You might notice a few different things.

 

https://411mania.com/wrestling/halls-wcw-wrestlewar-1992-review/

Smackdown
Date: May 22, 2026
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

It’s the night before Saturday Night’s Main Event and the show is not exactly looking huge. There isn’t much to be said about the card and I’m not sure we’re going to get anything else added here. On the other hand, Clash In Italy is just over a week away and is already looking strong. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of last week’s contract signing between Cody Rhodes and Gunther. That was broken up by Royce Keys, whom Gunther had to beat to get the title shot anyway.

Here is Rhea Ripley to get things going. She got jumped by Jade Cargill last week and wants to face Cargill at Clash In Italy. Cue Charlotte and Alexa Bliss, with Charlotte saying they have a six woman tag at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Before that though, Charlotte gets on Ripley for not being there to help last week. Ripley says she was visiting her family and the bickering is on, with Fatal Influence interrupting them. Jacy Jayne laughs at them and says they take opportunities where they can. The result is a tag match against Bliss/Charlotte tonight.

We look back at Talla Tonga attacking Shinsuke Nakamura last week and Solo Sikoa getting taken out by Royce Keys in the main event.

Sikoa won’t let the MFT’s talk about Talla’s match with Shinsuke Nakamura. Keys comes in to yell but Sikoa says Keys was the one who got physical. Keys is going to need someone to have his back and since Sikoa is family, who could be better?

Alexa Bliss tells Charlotte that she’s sick so Charlotte and Rhea Ripley are teaming together. Charlotte is less than pleased.

Talla Tonga vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

The MFT’s are with Talla, who shoves the popular Nakamura into the corner to start. Nakamura gets choked in the corner and a hard whip sends him into another corner. Back up and Nakamura knocks him to the floor, where Talla reverses into a whip to the barricade. We take a break and come back with Nakamura grabbing a triangle choke. With that broken up, a middle rope knee to the back hits Talla, who misses a charge into the corner. Scorpio Rising gives Nakamura two but a Solo Sikoa distraction lets Talla grab a powerslam. The chokeslam finishes Nakamura at 9:20.

Rating: C+. This was pretty to the point, with Nakamura’s strikes still looking good despite not being in the ring very much as of late. Talla continues to look like a monster and that is exactly what he should be doing. You don’t see Talla get in the ring very often and that makes sense, but having him beat someone like Nakamura should help him a bit.

Post match the beatdown is on with Tama Tonga teasing turning on Sikoa but knocking Nakamura out anyway. Damian Priest makes the save with a chair.

Video on Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu.

Cody Rhodes comes in to see Nick Aldis and wants Gunther to sign the contract for Clash In Italy. Aldis says the match is made but he’ll get Gunther to sign. Sami Zayn comes in offer Rhodes his help with Gunther but Rhodes passes, leaving Zayn annoyed. Zayn rants to Aldis and Rhodes comes back in and says he’ll fight Zayn tonight.

Tama Tonga wants to take care of Damian Priest and Solo Sikoa seems to agree.

Women’s US Title: Tiffany Stratton vs. ???

Stratton is defending in an open challenge, as answered by…Lash Legend. Nia Jax is here with Legend and they promise to win both this and the Women’s Tag Team Titles on Saturday. Legend shoves her down to start but Stratton strikes away out of the corner. A dropkick doesn’t do much to Legend but a running version sends her outside. Stratton hits a dive, only for Legend to knock her down. Cue Chelsea Green to cheer Stratton on as we take a break.

We come back with Legend grabbing a chinlock until Stratton gets up and avoids a charge into the post. Stratton’s handspring elbow and handspring Stunner combine for two and a hurricanrana sends Legend into the corner. Legend is right back with a heck of a powerbomb but the Lash Extension is countered into a crucifix for two. Jax has to be kicked away so Green goes after her, leaving Legend to hit a pump kick. Legend grabs Green, allowing Stratton to get the rollup to retain at 9:04.

Rating: C+. They did this well, with Stratton escaping to keep the title again. Green helping Stratton is interesting as she seems to be the next important challenger, which is an interesting way to go. At the same time, enough with the open challenges. The idea has been done to death and it doesn’t exactly add anything. Just figure out something else.

Nick Aldis says the building has a power issue coming from a certain room. That seems to be Danhausen’s laboratory, with Aldis going in to yell at him. There is something under a sheet and Aldis goes to look. Danhausen: “DON’T TOUCH THAT!” Oh dear.

We look at Danhausen uncursing the New York Knicks…who then went on a nine game winning streak.

The Miz and Kit Wilson don’t care about what is in Danhausen’s laboratory and insist there IS NO CURSE. Miz complains about Danhausen causing the Cleveland Cavaliers their playoff series and sitting courtside. Cathy Kelly: “Why aren’t you sitting courtside?” As the fans give that a big OOOOOHHHHH, Fraxiom comes up to mock the idea of a curse. Miz vs. Axiom is set for next week.

Here are Trick Williams and Lil Yachty for a chat. They mock the Miz for losing last week, with Yachty putting down Miz’s accomplishments (Williams: “7 time Tag Team Champion.” Yachty: “7 times he was carried.”). Cue Carmelo Hayes, who says they knew this day was going to come. Hayes praises what Williams has done around here but the fans want to see them go at it for the US Title.

Yachty says Williams has a messy schedule and it won’t be easy. Hayes: “Can anyone understand what this guy is saying?” Hayes brings up Williams always being better playing second fiddle, which has Williams’ attention. The match is on, but Williams makes it clear that it isn’t for the title.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams

Lil Yachty is here with Williams, who grabs a slam to start. Hayes chops him into the corner but Williams reverses into a chop of his own and stomps away. The Rock Bottom gives Williams two and he puts Hayes down again. A drop across the top rope has Hayes in trouble but he manages to send Williams outside. Yachty gets in the way of a dive though and we take a break.

We come back with Hayes fighting out of a chinlock but getting dropped with a jumping neckbreaker. Hayes’ springboard clothesline connects as Ricky Saints is here to sneer. Hayes strikes away as we hear some noise in the background, which doesn’t seem to be intentional. The Trick Shot is countered into the First 48 for two and they go outside, where Saints is knocked down. Back in and Hayes rolls Williams up but the referee is with Saints. Hayes goes to deal with him but walks into the Trick Shot to give Williams the pin at 13:24.

Rating: B. Believe it or not, two talented guys who have a history together were able to have a good match. That’s what we got to see here and Saints vs. Hayes gets to continue. I liked the match rather well, with multiple people getting to advance stories at once. That’s not bad for a pair of segments and it gave the midcard a boost.

Sami Zayn is livid in the back and runs into a still silent Johnny Gargano. Zayn talks about how things have changed, but he and Gargano have never changed. Gargano responds by…weakly knocking over a bottle of water.

Carmelo Hayes jumps Ricky Saints in the back.

We look at Brock Lesnar returning on Raw and attacking Oba Femi, setting up their Clash In Italy rematch.

Fatal Influence vs. Charlotte/Rhea Ripley

Jacy Jayne and Alexa Bliss are here too. Henley mocks Charlotte’s strut to start and gets clotheslined as a result. Ripley comes in to kick Reid into the corner and it’s right back to Charlotte. This time doesn’t go as well, with Charlotte being sent outside so Fatal Influence can pose over her as we take a break.

We come back with Charlotte still in trouble and Henley coming in for a chinlock. Back up and Charlotte kicks Henley off the top and out to the floor but Reid gets in a chop block. Charlotte kicks Reid away though and it’s back ti Ripley to clean house. A Razor’s Edge hits Reid, with Henley having to make a save. Ripley superkicks Charlotte off the apron by mistake before hitting Reid with Riptide. Charlotte tags herself in though and Natural Selection finishes at 10:56.

Rating: B-. They’re not hiding that this is setting up a big Charlotte vs. Ripley showdown and that’s a good idea. There are only so many stars who can really give Ripley a challenge and Charlotte is up there. It would be nice to see this version of Charlotte getting a chance and it might be happening in the next few months. Other than that, Fatal Influence continues to feel like they belong here, and now we get to see what happens after losing like this.

Post match Bliss tries to calm things down but here are Jade Cargill, B-Fab and Michin to lay all of them out.

Cody Rhodes is ready for Sami Zayn tonight and would love to have Gunther there in some way.

We look at Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu setting up Tribal Combat on Raw.

Jade Cargill and company are ready to win their six woman tag and prove how dominant they really are.

Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa

The MFT’s are here with Sikoa, who gets jumped to start things fast. They get inside with Priest hitting a jumping elbow to the face but getting pulled into a Samoan drop. We take a break and come back with Priest clapping Sikoa’s ears on the top. That’s enough to set up a superplex before they trade forearms.

Sikoa misses a charge into the post and the Broken Arrow gives Priest two. The MFT’s offer a distraction though and Spinning Solo connects for two more. Back up and Priest kicks him in the head, followed by a lifting Downward Spiral. Talla Tonga gets up for a distraction though and the Samoan Spike finishes Priest at 9:43.

Rating: C+. Priest continues to not have the most success and it seems likely that he and R-Truth don’t have the longest future. The team never really felt like it was going to be the big champions of the future and we’re probably getting close to the time they drop the titles. The fact that Priest is already doing something on his own isn’t a great sign, but it’s not like this is a shock.

Post match the beatdown is on but Royce Keys runs in for the save. Priest grabs Keys by the throat but Keys says he’s here to help, which calms Priest down.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown. That card looks dire.

Blake Monroe debuts and doesn’t think much of Chelsea Green. Monroe leaves and the Irresistible Forces jump Green to lay her out.

Royce Keys wants to know what Damian Priest’s problem is but Priest yells at him for getting in his business. A match seems likely.

Sami Zayn vs. Cody Rhodes

Non-title. Zayn shoves him into the corner to start but doesn’t want to follow up. Rhodes tells him to bring it, earning himself a headlock. Rhodes knocks him down but a way too early Cody Cutter attempt is broken up. We take a break and come back with Rhodes still in trouble but managing a suplex. The Cody Cutter gets two but Rhodes’ knee is banged up. Rhodes is sent to the apron and knocked HARD onto the announcers’ table (that was a nasty bump).

That’s good for a nine count before Rhodes makes it back inside, where another Cody Cutter gets another two. The banged up knee lets Zayn grab the Blue Thunder Bomb for two of his own and they both need a breather. Zayn goes after a knee and grabs the Figure Four. That’s reversed with a turn into the ropes and Rhodes gets up for the Disaster Kick. Cue Gunther for the sleeper from the apron but Zayn knocks him down by mistake. Cross Rhodes finishes for Rhodes at 11:50.

Rating: B. Much like Williams vs. Hayes, there was no shock to these two being able to work well together. Zayn continues his downfall, with one more loss to add onto his failures. At some point he is going to hit his absolute rock bottom and it’s going to be interesting to see where it goes from there. In theory it is going to result in him winning the World Title, but we could be a long way from that happening.

Post match Gunther sleepers Rhodes again and Zayn looks at them and….eventually….walks away. Gunther poses over Rhodes and Zayn looks on from the aisle to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. You had a pair of good matches here and a lot of stuff being moved towards Clash In Italy. That’s a nice thing to see, as you don’t have a lot of time left before the show. Clash In Italy got a positive boost here and I’m a lot more interested than I was coming in. Oh and Saturday Night’s Main Event exists too. Yeah exists. That’s as high as we’re getting with that one and that’s pretty clear.

