Summerslam Count-Up – 2021 (2022 Redo): The Power Of Star Power

Summerslam 2021
Date: August 21, 2021
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 51,326
Commentators: Pat McAfee, Michael Cole, Jimmy Smith, Byron Saxton, Corey Graves

It’s time for one of the biggest Summerslams ever, as this is the first major event after the attendance restrictions were lifted after the Coronavirus pandemic. They need a major main event to make that work and that is what they have with John Cena challenging Roman Reigns for the Universal Title. Other than that, we have Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg for the WWE Title because we must have Goldberg. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Big E. vs. Baron Corbin

Baron’s Happy days weren’t here yet. Some woman from Tik Tok is a guest ring announcer and Big E. doesn’t have his Money In The Bank briefcase as Corbin stole it from him. The rather sad Corbin clutches the briefcase and gets belly to belly suplexed to start. Big E. misses the apron splash though and Corbin is thrilled with the idea of winning via countout.

That doesn’t work so Corbin sends him into the post a few times, setting up the chinlock to keep Big E. down. A chokeslam is countered into a stretch muffler of all things but Corbin slips out and hits Deep Six for two. Corbin heads outside to grab the briefcase, earning himself a ram into the barricade. Back in and the Big Ending is good enough to finish Corbin at 6:31.

Rating: C. Set up a quick story on TV and then pay it off with a fast match here. That’s all you need to do for a Kickoff Show match and seeing the horrible loser take another loss will always work. Things would get better for Corbin soon, while Big E. would wind up having a pretty lame WWE Title reign, though at least he got there.

We’re in Las Vegas so the opening video has a poker theme, which lasts all of a few moments before going into the look at the matches, as expected. Also as expected, John Cena vs. Roman reigns feels way bigger than anything else.

Those stadium shows always look awesome and that is the case again here.

Raw Tag Team Titles: RKBro vs. AJ Styles/Omos

RKBro is challenging after reuniting last week to go after the titles. Orton and Styles start (not a bad choice) with Orton sending him flying with an early suplex. It’s off to Riddle so Styles bails to the floor and assaults the announcers’ table. Back in and Styles hands it off to Omos for the big slam on Riddle. Styles puts the chinlock on but Riddle elbows his way out of the fireman’s carry. That lets Riddle hit a running knee on Omos but Styles is there to cut off a diving tag to Orton.

The comeback is on, including a backdrop to Styles and forearms to Omos. Orton powerslams Styles and, after knocking Omos off the apron, hits the hanging DDT. Omos saves Styles from the RKO though and then chokeslams Riddle onto the apron. Riddle is back up with a posting for Omos but Styles is back with a moonsault from the apron into a reverse DDT to drop Riddle hard. Back in and Styles blocks the RKO, only to get caught with the second attempt to give Orton the pin and the titles at 7:05.

Rating: C+. The match wasn’t quite a classic but it makes perfect sense to put this on first. The fans loved RKBro and letting them have their big win was going to get the show started in the right direction. Styles and Omos were fine for a pretty nice title reign, but you’re only going to get so much out of that. Good choice for the opener here and Orton getting some focus is almost always a good thing.

Riddle being so freaking happy over the win is a great thing.

We recap Alexa Bliss vs. Eva Marie, which is over Bliss’ doll Lillie being all evil. Eva wanted Doudrop to go after Bliss but she was scared of the doll, meaning Eva and Doudrop aren’t in a great place coming in.

Eva Marie vs. Alexa Bliss

Doudrop is here with Marie. Sign in the crowd: “Eva Marie is worse than an airport tuna sandwich.” Points for creative, which cancels out the negative points for the massive CGI Lillie doll. During the entrance, we get a quick look at Lillie being able to sit up and wink, because of course she can. Bliss dodges a few charges to start and Eva falls out to the floor.

Back in and Bliss elbows her in the face as they’re going in very slow motion to start. Eva gets in a few shots but stops to slap Lillie, who she also uses to slap Bliss. That’s enough to send Bliss into a rage for some bad right hands, setting up a flipping splash for two. Doudrop insists that she believe in Eva as Lillie is sat back on top. Bliss sends her into the corner but misses Twisted Bliss to give Eva two. Back up and Bliss hits a DDT (which Marie falls too soon on) for the pin at 3:50. Doudrop seems well pleased.

Rating: D-. This was one of those matches that would have felt like a bad filler on Raw, let alone getting time on one of the biggest shows of the year. Eva was brought back in for star power but then she has a match like this and so much of it is dropped out the window. Bliss was better, but the Lillie stuff was killing her and that was getting more and more obvious every week.

Post match Doudrop makes sure to announce Eva as the loser of the match.

Mario Lopez, in a swank Hart Foundation shirt, brings in RKBro with Randy Orton promising that it is going to be smooths ailing for the team going forward. He’s still getting used to the Bro name though. Riddle has a surprise for him on Raw too, which would wind up being a scooter (with tassels).

United States Title: Sheamus vs. Damian Priest

Priest is challenging after beating Sheamus in a non-title match, where he re-injured Sheamus’ nose (hence a protective mask). Sheamus headlocks him down to start before switching into a hammerlock. Back up and Priest rocks him with a right hand before muscling him up for the Broken Arrow. Sheamus is sent outside so there’s the running step up flip dive to take him out again.

Priest’s spin kick is countered and he gets sent hard into the post, meaning it’s time to slow down a bit. A belly to back suplex sets up a chinlock but Priest is right back up. That works for Sheamus, who plants him with the Irish Curse and stops to pose. Priest powers out of another chinlock and hurricanranas his way out of a powerbomb, only to get powerslammed for two more.

Back up and Sheamus stops to check his hair, allowing Priest to get in a running tornado DDT but his back seems to be flaring up. The back is fine enough to hit a top rope spinwheel kick but Sheamus snaps him throat first across the top to break up a…..something. A top rope clothesline into an Alabama Slam gives Sheamus two and frustration is setting in.

The Brogue Kick is countered with a kick to the head though and Priest grabs South Of Heaven for two more. Sheamus knees him out of the air for two of his own and it’s off to a heel hook of all things. Priest fights up and rips off the mask, allowing him to hammer away. A kick to the face sets up the Reckoning to give Priest the pin and the title at 13:49.

Rating: B-. That’s the kind of big time fight that you need to have in a spot like this and they did the right thing with the ending. Priest took every big thing that Sheamus had and then won clean with his finisher. WWE set Priest up in the last few months and then paid him off with a win here, which is what you’re supposed to do. Nicely done.

We recap Dominik Mysterio causing issues for his dad, because they have literally been teasing this split for over a year now.

Smackdown Tag Team Titles: Usos vs. Mysterios

The Usos are defending. Rey hammers on Jimmy to start but it’s too early for the 619. The Usos are both sent outside with Rey hitting the sliding splash, followed by a springboard dive from Dominik. Dominik comes in for Three Amigos to Jimmy but Jey breaks up the frog splash with a shove out to the floor. The top rope Demolition Decapitator hits Dominik for no cover and Jimmy adds a running headbutt for two.

Dominik tries to fight out of the corner and gets BLASTED with an uppercut to drop him again. Jey hits Two Amigos and stops to pose before shouting some Spanish. A neckbreaker gets Dominik out of trouble though and there’s the hot tag to Mysterio to start cleaning house.

The tornado DDT gets two on Jimmy and the top rope seated senton puts him down again. Everything breaks down and it’s a superkick into the Superfly Splash for two on Rey. Dominik is back in and gets dropped on the apron like the schmuck that he is. Jimmy misses another Superfly Splash but he raises his knees to block a frog splash. The double superkick sets up the Superfly Splash to retain the titles at 10:48.

Rating: C+. The Usos and Rey managed to overcome Dominik’s extreme level of bleh to have a decent match. The Usos are able to have a pretty good match against anyone and that is what they did again here. It’s a rematch from another recent title change so there was only so much interest, but that has been the chance for either Tag Team Titles for years now.

Actress Tiffany Haddish introduces the new National Champion Damian Priest, who doesn’t like bullies. He likes being the UNITED STATES Champion though.

Rick Boogs plays new Intercontinental Champion Rick Boogs to the ring, allowing Pat McAfee to dance on the announcers’ table.

We recap Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair for the latter’s Smackdown Women’s Title. Belair beat her at Wrestlemania to win the title so Banks left (as she does) and then came back for a rematch. However, there were rumors that Banks wasn’t cleared to wrestle so things might be up in the air.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks

Hold on though as Banks isn’t cleared to compete (right) so we have a replacement.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bianca Belair vs. Carmella

Belair is….hang on a second.

BECKY LYNCH IS BACK beats the heck out of Carmella, meaning we have a replacement (again).

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch

Belair is defending and it’s a right hand into the Manhandle Slam to make Lynch champion at 25 seconds.

And for those you keeping track, had it been Banks vs. Belair, it would indeed be the same story for Belair at back to back Summerslams.

WWE is going back to Saudi Arabia and yes, it’s amazing, mainly because they’ve been well paid to say so.

Tamyra Mensah-Stock and Gable Steveson, Olympic gold medal winners in wrestling, are here for a nice presentation.

We get the same WWE Shop commercial for the third time in less than two hours.

Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal

Mahal cost Drew Money in the Bank so tonight it’s about revenge with Mahal’s goons barred from ringside. McIntyre drives him into the corner to start and hits a quick clothesline, followed by the toss suplex. A trip to the floor goes badly for Mahal as well, so McIntyre throws him back inside for some begging. Mahal brings up their previous friendship before getting in a superkick for two. The chinlock doesn’t do much to McIntyre so it’s the Glasgow Kiss into a series of overhead belly to belly suplexes. The Futureshock into the Claymore finishes Mahal at 4:36.

Rating: D+. Yeah what were you expecting here? Mahal has long since stopped meaning anything so having McIntyre beat him without much trouble was the only way to go. That’s what they did here and it was a fine way to go, albeit in a bad match. You can only get so much out of a match that is this one sided though and that’s what brought this down.

Post match Veer and Shanky come to the ring to go after McIntyre, who chases them off with the sword.

We recap the Raw Women’s Title match, with new champion Nikki Ash defending against Charlotte and Rhea Ripley. Nikki cashed in Money in the Bank on Charlotte, who had been beaten down by Ripley. Tonight it’s time to crush Nikki once and for all, because she has been treated like a loser since she won the title in the first place, because A, Charlotte and B, it’s a really stupid gimmick.

Raw Women’s Title: Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Nikki Ash

Nikki is defending and, after some Big Match Intros, gets shoved down by Charlotte to start. The monkey flip takes Charlotte down and a rollup gets two on Ripley. Back up and Charlotte tosses Nikki out, leaving Ripley to shoulder Charlotte into the corner. Nikki comes back in so Charlotte can beat up both of them at once, including slamming Ash onto Ripley for the double stack.

The moonsault hits Ripley’s raised boot though, leaving Nikki to counter Riptide into a crossbody for two. Charlotte and Ripley mess up something so Charlotte hits a big boot for two of her own. Nikki is sent outside and another big boot sends Ripley outside. A tornado DDT drops Charlotte to give Nikki two but Ripley is back in to German suplex both of them at once.

Ripley’s missile dropkick gets two on Charlotte, leaving Ripley with the stunned kickout face. Charlotte and Ripley brawl to the floor for the slugout until Nikki dives onto both of them for no reaction. Back in and Ripley and Ash go for a double suplex on Charlotte, who counters into a double DDT, then knocks them both outside (because of course she does). Charlotte corkscrew moonsaults onto both of them, with Ash being driven HARD into the barricade.

Ripley finally gets in a big boot on Charlotte and Prism Traps Nikki, only to have Charlotte break it up again. The Prism Trap to Charlotte is countered into the Figure Eight but Nikki dives off the top for the save. Nikki hits the Reckoning for two on Charlotte with Ripley making a save this time. The Riptide is countered into a DDT to send Ripley outside and this isn’t looking good for Nikki. A high crossbody misses for Nikki and Charlotte grabs the Figure Eight to get the title back at 13:03.

Rating: C+. While it’s an entertaining match, this made me mad last year and it’s doing it again here. Nikki might as well have been a lamb led to the slaughter here, as Ripley looks like a killer and Charlotte looks like a star, while Nikki looks like a mascot of a low rent kids’ birthday party place. Throw in Charlotte being booked like a train here and then getting Nikki to tap in the end and this was ALL about Charlotte, as is far too often the case anytime she’s around. Nikki being called ALMOST A Superhero was bad enough, but then she’s just a meal for Charlotte, like so many others have been over the years.

We recap Seth Rollins vs. Edge. Rollins cost Edge the universal Title against Roman Reigns last month, which is apparently tied to a moment in 2014, when the Shield teased attacking Edge and almost wiped him out. Now Edge knows that if Rollins hits the Curb Stomp, his career is probably over. I’m not sure how good of a feud it was, but Edge facing someone new is a fun thing to see.

Edge vs. Seth Rollins

I almost didn’t recognize Rollins without his Freakin. Edge comes out with a hybrid Brood/Metalingus theme for a pretty awesome moment. Feeling out process to start with Edge grabbing a headlock and then knocking Rollins to the floor for some frustration. Back in and Rollins forearms away but gets backdropped right back over the top for a crash. Edge sends him back inside and then outside again but this time Rollins drives him into the post.

A trip into the steps makes it worse and Rollins grabs a neckbreaker for two back inside. Rollins hits a Sling Blade but Edge is smart enough to go to the ropes before the Stomp can launch. Yet another neckbreaker is countered though and Edge grabs a flapjack for a breather. Rollins is able to knock him off the top, setting up a heck of a frog splash for two. Another Stomp attempt is avoided so they go up top at the same time, with Edge grabbing a super swinging neckbreaker (which would seem to hurt them both equally).

It’s Edge up first with a big boot and the Edgecution for two, leaving him a bit frustrated this time. The Edge-O-Matic is good for the same but Rollins suplexes him down. Another Stomp misses so Edge grabs a Glam Slam for two (nice touch). Edge has to avoid another Stomp and sends Rollins into the post, setting up a spear through the ropes and out to the floor for the crash.

Rollins is driven into the apron and the screen (because there’s a screen) is knocked out to give Edge two more. The spear is countered into the Pedigree (how Rollins beat Roman Reigns one day) for another near fall, meaning it’s Rollins being stunned this time. With nothing on the ground working, Rollins goes up top for the Phoenix splash, only to get speared down for another near fall.

With nothing else working, Rollins just hits him in the back of the neck, setting up a basement superkick to the back of the head. Rollins goes for the Stomp yet again but gets reversed into the Edgecator of all things, with Edge letting go to switch into the Crossface. Edge rams him face first into the mat and makes it a Crossface sleeper for the tap at 21:14.

Rating: B. They beat each other up for a long time until Edge got him in the end. The story here centered around the Stomp and it was a logical way to go given the buildup from that 2014 segment. That being said, going off a segment from seven years ago that wasn’t so interesting in the first place and it was a weird build to get there. Good match, but the road there could have been better.

Money In The Bank is in a football stadium next year. Gee that’s a quick turnaround for the same stadium but I’m sure nothing will go wrong.

Tonight’s attendance of 51,326 is officially announced.

Earlier tonight, John Morrison and Miz drove a water truck into the stadium.

