AAA Alianzas
Date: November 22, 2025
Location: Gimnasio Olimpico Juan de la Barrera, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentator: Jose Manuel Guillen

This appears to be a show that airs about once a month or so and in this case, it was broadcast on the WWE YouTube channel. That’s enough to get me to watch the show, though apparently commentary is entirely in Spanish. I’m not sure what this is going to mean or how much I’ll understand but the name of the show means Alliances, so expect some kind of a team deal. Let’s get to it.

Note that I do not follow the regular AAA shows nor do I understand more than a tiny bit of Spanish so I apologize in advance for any storyline or character points that I miss.

We open with a recap of El Hijo del Vikingo saying he’s the best and being interrupted by El Grande Americano, leading to a brawl. We also see Dominik Mysterio beating Dragon Lee to retain the Mega Title at Heroes Inmortales. Later, the Wyatt Sicks attacked Pagano and Psycho Clown and Chelsea Green and Ethan Page became the Mixed Tag Team Champions.

Mysterio and Americano, partners later tonight, share a bag of popcorn.

A team called El Ojo (the Eye) gets what seems to be instructions from their manager (I believe it’s Dorian Roldan).

We get the traditional tribute to Antonio Pena.

Je’Von Evans vs. Axiom vs. Octagon Jr.

For a future Cruiserweight Title shot, with champion Laredo Kid on commentary. Octagon gets knocked down to start but gets back up for a rollup on Axiom. Commentary talks about John Cena and Smackdown as they trade missed dropkicks for a triple staredown. A dropkick and springboard armdrag send Evans outside and Axiom follows it up with a running hurricanrana to Octagon.

Evans is back in to send Axiom outside, only to get hurricanranaed by Octagon. Back up and Octagon hits a running corkscrew dive to take both of them out on the floor, followed by a slingshot corkscrew splash for two on Axiom. The corkscrewing continues with a high crossbody for two on Evans as Axiom makes the save. This time it’s Axiom hitting the big dive to the floor to take both of them out as the fans approve.

Back in and Evans is knocked down, followed by a Codebreaker to Axiom, leaving all of them needing a breather. Octagon’s 450 mostly misses Evans but gets two anyway, with Axiom breaking it up. Evans hits a heck of a no hands dive onto Octagon on the floor, followed by a great frog splash for two on Axiom.

Back in and Axiom kicks Octagon down and backslides Evans for two. A superkick gets two more on Octagon, who catches Axiom on top. The tabletop superplex drops Axiom for another two with Evans making the save this time. Axiom’s super Spanish Fly hits Octagon but Evans cuts off the Golden Ratio, using Octagon as a launchpad for a cutter. The top rope cutter gives Evans the pin on Axiom at 12:12.

Rating: B. This is straight out of a bunch of promotion’s playbooks, as you take athletic wrestlers and let them fly around the ring for a bit to start the show. It’s worked well for years and will continue to do so for a long time. Evans continues to rack up experience, which is only going to help him in the end. Axiom is already fairly seasoned and can hang in there with anyone, with Octagon being more than good in his own right. Rather fun opener here.

Post match Kid gets in the ring for a respectful handshake and staredown.

Dominik Mysterio and El Grande Americano are in the back, with Mysterio holding up some Gringos Locos masks.

El Ojo vs. Psycho Circus/Pagano

No DQ and Dorian Roldan is here with El Ojo (El Mesias, Mecha Wolf, Forastero, Sanson) and Psycho Circus is Psycho Clown/Murder Clown/Dave The Clown). The Clowns clear the ring to start and we settle down to Pagano striking away at (I believe) Wolf, including a springboard cutter. Pagano whips out the weapons but gets taken down by the quick dive, allowing everyone to grab weapons for the big brawl.

The Clowns get the better of things and Murder takes over with cookie sheet. That earns him a big group beatdown, including stomps and kendo stick shots. Murder is right back with a double Samoan drop and the crushes Mesias, allowing the needed tag off to Psycho. Everything breaks down again and we hit more dives, meaning it’s table time. Dave takes out Psycho by mistake and Mesias gives Dave a Backstabber.

Pagano’s middle rope Codebreaker takes Mesias down and Murder chokebombs Wolf. Sanson comes back in to clean house until Psycho sunset flips Forastero for two. Forastero and Sanson take Psycho up top for a double superplex, which naturally is turned into a Tower Of Doom. Some top rope splashes ensue and everyone is down for a needed breather. The clowns hit their dives (mostly) and it’s Psycho with a super Spanish Fly onto some chairs to pin Sanson at 12:08.

Rating: B-. Kind of like the opener, you knew what you were going to get with the people involved. They didn’t bother trying to do anything but have a violent fight here and from what I’ve seen, that tends to go with the Clowns’ strengths. The Clowns have felt like a big deal around here for a long time and having them face what seems to be a top heel stable is always going to work.

Post match the Clowns brag about their win but Bo Dallas pops up on screen and accepts a challenge for a match against the Wyatt Sicks at Guerrera de Titantes. It seems to be a Carnival Of Carnage, which doesn’t sound pleasant.

Dragon Lee talks to El Hijo del Vikingo about their tag match tonight but Vikingo doesn’t seem interested.

Mixed Tag Team Titles: Lola Vice/Mr. Iguana vs. Chelsea Green/Ethan Page

Green and Page are defending and the champs run them over to start fast. Some stereo hurricanranas take Green and Page down though and Vice rams her hips into Green’s head. Vice even blows a kiss to Iguana, who isn’t sure what to do. A snap suplex drops green and it’s off to the men, with Iguana pulling out his namesake. Page cuts that off with a powerslam out of the corner and kicks Iguana in the face for a bonus.

Another powerslam attempt is countered into a tornado DDT and the tag brings in Vice to kick away at Green. The running hip attack in the corner gets two, with Page making the save. Everything breaks down and Iguana hits a springboard hurricanrana to take out Page on the floor. The referee goes down and Green brings in a kendo stick. Vice takes it away but so does Page, and a hard shot knocks Iguana (who was protecting Vice) out for the pin at 7:02.

Rating: C+. Green and Page are some of the most entertaining people in wrestling today and they got to showcase some of that here. At the same time, Iguana and Vice were able to do their thing, with the fans approving. These titles are almost guaranteed to be a bit less than serious, so Green and Page annoying the fans until someone knocks them off is a good way to go.

Post match El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. runs in for the brawl with Page. Green gets in a cheap shot though and Page beats him down.

Dominik Mysterio/El Grande Americano vs. Dragon Lee/El Hijo del Vikingo

Mysterio and Americano are the clear crowd favorites here. Lee and Mysterio start things off with Lee snapping off a running hurricanrana. Vikingo comes in to cut off a charge into the corner so it’s off to Americano, who shoves Vikingo down. Americano’s armdrag into a hammerlock has the fans singing (again) and Americano does a handstand, complete with claps of his feet.

That’s broken up and Lee hits a running dropkick but Vikingo won’t let him use the big dive. Vikingo does his own dive and NOW Lee can bust out the flipping dive. Lee and Vikingo nearly get in a fight on the floor, allowing Mysterio and Americano to hit stereo baseball slides. Back in and Mysterio dropkicks Lee outside again and some rolling suplexes make it worse. Vikingo gets the tag to take over on Mysterio, but Lee tags himself in out of frustration.

Lee’s top rope double stomp in the Tree Of Woe gets two and it’s back to an annoyed Vikingo. A Michinoku Driver gets Mysterio out of trouble and Americano comes in for the comeback. Americano hits a springboard Blockbuster (nice) into something like White Noise for two on Lee.

Vikingo goes up but Lee is sent into him for a crotching so Americano covers Lee, with Vikingo firing off a 450 for the save. Unfortunately that hits Lee, who is right back with Operation Dragon for two on Mysterio. Lee dives over for the tag and of course Vikingo pulls his arm back and even knocks Lee out. The 619 sets up Americano’s running headbutt to finish Lee at 17:01.

Rating: B. The fact that I can’t understand the promos or the backstory but knew the story they were telling in the match means they were doing something right. The action was there as well, with everyone working hard and putting in a good match that the fans liked. I got into this and it felt like a big time main event, so well done all around.

Post match Mysterio brags about their win and says they’re the best in the world. Cue the reunited Lucha Bros, who seem to disagree, and say something about chicken nuggets. This seems to be a challenge for Guerra de Titantes on December 20 in Guadalajara. Mysterio and Americano seem to be in to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. I had a good time with this show, which certainly felt like a WWE formatted show at times. I could get a nice enough idea of what was going on here, which is quite the feat when the show is in an entirely different language. This was definitely a faster paced style, but the show was entertaining and kept my attention for almost two hours. Nice job, and something I could go for more of if WWE wants to do some more special broadcasts.

Results
Je’Von Evans b. Octagon and Axiom – Top rope cutter to Axiom
Psycho Circus/Pagano b. El Ojo – Super Spanish Fly onto chairs to Sanson
Ethan Page/Chelsea Green b. Mr. Iguana/Lola Vice – Kendo stick shot to Iguana
El Grande Americano/Dominik Mysterio b. Dragon Lee/El Hijo del Vikingo – Running headbutt to Lee

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

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

Full Gear 2025
Date: November 22, 2025
Location: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Bryan Danielson, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back on pay per view with a rare rematch in the main event. In this case that would be Hangman Page defending the World Title against Samoa Joe, this time inside of a cage. Other than that, we have the return of the Casino Gauntlet match to crown the inaugural National Champion. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Bang Bang Gang vs. Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Outrunners vs. Max Caster/Anthony Bowens

For $200,000 and Dalton Castle is on commentary. Gunn punches Bowens to start and the big shot to the head drops Bowens in a hurry. Back up and Bowens hits an atomic drop, prompting Caster to do the clapping. Bowens yells at him, saying he has this so Caster tags himself in. Robinson comes in to take over on Caster but Magnum tags himself in to dropkick Caster.

It’s off to Bill for the big boot to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Floyd coming in to clean house, including the Mega Powers elbow on Keith. The Unacclaimed break that up but Scissor Me Timbers is cut off. The Arrival into the Mic Drop has Keith in trouble and Caster wants to scissor. Bowens isn’t sure but Bill interrupts anyway. Bowens strikes him down but Robinson steals the rollup pin on Bowens at 7:27.

Rating: C+. Not a bad all over the place match here and I’ll take that over the Unacclaimed winning and being all annoying with the WE DON’T LIKE EACH OTHER deal. The Gang has been needing a win of some sort and this is as good as anything they’re going to do at the moment. Just let Robinson talk some more and they should be fine.

Kickoff Show: RPG Vice vs. Big Boom AJ/QT Marshall

Paul Wight and Don Callis are on commentary. Vice is beaten up to start and AJ powerslams Romero. Beretta gets punched off the apron and they all brawl to the floor as we take a break. We come back with Marshall fighting out of a chinlock but getting sent outside. The Rizzler checks on Marshall but Romero shoves Big Justice (AJ’s son) down, which draws Wight over to scare them away.

Back in and the tag brings in AJ to clean house, including some powerslams. A gorilla press and full nelson slam give AJ two with Romero making the save. AJ loads up the Powerboom but Callis offers a distraction. Beretta gets in a cast shot and the running knee connects for two. Strong Zero gets two on AJ with Marshall making the save from the top. Romero grabs the cast but Justice comes in with a Diamond Cutter. Beretta goes after Justice and gets punched by Wight, setting up a Powerboom/Blockbuster combination to finish Beretta at 9:14.

Rating: C. The match was fine and while I’m not a fan of the Costco Guys, they seemingly have an audience and there’s no harm in having them in a less than serious Kickoff Show match. It’s not like RPG Vice is doing anything important right now anyway. You can pretty safely call this “harmless” and that’s an acceptable use of time on this show.

