Dynamite
Date: May 6, 2026
Location: North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, South Carolina
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

It’s another double show this week as we have the usual two hours of Dynamite, plus the first half of Collision. As usual, the World Title is on the line as Darby Allin is defending against Kevin Knight in what could be a heck of a match. We’re also getting pretty close to Double Or Nothing and that should mean some new things being set up. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring for a dedication to Ted Turner, who started the network they’re on and had a big hand in bringing wrestling to national television. Schiavone brings out Sting, who talks about how great it was to have an all in billionaire who loved wrestling. Back in the day, a lot of people wanted to get rid of wrestling but Turner would tell the wrestlers to keep doing what he was doing because he had deep pockets.

He and Darby Allin burned this place up for three and a half years and he’s glad to see Allin defending the title tonight. Schiavone talks about how the TNT and TBS Titles have plates honoring where Turner started wrestling in Atlanta. And now, three hours of wrestling! It was nice to see this kind of thing and given that they air on the Turner networks, it kind of had to be there.

We get a ten bell salute to Turner.

Opening sequence.

Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson

Non-title Eliminator Match. They go head to head and yell a lot before trading the forearms. Robinson headbutts him in the corner and a catapult sends Moxley out to the floor. The big flip dive off the apron connects and they go back inside, where Moxley (already bleeding) stomps on the hand. The fingers are split apart but Robinson is able to send him outside again, this time with a toss into the timekeeper’s area. Back in and Robinson hammers away until we take a break.

We come back with Moxley working on the fingers again but Robinson gets up to slug away. That’s cut off rather quickly and now it’s Moxley getting to fire off the right hands in the corner. A super hurricanrana gets Robinson out of trouble and he reverses a piledriver attempt into a rollup for two.

The snap jabs just earn Robinson a bite to the face but he’s right back with a high crossbody. They trade headbutts and forearms until Moxley misses a charge into the post. A mere thirteen seconds later, he’s back with a bulldog choke and piledriver for two. The choke goes on again and Robinson is out at 14:34.

Rating: B-. This was Moxley in his Superman mode as he bounced up from charging into a post like it was nothing so he could do his big offense. That’s the kind of ridiculous stuff he does every so often and it makes for some less than great matches. Also, nice job of having the Bang Bang Gang get its momentum back on Collision and have their leader lose in the first match on the following Dynamite.

Will Ospreay trains with the Death Riders and Moxley says this is Death Ground (as in ground from which he can never escape) if his neck doesn’t get stronger. Yeah of course this is hard. And no more cameras.

Orange Cassidy vs. Dax Harwood

The winner gets a shot at the loser’s titles and Harwood has about seven people (including Tommaso Ciampa, RPG Vice, Cash Wheeler, the Dogs and Stokely dressed as Cassidy) with him. Cassidy brings out the rest of the Conglomeration, Adam Copeland, Christian Cage and the Young Bucks with him as there are probably fifteen people involved in this segment

Harwood armdrags him down to start but Cassidy kicks him off and grabs a headlock. Cassidy blocks the chops in the corner and hits an Orange Punch, sending Harwood outside. Another Orange Punch hits the post though and the hand gets wrapped around the post as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy being sent into the corner but blocking a superplex attempt. A top rope DDT gets two and Harwood goes outside, where he cuts off a suicide dive attempt.

Back in and a spinning DDT drops Harwood but Stokely offers a distraction and a cheap shot from the floor gets two. A big brawl on the floor looks to allow Harwood to bring in the ring bell, which is quickly taken away. Cassidy kicks him in the face but gets caught in a slingshot powerbomb for two more. Back up and the Orange Punch gets two so Harwood goes after the bad arm/hand again. That’s reversed into a cradle though and Cassidy gets the pin at 12:01.

Rating: B-. Well that was….busy. This felt like a match that could have had about, I don’t know, fifteen or so less people at ringside? I’m hardly thrilled with the idea of more people getting a chance to be a double champion again but it’s just another match before (I’m guessing) we get to Copeland and Cage getting their rematch at Double Or Nothing.

Post match everyone comes in and the good guys clean house.

Video on Rush.

Last week, the Demand jumped Chris Jericho.

This week, Jericho (not Chris Jericho but just Jericho) is in the back but wants to talk about the Demand in front of the people. He comes out to the ring and says he’s done with the three on one beatdowns. Instead, he’s going to DEMAND that Ricochet come out here and face him man to man right now.

Cue the Demand, with Ricochet mocking Jericho, who says that he can’t hear over all of the booing. Ricochet is tired of this stuff and listening to these people in Charleston, North Carolina (Jericho: “It’s South.”) and brings up a challenge for Stadium Stampede. He’s just not sure if Jericho can find four other partners because no one around here likes him. Jericho yells at him for getting the state wrong (Ricochet: “Same thing.”) and is sure he can find someone. Otherwise he’ll just do it himself.

The brawl is on and Jericho clears the ring…for a bit, only to get beaten back down. Cue the Hurt Syndicate to make the save. Schiavone: “I know they love Bobby Lashley and they love South Carolina native Benjamin Shelton.” That’s either a really odd reference to a Hulk Hogan interview from about a year ago, or Schiavone isn’t very good at his job.

Mina Shirakawa gives Harley Cameron a pep talk and rips Cameron’s shirt open. Shirakawa realizes Cameron is wearing her bra underneath rather than gear and has to apologize. Cameron doesn’t seem to mind and is fired up.

International Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Keith

Okada is defending in your random title match of the week. In case you’re wondering, Keith’s most recent singles win on AEW TV was in October. Of 2024. Excalibur says Keith has been racking up wins in Ring Of Honor though, and that is true. I mean he hasn’t actually won a singles match this year but the three he had in 2025 count right? Oh wait actually as Excalibur said that Keith has had success on the independent circuit. From what I can find, that success is a record of 1-1-2 this year. So I guess this is based on the ROH tag success? To get a singles title shot. Right.

Anyway, Keith kicks away to start and snapmares him into a knee drop for two. Keith goes up but gets dropkicked out to the floor, where Okada hits a DDT as we take a break. We come back with Keith not being able to get a Fujiwara armbar but he can knee Okada in the head. Keith hits a running DDT for two and they head outside again, where Keith gets in another DDT.

Naturally that doesn’t do much and Okada gives him a slam into the dropkick. Another dropkick misses but Okada backdrops his way out of a tiger driver attempt. The next attempt works a bit better but Diamond Dust is countered into something like a sitout Tombstone. The Rainmaker retains the title at 10:16.

Rating: B. Keith made the most of his chance here and the match wound up being good. While it would be nice to see the choice of title challengers have a bit more logic, it was nice to see Keith getting a shot. Okada is on the way to his biggest match in AEW (or at least close to it) so call this a rather early warmup.

Post match Okada says he’s coming for the World Title. Censored.

Video on Andrade El Idolo.

Mike Bailey gives Kevin Knight a pep talk before tonight’s World Title shot. Knight is ready to win another title.

Samoa Joe and the Opps, now with Anthony Bowens, wants Will Ospreay on his team. Either do that, or get his fist instead.

Mina Shirakawa/Harley Cameron vs. Hikaru Shida/Kris Statlander

Shirakawa and Statlander lock up to start, with Statlander giving her a slam and dancing a bit. A backslide gives Statlander two and it’s off to Shida vs. Cameron. That doesn’t last long as it’s back to Statlander, who gets headscissored into the corner. A backbreaker puts Shirakawa down though and Shida comes back in for a running knee on the apron.

We take a break and come back with Shirakawa and Shida trading forearms until Shirakawa knocks her silly. Cameron comes back in with a tornado DDT and Shirakawa adds a missile dropkick to Statlander as everything breaks down. Statlander is back up with a fisherman’s driver to Shirakawa but Shida’s running knee hits Statlander by mistake. Cameron rolls Shida up for two but Statlander is back in to boot Cameron in the face. Shida’s Falcon Arrow gets the pin at 12:43.

Rating: C+. At least Shirakawa didn’t lose again. I’m not sure why Shida and Statlander’s team is continuing as it isn’t like they have much to do at the moment after losing their title shot. It’s nice to have them actually doing something, but a team with issues despite having success is a bit played out.

Swerve Strickland wants power and that means going after the most wanted, Bandido.

Bandido, with Brody King, says he’s not hard to find and King threatens Strickland for coming after his friends. Didn’t we just see King vs. Strickland a month and a half ago? Also of note: neither Bandido, King, Strickland or commentary referenced Bandido being the Ring Of Honor World Champion whatsoever. Bandido had the belt, but no one mentioned it at all. That was the case when Andrade El Idolo came after the title as well. It’s not a good sign when the Defy World Title (as held by Bryan Keith) gets more discussion than the title held, and displayed, by an AEW star.