Here are Miz and John Morrison for a chat. They’re ready to soak everyone….but Morrison has forgotten the Drip Stick 2000s. Miz doesn’t have them either, so here is Xavier Woods with the Drip Stick 2000 (a water cannon with a water tank attached). Woods is told he’s outnumbered but he does a survey (as part of his weird NWO tribute phase) and then sprays both of them down. And that’s it, as the crowd was SILENT during this.

We recap Goldberg vs. Bobby Lashley for the WWE Title. Goldberg showed up as a challenger (as he tends to do) and the match was made, but then Lashley and MVP went after Goldberg’s son Gage (who looked like he would rather be having his teeth pulled out than be here) to make it personal. In other words, it’s a battle of the spears because WWE thinks that is the most amazing idea ever.

Raw World Title: Goldberg vs. Bobby Lashley

Lashley, with MVP, is defending. After the Big Match Intros, they go with the power off to start, with Goldberg hitting a flying shoulder and a World’s Strongest Slam. Back up and Lashley knocks him down with a hard shot of his own. Neither can hit a Jackhammer though so Lashley gets in some shots to the back of the neck. For some reason Lashley goes up top but gets slammed down, meaning MVP needs to offer a distraction.

That’s fine with Goldberg, who hits the spear on the floor to rock Lashley again. With nothing else working, MVP hits Goldberg in the knee with his cane, allowing Lashley to hit a chop block. A spinebuster puts Goldberg down again and he rolls outside for a rather out of character move. Lashley follows and drives the knee into the post twice in a row….which is enough for the referee stoppage at 7:12 as Goldberg can’t stand.

Rating: D+. Yeah it wasn’t awful, but at the same tome it is really hard to find any reason to be interested in Goldberg. All he does is come in, do some lame story, and then get a title match. That wasn’t the case here, and Lashley can only do so much. Nothing to see here, but at least Goldberg is done again for the time being.

Post match Lashley stays on Goldberg with a chair, but Goldberg’s son comes in to jump Lashley. That earns him a Hurt Lock, but MVP points out who it is and Lashley lets him go. Goldberg swears vengeance and covers his son as MVP says Lashley had no way of knowing who that was. BECAUSE THIS NEEDED A REMATCH!

We recap Roman Reigns vs. John Cena for the Universal Title. Reigns has been champion for about a year so now it’s Cena coming in for the dream match. Reigns talked about how Cena never changes (Reigns: “It’s like missionary position EVERY NIGHT!”) but Cena says Reigns has to change every few years because people stop caring. Cena also brought up that all it takes is three seconds to win the title, no matter what Reigns does to him. Oh and if Reigns loses, he’s leaving WWE, because WWE likes to take away any drama they might build up.

Smackdown World Title: John Cena vs. Roman Reigns

Reigns, with Paul Heyman, is defending. Cena comes out first and my goodness you can feel the star power dripping off of him like no one else that you ever see. As a great touch, the screen behind Cena’s entrance shows his sixteen World Titles, including the dates he won them. They take their time before eventually locking up for a standoff. Cena rolls him up for two and points it out to Reigns as the mind games are on.

That doesn’t work for Reigns, who knocks him down and then does it again to make it worse. A snap suplex gives Reigns two and we hit the chinlock. Cena gets tossed outside and there’s the big whip into the steps, allowing Reigns to pose again. Reigns can even stop to pose on the steps with the title but Cena gets in a quick rollup for two (in a great touch because it’s THAT CLOSE to the upset).

A quick AA attempt is countered into a DDT to give Reigns two, allowing him to apologize to movie executives for hurting Cena. Reigns cuts off a comeback attempt with a right hand and says this is easy. Another AA attempt is countered into a sleeper, with Cena powering up to drive him into the corner. Reigns still isn’t impressed, so Cena hits that big running clothesline of his for a needed breather.

Back up and Cena hits the running shoulders into the ProtoBomb. The Shuffle is countered into a quickly broken guillotine though, leaving Reigns to hit a Superman Punch to take over again. The spear is cut off with a kick to the face and now the Shuffle connects. There’s the AA for two (with Cole freaking out on commentary to give away the kickout). The STF sends Reigns to the rope for the break so Cena follows him outside, earning himself an apron kick to the face.

Reigns gets a running start but charges into an AA through the announcers’ table for two back inside, leaving Cena frustrated. Cena goes up top but dives into a powerbomb for two and needs to pull himself up in the corner. The spear misses in the corner though and it’s the super AA for two, with the Reigns Leaves If He Loses stipulation being brought up for the first time all match. For some reason Cena tries his own spear but gets kicked in the face. They slug it out with Reigns hitting the Superman Punch into a spear to retain at 23:00.

Rating: B+. This wasn’t the best match in the world, but it was all about the big match atmosphere. That was hitting completely, as Cena knows how to bring the feeling like no one else these days. While it wasn’t likely that Cena was going to win, there was the feeling that it could happen and that’s good enough. Throw in Cena knowing how to do this match just well enough and it felt like a main event worth title match between two titans.

Post match Reigns poses but here is Brock Lesnar, making his first appearance in well over a year. Lesnar circles the ring and then stands on the steps before the staredown sends Reigns backing away. While the feud is tired, this would lead to a heck of a story as Paul Heyman was stuck between the two of them and even switched sides for a few weeks. Anyway, Lesnar poses as reigns and Heyman leave to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Most of the bigger matches clicked well, but there were enough things bringing the rest of the show down. The biggest thing though was the crowd actually being around, as it adds so much to the show. This was a rare situation where Summerslam was a way bigger show than Wrestlemania and the quality was good enough too. The bad parts are pretty bad but the stronger parts of the card carried it over. Solid show, but fast forward some of those weaker points.

Ratings Comparison

Big E. vs. Baron Corbin

Original: C
Redo: C

RKBro vs. AJ Styles/Omos

Original: C+
Redo: C+

Eva Marie vs Alexa Bliss

Original: F
Redo: D-

Sheamus vs. Damian Priest

Original: B-
Redo: B-

Usos vs. Mysterios

Original: C-
Redo: C+

Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair

Original: N/A
Redo: N/A

Jinder Mahal vs. Drew McIntyre

Original: D+
Redo: D+

Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte vs. AJ Styles

Original: B-
Redo: C+

Seth Rollins vs. Edge

Original: B+
Redo: B

Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg

Original: D+
Redo: D+

John Cena vs. Roman Reigns

Original: A-
Redo: B+

Overall Rating

Original: C+
Redo: B-

Mostly the same here, though some of the bad stuff pulled the original down a bit.

Here is the original review if you’re interested:

 

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Summerslam Count-Up – Summerslam 2020 (2021 Redo): I Still Didn’t See It Coming

Summerslam 2020
Date: August 23, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips, Samoa Joe

We’re a year removed from this show and things have indeed changed a bit. For one thing, we are FINALLY out of the Thunderdome, which was a full two days old when this aired. In something that hasn’t changed, I have no idea what happened at this show, save for the main event. That’s kind of nice for another look so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: US Title: Apollo Crews vs. MVP

Crews is defending and it’s strange to see him as just a guy in trunks and not….whatever he would become next year. As a bonus, the rest of the Hurt Business is banned from ringside. MVP takes him down into a very quickly broken knee bar but Crews is back up with a sunset flip for two. That’s enough for MVP to bail to the floor as things cool down a bit. Back in and Crews flips away from him, setting up a quick dropkick for two. MVP is fine enough to toss him over the top and out onto the steps as the beating begins.

The running boot misses in the corner so Crews goes up, only to get crotched on top. The superplex brings Crews back down but MVP lands hard and the delayed cover gets two. A clothesline puts MVP on the floor and there’s the big flip dive to take him down again. They both dive back in to beat the count and it’s time to slug it out. Crews gets the better of things and it’s a spinebuster into the standing moonsault for two. The toss powerbomb retains the title at 6:37.

Rating: C. This was about as Kickoff Showey of a match as you could get and it happened to have a title on the line. There was nothing wrong with it and Crews gets a win to make him feel that much more important as US Champion. You’re only going to get so much out of a standard Raw level match and this was about it. Not bad, but as forgettable as any other Kickoff Show match.

The opening video is much more about the Thunderdome than anything else, though the matches themselves do actually get some attention. Well the bigger ones at least. The Smackdown World Title match between the Fiend and Braun Strowman has a tagline of “You’ll Never See It Coming”. That’s one way of advertising things.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bayley vs. Asuka

Bayley is defending as part of the Bayley/Sasha Banks Are The Most Amazing Women Ever stretch. Granted it wound up being pretty awesome so it’s kind of hard to complain all that much. Banks (the Raw Women’s Champion and Bayley’s partner as the Women’s Tag Team Champions) is at ringside too as they fight over the grappling against the ropes to start. Asuka dropkicks her in the ribs to take over and pulls Bayley down into a reverse Koji Clutch.

The foot on the rope gets Bayley out of trouble in a hurry so she bails to the apron, allowing Asuka to kick the leg out again. There is something fun about watching Asuka pick someone apart like that and it always works. Bayley gets kicked out to the floor and Banks is already looking worried. Asuka grabs a DDT (or close enough) off the steps for two back inside but Bayley manages to snap her neck across the middle rope for a much needed breather.

Some stomping sets up the chinlock with Bayley shouting a lot as she keeps Asuka down. Back up and a quick Bayley to Belly gets two but Asuka kicks her in the head for a double knockdown. A German suplex into the hip attack gives Asuka two and they head to the apron for the slugout.

That doesn’t last long so they head back inside for an exchange of leglocks. Asuka knees her in the face for two but Bayley is right back with a running sunset flip into the corner. The “patented” (I want paperwork) top rope elbow is countered into a quickly broken cross armbreaker so Asuka is back with a kick to the head. Banks takes the running hip attack though, allowing Bayley to grab a rollup to retain at 11:33.

Rating: B-. Good and logical choice for an opener here with Asuka fighting as hard as she could to pick up the first title. That didn’t wind up working out, but they did a nice job of going back and forth against each other. What mattered here was having Asuka seem ready to pick up the win until Banks’ interference was enough to throw her off for a split second. Nice match with the story making perfect sense.

Post match Banks (who faces Asuka later tonight) and Bayley beat Asuka down and leave her laying.

Dominik Mysterio asks Rey Mysterio to let him go out there alone tonight. Rey, realizing how much of a disaster it would be to ask fans to care about Dominik on his own, says no but is finally talked into staying in the back.

Video on Retribution’s path of….well really just annoyance so far, though this period of breaking stuff would be their apex as a team.

Raw Tag Team Titles: Street Profits vs. Angel Garza/Andrade

Garza and Andrade, with Zelina Vega (who recently poisoned Montez Ford), are challenging and Kevin Owens is on commentary. We get the traditional rain of red solo cups to start as the Profits’ inset promo talks about how they are here for revenge. Andrade slugs away at Ford to start but gets caught with a big jumping clothesline. A jumping hurricanrana brings Andrade off the top and there’s the double flapjack to drop Garza.

Ford loads up the big flip dive, but gets countered into a double powerbomb onto the floor (as tends to happen). Back in and we hit the armbar on Ford, allowing Garza to TAKE OFF HIS PANTS (Vega approves). A cross armbreaker over the ropes has Ford in more trouble and it’s back to Andrade for an armbar of his own. Garza adds a running knee to the ribs (and promises to win the titles, which Owens does not like) and the running kick to the ribs makes it worse.

There’s the top rope Alberto Double Stomp for Andrade’s next near fall. Ford flips out of a belly to back suplex though and the enziguri sets up the diving tag to Dawkins. Chris Jericho’s Judas Effect only takes Dawkins off one foot (ha) and he spears Andrade down. Ford comes back in with the crazy high crossbody but Garza rolls through for two, even with Vega holding his feet on the rope. Vega gets on the apron to yell but Ford knocks Garza into her. The Sky Cash Out into the twisting frog splash retains the title at 7:50.

Rating: C. Total Raw match here which was the latest exhibit of how much charisma that Garza has. The guy can make anything look better but Andrade had the star power and that is what gets you ahead around here. This feud, or some form of it, went on for the better part of ever and never once got interesting because the Profits were that much better. Now get some fresh competition in the tag division.

The long form celebration is on.

Bayley and Sasha Banks don’t like Kayla Braxton’s questions but know that Sasha will beat Asuka tonight. Bayley even busts out a broom because it’s going to be a sweep.

We recap Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose, which has been going on for a long time. Sonya got jealous of Mandy getting all of the attention and eventually turned on her by calling her selfish. Since it’s WWE, we’re supposed to side with the bombshell model, which was made even worse when Sonya was about five levels ahead of Mandy on the mic. Sonya cut off some of Mandy’s hair so the hair vs. hair match was set.

Then a psychotic fan broke into Deville’s house with zip ties and a knife, likely in an attempt to kidnap and/or kill Deville. Rose happened to be staying there and the two got away as the stalker went into the wrong part of the house. This sent Deville into a lengthy legal process and since her lawyer felt that cutting her hair off was a bad idea, it was turned into a No DQ Loser Leaves WWE match. Fair enough, but next time you have a crazed stalker who might be trying to kill you, make sure you think of kayfabe. Go out separate doors or something and worry about being stabbed later.

Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose

No DQ and the loser leaves WWE. Mandy offers a handshake to start so Deville rolls her up for two. Back up and Mandy hits her in the face and they head outside with Deville getting suplexed onto the ramp. A clothesline off the announcers’ table puts Deville down again and let’s get a table. As usual, that takes way too long and it’s Sonya ramming Mandy into the announcers’ table to take over.

Back in and a running knee to the chest gets two and it’s a dragon sleeper with a bodyscissors to put Mandy in even more trouble. The trash talking fires Mandy back up though and it’s a jumping knee for two on Sonya. It’s back outside for more ramming into the announcers’ table before Mandy slides chairs over the regular table, with Sonya having to duck the decapitation attempts. That’s either brilliant or really stupid and I’m not sure which. Back in and three straight running knees set up Angel’s Wings to crush Sonya. Another running knee gives Mandy the pin at 9:49.

Rating: C-. This had the intensity but dang Mandy is not the greatest in the ring. I completely get why WWE would want to push the heck out of here but Sonya was so much more of a complete package and felt like a natural. It’s a shame that she had to go away, though it was a rare instance where something is more important than wrestling (egads that’s hard to say).

Post match Otis comes out to celebrate with Mandy (Yeah remember when that was a thing?), who fails at the Caterpillar.

Here’s what’s coming on the WWE Network!

We recap Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio. This was part of the never ending Rollins vs. Mysterios feud, which saw Rollins gouge Rey Mysterio’s eye out. Dominik is willing to fight for his father in a street fight, which also happens to be his in-ring debut. Rollins also destroyed Dominik by tying him into the ropes and destroying him with a kendo stick for a pretty nasty moment. Other than that though, this feud was complete death by this point and this was the match that I was dreading coming into the show.

Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio

Street fight and Rollins, with Murphy, is in gear inspired by Rey Mysterio at Halloween Havoc 1997. Rey is here with Dominik, as you might expect. Rollins wrestles him down without much trouble to start and seems rather comfortable. He’s so comfortable that he offers Dominik a headlock before tripping him down with ease. Dominik gets in a few right hands before getting dropped again. A springboard armdrag and then some regular versions have Rollins down, which is just a step too far.

