Monday Night Raw
Date: May 4, 2026
Location: CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the last Raw before Backlash and we have a main event set with Roman Reigns defending the World Title against a rather ticked off (as in more than usual) Jacob Fatu. Other than that, Oba Femi is issuing an open challenge and Sol Ruca is officially joining the roster this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Roman Reigns arrives and starts walking to the ring rather quickly, mostly ignoring Adam Pearce on the way. Pearce finally stops him and says that Jacob Fatu isn’t here yet, meaning the contract signing has to wait. Since Reigns isn’t going to the ring at the moment, he can pause to see Seth Rollins, who says reigns is in the way.

Rollins heads into the arena…and Bron Breakker jumps him from behind. Breakker drops Rollins onto the barricade and sends him into the steps until security and referees break it up. Well for all of five seconds that is as Breakker gets inside to spear Rollins. The fans want to see it again but Breakker leaves instead.

We recap Roxanne Perez ignoring Finn Balor’s warnings about the Judgment Day and telling him to leave the clubhouse.

We go to the Judgment Day clubhouse, with Liv Morgan wanting to know why Balor was here last week. Perez doesn’t know why he was here but Morgan asks why she wasn’t told about this. Why does she need to watch Netflix to know what is going on around here? Perez insists she is loyal to the team and Morgan seems to believe it, though she does brow beat Perez a bit. With Morgan gone, Perez doesn’t seem thrilled.

Finn Balor vs. JD McDonagh

Dominik Mysterio is here with McDonagh, who gets taken down with an early headlock. Balor backs McDonagh up against the ropes but gets distracted by Mysterio so McDonagh can chop away. A Russian legsweep gives Balor two and he glares down at Mysterio. That’s enough for McDonagh to start in on the leg and here are the rest of Judgment Day as we take a break.

We come back with Balor making a comeback but having to deck Mysterio. A Spanish Fly gives McDonagh two but Balor knocks him down again. Balor loads up the Coup de Grace, allowing Mysterio to crotch him on top. That’s enough for Mysterio to be ejected, leaving McDonagh’s moonsault to hit raised knees for two. The Sling Blade connects so Morgan gets on the apron and throws a timekeeper’s hammer to Perez. The cheap shot knocks Balor silly and the headbutt gives McDonagh the pin at 10:55.

Rating: C+. There was a lot going on in this match and it dragged things down a bit. The idea is that Balor was fighting against a numbers advantage, but it only has so much of an impact when it keeps going this long. Balor is going to need some help dealing with them, though I’m not sure why the feud needs to keep going.

Seth Rollins is going to be ready for Backlash, where he will finish the job.

Video on Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu from last week, with Fatu bringing back the Tongan Death Grip.

Commentary actually explains the Tongan Death Grip and talk about Haku passing it down to Fatu, though it can only be used in certain circumstances.

We look back at the Street Profits saving Joe Hendry from the Vision last week.

The Vision make fun of Hendry when Paul Heyman comes in. Heyman asks if Rollins is still breathing but Logan Paul cuts them off to threaten Hendry. Heyman says no because if Logan faces Hendry, he’ll be put in jail. Therefore, Austin Theory can do it instead. Logan is still rather on edge about this whole thing.

Penta/Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page/Rusev

Rusev pounds Evans into the corner to start and it’s off to Page, who doesn’t have the same success. Evans ducks a kick to the head and brings Penta in to strike away at Page. Everything breaks down and Evans hits a dive to the floor, leaving Page to get hit with the Penta Driver as we take an early break.

We come back with Penta knocking Rusev off the apron but he pulls Evans off the apron to break up the tag attempt. Penta blocks the Twisted Grin attempt and hands it back to Evans to pick up the pace. A dive hits Rusev and a springboard clothesline gets two on Page. Evans misses a heck of a moonsault but scores with a kick to the back of the head.

Penta comes back in as everything breaks down, with Penta hitting a suicide dive on Rusev. The big dive through the table is cut off and Penta gets tripped down on the apron. A Rock Bottom onto the table plants Penta and Page hits a release fisherman’s suplex for the pin at 10:41.

Rating: B-. That should set Page up for a title shot down the line and that is a good thing to see. Page has done rather well on the main roster thus far and it’s nice to see Rusev and Evans getting a chance to do something as well. This was a rather nice midcard match and it should set something up for later on, with the gold on the line.

Here is Adam Pearce in the ring for a chat. He talks about how much fun it was to work with a can’t miss prospect in NXT. That’s what he is getting to do again and we see a video on Sol Ruca. This brings out Ruca and she’s looking a bit nervous. Pearce presents her with a contract and she knows it is going to feel good to sign. Cue Becky Lynch to interrupt (ok that’s quite the starting point) saying a very reliable source told her this was her spot. Lynch goes into her usual Sports Illustrated rant but Lynch cuts her off, saying not everything is about her.

Ruca says Lynch is everything everyone says she is: a crude, bigheaded b****. Ruca: “It’s not just me saying it!” Lynch is incensed and Ruca signs her contract. Ruca says if Lynch ever interrupts her again, she’ll snatch her soul. Lynch swings and hits Pearce by mistake, which means a Sol Snatcher (after Ruca missteps a bit to start). If they’re putting her with Lynch to start, they pretty clearly think something of her and that’s a great sign for her future. Now just live up to it.

We look at Jacob Fatu smashing the MFT’s on Smackdown.

The Usos are on their way to see Roman Reigns but stop to talk about how this is a family thing. Fatu is swimming in deep water and swinging for the fences, but the Bloodline has been drawn. He’ll figure out what he’s doing at Backlash.

Joe Hendry vs. Austin Theory

Before the match, Hendry sings about Logan Paul, who is talented but a piece of trash. This brings out Paul, who says he can’t be fired because it would be bad business. Hendry is glad Paul is here, because he’s up to the part of the song with the apology. It’s not much of an apology, but Theory charges in to start fast.

Hendry knocks him outside but gets distracted by Paul so Theory can hammer away. A whip into the corner sets up a suplex to drop Hendry, who is back with a bigger suplex. The fall away slam sends Theory outside and Hendry strikes his pose…and Paul runs in for the DQ at 3:17.

Rating: C. This didn’t have time to go anywhere but Hendry was making a nice comeback when it ended. The numbers game is getting to Theory and he has the Street Profits, though I’m curious where that leaves Hendry. Paul could be fighting Hendry on his own and the Profits as a team, but that’s kind of a weird way to go. It’s working well enough for now though and this wasn’t bad despite being short.

Post match the beatdown is on with the Street Profits running in for the save. Bron Breakker is in to take the Profits out but Seth Rollins is here to break up the Super Spear. Montez Ford hits the big dive but the distraction lets Breakker Super Spear Rollins instead.

The Judgment Day is ready to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria come in to say they want a shot instead but Liv Morgan makes fun of them.

Here is Oba Femi for his open challenge.

Oba Femi vs. Otis

Akira Tozawa teases taking the challenge but it’s Otis instead. Otis and Femi trade running shoulders until Femi elbows the heck out of him. A toss sends Otis flying and the Fall From Grace finishes for Femi at 1:49. The toss and powerbomb both looked good and this was effective.

Seth Rollins isn’t happy with getting speared again but the Street Profits aren’t sure why they should trust him. Rollins says they’re fighting the same fight but they’ll stay out of each others’ way. Joe Hendry doesn’t look pleased either.

We get a sitdown interview between Asuka and Iyo Sky before their match at Backlash. Sky says she has avoiding this fight for years because Asuka is her mentor. Despite everything Asuka has done, Sky still respects her and never wanted it to come to this. Asuka has changed though and the old Asuka is gone. Asuka calls this disrespect and that she doesn’t know this disrespectful Sky. That is Asuka’s biggest disappointment and she is done with Sky, who will be cut out of her life at Backlash. Sky says she is ready for Asuka, who mists Sky to blind her.

We look at the Creed Brothers attacking El Grande Americano last weekend on AAA.

The Original El Grande Americano and Los Hermanos Americanos (Bruno/Julio Creedo) don’t like how Original was treated in Mexico. They’re friends with Chad Gable, who is still certainly sidelined with an injury.

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

Julio suplexes Rayo to start and it’s off to the Original for two off a hiptoss. Americano comes in for a lockup and sends Original outside for a baseball slide. We take a break and come back with everything breaking down and Original cleaning house. A double German suplex drops Los Americanos but Grande is back in with the headbutts. Bravo’s top rope splash only gets two and the Original hits Rolling Chaos Theory. A top rope headbutt connects for the pin on Bravo at 8:24.

Rating: C+. The action was fine, but there is a reason that this feud has shifted over to AAA for the most part. Down there, this feels a lot more important and it’s a main event feud. Up here, this felt like a comedy match you would see at an early 90s Survivor Series. It’s a nice six man tag, but the two teams being in masks didn’t make this more interesting, as it just made it feel sillier.

John Cena will be at Backlash for some big announcement.

Backlash rundown.

Here are Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu to join Adam Pearce for a contract signing. Instead they just sit there and stare at each other for a bit until Reigns hits his catchphrase. That gets him a rather strong OTC chant, which Reigns says is the sound of love and respect. That respect was earned over the last twelve years and Reigns was the one holding the door open for Solo Sikoa. Fatu got in because of Reigns and he isn’t standing for this lack of respect.

Now Fatu is bringing out the Tonga Death Grip? That’s the kind of thing you bring out when you’re surrounded by eight people at a bar at 3am. You don’t do that to your TRIBAL CHIEF! Fatu says that is where Reigns has it all wrong, because yes he is desperate and he has no choice but to take Reigns’ title. He’s going to put a chokehold on the business and squeeze out every cent, just like this company has been doing to their family for decades.

