WWWF Heavyweight Wrestling
Date: May 9, 1965
Location: Capitol Arena, Washington D.C.
Commentator: Ray Morgan

Well this is a little out of my normal range. This is basically the WWF grandfather, as it’s the promotion that would morph into the WWF several years later. I’ve done some of these shows before and they can be very interesting, though something this old is going to be more than a bit different. Let’s get to it.

Ray Morgan welcomes us to the show and says it’s the second half of the show, though this seems to be about the regular length. We hear the card with some familiar names, with Morgan casually holding a cigarette because 1965 was a very different time.

Before the first match, we get the card for an upcoming live event, which sounds rather awesome. The announcer also references something that happened here “tonight”, which has me wondering how this show worked.

Tomas Marin vs. Bill Watts

Yes that Bill Watts and the fans DO NOT like him to put it mildly. Watts jumps him from behind to start and hits a forearm to put Marin on the floor early on. The knee drop sets up some jumping stomps and Watts sends him hard into the corner. Marin is tossed over the top as commentary says this is the second hour of the show.

Watts drops him onto the apron and then kicks him outside, leaving Watts to shout to the crowd in a great heel touch. Marin’s comeback lasts all of three seconds as he misses a dropkick and gets kneedropped again. The bulldog (called a bulldozer) gets two, as Watts pulls him up, followed by some elbows to the back (“50,000 watts” according to Morgan in a good line). Another bulldog finishes Marin at 5:06.

Rating: C+. Yeah it’s easy to see the greatness in Watts, as he clearly got the idea of connecting with the fans. The people clearly hated him and let him know, which made for some great moments. The match is just a squash, but Watts looked like a star, which is why he was such a big deal for such a long time.

Chief Big Heart vs. Tony Newberry

Big Heart is your traditional Native American and Newberry is billed as a Big Game Hunter. Newberry jumps him from behind to start but Heart fights back and pulls Newberry’s vest over his face. The big chops send Newberry outside where he yells a lot before coming back inside. Newberry tries to get the vest off again and Heart fires off more chops, much to the crowd’s approval.

A big chop sends Newberry back to the floor, where he finds…what looks to be a foreign object but Heart beats him up again. Newberry takes the leg down to finally get control and a leglock keeps Heart down. Heart chops his way to freedom and Newberry hides in the ropes, meaning it’s time for more chops.

A half nelson (you don’t see that very often) has Newberry in more trouble but he gets in some judo shots. That just fires Heart up and the war dance is on, meaning even more chops. One heck of a chop puts Newberry down and the Bow And Arrow makes him give up at 8:25 (with Newberry tapping, though that didn’t mean anything for almost thirty years).

Rating: C+. I liked this more than I was expecting, with the deal with the vest being a nice touch. The thing is that while they were both rather gimmicky, you could instantly understand what you’re getting. It might be a bit more simplistic than most matches but it was easy to understand. That’s a nice feature and it helped the match overcome its only so great action.

Argentina Apollo vs. Bob Boyer

Apollo takes him down by the arm to start and they go to the mat. A fight over what we would call a Tombstone results in Boyer being sat on the apron and a pat on the head. Back in and they go back to the mat to grapple over the leg. That’s broken up with a grab of the ropes and the fans seem to appreciate the clean break. Well that’s rather nice of them. Apollo takes him down by the arm for a change so Boyer grabs the leg and twists for a smart break.

Boyer works on the arm and it’s time to talk about upcoming shows. A backdrop puts Apollo down but he misses a splash, allowing Apollo to crank on the arms. They both go to the mat and tie their legs together with neither being able to get anywhere. A rather painful looking leglock has Boyer in more trouble, with Boyer having to turn it over to make the rope for the break.

Well kind of as they’re so tied up that it takes a bit longer than usual. Even the referee is confused about what to do as they’re really that stuck. Apollo finally stands up and grabs Boyer’s leg, spinning it around to get him back up. Boyer has to rub some feeling back into his leg before they shake hands and we’re finally back to normal.

Apollo cranks on the leg again and then cartwheels around into another leglock for a nice sequence. The half crab goes on, but Boyer slaps him on the back, which makes Apollo let go as he thought it was the referee. Eh smart move. A snapmare puts Apollo down and some jawbreakers make it worse. Back up and they run the ropes until Apollo hits a crossbody for the pin at 14:22.

Rating: C. There was a good match in there but the extra time hurt it. I liked the technical aspect of things here, with the referee getting confused about untying them being something that felt realistic. It’s easy to see why Apollo got a following, as he was quite the athletic star. Cut off about five minutes and this is far better.

Post match….they actually keep fighting, which isn’t something you would often see back in the day.

Chief White Owl vs. Steve Stanlee

Stanlee strikes away to start but Owl goes into the war dance and knocks him out to the floor rather quickly. Back in and Stanlee knocks him into the ropes for some slow kicking but Owl gets it into the corner. Owl’s clean break earns him a kick to the ribs so he ties Stanlee up in the ropes. Stanlee gets loose and charges right into a forearm to the chest. Well that didn’t work. Back up and Stanlee hammers away in the corner so Owl fires off some dropkicks. Owl fights back but the time runs out for the curfew at 6:05.

Rating: C. You can only do so much with the short run time and it was only going to be so good in the first place. It also didn’t help that we already had a Native American gimmick on the show. Commentary mentioned that White Own and Big Heart were a team, but it doesn’t work so well when you have both of them fighting on the same show. Stanlee is someone I’ve seen before and I still don’t quite get the appeal.

Post match Owl chops him down and is declared the winner by referee’s decision.

Morgan talks to an older fan on a cane to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. While this is basically the great great grandfather of modern wrestling, I had a good time with the show. You can easily tell the good guys from the bad guys and the action is fine at times. No you won’t be seeing any of the high flying stuff of today, but it’s straight up pro wrestling and it still works. While I wouldn’t want to watch a ton of it, there is something to be said about seeing the origins of what we watch today.

Results
Bill Watts b. Tomas Marin – Bulldog
Chief Big Heart b. Tony Newberry – Bow And Arrow
Argentina Apollo b. Bob Boyer – Crossbody
Chief White Owl b. Steve Stanlee via referee’s decision

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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Main Event
Date: January 8, 2026
Location: Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Blake Howard

So for some reason this was put up on the WWE YouTube channel. I have no idea if that’s going to be a regular thing, but I can’t imagine me doing this more than once anyway. This is as low on the main roster totem pole as you can get and you’ll see what I mean if you’ve never seen this before. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Talla Tonga vs. Apollo Crews

Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s are here with Tonga. Crews is wrestling his first match in WWE in nearly a year, allowing commentary to make snake jokes as he is from Stone Mountain, Georgia. Tonga knocks him into the ropes but gets kicked out to the floor, with a dropkick through the ropes making it worse.

Back in and Tonga hits a running corner clothesline, followed by a full nelson slam. A chokeslam doesn’t work though and Tonga misses a charge into the buckle. Crews starts going after the knee and hits an enziguri, followed by a moonsault onto the back for two. Tonga isn’t having this though and kicks him out of the air, setting up the chokeslam for the pin at 5:04.

Rating: C-. Well, Crews is indeed back and he’s in the same spot he was in before. There was nothing to see here other than Crews getting to do some quick athletic stuff. That’s been his issue for a long time, as he’s more than crazy athletic, but there’s just nothing to make him connect with…well anyone really.

From Raw.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors are defending and we start fast with the champions being sent outside for the running flip dive from Ripley. We take a break and come back with Ripley missing a second flip dive off the apron, allowing the Warriors to kick her down inside. Ripley throws her way out of trouble though and it’s off to Sky to Sling Blade Asuka. Sky gets draped over the top though and a top rope knee to the back gives Sane two.

We take another break and come back again with Sky getting bent around in a Liontamer. Sky gets twisted too far though and kicks Sane in the ribs, allowing the tag back to Ripley. House is quickly cleaned with Ripley hitting a Razor’s Edge into a missile dropkick. Ripley gets kicked by Asuka and the ankle lock goes on. She gets up but Asuka traps the leg for a German suplex (Ripley: “OH S***!”) and the Warriors fire off the kicks. The assisted Insane Elbow gets two, with Sky making the save. Sky kicks Asuka into the Riptide from Ripley, setting up Over The Moonsault for the pin and the titles at 16:29.

Rating: B. This is the right call as they set the match up as a big deal and then paid it off with the title change. Ripley and Sky have been needing to get another big win sooner or later and this is about as big as you can get. Sky continues to establish herself as one of the top stars in the division and Ripley gets back to some success, which she’s been needing for a good while.

Video on Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch.

From Raw.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri

Dupri is defending and we get a Stranger Things intro, saying this is Chapter Three: It’s Not Just Her Saying It. They take turns backing each other into the corner and Lynch knocks her into the corner to take over. A Thesz press lets Dupri hammer away and we take an early break. We come back with Dupri fighting out of trouble and hitting a running knee to the head. Dupri loads up a backslide but then drops down, leaving commentary unsure what that was supposed to be.

A high crossbody misses for Dupri and the threat of an ankle lock sends Lynch over to the ropes. Lynch misses a middle rope legdrop in the ropes though and gets caught in the ankle lock. The Disarm-Her is reversed into the ankle lock, which Lynch reverses into a DDT for two. Lynch’s ankle lock is broken up and Dupri suplexes her into a high crossbody for two. Lynch catches her on top but Dupri rolls into another ankle lock. This time though Lynch stacks her up and grabs the rope to get the title back at 10:35.

Rating: B-. It had to happen sooner or later and that’s ok. What matters the most here is that Dupri has gone from pretty much a joke to someone who looks like she can hang in there with bigger names. There is zero shame in losing to Lynch, who is simply on a higher level than Dupri. I’m not sure what is next for either of them, but this would be a fine enough way to close the story.

From Raw.