Rollins drops him again and gets a kendo stick, which is dropkicked out of his hands. Dominik gives chase but gets knocked down, only to have Rollins kick the stick away. The one armed camel clutch has Dominik in more trouble and Rey is nervous. The Sling Blade lets Rollins work on Dominik’s hand and Murphy sends in a chair. Seth yells at Rey a lot as he stomps away but the Stomp (that’s confusing) is countered into a drop toehold into the chair. The Buckle Bomb is countered into a hurricanrana into the corner to stagger Rollins again as this comeback needs a crowd reaction.

A tornado DDT out of the corner gets two and the kendo stick shots have Rollins in more trouble. Dominik goes up but it’s Rollins running the corner for the superplex into the Falcon Arrow for two. Rollins is mad (as he should be) and it’s time to kendo stick Dominik for a change. Murphy throws in a table but Rollins takes too long going up, allowing Dominik to hit a super White Russian legsweep through the table. Since wrestling logic is a thing, Dominik is fine and hits a frog splash for two.

Dominik takes too long grabbing things again, allowing Rollins to superkick and kendo stick him some more. Saxton: “Rey can do nothing to help his son!” As you try to see the invisible wall keeping Rey from doing anything, Rollins pulls out some handcuffs. Cue Rey’s wife Angie to try and do something but Rey holds her back.

Murphy loads up the steps to take out Dominik’s eye, meaning the invisible wall is smashed as Rey finally gets involved (making the last five or so minutes subject to wrestling logic). With Dominik as backup, Rey is quickly cuffed to the ropes as the villains look up at Angie. Dominik is back up to make the save this time….and his frog splash hits knees, because he isn’t very good at this. Rollins tells Rey to reach for Dominik and then hits the Stomp for the pin at 22:36.

Rating: C-. Being away from this story for a year has taken away some of the bad feelings about it, but this still wasn’t very good. Above all else, this was WAY too long as Rollins felt like he was dealing with an annoyance than any real threat. Dominik isn’t an embarrassment in the ring by any means but he also isn’t ready to be in a 20+ minute featured match at Summerslam. He looked ok for a debut, but the length of the match (and the feud) dragged it way down.

The villains sneer post match and Rey hugs Dominik.

Raw Women’s Title: Sasha Banks vs. Asuka

Banks is defending and has Bayley in her corner. Commentary points out that Banks has never had a successful singles title defense, which does not bode well for her future. Banks goes straight for the knee (ala Bayley in the first match) but Asuka spins up and fires off the Kawada kicks. A sliding forearm (minus some power because of the knee) sends Banks outside and Asuka is right there with a kneebar on the floor.

They wind up on the apron, where Asuka kicks the post by mistake. Bayley cranks up the trash talk (because she’s very good at that) and Banks takes her back inside to fire off kicks in the corner. Banks switches to the shoulders but gets caught in an electric chair faceplant. Asuka can’t be trusted with two legs in front of her and Banks has to bail to the ropes to escape the kneebar.

With that broken up, Asuka gets a bit creative by taking her up top for a super DDT. The missile dropkick gives Asuka two but Banks goes after the knee again, setting up the double knees in the corner. They’re both down so Bayley goes into coaching mode….and Asuka immediately grabs the ankle lock. Bayley isn’t good at coaching. The Bank Statement is countered into the Asuka Lock which is countered as well. Bayley’s distraction fails and the Asuka Lock goes on again to make Banks tap for the title at 11:31.

Rating: B-. I liked this one a good bit as Banks and Bayley had a plan to take Asuka out but still couldn’t do it. That’s a nice way to make Asuka look even more impressive while also continuing the build to Banks vs. Bayley. They took their time to get there but Bayley was awesome almost every step of the way. Banks held up her end as well and it was a heck of a match on top of the storytelling.

Post match Banks glares at Bayley, who begs forgiveness.

We recap Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre for the Raw World Title. Orton has attacked a variety of legends, which has McIntyre ready to fight back and defend their honor, along with his title. McIntyre talked about how Orton has been protected for years while McIntyre fought every day to get here. They did a nice job with the culture clash here and the video does a good job of making this feel big.

Raw World Title: Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre is defending and we get a quick inset promo from Shawn Michaels, who wants Orton to get Claymored. Orton bails to the floor to start as the mind games are going strong early on. Back in and Orton begs off again but does hit a few right hands before bailing to the floor for a second time. This time the chase is on but Orton catches McIntyre on the way back in. The RKO attempt is blocked so McIntyre shoulders him down. Another threat of the RKO sends McIntyre bailing outside and you can see a bit of shock.

Back in again and McIntyre unloads in the corner but has to block the RKO for a third time. The ensuing charge sends McIntyre shoulder first into the post and Orton sends him into the barricade to make it worse. A posting sets up a drop onto the announcers’ table and then Orton does the latter again. Orton gets a bit creative by suplexing McIntyre off the table for a delayed one (that kickout at one was a good deal for McIntyre).

The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by the Orton Stomp and some slow staring at the….uh, screens. McIntyre comes back with a Stunner to the knee in the corner and a spinebuster for the double knockdown. With the knee banged up, McIntyre goes Flair with the Figure Four (nice job given Orton attacking Flair and other legends leading up to this). Orton can’t roll out so he grabs the referee for a distraction and goes to the eye to escape. McIntyre’s eye looks to be cut a bit as they slug it out from their knees. Make that from their feet, with McIntyre having to block the RKO again.

The overhead belly to belly sends Orton flying and McIntyre does it again for a bonus. A top rope shot to the head drops Orton and McIntyre nips up as the adrenaline starts flowing. McIntyre loads up a superplex, gets knocked into the Tree of Woe, and pulls himself up to send Orton flying with the choke superplex as usual. As impressive as that is, commentary shouldn’t be that impressed or surprised, but WWE commentators are seen as stupid for a reason.

The Futureshock gets two but McIntyre misses coming off the top. Orton’s powerslam gets two and he is busted open as well. The hanging DDT is broken up and it’s a Cactus Clothesline to put both of them on the floor. They get back in fast but this time the hanging DDT connects. With nothing else working, Orton loads up the Punt but McIntyre cuts him off. The Claymore misses so Orton tries the RKO again, only to get caught in a backslide of all things to retain the title at 20:34. Commentary shouts about how Orton NEVER SAW IT COMING because they need to hit that tagline.

Rating: B. I liked this one a good bit as they were playing up the story they had established coming in. The idea was that Orton was the seasoned veteran who had learned from the legends and he was cheating every chance he had here. Throw in the RKO as the ultimate weapon (which he never hit, as it is probably being saved for later) and this was a chess match with McIntyre using everything he could while Orton just waited to hit the RKO. I liked what they were doing and the ending worked well. Good match, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

Orton looks up at McIntyre from the floor because this isn’t over.

We recap Braun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt for the Smackdown World Title. These two have been feuding for MONTHS in one bad match after another. Last month, they fought in the swamp (because reasons) and Wyatt made Alexa Bliss appear because Strowman has always wanted her. Strowman doesn’t buy it because he knows the Fiend is going to corrupt her as well. Bliss slapped Strowman a bunch so he teased attacking her but decided to fight the Fiend instead. In other words, this feud was really, really stupid and nothing they were changing made it any better at all.

Smackdown World Title: The Fiend vs. Braun Strowman

Strowman is defending and this is Falls Count Anywhere. Fiend is driven back into the corner to start but comes back with a heck of a clothesline to drop Strowman. They’re already on the floor with Fiend busting out a toolbox. A few shots with said toolbox don’t do much to Strowman, who runs Fiend through the barricade. Strowman chokeslams him onto (not through) the announcers’ table and a steps shot to the face drops Fiend again.

Back in and the powerslam sends Fiend right back to the floor, which doesn’t mean as much as he can get pinned out there as well. Strowman kicks him up the ramp and they fight backstage. Fiend whips him into a few walls and Sister Abigail gets two. They come back into the arena where Strowman is sent into the video screen to bust up some of the color.

The Mandible Claw goes on but Strowman gets up anyway and shoves him into the apron for the break. Back in and another powerslam gets another two on Fiend so Strowman yells a lot. Strowman grabs a box cutter from the toolbox and starts cutting up the mat to expose the wood. That takes WAY too long so Fiend is back up with a Rock Bottom and a pair of Sister Abigails onto the wood for the pin and the titles at 11:58.

Rating: C. The shorter time helped but egads this feud was death and everyone but WWE seemed to know it. You could have seen this title change coming from before Extreme Rules last month, making for a very long and slow build. They kept this the way they should have and the lack of anything involving Bliss helped here. It could have been worse, but you’re only getting so much out of a hoss fight like this one. As long as Strowman isn’t champion any longer though, it’s an upgrade.

Post match Roman Reigns is back (for the first time since March) with the spear to the Fiend and the beating is on. Another spear hits Strowman and Reigns shouts about how they aren’t monsters unless he’s here. Reigns bends a chair over Strowman and spears Fiend down again. He grabs the title, says it has always been his, and calls Fiend a freak in a mask. Cole: “WE NEVER SAW THIS COMING!” Reigns would win the title a week later, as he should have, along with joining Paul Heyman, which was an amazing twist.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a bit of an odd show as the stuff that was good was quite good but the weaker stuff just felt tacked on. WWE was still figuring things out after getting into the Thunderdome and this came off as somewhat of a Summerslam in name only. It certainly isn’t a bad show with the Bayley/Banks/Asuka stuff and McIntyre vs. Orton all being good. Tighten things up a bit and it could be great, but for now it just has to settle for being pretty good.

Ratings Comparison

Apollo Crews vs. MVP

Original: C
Redo: C

Asuka vs. Bayley

Original: B-
Redo: B-

Street Profits vs. Andrade/Angel Garza

Original: C
Redo: C

Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose

Original: D+
Redo: C

Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio

Original: D+
Redo: C-

Asuka vs. Sasha Banks

Original: B
Redo: B-

Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre

Original: B+
Redo: B

Fiend vs. Braun Strowman

Original: C+
Redo: C

Overall Rating

Original: C
Redo: B-

I’m not sure if that overall rating makes sense but the rest of the show was certainly in the same ballpark, save for Rose vs. Deville.

Here is the original review if you are interested:

 

 

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.




AEW Dynamite – July 29, 2026: And So On And So On And So On

Dynamite
Date: July 29, 2026
Location: Masonic Temple Theater, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We have Redemption out of the way and that means all roads lead to All In in about a month. Kenny Omega is still the World Champion after turning back Kevin Knight, leaving him ready to defend against Will Ospreay. As for Ospreay and Jon Moxley and the rest of the Death Riders….it’s complicated. Let’s get to it.

Here is Redemption if you need a recap.

Commentary runs down the card.

We look back at the Redemption World Title match, with Kenny Omega retaining. After the match, Will Ospreay shook Omega’s hand but Omega laid him out to end the show. Jon Moxley is NOT pleased.

A ticked off Ospreay arrives and runs into the Death Riders. Daniel Garcia goes after him and gets dropped with a single shot to the face. Pac has to be held back and Jon Moxley asks Ospreay if he really wants to do that. Ospreay gives Moxley the Death Riders patch back and they let him walk past.

He doesn’t want to talk to Renee Paquette but runs into Hangman Page, who offers his help in any way Ospreay needs. Ospreay says he can’t trust Kenny Omega so he can’t trust Page so while he appreciates the offer, he’s doing this on his own. Page stops him and says Ospreay is going to be the best at All In. He says Ospreay has this and Ospreay is appreciative before going inside.

National Title: Nick Wayne vs. Jack Perry vs. Andrade El Idolo

Andrade is defending and gets dropped by Perry to start fast. Wayne takes Perry down as well but Andrade is up to suplex both of them. Perry bulldogs Wayne on the floor but gets taken down by a diving Andrade. We pause for a photo with a redhead in the audience so Wayne grabs Sliced Bread off the barricade, only to bang up his knee in the process. Back in and Andrade suplexes Perry into the corner but charges into Wayne’s standing Spanish Fly.

We take a break and come back with Andrade powerbombing Wayne out of the corner. Perry snaps off a heck of a top rope hurricanrana to bring Andrade off the apron, only to get caught by Wayne’s Canadian Destroyer. Back in and Wayne’s Prodigy Plex (fisherman’s buster) gets two on Andrade, who gets up to clothesline both of them. The running Meteora in the corner gives Andrade two so he puts Perry up top.

A charging Wayne is launched up into a super hurricanrana to Perry….who spins into a tornado DDT to drop Andrade (sweet goodness). Perry is back up with a string of dives but Andrade takes Wayne down. The frog splash hits knees though and Wayne’s phoenix splash gets two, with Perry making the save. Perry charges into the Dia de los Muertos (the spinning back elbow) and the DM finishes Wayne to retain the title at 14:21.

Rating: B. That hurricanrana into the tornado DDT alone was awesome and moved the match up another notch on its own. It was a good, fast paced match that you would expect from these people, though I’m not entirely sure how this was set up. The challengers felt kind of out of nowhere, but putting Andrade out there for a successful title defense is a good idea.

Post match Andrade says he’s happy to have screwed over MJF (with the ring) and Don Callis (in general). He’s feeling tranquilo though and is ready for the Casino Gauntlet match at All In. Schiavone asks him about his qualifying match next week in his hometown of “Mexico” and Andrade hits the catchphrase.

The Brawling Birds are ready to beat up some Athena and her Minions on Collision.

Don Callis, with his Family, knows that you take losses on occasion but it’s time to move forward. This seems to include Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight teaming up, though Fletcher doesn’t seem impressed. He says the title will always stay in the Family but Kazuchika Okada comes in to agree, with Fletcher not being happy.

Don Callis Family vs. Brodido/Mike Bailey

Fletcher wants to start with King so Bailey gives him what he wants. King runs him over with a clothesline and grabs the arm so Bailey can come back in to stay on said arm. Everything breaks down and Bandido misses an Eddie frog splash, instead settling for a suplex on Fletcher. Cage pulls Bandido outside though and powerbombs him against the post as we take a break.

We come back with Fletcher slamming Bandido, who comes back with the very spinning DDT. Cage can’t get anywhere with a suplex and it’s back to King to knock Cage and Doyle into the corner. The Cannonball connects for two so Bailey comes back in, with Cage immediately giving him a buckle bomb. Everything breaks down again and Fletcher and Bailey trade rollups for two each.

Fletcher lawn darts him but gets kicked in the head to leave them both down. Bandido comes back in to forearm away at Doyle, setting up the frog splash (third Eddie tribute in two matches) but Bandido gets sent outside. Bailey gets kicked in the head but bounces back up with his springboard moonsault to take Fletcher out on the floor. Back up and Bailey gives Doyle the Ultimate Weapon into the arm trap sunset flip for the pin at 13:51.

Rating: B. This got going and it was smart to give Bailey a bit more momentum into the upcoming title shot. It works well every time and they made it work again here. Other than that, Brodido can work well with anyone, even a less than regular team like Doyle and Cage. The match was more about Bailey though, with Bandido outshining him anyway.

We get a sitdown interview with Adam Copeland/Christian Cage and the Young Bucks, who are set for the All In match. The Bucks’ families are coming to England for the match and it couldn’t mean more for them. Copeland says it means that much to them too and they’re glad to see the Bucks and FTR bringing tag wrestling back.

Cage says they’re not here for a greatest hits tour and they’re still the best tag team of this generation. The Bucks talk about being the most accomplished team in AEW history but they had to fight their way back. Copeland doesn’t want this to be a comparison game because they lost a combined seventeen years of their careers and didn’t win a Tag Team Title for twenty five years.