Fatu brings up his household, which has Reigns cutting him off and signing. While Fatu talks about having seven kids, Reigns has spent twelve years looking after the 170 kids in their family and taking care of several generations. They’re the same blood but in this ring, Fatu is beneath him. Fatu jumps at him and tries the Tongan Death Grip but gets knocked away (with Graves being there for the save by saying Fatu didn’t have it all the way on).

The belt shot misses and Reigns hammers away in the corner but the Superman Punch is countered into the Tongan Death Grip. Reigns’ eyes but out and he grabs Pearce until Fatu chokeslams Reigns onto the table. Reigns is gasping for breath as Fatu signs and the fans chant for Fatu to end the show. They’re making Fatu feel like a threat and while I don’t think he’ll win the title, this is making the possibility seem stronger.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show about getting us more ready for Backlash and that went well enough. Backlash has two big Raw matches and those both enough of a build this week. Other than that, Asuka vs. Sky is already set and should be fine, which pretty much covers the red side of Backlash. The wrestling here was ok enough, but it was more about the final push and I liked the main event segment fairly well. It’s not a great show, but it did what it was asked.

Results
JD McDonagh b. Finn Balor – Headbutt
Ethan Page/Rusev b. Penta/Je’Von Evans – Release fisherman’s suplex to Penta
Joe Hendry b. Austin Theory via DQ when Logan Paul interfered
Oba Femi b. Otis – Fall From Grace
Original El Grande Americano/Los Hermanos Americanos b. El Grande Americano/Los Americanos – Swan Dive to Rayo

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

Mega fans can have the same issues no matter what subject.

https://www.smarkdownsblog.com/why-wwe-wrestling-fans-complain

I believe the term is IT’S STING!

https://411mania.com/wrestling/halls-wcw-uncensored-1997-review/

AAA On FOX
Date: May 2, 2026
Location: Auditorio José María Arteaga, Querétaro, Mexico
Commentators: Rey Mysterio, John Bradshaw Layfield, Corey Graves

We’re coming up on Noche de Los Grandes and we have a heck of a main event for the show, with the Grande Americanos facing off in a mask vs. mask match. This week will see the contract signing and there is a good chance things are going to get intense. Other than that, we are still trying to figure out who has been attacking the Psycho Circus. Let’s get to it.

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

El Ojo is talking about El Hijo del Vikingo’s match tonight. They mention being family, but El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. comes in to ask what they would know about that.

Mini Vikingo vs. El Hijo del Vikingo

Hijo jumps Mini to start and stomps away in the corner as the fans are not pleased. The running dropkick hits Mini again and the big forearms against the ropes make it worse. Hijo rolls him up for two and grabs something like an STF, with Mini’s face being slammed into the mat. Mini tries to fight back but gets kicked in the face and dropkicked to the floor. Hijo sends him into the steps and adds a suplex onto the ramp.

Another drop has the referee ready to stop it but Mini wants to keep going. Back in and Hijo chokes away but Mini actually manages a Code Red for two. Hijo is sent outside for a running flip dive…into a crucifix bomb, which even has Mysterio impressed. They head back inside, where Hijo kicks him in the head and grabs a powerbomb for two, meaning it’s time to look stunned. Hijo takes the turnbuckle pad off but gets sent into it instead.

A 450 gets a rather near fall so Hijo sends Mini into the corner, knocking the referee outside. Mini grabs a hurricanrana and the bell rings but the referee is still down. Hijo gets in a cheap shot and hits a super Rock Bottom but there is still no one to count. Back up and Hijo seems to have messed up his shoulder, even as he grabs a chair. Cue Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. for a Wagner Driver onto the chair, allowing Mini to hit a 630 Phoenix splash for the shocking upset at 12:58.

Rating: B-. This is what you get when you keep stringing out the near falls and hope spots, as Hijo got too cocky and lost it in the end. I had a good time with this and they did a good job of keeping the story going through. Hopefully Hijo’s shoulder is ok though, as that didn’t look great in the end. Either way, nice job by Hijo by making Mini look great (which isn’t a surprise as it’s his younger brother).

Post match Omos comes in to wreck Mini and Wagner. Galeno del Mal (Wagner’s brother) runs in for the save. Hijo was getting his shoulder looked at as Omos came out and was still on the mat at the end of the segment so that’s not a good sign. Also who rang the bell? Wagner?

Rey Fenix vs. Laredo Kid

Non-title. Kid’s running shoulder doesn’t do much to Fenix, who pops up and sticks the landing on a hurricanrana. They trade some flips and flip up to a standoff, allowing Fenix to do his rather springboardy wristdrag. Kid cuts off a dive with a big clothesline though and a basement dropkick gets two.

A Michinoku Driver gives Kid two and a top rope splash connects for two more. Fenix avoids a charge in the corner though and hits a rope walk kick to the head to send Kid to the apron. Fenix kicks him out to the floor and there’s the slingshot hurricanrana. Back in and a top rope moonsault press gives Fenix two and a running springboard kick to the head connects in the corner.

The Mexican MuscleBuster is broken up though and Kid’s Canadian Destroyer gets…one. Back up and Fenix hits the rolling cutter for two and they chop it out from their knees. Fenix charges into a shot to the face in the corner but he catches Kid up top. The Mexican MuscleBuster gives Fenix the pin at 9:40.

Rating: B. These two worked well together, though that’s a pair of losses in a row for Kid. I’m not sure what that’s going to mean, but there is a good chance that this sets up a big showdown at Noche de Los Grandes for the title. Kid has been champion for the better part of ever so it might be time for Fenix to finally get a big win. For now though, you had two guys going nuts for about ten minutes and it was rather entertaining.

Post match Fenix offers a handshake but Kid clutches his belt and shoulders past him.

We recap the Psycho Circus vs. the War Raiders, which is going on at the same time that the Circus is being taken out one by one. Pagano is the most likely suspect and there is going to be a face to face showdown between Pagano and Psycho Clown next week.

Video on Catalina, who is making her in-ring debut next week.

It’s time for the Grande Americanos’ contract signing, with a bunch of security and a few hosts. Dorian Roldan explains the stakes of mask vs. mask but Original has a piece of paper, which he hands to Roldan. Apparently it’s from Original’s attorney and this match isn’t going to happen without some conditions. There can be no physical attacks from now until May 30, and if there is, the attacker has to unmask. Grande is ticked off but signs anyway and Roldan has security leave.

Hold on as there is something else on the paper: the female host/interviewer has to be removed from AAA for attacking Original. She wants Grande to take Original’s mask and leaves. Original signs and throws the pin at Grande before leaving. Grande: “SHORTY!” He has something else to say but the Creed Brothers run in and put Grande through the table. Los Americanos run in for the save to end the show. This is a great example of a story that might be a bit silly but it’s working so well because the fans care about the people involved. That’s how a good story should go and I want to see these two fight so nice job.

Overall Rating: B. This was more of a story heavy show and that’s nice to see on occasion. You can see where a lot of the Noche card is going and I’m liking what is being put together. The wrestling here was still pretty good and I want to see what happens from here. They keep me hooked week to week and that’s not something some much bigger promotions can pull off. This was a solid show and the ending was a hot angle, which is more than good enough for about an hour.

Results
Mini Vikingo b. El Hijo del Vikingo – 630 Phoenix splash
Rey Fenix b. Laredo Kid – Mexican MuscleBuster

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

Collision
Date: May 2, 2026
Location: Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re firmly into the Darby Allin title reign now and that very well could have something tied into this week as well. Other than that, we’re on the way to Double Or Nothing in a few weeks and that means the card needs to be put together. Some of the matches are either set or practically made so maybe we get some movement in that direction this week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Death Riders/The Dogs vs. Top Flight/Rascalz

The Rascalz and Top Flight jump the villains to start and the brawl is on the floor before the bell. The bell does indeed ring and Reed is right there with a big dive onto a pile at ringside. Back in and Connors misses a charge into the corner, allowing Wentz to strike away in the corner. Finlay comes in to stomp Wentz in the corner but it’s quickly off to Darius to strike away at Pac.

That doesn’t last long either as Moxley comes in to rain down right hands in the corner but Darius fires off some forearms. Darius gives him a suplex into Dante’s slingshot hilo, allowing Reed to hit a springboard spinning dropkick. Castagnoli drops Reed on the floor though and we get a stream of knockdowns outside. Back in and Reed dives into Castagnoli’s uppercut as we take a break.

We come back with Reed fighting out of trouble but getting taken right back down. Reed gets close to the tag but the other villains run in to knock his partners off the apron. The diving tag brings Xavier in a few seconds later and everything breaks down. Connors gets double stomped for two but the push moonsault is broken up. A spear gets two on Wentz but he knocks Connors down, allowing the tag back to Darius.

Everything breaks down and Pac gets taken down with a springboard Downward Spiral for two more. Finlay gets caught in the wrong corner and pummeled with a string of strikes but he shoves Reed into Wentz. A high/low hits Xavier but the Rascalz are back in with stereo springboard Codebreakers. Moxley gets tornado DDTed for two, only for Pac’s big lariat to drop Darius. The Brutalizer makes Darius tap at 16:23.

Rating: B. I mean, yeah it’s a lot of fun and you could tell the people involved had a great time. The thing is, I feel like I’ve seen a version of this match or something really close to it dozens of times in AEW. That doesn’t make it bad in any way, but if you want to get the “I can’t believe I just saw a match like that” feeling, maybe don’t have multiple versions of it every week.

Jack Perry, and his bus, are on the way.

National Title: Jack Perry vs. Mascara Dorada

Perry is defending and, after a handshake, goes for the wristlock. A headlock takeover works a bit better for Perry and he follows it up with a monkey flip. Back up and quite the headscissors drops Perry for a change and they trade very springboardy wristdrags. Dorada sends him crashing out to the floor and then into the crowd, where Perry comes up swinging. They slug it out on the barricade until Dorada hits a Canadian Destroyer.

