Smackdown
Date: June 13, 2025
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

We’re on the way to Night Of Champions and the big story is John Cena vs. CM Punk for the Smackdown World Title coming up in Saudi Arabia. Other than that, we have a pair of Money In The Bank briefcases floating around, which are likely going to be teased for a good while now. This week we should be seeing some more things being set up for the pay per view so let’s get to it.

Here is Money In The Bank if you need a recap.

This show was in my hometown but I had something more important to do. Happy birthday buddy.

We open with a long recap of Worlds Collide and Money In The Bank.

Here is John Cena to get things going. After his special introduction, Cena says that the Mount Rushmore of wrestling is four of him because no one has ever been him. He is smarter than everyone and he is always 1000 steps ahead of you. Last year, he announced his retirement a year in advance so he could have six months to scout his biggest opponents.

Cena goes through the year, explaining every action he has taken like a maniacal movie villain. Now Punk is coming up on Night Of Champions but he’ll have to become a hypocrite to get his shot. Seth Rollins won’t cash in on him because he wants Cena to take the title away so Rollins can be the one champion. Cena has solved everything because he is smarter than everyone and it will take you years to understand it.

No one is capable of hanging with him but here is Cody Rhodes to interrupt. Rhodes calls Cena a genius and agrees that Cena’s plans have been right the entire time. Cena has this twenty five year master plan but there is one detail he overlooked: Rhodes pinned him at Money In The Bank. Rhodes isn’t part of Cena’s plan, because Cena is part of his. Cue Randy Orton to say he has Cena beaten at Backlash until someone saved Cena again. Now Orton is ready to win the King Of The Ring to get to Cena and he’ll go through Rhodes to get there.

Cue LA Knight to interrupt (Barrett: “YES!”), who knows that no one in the ring wants him walking down there. Knight is the sore thumb against the WWE establishment and that’s how he likes it. King Of The Ring is here and if he has to drop any of them to be WWE Champion, so be it. Cena goes to leave but R-Truth jumps him from behind. Everyone lining up to come after Cena as the clock is ticking is an interesting story, and Knight jumping into the main event scene is a logical way to go for him. The US Title doesn’t mean anything for him anymore so see what he can do.

King Of The Ring First Round: Randy Orton vs. LA Knight vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Aleister Black

This could be interesting. Hayes and Black slug it out to start, leaving Orton and Knight to brawl in the corner. Hayes gets two off a quick rollup but gets sent outside for a moonsault from Black. Knight, Orton and Black all miss their finishers and we take an early break. Back with Knight stomping Hayes down in the corner and then doing the same to Orton. Hayes is back up to kick Knight down and the Fade Away puts him down.

A running flip dive takes Black out but Knight is up to send Hayes into the announcers’ table. Orton drops Black onto the table but can’t superplex Hayes. Instead Black posts Orton, leaving Hayes to frog splash Knight for two as we take another break. Back again with Black striking away but having to block an RKO. A series of strikes give Black two on Hayes but Orton gives everyone a powerslam.

The double hanging DDT is loaded up, with Knight coming in with a neckbreaker to Orton, driving the other two down in the process. The BFT hits Black with Hayes making the save but cue Bronson Reed to cut off the jumping elbow. Bron Breakker is in for a Super Spear to Knight and Hayes adds a frog splash….into an RKO onto Knight. Orton gets the pin on Knight to advance at 16:17.

Rating: B. I was digging this one with the ending being quite the creative way to go to wrap it up. That’s one of the best things you can see, as it came out of nowhere for a cool way to go. Other than that, it was nice to see all four of them being an option to win. The interference was a fine way to keep Knight looking strong, though I could have gone with someone else taking the fall.

Jacob Fatu warns us that he is coming.

Here is Jacob Fatu for a chat and the fans are happy to see him. Just because you are family doesn’t mean you can go behind someone’s back and take credit for their success, which is what Solo Sikoa did to him. That’s why he took Sikoa out at Money In The Bank and he’s on his own. Cue a clapping Sikoa on the Titantron, saying he brought Fatu here a year ago because Fatu was doing nothing. He gave Fatu a chance and next week he’ll give him another one. Fatu can apologize and say he loves Sikoa, because Sikoa can take him out. This should be interesting, but Fatu as a monster face has all of the potential.

The Secret Hervice comes in to see Nick Aldis, with Chelsea Green on the phone, saying that she needs to have her Queen Of The Ring match in a city other than Lexington. Aldis isn’t doing that and puts Alba Fyre in her place. The Secret Hervice leaves and Zelina Vega comes in, saying she wants Giulia. That can’t happen this week, so she’ll face Giulia next week, with Aldis not really able to get a word in.

Queen Of The Ring First Round: Michin vs. Piper Niven vs. Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax

Niven and Michin go to the floor, leaving Cargill to shoulder Jax in the corner. Michin comes in and gets taken down by Cargill, who gets two off a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Back up and Michin hits a running dropkick to put Cargill down but Niven hits a running backsplash on Michin. Jax is back in to take over on Cargill, who avoids a charge to send Jax shoulder first into the post. Michin is back up for an Asai moonsault onto all three and we take a break.

Back with Cargill superkicking Jax but getting taken down by Niven. Some running shots in the corner have Cargill in trouble but it’s time for Jax and Niven to argue. Michin is back in to pick up the pace with a running hurricanrana, with Jax making the save. Cargill slugs away on Jax and Niven on the floor, only for them to throw Cargill over the announcers’ table (and over Wade Barrett) for the big crash.

Back in and Michin grabs a spinning DDT on Niven, only to get dropped by Jax. The Annihilator hits Michin but Niven makes the save. Niven drives Jax through the barricade and hits the Piper Bomb on Michin. Cargill is back in though and Jaded finishes Niven at 12:52.

Rating: B-. There is something amazing about watching Cargill muscle someone up and plant them down with Jaded and that’s what she did again here. It was fun to see someone going power vs. power with Jax, as that isn’t something you often see. It was an entertaining match and Cargill feels like she could be in for something big sooner than later.

Here is Miss Money In The Bank Naomi for a chat. Naomi says people here are looking real shocked and real stupid but she took what she deserved. The entire time when she was trying to take the title from Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton was there to stop her. Too nice Naomi allowed it to happen…and here is Stratton to interrupt. Stratton says just cash in right now and take the title if she’s so confident.

Naomi is all talk and no action and that’s why she couldn’t beat Jax. That doesn’t work for Naomi, who wants to surprise Stratton and is going to make her life h***. Proceed with caution. Naomi leaves but here is Nia Jax to jump Stratton and hit the Annihilator. Naomi teases the cash-in but Jax glares her off. And so we start what is likely going to be a months long ordeal with one tease after another.

Earlier today, Nick Aldis talked to the tag division, all of whom want the Wyatt Sicks. The Motor City Machine Guns get the nod this week.

Wyatt Sicks vs. Motor City Machine Guns

It’s Dexter Lumis/Joe Gacy for the Wyatts with the rest of the team here too. It’s a brawl to start with the Wyatts taking over and Lumis’ jumping spinning legdrop gets two on Sabin. Gacy comes in but gets low bridged to the floor, with the Guns following with stereo slingshot dives.

We take a break and come back with Sabin cleaning house and the stereo apron superkicks rocking Lumis. Gacy is back in with a double clothesline to take over and powerbombs Lumis onto Sabin for two. Sabin is back up with a DDT to Lumis and the Dream Sequence connects. Skull & Bones is broken up though and Lumis’ guillotine legdrop finishes Sabin at 9:23.

Rating: C+. It’s about time to do something with the Wyatts, as you can only have them do a bunch of random beatdowns. Going after the Tag Team Titles isn’t a bad idea and it feels like this is the start of setting up the Wyatts to go through the division and maybe even take the titles. Good enough stuff here, which is absolutely no shock given that the Guns were around.

John Cena comes up to Jimmy Uso in the back and is looking for R-Truth. Uso hasn’t, but Cena wants R-Truth to meet him in the ring.

Here is an angry Cena for a chat. He can tolerate a certain level of disrespect but R-Truth has crossed the line. Cena calls R-Truth out for a fight right now but gets CM Punk instead. Punk says he has a mic and wants Cena to turn around and let the fans celebrate him like they want to. Cena: “Why?”

He wants to know why he should waste his time in front of a bunch of people who don’t matter. These people don’t matter. This place doesn’t matter. Basketball doesn’t matter. Horse racing doesn’t matter. The title is all that matters. Punk gets serious and says there is one reality: Cena cannon beat him. When Punk was at his best, Cena could not beat him. It is Punk’s belief in himself that brought him here and he’s not here dressed like a toddler who just struck out at t-ball.

Punk wants that one back because it sounds like PG John Cena, but “I’m going to take the title and walk out” sounds like something Punk would say. It’s ironic that Cena is stealing Punk’s material because Cena couldn’t stop him. Punk will meet him in Saudi Arabia and he will sacrifice the goat to the gods of wrestling. The reality is Punk can see through him and that’s the truth. Cue R-Truth to jump Cena from behind and put him in the STF. This was more of the hard sell from Punk, with R-Truth being an interesting side piece to the whole thing.

Alexa Bliss is ready to move closer to being Queen Of The Ring but Charlotte comes in to say there is one queen.

R-Truth requests and receives a match with John Cena next week.

Queen Of The Ring First Round: Charlotte vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Alba Fyre vs. Candice LeRae

Bliss cuts off Charlotte’s entrance to make this especially personal. LeRae and Fyre break up the staredown but Charlotte is back up to knock both of them down and take over. Bliss comes in with a high crossbody to Charlotte but Charlotte takes them all down again as we go to a break.

Back with Bliss hitting a Tower Of Doom and we get a parade of faceplants. Charlotte gets the Figure Eight on Bliss but LeRae breaks it up with an Asai moonsault. Bliss is back up with Twisted Bliss to Fyre, only for Charlotte to break it up. Charlotte’s spear gets two on LeRae and she grabs the Figure Eight on Fyre. Bliss is right back with the Sister Abigail DDT to pin LeRae for the win at 10:49, just before Fyre taps.

Rating: C+. I like seeing Charlotte lose, but why do I have a feeling this is going to result in her complaining about a lot of things and probably costing Bliss the semifinals? Either way, Bliss getting a push is intriguing as she could be slotted into the title scene rather easily, though Charlotte will likely have something to say about that. Other than that, this won’t sit well with Chelsea Green, which should be great.

Post match Charlotte glares a lot.

Cody Rhodes runs into CM Punk, who wishes him luck tonight.

King Of The Ring First Round: Cody Rhodes vs. Damian Priest vs. Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura bails to the floor to start so Rhodes decks him, leaving Andrade to knock Priest into the corner. Rhodes is back in to clothesline Priest out to the floor but Nakamura is back up to go after both of them. Andrade hits a big dive to the floor to take everyone out as we take a break.

Back with Nakamura hitting the sliding German suplex on Priest but he’s back up to knock everyone else down. Rhodes breaks up Old School though, leaving Nakamura to cross armbreaker Andrade. That’s broken up so Rhodes brings out a (Slim Jim) table but Nakamura saves Andrade from going through it. Instead Rhodes is kicked through the table and we take a break.

