Dynamite
Date: March 26, 2025
Location: Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul, Minnesota
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We are about a week and a half away from Dynasty and that means it is time to start getting the card officially put together. With Cope out of the way for Jon Moxley, all roads lead to Swerve Strickland, who is getting the pay per view title shot. Other than that, some of the matches are announced but there is still some work to do. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, featuring clips from the upcoming Minecraft movie.

Kenny Omega vs. Blake Christian

Non-title and Lee Johnson is here with Christian. They go with the grappling to start as Taz is right there to explain the physics and technique, which goes very well, as always. Christian fights back and hits a dropkick to the apron, where a spear sends Omega outside. Back in and Omega decks Johnson before hitting a snapdragon suplex. The V Trigger sets up the One Winged Angel to finish Christian at 4:53.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have time to do much here but that was kind of the point. Christian got in a bit of offense but Omega shrugged it off and hits his signature stuff to win. You don’t see that kind of stuff very often but it works when it’s done in the right way, which was the case with this one.

Post match Omega says he’s glad that he got to make it quick this week. That won’t be the case with Dynasty, as he has to deal with Ricochet and Speedball Mike Bailey. Cue Bailey to interrupt to say Omega is an inspiration to him and Bailey admires him. That doesn’t mean he’s going to hold anything back at Dynasty though because he’s coming for the title.

Cue Ricochet on the screen to say he’s not here in person to slap both of them in the face. He’s dressed up for the best day of his life (looking like his wedding day) until Dynasty, when he leaves with the girl and the gold. Omega says Dynasty isn’t about making friends (Omega: “I have a cat. I don’t need anymore.”) and promises to keep the title. The catchphrase takes us out.

We look at Bandido taking Gravity’s mask back from Chris Jericho on Collision.

Jericho complains about the Learning Tree screwing up and tells them to go prove themselves. With the two of them gone, Jericho says he wants Bandido’s mask, so it can be title vs. mask at Dynasty. Not at the ROH pay per view, but at Dynasty.

Here is MJF, who says Michael Jackson is a bigger star than Prince, before talking about the business card that MVP gave him. He asks MVP to join him for an answer, and gets his wish. MJF gets straight to the point and says that he wants to be in the business of hurting people, but here is the rest of the team to cut him off.

Bobby Lashley wants the card back and threatens MJF with a beating. MVP calls him off though and MJF walks away. Cue the Learning Tree to mock the Syndicate, but MVP isn’t impressed. Big Bill wants the Tag Team Titles back because he never got a rematch for the titles. The challenge is on, but MVP tells them to go win a match first. That’s an interesting way to go with MJF, and hopefully they don’t do anything stupid with the Syndicate.

Toni Storm and Thunder Rosa are ready to team up tonight, with Rosa bringing up their bad history together. Storm brushes it off and dubs the team Thunder T***. Is that swearing? Eh better safe than sorry.

Brody King vs. Kyle Fletcher

Don Callis is here with Fletcher, who jumps King before the bell. That goes badly for him as King is back with a chop and the big forearms in the corner. Fletcher fights up and stomps him down, only to get sent outside as we take a break. Back with Fletcher in control and hammering away, allowing him to pose a bit.

King gets in a knockdown of his own and hits a backdrop to send Fletcher outside. The required dive connects and the fans are rather appreciative. Fletcher manages to post him though and a top rope elbow gets two back inside. Back up and King suplexes him into the corner for a needed breather. A Death Valley Driver on the apron knocks Fletcher silly and we take a break.

We come back with the two of them slugging it out but Fletcher kicks him down and hits a Tombstone for two. King knocks him silly with a clothesline but cue Mark Davis to break up the Cannonball. Fletcher kicks him in the head and hits the brainbuster onto the turnbuckle for the pin at 17:48.

Rating: B. Yes, King loses again. It makes my head spin to see King getting what seemed to be a renewed push but he’s won two matches this year (over Max Caster and a jobber) and a single tag match. If you have him lose over and over again, it stops mattering rather quickly, which is the point they’re reaching. I get that Fletcher shouldn’t lost here, but then maybe don’t have the match.

Post match the double teaming ensues but Powerhouse Hobbs comes in through the crowd for the save. So I guess we’re not going to get any kind of “next step” that was promised for Fletcher? Or was just winning another match the “next step”?

Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Mark Davis

They trade clotheslines to start and Hobbs no sells a suplex. Davis knocks him down in the corner but Hobbs is back with a powerslam. The spinebuster finishes Davis at 2:36. Exactly how it should have gone with Hobbs looking dominant.

The Patriarchy, minus Christian Cage, talks about how Nick Wayne is seeing how things are changing and will address Cage face to face. Last week, you saw what happens when things go as they’re supposed to go.

Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page argue in the back.

Earlier today, we had a sitdown interview with Cope and FTR. Dax Harwood apologizes for getting too emotional last week because FTR took four months away from going after the Tag Team Titles and it didn’t work. Cope says he didn’t ask them to step away but Cash Wheeler says he can’t be between the two of them. Wheeler says he owes a lot to both guys, including Cope giving him a place to live at some point. Harwood thinks getting the Tag Team Titles back is a good idea but Wheeler thinks they should go after the Trios Titles. Works for Harwood, and the challenge is issued for Dynasty. Makes sense.

Here is Swerve Strickland for a chat. Swerve wastes no time in calling out Jon Moxley, who comes straight through the crowd. Swerve asks what happened to Moxley, because instead of being what the World Title is all about, he’s hiding behind the Death Riders. Maybe Moxley hides the title in the briefcase because he can’t bear to look at it anymore. Everything Moxley used to describe himself is now what is looking at him face to face.

Cue Claudio Castagnoli behind Prince Nana on the floor (Nana doesn’t seem to notice). Moxley asks what Swerve thinks he is, because Moxley isn’t sure. Swerve has a chance at Dynasty, but how far is he willing to go? What is Swerve going to do when the weight of the world is on his shoulders? The reality is Swerve hasn’t suffered enough. Moxley’s sport has been taken over by billionaires and talent agencies, but Swerve gives him hope for the future.

Cue Marina Shafir with a crowbar but Willow Nightingale is right there with a pipe to cut her off (though they don’t get physical). Swerve says Moxley has bled but Swerve has bled buckets. Moxley has been in Texas death matches while Swerve has won them. He’s going to win the title at Dynasty and Moxley can keep playing himself on TV. The Death Riders leave but Shafir jumps Nightingale and has to be held back. As usual, these segments work better when people stand up to the Death Riders and that was the case here from Swerve.

Samoa Joe asks Hook why he choked out Max Caster. Hook: “He’s fun to choke out.” They run into Caster and Joe chokes him out, then hugs Hook, saying he was right. They also hug Top Flight and AR Fox as it seems Katsuyori Shibata is filming. That was hilarious.

Jay White is in the Owen Hart Tournament. If anyone thinks they’re better than him, come prove it on Collision.

Top Flight vs. Devo Knight/Alex Findley

Darius wrestles Knight to the floor to start as the Learning Tree is watching backstage. Findley comes in and gets sent outside, with Dante hitting a kick to the face and a springboard high crossbody. Darius plants Knight and Dante’s frog splash finishes at 2:56.

The Learning Tree (facing Top Flight on Collision) and Cru (in the crowd) isn’t impressed.

Will Ospreay is back next week.

Mark Briscoe vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Don Callis is here with Takeshita. Briscoe shrugs off a shoulder to start and fires off some Red Neck Kung Fu to take over. Back up and Takeshita knocks him down for some choking on the ropes. A big boot drops Briscoe again and a DDT on the apron sends us to a break. Back with Briscoe slugging away, including some shots to the chest in the corner.

The running flip dive through the ropes connects and the Cactus Elbow hits off the barricade. The Froggy Bow misses though and they slug it out, with the fans being rather engaged. They trade exploders until Takeshita’s running knee gets two. The Jay Driller gets the same as Takeshita puts a foot on the ropes. Takeshita kicks him in the head though and it’s the Raging Fire for the pin at 11:40.

Rating: B-. Takeshita can do just about anything in the ring at the moment and it’s fine to see him beating a name like Briscoe. While I could go for seeing Briscoe having some more success, it makes sense for him to lose here. Takeshita very well could be in the Owen Hart Tournament (if he isn’t yet) and him making a nice run would be a good way to go.

The Death Riders are in to face Cope and FTR for the Trios Titles at Dynasty.

The Hurt Syndicate is still not on the same page about MJF. MVP is the only one who seems to like him, mainly because MJF is reprehensible. If the other two don’t want MJF in, MVP will respect it, but they’re on the same page about the Learning Tree.

Penelope Ford/Megan Bayne vs. Toni Storm/Thunder Rosa

Rosa and Bayne start things off with Rosa shouting the team’s new name. Rosa’s strikes to the chest don’t work very well so it’s off to Storm, who gets taken down by Ford. A running knee is shrugged off though and Storm suplexes her down. We take a break and come back with Bayne clotheslining Rosa, allowing Ford to throw her out of the corner for two. Rosa and Ford hit a double clothesline and it’s off to Storm to take over on Bayne.

A tornado DDT on the floor drops Bayne but Ford grabs a cutter back inside. Bayne is back in with Fate’s Descent to Rosa but Storm throws her into the corner for the hip attack. That’s shrugged off and Storm is terrified that old faithful didn’t work. Bayne pump kicks Ford by mistake though and Storm gets two off a rollup. Fate’s Descent finishes Storm at 9:33.

Rating: C+. That’s something that has been done for years and it still works to this day. The result lets you see that Bayne can beat Storm and it adds more drama to their title shot at Dynasty. It was a perfectly fine match and served a purpose without actually having Ford take the pin for a change.

Overall Rating: B-. This was the show where they gave a lot more focus towards Dynasty, as matches that were already announced were advanced and something new was added. That’s the kind of show that you need to have and it made for a good one here. While there were some moves that I wasn’t feeling, this took some positive steps on the way to Dynasty and that’s what the show needs.

Results
Kenny Omega b. Blake Christian – One Winged Angel
Kyle Fletcher b. Brody King – Brainbuster onto the turnbuckle
Powerhouse Hobbs b. Mark Davis – Spinebuster
Top Flight b. Devo Knight/Alex Findley – Frog splash to Knight
Konosuke Takeshita b. Mark Briscoe – Raging Fire
Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford b. Toni Storm/Thunder Rosa – Fate’s Descent to Storm

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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Revolution 2025
Date: March 9, 2025
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for another major pay per view and in this case, the card is looking rather stacked. The card is very strong with a bunch of title and grudge matches, which should make for quite the nice show. The main event is likely going to be Cope challenging Jon Moxley for the World Title so let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Komander/Hologram vs. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian

It’s not a good sign for EJ Nduka, Johnson’s usual partner, that he isn’t getting this spot. Johnson and Christian jump them before the bell to start fast but Christian accidentally elbows Johnson in the face. Komander hurricanranas Christian to the floor and stereo dives take the villains out. Back in and stereo running strikes get two on Johnson as we settle down a bit. Commentary talks about royalties of Tony Schiavone appearing on Arliss, Komander gets double clotheslined for two and Christian chokes away on the ropes.

Christian’s springboard is dropkicked down and the diving tag brings in Hologram to pick up the pace. Hologram takes Christian up top but gets shoved down, allowing Johnson to hit a dive. Back in and Christian’s middle rope 450 sets up Johnson’s frog splash for two more. They go to the apron and Hologram can’t quite poisonrana Christian (that looked nasty) so it’s a dive onto Komander to leave all four down onto the floor. Back in and a slingshot cutter sets up a Last Chancery with Hologram making the save. Komander’s top rope Canadian Destroyer sets up Hologram’s 450 to pin Christian at 9:54.

Rating: B. This was a good choice for an opener as there is always room for a fast paced match to let the fans get interested to start things off. They didn’t waste time here and just did a bunch of big spots. It doesn’t mean much as far as any kind of storyline as Hologram doesn’t really have any and the other three are mainly in ROH, but this was a fun way to start the night.

Zero Hour: Daniel Garcia/Undisputed Era vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Strong grabs a hammerlock on Bravo to start and it’s quickly off to O’Reilly to go for an armbar. Cole gets in the right hands in the corner as commentary goes into the comedy routines. Garcia comes in with a swinging neckbreaker on Moriarty before a dancing double leg stomp keeps Moriarty down. Taylor has had it with the waiting around and runs people over on the floor as we see the Opps watching.

We settle down to Garcia trying to suplex Taylor but the rest of the Promotions come in for the beatdown. Moriarty stomps away in the corner and let’s look at the Opps again. Taylor adds an apron legdrop but Garcia is back up with the belly to back suplex. That’s enough to bring Cole in to clean house but Garcia tags himself back in, despite Cole loading up the Panama Sunrise. The Dragontamer makes Moriarty tap at 9:37.

Rating: C. On Collision, Moriarty, the Ring Of Honor Pure Champion, was pinned in a singles match. The following night, Moriarty, still champion, tapped out in a match where he had three partners. I know Ring Of Honor doesn’t mean much, but could we stop going out of the way to make it feel worthless and beneath everything else?

Zero Hour: Ring Of Honor World Title: Chris Jericho vs. Gravity

Jericho is defending…or he would be if he didn’t hit Gravity with the baseball bat before the bell. The Learning Tree comes in to beat Gravity down and Bandido’s save attempt is cut off as well. No match. Also no mask as Jericho unmasks Gravity and gives him the Judas Effect. Bandido and Gravity’s family comes in to cover him. So yes, the feud will continue.

Zero Hour: Johnny TV/MxM Collection vs. Big Boom AJ/Conglomeration

The Rizzler, cosplaying as Orange Cassidy, and Big Justice are here with the non-villains, while Taya Valkyrie is here to cancel them out. TV dances away from Cassidy to start so Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets for the dropkick. Briscoe comes in for a double shoulder before hammering away in the corner. AJ does the same so it’s off to Madden, allowing Mansoor to cheap shot Cassidy.

The Collection strikes a pose and Mansoor steals the cookies from the Rizzler and Big Justice. Valkyrie cuts Cassidy off the top and kisses TV, who stretched Cassidy’s abdominals. Cassidy gets out and brings in Briscoe, who is quickly chokeslammed off the top. Briscoe is right back with a missile dropkick to TV and it’s AJ coming in to clean house.

Madden’s chokeslam is countered into a powerslam for two but TV is back in to kick AJ down. More kissing ensues but here is Harley Cameron to cut Valkyrie off. The Powerboom puts TV down, only for Mansoor to superkick AJ. Mansoor hammers on AJ in the corner….and Big Justice powerbombs him down for the save. Justice gets saved and a triple Powerboom finishes Madden at 12:56.

