Monday Night Raw
Date: May 18, 2026
Location: First Horizon Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the last show before Saturday Night’s Main Event and that only means so much for Raw. The big story continues to be Roman Reigns dealing with the force that is Jacob Fatu, though they don’t have another match set up just yet. There is still time to add it here, but there is also the option of sending it to Turin for Clash In Italy later this month. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s brawl between Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu, with Fatu leaving the champ laying.

Adam Pearce stops Reigns as he comes in, saying if Reigns had listened to him last week, none of that would happen. Reigns says that doesn’t matter because he’s calling Fatu out right now. Pearce wants Fatu fired but they’re cut off by Fatu coming to the arena. There were some very loud echoes in this segment for some reason.

Here is Fatu to call out Reigns but he gets the Usos instead. Jey comes out with a chair but Jimmy tries to keep the peace, as is his custom. Jimmy calls out Fatu for not thinking and costing himself last week. Fatu attacked management and now he’s about to get fired. Then what? Is Fatu going to go back to being his old self to help his family then? Jey goes after him but gets knocked down, with Fatu grabbing the Tongan Death Grip on Jimmy. Jey’s chair shot has no effect so he gets Death Gripped as well.

This brings out Reigns and the big fight is on, with Reigns even throwing in a big boot. The Superman Punch is countered into the Tongan Death Grip and the Usos have to make the save. A Superfly Splash and 1D put Fatu down and the Usos tie him in the ropes. Some Superman Punches and the spear leave Fatu out and here is Pearce. Reigns says something to him and Pearce seems ready to fire Fatu….who wants Tribal Combat. Pearce tries to calm things down but Reigns is in. No word on when that takes place but Fatu winning the title wouldn’t be the craziest thing.

Video on Judgment Day turning on Finn Balor, with JD McDonagh wanting revenge on him for turning on him after so many years. This feels a lot like a video they’ve aired between them before.

JD McDonagh vs. Finn Balor

Street fight so they go right outside with Balor whipping him into various things. The kendo sticks and chairs are brought in and McDonagh gets in a few shots of his own to take over. Balor sends him hard into the chair in the corner and it’s time for a table, only for McDonagh to suicide dive him for taking too long. They fight out into the crowd with Balor whipping him into an equipment case. McDonagh drives him right back into it as well and hits a hue moonsault off of the case as we take a break.

We come back with Balor planting McDonagh but walking into a release Rock Bottom onto the chair. A nice looking standing moonsault gives McDonagh two but Balor is back with the Sling Blade. McDonagh is knocked through the table in the corner and Balor goes up. The Coup de Grace misses though and McDonagh knees him down for two. The top rope moonsault hits Balor for two so McDonagh puts him on another table.

That takes way too long though and Balor switches places, only for Dominik Mysterio to run in and break up the Coup de Grace. A top rope superplex sends Balor through the table for two (and a roar on the kickout). Mysterio loads up the 619 but Balor switches places and McDonagh gets kicked in the face instead. Mysterio is knocked outside and it’s a Coup de Grace to a trashcan to McDonagh for the pin at 11:50.

Rating: B. This got a good bit better near the end, with McDonagh fighting hard to hang in there with the much more accomplished star. Mysterio’s interference costing McDonagh and the team in the end is pretty much par for his course these days and I’m not sure how long that can last. At the same time, I’m not sure what the endgame for Balor is supposed to be. He’s already beaten Mysterio, so what is he supposed to finish the feud for good?

We look at Seth Rollins helping the Street Profits last week but they aren’t interested.

Rollins says he has to finish things with the Vision and sometimes the best thing to do is run right at your problem. He hasn’t had a match on Raw in about nine months so we should remedy that tonight. Tonight he has been given the main event slot and he wants to face anyone on the team. He’d like it to be Bron Breakker, who says he can do it on his own, but what is Breakker? A nepo baby or everything that he is supposed to be? Tonight is Breakker’s chance to show Rollins who he really is. This was more intense than usual from Rollins and it worked.

Sol Ruca is excited to have done well in her limited time around here but Becky Lynch interrupts. Lynch doesn’t think much of Ruca’s efforts thus far and she hasn’t even faced the best. Ruca should go back to NXT, which she says she’ll do. Lynch calls her a quitter and here is Ruca in the arena.

Ruca is in the ring and gets right to the point by calling Lynch out. This brings out Lynch, who wants to know what Ruca is trying. Ruca wants to face Lynch right here tonight but gets shot down. Lynch goes into her catchphrase and Ruca is already sick of it, prompting Lynch to start over. After we hear about all of the people Lynch has dealt with already, she agrees to let Ruca face her at Saturday Night’s Main Event, with Ruca making it a title match. That’s too far for Lynch, who says Ruca hasn’t earned a shot yet (fair) so we won’t be doing that yet.

The Vision ask Paul Heyman about Saturday Night’s Main Event but Bron Breakker comes in to say make the match with Seth Rollins for tonight. Heyman says Austin Theory should do it instead so Breakker asks Theory and Logan Paul to leave. Breakker insists he can beat Rollins and while Heyman agrees, he points out that Rollins will be busy tonight and Breakker will know it in advance. Breakker approves.

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

Tornado rules and in advance: I’m going to get these people mixed up more than once. Julio strikes away at Rayo to start ast he other four brawl on the floor. A fall away slam sends Rayo flying and it’s Grande coming in to slug it out with Original. The ankle lock has Grande in trouble but Rayo comes in for the save.

Los Americanos crotch Original against the post and we pause for some dancing. Bravo walks across some backs for a hurricanrana to Bruto but Julio is back up for a dive. Grande and Original hit dives of their own and everyone is down at ringside. Back in and Original hits Bravo with a top rope superplex for two and we take a break.

We come back with Original suplexing Los Americanos at the same time and then suplexing Grande for two. A top rope headbutt gets two on Bravo but Julio’s 450 misses. That’s enough for Grande and the Americanos to load up their masks but the other three hit stereo German suplexes. Graves: “There are no Germans in the ring Cole. We have six Mexicans!” A triple moonsault gets a triple near fall on Grande and Los Americanos but Bruto gets headbutted down. Grande’s running headbutt, with two more from Los Americanos, gets the pin at 10:38.

Rating: B-. This was another wild match, though I have no idea who the good guys were supposed to be. It’s perfectly clear in Mexico, but here things aren’t as simple. The match was a lot of fun and fairly wild, which made up for trying to figure all of that out. They need to wrap it up though, as this feud is going to start losing steam in a hurry otherwise.

Whataburger delivers to the Alpha Academy. Dang it now I want Whataburger.

We look back at the Bloodline vs. Jacob Fatu brawl earlier. Tribal Combat is set for Clash In Italy.

Video on Tribal Combat.

The Usos know what Tribal Combat is all about but here is LA Knight to interrupt. Jimmy says not now but Knight asks “or what”. Knight calls them out for doing the same things the three of them beat up the Vision for doing at Wrestlemania so what’s the difference? The Usos aren’t happy.

Ethan Page sits down with Michael Cole and brags about himself, including via a pre-written statement. Cole has to praise Page’s jawline but can’t get over Page wanting to rename the Intercontinental Title as the “Ethan Page Championship”. Cole can’t do this anymore and asks why Page acts like this. Cole praises Page’s skills but thinks his ego will cost him on Saturday. Page calls it confidence rather than ego and he’ll prove it at Saturday Night’s Main Event. To say Page is nailing it so far would be a drastic understatement. He’s slid into this role perfectly and it’s working very well.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Paige/Brie Bella vs. Judgment Day

Judgment Day, with Liv Morgan, is challenging. Paige throws Perez down to start and it’s off to Bella, who is knocked down just as fast. Rodriguez takes over and hands it back to Perez, who mocks the YES chant. That just fires Bella up and she fires off the YES Kicks, with Rodriguez breaking them up. Paige’s dive is cut off and she’s swung into the barricade as we take a break.

We come back with Bella getting the tag and cleaning house but Rodriguez cuts her off. The spinning Vader Bomb is cut off and a double powerbomb brings Rodriguez back down. Perez takes Paige out though and Bella goes up, only for Morgan to shove her off. That’s enough for the big ejection so the title is brought in. Bella cuts that off and rolls Perez up to retain at 10:14.

Rating: C. And it continues. I know Paige and Bella are set for the title match against the Irresistible Forces but they continue to drain the life out of me every time they’re on screen. It’s not like they have some big, deep history together and Bella wasn’t exactly good on her best days. Now they’re the best team in a division which is actually getting pretty good? That’s quite a lot to take and it’s not exactly working for me.

Post match the Judgment Day jump the champs but Bayley and Lyra Valkyria make the save.

LA Knight comes up to Seth Rollins and says he can do this himself tonight, but it’s going to go badly. He needs help, so have fun getting stomped out.

Penta is sick of Ethan Page wanting the Intercontinental Title all for himself. He’ll take care of Page on Saturday.

Here is Oba Femi for his open challenge…and BROCK LESNAR RUNS IN to lay him out with four straight F5’s. Well that worked. I wasn’t completely sold on Lesnar being gone, but I didn’t expect him to come back on a pretty random Raw. Nice job.

Post break Adam Pearce is livid and Paul Heyman comes in. Pearce demands to know what happened but Heyman says Lesnar is retired. Heyman pulls out a contract, already signed by Lesnar, to face Femi at Clash In Italy. Pearce seems confused but interested.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

The Street Profits are ready for the Vision because they have the vision of winning the Tag Team Titles. Angelo Dawkins is distracted though and Montez Ford tells him to go. Dawkins goes over to Seth Rollins to thank him for last week. Rollins thanks him for that and apologizes for Dawkins getting taken out. For now though, he has a match of his own.

Seth Rollins vs. Austin Theory

Rollins jumps the Vision on the floor to start and hammers on Theory inside to start fast. Back in and Rollins stays on Theory, including a buckle bomb to knock him silly. Theory fights back and manages to send the ankle into the post, which should weaken the Stomp. Paul goes after Rollins and Theory crotches Rollins on the barricade as we take a break.

We come back with Rollins chopping away and countering the rolling dropkick into a sitout powerbomb for two. Rollins knocks him down again and loads up a super Stomp, only for Paul to shove Rollins down. Theory’s Stomp gets two so Paul slips him the knuckles, with Rollins superkicking Theory instead. Now Rollins gets the knuckles, with Paul pointing them out. Rollins grabs a Pedigree for the pin instead at 12:57.

Rating: B-. This was more about keeping the story moving forward than some big match and that’s all it needed to be. The idea was that Rollins was in over his head but at the end of the day, beating Theory in a singles match isn’t that difficult. If nothing else, I do appreciate Rollins mixing it up with the Pedigree for the pin for a change. That made sense and it worked.

