Collision
Date: May 22, 2025
Location: Rio Rancho Events Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Adam Cole

It’s the last show before Double Or Nothing and in this case the show is taking place on Thursday rather than the usual Saturday spot. In theory that should mean AEW is going to try something a bit bigger than usual, with likely more people watching the show than their traditional audience. Or they’ll just do a show with low level people to fill in time. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone brings out Adam Cole to join commentary.

Here are FTR/Stokely Hathaway, Daniel Garcia (with Matt Menard) and Nigel McGuinness for a contract signing. Cash Wheeler gives them one more time to get out of this because they still see Garcia as a son. McGuinness has been hiding behind the commentary desk and making jokes but there is no one to save him on Sunday. FTR signs but Garcia says they’re the ones who turned on him.

The reality is that Garcia is standing up for everyone FTR has hurt. They might be one of the greatest teams of all time but Sunday is going to be a fight. Garcia has seen the fire in McGuinness’ eyes and he knows McGuinness still has it. Garcia signs and McGuinness says we’ll see if he still has it at Double Or Nothing. Before he signs though, he wants a guarantee that FTR ignores himself and Schiavone for good. McGuinness goes to sign but Dax Harwood stops him.

Harwood says he needs to know that this isn’t all about McGuinness. If he wants FTR to finish him off, sign the contract. Otherwise, McGuinness can go sit down and we’ll forget about all of this and maybe be friends. This is just business, because otherwise, Harwood would have already dropped McGuinness. The brawl is on and FTR get put in stereo holds before they run off. McGuinness was bringing it as well as he could here, but it’s really hard to believe that a thrown together team is going to have a chance against FTR.

Toni Storm is ready to see Mina Shirakawa ended and it’s time for them to fight. They’ll make every cactus cream itself and then, decades from now, when they’re giving Brutus Beefcake a lap dance at the wrestlers’ retirement home, she’ll look at Shirakawa and say they lived. That’s quite the image.

Don Callis Family vs. Outrunners/Bandido

That would be Los Outrunners, just in case there is any confusion. Bandido takes over on Beretta to start and gives him the very delayed suplex. The Outrunners hit suplexes of their own and we take an early break. Back with Bandido cleaning house, setting up a showdown with Takeshita.

The corkscrew crossbody takes Takeshita down but he’s right back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Back up and it’s off to Floyd for some slams as house is cleaned. The Mega Powers Elbow hits Romero but Total Recall is broken up. Lance Archer gets in a cheap shot from the floor and a double spike piledriver finishes for Takeshita at 9:36.

Rating: B-. The Family being around is a good enough feature on the show, as they’re established names and can eat up a portion of the night. I’m not sure how much help RPG Vice brings to the group but I guess you need someone to take the fall later on. At the same time, it’s almost sad to see what has happened to the Outrunners, who never felt like they were used in a meaningful way.

Video on Gabe Kidd, who is working with the Death Riders and the Young Bucks because they’re going to eat AEW alive.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Reyna Isis

Mone is defending and Excalibur describes Isis as “tearing it up lately on Ring Of Honor”. This translates to “she has won two matches, most recently last October”. They trade rollups for two each to start and it’s off to an early standoff. Hold on though as Isis stops to dance, allowing Mone to grab a headscissors.

The Statement Maker is blocked so Isis kicks her in the back and follows with some running knees. Isis runs her over again for two and hits some kneelifts, only to get caught with a running headscissors. Mone hits a Meteora in the corner but dives into a Codebreaker for two. A quick Backstabber gives Mone two and she pulls on the Statement Maker for the tap at 5:20.

Rating: C+. Normally I would get annoyed at someone like Isis, who has pretty much no meaningful history around here, getting a title shot but they billed it as an open challenge. That’s its own set of issues, but at least they didn’t say she had earned the #1 contendership. Mone seems all but destined to win on Sunday so we’ll call this a nice warmup for her.

Post match Jamie Hayter comes out for a staredown but security is right there in advance.

Video on the Sons Of Texas, with Dustin Rhodes wanting to become a triple champion.

Kyle Fletcher vs. Jay Lethal

Lance Archer is here with Fletcher and Don Callis is on commentary. Feeling out process to start before Lethal takes him into the corner and hammers away. That’s broken up (as Callis doesn’t approve) and Fletcher knocks him down (Callis does improve) but Lethal goes for the legs. Fletcher is knocked outside for a suicide dive, only to come back with a powerbomb onto the apron.

We take a break and come back with Lethal striking away until a backslide gets two. Lethal goes for the legs again with some hard kicks but the Lethal Injection is blocked. The Figure Four goes on and Fletcher is in some trouble. They move around until Fletcher gets to the rope so Lethal goes up. After knocking Fletcher down, Lethal’s top rope elbow only hits raised knees. The brainbuster gives Fletcher the pin at 11:13.

Rating: B-. The match was good, as you would expect given who was in there, but it’s also a fine example of a match that didn’t need to go this long. Lethal has not been treated as anything important in a long time and he got over eleven minutes with an up and coming star. This could have been done in far less time and accomplished the same, if not even more. That’s been a flaw around here for a good while and hopefully AEW fixes it, at least a bit.

Post match the Don Callis Family comes in for the beatdown so Adam Cole gets up. The Paragon comes in and the villains bail.

Paragon vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

O’Reilly and Drake trade arm control to start and Drake rolls him up for two. A backbreaker into a running kick to the chest gets two on Drake but Gibson saves him from a suplex. O’Reilly comes back in to strike away on Gibson but the Veterans fight up and kick Paragon out to the floor. Drake drops O’Reilly on the floor and yells at Cole as we take a break.

Back with O’Reilly kicking Drake away, allowing the tag off to Strong. A Codebreaker out of the corner cuts Strong down though and Drake hits a Coast To Coast dropkick to the ribs. O’Reilly makes the save and it’s a four way slugout. High/Low cuts Drake off for the pin at 9:04.

Rating: C+. The Veterans do indeed still work here, even if you might have forgotten that given their absence from the ring. I’m not sure why you would have Gibson , one of the most annoying talkers in all of wrestling today, here and not let him talk though. If AEW wants the Veterans to matter, the key is to let Gibson drive everyone nuts and that hasn’t been the case in a long time.

Adam Cole challenges the Don Callis Family for Double Or Nothing.

Josh Alexander vs. AR Fox

Don Callis is on commentary again and accepts Paragon’s challenge. Alexander takes Fox down to start and then pulls him out of the air. Back up and Fox kicks him out of the corner, setting up a springboard Stunner. Fox ducks a clothesline and nips up for a cutter, with even Callis having to compliment him. Alexander avoids a 450 and counters a rolling cutter into a German suplex. The C4 Spike finishes for Alexander at 4:12.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here but that was kind of the point. This was designed to make Alexander look like more of a monster, which has been lacking since he got to AEW. Having Alexander pull Fox in and then give him a beating for the win is a good way to go, even if Alexander feels like just another lackey for Callis.

Video on Will Ospreay vs. Hangman Page.

Mascara Dorada/Mistico/Templario vs. Los Depredadores

Templario and Rugido slug it out to start until Templario shoulders him down. Magnus comes in and gets armdragged down and it’s off to Dorada, who flips away from Rugido in the corner. A double springboard armdrag sends Rugido outside and Volador Jr. comes in. That means more flips from Dorada, setting up a hurricanrana out to the floor.

Mistico comes in and gets dropkicked in the back, meaning everything breaks down. We take a break and come back with Mistico and company hitting stereo dives. Back in and Mistico cleans house with headscissors, followed by a dive to the floor. Magnus is sent back inside, where Dorada poisonranas him into a shooting star press for the pin at 10:10.

Rating: B. Take six talented luchadors, including two of the biggest names in the style at the moment, and let them fly around for a bit. This was different from what you usually get on the show and that makes things feel so much better. The fans were into it too and that makes all the difference. Fun match here, with Mistico getting to show off his superstar power.

Video on Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay/Harley Cameron, with the tag match being set for the Buy In.

Double Or Nothing rundown.

Kris Statlander isn’t sure what she did to Willow Nightingale….other than choking her with a chain and spearing her off a stage. Statlander: “You may have a point.” Either way, she isn’t pleased with Nightingale and sounds a bit threatening.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Mike Bailey/Komander

Dralistico runs in from behind and starts hammering away to start fast. Rush wrecks both of them on the floor, including an energy drink to the head. We settle down to Dralistico chopping Bailey, who quickly kicks his way out of trouble. Komander comes in with a double springboard missile dropkick but the villains block some dives as we take a break.

Back with Komander kicking his way out of trouble, allowing the tag off to Bailey for the rapid fire kicks. The running shooting star press gets two on Dralistico before Rush and Bailey get to strike it out. Rush knocks him into the corner and hits the cocky kick to the face but Bailey is back up with a superkick.

Bailey and Komander hit dives to the floor, followed by stereo shooting star presses for two each. Back in and Rush hits a snap German suplex into a knee to Bailey and Dralistico’s super Pedigree gets two. Komander is back up with a Canadian Destroyer though and Bailey’s tornado kick sets up Cielito Lindo for the pin on Dralistico at 12:15.

Rating: C+. If you want Komander and Bailey’s flips and dives to stand out, you might not want to put them on after the CMLL match. Other than that, this really didn’t feel like a main event match but rather just the match that happened to go on last. Bailey is a fine enough challenger for Okada, even if Okada feels all but locked in to face Omega at All In.

Post match Kazuchika Okada comes out and flips Bailey off, earning himself a kick to the face. The big running flip dive takes Okada down and Bailey holds up the title to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. If they were trying to make me more interested in Double Or Nothing, I wouldn’t call this the biggest success. There was very little on here that you needed to see, even if there was some good action, including the CMLL match. I’m really not sure why AEW doesn’t do more with these Thursday Collisions, as they feel more like shows where they don’t want to get the extra attention, despite it being such a better time slot. Either way, Double Or Nothing has potential and that’s a good thing to see.

Results
Don Callis Family b. Outrunners/Bandido – Double spike piledriver to Floyd
Mercedes Mone b. Reyna Isis – Statement Maker
Kyle Fletcher b. Jay Lethal – Brainbuster
Paragon b. Grizzled Young Veterans – High/Low to Drake
Josh Alexander b. AR Fox – C4 Spike
Mascara Dorada/Mistico/Templario b. Los Depredadores – Shooting star press to Magnus
Mike Bailey/Komander b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Cielito Lindo to Dralistico

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

Dynamite
Date: May 21, 2025
Location: Rio Ranchos Events Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Ian Riccaboni

It’s the last Dynamite before Double Or Nothing and that means it is time to put most of the final touches on the pay per view. Odds are that means something getting us ready for Anarchy In The Arena, plus a bunch of build towards the Owen Hart Cup finals. That should be more than enough to get us through the night so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring and brings out Will Ospreay and Hangman Page for a chat. They agree to get physical and Ospreay has the security go to the back, though he does promise they’ll get paid (nice guy). He asks if Page still drinks and apologizes for the shot to the face last week. Ospreay has some beers brought in but puts his down and says he has an official request for Tony Khan: the two of them should be in the main event at Double Or Nothing.

That is a lot of pressure, but the winner goes on to All In and the winner has the responsibility of taking the World Title back. Ospreay flies around all the time and is jet lagged every Tuesday but puts on his crime fighting pants and says ring the bell. That’s what he wants more than anything else. He wants to be the World Champion at Forbidden Door in London, thirty minutes from his house.

More than that though, he wants his six year old to look at him as the World Champion. Ospreay knows Page wants it, but he wants it that much more. Page says that’s the difference between them. Ospreay wants it bad and Page has had that feeling before. There is no greater prize than being the World Champion, but for Ospreay, it could be a professional accomplishment.

It’s just that though: professional. Page calls it personal for him though because he doesn’t want it, but rather needs it. Page has not won anything in two years and those moments have killed him more every day. He needs his son to look at him and see his father and for his wife to look at him and see her husband. What he needs is for Ospreay to be wrong when he said it was “too little, too late” for Page.

Ospreay asks what Page is going to do about it. Wrap a chair around his skull? On Sunday, he is showing up and doing his best, which hasn’t been enough before. Yes he has lost but he has never given less than everything. Page asks if that is enough to beat Jon Moxley and the Death Riders but Ospreay doesn’t know. Ospreay asks if what Page is now is enough either.

