future Tag Team Title shot against Awesome Truth, who are at ringside. Bate grabs a headscissors on McDonagh to start and drags him into the corner, where it’s off to Dunne for the finger snapping. The Creeds tag themselves in to start on McDonagh but the Authors come in to wreck everyone. McDonagh gets thrown over the top and onto the pile and we take a break.

Back with Balor stomping on Brutus in the corner before Judgment Day knocks the Republic off the apron. Brutus manages to get over for the tag to Julius, who double suplexes Judgment Day down. Balor is back up with the Sling Blade, setting up the dropkick to send Julius into the corner. The Republic breaks up the Coup de Grace, allowing Julius to grab a top rope superplex for two on Balor.

The Authors come back in with the Super Collider to Judgment Day. Now it’s the Republic cleaning house again but Brutus hits the Brutus Ball onto the pile at ringside. Bate airplane spins Akam and the Birminghammer hits Balor, with McDonagh making the save. Cue Carlito with a Backstabber to Dunne though, allowing Balor to hit the Coup de Grace for the pin and the title shot at 10:42.

Rating: B-. Total insanity here for the most part and that made for an entertaining match, even if there were so many people out there that it was hard to keep track of everything. The Judgment Day getting the shot makes things interesting as they have issues with Awesome Truth. The Authors can continue to be monsters, the Creeds can continue searching for charisma and the Republic can hope everyone forgets their rather awful name.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Ricochet wishes Ilja Dragunov luck.

Damian Priest asks Dominik Mysterio if he and Rhea Ripley are good but the rest of the team and Carlito come in. Priest tells Carlito that was cool, but makes sure that Carlito can handle his business with Rey Mysterio. The crew doesn’t roll with cowards.

King Of The Ring Quarterfinals: Jey Uso vs. Ilja Dragunov

Dragunov backs him into the corner to start and then fires off the chops. A discus chop puts Uso down, leaving Dragunov to try and get CZAR OF THE RING over. Uso catches him going up with a heck of a right hand though and there’s the suicide dive to send Dragunov into the announcers’ table. Dragunov fights back and puts him onto the announcers’ table, only to miss an H Bomb from the barricade. A spear sends Dragunov over the table and we take a break.

Back with Uso hiptossing his way out of the abdominal stretch to leave them both down. Uso wins a slugout and drops Dragunov with a jumping enziguri, only to get kicked in the face for his troubles. Dragunov’s Constantine Special gets two and they both need a breather. Uso hits a heck of a jumping superkick but the spear is cut off with a running knee. A toss powerbomb into the H Bomb gives Dragunov two but the Torpedo Moscow is countered with the spear. The Superfly Splash gives Uso the pin at 12:50.

Rating: B-. The ending kind of came out of nowhere but it was a hard hitting, back and forth match until the end. As disappointing as it is to not get Dragunov vs. Gunther, they might be saving that kind of a showdown for a bigger stage. Uso was putting in the work here and look good in the win, though beating Dragunov clean so soon is quite the choice.

Gunther comes in for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was another wrestling focused show and that worked again, with the matches being rather high quality (save for that weird Kai vs. Lynch match). They’ve also set up two big showdowns for next week and now we should be in for a hot show heading into the pay per view. They aren’t reinventing the wheel around here but what they’re doing is going rather well as the streak of good shows continues.

Results
Iyo Sky b. Shayna Baszler – Over The Moonsault
Gunther b. Kofi Kingston – Boston crab
Bronson Reed b. Akira Tozawa – Tsunami
Lyra Valkyria b. Zoey Stark – Nightwing
Sami Zayn b. Otis – Helluva Kick
Becky Lynch b. Dakota Kai via DQ when Damage CTRL interfered
Judgment Day b. New Catch Republic, Authors Of Pain and Creed Brothers – Coup de Grace to Dunne
Jey Uso b. Ilja Dragunov – Superfly Splash

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Progress Chapter 166: Freedom Walks Again
Date: April 5, 2024
Location: Penns Landing Caterers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Rich Bocchini, Jack Farmer

So this is the British Progress Wrestling promotion, which isn’t quite what it used to be but it’s still a big enough deal to warrant a Wrestlemania weekend spot. There are some familiar names around here but there will also likely be some guest stars, as tends to be the case over the weekend. Let’s get to it.

Note that I do not follow Progress so I apologize in advance for any storylines or character points that I miss.

I was in attendance for this show, sitting in the fourth row with the entrance on my right.

Opening sequence, which doesn’t seem to be specific to this show.

Leon Slater vs. Cody Chhun vs. Simon Miller vs. Marcus Mathers vs. Gringo Loco vs. Lykos II vs. Tate Mayfairs

One fall to a finish. Hold on though as Mayfairs brags about his greatness on the way to the ring, saying that the fans only know what Dave Meltzer tells them about British wrestling. We get the usual “I’m awesome” speech, with the expected WHAT’s to make it even longer. Mayfairs gets inside and manages to drop everyone until Mathers (in old school Philadelphia Phillies gear) takes him down with a springboard high crossbody.

