Collision
Date: May 16, 2026
Location: Wicomico Civic Center, Salisbury, Maryland
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back to the usual time and schedule for the show as we have the World Title on the line again. This time Darby Allin is defending against Sammy Guevara, who issued the challenge at last night’s Ring Of Honor Supercard Of Honor. That’s in addition to a few other matches set up at last night’s show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We run down the card.

After Dynamite, Jon Moxley, with the Death Riders, complained about not being able to beat Kyle O’Reilly. In theory, that means O’Reilly will be the next Continental Champion but Moxley is going to find a way. Claudio Castagnoli is ready to face Brody King in the Owen Hart Tournament. The rest of the team is ready to face the world. If it’s Wheeler Yuta against the world, the world doesn’t have much to worry about.

Conglomeration vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Non-title Eliminator Match. Bravo and Briscoe trade headlocks to start with Briscoe knocking him into the corner. That means it’s off to O’Reilly vs. Moriarty, with O’Reilly taking him down to taking him down into a rollup for two. The cross armbreaker is blocked but everything breaks down, with O’Reilly being left alone to hammer Moriarty in the corner. Cassidy comes in for one right hand and Moriarty falls down.

Dean comes in and gets armdragged by Cassidy, who is sent to the apron and beats up the Infantry anyway. A slingshot spear finally takes Cassidy down and Taylor (not in the match) drops a leg on the apron as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy getting in his spinning DDT but Moriarty grabs an abdominal stretch.

The other members of the team all pull until they get caught, meaning Cassidy can bring O’Reilly back in. The Infantry’s belly to back neckbreaker puts O’Reilly down for two and everything breaks down. Taylor cuts off Briscoe’s step up chair dive so O’Reilly takes Taylor down. That leaves Briscoe to Froggy Bow and Jay Driller Dean for the pin at 13:33.

Rating: B. This was the usual good match that turned into a fairly wild brawl by the end. That worked out well, with the Conglomeration always working, even in the altered lineup. Both teams were mixing it up a bit here and that’s fine enough, as it’s not like the titles were on the line in the first place.

Will Ospreay is ready for the Owen Hart Tournament. He respects Samoa Joe, but no one is stopping him from winning the whole thing.

The Conglomeration is happy with their win (it wasn’t a title defense, despite what the interviewer says). O’Reilly is ready for Moxley and Briscoe is ready for Tommaso Ciampa. Willow Nightingale wants all the gold, including the Women’s Title.

TBS Title: Willow Nightingale vs. Red Velvet

Nightingale is defending (Velvet’s ROH Women’s TV Title isn’t on the line) and say it with me: it’s an open challenge. Nightingale backs her into the corner and smiles to start so Velvet kicks the leg out. Velvet’s arm cranking doesn’t work so Nightingale gets up and offers a (left) hand(ed) shake.

Velvet tries and fails to crank on the arm and Nightingale sends her into the corner for the rapid fire clotheslines. A sitdown splash misses for Nightingale and Velvet rolls her up for two. They head outside, with Velvet striking away, only to get caught with a suplex. We take a break and come back with Nightingale missing her flip dive off the apron for a nasty crash. A bulldog gives Velvet two but she charges into a spinebuster for the same.

Nightingale drops her with a powerslam but the Babe With The Powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana. Velvet hits some running knees, only to flip into a full nelson slam for two more. Back up and Nightingale wins a strike off but gets flipped off the top. The Final Slice gives Velvet two, only for Nightingale to Pounce her out of her skin. The Babe With The Powerbomb retains the title at 13:03.

Rating: B-. Velvet has been on a roll since she came back from her injury and it’s nice to see her getting to showcase that on the bigger stage. At the same time, it feels like all Nightingale does anymore is defend the title in open challenges. It really shouldn’t be hard to find her a regular challenger and hopefully that is coming up sooner than later.

We look at the Women’s Owen Hart Cup brackets.

Video on Sammy Guevara, who is ready to challenge Darby Allin for the World Title.

Guevara knows he can beat Allin, as he’s done it four times before. Then he’ll beat MJF and shave him bald, but he’ll leave a fade.

Darby Allin isn’t surprised MJF isn’t here. He’s here to defend the title though because he loves this. If Mike Bailey wants a title shot, bring it on Dynamite.

Tommaso Ciampa is attacking Mark Briscoe in the back and they brawl into the arena, where Briscoe whips him into the barricade. Briscoe throws in some chairs, along with Ciampa, but the Jay Driller is broken up with a low blow. Ciampa chairs him down and takes Briscoe up top but the Conglomeration runs in for the save. Briscoe wants their match on Dynamite No DQ.

We look at the Men’s Owen Hart Cup brackets.

Opps vs. Lethal Twist

Lethal wants to start with Joe and gets his wish, with a chop just annoying Joe a bit more. It’s off to Bowens and Johnson, with Bowens sending him hard into the corner and stomping away. Bowens drives Lethal back first into the apron a few times as he’s being rather aggressive here. Back in and a Russian legsweep sets up Joe’s backsplash for two but a Blake Christian distraction lets Lethal hit a missile dropkick.

We take a break and come back with Johnson hammering on Joe. The beating doesn’t last long as Joe is up for the tag off to Bowens, who cleans house. A spinning torture rack faceplant gets two on Johnson, who Death Valley Drivers him into Hail To The King from Lethal. The Figure Four is blocked and Bowens clotheslines his way out of trouble. Joe comes in and yells at Lethal for clotheslining him, meaning it’s the Koquina Clutch to Lethal and a twisting armbar to Johnson for the double tap at 11:48.

Rating: B-. I can go for Bowens getting to do something of note after so many months of just floating around. The more aggressive style worked well for him here and the armbar is a fine way to go. This has me intrigued to see more and that’s not something I’ve gotten to say about a Bowens match for a long time. Nice fit here, which I didn’t see coming.

Post match Bowens talks about how confused he was for a long time, but then he found the Opps and it’s a perfect fit. He is the pride of professional wrestling and your hero, crediting Joe with his change of attitude. Joe tells Will Ospreay that decisions have consequences and while Ospreay sees it as a dream match, it’s going to be a nightmare.

We look at Swerve Strickland attacking Bandido last night at Supercard Of Honor.

Brody King threatens Strickland with violence but Bandido says he has to do this one himself.

Megan Bayne/Lena Kross vs. Allie Katch/Kaia McKenna

Non-title Eliminator match with a five minute time limit. Bayne knocks Katch into the corner to start and it’s off to Kross for the rapid fire elbows to the face. Everything breaks down and the non-champions get slammed into each other. The Divine Intervention finishes Katch at 1:50.

Video on the Double Or Nothing Women’s Title match.

Athena and Mina Shirakawa bicker before their Owen Hart Cup match.

We look at Nigel McGuinness beating Josh Woods at Supercard Of Honor.

We look at Lio Rush’s “star making performance” from last night. Not exactly no.

Rush, being rather normal, says “these things happen”, when asked about Action Andretti costing him the match. He insists it’s fine, but when interviewer Nigel McGuinness leaves, he takes off his sunglasses to reveal red eyes as black goo drips out of his mouth. Anything in wrestling involving “black goo” is not a good idea. Free lesson of the day.

The Dogs/Mark Davis vs. The Rascalz

Clark Connors beats up a production worker for dropping something. The Rascalz triple team Davis to start and manage to knock him down in the corner. Everything breaks down and the Rascalz get to strike Davis down inside. The Dogs make a save and Wentz gets triple teamed down as we take a break.

We come back with Connors running over to break up a tag attempt as Wentz is still in trouble. Wentz fights up a few seconds later and gets the tag off to Reed to clean house. The Dogs cut that off and it’s back to Davis, who takes too long setting up a double Doomsday Device. That’s broken up with a double superplex and the Rascalz hit a triple dive. Reed cutters both Dogs but gets piledriven by Davis, setting up the Last Clip to give Finlay the pin at 11:33.

Rating: B-. The match was entertaining, but I could really go for more tag matches with, you know, tags throughout. I get that things are going to break down eventually as almost all tag matches do, but it shouldn’t be this much of the match. Davis and the Dogs worked well enough here and the Dogs certainly need the wins.

Anna Jay has a lot left to do and Tay Melo is here with her. Their team seems to be back.

AEW World Title: Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara

Allin is defending and it’s No Countout again. Allin looks down at the title…and Guevara stomps him onto it for a smart move. The bell rings and Guevara goes outside to set up the table (because No Countout means No DQ) and a ladder (because of course). Guevara’s Swanton off the ladder sends Allin through the table and we’re less than two minutes into the match.

Back in and the GTH is countered into the Scorpion Deathlock but Allin collapses with the hold on. For some reason that’s not a stoppage and Guevara drops a springboard splash for two. Allin knocks him off the top but the Coffin Drop is broken up and Guevara sends Allin crashing out to the floor. Back in and Three Amigos give Guevara two and we hit the chinlock.

We take a break and come back with Guevara diving into a choke but making the rope. Guevara is back up with a shot to the face but Allin kicks him in the face and hits a springboard shoulder. A pair of GTH’s and a frog splash give Guevara two so he puts Allin on a table at ringside. The 630 misses for Guevara and a Coffin Drop retains the title at 17:06.

Rating: C+. I get what they’re going for with Allin but I’m at the point where I really could go for a break from him. Seeing the same person headline show after show in a 15-20 minute match is losing its charm. The match was far from bad, but I’m looking forward to Allin losing the title just so he’s away for a little while. Throw in him reaching Super Cena levels of surviving stuff and it’s even worse.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked the show for the most part, as it felt more like a show that was focusing on setting things up while also doing some stuff here. That’s not usually the case with Collision but they have been doing a bit better in recent weeks. If that’s becoming the new norm, Collision will get a lot more useful in a hurry. For now, good stuff, even if I’m rather over the Allin stuff.

