Ring Of Honor
Date: May 9, 2025
Location: Adrian Phillips Theater At Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are closing in on Supercard Of Honor, which means that Ring Of Honor will likely not bring the show up for about another month. That doesn’t make for the most thrilling show, but at least this one is on Friday so maybe they’ll try something different. You never know around here though so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Jay Lethal vs. Atlantis Jr.

They trade armdrags to start and Lethal is sent to the floor, where he gets taken down by a fast dive. Lethal is right back up for a dive of his own, only for Atlantis to move before the second. Atlantis’ dive connects for two but Lethal knocks him down again. It’s too early for Hail To The King though as Atlantis rolls outside. Back in and Atlantis catches him on top for a superplex but Lethal starts going after the leg. A dragon screw legwhip sets up the Figure Four, which is broken up rather quickly. The cutter drops Atlantis, who is right back with a powerslam. The frog splash gives Atlantis the pin at 7:46.

Rating: C+. I’ve said it before and it’s still true: Atlantic Jr. is not very interesting. Technically he’s perfectly competent and his matches aren’t bad, but he’s a more generic luchador than El Generico could ever dream of being. That was on display here, as it was a completely fine match which did very little to pique my interest in either of them.

Leila Grey vs. Marina Shafir

Shafir starts fast by kicking her down and then choking in the corner. A throw takes Grey down again for some near falls before Shafir ties up various limbs on the mat. Grey fights up with a dropkick but gets kicked down again. Shafir grabs Mother’s Milk for the win at 4:59.

Rating: C. So Shafir is the big mighty guardian of the World Title belt (which she didn’t have here) and gets to smash through someone like Grey to prove that. It seemed like Grey was starting to become something around here, but instead here she is, mostly getting squashed by Shafir. As usual, the Death Riders take over just about everything else and dominate whatever they touch, because we’re just lucky that way.

Lee Johnson/Blake Christian vs. Spanish Announce Project

Angelico works on Christian’s arm to start but Christian slips out and dances a bit. Serpentico comes in and gets hiptossed onto Christian, followed by some running shots in the corner. The villains send Serpentico into the corner for some running shots to the head before Christian twists away at the neck.

That’s broken up and a hurricanrana out of the corner gets Serpentico over to Angelico. House is quickly cleaned and la majistral gets two on Johnson. A Downward Spiral into a Swanton gives Serpentico two with Christian making the save. Johnson cuts Serpentico off and holds him up for a super Canadian Destroyer. The brainbuster onto the knee finishes Serpentico at 8:55.

Rating: C+. As usual, the tag division around here is nothing short of soul crushing. The matches are fine enough, but it’s really hard to believe that any of these matches matter. Johnson and Christian are the latest team being added to the mix of teams who aren’t going anywhere and are having the same matches week after week. Meanwhile, Rhodes and Guevara now have the longest title reign in about ten years. Again, lucky us.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Ashley Vox

Pure Rules, a first for women in ROH. Purrazzo spins out of a wristlock to start but can’t get a triangle choke. Vox gets pulled into an armbar and has to use her first rope break. Back up and a springboard Downward Spiral gives Vox two but she walks into a backbreaker. Purrazzo grabs a half crab, sending Vox over to the ropes for her second break. Purrazzo’s hanging DDT on the arm gets two and a clothesline gets the same. A powerbomb into the Venus de Milo finishes Vox at 5:56.

Rating: C. Yeah as has been the case since the whole tournament was announced, I absolutely cannot fathom why this title needs to exist. We’re literally going from women’s Pure Rules matches not existing to a champion being crowned in a few months. The Women’s Title hasn’t been defended since February, but we’re getting a third title. That doesn’t seem like the best idea, but tournaments a go-go baby!

Queen Aminata is preparing for the Women’s Pure Title tournament.

Red Velvet vs. Laynie Luck

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Luck wins or survives the ten minute time limit, she gets a future title shot. Lucy starts fast with a suplex but a wheelbarrow suplex is countered into a Downward Spiral. Velvet ties her up in the ring skirt and chops away, followed by some rapid fire stomps in the corner. Luck pops up with a quick Death Valley Driver for two but Velvet’s spinning kick tot he head gets the same. The flipping faceplant finishes Luck at 5:11.

Rating: C. Maybe I’m just missing it, but Velvet is only doing so much for me at the moment. She’s fine enough as a heel and getting better in the ring, but it’s only so much. Again, it doesn’t help that it feels like she’s a champion because Athena isn’t defending her title very often, but there’s only so much you can get out of doing just that.

Nick Wayne is ready to win the Best Of The Super Juniors in New Japan.

Satnam Singh vs. Lord Crewe

Singh unveils a Detroit Pistons jersey because this show is taped in multiple locations. Crewe can’t slam him to start and gets hiptossed down in a hurry. The loud chops in the corner connect and Singh tosses him around some more. The nerve hold goes on for a bit, followed by the chokeslam to finish for Singh at 3:39.

Rating: C-. The key to a giant like Singh is to get him in and out of there quickly and pushing four minutes is going longer than it needs to. You’re only going to get so much out of having him there doing his thing for a slightly extended match. I do like Singh being more of a crowd friendly guy, but keep him out there as an attraction rather than a wrestler and it’ll be a lot better.

Gringo Loco vs. Bandido

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Loco wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. They run the ropes to start but then stop for a dance off. A running hurricanrana sends Loco to the floor and Bandido takes him down out there as well. Back in and a springboard spinning crossbody is dropkicked out of the air, setting up a springboard split legged moonsault for two.

A spinning sitout powerbomb gives Loco two but Bandido is back up with a spinning DDT. Bandido’s frog splash gets two but the 21 Plex is blocked. They both go up top and Loco hits a super moonsault Angle Slam (or whatever you would call….that) for two. Bandido is right back up with a super hurricanrana into a Shining Wizard for the win at 6:16 (with Justin Roberts saying he’s the TV Champion).

Rating: B-. This was good stuff, as you probably expected based on who was in there. It’s nice to have Bandido being a fairly regular presence on the show, but it would be nicer to have him do something that feels like a feud. Loco was his usual entertaining self, even if there was no reason to believe he was going to win here.

Overall Rating: C-. This was the bad kind of Ring Of Honor, as it felt like a show that was just there because it had to be. Nothing on here felt like it was building to anything in the future, there are still FAR too many titles running around and it doesn’t feel like anything is going to change based on what we saw here. It’s just a dull show and that seems to be the case by design, which astounds me to no end.

Results
Atlantis Jr. b. Jay Lethal – Frog splash
Marina Shafir b. Leila Grey – Mother’s Milk
Lee Johnson/Blake Christian b. Spanish Announce Project – Brainbuster onto the knee to Serpentico
Deonna Purrazzo b. Ashley Vox – Venus de Milo
Red Velvet b. Laynie Luck – Flipping faceplant
Satnam Singh b. Lord Crewe – Chokeslam
Bandido b. Gringo Loco – Shining Wizard

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

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Collision
Date: May 8, 2025
Location: Masonic Temple Theater, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re live on Thursday for the sake of this weekend’s WWE Backlash event and that’s a nice thing to see. Thursday is a far better night to air the show, just for the sake of not having it on the weekend for a change. Hopefully AEW has a big lineup to take advantage of the opportunity that they have. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Here is Toni Storm, in a box seat and naturally with a spotlight on her. Storm: “So many men have taken a shot at me in here, I feel like Abraham Lincoln.” She talks about her first time being messy but it was something she wanted to do more often. Eventually it resulted in objects being added and filthy perverts watching. Of course she’s talking about fighting for her Women’s Title so get her someone ready for next week, because she isn’t waiting for a Hayter or a CEO. That makes sense as All In is a long way off before Storm can have another big title shot.

Paragon is disappointed with their loss to FTR last week but they’re still a great team. Adam Cole is glad they know they’re still great but the Grizzled Young Veterans interrupt. The Veterans think the Paragon has gone soft so they’re ready to fight anytime. The Veterans still work here?

Ricochet vs. Angelico

Serpentico is here with Angelico. Ricochet takes him down for an early rollup but Angelico is back up to crank on the arm. Angelico even rubs the bald head and grabs something like an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and Ricochet sends sends him to the floor for a rather nice dive.

We take a break and come back with Ricochet missing a charge into the corner. A spinning lifting Downward Spiral gives Angelico a breather and the comeback is on. Another modified abdominal stretch lets Angelico slap him in the back of the head, followed by a half crab. Ricochet makes the rope and is right back up with a springboard clothesline, followed by the Spirit Gun for the win at 9:23.

Rating: C+. Angelico is someone who can work an entertaining style and make anyone look good, which was the case with Ricochet here. That’s something Ricochet can use and it made for a nice opener here. It’s not like this was ever in any serious doubt, but it could have been far worse.

Post match Ricochet mocks the fans, who should be cheering for him. He’s only been here for less than a year and has already beaten most of the AEW favorites. Ricochet sees Zack Gowen in the crowd and remembers being a big fan growing up. We get some one legged jokes and then beats up security, offering commentary at the same time. Ricochet whips out the scissors and cuts one of the guards’ hair, which brings Gowen into the ring. Gowen takes the scissors but gets dropped as well, with Ricochet ripping off the prosthetic leg. Ricochet mock limping using the leg is quite the heel move.

Don Callis Family/RPG Vice vs. Outrunners/AR Fox/Bandido

Bandido and Fletcher start things off with Fletcher shrugging off some chops and running him over. A headscissors and dropkick work a bit better for Bandido but Beretta comes in to take Bandido down. Romero comes in and gets taken down by Fox, who gets to clean house. The Outrunners get in their double teamings as well but Archer plants both of them with a double chokeslam as we take a break.

Back with Floyd fighting out of trouble and grabbing a small package for two. Bandido comes in and gets taken down by RPG Vice as everything breaks down. Fox comes back in and steps onto Magnum’s shoulders for a big flip dive to the floor. Back in and the Mega Powers Elbow hits Fletcher, with Bandido’s frog splash getting two as Archer makes the save.

Fletcher plants Bandido for the double down and it’s back to Fox to pick up the pace again. A hanging DDT drops Archer and a skinning the cat into a slingshot dropkick hits Beretta in the corner (that was sweet). RPG Vice is back up with a double jumping knee to Bandido and Archer chokeslams Bandido off the top. A Jackyl Driver (something like a double piledriver) from RPG Vice finishes Fox at 10:42.

Rating: B-. This was quite the lineup for a match and at least Bandido didn’t lose. I could absolutely see Bandido defending against one of the members of the Family at Supercard Of Honor and there are far worse ideas. Maybe this is just a one off match, but at least we got to see that rather cool finish from RPG Vice. It’s not like they have much else going for them so maybe it’s a new way for them to go.

Video on Samoa Joe vs. Jon Moxley next week on Dynamite.

Moxley is ready to fight inside the cage. There is no one on the planet better at taking a beating than him. How long will it last? Moxley can take it and he’s coming out as the champion because he isn’t like the rest of the world.

Anthony Bowens vs. Lee Johnson

Billy Gunn and Blake Christian are here too. Johnson doesn’t seem to think much of Bowens to start, earning himself a bunch of chops in the corner. They go outside where Johnson backs into Gunn for some fear. Bowens strikes away again and a top rope Fameasser connects back inside. A Christian distraction lets Johnson get in a running flip dive though and a superkick back inside takes Bowens down again. Bowens fights back but gets distracted by Christian, allowing Johnson to get two off a rollup. That doesn’t seem to matter though as Bowens hits the discus forearm for the pin at 4:26.