Loco counters Lykos’ running hurricanrana but Chhun is back in with a dropkick to put Lykos down. Slater clears the ring and hits a dive onto Chhun before Miller gets to clean house to quite the reaction. Back in and Mayfairs gets to clean house and pose again (he has a tendency to do that). Lykos gets sent outside but walks into a spear from Miller, who gets kicked down by Slater.

Loco catches Slater on top with a super Spanish Fly before side slamming Mayfairs for two. Lykos’ slingshot Code Red gets two and he slugs it out with Mathers. Slater is back in for the big running flip dive over the post before it’s time for a run of cutters. Slater’s Swanton 450 (that looks awesome) gets two but Lykos is back up with a running flip dive of his own. A brainbuster to Chhun gives Lykos the pin at 9:20.

Rating: B-. If you watch an independent show, especially around this weekend, you know you’re going to see something like this as it’s a guaranteed way to get a bunch of people into the ring at once. That doesn’t mean it’s high quality, but it’s often fun and that was the case again here. Lykos winning is fine, as it’s not like the result is what matters in something like this. Good, fast paced opener.

Atlas Title: Yoichi vs. Ricky Knight Jr.

Yoichi, on excursion from Pro Wrestling Noah, is challenging and this seems to be something like the Hoss Fight Title. They trade running shoulders to start with Yoichi getting the better of things until Knight sends him outside. There’s the big dive, followed by the rather hard chop back inside. A testicular claw and a belly to back suplex have Yoichi in trouble but he slams his way to freedom (which Walks Again).

Something like a Vader Bomb gets two but Knight Death Valley Drives him into the corner for the big crash. A hanging DDT gives Knight two but Yoichi slips out of a slam and nails a discus lariat for the double knockdown. They chop it out (Yoichi’s chest is red in a hurry) until Yoichi grabs a belly to belly for two. Knight is back with a Razor’s Edge toss for two, meaning frustration is setting in (fans: “YOU CAN’T BEAT HIM!/YES HE CAN!”).

Yoichi shoulders him down and goes up, only to dive into a cutter. A MuscleBuster gives Knight two and now he’s really stunned. Knight grabs an over the shoulder sitout Tombstone but Yoichi rolls into the corner in a smart move. Knight brainbusters him hard onto the apron and drops a 450 for two more and NOW the fans are into this as Yoichi keeps hanging on. Back up and Yoichi hits a hard clothesline for two but Knight staggers him with a superkick. Knight tries a springboard, only to dive into something like a high angle spinebuster to give Yoichi the pin and the title at 13:36.

Rating: B. This was pretty much as advertised, with two good sized guys beating the fire out of each other with one big shot after another. The fans got into the idea with Knight not being able to finish him, resulting in Knight trying one too many big moves. Yoichi could have done more to get the win in the end but they drew me into the story with people I don’t know so well done indeed.

Respect is shown post match.

Bussy vs. Session Moth Martina/Gene Munny

Bussy is Effy/Allie Katch, while Munny seems to think he’s a dog. That leaves you with Martina, who really, really, REALLY likes beer and comes out to Cascada’s Every Time We Touch. That would be a rather jazzy number (giving me high school flashbacks) and Bussy starts dancing in the ring as Martina takes a rather long time getting to the ring. Munny is not impressed as the dancing continues when Martina gets in as well.

Then Martina passes out, only to be woken up with a beer. Munny and Martina don’t get along before the bell and argue over who starts with Effy. They both try to get on the apron, then both try to get in, then do it again. Munny: “On the count of three, one of us is going to make an adult decision!” By the time he gets to two, Martina is in the ring and dancing with Effy as the bell rings.

Munny isn’t having that and pulls Martina to the corner for the tag before headlocking a still dancing Effy. We pause for Effy to drop to his knees in front of Mummy with quite the look on his face. Munny: “SIR! I am flattered! But I am a married man!” Instead Munny pulls the bandanna down over Effy’s face and tries a low blow but gets blocked (the HI-YAH didn’t help).

Instead, Munny settles for two off a Regal roll into a falling splash and it’s off to Martina. Munny and Martina agree to use “TAG TEAM MANEUVERS”….but can’t decide on which one to use, with one trying a Russian legsweep and the other a suplex. Effy tells them to focus so they hit him in the face but still can’t figure it out. Allie comes in and does a mirror bit with Martina before they both grab beers for a drink.

They toast and ask “DID WE JUST BECOME BEST FRIENDS???” before Munny tags himself in. That isn’t going to work for Allie….who decides that this is now Allie/Martina vs. Effy/Munny. Effy doesn’t approve of the attempted Bronco Buster and even calls her Allison, which is enough to set up a double hip attack to Munny as the original partnerships are back. A double hip thrust and a seated senton gets two on Munny before Effy sits on his arm to give us a focus.

