Supercard Of Honor 2025
Date: July 11, 2025
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s time for the first major show of the year and that means we have a few big matches already set. In this case, we have Bandido defending the World Title against Konosuke Takeshita in what should be a heck of a showdown. Other than that, there are some matches being added today so some of this will be a surprise. Let’s get to it.

We run down the card.

Zero Hour: Blake Christian vs. Jay Lethal

Lee Johnson is here with Christian. Lethal goes after him to start but Christian flips to his feet for a strut. After some applauding, Lethal flips away as well and gets in a strut of his own. Lethal can’t get a Figure Four so Johnson offers a distraction, earning himself a suicide dive. Christian hits a suicide dive of his own before starting to work on the arm. Back in and Christian’s strutting Old School is broken up and the Lethal Combination brings him down.

Lethal goes for the leg and grabs a Figure Four, sending Christian straight to the ropes. The Lethal Injection is blocked and Christian is back with a running Spanish Fly. A Swanton misses and banged up the knee again, allowing Lethal to kick the leg out. Something like a reverse powerbomb plants Christian but Johnson offers another distraction. Christian’s bad leg is fine enough to run the ropes for something like a superplex into the Vanilla Choke for the tap at 8:10.

Rating: C. I guess we really are going with Christian as a thing, which isn’t exactly the most thrilling way to go. At the end of the day, Christian is one of a bunch of guys in the midcard on both rosters and that isn’t going to give me much of a reason to believe he’ll pull it off. At least they’re trying and he’s different enough though so it’s worth a try, in theory.

We recap the Dark Order vs. the Frat House, who have been feuding for a few weeks now, with the Order making them pay a big bar tap. It’s a match with an actual story and that’s better than nothing.

Zero Hour: Dark Order vs. Frat House

The Order beats up the pledges on the way to the ring and then jump the Frat House to start fast. The Frat House is knocked outside and Reynolds is backdropped onto the pile. Back in and Garrison starts to take over on Reynolds, followed by some running boots in the corner for two. Stomping in the corner and a slam get two more but Reynolds backflips out of a double belly to back suplex.

A DDT allows the tag off to Uno so house can be cleaned as everything breaks down. Uno gets spinebustered into a 450 for two but he neckbreakers his way out of trouble. The tag brings in Silver for the triple flipping slam, only for Jacked Jameson to break up the pin. Jameson is ejected but Preston Vance gets in a shot with the paddle. Cue Negative One for a distraction though, allowing the Order to fight up. Uno’s discus lariat finishes Vance off at 10:29.

Rating: C+. This is the definition of a goofy, give the fans something fun match and that’s not a bad thing on a Kickoff show. Let the annoying team lose a match, with the glorified mascot costing them the fall. It’s a fine way to go and nothing was overly bad, so call this a perfectly acceptable offering.

Taya Valkyrie, Johnny TV and the MxM Collection are here, with TV wanting the Collection to receive a welcome back from Japan. They even got Ribera jackets! They also have their own fragrance called SEED (“Let it grow inside you!”). And that’s that.

Zero Hour: Lady Frost vs. Diamante

Diamante shakes her hand to start and then hits a forearm to the face to start fast. They forearm it out and Frost flips over her a few times, only to have a cartwheel cut off. The shoulders in the corner have Frost in more trouble and Diamante stomps her down. An elbow drop gives Diamante two but Frost fights back up. A twisting high crossbody gives Frost two and she flips into a slam to plant Diamante again. Diamante is able to catch her going up though and a hanging Cross Rhodes out of the corner finishes Frost at 5:57.

Rating: C. This was another match that didn’t really need to be on the show and was added with no story. That doesn’t make for the best offering but it’s the kind of thing that Ring Of Honor tends to do. Diamante has had flashes of being impressive, but it isn’t going to matter if there is no followup. That is where Ring Of Honor tends to falter, as there is every chance that Diamante won’t be featured anytime soon.

Zero Hour: Von Erichs vs. Premiere Athletes

Nese punches away at Marshall to start, earning himself a slam and elbow drop. Ross comes in to grind away with a headlock on Daivari but Nese sneaks in for a cheap shot from behind. A suplex gets Ross out of trouble but Mark Sterling offers a distraction, meaning the referee doesn’t see the tag. Ross’ rollup gets a VERY delayed two as the referee is trying to gets Marshall back on the apron.

Marshall gets knocked off the apron again to break up another tag attempt but the Magic Carpet Splash misses. Back up and the tag goes through a few seconds later, allowing Marshall to come in and clean house. Nese’s super hurricanrana brings Marshall down so Daivari gets an actual carpet out. The Magic Carpet Splash (with CARPET) gets two, leaving Nese to walk into a pop up spinebuster for two. Ross Claws Sterling and the moonsault gives Marshall the pin on Nese at 8:40.

Rating: C. If there is some appeal to the Von Erichs, I’m not seeing it. They’re as generic of a tag team as you could get, with their only appeal seemingly being their famous relatives. They’re a perfectly mediocre team, so of course they’re approaching a year as two thirds of the Six Man Tag Team Champions. Just find someone more interesting. That shouldn’t be too difficult.

And now, the show proper.

The opening video looks at how this is the wild west, with a focus on the bigger matches.

Hechicero vs. Michael Oku

Rocky Romero and Amira are here too. They shove each other in the face to start until Oku takes him down for a headlock. That’s reversed into Hechicero’s headlock takeover but they wrestle up to another standoff. Oku hits a dropkick but Hechicero pulls him into a choke to slow Oku down again. Hechicero starts cranking on the arm, including a spinning hammerlock slam for two.

Back up and Oku slugs away, setting up a running clothesline and DDT for two. They both miss running dropkicks in the ropes though and they crash down at the same time. Hechicero is sent to the apron but he comes up choking anyway. Oku knocks him out to the floor though, followed by a frog splash high crossbody for two back inside. The half crab sends Hechicero over to the ropes and he pulls Oku into a nasty looking leglock. With that broken up, Hechicero grabs a running headscissor driver for the pin at 11:29.

Rating: B. This was the technical off that is going to be at least somewhat entertaining just about every time. Hechicero can wrestle that style as well as anyone in the world and Oku was more than hanging with him. Good opener here, and it would have been even get more than “these two are both technical wrestlers.

Atlantic Jr. vs. AR Fox vs. Adam Priest vs. Lee Johnson

The winner gets $50,000. Priest is sent outside to start fast, allowing For to give him a big dive. That leaves Fox to send Atlantis to the apron, followed by the big dive to the floor. Fox’s step up moonsault takes Priest out again but Priest cuts off another flip back inside. Johnson is back in with a basement lariat to Atlantis, who makes Johnson DDT Priest.

Back up and Priest pulls Atlantis to the floor to keep up the beating, only for Fox to be back up with a running dive. Priest DDTs Atlantis but Fox grabs a swinging neckbreaker to put Priest down. Everyone gets a breather so a bunch of them go up top. Fox gets dropped onto the turnbuckle, leaving Johnson to hit a frog splash. Priest makes the save but Fox catches him with a slingshot Canadian Destroyer for the pin at 9:15.

Rating: B-. Take four fast paced wrestlers and let them run around as fast as they can until someone gets a pin. The match isn’t likely to have any kind of long term impact but it’s a fun way to get the crowd into things. Fox specializes in this kind of match and that was the case again here, with Priest looking good in defeat.

We recap Blue Panther challenging Lee Moriarty for the Pure Wrestling Title. Panther beat him in a non-title match in Mexico so it’s time for the more important rematch.

Pure Wrestling Title: Lee Moriarty vs. Blue Panther

Panther is challenging under Pure Rules and takes Moriarty to the mat by the leg to start. They trade some arm cranking until Moriarty gets a leglock. That’s reversed into a Fujiwara armbar (how Panther beat him in Mexico), sending Moriarty to the ropes for his first break. Moriarty starts back on the arm until Panther lifts him up into an inverted Gory Stretch. That’s escaped as well and Moriarty grabs an abdominal stretch, which doesn’t last long.

Instead Moriarty pulls him into a reverse cross armbreaker, sending Panther over for his first break. Panther is right back up with a Figure Four, meaning Moriarty uses his second break. A running clothesline gives Panther two but Moriarty is back up with a springboard forearm for the same. Moriarty cranks on the arm and Panther uses his second break as well.

A pair of suicide dives drive Panther into the barricade but Moriarty isn’t interested in trying for a third. Instead he grabs the Border City Stretch, which is enough for the third rope break. Moriarty is rather pleased but Panther knocks him to the floor for a flip dive off the apron. Back in and Moriarty catches him on top for a superplex. Moriarty grabs an ankle lock and then an STF in the ropes to make Panther tap at 13:18.

Rating: B. The big deal here is that Moriarty is now the longest reigning Pure Wrestling Champion of all time, though going so long between title defenses probably made that easier. The match was rather good, especially when you consider that Panther is in his mid 60s, though the title still doesn’t feel overly important. Moriarty needs some more competition for the title, but it isn’t like there is a story to the title matches most of the time.

We recap the Tag Team Title match, with the Infantry challenging the Sons Of Texas. The Infantry earned the shot then insulted the champions so here we are.

Tag Team Titles: Infantry vs. Sons Of Texas

The Sons are defending and Trish Adora is here with the Infantry. Hold on though as we get a vignette of Sammy Guevara flying, but Dustin Rhodes wants him to be serious. Then Guevara gets him to dress like the Green Lantern and Rhodes looks like he wants to die. It’s a brawl at the bell with Rhodes and Bravo heading to the floor. All four get back inside but Adora breaks up a double Shattered Dreams.

Everything breaks down again and the champs hit running dives to the floor, setting up the double pose back inside. Back in and Guevara dropkicks Dean, allowing for some bowing. Bravo trips Guevara to the floor though as one fan in the front row insists on standing up. Guevara is put in a fireman’s carry for a face first ram into the post and it’s time to start taking turns on him in the corner.

The chinlock goes on to keep Guevara down but he’s right back up with some chops in the corner. A slingshot cutter gives Bravo two and Rhodes is knocked off the apron to avoid a quick tag. As tends to be the case, the tag goes through shortly thereafter and Rhodes gets to come in and clean house. Cross Rhodes gets two on Dean as Guevara and Bravo fight out to the floor.

Shattered Dreams hits Dean but Shane Taylor pops up for a belt shot to Rhodes. A very delayed cover gets two and the bloody Rhodes is back up for a Canadian Destroyer. Guevara hits a huge springboard moonsault to the floor to take Taylor out, followed by the Final Reckoning to Bravo. Guevara adds the Swanton to retain the titles at 15:03.

Rating: B-. As usual, the match was fine but it’s not like there is any reason to get interested in the Sons Of Texas. They’re coming up on a year as champions and while I’m sure that’s supposed to be interesting, it continues to be Rhodes getting a rather insane push all things considered. Just give us more of a division and more interesting champions. That shouldn’t be asking too much.

Post match the Infantry jumps the champs, with Anthony Ogogo coming in to…not hit Rhodes, as the Von Erichs run in for the save. Rhodes issues the challenge for an eight man tag tomorrow at All In. Note that the Six Man Champions, who have been champions since last July with three title defenses and have not defended their belts since April, will be in action together, but not in a title match.

We recap Nick Wayne vs. Titan for the TV Title. Titan went to a draw in their Proving Ground match so it’s time for the title to be on the line.