Post match Paul comes in for the beatdown so here is Angelo Dawkins, followed by Montez Ford, for the save. Ford hits a big flip dive and tries to talk Dawkins out of this, only for Bron Breakker to run in and give Ford a Super Spear. Rollins makes the save but Paul grabs his leg, allowing Breakker to cut him in half as well. Security comes out but Breakker drops Rollins again before finally being pulled away. Adam Pearce threatens the Vision and they leave smiling to end the show. Kind of a weak ending.

Overall Rating: B-. This was the “oh dang, we’ve got two shows in less than two weeks so we need to hurry up” week and it went pretty well. The ending wasn’t the greatest, but the matches they set up look good enough. The big appeal here was the Lesnar return though, which was a rare genuine shock and that’s a very nice feeling to have. They’re blitzing to Saturday and Italy but I’ll take a rapid fire build over nothing at all.

Results
Finn Balor b. JD McDonagh – Coup de Grace to a trashcan
El Grande Americano/Los Americanos b. Original El Grande Americano/Los Hermanos Americans – Triple headbutt to Bruto
Brie Bella/Paige b. Judgment Day – Rollup to Perez
Seth Rollins b. Austin Theory – Pedigree

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

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

Smackdown
Date: April 24, 2026
Location: Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

It’s the first Smackdown after Wrestlemania and that means it’s time to deal with both the fallout and the start of the new season. That probably means some debuts, some big twists and hopefully a new challenger for Cody Rhodes, who retained the World Title over Randy Orton on Saturday. Let’s get to it.

Here is Wrestlemania if you need a recap.

Long Wrestlemania recap.

Danhausen arrives in the Danhausenmobile and scares Trick Williams off.

Here is Jacob Fatu to get things going. Fatu talks about how he told Roman Reigns how much he needs the World Title, with Reigns saying Fatu isn’t ready. That’s what he’s heard his whole life, but Reigns needs to get in the ring with him and prove it. Cue the Usos to interrupt, with Jimmy liking the idea of Fatu wanting to make his family better.

Fatu can do all that…by beating Cody Rhodes, who is already banged up. Run the play with the family. These people out here aren’t going to help him make it happen so don’t listen to them. Jey on the other hand says it’s gone too far already and Fatu is going to have to face Reigns. Cue Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s, with Sikoa saying he brought Fatu to WWE. What did the Usos ever teach him? How to Yeet?

Fatu is going to need an army to beat Reigns and that’s what Sikoa has…but Tama Tonga grabs the mic. He asks why they’re wasting time on a lost cause like Fatu? Tama: “You think he’s going to beat Roman? He can’t even beat you.” Fatu superkicks Tama, who is held back as Fatu wants to talk to Reigns. Oh and he wants to face Sikoa tonight.

Giulia knows there is pressure when she is ready to defend the Women’s US Title against Tiffany Stratton and feels pressure. Kiana James does NOT like these questions though.

Women’s United States Title: Tiffany Stratton vs. Giulia

Giulia, with Kiana James, is defending. Stratton flips around to start and hits a discus lariat, followed by a pinfall reversal sequence. Giulia headbutts her into the corner and breaks up a quick Prettiest Moonsault Ever. A neckbreaker onto the floor drops Stratton and we take a break. We come back with Stratton hitting a handspring elbow into the corner but Giulia catches her up top.

A butterfly superplex gives Giulia two but Stratton is back with a kick to the chest. James’ distraction doesn’t work as Stratton grabs a Regal Roll but the Prettiest Moonsault Ever is countered into a double arm neck crank. With that broken up, Giulia hits a running knee to the face, only to get Alabama Slammed. Now the Prettiest Moonsault Ever gives Stratton the title at 8:58.

Rating: B-. As usual, Giulia can look incredibly smooth in the ring, but there is only so much to her in the charisma/interest department. That’s where WWE has dropped the ball with her, as she basically just came in, became a champion and…that’s it. Now she’s lost the title and I have no idea what is next for her. If she’s going to be a bigger star, WWE has to find a way to make the fans care about her because it hasn’t happened yet.

We look back at Danhausen, and the Mini Hausens, beating up Kit Wilson and the Miz at Wrestlemania as John Cena thought “I got out of this stuff just in time.”

Earlier this week, Danhausen snuck in Miz’s house and then vanished inside of it, somehow winding up in Miz’s pool. Miz insisted that there was no course and then wound up flying into the pool as well.

We look at Paige and Brie Bella of all people winning the Women’s Tag Team Titles at Wrestlemania.

Tiffany Stratton is happy to not be the runner up for a change but here are Brie Bella and Paige to interrupt. Stratton leaves as the other two head to the ring for a chat. Brie talks about how great it is to be here as a champion and while she was sad to not be there with Nikki, she’s here with someone she sees as a sister. Paige: “I’m back.” It’s been a long road to get back here but this is Paige’s house. They aren’t going anywhere and cue Charlotte/Alexa Bliss to interrupt. The two of them reluctantly welcome the champs back and then get right to the challenge. It’s on so get a referee out here.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Paige/Brie Bella vs. Alexa Bliss/Charlotte

Paige and Bella are defending and we’re joined in progress with Bliss taking Bella down. It’s off to Charlotte to work on the leg but Bella kicks her away. The tag is loaded up…and NXT’s Jacy Jayne debuts to send Paige into the steps for the DQ at 1:57 shown.

Post match Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid (the rest of Jayne’s Fatal Influence faction) run in to beat down Bliss and Charlotte. This is hardly a surprising callup for Jayne, though I wasn’t sure if the other two were coming up with her. Jayne has been in NXT for the better part of ever so it was time to try it or let her go, which would feel like a huge waste.

We look at Cody Rhodes retaining over Randy Orton, only for Orton to lay him out after the match.

We look at Royce Keys returning to his hometown in an effort to inspire kids.

Here is Cody Rhodes, complete with a black eye, for a chat. Rhodes talks about leaving the stadium at Wrestlemania because that’s what he was supposed to do as champion. He wanted to leave through the entrance because he wanted to send a message that he wasn’t done. It was a message to Randy Orton, because he wasn’t done after the Punt.

It was a message to Sami Zayn, who called him the Golden Boy and nothing bad ever happens to him. And it was a message to those outside forces who want to take him out because you are 0-3 so MIND YOUR D*** BUSINESS! It is the Smackdown after Wrestlemania and he is easy to find but hard to beat. Kind of nothing here, but if he’s not physically cleared, this was all they could do.

We look back at Fatal Influence’s debut.

Solo Sikoa sends the MFT’s to get the Tag Team Titles back. He’ll take care of Jacob Fatu.

Tag Team Titles: Damian Priest/R-Truth vs. MFT’s

JC Mateo/Tama Tonga, with Tonga Loa, are challenging. R-Truth and Tama start things off with Tama knocking him down but missing a dancing elbow. Priest comes in but gets pulled down to the floor for the crash as we take a break. We come back with Priest fighting out of trouble and hitting a rebound lariat, allowing the tag off to R-Truth. That means the John Cena sequence is initiated but Tama gets in a cheap shot and Mateo grabs a German suplex. Tama misses a charge into the post though and Mateo goes into a lifting Little Jimmy to retain the titles at 8:18.

Rating: C+. Priest and R-Truth continue to play with the house’s money as they have no business being a long term team but are having a perfectly nice title reign. It’s not like the other teams on the show were doing anything in the first place so see what you can get out of them. If nothing else, anyone who takes a title from R-Truth is going to feel like a big time heel so it’s hardly the worst idea.

Back at Miz’s house, Miz gets out of the pool and Danhausen (who is changing clothes between appearances) plays with Miz’s golf simulator and accidentally hits Miz low with the club. Then he steals and breaks a Slammy and has some chocolate on the way out. Danhausen opens the door and sees Maryse….and Miz accidentally throws chocolate on her. Danhausen escapes by stealing their daughter’s bicycle. This is so stupid that it’s hilarious.

Here is Trick Williams, with Lil Yachty and a person in a gingerbread man costume, for a championship celebration. The fans seem happy to see him and Yachty says he’s here to stay. Williams makes it clear that he’s not doing the US Title Open Challenge anymore…but the gingerbread man jumps both of them. It’s Sami Zayn, who hits a gingerbread Helluva Kick and does a bit of dancing as the fans boo this out of the building.

Royce Keys is happy with winning the Andre Battle Royal last week but he’s just getting started. Solo Sikoa comes in and says it’s a good win. There’s always room for Keys in Sikoa’s family. Sikoa leaves without getting a yes or a no.

We get a Tale Of The Tape for Miz vs. Danhausen, with each getting some special stats.

Danhausen has a curse success rate of 100%, is a personal friend of John Cena and very strong merchandise sales.

Miz has an active curse status, his last win is under review and he has never been on a blimp. I love these goofy things.

Danhausen vs. The Miz

Danhausen has the Danhausenmobile, which has Tessitore surprised even though it was shown earlier tonight. Kit Wilson is here with Miz as Barrett lists off Danhausen’s crimes thus far. Wilson steals Miz’s Slammy back from Danhausen’s car, even as Danhausen snaps off a middle rope hurricanrana. That’s enough for Miz to bail out to the floor but he comes back in to stomp away. Miz and Wilson pose but Danhausen curses them. Pyro goes off and Miz gets rolled up for the pin at 1:43.

Post match Danhausen tries to use the flash paper to escape but Miz is waiting on him. Miz and Wilson collide and Danhausen escapes. This was goofy slapstick stuff, which is Danhausen’s thing.

Blake Monroe is coming. Yeah that’s another expected callup but I’m not sure where she fits in.

Here is new Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley for a chat. She’s champion again and she’s a fighting champion so let’s do an open challenge. Cue Fatal Influence, but the fans don’t want to hear from Jacy Jayne. She welcomes the booing because she loves it and goes on to introduce the team. Ripley says the attack earlier was impressive, but stop while you’re ahead. Fallon Henley threatens Ripley, who says take your shot. Jayne says they’re always ready to throw hands so here is Nick Aldis to make Jayne vs. Ripley for right now.

Jacy Jayne vs. Rhea Ripley

Non-title. Jayne chills on the ropes to start and gets sent face first into the mat. Back up and Jayne grinds away on a headlock but Ripley gives her a running shoulder into the corner. Ripley sends her to the apron for a forearm to the floor, and it’s an electric chair onto the apron. The rest of Fatal Influence offers a distraction though and Jayne gets in a kick from the apron as we take a break.

We come back with Ripley fighting out of a chinlock and firing off some clotheslines. Jayne fires off a superkick though and a pump kick puts Ripley down for two. The Rolling Encore (discus forearm) misses for Jayne though and Ripley goes up, only to get crotched down. Ripley is right back with a Razor’s Edge and running knee for two in a pretty impressive kickout from Jayne. The Riptide is loaded up but Fatal Influence runs in for the DQ at 10:55.

