Collision
Date: August 16, 2025
Location: Andrew J. Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

We are just over a week away from Forbidden Door and in this case we have something to set up a major match on the show. This week is the “Technical Spectacle” as we have a four way for the #1 contendership to the IWGP World Heavyweight Title, which should be a good one. Other than that, the Death Riders are here so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Here is Toni Storm to get things going. She praises Athena as a history breaking woman but “holy s*** you are annoying.” How many nicknames does someone need? She is the American Joshi, meaning neither country has accepted her and she is the Fallen Goddess, meaning the Good Lord took one look at her and said “holy s*** you are annoying.”

However, if Athena is a goddess, Storm better pray. “Dear fallen goddess Athena, I pray that you will be leaving London on a budget airline with my a** print on your face.” Cue Athena and the brawl is on, with Billie Starkz coming in to beat Storm down. Athena promises to expose Storm as nothing but a bunch of sexual innuendos. She mocks Storm’s pose but here is Mina Shirakawa, which has Athena DIVING onto security for protection in a funny bit. Storm was hilarious here, as she often can be.

Video on Hangman Page vs. MJF.

Jet Speed vs. Death Riders

Marina Shafir is here with the Riders. Jet Speed dives onto them to start fast and some stereo dropkicks have Yuta down as we officially get going. Yuta fights back and brings in Moxley (the fans approve) to send both of them outside. Back in and Yuta’s fisherman’s suplex gets two on Knight, followed by a knee drop for the same. Knight gets two of his own off a rollup and dives over to Bailey to pick up the pace.

Some kicks put Yuta down for a standing moonsault and two more. A crane kick sends Yuta outside and a double dropkick sends Moxley outside with him. Knight gets suplexed on the floor though and we take a break. We come back with Bailey in trouble but armdragging his way out of an Angle Slam. Knight comes back in to strike away and a splash gets two on Yuta. Bailey and Moxley trade forearms (because we trade forearms in AEW) and the other two trade chops until Moxley cutters Bailey for two.

Knight springboards in to take Moxley down and Bailey’s big kick to the head gets two on Yuta. A middle rope hurricanrana into a powerbomb plants Yuta for two more and a superkick into a backslide gets the same with Shafir making a save. Shafir misses a charge into the steps and Yuta knees Moxley by mistake. The tornado kick into the frog splash gets two on Yuta as Shafir had the referee. Moxley Death Riders Bailey on the floor and Yuta’s low blow into a rollup finishes Knight at 16:26.

Rating: B. It was a rather fast paced and wild match, with Jet Speed coming close a few times but ultimately getting caught by the numbers game. The Death Riders should be able to beat a team like Jet Speed as they need some momentum going into the Forbidden Door cage match. Good, fast paced opener here.

Video on tonight’s Technical Spectacle.

Video on the Outrunners, who are trying to get back in touch with “Brother Nature”.

Ricochet vs. Ace Austin

This is Austin’s (former TNA X-Division/Tag Team Champion) debut. The fans point out that unlike Ricochet, Austin has hair. Austin kicks him to the floor to start and does his handstand on the apron, followed by a kick to Ricochet’s chest. Back in and Ricochet breaks up a springboard before standing on the aforementioned hair. A 619 in the corner sets up a springboard clothesline for two on Austin and we take a break.

We come back with Austin getting two off a kick to the face but cue the Gates Of Agony for a distraction. Ricochet hits a superplex into a brainbuster, followed by a standing shooting star press for two. Vertigo is countered into a rollup for two more and Austin crotches him on top. Austin’s big dive takes out all three villains but Ricochet goes to the eyes back inside. The Spirit Gun finishes for Ricochet at 10:24.

Rating: B-. This was a nice debut for Austin, who is a heck of an athlete but might have some issues with being on the smaller side. At the same time, he was fighting 3-1 here so there was only so much he could do in the first place. We’ll have to see where he goes from here, but he did well to start.

The Hurt Syndicate is ready to hut either whichever team comes out of the tournament.

Paragon is ready to get back to the ring, with Roderick Strong wanting revenge on Kyle Fletcher for injuring Adam Cole. Tomohiro Ishii and Hologram seem to approve.

Paragon vs. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian

Paragon strikes away to start and an early snap suplex gets two on Christian. Johnson tries to fight back but a Christian cheap shot actually slows O’Reilly down. Christian’s top rope clothesline gets two but Strong Rock Bottoms him from the apron onto O’Reilly’s knees. Strong comes in to clean house, including a string of running knees. The High/Low finishes Christian at 4:26.

Rating: C+. Pretty much a squash for the Paragon here, who needed a win after some less than great times lately. Christian and Johnson have been a decent team in Ring Of Honor, though things have started to fall apart for them since they announced that they wanted the Tag Team Titles. Such is life in Ring Of Honor, but it might be even worse for them here as they were little more than cannon fodder.

Post match Ishii and Hologram come in to celebrate but Strong leaves (seemingly focused, not out of anger). O’Reilly says he’ll call the other two.

FTR jumps Brody King in the back and they brawl into the arena. King fights back but Stokely Hathaway breaks up a Cannonball. Some powder to the eyes sets up the Shatter Machine. Hathaway, with his arm in a sling, gets a Bandido (not here) mask.

Skyflight issues a challenge to the Don Callis Family for next week. They don’t care if it’s a singles, tag or trios match, with Leila Grey promising to f*** Don Callis up. That’s $5 to the swear jar but they’re off to train.

Julia Hart vs. Kris Statlander vs. Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford

For $100,000 (that could buy a lot of swearing) and thankfully the seconds all leave. They pair off to start with Statlander hitting a basement dropkick to the back for two on Jay. Hart goes Old School for a hurricanrana to Statlander and Ford dropkicks Jay in the back. We take a break and come back with Statlander suplexing Ford out of the corner.

Jay hits a Blockbuster for two and gets two clean a bit of house. Ford is back up with a cutter to Jay and a poisonrana leaves everyone down. Hart and Ford both miss moonsaults and some kicks leave everyone down again. Jay Gory Bombs Hart for two with Ford making the save. Ford and Jay fight to the apron, leaving Statlander to headscissor choke Hart for the win at 9:45.

Rating: B. They went nuts here and it made for another action packed match, which is all you can ask for in this situation. The money stipulation doesn’t mean much as they keep doing these things, but maybe it could move Statlander up towards a title shot. It likely won’t, but at least she gets money which changes…well nothing for her around here really.

Post match the rest of the Triangle Of Madness run in for the beatdown, triggering a bunch of run-ins for beatdowns. Harley Cameron runs in to chase the villains off.

The Don Callis Family is ready for Hiromu Takahashi at Forbidden Door. They’ll see Skyflight on Dynamite too.

Kris Statlander is happy with her win and Harley Cameron runs in to celebrate with her. The Death Riders come in, with Jon Moxley saying “d*** right” and Statlander ignoring Wheeler Yuta. As you should.

Juice Robinson vs. Bryan Keith

Austin Gunn and Big Bill are here too. Robinson headlocks him down to start and armdrags him into a hiptoss. Keith tosses him outside for a crash though and we take a break. We come back with Robinson punching his way out of trouble and getting two off a faceplant. The other two get in a fight on the floor and Robinson’s forward DDT gets the pin at 6:46.

Rating: C. They barely had time to do anything with the break in the middle but at least Robinson got a win. He’s been needing some of those since his return so it was nice to see things going as they should. Both of these teams need something new to do, though there is only so much point in pushing whatever is left of the Bang Bang Gang given how much of the team is gone.

Robinson seems to have banged up his knee.

Anthony Bowens yells at Renee Paquette for asking him about Max Caster. Why is he always hearing that chant when all Caster does is lose???

Daniel Garcia vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Hechicero vs. Lee Moriarty

For an IWGP World Heavyweight Title shot at Forbidden Door. McGuinness and Moriarty pair off to fight over a top wristlock while the other two do the same. Garcia and McGuinness get the better of things and work on the arms until all four head outside. Hechicero starts in on Garcia’s arm as McGuinness sends Moriarty’s hand into the steps. Back in and Garcia hammers on Hechicero in the corner before they trade small packages for two each.

Moriarty joins them for some rapid fire rollups until McGuinness breaks it up with a stomp. Moriarty loads up a Gory Bomb on Garcia but McGuinness ties up Moriarty’s leg…and Moriarty ankle locks Hechicero at the same time. That’s not something that can last long so they all collapse as we take a break.

We come back with McGuinness hitting the Tower Of London on Hechicero with Moriarty making the save. Garcia rolls McGuinness up for two more and Hechicero chokes McGuinness. Somehow McGuinness gets a leglock on to break the choke but Garcia pulls him into a LeBell Lock while Hechicero cranks on Moriarty’s arm. McGuinness reverses into a leglock on Garcia, which is broken up before Hechicero headscissor drivers Moriarty.

Garcia and McGuinness get stereo holds until McGuinness lets his go to elbow Garcia. The London Dungeon (seated armbar) has Moriarty in trouble but Hechicero grabs a hold on both of them at the same time. Garcia breaks that up and Sharpshooters Hechicero as McGuinness puts Moriarty in the London Dungeon. McGuinness cranks back even harder though and Moriarty taps at 15:33.

Rating: B+. The name was accurate as that was one hold after another with some incredible creativity. McGuinness winning is by far the most interesting way to go as it will be great to see him getting the title shot in his home country. Hechicero looked awesome as usual and I had a blast with this, though the Ring Of Honor champion being the one to tap out is about as appropriate as you can get.

Garcia is rather upset and that doesn’t bode well for McGuiness’ future. McGuinness says the match with Zack Sabre Jr. is a dream match and asks for some applause for Garcia. He even asks for Garcia to be in his corner at Forbidden Door, with Garcia accepting to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Another rather awesome show here, which focused on the in-ring side of things but also set up a bunch of stuff. The main event and post match makes it pretty clear where things are going, along with Roderick Strong being a lot more serious and whatever is going on with the Death Riders and Kris Statlander. I had a really good time with this one and that’s a nice thing to get to say about Collision.

Results
Death Riders b. Jet Speed – Low blow to Knight
Ricochet b. Ace Austin – Spirit Gun
Paragon b. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian – High/Low to Christian
Kris Statlander b. Julia Hart, Penelope Ford and Anna Jay – Headscissor choke to Hart
Juice Robinson b. Bryan Keith – Forward DDT
Nigel McGuinness b. Lee Moriarty, Daniel Garcia and Hechicero – London Dungeon to Moriarty

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: August 15, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni

This is a special edition of the show, which very well may mean that they taped too much and have to do something with all of the footage. We’re two weeks away from Death Before Dishonor and odds are that won’t have anything to do with this show. The fact that this will be overlapping with TNA Emergence is just a detail I’m sure. Let’s get to it.