Back with Andrade cleaning house but Rhodes fires off a string of clotheslines. Nakamura breaks up Cross Rhodes and hits Kinshasa for two but Andrade is back up. The Message gets two on Priest and Andrade slugs it out with Nakamura. Rhodes breaks that up and Cody Cutters Priest, followed by Cross Rhodes to pin Nakamura at 16:46.

Rating: B-. You could all but guarantee who was taking the fall the second Nakamura was announced for the match and that’s not the worst thing. He’s leaving when his deal is up so why bother wasting a loss on anyone else? Rhodes needs a nice run in this tournament after Wrestlemania and putting him against Cena again at Summerslam is hardly a bad idea.

Overall Rating: B. This show was heavily focused on the tournaments, with only the tag match getting attention otherwise. As a result, the wrestling was rather good, though my goodness I could go a long time without seeing a qualifying/first round multi person match. Other than that though, this was about people lining up to come after John Cena, who is trying to run out the clock on this time in WWE. I’m curious to see where that is going, and the match with Punk at Night Of Champions should be more than worth a look. Good show here, and things are looking up around here.

Results
Randy Orton b. LA Knight, Carmelo Hayes and Aleister Black – Frog splash to Knight
Jade Cargill b. Piper Niven, Nia Jax and Michin – Jaded to Niven
Wyatt Sicks b. Motor City Machine Guns – Guillotine legdrop to Sabin
Cody Rhodes b. Shinsuke Nakamura, Andrade and Damian Priest – Cross Rhodes to Nakamura

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: June 12, 2025
Location: Mullett Arena, Tempe, Arizona
Commentators: Matthew Rehwoldt, Tom Hannifan

Against All Odds has come and gone and not much happened, with the biggest story possibly being the return of the IInspiration. We’re still on the road to Slammiversary and that could go in a few different directions. For one thing, we need some new contenders to the titles, including the one mostly likely to take the title from Trick Williams. We have a little over a month to go before the pay per view and that means it is time to get ready for the show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Against All Odds if you need a recap.

Against All Odds recap.

Earlier today, Santino Marella wouldn’t let Mike Santana in the building, saying he could be back in two weeks. Marella also had security throw Robert Stone out of the building.

Opening sequence.

Here is Santino Marella to get things going. He’s happy to be done with Robert Stone but he has business to cover. First up, Moose will officially be defending the X-Division Title against Leon Slater at Slammiversary. Second, next week it’s the Champions Challenge, with the champions teaming up against an all-star team. As for tonight, it’s the 8-4-1 match, with eight Knockouts in a four on four tag. The winning team then has a four way with the winner receiving a Knockouts Title shot. The next few weeks will be inspirational, so that brings out some returning stars.

IInspiration vs. Missa Kate/Brittnie Brooks

McKay won’t shake Kate’s hand to start but will run her over with a shoulder. It’s off to Lee to take Brooks down and some double kicks to the back have her in more trouble. IInspiration does their double pose but Kate gets in a cheap shot from the apron. Brooks takes over but it’s back to Lee to clean house. A fisherman’s suplex gets two on Kate with Brooks making the save, followed by the Idolizer to finish Kate at 4:38.

Rating: C. The IInspiration has never exactly been known for their in-ring work so this was all about getting them back out there for an official match. They beat up these two without much effort and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them getting a title shot rather soon. It’s not like there are many teams to beat to get there.

The Hardys are ready to get back to the Tag Team Titles and that starts tonight by beating First Class.

We look at First Class appearing this week on NXT, setting up a six man between First Class/Trick Williams vs. Elijah/Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura.

It’s time for the First Class Penthouse and it’s looking like a first class summer. AJ Francis is looking to give away some money and has a kid come on stage to do his best MONEY MONEY MONEY. And that’s not good enough for Francis, who tells the kid to get lost. Therefore it’s time to bring out the guest, Trick Williams. He likes First Class, with Francis thinking they need their own gold. Once they beat the Hardys tonight, it’s time to get a Tag Team Title shot. And that’s it.

We look at Jason Hotch coming close to beating Mustafa Ali at Against All Odds. Several minutes of the match are aired.

The System comes up to Hotch in the back and says if he takes out Leon Slater tonight, there might be a spot on the team for him. Order 4 comes in and Mustafa Ali isn’t impressed. The System moves on to Matt Cardona, telling him to find a partner for a tag match next week.

Leon Slater vs. Jason Hotch

John Skyler is here with Hotch while Slater talks about coming after the X-Division Title at Slammiversary. Slater takes him down to start but gets flipped over into the corner, setting up a slingshot backbreaker for two. The seated abdominal stretch goes on twice in a row but Slater gets up for a suplex neckbreaker. A handspring elbow gives Slater two so Hotch hits a Mustafa Ali rolling neckbreaker for the same. Back up and Slater hits a quick Blue Thunder Bomb and a jumping knee sets up the Swanton 450 for the pin on Hotch at 7:40.

Rating: B-. Slater is already locked in for the title shot at Slammiversary so now it is time to hammer home the fact that he is ready for Moose. There was no need for this to get a lot of time and while Hotch isn’t a top level opponent, he’s not going to slow Slater down. Nice stuff here and it did what it was supposed to do.

Tessa Blanchard doesn’t care what kind of a match she’s in because the end result is her winning. And she doesn’t like Gia Miller very much.

Rosemary/Dani Luna/Tessa Blanchard/Xia Brookside vs. Jody Threat/Tasha Steelz/Killer Kelly/Indi Hartwell

The winning team moves on to a four way. Steelz quickly hands it off to Threat, who has to face her former partner Luna. They trade some rollups for two each and it’s off to Steelz vs. Brookside. A hurricanrana out of the corner and a crossbody put Steelz down and Rosemary comes in. Rosemary goes after Brookside, whom she still doesn’t like, and gets into a slugout with Kelly as the two bounce back and forth.

Blanchard comes in and sends Kelly to the apron to stomp away before getting in a cheap shot on Hartwell. It’s back to Rosemary, who misses a charge into the corner, allowing the tag off to Hartwell. Everything breaks down and it’s the parade of finishers, with Hartwell hitting the Hurts Donut for the pin on Rosemary at 7:43.

Rating: C+. This was a tricky match to put together as the teams were basically drawn at random. You had some moments like Luna vs. Threat, but the majority was stuff taking place without much in the way of a backstory. The title is the big thing, but when half of the people are going to be gone in the #1 contenders match, it’s kind of hard to make the whole thing work.

Jody Threat vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Killer Kelly vs. Indi Hartwell

For a future Knockouts Title shot. Kelly and Hartwell knock the other two outside, leaving Kelly to get two off a northern lights suplex. Threat is sent into the steps and it’s Steelz coming back in to go after Hartwell. Kelly headbutts Steelz down and a faceplant gives Kelly two. Threat comes in with a high crossbody but gets clotheslined down by Hartwell. Steelz’s springboard bulldog is broken up and Hartwell hits the Hurts Donut on Steelz….but Kelly steals the pin at 5:22.

Rating: C. I’m not sure if it was due to having back to back matches or what, but this was rather disappointing. You would expect a #1 contenders match to get a bit of time but here they were, wrapping this up in just over five minutes. Kelly getting the shot makes sense given her history with Slamovich, but that doesn’t feel like a Slammiversary title match. Granted they never said when the title match will take place, but hopefully it takes place elsewhere.

Masha Slamovich is ready for Killer Kelly because this is where it would always go. She’ll put Kelly in her place.

We look at Steve Maclin retaining the International Title over Mance Warner at Against All Odds.

Maclin praises Warner for hitting him hard, but now it’s on to the Champions Challenge. He’s ready to take out Trick Williams, but if anyone wants to come at him, know what you’re doing.

Here are Mance Warner and Steph de Lander, with the latter claiming that Warner was cheated. Warner has to be held back from attacking a production assistant and takes his aggression out on Tommy Dreamer.

Sami Callihan isn’t happy that an outsider has the TNA World Title so here are Eric Young and the Northern Armory. They aren’t happy about it either and an alliance is teased, but Young decks Callihan instead.

First Class vs. Hardys

Francis tries a cheap shot to start fast but gets knocked outside, leaving Navarro and Jeff to officially get things going. Matt comes in to go after the arm and it’s Francis coming back in, only to get knocked right back out. We take a break and come back with a double suplex getting two on Navarro, followed by a catapult into a legdrop. Rehwoldt: “Egad!”

Jeff armbars Navarro but Francis grabs the hair. The distraction lets Navarro take Jeff down and it’s time for Francis to finally take over. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Jeff fights up and hits the Twisting Stunner. Another Twisting Stunner allows the tag off to Matt to pick up the pace in a hurry. A Side Effect gets two on Francis but Trick Williams runs in for the DQ at 7:32.

Rating: C+. The ending was designed to set up something else later on and that’s not a bad way to go. The Hardys are a team who can be put into a title match at the drop of a hat with no questions asked and First Class is in the biggest story they’ve ever had. Let them stay strong here, with a six man being likely.

Post match the beatdown is on but Joe Hendry and Elijah run in for the save. Cue the System and Leon Slater as well but the good guys clear the ring. Slater hits his big running flip dive onto the pile on the floor to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. I wasn’t feeling this one all that much, as they did a few things, but a good bit of the show was spent setting up the Knockouts Title match. Other than that. Slater was all but guaranteed the title shot at Slammiversary so there wasn’t much to be done there. It’s not an awful show or even bad, but it felt like they weren’t putting a ton of content into this one. Maybe that’s due to the taping schedule, but this was only ok at best.

Results
IInspiration b. Missa Kate/Brittnie Brooks – Idolizer to Kate
Leon Slater b. Jason Hotch – Swanton 450
Jody Threat/Tasha Steelz/Killer Kelly/Indi Hartwell b. Rosemary/Dani Luna/Tessa Blanchard/Xia Brookside – Hurts Donut to Rosemary
Killer Kelly b. Jody Threat, Tasha Steelz and Indi Hartwell – Hurts Donut to Steelz
Hardys b. First Class via DQ when Trick Williams interfered

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: June 12, 2025
Location: El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are about a month away from Supercard Of Honor and thus far, it seems that we have one match likely for the show. In theory that should mean something gets put together here, but stranger things have happened in Ring Of Honor. If nothing else, it would be nice to see someone coming after the World Title so let’s get to it.

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

Shane Taylor Promotions is tired of waiting. I’m tired of waiting for Shane Taylor Promotions to be interesting.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Atlantis Jr./Templario vs. Magnus/Volador Jr.

Volador isn’t interested in shaking hands before taking Templario down to start. Back up and Templario trips him down before it’s off to Magnus and Atlantis. Some double teaming has Atlantis in trouble but he pops back up to clear the rudos out. Templario comes back in and flips over both of them, followed by an armdrag to Magnus.