Bussy takes over on said arm as Martina has strolled over to the bar. Martina is sitting with the fans and cheering as Effy slams Munny down. Munny manages to go up and dives onto both of them, much to Martina’s disturbance. Martina gets back on the apron for the tag, is rather fired up…and falls flat on her face as she gets in. Bussy stomps away again and Allie adds a running Cannonball for two. Martina is back with a Codebreaker into a tornado DDT and the tag brings Munny back in to take over.

There’s a double spear to drop Bussy but we pause for Munny to twist Effy’s nipples. Martina is back in and NOW the “TAG TEAM MANEUVERS” work far better, with the double Russian legsweep setting up Martina’s Bronco Buster on Effy. Munny goes coast to coast for a low headbutt to Effy in the corner but walks into an accidental middle rope Codebreaker from Martina. Effy hits a Rough Ryder on Martina and a top rope Hart Attack (with another Rough Ryder) finishes Munny at 11:34.

Rating: B. As you might have guessed, this absolutely was not about the quality, but rather the pure entertainment value. In short, this match was FUN with Munny and Marina being hilarious together and Bussy more than holding up their end. They weren’t trying to do anything remotely serious here and it wound up being one of the most entertaining matches I’ve ever seen in person. Heck of a fun match here.

Danhausen makes a random cameo to celebrate with Bussy.

Spike Trivet vs. Luke Jacobs

Trivet (pronounced Trivay) is a former World Champion and was the top heel for a long time. Jacobs on the other hand is just a straight powerhouse. Trivet takes him up against the ropes to start and hits a headbutt, only to be dropped with a heck of a running shoulder. They trade chops in the corner until Jacobs is low bridged to the apron and Codebreakered to the floor.

Back in and Trivet starts in on the hand/arm but Jacobs fights up and hits a Rock Bottom out of the corner for a breather. A suplex into a brainbuster gets two on Trivet, who is right back with a middle rope Codebreaker for two. Jacobs catches him on top for a superplex and a sitout powerbomb gives Jacobs two of his own. They slug it out until Trivet suplexes him into the corner. A double stomp gets two on Jacobs, who is right back with a heck of a lariat for two. The Drill Claw finishes Trivet at 10:33.

Rating: C+. The match wasn’t bad, but it was pretty easily the weakest on the show so far. Trivet is a rather generic looking heel and Jacobs is a run of the mill power guy. What we got was good enough, but I didn’t find this overly interesting during the show and that was still the case watching it back.

Women’s Title: Rhio vs. Lana Austin

Austin, the former champion who is described as annoying, is challenging. They fight over a lockup to start and that gets them absolutely nowhere. Austin stops to flip her off, earning a shotgun dropkick into the corner. Rhio sends her outside and hits a suicide dive, only to have Austin suplex her on the floor. Hold on though as Austin needs a microphone for “Lana-oke”.

This involves talking/singing (badly) as she beats on Rhio, who blocks a kick to send Austin face first into the mat. Austin is back up with a dropkick for two and there’s a suplex into the corner for the same. The trash talk takes too long for Austin, allowing Rhio to superkick her down for two. The package piledriver is blocked though and Austin sends her face first into the buckle for the big crash.

A hurricanrana attempt is countered into a powerbomb to give Austin two more and Rhio rolls to the apron. That works rather well as she comes back with a springboard Stunner but Austin blasts her with a discus forearm. What looks to be a powerbomb is countered into an Air Raid Crash but Austin grabs a rollup with feet on the ropes, only to get caught. The arguing with the referee lets Rhio come back with a package piledriver to retain at 13:51.

Rating: C+. They were trading moves and you could get an easy sense of the idea here (the talented champion against the more showy challenger) but it never quite hit that next gear. Rhio is someone who could be a pretty intriguing prospect with some more coaching due to her natural athleticism, but she’ll need more time against better opponents. Nice match, though like the previous one, it wasn’t exactly must see.

Tag Team Titles: Cheeky Little Buggers vs. Sanity vs. Sunshine Machine

The Buggers (Alexxis Ferguson/Charles Crowley) are defending against Sanity (Axel Tischer/Big Damo) and Sunshine Machine (Chuck Mambo/TK Cooper). Ferguson takes Mambo down with a top wristlock to start…but Mambo says “RING RING!” He holds his hand up to Ferguson’s ear, where she says “Hello.” Mambo: “IT’S A WRISTLOCK!” Ferguson then tries the same thing but Mambo sends her into the corner and rolls her up for two.