Rating: B-. That ending was a relief as it was the way out of the match. I was worried that they were going to have Jayne get pinned here but instead they went with the logical result instead. At the same time, it’s rather awesome to see Fatal Influence being thrown into the deep end. They’ve been built up in NXT and it’s not crazy to think that they’re ready for this. Let’s see how good they can be.

Post match the beatdown leaves Ripley laying.

We look at Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu on Raw.

The Usos tell Jacob Fatu that they have his back in the main event. Fatu doesn’t want it, which doesn’t surprise Jey.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss are in the trainer’s room when Rhea Ripley comes in. Ripley and Charlotte have a staredown and Charlotte doesn’t like Jacy Jayne. She’ll get her hands on Jayne next week, unlike Ripley this week.

We get the Brock Lesnar tribute video from Raw.

Ricky Saints is coming next week. He didn’t have much else to do in NXT so why not.

Solo Sikoa vs. Jacob Fatu

The MFT’s are here with Sikoa. Fatu shrugs off a headlock and they trade shoulders for a standoff. Sikoa hammers away in the corner but Fatu is right back with a running elbow. Back up and Sikoa sends him outside, where the MFT’s get in a cheap shot to take over. Cue the Usos, but Fatu is not happy because he doesn’t want them here.

Sikoa gets in a cheap shot and we take a break. We come back with Sikoa snapping off a suplex but Fatu is right back up for a slugout. Fatu gets the better of things and hits a running backsplash to put Sikoa in trouble for a change. The headbutts in the corner have Sikoa in more trouble and the running Umaga Attack connects.

Fatu superkicks him down and goes up, which has the MFT’s up for a distraction/interference. Sikoa’s rollup gets two but Fatu is back up with a dive onto the MFT’s. Spinning Solo and the Superfly Splash give Sikoa two each but the Samoan Spike misses. Fatu gives him the pop up Samoan drop and the triple jump moonsault finishes Sikoa at 10:59.

Rating: B. This was about making Fatu look like a killer who smashed through Sikoa and his goons to make him feel like more of a threat for Reigns. That worked well here, as Fatu had some trouble but came out on top in the end. It’s a good way to go, with Fatu clearing out the lower parts of the family on his way to the bigger members. Good main event here, with bigger ramifications.

Post match the MFT’s run in and beat Fatu down so the Usos come to the ring, only for Fatu to beat the MFT’s down on his own. Fatu hits running Umaga Attacks into chairs in the corner and puts Tonga Loa through the announcers’ table. Back in and Fatu glares at the Usos, saying he’ll see Roman Reigns on Raw to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I’d call this an upgrade over most recent Smackdowns, which granted isn’t the highest bar to clear. What matters the most is that they kept my interest and focused on the biggest story, with Fatu vs. Reigns being advanced. Rhodes didn’t do much, though Fatal Influence’s debut went well and more new recruits are on the way. It’s not a classic, but I’ll take it over what we’ve been getting in recent weeks.

Results
Tiffany Stratton b. Giulia – Prettiest Moonsault Ever
Paige/Brie Bella b. Alexa Bliss/Charlotte via DQ when Jacy Jayne interfered
Damian Priest/R-Truth b. MFT’s – Lifting Little Jimmy to Mateo
Danhausen b. The Miz – Rollup
Rhea Ripley b. Jacy Jayne via DQ when Fatal Influence interfered
Jacob Fatu b. Solo Sikoa – Triple jump moonsault

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

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

Sunday Night Slam
Date: August 21, 1994
Location: Beeghly Center, Youngstown, Ohio
Commentators: Jim Ross, Randy Savage

This is a special (part of a series) of hype shows before pay per views, Summerslam 1994 in this case. I’ve seen some of them before and they’re hit and miss to say the least, but this isn’t exactly from the best time in the company’s history. This isn’t exactly looking promising but I’ve been surprised before. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Jim Ross and Randy Savage welcome us to the show and run down the card, which is very 1994.

Lex Luger vs. Crush

They test the power to start as commentary says they aren’t sure if Luger has sold out to Ted DiBiase or not. Luger gets an early knockdown for two but Crush hits him in the ribs to cut that off. The piledriver is blocked though and Luger hammers away, followed by a running shoulder to send Crush outside.

They get back inside and Crush goes to the back to take over, setting up the camel clutch. Crush crashes down onto the back for two and the bearhug stays on the bad back. Cue Ted DiBiase at ringside to count money and Luger fights out. That earns him a gorilla press slam though and we take a break with Luger in big trouble.

We come back with Crush still on the back until a double should gives them a double down. DiBiase seems to be cheering for Luger, who gets up for the signature clothesline comeback. A powerslam and DDT (that’s a weird one for him) give Luger two but Crush superkicks him down. The tilt-a-whirl backbreaker plants Luger but DiBiase gets up on the apron to offer Crush money. Crush swats it away (seems kind of dumb) and the distraction lets Luger hit the forearm for the win at 15:58.

Rating: C. This could have been a lot worse, which is about as high as Luger was going to get in the WWF. His offense was just so basic and generic that there was nothing to get excited about when he was in the ring. He was living off that single bodyslam and the luster has worn very thin. At some point he needed to win something (other than tying for the Royal Rumble) and that hasn’t happened yet.

Jerry Lawler and Vince McMahon are in the WWF Studios and talk about the disappearance of the Undertaker. We see Undertaker rising up through the screen at the Royal Rumble, with even Paul Bearer not being sure where he is. Then a bunch of people swore they saw Undertaker, which is one of the weirdest angles to build up a match that I can remember. This led to Ted DiBiase bringing back his version of the Undertaker, who was clearly not the real thing. Bearer realized it was a fake and is swearing that the real Undertaker will be back at Summerslam. This is still dumb and the match would be even worse.

Bam Bam Bigelow/IRS vs. Bob Holly/1-2-3 Kid

Ted DiBiase is here with the villains. Bigelow LAUNCHES Kid around a few times to start but Kid is back with the rapid fire kicks. A missed charge in the corner lets Kid fire off even more kicks to put him on the floor, where a big slingshot flip dive connects. IRS misses a charge at Holly and crashed to the floor, where Bigelow and IRS are rammed together.

Back in and Holly’s high crossbody gets two on Bigelow and we hit the armbar. Bigelow misses a headbutt so it’s off to IRS to slow things down (shocking I know). Holly gets two off a dropkick and it’s back to Kid, who is sent crashing out to the floor. A legdrop gives IRS two and we hit the chinlock. Bigelow comes in for a front facelock and a DDT gets two, leaving Bigelow shocked.

We flash back to the 70s as IRS hits an airplane spin for two and Bigelow grabs an Argentine backbreaker, albeit with Kid spun around in an opposite direction than usual. IRS drops an elbow to the elevated Kid as Savage sings Kid’s praises. The moonsault misses for Bigelow and it’s Holly coming back in to clean house. That lasts until a high crossbody is countered into a World’s Strongest Slam to give Bigelow the pin at 10:10.

Rating: B. The first two or so minutes of this show were as hot of a start of a tag match as I have seen in a very long time. They were all over the place and the fans were wanting to see the underdogs pull off a miracle. Throw in an airplane spin being used as something other than a comedy spot for the first time in forever and this was FAR better than I would have ever expected.

Leslie Nielsen is going to be at Summerslam to find the Undertaker.

And now, the Summerslam Report, which is, shockingly, about Summerslam. We run down the card and hear from Razor Ramon, who is ready to win the Intercontinental Title and has Walter Payton with him. Payton’s voice is not exactly intimidating.

Razor Ramon vs. Todd Becker

Ramon sends him flying to start and then grabs an abdominal stretch, followed by the weird STF variation. A belly to back suplex sets up the belly to back superplex, followed by the Razor’s Edge to complete the squash at 3:38.

Rating: C. This was about what you would have expected, as Ramon destroyed the jobber in short enough order. That’s a good enough way to get him heated up before he goes after the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam and I’ll take this over a dull match with IRS. If nothing else, it’s fun to see Ramon doing his cocky stuff, which he did so well.

Leslie Nielsen orders Domino’s and doesn’t realize the Undertaker delivered it.

Abe Knuckleball Schwartz (a baseball themed character) is on strike. End of character and storyline.

Bull Nakano vs. Heidi Lee Morgan

Luna Vachon is here with Nakano. Morgan gets an early rollup for two before Morgan takes her down with a short armscissors. Nakano powers out and works on the back, with a Boston crab making it worse. What would become Paige’s Scorpion Crosslock has Morgan tapping but that doesn’t mean anything in 1994 WWF. Nakano throws her outside for a ram into the steps from Vachon, followed by a seated abdominal stretch back inside. Morgan fights up and hits a dropkick but gets dropped with a hard suplex. The guillotine legdrop finishes Morgan at 7:28.

Rating: C. Well that was….lengthy. Morgan was a good example of why the division wasn’t working at this point. She was certainly trying in the ring and you could see that she knew what she was doing, but she felt like a relic from 1982 as one of Moolah’s old girls (and hey, she was one of them, albeit one who debuted in 1987). That’s not going to work in there with someone like Nakano, who was throwing out all kinds of crazy stuff for the time being. Morgan was absolutely not bad, but she’s not the kind of wrestler who was going to feel important at this point.

Here is Bret Hart for a chat (from Superstars, because doing this on the regular show would be putting in too much effort). Yes Owen Hart beat him at Wrestlemania, but this time it’s different with the title on the line. The entire Hart Family is going to be there and Owen was the one who wanted it to be in a cage.

Owen got his one win at Wrestlemania and maybe Bret was a bit distracted. Sure Owen has Jim Neidhart with him, and yes Neidhart is fat, but Bret forgot to mention that Neidhart is STUPID. Bret talks about looking through the bars of Owen’s crib as a child and laughing, which is what will happen at Summerslam. I’ve heard worse, but it would have been nice to hear it here, rather than from Superstars.

We get the still awesome Go Get Em Champ Bret Hart ad.

Typhoon vs. Diesel

Diesel’s Intercontinental Title isn’t on the line and Shawn Michaels is in Diesels’ corner. Diesel hammers away in the corner but Typhoon fights back with a rather easy slam. Back up and Diesel knocks him down, setting up the neck crank. Some boot choking in the corner has Typhoon in more trouble but he fights out rather well. The legdrop misses but Typhoon goes with the basics, meaning using his rather large stomach to crush Diesel in the corner. Diesel cuts off a charge with a boot though and finishes with a running clothesline at 4:58.

Rating: C-. When I saw this match advertised, it felt like something of a sick joke. At the end of the day, there is only so much you can do with Typhoon, whose lone characteristic is “he’s big”. Diesel’s offense against him worked and they did what they could, but you know what you’re getting out of a Typhoon match and it isn’t very much.