CM Punk isn’t worried about the spear because if he’s the underdog, Bron Breakker will underestimate him.

We look at (in rapid fire):

Matt Cardona returning
Trick Williams debuting on Smackdown
Je’Von Evans signing with Raw
Giulia regaining the Women’s US Title

War Raiders vs. Los Americanos

El Grande Americano is here too. Bravo shoulders Erik to no avail to start so Rayo comes in for a double shoulder. Rayo misses a charge into the ropes and gets atomic dropped, allowing Ivar to come in for a double clothesline. The Raiders launch them at each other for a midair crash and we take a break.

We come back with the Americanos starting in on the leg, including a double wishbone. A quick distraction draws Erik in so the double stomping can ensue. Ivar clotheslines his way to freedom and brings Erik back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Grande hits a loaded headbutt to Ivar, setting up a Russian legsweep/top rope headbutt combination to give Rayo the pin at 7:36.

Rating: C+. It’s so strange to see the War Raiders fall this far. They have gone from being the champions to losing on Main Event in less than a year. The entire Raw tag division has just collapsed and they’re certainly on the list. At the same time, Los Americanos are fun, but they’re just kind of there. Much like El Grande Americano actually.

Video on CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker.

From Raw.

Here is Gunther for a chat. Gunther has been asked to show respect, but what about respect for him? He brings up making John Cena tap out but here is AJ Styles to interrupt. Gunther immediately cuts him off though, saying Styles is punching above his weight. He’s the man who made Cena tap out like a little B****, so what is little AJ going to do about it? Gunther gives him a You Can’t See Me so Styles slaps him in the face. They get in each others’ faces and Styles says that’s what he thought.

From Raw.

Raw World Title: CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker

Breakker, with Paul Heyman, is defending. Punk grabs a headlock to start and cranks on the arm, including a takedown. Breakker catches him with a powerslam though and we take an early break. We come back with Breakker slamming him down again and hammering away with right hands. Another throw drops Punk again and he is looking rather rocked.

Some trash talk wakes Punk up though and he strikes away but the GTS is escaped. Breakker’s fireman’s carry gutbuster gets two but the running spear around the ring is cut off with a clothesline. We take a break and come back with Breakker not being able to hit the super Frankensteiner and crashing backwards. Punk’s top rope elbow gets two so he goes back up, where a super Frankensteiner brings him back down for two.

The gorilla press is countered into a DDT for two and they slug it out. Punk knocks him down but goes after a distraction Heyman. Cue the Vision for a distraction, allowing Theory to hit a Stomp. Cue Dragon Lee, Penta and Rey Mysterio to brawl with the Vision, leaving Breakker’s spear to hit the post. The GTS gets two and dang they had me on that one. Punk hits a piledriver for two so he tries the GTS, which is reversed into a Fujiwara armbar.

That’s reversed into the Anaconda Vice but Breakker powers up and hits a hard clothesline for two. Breakker tries a GTS but Punk reverses into the STF. Heyman gets on the apron for a distraction though and gets punched in the face, only for Breakker’s spear to miss. Punk tries a suicide dive, which is punched out of the air for a nasty landing. Breakker knocks him onto the announcers’ table for the big elbow from the top, through said table in a nasty crash. Back in and the spear is kneed away and the GTS gives Punk the pin at 26:45.

Rating: A-. There were multiple times in there when I wasn’t sure who was going to win and there is no better feeling to have in a match. They did a great job of having Breakker look like a monster with Punk just barely surviving, including NOT having Breakker hit the spear, which can be saved for later. Awesome match here as Punk still has it and Breakker’s time will come one day.

Punk celebrates to end the show, including dropping the title in a funny bit.

Overall Rating: B. Welp, the show continues its run of doing the exact same thing for the better part of ever. It’s an exclusive match, recaps, another exclusive match, and more recaps. That’s what this show has been for longer than I can remember and it’s kind of hard to get mad about that. The fact that it’s just on YouTube (at least this week) makes it better, as it’s not like it’s taking up a valuable space. Nothing show of course, but it featured highlights from a stacked Raw so call it a success.

Results
Talla Tonga b. Apollo Crews – Chokeslam
Los Americanos b. War Raiders – Russian legsweep/top rope headbutt combination to Ivar

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: January 15, 2026
Location: Arizona Financial Theater, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Excalibur, Bryan Danielson

It’s Maximum Carnage, which…really doesn’t seem to mean much, other than we have Bandido challenging MJF for the World Title. There is still a long time to go before Revolution, but these special named shows do tend to do pretty well for AEW, as they know what they’re doing with them. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Samoa Joe wants to deal with Hangman Page, but he needs to get ready to defend the Trios Titles. Therefore, he’s putting a bounty out on Page, with Bryan Keith here to collect it. That would be the second bounty of the year thus far.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Pac vs. Darby Allin

Allin jumps Pac from behind during the entrances and they quickly fight into the crowd. Pac gets staggered with some shots to the face, setting up the Coffin Drop off a balcony. They head back to ringside, where Pac gets in a suplex on the floor. An overhead belly to belly sends Allin crashing into the steps and they get inside for the opening bell. A very hard clothesline gives Pac two and he drops Allin onto the ropes as we take a break.

We come back with Allin hitting a missile dropkick but charging into a belly to belly into the corner. A release belly to belly superplex sets up a Razor’s Edge over the ropes and onto the ramp to drop Allin again. Back in and Allin flips Pac off and knocks him to the floor, setting up another Coffin Drop. A third Coffin Drop, this time onto the apron, connects but the referee gets bumped back inside. The Scorpion Deathlock goes on so here are the Death Riders to save Pac. A chair is wrapped around Pac’s ankle and another Coffin Drop is good for the Pillmanization. The Scorpion Deathlock finishes Pac at 11:05.

Rating: B-. It was a hard hitting match, but I’m losing interest more in Allin every time he does his “I do stupid stuff and get hurt a lot”. It’s been his thing since he got here and it is rapidly losing its charm. Allin is talented enough that he doesn’t need to do that all the time and it would be nice to see it happen a lot less frequently.

Hangman Page vs. Bryan Keith

Big Bill is here with Keith, who chops away to start but gets kicked away. Page fires off forearms in the corner and knocks him outside to keep up the hammering. Bill offers a distraction though, allowing Keith to take over in the corner and we take a break. We come back with Page slugging away, setting up a fall away slam. Bill offers a distraction to break up the Buckshot Lariat, which brings out Swerve Strickland to cut Bill off with the chain. Now the Buckshot Lariat can finish Keith at 9:27.

Rating: C+. This felt like little more than an extended workout for Page and that’s fine. He’s one of the biggest stars in AEW so it’s hard to find someone who is going to give him a real challenge. Sometimes you just need to get him in the ring and he dispatched Keith with an assist from Bill. That could have been worse so I’ll take it.

Post match Page rants about Samoa Joe not being man enough to fight him. Strickland says they’re coming for MJF too because they want to be back on top. Cue Kenny Omega to interrupt, saying three of the greatest challengers for the World Title are in the ring right now. Omega took pride in being called the god of professional wrestling and he knows he has to win some matches to get the World Title shot. He looks at Page and Swerve and says he’s going for the title, with Page saying if they cross paths, may the best man win. Page and Omega shake hands, but Swerve glares at Omega.

Swerve and Page leave and here is the Don Callis Family to interrupt. Callis says if Omega needs to win matches, he should face Josh Alexander. That’s fine with Omega, who is ready to go tonight. Alexander is ready too but Callis says not so fast. We’ll do it next week, with Omega hitting the catchphrase to wrap it up.

Brody King runs into Jon Cruz, who says don’t let Bandido punch him in the face anymore. That’s fine with King, because it’s his turn in their standby match.

Brody King vs. Jon Cruz

King punches him out of the air and finishes with the Ganso Bomb at 38 seconds. About as expected.

Post match King tells Bandido to win the World Title and then it would be his honor to get a title shot.

Video on MJF vs. Bandido.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Davis And Doyle vs. Gates Of Agony vs. JetSpeed vs. Young Bucks

Tornado tag and for a future Tag Team Title shot. The Bucks and JetSpeed start fast with dives to the floor before getting back inside for the staredown. The Bucks get in stereo slams but all four miss elbows, allowing the Gates to come in and take over. Davis And Doyle are right there for the power slugout until the four good guys are back in.

The powerhouses are sent outside for some dives, which are pulled out of the air. Nick dives onto everyone for the big knockdown and the Bucks get to pose. Davis And Doyle collide back inside and then get superkicked down. Liona is up with a moonsault from the apron to the floor and the Gates are in control as we take a break.

We come back with Matt sending Davis And Doyle into each other, allowing the Bucks to clear the ring. All eight get back in for a quadruple superkick and quadruple dives off the top. A wheelbarrow cutter drops Matt and it’s Open The Gates for two on Nick, with Knight making the save. Liona pulls both Bucks into a fireman’s carry but Bailey is in with the Ultimate Weapon to break it up. The Bucks and JetSpeed trade rollups for two each until the BTE Trigger connects. Ricochet pulls the referee but here is Jack Perry to take Ricochet out. Doyle powerbombs Bailey onto a pile at ringside and Davis’ piledriver finishes Knight at 14:51.

Rating: B-. This was your AEW match of the week, as they might as well have had an introduction saying that they scripted this down to the letter. It felt like a performance rather than a match and that took me way out of the whole thing. It’s definitely entertaining and they’re very athletic, but egads going with a wrestling match instead of insanity sounds nice.

Post match FTR comes in for the brawl with Davis And Doyle.

We get a quick tribute to Bob Weir, the Grateful Dead guitarist who recently passed away.

SkyFlight is ready for the Don Callis Family.