Here are yesterday’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

TV Title: Willie Mack vs. Nick Wayne

Mack is challenging and Kip Sabian/Mother Wayne are here with Nick. A running shoulder puts Wayne on the floor to start and Mack gets annoyed at the idea of being chopped. They both go outside with Wayne sending him into various things and posing on the barricade. Back in and Mack knocks him silly for a needed breather, followed by some shots to the face. The swinging slam sets up the standing moonsault to give Mack two but Sabian’s distraction means he misses the frog splash. The Killswitch retains the title at

Rating: C+. Mack is an entertaining guy to watch in the ring but he’s also not going anywhere important anytime soon. Wayne is on his way to getting slaughtered by Adam Copeland and Christian Cage at Forbidden Door, making his time as TV Champion feel a bit less than important. I’m not sure who takes the title from him, as there aren’t many people who have been built up, but it might be time for him to drop the thing already if this is how he’s being used.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. AR Fox/Outrunners

The Promotions jump them from behind to start but Magnum fights back with some dropkicks. A running knee lift sets up Floyd’s backdrop for two and it’s off to Taylor. Some dropkicks put Taylor on the floor but he’s right back with the legdrop on the apron to put Magnum in trouble.

Back in and Bravo works on a chinlock but Dean has to come in to cut off a tag attempt. Taylor pulls Floyd off the apron so Magnum settles for a diving tag off to Fox. House is cleaned in a hurry and it’s Floyd coming back in for the slam on Taylor. The Outrunners drop the Infantry but Taylor breaks up the Mega Powers Elbow. Taylor is sent to the floor though and it’s the Mega Powers Elbow into Total Recall for the pin on Bravo at 10:45.

Rating: C. Somehow the Outrunners feel like they’ve lost all of their steam, as the idea is still funny enough but they’re just people out there doing things most of the time. It’s not as if they feel like they’re going anywhere, but this is about all we get from them. At the same time you have the Promotions and…ok if you really think they’re ever going to do anything important, you haven’t been paying enough attention.

Blake Christian and Lee Johnson talk nicknames but Johnson suggests they win some matches first.

Alex Zayne vs. Jay Lethal

Lethal starts fast by sending him outside for the suicide dives but Zayne slides back in. A springboard moonsault drops Lethal but he’s right back with a shot to the face. The Lethal Injection is blocked and Zayne hits his flipping Fameasser to put them both down. Zayne catches Lethal on top with a hurricanrana but the flipping side slam is blocked. Instead Lethal hits a cutter into the Lethal Injection for the fast pin at 5:40.

Rating: C+. Bringing Lethal back up the ladder a bit isn’t a bad idea, as it’s nice to see the old and the new tying together for a change. Lethal is still good enough for a completely passable match in the ring and someone can get a nice rub from beating him. That’s assuming he doesn’t just randomly lose his next match, which is always a realistic possibility.

Paul Walter Hauser is at the premiere of the Naked Gun with some AEW wrestlers.

QT Marshall vs. OXP

Aaron Solo is here with Marshall, who mocks OXP, who acted in Cobra Kai. After establishing that OXP knows Hauser, Marshall tells him to go back to Hollywood. OXP starts fast by slugging away but gets slammed down. A spinning kick to the face drops Marshall but he knocks OXP out of the air. The cutter gives Marshall the pin at 2:46.

Post match Marshall tells OXP to send Hauser this message….and Hauser is here. Well thanks for being there to help your fellow actor. Hauser lays out the heels and stands tall. At least Hauser vs. Marshall feels like a story that has been built up for a few weeks.

We get the same Mina Shirakawa promo from last night, as she challenges Athena for Death Before Dishonor.

Allysin Kay vs. Billie Starkz

Athena is here with Starkz, who tries to start fast but gets pulled out of the air. Starkz snaps Kay’s ribs over the middle rope but Kay kicks her down. A German suplex looks to set up a powerbomb but they trade running forearms instead. Starkz kicks her in the face and hits a German suplex of her own, followed by a crossface chickenwing for the tap at 4:25.

Rating: C-. It was quick and to the point, though I’m not sure why I’m supposed to be interested in Starkz. Other than her association with Athena, there isn’t much that makes her stand out. She’s only so good in the ring and her claim to fame is a single reign with the midcard title. I’m going to need a bit more than that from her and I don’t see it happening anytime soon.

The Dark Order says losing makes them who they are because it makes them want to win more. I’m not sure how much I’d brag about that.

Tom La Ruffa/Beef vs. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian

Christian suplexes Beef down to start and Johnson adds a standing moonsault. Beef gets grounded in the corner for some choking and Johnson grabs a chinlock. That’s broken up and Beef brings La Ruffa in as everything breaks down. Beef is sent outside and it’s a Death Valley Driver/top rope double stomp combination to finish La Ruffa at 4:10.

Rating: C. I guess Johnson and Christian are the next team in line to allegedly challenge for the Tag Team Titles, assuming they’re active at some point in the next few months. Granted it would have helped had they not lost last week, but there was no choice but to book them in a match against Mistico. I kind of like the team though, as it isn’t like there are all kinds of better options.

Marina Shafir vs. Marti Belle

Jon Moxley is actually in Shafir’s corner as Shafir shoves Belle down to start. Shafir takes her to the mat for the mounting but Belle escapes a cross armbreaker attempt. That’s fine with Shafir, who takes her down again and strikes away in the corner. The full nelson doesn’t last long as Belle gets more serious and tries hitting Shafir in the face. Shafir tells her to do it better and sticks her chin out, with Shafir just standing there as she gets hit. Mother’s Milk finishes Belle at 4:12.

Rating: C. Having Moxley there did make the match feel a bit more important, though Shafir is another name who is just kind of floating through the women’s division without much to do. She would be a different kind of challenger for Athena, assuming she gets by Shirakawa. The match was just a squash though, with Shafir literally standing there while Belle hit her in the face. That doesn’t exactly scream tough competition, which made Shafir look better.

Adam Priest wants some backup so here are the Workhorsemen to offer their services. JD Drake has a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt on so Priest better accept.

Adam Priest/Workhorsemen vs. Ryan Zukko/Joe Keys/Josh Fuller

I guess Priest accepted. Henry takes Keys into the corner to start and it’s off to Priest, who is powered into the wrong corner just as fast. Zukko comes in and gets jawbreakered, setting up a slingshot hilo from Drake. Fuller comes in and is taken down in a hurry, setting up Priest’s piledriver into a Downward Spiral/running kick combination to give Henry the pin at 4:02.

Rating: C+. You know all those times I’ve complained about potential challengers not getting to face champions? Well that is NOT the case with Priest and the Workhorsemen as they were announced as facing the six man champions. That’s right, the CMLL Trios Champions! They were fine as a team, though I’ll need to see more than a four minute squash to have a better idea about them.

Post match the beatdown continues but the Dark Order runs in for the save.

We run down the Death Before Dishonor card with….nothing new added!

Hechicero vs. Jordan Oliver

Somehow this is Oliver’s first time in ROH. Hechicero takes him down to start but Oliver is up for some chops. Oliver counters a leapfrog but Hechicero takes his leg down and ties it up in the ropes. Hechicero takes his straps down but puts them back up before cranking on the leg again. A sunset flip gives Oliver two but Hechicero ties up his arms for the submission at 5:28.

Rating: C+. Hechicero is very fun to watch and they’ve made him feel like a killer out there. That’s the kind of thing that can make into a threat to Bandido and that’s a good way to set up Death Before Dishonor. I don’t buy Hechicero winning the title, but it’s a match that has me intrigued and I’ll always go for that feeling.

Neon/Mascara Dorada vs. Premiere Athletes

Mark Sterling is here with the Athletes. Nese and Neon start things off with Nese going for the mask, earning himself a hurricanrana. Dorada comes in with a double superkick to Daivari but Nese pulls Dorada outside so the villains can take over. Back in and Neon gets caught in the wrong corner, allowing Nese to shout his team’s name.

Nese hammers on Neon’s mask but Neon fights up, allowing the tag off to Dorada to pick up the pace. A rolling cutter hits Nese but Sterling offers a distraction, allowing the Athletes to give Dorada a double chokeslam. Neon makes the save and superkicks Sterling down, setting up stereo flipping splashes off the top for the double pin on the Athletes at 6:55.

Rating: B-. This has been back to back weeks when CMLL stars (including Dorada both times) have beaten teams talking about coming after the Tag Team Titles. That’s not the most promising sign for the titles’ future, but the CMLL wrestlers are presented as bigger stars than most of the Ring Of Honor regulars anyway. At least Dorada and Neon are fun to watch.

We get an old west vignette showing Bandido beating up a bunch of villains in a saloon. Hechicero shows up and they have a finger gun standoff.

Overall Rating: D+. After an hour and thirty five minutes of this show, a grand total of nothing important has happened. There was nothing announced for Death Before Dishonor, no stories moved forward, and the biggest change seems to be that Adam Priest and the Workhorsemen (who got together during this show) are now going to have to deal with the Dark Order.

At least when other promotions try to counter program, they do something interesting or important. That was absolutely not the case here with a bunch of middle of the road matches that just made me more tired of watching ROH than wanting to see their pay per view. Throw in STILL no announcement on either of Dustin Rhodes’ titles and this was one of the worst uses of broadcast time I’ve seen in a very good while.

Results
Nick Wayne b. Willie Mack – Killswitch
Outrunners/AR Fox b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Total Recall to Bravo
Jay Lethal b. Alex Zayne – Lethal Injection
QT Marshall b. OXP – Cutter
Billie Starkz b. Allysin Kay – Crossface chickenwing
Lee Johnson/Blake Christian b. Tom La Ruffa/Beef – Top rope double stomp/Death Valley Driver combination to La Ruffa
Marina Shafir b. Marti Belle – Mother’s Milk
Adam Priest/Workhorsemen b. Joe Keys/Ryan Zukko/Josh Fuller – Downward Spiral/running kick combination to Fuller
Hechicero b. Jordan Oliver – Double arm crank
Neon/Mascara Dorada b. Premiere Athletes – Double pin

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

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Dynamite
Date: August 13, 2025
Location: Andrew J. Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

We have about a week and a half to go before Forbidden Door and the show could use some build, as there are only a few matches set up. MJF seems to be coming after the World Title and has that contract waiting if he wants to use it. There is always the chance for some shenanigans there too, though MJF also has to deal with the Hurt Syndicate. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Here are MJF and Hangman Page for a face to face chat to get things going. MJF says Page is the main character and he is the main antagonist of AEW. He wants Page to be as angry as possible and the only reason Page is still standing is MJF hasn’t broken him yet. Page doesn’t like being called Seabiscuit and brings up that Seabiscuit wins in the end. He wants MJF to execute the contract already, like a man would.