Results
Talla Tonga b. Shinsuke Nakamura – Chokeslam
Tiffany Stratton b. Lash Legend – Rollup
Trick Williams b. Carmelo Hayes – Trick Shot
Charlotte/Rhea Ripley b. Fatal Influence – Natural Selection to Reid
Solo Sikoa b. Damian Priest – Samoan Spike
Cody Rhodes b. Sami Zayn – Cross Rhodes

 

 

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: May 21, 2026
Location: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re back to taped after last week’s live show which was kind of all over the place. Last week’s show saw Cedric Alexander end Leon Slater’s near record setting X-Division Title reign. The show ended with the debut of Fabian Aichner, which is certainly a surprise, though maybe not the biggest. As for tonight, Steve Maclin gets his (second) World Title shot against Mike Santana. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Here is the System to get things going. Eddie Edwards brags about the team’s success and says Cedric Alexander got them one step closer to holding all of the gold. He’s coming for Mike Santana but Brian Myers doesn’t like the fans disliking them. Bronson promises that anyone who comes after them will be eaten alive. Alexander became the Record Taker last week and if Fabian Aichner has something to say, come say it.

Cue Aichner, who says he was out here to introduce himself last week. He knows he’s a future TNA Champion and that X-Division Title looks nice. The team comes after Aichner, who gets right through them and chokes Alexander, sending the System running. That already makes Aichner look more interesting than anything he did in WWE.

Daria Rae gives Steve Maclin a pep talk and he says…absolutely nothing.

Elayna Black vs. Indi Hartwell

Stacks and Arianna Grace are on commentary. Black gets shoved out of the corner to start fast and Hartwell boots her in the face. Another boot to the side of the head gets two but Black shoves her off the top for a crash to the floor. Back in and Black knees her in the back for two, followed by a running knee for the same. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Hartwell fights up with a spinebuster. Hartwell goes up but Grace shoves her down for the DQ at 4:05.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time to get this going and the biggest thing here was Grace going after Hartwell. That’s a feud that has been built up for a bit and will probably get us closer to Hartwell going after the Knockouts Title down the line. Then you have Black who continues to just kind of be here, which has been an issue for her since her debut. At least she isn’t taking pins all the time though, meaning there is still hope for her at the moment.

Post match Grace throws Hartwell outside and rants about Santino Marella, who comes out to interrupt. Marella says that wasn’t cool and yells at Stacks, who seems interested in a fight. The Cobra is loaded up but cue Daria Rae to interrupt. After her catchphrase, she brings up her own past in MMA and tells everyone to leave.

The Elegance Brand is planning for Ash’s return when the lights go out. The lights come back up and there is a message from the Undead Realm, saying they’ll see the Brand soon.

Vincent vs. Matt Hardy

Dutch is here with Vincent. Hardy’s music starts but Vincent says hang on, because he wants Broken Matt. Cue Matt, with Jeff Hardy, and yes he’s Broken because this is still a thing. Jeff and Dutch have to be handcuffed to the corners and we start with Matt avoiding a charge into the corner. Dutch grabs him by the leg though and we take a break.

We come back with Matt striking away until a double clothesline puts them both down. Matt pops up and sends him into the corner over and over. The powerbomb out of the corner plants Vincent, who starts untying his boot. A big swing misses Matt and he bites Vincent’s foot. Dutch offers a distraction so Vincent gets in a running shot to the face.

The Twist Of Fate is countered and the referee gets bumped, with Vincent belly to back suplexing Matt down. Vincent steals the key from the referee’s pocket…but the lights go out (just like in the previous backstage segment). This time though, Willow is back to beat Vincent up with the umbrella. The Twist Of Fate gives Matt the pin at 11:29.

Rating: C+. I know the Broken stuff has its audience and I continue to not be part of it. This was another instance of the Hardys getting to do their weird stuff and get out their creativity or whatever they’re calling it this time. At the same time, the Hardys get to win again, as they tend to do far too often around here.

AJ Francis comes up to applaud Elijah’s guitar playing and suggests a collaboration. Elijah politely declines and Francis says you’re going to regret that. Francis: “You’re going to regret that.”

Santino Marella announces a pair of upcoming Champions Challenges (champions vs. challengers) but Daria Rae interrupts and makes Marella vs. Stacks for next week. Marella approves and leaves, with the System coming in. Eddie Edward requests and receives a match with Fabian Aichner next week.

International Title: Chazz Hall vs. Mustafa Ali

Hall, from NXT/Evolve, is challenging and Ali has Order 4 with him. They run the ropes and trade legsweeps to start until Ali sends him into the corner. Hall knocks him away and hits a springboard wristdrag, setting up a running flip dive to the floor. Back in and Ali cutters him for two before taking Hall up top. The super Razor’s Edge is countered into a super hurricanrana, followed by a standing corkscrew moonsault for two. Sliced Bread is broken up and Ali grabs a backslide and flips forward into a cradle to retain at 4:47.

Rating: B-. They packed a bunch of stuff into the limited time they had here and that was nice to see. Hall got to showcase himself fairly well, with those flips and dives looking nice. The rollup was rather smooth as well though and Ali certainly seemed to be fired up off that nice of a pin.

Mara Sade meets actor Keith Jardine, who agrees to be in her corner.

Eric Young fires up the rather serious/possibly zombified Steve Maclin. Young talks about giving him an opportunity and now Maclin has to make the biggest choice of his life.

Jada Stone vs. Xia Brookside

Brookside looks annoyed and backs Stone into the corner to start. Stone rolls her up and Brookside goes outside for a breather. Back in and the threat of a leglock sends Stone over to the ropes so she comes back up with a wristlock. Stone knocks her down but takes too long going up, with Brookside going back to the leg. Said leg is tied up and cranked on until Brookside ties it up in the corner. Stone fights back and gets in a kick to the face, setting up a split legged moonsault for two. A handspring is cut off with a kick to the leg though and Darkside (implant DDT) finishes for Brookside at 7:09.

Rating: C+. I like Brookside getting a chance in this way and while it’s early, it’s working for her thus far. She very easily could bring it back around the whole “it’s your birthright” thing and this is her way to get there. It’s working for her well enough so far and picking Stone apart was a good way to go.

Steve Maclin goes after Mike Santana in the back but security holds them apart.

Stacks and Arianna Grace are ready for Santino Marella next week.

TNA World Title: Steve Maclin vs. Mike Santana

Santana is defending. They immediately slug it out to start and Maclin blocks the superkick (which knocked him out at Sacrifice). A missed dropkick puts Santana down but he’s right back up with a belly to back faceplant. Maclin heads outside and gets taken out by a dive but is able to post Santana for a breather. The table is loaded up and Santana seems to tweak his knee. That’s fine with Maclin, who scores with a chop block to put Santana down.

We take a break and come back with Santana reversing a Figure Four to send Stacks over to the rope. Maclin dives into a Death Valley Driver and they’re both down again. Back up and a jumping enziguri rocks Maclin in the corner but the rolling Buck Fifty is blocked. Santana escapes the Tree Of Woe though and now the rolling Buck Fifty connects for two. A spinning powerbomb gives Santana two but Spin The Block is countered into a Michinoku Driver for two more.

The spear in the Tree Of Woe gets another two and they go up top. Santana drops down to the apron and kicks Maclin through the table, followed by a frog splash for two more. Maclin collapses before Spin The Black can connect, which is a ruse so he can connect with a superkick of his own. Santana is back with a jumping clothesline into Spin The Block to retain at 17:37.

Rating: B. So that was the Sacrifice main event postponed by a bit and that’s perfectly fine. I do like Maclin getting his title shot and a chance at a full match rather than the mishap from the first attempt. This worked and felt like a main event, though I could have gone with something other than a second match in a row with someone working on the leg.

Overall Rating: B-. It’s another perfectly efficient show, with a big main event and some stuff being set up for later. I could go for less of the Broken Hardys and the battling bosses, but the champions vs. all stars matches should be good. They covered quite a bit here and that’s always appreciated, with a more steady show after last week’s live edition.

Results
Indi Hartwell b. Elayna Black via DQ when Arianna Grace interfered
Matt Hardy b. Vincent – Twist Of Fate
Mustafa Ali b. Chazz Hall – Rollup
Xia Brookside b. Jada Stone – Darkside
Mike Santana b. Steve Maclin – Spin The Block

 

 

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: May 21, 2026
Location: Wicomico Youth And Civic Center, Salisbury, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re done with Supercard Of Honor and that likely means a return to normal around here. Bandido and Athena retained their titles while the Tag Team Titles continued their tradition of not being defended. Other than that, we’re likely back in the deep freeze until the next big show is announced. Let’s get to it.

Here is Supercard Of Honor if you need a recap.

We open with a quick preview of the show. That’s a new way to go.

Opening sequence.

Action Andretti vs. QT Marshall

Before the match, Andretti mocks the fans and says it started with Marshall. Andretti cuts off Marshall’s introduction and asks for some applause. The thing is, Andretti used to be a dreamer like him but then the fans booed him. The reality is that Lio Rush turned on him and now Marshall does all kinds of things just to get attention. Now Andretti is going to embarrass Marshall like he embarrassed Rush. I really hope this doesn’t mean that Rush, who is basically a monster, is supposed to be the good guy in all of this.

Anyway, Andretti headlocks him down to start but gets reversed into a headscissors. Back up and Andretti snaps off a running headscissors, followed by a springboard clothesline. A springboard corkscrew splash gives Andretti two and a handspring elbow cuts off Marshall’s comeback. The second attempt works a bit better as Marshall scores with a handspring kick to the head.

A rolling Stunner gives Andretti two but Marshall knocks him back down, setting up a Lionsault for two. Andretti dropkicks him into the corner for a split legged moonsault and he blocks a running cutter. Another springboard is countered into a cutter but Marshall misses a nice moonsault. A tornado DDT and the torture rack neckbreaker finish for Andretti at 8:51.

Rating: B-. They got into a nice groove here and it was good to see Andretti win a match for a change. Since we’re apparently getting into a Rush vs. Andretti feud, he needed to win something to give him at least the tiniest of value after so many losses. Marshall as a good guy is kind of weird but he’s actually making it work well enough thus far.

Hyan/Maya World vs. Allie Katch/Kaia McKenna

Hyan and McKenna start things off with Hyan taking over, allowing World to come in for a double clothesline. Katch comes in for a rollup but World takes her down for a double stomp. World actually gets taken into the corner for some stomping so it’s a double neckbreaker to get her out of trouble. Hyan comes back in to clean house and spears McKenna, setting up Around The World (wheelbarrow slam/running Downward Spiral combination) for the pin on McKenna at 4:35.

Rating: C. This wasn’t quite a squash as Katch and McKenna got in a bit of offense but it was never in doubt. Hyan and World are fine as a team and could wind up going after the Women’s Tag Team Titles at some point. Katch and McKenna were ok here as well and I could go for having them around more often.

Shane Taylor praises AR Fox but it’s the wrong place and wrong time for him to win his first title. Tonight, Taylor is getting his title back.

Rush vs. Ryan O’Neil

Bull’s Horns in 1:00. The post match catchphrase makes this exactly the same thing he did on Collision.

We look at the Kingdom returning at Supercard Of Honor to confront Bustah And The Brain. Not wrestle them mind you, but they did in fact confront them.