Leslie Nielsen is going around the world to find the Undertaker.

Vince and Lawler don’t have much to say in the studio.

Undertaker vs. Sonny Rogers

Ted DiBiase is with the Undertaker, who grabs him by the face and chokes to start. The Tombstone finishes at 1:22.

Leslie Nielsen isn’t sure how there can be two Undertakers and then has a fake Leslie Nielsen arrested.

Apparently Vince and Lawler will be taking live fan calls as the show continues, though there don’t appear to be any more matches. This part isn’t included on the WWE Vault version and the show just ends.

Overall Rating: C. There’s a reason that Summerslam 1994 is not among your more remembered editions. The show was built around two matches and this show featured one of them in a squash and the other was a taped promo. Other than that, the highlight was a 1-2-3 Kid/Bob Holly match, even though neither of them are on Summerslam. Nothing to see here, and really not much of a special.

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

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It’s time for the biggest AEW show of the year and the biggest they have ever held in America. The main event very well may change the course of AEW, as Hangman Page is trying to end the reign of terror from Jon Moxley. Other than that, we have the usual variety of title matches, with all kinds of things already set for the show. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: FTR vs. Outrunners

We saw this earlier in the month on Collision and now it’s time to do it again rather quickly. The idea was that the Outrunners got close to beating FTR but couldn’t quite get there and they want to run it back to try again. That should make for a good match, but at some point the Outrunners need to actually win something or those reactions are going to start getting weaker in a hurry.

That being said, outside of some interference or shenanigans, I can’t imagine FTR losing here, so we’ll go with the Outrunners taking another defeat. At the end of the day, FTR seems primed to go after the Tag Team Titles again sooner or later and that isn’t going to happen if they lose a match to a glorified comedy team. FTR goes over here, likely with some cheating after a tough match.

Zero Hour: Big Boom AJ/Hologram/Kyle O’Reilly/Tomohiro Ishii vs. Don Callis Family

Here we have another match where the result doesn’t seem overly likely to be in double. The Costco Guys are fine as the celebrity involvement and it works well to see them in the ring like this. At the same time, you have Hologram, who doesn’t lose, which takes away even the tiniest bit of drama this match might have had. That’s not something you like to see, but at least it’s on the Kickoff show.

Of course I’m taking the thrown together team to win here, likely with Trent Beretta or Rocky Romero taking the fall. This is probably the easiest match to call all night as there is no reason to believe that the Callis B Team (because they have enough members to have a B Team) has a chance. The match should be fun, as long as I don’t have to put up with too much of the Rizzler.

Zero Hour: Sons Of Texas/Von Erichs vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Yeah there is it. For those keeping track, Dustin Rhodes and the Von Erichs have now had the titles for 350 days, with their most recent title defense taking place back in April. Prior to that, their previous title defense was the day after they won the belts in the first place. They’re on the same team here with an extra name being added, but for some reason they can’t have a token title defense here just to get the belts on the line.

Since the show is in Texas, naturally I’ll take the Texans to win here, as Shane Taylor Promotions were just being hyped up as ready to start doing something again. Therefore, it’s time for them to lose again, likely to the “popular” team. I’m sure the fans will likely them well enough, but we’re very possibly coming up on Rhodes setting the record for longest individual reigns with two titles. I have no idea why, but apparently being from Texas is enough.

TNT Title: Adam Cole(c) vs. Kyle Fletcher

It’s a nice feeling when there really isn’t a choice for the weakest match to start the main card. Cole has been presented as a big deal with the title, but Fletcher is looking for a big win. That is the kind of thing that makes for a major moment, as they’re making for an important collision. Cole and the Paragon have been fighting the Don Callis Family, but this might be where things fall apart.

I’ll take Fletcher to win the title here, as it feels like they are on the way towards doing something a lot bigger with him. At some point he needs to validate that with something more than just the ROH TV Title. Beating Cole would feel like an important moment, especially at the biggest show of the year. Let him win and see where he can go from here, while also giving Callis something to brag about for the team.

Tag Team Titles: Hurt Syndicate(c) vs. Jet Speed vs. The Patriarchy

Sweet goodness it is amazing how much adding the Patriarchy has helped this match. The Syndicate is so much ahead of just about every other team in AEW so they’re going to need some special odds to give them a real threat. This is about as good of an idea as they have to make it work, which seems to be going well. I’m not sure if that means it’s going to mean a title change, but at least there is some more intrigue.

That being said, I’ll take the champs to retain here, as it’s hard to imagine them losing to anyone, even with the odds being against them. Bobby Lashley having a bad knee still isn’t enough to make me think that Jet Speed could beat anyone and I can’t quite picture the Patriarchy winning either. The Hurt Syndicate gets to use the size and power to win here, which they should be doing again.

Trios Titles: Opps(c) vs. Death Riders

This is the logical way to go for a title match, as the Death Riders, albeit in a different form, are former champions. I do like what they’ve done with the Opps, as seeing Powerhouse Hobbs getting at least something to do should have taken place a LONG time ago. It’s more interesting than Hook would have been in the role, which is a nice upgrade to see. This is going to be a different kind of fight though and I’m not sure how this is going to go.

As much of a possibility as a title change might be, I think I’ll take the Opps to retain here. Joe getting to smash through people is always worth seeing and while I can imagine AEW wanting to push Gabe Kidd, there are better ways to do that than by throwing him into a trio to win some belts. Hopefully this is a hard hitting fight, and that’s the best way for the whole thing to go, likely with the Opps retaining.

Men’s Casino Gauntlet

And now we get to the confusing stuff, as it’s really hard to predict a match where you don’t know who is involved. There are a few interesting options out there already and unfortunately that’s about all we can go on here. Mark Briscoe and MJF are going to be starting the match, which in a way is the best spot to have as while you’ll be out there longer, the match being able to end at any time can make things all the more interesting.

Based only on the six names that we have, I’ll actually go with Ricochet stealing the win here. Ricochet is the kind of guy who could get a lot out of having a title shot hanging over someone’s head and that’s what it should be. MJF is always an option to win here, but other than that, it’s hard to guess with so few names officially announced. Ricochet stands out over what we have though and that has me interested enough.

Women’s Casino Gauntlet

So remember what I said about the issues with the men’s version of this match? Well this one is even worse, as there are even fewer names advertised. I have almost no idea who to go with here as it’s basically “pick one of the two names announced (Kris Statlander or Megan Bayne) or the mystery field. That’s a really hard pick to make, so this is the shot in the dark match of the night.

I’ll go with Bayne here, though again it’s a match where we know two entrants out of whatever number we’ll wind up with here. Bayne getting to smash through everyone in front of her is a good idea as she has already wrecked the midcard in recent weeks. Let her get back into the title scene and see where she can go, as there is a chance to see her get into the title scene very quickly.

Swerve Strickland/Will Ospreay vs. Young Bucks

This is the stipulation match of the night, as the Bucks are putting up their Executive Vice Presidencies against Ospreay and Strickland being able to challenge for the World Title for a year. Earlier this week, it seemed that Strickland Ospreay were on enough of the same page to give the Bucks a run for their money, but there is no guarantee that will be enough to put them over the most successful team AEW has ever had.

Unfortunately we’re at a coin flip here, as I could see AEW going either way. I’ll take….Ospreay and Strickland winning here, though it’s the kind of a pick where I have no reason to believe I’m right. The Bucks have been built up to the point of getting to lose something big and this is about as huge as they can get. Just let them finally give something up while also keeping your main event scene intact. I’m not convinced that’s how it’s going to go, but it’s the right way to go.

Continental Title/International Title: Kazuchika Okada(c) vs. Kenny Omega(c)

They were so close. The term “winner take all” was giving me hope that they were going to get rid of one of the titles they had running around but alas no, as Tony Khan has confirmed that not only will the titles stay separate, but the Continental Classic will reset the Continental Title in a few months. That’s not the way I was hoping for things to go, but it’s quite the AEW way of doing things.

Omega makes more sense here, as Okada needs to lose a big match at some point, with a loss to Omega making the most sense. The big appeal here is flashing back to what these two did about seven or eight years ago, which is a risky move to make given how they have been going lately. I can imagine that the two of them are going to work as hard as they can and the match should be rather exciting, but the title situation takes away a lot of the spark I had coming into this one.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm(c) vs. Mercedes Mone

The more I think about this, the more I’m thinking I want Mone to win. I don’t care about what Mone has done in AEW and I still find her fairly uninteresting, but there is something glorious about the idea of “and then she beats everyone and wins all of the titles”. That’s how I played No Mercy back in the day and getting to see it on a national stage could be hilarious in a way.

I’ll take Mone to win here, as her thing is “she wins all the time”. Storm has been champion for a long time (combined) now and while she needs something new to do, I have a bad feeling that the something is chasing Mone for a bit before moving on to something else. Mone losing is something that needs to happen, but I’m thinking AEW is going to ride the Mone train until….I have no idea really.

AEW World Title: Jon Moxley(c) vs. Hangman Page

This is a Texas death match and I have no idea where it’s going. Moxley should have lost the title about five months ago but it feels like AEW is building towards some big moment with him. There should be no bigger moment than this show, but at the same time, it feels like we are coming up on Darby Allin being the one to take the title. There is always the chance that Swerve Strickland could cost Page here, or someone else could run in (my money would be on Jack Perry) to screw him over.

That being said, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Page wins the title. I’m almost perversely hoping that I’m wrong just to be able to laugh at AEW, but to say it is time is an understatement. Page has been set up to win this title and there is no reason to stick with Moxley. I’m completely believing that I could be wrong here, but Page needs to get the title and send the fans home happy.

Overall Thoughts

This is the day that AEW has been building towards for a long time now and it’s time to knock it out of Globe Life Park. The previous editions of All In have gone well before and hopefully they can do it again here. AEW’s history with pay per views gives me hope with this one, but dang they need to wrap it up with the Death Riders/Young Bucks already. If they don’t do that, or at least one of those two things, I don’t know where they’re supposed to go next. Get it right.

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

Monday Night Raw
Date: May 26, 2025
Location: Yuengling Center, Tampa, Florida
Commentators: Pat McAfee, Michael Cole

We’re done with Saturday Night’s Main Event, which saw the return of Cody Rhodes and a huge tag match likely being set up for Money In The Bank. The show is coming up in less than two weeks and this week is going to be qualifying matches. There are some other matches either already set or likely to be set so let’s get to it.

Here is Saturday Night’s Main Event if you need a recap.

Saturday Night’s Main Event recap.