We take a break and come back with the two of them trading flips until Perry superkicks him into a poisonrana. Dorada’s Code Red drops Perry and they both need a breather. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Perry two more and he sends Dorada outside for a moonsault. Back in and Dorada kicks his leg out and loads up an electric chair, which is flipped into a neckbreaker for a rather near fall.

The 450 gets two more and Dorada knees him out of the air. A Razor’s Edge Dominator plants Perry for another near fall but the shooting star press hits raised knees. Dorada goes up top again but gets pulled down with a super hurricanrana for the pin to retain the title at 14:20.

Rating: A-. This got rather outstanding by the end and that’s no surprise given Dorada was in there. He shows up every so often and has become a remarkable treat around here. That fast paced style works so well for him and that was certain the case with this one. Perry is a lot better when he’s firmly in the midcard where he belongs because he can do stuff like this. Very good stuff here as they kept pulling me in further, which doesn’t happen often.

On Dynamite, Kris Statlander snapped on Hikaru Shida for costing them the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Shida promised to make it up to her.

Conglomeration vs. MxM TV

Non-title. O’Reilly and Mansoor start things off with some kicks sending Mansoor over for the tag to TV. That’s fine with O’Reilly, who hammers away in the corner to put TV in trouble. Cassidy takes too long to hit a single punch though and TV kicks him down, followed by a big dive to the floor. MxM poses inside and it’s a side kick/German suplex combination to Cassidy.

Starship Pain gets two as everything breaks down. What looks like a double Doomsday Device is broken up and Mansoor gets crotched on top. Madden gets Angle Slammed and low bridged to the floor, with Cassidy sitting on O’Reilly’s shoulders. Cassidy chokeshoves Mansoor onto Madden and Cassidy’s falling top rope elbow finishes TV at 4:29.

Rating: C+. Yeah this was fine, with the champs getting to show off a bit against an established team. It was nice to see the Conglomeration win a shorter match for a change and look dominant enough. After a pair of long, wild matches, this was a nice change of pace and it went well.

Post match Tommaso Ciampa comes out for the staredown.

We get a rather somber moment with commentary wishing Rebel the best in her health situation. That’s a nice thing to see, but dang the whole situation is a punch to the gut.

We recap Will Ospreay seemingly joining the Death Riders.

TBS Title: Willow Nightingale vs. Anna Jay

Nightingale is defending in an Open Challenge and this is Jay’s first match since November. Jay’s early rollup attempt is blocked so she sits Jay on top instead. Nightingale wants Jay to show her fire, which apparently means a sunset flip for two. Some clotheslines in the corner have Jay in trouble but she avoids a backsplash. The running flipping neckbreaker gets two and Jay fires off the kicks in the corner. Nightingale sends her outside though and hits a flip dive off the apron.

We take a break and come back with Jay fighting back but getting sent into the corner again. A superplex drops Jay and a Death Valley Driver gets two. Jay kicks her in the face and grabs an X Factor for two, followed by the Queenslayer. Nightingale breaks that up though and grabs the Babe With The Powerbomb to retain at 9:45.

Rating: C+. It’s good to have Jay back, as she is one of the long lasting members of the division. At the same time, it seems like nothing has changed for her as she continues to lose big matches. The good thing is Nightingale gets another win, though she’s going to need a big challenger sooner rather than later.

Hikaru Shida’s make up gift to Kris Statlander is…a match against Harley Cameron and Mina Shirakawa. Shouting ensues.

Death Riders vs. Bang Bang Gang

Yuta and Robinson start things off with the former quickly being taken into the wrong corner. That’s broken up and a rolling tag brings Austin in to fight back. A basement dropkick hits Yuta and Austin hits a kick from the apron. That means the handstand can ensue, only for Austin to get dropkicked to the floor. Back in and Garcia hammers away in the corner as we take a break.

We come back with Austin still in trouble, with the Riders hitting a string of running shots in the corner. Austin fights out of Garcia’s front facelock and grabs a Death Valley Driver, allowing Robinson to come back in. House is quickly cleaned but Marina Shafir’s distraction lets Garcia get in a cheap shot. That’s shrugged off and Robinson hammers away on the now bleeding Yuta.

A lariat gives Robinson two as everything stays broken down. Austin is flipped over the top to the floor, meaning it’s a Fastball Special for two on Robinson. Back in and Austin hits his springboard spinning kick to the head but walks into an Angle Slam. Robinson is back up with his forward DDT and actually pins Garcia at 12:07.

Rating: B-. Well dang man. I wasn’t expecting that so well done on having a surprise result for a change. It helps when the Gang never wins anything of note so having them beat an established team is a good thing. The group still needs reinforcements, but a win is better than nothing.

Post match Jon Moxley freaks out and Robinson motions that he wants the Continental Title. That brings the Riders in for the beatdown but the Gunns are back to make the save. Yuta is laid out with the 3:10 To Yuma.

Megan Bayne and Lena Kross brag about their success.

Skye Blue vs. Nixi XS

Blue kicks her in the face at the bell and another boot sends Nixi out to the floor. A hanging swinging neckbreaker drops Nixi again and it’s a Cheeky Nandos Kick back inside. The running knee connects but Blue pulls her up at two. The Descent Into Madness finishes for Blue at 2:15. Complete squash.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

TNT Title: Hook vs. Kevin Knight

Hook, with Katsuyori Shibata, is challenging and takes Knight down by the leg to start. Back up and Knight gets in a shot to the arm before they fight over a lockup on the ropes. Hook flips out of a hiptoss attempt before avoiding a dropkick, leaving Knight frustrated. With nothing working, Knight slugs away in the corner and dropkicks him to the floor. The slingshot dive misses though and Hook suplexes him over the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Hook’s northern lights suplex getting two. Knight makes the clothesline comeback and hits the spinning splash for two of his own. A super hurricanrana sends Hook flying and a running dropkick hits him in the corner. The referee gets distracted though and Shibata crotches Knight on top. A belly to belly superplex and a high angle suplex give Hook two but Redrum is countered. Knight takes Shibata out and hits a running DDT into the UFO Splash to retain at 12:06.

Rating: C+. The match was fine for an extended Knight workout, but that’s about all it was. There was zero reason to believe that Hook was going to win the title, especially from someone who has been on a roll like Knight. As a result, the Opps, or at least half of them, were little more than some pests that had to be dealt with here. In other words, it’s exactly what you would expect from the Opps if Joe isn’t involved.

Overall Rating: B+. Any show with those first two matches is going to be a hit, even if the rest of the show was somewhat mediocre. This show felt like the usual Collision, but dang that Perry vs. Dorada match was awesome. The in-ring side of things have been on a roll lately in AEW and if they can get their stories close to that level, the place will be hard to stop. Check out the first two matches here, as they’re rather great.

Results
Death Riders/The Dogs b. Top Flight/Rascalz – Brutalizer to Darius
Jack Perry b. Mascara Dorada – Super hurricanrana
Conglomeration b. MxM TV – Top rope elbow to TV
Willow Nightingale b. Anna Jay – Babe With The Powerbomb
Bang Bang Gang b. Death Riders – Forward DDT to Garcia
Skye Blue b. Nixi XS – Descent Into Madness
Kevin Knight b. Hook – 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:

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

So back in the days of the WWE Network, there was a section called Hidden Gems.  When the Network was being shut down in America, I rapid fire reviewed as many of them as I could, though I couldn’t get all of them.  For one reason or another, I kept putting off posting them and I might as well just start doing it.  This is more than 50 pages of completely random stuff that has probably popped up elsewhere since then but it’s better than having it sit on my laptop.  There is no connection to these matches/segments but that makes it more fun.  Let’s get to it.

NWA World Title: Harley Race vs. Dick Murdoch
Date: April 2, 1977
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Commentators: Boyd Pierce, Bill Watts

From Tri-State, which became Mid-South. Race is defending and we’re joined in progress late in the match. Murdoch’s leg gives out on a suplex attempt and Race cranks back on it as he is smart enough to do. Murdoch kind of collapses into a clothesline for two on Race, who drives him into the corner for two of his own. A shot to the face puts Race back down and Murdoch stomps away for two more. Skandor Akbar gets in the ring for a distraction but Race manages an O’Connor roll to retain at 3:40 shown. No rating due to how much was clipped but these two could have a classic if given the chance.

Post match Murdoch punches Akbar, who seems to be his manager, out but here’s a masked man (Dr. X?) to go after Murdoch. The beatdown is on so we cut to an NWA graphic because the NWA doesn’t think we should see it. A quick shot shows us Murdoch tied in the ropes to wrap it up.

From September 15, 1976 in Championship Wrestling From Florida.

This is a segment instead of a match as Greg Valentine drops some elbows through boards. Think a martial artist breaking through them with kicks, but with elbows instead. He does this over and over for two minutes. End of segment.

Mercedes Martinez vs. Victoria
Date: June 12, 2006
Location: Bryce Jordan Center, Stage College, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 4,500
Commentators: Jonathan Coachman, Todd Grisham

From Sunday Night Heat and Martinez is a jobber. Victoria headlocks her to start and hammers away with some right hands to the head. They go to the mat but Martinez pops up with a headlock of her own, only to get reversed into a headscissors. Back up and Martinez hits a dropkick into a nothern lights suplex for two but Victoria knees her in the face. A hot shot sets up the Widow’s Peak for the pin on Martinez at 3:12.

Rating: D+. Just a step beyond a squash here but it worked out well enough. This is one of the best kinds of Hidden Gems as there is something so cool about seeing a future star still becoming a thing. You could see some of the skill and polish in Martinez though and it is no surprise that she would be around so many years later. Victoria was pretty much nothing in WWE at this point though and that is a shame as the division could have used her.