TV Title: Titan vs. Nick Wayne

Nick, with Mother Wayne, is defending. Titan jumps him with a running dropkick in the corner but Wayne is right back with a dragon screw legwhip over the ropes to slow him down. They go to the floor for another dragon screw legwhip and Titan is in early trouble. A leglock sends Titan over to the ropes but he’s able to keep his mask on in the corner. The figure four sends Titan to the ropes again as the fans sound like they’re chanting HAPPY BIRTHDAY (apparently Wayne’s birthday was yesterday, so the fans are nice but a bit tardy).

Titan is able to get back up with a running dropkick to send Wayne outside, where a dive takes him down again. They get back to the apron and chop it out, with Titan knocking him down and hitting a top rope double stomp. The knee is too banged up though and they need a breather on the ramp. Back in and the Figure Four has Titan in trouble again, only for him to make the ropes again. Titan gets up and rapid fire strikes away to leave them both down.

A springboard tornado DDT plants Wayne again and he bails to the floor. The bad knee is enough for Titan to hit a running flip dive, followed by a top rope double stomp back inside. Mother Wayne puts the foot on the rope but gets caught, which is enough for the ejection. Titan grabs something like a Muta Lock, sending Wayne over to the ropes for a change. Wayne catches him on top but gets shoved off. Cue Kip Sabian to crotch Titan on top, setting up Wayne’s World for two. The brainbuster retains the title at 16:12.

Rating: B. This was good enough, with Wayne and Titan having good chemistry together. What matters here is that they set the match up and then delivered it well enough. Wayne already has enough going on and he really doesn’t need to be the champion, but at least his matches are going well. Just find a bit more developed story for him.

Post match Christian Cage comes out to hug Wayne and the Patriarchy poses together.

Red Velvet is frustrated about her injury, but she’ll be back to show that she is the real champion when she beats the interim champion. Note that she hasn’t defended the title since April, which was her first defense since January. But we absolutely need an interim champion.

Interim Women’s TV Title: Mina Shirakawa vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Persephone vs. Miyu Yamashita

For the vacant title and Red Velvet is at ringside. Persephone bails to the floor to start, leaving the other three to trade headlocks. Back in and Persephone shoulders Sakazaki but has to kick away from Shirakawa’s leglock attempt. Shirakawa’s dancing is broken up as well, with Yamashita taking her place. Yamashita gets kicked out to the floor though and Shirakawa hits a dive, only for Persephone to dive onto both of them.

Sakazaki is back up with a dive of her own, followed by a missile dropkick to Persephone back inside. The Upside Down has Yamashita in trouble before she trades kicks to the head with Sakazaki. Shirakawa is back in with some kicks of her own, followed by a quick dance. Persephone breaks that up and gives Shirakawa a fall away slam for two. A top rope Sling Blade gives Shirakawa two more but Persephone floats over to hammer on Shirakawa.

Yamashita breaks that up with a kick to the face so Persephone grabs her in a bridging backslide for two more. Yamashita slips out of a Razor’s Edge and grabs a quickly broken choke, followed by some hard kicks to the head. An AA gets two with Shirakawa making the save, only to be knocked outside again. Back in and the figure four has Persephone in more trouble, so it’s Sakazaki breaking it up with the Magical Girl Splash. Sakazaki and Persephone knock each other to the floor, leaving Shirakawa to figure four Yamashita for the tap and the title at 13:45.

Rating: B-. The problem here is the match was thrown together earlier in the day, so there is only so much you can get. At the end of the day, it’s four women with no story thrown together for the sake of setting up basically the #1 contender to Red Velvet at some point in the future. It’s nice to see Shirakawa win a title, though I’m not sure if it could feel more minor.

Post match Red Velvet comes in for the staredown.

Syuri is coming. That’s a big one.

We recap Athena defending the Women’s Title against Thunder Rosa. Athena has been champion for the better part of ever and Rosa wants the title. End of build.

Women’s Title: Athena vs. Thunder Rosa

Athena, with Billie Starkz, is defending. They fight over a lockup to start and get nowhere so it’s time to fight over wrist control instead. Rosa grabs the arm and runs the corner to snap it over the top. A springboard dropkick lets Rosa crank on the arm again, which is reverses with a ram into the post. They go outside where Athena Rock Bottoms her onto the barricade to start in on the back.

A double arm crank with a knee between the shoulders has Rosa in more trouble but Athena can’t believe it when Rosa kicks out. Athena ties her up in the ropes and cranks on the neck, followed by a backsplash for a quick two. Back up and they kick it out until Rosa sends her hard into the corner. Rosa is up with a big boot and the running elbow in the corner, followed by a running basement dropkick.

A northern lights suplex gives Rosa two and they’re both down for a bit. Athena gets in a shot of her own but Rosa hurricanranas her out to the floor. That means a dive to take Athena out again and a top rope double stomp gets two back inside. Athena is ready to walk out so Billie Starkz can get in a cheap shot.

This goes rather terribly, but the distraction lets Athena powerbomb Rosa off the ramp through a table. We pause to make sure that Rosa can continue, followed by Athena hitting a backbreaker for two. Rosa catches her on top and gets a triangle choke in the corner, only for Athena to come back with a superbomb. A bow and arrow finally makes Rosa tap at 18:52.

Rating: B. That belt is going to be in Athena’s coffin at this point. There is pretty much no one left to give her a real run for her money for the title, hence bringing in people from AEW. It’s a good match, but Athena has gone so far as the champion that there might be too much pressure on whomever beats her for the title. That being said, Rosa was a good choice for the challenger, though it’s still hard to imagine Athena actually losing the thing.

All In rundown.

We recap Bandido vs. Konosuke Takeshita. Bandido is World Champion, Takeshita wanted a title shot, the show needed a main event.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Bandido is defending and comes out wearing an Aztec headdress, which is very clearly barely hanging on. Bandido’s wristlock doesn’t get him anywhere but the fans are rather pleased either way. They fight over wrist control and an exchange of legsweeps go to a standoff. An exchange of teased dives gives us a double gun pose before Bandido knocks him down. Bandido anklescissors him down, with even Callis having to appreciate it. Takeshita gets rolled down for a double stomp to the ribs but Bandido misses a charge into the post.

Bandido gets posted on the floor as well and Takeshita starts in on the arm. The Fujiwara armbar goes on, sending Bandido straight to the ropes. Back up and Bandido flips over him, setting up a quick dragon screw legwhip. A spinning sunset flip gives Bandido two more but Takeshita hits a Helluva Kick into a Blue Thunder Bomb for the Sami Zayn inspired inspired two. Bandido kicks him in the face but the 21 Plex is blocked, allowing Takeshita to go after the mask.

Callis comes to ringside for a distraction, meaning Bandido’s dive can hit a raised chair. The mask is partially torn and Bandido is bleeding, so Takeshita gives him a brainbuster onto the stage. Even commentary isn’t sure why Takeshita leaves him on the stage, as a countout means no title change. Bandido beats the count so Takeshita bites the cut before slapping on a chinlock. That’s only good for two arm drops though and Bandido muscles him over for a suplex.

A poisonrana sends Takeshita to the floor, meaning Bandido is right there with the running flip dive. Back in and a frog splash gives Bandido two more and they seem to mistime something, though Bandido makes a nifty save with a rollup for two. Angel’s Wings gets two and Bandido grabs Cattle Mutilation. Takeshita gets out and it’s an exchange of clotheslines for a double knockdown.

Back up and Bandido wins a slugout but the 21 Plex is blocked again. Instead it’s the X Knee into the 21 Plex for two and they’re both down for a needed breather. The super fall away slam gives Bandido two more but a shooting star press hits raised knees. Back up and Bandido hits a running superkick before taking the knee pad down. Another X Knee connects but Takeshita is back up with a kneeling tombstone. The running knee gives Takeshita two but Raging Fire is countered into a small package to retain Bandido’s title at 29:23.

Rating: A-. That lived up to the expectations, as this was the “here’s a match that is going to be great no matter what” and then they went out and nailed the whole thing. It was an awesome main event and the time didn’t feel long. Bandido gets a heck of a win under his belt and that is exactly what they were going for here. Great match and one of the best in Ring Of Honor in a long time.

Post match Hechicero comes out and seems to be the next challenger.

Overall Rating: A-. As usual, the Ring Of Honor specials are really good because they know how to do the in-ring stuff. This was built around the idea of focusing on the in-ring stuff and if you ignore the lack of build to some of these matches on the weekly show, it’s awesome stuff. The in-ring side has never been a weak spot for something from Tony Khan and that was the case again here. Awesome show and worth a look, though you can easily skip the Zero Hour as there is nothing worth the extra time on there.

Results
Blake Christian b. Jay Lethal – Vanilla Choke
Dark Order b. Frat House – Discus lariat to Vance
Diamante b. Lady Frost – Hanging Cross Rhodes
Von Erichs b. Premiere Athletes – Moonsault to Nese
Hechicero b. Michael Oku – Headscissor driver
AR Fox b. Adam Priest, Atlantis Jr. and Lee Johnson – Slingshot Canadian Destroyer to Priest
Lee Moriarty b. Blue Panther – STF in the ropes
Sons Of Texas b. Infantry – Swanton to Bravo
Nick Wayne b. Titan – Brainbuster
Mina Shirakawa b. Yuka Sakazaki, Persephone and Miyu Yamashita – Figure four to Yamashita
Athena b. Thunder Rosa – Bow and arrow
Bandido b. Konosuke Takeshita – Small package

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

Collision
Date: July 10, 2025
Location: Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the last show before All In and that means it is time for the final push. That doesn’t always go as usual with Collision though as this show is so often based on what happens in the ring. Maybe there is a chance that is different this time though as All In is the biggest show of the year so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Don Callis Family vs. Paragon

Fletcher and O’Reilly start things off with an exchange of running shots. That means it’s off to Cole to work on Beretta’s arm before a belly to back neckbreaker drops Beretta. Paragon takes turns stomping away in the corner until Fletcher offers a distraction. Beretta takes over on Strong, who gets caught in the wrong corner. Romero’s Forever Lariats don’t last forever as Strong rolls away to bring in O’Reilly to clean house. Everything breaks down and O’Reilly hits some running shots off the apron. Romero cuts him off with a suicide dive though and we take a break.

We come back with Fletcher getting in a cheap shot to Cole on the apron. O’Reilly and Beretta clothesline each other, allowing Strong to come in and clean house. A Razor’s Edge spun into a cutter (cool) drops Romero but Fletcher is back in to make the save. The big tag brings Cole back in to clean house and he (intentionally) sends Beretta into the corner so Fletcher can come in. A half and half suplex drops Cole, who is right back with the Panama Sunrise for two. The Boom is cut off but O’Reilly and Strong are back in to take Romero down. Now the Boom can finish Romero at 13:40.

Rating: B-. That’s a very AEW style six man match and I can go with that as a way to open the show. The ending doesn’t exactly have me confident that Cole is going to retain the title on Saturday, but getting it on Fletcher is a good idea. If nothing else, it was nice to see the Paragon actually win, as they feel like they’ve lost a good deal lately.

Post match Cole and Fletcher have their big staredown, with Don Callis saying “don’t take the bait”. Fletcher backs down.

We get some special footage from after Dynamite, which is basically a promo from Jon Moxley and Gabe Kidd, who don’t think much of the talent around here. Kidd wants to face his mentor, Katsuyori Shibata, which he will do tonight.

We get a Technique By Taz video, looking at Mistico’s La Mistica. This is the kind of “real sports presentation” that works very well, especially with Taz, who sounds like he knows what he’s talking about.

We look at Scorpio Sky returning last week, along with Christopher Daniels, Top Flight and Leila Grey. Apparently they’re called Sky Flight.

