AAA On FOX
Date: January 31, 2026
Location: Gimnasio Olimpico Juan de la Barrera, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: John Bradshaw Layfield, Corey Graves, Rey Mysterio

It’s the third episode of this show and as announced last week, we’ll be seeing the first qualifying match for the Rey de Reyes tournament. That’s a big enough match in the first place, but it’s taken down a bit for a fairly dumb reason that we’ll get to after the match is over. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Opening recap, looking at Omos helping El Hijo del Vikingo be El Grande Americano last week.

Here is Dorian Roldan with Omos to get things going. Roldan (as translated by Rey Mysterio) talks about his family’s influence on wrestling and how they are leading things forward. El Ojo (the Eye, their group) has the greatest wrestler in the world right now so here is El Hijo del Vikingo.

Cue Vikingo, who brags about being the #1 contender and doesn’t understand why the people are supporting a false Mexican. The fans turned their backs on him so he’s turning his back on them. At Rey de Reyes, he’s getting the title back. Dominik Mysterio pops up on screen to say he’s keeping the title in Vikingo’s hometown. These guys could be a problem.

Video on the Rey de Reyes tournament.

We run down the card.

Chris Carter vs. Mini Vikingo vs. Elio LeFleur vs. TJP

For a Cruiserweight Title shot. Carter starts fast and knocks TJP down in the corner, followed by a hurricanrana to send LeFleur outside. Vikingo and Carter hit stereo running dives before trying dropkicks back inside. They shake hands but get jumped by TJP (JBL loves the punishment for stupidity), who charges into Carter’s boot in the corner.

TJP grabs a double submission on Carter and Vikingo before putting Vikingo in a surfboard. LeFleur breaks that up and the other three are sent outside, which of course means a springboard flip dive. Back in and TJP hits the Detonation Kick to Carter but gets dropped by LeFleur. Vikingo is back in to splash Carter but TJP steals the pin at 6:14.

Rating: B-. This was in the vein of “let’s take a bunch of people and let them fly all over the place for a few minutes”. TJP winning is as good as anyone else as he didn’t exactly stand out above the rest of the participants. The match had everything you could want out of the thing and it didn’t overstay its welcome so this was a nice opener.

Post match here is El Ojo to chase off TJP, with Omos destroying Mini Vikingo. El Hijo del Vikingo yells at Mini and it’s a second powerbomb to leave him laying.

We recap La Hiedra vs. Lola Vice, with Mr. Iguana in the middle. As luck would have it, he’s the guest referee for their match tonight.

The War Raiders are here in two weeks.

La Hiedra vs. Lola Vice

Mr. Iguana is guest referee and Las Toxicas are here with Hiedra. They shove each other to start and Vice runs her over for some dancing (Iguana approves). An exchange of rollups results in both women getting a bit closer to Iguana but Hiedra takes Vice down for some right hands.

Back up and Vice kicks her into the corner for…well even more kicking actually. The running hip attack misses though and it’s Hiedra hitting one of her own. Iguana doesn’t like Las Toxicas getting on the apron and throws them out, leaving Vice to reverse a rollup into a choke. Stereo faceplants leave both of them down and it’s Vice up first to knock her into the corner again.

Now the running hip attack connects, with Vice blowing Iguana a kiss before getting two. Hiedra sends her throat first into the ropes and gets two off a Downward Spiral. With nothing else working, Hiedra grabs the stuffed iguana, which is NOT ok with Mr. Iguana. Instead she grabs the trunks on a rollup but gets caught, allowing Vice to grab a rollup with trunks for the pin at 7:59.

Rating: C+. I don’t speak much Spanish, but this is a story you can understand just by watching what’s happening in front of you. That’s usually a sign that things are going well, as you should be able to tell a story with something other than words. It’s a simple story but it’s going well and Vice/Iguana should make a fun team.

Ethan Page and Chelsea Green want to face Lola Vice and Mr. Iguana, who are dancing in the ring, for the Mixed Tag Team Titles.

Santos Escobar flashes back over his career and now he wants the Latin American Title.

Rey de Reyes Qualifying Match: Aerostar vs. Apollo Crews vs. La Parka vs. Jack Cartwheel

Crews throws Cartwheel at Aerostar to start and it’s Parks slugging it out with Crews, including some dancing. Aerostar is back in but gets kicked in the face, only to send Crews outside. Crews gets dropped onto the apron, leaving Aerostar and Cartwheel to flip around a lot. Cartwheel clears the ring but Crews sends him outside and hits a big running flip dive onto all three.

Back in and Crews’ delayed vertical suplex drops Parka, who is back up with a Michinoku Driver. Cartwheel makes the save so Parka takes Crews and Cartwheel down. Parka frog splashes Cartwheel but Aerostar makes the save. Aerostar gets to knock everyone down until Cartwheel poisonranas Crews.

Cartwheel neckbreakers Parka and Aerostar and there’s the big flip dive onto the pile. Back in and a corkscrew shooting star press hits Parka but Crews powerbombs Cartwheel onto Parka. Aerostar is back in with a rolling cutter to Crews, only for Parka to catch Aerostar on top with a super Spanish Fly. The Thriller gives Parka the pin on Aerostar at 8:16.

Rating: B. This was the slightly extended version of the opener and it was more entertaining, with a bunch of people flying around. Some of the saves were rather good and Parka winning is a fine choice. Granted it’s also a spoiled choice as he was in the Royal Rumble this afternoon and Michael Cole spoiled the result. Nice job WWE.

Overall Rating: B-. As usual, this is an easy watch as it runs about an hour a week and features some pretty easy to understand angles. That being said, it’s still a pretty run of the mill show, with little in the way of in-depth stuff. This show feels more about fast paced, entertaining action and that’s a fine way to go. It’s also a nice place to send some other wrestlers for some reps, with people like Crews and the upcoming Raiders being good examples. Nice show here, though going beyond an hour a week would be asking a lot.

Results
TJP b. Chris Carter, Mini Vikingo and Elio LeFleur – Splash to Carter
Lola Vice b. La Hiedra – Rollup with trunks
La Parka b. Aerostar, Jack Cartwheel and Apollo Crews – Thriller to Aerostar

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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Worlds Collide
Date: June 7, 2025
Location: Kia Forum, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Corey Graves, Konnan

It’s a special show as we have AAA vs. NXT. This would be a bizarre way to go for years now but things have changed a lot as WWE has bought (or is apparently in the process of buying) AAA, meaning things like this could happen more often. There is a nice mixture of stuff going on here so let’s get to it.

The opening video, as narrated in Spanish by Rey Mysterio (makes sense) talks about how there are moments that change everything. We see clips of an imminent collision, mixed in with various clips of famous Latino wrestlers in WWE, as well as AAA stars. I’m not sure how big this really is, but they’re making it feel epic so well done.

Corey Graves and Konnan talk about how big the show is and how much lucha libre has meant to American wrestling. That is one of the most bizarre commentary teams you’ll ever see.

We open with various AAA officials and wrestlers in the ring, along with Shawn Michaels and HHH, for the Mexican national anthem. There are also banners to I believe AAA’s founders, which is a tradition for AAA.

Lilian Garcia sings the Star Spangled Banner.

Here is Rey Mysterio (clearly still not at 100%) to get things going. After taking a long look at the AAA logo on the mat (you can tell that means a lot to him), Mysterio speaks in English and Spanish about how great it is to see lucha libre spreading like this. He seems to talk about the roster and how proud he is of lucha libre (though my Spanish is limited at best).

Mr. Iguana/Aerostar/Octagon Jr. vs. Lince Dorado/LWO

Octagon and del Toro start things off with Octagon taking him down by the arm. Back up and they lock hands with del Toro flipping him over. A legdrop misses though and Octagon’s rollup gets two. They trade armdrags until a legsweep misses, giving us a standoff. Iguana (he seems rather popular) comes in to face Dorado with Iguana crawling around like a…well you get the idea.

Dorado chops him down and Iguana stays on the mat with all four limbs up. An armdrag takes Dorado down and Iguana gets his iguana puppet, who blocks Dorado’s right hand. The puppet goes into Iguana’s mouth as he spins around and is then put onto Dorado for an Iguana counted two. The fans chant for Iguana and yeah that’s not a surprise as he’ll likely get over like crazy in a hurry.

Aerostar comes in for a running hurricanrana to Lee but gets flipped out to the apron. A corkscrew high crossbody hits Lee and the AAA guys send them outside. Iguana hits a running flip dive but there is no one to catch Dorado Octagon, who just crashes to the floor. Aerostar hits a suicide dive onto Lee as the fans are rather approving. Back in and Aerostar’s top rope splash hits raised knees and some splashes connect for two.

That’s broken up and it’s back to Iguana, who misses a charge at del Toro in the corner. A dropkick takes out Iguana’s leg though as Konnan talks about how del Toro hasn’t wrestled like this in a long time. Iguana winds up in an electric chair but he spins around into a faceplant. It’s time for the puppet (who has a name that I can’t make out), who is handed to Dorado, allowing Iguana to dive onto Lee.

Dorado snaps and beats up the puppet, even giving it a standing Spanish Fly. Iguana is TICKED (as he should be) and spins around into an anklescissors to send Dorado flying. The puppet is used to whip all three opponents and then we play pass the puppet. A triple superkick drops Iguana and everything breaks down, with Dorado hitting a double Golden Rewind (handspring Stunner).

Dorado’s shooting star press gets two and he grabs a super hurricanrana to send Octagon flying (that looked good). We get a series of knockdowns, including del Toro’s rope walk dropkick to Iguana. Aerostar is back up with a heck of a step up dive to the floor and del Toro adds a big corkscrew dive of his own. Back in and Octagon chops it out with Dorado until Octagon takes him up top for a super flipping World’s Strongest Slam and the pin at 14:04.

Rating: B+. This was a blast and all kinds of fun with everyone getting to stand out. Iguana is the kind of unique star with a fun gimmick that will get him over for a long time to come. They were trying to have a traditional lucha libre six man tag here and since everyone involved knows exactly how to do that style, it worked well. Awesome stuff here and incredibly entertaining.

Post match Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan are in the crowd, with Dominik saying it’s sad that Octagon is such a big Rey Mysterio fan because Rey is a DEADBEAT FATHER! Octagon comes over and the Spanish insults fly from Dominik so the fight is on. They get in the ring and slug it out, with the two of them eventually being separated. Dominik eventually says he’ll see Octagon at Money In The Bank (later tonight) and he’ll even put the Intercontinental Title up. Well that escalated quickly.

We get a video on the history of AAA, which was started in Mexico in the 90s by Antonio Pena. He founded the promotion and changed everything about wrestling in Mexico as an alternative to tradition. Then thirty five years passed and here we are!

AAA legends Mascarita Sagrada and Latin Lover are here.

Legado del Fantasma is ready to show that they are the real representatives of lucha libre.

We recap the women’s tag match. Stephanie Vaquer has hit the ground running in NXT/WWE and Chik Tormenta/Dalys don’t like her due to some past issues. A tag match was set up, with Lola Vice agreeing to team with Vaquer, and here we are.