Premiere Athletes vs. Bustah And The Brain

The rest of the Athletes are here too. Oliver and Nese start things off with Nese pausing for some posing. They start running the ropes until Oliver stops and just walks over him in a funny bit. Daivari comes in for a double suplex but Price easily escapes and goes after the arm. Oliver and Price are sent outside where a distraction allows the rest of the Athletes to get in some stomping.

Back in and Oliver jumps over Daivari but Nese pulls Price off the apron in a smart move. Nese grabs the Randy Savage neck snap on Oliver, who is back up with a crossbody to Daivari. Price comes back in and cleans house, including running up the ropes for a spinning Blockbuster (that looked good).

Mark Sterling trips Price from the floor though and everything breaks down. Price gives Daivari the Tyler Bate head bounce off the ropes rebound lariat but Nese is back in to kick him in the head. Back in and Oliver kicks Nese down and then hits a dive on the floor. The Price Is Right (top rope double stomp Doomsday Device, also known as OUCH) finishes Nese at 9:51.

Rating: B-. What matters the most here is that Bustah And The Brain are getting a steady rise up the ranks. That’s a lot more than most teams around here get and if Ring Of Honor can figure out the whole Tag Team Title situation (which would be a change after the last year and a half or so), they should already be near the title situation. On the other side you have the Athletes, who were built up and then put someone else over, as they should.

Eddie Kingston and Ortiz sit down with Caprice Coleman. Kingston is back to get better and he wants to see people prove they want it. Everyone wanted to come to Ring Of Honor when he was breaking in and he wants that back. As for Ortiz, they’re friends and business partners. Kingston: “I get to pay off my home and I get to have YouTube with no commercials.” Coleman asks Ortiz what Kingston isn’t telling them, which is apparently that they want to change the wrestling business. Kingston thinks this place is better than the AEW locker room and they want to make things better.

Dalton Castle and the Outrunners are happy about winning the Six Man Tag Team Titles and now they’re ready to face everyone.

Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. Danny Grandview/Chulo Montana/Ykies

Non-title Proving Ground match. Montana chops Magnum in the corner to start and gets chopped down for his efforts. It’s off to Floyd, who is wearing the title as he knocks everyone down and poses. Castle fires off the suplexes and the Bang A Rang sets up the Mega Powers Elbow/ax handle drop for the pin on Ykies at 2:40.

AR Fox is ready to face Shane Taylor, who only had to ask for a title shot. Isn’t that what Taylor did?

We look at Fox winning the TV Title last week.

Lio Rush vs. Aaron Solo

Solo is scared to shake Rush’s hand and gets sent into the ropes for his efforts. Rush chases him around the ropes and then crawls around a lot. Solo is knocked outside as the black goo is coming out of Rush’s mouth. The chase goes up the aisle until Solo hits a superkick and they go back inside. Some chops just wake Rush up again and he hits a spinning kick to the head. They run the ropes until Rush grabs a powerbomb and sends Solo outside. The suicide dive connects and Black Thunder gives Rush the pin at 5:39.

Rating: C+. This was your latest reminder that “Rush is weird but really athletic”. That’s about all there is to this as the details of why he’s suddenly a monster haven’t been explained. Odds are that’s better as this is hardly something that I want to see explained after how it has gone so far.

Post match Rush sounds like he says something about someone being strong and promising to reign supreme.

Deonna Purrazzo is proud of beating Diamante and is ready for her next challenger.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Janai Kai

Non-title Proving Ground Pure Rules match. They wrestle around to start with neither getting very far. Purrazzo goes after the arm but gets caught in an Eye Of The Hurricane. Kai kicks her in the chest and back for two but Purrazzo breaks out of a sleeper. Another big kick puts Purrazzo down for two more and the sleeper goes on again. Purrazzo breaks it up again and grabs the Fujiwara armbar, which is actually reversed into a rollup for two. That’s enough for Purrazzo, who knocks her down and grabs the Fujiwara armbar for the win at 7:00.

Rating: C+. This was fairly long and just reminded us that the most successful women’s Pure Rules wrestler ever is still the best women’s Pure Rules wrestler ever. There is no one on the horizon coming for the title, but that could change rather quickly as it’s not like there is much of a process to set up challengers. Kai got in her usual strikes and kicks and that’s about all, as tends to be the case in her matches.

Video on Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido.

Billie Starkz/Diamante vs. Queen Aminata/Mina Shirakawa

Diamante and Shirakawa start things off with Shirakawa knocking her down and hitting her slingshot corkscrew splash. Aminata comes in for her hips to the face while Shirakawa kicks Diamante in the back. Diamante jawbreaks her way out of trouble and brings Starkz in to take over. A double suplex puts Shirakawa down and it’s back to Diamante for a chinlock. Shirakawa fights up and hits a basement dropkick, allowing the tag off to Aminata.

A Helluva Kick and running shot in the corner get two on Starkz, setting up Shirakawa’s missile dropkick. The top rope Sling Blade gets two with Diamante making the save but stereo Figure Fours are reversed into small packages. Shirakawa is right back with the Figure Four on Starkz until Diamante…well actually doesn’t make the save as Aminata knocks her away. That leaves Starkz to tap at 8:44.

Rating: C+. Athena’s goons losing again isn’t much of a surprise, though Shirakawa getting a win out of the thing is nice to see. She’s someone who could easily be put into a higher level on the card but it’s hard to figure out how that goes around here. You also have Starkz’s downfall continuing, which is likely going to result in her getting yet another big title shot.

Post match (and I mean maybe a tenth of a second after it’s over) Athena shows up to choke Shirakawa (who Athena is facing in the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament) with a towel. Aminata cuts that off but the villains beat Aminata and Shirakawa down.

TV Title: Shane Taylor vs. AR Fox

Taylor, with his Promotions, is challenging and spits on Fox’s hand to start fast. Fox gets knocked into the corner and his high crossbody is caught. That’s escaped and Fox sends him outside for the big dive, only for Taylor to punch him right in the face. There’s the apron legdrop for a rather delayed one and we hit the chinlock.

Fox is sent into the corner but avoids a legdrop for a breather. Taylor gets kicked to the floor and there’s the big running flip dive. Back in and a Swanton gives Fox two but Taylor is back with a chokeslam and splash for the same. The Marcus Garvey Driver is countered into a cutter and Fox dives at Taylor while kicking Anthony Ogogo at the same time. Back in and a 450 retains the title at 9:05.

Rating: B-. This was a perfectly acceptable title defense for Fox, as he got to beat a monster with a reputation. As usual, Fox’s dives looked good and it felt like he was working his way through getting around Taylor throughout. It made for a good main event and it’s great to see Fox getting this kind of a chance.

Overall Rating: C+. Well that was long. This was just a step above the regular weekly show, with a bunch of content that didn’t feel like it was doing anything more than getting people on the show. That’s fine once in awhile, but it seems to be the case more often than not. I do like that some of these things feel like they’re building to something, though we need them to actually pay off before without having to wait months on end.

Results
Action Andretti b. QT Marshall – Torture rack neckbreaker
Hyan/Maya World b. Allie Katch/Kaia McKenna – Around The World to McKenna
Rush b. Ryan O’Neil – Bull’s Horns
Bustah And The Brain b. Premiere Athletes – The Price Is Right to Nese
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. Danny Grandview/Chulo Montana/Ykies – Mega Powers Elbow/ax handle drop combination to Ykies
Lio Rush b. Aaron Solo – Black Thunder
Deonna Purrazzo b. Janai Kai – Fujiwara armbar
Queen Aminata/Mina Shirakawa b. Billie Starkz/Diamante – Figure Four to Starkz
AR Fox b. Shane Taylor – 450

 

 

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

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Collision
Date: May 20, 2026
Location: Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, Maine
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

This is a special one hour edition of the show and is taking place just after the regular Dynamite. That should make for an interesting show as some of these wind up going a bit differently than regular editions. It’s also the last show before Sunday’s Double Or Nothing so it’s time to push towards the show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with Darby Allin getting up after retaining the World Title over Mike Bailey. Kevin Knight gets in the ring and says he’s proud of Bailey, even in defeat. Knight praises Allin’s success and tasks him with humbling MJF. If Knight can beat MJF, he knows Allin can do it, and everyone wants to see MJF get his head shaved. Bailey and Knight leave and here is MJF to jump Allin from behind. Somehow Bailey and Knight have no idea this is going on so MJF gets some hair clippers. Allin takes them away and goes for the hair, sending MJF running.

The Death Riders give Will Ospreay a pep talk.

Will Ospreay vs. Katsuyori Shibata

They immediately fight over a cross armbreaker attempt until Shibata grabs a front facelock. A suplex on the apron sets up a suplex on the floor and Shibata forearms away back inside. Ospreay fires right back with a Helluva Kick and another kick sends Shibata outside again. There’s the big dive and we take a break.

We come back with Ospreay hitting his handspring kick to the head, followed by a Phenomenal Forearm for two. The Kawada Kicks are shrugged off and Shibata grabs a choke. Shibata sends him into the corner for a running dropkick but Ospreay hits a quick running forearm.

The Falcon Arrow gives Ospreay two but here is Anthony Bowens for a distraction. Shibata hits his own Hidden Blade so here are the Death Riders. Back in and Shibata low blows him into a cross armbreaker, which is reversed into a Styles Clash. The Hidden Blade finishes Shibata at 10:51.

Rating: B-. The big thing that stands out here is that while Ospreay has learned some things from the Death Riders, he is still doing his older stuff. That’s a lot better than taking away the offense that made him a star for the sake of more submission stuff. He’s doing some things that Moxley has taught him, but it’s just a feature rather than the big focus. That’s great to see and it’s a rather nice surprise.

Post match Samoa Joe comes out to ask what we have here. Ospreay’s new friends had to come out and save him, which Joe would have done for his friends too. Ospreay has made a choice though and Joe is going to put him to sleep. That sends Ospreay into a rant about how bad his neck was and he doesn’t know how Joe is going to kill him when he’s already died in the ring. All he wants to do is go to All In and wrestle in his home country’s biggest stadium. The Death Riders have turned him into an assassin and he’s ready to take Joe out. Heck of a promo from Ospreay here.

Adam Copeland recaps how he and Christian Cage got to know each other as kids (a ninja star was involved). The fans have seen them grow from kids into men and this is real. FTR wants to kill this and Copeland wants the best version of FTR to show up. Cage says FTR has made choices (second promo in a row with that statement) and that means they are going to get f***** up. Another intense promo here and it did more to sell me on the match than what they’ve done otherwise.

Rush vs. TJ Crawford

Bull’s Horns finish at 1:00.

Megan Bayne/Lena Kross vs. Elle Valentine/Kayla Lopez

Non-title five minute time limit match. Bayne powers Lopez into the corner for the running shoulders, with Lopez celebrating an escape. That earns Lopez some hard shots in the corner and Kross comes in for the rapid fire elbows. Valentine comes in and gets kicked in the face and some delayed suplexes have Valentine and Lopez in more trouble. Divine Intervention finishes at 2:50. Another total squash.

Video on Darby Allin vs. MJF.

Double Or Nothing rundown, with the Kickoff Show being hosted by the debuting Mick Foley.