Mistico vs. The Beast Mortos

Mistico starts fast and snaps off a running hurricanrana, followed by a springboard version. Mortos is sent outside for a hard suicide dive, which works so well that Mistico does it again. Back in and a springboard wristdrag drops Mortos again but he’s right back up with some corner clotheslines. A snap powerslam and neck crank have Mistico in more trouble as we take a break.

We come back with Mistico scoring with another running hurricanrana, followed by a handspring elbow for two. Mortos plants him down but Mistico is right back with a running sunset flip for two of his own. The pop up Samoan drop gives Mortos two and a Tombstone Codebreaker gets the same. Back up and they slug it out until Mistico grabs a running Canadian Destroyer. Mistico suplexes him into the corner and La Mistico finishes Mortos at 10:54.

Rating: B-. I don’t think there was exactly much doubt about the result here, as it was a way to have Mistico get in the ring and beat someone with a name. At the same time, it isn’t like Mortos ever wins anything of note, so Mistico only gets so much. Mistico is going to feel like a big deal no matter what due to his star power, so putting him on the show if possible is a no brainer.

Post match MJF pops up in the mask he stole from Mistico, saying he’s going to beat Mark Briscoe in three seconds. Then he’ll keep collecting Mistico’s masks until we see his face.

Mark Briscoe says he’s coming to win the Casino Gauntlet match, which is business. The stuff with MJF is personal though and he’s getting madder and madder after Dynamite. He has to beat up MJF. This was a serious Briscoe and he sold it well.

After Dynamite, Hangman Page wanted to talk about what happened, but not with Renee Paquette. Instead, he walks up to Swerve Strickland’s dressing room and lets himself in. Will Ospreay is there too and gets beaten them, but Swerve and Page say it’s ok. Prince Nana leaves too and they’re alone together. Page isn’t here to ask for help, but rather sits down and throws a chain on the floor.

Swerve is willing to listen and Page says he had nothing to do with the Young Bucks at Dynasty. What Swerve did to Page’s family though can never be forgiven. He thinks Swerve deserved what was done to him, and that’s why Page regrets it. Page wants to know if Swerve regrets what Swerve did to him. After everything that has happened, yes, he does regret it.

Page stands up and says his family will be at All In, with Swerve saying he’ll stay clear of them and hopes they have a good time. Page says he believes him and goes to leave, but Swerve stops him. Swerve wanted his family to live in the house that Page burned down, but maybe it was time to let go of the past. With Page gone, Swerve looks at the chain. Well that was intense and felt like a major step forward in their saga.

Here is Jon Moxley, with Marina Shafir, to ask what that was about. Page is no cowboy, but rather a *censored*. Moxley isn’t going to make any apologies after Saturday.

FTR/Patriarchy vs. Outrunners/Jet Speed

This is billed as an All Star match and…yeah not seeing that here. Bailey and Wayne start things off with Wayne being sent into the corner for some begging off. Knight comes in for a double big boot, with Wayne being sent outside. Back in and Christian knocks Knight into the corner for a hard chop but Knight manages a nice dropkick. Wheeler comes in and gets taken down with a springboard armdrag.

It’s off to Magnum, who is quickly dropped in the corner with some uppercuts. Magnum hands it off to Floyd for a spinning belly to back suplex and everything breaks down. Knight gets low bridged to the floor though and we take a break. We come back with Knight fighting out of trouble but Wayne cuts off the tag. That doesn’t last long as Magnum comes in, with Floyd helping to clean house.

The Megan Powers Elbow hits Wayne but Cage gets in a posting. The standing Sliced Bread hits Magnum to put him in trouble and the villains take turns beating him down. Magnum gets over for the tag to Floyd, but the referee doesn’t see it to keep up the beating. Wheeler grabs a cobra clutch but Magnum fights out and gets in a double knockdown. The hot tag brings in Bailey to clean house, including a standing shooting star press for two on Harwood.

Bailey’s springboard moonsault to the floor takes out a bunch of villains and it’s time for the parade of knockdowns. The Shatter Machine is broken up though and Bailey sunset flips Harwood for a VERY close two. Total Recall sends Christian outside and Knight’s spinning splash finishes Harwood at 18:02.

Rating: B. This picked up a lot at the end and that’s what you want out of this kind of a match. I do like that the Hurt Syndicate didn’t get involved here, as they are already more than established. FTR getting back into the title picture is a good idea as they are such a successful team, though I’d hope FTR vs. the Syndicate is saved for a special moment.

Big Boom AJ is back and wants the Don Callis Family. Big Justice and the Rizzler come in to meet Hologram and Tomohiro Ishii. The Don Callis Family comes in to issue the challenge, with Kyle O’Reilly coming in to even the score. The match seems to be made. Eh fine for a Zero Hour match, which is what it will likely be.

FTR wants revenge on the Outrunners and issue a challenge for Zero Hour.

Katsuyori Shibata vs Gabe Kidd

They go right to the slugout to start with Shibata hitting a running boot in the corner. They’re quickly on the floor, with Kidd getting the better of things but getting booted off the apron for his efforts. Another running shot against the barricade has Kidd in trouble but he hammers away back inside for a needed breather

We take a break and come back with Shibata shrugging off some chops to hit some of his own. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Kidd snaps off a Saito suplex for two and they trade big forearms. Shibata gets the better of things and hits some loud chops but has to go after an invading Wheeler Yuta. Kidd’s low blow into a piledriver finishes Shibata at 9:27.

Rating: B-. While Kidd has made an impact in AEW, he hasn’t felt like any kind of a major star. That was on display here, as beating Shibata only means so much. They went back and forth for a fine enough match, but this wasn’t the kind of thing that was going to make me all the more interested in Kidd.

Willow Nightingale/Thunder Rosa/Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata vs. Athena/Thekla/Megan Bayne/Julia Hart

Kris Statlander is on commentary. Athena and Shirakawa start things off With Athena taking over and getting in her required trash talk. A Sling Blade lets Shirakawa dance a bit ant it’s off to Rosa. Athena gets two off a quick rollup and Nightingale comes in for the corner clotheslines. Bayne throws Rosa and Shirakawa at the same time (as you can do) and Nightingale is knocked outside as we take an early break.

We come back with Nightingale giving Hart a Death Valley Driver, allowing Animata and Thekla to come in for a change. Animata headbutts Thekla into a neckbreaker and Shirakawa hits a big dive to the floor. Hart’s moonsault hits Nightingale for two, before Hart and Thekla hit stereo spider superplexes. Thekla is pulled outside for a whip into the barricade, leaving Nightingale and Hart in the ring. Shirakawa knees Hart into the Babe With The Powerbomb for the pin at 12:41.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure who is going to win the Casino Gauntlet match (partially because I don’t know who is in it) and that’s a nice feeling to have. Matches like this do offer a bit of momentum and Nightingale winning is certainly a nice possibility. Whomever it is, hopefully they don’t wait long to use their title shot, as the waiting around can kill off momentum in a hurry.

Post match the brawl is on again, with Tay Melo and Anna Jay running in to join the brawl and end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Much like this week’s Dynamite, the biggest issue here was avoiding losing steam before the pay per view. Other than the Hangman/Swerve segment, most of this stuff was skippable, but if you do watch it, you won’t be wasting your time. All In is all that matters here and this didn’t weaken my interest in the show, so we’ll call that a success.

Results
Paragon b. Don Callis Family – Boom to Romero
Mistico b. The Beast Mortos – La Mistica
Outrunners/Jet Speed b. FTR/Patriarchy – Spinning splash to Harwood
Gabb Kidd b. Katsuyori Shibata – Piledriver
Willow Nightingale/Thunder Rosa/Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata b. Athena/Thekla/Megan Bayne/Julia Hart – Babe With The Powerbomb to Hart

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 10, 2025
Location: ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s the last show before Supercard Of Honor and that means the card is…well it could be anywhere from a bit done to most of the way done. You never really can tell what’s going on with a big Ring Of Honor show but at least the main event is set. There is a good chance we’ll get some more of the card set up here so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Spanish Announce Project vs. Atlantis/Atlantis Jr.

Atlantis locks up with Angelico to start with Atlantis grabbing an armdrag and sweeping the leg for two. Serpentico comes in for a quick splash but gets sent into the corner so Jr. can come in. A running kick to the head in the corner knocks Serpentico down but Angelico breaks up a top rope splash. Angelico comes in for an enziguri so Serpentico can hit a running Downward Spiral. Back up and a Sling Blade makes Angelico DDT Serpentico and everything breaks down. Atlantis spinebusters Serpentico into Jr.’s frog splash for the pin at 6:07.

Rating: C+. Hey remember last week when the Project won a match and commentary said they might be getting back into the title picture? Well that lasted about a week, as they lost to a father/son team here, with one of the members in his mid 60s. In other words, it’s a very typical result for Ring Of Honor.

Post match a brawl is teased but respect is shown.

Bandido is ready for Konosuke Takeshita.

Aaron Solo vs. Adam Priest

Priest takes him down with a headlock takeover to start and grinds away. Back up and Solo fires off some forearms, setting up a dropkick. That doesn’t last long as Priest knocks him down again and drops some elbows. A snap suplex gives Priest two and the reverse chinlock goes on for a bit. Solo pops back up and hits some clotheslines, followed by a kick to the face for two more. They fight to the apron where Solo hits a belly to back suplex, only to miss a top rope stomp. Priest takes the knee out and puts on a half crab for the win at 5:30.

Rating: B-. If this was a way for Priest to possibly get a job around here, he might have done just that. Priest has been around a few times and it has worked most of the time. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from him both in and out of AEW and I could go for seeing more of him around here. Maybe he’s just here because we’re in his area, but this was a nice showing.

We look back at the Dark Order tricking the Frat House paying for the bar tab last week.

Dark Order vs. Frat House

Actually no as the Frat House is hung over so they won’t be wrestling. They have replacements though.

Dark Order vs. Pledges

The triple flipping slap gives Uno the pin at 49 seconds.

The six man is officially on for Supercard Of Honor.

Quick video on Lee Moriarty vs. Blue Panther for Supercard Of Honor.

The Infantry is ready for the Sons Of Texas, who interrupt. Apparently Dustin Rhodes is old, but Sammy Guevara asks what happens if the Infantry loses. Rhodes says the Infantry used to be heroes but now they’re nothing. Tomorrow, the grandpa is giving them a beating.

Rachael Ellering vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Pure Rules. Purrazzo spins out of a wristlock to start and poses a bit. Ellering trips her down and hits some shots in the corner, followed by a gutwrench suplex for two. Purrazzo goes evil by pulling the bandanna over the eyes, which has Ellering in the ropes for the first time. The armbar has Ellering in trouble but she’s back up with a running clothesline. The backsplash gives Purrazzo two and something like a fisherman’s buster gets the same. Purrazzo is right back with the Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 6:08.

Rating: C. This was another example of a match where the Pure Rules added absolutely nothing. There was one rope break in the middle which changed nothing whatsoever. Ellering was fighting back but didn’t get very far before Purrazzo took her out. As usual, I have absolutely no idea why this kind of match needs a championship.

Athena doesn’t like Thunder Rosa thinking that coming after her is the easy way to becoming a champion again. Supercard Of Honor is going to be in her hometown, both in Texas and in Ring Of Honor, and she’ll prove why she is the Forever Champion.

Supercard Of Honor rundown.