Matt says the Bucks are going to be coming harder, faster and stronger than ever and the champs will be lucky to get on the board. The Bucks are used to being told that they’re too small and don’t do the right stuff. They’ve never had the machine behind them (uh……) so they’re ready for the title match. The champs are ready too. The idea of having the Bucks as these scrappy underdogs who are just trying to get their glory is a bit much to ask.

TBS Title: Persephone vs. Maya World

World is defending (Persephone’s CMLL Women’s Title isn’t on the line). World grabs a headlock to start and then cartwheels away before getting two off a rollup. A running wristdrag takes Persephone down again and she misses a charge out to the floor. Persephone is back up with an electric chair drop onto the apron though and we take a break.

We come back with Persephone grabbing a quickly broken ankle lock so World can get two off a rollup. Persephone fall away slams her out to the floor for the suicide dive but World uses the apron for a tornado DDT. Back in and a hammerlock lariat takes World down and we get a double breather. World is up for a moonsault so here is Hikaru Shida, only for Kris Statlander to cut her off. The tabletop suplex retains the title at 10:00.

Rating: C+. This was a way to get World a first title defense after winning the title just a few days ago. AEW obviously sees something in World (which isn’t shocking) and it’s nice to see her getting an actual chance. We’ll have to see where it goes, but at least they’re off to a good start. Hopefully the rematch with Shida is pretty quick, as there isn’t much of a point to having that go on for a long while.

Mark Davis is mad about his title loss and wants to get back on top by beating Will Ospreay next week.

It’s Shark Week so a dancing shark joins commentary.

Here is Willow Nightingale for her big celebration as champion. We pause for the YOU DESERVE IT chants and Nightingale is moved to tears. She’s not just living her dream but she’s living THE dream. People look at a girl like her and see someone who doesn’t quite fit because she’s quirky or chubby but the fans seem to appreciate her.

After saying the makeup artist worked very hard and it’s being ruined by her tears, she talks about how much she has accomplished this year, but she got hurt. Her mom told her to keep fighting so here she is, having gotten into the Casino Gauntlet and then beaten a toxic champion. She’s ready to go to All In but here is Mercedes Mone, with the contract, to interrupt. They both quickly sign and Nightingale talks about how Mone must be upset that she wasn’t getting attention for five seconds.

Or maybe it’s that Nightingale has the one title that Mone can’t get. Mone is sick of Nightingale always having her name on Mone’s story. The fans do NOT want to hear it but Mone keeps going, saying she made Nightingale. Cue Megan Bayne and Lena Kross and Mone takes out Nightingale’s knee. This brings out the Brawling Birds and the villains run. Mone taking the title would be totally deflating but Nightingale retaining would be a heck of a moment. Please don’t do this the wrong way again.

Continental Title: Jon Moxley vs. Komander

Moxley is defending against another rather random challenger. Komander takes him down by the arm to start and they pop up for a standoff. Moxley gets in a knockdown of his own but a quick small package leaves Moxley frustrated. Back up and a headscissors sends Moxley down and he’s smart enough to roll away from the rope die. That’s fine with Komander, who hits a running dive as we take a break.

We come back with Moxley holding a headscissors and pulling on the legs at the same time. That’s broken up and Komander strikes away, including a superkick to the back. Komander tries some flips and is immediately cuttered back down. Back up and Komander drapes him over the top for a guillotine legdrop to the back of the head. Moxley misses a charge and gets caught with a quick springboard 450 for a rather near fall. Now the rope walk flip dive connects but Moxley avoids Cielito Lindo and scores with a Stomp. The Death Rider into the bulldog choke retains the title at 13:04.

Rating: B. This got better once Komander was able to throw everything he could out there and it made for a good match in the end. The idea here was Moxley finally catching Komander when he was going a bit too hard and it wound up working out. Again, it’s not a match that was about a realistic title defense, but in this case just getting Moxley on the show. As always.

Mick Foley is with the Bang Bang Gang (minus Jay White), who want the Death Riders on Collision. Foley gets in a cheap pop as only he can.

Trios Titles: Conglomeration vs. The Demand

The Demand is challenging and jump them to start fast. That’s broken up and Cassidy drops an elbow (after taking his time getting down) on Liona. We get the bell and Kaun rams his own head into the buckle. Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets so Kaun grabs the hands and lifts him up for quite the visual. Strong comes in to strike away but Kaun picks Cassidy up to cut Strong off.

We take a break and come back with Strong giving Ricochet a half nelson backbreaker, allowing the tag off to O’Reilly. That means an ankle lock to Kaun, with Ricochet making the save. O’Reilly and Ricochet clothesline each other down but Ricochet gets up top, where Cassidy rakes his head.

Kaun gives Strong a top rope superplex before missing a diving headbutt. O’Reilly and Strong strike Kaun down and the High/Low gets two, with Ricochet making the save. Cue the Lethal Twist to offer a distraction, with Christian hitting a springboard belt shot to Cassidy. The Spirit Gun gives Ricochet the pin and the titles at 10:55.

Rating: B-. With all of the title matches they had on this show, they pretty much had to have at least one title change. The good thing is that the Demand is another regular team and it makes sense for them to get the belts. The Conglomeration did their thing long enough and it’s fine to switch the titles, as there are options to come after them.

Post match the double beatdown is on, with Brody King running in for a failed save attempt. Hangman Page comes out with a barbed wire steel chair for the real save.

The Death Riders are ready for Will Ospreay, who always tries to leave when things get hard. Jon Moxley is ready for the Continental Cup. Is that the Continental Classic under the wrong name or something new?

We’re a mere seventeen minutes into the overrun so here is Kenny Omega for a chat. Before he can get more than a few words out though, here is Will Ospreay to interrupt. Omega says what he has to say really doesn’t need to be heard by the people because it’s personal and just for Ospreay. It’s time for show and tell, because at Redemption, Omega showed Ospreay how he felt with the One Winged Angel.

Now it’s time for the tell part, because they had a promise to give it their best. That’s why Omega let Ospreay enter the Owen Hart Cup on his own but then Ospreay started hanging out with the Death Riders. Ospreay talks about coming back from the injury too soon and all he cared about was revenge. So who was he supposed to turn to? The only one was Jon Moxley, because he was the person who could get him to the World Title.

Ospreay liked the feeling of being a Death Rider because it was like being in Japan, but he doesn’t share their philosophy. That’s where it ends with the Death Riders, but Omega talks about how he was ready to be destroyed at Redemption. He got up and saw Ospreay holding the belt and the torn plastic bag. It took Ospreay so long because he was thinking about doing it and Omega slaps him in the face.

Omega says he thought Ospreay was his friend and Ospreay says he was. Omega accuses him of always crumbling under pressure and the fight is on, with Omega bailing from the threat of the Hidden Blade. With Omega gone, Ospreay talks about how this is what he has wanted the whole time and it’s so close that it’s time for the penalties.

If you know anything about England, you know they’re not great at them but he has the entire country on his back. Ospreay is going to pull the trigger and Omega is going to see it coming. They’re doing a nice job of turning this into a personal issue, which is impressive as they kind of had to throw everything together after MJF’s injury. I’m not sure how much sense the whole thing makes, but they’re certainly trying and this worked.

Overall Rating: B-. Well, on one hand, it was an effective show with good action and some rather strong pushes towards All In. You can see most of the card from here and we should be in for a big night in London. At the same time, my goodness they have got to get these shows lengths under control.

This was over two and a half hours long and it’s another case where it could easily be fixed by cutting out a match (Moxley vs. Komander didn’t need to be there). AEW/ROH is in the middle of a stretch where they have shows on six out of seven nights. If they absolutely have to have this many shows (they don’t), at least don’t have them go this long.

This was a good show, but after so much of AEW/ROH in recent days, I could go for a break from them. That’s not a good sign about a month before their biggest show of the year and we’re nowhere near done with this week. Anyway, good followup show to the pay per view and a nice build towards All In, but just trim things down a bit.

Results
Andrade El Idolo b. Nick Wayne and Jack Perry – DM to Wayne
Brodido/Mike Bailey b. Don Callis Family – Arm trap sunset flip to Doyle
Maya World b. Persephone – Tabletop suplex
Jon Moxley b. Komander – Bulldog choke
The Demand b. Conglomeration – Spirit Gun to Cassidy

 

 

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WWE Evolve – July 29, 2026: Return To Form With Something New

Evolve
Date: July 29, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone

As tends to be the case, there are multiple people wanting to get their hands on the Evolve Title. That is the case at the moment, as Aaron Rourke wants his rematch with Harlem Lewis, but Tristan Angels and Max Abrams are out there as well. Nikkita Lyons needs a new challenger as well and we might start finding that person this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Thea Hail, Skylar Raye and Wren Sinclair need a fourth partner since Laynie Luck isn’t here. Zena Sterling offers her services and she’s in.

Harley Riggins vs. Tate Wilder

Wilder grabs a headlock takeover to start before switching over to an armbar. Riggins sends him throat first into the rope but Riggins gets clotheslined out to the floor. Instead of diving, Wilder knocks him onto the apron for a splash and we take a break. We come back with Riggins running Wilder over and whipping him hard into the corner.

The chinlock goes on and it works so well that Riggins grabs the same thing again. Then it’s off to a reverse chinlock as Riggins gets to mix things up a bit. Back up and they collide for a double down, followed by Wilder grabbing a Sling Blade into an Orton backbreaker for two. The Wilde Ride gets two but Riggins blocks a second attempt with the raised knees. A lifted knee to the face finishes Wilde at 9:07.

Rating: B-. Good match here, with the ending being a bit of a surprise. I like that Riggins is getting a chance to show what he can do on his own and beating someone like Wilder, who has already moved up to the next level, should help him a bit. Riggins is a good choice for the big midcard monster and he’s doing well in that role thus far so let’s see what he can do around here.

Sloane Jacobs is proud of PJ Vasa for her recent acts of violence and offers her a spot on the Nikkita Lyons team. Vasa isn’t interested and wants the Women’s Title.

The Unknown talks about various issues going on around here lately, ala Elijah Holyfield vs. Brooks Jensen and Laynie Luck vs. Nikkita Lyons. She’s coming, and her name might be Vanta.

Sam Holloway isn’t sure what is going on with his friends as of late but it reminds him of his football days. Sometimes his teammates needed to step outside and settle it and that led to success. For now though, he wants CJ Valor.

Kale Dixon vs. It’s Gal

Dixon’s still unnamed female friend is with him. They fight over a lockup to start with Dixon backing him into the corner for some shelling. Gal slams him down and does some pushups on Dixon’s back and a running headscissors takes Dixon down again. The woman gets on the apron for a distraction so gal poses a lot, allowing Dixon to go after the leg. A reverse suplex lets Dixon hammer away but Gal is right back with the hard chops.

Dixon pulls him right back down for the chinlock but Gal reverses into a Codebreaker of all things. A rake to the eyes cuts Gal off again though and a superkick connects for Dixon. The spinning middle rope splash misses though and Gal scores with a discus clothesline. Gal’s fireman’s carry gutbuster finishes at 6:45.

Rating: B-. I was surprised by the result here as Gal has been on a downward trend in recent months while Dixon has felt like he was on the way up. At the same time, Gal needed a win to get him back on track, as those losses have piled up. The match went back and forth as well, making for a good effort from both.

Viktor Zanov and Shido Ash talk about their success in judo and how they are training the same here in Evolve to smash through everyone.

Brooks Jensen is asked about cheating both times to beat Elijah Holyfield. Jensen doesn’t see it that way because he’s 2-0. Cue Holyfield and Jensen runs for his life.

Timothy Thatcher makes a four way for the Evolve Title next week, with Harlem Lewis defending against Aaron Rourke, Tristan Angels and Max Abrams.

Zena Sterling/Skylar Raye/Thea Hail/Wren Sinclair vs. Nikkita Lyons/Sloane Jacobs/PJ Vasa/Giana Capri

Jacobs gives Lyons a rather enthusiastic entrance. It’s a big brawl to start with Jacobs and Sinclair starting things off. That’s quickly shifted off to Raye vs. Capri, with Raye knocking her down so Sterling can slam Raye onto her for two. Sterling is backed into the corner so Vasa can come in and hammer away. Hail gets the same treatment and it’s off to Lyons, who gets caught in a quick Kimura. Everything breaks down and Raye hits the big dive onto the pile at ringside.

We take a break and come back with Raye in trouble but she flips out of a belly to back suplex. Raye fights back but gets chopped down by Vasa, who hits a swinging Boss Man Slam for two. Capri takes Raye down for the same and it’s back to Jacobs for an armbar. Back up and Jacobs misses a boot in the corner and it’s back to Sterling to clean house. Everything breaks down and Capri gives Hail an X Factor but she’s able to grab a double DDT.

Vasa comes back in but gets taken down by a high crossbody. Hail headbutts Lyons down and Sinclair dropkicks Jacobs under the bottom rope. The two of them brawl to the back but Capri grabs the belt. Cue Anya Rune to offer a distraction, leaving Hail to Kimura Lyons for the tap at 10:51.

Rating: B-. This got going near the end though the heat segment on Raye went on for a long time. The good thing here was this felt like another unique main event style, as they did something other than the same old regular stuff. It had me wondering where this was going, though Hail getting the next title shot is only so interesting as she doesn’t have the best win/loss record in title situations. Either way, nice match here and a good change of pace.

A lot of yelling ends the show.

Overall Rating: B. I liked this one rather well and it felt more like the old style of this show. What matters the most is that they kept things moving and it was interesting throughout. This show had me a bit surprised more than once and I’ll take that rather than the same old stuff week after week. Good show here and it was a bit of a return to form around here.

Results
Harley Riggins b. Tate Wilder – Lifting knee to the face
It’s Gal b. Kale Dixon – Fireman’s carry gutbuster
Skylar Raye/Zena Sterling/Wren Sinclair/Thea Hail b. Nikkita Lyons/Giana Capri/PJ Vasa/Sloane Jacobs – Kimura to Lyons

 

 

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NXT – July 28, 2026: A Star Is Brought In

NXT
Date: July 28, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re just over a month away from Heatwave and the big story coming out of last week was the debut of…that guy who used to be in TNA under the name of Mike Santana. That’s not going to go well with NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo and it might be time for a big title showdown. Other than that, we’re coming up on Lola Vice challenging Kendal Grey for the Women’s Title in the Underground. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s main event with Tony D’Angelo retaining over Naraku and….what’s his name debuting.

Commentary is cut off by an invading Grayson Waller, who talks about the things he has done in WWE but then things changed. What happened to him in the last two years? He’s been doing nothing, carried someone for months, and then spent forever pretending to be at a funeral. He could show up to catering once a week for some salt and pepper chicken but he’s here to be the biggest star around.

That means winning the NXT Title and make it mean something again. Who is going to stop him? Cruz Montana? That would be the former TNA World Champion, with Waller loving the new name. Is Tony D’Angelo going to stop him? Waller is going to send him home to his ugly baby. Shawn Michaels needs to send one of his guys out here to get rid of him.

The women are running laps around the men of this place and mocks people who wrestle for a bit and then spend time in the medical room. Or the independent stars who show up here and go nuts in the ring but have no idea how to use a microphone. He knows Michaels is freaking out on the headset but Michaels is also smiling because Waller is speaking the truth.