Crowley comes in for a small package, followed by a springboard Downward Spiral for two more. It’s off to Cooper, but hold on because Crowley asks if we want to see a magic trick. He reaches into a hat (because he has a hat, complete with horns) but finds nothing inside. Instead he reaches into the back of Ferguson’s tights (oh dear) and finds….a fist, which he uses to punch Cooper.

Back up and Cooper gets two off a dropkick before Mambo comes back in for some stereo knees to the arms. Crowley manages to get over to the monster Damo though and house is quickly cleaned, including a double fall away slam to Sunshine Machine. Axel comes in for a release suplex to Cooper, who manages to send Sanity into each other for a breather. Mambo’s springboard wristdrag sets up a frog splash to give Cooper two but it’s Axel hitting a Backstabber to cut Mambo down.

Mambo kind of slips off the top to forearm Damo and it’s off to Ferguson, who gets caught in the Sanity corner (that’s not good). The neck crank goes on but Ferguson fights up and brings Crowley back in to pick the pace way up. A big flip dive to the floor takes out Sanity, leaving Ferguson to slug it out with Sunshine Machine. That doesn’t go so well as it’s a double headbutt to put Ferguson down, followed by a double suplex for two.

Cooper dives onto the pile at ringside and Mambo’s frog splash to the back gets two on Ferguson. Axel is back in to clear out Sunshine Machine and snap Ferguson’s finger. Ferguson manages a spinning suplex to Damo and Crowley adds a top rope backsplash. Cooper gets tossed into a sitout powerbomb from Ferguson as even commentary thinks there is too much going on at the moment.

Ferguson gets sent into the corner so Crowley tries to make a save, only to get kicked in the face a few times. The Death Valley Driver onto the apron plants Crowley again but Sunshine Machine is back in to take out Sanity. Cooper’s shooting star press gets two on Damo but he tosses Mambo into a German suplex from Axel. A powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to Copper is enough to give Axel the pin and the titles at 18:52.

Rating: B-. The match was definitely entertaining due to the pure insanity, but there was so much going on and the last ten minutes or so were spent on one big wild brawl. There was too much going on to really have a good match, which tends to be the case with this many people involved. Sanity did feel like the bigger stars here though and it’s nice to see them winning the titles, as they were the best option.

Progress World Title: Man Like Dereiss vs. Kid Lykos

Lykos, with Lykos II, is defending and Dereiss raps himself to the ring, as tends to be his custom. They stare at each other for a bit as the fans are rather divided. We get a handshake and they lock up over a minute in, with Dereiss backing him up against the ropes. A shoulder drops Lykos and we pause again as he takes a breather in the corner. Lykos is back up with a quickly broken Octopus hold before dropkicking Dereiss outside.

Back in and Dereiss snaps off some slams, followed by some dancing and a whip into the corner for two. More dancing and right hands give Dereiss two as commentary talks about social media. Lykos is back up with a kick to the head and some rolling suplexes to put Dereiss down for a change. The corkscrew shooting star press gives Lykos two but calling out the name of a brainbuster lets Dereiss shove him away.

A Michinoku Driver gives Dereiss two but Lykos rolls away before Dereiss can do something from the top. They knock each other down for a double breather before an exchange of rollups gets two each. Stereo nip ups lets Lykos try a victory roll but Dereiss puts him down and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two more.

Back up and Lykos hits a superkick for two before the Octopus goes on again. Dereiss powers out and they’re both down for another breather. Lykos’ springboard flip dive is countered into a powerbomb, followed by another to set up Dereiss’ 450 for two more. Dereiss loads up another powerbomb but Lykos reverses into a suplex. A springboard Swanton retains the title at 17:07. Bocchini in something of a deadpan voice: “Lykos retains.”

Rating: B-. That dull reaction to the result sums up the match. The action itself was perfectly fine, but there didn’t seem to be a story to the match and they were just trading moves at the end. I’m not sure I get the appeal of Lykos either, as he was just kind of there for the most part. Maybe there is a better backstory to him, but if that is the case, I didn’t see it here.

Overall Rating: B. This show was starting red hot and then hit a wall hard about halfway through. You could feel the energy go out as it went from a fun show to a good show that was just kind of happening in front of you. If this was all about the first half, I’d watch every Progress show but the second half made it feel like pretty much every solid independent event you’ll find. It was one of the better shows I watched over the weekend, but it loses its steam fast.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Make sure you check out some recent reviews:

Ring Of Honor – May 9, 2024

Impact Wrestling – May 9, 2024

NXT LVL Up – May 10, 2024

Collision – May 11, 2024

Rampage – May 11, 2024

VIDEO: Longtime Villain Turns Hero This Week On SmackDown.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-longtime-villain-turns-hero-this-week-on-smackdown/

WATCH: NXT Star Returns To The Ring Following 11 Month Injury Absence.

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As always, hit up the comments section to chat about what is going on and get on the Wrestling Rumors Facebook page and follow us on Twitter (featuring news stories written by ME).