Here are Seth Rollins, Paul Heyman and Bron Breakker, now with Bronson Reed, to get things going. Heyman brags about this being the future of wrestling, as these are going to be the men who main event Wrestlemania XLV. The fans chant for CM Punk, who isn’t here tonight, thanks to Reed. Heyman praises Reed as a monster who took Punk out on his own at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

That brings Heyman to Rollins, who is everything he names himself as being. Rollins very slowly talks about how this is the vision, and his vision. The fans do not like Rollins and tell him he sold out, but he doesn’t know who he sold out to. Himself? The fans swear at him a lot, though he points out that five minutes ago, they were singing his song.

Sami Zayn and CM Punk cost him the World Heavyweight Championship, but Rollins has a better idea. He is going to qualify for Money In The Bank and take the title whenever he wants. That’s true power, which he has because he is a visionary. I’d assume the team is going to be called The Vision and while I’ve heard worse, you know what name they should be going with in the end.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Penta vs. Dragon Lee vs. Chad Gable

Gable is sent to the floor to start, leaving Lee to send Penta into the corner for a running boot to the face. Some running dropkicks connect in the corner but Gable is back with a t-bone suplex. Penta is back up and takes Gable down, followed by a superkick to an upside down Lee in the corner.

A package piledriver/Gory Bomb combination sends Gable and Lee to the floor (with Gable landing on his head), followed by the big flip dive to the floor. We take a break and come back with Gable taking over on the floor, where El Hijo del Vikingo is not happy in the crowd. Lee hits a SCARY dive to take Penta out on the announcers’ table as Gable goes after Vikingo.

Back in and Lee hits the sitout powerbomb for two on Gable, who German suplexes both of them at once. A moonsault gives Gable two on Penta and he goes up again, but Vikingo breaks it up. Lee hits his super double stomp but Penta gives him a Canadian Destroyer. The Penta Driver finishes Gable at 10:03.

Rating: B-. Penta makes the most sense here, as he has been teasing that Intercontinental level run for a long time now. While he isn’t likely to win the briefcase, he’s someone who can do some kind of a big spot and steal a good chunk of the show. El Grande Americano will likely get involved somehow, and that’s all he needs to be doing, especially with the mask involved.

We go to the Judgment Day clubhouse, where Roxanne Perez gives Dominik Mysterio some chicken tenders and rubs his shoulders. Liv Morgan is back though and does NOT like this. She is off to qualify for Money In The Bank, with Perez looking all innocent. They’re not wasting time with this one and it should be fun.

We get the Memorial Day video, as narrated by Cody Rhodes.

Akira Tozawa vs. Rusev

Tozawa, with Maxxine Dupri, comes right at him to start for no logical reason. Rusev shrugs it off and hits the running superkick, setting up the Accolade for the win at 54 seconds. That’s all it should have been.

Post match Rusev won’t let go but Sheamus comes out for the save. That’s better than having random matches for both of them.

Comedians Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura, promote their shows on Netflix but Bert runs off. Bert calls Tom over to meet the War Raiders and do the WAR chant. Tom isn’t impressed. Neither am I, as Kreischer seems to be as entertaining as a bad infection.

Sami Zayn is upset but Jey Uso comes in and tells him to win Money In The Bank. Handshakes abound.

Tag Team Titles: War Raiders vs. New Day vs. Creed Brothers

The brawl is on before the bell with the Raiders clearing the ring, allowing Erik to slam Ivar onto the pile. Back in and Woods saves Kingston from a powerbomb and Erik gets double teamed into the barricade. The villains are in control as we take a break. Back with Woods hitting a top rope double stomp between Erik’s shoulders.

Erik fights up and hits a right hand to Woods, allowing the tag to Ivar. House is quickly cleaned and Ivar wrecks everyone. Ivar stacks Kingston and Brutus up for a splash and everyone but the Raiders are sent outside. Back in and a superplex brings Erik down and Woods adds the Limit Break. Ivar’s top rope splash hits Woods, with Kingston and the Creeds making a save.

Kingston’s Trouble In Paradise misses so the Creeds take Erik down. Ivar’s double handspring elbow drops the Creeds but Brutus is back up with a Brutus Ball to the floor. Ivar sends Kingston into the ring wall and hits a crossbody to crush him again. Back in and Julius hits a step up knee to knock Ivar off the top but Woods rolls him up with tights to retain at 9:49.

Rating: B-. I’m kind of astounded by how ice cold the tag division is at this point and this didn’t help things. It was just a triple threat match with the Raiders getting to look dominant until New Day cheated to win. There’s nowhere for them to go right now as there are no other teams to come after the titles right now, but I guess this is about as featured as the titles are going to get.

Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez run into Iyo Sky and Kairi Sane. Morgan mocks both of them, so Sane issues the challenge for later.

Here is Jey Uso for a chat. Uso recaps recent issues…and gets cut off by Gunther. He wastes no time in congratulating the Usos for being in WWE for fifteen years and for Uso’s first successful title defense. Gunther did not expect Uso to hold the title this long. Uso’s long term plan seems to be to take care of his friends at a moment’s notice, which is a great thing for a friend but a terrible idea for a champion.

The reality is that Uso might not be smart enough to get what it takes to keep the title. That’s why Gunther is going to relieve him of the champion. Uso says that’s enough because he is tired of everyone saying his days are numbered. In two weeks, Uso is going to fight for the people’s support and keep his title. Good stuff here, but it felt like a rerun of the build to Wrestlemania.

Cody Rhodes has a new podcast with his wife Brandi as the first guest.

Liv Morgan vs. Kairi Sane

They grapple around to start until Morgan takes her into the corner for some stomping. Sane fights up and headscissors her into the ropes, setting up a heck of a running forearm to the chest. Morgan is back up with a big knockdown on the floor though and we take a break. Back with Sane breaking up the Three Amigos and hitting a top rope fist (basically a Phenomenal Forearm without the springboard).

A rather painful looking leglock goes on but Morgan slips out and hits a middle rope Codebreaker for two as the fans are getting back into this. Morgan grabs a Backstabber for two but Sane rolls her up out of the corner for the same. Sane goes up but here is Dominik Mysterio for a distraction, allowing Roxanne Perez to shove her off. Raquel Rodriguez yells at Perez as Sane counters Oblivion into a rollup for the pin at 10:58.

Rating: C+. It’s good that last week’s loss doesn’t seem to have impacted Sane very much and there is a chance that this was designed to boost her back up. That’s the secondary story though, as the big deal here is going to be Morgan wanting to massacre Perez for various reasons. That should set things up for the future, as it could go in a variety of different ways.

Rhea Ripley is ready to win Money In The Bank, which is somehow her first ladder match.

Liv Morgan yells at Roxanne Perez…and blames Raquel Rodriguez as well.

Here is Lyra Valkyria for a chat. She wishes she was here to talk about new competition but Becky Lynch has whined and complained and gotten another shot at the Women’s Intercontinental Title. Normally, Valkyria beats someone between the ropes and moves on, but Lynch came out here, with her ego still high, and acted like she won the match. She’s like a rat with a piece of cheese and Valkyria couldn’t let her do it.

Valkyria is ready to hurt her at Money In The Bank but here is Lynch, looking a bit stunned, to interrupt. Lynch can’t believe Valkyria claimed Lynch is the one who made this personal. The reality is that after Backlash, Lynch went home with her hot husband and Valkyria went to the hospital with her fiance. Valkyria calls Lynch’s husband the best thing about her and Lynch says she made Valkyria what she is today. That doesn’t work for Valkyria, because people are talking about her for her win at Backlash.

Lynch has to calm herself down and offers a stipulation: if Valkyria beats her, she can never challenge for the title again. Valkyria says that’s fine, because she beat Lynch at Backlash with her eyes closed. Lynch wasn’t done though, because she wants Valkyria to raise her hand after Lynch wins. That’s fine with Valkyria, who will always raise the hand of someone who beats her. That just hasn’t been Lynch yet. Valkyria is trying so hard with these promos but there is only so much you can do against an all time talker like Lynch. Odds are Lynch wins at Money In The Bank, though I said the same about Backlash and was very wrong.

Karrion Kross, with Scarlett, stop Sami Zayn, who has no time for this. Kross says Zayn won’t win the title, but Zayn says he’ll deal with Kross later. It seemed that New Day was in the back, possibly talking to Grayson Waller (though you couldn’t see his face).

We run down the Money In The Bank card.

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Seth Rollins vs. Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor

Balor chops away at Zayn to start so Zayn dives onto Rollins on the floor. Back in and Rollins drops Zayn with a clothesline but Balor hits a double DDT for two. We take a break and come back with Balor hammering on Zayn as Rollins is on the floor. Zayn fights up and hits the Arabian moonsault to take them both out.

Back in and Rollins puts Zayn on top, where Zayn snaps off a sunset bomb. Balor escapes a Pedigree attempt and goes up, where Zayn superplexes him down. Rollins hits a heck of a frog splash for two and we take another break. We come back again with Zayn in trouble and Rollins agreeing to team up with Balor to go after him.

Balor superplexes Zayn for two but Rollins is back up to Pedigree both of them for two each. Zayn knocks Balor down for two and can’t believe the kickout, leaving Rollins to slap Zayn in the corner over and over. The Exploder sends Rollins into the corner but Balor cuts off the Helluva Kick. The shotgun dropkick sends Rollins and Zayn into the corner but the Coup de Grace misses.

A Stomp hits Balor and a Helluva Kick hits Rollins…and Bron Breakker pulls the referee out. Cue Jey Uso to go after Breakker and Bronson Reed but Rollins offers a distraction. Breakker spears Zayn but here is Dominik Mysterio to slide Balor a chair. That lets Rollins Stomp Balor onto the chair for the pin at 19:38.

Rating: B. They had some options for the winner here, but the result was going to be Balor taking the pin one way or another. That’s just what he does these days (and for several days now) and there is no reason to believe it’s going to change. At the same time, Rollins gets to move closer to the title, but I would be stunned if he actually wins the briefcase with so many people wanting to keep him from regaining power.

Post match CM Punk runs in for a GTS to Rollins, with Reed and Breakker chasing him off to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Money In The Bank season is so tough to get through most of the time as it is a bunch of qualifying matches to get ready for a glorified #1 contenders match. That was the focus of this week’s show, though they did enough to set up some other stories to keep it interesting. Unfortunately there is also the ice cold tag division in the middle of the show, which didn’t do it much favors. This show did enough to keep things interesting, but dang I can’t wait for those ladder matches to be over so we can move on to something else.