Rating: C+. As was the case last time, AJ being a former wrestler makes this far easier to watch. We’re not sitting around for five minutes to wait on him to do three moves and then let everyone else do their thing. If it draws in some extra eyes to the product and nothing of note is lost (I love the Collection but they don’t exactly mean much), it’s a perfectly fine way to go.

Post match the Murder Machines run in for the beatdown but Powerhouse Hobbs makes the save. Two actors from the Righteous Gemstones come in and help with a chokeslam so posing can ensue.

And now, the main show.

Hangman Page vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

The hype package was on the Kickoff Show, showing the two of them arguing until things got more and more violent. This led to MJF attempting to light Page on fire, as you do in wrestling. MJF teases coming out to Page’s music for some pre-match mind games. They slug it out at the bell and Page hits a running boot in the corner. MJF gets smart by pulling the referee in the way and using the distraction to get in an eye rake.

The chinlock doesn’t last long and MJF has to get out of a sleeper. MJF mocks the cowboy side of Page before catching him with a powerbomb backbreaker for two. The trash talk makes Page hammer away but MJF takes him down and says this is HIS company. Page gets in a knockdown of his own and nips up (which the camera mostly misses) before kicking him off the apron. The moonsault to the floor drops MJF again (it feels like forever since Page busted that out) but he catches Page with an upside down superkick into an Alabama Slam for two.

A lifting hammerlock DDT gives MJF two and they’re both down for a bit. Back up and the Deadeye gets two, followed by the Buckshot Lariat for the same, with MJF putting a foot on the ropes. MJF bails out to the floor and avoids a charge to send Page shoulder first into the steps. The Salt Of The Earth goes on before MJF switches over to a reverse cross armbreaker.

That’s broken up as well and they go outside for a fight over a Tombstone, with MJF hitting a jumping version onto an open chair. Page is on his feet to beat the count 1:26 later and MJF starts crying, shouting WHY NOT ME. The Heatseeker is countered into a Deadeye and the Angel’s Wings drops MJF on his head (GEEZ). The Buckshot Lariat finishes for Page at 19:04.

Rating: B. This was good and hard hitting, but what matters the most is that Page is starting to move up the ranks again. It would not surprise me to see him getting closer to the World Title scene and beating MJF is a good step in that direction. Ignoring the jumping Tombstone onto the chair, it felt like a fight between two people who wanted to beat each other up and it made for a good opener to the main show.

We recap Mercedes Mone defending the TBS Title against Momo Watanabe. Back at Wrestle Dynasty, Watanabe won a #1 contenders match and then showed up again a few weeks ago to announce she was challenging Mone. One decent match against Serena Deeb later and here we are.

TBS Title: Momo Watanabe vs. Mercedes Mone

Mone is defending. They fight over arm control to start until Watanabe takes her down. The threat of a kick to the back has Mone cringing and her armdrag is countered into a crossface chickenwing. They trade rollups for two each before Mone counters a Meteora into a Bank Statement.

Back up and a Meteora connects to Watanabe in the ropes but Mone can’t hit a piledriver on the apron. Instead it’s a powerbomb onto the floor to drop Watanabe hard. Back in and Mone grabs an armbar but Watanabe reverses into something like a Deadeye for two. Both of their Three Amigos are blocked, but Watanabe ties her in the Tree of Woe for some kicks to the ribs. A running dropkick rocks Mone again and Watanabe mocks Mone’s dance.

The crossface chickenwing is cut off and Mone hits a quick Backstabber for a breather. Watanabe kicks away out of the corner and hits a middle rope Meteora to the apron for two more. The Mone Maker is blocked so Mone settles for a powerbomb for two of their own. They go up top where Watanabe belly to belly superplexes her for another near fall, followed by some hard kicks to the face for the same. Mone is back with a high crossbody for two, setting up the Mone Maker into the Bank Statement for the tap at 18:18.

Rating: B. These two beat the heck out of each other and it was another rather good match from Mone, which isn’t a surprise. Her ability in the ring has never been the issue and that was on display again here. When you take away everything outside of the ring from Money, it’s easy to see why she is presented as a star. Just find something a bit better to set up the title matches and maybe have Mone be a bit less hard to watch outside of the ring.

Billie Starkz is watching from the crowd.

We recap Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet for the #1 contendership. Ricochet has been driving Strickland crazy and has gotten rather violent, including stealing Prince Nana’s robe. Nana wants the old Strickland back and has basically threatened to leave if Strickland doesn’t win.

Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet

Strickland has Prince Nana with him and gets live drummed to the ring for a bit of a special entrance. They both miss early shots to start until Strickland hits a shoulder to send Ricochet outside. Back in and the flip around a bit more until Strickland hits a backbreaker to take over again. Ricochet is able to send him face first into the middle buckle, only to be sent outside for a beating against the barricade.

For some reason Nana tries to call Strickland off and gets knocked down for some reason. That’s enough for Nana to leave as Ricochet hits a Lionsault for two. A running cutter drops Strickland again but has to stop yelling at actress Leslie Jones at ringside. Strickland fights out of a chinlock and gets two off a brainbuster.

They go to the top and Strickland is knocked down, setting up a West Coast Pop for two. A hurricanrana takes Strickland outside and they go to the announcers’ table. Strickland grabs a Vertebreaker onto the table, which doesn’t break, setting up a Swerve Stomp for two. Ricochet is right back up with a low blow into a brainbuster, followed by the 630 for two more.

Cue Prince Nana again to steal the robe back but Ricochet cuts him off and steals it back again. Strickland’s dive is cut off with a Death Valley Driver onto the floor for the scary crash. Back in and Vertigo gets two but Nana grabs the robe again. Nana gets in and gets crushed in the corner, leaving Ricochet to grab a rollup for two. A pair of House Calls gives Ricochet two and Big Pressure finishes him off at 18:10.

Rating: B-. This was where the near falls went a bit too far, with both guys getting up from things that should have knocked them out a lot faster. What matters the most here is that Swerve won, as he has needed to move back up the ladder for a few months now. Beating Ricochet and (in theory) getting the robe back is a good way to go. Not a bad match at all, but some of the instances of these two getting up was a lot to take.

Post match Strickland gives Nana the robe back in a nice moment.

We recap Brody King challenging Kazuchika Okada for the Continental Title. Okada beat King’s partner Buddy Murphy so now King is getting a title shot of his own.

Continental Title: Brody King vs. Kazuchika Okada

Okada is defending and tries a slam to start for some reason. King sends him outside but gets hammered on the way back inside to slow him down again. A forearm puts Okada on the floor again though and King hammers away, only to miss a charge. Back in and Okada slams him down but the top rope elbow is broken up. A top rope superplex drops Okada and a backdrop does it again.

King hits a suicide dive, setting up the big crash against the barricade. Back in and Okada misses a dropkick but scores with a neckbreaker. Now the top rope elbow can connect but the Rainmaker is countered into a Death Valley Driver into the corner. They go back to the floor where Okada hits a dropkick into the barricade. Back in and Okada grabs something made of metal, which is a distraction so a belt shot can hit King for two. Another Rainmaker is blocked but Okada knocks him back and now the Rainmaker can retain the title at 10:57.

Rating: C+. Yeah this didn’t work nearly as well as anything else on the show so far as it was basically a cold match with no reason to believe that King was going to win the title. Okada was trying well enough here but he wasn’t exactly burning up the mat. It wasn’t a match that needed to be on the pay per view and the fans seemed to realize that.

We recap the Hurt Syndicate defending the Tag Team Titles against the Outrunners. The Syndicate are the dominant champions and the Outrunners earned a title shot. This is looking like a one sided title defense on paper, which might be the point.

Tag Team Titles: Hurt Syndicate vs. Outrunners

The Outrunners are challenging. Benjamin suplexes and slams Magnum to start and it’s quickly off to Floyd. The Outrunners actually clear the ring and MVP needs to fire the champions up a bit. Back in and Benjamin takes over on Magnum in the corner, where Lashley fires off some shoulders to the ribs.

Benjamin snaps off a German suplex and a running powerslam gets two. Magnum manages to get in something of a running bulldog and there’s the tag off to Floyd. The Mega Powers Elbow hits Benjamin and it’s time for Floyd to Hulk Up. A rope walk armdrag seems to annoy Benjamin, who kicks Floyd in the head. Lashley is back in with a spear, followed by another to let Benjamin get the retaining pin at 8:01.

Rating: C. Remember the previous match not feeling like it belonged on the pay per view? This was that same case here but cranked up to about a fifteen out of ten. There was no reason to believe that the Outrunners were going to win the titles here and then they just lost clean. That’s how it should have gone, but it should have been on Collision at best.

We recap Toni Storm vs. Mariah May in the Hollywood Ending match. May beat Storm for the title, then Storm faked amnesia and won the title back in Australia last month. Now it’s time for the big blowoff in a violent fashion.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Mariah May

Storm is defending and anything goes with falls counting anywhere. The brawl starts on the stage with May getting the better of things and planting her down for an early two. May whips out a taser so Luther takes it away, earning himself a low blow. Storm is back up with a chokebomb off the stage and through a table for two on the floor. They go to ringside where May is dropped onto the barricade for a hanging DDT, only for Storm to miss a running hip attack.

Storm Zero onto the steps knocks Storm silly but May grabs a chain instead of covering. Storm, who is rather busted open, is tied in the Tree Of Woe for May’s running hip attack. A quick German suplex gives Storm a breather…and it’s time for both of them to tape broken glass to their hands. May gets punched out to the floor and the broken glass is poured out. May’s head is busted open but she’s fine enough to get in a super hurricanrana onto the glass.

Back up and May Day onto the glass gets two, as does Storm’s Storm Zero. With nothing else working, Storm goes outside and grabs the shoe, which gets a nice gasp from the fans. Storm whips her with the title but gets caught with a May Day onto the stage for two. That’s shrugged off and Storm hits her with the shoe a bunch of times, setting up the Storm Zero through a table (with the Hollywood sign) to retain the title at 12:54.

Rating: B+. Sweet goodness this was wild and it felt like the kind of blowoff to a violent feud that they needed. Yes it was a bit silly with the shoe and overdone drama, but that was kind of the point of the whole thing. It’s a big time blowoff and the way to end the war, though I could also see how it went a bit too far with the blood. I’m not sure what is next for Storm, but dang it’s going to be hard to top this one.

Post match May is DONE and Storm holds her, with both of them covered in blood.

We recap Konosuke Takeshita defending the International Title against Kenny Omega. Takeshita beat him twice in a week at one point and then Omega missed a year due to diverticulitis. Now it’s time for Omega to see if he still has it and can beat an old rival.

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kenny Omega

Takeshita, with Don Callis, is defending. They collide to start and trade some forearms, with Takeshita getting the better of things. The fight goes outside with Omega driving Takeshita back first into the apron. Takeshita fights back and they head back inside for a DDT. Callis gets in a few shots on the floor and we hit the chinlock back inside. Takeshita switches up to the recently repaired abdomen with a knee to the ribs, followed by the shoulders to the ribs in the corner.

A table (of course) is loaded up at ringside but Omega is back with some hard chops. You Can’t Escape is broken up as Omega is shoved off the barricade for a ribs first crash to put him down again. We hit the bodyscissors back inside but Omega fights up and hits a spinning middle rope crossbody. Omega strikes away and now You Can’t Escape connects for two. Callis grabs Omega’s leg to cut that off though and a Cactus Clothesline sends them both outside.

Takeshita’s release German suplex drops Omega again and Callis joins commentary because we’re just that lucky. Omega fights up again and turns the table over, only to get dropped ribs first onto the underside of the table. Another drop onto the side of the table sets up a backsplash back inside as the ribs are crushed even more. Takeshita misses a Swanton to give Omega a breather and he grabs a dragon suplex.

The V Trigger into a powerbomb sets up another V Trigger for two on Takeshita and they’re both down. The Blue Thunder Bomb gives Takeshita two but Omega catches him on top and hits a springboard sunset bomb. Another V Trigger connects but the ribs give out on a One Winged Angel attempt.

Back to back piledrivers give Takeshita two and a pair of running knees give Takeshita two and one each. Omega is back up with a Texas piledriver for two of his own and they’re both down again. Another V Trigger is blocked so Omega goes with a poisonrana instead. Now the V Trigger connects so Callis tries to intervene, only for Omega to grab a crucifix for the pin and the title at 28:32.

Rating: B+. This is how it should have gone with Omega getting to show that he is still able to do it at the highest level. They told a good story here with Omega’s ribs being banged up and slowing him down but he caught Takeshita with a rollup at the moment. It was a heck of a match and a good sign that Omega is still able to be one of the top stars around here.

Omega gets a bunch of pyro as he slowly pulls himself up to leave.

We recap Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher. They were friends in Japan but Don Callis got in Fletcher’s ear, setting off a months long feud. Fletcher beat him, then Ospreay beat him, so now it’s time to do it in a cage to see the two of them face off one on one.

Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher

In a cage with pin/submission only and Don Callis is on commentary. They go straight to the slugout to start with Fletcher getting the better of things. Neither of them can send the other into the cage so Fletcher goes with a hard clothesline. The Stundog Millionaire gives Ospreay a breather but Fletcher sends him into the cage. Ospreay is already busted open and Fletcher licks the blood off the cage, as you do.

Back up and Ospreay sends him into the cage a few times before nailing a standing moonsault for two. Fletcher snaps off a half and half suplex for a needed breather and it’s time to take the turnbuckle pad off. Ospreay gets sent into the buckle for a running kick to the head but is right back with a Cheeky Nandos Kick. They both go up and Fletcher is rammed into the cage a few times, setting up a twisting moonsault for two.

Fletcher is back up with a running boot to the face to send Ospreay into the cage again, setting up a sitout powerbomb for two. Fletcher is busted open as well so a rather pleased Ospreay fires off the Kawada kicks. They trade kicks to the head until Fletcher nails a brainbuster for two. Cue Mark Davis to send in a bag of weapons but Ospreay takes it away and beats on Fletcher with a barbed wire baseball bat.

Fletcher throws up the United Empire hand sign for a distraction, allowing him to hit a low blow. A Hidden Blade into the Stormbreaker gets two as Davis comes in to make the save. Osprey fights up again and knocks Davis outside so the cage door can be locked again. An Oscutter off the cage gives Ospreay two so Fletcher climbs up, where he finds the fabled screwdriver. A stab to the head hits Ospreay, but a second misses, allowing Ospreay to try the Styles Clash (37 seconds after he was STABBED IN THE HEAD with a screwdriver).