Back in and Volador hits a powerslam, only to get dropkicked by Templario. Everything breaks down until Atlantis is sent outside, leaving Templario to get kicked in the ribs for two. Atlantis comes back in and is immediately elbowed down, leaving Magnus to go for his mask. Magnus ties Atlantis in the Tree Of Woe for the stomping but Atlantis is right back with the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. The powerslam plants Magnus though and the frog splash finishes for Atlantis at 7:54.

Rating: B-. Usual entertaining stuff from the CMLL guys, even if it feels like they’re just doing random matches over and over. I still don’t get the appeal of Atlantis Jr., but Templario has one of the best looking masks I’ve ever seen and Magnus does well almost any time he is in the ring.

Preston Vance vs. Evil Uno

The rest of the Frat House and Alex Reynolds are here too. Vance jumps him to start but gets sent outside. Back up and Uno hammers away, only for the Frat House to get in some cheap shots to take over. Vance mocks the Dark Order pose and flips Reynolds off, which seems to wake Uno up.

Uno Stunners his way out of trouble but misses a charge, allowing Vance to grab the full nelson. That’s only good for two arm drops and Uno fights back with the right hands in the corner. A DDT plants Vance for two but Uno can’t hit a piledriver. Vance’s Samoan driver gets two but Uno is back with a discus lariat. The Frat House offers a distraction though, allowing Vance to get in a shot with the paddle for the pin at 6:42.

Rating: C-. This is what I mean when I talk about a match that feels like it is just there. These various groups have been having matches for months and it feels like nothing has changed at all. That’s not good storytelling but it keeps going no matter what, which makes for some very tedious action. It doesn’t help that neither of these guys are anything noteworthy in the ring, making this even less interesting.

Post match John Silver returns to chase off the Frat House and hits a helicopter slam to one of the prospects.

Red Velvet is on her way to Mexico for three matches.

Red Velvet vs. Harleen Lopez

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Lopes wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, she gets a future title shot. Lopez powers her down to start but Velvet is back up with a dropkick. A butterfly suplex sends Velvet into the corner but she’s fine enough to grab a snapmare. Velvet wins the strike off and the flipping faceplant finishes at 2:42.

We look at Nick Wayne in the New Japan Best Of The Super Juniors tournament.

The Dark Order wants to face the Frat House in a six man tag.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Vaughn Vertigo/Martian Webb/Riley Reinhart/Joe Demaro

Dean powers Webb into the corner to start and it’s Bravo coming in for the stomps in the Tree Of Woe. Demaro comes in and gets tied in the ropes for some rapid fire clotheslines, followed by Taylor’s big chop in the corner. Taylor throws him over for the tag to Vertigo, who is quickly knocked down by Moriarty. Reinhart comes in and for some reason slugs away at Taylor, earning him a splash for two, with Webb making a save. Taylor’s “you are DUMB” look is great and everything breaks down. Moriarty kicks Reinhart in the chest and grabs the Border City Stretch for the win at 5:02.

Rating: C. Speaking of things that seem like they are going nowhere, I present you with Shane Taylor Promotions, who have been talking about being ready to break through and be taken seriously or whatever for months now. It’s the same stuff over and over and that stopped being interesting or believable a long time ago. They do this kind of squash well enough, but spare me on trying to make them a thing.

Bandido vs. Mansoor

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Mansoor wins or lasts ten minutes, he gets a future title shot. Mason Madden, Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie are here with Bandido. Mansoor ducks behind him and strikes a pose to start before jumping over Bandido and posing again.

Bandido knocks him down and does the gun pose but Madden breaks up a 21 Plex attempt. A cheap shot puts Bandido in trouble and Mansoor gets in a hard whip to the steps. Back in and a backbreaker gives Mansoor two and we hit the double arm crank. That’s broken up and Bandido comes off the top with a twisting crossbody.

The one armed gorilla press sets up the frog splash but Madden breaks up the 21 Plex. The double underhook spinning slam gives Mansoor two and the other villains choke, only to get caught and ejected. A Backstabber sets up Mansoor’s missed moonsault so it’s the X Knee into the 21 Plex to give Bandido the pin at 7:17.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to have the World Champion in action on the show, even if this hardly feels like anything important. The problem at the moment is the same that it has always been: there really aren’t things like contenders or challengers for titles around here, so the champion will have random matches (or even ones with small feuds like Bandido has been in recently) but it doesn’t feel worthy of a World Title match in the slightest.

Post match Lee Johnson comes out for a distraction and Blake Christian jumps Bandido from behind. Christian holds up the title but Mascara Dorada comes out to cut off that insanity. Dorada holds up the title and implies that he wants a title match to end the show. Well, it’s better than nothing.

Overall Rating: C. And so much for the tiny bit of interest they were teasing last week for Supercard Of Honor. Athena and Thunder Rosa are not even mentioned this week and it looks like we’re heading towards Bandido vs. Dorada for the title. That’s not exactly a must see match, but I’m sure it will make CMLL happy and apparently that’s about half of the reason Ring Of Honor exists.

Results
Atlantis Jr./Templario b. Magnus/Volador Jr. – Frog splash to Magnus
Preston Vance b. Evil Uno – Paddle to the face
Red Velvet b. Harleen Lopez – Flipping faceplant
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Riley Reinhart/Martian Webb/Vaughn Vertigo/Joe Demaro – Border City Stretch to Reinhart
Bandido b. Mansoor – 21 Plex

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

Collision
Date: June 11, 2025
Location: Theater Of The Clouds At Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

It’s the second half of the four hour block and that means we could be in for an interesting show. You never quite know what you’re going to get with something like this and last week’s show did not feel like the strongest effort. Hopefully they can do a bit better this time around so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We pick up where Dynamite left off, with Kenny Omega being loaded onto a stretcher but Kazuchika Okada, now a member of the Don Callis Family, gives him a top rope elbow. Then Okada drops another elbow off the apron to make Omega spit up blood. Callis and Omega jump into a waiting car to get away.

Kyle Fletcher vs. Anthony Bowens

Billy Gunn and Lance Archer are here too with Adam Cole on commentary. Fletcher poses to start and throws a crotch chop at Gunn so Bowens drives him into the corner and poses back. Bowens kicks him in the face and hits a running faceplant but gets knocked out to the floor. We take a break and come back with Bowens hitting the running Fameasser for two. They go outside where Bowens flips out of a powerbomb and drops him face first onto the apron.

Back in and a running clothesline gets two, followed by a DDT for the same. Fletcher superkicks him into a sitout Last Ride for two but Bowens’ twisting Side Effect gets the same. Fletcher needs a breather on the floor and Bowens hits a big dive, allowing Archer to take Gunn out. The distraction lets Fletcher hit a Helluva Kick into a brainbuster for the pin at 10:23.

Rating: C+. So Bowens gets built up for a bit and then loses every following match. I get that you need some fresh jobbers to the stars but Bowens felt like he was actually getting somewhere before this losing streak started. He has something to him and it would be nice to see that expand, but it isn’t exactly happening.

Video on MJF being the amazing American before his match next week in Mexico City against Mistico.

Spanish announcer Carlos Cabrera brings out Atlantis and Atlantis Jr. for a chat but FTR cuts them off. Stokely Hathaway runs down the two of them, plus everyone that has come after FTR. They’re ready to wrestle in Arena Mexico but don’t have a match yet. Dax Harwood makes fun of Atlantis for being old and the brawl is on, with a bunch of people running in. Atlantis rips Harwood’s shirt off and chases him away. I still do not get the appeal of Atlantis Jr.

Big Bill and Bryan Keith want fresh competition so here are the Workhorsemen of all people to take them up on it.

Julia Hart vs. Toni Storm

Non-title and Mercedes Mone is eating at ringside. Skye Blue is here with Hart and jumps Storm before the bell, earning an ejection. Storm gets in and says ring the bell so Hart trips her down and mostly hits the moonsault for two. Storm fights back and knocks her outside as we take a break. Back with Storm rolling the German suplexes, followed by a fisherman’s suplex for two. A chokebomb gives Storm two but Hart STO’s her down. Another moonsault misses though and Storm grabs the small package for the pin at 7:56.

Rating: C. This was a quick way for Storm to get a win before her showdown with Mone, which feels like Mone’s to win. Otherwise, it’s another loss for Hart, who isn’t quite sinking as low as Bowens from earlier but neither has the brightest future at the moment. Storm is rolling well enough though and that should make the big showdown that much better.

Post match Mone gets in the ring and whispers something in Storm’s ear before beating her down. Mina Shirakawa makes the save but gets taken down so Mone can hold up the title.

Ricochet is still looking for his perfect team. Blake Christian and Lee Johnson come in to offer their services. Ricochet isn’t overly impressed though and says they’re still missing something.

Mark Briscoe/Tomohiro Ishii/Willow Nightingale vs. MxM Collection/Taya Valkyrie

Johnny TV is here with the villains. Mansoor hurts himself chopping away Ishii to start so it’s off to Taya, who gets taken down by Nightingale. The basement crossbody has Valkyrie down so it’s off to Madden for a standing legdrop to Briscoe. The running hip attack hits Briscoe as everything breaks down.

Nightingale drops Valkyrie and she hits a middle rope dropkick to send Valkyrie outside. Back in and the men exchange some shots to the face until Briscoe escapes a Doomsday Device. Nightingale and Ishii double superplex Madden into Briscoe’s Froggy Bow. The Babe With The Powerbomb gives Nightingale the pin on Valkyrie at 5:15.

Rating: C+. Another short and to the point match here with Briscoe and company getting a win. None of them have much of note going on at the moment save for Nightingale possibly getting to face Kris Statlander again, but that’s only so big of a match. In other words, this felt right at home on Collision.

Kris Statlander is done with Willow Nightingale but Wheeler Yuta of all people comes off to offer advice. Statlander isn’t interested but gets in a staredown with Marina Shafir.

Bandido vs. The Beast Mortos

Non-title. Bandido runs the ropes to start but his hurricanrana is blocked. Instead Bandido sends him outside for the running dive but a frog splash misses back inside. Mortos starts ripping at the mask and Bandido is sent outside for a big spinning dive. We take a break and come back with Mortos missing a charge into the corner.

A rather spinning headscissors takes Mortos down and Bandido gets in his gorilla press. Now the frog splash connects for two but Mortos hits the pop up Samoan drop for two of his own. Back up and Bandido hits something like a GTS but Mortos catches him on top. The super flipping World’s Strongest Slam gives Bandido the pin at 11:50.

Rating: C+. It’s better than a loss but Bandido, again, has pretty much nothing going on at the moment. He doesn’t have a big feud for the Ring Of Honor World Title and that isn’t likely to change until just before their pay per view next month. Fun enough match, but nothing that stands out.

Mercedes Mone wants the CMLL Women’s World Title so champion Zeuxis comes in to accept, decking Mone in the process.

Hangman Page is interrupted by the Young Bucks, who suggest that they are all in on a big plan. Page wants nothing to do with that and tells them to stay out of everyone, including Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland’s, business. Prince Nana and Swerve Strickland overhear everything. That might be your big plot point.