Kickoff Show: Hook/Eddie Kingston vs. Workhorsemen

The Workhorsemen jump them on the floor to start and it’s Hook in trouble in the corner to start. Drake chops him up against the ropes but Hook suplexes his way to freedom. It’s off to Kingston (in street clothes) for a DDT and the pin at 1:52. I’m going to assume this was shortened due to time and hopefully not due to Kingston’s knee, which he was favoring at the end.

Kickoff Show: CMLL Trios Titles: Don Callis Family vs. Sky Team

Sky Team (Mistico/Neon/Mascara Dorada) is defending but there is no Kazuchika Okada, who apparently hasn’t arrived yet. Hechicero and Konosuke Takeshita jump the champs from behind to start, with Hechicero crushing Mistico’s arm with a chair. The arm is sent into the steps and then twisted around a chair as Takeshita chinlocks Dorada inside. We get the opening bell and it’s Dorada flipping over Takeshita and handing it off to Neon.

A top rope armdrag takes Hechicero down as we cut to Okada arriving in a rather fancy car. The Kickoff Show ends and we pick things up on the proper pay per view everyone brawling. Mistico has been taken out and now Okada manages to get to the ring. Hechicero tries to get his partners on the same page but Okada flips Takeshita off. The champs block superplex attempts and here’s a taped up Mistico to fight back. A springboard double high crossbody connects and a spinning wristdrag drops Okada.

Back in and Neon does the same to Okada but Takeshita grabs a kind of wheelbarrow Tombstone. Takeshita loads up Raging Fire but Okada breaks it up. The Family gets in a shoving match and a Rainmaker accidentally hits Takeshita. Dorada and Neon are back in to take Hechicero down, setting up stereo moonsaults to the floor. Mistico poisonranas Hechicero and La Mistica retains the titles at 13:44.

Rating: B. The Sky Team continues to be a blast, which shouldn’t be a surprise. The catch here though is that the titles were totally secondary to the stuff with the Family, which has been going on for a long time now. I’m not sure what that’s going to mean, but at least they seem to be setting up the big showdown, likely at World’s End.

We recap Darby Allin vs. Pac. Allin has been going after the Death Riders for what feels like ever and now it’s time to have him face someone other than Jon Moxley. The catch this time is that Pac wants it one on one with no shenanigans.

Pac vs. Darby Allin

After a quick video of a bandaged Allin getting ready to fight, with Allin’s face being fine (not so much with his taped up arm and ribs). Allin takes him down by the arm to start and cranks away, including an armbar. A shotgun dropkick sends Pac outside but he reverses a hurricanrana back inside. Allin grinds away on a headlock instead before switching to a leglock, which has Pac in the ropes.

Pac is back up with a gorilla press onto the floor, which isn’t going to do well on those bad ribs. That’s only good for an eight count so Allin ribs the tape off Allin’s arm and gives him an Indian burn. A hard whip sends Allin through the corner and outside again for a nasty crash. Back in and Pac scores with a missile dropkick but Allin ties him in the ring skirt and hammers away.

A dive drops Pac and Allin puts him in a chair for a missile dropkick. Back in and Pac grabs a snap German suplex, followed by a toss into the corner. Allin fights up with a knockdown of his own but Pac blasts him with a lariat for two. The Brutalizer goes on, with Allin getting his feet into the ropes for the break. Allin sweeps the leg and gets the Scorpion Deathlock but here is Wheeler Yuta for a distraction. That makes Allin let go and a baseball bat to the face finishes for Pac at 16:57.

Rating: B. Allin wanting to do this clean and then cheating in the end is about as on point for the Death Riders as you can get, though I’m almost scared to know how much longer the team is going to be fighting Allin. Odds are Allin will want revenge and that sounds like a reason for quite the violent match. Again.

We recap the women’s four way tag. They’re all in the Women’s Tag Team Title tournament. Pretty much end of recap.

Sisters Of Sin vs. Timeless Love Bombs vs. Babes Of Wrath vs. Megan Bayne/Marina Shafir

The winners get to pick the stipulation for their semifinals match in the tournament. It’s a brawl to start with Storm and Shafir being left alone in the ring. Storm gets sent into the corner for the rapid fire kicks and forearms from Shafir and Bayne. A suplex sends Storm flying into the corner again but she’s able to flip Shirakawa onto Bayne for a quick two.

Back up and Bayne takes over on Shirakawa so Shafir can come back in for some choking. Blue comes in with a quick swinging neckbreaker but the Babes come in to take Blue down. Hart gets a chance to take over on Cameron but stops to shove Shafir. This doesn’t go well for Bayne, who gets in a shot of her own so Shafir can take over on Cameron. A tornado DDT finally gets Cameron out of trouble and the much needed tag brings in Nightingale.

That doesn’t last long either as it’s off to Shirakawa, who takes over on the Sisters. Shafir is right back in with Mother’s Milk but Storm makes a quick save. That’s enough for Storm to come in and clean house but Cameron tags herself in. A high crossbody gives Cameron two on Storm but Bayne German suplexes the Sisters at the same time. Everything breaks down and Shirakawa hits a dive to the floor, leaving Storm to small package Cameron for the pin at 13:10.

Rating: C+. Bayne got to show off a bit, but as usual there is only so much you can do with so many people in one match at one time. It also doesn’t help that this was for a stipulation in a tournament semifinal match. That doesn’t exactly make it feel must see, but with so much of the women’s division in the tournament, it was about all they could do.

We recap FTR vs. Bandido/Brody King for the Tag Team Titles. FTR are the all time team around here but King/Bandido are the hot team.

Tag Team Titles: Bandido/Brody King vs. FTR

FTR, with Stokely Hathaway, is challenging and we get a quick video from Hathaway where he walks in a dimly lit room and looks at footage of the champs. I’m assuming he’s not a fan. Bandido and Wheeler start things off with Wheeler working on the arm but Bandido is back with some armdrags. Harwood and King come in to slug it out with King taking over and hitting a quick backsplash for two.

Bandido comes in and slams King onto Harwood, meaning it’s Macarena time. Hathaway’s distraction doesn’t do much as Bandido dives over him, only to get dropped face first onto the announcers’ table. Back in and Harwood grabs a Gory Stretch but Bandido is out with a kind of double spinebuster (or a double flapjack that didn’t work). It’s still not enough for the tag though as Bandido gets pulled into the corner.

That doesn’t last long either as he kicks his way to freedom and brings in King to wreck both of them. A Death Valley Driver sends FTR into the corner for a cannonball but Harwood low bridges Bandido out to the floor. King is able to block the PowerPlex though, with Bandido coming in with a frog splash back to Harwood. King’s dive onto Hathaway only hits the floor, leaving Bandido to roll Harwood up for two.

The sitout powerbomb into a top rope splash gets two on Bandido, who is right back with a one armed gorilla press to send Wheeler outside. The big dive takes FTR out again and Bandido counters the Shatter Machine back inside. That’s enough to set up the 21 Plex but Harwood pops up for a Shatter Machine, with King having to make the save. Wheeler grabs a title and knocks Bandido silly for two but he’s right back up for a Shatter Machine to Harwood for two.

The monkey flip 450 is broken up, just like the Doomsday Device, as Bandido powerslams Wheeler out of the air for two more. King tries to get back in and is quickly spike piledriven onto the apron. Something like a double reverse AA plants Bandido for two and the spike piledriver gets the same. The Shatter Machine gives FTR the titles back at 20:12.

Rating: B. This was the kind of high speed, action packed match you would expect, but dang some of the lack of selling took me out of it. People were hitting big moves and the other person just kept popping up. That’s a good way to derail things a bit, as it made me roll my eyes more than anything else. FTR getting the titles back is fine as Bandido and King never felt like a long term team. That being said, can we do something with Bandido already? I’d say he’s earned it.

We recap the Casino Battle Royal for the inaugural National Title. Well recap it as much as possible, as we only know a few of the entrants so it’s basically just about Ricochet and the Hurt Syndicate.

National Title: Casino Gauntlet Match

For the inaugural title. The idea is basically a Royal Rumble with unknown entrants, untimed entrances and the first fall wins, meaning it could be over with only two entrants. Bobby Lashley is in at #1 and Shelton Benjamin is in at #2 and they show respect to start. Lashley goes for the leg and can’t get anywhere so they circle a bit until Ricochet is in at #3 after quite the disappointing segment.

Ricochet says we want violence so here are the Gates Of Agony to jump the Syndicate. MVP gets jumped on the floor while Benjamin is dropped onto a chair and Lashley is sent into the steps. The Gates are sent to the back as Ricochet dances and Claudio Castagnoli is in at #4. Ricochet’s dive is cut off by an uppercut and Castagnoli throws him back inside. The Swing sets up the running uppercut in the corner but Ricochet manages a headscissors out to the floor.

Daniel Garcia is in at #5 to choke Ricochet from the apron, allowing the Riders to crush him in the corner. Orange Cassidy is in at #6 and gets picked up by Castagnoli. The spinning DDT is blocked so it’s a Stundog Millionaire for Castagnoli as Wheeler Yuta is in at #7. Cassidy and Yuta’s staredown is cut off by the Death Riders, with Ricochet getting in on the running shots in the corner.

Kevin Knight is in at #8 and takes out Garcia on the floor but gets cut off by Ricochet. The Riders take over again and it’s Roderick Strong in at #9 with a Sick Kick for two on Ricochet. Mark Davis is in at #10 for a spinning piledriver on Ricochet and another one to Cassidy. Mike Bailey is in at #11 with a DDT to Davis but Bailey and Knight aren’t sure who should cover. Knight rolls Bailey up for a fast two so he kicks Knight in the face. Garcia grabs a Dragontamer on Bailey but Matt Menard is in at #12.

Menard and Garcia yell at each other and it’s Davis vs. Castagnoli, which is cut off by the returning Hurt Syndicate. Davis and Castagnoli are sent outside so Ricochet comes back in and immediately realizes his screwup. The Syndicate quickly beats him up but Cassidy is back in with some Orange Punches. Lashley misses a charge into the barricade and Wheeler knees Cassidy for two, with Knight making the save. Knight hits the UFO splash but Ricochet drops him with the Spirit Gun for the pin and the title at 22:55.

Rating: B-. This was a bit weaker than some of the previous editions of the match as it was pretty much just Ricochet vs. the Hurt Syndicate with some other stuff going on. Most of the people involved were little more than warm bodies and there wasn’t much drama about a lot of them winning the title. Ricochet is a good choice though, as he’s been doing some great stuff in recent weeks.

We recap Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly. Moxley has been broken by submitting so he’s facing a submission expert, who has made him tap out before. This time though it’s No Holds Barred, which is a bit less violent after the last time Moxley tapped out inside Blood & Guts.

Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly

No Holds Barred. O’Reilly strikes away at the bell to start and they go to the grappling. That’s broken up and O’Reilly kicks him into the corner, with Moxley sticking out his face for some free shots. A bend of the finger sets up an abdominal stretch on Moxley, which O’Reilly switches into an ankle lock. Moxley bails out to the floor before coming back inside to work on the arm.

That’s enough wrestling, so Moxley whips out a fork to stab O’Reilly in the head. The blood starts flowing and Moxley bites away at his head. Moxley works on the arm and bites a finger before switching to a full nelson. That’s reversed into another ankle lock, which is countered into a stabbing of O’Reilly’s nipple (Schiavone: “You want to describe that one Excalibur?”).

O’Reilly grabs a choke and dragon screw legwhips Moxley over the rope. A catapult sends Moxley into the post and the ankle lock goes on again back inside. The kneebar has Moxley in trouble and O’Reilly stabs him in the head with the fork for a change. O’Reilly grabs a chain and they take turns wrapping it around each others’ neck before fighting for a suplex. Moxley is the one getting suplexed but they’re still connected so neither can go anywhere.