AEW World Title: Darby Allin vs. Kevin Knight

Only Allin is defending. They go with the grappling to start until Knight knocks him down and grabs a headlock. Allin reverses into one of his own and hits a springboard elbow to the face. Back up and they clothesline each other and Knight snaps off a heck of a super hurricanrana. A big dropkick sends Allin outside and we take a break.

We come back with Allin grabbing a Code Red for two and Knight goes outside. The suicide dive knocks Knight down again and Allin sits him in the chair. Knight pops back up and hurricanranas him off the top and out to the floor for the big crash. One heck of a springboard clothesline hits Allin on the announcers’ table and they’re both down for a bit. Back in and Knight dives into a Scorpion Deathlock, sending him over to the ropes.

Knight is able to catch him in the Tree Of Woe and hits a Coast To Coast, followed by the UFO Splash. The knee is too banged up though and it’s a delayed cover for two. Allin kicks the knee out and grabs a guillotine choke before hanging him on the top rope. The Coffin Drop in the ropes sets up the regular Coffin Drop to retain the title at 15:36.

Rating: B. This was good again, with Allin’s rather impressive string of title matches continuing. At the same time, it seems like they’re setting up the idea of Allin giving it everything he has in these title matches, which could result in him having some trouble rather soon. Knight losing is acceptable enough as it’s to the World Champion, but it shouldn’t be happening again anytime soon.

Sting comes out to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This was another strong show, though it was missing something to take it all the way to that higher level. It was a show built more around setting things up for later and building to things that we’ve already gotten set up. That’s a fine way to go on occasion, though they really do need to add some more stuff to Double Or Nothing, as we only have three matches thus far. Anyway, this was more than good enough.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Juice Robinson – Bulldog choke
Orange Cassidy b. Dax Harwood – Rollup
Kazuchika Okada b. Bryan Keith – Rainmaker
Hikaru Shida/Kris Statlander b. Harley Cameron/Mina Shirakawa – Falcon Arrow to Cameron
Darby Allin b. Kevin Knight – Coffin Drop

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

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

Evolve
Date: May 6, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Blake Howard

We’re in a bit of a transition period here as a bunch of stars are on their way up to NXT but haven’t quite gotten there yet. As a result, some people here are probably finishing up what they’re doing, which could take a few weeks. We need a new #1 contender to the Evolve Title, with Harlem Lewis being a real possibility after not getting pinned in last week’s triple threat. Let’s get to it.

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

We look at what happened last week after the show went off the air. Kam Hendrix and Harley Riggins went after Aaron Rourke, who fought back for a bit and then bailed from the numbers’ advantage.

Wendy Choo is nervous about her first title defense and previews the show.

Opening sequence.

Max Abrams/Santi Rivera/Jacari Ball vs. Cappuccino Jones/Chazz Hall/Romeo Moreno

CJ Valor is with Abrams and company. Abrams starts and immediately hands it off to Ball, who gets punched in the face by Jones. Ball takes over and hands it off to Rivera who misses an elbow by half a mile, allowing Jones to work on the arm. Hall comes in and the good guys clear the ring without much trouble.

We settle down to Abrams taking over on Moreno and handing it back to Ball for the rolling gutwrench suplexes. Moreno is able to knock Rivera to the floor though and it’s back to Hall to flip around a bit. Ball hits Abrams by mistake though and Hall snaps off a springboard headscissors. Everything breaks down again and Hall hits a big dive to the floor, meaning the good guys get to pose as we take a break.

We come back with Hall in trouble and getting sent into the wrong corner. Rivera grabs the chinlock and Hall’s comeback being cut off. As usual, the real tag goes through a few seconds later, with Jones coming in to make Abrams beg off. Abrams gets knocked down and Jones knocks Ball outside. A knee to the head knocks Jones silly though and it’s a Sling Blade to give Rivera two. It’s back to Moreno, who hits a brainbuster on Rivera, setting up Hall’s shooting star press for two with everyone making the save.

Everyone gets up for the three on three showdown with Hall getting suplexed down. Abrams hits a frog splash for two with Moreno making the save. Moreno is left alone with Abrams and hits a super Spanish Fly. Valor gets up for a distraction so here is It’s Gal to go after him. The unnamed security guards drag Gal away (yes he poses while being carried off), leaving Abrams to hit the Main Objective (running Fameasser) to pin Moreno at 15:18.

Rating: B. That’s an especially long match for Evolve but it let the people involved showcase their talents a bit better. Abrams and company needed to get the big win as they haven’t been together that long and could use the boost. Finally, It’s Gal possibly turning good is an interesting way to go as I’ve been a fan of his for awhile now.

Post match the winners brag about their win because they take opportunities, unlike say Sam Holloway and Marcus Mathers.

Laynie Luck is ready for the biggest match of her life tonight. She talks about everything she has been through to get here but she never crumbled and gave up. Then she saw Wendy Choo win the Evolve Women’s Title and it was such an inspiration. Tonight is her chance.

Earlier today, Sloane Jacobs and Nikkita Lyons tried to throw Karmen Petrovic out of the gym but she challenged one of them for next week.

Here is Timothy Thatcher, who praises Wendy Choo for a bit before moving on to the Evolve Title. We need a new #1 contender to Aaron Rourke, who joins Thatcher in for the chat. Rourke is ready for anyone and calls himself the diamond because he is built from pressure. He’s ready for anyone so line them up. This brings out Kam Hendrix and Harley Riggins, with Hendrix bragging about his GM abilities and wanting a title shot next week.

Brooks Jensen interrupts, who wants a title shot based on winning his bullrope match. Rourke doesn’t look impressed but cue Tristan Angels, who says everyone’s efforts are in vane. Angels demands order but now it’s Dorian Van Dux interrupting. Tate Wilder runs in for a brawl but Thatcher cuts them off and announces Jensen vs. Hendrix vs. Van Dux vs. Angels in a four way next week for a future title shot. As for now, Wilder and Riggins can face each other.

Tate Wilder vs. Harley Riggins

Wilder plants Riggins to start fast and hits a Lionsault but stops to yell at Hendrix. Riggins drops Wilder onto the apron and starts going after the back with some heavy forearms. A swinging Side Effect gives Riggins two but a double clothesline leaves both of them down. Wilder’s twisting suplex gets two but Riggins hits a Backstabber out of the corner for two. Riggins hits him in the ribs and tries a backdrop, only to get reversed into a sunset flip to give Wilder the pin at 6:04.

Rating: C+. A sunset flip? Ok then. Anyway, the match was just a quick way for Wilder to get a win and put him on the show. Wilder feels like someone who is getting a focus and it’s working fairly well. He’s definitely in a better place than he was a few months ago and it would be nice to see what he can do if he keeps developing.

Post match Hendrix lays Wilder out.

Dorian Van Dux is ready to show what he can do and he has a chance next week.

Women’s Title: Wendy Choo vs. Laynie Luck

Luck is challenging and sends Choo down, with Choo not being thrilled with the handshake offer. They go to a test of strength and wind up on the mat, with Choo backflipping but not breaking the grip. Choo’s jackknife rollup gets two and they go into a pinfall reversal sequence. Back up and Choo kicks her in the chest for two more but the Dirt Nap is broken up.

Luck sends her outside and knocks her down followed by a step up Swanton for two back inside. An Octopus on the mat is broken up as Choo cradles her for two but Luck’s running dropkick gets the same. The Dirt Nap is broken up again but Choo catches her on top for a superplex. They’re slowly getting up but Sloane Jacobs and Nikkita Lyons run in for the double DQ at 7:31.

Rating: C. I get going for the title match in the main event spot as there aren’t many title matches around here. At the same time, the match never really took off and Lyons being involved in any way brings things down. I do appreciate not having Luck take a fall here, though she never felt like a threat to win the title.

Post match the beatdown is on until Karmen Petrovic runs in for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This started off rather good with the six man tag and fallout but things went a bit down after that. Maybe it’s Lyons dragging the main event down, but the second half of this show only did so much for me. It’s far from bad though and next week’s four way should be good. They’re still pushing a bunch of new people, even if a bunch of them are already in NXT. Either way, it’s a perfectly decent show and the six man was good, which is enough to carry the week.

Results
Max Abrams/Santi Rivera/Jacari Ball b. Cappuccino Jones/Chazz Hall/Romeo Moreno – Main Objective to Moreno
Tate Wilder b. Harley Riggins – Sunset flip
Wendy Choo vs. Laynie Luck went to a double DQ when Sloane Jacobs and Nikkita Lyons interfered

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

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

NXT
Date: May 5, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We don’t exactly have a big show coming up around here but we do have a bunch of people showing up in a hurry. Last week was one debut after another and that could make for some interesting changes. Hopefully we can find something for them to do though they’re all getting their feet wet. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Tony D’Angelo says he isn’t waiting and charges at Tavion Heights for a quickly broken up brawl.