Thekla vs. Queen Aminata

Thekla moves around like a spider to start before getting faceplanted. A slap to the face annoys Aminata, who fires off some hair mares. Back up and Thekla snaps off a running headscissors as we take a break. We come back with Thekla grabbing a choke over the ropes but Aminata fires off some clotheslines.

A DDT/suplex plants Thekla again and Off With Her Head gives Aminata two. One heck of a headbutt drops Thekla again and a top rope double stomp connects to give Aminata two more. Back up and Thekla does her spider walk into a spear, setting up the Death Trap for the pin on Aminata at 11:28.

Rating: C+. Thekla has a little something with the spider deal but you’re only going to get so far in a match like this. Aminata is someone who has lost so many matches that it is a bit difficult to get invested in what she is doing. Also, again, Thekla is on in the fourth hour of a four hour block and that doesn’t make her seem overly interesting.

Nick Wayne receives a present from (the non-present) Christian Cage: a highlight package of his run in the Best Of The Super Juniors tournament. Kip Sabian says he doesn’t know where Wayne would be without Cage, which has Wayne confused.

We look back at Kenny Omega being attacked earlier in the night.

Daniel Garcia/Paragon vs. Hechicero/Don Callis Family

Hechicero takes Garcia down to start so Garcia dances at him and gets a quick two. Back up and Hechicero hits a running knee in the corner before it’s off to Cole to hammer on Takeshita. Paragon starts with the fast tags to work over Takeshita, who manages to get over to Archer. Everything breaks down and Archer cleans house as we take a break.

Back with O’Reilly knocking Alexander down, allowing the tag off to Garcia. A running clothesline hits Takeshita in the corner and Garcia hammers away. The fisherman’s neckbreaker gets two on Takeshita and we hit the Sharpshooter. That’s broken up and Strong comes in to clean a good bit of the house. The good guys all get submission holds but Archer breaks them up. O’Reilly low bridges Archer to the floor but Takeshita knocks Strong into a German suplex to give Alexander the pin at 11:59.

Rating: B-. Another technically fine match but neither of these teams feel overly exciting. It seems that we’re coming up on Cole defending the TNT Title against someone in the Don Callis Family and there certainly are options, but egads it would be nice to find a more interesting way to get there. The Paragon has felt like they have been spinning their wheels for months now and that isn’t a great sign.

Overall Rating: C+. Well, it wasn’t as dull as last week, but it still wasn’t overly interesting. This was another show that felt like it was just a bunch of stuff happening without much having that great of an impact. The wrestling wasn’t bad, but it’s not a show you really need to see for the most part. That makes for a tedious two hours, though it was a step up from last time.

Results
Kyle Fletcher b. Anthony Bowens – Brainbuster
Toni Storm b. Julia Hart – Small package
Mark Briscoe/Tomohiro Ishii/Willow Nightingale b. MxM Collection/Taya Valkyrie – Babe With The Powerbomb to Valkyrie
Thekla b. Queen Aminata – Death Trap
Hechicero/Don Callis Family b. Daniel Garcia/Paragon – German suplex to Strong

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

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Dynamite
Date: June 11, 2025
Location: Theater Of The Clouds At Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Commentators: Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni, Taz

We’re back with another four hour block of AEW this week with Dynamite and Collision airing back to back under the name of Summer Blockbuster. Last week’s double length block ram out of steam in the end and hopefully they have paced it better this time. The big deal this week is Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Christopher Daniels tells Hangman Page that he can’t fight the Death Riders on his own. Daniels says he has some friends who can help Page if he’ll make some amends, with Page seemingly thinking about it. The Death Riders follow Page.

Opening sequence.

There is a cool setup here with the commentary desk opposite the hard camera.

Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland

Prince Nana is here with Strickland. The fans HOLY S*** the intro and Strickland offers a handshake, with Ospreay eventually agreeing. They actually fight over the handshake until Ospreay starts flipping around and grabbing an armdrag. Strickland misses a legsweep and we get an early standoff. Strickland gets in a shot to the face to bust Ospreay’s nose so he comes back with a running hurricanrana.

Ospreay grabs the hand and fires off some chops so Strickland knocks him down with a single shot to show things are a bit more serious. Back up and Ospreay sends him to the floor but Strickland sticks the landing. That sets up a missed slingshot dive and Strickland grabs a suplex for two back inside. The armbar goes on but Ospreay strikes his way out. The Phenomenal Forearm sends Strickland outside again and this time the Sasuke Special connects as we take a break.

Back with Ospreay knocking him down again but the Oscutter is countered with a neckbreaker (that was great). Another neckbreaker is broken up so Strickland superkicks him out to the floor. Back in and Ospreay is draped over the top rope for the double stomp to the back and two. A running knee and the Hidden Blade both miss so Strickland tries to pull him into a suplex. That’s reversed into the Stundog Millionaire and Strickland slaps on the short armscissors.

Ospreay powers out of that as well and the Cheeky Nandos Kick sets up the poisonrana. Now the Oscutter can connect for two and they both need a breather. Strickland heads outside so Ospreay Hidden Blades him through the ropes (ouch) and we take another break. Back again with Ospreay’s kicks to the head getting on Strickland’s nerves. They go up with Ospreay pulling him down by the arm before grabbing a triangle choke.

That’s reversed into a failed Styles Clash attempt so Strickland hits a (Hangman Page) Deadeye for two. A quick Hidden Blade gives Ospreay a near fall of his own but he can’t follow up. They get to their knees and slug it out, with Ospreay laughing and doing the British version of Hulking Up.

Strickland strikes him back down though and hits the Swerve Stomp for two but Ospreay gets in a shot to the face. The Stormbreaker gets two so Ospreay teases the Tiger Driver 91, which is countered into a Vertebreaker. Strickland kicks him out to the apron and loads up the Swerve Stomp to the apron…and the time limit expires at 30:00.

Rating: B+. Oh of course this was really good. These are two of the most talented stars in all of AEW and they had time to do a long match together. It was one of those things that was all but guaranteed to be awesome and they made it work very well. Odds are these two are going to team up sooner or later and this might have been the catalyst to make that happen.

Post match Strickland says he is in so much pain and he wants to finish the match. Strickland wants sudden death but here are the Death Riders instead (Ospreay didn’t get to answer Strickland’s challenge). They surround the ring but here are the Young Bucks to jump Strickland instead. The Bucks handcuff Strickland to the ropes and start firing off the superkick. The thumbtacks shoes are loaded up but Ospreay runs in and takes the bullet, allowing the Bucks to leave. And there is the moment that will get them together.

Kazuchika Okada…is cut off by Don Callis, who thinks some of his guys should be facing Kenny Omega. The Family comes in and Okada calls Callis b****. This story REALLY does not need Callis.

MVP shows us the Hurt Syndicate attacking Komander and taking his mask.

Mistico vs. Blake Christian

Lee Johnson is here as well. Christian flips him off to start and grabs an anklescissors. Mistico grabs the hand and goes up but gets pulled back down in a heap. Christian stomps away until Mistico comes back with a handspring elbow. A dive to the floor takes Christian out again, followed by a springboard high crossbody back inside. Johnson offers a distraction though and Christian kicks him down. Christian goes up top and gets caught with a super Spanish Fly to give Mistico the pin at 4:12.

Rating: C+. This was a weird way to go as Christian controlled most of the match and Mistico didn’t get to do much that made him stand out. I know he’s going to be getting the big moment next week in his home arena and he absolutely should, but this was the definition of “it was ok”. Mistico didn’t show anything special here and I’m not sure why they booked it this way.

Post match the Hurt Syndicate comes out so MJF can say he’ll face Mistico. For one night only, MJF is dusting off the red, white and blue because he is a patriot. The big American flag (with MJF faces instead of stars) and streamers fall but Mistico says he’ll see him next week in Arena Mexico. Mistico says something in Spanish, so MJF calls him Sloppy Sin Cara. The brawl is on so the Hurt Syndicate comes in, with Jet Speed (Mike Bailey/Kevin Knight) and Mascara Dorado coming in for the save.

Hurt Syndicate vs. Mascara Dorado/Jet Speed

MVP is on commentary and this was a scheduled match. The Syndicate jumps them to start and MJF punches Dorado down. Dorado gets in a shot of his own and hands it off to Bailey to fire off the kicks. A low bridge sends Dorado outside though and we take a break. Back with Dorado diving over for the needed tag off to Knight.

A spinning splash gives Knight two and we get a showdown with Jet Speed against the champs. Bailey is quickly planted with a spinebuster and it’s off to MJF, who spikes Bailey for two. Bailey fights up and brings in Dorado, who gets speared down by Lashley. Everything breaks down and Jet Speed clears the ring, setting up big dives to the floor. MVP gets in a cane shot to Bailey though and MJF’s lifting hammerlock DDT finishes at 11:24.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure about this Hurt Syndicate stuff with MJF, as after the “will they/won’t they” part was done, a lot of the intrigue was gone. Maybe they have a nice twist coming up, but there was only so much you could get out of this. Granted I’m always a sucker for seeing Bailey get beaten up.

Post match the Syndicate beats them down again and MJF takes Dorado’s mask. Cue Mistico to make MJF tap to La Mistica.

Here is Hangman Page for a chat…but the Death Riders jump him in the entrance. They beat him down and tape up his mouth (come on, he’s not that bad of a promo) before taking him to the ring. Jon Moxley apologizes for this in advance but wants a real conversation. This is Page’s time and All In is everything for him.

Moxley doesn’t like the millennial cowboy and Page has been searching for something for a long time. In four weeks, Page needs to step up and become what he is supposed to be or he can get out. Page lunches at him and gets beaten down so the Opps run in for the save. Page says he has come too far to just fall, and swears vengeance tonight. Well at least that should be something for Collision.

Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford vs. Tay Melo/Anna Jay

Jay wants and receives Bayne to start but then hands it off to Melo. Not that it matters as everything breaks down anyway and Ford pulls Melo to the floor. Melo gets sent into the steps, leaving Bayne to splash Jay in the corner. Jay slugs away at Ford to get out of trouble but gets booted down by Bayne as we take a break.

Back with Melo coming in to clean house, including a running knee for two on Ford. Melo fires off three running boots to Bayne and sends her outside, where Jay nails a middle rope dive. Back in and Jay chokes Bayne, leaving Melo to hit the TayKO (I think that’s what it was called at least) for the pin on Ford at 10:22.

Rating: C+. Remember like two months ago when Bayne was this brand new unstoppable force and looked like a can’t miss prospect? Well now she’s just the big strong woman in a tag match to get Melo over again after two years away. That’s not the best way to use her, but it happens to a lot of people in AEW. Hopefully this is just a short term thing though, because it feels like quite the waste of a great prospect.

We take a long look at Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada, focusing on their time in Japan. Eh if it’s all you’ve got.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring for the contract signing between Omega and Okada. With both champions present, we see the (rather nice) new unified title. Okada signs with no issue but Omega has something to say. Omega talks about how it is almost seven years since their last match and he barely recognizes himself in that video package. He wants them both to leave it all in the ring at All In and signs.