They trade forearms until Moxley shrugs off some kicks and bulldog chokes him. That’s reversed as well until Moxley gets an STF, which is broken up with a stab to the hand. Moxley stomps him onto the chain (the fans do Seth Rollins’ song) and it’s time to Pillmanize the arm. The Death Rider sets up a Kimura, which is reversed into an ankle lock with the chain to make Moxley tap at 19:18.

Rating: C+. They were getting close to some good stuff here with the grappling but then it kept getting derailed by the fork nonsense. The chain was fine and the chair fit in well, but the fork stuff felt like it was from a totally different match. I do like the stuff with Moxley’s tough man image being broken as it fits the long term story for him. Just stop with the ultraviolent garbage and let the match work on its own.

Post match Moxley beats him down again but gives what looks like a look of respect.

We recap Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher for the TNT Title. They’ve traded wins but Briscoe wants one more shot at the title. If he loses though, he has to join the Don Callis Family.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe is challenging, Don Callis is on commentary and it’s No DQ. We get a special video with Briscoe talking about trying to find a new family after his brother passed away. He found that with the Conglomeration and now his future family depends on this match. This was really good and it hit the emotional notes perfectly well to sell the stakes for Briscoe. They forearm it out to start (as tends to be the case in AEW) but Briscoe can’t get an early Jay Driller.

Instead Fletcher sends him outside, where Briscoe gets in a trip off the apron. Some chairs are brought in, with one of them hitting Fletcher in the back. The Bang Bang Elbow is pulled out of the air though and Briscoe gets brainbustered onto the chair. A short ladder is brought in and Briscoe’s missed running flip dive sends him through it for a crash. The bleeding Briscoe is taken inside and whipped into the ladder again.

Briscoe fights out of trouble though and it’s a missile dropkick to send the ladder into Fletcher. That’s enough to get Callis off commentary and Briscoe grabs a table. Fletcher gets off of said table before the dive though and suplexes Briscoe on the floor instead. A bunch of chairs are loaded up on the floor but Briscoe gets up and sends him onto them. That takes too long as well, allowing Fletcher to shove him off the top and through the table for the big crash.

Back in and something like a running Alabama slam sends Briscoe through another table in the corner for two. As Callis tries to figure out if he has to feed Briscoe’s kids if Briscoe joins the Family, Fletcher pours out the thumbtacks (of course). The powerbomb onto the tacks is broken up and Briscoe gives him a fisherman’s buster onto the tacks. Briscoe grabs a barbed wire table, plus a ladder and a regular table (yet somehow, Fletcher can’t be kept down for three seconds at the moment).

They go to the apron, where Briscoe drives him into the group of open chairs. Back in and they both climb the ladder, with Briscoe getting to the top for an elbow to drive Fletcher through the table (onto the tacks) for two. That means that either Fletcher is winning or they missed the point where it should have ended. Fletcher is back up with the screwdriver (yep they missed it) but after stabbing Briscoe, gets it stuck in the turnbuckle. A brainbuster onto the tacks gets two on Fletcher, who manages to turn the screwdriver upside down in the buckle.

The super brainbuster onto the pointed up screwdriver is teased (this is stupid), only to be reversed to avoid a bad case of death. The Cutthroat Driver is broken up with a stab to the head and a running stab sets up the brainbuster to give Fletcher two more. They go up top, with Briscoe managing a toss Razor’s Edge through the barbed wire table. That and the Jay Driller are enough to finish Fletcher at 25:16.

Rating: B-. I know what they were going for here and what makes it all the more frustrating is THEY HAD IT. If this ended with Briscoe’s big elbow from the ladder (and maybe a Jay Driller for the family thing), it would have been great and easily the best thing on the show. Instead, they went another five minutes and had the stabbing stuff, which is, in a word, REALLY FREAKING STUPID. Forgive me for not buying the image of Fletcher teasing impaling Briscoe’s head on a screwdriver. The first twenty or so minutes were great and the last five minutes were dumb, which makes this quite the irritating situation.

We recap the Young Bucks/Josh Alexander vs. Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express for a million dollars. The Bucks have been broke for a bit but are teasing joining the Don Callis Family for the sake of getting their money back.

Young Bucks/Josh Alexander vs. Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express

For a million dollars. Nick works on Perry’s arm to start and they flip around a bit until they both try dropkicks. Matt and Luchasaurus come in with Luchasaurus working on the arm. It’s quickly off to Omega for more of the same, though Omega comes up favoring his recently damaged ankle. The villains take over on Omega, who manages to hurricanrana Nick to the floor.

The ensuing dive slows Omega down though and it’s back to Perry, who gets World’s Strongest Slammed onto the apron. Nick dives onto Luchasaurus and hands it back to Matt for Risky Business on Perry. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Perry hits a nice running diving DDT, allowing the much needed tag off to Luchasaurus. The Bucks superkick him down but he manages a double knockdown of his own and it’s back to Omega.

House is quickly cleaned but Alexander escapes You Can’t Escape. Everything breaks down and it’s a springboard Destroyer to Luchasaurus but Perry hits a running knee to leave everyone down. Omega and Alexander get up to slug it out until Omega grabs a snapdragon. The Bucks come in to take Omega down and we hit the ankle lock, which is broken up via the ropes. Matt gets caught in a spike Tombstone but the Countdown To Extinction is broken up.

Alexander clotheslines Matt by mistake though and now the Countdown To Extinction connects, with Alexander making the save. Perry hits a double Doomsday Device on the Bucks, who completely no sell it (because a springboard double clothesline has no effect) and start firing off the superkicks. Some of those superkicks hit Alexander, who gets planted with the One Winged Angel on the floor. A rollup gives Perry two but it’s the BTE Trigger to finish Perry at 19:06.

Rating: B+. I’m not big on the Bucks but they know how to do an exciting six man tag. I wasn’t expecting the Bucks to win here, as it felt like Alexander was only there to take the loss. The match was rather entertaining, though you can tell Omega is a far shell of what he used to be. That’s no surprise given what he’s been through, but dang it’s getting rough to see him out there.

Post match the Bucks get their money and Callis says they’re in the Family. Alexander and the rest of the Family jump Omega and the Express, with the Bucks almost being dragged away by Callis. The Bucks come back for the big save and make peace with the Express, followed by the big hug with Omega. Oh good grief ENOUGH WITH THE ELITE MELODRAMA ALREADY. Omega has to be helped to the back and even collapses on the ramp. The Family seems to have left with all of the money, so the Bucks are still broke.

We recap Mercedes Mone challenging Kris Statlander for the Women’s Title. Mone beat her before and now wants to do it for her 385th title.

Women’s Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander

Only Statlander is defending. Mone goes for the leg to start but gets rolled up for two instead. The Statement Maker is broken up as well so Mone sends her outside in a crash. Statlander is able to roll through a dive though and a nice superplex drops Mone hard. It’s too early for the 450 though as they’re definitely starting fast. Statlander rolls outside and seems to be favoring her elbow, with Mone hitting a running Meteora off the apron.

A big stomp to the arm has Statlander in even more trouble and it’s off to a Fujiwara armbar back inside. Back up and the bad arm is sent into the buckle but she uses the good arm to elbow Mone in the face. Mone uses her feet to bend the arm again and snaps off a tornado DDT for two. Fourteen Amigos have Statlander down and the fans cheering for Mone (the villain, because doing something cool is more important).

The frog splash lands on raised feet and Statlander manages a backdrop, followed by something like a Michinoku Driver for two. The bad arm gets crushed again but Statlander gives her a Blue Thunder Bomb on the floor. Back in and Mone hits a Codebreaker into a Backstabber into a sunset bomb into the corner. The running Meteora is cut off with a clothesline so Mone kicks at the bad arm again.

Statlander’s crossface is reversed into one from Mone, which is broken up as well. A super gutbuster (Dean Malenko style) drops Mone for a delayed two but the arm is too banged up for Staturday Night Fever. Instead it’s a package piledriver for two, with Mone having to grab the rope for the escape. Mone is back with a hurricanrana and running knees against the ropes for two and they fight over a Tombstone. Statlander finally sends her into the corner and muscles her up into the Staturday Night Fever to retain at 23:06.

Rating: B+. This was rather good as well and would have been even better had Mone not seemingly been more about getting cheered than winning. What matters the most is that Statlander won, which is what should have happened. There was no reason for Mone to win here and while she will likely get the title down the line, at least she didn’t get it here, as Statlander picks up probably her biggest win ever. Really nice match here, with the arm injury telling a good story as Statlander didn’t have her usual power advantage.

The Don Callis Family is happy with having the money and Callis says that it’s time for the team to come together for the Continental Classic. Konosuke Takeshita says he’ll be in, as does an angry Kyle Fletcher. Well that was obvious, but in a good way.

We recap Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe. Page retained the World Title over a good Joe last month so now it’s evil Joe in a cage.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe

Page is defending in a cage and apparently comes to the ring to a song from Red Dead Redemption 2. They tease rams into the cage to start with Page getting the better of things to bust Joe open early. Page takes his boot off to hammer Joe in the head for two but Joe sends him into the cage right back.

Now it’s Page busted open and getting his face raked against the cage, which isn’t a good sign. Page is back up to win a slugout and even tries his own Koquina Clutch. Joe’s release Rock Bottom out of the corner drops Page and he takes a turnbuckle pad off. Another comeback lets Page tease the Deadeye but here is Katsuyori Shibata for the distraction.

Eddie Kingston cuts him off but the referee gets crushed against the cage. The Deadeye connects for no count and here is Powerhouse Hobbs to break through the door. Page sends him into the cage and hits a Buckshot Lariat on Joe for no count. Instead here’s Hook to deck Page with the title and reveal an Opps shirt. Commentary acts like this is some shocking moment, as someone joining a stable he was part of just a few months ago is shocking. The Elite has done that what, half a dozen times? Anyway, Joe hits the MuscleBuster to retain the title at 16:02.

Rating: B. It was a violent, bloody brawl in a cage, which might have had a bit more impact had there not been two blood baths earlier in the night and two far bloodier cage matches just ten days ago. On the other hand, I do kind of like Joe winning the title again, as Page was (again) coming off as a huge afterthought as champion. I don’t get why that’s the case, but Joe is more interesting almost by definition. Good, violent match here, though a heel on top of a stable as champion, AGAIN, isn’t the most thrilling way to go.

Post match the Opps (complete with a group of Opps Dojo goons) celebrate but the lights go out. We see a burning home and Swerve Strickland is back. The Opps bail and Swerve takes out the goons (Like a…..house of fire?), with Page getting up to help to end the show. I’ve heard worse ideas.

Overall Rating: B+. This did exceed my expectations, which weren’t overly high coming into the show. What matters the most is that they changed the World Title, which just wasn’t an interesting situation for a long time. At the same time, we got some rather good matches, with the six man and Women’s Title matches being pretty close to excellent. I really could go with a lot less of the blood and more hardcore violence, but that’s just baked into a lot of modern wrestling. Either way, more than solid show tonight with some very good moments, even at five and a half hours (yes, the Kickoff Show counts, as always).

