AAA On FOX – August 15, 2026: One Of Their Best (Includes Full Show)
AAA On FOX
Date: August 15, 2026
Location: Coliseo Centenario, Torreon, Mexico
Commentators: Rey Mysterio, Corey Graves, John Bradshaw Layfield
We’re rapidly approaching TripleMania and a bunch of the roads lead to El Grande Americano vs. Dominik Mysterio. That’s not all we’ll be seeing on the show though and more of the card will need to be built up. Last week saw Psycho Clown attacked by some weird guy, which almost has to tie into the attacks on the Psycho Circus. We might get some more of that here so let’s get to it.
The opening recap looks at last week’s interview with Dominik Mysterio, who talked about how he didn’t join Los Perros del Mal but turned on El Grande Americano for suggesting that he did. Now he’s with El Ojo, and Americano is going to need some help to beat Mysterio at TripleMania.
Wrestlers are arriving and it’s El Grande Americano getting in a fight with Dominik Mysterio, which spills into the ring. Rey Mysterio tries to break it up and Dominik gets in a low blow. The Mysterios argue and Dominik bails. Americano says his issue with Dominik is about people comparing him to various lucha libre legends. That will never happen, because those legends gave to wrestling but Dominik always takes. At TripleMania, the title returns home for all of the Mexican legends when the belt comes to Americano. As usual, Americano is awesome at these promos and I want to see him win.
Cruiserweight Title: Rey Fenix vs. Noisy Boy
Fenix is defending and we get a hand slap to start. They run the ropes rather quickly to start with Boy being sent outside. The places are switched and Fenix is dropkicked to the floor, setting up the big dive. Back in and Fenix’s kicks don’t do much good as Boy snaps off a running headscissors.
Fenix is right back up with the rope walk kick to the head and a high crossbody. Boy grabs a cool springboard spinning cutter for two of his own but Fenix is back with a nasty Fenix Driver for the same. The Mexican MuscleBuster is broken up so it’s a springboard poisonrana to give Boy two more. A handspring moonsault gets the same but Boy misses a moonsault. That’s enough for the Mexican MuscleBuster to retain at 5:51.
Rating: B. As usual, this was about taking two talented high fliers and putting them in the ring to go nuts for a few minutes. I could have gone for a few more minutes, as Boy was getting rather impressive with some of the things he was doing. It felt more like a way really give him a chance and that worked out well. Rather good stuff here.
Here is Penta (who greets his brother Fenix on the way to the ring) for a chat. He’s here to talk about one person and that is Roman Reigns. The reality is that Reigns has never faced him and Penta has fought for everything. He’s never needed a family or a faction to accomplish his goals so he’s going to win the tournament and then show Reigns what Penta really is.
Cue Los Perros del Mal and Rey Mysterio knows this isn’t good. Commentary points out that Penta is a former member of Los Perros del Mal…and Penta hugs them. Daga welcomes Penta back and explains how things happened back in 2012. But then they lost Perro Aguayo Jr. and now Daga wants to know what Penta meant about not needing a family.
More than ever, Penta needs a family because Reigns isn’t just a man. If they go together, it could all work, because this is about Mexico vs. them. Reigns respects power and there is power in numbers. Penta is offered the shirt and says he’ll think about it, with Daga saying he has until the end of the night. They hurried through this but it still worked.
Raw World Title #1 Contenders Tournament First Round: La Parka vs. Psycho Clown
They trade armdrags to start and it’s time for Parka to dance. The taped up Clown kicks Parka in the corner and shrugs off a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Clown is quickly suplexed into the corner but comes right back with a sunset flip for two. Parka misses a charge and crashes out to the floor, naturally setting up the suicide dive. Back in and the super Spanish Fly so Clown is right back with a Canadian Destroyer to take over again.
Parka dropkicks him into the corner and the turnbuckle pad is taken off, only for Parka to grab a rolling cutter. The referee actually does his job by trying to put it into the corner, where he is quickly crushed. That means the Psycho Driver gets no count so Clown takes off the first layer of his mask…and the lights go out. It’s the big guy from last week who wrecks Clown again and sends him into the barricade and post, with Parka not seeing what happened. The Bone Breaker finishes Clown at 9:08.
Rating: C+. They kind of had to have the attacker come in again here, as there was pretty much no reason to have him show up last week and then not again this week. Parka is a popular star and probably better known to the Raw audience so he makes for a better option in the tournament. The main point here was the big attack again though and the story could get more interesting when we find out some details.
Post match Parka checks on Clown and waves medics down to help.
Penta is considering the shirt when Los Perros del Mal come in. Penta says he respects everything that the shirt and the team mean to him but he’s not sure. If he does this, he wants to make sure there is no dead weight, which doesn’t please Bronco Nima. They agree to face off next week, with Penta’s future in the team on the line. Penta hits the catchphrase, with the fans approving to end the show.
Overall Rating: B+. This show was focused and to the point, with a title match, a tournament match and a bunch of attention on the bigger stories. It was such an easy show to watch and I want to see more from pretty much everything they did this week. This was a rather good show and one of the better they’ve done in a bit. Heck of a job here.
Results
Rey Fenix b. Noisy Boy – Mexican MuscleBuster
La Parka b. Psycho Clown – Bone Breaker
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AEW Collision – August 15, 2026: Very Collision Of Them
Collision
Date: August 15, 2026
Location: Pearl Theater At Palms Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Paul Wight
We are just over two weeks away from the biggest show of the year and that means it’s time to focus on the Continental Classic Cup, with a couple more first round matches. Hopefully the rest of the show gets some more attention, as it could use a bit more of a spark. Let’s get to it.
Trios Titles: Brodido/Hangman Page vs. Lethal Twist
The Twist is challenging. Page shoulders Christian down to start but is quickly cut off with a headscissors. Lethal tries to come in but only winds up helping Page moonsault onto Johnson. King drops a backsplash onto Johnson so Lethal makes a save before it’s off to Bandido. That earns Christian a handspring into the gun to the head pose so Johnson comes in to tie Bandido in the Tree Of Woe. The 619 and running dropkick hit Bandido and a moonsault takes Page down as we take a break.
We come back with Bandido’s corkscrew crossbody getting him out of trouble so King can come in to swat at the Twists like King Kong swatting at planes. The double Cannonball gives King two and Page is back in to clean house, including the slingshot dive to the floor (he looks pleased). King crushes Christian and Johnson against the barricade so Page can moonsault onto both of them.
We hit the parade of strikes so Christian can moonsault (popular move in this match) to King on the floor. Johnson adds a splash from the apron and a frog splash into a 450 gets two, with the kickout stunning Christian. Page is back in with the Buckshot though and an X Knee sets up a Ganso Bomb to pin Johnson and retain at 12:17.
Rating: B. These titles are a good choice to open a show and let the people go nuts and it helps that the champs are all rather popular. Bandido doing this is better than losing all the time in singles matches and that’s a relief after the absurd number of losses he’s had. Page needs something to do since he can’t go after the World Title so why not do this for a bit?
Post match Ricochet interrupts and here are the Gates Of Agony to jump the champs from behind. The Twist gets back up and the beatdown is even worse.
Don Callis is ready for Hechicero and Brian Cage to face off in the Continental Challenge Cup. Callis offers an interesting translation for Hechicero’s words of friendliness.
Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly say may the best man win in their match.
Continental Challenge Cup First Round: Hechicero vs. Brian Cage
Hechicero’s CMLL World Title isn’t on the line. Hechicero takes him down to start but gets chopped and forearmed in the corner. Back up and Hechicero’s running should doesn’t work so he kicks Cage’s leg out for a bit more success. Cage sends him hard into the corner though and it’s the apron superplex as we take a break.
We come back with Hechicero tying Cage’s arms up in the ropes until Cage swings him into a DDT for two of his own. The Drill Claw is broken up and a leglock sends Cage over to the ropes. A discus lariat gives Cage two so Hechicero is right back with the headscissor driver. Hechicero rolls him around and ties up the arms for the pin at 13:22.
Rating: B-. This was the power vs. technical match and they’re both good enough at their styles to make it work. At the same time, it’s also a heel vs. heel match between two of the lower stars in the massive Don Callis Family. It was only going to be so interesting, which is part of the problem with a lot of this tournament.
Darby Allin talks about how Sting taught him that he didn’t have to change a thing. Kevin Knight has changed everything to be a champion. What kind of a family is the Don Callis Family though? Allin gives Knight his word that he won’t jump him or attack him before All In, because Allin wants to beat him at his best. Was Allin next to a train for this? It wasn’t clear but that’s what it appeared to be.
The Rascalz are in a rather smoky room but Lio Rush pops in to talk about how everyone needs friends. That’s enough to scare the Rascalz away.
Lena Kross/Megan Bayne vs. Rachelle Riveter/Mazzerati
Non-title. Kross shoves Mazzerati around to start and cuts off a headscissors with a side slam. Riveter comes in for a few shots to Bayne, who drops her hard with a clothesline. Double suplexes set up the Divine Intervention to finish Mazzerati at 2:19. As expected.
Post match the Brawling Birds come in for a fight but Kross and Bayne bail.
Zayda Steel has been waiting to face Mercedes Mone, who comes in to interrupt. Steel says she has lost respect for Mone, who doesn’t care and knocks her down.
Continental Challenge Cup First Round: Nigel McGuinness vs. Katsuyori Shibata
We get a tentative handshake to start and we’re ready to go. They go technical to start and keep trading escapes on the mat with Shibata getting the better of things and working on the arm. McGuinness kicks the rope into Shibata’s face to escape and Shibata gets more serious, meaning it’s a bunch of kicks to put McGuinness down. A snapmare sends Shibata’s ankle into the ropes though and we take a break.
We come back with Shibata getting a guillotine and then a sleeper, with McGuinness leaning down onto the banged up ankle for a brilliant escape. The Tower Of London is broken up but Shibata’s PK is countered with a kick to the leg. An ankle lock goes on but Shibata gets out and connects with the PK for a delayed two. Shibata grabs a sleeper so McGuinness drops back and flips over for the pin at 12:24.
Rating: B. This was the technical off match and some of the stuff McGuinness was doing came off as so incredibly smart. It’s such a shame that he lost so much of his career due to injuries, as he was just so good at what he did. Him getting a Cinderella run to Wembley wouldn’t be crazy, but he’s a long way off from there.
Will Ospreay is going to call some friends in Japan to help him against the Don Callis Family.
Video on Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. the Young Bucks.
Rascalz/Lio Rush vs. Jeaux Braxton/Frescomatic/Watson/Ice Williams
The Rascalz are of course scared of Rush so he dives onto all four of the opponents before the bell. Williams gets clotheslined down to start and it’s off to Wentz to knee Braxton in the corner. Everything breaks down and the Rascalz still aren’t sure what to make of Rush. The Rascalz hit dives to the floor and a string of top rope dives hit Watson. Rush’s cravate choke makes him tap at 2:30.
Post match the Hurt Syndicate comes out and has a weird staredown with Rush.
Hurt Syndicate/Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Sonico/Jake Redondo/Ro Montana/Juli Montana
The Syndicate wreck the other team on their own to start and MVP uses his cane to conduct the WE HURT PEOPLE chants. Apparently the Syndicate’s retainer is up though and they leave, with Taylor’s Marcus Garvey Driver finishing Redondo at 2:10. Well that was different.
Tommaso Ciampa is in the Casino Gauntlet and warns everyone else involved. Simple and to the point here.
Mercedes Mone vs. Zayda Steel
Mone fires off the forearms to start but gets taken down with a springboard wristdrag. Steel’s Codebreaker through the ropes gets two so Mone flips her up into a gutbuster. The chinlock goes on and we take a break. We come back with Steel Stunnering her way out of a double arm choke. Steel strikes away and gets two off a high crossbody but Mone is back with a Backstabber. The Mone Maker into the Statement Maker (with Mone pulling at the jaws) makes Steel tap at 8:09.
Rating: C+. Well thank goodness Mone got to beat her up this badly after knocking her down in the back. There was a full half hour or so where Mone didn’t look like the biggest star in the world. I’m holding out hope that Willow Nightingale gets to keep the title at Wembley but history would suggest that isn’t going to happen.
Post match Mone beats up both Steel and Christopher Daniels until Willow Nightingale runs in to chase her off.
At Dynamite, a rather bloody Jack Perry was ready to become World Champion and he knows what he has to do to get there. He wants to face former World Champions so here is Swerve Strickland to say Perry can’t beat him. Perry disagrees.
Video on Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega.
Omega can’t stand the Don Callis Family so he and the Young Bucks want to face three of them next week. Adam Copeland and Christian Cage come in to talk to the Bucks, with Omega leaving. The Bucks say Copeland and Cage are old enough to be their father. Cage: “Who says I’m not?” And the Bucks have nothing.
Continental Challenge Cup First Round: Kyle O’Reilly vs. Roderick Strong
They go to the mat to start with Strong bailing away as we’re told that Nigel McGuinness is hurt and may be out of the tournament. O’Reilly’s seated abdominal stretch is broken up so O’Reilly starts in on the arm. Strong’s backbreaker cuts that off in a hurry but he gets sent to the floor. That’s fine with Strong, who counters O’Reilly’s suicide dive into a drop onto the barricade.