Dalys/Chik Tormenta vs. Stephanie Vaquer/Lola Vice

Vaquer starts with Dalys, who gets taken down but powers out of the Devi’s Kiss attempt. Tormenta comes in for a clothesline to put Vaquer down but it’s quickly off to Vice. Vaquer adds a 619 so Vice can get two, only to be pulled into a quick half crab. Back up and Vice fires off the kicks, including the bouncing versions to send Dalys into the wrong corner. The string of hip attacks connect for Vice and she grabs a cross armbreaker on Dalys (ignore her tapping).

That’s broken up in a hurry and Vice is sent outside where the beating continues. Back in and we hit the chinlock/double arm crank on Vice as lucha legend Negro Casas (who trained Vice) is watching from the crowd. Vice fights up and rolls over for the tag off to Vaquer, who comes in with a high crossbody to Dalys. Vaquer takes Dalys out of the corner for two, setting up stereo Devil’s Kisses from Vaquer and Vice. The SVB is blocked so Vaquer gives Dalys a superkick, followed by the SVB for the pin at 9:53.

Rating: B-. Well there was no way Vaquer was going to job here, so the question became which of the other three would do so. It was hard to imagine that Vaquer’s team would be losing either way, especially after AAA won the first match, so this was only in so much doubt. As usual, Vaquer feels like one of the biggest stars in the division and Vice felt like she got a nice breakout moment here. Good enough match here, but they were in a rough spot after that opener.

Post match Vice and Vaquer talk about how great it is to be here and seem happy with their win. Vaquer is more than ready to win Money In The Bank too.

Chad Gable isn’t worried about being in Mexico because these people have embraced him. That’s in addition to embracing El Grande Americano, who is going to win Money In The Bank, after Gable wins the AAA Mega Title.

Legado del Fantasma is ready to prove themselves as the real first family of lucha libre. This is the same promo that aired on Smackdown.

Psycho Clown, Pagano and Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. are ready for six man as well, with Clown bringing up that he was in the match where Santos Escobar lost his mask in Mexico.

Chavo Guerrero is here.

A social media star is here, but according to the graphic, he’s the Street Profits. Well to be fair he is wearing a mask.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr./Pagano/Psycho Clown

Berto takes Hijo into the corner to start as we hear about WWE and TNA stars wanting to be on an upcoming AAA show. I get that it’s a different world but my goodness that will never sound right. Hijo runs the ropes and snaps off a hurricanrana into an armbar. That’s broken up so it’s off to Clown, who switches into a double German suplex to Berto and Angel at the same time.

Pagano (a hardcore brawler) comes in for a….I think it was supposed to be a double flapjack but Berto escaped and Garza was barely lifted. Instead Pagano sends both of them outside but Escobar moves Berto out of the way, leaving Pagano to crash to the floor. Back in and Pagano gets caught in the wrong corner, allowing the villains to start the beating. That doesn’t last long as Pagano gets in a shot and rolls over for the tag to Clown.

Angel gets tied in the Tree of Woe for a dropkick, followed by a Code Red for two on Berto. Hijo comes back in to chop it out with Escobar before everything breaks down. The AAA guys hit running dives to the floor but Hijo gets caught in the wrong corner back inside. The double super gorilla press slam drops Hijo but Clown is back up with the Psycho Driver (Air Raid Crash) to the apron.

Angel takes him down with a sitout powerbomb but Clown is back in with a sitout powerbomb. Everything breaks down and Escobar is left alone in the ring. Hijo cuts him off for two more but Escobar’s super hurricanrana gets the same. Back up and the Phantom Driver gives Escobar the pin at 14:59.

Rating: B-. Another good six man match here with some familiar faces. Clown looked like a star and Hijo looked more than good enough. On the other hand you had Pagano who was pretty hit and miss, which tends to be normal for him. Legado looked good as well, with WWE getting a nice showcase win over some AAA stars.

We look at the 1994 When Worlds Collide show, which was a huge introduction to AAA (and lucha libre) for a lot of people. There were a lot of legends on that show, including Konnan, Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, who got quite a bit of exposure as a result.

El Hijo del Vikingo is ready to fly against Chad Gable.

Savio Vega, Damian Priest and Blue Demon Jr. are here.

NXT North American Title: Je’Von Evans vs. Rey Fenix vs. Laredo Kid vs. Ethan Page

Page is defending (Kid’s AAA Cruiserweight Title isn’t on the line). The challengers gang up on Page to start but Kid’s dive is cut off. Evans stares down at Fenix and teases a right hand before going with the rollup instead. Fenix is back up with the very springboardy wristdrag but Page is back in with a hurricanrana of his own. Evans takes him down and hits the big dropkick to the floor.

Fenix is back up with a spider kick to Evans and hits a big dive to take out everyone on the floor. Back in and the fans want tables, which has Konnan confused, as the action has already been good (fair point). Page knocks Evans off the top though and hits a top rope splash, followed by a powerslam for two with Fenix making the save. Kid hits a backbreaker but Evans cuts him off on the top.

Evans hits a heck of a no hands dive to the floor to drop Page and ties Kid in the Tree Of Woe. That sets up what was supposed to be a Swanton dropkick (he didn’t get all of it but dang that was a cool idea), followed by a springboard cutter for two on Fenix. Back up and Fenix kicks Page into the ropes for the rope walk kick, followed by a very high angle armdrag to Kid.

Some kicks to the face rock Evans and the Fenix Driver gets two. Page takes out Fenix but gets caught with Evans’ springboard clothesline and everyone is down. Fenix and Kid go up top with the former hitting a super Spanish Fly (for you Cornette podcast fans out there, Graves shouted “KONNAN! KONNAN!” before he jumped), only for Page to hit Fenix with the Ego’s Edge. Evans makes the save but gets sent outside, leaving Page to hit the Twisted Grin for the pin on Kid at 14:55.

Rating: B. This was a very fun, fast paced match with people getting to go all over the place until one of them couldn’t get up again. They were all flying around and I was buying the chance that the title could change hands. Page was there to antagonize the fans and the other three were flying around like crazy. Some of the spots were great here and I had a lot of fun with the whole thing.

We look at Triplemania, the biggest AAA show of the year. It has been running since the 90s and will continue again this year.

We recap Chad Gable challenging El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Title. Vikingo won the title last week, which has Gable more excited than he was before. Gable is on a quite to unlock the dark arts of lucha libre and it’s time to make everyone say VIVA. Vikingo isn’t impressed because he is the heart and soul of AAA.

AAA Mega Title: El Hijo de Vikingo vs. Chad Gable

Gable is challenging. Vikingo takes him down by the arm to start but Gable sweeps the leg, thanks the fans, and slaps Vikingo’s hand in an armbar. Back up and Vikingo does a weird lifting stretch but Gable reverses into another armbar. Vikingo gets up again and has to break a quick ankle lock. Gable misses a charge into the post and a running Meteora sends him crashing out to the floor.

Vikingo follows him out with a 630 to the back (geez) for two but Gable gets the knees up to block a running shooting star. Back up and Gable sends him into the steps before loading up the required table. Gable can’t hit a German suplex through the table but can knock Vikingo down again to take it back inside. A monkey flip out of the corner gives Gable two, followed by abdominal stretch to stay on the ribs.

The bridging German suplex gets two more on Vikingo and Gable armbars him over the ropes to cut off a comeback attempt. Gable goes up but dives into a Codebreaker, leaving both of them down. Vikingo ties him in the ropes for a rather long range top rope double stomp, followed by the spinning middle rope 450 (geez again) for two. Back up and Gable hits a Razor’s Edge Dominator but has to bail out of the moonsault.

Instead, Gable catches him on top and hits a super sitout powerbomb for the scary crazy. Gable insists that Vikingo “is just a luchador” and gets knocked to the apron, where Vikingo hits a diving Canadian Destroyer to knock him silly. Vikingo puts him on the table but takes too long, allowing Gable to shove Vikingo off the top. That lets Gable hit a moonsault to send Vikingo through the table, leaving them both down. Back in and they slug it out until Gable gets the ankle lock. That’s broken up as well and Vikingo hits a poisonrana. The running knees in the corner set up the 630 to retain Vikingo’s title at 22:00.

Rating: B+. Vikingo’s flying stuff was incredible (as usual) and Gable being out there as the wrestler made for a good battle. It was reaching the levels of epic that you need in a match like this, though that table spot at the end made me roll my eyes a bit. Heck of a match here, with Vikingo looking like a star and Gable hanging right there with him the whole time.

Vikingo poses with some wrestlers and AAA people to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Yeah this was great and an incredible experience throughout. It felt like a AAA show with the benefits of WWE making it that much better. The action was awesome, with the two weakest matches being pretty good at worst. I had a great time with this and you could tell that this meant a lot to the people involved. Awesome show here and it has me a lot more interested in seeing what WWE is going to be doing with AAA going forward.

Results
Octagon Jr./Mr. Iguana/Aerostar b. Lince Dorado/LWO – Super flipping World’s Strongest Slam to Dorado
Stephanie Vaquer/Lola Vice b. Dalys/Chik Tormenta – SVB to Tormenta
Legado del Fantasma b. Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr./Pagano/Psycho Clown – Phantom Driver to Escobar
Ethan Page b. Laredo Kid, Rey Fenix and Je’Von Evans – Twisted Grin to Kid
El Hijo de Vikingo b. Chad Gable – 630

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

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Collision
Date: September 9, 2023
Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness

It’s tournament night again as we have the semifinals of the #1 contenders tournament, which should give the show enough of a focus. Other than that, we might have a better idea of how things will be going in the post-CM Punk era. That new direction is very important so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Samoa Joe, Penta El Zero Miedo, Roderick Strong and Darby Allin are all ready for the tournament.

Opening sequence.

International Title: Jon Moxley vs. Action Andretti

Moxley is defending and chokes him into the corner to start, with Andretti bailing to the floor for a breather. Back in and Moxley knocks him outside again but Andretti is right back inside. A handspring kick to the head rocks Moxley to set up a suicide dive but Moxley headbutts him down. Andretti takes the leg out though and Moxley is sent into the barricade as we take a break.

We come back with Moxley hitting a suicide dive but banging up his knee again. They get back inside where Andretti’s Phenomenal Forearm is cuttered out of the air for two. Andretti tries to get up but is sent hard into the corner. Moxley’s charge hits post though and Andretti tries a springboard corkscrew crossbody, which doesn’t make a ton of contact. Andretti stomps away but Moxley pulls him into the rear naked choke to retain the title at 11:07.

Rating: B-. Andretti got in some offense here but this was about getting Moxley out there for the showcase. The Ohio fans loved him so this was more of the old Moxley than anything else. It’s ok to get Moxley on the show for a moment like this as it isn’t like Andretti was the most serious challenger.

We get a video from Roderick Strong (flanked by the Kingdom) on his history with Adam Cole. We see a bunch of photos of them over the years, plus clips of their time in Ring Of Honor. Strong says he’s still here for Cole, but Cole is the one who changed. He’s going to win the tournament and the World Title, but that’s not enough.