Results
Penta b. Dragon Lee and Chad Gable – Penta Driver to Gable
Rusev b. Akira Tozawa – Accolade
New Day b. Creed Brothers and War Raiders – Rollup with tights to Brutus
Kairi Sane b. Liv Morgan – Rollup
Seth Rollins b. Finn Balor and Sami Zayn – Stomp onto a chair to Balor

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

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Come On In: WWE Signs Olympic Combat Athlete.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/come-on-in-wwe-signs-olympic-combat-athlete/

Ouch: WWE Offers Injury Update On Randy Orton Following Attack On SmackDown.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/ouch-wwe-offers-injury-update-on-randy-orton-following-attack-on-smackdown/

LOOK: Early 2000s WWE Stable Reunites For Special Event.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/look-early-2000s-wwe-stable-reunites-for-special-event/

Ouch: WWE Legend Dealing With Health Issues, Forced Out Of Independent Show.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/ouch-wwe-legend-dealing-with-health-issues-forced-out-of-independent-show/

They’re In: WWE Stars And Personalities React To New Women’s United States Title.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/theyre-in-wwe-stars-and-personalities-react-to-new-womens-united-states-title/

In The Cards: Backstage Reason For WWE’s Choice For Crown Jewel Main Event.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/in-the-cards-backstage-reason-for-wwes-choice-for-crown-jewel-main-event/

Save The Date: Tiffany Stratton Teases When She Will Cash In Money In The Bank Briefcase.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/save-the-date-tiffany-stratton-teases-when-she-will-cash-in-money-in-the-bank-briefcase/

First Up? Backstage Details On WWE Women’s United States Title.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/first-up-backstage-details-on-wwe-womens-united-states-title/

Working On It: Injury Update On Long Missing AEW Star.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/working-on-it-injury-update-on-long-missing-aew-star/

Farewell? Update On The New Day’s Recent Issues.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/farewell-update-on-the-new-days-recent-issues/

It Came Together: Interesting Detail On NXT At The 2300 Arena, Head To Head With AEW Dynamite.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/it-came-together-interesting-detail-on-nxt-at-the-2300-head-to-head-with-aew-dynamite/

It’s True: Kurt Angle Reveals He Received Two AEW Offers, Why He Turned Them Down.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/its-true-kurt-angle-reveals-he-received-two-aew-offers-why-he-turned-them-down/

He’s Back: Update On CM Punk’s Return To WWE.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/hes-back-update-on-cm-punks-return-to-wwe/

Not Working? The Street Profits Reportedly Frustrated Backstage In WWE But It’s A Bit More Complicated.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/not-working-the-street-profits-reportedly-frustrated-backstage-in-wwe-but-its-a-bit-more-complicated/

It’s On: Major Title Match Officially Set For WWE Survivor Series.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/its-on-major-title-match-officially-set-for-wwe-survivor-series/

WATCH: Injured WWE Superstar Returns On Monday Night Raw After Three Month Injury Hiatus.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-injured-wwe-superstar-returns-on-monday-night-raw-after-three-month-injury-hiatus/

No More? Possible Sign That Wrestling Legend Is Gone From WWE.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/no-more-possible-sign-that-wrestling-legend-is-gone-from-wwe/

Who? Matt Hardy Reveals How He Was Almost Given “A More Hispanic-Based Name”.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/who-matt-hardy-reveals-how-he-was-almost-given-a-more-hispanic-based-name/

On The Mend: Kevin Nash Offers Health Update After Missing Independent Show.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/on-the-mend-kevin-nash-offers-health-update-after-missing-independent-show/

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

It’s time to go international again and in this case we’re in Germany for another European pay per view. The show is likely to be headlined by an Austrian defending the World Heavyweight Title but it’s close enough to be the big featured attraction. Granted it is one of the five matches on the card so hopefully it lives up to the hype. Let’s get to it.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Isla Dawn/Alba Fyre(c) vs. Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill

Now on paper, this should seem to be a pretty one sided idea, but that’s a trap I’ve fallen into far too many times before. The more I think about this, the more I think it’s a case of how WWE wants to present the titles going forward. If they want the belts to actually matter, they need some more regular teams holding the belts rather than the latest dream team, which seems to be what would happen if Belair and Cargill get the belts back.

In a prediction I’m sure will go wrong, I’ll actually say the champions retain here, either through Belair and Cargill turning on one another (unlikely) or through some kind of shenanigans (more likely). Dawn and Fyre have held the titles for a bit now and it would do the belts a lot of good to keep them on the champs for a bit. The longest reign with this version of the titles is about six months. Taking them off the current champions in about two and a half isn’t going to do them any good, so the champions retaining is the right move. It might not be what happens, but it makes the most sense.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes(c) vs. Kevin Owens

It’s weird to have this title listed so early on but is anyone buying this as a big time main event? The return of Roman Reigns has changed a lot on SmackDown and while Rhodes vs. Owens should be good, it isn’t exactly the kind of match that feels must see. Odds are we’ll see something more important next time, possibly with Solo Sikoa also involved, but for now, it should get them through.

Naturally Rhodes retains here, though the question is whether or not the match ends clean. I’m not sure I can imagine Owens turning heel after all of this, though they are certainly teasing the idea. This week’s Smackdown also saw Owens mentioning that Rhodes has a knee injury, which is some great storytelling with the will he/won’t he deal. But yeah, there is a grand total of no way Owens gets the title here so go with what makes sense as Rhodes retains, possibly with some more things taking place at the same time.

Terror Twins vs. Judgment Day

This might not be the main event, but it is certainly one of the matches with the most heat. The fans are going to go nuts at the idea of Rhea Ripley getting to hurt Dominik Mysterio, which is the entire point of the whole thing. It is going to be an absolutely insane moment when it finally happens, but I’m not sure if we are going to see the big Riptide take place here or later.

I can’t see a way the Twins lose here as they are the fresh new team with the fans being into pretty much anything they do. This should be the match where Ripley gets a pin on Morgan to set up another title match between the two, even if that is little more than an appetizer. This is still all about Ripley vs. Mysterio and we’ll get to that in due time, but the Twins go over here, as they get to continue their dominant start.

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

They already had their big showdown earlier this month at Summerslam and now it’s time for the rematch where things can get a bit more violent. In this case that means a strap match of the four corners variety, which opens up a few more options. Punk is still coming for revenge and odds are he’ll get it here, but it depends on just how far he is going to be able to go with it.

I’ll take Punk winning here, as the stipulation is the perfect way for him to get some revenge and set up a rubber match between the two where McIntyre can defeat him for good (at least in theory). These two are going to beat the fire out of each other and there are going to be some awesome moments so I’ll take what I can get here. This could be rather good, with Punk winning to get some of his momentum back.

Raw World Title: Gunther(c) vs. Randy Orton

Like this could be anything else. This is the big featured match of the card as Gunther gets the closest thing he’ll have to a homecoming as World Heavyweight Champion. It helps that some fans are already cheering him due to how good he is, so hopefully he receives a nice moment for his first title defense. The story here is that Orton’s shoulder was up during King Of The Ring, but now things are a bit more about Gunther than Orton.

While there is always the chance that WWE will go with Orton, there is no way that Gunther, whose whole deal is long title reigns, is going to drop the title four weeks later. The good thing is that Orton is enough of a legend with the big weapon available that it feels like there is a chance, but this is absolutely more about Gunther than Orton. Gunther gets his clean win over Orton to retain, despite at least one RKO in the process.

Overall Thoughts

This is pretty much in line with some of the other international events: it’s much more about WWE getting to say that they have been to another country and giving the fans a chance to go nuts for people they don’t get to see very often. The show should be fine, but it’s hard to believe that anything major is going to happen. That’s not a bad thing though, even if a five match card still feels wrong.

Make sure you check out some recent reviews:

Ring Of Honor – May 9, 2024

Impact Wrestling – May 9, 2024

NXT LVL Up – May 10, 2024

Collision – May 11, 2024

Rampage – May 11, 2024

VIDEO: Longtime Villain Turns Hero This Week On SmackDown.

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

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

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-nxt-star-returns-to-the-ring-following-11-month-injury-absence/

He’s Back: 40 Year Old Former WWE World Champion Wrestles First Match In Over A Year.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/hes-back-40-year-old-former-wwe-world-champion-wrestles-first-match-in-over-a-year/

That Soon? Becky Lynch’s WWE Contract Reportedly Expiring This Month.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/that-soon-becky-lynchs-wwe-contract-reportedly-expiring-this-month/

VIDEO: King And Queen Of The Ring Tournament Matches Take Place At WWE Live Event.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-king-and-queen-of-the-ring-tournament-matches-take-place-at-wwe-live-event/

Her Too: Yet Another Star Out Of WWE Queen Of The Ring, Replacement Named.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/her-too-yet-another-star-out-of-wwe-queen-of-the-ring-replacement-named/

All Out? Bryan Danielson Reveals His AEW Deal Does Not Last Much Longer.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/all-out-bryan-danielson-reveals-his-aew-deal-does-not-last-much-longer/

VIDEO: WWE Superstars Wish A Happy Mother’s Day (This Is Great).

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-wwe-superstars-wish-a-happy-mothers-day-this-is-great/

WRESTLING RUMORS: Liv Morgan Reaches Impressive Accomplishment In WWE.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wrestling-rumors-liv-morgan-reaches-impressive-accomplishment-in-wwe/

VIDEO: WWE King And Queen Of The Ring First Rounds Wrap Up At Sunday Live Event.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-wwe-king-and-queen-of-the-ring-first-rounds-wrap-up-at-sunday-live-event/

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

Worlds End 2023
Date: December 30, 2023
Location: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Long Island, New York
Commentators: Taz, Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the last pay per view of the year and that means we could be in for a rather big show. The main events will see MJF defending the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe with the Devil’s reveal lurking. We also have the finals of the Continental Classic, which means the crowning of the first Triple Crown Champion. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale

Stokely Hathaway, the source of the issues between these two, is at ringside and both of the women are from Long Island. An exchange of shoulders doesn’t go anywhere as Hathaway blames Tony Schiavone for the issues between these two. Nightingale takes her to the mat and grabs a headscissors but Statlander easily slips out. A legsweep and some spinning knees give Statlander two but Nightingale runs her over with a crossbody.

Back up and Statlander strikes away, setting up the pretty impressive slam. We hit the bodyscissors and then a chinlock to keep Nightingale down, followed by a belly to back suplex for two. Back up and they collide for a double knockdown, followed by Nightingale crushing her in the corner. A spinebuster gets two for Nightingale, who gets planted down to give Statlander the same. Statlander hits an electric chair faceplant but Nightingale is right back up with the Pounce.

The Cannonball into a Death Valley Driver gives Nightingale two more, followed by Statlander’s ax kick for the same. Nightingale powerbombs her onto the apron though and a missile dropkick gets two more. Saturday Night Fever is broken up so Statlander settles for a discus lariat, only to miss the 450. The Babe With The Powerbomb doesn’t work as Statlander lands on Nightingale (with Nigel pointing out that it was more of a legdrop for Statlander), so Nightingale grabs a better version for the pin at 13:21.