We take a break and come back with Strong hitting another backbreaker but banging up his own ankle in the process. They trade kicks to the chest until O’Reilly ankle locks him to the ropes. Another backbreaker onto the turnbuckle gives Strong two so O’Reilly suplexes him down. The cross armbreaker is blocked and they strike it out, with Strong’s knee getting two. Back up and O’Reilly quickly pulls him into a small package for the pin at 13:00.
Rating: B. This was pretty much exactly the match I was expecting, with a heavy technical aspect that wasn’t as entertaining as Shibata vs. McGuinness. Both guys are rather technically sound so the match was far from boring, but having good guy partners face each other is only so interesting. It was kind of an odd choice for a main event, though I’m not sure if there was a great choice on the entire card.
Post match a frustrated Strong shoves him down but pulls him back up for the hug.
Overall Rating: B. As usual, Collision is a tricky show to watch. The action was good as always, with McGuinness vs. Shibata being a lot of fun. At the same time though, AEW doesn’t really try to hide the fact that this show is almost strictly for the midcard. Between the multiple long Continental Cup matches and the two eight man tags, it definitely felt like they were just putting as many things out there as they could. In other words, a perfectly good show and rather worthwhile if you’re more into the in-ring side of things, but not so thrilling if you want some storyline spice.
Results
Brodido/Hangman Page b. Lethal Twist – Ganso Bomb to Johnson
Hechicero b. Brian Cage – Arm trap crucifix
Lena Kross/Megan Bayne b. Rachelle Riveter/Mazzerati – Divine Intervention to Mazzerati
Nigel McGuinness b. Katsuyori Shibata – Flipping cradle
Rascalz/Lio Rush b. Jeaux Braxton/Frescomatic/Watson/Ice Williams – Cravate choke to Watson
Hurt Syndicate/Shane Taylor Promotions b. Sonico/Jake Redondo/Ro Montana/Juli Montana – Marcus Garvey Driver to Redondo
Mercedes Mone b. Zayda Steel – Statement Maker
Kyle O’Reilly b. Roderick Strong – Small package
Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:
Every John Cena vs. Randy Orton Title Match: You Can See It
Every John Cena vs. Randy Orton Title Match
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Todd Grisham, John Bradshaw Layfield, Wade Barrett
Oh well why not. I have no idea who thought this needed to be a big five plus hour compilation but I’m kind of surprised that it was that short given how many times they fought over the years. They’ve done this time after time because they’re one of the biggest rivalries WWE has had over the years. I’m probably going to regret this but let’s get to it.
From Summerslam 2007.
Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Randy Orton
Cena is defending and they go with some grappling to start, only for Cena to grab a headlock takeover. Orton takes over with one of his own, with Cena reversing into a failed STF attempt. Back up and Orton slowly pounds away as the fans are rather behind him to start. Cena shrugs off some right hands and gets two off a bulldog as the pace picks up a bit.
The flying shoulder completely misses though and Orton gets to smile a lot. Back in and Orton grabs the rare standing chinlock, followed by the more standard grounded version. Cena powers out, leaving the fans rather annoyed at the developments. A missed charge in the corner puts Cena down again though and Orton starts in on the ankle of all things. The big stomp to the head misses but Orton is right back with another chinlock (he has a reputation for a reason).
Cena is out faster this time but walks into a dropkick, allowing Orton to grab a chin…headlock for a change. Now it’s off to a sleeper as Orton is indeed managing to mix up the boring holds. Cena powers out again and initiates the finishing sequence, only for Orton to break up the FU. The backbreaker cuts Cena off again and Lawler goes off about how Orton shows no emotion, which doesn’t seem to be a positive.
Back up and Cena misses a charge to the floor, allowing Orton to send him hard into the steps. Cena gets back in for a Blockbuster of all things, meaning it’s time to go up. The top rope Fameasser looks to set up the FU but Orton snaps him throat first across the top again. The Punt is loaded up but Cena pulls him into the STFU. Orton finally makes the rope and grabs an RKO for two, though he comes up favoring his knee. Said knee is launched into the air with another FU to retain the title at 21:30.
Rating: B-. They were trying but it wasn’t there yet, with Orton not really feeling like a major threat to take the title. The RKO was his big weapon and that didn’t work, so there wasn’t any reason to stay out there any longer. You could tell they were going for the big showdown here but Orton wasn’t quite ready to be the top threat.
From Unforgiven 2007.
Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Randy Orton
Cena is defending and his father (recently attacked by Orton to make this personal) is in the front row. Cena starts fast and hits a heck of a clothesline as this is more personal than being about the title. Orton is knocked outside and dropped again out there but it’s too early for the STFU. The quick chase lets Orton hit the hanging DDT for two and Cena gets pulled into the chinlock (oh this is going to be a long collection).
A headlock takeover cuts Cena off again and it’s already off to the sleeper and then the chinlock, with Orton really mixing things up here. Cena finally fights up to start the comeback and slugs away in the corner. He gets angry enough to shove the referee for the DQ at 7:21.
Rating: D+. Yeah that’s not a pay per view title match. I completely get what they were going for here, but that’s not worthy of this spot. You do this in the main event of Raw or something, not here where it’s supposed to be some big moment, especially not a month after Cena already beat Orton clean. This did not work and it’s not a good sign when “at least they didn’t waste more time before doing this stupid finish” is the highlight.
Post match Orton goes after Cena Sr. so Cena Jr. jumps him and grabs an STFU on the floor. Cena Sr. even gets in a Punt and is allowed to walk to the back.
From No Way Out 2008.
Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Randy Orton
Orton is defending, having been awarded the title after Cena got hurt but Cena is back early for revenge and the title. An early small package gives Cena two as this is already off to a rather different start. The fans are split and Cena points it out to Orton, who seems….well about the same as usual. Orton is back up to send him into the corner for some right hands but Cena grabs his running bulldog for two.
A kick to the chest (recently repaired) puts Cena down but he’s able to pull Orton into a rollup for two more. Cena charges into an elbow in the corner and gets punched down again, allowing Orton to stomp on the ankle. Orton pounds on the pectoral muscle (quite the odd visual) and grabs a headlock to block the ProtoBomb. That’s switched into a chinlock for a bit, at least until Cena is up with the flying shoulders.
Now the ProtoBomb connects to set up the Shuffle but Orton bails to the floor in a smart move. Cena isn’t having that and pulls him back inside to slug it out, with Orton grabbing the backbreaker. That bangs up Orton’s knee though and Cena goes up, only to miss the top rope Fameasser.
Orton can’t follow up so Cena grabs the ProtoBomb into the STFU, with Orton very slowly making the rope. That’s enough for Orton to roll outside and hold his knee, demanding that he be counted out. Cena goes after him and gets RKO’d, which is good for a nine count. Back in and Cena wants to fight so Orton slaps the referee for the DQ at 15:49.
Rating: B-. This was more like it, with Orton being more interesting as the champion rather than challenging. Cena isn’t likely to lose to Orton in a straight fight so Orton using his twists and turns to cheat and retain is a smart way to go. Orton also felt more on Cena’s level here, as it’s better to have him knocking Cena back down the mountain than trying to take his spot. The ending being a way to set up another match isn’t great to see again, though adding HHH for the three way at Wrestlemania wasn’t much better.
Post match Cena can’t get the referee to change his mind so he beats up Orton instead.
From Summerslam 2009.
Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Randy Orton
Cena is challenging and they actually go technical to start, which goes to an early standoff. Orton takes over on the corner and drops Cena with an elbow to the face. It’s already time for the slow stomping, with Orton going around in a circle before the big knee drop gets two. The backbreaker gives Orton two more and we’re already on the chinlock. Cena fights out and goes with an early finishing sequence, including a rather well received Shuffle.
Orton pops up with a powerslam but misses another powerslam. Cena is right there with his own missed shoulder though, sending him crashing out to the floor. The hanging DDT gives Orton two but Cena is right back with the top rope Fameasser for two of his own. The AA is broken up though and it’s a double clothesline to put them both down. Back up and…Orton shoves the referee for the DQ at 13:30.
Before I can “oh come on, again?”, we get the announcement that Mr. McMahon has ordered the match to restart and if Orton gets disqualified again, he loses the title. Back in and Cena gets two off a side slam and Orton is sent outside. Orton gets a whip into the steps to put Cena down for a change and drops him for two more back inside. That’s enough for Orton to grab his title and walk out for the countout at 17:04.
McMahon, restart again, same stipulation that we got for DQ’s. Back in and both finishers are escaped so Orton grabs a rollup and puts his feet on the ropes for the pin at 18:04. Cue another referee to say what happened so we restart it AGAIN. Cena pulls Orton into the STF but a “fan” (played by Brett DiBiase, who never went anywhere in WWE) runs in to jump the referee. Security takes him out and we pause again, with Orton going outside, where he snaps Cena’s throat over the top. The RKO FINALLY retains the title at 20:44.
Rating: C+. These matches are managing to avoid bleeding together, but it’s like they’re trying to find different ways to up the silliness on these finishes. Orton having one of his minions out there to save him is right on point but they did one too many restarts for the point to work. Cena has a legitimate complaint for the loss, but dang they need to have someone win one of these things clean already.
From Breaking Point, a month later.
Raw World Title: Randy Orton vs. John Cena
Cena is challenging in an I Quit match, which should mix things up a bit. Also, if anyone interferes on Orton’s behalf, he loses the title. They stare at each other to start before Cena powers him into the corner for the release fisherman’s suplex. The running shoulder misses (again) and Cena is knocked outside for the trip to the announcers’ table. A monitor to the head knocks Cena silly and the threat of the hanging DDT won’t make him quit.
The DDT drops him again and it’s time to bring in a chair. The RKO onto the chair is blocked and Cena fires off the finishing sequence but the STF is broken up. They go outside with Cena being whipped into the steps, with Orton stomping his head onto said steps. That’s still not enough for the quitting so naturally Orton pulls out handcuffs to attach Cena to the top rope. With that not working either, Orton uncuffs him but then cuffs Cena’s wrists together, which he wraps over the top of the post.
That leaves Cena’s arms over his head and the rest of him pretty much wide open, with Orton hammering on his ribs. Cena won’t quit but he will spit some water in Orton’s face, which seems to be less than brilliant. Orton grabs a kendo stick and unloads on Cena’s ribs but Cena still won’t quit. A low blow gives Cena a needed breather but Orton is back up with a nasty chair shot to the head.
Orton cuffs him around the post this time and another chair to the back puts Cena down again. Cena ducks another chair shot though and hits a backdrop, allowing him to grab the key. With the cuffs off, Cena attaches himself to Orton instead and they go back inside…where Orton gets the RKO. That doesn’t mean much though and Cena pulls him into the STF, with Orton’s own arm doing the choking, for the submission at 19:49.
Rating: B. Yeah this was a definite step up, as they got away from the same formula that they had done so many times. I remember watching this live and the beating seemed to go on a lot longer, so the pace wasn’t as slow as I was expecting. Cena finding a way to win in the end is fine as you know he’s pulling that off, but at least they had a better match on the way there.
From Hell In A Cell 2019.
Raw World Title: Randy Orton vs. John Cena
Cena is defending inside the Cell. Orton tries to get out but Cena cuts that off and they go inside, with Orton taking over. The big shoulder misses again so they go outside, where Cena is fine enough to muscle him up for some rams into the Cell. A charging version doesn’t work so well though and Cena is sent hard into the Cell and the steps. Said steps are (after a failed attempt) thrown inside but Cena avoids the hanging DDT and throws the steps at Orton’s head.
Cena doesn’t however avoid the backbreaker so Orton can take over again. Now the hanging DDT can connect but Cena is right back with a quick AA for two. The super AA doesn’t work and Orton slowly takes over again, with a chair to the back getting two more. Orton starts hearing voices but Cena gets away from the running knee on the chair to the head.
The STF goes on and naturally the ropes don’t mean anything (points for getting the rule right) so Orton goes after the referee again. Back in and Orton taps so naturally Cena goes to wake the referee up, earning himself an RKO for two in the process. Orton gets creative by tying Cena’s arms in the ropes and THEN grabbing a chinlock. That’s enough to load up a Punt for the pin and the title at 21:25, even with the knee banged up.
Rating: B-. It’s ok, but the Cell only added so much to the whole thing. They probably could have done the same thing with a street fight, but that’s not how the schedule worked around this point. At the same time, this didn’t feel anything like a blowoff match, despite being in the Cell. How can these two just not get this stuff right?
From Bragging Rights, three weeks later.
Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Randy Orton
Orton is defending in an anything goes, falls count anywhere sixty minute Iron Man match (thirty second rest period between falls) and if Cena loses, he’s off Raw. They take their time to start (obviously) and Cena grabs a headlock to grind away for a bit. Back up and Orton knocks him into the corner before blocking the running bulldog. The slow beating continues but Cena pulls him into a quick STF for the very fast tap at 3:55.
Cena – 1
Orton – 0
Orton takes him down to start and drops the jumping knee, setting up the rather expected chinlock. Cena powers out and hits a Throwback of all things, plus a top rope Fameasser. The Shuffle is loaded up but Orton pops to his feet for the RKO to tie the score at 9:00.