That’s broken up as well and Fletcher hits a brainbuster, followed by another onto an open chair for two. Now we get the bag of thumbtacks but Ospreay reverses a suplex (1:23 after the brainbuster onto the steel chair) into a hurricanrana. The Styles Clash onto the tacks gives Ospreay two and they fight to the top of the cage. This time Ospreay stabs Fletcher with the screwdriver and it’s a super Spanish Fly off the cage to drive Fletcher into the tacks. Fletcher is up to yell about how much he hates Ospreay so it’s the Hidden Blade into the Tiger Driver 91 to give Ospreay the pin at 28:59.

Rating: B-. Yeah they lost me here more than a few times and it wasn’t the showdown that it needed to be. Some of the things that they were doing was a bit too much and it should have been cut down by a few minutes. Ospreay winning here is a great sign for him though, and hopefully this wraps up everything he is doing with Callis, because it’s going to be hard to top something like this.

Some of the cast of Queen Of The Ring is here and want you to see the movie.

We recap Cope challenging Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title. Moxley is holding the title hostage and being all evil so Cope is trying to get it away. Cope has been smart enough to take out the Death Riders, though he left Wheeler Yuta standing. That never sounds like a good idea.

AEW World Title: Cope vs. Jon Moxley

Cope is challenging and the fans sing his song in a nice moment. They slug it out to start, both from their feet and then from their knees before going back to their feet. Cope knocks him outside for a dive from the top, setting up the clothesline off the apron. Moxley fights back and sends him into the barricade over and over, setting up a neckbreaker onto the apron for two. Some crossface shots keep Cope in trouble and Moxley knocks him down again…as we see the Opps watching.

Cope gets back up with a quick Impaler for a breather and the clothesline comeback is on. The top rope superplex gives Cope two and the Grindhouse goes on (to SILENCE from the crowd). That’s broken up and Cope spears him through the ropes to the floor, only for Moxley to whip him into the steps. The floor mats are peeled back but the piledriver is cut off. Instead Moxley hits a stomp onto the concrete, followed by a piledriver for two back inside.

The bulldog choke has Cope in more trouble but he eventually makes it over to the rope for the break. The referee has to take the chair away and Cope gets kicked into him, meaning there is no one to count after the Paradigm Shift. Moxley tries a Conchairto but Cope kicks one of the chairs into his face for a breather.

Cue Wheeler Yuta to knee Cope down (of course) so here is Jay White to even things out a bit. White steals the briefcase from Moxley but accidentally knocks Cope out, giving Moxley a rather close two. Back up and the spear gives Cope two so he hits a few more spears….and Christian Cage pulls the referee out. Cage knocks Cope silly with the contract, which he then signs to make this a three way title match.

AEW World Title: Cope vs. Jon Moxley vs. Christian Cage

Moxley is still defending and Cage hits a spear for two on Cope. The Killswitch hits Cope but Moxley is back in to grab the bulldog choke on Cage. That’s enough for Cage to go out and Moxley retains at 26:34.

Rating: C. Oh this didn’t work and the fans were letting them know about it until the cash-in woke them up for a bit. This was about Moxley beating the fire out of Cope and then Cope hitting a bunch of spears to not much success. In other words, Moxley wins again and does so against a fresh Cage because Moxley continues to be the most dominant person ever while everyone else is stupid. Not a good main event, but it wasn’t exactly feeling great in the weeks building up to it either.

Moxley goes to leave the arena but runs into Prince Nana. Swerve Strickland dives out of the crowd to take him down and end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. There were weak points on this show but the stuff that worked did work very well. I had a good time with the show and it felt like the kind of pay per view that built up AEW’s reputation in the first place. Other than maybe the main event, there was pretty much nothing weak with some matches that you might have liked even more. It was a very good show with one solid match after another and that’s what a show like this should be. AEW is on a roll right now and this was another step in that pretty great run.

Results
Komander/Hologram b. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian – 450 to Christian
Daniel Garcia/Undisputed Era b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Dragontamer to Moriarty
Big Boom AJ/Conglomeration b. Johnny TV/MxM Collection – Triple Powerboom to Madden
Hangman Page b. Maxwell Jacob Friedman – Buckshot Lariat
Mercedes Mone b. Momo Watanabe – Bank Statement
Swerve Strickland b. Ricochet – Big Pressure
Kazuchika Okada b. Brody King – Rainmaker
Hurt Syndicate b. Outrunners – Spear to Magnum
Toni Storm b. Mariah May – Storm Zero through a table
Kenny Omega b. Konosuke Takeshita – Crucifix
Will Ospreay b. Kyle Fletcher – Tiger Driver 91
Jon Moxley b. Christian Cage and Cope – Bulldog choke to Cage

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 back on pay per view and that means it’s time to get ready for a bunch of matches, some of which have been built up rather well. What matters the most here is that we have some big matches on top and I’m interested in where a lot of this card is going. AEW has been doing well as of late and if they can stick the landing with the important show, things could be looking way up. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Big Boom AJ/Orange Cassidy/Mark Briscoe vs. Johnny TV/MxM Collection

I’m still not big on the Costco Guys but they’re celebrities (work with me here) and AJ is at least a former wrestler so it’s not some big mess. This isn’t something I’m overly looking forward to and I could really go for something better for both Briscoe and Cassidy. That being said, this is going to get quite a bit of attention and that’s the reason it is on the show in the first place.

Naturally the good guys win here, as there is pretty much no reason to bring the Costco Guys onto the show if they’re going to lose. It’s smart to have some other people out there to the bulk of the match but we’ll see stuff from AJ’s son and the Rizzler and that’s all AEW wants out of this. If they keep this relatively short, it has the potential to be perfectly harmless fun which could benefit AEW quite well.

Kickoff Show: Daniel Garcia/Undisputed Kingdom vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Apparently it’s time to act like the Promotions count again, as for some reason they’re being dragged out more and more frequently in recent weeks. I’m not sure why anyone would expect THIS TIME to be the one instance where it works out but AEW has done some stranger things. This is also going to be more about Adam Cole getting a TNT Title shot against Garcia down the line, but we can worry about that later.

As worried as I am about the idea of Shane Taylor pinning Garcia here to get himself a title shot, I’ll play it safe and say that Cole pins one of the Infantry so the good guys win. There is at least something of a point to this match, but it feels like something that should be taking place around 9:10 on any given edition of Collision. That’s kind of the point of the Kickoff Show, but having this added at the last minute was more “well of course they added in something else” rather than making me want to see it.

Kickoff Show: Ring Of Honor World Title: Chris Jericho(c) vs. Gravity

It’s still not a good sign when your biggest claim to fame is that you are the brother of the star (just ask Ryan Nemeth). Gravity is back and for some reason this feud is continuing after Jericho already beat Bandido in their title match. I still have no idea what the endgame is for Jericho but I’m starting to believe that they’re just killing time until Eddie Kingston is back.

Naturally Jericho wins here, as Gravity doesn’t exactly have the pull to make this work. No matter how you look at it, Gravity is a talented guy but he is known for being Bandido’s brother more than anything he has done in the ring so far. That isn’t enough for him to win the title and this is a match that really did not need to be added to the show. Jericho being around is good, but in what should be a no issue title defense on the pre-show? That’s the best spot you have for him?

Tag Team Titles: Hurt Syndicate(c) vs. Outrunners

This one actually intrigues me a bit as I have no idea why the Outrunners are being given this shot. They’re the fun team and on paper, this is a total squash. I’m not sure why in the world you would have the popular team lose in a match like this, which has me wondering if AEW is thinking about trying something crazy here. The more I think about it, the more crazy I realize that sounds so we’ll move on.

I’ll go with the sane pick and say the Syndicate retains the titles here because…well why wouldn’t they? The Syndicate has been presented as a major team and outside of some major shenanigans, there is no reason to act like the Outrunners are on their level. This should be a squash and I’m really not sure why it’s taking place on pay per view. Maybe they have something wacky planned, but the Syndicate should absolutely be retaining here.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone(c) vs. Momo Watanabe

Here we have one of AEW’s favorites: bringing someone in mainly on the strength of what they have done in another promotion, having them win a match or two and then putting them right in the title picture. That isn’t the best way to go as it presents the obvious issue: talent aside (and she has it), there is no reason to care about Watanabe. She’s just there for the sake of Mone having an international opponent and that’s not exactly thrilling.

Of course I’ll take Mone to retain, as she has been the champion for what feels like the better part of ever and hopefully AEW is building up for a big moment when she finally loses the title. Watanabe isn’t the right person to do that and even though the match is likely to be quite good from a technical standpoint, it’s hard to get interested in something which feels this thrown together.

Continental Title: Kazuchika Okada(c) vs. Brody King

So the House Of Black broke up thanks to Black leaving the company and now Brody King and Buddy Matthews are getting to lose over and over. I don’t know if this is supposed to be some kind of weird punishment to Black’s former partners or what, but it’s one of the weirdest booking choices that I’ve seen in AEW in a long time. That should explain where this is going.

There is no reason to believe that Okada is going to lose here as King is just being thrown out there for the sake of putting the title match on the show. That’s not the best idea, just like King losing again isn’t but here we are for some reason. Okada will retain here as it seems like he is coming up on a big title showdown with Kenny Omega at All In, meaning he isn’t losing a mostly cold match to King here.

Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher

This is inside of a steel cage and PLEASE let it be the end of Ospreay vs. the Don Callis Family. I know I’ve been saying that for the better part of a year now, but that’s because THE FEUD IS STILL GOING. Thankfully they have at least been teasing that Ospreay wants to get into the World Title picture and my goodness would it be overdue. There is no reason for these sides to be feuding with each other any longer and this very well may be the big blowoff.

As strong of a possibility as it seems, I see no reason for Fletcher to win here, as if it is the big ending, it should be Ospreay getting the win to blow the thing off. Ospreay being the superhero who gets to finish his former friend by possibly going all violent for once should work out well. That’s what we should be getting here, but it would not stun me for Fletcher to win and somehow keep it going.

Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet

For the #1 contendership and that opens up some interesting questions. On one hand, I can’t imagine Ricochet getting a title shot against Jon Moxley, but I’m also not sure I can see Cope getting the title. That doesn’t leave many options, but it could give us quite the nice moment. It sets up a good possibility and I think that might just be where it goes, as it should (maybe).

I’ll take Strickland winning here, just because I can’t imagine Ricochet getting a title shot against Moxley, nor can I picture Cope winning. Strickland would be a good choice to get back into the main event picture, but dang they have been teasing the idea of Prince Nana turning on Strickland hard lately. It’s a pick I don’t expect to work, but I’ll go with Strickland winning here.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm(c) vs. Mariah May

This is literally being described as the (Hollywood) Ending and that means we should be done with this feud once and for all. That seemed to be what we were seeing last month but instead here we are again for a rubber match. Storm got her big win back on her home turf at Grand Slam and she kind of has it again here, which makes things more interesting. The violence could help as well here and we are all but promised to see it taking place.

I’m not sure I can see a reason for Storm to lose here so I’ll go with her retaining the title in a brutal match. May is going to be needing to do something else after a loss here, but there is little reason to put the title on her again. The story needs to wrap up here and move on, possibly with Storm finding a fresh challenger. The May feud has been going on way too long now and it’s time for something new after she wins here.

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Kenny Omega

Here we have part of a pretty long running feud with Takeshita having gotten the better of Omega for a long time. That opens up some options, but they may have spoiled the whole thing with Omega’s staredown with Okada. Maybe it’s just false hope, but egads I could go for the two of them facing off in a title unification match. That needs something to happen first though and that might be what we are going to see here.

I’ll take Omega winning here, as Takeshita has long since proven that he is one of the best things going in AEW today, but Omega needs to establish that he still has it. Winning a big match over someone who has beaten him multiple times before would certainly accomplish that and if we just have to get a really good match out of it, oh well. Takeshita is going to be fine, but Omega doesn’t likely have much time left in the ring so seeing him win the title here would be the right way to go.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Hangman Page

This is the ultra personal match on the show, even if they might have gone a bit nuts with MJF trying to burn Page alive on Dynamite. It’s the kind of match that should make for a good showdown as they both have the resumes and skill to make it feel big. I’m hoping they haven’t built things up too hard with what they have been doing because that could bring them down in a hurry.

Geez I’m not sure on this one but I’ll go with Page winning, as he seems to be on more of an upward trajectory and needs the win to keep that going. It wouldn’t stun me to see him move towards the Death Riders and possibly a World Title feud (perhaps with Swerve Strickland at his side). Beating MJF would be a great step in that direction, though I’m not sure where that leaves MJF. Page wins here, and then we’ll see where things go.

AEW World Title: Jon Moxley(c) vs. Cope

I guess we have to do this one too due to reasons. This isn’t a match that has me overly interested and a lot of that is due to the Death Riders still being one of the least interesting storylines I’ve seen in a long time. Cope has been taking them out one by one, which means they’re either going to come back and save Moxley here or Moxley is going to win anyway, possibly with the help of Wheeler Yuta, the last Rider standing. Or they go with what feels like the more obvious result.

After so many months of Moxley dominating the World Title scene, it feels like it’s time for that to keep going, possibly, or even likely, with Jay White turning on Cope to cost him the title. That feels like something that been set up for a little while now and while it feels predictable, that doesn’t mean it isn’t where things are going. Cope winning the title doesn’t feel right, meaning Moxley gets to keep the forever reign going.

Overall Thoughts

Normally I try to get through the weaker main card matches first, but the more I looked at this card, the more stacked the whole thing feels. There are only a few weak spots in the whole thing and if AEW does this the right way, we could be in for a heck of a show. What matters the most here is the possibility of some feel good moments, which have been sorely lacking from AEW PPVs in recent months. Just let the fans have a good time for once and we can see where things go from there. Revolution looks solid on paper though and that’s a nice thing to see.

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 5, 2025
Location: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Excalibur, Taz

It’s the last Dynamite before Revolution and that means it is time to finalize a bit more of the show. That includes a contract signing between Ricochet and Swerve Strickland, plus probably another match or two being announced. Hopefully things hold up well on the way to Sunday so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

We open with MJF in the back, talking about how he has poked and prodded Hangman Page, like when he attacked Christopher Daniels. Now Page has MJF wanting to get in a bigger fight so if Page wants to talk about buckshots, he has a bullet with Page’s name on it.