Rating: C. Not much to see here, but Bowens stacking up wins is a good way to go. I’m not sure if he’s going to be a star, but he’s certainly at least worth seeing what’s there. He has a good look and is solid enough in the ring so maybe there’s something around. Just give him a slightly better caliber of opponent.

Post match Christian goes in to go after Bowens and gets tossed by Gunn. Bowens talks about his five tools and we get an old school scissoring.

Here are the Gates Of Agony for a chat. They waste no time in calling out Big Bill and Bryan Keith for the fight, which is on in a hurry. Liona misses a charge and goes over the barricade but Kaun crucifix bombs Keith off the ramp and through some tables. Security comes out but Kaun spears Bill off the ramp through some more tables to wrap it up.

Video on Megan Bayne vs. Anna Jay, with Harley Cameron and Penelope Ford there too.

Video on Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale. They were friends, then they were fighting, now it’s kind of in the middle.

Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale

Nightingale powers out of a headlock to start and throws Statlander down without much trouble. Statlander takes out the leg and hits a basement crossbody before it’s time to trade big chops. A pinfall reversal sequence gets two each until Statlander knocks her down for two. Nightingale sends her outside and hits a Cannonball off the apron to send us to a break.

Back with a double clothesline putting both of them down for a double breather. The fans think it’s awesome as Nightingale spinebusters her down for two, followed by the rapid fire clotheslines in the corner. Statlander’s ax kick gets two and Nightingale’s Death Valley Driver gets the same. Statlander grabs a top rope superplex and they’re both down again. One heck of a clothesline takes Statlander down and she gets knocked outside. Cue Marina Shafir to choke Nightingale with a chain (Statlander didn’t see it) so Staturday Night Fever can finish Nightingale at 12:21.

Rating: B. Dang this was starting to get good when one of the Death Riders managed to screw it up. That’s the story of AEW over the last few months and Shafir did it again here. Hopefully one of these two (or both) gets to move up the ladder, because they’re far too talented to be stuck in the middle of the pack for so long.

Skye Blue is back next week.

We look at Hangman Page and Will Ospreay’s face to face meeting last night on Dynamite.

Don Callis Family vs. Dark Order

The Family jumps them before the bell and the destruction is on fast. Even Callis himself gets in some choking on the floor, leaving Reynolds to get dropped face first onto the apron. Alexander’s running crossbody to the back sends Reynolds to the floor. Back in and the Blue Thunder Bomb is broken up and Reynolds dives over to Uno for the tag. That earns him an electric chair toss into a flying knee from Takeshita and the C4 Spike finishes for Alexander at 2:30. Total destruction.

Video on MJF trying to join the Hurt Syndicate.

Mike Bailey vs. Dralistico

Dralistico slaps away in the corner to start before Bailey jumps around a lot and kicks him in the chest. Bailey knocks him to the floor for an Asai moonsault but Dralistico grabs a running hurricanrana into the steps. We take a break and come back with Dralistico choking him on the ropes. Bailey strikes away in the corner but Dralistico is right back with his own forearms.

The bouncing kicks rock Dralistico and a superkick puts him down, with Bailey needing a breather. The running shooting star press gives Bailey two but Dralistico kicks the leg out and gets two off la majistral. A crucifix bomb puts Bailey down but he pulls himself up and hits a quick Canadian Destroyer. Dralistico sends him to the apron, where Bailey is right back with the moonsault knees to the ribs. Back in and the tornado kick finishes for Bailey at 9:00.

Rating: B-. This was the video game match of the show, with both of them getting to do their rather ridiculous spots. Dralistico is someone who can be put out there without losing his status so it works well for Bailey. Odds are Bailey is going to be getting a bigger spot in the near future, which makes sense as he’s perfect for AEW, even if his style can be a bit tough to buy at times.

Post match Rush comes out to stare Bailey down.

Daniel Garcia vs. Dax Harwood

Cash Wheeler and Stokely Hathaway are here with Harwood. Garcia drives him into the corner to start for a mostly clean break before Harwood does the same to him. This time it’s a right hand to drop Garcia, who tackles him down and hammers away. A running neckbreaker cuts Garcia off again but the piledriver is blocked. Another attempt on the floor gets the same result, but this time Garcia catapults him into the post.

Harwood is busted open and Garcia hammers away, setting up the running shots against the barricade. Wheeler offers a distraction though and Harwood is back up with a clothesline for a breather. Back in and Garcia grabs a quick Dragontamer but Hathaway offers a distraction, allowing Wheeler to hit a quick DDT on the floor. Cue Matt Menard to chase Wheeler to the back and we take a break.

Back with Garcia firing off a bunch of chops against the ropes and hitting a running clothesline. Some right hands in the corner rock Harwood but the turnbuckle pad gets pulled off. Another Dragontamer attempt is cut off and Garcia is kicked into the corner, setting up the slingshot powerbomb to give Harwood two. For some reason Harwood goes up top so Garcia superplexes him from the top, then rolls his hips and takes Harwood up for two more top rope superplexes for two, with Harwood getting his foot on the rope.

A fired up Garcia kicks him out to the floor and they fight out into the crowd. Harwood goes over to the commentary desk and slaps Nigel McGuinness’ headset off. Nigel gets up and teases fighting but backs down, saying he isn’t a wrestler anymore. Harwood shoves him into his chair and leaves, which is enough for Nigel to get in the ring. Wheeler is back and the big brawl is enough for the match to be thrown out at 17:39.

Rating: B-. Much like the women’s match earlier, they were having a good match but then it kind of fell apart at the end. What matters the most is that the ending keeps things going and the story has a few ways to go. It might not be the most thrilling story in the world, but Nigel being involved does make things more interesting.

Nigel, Garcia and Menard clear the ring to end the show, giving us one of the weirdest trios I’ve seen in a good while.

Overall Rating: B-. I’m not sure what to make of this show. The action was good and a bunch of stories were advanced, but there was pretty much nothing on this show that felt important. You had matches involving Angelico, RPG Vice/AR Fox, Lee Johnson, the Dark Order and one half of FTR. That’s not exactly a top level lineup and I’m not sure why you would keep things that low level when you have such a better time slot than usual. It’s not a bad show, but I was expecting a lot more given the opportunity that they had.

Results
Ricochet b. Angelico – Spirit Gun
Don Callis Family/RPG Vice b. Outrunners/AR Fox/Bandido – Jackyl Driver to Fox
Anthony Bowens b. Lee Johnson – Discus forearm
Kris Statlander b. Willow Nightingale – Staturday Night Fever
Don Callis Family b. Dark Order – C4 Spike to Reynolds
Mike Bailey b. Dralistico – Tornado Kick
Dax Harwood vs. Daniel Garcia went to a no contest

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: May 1, 2025
Location: MGM Music Hall At Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re slowly coming up on Supercard Of Honor but that’s far too early to start getting ready around here. In this case we need a lot of title matches to be set up, but this week will see Red Velvet defending the Women’s North American Title against La Catalina. Other than that, it’s like you usual guessing game of what is coming so let’s get to it.

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

We look at Bandido retaining the ROH World Title over Dralistico.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Leila Grey vs. Mina Shirakawa

Shirakawa drop toeholds her down to start and dances a bit but Grey gets in a takedown of her own. Grey is back with a running Blockbuster into a dance of her own but an attempt at going after the leg doesn’t work. A Sling Blade gives Shirakawa two and a Figure Four makes Grey tap at 4:57.

Rating: C+. These two both have great charisma and it helped make the match a bit better. Shirakawa brings energy to a match like few others anywhere in wrestling today and it was fun seeing her do so again here. Grey continues to feel like a prospect and thankfully is isn’t going to hut her very much to lose to someone of Shirakawa’s status.

We look at Johnny TV and the MxM Collection beating down Dustin Rhodes and company.

Johnny TV/MxM Collection vs. Rosario Grillo/Kameron Russell/Allen Russell

Mansoor and Grillo start things off, but Mansoor asks why he’s doing this and brings Madden in instead. Grillo’s leg dive doesn’t work and it’s off to Allen, who gets his chest caved in with a double chop. The villains take Allen down and hit a triple pose, allowing the tag off to Kameron. A dive is cut off with a choke and Mansoor adds a backsplash. The chokeslam sets up the Centerfold to give Madden the pin at 5:24.

Rating: C. TV and the Collection are a fine enough heel team but then I can’t get around the fact that they’re being set up for another match against Dustin Rhodes and the Von Erichs. Why Rhodes is at worst the second biggest star in Ring Of Honor is beyond me but that is where we have been for months now. It pulls the life out of these matches, especially when Rhodes and company have already beaten the Collection and TV.

Women’s TV Title: La Catalina vs. Red Velvet

Velvet is defending and dances rather than shake hands. Catalina armdrags her down to start and dances a bit before Velvet grinds away on a headlock. A cheap shot has Catalina angry so she hits a basement dropkick to cut her down. Velvet is knocked outside for an apron Blockbuster but she trips Catalina down and mocks the fans (Velvet: “You’re not cheering now.”). Catalina’s leg is wrapped around the post and then around the ropes but she’s fine enough to hit a running knee.

A running shot in the corner sets up a fisherman’s suplex for two on Velvet, followed by a Pedigree for the same. Back up and Velvet sends her throat first into the middle rope for some running knees to the neck. Velvet kicks her down for two but Catalina hits a middle rope shotgun dropkick. An electric chair drop looks to set up a frog splash but Velvet is there to cut her off. Velvet grabs a half crab (and the rope) and Catalina taps at 9:11.

Rating: B-. Nice enough match here, though it’s still hard to care that much about Velvet. She’s fine in the ring but she’s been champion for over nine months and it’s often difficult to even remember she has the title. ROH absolutely does not need two women’s titles (certainly not three) and while Velvet has done fine with the title, it would make a grand total of no important difference if it was gone.

Frat House vs. Spanish Announce Project

Yes, somehow it’s Angelico/Serpentico vs. Griff Garrison/Cole Karter again. It’s a brawl to start fast with the Project taking over in the corners. Garrison gets clotheslined down as commentary goes nuts hyping up the big Texas trip. Serpentico takes Garrison down with a dive but Karter grabs an ankle to take over. A double suplex plants Serpentico again and the chinlock keeps him in trouble.

Back up and Serpentico gets in a hurricanrana for a breather, allowing the diving tag off to Angelico. Karter and Angelico slug it out until the latter kicks him in the head for two. It’s already back to Serpentico as everything breaks down. Karter and Angelico hit stereo crossbodies but the rest of the Frat House gets involved to take out Serpentico. Karter’s spinning DDT finishes Serpentico at 7:34.

Rating: C. The Frat House being another way to spice up Karter and Garrison is kind of fascinating, as I can’t fathom what anyone sees in them as a team. They’re perfectly middle of the road, which makes me wonder why in the world they’ve been given this many shots. Throw in that they fought the Project for more than six months and my goodness this was a chore to watch.

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

Overall Rating: C. This show was a perfect illustration of Ring Of Honor’s major issues: these wrestlers are only so interesting and they aren’t on AEW TV as a result. You’ve got some people here who would be fine on the bigger shows, but asking fans to get interested in seeing them go it alone for about 45 minutes a week is a lot. The wrestling was perfectly adequate, but with so many options out there to pick from for good wrestling these days, why in the world would anyone go out of their way to watch this stuff?

Results
Mina Shirakawa b. Leila Grey – Figure Four
Johnny TV/MxM Collection b. Rosario Grillo/Allen Russell/Kameron Russell – Centerfold to Kameron
Red Velvet b. La Catalina – Half crab
Frat House b. Spanish Announce Project – Spinning DDT to Serpentico

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

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Collision
Date: April 26, 2025
Location: Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We are about a month away from Double Or Nothing and in this case it means we have a lot of things to set up for the show. There is a chance some of those will come together here, but odds are this is going to be more of a wrestling based show. That’s what Collision tends to do better so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Swerve Strickland, with Prince Nana, to get things going. Hold on though as here are the Young Bucks, who say Swerve’s match is….now, despite him being in street clothes.