Cena – 1
Orton – 1
Back up and Orton knocks him off the apron for a crash into the barricade. It’s time to clear off the announcers’ table, with Orton hitting Cena in the head with a monitor for two on the floor. Lawler thinks maybe Cena should have taken the fall, for the rest period. This continues a nice trend of the match, with Lawler playing this mostly straight and the other commentators actually asking his opinion as the expert.
That’s WAY too rare in all modern wrestling and it’s very refreshing to see. Orton gets two off a microphone to the head and hold on as we pause for the cut on Cena’s head from the monitor shot. The clock actually stops for a bit, only to come back at the same time as Cena goes nuts. That doesn’t last long though as Orton gets in the signature whip into the steps to cut him off.
They go back inside, with Orton hammering on the cut as we have 15:00 down. The RKO is countered though and Cena is able to initiate the finishing sequence, with the Shuffle connecting. The AA is loaded up but Orton counters into an RKO (that looked GREAT and Lawler can’t believe he pulled that off) for…actually a double pin at 16:47.
Cena – 2
Orton – 2
The medics use the rest period (seems to be two of them, which makes sense at the double pin) to check on Cena’s cut before Orton misses a charge into the post. A super AA plants Orton hard for the pin at 19:23.
Cena – 3
Orton – 2
Cue Legacy to jump Cena between the falls (remember, anything goes) and Orton, who has still not gotten up, gets the pin at 20:21.
Cena – 3
Orton – 3
Kofi Kingston runs in with a chair to chase Legacy off (good, as otherwise there’s no reason for them to leave) and the two people actually in the match can barely get up. They go up to the entrance, with Cena being rammed into the tech area (uh oh). Orton finds a control panel and presses a button, which sets off some pyro. Realizing that could be fun later, Orton throws him through some of the set for more explosions and the pin at 25:20.
Cena – 3
Orton – 4
With Cena still down, Orton goes over to play with the pyro board some more and now he has an idea. Cena is nice enough to crawl onto the stage so Orton can crack him with a chair and drag him to the middle of the stage. Then Orton uses the pyro to blow Cena up, because he’s a bit out there and just making him give up to a spinning toehold is too much to ask.
They go back to ringside and Cena is whipped into the steps again as they’re clearly (and fairly) burning off some time by laying around a good bit. We’re halfway done as Orton throws the steps at Cena’s head and stomps away to leave him laying. Orton grabs a chair for a hard shot to the post, which is at least in the vicinity of Cena’s back. They get back inside and Cena grabs a small package to tie it up at 32:47.
Cena – 4
Orton – 4
Orton jumps him during the rest period and gets yelled at for not giving Cena “thirty seconds”. You know, about five minutes after ORTON TRIED TO BLOW CENA UP. Geez I love stupid wrestling logic. Anyway the hanging DDT on the floor gives Orton another pin at 35:06.
Cena – 4
Orton – 5
And yes, the attempted murderer does give Cena thirty seconds this time, apparently having learned his lesson. They go back inside with Orton stomping away and dropping the big knee for two more. Orton slowly hammers away but misses a charge and gets caught with a quick shot. That’s enough for Orton to bail out to the floor, where he looks at the clock (20:00 to go) and realizes it’s time to burn the clock.
Cena slowly follows him up and lands a heck of a right hand to send Orton back to the ring, meaning Cena has to burn more energy (and time) to get to him again. For some reason Orton lets him get inside again and tries a hanging DDT. That’s reversed into an AA attempt, which sends Orton running into the crowd. Is there any reason why Orton hasn’t run out to the parking lot and driven away? That would seem to be a better option than going anywhere Cena could catch him.
Naturally Cena catches him in the crowd and hits him with a trashcan, which has Orton staggering back down the steps. We have 15:00 to go as Orton is sent back to ringside for two. Cena sends him into the steps and then through the barricade as you can see the energy coming back for Cena with 12:00 to go. Cena hits him with the steps for some payback and then sets up a pair of steps near the announcers’ table. The AA through the table destroys Orton (who sells it like he’s on fire) to tie it up with 9:14 to go.
Cena – 5
Orton – 5
Orton is still down at the end of the rest period so Cena is smart enough to cover him again for two. Lawler: “How did he do that???” You mean how did he kick out of a move after he had more time to recover? Cena loads up another table and picks up Orton, who is described as dead weight, but he can kick out. Why Cena doesn’t put on the STF on the floor is beyond me as they get back inside with six minutes to go. Cole: “When is the last time you saw John Cena use a table?” He asks this as he’s standing because Cena broke the table he was at less than four minutes ago.
Anyway Cena misses a top rope legdrop through the table and they’re both down with 5:00 to go. They take their sweet time (well over a minute) getting up and slug it out until Cena starts firing off the shoulder. The referee is knocked down by mistake so the RKO connects to no cover.
Another referee comes in for the two so Orton shoves the new referee down at 2:00 to go. Orton goes nuts and starts rubbing his own head until he gets an idea. Apparently that was just to set up the Punt, which Cena reverses into the STF (and he’s cranking on the chinlock this time). Orton is in trouble for almost 45 seconds until he taps with 4 seconds left.
Cena – 6
Orton – 5
And of course time expires because Orton has to obey the rest period, which wouldn’t matter anyway so we’re done at 60:00.
Rating: B. Oh this is a tricky one, as I like a lot of it, but there was a time where they just felt like they were getting ridiculous, with Orton having basically no reason to do anything but run for a long time. Now that being said, once Cena started his comeback, it got a lot better, but it felt like a collection of a bunch of stuff at times with only a loose idea throughout the whole thing. It worked, but it felt like it could have been more with a little better planning and more coherence.
From TLC 2013.
Raw World Title/Smackdown World Title: John Cena vs. Randy Orton
TLC match, winner take all to unify the titles. They fight into the corner to start and Cena grabs a headlock. That’s broken up and Cena is sent outside, allowing Orton to set up the first ladder. Cena is right in to break it up so Orton grabs a chair and knocks him silly. Another chair shot only hits chair so Cena takes it back and unloads on him to take over.
Naturally it takes too long to set up a table though and Orton sends him hard into the steps. There is a table set up in the corner but it’s still way too early for Orton to get up the ladder, as Cena makes the save. The right hands are cut off with the scoop powerslam and Orton gets another ladder. Cena manages to go up instead, only to get suplexed right back down. Orton gets so frustrated that he throws a ladder at Cena, which hits the floor instead.
Some chair shots to the back have some better luck and Orton loads the chair up in the corner. That takes too long again so Cena initiates the finishing sequence, with the Shuffle being broken up. Orton sends him into the chair and goes up but gets pulled down again, at least with a touch of the titles this time. A ladder shot sends Orton off the apron and through a table so Cena can go up.
Orton is back up with a save of his own and an RKO drops Cena again. Cena gets up as well and hits him with the steps a few times, which allows him to set up another table in another corner. Again that takes too long and Orton stomps him onto the steps, followed by some mic shots to the head. Orton loads up the announcers’ table and of course takes too long, earning an AA through said table.
Cena goes for the belts but Orton is right there to turn the ladder over, leaving Cena hanging. That lets Orton pick up a chair and Cena is left helpless, which doesn’t really work when you notice that his feet are beneath the top rope, meaning there is pretty much nothing preventing him from dropping down on his own. Some chair shots bring him down but Orton is back up with a spear through one of the tables in the corner. They’re both down so Orton goes outside and finds a reference to Breaking Point, as he whips out some handcuffs to attach Cena to the bottom rope.
This time Orton gets smart by throwing the key into the crowd before hitting Cena with a ladder. Orton loads up another ladder but Cena unscrews the turnbuckle and gets free. That lets him go up and hit Orton with the turnbuckle, only to have Orton grab the rope (as Cena is still handcuffed). Cena is pulled head first into the other table in the corner and Orton wins at 24:35.
Rating: B. This was fun in a lot of ways, at least partially due to Cole sounding like a moron so many times. They were going for the violence here and as usual, that’s more interesting than seeing them have a regular match. You can only get so much out of that and thankfully they didn’t try to do anything too complicated. Cena’s crash into the table looked rough and Orton felt like he won, which is how this should wrap up.
From the 2014 Royal Rumble, a month later.
WWE Championship: Randy Orton vs. John Cena
Cena is challenging in a straight match for a change. They go to the mat to start and the Pittsburgh fans go from BORING to LET’S GO CENA to CENA SUCKS in the first thirty seconds. Orton gets in a headlock takeover and it’s off to the DANIEL BRYAN chants. Cena gets to his feet and turns up the pace but gets cut right back off. After a You Can’t See Me, Orton grabs a suplex for two as the fans switch to a RANDY SAVAGE chant. Orton grinds away on a chinlock and yeah those BORING chants are getting louder.
They go outside with Cena being sent into the steps (it’s like an old friend at this point) before Daniel Bryan gets another chant as Orton gets two. A DDT gets the same and the fans either want Angle or Divas, but get an Orton pose instead. Cena initiates the finishing sequence and smiles at the booing crowd, who aren’t sure what to do as Orton breaks up the Shuffle. Orton’s superplex is broken up as well and Cena hits a top rope Fameasser for two more.
The AA is countered into Orton’s backbreaker for another near fall as they’re playing up the idea that they know each other so well, but everyone knows this stuff so it’s only so interesting. The hanging DDT is countered with a backdrop to send Orton outside, where he grabs the hanging DDT onto the floor. Back in and the RKO is countered into an STF, which is broken up just as fast.
The referee goes down so Cena the STF for an unseen tap. Naturally Cena goes to check on the referee and gets belted in the face for two as the referee is back in it. Cena pops up for an AA and a near fall, followed by an RKO and a near fall for Orton. Fans: “WE WANT DIVAS!” Naturally Orton does his pose right in the middle of the ring because he’s at least leaning into the thing. The Punt and AA are both countered so Orton pulls Cena into an STF (with a kind of cool looking sleeper variation) and the fans aren’t sure how to take that one.
Cena escapes so Orton gives him an AA (more an FU really, as he doesn’t drop down with Cena), leaving him with quite the massive smile. Back up and Cena gives him an RKO (nice one at that) before trying the super AA. That’s broken up so Orton settles for a tornado DDT into the STF….and we’ve got Wyatts. The fans go NUTS for something different and the Wyatts show up on the apron for a distraction. One more RKO retains the title at 20:50.
Rating: C+. So this is the night of the infamous Royal Rumble, where the crowd completely hijacked the show in the name of Daniel Bryan. That’s the well known instance, but this is another case of the same thing. The fans did not want to see this match and they let Orton and Cena know about it. Now of course Orton leaned all the way into it and rolled with the hatred and it worked well, though Cena was basically just doing his thing.
Now, why did they react this way? Well it’s not that surprising really. First of all, we were less than a month removed from Orton beating Cena in the big unification match, so it’s not like this was anything new. Then you factor in that this is the Royal Rumble, which has a reputation of being the show with what is little more than a token title defense before we find out the winner of the Royal rumble to set up Wrestlemania. That leaves you with a match where there is little reason to believe the title is going to change hands between a pairing that the fans do not want to see. How did WWE expect this to go?
The match itself was pretty much the norm for Cena and Orton as well, which is where things fell apart even more. The problem is we’ve seen Orton vs. Cena over and over and you know what you’re going to get. It’s clear that the fans were not interested in seeing this again but WWE trots them out one more time, which is where it fell apart. Having them steal finishers and then the Wyatt interfering worked, but this was a case where the fans weren’t interested and finally snapped. It’s a fascinating moment and WWE kind of had it coming.
And from Backlash 2025.
Smackdown World Title: Randy Orton vs. John Cena
Cena, now a heel for a big change, is defending and Orton, the hometown star, gets an absolute monster pop as the fans sing with their Voices. They take their time to start with Cena offering a handshake and then slapping Orton in the face. That earns him a big slap back from Orton, who grabs a headlock to keep Cena in trouble. Cena gets knocked outside but takes over out there, meaning it’s some right hands to Orton back inside.
The fans count along so Orton switches places with him for twenty right hands, much to Orton’s….I guess we can call that delight. The big knee drop connects for two so Cena grabs a sleeper of all things. Orton gets a suplex to escape but Cena is right back with the finishing sequence. The AA is of course escaped and a powerslam puts Cena right back down. Cena’s STF attempt doesn’t exactly work as Orton is back up with the hanging DDT. The RKO is countered into an AA, which is countered into an RKO (that still looks awesome) and they’re both down again.
Now the AA can actually connect for two so Cena goes back to the flying shoulders. It turns out that sticking your neck out is a bad idea against Randy Orton, who grabs an RKO to put Cena down again. The Punt is loaded up but Cena is back with an AA for another near fall. Another RKO is countered and the referee gets taken down so Cena hits a third AA. That makes Cena smile, which can’t go well. Cena grabs his trusty belt and walks into an RKO for a pretty slow two.
They go outside with Cena knocking Orton into the referee into the steps, leaving Orton to AA Cena through the announcers’ table. Orton loads up another table for another AA, with the fans declaring this awesome. Another referee runs down to count the near fall so Cena belts him by mistake. Orton hits an RKO and there’s no one to count, so here is Nick Aldis to check on the referee.
Agents come in so it’s a bunch of RKOs to take them down as the fans go even nutsier. R-Truth comes in to cut off the Punt and gets RKO’d (with Orton screaming WHY at him). That means a low blow can cut Orton off, followed by the belt shot so the original referee can count the retaining pin at 27:48.