The best of Ospreay has beaten a lot of people because he is the best in the world. Anything can happen when that bell rings and if Page wins and needs someone to have his back at All In, Ospreay has his back. He hopes Page will do the same if Ospreay wins, so meet him in the desert. They both drink the beers and stare hard at one another. They go up the aisle and get to the entrance at the same time for quite the staredown. This was GREAT, with both of them laying out why they want to win. I’m not sure who is going to win, but I’m almost more curious to see what happens when one of them loses.

Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir arrive, with Moxley saying the spoils will go to those who embrace the anarchy.

Jon Moxley/Young Bucks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs/Samoa Joe/Swerve Strickland

Marina Shafir and Prince Nana are here too. Joe and Moxley slug it out to start with Joe having to be held back. Hobbs and Matt come in with Hobbs running him over but not being able to hit the powerslam. Swerve comes in to backbreaker Nick and hits a neckbreaker as everything breaks down. Moxley’s dive is cut off by Hobbs so he dives onto Hobbs instead. The Bucks superkick Joe down but Swerve plants Matt and hits a dive to take him out as well. Now Joe can hit his suicide elbow as we take a break.

Back with Moxley hammering on Hobbs in the corner before going after the knee. For some reason Nick decides to slap Hobbs in the back, earning himself a World’s Strongest Slam. Swerve comes in to plant Nick, who avoids a running shot, allowing Matt to superkick Swerve down. Back in and an assisted Sliced Bread plants Swerve, who gets his knees up to cut off a Swanton. That’s still not enough for the tag though as Moxley is back in for a Crash Landing on Swerve.

Matt dives onto Joe and Hobbs, followed by Risky Business for two more. The hanging Swanton gets two on Swerve with Hobbs having to make the save this time. We take another break and come back again with Moxley’s piledriver (with a middle finger to the fans) getting two more. Something like the Rings Of Saturn bring the fans back to cheer Swerve so Moxley grabs a full nelson.

A headbutt drops Moxley and it’s Joe coming in to clean house, followed by Hobbs’ frog splash for two. Everything breaks down and the Bucks head fake Hobbs into a double DDT. Joe drops them with a double clothesline but Moxley is back in to take Joe down. Swerve gives Moxley the House call and adds a Swerve Stomp off the apron onto the Bucks. Back in and Hobbs busts out some spinebusters to clean house but Moxley is there to send him into Swerve. A double superkick puts Joe down but Swerve rolls Matt up for the pin at 21:17.

Rating: B. The length helped here, as the match had the time to build up rather than having to hurry through everything. As good as that part was though, it was another example of why the Bucks can be so annoying. Just like always, they got in all of their stuff, beat up just about everyone, and then lose on a fluke rollup. I’m sure they’ll get some kind of heat back later, because the Bucks just have to be part of everything no matter what.

Post match the Death Riders run in to beat the winners down but Katsuyori Shibata returns for the save. Marina Shafir cuts Shibata off with a low blow though so here is Willow Nightingale to Pounce Shafir. Kenny Omega runs in for the real save. A table is set up and Matt has to be saved from a One Winged Angel. The villains leave but Joe says they’re coming after them tonight.

The Hurt Syndicate says MJF should be the excited one tonight and he has a new suit for the occasion.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate to officially induct MJF into the team. MJF comes out and says his mom told him that the most important day of his life is the day you marry the love of your life. MJF: “It’s clear that that b**** never joined the Hurt Syndicate!” MJF and MVP take turns mocking the fans who boo a lot and everyone but Bobby Lashley signs. Lashley seems unsure but ultimately signs, and yes there is a commemorative hat.

Cue the Sons Of Texas, with Dustin Rhodes telling MJF to shut up. Rhodes and MVP have a long history of respect but Rhodes thinks he shouldn’t trust MJF. We hear about how they changed the business and now they want more gold. If they like to hurt people, jump on Rhodes and try to hurt him. They have been beaten up and hurt by bigger people and now they’re ready to fight with heart. He would bet on the Day One guys. As usual, Sammy Guevara is the guy just standing there nodding as Rhodes does everything.

Kazuchika Okada isn’t letting Mike Bailey call him out for Double Or Nothing….because he’s calling Bailey out instead. And no catchphrase!

Ricochet vs. Anthony Bowens

Billy Gunn is here with Bowens and this is to crown the true Scissor King. Bowens jumps over him in the corner to start and hits a clothesline to the floor. Ricochet stops to glare at Gunn, earning himself another shot from Bowens. They go back in where Bowens hits a quick knee, only to get sent hard into the post.

We take a break and come back with Bowens hitting the running Fameasser into something like a reverse Angle Slam. They trade forearms until Bowens hits a superkick for a quick two. The Arrival sets up the Mollywop but Ricochet is knocked outside. The referee goes after Gunn, allowing Ricochet to pull out a pair of scissors to stab Bowens. Stabbing a man in the head is of course a setup for the Spirit Gun to give Ricochet the pin at 9:26.

Rating: C+. I really don’t know if Bowens should be losing so soon into his singles run, but at least it was to a bigger name and through some cheating. That being said, I still have no idea why Ricochet uses scissors. It’s such a random weapon with no real connection for him, but that’s what he gets to do. On top of that, he’s in for kind of a weird gimmick match on Sunday, though at least he’s on the show.

Post match Mark Briscoe brings out a stretcher and beats up Ricochet.

Double Or Nothing rundown.

Stokley Hathaway, with FTR, wants to sign the contract for the Double Or Nothing tag match face to face. Nigel McGuinness and Daniel Garcia can even bring Matt Menard.

Renee Paquette brings out Jamie Hayter and Mercedes Mone for their own face to face interview (with chairs). Hayter says so be it if she is seen as the underdog because she is used to being there. She will fight back every single time because that is who she is. Hayter doesn’t have people running around here doing her dirty work and yes she is rough around the edges.

This means more to Hayter and they both know that, because it’s about not being forgotten. If she doesn’t win, what does it mean for her? Mone laughs it off and calls herself the Beyonce of wrestling. She’s going to All In to win the Women’s Title because she is the greatest TBS Champion of all time.

Mone hasn’t gotten here through luck because it’s about leaving her legacy. Hayter’s chapter finally ends at Double Or Nothing. Hayter points out Mone losing the NJPW Strong Women’s Title and that is going to be her destiny. Mone jumps her but gets dropped with Hayterade. Cue Toni Storm, who will be on commentary for the main event. It’s hard to believe that Mone is in any danger, and my goodness she gets less and less interesting every week.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart

Toni Storm is on commentary. Hart grabs a wristlock to start and hits Old School but Shirakawa does something similar, albeit with some hip shaking. Shirakawa goes outside to mock Storm, allowing Hart to take her down as we go to a break. Back with Shirakawa hitting a running knee, followed by some clotheslines.

Hart grabs something like a Tarantula but Shirakawa hits a spinning backfist. A not great top rope crucifix bomb gets two on Hart but she’s back up with a knockdown of her own. The moonsault misses though and Shirakawa goes after the knee. The spinning backflst looks to set up the Glamorous Driver but Hart rolls out. That’s reversed into a cradle to give Shirakawa the pin at 9:30.

Rating: C+. This was a bit of a weird choice for the main event, but there is only so much you can do on a three match show. Shirakawa is in a good place where she’s not new but she’s still fresh, so she doesn’t have to really be built up that much for the title shot at Storm. I can’t imagine she wins the title, but having her lose so soon in a high profile match would be a fairly odd way to go.

Post match Hart goes after Shirakawa, who ties up Hart’s bad leg. Skye Blue comes in to deck Shirakawa so Storm makes the save. Shirakawa and Storm get in a tug of war over the belt and Shirakawa goes after Storm’s knee, tying it around the post with the Figure Four.

The Young Bucks try to leave but Powerhouse Hobbs and Samoa Joe jump them. Cue the rest of the people in Anarchy In The Arena for the weapons filled brawl. The fight goes into the arena where the Bucks beat up Kenny Omega, who fights back as this is anarchy in the arena to set up the Anarchy In The Arena. Gabe Kidd runs in and helps the villains with the beatdown and the Bucks hit stereo dives to put Omega and Swerve through tables to end the show. This was a good example of a week that didn’t need an overrun as this was just a long brawl to set up the already announced long brawl at the pay per view.

Overall Rating: B. Double Or Nothing is going to be quite the booking challenge, as so many people are in one match. That leaves the two tournament finals to carry the thing and thankfully the men’s match got an incredible go home segment that really elevated things. Those are by far the two biggest things on the show, and it should be interesting to see if the rest of the card can live up to that hype. I’ll take a two match show, but they are in for a challenge if one of those matches doesn’t deliver.

Results
Samoa Joe/Powerhouse Hobbs/Swerve Strickland b. Young Bucks/Jon Moxley – Rollup to Matt
Ricochet b. Anthony Bowens – Spirit Gun
Mina Shirakawa b. Julia Hart – Cradle

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

Collision
Date: May 17, 2025
Location: NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

It’s the second night of Beach Break and that means we should be in for something a bit bigger than normal. You never know what you might see on a show like this though and that can make for something interesting. The big feature match is the Sons Of Texas vs. Cru for a future Tag Team Title shot so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Megan Bayne vs. Anna Jay

Penelope Ford and Harley Cameron are here too. Bayne wastes no time in driving her into the corner for the shoulders to the ribs and a big boot puts her on the floor. A hard whip sends Jay into the barricade and Bayne drops her back first onto the apron. Back in and the bearhug sets up a throw to keep Jayne in trouble but a backsplash misses.

Jay slugs back and hits a dive to take out Bayne and Ford on the floor. Bayne is right back up with a Falcon Arrow but Fate’s Descent is countered into a DDT. Jay grabs a sleeper, which is enough for Bayne to drive her into the corner. Ford grabs a turnbuckle pad so she and Cameron fight to the back. The Queenslayer goes on but Bayne rams her into the exposed buckle. A powerbomb into Fate’s Descent finishes for Bayne at 7:31.

Rating: C+. This was more about Bayne getting to run through Jay, who was fighting as well as she could. The point is to make Bayne into a monster, though she’s going to need to win some gold to make her feel like a big deal. Maybe that’s coming after Double Or Nothing, but there is a good chance the titles are going to be tied up. You could have her go after Athena’s Ring Of Honor Women’s Title, but that might be asking too much.

We run down tonight’s card.

Nigel McGuinness agrees to team with Daniel Garcia to face FTR at Double Or Nothing.

Kyle Fletcher vs. AR Fox

Don Callis is on commentary. Fletcher runs him over to start and stomps away in the corner but Fox sweeps the leg. A leg lariat knocks Fletcher down and a very springboardy sitout bulldog drops him again. Back up and Fletcher grabs a swinging Side Effect and we take a break.

We come back with Fox grabbing a rolling cutter and dropkicking him on top. Another cutter gets two but Fletcher is back with a half and half suplex. Fox is right back up and sends him to the apron for the flipping stomp, followed by the big dive. Back in and a Michinoku Driver gives Fletcher two but Fox’s small package gets the same. That’s enough for Fletcher, who brainbusters him for the pin at 9:26.

Rating: B-. Fox isn’t the kind of star who is going to become a big deal or a top star, but he can do some incredibly entertaining stuff in the ring. He’s out there to pop the crowd and he has been doing that rather well in recent weeks. I could go for him doing something a bit more important, but Fletcher needed to do something and beating Fox here is fine enough for the time being

Video on Will Ospreay vs. Hangman Page.

Don Callis Family vs. Brody King/Tomohiro Ishii/Bandido

Ishii fights off RPG Vice to start before handing it off to King for a slugout with Archer. King kicks Archer out to the floor, where Beretta knees King in the chest. Everything breaks down and we take a break. Back with Ishii German suplexing Romero for two but getting kicked in the face by Archer. The chokeslam gives Beretta two but it’s King coming back in to clean house. King sends Romero into the corner and the team hits a series of running shots. The Cannonball finishes Romero off at 6:55.

Rating: C+. There is pretty much no reason for a six man tag which runs just shy of seven minutes to have a commercial. Other than that, it was a rather odd collection of stars beating up the lower end of the Family. That’s not much more than what felt like a house show match but it was fine enough to fill in some time.

Post match the Family beats the winners down until the Outrunners make the save.

The Paragon is interrupted by the Grizzled Young Veterans, who accuse them of going soft. A match is made for next week, with Adam Cole saying the pressure is on the Veterans.