Jaida Parker vs. Kali Armstrong

They shove each other around to start, followed by an exchange of grappling. Parker gets a chinlock before sending Armstrong outside. That means a ram to send Armstrong into the apron and then being sent back inside. A double clothesline leaves both of them down and we take a break.

We come back with Armstrong sending her into the corner and stopping for some pushups. Armstrong drives in some knees and fires off the shoulders in the corner. The mocking of the high steps just wakes Parker up though and she hits the Tear Drop in the corner. Armstrong snaps off a powerslam to cut that off and the Kali Connection (running shoulder) finishes Parker at 9:57.

Rating: C+. This was about presenting Armstrong as a threat and it worked out rather well. At the same time, it’s a bit annoying to see Parker lose again. She’s turning into the latest star who gets start and stop pushes without getting anywhere. Hopefully that isn’t the case, as she has far too much potential otherwise.

Tony D’Angelo comes in to yell at Robert Stone, saying he wants Tavion Heights tonight. Sure.

Video on Jackson Drake vs. Jasper Troy.

Birthright is not happy with what happened last week. Fit Finlay comes in to say they’re not doing well and William Regal, by phone, says he’s sent Charlie Dempsey back to the Snake Pit before they have a six man tag next week. The team sounds more ready.

We look at not Evil debuting last week. Not Evil says that was a proclamation to Tony D’Angelo and they will battle for the NXT Title. His name is Naraku and he debuts next week.

Jasper Troy vs. Jackson Drake

The rest of the Vanity Project are here with Drake. Troy fires off some shoulders in the corner to start but gets caught with a jumping enziguri. The Project offers a distraction and Drake hits a top rope Meteora and we take a break. We come back with Drake grabbing a tornado DDT but Troy nips up and gives him a chokeslam. Troy goes outside to yell at the Project though and here is Myka Lockwood to slam him on the floor. Back in and Drake’s 450 connects for the pin at 7:18.

Rating: C+. I for one am shocked that a Shawn Michaels run promotion would have a muscular female woman as a heater for a young, disrespectful team. That being said, sure why not, as it’s an idea that has worked before and it can work again. The Project needed one more person and this is better than some big silent brooding man as the enforcer.

We look back at Tristan Angel’s debut last week. Angels talks about being better than a bunch of people on the roster.

We get a Rhea Ripley Origins video.

Here is Zaria for a chat. She says it feels different around here and for the first time, there is no one holding her back in the women’s division. Now she has a clear path to the Women’s North American Title. That title is what finally woke her up but here is Tatum Paxley to interrupt. Paxley knows how the title came between Zaria and Sol Ruca but that has nothing to do with her.

Cue Lizzy Rain to say she was the talk of the town last week and it’s time to add some heavy metal to the title. Cue Nikkita Lyons, who takes credit for fans caring about Rain. Paxley will fight everyone and the brawl is on with Zaria standing tall. If Zaria is the challenger then fine, but this just made me even less interested in Rain and Lyons.

The Vanity Project meets Evolve’s Romeo Moreno, who isn’t impressed with them. Noam Dar returns and wants to fight Jackson Drake next week. Myka Lockwood shows up to scare Dar a bit but the match seems set. With the Project gone, Moreno says he is a huge Dar fan.

Kam Hendrix jumps Tony D’Angelo.

Post break Robert Stone grabs a headset and shakes up the card because D’Angelo can’t wrestle at the moment.

Mr. Iguana/Lola Vice vs. Culling

The former’s AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line and it’s Izzi Dame/Niko Vance for the Culling. The men start things off, with Iguana being shoved into the ropes. The dead iguana pose has Vance confused but he picks Iguana up in a Gory Stretch. That’s broken up as Vice tags herself in, allowing Dame to come in and kick Iguana in the head. Dame hits a running shoulder in the corner but Vice chops away and grabs a springboard armdrag. Everything breaks down and the Culling are taken down with back to back seated sentons

We take a break and come back with Vance dropping a headbutt for two. A heck of a discus right hand puts Iguana down again and a tilt-a-whirl faceplant gets two. Iguana manages a tornado DDT though and the women come back in as everything breaks down again. Vice’s running hip attack in the corner gets two on Dame and a spinning kick to the head knocks her silly. Vance breaks up the count but Iguana and Vice grab stereo triangle chokes. Both of them are broken up pretty quickly and Dame’s running knee finishes Vice at 11:30.

Rating: B-. Iguana and Vice are a mostly silly team but they still feel important enough that beating them still means something. What matters is that Dame is now primed to get the next title shot and that should work. Dame is a big, strong star who can give Vice a good challenge. That’s how it should have gone and it’s a nice story to set up.

Tavion Heights still wants to fight Tony D’Angelo and Robert Stone comes in to say the match is tonight’s main event. Stone goes over to Zaria, who wants the Women’s North American Title. She’s not happy about being in a tag match next week, but Stone says that’s what she has to do if she wants a title shot.

Jaida Parker is livid about her loss. Nattie comes in to say Parker has gone soft. End of segment.

Hank & Tank vs. Darkstate

The rest of Darkstate is here with…uh, Darkstate. James elbows Hank in the face to start and it’s off to Tank to grind away on a headlock. Griffin comes in and gets caught in the wrong corner but comes right back with a delayed vertical suplex. A running bulldog out of the corner gets Tank out of trouble as everything breaks down. Darkstate knocks them down on the floor and Dion Lennox grabs a chair, which Saquon Shuggars takes away. The argument ensues and we take a break.

We come back with Tank fighting out of a chinlock but getting caught with a gutbuster. Griffin sends him back into the corner but Tank escapes a gutwrench and brings Hank in to clean house. A double tackle gets two on James, who is back with a spinning backbreaker. The Vader Bomb gets two, with Hank having to make the save. Hank is slammed on the floor and the diving Tank is pulled out of the air for the same result. Back in and an assisted spinning powerbomb finishes Hank at 12:00.

Rating: B-. Oddly enough this wound up being a pretty hot match, with Darkstate finally getting a win to stop their losing streak for the time being. The fact that Lennox wasn’t involved with the result isn’t the best sign for his future, but the team needed to be shaken up. Hank & Tank continue to exist and that’s about as much as I can think of them most of the time.

Kelani Jordan mocks Lola Vice and says she’s coming for the title too. Kendal Grey comes in to say she’s coming after Jordan, who isn’t worried.

Commentary…has tech issues and we can’t hear anything they say. A production worker comes in to try to fix it and we go to a video instead.

New correspondent Emily Agard gets to meet Keanu Carver on her first assignment. He doesn’t want to talk so they put the camera down…which films them anyway. Carver says he’s here to get paid and comments don’t help him take care of people counting on him. He’s told Robert Stone to give him a chance or cut him. Carver knows they’re still filming him so she can ask one last question on the record.

Agard asks about Carver knowing the symbol of war given to Tony D’Angelo last week. Carver says he played college football…but he paid attention in class too. Carver: “The thing about me that y’all don’t know is that I’m smart as s*** for real.” Well that’s a different way to present someone. I like it though, as Carver has been presented as this big brute but having a brain with that kind of force is interesting.

Hey the audio is better.

Backlash rundown.

Shiloh Hill is walking around in the dark and he’s happy about beating Ricky Saints last week. He also finds Tristan Angels to be a bit ridiculous and hopes he’s allergic to sheep.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Tavion Heights vs. Tony D’Angelo

Non-title. Heights wrestles him down to start and they trade waistlocks. A fireman’s carry faceplant drops D’Angelo and he realizes the amateur stuff isn’t going to work here. Instead D’Angelo hits a John Cena Throwback for two but gets driven into the corner for a beating. Heights throws him down with a suplex but D’Angelo is up for a shove off the top as we take a break.

We come back with D’Angelo fighting out of a chinlock, only for Heights to gutwrench suplex him for two. A pretty impressive top rope splash gives Heights two…and makes D’Angelo Hulk Up. Some German suplexes put Heights down but his capture suplex gets two more. Forget About It gives D’Angelo two of his own and they forearm it out. A spear drops puts Heights down again but he’s back up with his spinning belly to belly. Cue Kam Hendrix for a distraction so Heights beats him up, with Myles Borne running in to give Hendrix a running flip dive. They brawl off and D’Angelo chokeslams Heights for the pin at 10:22.