MJF says Page is the real problem, even if people treat him like he’s perfect. Page can’t be all good and MJF is planning to expose him as a weak minded, depressed, alcoholic little boy. The difference is that MJF is real and he’s going to crucify Page. That doesn’t work for Page, who knows his faults like no one else.

If MJF wants to talk about Forbidden Door, he can use that contract he has to take his shot but he’s afraid. MJF should know that AEW is about going all in so prove that he is not a scared little boy. That’s finally enough for MJF to agree to use the contract. Why do I have a feeling that there’s going to be some kind of shenanigans in how he worded that?

We recap Darby Allin challenging Jon Moxley for Forbidden Door.

Hometown star Moxley, with the Death Riders, says whatever Allin thinks is happening at Forbidden Door isn’t happening.

Jon Moxley vs. Kevin Knight

The Death Riders are here with Moxley and Mike Bailey is here with Knight, who stomps Moxley into the corner to start. Moxley is fine with winning a chop off and sends Knight outside to hammer away. Knight is able to jump up to the apron for a nice dropkick and they’re back inside. That doesn’t last long as Knight sends him to the ramp for the running clothesline but Moxley sends him crashing into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Knight fighting out of a crossface but getting pulled into another neck crank. That’s broken up as well and Knight hits a dropkick before biting Moxley’s hand. They go up top, where Moxley rakes him across the back, only for Knight to grab a top rope superplex. A cutter out of nowhere drops Knight for two but he’s right back up to send Moxley outside. The slingshot dive connects but the UFO Splash hits knees back inside. Moxley chokes him out at 13:44.

Rating: B-. Knight gets a nice rub by being in there against Moxley, though there was pretty much no way he was going to win here. Moxley is trying to get back on track after losing the World Title and the big match against Darby Allin, whenever that happens, could get him there. Or it could be another big hit for the Death Riders, which would be rather nice to see.

Post match the choke stays on so Bailey comes in, earning himself a beating as well. Cue Darby Allin with a body bag and a skateboard for the save. Wheeler Yuta is put in the body bag but Moxley breaks that up. Allin is put in the bag instead and Castagnoli gives him the spinning torture rack slam. The villains get a chair but Will Ospreay is back for the real save. Ospreay says he and Moxley can both bring their friends to Forbidden Door for a lights out steel cage match. Well yeah I’d say that counts as different.

We recap FTR attacking Adam Copeland, who wants revenge.

Mercedes Mone/Thekla/Skye Blue vs. Alex Windsor/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale

Hold on though as here is Toni Storm to cheerlead in the crowd…but Athena is (elsewhere) in the crowd too. Blue and Windsor start things off with Windsor running her over. Nightingale comes in for the rapid clotheslines in the corner so it’s off to Mone. Aminata gives her a swinging full nelson (screaming ensues) and Windsor gets in some slams. Windsor is caught in the wrong corner for some choking though and we take a break.

We come back with Nightingale giving Blue a Death Valley Driver as everything breaks down. Nightingale cleans house and gets two on Thekla, followed by Aminata’s running side slam for the same. Windsor Russian legsweeps Mone into a basement clothesline for two but has to go after Blue. Everything breaks down again as Storm and Athena approve from the crowd. Blue superkicks Windsor but charges into a spinebuster and the Sharpshooter for the tap at 9:56.

Rating: C+. Windsor has gotten a heck of a nice push since showing up a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if that’s going to get her any gold anytime soon, but at least she’s getting a chance to do something. If nothing else, she’s already getting to go after Mercedes Mone so there is something to build on from here. The rest of the women were pretty much just there to keep things going, but the match was good enough.

Post match Storm and Athena get in a brawl in the crowd and the six in the ring start brawling again. Athena and Storm wind up on the ramp with Storm fighting back and saying we can do this in Scotland. Storm and Windsor get to tango a bit.

Will Ospreay has been talking to some New Japan stars and can confirm that Hiroshi Tanahashi is on his team. As Renee Paquette is doing the interview, Ospreay asks to talk to her husband next week.

Adam Copeland vs. Stokely Hathaway

Justin Roberts calls him Cope but commentary and the chyron say Adam Copeland and that’s good enough for me. FTR is banned from ringside and Hathaway has to be dragged to the ring by security. Hathaway’s attempt at a spear does nothing to Copeland, who punches Hathaway in the mouth. They go to the floor, where Copeland does a quick audience poll, with the fans not liking Hathaway that much.

Apparently he has no chance of getting any women either, with Copeland asking one woman if Hathaway has a shot. Woman: “Is this a serious question?” Back in and the spear drops Hathaway so here is FTR…who can only watch as Copeland hits another spear. FTR finally come in, which breaks their restraining order, but Copeland beats them down anyway. Another spear to Hathaway is cut off by some powder for the DQ at 4:23.

Rating: C. This was about exactly what it was clearly going to be, with Hathaway having no chance against…well anyone really. It was more a matter of waiting for the screwy finish and FTR had to get involved with the match somehow, just so Copeland can go after them later. The survey thing was funny enough, so call this a decent joke fight.

Post match Copeland gets beaten down until Christian Cage, with Spike, runs in for the save. Nick Wayne tries to jump Cage with a chair but Cage uses Spike to knock it out of his hands. The fans certainly seem to approve and Cage hands Spike to Cope. We get the big hug and the tag match is pretty much a matter of time.

We get what looks like a shot of the New York skyline and an H spotlight comes on.

Young Bucks/Don Callis Family vs. Brody King/Hologram/Tomohiro Ishii/Hiromu Takahashi

The Bucks still can’t get their entrance right, with Justin Roberts referring to them as “these guys”. Takahashi is a big surprise and slugs it out with Fletcher to start. Everything breaks down in a hurry and the Bucks superkick Roberts to….why would that make me boo them? Hologram hits a big flip dive onto the pile and we take a break.

We come back with King clotheslining all four villains down and Cannonballing Fletcher. Another flip dive takes the Bucks down on the floor but Alexander gets in a shot to cut King off. Fletcher knocks Takahashi off the apron, which is enough of a distraction for King to get in a shot of his own. Ishii comes in to clean house but Hologram’s 450 hits raised knees. Takahashi cuts off the Bucks but gets World’s Strongest Slammed onto the apron. King is dropped on the ramp and we take another break.

We come back with Hologram grabbing some hurricanranas and bringing Takahashi back in to make the comeback. Alexander is dropkicked into Fletcher in the corner but the Bucks hit Takahashi with a standing assisted Sliced Bread. Fletcher shoves Takahashi, who quickly kicks his way out of trouble. Alexander can’t hit the C4 Spike so Takahashi gives him a Downward Spiral for two instead. King is back up with the suicide dive, setting off a string of various dives. Back in and Takahashi gives Alexander the Time Bomb for the pin at 16:25.

Rating: B+. This was the traditional wild multi man tag match that AEW tends to do well. As usual, Alexander takes the pin, which is kind of annoying as he never had much of a shot to stand out, but you can’t have Fletcher lose and the Bucks have been jobbing a good bit lately. Granted it might make sense for them to do it again, but at least the match was rather entertaining.

Renee Paquette’s audio isn’t working for an interview on the ramp. After a bit of a delay (it happens), she brings out Swerve Strickland for a chat. Strickland won’t say if he is medically cleared or not because all he cares about is beating Kazuchika Okada. Cue Okada to say Strickland has no chance. Strickland just asks “Whose house?” so Okada does his catchphrase. Security has to break it up rather quickly.

Jon Moxley is told Will Ospreay has Hiroshi Tanahashi for his Forbidden Door team. Moxley: “Tanahashi Tanahashi?” He goes to the jobber dressing room….and apparently recruits the Young Bucks. Ok points for a funny visual.

Confirmed for Forbidden Door: Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne/Kip Sabian (remember FTR are still alive in the #1 contenders tournament so they might be busy that night) and the cage match, with the Death Riders/Gabe Kidd/Young Bucks vs. Will Ospreay/Darby Allin/Hiroshi Tanahashi/Kenny Omega/Kota Ibushi.

Opps vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

Non-title. Hobbs blasts Mortos with a flying shoulder and it’s quickly off to Joe to beat on Dralistico. Shibata comes in but gets caught in the wrong corner for some running clotheslines. We take a break and come back with Dralistico working on Shibata’s leg and Rush adding the cocky kick to the face. Shibata gets up and trades the strikes with Rush in the corner. Another big shot is enough for the tag off to Hobbs to clean house. Joe comes in rather quickly and Koquina Clutches Dralistico for the win at 8:58.

Rating: C+. They only had so much time here, especially with so many people involved. At the same time, it’s nice to have Joe back, as you can only have so much with having two of the three Trios Champions around. I’m not sure why this couldn’t be a title match as the belts have only been defended once since mid April, but odds are they’ll be on the line at Forbidden Door.

MJF jumps Hangman Page in the parking lot and rams his head into a car hood over and over to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. While it was a bit of a step down from last week’s outstanding show, this was still quite a good show with more than enough to keep me interested. Forbidden Door got a huge boost this week with the cage match being set up, plus the big Copeland/Christian reunion. That was the important moment and now the question is when they get to face FTR. Solid show again here.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Kevin Knight – Choke
Alex Windsor/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale b. Mercedes Mone/Thekla/Skye Blue – Sharpshooter to Blue
Adam Copeland b. Stokely Hathaway via DQ when Hathaway used powder
Hiromu Takahashi/Hologram/Tomohiro Ishii/Brody King b. Don Callis Family/Young Bucks – Time Bomb to Alexander
Opps b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Koquina Clutch to Dralistico

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

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

Ring Of Honor
Date: August 7, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We have four shows left before Death Before Dishonor and one match has been announced (earlier this week on Twitter), as Bandido will defend the World Title against Hechicero. Other than that you can probably guess some matches, but nothing else is officially set. They’ll need to come up with something for the Tag Team and Six Man Titles, as apparently having Dustin Rhodes stand on the apron while his partners lose them was asking too much. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Bandido vs. Gringo Loco

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning that if Loco wins or survives the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. Bandido flips around to start and snaps off a middle rope hurricanrana but Loco sends him outside. Back in and a spinning faceplant puts Bandido down but he’s back up with a quick hurricanrana. Loco shoves him off the top though and hits a split legged moonsault for two. A GTS drops Loco again and Bandido goes up, where he gets caught with a super reverse Spanish Fly. The switchfoot moonsault misses for Loco though and Bandido hits the frog splash for the pin at 5:32.