Results
Conglomeration b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Jay Driller to Dean
Willow Nightingale b. Red Velvet – Babe With The Powerbomb
Opps b. Lethal Twist – Double submission
Megan Bayne/Lena Kross b. Allie Katch/Kaia McKenna – Divine Intervention to Katch
The Dogs/Mark Davis b. The Rascalz – Last Clip to Reed
Darby Allin b. Sammy Guevara – Coffin Drop

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

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

Dynamite
Date: May 13, 2026
Location: Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Asheville, North Carolina
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We’re on the way to Double Or Nothing and this week we find out if MJF is willing to put up his hair against Darby Allin and the World Title. Like doubling the stakes you might say. Other than that, we get to see the unveiling of this year’s Owen Hart Classic brackets. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Earlier today, MJF wouldn’t answer a question about whether he would put his hair on the line. Then he passed a rather surprising number of bald men until running into the Demand. Ricochet says MJF will look good bald, but not as good as him.

FTR/The Dogs/Tommaso Ciampa vs. Adam Copeland/Christian Cage/Orange Cassidy/Young Bucks

Believe it or not, it’s a brawl to start with everyone going out to the floor but we quickly settle down to Harwood and Cassidy in the ring. Harwood’s top rope superplex connects but Cassidy is right back up with a Stundog Millionaire. Ciampa comes in and can’t connect with a chop, instead getting kicked away. Nick gets the tag and picks up the pace until the Bucks take out the Dogs.

It works so well that they do it again before going after Stokely. FTR’s save earns them some superkicks and it’s off to Cage, who lets the Bucks hit another double superkick before getting two. We take a break and come back with Stokely on commentary and Cage fighting out of the corner.

The non-Harwood villains pull Cage’s partners off the apron though until Copeland gets back up. Cage knocks Harwood down and brings Copeland in to quite the positive reaction. The Edge-O-Matic gets two on Connors and everything breaks down. Copeland hits an Impaler on Connors and his partners all come off the top for the big visual.

The Bucks hit dives and Cassidy and Cage put their hands in their pockets but Cage throws Cassidy over the top onto a pile. Cage hits his own dive but Copeland walks into a Shatter Machine with Cassidy making a save. We hit the parade of knockdowns and Connors spears Harwood by mistake. Connors gets triple superkicked into a spear from Copeland for the pin at 15:52.

Rating: B. This was your wild tag match to start the show and the fans were definitely into the whole thing and brought it up even higher. Copeland getting the pin is good, though it might have made more sense for him to win with the Grindhouse on the way to the I Quit match. That’s a minor quibble though and it was an energetic way to start the show, which is a good idea.

We go to the Death Riders’ training area (seemingly on a rooftop) where Will Ospreay trains his neck and Jon Moxley talks about how Ospreay used to fly like a bird. Because that’s what birds do. Now he needs to be a bird of prey.

Video on Stadium Stampede.

The Demand and Mark Davis introduce Andrade El Idolo and the Dogs as their other team members. That might be a bit more effective if the Dogs hadn’t just lost a match.

Mike Bailey vs. Westbrook

Bailey misses a kick and the standing moonsault but manages to knock Westbrook out to the apron. The Tornado Kick and Ultimate Weapon finish at 1:10.

Kevin Knight gets in the ring with Bailey and it’s Open Challenge time.

TNT Title: Kevin Knight vs. ???

Knight is defending against…Brian Cage of all people and yes of course he’s still part of the Don Callis Family (who are here along with Mike Bailey). Knight’s chop has no effect to start and some running shoulders do about the same. Cage sends him into the corner and then does it again, only to charge into a raised boot. Knight’s dive to the floor bounces off of Cage though and he F5’s Knight onto the apron as we take a break.

We come back with Cage grabbing a DDT into a swinging neckbreaker (that was nice) but getting his neck dropped across the top rope. Knight scores with a springboard missile dropkick and they’re both down. Cage is sent outside and taken out with a big dive, followed by a hurricanrana into the steps. Back in and Cage grabs the apron superplex for two as Bailey and Lance Archer get in a fight on the floor. That leaves Knight to hit a springboard clothesline and a hurricanrana out of the corner. The UFO Splash retains the title at 10:45.

Rating: B-. Well Cage is back and he’s losing again. I’m not sure how much he’s going to help the Callis Family, but the point of the team seems to be to build up as many wrestlers as they can find. Either way, it’s a fine power vs. speed match and that’s something that is almost always going to work.

Post match Bailey congratulates Knight on his win and Knight welcomes Cage back. Bailey says Knight is a future World Champion and Bailey wants the next World Title shot.

Here are the Men’s Owen Hart Cup brackets:

Samoa Joe
Will Ospreay

Mark Davis
Jack Perry

Swerve Strickland
Bandido

Claudio Castagnoli
Brody King

Joe vs. Ospreay and Strickland vs. Bandido will both be at Double Or Nothing. The finals are at Forbidden Door.

Jack Perry, holding a knife, talks about how Mark Davis needed a golf club to beat him. They’ll fight at Double Or Nothing in Stadium Stampede and then it’s back to basics, with Perry moving on towards the World Title.

Will Ospreay vs. Ace Austin

We do get a handshake to start before they take turns flipping out of wristlocks. Austin’s standing armbar is countered into a seated armbar, which is broken rather quickly as well. Austin puts him down with a test of strength but can’t break the bridge. A running dropkick to the back of the head hits Ospreay and Austin pulls him into a Muta Lock, sending Ospreay over to the ropes.

Austin Death Valley Drivers him for two and we take a break. We come back with Ospreay hitting a Phenomenal Forearm, setting up a standing corkscrew moonsault for two. Ospreay’s handspring kick to the head sends Austin outside but he’s back up to dropkick Ospreay through the ropes. Back in and the Oscutter gets two more but the Hidden Blade misses.

Austin faceplants him and grabs an anklescissors to bring him off the top. Ospreay’s legs get tied up for a rollup and a spinning Downward Spiral gets two more. A Cheeky Nandos misses for Ospreay but he pulls Austin into a sitout powerbomb for another near fall. Austin hits a springboard spinning kick to the head for two but Ospreay kicks him in the arm and grabs a cross armbreaker for the tap at 15:41.

Rating: B+. Dang I could go for more of Austin, as there is something about him that is just fun to watch. Of course he didn’t have a chance here against the new and improved Ospreay but they had a very entertaining match together. Ospreay is the same high flier he was before but now with a submission game, which doesn’t fit him so well, but having him turn on Moxley and use that against him could work well.

Post match Ospreay shows some respect to Austin. This brings out Samoa Joe and the Opps, with Joe saying Ospreay could have had a first round bye but made his decision. Therefore, it’s time for pain at Double Or Nothing. Tonight though, the rest of the Opps head to the ring but here are the Death Riders before things get violent. Ospreay looks at Jon Moxley and seems to think there might be some benefits to this.

MJF interrupts Konosuke Takeshita and praises him for what he has been doing. Takeshita is going to win the title tonight and MJF thinks he would be a great first challenger. With Takeshita gone, MJF gives Don Callis the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Andrade El Idolo comes in to stare MJF off and say he wants the title.

Here are the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament brackets:

Persephone
Hazuki

Willow Nightingale
Alex Windsor

Mina Shirakawa
Athena

Skye Blue
Sareee

Nightingale vs. Windsor is at Double Or Nothing and the finals will also be at Forbidden Door. It’s also good that Persephone is back and it must be time for Athena to lose on the main roster again.

The Conglomeration isn’t sure which of them should get the Tag Team Title shot. Willow Nightingale is going to win the Women’s Owen Cup. Oh and Mark Briscoe is back and wants Tommaso Ciampa next week, which will be another three hour show.

Triangle Of Madness vs. Hikaru Shida/Brawling Birds

Everything breaks down to start with the fight heading outside. The Triangle gets beaten up on the floor, with Hayter taking over on Thekla in the corner. Thekla fights up and hits a big dive to the floor as we take a break. We come back with Hayter big booting her way out of trouble, allowing the tag back to Shida.

A suplex sends Hart into the corner and it’s back to Thekla to kick Shida down. The double gordbuster and double superkick put Shida down, with the other two coming in for the save. Blue breaks up Two Birds One Stone and it’s the Haytebreaker to Hart. Two Birds One Stone is loaded up again but Thekla comes in with a belt shot for the DQ at 10:03.

Rating: C+. I like the ending as Thekla would rather do damage than win the match, especially with her big title defense coming up. The Birds work very well together and got to showcase themselves a bit here, though the lack of Statlander was a bit odd. That being said, I’ll take a regular team getting some ring time over a makeshift group of three women.

Post match the beatdown is on until Mina Shirakawa and Willow Nightingale make the save.

Video on Rush.

AEW World Title: Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Allin is defending and his early suicide dive is rammed into the post. They head inside with Takeshita sending him flying into the corner, where Allin bites the face. A top rope shoulder doesn’t do anything to Takeshita, who knocks Allin outside instead. The steps are loaded up but Allin scratches his way out of a suplex and dropkicks Takeshita off of said steps. A suicide dive hits Takeshita again and they get up to the apron.

Takeshita Blue Thunder Bombs him to the floor and we come back with Allin pulling him into a guillotine choke. That’s reversed into a wheelbarrow suplex and a bridging German superplex (GEEZ) plants Allin hard for two. The running knee gives Takeshita two more and Don Callis gives him the ring. Takeshita doesn’t want it though and gets small packaged for two more.