Rampage
Date: May 11, 2024
Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Matt Menard

We’re still doing the back to back Collision/Rampage Saturday nights and again, Rampage has a hard act to follow. This show has a tendency to not be the most important offering from AEW but the matches themselves can more than make up for it. Hopefully they do that again here, though you never can tell what to expect with this show, regardless of time slot. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

We open with Adam Copeland and Kyle O’Reilly hugging after their Collision match. Copeland won’t let go of O’Reilly’s wrist though and O’Reilly has to force his way out before Copeland walks off. Please tell me this is just him getting burned out with all of the title matches and not Malakai Black controlling him or whatever.

Claudio Castagnoli is asked about leaving the ring while Bryan Danielson talked after their tag win earlier tonight. Castagnoli is scared of Danielson being in Anarchy In The Arena again and wants nothing to do with it at all.

Trent Beretta vs. Dalton Castle

The Boys are here with Castle, who backs him into the ropes for an early break. Castle wrestles him to the mat before hitting an elbow to the face to send Beretta outside. A running knee to the face sends Beretta to the floor, only to have him come back with a headbutt. Beretta hits a hanging DDT onto the apron and we take a break.

Back with Castle rolling through a super hurricanrana into a sunset flip for two, followed by a double clothesline. The Bang A Rang is loaded up but Beretta reverses into a piledriver for two more. Castle blocks a tornado DDT and powers him up into a release German suplex. Beretta is right back up with a running knee into the gogoplata to finish Castle at 9:38.

Rating: C+. This was Beretta getting some momentum back after losing to Orange Cassidy on Dynamite before their likely violent rematch at Double Or Nothing. As for Castle…I have no idea why he isn’t getting a better spot than he’s in here, but this is about all he’s going to be doing. At least put him in a prominent position on Ring Of Honor instead of the nothing he’s been doing in recent weeks.

Deonna Purrazzo thinks Thunder Rosa is dodging her but she has been told to keep her front towards her enemy.

Video on Rush, who wants to kick people in the face.

Bryan Keith vs. JD Drake

Keith can’t slam him to start but a shot to the face puts Drake on the floor instead. Back in and Drake hits a running boot to the face for two and Keith is a bit rocked. A running shoulder connects for Keith though and he manages the slam. Diamond Dust gives Keith the win at 2:45.

Adam Copeland is standing behind a piece of a cage with barbed wire around. He wants the full version with Malakai Black at Double Or Nothing. Well that escalated quickly.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Lady Frost

Purrazzo grabs a headlock takeover to start before shouldering Frost down. Frost nips up and is almost immediately dropped again. An anklescissors out of the corner sends Purrazzo outside, where she knocks Frost down again as we take a break. Back with an exchange of kicks to the head leaving both of them down.

Frost sends her into the corner for a flipping Cannonball but Purrazzo Russian legsweeps her into the Fujiwara armbar. The rope is grabbed so Frost goes up for a corkscrew crossbody and a near fall. Frost heads to the top again but gets tied in the Tree of Woe for spear (as used by her husband Steve Maclin) for the pin at 8:13.

Rating: C+. This was a good way to boost Purrazzo back up before what seems to be a heated feud with Thunder Rosa. That being said, Purrazzo needs to win a match that matters as she has been portrayed as someone who tends to choke under pressure. Maybe she beats Rosa in their big showdown, but that’s far from a guarantee.

Post match Thunder Rosa runs in with a chair but Purrazzo skedaddles.

We get a new music video from the Acclaimed and Billy Gunn, mainly proclaiming their awesomeness.

Scorpio Sky talks about recovering from an injury and with him, the sky is the limit.

Pac vs. Johnny TV

Johnny has Taya Valkyrie with him. Hold on though as Johnny has to disgrace a Vancouver Canucks jersey to start, earning a beating from Pac in the corner. Pac’s missile dropkick sends Johnny to the floor and there’s a springboard moonsault. Taya offers a distraction though and Johnny fires off some strikes in the corner as we take a break.

Back with Johnny going outside to kiss Taya, allowing Pac to strike away as well. Johnny’s flipping neckbreaker gets two more, only to miss Starship Pain. Commentary ignores the match to run down the Dynamite card but stop to notice Taya’s distraction breaking up the Black Arrow. Pac sends Johnny into her and grabs the Brutalizer for the win at 9:43.

Rating: B-. Much like Dalton Castle, TV is someone who could be doing at least a bit more but he is mainly going to be used to make others look good. That was the case here, as Pac needed a win to help rebuild himself after the Dynasty loss. Pac looked like a killer again here and that is likely to be the case with whatever he does next.