Rating: B-. They had five minutes to get in a bunch of spots so it was entertaining while it lasted but it didn’t last all that long. That’s not the most thrilling stuff as they were coming in cold with pretty much no reason to believe that Loco was going to win. I’ll take it over the World Champion never being around though so this could have been far worse.

We run down the rest of the card.

Video on Mistico.

Satnam Singh/Jay Lethal vs. GPA/Hunter Holdcraft

Lethal headlocks Holdcraft to start and snaps off the strut. Holdcraft uses the distraction to jump Lethal from behind and some double teaming ensues. Lethal slides away and teases the tag to Singh, which has the jobbers terrified. Singh comes in for the big chops in the corner before chokeslamming GPA over and over (bouncing him off the mat like a ball). The Lethal Injection drops Holdcraft and the big chokeslam finishes GPA at 3:18.

Rating: C. This is in the category of “well, what were you expecting?”. Singh isn’t going to be the next big giant around here so putting him in nothing tag matches is a fine way to go. I’ll take that over having him do important stuff as this could have been a far worse idea. It’s sad that this is the best they have for Lethal though, as he could be working with someone with a brighter future.

Blake Christian and Lee Johnson want the Tag Team Titles. We look at some of their recent success.

Athena/Billie Starkz vs. Missa Kate/Laynie Luck

Athena and Starkz deck them to start fast and it’s Kate getting caught in the wrong corner to start. A running forearm knocks her out and it’s off to Starkz vs. Luck. Athena pulls her off the top and it’s a Swanton from Starkz into a Koji Clutch from Athena for the tap at 2:26.

Post match the hold stays on until the referee gets it broken up.

We look at Dustin Rhodes’ knee injury but there is no word on the future of either title.

Volador Jr./Magnus/Rugido vs. Dark Order

Reynolds and Rugido start things off with Rugido flipping his way out of an armbar. Back up and Reynolds gets a headscissors choke in the ropes before it’s off to Magnus. Some running shoulders to Uno don’t work and it’s Uno getting caught in a triple team. Uno has to save his mask and neckbreakers Magnus, which is enough for the tag off to Silver. Magnus gets caught in the corner for a parade of running clotheslines but the triple flipping slam is broken up. Instead it’s a suplex into a top rope elbow into la majistral to give Volador the pin on Uno at 6:27.

Rating: B-. As usual, the luchadors are fun stars to have around for a one off match like this. In this case though, there is a very good chance that the Six Man Tag Team Titles will be available in the near future so this might have an impact later on. The rapid fire lucha offense was fun as always, even if the match was nothing that we haven’t seen a bunch of times.

QT Marshall mocks Paul Walter Hauser’s career as an actor and now Hauser is obsessed with him. This isn’t a fantasy land so next week, Hauser can show up to watch his match. Then they can deal with their issues.

Video on Mascara Dorada.

Mistico/Mascara Dorada vs. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian

Christian and Dorada start things off with Christian getting in a cheap shot to start fast. They both bounce off the ropes and Dorada kicks him in the head, meaning it’s off to Mistico vs. Johnson. Everything breaks down rather quickly with Christian and Johnson being sent out to the floor. The stereo dives are broken up so it’s a pair of handspring elbows to drop Christian and Johnson instead.

Back in and Johnson drops Dorada onto the top rope for a splash from the top, leaving Christian to send him into the barricade. A basement forearm gives Johnson two but Dorada is up for the tag without much trouble. Everything breaks down and Christian hits a superkick to Dorada, followed by a suicide dive to Mistico. Back in and we get a parade of superkicks, followed by everyone being planted to leave all four down. Dorada hurricanranas Christian to the floor and drops Johnson, leaving Mistico to grab La Mistica for the tap at 10:01.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of entertaining match you would expect from Mistico and Dorada, but at the same time, I have no idea why you would build up Christian and Johnson for the sake of putting the CMLL guys over. Unless the CMLL guys are going after the Tag Team Titles (not likely), this continues to leave the belts mostly high and dry for the sake of pushing stars who don’t need the wins. I don’t quite get the thinking here, but at least the match was good.

Overall Rating: B-. Better than usual show, but the bigger issue is that after this show, we have three weeks left before Death Before Dishonor and we have one match set. There are likely to be two vacant titles decided at the show so maybe we could hear something about them? I have no idea why they wait this late to announce things, but my guess would be they don’t know what they’re going to do yet. That’s not a good sign and leaves a lot to be desired, yet here we are again with the same issue.

Results
Bandido b. Gringo Loco – Frog splash
Satnam Singh/Jay Lethal b. GPA/Hunter Holdcraft – Chokeslam to GPA
Athena/Billie Starkz b. Missa Kate/Laynie Luck – Koji Clutch to Luck
Volador Jr./Magnus/Rugido b. Dark Order – La majistral to Uno
Mistico/Mascara Dorada b. Blake Christian/Lee Johnson – La Mistica to Johnson

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

Dynamite
Date: August 6, 2025
Location: Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

We’re getting closer to Forbidden Door and the show is at least starting to come together. There might not be many matches officially announced but we should be getting some of that covered this week. This might including World Champion Hangman Page, who is going to need a new challenger after dispatching Jon Moxley again last week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

MJF, now the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Champion, is willing to send Mark Briscoe to Hell so he’ll never see his brother again. Or just back to Delaware. Tonight, Mark Briscoe’s luck runs out.

Jon Moxley vs. Mike Bailey

The Death Riders are here with Moxley while Bailey has Kevin Knight. Bailey kicks away in the corner to start so Moxley reverses to rain down some right hands. A crossface chickenwing has Bailey in more trouble but he gets up and flips away. Some kicks send Moxley outside, where he goes to the eyes to cut Bailey off. Shafir sweeps Bailey’s leg out and Moxley slaps Knight in the face.

The fight is teased but Bailey uses the distraction to take Moxley down. The moonsault knees to the back hit Moxley on the barricade and we take a break. We come back with Moxley working on the arm/fingers before shoving him into the corner. Bailey blocks a whip out of the corner though and hits a middle rope dropkick. The running shooting star press gives Bailey two, followed by the top rope version for the same.

A cross armbreaker has Moxley in more trouble and the moonsault knees connect. The Death Riders’ distraction let Moxley hit a big boot into a Crash Landing for two but Darby Allin pops up in the crowd and kidnaps Wheeler Yuta. Moxley has to break out of another cross armbreaker and hits the Death Rider for the pin at 14:15.

Rating: B. This match had Bailey getting beaten up and Yuta possibly vanishing. I’d call that a success on multiple points to start and Moxley gets some of his heat back after the consecutive losses to Page. That being said, it shouldn’t take him that long to beat a tag wrestler, especially with the Death Riders out there helping him.

Alex Windsor is ready for her four way TBS Title #1 contenders match. Toni Storm is ready to “whip out her t*** and tango” with Athena tonight. Then she dances off with Windsor.

The Death Riders are in the parking lot when Darby Allin throws a white bag (Wheeler Yuta shaped) out of his car. The team opens the bag and finds a note saying FORBIDDEN DOOR attached to Yuta. Excalibur seems to think that’s obvious, but without a “check yes or no” option, how can we be sure?

Earlier today, Mercedes Mone returned and, when asked about her loss, told Renee Paquette to not be such a mark.

Alex Windsor vs. Queen Aminata vs. Skye Blue vs. Billie Starkz

For one of three spots in a four way for the TBS Title at Forbidden Door and Toni Storm and Athena are both here. Starkz gets knocked outside to start and Blue is chopped back and forth. Blue asks both of them to stop and is double chopped down for her request. That leaves Aminata to waistlock Windsor and kick her in the back.

Blue breaks that up and pulls Aminata outside for a ram into the steps. Windsor gets taken down with a running hurricanrana and Blue gives Aminata a hanging neckbreaker to the floor. Starkz dives in to crush the pile and we take a break. We come back with Aminata slugging away at Blue until Windsor gives Blue a blue thunder bomb for two. Windsor’s sitout powerbomb gets two on Starkz but Aminata breaks up the Sharpshooter.

Aminata and Windsor strike it out before German suplexing the other two down. A bunch of headbutts leave everyone down, with Athena and Storm seeming to approve. Aminata gives Blue a reverse implant DDT but Starkz Swantons in for the save. Aminata and Blue go to the floor, leaving Windsor to discus lariat Starkz. Athena’s attempt at a save is cut off by Storm and Windsor’s small package gets the pin on Starkz at 11:31.

Rating: B-. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Windsor so far and she’s a nice breath of air to the division. Her moving on to an immediate title match is a good sign for her future, even if she isn’t likely to win the title. This was almost as much about Athena vs. Storm though, which is feeling like a big time title match which could go either way. Nice stuff here.

Post match Mercedes Mone comes in for the staredown. The distraction lets Athena hit the O Face on Storm. Mone and Athena have a bit of a staredown of their own.

The Young Bucks, in their founding fathers gear, commandeer the camera and yell at the production guy for not doing their entrance properly in recent weeks. They have some special instructions for him tonight.

Here is Kyle Fletcher, with the Don Callis Family, for a chat. Don Callis cuts Renee Paquette off and says he is building such a huge roster because it means power. The more titles you have, the more power you have, and he loved seeing Fletcher take out Dustin Rhodes last week.

Fletcher talks about how Rhodes doesn’t belong in the same ring as him and says anyone who tries to take the title from him will receive the same fate. Callis unveils a new painting of the two of them together, with Fletcher naked and the title strategically placed and a rather muscular Callis next to him. Fletcher is ready to be champion for a long time and is first title defense is this weekend on Collision.

Cope is ready to deal with Stokely Hathaway and FTR and next week he’s facing Hathaway. If FTR interferes, their whole restraining order is gone.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinals: Brody King/Bandido vs. Young Bucks

The Bucks’ entrance is screwed up again as the set doesn’t rise, leaving them to crawl underneath. In addition, their instructions are read verbatim, including saying to make them look like stars instead of jobbers. On top of that, they are now listed as Max and Jeremy, their Generation Me names from TNA. Throw in bad pyro and a messed up version of their song and things aren’t looking great for them.

Bandido runs Matt over to start and King clotheslines both Bucks down. The Bucks are sent outside for a moonsault from Bandido, setting up King’s running crossbody against the barricade. We take a break and come back with Matt still in trouble, with Bandido’s crossbody connecting for two. A cheap shot from the apron cuts Bandido off though and Risky Business gives Matt two of his own.

King comes back in and gets taken down with a standing Sliced Bread into a kick to the head for two. More Bang For Your Buck doesn’t work due to King being a rather large man and it’s back to Bandido. The Bucks take him down as well though and a slingshot X Factor sets up the apron moonsault to King. A superkick into a flipping cutter has the Bucks in even more control and we take another break.