Grizzled Young Veterans/Premiere Athletes vs. Sons Of Texas/Von Erichs

Mark Sterling is here with the villains and complains about getting kicked low. Guevara and Nese start things off with Guevara mocking Nese’s pose. They go to the mat for some grappling before Nese flips over him and poses again. Back up and Guevara flips over him a few times, allowing Marshall to come in. A running clothesline in the corner drops Gibson and sets up the running Cannonball. Ross kicks Gibson down and Marshall hits a standing moonsault for two.

Back up and Ross is knocked to the floor for some triple teaming, followed by Drake grabbing a sleeper back inside. That’s broken up and the tag brings in Rhodes to clean house, but Nese saves Sterling from Shattered Dreams. Nese kicks Guevara down but gets tossed into a spinebuster. Sterling gets out of the corner…and Rhodes puts him right back in for Shattered Dreams. The Von Erichs Claw the Veterans before Guevara takes them out with a running flip dive. The Final Reckoning finishes Daivari at 8:39.

Rating: C+. Perfectly fine match here, though it continued the issue of showing how the Von Erichs could be completely erased with little being lost. They’re not bad, but they’re so middle of the road and perfectly mediocre that it is hard to get into anything they do. The fact that we are coming up on a year of them holding the Six Man Tag Team Titles and they have defended the titles once since January (and aren’t currently on the line at the pay per view) should tell you just about everything you need to know.

Overall Rating: C+. This was slightly above the norm around here as they did at least hype up Supercard Of Honor, though it’s still hardly an interesting show. There were matches which just didn’t get a ton of attention or hype, which is not a good sign going into their first pay per view of the year. As usual, the pay per view does not feel important and that has been a major issue for a long time now.

Results
Atlantis/Atlantis Jr. b. Spanish Announce Project – Frog splash to Serpentico
Adam Priest b. Aaron Solo – Half crab
Dark Order b. Pledges – Triple flipping slam
Deonna Purrazzo b. Rachael Ellering – Fujiwara armbar
Sons Of Texas/Von Erichs b. Grizzled Young Veterans/Premiere Athletes – Final Reckoning to Daivari

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

Collision
Date: July 5, 2025
Location: Toyota Arena, Ontario, California
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the 100th episode and we are also just a week away from All In. That means we’re going to be having quite the busy week, as there are a lot of things that need to get done. Hopefully the quality is still there with the show as well, though you never quite know what you’re getting around here. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Here is Adam Cole to get things going. He thanks the fans for being here for 100 episodes and calls them the best audience he has ever wrestled for in his career. Cole says he’ll hold onto that title through this year and beyond but here is Kyle Fletcher to interrupt. Fletcher says the next 100 episodes of this show belong to him. Fletcher talks about losing to Cole at All In 2023 and it was the worst night of his career. Now he has killed that version of Fletcher and now he wants to make Cole feel just as bad.

No one deserves the title shot as much as he does but here is Daniel Garcia to interrupt. When you talk about the future of AEW, you better be talking about him. Cole says Garcia can have a title shot anywhere, but he’ll lose. The idea of a triple threat is thrown out but Fletcher wants this one on one. Fletcher says he’s beaten Garcia, who says that everyone has beaten him (maybe not the best thing to point out). Garcia and Fletcher are already fighting tonight so let’s make it for a title shot at All In. Works for Cole. This was a long way to set up the main event.

Toni Storm is ready to take out Mercedes Mone and keep the big shiny belt around her waist.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Nick Wayne vs. Kevin Knight

Their respective seconds are all here too and Knight has bad ribs coming in. Knight clears the ring to start but Benjamin pulls him outside. Benjamin sends the bad ribs into the barricade so Wayne can steal a near fall but Knight is back up to cradle Benjamin for the same. Back up and Benjamin gets dropkicked out to the floor, leaving Wayne to knock Knight down.

We take a break and come back with MVP arguing with Mother Wayne. Benjamin powerbombs Nick but Knight springboards in with a sunset flip (nice) for two. A double superkick drops Benjamin, leaving Nick and Knight to slug it out. Benjamin is sent outside and Nick hits a big flip dive, followed by Knight’s springboard double clothesline to drop both of them. Back in and Benjamin gets the ankle lock but Nick breaks it up with Wayne’s World. Knight comes off the top with the UFO to break it up and pins Benjamin at 10:23.

Rating: B-. This was a nice way to set up the now three way Tag Team Title match at All In, which is a lot better than the regular tag match. There is only so much that you can get out of Jet Speed getting the title match so adding the Patriarchy is a good idea. I still don’t believe that the titles are in danger, but this should be an upgrade.

The Death Riders challenge the Opps for the Trios Titles at All In.

Mark Briscoe/Hologram/Mistico vs. Don Callis Family

Mistico gets double teamed to start with Romero working on the arm. Back up and a rope walk wristdrag brings Romero down, followed by a running hurricanrana. It’s off to Briscoe who loads up the chair, but Beretta cuts off the step up dive. A drop toehold sends Briscoe face first into the chair for two and we take a break.

We come back with Hechicero avoiding Hologram’s superkick so Hologram snaps off an anklescissors to take him down. Back up and Hologram is thrown into a Canadian Destroyer to plant Romero but Hechicero Spanish Flys Hologram for two. A running knee gives Beretta two as everything breaks down.

Mistico comes off the top rope with something like a tornado DDT to Hechicero and a hurricanrana puts Beretta on the floor. Beretta suplexes Hologram but Briscoe is back in to low bridge him to the floor. The running flip dive takes out Romero on the floor, leaving Briscoe and Hologram to hit their step up flip dives onto Beretta and Hechicero. Back in and La Mistica makes Romero tap at 17:04.

Rating: B. This was the usual “take a bunch of people and let them fly around the ring for awhile”. It’s an entertaining match and I can always go for Briscoe getting a win like this, though I have no idea what Hologram is supposed to be. Other than the local luchador who has fun matches, he never really moves up or down the card. After so long, it would be nice to see that change a bit.

Post match the winners celebrate (with Briscoe rocking some air guitar for Mistico’s song) but MVP and MJF pop up on the screen. MJF doesn’t like either Mistico or Briscoe and tells the fans to go back to counting food stamps. MVP insults Mistico in Spanish and MJF agrees.

Some AEW stars did some things at a recent NASCAR race, including Swerve Strickland driving the pace car. Anything that gets AEW associated with more mainstream sports is a good thing.

Here is Max Caster, who does not like the fans singing along with his song. He instead tries to get them to chant THIS CROWD SUCKS and asks who will be answering the challenge this week. We get a video of Scorpio Sky of all people, as he is back in training and accepting the challenge.

Scorpio Sky vs. Max Caster

Caster jumps Sky to start and is knocked down just as fast. A TKO ends Caster at 55 seconds.

Ricochet doesn’t want to talk about his interactions with the Gates Of Agony. He walks off and finds the Gates, who have attacked Blake Christian.

Willow Nightingale vs. Vipress

The spinebuster looks to set up the Babe With The Powerbomb but Vipress slips away. That earns her the Pounce into the Babe With The Powerbomb for the pin at 1:26.

Anthony Bowens is banged up after his loss when Billy Gunn comes in. Bowens says thank you for helping him now, but Gunn tells him that it doesn’t happen overnight. Bowens wants to win the Casino Gauntlet and Gunn tells him to trust him. Works for Bowens.

FTR vs. Outrunners

Harwood takes Floyd into the corner to start and gets punched in the face for his efforts. It’s off to Wheeler, who takes Magnum into the corner but some clotheslines have him in trouble. Floyd comes in for an assisted faceplant but Wheeler drops Floyd. A suplex gets Floyd out of trouble though and it’s back to Magnum to clean house. The Mega Powers Elbow is broken up though and we take a break.

We come back with Magnum busted open and getting brainbustered to make it worse. Wheeler misses a running dropkick in the corner but he gets over to break up the tag to Floyd. A high crossbody gets Magnum out of trouble but Harwood is back in with a Razor’s Edge/neckbreaker combination.

Naturally Magnum gets up to knock both of them down and make the hot tag off to Floyd. House is quickly cleaned and now the Mega Powers Elbow hits Wheeler for two. A sunset flip gets two on Wheeler, followed by the Shatter Machine for a VERY near fall. Back up and the regular Shatter Machine hits Floyd for the pin at 18:26, with Stokely Hathaway holding Magnum’s foot to cut off the save.

Rating: B-. I think the idea here was to have the Outrunners get elevated by working a long match with FTR, but the Outrunners are just feeling a bit dated. The fans are still cheering for them, but they lose every big match and only feel like a bit of a threat to win. At the same time, FTR needs something bigger to do, though I’m not sure I can picture them going after the titles again.

Tay Melo/Anna Jay/Queen Animata/Thunder Rosa vs. Athena/Julia Hart/Megan Bayne/Thekla

Aminata and Thekla start things off with a running headscissors taking Aminata down. Rosa comes in to face Athena, who hands it off to Bayne instead. Bayne powers her into the corner but misses a charge, allowing Rosa to hit a running dropkick. Aminata comes in with a top rope double stomp and it’s already back to Rosa as we take a break.

We come back with Hart hitting a spider superplex to Rosa. That doesn’t get her very long though as Rosa pops up and brings in Melo to clean house. Everything breaks down with Rosa diving off the apron to take out Athena. Cue Skye Blue to take out Melo, leaving Jay to avoid a charge in the corner. Penelope Ford offers a distraction though and Bayne hits a running Liger Bomb for the pin at 10:19.

Rating: C+. It wasn’t quite a random match, but Bayne has already smashed through these women a few times. I can go with watching Bayne wreck people though as she does it really well, but again she needs to move up the ladder a bit. At the same time, Rosa looked strong on the way to what is likely a loss to Athena at Supercard Of Honor, but I’ll take what I can get.

Video on Alex Windsor, who is coming back from a knee injury.

Kyle Fletcher vs. Daniel Garcia

Don Callis and Adam Cole are on commentary and Fletcher takes him into the corner for some dancing. A headlock has Garcia in trouble but he fights up for a running shoulder. Some right hands in the corner rock Fletcher and they go to the floor, where Garcia gets in a shot of his own. Back up and Fletcher hits him with a lawn dart into the barricade to bust Garcia open.

We take a break and come back with Garcia hitting a suplex onto the apron. A running dropkick against the barricade connects and Garcia’s top rope superplex, leaving them both down. Fletcher is back up with a sitout powerbomb for two and he tries a running knee, which is countered into the Dragontamer. The rope is reached and they crash out to the floor, where Garcia hits an apron powerbomb. Garcia beats the count but Fletcher gives him a Helluva Kick into a brainbuster for the pin at 14:40.

Rating: B-. Another good match here and in this case it sets up a title match at All In, where Fletcher should be moving on to become the new champion. At the same time, Garcia is sliding down the card and hopefully the solution isn’t a heel turn. This worked well enough for a main event and they didn’t stay too long, which is always nice to see.

Overall Rating: B. This was a good show with the action working well throughout. It was an attempt to have a big milestone show and that went rather well all things considered. They did some good work setting up a few details for All In and you don’t get that kind of a show very often around here. Throw in some solid action and I’ll take this every week.