Tag Team Titles: Conglomeration vs. FTR

FTR, with Stokely, is defending and jump Cassidy and Strong to start fast. The early spike piledriver is broken up so FTR go up the aisle. Strong cuts that off and beats up the champs as we settle down. A gutbuster looks to set up the Orange Punch to Harwood but Wheeler pulls him out to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Strong fighting out of a chinlock and hitting a backbreaker. Cassidy comes in with a top rope clothesline to Harwood and a sunset flip gets two. A suicide dive hits Harwood but he’s back in with a spinebuster. Wheeler grabs a chinlock before handing it back to Harwood, who misses some elbows. Wheeler misses a charge on the apron and flies into the post but Harwood is right back up with a piledriver.

We take another break and come back again with Wheeler getting crotched in the corner, allowing Cassidy to get over to Strong. Everything breaks down and Strong throws Cassidy at Harwood in the corner and hands it back to him. Strong gets posted on the floor, leaving FTR to give Cassidy the lazy kicks.

Stokely loads up Christian Cage’s watch but misses a big swing, allowing Cassidy to get a rollup for two. Stundog Millionaire hits Harwood but Cassidy walks into the Shatter Machine. Strong makes the save and Cactus Clotheslines Wheeler out to the floor. That lets Stokely get in a shot with the watch to give Harwood the pin on Cassidy at 18:36.

Rating: B-. That ending wasn’t exactly inspiring, as it makes FTR look kind of weak heading into a pay per view title defense. It was nice to have Stokely actually do something for a change, but that wasn’t much of a finish. At least it clears out this feud so FTR can focus on Copeland and Cage, as there wasn’t much of a need to have them fighting on two different fronts.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked this well enough, though that main event could have been a bit shorter to wrap up an already long night a bit earlier. The Ospreay match and promo were good and it makes me want to see he and Joe unload on each other. If nothing else, it’s nice to have Collision dropped down by an hour for a week, as it makes for such an easier watch.

Results
Will Ospreay b. Katsuyori Shibata – Hidden Blade
Rush b. TJ Crawford – Bull’s Horns
Megan Bayne/Lena Kross b. Elle Valentine/Kayla Lopez – Divine Intervention to Valentine
FTR b. Conglomeration – Watch punch to Cassidy

 

 

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

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Dynamite
Date: May 20, 2026
Location: Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, Maine
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We’re getting another three hour block this week as Collision is taking place tonight in a one hour version due to this weekend’s Double Or Nothing event. As has been the case with recent shows, Darby Allin is defending the World Title again, this time against Mike Bailey. That could be quite the showdown so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Earlier today, Chris Jericho and the Young Bucks were outside near a lighthouse to talk about tonight’s six man tag match and the biggest Stadium Stampede of all time this weekend. They imply having a special team name too. It’s going to be Bucks Of Jericho isn’t it?

Chris Jericho/Young Bucks vs. Don Callis Family/Ricochet

Yeah it’s Bucks Of Jericho. On the other side you have Andrade El Idolo/Mark Davis for the Family. Ricochet tags out immediately (that has been done WAY too often lately and it could use a long break) so it’s Andrade vs. Jericho to start things off. Naturally Andrade bails out to the floor for a photo with some women, earning chops from Jericho. Back in and Andrade gets taken into the corner, setting up a Risky Business/fish drop combination.

Matt gets driven into the corner as well but fights out rather quickly, allowing Nick to come in and clean house. The Bucks hit stereo dives and Jericho hits a top rope version of his own and we take a break. We come back with Nick fighting out of trouble and bringing in Jericho, meaning Ricochet bails again. Everything breaks down and Jericho and the Bucks hit a bunch of right hands on top, setting up three straight super hurricanranas.

Ricochet runs in to make a save so the Bucks start firing off the superkicks. Andrade is back up but gets low blowed into a step up Canadian Destroyer. Jericho knocks Ricochet to the floor for a baseball slide and they crash through some tables. Back in and More Bang From Your Buck is broken up by Davis. The Bucks take out Andrade but here are the Dogs to take Nick out. A foreign object shot knocks Matt cold for the pin at 13:58.

Rating: B-. This was the usual “here’s everything going nuts and people doing all kinds of stuff”, meaning it was entertaining but little more than a preview for Stadium Stampede. That makes sense and thankfully they didn’t go too long or have too many people involved. I’m not wild on Stadium Stampede, but the preview version went well enough.

Post match the beatdown is on but Jack Perry makes the save with…a bag of onions. Yeah of course. Anyway the Hurt Syndicate comes in to help clear the bad guys out with some of the brawls going into the crowd. Jericho and company stand tall.

Video on Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kazuchika Okada.

Darby Allin says he keeps taking these title matches because he feels it. He basically says he can’t wait to get to Double Or Nothing, more or less treating Mike Bailey as the nothing challenger that he really is.

Video on MJF vs. Darby Allin.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Mark Briscoe

Anything goes. Briscoe throws in a trashcan full of weapons to start but Ciampa gets in a shot to the back to put him down. Ciampa goes under the ring to find his own trashcan full of weapons…including a mousetrap, which catches his own hand. A chair is sat up at ringside, with Ciampa being sat down for a Blockbuster. The Froggy Bow through the table is broken up and Ciampa sends him through the table instead. The cheese grater slices open Briscoe’s head (ignore that his head seemed to be bleeding first) and we take a break

We come back with Ciampa covering a stuffed chicken but Briscoe pulls the referee out. Briscoe whips out a fire extinguisher to spray Ciampa (and the air around him) and then staples barbed wire to a table. Believe it or not, that takes WAY too long and Ciampa is back up to staple a piece of paper to Briscoe’s head. Loading up a kneepad covered in thumbtacks takes way too long as well as Briscoe sends him into the ladder in the corner.

Briscoe uses a screwdriver for some stabbing but Ciampa suplexes him through the ladder for two. Back up and they slug it out, with the rather bloody Ciampa getting the better of things again. The super Air Raid Crash through some open chairs is broken up so Briscoe puts them back to back for an Iconoclasm onto their edges. A Jay Driller through the barbed wire table and the Froggy Bow finish Ciampa at 14:16.

Rating: C+. Yeah ok. This was just carnage for the sake of carnage and they lost me a few minutes into it. Much like what I’m expecting from Stadium Stampede, you could pretty much picture the two of them mapping out the stunts. It was violent and intense, but it didn’t feel like they were really fighting, which isn’t a good sign.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring to talk about the Owen Hart Tournament but Prince Nana interrupts and says he has this. He brings out Swerve Strickland but here is Bandido to jump Strickland. Bandido goes after Nana though and Strickland gets in a shot to the knee. The Vertebreaker on the chair is broken up and Bandido gorilla presses him instead. Strickland bails from the threat of said chair.

Willow Nightingale talks about some of her great moments, including a recent title defense against Red Velvet. Unfortunately she injured her shoulder and is out of the Owen Hart Cup and has to vacate the TBS Title. GAH that’s a bad one as she was having the run of her career. She doesn’t know when she’ll be back but she’ll be back on top.

Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Non-title eliminator match. O’Reilly goes after the arm to start and gets reversed into a headlock takeover. This lets Taz talk about leverage and control, which is what he does best. They get up and grapple again, with Moxley getting him into the corner to take him down. Moxley starts stomping on the fingers but wins another strike off. O’Reilly kicks away in the corner, followed by a snap suplex.

They strike it out again with Moxley getting in a body shot to put O’Reilly down. Moxley puts him against the ropes and hammers away but gets backdropped out to the floor instead. O’Reilly’s ribs/body won’t let him dive though and Moxley knocks him down again as we take a break. We come back with Moxley holding a bodyscissors until O’Reilly goes for the eyes to break it up. O’Reilly kicks the leg out and they trade some running shots against the ropes.

Some knees to the face let O’Reilly flip him over and a running boot puts Moxley on the floor. They go outside and trade a bunch of kicks to the chest until O’Reilly goes up top. Moxley bites the head and rakes the back, setting up a superplex to leave them both down again. O’Reilly escapes a choke and grabs the ankle lock, which is reversed into the bulldog choke. The rope is reached for the break and O’Reilly gets to the apron to twist the arm down.

A running dropkick has Moxley in more trouble but Moxley is back with a cutter gets two. O’Reilly grabs a choke of his own, setting up a t-bone suplex. One heck of a PK drops Moxley again but he pops up and, say it with me, they trade forearms. We have less than a minute to go as Moxley misses a Stomp and gets ankle locked again. The grapevine goes on but Moxley manages to make it through the time for the draw at 20:00.

Rating: B. That’s our Moxley. He’s tapped to O’Reilly before but he won’t do it again because he’s this awesome tough guy who doesn’t tap anymore because now he’s just too tough. This is a rather basic way to set up a rematch at the pay per view and while I’m not sure why I’d want to see them do it again so soon after a twenty minute draw, it does make sense and I’ll take that. Just imagine how many times they can trade forearms in a rematch!

Hold on though as O’Reilly says Moxley survived him so he wants a no time limit title match.

Kris Statlander is upset over Willow Nightingale but Hikaru Shida interrupts, saying they’re here to watch and want the women to fight hard in their upcoming match.

Rush wants Darby Allin next week if he survives his next title defenses.

Athena/Triangle Of Madness vs. Thunder Rosa/Mina Shirakawa/Brawling Birds

Athena wins a wrestle off with Rosa to start and shakes a bit before handing it off to Blue. Windsor comes in and gets caught in a headlock but Hayter tags herself in and, after accidentally kicking Windsor, boots Blue down for one instead. Shirakawa comes in to take over on Thekla and hits a slingshot spinning splash.

We take a break and come back with Blue pulling Shirakawa down by the hair and a Tarantula in the corner. Hayter tries to make a save and gets caught in an Upside Down, leaving Shirakawa to get beaten up even more. Shirakawa fights out of the corner and brings in Rosa to clean house, including a running shot to Blue in the corner. Everything breaks down and Athena gets to clean house until she is the only one left standing. Shirakawa tornado DDTs Athena on the floor and Blue kicks Rosa down inside. Thekla’s belt shot is cut off but Hart mists Rosa, allowing Thekla to roll her up for the pin at 9:43.

Rating: B-. There was a lot going on here and there is only so much you can do with that many people and a somewhat limited amount of time. Athena got to showcase herself while she could but as usual, she feels like someone who AEW tolerates rather than wants to push. Hopefully she gets to do something in the tournament, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The match was pretty good as a preview for Sunday and the tournament, so at least it accomplished its goals.

Kevin Knight gives Mike Bailey a pep talk and wants a shot at the World Title. Works for Bailey.

The Death Riders do group pushups and he’s ready for Kyle O’Reilly in their no time limit match at Double Or Nothing. Moxley thanks O’Reilly for giving him a chance to practice what he preached. O’Reilly survived tonight and on Sunday he gets to try his odds and see if he can go double or nothing (thankfully Moxley does acknowledge that it’s kind of a lame line).

AEW World Title: Mike Bailey vs. Darby Allin

Allin is defending and before the bell, here is MJF to join commentary. Bailey hits…I think a kick but the camera was on MJF as we start. The Tornado Kick connects less than fifteen seconds in and Allin has to go to the apron to avoid the Ultimate Weapon. The triangle moonsault hits Allin on the floor and Bailey slams him outside as well. That means a double knee drop off the steps but Allin crotches him on the barricade. The Scorpion Death Drop plants Bailey onto the barricade and we take a break.