Babes Of Wrath/Kris Statlander vs. Triangle Of Madness

Statlander and Thekla start things off…or not as we’ll go with Hart instead. Cameron comes in to take Hart down and a running Sling Blade gets two. Some basement clotheslines and a backsplash crush Blue but she’s able to grab a springboard neckbreaker on Cameron. We take a break and come back with Cameron still in trouble, with her partners being pulled off the apron.

As usual, the tag goes through a few seconds later, with Statlander getting to come in and clean house. Hart and Blue are rammed into each other and Nightingale is in with a spinebuster. Hart helps plant Nightingale with the assisted swinging Rock Bottom and Thekla knocks her into the corner. Thekla spears Statlander (who shoved Nightingale out of the way), setting up the stomp for the pin at 11:34.

Rating: C+. This should set up at least one title match and that’s not a bad way to go. Thekla vs. Statlander has been built up for more than a little while now and it would make sense to do it in the next few weeks. Nice enough match too, as it only got wild near the end, which is a good change of pace.

Swerve Strickland gives JetSpeed a pep talk. With Swerve gone, Hangman Page comes in and decides he’s teaming with them to go after the Trios Titles on Collision. So less than an hour after Omega’s statement that “you don’t just get handed title shots”, Page just decided that he and JetSpeed are getting a title shot.

The Rascalz are coming. That’s either a perfect fit or more people who wrestle a similar style in this company.

We look back at the one time Hangman Page and JetSpeed team together (back in August), which is enough for them to get a title shot. Kenny Omega should want a word about this.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

AEW World Title: Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Bandido

Bandido is challenging (and his ROH World Title is not on the line). MJF shoulders him down to start and does an Eddie Dance, only for Bandido to come back with an armdrag. Back up and MJF yells at him, only to get his legs swept out for two. The gorilla press sends MJF outside and there’s the required dive to take him out again. Back in and MJF bails out to the apron, where a cheap shot lets him grab an armbar on Bandido.

MJF knocks him down and does a quick Macarena, allowing Bandido to roll him up for two. A flip of the bad arm sends Bandido into the corner and we take a break. We come back with Bandido breaking up the Three Amigos and hitting a suplex of his own. The one armed gorilla press has MJF in more trouble and he goes outside, with Bandido hitting a big dive. MJF heads into the crowd so Bandido hits an even bigger dive to take him down again.

Back in and MJF hits a Codebreaker onto the arm to cut him off for a breather. Bandido gets two off a Code Red but the 21 Plex is blocked. MJF pulls him into a slingshot cutter for two more and they trade rollups for twos, and then ones, each. Bandido hits the X Knee into the 21 Plex but he can’t bridge, giving MJF enough of a breather to kick out. That’s enough for MJF to pull him into the Salt Of The Earth and then the LeBell Lock. Bandido fights but passes out to retain MJF’s title at 19:43.

Rating: B. They worked hard and had a good match, as MJF can more than hang in the ring to go with his abilities on the mic. That makes him a rare combination and it makes sense that he’s one of the top stars in the company as a result. On the other hand, Bandido continues to have one great match after another and it’s awesome to see.

Post match MJF agrees that Bandido will be a World Champion sometimes. Oh in AEW that is. That means he has to do this, and the beatdown is on, with Brody King making the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Good show overall here, with the main event being a good way to wrap things up. At the same time, there were some less than steady storytelling, mainly involving what it takes to get a title shot. That stuff aside, it was another good night inside the ring and that’s where AEW tends to stay. Nice job here, as we should be able to move on to Revolution in the near future.

Results
Darby Allin b. Pac – Scorpion Deathlock
Hangman Page b. Bryan Keith – Buckshot Lariat
Brody King b. Jon Cruz – Ganso Bomb
Davis And Doyle b. Young Bucks, JetSpeed and Gates Of Agony – Piledriver to Knight
Triangle Of Madness b. Babes Of Wrath/Kris Statlander – Stomp to Nightingale
Maxwell Jacob Friedman b. Bandido – LeBell Lock

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

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Evolve
Date: January 14, 2026
Location: WWE Performance Center, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

Things are changing in a hurry around here and it’s rather interesting to see where they are all going. With a bunch of Evolve names now officially part of NXT, some changes are going to need to be made around here. That could be a good thing, but it’s definitely a thing of some description. Let’s get to it.

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

Team PC arrives and are ready to take over.

The Vanity Project arrives and runs into Aaron Rourke, Cappuccino Jones and Eli Knight. They argue a bit and a six man tag is set for later.

Opening sequence.

Video on the Women’s Title match, with Kendal Grey being ready to face the monsters PJ Vasa and Kali Armstrong.

Women’s Title: Kendal Grey vs. PJ Vasa vs. Kali Armstrong,

Grey, with Wren Sinclair, is defending and Karmen Petrovic is in the VIP section. Vasa powers both of them into the corner to start so Grey slides between her legs to pick up the pace. Some running dropkicks stagger Vasa and a double dropkick sends her outside. That leaves Grey to suplex Armstrong and then kick the returning Vasa back outside. Armstrong spears Grey but gets speared by Vasa, who stands tall as we take a break.

We come back with Vasa cleaning house, including booting Grey down while holding Armstrong in a fireman’s carry. Grey gets the ankle lock on Vasa but Armstrong makes the save. Armstrong drops Vasa with the powerslam and loads up the Kali Connection, only for Grey to springboard in with Shades Of Grey to retain at 5:08.

Rating: B-. Well it was eventful while it lasted, but I was expecting a far longer match than what we got here. At the same time, I was expecting Grey to lose here as it’s pretty clear that she’s getting elevated in the near future. That being said, her holding the title even longer isn’t a bad thing and she got a solid win here.

Post match Petrovic doesn’t think much of Armstrong, who wants to put the sword, uh, somewhere.

Trill London talks about his time in the NFL and is ready to leave you wondering who he is.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Charlie Dempsey

Shockingly enough they go to the grappling to start, with Dempsey getting a cravate, which is broken up without much trouble. A knee to the arm has Dempsey in trouble and Thatcher knocks him outside as we take an early break. We come back with Thatcher still on the arm until Dempsey takes the leg down to switch control. Dempsey ties up the leg and then goes with something close to an STF.

A gutwrench suplex drops Thatcher again and it’s back to the legbar. With that broken up, Dempsey just cranks on the leg for a change. Back up and Thatcher just hits him in the face, which is quite the logical comeback. Dempsey gets something like a dragon screw legwhip but Thatcher pulls him into a Fujiwara armbar.

That’s rolled into a leglock, which is reversed into a cross armbreaker as this is a technical clinic. Dempsey knocks him to the floor and matches Thatcher with a shot to the face back inside. A bridging butterfly suplex (nice) gets two on Thatcher, as does a bridging German suplex. Dempsey switches over to a Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 13:10.

Rating: B. This was a lot of fun as you can tell both of them know this style very well. Dempsey winning is of course the right call as Thatcher is just there to make others look good. That’s what he did here and it came in a rather entertaining match. This isn’t something that works all the time, but when you see this style every so often, it’s pretty awesome.

Video on Harlem Lewis.

Vanity Project vs. Eli Knight/Cappuccino Jones/Aaron Rourke

Rourke frustrates Baylor to start and it’s quickly off to Jones for a nice dropkick. Knight comes in and gets headlocked by Drake but comes back with a nice leg lariat. The villains are cleared out to the floor and, after a quick spank from Rourke, Knight hits a big flip dive over the top. Baylor gets in a jumping knee to the face though and we take a break. We come back with Knight in trouble, including Drake raking his back.

A fisherman’s suplex gives Drake two and he knocks Rourke and Jones off the apron. The villains take turns beating Knight up in the corner, with a variety of stomps. Knight manages a high crossbody and that’s enough for the tag off to Jones. Everything breaks down and Rourke hits Eat Defeat on Smokes. The Decaffinator takes Baylor down but Smokes shoves Jones off the top. Drake comes back in with the Unaliving to pin Jones at 9:40.

Rating: C+. Pretty standard six man tag here with Drake getting to look like a star in the end. That’s a good thing, as Baylor and Smokes aren’t exactly must see stuff in the ring. I can see why they make for good background people, but that only gets you so far once the bell rings. At the same time, Knight got to showcase himself well here, but it was only for so long.

Post match Team PC comes out, with Kam Hendrix saying they’re running Evolve in two weeks. That’s not when Hendrix wants his title match though, because that’s going to be Drake vs. Carver, Riggins and Presley in a handicap match. Then Hendrix will get his title match the next week. That’s rather brilliant.

Tate Wilder is in the back and says he feels like he’s walking this road alone.

Overall Rating: B-. I still love the way this show is put together, as it feels like every show is designed to keep things moving. This show had a variety of different stuff going on and I wanted to see all of it. That’s not something you often see and the differences make it stand out that much more. Good stuff here, and they kept things moving for the future as well. Nice work, as is almost always the case.

Results
Kendal Grey b. PJ Vasa and Kali Armstrong – Springboard Shades Of Grey to Armstrong
Charlie Dempsey b. Timothy Thatcher – Fujiwara armbar
Vanity Project b. Cappuccino Jones/Eli Knight/Aaron Rourke – Unaliving to Jones

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: January 13, 2026
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

And then everything changed. The big story of the first show of the year is all of the callups, which have left a bunch of open spots on the NXT roster. Those are likely going to be filled by Evolve stars, meaning things are going to be changing around here. This includes Oba Femi vacating the NXT Title and that is going to have to be addressed. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a New Year’s Evil recap.

IMG Credit: WWE

Ava is in the ring with the NXT Title and the roster around the ring. She says there is no better moment than right now but here is Ricky Saints to interrupt. Saints takes credit for running a lot of people around NXT but sees some future champions around the ring. He’s ready to get the championship right now…though that isn’t happening. Instead, it’s going to be a six way ladder match on February 3 for the title. Well happy birthday to me. Qualifying matches start next week and the brawl is on, with Evolve’s Keanu Carver coming in to wreck people, including tossing them around.