Allin Code Reds him off the top and the Last Supper gets two. Takeshita is sent outside and the Coffin Drop connects to a standing Takeshita on the floor. Back up and Takeshita goes onto the steps but gets his suplex reversed into a Scorpion Death Drop. Back in and Takeshita gets the knees up to block a Coffin Drop, only for Allin to grab a Scorpion Death Lock. Takeshita makes the rope but the Coffin Drop connects to retain the title at 15:30.

Rating: B. Another good match from Allin, though having him space them out a bit more might work better for him. At the same time, it was another case where there was basically no drama about who was winning as their Double Or Nothing matches were both set, though I’ll take Takeshita over Okada. It’s nice to have the World Champion around, though we’ve pretty much covered the “Allin fights really hard to keep the belt” stuff for the time being.

Post match Allin grabs the mic and wants MJF’s decision right now, because starting a segment this far after the show was supposed to be over is fine. A table is set up and MJF comes out, with Allin wasting no time in signing the contract. MJF can’t bring himself to do it though, instead talking about how Allin always believes that making people happy matters. Deep down though, the people know that Allin is someone who got lucky.

At Double Or Nothing, MJF is going to become a three time World Champion at 30 years old. Allin promises to make MJF bald at Double Or Nothing and that’s enough to get the signature. The brawl is on and MJF leaves him laying but Kevin Knight runs in to break up a super Tombstone to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Dang that was long, with a seventeen minute overrun. Other than that though, this was a rather good show, with a pair of awesome matches. The MJF stuff was all but guaranteed so it was hardly a big change, but this was just about making it official. They added a bunch of stuff to Double Or Nothing here too and the card looks pretty good, so hopefully they don’t change it too much before the pay per view.

Results
Adam Copeland/Christian Cage/Orange Cassidy/Young Bucks b. FTR/The Dogs/Tommaso Ciampa – Spear to Connors
Mike Bailey b. Westbrook – Ultimate Weapon
Kevin Knight b. Brian Cage – UFO Splash
Will Ospreay b. Ace Austin – Cross armbreaker
Triangle Of Madness b. Brawling Birds/Hikaru Shida via DQ when Thekla used a belt
Darby Allin b. Konosuke Takeshita – Coffin Drop

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

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Collision
Date: May 9, 2026
Location: SoFi Center, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s a live with a golf theme, which is certainly a way to go. The show is also only an hour long this week as the first half took place after Dynamite. Much like Dynamite, the World Title is on the line here, with Darby Allin defending against Pac this week on his way to Double Or Nothing. Let’s get to it.

Here is Wednesday’s Collision if you need a recap.

Well the venue is unique, with most of the arena taken up by a golf hole, complete with bunker.

National Title: Jack Perry vs. Mark Davis

Perry is defending and gets thrown out of the corner for daring to fire off some chops. Davis gets sent outside though and there’s the moonsault to take him down. That just earns Perry a toss onto the apron and a big clothesline drops him right back. They get back inside with Davis throwing him around as the golf green behind the ring is throwing me off. Davis knocks him outside again for a big crash and we take a break.

We come back with Perry’s running forearm staggering Davis and a sunset bomb getting two. They go to the apron, where Perry escapes a suplex attempt and snaps off a hurricanrana to the floor. A top rope elbow to the back gives Perry two and a running hurricanrana gets the same. Davis’ discus lariat into the piledriver gets two more so he takes Perry up top. The super piledriver is countered into a super hurricanrana. Don Callis gets on the apron so here is Ricochet with a golf club to Perry’s back. The piledriver gives Davis the pin and the title at 14:18.

Rating: B. It was a messy finish but what mattered the most here was Davis getting a win. He has turned into one of the more consistent stars in AEW and I can go with seeing him get some success. I’m not expecting him to be some all time champion, but he won it once and that’s all that matters at the moment. At the same time, how is Perry vs. Ricochet still going? It feels like it was long past done and yet here we seem to be again.

Nick Wayne will be in the Best Of The Super Juniors in New Japan for the second consecutive year.

Jack Perry is on the phone after his loss and wants to get his hands on Ricochet. Like say in Stadium Stampede, with the rest of the Elite. As in the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega. Assuming the Hurt Syndicate stay in, we could be in for a fourteen man match.

Don Callis is thrilled and of course the Family is in for Stadium Stampede. Ricochet approves.

Lena Kross/Megan Bayne vs. Ruthie Slay/Rachel Ley

Non-title with a five minute time limit. Kross shrugs off some kicks to the head and plants Ley down. It’s off to Bayne for the German suplex, followed by one from Kross and another from Bayne. A double German suplex sends both of them flying and the double chokeslam finishes Ley at 2:17.

We look at the Women’s Title picture in recent weeks, with the result being Thekla defending against Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter at Double Or Nothing. That’s a bit of a surprise.

The Owen Hart Tournament brackets will be announced on Dynamite.

Don Callis says the winner of tonight’s World Title shot will be facing Konosuke Takeshita on Dynamite. That’s different from the announced Kazuchika Okada match, with Callis saying Okada had to go back to Japan on personal business. Takeshita comes in to say he’ll win.

We look at Kyle O’Reilly’s recent successes. Well kind of recent.

Mike Bailey vs. Kiran Grey

Grey shoves him before the bell to start so Bailey kicks Grey out to the floor. That means the middle rope moonsault to the floor can connect and Bailey goes up again. Grey tries to cut him off but gets knocked down, setting up the Ultimate Weapon to give Bailey the pin at 1:49.

Post match Kevin Knight gets in to say he and Bailey should go to the top of the company together.

Video on Pac vs. Darby Allin.

AEW World Title: Pac vs. Darby Allin

Allin is defending and there are no countouts. The bell rings and Allin bails to the floor to head up to the golf hole. Pac follows him and they slug it out with Allin blocking a suplex. Instead it’s a sunset bomb into the sand trap, followed by a running dropkick into another sand trap. Back up and Pac suplexes him into the sand trap and grabs the Brutalizer, with the referee breaking it up due to the lack of value. Or he just wants to get out of the sand. A gorilla press slam sends Allin into the sand again as we take a break.

We come back with Allin tied in the corner so Pac can kick him in the face a few times. Allin is right back up with a Scorpion Death Drop for two but Pac crotches him on top. A top rope Falcon Arrow gives Pac two and Allin rolls outside. Naturally that means it’s time for a table but the shooting star press misses, with Pac crashing hard. Back in and the Scorpion Deathlock goes on, with Pac crawling over to the rope. Pac knocks him down again and here are more Death Riders to load up a table.

A tombstone plants Allin onto the steps as the Death Riders are stacking up even more tables. Pac carries him towards the 2×2 tables and we take a break (already in the overrun). We come back with Allin fighting back in the balcony but getting thrown off through the pile of tables. That’s only good for two back inside and the Death Riders are stunned. The referee takes a chair away from Pac so he grabs the belt. That’s enough for Allin to get up, kick him low, and hit a belt shot. The Coffin Drop retains the title at 20:23.

Rating: B-. That was quite the long match, but the bigger issue here is how much Allin is surviving. It’s one thing to be a tough fighting champion, but someone kicking out of not only a tombstone onto the steps but also being thrown off a balcony and through four tables is a bit much. It reaches the point of I’m not buying Allin being in danger and that kind of defeats the purpose of the whole thing. The match was more good than bad, but it felt like a few matches tied together into one, with the sand stuff feeling like it was from something totally different.

Overall Rating: B. For what was basically a two match card, this worked out rather well, with a surprise title change to start and a good (albeit too long) main event. The venue was also very unique and that’s nice to see, as you can only have so many shows in the same kind of arenas. Trim the main event down a bit and the show is that much better, but what we got was solid enough.

Results
Mark Davis b. Jack Perry – Piledriver
Lena Kross/Megan Bayne b. Ruthie Slay/Rachel Ley – Double chokeslam to Ley
Mike Bailey b. Kiran Grey – Ultimate Weapon
Darby Allin b. Pac – Coffin Drop

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Collision
Date: May 6, 2026
Location: North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, South Carolina
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur

This is one of those split shows as we’re getting the first half on Wednesday right after Dynamite and the second half on Saturday (with a golf theme, hopefully featuring Barry Darsow and Kerw….never mind). The main event is a ten man tag and yes it does indeed feature the Young Bucks. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with Sting helping Darby Allin up after Allin retained the World Title in the Dynamite main event. Sting gives Kevin Knight a nod of respect before leaving…and here is MJF to interrupt. Everyone is sick of seeing Allin with the title. It’s been cute and all but give him the rematch already. Allin wants something on the line, so MJF offers his scarf and the Dynamite Diamond Ring but that’s not enough.

MJF throws in a million bucks but Allin doesn’t care about money. Allin wants MJF’s hair on the line, even revealing that MJF flew to Turkey for a hair transplant. MJF has until next week to sign the contract or he never gets a rematch. MJF can’t bring himself to say anything and leaves, so here is Kazuchika Okada to interrupt. Okada requests and received a title shot next week. Oh sweet. I was hoping we’d only have one champion get beaten on Dynamite this month.

Will Ospreay is told his neck is improving and if his MRI this week looks good, he’ll be medically cleared. Ospreay won’t really say what he’s doing with the Death Riders but it seems to be a means to an end.

Mike Bailey vs. AR Fox

They go to the mat a few times to start for a standoff so Bailey gives him the bouncing kicks to the floor. Bailey avoids a charge to send Fox outside, setting up a springboard corkscrew moonsault. Back in and a missile dropkick connects for Bailey and we take a break. We come back with a battle over a suplex until Fox DDTs him out of the corner.

A spinning suplex gives Fox two and he hits a big dive out to the floor. Back in and a Swanton gives Fox two but he has to avoid a Tornado Kick in the corner. Bailey misses the Ultimate Weapon as well and blocks Lo Mein Pain, meaning the Ultimate Weapon can connect for the pin at 7:33.