Rating: B+. It was ridiculous, it was stupid, it was insane at times, and I had a lot of fun with the thing. They were going with the idea of the two of them being treated as this legendary pair and it was happening one last time so they just had a bunch of fun. It felt like a big song and dance medley to wrap up their feud and with that in mind, it was a great time.
Overall Rating: B. The big criticism of Orton vs. Cena is that it was done to death and that was really obvious here. It’s not so much that the matches were bad, but it was basically treated like this all time epic rivalry and that never felt earned. Cena vs. Punk or Edge just feel like such bigger deals and more natural, but Orton got so much of the attention. I did like watching some of these matches, but there wasn’t one on here where I was looking forward to seeing it again. That’s Orton vs. Cena in a nutshell, as it’s good but not exactly great and nothing you would really want to see.
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Smackdown – August 14, 2026: A Long, Long Time Ago
Smackdown
Date: August 14, 2026
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett
We’re a week away from the Kevin Owens vs. CM Punk World Title match and that means it’s time for some rather big talking. That should be more than enough for the focal point out here but we also have the Tongans and the War Raiders getting a Tag Team Title shot against R-Truth and Damian Priest. Let’s get to it.
Here is Nick Aldis to get things going. He brings out the injured Chelsea Green, who suffered a broken orbital bone last week. Green’s injury means she can’t wrestle but she says she’ll do anything to keep going. She gives quite the speech about how she has done everything to get here, missed so many things and done anything asked of her, but she finally made it.
Aldis should understand this, especially after Summerslam. Green and Aldis both proved that it doesn’t matter what others think of them but rather what they think of themselves. Green hands the title away and leaves distraught, but Aldis stops her (the fans like that). As the GM, he can’t do anything….though as Aldis the man, he doesn’t care what medical says. She has thirty days to get cleared, get a mask or whatever it takes to defend the title.
Until someone takes it from her, she is still the champion. Green gives him a big hug but here is Gunther to interrupt. Gunther asks why Aldis pulled that stunt at Summerslam (having a fourth person in the #1 contenders match). He doesn’t think much of Green’s pitiful injury and asks why Owens was added to his match. Aldis: “I added you to Owens’ match.”
Green laughs at Gunther, who tells her to shut up. Green only sees one champion in this ring and here is Matt Cardona (Green’s husband) to run in. Gunther: “All the way from catering!” Gunther asks what Cardona could do to him and mocks Cardona for doing as Green says, meaning the fight is on as we take a break.
Gunther vs. Matt Cardona
Joined in progress and they’re both in street clothes. Gunther fires off the chops and sends him outside for a powerbomb onto the announcers’ table. Another powerbomb onto the apron has Cardona in bigger trouble and a Saito suplex makes it worse. Gunther stops to yell at Chelsea Green though, allowing Gunther to kick him low and hit the Rough Ryder. That’s only for two as Gunther powerbombs him into the Boston (hey) crab to make Cardona tap at 3:41.
Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here but the idea here was for Cardona to fight for his wife’s honor and it went well enough. Cardona isn’t supposed to be able to beat Gunther in the first place so it’s not like this was in any serious danger. I’m not sure what is next for Gunther, but I can go for him being a bully for a bit.
Post match Green checks on Cardona but here are the Irresistible Forces, with Nia Jax saying she wants the Women’s Title. She doesn’t mind the idea of breaking Green’s face again but here is Tiffany Stratton. That’s the extent of Stratton’s positives, as she runs in and is promptly crushed.
We look at Tatum Paxley debuting last week to help Charlotte beat Jade Cargill.
Charlotte and Alexa Bliss are in the back, with Bliss talking about how Paxley is her friend too. Bliss opens a door and finds Paxley in a black room, complete with a bunch of candles and photos of Bliss and Charlotte on the walls. It’s their new locker room and they go inside, despite it being little more than a broom closet. Charlotte isn’t pleased but goes with it anyway.
We look at Randy Orton costing Cody Rhodes at Summerslam and the two of them wanting to fight last week on Smackdown but not getting around to it.
Rhodes comes up to Nick Aldis and wants a match with Orton. Aldis doesn’t know where Orton is but he’ll look into doing it at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Rhodes will take the match anywhere but here is Sami Zayn to interrupt. Zayn wants to know why Rhodes doesn’t have to wait to get anything he wants, which has Rhodes snapping.
If Zayn wants to do something like that, they can do it tonight. Zayn brings up beating Rhodes, who asks if he can do it again. Zayn says he’s hurt (broken hand), so Aldis asks what if he made it more interesting. We’ll make it a #1 contenders match, if Zayn is willing to go through with it. Let Aldis know.
US Title: Baron Corbin vs. Carmelo Hayes
Hayes is challenging and fires off a running flip dive to take Corbin down to start. A nice springboard spinning clothesline drops Corbin again and he misses a charge out to the floor. The Fadeaway connects but the First 48 is countered into a powerbomb. Corbin sends him outside and into the post as we take a break.
We come back with Hayes hitting a springboard DDT into a frog splash for two. The First 48 is blocked again so Corbin boots him in the face, meaning Deep Six can get another near fall. Now a pair of First 48’s can connect but Corbin shoves him off the top and into the barricade. The End Of Days retains the title at 9:23.
Rating: B-. They had a nice speed vs. power match here, which is where Corbin tends to do well. Corbin isn’t looking bad since his return and it’s all but guaranteed that Trick Williams will get another chance at him, if it doesn’t mean that Williams is moving up the ladder. Having Corbin win the title shows that he still has it and that’s a good thing. This worked well, even with Hayes losing again.
Post match here is Trick Williams on the stage but Lil Yachty runs in from behind with a Trick Stick shot to Corbin. Williams runs in with the Trick Shot to save Yachty from destruction.
Chelsea Green thanks Tiffany Stratton for the save and Stratton says she’s good to defend her title tonight. Cue ominous music. Well first find something that can play ominous music and cue that. Then cue the music.
Here are Kevin Owens and CM Punk to go face to face. Punk knows that Owens was about to say something about him so go ahead and say it to his face. Well after Punk hits his catchphrase of course. Owens says the camera caught Punk calling him something close to a fat slob last week. Punk suggests he would say that to Owens’ face, but Owens says their story started twenty years ago. Punk: “Go ahead. Smarten them up.”
Owens talks about how they used to wrestle for an independent promotion, where Punk was the top star. That night, Punk berated him in front of the locker room when Owens was just trying to make a name for himself. Punk can’t believe this is what the whole thing was about but Owens says that Punk has treated Owens’ friends over the last twenty years. Punk’s going to need more than that, because Owens’ friends hate him.
Owens says Punk is probably thinking of three of them (oh here we go) but Owens means all of them. Punk is fine with having losers hate him if it means not being one of them. Owens is the one guy left in the back who doesn’t like him because Punk is a phony. The reality is that Punk has screwed up everywhere else but he’s been in this ring consistently for twelve years without getting hurt until his recent injury. He’s been World Champion and headlined Wrestlemania against Steve Austin.
Punk says that wouldn’t have happened if he had been here, with Owens saying that Punk still sees him as a fat indy slow. Punk: “Is that how I see you or is that how you see yourself?” He called out Oba Femi and got endometriosis instead. When Punk looks at Owens he sees potential but in the form of a bum who avoids the hard work. Punk is always trying to be better and if Owens had put in that work, maybe he could have avoided Goldberg’s spear.
Owens is convinced that Punk hates himself, but Owens doesn’t feel that way when he looks in a mirror. And what about Punk not avoiding that Roman Reigns’ spear at Wrestlemania. Punk sees the same guy he saw twenty years ago, but Owens regrets not hitting him in the face twenty years ago. Owens knows that if he had, Punk would have ruined his career.That’s why he’s waiting seven more days, because he can hit Punk in the face and take the title. Punk is ready to put him to sleep next week.
They had a good idea here, but the “this started twenty years ago” took so much out of me. Not only was it something from another promotion, but it happened backstage so we won’t even know what they’re talking about. Throw in the AEW references and this was a good bit too inside baseball for me. Not everything has to be some big historic moment and that was the case here.
Finn Balor is in Nick Aldis’ office and wants to do….something, but Gunther interrupts. Aldis isn’t happy, but Gunther says he only sees a shadow of Balor. That goes as well as expected, with Balor saying he wants a title shot and will gladly beat Gunther to get there.
Smackdown Tag Team Titles: R-Truth/Damian Priest vs. War Raiders vs. MFT’s
Only Priest and R-Truth are defending (the Raiders’ AAA Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line) and Haku is here with the MFT’s. R-Truth, Erik and Tama start things off, with Talla tagging himself in. Everything breaks down and the challengers go to the floor, with Priest hitting a big dive to take them out.
We take a break and come back with Priest getting a tag to clean house and hopefully bring the crowd back to life a bit. Everything breaks down and Talla chokeslams the champs down. The Raiders give Tama the pop up powerslam for two before Ivar and Priest get together to drop Talla. R-Truth adds in the STF, which is quickly powered off. Erik knocks Priest through the announcers’ table, leaving R-Truth to initiate John Cena’s finishing sequence on Tama. Talla is back in though and the Brother’s Keeper to R-Truth gives Tama the pin and the titles at 9:50.
Rating: B-. It’s kind of hard to get mad at this one as R-Truth and Priest got just about all they could out of what felt like a thrown together title reign. The Raiders already have their own titles so let the MFT’s do something. They’re a pair of monsters with an even scarier manager so this is all good enough.
Women’s US Title: Jacy Jayne vs. Tiffany Stratton
Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is challenging and jumps her to start, with some shoulders to the bad ribs in the corner. A bodyscissors has Stratton in more trouble and Jayne knocks her down again as we take a break. We come back with Chelsea Green at ringside as the two of them hit running hair takedowns.
Stratton is up with the cartwheel Alabama Slam into the Swanton for two. A handspring Stunner sets up the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, which hits Jayne’s raised knees. Fatal Influence goes after Green so Stratton dives onto the two of them, only to charge back into the Rolling Encore to give Jayne the (four count, as she moved slightly and the referee restarted) pin and the title at 8:36.
Rating: C+. They’re not exactly being subtle about what’s going on with Stratton and Green and it’s good to see Jayne get some gold of her own to complete the Fatal Influence title trio. They’ve hit the ground running around here and I could go with seeing them as more of a focal point. The good thing is that the women’s division has a bunch of stuff going on and that’s a nice development.
Jade Cargill and the Baddies are fine with having a new victim in Tatum Paxley.
Sami Zayn vs. Cody Rhodes
For the #1 contendership and never mind because here is Randy Orton to jump Rhodes before Zayn ever comes to the ring. Orton hits him in the face with the steps and they brawl into the crowd with Rhodes fighting back. Zayn, cheated again, is ticked as they get back to ringside, with Rhodes having to get in a low blow to block a Pillmaniazing. The chair is taken away from Rhodes to prevent him from doing the same thing to end the show. Given that they had about five minutes left for the match, it was more would the bell ever ring, as Orton pretty much had to come in and do something.
Overall Rating: B-. This was a show where a lot happened, with things going in quite a few directions. They pushed towards Rhodes vs. Orton, with a variety of people not being happy, along with a pair of title changes. That’s in addition to the rather intense Punk vs. Owens segment, though dang they could have done better with less really old outside of WWE history. You don’t get that kind of development on a single show, and if the in-ring action was that much better, the show would have been an even better result. Good show overall, but with some better wrestling, it would have been great.
Results
Gunther b. Matt Cardona – Boston crab
Baron Corbin b. Carmelo Hayes – End Of Days
MFT’s b. War Raiders and Damian Priest/R-Truth – Brother’s Keeper to R-Truth
Jacy Jayne b. Tiffany Stratton – Rolling Encore
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Impact Wrestling – August 13, 2026: They’re Really Trying
Impact Wrestling
Date: August 13, 2026
Location: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt
This is an interesting week as we have the World Title on the line with Nic Nemeth defending against Jeff Hardy. That’s certainly a noteworthy main event, but at the same time, we’re ten days away from Lockdown and there is no World Title match scheduled for that show. Maybe we’ll get it tonight, but that’s pushing it awfully close, assuming such a match takes place there. Let’s get to it.
Bear Bronson is here too. Myers goes right after him to start but gets slammed down. They’re quickly outside with Sosa being sent into the apron so Myers can take over. Back in and a suplex gives Myers two and we’re off to the early chinlock. Sosa is back up with a spinning kick to the head into a Lionsault but Bronson offers a distraction.
That’s enough for Myers to get in a kick of his own and grab an implant DDT for two more. The Roster Cut is countered with a nice dropkick so here is Cedric Alexander for a distraction. Myers grabs a belt but here is Leon Slater to take it away. Sosa’s running uppercut gets the pin at 5:45.
Rating: B-. There was too much going on here but they were starting to have a hot match. Sosa is beginning to fit in nicely around here and that’s good to see, as the company needs all the help it can get. Slater works well as a partner to help give him a rub, and odds are we’re getting a big group match of some kind at Lockdown.
Post match Slater reiterates his X-Division challenge to Alexander, but knows he’s dodging it due to a high level of cowardice. Slater even offers to put up anything Alexander wants, so Alexander says he wants….Slater’s second longest reign ever is officially stripped from the record books. Since that wouldn’t really change much, Slater is in. What an odd choice for a stipulation.