Post match the Bullet Club Gold pops up on screen to tell Pac to mind his own business to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. And that is Rampage in a nutshell: the wrestling is decent at worst, but the biggest story is Adam Copeland challenging Malakai Black and demanding an answer on Dynamite. The rest of the show ranged from mid to lower midcard stories and while it wasn’t bad, the show could not feel much less important. It’s the definition of a supplement, and when Dynamite is so crammed full, it makes me wonder why they can’t put at least a little more of importance on this show. The usual fine but not required viewing this week.

Results
Trent Beretta b. Dalton Castle – Gogoplata
Bryan Keith b. JD Drake – Diamond Dust
Deonna Purrazzo b. Lady Frost – Spear in the Tree of Woe
Pac b. Johnny TV – Brutalizer

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

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Collision
Date: May 11, 2024
Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re still in Canada, where every arena is apparently named Rogers. The big draw this week is Kyle O’Reilly getting a TNT Title shot against Adam Copeland, which is quite the Canadian showdown. Other than that, you can expect your regular assortment from Collision so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Blackpool Combat Club vs. Top Flight

Danielson and Darius start things off, with Nigel thinking the fans are most excited about seeing him. Darius fights out of a wristlock but gets shouldered down for his efforts. It’s off to Dante as Danielson is taken into the corner for some chopping as the fast start continues. Castagnoli comes in and gets headscissored down, with Darius adding a slingshot hilo for one.

Castagnoli isn’t having that and drapes Darius over the top rope for a dropkick from Danielson. The surfboard keeps Darius in trouble as the fans already think this is awesome. Darius is knocked hard to the floor and we take a break. Back with Danielson kicking away at Darius in the corner, only to have Darius use the corner for a Pele kick. Dante comes back in to clean house as Tony thinks Castagnoli is Swedish.

Dante’s frog splash gets two on Castagnoli, who is right back with the Swing into the Sharpshooter. That’s broken up with a Downward Spiral as everything breaks down. Darius dives onto Danielson and Dante’s Nose Dive gets two on Castagnoli. Back in and Danielson hits the running knee, leaving Castagnoli to drop Darius with a running uppercut for the pin at 13:48.

Rating: B-. This was a way to get Danielson back in the ring after his loss to Will Ospreay at Dynasty and to help get him ready for Anarchy In The Arena. It helps the Top Flight are a rather nice team who can work well with anyone. I could go for seeing them get a better spot in AEW but that doesn’t seem likely at the moment. Good match to start the show here.

Post match Danielson gets the mic and asks for some respect for Top Flight. Danielson talks about hearing an AEW chant at the start of this match and that is why he is willing to get back into Anarchy In The Arena. He loves this place and the Elite is not what AEW is all about. The Young Bucks aren’t even here tonight and Danielson is wanting to fight because he loves what AEW represents and he will do anything to protect it. Very fired up stuff from Danielson, and the Bucks not being around makes things even better.

Lee Moriarty vs. Will Ospreay

Roderick Strong, with the Undisputed Kingdom, is on commentary and Shane Taylor is here with Moriarty. Ospreay gets caught in a wristlock to start but flips up to a rather positive reaction. They fight over an exchange of flips until Ospreay snaps off the running hurricanrana to the floor. The slingshot dive takes Moriarty down again and we take a break.

Back with Moriarty working on the neck, including grabbing a cravate. Ospreay breaks that up and nips up to start the comeback, with the fans being rather pleased. A Phenomenal Forearm gives Ospreay two but he backs out of the Tiger Driver 91 attempt. Moriarty uses the distraction to plant him for two, only to get caught with the Cheeky Nandos kick. Taylor gets superkicked off the apron but the Oscutter is countered into the Border City Stretch. That’s broken up as well and Stormbreaker finishes for Ospreay at 10:26.

Rating: B-. Ospreay gets another win as he is on his way to the title match with Strong, which brings up the issue: Ospreay feels like he is punching WAY down to Strong and the International Title. Maybe they are trying to boost the title up by having Ospreay fight for it, but when you go from an instant classic with Danielson to this, it feels more than a little bit off. For now though, Ospreay having one awesome match after another is an acceptable way to go.

Post match Strong offers a distraction so Taylor can jump Ospreay from behind.

Mercedes Mone threw out the first pitch at a Rex Sox game. At least she’s actually doing a star thing rather than just saying she’s a star.

Gates Of Agony/Brian Cage vs. Evan Rivers/Voros Twins

Cage suplexes Rivers down to start and the Twins are knocked off the apron. The toss sitout powerbomb gives Cage the pin on one of the Twins (we’ll call him Porkchop) at 1:09.

Post match Tony Schiavone asks Cage why he attacked Swerve Strickland, and apparently it’s due to Swerve being selfish. The team wanted real leadership like the Young Bucks but here is Strickland with a chain for the beatdown. Kaun is chained to the post but Toa runs Swerve over for the save. Toa tries a running charge but Swerve whips out a cinder block to cut him off. A Conchairto on the steps crushes Toa again as Cage escapes. See how cool it is when the World Champion gets to look awesome for once?