Rating: B-. They got rolling near the end here and were trading one big shot after another. The Hendrix and Bourne stuff didn’t really help, but D’Angelo gets to beat someone on the way to his next big challenger. That could be a few people, though Naraku seems likely. Heights still feels like he has potential, but this came off more as him just being someone for D’Angelo to beat.

Post match respect is shown but the big guy from last week runs in again and lays them both out. He introduces himself as Mason Rook and says he has arrived.

Overall Rating: B. This was the follow up to last week’s show with all of the people debuting and this week seemed to be more about them pairing off and getting settled into their new spots. That’s good to see and it’s something that has to happen around here, as it’s the nature of NXT. The wrestling was more good than bad and the show accomplished enough so I’ll call it a good show.

Results
Kali Armstrong b. Jaida Parker – Kali Connection
Jackson Drake b. Jasper Troy – 450
Culling b. Mr. Iguana/Lola Vice – Running knee to Vice
Darkstate b. Hank & Tank – Assisted spinning powerbomb to Hank
Tony D’Angelo b. Tavion Heights – Chokeslam

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

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

Goldberg vs. Scott Steiner
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, Tony Schiavone, Mark Madden, Booker T., Scott Hudson

Sometimes in wrestling promotions you find a pairing that just makes sense on every level. You want to see these two people fight and you know it the second you see them together the first time. That was the case with these two and now we’re getting a look back and one of the better things about the dying days of WCW. Let’s get to it.

From Monday Nitro, February 22, 1999.

Goldberg vs. Scott Steiner

Steiner’s TV Title isn’t on the line and he has Buff Bagwell with him. Hold on though as the villains say Goldberg isn’t here so Steiner calls out anyone for a fight…and here’s Goldberg. They lock up to start and Steiner backs him into the corner, only for Goldberg to knock him right back down. Goldberg hits the gorilla press and we take an early break.

We come back with Steiner hiding so Bagwell grabs the leg, meaning the chase is on. That’s enough for Steiner to get in a cheap shot and send Goldberg into various things. Back in and the big elbow gives Steiner two, followed by the spinning belly to belly. Bagwell whips out some wire cutters to unhook a turnbuckle, though he makes sure to beat up the referee in the process.

Steiner’s whip into the corner is reversed into the buckle (with Bagwell having to reach up and pull the pad off just in time) so Goldberg spears Bagwell. The villains try to leave but Rick Steiner is back to drop them with a double clothesline. Cue the NWO as the referee wakes up to call the DQ at 5:00 shown.

Rating: C. This was more of a little taste of the match that was coming as they could only do so much in this amount of time. Steiner was still turning into the big heel that WCW wanted him to be but it was smart to put him in there with a monster like Goldberg. The interference was par for the course on Nitro, but you could see that there was something to be done with these two.

From Tuesday Nitro, July 18, 2000.

Goldberg vs. Scott Steiner

Yes Tuesday. World Champion Booker T. is on commentary and The Cat is guest referee. Steiner knocks him down to start but Goldberg is right back up, where Steiner gives him a t-bone suplex. Goldberg pops up again and hits a gorilla press powerslam but Steiner gets a boot up in the corner.

There’s the spinning belly to belly and the Recliner goes on, but that’s an illegal hold at the moment. Steiner decks Cat for threatening a DQ so Booker gets in as well. Booker and Steiner get in a fight but Goldberg is back up. Goldberg tries to spear Booker but hits Steiner by mistake. Booker kicks Goldberg down and here is Kevin Nash to powerbomb Goldberg and Steiner before staring at Booker. We’ll call it a no contest at about 6:30.

Rating: C+. This was more like it, as Steiner had become Big Papa Pump by this point and was a total monster. You don’t get that kind of a showdown very often and it’s a great preview of them having a bigger match. The shenanigans were annoying of course, but you absolutely do not want one of them losing here.

From Fall Brawl 2000.

Goldberg vs. Scott Steiner

They go with the power lockup to start and Goldberg hits the big running shoulder. The gorilla press powerslam connects, with Schiavone saying “no one has ever done that to Scott Steiner”. Except for Goldberg, in a match Schiavone called. Steiner heads outside to keep up the fight and actually takes over, with the big elbow connecting for two back inside. Goldberg is back with a butterfly suplex and some big right hands on the mat.

A Diamond Cutter of all things puts Goldberg down and there’s the belly to belly suplex for two. For some reason Steiner goes up, only to dive into a powerslam. Cue Midajah (Steiner’s valet, who Goldberg put through a table) with a lead pipe as Steiner hits Goldberg with a chair to bust him open. Steiner gets the overhead belly to belly and grabs the pipe, only to get speared down.

Cue Vince Russo (looking absolutely embarrassing in a muscle shirt) to hit Goldberg with a baseball bat to give Steiner two. Goldberg gets put through a table at ringside and the Recliner goes on, with Goldberg crawling over to the rope. That’s reversed into an electric chair toss into the ropes (ouch) but Steiner is back up with a clothesline in the corner. The super Frankensteiner is loaded up but Goldberg fires off some headbutts (into Steiner’s metal face plate).

Midajah hits him in the back with the pipe though and Steiner grabs a belly to belly superplex. Goldberg barely gets up and we’re back to the Recliner. That’s broken up as Steiner is sent out to the floor, where he grabs a chair. That’s cut off with a neckbreaker but Russo comes in AGAIN. The distraction lets Steiner get the pipe and knock Goldberg cold. The Recliner finishes Goldberg at 13:49.

Rating: B+. Yeah this was pretty much exactly what it was supposed to be, with these guys beating the heck out of each other. It really is one of the last great things that WCW did and it was awesome to see how intense the whole thing got. Steiner was being positioned as the next big bad and having him beat Goldberg, even with this much screwiness, was a good way to make him feel that awesome.

Naturally Russo takes his shirt off and poses over Goldberg.

From Monday Nitro, September 25, 2000.

Scott Steiner jumps Disco Inferno (and the Disco Duck) and calls Goldberg out for another beating like the one at Fall Brawl. Cue Goldberg in street clothes, who accepts the challenge, but he wants it inside of Caged Heat (WCW’s version of the Cell).

Goldberg vs. Scott Steiner

The cage is lowered (no referee inside as it’s escape only to win) and Goldberg jumps him on the floor as it is coming to the floor. Goldberg chokes with a rope and takes him inside for the pop up gorilla press. Steiner gets in a shot of his own and hits a spinning belly to belly suplex (making the thong pop out). Goldberg gets knocked down again but pops back up with a suplex. Steiner kicks him low and cue Midajah with a pipe so Steiner can beat Goldberg down. That’s enough for Steiner to leave but a football player is blocking the door. Goldberg is back with a spear into the pipe and walks out for the win at 4:45.

Rating: C. There wasn’t much to see here with the football thing at the end making it feel more like a lame way to give Goldberg the win. Goldberg jumped Steiner before the match so it’s hardly like the pipe shot was some big means of cheating. This didn’t work, and while it was nice to see Goldberg win in the end, it felt rather cheap.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a good idea which didn’t really didn’t live up to its incredible hype. You had one really good match, but the rest was just a few ok brawls. Goldberg vs. Steiner was one of those pairings that worked very well on paper, but the results only worked once. That being said, it’s not like WCW was doing much at the time so this really was one of their best things around. Just watch the Fall Brawl match though and move on.

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

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

Monday Night Raw
Date: May 4, 2026
Location: CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the last Raw before Backlash and we have a main event set with Roman Reigns defending the World Title against a rather ticked off (as in more than usual) Jacob Fatu. Other than that, Oba Femi is issuing an open challenge and Sol Ruca is officially joining the roster this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Roman Reigns arrives and starts walking to the ring rather quickly, mostly ignoring Adam Pearce on the way. Pearce finally stops him and says that Jacob Fatu isn’t here yet, meaning the contract signing has to wait. Since Reigns isn’t going to the ring at the moment, he can pause to see Seth Rollins, who says reigns is in the way.

Rollins heads into the arena…and Bron Breakker jumps him from behind. Breakker drops Rollins onto the barricade and sends him into the steps until security and referees break it up. Well for all of five seconds that is as Breakker gets inside to spear Rollins. The fans want to see it again but Breakker leaves instead.

We recap Roxanne Perez ignoring Finn Balor’s warnings about the Judgment Day and telling him to leave the clubhouse.

We go to the Judgment Day clubhouse, with Liv Morgan wanting to know why Balor was here last week. Perez doesn’t know why he was here but Morgan asks why she wasn’t told about this. Why does she need to watch Netflix to know what is going on around here? Perez insists she is loyal to the team and Morgan seems to believe it, though she does brow beat Perez a bit. With Morgan gone, Perez doesn’t seem thrilled.