We come back with the two of them still on the floor and Allin using the steps to crush Bailey’s foot. They get back inside with Bailey knocking him down again but missing the Ultimate Weapon. The Coffin Drop connects but MJF puts the foot on the rope. Cue Kevin Knight to yell at MJF, who backs off and sits back down. Bailey kicks Allin the head a few times for two before the moonsault knees connect as well. The Flamenco Driver is countered into a Scorpion Death Drop but the Scorpion Deathlock sends Bailey to the rope. A Coffin Drop sets up another Deathlock to retain the title at 11:00.

Rating: B. The best thing here is they didn’t go as insane with Allin surviving stuff. That has been an issue with some of his title defenses and thankfully it wasn’t quite so badly. Bailey never felt like he was a real threat to win the title and they didn’t spend nearly as much time on a match that didn’t need it. Allin got beaten up, made a comeback and retained. Simple, yet effective here.

MJF storms off to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a good example of a show where my bigger issues were more around the style being presented. The main portion of this show felt like it was all about the insanity or violence and more the people just getting to do what they liked. That being said, the last two matches were better and Moxley vs. O’Reilly had some moments. I can accept that some of the things they did accomplished what they were trying but I’m just not a fan, as that’s not the same thing as being bad. I didn’t have a great time for a lot of this, but it did get better by the end.

Results
Don Callis Family/Ricochet b. Young Bucks/Chris Jericho – Foreign object shot to Matt
Mark Briscoe b. Tommaso Ciampa – Froggy Bow
Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly went to a time limit draw
Athena/Triangle Of Madness b. Brawling Birds/Thunder Rosa/Mina Shirakawa – Mist to Rosa
Darby Allin b. Mike Bailey – Scorpion Deathlock

 

 

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

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Evolve
Date: May 20, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Blake Howard

Things are staying interesting around here, even with another change of cast members likely taking place soon. The big story for this week is Tate Wilder getting to face Kam Hendrix in a battle of two people already on NXT. Other than that, we’re coming up on Tristan Angels getting his Evolve Title shot. Let’s get to it.

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

Hendrix talks about Wilder messing with the wrong people in recent weeks.

Wilder is ready to keep fighting no matter what.

Opening sequence.

Anya Rune vs. Layla Diggs

Masyn Holiday is here with Diggs. Rune grabs a headlock takeover to start before an armdrag sets up an armbar. Diggs is back up with a shot to the face and we hit a seated full nelson. That’s reversed into a backslide to give Rune two but Diggs kicks her in the head. A running shot in the corner gets two and we’re back to the full nelson. Back up and Rune avoids a running knee in the corner and forearms her down. Diggs backflips away from a shot to the face and keeps flipping to hit a Pele kick (that was sweet). A great looking moonsault finishes Rune at 4:20.

Rating: B-. That flip into the kick and moonsault looked awesome, with Diggs having one of her best performances in all of her time in WWE. She was able to make everything look smooth and that is quite the trick to pull off. Rune is still mainly just an idea rather than someone who has really gotten to show much skill thus far. That could easily be turned around, but this was much more about Diggs and it worked rather well.

Post match Gianna Capri comes in and mocks Rune, with Diggs and Holiday glaring her off.

Timothy Thatcher talks about everything he does around here, including still wrestling on the independent circuit. He lists off some independent promotions and says he might be showing up to both wrestle and scout. This was basically an ad for the promotions the WWE works with and that’s about it.

Chazz Hall vs. CJ Valor

Before the match, Valor and the Mog Squad are ready to take out Hall and hit the town. Hall grabs a headlock to start and is easily shouldered down. Valor’s gorilla press doesn’t work as Hall is back up with a jumping spin kick to the face. Sliced Bread is countered into Snake Eyes though and Valor turns him inside out with a running clothesline. A hip check gets two on Hall and Valor yells at him, with Hall’s right hands not getting him very far.

Valor mocks Hall’s guitar playing and the neck crank goes on. Hall gets up and hits a jawbreaker, followed by a springboard headscissors. The standing Sliced Bread sets up a standing corkscrew moonsault to give Hall two and he sends Valor outside. The flip dive connects on the floor but a high crossbody is pulled out of the air. Something that was either a tornado DDT or a sunset flip gives Hall two and he kicks Valor in the head. The shooting star press gives Hall the pin at 6:48.

Rating: B-. This was good enough as Hall continues to have some pretty nice success. I’m still not wild on him for the most part, but he’s certainly capable in the ring. Valor is a big guy, though being part of the four man team doesn’t exactly let him stand out much. Then again with so many people to run through the process so fast around here, stables are the most practical way to go.

Laynie Luck and Wendy Choo are in the back with Luck thanking her for the title shot. That being said, neither of them wanted it to end with the double interference. The challenge is officially issued for next week.

It’s contract signing time so here are Tristan Angels and Aaron Rourke. Angels asks the fans if they find Rourke’s time as champion satisfactory. It’s true that Rourke became an overnight sensation and has all of his sparkles and such. If Angels had been around, none of those things would have ever happened. Now it’s time for Angels to burn Sparkle City to the ground.

Angels signs and Rourke does the same before asking if Angels is done. Rourke asks if Angels really calls himself the most beautiful man in England. Rourke finds that cool but thinks we should just call him Mr. Evolve, because it would be cute and fun. Rourke talks about how inner beauty is about bringing people up. Therefore, Angels is an ugly narcissist. Rourke offers to let Angels hit him in the face but security runs in to cut it off. Cue Harlem Lewis to announce that he’s facing Braxton Cole next week. Then Elijah Holyfield (Evander’s son) pops up to say he’s here to look at what is going on.

Sloane Jacobs and Nikkita Lyons are ready for their tag match against Wendy Choo and Laynie Luck next week. They’ll even provide the tissues for when Choo and Luck cry. When Lyons pins Choo, she’s coming for the Women’s Title.

Kam Hendrix vs. Tate Wilder

Wilder slugs away to start and knocks him into the corner but a springboard is broken up. Hendrix knocks him out to the floor, setting up a suplex onto the apron. Wilde is thrown into the VIP Area, where he pulls Hendrix inside as well to take over again. A crossbody off the barricade connects but Hendrix backdrops him onto the apron for an even bigger crash

We take a break and come back with Hendrix release suplexing him for two. Wilder fights up and hits some running elbows to the face, only to get spinebustered back down. Back up and Wilder gets a shot of his own and they pull each other up to slowly trade fists. Hendrix gets the better of things but Lights, Kam, Action is blocked. The Wilde Ride gets two and here is Harley Riggins, who is kicked in the face by Romeo Moreno. Wilde is back up with a UFO Splash for the pin at 9:12.

Rating: B-. Good stuff again here and it’s nice to see Wilder getting a chance to show what he can. He’s starting to show what he can do and it’s turned him from little more than a cowboy to someone who is getting better in general. Granted this is just in Evolve, but he has is going to have to do that on a higher level as well. Then you have Hendrix, who still feels like he could be a big deal with the talent he has but he hasn’t had a chance to do much on his own thus far.

Post match Timothy Thatcher comes out to talk to Elijah Holyfield, who will be introduced next week.

Overall Rating: B. They’re keeping things moving around here and it’s rather nice to see the stories moving around so well. Hopefully they keep the pace going as it makes for a rather fun show to watch every single week. You can see things moving from one place to another and it makes for probably the easiest show to watch week to week. We’re coming up on the big Rourke vs. Angels title match and that feels like an important showdown despite it being set up out of nowhere. I would think that’s a good sign of how things are going here, which has been the case for a long time now.

Results
Layla Diggs b. Anya Rune – Moonsault
Chazz Hall b. CJ Valor – Shooting star press
Tate Wilder b. Kam Hendrix – UFO Splash

 

 

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

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Hulk Hogan Mixtape
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Roddy Piper, Bruno Sammartino, Larry Zbyszko, Gordon Solie, Dusty Rhodes, Jesse Ventura, Gorilla Monsoon, Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, Gene Okerlund

Well they had to do this. The Mixtapes have mainly featured the biggest and/or most beloved stars in company history and Hogan is WWE mega royalty. These things are absolutely random, with all kinds of matches, promos and segments. The best part is that they often avoid the most well known stuff so it’s almost four hours of less than remembered content. Let’s get to it.

We open with Hulk Hogan’s bouncing chest before he talks about being ready to face Hercules. He’s checked Hercules out and yes he has a body of a god. Hercules even looks like the real one (Huh?) but Hogan has been hanging out in the Garden of Eden with his main squeeze Eve and going 20,000 leagues under the sea. This is where the power lies, meaning the palm of his hand. Hercules has Bobby Heenan with him and that’s nothing new to Hogan, who has beaten everyone Heenan has thrown at him. This is where the power lies (I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before).

From Summerslam 1990, a show I’ve seen about 1,483 times.

Hulk Hogan vs. Earthquake

Big Boss Man is in one corner and Dino Bravo/Jimmy Hart are in the other. This is a big return for Hogan after Earthquake put him out of action (to film Suburban Commando, so we owe Earthquake a thank you). Earthquake shoves him down a few times and drops him with a shoulder, sending Hogan outside for a chat with Boss Man (who flat out tells him to rake the eyes).

Back in and Hogan does rake the eyes but tries a slam, because that has worked so well for him over the years. Hogan gets sent into the corner but comes right back with some shots to the face, including a running right hand which has Hogan all staggered. The big wind up right hand puts him down (which is all the more impressive when Hogan winds up counter clockwise and then punches clockwise, which…my head huts).

Everything breaks down and the seconds come in, with Hogan and Boss Man hitting some double big boots (the referee doesn’t mind) but Bravo is back with a double slam to drop Hogan. The big elbow gives Earthquake two and he stomps on the fingers to make it worse. We hit the Boston crab (making Hogan tap, which means nothing in 1990 but it’s still a weird visual) and Hogan tries to push out before realizing he’s right next to the rope. Ever the genius, Hogan rolls outside right in front of Bravo, who gives him a slam.

Back in and Earthquake misses the big elbow and Hogan shows his brilliance again by trying, and failing at, a slam. Earthquake grabs the bearhug and Hogan grabs at the referee for some reason, even tearing his shirt. The right hands get Hogan out of trouble and some running shoulders stagger Earthquake. A crossbody of all things is countered into the powerslam, allowing Hogan to do his fish out of water twitching.

A pair of Earthquakes connect…and it’s Hulk Up time, with the fans getting right back into things. Earthquake hammers away and I think you know where this is going (as you’ve probably seen the match before). The big boot staggers Earthquake and a good slam puts him down for the legdrop. Hart comes in for the save and gets thrown at Earthquake as Boss Man takes Bravo out. Hogan goes outside with Earthquake where Hart misses the Megaphone shot. Another slam puts Earthquake onto (not through) a table (yes the show is in Philadelphia) for the countout at 13:17.

Rating: C+. This was all about Hogan’s big return and I’d call that a success, with the fans going coconuts for his usual stuff. Hogan has a reputation of mainly working with monsters and Earthquake is one of the best he ever faced. That was the case here, as Earthquake could move both himself and Hogan around while still looking imposing. The ending is a bit strange as it was designed to set up rematches at house shows, which is hardly what you expect in a high profile match like this. It’s not a great match, but it was all about the reaction from the fans and that worked.