Post break Swerve talks about trying to be the company guy as the World Champion and now a bunch of people are after him. Brian Cage is all that’s left of the Mogul Embassy so they can fight on Dynamite. This is the Swerve that felt like a big star.

Daniel Garcia vs. KM

The rather large KM powers him into the corner to start and does his own dance. Garcia fights back and stomps away in the corner before hammering away, meaning some crotch thrusts to the face. A dragon sleeper makes KM tap at 2:07.

We look at the end of Dynamite with Anarchy In The Arena being set up.

Dax Harwood vs. Tommy Billington

That would be Dynamite Kid’s nephew and Cash Wheeler is here Harwood. They fight over a lockup to start and Billington is looking rather surly (it must be a family thing). Harwood grabs a headlock takeover before switching into a hammerlock. Back up and Billington actually runs him over with a shoulder but Harwood hits a heck of an elbow to the face. Billington manages a running crossbody to send them both crashing out to the floor and we take a break.

Back with Billington hitting a big dive to the floor, followed by a missile dropkick back inside. A top rope elbow gets two on Harwood but he catches Billington going up again. The top rope superplex leaves both of them down as the fans find this awesome. They trade rolling German suplexes until Billington tries a rollup, which is reversed into a slingshot sitout powerbomb for the pin at 12:33.

Rating: B. They had a heck of a match and Billington looks like he has the potential to be something if he stays at it. That being said, I’m not quite sure I get the idea of having Harwood go 50/50 with an unproven star for twelve minutes about two weeks before he’s likely headlining a pay per view. With all of the people on the AEW roster, Harwood was the only person who could have this match that has nothing to do with the upcoming pay per view match? Odd decision, though the match was quite good.

After Dynamite, Kazuchika Okada challenges Dax Harwood for Dynamite and Jack Perry brags about his awesomeness. Christopher Daniels comes in and doesn’t like how they talk to him, with a threat ensuing.

Daniels talks about how the Young Bucks have forgotten where they came from. The company is about to turn five years old and Daniels has been there from the beginning. This Wednesday, Daniels is teaming up with Matt Sydal to face the Bucks and someone will be punished, but it won’t be who the Bucks expect. Daniels told the story here and while he and Sydal are going to get wrecked, he put in the energy to make it feel important.

Dax Harwood is ready to face Kazuchika Okada on Dynamite.

Thunder Rosa vs. Robyn Renegade

Rosa takes her down with a headlock to start so Robyn sits Rosa on the top. The trash talk just makes Rosa send her into the ropes and fire off the hard chops. Robyn gets sent to the apron for a kick to the head but rams Rosa into the barricade as we take a break. Back with Robyn’s running stomp getting two as some frustration is setting in. Rosa fights back and hits the running dropkick against the ropes for two more. Robyn is able to kick her down again, only to miss a moonsault. A seated cobra clutch makes Robyn tap at 7:41.

Rating: C+. Robyn got in a lot of offense here and that’s not a bad thing, as she and her sister have looked solid during their Ring Of Honor appearances. At the same time, Rosa got to showcase something a bit different here, with that seated cobra clutch being a new way to go. Solid back and forth match here as Rosa gets a hard fought win.

Taya Valkyrie and Johnny TV are happy to be here, with Johnny issuing a challenge to Pac. That doesn’t sound overly smart.

Hook says Chris Jericho doesn’t know anything about him but he’ll learn soon enough.

Here’s what’s coming on various show.

TNT Title: Adam Copeland vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Copeland is defending and looks rather happy to be here. They shake hands to start and then go to a clean break off a lockup. The fans dub this awesome about a minute in, more than forty seconds of which were spent on staring. They (the wrestlers, not the fans) go to the grappling with O’Reilly headlocking him down.

O’Reilly drives in some knees but Copeland whips him chest first into the buckle to get a breather. Another whip has O’Reilly down again and Copeland gets to go after the back for a change. Copeland knocks him outside and we take a break. Back with O’Reilly’s superplex attempt being blocked but he pulls Copeland out of the air for the cross armbreaker.

That’s reversed into the Grindhouse, with O’Reilly having to go to the rope. A suplex gutbuster sends O’Reilly into the rope but he bounds back with a rebound lariat and they’re both down again. Back up and O’Reilly strikes away, setting up a suplex into a kneebar. Copeland makes the rope so O’Reilly drops a top rope knee to the back for two. The cross armbreaker is broken up and they trade shots to the face again.

The spear misses and O’Reilly rolls him up for two, allowing Copeland to grab a choke. That’s broken up as well so Copeland hits a gutbuster for another double knockdown. They go up top with O’Reilly grabbing a flying armbar for a nasty crash. Another shot to the ribs has O’Reilly back down but he tells the referee he can go. Copeland’s spear is countered into a guillotine choke but that’s reversed into the Impaler (cool). The spear retains the title at 19:36.