Finn Balor vs. JD McDonagh

Dominik Mysterio is here with McDonagh, who gets taken down with an early headlock. Balor backs McDonagh up against the ropes but gets distracted by Mysterio so McDonagh can chop away. A Russian legsweep gives Balor two and he glares down at Mysterio. That’s enough for McDonagh to start in on the leg and here are the rest of Judgment Day as we take a break.

We come back with Balor making a comeback but having to deck Mysterio. A Spanish Fly gives McDonagh two but Balor knocks him down again. Balor loads up the Coup de Grace, allowing Mysterio to crotch him on top. That’s enough for Mysterio to be ejected, leaving McDonagh’s moonsault to hit raised knees for two. The Sling Blade connects so Morgan gets on the apron and throws a timekeeper’s hammer to Perez. The cheap shot knocks Balor silly and the headbutt gives McDonagh the pin at 10:55.

Rating: C+. There was a lot going on in this match and it dragged things down a bit. The idea is that Balor was fighting against a numbers advantage, but it only has so much of an impact when it keeps going this long. Balor is going to need some help dealing with them, though I’m not sure why the feud needs to keep going.

Seth Rollins is going to be ready for Backlash, where he will finish the job.

Video on Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu from last week, with Fatu bringing back the Tongan Death Grip.

Commentary actually explains the Tongan Death Grip and talk about Haku passing it down to Fatu, though it can only be used in certain circumstances.

We look back at the Street Profits saving Joe Hendry from the Vision last week.

The Vision make fun of Hendry when Paul Heyman comes in. Heyman asks if Rollins is still breathing but Logan Paul cuts them off to threaten Hendry. Heyman says no because if Logan faces Hendry, he’ll be put in jail. Therefore, Austin Theory can do it instead. Logan is still rather on edge about this whole thing.

Penta/Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page/Rusev

Rusev pounds Evans into the corner to start and it’s off to Page, who doesn’t have the same success. Evans ducks a kick to the head and brings Penta in to strike away at Page. Everything breaks down and Evans hits a dive to the floor, leaving Page to get hit with the Penta Driver as we take an early break.

We come back with Penta knocking Rusev off the apron but he pulls Evans off the apron to break up the tag attempt. Penta blocks the Twisted Grin attempt and hands it back to Evans to pick up the pace. A dive hits Rusev and a springboard clothesline gets two on Page. Evans misses a heck of a moonsault but scores with a kick to the back of the head.

Penta comes back in as everything breaks down, with Penta hitting a suicide dive on Rusev. The big dive through the table is cut off and Penta gets tripped down on the apron. A Rock Bottom onto the table plants Penta and Page hits a release fisherman’s suplex for the pin at 10:41.

Rating: B-. That should set Page up for a title shot down the line and that is a good thing to see. Page has done rather well on the main roster thus far and it’s nice to see Rusev and Evans getting a chance to do something as well. This was a rather nice midcard match and it should set something up for later on, with the gold on the line.

Here is Adam Pearce in the ring for a chat. He talks about how much fun it was to work with a can’t miss prospect in NXT. That’s what he is getting to do again and we see a video on Sol Ruca. This brings out Ruca and she’s looking a bit nervous. Pearce presents her with a contract and she knows it is going to feel good to sign. Cue Becky Lynch to interrupt (ok that’s quite the starting point) saying a very reliable source told her this was her spot. Lynch goes into her usual Sports Illustrated rant but Lynch cuts her off, saying not everything is about her.

Ruca says Lynch is everything everyone says she is: a crude, bigheaded b****. Ruca: “It’s not just me saying it!” Lynch is incensed and Ruca signs her contract. Ruca says if Lynch ever interrupts her again, she’ll snatch her soul. Lynch swings and hits Pearce by mistake, which means a Sol Snatcher (after Ruca missteps a bit to start). If they’re putting her with Lynch to start, they pretty clearly think something of her and that’s a great sign for her future. Now just live up to it.

We look at Jacob Fatu smashing the MFT’s on Smackdown.

The Usos are on their way to see Roman Reigns but stop to talk about how this is a family thing. Fatu is swimming in deep water and swinging for the fences, but the Bloodline has been drawn. He’ll figure out what he’s doing at Backlash.

Joe Hendry vs. Austin Theory

Before the match, Hendry sings about Logan Paul, who is talented but a piece of trash. This brings out Paul, who says he can’t be fired because it would be bad business. Hendry is glad Paul is here, because he’s up to the part of the song with the apology. It’s not much of an apology, but Theory charges in to start fast.

Hendry knocks him outside but gets distracted by Paul so Theory can hammer away. A whip into the corner sets up a suplex to drop Hendry, who is back with a bigger suplex. The fall away slam sends Theory outside and Hendry strikes his pose…and Paul runs in for the DQ at 3:17.

Rating: C. This didn’t have time to go anywhere but Hendry was making a nice comeback when it ended. The numbers game is getting to Theory and he has the Street Profits, though I’m curious where that leaves Hendry. Paul could be fighting Hendry on his own and the Profits as a team, but that’s kind of a weird way to go. It’s working well enough for now though and this wasn’t bad despite being short.

Post match the beatdown is on with the Street Profits running in for the save. Bron Breakker is in to take the Profits out but Seth Rollins is here to break up the Super Spear. Montez Ford hits the big dive but the distraction lets Breakker Super Spear Rollins instead.

The Judgment Day is ready to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria come in to say they want a shot instead but Liv Morgan makes fun of them.

Here is Oba Femi for his open challenge.

Oba Femi vs. Otis

Akira Tozawa teases taking the challenge but it’s Otis instead. Otis and Femi trade running shoulders until Femi elbows the heck out of him. A toss sends Otis flying and the Fall From Grace finishes for Femi at 1:49. The toss and powerbomb both looked good and this was effective.

Seth Rollins isn’t happy with getting speared again but the Street Profits aren’t sure why they should trust him. Rollins says they’re fighting the same fight but they’ll stay out of each others’ way. Joe Hendry doesn’t look pleased either.

We get a sitdown interview between Asuka and Iyo Sky before their match at Backlash. Sky says she has avoiding this fight for years because Asuka is her mentor. Despite everything Asuka has done, Sky still respects her and never wanted it to come to this. Asuka has changed though and the old Asuka is gone. Asuka calls this disrespect and that she doesn’t know this disrespectful Sky. That is Asuka’s biggest disappointment and she is done with Sky, who will be cut out of her life at Backlash. Sky says she is ready for Asuka, who mists Sky to blind her.

We look at the Creed Brothers attacking El Grande Americano last weekend on AAA.

The Original El Grande Americano and Los Hermanos Americanos (Bruno/Julio Creedo) don’t like how Original was treated in Mexico. They’re friends with Chad Gable, who is still certainly sidelined with an injury.

El Grande Americano/Los Americanos vs. Original El Grande Americano/Los Hermanos Americanos

Julio suplexes Rayo to start and it’s off to the Original for two off a hiptoss. Americano comes in for a lockup and sends Original outside for a baseball slide. We take a break and come back with everything breaking down and Original cleaning house. A double German suplex drops Los Americanos but Grande is back in with the headbutts. Bravo’s top rope splash only gets two and the Original hits Rolling Chaos Theory. A top rope headbutt connects for the pin on Bravo at 8:24.

Rating: C+. The action was fine, but there is a reason that this feud has shifted over to AAA for the most part. Down there, this feels a lot more important and it’s a main event feud. Up here, this felt like a comedy match you would see at an early 90s Survivor Series. It’s a nice six man tag, but the two teams being in masks didn’t make this more interesting, as it just made it feel sillier.

John Cena will be at Backlash for some big announcement.

Backlash rundown.

Here are Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu to join Adam Pearce for a contract signing. Instead they just sit there and stare at each other for a bit until Reigns hits his catchphrase. That gets him a rather strong OTC chant, which Reigns says is the sound of love and respect. That respect was earned over the last twelve years and Reigns was the one holding the door open for Solo Sikoa. Fatu got in because of Reigns and he isn’t standing for this lack of respect.

Now Fatu is bringing out the Tonga Death Grip? That’s the kind of thing you bring out when you’re surrounded by eight people at a bar at 3am. You don’t do that to your TRIBAL CHIEF! Fatu says that is where Reigns has it all wrong, because yes he is desperate and he has no choice but to take Reigns’ title. He’s going to put a chokehold on the business and squeeze out every cent, just like this company has been doing to their family for decades.

Fatu brings up his household, which has Reigns cutting him off and signing. While Fatu talks about having seven kids, Reigns has spent twelve years looking after the 170 kids in their family and taking care of several generations. They’re the same blood but in this ring, Fatu is beneath him. Fatu jumps at him and tries the Tongan Death Grip but gets knocked away (with Graves being there for the save by saying Fatu didn’t have it all the way on).

