Smackdown
Date: August 15, 2025
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

We’re coming up on Clash In Paris and the big news from last week is that John Cena will be facing Logan Paul in just over two weeks. That should make for a fun battle of promos on the way there, especially here in Cena’s hometown. In addition, the issues between Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu continue and I’m sure we’ll hear more about it this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Here are Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s to get things going. Sikoa makes it clear that they run Smackdown and if you don’t like it….well too bad! Last week, Sami Zayn showed up and attacked them, which is why he got a beating on Raw. The same thing happened to Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu, so if anyone wants to come out here and do something about it…and here is Zayn to interrupt. Zayn says he’s here to talk because he wants to win the Royal Rumble.

If he had beaten Rusev on Raw, that could have been in the cards. Then the team attacked him and he wants to say thank you. Aside from the World Title, the one title he has never won around here is the US Title. Sikoa says that isn’t changing anytime soon so go back to Raw. Zayn laughs that off, because he is officially on Smackdown. The fight is on, with the MFT’s beating Zayn down until Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu run in for the save. Nick Aldis wastes no time in coming out to make the six man main event. If Zayn is going to keep popping up around here, they might as well just officially move him over.

Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice are not happy with last week’s caking, because it was VERY DANGEROUS.

Alexa Bliss vs. Piper Niven

Charlotte, Alba Fyre and Chelsea Green are all here too. Bliss makes the mistake of holding up the Lily doll and gets jumped from behind to start. That’s reversed into a sleeper but Niven powers out of it and hits a nice Boss Man Slam to plant Bliss. We take a break and come back with Bliss hitting her running Blockbuster for two. Niven sends her into the corner for the Cannonball though, only to miss the Vader Bomb. Bliss grabs a DDT, only for interference to break up Twisted Bliss. Not that it matters though as Bliss rolls Niven up for the pin at 7:37.

Rating: C+. This was a power vs. speed match with Bliss getting out of the way enough to make Niven miss. That worked rather well, though that swinging Boss Man Slam was the highlight of the whole thing. Niven knows how to be a force when she gets the chance and Bliss made her look good here, even in defeat.

Post match the beatdown is on, with Charlotte getting taken out too. Bliss gets crushed by Niven’s Vader Bomb to leave her laying.

Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton argue until Nia Jax interrupts. Stratton isn’t scared of either of them and tells them to bring it, because the outcome will be the same.

The Miz/Carmelo Hayes vs. Fraxiom

Miz and Axiom start things off but hang on as the Wyatt Sicks pop up in the crowd to watch. They lock up and fight over a test of strength until Miz takes him down for a quickly broken top wristlock. Frazer comes in and runs the ropes rather quickly, leaving Miz rather frustrated. It’s off to Hayes, who is taken into the corner as everything breaks down. Fraxiom hit stereo dives and we take an early break.

We come back with Hayes planting Axiom for two but he’s right back up for the tag off to Frazer. Some kicks to the head put the villains down and a springboard reverse Spanish Fly gets two on Hayes. The super Spanish Fly plants Hayes into the Phoenix splash but Miz steps up for a tornado DDT to Axiom and the save (and a nice one at that). Back up and Frazer tries a superplex but gets reversed into a cutter, leaving Hayes rather fired up. Hayes goes up but Miz runs in with the Skull Crushing Finale and the pin at 12:17.

Rating: B. These guys got going here and it was fun to watch the four of them going out there and go nuts. I could go for Miz and Hayes being around more often, but it already seems like we’re on the way to them having issues (again). At the same time, Fraxiom felt like they were going to be a big deal and yet here they are and it’s not going well. Maybe that changes, but they might have already hit their peak.

We look back at Drew McIntyre attacking Cody Rhodes last week.

Kiana James comes up to Tiffany Stratton in the back and suggests that Giulia wants a title shot. Stratton isn’t impressed but Michin comes in to say she’s coming for Giulia anyway.

Here is Drew McIntyre for a chat. We see the attack on Cody Rhodes last week but McIntyre makes it clear that he did not attack him. There is no medical update on Rhodes and it might be due to to WWE not wanting to admit that the golden boy is damaged. Five years ago, McIntyre was Rhodes but he knows that the fans will forget him.

Now he wants the title because of the paycheck it brings. The reality is that Rhodes attacked him and McIntyre goes outside to recap what happened. Rhodes even cleared off the announcers’ table. Why else was he going to do that? Was he going to “fashion me a fine cuisine?” McIntyre says if he’s provoked, he’s the real nightmare. Good stuff here, with McIntyre delivering as he can do so well.

The Street Profits and B-Fab are ready for DIY but Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s interrupt. Sikoa says they’re coming for the titles but Montez Ford says the Profits are coming for the smoke. Talla Tonga is distracted by something and a large bunny is behind them.

Street Profits vs. DIY

B-Fab and Candice LeRae are here too. Ford dropkicks Ciampa to start but gets taken into the wrong corner so Gargano can hit a running knee. That doesn’t last long as it’s off to Dawkins who runs DIY over without much trouble. DIY cuts that off and does their back patting as we take a break.

We come back with Dawkins knocking Gargano down, allowing Ford to come in to clean house. An assisted German suplex gets two on Ciampa and the Doomsday Blockbuster is loaded up, only for LeRae to take B-Fab out on the floor. The Fairy Tale Ending gets two and the Profits are sent outside, where Gargano gets caught with an uppercut. The referee goes to check on him but the distraction lets LeRae hurricanrana Ford off the apron. One Final Beat gets two on Ford but Dawkins breaks up Meet In The Middle. Ford knees Ciampa and a spinebuster into the frog splash gives Ford the pin at 9:25.

Rating: B. This got nuts by the end and I was wondering who was going to win. The tag division getting out there and working in matches where they’re given the chance to do something is a lot of fun and it’s making things a bit more interesting. Throw in LeRae finally getting to do something and it’s that much better.

Carmelo Hayes and the Miz are in the back with the Motor City Machine Guns, who think Miz is manipulating Hayes. An argument ensues and Aldis makes a tag match for next week.

We look back at John Cena and Logan Paul’s argument last week, setting up their match at Clash In Paris.

R-Truth is glad to have his childhood hero John Cena back but Aleister Black doesn’t like it. They go face to face and R-Truth is suddenly a lot more serious (showing the difference between himself and Ron Killings).

Sami Zayn and Jimmy Uso say it’s like old times, but Jacob Fatu doesn’t know anything about Zayn and doesn’t seem to want to.

MFT’s vs. Jimmy Uso/Jacob Fatu/Sami Zayn

Mateo and Uso start things off with Uso striking away, including a jumping enziguri. Zayn comes in and gets knocked into the corner before being tossed outside. Talla gets in a big boot and we take an early break. We come back with Sikoa unloading on Zayn but Mateo misses a charge into the corner. Sikoa is right there to cut off the tag attempt but Zayn manages a tornado DDT.

That’s enough for the tag off to Fatu and the ten headbutts in the corner have Loa in trouble. Uso’s big dive over the top takes Mateo out but Loa gets his knees up to cut off Fatu’s Swanton. Sikoa drops a Superfly Splash for two and it’s back to Zayn as everything breaks down. The Blue Thunder Bomb gets two and Fatu hits a heck of a suicide dive onto Talla. Back in and Zayn exploders Sikoa into the corner for the Helluva Kick and the pin at 11:02.

Rating: B. That was about the only way this match could end and that’s not a bad thing. They had set up the idea of Zayn coming after Sikoa and now he’s gotten a pin to set up the title match. Throw in Fatu getting to throw himself at a variety of people and it was a fun way to go. It might not have done anything overly complicated, but it was what it should have been.

Overall Rating: B+. This turned into a heck of a show, with a bunch of nice action, logical stories being moved forward and more than enough things to keep me interested. I’m sure at least a little of this will move on to Clash In Paris (Sikoa vs. Zayn is a likely candidate) and the show flew by, which is always a nice feeling. Pretty great show here and one of the better Smackdowns I’ve seen in a good while.

Results
Alexa Bliss b. Piper Niven – Rollup
The Miz/Carmelo Hayes b. Fraxiom – Skull Crushing Finale to Frazer
Street Profits b. DIY – Frog splash to Ciampa
Sami Zayn/Jimmy Uso/Jacob Fatu b. MFT’s – Helluva Kick to Sikoa

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

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

Ring Of Honor
Date: August 15, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni

This is a special edition of the show, which very well may mean that they taped too much and have to do something with all of the footage. We’re two weeks away from Death Before Dishonor and odds are that won’t have anything to do with this show. The fact that this will be overlapping with TNA Emergence is just a detail I’m sure. Let’s get to it.

Here are yesterday’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

TV Title: Willie Mack vs. Nick Wayne

Mack is challenging and Kip Sabian/Mother Wayne are here with Nick. A running shoulder puts Wayne on the floor to start and Mack gets annoyed at the idea of being chopped. They both go outside with Wayne sending him into various things and posing on the barricade. Back in and Mack knocks him silly for a needed breather, followed by some shots to the face. The swinging slam sets up the standing moonsault to give Mack two but Sabian’s distraction means he misses the frog splash. The Killswitch retains the title at

Rating: C+. Mack is an entertaining guy to watch in the ring but he’s also not going anywhere important anytime soon. Wayne is on his way to getting slaughtered by Adam Copeland and Christian Cage at Forbidden Door, making his time as TV Champion feel a bit less than important. I’m not sure who takes the title from him, as there aren’t many people who have been built up, but it might be time for him to drop the thing already if this is how he’s being used.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. AR Fox/Outrunners

The Promotions jump them from behind to start but Magnum fights back with some dropkicks. A running knee lift sets up Floyd’s backdrop for two and it’s off to Taylor. Some dropkicks put Taylor on the floor but he’s right back with the legdrop on the apron to put Magnum in trouble.