Results
Bang Bang Gang b. Max Caster/Anthony Bowens, Outrunners and Big Bill/Bryan Keith – Rollup to Bowens
Big Boom AJ/QT Marshall b. RPG Vice – Powerboom/Blockbuster combination to Beretta
Hook/Eddie Kingston b. Workhorsemen – DDT to Henry
Sky Team b. Don Callis Family – La Mistica to Hechicero
Pac b. Darby Allin – Baseball bat to the face
Timeless Love Bombs b. Sisters Of Sin, Marina Shafir/Megan Bayne and Babes Of Wrath – Small package to Cameron
FTR b. Bandido/Brody King – Shatter Machine to Bandido
Ricochet won the Casino Gauntlet Match – Spirit Gun to Knight
Kyle O’Reilly b. Jon Moxley – Ankle lock with a chain
Mark Briscoe b. Kyle Fletcher – Jay Driller
Young Bucks/Josh Alexander b. Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express – BTE Trigger to Perry
Kris Statlander b. Mercedes Mone – Staturday Night Fever
Samoa Joe b. Hangman Page – MuscleBuster

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

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I’m not sure if it’s due to Blood & Guts last week or something with the build itself, but it’s been a bit difficult to get up for this show. Part of it comes down to a lack of a hot main event. I’m assuming the main event is the cage match, but there is only so much you can get when Page already beat Joe last month. Hopefully the action is able to carry things over the finish line so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Big Boom AJ/QT Marshall vs. RPG Vice

So the Costco Guys are back and that means it’s time to act like they’re really interesting all over again. While AJ is far from terrible or even bad, it’s still hard to get interested in whatever the story is with himself and Marshall, which has been going on for way too long now. At least it’s in this spot and it’s not like Vice is going to lose much when they get beaten here.

In case that’s quite the spoiler, go back in time and insert your own warning. Of course there’s no reason to believe that the celebrity team is going to lose here. AJ is one of the bigger names that AEW can get at the moment so he’ll need to win here to keep his star power. It does help quite a bit that this is about as low level on the ladder as you can get, which at least keeps this from taking up more important time.

Kickoff Show: Hook/Eddie Kingston vs. Workhorsemen

In addition to the World Title match, here we have what is basically another rematch, or at least a repeat of the same setup. In this case, we have Kingston and Hook teaming up in an open challenge, only with the Workhorsemen accepting rather than the Frat House. I get the idea of wanting to get Kingston and Hook on the show, but maybe come up with something a bit more interesting?

As uninspired as this feels, there’s pretty much no doubt about the winner here, as this is all about trying to get Kingston and Hook to mean something. I’m not sure which one one is seen as the bigger star at the moment, but neither of them are exactly on fire right now. Maybe they can find something to spark them up a bit, but it’s hard to believe that them winning here will change much.

Kickoff Show: Max Caster/Anthony Bowens vs. Bang Bang Gang vs. Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Outrunners

It’s another match for a bunch of money which is code for “we have nothing else for these people to do but here they are anyway”. Caster and Bowens are by far the most important team at the moment, even if they’re not really a team. I could go for seeing the two of them together more often as the singles stuff was only so good, but either have them get back together or not.

That being said, I’ll take the Gang to win, partially due to how fun it could be to see Juice Robinson doing his stuff about the money, as you saw earlier this week. It sounds better than Caster and Bowens’ will they/won’t they deal, though that is the more likely pick. Maybe it’s due to me not caring much about Caster and Bowens, but hopefully the Gang wins here.

Kickoff Show: CMLL Trios Titles: El Sky Team(c) vs. The Don Callis Family

This is a bit of a confusing one as the names involved would make it feel like it belonged on the main card. While the titles might be in jeopardy, this feels like it’s much more about Konosuke Takeshita’s and Kazuchika Okada’s issues, which very well may spill over here. That has been teased for a good while now and it can only be stretched out so much longer. At the same time, getting the titles is something certainly in the realm of possibility.

I’ll take the champions to retain, as the Family doesn’t need to do much more at this point. Let them have some issues, possibly with a big showdown coming up in the Continental Classic. The Sky Team is fun to watch and it should make for a good match here, with the Family having some variety to spice it up a bit. The champs retain, but the focus is going to be on the Family, as tends to be the case.

National Title: Casino Gauntlet Match

We’ll start the main show with this one because it’s hard to say what we’re going to be seeing. While we are likely to have about twenty entrants, we only have five coming into the show. That doesn’t give us much in the way of the knowing where this is going as we’ll have to pick from the limited options that we have, which is hardly the best way to go but it’s the problem with a match like this.

Of the five options that we have (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight and Ricochet), I’ll take Ricochet as the most likely choice. Given that he’s been getting a good bit of screen time and actually needs to win something, this would be a good way to start. I’m not sure who else is going to be in there and there is always the chance that it’s someone out of nowhere, but Ricochet seems like at least a safe bet.

Darby Allin vs. Pac

This is the next match in Allin’s seemingly never ending war with the Death Riders. The idea here is that this is going to be a regular match with no extra shenanigans. I know that’s quite the concept on a wrestling show, but it would be nice to see after all of the insanity that Allin has been doing lately. If nothing else, it’s not Allin vs. Jon Moxley for a change and the breather should be nice.

There’s no reason to think Allin will lose here so we’ll go with him getting the win. In theory Allin is going to be going over the Death Riders in the end, though I have no idea what kind of big closing match they’re going to have. This doesn’t feel like a pay per view match, but at least it’s something different than what we’ve been seeing from Allin for such a long time now.

Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express vs. Young Bucks/Josh Alexander

This is the other money match (a million dollars in this case), as Tony Khan continues to give the evil and annoying Young Bucks a chance to make a huge sum all at once. At the same time, there was something of a tease of an Elite reunion earlier this week, which sums up just how annoying this whole thing has been. The Bucks doing all of their stuff is one thing but my head might implode if I’m supposed to cheer for them again.

Ultimately, this feels like Omega and the Express’ to win, as the Bucks need to fall even further before they can turn it around. Omega probably does not have many big matches left in him as his body is breaking down so quickly, but at least he’s still in the ring for the time being. Alexander feels like he’s there to take the fall, which has been the case for a long time now. Either way, the good guys win here.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher(c) vs. Mark Briscoe

Title vs. Briscoe joining the Don Callis Family, which makes me think that it’s going one certain way. The Family continues to do pretty much whatever it wants, which doesn’t make for the most thrilling story. On the other hand you have Briscoe, who rarely wins the big one and has been chasing this title for a VERY long time now. One of those things is going to have to give and that is where we are today.

I’ll take Briscoe to win here, as Fletcher has held the title for a very long time now and there isn’t much to gain by having him keep it any longer. On the other hand you have Briscoe, who needs to win the title again before he starts losing his status. Fletcher is at the point where a loss won’t hurt him very much and he seems likely to move up to the main event scene anyway. Briscoe winning here makes more sense.

Babes Of Wrath vs. Sisters Of Sin vs. Timeless Love Bombs vs. Megan Bayne/Marina Shafir

I can’t get my head around this one, as it’s that dumb of an idea. In this case we have the four semifinalists for the Women’s Tag Team Title tournament (which as of this coming Wednesday will be one of three ongoing title tournaments under the Tony Khan banner). The winner of this match gets to pick the stipulation for their semifinal match, which is likely happening this coming week. Yes, this is the best they could come up with for a pay per view.

As this has such little impact on who wins the titles, give me the Bombs to win, just to see whatever wacky idea Storm gives us in the semifinals. I still can’t fathom that this was the best they could do for this show, though I guess it’s due to Blood & Guts taking up a week. It’s almost like AEW tries to do too much and isn’t great at pacing its stuff out, but that must be nonsense of course.

Women’s Title: Kris Statlander(c) vs. Mercedes Mone

So this is Mone’s chance to win her….I believe it’s 14th title? The idea is that Mone has been TBS Champion for about 37 years now and has all kinds of other titles but failed in her one attempt to win the AEW Women’s Title. I’m still not sure what the appeal of the Belt Collector deal is supposed to be yet here we are, with the whole thing somehow still continuing.

I think I’ll go with Statlander retaining here, as Mone needs to lose something here sooner than later. While I’m sure she’ll get the title at some point and that’s fine, Statlander hasn’t had it very long yet and deserves a better run as champion. Hopefully it doesn’t turn into another case of “let’s all praise Mone”, but that is probably what winds up happening in the end.

Tag Team Titles: Bandido/Brody King(c) vs. FTR

This is another case where we’ve seen FTR as champions so many times now that it’s hard to bring myself to care about the possibility of seeing it again. Bandido and King have done really well with the titles thus far and it would be nice to get to see that continue. At the same time though, there is a real chance that the “real” team wins the belts here as Bandido moves on to whatever else.

Give me the champs retaining here, if nothing else for the sake of I’ve enjoyed seeing them more often. What I don’t need to see is FTR winning and then defending against a reunited Copeland/Cage, which is a rather strong possibility. Maybe it’s just me having false hope, but hopefully King and Bandido get to hang onto the titles here, as they’ve earned the right to keep them for awhile.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jon Moxley

This is No DQ and could be another big step in the already rather lengthy downfall of Moxley. The idea is that Moxley keeps giving up in matches after months of talking about how tough he is and it’s not exactly holding up. In theory this leads to the downfall of the entire Death Riders, which has LONG since run its course. On the other hand though…it’s O’Reilly.

As little sense as it might make, I’ll take O’Reilly to win here, as that’s the story that has been built up. Maybe it comes with some shenanigans, but there is no reason to have Moxley win here after losing so many times in recent weeks. The Death Riders desperately need to come to an end already and this is as good of a way to do so as there is right now. It’s hard to imagine O’Reilly as the guy to make it happen, but for now, the pieces are there.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page(c) vs. Samoa Joe

So this is a case where had it been anything other than the World Title and likely the main event, I would have put this way higher as there just isn’t much doubt over the winner. We’ve already seen this last month with Page retaining over Joe clean, which set up the ensuing heel turn. I’m not sure why I would want to see this again here, but someone has to challenge for the title.

Of course I’ll take Page to win here, as there is no reason to believe that Joe is taking the title. This has felt like quite the filler feud for the title, which isn’t exactly much to see. I’m sure the fight will be good enough as these two know how to make it work, but Page really needs to move on to something else, as the two matches with Joe haven’t exactly felt that important. At least this one is different though.

Overall Thoughts

Dang that’s a lot of matches. I know four of them are officially on a separate show, but it’s one big block of AEW without much in the way of a top match. That’s been an issue for a good while now in AEW, as they really don’t seem to have a major story going on. Maybe that changes soon, but it’s not making for the most interesting pay per view, at least on paper. That’s been the case for the last few shows too, and that really needs to change.

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

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Smackdown
Date: November 21, 2025
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re just over a week away from the Survivor Series and in this case that means it is time to both firm up more of the WarGames matches and set up some other things for the card. That can take a bit of time, but otherwise we also have to move forward in the Last Time Is Now tournament. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of the men’s WarGames match, with Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns returning on Raw.

Here is the Vision for a chat. Paul Heyman has a vision for WarGames, which will see five heroes crushed by each member of his team. This includes Logan Paul, who says he has a lot to say but cue the Usos to interrupt. Jey brings up taking out the Vision, with Heyman says just ticked off Paul.

Heyman takes credit for the Bloodline, with the first lesson he taught the Usos being that the numbers game always wins. The Usos say they aren’t here alone so here is…Cody Rhodes’ music. We cut to the back, where Drew McIntyre gets off Rhodes’ bus and Rhodes is seen out cold. The Usos run to the back to check on Rhodes as I try to figure out how the cameraman knew to be there as McIntyre was getting off the bus.

Post break Rhodes is still down on the ground outside, with McIntyre driving away and shouting SEE YOU AT WARGAMES.

US Title: Ilja Dragunov vs. ???

It’s open challenge time and it’s….JD McDonagh challenging. We even get an explanation for why he’s here, with commentary saying that McDonagh is here to support Finn Balor in the Last Time Is Now tournament. They fight into the corner to start until Dragunov hits him in the face to break that up. Back up and McDonagh sends him face first into the middle rope and we take an early break.

We come back with the two of them slapping it out until Dragunov hits a running clothesline. Some rolling German suplexes have McDonagh in more trouble but the Constantine Special is countered into a Spanish Fly. McDonagh suplexes him out to the floor for a double crash and we take another break.