Results
Kevin Knight b. Shelton Benjamin and Nick Wayne – UFO to Benjamin
Mistico/Mark Briscoe/Hologram b. Don Callis Family – La Mistica to Romero
Scorpio Sky b. Max Caster – TKO
Willow Nightingale b. Vipress – Babe With The Powerbomb
Megan Bayne/Thekla/Athena/Julia Hart b. Tay Melo/Anna Jay/Thunder Rosa/Queen Aminata – Running Liger Bomb to Jay
Kyle Fletcher b. Daniel Garcia – Brainbuster

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 3, 2025
Location: ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are eight days away from Supercard Of Honor and last week, Ring Of Honor seemed to remember that the show was taking place. We now have a few matches set for the show and there is a good chance that we’ll get some more tonight. Or they’ll announce it at the very last second. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Alex Zayne vs. Wheeler Yuta

Yuta wrestles him to the mat to start but drops down, allowing Zayne to hit some springboard knees to the back. An armdrag sends Yuta to the floor but he breaks up another springboard. A top rope forearm drops Zayne again and Yuta elbows him in the face, though he makes sure to let the referee know that HE HAS UNTIL FIVE.

Back up and Zayne strikes away, setting up a running flipping ax kick. Yuta goes to the eyes though and grabs something like an Angle Slam. Cattle Mutilation doesn’t work so Yuta elbows him again and bites his head in the corner. Zayne is right back with a running hurricanrana out of the corner and a facebuster gets two. Something off the top misses for Zayne though and Yuta hits a running knee for the pin at 6:44.

Rating: C+. Are we really setting up Yuta vs. Bryan Danielson in the future? Unless that match winds up being about three seconds long, I have no idea what I would want to see from it. Zayne is someone who can do the flips but doesn’t really stand out, but at least he’s getting a chance to show what he can do.

Video on Athena vs. Thunder Rosa.

The Infantry and Trish Adora wish us a happy 4th of July.

Spanish Announce Project vs. Midnight Heat

Angelico and Pearl start things off but Gibson comes in, earning an armdrag down. It’s off to Serpentico for a hurricanrana out of the corner but a slingshot backbreaker puts Serpentico down. A whip into the corner sets up a sleeper from Pearl and it’s already back to Gibson. Serpentico gets caught in a Russian legsweep/backbreaker combination for two but he grabs a jumping Downward Spiral. That’s enough for the tag back to Serpentico so house can be cleaned. La majistral gets two on Pearl so Angelico ties him up in a leglock for the tap at 5:14.

Rating: C. You know what you’re going to be getting with the Project (which is a name that doesn’t make a ton of sense as they haven’t been announcers in years) and that’s exactly what happened here. They didn’t have anything out of the ordinary here, though Midnight Heat continues to be a nice team who are fine when they get in the ring. Do a bit more with them if you can.

The Frat House recruits recruits but the Dark Order came in and beat them in a game of Flip Cup. The Frat House accuses them of cheating but the Order agrees to pay the tab anyway. Reynolds: “Put it under Griff Garrison.” Bartender: “Who the heck is Griff Garrison?” Ok that was good for a smile.

Serena Deeb vs. B3cca

Pure Rules. Deeb takes her down without much trouble to start and B3cca uses her first rope break rather quickly. A surfboard has B3cca in more trouble before she switches to a camel clutch. We’ll make that a sleeper (as switching submissions is Deeb’s thing) and B3cca uses a second rope break. Deeb neckbreakers her over the ropes and a double arm trap faceplant into a Serenity Lock makes B3cca tap at 4:38.

Rating: C. Pretty much a squash here and I’m still not sure why I should be interested in a women’s pure rules division. The men’s division is barely ever used and now we’re not only getting a women’s division but also a title? Maybe you should give us a reason for it happening before a title is set up? Also, if you just have to do the tournament, maybe actually set it up?

Post match Trish Adora comes out to take notes.

We recap Konosuke Takeshita challenging Bandido for Supercard Of Honor. By this I mean they just air it again.

Supercard Of Honor rundown.

Infantry vs. Top Flight

For the Tag Team Title shot at Supercard and the rest of Shane Taylor Promotions/Leila Grey are here too. Riccaboni: “The stakes could not be higher!” Wouldn’t the title match itself have higher stakes? Dean works on Darius’ arm to start but Darius is back up with a snappy headlock takeover. It’s off to Dante for a running clothesline in the corner to Bravo but Shane Taylor offers a distraction. That lets Bravo get in a cheap shot on the floor and a double backbreaker connects back inside.

Darius gets tied in the Tree of Woe for a double dropkick and a double clothesline gets two. Darius fights out of the corner with a double knockdown and it’s back to Dante to clean house. Some suicide dives connect to the Infantry and a high crossbody gets two on Dean. Darius comes back in with a springboard Downward Spiral and Leila Grey and Trish Adora get in a brawl on the floor. Lee Moriarty uses the distraction to clock Darius with the Pure Title to give Dean the pin at 9:27.

Rating: C+. So we get the Infantry getting another chance at the titles. It’s not like they’re better or worse than any team but for some reason they’re getting the nod this time. While I could still go for Top Flight getting a chance to do something important, it’s not like the Sons Of Texas are going to lose their titles in Texas (not when they’re this close to a year with the belts) so go with the Infantry to give them a win here.

Overall Rating: C. Yeah it was fine. Above all else it was short, clocking in at around 42 minutes, which really does do these things a world of good. They didn’t have much to say this week (which is a bad sign when they have one more show before their first pay per view of the year) and thankfully they didn’t stick around very long. They kept this to the point and the matches were fine enough, so we’ll call it a completely acceptable show.

Results
Wheeler Yuta b. Alex Zayne – Running knee
Spanish Announce Project b. Midnight Heat – Leglock to Pearl
Serena Deeb b. B3cca – Serenity Lock
The Infantry b. Top Flight – Belt shot to Darius

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

Global Wars 2025
Date: June 26, 2025
Location: Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni

It’s time for another special event, which happened to be taped last week in Mexico. This is a Ring Of Honor vs. CMLL card and we have the World Title on the line as Bandido defends against Mascara Dorada. Other than that, this is one of three shows we have left before Supercard Of Honor and it would be nice to start the build. Let’s get to it.

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

Red Velvet/Athena vs. Thunder Rosa/Persephone

Rosa and Athena start things off with Rosa being taken into the corner but coming out with an armdrag to the now legal Velvet. Persephone comes in for a double basement dropkick and pulls a springboarding Athena out of the air. Persephone’s spinning slam gets two but Athena takes her into the corner to fire off some forearms. Velvet hits some running knees to the back of the head but Persephone fights up and gets over to Rosa. Everything breaks down and Velvet splashes Rosa in the corner. Athena O Faces Persephone but gets kneed down by Rosa. A rollup gives Rosa the pin on Velvet at 7:14.

Rating: C+. This was the best way to set up Rosa vs. Athena and that’s about as good of an idea as they were going to have without Athena taking a fall. Rosa is someone who can give Athena a real challenge and that is something that has been lacking for a LONG time. Persephone getting a shot at Velvet wouldn’t be a bad thing either, as Velvet needs someone to come after her as well.

Nick Wayne vs. Titan

Non-title but if Titan wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, he receives a future TV Title shot. Titan flips out of the corner to start but gets knocked off the top for a crash. Wayne follows him out for another crash and gets in some posing. Back in and Wayne chokes a bit before going after the mask, as is custom. A running uppercut in the corner gives Wayne two but Titan is back up to strike away.

Back up and a springboard dropkick drops Wayne, who comes back with a handspring Stunner for two. They forearm it out until Titan charges into a superkick, only for Wayne to grab a standing Sliced Bread. Titan gets up and knocks him to the floor for a running flip dive. A springboard tornado DDT plants Wayne and Titan starts tying up the legs as time expires at 10:00, meaning Titan gets a future title shot.

Rating: B-. Another fine match, though Titan might not have gotten the rules at the end (though in this case it doesn’t make much of a difference). Titan is a talented star and someone who has done well everywhere he’s gone. Putting Wayne in the ring with someone like him is a good move and now they’ll get to do it again.

Titan is annoyed at not winning, possibly not quite getting the rules.

We recap Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada. Bandido was getting beaten down and Bandido made the save but held up the World Title. The match was set.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada

Bandido is defending. They take their time to lockup and Dorada backs him into the corner for a friendly tap on the chest. An exchange of legsweeps and takedowns gives us a standoff but Dorada takes him down in the corner. The 450 misses but the 21 Plex is blocked, giving us another standoff. Dorada uppercuts him down and hits a dropkick to the floor, setting up the running corkscrew dive.

Back in and Dorada’s 450 gets two but Bandido gets in some shots of his own. Dorada is knocked outside for a running dive to take him out. Bandido muscles him up for a delayed superplex and a near fall. They trade running shots in the corner until Bandido knocks him outside again, this time for a running flip dive over the corner. A frog splash gives Bandido two but Dorada jumps up, climbs onto Bandido’s shoulders, and then drops down into a hurricanrana for two.

They chop it out until both of them drop to their knees, only to keep at the slapping. They go to the apron and keep chopping until they both try running dropkicks for a double knockdown to the floor. Now it’s time to go to the ramp for an exchange of throws until Dorada climbs the set and hits a huge dive. Dorada sends him back into the ring and gets a running start down the ramp for a moonsault over the top back inside.

Bandido is back up to grab the arms and tie up the legs at the same time, with Dorada pulling himself up. With that not working, Bandido switches into a rollup for two. Dorada catches him on top and does another shoulder stand hurricanrana into a shooting star for two more. Bandido is back with the X Knee into the 21 Plex for a rather near fall. That means it’s a super flipping fall away slam to knock Dorada silly, setting up another 21 Plex to retain the title at 19:09.

Rating: A-. Excellent stuff here, with two guys who have no issues with each other fighting to leave with a prize. You can tell Bandido knows how to work this style very well and Dorada is more than capable of having some great performances. This was easily the best thing ROH has had in a long time and is definitely worth a look.

Rocky Romero, with Konosuke Takeshita, challenges Bandido for Supercard Of Honor on Takeshita’s behalf. Hokey smoke they remembered the show was a thing.

Leila Grey gives Top Flight a pep talk before their #1 contenders match against the Infantry.

We run down the Supercard Of Honor card, including Bandido defending against Takeshita, Athena defending against Thunder Rosa and the Sons Of Texas defending against either the Infantry or Top Flight.

Lee Moriarty talks about what being here means to him and how much he wants to face Blue Panther.

Lee Moriarty vs. Blue Panther

Non-title. They fight over wrist control to start and trade arm holds with neither being able to get very far. Moriarty pulls him into an abdominal stretch, which is quickly countered but Moriarty stops to applaud himself. A bridging rollup gives Moriarty two and they shake hands, with Moriarty kicking him in the ribs.

Some chops and running clotheslines put Moriarty down but he sends Panther outside. The dive connects and Moriarty does it again, followed by the Border City Stretch back inside. Panther can’t roll his way out so Moriarty grabs the other arm, with Panther making the ropes anyway. They chop it out until Panther gets two off a clothesline. Panther knocks him outside and gets a running start for a dive off the ramp. Back in and Panther pulls him into a Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 11:14.

Rating: B-. Panther is quite the star as he is in his mid 60s and can still have a perfectly acceptable match. That was the case here, as it never felt ridiculous that he was hanging with someone younger and more athletic. Panther is an absolute legend around here so having him get a win over the lowest champion on the men’s roster is hardly much of a stretch.

Post match the Infantry comes in for the beatdown, with Shane Taylor joining them. Panther is down but BRYAN DANIELSON of all people sends in some luchadors for the save. Danielson even hits a running knee to Taylor and hugs Panther (Danielson is known to be a massive Panther fan). Danielson gets the mic and praises Mexico for welcoming AEW and Ring Of Honor.

