Impact Wrestling
Date: June 11, 2026
Location: National Western Center, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s title night as while we’re about two and a half weeks away from Slammiversary, the World Title is being defended this week. Mike Santana is putting the title on the line against Eric Young, who won a battle royal a few weeks ago to get the shot. Other than that, we probably get to find out some more matches for the pay per view. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

TNA World Title: Eric Young vs. Mike Santana

Santana is defending and, after the Big Match Intros, charges at him in the corner to start fast. A powerbomb out of the corner gives Santana two and he knocks Young around ringside. Young is back up with a slam onto the apron and a neckbreaker on the same apron as we take a break.

We come back with Young knocking him out to the floor and sending him back inside for two. Young goes up and gets superplexed down for a double breather. The rolling Buck Fifty gives Santana two but the referee gets bumped in the corner, meaning Spin The Block gets nothing. A low blow, belt shot and piledriver give Young two so Young loads up another piledriver. Cue the returning Ricky Sosa, allowing Santana to hit a quick rollup for the pin to retain at 13:32.

Rating: B-. Well, the most important thing here is that Young didn’t win the title and this should move him away from the title picture. Santana is likely dealing with Nic Nemeth at Slammiversary and now we should get ready for the next pay per view title defense. Young gets to move on to a better feud with Sosa and that should be a good way for Sosa to really start his run around here.

Post match here is Nic Nemeth with the trophy to say he could call his shot right now, but he’s a man of his word. Earlier this week, he said he would use his title shot at Slammiversary and that is what he is going to do. As cheap of a way as that is to set up a title shot, it’s about all there is right now.

Mustafa Ali, with Order 4, liked what Nic Nemeth just did. As for KC Navarro, Ali gives his condolences for Navarro’s losses. Both of them, including the match tonight and his uncle earlier this week. That’s rather cold.

We look back at AJ Francis laying out Elijah last week and apparently buying his likeness and music library.

Elijah vs. Mr. Elegance

Elijah says no one will silence him but here is a lawyer with a cease and desist letter. The distraction lets Elegance grab a small package for the pin at 12 seconds.

Post match here is AJ Francis to mock Elijah for losing again, earning himself a beating. They fight into the crowd (yo TNA: stop going into the crowd when there are large areas of empty seats) and here is Lei Ying Lee to brawl with Elegance. Xia Brookside comes in for a cheap shot but gets taken out.

Nic Nemeth gives KC Navarro a pep talk. Ryan Nemeth comes in as well but here is Mike Santana, who respects Nic for announcing the title shot man to man. Santana will be ready for him at Slammiversary. Navarro says he has a title to win and could use either Santana or Nic’s help with Order 4. They both seem intrigued but don’t agree.

Fabian Aichner/Leon Slater vs. The System

Slater and Alexander start things off and, say it with me, Alexander tags Edwards right at the bell. That earns Edwards a kick to the face and it’s off to Aichner, who gets cheap shotted from the apron. Alexander suplexes him onto the apron and we take a break. We come back with Aichner still in trouble and Edwards grabbing a chinlock.

That’s broken up and Aichner gets in a knockdown, followed by kicking Edwards away. Slater gets the tag to clean house and a high crossbody gets two on Alexander. Everything breaks down and Aichner tornado DDTs Alexander, which brings out the rest of the System. Slater dives onto both of them but Alexander grabs the Lumbar Check for the pin at 9:59.

Rating: B-. This was a perfectly acceptable tag match as Slater continues to want revenge on the System. I’m hoping that he moves on to something bigger after this is done, as he seems too important for the X-Division and yet he has only teased a few moves up the ladder. Other than that, Aichner’s start continues to go well now that he’s away from the awkward debut.

Post match the beatdown is on but Moose returns for the save. Moose vs. Edwards is set for Slammiversary.

Santino Marella is happy with his win last week. Indi Hartwell comes in and is granted a match with Elayna Black next week, which is all she wanted.

Here is the Righteous for a chat. They brag about their win last week, including poisoning Jeff Hardy last week. The Hardys have survived everything over thirty years but they come into the Wicked Garden and are immediately classified as obsolete. That leaves the Righteous wanting the Tag Team Titles.

This brings out Santino Marella, who says the Hardys still have a rematch clause so they’ll get a title shot at Slammiversary, as will the Righteous in a three way match. A three way LADDER match. GOOD GRIEF ENOUGH WITH THE LADDER MATCHES! My goodness just have them wrestle once in a blue moon already. The Righteous laugh at the idea because the Hardys are gone but the lights go out, Matt Hardy’s laugh is heard, and a ladder appears.

The Elegance Brand vs. Allie/Rosemary/Mara Sade

Mr. Elegance offers a quick distraction to start and it’s a big brawl on the floor before the bell. Sade and M start things off with Sade hitting a middle rope dropkick. Rosemary comes in with a doll, which seems to control Ash. This involves making her dance and biting her for some pain before throwing the doll to M. Ash chokes Rosemary on the rope and it’s off to Heather to choke on the rope. Rosemary fights up and brings Allie in to clean house as everything breaks down. Allie hits a quick running Codebreaker to pin Heather at 5:31.

Rating: C. This was more about the doll bit and fair enough. Given some of the things the Undead Realm (just name them that already) have done, this is hardly a stretch. Ash sells comedy well enough too and it could have been worse. The match was mainly about running all over the place, especially in the end and that’s fine enough.

Slammiversary rundown.

International Title: KC Navarro vs. Mustafa Ali

Ali is defending and elbows Navarro in the face to start. Navarro sends him outside though and hits a big dive as we take a break. We come back with Navarro getting to the rope to escape an STF. The 450 misses though and Ali misses a charge into the buckle. They both go up and Ali tries a fireman’s carry, with Navarro reversing into a cutter for a huge crash. Navarro hits a Fameasser for two and a running flipping neckbreaker gets the same. Navarro looks up at the sky but dives into a Sharpshooter for the tap at 10:37.

Rating: C+. This was ok while it lasted but at the same time, that was quite the punch to the gut of a finish, with Navarro referencing his uncle and then tapping out almost immediately. Ali retaining is fine as he’s likely going to be in for a big time title defense at Slammiversary. Navarro is a talented guy but he’s not on Ali’s level and it never seemed like he was.

Post match Ali puts the Sharpshooter on again but here are Nic Nemeth and Mike Santana for the save. Ali teases a belt shot on Santana but Nemeth gives Ali a superkick. Then Nemeth gives Santana the Danger Zone to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This was the show where they got everything else cleared out of the way before we can get on to Slammiversary. That’s a good thing as well, as there wasn’t much of anything that stood out with what they were doing in recent weeks. Slammiversary still doesn’t look great but at least there is a card to build towards and that has been needed for awhile now.

Results
Mike Santana b. Eric Young – Rollup
Mr. Elegance b. Elijah – Small package
The System b. Fabian Aichner/Leon Slater – Lumbar Check to Slater
Allie/Rosemary/Mara Sade b. The Elegance Brand – Codebreaker to Heather
Mustafa Ali b. KC Navarro – Sharpshooter

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: May 14, 2026
Location: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s another live show this week and the card is pretty stacked. On the docket this week, we have a street fight and a 2/3 falls match as Leon Slater defends the X-Division Title against Cedric Alexander in a bid to become the longest reigning champion of all time. The live shows have been hit or miss and I’m hoping they make it work here. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening video looks at Leon Slater’s near record setting X-Division Title reign, with only Cedric Alexander standing in the way of the record.

Opening sequence.

Battle Royal

Eddie Edwards, Bear Bronson, Brian Myers, Elijah, Mr. Elegance, Mustafa Saed, BDE, Eric Young, Vincent, Dutch, Frankie Kazarian, Home Town Man, Agent Zero, John Skyler, Jason Hotch

For a future World Title shot against Mike Santana and yes that is the same 62 year old Saed from ECW. Saed uses a bunch of weapons to start, gets in a fight with Zero, and is tossed. Good grief let the ECW thing die already. Anyway Zero and Dutch get in a fight and are both tossed. Elegance gets rid of BDE and poses, only to get tossed by Man. The System tries to get rid of Man, who backdrops Myers out instead.

Hotch gets knocked outside onto the steps (as moved by Zero) but pops back up onto the apron. A jumping knee knocks him out again as they’re certainly moving here. Kazarian tosses Man out of the corner but gets eliminated as well. Elijah faces off with the System but gets grabbed by Kazarian. That’s fine with Elijah, who backdrops the System out and before slugging it out with Young on the apron. A low blow gets rid of Elijah to give Young the win at 4:57.

Rating: C. Well they made good time. If you have a bunch of people who have no real chance of winning and a few stars in there, at least they didn’t waste time with all of the nonsense. That being said, Eric Young? That might actually be worse than bringing ECW, ahem, legends, out of mothballs again and again.

Leon Slater says this isn’t just another title match tonight because it’s his chance to rewrite the record books. The Hardys come in to offer some words of encouragement.

Mustafa Ali yells at Order 4 for losing and says the International Title open challenge is back next week.

Eric Young promises to win the World Title. That has to be illegal in multiple states yes?

Here is Lei Ying Lee for a chat. Last week was the greatest night of her life and she got the Knockouts Title back. She is so proud of herself for bringing the title back to TNA and while her English isn’t the best (her words), she wants to say thank you from the bottom of her heart. Cue Xia Brookside to interrupt, saying she wants the title. Lee rants in Chinese and translates to English, saying they can do this right now. Brookside says no and calls her a b**** in Mandarin.

The System promises to take out Moose and Cedric Alexander is getting the X-Division Title tonight.

Keith Jardine, star of an upcoming movie, is here but the Elegance Brand interrupts. Jardine isn’t impressed so Mr. Elegance gets in Jardine’s face. And then security gets them apart. Ok then.

AJ Francis vs. KC Navarro

Street fight and Chris Caray (the great grandson of Harry Caray and a fourth generation MLB announcer is on commentary). Navarro avoids a charge to start and kicks him in the face but gets knocked down without much trouble. They get inside where the Down Payment is countered and Navarro hits the 305. A suicide dive is pulled out of the air but Navarro keeps spinning into a tornado DDT. The table is set up on the floor and Navarro uses a chair before sending him into the steps.

We take a break and come back with Francis posting Navarro and stealing the baseball bat that Caray brought for protection. Navarro takes it away and finds an Athletics (the team Caray broadcasts and local to Sacramento at the moment) helmet. With Francis down in the corner, Navarro takes a swing at the air, runs around the corners, and dropkicks a trashcan into Francis.

A Fameasser gives Navarro two and he throws in a bunch of chairs. The chairs are set up but Francis gets in a bat shot, only for the super Down Payment is countered into a cutter onto the steps. Francis boots him down and hits the Down Payment over the top through the tables at ringside. What’s left of Navarro is thrown back inside and pinned at 15:01.

Rating: B-. I’m a big baseball fan so this was a nice little meeting of the two words. I’m not sure on Navarro being so obsessed with revenge that he had the time to stop for the home run deal but it was fine enough. That chokeslam at the end looked great and Francis can move on to something else. Caray was actually pretty good on commentary, as he might not have known much about what he was seeing but he made some nice comparisons to baseball and certainly sounded like he was interested. That’s a lot more than some guest broadcasters do.

We look at Leon Slater winning the X-Division Title last year at Slammiversary.

Here is Mike Santana for a chat (you might not want to have him walk through so many empty seats). Santana talks about his actions and words matching up and now he has a challenger. He’s facing Eric Young, who helped build this place, but Santana is the one who helped build this place in the AMC era. This brings out Daria Rae, who says the next challenger is actually Steve Maclin next week.

No she didn’t explain this to Santino Marella, but here he is to interrupt. He likes the title match, but he has his own announcements. First, Indi Hartwell has re-signed with TNA. Marella is also proud of Lei Ying Lee but Rae brings up Marella’s issues with Arianna Grace. Santana cuts them off and says he’ll beat anyone to keep his title. Rae has got to drop the SHUT UP I’M TALKING thing as it’s one of the worst catchphrases I’ve ever heard.