Back in and Bravo works on a chinlock but Dean has to come in to cut off a tag attempt. Taylor pulls Floyd off the apron so Magnum settles for a diving tag off to Fox. House is cleaned in a hurry and it’s Floyd coming back in for the slam on Taylor. The Outrunners drop the Infantry but Taylor breaks up the Mega Powers Elbow. Taylor is sent to the floor though and it’s the Mega Powers Elbow into Total Recall for the pin on Bravo at 10:45.

Rating: C. Somehow the Outrunners feel like they’ve lost all of their steam, as the idea is still funny enough but they’re just people out there doing things most of the time. It’s not as if they feel like they’re going anywhere, but this is about all we get from them. At the same time you have the Promotions and…ok if you really think they’re ever going to do anything important, you haven’t been paying enough attention.

Blake Christian and Lee Johnson talk nicknames but Johnson suggests they win some matches first.

Alex Zayne vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal starts fast by sending him outside for the suicide dives but Zayne slides back in. A springboard moonsault drops Lethal but he’s right back with a shot to the face. The Lethal Injection is blocked and Zayne hits his flipping Fameasser to put them both down. Zayne catches Lethal on top with a hurricanrana but the flipping side slam is blocked. Instead Lethal hits a cutter into the Lethal Injection for the fast pin at 5:40.

Rating: C+. Bringing Lethal back up the ladder a bit isn’t a bad idea, as it’s nice to see the old and the new tying together for a change. Lethal is still good enough for a completely passable match in the ring and someone can get a nice rub from beating him. That’s assuming he doesn’t just randomly lose his next match, which is always a realistic possibility.

Paul Walter Hauser is at the premiere of the Naked Gun with some AEW wrestlers.

QT Marshall vs. OXP

Aaron Solo is here with Marshall, who mocks OXP, who acted in Cobra Kai. After establishing that OXP knows Hauser, Marshall tells him to go back to Hollywood. OXP starts fast by slugging away but gets slammed down. A spinning kick to the face drops Marshall but he knocks OXP out of the air. The cutter gives Marshall the pin at 2:46.

Post match Marshall tells OXP to send Hauser this message….and Hauser is here. Well thanks for being there to help your fellow actor. Hauser lays out the heels and stands tall. At least Hauser vs. Marshall feels like a story that has been built up for a few weeks.

We get the same Mina Shirakawa promo from last night, as she challenges Athena for Death Before Dishonor.

Allysin Kay vs. Billie Starkz

Athena is here with Starkz, who tries to start fast but gets pulled out of the air. Starkz snaps Kay’s ribs over the middle rope but Kay kicks her down. A German suplex looks to set up a powerbomb but they trade running forearms instead. Starkz kicks her in the face and hits a German suplex of her own, followed by a crossface chickenwing for the tap at 4:25.

Rating: C-. It was quick and to the point, though I’m not sure why I’m supposed to be interested in Starkz. Other than her association with Athena, there isn’t much that makes her stand out. She’s only so good in the ring and her claim to fame is a single reign with the midcard title. I’m going to need a bit more than that from her and I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

The Dark Order says losing makes them who they are because it makes them want to win more. I’m not sure how much I’d brag about that.

Tom La Ruffa/Beef vs. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian

Christian suplexes Beef down to start and Johnson adds a standing moonsault. Beef gets grounded in the corner for some choking and Johnson grabs a chinlock. That’s broken up and Beef brings La Ruffa in as everything breaks down. Beef is sent outside and it’s a Death Valley Driver/top rope double stomp combination to finish La Ruffa at 4:10.

Rating: C. I guess Johnson and Christian are the next team in line to allegedly challenge for the Tag Team Titles, assuming they’re active at some point in the next few months. Granted it would have helped had they not lost last week, but there was no choice but to book them in a match against Mistico. I kind of like the team though, as it isn’t like there are all kinds of better options.

Marina Shafir vs. Marti Belle

Jon Moxley is actually in Shafir’s corner as Shafir shoves Belle down to start. Shafir takes her to the mat for the mounting but Belle escapes a cross armbreaker attempt. That’s fine with Shafir, who takes her down again and strikes away in the corner. The full nelson doesn’t last long as Belle gets more serious and tries hitting Shafir in the face. Shafir tells her to do it better and sticks her chin out, with Shafir just standing there as she gets hit. Mother’s Milk finishes Belle at 4:12.

Rating: C. Having Moxley there did make the match feel a bit more important, though Shafir is another name who is just kind of floating through the women’s division without much to do. She would be a different kind of challenger for Athena, assuming she gets by Shirakawa. The match was just a squash though, with Shafir literally standing there while Belle hit her in the face. That doesn’t exactly scream tough competition, which made Shafir look better.

Adam Priest wants some backup so here are the Workhorsemen to offer their services. JD Drake has a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt on so Priest better accept.

Adam Priest/Workhorsemen vs. Ryan Zukko/Joe Keys/Josh Fuller

I guess Priest accepted. Henry takes Keys into the corner to start and it’s off to Priest, who is powered into the wrong corner just as fast. Zukko comes in and gets jawbreakered, setting up a slingshot hilo from Drake. Fuller comes in and is taken down in a hurry, setting up Priest’s piledriver into a Downward Spiral/running kick combination to give Henry the pin at 4:02.

Rating: C+. You know all those times I’ve complained about potential challengers not getting to face champions? Well that is NOT the case with Priest and the Workhorsemen as they were announced as facing the six man champions. That’s right, the CMLL Trios Champions! They were fine as a team, though I’ll need to see more than a four minute squash to have a better idea about them.

Post match the beatdown continues but the Dark Order runs in for the save.

We run down the Death Before Dishonor card with….nothing new added!

Hechicero vs. Jordan Oliver

Somehow this is Oliver’s first time in ROH. Hechicero takes him down to start but Oliver is up for some chops. Oliver counters a leapfrog but Hechicero takes his leg down and ties it up in the ropes. Hechicero takes his straps down but puts them back up before cranking on the leg again. A sunset flip gives Oliver two but Hechicero ties up his arms for the submission at 5:28.

Rating: C+. Hechicero is very fun to watch and they’ve made him feel like a killer out there. That’s the kind of thing that can make into a threat to Bandido and that’s a good way to set up Death Before Dishonor. I don’t buy Hechicero winning the title, but it’s a match that has me intrigued and I’ll always go for that feeling.

Neon/Mascara Dorada vs. Premiere Athletes

Mark Sterling is here with the Athletes. Nese and Neon start things off with Nese going for the mask, earning himself a hurricanrana. Dorada comes in with a double superkick to Daivari but Nese pulls Dorada outside so the villains can take over. Back in and Neon gets caught in the wrong corner, allowing Nese to shout his team’s name.

Nese hammers on Neon’s mask but Neon fights up, allowing the tag off to Dorada to pick up the pace. A rolling cutter hits Nese but Sterling offers a distraction, allowing the Athletes to give Dorada a double chokeslam. Neon makes the save and superkicks Sterling down, setting up stereo flipping splashes off the top for the double pin on the Athletes at 6:55.

Rating: B-. This has been back to back weeks when CMLL stars (including Dorada both times) have beaten teams talking about coming after the Tag Team Titles. That’s not the most promising sign for the titles’ future, but the CMLL wrestlers are presented as bigger stars than most of the Ring Of Honor regulars anyway. At least Dorada and Neon are fun to watch.

We get an old west vignette showing Bandido beating up a bunch of villains in a saloon. Hechicero shows up and they have a finger gun standoff.

Overall Rating: D+. After an hour and thirty five minutes of this show, a grand total of nothing important has happened. There was nothing announced for Death Before Dishonor, no stories moved forward, and the biggest change seems to be that Adam Priest and the Workhorsemen (who got together during this show) are now going to have to deal with the Dark Order.

At least when other promotions try to counter program, they do something interesting or important. That was absolutely not the case here with a bunch of middle of the road matches that just made me more tired of watching ROH than wanting to see their pay per view. Throw in STILL no announcement on either of Dustin Rhodes’ titles and this was one of the worst uses of broadcast time I’ve seen in a very good while.

Results
Nick Wayne b. Willie Mack – Killswitch
Outrunners/AR Fox b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Total Recall to Bravo
Jay Lethal b. Alex Zayne – Lethal Injection
QT Marshall b. OXP – Cutter
Billie Starkz b. Allysin Kay – Crossface chickenwing
Lee Johnson/Blake Christian b. Tom La Ruffa/Beef – Top rope double stomp/Death Valley Driver combination to La Ruffa
Marina Shafir b. Marti Belle – Mother’s Milk
Adam Priest/Workhorsemen b. Joe Keys/Ryan Zukko/Josh Fuller – Downward Spiral/running kick combination to Fuller
Hechicero b. Jordan Oliver – Double arm crank
Neon/Mascara Dorada b. Premiere Athletes – Double pin

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

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

Impact Wrestling
Date: August 14, 2025
Location: Thomas M. Ryan Center, Kingston, Rhode Island
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the night before Emergence so this week is likely going to be about setting things up for the pay per view. The big story coming out of this week’s NXT saw Trick Williams turn his back on his partners, including #1 contender Moose, allowing Darkstate to win an eight man tag. That is likely going to require some revenge so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Moose has been attacked in the back and the System hits the ring. They call out Trick Williams and First Class so it’s six man tag time.

First Class/Trick Williams vs. The System

The brawl is on in the aisle with the System getting the better of things. We settle down to Edwards crushing Swann in the corner and handing it off to JDC. Swann gets taken down but he kicks JDC out to the floor to take over for the first time. Francis’ chinlock doesn’t last long so it’s Williams coming in for a flapjack. Another chinlock goes on, followed by a bearhug from Francis. JDC suplexes his way out of trouble though and it’s off to Myers for an implant DDT to Swann. Everything breaks down and Swann gets a rollup with feet on the ropes to pin Myers at 6:12.