Rating: B-. This was a hoss fight and thankfully they went home after the not so great powerbomb slip. It’s very nice to see Nightingale get a win after being known for coming up short so often. At the same time, what in the world has happened to Statlander? She went from on ire to losing clean in a Zero Hour match, which is hardly the best way to go for her. She needs to get back on track, though I’m not sure I see that happening anytime soon.

Zero Hour: Battle Royal

Action Andretti, Darius Martin, Alex Reynolds, John Silver, Danhausen, Bryan Keith, Matt Menard, Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta, Angelo Parker, Kip Sabian, Christopher Daniels, Lance Archer, Killswitch, Dalton Castle, Johnny TV, Butcher, Blade, Serpentico, Lee Johnson

For a future TNT Title shot. Castle (with two suspiciously large Boys) and TV get in a fight at ringside while everyone else jump Archer and Killswitch to bury the under tables at ringside. Everyone else gets inside and Serpentico is quickly eliminated. Sabian knocks Castle out (less than two minutes in) before a launched Danhausen gets rid of TV and Johnson follows him out.

The Dark Order beats up and eliminates Parker before Reynolds is out as well. Butcher tosses Silver as the ring is rapidly clearing out. Keith kicks Sabian out before going after Butcher and the Blade, who put him out. Archer is back up so Menard chops away at him, earning the quick elimination. Archer’s running knee gets rid of Daniels before Andretti (following his water bottle trick) and Martin manage to take Archer down.

Killswitch is back in and starts clearing the ring until it’s down to Killswitch, Archer, Danhausen and Trent. Danhausen gets saved from the Blackout and Trent and Danhausen manage to get rid of Archer. Then Trent turns on Danhausen to throw him out (the fans DO NOT approve) but has to slip out of Killswitch’s chokeslam. A low bridge puts Killswitch on the apron and a jumping knee puts him down on said apron. Not that it matters as a headbutt knocks Trent down to give Killswitch the win at 13:47.

Rating: C. One of the worst things you can do in a battle royal is having a field where one or two people is a likely winner. That was certainly the case here, and as soon as you remembered who the TNT Champion is, the drama goes even lower. It made for a bunch of waiting around for Archer and Killswitch to get back up and then it was just a matter of time.

Zero Hour: FTW Title: Wheeler Yuta vs. Hook

Hook is defending (Yuta’s Ring Of Honor Pure Rules Title isn’t on the line) in an FTW Rules match, meaning anything goes. We start fast with Hook jumping him and grabbing a throw, only for Yuta to get in a cheap shot. It’s time to grab some weapons but Yuta takes too long, allowing Yuta to grab a suplex on the ramp. One heck of a trashcan lid shot puts Hook down but Yuta makes the mistake of yelling at Taz.

That’s enough for Hook to come back with a clothesline and they get back inside. Yuta knocks him down again and a running backsplash gets two. Hook manages another suplex and they slug it out for a double knockdown. A t-bone suplex sends Yuta into a trashcan in the corner for two but Redrum is broken up. Yuta DDTs him for two and Hook bails to the floor for a breather. With Yuta grabbing a 2×4, Hook pulls out a stick (hockey or lacrosse) and nails Yuta hard. Redrum, with the broken stick, retains at 10:15.

Rating: C+. They were smart to go with the weapons stuff here as Hook probably isn’t capable of a regular match yet and the Pure Rules still aren’t interesting. Odds are they’ll do this again under Pure Rules and then have a regular match later on, but this one had to go this way to start. Hook has cooled off a lot but at least he got some momentum here.

The PPV proper opens with a look at the big matches and a talk about how this is the end of everything.

Brody King/Jay Lethal/Rush/Jay White vs. Blackpool Combat Club/Mark Briscoe/Daniel Garcia

Matt Menard is on commentary. Rush and Castagnoli trade the heavy strikes to start with Castagnoli getting the better of things. Rush sends him outside but Castagnoli is back in and they stare each other down. Briscoe and Lethal come in with Lethal not being able to get the Figure Four. A chop off goes to Briscoe so Danielson comes in with the LeBell Lock to White. That means a quick rope break as Nigel is in rare form of insulting Danielson.

A running corner dropkick hits White and a middle rope hurricanrana drops him again. King comes in and shrugs off Garcia’s right hands, setting up a swinging Boss Man Slam to plant Garcia. King takes him outside and yells at Menard, who isn’t exactly interested in coming after the monster.

Back in and Lethal stomps away on Garcia (who might have a broken nose) before White adds a seated chop. Garcia manages to fight out of the corner though and it’s Briscoe coming back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and the fight heads outside. Briscoe hits the running Blockbuster and Bang Bang Elbow from the apron, followed by a fisherman’s buster for two on White. Back in and Briscoe knocks Lethal off the top, only to have Lethal pop back up for a top rope superplex.

Everything breaks down again and Castagnoli unloads with uppercuts to King. Castagnoli muscles King up for an impressive suplex but Rush is back in for the save. Danielson cuts Rush off and dropkicks King to cut off Castagnoli’s Swing. Garcia and Lethal slug it out until Lethal grabs his namesake Combination. The Figure Four goes on but Briscoe makes the save with the froggy bow. We hit the parade of finishes until Garcia rolls Lethal up for the pin at 17:12.

Rating: B. This was the insanity that you were expecting as this wasn’t about the teams but rather getting eight people in the ring for a pay per view match following the Continental Classic. In other words, it was a great choice for an opener and Garcia’s likely face push continues, as he gets a nice win in a match where someone had to pick one up.

We recap Andrade El Idolo vs. Miro. CJ Perry, Miro’s wife, is managing El Idolo so Miro promised to not end him until after the Continental Classic. Since El Idolo is out, he’s fair game for Miro.

Miro vs. Andrade El Idolo

CJ Perry is here with El Idolo, who gets jumped to start as the beating is on. El Idolo gets in a shot of his own but dives into a suplex to cut that right off. Perry yells at Miro about her infected finger so Miro chokes him on the ropes in front of her. Miro throws El Idolo to the floor, where El Idolo gets in a shove over the announcers’ table.

Back in and El Idolo blocks a superplex attempt so they slug it out instead. El Idolo gets the better of things so Miro drops him with a clothesline. Miro gets knocked into the corner but it’s too early for the running knees. Instead Miro bails to the floor, leaving El Idolo to hit the middle rope moonsault.

Back in and the double moonsault gives El Idolo two so we hit the Figure Four. That’s turned into the Figure Eight…but Perry cuts it off. Miro, now much happier…or at least whatever passes for happy with him, kicks El Idolo in the face, setting up Game Over for the tap at 15:03.

Rating: C. This was a rough one as it just kept going. It’s a good example of a match that should have been cut down by at least five minutes so there wasn’t as much slow offense and standing around. The Perry turn was the right way to go as she and Miro work really well together. I’m not sure what took so long to set them up, but at least now things are as they should be.

We recap Toni Storm defending the Women’s Title against Riho. Basically Riho returned, wanted a title shot, earned one, and is getting it.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Riho

Riho is challenging. Storm takes over to start so Riho starts spinning around. A running knee into and a running bulldog out of the corner gives Riho two and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up and they head outside where Storm gets in a slam to take over. Storm slowly hammers away and gets in a slam, setting up the double bicep pose. The half grab goes on to stay on Riho’s back, followed by a toss out to the floor.

Back in and Storm declares “she’s toast now” before grabbing a Texas Cloverleaf. Luther adds some cheating but gets caught, meaning the hold is broken and Luther is out of here. Riho hits the 619 and a high crossbody, followed by another dive to the floor. Back in and Riho misses a charge in the corner, allowing Storm Zero to connect for two. Riho tries to spin over her but gets caught in a hard DDT to retain the title at 11:47.

Rating: C+. This could have been a lot worse, but they weren’t given the chance to set up much of a feud. It was more or less Riho coming back, saying she wanted the title, getting a title shot and then losing with little in between. Storm is still great at what she’s doing and has Mariah May waiting on her, so this shouldn’t have been the most stunning result.

Post match Mariah May brings out rose petals to celebrate.

Dante Martin is upset about not being a champion so Orange Cassidy comes in to say he knows where this is going. Martin issues the challenge and they’re on for Dynamite.

Swerve Strickland vs. Dustin Rhodes

Rhodes is replacing an injured Keith Lee. Swerve jumps him before the bell and beats him up on the floor, with the cinder block being loaded up. The Swerve Stomp onto the ankle onto the block leaves Rhodes laying. Medics come down to check on Rhodes…who wants to go anyway.

The bell rings, with Swerve taking him down immediately and hammering away before shouting that it could have been you (meaning Lee). Swerve dropkicks the leg out again and gets in some dancing so Rhodes gets in a shot of his own. Rhodes manages a high crossbody for two, followed by the Canadian Destroyer and snap powerslam for two.

Nana offers a distraction and gets dropped with a right hand, followed by a piledriver and Cross Rhodes for two on Swerve. Back up and Swerve hits a Downward Spiral, setting up a half crab. Rhodes makes the ropes and fires up again before flipping Swerve off. The House Call cuts Rhodes off though and a second knocks him silly. Swerve snaps the arm and hits the Swerve Stomp to win at 9:24.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t about the action, but rather the fact that this match didn’t need to happen. Swerve took Rhodes apart before the match and left him laying, but instead of letting that be it, they had to have a nine minute match anyway. Throw in Rhodes doing high risk moves so he can get his stuff in and this made Swerve look weaker than need be. He won in the end, but the match didn’t need to happen.

Don Callis Family/Big Bill/Ricky Starks vs. Chris Jericho/Sammy Guevara/Sting/Darby Allin

Guevara gets knocked around by Takeshita to start so it’s quickly off to Jericho. The fans don’t seem to pleased with that, even as Hobbs comes in to run him over. Takeshita gets in a few shots until Jericho makes it over to Allin for the tag. That doesn’t last long as Allin is taken over for the tag to Hobbs so the beating can be on.

A suplex from Hobbs lets Bill come in for a huge toss across the ring. Allin manages to get over for the tag to Sting and house is quickly cleaned. Everything breaks down and Bill gets in a cheap shot, followed by a Boss Man Slam. Jericho comes back in with a Codebreaker and is soundly booed out of the building.

Allin manages to knock Jericho into Hobbs for a breather and a Scorpion Death Drop takes Hobbs down. Takeshita drops Allin HARD though and then does it to both Guevara and Allin with a single German suplex. Sting is back in and grabs the Scorpion on Takeshita, with Callis making the save. The Scorpion goes on but gets broken up again, allowing Guevara to come in and go all flippy. The shooting star press finishes Starks at 15:43.

Rating: C+. The match was the usual fun wild brawl, but this was ALL about Jericho. I’m not sure what AEW needs to do about him at the moment, but they are going to have to do something about it soon. Jericho can’t come out there and be this kind of a distraction so he needs to either go away until his name is cleared or AEW is going to need to come up with some kind of a long term solution. The match was kind of a mess because of him and that can’t happen again.