Post match Earthquake chokes Hogan and Boss Man’s chair shots just annoy him. With that not working, Boss Man throws the chair down and whips out the nightstick for a big spin, which sends the villains running (probably the coolest thing Boss Man ever did in his career, as that just looked awesome).

Hogan introduces us to his parents and says he’s the same person he was growing up because of them. And then we have to do another take, complete with Gene getting makeup redone in between.

From I believe Championship Wrestling, August 20, 1980.

Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant

Freddie Blassie is here with Hogan. They lock up and Andre shoves him around without much trouble, though Hogan shoves him right back into another corner. That just earns Hogan a boot to the chest but he easily slams Andre. Another slam plants Hogan right back and a big boot sets up the missed splash. Hogan bails outside and Blassie loads up his elbow pad, which is enough to knock Andre silly. The pad is unloaded as Andre is bleeding…and Hogan and Blassie just leave at about 3:45.

Rating: C+. This had some cool visuals, of course including the slam, which is bizarre to see on an official WWE release from before Wrestlemania III, but it felt like it was there to set up a bigger rematch. Hogan certainly had a lot of his stuff down here, though dang it’s weird seeing him as a heel. That being said, he ticked off Andre and that is about the dumbest thing anyone can ever do.

Post match Andre yells a lot.

We get a quick outtake from an NWO vignette, with Hogan and the Outsiders laughing at how long the interview has gone.

From WCW Worldwide in February/March 1995.

Hulk Hogan/Randy Savage vs. Pretty Wonderful

Hogan and Orndorff start things off with some running shoulders putting Orndorff down. It’s off to Savage to work on Roma’s arm and Hogan even gets in a middle rope ax handle. A cheap shot from behind takes Savage down though and Orndorff hammers away in the corner. Hogan’s attempt at a save just causes more double teaming, further proving that Hogan is a terrible partner.

The double teaming keeps Savage down and Roma gets some near falls. Savage finally fights up and brings in Hogan, who cleans house like he’s Hulk Hogan beating up Paul Roma. The big boot (a size 12 according to Solie, which astounds me that I have bigger feet than Hogan) and legdrop finish Roma at 7:23.

Rating: C. Normally I would say the match was what you would expect, but who would have expectations for the Mega Powers vs. Pretty Wonderful? It’s such a random tag match and while Hogan was very different than what he was doing in his glory days, there is always something to be seen when he faces Orndorff. Roma being there to take the pin is…well pretty much exactly what you would expect.

Hogan does a photo shoot in 2002. Dang that Undisputed Title looked awesome.

We go to the Dungeon Of Doom where the Master and Kevin Sullivan sense Hogan getting closer. Hogan falls through a wall into the Dungeon and realizes there are no Hulkamaniacs here and he’s never been here before. The water isn’t even hot! Hogan goes over to the Master and Sullivan and explains the members of their team. Sullivan threatens to destroy Hulkamania and a wall explodes, with the Giant coming out to choke Hogan down.

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada, December 15, 1985.

WWF Title: Hulk Hogan vs. Terry Funk

Hogan is defending and steals Funk’s cowboy hat to start. The hat is thrown down and Hogan (in blue trunks and boots for a change) drops some elbows on it as Funk talks to Jimmy Hart. Funk runs away again before getting back inside, where Hogan knocks him into the corner without much trouble.

Funk goes outside again and this time picks up the megaphone, which doesn’t work that well. Back in and Funk chops away on the ropes but gets clotheslined out onto the announcers’ table. Hogan brings him back in and Funk apparently kicks him low, with Hogan heading outside this time. Back in and Funk chokes a bunch, followed by a piledriver for two.

Funk takes him out on the ramp, and Hogan actually Hulks Up out there. They go back inside for a clothesline and elbow to Funk, followed by the big boot (with Monsoon accidentally referring to Hogan as Terry). A suplex is loaded up but Hart trips Hogan, earning himself a big boot. Hogan takes Hart’s boot off and knocks Funk silly (Monsoon: “WHAMMO!”) for the pin to retain at 8:43.

Rating: B-. These two fought a few times and had some good chemistry together, which is at least partially due to Funk being willing to bump like a madman for anyone. Hogan didn’t wrestle people Funk’s size very often and it’s interesting to see him have to change up the offense a bit. Throw in the blue trunks and this was a very different style for him.

Post match Hogan chases Funk off with a chair.

Bill Apter presents Hollywood Hogan with the PWI award for the Most Hated Wrestler Of The Year for 1996 (I’m guessing, as he also won it in 1998). Hogan talks about how the NWO is all about change and he’s hated despite doing so much to put food on the table for so many people over the years. Including Apter.

From New York City, New York, March 24, 1980.

Hulk Hogan vs. Tito Santana

Hogan has Freddie Blassie with him and Santana is a Tag Team Champion. Hogan jumps him with a knee from behind to start and an Oklahoma Stampede (well with a regular slam instead of a powerslam) drops Santana early. Some elbows miss though and Santana fights up with right hands and a dropkick.

Santana works on the arm but Hogan hiptosses him down, setting up the elbow. Hogan knocks him outside and we hit the chinlock back inside. Santana fights up again whips Hogan into the corner, only to get clotheslined back down. A suplex with trunks gives Hogan the pin at 8:13.

Rating: C. This was a very different kind of match than you would see from Hogan but that was due to it being the very early 80s. Santana was already doing his fired up comebacks and knew how to get a crowd going, but Hogan was pretty clearly getting a push here. The lack of a legdrop was certainly weird to see, but this was very, very early Hogan and it showed.

Hulk Hogan runs into Ric Flair, Brie Bella and Jerry Lawler, Pat Patterson (who gets a picture with him and John Cena at a show. Apparently that show is Wrestlemania XXX (I love the RING THIS WAY sign).

We look at Hogan doing a promo in what looks like 1985 but he keeps screwing up his lines.

From Monday Nitro, August 9, 1999.

Hulk Hogan/Goldberg/Sting vs. Sid Vicious/Rick Steiner/Kevin Nash

Hogan is the World Champion and that’s quite the lineup. To make it even bigger, this is Hogan’s return to the Red and Yellow (and to the rather catchy American Made) after more than three years in the black and white. Hogan shoulders Steiner down to start so Steiner grabs a headlock. That doesn’t work for him either as Hogan knocks him down and drops three straight elbows.

Everything breaks down and Hogan beats up all three at once, making me wonder why Sting and Goldberg need to be there. The villains bail out to the floor and now it’s off to Goldberg, who gets to face Nash. The flying shoulder puts Nash down so Sid comes in to choke, only to get kicked down by Sting. A top rope splash hits raised knees though and Sid gets to take over for the first time.

Naturally that’s too much for Sid so it’s back to Nash for the side slam. A turnbuckle pad is ripped off somewhere in there so Nash loads up Snake Eyes, which the referee cuts off. The referee gets bumped so Sting hits some Stinger Splashes into the exposed buckle. Steiner brings in a chair to whack Sting but it gets taken away and Nash is laid out. The Scorpion Deathlock gives Sting the win on the out cold Nash at 8:09.

Rating: B-. In something you don’t hear very often, the crowd carried this so much higher. WCW might not be the most fondly remembered place in this era, but this was a situation where the fans were WAY into what they were seeing. You do not see that from this time and it makes me wonder what might have happened if WCW actually followed up on it, but you know, Russo was the way instead.

Hogan and Randy Savage are at Venice Beach, with Hogan very pleased that Savage has joined the dark side. This is still in 1995, with the two of them promising to get back at the Dungeon Of Doom. A man with a beard is sat between them and seems to agree.

From Huntington, West Virginia, June 15, 1993.

Mega Maniacs vs. Money Inc.

This is a lumberjack match and two days after Hogan lost the WWF Title to Yokozuna at the King Of The Ring. Money Inc. jump them before the bell and are quickly cleared out as Hogan gets to rip the shirt off to Real American. The referee is even fine with ringing the bell while Hogan chokes DiBiase, which has to be a tax violation. Money Inc. is chased to the floor so Jimmy Hart gives Hogan some advice (“Just go to WCW, this isn’t happening.”)

Hogan and DiBiase start things off with Hogan punching his way out of the corner without much trouble. DiBiase is sent outside and gets beaten up by the Steiners, allowing Hogan to grab a chinlock back inside. This allows Afa to caress IRS’ briefcase as Beefcake comes in for a headlock. What looks like a low blow is stopped so it’s off to IRS, who gets headlocked as well. IRS is sent outside for another beating before Hogan comes back in for the running clothesline.

Back up and Hogan is sent outside for a beating from the Headshrinkers, with the Steiners running over for the save (no one saved the villains, showing where the true friendship lies). Back in and the Million Dollar Dream has Hogan in trouble and stays on for such a long time that Hogan should be legally dead. The somehow still alive Hogan gets up and it’s a double clothesline to put them both down. Hogan gets sent outside and then right back inside, where DiBiase gets two thanks to a foot on the rope.

IRS comes in and gets slammed off the top, allowing the rather needed tag off to Beefcake. House is cleaned but Beefcake is sent outside for another group beating. Back in and Beefcake gets punched down for two, with Hogan making the save. A clothesline puts DiBiase down and it’s off to Hogan for the big boot. IRS tries to bring in the briefcase but Hogan takes it away and knocks DiBiase silly for the pin at 14:26.

Rating: C. It was just a post taping dark match with some big stars included in a Wrestlemania rematch. The fans were still going to care about Hogan and it was nice to see him doing something else. At the same time, Hogan and Beefcake weren’t the most thrilling team, mainly because Beefcake could not have been more of a warm body next to Hogan rather than an important part of the team.

Post match the lumberjacks all get in the ring for the brawl, with Hogan being left alone with Giant Gonzalez. Ever the nice guys, Hogan’s friends all stand on the floor and Hogan bails from Gonzalez without throwing a single punch. And this was never mentioned again, as Hogan wouldn’t return to TV before going to Hollywood.

To the AWA! Hogan talks about how he can beat the Heenan Family on his own. He knows he can take the title from Nick Bockwinkel and will wear it around his waist instead of carrying it under his arm like a box of shoes. It doesn’t matter where he has to go, because he will defend the title no matter where he goes in the world. Bockwinkel is only still champion because of Bobby Heenan but he can’t run forever.

From Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 2, 1982.

Hulk Hogan vs. Nick Bockwinkel/Bobby Heenan

Handicap match. Hogan draws a line in the ring and wants Bockwinkel, who is quickly knocked down. Bockwinkel gets shoved into the corner with ease before thinking twice about this. A headlock doesn’t work either as Hogan shoves him away at the “five minute” count. The villains are sent into each other and we pause for a meeting on the floor.

Back in and a shot to the throat and a low blow don’t do much to Hogan, who knocks Bockwinkel away again. Hogan sends him into the corner for the tag off to Heenan but Bockwinkel stays inside. A cheap shot (at the ten minute mark, which is really eight) lets Bockwinkel choke but Hogan reverses for a choke of his own.

The missed charge hits the buckle and now Heenan is willing to come in and stomp away. More choking has Hogan in trouble, with Heenan getting to use a towel for the same. Hogan powers up on the kickout and we start what would become the Hulk Up. Heenan comes off the middle rope with an ax handle and that goes as well as you would expect. Hogan sends them together and drops the leg on Bockwinkel for the 12:19.

Rating: C. This was more of a way to hype up the endless string of title matches between Hogan and Bockwinkel. Hogan pinned him here with the legdrop and he could do it again in a title match. At the same time, the match was pretty basic with a bunch of punching and choking. I was more than a bit surprised that Heenan didn’t take the fall, but this makes more sense.