Rating: C+. That’s what this needed to be, with the System still finding their footing as good guys and Swann getting to steal a win to reestablish himself. Swann is a former World Champion but he’s been gone for so long that some people might have forgotten that he can hang at this level. Myers and JDC exist to lose for the System so this was hardly some big upset either.

We run down the rest of the card.

Myla Grace/Harley Hudson vs. Dani Luna/Indi Hartwell

Hudson can’t take Luna over with a headlock to start but Luna can easily power her down. A choke doesn’t work for Hudson either so she sends Luna into the corner for some running knees to the face. Luna powers them away again though and it’s off to Hartwell to clean house. The Hurts Donut finishes Grace at 3:40.

Rating: C-. Not much to this one, though Grace and Hudson are at least getting a chance to establish themselves as something. They still have a long way to go, but they have a bit of an identity as the rookies. Eventually they’ll need to win something, but we’re a long way off before they’re anything close to a failure.

Respect is shown post match but Rosemary pops out of the crowd to mist Hartwell.

We look at Order 4 costing Joe Hendry a match against Mustafa Ali last week.

John Skyler vs. Matt Cardona

Order 4 is here with Skyler. Cardona takes him into the corner to start but a distraction from the floor lets Skyler drop Cardona outside. Back in and the chinlock doesn’t last long but Tasha Steelz blocks the Reboot. Instead Cardona hits Radio Silence for the win at 2:19.

Post match Order 4 jumps Cardona and Mustafa Ali comes out to send Agent Zero out for the big beatdown.

Jody Threat and Dani Luna check on Indi Hartwell but get in an argument.

Matt Cardona is looking for Mustafa Ali and seems ready to face him at Emergence.

We look at a three way being set up for the Knockouts Title, with Jacy Jayne defending against Masha Slamovich and Ash By Elegance.

Here is Santino Marella for a Knockouts tag team summit. This brings out the Elegance Brand, Lei Ying Lee/Xia Brookside, IInspiration and Fatal Influence, with the Brand bragging about their abilities. Brookside promises a beating for everyone and Fatal Influence promises to show NXT’s superiority. Tension is teased and the brawl breaks out in a hurry, with dives taking out security. Pretty basic stuff here.

Rosemary isn’t happy with Indi Hartwell strolling in here so she made Hartwell as blind as Hartwell seems to be.

Steph de Lander and Mance Warner are annoyed at being suspended for having some personal time in Santino Marella’s locker room last week. Nothing is keeping him out of TNA.

Eric Young vs. Mike Santana

The Northern Armory is here with Young. Santana gets jumped from behind to start and gets sent outside. The Armory gets in some cheap shots so Young can hammer away in the corner, followed by a hard whip for two. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Santana fights back and hits an enziguri, followed by the rolling Buck Fifty for two of his own. Young shoves him off the top though and hits a top rope elbow for two. Young misses a clothesline off the top though and Spin The Block finishes for Santana at 5:31.

Rating: B-. Short and to the point match here, which is the best way to go as Santana can get a win over a name. They didn’t need to let this go long as Santana got everything he needed out of it by overcoming the odds to win. Now just get Santana where he belongs on the pay back to the World Title.

Post match the Armory jumps Santana but Sami Callihan makes the save.

We look at the TNA action on NXT, including Joe Hendry getting a win and Trick Williams costing his partners the eight man tag against Darkstate.

Here is Frankie Kazarian for the King’s Speech. Kazarian brings out Jake Something and Steve Maclin (facing each other at Emergence) as his guests and this isn’t likely to go well. They go face to face but Kazarian keeps telling them to keep from fighting, which has Maclin telling him to shut up. Maclin goes after Kazarian but walks into Into The Void. I’m not sure if he will, but I could go for Something winning the title.

Emergence rundown.

Sami Callihan says he’s done if he doesn’t win at Emergence. Eddie Edwards comes in to say he wants the real Callihan to come out one more time.

Rascalz/Cedric Alexander vs. Leon Slater/Hardys

Alexander wrestles Slater down to start before Reed comes in for a Fameasser in the ropes. Slater kicks him in the head though and brings Matt in to take over on Reed’s arm. Jeff gets in a few shots of his own, allowing Slater to hit a clothesline for two. The ten rams into the corner have Reed in more trouble but he gets over to Wentz. Slater gets taken down again, with Wentz firing off some elbows to the chest for two. Jeff comes in for a quick Poetry In Motion and grabs a chinlock on Wentz as we take a break.

We come back with Matt getting taken into the corner so Wentz can grab a front facelock. That’s switched into a regular chinlock but Matt fights out without much trouble. A superplex drops Wentz and Jeff comes back in to take over on Alexander. Whisper In The Wind (though not a clean one) gets two and it’s Slater coming back in to plant Reed. We hit the parade of knockdowns and the good guys grab a string of Twist of Fates (or Twisting Stunner from Jeff because he’s weird).

It’s too early for the Swanton so instead Alexander gets splashed by Jeff. Slater’s crossover splash gets two with the Rascalz making the save. The Rascalz hit dives on the floor and Salter nails a big dive over the corner. Back in and Alexander avoids the Swanton 450 and grabs the Lumbar Check for the pin at 17:28.

Rating: B. I can always go for the “take two matches and put them into a six man” style and they did well with it here. Alexander is a good first challenger for Slater as he’s going to be completely fine in the ring and help make Slater look good. At the same time, the Hardys are getting ready for their big match against Team 3D, meaning the titles might actually be in jeopardy as they have bigger things going on.

The double staredown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. While Emergence only feels so important between Slammiversary and Bound For Glory, this show did a good job of building it up. Oddly save for the World Title match, which was mainly touched on earlier in the week on NXT, the card got a solid boost here. Emergence could be a good show, and this week had a lot to do with making that work.

Results
First Class/Trick Williams b. The System – Rollup with feet on the ropes to Myers
Dani Luna/Indi Hartwell b. Myla Grace/Harley Hudson – Hurts Donut to Grace
Matt Cardona b. John Skyler – Radio Silence
Mike Santana b. Eric Young – Spin The Block
Cedric Alexander/Rascalz b. Hardys/Leon Slater – Lumbar Check to Slater

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

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

Ring Of Honor
Date: August 14, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

With Death Before Dishonor two weeks from tomorrow, things need to pick up a bit, as usual. The World Title match is officially set, but with three shows to go, that’s all we have. In theory we’ll get something else this week, though you never can tell with how things go on this show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Volador Jr./Difunto/The Beast Mortos/Hechicero vs. Spanish Announce Project/Alex Zayne/AR Fox

Lance Archer is here with Volador and company. Angelico and Hechicero start things off with Hechicero dancing out of a lockup. They trade legsweeps and covers for two each and it’s off to Fox vs. Difurto. Some takedowns don’t go very far so Fox grabs a swinging suplex, allowing the double tag to Mortos and Zayne. Mortos gets taken down for a running backsplash and it’s time for Serpentico vs. Volador. Serpentico sends him outside but Archer gets in a trip from the floor, allowing the villains to beat Serpentico down.

With Serpentico knocked outside, Angelico comes in and gets knocked outside as well. Zayn comes in and gets sent outside as well, meaning Fox is able to try his luck. This one works a bit better, including some cutters to drop Mortos and Difurto. Zayne is back in with a top rope splash for two on Hechicero as everything breaks down. Hechicero faceplants Zayne though and ties up his arms for a very rolling cradle and the pin at 9:29.

Rating: B-. This is a good example of putting too much in one match. Hechicero is coming up on a World Title match in just over two weeks and while he got the fall here, he was in the middle of a wild eight man tag. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have him go out there and pin someone, like say Zayne for instance, in a singles match to make him feel like more of a threat? As usual, the CMLL stars are entertaining, but it’s one random match after another with little ever feeling like it’s building anywhere.

Post match the villains keep up the beatdown but Bandido, Brody King, Tomohiro Ishii and Hologram make the save.

The Premiere Athletes are ready to face a team from CMLL, though Ariya Daivari’s idea of wearing a mask doesn’t work.

Willie Mack vs. Gringo Loco

They fight over a wristlock to start and then exchange cartwheels to escape takedown attempts. Back up and Loco jumps over him for a hip swivel, only for Mack to hit a running shoulder for one of his own. Did you get that they’re mirroring each other? I wasn’t sure if that and commentary explaining it every three seconds was making it clear enough. Loco knocks him down again but has to stick the landing on the switchfoot moonsault. Mack Stunners him into a running kick to the face, followed by the frog splash for the pin at 6:55.

Rating: C+. It was two bigger guys hitting each other with some flashy offense, which works well for a bit but doesn’t have the most staying power. At the same time, it doesn’t help that neither of them feel like they’re likely to go anywhere. Loco has been getting some more ring time in the Chicago residency, but that doesn’t make him much more interesting.

Lance Archer vs. Ren Jones

Archer jumps him in the aisle and beats him up around ringside. They go inside for the Black Out and the pin on Jones at 41 seconds. I’ve long since lost count of how many times Archer has done this but it’s losing its charm.

Video on Xelhua vs. Lee Moriarty.

We look at Toni Storm and Athena’s brawl from this week’s Dynamite.

Mina Shirakawa, who has been out of action since All In, wants to face Athena for the Women’s Title at Death Before Dishonor. Athena has sixty eight wins but she can’t sixty ni….never mind. Remember that Shirakawa is the Interim Women’s TV Champion so it might be time for another double champion!