Myla Moore/Victoria Crawford vs. Rosemary/Allie

Tessa Blanchard and Mara Sade are here too. Rosemary backs Moore into the corner to start and Allie gets in a bite from the apron. Allie comes in to scream a lot and hits a running corner clockwise. Moore chokes her in the ropes though and it’s off to Crawford for a chinlock. Allie gets double kneed in the corner but comes out with a neckbreaker. Rosemary comes in to clean house and it’s a double Upside Down. Sade takes Blanchard out on the floor and Allie drops Moore next to her. Back in and As Above So Below finishes Crawford at 6:26.

Rating: C+. It’s so nice to have Allie and Rosemary back, as it gives Rosemary something to do and Allie has been gone for far too long. The Undead Realm stuff was kind of weird but the division needed some fresh blood. It helps that the two of them are long established names so they come in with an advantage.

Video on Leon Slater.

The Broken Hardys are ready to delete the Righteous.

X-Division Title: Leon Slater vs. Cedric Alexander

Slater is defending in a 2/3 falls match. They trade some rapid fire strikes in the corner until Slater reverses the Lumbar Check into a rollup for the first fall at 35 seconds. We take a break and come back with Slater getting whipped into the Tree Of Woe. Alexander pulls him into a backbreaker for two and we hit the chinlock. Slater isn’t having that and makes the clothesline comeback, including a spinwheel kick.

A high crossbody gives Slater two and they trade some rollups for two each. The Michinoku Driver gives Alexander two more but Slater knocks him into the corner. That just earns Slater the Lumbar Check to tie it up at 10:41 total. We take another break and come back again with both of them pulling themselves up. Slater sends him outside for the big flip dive over the corner, followed by a super Styles Clash for two back inside.

They head outside, where Alexander lawn darts him into the steps but stops to hold up the belt. Slater is rather busted open but he’s able to get two off a small package. Alexander’s brainbuster gets the same and another Lumbar Check gets another two. Slater knocks him down but misses the Swanton 450. Two more Lumbar Checks give Alexander the title at 22:11 total.

Rating: B. Well it certainly felt big, mainly because the match was treated as a huge deal. That’s what it needed to be, as Slater has been an outstanding champion. The good thing is Slater is a made man after his title reign and very well could move on to the World Title picture. Either way, good match here, and I’m not expecting Alexander to hold onto it for very long. Rather good main event here, with the atmosphere helping a lot.

Post match….Fabian Aichner (Giovanni Vinci) of all people shows up to stare Alexander down to end the show. That’s the kind of moment that really doesn’t need to be ending a show this big. Aichner was never a huge deal in WWE and while that could be better here (it can’t be worse than his Vinci stuff), this comes off as “he used to be in WWE so bring him in”. Him being here is good, but it’s definitely not a big closing the show with a surprise moment.

Overall Rating: B. The show did feel big and the main event mixed with the better than expected street fight brights it up. That being said, TNA has a very odd definition of a big moment/surprise and that was certainly on display again here. It’s a good show, though Aichner coming out at the end was more of an “uh, ok?” moment than a “whoa”.

Results
Eric Young won a battle royal last eliminating Elijah.
AJ Francis b. KC Navarro – Down Payment through tables
Rosemary/Allie b. Victoria Crawford/Myla Moore – As Above So Below to Crawford
Cedric Alexander b. Leon Slater 2-1

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

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

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

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Vincent vs. Jeff Hardy

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

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

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

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

International Title: Mustafa Ali vs. Adam Brooks

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

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

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

We run down the rest of the card.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr. Elegance vs. Home Town Man

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frankie Kazarian vs. Elijah

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: April 16, 2026
Location: Upstate Medical University Arena At The Oncenter War Memorial, Syracuse, New York
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

We’re done with Rebellion and that means we should be in for a big time fallout. Mike Santana is still the World Champion after dispatching Eddie Edwards and the Hardys FINALLY lost the Tag Team Titles, oddly to the System. There is a lot of fallout to cover here, including a heck of a return to the ring so let’s get to it.

Here is Rebellion if you need a recap.

We open with a long Rebellion recap, covering pretty much everything.

Opening sequence.

Here is Nic Nemeth, who stumbles down the ram, to join commentary on the opening match.

KC Navarro vs. AJ Francis

The much bigger Francis shoves him down to start but it’s too early for the Down Payment. Navarro knocks him outside but a dropkick is countered into a faceplant onto the apron. Francis posts him and then fires Navarro into the corner back inside. For some reason Navarro tries an Angle Slam and is promptly LAUNCHED with an AA.

A jawbreaker and dropkick work a bit better for Navarro and he hits some running dropkicks in the corner. They go up top and a super Angle Slam actually connects to give Navarro two. Francis Pounces him though, which lets Francis yell at Nemeth. That’s enough for Nemeth to get up, which allows Navarro to grab a rollup for the pin at 7:04.

Rating: C+. Navarro is back with a quick win and that’s a good thing to see. At the same time you have Francis ticked off at Nemeth, which should work out well for both of them. It’s certainly a step up for Francis to go after a star like Nemeth, though I’m wonder what is next for Navarro as well. He’s been gone for so long and was never a singles star, though he might just be lost in the shuffle again.

EC3 talks about carrying the company through its darkest time and then leaving for a long time. Now he’s back, and has to deal with Eric Young. What a great way to start.

Here is the System, once again with Alisha Edwards, for a chat. They’re happy to have the Tag Team Titles but Eddie Edwards blames Moose for not being the World Champion. Alisha mocks Moose for being stupid (even though he knew she was doing) and Cedric Alexander wants the X-Division Title.

Cue Leon Slater, who asks when Alexander will shut up. Moose comes in to insult all of them, who he finds to be b******. Slater wants a match right now but here is Daria Rae to say no but Slater says Santino Marella would do it. That’s enough for Rae to make the 4-2 handicap match for later.

We look at Frankie Kazarian cheating to beat Elijah at Rebellion.

Elijah comes in to see Daria Rae, who wants to face Kazarian again. Rae calls Kazarian, who says no. End of discussion.

Tasha Steelz vs. Jada Stone

The rest of Order 4 is here with Steelz and Mustafa Ali brags about his win at Rebellion. He’s a champion who doesn’t need a second chance so he’s GIVING a second chance, in the form of an open challenge for his newly won International Title. Stone storms the ring and we’re ready to go. They slug it out at the bell with Stone headscissoring her into the corner. Steelz bails to the floor and manages to post Stone to take over. That means some posing from Steelz and we take a break.

We come back with Steelz suplexing her for two and grabbing a camel clutch. That doesn’t last long so Steelz stomps away in the corner instead. Stone fights up and scores with a middle rope Meteora into a split legged moonsault. Steelz is right back with a neckbreaker and a German suplex but Stone gets in a facebuster. Ali offers a distraction though and Steelz grabs a middle rope cutter for two. The referee tosses Order 4 so Stone superkicks her into the Spark Stunner for the pin at 13:17.

Rating: B-. They had a good back and forth match here and it got some time. The other good thing is you can see Stone being treated as someone who could become a star. That is something that is always welcome, as the division needs some fresh blood. I don’t know if that’s going to be Stone but at least she’s getting some attention.

We go to the Undead Realm where Rosemary finds Joseph Park. He’s looking for his brother (“You know”) Abyss but is so happy to see Rosemary that he gives her a hug. Park is going to do something for her (she seems pleased) and is off to work on it. We cut to Tessa Blanchard trying to find her way out and beating up some women before running off. To be continued.

Nic Nemeth and KC Navarro are happy with his win but the System comes in for some mocking. Nemeth is ready to fight Bear Bronson any time.

Here is Mike Santana for a chat. He’s put down every former World Champion he’s faced so now he wants to issue a challenge of his own. There is someone else back there who has turned his life around so he wants Rich Swann out here. Swann asks if this is a good idea because he’s in the best shape of his career and is ready to fight all night long. Santana says the people have spoken and he’s ready for the title match next week. It seems to be on.

Lei Ying Lee talks about falling in love with wrestling and gaining a friend in Xia Brookside. She doesn’t know why Brookside abandoned her.

Brookside has nothing to say.

EC3 vs. Eric Young

Young jumps him from behind to start fast and the brawl is on, with EC3 getting beaten up on the floor and inside. EC3 fights up and runs over Young and the referee, which is enough for the no contest at 2:31. Well that’s odd.

Post match Young wraps a chair around EC3’s neck and sends it into the post.

Back in the Undead Realm, Rosemary runs into a masked man named Frank, who is holding an ax. They have a chat about his mother and he goes on his way. Mara Sade and Allie discuss vegan options and run into a woman who teleports around them. They aren’t impressed and move on.

Tessa Blanchard finds Rosemary and wants out so the fight is on, with Blanchard beating her up and tying her to a chair. Allie and Sade come in and untie her, with Rosemary finding it funny. Allie gives chase and we cut to Blanchard and her friends escaping, as James Mitchell lets them out. The teleporting woman comes in and Mitchell introduces himself to her. Hannifan: “What the h*** is going on?”

In the arena, Blanchard, Mila Moore and Victoria Crawford crawl out from underneath the ring…but the lights go out and Rosemary and Mara Sade are here for the brawl. Sade is beaten down but Rosemary isn’t worried. The lights go out again and Allie is back to quit the reaction.

The Hardys swear vengeance on the Righteous. Brokenness is teased.

The System vs. Moose/Leon Slater

Alisha Edwards is here with the System. Slater and Alexander start things off but the numbers game lets Alexander get in a shot from behind. Moose (who played college football here) comes in for a backsplash and sends Bronson outside. Myers spears Bronson by mistake and Moose powerbombs Alexander onto the two of them. Slater busts out the big dive and Moose spears Alexander back inside.

Myers makes the save and Edwards hits a Boston Knee Party to put Moose down. Bronson sits on Moose’s chest for two and Edwards ties up his leg. Moose fights out and drops Edwards, allowing the tag off to Slater. Some running boots in the corner connect but Edwards pokes Slater in the eye. Alexander frog splashes Slater for two and Moose accidentally takes out a security guard on the floor. Back in and Alexander reverses a rollup into a Lumbar Check to pin Slater at 7:50.

Rating: B-. This was pretty much what you would have expected here, as there was no reason for Slater and Moose, as great as they are, to overcome these odds. The ending is a fine way to give Alexander another shot, as Slater is less than a month from the longest reign in history. It’s a star studded main event, which went exactly as you probably thought it would have.

Commentary gives us a recap of the night (not a bad idea) to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. There was a lot to like here, as they set up something with Slater vs. Alexander II, plus Nic Nemeth possibly getting in on the battle against the System. Throw in the women getting out of the Undead Realm and things are looking up. I liked this show a good deal and it’s nice to see them hitting the ground running after a pay per view for a change.

Results
KC Navarro b. AJ Francis – Rollup
Jada Stone b. Tasha Steelz – Spark Stunner
EC3 vs. Eric Young went to a no contest
The System b. Moose/Leon Slater – Lumbar Check to Slater

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: April 9, 2026
Location: Alario Center, Westwego, Louisiana
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the last show before Rebellion and since we’re on a pretty compact schedule, it’s time for the contract signing for the show’s World Title match. That would mean Mike Santana and Eddie Edwards, who can hopefully have a bit of a more emotional standoff than last week. Other than that, it’s the Hardys vs. the Righteous in a tables match so let’s get to it.

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

Here are Santino Marella and Daria Rae in the ring for the contract signing. Rae handles the introduction for Eddie Edwards and Mike Santana, much to Marella’s annoyance. Edwards isn’t impressed with Santana and talks about how they’ve had similar paths around here. They both started as tag wrestlers who were fighting for every scrap they could find. Both of them wound up becoming two time TNA World Champion but that’s the end of the similarities.

Edwards stayed while Santana left when things were going badly. He carried this company on his back while Santana found out that the grass isn’t always greener in the Inner Circle. Edwards signs and we get a SANTANA chant. Santana takes his glasses off so Edwards can look him in the eyes for this. It’s true that Edwards stayed while Santana left so he could test himself against the best in the world. Then he came back to prove what he can do around here.

Two years ago he took a sledgehammer and cracked the foundation, including Edwards. At Rebellion, Edwards is losing to a man who bets on himself every single night. Santana is doing this for the fans and signs, but Edwards says the fans won’t be there to help him at Rebellion. The fight is teased and Edwards brings up Santana’s family.