BDE and Rich Swann are ready to face Order 4 and have a mystery partner, who isn’t Jason Hotch.
We get a preview of tonight’s show and there is an announcement of the Hardys vs. the Nemeths for the Tag Team Titles at Lockdown. Ah there’s the way around the World Title.
AJ Francis is in the recording studio when Elijah interrupts. Elijah is ready to face Francis in a cage…but it seems that Elijah is an illusion. Who seems to appear on camera because reasons.
Here is Moose for a chat, complete with Frankie Kazarian’s stolen scarf and sunglasses. This is the first episode of his own talk show and his guests are….all of these fans! He asks the guests some questions, all of which are answered with a chant of MOOSE. Cue Kazarian, who has his own questions and wants the answer to be KING. The fans seem to pronounce “KING” as “MOOSE” and he doesn’t want to play anymore. Then he mocks the Wawa chain of stores and gets in a fight with Moose, which is broken up by security.
Video on the Hardys vs. the Nemeths.
Order 4 vs. BDE/Rich Swann/???
The partner is…the returning Trey Miguel, who was injured against Ali earlier this year. Ali does the “start the match and immediately tag out” deal so the three opponents kick Agent Zero to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Zero giving Swann a swinging Downward Spiral and nipping up to show off a bit. Swann headscissors Ali though and it’s back to Miguel to fight back fast. Zero is back in to wreck everyone but Miguel catches Skyler with a diving tornado DDT on the floor. The Lightning Spiral gives Miguel the pin on Skyler at 8:39.
Rating: B-. As usual, Zero does well in his role as the monster who can smash through almost anyone and he’s good as the enforcer for Ali. Having Miguel back is a nice thing to see as he’s an established name and can go after Ali, whether Ali gets the title back from Jason Hotch or not. The commercial cut off a lot of the match but they did well in the time that they had.
Post match Zero chokebombs Miguel but Hotch runs in for the save.
Xia Brookside gets her makeup done.
Post break, Brookside is not happy with some very black eyes, as she finds out that Elayna Black did her makeup. Brookside gets the better of a brawl and runs off.
Knockouts TV Title Tournament Semifinals: M By Elegance vs. Indi Hartwell
The Elegance Brand is here with Elegance, who bumps into Hartwell before the bell and gets clotheslined for her efforts. Elegance misses a charge into the corner and gets bulldogged for two as a result. Hartwell goes up and gets tied into the Tree Of Woe on the apron for a running dropkick. A suplex on the floor has Hartwell in more trouble and Elegance stomps her down in the corner.
The double arm crank is escaped and Hartwell gets two off a spinebuster. A top rope elbow to the back gets the same so Hartwell boots her to the floor…as Xia Brookside and Elayna Black brawl into the arena. That’s enough of a distraction for Elegance to send Hartwell into the steps, setting up a moonsault (with trunks) for the pin at 7:21.
Rating: C+. This was a surprise as I wouldn’t have expected Hartwell to lose here, if at all. Hartwell felt like the odds on favorite to win the whole thing but going with M is a more interesting choice. I’m not sure how much of a favorite she is to win the whole thing but getting to the finals is further than I would have expected.
We look at Harley Hudson winning a TNA contract and talking about how she has been dreaming of getting here and make her family proud. Next week is everything when she faces Alisha Edwards. These things often do a lot of good for the people involved and hopefully it works here too. Hudson could certainly use the better connection with the audience.
Moose is down in the back. I’m assuming he’s been attacked but he looks rather peaceful so hopefully he’s just getting a nap.
Eddie Edwards vs. KC Navarro
Alisha Edwards is here with Eddie, who charges into a superkick at the bell and rolls out to the floor. Navarro hits him with a suicide dive and frog splash for two so Eddie sends him into the post. A tornado DDT gets Navarro out of trouble so Alisha throws in Kenny the Kendo stick and distracts the referee. Navarro intercepts said stick and drills Eddie in the ribs, meaning the Blessing In Disguise can finish Eddie at 3:06.
Rating: C+. Why not? Navarro has been warming up in the last few weeks and needed an actual big win so let’s see what he’s got. It’s another case of finding out what some of these newer stars can do and they need to be built up one way another. This could work out for everyone and again, it feels like we’re coming up on a big Lethal Lockdown at Lockdown. Might as well put Navarro in a big spot and see what he can do.
Post match the System jumps Navarro and load up a Pillmanization but Jada Stone, Fabian Aichner and Ricky Sosa run in for the save. Santino Marella does indeed come out to make the Lethal Lockdown match.
Allie looks for Rosemary and finds a message saying THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.
TNA World Title: Jeff Hardy vs. Nic Nemeth
Hardy is challenging. They trade hammerlocks to start until a superkick and Twisting Stunner are both blocked. Nemeth easily wins a wrestle off and sends him into the buckle for some raking of the eyes. Hardy kicks him out to the floor though and the running flip dive from the apron connects as we take a break.
We come back with Nemeth holding a chinlock and going to the eyes again. Nemeth mocks the Hardy dance though and gets sent into the corner, allowing Hardy to hammer away. The legdrop between the legs and basement dropkick have Nemeth in more trouble but he breaks out of Spinal Destination.
Hardy cuts off a running…something with a sitout powerbomb and the Twisting Stunner connects. Another is countered with a superkick for two, with Hardy going to the rope. The Danger Zone is countered into a cutter but the Swanton hits raised knees. Hardy tries another Twisting Stunner but gets reversed into the Danger Zone to retain the title at 15:03.
Rating: B-. Yeah it was fine. You know these two are going to have a completely acceptable match together and they did it again here. That being said, it was also a completely clean win for Nemeth and didn’t do much to make me interested in the Tag Team Title match. It felt like a bigger than usual main event but absolutely nothing that blew the doors off.
Nemeth celebrates to wrap it up.
Overall Rating: C+. This was the regular moving day show towards Lockdown as they did a lot to get the show over but it still doesn’t feel like the biggest card. I really do need a breather from the Hardys near the top of the card, as the “we’re the best team ever” isn’t exactly the most thrilling stuff. Having them face the Nemeths is only so good, even if the match should work. A bunch of the rest of the show was about the System, which is often the case, and at least they have something set up for them. It still seems like they’re trying to figure out what to do with the roster they have though and that makes for a rough build.
Results
Ricky Sosa b. Brian Myers – Running uppercut
BDE/Rich Swann/Trey Miguel b. Order 4 – Lightning Spiral to Miguel
M By Elegance b. Indi Hartwell – Moonsault
KC Navarro b. Eddie Edwards – Blessing In Disguise
Nic Nemeth b. Jeff Hardy – Danger Zone
Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:
Ring Of Honor – August 13, 2026 (Global Wars Mexico): Not Their Style
Ring Of Honor
Date: August 13, 2026
Location: Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman
So here we have another international show with some members of the ROH/AEW roster going to one of the most important wrestling venues in the world. We’re likely going to get some build towards next week’s Death Before Dishonor, though it’s hard to say what to expect from any given Ring Of Honor show. Let’s get to it.
Some of these matches aired on the AEW vs. CMLL Semana Internacional special last week, albeit with different commentary.
AEW TNT Title: Kevin Knight vs. Titan
Knight is defending and suckers Titan into an early dropkick. Titan is sent outside for a springboard clothesline and some posing, followed by a near fall. Knight takes too long though and Titan kicks his way out of the corner, setting up the dive out to the floor. A suicide dive sends Knight halfway into the crowd, with Titan grabbing a leglock back inside.
Knight gets to the ropes before a big so he can run said ropes, only to get kicked in the face. Titan’s top rope double stomp gets two and he grabs a Muta Lock but Knight grabs the rope again. Knight crotches him on the top and gets a running star, setting up the diving cutter for two. The UFO Splash retains the title at 12:18.
Rating: B-. It’s another good match, though Titan didn’t get to show much out there. I’ve seen him steal some shows before and it would be nice to see him do that again. At the same time, this made Knight feel like a star and that’s one of the most important things they could do here. This worked for a semi main event so nice job.
TV Title: Lio Rush vs. El Clon
Clon, with Don Callis, is challenging after pinning Rush on Collision. Naturally Rush has a bright umbrella hat on because….well because Rush is kind of odd. Rush takes the hat off and chases him up the ramp with it before going inside for the opening bell. A quick Spanish Fly gives Rush two and he Stunners Clon across the top rope.
Back up and Rush gets chopped in the corner, which only makes him smile. A moonsault gives Clon two and he hammers away in the corner, this time with some more success. Clon tries the Pele so Rush bites the leg, earning himself a kick out to the floor. Back in and Clon strikes away, setting up a Falcon Arrow for a quick two.
Rush gets in a spinning kick to the head, only to get caught with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for another near fall. Rush goes for the mask and hits a poisonrana, with Clon popping back up. Clon tries picking him up, with Rush reversing into a Canadian Destroyer for two of his own. Back up and Rush goes for the mask again, setting up a cutter into a Stunner into the cravate choke to retain at 10:51.
Rating: B-. They were playing up the idea that Rush’s usual timing and speed didn’t work on Clon, who was cutting him off every time. That works well enough, and it’s interesting to see Rush going with what would have been cheating otherwise but having it mostly accepted. Rush isn’t exactly a clear cut good guy and that’s fine as he’s not really a clear cut anything. This was a unique match and actually gave Clon something to do for a change.
Athena is ready for Hazuki and bets a quarter on her, because the odds are so high against Hazuki that even in a loss, Athena would make a fortune.
Caprice Coleman sits down with Billie Starkz, who started wrestling in Indiana because she could do it younger there than in her native Kentucky. She was obsessed with wrestling but still managed to be her high school valedictorian. Then she started going all over the world and finally realized that she was making it, even as she wrestled during college. She also wants to be a farmer with big legged chickens, which is enough to have Athena come in and drag her away.
Skye Blue/Marina Shafir/Hikaru Shida vs. Hyan/Maya World/Thunder Rosa
Blue and company jump them to start fast with Hyan getting choked against the barricade. We settle down to World stacking Blue up for two but getting dropped by Shafir. Hyan comes in with a high crossbody so it’s off to Rosa vs. Shida. Rosa gets in a running hip attack in the ropes and everything breaks down, with Hyan and World hitting dropkicks through the ropes. Shida is right back up with a running knee to World on the apron but gets kicked away without much trouble.
Rosa comes in with a double high crossbody and everything breaks down, with a jumping wheelbarrow Downward Spiral dropping Blue. Shafir makes the save and everyone is knocked down for a big breather. World escapes Code Blue and gets kicked in the face by Shida for her efforts. Shida grabs Blue’s Stardom title but hits Shafir by mistake, allowing Rosa to get the pin at 10:21.
Rating: B-. This got going near the end and the ending worked well with Shafir getting cut off by some accidental cheating. It’s kind of a random match to have but at least Blue was back after not being around for a bit. Rosa was rather popular of course, which shouldn’t be surprising as she was the home country star.
Dalton Castle and the Outrunners are ready to challenge for the Six Man Tag Team Titles at Death Before Dishonor.
Komander vs. Soberano Jr.
Komander wastes no time in sending him outside to start for the early dive. Another dive is loaded up but Soberano blocks a diving headscissors and superkicks him off the apron. Back in and Soberano gets two off a quick rollup but Komander runs the corner and armdrags him into a seat belt for two of his own. A powerslam cuts Komander off again, though he’s fine enough to avoid a moonsault.
Komander’s rope walk moonsault gets two so they head to the apron, where Soberano gives him an over the back piledriver. Naturally Komander pops back up to catch Komander’s dive, with Soberano getting two back inside. A quick Spanish Fly gives Soberano two more and another belly to back piledriver connects. Soberano’s sitout Tombstone finishes at 9:19.
Rating: B. Hey look: Komander does a bunch of high flying and big flip dives but loses in the end. That’s the story of his life most of the time and it’s a shame to see him putting in these efforts and barely ever getting to win anything. That being said, it isn’t like he’s losing any status with the defeats so it seems to still be working out well enough.
Kyle Fletcher vs. Mascara Dorada
Non-title and Don Callis is here to introduce Fletcher with his bad Spanish bit. They take their time to start until Fletcher sends him outside for a kick from the apron. Back in and Fletcher stomps him down and poses a bit, allowing Dorada to get back up. A rather springboardy headscissors takes Fletcher down, setting up a corkscrew springboard moonsault to the floor. Fletcher gets up again and tries a sitout powerbomb, which is countered into a sunset flip for a fast two.
A spinning hurricanrana is countered into the aforementioned sitout powerbomb for two but Dorada breaks up the brainbuster attempt. Dorada grabs a springboard spinning Canadian Destroyer for two, allowing me to try to figure out what the spin added in the slightest. The 450 gives Dorada a VERY near fall but he has to bail out of a shooting star press. That lets Fletcher hit a running knee to the back but Dorada small packages him for another close two. Fletcher is done with this and kicks him in the corner, setting up the brainbuster for the pin at 11:52.
Rating: B. I’m fine with Fletcher winning of course as he’s the biggest AEW name on the show. There’s just something funny about the idea of another Ring Of Honor champion losing in the main event of the show because OF COURSE RING OF HONOR LOSES AGAIN. Anyway, it’s another quality match in a series of them tonight so well done again.