The belt shot misses and Reigns hammers away in the corner but the Superman Punch is countered into the Tongan Death Grip. Reigns’ eyes but out and he grabs Pearce until Fatu chokeslams Reigns onto the table. Reigns is gasping for breath as Fatu signs and the fans chant for Fatu to end the show. They’re making Fatu feel like a threat and while I don’t think he’ll win the title, this is making the possibility seem stronger.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show about getting us more ready for Backlash and that went well enough. Backlash has two big Raw matches and those both enough of a build this week. Other than that, Asuka vs. Sky is already set and should be fine, which pretty much covers the red side of Backlash. The wrestling here was ok enough, but it was more about the final push and I liked the main event segment fairly well. It’s not a great show, but it did what it was asked.

Results
JD McDonagh b. Finn Balor – Headbutt
Ethan Page/Rusev b. Penta/Je’Von Evans – Release fisherman’s suplex to Penta
Joe Hendry b. Austin Theory via DQ when Logan Paul interfered
Oba Femi b. Otis – Fall From Grace
Original El Grande Americano/Los Hermanos Americanos b. El Grande Americano/Los Americanos – Swan Dive to Rayo

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

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

Mega fans can have the same issues no matter what subject.

https://www.smarkdownsblog.com/why-wwe-wrestling-fans-complain

I believe the term is IT’S STING!

https://411mania.com/wrestling/halls-wcw-uncensored-1997-review/

AAA On FOX
Date: May 2, 2026
Location: Auditorio José María Arteaga, Querétaro, Mexico
Commentators: Rey Mysterio, John Bradshaw Layfield, Corey Graves

We’re coming up on Noche de Los Grandes and we have a heck of a main event for the show, with the Grande Americanos facing off in a mask vs. mask match. This week will see the contract signing and there is a good chance things are going to get intense. Other than that, we are still trying to figure out who has been attacking the Psycho Circus. Let’s get to it.

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

El Ojo is talking about El Hijo del Vikingo’s match tonight. They mention being family, but El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. comes in to ask what they would know about that.

Mini Vikingo vs. El Hijo del Vikingo

Hijo jumps Mini to start and stomps away in the corner as the fans are not pleased. The running dropkick hits Mini again and the big forearms against the ropes make it worse. Hijo rolls him up for two and grabs something like an STF, with Mini’s face being slammed into the mat. Mini tries to fight back but gets kicked in the face and dropkicked to the floor. Hijo sends him into the steps and adds a suplex onto the ramp.

Another drop has the referee ready to stop it but Mini wants to keep going. Back in and Hijo chokes away but Mini actually manages a Code Red for two. Hijo is sent outside for a running flip dive…into a crucifix bomb, which even has Mysterio impressed. They head back inside, where Hijo kicks him in the head and grabs a powerbomb for two, meaning it’s time to look stunned. Hijo takes the turnbuckle pad off but gets sent into it instead.

A 450 gets a rather near fall so Hijo sends Mini into the corner, knocking the referee outside. Mini grabs a hurricanrana and the bell rings but the referee is still down. Hijo gets in a cheap shot and hits a super Rock Bottom but there is still no one to count. Back up and Hijo seems to have messed up his shoulder, even as he grabs a chair. Cue Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. for a Wagner Driver onto the chair, allowing Mini to hit a 630 Phoenix splash for the shocking upset at 12:58.

Rating: B-. This is what you get when you keep stringing out the near falls and hope spots, as Hijo got too cocky and lost it in the end. I had a good time with this and they did a good job of keeping the story going through. Hopefully Hijo’s shoulder is ok though, as that didn’t look great in the end. Either way, nice job by Hijo by making Mini look great (which isn’t a surprise as it’s his younger brother).

Post match Omos comes in to wreck Mini and Wagner. Galeno del Mal (Wagner’s brother) runs in for the save. Hijo was getting his shoulder looked at as Omos came out and was still on the mat at the end of the segment so that’s not a good sign. Also who rang the bell? Wagner?

Rey Fenix vs. Laredo Kid

Non-title. Kid’s running shoulder doesn’t do much to Fenix, who pops up and sticks the landing on a hurricanrana. They trade some flips and flip up to a standoff, allowing Fenix to do his rather springboardy wristdrag. Kid cuts off a dive with a big clothesline though and a basement dropkick gets two.

A Michinoku Driver gives Kid two and a top rope splash connects for two more. Fenix avoids a charge in the corner though and hits a rope walk kick to the head to send Kid to the apron. Fenix kicks him out to the floor and there’s the slingshot hurricanrana. Back in and a top rope moonsault press gives Fenix two and a running springboard kick to the head connects in the corner.

The Mexican MuscleBuster is broken up though and Kid’s Canadian Destroyer gets…one. Back up and Fenix hits the rolling cutter for two and they chop it out from their knees. Fenix charges into a shot to the face in the corner but he catches Kid up top. The Mexican MuscleBuster gives Fenix the pin at 9:40.

Rating: B. These two worked well together, though that’s a pair of losses in a row for Kid. I’m not sure what that’s going to mean, but there is a good chance that this sets up a big showdown at Noche de Los Grandes for the title. Kid has been champion for the better part of ever so it might be time for Fenix to finally get a big win. For now though, you had two guys going nuts for about ten minutes and it was rather entertaining.

Post match Fenix offers a handshake but Kid clutches his belt and shoulders past him.

We recap the Psycho Circus vs. the War Raiders, which is going on at the same time that the Circus is being taken out one by one. Pagano is the most likely suspect and there is going to be a face to face showdown between Pagano and Psycho Clown next week.

Video on Catalina, who is making her in-ring debut next week.

It’s time for the Grande Americanos’ contract signing, with a bunch of security and a few hosts. Dorian Roldan explains the stakes of mask vs. mask but Original has a piece of paper, which he hands to Roldan. Apparently it’s from Original’s attorney and this match isn’t going to happen without some conditions. There can be no physical attacks from now until May 30, and if there is, the attacker has to unmask. Grande is ticked off but signs anyway and Roldan has security leave.

Hold on as there is something else on the paper: the female host/interviewer has to be removed from AAA for attacking Original. She wants Grande to take Original’s mask and leaves. Original signs and throws the pin at Grande before leaving. Grande: “SHORTY!” He has something else to say but the Creed Brothers run in and put Grande through the table. Los Americanos run in for the save to end the show. This is a great example of a story that might be a bit silly but it’s working so well because the fans care about the people involved. That’s how a good story should go and I want to see these two fight so nice job.

Overall Rating: B. This was more of a story heavy show and that’s nice to see on occasion. You can see where a lot of the Noche card is going and I’m liking what is being put together. The wrestling here was still pretty good and I want to see what happens from here. They keep me hooked week to week and that’s not something some much bigger promotions can pull off. This was a solid show and the ending was a hot angle, which is more than good enough for about an hour.

Results
Mini Vikingo b. El Hijo del Vikingo – 630 Phoenix splash
Rey Fenix b. Laredo Kid – Mexican MuscleBuster

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

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

Collision
Date: May 2, 2026
Location: Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re firmly into the Darby Allin title reign now and that very well could have something tied into this week as well. Other than that, we’re on the way to Double Or Nothing in a few weeks and that means the card needs to be put together. Some of the matches are either set or practically made so maybe we get some movement in that direction this week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Death Riders/The Dogs vs. Top Flight/Rascalz

The Rascalz and Top Flight jump the villains to start and the brawl is on the floor before the bell. The bell does indeed ring and Reed is right there with a big dive onto a pile at ringside. Back in and Connors misses a charge into the corner, allowing Wentz to strike away in the corner. Finlay comes in to stomp Wentz in the corner but it’s quickly off to Darius to strike away at Pac.

That doesn’t last long either as Moxley comes in to rain down right hands in the corner but Darius fires off some forearms. Darius gives him a suplex into Dante’s slingshot hilo, allowing Reed to hit a springboard spinning dropkick. Castagnoli drops Reed on the floor though and we get a stream of knockdowns outside. Back in and Reed dives into Castagnoli’s uppercut as we take a break.

We come back with Reed fighting out of trouble but getting taken right back down. Reed gets close to the tag but the other villains run in to knock his partners off the apron. The diving tag brings Xavier in a few seconds later and everything breaks down. Connors gets double stomped for two but the push moonsault is broken up. A spear gets two on Wentz but he knocks Connors down, allowing the tag back to Darius.

Everything breaks down and Pac gets taken down with a springboard Downward Spiral for two more. Finlay gets caught in the wrong corner and pummeled with a string of strikes but he shoves Reed into Wentz. A high/low hits Xavier but the Rascalz are back in with stereo springboard Codebreakers. Moxley gets tornado DDTed for two, only for Pac’s big lariat to drop Darius. The Brutalizer makes Darius tap at 16:23.