Santana says that Edwards lost part of his family when his wife teamed up with Moose. Cue Cedric Alexander for the brawl but Leon Slater runs in for the save. House is quickly cleaned and Slater hits his big flip dive over the post. Santana is trying so hard here but this doesn’t feel like a big time World Title match.

AJ Francis insults the Cleveland Browns on the way to Rebellion, which is in Cleveland. He doesn’t like Nic Nemeth either, as he’s from Cleveland (close enough), which is why he took something away from him. Now it’s time to take out Ryan Nemeth at Rebellion.

Dani Luna vs. Jada Stone

Tasha Steelz is on commentary. Luna works on the arm to start but gets taken down with a headscissors. Stone sends her outside for a big dive but Steelz offers a distraction. Luna apron bombs Stone and we take a break. We come back with Luna forearming her in the back of the head but missing a big boot.

That lets Stone hit a quick dropkick and a hurricanrana out of the corner takes Luna down again. A slingshot Fameasser sets up a split legged moonsault to give Stone two but Luna is back up with another hard shot. Stone backflips into an anklescissors, setting up a nasty looking corkscrew moonsault (landing on Luna’s head) for the pin at 10:47.

Rating: C+. That’s a good result as Luna is still one of the bigger forces in the Knockouts division. Stone is someone who could turn into something and TNA seems to be treating her as a project. The Knockouts division could use some fresh blood so putting Stone in that spot isn’t a bad idea at all.

Post match Steelz lays Stone out.

Elijah walks through a cemetery and talks about how you just walk. A boy comes up, saying he and his dad were big fans. He asks Elijah to come to his dad’s grave and pray with him. That’s fine with Elijah but it’s a ruse so Frankie Kazarian can jump Elijah from behind. Kazarian gives the kid $20, but it was supposed to be $100. Kazarian: “Yeah I lied. Life sucks. Get used to it.” He throws in a Bible verse about revenge and leaves Elijah laying to end one of the more bizarre segments I’ve seen from TNA in awhile.

Here is Taryn Terrell for a chat. She’s glad to be in her hometown but she never got to say goodbye because her career was wrapped up early. Over the last few weeks, she’s seen what the Elegance Brand has been saying to various legends, which brings out the Brand to interrupt. M mocks Terrell, who wants nothing to do with the Brand. We see ODB and Mickie James down in the back so Terrell is on her own, with the group beatdown ensuing. Mr. Elegance even gives her a slam and Nip & Tuck leaves her laying.

Santino Marella yells at Arianna grace and Stacks, the latter of whom tells him that there is no one to protect him. Marella punches Stacks, who runs into the women’s locker room. Indi Hartwell pops up to make sure it’s clear and Marella goes in for the off screen brawl. Hartwell and Marella come back out, with Hartwell having retrieved the Cobra. Which is still just a sock.

Frankie Kazarian vs. BDE

Ryan Nemeth is on commentary and says he’s been carrying Nic for his whole life. Kazarian takes him down to start and hits the springboard spinning legdrop. A slingshot backbreaker has BDE in more trouble but he manages a quick neckbreaker for two. The chickenwing is loaded up but BDE slips out and hits a running knee. BDE’s springboard is countered into a Backstabber and the chickenwing finishes for Kazarian at 3:43.

Rating: C. They only had so much time here and it’s not like a recent World Champion like Kazarian is going to lose to BDE without some major shenanigans. There was a possibility that Elijah could interfere to cost Kazarian the match but BDE’s first singles win should be a better moment than that. Not much to see here, but Kazarian getting a win is a smart enough idea.

Post match Nemeth goes after BDE but the lights go out. Elijah shows up to chase Kazarian off.

Elayna Black vs. Myla Grace

Harley Hudson is here with Grace, who takes Black into the corner to start. A takedown has Black in more trouble but she’s right back up with a stomp to the back. Grace suplexes her down for two and goes up, where Black catches her with a running knee. The Blackout finishes for Black at 3:23.

Rating: C. Black’s time in TNA has been…not the most thrilling. She’s not bad, but there is just nothing to her that makes her stand out. Granted it didn’t help when her debut was so nothing and she hasn’t gotten much of a chance to do anything. There’s something to her, but she needs something to make her stand out.

Daria Rae tells Santino Marella that he is suspended indefinitely for his actions earlier. Indi Hartwell comes in to say that’s not how it went and gets suspended for “assaulting” Rae (she barely grazed her) as well. Rae is just so nothing in this role.

Here is Ricky Sosa for a chat. He’s here to show the world what the Young Savage is like but here is Eric Young to call him a wannabe. Sosa isn’t impressed and wants to fight but gets hit in the face. The brawl is on and Young leaves him laying.

Tessa Blanchard is still in the Undead Realm with James Mitchell, who tells her to enjoy her stay and then laughs a lot.

Mara Sade is with Rosemary in a cave, where Rosemary tells her to be on her guard. That’s fine with Sade, but Allie pop up. Yes she died (and we see a clip of it) but she’s kind of sick of being dead. Rosemary talks to the two of them and says they need to change a bit. They’re off to find new clothes and we cut to Victoria Crawford looking rather lost in the Undead Realm.

We cut back to Rosemary, who sees a bunch of ads from Shudder for some horror movies. Then Havok kidnaps Mila Moore and we cut to Mitchell singing My Way. Rosemary praises him but he thinks she’s up to something. Like a deep dive into the seven deadly sins. She needs some help from Mitchell….and they go to find Abyss. To Be Continued. This stuff is certainly unique, but my goodness how many years do you need to have been watching TNA to know what’s going on?

Here is Order 4, with Mustafa Ali calling out Trey Miguel. Cue Miguel, with Ali apologizing for what happened to Jada Stone. Ali mocks Miguel’s criminal history and says that he’s not a champion because he’s too good for TNA. Miguel says Ali isn’t a champion because he’s a scumbag or a coward.

Yes Miguel needed a second chance but maybe that’s why the fans accepted him. Ali is just so perfect but TNA treats him like family. That has Ali laughing, because Order 4 is the only family here since there are no Rascalz. Miguel mocks Order 4 and says Ali has nothing, including testicles. Ali is ready to fight one on one but Order 4 jumps Miguel. The beatdown is on so here is Moose for the save, including a big spear to Ali.

Rebellion rundown.

Tag Team Titles: Righteous vs. Hardys

The Hardys are defending in a tables match (both members have to go through tables). It’s a brawl on the floor to start with the Hardys taking over and setting up a table at ringside. Vincent gets caught in the ropes for a legdrop from Jeff before Dutch is sent into the steps. Matt’s top rope elbow misses Vincent and Matt crashes through the table (doesn’t count), leaving Jeff to get stomped down in the corner.

We take a break and come back with Dutch in trouble on the floor. Jeff whips out a broom to hit Vincent and it’s time to climb a ladder. Vincent breaks that up and DDTs Jeff on the floor before breaking up the ladder with a chair. Dutch is back up and puts Jeff on a table and goes up, only for Matt to cut him off. Matt knocks Dutch through a table but Vincent does the same to Matt to tie it up. Back in and Vincent misses a Swanton so Jeff does the same thing. The Twist Of Fate drops Vincent on the floor, setting up Jeff’s Swanton through the table to retain at 13:40.

Rating: B-. This was the expected violent brawl, though I did like that they avoided the other weapons for the most part. Vincent breaking the ladder was a bit of a sigh of relief as there was no need to go there. In theory this is it for the Hardys vs. the Righteous and if so, it’s quite the weak ending to a pretty long story.

Post match Dutch drives the Hardys through the table in the corner to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. All in all, this was not the strongest show and certainly not a great way to get me to want to watch Rebellion. Other than the good opening segment, a lot of this felt like it was just thrown out there to fill in time. Some of the midcard stuff got attention, but then there’s the big deal with the Undead Realm and all of the battling bosses stuff. It’s not a horrible show, but this was a pretty big misfire right before one of their biggest nights of the year.

Results
Jada Stone b. Dani Luna – Corkscrew
Frankie Kazarian b. BDE – Chickenwing
Elayna Black b. Myla Grace – Blackout
Hardys b. Righteous – Swanton to Vincent through a table

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

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Impact Wrestling
Date: March 26, 2026
Location: Gateway Center Arena At College Park, College Park, Georgia
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the night before Sacrifice and the show is pretty much set. In this case though, we’re likely going to hear more from Mike Santana and Steve Maclin, who are set for a World Title match tomorrow night. Other than that, there is probably a chance that more will be added to the show so let’s get to it.

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

Opening recap.

Opening sequence.

Mustafa Ali vs. BDE

Order 4 and Rich Swann are here too. Ali takes him into the corner for an uppercut to start but BDE comes back with a crucifix bomb to send Ali outside. The required dive connects and they head back inside, where Ali takes him down by the leg. They slug it out until BDE hits a running boot into a handspring cutter, followed by a top rope frog splash for two. Back up and Ali hits a quick sitout powerbomb, setting up a swinging Downward Spiral for the pin at 4:26.

Rating: C+. BDE continues to fulfill his role perfectly well as he can do spots just fine and then puts people over every time. I’m sure he’ll win a singles match somewhere in there and that’ll be fine, but for now this is working well for him. Ali gets a win, though I have no reason to believe he’s going to be getting much higher up the ladder.

Post match Order 4 jumps Swann but Trey Miguel runs in for the save. Jada Stone comes in to take out Tasha Steelz and Miguel saves her from Agent Zero.

Leon Slater and Mike Santana are ready to face the System tonight. They’re ready to keep their titles tomorrow night too. Daria Rae comes up to threaten Santana with losing the title if he touches Steve Maclin.

Jeff Hardy vs. Brian Myers

Matt Hardy and the System are here too. Jeff slugs away in the corner but Myers pulls him off the middle rope for a crash. An elbow to the face sets up a chinlock but Hardy is right back up. The basement dropkick hits Myers, who reverses the Twist Of Fate into an implant DDT for two. The Roster Cut is blocked though and the twisting Stunner sets up a Swanton to beat Myers at 3:15.

Rating: C. They were moving rather quickly here and Hardy winning is fine, though it didn’t exactly make me think the System is going to be a threat to win the titles. Then again no one has felt like a real threat to win the titles for months. This could have been better with more time, but it felt more like a way to get Hardy in the ring than anything else.

Post match the System jumps the Hardys until the Righteous makes the save. Bear Bronson is left in the ring…and here is Moose for their schedule match.

Moose vs. Bear Bronson

Alisha Edwards is here with Moose. Bronson hits a running shot against the ropes but Moose is back up with a dropkick. Back up and Bronson hammers away in the corner, where Moose is right back with some rapid fire chops. They head outside, with Moose being sent into the barricade and then go back inside, where Bronson snaps off a suplex. Moose doesn’t like being inside and goes outside again, with Bronson being sent into the steps. Bronson snaps off another suplex and we take a break.

We come back with Bronson superplexing Moose, who pops up and runs Bronson over. The running backsplash connects but the spear is countered into a pop up sitout powerbomb to give Bronson two. A swinging Boss Man Slam gives Bronson two more and they trade standing clotheslines. Cue the System again…so some former Atlanta Falcons (Moose’s former teammates) come over the barricade to cut them off. Moose hits the spear for the pin at 13:08.

Rating: B. I liked this more than I was expecting as Bronson has been a nice addition to the roster as a power guy. At the same time, Bronson was nothing more than the next person in line for Moose to smash through on his way to Sacrifice. It still doesn’t feel like it’s going to end well there for him, but this wound up being good stuff, with the Falcons deal being a nice bonus.

Mara Sade is ready for Sacrifice but gets a note saying READ ME. The note says “follow the White Rabbit” and then a bloody rabbit walks by. Sade follows and someone follows her (I think, as it was hard to see who was whom).

The System is ready to take out Moose and the Hardys. Eddie Edwards is sad to see Alisha Edwards getting dropped as well but she’s made her choice. The Righteous is watching as well.