Mike Bailey vs. Blake Christian

Lee Johnson is here with Christian. Bailey starts fast and fires off some kicks but Christian pulls him face first into the buckle for the crash. 450 knees to the ribs give Christian two and they’re both back up for an exchange of shots to the face. Christian gets superkicked out of the air and it’s time for an exchange of chops. That just wakes Bailey up though and he hits a crane kick, setting up the triangle moonsault to the floor. Johnson’s distraction lets Christian get in his own dive but a 450 misses. Christian gets taken down with a super hurricanrana and the Tornado Kick finishes for Bailey at 5:09.

Rating: C+. Bailey is about as AEW of a wrestler as you can get. He has a fairly weird look, his stuff is designed to look cool rather than make sense, and he really loves those flips. In other words, he’s about as perfect of a wrestler as you can get for the stereotypical AEW style. Christian is…I’m not sure why but I kind of like him. It’s like he’s trying to be as lame as possible and it’s oddly working.

Post match Bailey challenges Kazuchika Okada for the International Title. Cue Okada to say his catchphrase but Dralistico and Rush jump Bailey from behind.

Video on Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Gates Of Agony.

We look at Jon Moxley retaining the World Title against Samoa Joe in a cage on Dynamite, with the fallout setting up Anarchy In The Arena at Double Or Nothing.

Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Gates Of Agony

Street Fight so the brawl, with the weapons, starts on the floor. Bill knocks the barbed wire baseball bat away from Liona and hits a splash inside. Liona is back up with a spear to send Keith through a table in the corner though and grabs a kendo stick. Said stick is broken over Liona’s own head and Bill realizes this could be an issue.

The slugout is on and Liona is sent to the apron, where Kaun wraps him up in barbed wire. They crash into the barricade and we take a break. Back with Liona hitting a Banzai Drop onto a trashcan with Keith inside for two, with Bill making the save. Bill whips out a backpack and finds some bricks, one of which is smashed against the post.

A trashcan lid to the head just annoys Liona, who takes it away and…charges into another kid to the head. Liona knocks him over the barricade and Bill is knocked over the announcers’ table. Keith is back up and rakes his eyes to get out of Liona’s fireman’s carry, allowing Bill to kick Liona through some tables at ringside. A piece of what looks like drywall is broken over Kaun’s head and Bill hits the chokeslam for the pin at 13:54.

Rating: B-. Well, Liona was doing his best Roman Reigns impression here, down to the stuff with the barricade (though Reigns is more a through the barricade than over it). With that out of the way, the problem here was everything that has happened to the Gates beforehand. After having them treated as such loses for so long, there was no reason to believe they were going to win here. It was nice to see Liona treated like a monster, but the “let’s get Chris Jericho to like us again” tour continues.

Mina Shirakawa is ready to face Toni Storm again. Storm may be timeless, but Shirakawa is NOW.

We get a tribute to Steve McMichael. His wife comes out to talk about how great it is to be here. Next up is Dean Malenko…who doesn’t say anything but is in fact present. Tony Schiavone talks about McMichael’s wrestling career and his foundation to help fight ALS. Ric Flair is brought out and puts over McMichael, including the fight through his disease. And that’s about it.

Then, about 85 minutes into the show, TNT starts airing Black Adam, apparently due to transmission issues.

Sons Of Texas vs. Cru

The Sons’ ROH Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line and the winners get an AEW Tag Team Title shot. Rhodes and Andretti start things off with the much taller Rhodes backing him into the corner. Rush’s cheap shot doesn’t do much good as Rhodes hits the drop down uppercut. Guevara comes in for a standing moonsault and a dive to take Andretti out on the floor. Rhodes teases his own dive but stops to dance instead. The fight heads outside again but Rush is back up for the suicide dives.

We take a break and come back with Cru working on Rhodes’ legs, only for him to low bridge Andretti to the floor. The powerslam plants Rush and it’s Guevara coming back in to clean house. A top rope cutter plants Andretti but the 450 misses. Rush slips out of Cross Rhodes so Rhodes gives him a Canadian Destroyer. Andretti superkicks Rhodes but gets caught with the GTH to give Guevara the pin at 11:01.

Rating: C. At this point, I’m honestly continues that the Sons actually have a chance against the Hurt Business. Yeah it sounds ridiculous, but after everything they’ve done in the last eight or so months, it’s almost hard to imagine them losing. I don’t think they get the titles, but my goodness it at least feels like a possibility. As for Cru…I really have no idea what is supposed to be special about them.

Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale argue again.

Here’s what’s coming on Dynamite.

Double Or Nothing rundown.

Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Wheeler Yuta

Yuta jumps him during the entrance and for some reason decides to slap him in the face. Hobbs grabs him by the throat and starts tossing him around, with Yuta needing to go for the eyes. An Oklahoma Stampede plants Yuta and Hobbs tosses him outside without much trouble. Some slams onto the apron have Yuta in more trouble and there’s a superplex to give Hobbs two. Back up and Yuta pulls him off the top for a crash before starting in the knee.

We take a break and come back with Yuta staying on the bad leg, including some yanking and cranking. A basement dropkick puts Hobbs on the floor and he gets knocked off the top back inside. Yuta’s top rope splash gets two but Hobbs is right back with a powerslam. Some hard corner clotheslines and a spinebuster finish Yuta at 11:45.

Rating: B-. Well, they did have a story here with Yuta trying to slow down the monster Hobbs before the strength just got to be too much to them. Hobbs continues to feel like someone who should be a big deal but it just doesn’t happen for some reason. Being part of the Trios Champions isn’t the move either, but at least he got a win in a fairly featured spot here.

Post match Marina Shafir runs in to go after Hobbs’ knee. Willow Nightingale runs in for the save. Yuta and Shafir bail, with Kris Statlander watching from the entrance to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I’ve said things like “that certainly felt like Collision” before and that’s the case again here. Most of the show was spent building up smaller stories and slightly touching on the bigger ones. That’s going to happen when so much happens on Dynamite and it would be nice to see some more balance between the two shows. As usual, it’s a show that you don’t really need to see but if you did watch, you’ll be fine.

Results
Megan Bayne b. Anna Jay – Fate’s Descent
Kyle Fletcher b. AR Fox – Brainbuster
Brody King/Tomohiro Ishii/Bandido b. Don Callis Family – Cannonball to Romero
Mike Bailey b. Blake Christian – Tornado Kick
Big Bill/Bryan Keith b. Gates Of Agony – Chokeslam to Kaun
Sons Of Texas b. Cru – GTH to Andretti
Powerhouse Hobbs b. Wheeler Yuta – Spinebuster

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

Dynamite
Date: May 14, 2025
Location: NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Taz, Excalibur

It’s Beach Break and that means it is time for the World Title to be in tone line. Jon Moxley is going to be defending the title inside of a steel cage against Samoa Joe, which has the potential to be a heck of a fight. Other than that, we don’t have much time left before Double Or Nothing and it’s time to build up the card. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Will Ospreay/Hangman Page vs. Don Callis Family,

They’re so excited about the opener that the entrances go to the split screen which is usually saved for commercials. Ospreay and Takeshita trade legsweeps for two each to start and it’s quickly off to Alexander. A middle rope dive misses for Ospreay and Alexander catches him with a flapjack to take over. Page gets drawn in so Alexander can choke on the ropes. That doesn’t last long as Ospreay gets up and hands it off to Page, who moonsaults off the apron onto Alexander.

Back in and a Death Valley Driver gets two on Takeshita, followed by a pop up sitout powerbomb for the same. Ospreay comes back in for a basement lariat into a standing shooting star press for two. Alexander is right back with a knockdown to the apron, setting up the running crossbody to the back.

We take a break and come back with Alexander grabbing a northern lights suplex for two on Page. Alexander pulls him into an ankle lock, which is broken up for the tag off to Ospreay to clean house. Page is back in to run Takeshita over, followed by back to back top rope dives to take the Family down again. Back in and Ospreay’s handspring is countered into a spinning torture rack bomb.

Takeshita gets a kind of weird Blue Thunder Bomb for two and it’s Page coming back in, with Alexander giving him a German suplex. Alexander rolls some German suplexes on Ospreay but he’s right back up with the Oscutter. Another one takes Alexander down for two but Page tags himself in, only to almost hit the Buckshot Lariat on Ospreay. Page and Ospreay get in an argument and the Hidden Blade almost hits Page. With the issues out of the way, the Buckshot Lariat and the Hidden Blade hit Alexander at the same time for the pin at 18:33.

Rating: B. This was the long form tag match that AEW tends to do well, especially with Ospreay and Page’s issues being advanced on the way to Double Or Nothing. That’s a nice way to go, as Page and Ospreay could go either way when we get there and they set things up here. Good opener here, with the four of them all working hard and getting a lot of time.

Post match Takeshita jumps both of them and the fight is on again wish Ospreay fighting back. Ospreay accidentally hits Page and immediately tries to calm things down, which doesn’t exactly work. Both leave in a huff. More logical and effective stuff here.

Video on Jon Moxley vs. Samoa Joe.

Top Flight and Leila Grey are sick of MJF and are ready to face the Hurt Syndicate tonight. The Sons Of Texas come in with Dustin Rhodes talking about how good Top Flight is. Oh and Sammy Guevara is there too.

Ricochet vs. Zack Gowen

Yes that Gowen and yes Ricochet has stolen his prosthetic leg. Gowen drops to the mat to start and Ricochet is already bailing to the floor. A boot through the ropes takes Ricochet down but he drops Gowen onto the barricade. We take a break and come back with Ricochet crotching himself on the ropes. He’s fine enough to counter a tornado DDT though and a springboard 450 crushes Gowen.

A shooting star press gives Ricochet two more and Vertigo connects for the same. The scissors are brought in but the referee takes it away, allowing Gowen to get in the prosthetic leg shot for two. The moonsault misses though and the Spirit Gun finishes for Ricochet at 7:22.

Rating: C. Naturally the first thing I thought of here was the episode of the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air when Ashley’s date wants to blow in her ear. Ashley gives a very confused response of “Why?” and the date realizes he has no idea why he’s asking about it other than he was told to. It’s the same thing here: why in the world is Zack Gowen wrestling in this spot in 2025? Ricochet stealing Gowen’s leg was a fine heel spot but putting him in the ring on Dynamite? Why?

Post match Ricochet gives him another Spirit Gun but Mark Briscoe makes the save.

MJF wants to be back on the top of the company and everyone knows he likes to work hard. That involves joining the Hurt Syndicate and he’ll make it happen. He’s asked about what happens if the team says no and it seems to make him think. The Hurt Syndicate comes in to say join them in the ring. MJF looks shaken, which you don’t see happen very often.

Hurt Syndicate vs. Top Flight

Non-title and MVP and Leila Grey are both here too. Top Flight starts fast but Lashley pulls Dante’s dive out of the air. Darius adds a dive of his own to break that up but Benjamin sends Darius flying with a suplex back inside. Lashley plants Darius on the apron and drops him with a neckbreaker, setting up Benjamin’s release German suplex. Dante tries a springboard to make the save but gets kneed out to the floor. The spear crushes Dante and the Hurt Lock finishes him off at 4:26.

Rating: C-. So Top Flight is leaving right? This was a total destruction that you do not see very often with actual established names. Top Flight got in pretty much nothing here and were completely decimated. And for what exactly? The sake of clearing the way for DUSTIN RHODES getting another big spot?

Post match the Sons Of Texas come out to say cut it out. The challenge is on but here is Cru to interrupt. They want the title match as well but Rhodes says not so fast. MVP calls it off and says make it a #1 contenders match instead. I have no idea why I would want to see that.

Post break and the Hurt Syndicate is still in the ring with MVP calling out MJF. There’s no MJF so Benjamin goes to the back to find him, with MJF hiding at the Gorilla Position. A rather scared looking MJF comes to the ring and it’s time for the official voting. MVP and Benjamin give him the thumbs up and that leaves Lashley. With his arm around MJF, Lashley teases the thumb going down and then puts it up, with MJF officially joining the team. Next week, the official contract signing. That’s a big surprise and I’m curious about the next step. I’d call that a good sign.

Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa vs. AZM vs. Skye Blue

Non-title Eliminator match and this is Blue’s first match in a very long time after breaking her ankle. We see a clip of AZM winning the NJPW Women’s Strong Openweight Title from Mercedes Mone (albeit in a triple threat with Mone not factoring into the decision). It’s a brawl to start with Storm and Blue fighting to the floor. Shirakawa and AZM trade rollups for two each, with Shirakawa’s dance being cut off.