Taya Valkyrie vs. Leila Grey

Johnny TV and Christopher Daniels are here too. Valkyrie poses to start and is quickly sunset flipped for an early near fall. TV gets in a quick trip as we’re again promised that the Women’s Pure Title tournament is coming (four months or so now). Valkyrie takes her outside for a bit before working on the arm back inside. Grey fights up with a faceplant and a Stunner gets two. TV offers a quick distraction so Daniels cuts him off, leaving Grey to hit another Stunner. This one sets up a dragon sleeper for the tap from Valkyrie at 5:29.

Rating: C-. Another match from more people who are jockeying for position for some title which has been coming for months now. That’s in addition to the Women’s Title (champion going after another title), the Women’s TV Title (champion injured) and Interim Women’s TV Title (champion going after another title). Maybe either slow down a bit or find a better way to present your women.

Willie Mack wants the TV Title and as luck would have it, Nick Wayne is RIGHT NEXT TO HIM, being surprised that Mack would say that. Wayne doesn’t seem scared.

Main Man Oro vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Oro is better known as Oro Mensah from his NXT days. Oro strikes away to start but gets knocked out of the air. That earns Ishii a kick to the chest and another to the back and we’re already into the chinlock. Back up and they strike it out until Ishii hits a hard clothesline. Oro grabs a tornado DDT across the top rope but Ishii blasts him with another clothesline. The brainbuster finishes Oro at 4:40.

Rating: C+. Oro got in a bunch of offense here and that was nice to see, though Ishii shrugging it off and hitting his finisher for the pin was a bit odd. Ishii getting a win is fine, though Oro didn’t do much to stand out here. He was athletic and high flying, but that would be the case for all kinds of people on this show. Maybe find something that makes you stand out more. Or stop signing so many people with similar styles.

We get a SPECIAL EPISODE tomorrow. Just in case this wasn’t enough you see.

Xelhua vs. Lee Moriarty

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning that if Xelhua wins or survives the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. Xelhua works on the arm but gets reversed into a quickly broken abdominal stretch. Back up and Xelhua works on the arm again but Moriarty takes him down by the leg. That’s broken up so Moriarty goes for the arm, sending Xelhua over to the arm.

Xelhua ties up Moriarty’s legs and arms, meaning Moriarty uses his first rope break. Moriarty is fine enough to hit a springboard clothesline for two before tying up the arms again. Xelhua’s second rope break gets him out, meaning it’s a leglock to make Moriarty use his second break as well. The Fang into the Border City Stretch has Xelhua in more trouble, only for him to escape on his own this time. The Stretch is broken up again and Xelhua ties up the arms as time expires at 10:00.

Rating: B-. The fans being rather quiet for this sums up the problem: there is little reason to care about this match. Xelhua has had one match in ROH before this, which was two weeks ago against someone else who isn’t around here. It doesn’t help that this wasn’t the title match, but more or less a glorified dress rehearsal. Odds are this sets up a rematch for Death Before Dishonor,

The rematch is made for Death Before Dishonor to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. On one hand I do appreciate something being announced for Death Before Dishonor, but the pay per view is still feeling incredibly slapped together. Mina Shirakawa being back for revenge on Athena is fine, but the Pure Rules Title hasn’t felt important in years and this isn’t changing that issue. Other than that, we had a lot of guest stars and people who don’t make regular appearances around here, which makes this show feel like it could have been one (short) email rather than an hour long broadcast. The action is fine, but the show feels like the afterthought of afterthoughts and that’s been old.

Results
Volador Jr./Difunto/The Beast Mortos/Hechicero b. Spanish Announce Project/Alex Zayne/AR Fox – Spinning cradle to Zayne
Willie Mack b. Gringo Loco – Frog splash
Lance Archer b. Ren Jones – Black Out
Leila Grey b. Taya Valkyrie – Dragon sleeper
Tomohiro Ishii b. Main Man Oro – Brainbuster
Lee Moriarty vs. Xelhua went to a time limit draw

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

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

Dynamite
Date: August 13, 2025
Location: Andrew J. Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

We have about a week and a half to go before Forbidden Door and the show could use some build, as there are only a few matches set up. MJF seems to be coming after the World Title and has that contract waiting if he wants to use it. There is always the chance for some shenanigans there too, though MJF also has to deal with the Hurt Syndicate. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Here are MJF and Hangman Page for a face to face chat to get things going. MJF says Page is the main character and he is the main antagonist of AEW. He wants Page to be as angry as possible and the only reason Page is still standing is MJF hasn’t broken him yet. Page doesn’t like being called Seabiscuit and brings up that Seabiscuit wins in the end. He wants MJF to execute the contract already, like a man would.

MJF says Page is the real problem, even if people treat him like he’s perfect. Page can’t be all good and MJF is planning to expose him as a weak minded, depressed, alcoholic little boy. The difference is that MJF is real and he’s going to crucify Page. That doesn’t work for Page, who knows his faults like no one else.

If MJF wants to talk about Forbidden Door, he can use that contract he has to take his shot but he’s afraid. MJF should know that AEW is about going all in so prove that he is not a scared little boy. That’s finally enough for MJF to agree to use the contract. Why do I have a feeling that there’s going to be some kind of shenanigans in how he worded that?

We recap Darby Allin challenging Jon Moxley for Forbidden Door.

Hometown star Moxley, with the Death Riders, says whatever Allin thinks is happening at Forbidden Door isn’t happening.

Jon Moxley vs. Kevin Knight

The Death Riders are here with Moxley and Mike Bailey is here with Knight, who stomps Moxley into the corner to start. Moxley is fine with winning a chop off and sends Knight outside to hammer away. Knight is able to jump up to the apron for a nice dropkick and they’re back inside. That doesn’t last long as Knight sends him to the ramp for the running clothesline but Moxley sends him crashing into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Knight fighting out of a crossface but getting pulled into another neck crank. That’s broken up as well and Knight hits a dropkick before biting Moxley’s hand. They go up top, where Moxley rakes him across the back, only for Knight to grab a top rope superplex. A cutter out of nowhere drops Knight for two but he’s right back up to send Moxley outside. The slingshot dive connects but the UFO Splash hits knees back inside. Moxley chokes him out at 13:44.

Rating: B-. Knight gets a nice rub by being in there against Moxley, though there was pretty much no way he was going to win here. Moxley is trying to get back on track after losing the World Title and the big match against Darby Allin, whenever that happens, could get him there. Or it could be another big hit for the Death Riders, which would be rather nice to see.

Post match the choke stays on so Bailey comes in, earning himself a beating as well. Cue Darby Allin with a body bag and a skateboard for the save. Wheeler Yuta is put in the body bag but Moxley breaks that up. Allin is put in the bag instead and Castagnoli gives him the spinning torture rack slam. The villains get a chair but Will Ospreay is back for the real save. Ospreay says he and Moxley can both bring their friends to Forbidden Door for a lights out steel cage match. Well yeah I’d say that counts as different.

We recap FTR attacking Adam Copeland, who wants revenge.

Mercedes Mone/Thekla/Skye Blue vs. Alex Windsor/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale

Hold on though as here is Toni Storm to cheerlead in the crowd…but Athena is (elsewhere) in the crowd too. Blue and Windsor start things off with Windsor running her over. Nightingale comes in for the rapid clotheslines in the corner so it’s off to Mone. Aminata gives her a swinging full nelson (screaming ensues) and Windsor gets in some slams. Windsor is caught in the wrong corner for some choking though and we take a break.

We come back with Nightingale giving Blue a Death Valley Driver as everything breaks down. Nightingale cleans house and gets two on Thekla, followed by Aminata’s running side slam for the same. Windsor Russian legsweeps Mone into a basement clothesline for two but has to go after Blue. Everything breaks down again as Storm and Athena approve from the crowd. Blue superkicks Windsor but charges into a spinebuster and the Sharpshooter for the tap at 9:56.

Rating: C+. Windsor has gotten a heck of a nice push since showing up a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if that’s going to get her any gold anytime soon, but at least she’s getting a chance to do something. If nothing else, she’s already getting to go after Mercedes Mone so there is something to build on from here. The rest of the women were pretty much just there to keep things going, but the match was good enough.

Post match Storm and Athena get in a brawl in the crowd and the six in the ring start brawling again. Athena and Storm wind up on the ramp with Storm fighting back and saying we can do this in Scotland. Storm and Windsor get to tango a bit.

Will Ospreay has been talking to some New Japan stars and can confirm that Hiroshi Tanahashi is on his team. As Renee Paquette is doing the interview, Ospreay asks to talk to her husband next week.

Adam Copeland vs. Stokely Hathaway

Justin Roberts calls him Cope but commentary and the chyron say Adam Copeland and that’s good enough for me. FTR is banned from ringside and Hathaway has to be dragged to the ring by security. Hathaway’s attempt at a spear does nothing to Copeland, who punches Hathaway in the mouth. They go to the floor, where Copeland does a quick audience poll, with the fans not liking Hathaway that much.

Apparently he has no chance of getting any women either, with Copeland asking one woman if Hathaway has a shot. Woman: “Is this a serious question?” Back in and the spear drops Hathaway so here is FTR…who can only watch as Copeland hits another spear. FTR finally come in, which breaks their restraining order, but Copeland beats them down anyway. Another spear to Hathaway is cut off by some powder for the DQ at 4:23.

Rating: C. This was about exactly what it was clearly going to be, with Hathaway having no chance against…well anyone really. It was more a matter of waiting for the screwy finish and FTR had to get involved with the match somehow, just so Copeland can go after them later. The survey thing was funny enough, so call this a decent joke fight.

Post match Copeland gets beaten down until Christian Cage, with Spike, runs in for the save. Nick Wayne tries to jump Cage with a chair but Cage uses Spike to knock it out of his hands. The fans certainly seem to approve and Cage hands Spike to Cope. We get the big hug and the tag match is pretty much a matter of time.