Tessa Blanchard/Mila Moore/Victoria Crawford vs. Harley Hudson/Myla Grace/Jody Threat

Threat and Blanchard start things off but Moore comes in to face Hudson instead. Moore grinds away on a headlock but Hudson is back with a running crossbody for two. Grace comes in for a headlock before striking away at Crawford. Blanchard gets in a cheap shot from the apron but it’s off to Threat to pick up the pace. House is quickly cleaned and the villains are taken down with some dives on the floor. Blanchard drops Threat onto the steps though and a quick Buzzsaw finishes Grace at 6:20.

Rating: C+. They were moving rather quickly out there and Blanchard took the other team apart to get the win. That makes perfect sense as she’s pretty far ahead of the other three, especially Hudson and Grace. The match was pretty to the point here, even if they didn’t have much time with the amount of people involved.

WRATH! Rosemary goes up to see a man in a mask, who winds up being Crazzy Steve, with Allie popping up behind her. Rosemary shuts her up and Steve goes on a rant about how everyone has thrown him aside to rot. Now Rosemary is here to get something from him and she is ready to pay the price. She kisses Steve on the head and TO BE CONTINUED. Do we know what she is trying to get out of this whole thing?

Eric Young vs. Brad Attitude

Young jumps him before the bell and chokes with his jacket. Attitude is sent outside and Young stays on him, but stops to yell at the referee. The Death Valley Driver gives Young two and he chases the referee, allowing Attitude to hit a dive. Back in and Young crotches him on top, setting up the piledriver for the pin at 3:53.

Rating: C-. This was just a way to get Young ready for his X-Division Title shot tomorrow and that’s about it. It was little more than a squash and that’s all it needed to be. Hopefully Young loses tomorrow and they get on with whatever his Cleanse thing is, which is totally coming one way or another.

Matt Hardy has been attacked and apparently it was the System. The Righteous are ready to get revenge.

Here is Buff Bagwell for a surprise chat. He thanks God for being with him through the loss of his leg, but he also needs to apologize for his behavior over the last twenty years (ignore his issues before 2006). Bagwell wants to walk down the aisle and wrestle one more time but here is Frankie Kazarian to say Bagwell isn’t walking anywhere. Hop maybe, but not walk. Kazarian mocks him some more but here is Elijah to chase him off. Elijah wants to be there when Bagwell walks that aisle again.

Santino Marella reveals that Matt Hardy is injured and unable to compete so the Righteous come in to get a match with Vincent/Jeff Hardy vs. the System at Sacrifice.

Dani Luna is ready to finally win the Knockouts Title at Sacrifice, when it is going to be doomsday.

Sacrifice rundown.

The System vs. Leon Slater/Mike Santana

Eddie Edwards/Cedric Alexander for the System here and the rest of the team is here too. Slater hammers on Alexander to start and it’s off to Edwards vs. Santana. The System is quickly cleared out and Slater hits a big dive. We take a break and come back with Myers offering a distraction so Edwards can get in a cheap shot.

Slater gets caught in the wrong corner and Alexander’s knee drop gets two. Back up and Slater hits a spinwheel kick, allowing the tag off to Santana for the fast comeback. A double flipping slam sets up a step up moonsault to give Santana two. Edwards avoids Spin The Block and hits the Backpack Stunner, with Alexander’s frog splash getting two.

Everything breaks down and the Boston Knee party misses, allowing Santana to hit a Death Valley Driver. Santana’s big running flip dive connects on the floor but here is Steve Maclin to choke Slater. Maclin stops to glare Santana though and Slater hits a superkick. Back in and the Boston Knee Party finishes for Edwards at 13:58.

Rating: B-. This was what it needed to be as Edwards gets the win to make him feel like more of a threat to take the title at some point. It also helped Maclin and Santana get ready for their match, which is a good thing to see as they can’t actually get physical. The action worked well and it accomplished a few things so that makes for a nice main event.

Overall Rating: C+. The best thing about this show is they made me more interested in seeing Sacrifice, which is feeling like a much bigger show than No Surrender. If nothing else, the main event is already feeling bigger. Hopefully it lives up to the hype as we move into the spring and get ready for the next regular pay per view. For now though, I’m interested enough in the show, though there were some less than thrilling parts here, like anything involving Eric Young and the Rosemary stuff, though the latter might need some more time. Either way, nice enough show this week with the big one coming tomorrow.

Results
Mustafa Ali b. BDE – Swinging Downward Spiral
Jeff Hardy b. Brian Myers – Swanton Bomb
Moose b. Bear Bronson – Spear
Tessa Blanchard/Mila Moore/Victoria Crawford b. Harley Hudson/Myla Grace/Jody Threat – Buzzsaw DDT to Grace
Eric Young b. Brad Attitude – Piledriver
The System b. Leon Slater/Mike Santana – Boston Knee Party to Santana

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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Border Brawl 2025
Date: May 25, 2025
Location: Niagara Falls Convention Center, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

So this is a Canada vs. the USA show and…yeah that’s about it. TNA advertised it a few times but didn’t go into detail about what to expect. I’m not sure what that is going to mean but it’s one of those concepts that should work no matter what. It’s on a weekend that is chock full of wrestling but maybe something here stands out. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks at the concept and talks about wanting to be the best. Not much to see here.

We look at Niagara Falls, Canada, which is a beautiful scene.

We look at Niagara Falls, USA, which is full of trash. The bias is strong with this one.

We get both National Anthems.

We meet Team USA: Tommy Dreamer, Nic Nemeth, Matt Hardy, The System, Tessa Blanchard, Victoria Crawford, Sami Callihan and coach….Barbie Blank, better known as Kelly Kelly.

We meet Team Canada: Channing Decker, Jacques Rougeau, Courtney Rush, Cody Deaner, Champagne Singh, Northern Armory, Personal Concierge, Santino Marella, William Trudeau, Jody Threat and coach Allie. Note that these do not seem to be the full teams, or at least not everyone who comes to the ring is listed.

The unnamed host brings the coaches in to introduce the captains: Jacques Rougeau (Canada) and…no one for the Americans. Allie promises to make a statement and Blank mocks Canadian cuisine. Rougeau, and yes he is dressed as the Mountie, promises that Canada will get their man.

Since “the team with the most wins” wins is too simple, we have a points system:

Standard Victory (pin/submission/countout/DQ) – 1 point
Quick Victory (less than five minutes) – 2 points
Lightning Victory (less than 1 minute) – 3 points
Double DQ/Double Countout/Draw – 0 points

We run down the card.

The Personal Concierge, apparently Canadian, mocks America for its treatment of the elderly and praises Canadian’s use of maple syrup. We hear about the greatness of Justin Trudeau and meet his “nephew”, William Trudeau!

William Trudeau (Canada) vs. Sami Callihan (USA)

Trudeau (who looks like a slightly smaller Big Bill) jumps Callihan to start but he grabs the paper. The Concierge offers a distraction and Callihan gets to cut Trudeau’s fingers. Callihan goes after the Concierge’s fingers as well but gets cut off, leaving the Concierge to work on Callihan’s arm. It works so well that he does it again (without looking, and I think you know where this is going) but tries a third time, allowing Callihan to reverse. The Concierge attacks Trudeau’s arm by mistake and gets yelled at, allowing Callihan to hit a Stunner for the win at 3:04.

Rating: C-. They didn’t have time to do much here but that’s kind of the point of the scoring system. Callihan gets a win and starts things off fast, while Trudeau is likely a local guy who has a good look and an easy gimmick. It’s not much of an opener, but hopefully things can pick up a bit.

USA – 1
Canada – 0

Wait what? I have no idea why that isn’t higher due to the Quick Victory but that’s the official score.

Post match the Concierge gets the Stunner as well.

Commentary talks about the difference between American and Canadian alcohol. And how much difference does it make that the USA is OLDER? Is it me, or do they have absolutely nothing to talk about here and they’re just filling time?

Barbie Blank mocks Allie and Rougeau, the latter of whom tells Blank to not fall out of her shoes. Blank promises American dominance.

Callihan’s victory is descried as Standard, with no explanation of why it wasn’t a Quick Victory despite the under five minute time limit.

Victoria Crawford (USA) vs. Courtney Rush (Canada)

Allie is on commentary. They talk a lot of trash at each other to start and Rush wants a dance off. Rush dances and then Crawford dances, with Crawford knocking her down to take over. The northern lights suplex gives Crawford two but Rush hits a spear for the pin at 2:18.

USA – 1
Canada – 2

Was something clipped from the opener? Or am I going nuts here? I even went back and checked the scoring that they put up, plus the time of the opener, and it doesn’t make sense.

Channing Decker and Jesse Bieber are ready to take out the System for Canada. The System comes in, with JDC promising to make them pay some tariffs.

The System (USA) vs. Channing Decker/Jesse Bieber (Canada)

Barbie Blank is on commentary. JDC works on Decker’s arm to start but Decker flips away out of the corner. A spinning legdrop grazes JDC’s hands and it’s off to Bieber, with Blank being rather energetic on commentary. Bieber dances and elbows JDC in the head before the System gets tied in the Trees of Woe.

The Canadians sing O CANADA ala Petey Williams but Moose fights up and takes over. Moose chokes with his shirt and Decker gets taken down into the wrong corner. JDC grabs the chinlock for a bit before putting Decker in the Tree Of Woe. Moore gets on the mic and the System gives the Pledge of Allegiance, allowing Decker to high crossbody both of them down.

Bieber comes back in with a slingshot double spear but a dive is cut off. JDC goes up top and gets brought back down with a Tower Of Doom. Moose misses the spear and gets taken down but JDC hits an Air Raid Crash. Back up and Moose hits a spear for the pin on Decker at 10:39.

Rating: C. Well at least it got some time. The System are about as good of a choice as you have for a heel spot like this as they can go out there and be put in almost any combination for the same result. Moose is still one of the biggest and most dominant stars in TNA today and having him smash through Decker for the win was a fine way to go.

USA – 2
Canada – 2

Brutus Beefcake of all people talks about bleeding red, white and blue. What in the world is this show?

Champagne Singh (Canada) vs. Tommy Dreamer (USA)

Hardcore. Dreamer does a quick tribute to Sabu but Singh isn’t interested. Singh tries to slug away and gets hiptossed out to the floor for his efforts. Dreamer follows and spits beer in Singh’s face, then knocks beer out of Singh’s mouth in a nice sequence. It’s time to bring in some weapons, including a trashcan lid to the head.

Dreamer busts out some bagged milk but can’t hit a piledriver, as Singh backdrops his way to freedom. Some choking with a chain keeps Dreamer in trouble and it’s time for a chair. Dreamer is sent face first into said chair Singh starts getting rather cocky, allowing Dreamer to move the chair so Singh crotches himself.

Dreamer brings in a hockey stick and gets in a shot of his own, setting up a cutter for two. An STO onto a chair gives Singh two and Dreamer’s DDT gets the same. Dreamer pours the milk over himself and calls over….some either actors or musicians, who help load up a table. Said table is loaded up in the corner and a Death Valley Driver puts Singh through it for the pin at 11:07.

Rating: C. This feels like a match that Dreamer has done about 3,485 times over the course of his career so it was almost muscle memory at this point. It doesn’t help that Singh returned at Under Siege as Raj Singh rather than Champagne, suggesting that this show was taped in advance. Or they just didn’t pay a bit of attention to what they were doing with him.

USA – 3
Canada – 2

Frankie Kazarian (USA) vs. Cody Deaner (Canada)

Before the match, Kazarian insults most of the Canadians he knows how horrible they are. Kazarian is not a normal person, because he is a king. This year alone, he has already claimed 50 kingdoms, and tonight he claims his 51st kingdom over someone who is recently unemployed. Deaner comes out to talk about his love of Canadians and most Americans, but there is one American he doesn’t like. That would be the hoser known as Kazarian. Rather than gaining his 51st kingdom, he could punch Kazarian in the face fifty one times!

The bell rings and Kazarian bails from the threat of a right hand as Rehwoldt annexes the Great Lakes. Back in and Kazarian hammers away but Deaner takes him into the corner for some right hands of his own (with the fans counting along to keep up the bit). More right hands keep up the counting, with Deaner getting all the way to 31.