Overall Rating: B. The crowd was hot and the action backed it up so that’s definitely a good show. If nothing else, I’ll take this over another week of the same stuff that they do around here most of the time. Normally it would be more of a focus on the upcoming pay per view but that’s not the Ring Of Honor style. The pay per view is the big deal next week but I liked this for a nice one off change of pace.
Results
Kevin Knight b. Titan – UFO Splash
Lio Rush b. El Clon – Cravate choke
Hyan/Maya World/Thunder Rosa b. Skye Blue/Marina Shafir/Hikaru Shida – Belt shot to Shafir
Soberano Jr. b. Komander – Sitout Tombstone
Kyle Fletcher b. Mascara Dorada – Brainbuster
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AEW Dynamite – August 12, 2026: The Crawls Of Jericho
Dynamite
Date: August 12, 2026
Location: The Pearl Theater At The Palms, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight
We’re getting closer to All In and the card has been getting a nice boost in the last few weeks. Last week was Grand Slam, with MJF returning and he wants in the Casino Gauntlet Match later this month. Other than that, we have the continuing saga of Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay, which will likely get a lot of focus here. Let’s get to it.
Here is Will Ospreay to get things going. He was so glad to be back in Arena Mexico last week because the last time he was there, he found out that his grandfather had passed away. Ospreay wanted him to be there for some great moments of his life but that wasn’t going to happen. What he has learned though is that he has to do some things to be the biggest star in AEW. He is here to set an example and that’s why he was in a street fight last week.
One person was watching at home on his sofa and that was World Champion Kenny Omega. Last week, Omega probably said “oh s*** hes going to pull the trigger” and since Omega is actually here this week, why not grace us with your presence? Instead cue Don Callis, who talks about how he and Omega won the World Title in December 2020. Then Omega decided that he could do this on his own so Callis stabbed him in the head.
The reality is Ospreay owes him everything and the reality is the road to Wembley is paved in Ospreay’s blood. Cue the Don Callis Family for the beatdown but Omega makes the save with a pipe. Omega teases hitting Ospreay with the pipe but stops to say that Ospreay never thinks. Omega warned him about Callis and Jon Moxley and look what happened.
That’s why Ospreay will lose at All In, but that’s not the man Omega wants to face there. Omega helps him up but says that he can’t do this again. From now on, it’s the two of them. Ospreay appreciates the help, though he didn’t ask for it and he won’t need it. Please don’t have Callis be involved in this. It doesn’t seem like he will be, but please just leave him out of the thing.
We recap the Continental Challenge Cup.
We run down the card.
We look at MJF returning last week and attacking Andrade El Idolo.
Nick Wayne vs. MJF vs. Mike Bailey
For the #2 spot in the Casino Gauntlet match and MJF grabs Justin Roberts by the throat, insisting that he be introduced as “the one true champion”. MJF, with his heavily taped leg, drops to the floor to start and rants on commentary a bit before going to ringside. Wayne and Bailey trade missed kicks until Wayne knocks him outside for the big running flip dive. Bailey kicks him off the apron for the triangle moonsault, allowing MJF to run the ropes and flip the fans off.
MJF pulls Bailey off the ropes for a crash onto the turnbuckle but stops to yell at Wayne. That earns him a superkick but Bailey is back up to kick Wayne in the face. Bailey knocks both of them to the floor for a springboard moonsault and we take a break. We come back with Bailey missing the Ultimate Weapon but giving Wayne a Falcon Arrow instead. That means a shooting star press can give Bailey two before he has to save MJF Wayne. Now the Ultimate Weapon can hit Wayne, but MJF runs in to give Wayne the Salt Of The Earth for the tap at 12:02.
Rating: B-. As soon as Wayne, the #1 contender to the Ring Of Honor World Title, was announced for this match, it wasn’t a question of would he take the fall but rather how he would take the fall. This comes after his loss last month in his most recent AEW match and I don’t even know why I bother getting annoyed anymore. MJF winning in this way is right on note for him, with Bailey being there to make it a three way.
Post match MJF brags about his win but here is Andrade El Idolo……’s music, because he’s not here after MJF gave him a beating last week. Andrade is scared of him, just like Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, who will find out that he is the one true champion.
Lena Kross and Megan Bayne are at the Brawling Birds bar and knock some beers over while making threats. That place is no Friendly Tap.
Mick Foley is with the Bang Bang Gang, with Jay White welcoming him to the team. Anyway, White threatens David Finlay about tonight’s Continental Challenge Cup match. Foley can’t quite get the pose right.
Continental Challenge Cup First Round: David Finlay vs. Jay White
They go outside to start fast with the brawling until Finlay takes over inside. Finlay stomps him down in the corner but gets clotheslined to the floor for the slingshot dive. Back in and Finlay’s neckbreaker gets him out of trouble and we take a break. We come back with White fighting up to chop away in the corner.
The Blade Runner is countered into a rollup for two but White grabs a German suplex…and we pause as White seems a bit shaken up. Finlay is right in with a DDT for two so White gives him a running double underhook facebuster. The Blade Runner is countered again, this time into a brainbuster onto Finlay’s knee for two more. White slips out of a suplex though and the Blade Runner connects for the pin at 13:20.
Rating: B-. This was treated as a big grudge match though I’m still not really caring about a feud that happened in Japan years ago. Since then, the Dogs vs. the Gang hasn’t exactly lit the place on fire and this didn’t make it better. At least White is back in the ring and not injured again, which you never can really bet on with him.
Here are Hangman Page and Brodido for a chat. Brodido get to be happy about their win but here is the returning Swerve Strickland to cut Page off. Prince Nana throws Tony Schiavone out, leaving Strickland to say these three have all had issues with him but now they’re friends. Strickland goes over his issues with Brodido and it all leaves him coming back to Page. Now Page can’t even challenge for the World Title, so he’s here with these two?
Page points out that Strickland has nothing to show for everything he’s done this year but here are the Demand/Lethal Twist to interrupt. Ricochet talks about how this is trio business and mocks Strickland for dropping the Gates Of Agony. Last week, Toa Liona’s shoulders weren’t down so the titles still belong to the Demand, so Strickland needs to get out of here. Strickland goes to leave but does stop to call Ricochet a b****. Ricochet turns down Page’s challenge and that’s it. I really could have gone with more of the Strickland stuff and less of the six people interrupting.
Earlier today, Willow Nightingale was sitting down for an interview but Mercedes Mone jumped her and called her a dumb b****.
TNT Title: Kevin Knight vs. Chris Jericho
Knight is defending and jumps him to start, only to get planted with a brainbuster. A backbreaker gives Jericho two and he sends Knight outside. The dive connects and Jericho stops to sit on Paul Wight’s lap. Knight gets in a knockdown of his own though and we take a break. We come back with Knight’s Lionsault hitting raised knees but being able to backdrop Jericho onto the ramp.
Jericho shrugs off some stomps and grabs an AA of all things before going after Don Callis. A diving Knight misses for a crash to the floor and they go back inside. An exchange of rollups gets two each and they trade rollups with feet on the ropes for the same so Knight gives him a running DDT. Knight’s super hurricanrana is countered into a superbomb and then the Walls in the middle of the ring.
That sounds good for Jericho, but he keeps nodding his head at Callis, who comes into the ring, but runs away as Jericho drags Knight from the middle to near the ropes….so Callis can stab Jericho with the screwdriver. Sweet goodness that was horrible. Knight goes up for a Coast To Coast, which somehow only gets two. Jericho Codebreakers him out of the air so Knight kicks him low, setting up the Crash Landing for the pin at 12:56.
Rating: C. Geez. Between the ridiculous botch from Jericho and Callis (the latter of whom at least tried to make it work by coming inside) and the usual nonsense of AEW not knowing when to end a match (there was zero reason to keep it going after the Coast To Coast), this was just a mess. I don’t know if it’s Jericho not having it any more or trying to do too much, but this didn’t work for the most part. Knight can do some good things in there, but this was a mess.
Claudio Castagnoli is ready for anyone in the Continental Cup Classic. Jon Moxley appears to be the same, with the grappling taking place while Castagnoli was talking apparently firing him up.
Kris Statlander vs. Viva Van
Van actually snaps off a hurricanrana to start and Statlander thinks about it for a second. That just earns her a spinwheel kick, plus a faceplant off the top into a missile dropkick. Statlander is back up with a superkick and discus lariat, setting up Staturday Night Fever for the pin at 3:09.
Rating: C. This was a weird match with Statlander getting beaten up for a good chunk of the thing, with Van getting in some snazzy offense. Van continues to be someone who feels like a potential project but it hasn’t really taken off yet. I’m not sure why Statlander got beaten up that much to start but it was an odd setup.
Post match here is Mick Foley, who announces a four way for the TBS Title, with Statlander, Hikaru Shida and Persephone challenging Maya World. Statlander is ready for some revenge but here are Shida and Persephone for their scheduled match.
Hikaru Shida/Persephone vs. Maya World/Thunder Rosa
World headlocks Persephone to start, sending her outside to escape. Rosa comes in for a running headscissors to Shida, plus a running clothesline. Rosa headscissors and headlocks them both down at once but gets sent throat first into the rope as we take a break. We come back with Rosa still in trouble but reversing a double suplex into a double DDT.
World is back in with a missile dropkick into a fall away slam to send Persephone outside. Shida kicks World outside but gets high crossbodied by Rosa. Shida’s Falcon Arrow gets two more with World making the save and getting jumped by Persephone. Rosa takes Persephone out and it’s the tabletop suplex to give World the pin on Shida at 10:34.
Rating: C+. World getting the pin was the right call here as she is still getting established as a real threat around here. At the same time, having her beat one of her challengers for next week might not have been the best way to get ready for the title match. Persephone is still getting better around here and it’s good to see her getting a chance to show what she can do. On the other hand you have Rosa and I have no idea what she has going on at the moment, but it doesn’t exactly feel like much.
Darby Allin talks about how he has no regrets from the World Title reign because he gambled and lost. Then he was attacked by Kevin Knight, so now Allin wants him in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
Kyle Fletcher wants to defend the International Title at All In. He wants to defend against Konosuke Takeshita but Don Callis suggests adding Kazuchika Okada so the Family keeps the title. Fletcher leaves without saying yes. It feels like these people have been doing this “we don’t like each other but have to work together because we all hate Takeshita” forever. Wrap it up already.
Continental Challenge Cup First Round: Jon Moxley vs. Jack Perry
Moxley wrestles him down to start but Perry gets up for an actual clean break at the rope. Perry knocks him outside but the suicide dive is knocked out of the air. With his eye cut open, Perry tries to fight back but gets sent into the timekeeper’s area as we take a break. We come back with Moxley pounding on the cut and rubbing Perry’s face on the mat to make it worse.
Moxley ties up the leg and neck at the same time, with Perry having to make the rope. Perry finally manages to send him outside for a bunch of dives, including a moonsault out to the floor. Back in and Moxley hits a quick clothesline and piledriver for two, plus another two off another clothesline.
Moxley goes off with shots to the face, to the point where the referee stops him to check on Perry. That’s enough for Perry to get back up for the exchange of forearms (a Moxley signature) until Perry pulls him into the Snare Trap. Moxley rolls out of that and slaps on the bulldog choke for the win at 15:42.
Rating: B-. So Moxley beats him up to start, beats him up some more, shrugs off Perry’s offense, escapes Perry’s submission, and then chokes him out. What a great way to make Perry look like he’s in over his head as Moxley, again, gets to look like the most awesome thing ever. Hopefully he at least doesn’t win the tournament again, though it certainly wouldn’t surprise me.
Post match Moxley shakes Perry’s hand, because that saves some of Perry’s face I guess?
Overall Rating: C+. I really wasn’t feeling this one as much as I do most Dynamites, as it had a lot of stuff that felt like it was setting stuff up for the future rather than doing much here. That’s something you need at times, but between the horrible ending to Jericho vs. Knight and Moxley’s near squash of Perry (which of course took fifteen minutes), this was a long show that had a lot of tournament stuff and Don Callis. That’s not the best night and I wasn’t into this for the most part.
Results
Maxwell Jacob Friedman b. Mike Bailey and Nick Wayne – Salt Of The Earth to Wayne
Jay White b. David Finlay – Blade Runner
Kevin Knight b. Chris Jericho – Crash Landing
Kris Statlander b. Viva Van – Staturday Night Fever
Maya World/Thunder Rosa b. Hikaru Shida/Persephone – Tabletop suplex to Shida
Jon Moxley b. Jack Perry – Bulldog choke
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WWE Evolve – August 12, 2026: All This And None Of That
Evolve
Date: August 12, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Blake Howard, Robert Stone
As usual around here, it’s hard to say what to expect and that makes for a more interesting show. There are a lot of people coming after Harlem Lewis and the Evolve Title, while Thea Hail seems to be next in line for a Women’s Title shot against Nikkita Lyons. That should be enough to get us somewhere, with the ID prospects filling in the gaps. Let’s get to it.
Dempsey wrestles him to the mat to start and grabs some headlock takeovers. Back up and Sasaki takes his shirt off so the slugout has more of an impact. They trade some armdrags until Sasaki snaps the arm back to take over. Some forearms to the chest don’t get Dempsey out of trouble as Sasaki drops him with a suplex. Sasaki’s running kick to the chest gets two and they lock hands for some rolling flips.