Swerve Strickland vs. Blake Christian

The Bucks are watching from the aisle as Christian stomps away to start. A springboard kick puts Strickland down again and a dropkick sends him to the floor. There’s a running flip dive and a ram into the steps to keep Strickland in trouble. Back in and Christian neckbreakers him down but gets caught with the House Call. The JML Driver finishes for Strickland at 4:24.

Rating: C. So the Bucks can control the show and the best they have for Swerve is mildly inconveniencing him against a jobber? That’s not the best punishment, but then again they’re not exactly the best bosses. I’m sure this feud will keep going for weeks with a likely tag match of some sort at Double Or Nothing, because the Bucks have to be a thing in this company.

Post match Lee Johnson runs in to go after Swerve and gets cleared out. That brings in the Young Bucks to beat Swerve down. Kenny Omega runs in for the save.

Samoa Joe thinks Jon Moxley has simple motivations because he benefits from the chaos he causes. Joe is not a problem who is disturbed by chaos and he is coming for the title.

Toni Storm vs. Queen Aminata

Non-title. Storm takes her down a few times to start and pulls her into a headlock off a handshake. Aminata drops her with a shoulder as we talk about Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada being in a tag match on Dynamite. A snap suplex drops Storm against the ropes but she avoids the running hip attack. They go to the apron where Aminata gets in a running boot and we take a break.

Back with a double headbutt putting both of them down before Storm pulls her into an STF. The rope is grabbed so Aminata is back up with a running boot to the face. They go to the floor with Aminata avoiding the running hip attack against the barricade. Instead Aminata hits a Beach Break of all things for two back inside. A pop up powerbomb gives Storm two more and she snaps off a German suplex. The running hip attack sets up the Storm Zero to pin Aminata at 11:38.

Rating: C+. Aminata is firmly in the area of “she has nothing to do but she’s good enough in the ring to keep her around”. That doesn’t make for bad matches, but it does make matches like this, where she has next to no chance of winning, feel pretty long. Storm is just killing time until she gets to the winner of the Owen Hart Cup, but that’s going to take a good while.

Respect is shown post match.

Jeff Jarrett and company yell at Sonjay Dutt for being late so Jay Lethal is ready to be the new idea man.

Here is Max Caster for his chant and open challenge.

Max Caster vs. Hologram

Hologram runs the ropes to start and snaps off a running hurricanrana. Caster’s chop in the corner only hits buckle and a Spanish Fly cuts him off. They go outside with Hologram hitting a running headbutt, setting up the Portal Bomb for the pin at 1:54. As usual, commentary hypes up Hologram’s undefeated streak and I continue to wonder when he’s going to do anything important.

We look at the opening of Dynamite, with Master P coming out, triggering a brawl between the Opps and the Death Riders.

Cru vs. Top Flight

Texas Tornado tag and Leila Grey is here with Top Flight. It’s a brawl to start and Cru whip out some kendo sticks as commentary recaps the feud. Rather than use the sticks, Cru goes back inside and gets beaten down, with a double belly to back suplex getting two on Andretti. Cru goes after Grey though and the distraction lets them take over with a pair of dives. Darius gets cracked with a trashcan and we take a break.

Back with Dante fighting back with a trashcan lid before a bag of Mardi Grab beads is poured out. The spinning half nelson slam onto the beats has Rush in trouble but a dropkick slows Darius down. A double suplex through the chair gets two on Darius but Grey grabs a chain shot. Grey gets knocked off the apron and it’s a springboard 450 to finish Darius at 11:05.

Rating: C+. If you can find a reason for this feud to need to keep going this long, you’re smarter than I am. I’m not sure why this is supposed to be interesting but it feels like they have been feuding for months now. Cru seems to only exist to annoy Top Flight and since Top Flight hasn’t mattered in forever, it’s hard to get that into the feud.

Anna Jay vs. Taylor Gainey

This is Jay’s first match in about four months and she wins with the Gory Bomb in 55 seconds.

Post match Penelope Ford comes in for the brawl with Jay and Megan Bayne comes in to lay Jay out.

Mercedes Mone is ready for Jamie Hayter.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Dralistico

Bandido is defending. We get a pose off to start and Dralistico bails to the floor before coming back in for a lockup. Bandido takes him down but misses a slingshot splash, allowing Dralistico to come back with a slingshot hurricanrana. They chop it out on the apron as commentary continues to hype up Omega and Okada in a tag match on Dynamite.

A hurricanrana sends Bandido crashing to the floor and we take a break with the medics checking on Dralistico. Back with Bandido dropkicking him to the floor for the running flip dive. Bandido’s frog splash gets two but so does Dralistico’s enziguri. A crucifix bomb drops Bandido but he pops back up with a PK for the double down. Dralistico stops to yell at the referee and gets caught with the 21 Plex to retain the title at 11:24.

Rating: B-. For those of you keeping track, Dralistico has not won a singles match in either AEW or ROH since 2023. Therefore it is a bit much to believe that he is worthy of a World Title shot, but that’s how Ring Of Honor and its titles work. It’s one of those things that keeps happening and it isn’t going to change, which is hardly a surprise at all.

Big Bill and Bryan Keith want to win matches and hurt people.. Therefore, they want the Gates Of Agony.

Rush vs. AR Fox

Rush starts fast by knocking him to the floor for some rams into the barricade. Back in and Rush kicks him in the face, setting up the tranquilo pose. Fox rolls him up for a fast two and an enziguri sends Rush outside. The big dive connects and a rather long Swanton gives Fox two more. That’s enough for Rush, who knocks him into the corner for the Bull’s Horns and the pin at 3:06.

Rating: C. This has been the latest “Rush beats someone up and then (probably) doesn’t do anything for months on end” match. Fox is firmly in the spot of being there to make someone else look good and he did so well enough here. As is the case with so many others around here though, it’s hard to buy that Rush is going anywhere given his track record.

Roppongi Vice is back together and beat up the Outrunners.

Video on Kyle Fletcher vs. Hangman Page.

FTR vs. Paragon

Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. Strong and Harwood start things off with Harwood hitting a running shoulder. Everything breaks down and FTR bail to the floor, where it’s time to threaten Schiavone. Back in and Harwood is knocked outside so a backbreaker/middle rope knee combination can hit Wheeler.

We take a break and come back with O’Reilly coming back in, only to get dropped with a clothesline. Strong’s leg gets crushed in the steps and O’Reilly is whipped into them as well. In case you didn’t get it the first two times, we hear about Omega vs. Okada in the Dynamite tag match again. Back in and Wheeler’s clothesline sets up Harwood’s slingshot suplex for two. Strong gets knocked off the apron again to make his knee even worse, meaning there is no one for O’Reilly to tag.

O’Reilly kicks away at FTR and a collision with Harwood leaves both of them down. Strong tries to get up and gets dropped knee first onto the steps again. Back in and O’Reilly’s guillotine choke is cut off with a top rope ax handle and we take another breaker. We come back again with O’Reilly Angle Slamming Harwood but getting knocked outside. O’Reilly gets back in and finally brings Strong in to (gingerly) clean house.

The fireman’s carry gutbuster gets two on Harwood and a half nelson backbreaker hits Wheeler, banging up the knee all over again. Harwood puts on the Hartbreaker around the post and Wheeler grabs a Figure Four back inside. O’Reilly is back in to take Wheeler outside and Strong ankle locks Harwood. Wheeler makes the save though and the spike piledriver finishes Strong at 20:45.

Rating: B. This got time and had a story built in with the knee, along with FTR being a lot more aggressive after their recent turn. Hathaway alone makes them feel more evil as he’s quite the squirrely manager. I’m not sure where FTR is going as they aren’t likely to go after the Hurt Syndicate, but this is a breath of fresh air for a team that needed it.

Post match the beatdown stays on but Adam Cole and Daniel Garcia, the latter with a crowbar, make the save to end the show. Garcia says FTR didn’t stick the knife deep enough so revenge is coming.

Overall Rating: C+. This show had quite a bit of wrestling, which thankfully included some shorter matches to keep things moving. At the same time, it also had a bunch of stuff that really didn’t feel important but rather came from the lower levels of the card to fill in this show. As usual, it’s not a bad show at all, but not quite a show that feels like necessary viewing.

Results
Swerve Strickland b. Blake Christian – JML Driver
Toni Storm b. Queen Aminata – Storm Zero
Hologram b. Max Caster – Portal Bomb
Cru b. Top Flight – Springboard 450 to Darius
Anna Jay b. Taylor Gainey – Gory Bomb
Bandido b. Dralistico – 21 Plex
Rush b. AR Fox – Bull’s Horns
FTR b. Paragon – Spike piledriver to Strong

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: April 18, 2025
Location: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s time for the second Ring Of Honor show of the week as we are coming off a bonus episode yesterday afternoon. In theory, that should mean that we are in for some better than usual stuff here, with the weaker, less important stuff burned off yesterday. We are only a few weeks away from Supercard Of Honor as well so let’s get to it.

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

Bandido/Komander vs. Infantry

No entrances here, likely to hide that Komander had the TV Title when this was taped. It’s a brawl to start with Bandido slugging away at Bravo but getting taken out for a whip into the barricade. Back in and they be clubberin at Bandido in the corner before a leglock keeps him down.

A Demolition Decapitator gets two on Bandido but he gets over for the tag without much trouble. Everything breaks down and Dean is sent outside, drawing Shane Taylor up to the apron. That’s fine with Bandido, who sunset bombs Taylor onto the rest of the Promotions. Komander moonsaults onto them, leaving Bandido to hit the 21 Plex for the pin at 5:56.

Rating: C+. Bandido is the featured star of the promotion these days so of course he’s opening the show against a midcard tag team. At least he got the win, but this feels like a match that was put together before they knew Bandido was going to be the champion. If that’s the case, it makes me wonder why it still happened, but at least the right person won.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs vs. MxM Collection/Johnny TV

Rhodes and the Von Erichs are defending for the first time since July but get jumped from behind during their entrance. We get inside where TV beats on the banged up Ross and the bell officially rings. Marshall fights up and slugs away at Mansoor, setting up a Cannonball for two. Ross comes in for a rather aggressive headlock but Madden tags himself in for a Harlem Heat Heat Seeker.

Taya Valkyrie gets in some stomps on the floor and a Sidewinder gives Mansoor two. Rhodes, still banged up from the attack before the bell, is knocked down again but Marshall low bridges Madden to the floor. A clothesline gives Ross a breather but Madden pulls Marshall to the floor. The tag brings in Rhodes instead and everything breaks down, with a bulldog getting two on TV. Everything breaks down and the Collection gets a double Shattered Dreams. The Claw puts Mansoor in trouble and the Final Reckoning to TV retains the titles at 11:12.

Rating: C+. That’s what we’ve waited about eight months to see and it’s the same problem as always: Rhodes and the Von Erichs aren’t that interesting. This match was built around Rhodes getting the hot tag so he could clean house. Rhodes isn’t exactly a big enough star to make this interesting and having him hold two titles for so many months isn’t making it that much better. I’ll take this over the titles not being defended, but not by much.

Lee Johnson vs. Sammy Guevara

Blake Christian is here with Johnson. Guevara grabs a headlock to start but can’t get anywhere and they both nip up for a standoff. Back up and Guevara hits a dropkick but Christian pulls him face first onto the apron. Johnson fires off some shoulders to the ribs but Guevara fights up to knock him down. A cutter gives Guevara two and he pulls Johnson into a rollup for the pin at 5:50.