Moriarty vs. Panther for the Pure Title is set for Supercard Of Honor to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The World Title match alone made this a show worth seeing and at only about an hour and fifteen minutes, it’s not like you have to be here long. It does help that the CMLL stars have been around for a bit in advance so it isn’t like we’re seeing a bunch of strangers. Very good show here, and my goodness they actually remembered Supercard Of Honor. The wonders never cease.

Results
Thunder Rosa/Persephone b. Red Velvet/Athena – Rollup to Velvet
Nick Wayne vs. Titan went to a time limit draw
Bandido b. Mascara Dorada – 21 Plex
Blue Panther b. Lee Moriarty – Fujiwara armbar

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: June 25, 2025
Location: ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Ian Riccaboni

The road to All In is getting rather short and that means it is time to fill up the rest of the card. With the top of the show mostly set, there is still a lot that needs to be done. There is a good chance that we’ll get a lot of it done this week, hopefully with the action to back it up on the way. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Mercedes Mone jumps Toni Storm and Luther in the back and they come into the arena. Mone calls her a stupid little b****, setting up the Bank Statement. Mina Shirakawa makes the save.

The Young Bucks move Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay’s match to now instead of in the second hour.

Will Ospreay/Swerve Strickland vs. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian

Ospreay runs to the ring with his boots half laced, taping his wrist and putting his elbow pad on. Strickland is at least a bit more put together as Ospreay and Christian start things off. Christian charges into a boot in the corner and a double big boot drops Johnson. The Phenomenal Forearm is loaded up but cue the Young Bucks for a distraction, allowing Christian to knock Ospreay to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Christian giving Ospreay the strutting Old School wristdrag. Ospreay fights out of trouble without much of a problem and hands it off to Strickland to clean house. Chasing The dragon drops Christian and the House Call gives Strickland the pin at 9:25.

Rating: C+. The idea here was that the new kind of friends were caught off guard by the match (which they were having but had earlier than expected) but then they just had a pretty run of the mill match. Johnson and Christian were never putting them in any danger and the only issue was when the Bucks offered a distraction. It was a fine idea but didn’t really make anything different.

Post match Ospreay and Strickland have to be held back from the Bucks so they get back inside the ring. Strickland is tired of dealing with the Bucks and suggests a tag match at All In. Ospreay wants to up the stakes, with the Bucks’ Vice Presidencies on the line. Then Strickland dives onto the security and the good guys stand tall. So the Bucks are going to insist Ospreay and Strickland put up something too right?

We look at the return of Kota Ibushi last week.

The Bucks suspend Strickland for the week. The Don Callis Family comes in and they both want Kazuchika Okada to win at All In. And to hurt Kenny Omega of course. Okada and Konosuke Takeshita have a staredown and the fans approve.

Kota Ibushi vs. Trent Beretta

They go up against the ropes to start before Ibushi takes him to the mat to work on the arm. Trent sends him outside for a running cheap shot from Rocky Romero. Back in and Ibushi grabs a powerslam, followed by a standing moonsault for two. Trent is right back with a running knee into a Gotch style piledriver for two of his own. Ibushi snaps off some snapdragons and traps the arms to set up a jumping stomp to the chest. The big knee to the face finishes for Ibushi at 7:22.

Rating: B-. Well Ibushi is back and he was….fine. It was the same kind of match that a lot of people on this show, even down to the knee to the face for the finisher. I’ve never found Ibushi even remotely special in AEW and that was on full display again here. I don’t dislike him but there’s just nothing about him that makes me care. Even repeatedly hitting Beretta in the face. Now if he had done that to Romero, we might be getting somewhere.

Post match Kazuchika Okada comes out for a staredown but walks away without getting physical.

Jon Moxley talks about how Hangman Page has lost who he is. Page has talked about how he isn’t special and that makes Moxley sick. Moxley wants Page to reach out and grab what he deserves. At All In, Page will see what a real World Champion looks like.

Ricochet interrupts AR Fox and suggests that Fox join his new team. Say tonight, against Jet Speed? Fox is a bit anxious, but he’s in.

Ricochet/AR Fox vs. Jet Speed

Knight and Ricochet start, with the latter wanting Fox to watch and learn. This leaves Ricochet caught between both Knight and Bailey for some double teaming. Bailey is sent outside for a big running flip dive from Fox though and the villains (or the team with a villain) take over. Back in and Fox hits a clothesline to drop Knight but Fox and Ricochet are sent to the floor. Stereo dives take them out and we take a break.

We come back with Ricochet trying to talk his way out of trouble, leaving Fox to get kicked in the face. Bailey’s running shooting star press hits Fox for two as everything breaks down. Fox grabs the rolling Downward Spiral but Ricochet drops to the floor rather than tag. Knight drops Fox and hits the spinning frog splash for the pin at 9:40.

Rating: C+. Jet Speed hasn’t been around very long and they’re a fine enough team, though I’m still not wild on Bailey. There is nothing that makes me want to see him and pairing him with the talented Knight isn’t it. Other than that, Ricochet turning his back on someone he had been paired with for less than ten minutes makes sense for him, as he has to find the perfect partner.

Post match Jet Speed say they want to rescue the Tag Team Titles. Knight sings part of MVP’s WWE theme song and says they want the titles at All In. The Hurt Syndicate comes in to take them out. The beating goes on for awhile until Jet Speed is sent through a table. With that out of the way, MVP has the Hurt Syndicate’s music played and they go to the ring. MVP says if Jet Speed can get up, they can have the title match at All In.

MJF gets the mic and MVP has to tell the crowd to be quiet. Next week, MJF is in a qualifying match for the Casino Gauntlet match all All In. MJF says hit their music but here is Mark Briscoe to interrupt instead. Briscoe doesn’t want to hear MJF talk all night and the producer told him to get MJF out of here because we have stuff to get to. MJF doesn’t care because unlike Briscoe, they are actually stars.

These people can relate to Briscoe because they grew up ugly and poor. Briscoe loses if he gets in, so go back to Delaware and pick up chicken s***. Briscoe talks about MJF going through a lot as a child so the Word Of The Day is empathy. Maybe MJF is trying to overcompensate for having a tiny kosher pickle for thirty years. MVP cuts MJF off and yes, we get a KOSHER PICKLE chant. So the Syndicate will get out so Briscoe can lose in peace. I like Briscoe vs. MJF, but Jet Speed getting the title shot at the biggest show of the year makes my head hurt.

Casino Gauntlet Qualifying Match: Mark Briscoe vs. Bandido vs. Roderick Strong vs. Konosuke Takeshita

The winner is the #1 entrant and Bandido’s Ring Of Honor World Title isn’t on the line. Taz tries to make this a four way international deal before realizing there are two Americans and having to stop himself. Takeshita shoulders Bandido down to start and gets nowhere so they go outside. Strong punches Briscoe out of the air but Briscoe is back up with an apron Blockbuster to Bandido. Strong drops Briscoe again though and we take a break.

Back with Strong giving Briscoe a nice dropkick into a backbreaker but getting clotheslined by Bandido. That means an Undertaker situp from Bandido but Takeshita shoves him off the top. Briscoe misses the Froggy Bow and gets rolled up for two, leaving Takeshita to kick Strong in the face. Bandido and Briscoe both hit something off the top, with Briscoe decking Bandido and covering Takeshita for two.

Takeshita breaks up the 21 Plex and German suplexes Bandido and Briscoe at the same time. Strong makes a save of his own but charges into Takeshita’s Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Bandido is back in with the X Knee to Takeshita and a German suplex sends him to the floor. Strong knees Bandido in the face and hits End Of Heartache but Briscoe drops the Froggy Bow for the pin at 11:04.

Rating: B. They were starting to roll near the end there and they had a bonus of not having the champion take the fall. Briscoe getting the first spot in the match is at least something for him to do and now we get to see who else is in the match. Good, fun match here though and it’s nice to see Briscoe do something other than losing for a change.

Adam Cole issues an open challenge to any member of the Don Callis Family for Collision.

Casino Gauntlet Qualifying Match: Kris Statlander vs. Athena vs. Willow Nightingale vs. Thunder Rosa

The winner is the #1 entrant and Athena’s Ring Of Honor Women’s Title isn’t on the line. Statlander sends Athena into a boot to the head from Rosa, who sunset flips Statlander for two. Athena snaps off a headscissors to Statlander and we get a Tower Of Doom less than two minutes in.

We take a break and come back Rosa running over Athena a few times before Nightingale Death Valley Drivers Athena. Statlander faceplants Rosa at the same time, leaving us with Statlander vs. Nightingale. They forearm it out until Athena breaks it up, earning herself a double suplex. Rosa is back in to send them both down before faceplanting Athena. Back up and Athena orders Billie Starkz (her Minion) to get the title but gets sent into the steps.

Athena is fine enough to suplex Rosa off the steps but cue Marina Shafir to distract Nightingale. Cue Wheeler Yuta to jump Nightingale, who Pounces the heck out of him. That’s enough of a distraction for Staturday Night Fever to finish Nightingale and give Statlander the pin at 10:47.

Rating: B-. Again, at least they didn’t pin the champ. Statlander vs. Nightingale continues to be one of the more interesting feuds in the women’s division and it doesn’t seem like we’re close to wrapping it up. As a bonus, it seems that we are going to be seeing Athena vs. Thunder Rosa at Supercard Of Honor, assuming they bother advertising anything in advance.

Video on Nick Wayne and Christian Cage wanting the Tag Team Titles.

FTR isn’t happy with the Outrunners for chasing them off on Collision. Stokely Hathaway wants to deal with this and suggests a tag match on Collision this week.

Hangman Page vs. The Beast Mortos

Page works on the arm to start and a running shoulder just annoys Mortos. Instead Mortos hits some running corner clotheslines but Page hits one of his own. A triangle clothesline sends Mortos outside and a fall away has him crashing into the corner as we take a break. Back with both of them missing a clothesline until Page’s connects for two. Page’s sitout powerbomb gets two but he misses the moonsault out to the floor. Mortos runs him over and grabs the pop up Samoan drop for two back inside. Page gets in a shot of his own though, setting up a discus lariat into the Buckshot Lariat for the pin at 9:52.

Rating: C+. This was a bit of a weird choice for the main event, as while it was smart to get Page on the show, it didn’t feel important in any way. Page continues to win on the way to the pay per view, though it’s a good example of a match that could have been done in about four minutes. Otherwise, it was just keeping things going to extend the show’s run time.

Post match the lights go out and here are the Young Bucks to give Page the EVP Trigger. Cue the Death Riders so Jon Moxley can choke Page with a chain. The Opps run in with chairs and Will Ospreay joins them to chase the Death Riders off. Moxley promises to show the world what a real World Champion looks like to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. It wasn’t quite the same as last week (which would be far from a fair comparison) but instead focused on All In. The show is starting to fill out and we can see most of what is coming there. They added a title match and gave us the first entrants in the Casino Gauntlet matches. It might not be the most interesting show on its own, but it checked some things off of the All In list.

Results
Will Ospreay/Swerve Strickland b. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian – House Call to Christian
Kota Ibushi b. Trent Beretta – Knee to the face
Jet Speed b. Ricochet/AR Fox – Spinning frog splash to Fox
Mark Briscoe b. Roderick Strong, Bandido and Konosuke Takeshita – Froggy Bow to Strong
Kris Statlander b. Athena, Willow Nightingale and Thunder Rosa – Staturday Night Fever to Nightingale
Hangman Page b. The Beast Mortos – Buckshot Lariat

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

Collision
Date: June 21, 2025
Location: ShoWare Center, Kent, Washington
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back stateside after a pretty fun show down in Mexico City. Things are starting to shape up for All In and there is a good chance that tonight will be focused on that show as well. Then again Collision is not often the show that gets the build for the pay per views so it might be a case of waiting until Dynamite. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Stokely Hathaway says his men are ready for their eight man tag tonight.