We come back again with McDonagh getting two off a brainbuster but missing a moonsault. That lets McDonagh kick him in the face but Torpedo Moscow is cut off. Now the moonsault can connect to give McDonagh two, only for Dragunov to come back with Torpedo Moscow. The H Bomb retains the title at 15:20.

Rating: B+. This has become a standard on the show in recent months and that’s a good thing. It’s a case of having wrestlers come out there and do a bunch of stuff in the ring. As entertaining as the matches have been, it would be a bit nicer to have an actual story to set these matches up. While they’re kind of getting there with Tommaso Ciampa, they need to have an actual match for it to work. Either way, another pretty awesome match here.

We look at the recent drama of Charlotte and Alexa Bliss/Rhea Ripley, with Charlotte not wanting to team with Ripley but then agreeing to do it anyway.

Charlotte and Bliss are in the back, with Bliss making her talk to Ripley, with Iyo Sky leaving.

Nick Aldis has no update on Cody Rhodes but goes over to yell at the Vision. Drew McIntyre is still suspended, but he didn’t come into the arena so there is no violation of the suspension. Oh and Bronson Reed will win tonight.

Ilja Dragunov runs into Tama Tonga, who says he’s coming for the title. Dragunov also finds Tommaso Ciampa, who says a bit wordier version of the same thing.

Last Time Is Now Tournament First Round: Carmelo Hayes vs. Bronson Reed

Paul Heyman is here with Reed. Hayes slugs away to start fast but Reed is back up with a hard chop in the corner. A running knee in the corner has Hayes in trouble and a running elbow puts him down again. Hayes’ DDT has Reed in trouble though and a springboard DDT drops him for a second time.

That’s enough for Reed to bail out to the floor for a meeting with the Vision (with Logan Paul and Bron Breakker showing up) and we take a break. We come back with Hayes being whipped hard into the corner and we hit the chinlock. Reed tries to fight up but Paul interferes to cut him back down. Reed’s backsplash misses so Hayes can roll him up for two, followed by a middle rope clothesline. The Fadeaway sets up the frog splash for two more but the First 48 is countered.

The Tsunami misses and it’s the First 48 to send Reed outside. That means a big dive to take Reed down, followed by a top rope DDT to give Hayes two. Reed hits a heck of a running clothesline to send Hayes outside. Breakker loads up a spear, but cue Jey Uso to cut him off. Reed heads outside after Hayes…and it’s Cody Rhodes to post Reed and give him Cross Rhodes. That’s enough for Hayes to beat the count at 13:31.

Rating: B-. This might not have been the big giant slayer win for Hayes, but it was about the best option that they had available. Hayes needed a win and Reed shouldn’t be getting pinned, so this was the solution. I’ve seen far worse, and Hayes is at least winning to become more of a star than he’s been in recent months.

Post match Rhodes says he doesn’t want to be done with Drew McIntyre and historically, a Steiner is never better than a Rhodes. Logan Paul can go do a flip and Rhodes is the last person to beat Brock Lesnar and he did it TWICE. This was a fired up promo and that’s where Rhodes can shine.

Chelsea Green hides from Giulia and Kiana James, who yell at Alba Fyre instead. With the two of them gone, Green comes out and says she’s the greatest women’s champion of all times. Jade Cargill pops up, with Green realizing she screwed up and running off.

Sami Zayn gives his friends a pep talk about the MFT’s, who are ready to fight next week. The promos from the Motor City Machine Guns, Rey Fenix and Shinsuke Nakamura aren’t much, but we do get an old school Survivor Series graphic to hype up the match.

Fraxiom vs. DIY

Candice LeRae is here with DIY. Ciampa is wearing a shirt that says “DON’T CALL ME A JACKASS”, Gargano’s says “DON’T CALL MY BEST FRIEND A JACKASS” and LeRae’s is “DON’T CALL MY HUSBAND’S BEST FRIEND A JACKASS!” Ok that’s kind of amazing. Anyway, Ciampa and Frazer start things off but it’s off to Axiom off a quick blind tag. Everything breaks down and Fraxiom hits a pair of dives to the floor.

Back in and a pair of frog splashes hit Ciampa for two but Gargano is back up with a superkick. Frazer is sent into the steps for a crash and we take a break. We come back with Frazer coming back in to clean house. That’s quickly cut off with a Shatter Machine for two, followed by a superkick/Fairy Tale Ending combination for two on Axiom. That’s broken up and Axiom is right back on his feet as the Fireflies are out. LeRae steals Axiom’s mask though and Gargano gets a fast pin at 7:44.

Rating: C+. The match didn’t get a ton of time but it was four guys working their usual entertaining style. I could go for Axiom losing less frequently and I could definitely go for less of the stealing the mask deal, but at least the team had an out for the loss. They had a story coming into this with the US Title stuff, so this did have a few bonus points.

We get the sitdown face to face with Rhea Ripley and Charlotte. They have a history and they’re willing to fight again, but first up it’s WarGames. Ripley is willing to go to war with Charlotte at her side and Charlotte says yes. They shake hands and it seems to be ok.

Last Time Is Now Tournament First Round: Finn Balor vs. Penta

Penta jumps him to start and the brawl is on with Balor taking over. That’s quickly cut off and Penta sends him outside for the big running flip dive. We take a break and come back with Penta hitting a superkick to send him into the corner. Balor is right back with some kicks of his own, which is countered into something like a MuscleBuster for two. The Sling Blade drops Penta again but the Coup de Grace misses, allowing Penta to get two more off a rollup. The Penta Driver gets two and the running Canadian Destroyer gives Penta the clean pin at 10:03.

Rating: B-. These guys had a fight for about ten minutes and it was pretty much all action throughout. That made for an entertaining match and it’s encouraging to see Penta get another clean win. I’m not sure if he’s going to make it past the quarterfinals, but at least he’s getting there in the first place.

Sheamus is injured and out of the tournament so we’ll have to see who is replacing him.

Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s are ready to crush Sami Zayn and company.

Here is Team Ripley to name its final member. Ripley praises her current team members and brings out the fifth member: AJ Lee. Cue the other team to jump Ripley and company from behind, with Becky Lynch running in to jump Lee from behind as both teams seem to be complete to end the show. Lee was hardly a surprise and that made Lynch the obvious counterpart, which isn’t a bad thing.

Overall Rating: B. This show was feeling focused again and they covered quite a few things. You had the US Title stuff, the tournament, and the WarGames build. Throw in the hype for next week’s Survivor Series match and I liked the mix we had this week. It’s nice to see them building towards some stuff when things are getting more important. Now just keep it going when we get to the actual important stuff.

Results
Ilja Dragunov b. JD McDonagh – H Bomb
Carmelo Hayes b. Bronson Reed via countout
DIY b. Fraxiom – Rollup to Axiom
Penta b. Finn Balor – Running Canadian Destroyer

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

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An absolute hidden gem that deserves more attention.

https://411mania.com/wrestling/halls-wwe-no-way-out-2000-review/

Impact Wrestling
Date: November 20, 2025
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re done with Turning Point and that show only meant so much. I’m not sure what that is going to mean but now we’re going to get ready for Final Resolution next month. Hopefully there is something a bit happier than what we got last week, but you never can tell with this place. Let’s get to it.

Here is Turning Point if you need a recap.

In Memory Of George Tahinos, a wrestling photographer.

We open with a recap of last week’s World Title change, plus Turning Point, both of which saw NXT invasions.

Opening sequence.

Here is Mike Santana to get things going. Santana sits in a chair in the ring and says he loves these fans. He fought to get to the top and he shared that victory with his baby girl. Last week, he made it to 1000 days clean and sober (awesome). Then the next day, it was all taken from him and for the first time on his journey, he was scared. Before Turning Point, he went to a safe space and went to a meeting.

The people here give TNA their hard earned money to see a show and now Santana wants the World Title that much more. He’s coming for Frankie Kazarian, but first, he is picking off the NXT guys one by one. Consider this their warning. The fans were SILENT when Santana was talking about the personal side of things. That felt like it was because they were with him the entire way and that’s a great sign.

Frankie Kazarian comes in to see Santino Marella and wants a formal apology for having nothing to do with NXT. JDC comes in to mock Kazarian’s style and then asks for a World Title shot. Marella gives JDC a #1 contenders match later tonight.

Myla Grace vs. Rosemary vs. Indi Hartwell vs. Dani Luna

The winner faces the winner of another four way later on for a title shot. They go with the fast rollups to start and Rosemary gets caught in the corner for some running shots to knock her silly. That’s shrugged off and she’s able to fight out of a Hurts Donut attempt. Hartwell beats up Grace in the corner and a side slam gets two.

We take a break and come back with Hartwell caught in the Upside Down. Hartwell is out of that in a hurry and spinebusters Rosemary for two. Grace hits a big dive to take Rosemary out on the floor. Luna and Hartwell clothesline each other as Rosemary loads up a chain. Grace posts Rosemary though and she drops the chain, allowing Luna to use it to knock Hartwell out for the pin at 9:49.

Rating: C+. This was one of those “everyone goes nuts for a bit until someone gets the pin”, with Luna taking out Hartwell to continue their issues. Luna has gotten a lot more interesting since Spitfire split up and I’ll take that, as someone has to move up the ladder at some point. Odds are she doesn’t win the title, but at least she’s getting a chance.

Eric Young blames Santino Marella for all of the problems in this company and the Cleanse is coming.

Santino Marella and Arianna Grace are in the back when the Hardys and Steve Maclin come in. They want a piece of the NXT invaders.

Matt Cardona vs. Mance Warner

Steph de Lander is here with Warner and has to pull him away from an early Reboot attempt. Another distraction lets Warner counter Radio Silence into a sitout powerbomb for two and it’s time to slug it out. Cardona gets in a spinebuster and a flapjack, setting up the Reboot for two.

Warner faceplants him down though and a running knee connects for two. De Lander slips in a chair, which is taken away (not the brightest plan), allowing Cardona to hit Radio Silence. This time de Lander puts Warner’s foot on the rope so Cardona goes after her. That’s enough for de Lander to slip in her purse, which Warner uses for a cheap shot. The Pay Window (implant DDT) finishes Cardona at 5:18.

Rating: C+. If TNA wants Warner to actually be something, he has to win a match every so often. That’s what we got to see here, as Warner and de Lander worked well together to get Warner a win. It helps that de Lander and Cardona have such a history together, as it made the match feel a bit more important.

The NXT invaders talk about how TNA came to their house first but now they’re they’re seen as the bad guys. Robert Stone insists that he is NOT the person behind all of this and Lexis King promises to shatter TNA into a million pieces.

Matt Cardona is sick about Mance Warner and Steph de Lander cheating him out of a win. Now the Death Match King wants Warner in a street fight at Final Resolution.

Myron Reed vs. John Skyler

Reed dropkicks him down to start but Skyler is back with a ram into the buckle. The Russian legsweep gives Skyler two and he knocks Reed down again to grab a waistlock. Reed’s comeback is cut off with a clothesline so Reed switches to a running boot to the face. A slingshot legdrop in the ropes staggers Skyler again and a slingshot belly to back suplex gets two.

The big diving cutter is cut off with a slingshot spear to give Skyler two but Reed is back with Stundog Millionaire. They’re both down and we cut to the back, where Order 4 has taken out the Rascalz. Reed is back up with a cutter to send Skyler outside, setting up a big dive. Back in and Reed tries a sunset flip but cue Jason Hotch to help Skyler get the pin at 6:28.

Rating: B-. I wasn’t wild on the ending but this was a good example of two people who are given the chance to showcase themselves. That’s exactly what they did here and it made for a solid match. Order 4 moving on from the System to the Rascalz is a nice shift, as both of them could use a bit of a change of pace. Good match here, with Reed’s athleticism being quite the treat.

We look at Leon Slater retaining the X-Division Title against Rich Swann at Turning Point.