Quick look at Samoa Joe and MJF brawling on Dynamite.

TBS Title: Kris Statlander vs. Robyn Renegade

Statlander is defending and they fight over arm control to start. Robyn misses an enziguri and gets suplexed for her efforts. Robyn’s sister Charlette offers a distraction though and a faceplant gets two on Statlander. Charlette chokes some more and the chinlock goes on. Statlander is back up with a Blue Thunder Bomb as Charlette makes a distraction save. Back up and Robyn misses a charge into the corner, allowing Statlander to hit an electric chair faceplant. An O’Connor roll with a bridge retains the title at 4:14.

Rating: C. That’s another open challenge and it wasn’t exactly enthralling stuff. Statlander getting on TV is a good thing and going over in something close to a handicap match worked, but these title matches for the sake of having a title match only have so much interest. Statlander needs someone other than the Outcasts to fight sooner than later.

Post match the beatdown is on but Jade Cargill returns for the save. Then she beats Statlander down as well. Well that would be sooner.

Ruby Soho isn’t happy to hear that Toni Storm has forgotten how she cost Soho the TBS Title. Saraya tries to calm things down and promises to retain the title at Grand Slam.

We get a sitdown interview with Eddie Kingston and Claudio Castagnoli. Kingston says this is over Castagnoli not doing business when he was leaving the independents, which Castagnoli seems to laugh off. The solution appears to be a New Japan Strong Openweight Title match at Grand Slam, but if Kingston loses, he also has to shake Castagnoli’s hand and say he respects him. It’s nice to see them fighting again, but this isn’t ending until Kingston wins the ROH Title or the feud is just dropped so odds are this isn’t ending anytime soon.

Bullet Club Gold vs. Gravity/Aerostar/Dios del Inframundo

No Jay White here but Cardblade is on commentary. Inframundo is better known as Drago from AAA. Austin and Gravity start things off with Austin getting the better of things. Inframundo comes in, despite being in the ring when he gets tagged (the referee doesn’t like it but lets it go because of course he does).

Robinson comes in for the snap jabs but Gravity and Aerostar kick away to take him down. Colten gets in a double clothesline from behind though and we take a break. Back with Gravity fighting out of a chinlock and bringing Aerostar in to pick up the pace with a bunch of dropkicks. The Quickdraw puts Inframundo down though and Robinson hits the leg lariat. The reverse layout DDT finishes Inframundo at 6:50.

Rating: C+. This was your “here are three luchadors doing dives” match with the Club getting a bit of a showcase win. That’s all it needed to be and they were in and out quickly, as they should have been for something like this. The Club are focal points of Collision and it’s good to see them doing their thing, even though it wasn’t quite the same with Jay White not being around.

CJ Perry (who I don’t think has officially been named) talks about how Miro changed when he won the TNT Title. Now she returned and wants to try to help him get the title back but he walked away from her. She’s ready to become the coldest manager in wrestling again.

The Dark Order wants you to join.

The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn announce their World Tour, complete with a map. Next stop: Grand Slam.

Rey Fenix vs. Angelico

Before the match, Fenix swears revenge on Jon Moxley and the Blackpool Combat Club. Fenix knocks him outside fast and hits a big dive. The spinning kick to the head from the apron connects but Angelico manages a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker back inside. Fenix takes him down again and hits a double stomp for two. There’s the rolling cutter for two more, followed by the Black Fire Driver to give Fenix the pin at 4:54.

Rating: C+. It’s good to have Fenix back after he wasn’t able to go to All In due to international travel issues. Fenix is another of those guys who has a charisma to him that makes you want to see him in the ring no matter what and that is very valuable. Now find something for him, either with or without his brother to do and capitalize on that charisma.

FTR announces an open challenge for the Tag Team Titles starting next week. This week had two open challenges for titles and next week has a third. That’s getting into tournament and battle royal levels.

Grand Slam #1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Roderick Strong vs. Darby Allin

The Kingdom is here with Strong, who is officially NECK Strong. Hold on though as Christian Cage and Luchasaurus jump Allin in the back and beat the fire out of him. Allin, with Nick Wayne, comes out anyway though and, after falling a few times, is ready to go. Strong jumps him as soon as he gets in the ring and chops away a few times.

Allin reverses a backbreaker into a sunset flip for two before Strong misses a charge to the floor. The suicide dive hits Strong and we take a break. Back with Strong stomping away but Allin gets a crucifix and Code Red for two each. Allin goes up top and rakes Strong’s back but gets crotched down. Strong gives him a Rock Bottom onto the turnbuckle, with Allin falling down onto the apron and out to the floor for a nasty crash.

We take another break and come back with Allin hitting a flipping Stunner on the apron to send Strong outside. A Coffin Drop onto a standing Strong puts them both down on the floor. Cue AR Fox to try and make them stop but Wayne doesn’t want him here. Back in and Strong kicks him in the head but Allin grabs a Scorpion Death Drop. Fox and Wayne get in a fight with the Kingdom but Fox accidentally takes Wayne out. The Coffin Drop hits raised knees and End Of Heartache finishes Allin at 14:50.

Rating: B. They were telling a good story here as Allin was fighting from behind and trying to survive against crazy odds. As usual, Allin is able to pull people in and make you care about what he’s doing, which is very difficult to do. I’m a bit surprised at Allin losing, but Strong going forward does have some interesting aspects. Good stuff here, and it’s nice to have Strong showing what he can still do.

Powerhouse Hobbs talks about how he came at Miro and lost. Now he is looking to the Book Of Hobbs and everyone will fall.

Keith Lee is here on his own and advises people to run.

Video on the Righteous.

Here is Bryan Danielson for a chat. Danielson has been asked about what is next for him and that might be the start of the end of his career. Time is running out on him (the fans are not happy) but he is not going gently into that good night. He is Odysseus heading home from the Trojan War and we hear some Odyssey references. If this is his last year, it will be the most epic year of his career. He’s calling his shots, including at WrestleDream, where he wants to face Zack Sabre Jr.

Cue Ricky Starks and Big Bill, with the former saying he had to come out here. He received bread crumbs when hew wanted a full meal. Now he is going to take and take, but Danielson says he wasn’t done yet. Danielson seems ready to challenge him for a rematch but Big Bill jumps Danielson instead. Starks pulls him off….and jumps Danielson too. Jon Moxley runs in for the save but Bill kicks him down and hammers away. Starks chokes Danielson out with a shirt and gets to celebrate as he leaves.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Big Bill is ready to win the International Title on Dynamite. Rey Fenix interrupts and says he’s the next champion, but Bill tells him to go to the back of the line. Bill vs. Moxley has already been set for Dynamite.

Grand Slam #1 Contenders Tournament Semifinals: Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Samoa Joe

Joe’s ROH TV Title isn’t on the line. Penta strikes away to start but gets run over with a shoulder. They head outside with Penta hitting a Sling Blade, earning him a lecture from JR about how you can’t win on the outside. We’ll ignore JR’s knowledge about countouts as Joe chops away and sends Penta into the barricade. Penta does the same to him and loads up a table (because tables) as we take a break.

Back with Penta kicking away at Joe but missing a double stomp. Joe knocks him down and grabs a neck crank, followed by a face first drop onto the turnbuckle. The double arm crank with a knee in Penta’s back goes on, followed by an elbow drop for two. Joe hits the enziguri in the corner but Penta is back up with a superkick. That just earns him a snap powerslam for two but Penta kicks him in the face for two more. Joe’s big boot gets the same, only to be sent to the floor for a flip dive. Penta’s big flip dive only hits table though and the Koquina Clutch finishes him at 14:58.

Rating: C+. I wasn’t feeling this one nearly as much as the earlier tournament match as this felt like they were trying to fill in time rather than going for a win. Those chinlocks and various cranks from Joe felt like they were taking way too long and I never bought Penta as a threat to win. Not a bad match, but it needed to be a bit shorter.

Overall Rating: B-. The tournament stuff helped here, but I’m not overly invested if this is the new direction for Collision. There was a lot of what felt like thrown out there matches with the two open challenges for titles making the first part feeling like a Battle Of The Belts. The biggest problem was most of this didn’t feel overly important, but rather that it was just building for more important stuff down the line. There is a very good chance that it’s just a transitional thing as they move on from the Punk stuff, but this wasn’t the most exciting show.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Action Andretti – Rear naked choke
Kris Statlander b. Robyn Renegade – Bridging O’Connor Roll
Bullet Club Gold b. Gravity/Aerostar/Dios del Inframundo – Reverse layout DDT to Inframundo
Rey Fenix b. Angelico – Black Fire Driver
Roderick Strong b. Darby Allin – End Of Heartache
Samoa Joe b. Penta El Zero Miedo – Koquina Clutch

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

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TripleMania XXV
Date: August 26, 2017
Location: Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Kevin Gill, Gabe Ramirez

This is of course AAA’s biggest show of the year and heck if I know why someone requested it. Granted it might have been more than a few years ago that someone wanted me to look at it so there is probably something big that stuck out. I have no idea what is going on here but these shows have been hit or miss to say the least. Let’s get to it.

Keep in mind that I don’t follow the promotion so I have no idea what is going on with characters, backstories etc.

A bunch of men, I believe the broadcast team, is introduced.

The ring announcer (one of the four) introduces a bunch of people in costumes. I’m guessing these are sponsor mascots or something? Wrestlers are with them and handing out things to the fans so they’re certainly supposed to be good.

We get some English commentary from Twitch, which confirms that we are still on the preshow here and yes those are sponsor mascots.

La Parka, Faby Apache and Vampiro seem to be judging the first match. Ignore the arena being mostly empty, with almost no noise whatsoever for an almost eerie feeling.

Pre-show: Llave de Gloria: Dragon Solar/Pardux/Solaris/Ashley vs. Hahastary/Bronco Gonzalez/Chicano/Fetiche

This seems to be the finals of some kind of tournament as independent wrestlers are fighting for a contact. It’s a brawl to start with Ashley’s dive being left short on the floor. She’s fine enough to get back in and hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on…someone commentary doesn’t feel the need to identify (which makes me think they don’t know who is who here). Instead they give a basic explanation of rudos vs. technicos as everyone gets in a shot to just about everyone else. Even commentary points out that there is one winner to the whole thing so the team aspect is pretty much worthless.

Ashley dropkicks Chicano (thank goodness for names on the back of gear) down but Chicano elbows her in the face. Solaris comes in for a save with a hurricanrana but gets dropkicked out of the air. Everything breaks down the Chicano team takes Ashley down, including a slingshot powerbomb.

Solar gets in some hurricanranas for a breather and it’s Ashley coming back in to pick up the pace. Solaris and Pardux come in with stereo missile dropkicks and Ashley hits a big dive onto most of her opponents. Fetiche is backdropped onto a pile of people on the floor, followed by a corkscrew dive from Solaris. Back in and Solar rolls up Gonzalez for the pin at 6:40.