Bobby Rood vs. Albert
Date: October 19, 2002
Location: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Michael Cole, Marc Lloyd

That would of course be Bobby Roode and he actually gets a hometown entrance. Albert drives him into the corner for a shot to the face as the SHAVE YOUR BACK chants start up. Roode slips out of a slam and kicks away at the leg but gets run over with a shoulder. An over the shoulder backbreaker drops Roode again and some forearms to the back make it worse. The catapult sends Roode throat first into the rope and we hit the neck crank. Roode fights up and hits a bulldog as commentary talks about Scorpion King being a big hit in the rental market. Albert has had it with this and hits the bicycle kick for the pin at 3:39.

Rating: C-. This was better than I would have expected as Roode got in a tiny bit of offense rather than running Roode over. You can have a squash but it doesn’t have to be a complete one, especially in a situation like this. Albert won decisively but it wasn’t anything embarrassing for Roode, which is nice to see for a change.

Post match Albert hits the Baldo Bomb to leave Roode laying.

Tazmaniac vs. Skippy Taylor
Date: May 5, 1993
Location: Exposition Building, Portland, Maine
Attendance: 2,700

Dark match from a Wrestling Challenge taping and this is just the hard cam shot, meaning the camera does not move an inch. I’ve seen this one before on the awesome Unreleased DVD set from a few years back and this is Taz vs. Scotty 2 Hotty. It’s so strange seeing Taz as the Tazmaniac caveman gimmick but it’s kind of fascinating.

Taylor cranks on the arm to start and hits a dropkick into a hiptoss. The t-bone suplex cuts him off and we’re already in the Tazmanian chinlock. That’s broken up but Taylor spends WAY too much time loading up a DDT, allowing Tazmaniac to suplex him into another chinlock. Taylor knocks him out of the air (not your typical Taz) but walks into an overhead belly to belly for the pin at 3:55.

Rating: C-. It’s another historical curiosity more than anything else, including trying to wrap my head around the fact that one of the wrestlers was named Skippy. The Tazmaniac was a dead end gimmick too and thank goodness he found the much better Taz deal, which wound up being a heck of a lot better for everyone. Nothing match of course, but it was an interesting pairing.

Big Daddy Ritter vs. Jim Neidhart
Date: May 11, 1979
Location: Victoria Pavilion, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Commentator: Ed Whalen

This is from Stampede Wrestling and that would be Junkyard Dog. The audio is rather choppy here as Neidhart shoves Ritter outside to start. Back in and Neidhart hits the shoulder in the corner but Ritter taunts him into a missed charge into the post. What might be a loaded glove to the head rocks Neidhart as even Whalen can figure out that something is up with the thing. Choking ensues and there’s a headbutt to knock Neidhart down again. A rake to the eyes takes Neidhart down again and back to back powerslams finish for Ritter at 4:26.

Rating: D. Total squash here and it’s bizarre to see Neidhart so young. He was only 24 here and took quite the beating as Ritter liked that loaded glove. It was bizarre to see Ritter as the heel too, as it isn’t something you ever see outside of Stampede. It’s also weird to see a full match from Stampede, as they liked the joined in progress format most of the time.

Post match Ritter gets in another right hand for a bonus.

Ted DiBiase vs. Tom Magee
Date: December 7, 1988
Location: SunDome, Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 9,176

Another Wrestling Challenge dark match and Magee is a heck of a specimen. The stands are a good bit empty as this seems to be rather early in the night. Magee shoves him down to start and hits an atomic drop into an armbar. Audio goes out (no commentary anyway though) as Magee flips him over into a better armbar. Back up and DiBiase unloads against the ropes but Magee kicks him to the floor and flips around a bit.

Magee strikes away in the corner and flips over DiBiase, only to be sent outside in a heap. They go outside with DiBiase stomping away, followed by a middle rope ax handle for two. Audio is back as a clothesline gets two more on Magee. The falling middle rope elbow misses though and Magee nails a spinwheel kick. A dropkick gives Magee two but he walks into a powerslam for the pin at 7:35.

Rating: C. I know Magee was Vince’s dream come true but you really could see how completely green he was every time he was in the ring. He doesn’t seem to have the natural timing or instincts to make it work and while that can be learned over time, it never clicked for him. The match was far from bad, though it’s hard to have a bad match against DiBiase.

From Mid-South, September 3, 1983.

We see a pair of rather large cowboy boots (yes, believe it or not, in Mid-South), one of which is much larger than the other. Cut to Bill Watts in a suit that is much too big for him. Watts says it takes a lot to fill another man’s shoes, much like you just saw there. That large boot and this large coat belong to Andre the Giant, who comes in for a chat.

Andre is proud of losing 15lbs to get down to 485 and talks about some of the travel problems he has to deal with everywhere he goes. He’s also hoping to do more acting work, such as on the Fall Guy. Watts talks about a 400lb college wrestler who would look like a baby next to Andre. Finally, he’s proud of Steve Williams, his former partner and no he does not have 185 teeth. This was a weird bit that felt like it belonged on a talk show where the interviewer didn’t know much about wrestling.

From NWA Western States, February 1, 1971.

Dory Funk Sr. is in the studio and is ready to train with his sons, NWA World Champion Dory Jr. and Terry in an empty arena. Sr. narrates as Terry tries to take Jr. down, saying they are going about ¾ speed. A fireman’s carry takes Jr. down as Sr. keeps critiquing them in the ring. Terry takes Jr. down for the spinning toehold but Sr. calls him off. Sr. takes Terry down with ease and pats him on the head.

A quick head fake lets Sr. take Terry down and Jr. takes Terry down with ease. Sr. explains to Terry that it isn’t fun to be slammed and then tells Terry to calm down. Terry even picks Sr. up for a slam but puts him down with a laugh. Back in the studio, Sr. praises his sons. This was quick but rather cool as you never see this kind of thing, especially with legends like these three.

Barry Hardy vs. Brian Armstrong
Date: August 16, 1994
Location: Lowell Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Attendance: 2,000

Dark match from a Wrestling Challenge taping and Armstrong is better known as Road Dogg. Armstrong, who is rather energetic, takes him into the corner and hits a dropkick to the floor. Back in and a gutwrench suplex sets up an armbar on Hardy, who comes back with some shots to the ribs. Armstrong grabs some rollups for two each and a knee lift sets up the jabs. There’s a big boot to drop Hardy again and a missile dropkick gives Armstrong the pin at 4:04.

Rating: C-. It’s so bizarre seeing Armstrong as a pretty run of the mill guy when you know the star he would become. He looked good enough here, though it isn’t like he would have stood out all that much. Going with the Roadie gimmick not too long after this was a good foot in the door, but you could see the talent out there, even in a short match like this one.

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Crunch Classic
Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan, Lord Alfred Hayes, Sean Mooney
Host: Roddy Piper

It’s a Coliseum Video and I’m curious to see what it includes. These things can go all over the place and that’s what makes them so much fun. Hopefully they focus on some of the more talented stars, as you can get some great matches, but you can also get some of the weirdest choices you’ll ever see. I’m not sure what to expect here and that makes it fun so let’s get to it.

This seems to be from 1992.

Host Roddy Piper welcomes us to the show and goes over some of his most famous moments (Cyndi Lauper, Mr. T., Jimmy Snuka), but he never won a title…until he met the Mountie.

From the 1992 Royal Rumble.

Intercontinental Title: Roddy Piper vs. The Mountie

The Mountie, with Jimmy Hart, is defending after winning the title from Bret Hart a few days earlier. Piper throws a jacket over Mountie’s face to start and hammers away, with Mountie bailing out to the floor. Back in and Mountie chokes on the rope but tries a monkey flip, only to get punched in the head.

A bulldog out of the corner drops Mountie as the fans are going nuts here as they realize Piper has a real chance. Mountie sends him into the corner to take over and the jumping elbow connects for two. Piper pops back up and hammers away, followed by a backdrop to send Mountie flying. The atomic drop sends Mountie over the top but he skins the cat, only to be sent into an interfering Hart. The sleeper gives Piper the title at 5:21.

Rating: C+. This was a case where it was all about the moment, as the Mountie was never going to be a major threat to beating Piper. The fans were with this the entire way and it was awesome to see Piper FINALLY get a title. No it wasn’t much of a match, but it doesn’t need to be but the point was the big moment and it more than worked.

Post match Piper gives Mountie the shock stick and gets the big AND NEW moment to an eruption. You can tell the fans are behind this and that’s awesome to see.

Piper loved that moment and it was the best day of his life….except maybe today.

From Dayton Ohio, October 22, 1991.

Money Inc. vs. Virgil/Big Boss Man

IRS and DiBiase get separate entrances (with Sensational Sherri coming to the ring with DiBiase) but Mooney calls the Money Inc. Virgil is the Million Dollar Champion. Boss Man shoves IRS around to start and Sherri is ticked off as Virgil and DiBiase come in. DiBiase doesn’t like the threat of fisticuffs and IRS offers a distraction to draw in the Boss Man

That’s enough for some evil double teaming and Virgil is in trouble (some things never change). DiBiase gets two off a suplex and IRS’ legdrop gets the same. Virgil fights up with a shot of his own and it’s back to Boss Man to hit a splash. It’s already back to Virgil for a top rope ax handle as everything breaks down. Sherri tries a shoe shot but hits IRS by mistake, allowing Virgil to get the rollup pin at 7:03.

Rating: C. It’s a perfectly decent tag match, though it also felt like it was something that belonged on a tape like this. Money Inc. would obviously get a lot better and were still figuring things out. Oddly the lack of Sherri helped them, as she didn’t really fit in here and would be much better off when she switched to Shawn Michaels not long after this.