We come back with the Bucks arguing over what they should call the EVP Trigger. That’s enough of a delay for their knees to collide so King can come back in for a Cannonball to Matt. Bandido hits a big step up flip dive to the floor but some kind of a double team move doesn’t quite work. Nick superkicks Bandido but gets superplexed by King. Back up and multiple superkicks rock King and the TK Driver gets two on Bandido with King having to dive over for a save.

Nick dives at King, who Death Valley Drivers him on the apron, leaving Matt and Bandido to fight on the barricade. Bandido gets the better of things and takes him back inside for the X Knee into the 21 Plex, with Nick making a save of his own. The super flipping fall away slam gives Bandido two on Matt so King comes back in for the monkey flip into the 450 to finish Matt at 20:26.

Rating: A-. The match was a lot of fun with the flips and the dives, plus the Bucks losing, which makes the story that much better. It’s one thing to have them be treated like losers, but that doesn’t make a difference if they keep winning. Here they look like goons and lose at the same time, albeit after a very entertaining match. Rather awesome stuff here, with the Bucks looking like goons again to make it better.

Video on MJF vs. Mark Briscoe, including some of the rather personal insults they’ve thrown at each other.

The Hurt Syndicate is ready to hurt either team in the tournament finals at Forbidden Door. MJF comes in to say they they can win the World Title, but MVP says he’s tired of hearing about MJF all the time. The team is about them, but MJF’s ego is out of control. MVP gives him the thumbs down.

FTR and Stokely Hathaway don’t like what Adam (thank goodness that seems to be his name again) is doing. Hathaway is on a crutch and says Adam is a bully. He’s going to pin Adam next week anyway though, just like that.

Video on Swerve Strickland vs. Kazuchika Okada.

Here is Strickland for a chat (oddly in the aisle). Strickland talks about doing well in big matches as well and brings up the things he’s done to people he likes, such as Will Ospreay. So what will he do to someone like Okada? Three times now, Okada has come after him to no avail and now it’s Okada in a big match because he is in there with a dangerous man. Strickland is ready to win the title at Forbidden Door, while Don Callis cries like a little b****. Good stuff here from Strickland, who knows how to make things feel big.

Mark Briscoe is ready to do his talking with his fists and make MJF pay for his sins. When asked if a win puts him in the World Title picture, Hangman Page comes in to interrupt. They’ve known each other for a long time and he hopes Briscoe is his next challenger. We get a respectful handshake.

Willow Nightingale interrupts Queen Aminata to give her a pep talk but Kris Statlander interrupts, seemingly mocking Nightingale. That doesn’t work for Nightingale, who tells Statlander to get serious and then come find her.

MJF vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe punches him in the face to start and teases the Froggy Bow but MJF bails into the crowd instead. That’s fine with Briscoe, who chases him up the steps and then back to ringside. It’s already time for a table but MJF rolls away before another Froggy Bow attempt. MJF uses the referee as a shield and pokes Briscoe in the eye, setting up the chinlock. Some back rakes and choking have Briscoe in more trouble so MJF drops him ribs first across the top.

We take a break and come back with Briscoe fighting out of an abdominal stretch and Hulking Up. MJF gets dropped but manages to roll away before the Froggy Bow for the third time. Instead it’s a Bang Bang Elbow from Briscoe, followed by a flip dive through the ropes. Briscoe puts him on a table but MJF rolls away and hits an Alabama slam back inside.

The Boston crab has Briscoe in more trouble but he slips out before countering the Heatseeker as well. MJF crotches him on top, only to get knocked back down. NOW the Froggy Bow can connect…for two, which is quite the letdown after it being one of the stories of the match. Another Froggy Bow through the table misses MJF, but does make good table contact. Back in and the Heatseeker to Briscoe gets the pin at 17:30…even with the foot on the rope, but MJF knocks it away at 17:30.

Rating: B. The ending feels like a way to set up the World Title match at Forbidden Door, as MJF can have a title match and Briscoe gets cheated out of the win. That’s a good way to keep things going and it came after a hard hitting match. MJF was out to win and Briscoe was out to prove a point, which is why MJF was able to avoid so much of Briscoe’s offense. Nicely put together match here with the ending making sense as well.

Post match MJF beats Briscoe down and gets in a Dynamite Diamond Ring shot. Hangman Page comes out for the brawl, which is broken up but they brawl again with security not being able to do much. The threat of a Buckshot Lariat sends MJF running to end the show.

Overall Rating: A. The show featured solid action throughout and set up some more things for Forbidden Door. I can go for that kind of a show, as it has me more interested in seeing where things are going. It continues to make me wonder why the pay per view needs all of those guest stars, as this was far better than seeing everyone come in to do their annual guest staring appearances. Heck of a show here and I could go for a lot more like this.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Mike Bailey – Death Rider
Alex Windsor b. Queen Aminata, Skye Blue and Billie Starkz – Small package to Starkz
Brody King/Bandido b. Young Bucks – Monkey flip 450 to Matt
MJF b. Mark Briscoe – Heatseeker

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

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

Ring Of Honor
Date: July 31, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We have about a month to go before Death Before Dishonor and in theory that should mean we’re getting some of the matches announced. While Bandido vs. Hechicero is likely going to be set for the show, nothing else is officially ready yet. Hopefully that changes in the near future so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

MxM Collection vs. Tomohiro Ishii/Hologram

Johnny TV is with the villains. Mansoor can’t get very far with a running shoulder to Ishii, who screams a lot and wins an exchange of forearms. Hologram comes in to keep Mansoor in the corner before it’s right back to Ishii. The Collection manages to double team him down for a change and it’s a double pose.

The double elbow (not as good as the pose) gets two but Ishii is out without much trouble. Hologram comes back in to clean house and Ishii strikes away at Madden. The superkick sets up an assisted suplex from Ishii, followed by a brainbuster and a rope walk 450 to finish Mansoor at 7:12.

Rating: C+. Normally I would mock the idea that Hologram doesn’t lose matches but then again it’s not like the Collection ever wins anything either. Ishii and Hologram are a thrown together team but they’re doing well enough so let them beat some comedy goofs. I mean, it’s not like they’re going to do anything with Hologram in the first place.

We look at Athena beating up Alex Windsor last week on AEW Collision.

Jon Cruz vs. Gringo Loco

They take turns posing on the ropes to start with the fans being behind Loco (the hometown star). An exchange of flips set up a running headscissors to take Loco down but he sends Cruz into the corner. A gorilla press facebuster gives Loco two but Cruz crotches him on top. Loco strikes away, only to get kicked down so Cruz can go up top. Cruz misses a dive and gets butterfly suplexed down. The spinning moonsault gives Loco the pin at 7:21.

Rating: C+. Let the hometown star get out there and have a fun one. That’s all it needed to be and Loco is someone who can have an entertaining match no matter what. As usual, it isn’t like this feels important in the slightest, but the fans liked seeing Loco so it could have been far worse.

Blake Christian vs. Jimmy Jacobs

Christian takes him down and gets in a slap to a seated Jacobs. Back up and Jacobs sends him to the floor for a change, only for Christian to come back with a spear on the apron. Christian’s running dive takes Jacobs down again and it’s time to look cocky. A tornado suplex drops Christian right back but he’s fine enough to hit a suplex. The Vanilla Choke Zero finishes Jacobs at 6:25.

Rating: C. Heaven help me, I’m starting to like Christian. He’s incredibly dull, but at the same time, his open embrace of that style is amusing. At the same time, it feels like he’s actually coming up the ranks a bit and that is one of the more interesting things going in Ring Of Honor. If he can come after the TV Title, or even Bandido, why not try it out?

We look at actor Paul Walter Hauser talking about QT Marshall and an incident they had back in March.

Xelhua vs. Virus

Pure Rules. Xelhua takes him down into a leglock to start and then ties up the arm to mix it up a bit. That’s broken up and Virus is back with a leglock of his own. Xelhua is out as well and they go to the mat for some grappling. Virus’ rollup gets two and he pulls Xelhua into the leglock, sending Xelhua over for his first rope break.

Back up and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker into a weird upside down Boston crab, sending Virus to the ropes as well. They trade rollups until Virus grabs a Vertebreaker for two, with Xelhua using another rope break. Back up and Xelhua uses his legs to tie up Virus’ arms and neck for the submission at 7:24.

Rating: C+. Here’s a great example of what is wrong with this kind of match: these people have basically no history in Ring Of Honor. Other than a ten man match at a show ROH co-promoted, they have never appeared around here. Why should I be interested in this match? It’s certainly not bad and they did some very cool looking moves, but with less than a month to go before a pay per view and nothing announced, is this really the best use of the show’s time?

We look back at Dustin Rhodes beating Lee Moriarty to retain the TNT Title but getting challenged by Kyle Fletcher after.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Adam Priest vs. Bandido

Bandido is defending. Feeling out process to start with Bandido getting to put up the gun pose at Priest’s face. The delayed suplex (and I mean really delayed) gives Bandido two but Priest is back up with a dropkick to the back. They had to the floor where Bandido is sent into the barricade, allowing Priest to stay on the back inside.

An exchange of forearms is cut off with another back shot, though said back is fine enough for Bandido to hit the one armed gorilla press. A backbreaker gives Priest another near fall, followed by the half crab to send Bandido to the ropes. Bandido is fine enough to hit a pop up cutter into a Shining Wizard and the frog splash retains at 9:56.

Rating: B-. No story, no build, and a perfectly acceptable match. What exactly was the point of this except for just having the World Champion in the ring? I like having Bandido around, but could it be something actually set up in any way? They had a fine match, but it’s as random as you can get.

Post match respect is eventually shown to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The show isn’t bad at all but at the same time, pretty much absolutely nothing happened here and it was a completely burned off week. The matches were stand alones, nothing was set up for the pay per view, and it was an hour that came and went. It feels like they’re going out of their way to make this feel unimportant and that’s not a good feeling to have week after week.

Results
Tomohiro Ishii/Hologram b. MxM Collection – Rope walk 450 to Mansoor
Gringo Loco b. Jon Cruz – Spinning moonsault
Blake Christian b. Jimmy Jacobs – Vanilla Choke Zero
Xelhua b. Virus – Leg tieup hold
Bandido b. Adam Priest – Frog splash

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

Dynamite
Date: July 30, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

It’s time for a big rematch as we’re seeing Hangman Page defend the AEW World Title against Jon Moxley. Page beat Moxley for the title at All In and now it’s time to do it again without any stipulations. That should make for an interesting match, but the question is who is going to interfere. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

The opening video recaps Moxley vs. Page, which is really all they should be focusing on tonight.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament: Young Bucks vs. Outrunners

In a funny bit, the Bucks are not only already in the ring, but their chyrons say “talent name”, “stat” and “social media” like placeholders. It’s a brawl to start with the Outrunners both raining down right hands in the corner. The Bucks get in shots of their own though and Floyd is knocked down, allowing the Bucks to strike a double pose.