Rating: C. Guevara feels like he’s the partner you had to pick in Wrestlemania 2000’s Road To Wrestlemania mode but he actually has to have matches. That doesn’t make for the most thrilling stuff, as every bit of Guevara’s star power has gone sailing away. That’s a shame as he’s that talented, but being Dustin Rhodes’ (the main character in the game) sidekick isn’t the way to go.

Post match Christian jumps Guevara but Dustin Rhodes makes the save. Johnny TV and the MxM Collection run in for the save, as do the Von Erichs. The villains beat them down and Guevara covers Rhodes from the beating.

Video on CMLL working with Ring Of Honor, setting up Grand Slam Mexico in June.

Jon Cruz/Rosario Grillo vs. Dark Order

It’s a brawl to start with the Order cleaning house, setting up Reynolds’ running elbow in the corner to Cruz. That’s broken up and it’s off to Uno, who hits the Gory Bomb/Codebreaker combination for the pin at 3:30.

Rating: C. This really is the best they have for their Wrestlemania Week show. The Dark Order haven’t felt important in the better part of ever and putting them out there against Cruz and his partner of the week isn’t going to make that any better. The match barely had time to do anything and that might be the best way to go.

Post match the Frat House comes out, complete with recruits, who the Frat House beat up. And now, a match.

Frat House vs. Charles Mason/Love Doug/TJ Crawford

The Dark Order is watching from the aisle. The recruits are beaten down but Doug chops away for some reason, earning himself a discus lariat for the pin at 59 seconds.

Post match the beatdown continues until the Dark Order make the save. This passes for a personal feud around here.

Serena Deeb and Queen Aminata are in the first round of the Women’s Pure Title tournament. Trash talk is exchanged. There is pretty much no reason for that title to exist but here it is anyway.

Atlantis Jr./Esfinge/Fuego vs. Barbaro Cavernario/Euforia/Zandokan Jr.

We start fast with an exchange of kicks to the face and a triple sunset flip for two each. Cavernario hits a running Vader Bomb for two on Fuego. Esfinge comes in and gets beaten out to the floor rather quickly. Fuego is back in for a double dropkick and it’s Esfinge coming in to clean house.

An Alabama Slam out of the corner into a sitout powerbomb gives Zandokan two. Atlantis is there with a kick in the corner but he gets caught with a triple powerbomb. Euforia goes for Atlantis’ mask to no avail and a double dropkick puts Atlantis down again. Fuego and Esfinge hit some dives before Atlantis’ frog splash pins Euforia at 7:48.

Rating: B-. You know the same things I say about all of these CMLL six man tags? Update it to include this match. It’s an entertaining match but there is pretty much nothing that makes it stand out in any way. You have a few new names included but I lost interest in these being anything more than fun filler a long time ago. Mainly because these things have been going on that long.

Overall Rating: C. Remember that this isn’t just the best they have, but also the show after they got rid of a bunch of the filler yesterday. At the end of the day, this show feels so much like filler and there is no way around that. Instead of doing something interesting, it’s the same people doing the same stuff with Dustin Rhodes being treated as the biggest star around. There is something that could be done with this show, but this absolutely wasn’t it.

Results
Bandido/Komander b. Infantry – 21 Plex to Bravo
Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs b. MxM Collection/Johnny TV – Final Reckoning to TV
Sammy Guevara b. Lee Johnson – Rollup
Dark Order b. Jon Cruz/Rosario Grillo – Gory Bomb/Codebreaker combination to Cruz
Frat House b. Charles Mason/Love Doug/TJ Crawford – Discus lariat to Doug
Atlantis Jr./Esfinge/Fuego b. Barbaro Cavernario/Euforia/Zandokan Jr. – Frog splash to Euforia

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: April 10, 2025
Location: UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We have a new World Champion as Bandido took the title from Chris Jericho at Dynasty. That’s a long time coming and now we get the second reign of Bandido. Odds are we’re going to need a new challenger. We’re less that a month away from Supercard Of Honor and maybe we’ll start getting ready for that this week. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at Bandido winning the World Title at Dynasty.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

MxM Collection/Johnny TV vs. Ryan Matthews/Jordan Kross/Drake Daniels

The Collection/TV have Taya Valkyrie with them and she is holding the stolen Six Man Tag Team Title, as we are apparently just moving that feud over to Dustin Rhodes and the Von Erichs. Sure. TV and Kross start things off with TV doing his spinning dance. Kross dances back at him, only to get taken down with a neckbreaker.

Taya gets in a slap from the floor and it’s off to Matthews, who gets taken down with a running hip attack to the face. Something like a Sidewinder hits Matthews but he slips out and brings in Daniels. Everything breaks down and Madden chokeslams Kross (Matthews: “THAT’S MY FRIEND!” He is promptly booted in the face.), setting up an assisted Centerfold for the pin at 4:31.

Rating: C. So now I guess we’re moving on to a six man feud, despite Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara already beating the Collection. If that’s the best ROH can come up with after about nine months of inactivity from the champions, I have no idea why the titles are active. Then again that has been the case for a long time so this isn’t exactly a big change.

We look at Harley Cameron tapping out in a tag match on Collision.

Marina Shafir vs. Nixi XS

Shafir wastes no time in kicking her down and Nixi’s forearms just amp up the annoyance. Mother’s Milk finishes Nixi at 1:18.

The Von Erichs aren’t happy that the MxM Collection stole one of the Six Man Tag Team Titles. Dustin Rhodes calls the Collection stupid and the challenge is on for next week. And no, there is nothing referencing the Von Erichs and Rhodes being apart for EIGHT MONTHS and still being champions.

Preston Vance vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Ishii’s running shoulders don’t do much to start and Vance manages to stagger him with a chop. Jakked Jameson gets in a cheap shot and Vance stomps away in the corner to take over. A snap suplex gives Vance two but Ishii is back with a belly to back suplex. Ishii hits a regular suplex for two and an enziguri rocks Vance again. Vance is right back with a discus lariat for two but Ishii headbutts him into the brainbuster for the pin at 6:19.

Rating: C. This was slightly more competitive than I would have expected and that was a fun thing to see. Ishii isn’t exactly doing much of note around here but the fans are going to approve of just about anything he does. Not a bad match at all, but it doesn’t feel like either of them are going anywhere right now.

Bandido is happy with his win and gives the title belt to his mom.

Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs vs. Dominic Garrini/Kevin Ku/Davey Bang

Non-title (of course). Rhodes runs Ku over to start and hits the drop down uppercut. There’s the powerslam and it’s off to Ross for a dropkick. A hurricanrana gets two on Garrini but Ross gets pulled into the wrong corner for the triple teaming. Ross breaks out of that and brings in Marshall to clean house. Everything breaks down and Marshall claw slams Bang for the pin at 4:35.

Rating: C. Yeah fine. I’m so glad that Rhodes is now part of two teams where he can brag about how amazing it is to be from Texas. The team hasn’t been around since last summer and they’re just picking up where they left off with pretty much no explanation or mention whatsoever. That’s why these titles are ridiculous and I’m sure we’ll get to see the champs defend the titles at All In (or on the pre-show at least) and then….eh it doesn’t matter.

Taya Valkyrie wants the Women’s TV Title but needs to go through Catalina first.

Jay Lethal vs. Bandido

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning that if Lethal wins or lasts ten minutes, he gets a future title shot. They go to the apron rather quickly, with Lethal knocking him down to take over. Back in and it’s too early for the Figure Four so they trade chops, as is custom in AEW/ROH. Bandido hits a pop up cutter into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but the X Knee is blocked. Lethal gets a dragon screw legwhip into the Figure Four but Bandido powers out. The Lethal Injection is countered into the X Knee (that was nice) and the 21 Plex finishes Lethal at 5:16.

Rating: C+. This was another short match and it’s kind of weird to see a former World Champion losing in such short fashion. That being said, it makes Bandido feel like a bigger star so soon after winning the title so we’ll call that a good idea. Other than that though, not a bad match, but it felt tacked on, which is a weird thing to do with someone like Lethal, who could do a lot more.

Overall Rating: C+. Like last week, this show was a bit shorter than most (ran about 46 minutes) and I’ll absolutely take that. Ring Of Honor has a big problem with stretching its shows out for the sake of filling time and that’s not a good idea. If you don’t have much to offer the fans, just get out faster as it isn’t like there is some time requirement to fill. This show was easier to watch because it didn’t stretch itself out and that is nice to see. Not a particularly good show, but a lot less frustrating than most.

Results
MxM Collection/Johnny TV b. Ryan Matthews/Jordan Kross/Drake Daniels – Assisted Centerfold to Kross
Marina Shafir b. Nixi XS – Mother’s Milk
Tomohiro Ishii b. Preston Vance – Brainbuster
Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs b. Davey Bang/Kevin Ku/Dominic Garrini – Claw slam to Bang
Bandido b. Jay Lethal – 21 Plex

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

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Dynasty 2025
Date: April 6, 2025
Location: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross, Excalibur

We’re back on pay per view, though this doesn’t feel like the biggest card. In this case, we have a main event of Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Title against Swerve Strickland. Other than that, we have a variety of title matches, plus three matches in the Owen Hart Tournaments, which get started tonight. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Nick Wayne/Cru vs. Top Flight/AR Fox

Cru bails to the floor to start so it’s Fox taking them out with a big dive. Back in and Cru neckbreakers Darius down for two but Dante sneaks in for a clothesline. Rush gets bulldogged throat first onto the middle rope but Wayne cuts Darius off and poses on the barricade. They get back inside where Rush front facelocks Darius before Andretti kicks him in the ribs.

Rush’s hard kick to the back keeps Darius down and we hit the reverse chinlock. Darius fights up and hits a dropkick, allowing the tag off to Dante. House is cleaned but Rush grabs his chain for a tug of war. Andretti comes in for a double team but Darius makes a save. Dante and Rush knock each other down, allowing the tags off to Fox and Wayne. Fox gets to clean house, including a rolling cutter to Rush, meaning it’s time for the string of running flip dives.

Back in and Fox’s Swanton hits Wayne’s raised knees, leaving Andretti to hit a handspring elbow on Darius. Rush’s springboard Stunner hits Dante but Fox hits Wayne with Lo Mein Pain. Kip Sabian and Leila Grey get in an argument on the floor though, with the distraction letting Mother Wayne shove Fox off the top. Wayne’s World finishes Fox at 11:13.

Rating: B. Totally wild match and that’s all it needed to be. Everyone was flying around and getting their stuff in, which is how you should get a show started. It made for a hot opener and there was enough of a story that the match didn’t feel completely thrown together. Rather nice choice, with the collection of high spots being exactly what this should have been.

Here is Max Caster to do his chant but the fans actually do it with him, earning some less than glowing reviews from Caster. He takes off his jacket to reveal a Ben Simmons (former Philadelphia basketball player) and says they’re just not as good as New York (and now they hate him).

Zero Hour: Max Caster vs. ???

This is another open challenge and it’s….Anthony Bowens, with Billy Gunn. They shove each other to start and Bowens hits a big rolling elbow for the win at 40 seconds.

And now, the show proper.

Men’s Owen Hart Tournament First Round: Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight

Knight is replacing the injured Jay White. They shake hands to start and fight over wrist control with Knight throwing in a flip to escape. A basement clothesline gives Knight two but Ospreay sends him outside for a slingshot dive. Back in and a Phenomenal Forearm drops Knight for two and the abdominal stretch keeps him in trouble. That’s broken up and Knight fires off some clotheslines, setting up a spinning splash for two.