Post match IRS yells at Sherri, who has to calm things down before DiBiase and IRS come to blows.

We get a day in the life of Jimmy Hart. He arrives in a rental car because the airline screwed up his limo. He goes into his hotel in Indianapolis and has to check all of his guys in. Most of his wrestlers have already arrived but his room won’t be ready for three hours. There is however a room ready in the basement, which he’ll take over nothing. We go to said basement, where Mountie needs help getting his shock stick working. IRS has also called, saying his plane was late and Mountie needs to just trust him.

Later, Money Inc. interrupt Hart when he is on the phone and ask about IRS’ briefcase. Hart gives him his newly initialed Tag Team Title and everyone is happy. After Hart asks someone about the Arsenio Hall Show and a movie, we cut to Hart asleep in his hotel room. The phone rings (Hart picks up a banana by mistake) and apparently DiBiase’s belt isn’t ready yet. And apparently the Nasty Boys have done…something.

Later, the Nasty Boys are warming up in the bathroom when Hart comes in, saying the bell rang and they need to go to the ring. Again later, Hart FINALLY goes to his hotel room while talking about how hard it is to manage this many wrestlers. And then his room key doesn’t work. I liked this, as it wasn’t exactly funny, but it was the kind of behind the scenes stuff you don’t often get. Of course managers have been a thing forever in wrestling and it’s kind of interesting to see what they do outside of the ring. It’s not some brilliant idea or classic moment, but it was nice for a five minute segment that went in a unique direction.

From Austin, Texas, December 4, 1991.

Nasty Boys vs. New Foundation

Jimmy Hart is here with the Boys and gets chased off by Neidhart to start. Knobbs knocks him into the corner but Neidhart isn’t having that and sends both Boys outside. Hart hits a heck of a dive and moonsaults back inside as the Boys need a breather. Knobbs comes back inside and gets his arm cranked but goes to the eyes. Sags comes in and gets armbarred as well, with Hart driving a knee into the arm.

Neidhart gets to stay on the arm before handing it right back to Hart, who gets choked on the ropes for a change. Sags’ chinlock with a knee in the back doesn’t really do much good so Knobbs drops some elbows to keep Hart down. The reverse chinlock does on but Hart is right back up to slingshot Neidhart in with a double shoulder. Neidhart shoulders Knobbs for two but Sags throws the referee out for the DQ at 7:28.

Rating: C. There were some nice moments in there but you could only get so much out of a match with so many chinlocks in not very much time. That’s where a lot of these matches tend to go and to be fair, it’s better to have the Nastys keeping it basic here if they can’t do a brawl. The New Foundation is a better team than they get credit for, as they’re always going to be compared to the original Harts, which just isn’t fair. They were good at their own style though, even with those amazing pants.

Roddy Piper talks about beating Adrian Adonis at Wrestlemania III in front of 92,000 fans, with Jimmy Hart getting beaten up there too. And let’s look at the match!

From Wrestlemania III.

Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis

Hair vs. hair. This is weird as Gorilla Monsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes have redone the commentary, which just sounds so wrong after seeing Wrestlemania so many times. They go straight to the fight and Piper pulls out a belt to unload on Adonis. Hart tries to come in and gets sent into Adonis, allowing Piper to hammer away in the corner. Hart’s cheap shot from the floor takes Piper out though and Adonis hits a big clothesline.

Piper gets knocked outside and even Hart gets in a cheap shot. Back in and Piper tells him to bring it so Adonis slugs away, followed by the sleeper. Piper sends him into the corner but can’t escape and goes down, meaning it’s two arm drops…and Adonis lets go before the third, meaning Piper is still in it. Hart gets inside to celebrate but Piper is back up and avoids a big swing of the hedge clippers, which hit Adonis in his own face. Piper’s sleeper gets the win at 6:34.

Rating: B-. It’s always fun to see this match, but dang it makes me want to watch the original as the lack of Jesse Ventura takes something away. I do like that they threw in a classic match here, as it’s certainly more memorable than having the same midcard stuff that regularly populates these things. This was a nice flashback and ties in well with the Piper theme of the tape, but it does kind of make the rest of the lame stuff stand out.

Post match Brutus Beefcake comes in to give Adonis the haircut, with Piper loving the whole thing.

From Dayton, Ohio, October 23, 1991.

Undertaker vs. British Bulldog

This is a Fan Favorite request and Paul Bearer is here with Undertaker. Bulldog gets knocked into the corner to start, with Bulldog doing the slow look at him. Back up and a clothesline puts Undertaker on the floor, though of course he sticks the landing. A Stunner over the top rope drops Bulldog and Undertaker chokes away back inside.

Bulldog is knocked outside again but is quickly back inside to avoid an elbow. Undertaker goes with that annoying smother thing he did at this point and then falls on Bulldog to counter a slam attempt. The delayed vertical suplex (ok that’s not bad) connects, as does the powerslam, which draws Bearer up for the distraction. Undertaker gets in an urn shot for the pin at 7:10.

Rating: C. This is a match that could have worked a lot better with some more time and a bit less of the smother hold. Bulldog could make a heck of a comeback if he was given the chance but Undertaker hadn’t figured out a lot of his stuff just yet. The match was picking up near the end and that suplex was rather impressive.

Post match Bulldog clotheslines him outside for daring to try the body bag.

From Austin, Texas, December 4, 1991.

Texas Tornado vs. Rick Martel

This would have been a way different match about five years earlier. Martel poses to start and then hides behind the referee. The kick to the ribs is cut off though and Tornado sends him straight into the corner. A running clothesline sends Martel outside and Tornado rams the arm into the post. Back in and Tornado starts cranking on the arm but misses a charge to post his own shoulder. Martel goes up and dives right into the Claw, which is broken up in the ropes. That’s enough for Martel, who sprays Arrogance in Tornado’s eyes for the DQ at 6:00.

Rating: D+. The Tornado just did not have it anymore at this point and that was becoming more and more obvious every time he was in the ring. Martel is an incredibly talented star but there is only so much he can do when Tornado was basically sleep walking through the whole thing. It’s kind of amazing that Tornado lasted so long, because this wasn’t working in the slightest and pretty much never did after his initial appearances.

Roddy Piper doesn’t like snakes so let’s go to Jake Roberts, who thinks snakes should be your pets. They’ll eat anything and you don’t have to feed them every day. We look at the famous cobra biting Randy Savage segment before Roberts shows us a bunch of snakes. And that’s it.

From Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, September 10, 1991.

Skinner vs. Jim Neidhart

Neidhart chases him up the aisle to start and they go back inside for a hearty shove. Skinner is right back with a running shoulder and a hiptoss before they’re back up for a standoff. A headlock works a bit better, only for Neidhart to send him crashing out to the floor again. That works so well that Neidhart does it again with a clothesline, meaning it’s time for the long for stalling.

Back in and Neidhart gets his own headlock, which does on for a little while until Skinner heads outside again. This time Skinner finds his alligator claw to hit Neidhart in the throat, setting up a reverse chinlock. That’s broken up so Skinner…grabs the same thing again. Neidhart fights up again and hits a flying shoulder, followed by some rams into the turnbuckle. They brawl out to the floor and that’s a time limit draw at 13:20. No time is given but just be grateful for what you get.

Rating: D+. They were making it pretty clear that it was there to get to the time limit and nothing else, which is something that makes sense in some matches. This however, was Skinner vs. Jim Neidhart and not one of those matches. Skinner wasn’t a big star but he would get the occasional Intercontinental Title shot, so you would think he could go over a tag guy like Neidhart in a singles match, but why do that when you can have a bizarre time limit instead?

From Lubbock, Texas, January 27, 1992.

Jim Duggan/Sgt. Slaughter vs. Natural Disasters

Jimmy Hart is here with the Disasters. Duggan and Typhoon start things off with Typhoon shoving him away. Three straight clotheslines put Typhoon down and it’s off to Slaughter, who actually backs him into the corner. It’s already back to Duggan, with Earthquake grabbing him from the apron so Typhoon can take over. Earthquake drives Duggan into the corner and drops the jumping elbow for two.

Typhoon chokes on the ropes and grabs a bearhug, followed by Earthquake’s backbreaker. Earthquake gets his own bearhug and then Typhoon comes back in…for a third bearhug. Since that has to be broken up rather quickly, Earthquake misses a charge into the corner and it’s Slaughter coming back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and a double splash in the corner crushes Slaughter. Earthquake brings in the megaphone so Duggan grabs the 2×4 and wrecks everyone for the DQ at 9:20.

Rating: D. You really shouldn’t be getting to a third bearhug in a match that doesn’t even make it to ten minutes (or most matches for that matter). That’s on top of a lame DQ ending, as again, neither Duggan nor Slaughter could take a pin from a pair of monsters. It’s another bad match to end the tape on a rough note, making me question the “classic” moniker.

Piper wraps us up and a Piper montage ends things.

Overall Rating: D+. This started off ok and then fell apart fast. It’s a bad sign when you have to go back to the previous decade to get what is probably the best thing on the whole tape. The matches were just kind of dull and the last few were pretty terrible. Piper is fun due to energy and charisma alone, but he can only do so much, even when he’s the biggest name on the whole thing. Find something else. Like Wrestlemania III. Or the 1992 Royal Rumble.

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Smackdown
Date: May 1, 2026
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re just over a week away from Backlash and there are some spots that need to be addressed on the card. In this case we need a challenger for Cody Rhodes, who didn’t have much to say last week. Other than that, Jacob Fatu seems to have moved over to Raw but wrecked the MFT’s on the way out. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at Jacob Fatu vs. Roman Reigns being set up for Backlash, with Fatu laying Reigns out with a Tongan Death Grip on Raw.