Rating: B. I mean, yeah it’s a lot of fun and you could tell the people involved had a great time. The thing is, I feel like I’ve seen a version of this match or something really close to it dozens of times in AEW. That doesn’t make it bad in any way, but if you want to get the “I can’t believe I just saw a match like that” feeling, maybe don’t have multiple versions of it every week.

Jack Perry, and his bus, are on the way.

National Title: Jack Perry vs. Mascara Dorada

Perry is defending and, after a handshake, goes for the wristlock. A headlock takeover works a bit better for Perry and he follows it up with a monkey flip. Back up and quite the headscissors drops Perry for a change and they trade very springboardy wristdrags. Dorada sends him crashing out to the floor and then into the crowd, where Perry comes up swinging. They slug it out on the barricade until Dorada hits a Canadian Destroyer.

We take a break and come back with the two of them trading flips until Perry superkicks him into a poisonrana. Dorada’s Code Red drops Perry and they both need a breather. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Perry two more and he sends Dorada outside for a moonsault. Back in and Dorada kicks his leg out and loads up an electric chair, which is flipped into a neckbreaker for a rather near fall.

The 450 gets two more and Dorada knees him out of the air. A Razor’s Edge Dominator plants Perry for another near fall but the shooting star press hits raised knees. Dorada goes up top again but gets pulled down with a super hurricanrana for the pin to retain the title at 14:20.

Rating: A-. This got rather outstanding by the end and that’s no surprise given Dorada was in there. He shows up every so often and has become a remarkable treat around here. That fast paced style works so well for him and that was certain the case with this one. Perry is a lot better when he’s firmly in the midcard where he belongs because he can do stuff like this. Very good stuff here as they kept pulling me in further, which doesn’t happen often.

On Dynamite, Kris Statlander snapped on Hikaru Shida for costing them the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Shida promised to make it up to her.

Conglomeration vs. MxM TV

Non-title. O’Reilly and Mansoor start things off with some kicks sending Mansoor over for the tag to TV. That’s fine with O’Reilly, who hammers away in the corner to put TV in trouble. Cassidy takes too long to hit a single punch though and TV kicks him down, followed by a big dive to the floor. MxM poses inside and it’s a side kick/German suplex combination to Cassidy.

Starship Pain gets two as everything breaks down. What looks like a double Doomsday Device is broken up and Mansoor gets crotched on top. Madden gets Angle Slammed and low bridged to the floor, with Cassidy sitting on O’Reilly’s shoulders. Cassidy chokeshoves Mansoor onto Madden and Cassidy’s falling top rope elbow finishes TV at 4:29.

Rating: C+. Yeah this was fine, with the champs getting to show off a bit against an established team. It was nice to see the Conglomeration win a shorter match for a change and look dominant enough. After a pair of long, wild matches, this was a nice change of pace and it went well.

Post match Tommaso Ciampa comes out for the staredown.

We get a rather somber moment with commentary wishing Rebel the best in her health situation. That’s a nice thing to see, but dang the whole situation is a punch to the gut.

We recap Will Ospreay seemingly joining the Death Riders.

TBS Title: Willow Nightingale vs. Anna Jay

Nightingale is defending in an Open Challenge and this is Jay’s first match since November. Jay’s early rollup attempt is blocked so she sits Jay on top instead. Nightingale wants Jay to show her fire, which apparently means a sunset flip for two. Some clotheslines in the corner have Jay in trouble but she avoids a backsplash. The running flipping neckbreaker gets two and Jay fires off the kicks in the corner. Nightingale sends her outside though and hits a flip dive off the apron.

We take a break and come back with Jay fighting back but getting sent into the corner again. A superplex drops Jay and a Death Valley Driver gets two. Jay kicks her in the face and grabs an X Factor for two, followed by the Queenslayer. Nightingale breaks that up though and grabs the Babe With The Powerbomb to retain at 9:45.

Rating: C+. It’s good to have Jay back, as she is one of the long lasting members of the division. At the same time, it seems like nothing has changed for her as she continues to lose big matches. The good thing is Nightingale gets another win, though she’s going to need a big challenger sooner rather than later.

Hikaru Shida’s make up gift to Kris Statlander is…a match against Harley Cameron and Mina Shirakawa. Shouting ensues.

Death Riders vs. Bang Bang Gang

Yuta and Robinson start things off with the former quickly being taken into the wrong corner. That’s broken up and a rolling tag brings Austin in to fight back. A basement dropkick hits Yuta and Austin hits a kick from the apron. That means the handstand can ensue, only for Austin to get dropkicked to the floor. Back in and Garcia hammers away in the corner as we take a break.

We come back with Austin still in trouble, with the Riders hitting a string of running shots in the corner. Austin fights out of Garcia’s front facelock and grabs a Death Valley Driver, allowing Robinson to come back in. House is quickly cleaned but Marina Shafir’s distraction lets Garcia get in a cheap shot. That’s shrugged off and Robinson hammers away on the now bleeding Yuta.

A lariat gives Robinson two as everything stays broken down. Austin is flipped over the top to the floor, meaning it’s a Fastball Special for two on Robinson. Back in and Austin hits his springboard spinning kick to the head but walks into an Angle Slam. Robinson is back up with his forward DDT and actually pins Garcia at 12:07.

Rating: B-. Well dang man. I wasn’t expecting that so well done on having a surprise result for a change. It helps when the Gang never wins anything of note so having them beat an established team is a good thing. The group still needs reinforcements, but a win is better than nothing.

Post match Jon Moxley freaks out and Robinson motions that he wants the Continental Title. That brings the Riders in for the beatdown but the Gunns are back to make the save. Yuta is laid out with the 3:10 To Yuma.

Megan Bayne and Lena Kross brag about their success.

Skye Blue vs. Nixi XS

Blue kicks her in the face at the bell and another boot sends Nixi out to the floor. A hanging swinging neckbreaker drops Nixi again and it’s a Cheeky Nandos Kick back inside. The running knee connects but Blue pulls her up at two. The Descent Into Madness finishes for Blue at 2:15. Complete squash.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

TNT Title: Hook vs. Kevin Knight

Hook, with Katsuyori Shibata, is challenging and takes Knight down by the leg to start. Back up and Knight gets in a shot to the arm before they fight over a lockup on the ropes. Hook flips out of a hiptoss attempt before avoiding a dropkick, leaving Knight frustrated. With nothing working, Knight slugs away in the corner and dropkicks him to the floor. The slingshot dive misses though and Hook suplexes him over the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Hook’s northern lights suplex getting two. Knight makes the clothesline comeback and hits the spinning splash for two of his own. A super hurricanrana sends Hook flying and a running dropkick hits him in the corner. The referee gets distracted though and Shibata crotches Knight on top. A belly to belly superplex and a high angle suplex give Hook two but Redrum is countered. Knight takes Shibata out and hits a running DDT into the UFO Splash to retain at 12:06.

Rating: C+. The match was fine for an extended Knight workout, but that’s about all it was. There was zero reason to believe that Hook was going to win the title, especially from someone who has been on a roll like Knight. As a result, the Opps, or at least half of them, were little more than some pests that had to be dealt with here. In other words, it’s exactly what you would expect from the Opps if Joe isn’t involved.

Overall Rating: B+. Any show with those first two matches is going to be a hit, even if the rest of the show was somewhat mediocre. This show felt like the usual Collision, but dang that Perry vs. Dorada match was awesome. The in-ring side of things have been on a roll lately in AEW and if they can get their stories close to that level, the place will be hard to stop. Check out the first two matches here, as they’re rather great.

Results
Death Riders/The Dogs b. Top Flight/Rascalz – Brutalizer to Darius
Jack Perry b. Mascara Dorada – Super hurricanrana
Conglomeration b. MxM TV – Top rope elbow to TV
Willow Nightingale b. Anna Jay – Babe With The Powerbomb
Bang Bang Gang b. Death Riders – Forward DDT to Garcia
Skye Blue b. Nixi XS – Descent Into Madness
Kevin Knight b. Hook – UFO Splash

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

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

So back in the days of the WWE Network, there was a section called Hidden Gems.  When the Network was being shut down in America, I rapid fire reviewed as many of them as I could, though I couldn’t get all of them.  For one reason or another, I kept putting off posting them and I might as well just start doing it.  This is more than 50 pages of completely random stuff that has probably popped up elsewhere since then but it’s better than having it sit on my laptop.  There is no connection to these matches/segments but that makes it more fun.  Let’s get to it.