Post match Hogan beats Heenan up again (no wonder Heenan never liked him) and sends Bockwinkel outside. Heenan gets choked a lot and then tossed over the top as well.

Hollywood Hogan spray paints a wall and explains that the HH are from him.

We get some behind the scenes footage of a Hollywood promo, where he is rather pleased about beating up the Giant and winning the World Title. Now they’re ready for WarGames…and Hogan messes up a line and we have to do it again. In another take, Hogan spray paints a globe to show that the NWO is going to rule the wrestling world. He paints a Hulk Hogan shirt as well and then does the NWO HH signature again. Anything less would be uncivilized. Geez he had some crazy charisma as a villain and it was on display here.

From Monday Nitro, January 19, 1998.

Hollywood Hogan vs. The Giant

Eric Bischoff is here with Hogan but hang on as Hogan has a neck brace. Bischoff says Hogan can’t do this but Giant pulls Hogan over the top and powers him up as the bell rings. Cue Kevin Nash at ringside as Giant slowly knocks him around and chokes in the corner. Giant knocks Hogan up the aisle and then throws him over the top and back inside.

A backbreaker puts Hogan down again but he manages to knock Giant into the corner. With Nash holding the foot, Hogan climbs up and hammers away as the fans keep pointing at the entrance. Hogan hits a running clothesline in the corner and drops the leg…as Randy Savage is here. Well eventually, as he gets up top at about the two count so the referee has to see him and stop. The distraction is enough for Giant to get up and hit a chokeslam for the pin at 5:59.

Rating: C-. Gah I was hoping for the Robin Hood match. The match was rather slow, but the point here was that Hogan lost. Granted it would have been better if he had taken a loss like this about three weeks ago at Starrcade when the loss to Sting needed to be this clean (and this wasn’t exactly clean) but I’ll take what I can get. It’s also not a good sign for the NWO, as the foundation is starting to crack.

We go to 2002 and the Montreal ovation, which just does not stop. If I remember correctly this had to be edited for TV, as it went on for the better part of nine minutes. Hogan’s reaction here is great as you can tell he’s touched.

From Landover, Maryland, July 28, 1984.

WWF Title: Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff

Hogan is defending and this doesn’t have any commentary and is shot from a camera on the floor rather than a regular setup. Hogan atomic drops him to start and Orndorff bails to the floor. Back in and Hogan sends him into the corner and hits some elbows as this closeup camera work is messing with me. The big boot puts Orndorff down again but he goes to the eyes to cut Hogan off.

The piledriver triggers the Hulk Up but he doesn’t quite have it down yet so Orndorff knocks him back down. Hogan is busted open but Orndorff knocks him into the referee. Now we get the real Hulk Up (with the fans going nuts) and Hogan fights back, as he is known to do. We seem to jump ahead and come back with Hogan holding Orndorff’s foreign object, which the referee sees and calls for the DQ at 6:29 shown (the whole match runs about 12:00).

Rating: C+. These two always worked well together and it was nice to see them again, even if it wasn’t quite in their heyday. Hogan getting DQ’d sets up the rematch, which is probably something that they did all over the place. The match was fine, though nothing that they hadn’t done better a lot. And with these two, it was a lot a lot.

We go to I believe 1989 with Randy Savage promising to take the title from Hogan at their match that night in England (I’m assuming London).

From New York City, New York, January 27, 1986.

WWF Title: Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage

Hogan is defending and Savage has Elizabeth in his corner. Hogan charges in to start but Savage knocks him down and gets in a belt shot, which is fine with the referee (even commentary gets on him about it). A top rope belt shot puts Hogan down again as Savage still has his robe on. Hogan gets in a shot of his own though and even steals Savage’s sunglasses before sending him outside.

Savage gets sent into the post to bust him open and you know Hogan is going to be right there to stay on the cut. Elizabeth offers a distraction though and Savage gets in a cheap shot to knock Hogan outside. That includes a posting for Hogan, setting up Savage’s top rope ax handle.

Back in and another ax handle connects, followed by the big elbow…for two. Dang that still feels weird to see. Hogan fights up (not Hulks Up but fights up) and hits the big boot before cutting Savage off from going to the floor. Instead Hogan sends him outside in a heap but Elizabeth gets in Hogan’s way to prevent a posting. That lets Savage slip away and post Hogan to win by countout at 8:36.

Rating: C+. Much like the Orndorff stuff, these two were always worth a look and it was a fine enough match, even if it was again set up for the rematch. If nothing else, it was always nice to see Savage getting a win over Hogan, which only happened so often. Monsoon freaking out about Elizabeth was funny too as he couldn’t stand managers, including her.

Post match Hogan is livid and grabs a bearhug, with the dream team of Tiger Chung Lee and Mike Sharpe running in to break it up. They’re finally separated before Savage gets in a cheap shot and runs away. Savage would continue his momentum by winning the Intercontinental Title in a few weeks.

Hollywood Hogan has a baseball bat and makes Back To The Future II references. He hit a home run with Nick Bockwinkel and they mock Sting, Lex Luger and Giant. I’m assuming they just let these things go on for such a long time and then just edited them together for the short clips you would see on the broadcast. Anyway, Hogan promises to win the WCW World Title at Hog Wild.

Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. train for Wrestlemania and my goodness these two would be annoying to be around, as they shout all the time and never shut up.

From WCW Worldwide, November 12, 1994.

Hulk Hogan/Sting vs. Bruise Brothers

The Brothers jump them to start but Hogan and Sting fight back. The Stinger Splash and big boot connect, with the Scorpion Deathlock going on and the legdrop getting the pin at 24 seconds. Well that worked. The post match celebration is a lot longer than the match.

Hollywood Hogan and Dennis Rodman shill shirts. Rodman tells him that it’s ok to go make some more movies because Rodman has this stuff.

From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 8, 2005, a dark match after Raw.

John Bradshaw Layfield/Kurt Angle/Shawn Michaels vs. Batista/John Cena/Hulk Hogan

This was released on the WWE Vault back in 2024. It’s a brawl at the bell to start and they head outside until we settle down to Batista shouldering Angle in the corner. Angle’s right hands just annoy Batista, who shoves him into the corner, where Angle grabs JBL around the waist in a slightly humorous way.

JBL comes in and backs Batista into the corner, where Batista switches him around for some choking. That’s enough for the tag off to Michaels, who actually knocks Batista into the corner. Batista isn’t having that and brings in Cena to slam Michaels off the top. JBL is back in to clothesline (not Clothesline, but clothesline) Cena to take over, with Angle getting to stomp away. Angle grabs a suplex and points at Hogan before stomping away even more.

Michaels comes in to send Cena outside and threatens to beat up the referee for his lousy attitude. Batista’s attempt at a save means the referee doesn’t see Cena using a small package, allowing JBL to…well have his suplex reversed actually. A sleeper goes on but Cena suplexes his way out again. Hogan comes in to clean house and everything breaks down. JBL makes the mistake of going after Hogan and it’s the big boot into the legdrop for the pin at 11:19.

Rating: C+. Ok so this obviously isn’t about the wrestling, as they were mostly in cruise control out there. That being said, the star power here is absolutely off the charts, with JBL, a World Champion and Hall Of Famer, a distant last in that category. You do not see lineups like this very often and it felt special, or at least really cool. It’s a fun thing to see and they probably did this at a lot of Raw’s to blow the fans’ minds.

Believe it or not, the winners celebrate for a long time.

At SuperBrawl V, Hogan is ready for Vader. Gene Okerlund is worried for him but Hogan insists that he’s ready to go even if it means playing possum. Jimmy Hart will be keeping an eye on Ric Flair too.

We get some footage of Hogan training with I believe the co-star of No Holds Barred, who isn’t quite as good in the gym.

We get a quick look at a Hogan/Zeus showdown in No Holds Barred.

From Boston, Massachusetts, June 6, 1987.

WWF Title: Hulk Hogan vs. Harley Race

Race, with Bobby Heenan, is challenging in a Texas Deathmatch. Hogan jumps him to start fast and they go outside, with Race being sent into the barricade and chaired in the head. Heenan gets chases off so Hogan can choke with tape, only to get kicked low. A falling headbutt on the floor has Hogan in more trouble and they get inside for the first time.

Race hits a piledriver and drops some knees for two so they head outside again. Hogan gets sent into the barricade and gets headbutted as Race slows things back down. Another knee drop gets another two but Hogan reverses a suplex into one of his own. Race chokes him right back down and they go through the entrance, with the curtain being knocked down. Back in and Race chokes him down again and goes up top, only for Hogan to grab the belt and block a headbutt. Another belt shot retains the title at 9:55.

Rating: B-. These two always worked well together, but it was kind of a mess with the belt being brought in at the end. The Texas Deathmatch rules weren’t exactly defined, though anything getting more hardcore around this time was a cool thing to see. Hogan got to mix it up a bit here and of course Race could work with anyone so this was a nice little addition.

Hogan was excited before going into the Hall Of Fame. He does tease getting back in the ring though. For some reason, his mustache looks extra wide here.

We get what looks to be a clip from after Raw, with Hogan doing a People’s Elbow to Scott Hall. This might be the night after Wrestlemania as they have a Canadian flag as well.

We get a vignette for Fall Brawl 1995 and WarGames, with Vader on the team before leaving for the WWF and being replaced by Lex Luger.

We get a sitdown interview with Gene Okerlund from 1991, with Hogan talking about having to deal with Ric Flair, who has signed with the WWF. Hogan talks about his daughter Brooke seeing him win the WWF Title at Wrestlemania and not understanding why Flair has his own title. He knows Flair is great but he wants to know how great. I’d like to know why this was mostly shot from behind Hogan, as it’s a weird visual.

From Halloween Havoc 1994.

WCW World Title: Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair

Flair, with Sherri, is challenging in a cage and it’s title/career vs. career (how fair) with Mr. T. as guest referee. They actually lower the cage once they’re in the ring and, because WCW, it doesn’t go on straight at first. Heenan sounds almost in tears to start as Flair’s career could be over. Hogan starts with a backdrop and right hands in the corner but Mr. T. actually breaks it up and shoves him away.

This lets Heenan get in a rant about how Flair earned his status and Hogan got here by being nice to kids and the elderly (Heenan: “MAKES ME SICK!”). Flair starts going after the leg to put Hogan down and Mr. T. shoves Flair as well. Flair’s snapmare takes Hogan down as Muhammad Ali is watching in the front row. Hogan fights back and rams him head first into the cage, giving us a Flair Flop. Hogan’s choke with the shirt is broken up by Mr. T. and they shove each other some more, sending Heenan into yet another rant.

Flair goes back to the knee and grabs a rather delayed vertical suplex. Back up and they chop it out before going up top, where Flair gets crotched. A small package gives Hogan two and he hits a big backdrops, followed by the ram into the cage. Flair’s head is raked into the cage and Hogan pounds away, sending Flair bailing over the top. That earns him more rams into the cage and another crotching on top. Hogan stops to do the hand to the ear, which is the kind of playing to the crowd that kept the fans behind him (Sting would do the same kind of stuff).