We get what looks like a shot of the New York skyline and an H spotlight comes on.

Young Bucks/Don Callis Family vs. Brody King/Hologram/Tomohiro Ishii/Hiromu Takahashi

The Bucks still can’t get their entrance right, with Justin Roberts referring to them as “these guys”. Takahashi is a big surprise and slugs it out with Fletcher to start. Everything breaks down in a hurry and the Bucks superkick Roberts to….why would that make me boo them? Hologram hits a big flip dive onto the pile and we take a break.

We come back with King clotheslining all four villains down and Cannonballing Fletcher. Another flip dive takes the Bucks down on the floor but Alexander gets in a shot to cut King off. Fletcher knocks Takahashi off the apron, which is enough of a distraction for King to get in a shot of his own. Ishii comes in to clean house but Hologram’s 450 hits raised knees. Takahashi cuts off the Bucks but gets World’s Strongest Slammed onto the apron. King is dropped on the ramp and we take another break.

We come back with Hologram grabbing some hurricanranas and bringing Takahashi back in to make the comeback. Alexander is dropkicked into Fletcher in the corner but the Bucks hit Takahashi with a standing assisted Sliced Bread. Fletcher shoves Takahashi, who quickly kicks his way out of trouble. Alexander can’t hit the C4 Spike so Takahashi gives him a Downward Spiral for two instead. King is back up with the suicide dive, setting off a string of various dives. Back in and Takahashi gives Alexander the Time Bomb for the pin at 16:25.

Rating: B+. This was the traditional wild multi man tag match that AEW tends to do well. As usual, Alexander takes the pin, which is kind of annoying as he never had much of a shot to stand out, but you can’t have Fletcher lose and the Bucks have been jobbing a good bit lately. Granted it might make sense for them to do it again, but at least the match was rather entertaining.

Renee Paquette’s audio isn’t working for an interview on the ramp. After a bit of a delay (it happens), she brings out Swerve Strickland for a chat. Strickland won’t say if he is medically cleared or not because all he cares about is beating Kazuchika Okada. Cue Okada to say Strickland has no chance. Strickland just asks “Whose house?” so Okada does his catchphrase. Security has to break it up rather quickly.

Jon Moxley is told Will Ospreay has Hiroshi Tanahashi for his Forbidden Door team. Moxley: “Tanahashi Tanahashi?” He goes to the jobber dressing room….and apparently recruits the Young Bucks. Ok points for a funny visual.

Confirmed for Forbidden Door: Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne/Kip Sabian (remember FTR are still alive in the #1 contenders tournament so they might be busy that night) and the cage match, with the Death Riders/Gabe Kidd/Young Bucks vs. Will Ospreay/Darby Allin/Hiroshi Tanahashi/Kenny Omega/Kota Ibushi.

Opps vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

Non-title. Hobbs blasts Mortos with a flying shoulder and it’s quickly off to Joe to beat on Dralistico. Shibata comes in but gets caught in the wrong corner for some running clotheslines. We take a break and come back with Dralistico working on Shibata’s leg and Rush adding the cocky kick to the face. Shibata gets up and trades the strikes with Rush in the corner. Another big shot is enough for the tag off to Hobbs to clean house. Joe comes in rather quickly and Koquina Clutches Dralistico for the win at 8:58.

Rating: C+. They only had so much time here, especially with so many people involved. At the same time, it’s nice to have Joe back, as you can only have so much with having two of the three Trios Champions around. I’m not sure why this couldn’t be a title match as the belts have only been defended once since mid April, but odds are they’ll be on the line at Forbidden Door.

MJF jumps Hangman Page in the parking lot and rams his head into a car hood over and over to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. While it was a bit of a step down from last week’s outstanding show, this was still quite a good show with more than enough to keep me interested. Forbidden Door got a huge boost this week with the cage match being set up, plus the big Copeland/Christian reunion. That was the important moment and now the question is when they get to face FTR. Solid show again here.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Kevin Knight – Choke
Alex Windsor/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale b. Mercedes Mone/Thekla/Skye Blue – Sharpshooter to Blue
Adam Copeland b. Stokely Hathaway via DQ when Hathaway used powder
Hiromu Takahashi/Hologram/Tomohiro Ishii/Brody King b. Don Callis Family/Young Bucks – Time Bomb to Alexander
Opps b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Koquina Clutch to Dralistico

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

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

Evolve
Date: August 13, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Robert Stone, Peter Rosenberg

The title pictures are starting to heat up around here, with the big story being Keanu Carver setting his sights on the Evolve Title. That isn’t going to go well for Jackson Drake and the rest of the Vanity Project as they have their hands full. Other than that, a few women are coming for the Women’s Title and that could cause some problems for Kali Armstrong. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Tate Wilder vs. Brooks Jensen

Jensen’s headlock doesn’t get him very far so they trade shoulders, with Wilder getting the better of things. Jensen is sent outside and Wilder hits a quick moonsault, followed by a sunset flip for two back inside. Back up and Jensen forearms him down, including some shots to the chest. A chinlock doesn’t last long and Wilder sends him into the corner. Another moonsault misses though and Jensen hits a pair of lariats for the pin at 4:59.

Rating: C-. I kind of like the fact that Wilder isn’t going out there and winning everything to start, as the point seems to be bringing him along slowly. At the same time, I’m not sure how much there is about having two cowboy/southerner characters facing off. Odds are this is just a one off, but it wasn’t the most interesting start.

Post match Jordan Oasis runs in to brawl with Jensen, knocking him out to the floor.

Wendy Choo laughs about her win last week.

Adrenaline Drip is in the gym when Jax Presley and Harley Riggins (they’re new and much bigger than Cartwheel and Jones) are bragging about their own strength. A match is set for later.

Earlier today, Jackson Drake yelled at Bryce Donovan about his loss last week. Donovan doesn’t care for his tone but everything seems to be ok, with Donovan apologizing for his loss. Donovan has even gotten the team some matches, but he doesn’t reveal the opponents, which has the rest of the team annoyed.

Dante Chen vs. Edris Enofe

During his entrance, Enofe pulls a turnbuckle pad off but can’t send Chen into it. The referee sees the exposed buckle and goes to fix it, meaning Chen’s rollup gets a delayed two. A Rock Bottom plants Enofe but Chen is sent into the exposed buckle. Enofe misses a Stinger Splash into the buckle and gets kicked out to the floor. Back in and Chen hits a suplex into a suplex drop but Enofe sends him outside again.

Enofe rams into various things, setting up a top rope elbow for two back inside. Chen slaps him in the face, earning himself some knees to the jaw. Chen’s top rope superplex gets two but the Chentle Touch misses. Instead Enofe grabs a rollup with trunks for two but gets caught, only to walk into the Chentle Touch for the pin at 6:27.

Rating: C. The match itself was ok, but at the same time, there is a reason these two have never really made it that far up the ladder. It was completely acceptable wrestling, but that doesn’t mean it’s overly interesting. Both of them are fairly dull, though there is a good chance that we’ll be seeing a rubber match. It’s not a terrible idea, but it’s nothing I’m thrilled to see.

Tate Wilder is banged up when Ridge Holland comes in to mock him over two losses. Wilder sees them as lessons instead of losses but Holland is focused on Sean Legacy next week.

Kylie Rae rants to Stevie Turner about Chantel Monroe and gets a match with her last week. Jordan Oasis comes in so Turner yells at him over his recent actions. Turner will figure out this thing with Oasis and Brooks Jensen.

Layla Diggs vs. Zayda Steel

Masyn Holiday is here with Diggs and Bryce Donovan is here with Steel. They fight over arm control with neither being able to get very far. A quick takedown sets up a headscissors on Steel, who gets dropped with a running Blockbuster. Back up and Steel starts in on the arm, including a half crab. Diggs fights up and hits a running shoulder in the corner, followed by a suplex for two. Donovan tries to get involved and is quickly ejected, allowing Diggs to hit Diggity Splits (egads) for the pin at 4:03.

Rating: C+. Sweet goodness it really is called Diggity Splits. Diggs is someone who has gotten my attention a few times and while she is still very new at this, she has the athleticism to be worth another look. At the same time, things are not going well for the Vanity Project and there is a good chance that things are going to be getting worse in the coming weeks.

Jamar Hampton doesn’t like It’s Gal coming out to watch his match recently. Gal suggests he was just watching but Hampton is off to train. Gal offers to show him a workout, with Hampton seeming intrigued.

Sean Legacy is upset with his recent loss but wants to see Keanu Carver go after the Vanity Project because he doesn’t like either of them. Then he’s coming after the Evolve Title. We see Ice Williams calling out Legacy at a recent independent event, which Legacy calls “just noise”. For now, Williams wants to go after Ridge Holland.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Tyra Mae Steele vs. Karmen Petrovic

Steele wastes no time in sending her flying with a release German suplex and we take a break. We come back with Steele hitting more suplexes before tying up Petrovic’s legs. Back up and Steele misses a charge into the corner, allowing Petrovic to strike away. Some Sling Blades put Steele down and the Petrifier finishes for Petrovic at 4:40.

Rating: C. Uh….ok then. Steele has already been appearing on NXT and has felt like one of the bigger prospects around here, but she just loses to Petrovic? It’s not like Petrovic is bad, but she hasn’t been doing anything in recent months and here she is beating Steele. I’m not sure I get that, as putting Petrovic closer to the title match is fine, but why do that to Steele?

Kali Armstrong comes out for the staredown with Petrovic to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This wasn’t the show that seemed to matter but rather the show that was setting up the bigger show. The Vanity Project seemingly falling apart is the biggest story and that should make for a big shift around here, whenever it happens. Other than that, Armstrong and Drake both seem to have their next opponents, with the title matches likely coming sooner than later. The wrestling wasn’t exactly great this time, but at least some stuff was set up for the future.