The pairings trade places and Blue hits a springboard tornado DDT to drop Storm. Back up and Shirakawa and Storm have a staredown, which quickly breaks down into an exchange of forearms. AZM comes in as Shirakawa ties up Storm’s legs, only to suplex AZM at the same time. Storm makes it to the ropes to break the Figure Four and goes outside, with Shirakawa taking her out with a dive. AZM hits a dive of her own and Blue takes all three of them out with her own dive.

We take a break and come back the four of them fighting in the ring until Storm and AZM are dropped. That’s broken up as well and Storm hits a series of running hip attacks in the corner. Shirakawa kicks Blue in the head but gets suplexed by Storm. The chokebomb plants Blue but she’s fine enough to come back with Code Blue. AZM comes off the top for the save and plants Blue for two. Storm Zero gets two on AZM, only for Shirakawa to small package Storm for the pin at 12:12.

Rating: B-. Good, action packed match here, though I have no idea why Blue was brought back in her hometown and put in the middle of a four way match where pretty much anyone could have been in the spot. Shirakawa is at least someone the fans know and who has a bit of a history around here so making her the next #1 contender is a good enough way to go.

Post match the title match is set for Double Or Nothing and arguing ensues. Cue Mercedes Mone to jump AZM from behind and put her in the Bank Statement. Jamie Hayter makes the save. Let me guess: Mone gets a chance to win her title back on Dynamite or Collision against someone who has pretty much no history around here but Mone wants to do it so here we are.

Commentary pays tribute to Sabu, with Taz breaking down in tears.

MJF can’t believe he’s part of the team and MVP is pleased…but MJF calls in his lawyer Mark Sterling to check out the contract. MVP doesn’t seem pleased.

Here is Nigel McGuinness to address the FTR situation. After apologizing to Tony Schiavone (in the ring with him), he asks Daniel Garcia to come out for an apology as well. McGuinness immediately apologizes to Garcia for costing him the chance to win a match and promises it won’t happen again. Garcia says McGuinness did exactly what he should have done and he wants McGuinness to join him for a fight.

Cue Stokely Hathaway to interrupt and ask what is McGuinness’ problem. McGuinness didn’t like someone getting physical with him but Hathaway doesn’t accept. He issues the challenge to a match with FTR, but McGuinness keeps it simple: he and Garcia barely know each other and FTR are a great team so it wouldn’t be close.

Garcia doesn’t care and says he’s overcome the odds for his entire career and wants McGuinness to take the mat. Hathaway taunts McGuinness, saying he can’t beat FTR when he barely beat hepatitis. That makes McGuinness get way more serious but here is FTR from underneath the ring to jump the good guys. Matt Menard makes the save with a crowbar. That’s an interesting way to go and I kind of love McGuinness being realistic about the whole thing.

Here’s what’s coming on Collision.

The cage is lowered (and it comes down fast).

AEW World Title: Jon Moxley vs. Samoa Joe

Joe is challenging in a cage. They go with the grappling to start and go nowhere so it’s time to slug it out. Joe sends him into the cage before it’s off to the chopping. A running knee in the corner rocks Moxley and a big elbow gets two. Moxley starts going after the leg to take over, meaning it’s time for some cranking. A Figure Four has Joe in more trouble for a bit, only for Moxley to get back up for a big boot.

We take a break and come back with the Death Riders at ringside. Moxley and Joe are busted open as they slug it out as the Opps are here too. Joe wins the slugout and hits some atomic drops into the big boot and backsplash for two. The powerbomb into the STF into the crossface has Moxley in trouble but he makes the rope. For a break. In a cage match.

Back up and Moxley’s clotheslines rock Joe, setting up a cutter for two. A cross armbreaker is blocked so Moxley goes with the bulldog choke. That’s broken up as well and Joe grabs the Koquina Clutch, meaning it’s time for everyone on the floor to brawl. Joe lets go of the Clutch though and a guy in a black hoodie slides in the briefcase so Moxley can knock Joe out to retain at 14:57.

Rating: B-. This wasn’t a bad match at all, but it felt like a countdown to whatever way there was for Moxley to escape with the title again. In this case it was someone else interfering to take Joe out, possibly giving him a new opponent. Hopefully Moxley loses the thing at All In, but at this point I’m not getting my hopes up.

And it’s Gabe Kidd from New Japan. The cage is raised and everyone else gets in a big brawl on the floor. Cue the Young Bucks to offer a handshake to Moxley but cue Kenny Omega to go after the Death Riders. Kazuchika Okada takes Omega out and throws him inside as the cage is lowered again. Mike Bailey comes out and brawls to the back with Okada but the big beatdown is on.

Swerve Strickland comes in and climbs the cage to dive onto the villains. The cage is raised so the Death Riders and company leave. Strickland issues the challenge for Anarchy In The Arena at Double Or Nothing. That’s a tradition for the show and it lets Moxley keep the title until he gets to a new challenger at All In.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show where the bigger parts worked well but there was a stretch that really didn’t work so well. It did a nice job of getting things ready for Double Or Nothing so we’ll call those segments a success. I’m not sure if this really felt like a special, though the main event did feel big. It’s just time to get beyond the Death Riders stuff though, as it stopped being interesting a long, long time ago.

Results
Will Ospreay/Hangman Page b. Don Callis Family – Buckshot Lariat/Hidden Blade to Alexander
Ricochet b. Zack Gowen – Spirit Gun
Hurt Syndicate b. Top Flight – Hurt Lock to Dante
Mina Shirakawa b. AZM, Skye Blue and Toni Storm – Small package to Storm
Jon Moxley b. Samoa Joe – Briefcase to the face

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

Collision
Date: May 8, 2025
Location: Masonic Temple Theater, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re live on Thursday for the sake of this weekend’s WWE Backlash event and that’s a nice thing to see. Thursday is a far better night to air the show, just for the sake of not having it on the weekend for a change. Hopefully AEW has a big lineup to take advantage of the opportunity that they have. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Here is Toni Storm, in a box seat and naturally with a spotlight on her. Storm: “So many men have taken a shot at me in here, I feel like Abraham Lincoln.” She talks about her first time being messy but it was something she wanted to do more often. Eventually it resulted in objects being added and filthy perverts watching. Of course she’s talking about fighting for her Women’s Title so get her someone ready for next week, because she isn’t waiting for a Hayter or a CEO. That makes sense as All In is a long way off before Storm can have another big title shot.

Paragon is disappointed with their loss to FTR last week but they’re still a great team. Adam Cole is glad they know they’re still great but the Grizzled Young Veterans interrupt. The Veterans think the Paragon has gone soft so they’re ready to fight anytime. The Veterans still work here?

Ricochet vs. Angelico

Serpentico is here with Angelico. Ricochet takes him down for an early rollup but Angelico is back up to crank on the arm. Angelico even rubs the bald head and grabs something like an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and Ricochet sends sends him to the floor for a rather nice dive.

We take a break and come back with Ricochet missing a charge into the corner. A spinning lifting Downward Spiral gives Angelico a breather and the comeback is on. Another modified abdominal stretch lets Angelico slap him in the back of the head, followed by a half crab. Ricochet makes the rope and is right back up with a springboard clothesline, followed by the Spirit Gun for the win at 9:23.

Rating: C+. Angelico is someone who can work an entertaining style and make anyone look good, which was the case with Ricochet here. That’s something Ricochet can use and it made for a nice opener here. It’s not like this was ever in any serious doubt, but it could have been far worse.

Post match Ricochet mocks the fans, who should be cheering for him. He’s only been here for less than a year and has already beaten most of the AEW favorites. Ricochet sees Zack Gowen in the crowd and remembers being a big fan growing up. We get some one legged jokes and then beats up security, offering commentary at the same time. Ricochet whips out the scissors and cuts one of the guards’ hair, which brings Gowen into the ring. Gowen takes the scissors but gets dropped as well, with Ricochet ripping off the prosthetic leg. Ricochet mock limping using the leg is quite the heel move.

Don Callis Family/RPG Vice vs. Outrunners/AR Fox/Bandido

Bandido and Fletcher start things off with Fletcher shrugging off some chops and running him over. A headscissors and dropkick work a bit better for Bandido but Beretta comes in to take Bandido down. Romero comes in and gets taken down by Fox, who gets to clean house. The Outrunners get in their double teamings as well but Archer plants both of them with a double chokeslam as we take a break.

Back with Floyd fighting out of trouble and grabbing a small package for two. Bandido comes in and gets taken down by RPG Vice as everything breaks down. Fox comes back in and steps onto Magnum’s shoulders for a big flip dive to the floor. Back in and the Mega Powers Elbow hits Fletcher, with Bandido’s frog splash getting two as Archer makes the save.

Fletcher plants Bandido for the double down and it’s back to Fox to pick up the pace again. A hanging DDT drops Archer and a skinning the cat into a slingshot dropkick hits Beretta in the corner (that was sweet). RPG Vice is back up with a double jumping knee to Bandido and Archer chokeslams Bandido off the top. A Jackyl Driver (something like a double piledriver) from RPG Vice finishes Fox at 10:42.

Rating: B-. This was quite the lineup for a match and at least Bandido didn’t lose. I could absolutely see Bandido defending against one of the members of the Family at Supercard Of Honor and there are far worse ideas. Maybe this is just a one off match, but at least we got to see that rather cool finish from RPG Vice. It’s not like they have much else going for them so maybe it’s a new way for them to go.

Video on Samoa Joe vs. Jon Moxley next week on Dynamite.

Moxley is ready to fight inside the cage. There is no one on the planet better at taking a beating than him. How long will it last? Moxley can take it and he’s coming out as the champion because he isn’t like the rest of the world.

Anthony Bowens vs. Lee Johnson

Billy Gunn and Blake Christian are here too. Johnson doesn’t seem to think much of Bowens to start, earning himself a bunch of chops in the corner. They go outside where Johnson backs into Gunn for some fear. Bowens strikes away again and a top rope Fameasser connects back inside. A Christian distraction lets Johnson get in a running flip dive though and a superkick back inside takes Bowens down again. Bowens fights back but gets distracted by Christian, allowing Johnson to get two off a rollup. That doesn’t seem to matter though as Bowens hits the discus forearm for the pin at 4:26.

Rating: C. Not much to see here, but Bowens stacking up wins is a good way to go. I’m not sure if he’s going to be a star, but he’s certainly at least worth seeing what’s there. He has a good look and is solid enough in the ring so maybe there’s something around. Just give him a slightly better caliber of opponent.

Post match Christian goes in to go after Bowens and gets tossed by Gunn. Bowens talks about his five tools and we get an old school scissoring.

Here are the Gates Of Agony for a chat. They waste no time in calling out Big Bill and Bryan Keith for the fight, which is on in a hurry. Liona misses a charge and goes over the barricade but Kaun crucifix bombs Keith off the ramp and through some tables. Security comes out but Kaun spears Bill off the ramp through some more tables to wrap it up.

Video on Megan Bayne vs. Anna Jay, with Harley Cameron and Penelope Ford there too.

Video on Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale. They were friends, then they were fighting, now it’s kind of in the middle.

Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale

Nightingale powers out of a headlock to start and throws Statlander down without much trouble. Statlander takes out the leg and hits a basement crossbody before it’s time to trade big chops. A pinfall reversal sequence gets two each until Statlander knocks her down for two. Nightingale sends her outside and hits a Cannonball off the apron to send us to a break.

Back with a double clothesline putting both of them down for a double breather. The fans think it’s awesome as Nightingale spinebusters her down for two, followed by the rapid fire clotheslines in the corner. Statlander’s ax kick gets two and Nightingale’s Death Valley Driver gets the same. Statlander grabs a top rope superplex and they’re both down again. One heck of a clothesline takes Statlander down and she gets knocked outside. Cue Marina Shafir to choke Nightingale with a chain (Statlander didn’t see it) so Staturday Night Fever can finish Nightingale at 12:21.

Rating: B. Dang this was starting to get good when one of the Death Riders managed to screw it up. That’s the story of AEW over the last few months and Shafir did it again here. Hopefully one of these two (or both) gets to move up the ladder, because they’re far too talented to be stuck in the middle of the pack for so long.

Skye Blue is back next week.

We look at Hangman Page and Will Ospreay’s face to face meeting last night on Dynamite.

Don Callis Family vs. Dark Order

The Family jumps them before the bell and the destruction is on fast. Even Callis himself gets in some choking on the floor, leaving Reynolds to get dropped face first onto the apron. Alexander’s running crossbody to the back sends Reynolds to the floor. Back in and the Blue Thunder Bomb is broken up and Reynolds dives over to Uno for the tag. That earns him an electric chair toss into a flying knee from Takeshita and the C4 Spike finishes for Alexander at 2:30. Total destruction.