Rating: C. This was a VERY weird one as they didn’t bother trying to do anything more than have a big exhibition of spots. Ashley stood out a bit more than anyone else but commentary clearly had NO idea what was going on here or who was who. That makes things all the more confusing, and I spent most of the match trying to figure out their names. Granted there wasn’t anything more here than having a bunch of people trying to get noticed, which only worked well enough.

Pre-Show: Llave de Gloria: Angel Mortal Jr./Tiger Boy/Villano III Jr. vs. Angelikal/The Tigger/El Hijo del Vikingo

Same idea as the first match but three on three and thankfully there are a lot more fans in the building for the entrances. For some reason we start with music in the background as Tigger and Villano get things going (commentary seems a lot more familiar with this batch). They flip around to start and neither can get anything more than a fast one, as you might have expected.

Angelikal comes in to hurricanrana Mortal as the pace stays fast. Angelikal clears the ring by himself before being pulled outside, allowing Vikingo to come in. Vikingo climbs the rope for an anklescissors out of the corner to Tiger. Mortal comes in and launches Vikingo into a hurricanrana to tiger on the floor.

Back in and Villano and company start taking over on Tiger’s arm. A double electric chair missile dropkick hits Angelikal and a springboard Codebreaker into a wheelbarrow suplex gets two. Angelikal is right back up with a hurricanrana, leaving Vikingo and Tigger to hit running flip dives to the floor. Back in and Tigger and company hit a 450/moonsault/shooting star press for the triple pin at 7:33.

Rating: C+. Much like the opener, this was a bunch of people trying to get in as much as they could to showcase themselves. Unlike the opener, this one didn’t have as many people around and it made things that much easier to follow. If nothing else, commentary knowing who they were watching helped just as much. Do this alone instead of both matches and it’s a much better pre-show.

The ring announcer (as translated by Ramirez) welcomes us to the show and pitches the official program. The Spanish broadcast team is introduced (the matching ties are nice) and so is the president of the company.

The National Anthem is played, with a live military band.

The announcer hypes up the crowd about the main event.

The opening video (with the camera just pointed at the screen) looks at TripleManias past, set to Dream On by Aerosmith.

We get some banners of various deceased legends, including company founder Antonio Pena (whose wife, the president, is holding his urn, because that’s not at least a little creepy).

Hernandez/La Hiedra/Mamba/Mini Psycho Clown vs. Big Mami/Dinastia/Estrella Divina/Mascara de Bronce

This is an Atomicos match, which I believe means a man, a woman, an exotico (man dressed as a woman) and a mini. Bronce starts with Clown (not that much shorter) and sends him outside for a good looking step up flip dive. Mami comes in but gets dropped by Hernandez, only to come back with a kiss. Everything breaks down fast and Bronce breaks up Hernandez’s slam attempt on Mami (and he was struggling).

Clown sends Bronce outside for a bit flip dive, followed by a springboard corkscrew dive from Dinastia. Hernandez cuts off Bronce’s dive and powerbombs him onto the pile, followed by Hernandez hitting his own huge dive. Mami dives off the middle rope to crush everyone and it’s time to head back inside. Hernandez and Bronce fight to the back and Clown rolls Dinastia up for two. Dinastia’s standing moonsault gets two, with Mamba making the save. Hiedra gets in a chair shot to Mami though and Mamba steals the pin at 6:56.

Rating: C. This was all over the place and in this case, that’s exactly the point. These things are designed to be pure chaos with everyone going all over the place and it went well enough. The dives were impressive and the fans were into a lot of it, making it a rather fun opener. Just maybe don’t have the villains win to kick off the show?

The ring announcer again polls the fans about the main event.

Reina de Reinas Title: Lady Shani vs. Ayako Hamada vs. Rosemary vs. Sexy Star

Star is defending and this is one fall to a finish. Of note, Rosemary is from Global Force Wrestling, because that was a thing at this point. Rosemary suplexes Star to the floor to start but Shani and Hamada take Rosemary down. Back up and Rosemary slugs away but Star is right back for some shots to everyone. Hamada grabs a chair and takes out Star, only to have Shani kick the chair into Hamada’s face.

Now it’s a trashcan being thrown…well in the vicinity of the ring, as Hamada doesn’t clear the top rope in a bit of an embarrassing miss. Rosemary grabs a full nelson with her legs on Shani and Hamada cranks on one of Shani’s legs for a tap….but that doesn’t count because it’s a double submission so we keep going (I’ve always thought that should be an elimination or something, as it’s hard to fathom tapping to two people not having some kind of consequence.).

Shani is put in a chair and has a trashcan put on top of her but topples over due to unconsciousness. Star comes back in and gets WHACKED with a trashcan lid. She’s fine enough to powerbomb Hamada out of the corner for two, with Rosemary having to make the save. Shani is back up with some kicks to Rosemary, who pulls her into something of a Last Chancery. That’s broken up by Star, who gets Stunnered by Rosemary. Star is able to Iconoclasm Rosemary off the top and grabs a cross armbreaker to retain at 9:57. She takes her sweet time letting go too.

Rating: C-. It was pretty much just a bunch of weapons stuff while commentary praised Sexy Star as being this huge deal. As for the match, there was little to no flow or story to it other than Star making a comeback at the end. Rosemary and Hamada are capable of more and I’ve seen Star be ok. Shani was billed as a hardcore specialist and that was only kind of on display here. It wasn’t horrible, but the ending was out of nowhere and it felt like they were told “go do stuff and then finish it now”.

Oh and one more thing: the armbreaker that Star used on Rosemary wound up being a shoot, legitimately injuring Rosemary and more or less banishing Star to the indies for the rest of her career. Pretty much, no one of note was going to put up with her attacking a wrestler for no valid reason and that was it. The title would be vacated a few weeks later as Star was done with AAA. If a wrestler legitimately attacks someone else in the ring without just cause, I’m not sure what kind of a future they would be expecting to have.

With THAT out of the way, Martha Villalobos, a legend and former champion, comes out to present Star with the belt in a moment I’m sure AAA won’t want to have back immediately.

The ring announcer shills the program.

Vampiro and someone who seems to be a sponsor are here to announce the winners of the Llaves a la Gloria. Third place is Ashley, second is El Hijo del Vikingo and the winner is….Angelikal. As a bonus, Vampiro has the rest of the contestants get inside, where they are told they will be the first group of students at the new AAA school.

Tag Team Titles: Andrew Everett/DJZ vs. Monster Clown/Murder Clown vs. Aerostar/Drago vs. Dark Cuervo/Dark Scoria

Cuervo/Scoria are defending and this is one fall to a finish. The Clowns whip out a belt to start the whipping but Aerostar and Drago take over on DJZ. An assisted tornado DDT gets two on Everett but the champs are back in to double clothesline Drago. Back in and the Clowns get to clean the ring save for Aerostar, who gets whipped with the belt. Aerostar fights back and sends the Clowns outside for the suicide dive.

Cuervo and Scoria hit dives of their own, followed by the rather large Murder Clown hitting his own big flip dive. Back in and Murder Clown gets caught on top with a Tower Of Doom. Aerostar is raised up the lighting grid and then asks to go even higher. We get some near falls but keep cutting up to Aerostar as they keep going up. He finally hits the dive to clear out the pile and three wrestlers run in for a beatdown.

Commentary doesn’t know who they are and they’re ejected just as fast (Apparently they’re El Poder del Norte, a heel stable. Thanks review from someone else, because commentary is rather worthless on this show.). The champs fight back but a third Clown (he has purple hair) comes in to help take them out. Cuervo and Scoria fight back, only to have Marty Martinez (from Lucha Underground) run in and help the Clowns as well. A top rope splash gives Murder the double pin on the champs for the titles at 13:28.

Rating: D+. The huge dive was impressive looking and there were some cool spots, but this was another match where it felt like they weren’t really doing much of anything until the ending when everything went nuts. The Clowns felt like the bigger deal but the whole match felt like a bunch of teams thrown out there for the sake of having a Tag Team Title match. Well that and so Aerostar could do a crazy dive because he seems to be a little nuts.

Post match the Clowns keep up the beating and Marty leaves with the purple haired clown.

We get a speech from the President of the company (the widow of founder Antonio Pena), who talks about wrestlers who have passed away during the TripleMania years.

We get a video on the wrestlers who have passed away. Nothing wrong with something like that.

BUY MERCHANDISE!

Torneo TripleMania XXV

So from what I can tell this is a ten trios (30 people) battle royal with lumberjacks. It also seems that there are teams from different eras to give it a bit of a theme. We’re also doing staggered entrances ala the Royal Rumble (90 second intervals), so it’s Team Ex-AAA (Heavy Metal/Pirata Morgan/Villano IV) in at #1 and Relevos Incredibles (Australian Suicide/Faby Apache/Pimpinela Escarlata) in at #2 to start. It’s a brawl to start as the lumberjacks (with straps) get into it on the floor.

Los OGT’s (Averno/Chessman/Super Fly) are in at #3 and a lot of stomping/near eliminations ensue. Granted I’m not completely sure who is almost out as, again, commentary seems to have no idea who is who, but why let that stop you? Los Vipers (Histeria/Maniaco/Psicosis), who even I’ve heard of, are in at #4 and Psicosis has a huge snake around his neck. The Vipers start cleaning house as I don’t believe anyone has been eliminated yet. Los Guapos (Decnis/Scorpio Jr./Zumbido) are in at #5 as this is rather hard to keep track of, a statement commentary makes as well.

A high crossbody completely misses for I believe Histeria and Los Perros del Mal (Halloween/Joe Lider/Mr. Aguila) are in at #6. We get some rapid fire pinfalls (no names mentioned and no word on if those individuals or their teams are out) and the Mexican Powers (Crazy Boy/Lanzelot/Nina Hamburguesa) are in at #7. They get to clean house for a bit, including the nearly 400lb Nino coming off the top with a missed Swanton, until La Parka y sus Amigos (La Parka/Argenis/Bengala) are in at #8.

As they come to the ring, everyone gets on Nino for the pin, followed by Los Vipers getting to clean some house. Los Leyendas (Blue Demon Jr./El Cobrade/El Intocable, the Legends) are in at #9 and get to clean more house. Team GFW (Moose/Bobby Lashley/Jeff Jarrett) are in at #10 to complete the field….or at least they should be, as it’s just Lashley on his own.

Lashley gets to wreck some people on the grounds of he’s Bobby Lashley, but the clock starts counting down again. Commentary is confused (it’s not that hard) and it gets even worse when no one comes out. Moose comes out on his own and just kind of stands around awkwardly, which isn’t his style.

Jarrett finally comes out and…..yeah there’s no way around it: Jarrett was very out of it (quite possibly drunk) at this show, to the point where he can barely get down the steps to the ring. To his credit, he would take time away from the ring shortly after this (and at least one other incident) and reportedly got clean, so good for him for dealing with his problems. As for tonight though, Jarrett takes FOREVER to get to the ring, as he is throwing tortillas to the crowd, which isn’t going well whatsoever. For some reason Moose and Lashley are fighting each other on the floor as Jarrett gets inside. Jarrett punches a bunch of people and kicks Parka low, leaving him the only one standing.