Flair is able to get in a shot to the knee though and the shinbreaker has Hogan in trouble. The kneepad is taken down and Flair crashes down onto the leg, followed by the Figure Four. That’s turned over and broken up, with Mr. T. getting bumped. Flair hits a belly to back suplex but there’s no referee, with Hogan’s kickout sending Flair onto Mr. T. again. Sherri tries to climb in and Jimmy Hart pulls her…well her skirt down.

Sting cuts Sherri off again but the Masked Man pops out from underneath the ring to beat up Sting and Hart with a lead pipe. Sherri comes off of the cage with an ax handle to Hogan. Flair gets in another shot to the knee and Sherri handcuffs Mr. T. to the rope. Hogan is sent head first into the Masked Man’s pipe and Flair beats on Mr. T.

There’s another suplex but Hogan Hulks Up and clotheslines Sherri and Flair. Sherri gets tossed off the top and Flair goes up, only to get knocked down for the third time. A big boot puts Sherri down and Hogan Hulks Up again, including the big boot. Heenan: “NOT THE LEG! NOT THE LEG!” Hogan drops the leg to retain the title at 19:26.

Rating: C+. Well that was….a lot. You had about five people interfering, a cage and Mr. T. as a terrible referee (who kept getting in the way and then had to be handcuffed so he wouldn’t screw anything else up). By the end, it felt like they were just doing the same stuff over and over to fill in time. Hogan and Flair can work a good match pretty much in their sleep but this was about five minutes longer than it needed to be and it hurt things a good bit.

Muhammad Ali presents Hogan with the title as Heenan is in tears.

Overall Rating: C. Maybe it’s the amount of Hogan I’ve seen over the years, but I was kind of bored by this whole thing. There were a few nice rarities, mainly of Hogan in pre-NWO tag matches in WCW and a few matches here and there, but nothing really stood out. Rather than some kind of awesome look at his career, this felt more like a bunch of DVD extras after you watched all of the good stuff on the main feature. Like, the Flair and Savage matches are fine but how many times can you see those two go after Hogan before it stops being must see stuff? Hogan worked with just about everyone from his era, but this was a lot of mediocre at best stuff.

 

 

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NXT
Date: May 19, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

Things have been going into a slightly new direction around here, mainly because there are all kinds of fresh names around here. Several of the have hit the ground running and that is a good thing to see. If nothing else, it makes things look like the system is working and hopefully that continues this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Myles Borne/Tony D’Angelo vs. Kam Hendrix/Mason Rook

Hendrix powers Borne down to start but Borne is back up with a dropkick. A powerslam plants Hendrix and it’s off to D’Angelo, who gets to face Rook. Some running splashes in the corner crush D’Angelo, who tries a fisherman’s suplex for some reason. When that doesn’t work in the slightest, Borne comes in for a double suplex to Borne and Hendrix is sent outside as we take a break.

We come back with Hendrix chop blocking Borne and Rook hitting a splash. Rook’s Blue Thunder Bomb gets two but Borne fights out of trouble and brings in D’Angelo. House is cleaned and D’Angelo Cactus Clotheslines Rook out to the floor. Cue Tavion Heights to jump Hendrix, who is knocked into Borne. That allows Rook to Death Valley Driver Borne into the corner. Rook Big Bang Catastrophes Borne and Hendrix gets the pin at 12:06.

Rating: B-. This was a fine enough opener, with Hendrix getting to set himself up as the next challenger for Borne’s title. Well in theory at least, as it could be Rook or Heights, or some combination for the three. As for Rook…I’m not sure yet. He looks like King Kong Bundy with hair, which isn’t a terrible thing, but we’ll have to see what he does with some more time.

Darkstate are ready to get the Tag Team Titles back. Dion Lennox and Saquon Shuggars are still having issues though.

Here is Kelani Jordan, who talks about how much success she has had around here. Now though, she can’t even get a title shot, despite making the champion tap out. This brings out Izzi Dame, who says she should get the next title shot, which brings out Lola Vice, who says Jordan talks a lot and Dame dared to hit her in the back of the head. Next week, it’s Vice vs. Dame, which doesn’t work for Dame, or the interrupting Kendal Grey. Jordan complains about Grey and is promptly hit in the back with a crutch by Wren Sinclair. Dame and Jordan are quickly cleared out so the other three stand tall.

Dorian Van Dux and Sean Legacy are ready to get back on track, but Legacy reveals that they’re facing each other in the Speed tournament next week.

Noam Dar gives Romeo Moreno a pep talk. Moreno wants Dar at ringside tonight and Dar is in.

A bunch of women are watching Natalya on a podcast. Jaida Parker comes in and says she isn’t happy. Layla Diggs isn’t impressed with Parker and the match seems likely.

Romeo Moreno vs. Tristan Angels

Noam Dar is here with Moreno, who gets taken down with a spinning wristlock. Back up and Moreno hits him in the face but gets tied up in the corner. A double stomp and suplex give Angels two and a backbreaker has Moreno in more trouble. Cue Shiloh Hill (with a very tall hat) to distract Angels though and Moreno sends Angels outside for a big dive.

We take a break and come back with Moreno getting two off a missile dropkick. Angels catches him on top though and a Backstabber gets two. That earns Angels another dropkick to the floor, where he pulls Moreno onto the apron. Back in and a driving knee (basically a Stomp but with a knee) finishes Moreno at 8:59.

Rating: C+. The action was fine though I’m not exactly getting Moreno’s appeal. He’s fine, but there’s nothing about him that has made him stand out thus far. At the same time, Angels is a perfectly acceptable snooty heel. It’s a character that has been done forever in wrestling and it should work well for him if he is adequate or better.

Post match Angels says Hill belongs with these horrible fans but Hill thinks he should be named Mr. NXT. Hill puts up a photo of Angels looking rather dressed up, complete with a top hat. Angels is livid and says this won’t ruin his debut, even as Hill laughs a lot.

Lola Vice, Tatum Paxley, Myles Borne and Tony D’Angelo talk about how tough it is to keep their titles. Paxley is off for a title defense, leaving D’Angelo alone. Naraku comes in to say evil can show up at any time.

The Culling studies OTM before their match next week but Izzi Dame interrupts. The rest of the team didn’t see what happened to Dame but Shawn Spears calms things down. Well mostly as Dame doesn’t seem thrilled.

Women’s North American Title: Lizzy Rain vs. Tatum Paxley

Paxley is defending and, after the Big Match Intros, grabs an armdrag to start. A headlock doesn’t get Paxley very far as Rain is up with an armbar. That’s broken up as well and Paxley dropkicks her to the floor, only for Rain to come back in for a dropkick through the ropes. We take a break and come back with the two of them hitting crossbodies for a double down.

They forearm it out and then trade kicks with Rain getting the better of things. Rain’s chops in the corner have Paxley in more trouble but she comes back with a kick to the face. Back in and Paxley bounces out of a German suplex but a rolling kick to the head is blocked. They fight over a backslide, with Paxley swinging it into the Cemetery Drive to retain at 11:40.

Rating: B. They got going near the end and that switch into the Cemetery Drive was great. Paxley is starting to feel it and that’s great to see as she’s gone from just kind of there to a featured attraction. At the same time, Rain had her best match to date thus far and that is a good sign for her future.

Post match Zaria runs in and lays them both out with F5’s.

Kendal Grey and Wren Sinclair are in the back and Grey insists that Sinclair isn’t a liability. Robert Stone comes in to say this can’t keep happening but Sinclair says she’ll be cleared next week. Shouldn’t Stone know that already?

Keanu Carver vs. Tate Wilder

Wilder gets sent to the apron and tries a sunset flip, which doesn’t work so well. Carver gives him a backdrop and grabs a sleeper, with Wilder managing to send him outside. A big running flip dive connects to put Carver down again and there’s the moonsault to do it again. Carver is right back up to send him into the post and a toss suplex sends Wilder flying again.

Wilder’s eye is busted open as Carver hammers away but Wilder tells him to bring it. A missile dropkick and Sling Blade put Carver down and Wilder sends him into the post. Wilder’s top rope splash gets two but Carver breaks up the Wilde Ride. A spinebuster finishes for Carver at 5:40.

Rating: B-. Much like the previous match, this got going near the end with Wilder trying to get the momentum going against the monster. That only worked for so long though as Carver eventually caught him. I still like Wilder a good deal and he could go somewhere with a lot more time, but Carver is a monster right now and that could take him somewhere.

Jackson Drake gives the nervous Vanity Project a pep talk but Myka Lockwood comes in to say she has the rest of Darkstate covered. The guys don’t get it but they’ll take it.

Shiloh Hill gets OTM to sign his petition to be Mr. NXT. Birthright on the other hand isn’t so interested. This gets Hill a match with Charlie Dempsey next week.

Kam Hendrix is in the ring for a chat and is rather pleased with beating two champions in his first match. He wants the NXT Title but here is Mason Rook to interrupt. Rook wants credit for the win but Hendrix passes, earning himself a beating. I do like them putting this in the ring for a change, as this would usually be a backstage segment.

We look at some recent NXT Live shows. These people getting house show experience is a good idea.

Tag Team Titles: Darkstate vs. Vanity Project

The Project is defending and get jumped before the start. Lennox hammers on Balor to start but Smokes comes in for the cheap shot. Back up and Lennox hits a clothesline but Shuggars hits a dropkick, even as Lennox was thinking double clothesline. A shot to the throat cuts Shuggars off and it’s back to Baylor, who gets monkey flipped. Smokes gets double teamed down and Darkstate clears the ring as we take a break.

We come back with Shuggars fighting out of trouble and avoiding a charge into the barricade. Shuggars realizes that no one is covering Lennox and the diving tag is on. House is quickly cleaned but Shuggars tags himself back in for a rollup. Everything breaks down and Lennox gives Baylor a slingshot sitout powerbomb for two.

Lennox’s double clothesline puts the champs down and here is the rest of Darkstate, with Myra Lockwood getting in their way. A spinebuster looks to give Lennox two but Shuggars tagged himself in. The top rope elbow gives Shuggars two and Darkstate gets to argue. That’s enough for Smokes to get a small package to retain at 11:33.

Rating: C+. This was an interesting way to go as the Project continues to back their way into wins, which works rather well for them. That’s a good way to go for a basically pretty boy team and it’s going to be fun when someone catches them. Then you have Darkstate and…yeah I’m not sure they’re going to be a thing that much longer. At least not in this form.

Post match all of Darkstate gets in the ring…and beat down Shuggars, apparently siding with Lennox. Shuggars slaps Lennox and is put through the announcers’ table as a result. Well that was one of the ways to go.

Overall Rating: B. This was a better than usual show as they moved a good number of things forward. That’s a good thing to see as it is the kind of show that should get us closer to some big showdowns. I’m still not sold on Rook but the fans certainly seem to like him to start so maybe there’s something to him. Other than that, both Women’s Title pictures are looking interesting and I want to see where those things are going. Nice job here as the new stars are starting to feel like regulars in a hurry.

Results
Kam Hendrix/Mason Rook b. Myles Borne/Tony D’Angelo – Big Bang Catastrophe to Borne
Tristan Angels b. Romeo Moreno – Driving knee
Tatum Paxley b. Lizzy Rain – Cemetery Drive
Keanu Carver b. Tate Wilder – Spinebuster
Vanity Project b. Darkstate – Small package to Shuggars

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JD McDonagh vs. Finn Balor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video on Tribal Combat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

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

Seth Rollins vs. Austin Theory

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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