They shake hands and say some things that we can’t hear….and here is Don Callis. He wants one of his guys in the match but Omega says he’s beaten the Family and if they want a title shot, get back in line. This is Omega vs. Okada….and Okada hits Omega with the belt because he’s part of the Family. Okada hits him in the ribs with a rod and Omega does a stretcher job to end the show. Let me put this simply: No. No no. No no no, no no. No and may I add, NO. THIS DOES NOT NEED DON CALLIS. He doesn’t need to be involved in every thing that AEW does. Drop this as soon as possible because Okada vs. Omega doesn’t need him.

Overall Rating: B. The opener is more than good enough to carry this show as a fourth of the entire thing is on an awesome match. The six man was fine enough and the main event segment worked until Callis got in there. This was a good show overall, and while I don’t really want to see the second half of the night, at least they’re getting ready for All In and that’s what the focus needs to be on for a good while.

Results
Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay went to a time limit draw
Mistico b. Blake Christian – Super Spanish Fly
Hurt Syndicate b. Mascara Dorado/Jet Speed – Lifting hammerlock DDT to Bailey
Anna Jay/Tay Melo b. Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford – TayKO to Ford

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

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Evolve
Date: June 11, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

We’re into a new era around here as we officially have Men’s and Women’s Evolve Champions. Last week saw Jackson Drake bring the men’s version to the Vanity Project, who I’m sure will have a calm, respectful celebration as a result. There are other things around here to address as well though so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Jackson Drake winning the title last week.

Opening sequence.

Here is the Vanity Project for their celebration. They aren’t ones to tell you “we told you so”, but that’s what they did. They are the future NXT main eventers and now Jackson Drake himself gets the mic. Drake talks about Buddy Rogers, Finn Balor and Seth Rollins being the first holders of various titles and now his name has been added. They have the best man, woman and tag team in Evolve and at this point, it isn’t even bragging. When you’re this good, you can only be called the Vanity Project, and now they make V signs with their fingers because they’re turning into a real stable.

Lince Dorado knows that he’s going to need help to come after the Vanity Project and he has an idea.

Wes Lee, with the rest of High Ryze, is ready for Cappuccino Jones.

Cappuccino Jones is with Jack Cartwheel and is heavily caffeinated for Wes Lee. The problem is Lee has forgotten what it’s like to be thirsty and it’s time for a fresh brew. Jones has one bit and he is getting everything he can out of it.

Zayda Steele/Nikkita Lyons vs. Layla Diggs/Masyn Holiday

Diggs and Holiday have a dance during their entrance and their opponents are….impressed? Steele takes Diggs down and poses to start but gets her leg swept for a fast two. Diggs dances some more and it’s off to Holiday for a dancing ax handle to the arm. Lyons comes in and fights out of the armbar before bending over so Holiday can jump over her.

Diggs comes back in and gets taken into the wrong corner but manages to powerslam Steele down for two. Holiday runs Steele over with a shoulder but stops to look at Lyons, which allows Lyons to come in for some shoulders to the ribs. The ZDT gives Steele two and Lyons grabs a chinlock, which works as well as you would expect.

Holiday avoids a charge in the corner and it’s off to Diggs to pick up the pace. A handspring shoulder to the ribs in the corner drops Steele and a splash gets two, with Lyons making the save. Cue Chantel Monroe to sit on the apron for a distraction, which allows Lyons to kick Holiday in the head for the pin at 7:52.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t the best stuff, with the dancing from Diggs and Holiday feeling like something that has been done to death. At the same time, having Monroe come in to do her one thing for a distraction wasn’t the most thrilling twist. The action wasn’t terrible as they all need time in the ring, but I wasn’t feeling this one for the most part.

Troy Yearwood likes to lift weights and write poetry, including one about how he’s going to take over Evolve and NXT. He likes lifting people in the ring with him…and now his name is Jamar Hampton. Sure.

Kali Armstrong comes up to tell Natalya that she doesn’t need her help. Natalya says she might, because they’re teaming together next week.

Jamar Hampton vs. It’s Gal

Hampton has some weird intro music, sounding like it would be playing in the opening scene of a romantic comedy while someone we just met is walking down the street. Hampton drives him into the corner to start so Gal (now pronounced as it would traditionally be, rather than gaul, as in rhyming with Paul) wants a test of strength. That goes fine for Hampton, who takes him down and does pushups on Gal’s back. An atomic drop sets up a running dropkick (and a high one at that) for two on Gal.

Back up and Gal starts taking over on the leg and hammers away in the corner. A pushup cover gives Gal two and he drops a Kofi Kingston double legdrop for two more. Gal stays on the leg with a half crab, with Hampton fighting out but not being able to stand. The one good leg is enough to German suplex Gal and an overhead belly to belly takes Gal down again. Hampton can’t quite get a fireman’s carry as Gal grabs a rollup for two of his own. Back up and Hampton hits an AA (landing on Gal, ala Keith Lee’s Big Bang Catastrophe) for the pin 6:30.

Rating: C+. This was a showcase for Hampton and that worked well enough, as he has a good look and some very impressive athleticism. That being said, the leg stuff being somewhat ignored so he could throw Gal around wasn’t the best look. On the other hand, Gal continues to not do much for me, as “he’s in good shape” and “looks like a human action figure” is only going to get him so far.

Marcus Mathers talks about how he has trained as hard and often as he can because this is what matters the most to him.

Jordan Oasis talks about how hard he has worked to get here, often walking the streets and living on busses. He doesn’t remember the last time he was in a hotel room. It’s hard to have to order the cheapest thing on the menu at a fast food restaurant so he can use the restroom or sneak into the gym after someone so he can use the shower. But now it’s worth it because he is making it here. That’s a heck of a way to make me care about someone and it did a nice job.

Wes Lee vs. Cappuccino Jones

The rest of High Ryze and Jack Cartwheel are here too. After the Big Match Intros, Jones takes him down by the arm to start but gets reversed into a headlock. Jones sweeps the legs out for two before going with back to back leapfrogs. Lee gets sent outside for a running flip dive and we take a break.

Back with Lee dropping Jones out of the corner and hitting a basement dropkick to the side of the head. A superkick lets Lee slam him head first into the mat a few times while shouting a lot as well. Jones tries to fight back but gets powerslammed down for two, leaving Lee frustrated. A quick backslide and rollup give Jones two each and he hits an enziguri to send Lee into the ropes.

The Half And Half gives Jones two so High Ryze gets involved, with Cartwheel going after them. That means a three way ejection, allowing Lee to hit a tornado DDT. The running knees give Lee two and Jones is back up with the Decaffinator for two and now it’s Jones’ turn to be stunned. Jones misses the Froggy Brew (these names are great) so Lee rolls him up but gets caught with his feet on the ropes. A rollup gives Jones a close two but Lee superkicks him in the back of the head. The Cardiac Kick finishes for Lee at 11:04.

Rating: B. Dang they had me into this one at the end, as I thought they might actually give Jones the big upset. I can get why they didn’t, but that would have been a heck of a way to give Jones the push. That being said, this absolutely did not hurt Jones, who looked great in defeat. Pretty awesome main event here, with both guys working rather hard.

Overall Rating: B-. This was the show that kind of reset things a bit, as they spent about a month setting up the title matches and now we have to see where things go from here. The main event was quite good and they have some people who seem ready to move up to the next level, which is what we might be seeing soon. This show didn’t exactly do anything big, but it moved a few things forward and wrapped up a thing or two as well. Evolve is turning into a regular show and I’m liking it more often than not so well done.

Results
Zayda Steele/Nikkita Lyons b. Layla Diggs/Masyn Holiday – Kick to the head to Holiday
Jamar Hampton b. It’s Gal – Attitude Adjustment
Wes Lee b. Cappuccino Jones – Cardiac Kick

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

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Giant Tag Teams
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz, Tony Schiavone, Jesse Ventura, Vince McMahon, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, Gorilla Monsoon, Bobby Heenan, Jerry Lawler, Joey Styles, Johnny V

It’s another compilation video from the WWE Vault and again, the name kind of speaks for itself. I have no idea what to expect from this one and that should make for something interesting. It’s a concept that doesn’t require a lot of thinking, but it could go well or poorly for any combination. Let’s get to it.

From Sunday Night Heat, February 11, 2001.

Brothers Of Destruction vs. Kai En Tai

Kane wrecks both of them to start and suplexes Taka. A one armed chokeslam gets two, with Funaki making a rather cruel save. Undertaker chokeslams some sense into Funaki and stereo Last Rides (well just a regular powerbomb in Kane’s case) finish at 1:40.

From WCW Saturday Night, June 19, 1993.

Masters Of The Powerbomb vs. Kip Abee/Terry Travis

That would be Vader and Sid Vicious. Vader chokeslams Abee to start and it’s off to Sid to kick Travis in the corner. A clothesline takes Travis’ head off and Sid’s powerbomb finishes at 1:16.

From Superstars, October 19, 1991.

Natural Disasters vs. Barry Hardy/Duane Gill/Jim Arnon

Earthquake takes Hardy into the corner to start. Piper: “HARDY! GO FOR HIS EYES!” McMahon: “Family entertainment here.” Piper, in a much quieter voice: “Grab his wrist and try to make him give up.” Savage: “GRAB HIS EYES!” Gill gets taken into the corner and everything breaks down with the triple splash crushing the jobbers. The powerslam into the Earthquake into the Typhoon splash finishes Arnon at 2:51.

From Armageddon 2006.

Batista/Rey Mysterio vs. Big Show/Kane

This is what I love about these collections: you have a bunch of squash matches and then a pay per view semi main event out of nowhere. It’s such a random collection. Show shoves Batista down to start and then does it again for a bonus. Some right hands and running clotheslines do a bit better for Batista and he gets a boot up to stop a charging Show. A running shoulder puts Show down but he shoves Batista away without much trouble. The chokeslam is broken up so Show settles for a big boot instead. It’s off to Kane who actually gets suplexed for a fast two.

Back up and Kane hits the side slam on Batista but Batista slams him off the top to cut off the big clothesline. Mysterio comes in to pick up the pace but his kick to the face just annoys Kane. The right hands in the corner don’t do much either so Mysterio tries a middle rope ax handle. A springboard missile dropkick looks to set up a 619 but Show offers a distraction. Batista cuts him off but Show is right there again to cut off another 619 attempt.

The ram into the post has Mysterio down again and Show casually throws him back inside. Show kicks Batista’s offer of a tag away and then drops Mysterio with a loud chop. Kane pulls Mysterio out of the air but gets put down with the sitout bulldog. Batista has to break up the double chokeslam and everything breaks down. The spear cuts Kane down and Mysterio adds the basement dropkick. Batista hits the spinebuster before tackling Show over the announcers’ table. Back in and the 619 hits Kane, who pulls the West Coast Pop out of the air. The chokeslam finishes Mysterio at 8:06.

Rating: C+. That’s the logical way for this to end, as there wasn’t much that Mysterio could do against that kind of power. Batista was holding his own in there for as long as he could but ultimately Show and Kane were dominant monsters for a reason. It wasn’t much more than a Smackdown main event but it did its job fairly well.