Parka finally gets up and slugs it out with Jarrett as we actually have something resembling a match for a second. A DDT plants Jarrett for the pin (POP) and we pause for Parka’s music, even though the match isn’t over. Commentary isn’t sure what is going on (shocking) as Jarrett is yelling at fans. The rest of the OGT’s clear house and go for Parka’s mask….until Chessman shoves Super Fly (his partner) off the top and out. So we’re down to Chessman, Averno and Parka, but Averno hits Chessman (again, his partner) low for a pin. Then Parka small packages Averno for the final pin (thank goodness) at 26:41.

Rating: F. I spent the better part of half an hour watching this and I have no idea what was going on. The problem is that commentary didn’t seem to either, to the point where there might have been five names mentioned here, with most of them being Team GFW. I’m sure this was about getting Parka a moment and having a bunch of names in there, but it’s a case where if you aren’t already a fan, this isn’t going to make things better. The fact that the only reason I knew most of the names was the show’s Wikipedia didn’t help, but it isn’t like there was commentary or a graphic to tell me who was involved.

On top of that, it was a terrible battle royal, where the rules weren’t clear, some people (Lashley/Moose) just left, I had no idea who was eliminated (or how to eliminate someone for that matter) and nothing was clear in the slightest. You can do something like this with the Gimmick Battle Royal, but that was about four minutes, not almost twenty seven (longest of the show so far). Absolutely horrible here and one of the worst matches I’ve seen in a very long time for more reasons that I can count (ok I can count them but I don’t want to waste any more time on this mess).

Post match La Parka, Bengala and Argenis get a belt, with Parka getting all of the glory.

El Mesias vs. Pagano

Street fight and they start in the aisle (as commentary didn’t seem to think this match was scheduled next) with Mesias knocking him into the ring. Pagano scores with a spinwheel kick, as commentary is surprised he included a wrestling move. A springboard bulldog drops Mesias again but he’s back with a shot to the face. Back up and Pagano knocks him into the corner, only to get sent outside.

Mesias gets in some chair shots as we get at least the third arena wide shot of the match (about five minutes in). The beating goes around the ring, with Mesias sending him into a trashcan. They go up the aisle with Mesias getting a suplex but having a beer thrown into his face. Back to the ring they go, with some barbed wire being brought in because of course it is. Pagano gets the better of a slugout and runs him over, setting up a Russian legsweep.

Mesias is knocked outside so Pagano hits a running flip dive, followed by a hanging piledriver back inside. And now the barbed wire, which Pagano puts in front of his chest on a missed moonsault. Pagano is back with a Regal Roll into a Lionsault, which has commentary questioning the impact of the barbed wire. Mesias is knocked outside for an apron dropkick as things slow down.

They get back inside with Mesias whipping out a barbed wire bat, which is kicked away. The fans are rather displeased as Mesias hits a faceplant onto the bat. Back up and Pagano gets in a bat shot to Mesias’ knee….which is enough to warrant a referee stoppage at 16:40, because I guess just covering Mesias was out of the question?

Rating: D. This was slow, plodding, didn’t get overly violent until near the ending and then had a dumb finish on top of that. If Mesias is hurt then it’s understandable, but it was his leg. Have Pagano cover him for a fast pin instead of just stopping everything cold in a street fight. Other than that, this just wasn’t good and both guys appeared to be moving in slow motion for a lot of it. If you want this to be some violent match then go there rather than do something this lame.

Post match Rey Escorpion, in street clothes, comes in to deck Pagano and then go after Mesias, who is on a stretcher.

AAA World Title/AAA Latin American Title/AAA Cruiserweight Title: Johnny Mundo vs. El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Texano Jr.

Mundo (John Morrison/etc) is defending, comes out to Born In The USA, and this is a ladder match. Fantasma would go on to become known as Santos Escobar while Texano would go on to continue to be known as Texano Jr. The challengers chop it out to start and Mundo gets knocked down for trying to bring in some weapons. Texano grabs a chair to blast Fantasma and starts ripping at the mask, allowing Mundo to add a top rope elbow.

Mundo dropkicks a ladder into Texano and superkicks Fantasma for a bonus. A pair of tables are set up at ringside but everyone realizes that there are belts to grab and go for the ladder. Texano clears the ring, leaving Fantasma to load a table against the barricade. Mundo dropkicks Texano off the top but gets knocked off a ladder (which was nowhere near high enough anyway as the belts are WAY up there). Fantasma hits his great dive into Texano into (but not through) the leaning table.

Texano is back up and sends Fantasma through the table, followed by a Swanton onto Fantasma onto the broken table. With Fantasma VERY busted open, Mundo goes up but gets pulled down by Texano. Mundo bridges a ladder on the middle rope but takes too long posing, allowing Fantasma to dropkick him down. Fantasma drops Texano onto the bridged ladder, seemingly busting him open too.

The ladder is set in the middle as the belts come down a bit. Mundo’s climb takes too long as well and Texano shoves the ladder over, sending Mundo down and onto (not through) a table at ringside. Fantasma dives over a ladder bridged into a standing one to forearm Texano, only to get knocked into the ladder. More tables are set up in the ring, with Fantasma backdropping Texano onto the bridged ladder for a nasty crash.

Cue Kevin Kross (Karrion Kross, Mundo’s lackey) to make the save but Mascara de Bronce comes out to stop Kross, who was climbing for some reason. Now it’s Hernandez (another Mundo lackey, or stooge as commentary puts it) to get knocked outside as well, leaving Bronce to hit a heck of a springboard moonsault to take him down.

Kross chokeslams Bronce onto the apron but Fantasma takes him down. Mundo ladders Fantasma in the face but all three wind up climbing. Fantasma knocks Texano down for a big crash, leaving Mundo to get in a low blow to drop Fantasma as well. All three belts are pulled down and Mundo retains at 22:49.

Rating: B. It wasn’t a classic or anything but for a triple threat ladder match with a bunch of interference, this could have been a lot worse. Mundo feels like a star and has the gold to prove it while the other two felt like they had him multiple times, only to come up short. Maybe it was everything else being so bad/horrible, but I had a good time with this one as Mundo feels like a much bigger deal here than in WWE.

Post match Mundo brags about his win and calls out…Vampiro. Mundo throws down the title and here is Vampiro to interrupt. Vampiro won’t look at him, as Mundo demands that Vampiro put the belt on him. Mundo yells at him, spits at him and shoves him, which is finally enough for Vampiro to grab a chokeslam. With Mundo on the floor, Vampiro threatens violence before leaving as well.

With everyone else gone, Fantasma and Texano trade chair shots to the head and both are left laying. Well that was cringe inducing.

Video on Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Psycho Clown, both of whom have been training rather hard. They don’t seem to like each other.

Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Psycho Clown

Mask vs. Mask and this is billed as the biggest lucha match of the decade. Hold on though as a woman has to sing the National Anthem before we’re ready to go. We’re ready to go and Clown misses a dropkick, allowing Wagner to clothesline away as commentary isn’t sure how many falls this is (it’s one). Wagner chokes away in the corner before they go outside, with the brawl heading into the crowd.

Back in and Psycho hits a spinwheel kick as the fans aren’t sure who they like here. Wagner ties him up on the mat but Psycho is right next to the ropes. We get the expected mask ripping before Wagner hits him in the head with the chair. Psycho is busted open so Wagner enjoys some of it on his hand. There’s another chair shot to knock Clown even sillier, as commentary wonders what happens if you rip off a mask in a mask vs. mask match.

They head outside with Wagner slowly beating on Psycho, who can barely stagger away. Clown gets knocked up and back down the apron but manages to make a comeback with some clotheslines back inside. Clown knocks him outside and hits the dive but the running flip dive only hits mat (instead of Wagner’s son, who is ringside as well). Back in and Clown rips at Wagner’s mask for a change before whacking him in the face with a chair.

A hanging DDT gets Wagner out of trouble for two. Clown gets a quick rollup for two, with commentary pointing out how slow the referee has been to get into position (Jesse Ventura would not approve). Wagner knocks him outside and hits the big flipping dive, setting up a Samoan drop into the fans.

Back in and a top rope superplex gives Wagner two, followed by Clown’s Samoan drop getting the same. Wagner shrugs off a kick to the face though and hits the Wagner (Michinoku) Driver for two more. Another Wagner Driver gets another near fall and the fans are rather interested. Clown grabs a superplex of his own into a Backstabber and a Code Red gives him the pin at 28:40.

Rating: B+. What mattered here is it felt like a struggle as these two did not want to lose everything. It made the match feel that much more important and I don’t think anything else could have come close to headlining. Clown is someone who has felt like a star every time I’ve seen him, but Wagner has always felt like a legend. The ending felt like a very big deal and that is how you want your main event to go. The action was more than good enough, but the atmosphere made it feel that much bigger.

We get the big ceremony of the unmasking, but first Wagner has to announce his real name (Juan Manuel Gonzalez Barron) and hometown (Torreon). He praises Clown and talks about being a legend, before unmasking and thanking Clown. There are kids crying in the crowd as Wagner huddles with his family. As Wagner and company leave, Clown stops him to say it was an honor and praise Wagner. Clown celebrates and we get a highlight package of the main event to end the show.

There really isn’t a translation to this kind of thing in America, but egads it comes off like the biggest deal in the world in a situation like this. Wagner is a legend and now everything about him has changed because of one match. That’s a pretty major deal and they treated it as such with the post match time.

Overall Rating: D+. The last two matches are very good and they bring the show up about as high as it can go. The problem is that everything before that was an absolute disaster with one of the weakest stretches I’ve ever seen as there wasn’t a good match to be seen in the first two or so hours of the show show. I’m not sure what went wrong, but if this show didn’t have the two main events, this could have been an all time disaster. As it is, it’s WAY too long and not good, but at least it could have been worse (barely).

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

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #97
Date: February 15, 2020
Location: NYTEX Sports Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: AJ Kirsch, Rich Bocchini

I could go for the theme being forever. This is a special edition of the show as the Dynasty is running things, meaning we can get that sweet theme song over and over. All of the team is in action tonight, including Richard Holiday/Maxwell Jacob Friedman challenging the Von Erichs for the Tag Team Titles. Let’s get to it.

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

We get a Dynasty opening sequence. Like it would be anything else.

Rich has to read an intro prepared by the Dynasty, including referring to the viewers as “consumers”.

We look at Mance Warner not being too high on the Dynasty. As a result, Warner has been banned from the “permises”, as it says on the flier.

We look at Gino Medina joining the Dynasty.

Septimo Dragon vs. Gino Medina

Richard Holliday is on commentary and Septimo (not an actual dragon according to the graphic) has Konnan in his corner. Gino gets sent to the floor in a hurry and it’s a moonsault from the apron, followed by a suicide dive for a bonus. Back in and they flip over each other before missing kicks to the head. That means an early stand off and the fans are rather pleased. Dragon hurricanranas him to the floor before walking on his hands to avoid another kick.