Waller’s mic is cut off so he grabs the camera and says consider your cages rattled. Where in the world has this Waller been? This was one heck of a rant and if it means something from a serious Waller, I’m interested in seeing where it’s going because this was pretty awesome stuff. I’ll believe it when I see it, but this got my attention.

Tavion Heights and Myles Borne are ready to fight tonight when Mason Rook comes in. Rook doesn’t like what Waller said so he’s going to beat up Kam Hendrix.

Lizzy Rain vs. Izzy Dame

Dame backs her up against the ropes to start and pulls Rain off the top for a crash onto the turnbuckle. Back up and Rain hits a spinwheel kick but a dropkick through the ropes is cut off and we take a break. We come back with Dame hitting an Orton backbreaker but Rain gives her a missile dropkick.

Rain’s springboard elbow is countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb and it’s time to forearm it out. They crash out to the floor before going right back inside with a Death Valley Driver giving Rain two. Rain spears her down but Niko Vance offers a distraction. Cue Shawn Spears to scare Vance with a chair, allowing Rain to hit Thunderstruck for the pin at 12:35.

Rating: B-. This was more about the issues with Vance and Spears but it also saw Rain get a big win, which is the best thing that could have happened for her. She certainly seems to be someone NXT wants to push and it’s slowly starting to come together. Now just find something for her to do long term and she should be fine.

Cruz Montana meets Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar. Saquon Shuggars comes in and the team apologizes for the loss last week. Montana remembers meeting Shuggars and getting into it with him but Shuggars insists he’s a changed man. He hopes Montana will see that and Montana seems open to the idea. Kelani Jordan comes in to say this place is unfair and Montana just walks away as she rants.

The Vanity Project meets with Robert Stone and complain about possibly having to defend against Myles Borne and Tavion Heights. They aren’t scared, but here is Keanu Carver, who wants a match against EK Prosper next week. Stone agrees, saying that was way too easy. Grayson Waller calls and Stone wants him back here because this isn’t done.

Video on Lola Vice vs. Kendal Grey in the Underground, with Vice talking about how hard she worked to get here.

Thea Hail and Jaida Parker are both happy with how things are going and Parker thanks Hail for helping her last week. They have a tag match next week against Nikkita Lyons and Karmen Petrovic.

North American Title: Kam Hendrix vs. Myles Borne

Borne is defending. They go to the mat to start and it’s an early standoff, allowing Hendrix to work on the arm. A clothesline and slam give Hendrix two but Borne is back up with a dropkick to the floor. There’s the dive to take him out again and we take a break with both of them outside.

We come back with Hendrix lifting him up for a one armed powerbomb and grabbing a chinlock. That’s broken up and Borne fires away, setting up a quick powerslam for two. Hendrix cuts off a dive though and hits a running boot for two as Tavion Heights is holding Mason Rook back from interfering. Borne pops back up with Borne Again to retain at 12:01.

Rating: B-. I liked the interference/distraction as it made sense for both of them to do what they were doing. Borne continues to hold onto the title and is turning into quite the star in his own right. On the other hand you have Hendrix, who feels like he has potential but isn’t getting the chance to succeed all that often, which can be rather frustrating.

Post match Rook goes after Hendrix so here is the Vanity Project to jump Borne and Heights. That’s broken up though and the Project is cleared out.

Lizzy Rain loves KFC popcorn chicken. Tristan Angels comes in to say she needs a better role model.

Zaria wants her next title challenger and Wren Sinclair comes in to say she wants her next challenger. Sinclair can have a shot next week and if Zaria wins, she gets a future Women’s Speed Title shot.

Birthright vs. OTM

Nima throws Connors around to start and shrugs off Stacks’ right to the face. Price comes in for a hard chop but some double teaming puts Nima in trouble for a change. That just earns Birthright a double suplex and it’s back to Price to clean house. Stacks is tossed over the top onto the rest of Birthright and we take a break. We come back with Connors getting two off a Swanton but Nima hits a top rope stomp to the chest to get out of trouble. Price comes back in to wreck people but here are Los Perros del Mal. The distraction lets Stacks get in a kick to the head to pin Price at 8:54.

Rating: C+. This made perfect sense and I’m curious to see where it goes with Nima. Having different loyalties with Los Perros and OTM is going to become a problem for Nima sooner than later and that’s not something you see often. If nothing else, it’s nice to see OTM getting to do something other than the random one off matches they’ve had for years.

Post match Price is not happy with Nima.

Kendal Grey is training hard for Lola Ice in the Underground. She’s been training extra hard in amateur wrestling to get ready.

Kali Armstrong wants a title shot but Izzy Dame and Kelani Jordan come in to say not so fast.

Shiloh Hill vs. Tristan Angels

Hill starts fast but runs into some raised boots in the corner. Hill misses a charge into the corner so Angels knocks him outside for a neckbreaker. We take a break and come back with Hill fighting out of trouble but getting crotched on top. Angels catches him on top with a superplex for two and they head outside, with Hill being sent into the steps. A powerbomb onto the announcers’ table gives Hill two back inside and he shoulders Angel in the corner. The super Thunderbreaker finishes Angels off at 10:25.

Rating: B-. There is something of a natural rivalry here but that feels like the end, with Hill getting the better of things to finish Angels off for the time being. That’s a good thing too, as Hill is becoming quite the cult favorite around here and could be moving on to bigger things. At the same time, Angels should be fine as he’s that annoying, which will always work.

Here is Cruz Montana for a chat. He has worked hard to get here and wants to be the kind of star his daughter deserves. Along the way though, he was told that he had reached his ceiling as a tag wrestler. He didn’t accept that and became the biggest star in TNA. Montana is grateful to TNA to everything he did there but now he wants to show he can do this with the biggest names in wrestling. He wants to be NXT Champion, and if he has to go through Grayson Waller, they can meet in any YMCA Waller wants.

This brings out Tony D’Angelo, who introduces himself as the NXT Champion. He’s ready to show Montana what he’ll do to keep his spot and they’re ready to go. Cue Waller, with Montana swinging for him but hitting D’Angelo by mistake. The three of them stare at each other to end the show. We didn’t get much new here, but Montana got his chance to show what he can do and promos like that will get him over around here too.

Overall Rating: B-. Montana already feels like a bigger star than almost anyone around here and that’s a great sign for him. It’s not the best sign for D’Angelo though, as his title reign feels like it is being measured in days. You also have the midcard firming up a bit and that could go a long way in keeping the division interesting. Next week will be more about the women though and that should be able to keep things going. Nice job here, with Montana looking like a big deal right out of the gate.

Results
Lizzy Rain b. Izzy Dame – Thunderstruck
Myles Borne b. Kam Hendrix – Borne Again
Birthright b. OTM – Kick to the head to Price
Shiloh Hill b. Tristan Angels – Super Thunderbreaker

 

 

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Ring Of Honor – July 28, 2026: More From Them. And Him. (Includes Full Show)

Ring Of Honor
Date: July 28, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

Just in case you hadn’t had enough Ring Of Honor lately, we have a bonus show before Friday’s regular show! Wait wait, don’t tell me. The Premiere Athletes will be in action here! Plus something about teams trying to get in position for a shot at the Tag Team Titles. That’s the kind of cutting edge stuff that has put Ring Of Honor in the place it is in today. Let’s get to it.

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

We look at Maya World winning the TBS Title at Redemption.

Maya World vs. Janai Kai

Non-title. There are no entrances for obvious reasons but commentary says that this was signed before World won the title. So they’re really still trying to avoid saying that it’s taped in advance? The show for the most hardcore fans of the promotion designed for the smart fans? Anyway, Kai grabs a waistlock to start but gets sunset flipped for two.

World sweeps the leg out and hits a slingshot hilo, earning herself some leg trips. Back up and the tabletop suplex gives World two (so Kai is tougher than Hikaru Shida) but Kai catches her going up top. That earns her a powerbomb out of the corner and a Shining Wizard finishes Kai at 6:00.

Rating: C. This wasn’t a squash but it was a basic, easy enough win for World. She’s certainly on the rise in both promotions and that’s great to see, as she has come a long way in pretty much every area. Nice opener here, with the star who got a big win on Sunday getting a showcase here.

We look at Mike Bailey winning the ladder match to become #1 contender to the International Title.

Alan Angels vs. Nick Wayne

Angels takes him down by the arm to start but Wayne is back up with a shove and some spitting. That earns Wayne a running chop in the corner so he knocks Angels right back down. Back up and Angels superkicks him out of the air, only to have him come back with an Alabama Slam. They trade rollups for two each until Wayne’s handspring elbow is countered into a dragon suplex. Angels’ springboard moonsault gets superkicked out of the air, followed by a kick to the head to pin Angels at 8:03.

Rating: B-. This was a back and forth match with the two of them getting to trade comebacks until Wayne knocked him silly. At the same time, this was a match that got some time despite neither of them having much of anything going on. It’s a good example of a match that feels like it’s there to have people in the ring without any particular reason.

Action Andretti/The Opps vs. Landon Hale/Robert Allen/Steve Allen

There’s your weird team of the week. Hook knocks Hale down to start and then pounds away in the corner, allowing Andretti to come in with a top rope clothesline. Steve comes in and gets beaten up by Bowens, including a pop up Fameasser. Andretti hits an Asai moonsault and Bowens armbars Robert for the tap at 2:50.

Isla Dawn vs. Erica Leigh

Dawn has won her one match here and Riccaboni says she is hoping to turn it into a winning streak. Why? One win can get you a title shot around here. Dawn kicks away at the leg to start and stomps Leigh down in the corner. Back up and Leigh hits some running clotheslines in the corner but Dawn is back with a suplex. The Meteora gets two and Dawn grabs a dragon sleeper in the ropes. Leigh’s comeback is countered with a Backstabber into the dragon sleeper to make Leigh tap at 3:43.

Rating: C. This was much more in the squash territory and it was nice to see Dawn getting in there and destroying someone. Dawn has something to her and I could go for having her become one of the regulars in the division. If Maya World is on her way to the main roster full time, there is a spot open for someone and Dawn is a good option.

Post match Dawn grabs the sleeper again and Leigh is left laying.

Adam Priest vs. Kiran Grey

Grey isn’t having anything involving running shoulders so Priest goes with the right hands in the corner. Grey fights back and strikes away but gets knocked down with an uppercut. A legsweep takes Priest down and Grey chokes in the corner. Priest is right back with a running neckbreaker before slamming Grey’s knee onto the mat. Another takedown by the leg sets up a half crab to make Grey tap at 6:02.

Rating: C+. Grey is an interesting situation as he has the creepy/brooding persona but he never wins and tapped out in about six minutes. That’s not exactly the best way to go for him and it didn’t do him much good here. Priest continues to be fine in this spot, though I’m not sure I can imagine him going much higher than this level.

Isla Dawn says she’s going to keep winning until she wins gold so she wants a shot at Red Velvet.

Griff Garrison vs. Aaron Solo

Garrison forearms away to start but Solo is up with a running hurricanrana. With Garrison trying to walk off, Solo runs up to cut that off but Garrison hot shots him back inside. Some right hands have Solo in more trouble until he fights up with some running forearms. A torture rack powerbomb gives Garrison two, as does Solo’s top rope double stomp. Back up and Garrison hits a running spinning….we’ll say headbutt for the pin at 5:45.

Rating: C+. Garrison is another person who has nothing going on at the moment and that has been the case for him for a long time now. At least he won a match here so maybe they’ve got something up for him. Solo is still the usual jobber to the stars and that’s about it, but there are far worse options for that spot.

Video on Lee Moriarty vs. Angelico.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Spanish Announce Project

Angelico and Moriarty trade wrist control to start so it’s off to Serpentico. The Promotions send him to the apron though and Taylor gets in the big legdrop. Taylor gets in his usual big shots on the floor but Serpentico kicks him in the head. Angelico comes back in to clean house and hands it right back to Serpentico for two off a Swanton. Moriarty is back up with the butterfly Side Effect to pin Serpentico at 6:39.

Rating: C+. Well, at least it helped boost things up a bit for Angelico vs. Moriarty. That’s better than saying “Angelico almost beat him about two years ago” so I’ll take something over having absolutely nothing to set up the match. It’s still only so interesting, but after years of “and then this person gets a title shot”, it’s an improvement.

Red Velvet is ready for Isla Dawn.

Premiere Athletes/Swirl vs. Outrunners/Dalton Castle/Orange Cassidy

I WAS KIDDING ABOUT THE ATHLETES! And of course they’re headlining the show! The villains jump Magnum to start, with Nese doing some pushups. Floyd comes in off a tag behind Nese’s back and the Outrunners take turns raining down right hands in the corner. Cassidy’s single right hand gets two but Magnum gets caught in the wrong corner for the triple teaming.

Moriarty hammers away but Magnum is right back up for the tag off to Castle. Everything breaks down and the Swirl takes over on Castle and Magnum, only for Castle to suplex them down at the same time. Cassidy’s double hurricanrana takes them out as well and it’s time for the parade of knockdowns. Floyd gets in his string of slams but Mark Sterling breaks up the Orange Punch. Everyone but the Athletes and Cassidy brawl to the back, with Daivari forearming Nese down by mistake. The Orange Punch finishes Nese off at 10:07.

Rating: B-. Cassidy was just there to add in some star power and to avoid the Six Man Champions from having to face another three man team. In theory this was designed to get Castle and the Outrunners their win back after their completely necessary loss on Collision. That only works so well when none of them were around in the end, but this was just your usual eight man tag from ROH anyway.

Cassidy is left alone to end the show. As in the Ring Of Honor show.

Overall Rating: C+. I’m really not sure why this needed to be its own special, but at least it did set some things up, including Moriarty vs. Angelico and Dawn vs. Velvet. At the same time, there was a lot of stuff here that felt like content for the sake of content. As usual, it feels like ROH Dark, which is a fine enough idea, but it’s not something that really works when it’s also used to build things up. But if we try to figure out how things are working around here, we’ll be here far too long. Not a bad show, and it did push some stories forward, which is always appreciated.

Results
Maya World b. Janai Kai – Shining Wizard
Nick Wayne b. Alan Angels – Kick to the head
Action Andretti/The Opps b. Landon Hale/Robert Allen/Steve Allen – Armbar to Robert
Isla Dawn b. Erica Leigh – Dragon sleeper
Adam Priest b. Kiran Grey – Half crab
Griff Garrison b. Aaron Solo – Running spinning headbutt
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Spanish Announce Project – Butterfly Side Effect to Serpentico

 

 

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

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Monday Night Raw – July 27, 2026: One Last Swing

Monday Night Raw
Date: July 27, 2026
Location: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the last Raw before Summerslam and that means it is time for the final push to the red half of the card. In this case that means an official weigh-in between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi, along with something else between Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. The Alpha Academy get to face the Vision as well so let’s get to it.

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

The Cell is lowered and Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman), flanked by police, come to the ring for the weigh-in. HHH and Adam Pearce are in the ring waiting as Femi comes in first. Femi weighs 302lbs and here are Heyman and Lesnar, but the Cell is locked with the two of them outside. Heyman says it’s a bad idea for Lesnar to be inside that Cell and lists off Lesnar’s resume.

We hear about how great Lesnar is in the Cell and Femi is promised a beating. Oh and Lesnar weighs 303lbs. Femi is ready to fight anyway but Lesnar will see him at Summerslam. Femi says Saturday is coming and he’ll be ready for Lesnar. With Lesnar and Heyman leaving, Femi wrecks security. Unless I missed it, HHH didn’t say anything here. This wasn’t a great segment, but it’s also a story where there is nothing left to say.