Video on MJF trying to join the Hurt Syndicate.

Mike Bailey vs. Dralistico

Dralistico slaps away in the corner to start before Bailey jumps around a lot and kicks him in the chest. Bailey knocks him to the floor for an Asai moonsault but Dralistico grabs a running hurricanrana into the steps. We take a break and come back with Dralistico choking him on the ropes. Bailey strikes away in the corner but Dralistico is right back with his own forearms.

The bouncing kicks rock Dralistico and a superkick puts him down, with Bailey needing a breather. The running shooting star press gives Bailey two but Dralistico kicks the leg out and gets two off la majistral. A crucifix bomb puts Bailey down but he pulls himself up and hits a quick Canadian Destroyer. Dralistico sends him to the apron, where Bailey is right back with the moonsault knees to the ribs. Back in and the tornado kick finishes for Bailey at 9:00.

Rating: B-. This was the video game match of the show, with both of them getting to do their rather ridiculous spots. Dralistico is someone who can be put out there without losing his status so it works well for Bailey. Odds are Bailey is going to be getting a bigger spot in the near future, which makes sense as he’s perfect for AEW, even if his style can be a bit tough to buy at times.

Post match Rush comes out to stare Bailey down.

Daniel Garcia vs. Dax Harwood

Cash Wheeler and Stokely Hathaway are here with Harwood. Garcia drives him into the corner to start for a mostly clean break before Harwood does the same to him. This time it’s a right hand to drop Garcia, who tackles him down and hammers away. A running neckbreaker cuts Garcia off again but the piledriver is blocked. Another attempt on the floor gets the same result, but this time Garcia catapults him into the post.

Harwood is busted open and Garcia hammers away, setting up the running shots against the barricade. Wheeler offers a distraction though and Harwood is back up with a clothesline for a breather. Back in and Garcia grabs a quick Dragontamer but Hathaway offers a distraction, allowing Wheeler to hit a quick DDT on the floor. Cue Matt Menard to chase Wheeler to the back and we take a break.

Back with Garcia firing off a bunch of chops against the ropes and hitting a running clothesline. Some right hands in the corner rock Harwood but the turnbuckle pad gets pulled off. Another Dragontamer attempt is cut off and Garcia is kicked into the corner, setting up the slingshot powerbomb to give Harwood two. For some reason Harwood goes up top so Garcia superplexes him from the top, then rolls his hips and takes Harwood up for two more top rope superplexes for two, with Harwood getting his foot on the rope.

A fired up Garcia kicks him out to the floor and they fight out into the crowd. Harwood goes over to the commentary desk and slaps Nigel McGuinness’ headset off. Nigel gets up and teases fighting but backs down, saying he isn’t a wrestler anymore. Harwood shoves him into his chair and leaves, which is enough for Nigel to get in the ring. Wheeler is back and the big brawl is enough for the match to be thrown out at 17:39.

Rating: B-. Much like the women’s match earlier, they were having a good match but then it kind of fell apart at the end. What matters the most is that the ending keeps things going and the story has a few ways to go. It might not be the most thrilling story in the world, but Nigel being involved does make things more interesting.

Nigel, Garcia and Menard clear the ring to end the show, giving us one of the weirdest trios I’ve seen in a good while.

Overall Rating: B-. I’m not sure what to make of this show. The action was good and a bunch of stories were advanced, but there was pretty much nothing on this show that felt important. You had matches involving Angelico, RPG Vice/AR Fox, Lee Johnson, the Dark Order and one half of FTR. That’s not exactly a top level lineup and I’m not sure why you would keep things that low level when you have such a better time slot than usual. It’s not a bad show, but I was expecting a lot more given the opportunity that they had.

Results
Ricochet b. Angelico – Spirit Gun
Don Callis Family/RPG Vice b. Outrunners/AR Fox/Bandido – Jackyl Driver to Fox
Anthony Bowens b. Lee Johnson – Discus forearm
Kris Statlander b. Willow Nightingale – Staturday Night Fever
Don Callis Family b. Dark Order – C4 Spike to Reynolds
Mike Bailey b. Dralistico – Tornado Kick
Dax Harwood vs. Daniel Garcia went to a no contest

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

Dynamite
Date: May 7, 2025
Location: Masonic Temple Theater, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur

We’re less than a month away from Double Or Nothing, but before we get there, we have a World Title showdown between AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and Samoa Joe. That’s going to take place inside a steel cage next week in Chicago, so it’s time to really set things up a bit more. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, I believe with a new theme song. Thankfully not I’m So Excited again.

Here is Hangman Page for a chat. He has no idea why anyone would cheer for him after everything he has done but they certainly seem happy to see him. Page talks about the horrible things he has done to Swerve Strickland and how he was so close to closure but it never came. He didn’t know why, and then he channeled that anger at everyone around him. While he can never forget what Strickland did, he can put it behind him. That brings him to Double Or Nothing, where he will face Will Ospreay for a World Title shot.

Cue Ospreay, who says this is the first time they have ever actually met. Ospreay understands what this means to Page and talks about Page’s history here in AEW. Then he lost it and things went bad, but last week, for the first time in a good while, Page smiled again. While a lot of people want to see Page be happy again, Ospreay isn’t losing at Double Or Nothing. Ospreay has been doing all of Page’s jobs, from meet and greets to media to photos with kids. Just because Page is smiling again doesn’t mean he can take that spot back, because that doesn’t mean cowboy s*** to Ospreay.

This is about his ascension…and here is the Don Callis Family to interrupt. Callis calls Ospreay an idiot for leaving the team so Ospreay issues the challenge for a tag match…but Page doesn’t seem interested. That’s fine with Callis, who says the match is on for next week, assuming Page doesn’t have another mental breakdown before then. The Ospreay vs. Page stuff was good with Ospreay’s promo being rather strong, but as usual, Callis brings everything down several notches.

FTR and Stokely Hathaway comes up to commentary and mocks Tony Schiavone, who is almost ready to fight Hathaway. FTR cuts that off and is ready to beat up Daniel Garcia on Collision. They’ll see Nigel McGuinness tomorrow night too.

Harley Cameron and Anna Jay have the T & A (tenacity and aggression) to win tonight. Jay thinks they have the more common definition as well, with Cameron agreeing.

Toni Storm vs. Thunder Rosa vs. Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford

Non-title eliminator match and there’s no Cameron, even though Jay was riding her to the ring. Jay and Ford brawl to the floor to start and Rosa hits a running dropkick against the ropes for two on Storm. Back up and Storm hammers on Jay until Ford breaks it up. Ford takes both of them down with a moonsault to the floor but Rosa hits a dive onto all three.

We take a break and come back with Jay dropping Rosa for two before suplexing Ford on the floor. Ford is right back up to dive onto all three of them but Storm hip attacks Ford and Jay in the corner. Cue Megan Bayne to take out everyone but Ford, including a sitout powerbomb to Jay. Harley Cameron comes in with a pipe to clear the ring but Storm gets the TCM Chickenwing to make Ford give up at 10:53.

Rating: B-. It wasn’t bad, but Storm running through three potential challengers is quite the interesting way to go. At the same time, having two people interfere in the match made it even messier than it was coming in, which wasn’t exactly necessary. Having Storm in the ring so often because she doesn’t have a match (yet) at Double Or Nothing is kind of an odd move, but at least she’s not losing.

Cru is in the crowd.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate for a chat. They are the best tag team in AEW so who is here to challenge them? Cue Top Flight to interrupt, saying they know they’re underdogs but they’re ready to show they belong again. MJF, far less formally dressed than usual, jumps Top Flight from behind and lays them both out. Lashley, who looks pleased, seems to be ready to give MJF an answer next week. It’s nice to see the big moment coming up and I’m not sure where it’s going.

The Elite and Ricochet are ready for their matches tonight.

Ring Of Honor TV Title: Nick Wayne vs. ???

Wayne is defending against someone from Christian Cage’s (here with the rest of the Patriarchy) past. In this case it’s…hometown boy Rhino! Wayne actually takes him down and grabs a chinlock, only to miss a standing moonsault. The Patriarchy’s distraction doesn’t work as Wayne walks into a spinebuster, only to avoid the Gore. The Killswitch gives Wayne the clean pin at 3:20.

Rating: C. Well that was certainly a thing. I’m not sure why you would bring in someone like Rhino and have him lose clean like this but odds are this is only going to be a one or two off appearance for Rhino. The match was nothing, but Rhino continues to be someone who can do his basic stuff well, with the fans being behind him of course.

Post match Cage goes to put the belt on Wayne but then throws it down before leaving on his own.

Rush wants revenge on Kevin Knight for costing him $100k on Collision.

Mike Bailey/Swerve Strickland/Mark Briscoe vs. Young Bucks/Ricochet

Strickland and Ricochet start things off with Strickland striking away. Bailey and Briscoe come in for some shots of their own but the villains fight up and strike a pose. That earns then a trip out to the floor but the Bucks leave Ricochet on his own in a pretty on point move. Stereo dives take out Ricochet and the Bucks, setting up Redneck Kung Fu on Ricochet back inside. The Bucks are right back up with stereo dives to the floor and we take a break.

Back with Briscoe fighting out of trouble and bringing Bailey in to fire off the kicks. The shooting star press misses though and everything breaks down. We hit the parade of knockdowns and after a breather, Bailey’s diving tag is cut off. Bailey kicks the Bucks away though and it’s off to Strickland to clean house. Ricochet gets powerbombed and a series of knockdowns sets up the Froggy Bow for two on Matt, with Nick making the save. With the other four on the floor, Matt rolls Strickland up for the pin at 14:16.

Rating: C+. And that’s a Young Bucks match. They get to do all their stuff, the survive a bunch of moves, and they win in the end. This comes after they get to do their usual promo about being awesome and then they still don’t get much in the way of comeuppance. But I’m sure it’s coming any day now.

MJF interrupts Will Ospreay and they argue a bit, with MJF wanting to face him again to show that Ospreay isn’t on his level. Ospreay says he is on another level.

We get a sitdown interview with Jamie Hayter, who doesn’t think Mercedes Mone is much like Owen Hart. She wants to know the real Mone, who says that Hayter is like her. That doesn’t work for Hayter, who doesn’t have the same resume as Mone, but she has integrity, grit and truth. This is about showing Mone that she isn’t everything she thinks she is because Mone is looking past her. Mone runs in for a cheap shot and the chase is on. They brawl out into the arena and Mone runs off again, only to come back and grab the Bank Statement. They’re trying with Hayter but this match still doesn’t feel very important.

Willow Nightingale wants a title shot but Kris Statlander interrupts. Nightingale doesn’t want to talk to her, but they can have a match on Collision.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Kevin Knight

Non-title eliminator match. Hold on though as Rush jumps Knight from behind during the entrance and beats him down but here is Mike Bailey to interrupt. Granted that means posing at Rush while he chokes Knight, because Bailey isn’t all that smart. Knight wants to fight anyway and Okada hits a DDT for a fast two. A Flapjack gives Okada two more and he sends Knight outside as we take a break.

Back with Knight grabbing a quick powerbomb for two but Okada slams him down again. The top rope elbow connects and Okada gets to flip off the crowd. Some rollups give Knight two each and he scores with a dropkick. Okada dropkicks him out of the air though and the Rainmaker finishes Knight at 8:30.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have time to do much here and the story was that Knight was banged up to start. The match wound up being pretty good as they’re both talented, but there is only so much you can do with that little time in the first place, plus a break. Okada still seems destined to face Kenny Omega at All In, so this was just a week to give him something to do on the way to the big showdown.

Post match the beatdown stays on but Bailey runs in for the save.

The Don Callis Family tells the Outrunners to get some partners to face the Don Callis Family.

The Hurt Syndicate’s lawyer tells Bobby Lashley to not say anything about MJF.

Samoa Joe vs. Claudio Castagnoli

After conducting the fans in their JOE’S GONNA KILL YOU chants, Joe drives him into the corner and then takes it to the floor. Castagnoli gets sent into the barricade but then does the same to Joe to take over. Joe fights back and they get inside again where the beating continues on Castagnoli.

An arm snap over the top rope cuts Joe off though and we take a break. Back with Joe fighting out of a cobra clutch and hammering away. A powerslam into a running big boot gets two on Castagnoli, who is right back with the springboard spinning uppercut. That’s fine with Joe, who pulls him into the Koquina Clutch for the tap at 10:42.