Post break Ava is on the phone with someone, who will be here tonight. Someone who looks like Tony D’Angelo walks behind her as Robert Stone says Blake Monroe has something to say tonight.

Kelani Jordan vs. Lola Vice

Jordan dropkicks her off the apron before the bell but gets knocked out of the air back inside. They slug it out on the mat as the bell rings with Jordan rolling her up for two. Vice is back up with knees to the ribs and pulls her into something like a triangle choke, which is broken with a grab of the arm. They head outside with Vice being kicked into the announcers’ table and we take a break.

We come back with Vice winning a strike out but Jordan rolls outside before the hip attack can connect in the corner. Jordan kicks her down and gets two off a frog splash but One Of A Kind is countered into a triangle choke. A spinning Angle Slam drops Vice again and Jordan rolls her up. The referee catches the hand on the ropes (not so much the one on the tights), allowing Vice to hit the spinning backfist for the pin at 11:16.

Rating: C+. These two are suddenly some of the more established names in the division and it felt like a big enough deal to have them facing off. Either one of them winning was fine, though Vice is the one who shouldn’t be losing again. Jordan needs something else to do, even if she’s fitting into the heel role rather well.

Tavion Heights is ready to win the Speed Title, but Jasper Troy disagrees.

IMG Credit: WWE

Speed Title: Tavion Heights vs. Jasper Troy

Troy is defending and shrugs off Heights’ wrestling attempts to start. Some splashes have Heights rolling outside about a minute in and Troy gets to hammer away back inside. Heights fights out of a seated abdominal stretch and grabs a suplex for two. The comeback has Troy staggered but he grabs a Black Hole Slam for the retaining pin at 4:09.

Rating: C. As usual, there is only so much to see in a Speed Title match, though at least they’re letting Troy get a few wins. He hasn’t been around long enough to reach that level yet so this is what he needs to do. Keeping the matches short is smart too, though it would be nice to not see Heights loose so often.

Post match Lexis King runs in to lay Heights out.

Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey get in an argument with Sol Ruca and Zaria over who should face Jacy Jayne next. The four of them go into Ava’s office, where Fatal Influence is waiting. Ava has talked to Santino Marella, and an NXT team is getting a Knockouts Tag Team Title shot. Next week, it’s a triple threat #1 contenders match. Arguing ensues.

Lexis King talks to Chase U, who says that was a teachable moment in what not to do. Stacks comes in to praise King, with Chase U leaving.

Myles Borne really wants one of the qualifying matches for the ladder match and Robert Stone will talk to Ava for him.

Video on Elio LeFleur, the French luchador, who is coming soon.

Ethan Page asks Ava about the NXT Title qualifying match but she says he’s not in one. She’ll change her mind but it would cost him the North American Title. Page brags about his success, with Ava agreeing….before saying he’s defending against Elio LeFleur next week.

Here is Blake Monroe for a chat. Last week, she was ready to get the Women’s North American Title back but instead, she attacked Thea Hail. Everything was changed like she was the problem, but the reality is that someone as talented as she is always gets the narrative changed.

No one compares to her and everything she does has everyone in a frenzy. There are all kinds of stars…and Jaida Parker is back to interrupt. The fans go absolutely nuts for her and the brawl is on in a hurry. Parker sends her into the corner, high steps a bit, and Hipnotiques her to the floor. Parker continues to have all of the potential imaginable.

Shiloh Hill talks about bringing a bunch of flying squirrels into his house. Oh and he wants the TNA International Title.

Video on Darkstate, who brag about their dominance and insist that no one is safe. Does that include Darkstate? Would they beat themselves up? They might want to clarify that.

TNA International Title: Stacks vs. Shiloh Hill

Stacks, with Arianna Grace, is defending. Hill jumps him to start but gets sent into the corner but Stacks fights back. Stacks misses a charge into the corner and the armbar goes on. An elbow sends Stacks outside, where Grace saves him from being sent into the barricade. Hill hits the flipping dive off the apron and we take a break.

We come back with Stacks running him over for two more but Hill pulls him into a tilt-a-whirl for a double down. Hill takes the tooth out and it’s time to start the real comeback. A release butterfly slam gives Hill two more but Stacks is back with a fireman’s carry gutbuster for the same. Hill is back up and goes outside to put his arm around Grace ala Shawn Michaels. Back in and Hill grabs a small package but Grace kicks it over to give Stacks the pin at 10:36.

Rating: B-. I wasn’t expecting much coming into this but it worked rather well. It was nice to see Stacks getting to do something, though I’m not wild on what he does in the ring. At the same time, having another midcard title around here doesn’t do much good and hopefully it winds up back in TNA sooner than later.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is Izzi Dame, with the Culling, for a chat. She welcomes us to the new reality of the division but she won’t give us the same tired story about stumbling into success. This was all calculation and outsmarting everyone else. What did you think she was going to do with that loss last week?

The Culling has always been about getting rid of the worst and that is what she did. We hear about some people coming for the title but Dame isn’t interested in any of them. If you come for the title, you’re walking into a trap…and here is Tatum Paxley for the brawl, with Dame running.

Ricky Saints has cooled off and is already in the ladder match and doesn’t even have to win a qualifying match. He mentions Shiloh Hill getting a qualifying match, which doesn’t sit well with Stacks. Lexis King comes up to Stacks and says they should talk.

Tatum Paxley has been ejected from the building.

The Vanity Project is officially part of the NXT roster and they’re ready to win.

Keanu Carver doesn’t want to talk.

IMG Credit: WWE

Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox

Anything goes and OTM/Darkstate are here too. They fight over a lockup to start with Hendry getting the better of things and sending Lennox outside. Lennox fights back and gets two off a backbreaker, meaning he can go up. Hendry is right there with a superplex to bring him back down and we take a break.

We come back with Hendry fighting out of a chinlock but getting sent into the corner a few times. Saquon Shugars puts a chair in the corner so of course Lennox goes into it instead. OTM throws Hendry some brass knuckles for a right hand and a near fall so Darkstate throws in a kendo stick. Lennox beats on Hendry, who gets the stick for a beating of his own. The Standing Ovation gets two, with Darkstate making the save.

OTM and the rest of Darkstate get into it and they all brawl to the back. That means a table can be set up in the corner, while Lennox spinebusters Hendry onto a chair. Hendry shrugs it off and hits a Standing Ovation for two of his own. A spear sends Hendry through the table in the corner…and Tony D’Angelo cuts off Lennox’s chair shot. D’Angelo lays out Lennox and then does the same to Hendry, though he lays Hendry on top for the win at 13:20.

Rating: B-. Well, it certainly wasn’t boring and I’m curious about what they’re going to do with D’Angelo. Granted I’m also scared that they’re going to screw him up, but I’ll take the interest over nothing. Lennox still doesn’t quite feel like a main event star, but at least he’s getting some time in prominent spots.

Post match Ava sends security in so D’Angelo beats them up to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. It’s an understatement to say that we’re in a transitional period around here and that is going to be the case for a good while. With so many people moving here and there, you’re going to see a lot of changes taking place. That’s going to make things tricky, but it’s the kind of thing that has to happen in a place designed to help people get out of here. I’m curious to see what happens, though more than a bit worried about there it might be going.

Results
Lola Vice b. Kelani Jordan – Spinning backfist
Jasper Troy b. Tavion Heights – Black Hole Slam
Stacks b. Shiloh Hill – Small package
Joe Hendry b. Dion Lennox – Spinebuster

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

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Monday Night Raw
Date: January 12, 2026
Location: PSD Bank Dome, Dusseldorf, Germany
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re live overseas this week and in this case that means it’s time for a big showdown. This week features Gunther vs. AJ Styles, who is not happy with how Gunther has been acting since defeating John Cena last month. Other than that, the Royal Rumble is rapidly approaching and that could make for some interesting situations. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Here are Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky to celebrate their title win last week. They’re thrilled to be champions and are ready for anyone so here are Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez to interrupt. Morgan talks about how she never lost her title and wants it back but here are Bayley and Lyra Valkyria to interrupt. Bayley wants a title shot as well, but we do pause for the fans to sing to her. Sky seems ready to face them both but here are the Kabuki Warriors to start the big brawl. The champs clean house.

AJ Styles is ready for Gunther and is rather serious.

Finn Balor is in the back playing video games but Liv Morgan comes in and yells at him for not being serious enough. Roxanne Perez agrees.

Je’Von Evans vs. Bravo Americano

Bravo slaps him to start but misses a charge and gets slapped right back. A running hurricanrana takes Bravo down but Bravo drops him rather quickly. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Evans is back up with a kick to the face. Bravo is right back with the spinning torture rack, even with no hands, as Cole can’t quite place who Bravo reminds him of from history. Bravo goes up and is super Spanish Flied right back down, setting up the OG Cutter (top rope cutter) for the pin at 6:17.

Rating: C+. This was all about Evans getting his feet wet and that worked out fine. He’s quite the athlete and it should be interesting to see what he can do on the main roster. Being able to do that kind of stuff in the ring will get him far enough, though I could go with a halt on all the top and middle rope cutters from everyone for a long time.

Post match the Americanos go after Evans, who jumps over the announcers’ table and escapes.

Adam Pearce tells Paul Heyman to inform Bron Breakker to go home if he’s going to have bad intentions. Heyman doesn’t care to be a messenger boy but seems to agree.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is CM Punk for a chat. Punk talks about how he’s going to be champion for a long time and the people here make him believe he can do anything. After surviving against Bron Breakker, he’s looking forward to finding out his next challenger. Cue Finn Balor to interrupt, saying he’s not waiting for the Royal Rumble or the Elimination Chamber. He heard Punk say he wanted to face Balor so now he wants a title shot.

Punk likes that idea because he’s a Balor fan. He’s a fighting champion today so he’ll get his boots on for a match tonight. Balor says no because they’ll do it next week in Belfast. Punk is fine with that, but apologizes to the fans in Belfast for what is going to happen to Balor next week.