Here are Swerve Strickland and Ricochet (in a Philadelphia Eagles hat) for their contract signing for Revolution. Ricochet doesn’t have the Embassy robe but it’ll be there at Revolution, complete with some upgrades. Ricochet brings up how these contract signings haven’t gone well for Swerve in the past and mocks his house being burned down. Swerve tells him to sign the contract with Ricochet saying it was Swerve who started this in the first place.

Ricochet says this is another step towards his goal of being World Champion and mocks Prince Nana, which sends Swerve into a rant about how annoying Ricochet can be. At Revolution, he’ll become the #1 contender, while Ricochet will be remembered for Swerve reviving his career and his ring announcer wife. They both sign, with Ricochet looking a lot more serious. The scissors are pulled out but Swerve has his own and stabs Ricochet in the head (as you do). It’s a blood feud, but stabbing someone in the head is a bit much anywhere.

AEW pay per views are coming to Prime. Ok then.

Will Ospreay/Mark Briscoe/Orange Cassidy/Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Don Callis Family/Bryan Keith

Don Callis is on commentary as Ospreay and Cage start things off. Cage throws him down without much effort as the fans shout obscenities involving Callis. Briscoe comes in to kick away at Cage as commentary talks about Revolution being on Prime. An enziguri knocks Cage into the corner where thirty one right hands to Cage’s head…just make Cage hit a clothesline on Cassidy. Cage muscles Cassidy up for a Jackhammer and hands it off to Archer for a swinging Boss Man Slam.

We take a break and come back with Callis getting in a cheap shot on Cassidy, allowing Cage and Archer to pass Cassidy around in a suplex. Fletcher gets to do the same before finally putting Cassidy down. Cassidy suplexes Keith though and the tag brings in Hobbs to clean house. Hobbs fires off clotheslines and makes Cage and Archer clothesline each other. Ospreay dives onto Archer on the floor and Briscoe takes out Cage, setting up Cassidy’s lazy elbow off Hobbs for two, with Keith making the save.

Davis manages to take out Hobbs but Ospreay is back in to take over, with the Cheeky Nandos Kick getting two on Keith. Briscoe comes back in to run Keith other, including a high collar suplex. Archer grabs a chair, which Briscoe knocks into his face, setting up the step up dive to take out Archer and Cage. The Hidden Blade finishes Keith at 15:04.

Rating: B. This was the AEW party match and it worked well, even with the signature “eh, screw the rules, let’s have fun” style. They went nuts with a bunch of stuff in the second half and it was entertaining, though it didn’t exactly make more more interested in anything at Revolution. This could have been a lot worse, though being more focused on the pay per view would have helped.

Post match Davis chokes Ospreay out and the villains beat up the winners. Hobbs gets planted onto the steps and here is Kyle Fletcher to slap Ospreay in the face a few times. Davis doesn’t seem to like it so Fletcher yells at him. Eventually Davis chairs Ospreay down. That’s not enough (of course) and Fletcher brainbusters Ospreay through an open chair.

Video on Kenny Omega vs. Konosuke Takeshita. If Omega is back to full strength, or even close to it, that could steal the show.

Cope vs. Wheeler Yuta

Yuta walks in from outside. Cope powers him into the corner to start and then sweeps the leg to get on Yuta’s nerves a bit. Yuta takes things down into an ankle lock before chopping away in the corner. Some armdrags into a dropkick have Cope in the corner but he sends Yuta to the apron.

We take a break and come back with Cope fighting out of a chinlock but getting caught with the Angle Slam for two. Yuta knocks him off the top and hits a top rope splash, meaning it’s time for the Cattle Mutilation. That’s reversed into the Grindhouse, which is broken up as well so Cope goes with the Impaler instead. The spear is cut off with a running knee though and Cope falls out to the floor. Cattle Mutilation is broken up again and Cope hits a spear for the win at 11:31.

Rating: C+. Well, yeah. The point of the story has been Cope taking out the Death Riders one by one and since he already took out the bigger names, beating Yuta isn’t the biggest shock. The match was good enough, but as usual, Yuta’s lack of doing much of anything interesting was holding it back.

Post match Cope shakes Yuta’s hand and says this is what respect feels like (oh this feels very, very stupid). Cope leaves so here is Jon Moxley to yell at Yuta, who shoves Moxley a bit and walks away. Moxley goes after Yuta and tells him to keep walking. Moxley says he isn’t worried about being all alone and is ready to beat up Cope, which will make him feel good. This whole thing was a good bit longer than it needed to be.

Video on the Outrunners, who are training for their title shot against the Hurt Syndicate at Revolution.

MJF is still in the parking lot and promises to show that Hangman Page is the real main character of AEW. Page arrives in his truck and sends MJF (and Renee Paquette) running. Page chases MJF into the arena but it’s someone pretending to be MJF, allowing the real one to jump Page from behind. MJF hits the Heatseeker and reveals an “MJF DID NOTHING WRONG” shirt. The Dynamite Diamond Ring knocks Page silly…and let’s get some lighter fluid. Referees and security won’t let him use the lighter though. That was uh, rather intense and a good bit over the top.

Queen Of The Ring director Ash Avildsen is here and is happy to have Toni Storm in the film. Storm is annoyed that her nude scene was cut but watch the movie anyway.

Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford vs. Kris Statlander/Thunder Rosa

Statlander headscissors Ford to start and hands it off to Rosa, who takes her into the corner. Ford gets chopped a lot so it’s off to Bayne, who throws Rosa over the top and onto Statlander. Then Bayne throws Ford onto the other two and poses as we take a break. Back with the villains in control and Ford knocking Statlander off the top. Rosa comes back in to lick Ford’s face, earning her a drive back into the corner. Bayne hits the release F5 (Fate’s Descent) for the pin at 9:54.

Rating: C. Bayne is starting to get on track as a monster, which is what she needs to be. That being said, giving her a big match, perhaps even on the Revolution Kickoff Show, would be a good idea. Other than that, it’s a bit weird to see Rosa take a loss so easily, but at least it was to someone AEW seems to be pushing hard.

Mercedes Mone is ready for Momo Watanabe at Revolution and is ready for Watanabe to face Serena Deeb, I’m guessing at Collision.

Here is Max Caster for another open challenge (and a “cut my music, cut my music” lifted from MJF). Caster tries to get a rhythmic chant from the fans and gets nowhere, only to be cut off by someone answering his challenge.

Max Caster vs. Jay White

Blade Runner finishes White at 40 seconds.

Post match, White is ready to see his friend Cope take the title from Jon Moxley. He’ll be there to see Cope win. That sounds ominous.

We get a sitdown interview with a distraught Mariah May and Toni Storm but May gets up to spit on Storm. She blames Storm for making this happen but Renee Paquette says it’s the other way around. May says the Women’s Title is nothing without her because they will both go down together. May promises to destroy Storm but says they could have a Hollywood ending.

Storm says May deserves death but sentences her to a lifetime of mediocrity. May will be good but never great, liked but never loved, and then people will forget about her. They go face to face and Renee says she prays neither of them get hut. Storm and May at the same time: “Pray for her.” I’m not sure I buy May having much of a chance of winning, but Storm’s line sounded like it cut to May’s bones here.

Brody King/Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet/Kazuchika Okada

Swerve and Okada start things off and a Ricochet distraction breaks things up. The villains double team Swerve but he knocks Okada outside for a beating from King. Okada kicks Ricochet by mistake, setting up King’s running double crossbody against the barricade (ow). Swerve jumps off the apron for a stomp to both of them and we head back inside. The rolling Downward Spiral is countered with Ricochet’s Codebreaker though and we take a break.

Back with Okada missing an elbow in the corner and Swerve hits a dropkick, allowing the tag back to King. The Death Valley Driver gets two on Okada with Ricochet making the save, setting up a slingshot splash to King for two more. King and Okada knock each other down and it’s back to Ricochet…who skedaddles from Swerve. Ricochet gets caught and strikes it out with Swerve until Ricochet gets two off a DDT.

Vertigo is countered and now Swerve hits the rolling Downward Spiral. The Swerve Stomp connects but Okada makes the save with the top rope elbow. Okada and King strike it out with King sending him into the corner, only to miss the Cannonball. Everything breaks down and Ricochet gets in a belt shot to Swerve for the pin at 14:55.

Rating: B-. This was the classic formula of “take two feuds and combine them into one match” which is something that worked well here too. It made for an entertaining main event and Ricochet gets to teal a pin on Swerve to make him even angrier going into Sunday. It’s no masterpiece but it did exactly what it needed to do.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked the show well enough but it didn’t exactly make me that interested in seeing what happens on Sunday. Revolution is already looking good on its own but this show didn’t boost it up that much. The good thing is this show isn’t going to mean much after Sunday so it being just pretty good is acceptable enough.

Results
Will Ospreay/Mark Briscoe/Orange Cassidy/Powerhouse Hobbs b. Don Callis Family/Bryan Keith – Hidden Blade to Keith
Cope b. Wheeler Yuta – Spear
Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford b. Thunder Rosa/Kris Statlander – Fate’s Descent to Rosa
Jay White b. Max Caster – Blade Runner
Ricochet/Kazuchika Okada b. Brody King/Swerve Strickland – Belt shot to Strickland

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

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

Collision
Date: March 1, 2025
Location: Oakland Arena, Oakland, California
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

We’re a little over a week away from Revolution and the show could use some more matches. There is a good chance we will get some more of those this week, but first we have a TNT Title match as Adam Cole challenges Daniel Garcia. That should be good enough and odds are there will be some more solid wrestling to go with it. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Daniel Garcia, FTR, the Undisputed Kingdom, Julia Hart, Brody King, Kazuchika Okada, Bandido and Powerhouse Hobbs are ready to fight.

Opening sequence.

FTR vs. Undisputed Kingdom

Wheeler and Strong go technical to start and that’s good for a standoff. Back up and Strong gets in a hiptoss so it’s off to O’Reilly. Harwood comes in to work on the arm again and they trade shots for back to back knockdowns. Everything breaks down and they wind up on the floor until Wheeler gets beaten up in the corner. Harwood comes back in for some suplexes and a quick piledriver gets the pin at 5:04…but O’Reilly’s foot is on the rope.

The match keeps going so Harwood sends O’Reilly into the post. Wheeler comes back in and strikes away as we take a break. Back with Wheeler missing a charge into the corner, allowing O’Reilly to dive through the legs for a tag. The Angle Slams take FTR down and stereo strikes to the head get two on Harwood. The ankle lock makes Wheeler tap but he’s not legal, so Harwood makes the save.

That earns Harwood a ram into Wheeler before the ankle lock goes on again. That’s broken up and Wheeler gets in a cheap shot, allowing Harwood to roll O’Reilly up with trunks for two. Neither of them can hit a spike piledriver so Wheeler is in with a top rope clothesline for two. Everyone is down for a bit before FTR is up with the PowerPlex for two more on O’Reilly. The Shatter Machine is broken up and a quick High/Low finishes Wheeler at 16:49.

Rating: B. This got rolling by the end and that made for a good match, even with FTR losing again. At this point they might be getting ready for a heel turn, as there isn’t much else that they can do with all of these losses. I don’t mind pushing the Kingdom as they’re good, but they’re just kind of floating around at the moment as it is.

Post match respect is not shown.

Willow Nightingale is happy with getting to take out Marina Shafir on Dynamite.

Wheeler Yuta vs. Willie Mack

Yuta shoulders him in the corner to start and hits a quick backsplash. The half crab sends Mack over to the ropes so Yuta chokes away instead. A release German suplex drops Mack again but he avoids a dive off the top. The Cannonball connects for Mack, only for Yuta to hit a running knee to finish Mack at 4:42.

Rating: C. It wasn’t a squash but Yuta as a featured star just isn’t much to see. He is only so good in the first place and having him as part of the Death Riders isn’t helping things. Mack is another someone who feels like he could have been something if given the chance but it never came. He’s pretty much useless now, which isn’t his fault in the slightest.

Post match here is Jon Moxley, who has to carry his own briefcase, which goes upside Mack’s head. Moxley says this is none of Oakland’s business before giving Yuta the briefcase and telling him to finish the job. Another briefcase shot leaves Mack laying.

We look at Momo Watanabe taking the TBS Title from Mercedes Mone.

Billie Starkz gives Mone the title back and throws tea on her.

Toni Storm is in a bed with a neck brace and says that she will face Mariah May in a Hollywood Ending match at Revolution. The match will be no countout, no DQ, no rope breaks and falls count anywhere.

Swerve Strickland vs. Clark Connors

Connors is from New Japan and hasn’t been around AEW in a few years. Strickland sends him into the corner and hits the middle rope elbow to the back. Connors gets in his own shot and kicks the rope into Strickland’s throat before unloading in the corner. Strickland’s backbreaker lets him snap Connors’ arm and we take a break.

Back with Connors snapping off a powerslam but Strickland kicks him in the head. A belly to back superplex plants Connors for two and the rolling Downward Spiral sets up a missed Swerve Stomp. Connors hits a spear and tries a DDT but Strickland reverses into the House Call for the win at 10:05.

Rating: B-. Connors didn’t get much of a reaction and that shouldn’t be a surprise. He’s a bigger star in New Japan, but he has basically no history here, at least not recently, which isn’t going to help get him a reaction. While he looked good in defeat here, it’s not the best start to his new AEW run. Let him have a few wins and then feed him to Strickland, who will benefit more as well.

On Dynamite, the Outrunners earned a Tag Team Title match and the Hurt Syndicate will give them said shot at Revolution.

Harley Cameron is on commentary and names her new finishing move My Finishing Move.

Johnny TV bumps into the Costco Guys and doesn’t like how they treated the MxM Collection. TV challenges Big Boom AJ to find two partners for a six man at Revolution.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Nick Ruiz/Vinnie Massaro/Dave Dutra

Dutra gets backed into the corner to start and hit in the face. A running double stomp sets up Moriarty’s suplex DDT for the pin at 1:19. I guess it’s time to act like AEW cares about Taylor and company again for a few weeks.

TNT Title: Adam Cole vs. Daniel Garcia

Cole is challenging and walks through the Promotions on the way to the ring. The early grappling goes nowhere and they trade rollups for two each. They shake hands until Garcia grabs a neckbreaker for two but Cole is back with a Backstabber. Cole’s own neckbreaker gets two and a snap suplex sets up the chinlock.