Here is Cody Rhodes to get things going. Earlier today, Rhodes met with the medical team and he is officially cleared for action. So what is next for him on Smackdown? Cue Ricky Saints of all people, who does a rather fired up entrance and says he’s great and suave and handsome and everything your mom wishes you were. This is Friday Night SAINTS so Rhodes asks what the difference is between the last time Saints stepped up to him? Saints suggests he’s ready to take the title and the match seems ready. Rhodes says he’s easy to find but hard to beat.

We look back at Fatal Influence making their debut last week.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss are asked about Fatal Influence’s numbers’ advantage. Rhea Ripley pops in and says she’s here if they need her. Charlotte doesn’t seem impressed however, as three is a crowd.

Jacy Jayne vs. Charlotte

The rest of Fatal Influence and Alexa Bliss are here too. Before the match, Jayne says this is her chance to show what Fatal Influence brings to Smackdown and there is no one to do that to than a legend like Charlotte. Jayne mocks the strut to start but gets taken into the corner. A forearm to the back of the head puts Charlotte down and Jayne snaps off a running hurricanrana.

That earns her the rolling figure four necklock slams and Charlotte kicks her in the head in the corner. Bliss scares Jayne on the floor and we take a break. We come back with Charlotte fighting out of a chinlock and firing off the chops. The flipping clothesline puts Jayne down again and the moonsault gets two. Jayne fights up but gets booted in the face. The Figure Eight goes on but the seconds get in a fight on the floor. Charlotte goes to intervene, allowing Jayne to hit the Rolling Encore (discus forearm) for the pin at 10:04.

Rating: B-. What matters here is that Jayne won. That’s the whole thing, as if she lost, any momentum she had was gone right out of the blocks. Charlotte is someone who can lose for months and be perfectly fine so it’s not like there is any damage done here. Jayne is the new star around and this is a massive win for her, so well done on what happened.

Post match the beatdown is on and Rhea Ripley runs in for the save, leaving her in a staredown with Charlotte.

Paige and Brie Bella are ready to defend their titles against anyone, including the Irresistible Forces tonight.

R-Truth and Damian Priest meet Fraxiom (R-Truth thinks one of them is an Americano), with Priest thinking that R-Truth has given them a title shot tonight. Priest is ready….and Frazer cuts Axiom off before he can say something, saying they’re looking forward to it too. Fraxiom leaves, and R-Truth isn’t happy because they weren’t talking about title shots. He was giving them tax advice, which has Priest even more confused than usual.

Miz and Kit Wilson leave Looney Tunes style trap for Danhausen offering “free human monies” in a briefcase. They hide and Danhausen comes up, gets $40,000 out, and leaves. Miz and Wilson go to the briefcase, which sprays them with powder. Yeah that figures.

Tag Team Titles: Damian Priest/R-Truth vs. Fraxiom

Fraxiom is challenging. R-Truth backs Axiom into the corner to start but gets taken down with a springboard armdrag. Priest and Frazer come in, with Axiom adding a hurricanrana. The champs are sent to the floor where they back off before the dives can launch and we take a break.

We come back with R-Truth hitting a Stundog Millionaire, allowing the tag off to Priest to clean house. The running shoulders in the corner let R-Truth come back in but he gets low bridged out to the floor. Frazer hits the big running flip dive and a missile dropkick connects, only for Priest to throw Axiom into the cover for the save. The Razor’s Edge to Axiom retains the titles at 9:39.

Rating: B-. This was pretty good, as Fraxiom can wrestle that fast paced style with anyone right now but they ran into a monster like Priest. R-Truth is best known for his goofiness but he can wrestle a perfectly competent match. The champs are still waiting for a big time challenger, though they’re fine at the moment having matches like this one.

Post match the MFT’s run in and wreck both teams. Post break, Solo Sikoa and Talla Tonga are still in the ring, with Solo Sikoa showing a clip of Jacob Fatu wrecking the team last week. Sikoa rants about Fatu taking out his family and when Fatu gets here tonight, he’s a dead man walking.

Cue the Usos to interrupt and talk about Fatu using the Tongan Death Grip. That’s a sacred move that is passed down and Roman Reigns isn’t accepting that, so Sikoa and company need to wait their turn. The Usos are telling instead of asking, so Sikoa has Talla wreck them. Sikoa says Reigns isn’t his Tribal Chief and Fatu is a dead man.

Cody Rhodes runs into Sami Zayn, who didn’t like being called sarcastic and condescending. Zayn asks if this was because he called Rhodes “Golden Boy”. They’re the last real good guys and they’re the same. Rhodes says a lot of that is true, but they’re not the same. Rhodes leaves Zayn shocked.

We get a clip of Jalen Brunson (NBA star) talking about his love of Roman Reigns.

Danhausen uncurses Brunson’s New York Knicks but keeps the curse on ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith.

Cody Rhodes vs. Ricky Saints

Non-title. Saints snaps off some armdrags to start and Rhodes needs to pause a bit. They head outside with Saints hitting something like an apron 619 and we take an early break. We come back with Rhodes getting out of a neck crank but getting pulled down with a neckbreaker. Rhodes is back up with a powerslam but Saints slips out and hits something like Sister Abigail for two. A springboard tornado DDT gives Saints two more but Rhodes reverses the Roshambo (running Dominator) into Cross Rhodes for the pin at 8:56.

Rating: B-. They got going near the end, though again I’m not sure about having Saints lose his first main roster match. It’s nice to have him around and there’s no shame in having him lose to Rhodes, but it’s a bit weird to have him take a loss like this so early. At least he did pretty well in his start though and that’s good to see.

Post match Gunther runs in and sleepers Rhodes out. Gunther holds up the title and I guess Rhodes has his random challenger.

Here is Danhausen, in the Hausenmobile, to say he’s using the $400 he found to buy t-shirts for the fans. This brings out the Miz, who says Danhausen has indeed cursed him. So yes, he will indeed be Danhausen’s mentor. They go to shake hands, but here is Kit Wilson to interrupt, saying Miz is supposed to mentor him. Miz says Danhausen has become a big deal on his own so Wilson and Danhausen both offer their hands. Eventually he shakes Danhausen’s hand and the curse is loaded up…but Miz jumps Danhausen and the beatdown is on.

Blake Monroe is in a bathtub and says she’ll be here soon.

Royce Keys vs. Angel

Keys sends him outside to start, where Berto is waiting to check on things. Berto’s distraction…doesn’t really do much for Angel, as Keys puts him on top for a super spinning powerslam. The spinebuster finishes Angel at 1:43.

Tiffany Stratton says it’s her birthday so the open challenge is on for next week. Chelsea Green comes in to reveal she’s healed but Kiana James and Giulia come in to say they want the shot. Stratton is fine with that and gives the shot to….James next week instead.

Jacob Fatu congratulates Royce Keys for his win. They’ve known each other for a very long time and Keys gives him a pep talk about remembering what it’s like to take what you want. Fatu appreciates that and leaves but Talla Tonga runs in to jump Keys. Fatu comes back to help with the fight but gets taken out by the MFT’s.

Here is Sami Zayn, with a big gingerbread man next to him. He loves it here in Tulsa and talks about being a big Bob Dylan (the University of Tulsa has a big Dylan collection), but what happened when Dylan went electric? The fans turned on him, just like they’ve turned on Zayn. He really doesn’t get why but he knows his ride or die fans are here tonight.

It’s ok though, because he can deal with bad reactions, but not disrespect, like he received from Trick Williams. Zayn calls Williams someone who can wear a costume and say catchphrases, but he doesn’t understand the idea of actually doing the hard work. He looks at the gingerbread man and sees nothing but disrespect. Zayn teases punching the gingerbread man (which is just a suit) and stops himself, only to knock it down and hammer away. Williams runs in for the save…and gives the X injury sign for the gingerbread man.

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

The Irresistible Forces are going to win the titles back because they’re prepared this time.

Trick Williams leaves the trainer’s room and says no one messes with the gingerbread man. Sami Zayn is getting his title rematch at Backlash but Zayn is messing with Williams’ money. If the gingerbread man isn’t ok, Zayn is getting a beating. When Williams wants something, he gets it. Williams: “Ask the legend herself. When Trick Williams wants it, he gets that a**.” Then he’s told that the gingerbread man didn’t make it through. I get that it’s meant to be silly, but is that the best way to present Williams?

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Brie Bella/Paige vs. Irresistible Forces

The Forces are challenging. Legend throws Paige down to start and hammers away before dragging her into the corner. Jax comes in and gets knocked down, allowing the tag off to Bella. It actually isn’t instant destruction for Bella, who is distracted by Legend so Jax can get in a cheap shot.

We take a break and come back with Jax missing a charge into the post. Bella hurricanranas Legend and brings Paige back in to kick Legend in the face. The rapid fire knees in the ropes hit Legend, followed by a Paige Turner into a Bella Buster. Jax makes the save and loads up the Annihilator but Paige breaks it up, allowing Bella to steal the pin at 7:49.

Rating: C. Keeping the Paige/Bella matches short is a good idea and that was on display here. They’re fine for the nice pop from the crowd but there isn’t much beyond that. I get that they’re just filling in for the Bellas as a team and that’s not Paige’s fault, but it’s still not something that I want to see long term.

The gingerbread man has died, so we get an In Memorium graphic.

Here’s what’s coming next week, including the gingerbread man’s funeral. They’re getting really close to running this into the ground.

Sami Zayn complains about the funeral to Nick Aldis, who confirms the US Title match at Backlash. Danhausen comes in to mention being attacked, so Aldis says it can be Danhausen vs. Miz/Wilson at Backlash, if Danhausen can find a partner. Danhausen: “That’s work!”