We recap Julia Hart vs. Abadon for the TBS Title. They’re both weird and want to be champion.

TBS Title: Julia Hart vs. Abadon

Abadon is challenging and under house rules, biting is allowed. The fans declare THIS IS SPOOKY and Abadon grabs a quick cutter to take over fast. Hart isn’t quite sure what to do here so they grab each other by the throat until Hart can leg sweep Abadon down. Choking on the ropes has Abadon in more trouble until a running knee hits Hart in the corner.

A Codebreaker gets two but Hart manages to grab Hartless. The ropes don’t help so Abadon has to crawl out and knock Hart away. Cue Skye Blue for a cheap shot before she dives underneath the ring, leaving Abadon to go after her. The distraction lets Hart drop Abadon, setting up the moonsault (which seemed to be more Hart’s knees slamming into Abadon) to retain at 11:13.

Rating: C-. I’m not sure if it was the spooky vs. spooky stuff here, but they lost me and lost me hard during this one. They just kind of kept doing things until Blue showed up at the end and it couldn’t have been much less interesting. Maybe I just couldn’t get into it for some reason but this wasn’t working and felt a lot longer than it lasted.

We recap Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage. Copeland came back and wanted to reform the team, but Cage said no. The Waynes were brought into this, with Copeland attacking Nick and Shayna costing him the title as a result. Now it’s about violence, revenge and the title, with the latter being a good bit less important than the others.

TNT Title: Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage

Cage, with the Waynes, is defending and this is No DQ so Copeland jumps him on the floor to start. They brawl around ringside, with Nigel McGuinness insulting Copeland. That earns him a SHUT UP NIGEL, with Nigel obliging before waiting for Copeland to be out of earshot to call him a coward. Cage’s right hands don’t do much as he has to avoid his hand being stomped onto the steps.

Cage bails into the crowd with Copeland following, setting up a big dive to take Cage down again. They go back to ringside where Copeland drops him again, earning a YOU STILL GOT IT chant. Back in and Copeland’s spear hits post, followed by a drop onto the steps for two. With Copeland bleeding around the eye, Cage grabs some kendo sticks and chokes away before punching at the cut.

Cage grabs a chair and puts it over Copeland’s back for a Boston crab in a creative, and mostly painful, looking hold. With that broken up, Copeland gets in a stick shot of his own, followed by some more to the ribs. As usual, Copeland gets the bar from the chair for the Crossface but that’s not good enough. We get the obvious ladder brought in, with Cage being catapulted face first into it in the corner.

A low blow cuts Copeland off so Cage goes up, where a superplex is countered into a sunset bomb to leave them both down. It’s time for a table, with the distraction letting Copeland grab an Impaler onto the chair. The Conchairto is loaded up but cue Nick Wayne with a low blow for the save. Cage loads up a spear through the table but naturally gets speared through it himself. Shayna Wayne breaks up the cover and Nick hits Copeland with the title. Wayne’s World to the floor (next to the table rather than through it) drops Copeland again and Cage gets two.

That leaves the Waynes to cover the table with lighter fluid and set it on fire but Copeland spears Cage back inside. The fire goes out so Copeland puts on more fluid and it’s on fire again. Nick gets sent onto (not through) the table and goes writhing onto the floor. Cage’s belt shot is cut off and Copeland hits a Killswitch for the pin and the title at 24:40.

Rating: B. Now this felt like a fight and that is a good thing to see. It also helps that these two have a history, along with Cage being one of the best things in all of wrestling today. The ending isn’t great, but I guess Copeland needed his “you still got it” moment. They could have done without some of the weapons, but the point here was they wanted to hurt each other and then tried to do it. That made or a better match and I liked what we got here.

Post match Killswitch jumps Copeland and chokeslams him through a chair….and since the contract from earlier is for a title match anywhere any time….but hold on as Cage wants it instead. Killswitch hands it over and let’s do this.

TNT Title: Christian Cage vs. Adam Copeland

Cage is challenging and wins the title with a spear in ten seconds. That was A, great and B, even better because it gets rid of the Money In The Bank thing (with Edge getting some payback after being so well known for using the briefcase before).

Copeland gets looked at after the match.

We recap the Continental Classic, which has been going on for over a month now. Kingston wants to win to prove he belongs while Moxley wants to win because he likes winning.

Continental Classic Finals: Triple Crown Title: Eddie Kingston vs. Jon Moxley

For the vacant title and Bryan Danielson is on commentary. They go technical to start with Moxley taking it to the ground for some grappling. Moxley gets the better of things until a rope gives Kingston a breather. Back up and they go to the test of strength with neither getting the better of things. They stare each other down a bit more as Danielson is in full analysis mode, talking about each of them having strengths.

Kingston manages a jumping enziguri to put him on the floor but the dive goes over Moxley for a nasty crash. Back in and Moxley hits a quick suplex, followed by a Paradigm Shift on the floor. They get back in with Kingston’s chop hitting a raised forearm, leaving Kingston in a lot of pain. A piledriver gives Moxley two so we pause for some yelling at the referee (possibly due to Kingston’s bell being rung).

Kingston is back up and drops Moxley to his knees off a single chop. They chop it out and even Danielson is thinking this is a bad move. Kingston grabs a suplex so Moxley pops up, only to grab his banged up knee. The spinning backfist drops Moxley for no cover as Danielson is livid. The machine gun chops have Moxley in trouble in a variety of corners, setting up a DDT to plant Moxley again.

Moxley is back up with a cutter so Kingston hits the spinning backfist, only to get dropped with a hard lariat. The northern lights bomb gives Kingston two but Moxley is back with the bulldog choke. That’s broken up and another northern lights bomb gives Kingston another two. One heck of a lariat drops Kingston for two, sending commentary into stories of injuries from clotheslines. They headbutt it out from their knees until another spinning backfist gives Kingston the pin and the titles at 17:05.

Rating: B+. Much like the previous match, this felt like a fight but for a very different reason. While Copeland vs. Cage felt like a fight between two people who hated each other, this felt like two people wanting to survive to claim a prize. That worked very well and I dug what we got here. Danielson in particular made a feel more like a sporting contest and it made things that much better.

Post match Eddie is presented with the title. Respect is shown and Moxley lets Kingston have the ring.

Here’s what’s coming on Dynamite.

We recap Samoa Joe vs. MJF for the World Title. While Joe is challenging, the real story is MJF being chased by the Devil, who very well could be revealed here.

AEW World Title: Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Samoa Joe

MJF is defending and we get a video of people talking about how he’s THEIR scumbag, including a video from his ex-girlfriend giving a VERY censored story about a night in the back of a car. Before the match, cue Adam Cole to support MJF, whose shoulder is completely wrapped up. Joe backs him into the corner but MJF goes to the eye in a smart move.

A shot to the arm cuts MJF down fast and Joe drops a leg on said arm to make it worse. It’s too early for the Muscle Buster though and Joe gets low bridged to the floor. Back in and a low superkick staggers Joe and the Kangaroo Kick connects. MJF is knocked outside for a heck of a suicide dive, followed by a suplex to rock the shoulder again.

They go to the apron where Joe drops him hard with a MuscleBuster for two. MJF manages a shot to the back of the head and rams Joe into the buckle over and over. Joe shrugs off some right hands in the corner and MJF collapses when trying a fireman’s carry. He’s fine enough to catch Joe with a Heatseeker for two before grabbing the Salt Of The Earth.

Joe reverses into an armbar of his own but MJF makes the rope. Back up and the ref gets bumped so MJF gets all smiley. A low blow cuts Joe off on the middle rope and an F5 of all things leaves both of them down. MJF’s cover gets a very delayed two and Joe pulls him into the Koquina Clutch….for the knockout and the title at 17:47.

Rating: B. This was interesting as Joe won (more or less) clean and that makes sense. MJF isn’t John Cena, meaning at some point the odds are so strongly against him that he has to lose. That’s what took place here, as Joe had been built up as this unstoppable force and MJF was coming in very banged up. While MJF fought, he ultimately couldn’t last against someone like Joe. It told a good story, as the hero goes out on his shield and loses in the end.

Post match Joe leaves and Cole tells MJF to listen to the fans cheering for him. Cue the Henchmen to take both of them down, with Cole saying hit him instead. MJF says hit him instead of Cole. Then the lights go out and the Henchmen have let Cole go. The Henchmen are Wardlow, the Kingdom and Roderick Strong, with MJF being in tears. The big beatdown is on with Cole dropping the Devil mask on MJF to end the show.

Now this is probably the biggest story of the show as it is the big reveal after a months long story. While we’ll have to wait and see what the actual story is, in theory it’s all of MJF’s past sins coming back to haunt him. MJF may be a changed man, but he’s hurt a lot of people on his way to the top. That seems to be what came back to bite him here, as Cole and company wanted to take down the villain who had hurt them all on his way to the top. Cole in particular should feel upset, as he turned into some kind of goof and then lost to MJF at All In because he wasn’t being himself. The real explanation will help, but the potential is there.

Overall Rating: B. This show might not have been great, but the last three matches did a lot to help boost it up. I know I say it a lot about Tony Khan produced shows, but there was too much here at first. The matches that came before the big stuff needed to be trimmed down, as only one non-cash-in match was less than ten minutes long. It’s ok to have something go 5-6 minutes instead of stretching it out way longer than it needs to go and it would have helped a lot.

Now on the good side, the matches that had the biggest builds did rather well, with Copeland vs. Cage, the tournament final and the World Title match all being big hits. It continues to show what AEW can do with some nice storytelling to back up the good action. There are still some corrections to be made and overall this is on the weaker end of the AEW pay per view offerings, but this started off weak and finished very strong and that is a great thing to see.

Results
Willow Nightingale b. Kris Statlander – Babe With The Powerbomb
Killswitch won a battle royal last eliminating Trent Beretta
Hook b. Wheeler Yuta – Redrum
Blackpool Combat Club/Daniel Garcia/Mark Briscoe b. Jay White/Rush/Brody King/Jay Lethal – Rollup to Lethal
Miro b. Andrade El Idolo – Game Over
Toni Storm b. Riho – DDT
Swerve Strickland b. Dustin Rhodes – Swerve Stomp
Sting/Darby Allin/Chris Jericho/Sammy Guevara b. Big Bill/Ricky Starks/Don Callis Family – Shooting stark press to Starks
Julia Hart b. Abadon – Moonsault
Adam Copeland b. Christian Cage – Killswitch
Christian Cage b. Adam Copeland – Spear
Eddie Kingston b. Jon Moxley – Spinning backfist
Samoa Joe b. Maxwell Jacob Friedman via referee stoppage

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