Jon Moxley vs. AR Fox

Non-title and Wheeler Yuta is here with Moxley. Fox ducks a clothesline to start and hits a quick jumping enziguri but Moxley drops him with a right hand. They go outside with Moxley getting in another shot, only to get caught with a running hanging DDT back inside. Fox knocks him outside for a running moonsault but Moxley gets in a crotching on top.

Moxley rakes the back and bites the ear, setting up a reverse Rings of Saturn to send Fox to the ropes. Back up and Fox kicks him to the floor for the big dive, followed by a pair of cutters back inside. Moxley isn’t having that and hits a heck of a clothesline into a Gotch style piledriver. Some big shots into the rear naked choke finishes for Moxley at 5:46.

Rating: B-. Fox has grown on me at a rapid pace in the last few months and that was on full display again here. There is something fun about watching Fox do his flips and dives as he is unique enough to make them stand out. Of course he wasn’t going to beat the champion, but at least he had a good time getting there.

Post match Moxley gives him a Death Rider before grabbing a mic. Moxley says he’s been watching Hangman Page waste his chances and his talents for years. He doesn’t have the same patience that these people have and promises to run Page out of the sport at All In. This business is not for Page. Moxley kept it short here and that’s better for everyone.

Various people talk about how special/important it was to be in Arena Mexico. It certainly seemed to be a great night so well done on having such a success.

Adam Cole and company are ready for their eight man tag.

Don Callis Family/FTR vs. Bandido/Daniel Garcia/Paragon

Bandido and Harwood start things off but Takeshita grabs Bandido from the apron. That doesn’t seem to bother Bandido who hits a quick dropkick and hands it off to Strong. Takeshita comes in to take him into the corner and chop away before it’s Fletcher gets to hammer Strong down. Strong is fine enough to get over for the tag to Garcia, who is caught in the wrong corner as well. Harwood’s chinlock doesn’t last long and the needed tag brings in Bandido to clean house. FTR cuts off a dive though and sends Bandido face first into the announcers’ table as we take a break.

Back with Bandido hitting a top rope corkscrew crossbody to Harwood and it’s back to Cole to pick the pace up again. A Backstabber gets two on Fletcher and everything breaks down with a string of knockdowns. Back to back top rope splashes set up an exchange of shots to the face. Cole brainbusters Fletcher onto the knee and they all get up for the big slugout. The Shatter Machine is broken up but so is Chasing The Dragon. Fletcher superkicks Strong into the Shatter Machine for the pin at 11:58.

Rating: B-. This was another fast paced tag match from teams who know how to wrestle that style. Everyone got to do a little something, though I was expecting more involving Bandido. It isn’t that what he did was bad, but we have less than three weeks before Supercard Of Honor and he doesn’t even an opponent yet.

Post match the winners beat them down again but the Outrunners make the save.

Thunder Rosa and company are ready for the eight women’s tag.

Athena tells her partners to get it together for tonight.

Mercedes Mone, now with six belts, tells Toni Storm to bring it because Storm’s time is ticking.

Swerve Strickland vs. Shane Taylor

Prince Nana and the rest of Shane Taylor Promotions are here too. Strickland starts fast by knocking him out to the floor but tries to get into a slugout. This goes rather badly as the much bigger Taylor drops him to the apron without much effort. Strickland slips out of a Death Valley Driver but takes too long trying a powerbomb, earning himself a splash on the apron.

We take a break and come back with Strickland hitting a springboard dropkick to the leg. Taylor is fine enough to hit a hard knee but goes up for some reason, allowing Strickland to super Angle Slam him back down. The Swerve Stomp to the apron connects but Strickland has to dive onto the Promotions to save Nana. Back in and the House Call finishes for Strickland at 9:10.

Rating: C+. I’ve said it many times now, but there comes a point where there is nothing left to get out of Taylor if he is used this way over and over. He gets these short term runs where he says it’s time to take him seriously or whatever and then he loses, starting the process over again. Why should I take him seriously if no one else does?

We look at Toni Storm stalking Mercedes Mone at Grand Slam.

Storm, looking rather Carmen Sandiegoish, was told that the match between herself and Mone would be huge, but Mone has done nothing but eat steak and try to kiss her. This doesn’t work for Storm, because if Mone makes one wrong move, she’ll eat Mone alive. She knew that Mone was special but Storm is a “manic, neurotic, erotic, sexually questionable, consistently sweating, bottom heavy trans-Atlantic w****.”

She makes magic happen when the title is in her bosom and unless Mone can pull a rabbit from her censored, Mone is going to have to kill her. You know what you’re getting from the match at this point and I’m worried about them burning out the interest by the time we get to All In.

Conglomeration vs. MxM Collection/Taya Valkyrie

That would be Mark Briscoe/Willow Nightingale/Hologram. The women start things off with Valkyrie getting to strut a bit but Nightingale knocks her down. Hologram and Madden come in with the former hitting a dropkick into the corner. A springboard missile dropkick sends Mason outside and it’s off to Mansoor. Hologram is sent outside though, where Mason gets in a spinning Boss Man Slam as we take a break.

Back with Hologram grabbing a satellite DDT, allowing the tag off to Briscoe. Everything breaks down and Hologram gives Mansoor the spinning torture rack powerbomb. Stereo dives take out the other two and Briscoe drops the Froggy Bow for the pin on Mansoor at 8:30.

Rating: C+. This has been the latest “Hologram gets another win which changes absolutely nothing about what he is doing around here because that is what he does” (patent pending) match. It’s the same (entertaining) stuff time after time and after all these months, it would be nice for AEW to do SOMETHING with him. Otherwise, it makes me wonder why so many others are getting a chance before him, as the internal logic is questionable at times.

Kris Statlander is frustrated about not being in the eight woman tag match. Wheeler Yuta comes in to mock her but she tells him to get out. Jon Moxley comes in and Statlander gets scared, but Moxley says never let anyone tell you what you’re worth.

Here is Don Callis with his Family for a chat. Callis gets straight to the point: Kazuchika Okada has joined the Family. We look at their beatdown of Kenny Omega last week, with Tony Schiavone being rather sick at the whole thing. Callis mocks Schiavone and calls out Omega, who is against the wall and all alone at All In.

Cue Mark Briscoe to interrupt, saying he’s Omega’s friend. He’s not the only friend though, and Kota Ibushi is back. Ibushi gets in the ring and kicks Josh Alexander in the head before slugging it out with Okada. Ibushi easily clears the ring and is at least a bit more enthusiastic than he was before. Again though: why does Omega vs. Okada need anything extra? It sells itself, and having all this other stuff around sounds like an unnecessary addition.

We come back from a break with Big Bill/Bryan Keith brawling with the Workhorsemen on the floor. Bill and Keith get the better of things, including a chokeslam onto four open chairs. Cue Christian Cage and the Patriarchy, saying he doesn’t like this kind of a brawl taking up his television time. Cage is proud of Nick Wayne, and thinks it’s time for he and his son to become Tag Team Champions. Bill mocks Mother Wayne’s promiscuity and wants to fight right now. Cage suggests that Bill is drunk and hits his catchphrase.

Anthony Bowens yells at Billy Gunn for his recent losses. Things don’t seem to be going well.

Jet Speed vs. Gates Of Agony

Ricochet is on commentary. Bailey and Kaun start things off with Bailey’s dropkick sending him into the ropes. Liona comes in for a headlock and quickly hands it back to Kaun so Knight comes in with some armdrags. The rolling spinning splash only hits Kaun’s raised knees though and Liona sends Knight into the barricade. Ricochet certainly seems to improve as we take a break.

Back with Knight getting over for the tag to Bailey, who misses a running shooting star press. Liona is back up with a fall away slam/Samoan drop combination but Knight breaks up Open The Gates. Knight hits a double DDT, which brings Ricochet to his feet. Bailey hits a big dive out to the floor, only for Kaun to grab his fireman’s carry gutbuster for two back inside. Bailey is right back with his tornado kick though, setting up the spinning top rope splash to give Knight the pin on Kaun at 10:00.

Rating: C+. The Gates Of Agony are pretty much the tag team version of Shane Taylor and I don’t really mean that in the best way. They’re a fine monster team, but when that monster team hasn’t won anything in a good while and often lose against any level of competition, it’s not going to help their prospects. Bailey and Knight are fine as a midcard tag team and thankfully that’s about all they seem to be at the moment.

Thekla/Athena/Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford vs. Queen Aminata/Anna Jay/Tay Melo/Thunder Rosa

It’s a brawl to start until Aminata and Ford are quickly left in the ring. We get the parade of knockdowns until Rosa and Athena wind up on the apron. With everyone else on the floor, Aminata and Ford hit stereo dives as we take a break. Back with Athena and Bayne having a staredown (despite being partners) so Thekla goes Upside Down on Aminata. Melo and Jay come in to double team Bayne, who suplexes both of them without much trouble.

Rosa and Athena slug it out until Athena scores with an enziguri. A parade of secondary finishes sees Thekla DDT Bayne for two. Thekla hits a spear on Bayne and Athena piledrives Aminata but Rosa is up with a spinning Death Valley Driver. Billie Starkz gets on the apron for a distraction though and ROH TV Champion Red Velvet runs out to give Athena her title. Athena decks Rosa with the belt for the pin at 10:40.

Rating: C+. Much like Bandido, Athena still doesn’t have anything set up for Supercard Of Honor, though at least it seems like Rosa is going to be coming after her at the show. There is a good chance this sets up Billie Starkz coming after the Women’s TV Title to avenge her leader, though it would be great to have those matches actually announced. Other than that, it was nice to tie the tag team feud in with the ROH stuff to give the latter some more exposure, as they need all the help they can get at the moment.

The winners pose to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. While it was nice to see some bigger names in action, this felt like so many Collisions, in that it didn’t come off like a need to see show. Collision continues to be in that weird place where it feels like the quality is there but not the importance and that makes things a bit tough to get through at times. It’s certainly not a bad show, but it’s not a show that is required viewing if you want to keep up with what is going on in AEW. That is such a contract to Dynamite, where it feels like you’re behind if you miss five minutes. AEW might want to work on balancing that out a bit.

Results
Jon Moxley b. AR Fox – Rear naked choke
Don Callis/FTR b. Bandido/Daniel Garcia/Paragon – Shatter Machine to Strong
Swerve Strickland b. Shane Taylor – House Call
Conglomeration b. MxM Collection/Taya Valkyrie – Froggy Bow to Mansoor
Jet Speed b. Gates Of Agony – Spinning frog splash to Kaun
Thekla/Athena/Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford b. Queen Aminata/Anna Jay/Tay Melo/Thunder Rosa – Belt shot to Rosa

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: June 5, 2025
Location: Masonic Temple Theater, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re getting close to Supercard Of Honor and it would be nice to see the show actually being mentioned. Nothing has been set up yet and in theory Bandido is going to need a new challenger. We might find out a thing or two for the show this week, or at least we should be. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Dulce Tormenta/Leila Grey vs. Thunder Rosa/Persephone

Grey headlocks Persephone to start before getting caught in something like a spinebuster. Rosa comes in for a splash and an Oklahoma roll gets two. Grey kicks her way out of trouble and hits a basement dropkick but Rosa dropkicks her into the corner for the tag to Tormenta. A backslide gives Persephone two and she dropkicks Tormenta into the corner.