Rating: B-. As usual, Fox was entertaining in the ring and can do some very impressive stuff. Unfortunately at the same time, we are long past the point of believing that he has a real chance to win anything important. There are far worse choices to make others look good though and they had a nice, fast paced match.

Willow Nightingale issues another open challenge. How original.

Pac wants a shot at Darby Allin as he’s beaten him before. If Allin is so good, prove Pac wrong and yes, you can consider that an invitation.

Jamie Hayter vs. Skye Blue

Hayter elbows her in the face to start and boots her out to the floor. Back in and Blue gets in a snapmare, followed by a basement superkick for an early two. That’s shrugged off and a fall away slam sends Blue flying and Hayter hits a basement lariat for two of her own. Blue is back up with a Downward Spiral onto the apron and then sends her into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Hayter suplexing her into the corner and then suplexing her right back out. They trade kicks to the head but Code Blue is blocked, meaning they get to trade headbutts for a double down. Hayter’s choke in the corner is cut off and they both go up for an exchange of slaps. With that not working, a super Hayterade knocks Blue silly for the pin at 9:21.

Rating: C+. It’s good to see Hayter getting a win, though I’m not sure what the endgame is supposed to be. She’s already lost the big title shot against Thekla and yet the feud seems to be continuing. Maybe they’ll run it back or do a triple threat or something, but for now it’s a weird way to go.

The rest of the Triangle Of Madness is in the crowd so Hayter beats Blue up some more.

Don Callis brags about his Family and all the gold they’re going to win. Konosuke Takeshita isn’t happy about Kazuchika Okada wanting the World Title and ignoring their upcoming match. On top of that, Andrade El Idolo wants the World Title as well and leaves. Calls seems to get annoyed but insists the team is going to win everything. Of note: Andrade has a new title on his shoulder which is never identified or even mentioned (yes I know what it is). While the last thing this company needs is more titles floating around, maybe tell us what we’re looking at?

Rush vs. Manny Lo

Bull’s Horns in 43 seconds. Rush’s post match catchphrase almost takes up a third of the match time.

Jack Perry is in his bus but gets out to climb a mountain. The hills are alive with the sounds of Baltimora.

The Dogs/Death Riders vs. Young Bucks/Bang Bang Gang

The brawl starts in the aisle and they get inside for an eight man suplex. The bad guys are almost whipped into each other but walk into a quadruple atomic drop. The Bucks clear the ring and Nick hits a big running dive. Austin’s dive is cut off though and Connors gives him a spear through the ropes.

The Riders stomp away on the floor and we take a break. We come back with Austin suplexing his way out of a chinlock but getting sent into the corner for a string of running clotheslines. Everything breaks down (I can’t believe it took that long) and Austin knocks Castagnoli away, allowing the tag back to Colten. House is cleaned but Colten gets caught in the Dragon Tamer/Stomp combination for two.

Matt comes back in to hit the rolling northern lights suplexes, even hitting two at once and getting a rollup for a near fall at the same time. The Bucks bulldog the Bucks down and it’s time to fire off the superkicks. The BTE Trigger hits Finlay for two and Castagnoli is back in with a double clothesline to the Bucks. A bunch of clotheslines leave everyone down until it’s Austin slugging it out with Yuta. Austin and the Bucks hit a triple superkick on Yuta and the Bucks nail stereo dives. The Fold gives Austin the pin on Yuta at 14:21.

Rating: B. This is pretty much all you would have expected and it felt very similar to all of the other versions of this kind of match AEW has done. It’s entertaining and had the dives and flips, but that’s kind of been done to death, especially with the Bucks. That’s a good enough main event for Collision though, especially one going on this late. I will however take Austin getting a win, as he’s starting to rack up some success around here. That’s rather promising.

The winners (and Juice Robinson) celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Yeah that’s Collision for you: basically a house show with people you do recognize showing up and having matches without much impact on anything. You had the MJF/Allin challenge (fair enough as that was important) Rush’s latest push continues, some matches were set up for Dynamite and…yeah that’s about it. The show was perfectly watchable as usual, but it’s very little that you really need to see.

Results
Mike Bailey b. AR Fox – Ultimate Weapon
Jamie Hayter b. Skye Blue – Super Hayterade
Rush b. Manny Lo – Bull’s Horns
Young Bucks/Bang Bang Gang b. The Dogs/Death Riders – Fold to Yuta

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Dynamite
Date: May 6, 2026
Location: North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, South Carolina
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

It’s another double show this week as we have the usual two hours of Dynamite, plus the first half of Collision. As usual, the World Title is on the line as Darby Allin is defending against Kevin Knight in what could be a heck of a match. We’re also getting pretty close to Double Or Nothing and that should mean some new things being set up. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring for a dedication to Ted Turner, who started the network they’re on and had a big hand in bringing wrestling to national television. Schiavone brings out Sting, who talks about how great it was to have an all in billionaire who loved wrestling. Back in the day, a lot of people wanted to get rid of wrestling but Turner would tell the wrestlers to keep doing what he was doing because he had deep pockets.

He and Darby Allin burned this place up for three and a half years and he’s glad to see Allin defending the title tonight. Schiavone talks about how the TNT and TBS Titles have plates honoring where Turner started wrestling in Atlanta. And now, three hours of wrestling! It was nice to see this kind of thing and given that they air on the Turner networks, it kind of had to be there.

We get a ten bell salute to Turner.

Opening sequence.

Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson

Non-title Eliminator Match. They go head to head and yell a lot before trading the forearms. Robinson headbutts him in the corner and a catapult sends Moxley out to the floor. The big flip dive off the apron connects and they go back inside, where Moxley (already bleeding) stomps on the hand. The fingers are split apart but Robinson is able to send him outside again, this time with a toss into the timekeeper’s area. Back in and Robinson hammers away until we take a break.

We come back with Moxley working on the fingers again but Robinson gets up to slug away. That’s cut off rather quickly and now it’s Moxley getting to fire off the right hands in the corner. A super hurricanrana gets Robinson out of trouble and he reverses a piledriver attempt into a rollup for two.

The snap jabs just earn Robinson a bite to the face but he’s right back with a high crossbody. They trade headbutts and forearms until Moxley misses a charge into the post. A mere thirteen seconds later, he’s back with a bulldog choke and piledriver for two. The choke goes on again and Robinson is out at 14:34.

Rating: B-. This was Moxley in his Superman mode as he bounced up from charging into a post like it was nothing so he could do his big offense. That’s the kind of ridiculous stuff he does every so often and it makes for some less than great matches. Also, nice job of having the Bang Bang Gang get its momentum back on Collision and have their leader lose in the first match on the following Dynamite.

Will Ospreay trains with the Death Riders and Moxley says this is Death Ground (as in ground from which he can never escape) if his neck doesn’t get stronger. Yeah of course this is hard. And no more cameras.

Orange Cassidy vs. Dax Harwood

The winner gets a shot at the loser’s titles and Harwood has about seven people (including Tommaso Ciampa, RPG Vice, Cash Wheeler, the Dogs and Stokely dressed as Cassidy) with him. Cassidy brings out the rest of the Conglomeration, Adam Copeland, Christian Cage and the Young Bucks with him as there are probably fifteen people involved in this segment

Harwood armdrags him down to start but Cassidy kicks him off and grabs a headlock. Cassidy blocks the chops in the corner and hits an Orange Punch, sending Harwood outside. Another Orange Punch hits the post though and the hand gets wrapped around the post as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy being sent into the corner but blocking a superplex attempt. A top rope DDT gets two and Harwood goes outside, where he cuts off a suicide dive attempt.

Back in and a spinning DDT drops Harwood but Stokely offers a distraction and a cheap shot from the floor gets two. A big brawl on the floor looks to allow Harwood to bring in the ring bell, which is quickly taken away. Cassidy kicks him in the face but gets caught in a slingshot powerbomb for two more. Back up and the Orange Punch gets two so Harwood goes after the bad arm/hand again. That’s reversed into a cradle though and Cassidy gets the pin at 12:01.

Rating: B-. Well that was….busy. This felt like a match that could have had about, I don’t know, fifteen or so less people at ringside? I’m hardly thrilled with the idea of more people getting a chance to be a double champion again but it’s just another match before (I’m guessing) we get to Copeland and Cage getting their rematch at Double Or Nothing.

Post match everyone comes in and the good guys clean house.

Video on Rush.

Last week, the Demand jumped Chris Jericho.

This week, Jericho (not Chris Jericho but just Jericho) is in the back but wants to talk about the Demand in front of the people. He comes out to the ring and says he’s done with the three on one beatdowns. Instead, he’s going to DEMAND that Ricochet come out here and face him man to man right now.

Cue the Demand, with Ricochet mocking Jericho, who says that he can’t hear over all of the booing. Ricochet is tired of this stuff and listening to these people in Charleston, North Carolina (Jericho: “It’s South.”) and brings up a challenge for Stadium Stampede. He’s just not sure if Jericho can find four other partners because no one around here likes him. Jericho yells at him for getting the state wrong (Ricochet: “Same thing.”) and is sure he can find someone. Otherwise he’ll just do it himself.

The brawl is on and Jericho clears the ring…for a bit, only to get beaten back down. Cue the Hurt Syndicate to make the save. Schiavone: “I know they love Bobby Lashley and they love South Carolina native Benjamin Shelton.” That’s either a really odd reference to a Hulk Hogan interview from about a year ago, or Schiavone isn’t very good at his job.

Mina Shirakawa gives Harley Cameron a pep talk and rips Cameron’s shirt open. Shirakawa realizes Cameron is wearing her bra underneath rather than gear and has to apologize. Cameron doesn’t seem to mind and is fired up.

International Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Keith

Okada is defending in your random title match of the week. In case you’re wondering, Keith’s most recent singles win on AEW TV was in October. Of 2024. Excalibur says Keith has been racking up wins in Ring Of Honor though, and that is true. I mean he hasn’t actually won a singles match this year but the three he had in 2025 count right? Oh wait actually as Excalibur said that Keith has had success on the independent circuit. From what I can find, that success is a record of 1-1-2 this year. So I guess this is based on the ROH tag success? To get a singles title shot. Right.

Anyway, Keith kicks away to start and snapmares him into a knee drop for two. Keith goes up but gets dropkicked out to the floor, where Okada hits a DDT as we take a break. We come back with Keith not being able to get a Fujiwara armbar but he can knee Okada in the head. Keith hits a running DDT for two and they head outside again, where Keith gets in another DDT.

Naturally that doesn’t do much and Okada gives him a slam into the dropkick. Another dropkick misses but Okada backdrops his way out of a tiger driver attempt. The next attempt works a bit better but Diamond Dust is countered into something like a sitout Tombstone. The Rainmaker retains the title at 10:16.

Rating: B. Keith made the most of his chance here and the match wound up being good. While it would be nice to see the choice of title challengers have a bit more logic, it was nice to see Keith getting a shot. Okada is on the way to his biggest match in AEW (or at least close to it) so call this a rather early warmup.

Post match Okada says he’s coming for the World Title. Censored.

Video on Andrade El Idolo.

Mike Bailey gives Kevin Knight a pep talk before tonight’s World Title shot. Knight is ready to win another title.

Samoa Joe and the Opps, now with Anthony Bowens, wants Will Ospreay on his team. Either do that, or get his fist instead.

Mina Shirakawa/Harley Cameron vs. Hikaru Shida/Kris Statlander

Shirakawa and Statlander lock up to start, with Statlander giving her a slam and dancing a bit. A backslide gives Statlander two and it’s off to Shida vs. Cameron. That doesn’t last long as it’s back to Statlander, who gets headscissored into the corner. A backbreaker puts Shirakawa down though and Shida comes back in for a running knee on the apron.

We take a break and come back with Shirakawa and Shida trading forearms until Shirakawa knocks her silly. Cameron comes back in with a tornado DDT and Shirakawa adds a missile dropkick to Statlander as everything breaks down. Statlander is back up with a fisherman’s driver to Shirakawa but Shida’s running knee hits Statlander by mistake. Cameron rolls Shida up for two but Statlander is back in to boot Cameron in the face. Shida’s Falcon Arrow gets the pin at 12:43.

Rating: C+. At least Shirakawa didn’t lose again. I’m not sure why Shida and Statlander’s team is continuing as it isn’t like they have much to do at the moment after losing their title shot. It’s nice to have them actually doing something, but a team with issues despite having success is a bit played out.

Swerve Strickland wants power and that means going after the most wanted, Bandido.

Bandido, with Brody King, says he’s not hard to find and King threatens Strickland for coming after his friends. Didn’t we just see King vs. Strickland a month and a half ago? Also of note: neither Bandido, King, Strickland or commentary referenced Bandido being the Ring Of Honor World Champion whatsoever. Bandido had the belt, but no one mentioned it at all. That was the case when Andrade El Idolo came after the title as well. It’s not a good sign when the Defy World Title (as held by Bryan Keith) gets more discussion than the title held, and displayed, by an AEW star.

AEW World Title: Darby Allin vs. Kevin Knight

Only Allin is defending. They go with the grappling to start until Knight knocks him down and grabs a headlock. Allin reverses into one of his own and hits a springboard elbow to the face. Back up and they clothesline each other and Knight snaps off a heck of a super hurricanrana. A big dropkick sends Allin outside and we take a break.

We come back with Allin grabbing a Code Red for two and Knight goes outside. The suicide dive knocks Knight down again and Allin sits him in the chair. Knight pops back up and hurricanranas him off the top and out to the floor for the big crash. One heck of a springboard clothesline hits Allin on the announcers’ table and they’re both down for a bit. Back in and Knight dives into a Scorpion Deathlock, sending him over to the ropes.

Knight is able to catch him in the Tree Of Woe and hits a Coast To Coast, followed by the UFO Splash. The knee is too banged up though and it’s a delayed cover for two. Allin kicks the knee out and grabs a guillotine choke before hanging him on the top rope. The Coffin Drop in the ropes sets up the regular Coffin Drop to retain the title at 15:36.

Rating: B. This was good again, with Allin’s rather impressive string of title matches continuing. At the same time, it seems like they’re setting up the idea of Allin giving it everything he has in these title matches, which could result in him having some trouble rather soon. Knight losing is acceptable enough as it’s to the World Champion, but it shouldn’t be happening again anytime soon.

Sting comes out to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This was another strong show, though it was missing something to take it all the way to that higher level. It was a show built more around setting things up for later and building to things that we’ve already gotten set up. That’s a fine way to go on occasion, though they really do need to add some more stuff to Double Or Nothing, as we only have three matches thus far. Anyway, this was more than good enough.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Juice Robinson – Bulldog choke
Orange Cassidy b. Dax Harwood – Rollup
Kazuchika Okada b. Bryan Keith – Rainmaker
Hikaru Shida/Kris Statlander b. Harley Cameron/Mina Shirakawa – Falcon Arrow to Cameron
Darby Allin b. Kevin Knight – Coffin Drop

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

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Dynamite
Date: April 29, 2026
Location: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Virginia
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We’re back with more title matches, as MJF is trying to get the TNT Title from Kevin Knight and Darby Allin is defending the World Title against Brody King. This seems to be part of Allin’s idea to “get beaten up really badly every week” but his match last week was rather good. Hopefully that is repeated here so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

We open with a quick preview of the show.

Video on MJF vs. Kevin Knight.

TNT Title: Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Kevin Knight

Knight is defending and we get the Big Match Intros, with MJF’s including some shots at Fairfax. They go outside to start with MJF taking over, including a powerbomb onto the barricade. The chinlock goes on back inside but Knight is right back up, only to get elbowed in the face. They take turns flipping out of belly to back suplexes until Knight is flipped face first onto MJF’s knee for two.

Knight escapes the Heatseeker though and hits a jumping DDT to leave them both down. A dropkick puts MJF down again and a running splash gets two. Knight sends him outside for the big running flip dive, followed by a heck of a springboard clothesline to the floor. Back in and they go to a pinfall reversal sequence, with MJF grabbing a cutter for two. MJF goes up but gets pulled down with a super hurricanrana, only for Knight to come up holding his knee.

A basement superkick and Panama Sunrise give MJF two and we take a break. We come back with MJF grabbing a half crab, which doesn’t last long. Knight superkicks another Sunrise attempt out of the air but a dragon screw legwhip brings him down on the rope. An Alabama slam gives MJF two more and it’s time to get mad. MJF grabs the belt, which is just a ruse to load up the ring. Knight hits him low though and a small package retains the title at 15:16.

Rating: B. This was good stuff, with MJF’s downward slide continuing. He has a lot going on right now and most of it isn’t going well, mainly due to trying to cheat too much and getting caught in the end. That’s a good way to bring him down, as he can complain about losing all over again. Knight on the other hand gets a huge win, which is a good sign as he is rapidly improving his status around here.

MJF’s stunned face is great as he can’t believe that happened. MJF hits him in the knee and loads up the ring but Darby Allin descends from the ceiling and hits a Scorpion Death Drop. MJF gets the mic and says “YOU PEOPLE SUCK!” He insists that he was barely trying in the match so all he wants is his rematch for the World Title. Allin wants something on the line in return…but doesn’t say what that is. Instead, if he beats Brody King tonight, he thinks Knight should get a title shot. Cue King to say he’s taking Allin out tonight and then facing Knight next week.

Video on King vs. Allin.

Adam Copeland and Christian Cage are in for the I Quit match, with Copeland bringing up Cage quitting before. Cage: “I didn’t say it!” Cage leaves. Copeland: “He totally said it.”

Brawling Birds vs. Emily Jaye/Jordan Blade

In a nice touch, Windsor points out a sign to Hayter, saying someone waited years to see Hayter. She blows the fan a kiss before the match and we’re ready to go (that’s the kind of thing I love in wrestling: something that takes so little time from the wrestlers but means the world to that fan). Blade gets knocked into the corner and chopped down, setting up a clothesline from both sides (Taz: “Little Malachi Crunch action there.” Hayter seems more like Count and Windsor is more Jumpy. Does that make Blade Pinky Tuscadero?). Two Birds, One Stone finishes Blade at 1:20.

Thekla would love to stop calling people dumb b****** but there are too many dumb b****** in AEW. The Brawling Birds need to mind their own business and stick to the tag team. Skye Blue doesn’t like them either.

International Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Ace Austin

Okada is defending and Don Callis is on commentary. Okada backs him into the corner to start and stomps him down but Austin is back with a rollup. A dropkick has Okada in trouble and a Death Valley Driver (with a squat) makes it worse. Austin sends him to the floor and does a handstand on the apron, earning some applause from Okada. A DDT drops Austin on the floor though and we take a break.

We come back with Okada hitting a neckbreaker and flipping off the crowd. Austin sends him to the floor and hits a knee to the face, setting up the Fosbury Flop dive. Back in and a top rope spinning Fameasser gets two on Okada, who ax handles him down. Austin tries the springboard spinning kick tot he head but gets dropkicked out of the air. Another dropkick sets up the Tombstone and the Rainmaker retains the title at 11:15.

Rating: B. This was a relief as I was worried it would take Okada far too long to win here. Instead, Austin got in his offense, looked good in the process, and then lost to the better main in the end. That’s how this should have gone and they made it work rather well, with Austin getting to hang with a bigger name before taking one too many chances.