Floyd is back up with a double suplex and the tag brings in Magnum, who is quickly double teamed in the corner. Magnum is sent outside for a dive and Nick yells at commentary as we take a break. We come back with Matt pulling Floyd off the apron so Magnum can’t get a tag. A cutter drops Floyd on the floor and Risky Business gets two on Magnum.

Back up and Magnum fights out of trouble, allowing the tag back to Floyd to pick up the pace. The Bucks fire off the superkicks but Floyd knocks Nick down, setting up the Mega Powers Elbow. Everything breaks down and Matt hits Floyd low but gets in an argument with the referee. Said referee shoves Matt into a rollup for two, followed by Total Recall for the same. Magnum gets posted though and the TK Driver gives Nick the pin at 14:19.

Rating: B-. While I’m not wild on the Bucks being right back as one of the bigger teams around, there is nothing wrong with them beating the Outrunners. Like them or not, the Bucks are the most successful team in AEW history and they shouldn’t have a problem with what is little more than a cult favorite team. We’ll have to see how far they go in the tournament and beyond, but winning here is a good way to go.

Post match the beatdown is on, with Kazuchika Okada coming down to help the Bucks. Swerve Strickland comes out for the save.

Mark Briscoe is ready for MJF but Ricochet and the Gates Of Agony interrupt to warn him about their match tonight. Briscoe doesn’t seem worried.

MJF talks to Shelton Benjamin about how things went bad last week. Benjamin cuts him off though and says MVP isn’t here, because he’s disgusted with MJF. He holds up the watch that MJF gave him and reveals he knows it’s a fake. MJF is out of the team and Benjamin shuts the door in his face. Well that was abrupt.

Here is Christian Cage for a chat. Cage says that he is “an a**hole* and he doesn’t care who is left in his wake, because he is obsessed with being the World Champion. Earlier this year, he was this close to winning the title but he thought of his past for a second and he became an a**hole with feelings. As for the rest of the Patriarchy, he has spent more on rental cars to make towns than they have made in their entire careers. He changes the plan because he didn’t think they could pull it off.

That brings him to Cope, who didn’t like what Cage told him to do. Cope has done some unsavory things to get to the top, so as different as they are, they are still the same. As for the Patriarchy, he has clawed out of holes before (none as deep as the last time he was with Mother Wayne) and Nick Wayne has more talent than he has ever had. But Nick called himself the new face of AEW, which is going too far.

Nick has to go through Cage to reach that point, and he disowns them all. Cue the former Patriarchy to lay Cage out and give him the Conchairto. Nick disowns Cage. Schiavone thinks the Conchairto is “NOT GOOD FOR THE REST OF HIS CAREER”. This was a lot longer than it needed to be, and I’m not exactly going to want to cheer for the Patriarchy.

Stokely Hathaway doesn’t like Cope or the Hurt Syndicate and says FTR is ready for the Bang Bang Gang tomorrow night. The Young Bucks come in for the staredown and scare Stokely off.

AEW World Title: Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page

Page is defending and everyone is banned from ringside. Moxley takes him into the corner to start but Page switches places and hammers away. They chop it out and we go to a wide shot, which is a bit of a jarring change. Page gets the better of things and they go outside, where Page gets the better of the brawl. Back in and Page elbows away even more but Moxley grabs a German suplex to take over.

The choking and right hands in the corner connect and Page is in trouble. Moxley steps on his face and grabs another German suplex but Page hits a rolling elbow to the face. A Death Valley Driver gives Page two but he has to bail to the ropes to escape a Kimura. They go outside and Page is sent into the steps, with Moxley piledriving him onto said steps. We take a break and come back with Page fighting out of a crossface.

Moxley strikes away, including an elbow to the top of the head but Page gets up anyway. They trade forearms until Page kicks him in the face and grabs a belly to back suplex. The Buckshot Lariat is broken up with a boot to the floor and they go onto the announcers’ table. Another piledriver is countered into the Deadeye and Moxley is in trouble. Back in and Page hits a Tombstone for two before pounding Moxley in the face.

Moxley is fine enough to pull him into the bulldog choke, which he switches into a quickly broken front facelock. Page grabs a LeBell Lock but Moxley makes the ropes and they go to the apron. Another piledriver plants Page on the apron, followed by a Gotch style piledriver for two back inside. They strike it out with Page sending him to the floor for the moonsault. Back in and the Buckshot Lariat and Paradigm Shift are both blocked and the referee gets dropped.

Cue the Death Riders to send Moxley the title, with the shot to the head getting two. Marina Shafir gets ejected (because breaking the match’s established rules isn’t enough for a DQ) and here is Darby Allin to dive out of the balcony onto the Death Riders. The Buckshot Lariat looks to set up the Deadeye but Moxley slips out. The seconds Deadeye attempt knocks him silly though and the Buckshot Lariat retains the title at 26:12.

Rating: B. It was rather nice to have a mostly clean match between these two, as there was no point in trying to top the violence and carnage of their previous match. Page winning is what matters the most here, with the interference being little more than a quick note in an otherwise good match. This is what the rematch should have been and we can move on to Moxley vs. Allin.

Video on Dustin Rhodes vs. Kyle Fletcher on Collision.

Athena/Billie Starkz vs. Toni Storm/Alex Windsor

Windsor and Athena start things off but it’s quickly off to Storm. That means Athena is going to roll over to bring Starkz in, with Storm headlocking her down. A backbreaker sends Starkz into the corner so Windsor can come back in for some double dancing kicks in the corner. Windsor grabs a hanging DDT for two on Starkz and hits a running flip dive off the apron to drop Athena.

Back in and Athena grabs a quick spinebuster to drop Windsor and we take a break. We come back with Starkz hitting a top rope double stomp to Windsor. The double teaming continues but Windsor fights up and hits a Liger Bomb for a needed breather. The tag brings Storm back in for some Mongolian chops (of all things) but Athena makes a blind tag and hits an O Face for the fast pin on Storm at 11:22.

Rating: B-. Simple, to the point stuff here with Athena continuing to outsmart Storm. That’s a good way to build up the title match, though now the question becomes whether Athena can do it when the pressure is on. I would certainly hope so, as she is feeling like the biggest deal in the division in a long time.

MJF interrupts Hangman Page and mocks the idea of him being the main character. MJF remembers the days of us having a REAL World Champion like Swerve Strickland. Page wants MJF to beat Mark Briscoe first and they glare at each other.

Willow Nightingale isn’t impressed by the Triangle Of Madness because she is the Trapezoid Of Grapezoid. She’s gotten a match with Thekla tomorrow and will pull off however many legs she has.

Ricochet vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe strikes away to start and sends Ricochet into the corner to hammer Ricochet down even more. A suplex gives Mark two and he yells at Ricochet for having the nerve to fight back. Cue the Gates Of Agony for a distraction though and Ricochet takes over as we take a break. We come back with the referee taking a chair away from Ricochet, allowing Briscoe to fire off some right hands.

The Gates low bridge Briscoe to the floor though and Ricochet takes him down with a running flip dive. Back in and the running shooting star press gives Ricochet two but the Spirit Gun misses. The Jay Driller is broken up as well and Ricochet bails to the floor. That’s fine with Briscoe, who uses the chair for the step up dive to take Ricochet out again.

Back in and the Jay Driller is blocked so Briscoe settles for a clothesline. The Froggy Bow is broken up with a shove from Liona though and Ricochet gets two off Vertigo. Cue Bandido and Brody King to get rid of the Gates, leaving Ricochet to escape the Jay Driller. The second attempt works a bit better though and Ricochet is done at 13:50.

Rating: B. Good story here with Briscoe fighting through the odds to defeat a talented star in Ricochet. It’s nice to see Briscoe actually getting some wins and that is great for a change. At the same time, he still needs to win the big one and that is going to be coming with MJF sooner than later. For now though, I’ll take the wins where I can get them.

Post match Briscoe says MJF is making him wonder if he’ll ever see Jay again. Briscoe knows Jay is up in his mansion but if Briscoe does what he wants to do to MJF and doesn’t repent, he won’t be around Jay one day. He wants MJF out here right now so MJF pops up on screen to say the match is on for next week. MJF then pops up in the ring for a low blow and yells about Hangman Page, who comes out for the save to send MJF running to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. The World Title match was the big focal point here and it went rather well. The best thing is that Page won (relatively) clean and can move on, likely to MJF, which is where this needs to go. Other than that, the rest of the card kept the build going towards…well it doesn’t really feel like Forbidden Door, but I’ll take this over another big side trip with a bunch of guests stars. Rather strong show this week.

Results
Young Bucks b. Outrunners – TK Driver to Floyd
Hangman Page b. Jon Moxley – Buckshot Lariat
Athena/Billie Starkz b. Toni Storm/Alex Windsor – O Face to Storm
Mark Briscoe b. Ricochet – Buckshot Lariat

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

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Collision
Date: July 26, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

We are less than a month away from Forbidden Door and that means we might be getting some of the card set up this week. If nothing else, we are probably going to be seeing more of the #1 contenders tag team tournament, which means we might be finding out who is actually in the thing. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

TNT Title: Dustin Rhodes vs. Lee Moriarty

Rhodes (and only Rhodes) is defending. Feeling out process to start, including an exchange of wristlocks. Moriarty grabs a quick Border City Stretch to send Rhodes bailing over to the ropes but he’s back up with a Cactus Clothesline. Back in and an armdrag sends Moriarty into an armbar, which doesn’t last very long. Moriarty is right back out and grabs a shinbreaker to send Rhodes out to the floor. That doesn’t last long as Moriarty comes back in to work on the leg.

We take a break and come back with Rhodes kicking him out to the floor. Back in and Rhodes snaps off a powerslam before hitting an atomic drop. That bangs up Rhodes’ knee, though he’s fine enough to hit a quick Cross Rhodes. Moriarty gets his foot on the ropes for the break so Rhodes plants him in the middle for two more.

A shot to Rhodes’ leg cuts him down again though and it’s an ankle lock with a grapevine. Rhodes makes the rope again and avoids a boot in the corner. Shattered Dreams doesn’t work so Moriarty hits a running boot, followed by a spinning butterfly suplex for two. An attempt at a Figure Four is reversed into a small package to retain the title at 16:35.

Rating: B. Nice match here, though I could have gone without another champion losing. Rhodes getting a win over a lower name is ok as odds are he won’t be holding the title for very long. I still have no idea why he needs to hold all three titles at once, but at least he didn’t pick up a fourth one here.

Post match here are Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher, with the latter saying he wants the TNT Title. Rhodes agrees, but he wants it next week in a Chicago Street Fights. Rhodes: “I’ll be your Huckleberry b****.”