Dempsey reverses a Kimura into a Boston crab before shifting to a German suplex. Sasaki pops back up for a discus forearm and they’re both down. The Rings Of Saturn send Dempsey to the ropes and he’s up with some suplexes, including a weird pushup bridging northern lights suplex (as in he bridged backwards and then did a kind of reverse pushup for the cover) for two. Sasaki is back up with a sleeper, which is reversed into a reverse fisherman’s suplex to give Dempsey the pin at 8:48.
Rating: B. This was the kind of match that works well on Evolve as they were doing some unique stuff and making it feel different. There are too many times where things get too similar and this stood out, with the physicality and the submission work. Nice start to the show, as both guys looked good.
Brooks Jensen complains about young wrestlers, including ones like Elijah Holyfield who use their parents’ names to get over. Then the elevator door opens and Holyfield is there to chase him off. Obvious payoff and it worked perfectly well.
Wren Sinclair vs. Sloane Jacobs
Hold on though as Jacobs introduces Nikkita Lyons to watch from the VIP section. Sinclair takes her down with an armbar to start and grinds away on a headlock. Back up and Sinclair shoulders her down into a running facebuster for two. Jacobs cuts her off on the apron though and grabs a neckbreaker over the ropes as we take a break.
We come back with Jacobs grabbing a headscissors and using it to ram Sinclair head first into the buckle over and over (that looked cool). Jacobs ties up the arm but Sinclair pops up with some running shots of her own. An X Factor gives Sinclair two but Jacobs is right back with a hanging swinging suplex (Nikki Cross’ old move). Jacobs tries an O’Connor roll, which is reversed into the Final Wrench in a slick counter for the tap at 8:17.
Rating: B-. The ending alone bumps it up a bit and that’s cool to see, as Sinclair outwrestled her for the win. Sinclair continues to have that kind of weird charm to her and it’s good to see her getting some more success. It’s a nice match, and Sinclair going after the Women’s Title isn’t crazy.
Post match Lyons gets in the ring and says Sinclair didn’t beat her so no one is worthy of a title shot. Cue Thea Hail to go after Lyons and announce the title match for next week. And apparently Hail is now “Dad”. Ok then.
Brooks Jensen gets to his truck, leaving just in time to avoid a charging Elijah Holyfield.
Laynie Luck is upset by her loss in her title match but she’s madder about PJ Vasa attacking her. Vasa has two weeks until Luck is cleared and it’s time for revenge. You can tell Luck isn’t the strongest promo but she was showing some emotion here and that’s good.
Harlem Lewis is in the VIP section to scout for potential challengers. He also gives Adrianna Rizzo a cigar but she’ll pass on smoking inside.
It’s Gal vs. Cappuccino Jones vs. Chazz Hall
Jones is sent outside to start but comes back inside, with Gal taking both of them down for some pushups on their back. Shockingly that earns him a double team before Jones decks Hall in the corner. Gal suplexes Jones and gets shooting star pressed by Hall for a quick two. Jones’ headscissors out of the corner takes Hall down and a dropkick catches Gal. A running crossbody hits Gal to send both he and Jones out to the floor. Hall is of course right there with the running flip dive and we take a break.
We come back with Hall’s corkscrew moonsault hitting Gal, with Jones coming in for the save. Gal gives Jones a spinning slam for two of his own, only for Hall to grab a standing Sliced Bread, while kicking Jones down at the same time. Gal is put up top, where he elbows both of them down and hits a double missile dropkick. As usual, Gall takes too much time yelling and gets sent outside, leaving Jones to Froggy Brew Hall, only for Gal to steal the pin at 7:47.
Rating: B-. Gal is the definition of “this is kind of dumb but I like him anyway” and I can go for him going nuts over winning a few matches in a row. He’s a rather quirky guy and it could be interesting to see where he goes. Jones is being a bit more over the top lately and it’s only kind of working, but you can only get so far with the coffee stuff. Hall is…well he’s about the same as he’s always been.
Post match Gal calls out Lewis (who apparently doesn’t have great abs) because Gal is on the winning streak of a lifetime (Two matches!). Hall and Jones beat Gal up like sore losers and, after teasing a brawl of their own, dance to end the show.
Overall Rating: B+. I had a good time with this show, as they mixed things up enough and did one of the most important things possible: presenting whatever was in front of them as all that mattered at the moment. You can have a hierarchy of stories and wrestlers, but it makes a big difference to have commentary act like what they’re seeing matters. That’s what they did here and it makes a big difference. Good show this week, and they didn’t really touch on the top stories.
Results
Charlie Dempsey b. Ulka Sasaki – Reverse fisherman’s suplex
Wren Sinclair b. Sloane Jacobs – Final Wrench
It’s Gal b. Cappuccino Jones and Chazz Hall – Froggy Brew to Hall
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NXT
Date: August 11, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph Booker T.
As can often be the case in wrestling, we need a new #1 contender for the title and we’ll be finding a one tonight. Cruz Montana will be facing the resurgent Grayson Waller for the right to challenge Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Title. That’s in addition to Kendal Grey needing a new challenger so let’s get to it.
Lizzy Rain is nervous in the back when the Culling comes up. They mock her for not having help so she’s going it alone.
Lizzy Rain vs. Culling
So there’s no Shawn Spears to team with Rain as originally planned. Rain charges at Dame to start and we get the opening bell, with Dame being dropkicked into the corner. Dame pulls her out of the other corner though and they trade forearms until Rain hits a quick elbow. Vance comes in so here is EK Prosper and we do indeed have a tag match. Vance can’t get a suplex back inside and everything breaks down with the Culling getting chopped in various corners. Dame trips Rain down onto the apron though and then drops her onto the floor as we take a break.
We come back with Rain grabbing a super hurricanrana for two on Dame as Vance makes the save. Everything breaks down again and Vance’s top rope headbutt gets two on Prosper. Rain tries Thunderstruck on Vance but gets launched into a sitout powerbomb to give Dame two more. The second Thunderstruck hits Vance and a Shining Wizard takes him down again. Prosper drops a moonsault for the pin at 10:48.
Rating: B. For a thrown together match with a replacement partner, this wound up being rather good stuff. Rain has grown on me a bit and while I’m still not big on hearing her talk, she’s getting better in the ring. Dame continues to feel like she should be ready to break through but it hasn’t happened just yet.
Last week, Tavion Heights and Myles Borne celebrated winning the Tag Team Titles and told the tag division that they were ready to defend the titles. This was rather well received.
EK Prosper and Lizzy Rain are asked about their win but Kali Armstrong takes the microphone and goes into the arena, where she says she wants her Women’s Title shot. Kelani Jordan comes in to say the same thing she always says, with Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair interrupting as well. Grey is tired of hearing from Jordan so she gives her a contract for a title shot. Jordan would use it next week but that would be a waste on these fans so we’ll do it at Heatwave. Armstrong doesn’t want to wait so the brawl is on with Grey and Sinclair being left laying.
Keanu Carver interrupts Cruz Montana over getting thrown into a #1 contenders match. They stare each other down and Carver tells Robert Stone that he hasn’t seen anything yet.
Dion Lennox vs. Saquon Shuggars
Darkstate is here with Lennox. Shuggars starts fast and gets knocked into the corner but comes back with a backbreaker for an early two. A Darkstate distraction lets Lennox send him throat first into the ropes though and the chinlock goes on. Lennox’s northern lights suplex gets two and we’re right back to the chinlock. That’s broken up as well and Shuggars gets in an elbow to the back of the head but has to threaten Darkstate with the baseball bat. They send him into the announcers’ table though and that’s enough for the sitout slam to give Lennox the pin at 4:56.
Rating: C. That’s it? They’ve been feuding for months and the big finale is Darkstate interferes and Lennox gets an easy win in less than five minutes? I wasn’t expecting some Wrestlemania level match but I was expecting something a bit better than this. Shuggars’ revenge didn’t even mean anything in the end and Darkstate just wins. What a weird piece of business.
AAA GM calls Robert Stone, who announces a four way next week for a Cruiserweight Title shot in two weeks. EK Prosper and La Parka will be involved with more names to come. Interestingly Mysterio suddenly had to go, which is similar to how he had to leave last week on AAA, with no explanation.
Grayson Waller yells at at Saquon Shuggars (something about messages on a phone) and tells him to do something. Shuggars grabs his bat and limps away.
Women’s North American Title: Zaria vs. Wren Sinclair
Zaria is defending and Sinclair’s Women’s Speed Title isn’t on the line. Sinclair starts fast with some rollups for two each but gets kicked in the head in the corner. Zaria starts in on the arm but Sinclair elbows out of a choke in the corner. We take a break and come back with Sinclair getting a sunset flip out of the corner, only to walk into a spear. Cue Saquon Shuggars beating on Dion Lennox with the bat and their brawl coming into the ring. The distraction lets Zaria grab the F5 to retain at 9:38.
Rating: C+. This was a weird one as Zaria pretty much had the match won before the interference and then she won anyway. It’s not like that really changed much but it did indeed take place. Zaria retaining is fine as it evens their series and hopefully lets them move on. Either that or it’s a winner take all match, which isn’t a bad idea if they unify the belts.
Shiloh Hill sends in another update, revealing that he is healing far faster than expected and could wrestle on live events wearing a mask, and of course he has about five on at once. He also promises to find out more about the poison mist and might do some experiments.
Mason Rook vs. Kam Hendrix
Rook backdrops him to start but gets hit in the face, allowing Hendrix to stomp away. A nice spinebuster plants Rook for two but Rook is back up with some shots to the face. Rook’s release German suplex and Blue Thunder Bomb get two as a turnbuckle pad has been ripped off. Hendrix sends him into the buckle, setting up a Showtime Kick for the pin at 3:33.
Rating: C+. It was fun while it lasted but it didn’t last very long. I’ve been a fan of Hendrix since he started in Evolve (all that time ago) and it would be good to see him getting a chance to showcase what he can do. If nothing else, him getting more time on the microphone would be a great thing, assuming it actually happens.
The Vanity Project want their Tag Team Titles back but Tavion Heights and Myles Borne come in. Robert Stone makes Jackson Drake the same deal: if he can win next week, he gets a North American Title shot and the Project gets a Tag Team Title shots. The Project wants both matches at Heatwave but Stone says the dates will be determined. Borne is fine with wrestling twice in one night and Drake’s opponent next week is…Shiloh Hill.
Lexis King vs. Lucien Price
Non-title and Birthright is here too. King’s right hand just annoys Price, who knocks him into the corner for a rather hard chop. Birthright’s distraction lets King (whose chest is bleeding from that chop) get in a cheap shot and go after the arm. A spinning high crossbody gives King two and he hits a running forearm to the back of the head. Price gets back up and takes out Birthright, followed by a one armed powerbomb for the pin out of nowhere at 3:27.
Rating: C. I can certainly go with OTM getting some wins of their own as they have felt like a team ready to break out for a long time now. That has to start somewhere and the show can always use some fresh blood in the bigger spots. At the same time….dang I like King but he feels like a doormat here, Speed Title or not.
Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey come in to see Robert Stone with Sinclair wanting to face Zaria again. She offers the Speed Title in a unification match, which is enough to get Stone to sign off. Next week, the two of them are facing Kelani Jordan and Kali Armstrong.
Jaida Parker and Thea Hail are happy with their win last week. They’re happy to be friends.
Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno are happy with Moreno getting a spot in the four way for the #1 contenders match next week. Tristan Angels comes in to say he’ll win the match anyway, despite never being a cruiserweight before.
Cruz Montana vs. Grayson Waller
For a title shot against Tony D’Angelo, who is on commentary. Montana tells him to bring it to start before grabbing a suplex. Waller is right back with some shots to the face and a suplex of his own as things slow down a bit. Cruz comes back with some running chops in the corner into a backsplash to send Waller outside. The suicide dive sends Waller crashing over the announcers’ table and we take a break.
We come back with Montana hitting a clothesline into a sitout F5 to drop Waller again. Waller ducks an enziguri and gets caught with a rolling Buck Fifty (backflip into a cutter) for two. Montana charges into an elbow to the face and a running stomp to the back gives Waller two of his own. Waller tries his rolling cutter but walks into Spin The Block (discus lariat). Hold on though as Zilla Fatu (named as such) runs in and lays out Montana for the DQ at 12:49.
Rating: B. They were getting going by the end here and the ending is a way to get them out of having one of them get a pin. That’s a good thing, as you don’t want Waller, who has been labeled as a joke, losing so soon and you definitely don’t want Montana losing here. Good stuff here, with the ending being the smart way out.
Post match Fatu lays out both of them and hits a top rope splash on Montana. Fatu stares down at D’Angelo and says he needs that to end the show. That’s a big deal, though I would hope that they acknowledge that Montana won by DQ and don’t go with the “no contest” thing. If someone runs in and attacks one wrestler, it’s a DQ by definition. Acknowledge it.
Overall Rating: B-. I liked most of the show, though there was a stretch in the middle that felt like they were just jumping through things really quickly. There were good parts and the main event angle was a nice surprise, plus a solid opener. Heatwave is starting to come together and a four way for the NXT Title is far from the worst idea. Nice job here and it would have been even better if the middle of the show had been a big better developed.