Post match Konosuke Takeshita comes out for the staredown.

We go to the old west town for a Bandido vignette…but it’s Swerve Strickland, who burns a Bandido wanted poster. Could he be wanted for not defending his Ring Of Honor World Title since December 5, or a cool 145 days?

Commentary explains what happened on Collision, as Jon Moxley basically offered Will Ospreay a spot in the Death Riders. Not mentioned: Moxley handing Ospreay a chair and laying face first on the floor.

We see the Death Riders training, with Ospreay showing up. Ospreay is not cleared, but he’s going to Japan for a big title match. Moxley says that’s loyalty and Ospreay is too good to be true. Then he pokes Pac in the stomach and makes a noise like one does to a seven year old who would find it stupid.

Moxley says Ospreay needs to drop everything, including his anger and feelings about him, because they don’t need excess baggage. He’s not making any promises but when he makes a commitment to something, he sees it through to the end. Ospreay seems in but is surprised to hear that there is no ring. They’re starting from the ground up and the camera is shoved out. This is certainly a thing going on, though Moxley’s acting is….really not his strong suit.

Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. RPG Vice

FTR and Stokely Hathaway are here too. Cage and Romero start things off with Romero being backed into the corner. A dropkick puts Cage down and Romero stops to dance and it’s off to Copeland. The big boot/Russian legsweep combination gets two on Romero before Beretta knees Copeland down for the same.

That just earns Beretta a big boot and it’s back to Cage, who heads outside and gets his bad arm slammed into the post. The Conglomeration is in the crowd and throws popcorn on Stokely, triggering a brawl with FTR. They all fight off and we take a break with Cage still in trouble. We come back with Copeland getting knocked off the apron to cut off the tag attempt.

A sliding knee gets two on Cage and Romero grabs a cross armbreaker. That’s broken up with a grab of the rope and Cage elbows his way out of the corner. The tornado DDT connects but bangs up Cage’s arm again. Copeland gets the tag anyway and the Impaler gets two on Beretta, with Romero making the save. Everything breaks down and Copeland misses a spear, allowing Beretta to roll him up. The referee sees the feet on the ropes though and Copeland tosses Beretta into Cage’s spear for the pin at 12:44.

Rating: B-. This was a pretty standard formula tag match but it was a bit of a stretch to buy RPG Vice hanging with Copeland and Cage this long. Yes they’re a successful team in Japan but not so much in AEW. Either way, it was hardly a bad match and Copeland and Cage get a win before their next title shot.

Post match Copeland puts Beretta in the crossface to make him quit. That’s just violent.

Earlier today, the Demand beat up Chris Jericho again. Ricochet tells him to leave for good and Jericho tells him to eat s***. The beating gets even worse.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Kris Statlander/Hikaru Shida vs. Megan Bayne/Lena Kross

Statlander and Shida are challenging. Kross takes over on Shida to start and it’s off to Bayne for the double shoulder. Shida’s running knee is easily blocked so she goes to the eyes and grabs the kendo stick. Statlander isn’t letting that happen but Bayne misses a charge into the post. Then Shida kicks Statlander in the ribs and suplexes her onto Bayne in the corner, which shockingly doesn’t work very well.

Statlander is driven into the corner and it’s back to Kross, who escapes Staturday Night Fever. Bayne kicks Statlander in the head and we take a break. We come back with Statlander hurricanranaing both of them at once, followed by a discus lariat to Bayne. Kross and Shida get the double tags and slug it out at everything breaks down.

Bayne sends Statlander flying (that’s impressive) but Statlander gives her a standing Blue Thunder Bomb. Kross is knocked down as well and it’s a 450 to give Statlander two. Shida Falcon Arrows Kross for two but Statlander gets kicked down. The double chokeslam to Shida retains the titles at 13:31.

Rating: B-. They had a hard hitting and fast moving match, with the monsters getting to retain the titles. It’s a nice win for them over a pair of former champions so it’s hardly some pair of nobodies. At the same time, Shida and Statlander never felt like a long term team and that’s not a bad way to go.

MJF interrupts Andrade El Idolo and Don Callis, blaming Andrade for Darby Allin being World Champion. Andrade seems to deny things but Callis calms it down.

Rush vs. Steven Fuerte

Rush knocks him outside at the bell and stomps away both on the floor and in the corner. Bull’s Horns finishes at 1:39.

The Opps are ready to dominate again, with Hook going after the TNT Title on Collision. Samoa Joe wants Will Ospreay, who shouldn’t be doing anything with the Death Riders.

Stokely has a challenge for Orange Cassidy: next week, Cassidy faces Dax Harwood and the winner gets a Tag Team or Trios Title shot, with Tommaso Ciampa popping up to be FTR’s partner should Harwood win.

AEW World Title: Darby Allin vs. Brody King

Allin is defending. They shake hands to start and Allin tries a quick dropkick in the corner (King turned his back on him so it wasn’t a cheap shot). King powers up and tries the Ganso Bomb, with Allin punching his way out. Allin goes up top and gets caught, only to come out with a super Code Red for two. That sends King outside but the suicide dive just bounces off of him.

Allin fights back again and puts King in the chair on the floor, with the missile dropkick knocking King out. We take a break and come back with King hitting a heck of a chop to knock Allin off the top and to the floor. King takes the announcers’ table cover and leans it against the barricade, only for Allin to jump on his back. That’s fine with King, who drives them both through the cover for the nasty crash.

They climb onto the table and King grabs his choke, which is countered with double thumbs to the eye. Another Code Red onto the table gets two and Allin is back up with a suicide dive. Back in and King ties him in the Tree Of Woe, followed by a hard clothesline for two (with Allin’s face looking like his soul was knocked into the third row).

Allin gets thrown over the top rope and onto a cameraman, with King dragging him around, pulling the floor pad up. King’s running Cannonball misses Allin and goes through the barricade for a nasty crash. Allin gets the rest of the floor pad up though and it’s a sunset bomb to send King crashing onto the concrete. The Coffin Drop onto the floor connects as well and King manages to beat the count. That means two more Coffin Drops to retain the title at 16:29.

Rating: B+. As usual, this worked well with Allin fighting against the monster and managing to use his environment to beat King. It’s a good case of Allin learning how to beat King after taking so many beatings over the years. At the same time, Allin has given King troubles before so it’s hardly some ridiculous win here. Heck of a main event as Allin’s title reign continues to work, though he’s getting rather banged up here. That very well could catch up to him sooner than later and it probably will.

Post match respect is shown and Kevin Knight is in the crowd for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This was another rather good show with the opener and main event being more than good enough to carry the night. Allin seems like he’s in for an energetic and exciting title reign, though I’m not sure how long it’s going to last. At the same time, there are a lot of people coming after the belt so the next champion could be up in the air. That’s enough to carry things at the moment and there is enough on the rest of the show to make it work. Rather easy to watch show here with a very good main event.

Results
Knight Knight b. Maxwell Jacob Friedman – Small package
Brawling Birds b. Emliy Jaye/Jordan Blade – Two Birds, One Stone to Blade
Kazuchika Okada b. Ace Austin – Rainmaker
Adam Copeland/Christian Cage b. RPG Vice – Spear to Beretta
Lena Kross/Megan Bayne b. Hikaru Shida/Kris Stalander – Double chokeslam to Shida
Rush b. Steven Fuerte – Bull’s Horns
Darby Allin b. Brody King – Coffin Drop

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

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Dynamite
Date: April 22, 2026
Location: Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Excalibur

Well last week was a pretty big deal and now we get to see where things are going. That’s what we’re going to be finding out as Darby Allin is the new World Champion. We’re also about a month away from Double Or Nothing and now we get to see what might be coming up on the show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

We open with a quick look back at Darby Allin winning the World Title last week.

Here is a ticked off MJF to get things going. He isn’t like the paper champion Darby Allin and demands respect. Last week was the Seattle Screwjob because he was three days removed from a war with Kenny Omega (which he won of course) and then Allin hit him low to start the match.

Allin can’t beat him if the playing field is even but here is Kevin Knight to interrupt. Knight says it’s the same old MJF out here whining like a little b****. He had MJF pinned a few weeks ago so if anyone was screwed it was him. MJF mocks what Knight said, as well as thinking it’s “socially acceptable” to be friends with Mike Bailey.

It’s so amusing to think think Knight is a star but the TNT Title suits him well: a title for someone with a ceiling. Knight threatens him with a slap and says some of the best in the world have held that title so it’s no wonder MJF never held it. We have a challenge for a fight and MJF says Knight has talked him into it so get a referee out here. Said referee comes out and holds up the title….but MJF rolls outside and says we’ll do it next week.

The Demand and Chris Jericho are in the back and Ricochet mocks the idea of them having a six man tag against Jericho. That makes Jericho laugh but he does show off his new shirt, which features a statement about regularly getting beaten up by the Demand. Jericho will just find someone who doesn’t like Ricochet.

Brody King vs. Lio Rush

Rush talks to himself in the corner so King pulls him out and gives him a slam. King sends him outside for the big chops but the running crossbody hits barricade. Rush posts him and we take an early break. We come back with King blocking the springboard Stunner and hitting a heck of a running clothesline.

Back up and Rush hits a Stunner over the middle rope but he has to escape a powerbomb. Rush does his weird crawl around the ring and hits a suicide dive, followed by the big dive to the floor. Back in and a frog splash to the back gives Rush one but King is back with a swinging Boss Man Slam. The Ganso Bomb finishes Rush at 9:25.

Rating: B-. Rush’s problem continues to be this ridiculous gimmick, as it’s distracting from his great athleticism. That should be enough to make Rush stand out but he has to do all of the weird, creepy stuff instead. The match was a pretty good back and forth match, but the over the top Rush stuff brought it back down as it kept getting brought back up.