We look at Seth Rollins beating Roman Reigns via DQ at the 2022 Royal Rumble (hey I was there).

Vision vs. Alpha Academy

Non-title. Theory runs from Otis to start and it’s Breakker coming in to circle Otis instead. A big shoulder drops Breakker and it’s off to Tozawa, who gets sent into the wrong corner. Maxxine Dupri grabs Tozawa’s foot and a big boot knocks him outside as we take a break. We come back with Breakker’s gorilla press gutbuster dropping Tozawa for two. Tozawa flips away from Theory though and it’s Otis coming in to clean house. The Caterpillar hits Breakker and Tozawa’s suicide dive takes Theory out on the floor. Otis gets posted though and the Super Spear finishes Tozawa at 8:30.

Rating: C+. Hopefully this wraps things up for the Academy as a serious threat as it’s pretty much the only match they needed to have. Otis probably has something else to do and that makes sense as the fans are behind him. At least Tozawa took the fall here, which is how the thing should go as he’s just kind of along for the ride.

Post match the Vision stays on them but Otis is back up. Dupri offers a distraction though and it’s a double powerbomb out of the corner to plant Otis. Theory cracks Otis with a chair to leave him laying.

LA Knight has been accused of being paranoid but look at how things have been going with the Bloodline. The goal is to put them in a hole at Summerslam and the BFT is just a fact of life.

Raquel Rodriguez and Sol Ruca are both ready for the title match tonight. I have no idea why they’re looking off to the side as they talk about the other, as they’re in different rooms.

Various celebrities are here, including Jimmy Hart.

We get a video of Chad Gable in Minnesota, where he promises to win the Intercontinental Title. He spent a long time doing everything he could to gain success and it didn’t work, but then he lost himself as El Grande Americano. Now though, he needs to win the title because he’s ready to represent himself, his friends, his family and his state as he did in the Olympics, but he’s doing it as the man he was always supposed to be. Heck of a vignette here, as Gable is on fire here and pretty much has to win.

Iyo Sky is ready to prove Liv Morgan wrong again by taking the title at Summerslam.

Je’Von Evans vs. Rusev

Rusev drives shoulders into the ribs to start and then drops him with a clothesline. Back up and Evans kicks him in the head, setting up a springboard hurricanrana. That earns Evans a fall away slam out to the floor, where he kicks Rusev in the face. A charging crossbody is tossed over the barricade but Evans is right back with a shot of his own. That’s enough for Evans to send us to a break (“We’ll be right back!”) and we come back with Evans fighting out of a chinlock.

Rusev drops him with a shot to the face but Evans unloads with right hands in the corner. The big no hands dive takes Rusev down again so they go back inside, where Rusev gets in a Machka Kick. The Accolade is escaped but the OG Cutter is reversed into the Accolade, with Evans diving over to the rope. A Stunner staggers Rusev though and the OG Cutter finishes him off at 10:55.

Rating: B-. This was a back and forth match and Evans bounced off of Rusev rather well. That’s about all you can expect from Rusev these days, as it’s not like he’s doing much of anything else. At the same time, Evans got to survive the Accolade and beat Rusev clean. He’s getting something out of this and I want to see how far he can go, as he’s won me over in recent months.

We look at Seth Rollins costing Roman Reigns the World Title at Wrestlemania XL.

Here are Joe Hendry and Danhausen for a concert, starting with a song about Judgment Day wanting Danhausen’s human monies. Then they sing about believing that you are cursed and here are the Minihausens as well, followed by a bunch of dancing girls. The dancing girls start a conga line and boxer Ryan Garcia jumps the barricade to sing with them.

Then he guitars Hendry in the back and Judgment Day runs in for the big beatdown. The Minihausens get beaten up too and Judgment Day clears out the ring. I actually fell asleep watching the show and woke up during the concert with the Minihausens dancing. It was clear that more sleep was needed.

Various celebrities are here, including Ashton Kutcher (the Farm Hand), who is holding an NXT Tag Team Title of all things.

Big Cass is back next week.

Rey Mysterio vs. Ethan Page

They go technical to start until Page runs him over with a shoulder. A quick hurricanrana looks to set up the 619 but Page is back up with a pull into the corner. Page powerbombs him onto the apron and we take a break. We come back with Page going for the mask but Mysterio fights out and hits a top rope moonsault. Page boots him in the face but gets sent into the post, allowing Mysterio to hit some right hands in the corner.

The Eddie Dance looks to set up…something off the top, only for Page to reverse it into a powerslam. Page is sent outside for a top rope hurricanrana, sending Page hard into the announcers’ table (OUCH). Back in and the 619 is loaded up but Page grabs the ring skirt of all things to block it. Page posts him and gets the Egoplex for the pin at 11:43.

Rating: B-. This was another nice win for someone on the way up as Page gets what is probably the biggest win of his main roster career. He’s not someone who is coming up with anything amazing or new but he does his thing rather efficiently. It’s similar to Robert Roode and that’s not a bad place to be.

Liv Morgan thinks Iyo Sky doesn’t know who she’s facing at Summerslam. Morgan is the girl who worked so hard to make it through NXT and now she’s here, as champion. She cares about Sky, who already beat her once, but Sky isn’t in her head. Morgan is so much stronger than Sky and now it’s time to remind everyone who she is. Good, to the point promo here.

Danhausen and the Minihausens are banged up so Adam Pearce comes in to say give Judgment Day the money back. Danhausen has an idea (uh oh): Human Monies On A Pole! Pearce: “HUMAN MONIES ON A POLE???” Danhausen: “Haven’t you ever watched wrestling?” It’s official for Summerslam and Pearce needs a drink.

Here are the Usos for a chat, albeit after running it back. They issue a warning shot to LA Knight/Solo Sikoa/Royce Keys at Summerslam but here is Sikoa, through the crowd, to say they don’t have a chance at Summerslam. Jimmy mocks Sikoa for suggesting he doesn’t want to come back to the Bloodline because it was the best thing that ever happened to his career. Sikoa: “Or what, you’re going to YEET for thirty minutes?”

Sikoa isn’t worried about Roman Reigns and here is Knight to join things. Knight wants things fixed up after Summerslam because it’s time to pay penance. He’ll see them this weekend…..or we can do this right now, LA style. The brawl is on so here is Jacob Fatu, who wrecks both of them until Keys it on for the save. Sikoa breaks up the Tongan Death Grip and Fatu gets dropped with a trio of finishes. Perfectly fine brawl to preview the match.

Video on the violence of the Cell.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Sol Ruca vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Ruca is defending and spins around her into an X Factor to start. A sunset flip is blocked but Rodriguez avoids an elbow drop as Lyra Valkyria is watching backstage. Rodriguez strikes away but gets sent outside for a heck of a moonsault. Back in and Rodriguez pulls a high crossbody out of the air for a reverse suplex. A slam gives Rodriguez two and she teases an armbar but just punches her in the head instead. We hit the chinlock, allowing the referee to wipe some blood off of Rodriguez’s face.

Back up and Ruca hits a Backstabber (albeit with feet), followed by Sliced Bread for two. Ruca’s running knee gets two, followed by a top rope cartwheel DDT for the same. Cue Roxanne Perez for a distraction so Liv Morgan can trip Ruca, meaning it’s a big boot to give Rodriguez another near fall. Cue Iyo Sky to brawl with Morgan and Ruca gives Rodriguez a Codebreaker. Perez breaks up the Sol Snatcher though and the Tejana Bomb gives Rodriguez the title at 10:23.

Rating: C+. There was a lot going on here with Sky vs. Morgan feeling like the bigger story than the title match going on here. That being said, Rodriguez needed to win something of her own at some point and this worked. Ruca seems to have gotten around some of her yips in the ring and that is great to see, as she can be outstanding when she is hitting on all cylinders. Not a classic here, but I like the title change.

And Rodriguez is very emotional over her win. Fair enough.

Video on CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes.

Summerslam rundown.

We look at Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns (vs. CM Punk) last year at Wrestlemania.

Here is Reigns for the big wrap up. After standing around for a bit, Reigns loads up the catchphrase but here is Rollins to interrupt. Rollins wants to be acknowledged so Reigns calls him an a******. Rollins: “Guilty!” He’s fine with being the bad guy between the two of them because he wasn’t born on third base. Reigns has a lot of advantages over Rollins but the one thing he will never be better at is pro wrestling.

No matter how Reigns looks at it, Rollins owns him. How is Reigns getting out of it this time? Get disqualified? Maybe call in the Bloodline? Reigns may need to beat him but Reigns doesn’t have a chance. Reigns calls himself the only real superstar and true champion around here. The whole industry needs Reigns to win, which has Rollins talking about what they need.

Reigns needs the redemption, so Rollins says Reigns needed his family there to see it. This has Rollins thinking back to Wrestlemania XXXI, when Rollins cashed in and sent Reigns’ family home in tears. Rollins wants to see them cry again on Sunday, including Reigns’ children. The fight is on and Reigns beats him up, including the spear. Reigns goes outside and grabs the chair (oooh) and goes for the big shot but gets Stomped onto the chair to end the show.

This was a good example of someone just not having the same presence as their opponent. What Rollins was saying was fine, but there is a gravitas to the way Reigns speaks that makes him feel so much bigger. It’s been hanging over Rollins the entire time, so playing up their record against each other is about all he has. Teasing Reigns finally getting the chair shot to pay Rollins back is a big thing too, as they really have turned it into something that feels monumental and started setting so many things in motion over the years. Good segment here, and it makes sense that this will be the big Summerslam headliner.

Overall Rating: B. This was the show designed to get them ready for Summerslam and yeah it worked. Reigns vs. Rollins feels a lot bigger and the six man tag got a nice push. I’m more interested in Summerslam than I was coming in and it would be great to see them pay that off this weekend. You need a show like this and if nothing else, maybe it can get them to break 30,000 tickets a night. You know, in that 60,000+ seat stadium they’re in for back to back nights. Anyway, solid effort here.

Results
Vision b. Alpha Academy – Super Spear to Tozawa
Je’Von Evans b. Rusev – OG Cutter
Ethan Page b. Rey Mysterio – Egoplex
Raquel Rodriguez b. Sol Ruca – Tejana Bomb

 

 

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

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AEW Redemption 2026: In Their House

Redemption
Date: July 26, 2026
Location: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

It’s time for the stop before the really big show and that puts AEW in an awkward place. The show is perfectly decent on paper, but it’s hard to get interested in it when the much bigger show is coming in about a month. Hopefully they can overcome that issue, and with the roster they have, it’s not out of the question. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Lethal Twist vs. Conglomeration

The Conglomeration is defending and the Demand is on commentary. Strong takes Lethal into the corner to start and O’Reilly hammers away with right hands. That lets Strong do the same and everything breaks down, with an exchange of do-see-dos. Cassidy is thrown at Johnson and Christian for a double DDT.

It’s back to Strong, who gets taken into the wrong corner so Johnson can hammer away. Christian’s top rope clothesline gets two but it’s back to O’Reilly for the kicks. Lethal has to save Johnson from an ankle lock and Cassidy gets tied in the Tree Of Woe. Naturally Christian gets in his own lazy kicks into a 619, followed by a reverse DDT/apron splash combination to Strong on the floor.

O’Reilly is back up and it’s time for the string of dives, with Cassidy’s Stundog Millionaire being countered. The spinning DDT works a bit better though (Ricochet: “He got lucky.”) but Lethal is back with the Lethal Combination. Hail To The King id countered and Cassidy has to knock Christian away to avoid a belt shot. That means the Lethal Injection can connect for two, with Strong making a diving save. The End Of Heartache finishes Lethal to retain the titles at 11:54.

Rating: C+. Perfectly fine match here with the champions getting in a nice title defense. Odds are the Demand is the next really big set of challengers for the belts and that’s not a bad idea. Save that for a better spot though, as having the Conglomeration turn back a somewhat dangerous set of opponents made sense.

And now, the show proper.

Mike Bailey vs. El Clon vs. Jack Perry vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Komander vs. Nick Wayne

Ladder match for a future International Title shot. It’s a big brawl to start with Bailey (hometown star) and Komander being left alone in the ring. Komander is sent outside with a hurricanrana and it’s off to Clon vs. Perry. With Perry down, Mortos throws in the first ladder and slams Bailey onto it but gets taken down by Komander. Clon takes Komander down and rolls outside for a double DDT.

Perry and Bailey take down Mortos and Clon but Perry cuts off Bailey going for the really big ladder. Everyone goes up to the stage for the ladder and get in a fight, only for Perry and Bailey to go back and brawl on the apron. Wayne cuts Bailey off but Mortos throws Perry onto the pile. Komander has to make a save of his own and climbs but the ladder is shoved, meaning Komander has to do his own dive.

Back up and three ladders are set up with all six climbing at once. That means a bunch of crashes, allowing Perry to grab a bunch of tables, because of course he is. The series of dives, including Komander’s rope walk version to put Perry through a table, breaks them all, leaving Clon to cut Perry off. Clon and Komander fight on a bridged ladder, with Clon flipping Komander off for a big crash.

Wayne is back up with a phoenix splash to put Clon through another table before going up to slug it out with Perry. Naturally Perry would rather do a Canadian Destroyer through a bridged ladder rather than, you know, grabbing the contract that is touching his back. Bailey hits the Ultimate Weapon to Mortos onto the bridged ladder and pulls down the contract for the win at 20:04.

Rating: B. This was your standard, run of the mill multi person ladder match with the hometown star winning. I’d rather they do it here to get it out of the way, but it was violent and had everything you would want in something like this. They didn’t exactly re-invent the wheel out there, but there is only so much new stuff to be done in these things after so many years.

We recap the Young Bucks vs. the Death Riders. Will Ospreay has joined up with Jon Moxley for the sake of getting ready for All In and Moxley has had him attacking the Young Bucks. Therefore, it’s time for a tag match.

Young Bucks vs. Death Riders

Ospreay backs Matt into the ropes to start so Nick runs the rope for a twisting wristdrag. Matt comes in for a pop up hurricanrana and Ospreay is catapulted into an enziguri for two. An armbar has Ospreay in more trouble but he’s back up to send Matt outside for the slingshot forearm. Nick seems to be banged up on the floor as Matt head fakes Ospreay into a DDT.

Marina Shafir pulls Matt outside and sends him into the steps and it’s back to Moxley for a release Falcon Arrow. Nick is back up but Moxley pulls him off the apron for a piledriver on the floor. Matt fights out of the cross armbreaker and takes out both Riders, with a rather shaken up Nick getting back on the apron. The tag brings Nick in and he’s fine enough to clean house and the top rope double stomp sends Ospreay into the sitout powerbomb for a near fall.

The Meltzer Driver is countered into a Gotch Style piledriver and Styles Clash for two on Matt as the Bucks are in trouble again. Ospreay Phenomenal Forearms Moxley by mistake though and the Bucks get to kick away. More Bang For Your Buck is broken up so it’s a BTE Trigger to Moxley, only for Nick to miss a charge into the post. The Hidden Blade hits Nick and he’s all screwed up again.