Usos vs. MFT’s

Jey strikes away at Talla to start and gets knocked down just as fast. Sikoa comes in and gets enziguried, allowing Jimmy to get the tag. Jimmy dives right into Spinning Solo though and the running Umaga Attack sends us to a break. We come back with Sikoa choking Jimmy on the ropes, with Talla adding a clothesline. The neck crank goes on, quickly followed by a Samoan drop for two.

Jimmy avoids some charges though and it’s a big jumping tag to bring Jey back in. A superkick and spear hit Sikoa, with Talla making the save. That earns him a double clothesline out to the floor, where Talla sends Jimmy into the steps. The announcers’ table is loaded up…and here is Jacob Fatu to jump Talla for the DQ at 10:38.

Rating: C+. With so much going on involving the family in one way or another, the DQ almost had to come somewhere in there. That’s good enough, as Fatu is the biggest single name involved with the whole thing here. It’s nice to see a story cross over between the two shows, as it really is making Fatu feel like a more important star.

Post match Fatu hits Talla with the steps and grabs the Tongan Death Grip on Sikoa. Talla gets Death Gripped as well, followed by a Samoan drop through the table. Fatu gets back inside for a staredown with the Usos but walks past them and hits his catchphrase to end the show instead.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show which was good enough on its own but it would have been that much better with the extra hour cut out here or there. I do like some of the pieces they’re putting together around here though and that’s better than what they were doing before Wrestlemania. It’s far from a great show, but it set some things up for the next few weeks and had good enough action so I’ll call it a fine week.

Results
Jacy Jayne b. Charlotte – Rolling Encore
Damian Priest/R-Truth b. Fraxiom – Razor’s Edge to Axiom
Cody Rhodes b. Ricky Saints – Cross Rhodes
Royce Keys b. Angel – Spinebuster
Paige/Brie Bella b. Irresistible Forces – Rollup to Jax
MFT’s b. Usos via DQ when Jacob Fatu interfered

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: April 30, 2026
Location: Upstate Medical University Arena At The Oncenter War Memorial, Syracuse, New York
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

Unless I’ve missed it, we don’t have a big show announced yet outside of Slammiversary. That’s all the way in late June so I’d assume we’ll be getting an announcement sooner than later. I’m not sure who is going to be coming after the World Title, but it’s time for Elijah vs. Frankie Kazarian in a guitar strap match. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Vincent vs. Jeff Hardy

Their partners are barred from ringside. Hardy jumps him to start fast but it’s way too early for the Swanton. Instead Hardy dives outside to take him down on the floor, followed by the spinning mule kick back inside. Another Swanton attempt is broken up and Vincent rams him into the apron. Back in and Vincent bends Hardy’s back over his knee, only for Hardy to fight up with a sitout jawbreaker. They punch each other down until Hardy gets back up for the legdrop between the legs.

The Twist Of Fate gets two so Hardy Russian legsweeps him into a rollup for two more. A sitout gordbuster drops Vincent again but he pulls Hardy back out of the corner for the crash. Vincent goes up…and the lights go out…oh no….and yeah Broken Matt is back. The lights go out again and when they come back up, Jeff is on top and Vincent is down, meaning the Swanton can finish for Jeff at 7:55.

Rating: C+. Dang it. I was hoping we wouldn’t be going here even after all of the signs pointing in this direction. I’m not a big fan of the Broken stuff and we’re probably coming up on another Final Deletion style match. That being said, I do appreciate that this is a story taking place without the titles, which is always appreciated.

Frankie Kazarian is ready for the guitar strap match because he’s been in the first of a bunch of matches over the last twenty years. Tonight, he’s doing it again.

International Title: Mustafa Ali vs. Adam Brooks

Ali is defending after picking a random country. Brooks gets run over to start and Ali grabs a running hurricanrana. A spinwheel kick knocks Brooks down but he’s right back with a kick to the face. Ali gets backdropped to the floor but plants Brooks on the floor to cut him right back off. The rolling neckbreaker gives Ali two back inside and we hit the chinlock. Ali gets up but dives into a punch to the face to knock him out of the air. Brooks brainbusters him onto the knee for two but misses a charge in the corner. The 450 retains the title at 5:55.

Rating: C+. Brooks got a chance to showcase himself here but this was the first time around for Ali’s international deal. That’s something that could go on for a long time and it means more of Ali in the ring, which is a good thing to see. Just let it get build up for awhile and then have a big name waiting on him. Simple and classic.

Eric Young wants to face EC3 once and for all next week.

We run down the rest of the card.

Tessa Blanchard/Victoria Crawford/Mila Moore vs. Rosemary/Allie/Mara Sade

And yes, commentary brings up that Allie was killed. Rosemary whips Crawford into the corner to start and hammers away, followed by a bite to send her outside. Sade hits a big dive onto the three villains and we take a break. We come back with Rosemary getting triple kneed in the corner as we see a rather bad shot of a bunch of empty seats. Rosemary fights up and brings Allie back in to clean house. Allie and Rosemary grab stereo Upside Downs and the Codebreaker finishes Moore at 8:36.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to see Allie get a win after such a bad case of death so at least she still has something. I’m a bit surprised to see Moore take the fall, as Crawford tends to be the team’s designated loser. I’m not sure how long the Undead Realm women are going to be around but at least we got a nice moment here.

Santino Marella says he has been cleared of all charges and he has authority again. Next week, it’s Moose/Leon Slater vs. the System, plus the Tag Team and Knockouts Titles are on the line. That’s a relief, as Rae being in charge full time doesn’t sound great.

Here is Indi Hartwell, who is happy with the Marella decision, despite Daria Rae’s interference. Other than that, she’s coming for Arianna Grace.

Mike Santana is happy with his match against Rich Swann last week but Nic Nemeth shows up, suggesting he’ll be cashing in soon.

Daria Rae talks to her unseen boss, who confirms that all of Santino Marella’s matches are set and Marella is back in power. Indi Hartwell comes in and Rae threatens to not renew her contract.

Mr. Elegance vs. Home Town Man

The Elegance Brand is here with Elegance, who poses to start. That earns him an armbar, which is broken up rather quickly. Instead, Man grabs an airplane spin and chokes on the rope. Elegance is back with a spinebuster, followed by some running knees to the back (which I had to see more than once to see what it was).

The Brand messes with Man’s Syracuse jersey though and that’s enough to really start the comeback. An elbow and high crossbody give Man two but Ash gets on the apron to dance. Man shrugs off her offer of a kiss though and puts a mask on her, only to get caught with the wind up DDT to give Elegance the pin at 6:05.

Rating: C-. I’m not sure what to make of this, as Elegance really isn’t good, which I guess is the entire point. I think? Maybe? Either way, he’s better as someone who stands outside and poses a lot, as the in-ring side of things isn’t his strong suit. The whole Brand needs something to do though, as they’re just kind of floating around at the moment.

Allie and Mara Sade are happy when Rosemary comes in to say they still have a lot of work to do. Sade dances, Allie tries to dance, and Rosemary gets caught dancing, which has her rather annoyed.

Lei Ying Lee is crushed and is ready to leave her title shot behind. Tommy Dreamer comes up to tie this into his feud with Raven. Everyone believes in Lee, who agrees to stay.

Here is Leon Slater for a chat. He’s happy to be here because he is getting closer and closer to being the longest reigning X-Division Champion of all time. That’s all fine, but he’s not happy with Cedric Alexander, who can’t keep Slater’s name out of his mouth. Cue Alexander, who says he has earned a title shot, which will come on May 14, a day before Slater sets the record. Cue the System to jump Slater but Moose runs in for the save. Brian Myers gets powerbombed onto the rest of the team and Alisha Edwards has to bail to avoid a spear.

Ryan Nemeth feels left out by his big brother…and explains this to AJ Francis. After explaining that he does NOT like Nemeth slapping his leg, Francis points out that the Nemeths did all of this to him. He doesn’t care, and wants Nemeth to leave KC Navarro to him.

Frankie Kazarian vs. Elijah

It’s a strap match with four corners rules, though they start in the back. Kazarian seems to try to cheat to start things off to no avail and they slug it out. They fight around a bit, until Kazarian finds some hand sanitizer to blind Elijah. Kazarian slams Elijah’s arm in a door but gets crotched on some piece of equipment. Elijah puts him on a cart and sends him rolling into a crash. Some rams into a garage door have Kazarian in more trouble and they head to ringside as we take a break.

We come back with the brawl continuing at ringside until Elijah sends him inside. A rope walk sunset bomb (cool) puts Kazarian down but he’s right back up with some whips to the ribs. That’s fine with Elijah, who ties him around the post and gets in his own whipping. Kazarian whips him on the apron and drops a leg but gets pulled into the post. Back in and Kazarian grabs the chickenwing but Elijah hits three buckles.

That’s broken up as Kazarian pulls him down into the middle to stay on the arm. Elijah breaks that up as well and knees him out of the air. A Backstabber cuts Elijah off so Kazarian gets three buckles, with Elijah pulling him down. The strap breaks so the Highwayman’s Farewell connects and Elijah gets three buckles. Kazarian tries to fight back so it’s a heck of a guitar shot to knock him silly and give Elijah the fourth buckle for the win at 16:34.

Rating: B-. Yeah it was fine, which is about as you’re going to get in this kind of a match most of the time. The feud was only so interesting in the first place and this match didn’t make things that much better. Elijah winning is fine, though I’d rather he just get into another personal feud rather than moving up the ladder very far. I just don’t see him as a bigger name around here, as he tends to fit in better around this level.

Overall Rating: C+. The show was fine, even if it felt more like a means to set up the bigger shows down the line. That’s not a bad thing to do every so often as it lets things get built up a bit more. They don’t have a special coming up, but there are a few big matches set, which is fine enough for the time being. It’s not a must see show but it kept things moving forward fairly well. Call it a setup show and a decent one at that.