Video on Gunther vs. AJ Styles.

Lyra Valkyria/Bayley vs. Kabuki Warriors vs. Liv Morgan/Roxanne Perez

The winners get a title shot at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Bayley rolls Morgan up to start but misses the charge into the corner. Asuka takes both of them down and it’s off to the other three. Perez gets two off a rollup but Valkyria knocks her away, with Sane taking both of them down. Everything breaks down and Sane hits the big elbow off the top to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Valkyria cleaning house but Asuka cuts her off on top. That sets up the Tower Of Doom to bring everyone down before it’s Sane getting caught in a backbreaker. A middle rope elbow gives Bayley two and Perez’s Pop Rox gets the same. Back up and Morgan hits a quick Oblivion to pin Sane at 13:20.

Rating: C+. They had a bunch of stuff going on here but it’s hard to argue with the result. Morgan and Perez are the most logical choices for the title shot and it should be a good title match. At the same time, Valkyria and Bayley are kind of floating around and that might not bode well for their futures.

Becky Lynch recaps her issues with Maxxine Dupri before they face off again next week in Belfast.

Preview of Unreal season two.

Maxxine Dupri is ready to beat Becky Lynch again. After telling Otis and Akira Tozawa that they can be as successful as she is, Dupri promises to make Lynch tap out next week.

Here is Raquel Rodriguez for a chat with Michael Cole. Rodriguez isn’t sorry for attacking Stephanie Vaquer last week and hurting her ankle. Cue Vaquer to chase Rodriguez off, but as Vaquer yells at the camera, here is Rodriguez to jump her again and go after the ankle.

Otis and Akira Tozawa want a Tag Team Title shot at the Usos. Jey says he’ll talk to Jimmy, but be careful what you ask for.

Penta/Dragon Lee vs. Vision

Penta kicks away at Theory to start but it’s quickly off to Reed to crush him in the corner. That’s broken up and it’s off to Lee for the kicks to the chest, only for Reed to run him over. Reed sends him hard to the floor and we take a break with the villains in control. We come back with Theory going after Lee, including a snap suplex for two. Lee manages to reverse a powerbomb into a quick DDT, which is enough for the tag to Penta. House is cleaned but cue Bron Breakker to spear Lee for the DQ at 9:26.

Rating: C. I wasn’t exactly feeling this one, but the ending spear was almost worth the extra time as Breakker got some serious impact. The Vision continues to be up and down, but a ticked off Breakker gunning for the World Title should be great. As for the other side…just give us the Lucha Bros already.

Post match Adam Pearce comes out to yell at Breakker, leaving Reed to wreck people. Pearce goes to yell at Reed, allowing Breakker to hit another spear. Breakker even grabs Pearce, with the Vision having to make the save. Even Paul Heyman seems to realize that was too far.

Post break Je’Von Evans checks on Rey Fenix and Dragon Lee, saying he’s there if they need him.

Adam Pearce yells at Bron Breakker, even suspending him indefinitely. Paul Heyman comes up to say that was a mistake. From Heyman’s vantage point, Pearce put his hands on Breakker first. Uh oh.

We get a video of various celebrities wanting to be involved with Wrestlemania. HHH, watching the video, says it’s going to be a long Road To Wrestlemania. And yes, he does sit at his desk in the leather jacket.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Video on Oba Femi, who has vacated the NXT Title.

Gunther laughs at the idea of AJ Styles beating him.

AJ Styles vs. Gunther

Gunther grabs a waistlock to start so Styles kicks him in the head, sending Gunther outside. A headlock takeover doesn’t work for Gunther either as Styles is up with a dropkick to the floor. There’s the slingshot forearm over the top but Gunther is back in with the big chop. We take a break and come back with Gunther chopping him down again.

Styles gets smart by grabbing a dragon screw legwhip and putting on the Calf Crusher, with the leg being in big trouble. Gunther makes the rope so Styles goes to the ropes, where a big of a slip allows Gunther to chop him down. Another twist of the leg around the rope puts Gunther down, with a springboard flipping legdrop (cool) hitting the leg for two. The Phenomenal forearm is countered into a sleeper, but Styles backflips into a rollup for two more.

The big clothesline into the powerbomb gets two and they both need a breather. Back up and they strike it out until the Calf Crusher goes on again, sending Gunther back to the rope. Styles puts it on again and rolls into the middle, with Gunther possibly tapping on Styles’ leg. That’s enough for Styles to let go, but the referee says the match continues. Gunther hits him low and the powerbomb finishes Styles at 17:47.

Rating: B. I’m not sure on that finish, but it seems like we’re setting up a rematch, possibly at the Royal Rumble. Gunther cheating to win is acceptable enough, and it should be interesting to see what is next for Styles. He only has so much time left in the ring and this very well could be one of his bigger remaining stories.

Styles is upset and Gunther smiles to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This really wasn’t the most wrestling heavy show, with the second match starting just a few minutes before the second hour. It also didn’t help that the main focus seemed to be setting up next week’s Raw, though after last week’s stacked card, that kind of hard to be the case. The Rumble has still barely been mentioned and while there is still time before the show, there isn’t that much time. Maybe get on that sooner than later?

Results
Je’Von Evans b. Bravo Americano – OG Cutter
Liv Morgan/Roxanne Perez b. Kabuki Warriors and Bayley/Lyra Valkyria – Oblivion to Sane
Penta/Dragon Lee b. Vision via DQ when Bron Breakker interfered
Gunther b. AJ Styles – Powerbomb

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

TripleMania XXI
Date: June 16, 2013
Location: Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

So this is the result of a deal I made twelve years ago to get a vote in a popularity contest on a wrestling forum. Yes I remembered the show this long and yes I’m just getting around to it. As usual I have no idea what to expect around here but that can make for some fun situations. Or a total disaster. Let’s get to it.

Note that I did not follow AAA at this point and my Spanish is bad at best so I apologize for not getting a lot of this stuff right.

Commentary, in Spanish, welcomes us to the show.

The opening video looks at TripleMania over the years, with various people offering thoughts.

We get the presentation of Antonio Pena’s urn, as always.

Dinastia/El Elegido/Faby Apache/Pimpinela Escarlata vs. Mamba/Mini Abismo Negro/Silver Kain/Taya

Escarlata tries to kiss the referee and we’re ready to go (with a whistle, as this company is a bit different). Mamba and Escarlata pull hair to start and have to be dragged away from each other. Kain drops Escarlata with a slap and gets kissed as a result, meaning it’s time to panic. Taya comes in and Negro hits her in the face by mistake, allowing Escarlata to clean house without much trouble.

Elegido (who seems to be a stripper) comes in, much to Mamba’s approval, and avoids a crossbody, allowing him to kick Mamba in the ribs. Kain accidentally dropkicks Taya and Elegido almost loses his trunks on a sunset flip from Mamba. After some hip swiveling, it’s off to Dinastia and Negro, with the former walking on his (own) hands and armdragging Negro to the floor.

The rest of Negro’s team gets headscissored as well but Kain is back up with a clothesline. Dinastia gets out of the Tree Of Woe and dropkicks Kain to the floor, setting up a suicide dive. That leaves Taya to come in and stun Apache (who finally does something), allowing for some triple stomping. Escarlata comes in and gets beaten down in Apache’s place, with Dinastia getting the same treatment.

Apache finally manages a pop up hurricanrana and Dinastia is back in with a kick to the back of Taya’s tights. Dinastia moonsaults onto Negro, setting off a train of dives. Even Taya moonsaults onto all of them before coming back in to powerbomb Apache. The moonsault hits raised knees though and Apache tiger suplexes her for the pin at 12:45.

Rating: C+. This is a case where I really don’t get the appeal, but the people in the audience certainly did. Escarlata has been doing this for a very long time and the fans seem to love the shtick so it’s hard to argue. Other than that, you got some nice flipping and it’s easy to see why Taya was a star for so long. She has that charisma to her and a great evil smile which worked very well.

Antonio Pena’s widow is presented to the crowd.

Heavy Metal vs. Chessman

For a Mega Title shot later tonight and Chessman jumps him before the whistle. Some chair shots have Metal in more trouble and a suplex gets two. Metal is back up with some clotheslines but Chessman heads outside and grabs a table. Another chair shot keeps Metal down and Chessman kicks at a cameraman as a bonus. Metal manages to knock him outside for a flip dive but Chessman hits a spear through the ropes to send Metal through the table.

Back in and a hanging swinging suplex gives Chessman two and it’s time for a ladder. A miniature wrestler is brought in and thrown at Metal, allowing Chessman to spear him through the ladder. The mini makes the save and gets a mini guitar smashed over his head, leaving Chessman to sitout powerbomb Metal for two. A backbreaker gets two but Chessman misses the corkscrew moonsault. Metal grabs la majistral (and not a great one) for the pin at 8:36.

Rating: D+. In theory this was a regular match but they had all kinds of weapons and some interference thrown in, which made it quite the mess. Metal barely had any offense until the end, when he won with a fluke rollup. Maybe the story plays out better if you know how we got here, but the match itself really didn’t work.

Tag Team Titles: Los Mexican Power vs. Angelico/Jack Evans vs. Drago/Fenix vs. Los Perros del Mal vs. Los Mamitos vs. Drago/Fenix

Elimination match for the vacant titles, Mexican Power is Crazy Boy/Joe Lider (escorted by a bunch of dancers), Los Perros are Daga/Psicosis and Los Mamitos are Mr. E (Eric Escobar) and Sexy Boy, who are escorted to the ring by some women. Angelico and Evans clean house to start but Power fights out of the corner with some cutters. The Mamitos comes back in to take over but the Perros cut them off.