Rating: B-. Much like the previous match, they only had so much time here and the match was more about setting up Joe for next week’s title match by having him take out a member of the Death Riders. Granted that’s pretty much what happened with Cope but Joe is a bit more intimidating. I don’t buy Joe having much of a chance to win the title, but at least he makes for an intimidating presence.

Post match the Death Riders come to the ring but Powerhouse Hobbs runs in with a chair for the save. Castagnoli gets beaten up to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This wasn’t so much a big show as much as it was the show getting us ready for the big show and that’s not a bad thing. It helps when most of the matches were good and they set some things up for later. With so many major events coming up, including next week’s Dynamite, you need a show like this and it worked well enough.

Results
Toni Storm b. Thunder Rosa, Anna Jay and Penelope Ford – TCM Chickenwing to Ford
Nick Wayne b. Rhino – Killswitch
Young Bucks/Ricochet b. Mike Bailey/Swerve Strickland/Mark Briscoe – Rollup to Strickland
Kazuchika Okada b. Kevin Knight – Rainmaker
Samoa Joe b. Claudio Castagnoli – Koquina Clutch

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

Collision
Date: May 3, 2025
Location: Adrian Phillips Theater At Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Adam Cole

We’re just a few weeks away from Double Or Nothing and the card is starting to come together. A lot of that was done earlier this week on Dynamite, but tonight is going to be focused more on the in-ring side of things. This week featured a 2/3 falls match between FTR and the Paragon, which should be rather snazzy. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Adam Cole joins commentary.

Toni Storm vs. Lady Frost

Non-title. They fight over a headlock to start until Frost headscissors her out to the floor. A flip dive off the apron hits Storm and they go back inside as the camera is a bit lower than usual. Storm hits a backbreaker but a chokebomb is countered into a rollup for two. Frost cannonballs her in the corner and a spinning crossbody gets two more. Storm chokebombs her out of the corner for a near fall but gets caught with the Chiller Driller for another near fall. Back up and Storm sends her into the corner for the hip attack, setting up the TCM Chickenwing (oh dear) for the win at 5:37.

Rating: C+. Storm having a new hold to use is a fine way to go and it’s nice to see Frost getting in some ring time. She’s not likely to be a top star but the athleticism and unique look are enough to warrant a few more shots. This was little more than a way to keep Storm warm before her eventual next title defense and that’s a fine use of a few minutes.

Post match Storm says a lot of people are coming for her but she comes for everyone. She runs outside and says she’s out here on the Boardwalk, seemingly inviting challengers. Well that was different.

Jon Moxley, with Marina Shafir, says the people around Samoa Joe are dropping like flies. Joe is beyond reproach in wrestling but so was Bryan Danielson. If you want to lock Moxley inside a cage go ahead, because he’s good at his job. Joe better know what he’s doing.

Sammy Guevara vs. Rush vs. Kevin Knight vs. AR Fox

Dustin Rhodes is here with Guevara (who is in his first AEW match since October) and the winner of this gets $100,000. Rush and Knight clear the ring to start and slug it out with Rush taking over off a headbutt. Back up and Knight grabs a slam before stereo dropkicks give us a standoff. Fox and Guevara come in with Fox hitting a slingshot hilo for two as we take a break.

Back with Fox DDTing a charging Knight onto the apron as Hologram is watching from the rafters. Fox dives onto Knight but Rush is back up to send various people into various objects. A charging Knight is sent crashing onto the ramp and the two of them brawl to the back. Back in and Fox gives Guevara Lo Mein Pain into a 450 for two. The Swanton misses though and Guevara hits the GTH for the pin at 10:36.

Rating: B-. Well ok then. Guevara hasn’t been around in over six months and just pops up to win a match here. This feels like the kind of match designed for Knight, who could use a spotlight, to win but instead we’ll go with Guevara. I’m not opposed to having Guevara around more often, but bringing the ROH Tag Team Titles up with him isn’t a great thing to see as there are already way too many belts floating around.

Post match Guevara points to Adam Cole, who seems interested.

Samoa Joe wanted the title match to be in a cage because he knows Jon Moxley doesn’t have the heart to face him man to man.

Video on FTR vs. the Paragon.

Megan Bayne vs. Harley Cameron

Penelope Ford is here with Bayne. Cameron jumps her to start and hammers away in the corner, which doesn’t get Cameron very far. A step up enziguri connects for Cameron but Bayne is right back with an overhead belly to belly. Another suplex has Cameron in trouble but she comes back with Eat Defeat. Bayne runs her over though and we take a break. Back with Cameron biting the neck (ok then) and hitting a tornado DDT for two. Bayne’s Falcon Arrow gets two and a sitout powerbomb cuts off the comeback attempt for two. Cameron slugs away but dives into Face’s Descent for the pin at 9:18.

Rating: C. This was about all it needed to be, as Bayne gets to look like a dominant monster and crush the popular star in Cameron. The fans aren’t going to be happy with seeing one of their favorites lose and it’s going to take someone more special to stop Bayne. Good thinking here, even if the match was just ok.

Post match the beatdown continues so Anna Jay runs in with a 2×4 to Bayne’s back. It doesn’t seem to hurt her but Bayne does at least leave.

Here are Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir for a chat (rather than the scheduled match). Moxley isn’t sure what Samoa Joe is talking about because Joe thinks he’s going to beat Moxley up. The reality is that Moxley has faced every supposed tough guy in wrestling from every promotion. Those people realize they’re in a war, but the reality is Moxley and the Death Riders know they have been in a war the entire time. I have no idea why Moxley needed a second promo.

The Outrunners are ready for Roppongi Vice.

Josh Alexander vs. Brody King

Alexander grinds on a headlock to start but King sends him into the corner and unloads with some chops. They head outside with King hitting a Death Valley Driver, followed by a suplex. Alexander moves before he can get crushed against the barricade but gets punched out of the air. Back up and Alexander drops him onto the apron and we take a break.

Back with the two of them chopping it out, with King getting the better of the beating. Alexander takes the straps down and tells King to chop harder, which is fine with King. That earns King a torture rack slam but King is back with a swinging Boss Man Slam to put Alexander down again.

King Cannonballs him in the corner, setting up a top rope superplex to drop Alexander for two as we have one minute left. Alexander starts going after the leg but can’t keep the ankle lock. King is back up with a German suplex and the Ganso Bomb but Alexander rolls outside for the time limit draw at 15:00.

Rating: B-. This was pretty close to a hoss fight, though I’m a little surprised to see the draw. Alexander is still new around here and needs a few big wins, while King is mostly used to put others over. That being said, I do like seeing King avoid another loss, as he’s had WAY too many of those in the last few months. Let him look better, but maybe try it with a bigger win next time.

Post match King goes after Alexander and gets in a brawl with Lance Archer for a bonus.

Video on Cru.

Here is Max Caster, who says we just got a fifteen minute draw but no one could hang with him for five minutes. Tonight’s challenge has a five minute time limit and, after Caster nearly cracks up doing his chant, we’re ready to go.

Daniel Garcia vs. Max Caster

A fisherman’s neckbreaker and a piledriver finish Caster at 59 seconds.

Post match Garcia says he’ll deal with FTR after their match.

Anthony Bowens is ready to move on but Blake Christian and Lee Johnson come in to say they’re both better than Bowens. That’s fine with Bowens, who is ready to mollywop either of them.

Gates Of Agony vs. Ray Jazz/Goldy

Pounce, running shots in the corner, Open The Gates finishes Jazz at 1:17.

Post match Bryan Keith and Big Bill pop up on screen from the parking lot to call out the Gates Of Agony. Post break the Gates show up in the parking lot and the brawl is on. A local wrestler gets jumped as well…and we just leave with the fight continuing.

FTR vs. Paragon

2/3 falls and Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. Wheeler slips out of O’Reilly’s choke to start before having to duck a kick to the head. Harwood comes in to chop away at Strong, which Cole would not recommend. It’s back to O’Reilly to fire off kicks at both of them as everything breaks down. A series of strikes takes FTR down and an ankle lock with a grapevine makes Harwood tap at 4:48.

We take a break and come back with FTR hitting a double clothesline for two on O’Reilly. Wheeler grabs a chinlock but O’Reilly fights up and hands it back to Strong to pick up the pace. The running forearms in the ropes set up the belly to back faceplant for two on Harwood. Everything breaks down and FTR are put in the same chair on the floor (and it breaks), allowing O’Reilly to hit a dropkick from the apron.

Harwood and Wheeler fight into the crowd but Wheeler is back in to take out Strong’s leg. We take another break and come back with O’Reilly cleaning house but Harwood breaks up an ankle lock. Harwood comes in and gets backdropped but is right back with the Shatter Machine to pin Strong and tie it up at 17:32.

Another Shatter Machine is broken up though and Paragon goes high/low on Harwood for the pin…but Wheeler puts the foot on the rope so it’s waved off. O’Reilly makes Wheeler tap to an ankle lock, which means nothing because Wheeler isn’t legal. Instead Wheeler rakes the eyes and Harwood grabs a rollup with trunks for two. Another Shatter Machine finishes O’Reilly at 20:02.

Rating: B. FTR has to be next for the Hurt Syndicate right? Or at least one of the next, as it isn’t like there are many dominant teams around here. It would be nice to see FTR getting the shot and this was a good way to build them up. Paragon looked good enough here as usual, which shouldn’t be a surprise, and it isn’t like they have anything important going on at the moment.

Post match Daniel Garcia comes out with a crowbar but says he respects FTR too much to do that. Now though, he’s stuck looking for answers and he wants to beat them out of FTR next week.

Overall Rating: B-. The main event was the boost that the show needed, but this was still one of the shows that didn’t feel overly important. It felt like a show that kind of came and went on the way to something bigger down the line. Some stuff was advanced or set up so it certainly didn’t feel like a waste of time, but it was very Collision-esque, in that it didn’t feel like a show you needed to see.

Results
Toni Storm b. Lady Frost – TCM Chickenwing
Sammy Guevara b. Rush, Kevin Knight and AR Fox – GTH to Fox
Megan Bayne b. Harley Cameron – Fate’s Descent
Brody King vs. Josh Alexander went to a time limit draw
Daniel Garcia b. Max Caster – Piledriver
Open The Gates b. Ray Jazz/Goldy – Open The Gates to Jazz
FTR b. Paragon 2-1

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

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

Dynamite
Date: April 30, 2025
Location: Chartway Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We are less than a month away from Double Or Nothing and in this case it is time to start finalizing the card. Another big piece of that will be covered this week with the other semifinal of the Men’s Owen Hart Tournament. Other than that, we are probably going to get some more on the way to Samoa Joe vs. Jon Moxley for the World Title. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Mark Briscoe/Kenny Omega/Kevin Knight/Mike Bailey vs. Kazuchika Okada/Young Bucks/Ricochet

Commentary says there has been nonstop talk about Omega and Okada being in a match together since this was announced. The multiple times that Schiavone brought it up on Collision counts I guess, as I’m only so interested in seeing another pairing between two people whose last singles match was almost seven years ago. Omega and Okada start things off but all four villains come in to beat Omega down instead. Nick pokes Omega in the eye and Matt snaps the arm over the top rope a few times.

Ricochet’s top rope stomp on the arm lets Matt do the arm snap again (while not looking). Naturally Omega reverses and makes Matt do it to Ricochet (the classics always work). It’s off to Bailey to kick away at Ricochet and a double basement dropkick….well it only half connects as Knight misses his version. Briscoe comes in and gets hit in the face, allowing Matt to come in. That’s fine with Matt, who kicks him in the face to even things up and it’s time for everyone to miss an elbow drop.

That gives us an eight way standoff (Schiavone LOVES this) and the good guys clear the ring as we take an early break. Back with Bailey slipping out of a powerbomb attempt but Ricochet knocks all of his partners off the apron. Ricochet can’t hit a brainbuster and neither can Okada so all of the villains come in. They all shout BRAINBUSTER and have them reversed into suplexes to the floor.

Stereo dives take them out again, leaving Bailey to missile dropkick Okada down back inside. Knight’s spinning splash hits Matt’s knees but it’s back to Omega to clean house. The Bucks get in a double shot to Omega’s bad stomach though and we take another break. Back again with Matt planting Omega with a DDT but Ricochet gets taken down. Briscoe comes in to clean house and a fisherman’s buster gets two on Okada.

The Jay Driller is countered into an Air Raid Crash onto the knee but Bailey kicks a middle finger away. Knight is back in for a double Pele Kick to the Bucks and now we get the Omega vs. Okada slugout. The One Winged Angel is broken up and Okada hits the dropkick. Everyone else comes back in and Matt/Ricochet go up top for a double top rope backsplash/double spike Tombstone for two each.