Another headscissors gets pushed off with Dragon crashing into the ropes for two. The chinlock goes on to keep Dragon down but he fights up and hits a big top rope armdrag. Medina rolls outside to get in Konnan’s face but Dragon breaks it up with a top rope Asai moonsault. Back in and a kick to the face sets up a standing Spanish Fly for two on Medina. A springboard tornado DDT gets the same but Medina is right back with a small package with a foot on the ropes for the pin at 6:48.

Rating: C. Pretty entertaining lucha match with the usual collection of flips and dives, though I’m not sure how interesting Medina really is. He looks good in the suit and sounds like a good idea but I’ve yet to see the big match/moment from him. Granted he doesn’t exactly have a long resume and it’s not like he’s been awful by any stretch.

Post match Holliday comes in for the beatdown with Medina stealing the mask. Konnan makes the save with a slapjack.

Here’s what’s coming in the Tag Team Title match, as written by the Dynasty.

Mance Warner is locked out because he didn’t meet the dress code.

Warner says that’s not going to work.

Erick Stevens is still coming and actually gets here next week.

National Openweight Title: Alexander Hammerstone vs. Aerostar

Hammerstone is defending and Konnan is on commentary to talk about everyone coming up from Mexico. Aerostar starts fast by running the ropes for a middle rope dropkick. Hammerstone gets low bridged to the floor and we take a break. Back with Aerostar having shrugged off a bunch of power moves during the break and hitting a corkscrew crossbody for two.

The Nightmare Pendulum is countered into a small package for two (with Konnan complaining about the speed of the count, as he should). Hammerstone crotches him on top and that means a delayed superplex for two, with Hammerstone’s face perfectly switching from smug to angry. A German suplex drops Aerostar on his head but a powerbomb is reversed into the Canadian Destroyer for two. With nothing else working, Hammerstone pulls the mask off for the pin at 8:10.

Rating: B-. The action was better here with Hammerstone showing off the power rather well. Aerostar got to fight back with the flying and lucha stuff, though I’m not wild on both masks being ripped off in a row. At least it was two different forms of cheating for the actual falls, but this one felt repetitive after what we saw fifteen minutes ago.

We get another Filthy Does Dallas video with Tom Lawlor and Dominic Garrini standing on the grounds where the Sportatorium formerly stood. As expected, they relieve themselves on the ground.

Warner promise to wreck things.

Killer Kross is coming.

We recap the Death Squad jumping the Hart Dynasty with the Von Erichs making the save.

Jacob Fatu tells Cima to bring it.

Cima will bring it in three weeks on episode #100.

Davey Boy Smith Jr. and the Von Erichs share a family history because Stu Hart trained Fritz Von Erich. They have each others backs and Davey is watching Tom Lawlor.

Warner isn’t allowed in but buys off the security guard with beer because MJF is an a******.

LA Park is coming back.

Video on the Dynasty’s dominance.

Tag Team Titles: Dynasty vs. Von Erichs

The Dynasty is challenging but after their entrance, they step off to the side without coming down the aisle. We get some old school flower gifts for the Von Erichs but the Dynasty run in from behind for the opening bell. The champs get sent into the barricade and they head inside for the first time with Ross being chopped in the corner. Boot choking abounds and Holliday gets two off a neckbreaker.

Ross’s legs are wishboned and MJF shouts about how Marshall is RIGHT THERE if Ross can get over to him. Ross manages to escape but Holliday pulls Marshall off the apron. The Paisan elbow gets two and MJF’s suplex is good for the same. Holliday’s gets the third near fall in a row with MJF demanding a faster count. The chinlock goes on for a bit before MJF wants a double suplex. Ross counters into a double neckbreaker though and the hot tag brings in Marshall to clean house (albeit at a bit of a slow pace).

A Cannonball in the corner sets up a standing moonsault for two as everything breaks down. Ross hits a big dive onto MJF, leaving Marshall to take Holliday up top. That just means a Market Crash to set up MJF’s top rope splash. Ross dives over the referee (cool visual) for the save as Hammerstone comes to the ring. Cue Warner to chair him down though, drawing out Medina for the brawl to the back. A double dropkick puts Holliday on the floor and the Claw/belly to back suplex combination finishes MJF to retain the titles at 12:38.

Rating: C+. They went with the formula stuff here as the fans wanted to cheer the Von Erichs. It’s true that they’re very green but there is something about them that makes fans get behind them. This is the kind of place where they can gain experience and working against a good (albeit also young) team like the Dynasty is going to help that out a lot.

Overall Rating: B. I had a good time with this one as they had a nice theme going throughout the night. The Dynasty is still one of the best things going in MLW and it’s a shame that MJF is going away soon (if not after this). Warner vs. the Dynasty is a good idea, if nothing else for the culture clash, and maybe we can get some fresh blood near the top of the card. Good show here, with the presentation making it work.

Results

Gino Medina b. Septimo Dragon – Small package with a foot on the ropes

Alexander Hammerstone b. Aerostar – Rollup

Von Erichs b. Dynasty – Claw/belly to back suplex combination to Friedman

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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

IMG Credit: Impact Wrestling

Impact Wrestling
Date: October 22, 2019
Location: Odeum Expo Center, Villa Park, Illinois
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis
Hosts: Josh Matthews, Scott D’Amore

It’s the first show after Bound For Glory but in this case it isn’t your traditional fallout show. Instead we have a kind of preview/get to know you show for the move to AXS TV. It makes a lot lot of sense to do something like this this here as there is going to be a new audience who isn’t familiar with your product. Couple that with coming off your biggest show of the year and a recap is in order. Let’s get to it.

Here are Bound For Glory’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a look back at some great moments in company history. I’m not sure I’d point out how many legitimately cool things you’ve done, only to wind up where you are.

Josh and Scott welcome us to the show and promise a bunch of Bound For Glory fallout. As it should be.

Melissa Santos is in Los Angeles to talk to Taya Valkyrie later.

New X-Division Champion Ace Austin is now in a movie and Don Callis is on set. The movie set looks rather basic and….oh dang this might go very badly.

We talk about some of the talent that has showed up lately, including Rob Van Dam, Jordynne Grace, Rhino, Madman Fulton, TJP, Willie Mack, Tenille Dashwood and Ken Shamrock. Above all of them though is Michael Elgin, who walked away from Japan for a full time job here, where the stars are. Actually I’m thinking there are some bigger stars in Japan.

Video on Elgin, who came in with a bang and attacked World Champion Brian Cage as part of his path of destruction. I mean, he lost the two World Title shots, but it was quite the path. That match with Rich Swann was very good though.

The announcers are impressed with Elgin.

Madison Rayne vs. Shotzi Blackheart

Shotzi is reportedly WWE bound and Madison brings out Kiera Hogan for commentary. Madison has LRL (Locker Room Leader) on the back of her trunks and makes sure that Shotzi sees it. They yell at each other to start until Shotzi dropkicks her down and hits the reverse Cannonball in the corner. That’s enough to send Madison outside where she sits on Kiera’s lap (Kiera: “This isn’t part of the plan Madison! You didn’t explain this part to me!”). We take a break and come back with Shotzi driving her into the corner and forearming away, only to get northern lights suplexed for two.

The chinlock holds Shotzi down for a bit as Callis talks about how Madison is similar to Bret Hart for wearing pink and being a 28 time Knockout Champion. Shotzi comes back with an enziguri that didn’t seem to connect and we keep looking at commentary talking. A reverse Sling Blade plants Madison and a 619 in the corner makes it even worse. As Kiera talks about Josh not understanding the concept of getting lit, Madison ducks another 619 and catapults Shotzi throat first into the middle rope. A Roll of the Dice finishes Shotzi at 8:38.

Rating: C-. The Locker Room Leader stuff is a good enough source of heel heat and that’s all it needs to be. Shotzi is someone who gets your attention in a hurry and it would make sense for WWE to want to bring her in. She’s a good option for this spot too as she has a bit of a reputation off of her time on the indies that the win means something for Madison without wasting a match on another established name.

We look at the history of the Knockouts, including a clip of Taya retaining the title in a four way Monster’s Ball match at Slammiversary.

Ace Austin is getting his makeup done for his movie and talks about how interesting the role is going to be. A woman in a robe comes up and is rather happy to be his costar. Yeah this is going to get awkward in a hurry. Callis talks about how awesome Austin is for being a champion at 23 years old. Austin is wanted on set and another woman comes up to hit on Don, thinking he’s Dino Velvet, the villain from 8mm.

Now it’s time to talk about the tag teams, with Scott being a Desi Hit Squad fan.

We look at the North getting rid of LAX a few weeks ago.

The North issues an open challenge for next week because no one can beat them.

We look at Rob Van Dam’s heel turn at Bound For Glory.

We look at Moose vs. Ken Shamrock.

Shamrock is disappointed in himself for losing but tomorrow is a new day.

Moose, while celebrating with some friends, says he told us so and Shamrock can now move into retirement. Next week, he’ll prove why he is a legend.

Taya Valkyrie brags about beating Tenille Dashwood at Bound For Glory. After we see a clip of the successful title defense, Taya talks about being ready to go back to Bound For Glory. We see John E. Bravo going to Canada to ask fans about how much better their lives are since Taya has been Knockouts Champion but no one seems to care. Taya is annoyed, as expected.

Next week: Naomichi Marufuji vs. Josh Alexander.

We see Sami Callihan’s pre-match promo from Bound For Glory, talking about how he didn’t want to hurt Melissa Santos but the fans drove him to it. Now he’ll prove that he’s the best.

World Champion Brian Cage is healthy and ready to move forward. After a clip of Cage retaining over Callihan at Bound For Glory, cue Sami to say he wants a rematch. That isn’t happening, so Sami shows a video of OVE stalking Cage’s house. Threats are made so Cage gives him the title match for next week.

Josh and Scott are disgusted.

The World Title match will be in a cage.

D’Lo Brown joins Scott and Josh to talk about how Cage needs to have his head on straight or Sami will win the title.

Video on Tessa Blanchard.

Flashback Moment of the Week: Sami Callihan b. Tessa Blanchard at Slammiversary.

We’re on the set of the movie and the director tries to explain the psychology of the scene.

Video on Eddie Edwards, including his descent into madness at the hands of Sami Callihan.

We look at Eddie winning the Call Your Shot gauntlet match at Bound For Glory. He’ll face Ace Austin for the X-Division Title next week.

Quick look at Ultimate X for the X-Division Title at Homecoming in January.

Scott and Josh on the X-Division, which brings us back to Ace Austin and Alisha Edwards.

We get the first take of Ace’s movie, where he’s a shirtless gardener who wants to mow a woman’s grass (his words). Clothes are removed and yeah this is how they’re debuting on the new network.

Johnny Swinger doesn’t do social media but he has a PO Box for his fan club. He dubs himself Johnny Impact, with Jimmy Jacobs saying we already have one of them. Swinger: “Sounds like a job guy.” Again: a 90s throwback character is fine, but why Johnny Swinger?

Aerostar/Taurus/Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Rascalz

The luchadors are played to the ring by a band and this is under Lucha Rules. The Rascalz get jumped to start and it’s Miguel getting triple teamed. Aerostar is launched into a dropkick in the corner and the surfboard goes on, with Wagner coming off the top with a double stomp.