Results
Jeff Hardy b. Vincent – Swanton
Mustafa Ali b. Adam Brooks – 450
Rosemary/Allie/Mara Sade b. Tessa Blanchard/Victoria Crawford/Mila Moore – Codebreaker to Moore
Mr. Elegance b. Home Town Man – Wind Up DDT
Elijah b. Frankie Kazarian – Elijah touched all four turnbuckles

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: April 30, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re coming up on Supercard Of Honor and the top of the card has mostly come together. That isn’t something that happens very often with big time Ring Of Honor events but they’re pulling it off this time. Unfortunately there is only so much of a connection between what we see here and what is being promoted for the show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Matt Menard

Well that’s a surprise. They take turns backing each other up against the ropes until Takeshita takes him down. A slam sends Takeshita outside, which feels like something of an overreaction. Back in and Takeshita knocks him into the corner for the knees to the head in the corner. Takeshita grabs the chinlock but Menard fights up and sends him into the corner for the right hands. The exchange of forearms goes to Takeshita and he hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. The running knee finishes for Takeshita at 6:43.

Rating: C. There wasn’t much to be seen here as there was only going to be so much you could get out of Takeshita vs. Menard. I’m not entirely sure why Takeshita was here and especially with no promotion, but it’s nice to have a surprise every so often. If nothing else it was nice to have a relatively quick match, as Menard losing pretty fast is a good thing.

Shane Taylor vs. Mance Warner

Dang they’re throwing some curves into this one and somehow Warner has never wrestled in Ring Of Honor. They forearm it out with Warner firing off some overhand chops to send him outside. That means a running poke to the eye but Taylor rams him back first into the post. Taylor’s running legdrop connects on the apron and puts Warner in a chair for a running elbow.

Back in and a big clothesline drops Warner again, followed by a release Rock Bottom. The big splash gives Taylor two but the middle rope version misses. Warner fires off some clotheslines and hits a belly to back suplex before going to grab the chair. Said chair is used for a running tornado DDT but Taylor’s knee to the face gets two more. The Marcus Garvey Driver finishes Warner at 8:07.

Rating: C+. This was a hard hitting fight and I get why you would have Taylor win, though if Warner is available, he’s worth having around. I could go with seeing him around to do some insane talking as he would certainly add some spice to the show. Of course that’s assuming this isn’t a one off appearance, though that would be a bit of a surprise.

The Premiere Athletes warn everyone against laying a hand on Mark Sterling.

Stori Denali vs. Jacey Love

Mark Sterling is here too and threatens anyone who even looks at him the wrong way. Denali shoves her into the corner and Love’s dropkicks to the leg don’t do much good. The tornado DDT is blocked and a chokeslam finishes for Denali at 2:27.

Alan Angels vs. Lio Rush

Just in case you thought you might not have to watch Rush be WEIRD for a week. Angels snaps off a running hurricanrana to start so Rush does his bug eyed crawling. They run the ropes until Rush takes him down for a spinning kick to the head. Rush goes outside and screams at a chop, only for Angels to stomp on his back on the way back inside. A bridging northern lights suplex gives Angels two so Rush starts moving faster and catches Angels on top.

Angels bites the ear but gets caught with the springboard Stunner for two. A powerbomb out of the corner plants Rush again and Angels’ spinning kick to the head gets two more. They go to a pinfall reversal sequence for a bunch of one counts each until Angels rolls some half and half suplexes. The top rope splash gives Angels two so they head to the apron, where Rush hits another Stunner. Rush does his weird (because he’s WEIRD) running around the ring into a suicide dive, followed by a toss Blue Thunder Bomb to finish Angels at 9:33.

Rating: B-. Yeah……this Rush thing is not for me at all. He wrestles pretty much the same match but now he does the big eyes and weird hopping stuff as well. I’d be fine with Rush being around in another form, say as himself rather than with Action Andretti in a low level tag team, but this isn’t working for me.

We look at Diamante mocking Deonna Purrazzo last week.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Remi Reade

Non-title Pure Rules match. Purrazzo easily escapes a headscissors to start and mocks Reade a bit before grabbing a backslide for one. Reade slips away from her and gets in the same mock, with Purrazzo approving. Back up and Purrazzo backs her into the ropes, which counts as the first break. The threat of the Fujiwara armbar sends Reade over to the ropes (not a break) so Purrazzo goes with a powerbomb. Now the Fujiwara armbar makes Reade tap at 3:07.

Rating: C. This was hardly going to be some big, amazing match and that’s what we wound up getting. Purrazzo wrestled her down and won with a mixture of stuff, which is a good way to go for her. Purrazzo’s big match is in two weeks, even though there is little reason to believe that her title is in danger.

Top Flight vs. Soleil/Gringo Loco

Loco kicks at Darius to start but can’t get very far with a headscissors on the mat. Soleil comes in and picks up the pace (which was already up in the first place) and gets sent into the wrong corner. That doesn’t last long as Soleil hits a dive to the floor to take Darius out again. Some running kicks to the head get two on Soleil and Loco’s spinning split legged moonsault gets two.

Darius fights up and hands it off to Dante, who has to fight both of them off. A twisting Meteora puts Dante down and it’s Loco dropping a Swanton for two. Everything breaks down and Darius is back in for a German suplex. The double underhook DDT finishes Loco at 6:55.

Rating: B-. Well it was fast paced and energetic, with some good spots and absolutely no reason to believe that either of the teams are going to be doing anything important anytime soon. That’s the case with a lot of people around here and unfortunately it’s where Top Flight is as well. It would be nice to believe that there is a reason to believe otherwise but years of that not happening would suggest otherwise.

IInspiration vs. B3cca/Madison Maxx

Lee grabs a headlock on Maxx to start and the IInspiration clear the ring without much trouble. That means the double pose is on, followed by the double choking in the corner. B3cca comes in and gets beaten up as well, setting up stereo Pedigrees. The Idolizer finishes B3cca at 3:41.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what the IInspiration are supposed to do around here but they need some wins to boost them back up. Granted there is only so much value in having them win a match like this one, but it’s better than nothing. There are only so many women’s teams around in the first place so going with one of the few established ones makes sense.

We get a sitdown interview between Caprice Coleman and….Ian Riccaboni. Actually Riccaboni brings in Red Velvet, which would be a better interview, though Coleman looks nervous because he wasn’t ready for this. And I guess this is going to be on social media later. Ok then.

Viva Van vs. Sara Leon

Van rolls around with a wristlock to start and they go up to a standoff. Leon backs up a bit so Van rolls forward into a pose, leaving Leon to roll her up for two. A hurricanrana out of the corner drops Van, who is right back with a Brock Lock of all things. Leon has to escape a surfboard and gets two, only to get caught in a cross arm electric chair suplex to give Van the pin at 4:28.

Rating: C+. Van hasn’t done much around here but it’s nice to see her get a chance to actually win for a change. If nothing else, you need to have her win on occasion or beating her over and over only means so much. I’ve seen good things from Van elsewhere so maybe this is the start of something for her around here as well.

Paid In Full vs. Nick Halen/Vin Parker

Halen actually gives Keith a running STO for two to start but Keith rakes the eyes. Bill comes in for a running splash in the corner and the spinning Boss Man Slam plants Parker. The big boot finishes Halen at 2:21.

We look at Christian XO’s debut.

Christian XO vs. Frankie B.

The rather tall XO mocks Frankie with an offer of a test of strength and then knocks her down with ease. A Stratusphere has Frankie in trouble but she escapes a fireman’s carry. That just earns Frankie an ax kick (which looked more like a Fameasser) for the pin at 2:19.

TMDK vs. Don Callis Family

It’s RPG Vice and Mark Davis for the Family. Tito and Romero start things off but it’s quickly off to Beretta, who is powered into the corner. Everything breaks down and Davis knees Haste in the face. Haste is sent into the corner and stomped down but he fights up on Romero. The tag brings in Nicholls to clean house until everyone is knocked down for a big breather.

Tito and Davis come back in to slug it out and knock each other down again. They slug it out from their knees and then feet, with Tito hitting a brainbuster for two. A double spinebuster/powerbomb combination gets the same, with Romero and Beretta making the save. Back up and Davis runs Tito over for two before pulling Haste out of the corner for the piledriver. Strong Zero sends Nicholls outside but Tito is back up…and gets lariated for two. Another piledriver finishes Tito at 11:12.

Rating: B-. Another entertaining match with the Family getting to beat TMDK again. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Davis getting to hit that piledriver, which is becoming one of the more devastating moves in AEW/ROH. I’m not sure why we’re seeing so much from RPG Vice as of late, though if they’re signed they might as well be used in some way.

Overall Rating: C+. The pay per view is in about two weeks and one of the four matches announced got any real advancement this week (and that’s a stretch as Purrazzo winning a match isn’t much of an advancement). The rest of the show was just a bunch of stuff like you would see on any other show. I’m sure there will be a bunch of stuff added to Supercard Of Honor at the last minute and some of them will get on the show as a result, but this stuff doesn’t really make me care about most of these people. In other words, it’s Ring Of Honor at its most typical.

Results
Konosuke Takeshita b. Matt Menard – Running knee
Shane Taylor b. Mance Warner – Marcus Garvey Driver
Stori Denali b. Jacey Love – Chokeslam
Lio Rush b. Alan Angels – Toss Blue Thunder Bomb
Deonna Purrazzo b. Remi Reade – Fujiwara armbar
Top Flight b. Gringo Loco/Soleil – Double underhook DDT to Loco
IInspiration b. B3cca/Madison Maxx – Idolizer to B3cca
Viva Van b. Sara Leon – Crossarm electric chair suplex
Paid In Full b. Nick Halen/Vin Parker – Big boot to Halen
Christian XO b. Frankie B. – Ax kick
Don Callis Family b. TMDK – Piledriver to Tito

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