The Bang Bang Gang is ready to face Bryan Keith and Big Bill in the tournament tonight. Yeah one of them is injured, but next man up.

Tony Schiavone pays tribute to Hulk Hogan.

Toni Storm says no one goes as deep as she does and she wants to see Alex Windsor beat Athena. Storm doesn’t think Athena has the ovaries to take the AEW Women’s Title from her.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament First Round: Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Bang Bang Gang

Robinson and Keith start things off with Robinson working on the arm. Gunn (Austin) comes in for a neckbreaker but it’s off to Bill to easily shove him down. Bill misses an elbow though and Gunn jabs away, only to get dropped with a shot to the face. A half crab keeps Gunn in trouble and we take a break.

We come back with Gunn jumping over Keith out of the corner but his knee is in bad shape. A lariat puts Keith down but Bill is in to cut off the tag attempt. Gunn manages to fight his way out of the corner though and the big tag brings Robinson in to clean house. An atomic drop into a backsplash hits Keith and the cannonball in the corner gets two. Bill boots Robinson in the face though and Keith gets two off a suplex. Keith goes up top but Robinson hurricanranas him down. That’s reversed into a sunset flip, only for Gunn to turn it over and give Robinson the pin at 12:19.

Rating: C+. Nice enough match here, though it’s kind of a shame to see Keith and Bill go from being a good team to losing to a fairly makeshift team here. At the same time, this tournament has me worried that we’re coming up on another FTR vs. Young Bucks final, with the Bucks going on to the title match. Maybe it’s too early for that to be the case, but it seems like a real possibility.

Video on the Outrunners vs. the Young Bucks.

Don Callis interrupts a Shane Taylor interview and talks about tonight’s match for $400,000, because we have to do another match for money as that’s the hot thing at the moment.

Here is Max Caster for his next open challenge.

Max Caster vs. Anthony Bowens

Bowens takes him into the corner to start so Caster hides in the corner, with the fans cheering for Caster. Some shots to the back of the head have Caster in more trouble and Bowens yells at him, followed by the running Fameasser. The Mollywop finishes Caster at 2:07.

Post match Bowens beats on him even more but Billy Gunn breaks it up. An angry Bowens leaves on his own. So we took that long to get to a Bowens heel turn after he was upset about losing so much and he turns after winning? Am I getting that right?

AR Fox interrupts the Matriarchy and wants to face Nick Wayne. Kip Sabian thinks it’s a good idea and the match is on.

Don Callis Family/Infantry vs. Outrunners/Tomohiro Ishii/Hologram

For $400,000 and Don Callis is on commentary. Bravo’s chops in the corner just annoy Ishii, who runs him over without much trouble. Hologram comes in to wristdrag Hechicero, followed by an anklescissors into the corner. The Outrunners clean house but Floyd wants to face Archer on his own. Hologram tries a springboard hurricanrana but Archer pulls it out of the air and powerbombs him into the Outrunners (ouch).

We take a break and come back with Archer knocking some people off the apron, only for Hologram to get the tag off to Ishii anyway. Hologram comes back in with a top rope double stomp to Hechicero and everything breaks down again. Magnum drops the Infantry and Hologram adds a nice top rope hurricanrana to Hechicero. The Mega Powers Elbow hits Dean but Callis gets off commentary for a cheap shot. Cue Paragon to chase an interfering Taylor off and Total Recall finishes Dean at 11:42.

Rating: B-. Ok. What else am I supposed to think here? It was the same perfectly good eight man tag that we’ve seen a bunch of times around here, with one team winning money which changes nothing for their status in AEW. Commentary mentioned that Hologram has been around for fifty three weeks. The fact that he is undefeated and still in this spot isn’t exactly a great sign.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Jon Moxley on Dynamite.

Triangle Of Madness vs. Mazzerati/Laynie Luck/Rachael Ellering

That would be Skye Blue/Thekla/Julia Hart. We start fast with Hart hitting Old School on Luck and it’s off to Thekla for a running shot in the ropes. Hart’s standing moonsault hits raised knees though and it’s Ellering coming in for a backsplash. Everything breaks down and Thekla spears Luck on the floor. An assisted swinging Rock Bottom plants Mazzerati and Thekla hits a Stomp for the pin at 3:11.

Rating: C. I was worried that this was going to be a long match to make the jobbers look good but instead the new team smashed through them. We’ve seen all of the members of the Triangle (AEW likes that name) before so it’s nice to see them getting this kind of a win in their first match together. Not exactly a thrilling match, but it’s how this should have gone.

Post match Queen Aminata runs in with a chair but Megan Bayne takes her out.

Stokely Hathaway doesn’t think much of Cope coming after him but promises FTR will win the tournament.

Paragon interrupts Hologram and Tomohiro Ishii’s interview and the Conglomeration seems to be back together. Hologram and Ishii look…confused?

Nick Wayne/Kip Sabian vs. AR Fox/Angelico

Fox takes over on Wayne to start and drags him into the corner so Angelico can crank on his arm. A Mother Wayne distraction lets Nick get in an elbow though and we take a break. We come back with Angelico and Sabian knocking each other down, allowing Fox to come in and clean house. A slingshot dropkick in the corner sets up a rolling cutter and no one can believe the kickout. Sabian is back in with a missile dropkick to Angelico as everything breaks down. Nick Killswitches Angelico for the pin at 8:10.

Rating: C+. I continue to have no idea why Sabian is around, as he’s a completely forgettable star who was mostly just a warm body here. At the same time, it seems like we could be setting up a big Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne match and that’s….only kind of interesting at best. Angelico being thrown in there was a bit weird but Fox was a highlight reel, as usual.

Kris Statlander goes on a heck of a rant about how Willow Nightingale hasn’t thanked her for anything. Now Statlander is going to be herself because you can’t stop Stat. She was bringing the fire here.

Ring Of Honor Women’s Title: Alex Windsor vs. Athena

Athena, with Billie Starkz, is defending. Windsor takes her into the corner to start and they go to the mat for a quick standoff. Athena hits her in the face and poses a bit, only to get armdragged into a basement dropkick. Windsor gets in a shot to the back of the head and they head to the apron for a chop off. Athena plants her onto said apron and we take a break.

We come back with Windsor getting in a shot of her own for a knockdown, followed by a running clothesline for the same. Athena bites the leg to get out of a powerbomb and rolls into a Koji Clutch. That’s reversed into a rollup to give Windsor two and she powerbombs Athena out of the corner. A faceplant on the floor has Athena in more trouble and Windsor sends Starkz into the steps. The distraction lets Athena come back with a running dropkick before knocking her off the barricade. Back in and the O Face retains the title at 12:20.

Rating: B-. Windsor was a good enough challenger for a basic televised title defense, but what matters the most here is getting Athena on the bigger stage. She has gone from a good hand to an absolute star during her Ring Of Honor title reign. I could go for seeing her winning the title from Storm, though we could be waiting a bit for that to happen.

Post match Athena and Starkz go after Windsor again but Toni Storm runs in for the brawl. The running hip attack sets up the chickenwing but Starkz makes the save. Windsor is up again and the villains are knocked to the floor to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Well, it was a show featuring a bunch of Ring Of Honor stars and champions, with the Athena/Storm stuff being the highlight. As usual, Collision only feels somewhat important and you would probably be better off just reading a recap. Next week’s show will be back on Thursday and hopefully things pick up a bit. It’s absolutely not a bad show in any way, but it only matters so much in the grand scheme of AEW.

Results
Dustin Rhodes b. Lee Moriarty – Small package
Bang Bang Gang b. Big Bill/Bryan Keith – Rollup to Keith
Anthony Bowens b. Max Caster – Mollywop
Tomohiro Ishii/Hologram/Outrunners b. Infantry/Don Callis Family – Total Recall to Dean
Triangle Of Madness b. Mazzerati/Laynie Luck/Rachael Ellering – Stomp to Mazzerati
Nick Wayne/Kip Sabian b. Angelico/AR Fox – Killswitch to Angelico
Athena b. Alex Windsor – O Face

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

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Dynamite
Date: July 23, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We’re rapidly approaching Forbidden Door with just over a month to go before the show. That means it is time to start getting ready for the show with some matches being announced. Other than that, we’re still dealing with some fallout from All In, which will likely continue tonight. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

There is going to be a tournament to crown new #1 contenders for the Tag Team Titles with the title shot at Forbidden Door.

Hangman Page is willing to face Wheeler Yuta tonight but MJF comes in to tease cashing in.

Hangman Page vs. Wheeler Yuta

Non-title. Yuta jumps him during the entrance and chokes away on the floor to start fast. Page fights back and sends him into the barricade a few times, followed by a fall away slam into the corner. Yuta goes to the eyes but Page shrugs it off and finishes with the Buckshot Lariat at 3:15.

Rating: C. Well, I can always go with seeing Yuta taking a beating and this was as squashy as it could have been. At the end of the day, Page shouldn’t be breaking a sweat over the top heel stable’s job guy and this was a good way to make Page look like a killer. Nice opener here, which did exactly what it should have done.

Post match Page grabs the chain and beats on Yuta to bust him open. Page thinks twice about hanging him though. That’s going to require a name change. Maybe Fish Feeder Adam Page.

Athena, in a Shark Week fin hat, has Billie Starkz ready to take out Toni Storm.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament First Round: FTR vs. Jet Speed

Stokley Hathaway, on a crutch, is with FTR. Knight gets knocked to the floor to start and Bailey is beaten down in the corner. That’s broken up and Jet Speed hit stereo dives to the floor to pick up the pace. We settle down to Harwood striking Bailey up against the ropes. That doesn’t last long either as they go outside, with back to back backdrops putting FTR down.

We take a break and come back with Jet Speed hitting stereo missile dropkicks and stereo moonsaults (one inside, one outside) for two on Wheeler. Harwood is back up to wrap Knight’s leg around the post and Wheeler goes after Bailey’s leg on the floor. Back in and Harwood Sharpshooters Knight, who breaks out and blocks the PowerPlex.

We take another break and come back with Knight hitting a springboard forearm to Harwood and Bailey sunset flipping Wheeler for two. Bailey takes both of them out with a dive and drops the moonsault knees for two more. An electric chair and (standing) dropkick combination gets two on Wheeler and Bailey dives over the barricade to take him out again. Back in and Harwood’s slingshot powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana to give Knight two. Harwood reverses another hurricanrana and Hathaway offers the crutch for extra leverage and the pin at 17:30.

Rating: B. Good, fast paced match here with the right team going over. The problem with having such dominant champions as the Hurt Syndicate is you can only have so many teams as realistic challengers. FTR is as good of an option as we have at the moment and while Jet Speed gave them a good fight, it should have gone this way.