Post match King implies he wants the winner of tonight’s World Title match.

Tommaso Ciampa (challenging for the World Title) says he is a father, a husband and a son. Tonight is about proving that glass ceilings can be shattered and no one has been more prepared than him. Darby Allin says he wants this, but Ciampa needs it. This was really good and I bought what he was saying.

Adam Copeland wants another Tag Team Title shot against FTR and they can make it a street fight. If FTR wins, Copeland and Christian Cage will retire as a team.

Hikaru Shida vs. Mina Shirakawa

Kris Statlander is here with Shida, who says something about Shirakawa in Japanese before the match. Shirakawa grabs a headlock to start and gets thrown down by the hair. That earns her Shirakawa’s dance and a Sling Blade before they go into a pinfall reversal sequence. Shida hits a running knee and we take a break. We come back with Shirakawa grabbing a headscissors into a basement dropkick.

Shirakawa starts in on the leg but the Figure Four is blocked. They go out to the apron with Shida hitting a belly to back piledriver and a top rope Meteora gets two. The falcon arrow is escaped and Shirakawa scores with a discus forearm. The top rope Sling Blade gives Shirakawa two and now the Figure Four goes on. With that broken up, Shirakawa grabs the kendo stick but Statlander takes it away. Shida knees her down and hits the falcon arrow for the pin at 11:50.

Rating: B-. It turns out that two talented wrestlers are able to have a good match when they’re given the chance. It worked well here and the idea of Shirakawa getting frustrated enough to try to use the cane. That being said, it’s not a great sign that Shirakawa lost again as she is just kind of there at the moment. I’m not sure how that’s going to change, but she doesn’t have the brightest future right now.

Video on Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita.

We look at the Death Riders helping the Dogs attacking the Rascalz and Young Bucks. The result is an eight man tag on Collision.

Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis

Davis jumps him before the bell as Don Callis joins commentary. Ospreay fights back and knocks him outside for a slingshot hurricanrana. Back in and Davis blocks a piledriver attempt and knocks him down with a single chop. That’s enough to send it back to the floor, where Davis fires off some knees. Ospreay is able to get back up for a running flip dive off the stage and we take a break.

We come back with Davis breaking out of a choke and grabbing a neckbreaker. Ospreay is able to hit a handspring kick to the head, followed by a top rope forearm to the back of the head. Davis crotches him on top and scores with a head of a clothesline. Something like a reverse Angle Slam gets two but the piledriver is escaped.

They trade kicks to the head and Ospreay Spanish Flies him for two. Davis hits a pair of belly to back suplexes and an enziguri, only for Ospreay to hit a quick Hidden Blade. The slightly delayed cover only gets two and Davis pulls him into the piledriver. Ospreay gets the foot on the rope so Davis piledrives him on the apron. That’s enough for the referee to call it at 15:32.

Rating: B. Well first of all, big points for not having Ospreay beat the count or pop up to his feet after that devastating of a move. The foot on the ropes after the regular version is acceptable enough but having Ospreay get up after the souped up piledriver would have killed the move. Outside of that, they beat each other up rather well, with Davis turning into a heck of a midcard monster over the last few months. Well done indeed.

Post match Davis teases another piledriver but gets the Death Riders run in to cut him off, albeit without getting physical. The Riders take the out cold Ospreay with them.

Alex Windsor and Persephone want the Triangle Of Madness on Collision. This was hard to understand because some fans kept yelling and a mic in the arena was picking it up.

Samoa Joe vs. Cody Chhun

Chhun gets out of a wristlock to start but gets pulled into an armbar. Joe unloads with the snap jabs into the corner and then walks away from a crossbody. The MuscleBuster finishes Chhun at 2:43.

Post match Hook comes out for a fist bump with Joe.

Video on Darby Allin, set to a song about how “I gotta be me” and showing some of his odd behavior. And winning the World Title.

Chris Jericho has found some partners in the Hurt Syndicate.

Here is Darby Allin for a chat. Allin lays the title in the middle of the ring and looks at it before talking about how his first match was right here in Portland. Everything could end as soon as Tommaso Ciampa comes out here. This title is for his beautiful fiance and the people…but here is MJF to interrupt. Allin turns down the rematch request…until MJF puts something on the line. Allin: “So get your a** out of my ring!” That would be easier if MJF wasn’t standing on the ramp. Anyway here is Ciampa and we’re ready to go.

AEW World Title: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Darby Allin

Ciampa is challenging and kicks him in the face in the corner to start. Willow’s Bell is blocked so Ciampa whips him into the barricade. We take a break and come back with Ciampa catapulting him face first into the bottom of the ring. Ciampa misses a running boot so Allin goes up and dives with a clothesline into the timekeeper’s area. Ciampa comes up and is VERY busted open, with Allin hitting a suicide dive as a bonus.

Back in and the Coffin Drop is broken up, with blood splatters on the camera. Allin is back up with a Scorpion Death Drop but Ciampa rolls away before the Coffin Drop can launch. Ciampa catches him on top…and hits a super Air Raid Crash to the floor, with nothing to break the fall (good grief). We take another break and we come back again with Ciampa chopping away.

Allin catapults him into the corner, with Allin bouncing back out with a double stomp. A running knee hits Allin, who pops right back up for a knockdown of his own. The Coffin Drop lands in a choke though, followed by a running knee for two. Another running knee gets another two but Ciampa can’t get a Scorpion Deathlock. Allin reverses into one of his own and, after quite the struggle, gets the tag at 18:02.

Rating: B+. This was a match where I was expecting it to be good but I wasn’t expecting them to go this hard. These two beat the living daylights out of each other and it felt like a war. It’s a good example of a match with pretty much no drama about the result but it was incredible watching them beat each other up until Ciampa gave out. Awesome main event.

Respect is shown after the match. Ciampa leaves but here is Brody King to issue the challenge for next week. Allin is in to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Yeah this was another great show, with the stories progressing well enough and a heck of a main event to go with the rather good Ospreay vs. Davis match. I’m not sure what we’re going to get at Double Or Nothing but we can figure that out in the next few weeks. Dynamite is on a bit of a roll right now and if they can keep it up going into Double Or Nothing, we should have a heck of a pay per view coming up.

Results
Brody King b. Lio Rush – Ganso Bomb
Hikaru Shida b. Mina Shirakawa – Falcon arrow
Mark Davis b. Will Ospreay via referee stoppage
Samoa Joe b. Cody Chhun – MuscleBuster
Darby Allin b. Tommaso Ciampa – Scorpion Deathlock

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

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Collision
Date: April 16, 2026
Location: Angel Of The Winds Arena, Everett, Washington
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re on Thursday again this week due to Wrestlemania and this show has a lot to live up to after last night. Darby Allin is the new World Champion after beating MJF in about two minutes to win the title. Other than that we’re still dealing with the fallout from Dynasty, which was a good show in its own right. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence. They might want to edit out the THIS IS SATURDAY NIGHT audio.

Here is Adam Copeland to get things going and he’s got quite a black eye. Things didn’t go as he wanted at Dynasty as FTR did what they said they would do and did it. Christian Cage is finding out if his arm is broken after Dynasty. FTR piledrove Copeland’s wife and stole Cage’s watch, which is worse for Cage than hurting his wife. FTR said that Copeland and Cage wouldn’t get another title shot but Copeland has an idea on that. He and Cage have been gone for years each but they’re back again to go after FTR. Cue FTR and Roppongi Vice to go after Copeland, with the Young Bucks making the save.

Jack Perry wants Don Callis to pick another opponent to meet him next week.

Rascalz vs. Young Bucks

Myron Reed/Zachary Wentz for the Rascalz here. Wentz wristdrags Nick down to start but gets caught with a spinwheel kick. Reed comes in and gets sent into a German suplex, followed by a backbreaker to each Rascal. Reed manages a dropkick though and it’s back to Wentz to clean house.

The Rascalz hit stereo dives and Wentz uses Reed as a launchpad to hit both Bucks. Back in and a Stundog Millionaire into a superkick into a German suplex gets two on Nick and we take a break. We come back with Nick fighting out of trouble and bringing Matt back in for the rolling northern lights suplexes.

Double bulldogs and a top rope elbow/Swanton give the Bucks two each. The Bucks have a mishap though and the Rascalz are back with cutters. A 450 gives Wentz two but it’s a pair of superkicks to put him down. The BTE Trigger hits Reed but Wentz makes the save. The TK Driver is broken up as well, only for the second attempt to end Wentz at 13:40.

Rating: B+. Yeah this worked, as the Bucks can work this style rather well and the Rascalz were right there to hang with them. It was a rather exciting match and they got me a few times with the false finishes. As usual, the Bucks are far easier to watch when they’re not talking and AEW seems to understand that part.

Post match the Dogs run in and beat down both teams. David Finlay say they’re down a Dog but they still want bodies and gold.

Video on Megan Bayne and Leno Kross.

Conglomeration vs. Lethal Twist

Non-title. O’Reilly works on Lethal’s arm to start and it’s quickly off to Cassidy, who is still in his sunglasses. Strong comes in with a backbreaker and Cassidy goes to the top…the middle…uh bottom…or just the mat as he walks over for an elbow. Christian comes in and sticks the landing when Cassidy armdrags him down.

Lethal gets in a cheap shot though and everything breaks down, with the villains getting in a triple strut as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy in trouble and casually walking out of a sunset flip, allowing the tag off to Strong. Everything breaks down again and Strong tosses Cassidy for a tornado DDT. O’Reilly gets a tag and hits a running knee off the apron to drop Lethal.