The Stundog Millionaire into a spinning kick to the face gives Ospreay two of his own, followed by a running Spanish Fly. They lock hands and Knight pulls himself up for an exchange of strikes, naturally with the two of them holding hands. Knight hits a dropkick (no hands held) into a middle rope hurricanrana. Ospreay is sent outside for a dive but Knight has to counter a Styles Clash into a DDT.

A springboard dive takes Ospreay down again and another DDT gets two back inside. Ospreay kicks him in the face but the Oscutter is dropkicked out of the air in a nice counter. The top rope spinning splash gives Knight two but another springboard is countered into the Oscutter. Now the Styles Clash can connect for two, followed by another Oscutter for the same. The Hidden Blade finishes Knight at 13:47.

Rating: B-. It was a fun enough spectacle, but it didn’t exactly get to a pay per view quality level. It didn’t help that Knight was mainly there for the sake of filling for White, but he did at least have a solid performance. This was a good enough opener for the show and given the circumstances they were under, it could have been far worse.

Respect is shown post match.

We recap the Learning Tree challenging the Hurt Syndicate for the Tag Team Titles. Chris Jericho wants the Learning Tree to prove themselves so they’ve gone on a mini winning streak to get this show.

Tag Team Titles: Learning Tree vs. Hurt Syndicate

The Syndicate, with MVP, is defending. Lashley backs Keith into the corner to start so it’s off to Bill for the hoss off. Bill gets backed into the corner for the tag to Benjamin, only for Bill to clean house and knock the champs to the floor. Back in and Benjamin takes over on Bill but he can’t manage a German suplex. Lashley comes back in for a clothesline on Keith and Benjamin rams him into the barricade to really take over.

Back in again and Lashley does the delayed vertical suplex but misses a charge into the corner. The diving tag brings in Bill to clean house again, as he tends to do. Benjamin knocks him down but Bill Hulks Up (sure) into a swinging Boss Man Slam for two. Everything breaks down again and Bill hits Lashley with a Snake Eyes into a clothesline to the floor. Bill follows him but MJF (in the crowd) gets in a cheap shot so Lashley can hit the spear. The Syndicate doesn’t seem pleased but Lashley hits the spear on Knight so Benjamin can get the pin to retain at 10:29.

Rating: C+. As usual, this was Bill looking great, Keith looking fine, and the Syndicate looking like monsters. The Syndicate didn’t need MJF to retain here but that’s the big story for them going forward. I’m not sure who is next for the Syndicate, but their stuff with MJF is interesting enough for a different way to go. The Learning Tree winning the match here didn’t feel like it was in the cards, though I’ll take the Syndicate getting to beat someone up.

We recap Mercedes Mone vs. Julia Hart in the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament. There isn’t much of a story here, but Mone wants to win the tournament and get another title.

Women’s Owen Hart Tournament First Round: Mercedes Mone vs. Julia Hart

Non-title. Hart starts fast and knocks her into the corner as Harley Cameron (with the puppet) is watching in the back. Mone cuts her off and puts Hart in the Tree of Woe, only to get rolled up for two. A spinning wristdrag takes Hart down but she avoids a charge and hits some running elbows in the corner. Something close to Old School sets up a running elbow to the back to give Hart two and they head outside.

Mone rams her into the barricade, followed by the running Meteora for two back inside. The chinlock goes on to keep Hart in trouble and Mone’s dropkick gets two. Hart gets in a takedown of her own but a standing moonsault hits knees to cut her off again. Mone puts her in the Tree of Woe and does a Malakai Black sitdown. A situp lets Hart avoids a charge though and Hart hits a dive to the floor. Back in and Hart’s DDT gets two but Mone is fine enough to grab another Codebreaker.

A Tarantula sets up an Octopus on Mone, who walks it across the ring for the break, rather than stepping two feet in the other direction. Mone hits a pair of Backstabbers but Hart is back with a crucifix bomb for two. Mone’s Statement Maker is countered into a reverse Rings of Saturn, with the fans rather approving. That’s broken up as well, with the Statement Maker going on again. Somehow Hart escapes and grabs a rollup for two, only for Mone to get her own rollup for the pin at 13:02.

Rating: B-. Another nice match here with only so much drama, as Mone wasn’t likely to lose her first match in the first round of the tournament. Hart has gotten better in the ring and getting away from some of the weird evil stuff has helped her a bit. She’s not on Mone’s level, but she did well enough here to have a good match, which should be a solid sign for her future.

We recap the Trios Titles match. FTR and Cope have been having issues lately but want to show that they can still be a great team. It’s not like there are many other options to go after the Death Riders’ titles anyway.

Trios Titles: Rated FTR vs. Death Riders

The Death Riders are defending, but first we need to have the fans sing Cope’s theme song to him again. Harwood and Pac start things off and they grapple into the corner for a clean break. Pac shoulders him into a rollup for two but it’s way too early for the Brutalizer. Cope comes in and gets his arm cranked before it’s off to to Yuta, who gets booed out of the building.

Yuta gets taken into the corner and everything breaks down, with Castagnoli getting taken up top for a super powerslam. Some clotheslines put Yuta and Pac on the floor but Pac is back in to take over on Cash. Yuta grabs the chinlock but gets caught in a powerslam, only for Pac to be right there to cut off the tag attempt. Not that it matters as Harwood gets the tag a few seconds later but Castagnoli blocks the Sharpshooter attempt.

Instead, Castagnoli and Harwood grab their own Sharpshooter and scream at each other, only to let them go and slug it out. Castagnoli’s swing into Yuta’s dropkick gets two on Harwood as the fans are all over Yuta. Back to back Fastball Specials give the champs two, with Cash having to make the save.

Cope grabs the Impaler for two on Pac before a superplex into a top rope splash into a Swan Dive gets two, with Castagnoli making the save. Yuta missile dropkicks Cope, leaving Pac to Brutalizer Harwood. Cash brings Yuta over for the save and a bunch of people are down. The Shatter Machine and spear hit Yuta with Castagnoli making another save. Cash and Pac crash out to the floor off a suplex and Yuta sends Cope into Harwood. The running knee to Harwood retains the titles at 14:45.

Rating: B. As usual, the Death Riders get to retain the titles as they almost never lose anything. In this case though, that’s not the biggest surprise as Rated FTR have been falling apart more and more every week. Hopefully they move on to something else, which might result in an FTR heel turn. It’s not like they have anything else going on, though they can still work well in a match like this. Good stuff here, even if the Trios Titles aren’t the most thrilling things going on.

Post match the champs leave so Rated FTR pose together. Then Harwood piledrives Cope and grabs some chairs, but Cash won’t do the Conchairto. Instead he shoves Harwood down…and it’s a Shatter Machine to Cope, followed by a spike piledriver on the chair. Now Cash is willing to do the Conchairto, with Cope’s head being crushed. Cash even puts on a neck brace to mock Cope even more. Cope does a stretcher job.

We recap Toni Storm defending the Women’s Title against Megan Bayne. Storm retained the title over Mariah May to end their feud but Bayne came in and laid her out. Bayne also pinned her in a tag match, meaning it’s time for Storm to defend against a monster.

Women’s Title: Megan Bayne vs. Toni Storm

Storm, with Luther, is defending and Penelope Ford is here with Bayne. After Storm’s Rocky style training montage, we’re ready to go (with Storm in a boxing robe to really hammer home the idea). Bayne powers her away without much trouble to start and then does it again for a bonus. Storm comes back with a spinning middle rope crossbody but Bayne kicks her right back down. There’s a fall away slam to drop Storm again but Bayne’s suicide dive hits Luther by mistake.

Back in and Storm hits a high crossbody for two so Ford offers a distraction. That’s enough for Bayne to hit a pump kick as Storm can’t do much to get around the power here. Bayne chokes her on the ropes and Ford gets in some posing, followed by some choking of her own, as a villain should do. Some overhead belly to belly suplexes drop Storm for two more and Ford gets up again, only for Luther to pull her away.

Storm comes back with a tornado DDT and a twisting STF to put Bayne in trouble for a change. Bayne powers out and hits a bottom rope belly to back suplex, only for Storm to catch her with a SCARY belly to back superplex (as Bayne looked to land on her head). They get back up to slug it out, with Storm getting the better of it, setting up a German suplex.

The hip attack is cut off though and Bayne muscles her up with a German suplex of her own. Storm knocks her into the corner for three straight hip attacks, followed by Storm Zero for one. Another Storm Zero is broken up and Bayne hits a sitout powerbomb. Fate’s Descent is loaded up but Storm reverses into the small package to retain at 15:24.

Rating: B-. This got a bit better once Luther and Ford left, as they were making the match a bit too busy. I’m kind of surprised that Storm won clean, but there is a chance that this isn’t going to be it between them. Bayne has felt like a top star for her brief run and there is a case to be made that Storm escaped with the title rather than really beating Bayne. I’m not sure if that is where they need to go, but Bayne is too big and too talented to be left by the wayside.

We recap Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Brisco in the Men’s Owen Hart Tournament. There isn’t much of a story here but Fletcher is coming off a loss to Will Ospreay and Briscoe tends to exist to put people over.

Men’s Owen Hart Tournament First Round: Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe

Don Callis is here with Fletcher, who dives on Briscoe at the bell to start fast. They get inside where Briscoe counters a suplex into a small package for a quick two. The fight heads outside where Briscoe grabs a quick neckbreaker, followed by a running dropkick through the ropes for two. The Bang Bang Elbow connects and Briscoe throws a bunch of chairs inside. Fletcher is fast enough to dive back inside though and suplexes Briscoe onto an open chair.

Briscoe gets hammered down in the corner and then taken outside for an apron powerbomb. Another powerbomb sends Briscoe into the barricade to hurt his back even worse. Back in and Fletcher hits a Helluva Kick but gets shoved off the top so Briscoe can nail a missile dropkick. A double clothesline gives us a double down and they trade the big forearms. Briscoe grabs a fisherman’s buster for two but a Death Valley Driver is countered into a lawn dart into the corner. Fletcher wins a strike off on the apron and hits a brainbuster (with Briscoe grabbing the rope for a bit of a break).

Another brainbuster gets two back inside and Callis is not happy on the floor. Briscoe is able to catch him on top but the cutthroat driver is broken up. Instead a basement clothesline sets up the Froggy Bow for two and Briscoe can’t believe the kickout. Now the cutthroat driver can connect for two and Fletcher goes outside, only to get caught with another Froggy Bow. Back in and Fletcher hits a running shot in the corner and the turnbuckle brainbuster gives Fletcher the pin at 16:05.

Rating: B+. This started off good and then got better, with Fletcher mostly dominating for a long portion until Briscoe fought back. Briscoe is someone who is easy to get behind and there was always the chance that he could pull off the big upset. It made for the best match of the night so far and I had a good time with it, as Briscoe continues to be able to work well with anyone.

We recap Chris Jericho defending the Ring Of Honor World Title against Bandido in a title vs. mask match. Jericho has beaten him twice but also stole the mask of Bandido’s brother Gravity, scaring their family in the process. Now it’s both about the title and the personal issue to make it bigger.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Chris Jericho vs. Bandido

Jericho is defending in a title vs. mask match. The Codebreaker at the bell gives Jericho two and he adds the Lionsault for the same. Bandido avoids a running boot though and sends Jericho outside for the dive. Jericho gets sent into the barricade, allowing Bandido to give his sister a kiss on the head. Back in and Bandido’s INCREDIBLY delayed one armed suplex (he held him up for about a minute) gets two so Jericho rolls to the apron, where Bandido hits a running boot.