Back up and Garcia twists the leg around the rope and hits a running dropkick against the barricade as we take a break. We come back with Cole hitting a brainbuster onto his leg, which is a bit banged up. Another brainbuster onto the leg gets two but the Panama Sunrise is blocked. Garcia superplexes him into a piledriver for two but Cole is back with a Panama Sunrise for two of his own.

The leg gives out on a superkick attempt and Garcia gets the ankle lock. That sends Cole crawling over to the ropes for the break so Garcia piledrives him onto the apron. Naturally Cole is on his feet in about thirty seconds and they slug it out. We get the five minute call…and the Infantry runs in for the double DQ at 15:13.

Rating: B-. Yeah of course they did. The Promotions are a great example of an act that has been run into the ground so many times by AEW that they have lost whatever impact they could have. They’ve been treated as losers and cannon fodder for so long and that adds up in fans’ minds. That was what I was thinking as soon as they ran in, as there is almost no reason to believe that this is going to be their big step in the right direction. The match was a good back and forth match with Cole looking better than he has recently, but dang that ending took the lift out of things.

Post match the beatdown is on and Matt Menard tries to make the save, only to be dropped by Shane Taylor. The villains beat up Cole and Garcia to leave them laying.

Video on the Opps.

The Costco Guys have found Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe for the match at Revolution. And the word of the day is BOOM. That’s what they brought these two back for?

Julia Hart vs. Queen Aminata

During Aminata’s entrance, Serena Deeb talks about wanting to face Aminata in a Pure Rules match and has a playbook on Hart. Aminata grinds away on a headlock to start but Hart sends her into the corner for a running elbow. The chinlock is broken up and Aminata knocks her down as we take a break. Back with Hart fighting out of a figure four with the legs and hitting a standing moonsault for two. Hart cranks on both arms but misses the moonsault. A big headbutt sends Hart into the ropes for a running boot to give Aminata the clean pin at 9:05.

Rating: C+. Well ok then. Hart is someone who has been getting presented as a bigger deal in recent weeks and then she loses clean here. Aminata has lost more than a few times but she still seems to have a lot of potential. At some point she has to win something to follow up on that potential, though this is certainly a surprising choice for one of those wins.

Post match Brody King comes out to check on Hart but gets decked by Kazuchika Okada (who he bumped into as Okada arrived at the start of the show).

Kenny Omega talks about losing to Konosuke Takeshita twice in one week. The title that Takeshita holds represents being the best and if he can beat Omega a third time, maybe it’s time for Omega to admit he can’t do it anymore. He no longer has the baggage of being an EVP and all he cares about is the gold. Serious promo from Omega here and it worked.

Learning Tree vs. Powerhouse Hobbs/Bandido

Bill and Hobbs start things off but of course we’ll go with Keith instead. Hobbs isn’t about to be whipped into the ropes so he shoulders Keith down. Hobbs picks Keith up and hands him to Bandido in an impressive power display so it’s off to Bill, who can’t quite hit a chokeslam. The ten paces spot is loaded up but Bill’s cheap shot misses.

We take a break and come back with Bill not being able to hit a powerbomb and missing a splash in the corner. The tag brings in Hobbs to clean house with the clotheslines and a middle rope spinning powerslam gets two, with Bill making the save. Bandido comes back in to strike it out with Keith before they hit stereo dropkicks for a double down. Bill and Hobbs strike it out until Bill’s missed charge sends him outside. Bandido moonsaults onto Bill, leaving Hobbs to bust Keith’s spine for the pin at 11:25.

Rating: B-. This was all about giving Hobbs a nice win in his hometown and it went perfectly well. Hobbs continues to be someone who could be a big deal if given the chance and hopefully he takes the Ring Of Honor World Title from Chris Jericho as soon as possible. Bandido would have been a fine choice to do the same but alas here we are instead. Not a great match here, but it did what it needed to.

Overall Rating: B. It’s kind of a shame that this show was going up against WWE’s Elimination Chamber as it means a lot of people probably aren’t going to see a good show. As has been the case in recent months, the less the Death Riders are around, the better the show went and that was the situation here. They moved some stories forward here and Revolution is looking good, even with the Costco Guys back again. Another solid episode here, which has been the case for a few weeks now.

Results
Undisputed Kingdom b. FTR – High/Low to Wheeler
Wheeler Yuta b. Willie Mack – Running knee
Swerve Strickland b. Clark Connors – House Call
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Nick Ruiz/Vinnie Massaro/Dave Dutra – Suplex DDT to Dutra
Adam Cole vs. Daniel Garcia went to a double DQ when the Infantry interfered
Queen Aminata b. Julia Hart – Running boot in the ropes
Powerhouse Hobbs/Bandido b. Learning Tree – Spinebuster to Keith

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Collision
Date: February 22, 2025
Location: Arizona Financial Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Jim Ross

We’re about two weeks away from Revolution and things picked up a bit last week at Grand Slam. We now have a few matches set for the show, with the big story still being Cope coming after Jon Moxley and the World Title. Cope seems interested in taking out the Death Riders one by one and we’ll probably see something like that here. Other than that, Chris Jericho is defending the Ring Of Honor World Title against Bandido so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Mariah May jumps Toni Storm in the back and brings her to the stage for a Storm Zero on the ramp. May demands a spotlight and, cradling Storm, says Storm never knew how to write an ending. This is their spotlight and moment so they can be stars together. They’ll have a Hollywood ending at Revolution. That should be the big ending and Storm winning there does make sense.

We look at Kazuchika Okada retaining the Continental Title over Buddy Matthews last week.

Okada says that is what you do to a b**** and he’ll do it to any other who comes after him.

Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos

Mortos wastes no time in running him over with a shoulder but misses a charge in the corner. Hologram dances around and flips off of Mortos’ chest, setting up a headscissors. Mortos is sent outside for a rope walk hurricanrana, only to grab an armdrag back inside. The Pounce sends Hologram outside for the corkscrew dive and we take a break. Back with Hologram taking him up top, where Mortos super gorilla press slams him back down.

Another hurricanrana sends Mortos outside and the big dive takes him down again. A kick to the head staggers Mortos but he grabs a crucifix driver on the ramp. Hologram grabs a Code Red on the ramp and they head back inside for a rope walk high crossbody for two on Mortos. The pop up Samoan drop gets two on Hologram but he’s back with a Spanish Fly. Another super gorilla press is countered into an anklescissors though and Hologram is back with a sunset flip for the pin at 13:51.

Rating: B. It was another good match between them but I’m only getting so much out of Hologram. He’s just kind of there to do his random matches and that’s only getting him so far. I could go for him doing something and his matches are quite entertaining, but him having a story would go a long way for him. And hopefully soon.

Post match Mortos jumps Hologram and goes for the mask but Komander makes the save.

Speedball Mike Bailey is coming. Yay.

Here is Harley Cameron for a chat. Cameron talks about a little girl who loved singing and puppets but above all else, she loved wrestling. One day she told her grandmother that she would go to America and become a wrestler. That little girl was…her next door neighbor Suzette Dickinson. Cameron doesn’t know what happened to her but she’s ready to make everyone feel her wrath. The awesomeness continues.

Gabe Kidd vs. The Butcher

Kidd strikes away in the corner to start but Butcher sends him outside. That’s shrugged off and Kidd hits a heck of a clothesline (which JR describes as “toxic”). Back in and Butcher kicks him in the face, only to get dropped by another clothesline. A piledriver finishes Butcher at 3:40.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t quite a squash but Butcher was out there for the beating and nothing more. Kidd is one of the bigger names outside of the two main promotions at the moment and it’s a nice deal to have him show up here. Kidd has some great charisma and gets your attention and I could see him being a big deal elsewhere if given the shot.

Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher are ready for Will Ospreay at Revolution in a cage. They’re going to use the cage like a Veg-O-Matic. Can we get a Double Goozle instead?

Julia Hart vs. Queen Aminata

Aminata grabs an armbar to start and wiggles her hips a bit because that’s what fun wrestlers do. A snapmare takes Hart down for a kick to the back and a double chop in the corner makes it worse. Hart knocks her down for two and we take an early break. Back with Aminata hitting a backbreaker and snapping off some suplexes for…no cover, which even commentary realizes is a bad idea. A running boot in the corner gives Aminata two but Hart kicks her down. The moonsault hits Aminata’s raised boots though and Aminata releases some German suplexes. Hart is right back up with an Octopus for the tap at 9:48.

Rating: C. Aminata is a good example of someone who can do all of the things in the ring but she’s still fairly dull. There’s nothing about her that makes her stand out and that isn’t going to leave her much to do. Hart beating her is good and it wasn’t a stretch for it to go this long, but it’s rather difficult to get invested in an Aminata match most of the time.

Murder Machines vs. ???/???

The Murder Machines beat them up on the ramp and throw them inside so destruction can ensue. The powerbomb/chokeslam combination finishes at 1:15.

Post match the Murder Machines want the Hurt Syndicate and the Tag Team Titles. Cue the Syndicate, with MVP not being impressed. MVP says if the Machines beat a REAL team next week, we’ll consider a title shot.

Action Andretti and Lio Rush are now Cru. Does every team need a name? Well in this case, yeah they really kind of did.

Thunder Rosa and Kris Statlander are ready for Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford.

Trios Titles: Daniel Garcia/Angelo Parker/Matt Menard vs. Death Riders

The Riders are defending. Parker dropkicks Yuta down to start but it’s quickly off to Castagnoli. Swiss Death puts Parker down and Garcia has to make a save. Garcia, in red and yellow, comes in to clean house but doesn’t bother to tag, meaning Parker gets beaten down even more. Parker finally gets away and brings in Menard to…get kicked in the face by Castagnoli.

Everything breaks down and Yuta and Pac get suplexed down. We take a break and come back with Yuta kicking Menard down so Pac can kick him while he’s down. Castagnoli powers Menard around and it’s back to Pac for a headlock. Pac teases a springboard dropkick but head fakes Menard, who misses a dropkick out of the air. Menard slams his way out of trouble though and it’s Garcia coming in to clean house.

Garcia rolls Yuta into the Sharpshooter and Parker takes Pac out. Castagnoli makes the save with a Jackhammer, leaving Garcia to strike it out with Yuta. Garcia gets Swung into the dropkick from Pac fort two but Menard breaks up the Black Arrow. Parker superplexes Pac for two and everyone is down. Pac is back up with the Brutalizer to make Parker tap at 16:55.

Rating: B-. This was more of a formality than anything else, with the Death Riders not being in trouble against a team including Menard and Parker. Garcia can hang with the champs long enough but that wasn’t going to be enough here. It wasn’t exactly a top level set of challengers, but I’ll take a title defense over the belts sitting cold for months on end.

Post match the hold stays on but the Undisputed Kingdom makes the save. Pac gets taken out and here is Cope to give him a pair of Conchairtos.

The Vendetta isn’t impressed with Harley Cameron.

Here is Max Caster for another open challenge.

Max Caster vs. Brody King

Caster gets his requested handshake and the pain begins in a hurry. Caster’s headlock is countered into a headscissors as the fans know that pain is coming. King sends him into the corner and finishes with the Cannonball at 1:40.

The Outrunners agree to face the Murder Machines next week. The Hurt Syndicate says the good news is if they win, they get a title shot. But the bad news is if they win, the get a title shot.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Chris Jericho vs. Bandido

Jericho is defending and is here on his own for a change. The fans are behind Bandido to start so Jericho goes to the eyes to take over. Bandido isn’t having that and sends him to the floor for a dive. Back in and a quick Codebreaker gives Jericho two, setting up a super hurricanrana.

We take a break and come back with the two of them striking it out with Bandido going down. Bandido is back up with a belly to back faceplant for two and they trade kicks to the face. They do their ten paces deal but Jericho reverses the knee to the face into the Walls. Bandido breaks out and grabs the one handed gorilla press into a frog splash for two.

The triangle dropkick is countered into a powerbomb for two more but Jericho bulldogs him down into the Lionsault. A flying headscissors (with a wave, called the High Spot) gets two on Bandido and they go up top for Bandido’s tabletop superplex. The 21 Plex is loaded up but Jericho reverses into a cradle to retain at 17:20.

Rating: B-. Well of course Jericho beat him. Bandido was built up for a few weeks here and then loses clean to Jericho, who counters the big finisher for the win. Jericho has already held the title for about four months and it’s only so interesting. Bandido is someone who could have gotten a big moment out of the win here but I have a feeling we’ll be waiting for Eddie Kingston to come back and beat Jericho as a real New Yorker. That’s not exactly a thrilling way to go but Jericho going over someone with that kind of potential isn’t a surprise anymore.

Overall Rating: B. Sigh inducing result of the main event aside, this was a rather good show with a bunch of solid matches. As has been the case recently, there has been a nice mixture of long and short matches to make things move that much faster. Good show here, and if they can stick the landing with a bunch of this stuff at Revolution, we could be in for one of AEW’s best runs in a long time.

Results
Hologram b. The Beast Mortos – Sunset flip
Gabe Kidd b. The Butcher – Piledriver
Julia Hart b. Queen Aminata – Octopus
Murder Machines b. ???/??? – Powerbomb/chokeslam combination
Death Riders b. Daniel Garcia/Angelo Parker/Matt Menard – Brutalizer to Parker
Brody King b. Max Caster – Cannonball
Chris Jericho b. Bandido – Rollup

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Collision
Date: January 25, 2025
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross

It’s Homecoming because we can’t go a week without some kin of special show. It is nice to be back in Daily’s Place though as we should be in for a fun show. We are less than a month away from Grand Slam and it should be time to start getting the rest of the card put together so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

The Patriarchy, Toni Storm, Mariah May and Samoa Joe are ready to fight.

Opening sequence.

Jim Ross is back. That’s nice to see.

Samoa Joe vs. Nick Wayne

The rest of the Patriarchy is here so Katsuyori Shibata and Hook come out to even things up. You know, assuming Joe wouldn’t be able to smash the entire team on his own. Wayne strikes away to start but misses a shoulder, allowing Joe to hit a backsplash. The early MuscleBuster is broken up and Joe’s leg is wrapped around the ropes. Wayne hits a dive to the floor and it’s time to say on the leg. Joe isn’t having this though as he knocks Wayne back and hits the MuscleBuster for the pin at 5:24.

Rating: C. That’s what this should have been as Wayne was going to be little more than an annoyance to Joe at best. Joe shrugged off whatever Wayne threw at him and finished him in a hurry. There is no point in making this overly complicated and that is what they made work here. Joe is going to be on his way to something better so smashing the Patriarchy on the way there isn’t a bad idea.