Kazarian fights back and hits a springboard spinning legdrop for two. Deaner is back up to hammer away some more but Kazarian knees him in the ribs. The cravate goes on but Deaner fights up and hits even more right hands. That gets him to fifty total but Deaner tries a big fifty first, allowing Kazarian to roll him up for the quick pin at 4:49.

Rating: C-. And this is a good example of what is wrong with this whole show: this entire match was built around the “Canada could be the 51st state” deal and that gets old fast. It’s one of several “Haha America is better than Canada” bits throughout the show and it feels like it was written with the least effort possible. The match itself wasn’t much better, but that’s not much of a surprise with Deaner involved.

USA – 4
Canada – 2

Post match Deaner does get in that 51st right hand.

Matt Hardy has been attacked in the back.

The System (USA) vs. Northern Armory

Before the match, Alisha Edwards insults Canada and then Eddie and Brian Myers get to do the same. In other words, even more stalling as they try to fill in time. The Northern Armory doesn’t like the besmirchment and promise to raise their elbows and break the System. The fight is on fast with the System getting tied in the ropes for some quick chops. Williams chokes Myers but he fights out and grabs an armbar. Myers tries to hand the arm off to Eddie, who doesn’t notice the reversal and works on Myers’ arm by mistake (twice in about an hour if you’re keeping track).

Icarus comes in and the Armory take the System out with stereo dives. Alisha offers a distraction and Myers’ superkick gets two on Williams. The chinlock goes on but Williams fights up and brings Icarus back in. Everything breaks down and Myers hits a spear for two, followed by a double butterfly powerbomb. The System Overload only gets two so the System loads up another. This time Williams breaks it up and Icarus gets a rollup for the pin on Eddie at 7:37.

Rating: C. Kind of weird to see back to back matches end with a rollup but oh well. As was the case earlier, you can throw any combination of the System out there for a match like this and get about the same result so there was only so much bad to be found. The Armory winning for Canada was a good way to go and the fans approved, which is even more impressive as Eddie and Myers have been a successful team.

USA – 4
Canada – 3

Post match the beatdown is on but Eric Young runs in with a chair to make the save.

Tessa Blanchard (USA) vs. Jody Threat (Canada)

Vipress and Victoria Crawford are here with Blanchard…who can’t wrestle due to an injury. Instead, Vipress will be taking her place, with the fans seeming rather happy with Blanchard being hurt.

Vipress (USA) vs. Jody Threat (Canada)

Threat grabs a headlock takeover to start before taking her into the corner for some rapid fire clotheslines. Some forearms put Vipress in the ropes and a running dropkick sends her to the floor in a big crash. Blanchard offers a distraction though and Vipress snaps Threat throat first across the middle rope. They seem to have a bit of miscommunication so Threat faceplants her, only to get caught in something like a reverse powerbomb for two.

The chinlock goes on to slow things down (and possibly get back on the same page) but Threat is right back up. Threat makes the clothesline comeback but charges into a boot against the ropes. Threat’s spinebuster gets two so Blanchard offers a distraction. Crawford gets in a kick to the head and Vipress rolls her up (with tights) for the pin at 7:36.

Rating: C-. Hey look, another rollup. Vipress means nothing around here so it’s an upset pin, though it doesn’t seem likely that Blanchard would have had a different result. There wasn’t much to this one, which isn’t a surprise as this hasn’t exactly been a show focused on what is happening in the ring. I have never seen much out of Threat and that was on full display again here.

USA – 5
Canada – 3

Santino Marella has been attacked as well.

Eric Young (Canada) vs. Matt Hardy (USA)

Hardy seems perfectly fine after being attacked earlier and the Northern Armory is here too. A headlock doesn’t get Hardy very far as Young bails to the floor, followed by an exchange of wristlocks back inside. Hardy puts him down but comes up favoring his knee, which I guess counts as fallout from the attack. Young goes after the knee and the Armory gets in a few cheap shots of their own from the floor.

Back in and Young stays on the leg but Hardy fights up and rams him into the buckle over and over. A neckbreaker gives Young two but he misses a moonsault. The Twist of Fate…doesn’t exactly work so the Armory offers a distraction. Young rolls him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 7:31.

Rating: C. Oh come on already. You can’t have Young, a multiple time World Champion, hit a finisher to beat Hardy? It’s not like they’re on totally different levels around here or anything, but we needed a fourth straight rollup for the pin. Nothing special in the ring, but that shouldn’t be much of a surprise at this point in the show.

USA – 5
Canada – 4

Hardy looks like he’s about to cry.

Allie and Barbie Blank argue.

Santino Marella doesn’t know who jumped him but Canada is a place where people can come to fulfill their dreams. It is about opportunity and a quality of life and it’s time for him to stand up for his country. He Can-a-da. Marella: “Get it?”

Commentary recaps the night and what Marella needs to do to win. Basically…he needs to win for a tie but if he wins really fast, Canada wins the whole thing.

Santino Marella (Canada) vs. Nic Nemeth (USA)

Flag, as in capture the, match and Nemeth, with Barbie Blank, doesn’t even wear his Tag Team Title. Marella on the other hand has Jacques Rougeau and Allie to even (I guess?) things out. Commentary goes over Marella’s rather complicated nationality history and we officially hit a minute, so the Lightning Victory is off the table. Nemeth takes him down as commentary promises a victory and a salute to gun racks.

Marella knocks him to the floor as the slow pace continues. The test of strength goes on, with commentary making it clear that this is NOT the same as a Five knuckle Shuffle. Nemeth rakes the eyes over the top and knocks him down, which should allow him to get the flag but instead he poses. The first attempt for the flag doesn’t work for Nemeth as we cross five minutes, meaning Marella can only tie with a win.

Marella tries a sunset flip and Nemeth finally goes down, meaning they can realize that a sunset flip means nothing in this match. Nemeth sends him outside, where Marella goes over to the celebrities from earlier. The celebrities get in an argument of their own, allowing Marella to go for the flag.

That doesn’t work either so Nemeth poses a lot and crotches himself in the corner. Hannifan: “His Ryan Nemeths just got scrambled.” Marella loads up the Cobra but walks into a superkick. Nemeth goes for the flag but Rougeau gives Marella the shock stick to cut him off. The Cobra hits Nemeth (Rehwoldt: “COBRAS ARE NOT EVEN NATIVE TO CANADA’S ECOSYSTEM!”) and Marella gets the flag to win at 9:46.

Rating: D+. If nothing else, points for the line about cobras at the end but my goodness they could only do so much with this one. You need to have Marella win to tie things up here and the gimmick let him beat Nemeth without beating Nemeth. Other than that though, another lame match where it felt like they forgot the rules a few times in between.

USA – 5
Canada – 5

That means it’s a tie so this match will continue under sudden death rules. How in the world do you have a SUDDEN DEATH FLAG match? As we ponder that, cue the System, complete with people in Donald Trump and Mark Carney masks/costumes. Anyway the System says they were behind the attacks because they hate America and Canada. They jump Trump/Carney so here are Matt Hardy, Tommy Dreamer, Jody Threat and Cody Deaner for the save. Hardy says it’s time for the countries to unite to take out the System. Well of course it is.

The System vs. Matt Hardy/Cody Deaner/Santino Marella/Tommy Dreamer/Jody Threat

It’s a brawl on the floor to start with Deaner beating on JDC as we officially get going. Moose cuts that off but gets sent into the corner to crush JDC. Deaner works on Moose’s arm and it’s off to Hardy for the same. Marella comes off the top…er, middle, rope to hit Moose’s arm, followed by Threat doing the same. Dreamer goes up top (weight jokes abound) for an ax handle to said arm as Rehwoldt wants a Rocky to Moose’s Bullwinkle for all of the things that are being Dudley Do-Wronged.

Moose finally goes to the eye to escape and brings Myers in so the villains can start taking turns on Deaner. Even Alisha gets in a chop, which just wakes Deaner up. The comeback is quickly cut off and Moose rakes Deaner’s back to bring up the pain. That’s broken up and it’s back to Hardy to ram Eddie into the corner over and over. Moose and Alisha get the same treatment as everything breaks down again. JDC is left alone for the shots to the head, setting up the Cobra and a Twist Of Fate for the pin at 8:44.

Rating: C-. And that’s how it ends, with some big deal about coming together to fight a common enemy. That’s a fine way to go, but it’s kind of cut off when commentary spent the entire show mocking Canada. As usual, beating the System is fine and mocking Dreamer’s weight is a tried and true method of operations in wrestling, but sweet goodness this was a lame way to wrap it up.

A bunch of wrestlers come out to celebrate but hang on because this show will not end. A big brawl breaks out including a masked man apparently named Captain Canada is in the middle of everything. The fighting just continues to end the show, with Hannifan promising that the Border Brawl will continue FOREVER.

Overall Rating: D. Where do I even begin? This was something out of the old One Night Only shows where it felt like they needed some random gimmick to tie the show together and put all of no thought into it. In this case though, you had the lack of anything resembling an overly good match, a draw in the whole contest, a big brawl that undermined the entire point of the main event to end the show. And that’s before you get to the most random BRUTUS BEEFCAKE cameo I can imagine.

Terribly weird show here, and I wonder how much TNA had to do with putting it together. TNA is better than this and I would hope this is a one off, because it was more boring than insane and that is not a good thing. Maybe it was something of a cross promotional deal where TNA just handled the talent, because otherwise, I’m somewhat scared for the future of the promotion.

Results
Sami Callihan b. William Trudeau – Stunner
Courtney Rush b. Victoria Crawford – Spear
The System b. Channing Decker/Jessie Bieber – Spear to Decker
Tommy Dreamer b. Champagne Singh – Death Valley Driver through a table
Frankie Kazarian b. Cody Deaner – Rollup
Northern Armory b. The System – Rollup to Edwards
Vipress b. Jody Threat – Rollup with trunks
Eric Young b. Matt Hardy – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Santino Marella b. Nic Nemeth – Marella grabbed the flag
Matt Hardy/Cody Deaner/Santino Marella/Tommy Dreamer/Jody Threat b. The System – Twist of Fate to JDC

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

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Dark
Date: October 20, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz

We’re back and somehow the show is even bigger, at a sixteen match card. That’s a record even for this show and up there with the biggest Wrestlemania lineups of all time. I’m not sure why that needs to be the case around here but it’s not like there is much else to talk about with this show. Let’s get to it.

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

Commentators welcome.

Shawn Spears vs. Christopher Daniels

Again with the idea of opening with what could be the headliner. Spears works on the wrist to start before switching off to a headlock. Daniels is right back up to flip him to the floor though and we get a breather. Back in and an exchange of leapfrogs goes badly for Spears as Daniels clotheslines him down. A Fargo Strut sets up a t-bone suplex to send Spears outside again, with Daniels hitting a slingshot dive this time.

This one doesn’t go as well as Daniels is whipped hard into the barricade, setting up a neckbreaker on the floor. Back in and Daniels whips him hard into the corner, followed by a DDT to stay on the neck. The C4 is countered though and Daniels grabs a Downward Spiral. The STO plants Spears and another C4 is countered again into a rollup for two. Daniels gets another two off a high crossbody but the Angel’s Wings is blocked. A slingshot is cut off though and now the C4 can finish Daniels at 7:16.

Rating: C. As expected, two people who have done this for a long time and have shown that they can do good things in the ring have a completely watchable match. It’s nothing that hasn’t been done before, but there wasn’t a bad thing about the match and it was well set up throughout. Spears is still totally uninteresting, but it could have been far worse.

Post match Spears hits a second C4, drawing out Scorpio Sky to chase him off. Spears beats up a production guy to blow off some steam.

Brandi Rhodes vs. KiLynn King

I don’t see King breaking her losing streak here. King spins her down into a hammerlock but gets reversed with a headscissors. Back up and Brandi snaps off a headlock takeover as the mat grappling continues. King’s rollup gets two and Brandi’s gets the same, setting up an early standoff.

An armdrag into an armbar has Brandi in trouble again but she sends King into the corner for the running elbow as commentary makes radio jokes. Cue John Silver to campaign to be on Brandi’s cooking show, but Brandi is fine enough to hit a Sling Blade for two. They slug it out from their knees and it’s the Shot Of Brandi (which looked like it needed a camera cut) for the pin on King at 3:22.