Briscoe is back in with the Jay Driller for two on Okada with Ricochet making the save. Ricochet gets dropkicked onto a pile on the floor and Omega hits a big running flip dive. Excalibur: “You don’t have to go to Reseda, California for this one!” Then Okada hits the Rainmaker to finish Briscoe at 26:25.

Rating: B+. Yeah this is where AEW tends to shine, as they know how to have a bunch of people go nuts in the ring and do all kinds of stuff. It’s a total AEW party match and that’s always going to be entertaining. Focusing it around Omega vs. Okada is a fine way to go, though I certainly hope hope their singles match can live up to the hype. That’s not going to be easy, especially when they start hyping it up this far out.

The Hurt Syndicate beat up some guys in the back and MVP gives them another MJF sales pitch. It still seems to be a possibility.

Opps vs. Nick Comoroto/Rhett Titus/Myles Hawkins

Non-title. Joe works on Titus’ arm to start and then hammers away in the corner. The enziguri in the corner connects and it’s off to Shibata vs. Comoroto. They chop it out until Shibata drops him with a running pump kick. Hobbs comes in to spinebuster Hawkins for the pin at 3:04.

Rating: C. That’s about all it needed to be with the champs getting to slaughter another set of opponents. In this case they are people you might have heard of, with Comoroto getting to come back and…well at least he’s back. As usual, the Trios Champions need opponents and that’s not likely going to be the case anytime soon.

Post match the Death Riders run in for the brawl with the Opps. Joe and Jon Moxley brawl into the aisle, leaving Shibata to get taken out. Rather than going after revenge, he says he wants his title match with Moxley next week to be in a cage.

Renee Paquette sits down with Mercedes Mone and brings up her various international titles. Mone cares about honoring the Harts but this whole thing is about her of course. She knows she’s coming up against Jamie Hayter, who is bigger and stronger, but she’s not greater.

Jay Lethal interrupts the Patriarchy and says he wants to face Nick Wayne tonight. Christian Cage accepts on behalf of an uncertain Wayne.

Toni Storm vs. Miyu Yamashita

Non-title and Yamashita is a big star from Tokyo Joshi Pro. They fight over wrist control to start until Storm hits a Thesz press and hammers away. A backbreaker puts Yamashita down but she’s back up with a kick to the head on the top. Storm misses a hip attack on the apron though and Yamashita fires off some kicks. Luther gets kicked down and Yamashita drops Storm with another kick as we take a break.

Back with an exchange of forearms going to Storm, though Yamashita walks through a bunch of shots to the head. Storm’s release German suplex works a bit better but she charges into a kick to the head for two. A Sky High gives Storm two and a fisherman’s suplex connects for the same. Yamashita kicks her in the head but gets German suplexed into the corner. The hip attack and Storm Zero finish for Storm at 9:21.

Rating: C+. This was the same problem as always with these guest stars: Yamashita means nothing in AEW/ROH. She’s wrestled here about five times and hasn’t had a match for either company in over two years. That more or less makes her a stranger but here she is getting almost ten minutes with the World Champion. The match itself wasn’t bad, but I need a lot more of a reason to care other than Excalibur telling me about what Yamashita has done in a promotion I don’t watch.

Post match Mercedes Mone comes out to tell the fans to shut up. She’s coming for the title but here is Jamie Hayter to run in and deck Mone. Storm….well she drops to the mat and kind of shakes a lot.

Don Callis is ready for Kyle Fletcher to win tonight and go on to win the Owen Hart Cup.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate for a chat. MVP talks about how all three of them have to agree to induct a new member so here is MJF to try again. MJF gets right to the sucking up and gets a thumbs up from Shelton Benjamin and MVP. That leaves Bobby Lashley, who teases a yes but then says no. MJF is sick of this and points out Lashley’s baldness, so Lashley takes him into the corner. If MJF wants to impress Lashley, hurt someone like the team does.

We look at FTR joining Stokely Hathaway last week.

Ring Of Honor TV Title: Nick Wayne vs. Jay Lethal

Wayne is defending but Christian Cage’s theme music cuts Wayne’s off, with the champ not approving. They trade headlock takeovers to start and Wayne already needs a breather on the floor. Back in and Lethal fires off some loud chops in the corner before the basement dropkick connects.

Wayne is right back with a toss out to the floor and the hurricanrana takes Lethal out again. Lethal gets sent into the steps and we take a break. Back with Lethal grabbing la majistral and the Lethal Combination for two each. Hail To The King connects but Wayne reverses into a rollup for two of his own. Wayne kicks him down though and hits a fisherman’s buster to retain at 9:22.

Rating: C+. Wayne is getting a bit better in the ring and having him there against an old hand like Lethal is going to help. They have a little something with Cage and Wayne not getting along and if they play it right, Wayne could get a long way as a result. That hasn’t happened yet, but the pieces are being put in place for it to work.

Post match Cage takes the title…and wraps it around Wayne’s waist.

Samoa Joe vs. Jon Moxley is officially in a cage.

We take a quick look at the Owen Hart Cups.

Men’s Owen Hart Cup Semifinals: Kyle Fletcher vs. Hangman Page

Don Callis and Lance Archer are here with Fletcher. They fight over arm control to start as Callis sits in on commentary and argues with Taz. Page knocks him to the floor and is smart enough to not chase Fletcher outside. Back in and Page hammers him down again but it’s too early for the Buckshot Lariat. Instead Page clotheslines him on the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Fletcher bleeding from the back and Page fighting out of a choke. Page hits a hard clothesline and we get a double breather. A backdrop and elbow have Fletcher in more trouble and a Death Valley Driver gets two. Page’s triangle clothesline puts Fletcher on the floor but he’s fine enough to hit a brainbuster onto the apron. Page is right back with a Tombstone on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Page getting the better of a slugout and a powerbomb gets two. Page plants him down again, only to have his moonsault hits raised boots. They go to the apron, where Page hits the Deadeye and since Fletcher is on his feet less than fifteen seconds later, Page hits a moonsault to the floor. Back in and the Buckshot Lariat is countered into a low blow and brainbuster for two. They go up top where Page clotheslines him down, setting up a flipping clothesline from the top. The Buckshot Lariat sends Page to Double Or Nothing at 23:25.

Rating: B. This was a bit of a weird match as Fletcher never felt like he had a serious chance to win. It made for a different kind of match as Page was doing his usual stuff and won in the end, even without facing a ton of adversity. That being said, I definitely like Page vs. Will Ospreay better than another Ospreay vs. Fletcher match as that feud is done.

Overall Rating: B. Another solid show here with everyone working hard and some stuff being set up for the coming weeks. They’ve done a good job setting up options in the men’s Owen Hart Cup and I’m curious to see where it goes. The women’s version isn’t as strong but at least we’re getting ready for some of the upcoming events. Now just make the buildup to them work and it’s all good.

Results
Kazuchika Okada/Young Bucks/Ricochet b. Mark Briscoe/Kenny Omega/Kevin Knight/Mike Bailey – Rainmaker to Briscoe
Opps b. Nick Comoroto/Rhett Titus/Myles Hawkins – Spinebuster to Hawkins
Toni Storm b. Miyu Yamashita – Storm Zero
Nick Wayne b. Jay Lethal – Fisherman’s buster
Hangman Page b. Kyle Fletcher – Buckshot Lariat

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

Collision
Date: April 26, 2025
Location: Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We are about a month away from Double Or Nothing and in this case it means we have a lot of things to set up for the show. There is a chance some of those will come together here, but odds are this is going to be more of a wrestling based show. That’s what Collision tends to do better so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Swerve Strickland, with Prince Nana, to get things going. Hold on though as here are the Young Bucks, who say Swerve’s match is….now, despite him being in street clothes.

Swerve Strickland vs. Blake Christian

The Bucks are watching from the aisle as Christian stomps away to start. A springboard kick puts Strickland down again and a dropkick sends him to the floor. There’s a running flip dive and a ram into the steps to keep Strickland in trouble. Back in and Christian neckbreakers him down but gets caught with the House Call. The JML Driver finishes for Strickland at 4:24.

Rating: C. So the Bucks can control the show and the best they have for Swerve is mildly inconveniencing him against a jobber? That’s not the best punishment, but then again they’re not exactly the best bosses. I’m sure this feud will keep going for weeks with a likely tag match of some sort at Double Or Nothing, because the Bucks have to be a thing in this company.

Post match Lee Johnson runs in to go after Swerve and gets cleared out. That brings in the Young Bucks to beat Swerve down. Kenny Omega runs in for the save.

Samoa Joe thinks Jon Moxley has simple motivations because he benefits from the chaos he causes. Joe is not a problem who is disturbed by chaos and he is coming for the title.

Toni Storm vs. Queen Aminata

Non-title. Storm takes her down a few times to start and pulls her into a headlock off a handshake. Aminata drops her with a shoulder as we talk about Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada being in a tag match on Dynamite. A snap suplex drops Storm against the ropes but she avoids the running hip attack. They go to the apron where Aminata gets in a running boot and we take a break.

Back with a double headbutt putting both of them down before Storm pulls her into an STF. The rope is grabbed so Aminata is back up with a running boot to the face. They go to the floor with Aminata avoiding the running hip attack against the barricade. Instead Aminata hits a Beach Break of all things for two back inside. A pop up powerbomb gives Storm two more and she snaps off a German suplex. The running hip attack sets up the Storm Zero to pin Aminata at 11:38.

Rating: C+. Aminata is firmly in the area of “she has nothing to do but she’s good enough in the ring to keep her around”. That doesn’t make for bad matches, but it does make matches like this, where she has next to no chance of winning, feel pretty long. Storm is just killing time until she gets to the winner of the Owen Hart Cup, but that’s going to take a good while.

Respect is shown post match.

Jeff Jarrett and company yell at Sonjay Dutt for being late so Jay Lethal is ready to be the new idea man.

Here is Max Caster for his chant and open challenge.

Max Caster vs. Hologram

Hologram runs the ropes to start and snaps off a running hurricanrana. Caster’s chop in the corner only hits buckle and a Spanish Fly cuts him off. They go outside with Hologram hitting a running headbutt, setting up the Portal Bomb for the pin at 1:54. As usual, commentary hypes up Hologram’s undefeated streak and I continue to wonder when he’s going to do anything important.

We look at the opening of Dynamite, with Master P coming out, triggering a brawl between the Opps and the Death Riders.

Cru vs. Top Flight

Texas Tornado tag and Leila Grey is here with Top Flight. It’s a brawl to start and Cru whip out some kendo sticks as commentary recaps the feud. Rather than use the sticks, Cru goes back inside and gets beaten down, with a double belly to back suplex getting two on Andretti. Cru goes after Grey though and the distraction lets them take over with a pair of dives. Darius gets cracked with a trashcan and we take a break.

Back with Dante fighting back with a trashcan lid before a bag of Mardi Grab beads is poured out. The spinning half nelson slam onto the beats has Rush in trouble but a dropkick slows Darius down. A double suplex through the chair gets two on Darius but Grey grabs a chain shot. Grey gets knocked off the apron and it’s a springboard 450 to finish Darius at 11:05.

Rating: C+. If you can find a reason for this feud to need to keep going this long, you’re smarter than I am. I’m not sure why this is supposed to be interesting but it feels like they have been feuding for months now. Cru seems to only exist to annoy Top Flight and since Top Flight hasn’t mattered in forever, it’s hard to get that into the feud.

Anna Jay vs. Taylor Gainey

This is Jay’s first match in about four months and she wins with the Gory Bomb in 55 seconds.

Post match Penelope Ford comes in for the brawl with Jay and Megan Bayne comes in to lay Jay out.

Mercedes Mone is ready for Jamie Hayter.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Dralistico

Bandido is defending. We get a pose off to start and Dralistico bails to the floor before coming back in for a lockup. Bandido takes him down but misses a slingshot splash, allowing Dralistico to come back with a slingshot hurricanrana. They chop it out on the apron as commentary continues to hype up Omega and Okada in a tag match on Dynamite.

A hurricanrana sends Bandido crashing to the floor and we take a break with the medics checking on Dralistico. Back with Bandido dropkicking him to the floor for the running flip dive. Bandido’s frog splash gets two but so does Dralistico’s enziguri. A crucifix bomb drops Bandido but he pops back up with a PK for the double down. Dralistico stops to yell at the referee and gets caught with the 21 Plex to retain the title at 11:24.