NWA World Title: Harley Race vs. Dick Murdoch
Date: April 2, 1977
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Commentators: Boyd Pierce, Bill Watts

From Tri-State, which became Mid-South. Race is defending and we’re joined in progress late in the match. Murdoch’s leg gives out on a suplex attempt and Race cranks back on it as he is smart enough to do. Murdoch kind of collapses into a clothesline for two on Race, who drives him into the corner for two of his own. A shot to the face puts Race back down and Murdoch stomps away for two more. Skandor Akbar gets in the ring for a distraction but Race manages an O’Connor roll to retain at 3:40 shown. No rating due to how much was clipped but these two could have a classic if given the chance.

Post match Murdoch punches Akbar, who seems to be his manager, out but here’s a masked man (Dr. X?) to go after Murdoch. The beatdown is on so we cut to an NWA graphic because the NWA doesn’t think we should see it. A quick shot shows us Murdoch tied in the ropes to wrap it up.

From September 15, 1976 in Championship Wrestling From Florida.

This is a segment instead of a match as Greg Valentine drops some elbows through boards. Think a martial artist breaking through them with kicks, but with elbows instead. He does this over and over for two minutes. End of segment.

Mercedes Martinez vs. Victoria
Date: June 12, 2006
Location: Bryce Jordan Center, Stage College, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 4,500
Commentators: Jonathan Coachman, Todd Grisham

From Sunday Night Heat and Martinez is a jobber. Victoria headlocks her to start and hammers away with some right hands to the head. They go to the mat but Martinez pops up with a headlock of her own, only to get reversed into a headscissors. Back up and Martinez hits a dropkick into a nothern lights suplex for two but Victoria knees her in the face. A hot shot sets up the Widow’s Peak for the pin on Martinez at 3:12.

Rating: D+. Just a step beyond a squash here but it worked out well enough. This is one of the best kinds of Hidden Gems as there is something so cool about seeing a future star still becoming a thing. You could see some of the skill and polish in Martinez though and it is no surprise that she would be around so many years later. Victoria was pretty much nothing in WWE at this point though and that is a shame as the division could have used her.

Bobby Rood vs. Albert
Date: October 19, 2002
Location: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Michael Cole, Marc Lloyd

That would of course be Bobby Roode and he actually gets a hometown entrance. Albert drives him into the corner for a shot to the face as the SHAVE YOUR BACK chants start up. Roode slips out of a slam and kicks away at the leg but gets run over with a shoulder. An over the shoulder backbreaker drops Roode again and some forearms to the back make it worse. The catapult sends Roode throat first into the rope and we hit the neck crank. Roode fights up and hits a bulldog as commentary talks about Scorpion King being a big hit in the rental market. Albert has had it with this and hits the bicycle kick for the pin at 3:39.

Rating: C-. This was better than I would have expected as Roode got in a tiny bit of offense rather than running Roode over. You can have a squash but it doesn’t have to be a complete one, especially in a situation like this. Albert won decisively but it wasn’t anything embarrassing for Roode, which is nice to see for a change.

Post match Albert hits the Baldo Bomb to leave Roode laying.

Tazmaniac vs. Skippy Taylor
Date: May 5, 1993
Location: Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
Attendance: 2,700

Dark match from a Wrestling Challenge taping and this is just the hard cam shot, meaning the camera does not move an inch. I’ve seen this one before on the awesome Unreleased DVD set from a few years back and this is Taz vs. Scotty 2 Hotty. It’s so strange seeing Taz as the Tazmaniac caveman gimmick but it’s kind of fascinating.

Taylor cranks on the arm to start and hits a dropkick into a hiptoss. The t-bone suplex cuts him off and we’re already in the Tazmanian chinlock. That’s broken up but Taylor spends WAY too much time loading up a DDT, allowing Tazmaniac to suplex him into another chinlock. Taylor knocks him out of the air (not your typical Taz) but walks into an overhead belly to belly for the pin at 3:55.

Rating: C-. It’s another historical curiosity more than anything else, including trying to wrap my head around the fact that one of the wrestlers was named Skippy. The Tazmaniac was a dead end gimmick too and thank goodness he found the much better Taz deal, which wound up being a heck of a lot better for everyone. Nothing match of course, but it was an interesting pairing.

Big Daddy Ritter vs. Jim Neidhart
Date: May 11, 1979
Location: Victoria Pavilion, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Commentator: Ed Whalen

This is from Stampede Wrestling and that would be Junkyard Dog. The audio is rather choppy here as Neidhart shoves Ritter outside to start. Back in and Neidhart hits the shoulder in the corner but Ritter taunts him into a missed charge into the post. What might be a loaded glove to the head rocks Neidhart as even Whalen can figure out that something is up with the thing. Choking ensues and there’s a headbutt to knock Neidhart down again. A rake to the eyes takes Neidhart down again and back to back powerslams finish for Ritter at 4:26.

Rating: D. Total squash here and it’s bizarre to see Neidhart so young. He was only 24 here and took quite the beating as Ritter liked that loaded glove. It was bizarre to see Ritter as the heel too, as it isn’t something you ever see outside of Stampede. It’s also weird to see a full match from Stampede, as they liked the joined in progress format most of the time.

Post match Ritter gets in another right hand for a bonus.

Ted DiBiase vs. Tom Magee
Date: December 7, 1988
Location: SunDome, Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 9,176

Another Wrestling Challenge dark match and Magee is a heck of a specimen. The stands are a good bit empty as this seems to be rather early in the night. Magee shoves him down to start and hits an atomic drop into an armbar. Audio goes out (no commentary anyway though) as Magee flips him over into a better armbar. Back up and DiBiase unloads against the ropes but Magee kicks him to the floor and flips around a bit.

Magee strikes away in the corner and flips over DiBiase, only to be sent outside in a heap. They go outside with DiBiase stomping away, followed by a middle rope ax handle for two. Audio is back as a clothesline gets two more on Magee. The falling middle rope elbow misses though and Magee nails a spinwheel kick. A dropkick gives Magee two but he walks into a powerslam for the pin at 7:35.

Rating: C. I know Magee was Vince’s dream come true but you really could see how completely green he was every time he was in the ring. He doesn’t seem to have the natural timing or instincts to make it work and while that can be learned over time, it never clicked for him. The match was far from bad, though it’s hard to have a bad match against DiBiase.

From Mid-South, September 3, 1983.

We see a pair of rather large cowboy boots (yes, believe it or not, in Mid-South), one of which is much larger than the other. Cut to Bill Watts in a suit that is much too big for him. Watts says it takes a lot to fill another man’s shoes, much like you just saw there. That large boot and this large coat belong to Andre the Giant, who comes in for a chat.

Andre is proud of losing 15lbs to get down to 485 and talks about some of the travel problems he has to deal with everywhere he goes. He’s also hoping to do more acting work, such as on the Fall Guy. Watts talks about a 400lb college wrestler who would look like a baby next to Andre. Finally, he’s proud of Steve Williams, his former partner and no he does not have 185 teeth. This was a weird bit that felt like it belonged on a talk show where the interviewer didn’t know much about wrestling.

From NWA Western States, February 1, 1971.

Dory Funk Sr. is in the studio and is ready to train with his sons, NWA World Champion Dory Jr. and Terry in an empty arena. Sr. narrates as Terry tries to take Jr. down, saying they are going about ¾ speed. A fireman’s carry takes Jr. down as Sr. keeps critiquing them in the ring. Terry takes Jr. down for the spinning toehold but Sr. calls him off. Sr. takes Terry down with ease and pats him on the head.

A quick head fake lets Sr. take Terry down and Jr. takes Terry down with ease. Sr. explains to Terry that it isn’t fun to be slammed and then tells Terry to calm down. Terry even picks Sr. up for a slam but puts him down with a laugh. Back in the studio, Sr. praises his sons. This was quick but rather cool as you never see this kind of thing, especially with legends like these three.

Barry Hardy vs. Brian Armstrong
Date: August 16, 1994
Location: Lowell Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Attendance: 2,000

Dark match from a Wrestling Challenge taping and Armstrong is better known as Road Dogg. Armstrong, who is rather energetic, takes him into the corner and hits a dropkick to the floor. Back in and a gutwrench suplex sets up an armbar on Hardy, who comes back with some shots to the ribs. Armstrong grabs some rollups for two each and a knee lift sets up the jabs. There’s a big boot to drop Hardy again and a missile dropkick gives Armstrong the pin at 4:04.

Rating: C-. It’s so bizarre seeing Armstrong as a pretty run of the mill guy when you know the star he would become. He looked good enough here, though it isn’t like he would have stood out all that much. Going with the Roadie gimmick not too long after this was a good foot in the door, but you could see the talent out there, even in a short match like this one.

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

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