Rating: D+. This was all you could have expected as Brandi isn’t going to lose a match like this, even if it’s against someone who seems like they could be a breakout star in King. The wrestling wasn’t anything great, but they did well enough with the counters and reversals. That finish still doesn’t look great, but it’s better than Brandi using the spear.

David Ali vs. Ricky Starks

Ali hammers away to start but gets picked up and dropped hard. The chopping is on as Taz is rather pleased with all of this. Ali manages to get to the corner though and it’s a missile dropkick to stagger Starks. After being confused for a second, Starks goes up again and gets crotched back down. A running boot in the corner connects and the Roshambo finishes Ali at 2:57.

Starks joins commentary, as is his custom.

Scorpio Sky vs. Fuego del Sol

Fuego flips out of a wristlock to start so Sky slows him down with a headlock. A front chancery has Fuego in trouble and a Russian legsweep gives Sky two. Sky hits a backbreaker and bends Fuego over the knee as the announcers talk about Goosebumps. The abdominal stretch goes on but Fuego is out in a hurry for a dropkick. That’s enough to send Sky outside and Fuego adds a slingshot dive. Back in and Sol rolls him up out of the corner for two, followed by an enziguri for the same. Not that it matters as Fuego dives into a very quick Scorpion Deathlock for the tap at 5:41.

Rating: C. Sky continues to be one of the smoothest workers around here and it’s nice to see him doing this kind of thing every time he’s out there. Fuego got to showcase himself here and Sky is someone who can do something with anyone. I liked this well enough, with Sky working on the ribs throughout and then getting the win with a hold that works on the back. Makes enough sense.

Post match Shawn Spears’ music hits but he doesn’t show up.

Aaron Solow vs. Luchasaurus

Luchasaurus shoves him down without much effort and unloads on him in the corner as Starks talks about his time teaming with Solow. Back up and Solow hits a headscissors to the floor but the suicide dive is caught. A tornado DDT on the floor works a bit better but Luchasaurus is right back with a kick to the face inside. Solow knees him in the face, only to get blasted by a running clothesline. The Tail Whip into the chokeslam into the standing moonsault finishes Solow at 3:36.

Rating: C-. Solow got in a lot of offense here and it was probably too much. Luchasaurus is a monster and not the kind of person who should be giving up so much. At the same time, he probably shouldn’t be needing to do so many big moves at the end. The Tail Whip, the chokeslam and the standing moonsault could all be finishers. Use one or two at most, not three.

Griff Garrison/Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Butcher and Blade

Eddie Kingston is here with Butcher and Blade. It’s Garrison getting chopped in the corner to start but it’s off to Pillman to kick away at Blade. A superkick doesn’t work on Butcher though, as he crushes Pillman with a running crossbody. It’s back to Blade for some choking on the ropes and Butcher drives in some knees to the back.

Pillman gets in a dropkick but Butcher whips him hard into the corner to cut him off again. A quick spinning high crossbody gives Pillman enough space for the hot tag to Garrison though and everything breaks down. Pillman is sent to the floor though and it’s a powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to finish Garrison at 6:03.

Rating: C. There is something to be said about Pillman taking a beating like that and then making a comeback. It worked out just fine here and that isn’t the most surprising. Garrison and Pillman as a small, plucky team is fine enough and I won’t be surprised when they’re both signed soon enough.

Penta El Cero M vs. QT Marshall

Dustin Rhodes is here too. Penta takes his time in removing the glove so Marshall hits him in the face. A running headscissors takes Penta down again but a dive is cut off with ease. Back in and Penta throws him right back to the floor for the strikes against the post. They head inside again with Penta charging into an elbow and then getting elbowed down again. Penta kicks him down and hits a double stomp for two but Marshall hits a handspring kick to the face.

A Sling Blade gives Penta two and here’s Eddie Kingston with a microphone to watch. The package piledriver is blocked and they kick each other down. Eddie waves at Marshall and says he has a surprise. Cue Allie in the Bunny gear again but she leaves with Eddie. Marshall is fine enough to get two off a backslide but Penta is back with a Pentagon Driver for two of his own. A Michinoku Driver gives Marshall two more so Penta goes up for a change. That means it’s the middle rope Canadian Destroyer into the Fear Factor to finish Marshall at 8:31.

Rating: C. They avoided the styles clash here and had a nice match, though the point is ending the rather unnecessary Allie/Marshall deal. I’m still not sure what the idea behind that was but maybe we get to find that out later. Either way, Penta winning is nice and it’s not like Marshall is hurt by a loss.

Jungle Boy vs. KTB

KTB charges but gets dropkicked to the corner. Boy snaps off a headscissors out of the corner but KTB sends him into the corner for the rolling shoulder to the ribs (that’s a new one). A dragon screw legwhip sets up a fireman’s carry slam for two and it’s an atomic drop into a quick splash for the same.

Boy pops off a clothesline and hits his own dragon screw legwhip to the floor. That means a suicide dive and a slingshot DDT gives Boy two more. Boy goes to the ropes again but gets caught in a Razor’s Edge flipped down into a knee to the face for two more. KTB misses a moonsault though and it’s a running elbow to the back of the head. Boy’s top rope double knee drop is good for the pin at 5:27.

Rating: C+. KTB got to showcase himself here and that was all you could hope for. Boy is not big enough to be someone to look dominant so having him fight from underneath is the right idea every time. The match worked a lot better than I would have bet on and that’s always a nice surprise.

And that’s the halfway point.

Ivelisse/Diamante vs. Skyler Moore/Kenzie Paige

It’s a brawl to start with Moore and Paige being cleared out in a hurry. Diamante muscles Moore up in a not great looking suplex and there’s an uppercut into the corner. A double suplex gets two on Moore and we hit the chinlock. Diamante charges into a boot though and it’s a double clothesline for the double knockdown. Paige and Ivelisse come in to pick up the pace and Paige’s Natural Selection gets two. Diamante is right back with a quick Stunner though and Ivelisse hits the rolling kick to the face for the pin at 4:09.

Rating: D+. Just a quick match here to remind you that Ivelisse and Diamante exist. You might have forgotten after they won that tournament, which wound up meaning a grand total of nothing. Moore and Paige are both find enough, but there is only so much that can be done in a situation like this.

Colt Cabana vs. Bshp King

There’s no Dark Order with Cabana and he seems to be confused. Commentary talks about Cabana’s jackets and make an Orange Cassidy/Pockets reference to make sure that we know they listen to Jim Cornette. Feeling out process to start with both taking turns going after the arm as John Silver and Alex Reynolds come out.

Actually never mind as Cabana sends them back before kicking at King’s legs. Something close to an old Stump Puller has King in more trouble and some elbows to the head make it worse. The Order is here again and the distraction means Cabana can’t hit the Chicago Skyline. The Flying Apple into the Superman Pin is enough to finish King at 4:07.

Rating: C-. Another match that came and went with little of interest. I guess Cabana is having issues with the Dark Order now and this needed to be on the show because…maybe having sixteen matches sounds better than having fifteen? Yeah this is the first candidate for the match being cut so far and that’s not a good place to be.

Adam Priest vs. Alan Angels

Most of the Dark Order is here with Angels. Priest gets knocked into the corner to start and Angels hits a middle rope springboard clothesline. A quick moonsault gives Angels two but Priest is back with a big boot and clothesline of his own. Angels grabs a twisting fisherman’s buster and the Wing Snapper finishes Priest at 3:16.

Rating: C-. Ironically enough this didn’t get enough time and it hurt things a lot. It wasn’t a bad match at all and Angels continues to get to showcase himself well. Priest is another guy in a long list of them around here and while I don’t think this was meant to be a showcase for him, he didn’t quite get to do much here.

Frankie Kazarian tells Jack Evans that respect is earned and now he wants to be at the top of the industry. He has always been the bridesmaid but never the bride so tonight is the start of his wedding march.

Frankie Kazarian vs. Jack Evans

Angelico is here with Evans. Kazarian takes him down by the arm to start but Evans gets a quickly broken chancery. Back up and a shoulder runs Evans over, setting up an armdrag into an armbar. A cartwheel into a headscissors takes Kazarian down but he’s right back with the armdrag into a second armbar. That’s broken up and Evans offers a distraction so Angelico can get in a cheap shot, setting up a northern lights suplex. Evans pops up onto Kazarian’s ribs into a standing moonsault for two more.

A hair takedown gets another two on Kazarian and there’s a hard whip into the corner. Kazarian gets a sunset flip out of the corner for his own two but he has to deal with Angelico. Evans gets clotheslined down for another near fall and there’s two more off a springboard spinning legdrop. Kazarian’s leg is kicked out and a standing sky twister press (geez) gives Evans another two. Kazarian reverses the moonsault into a reverse DDT into a reverse DDT of his own to finish Evans at 7:57.

Rating: C. Kazarian can go with anyone and Evans was doing all of his flips and dives, as he is known to do. It’s another case of having a steady hand like Kazarian in there and that’s the best way to use Evans. It wasn’t a classic or anything but it got a little time and they traded some nice spots so it went well enough.

Post match Angelico jumps Kazarian but Christopher Daniels runs in for the save.

Louie Valle/Baron Black/D3 vs. Dark Order

It’s 3/4/10 for the Order here and the fact that we have now had two different stables with three matches each and have four matches left might suggest that this show is TOO FREAKING LONG. Taz: “Maybe we should call this show AEW Dark Order.” See? Even he gets it. Valle is offered a spot in the Dark Order to start but turns it down, meaning Reynolds beats him up. That’s broken up with Valle getting in a few shots of his own but not being ready to follow up.

Black comes in but gets crotched, meaning it’s off to D3, who is shouldered down by Silver. An arm trap rollup gives D3 two so Silver knocks him down again. Vance comes in and blocks a hurricanrana, followed by a hard fall away slam into the corner. A double flipping faceplant drops D3 again and there’s a delayed suplex from Vance. Silver sends D3 flying across the ring but he slips out of a gorilla press. The hot tag brings in Valle for a running crossbody as Taz talks about how short both of them are. Everything breaks down and Vance spinebusters Black. The double flipping slam finishes Black at 5:48.

Rating: C. In case you didn’t get the idea the first 183 times we’ve seen it, the Dark Order can beat up jobbers in a match that doesn’t last very long and look good together as a trio. I don’t know how many times we need to see them do this or some combination of it to get the point already, but since this is the third Dark Order match on the show, it probably isn’t enough yet. The team has gotten better, but I’m sick of seeing them do the same stuff over and over like this.

Wardlow vs. Vinny Pacifico

Wardlow’s knee in the corner knocks Pacifico out at 40 seconds. This is just like last week when Wardlow’s knee in the corner knocked out another jobber in a short match, but you needed to see it twice to get the point or something.

Post match Wardlow gives him an F10.

Eddie Kingston and company welcome Allie to the fold to complete the team.

Matt Sydal vs. Shawn Dean

Sydal takes him down into a headscissors to start before cranking on the arm. A front facelock keeps Dean in trouble but he’s back up with some armdrags into a dropkick. That earns him a jumping spinwheel kick and a standing twisting Swanton gets two on Dean. Back up and Dean slugs away but gets pulled down into a reverse Rings of Saturn. That’s broken up as well because we’ve already had our short matches of the night. Dean grabs a tiger driver for two but Sydal hits a jumping knee. A kick to the head sets up the cobra stretch to finish Dean at 6:02.

Rating: C-. Another Sydal match as he gets to show what he can do outside of the high flying. It was fine enough and Dean can go better than most of the job squad. I just didn’t need to see another six minute match after fourteen matches throughout the card so far. That’s where this show gets in trouble: everything gets crushed by all of the other stuff and it defeats the purpose of making Sydal look good.

Sonny Kiss vs. Rey Fenix

Joey Janela is here too. Kiss shoves him away to start and they go to a test of strength to show off their counters. A step up hurricanrana takes Fenix down so Fenix rolls into a hurricanrana of his own. Fenix dropkicks him into the corner and then pulls him shoulder first into the corner.