Results
Brooks Jensen b. Tate Wilder – Lariat
Dante Chen b. Edris Enofe – Chentle Touch
Layla Diggs b. Zayda Steel – Diggity Splits
Karmen Petrovic b. Tyra Mae Steele – Petrifier

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

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

Smackdown
Date: September 12, 2008
Location: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Commentators: Tazz, Jim Ross

We’re done with Unforgiven and HHH is still the World Champion, being the only champion to survive the Championship Scramble. It’s clear that Jeff Hardy is coming for the title though and that should make for a big story to close out the year. The other big story saw Big Show attacking Undertaker on Vickie Guerrero’s behalf, which can’t go well. Let’s get to it.

Here is Unforgiven if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the Championship Scramble.

Opening sequence.

Here is HHH to get things going. HHH says we need to see Unforgiven, even if it’s buying the DVD (and not just because he gets good residuals). He recaps the big events on the show, including Rey Mysterio’s crazy mohawk. Only one man walked in as champion and walked out as champion (aside from Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase I guess) and that was him. It was a difficult match but he found a way with one second left.

Cue Jeff Hardy to interrupt and say that HHH is awesome. The locker room, including Hardy, respects him because he’s a legend. HHH says he respects Hardy for being an individual who is always reaching for the brass ring, but he is just one step away. Hardy says maybe that’s true, or maybe he never had the right people, like the Kliq or DX or the family.

HHH doesn’t like that and brings up Jeff’s brother Matt. Yeah Jeff might be great, but Matt is the one who is a champion. Since they’ve been apart, Jeff hasn’t been able to keep his other activities from letting him get what he wants the most out of life. Tonight, Jeff is in a #1 contenders match for a shot at No Mercy and HHH hopes he wins so Jeff can prove him right.

Maryse/Natalya/Victoria vs. Maria/Michelle McCool/Brie Bella

McCool headlocks Natalya to start with McCool taking her into the corner so Maria can come in for la majistral. Bella starts in on the arm but Natalya drops her with a kind of step up backdrop. Maryse pounds on Bella on the mat and sends her outside, where Brie goes under the ring as usual. Back in and Brie gets a quick rollup for the pin on Victoria.

Rating: C-. The under the ring deal is fine, but it only has so much impact when Bella had only been in the ring for about a minute. Other than that, it’s easy to see why McCool was presented as a star, as she definitely has the athleticism and the look. The problem is they’re still in that weird period where the wrestling is being presented as serious (as it was here) but the Titantron videos are still showing off their appearances. It kind of has to be one or the other and that’s missing thus far.

R-Truth vs. Chavo Guerrero

Bam Neely is here with Guerrero. Truth takes him down with a hammerlock to start but gets kicked in the face for his efforts. Guerrero’s crossface chickenwing is broken up though and Truth hits a powerslam into a pump kick. Three Amigos connect and Guerrero loads up the frog splash. Truth cuts him off…and Neely shoves Truth down for the DQ.

Rating: C. They didn’t have time to do much here, though Neely getting involved was hardly a good way to go. As usual, Neely is about as uninteresting of a bodyguard as you can have as he’s someone who is just there and that doesn’t offer much in the way of value. Hopefully this isn’t part of a long feud for Truth either, as Guerrero isn’t the most thrilling opponent.

Post match Guerrero yells at Neely for the loss and gets shoved down. Truth drops both of them.

Shelton Benjamin hits on Eve Torres in the back when HHH interrupts. Torres leaves and, after opining about Torres being attractive, he says he doesn’t think Benjamin needs to be in the four way for the #1 contendership. Otherwise, Jeff Hardy is already coming for the title, but Benjamin says he’s reaching for a gold title, not a brass ring.

Festus vs. Kenny Dykstra

Jesse is here with Festus and they’re dressed as movers because Smackdown is moving to MyNetworkTV. Before the match, Dykstra brags about his potential and promises to take the garbage men out to the dumpster. He decks Festus before the bell and knocks Jesse down as well, only for Jesse to get in a show of his own.

Then Jesse rings the bell and Festus’ mauling begins. A fireman’s carry flapjack hits Dykstra…and Jesse and Festus hog tie him with duct tape. They put him on the moving cart and wrap him in plastic wrap to wheel him off. And that’s that, as the opening bell wasn’t official, so this was either not a match or a no contest due to kidnapping.

We recap Big Show getting yelled at by Vickie Guerrero at Unforgiven and then attacking Undertaker, seemingly on her behalf.

Here is Vickie Guerrero for an explanation. She talks about how Undertaker threatened to destroy her, but here she is. A lot of that is due to the Big Show, who comes out to shake her hand. Show talks about how Undertaker doesn’t follow the rules and how he needs to learn who is in charge. That’s when Show began to realize the benefits of a power alliance between himself and Vickie. She wants to be in charge and he wants to be WWE Champion and they’ll be working towards those goals. There isn’t much of a way around the fact that it’s still going to be Undertaker vs. Show again.

Vladimir Kozlov vs. Scotty Goldman/Funaki

Total dominance, with a pair of headbutts finishing Funaki in less than a minute.

Post match Kozlov says give him competition or he’ll find it himself.

Ezekiel Jackson is reading WWE Magazine when HHH comes in. They have a staredown until The Brian Kendrick comes in to ask if anything is wrong. HHH talks about the four way and says that he was wanting Kendrick to win. Of all the losers in the Championship Scramble, Kendrick was the biggest.

Colons vs. Zack Ryder/Curt Hawkins

Non-title and this is the Colons debut as a team. Carlito unloads on Hawkins in the corner before Primo tags himself in for a springboard dropkick. A powerbomb drops Carlito onto Ryder for two but Hawkins offers a distraction, meaning the Rough Ryder can connect. The chinlock, with a knee in Carlito’s back, goes on, with Ryder going major evil by using the hair to pull him back down.

Another chinlock doesn’t last as long but Hawkins is right there with a clothesline. The Hennig necksnap sets up a third chinlock but Carlito fights up. This time it’s actually enough for the tag off to Primo to clean house. Everything breaks down and a quick Backstabber gives Carlito the upset pin.

Rating: C+. As usual, I’m not wild on seeing champions lose clean, though it’s a fast way to boost up a new team. At the same time, it’s not like there are a bunch of teams going for the titles at the moment so throw them out there as fast as they can. It the match worked well enough, which shouldn’t be a surprise as the Colons have been teaming together for years.

HHH runs into MVP in the back and isn’t sure why he’s in the four way. The other three make sense but….MVP?

Classics On Demand: Flair vs. Race at Starrcade 1983.

MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Jeff Hardy vs. The Brian Kendrick

Non-title and the winner gets a shot at HHH at No Mercy. Kendrick rolls outside to start, leaving Benjamin and Hardy to exchange rollups for two each. MVP breaks that up and stomps away at Hardy in the corner until Kendrick runs in to try and steal a pin. That earns him a trip back to the floor, leaving MVP to facebuster Benjamin. A quick Whisper In The Wind gives Hardy two and we take a break.

We come back with MVP chinlocking Benjamin until Kendrick makes the save. Kendrick camel clutches Benjamin as Ezekiel Jackson sends Hardy into the barricade. That’s broken up as well so MVP is back in for a basement dropkick to Benjamin. Hardy is sent back outside, leaving Benjamin to German suplex MVP for two. Benjamin clears Hardy and Kendrick out again, leaving them to fight on the floor while he gets a triangle choke on MVP.

That’s broken up as Hardy gets back in and drops Benjamin for two but the Swanton misses. Kendrick and MVP double team Hardy, which works as well as you would expect as MVP drops Kendrick with a clothesline. Back up and Hardy hits the Whisper In The Wind for two on MVP but Benjamin makes the save. Paydirt drops MVP again but Kendrick hits the Kendrick. Hardy Swantons in to break it up though and pins Kendrick for the win.

Rating: B. The result was the only one that made sense as Hardy has been treated as the next big thing, and certainly the next big challenger, so he should be getting the shot at HHH. The match was the usual fast paced fight with a lot of near falls and saved. It got a good deal of time though, which has me wondering how Hardy would get there, which worked for a main event.

Post match Hardy celebrates but Vladimir Kozlov comes in to lay him out to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The main event was the big focus of the show and they did the right thing, with Hardy being the only one of the four who made sense. Unfortunately the other big story was the Show/Vickie deal, which is making me dread the next few weeks. Hardy going after the title is absolutely the biggest story taking place and the fans are more than into it, but the show needs something else beyond just that.

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

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

ECW On Sci Fi
Date: September 9, 2008
Location: Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Commentators: Todd Grisham, Matt Striker

There was actually some ECW news coming out of Unforgiven as Matt Hardy won the ECW Title in the Championship Scramble. That’s quite the change of pace for the title and hopefully it takes things in a better direction. ECW has at least been a bit different in recent weeks and that is long overdue. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the Championship Scramble with Matt Hardy winning the ECW Title.

Opening sequence.

Here is Matt Hardy for a chat. He can’t believe he won the title in one of the most chaotic matches he’s ever and there are a lot of people he needs to thank. First of all, there are all the fans who believed in him. Second, there are all the people who doubted him, because they made him work so much harder to eat their words. He wants to be the greatest ECW Champion of all time, which brings out Mark Henry, with tony Atlas. Henry wants a rematch, while Atlas says they’re going to have a problem if Hardy ever puts his hands on him again. Henry jumps Hardy but gets sent outside, leaving Atlas to get the Twist Of Fate.

John Morrison vs. Evan Bourne

Miz is here with Morrison, who hammers him into the corner to tart. Bourne’s jumping knee misses as Striker dubs Miz and Morrison “more annoying to listen to than Hilary Clinton.” Morrison grinds away on a cravate but Bourne is back up with a dropkick. A nice slingshot hurricanrana to the floor takes Morrison down again and we take a break.