Rating: B+. This is pretty much what you know you’re getting from Copeland: a long, pretty high quality match against a random challenger of the week. Copeland is likely going to face Malakai Black at Double Or Nothing for the title and these warmup matches should make that feel bigger. For now though, he and O’Reilly had a hard hitting, back and forth match, which is what you should have expected from them.

Overall Rating: B+. Collision is often at its best when the wrestlers are allowed to go out there and do their thing, which is what happened here. While Dynamite is often the storytelling/talking heavy show, Collision has proven to be the opposite, which makes it a nice change of pace. I liked this show quite a bit, with one good match after another and nothing bad throughout. That momentum won’t likely last until Dynamite, but I can certainly go for a show like this week to week.

Results
Blackpool Combat Club b. Top Flight – Running uppercut to Darius
Will Ospreay b. Lee Moriarty – Stormbreaker
Brian Cage/Gates Of Agony b. Evan Rivers/Voros Twins – Sitout powerbomb
Daniel Garcia b. KM – Dragon sleeper
Dax Harwood b. Tommy Billington – Slingshot sitout powerbomb
Thunder Rosa b. Robyn Renegade – Seated cobra clutch
Adam Copeland b. Kyle O’Reilly – Spear

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT LVL Up
Date: May 10, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Vic Joseph

We’re back in Orlando and things have been at least a bit more interesting around here as of late. I’m not sure if that is going to continue but it has at least been nice to have something going on for a change. Hopefully there is at least a little something to keep the interest up this time. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Wendy Choo vs. Wren Sinclair

This is Choo’s first match in almost a year. They fight over a lockup to start with Choo sending her down and striking a pose on the mat. Sinclair pulls her into an armbar, which is broken up rather quickly. Choo hits a dropkick but her knee (which put her on the shelf for so long) is slowing her down, allowing Sinclair to grab a suplex. Something like a running seated X Factor gives Sinclair two and we hit the cross arm choke. Choo fights out and makes the clothesline comeback, setting up a middle rope crossbody. The Snooze Button finishes for Choo at 4:47.

Rating: C. Choo is not exactly everyone’s taste, though she wasn’t doing her sleepy/weird stuff here for the most part. I’m still not sure I get what she is supposed to be, but it’s good to have her back after such a long time off. Sinclair continues to lose every match and I’m not sure how much beating her is going to matter if that continues much longer.

Post match, respect is shown.

The rather tall Cutler James is seen as a friendly guy and is ready to make his debut against Josh Briggs. This was quite recited.

Josh Briggs vs. Cutler James

Briggs wastes no time in powering him into the corner, setting up a splash for an early two. Back up and James wrestles him to the mat, earning a rather hard shoulder knockdown. Briggs shouts that this isn’t a reality show and then drops James for two more. The chinlock goes on to keep James down but he fights up for the comeback. Said comeback lasts all of four seconds before Briggs nails the lariat for the pin at 4:26.

Rating: C. This was the traditional “getting your feet wet” match for James and that is only going to get him so far. Briggs being in there with someone his size can often make for some interesting visuals but that was about the limit of the appeal here. James showed off some of his amateur background before getting beaten, which didn’t make for the most exciting match. His size and amateur abilities will give him a solid foot in the door though.

D’Angelo Family vs. Dante Chen/Dion Lennox

Riz is here with the Family. Lennox armdrags Crusifino into an armbar to start and it’s right off to Chen for an armbar of his own. Crusifino fights up and hands it off to Stacks, with Chen being low bridged out to the floor. The chinlock keeps Lennox down for a bit, only to have Chen come back in with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Chen stays on the back and kicks Stacks in the chest for two. Lennox’s northern lights suplex and spinebuster get two each and he grabs an abdominal stretch. Stacks slips away though and brings Crusifino in to clean house. This includes tossing Lennox into a Codebreaker to finish at 5:46.

Rating: C+. It still takes a bit of mental stretching to remember that the mafia guys are the heroes, especially since Lennox is a rather likable guy. Chen is the same thing he has always been, meaning there was no way he was taking the loss here. The energy was up here and having the Family involved helped, even if I have to remember I’m supposed to like them.

Overall Rating: C. I know how much of a broken record I sound like with this stuff but the bigger names being around helps quite a bit. This show had Choo’s return and Briggs/the Family for some star power. That’s a lot for around here, which helped make up for the fact that the matches were only decent at best. Nothing really to see here, but as usual, you can’t get that annoyed at a show that isn’t even breaking thirty minutes.

Results
Wendy Choo b. Wren Sinclair – Snooze Button
Josh Briggs b. Cutler James – Lariat
D’Angelo Family b. Dante Chen/Dion Lennox – Toss Codebreaker to Lennox

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.