AJ Francis isn’t pleased with Swann losing but Slater comes in, with Francis calling the title First Class property. Slater vs. Francis seems set.

And now, we get the next step in the search for Mr. Elegance. There are three candidates, the first of which is quickly taken away for some alone time with Ash. The second is sent away for his choice of jacket color. The third practically begs for the chance and is dubbed a loser. As a result, the search continues.

Victoria Crawford vs. Jody Threat vs. Xia Brookside vs. Killer Kelly

The winner faces Dani Luna for a future Knockouts Title shot. Threat clears the ring to start fast and Brookside hits a dive. Back in and Threat blocks a headscissors from Brookside before Crawford takes Threat out. A Russian legsweep gives Brookside two and we take an early break.

We come back with Tessa Blanchard jumping in on commentary but then jumping back off as Threat dropkicks Brookside, who had Crawford in a fireman’s carry. Kelly chokes Brookside and Threat adds in a running dropkick in the corner. A Michinoku Driver gives Threat two and Crawford catches Kelly with a kick to the head on the middle rope. Crawford and Threat brawl to the floor, leaving Brookside to hit the Brooksie Bomb for the pin at 8:51.

Rating: C+. Another fast paced match here, though the rest is only so much you can get out of a match that is just shy of nine minutes with a commercial in the middle. Brookside is another person who could be moved into title contention, even in the short term, and it’s nice to see her getting a chance. If nothing else, that Brookside Bomb is a cool enough finisher to get her somewhere.

We meet Jada Stone, who was trained by Al Snow in OVW and the New Japan Dojo. She wasn’t ready in her first tryout but then she got a contract with TNA. Stone is a big fan of Bayley and it meant a lot to get to meet her, as Stone is ready to prove herself.

Santino Marella runs down the Final Resolution card thus far:

Mike Santana vs. Charlie Dempsey
Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. Tyson DuPont/Tyriek Igwe
International Title: Steve Maclin vs. Stacks

Here’s what’s coming in two weeks, as there isn’t a regular show due to Thanksgiving.

We get more of the Final Resolution card:

Knockouts Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Dani Luna or Xia Brookside
X-Division Title: Leon Slater vs. AJ Francis
Street Fight: Matt Cardona vs. Mance Warner

JDC vs. Eric Young

Frankie Kazarian is on commentary and JDC gets a World Title shot if he wins (thankfully Young doesn’t have such a chance). Young jumps him to start but gets knocked outside, with JDC following to keep up the fight. Back in and Young stomps away, only to get punched out to the floor. JDC starts in on the arm but Young sends him into the corner to take over. An armbar suplex doesn’t do much to Young, who is right back with a nerve hold.

That’s broken up and JDC goes up, only to get shoved off the top for a crash. Young’s moonsault misses and the piledriver is countered into a rollup for two. They go up top with Young biting JDC’s head to send him back down. A top rope elbow gives Young two and the referee is nearly crushed in the corner. The low blow into the Death Valley Driver gives Young two and they slug it out. They go up top again, where JDC backdrops him down, followed by Down And Dirty to finish Young at 13:03.

Rating: B-. Going with the soon to retire JDC for one big shot at the World Title is a good way to go and even if there is no reason to believe he’ll win the title, it’s a nice idea. At the same time, I can go for Young losing more often, though I’m scared of whatever this Cleanse could mean. Just please don’t let him be behind the whole NXT invasion. I couldn’t handle Young as the top heel again.

The staredown ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This at least felt like a normal edition of the show, as they were focused on a few things and advanced those forward. Final Resolution might not be the most important show, but they’ve done a nice job of setting it up on short notice. I liked this show well enough and it makes me wonder where some of the things are going. At the same time, I’m scared to know where some of those same things are going. Ok I’m scared of seeing more Eric Young. As always.

Results
Dani Luna b. Myla Grace, Rosemary and Indi Hartwell – Chain to the head to Hartwell
Mance Warner b. Matt Cardona – Pay Window
John Skyler b. Myron Reed – Rollup with assist from Jason Hotch
Xia Brookside b. Jody Threat, Killer Kelly and Victoria Crawford – Brooksie Bomb to Kelly
JDC b. Eric Young – Down And Dirty

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

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Collision
Date: November 19, 2025
Location: Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

It’s the second half of the latest double taping and in this case that means the final push towards this weekend’s Full Gear. That could go in a few different directions, though hopefully we get some more personal issues this time around. The biggest story is likely Mercedes Mone trying to become the official Ring Of Honor Women’s TV Champion because the interim version just doesn’t mean enough. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with Hangman Page and Katsuyori Shibata in the ring following Page’s victory in Dynamite’s main event. Page glares down at Samoa Joe (who was on commentary) and says that Joe is now alone and that isn’t going to go well when they’re in a cage. Just remember what happened the last time Page was in a cage with another man. We also see Page kicking Shibata low, which apparently took place between shows.

FTR is ready to take out Bandido and Brody King at Full Gear because they want to win the Tag Team Titles again.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Megan Bayne/Marina Sharif vs. Anna Jay/Tay Melo

Penelope Ford is here with the villains. Melo and Shafir trade takedowns to start until Melo hits her in the face a few times. Jay comes in and everyone is quickly on the floor for the double brawls. Jay and Melo hit stereo dives off the barricade but Shafir plants Jay back inside. We take a break and come back with Melo coming in to clean house as everything breaks down.

A bunch of running kicks in the corner have Bayne and Shafir in trouble but stereo guillotines are broken up with suplexes. Bayne gets Downward Spiraled into a running necksnap for two and Jay gets the Queenslayer. Shafir breaks that up and grabs a quick Mother’s Milk to make Jay give up at 8:49.

Rating: C+. Even though Jay and Melo are a regular team, there was no reason to believe they were going to lose to a pair of monsters like these two. That’s the kind of team that should be there to be slayed by the winners of the tournament, assuming Shafir and Bayne don’t win them themselves. Not much here, but the fans like Melo and Jay.

Post match the Timeless Love Bombs pop up on the screen to promise to win the four way at Full Gear. That means they can pick the stipulation for their semifinal match, which could be a chicken coop match, apartment wrestling or a Taipei Death Match.

Video on Kris Statlander.

The Bang Bang Gang is VERY interested in winning $200,000 at Full Gear.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Mascara Dorada

This is a double jeopardy match, meaning the winner gets a future title shot at the other’s title. Okada backs him up against the ropes to start and gives him some applause, which is a bit of a surprise. Dorada starts flipping around and knocks Okada to the floor. That means it’s time to do the “roll inside to break the count a few times” deal, allowing commentary to point out that Okada has the longest title reign in AEW history.

Okada gets back inside and taken down with a springboard armdrag right back to the floor. Naturally that means a dive but Okada is right back in with his dropkick and we take a break. We come back with Dorada falling off the top for a DDT onto the apron (that could have been a lot worse). They get back inside for a springboard hurricanrana to send Okada outside, setting up the big dive. Dorada grabs a running cutter over the barricade and a hurricanrana but the 450 misses back inside.

The top rope elbow connects for Okada but the Rainmaker is cut off. Instead Okada hits the dropkick and goes up, where Dorada catches him for a quick slam. Now the 450 connects for two and they both go up top, with Dorada getting almost no rotation on a super hurricanrana (thankfully not breaking his neck). He’s fine enough to counter the Rainmaker into a small package for two so Okada gives him Takeshita’s Raging Fire. Now the Rainmaker can finish Dorada at 12:09.

Rating: B. I’m not sure what was with Dorada here as he’s usually much more sure footed than that. Hopefully it’s just an off night (happens to everyone) as those botches could have been far worse. This sets up the Family for a CMLL Trios Titles match and that means Okada and Takeshita can argue some more.

Post match Callis is rather pleased to announce that the Trios Titles match will take place at the Full Gear Kickoff Show. And yes, Takeshita will be in the match. And yes, Okada is less than pleased.

The Sisters Of Sin are ready to get creative when they win the four way at Full Gear.

Ring Of Honor Women’s TV Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Red Velvet

Kris Statlander is on commentary. Mone is the Interim Champion but this is to unify the titles. It’s also Velvet’s first title defense since April and commentary points out that she’s the longest reigning champion in the title’s history. True, though they neglect to point out that she’s the second champion ever. Velvet rolls her up for two to start before they both miss dropkicks.

Mone avoids a charge into the ropes and dropkicks her out to the floor for the big crash. There’s the Meteora off the apron and Mone poses with some titles, only to get kicked into Statlander. Back in and of course it’s an Eddie Guerrero tribute, with Velvet pretending to get hit with a belt and dropping down into a rollup for two as we take a break.

We come back with Velvet grabbing a wheelbarrow bulldog and hitting a running crotch attack on the ropes. Mone pulls her into the Statement Maker, which is reversed into a reverse cross armbreaker. That’s broken up as well and Velvet grabs a German suplex into the Black Widow. Mone reverses into a Backstabber but gets caught with a super victory roll for two. They go up again and this time it’s a super Codebreaker to give Mone another title at 12:25.

Rating: B-. Welp, Mone sure did beat that longstanding champion who hadn’t defended the title in about seven months so this had all of the impact that you would think. I get that it’s not the point, but waiting for three hours to see Mone get to celebrate in her hometown isn’t exactly a thrilling way to wrap up a night. I’m not sold on the idea of her beating Statlander and this changed pretty much a grand total of nothing. The one thing it did confirm: interim titles are stupid and one of the concepts that AEW needs to drop.

Post match Mone throws some titles at Statlander and gives her a Meteora off the announcers’ table. Mone grabs a Statement Maker to make Statlander tap until the referees break it up. Statlander then….leaves with Velvet as Mone takes Statlander’s title and dances on the table. What a hero.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked it a bit better than Dynamite, though that might be due to focusing on some more interesting stories. That being said, Full Gear is not feeling like an important show and AEW needs to break out of that rut. Maybe it’s the focus on the Death Riders and Don Callis Family and stuff like “the winner of this four way gets to pick the stipulations for one semifinal” (good grief) and the fact that we’re coming up on the third tournament taking place at the same time starting next week, but dang it’s hard to get interested in a lot of this stuff.

Hopefully they have something new in mind, because they could use the change after the last few months. As usual, the wrestling isn’t the problem but rather doing something that has me wanting to see what happens next. Wondering if the Young Bucks or one of the four teams on the Kickoff Show will get one of the two big cash prizes or if Kenny Omega or Jon Moxley is facing someone with a better ankle lock isn’t exactly thrilling, but it might be a sign that this company is in need of some fresh ideas.

Results
Marina Shafir/Megan Bayne b. Anna Jay/Tay Melo – Mother’s Milk to Jay
Kazuchika Okada b. Mascara Dorada – Rainmaker
Mercedes Mone b. Red Velvet – Super Codebreaker

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

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Dynamite
Date: November 19, 2025
Location: Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

It’s another long form night of AEW, with a two hour Dynamite and an hour long Collision. At the same time, it is the last night before this weekend’s Full Gear. As a result, we have a mixture of prep for the pay per view as well as fallout from last week’s Blood & Guts, which could make for quite the night. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Bobby Lashley vs. Ricochet

For the #1 spot in the Casino Gauntlet at Full Gear and MVP is here with Lashley. The bell rings and Ricochet grabs the mic and says FLY EAGLES FLY. He hates this state and the only good thing to come out of here is his beautiful wife. As for MVP, he’s getting old and might have dementia because he said this was about the International Title rather than the National Title.

It’s the National Title and Ricochet is going to be the inaugural champion. Lashley finally jumps him and throws him over the top, with Ricochet screaming into the mic all the way down in a funny bit. The Gates Of Agony are sent over the announcers’ table but Lashley misses a charge into the corner. Ricochet hits a running shooting star press for two and then hides in the corner, which is enough to avoid the spear. Back up and Lashley hits a spinebuster, followed by the spear for the pin at 5:25.