Fenix and Drago get to take over, only for Angelico and Evans to kick them down as the circle of control continues. Angelico and Evans pile up five people so Angelico can hit a top rope splash. A big flip dive drops Fenix and Drago, but Los Mamitos catch Angelico with a powerbomb/neckbreaker combination for the elimination at 6:04.

Psicosis and Daga’s dives are cut off with chairs to the head but Power takes over on Los Mamitos back inside. Fenix and Drago get to clean house though and a double top rope double stomp pins Sexy Boy at 9:18 to get us down to three. Lider is back in with a running dropkick to Fenix and a bunch of chairs are brought in. Crazy Boy and Psicosis strike it out until Lider pulls Crazy outside. Crazy is draped over the barricade for a big dive from Psicosis, leaving everyone to get back inside to….well just beat on each other a lot.

A Spanish Fly takes Daga from the apron to the floor, leaving Crazy to reverse Death Valley Driver Psicosis for the pin at 14:08. So we’re down to Power vs. Fenix/Drago with Fenix hitting a big dive. Drago’s running Death Valley Driver into the corner gets two on Crazy and Lider’s neckbreaker gets the same on Fenix.

Back up and Fenix’s Canadian Destroyer gets two on Crazy, who sends Fenix outside. Power’s friend Nino Hamburguesa’s dive is cut off with a kick to the head, leaving Fenix’s springboard spinning dive to…well kind of connect. Hamburguesa dives onto Lider and Fenix and Drago runs Crazy over for two. Back up and Crazy grabs a full nelson and flips Drago forward into a rollup for the titles at 20:14.

Rating: C. It was long, there were a lot of people in it, and there was very little in the way of the match moving from one section to another. There is only so much you can do with so many moving parts and this wasn’t exactly worthwhile. As usual, there were some fun spots and the people are athletic, but I could have gone with a bit more structure.

Post match Vampiro comes out to present the new champions with their titles. Konnan comes out to address the fans and gets in Vampiro’s face but security separates them. Vampiro argues back and some shoving ensues until Konnan leaves.

Jeff Jarrett/Matt Morgan/Monster Pain vs. Los Psycho Circus

For the sake of simplicity, Monster Clown is “Monster” and Monster Pain is “Pain”. Monster Pain is led around by chains and looks a bit like Abyss. The Circus is Monster Clown, Murder Clown and Psycho Clown. Jeff (with Karen) seems to throw out tortillas to the fans and has to hold Karen back from arguing with someone. This seems to be about the USA vs. Mexico, because they’re psychotic clowns, but they’re PATRIOTIC psychotic clowns.

The Clowns start fast with stereo dives through the ropes, followed by a big dive off the top to the floor. We settle down to Murder and Morgan, with the former winning an exchange of shoulders. That’s enough to send Morgan outside so it’s off to Psycho vs. Jarrett. The Clowns take over on Jarrett and clothesline him to the floor so it’s Pain coming in to clear the ring with some big boots.

The villains take over on Monster and send him outside before ramming Psycho into the corner for two. Monster is sent outside, where he goes after another woman with Jarrett and company, earning a belt shot from a man whose name might be Richard Negrin. Back in and the Clowns give Morgan a triple low blow (that seems so excessive) before Murder jumps onto Pain’s elevated ribs.

Negrin comes in and gets beaten up as Karen goes after Antonio Pena’s widow. This goes as well as you would think, with Karen’s hair being messed up and a soda being poured onto her as a bonus. Karen gets brought inside where the Clowns put a witch’s hat on her and Psycho seems to give her a kiss. Another woman in the villains’ corner is brought in and given a three Clown What’s Up. Morgan and Pain come back in to wreck everything though, with a chokeslam finishing Murder at 11:46.

Rating: C+. This feels like a match where a backstory would have helped (granted, not the promotion’s fault as commentary was likely explaining it) as there were a lot of people running around doing all kinds of things here. The ending wasn’t exactly great though, as the Clowns were on a roll and then just lost out of nowhere. Jarrett was quite the heat magnet and it’s no shock he was such a big heel in Mexico.

Post match Psycho’s mask is ripped off for quite the heat.

Mega Title: Heavy Metal vs. El Texano Jr.

Texano is defending, with Pepe Casas and Silver Kain as the seconds. They go to the mat to start, with Texano grabbing an early leglock. The hold stays on as they roll outside, where Metal has to block a posting. Back in and Texano works on the leg, including wrapping it around the rope in the corner.

A bullrope shot to the leg sets up another leglock, with Metal going to the rope for the break. Metal gets kicked in the face but he comes back with a hurricanrana for two but Texano’s small package gets the same. Metal’s crossface (minus the crossface part, as he’s pulling the hair instead) sends Texano over to the rope so Metal drops a middle rope elbow for two instead.

A superplex gets the same but a top rope backsplash misses to give Texano an opening. Texano goes up this time, only to get dropkicked out to the floor. Metal is right there with a top rope flip dive, followed by a super hurricanrana back inside. A cross armbreaker doesn’t last long but another super hurricanrana is countered into a super Styles Clash to retain the title at 11:45.

Rating: C+. The ending was good and it makes sense that Texano would survive with the title as he was coming in with an advantage due to Metal wrestling twice. At the end of the day, it was a decent match, but it’s not like titles mean much around here. That’s just something that you have to get used to, as it’s such a different way to go from American wrestling.

Post match Texano goes to leave but gets cut off by Ray Mendoza Jr. (an unmasked Villano V). They get back in the ring and argue a lot, with Mendoza seemingly not thinking much of Texano. It seems we have a challenge and that’s that.

Abismo Negro is inducted into the Hall Of Fame, with his family accepting on his behalf.

Latin American Title: Blue Demon Jr. vs. El Mesias

For the vacant title. They go to the mat to start with Mesias working on the arm to little avail. Demon reverses into a leglock, which is quickly broken up and the grappling ensues again. Mesias grabs a headlock on the mat before sending him outside for the running flip dive. That means more stalling, as they aren’t exactly going at full speed thus far.

Back in and Mesias cuts him off again, followed by some slow chops in the corner. Demon comes back with a bulldog but takes too long going up, allowing Mesias to pull him back down. A running flip dive off the apron works a bit better for Demon and a suplex gets two back inside.

Mesias’ spear gets two, followed by a snap powerslam for the same. Demon DDTs him for two but Mesias catches him on top with a superplex for two more. Some raised boots cut off a diving Mesias and a lifting Pedigree gives Demon two. A super hurricanrana gives Demon another two and the weird non-turned over Sharpshooter makes Mesias give up at 18:55.

Rating: B-. This is the first match that felt like it mattered and came off like something big. It made for a good match as Demon can work well with anyone, as he certainly had the talent. Mesias was around for a long time in a variety of places, but he didn’t shine nearly as well as Demon did here.

Post match LA Park, the former champion, interrupts and…seems to acknowledge Demon as the champion. All three show respect.

Dr. Wagner Jr./Electroshock/La Parka/Octagon vs. Canek/Mascara Ano 2000/Universo 2000/Villano IV

Wagner and Canek start things off with Wagner’s headlock not getting him anywhere. Canek monkey flips him over so Electroshock starts in on the arm to no avail. Everything breaks down and it’s Wagner getting beaten down, followed by Electroshock taking a beating of his own. Parka gets double teamed as well as Dorian Roldan comes to ringside with a chair.

It’s back to Electroshock getting beaten up, with both his and Parka’s masks being untied. Octagon gets taken down and elbowed but manages to fight back, as does Electroshock. Canek and Wagner slug it out, with Wagner going for Canek’s mask. Parka gets the chair to fight back and we settle down to Ano missing a charge at Wagner. Ano gets low bridged to the floor and Wagner poses a lot, followed by a basement dropkick to Universo.

Villano comes in to knock Parka down but the 2000s comes in and chop Villano by mistake (Parks shakes their hands for the help). It’s off to Octagon vs. Ano, with Universo knocking Ano down in another error. Electroshock comes in to backsplash Canek for two, with the save allowing Canek to work on the arms.

Wagner hits a flip dive off the apron and Octagon dropkicks Ano as everything breaks down. That leaves Canek to tie up Octagon’s arms for two but Parka knocks Villano to the floor for a suicide dive. Canek’s Cactus Clothesline sends Electroshock to the floor and it’s off to Wagner vs. Universo. A chair is brought in but Universo doesn’t want it, which brings in Roldan to slap him in the face. Electroshock cutters Roldan and it’s a Wagner Driver to give Wagner the pin on Universo at 23:06.

Rating: C+. There wasn’t much in the way of tagging here, but it did tell a story with the villains dividing and conquering. The ending felt like a big deal with Roldan getting beaten up, as it came off like a turn for Universo. It certainly wasn’t boring and that’s more than you can ask for a lot of the matches on this show.

We get a special tribute to Hector Garza, who passed away less than a month before this show.

El Hijo del Perro Aguayo vs. Cibernetico

Hair vs. hair match with Daga/Psicosis and Dark Cuervo here as well. Aguayo jumps him on the floor to start fast before taking him inside for the corner choking. Cibernetico is already busted open and a ram into the post makes it worse. Some chairs are loaded up, with one of them smashing Cibernetico in the head. A bunch of tables are set up, with Aguayo being sent through one of them to start the comeback.

The seconds come in to help with the beating before Aguayo is sent over the barricade. Back in and Psicosis is piledriven onto a chair, with the medics getting beaten up as well. Thankfully some of the tables are thrown outside, with Daga being chokeslammed through one of them. Cibernetico’s spear gets two and he grabs a Stunner…but the referee gets bumped. Because THAT MATTERS IN A MATCH LIKE THIS.

A Boston crab makes Aguayo tap to no one, followed by…a Boston crab that makes him tap again. Cibernetico lets the hold go for no apparent reason and Aguyao kicks him low, as another referee (who saw the kick) counts two off a small package. Cibernetico’s low blow gets two more and a chokeslam through a table gets the same. A tombstone is loaded up but the referee yells at Cibernetico, earning a tombstone himself. Aguyao gets up and sends Cibernetico through another table and then double stomps the table onto him for the pin at 17:18.