Results
EK Prosper/Lizzy Rain b. Culling – Moonsault to Vance
Dion Lennox b. Saquon Shuggars – Sitout slam
Zaria b. Wren Sinclair – F5
Kam Hendrix b. Mason Rook – Showtime Kick
Lucien Price b. Lexis King – One armed powerbomb
Cruz Montana b. Grayson Waller via DQ when Zilla Fatu interfered
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Monday Night Raw – August 10, 2026: Business As Usual
Monday Night Raw
Date: August 10, 2026
Location: Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves
We’re starting something new here and this time it’s taking the form of a #1 contenders tournament for a shot at Roman Reigns. The catch though is there are a lot of luchadors in the field, with the title match taking place in about a month in Mexico City. LA Knight wants the title shot too though so let’s get to it.
We recap LA Knight confronting Roman Reigns last week and calling Reigns a fraud. Rather than Reigns sending the Bloodline after Knight, instead he gave the Bloodline another target. This resulted in Jacob Fatu going after Royce Keys and taking him out in a rather violent street fight. Keys is out indefinitely.
Here is Solo Sikoa, coming through the crowd, and kind of singing the Usos’ theme. He’s here to deal with the Bloodline so here is Jey Uso, through the entrance, to interrupt. Uso asks if Sikoa is sure he wants to do this and then tells him to fall in line. Sikoa finds that funny and asks if Uso fell in line. Sikoa: “Cause it looks like you fell off.”
The reality is that Uso was a World Champion who won the Royal Rumble and beat Gunther at Wrestlemania (and yes, Sikoa does do his own yeeting along the way). But now all of that is gone and Uso has nothing. Sikoa isn’t coming back to the family because he loves where he’s at right now.
Uso says he raised Sikoa, who has his big house because of the rest of the family. Uso wants to face Sikoa tonight and if Sikoa loses, he’s back in the Bloodline. He calls that a warning shot so Sikoa turns around and asks if everyone behind him is ok. Sikoa is in for tonight, but when he wins, the family is done with him. That’s Uso’s warning shot, and yes he makes a finger gun sound. When did Sikoa grow a personality? It’s working for me.
Penta is ready to win the tournament but he can’t look past Laredo Kid.
Laredo Kid is ready to show what he can do in the spotlight.
Jey Uso runs into Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu, the latter of whom isn’t sure what Jey is thinking. Jey says it’s just him running a play but Fatu accuses him of ignoring the rest of the team. That’s not cool with Jey, who says he’s getting Solo Sikoa back, so what has Fatu done lately? Fatu brings up taking out Royce Keys last week and says Jey better win, with Jimmy agreeing.
#1 Contender Tournament First Round: Penta vs. Laredo Kid
Kid isn’t shaking hands to start so Penta grabs a headlock instead. What looks to be a monkey flip attempt from Kid is countered with a kick to the ribs but he knocks Penta outside. That just earns Kid a kick to the head and Penta snaps off a running headscissors to the floor. Kid is right back up with a shot of his own, followed by a moonsault to drop Penta again. A moonsault Swanton hits Penta as well and we take a break.
We come back with Penta kicking him in the knee and grabbing a reverse Sling Blade. A slingshot dropkick in the corner hits Kid for two more but he hurricanranas Penta down. The 450 gives Kid two so Penta Backstabbers him out of the corner for two more. They strike it out for a bit until Penta sends him outside for the big running flip dive. The Penta Driver gets two back inside but Kid drivers him right back. Kid can’t hit a corkscrew moonsault so Penta is right back with a Mexican Destroyer for the pin at 10:45.
Rating: B+. It shouldn’t be a surprise that these two had a good match together as they have the talent and experience to make it work well. Penta getting the title shot is absolutely not out of the question and he very well could be the favorite for the whole thing. Beating Kid is a nice start and we got to see some of the stuff that makes both of them feel like major stars.
Logan Paul (with the Vision but without the arm brace) calls the Alpha Academy a bunch of jokes. Maxxine Dupri agrees, because Akira Tozawa has no chance against Austin Theory, who is apparently rather attractive. Bron Breakker does not seem to approve of any of this, but it turns out that he’s focused on Oba Femi. Yeah that works.
Akira Tozawa vs. Austin Theory
Theory charges into a boot in the corner to start and a hurricanrana takes him back down. That’s fine with Theory, who pops back up with a clothesline to put Tozawa in early trouble. The chinlock keeps Tozawa down as Bron Breakker is in another world at ringside. A full nelson backbreaker lets Theory go outside to pose with his teammates, leaving Breakker at least somewhat interested as we take a break.
We come back with Theory getting a kiss on the floor but Tozawa gets in a Shining Wizard. The backsplash gives Tozawa two and he fires off a bunch of kicks. Back up and Theory just blasts him with a spinning forearm (which is apparently called the Off Switch) for the pin at 8:28.
Rating: C+. I’m still trying to care about the Alpha Academy in this spot and it’s still not working. Otis is a lot more interesting than Tozawa, but Tozawa has been treated as a joke for years now. That makes it kind of hard to just flip a switch and make it work here. He’s good in the ring when he gets the chance, but it’s hard to care about him all of a sudden.
Post match Theory teases doing more but Adam Pearce comes out to cut him off. Bron Breakker gets inside and that’s enough to summon Oba Femi, which is just what Breakker wanted. Theory is quickly dispatched and a bunch of people have to hold Femi and Breakker apart. The fans seem WAY into this one
AAA GM Rey Mysterio is excited about the tournament and Dragon Lee comes up to thank him for the spot. Dominik Mysterio pops in to ask why he’s not in the tournament when he is the king of the luchadors. Rey: “I didn’t think you wanted another handout because that’s how you became a jackass in the first place.” With that great line out of the way, Lee tells Dominik to show his father some respect and he’s ready for a match later tonight.
We look back at Stephanie Vaquer being injured back in the spring at the hands of the Judgment Day, setting up returns from both Vaquer and Becky Lynch last week.
Here is Vaquer for a chat. She’s glad to be back and has missed everything about being around here, including the fans. Above all else though she has missed seeing Judgment Day getting scared every time she shows up. That’s why she’s ready to take them out one by one and she knows Liv Morgan isn’t ready for her.
Cue Lynch to interrupt, with Vaquer asking what she wants. It’s probably the same thing Vaquer wants, including giving Morgan one heck of a beating. Lynch has worked too long to see the title go back to the mid-2000s and that isn’t going to happen. As for Vaquer, she’s a bit more of an enigma, but she seems to be gone more often than she’s here.
So is Vaquer this bada** or does her body give up so her mind doesn’t have to. Lynch is fine with Vaquer giving Morgan a beating but Lynch is getting the title. Vaquer isn’t impressed and leaves so here is Morgan, who is quickly dispatched by Lynch. Vaquer comes back in and almost (but doesn’t) hit Lynch by mistake. They go nose to nose and talk a lot of trash until Lynch storms off. Nice segment here and Vaquer getting involved with Lynch is absolutely a big deal.
LA Knight is ready for Roman Reigns and he’s fine with winning the tournament to get the World Title shot. He’s told that it’s a luchador tournament so he can’t enter, which Knight finds very convenient. Solo Sikoa comes in to say that if he loses tonight, Knight is all alone. Knight doesn’t seem overly interested.
Dragon Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio
Mysterio’s AAA Mega Title isn’t on the line. Mysterio chops away in the corner to start but gets taken down with a headscissors. A double stomp gives Lee two but Mysterio is right back up with a running clothesline. Mysterio backdrops him to the floor, with Lee’s leg landing in the ropes, allowing Mysterio to hit a big dive.
We take a break and come back with Lee superkicking him into a tornado DDT, setting up the big flip dive to the floor (that looked great). Back in and Lee hits another superkick but charges into a Michinoku Driver. Lee is fine enough to tie him in the Tree Of Woe for the double stomp but Mysterio is back with a 619. The frog splash hits knees though and Operation Dragon gives Lee the clean pin at 10:23.
Rating: B-. Well that was surprising. I wasn’t expecting the AAA World Champion to lose a thrown together match, but hopefully this isn’t due to reports of Mysterio being unhappy with his booking on Raw. It’s hard to believe that Lee is in line for a big push, but Mysterio losing isn’t something that should be happening in a spot like this.
Post match Big Cass comes in to lay Lee out. Je’Von Evans runs in and gets a few shots on Cass, who knocks him out of the air. The big boot (that looked great) leaves Evans laying. That doesn’t make beating Mysterio look much better.
Sol Ruca is ready for revenge on Judgment Day and has a partner. Danhausen comes in to offer to do it for a…..well a little discount. Ruca says she has this covered and leaves, with Danhausen asking Byron Saxton for money. That’s a no as well so Danhausen leaves too. Wacky as usual.
LA Knight says he can get a lucha mask to enter the tournament but Adam Pearce turns him down. Once the tournament is over though, they’ll find a way for Knight to earn a title shot. With Pearce gone, Jacob Fatu pops up to threaten Knight, who tells Fatu to go get a permission slip to fight from Roman Reigns. Fatu hits his catchphrase and leaves.
Judgment Day vs. Sol Ruca/???
The mystery partner is…Iyo Sky, which is probably better than a random NXT debut. Ruca ducks Rodriguez out of the corner to start but a headlock is easily shoved off. Rodriguez sends her into the corner for the elbows to the face so Perez comes in to hit Ruca in the face. It’s off to Sky for a basement dropkick into an elbow as everything breaks down. Rodriguez catches Sky’s dive so Ruca dives onto them, with Perez adding one of her own.
We take a break and come back with Ruca still in trouble but she reverses a suplex into an X Factor (well close enough). Sky gets to take over on Perez, with a shotei knocking Perez silly. The Bullet Train to Perez sets up a great looking missile dropkick as everything breaks down. Rodriguez has to save Perez before being knocked outside, leaving Perez to kick Ruca down. Sky reverses Perez’s Shining Wizard and hits the Bullet Train in the corner but Rodriguez is back to break up Over The Moonsault. That earns Rodriguez an Asai moonsault so Ruca flips out of Pop Rox, setting up the Sol Snatcher for the pin on Perez at 11:51.
Rating: B-. This got rolling near the end as it was a bunch of flying around and saves until Perez got caught with the Sol Snatcher. The ending felt like it was a question of when the Sol Snatcher would connect rather than when, which is ok. Hopefully Ruca gets to move on from now, though I’m not sure what is next for Sky.
Bron Breakker comes up to Paul Heyman (Why is he here?) and talks about the showdown with Oba Femi. Breakker asks Heyman who he thinks the future of WWE is, with Heyman saying he respects both of them. That’s not what Breakker asked and he gets a bit more serious before asking it again.
Heyman says he’s starting to think Breakker is starting to think Femi is the future, which is the problem. Heyman is going to keep respecting Femi until Breakker says Heyman that Femi isn’t worthy of that respect. That has Breakker thinking and he walks away, with Heyman realizing he dodged a bullet.
Rey Mysterio praises Penta for his match earlier and Chad Gable comes in to do the same. Penta leaves and Gable says he wants to defend the Intercontinental Title against Mysterio. Works for Mysterio and Gable will talk to Adam Pearce.
Sol Ruca and Iyo Sky are happy with their win but run into Lyra Valkyria (who is looking more and more like a….whatever she is right now). She thinks Ruca is getting close to the Women’s Intercontinental Title, with Valkyria bringing up Bayley. Valkyria tells her to stay out of the way of her title. Sky isn’t sure what Valkyria is at this point and I can’t help but agree.
Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
If Uso wins, Sikoa is back in the Bloodline. After a rather lengthy Uso entrance, they shove each other around a few times until Sikoa clotheslines him out of the corner. A running headbutt gives Sikoa two and he elbows Uso down to cut him off. Sikoa sends him crashing out to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Uso sending him outside for the suicide dive and Sikoa is in trouble for a change. That’s cut off with a clothesline out of the corner and they’re both down.
A kick to the face just annoys Sikoa, who grabs a Samoan drop. The running Umaga Attack in the corner gets two but another Samoan drop is countered into the sleeper. That’s broken up and a spinwheel kick breaks up Uso’s spear attempt. Cue Jimmy Uso for a distraction though and the spear gives Jey two. Sikoa fights back but goes after Jimmy, allowing Jey to hit another spear. The Superfly Splash sends Sikoa back to the Bloodline at 12:06.
Rating: B-. This was a match that felt like it should have been a bit deal but instead it just came off like a thing that happened. At the same time, having Sikoa be in the Bloodline against his will could be interesting if they go that way, but odds are it’s just business as usual again. That’s not a great thing, and the result here was kind of disappointing.
The Usos celebrate to end the show.
Overall Rating: B. This show was a good use of a bunch of stuff that didn’t feel the most important. You had one tournament match and a bunch of people talking about what they’re going to do later. Next week feels like the show where some more top level stuff happens, but I’ll take a show that does a lot with only so much.
Results
Penta b. Laredo Kid – Mexican Destroyer
Austin Theory b. Akira Tozawa – Off Switch
Dragon Lee b. Dominik Mysterio – Operation Dragon
Sol Ruca/Iyo Sky b. Judgment Day – Sol Snatcher to Perez
Jey Uso b. Solo Sikoa – Superfly Splash
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