We come back with Miz getting in a cheap shot so Morrison can take Bourne outside. Bourne is sent into the barricade and the chinlock goes on back inside. Morrison sends him into the ropes for another knockdown and the chinlock goes on again. A backbreaker gives Morrison two but Bourne fights up and snaps off another hurricanrana. The standing moonsault hits raised boots and Morrison knees him in the head. Starship Pain misses but Miz gets on the apron for a distraction, allowing Morrison to hit the Flying Chuck for the pin.

Rating: B. Nice, long match here, with Miz’s distraction giving Bourne an out on his loss. Bourne has done rather well in his short time on the main roster and that is something ECW was desperately needing. Hardy is still the top face around here, but Bourne as a secondary option is a fine way to go.

We recap Finlay’s issues with Mike Knox.

Jack Swagger vs. Josh Daniels

This is Swagger’s debut and he’s in plain black trunks. Swagger powers him up and grabs a headlock takeover. A gutwrench suplex lets Swagger rub Daniels’ face into the mat, followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb for the pin. Total destruction.

Finlay, Matt Hardy and Hornswoggle run into Ricky Ortiz, who gives them a rally towel before the main event. Hornswoggle tries to eat it.

Mark Henry/Mike Knox vs. Finlay/Matt Hardy

Hornswoggle is here with Finlay and Hardy. Henry powers Hardy around and runs him over with a clothesline. Hardy fights up for a crossbody, which is pulled out of the air and tossed away. Henry’s big elbow crushes Hardy again but a second misses, allowing Finlay to come in. Knox splashes him in the corner and they fight outside, with Knox booting him in the face.

Henry cranks on Finlay’s neck before Knox comes in for a double shoulder. The front facelock keeps Finlay away from the corner but a knee drop misses. That’s enough for the tag to Hardy, who gets two off a middle rope bulldog. A moonsault hits Knox for two with Henry making the save, earning him a shillelagh to the head. The Twist Of Fate finishes Knox.

Rating: B-. This was a “hey, here’s the new champion” match and Hardy still has a rematch with Henry coming up later. Beating Knox is a fine way to go as he looks intimidating enough to feel like a threat but he can put people over. I’m sure Finlay will get to beat him soon enough too.

Overall Rating: B. For a long time, ECW’s biggest issue was the lack of fresh faces. This show helped take care of a lot of that, as we have a new ECW Champion, Bourne coming into his own, and Swagger making his debut. That’s quite a bit of new blood on a forty five minute show and I’ll absolutely take that as something ECW has been needing.

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

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

Monday Night Raw
Date: September 8, 2008
Location: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler

We’re done with Unforgiven and the big story on the Raw side is that Chris Jericho jumped into the Scramble match but also won the World Title. That isn’t going to sit well with a lot of people, including Shawn Michaels, who beat him last night. CM Punk never made it into the match as Randy Orton kicked him in the head, which is going to require some revenge. Let’s get to it.

Here is Unforgiven if you need a recap.

Here is Chris Jericho to get things going and he is rather pleased with himself. Last night, he faced a hypocrite named Shawn Michaels. Jericho takes his shirt off to show what Michaels did to him last night. It makes Michaels a hypocrite to have whipped Jericho like a dog and the people loved every second. What did Michaels even win though? It was an unsanctioned match so Michaels won nothing, but Jericho won something.

Last night, Jericho could barely stand up but he took CM Punk’s place and won the title. Batista was so close to winning the title but Jericho outsmarted him. Cue Mike Adamle, who says that Jericho stepped up to the plate last night, but Punk didn’t lose the title either. Punk isn’t here tonight, but he’ll get his rematch for the title next week in a cage. As for tonight, Jericho can face Batista.

Women’s Title: Beth Phoenix vs. Mickie James

James is challenging and Candice Michelle is at ringside. Phoenix wastes no time in taking her outside for a ram into the post before working on the arm back inside. A lifting armbar is countered though as James sits on Phoenix’s shoulders, followed by a neckbreaker. The Thesz press lets James hammer away but they seem to mistime something in the corner. Phoenix grabs a quick Alabama slam to retain.

Rating: C. There is only so much that can be done here, as they didn’t have much time. Phoenix using something other than a Glam Slam for the win was a nice change of pace though, as it gave a bit of a surprise. James losing clean isn’t a good sign though, as there isn’t much of a shot for her to get the title back anytime soon.

Phoenix and Michelle stare each other down post match.

Layla and Jamie Noble are in the back, with Noble begging her to be in his corner tonight. Layla calls that a surprise but he has a real surprise for her: Jillian Hall singing “Layla”. That doesn’t go so well, but Layla will be out there anyway. Promises of Olive Garden are made.

Jamie Noble vs. William Regal

Layla is here with Noble. Regal hammers away in the corner to start but gets taken down by a quick headscissors. That doesn’t work for Regal, who knocks him down and drops some knees, which have Layla cringing. Another knee to the head gets two but Noble is back up with a dropkick. That earns him a running knee to the head to give Regal a quick win.

Post match Regal says this kind of thing only happens in fairy tales and then leaves with Layla, who does look back at Noble on the way out.

John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Charlie Haas

This week, Haas is dressed as….JBL, meaning he’s in the trunk of JBL’s limo. Haas talks about being a big Texas blowhard who loves to hear himself talk. He does JBL’s Texas two step and JBL glares at him rather hard. JBL: “You’ve got to be kidding me.” JBL doesn’t like being disrespected like this and then walks out for the countout.

Post break JBL finds Batista talking to Kelly Kelly, who both find this funny. JBL says he and Batista are both main eventers and Batista should get why this is terrible. Batista says JBL and Charlie Haas have nothing in common, because Haas actually won tonight.

Rey Mysterio says he had to take some time off after Kane attacked him. He’s standing here though because Kane didn’t kill his spirit. Even though he’s always an underdog, he is no one’s victim.

Rey Mysterio/Evan Bourne vs. Miz/John Morrison

Bourne and Morrison go into the corner to start before Bourne snaps off an armdrag. Mysterio comes in to stay on the arm but Morrison kicks him down to take over. It’s off to Miz to work on Mysterio’s right arm (that looks so wrong) until Mysterio fights up and brings Bourne back in.

A top rope Meteora and an assisted moonsault get two on Miz but he knocks Bourne off the top. Morrison’s chinlock slows things down but Bourne manages to send them into each other. The much needed tag brings Mysterio back in to pick the pace back up including a 619 to Morrison. Air Bourne gives Bourne the pin.

Rating: C+. Nice match here with Mysterio giving Bourne a rub in a win. I can’t imagine them being a full time team, but Mysterio giving his approval to any new high flier is a useful tool. Miz and Morrison are the kind of guys who can get their momentum back without much trouble so the loss won’t hurt them.

Post match Kane appears on the Titantron to say he is facing Mysterio next week. Then Mysterio will see why he’s a victim, and Kane holds up his old mask for a weird moment.

Here is Randy Orton for a chat. Orton talks about how bad it is when you have a title in your grasp and have it taken away. He’s not talking about CM Punk, but rather himself. Orton lost his title because of an injury but he earned his shot, while Punk never did. Last night, Orton took Punk out to prevent him from being exposed in the Championship Scramble.

Cue Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes and Manu, with Rhodes not liking Orton taking credit for getting rid of Punk. Manu introduces himself for the Raw audience and DiBiase talks about Orton slapping Rhodes last week….and then gets slapped himself. Orton leaves and the young guys aren’t happy.

Manu/Cody Rhodes/Ted DiBiase vs. Kofi Kingston/Cryme Tyme

JTG and Rhodes lock up to start until Rhodes gets in a shot to the ribs. It’s already off to DiBiase, who misses a charge at Kingston. Manu pulls Kingston outside for a cheap shot and a headbutt connects back inside. Rhodes’ abdominal stretch has Kingston in trouble but he fights out, only to miss a crossbody. Kingston knocks Rhodes down though and brings Gaspard in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Manu grabs a belly to back neckbreaker for the fast pin.

Rating: C. This was Manu’s Raw debut and…yeah he’s only so interesting. There’s only so much you can get out of this short of a match with so many people around and Manu isn’t that great in the first place. He’s just a generic guy who is there because of his father, which isn’t exactly making him interesting to start. Maybe that can change, but he isn’t off to a great first few steps.

Classics On Demand: Race vs. Flair at Starrcade 1983.

Snitsky vs. Santino Marella

Non-title and Beth Phoenix is here with Marella. We see the Honk-A-Meter, which shows Marella at three weeks, putting him WAY ahead of the Mountie. Snitsky gets distracted by Phoenix to start but comes back with a clothesline. The boot misses in the corner though and Marella gets a rollup for a fast pin.

Kelly Kelly is in Mike Adamle’s office where she’s worried about CM Punk. Adamle says it’s ok but here is Chris Jericho to interrupt. Jericho doesn’t think it’s fair to have him face Batista, but Adamle says Jericho owes him a favor after last week. Adamle needs a main event caliber performance tonight, so the match is on.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Chris Jericho vs. Batista

Non-title and Lance Cade is here with Jericho. Batista starts fast and knocks him down, including the shoulders in the ribs. Jericho gets knocked outside…and here is Mike Adamle to say stop the match. This isn’t fair, so he’s going to even the score a bit.

Chris Jericho/John Bradshaw Layfield vs. Batista

We’re joined in progress with Jericho getting in a cheap shot from the apron and coming in. Batista fights up but gets knocked right back down, allowing JBL to drop some elbows. It’s back to Jericho, but Batista makes the clothesline comeback. Cade gets on the apron though and the Clothesline From JBL drops Batista, with Jericho stealing the pin.