Rating: D. Yeah this didn’t work, with the no selling and the violence and all that stuff just not clicking. It was one of those matches where they both got beaten up so much in the end that it was hard to accept one of them surviving. They were going with the insanity and it made for a rough match, especially with the match going so long. Not a good main event.

Post match Cibernetico gets his hair cut, even doing some of it himself. Aguyao celebrates and someone much younger gets their head shaved too.

Overall Rating: C. There is such a culture shock between what American fans tend to see and what they get here. While the main event dragged it down, the rest of the show was at least decent with the athleticism being rather good. I can also accept that I didn’t get a lot of the show due to the language barrier. The backstories here could have helped a good bit, though what we got was good enough. It felt like a big show and I did enjoy enough of it, so we’ll call it acceptable.

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

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Monday Night Raw
Date: January 11, 2010
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance: 8,500
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler

The previous week’s show is the famous one with the return of Bret Hart but someone wanted to see how the follow up went. That’s a rather interesting way to go and I’m curious to look back at what happened. In this case we have the build to the Royal Rumble, with only a few weeks left before the show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence. Let’s burn it to the ground.

Here is guest host (oh yeah that’s a thing) Mike Tyson to get things going. Tyson is glad to be back and of course we flash back to the legendary moment with Steve Austin in 1998. Back in the arena, here is World Champion Sheamus to interrupt. Sheamus doesn’t like all the praise that Tyson is getting and calls him a washed up former champion. Tyson teases getting physical and Sheamus backs up.

Cue Randy Orton to interrupt, saying he isn’t interested in making a SportsCenter moment, but he does want the WWE Championship. He wants to face Sheamus at the Royal Rumble, but here is John Cena to interrupt. Sheamus asks why Cena is here and it’s…well he wants to meet Mike Tyson! Cena talks about having beaten everyone here, including Tyson…..in Punch Out! And yes we get a King Hippo reference.

Cena wants a title shot but here is Kofi Kingston to interrupt. Orton isn’t sure why he’s here, as he beat Kingston last week. Kingston points out that he has never gotten a title shot (somehow true) and he won’t take no for an answer. Sheamus says Tyson got long stretches between his title defenses so he wants the Royal Rumble off.

Tyson says unlike Sheamus, he never ducked a fight in his life. Instead Tyson makes a triple threat for the title shot later tonight, with Cena saying it’s him against Bald Bull and Von Kaiser for a shot at Soda Popinski. The fact that he didn’t refer to Orton, who is BALD, as Bald Bull, takes some points away but the Punch Out references were funny.

Divas Title Tournament First Round: Alicia Fox vs. Kelly Kelly

Melina is injured so the title is vacant. Fox knees her in the chest to start and we’re already in the chinlock. Kelly gets up and knocks her out to the floor for a clothesline from the apron. The rather screamy headscissors drops Fox but she counters the hurricanrana into a powerbomb (nasty one too) for the pin to advance. This was a good example of women not getting the chance to do anything other than a few quick moves.

John Cena was the Grand Marshall of the Fiesta Bowl.  Apparently he’s a great guy.

Here is Legacy for a chat before their match. Last year they were in the final four of the Royal Rumble and Cody Rhodes thinks it’s his turn to win the Royal Rumble. DiBiase talks about being a movie star with the Marine 2 being better than the original in every way. Rhodes says a video of him in fifth grade is better than the Marine so it doesn’t prove much. They both think they’re going to win the Royal Rumble. The fact that Rhodes would is kind of astounding.

Legacy vs. Mark Henry/Evan Bourne

Bourne hurricanranas DiBiase to start fast but gets sent crashing out to the floor. Rhodes gets in a cheap shot by sending him into the barricade and the chinlock goes on back inside. It’s off to Rhodes for a knee drop as commentary ignores the boring match to talk about the Rumble, with Lawler actually giving some straight insight for a change. Bourne fights up and brings in Henry (who is huge here, even by his standards). DiBiase breaks up Air Bourne and Henry gets low bridged to the floor, meaning it’s Cross Rhodes to finish Bourne.

Rating: C. This was a bad time for Henry’s career as he was just doing nothing for such a long stretch. He was given random partners like Bourne and it was clear that there was no long term plan for him. It didn’t help that he was so big, but once he slimmed down a bit and started being a monster (which took some time), it was a lot better. As for the match, it was little more than a squash, with Bourne not being able to do much against the rapidly improving Legacy.

D-Generation X is in the back, with Shawn Michaels saying he’s ok with making peace with Bret Hart last week, but Mike Tyson is a different story. That being said, he’s seen Tyson’s documentary and he thinks Tyson is a changed man. Now he’s going to prove it.

Post break, Michaels goes to see Tyson and forgives him for the WrestleMania XIV knockout. Tyson doesn’t need his forgiveness and is willing to do it again. Chris Jericho comes in and apparently he and Tyson are friends so tonight it’s Jericho/Tyson vs. DX and if Jericho wins, he can stay on Raw (or anywhere he likes). Michaels is ready for revenge. Right.

We look back at Bret Hart’s return to Raw last week, with Hart’s “Well, I guess h*** froze over” summing it up perfectly. He and Vince McMahon are still having issues though, including McMahon kicking him low.

Here is Jack Swagger, who says he’s going to win the Royal Rumble. Tonight, he wants an Over The Top match and it’s open challenge time.

Jack Swagger vs. Santino Marella

You throw your opponent over the top to win and Marella is ready to drop Swagger like a bicycle with no kickstand. Marella strikes away and gets driven into the corner, followed by a takedown. Swagger goes to toss him but of course gets eliminated in less than a minute.

Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston vs. John Cena

For the Royal Rumble title shot against Sheamus. Cena and Kingston form a slightly awkward alliance to start, with a double suplex dropping Orton. A release fisherman’s suplex does it again and a double back elbow drops Orton as well. That leaves us with Cena vs. Kingston (who somehow never had a singles match) as Sheamus comes out to watch. Orton sneaks back in to break that up and we take a break.

We come back with Orton chinlocking Kingston (shocking I know) before switching over to Cena for the hanging DDT. Orton gives Kingston the backbreaker but gets bulldogged by Cena, which Cole says is him “rolling”. The STF has Kingston in trouble until Orton makes a quick save. Trouble In Paradise sends Cena outside, where Cody Rhodes runs out to send him into the steps. The distraction lets Ted DiBiase deck Kingston and the RKO sends Orton to the Rumble.

Rating: B-. Pretty standard match here and that’s a perfectly fine way to go. If nothing else, it was interesting to see Cena vs. Kingston, though Orton winning makes the most sense. Sheamus needs some wins to establish himself as champion and beating Orton is almost a merit badge. You certainly don’t want to do the Edge thing from 2006 again so this makes sense.

Mike Tyson is asked about his match against DX, when DX member Hornswoggle interrupts. Tyson threatens to do various violent things to Hornswoggle, including reaching into his head, pulling out his brain, putting it into a newspaper and smashing it like Silly Putty. Well that sounds uncalled for.

We look back at MVP wanting the Miz’s US Title.

Miz is standing outside of the locker room and talks about being thrown out when he ate some chicken over a wrestler’s bag. For six months he had to change and shower elsewhere while people like JBL made fun of him. Now he has his own locker room, while people like MVP have to dress with everyone else. He heads into the arena and says MVP doesn’t deserve to be in this ring, because MVP should be in jail.

Miz would rather the fans boo him for being something he is than cheer him for something he isn’t. MVP comes out here with his diamonds but even if you put diamonds on a dog, it’s still a mutt. Or it’s Diamond Dog from Con Air. Miz hits the catchphrase but here is MVP to say he has never hidden from his past, but rather he embraces it. Yes he is proud of his ability to earn the finer things in life, just like he is proud to win the respect of these fans. He is no mutt but asks Miz to stand there for a moment and suck.

The jacket comes off and MVP talks about his time in a Florida prison. Their real worlds are worlds apart so open up his cage and see how tame this tiger really is. Miz teases swinging and gets beaten down in a hurry. Pretty awesome stuff here, with Miz’s promo being great but MVP brought the fire when he got his chance.

We look at last year’s Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, headlined by Steve Austin.

We look back at Mike Tyson knocking out Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XIV.

Divas Title Tournament First Round: Eve Torres vs. Katie Lea Burchill

Maryse (facing the winner in the second round) is on commentary and thinks Miz is in love with her (she’s smart). Burchill grabs an early chinlock and a backbreaker but Lawler would rather talk about how nice Maryse smells. Another backbreaker gets two on Torres…and she rolls Burchill up for the pin. This was nothing.

Carlito hits on Gail Kim but they’re shut down by a ticked off Vince McMahon.

Royal Rumble rundown. All one match.

Here is Vince McMahon for a chat. Apparently Bret Hart isn’t here due to fear, because McMahon never gives up. Hart is never going to be seen here again because he isn’t getting closure. The end. Lawler: “Is that it?”

D-Generation X vs. Mike Tyson/Chris Jericho

DX’s Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line. Before the match, Michaels says he wants an answer from Undertaker about the Wrestlemania rematch. Tyson and Michaels start things off with Tyson hitting a shoulder, meaning it’s off to HHH. They trade some shoves, with Tyson sending him into the corner and it’s off to Jericho to stomp away.

The jumping knee gets HHH out of trouble and it’s back to Michaels for two off a sunset flip. Jericho is back with the jumping enziguri and Tyson comes back in…as we have Hornswoggle in boxing gear. That brings Jericho back in…and Tyson reveals the DX shirt that you knew was coming. Tyson knocks Jericho out and Michaels gets the pin.