Jericho is back up with a powerbomb onto the floor and he gets in his “steal the camera” deal. Back in and they slap it out with Jericho getting the better of things, including a dropkick to put him down. Some yelling at Bandido’s family has the fans less happy with Jericho and his super hurricanrana makes things even worse. Bandido is fine enough to hit a one armed gorilla press into a frog splash for two, only for a corkscrew crossbody to be Codebreakered out of the air in a nice looking counter.

Back up and they set up the ten paces deal but Jericho rolls him up for two instead. Bandido is back up but can’t quite get the 21 Plex, allowing Jericho to get the Walls. The rope is grabbed in a hurry and Bandido kicks him in the head. Cue Bryan Keith so Gravity cuts him off, allowing Jericho to hit Bandido in the head with a baseball bat for a delayed pin at 15:45.

Hold on though as cue Audrey Edwards to bring Bandido’s family over the barricade to say what happened (sure). That’s enough for the original referee to restart the match so Jericho goes after Bandido’s sister. Bandido is back up with the X Knee into the 21 Plex for the pin and the title at 18:01.

Rating: B-. They were rolling here and then they just had to do that stupid baseball bat thing. This felt like it was a way for Jericho to save face while losing the title, possibly even to set up one more match between them. Bandido getting the title back is a good thing, but it would have been nice to see it be a bit less messy. At least Jericho isn’t the champion for the time being though, and that is long, long overdue.

We recap Daniel Garcia defending the TNT Title against Adam Cole. They wrestled before and Cole had him beat when the time limit ran out. Therefore, it’s now no time limit and no interference, with the latter being something that should be understood but that’s not how AEW rolls.

TNT Title: Adam Cole vs. Daniel Garcia

Garcia is defending. They shove each other to start until Garcia hits a running boot to the face. Garcia wraps the arms around the ropes and hammers away but gets shoved to the floor. A Panama Sunrise off the apron doesn’t work and Cole seems to be favoring his leg. Back in and the limping Cole gets his leg kicked out as Garcia has a target. A running dropkick to the leg connects in the corner and a stomp to the leg (complete with dancing) has Cole down again.

Garcia gets in some nasty cranks on the leg before snapping off a neckbreaker. Cole manages a quick fireman’s carry neckbreaker onto the bad knee, allowing Garcia to come back with a clothesline. Back up and they trade strikes to the face until Cole’s superkick staggers Garcia, who falls on a collapsing Cole for two in a nice false finish. Garcia counters a superkick into an ankle lock, complete with a grapevine.

Cole makes the rope so they go outside, with Garcia sending him knee first into the steps. They climb onto the steps and Cole…I think suplexes him into the post. A Panama Sunrise off the steps drops Garcia on the floor and he collapses inside before Cole can hit the Boom. Garcia is back up with his own Panama Sunrise into the Boom for two more. With nothing else working, Garcia loads up a super piledriver but Cole shoves him off and hits another Panama Sunrise. Another Panama Sunrise sets up the Boom to make Cole champion at 15:35.

Rating: B-. This got a bit goofy with the Panama Sunrises being spammed to a pretty ridiculous degree but Cole winning isn’t a bad idea. Garcia got a lot out of being champion but Cole needed to win something after being around for so long without really accomplishing much. It wasn’t a classic or anything, but it was an entertaining back and forth match with the right finish. I think.

Respect is shown post match.

We recap the International Title match. Kenny Omega won the title last month and Ricochet and Mike Bailey co-won a tournament to get the shot. That works for Omega, who wants to face the best competition imaginable. This is designed to be three people doing a bunch of crazy spots and that’s not a bad idea.

International Title: Kenny Omega vs. Ricochet vs. Mike Bailey

Omega is defending. Ricochet drops to the floor to start and the other two take a bit of time before locking up. That doesn’t get very far as Ricochet comes back in, only to have to duck a kick from Bailey. Omega is back up with a high crossbody for two on Bailey before grabbing a cross armbreaker on Ricochet. That means a quick rope break so Bailey hits some bouncing kicks to put Omega down.

Bailey’s running hurricanrana through the ropes drops Omega again but the two of them get together to knock Ricochet down. Bailey escapes You Can’t Escape but Ricochet AA’s Bailey onto Omega on the barricade. Back in and Ricochet chokes Bailey on the ropes before putting him down with a side slam. A neckbreaker/snapdragon combination leaves Ricochet as the only one standing so he goes outside to do some commentary.

Bailey cuts that off and comes back in to kick away at Omega, who misses a quick moonsault attempt. They all get back in and trade some triple near falls (those are some new ones) for two each and the fans applaud. We get a three way slugout from their knees until Ricochet is sent outside, leaving Omega to punch Bailey. That’s broken up and Bailey hits a springboard moonsault to the floor to drop Ricochet again.

Omega dives onto both of them before they go back inside, where Ricochet winds up on top of Omega, with Bailey hitting a moonsault knees onto both of them. Bailey slugs Ricochet out to the floor but seems to injure his leg. That lets Ricochet hit a chop block, which takes out both Bailey and the referee. The referee pops back up and they all go up top, with Bailey taking Ricochet down. Omega saves himself though and hits a snapdragon each on both of them. Then he snapdragons both of them at once, just to make sure everything is even.

A bridging German suplex gives Omega two on Ricochet but Bailey is back up so both challengers can roll Omega up for two at the same time. Ricochet gets sent to the floor, leaving Bailey to miss the Ultimate Weapon on Omega. That bangs up Bailey’s knee so Omega grabs a kneebar (makes sense), which is broken up by Ricochet. Omega sends Ricochet outside again but misses a charge, allowing Bailey to kick him in the face.

Ricochet is back in with a shooting star press for two on Omega but Bailey gets the knees up to cut Ricochet off. Bailey’s strikes are cut off by Ricochet going after the knee so Bailey goes Karate Kid with a crane kick. Now the Ultimate Weapon can connect for two, with Omega using a V Trigger to break it up. Ricochet puts Bailey on top but Omega catches Ricochet in a super One Winged Angel (ow) to retain at 30:56.

Rating: A-. It was a bunch of incredibly athletic stuff and that’s what it was advertised as being. While a title change was a long shot so soon after Omega won, it was more about giving him a big showcase after his title win. The match felt incredibly choreographed, but that doesn’t make it any less entertaining. Definitely a fun match with some very athletic work, which is what you probably wanted coming into this one.

Post match Kazuchika Okada comes out for the staredown as they keep teasing the All In match. Omega leaves without anything happening.

We recap Swerve Strickland challenging Jon Moxley for the World Title. Strickland won the title shot last month and wants to get back to the top of the company. Moxley said a bunch of stuff about violence, as is his custom.

AEW World Title: Swerve Strickland vs. Jon Moxley

Moxley, with Marina Shafir, is defending and Strickland, with Prince Nana, is dressed like superhero Static Shock. After the Big Match Intros and some circling, Strickland goes after the leg for a takedown. A Fujiwara armbar has Moxley in trouble but he slips out for an early staredown. Strickland takes him down again but has to go to the ropes to escape a Kimura. Moxley fires off some chops but gets sent to the floor for a running boot from the apron.

Back in and Moxley knocks him off the top, with Shafir getting in a cheap shot on the floor. Strickland gets thrown over the announcers’ table and Moxley loads up the steps. After dropping Strickland on the steps, Moxley goes back inside to yell a bit before hitting a piledriver for two. Moxley rips at Strickland’s bleeding face and grabs a headscissors/leg crank. That’s broken up so they trade forearms until Moxley goes for the arm again. The cross armbreaker is broken up so he grabs a triangle choke, with Strickland powerbombing him to freedom.

Strickland rolls some suplexes for two and hits a backbreaker, only to roll into a cutter. A Vertebreaker doesn’t work for Strickland as Moxley slips out and grabs the bulldog choke. That’s broken up as well and Strickland hits the House Call. Another House Call is cut off with a clothesline but Strickland pops up for another House Call. Shafir comes in with the briefcase so Nana gets in her face…and is promptly shoved out of it.

Moxley cutters Shafir by mistake and Strickland hits his own Death Rider for two. Strickland goes up but gets shoved down….and we have a ladder. They climb said ladder and fight on top, with Strickland hitting a Swerve Stomp to send Moxley crashing through the announcers’ table. Back in and they strike it out until Shafir hands Moxley a chair. Said chair is pelted at the referee’s head, leaving Strickland to hit the Vertebreaker.

Cue Hangman Page to tease a Buckshot Lariat (target unclear) but the Death Riders run in to take Page out. Page fights up and takes out the Riders so here are the Opps to brawl with them to the back. Strickland throws the chair at Moxley and hits the Swerve Stomp but there is still no referee. Instead the lights go out….and the Young Bucks are back for the EVP Trigger to Strickland. Moxley retains the title at 31:29.

Rating: B. It was the usual wild match in the main event but that ending is not going to be well received. The fans felt ready for Swerve to win the match but it didn’t happen, instead for a rather controversial tag team to come back. At the end of the day, Moxley isn’t the most thrilling champion in the world to put it mildly and this was the usual thing from him: a bunch of submissions and violence with him escaping with the title again. It’s been done to death and that ending is going to leave another sour taste in a lot of mouths.

The Bucks leave through the crowd and Strickland and Page are frustrated to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. I did like the show as there were quite a few solid matches throughout with nothing bad, but the biggest problem here is that it really didn’t feel overly important. So much of the show was spent on first round tournament matches which weren’t overly dramatic. That was the case with far too many matches on this show, as the matches just kind of came and went as we are on the way to All In. It’s certainly not a bad show, but it felt like something they had to do and they didn’t have enough to warrant a pay per view card.

Results
Nick Wayne/Cru b. Top Flight/AR Fox – Wayne’s World to Fox
Anthony Bowens b. Max Caster – Rolling elbow
Will Ospreay b. Kevin Knight – Hidden Blade
Hurt Syndicate b. Learning Tree – Spear to Keith
Mercedes Mone b. Julia Hart – Rollup
Death Riders b. Rated FTR – Running knee to Harwood
Toni Storm b. Megan Bayne – Small package
Kyle Fletcher b. Mark Briscoe – Brainbuster onto the turnbuckle
Bandido b. Chris Jericho – 21 Plex
Adam Cole b. Daniel Garcia – Boom
Kenny Omega b. Mike Bailey and Ricochet – Super One Winged Angel to Ricochet
Jon Moxley b. Swerve Strickland – EVP Trigger

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

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We’re already back on pay per view and in this case, believe it or not, it’s time to do some tournament stuff. This show features a bunch of stuff in the Owen Hart Tournaments, plus the usual ton of title matches and various other shenanigans. That should make for a fun card, but this isn’t exactly feeling like the biggest show in the world. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Max Caster vs. ???

This is the latest edition of Caster’s open challenge and things have not been going so well for him. I’m not sure what the point is in turning him into the comedy jobber that he has become but that is what we are seeing here over and over. It makes for some funny moments when someone comes out and massacres him, so hopefully this is going to be a shortened version of the normal Kickoff Show matches.

So who is going to be taking him up on the challenge? After weeks of teasing it, this almost has to be Anthony Bowens taking up the challenge and beating the fire out of Caster, likely ending the whole thing once and for all. There is nothing left for them to do after that takes place and in theory it should be wrapping up here, with Bowens getting his revenge to blow it off. I’m not sure what that accomplishes, but it should get a good reaction.

Zero Hour: Cru/Nick Wayne vs. Top Flight/AR Fox

So this is a thing as well and it feels like the kind of match that belongs on the Kickoff Show. Let them get out there and pop the crowd with something of a feud that has been built up. I’m not sure what the appeal of Cru is supposed to be but they have been dealing with Top Flight for months now. Other than that, you have Wayne and Fox who are good for some high spots.