Ospreay wants him to tag out but Nick swings away, with Ospreay hitting him in the stomach instead of the head. With Nick down, Matt comes in to cover him up as Ospreay wants to show mercy. Instead Moxley tags himself in and Stomps Nick, who of course kicks out again.

Matt is pulled outside so he superkicks Shafir by mistake (though he doesn’t seem to mind), leaving Moxley to give Nick back to back Death Riders into the Paradigm Shift. Moxley grabs a chair but Ospreay takes it away, only for Matt to superkick it into Ospreay’s face. The Bucks give Moxley a BTE Trigger so he flips them both off, meaning it’s 12 superkicks to give Nick the pin at 19:37.

Rating: B-. The lack of selling was driving me crazy here, as Nick kept popping back up despite taking all kinds of big moves. Ospreay showing mercy to Nick is the right thing for him to do and it should be interesting to see him take the skills from the Death Riders but not follow their ways. Odds are this puts the Bucks back into title contention, likely with Copeland, Cage, and some ladders at All In.

We recap Kyle Fletcher defending the International Title against Bandido. There isn’t much of a story here, other than Bandido needing to lose in another singles match on PPV.

International Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Bandido

Bandido is challenging/not defending and Fletcher has ordered that everyone else be banned from ringside. They stare at each other a lot and Bandido grabs a quick rollup for two, with Fletcher bailing out to the floor. Back in and a headscissors sends Fletcher outside but he’s right back with a slam. Bandido crossbodies him out to the floor and tries an Asai moonsault, which is cut off with a superkick.

Fletcher plants him down again and grabs a full nelson of all things back inside. That’s broken up so Fletcher hits a rather hard chop for two, with the knee on the chest serving as a cover. Bandido fights up and hits a corkscrew crossbody, followed by the big gorilla press to bring the fans back into it. They head out to the apron where Fletcher hits a brainbuster, leaving Bandido mostly out on the floor.

Back in and Bandido grabs a German suplex into a 21 dragon plex (ok then) for two more. A Code Red to the floor is blocked so Bandido settles for just a powerbomb onto the floor instead. Bandido tosses him back inside for a shooting star press and they trade superkicks. One heck of a tornado DDT plants Fletcher so they exchange headbutts on the mat. Fletcher’s running knee is countered into a pop up Downward Spiral for another near fall.

The super flipping World’s Strongest Slam gives Bandido two, with Fletcher having to put his wrist on the rope. Bandido’s 21 Plex connects for two more and they’re both down. Fletcher is back up with a running knee and another brainbuster for two, leaving him rather stunned. The brainbuster onto the buckle is escaped so Bandido charges…right into a super Michinoku Driver for a rather near fall. Another brainbuster onto the buckle retains the title at 26:15.

Rating: B+. That was pretty much exactly what I was expecting, with the action being rather intense, both of them looking sharp as usual, and Fletcher retaining. For the life of me I do not get why they bother keeping the ROH World Title on Bandido if he’s just going to lose over and over on PPV. He’s more than good enough to hang in here, but it’s another case of wasting the value of his title. Then again, ROH champions are 0-3 this weekend so it’s not just a Bandido problem. Either way, great match here.

We recap the Bang Bang Gang vs. the Dogs. This is something involving David Finlay vs. Jay White in Japan so it’s time to have the teams chained together.

Bang Bang Gang vs. The Dogs

Double chain match. The fight starts before the chains are attached and the fans want to know who let the dogs out. The Gang uses the chains to fight back and they all go outside, with White whipping Finlay. Stereo slingshot dives drop the Dogs again but White’s big chain swing only hits the post. White gets sent hard into the post and Robinson goes knees first into the steps.

Back in and the Dogs start choking with the chains but White fights up and takes out Finlay’s knee. Robinson sends Connors into a DDT but he’s up with a snap powerslam to leave all four needing a breather. Robinson gets choked until White wins a tug of war and makes the save.

Finlay gives White a Dominator, with White landing on his head, for two, as commentary sounds more than a bit scared by that one (though thankfully White seems fine). White is back up with a suplex and it’s time for the double whipping to Finlay. Cue the Death Riders to take White out so the rest of the Gang runs in for the save. A shillelagh to the face finishes Robinson at 16:35.

Rating: B-. Maybe this is the start of something for the Dogs, who have felt all over the place since debuting. It’s not like they’re a lost cause, but they’re a team who are just kind of there a lot of the time. Nothing they really does stands out so maybe this is where things get better for them. On the other hand, the Gang vs. the lower half of the Riders is only so interesting, but at least the Gang is all here for a change.

In the back, Will Ospreay is worried about Nick Jackson but Jon Moxley comes in to yell at him for not pulling the trigger. This is wrestling and Ospreay has one chance at the top and has to do it. If Ospreay won’t pull the trigger, Moxley will.

We recap Maya World challenging Hikaru Shida for the TBS Title. World made a heck of a run in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup and then stopped Shida from being her bullying self. A title match ensued.

TBS Title: Hikaru Shida vs. Maya World

World is challenging and it happens to be her birthday. They go to the early exchange of forearms with Shida knocking her outside. Shida drops her face first onto the apron and goes after the leg back inside. A stretch muffler in the ropes has World in more trouble and the banged up knee is rammed into the mat.

World’s headscissors doesn’t get her very far so she rolls Shida down and hits a double stomp, only to bang up her knee again. The knee is fine enough for a moonsault to connect for two but Shida pulls her into a half crab. With that not working, Shida goes up for a Meteora and another near fall.

World is back up with a running knee so Shida rolls outside to leave them both down. Back up and World scores with a suicide dive and they grab hands to slug it out inside. Three straight running knees knock World silly and the Falcon Arrow gets two, with World using the rope. World pops up and grabs a tabletop suplex to win the title at 16:40. It’s as sudden as it sounds.

Rating: B-. Well ok then. I wasn’t expecting World to actually win the thing but it’s great to see that happen, as she has shown a lot of potential but needed to win something. Shida did feel like a beatable champion and I kept going back and forth on this one. The good thing is they pulled the trigger though and that’s better than I was expecting.

The Demand wants the Trios Titles on Dynamite.

Tag Team Titles: Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. Death Riders

Copeland and Cage are defending and Copeland gets jumped before the bell, with Cage running in for the save. That earns him a beating of his own and we officially start with Copeland in trouble in the corner. Cage is sent into the steps to keep him in trouble and Pac stomps Copeland down again. Castagnoli gets to work on the arm but Copeland fights up and it’s a double knockdown.

Cage gets to come in and hammer away, including the jumping right hand in the ropes. The spear is cut off though and Cage has to superplex Castagnoli, allowing Pac to drop a top rope elbow. The Sharpshooter (uh oh) goes on but Copeland makes the save, earning himself a running elbow over the barricade. Back in and the shooting star press gives Pac two on Cage as Copeland is crawling back to ringside.

A Killswitch gives Cage two and it’s back to Copeland to fire off the shots to the head. The Edge-O-Matic drops Pac again but Castagnoli is back in for a spike Neutralizer. Pac’s big lariat is countered into a Grindhouse though, with Castagnoli making the save. The Riders hit some running clotheslines in the corner but Cage cuts Castagnoli off with a spear. A pop up spear to Pac retains the titles at 18:42.

Rating: C+. This might as well have been Copeland and Cage sitting out there having a sandwich as there was absolutely no reason to believe that the titles were going to change hands. It was a thrown together title match and that’s not the most thrilling way to go. Copeland and Cage as champions is a cool idea but just get us to the match with the Bucks already, which is pretty clearly the big endgame to the whole thing. Chop a few minutes off of this and it’s better, but it’s just not that interesting.

Post match the Young Bucks come out and the match is officially on for All In. Cage won’t shake hands though.

We recap Chris Jericho vs. Tommaso Ciampa. Jericho returned again and seemingly doesn’t like bald people, with Ciampa trying to prove that he’s better. Ciampa beat him at Beach Break with some chicanery so now Jericho is back as the Painmaker in a No DQ match.

Chris Jericho vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Jericho has his barbed wire baseball bat and wins a duel against Ciampa’s chair. Some sand to the eyes (how Ciampa won their first match) blinds Ciampa but he fights back and sets up an early table. That earns him a fire extinguisher to the eyes but Ciampa is fine enough to grab a Fairy Tale Ending through the table at ringside. This lets commentary mock a fan for wanting the table to be sat on fire but instead it’s time for a hockey stick.

After beating on Jericho, Ciampa throws on a Boston Bruins jersey and beats on a stuffed Canadiens mascot, with Jericho making the save for quite the nice save. Naturally Jericho throws out a bunch of hockey pucks and then pulls the jersey over Ciampa’s head for a suplex. Some puck shots to the head bust Ciampa open and it’s time for a barbed wire table. As usual that takes too long and Ciampa comes back with some tacks to the head to cut Jericho open.

The running knee gives Ciampa two but he takes too long grabbing a tack covered elbow pad. The Walls are broken up with the barbed wire bat, which cuts Jericho open even further. Naturally Jericho is right back with a Death Valley Driver through the barbed wire table, allowing him to stab Ciampa in the leg with a pencil. It’s time for a mirror (of course), with Jericho bridging him across two open chairs.

That’s reversed into a super Air Raid Crash through said mirror to give Ciampa two so let’s get a power drill. Schiavone: “This may end a career.” Fans: “THIS IS MURDER!” The green mist cuts Ciampa off though and the Judas Effect connects. Jericho grabs a….freaking barbed wire mirror, which is broken over Ciampa’s back. A Judas Effect with the tacked up elbow pad gets two and the drill to the head makes Ciampa give up at 22:11.

Rating: C+. Well, on one hand, it was nice to see Ciampa getting this kind of a focal point. It was a good example of Jericho giving someone a boost, though there is only so much to be gotten out of a match ending with a power drill. This got a bit ridiculous more than once and as usual, it went on way too long, but hopefully AEW has something else for Ciampa as he has earned the chance.

Lena Kross and Megan Bayne have Mick Foley sit down so they can interview him. He thinks the Crush Girls could give them a fight but also thinks the Brawling Birds could be a threat. They suggest he bow down, so Foley….barks. Because it includes “bow wow”. Even Foley admits this isn’t working and sends it back to the desk.

We recap Mark Davis defending the National Title against Andrade El Idolo. Last month, El Idolo turned on the Don Callis Family and now it’s time to take some of their gold.

National Title: Andrade El Idolo vs. Mark Davis

Davis is defending and Andrade comes out with a group of ladies. The spinning back elbow gives Andrade two at the bell but it’s too early for the DM. Davis gets in a knockdown of his own and drops a backsplash but Andrade gets in a cross armbreaker over the ropes. A running hurricanrana off the apron drops Davis and let’s pause for the photo with the fan.

Naturally that lets Davis fight back with a clothesline and a running forearm in the corner gets two. The chinlock and a half crab in the ropes has Andrade in even more trouble, followed by the abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and they chop it out until Andrade hits a running forearm to the chest. Davis gets in a clothesline but Andrade’s knee is fine enough for some rolling suplexes.

The running Meteora in the corner gets two, as does Davis’ quick piledriver. Andrade sends him into the post and is right back with the double moonsault for two of his own. That means Andrade can take off his pants but the frog splash hits raised knees. Back up and Andrade hits another spinning back elbow, setting up the DM for the pin at 16:15.

Rating: B-. This was fine and the right man won, as Davis has come a long way as champion but Andrade is on fire right now and needed to win something. I’m sure Andrade will do just fine, though hopefully Davis gets a chance to do something else. He’s earned the chance and it would be terrible to see AEW waste what he has built up.

Mike Bailey wants his International Title match at Grand Slam in Arena Mexico on August 5.

We recap Willow Nightingale challenging Thekla for the Women’s Title. Nightingale earned the title shot and Thekla is fairly crazy so it’s quite the interesting dynamic at play.

Women’s Title: Willow Nightingale vs. Thekla

Nightingale, with her taped up ear (after Thekla attacked her with a microphone), is challenging. We get the Big Match Intros and Nightingale snaps off an early spinebuster to hammer away. A Pounce sends Thekla crashing out to the floor and Nightingale grabs a suplex. The Cannonball only hits steps though and they get back inside with Thekla going after the bad ear.

Nightingale is bleeding from the ear as Thekla grabs a Rings Of Saturn. That doesn’t last long either and Thekla charges into a rather hard clothesline. Thekla is right back with a Black Widow, which doesn’t last long so she grabs a spider superplex. Nightingale pops up for a discus lariat and ties up the legs, followed by some clotheslines against the ropes. That doesn’t last long and Thekla is back up with a Muta Lock to rip at Nightingale’s face. They head out to the apron, where Nightingale gets dropped hard so Thekla can hit a big dive to the floor.

Back in and Nightingale counters the spear into a sunset flip for two so Thekla grabs a bridging rollup. That’s broken up as the referee catches Thekla grabbing the rope, meaning Nightingale can knock her down again. A moonsault misses though, leaving Nightingale to grab the gutwrench powerbomb. Cue Skye Blue to put the foot on the rope so Thekla hits the spear. That’s not enough either though and Nightingale grabs a backslide for the pin and the title at 15:13.

Rating: B. That’s great to see, but please tell me this isn’t just another way to set up Mone for her big win. Nightingale as the face of the star could be rather interesting and it would be nice to see it actually last longer than about a month. The match was a good back and forth fight and I’m curious to see where Thekla goes next, as she was rather awesome during her time with the title.

We recap Kevin Knight challenging Kenny Omega for the World Title. Omega is champion and set for his big title defense at All In. Knight is getting the shot and gone after Omega in an effort to step up to the next level, with Omega wanting to see if he still has it.

AEW World Title: Kevin Knight vs. Kenny Omega

Omega is defending while Knight’s TNT Title isn’t on the line. Knight jumps him from behind before the bell so the referee breaks it up, allowing the match to start and Omega to strike away. A running hurricanrana puts Knight on the floor but the Terminator Dive is cut off with a knee to the ribs. They head outside with Knight using the announcers’ table for a jumping clothesline, followed by a choke on the ropes back inside.

Both of them miss a splash so Knight’s running UFO Splash connects for two. Omega tries to chop away but gets caught with a super hurricanrana for two more. Knight starts in on the leg before clotheslining him into a chinlock. That’s switched into an abdominal stretch but Omega is up with a poisonrana. The snapdragon sends Knight to the apron, where another snapdragon knocks him silly.

The announcers’ table is loaded up for another snapdragon and Knight is rocked. Back in and Omega says Knight will never be him and hits another big knee to the face. Knight gets in a hard shot of his own so Omega fires off some forearms and tells Knight to fight back. Knight does just that with a Sky High and a clothesline to send him outside, only for Omega to go after the leg again.

Back in and they fight on top, with Omega’s sunset bomb and V Trigger combining for another near fall. Knight fights out of the corner though and knocks him into the Tree Of Woe for the Coast To Coast. Rather than covering, Knight goes to grab some belts, with a Crash Landing onto one of them planting Omega for two. The UFO Splash hits raised knees though and it’s a V Trigger into the One Winged Angel to retain the title at 25:00.

Rating: B. This was one of those matches that could have been great as a Dynamite main event but that’s about it. At the same time, it was nice to see Knight getting this chance, even if he felt like he had a grand total of no real shot at winning. Omega was in a glorified warmup match for All In and that’s all this was presented as being. It’s a fine match, but absolutely does not feel like a PPV main event.