Persephone gets low bridged to the floor to put her in trouble though and it’s back to Grey for a running knee to the face. The ensuing chinlock is broken up rather quickly and it’s back to Rosa to pick up the pace. A double stomp to the ribs sets up a seated cobra clutch to make Tormenta tap at 6:39.

Rating: C+. Perfectly fine match here with Rosa adding some star power to the show. She’s going to be a bigger deal than just about any woman not named Athena on the show so having her around is a great addition. Other than that, it was nice to not have Grey get pinned again, as that has been happening far too often as of late.

Post match respect is shown.

Earlier today, the Frat House was ready for their initiation later tonight and called Ian Riccaboni over to complain about him not speaking favorably of him. They can just go back to beating up the Dark Order though.

Here is the Frat House with their two new recruits….who they then jump.

Frat House vs. ???/???

Riccaboni makes a Mr. Hole In One Barry Darsow reference on commentary as Garrison drops one of the recruits with a clothesline. The recruit gets a boot up in the corner though and hammers away, only to get dropped again. Karter comes in but can’t get in a suplex, allowing the other recruit to come in. Everything breaks down and a running boot/flapjack combination finishes for Garrison at 2:56.

Thunder Rosa and Persephone are happy with their win and they’re ready to team up again in CMLL.

Aaron Solo vs. Wheeler Yuta

Yuta strikes away without much trouble to start but walks into a dropkick. Solo’s armbar is broken up and Yuta hits a middle rope elbow before tying up the leg. Back up and Solo bites his head and hits a dropkick, followed by a Trouble In Paradise. Yuta holds the ropes though and grabs a German suplex but Solo hits a suplex of his own. A superkick staggers Yuta again but he shrugs it off and hits the running knee for the pin at 5:31.

Rating: C. Yuta is stuck in that “you know what you’re getting” place and that is not a good sign for his future. At the end of the day, he wrestles a pretty standard style for AEW/ROH and he is only going to get so far as a result. I’m not sure how to fix that, but for now, he is going to be stuck as little more than the technically sound lackey that he has been for a good while.

Video on Bandido.

The MxM Collection is ready for Bandido to face Mansoor. He gives a speech in Spanish, with Taya Valkyrie translating, including asking for the location of the library.

Athena vs. Rachel Armstrong

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Armstrong wins or survives the ten minute time limit, she gets a future title shot. Athena decks her at the bell to start fast, including the forearms in the corner. An armdrag sends Athena down though and Armstrong grabs a quick DDT. They go outside, where Athena reverses a dive to send her into the barricade. Back in and Armstrong reverses a powerbomb into a hurricanrana. A 450 misses though and Athena grabs a sitout straitjacket powerbomb for the pin at 4:54.

Rating: C+. Yeah that’s more like it from Athena, who is at least back to add some additional star power around here. As dominant as she is, she is pretty clearly the biggest full time star on the show but she is dying for some fresh challengers. I’m not sure who that is, but at least she is back to do something for a change.

Post match Athena goes after Armstrong again but Thunder Rosa makes the save. Ok that’s at least a viable challenger.

We go to the desert where a bunch of people are staggering around…and find a peacock feather. Then a spaceship lands (just go with it) and Dalton Castle is back, telling the Boys that it’s time to go break some hearts.

Overall Rating: C+. The last minute and a half of this show made it that much better, as it’s hard to not like Castle and Athena vs. Rosa has some potential. Other than that, this show was about forty minutes long and felt a good bit more to the point than usual. They need to start the focus towards Supercard Of Honor though, and Athena vs. Rosa would do nicely as a main event. Good enough show here, but they need to get to the important stuff sooner than later.

Results
Thunder Rosa/Persephone b. Dulce Tormenta/Leila Grey – Seated cobra clutch to Tormenta
Frat House b. ???/??? – Running boot/flapjack combination
Wheeler Yuta b. Aaron Solo – Running knee
Athena b. Rachel Armstrong – Sitout straitjacket powerbomb

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: May 29, 2025
Location: Masonic Temple Theater, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re finally getting closer to Supercard To Honor and that means we might actually get a big story around here for once. Then again you never know what you’re going to see around here as ROH tends to take its sweet time setting up the big events. In this case we’re also getting closer to the Women’s Pure Wrestling Title being a thing. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Trish Adora vs. La Catalina

The Infantry is here with Adora. They take turns shoving each other down until Catalina grabs a headlock. That’s broken up so Catalina snaps off some armdrags, followed by a running dropkick. Adora is right back up with a knockdown and starts cranking on the arm. The Air Raid Crash stretch is broken up and Catalina is back with a running boot. A Pedigree gives Catalina two and a bridging German suplex gives Adora the same. They go up top and Catalina slips down into an electric chair, followed by a top rope splash for the pin at 7:12.

Rating: C+. Catalina continues to be someone who works well when given the chance, but she hasn’t had all that much success against bigger names. Until that comes, this is about all she’s likely to do, though hopefully we get to see her doing more. The division needs some fresh blood and Catalina could be part of that.

Post match respect is shown.

Taya Valkyrie brags about her star power and calls the tournament a casting call for the main character. Which is her you see.

Lance Archer vs. Diego Hill

Hill’s springboard high crossbody is knocked out of the air and a swinging Rock Bottom puts him down again. Archer’s nose is busted open somewhere in there and he grabs something like a standing Sharpshooter for the tap at 2:10. The blood dripping off Archer’s face is eerie.

Post match Archer gives him the Blackout for a bonus.

Athena is back next week. In person I’m assuming.

We go to this weekend’s Dean Rasmussen tribute show, co-promoted with Action Wrestling.

Ring Of Honor Pure Title: Lee Moriarty vs. Matt Mako

Moriarty is defending. Mako, who is known for his cross armbreaker, grabs a cross armbreaker and Moriarty uses his first rope break about 40 seconds in. Back up and Moriarty runs the ropes to grab the Border City Stretch, making it a rope break each. A springboard clothesline sets up something like a seated Octopus to keep Mako in trouble.

Mako belly to back suplexes his way to freedom and a spinwheel kick cuts Moriarty off. They fight over a suplex until Moriarty gets in another Border City Stretch to make Mako use another rope break. Mako superplexes him into a Falcon Arrow and the cross armbreaker sends Moriarty over for another rope break of his own. They trade rollups for two each until Moriarty pulls him into another Border City Stretch, this time with a foot on Mako’s face for the tap to retain at 10:04.

Rating: C+. I haven’t seen much of Mako, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen in him so far. That being said, there is only so much that you’re going to get out of being in a Pure Rules match. The whole thing continues to feel like something that is tacked on I’m really not sure why it needs to be its own championship.

Post match, respect is shown.

Also from the Rasmussen show:

Blue Panther/Hologram/Neon/Valiente/Virus vs. Averno/Dr. Cerebro/Euforia/Volador Jr./Xelhua

So this is a Torneo Cibernetico, which is a ten man survival match. Panther wrestles Xelhua down to the floor to start but Xelhua is right back with a leglock and we stop for a standoff. Cerebro and Virus come in to continue the grappling until Virus takes him down by the leg. Virus’ armbar is broken up and they go to another standoff. They shake hands and it’s off to Valiente vs. the much bigger Euforia. A running hurricanrana sends Euforia outside and we get Neon vs. Volador.

That means a single running hurricanrana and Volador is outside, so it’s Hologram vs. Averno to complete the first run through. Hologram spins around and grabs an anklescissors out to the floor for the big dive. Back in and we get some rapid fire tags until Virus suplexes Xelhua a few times for two each. Virus ties up the arms and neck and Xelhua taps for the first elimination at 9:10.

It’s off to Cerebro but Volador pulls Virus outside. The brawl doesn’t last long until it’s Euforia super press slams Virus. A powerbomb gives Euforia the pin on Virus to tie it up at 11:04. Panther comes in and gets double stomped down but fights up to clean house anyway. It’s off to Valiente, who tries to take Volador down but gets caught with a Backstabber for the pin at 13:21.

Neon gets triple teamed and pulled out to the floor, with Hologram getting the same treatment. A running dropkick takes Hologram down but Panther is back in with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Neon and Hologram hit back to back high crossbodies to take Euforia down, only for Hologram to superkick Neon by mistake. Euforia wrecks the two of them until a super hurricanrana takes him down. A moonsault into a top rope double stomp gives Hologram the pin on Euforia and we’re tied up at 16:33.

Panther comes in and gets rolled up by Cerebro but Panther stacks him up for the pin at 17:25. It’s off to Neon vs. Averno with the latter getting his boots up to block a moonsault. Neon runs the corner for a rather spinning armdrag but Averno is back with a super Pedigree (ouch) for the pin at 19:02.

So it’s Hologram/Panther vs. Averno/Volador with Panther clotheslining Averno but getting sat on the top. A double superplex drops Panther, with Hologram having to make a save. Panther cuts off a double monkey flip, allowing Hologram to get a double cover for two in a clever move. Back up and a superbomb/Backstabber get stereo near falls on Hologram and Panther but they’re back with a cradle/torture rack bomb for the double pin at 23:56.

Rating: B-. This is the definition of not something I’m overly familiar with, as I’ve only heard a few of the names before. I did like what I was seeing though as the concept wasn’t hard to understand and the action was good. It’s not something I’d like to watch week after week, but it was more than fun enough to work for a week.

We look at the Hurt Syndicate beating the Sons Of Texas at Double Or Nothing.

Satnam Singh vs. Facade

Facade tries some kicks to the legs to start and is loudly chopped for his efforts. Some big beals send Facade flying and the comeback is cut off by a chokeslam to give Singh the pin at 3:28.

Rating: C-. This was a slightly extended version of the usual Singh match and that means it was….well it was a giant squashing a non-giant. They’ve figured out that Singh is basically the ROH version of an attraction and that’s as good of a use as he has at the moment. Let him go out there and have the fans go ooooo at him. It’s something that has worked for giants over the years and it’s working again now.

We look at Hologram and Bandido’s team winning an eight man tag at Double Or Nothing.

Frat House vs. Rhino/Hologram

Hologram and Garrison start things off with an exchange of dives over the other. Hologram sends him into the corner and it’s off to Karter, with Rhino coming in as well. For some reason Karter slaps him in the face, earning a running shoulder in the corner. Everything breaks down and Jakked Jameson offers a distraction so Preston Vance can send Hologram into the barricade. A double flapjack plants Hologram but he strikes his way to freedom. Hologram gets over for the tag to Rhino, who snaps off the belly to belly for two on Garrison. Hologram hits a dive and Rhino hits the Gore for the pin on Garrison at 7:29.

Rating: C. This was a perfect example of “send them home happy” and it went fine. Rhino is a hometown star and he came in to help a popular wrestler against some goofs. It’s a story that works well for a one off, with the assist coming from Rhino still being able to carry his own in the ring.

Overall Rating: C+. It wasn’t a show you needed to see or a show with much going on, but it was also a very different kind of show than you usually see from Ring Of Honor. I’ll definitely take that over what we tend to get, as it at least had me wondering what I was going to see. Now just start talking about Supercard Of Honor, because it’s getting close.

Results
La Catalina b. Trish Adora – Top rope splash
Lance Archer b. Diego Hill – Standing leglock
Lee Moriarty b. Matt Mako – Border City Stretch
Blue Panther/Hologram/Neon/Virus/Xelhua b. Valiente/Averno/Dr. Cerebro/Euforia/Volador Jr. – Double pin
Satnam Singh b. Facade – Chokeslam
Rhino/Hologram b. Frat House – Gore to Garrison

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