Post match Hathaway rants about Cope injuring him last week, calling him a cancer to AEW. Cue Cope, who is barred from getting too close to FTR. The good thing is he’s made a business deal with some people who can and they are in the business of hurting people. Cue the Hurt Syndicate for the brawl and FTR bails. Cope tries to spear Hathaway but hits a security guard by mistake.

The Matriarchy is ready to back up their words with physicality because they are now uncaged.

Jon Moxley isn’t going to make excuses for his loss but by the end of the night, we’ll find out who Hangman Page really is.

Here is Will Ospreay for a chat. Ospreay talks about the work that he put in to help get the World Title back in AEW. The problem is he had some bad discs in his neck, but he can be treated. With the right help and the hard work, he can be back for Forbidden Door. He’s still coming for the Death Riders too. Swerve Strickland comes out to show some respect.

Video on Julia Hart, Thekla and Skye Blue, who are apparently now a unit.

Willow Nightingale needs something fresh to do and could go for fighting Thekla.

We look back at the Hurt Syndicate brawling with FTR.

MJF isn’t sure what was up with that because it should be about getting the World Title. Bobby Lashley chokes him against the locker and says he wants MJF out of the team. MVP shakes his head at MJF and walks away.

Toni Storm vs. Billie Starkz

Non-title with Athena watching from the balcony. Storm grabs a headlock to start and sends her into the corner, allowing a quick pull up of the skirt. Starkz manages to knock her to the floor and hit a running Swanton off the apron. Back in and Starkz grabs a suplex and we take an early break.

We come back with Storm hitting a Thesz press and pounding away. Storm powerbombs her for two but Starkz is back with a brainbuster onto the knee. A fisherman’s suplex gives Storm two and they trade rollups for some near falls each. Storm’s hip attack sets up a failed Storm Zero attempt but she’s able to block a Swanton. The chickenwing finishes for Storm at 9:28.

Rating: C+. Again, perfectly logical here with Starkz being out there to soften Storm up rather than really going for the win here. Athena feels like a different kind of challenger and I’m starting to expect her to win the title. This was a good way to keep things moving, even if Starkz continues to be a bit less than smooth in the ring.

Post match Starkz drops Storm with a belt shot and here is Athena to send her into the steps over and over. A contract shot to the head looks to set up the cash in but Alex Windsor breaks it up.

Swerve Strickland vs. Hechicero

Prince Nana is here with Strickland and Don Callis handles Hechicero’s entrance. Hechicero ties up the arms to start but Strickland flips out of an early choke attempt. The mat grappling goes to Hechicero until Strickland reverses into something like an abdominal stretch. That doesn’t last long either as Hechicero is back with a swinging hammerlock backbreaker. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker puts Hechicero down again though and we take a break.

We come back with Hechicero planting Strickland, who laughs at him. A slugout goes to Strickland, setting up the elbow to the back. Strickland’s 450 gets two and a bit of frustration seems to be setting in. Back up and Hechicero pulls him into a choke, which doesn’t last long either. The rolling Downward Spiral sets up the Swerve Stomp but Lance Archer runs in for the DQ at 11:15.

Rating: B-. Well at least neither of them didn’t get pinned. There was no reason for either of them to take a fall here, with Strickland gearing up to go after Okada and Hechicero likely being next in line for Bandido. I’m not wild on the run-in DQ, but in this case it’s the best case scenario if the match was made in the first place.

Post match Bandido and Brody King run in for the save and brawl to the back with the villains. Cue Kazuchika Okada to hit Strickland with a chair but Strickland fights back, with the threat of a House Call with a chair sending Okada scampering.

Ricochet and the Gates Of Agony brag about their recent success.

Here is MJF for a chat. He knows the fans aren’t that bright but he doesn’t need Bobby Lashley to get the title back. As for Hangman Page, he’s ready to execute this contract and take his title back but here is Mark Briscoe to interrupt. After making a kosher pickle joke, Briscoe says MJF stole a win from him in the Casino Gauntlet match and wants MJF next week. MJF: “No.”

If Briscoe was supposed to win the contract, he would have done it, but when the pressure is on, Briscoe loses. The fans might love Briscoe but he’s just a joke and everyone knows it. MJF respected one man from Delaware and he would have listened to a challenge from him. Briscoe must be miserable waking up every day, knowing that he’s not as respected as his brother Jay. That’s enough for Mark to come to the ring, with MJF bailing.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe backs him into a corner for an exchange of strikes, eventually flipping over Castagnoli and chopping him down. Back up and Castagnoli stomps away in the corner before sending Briscoe to the apron for another chop off. A running clothesline puts Castagnoli on the floor, where he’s fine enough to swing Briscoe into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Castagnoli dropping him again but pausing to look at Darby Allin in the crowd. Briscoe kicks him to the floor for a suicide flip dive and the fans are rather enthused. The Froggy Bow only gets two but Castagnoli is back with a middle rope slam for the same. The Neutralizer is blocked so Castagnoli hits a running uppercut for two. Back up and a small package gives Briscoe the pin at 13:19.

Rating: B. Good stuff here as Briscoe is starting to be treated as a bigger deal every week. That’s great to see, as he has been losing bigger matches far too often. I’m not sure if he’s going to beat MJF in their big showdown, but at least he’s being built up in the process. Castagnoli is pretty firmly in his spot to put people over and that’s a good use for him.

Post match Marina Shafir comes in to take out Briscoe and here is Jon Moxley. He calls out Hangman Page, who comes out to say he’ll keep getting up. Next week, they can do it for the title one more time, but under Page’s rules: everyone but a referee will be banned from ringside. Page knows Moxley will accept so he’ll see him next week. The match is made official to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The word that keeps coming to mind here is “logical”, as most of the things that happened here made sense. There were matches set up (naturally some of them were in a tournament but that’s going to happen around here) and nothing felt insane. Throw in the absence of the Young Bucks and a limited amount of Don Callis and I can go with what we got here.

Results
Hangman Page b. Wheeler Yuta – Buckshot Lariat
FTR b. Jet Speed – Rollup with assist from Stokley Hathaway
Toni Storm b. Billie Starkz – Chickenwing
Swerve Strickland b. Hechicero via DQ when Lance Archer interfered
Mark Briscoe b. Claudio Castagnoli – Small package

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: July 17, 2025
Location: Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re done with Supercard Of Honor and Bandido is still World Champion, having retained the title over Konosuke Takeshita in a great match. Other than that, the Sons Of Texas and Athena retained their titles and we are likely back to the run of the mill shows around here for a good while. Let’s get to it.

Here is Supercard Of Honor if you need a recap.

We actually see commentary so you know we’re taped from something special.

We get a quick recap of Supercard Of Honor’s results and preview tonight’s show.

Lee Johnson vs. Atlantis Jr.

Blake Christian is here with Johnson. They fight over arm control to start and then trade standing switches until Atlantis grabs a headscissors. Johnson is sent outside so the big dive takes him out again. Back in and Johnson gets him in the ropes, with Christian running in for a sliding German suplex. The chinlock doesn’t last long but Atlantis misses his frog splash. A Death Valley Driver gives Johnson two but he can’t hit a powerbomb. Atlantis hits a Canadian Destroyer and the frog splash for the pin at 6:35.

Rating: C+. As usual, the in-ring side of things is not the issue for Atlantis, who can do well against anyone. The issue is more that he’s only so interesting, which was the case here. The match was perfectly fine enough, though I’m not sure what is next for Atlantis. He’s in the middle of the clogged up midcard, and it’s hard to imagine that changing anytime soon.

Lee Moriarty is the longest reigning Pure Wrestling Champion ever and wants to become the face of Ring Of Honor.

We look at Mina Shirakawa winning the Interim Women’s TV Title…but then she got injured the next day. No word on what this means, but maybe we can have an Interim Interim Women’s TV Title!

Diamante vs. Maya World

Diamante snaps off a running hurricanrana to start and rakes World’s eyes across the top rope. Some more shots to the face set up a Code Red to finish World at 1:56. Just a squash.

We get an ad for Seed, the MxM Collection perfume.

Athena is ready to be the AEW Women’s World Champion.

We look at Dustin Rhodes becoming a triple champion at Supercard Of Honor, with a look at his quest to win the TNT Title over the years.

Rhodes can’t believe he won and his dad taught him to always keep going. He wants to carry the title for as long as he can. This was a rather humble promo.

Jay Lethal vs. Michael Oku

Amira is here with Oku, whose Rev Pro Title isn’t on the line. Oku wins a wrestle off to start and Lethal isn’t sure about this. Back up and they lock hands for some big forearms. Lethal snaps off a suplex but the Lethal Injection is countered with a hurricanrana. They head to the apron, where Lethal gets backdropped out to the floor. Oku hits a triangle dropkick, which is one of Lethal’s moves, for a nice touch. Back in and Lethal grabs a pair of cutters, setting up the Lethal Injection for the fast pin at 5:47.

Rating: C+. I’m still not sure I get the appeal of Oku, but this seems like the latest attempt to push Lethal a bit around here. He certainly has the pedigree to be in the spot, but he’s also only so interesting. That’s a recurring issue in Ring Of Honor, but there are worse choices than Lethal.

Respect is show post match.

The Frat House is upset at losing at Supercard Of Honor but they go to the bar anyway.

We look at Bandido retaining the World Title and Hechicero seeming to step up next after the match.

Hechicero vs. Angelico

Rocky Romero and Serpentico are here too. Hechicero wins a wrestle off to start and blocks a snap off the arm. Angelico takes him down by the leg and does his dance, earning himself a choke in the ropes. Hechicero goes up but gets kicked out of the air for a big crash. Back up and Angelico strikes away and grabs la majistral for two. A lifting Downward Spiral gives Angelico two but Romero’s distraction lets Hechicero hit a DDT. The spinning backbreaker finishes for Hechicero at 6:24.

Rating: C+. Another fine match here but it only had so much time. They wanted to make Hechicero feel like a big deal here and a threat to Bandido, but there is only so much to be gotten out of beating Angelico. Odds are Hechicero gets the title shot at Death Before Dishonor though so he needs the build as fast as it can be done.

Post match the beatdown is on but Hologram makes the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Perfectly fine show, which again is made better by the shorter run time. Ring Of Honor had a bad habit of stretching the show out longer and having so much filler, but the 45ish minute run time is pretty much the perfect fit. They have enough action to keep you engaged without realizing how low level a lot of this stuff can be. Nice follow up show here, which is a good thing to see.

Results
Atlantis Jr. b. Lee Johnson – Frog splash
Diamante b. Maya World – Code Red
Jay Lethal b. Michael Oku – Lethal Injection

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