We recap Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay brawling with the Don Callis Family on Dynamite, setting up the tag match at Grand Slam.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Komander

Non-title. Komander starts fast with a knockdown and reverses a suplex into a quickly broken choke. Okada isn’t having this and kicks him in the face before going outside. A DDT plants Komander hard and we take an early break. Back with Komander grabbing an X Factor out of a powerbomb and picking up the pace. Okada’s White Noise onto the knee sets up the top rope elbow but the Rainmaker is blocked. Komander grabs a hurricanrana to the floor and hits a moonsault, only to get Rainmakered for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: B-. Hey look: a Ring Of Honor champion loses AGAIN, but we’re still expected to pay to watch that the show. There was no reason for Komander to be Okada’s latest victim here as the champion vs. champion aspect wasn’t much of a bonus. But why let common sense get in the way of something Tony Khan thinks is cool?

Powerhouse Hobbs and Big Bill get in a fight in the parking lot. They hit each other with metal objects, including a gate that Hobbs rips off a fence. Security breaks it up.

The Costco Guys are back but get interrupted by the Undisputed Kingdom for a Boom off.

Undisputed Kingdom vs. Daniel Garcia/Angelo Parker/Matt Menard

Oh hey Parker still works here. Garcia headlocks Cole over to start but they pop up for a staredown. Strong and Menard come in with the former working on a wristlock before grinding on a headlock. Garcia comes in and is quickly backdropped to the floor, where he gets in an argument with Shane Taylor Promotions. We take a break and come back with Garcia hammering on O’Reilly in the corner. O’Reilly fights out without much trouble and hands it back to Cole for a slugout with Garcia. Everything breaks down and Parker is faceplanted for two. A superkick cuts off Garcia and the high/low finishes Parker at 9:55.

Rating: C. This was little more than a handicap match as there was no reason to believe that Parker and Menard were going to be a real threat to the Kingdom. In theory one of these three could be coming after Garcia’s TNT Title, which would be fine, but it didn’t make for much of a six man tag. Parker and Menard are harmless enough but they’re about as bottom of the barrel as you can get around here.

Respect is shown post match.

Max Caster is happy with the response to the Acclaimed’s split and announces an Open Challenge series.

We get a bunch of computer code as I’m guessing Hologram is coming back.

Top Flight argues over Action Andretti and Lio Rush. Darius Martin wants to fight Rush one on one.

Tony Schiavone brings out Mariah May and Toni Storm for a face to face chat. Storm’s enthusiastic handshake offer is turned down and May says Storm makes her think and feel nothing. Storm is nothing and a joke and the fans laugh at her, just like May knew they would. May will get off by humiliating Storm in her hometown.

Storm says she is May’s biggest fan and wants to be just like her. She hugs May, who responds with a heck of a slap. May whips her with the belt and leaves, but Storm asks why May thinks she has forgotten. Storm takes off her clothes to reveal the Timeless gear and promises to shove May back into the womb. For some reason this is presented as a surprise, despite it being pretty obvious for most of the story.

There is a special interview with the Death Riders debuting next week. Jon Moxley’s vision is a thousand Moxleys. Oh dear.

Hounds Of Hell vs. Gates Of Agony

The Hounds are Buddy Matthews/Brody King with Julia Hart as the House Of Black seems to be completely done. Matthews shoulders Kaun to no effect to start and is shouldered into the corner. King and Toa collide before striking it out until King is taken into the wrong corner to take over. That doesn’t last long as King fights out and brings Matthews back in to clean house.

We take a break and come back with Open The Gates getting two on Matthews. The comeback doesn’t take long and it’s off to King to clean house, including a Death Valley Driver for two on Toa. A Samoan drop gets the same on King, who Kaun can’t powerbomb. Instead King hits a piledriver and a Cannonball/running dropkick combination in the corner finishes Kaun at 10:04.

Rating: B-. The Hounds are already a good team so this was little more than a way to show that Malakai Black is gone and they’ll be fine. The Gates aren’t a great team but they’re a couple of monsters and it looks good for the Hounds to beat them. This was a nice way to show us the new team and I’m interested in seeing what they can do. A hoss fight with the Hurt Syndicate could work just fine.

The Costco Guys bring Harley Cameron, who can’ t get their catchphrase right. The Vendetta comes in to mock Cameron and the Guys do their catchphrase. Again.

Penelope Ford and Thunder Rosa argue and a match seems to be made.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Serena Deeb vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Queen Aminata

For a future TBS Title shot. They go for early rollups to start to limited avail, leaving Purrazzo to chill on the ramp with Taya Valkyrie. Deeb ties up Aminata’s leg before neckbreakering her over the top rope. Sakazaki clears the ring and hits a big dive to take everyone out on the floor.

We take a break and come back with Purrazzo Fujiwara armbarring Aminata, who rolls her way out. Everyone but Deeb is down but Sakazaki is back with a high crossbody to take her down. Deeb and Aminata brawl up the ramp so Valkyrie comes in, only for Harley Cameron to come in for the save. Sakazaki rolls Purrazzo up for the pin at 9:30.

Rating: B-. So Sakazaki, who hasn’t gotten a singles win since September (the most recent of these four to win a singles match in AEW is Purrazzo, who won a squash more than a month ago), is suddenly in a four way for a title shot. Sure, why not. The match was the usual collection of four people with nothing going on suddenly getting into the title picture because it’s not like there are people here doing things who could be in these slots instead. But hey, at least Mone gets to wrestle one of her friends from Japan, because that’s what matters the most.

The Hounds are back and bark but Kazuchika Okada comes in to say they sound like b******. Buddy Murphy challenges him for the Continental Title but that’s a no. Murphy: “Then you’re the b****.” Okada: “I’m not a b****.” This has been “how much can we get out of a one word joke”.

Here is Big Bill to call out Powerhouse Hobbs. Cue Hobbs, who has to beat up security, allowing Bill to hit him with a backpack. Said backpack contains a brick, a knee brace, and handcuffs. Hobbs is cuffed and beaten, with his nose busted open. Bill beats him with a chair but Hobbs gets in a low blow, setting up the belly to belly off the stage through a table.

The Don Callis Family has dinner at the….Don Callis Mansion? Callis tells the team to be ready for Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay and teases a new member. This was so over the top that it was funny.

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Shibata is challenging and Don Callis is on commentary. They go to the mat to start as Callis confirms that yes, he does think everyone else is stupid. Shibata slips out of a headscissors but can’t get in a kick to the head so they get back up. They head outside with Shibata being sent into the barricade but he cuts off a charge with a hard kick.

We take a break and come back with Shibata striking away, setting up a butterfly suplex for two. An exchange of suplexes sets up an STO to put Takeshita down and we get a double breather. Shibata grabs a choke but Takeshita reverses into a Tombstone into a wheelbarrow suplex.

Shibata pops back up for a running shot and they’re both down again. The abdominal stretch has Takeshita in trouble so Callis heads to the ring. Takeshita chokes him down but Callis grabs the foot to break up the PK. One heck of a Blue Thunder Bomb gives Takeshita one and they strike it out, only for Raging Fire to retain the title at 13:32.

Rating: B+. I got way into this one and it was a heck of a main event. They were beating each other up and while I didn’t think Shibata was going to win the title, he put in an awesome effort in defeat. This is one of those matches where there isn’t much else to say other than it was really good and is worth a look if you get the chance.

Overall Rating: B-. As tends to be the case with a lot of Collisions, there is a really good hour long show in here but instead it was stretched out to two hours and brought down a lot. The issues with random people being thrown into title contention are still going strong and that is likely to be the case forever around here. Other than that, the main event is very good and the Hounds looked great, so there were definitely some big positives on this show.

Results
Samoa Joe b. Nick Wayne – MuscleBuster
Kazuchika Okada b. Komander – Rainmaker
Undisputed Kingdom b. Daniel Garcia/Angelo Parker/Matt Menard – High/Low to Parker
Hounds Of Hell b. Gates Of Agony – Cannonball/running dropkick in the corner combination to Kaun
Yuka Sakazaki b. Serena Deeb, Queen Aminata and Deonna Purrazzo – Rollup to Purrazzo
Konosuke Takeshita b. Katsuyori Shibata – Raging Fire

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Dynamite
Date: January 22, 2025
Location: Knoxville Civic Auditorium, Knoxville, Tennessee
Commentators: Taz, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur

We are closing in on Grand Slam and that means it is time to start getting ready for the show. There is a good chance that we are going to see something set up this week, as we are starting up some big things. Revolution is coming up as well and that means there are a lot of things going on. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Here is Will Ospreay to get things going, with Kenny Omega coming out to join him. Sidenote: like him or not, Omega gets the superstar entrance to end them all around here and there is no way around it. The fans love him and he comes off like the king of the world. Ospreay talks about how Omega came back in a weird time because the Death Riders are holding the World Title hostage and Ospreay wants to do something about it but can’t get away from the Don Callis Family.

Omega talks about them fighting at Forbidden Door, where Ospreay tried to drop him on his head. That makes Ospreay no better than Callis, and no matter what he does, Omega is still better. Ospreay can take the #2 spot, but Omega has the #1 spot locked up. Cue Callis but Omega immediately goes after him, with Konosuke Takeshita jumping Omega. Kyle Fletcher comes in for the beatdown and Ospreay, eventually, comes in for the save.

The big brawl is on with Callis sending in the Murder Machines and the big fight heads into the concourse. Ospreay and Omega fight back and put Lance Archer through a well placed merchandise table. The brawl heads back into the arena, with Omega and Ospreay hitting some gorgeous dives off various structures to take the villains down. Omega and Ospreay climb the light structure and Omega says next time it’s Callis’ turn. Omega issues the challenge for Grand Slam to Takeshita and Fletcher.

The catchphrase is loaded up and, after Omega’s music starts and stops, he gets it in. Then Omega wants to get down because he is scared of heights (fair enough as I can relate). This was a heck of an opening segment, mainly because Omega and Ospreay were acting like superheroes, which is where they shine. The only drawback was they were doing it against Don Callis, as the energy just goes sailing out the window whenever he’s around.

Video on Pac.

The Death Riders talk about how Cope is in a world he doesn’t understand. He’s willing to finish the job on Cope’s neck because they don’t have time for relics of the past.

Tag Team Titles: Hurt Syndicate vs. Private Party

The Syndicate, with MVP on commentary, is challenging. Lashley takes over on Quen to start before handing it off to Benjamin. A neckbreaker/Swanton combination gives Kassidy a quick two but Lashley grabs Quen from the apron. The Syndicate is sent to the floor, where they catch stereo dives and hit belly to belly suplexes.

We take a break and come back with Kassidy having been put through the announcers’ table and Quen being thrown around by Benjamin. Kassidy is back up and Quen fights up, allowing the tag off to Kassidy to pick up the pace. A pop up dropkick hits Benjamin and a 450 gets two, with Lashley making the save. Lashley spears Kassidy in half for the pin and the titles at 9:10.

Rating: B-. This was how the match should have gone, as Private Party has not felt important since winning the titles. The problem came down to they have done nothing in AEW other than beat the Young Bucks twice. Since winning the titles, they have mainly sat back while teams qualified to face them or watched Action Andretti/Lio Rush vs. Top Flight. What else was supposed to happen here? The Syndicate has looked like monsters since showing up and them winning the titles is the right move.

Video on Mariah May vs. Toni Storm at Grand Slam.

Harley Cameron gives Toni Storm a pep talk. In Australian. Renee Paquette: “I didn’t get a word of that.”

Karen Jarrett tries to calm Jeff Jarrett down but he’s got this.

Here is Jeff Jarrett for a chat. Jarrett talks about being on after Jerry Lawler one night and not doing quite as well, including on the microphone. After the match, Lawler asked what Jarrett was thinking. Never get in the gutter with your opponent, like he did with MJF last week. They’ll deal with that one day, but for now, he wants Jon Moxley out here.

Moxley’s music plays but Claudio Castagnoli comes in to jump Jarrett instead. Castagnoli says no one gets to Moxley without getting through him first, so stay out of their business. With Castagnoli in the crowd, Jarrett challenges him for next week, with a title shot coming if he wins. I guess Jarrett might get the title hot in Australia, which is certainly a choice they could make.

Video on Megan Bayne.

Swerve Strickland vs. AR Fox

They fight over a suplex to start until Swerve sends him outside for a moonsault. Back in and Swerve drops him gain without much trouble and we take a break. We come back with Fox working on the arm and hitting a step up moonsault to the floor. Swerve fights back but cue Ricochet for a distraction. Prince Nana whips out a pipe to chase him off, leaving Fox to hit a quick Lo Mein Pain for two, only to miss the 450. Swerve is back with the rolling Downward Spiral into the House call. Fox has to scoot WAY over so the Swerve Stomp can finish at 9:15.

Rating: B-. This was a perfectly fine match between two guys who know how to work well with each other. It also didn’t go quite as long as I was expecting and that is nice to see for a change. Strickland didn’t give up a ton of offense and it made things better. Nana whipping out a pipe from nowhere was amusing enough as a bonus.

Post match Ricochet pops up to show that he has Prince Nana held a scissors point. They’ll meet next week. I’m still not sure about Ricochet as this crazy violent guy, but that’s where we’re going. Or at least what is being teased.

We look at Powerhouse Hobbs getting a win in a twelve man tag on Collision.

The Learning Tree is happy to be here in Knoxville, in the Rocky Mountains. Big Bill seems ok with the loss but Chris Jericho isn’t happy. What is Bill going to do about it? Bill gets serious and challenges Hobbs for Collision. They really aren’t going to stretch this Learning Tree stuff out until Eddie Kingston is back right?

Here is MJF, who orders a jobber to get out of his ring. MJF wants an apology from Jeff Jarrett because it is hilarious that Jarrett thinks he can win a World Title in 2025 without MJF’s help. Maybe he is as senile as he looks. The reality is that wrestling does not love Jarrett anymore and neither do these fans. A mediocre strength DOUBLE J chant slows things down a bit before MJF says Jarrett might go better off making by making a deal with the devil rather than defying him.

Hangman Page vs. ???

It’s the same guy who MJF sent to the floor before the match and it’s a Buckshot Lariat for the pin at 33 seconds.

Post match Page gives him the Angel’s Wings. Christopher Daniels comes out to say he regrets taking the match with Page, because his neck is so damaged that his doctors have advised him to never wrestle again. He hopes Page can be happy and then walks away, leaving Page looking a bit shaken. That sounds like the end of Daniels’ career and the start of Page coming back to reality.