Give me Top Flight and Fox to win here in the Rampage Special of the night. That’s not a bad way to go as Top Flight can do their big flips and dives to pop the crowd, which is why they’re in this spot. While I could certainly go for them being in a bigger spot, I’ve long since given up on the belief that it is going to happen, which is rather frustrating all things considered. But yeah, they should win here.

Trios Titles: Death Riders(c) vs. Rated FTR

Yeah let’s just get this one out of the way. The Trios Titles still do not feel important and this seems like a way to get rid of the alliance between Cope and FTR. That’s what they’ve been teasing recently and honestly, the idea of a heel FTR is not the worst idea right now. Other than that, they’re still the least important titles in AEW and the Death Riders holding them for so long isn’t something that gets my attention.

Naturally I’ll go with the champions to retain here, mainly on the ground of there being no reason for them to lose. The titles don’t add much to the Death Riders deal but it will make for a nice enough moment when someone takes them. That doesn’t seem to be here though, as this feels like a way to set up the next step in the Rated FTR split than anything else.

TNT Title: Daniel Garcia(c) vs. Adam Cole

This is no time limit and everyone is barred from ringside. These two have been feuding for a few weeks now and it still doesn’t feel like the most thrilling story. It comes off more like “well, we need something for them to do” and here we are. Cole winning the title isn’t out of the question, but it feels more like which one of them is going to turn on the other first, which isn’t a bad idea.

I’ll take Garcia to retain here, hopefully by cheating in some way. While Cole needs the win more, Garcia has to be built up in some way and beating Cole, even by something nefarious, is as good of a way to make that happen. This match is likely to get some time, which shouldn’t be the worst idea, but dang I need something else to make me interested in this story.

Women’s Owen Hart Cup First Round: Mercedes Mone vs. Julia Hart

This is where the show starts to feel like it doesn’t need to be on pay per view, as this does not feel like a match that has the most drama. Outside of some interference to screw Mone over, there is no reason to believe that she is going to lose here. Mone has been a force of nature in AEW so far and Hart is someone who was a deal for a bit and then got hurt, which took away everything she had. There is no reason to believe that the upset is taking place here.

And that’s what I’ll go with, as Mone wins here, just like she should. Other than someone coming in to help Hart, I have no reason to believe she’s going to win. I also see no reason why this isn’t on Collision rather than the pay per view, but this isn’t even the only tournament match that feels that way. Mone wins here, and hopefully it isn’t stretched out to a ridiculous length for the sake of being on pay per view.

Men’s Owen Hart Cup First Round: Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher

This also feels like a match that belongs on Collision, mainly because it took place on Collision earlier this year. Fletcher has already beaten Briscoe once and that doesn’t exactly make me interested in seeing it take place again. Briscoe still has so much charisma and can make things feel fun no matter what he is doing, but I’m not sure I like his chances against a Fletcher in need of a rehab win.

As was the case with the previous match, there is no reason to believe that the villain is in danger here so I’ll take Fletcher to win again. Briscoe has long since become someone who is there for the sake of making other people look good. That’s what he’ll do with Fletcher here, who very well may be on the way towards another rematch with Will Ospreay in the finals.

Men’s Owen Hart Cup First Round: Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight

So in case you’re missing the idea, the result here shouldn’t be in much doubt. Knight is here to take Jay White’s place following an injury and that is pretty much the extent of his resume thus far. There is only so much you can get out of Knight when he hasn’t been around much and thankfully AEW seems to know that. The good thing is Knight has shown that he is capable of having entertaining matches which is where Ospreay tends to thrive.

This might be the biggest layup on the show, as Ospreay is likely getting ready to move into the World Title picture, while Knight is in his second singles match in the company. Ospreay can give him a nice rub here and that is the entire point of the match. Knight isn’t supposed to be here and that is likely going to show in the result, which should not be in any doubt.

Tag Team Titles: Hurt Syndicate(c) vs. Learning Tree

So this is another situation where things were going in one direction and then got changed around for the sake of an injury. Putting the Learning Tree in there is a bit annoying as Bill is doing some great things, but now the team seems to be little more than a next pair of victims for the champs. That doesn’t exactly make for an exciting match here but it’s about all we have.

Again, there isn’t much drama here as we’ll go with the Hurt Syndicate to retain the titles. The only thing that makes me wonder is the chance of MJF interfering and costing the Syndicate the titles, though I can’t imagine them actually going that way. The Syndicate could very well be in for a long title reign and that wouldn’t include having them lose here to replacement challengers.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Chris Jericho(c) vs. Bandido

This is title vs. mask and that is the kind of stipulation that makes things more interesting. Granted it doesn’t help when Jericho has already defeated Bandido, but at least we are in for something bigger and more personal. Jericho has gone after Bandido’s brother Gravity and now Bandido is standing up for his family. It has also led to Jericho being a lot more serious, which has been a great relief in recent weeks. I’m just not sure how well that works here.

Maybe it’s false hope but I’ll go with Bandido winning here. If that isn’t the case, Bandido loses just about everything he has going for him, including his identity. It’s also a case of if not Bandido, then whom, as Jericho doesn’t really have another challenger set up at the moment. Bandido winning the title would not be a crazy thing to see, but it does feel like a stretch to see him taking the title from Jericho. That’s where we’ll go here though in a feel good moment.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm(c) vs. Megan Bayne

We’ll continue with the interesting ones here as I’m not sure what to make of this match. Storm is fresh off slaying Mariah May and wrapping up that whole feud but then she runs into this monster in the form of Bayne. That’s the kind of match that could spell some big trouble for her and it very well may, but it’s almost hard to imagine her losing the title so soon after her big moment.

That being said, I’ll actually go with Bayne winning here, which should open Storm up to do something else, like go after Mercedes Mone in a major showdown. Bayne can win and defeat Storm for good here though, as she has become a force in short order, mainly due to her size and power. I’m not sure that’s what they’ll be doing, but it feels like the right choice for the whole thing.

International Title: Kenny Omega(c) vs. Ricochet vs. Mike Bailey

This is being billed as one of the bigger matches on the card and it really doesn’t feel like one. Maybe that’s due to the mini tournament to set it up or the lack of any personal issues between them, but we don’t have anything here other than a tease of “they can do a bunch of big spots”. The match should be fun, but the build to the whole thing has not exactly been strong.

We’ll go with Omega to win the match and retain here, as things seem likely to be building towards his big showdown with Kazuchika Okada at All In. Bringing Omega back and letting him do the spotfest match is not a bad way to go and it should be fun, but I could go for something else between these people that makes me want to see them fight. Either way, it should at least be entertaining.

AEW World Title: Jon Moxley(c) vs. Swerve Strickland

Much like the Women’s Title match, the more I think about this match, the more I think that we might be seeing a title change here. I don’t think there is any denying the idea that the Death Riders has not been well received. Moxley has been the champion for the better part of ever now and the fans are not exactly receiving it well, but is Strickland the one to take the title from him? That’s where things get a bit hazy.

Alas, I’ll go with Moxley retaining the title, rather than going with the surprise title win for Strickland. For reasons that are beyond my intellect, AEW has decided that Moxley needs to keep holding the title. Strickland needs the win and very well could be on to one last showdown with Hangman Page. That might happen without the title, as for now I’ll take Moxley retaining. Again.

Overall Thoughts

This show is not exactly getting my attention, but there is a chance that we could be in for something entertaining. The stories have not been the best on the way in, but AEW pay per views has a tendency to overdeliver on the in-ring side. The show does not feel like a top level card though and there is not much of a way around it. What can get them around a lot of it is to have a bunch of awesome matches and that is absolutely a strong possibility.

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

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Collision
Date: March 23, 2025
Location: Liberty First Credit Union Arena, Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

It’s the second half of the two night Collision and hopefully it’s able to live up to the first night. The first half of the show was rather good, though as usual, it depends on what we have for an encore. We’re just a few weeks away from Dynasty so we might get something else added to the show here. Let’s get to it.

Here is Saturday night if you need a recap.

Trios Titles: AR Fox/Top Flight vs. Death Riders

The Death Riders are defending. You might be wondering why Fox and Top Flight are getting this shot when they haven’t actually teamed together in over two years (their one win as a trio came in January 2023). Well the idea seems to be they won a Trios Battle Royal in 2022, last eliminating the Blackpool Combat Club, which evolved into the Death Riders. Granted it wasn’t the same three members they’re facing here but what difference do two years and one member really make?

Darius and Yuta go to the mat to start as Nigel quotes Star Wars to mock Bryan Danielson and his teachings. Dante comes in but can’t sunset flip Castagnoli. A big forearm drops Dante again but he manages a middle rope hurricanrana to the floor. Yuta is sent to the floor for a running flip dive (with a stomp to Pac at the same time) but Pac hammers Yuta into the wrong corner. That’s broken up and it’s back to Darius to clean house. Yuta cuts that off with a rake to the face and an Angle Slam sends us to a break.

Back with Darius still in control with Pac getting to choke in the ropes. Darius gets in a pop up dropkick on Castagnoli and the diving tag brings in Dante to pick up the pace. Dante’s triple jump flip dive takes out the champs on the floor and Darius’ Swanton gets two on Yuta. Pac low blows Top Flight on the floor and Fox is surrounded. Fox tries to fight out but is quickly cut down, with a Tombstone into the Fastball Special retaining the titles at 12:11.

Rating: B-. This was good enough, despite the lack of any realistic reason for the challengers to get a shot. The Riders have held the titles almost as long as any team in history and there is no reason to believe they’ll be dropping the belts anytime soon. The issue continues to be that they barely do anything with the titles and I tend to forget they’re even champions. It doesn’t help that there are barely any teams to come after the titles in the first place, hence a team who hasn’t been together in over two years getting a shot.

Post match Cru comes in to jump Top Flight because this feud is still a thing.

We look at Daniel Garcia vs. Adam Cole going to a time limit draw last night.

Cole knows he had Garcia beaten and he knows he can do it again. The rest of the Undisputed Kingdom isn’t happy with FTR’s lack of respect.

Kazuchika Okada brags about his success this year, saying he put the b****** of the Hounds Of Hell to sleep.

Bandido vs. Johnny TV

Bandido tries to start fast but gets taken down for a kick to the face. Back up and Bandido hits some running forearms, setting up the gorilla press to take us to a break. We come back with Bandido cutting off a charge in the corner for a quick two. The X Knee into the 21 Plex finishes TV at 9:21.

Rating: C+. Thankfully we have a Supercard Of Honor coming up as that should be the end of the whole Jericho vs. Bandido stuff. In theory, Bandido takes the title there and gets to move on from everything else. There isn’t much of a reason to keep the story going, but at least Bandido is getting some wins like this one to help build him up.

Post match Bandido calls out Chris Jericho, who comes out with the Learning Tree. Jericho says Bandido should know that you can only take him for granted so long. You can ask Bandido’s family how dangerous Jericho can be and he’s sorry for making Bandido’s mother cry. That’s what you get for messing with Jericho, which is why he took Gravity’s mask. Jericho puts the mask on, triggering a brawl. Bandido is smart enough to get away from the team but steals the mask back from Jericho.

Video on Megan Bayne, who is chosen by the heavens.

Toni Storm isn’t impressed, because Hercules doesn’t have her thighs and she made love with her reflection until the sun came up. See you at Dynasty.

Harley Cameron vs. Aminah Belmont

Cameron knees her down to start and grabs a Russian legsweep. A belly to back suplex lets Cameron shout her catchphrase before Her Finishing Move finishes Belmont at 1:40.

Don Callis isn’t worried about Kyle Fletcher because they have plans for when he gets back. Fletcher comes in and says he’s going to be on Dynamite to show what is next for him. I’m thinking it’s the Owen Hart Cup so he can face Will Ospreay again?