We hit the armbar for a bit until Fenix goes with a sunset flip but cranks on the leg instead (that’s a new one). Something like a Tequila Sunrise has Kiss in more trouble and Fenix kicks the arm to make it worse. Kiss is back with a twisting elbow to the face and the front flip kick to the ribs in the corner. A victory roll gives Kiss two and he drops Fenix on top of his head. Fenix is fine enough to catch him on top though and the Black Fire Driver finishes Kiss at 7:44.

Rating: C. This was Kiss doing his gymnastics and Fenix doing his lucha stuff and it wound up being ok. The arm and leg stuff from Fenix was a nice twist and I’m glad to see him getting a chance in the big tournament. I could see him getting to the second round and after not being able to do much else around here, that’s a pretty good result all things considered.

Overall Rating: D+. What even is there to say? It’s a longer version of the same problems that this show always has. Last week’s show was fourteen matches and they even had four matches that were similar to last week, down to the same people. I honestly have no idea what this show is supposed to be or who it is supposed to appeal to, but if they keep this up, plus Dynamite and the third show, they are going to risk burning out their audience REALLY fast.

The point of Dynamite was the same as the glory days of NXT: the best show you get all week and it leaves you wanting more. This isn’t the same as Dynamite, but it has a lot of the same people and there is rarely anything worth going out of your way to see. It’s still AEW though, and if you keep pumping out this much content, fans are going to get burned out one day and there is no one to blame but yourselves.

Another problem with the show itself is in the matches. It would be one thing if these matches were all a minute or two, but when it’s one five to six minute match after another, that time adds up in a hurry and, again, nothing gets to stand out. There’s nothing here that hasn’t been done better elsewhere and I don’t get invested in anything they do. It has a nice idea and if you fix things up it would be a good supplement to Dynamite. At this rate though it’s WAY longer than Dynamite (with commercials factored out) and that’s killing whatever benefits it has. Cut it down by two thirds (geez) and it works, but this was insane.

Results

Shawn Spears b. Christopher Daniels – C4

Brandi Rhodes b. KiLynn King – Shot Of Brandi

Ricky Starks b. David Ali – Roshambo

Scorpio Sky b. Fuego del Sol – Scorpion Deathlock

Luchasaurus b. Aaron Solow – Standing moonsault

Butcher and Blade b. Brian Pillman Jr./Griff Garrison – Powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to Garrison

Penta El Cero M b. QT Marshall – Fear Factor

Jungle Boy b. KTB – Top rope double knee drop

Ivelisse/Diamante b. Kenzie Paige/Skyler Moore – Rolling kick to Paige’s face

Colt Cabana b. Bshp King – Superman Pin

Alan Angels b. Adam Priest – Wing Snapper

Frankie Kazarian b. Jack Evans – Reverse DDT

Dark Order b. D3/Baron Black/Louie Valle – Double flipping slam to Black

Wardlow b. Vinny Pacifico – Knee to the face

Matt Sydal b. Shawn Dean – Cobra stretch

Fenix b. Sonny Kiss – Black Fire Driver

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: All Elite Wrestling

Dark
Date: September 4, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz

Yes it’s a double shot of this show as they continue their tradition of running a special show the night before a pay per view. In theory this means that we won’t be having a show next Tuesday, though I do wonder what that means for the Gunn Club and Kip Sabian. How can we get by without seeing them every single week? Let us get to it.

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

Faboo Andre/D3 vs. Butcher and Blade

Eddie Kingston is here with Butcher and Blade. The beatdown is on before the bell with Butcher running D3 over and taking him into the corner for the beating. D3 gets in a shot and hands it off to Andre, who walks into a side slam as the beating is on in a hurry. Blade doesn’t seem worried about Andre and slowly kicks him in the back but charges into a knee in the corner.

A hurricanrana allows the hot tag to D3 but he gets caught in a chokeslam/belly to back suplex combination. Andre makes the save and gets powerbombed/neckbreakered for his efforts. The suplex onto Blade’s knees is good for the pin on Andre at 3:34. They have those two big combinations and use the suplex onto the knee for the finisher?

Rating: D+. Again, you can only go so wrong with someone named Faboo Andre and it was nice to see Butcher and Blade destroying people like this. It isn’t a match that you need to see or course but as a brief showcase for Butcher and Blade, who seem to be on their way up, it worked out well enough. Now do something with them.

Allie vs. Red Velvet

QT Marshall is here with Velvet and Brandi Rhodes is on commentary. Feeling out process to start with Velvet grabbing a headlock and then running her over with a shoulder. A rollup gives Velvet two and Allie isn’t into the handshake. Instead Allie sends her into the corner but gets choked down with a boot. Velvet gets caught on top though and Allie hits a superkick. The running knee sets up a bulldog as Brandi wants Allie to stay on it. Down The Rabbit Hole finishes Velvet at 4:19.

Rating: D+. Another not too bad match with Allie and Brandi’s issues being front and center. What those issues are still isn’t clear, as Allie hasn’t exactly been trying to do anything bad to Marshall. I’m not sure what they’re going for long term, but it seems that the short term goal is to get Brandi on TV, which is working well enough.

Colt Cabana vs. Zack Clayton

Cabana drives him into the corner to start and we get some clean breaks but Stu Grayson of the Dark Order doesn’t seem thrilled with Cabana’s tactics. Evil Uno comes out to yell at him as well so Cabana shoulders Clayton down to take over. Clayton gets two off a rollup and Cabana is ticked off enough to start the aggression. Clayton fires off some uppercuts but the Dark Order offers a distraction. The Chicago Skyline puts Clayton down and, after an order from Uno, Cabana uses Brodie Lee’s discus lariat for the pin at 4:20.

Rating: C-. It was nice to see some storyline advancement during a match on this show because it has been lacking for nearly a year now. This is the kind of thing that can make Dark worth watching (or at least a little more worth watching) but for some reason this stuff is rather rare. That being said, if Cabana needed help beating this guy, maybe the Dark Order is a little beyond him.

Peter Avalon says the Initiative is done because it’s all about him. He isn’t an enhancement talent and it’s time to light a fire under Brandon Cutler. The two of them can go one on one and it’s time for the loser to win. Leva Bates does not seem pleased.

Lucha Bros vs. Ryzin/Angel Perez

Fenix and Ryzin start things off with Ryzin being knocked down in a hurry. Penta comes in and holds Fenix’s hand for a crazy springboard flipping armdrag but Ryzin gets a boot up in the corner. Perez comes in to elbow Fenix in the face and a running knee to the face drops him again. Penta’s distraction lets Fenix grab a spinning sunset flip out of the corner for two. Penta hits a running Canadian Destroyer on Ryzin and a spike Fear Factor (though with Fenix standing up for the spike instead of coming off the top) finishes Perez at 2:53.

Post match here are Eddie Kingston and Butcher and Blade with Eddie promising that one of them is going to win the Casino Battle Royal. Butcher isn’t happy but Kingston gets them together for a group hug.

Ivelisse vs. KiLynn King

Diamante is here with Ivelisse. They trade some strikes to start until King takes way too long trying a slam, allowing Ivelisse to slip away. A springboard tornado DDT gives Ivelisse two and a kick to the head gets the same. The full nelson with the legs keep King down and a running knee gives Ivelisse two more. Another big kick misses though and King hits a hard forearm. King kicks her in the head and sends Ivelisse flying with a German suplex for two. As Taz criticizes the covering, Diamante offers a distraction so Ivelisse can hit a Downward Spiral. Code Red finishes King at 4:48.

Rating: C-. They might have something here with King, who gets noticed every time she is on the show. I know she probably isn’t going anywhere, but it could be worth giving her a little something. Like say, a win, over another of the Dark jobbers. That could help a few other people here and there but for some reason it never happens. I really don’t get it, but that’s not what the show seems to be about.

Shawn Dean/Brandon Bullock vs. Dark Order

It’s John Silver and Alex Reynolds for the Order here. Silver takes Dean straight down for an attempted choke and then fires a knee to the face. It’s off to Reynolds, who gets caught with a quick enziguri so Bullock can come in off the tag. Silver kicks Bullock in the chest though as commentary talks about Tom and Jerry.

The Order starts hammering away on Bullock in the corner and back to back splashes give Reynolds two. Bullock flips out of a belly to back suplex though and it’s back to Dean. That earns him some quick strikes to the face from Dean and a spinning torture rack powerbomb plants Dean again. The double flipping DDT gives Silver the pin at 5:42.

Rating: D+. Kind of a long match by comparison to the rest of the show and that’s not the best thing. Dean is one of the better jobbers but there is a reason that Silver and Reynolds were put under masks and are often just identified by numbers. The match wasn’t anything of note, but the Dark Order has been getting a lot more TV time as of late so I can’t say I’m surprised to see them here.

Brandon Cutler, also with Leva Bates, says he’ll take Peter Avalon’s challenge. If Avalon wants to light that fire, be ready to be burned.

Luther vs. Darby Allin

Taz is suddenly a huge Luther fan. Luther kicks the knee out to start and sends Darby’s knee into the post. Back in and Luther stomps at the knee some more with Allin not even being able to run the ropes. Allin comes back with a Fujiwara armbar but Luther makes it over to the rope. Luther is right back to the knee and a backdrop driver gives him two. There’s a reverse suplex for two more as Taz wants Darby to headbutt a fire hydrant. The Cannonball only hits corner though and Luther rolls outside for a Coffin Drop from Allin. Back in and the Coffin Drop finishes Luther at 4:29.

Rating: C. Luther was wrestling a much more logical match here and that made it a lot easier to watch. He hasn’t been the disaster that I was expecting when he seemingly was hired because he and Jericho worked together a long time ago, but this worked out well enough. Allin survived until the end here, and that’s perfectly fine.

Dark Order vs. Natural Nightmares

It’s Preston Vance/Alan Angels for the Order here. The Nightmares jump them before the bell and the fight is on with the Order getting beaten out to the floor in a hurry. Dustin hammers on Vance and hits a belly to back suplex for…well more right hands actually. Marshall comes in for his own shots to the face but Angels low bridges Marshall to the floor. Back in and Vance hits his own suplex for two, followed by a spinebuster for the same.

Marshall gets in a faceplant on Angels but Vance pulls Dustin off the apron. A DDT gives Angels two and the hot tag brings in Dustin to clean house. The snap powerslams plant the Order but a cheap shot from the apron lets Vance get a rollup for two. Back in and Marshall hits a Diamond Cutter on Angels, leaving Vance to take the Final Reckoning for the pin at 8:00.

Rating: C. Again, believe it or not, the talented wrestlers getting a little time led to a better match. It also helps that there is an actual story here instead of just people doing moves to each other for the sake of filling in time. This wasn’t bad either, as the Nightmares continue to be a nice little pairing.

Quick All Out preview wraps it up.

Overall Rating: C-. I know I’m beating a heavily damaged horse here but the time was the key to making this one a lot more watchable. There was nothing wroth going out of your way to see here but then again there almost never is on Dark. It was more of the same, but there wasn’t a point where I was wondering how much longer I would have to sit through the thing. This was as proof positive as you could get that there is no need to make the show so long most of the time and it was easier to watch as a result. I’m sure that won’t matter next time, but it was a nice break for one week.

Results

Butcher and Blade b. Faboo Andre/D3 – Suplex onto Blade’s knees to Andre

Allie b. Red Velvet – Down The Rabbit Hole

Colt Cabana b. Zack Clayton – Discus lariat

Lucha Bros b. Ryzin/Angel Perez – Spike Fear Factor to Perez

Ivelisse b. KiLynn King – Code Red

Dark Order b. Brandon Bullock/Shawn Dean – Double flipping DDT to Bullock

Darby Allin b. Luther – Coffin Drop

Natural Nightmares b. Dark Order – Final Reckoning to Vance

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: All Elite Wrestling

Dark
Date: September 1, 2020
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz

Great, Excalibur is back. I didn’t know what I would do without the weird emphasis on combiNATIONS or hearing the exact and undisputed proper Japanese and Spanish names for moves while he also gets in his jokes from PWG. Would it be too much to ask Taz to choke him out? Let’s get to it.

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

Taz and Excalibur welcome us to the show so I have to look at Excalibur’s stupid…well chin in this case.