From (I believe) Wrestling Challenge, January 22, 1989.

Twin Towers vs. ???/???

Boss Man powers one of them into the corner and chokes on the ropes as we get an insert promo from Slick, praising the Towers. Akeem comes in and beats up the other jobber before Boss Man hits a hard clothesline. A double back elbow hits one of them as Monsoon suddenly praises Slick, saying he’ll have champions soon enough. The Boss Man Slam sets up Air Africa for the pin at 2:02.

From Smackdown, April 27, 2000.

Hollys vs. T&A

Test full nelson slams Hardcore to start but Hardcore is back up to stomp away in the corner. Crash comes in and avoids a charge in the corner as commentary talks about the possibility of Steve Austin being here tonight. A sitout powerbomb gives Test two as the Dudley Boyz are watching in the back. Albert’s splash misses and Hardcore comes back in for the dropkick. Crash tags himself back in though (drawing the ELROY chants) and misses his own splash. Test boots Hardcore down and the gorilla press from Albert sets up the top rope elbow to finish Crash at 3:17.

Rating: C. Not much to see here but then again, T&A were little more than a vehicle for Trish Stratus (that worked well enough). It’s easy to forget how many teams were around in this era as Edge and Christian and the Hardys and the Dudleys get so much attention. Both of these teams were totally decent most of the time and this could have been better with some extra time.

From Armageddon 2007.

CM Punk/Kane vs. Big Daddy V/Mark Henry

This was during the ECW Champion CM Punk Fights A Bunch Of Monsters period. Henry shoves Punk down to start and, after shrugging off some kicks to the leg, does it again. Kane comes in to uppercut away at Henry, followed by a running dropkick to the knee. It’s back to Punk for a dropkick but Henry runs him over with ease.

V comes in so Punk strikes away, which goes as well as you would expect. Matt Striker gets in a cheap shot to Punk on the floor before it’s back to Henry for a gorilla press. Back up and Punk avoids a charge in the corner, allowing Kane to come in for the running corner clotheslines. Kane has to fight out of the wrong corner but walks into V’s sitout chokebomb for two.

The splash to the back sets up what would become the Visagra before it’s back to Henry for the bearhug. Henry powers him back into the corner but Kane manages a running DDT for a needed breather. Punk comes back in to strike away at V, with the running knee in the corner rocking him hard. Kane and Henry fight up the aisle, leaving Punk to springboard into a Samoan drop to give V the pin at 10:37.

Rating: C-. Yeah this didn’t quite work, though there is only so much you can get out of this idea. At the end of the day, V is fairly limited in what he can do and Henry is only so much better. They played up the idea of Punk trying to fight the monsters but being in over his head physically, which is what caught him in the end. Kane was doing his thing, but there were limits to what you could do here.

From Championship Wrestling, August 9, 1986.

King Kong Bundy/Big John Studd vs. Frankie Lane/Brickhouse Brown

Brown goes after Studd to start and gets cut off with as much effort as you would expect. A bearhug goes on as we get an insert promo from Bobby Heenan, mocking Captain Lou Albano for writing a book. Bundy comes in and drives Brown into the corner for the tag to Lane. Everything breaks down and Lane is bounced off the giants. The Avalanche finishes (for a five count) at 3:15.

Rating: C. There is something fun about a team like Bundy and Studd, who are the definition of “what you see is what you get”. They’re big guys, they beat people up, and they don’t move a lot. Neither guy is trying to do anything more than the basics and yet it works rather well.

From Raw, September 30, 2002.

3 Minute Warning vs. Goldust/Booker T.

Rico is here with 3 Minute Warning. It’s a brawl to start and Booker elbows Rosey down for an early two. Jamal comes in to take over on Goldust, who can’t fight out of the wrong corner. Some clubberin keeps Goldust in trouble and Booker gets knocked off the apron. Goldust finally gets over for the tag off to Booker so house can be cleaned.

Everyone else is down so Booker busts out the Spinarooni, setting up the ax kick to Jamal. Rosey is late with the save so the referee has to pull up on the count in a pretty bad look. Rico superkicks Goldust and Booker gets planted, setting up Jamal’s top rope splash for the pin on Booker (why yes, this is in Booker’s hometown of Houston) at 6:34.

Rating: C. Nice enough in-ring debut here for 3 Minute Warning, who had been attacking a variety of people and now get a win over a popular team. The fact that it was over Booker in his hometown shouldn’t be surprising whatsoever, as that is just kind of what the company does. Either way, it could have been far worse and we got a fine debut.

From Summerslam 1998.

Oddities vs. Kai En Tai

This is the four man version of Kai En Tai, with Yamaguchi-San in their corner. Unfortunately the Oddities’ entrance, featuring a live performance by the Insane Clown Posse, is cut out, meaning no Kurrgan dancing. Golga (Earthquake under a mask) cleans house to start and steals Yamaguchi’s shoe.

Kurrgan comes in and shoves all four of them away to break up a quadruple team. Yamaguchi gets sent inside while Kurrgan dances on the floor. The Giant Silva (7’2) comes in and scares Kai En Tai off as this is not the most serious match. All four of them go after Silva and get nowhere so he stacks all four of them into the same corner for a big hip attack. Kai En Tai is knocked outside, leaving Silva to just walk around for a bit.

Golga comes in for the powerslam that could only come from Earthquake. A double dropkick staggers Golga and they manage a double slam, followed by a series of top rope splashes. The rapid fire elbows keep Golga down but he’s back up with a quadruple clothesline (you don’t see that one very often). Kurrgan comes in to clean house and everything breaks down, with Luna Vachon slamming Yamaguchi. A double double chokeslam sets up a quadruple splash to pin Kai En Tai at 10:11.

Rating: C-. I have an unnatural fondness for the Oddities, with Kurrgan’s dancing being my ultimate guilty pleasure in wrestling. That being said, having this go on for ten minutes was insane, as there was no need for it to go even half that long. It’s a situation where getting in and getting out would have been a better way to go and the length dragged almost all of the fun out of the thing.

Overall Rating: C+. Again, this was fun. The biggest thing I get out of these collections is that some long time fans are running this channel. Rather than having a bunch of matches from the last ten years and a token 90s match, they went all over the place and had some fun with the material available. I had fun with this and that’s all you can ask for with something like this, as it isn’t exactly a concept that can go incredibly in depth.

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

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NXT
Date: June 10, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

It’s time for a hoss fight as Oba Femi is defending the NXT Title against Jasper Troy. That alone should be a heck of a fight as both of them are capable of hitting the other very hard. Other than that, we have the beginning of the build towards Great American Bash, which is about a month away. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Jasper Troy attacked Oba Femi in the parking lot and chokeslammed him through a windshield.

North American Title: Sean Legacy vs. Ethan Page

Legacy is challenging. Page takes him down with a headlock to start and then does it again without much trouble. Back up and Legacy dropkicks the leg out, with Page bailing out to the floor. We take a break and come back with Page knocking him down again. Legacy gets to the apron for a springboard missile dropkick and a German suplex drops Page again. Shambles is blocked though, leaving Legacy to hit a reverse sitout gordbuster. They go outside where Legacy escapes an Ego’s Edge and posts Page. Back in and the springboard 450 misses though and the Twisted Grin retains the title at 10:22.

Rating: C+. Legacy isn’t breaking out as a star yet but having him rub elbows with people like Page, a former NXT Champion, is a good sign for his future. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Legacy on the full NXT roster rather soon, as he hasn’t felt like he belonged in Evolve from the start. Page continues to win, which is at least a good sign for him after his mostly fluke NXT Title reign.

Post match Ricky Saints runs in to beat Page up and send him running off.

Jacy Jayne asks Ava about the next challenger but Lainey Reid comes in to slap her in the face. Reid does it again and that’s enough for Jayne to give her a title shot tonight.

Earlier today, Lash Legend got in an argument with various women and seems set for a match later.

Shawn Spears says he trusts Izzi Dame but asks why she hit Brooks Jensen with a chair. Dame says it was due to Jensen hinting at wanting a different family. He had to go, with the rest of the team understanding. She has her eyes on someone new.

The Culling vs. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura

Vance and Inamura lock up to start with Inamura hitting a flying shoulder. Spears comes in for some chops, which just wake Inamura up that much more. It’s off to Briggs, who flips Spears over into a backbreaker. Briggs runs Spears over again but Dame’s distraction lets Vance get in a cheap shot. That doesn’t last long as Briggs hits Vance in the face and brings Inamura back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Briggs’ moonsault is countered into a Dominator to give Vance the pin at 5:14.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what else they could have gone here, as Briggs and Inamura don’t win much and the Culling needed a victory after seemingly throwing Brooks Jensen off the team. The Culling doesn’t have much going on at the moment, but maybe they could bring in someone else. Like Briggs, to get him away from this Inamura team.

Ava yells at Ricky Saints, whose neck is still so messed up that he can’t talk.

Oba Femi is banged up and the NXT Title match might be in jeopardy.

Andre Chase yells at Chase U for getting beaten up again and not following his instructions. They’re all the way in, so Chase says it’s time to go back to class.

We recap the former Mariah May’s debut last week and join her in a bath. She’s beauty, she’s grace and she’ll probably punch you in the face. She’s the Glamour and she is Blake Monroe. Eh, I’ve heard worse names. Apparently this is VERY inspired by singer Sabrina Carpenter. Ok then.

Lash Legend vs. Wren Sinclair

Kelani Jordan, who was involved in the argument that set this up, is on commentary. Legend powers her down to start and blocks a sunset flip attempt. Sinclair is fine enough to sweep the leg though and grabs Cattle Mutilation of all things. With that broken up, Legend kicks her in the head and drops a splash for two. The bearhug goes on but Sinclair fights out and avoids a charge in the corner. Sinclair tries to go up but gets pulled out of the air and slammed down with the behind the back faceplant for the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C+. These are two people who feel like they could turn into something bigger down the line, even if Sinclair is settling nicely into her role of putting everyone else over. Legend on the other hand feels like a heck of a prospect and will likely be moving up the ladder a lot sooner than later. She has that it factor and that is absolutely worth protecting.

We get a profile on Lainey Reid, who is a southerner and a former track athlete. Tonight, she’s going to show the world that Jacy Jayne is the most beatable champion in WWE.

Jasper Troy didn’t waste his title shot because he knows Oba Femi will be out there no matter what.

Women’s Title: Jacy Jayne vs. Lainey Reid

Jayne, with the rest of Fatal Influence, is defending. Reid gets an early rollup for two to start but Jayne kicks her down and drops a backsplash. Jayne sends her throat first across the ropes to keep Reid down and we take a break. Back with Jayne driving her into the corner but Reid gets in a kick to the chest. Reid’s middle rope…we’ll call it a clothesline….puts Jayne down again and they slap it out. Reid gets the better of things and a swinging suplex gets two. A knee to the face gets two more but Henley offers a distraction, allowing Jayne to hit the Rolling Encore (I think?) to retain at 10:26.