Mercedes Mone is ready to continue her international expansion. She’s ready to fight in Australia so here is Harley Cameron to challenger her. In song. She’s going to make Mone feel her wrath because four belts is a bit much. Mone says no because Cameron hasn’t won a mach on AEW TV. Renee Paquette does compliment the song.

Jamie Hayter vs. Julia Hart

they go outside to start and Hart is sent into the barricade. Then Hart is sent into the barricade and steps as this is a rather violent match to start. A missile dropkick gives Hayter two but Hart pulls her off the middle rope to send Hayter face first into the buckle. We take a break and come back with Hayter knocking her off the top for a double knockdown.

Hayter snaps off some German suplexes and hits a spinebuster for two. The half crab sends Hart over to the ropes and she grabs an Octopus hold. Hayter powers out and hits a backbreaker but Hart crucifix bombs her for two more. Hart stops to glare at the crowd though and the Hatebreaker into Hayterade finishes for Hayter at 9:38.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what it is about Hayter but there isn’t much to get interested in about her since she has been back. She’s just not very interesting and it’s showing more every time she’s out there. Hart is fine enough but these matches haven’t made me want to see either of them again, which is likely why we’re probably getting a rubber match.

Post match Hayter says she’s up for a rubber match anytime.

Powerhouse Hobbs will be waiting for Big Bill in the parking lot at Collision.

Swerve Strickland is coming after Ricochet soon.

Brody King/Buddy Matthews/Julia Hart, now with a dog, suggest that they have no leader. Then King puts on a mask and talks about barking. Then he barks.

Cope vs. Pac

They go to the mat to start and trade hammerlocks with neither getting very far. Back up and Pac backs him against the ropes before kicking away at the ribs. Cope heads to the floor and drops him face first onto the steps, followed by a whip into the barricade. Pac kicks the knee out and sends him into the apron, with Cope instantly favoring his neck.

A big dive takes Cope out again and we take a break. Back with Cope fighting out of a chinlock and hitting a dropkick to leave both of them down. Cope gets up and hits the Impaler but goes to the corner instead of covering. The spear is cut off and Pac hits a superkick to the back of the head.

A pump kick tot he back of the head sets up a release German suplex and Cope is rocked. The Brutalizer goes on but Cope powers up and plants him for the escape. Cope hits a spear to the back and another to the front, setting up a TKO of all things for the pin on Pac at 17:33.

Rating: C+. I wasn’t getting into this as the match was decent enough but it wasn’t very exciting. That has been the case with Cope for a good while now as he seems to love the idea of these long matches. Not a great match and the fans were only so into it, mainly because it’s yet another Death Riders match, despite the seeming lack of any interest in the story.

We cut to the back where the Death Riders have kidnapped FTR (again) and beat up the Rock N Roll Express. Cue the Death Riders to go after Cope and the beatdown is on. Jay White runs in for the save but gets beaten down as well, leaving Moxley to choke Cope out to end the show.

Oh I laughed hard at this ending, as AEW is now probably up to septupling up on the Death Riders stuff. Moxley gets to come out and look all awesome not once but twice, leaving the good guys laying again. Such is life in AEW, as this story keeps going, likely until Darby Allin is done climbing Mount Everest or whatever his latest thing is. Lucky us indeed.

Overall Rating: C+. This one didn’t do much for me, as the opening segment and title switch were about the only things worth seeing. The rest of the show fell into the same trap that AEW has been dealing with for a long time: it is all so serious and, save for Harley Cameron, most of it just isn’t fun. Everything feels like it’s all about being serious and such and that can get rough fast. I’m not sure what AEW needs, but just giving us some kind of comic relief or something a bit more goofy might be very nice for a change. For now though, not a bad show, but it got tedious in a hurry in the last hour or so.

Results
Hurt Syndicate b. Private Party – Spear to Kassidy
Swerve Strickland b. AR Fox – Swerve Stomp
Hangman Page b. ??? – Buckshot Lariat
Jamie Hayter b. Julia Hart – Hayterade
Cope b. Pac – TKO

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: January 11, 2025
Location: Akins Ford Arena, Athens, Georgia
Commentators Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

We’re on the way to Grand Slam in Australia but first we need to get through next week’s Maximum Carnage. That show is going to feature Powerhouse Hobbs getting a World Title shot against Jon Moxley, albeit in Moxley’s hometown, but it’s going to need more than that. Odds are we’ll see some of it added this week so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Harley Cameron, Mariah May, the Learning Tree and Rated FTR are ready to fight.

Opening sequence.

Cope vs. Big Bill

Chris Jericho is on commentary. Bill wins a power lockup to start and Cope is quickly sent outside. The brawling goes a bit better for Cope, who sends him into various things on the floor. A Jericho distraction lets Bill drop Cope onto the announcers’ table and then sends him into various things to take over. A drop onto the barricade has Cope in more trouble and we take a break, with most of the match having been on the floor.

Back with Cope managing a clothesline to the back of the head but charging into a swinging Boss Man Slam. Cope goes up top (above an exposed turnbuckle) and Bill is sent face first. A powerbomb out of the corner plants Bill for two as the fans are getting into this. Bill’s boot to the face gets two but Cope is back with an implant DDT for a rather near fall. Back up and Bill tries a chokeslam so Cope kicks him low, setting up the Jon Moxley hammer and anvil elbows. A rear naked choke finishes Bill at 13:33.

Rating: B. This started to click a lot better at the end and that is always nice to see. Cope and Bill aren’t the kind of people you would expect to have this kind of chemistry but they made it work well. That being said, I could go for Cope not feuding with two champions at once, though that certainly seems to be the direction they’re taking.

Post match the Learning Tree runs in for the beatdown but FTR makes the save.

Video on Kenny Omega’s return on Dynamite.

Hangman Page talks about the work that he has put in to protect his family and it was all undone in one night. He could either remain the husk of a man that he was or become something else. That’s why he kept Swerve Strickland from winning the World Title, which is why he gave him such a beating in September. Then he heard what Christopher Daniels said but then Daniels crossed a line with him. They’ll fight next week in a Texas Deathmatch. He knows who he will be against Daniels, who has made his own bed. Good promo, but it’s setting up a Texas Deathmatch between Page and Daniels.

Pac vs. Komander

Non-title. They pick up the pace to start with Komander sending him outside for a slow motion flip into a headscissors. The big rope walk flip dive connects and a high crossbody gives Komander two back inside. Pac isn’t having that and sends him outside, with Komander crashing into the barricade.

Back in and Pac goes simple by kicking him in the face for two but makes the mistake of going after Alex Abrahantes. Komander is right there with the dive and a DDT gets two. Some superkicks into a super Canadian Destroyer connects, only for Pac to pull him into the Brutalizer for the win at 8:01.

Rating: B-. Nice stuff here with Pac oddly being a bit more of the violent star rather than going to the air as he is capable of doing. At the same time, Komander was flying all over the place as…well not only he can but as he can do. Finally, such if life for a Ring Of Honor champion, and there is pretty much a zero percent chance that Pac will go after the belt, as Ring Of Honor continues to look useless.

Post match the Death Riders come out for the beatdown but the Outrunners run in and it’s match time.

Death Riders vs. Outrunners

It’s a brawl to start until Yuta gets taken into the wrong corner as things settle down a bit. That doesn’t last long as Castagnoli takes over on Magnum with the uppercuts against the ropes. Magnum fights up with a Thesz press of all things, allowing the Outrunners to clear the ring.

We take a break and come back with Magnum getting kicked in the head but managing a backdrop to send Castagnoli outside. Floyd comes in for a series of slams to take over and the Mega Powers elbow hits Yuta. Everything breaks down and Yuta dropkicks Floyd and a spinning suplex gives him two. Castagnoli superplexes Floyd down and the Fastball Special is enough for the pin at 11:42.

Rating: C+. Ah there it is, as the Death Riders get to take out another popular team. It makes sense on paper as the Death Riders are way above the Outrunners, but it might be nice to have the popular guys win something over these guys at some point. Or for the Death Riders to defend the Trios Titles, as it’s been over two months now.

Video on Maximum Carnage.

Powerhouse Hobbs has been listening to the Death Riders and wants the World Title.

Harley Cameron vs. Mariah May

Non-title. Cameron starts fast with some rollups for two each and May needs an early breather. May’s chops in the corner just annoy Cameron, who fires off some knees to the ribs and an enziguri for two. Back up and May hits a running dropkick for two and we take an early break. We come back with May putting her on top for a double chop but Cameron fights back again. A few knockdowns set up a belly to back suplex for two on May, who knees her in the face. Storm Zero finishes for May at 9:19.

Rating: C. This was fun stuff with the two of them getting to be a bit goofy, though Cameron was putting in the work as well. There was never going to be any drama about the result here as May is not likely to lose to a comedy star like Cameron, but it was nice to see the two of them having a fun match. It worked well, and I could go for the two of them doing some more stuff later on.

Christopher Daniels is ready for Hangman Page next week.

Brody King vs. Trevor Blackwell

Julia Hart is here with King, who hits a running clothesline, a Cannonball, and the Ganso Bomb for the win at 1:31.

Post break Brody King talks about how this is a strange time for the House Of Black but Cope comes in. Cope says it’s time for King to take the reigns, which has King thinking.

TNT Title: Daniel Garcia vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Garcia is defending. Feeling out process to start with Shibata taking him up against the ropes for an early clean break. They trade chops with Shibata getting the better of things in the corner and grabbing a suplex for two. Shibata ties up the legs and we take an early break. Back with Garcia hammering away in the corner and rolling a neckbreaker for two.

They trade running boots to the face and belly to back suplexes until a double takedown gives us a double breather. Then they both sit up and trade chops and ankle locks, which are both broken up. Shibata stays on the leg and puts on the Figure Four, sending Garcia over to the ropes. Then Garcia grabs a quick jackknife rollup for he pin at 11:27.

Rating: C+. Garcia has done that quick rollup pin thing a few times now and it’s only working so well. At the same time, this was quite the “I do this and you do the same thing and then you do something and I’ll do it after”, making it feel as scripted as possible. I get the idea of Garcia being able to hang with Shibata but….yeah it still looks weird to have them doing the same moves over and over.

Video on the Women’s Casino Gauntlet match.

Chris Jericho vs. Dax Harwood

Non-title and everyone is barred from ringside, which is just something that can be enforced at any given time. They fight over a lockup to start and go to the floor before trading chops back inside. Harwood wraps the leg around the post but gets pulled face first into said post but Harwood wins a brawl in the crowd. Back in and Jericho snaps off a super hurricanrana and we take a break.

We come back with Harwood rolling through a high crossbody for two but Jericho counters a German suplex. The Walls of Jericho are broken up as well so Jericho settles for the Lionsault for two more. Jericho takes too long going up and gets top rope superplexed back down for the crash. They forearm it out from their knees and it’s a double knockdown, with Jericho rolling outside.

Jericho kicks him into the steps and almost wins by countout, only for Harwood to come back in for a Sharpshooter. A belt shot misses for Jericho but he punches the referee in the eye and….I think he’s supposed to put the belt up to cut off a dive but instead just kind of hits a diving Harwood. Then a belt shot gives Jericho two, followed by the Judas Effect for the pin at 15:23.

Rating: C. Not only was it long, as in rather long, but the last thirty seconds felt like it ha about four finishing sequences put together. I have no idea why the belt shot couldn’t have just wrapped it up but I guess they had more time to fill. Harwood can wrestle a fine enough match with anyone, though this was far longer than it needed to be and it hurt things a lot.

Post match the Death Riders run in for the beatdown, with Cope, Cash Wheeler and the Outrunners running in for the save. Naturally Jon Moxley gets to drop Cope with the Paradigm Shift but Powerhouse Hobbs makes the real save and no sells Moxley’s chair shot. Moxley runs off and Yuta is put through the announcers’ table to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show didn’t feel like it had as much filler as last week, but dang did it have a lot of the Death Riders. I don’t know what we’re waiting on, but there is a good chance that Cope is going to be the next challenger for Moxley, and that doesn’t feel like the big ending to the story. Overall, not a bad show at all, but Dynamite next week is feeling like the big show where things actually happen.

Results
Cope b. Big Bill – Rear naked choke
Pac b. Komander – Brutalizer
Death Riders b. Outrunners – Fastball Special to Floyd
Mariah May b. Harley Cameron – Storm Zero
Brody King b. Trevor Blackwell – Ganso Bomb
Daniel Garcia b. Katsuyori Shibata – Jackknife rollup
Chris Jericho b. Dax Harwood – Judas Effect

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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Wrestle Dynasty 2025
Date: January 5, 2025
Location: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Commentators: Walker Stewart, Chris Charlton

So it’s time for a bunch of wrestling promotions and Ring Of Honor to come together and have a big show in Japan. Why? Heck if I know and AEW basically glossed over the this this week anyway. It’s basically a big cross promotional show, which can go in all kinds of directions. Let’s get to it.

Note that I do not follow any of the international promotions involved with this show. I might know some of the wrestlers, but I apologize in advance for not knowing history or plot points.

Pre-Show: International Women’s Cup: Momo Watanabe (Stardom) vs. Willow Nightingale (AEW) vs. Persephone (CMLL) vs. Athena (ROH)

The winner receives a Women’s Title shot. Athena and Watanabe clear the ring to start until Nightingale kicks Watanabe in the head. Persephone comes in for a Matrix/spider walk but Athena takes her into the corner for a running shot. Back up and Nightingale kicks Athena in the face before suplexing the other two at the same time. The dives are on to leave Nightingale and Persephone as the only two standing, meaning Persephone hits her own running flip dive.

Back in and Athena hits a middle rope Codebreaker to Persephone and Nightingale but Nightingale is back up with a Pounce. Persephone suplexes Nightingale for two and Athena is knocked outside. Nightingale’s Death Valley Driver sends Watanabe into the corner but Athena is back up with the O Face. Cue Thekla (from Stardom) to pull the referee though, allowing Watanabe to hit Athena in the head with a club. A dragon suplex pins Athena at 11:29.

Rating: B-. So we sat through tournaments and qualifying matches and all that other jazz to hype up this match and it’s on the pre-show for some to be determined title match later? In theory this sets up Watanabe as Athena’s next challenger for something of a dream match, though it wouldn’t shock me if this is barely mentioned in Ring Of Honor. The match was fine, but it was nothing that AEW hasn’t done a dozen times in the last few months.

Ring Of Honor Tag Team Titles: Sons Of Texas vs. House Of Torture

The Sons (Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara) are defending against Sho/Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Sho shakes Dustin’s hand to start but holds it in place so Kanemaru can come in to jump him from behind. That doesn’t last long as Guevara comes in to moonsault Sho, setting up Dustin’s PK for two. Sho sends Guevara outside though and Kanemaru gets in a whip to the barricade.