Post match the Death Riders run in for the beatdown and cut off the Young Bucks before they can make a save. Will Ospreay comes in to stop a Stomp onto a chair though and even shoves Jon Moxley down. Moxley gets back inside and offers Ospreay a chance to hit him but the chair is thrown outside instead. Moxley pulls out the plastic bag (Ospreay’s eyes bug out) and hands it to Ospreay, who tears it up.

Ospreay knocks Moxley to the floor and the Riders go after him, only for Moxley to call them off. With the team leaving, Ospreay takes off his Death Riders kneepad and throws it away before handing Omega the title. We get a big handshake and they pose together….but Omega gives him a One Winged Angel. The Bucks pose with Omega, who leaves to end the show. I’m not sure if that’s a full on heel turn but it’s certainly a twist of some kind.

Overall Rating: B. This was basically a good In Your House style show as it had solid action and nothing bad, but there is pretty much nothing worth seeing save for maybe Fletcher vs. Bandido. The problem continues to come down to All In looming over the whole thing and there is only so much that can be done with this show as it was all about getting ready for next month. Overall, a completely good show but not something really worth your time. That being said, SWEET GOODNESS this was better simply due to having it be on an hour earlier. See how much good that kind of thing can do? Anyway, good but not great show.

Results
Conglomeration b. Lethal Twist – End Of Heartache to Lethal
Mike Bailey b. El Clon, Jack Perry, Komander, The Beast Mortos and Nick Wayne – Bailey pulled down the contract
Young Bucks b. Death Riders – Double superkick to Moxley
Kyle Fletcher b. Bandido – Brainbuster onto the turnbuckle
The Dogs b. Bang Bang Gang – Shillelagh to Robinson
Maya World b. Hikaru Shida – Tabletop suplex
Adam Copeland/Christian Cage b. Death Riders – Pop up spear to Pac
Chris Jericho b. Tommaso Ciampa – Power drill to the head
Andrade El Idolo b. Mark Davis – DM
Willow Nightingale b. Thekla – Backslide
Kenny Omega b. Kevin Knight – One Winged Angel

 

 

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

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AEW Redemption 2026 Preview

So it’s time for Redemption and that means…I have no idea actually, as this show isn’t exactly feeling important. We are only a few weeks away from All In and AEW has made it clear that is the show that really matters. The thing is I’m sure the action will work and thank goodness it’s starting an hour earlier than Forbidden Door. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Trios Titles: Conglomeration(c) vs. Lethal Twist

This was added to the card on Collision this week and sure why not. The six man titles are a fine way to get a show going and the fans are going to get behind anything the Conglomeration does. It helps that the Lethal Twist are a regular team and it’s interesting to see an actual unit getting a chance like this. Granted they’re more regulars in ROH but it’s better than nothing.

There is no reason to believe that the titles are changing hands here so I’ll go with the Conglomeration retaining. It should be a nice seven to ten minute match to warm up the crowd and that’s what a Kickoff Show match is supposed to be. Just don’t do a bunch of them over and over and everything should be fine. But yeah for now, the champions retain the titles.

Tag Team Titles: Adam Copeland/Christian Cage(c) vs. Death Riders

The title reign has been kind of a weird one, but it still feels like we’re on the way to big ladder match with the Bucks at All In (possibly FTR as well). That leaves us with some not so thrilling title defenses, first with the Dogs and now this one. I’m sure the match will be fine, but it feels pretty thrown together without much of a story outside of the Riders attacking the champs.

At the end of the day, it’s Pac and Claudio Castagnoli challenging so I’ll say the champions retain. There isn’t much of a reason to believe that the titles are changing before All In, with the champions being set up for something bigger in just over a month. Castagnoli has been a jobber to the stars for a long time now and that is going to be the case for a good while, as he isn’t winning a title here.

International Title: Kyle Fletcher(c) vs. Bandido

It’s time to have Bandido face another singles champion on an AEW pay per view with almost no chance for him to win. As usual, the ROH World Title isn’t a factor here whatsoever, which is a great way to extend his title reign high up the ranks. I have no idea how Bandido is the only choice to take these losses and it’s not doing ROH any favors, but neither is a lot of the stuff done there.

So of course I’ll go with Fletcher to retain here, as there is no reason to believe that Bandido is going to snap his losing streak in these matches. The match will be rather awesome as both of these guys are outstanding when they’re given the chance, but that is only going to do so much good for Bandido when he keeps losing. Either let him win something or just don’t put him in these matches time after time.

Bang Bang Gang vs. Dogs

This is a double chain match and I continue to not get the appeal of the Dogs. It feels like a team I needed to watch for years in New Japan to really get as they’re just kind of there week after week. They’ve been feuding with the Bang Bang Gang for a few weeks now and that should at least lead to a good match. I’m just not sure why it needs to be in a double chain match.

The Gang is back to full strength for the first time in forever and Jay White needs the win to help establish himself a bit more so we’ll go in that direction. Hopefully the Gang is able to stay healthy this time around, as the injuries have just wrecked them. Let them get a win here, as I have no idea what the point is in boosting up the Dogs, who just don’t feel all that important.

Young Bucks vs. Will Ospreay/Jon Moxley

So here we have one of the bigger stories in AEW, as Moxley has seemingly poisoned Ospreay’s mind and turned him to the dark side, just as he is on the way to the World Title shot at All In. There is a grand total of zero reason to believe that Ospreay is going to go into the title match in his home country as a villain, so the question becomes when Ospreay turns on the Death Riders.

I don’t think it happens here though, as I’ll go with Ospreay and Moxley to win a heck of a fight, as the Bucks can do rather well in this kind of a match. For now though, they need to lose to show that Ospreay has gotten better under Moxley, though I’m not sure where that leads. The Bucks lose now though, as Ospreay has something much bigger going on for All In anyway.

National Title: Mark Davis(c) vs. Andrade El Idolo

Now we get to something that has me intrigued, as this could go in a few different ways. Davis is on fire right now and having the singles run of a lifetime. At the same time, there is something to be said about El Idolo being this good as well. I could go for seeing him win the title on the way up to the main event, though it really is a match that could go in either direction.

I’ll go with El Idolo winning here, but I really hope that Davis gets another chance sooner than later. He’s doing far too well lately to just be left by the wayside. For now though, El Idolo moving up is the right way to go. I could see some interference costing El Idolo the title, though I’ll go with El Idolo winning the title here, which is the best of the good options that they have.

Jack Perry vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Komander vs. Mike Bailey vs. Nick Wayne vs. El Clon

This is a ladder match (because of course it is) for a shot at the International Title at some point in the future. As usual, there are a few names who just aren’t going to win here and that makes things a bit easier. You can pretty easily write off Mortos, Wayne and Clon, the latter of whom I had almost forgotten even worked here. That leaves you with three potential winners and one of them stands out pretty strong.

The key here is that this show is taking place in Bailey’s hometown of Montreal. That is a pretty easy way to set him up as a winner and while it seems that the big match is Bailey vs. Knight (ok not really big but AEW is presenting it as important because they used to be partners, which apparently makes any match important). I’ll go with Bailey winning here, as it is such a natural fit.

Women’s Title: Thekla(c) vs. Willow Nightingale

This is where All In rears its head again, as Mercedes Mone is waiting on the winner at the biggest show of the year. Thekla is someone who has turned into one of the most entertaining stars on the AEW roster and it is fun to hear whatever insanity she has going through her head during any given week. On the other hand though, it’s asking a lot to have Nightingale lose again here, and that’s where this might fall apart.

With Mone set to challenge the winner, I’ll go with Nightingale winning the title here. I don’t want to see Thekla lose the belt here, but it’s hard to imagine Mone challenging Thekla for the title. We’ve seen Mone take a title from Nightingale before and I’m hoping that they don’t do it again. That means Nightingale has to win though, and I’ll say that’s what we get here.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Chris Jericho

This is No DQ and the big deal here is that it’s the Painmaker version of Jericho, which he’s used….oh at least a handful of times. Jericho has already lost to Ciampa in the first place but it’s time to see it happen again. This latest run hasn’t been the most successful for Jericho from a win/loss perspective and he is getting close to actually needing a win, which is hard to fathom.

I just don’t think that win comes here, as Ciampa losing in the big gimmick rematch would take a lot away from him. Ciampa has gotten somewhere with this run and I would hope that it doesn’t come crashing to a halt here. This should be a good fight with two people who work well together. Jericho will put up a great fight, but it needs to end up with a losing effort.

TBS Title: Hikaru Shida(c) vs. Maya World

World got a heck of a push in the Owen Hart Cup, but she still hasn’t actually won anything. That creates a problem, as she has to actually get some kind of an accolade before it stops mattering all that much. Winning the title here would be a great moment, though it feels more like Athena and the Ring Of Honor Women’s Title are more her destiny. She does have a chance here though and that’s rather intriguing.

As much as I think it would make sense, I just can’t picture Shida actually losing the title here. She’s not the strongest champion in the world and having World win the belt here would be great, but I’m not seeing it happening. Hopefully they find something world World to do and it’s far from crazy to imagine her winning here. I’m expecting the win to be delayed again though, assuming it ever actually happens.

AEW World Title: Kenny Omega(c) vs. Kevin Knight

This is where I’m wondering if they have some kind of a swerve planned here, as while this might wind up as a great title match, it’s not something that feels like a major pay per view main event. I wouldn’t even be surprised if this didn’t headline the show, as it just doesn’t really fit in that spot. It doesn’t help that Knight doesn’t feel like any kind of a threat to winning the title, which would be the case even without All In.

So yeah there is no reason to believe that the titles is changing hands here, as Omega is already set for the big title match at All In. That’s what the majority of the promos have been about and it doesn’t feel like Knight is going to even give Omega a real threat. It’s rare to see the World Title match feel like the most obvious result but that is absolutely how it comes off here.

Overall Thoughts

The more I think about this show, the less interested I am in the whole thing. The thing to remember is that the show should be entertaining and the match quality won’t be a problem. AEW has long since proven that it can make any card work and I’m sure they’ll do it again here. This show still feels like Fully Loaded 1998 though and that could make for a rough night.

 

 

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

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AAA On FOX – July 25, 2025 (Verano de Escalando Week One): Yeah He Had To (Includes Full Show)

AAA On FOX
Date: July 25, 2026
Location: Arena San Marcos, Aguascalientes, Mexico
Commentators: John Bradshaw Layfield, Rey Mysterio, Corey Graves

It’s the first week (out of three) of Verano de Escalando and that means we’re in for the first of three big main events. In this case that means El Grande Americano/Dominik Mysterio vs. Los Perros del Mal. Other than that, the Mixed Tag Team Titles are on the line and that should be worth a look so let’s get to it.

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

Here is Rey Mysterio to welcome us to the show and talk about how important this city has been to his career. He has some good news for us but here is El Ojo to interrupt instead. Dorian Roldan says that Mysterio has been in charge while El Hijo del Vikingo has been injured and costing Omos a chance at the Latin American Title. Mysterio needs to make Omos the Latin American Champion right now, or violence will ensue. That’s still a no so Roldan threatens him and the villains walk off.

Dominik Mysterio and El Grande Americano don’t trust each other but Mysterio insists that he wants them to face off at TripleMania. Everything seems ok, or at least ok enough. Mysterio leaves and Damian (in a Los Perros del Mal shirt) shows up to say “few are chosen”.

We look at La Hiedra turning on Mr. Iguana but Lola Vice was there to team up with him instead. Now La Hiedra and Laredo Kid want the titles, with Vice suggesting that Hiedra still loves Iguana.

Mixed Tag Team Titles: La Hiedra/Laredo Kid vs. Mr. Iguana/Lola Vice

Iguana and Vice are defending. Kid wrestles Iguana down to start before they both flip over, with Iguana sitting on the mat. A running dropkick puts Kid down so Hiedra comes in for a staredown with Iguana. That doesn’t work for Vice who comes in to strike away, with the hip shaking included. Kid gets struck down as well and the champions get to pose for a bit. Hiedra and Iguana have another staredown on the floor and Iguana seems to be a bit deflated.

Back in and Hiedra chokes Vice on the rope and we hit the chinlock. Vice gets up with a belly to back suplex and there’s the tag to the men. Kid comes back in to kick Iguana down and hits a 450, with the referee just pausing in the middle of the count. Iguana gets up and even Mysterio isn’t sure what happened. The women come back in for a rollup until Vice kicks Hiedra in the head for two more. Iguana is sent into the steps so Vice takes Kid out, only to get Glam Slammed for the pin and the titles at 9:35.

Rating: C+. This was interesting as they had only made a few references to the whole love triangle thing. Instead we got a much more detailed look here and it made for a better story. If nothing else, the title change was a bit of a surprise, though it does feel like it gives the story another extension.

We get the weekly press conference with Rey Mysterio, who isn’t happy with El Ojo. He’s cut off by a message from Penta though, who will be appearing at the August 15 show. Also, action figures are coming and we get a preview for the next two weeks to wrap it up. Not much to be said here.

Los Perros del Mal vs. El Grande Americano/Dominik Mysterio

It’s Daga/Angel Garza for Los Perros. Daga and Mysterio take turns posing until Mysterio slugs away. A slam gets Daga out of trouble and he chops away in the corner, earning himself a trip into the wrong corner. Americano comes in and gets knocked down by Daga, with Garza shaking the ropes to take Americano down again. Garza gets to hammer down right hands in the corner, with Americano actually fighting back for a unique visual.

Mysterio comes back in and gets clotheslined for two. The beating ensues, at least until Mysterio gets in a tornado DDT. Americano comes back in to fight back and helps Mysterio on the Third Amigo. The frog splash gets two but the 619 is broken up (JBL: “I wish I had learned that counter against his dad.”).

Daga gets taken out with a dragon screw legwhip but the referee gets bumped. The 619 connects so Mysterio loads up his hammer, only for the rest of Los Perros to send him into the steps. A Gory Special into a knee to the face gets two on Americano as here are Los Americanos to make the save. Bravo hits a HUGE dive off the lighting structure (with the drone camera going all over the place for a cool visual).

Bronco Nima puts Los Americanos through a table but gets taken out by Americano. That leaves Americano to get piledriven and caught in a German suplex/missile dropkick combination for two each. Americano fights up but Mysterio drops to the floor and walks away. An assisted top rope double stomp finishes Americano at 20:35.

Rating: B. I was surprised by the result as I wouldn’t have expected Americano to lose for a long time. The good thing is that he lost after a bunch of interference and all kinds of big moves so he is certainly protected. Mysterio turning on him was about as obvious as you could get, though I’ll take this over Mysterio leading Los Perros, which wouldn’t have really fit.

Post match Mysterio goes to leave…and here is El Ojo, with Mysterio seemingly being the new leader. Rey knows this is a big problem to end the show. That’s a good move as El Ojo was just kind of floating around doing nothing so this gives them an actual story to be attacked to, which they’ve been needing.

Overall Rating: B. This felt like a major event and that’s a good thing to see. The main event was a big step forward for Mysterio vs. Americano and they should be fine on the way to TripleMania. Oddly enough the title change felt like a big deal as well, which I wasn’t exactly expecting. Good show here, and it did feel like an important event, as they tend to be around here, at least at the start.

Results
La Hiedra/Laredo Kid b. Mr. Iguana/Lola Vice – Glam Slam to Vice
Los Perros del Mal b. El Grande Americano/Dominik Mysterio – Assisted top rope double stomp to Americano

 

 

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