Rating: C. I like the idea of playing up Jayne as such a beatable champion, as she can pick up some wins to slowly start shaking off that moniker. At the same time, she beat a newcomer in Reid, who loses nothing by getting beaten by a much bigger name. Reid still hasn’t shown me much in the ring dating back to her LVL Up days, but NXT needs some replacements after so many people were moved off the show.

Post match Ava pops up on the platform and announces a mini tournament for the #1 contendership, with the title shot taking place at Evolution. Jayne looks nervous.

Josh Briggs is disappointed in the tag team loss but here is TNA’s First Class to mock them. Yoshiki Inamura says AJ Francis is annoying but here is Elijah to blame First Class for the TNA World Title not being in TNA.

Tony D’Angelo and Luca Crusifino don’t seem to trust each other before their tag match.

Charlie Dempsey wishes Myles Borne luck in the future and Borne thanks him for everything the No Quarter Catch Crew did for him. Je’Von Evans comes in to say that was a tough loss for Dempsey, who wants to face Evans as a result.

Video on Worlds Collide.

Mr. Iguana and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.

Tony D’Angelo/Luca Crusifino vs. High Ryze

Wes Lee is here with High Ryze. Crusifino chops Igwe to start so it’s off to DuPont as commentary starts asking why anyone in the D’Angelo Family would care about D’Angelo. As that random attack begins, D’Angelo comes in and gets stomped down in the corner. That doesn’t last long and D’Angelo gets up and makes the tag off to Crusifino. House is quickly cleaned on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Crusifino fighting out of a chinlock so Igwe pulls him into a front facelock instead. Crusifino manages a running Codebreaker and the diving tag brings in D’Angelo for the spinebuster. Cue Stacks for a distraction but D’Angelo cuts him off. Crusifino picks up a crowbar (which Stacks may have brought in) but D’Angelo sees him before Crusifino can do anything with it (Crusifino hadn’t even raised it yet). Igwe decks D’Angelo though and the Heartstopper is good for the pin at 9:46.

Rating: C+. WWE absolutely loves that WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO style of booking and that’s because it often works. The good thing about what they set up here was you could see it going either way, which opens up some options. I’m curious to see what does happen and that’s more than I can say about a lot of what the D’Angelo Family was doing. That being said, commentary suddenly turning on D’Angelo is quite the red flag.

Trick Williams does not like the implication that he needed First Class’ help the beat Elijah and agrees to team with them against Elijah/Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Jasper Troy

Femi, who is banged up from earlier, is defending. Troy goes after the bad ribs to start and hits a backsplash but Femi manages a slam. Femi fights back until a suplex brings him right back down. They go outside where a clothesline drops Femi, who is whipped so hard into the corner that the middle rope breaks.

We take a break and come back (with the rope fixed) with Femi being dropped hard onto the apron. A splash gives Troy two but Femi makes the clothesline comeback. Femi hits a spinebuster for two but walks into a chokeslam. Jasper shrugs off being tossed and hits a Black Hole Slam for two more. They go outside where Femi sends him through the barricade, followed by the Fall From Grace for….two. Another Fall From Grace retains at 11:21.

Rating: B. Now this was more like it as you had two big guys just beating the daylights out of each other. Troy got a bit of an advantage thanks to the attack earlier in the day and that’s a smart move given how much of a favorite Femi would be here. There is something about watching Femi go into that higher mode where he just wrecks everyone in sight. That’s what we got here, though Troy was more than holding his own for at least awhile.

Overall Rating: B-. That main event bailed out an otherwise not so interesting show, which is more than a little surprising. NXT has been doing well enough lately but they were missing here a bit. Hopefully things turn around, though the TNA stuff isn’t interesting me very much at the moment. Stick with the interesting stories in the women’s division, plus Femi doing whatever he has going on, which tends to be quite good.

Results
Ethan Page b. Sean Legacy – Twisted Grin
The Culling b. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura – Dominator to Briggs
Lash Legend b. Wren Sinclair – Behind the back faceplant
Jacy Jayne b. Lainey Reid – Rolling Encore
High Ryze b. Tony D’Angelo/Luca Crusifino – Heartstopper to D’Angelo
Oba Femi b. Jasper Troy – Fall From Grace

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

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Superstars
Date: June 13, 1992
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Attendance: 7,000
Commentators: Vince McMahon, Mr. Perfect

We’re off to the start of a new taping cycle here and that means…well very little but it’s still nice to see these things being released on occasion. They’re such an easy watch and that makes for some fun flashbacks. The big story continues to be Papa Shango cursing the Ultimate Warrior and the blowoff has to be coming soon. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

The hosts welcome us to the show with a bunch of horse puns before talking about the WBF Championships, because that’s still a thing.

We run down the card.

Tatanka vs. Barry Horowitz

Horowitz hammers away to start but Tatanka is back with some leapfrogs (and barely seems to get the landing on one of them). A hiptoss doesn’t do much to Horowitz, who sends Tatanka face first into his boot. Tatanka hits a not exactly smooth gorilla press and we get a Rick Martel insert promo, mocking Tatanka over the stolen feathers. Tatanka fights back, hits the top rope chop to the head, and finishes with the Papoose To Go at 2:24.

UPDATE!

We recap Ultimate Warrior’s issues due to Papa Shango’s curse. Then last week Shango blew smoke at Gene Okerlund and left him unable to use his right hand, which started spurting out more black goo. Okerlund does sell it rather well, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

The Warrior is willing to sacrifice his flesh so he can walk only as a skeleton. If he stands only as a skeleton, it is still as the skeleton as the Ultimate Warrior. I’m sure that’s answering a challenge. I guess.

Shawn Michaels vs. Graig Brown

Sherri is here with Michaels, who takes Brown down a few times. We get an insert interview from Michaels/Sherri, where he talks about how hard it must be to go through life being as ugly as Bret Hart. He’ll take that Intercontinental Title from Hart though. A ram into the buckle annoys Michaels so he rolls outside for a quick check in the mirror. Back in and the superkick into the teardrop suplex finishes Brown at 1:41. Naturally Michaels uses this as a chance to talk about the WBF. Let it go already man.

We go to the Event Center with Sean Mooney.

Repo Man doesn’t like dogs ruining his business and suggests a choke collar. That’s what he wants to do to the British Bulldog.

Texas Tornado has rededicated a lot of things, including his life, his friends and to Jesus, because he is doing it for you. You could hear him slurring his words a bit here, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

We go to the streets of Miami, where Razor Ramon talks about how he comes from the gutter. He has no education, but who needs it? Look at his gold and his clothes. Of course he is a success, and all he wants is the world.

Natural Disasters vs. Executioners

The Executioners (generic masked guys) charge at the Disasters to start and try some slams, earning themselves a pair of backbreakers. Typhoon splashes #1 in the corner and then throws him down, followed by some slow stomping. Earthquake comes in for the double splash in the corner and for some reason #2 tries a double clothesline (Perfect finds this amazingly stupid). The powerslam into the Earthquake into the Typhoon splash (ignore that Typhoon was already in the ring when he was tagged) finishes at 2:57.

Back to the Event Center, with Skinner talking about how he likes it nice and hot in the summer. Virgil and Crush (“Or Crunch, whatever his name is.”) are coming at him from different sides but he has all the time in the world. If he can beat up a bear or an alligator, he can beat up a WWF Superstar.

Paul Bearer and Undertaker warn Berzerker and Mr. Fuji against coming to the dark side.

The Mountie vs. Bill Koby

Vince’s “Oh no not him again” when Mountie comes out is great. Mountie takes his time to start before tying him up in the Tree of Woe for some stomping. We get an insert promo from Sgt. Slaughter talking about the importance of Flag Day. Mountie finishes with a dropkick at 1:27.

Post match the Mountie gets his shock stick out of the box and threatens Koby, who runs away just in time.

Ad for the WBF PPV.

We get an empty arena interview with Randy Savage, who will be defending the WWF Title later. There are allegations that he had to bend the rules to win the title, which makes Savage whistle. Yes he has bent the rules a time or two but he reserves the right to do it again in the future. He’s fine with wrestling scientifically but if he knows he’s going against a dirty player, he’s not going to be naive.

Savage isn’t going to forget anything Ric Flair has said or done and he’ll take it to the grave. He’s bad to the bone with a heart made of stone and he’s the WWF Champion and Ric Flair is not. Of course he’ll break the rules if it means beating Flair. It’s weird to hear a clear good guy talk like that, but it fits Savage perfectly well.

Kamala vs. Dale Wolfe

Harvey Wippleman handles Kamala’s introduction. Kamala chops away on the ropes to start and stomps him down, followed by a variety of choking. Commentary goes silent for a few moments before the splash finishes for Kamala at 1:24.

El Matador vs. Mike Samples

Of note: during Matador’s entrance, a man with a mustache and wearing a blue shirt can be seen holding up a four year old, who got a high five from Matador himself (no wonder I’ve always been a fan). Commentary finally stops talking about the WBF before going to an insert promo from Matador….so he can talk about the WBF. Matador takes him down by the arm and finishes with El Paso de la Muerte at 1:26.

IMG Credit: WWE

Mr. Perfect calls the Big Boss Man and we see shots of all of the bruises and injuries the Boss Man sustained at the hands of Nailz. Perfect is glad that Boss Man’s career is over but Boss Man says he’ll be back, which makes Perfect hang up.

Nailz vs. Ron Cumberledge

For some reason, Nailz is one of the only things I remember about this show (likely due to being terrified of him). Nailz chokes away in the corner and kicks him in the ribs. A standing choke finishes Cumberledge at 1:07.

Post match Nailz beats him down with a nightstick.

Papa Shango talks about pain and how he’s hurting the Ultimate Warrior. The Warrior will become his mindless, thankless troll. How could you tell?

The Legion Of Doom are ready for every team around because they are the only great team around.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Shawn Michaels has left the building. McMahon: “What?”

Overall Rating: C-. This was a fairly weak show even by Superstars standards, but at the same time, there was some great nostalgia in here. It’s a show I haven’t seen since it aired live (or even being there in person) and it’s from a period that the WWF doesn’t talk about very often. The fact that McMahon and Perfect talked about the WBF so much rather than the show itself shows you just where the WWF was at this point.

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

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Monday Night Raw
Date: June 9, 2025
Location: PHX Arena, Phoenix, Arena
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re done with Money In The Bank and Seth Rollins and Naomi have the briefcases. That means we could be having some cash-ins teased soon, with Gunther challenging Jey Uso for the World Title tonight being a legitimate possibility. We’re also ready to start up on the King and Queen Of The Ring qualifying matches so let’s get to it.

Here is Money In The Bank if you need a recap.

Various people came to work today, including Becky Lynch in a Ms. Rachel shirt (if you have young kids, that probably either makes you smile or glare).

We get a long Worlds Collide and Money In The Bank recap.

Here is John Cena, who insists on his special entrance. Cena says that the fans teach him something every time they open their mouths. At Money In The Bank, Cena learned that the truth is a lie. The fans wanted a sideshow comedian whose greatest achievement is pretending to be him. These people are all spineless keyboard warriors and armchair activists with no real power to change anything.