Eddie Torres vs. Shawn Spears

They go with the grappling to start with Spears taking him down and then putting a knee into Torres’ arm. Back up and they lock up against the ropes until Spears takes him outside for rams into various objects. They get back in with Torres hitting a running dropkick, only to get hit in the face. The Death Valley Driver finishes Torres at 3:49.

Rating: D+. Another nothing match here for Spears who gets to win match after match and never goes anywhere but that’s the case for a lot of Dark regulars. It isn’t a terrible match, but Spears has been around this show for a long time and wasn’t all that great when he was a regular on Dynamite. That’s a weird place to be, but it might be time to try him out on Dynamite again. It’s not like this is anything interesting and it would make sense to give someone else a shot.

Post match Spears gets in a shot with the loaded glove.

Santana and Ortiz vs. Rysin/Faboo Andre

Santana headlocks Rysin to start as Taz suggests that Trent’s mom’s van was almost going to a chop shop. Rysin elbows Santana in the face but gets kicked down into Three Amigos. Andre comes in to dropkick Ortiz and a middle rope spinning crossbody gets two. Everything breaks down though and a pop up sitout powerbomb plants Andre. Ortiz kicks Andre in the face for the pin at 3:29.

Rating: C-. This was slightly more entertaining than the opener as it was more of a squash and had a guy named Faboo Andre, which makes everything a little bit better. Santana and Ortiz are another team who could be a big deal around here but haven’t had a chance near the top of the division. It doesn’t help that they’re feuding with the Best Friends over a mom’s van but I’m sure that’ll go somewhere good in the end.

Post match Santana and Ortiz are impressed by the Best Friends finally showing some fortitude. One thing though: Trent’s mom needs to stop calling Ortiz’s phone because it’s not going to happen.

Cassandra Golden vs. Allie

QT Marshall is here with Allie. They lock up to start for a standoff, which Excalibur says is Golden giving Allie fits, because Excalibur doesn’t know what fits mean. Allie elbows her in the face and grabs a swinging neckbreaker, followed by the sliding elbow. That’s enough to send Golden outside so Allie throws her back in, with Marshall putting Allie back on the apron. Back in and a running hip attack gives Golden one in the corner and we hit the chinlock. Allie fights up with some knees to the ribs and the running bulldog, followed by the Eye of the Hurricane (Down the Rabbit Hole) for the pin on Golden at 4:14.

Rating: D+. Allie continues to turn into a wrestler around here, which has taken some time but she is already a few steps ahead of a lot of the people in the division. It wasn’t much of a match but Golden got in a little offense, which is better than some people get around here. Allie was the point here though and that worked out well enough.

The Best Friends brawl with Santana and Ortiz in the back.

Frankie Kazarian vs. Angelico

This could be good. They fight over a wristlock to start with Kazarian taking him down but Angelico flips out. A front facelock has Kazarian in trouble but they get up for a standoff. An exchange of legsweeps set up one each until Angelico takes him down by the leg into a leglock. Kazarian gets two off an Oklahoma roll but Angelico gets in a right hand to the face.

Something like an Octopus hold on the mat is switched into a leglock to keep Kazarian in trouble. Back up and Kazarian walks into an elbow to the face and it’s right back to the leg cranking. Angelico pulls him out of the corner and hammers away with right hands, setting up the springboard spinning legdrop for two. Angelico is back up but the Fall of the Angels is broken up, allowing Kazarian to hit a reverse DDT for the pin at 7:50.

Rating: C+. Believe it or not, two of the better people on the show have the best match on the show in a good while. I can’t say I’m surprised whatsoever and I’m also not complaining whatsoever. This was a rather nice match between two people who were able to have a little time and get something going, which is what I want to see out of Dark a lot more often.

Brandi Rhodes comes to the stage for a chat with Tony Schiavone. Tony brings up the Nightmare Sisters losing in the Women’s Tag Team Tournament so Brandi calls him Anthony. She knows what it means to be pretty and Anna Jay only got the win because she’s part of Daddy Brody’s special team. You can be pretty but you need to be smart too, so come to her face to face. Brandi trying to sound tough is one of the funniest things this show has ever done.

Donnie Primetime/Ryan Rembrandt vs. Gunn Club

Billy headlocks Rembrandt over to start and it’s off to Austin as commentary laughs about the Gunn Club. It’s back to Billy, who catapults Rembrandt into Austin’s middle rope clothesline. Primetime comes in and commentary talks about how similar he is to Joey Janela. With that horrible thought out of the way, Billy comes in and cleans house before handing it back to Austin for the Quick Draw (which Excalibur doesn’t know, because he isn’t that great of a commentator) and the pin at 3:47.

Rating: D+. Of all the matches that Gunn Club has had around here, this was the most recent. They beat up more jobbers because that’s all they do around here, but since their entire deal deal is Billy Gunn and Son, there isn’t exactly much room for them to grow. Much like Joey Janela/Sonny Kiss, just throw them up onto Dynamite so a big team can beat them and then they can come back down here.

Abadon vs. Dani Jordyn

Jordyn is a little freaked out by Abadon, as she should be. Abadon yells a lot so Dani slugs away and slaps her in the face, which goes as well as you would expect. That earns Jordyn a running clothesline and Abadon starts going after the leg. The knee is crushed into the mat and Abadon does it again for a bonus. A DDT to the leg keeps Jordyn down and Abadon sends her to the apron to sweep the leg again. Back in and Abadon leg laces her with some right hands to the leg making Jordyn tap at 5:00.

Rating: C. This is the kind of match that can do someone some good on this show. Abadon is someone who is climbing the ladder around here and it is a good idea to have her get wins like this. Granted it might not mean as much without having her win a few matches on the other show, but for now, this was an effective way to push Abadon, which is one of the points of something like this.

Tony Donati vs. Ricky Starks

Taz is in a much better mood. After playing some air guitar during his entrance, Starks drives him into the corner to start but Donati grabs a rollup for two. Starks sends him outside with ease and takes it right back inside for a belly to back suplex. There’s a dropkick to Donati and Starks gets in a little dancing. Donati gets in another rollup for another two so Starks gets serious and Roshambos him for the pin at 3:28.

Rating: D+. Not too bad here as Starks continues to look good. The better point for him though is the fact that Starks gets to do something on Dynamite and probably All Out. You’re only going to get so much out of exclusively squashing jobbers so having Starks down here for some target practice is a nice change of pace over what a lot of the Dark regulars get to do.

Jurassic Express vs. Jon Cruz/David Ali

Marko Stunt is here on crutches with the two who don’t look ridiculous in the ring (and yes, one of those is a walking dinosaur who says he is 65 million years old). This is Cruz and Ali’s debut as a team so they don’t have the fist bump timing down just yet. Cruz tries a sleeper on Luchasaurus to start and is quickly thrown off. Ali comes in and gets chopped in the corner as the squash is on early.

It’s off to Boy for some hurricanranas before he holds Ali up for the Tail Whip from Luchasaurus. Ali slips out of the chokeslam attempt and hands it back to Cruz for a jumping enziguri. Luchasaurus kicks Ali in the head anyway and does the same to Cruz for a bonus. Boy adds a sliding elbow to the back of Ali’s head and the Extinction Level Event finishes Cruz at 4:58.

Rating: D+. I’ve given up on the hope of having Jurassic Express being a serious team but this involved Stunt having to stand around instead of interfering or doing that horrible dance so this could have been a lot worse. Cruz and Ali were just target practice for the Express which is hardly a surprise, but it wasn’t exactly thrilling.

Red Velvet vs. Anna Jay

Jay hammers away in the corner to start but gets taken down with a leg lariat. Velvet kicks her down in the corner and hits a bottom rope elbow for two. Some bad right hands and choking have Velvet down and a snap suplex sets up some forearms to the ribs. Back up and Velvet drops into the splits, seemingly for the sole purpose of Jay hitting a Natural Selection.

Back up and Velvet gets the better of a slugout, setting up some clotheslines. Running knees to the back give Velvet two but Jay kicks her in the face. Jay makes sure to look at the camera a few times before knocking Velvet down on the floor. Back in and some curb stomps set up a rear naked choke to finish Velvet at 5:00.

Rating: D-. What in the name of some random reference or term was that? Jay was inducted into the Dark Order last week and seems ready for a feud with the biggest women’s name in the company. Velvet went toe to toe with Jay here and it was rather ridiculous, especially given that Jay is hardly ready for a five minute match based on her past performances. They missed here, and it made Jay look really bad.

Shawn Dean vs. Kip Sabian

Penelope Ford is here too. Sabian uses some signs (ala Sammy Guevara) to promote his Twitch streams and his crop tops. Dean is so intimidating that Sabian doesn’t bother taking off his sunglasses while Taz and Excalibur talk about the gym. Sabian knocks him into the corner and asks why we’re doing this again. A knee to the face and a kick to the chest connects….and the referee says it was wide right. Ok then. Dean uses the distraction to hit a hard German suplex into a floatover DDT for two. A pop up knee stops Dean again though and it’s the Deathly Hallows for the pin at 4:17.

Rating: C-. Sabian is one of those guys I could see working rather well on Dynamite and it isn’t like it’s difficult to boo someone always on Ford’s arm. He feels like a mainstay around Dark though and that’s not exactly a great usage for him. It’s clear that he has some ability and he has been getting better, so let him go and see what he can do. How much more can you really get out of him around here?

Initiative vs. Private Party

Leva Bates is here with the Initiative. The Initiative starts fast and takes Quen down for a double chop into a double splash for two. Avalon knocks Kassidy off the apron but Quen fights out of trouble like he’s beating up a pair of jobbers who happened to get a gimmick. Kassidy comes in with a top rope double stomp to the back into a belly to back suplex for two on Cutler, though only after some staring at the camera. Avalon comes in for a high crossbody on Quen as everything breaks down in a hurry.

A suicide dive drops Quen on the floor, followed by a split legged moonsault for two on Kassidy. The hot tag brings in Quen for a big moonsault onto both of them but Quen has to flip out of an apron hurricanrana from Bates. Back in and Cutler avoids a charge from Quen, with Kassidy tagging himself in. Cutler hits a 450 for no count because Quen isn’t legal, meaning it’s Kassidy with an Oklahoma roll for the pin at 4:21.

Rating: C+. This worked too as they were flying in and out of there as fast as they could. That’s more to Private Party’s tastes, which might be better for them every now and then. They have been doing their thing for a good while now and while I liked them being reined in by FTR on Dynamite, it can be smart to let them go out and do their thing like they did here.

Post match Avalon snaps and beats up Cutler, including a shot to the head with the 20 sided die. They really spent all those weeks and months getting them closer to winning and then finally have them lose here? Really?

Dynamite preview takes us out.

Overall Rating: C-. I kept having to correct myself from calling Dynamite the main roster but in reality, that’s pretty much what it is. In WWE, there are people you know are never making it up to the main roster and that is how it feels with this show compared to Dynamite. A lot of these people are just interchangeable jobbers, which is fine enough, but when you have so many people with nothing to do, maybe it would make sense to drop some of them.

I get the idea of giving indy wrestlers work, but there comes a point where you’re just wasting your contracted talent for the sake of having this show continuing. It was a lot easier with just an hour and thirty four minutes (yeah just), but this could be so much tighter and more effective of a show. They seem to like what they’re doing here, but we are long past the point where you can see the divide between the two levels of the talent. There are some who float back and forth, but if they’re good enough to be on Dynamite full time, they probably shouldn’t be here, in what is effectively a training ground.

Results

Shawn Spears b. Eddie Torres – Death Valley Driver

Santana and Ortiz b. Rysin/Faboo Andre – Kick to Andre’s face

Allie b. Cassandra Golden – Down The Rabbit Hole

Frankie Kazarian b. Angelico – Reverse DDT

Gunn Club b. Donnie Primetime/Ryan Rembrandt – Quick Draw to Primetime

Abadon b. Dani Jordyn – Leg lace

Ricky Starks b. Tony Donati – Roshambo

Jurassic Express b. Jon Cruz/David Ali – Extinction Level Event to Cruz

Anna Jay b. Red Velvet – Rear naked choke

Kip Sabian b. Shawn Dean – Deathly Hallows

Private Party b. Initiative – Oklahoma roll to Cutler

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