Rating: C+. This was an interesting twist and I can go with having Batista coming after Jericho. It’s a good choice for a first challenger, even if Shawn Michaels would seem to be the obvious way to go. Then again, if Jericho beat Batista here, maybe they’re just going straight to Michaels vs. Jericho while Batista faces JBL. Again. As their previous matches were just so interesting.

Post match Cade and JBL beat on Batista but he fights back and hits a spear to JBL. Cade gets Batista Bombed and Batista stares at Jericho to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked it for the most part, as thankfully they have combined the best thing going on the show with the World Title scene, which is pretty far overdue. Jericho and Michaels have been doing the best stuff for such a long time now that it’s good to see it as the official top story. The rest of the show was just ok though, with a lot of short matches which didn’t have the chance to do much.

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

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

NXT
Date: August 12, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

Heatwave is getting closer and this week has a guest star in the form of Joe Hendry. After walking out of a refrigerator last week (it’s a Hendry thing), he has a match set up with Charlie Dempsey. Other than that, some of the bigger guns around here are going to be dealing with Darkstate. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Ava runs into Hank & Tank in the parking lot and asks them to not interfere in the Darkstate match tonight. Hank & Tank: “We promise.”

Lash Legend vs. Nia Jax

Jax shoulders her into the corner to start but Legend does exactly the same (not to herself of course). Legend gets in quite the power display by picking Jax up for a drive into the corner. They go outside, where Jax is driven into the apron and Legend hammers away in the apron. Back in and Legend can’t quite get in a slam and they knock each other down. Legend knocks her outside again and we take a break.

We come back with Jax hitting the Samoan drop for two but missing a charge into the post. Legend’s over the back faceplant connects for a delayed two before Jax runs her over again. They go back to the floor, with Legend trying a fall away slam through the announcers’ table but crashing through it instead. Legend barely beats the count back in and Jax can’t believe what she’s seeing. A slam gets two on Jax so Legend tries a powerbomb out of the corner. That’s a bit too much though as Jax falls onto her with the Annihilator in a smart counter. Another Annihilator finishes Legend at 12:52.

Rating: B-. This was Legend trying to hang with a main roster monster and she was trying everything she could, only to eventually slip up in the end. I like the idea of Legend almost literally slipping her way to a loss in the end, but I’m also not sure she should have lost. This might have been a good place for Legend to win by countout or something like that, but at least she seemed to beat herself rather than Jax doing it for her.

Darkstate is ready to fight against four main eventers because that is their thing. The head is being cut off the snake tonight and then they’re coming for the Tag Team Titles.

Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice run into various women from Evolve and isn’t impressed, but does set up a match with Kendal Grey for tonight. Hank & Tank run in dressed in costumes but get chased off by Stevie Turner.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Joe Hendry

Wren Sinclair is here with Dempsey. They trade takedowns and armbars to start with Hendry getting the better of things. Back up and a running clothesline puts Dempsey down, only for him to come back with a backslide. Hendry shrugs that off and hits a quick Standing Ovation for the pin at 4:00.

Rating: C. This was basically an excuse for Hendry to be on the show and that’s not a bad way to go. Hendry is one of the biggest stars around NXT these days and it feels like a special moment when he shows up. The match was nothing much to see, though it doesn’t exactly bode well for Dempsey’s future as he’s on a losing streak these days.

Lola Vice and Kelani Jordan are warming up, with Vice being ready for a match at TripleMania. Jaida Parker comes in to say she’s next for the Women’s Title but the other two are both focused on their match.

Here is Josh Briggs, who doesn’t care about the fans booing him. He’s not happy with Yoshiki Inamura coming back to NXT and working on his own. Inamura is all about honor, so let’s put that honor on the line next week in a Philadelphia street fight. Cue Inamura to call him a jackass and say the honor will be in beating Briggs next week. The brawl is on, with both of them going up and Inamura chopping him onto security. Inamura hits a dive of his own to take everyone out.

We get a sitdown interview with Jordynne Grace, who is out of her neck brace. Grace says that Blake Monroe is right in that she has never been comfortable with herself. She always feels like an outsider and she let her guard down a bit with Monroe, which is her own fault. Grace isn’t happy with what she has done but she is ready to prove that she is strong in another way. At Heatwave, she is silencing the bully and proving that she is a champion. This was a good promo from Grace to show where she is and why she wants to fight.

Blake Monroe is in Ava’s office and is given a match tonight. Monroe accuses her of being biased.

We look at Jacy Jayne’s recent actions in TNA.

Fatal Influence isn’t worried about people women coming after Jayne’s title, though Jayne isn’t thrilled with Jazmyn Nyx getting them into tonight’s tag match. We see TNA’s Ash By Elegance and Masha Slamovich arriving, with Jayne not approving. Lainey Reid comes in to say good luck.

Oba Femi rallies the troops before tonight’s eight man tag. Everyone but Trick Williams is on the same page. Hank & Tank, dressed as exterminators, come in but get chased off by Mr. Stone. I’m guessing the writers watched AJ Styles in weird costumes last month.

Fatal Influence vs. Lola Vice/Kelani Jordan

Ash By Elegance (with the Personal Concierge) and Masha Slamovich are in the crowd. Jordan takes Henley down to start and it’s off to Vice, who avoids Jayne’s pump kick. Jayne kicks her down though and a backsplash gets two. Back up and Vice kicks away and everything breaks down with Fatal Influence being sent outside. Jordan is pulled out as well though and dropped with a triple shot as we take a break.

We come back with Jordan getting two off a sunset flip out of the corner. A clothesline gives Jayne the same but Jordan slips out of a backdrop and dives over for the much needed tag. Vice gets to hit back to back hip attacks in the corner and Jordan hits a springboard Fameasser for two. A double running knee gets two on Jordan with Vice making the save. Jayne and Jordan trade rollups for two each as everything breaks down again. Jazmyn Nyx tries to come in but gets sent out, leaving Vice to backfist Jayne. One Of A Kind gives Jordan the pin at 12:06.

Rating: B. This was a good example of “exactly what it needed to be” and there is nothing wrong with that. Jordan gets the pin to set her up as the next challenger to Jayne, who is already going to be dealing with the TNA women coming for the Knockouts Title. Throw in Nyx already having some issues with the team and things could be getting interesting rather quickly. Nice stuff here.

Jasper Troy says no one is protecting Ricky Saints and pain is coming.

Kendal Grey vs. Alba Fyre

Piper Niven is here with Fyre, who starts fast by striking away. Grey gets superkicked out of the air for two but she’s right back with a belly to back suplex. Chelsea Green and Ethan Page are watching in the back as Grey gets some kind of a choke. That’s broken up so Grey gets two each off a high crossbody and a suplex. Cue Page to ringside as Fyre comes back with a running knee. Fyre rakes the eyes and a Gory Bomb finishes Grey off at 4:05.

Rating: C+. Good enough here, with Fyre getting a win for a change. I’m not sure why they needed to sacrifice Grey to do it but at least Grey lost to someone on a higher level. Chelsea Green and Ethan Page have potential for some good comedy, and it’s better to have Green here where she has a fresh boss to annoy for a change.

Post match Page gets in the ring and asks if this is the best America has to offer. Cue Tavion Heights to yell at Page, with Tyra Mae Steele coming in for some German suplexes, including one to Page.

Jacy Jayne is banged up after the match but things get even worse as Ava tells her Santino Marella has put her in a triple threat match for the Knockouts Title at Heatwave against Masha Slamovich and Ash By Elegance. The Personal Concierge is very pleased, with Ava also putting Fatal Influence in a six woman tag against the Elegance Brand next week.

Chelsea Green isn’t happy with Ethan Page, who blames the “Mr. And Mrs. Olympics.” The solution is clear: a treaty between Canada and the USA!

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Darkstate vs. Oba Femi/Moose/Trick Williams/Je’Von Evans

It’s a brawl to start (shocking I know) and Evans hits a running shooting star on Shugars. Everything breaks down and Darkstate is set outside, where Williams is tossed onto them and we take a break. We come back with Femi and James in a fight over a suplex, with Femi getting the better of it. Femi and Griffin trade running shoulders until Griffin manages a powerslam. The chinlock goes on but Femi powers up and hits a slam. Evans comes in and hits a big dive over the top, followed by a suicide dive.

Back in and Lennox sends Evans into the corner, with Cutler blasting him with a clothesline for two. Evans slips away though and it’s Moose coming in to clean house, with the fans absolutely approving. Lennox gets planted with a shoulderbreaker and Evans hits a frog splash, with everyone else shoving them onto the pile for the save. The quadruple powerbomb is loaded up but Femi and Moose break it up and throw Evans back for a double Stunner (that was great). Moose spears Femi by mistake and Evans is left alone, with Williams standing there as Evans is powerbombed for the pin at 13:18.

Rating: B-. That was the ending that made the most sense as there was no reason for Williams to want to go help Evans. Williams has his title and that’s all he’s going to care about. Moose and Femi having another power match down the line could work well, though it feels like Evans is probably going to be the next in line. Or they’ll do a four way.

Hank & Tank run in to brawl with Darkstate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This week did a good job of making me want to see next week’s big Philadelphia show. They’ve set up enough matches to make things interesting and Heatwave will be an even bigger follow up. Rather good show this week, as they had nice stuff going on here, plus set up next week as well.

Results
Nia Jax b. Lash Legend – Annihilator
Joe Hendry b. Charlie Dempsey – Standing Ovation
Kelani Jordan/Lola Vice b. Fatal Influence – One Of A Kind to Jayne
Alba Fyre b. Kendal Grey – Gory Bomb
Darkstate b. Je’Von Evans/Moose/Oba Femi/Trick Williams – Quadruple bomb to Evans

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

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