R-Truth is a gimmick that the fans will spit out in a year and not care about at all. This is his farewell tour and he has limited time left. We run down the number of dates he has left, which leaves him at 19. If you want to accomplish something, send him competition instead of the class clown. Every time someone has come to him, he has shut their mouth and beaten his best….and here is CM Punk to interrupt.

Punk asks if Cena is comfortable because he has a lot to say. He’s comfortable with having this conversation with his fists but one way or another, he’ll get through this. Punk thinks it’s ironic that Cena wants to ruin wrestling and Punk is the one defending the establishment. That’s not what he’s doing, because he isn’t standing for TKO or defending the billionaires. Instead, he’s here to defend the people. Is Cena mad because he was picked by the establishment but not the people?

Cena has said that he hasn’t had real competition, but he’s stolen the title from the best WWE has. Punk is here because the people are his boss and if they want the truth, they’re going to get Ron Killings. They are all just spokes on the wheel and it’s time Cena learned that too. That starts by Punk taking the title from Cena’s shoulders. Remember when they locked up at Elimination Chamber?

Punk felt it then, just like when Seth Rollins gave him a Stomp. Cena said I’M SORRY because he knows what he’s doing is wrong. That title is corrupting him and even though Punk didn’t want to get it when he came here. Now though, Punk is going to have to become the monster to stop the monster. Punk counts 18 dates left after tonight and he’ll let Cena pick the date he takes the title from him.

If Cena is more Boston Red Sox than New York Yankees, he’ll do it tonight. Cena says Punk is on but not here, because Punk is going to have to follow him to Saudi Arabia at Night Of Champions (Punk has been VERY vocal about not wanting to do those shows). Punk seems in but here are Seth Rollins and company to hold up the briefcase.

There was a lot going on here but anything involving Cena and Punk together is a great way to go. At the same time, Punk feels like someone who could take the title from Cena given their history together. I do like the idea of tying it in with Punk’s known issues about Saudi Arabia, so the whole thing has a few different angles at the same time.

AJ Styles vs. Chad Gable

The Creeds are here with Gable. Feeling out process to start until Styles hits the drop down into the dropkick to send Gable outside. Gable is ready for a dive though and takes out the legs as we take a break. Back with Styles getting in a shot of his own but a nasty German suplex puts him back down. The top rope headbutt gives Gable two but Styles catches him on the top. That’s fine with Gable who gets the ankle lock, which is reversed into a quick Styles Clash for the pin at 7:57.

Rating: C+. It’s good to see Styles getting a win and for once, there is something reassuring about what is next for Gable. It made for a nice opener, even though they didn’t have much time to set things up. Styles could be getting ready to go after the Intercontinental Title and that means he needs some wins like this one.

Roxanne Perez comes up to Liv Morgan in the back to pitch an alliance to help win the Women’s Title for Judgment Day. Morgan isn’t interested and blows her off.

Queen Of The Ring First Round: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Kairi Sane

Ripley picks up Morgan to start but gets knocked down, with Sand taking down Morgan and Perez at the same time. Ripley gets back up for the staredown but Morgan breaks it up. Perez saves Morgan, who gets kicked in the head by Ripley. The Riptide is broken up by Perez and Ripley is sent out to the floor.

Sane gets tossed onto her for the big crash and we take a break. Back with Morgan hitting a Codebreaker on Ripley and taking Sane up top. Ripley powerbombs the villains down but walks into a top rope forearm from Sane. Back up and Sane hits a quick sitout Stunner for two on Ripley with Morgan and Perez making the save.

Sane is kicked to the floor but Ripley pulls herself up and goes after Perez and Morgan. Ripley headbutts sane and blocks Morgan’s Oblivion. Riptide connects but Raquel Rodriguez breaks up the pin. Sane dives onto both of them and then drops the Insane Elbow on Morgan…but Perez steals the pin at 12:48.

Rating: B. As much as I never need to see that “steal the pin” ending again, this was a heck of a match with quite a bit of action throughout. Perez going forward is a smart way to advance both her status on the main roster and the issues with Judgment Day. At the same time, Ripley needs something fresh, as she is starting to feel pretty ice cold. As hard as that might be to fathom, that needs to change.

Video on Worlds Collide.

Video on Nikki Bella.

Bella introduces herself to various women backstage and exchanges terms of respect with Kairi Sane.

Here is Becky Lynch for a chat. She isn’t sure where her YOU DESERVE IT chants are and lists off her various accomplishments. Lynch has raised the status of the Intercontinental Title just by winning it. On Saturday, Lyra Valkyria injured Lynch’s shoulder and Lynch, just trying to finish their issues, asked Valkyria to put the title on her waist. Then that crazy bird lady tried to kill her!

Lynch wants Valkyria out here to raise her hand properly so here is Valkyria, who Lynch says has that crazy look in her eyes again. Cue the returning Bayley from behind to jump her, sending Lynch bailing. That’s a good way to go as Bayley is a fresh opponent for Lynch, which Valkyria was cheated out of the title.

Commentary argues about what they just saw but R-Truth climbs onto the announcers’ table. Killings says don’t let anyone ever tell you that you don’t matter. They heard and they understood so he is back because of these people. He’s back and while the people love R-Truth, he can be funny all the time. Or too forgiving all the time, but not him.

He’s not a side show or a gimmick…and he takes some scissors out to cut his hair off. The truth has set him free and he is Ron The Truth Killings, so put some respect on his name. And with that he walks out through the crowd. I have no idea what is next for him, but it better be something special after a pretty awesome promo that showed a VERY different side of Killings.

Finn Balor isn’t sure why Dominik Mysterio is getting a match in the King Of The Ring. Mysterio makes sure Balor is cool with it, with JD McDonagh saying he and Balor are going to win the Tag Team Titles. Roxanne Perez comes in to celebrate her own win but Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez come in to not be pleased with her. Balor approves. As the clubhouse continues to turn.

Video on Mr. Iguana from AAA.

Seth Rollins give Bron Breakker a pep talk before his match.

King Of The Ring First Round: Dominik Mysterio vs. Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker vs. Penta

Non-title. Penta and Mysterio go to the floor to start, leaving Zayn to hammer on Breakker in the corner. Breakker is right back up with a running clothesline to Mysterio and we take a break. Back with Breakker suplexing Penta so all three others go after Breakker at the same time. Mysterio’s rollup gets two on Penta but Zayn is back up for the corner climbing tornado DDT.

Zayn dives onto Breakker on the floor so Penta dives onto Zayn, setting up Mysterio’s suicide DDT. Breakker hits his clothesline off the apron to crush Mysterio and we take another break. Back again with Breakker running the corner for a super Frankensteiner and then catching Penta with a jumping knee.

Breakker’s gorilla press is countered into a DDT for two and Mysterio is back in. Zayn gets caught with Two Amigos but reverses the third into a Blue Thunder Bomb for his own near fall. Back up and Penta Sacrifices Zayn’s arm and hits the Penta Driver, with Mysterio stealing the two. Breakker is back up and takes the straps down, allowing him to run around the ring to spear Penta. Cue LA Knight of all people with a BFT to Breakker, leaving Zayn to exploder Mysterio into the corner. The Helluva Kick gives Zayn the pin on Mysterio at 17:06.

Rating: B-. This got a lot of time and while it felt really similar to the four way for the Intercontinental Title at Wrestlemania (which only had Finn Balor in Zayn’s place), Zayn winning was a surprise. The match felt like it was designed for Breakker to win as he is known to smash through almost anyone. Zayn winning the whole thing is certainly an option and that is quite the interesting option.

AJ Styles isn’t happy with Seth Rollins sending Paul Heyman to threaten him last week. If you threaten Styles, he’ll hit you in the mouth and he’ll go tell Rollins that himself.

New Day is not happy with being asked who is next for their Tag Team Titles. Instead you should be thanking God for them being champions.

Video on Asuka, who is back next week after about a year away. I’m hoping this wasn’t meant to be a surprise as her name was listed in the graphics earlier in the night.

Here is Nikki Bella to thank us for having her back. She gets to the point, which is Evolution II taking place next month. Bella talks about the various women who will be around for the show and all of the talent we have here (including Stephanie “Vaquay”), which brings out a furious Liv Morgan. She isn’t happy with Bella not mentioning her and goes off about all of her accomplishments.

Morgan knows that Bella is scared of her because Morgan would have beaten her if Bella was still around. Morgan brings up that at least she has a man, unlike Bella. That makes Bella laugh, and she asks who Morgan’s man belongs to. Bella goes to leave but comes back when Morgan calls her a reality Diva. The Oblivion leaves Bella laying. Bella being in the ring again at Evolution seems like a layup, and it wouldn’t stun me to see her sister show up to try and win the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

John Cena vs. CM Punk is set for Night Of Champions.

Raw World Title: Jey Uso vs. Gunther

Gunther is challenging. Uso starts fast and tries some early sleepers, with Gunther bailing to the floor as we take an early break. Back with Uso hitting a high crossbody but coming up favoring his ribs, which gives Gunther a target. Gunther rips Uso’s shirt off and goes after the bad ribs with some knees to the back. A suplex drops Uso again and it’s time to rip the tape off as well. They go to the floor with a German suplex dropping Uso again and we take another break.

Back again with Uso winning a battle over a suplex and striking away. The enziguri rocks Gunther again and they go to the apron, with Uso knocking Gunther out to the floor. Gunther pulls him down again though and tries the top rope splash, which hits raised knees. Back in and the spear sets up the Superfly Splash for two on Gunther, leaving them both down.

The powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana and Uso hits a superkick. Uso gets the sleeper but gets caught with a backbreaker. Gunther’s powerbomb gets two and he hits his own spear for two. Uso can’t get the sleeper but he can hit a spear. The Superfly Splash misses and Gunther grabs a choke, even pulling it back to the middle.

Uso fights up but gets pulled back down, with Gunther letting go for some reason. Back up and Uso grabs his own sleeper, which is countered into the elbows to the head. Gunther elbows him in the head and gets the sleeper again to finally finish Uso and win the title at 22:01.

Rating: B-. They were really starting to get me here, but then the sleepers just kept going and took a lot of the energy out of the thing. That being said, I was rather stunned by the ending, as it felt like a situation where something big was going to happen to end the match. Instead, Gunther just won clean in a major moment. I’m not sure where this is leading, but there are certainly options available. Just try to find something other than the sleeper whenever we get there.

Gunther celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Sweet goodness what a show. You had some very good action, some great talking and a major title change to wrap it up. This was one of the times where the show felt red hot again and has me wondering what is going to happen next. That isn’t a feeling that happens very often and dang did it work here. Awesome show, both for tonight and for the future.

Results
AJ Styles b. Chad Gable – Styles Clash
Roxanne Perez b. Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan and Kairi Sane – Rollup to Sane
Sami Zayn b. Dominik Mysterio, Penta and Bron Breakker – Helluva Kick to Mysterio
Gunther b. Jey Uso – Sleeper

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