We take a break and come back with the luchadors posing until Dez comes in for the save. Everything breaks down and Wentz hits the Bronco Buster on Aerostar. A running double stomp hits Wagner for two and it’s time for the parade of dives. Back in and Wagner takes his mask off, allowing Taurus to German suplex Dez into a springboard splash from Aerostar. Wentz is back up with a superkick in the corner and Miguel adds the Meteora. The shove moonsault finishes Aerostar at 10:13.

Rating: C+. This was exactly what it should have been with the Rascalz doing their thing and getting a win over some names who have been built up a little bit around here. It was a good choice to set things up for Bound For Glory and it was the kind of lucha match that you would have been looking for out of these six. It was fast paced and entertaining, so what more can you ask for?

Josh and Scott preview next week’s show one more time to wrap things up.

Overall Rating: B-. They were going straight out of the post Takeover playbook here and it worked just as well. The point of this one wasn’t to do anything huge but rather to deal with what happened on Sunday and get the fans into what Impact is all about. They did that rather well and thankfully didn’t focus on the past. I was worried that this would be focusing on Hulk Hogan and AJ Styles and Kurt Angle and other people who haven’t been here for years but other than a few clips and some mentions, they were barely factors at all. Good intro for the new fans and a nice way of handing the post Bound For Glory show.

Results

Madison Rayne b. Shotzi Blackheart – Rolling cutter

Rascalz b. Taurus/Dr. Wagner Jr./Aerostar – Shove moonsault to Aerostar

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/08/26/new-book-and-e-book-kbs-complete-2004-monday-night-raw-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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

IMG Credit: Major League Wrestling

Fusion #46
Date: February 22, 2019
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Matt Striker, Rich Bocchini

Things have gone well in Philadelphia so far and there’s a good chance that’s going to be the case again here. This time around we have the debut of the rather redneck Mance Warner, which could go in a variety of ways. Other than that we have what should be some awesome lucha as Rey Horus faces Aerostar. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of the end of last week’s show with Richard Holliday and Maxwell Jacob Friedman attacking Teddy Hart and possibly breaking his rib.

Opening sequence.

Lance Anoa’i vs. Rich Swann

Swann was suspended last week but is wrestling while on appeal. Before the match, Swann thanks the fans for being by his side and walking step by step with him. The announcers suggest that a concussion has turned Swann a little more evil, which is kind of a stretch of a story. Swann loads up the test of strength which turns into the dance, as it tends to do. A big kick to the head staggers Lance, who is right back with a backdrop which sends Swann into a 450.

The Samoan drop sends Swann outside for the big flip dive, followed by the CONTRA sign popping up again, which still isn’t acknowledge by commentary. Back in and Swann rakes the eyes (must be the concussion again) before ripping at the face. A pull of the hair gets a four count, with Swann explaining the rules to the referee like a villain should. An abdominal stretch keeps Lance in trouble, naturally starting the comeback a few seconds later.

Swann gets caught with a Stinger Splash into a running hip attack in the corner for two. A Rock Bottom doesn’t work as well as Swann slips out and hits a Lethal Injection for one. Swann kicks him in the head but Lance is right back with one of his own. The 450 misses though (nice one too despite Lance being bigger than a cruiserweight) and Swann grabs a rollup with a hand on the ropes for the pin at 7:07.

Rating: C-. Swann’s heel run is going better than I was expecting it to as he’s rather easy to dislike. At the same time, Lance was more impressive than usual here, as he isn’t the most thrilling guy in the world most of the time. With the right amount of time, both of these guys could become something interesting around here.

Tom Lawlor says it doesn’t matter how Low Ki is training for their cage match because Low Ki is coming into his world. The blackout is coming in Chicago, just like the Contra logo pops up again here.

We look at the Friedman/Holliday attack again.

Friedman talks about beating Hart down like a dog and paying off Holliday in a smart move. They both come from good families who aren’t filled with drugs, meaning Friedman is just better. He’ll prove that when he takes the Middleweight Title back.

Mance Warner has the interviewer hold a white board so he can write his plan for tonight:

1. Light beer

2. Eye pokes

3. Knee pad up, knee pad down

4. Lariats

Mance wants anyone who wants to get in the ring with the Mancer because he’s going to keep getting those W’s. He’s got some strong charisma.

Video on Aerostar.

Jimmy Yuta vs. Mance Warner

Yuta’s mask even lights up ala Mustafa Ali. Warner chops and swings away in the corner and seems to like it when Yuta hits him back. Yuta’s Octopus Hold is quickly broken up and Warner drops him with a windup headbutt. Yuta knocks him to the apron and joins him out there, where Warner asks him to hang on a second. For some reason Yuta does and Warner DDTs him on the apron. The first eye poke connects but Yuta is right back up with a suicide dive. Back in and something like an Angle Slam gives Yuta two so Warner headbutts him. The kneepad goes up and down to set up a knee trembler, setting up a lariat for the pin at 5:31.

Rating: C+. Warner isn’t exactly polished but he’s a lot of fun and does exactly what you would expect from him. He does feel like an old southern brawler and the entertaining promos are going to be more than enough to carry him. I liked what I saw here and he beat a big enough name to mean a little something. Well done here.

Davey Boy Smith talks about his love of cats and dogs. Teddy Hart says he’s trained in a shoot world and would love to see Smith choke Brock Lesnar out. They’ve saved all of their money over the years and are here for the gold.

Intimidation Games Control Center, featuring a bunch of names being announced but no new matches.

Video on Rey Horus.

Aerostar vs. Rey Horus

They fight over the armdrags to start and get the required covers with no counts. Double flip ups give us a standoff until Horus slides to the floor for the sole purpose of taking a dive from Aerostar. Back in and Aerostar hits a top rope corkscrew crossbody as Striker has literally not stopped talking about how important lucha libre is for the last two minutes. Horus sends him outside for the big running flip dive over the ropes for two back inside.

Aerostar kicks him in the head and hits a top rope reverse shoulder block (that’s a new one) for two of his own. Horus slams him in front of the corner but Aerostar shoves him outside for the running springboard flip dive. Back in and Aerostar hits a rolling cutter but Horus snaps off a Spanish Fly. Aerostar heads up top but gets pulled down with a super victory roll to give Horus the pin at 7:35.

Rating: B-. Entertaining luchaing here but nothing that we haven’t seen done much better time after time. It’s the kind of thing that is going to work every time though because these matches are very exciting, with those dives always looking crisp. It worked for a main event on the go home show and the fans liked it so well done on all accounts.

Salina de la Renta says she doesn’t speak Spanish so the interviewer asks to see Low Ki in English. That’s not happening either because Low Ki is training with some UFC fighters. When asked if they can talk to LA Park, she remembers that she can’t speak English and yells in French.

One more Contra logo wraps things up.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t your traditional go home show and that’s ok, though Intimidation Games is looking like a far cry from SuperFight. That being said, it helps when you have more than a handful of matches announced in advance, though the cage match alone should carry things. Warner’s debut was fun and it was a good main event so this was a really easy sit for just under an hour.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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

IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: October 24, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s a big night here as we have the final regular show before Lucha Underground. There’s even a title on the line tonight with the Gift of the Gods Title up for grabs in a seven way elimination match. Other than that we’re going to be seeing a bunch of build towards the biggest show (or shows I guess) of the year. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at the seven names in the Gift of the Gods Title match.

Next week: Son of Havoc vs. Killshot in a mask vs. mask match and the Trios Titles match.

Gift of the Gods Title: King Cuerno vs. Big Bad Steve vs. Hernandez vs. Aerostar vs. PJ Black vs. Jake Strong vs. Dante Fox

The title is vacant coming in and this is under elimination rules. Fox starts fast by kicking people in the face, including one to put Strong on the floor. Cuerno and Black double team Fox to slow him down before heading outside. That leaves Fox to hit a springboard imploding flip dive onto the pile for the huge crash. Back in and Hernandez rocks Fox back and forth before running him over. That’s fine with Fox, who backslides Hernandez for the pin at 2:29.

Back from a break with Strong starting to clean house and everyone fights to the floor. The camera cuts back and forth between the various fights, including Strong powerbombing Fox against a wall. Steve and PJ get back in with Famous B. slipping Steve a wrench to clean house. Aerostar gets a shot as well but it’s Strong coming back in to ankle lock Black for the elimination at 7:13.

Strong snaps the ankle for fun and we take another break. Back again with Strong and Steve slugging it out until Cuerno comes back in for a kick to Strong’s face. Cuerno and Steve team up on Aerostar with Steve hitting a pop up cutter and Cuerno adding a dropkick. That means it’s time for the two of them to slug it out with Cuerno getting the better of things, as you probably expected. Steve’s vest gets opened up for the hard chops but a double clothesline puts them both down.

And now here’s Drago with a forklift (and a helmet, because safety first) to raise Aerostar WAY up (as high as you would be on top of a cage at least) for the dive onto Cuerno and Steve. That’s enough to eliminate Steve at 13:14 and we take another break. Back again with Strong forearming Aerostar in the back and slowly stomping Cuerno. A powerslam gets two on Cuerno and the ankle lock goes on with Aerostar making the save so more people can fight Strong. That means an ankle lock for Aerostar, who taps at 17:04. We’re down to Fox, Strong and Cuerno, who knees Strong in the head as we take another break.

Back again with Cuerno watching Aerostar be taken to the back as Fox’s knuckles are bleeding. They all get in with Cuerno knocking both of them to the floor for the big suicide dive on Strong. Fox goes onto the top of the entrance and hits a big flip dive to take both guys down again. Cuerno is thrown back in and a 450 gets two with Strong making the save. The Thrill of the Hunt gives Cuerno two on Fox but he misses a running knee in the corner.

Strong is back in with the Vader Bomb, only to have Fox hit a springboard middle rope cutter for two. One of the longest Swantons I’ve ever seen hits Strong’s raised knees and for once, it hurts the person’s knees. Cuerno kicks both of them in the face and everyone is down again.

Strong wins a three way slugout but gets double dropkicked to the floor. The Fox Catcher (scoop brainbuster) gets rid of Cuerno at 28:51 and we’re down to two. The fight starts on the floor with Fox hitting a dropkick off the apron. A jackknife cover gets two as the fans are behind Fox….who gets caught in the ankle lock for the eventual tap at 33:04 to make Strong champion. Fans: “THIS IS BS!”

Rating: B-. I liked the match, but it’s kind of hard to argue with the fans’ opinion at the end. Strong hasn’t exactly been impressive in his time around here but he’s been given the strongest push of anyone not named Matanza. It feels like the old TNA days with a WWE reject coming in and taking over, which isn’t the right way to go in a place like this. The rest of the match was entertaining and Fox looked great, but Strong winning was about as obvious as you could get. I understand why they did it, but that’s not the most interesting thing in the world.

Strong breaks his ankle for a bonus.