Los Titantes del Aire vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

Harley Cameron is on commentary and has no idea who Harleygram could be. Nigel: “Right up there with Mr. JL.” Hologram rolls Mortos up to start but gets headbutted down without much trouble. Komander comes in to block Dralistico’s hurricanrana attempt and grabs a rather springboardy armdrag. Cameron gets up because she has to make a phone call as Mortos gets to clean house.

We take a break and come back with Dralistico hitting a running boot in the corner as Harleygram is here. Komander gets over to the corner for the tag to Hologram and the pace picks way up. A Canadian Destroyer plants Mortos and Hologram takes him down with a big dive to the floor. Cielito Lindo hits Mortos but Dralistico breaks up the cover. The double tag brings in Komander and Dralistico, with Komander hitting a super poisonrana.

A pop up poisonrana takes out Mortos and everyone is down. Dralistico is back with a springboard spinning poisonrana but Hologram sends him outside for a running dive. Mortos stops to look at Harleygram though, allowing Komander to do his rope walk flip dive. Back in and Hologram hits the spinning torture rack bomb on Dralistico, setting up Cielito Lindo to give Komander the pin at 12:19.

Rating: B. As usual, the match was the great collection of high spots with some drama added in. The Harleygram stuff is completely harmless fun and at least Mortos didn’t take the fall here. It’s nothing that we haven’t seen before, but at least they did their thing here and gave the fans something to like to wrap up the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Much like last night, this was basically Rampage with a few more storyline advancements than usual. It’s not a show you need to see but you won’t be annoyed if you did watch. Things should be back to normal next week and that’s a good thing to see, as there is a lot to cover before we get to the pay per view.

Results
Death Riders b. Top Flight/AR Fox – Fastball Special to Fox
Bandido b. Johnny TV – 21 Plex
Harley Cameron b. Aminah Belmont – Her Finishing Move
Los Titantes del Aire b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Cielito Lindo to Dralistico

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

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Dynamite
Date: March 19, 2025
Location: Liberty First Credit Union Arena, Omaha, Nebraska
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We’re closing in on Dynasty and that means the card needs to start coming together. Believe it or not we have a tournament going on around here, with the winner getting an International Title shot against Kenny Omega at the pay per view. As for tonight though, the World Title is on the line with Cope challenging Jon Moxley in a street fight. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

There was a really bad snowstorm in Omaha so the crowd and roster might be a bit limited.

Orange Cassidy vs. Mike Bailey vs. Ricochet vs. Mark Davis

For the International Title shot at Dynasty and Don Callis is on commentary. Cassidy rolls around to start before they hit fast forward to pick up the speed in a hurry. Davis is knocked outside and Ricochet does the same to Cassidy, leaving Bailey to kick away at Ricochet. Bailey and Cassidy tease a showdown but Ricochet breaks it up, earning himself a dive.

Davis pulls Bailey out of the air for a powerbomb onto the apron though and then chases Ricochet off. Back in and Bailey’s chops just annoy Davis, who chops him down with ease. Ricochet even jumps on commentary to call Schiavone stupid as the fans are all over Callis. Davis gets distracted by Bailey and Ricochet covers Cassidy for two. That doesn’t work for Davis, who tosses Davis without much trouble. Bailey is back up to kick away at Davis and the running shooting star press connects. Ricochet tosses Bailey outside before all four get back inside.

Some triple teaming has Davis in trouble but he fights all three of them off as we take a break. Back with Cassidy cleaning house and hitting a Stundog Millionaire on Ricochet (though Cassidy seems to be favoring his arm). Cassidy is fine enough to hurricanrana Bailey out of the corner for two but Bailey Falcon Arrows him down. The shooting star press connects but Davis pulls Bailey out at two.

Ricochet’s shooting star press gets two more on Cassidy and a Death Valley Driver gets the same on Bailey. Cassidy is back up with the Beach Break on Ricochet and the Orange Punch for two on Davis. Back up and Davis hits some running clotheslines before planting all three of the others. Davis pulls Cassidy into a piledriver for two with Bailey making the save. Bailey is back up to kick Davis in the face and grabs a backslide, with Ricochet grabbing a rollup on Davis (with feet on the ropes) for the double pin at 17:58.

Rating: B. It was a bunch of insanity with all four going nuts for most of the match. I’m not wild on setting up a triple threat title match, but it seems like a way to get Bailey into the title shot without having him lose. Davis looked like a monster here in perhaps his best showing yet, which hopefully is something for him. Otherwise, I’m not sure I see the point in keeping him around so prominently.

Post match the triple threat is indeed announced for Dynasty.

Video on the Hurt Syndicate.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Billie Starkz

Starkz is challenging and offers a left handed handshake to start (must be a fan of the Genius), earning a slap to the face. Mone kicks her into the corner and then pulls her out for two, only to get DDTed out of another corner for two. It’s too early for Starkz’s Swanton so Mone bails to the floor, where back to back dives take her out. Back in and the Swanton gets two on Mone, who is right back with a Backstabber as we take a break.

We come back with Mone hitting a gutbuster for two and stopping to stare around a bit. Mone hammers away in the corner and hits a superplex, only to get brainbustered onto the knee. A bridging German suplex gives Starkz two but gets sent face first into the middle buckle. They trade strikes for a double down before trading rollups for two each.

Starkz Alabama Slams her into the corner (OUCH) and then tries something like a One Winged Angel, nearly dropping Mone on her head, with Mone getting her foot on the ropes for two. Starkz misses a flip dive onto the apron and gets pulled into the Bank Statement for the tap at 12:53.

Rating: B-. Well other than Mone nearly dying a few times, this was about what you would expect, with Starkz getting in some offense before falling to Mone. I know I could go for Mone losing the title already, but this wasn’t the place as Starkz hasn’t done much in AEW. Mone is going to need a new challenger for Dynasty now, and that could be more than a few different people.

The Outrunners wish the University of Omaha’s basketball team luck in the NCAA Tournament and showed up at their practice. Nothing wrong with that.

We look back at MVP offering MJF a business card last week.

MJF talks about the various people who might be coming after the World Title and laughs them off. Maybe he needs some friends to help him deal with Jon Moxley’s crew, but he’ll have an answer for MVP next week.

AEW World Title: Cope vs. Jon Moxley

Moxley is defending in a street fight and gets jumped outside by Cope. They fight into an equipment truck (there have to be some Easter eggs in there) and then come into the arena, where Moxley gets in a briefcase shot to the head. The brawl goes into the arena with Cope hitting him in the face with a microphone. A suplex on the floor drops Moxley but he’s back with a neck crank.

Moxley hits him in the back with a kendo stick and then chokes with the same stick before the brawl goes back into the crowd. Moxley spends a lot of time yelling at the crowd and gets hit in the face as we go back to ringside. The Paradigm Shift onto the announcers’ table rocks Cope again and we take a break.

Back with Moxley chairing him down and choking with the chair, meaning we get a middle finger to the crowd. Cope breaks up a Pillmanizing and hits a top rope superplex for a double down. They slug it out until Cope hits a string of clotheslines. It’s time for the spiked 2×4 but Moxley grabs a jumping cutter. Naturally, with the big spiked board and a chair available, Moxley pulls out a table instead. Cope gets in some shots with the spiked board, plus a suplexes onto the board, which gets stuck in Moxley’s back.

Cue Wheeler Yuta to drop Cope but he can’t pull the board out of Moxley. Cope puts Yuta through a table and here are Claudio Castagnoli and Pac to put Cope down. FTR run in for the save and Cope spears Moxley through the table in the corner. Cue Marina Shafir for the save so Willow Nightingale takes her out. Now it’s Nick Wayne running in to take Cope out, allowing Moxley to grab the bulldog choke to take out Cope and retain at 21:22.

Rating: B-. WAY better than the pay per view title match here but it was another Moxley Stands Tall result, which isn’t the best thing to see. They got more interesting with the violence, even though some of the stuff with the spiked board was more silly than anything else. This should be absolutely it for Cope though, as it’s time for Swerve Strickland to get his chance.

Post match the villains leave and Dax Harwood storms off, seemingly angry at Cope. Cash Wheeler seems cool with Cope but goes after Harwood. Cope gets the big moment and leaves with the board.

We look back at Chris Jericho taking Gravity’s mask.

Bandido talks about being used to the danger of wrestling but Jericho made things personal. Johnny TV comes in and challenges Bandido for Collision and the match is on.

Will Ospreay vs. AR Fox

They fight over wrist control to start and Ospreay blocks a cutter with a handstand. Fox sends him to the apron for a running flipping stomp. Ospreay, favoring his hip, is right back up with a Stundog Millionaire before sending Fox outside for a dive. We take a break and come back with Fox kicking him in the corner, setting up Lo Mein Pain for two. Fox misses the 450 though and the Hidden Blade finishes him off at 7:40.

Rating: B-. They got in some flips and dives here, which is where Ospreay tends to shine. It was nice to see him get a relatively easier win as he’s likely on his way to something bigger. That being said, it might not have been the best idea to have Fox lose here the day before he’s in a #1 contenders match on Ring Of Honor, though that would imply anyone paying attention to/caring about Ring Of Honor, which has not seemed to be the case.

Video on Swerve Strickland vs. Jon Moxley at Dynasty.

Hangman Page wants the World Title back and is entering the Owen Hart Tournament.

Video on Julia Hart vs. Queen Aminata.

Mercedes Mone was impressed by Billie Starkz but she needed a better trainer to get after the title.

Kris Statlander vs. Megan Bayne

Toni Storm is on commentary and Penelope Ford is here with Bayne. Statlander fires off forearms to start but gets clotheslined out to the floor. Back up and Statlander hits a moonsault off the apron before hammering away back inside. A middle rope back elbow drops Bayne again as Storm thinks Bayne is the goddess of silence. Bayne hits a quick suplex into the corner as Storm thinks the two of them have thighs made for squashing watermelons. Bayne belly to back suplexes her from the apron and back inside as we take a break.

We take a break and come back with Bayne hitting a powerbomb but not being able to get Fate’s Descent. They sit down and slap it out until Statlander kicks her in the head. Ford tries to get in a cheap shot and is ejected as a result. Statlander plants her for two and grabs some German suplexes, only to be sent outside. Bayne hits a dive to the floor, followed by a Falcon Arrow for two back inside. Back up and Statlander sends her outside for a dive off the apron, only to be sent into Storm at ringside. Fate’s Descent drops Statlander on the floor and another one inside gives Bayne the pin at 12:47.

Rating: B. This is the kind of win that Bayne needed as she’s not just a monster but she’s someone who can fly around and hang with someone who has a resume of her own. They aren’t hiding that Bayne is going to be challenging Storm for the title soon, likely at Dynasty, so this win was needed. As usual, Storm was rather funny here, thankfully with a new target.

Post match Storm tapes up her hand and goes inside for the brawl with Bayne. A clothesline puts Bayne on the floor and Storm issues the challenge for Dynasty.

Overall Rating: B+. For a show that seemed to be heavily impacted by the storm, you wouldn’t have known it from what we got here. They set up some things for Dynasty and covered quite a few stories, including some that needed to be wrapped up. It’s a rather good show and back to the recent norm for AEW. Hopefully they can keep it going at Dynasty, which is quite the fast turnaround for them compared to their regular stuff.

Results
Ricochet and Mike Bailey b. Mark Davis and Orange Cassidy – Double pin
Mercedes Mone b. Billie Starkz – Bank Statement
Jon Moxley b. Cope – Bulldog choke
Will Ospreay b. AR Fox – Hidden Blade
Megan Bayne b. Kris Statlander – Fate’s Descent

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

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