The turnbuckle pad is ripped off and Dustin is sent into the exposed steel and it’s back to Guevara. A Boston crab goes on and Kanemaru steps on one of the titles. An enziguri gets Guevara out of trouble and it’s back to Rhodes to clean house. Kanemaru spits some liquid into Rhodes’ face and a moonsault connects for two. Guevara is back in with a cutter and Rhodes adds his own liquid (whiskey) to the face. The Final Reckoning into Guevara’s Swanton retains the titles at 9:27.

Rating: C. This was a gold match between two teams who aren’t that interesting in the first place. The Sons of Texas haven’t been interesting since they won the titles and there is a good chance that they’ll hold the belts until All In Texas, because TEXAS. There’s nothing to see here but Ring Of Honor had o be on the because reasons.

The opening video looks at the card in order and does a great job of hyping the show up.

Casino Gauntlet Match

Non-title and it’s one fall to a finish, meaning there is no guarantee everyone will get in. Hechicero is in at #1 and Kosei Fujita is in at #2. They grapple to start and get nowhere as Soberano Jr. is in at #3 after a very short interval. A Rocking Horse/top rope Fameasser hits Fujita and it’s Master Wato in at #4.

Wato and Soberano go at it until Mascara Dorada is in at #5 as these entrances are flying. Dorada gets to clean house with takedowns and dives until Taiji Ishimori is in at #6. A Lethal Injection hits Dorada and Titan is in at #7 to keep the pace fast. Titan hits a gordbuster into a kick to the face as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado is in at #8 to complete the field.

Everyone runs up the ramp to go after Desperado and they carry him to the ring for the big beating. Naturally that’s broken up when someone goes for the cover, meaning it’s time for the big collection of dives. Wato hits a big running flip dive onto the pile, with Dorada doing the same thing. Somehow Desperado is back up but gets pulled into a leg trap choke, only for Ishimori to steal the pin on Desperado at 16:16.

Rating: B-. This was a bunch of spots and staggered intervals, which made for a good enough showcase. I do like them getting that many people on the show at once, even if the only thing from AEW was the concept. The bit with Desperado was smart and protects him with the loss, which is perfectly fine. Nice stuff, though more of a “get them on the card” match than anything else.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Katsuyori Shibata

This is a grappling match with a five minute time limit. They fight over a lockup to start until Shibata gets him to the ropes for a clean break. They chop it out with Shibata seemingly getting the better of things and telling Tanahashi to bring it. The chop exchange keeps going until time expires at 5:00. The whole match was the long lockup and chop exchanges with a few small moves in the middle.

Rating: C. This wasn’t a normal match and I’m not going to treat it overly harsh as a result. The idea here was either something of a tease or just to have the two of them in the Dome again. That’s perfectly fine and even though it wasn’t a traditional match, it wasn’t supposed to be some mat classic.

Respect is shown post match.

Rev Pro British Women’s Title/NJPW Strong Women’s Title: Mina Shirakawa vs. Mercedes Mone

Title for title. Mone takes her into the corner off a lockup to start before they both miss a few shots, allowing Mina to dance. The Statement Maker is broken up in a hurry and Mina bails to the floor, setting up a suicide dive. Mina gets smart by going after the knee but a quick Meteora gives Mone two.

The knee gets slammed into the mat to cut that off but Mone is right back with another Meteora. Mina sends the knee into the mat again and grabs a Figure Four, with Mone going straight to the ropes. Mone gets in a gutbuster, with commentary pointing out that it’s kind of stupid. Speaking of stupid, Mone’s knee is suddenly fine enough to hit Three Amigos, which she has apparently wanted to do in this building for fifteen years. To be fair, she hasn’t paid tribute to Eddie Guerrero in what, four days or so?

Mina hits a super DDT into another Figure Four but Mone is out again. The Glamorous river gets two but Mone is back with a pair of Coebreakers for two. A Gory Bomb sets up another Figure Four but Mone rolls her up for two. The Mone Maker connects out of nowhere for the pin to make Mone a triple champion at 14:06.

Rating: C-. I’m sure that Mone is happy that she gets another title and got to do something in the Tokyo Dome, but there is only so much to get out of a match built around working the knee when Mone keeps popping back up. The lack of selling was nonsense and took me completely out of the match, which didn’t have the highest drama in the first place. This felt like Mone was getting to do whatever she wanted and Mina was little more than a prop to make that happen. Big disappointment here.

David Finlay vs. Brody King

King wastes no time in kicking him in the face to start but misses a charge into the corner. A Stunner over the ropes lets Finlay get a breather and he starts in on the leg. Finlay’s slingshot dive to the floor is pulled out of the air though and King puts him against the barricade for a huge crash. Back in and a backsplash connects before King gets to say some bad words.

They forearm it out on the apron until Finlay has to break up the hanging sleeper. Finlay hits a big dive off the top but King is back with a lariat into a powerbomb. Finlay’s spear gets two, only for King to Death Valley Driver him into the corner. There’s the cannonball but Finlay sends him into the buckle. A powerbomb into the Overkill (knee to the face) finishes King at 12:35.

Rating: B-. This gets Finlay back on track after he lost the title yesterday. Finlay is someone who has some skills and I can see the potential in him, but there was something missing to get him to that next level. On the other hand you have King, who is a great monster and can work well against almost anyone. Nice power match here, with Finlay’s powerbomb looking good.

Shota Umino vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Castagnoli jumps him on the ramp to start and takes it to the ring to officially start the beating. Umino gets knocked outside before Castagnoli grabs a crossface to crank away on the neck. Umino fights up and shrugs off some shots, setting up a springboard tornado DDT. Another DDT onto the apron drops Castagnoli and he gets beaten up on the floor.

Back in and a springboard missile dropkick gets two but Castagnoli gorilla presses him off the top. A running clothesline sets up the Swing and Castagnoli grabs the Sharpshooter. That’s broken up and Castagnoli strikes away, only for Umino to hit the Death Riders elbows. Another DDT and another elbow to the head get two on Castagnoli but he blocks the Death Rider. The Riccola Bomb gives Castagnoli two but Umino is back with the Death Rider for the pin at 14:32.

Rating: C+. I’ve seen two matches from Umino now and neither has exactly made me interested. There’s just no spark to him and hearing about Jon Moxley and the Death Riders (yes I know Umino and Moxley have a history) for most of the match didn’t make it much better. Just a match with some good enough moves, but this form of Umino isn’t doing it for me.

AEW International Title/NJPW Never Openweight Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Takeshita, with Don Callis, is defending. Ishii’s chops don’t work very well and Takeshita knocks him into the corner, where some forearms eventually have some success. Some kicks to the head wake Ishii up though and he chops away. Ishii’s shots to the face earn him a German suplex though and they’re both down. The Blue Thunder Bomb gives Takeshita two and the Raging Fire gets the same, leaving Takeshita surprised.

The kneeling Tombstone plants Ishii but he’s back with a German suplex into a release German suplex. They trade headbutts from all fours until Takeshita gets the better of a forearm off. Takeshita takes him up top, where Ishii snaps off a super hurricanrana. Takeshita’s brainbuster is shrugged off but he grabs a poisonrana. Another hard forearm into Raging Fire retains the titles at 13:30.

Rating: B-. I’m not big on the “you hit me in the head but I scream and get back up really fast” style and that’s what Ishii does rather often. That’s what they were going for here and it was another nice win for Takeshita, but it was only so entertaining. Takeshita is going to come back to AEW with multiple titles and there is a good chance he’ll hold those for a rather long time to come. That makes sense, as he really is that good most of the time.

IWGP Tag Team Titles: Young Bucks vs. United Empire vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon

The titles are vacant coming in and it’s the Great O Khan/Jeff Cobb for the Empire and Tetsuya Naito/Hiromu Takahashi for Los Ingobernables. Tornado rules as well, because having to tag might hinder the Bucks’ art. It’s a brawl to start and the Bucks clear the ring, setting up stereo dives to the floor.

Cobb fights back and is quickly cut off with a double superkick. Back in and the Bucks cut off Cobb and Naito, including a SUCK IT, though the Superkick Party is broken up. Naturally Matt can hit the double northern lights suplex but a tornado DDT into a Time Bomb 1.5 gets two. Cobb starts throwing suplexes and eventually suplexes both Bucks at once but Matt is right back up to team up with Takahashi.

A double superplex drops Cobb but Matt jumps Takahashi, because the Bucks are smart. Destino gets two on Nick with O Khan making the save. The EVP Trigger hits Naito with O Khan making another save, earning himself a superkick party. The Meltzer Driver finishes O Khan to give the Bucks the titles at 13:47.

Rating: C. Well, that was a nice tribute/love letter to the Young Bucks. The story was that they were just put into the title match because they’re rich and famous, and then they dominate/win the match. This felt like the Bucks saying they needed to show how dominant and awesome they were and that’s exactly what we got. You know, in case we haven’t seen that enough in AEW over the years.

NJPW Global Title: Jack Perry vs. Yota Tsuji

Tsuji is defending. Perry takes him into the corner to start but Tsuji takes him down with a faceplant. They’re quickly on the floor with Tsuji being sent into the barricade as Perry takes over. Back in and Perry stomps away, only to get caught with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

Another backbreaker gives Tsuji two but Perry ties him up in the Tree of Woe. A basement dropkick sets up a German suplex to give Perry two and they go up top. Tsuji’s super Spanish Fly gets two though and they’re both down. They forearm it out until Perry gets two off a DDT. A low blow sets up an Angle Slam for two but Tsuji hits a spear to retain at 13:12.

Rating: C+. While it’s not as bad as Shota Umino, I’m not sure I get it with Tsuji either. It doesn’t help that he’s completely average size and is using a spear, which is pretty much never a good idea. At least he won clean though and that’s a good thing. Granted I’m not sure how much value there is in beating Perry, who is showing that he isn’t the next big thing every single time he’s out there.

Gabe Kidd vs. Kenny Omega

This is Omega’s first match in over a year after dealing with diverticulitis. They grapple against the ropes to start and then strike it out until Omega knocks him into the corner. Commentary seems to call Tony Khan a “money mark” who took New Japan stars away to start AEW as Omega knocks him down and stomps away. They suplex each other out to the floor for the big crash and Omega is sent into the barricade.

Kidd takes too long setting up some tables though and gets taken own by a slingshot dive. Omega sends him into the barricade and hits a dragon suplex on the floor and Kidd is sent crashing though a table. Kidd is busted open so Omega takes him down with a dive but bangs up his own hip in the process. Some chair shots have Omega in trouble for a change and a suplex puts him through a table.

Omega is busted open as well so some chairs are thrown inside, leaving Kidd to work on the cut. Back in and Omega sends him into the chairs, only for Kidd to do the exact same thing. They trade chair shots to the head and both of them need a breather. Omega wins a strike off but Kidd blasts him with a discus lariat to leave both of them down. Back up and Omega snaps off a hurricanrana, setting up the big flip dive to the floor.

Back in and a Jay Driller gives Omega two and there’s a V Trigger against the ropes. The One Winged Angel doesn’t work though and Kidd grabs an abdominal stretch (remember Omega’s internal issues). That’s broken up so Kidd grabs a piledriver for two. Kidd is back up with a Ganso bomb into a package piledriver for two (Commentary: “GIVE ME A BREAK!” Yep.). A V Trigger into a powerbomb into another V Trigger gets one on Kidd before the One Winged Angel finishes Kidd at 31:49.

Rating: A-. They didn’t bother trying for a match here but rather had a fight, which made the match that much more emotional. Ignoring some of the “…really?” kickouts near the end and I had a great time with this. Kidd felt like a monster who had to be beaten and Omega did everything he could. This is the Omega that feels like a star and while he can only do it for so much longer, it worked here. Best match of the weekend so far.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title: Ricochet vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Sabre is defending and gets taken out by a dive before the bell. Ricochet hits another dive and a 450 gets two. Sabre ties him up in the ropes though and kicks him in the back so the fight can head outside. A flip dive is caught in a cravate (nice) and Sabre twists the neck. Back in and Sabre starts in on the leg but Ricochet hits a handspring elbow. A springboard clothesline into a moonsault gives Ricochet two but he has to break up Sabre’s choke.

Ricochet Death Valley Drivers him for two, only for Sabre to grab a dragon suplex for the same. Ricochet rolls some suplexes onto the apron and then the floor (that was different) for a double knockdown. Back in and they slap it out from their knees and then their feet. They fight up top until a super Zack Driver gets two, with Ricochet having to bail to the ropes to get out of an armbar.

Ricochet’s Vertigo connects for two and a shooting star press gets the same. A kick to the head sets up another Vertigo for another two but the 630 misses. The Zack Driver gets two so Sabre knocks him down again without much trouble. Sabre ties up the arms and Ricochet gives up at 21:06.

Rating: B+. I liked this a good deal, as it was a clash between a technical master and a high flier, which often works well. Sabre is quite good at what he does and some of the holds he pulls out are insane. Ricochet didn’t feel like the most serious challenger but he more than held up his own in a rather good match.

Post match Sabre puts over Ricochet and says the future of New Japan is the orange of TMDK. Posing ends the show.

Overall Rating: B. I had a better time with this one than Wrestle Kingdom, though that might be due to recognizing more of the names. The Omega vs. Kidd match is the best part of the weekend and the main event was better than last night’s. It’s not a concept that needs to be a regular thing but I’m sure it will be, even if some of the promotions were more or less tacked on (ROH not making it out of the pre-show was funny). Overall, a good show, but after two straight days of long shows, it’s a bit much to take in all at once.

Results
Momo Watanabe b. Willow Nightingale, Persephone and Athena – Dragon suplex to Athena
Sons Of Texas b. House Of Torture – Swanton to Sho
Taiji Ishimori won the Casino Gauntlet Match – Rollup to Desperado
Katsuyori Shibata vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi went to a time limit draw
Mercedes Mone b. Mina Shirakawa – Mone Maker
David Finlay b. Brody King – Overkill
Shota Umino b. Claudio Castagnoli – Death Rider
Konosuke Takeshita b. Tomohiro Ishii – Raging Fire
Young Bucks b. Los Ingobernables de Japon and United Empire – Meltzer Driver to O Khan
Yota Tsuji b. Jack Perry – Spear
Kenny Omega b. Gabe Kidd – One Winged Angel
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Ricochet – Double armbar

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