Rating: B-. For those of you keeping track, Dralistico has not won a singles match in either AEW or ROH since 2023. Therefore it is a bit much to believe that he is worthy of a World Title shot, but that’s how Ring Of Honor and its titles work. It’s one of those things that keeps happening and it isn’t going to change, which is hardly a surprise at all.

Big Bill and Bryan Keith want to win matches and hurt people.. Therefore, they want the Gates Of Agony.

Rush vs. AR Fox

Rush starts fast by knocking him to the floor for some rams into the barricade. Back in and Rush kicks him in the face, setting up the tranquilo pose. Fox rolls him up for a fast two and an enziguri sends Rush outside. The big dive connects and a rather long Swanton gives Fox two more. That’s enough for Rush, who knocks him into the corner for the Bull’s Horns and the pin at 3:06.

Rating: C. This has been the latest “Rush beats someone up and then (probably) doesn’t do anything for months on end” match. Fox is firmly in the spot of being there to make someone else look good and he did so well enough here. As is the case with so many others around here though, it’s hard to buy that Rush is going anywhere given his track record.

Roppongi Vice is back together and beat up the Outrunners.

Video on Kyle Fletcher vs. Hangman Page.

FTR vs. Paragon

Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. Strong and Harwood start things off with Harwood hitting a running shoulder. Everything breaks down and FTR bail to the floor, where it’s time to threaten Schiavone. Back in and Harwood is knocked outside so a backbreaker/middle rope knee combination can hit Wheeler.

We take a break and come back with O’Reilly coming back in, only to get dropped with a clothesline. Strong’s leg gets crushed in the steps and O’Reilly is whipped into them as well. In case you didn’t get it the first two times, we hear about Omega vs. Okada in the Dynamite tag match again. Back in and Wheeler’s clothesline sets up Harwood’s slingshot suplex for two. Strong gets knocked off the apron again to make his knee even worse, meaning there is no one for O’Reilly to tag.

O’Reilly kicks away at FTR and a collision with Harwood leaves both of them down. Strong tries to get up and gets dropped knee first onto the steps again. Back in and O’Reilly’s guillotine choke is cut off with a top rope ax handle and we take another breaker. We come back again with O’Reilly Angle Slamming Harwood but getting knocked outside. O’Reilly gets back in and finally brings Strong in to (gingerly) clean house.

The fireman’s carry gutbuster gets two on Harwood and a half nelson backbreaker hits Wheeler, banging up the knee all over again. Harwood puts on the Hartbreaker around the post and Wheeler grabs a Figure Four back inside. O’Reilly is back in to take Wheeler outside and Strong ankle locks Harwood. Wheeler makes the save though and the spike piledriver finishes Strong at 20:45.

Rating: B. This got time and had a story built in with the knee, along with FTR being a lot more aggressive after their recent turn. Hathaway alone makes them feel more evil as he’s quite the squirrely manager. I’m not sure where FTR is going as they aren’t likely to go after the Hurt Syndicate, but this is a breath of fresh air for a team that needed it.

Post match the beatdown stays on but Adam Cole and Daniel Garcia, the latter with a crowbar, make the save to end the show. Garcia says FTR didn’t stick the knife deep enough so revenge is coming.

Overall Rating: C+. This show had quite a bit of wrestling, which thankfully included some shorter matches to keep things moving. At the same time, it also had a bunch of stuff that really didn’t feel important but rather came from the lower levels of the card to fill in this show. As usual, it’s not a bad show at all, but not quite a show that feels like necessary viewing.

Results
Swerve Strickland b. Blake Christian – JML Driver
Toni Storm b. Queen Aminata – Storm Zero
Hologram b. Max Caster – Portal Bomb
Cru b. Top Flight – Springboard 450 to Darius
Anna Jay b. Taylor Gainey – Gory Bomb
Bandido b. Dralistico – 21 Plex
Rush b. AR Fox – Bull’s Horns
FTR b. Paragon – Spike piledriver to Strong

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

Dynamite
Date: April 23, 2025
Location: Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Taz, Excalibur

They have a lot to live up to after last week’s excellent show but things have been going well enough lately that I could see it happening. That’s not going to be easy, but we do at least have a few matches set which have potential. If nothing else, we’ll get the finals of the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament set this week so let’s get to it.

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

Tony Schiavone brings out hip hop legend Master P (of WCW fame of course) for a chat. He brings out the Opps (assuming Powerhouse Hobbs is officially part of the team) for a chat after winning the Trios Titles last week. Samoa Joe praises Master P and the work he has been doing for the local university but here are the Death Riders to jump the champions. Jon Moxley has a staredown with Master P and gets choked out by Joe. Cue the Elite to jump Joe but Swerve Strickland and Kenny Omega make the save. Joe says he’s coming for the World Title.

Christian Cage takes the ROH TV Title from Nick Wayne and says the title win is due to him. See what happens when Wayne listens to him? Wayne goes to grab the title back but Cage says he and Mother Wayne celebrated extensively. If you stick to the plan, you actually win titles. Cage gives him the belt back.

Ricochet vs. Mark Briscoe

Ricochet bails to the floor to start but comes back in to get punches in the face. A running boot to the face puts Ricochet on the floor and the beating continues, with Ricochet bailing to the apron. That’s fine with Briscoe, who knocks him to the floor again and hits a Bang Bang Elbow. Back in and Ricochet hides behind the referee, which is enough for him to pull Ricochet into the buckle.

We take a break and come back with Ricochet cuttering him for two but Briscoe hammers him in the head. A rollup and backslide give them two each and Ricochet’s brainbuster gets the same. Briscoe pulls him out of the air for a high collar suplex but it’s too early for the Froggy Bow. Ricochet drops him again and hits the springboard 450 for two but Briscoe knocks him to the floor. The running flip dive into a lariat gets two and Ricochet is rocked. Back in and the Jay Driller is countered into a rollup for two bur Briscoe reverses into a rollup of his own for the pin at 14:31.

Rating: B. These two worked well together and I’m rather pleasantly surprised at the upset. You don’t see Briscoe get big wins like this very often and especially over someone who has been presented like Ricochet. That’s a rather nice thing to see and something Briscoe has been needing for a long time now.

Post match Ricochet chairs him down and loads up the scissors but Kevin Knight makes the save.

And the Rock N Roll Express are here too.

Tony Schiavone brings out FTR, but Stokely Hathaway of all people comes out to handle the introduction. FTR shakes Schaivone’s hands and Hathaway says it’s time to address the elephant in the ring. There are all kinds of criminals around here like Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page and Jon Moxley, but none of them get punished. Based on that, Hathaway is getting the suspension ended and their fine for attacking Schiavone rescinded, because he is their new agent.

Cash Wheeler talks about beating up 2.0 and Daniel Garcia when they came after FTR first. Dax Harwood doesn’t like the hostility and that brings him to the Rock N Roll Express. They get in the ring but Harwood won’t let them talk. Harwood says the Midnight Express was a bit better and won’t let them answer anything. Ricky Morton says this isn’t happening but Hathaway pulls out an FTR: Living Legends Killer shirt. The spike piledriver plants Morton and the Paragon runs in for the save.

Young Bucks vs. Mike Bailey/Kevin Knight

Matt and Mike trade missed kicks to the head to start before the Bucks are sent outside. Stereo dives take them out again but the Bucks are back with the slingshot Fameasser. A moonsault to the floor drops Knight and we take a break. Back with Bailey getting two off a small package and enziguring Matt for a breather.

The tag brings in Knight to pick up the pace but a rolling DDT is countered into the rolling northern lights suplexes. Knight gets pulled out of the corner into a powerbomb for two but Bailey blocks the superkick party. Everyone is knocked down for a quadruple breather before Matt and Knight wind up on their partners’ shoulders.

They slug it out for another four way knockdown, setting up a high/low on Matt. The moonsault knees into a frog splash get two on Matt and they go outside. A Doomsday Device off the apron hits Knight and the Meltzer Driver off the barricade knocks Bailey silly. Back in and Knight hits a rolling double DDT but here is Ricochet to grab his feet. The EVP Trigger finishes Knight at 15:02.

Rating: B-. The Bucks are still the same team they’ve always been and that means the match was fine but so similar to things we’ve seen them do before. Bailey is similar to the Bucks in the ring and that left Knight as the only person doing something even somewhat different. I’m sure the Bucks will be involved in some big story and it’s only going to work so well because the Bucks are going to be the same no matter what they do.

Toni Storm is ready for the winner of the Owen Hart Tournament and to be on the red carpet this weekend. A Championship Eliminator is set up for Collision and here is Queen Aminata to accept the challenge.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate for a chat. MVP brings up that every team they have beaten has disappeared and hands the mic to Bobby Lashley, but here is MJF to interrupt. MJF brings up the good time he gave the Hurt Syndicate last week. He asks about the thumbs up again and this time gets Shelton Benjamin. It’s not because of the women and the watch though, but rather MVP.

That works for MJF, so it’s up to Lashley, who puts his thumb in the middle. MJF says if they work together, they can run wrestling and he knows how things work around here like no one else. He even apologizes to getting off on the wrong foot with Lashley and then offers his car. They agree to go look at the car and MJF hands him the keys. Lashley and Benjamin drive off, with Lashley giving him a thumbs down. MVP goes off to talk with MJF.

Hangman Page is ready to take out Kyle Fletcher but MJF comes in to mock him. Page brings up the missing car but MJF mocks him over not being able to win the big one. As usual, Page will choke.

Will Ospreay/Brody King vs. Don Callis Family

Ospreay and Takeshita start things off as Don Callis sits in on commentary. Alexander comes in as well for a double belly to back suplex but Ospreay knocks Alexander down. The standing moonsault misses and Alexander gets the ankle lock. That’s broken up and Ospreay hurricanranas him into an armbar. King comes in and hammers on Alexander before chopping Ospreay for a tag. Alexander drops Ospreay though and we take a break.

Back with Ospreay hitting a double handspring Pele, allowing the tag off to King. House is quickly cleaned and the villains are crossbodied up against the barricade. Back in and Takeshita wins a slugout with Ospreay, setting up the Blue Thunder Bomb for two. King comes back in for a clothesline on Alexander, setting up the Cannonball. Lance Archer offers the distraction though, only to be taken out by Ospreay. Back in and Takeshita Helluva Kicks Alexander and a double discus elbow gets two. A running knee into the C4 Spike (Jay Driller) finishes for Alexander at 13:20.

Rating: B. Another good tag match here, though King couldn’t have been more of the designated pinee if his life depended on it. It’s smart to give Alexander a pin here and thankfully it wasn’t over Ospreay, who is in line for a big match in the tournament coming up. Nice stuff here, and the extra time helped as well.

Post match the beatdown is on and Ospreay’s save is cut off with a chokeslam. Cue Kyle Fletcher but Hangman Page comes out as well, only for Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero to jump Page from behind.

Women’s Owen Hart Tournament Semifinals: Jamie Hayter vs. Kris Statlander

They trade strikes to the face to start, including some big boots. Hayter sends her into the corner for a running Meteora but gets sent into the buckle. They fight to the apron with Statlander being knocked outside. A running knee drops her again and we take a break. Back with Statlander ducking an enziguri and getting German suplexed into a dragon sleeper.

That’s broken up so Statlander hits an electric chair faceplant. Staturday Night Fever is countered into a rollup for two and Statlander hits a powerbomb for two more. Hayter is back up with the Hatebreaker and they’re both down. Statlander puts her down again for a 450 and a near fall so Statlander goes up again. This time though Hayter pulls her down for a clothesline, setting up Hayterade for the pin at 11:43.

Rating: B-. You could have gone either way here and the result would have worked so I can’t get too annoyed with either result. Hayter vs. Mone should be good and while Mone is a likely favorite, Hayter is just good enough to be a threat. Solid main event here, with the Hayterade looking nice as always.

Mercedes Mone comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. While it wasn’t quite as good as last week’s classic, this was still a rather good show with everything clicking and some good action throughout. The Briscoe win was a surprise and Hayter vs. Mone should be a hard hitting match when we get to Double Or Nothing. Even a Young Bucks match couldn’t bring this one down so you know it was working.

Results
Mark Briscoe b. Ricochet – Rollup
Young Bucks b. Mike Bailey/Kevin Knight – EVP Trigger to Knight
Don Callis Family b. Will Ospreay/Brody King – C4 Spike to King
Jamie Hayter b. Kris Statlander – Hayterade

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