Rating: C+. More than half of that was on Ricochet’s promo but the whole thing was still rather entertaining. There’s a lot to be said about having someone with as big of a mouth as Ricochet and then getting to see him get shut up. Lashley smashing through people is always worth a look and this went well, even with only so much action.

The Opps are ready to wreck Hangman Page after what he did to Powerhouse Hobbs. Tonight, Page is getting a beating at the hands of Katsuyori Shibata.

Renee Paquette asks the Young Bucks if they’re joining the Don Callis Family. Cue Callis to come in and say that there’s no gotcha journalism tonight. He’ll even do the Bucks’ entrance for them.

Young Bucks/Josh Alexander vs. SkyFlight

Nick and Dante start things off as Don Callis sits in on commentary. Dante gets taken down with a rope walk wristdrag but Nick misses an enziguri. They both miss dropkicks and it’s off to Alexander to whip Darius into the corner. Darius sends him into another corner though and it’s off to Dante for a quick elbow in the corner. Sky comes in and everything breaks down, including the series of dives to the floor. Alexander low bridges Sky to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Matt accidentally hitting Alexander in the face, allowing Sky to get over for the tag to Darius. House is quickly cleaned, with Alexander getting dropped off a powerbomb/Nose Dive combination, with the Bucks having to make a save. Sky is tossed into a spear, leaving the Bucks to fire off the superkicks. Dante is up with the big flip dive over the top onto the Bucks but Alexander cuts off a dive. Back in and Alexander shoves Dante into the Meltzer Driver, with Alexander adding in the ankle lock for the tap at 10:38.

Rating: B. Good, fast paced match here, even if it’s beyond tiring to see SkyFlight (especially Top Flight) losing so often. The Bucks and Alexander get their momentum before their match for a million dollars at Full Gear. I’m still not sure why that’s supposed to be interesting, but it’s what we get over and over.

Post match Callis gets in the ring and again tries to convince the Bucks to join the Family. They aren’t wild on that so Callis starts making with the threats. He even brings up what happened to Kenny Omega, who comes out with a pipe, only to get dropped by Alexander. Callis wants a BTE Trigger but before they can do it, here is the Jurassic Express (with a shovel and a vacuum cleaner) for the save.

The Babes Of Wrath are ready for the Sisters Of Sin and are rather enthusiastic about it.

We get a tribute to Bob Caudle, a former NWA announcer who passed away earlier this week at the age of 95. That’s a nice touch.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Mike Bailey

For the #2 spot in the Casino Gauntlet match at Full Gear and MVP is here with Benjamin and Kevin Knight is here with Bailey. We do get a handshake to start and Benjamin shrugs off a chop in the corner. They go outside with Benjamin’s arm being sent into the post. An armbar doesn’t work well for Bailey as he gets sent into the barricade, only for Bailey to grab some rollups for two back inside.

Another armbar is reversed into a quickly reversed ankle lock and they’re right back on the floor. Benjamin slams him down out there and we take an early break. We come back with Benjamin grabbing a chinlock, with MVP telling him to stop playing with their food so they can go eat. Bailey fights up and kicks away but still can’t get very far with the cross armbreaker.

Benjamin gets sent outside for a knockdown but manages to beat the count. Back in and a superkick sets up a shooting star press for two on Benjamin, with the moonsault knees getting the same. Benjamin powers his way out of trouble with a rather impressive toss, followed by a nasty superkick for two. A running knee in the corner sets up another superkick to pin Bailey at 12:08.

Rating: B-. That superkick looked great and I’m not sure why it wasn’t the finish here. Anyway, Benjamin vs. Lashley to start the Casino Gauntlet should be fun, though it’s still hard to get interested in another big match for yet another title. At least they’re trying something new, even if it’s just the start of a much bigger match.

Death Riders vs. Orange Cassidy/Roderick Strong

Cassidy and Moxley brawl to the floor to start with Strong dropkicking Castagnoli inside. Moxley comes back in to chop block Strong but Cassidy is back in with a high crossbody. Castagnoli rolls through though and takes Cassidy outside for a toss into the barricade. The Riders are sent over the barricade and Cassidy hits a dive to take them both out as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy not being able to get his hands in his pockets as Castagnoli sends him into the corner instead.

Cassidy’s diving DDT gets him out of trouble and the much needed tag brings in Strong to clean house. The alternating running forearms hit Moxley in the ropes but he’s back with a Paradigm Shift. Everything breaks down and Strong hits a top rope superplex on Moxley. Cassidy has to chase after an interfering Wheeler Yuta though, allowing Castagnoli to hit Swiss Death. Moxley’s bulldog choke finishes Cassidy at 12:21.

Rating: B-. This was the rebound win that the Riders, and Moxley in particular, needed after last week’s loss. I’m assuming it’s going to be a brief bump on the road of Moxley’s collapse. I’m not sure of where this is going, but it’s not likely going to end well for him one way or another. Either way, that might be a good thing for him, as it could mean some time away from AEW TV, which could be just what he needs.

Post match Moxley stays on Cassidy so here is Kyle O’Reilly to ankle lock Moxley, who taps again. The Death Riders finally make the save, even with Cassidy and Strong back up in the fight. O’Reilly issues the challenge to Moxley and we’ll make it No Holds Barred.

Brody King and Bandido are ready for FTR at Full Gear.

Kenny Omega, with the Jurassic Express, is ready for Full Gear and no money can save the Bucks and Josh Alexander. As usual, Omega is a lot better when he’s playing it serious.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Timeless Love Bombs vs. Riho/Alex Windsor

Shirakawa backs Riho up against the ropes to start and gives her a running shoulder, followed by a quick Shirakawa dance. They trade legsweeps and it’s a standoff, meaning a double tag to Storm and Windsor. A quick dance off sets up a test of strength, followed by an exchange of armdrags. Windsor takes over by bringing her into the corner for something like Poetry In Motion.

Storm comes out with a backbreaker, allowing Shirakawa to come back in with a slingshot dive. Windsor is right back in to send her throat first into the top rope, setting up Riho’s big dive out to the floor. We take a break and come back with Shirakawa DDTing her way out of trouble so Storm can clean house. A quick DDT gives Storm two, followed by an assisted splash for two on Windsor.

Back up and Windsor knocks Storm off the apron for a cannonball but Riho misses a top rope splash. Shirakawa backfists Riho down and grabs a Figure Four. That’s turned over, leaving Storm and Windsor to headbutt each other and fall on top for the break. Everything breaks down and the Bombs hit stereo running hip attacks in the corner. Storm Zero finishes Windsor at 12:53.

Rating: C+. Well they weren’t going to have one of the few close to regular teams in the tournament losing to a thrown together pairing. Storm and Shirakawa have gone from friends to what feels like the latest Storm performance art thing and that’s not a bad idea. Storm and Shirakawa have great chemistry together so pushing them towards the titles could go a long way.

We get a new Full Gear announcement: there will be a four way between the semifinalists at Full Gear with the winners getting to pick the stipulations for their semifinal match. Sweet goodness that is about as overbooked as you can get.

Mark Briscoe and Kyle Fletcher are in the back, with Briscoe talking about how failure is not an option because it’s No DQ and he’s going to make his family proud. Then the Don Callis Family jumps him, with Fletcher promising to make Briscoe’s sons orphans. Kazuchika Okada says he did this because Konosuke Takeshita couldn’t.

Pac is ready for Darby Allin at Full Gear but wants it as a straight match because with everything taken away, Allin can’t contend with him.

Hangman Page vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Non-title with Samoa Joe on commentary. Page jumps him from behind in the aisle to start fast but Shibata gets in a running boot to knock Page off the apron. The bell rings and Shibata sends the taped up Page into the barricade a few times, only for Page to fight out of trouble. They get inside with Page stomping away, followed by a backbreaker into a clothesline for two. Joe’s distraction lets Shibata get in a shot from behind into a suplex on the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Page hitting a springboard clothesline out to the floor, meaning it’s another stare at Joe. Back in and an STO drops Page, who catches the PK. Instead Shibata takes him into the corner for a running kick to the, ahem, thigh. Page misses a clothesline and gets hit low, allowing Shibata to get the cross armbreaker. That’s broken up so Shibata shifts over to the ankle lock. Page loses his boot on the escape but knocks Shibata down again. The boot is replaced and the Buckshot Lariat finishes for Page at 10:49.

Rating: B-. Nice stuff here, with Page getting by one of Joe’s friends before they face off again at the pay per view. Page fought through the odds again and won, which is a great way to present a top star in the company. They didn’t make this more complicated than it needed to be and it went well enough.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked the show well enough, but the focus being on more titles being introduced and a match coming up for a bunch of money (one of two) isn’t making the most thrilling Full Gear. Unfortunately it doesn’t make for the best build towards a pay per view. That absolutely does not mean that things are going to go badly on Saturday, but it’s not doing the best job of making me want to see the show.

Results
Bobby Lashley b. Ricochet – Spear
Young Bucks/Josh Alexander b. SkyFlight – Ankle lock to Dante
Shelton Benjamin b. Mike Bailey – Superkick
Death Riders b. Roderick Strong/Orange Cassidy – Bulldog choke to Cassidy
Timeless Love Bombs b. Alex Windsor/Riho – Storm Zero to Windsor
Hangman Page b. Katsuyori Shibata – Buckshot Lariat

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

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

Evolve
Date: November 19, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenburg, Robert Stone

We’re back to the title picture again as there is a #1 contenders match between PJ Vasa and Kali Armstrong for the next shot at Kendal Grey. Well next after next week’s Gold Rush edition of NXT but close enough. Other than that, Jackson Drake has to get ready for Sean Legacy next week so let’s get to it.

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

Kali Armstrong says she’s going to remind PJ Vasa show the real star is around here.

Opening sequence.

Jax Presley/Harley Riggins vs. OTM

OTM are a surprise set of opponents, as chosen by Timothy Thatcher. Price slams Riggins down to start so it’s quickly off to Presley vs. Nima. An exchange of shoulders goes to Presley, who takes Nima into the corner. It’s back to Riggins for a middle rope ax handle to the shoulder but Nima gets over to Price to fight back. A shinbreaker cuts Price off and it’s time to start kicking at the banged up leg.

Price tries to use one leg to get over for the tag, which works as well as you would expect. A shot to the back cuts him off again but a missed charge allows the needed tag off to Nima for the house cleaning. The running knee gives Nima two with Presley makes the save. Presley is sent outside and Paid In Full finishes Riggins at 6:53.

Rating: C+. This was a pair of hoss teams having a fight and that’s what it should have been. OTM getting the win here is fine as they’re certainly the bigger names of the four, though I could go with Riggins and Presley not losing as often. They’re the kind of big guys who shouldn’t be taking many losses so hopefully they can pick things up a bit.

Post match Timothy Thatcher comes out to point and talk some trash.

Video on PJ Vasa vs. Kali Armstrong.

Zena Sterling vs. Karmen Petrovic

Sterling is from LFG and rather young. She’s trained in a lot of ways, including 24 straight hours on a Stairmaster. She speaks a bit of Ukrainian and we’re ready to go. Hang on as Petrovic says she’s ready and NOW we can get started. Petrovic wins a test of strength to start and grabs a headlock, which is reversed into a wristlock. A suplex sends Petrovic flying and Sterling grabs a chinlock. Back up and Petrovic reverses a tilt-a-whirl slam into a crossbody for two. Eat Defeat staggers Sterling again and a running kick against the ropes connects. The Petrifier finishes Sterling off at 4:58.

Rating: C-. I wasn’t feeling this one and while Sterling isn’t exactly a seasoned veteran, there wasn’t much to see here. It was a dull match with little in the way of emotion and just kind of came and went. Petrovic is someone who has some cool stuff but it needs something to pull it together.