Johnny Mundo is on the roof when Aerostar appears. He says Johnny isn’t ready for Matanza and will be just another sacrifice to the gods. Johnny says he doesn’t need a partner but here’s Drago with the gauntlet (Remember that?). Mundo puts it on and says he feels like a god before playing with it like he’s about five years old to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I can go with the idea of the one match show as you don’t want to overdo the builds that are already set up. That being said, the match we got wasn’t all that great but the Mundo gets the gauntlet stuff was fun and the right call. I’m wanting to see Ultima Lucha, but one more video package or series of vignettes might have helped. The season is ending just about when it needs to and that’s a good sign.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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

IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: September 26, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

Things have definitely changed around here as Marty Martinez of all people is the new Lucha Underground Champion. Last week Martinez won the Gift of the Gods Title and cashed it in to become the new Lucha Underground Champion in quite the surprise. Thankfully though that means a ticked off Pentagon, which could make for some interesting results. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video covers almost every major story taking place at the moment.

Matt Striker reads a letter from Antonio Cueto recapping last week’s title situation and announcing a four way tonight for the #1 contendership at Ultima Lucha IV.

Jack Evans is in the ring for a match but doesn’t want to work for a promotion that allows someone like XO Lishus to get away with so much violence. If Evans had been around at Johnny Mundo’s wedding, he would have taken care of Matanza for his buddy. Anyway, no match tonight because he quits. Cue Antonio to say Evans can have a match right now anyway. If he wins, he can walk out a free man. If he loses, he’ll be sacrificed to the gods. Evans: “I’M SO SORRY! OLD MAN WHO LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE SATAN, CAN I MAKE YOU A…..”

Jack Evans vs. Matanza

Evans goes after him at the entrance but Matanza pulls him out of the ring (with the Shawn Michaels face from the Undertaker casket match) and throws him right back in for the opening bell. Evans misses a kick to the face and pulls the turnbuckle off the corner. A springboard spinning kick to the head staggers Matanza and Jack hits a 630 but Matanza picks him up for the Wrath of the Gods and the pin at 1:20.

Ivelisse/XO Lishus/Joey Ryan vs. Reptile Tribe

Non-title and the Rabbit Tribe comes out to watch, with the White Rabbit making his temple debut. Joey offers Sami a lollipop…and Sami actually eats the thing. Kobra comes in and the champs are sent into the corner with Daga dropkicking his partners by mistake. Lishus comes in to a big reaction but gets stomped down in the corner for his efforts. Ivelisse gets the tag and chops away at Daga before it’s off to Snake for the not very interesting showdown.

Everything breaks down and Lishus shakes his hips in Daga’s face over and over. Kobra gets thrown onto everyone else and Ivelisse catapults off the apron onto Daga. Back in and Joey puts a fresh lollipop into Snake’s mouth for the superkick. Daga comes back in though and grabs a rollup into a cross armbreaker to make Ryan tap at 5:22.

Rating: D+. I’m still not liking most of these matches as the Trios Titles aren’t the most interesting things in the world. At least it’s starting to feel like a division, but when your roster has gone plummeting, maybe a match that requires six people isn’t the best thing in the world anymore.

Post match the Rabbit Tribe comes in to beat down Ryan and company. The White Rabbit shouts TICK TOCK in their faces as Striker thinks they might be the hare apparent to the Trios Titles.

Jake Strong vs. Aerostar/Drago

Nunchucks match, meaning a pair are waiting by the entrances. The double teaming has Strong in trouble to start, including some alternating kicks to the chest. Strong fights them off without much effort and goes up the steps but Drago gets to the nunchucks first. Aerostar dives onto Jake but gets caught, only to have Strong throw them both into the walls. Drago gets on Aerostar’s shoulders for some mist. Some nunchuck shots to the back have Strong in trouble and the fans think this is awesome for some reason.

Aerostar goes up to the top of the temple and finds some more nunchucks, only to get thrown off the top for a big crash. Strong gets the nunchucks away but Aerostar dives off the balcony to take him down. Back in and the masked men double team Strong with nunchuck shots to the back, followed by a top rope springboard splash for two. Drago gets sent outside and the gutwrench powerbomb into the ankle lock makes Aerostar tap at 8:29.

Rating: D-. That’s one of the worst matches they’ve done around here in a long time as Strong didn’t look interested in doing anything here and only hit his big stuff at the end to win. You really should do some more selling when you’re being beaten up with nunchucks by two people who used to be champions together. There’s a fine line between being pushed hard and being treated as invincible and this was more the latter, which isn’t good.

Post match Drago tries a save and gets his ankle snapped.

King Cuerno vs. Mil Muertes vs. El Dragon Azteca Jr. vs. Penatagon Dark

The winner gets a title shot at Ultima Lucha IV. Muertes cleans house to start and puts everyone down without much effort. Cuerno finally hits him with a dropkick before going after Azteca with the slow offense. It’s Pentagon coming back in for the save, only to get caught in a tornado DDT from Azteca.

Cue Fenix to go after Melissa Santos, who runs away so Azteca can dive onto Fenix. Azteca and Fenix fight to the back, leaving Cuerno to hit the suicide dive onto both of them. Cue the Mack to Stun Muertes, allowing Pentagon to take Muertes out with a Canadian Destroyer. A superkick puts Cuerno on the floor, leaving Pentagon to pin Muertes at 5:19.

Rating: D+. Well…duh. I mean, who else was going to get the title shot at the biggest show of the year? It’s not like this was in any kind of doubt or anything so going with Pentagon in the fast match, especially one that sets up Fenix vs. Azteca at the same time, is a good idea. That being said, it’s also not much of a match as they didn’t have time to get violent or do the hard hitting stuff that has served them so well.

Post match Mack says he’s fighting Muertes at Ultima Lucha IV in a Death Match. Mack: “Rest in peace mother******”, which isn’t censored on the show.

Overall Rating: D+. I wasn’t feeling this week’s show as they’re not exactly on a hot streak heading into Ultima Lucha in a few weeks. The problem with this season is the lack of a big story. I guess the biggest story at the moment is Fenix being evil and that’s not exactly the big one they need to keep people interested. Maybe things pick up at Ultima Lucha but there’s just nothing going on that makes me care about the show the way I did before and that’s not a good thing at all.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Smackdown Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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

IMG Credit: Lucha Underground

Lucha Underground
Date: September 19, 2018
Location: Lucha Underground Temple, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Vampiro, Matt Striker

It’s another big match tonight with Lucha Underground Champion El Dragon Azteca Jr. defending against Marty the Moth Martinez, who bought his shot at the title last week. Martinez also asked Antonio Cueto for something else, which wasn’t specified but sounded Matanza related. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening recap looks at Fenix going evil and the Gift of the Gods Title match.

Fenix vs. Aerostar

Melissa Santos is understandably upset to have to introduce Fenix. Aerostar doesn’t want to fight so Fenix kicks him in the face and takes him into the corner for another one. The fans are split (because they’re odd around here) as Aerostar gets two off a sunset flip. Fenix bails to the floor so Aerostar hits a big springboard dive to take him down. That’s about it for Aerostar’s offense as Fenix sends him into the post, stares at Melissa, and sends Aerostar back inside for two off a springboard splash.

A LOUD kick to the back gets two and the fans are actually cringing. Aerostar is right back with a Canadian Destroyer and a slingshot DDT for two of his own but Fenix shrugs off some kicks to the face. Fenix puts him on top and hits a quick dropkick, followed by the Muscle Buster driver for the pin at 6:23.

Rating: C-. This was a fine way to establish Fenix as the monster and that’s the right idea. Having him shove Melissa last week was a great way to start things off and having him win a competitive match is fine. You know this is going somewhere big for Ultima Lucha and I’m curious to see where that exactly is.

Post match Fenix stays on Aerostar and Melissa says this isn’t him. Dragon Azteca Jr. comes out to get between Fenix and Melissa so Fenix gives him the Muscle Buster driver on the floor. That’s some pretty bad timing as Antonio comes out to say the title match is next, but Dragon will have to forfeit. Dragon wants to fight so let’s have the match.

Gift of the Gods Title: Dragon Azteca Jr. vs. Marty Martinez

Dragon is defending and Marty runs him over without much effort. The beating is on in the corner and Dragon can barely do anything. Some kicks to the head stagger Marty for a few moments but he avoids a charge and Dragon gets caught in the corner. Dragon shoves him off the top and hits a slingshot hurricanrana though, followed by the DDTJ for two. Not that it matters as the implant double arm DDT gives Marty the pin and the title at 4:44.

Rating: D+. There wasn’t much of a way that you could have Dragon keep the title here. He wasn’t the most thrilling champion in the world and someone taking his title, especially by cheating, was the right way to go. Throw in the Fenix attack before the match and there was little reason to buy the idea that Dragon was retaining here.

Paul London finally gets to see the White Rabbit and says that having the failures of the tribe being sacrificed were to prove his loyalty. The White Rabbit wants to go to the surface along with El Bunny (a masked mini), telling London to lead the cage.

Lucha Underground Title: Pentagon Dark vs. Mil Muertes vs. King Cuerno

Dark is defending. Muertes wastes no time in clotheslining both of them in the corner before throwing Cuerno into a different corner. A double dropkick puts Muertes on the floor, only to have Pentagon chop the post by mistake. Muertes is right back with a running clothesline to Pentagon as the mask is half ripped off. That’s not enough for Muertes, who throws Pentagon into the crowd before going back inside to get kicked by Cuerno.

Pentagon runs back in to break up a cover off a powerslam and kicks Muertes in the face a few times. The Sling Blade sets up a top rope double stomp for two as Cuerno is back in. A chokeslam puts him down so pentagon kicks Muertes to the floor, setting up the Fear Factor to pin Cuerno at 6:03.

Rating: C+. I could have gone for more of this as the three of them get to beat the heck out of each other, which they can do as well as anyone else on the roster. That makes for an entertaining match, which really could have gone on longer. Pentagon continues to survive as champion in one of the more entertaining stories of the season.

Post match Marty runs in to beat Pentagon down…and Antonio says let’s wave that one week rule and have the title match RIGHT NOW.

Lucha Underground Title: Pentagon Dark vs. Marty Martinez

Marty is challenging and Pentagon is dead. An early cover is only good for two and the beating is on. Marty even ties the mask to the ropes and hammers away but Pentagon gets out and hits a quick Destroyer. With Marty on the floor, cue the debuting (and unnamed) Chelsea Green for a Destroyer of her own to Pentagon. Marty comes back in and hits a Fear Factor of his own for the pin and the title at 3:36.

Rating: D. Angle instead of a match here and the right way this needed to end. You can only have Pentagon survive as champion against so many odds and this would have been too much for him to overcome in one night. I’m sure he’ll get a rematch where he likely gets the title back and if that means more of Green, so be it.

Overall Rating: B. This was one of those shows where they hit everything in stride and the stories flowed from one match to the next. That’s the kind of booking that you don’t get very often but they pulled it off incredibly well here. It was a tight episode that didn’t miss anything and the wrestling was taking a well deserved backseat to the booking. Very fun show here and one of the strongest in a long time.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2003 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2018/09/07/new-book-kbs-complete-smackdown-2003-reviews/

And check out my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:

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