Rating: C. This was harmless fun and that’s not a bad thing. Jericho getting caught when he thought he was all brilliant and ahead of DX was a great moment and it all worked well. I had fun with this one and the whole thing wound up being rather entertaining. It was barely a match, but it wasn’t supposed to be anything else.

A lot of posing ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The promos carried this show as there certainly wasn’t much in the way of wrestling. Honestly there wasn’t much in the way of anything and that made for a pretty mediocre show. I liked the Tyson “swerve” at the end and the Miz/MVP promo was good, but there’s a reason this isn’t the most fondly remembered time in company history. The show was ok, but that’s about it.

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

There are some things needed to really make it work.

https://www.smarkdownsblog.com/why-wwe-royal-rumble-works

Collision
Date: January 10, 2026
Location: eSports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

The Arlington residency continues as we are on the way to next week’s Maximum Carnage Dynamite. That is something that will likely get a lot of attention this week and it should make for a nice show. Collision tends to do well when it comes to advancing things for later so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Death Riders vs. SkyFlight

Jon Moxley is on commentary and SkyFlight’s newest member, Zayda Steel, is here as well. Yuta takes Sky down into a chinlock to start but Sky spins around into an armbar. Garcia comes in to chop away on Darius but Dante is in with a bulldog to send Garcia into Darius’ knee. Pac isn’t having that and comes in to stomp away but Dante makes the save. That’s cut off and the Riders kick him down in the corner as we take a break.

We come back with Dante fighting out of a chinlock but getting caught in a top rope Hart Attack for two. Dante’s dropkick allows the tag off to Yuta and a springboard Downward Spiral drops him again (Moxley: “Where do they come up with this offense?”). Yuta gets slingshotted into a cutter for two, with Garcia having to make a save. Darius gets caught in the corner for some rapid fire elbows. The Brutalizer makes him give up at 13:24.

Rating: B. Fun tag match to start things off here, which isn’t surprising as SkyFlight tends to do rather well. It was far from a squash and it got a lot more entertaining when things broke down near the end, which is where both teams tend to shine. Also of note: Moxley is rather good on commentary, as he is very energetic in the booth.

Post match Steel gets in a staredown with Marina Shafir…and gets laid out by a Megan Bayne Liger Bomb. So she gets pinned in her first match as part of SkyFlight and then gets laid out two days later. Why would I want to cheer for her?

The Conglomeration (and Roderick Strong) is ready for either bad guy faction that wants to come out of them. Mark Briscoe goes a bit nuts about being ready for Hechicero.

Brody King vs. Barrett Brown

This is billed as a standby match because the opener went short. Yeah apparently about thirteen and a half minutes is short. The Ganso Bomb finishes Brown at 26 seconds.

The Don Callis Family beat up more people in the back, with Don Callis himself apparently still in Tokyo celebrating Kazuchika Okada’s win at Wrestle Kingdom.

El Clon vs. Komander

They go technical with some rather spinning rollups to start with Clon getting the better of things. Clon knocks him down again and hits a quick moonsault for two. A rather springboardy wristdrag has Clon in trouble and a twisting top rope hurricanrana takes him down again. They go outside with Clon dropping him on the ramp as we take a break. We come back with Komander (whose knee was banged up during the break) going after the knee and hitting a DDT. Komander flips around a bit to show that the knee is ok and grabs a poisonrana for two.

Clon’s tilt-a-whirl is broken up and Komander runs to the top for a nice moonsault. Komander sends him outside for a dive but Cielito Lindo misses. Now the tilt-a-whirl backbreaker works for Clon but his spinning torture rack bomb is countered into a Canadian Destroyer (that was slick) for two. A leg trap powerbomb gives Clon two, followed by the torture rack bomb (McGuinness: “Now he’s dead.”) for the pin at 12:07.

Rating: B+. That might be a bit high but I was having a great time with this. They stopped trying to do anything but do one cool spot after another and that was quite the success. I had a good time with this match and Clon got to showcase himself, which is what he needs to be doing since he’s still establishing himself.

We look at the Don Callis Family’s night at Wrestle Kingdom.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Mina Shirakawa vs. Lady Frost

Shirakawa gets a bouquet of flowers at the bell and Frost kicks her in the face (naturally the referee is fine with starting the match as this happens). Frost stomps away in the corner but Shirakawa fights out, only to get caught in the corner again. A front flip Cannonball connects for Frost but Shirakawa strikes her in the head a few times. The Figure Four makes Frost tap at 2:48. They packed a lot into that time.

Post match Shirakawa gets the flowers but isn’t sure who sent them.

We look at Mercedes Mone’s downfall. She’s taking a break from AEW but is coming back to take more than just titles.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

TNT Title: Hechicero vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe is defending and they look at each other to start until Hechicero takes him down by the leg. Back up and Briscoe takes him down by the arm to little avail so he sticks the landing off Hechicero’s backdrop. Hechicero grabs the hammerlock into a spinning backbreaker for two and they go outside with Briscoe hammering away.

The Blockbuster off the apron drops Hechicero again but he breaks up Briscoe’s step up dive off the chair. A cross armbreaker on the floor has Briscoe in trouble and we take a break. We come back with Briscoe’s arm in trouble and another cross armbreaker sending him to the ropes. Hechicero grabs a rather impressive flip into the cross armbreaker again, with Briscoe needing the rope one more time.

They crash out to the floor, with Briscoe getting caught in a choke until he drops Hechicero onto the ramp. Back in and Briscoe hits the step up flip dive to drop him again and they both get back inside. The arm gives out on a Jay Driller attempt though and the running hurricanrana driver gives Hechicero two. Hechicero’s facebuster into another armbar doesn’t last long so they go up top, with Briscoe biting his way to freedom. The Froggy Bow gets two and the Jay Driller retains at 14:57.

Rating: B+. Another awesome match here as this show is on a roll. Briscoe fighting through the injury and managing to hit the two big finishers to retain was a good story, especially against someone as impressive as Hechicero. There are certain people who can just do things differently than everyone else and Hechicero certainly fits that description. Heck of a match here.

Post match the Conglomeration comes out to celebrate.

The Grizzled Young Veterans mock Eddie Kingston, who is going to take Ortiz down with him this time. Kingston says you reap what you sow, but they only reap.

Video on FTR, including their issues with Adam Copeland.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Babes Of Wrath/Kris Statlander vs. Hyan/Maya World/Vert Vixen

World rolls Statlander up for an early two but Statlander powers her down. Cameron comes in and gets dropped onto World for two, followed by a double side slam for two on Vixen. A series of running strikes take Vixen down and we take a break. We come back with Cameron getting thrown into the wrong corner for some running shots.

A shotgun dropkick gives Vixen two, with Nightingale actually having to make a save. Cameron tries to come back but gets kneed in the face…and she makes the tag without much difficulty anyway. Nightingale cleans house and hands it back to Statlander, with Cameron coming back in with a double high crossbody. Staturday Night Fever finishes Vixen at 8:57.

Rating: C+. It was fast paced, though I’m not sure how successful this was. The match was designed to set up the Babes and Statlander against the Triangle Of Madness but they had a pretty good bit of trouble here. I’d expect a bit more of a dominant performance from three champions, but at least they won.

Post match the winners are glad with the result but Thekla pops in to say she and her sisters will take care of them on Dynamite. Statlander promises to make them call her Big Stat Daddy.

Don Callis joins us from Tokyo (having gone back after showing up on Dynamite) and is thrilled with Kazuchika Okada’s win. Kyle Fletcher comes in to say they need to talk about Okada. Callis is confused but Fletcher talks about how Okada took his screwdriver at Worlds End. Callis kind of blows him off and says focus on getting the TNT Title back.

Video on Bandido vs. MJF.

Demand vs. JetSpeed/Anthony Bowens

JetSpeed runs in to start before Bowens even shows up. That goes well enough until Bowens gets in there to even the odds. The villains are quickly cleared out to the floor, where Knight is tossed into the post. Bowens gets triple teamed in the corner but rolls away for the tag off to Bailey. Everything breaks down and a UFO Splash gives Knight two on Kaun. Liona gets in a backsplash on the apron to crush Knight though and we take a break.

We come back with Knight fighting his way out of trouble but not being able to make the tag. Kaun and Knight hit stereo crossbodies for a double down and it’s Bowens coming in to clean house. Ricochet hits a big flip dive to the floor, followed by a springboard moonsault for two on Bowens.

Everything breaks down again and Bowens gives Ricochet a wind up DDT. Some dives to the floor put the Gates Of Agony down and a running kick to the face gets two on Ricochet. The Mollywop is broken up though and Kaun gives JetSpeed a double Big Ending. Bowens superkicks Ricochet and they trade rollups for two each. The Mollywop hits Ricochet but he makes a blind tag to Kaun. Open The Gates finishes Bowens at 13:42.

Rating: B-. I wasn’t feeling this one as much, as it was like they just wanted to do the wild brawling with all of the flips and such rather than an actual match. That’s how it started and ended, with only a bit of something different in the middle. Bowens was kind of a random partner for JetSpeed and him taking the fall isn’t a surprise, but I didn’t get into this one as much as the rest of the show.

Post match Max caster comes out for a distraction so JetSpeed can make the save. Caster comes in as well, followed by the Don Callis Family and the Conglomeration to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. For a random Saturday night show, you can’t ask for much more than this. You had some rather entertaining action and things were advanced before next week’s big Dynamite. This worked well and was better than I was expecting, so we’ll certainly call this one quite the success all things considered.

Results
Death Riders b. SkyFlight – Brutalizer to Darius
Brody King b. Barrett Brown – Ganso Bomb
El Clon b. Komander – Torture rack bomb
Mina Shirakawa b. Lady Frost – Figure Four
Mark Briscoe b. Hechicero – Jay Driller
Kris Statlander/Babes Of Wrath b. Vert Vixen/Hyan/Maya World – Staturday Night Fever to Vixen

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