Tate Wilder is talking to Trill London and wants to be in the Evolve Title picture. They’re ready to go after Swipe Right. Sean Legacy comes in to ask why he wasn’t the partner, but Wilder says London wanted in on things around here, with Legacy saying he understands. With the other two gone, Legacy says he’s going to watch in the VIP section.

We look at Kendal Grey and Lainey Reid getting in a brawl last week on NXT, setting up their Women’s Title match next week at Gold Rush. We also see Sean Legacy being announced as the #1 contender for the Evolve Title.

Tate Wilder/Trill London vs. Swipe Right

Sean Legacy is watching in the VIP Lounge. London jumps over Smokes to start and takes him down with a headlock takeover. Wilder comes in with a slingshot ax handle to Baylor’s arm, followed by the arm being snapped over the top. It’s already back to London, who stays on the arm before a dropkick gets two. Smokes gets in a cheap shot to take London off the top though and Baylor gets to hammer on the chest.

A boot to the face gets two on London and Baylor pounds him down in the corner. London gets an elbow up in the corner though and it’s back to Wilder to clean house. The villains cut him off with a dropkick Hart Attack as everything breaks down. With Swipe Right on the floor, London hits a big flip dive and Wilder adds a top rope trust fall onto all three of them. Back in and the Wildest Ride finishes Baylor at 6:56.

Rating: C+. Wilder seems to be getting a push up the ladder and while that’s a bit of a strange way to go, at least they’re doing something with someone. At the same time, you have the Legacy factor, which is starting to lose a lot of its impact. He doesn’t win much in the way of big matches and that’s going to need to change or having him around isn’t going to mean much for very long.

Arianna Grace is in the VIP Lounge and is here to watch the main event while giving the fans a thrill.

Kali Armstrong runs into Kendal Grey in the back and they seem cool, with Armstrong saying she’s winning tonight and then coming for the title. Works for Grey.

Drake Moureaux is from the swamps of Louisiana and is coming to Evolve.

There’s no show next week but we’ll be back on December 3.

Timothy Thatcher hopes that Harley Riggins and Jax Presley will respect the Evolve talent after what happened earlier. Those guys go out there and work hard, which is what Riggins and Presley will see in two weeks in an ID showcase.

Kali Armstrong vs. PJ Vasa

For a future shot at Kendal Grey, who is in the VIP Lounge with Carlee Bright, as Arianna Grace leaves. They fight over the lockup to start until Vasa runs her over with a shoulder. Armstrong anklescissors her out of the corner and a dropkick sends Vasa outside as we take a break.

We come back with Armstrong hitting a running shoulder to the ribs in the corner, followed by quite the powerful suplex. Vasa drops her again for a quick two and it’s a Samoan drop into a chinlock. Armstrong fights up and strikes away, setting up a powerslam for two. Vasa gets backed into the corner but walks into a poke to the eyes. Something like an AA powerslam finishes Armstrong at 6:20.

Rating: B-. It worked in 2014 with Kevin Owens as Vasa, Pac as Armstrong and Jerry Mathers as Kendal Grey. Vasa is the new force who took out the former champion on her way to a title match. Now just let Grey find a way around the monster and it should make for a nice situation for everyone.

Post match Kendal Grey glares at Vasa but gets jumped by Chantel Monroe, who is challenging her in two weeks.

Jax Presley and Harley Riggins aren’t happy with what happened and make a phone call to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This is starting to feel like one of those older shows as they set things up week to week and find a way to keep you coming back. They’ve got something going here and I continue to enjoy this show more than just about any other weekly series. Now just keep that going with all of the people they have available and it should work for a good while.

Results
OTM b. Jax Presley/Harley Riggins – Paid In Full to Riggins
Karmen Petrovic b. Zena Sterling – Petrifier
Tate Wilder/Trill London b. Swipe Right – Wildest Ride to Baylor
PJ Vasa b. Kali Armstrong – Fireman’s carry powerslam

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

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

NXT
Date: November 18, 2025
Location: Theater At Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the first week of Gold Rush, meaning we’ll be seeing title matches from multiple companies defended over the next two weeks. That should make for quite the cards and hopefully they live up to the hype. We’re also coming up on Deadline next month so it’s time to start getting ready for one of the more unique shows of the year. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video focuses on the importance of gold and looks at the matches on this week’s half. The show taking place at MSG (close enough) makes it feel even more important.

AAA Mixed Tag Team Titles: Joe Hendry/Thea Hail vs. Chelsea Green/Ethan Page

Green and Page are defending. Green kicks at Hail to start but Hail snapmares her down, with Green being forced into a Hendry style wave. Hendry comes in to headlock takeover Page, followed by a running shoulder. A delayed suplex gets two on Page with Green making the save. Everything breaks down and Green is dropkicked into Page. Hendry and Hail pose as we take a break.

We come back with Hendry slugging away on Page and grabbing the fall away slam. Green and Page are sent outside for a trust fall from Hail, who gives Green an exploder suplex back inside. Everything breaks down and the Un-Pretty-Her…I have no idea actually as we cut to a law firm commercial. We quickly cut back to Hail getting the Kimura but Hendry is shoved into them for the save. Green grabs the Un-Pretty-Her for the pin to retain at 10:43.

Rating: C+. Good, fast paced opener here and I’m not overly surprised that another company’s titles didn’t change hands at an NXT event. I’m not thrilled that Hendry and Hail, who are about as perfect of a pairing as you can get, lose so soon, as it’s not like there is anything else they can go after. Just let them stay together, if nothing else for the fun energy they bring together.

Lola Vice and Jordynne Grace are ready to take the Knockouts Title from Kelani Jordan. Cue Jordan, who says jealousy doesn’t look good on Grace and she’ll be champion for a long time. See you next week.

Ava announces that John Cena will be picking the entrants for the Iron Survivor matches at Deadline.

Tavion Heights is in the crowd for an interview about how much things have changed for him in 2025. The reality is that he’s here in New York City and he wants to be in the Iron Survivor Challenge. If John Cena picks him, he knows that’s all the validation he needs. Cue Josh Briggs for the brawl in the crowd.

Zaria isn’t sure if Sol Ruca should go through with this match but Ruca insists.

Women’s North American Title: Blake Monroe vs. Sol Ruca

Ruca, with Zaria, is challenging and takes Monroe down with an early headlock takeover. A running boot to the head staggers Monroe but she’s right back with a spinning side slam. Ruca gets out of an early half crab attempt and kicks her away, only to miss a charge into the corner. Monroe wraps the recently healed up knee around the post and we take a break.

We come back with Monroe staying on the knee but Ruca fights up and hits a missile dropkick. Monroe is sent outside and Ruca hits a step up moonsault, only to tweak her knee again in the process. Back in and Monroe grabs a half crab and even takes off the knee brace. Monroe cranks on the knee and Zaria throws in a towel, despite Ruca being pretty close to the ropes and begging her not to, as Monroe retains at 13:21.

Rating: B-. This was about the storytelling with Ruca fighting through the pain and Zaria taking matters into her own hands. It’s quite the way to go and I liked what we got, as it should finally lead to the Ruca vs. Zaria split. Monroe got a nice boost here as well, as she came off as much more sadistic and violent for the sake of retaining her title. That’s been missing and it helped a lot.

Fatal Influence is ready to leave with all of the gold.

We look at Oba Femi returning last week to stare down Ricky Saints.

Here are Saints and Femi for a face to face chat. Saints isn’t surprised that Femi has returned, because he knows that Femi was getting worn down and then lost the title as a result. Saints was fighting against TNA and then retained in Last Man Standing. Femi says he’s back and wants to be more than just best dressed.

The sun is setting on the Revolution era and Femi is the one casting the shadow. The title rematch is set for Deadline…and here is Trick Williams to interrupt. Cue Myles Borne to chair Williams from behind and say he’s going to win the Iron Survivor Challenge and come for the title at New Year’s Evil. Borne is feeling more and more like someone to take seriously and it’s rather impressive to see him come this far.

Post break Ava yells at Myles Borne and gives him a match with Trick Williams next week. She gets a phone call and seems rather annoyed.

Josh Briggs and Tavion Heights are still brawling, with Heights being chokeslammed through a table.

Tag Team Titles: Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans vs. Darkstate

Darkstate is defending and get knocked to the floor to start, with Evans hitting a big dive over the top. Back in and a powerslam gets two on Slater, with Evans having to make a save. Griffin gets sent outside and a running hurricanrana gets two on Lennox back inside. Darkstate is tossed to the floor again for stereo dives as we take a break.

We come back with Evans in trouble and Lennox’s short DDT getting two. Evans flips away from Lennox though and kicks him down, allowing the much needed tag off to Slater. Everything breaks down and a spinning kick to the head takes Griffin to the floor and Lennox is kicked down as well. Slater busts out the big running flip dive out to the floor and the frog splash gives Evans two. The rest of Darkstate offers a distraction so Slater can get double powerbombed. Evans’ save lands on Slater by mistake and a Doomsday Device finishes Slater at 11:09.

Rating: B-. Slater and Evans are able to fly around and do all kinds of impressive looking things, which is why you put them in this spot. At the same time, it’s good to see Darkstate win a match and get in a nice title defense, which is what they needed. It’s a good enough match and I could go for more of this kind of Darkstate, who hopefully get to hold the titles that much longer.

Wren Sinclair gives Kendal Grey a pep talk before her title match next week.

LFG season 2 winner Shiloh Hill is a nerd and really smart, with interests in things like the dark web and quantum mechanics. Oh and he liked hitting people in football. More on this later. At least it’s a way to get introduced to someone new.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Video on Jackson Drake defending the Evolve Title against Sean Legacy next week.

Sol Ruca is mad at Zaria for throwing in the towel, with Zaria saying it was for Ruca’s own good. Ruca doesn’t want to hear it and Zaria doesn’t seem pleased.

Women’s Title: Tatum Paxley vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is challenging while Paxley has the Culling with her. Paxley works on the arm to start before grabbing a rollup for two. Jayne kicks her into the corner but they switch places, with Paxley hitting a running crossbody. With Jayne sent outside, Paxley takes her down again with a moonsault and we take a break.

We come back with Jayne hitting a clothesline into a super hurricanrana. Paxley is right back up with a superkick though and they’re both down. A slugout goes to the champ, who snaps off a German suplex. The running flipping ax kick gives Paxley two but Jayne pulls her face first into the corner. A cannonball hits Paxley, who is right back with a fisherman’s spinebuster (exactly what it sounds like) for two.

The Culling offers a distraction and slides Paxley a chair but she turns it down and gets superkicked. Paxley slides outside and drops Lainey Reid, allowing Jayne to get in a big running boot to the face. Back in and the Rolling Encore gives Jayne two so it’s time to bring in the belt. That’s cut off on the floor….and Dame kicks Paxley’s head off. Another Rolling Encore gives Jayne the title back at 11:27.

Rating: B-. This was one of those turns where it wasn’t so much about would it happen but rather when it would happen, as they weren’t exactly hiding it. Paxley never felt like a long term champion but she won the title clean and definitely got elevated as a result of the whole thing. This should be a good next step for her and we’ll see what kind of staying power she has as a result.

The Culling glares down at Paxley to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. It wasn’t the greatest show in the world but it did what it needed to, with the big angle at the end and some stuff being set up for the next few weeks. That’s what this kind of show needed to do, as we still have more title matches coming up next week. While it didn’t exactly feel like a major event, it did feel special enough and that’s good for a pass here.

Results
Chelsea Green/Ethan Page b. Joe Hendry/Thea Hail – Un-Pretty-Her to Hail
Blake Monroe b. Sol Ruca when Zaria threw in the towel
Darkstate b. Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans – Doomsday Device to Slater
Jacy Jayne b. Tatum Paxley – Rolling Encore

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

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