Christian is back up with a kick into a suplex to O’Reilly and Hail To The King gives Lethal two. Cassidy and Christian trade lazy kicks until O’Reilly’s knee gets triple teamed down. That’s broken up as well and everyone is down again. O’Reilly picks Johnson’s ankle though and with his partners taken out, Johnson taps at 12:21.

Rating: B. This was another good one, as the Conglomeration knows how to work well together and the fans were into them. I can go with the Lethal Twist being served up to them here too, as the Twist have basically stopped going after Bandido’s Ring Of Honor World Title. I still like Christian, as odd as that might seem, but this might be his ceiling at the moment.

Anthony Bowens asks Hook if he’s in the Opps or not. We’ll find out next week.

Kris Statlander/Hikaru Shida vs. Big Anne/Danika Della Rouge

Statlander flapjacks Rouge to start and catapults her into the corner for the tag off to Anne. Shida comes in to strike away and hits a falcon arrow. The Katana is loaded up but she gives Statlander a tag instead. Staturday Night Fever finishes Anne at 2:31.

Jon Moxley vs. Nick Wayne

Non-title. Wayne bails to the floor to start and the local fans seem to like him a lot. Back in and Moxley takes him down by the arm but Wayne fights up again. Some kicks have Moxley’s eyes bugging up so he hammers away in the corner. A jumping back elbow cuts Moxley off and Wayne gets in a cocky kick to the face.

Moxley heads outside but comes back in, offers a handshake, and then grabs a piledriver. We take a break and come back with Moxley’s Crash Landing connecting for two. Wayne gets some boots up in the corner though and hits a middle rope dropkick. Moxley is back with a full nelson but Wayne hits a quick Code Red for two more.

That earns him a crossface but Wayne slips out and strikes away. A big dive to the floor drops Moxley again and he’s busted open near the eye. Back in and Wayne kicks him in the head for two, only for Moxley to shrug off some forearms. The Death Rider finishes for Moxley at 14:59.

Rating: B. It’s nice to see Wayne getting a chance to showcase himself, as it’s not like he does anything in Ring Of Honor despite coming close to a year as champion. This was a good way to give the hometown fans something to cheer about, which is always a great idea. Moxley is good at making someone else look better, though I have a hard time believing that it’s going to matter for him.

Don Callis says he can get Kazuchika Okada out of his title match with Konosuke Takeshita but Okada wants the match.

Pac vs. Lio Rush

Daniel Garcia is here too. Pac is freaked out by the new Rush as well and falls down when Rush stands up in the corner. Rush yells a lot and starts the dodging and running before bridging on his neck. The confusion lets Rush send him outside, where Rush beats up Garcia but the distraction lets Pac stomp away on the floor.

We take a break and come back with Rush freaking Pac out again. Pac is knocked outside for the suicide dive and the sleeper goes on back inside. A poisonrana gives Rush two and a Stunner knocks Pac silly…but Garcia offers a distraction. Pac gets in a big clothesline and grabs the Brutalizer, with Rush smiling as he passes out at 11:01.

Rating: C+. HEY! DID YOU KNOW THAT RUSH IS CRAZY??? I DIDN’T KNOW IF WE HAD MADE THAT CLEAR YET OR NOT! This was beating you over the head with the idea as much as they could and my goodness it gets dumber and dumber every second Rush is out there. Rush is talented enough to do something without this nonsense and no I don’t buy that Pac, who has been a near main eventer, having this much trouble with him.

Video on Bandido, who is a wanted man. He’s not wanted enough that anyone has gone after his title since December and there’s no match announced here, but maybe I’m missing the subtext.

Brody King/Mistico/Mascara Dorada vs. Ricky Gibson/KC Riff/Cole Rivera

For some reason Riff jumps King from behind before the bell. The pain, this time in the form of chops, is immediate and Mistico and Dorada hit some dives. The Ganso Bomb finishes Riff at 1:27.

Mina Shirakawa interrupts Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander. She does not trust Shida after what she said about Harley Cameron. Statlander has to keep them apart but Shirakawa still doesn’t trust them.

We look at Darby Allin winning the World Title on Dynamite in a great moment.

Women’s Title: Alex Windsor vs. Thekla

Thekla is defending and bails out to the floor to start. Windsor is back in to hammer away and grabs a suplex back inside. Thekla bails outside and trips Windsor down, setting up a hard clothesline on the floor as we take a break. We come back with Thekla choking in the ropes and giving her a basement superkick for two.

Windsor fights back with a big running shoulder and a Blue Thunder Bomb gets another near fall. They yell at each other a lot and trade forearms, with Windsor knocking her down for a Sharpshooter. Thekla gets to the rope and comes back with a Black Widow. That’s broken up as well so they go up top, with Thekla pulling out the brass knuckles. The first shot misses but the second connects, setting up a Stomp to retain Thekla’s title at 12:12.

Rating: B. I like that they didn’t have this drawn out to be some big time title match again, as Thekla is fresh off beating Windsor’s partner. Thekla beating both halves of the team and moving on to someone fresh is a good way to go and I’m curious to see who is next for her. Hopefully Windsor and Hayter get back to winning, as I like them as a team thus far.

Overall Rating: B+. This show started off red hot, cooled off a bit, and then picked up again. It’s nice to see this kind of a show getting the Thursday spot, as in theory it should lead to a much bigger audience than usual. The show doesn’t mean much in the long term, but there is always a place for a night of rather good wrestling on free TV.

Results
Young Bucks b. Rascalz – TK Driver to Wentz
Conglomeration b. Lethal Twist – Ankle lock to Johnson
Kris Statlander/Hikaru Shida b. Big Anne/Danika Della Rouge – Staturday Night Fever to Anne
Jon Moxley b. Nick Wayne – Death Rider
Pac b. Lio Rush – Brutalizer
Brody King/Mistico/Mascara Dorada b. Ricky Gibson/KC Riff/Cole Rivera – Ganso Bomb to Riff
Thekla b. Alex Windsor – Stomp

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

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Dynamite
Date: April 15, 2026
Location: Angel Of The Winds Arena, Everett, Washington
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Bryan Danielson

It’s the first show after Dynasty, which was another good pay per view that ended with MJF retaining the World Title over Kenny Omega. That is the kind of ending that would leave you wondering where the title picture is going next, but this isn’t the most common situation. In this case we have Darby Allin coming after the title after beating Andrade El Idolo on Sunday. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynasty if you need a recap.

MJF arrives and ignores Renee Paquette but talks to Don Callis. After an exchange of pleasantries and praise, MJF says Andrade will never be title material because he screwed up. Renee finally yells at MJF to get his attention: Allin wants his title match TONIGHT and it’s RIGHT NOW. MJF: “WHAT THE F***???”

AEW World Title: Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Darby Allin

MJF is defending but hang on because he says this isn’t happening and threatens to sue everyone from Allin to that pervert Justin Roberts. MJF says that Allin is talented but not that good so…and Allin cuts him off. Allin says you only need one night to turn the wrestling world on its head.

He’s crying as he talks about how he hung posters for this show. He worked so hard to get here and climbed Mount Everest and now he wants the World Title. RING THE BELL! Actually hang on as Bryan Danielson grabs the mic and says Tony Khan agrees that it isn’t fair for MJF to defend the title on no notice. So he can defend it against Allin….in tonight’s main event or be stripped of the title. MJF is ticked and Allin is thrilled. No match here.

After Dynasty, Kenny Omega didn’t have much to say but ran into Will Ospreay in the trainer’s room. Omega doesn’t think he has much time left but Ospreay has the heart of a wrestler and years to go. Ospreay wants the World Title and thinks Omega can do it too. He calls Omega his hero and leaves. The hero bit gets to Omega, who thinks he might still have a chance and asks for the cameras to be cut. This was good stuff, as Omega being the legend who isn’t sure if he has it anymore and Ospreay as the current version of what Omega used to be is interesting.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Dezmond Xavier

Ciampa stomps away to start fast and sends him into the barricade. Xavier flips over the steps and sticks the landing, followed by a dropkick back inside. Ciampa is ready for the dive and it’s a staredown as we take a break. We come back with Ciampa grabbing a chinlock and throwing up the bicep.

Xavier fights up and strikes away, setting up a middle rope tornado DDT for two. The 450 misses though and Ciampa hits a discus forearm, only to get knocked out to the floor. Xavier hits a dive and now the 450 connects for two. Ciampa knees a springboard out of the air though and Project Ciampa connects. The running knee finishes Xavier at 9:38.

Rating: B-. Ciampa continues to do his thing and should be moving up to the next level at some point. They had a good, fast paced match as Ciampa cut off the high flying and won in the end. I’m not sure where Ciampa is going, but he’s done well with everything he’s done around here thus far. Just find something bigger for him to do.

Post match Ciampa says he wants it all. As in the World Title. Well that’s bigger. Ciampa gets in a cheap shot on Xavier before leaving.

Video on MJF vs. Darby Allin, including MJF beating him with an armdrag takeover.

Here is FTR, with Stokely, for a chat. Harwood talks about how the fans are losers, just like Adam Copeland and Christian Cage when they lost at Dynasty. Stokely talks about all of the teams FTR has beaten and Wheeler wants a moment of silence for Copeland and Cage. We go old school with a ten second pose from FTR to wrap it up.

TNT Title: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kevin Knight

Knight is defending after winning the title on Dynasty. Some early rollups give Knight two and he dropkicks Castagnoli out to the floor. Castagnoli is back up with an uppercut and a hard slam, followed by the neck crank. That’s broken up and Knight sends him outside for a dive as we take an early break.

We come back with Castagnoli missing an elbow and getting rolled up for two. A top rope clothesline hits Castagnoli and Knight grabs a slam of his own. Castagnoli is sent outside for a big running flip dive and they head right back inside. The super hurricanrana is blocked, as is the super Neutralizer (because that might hurt a lot).

Knight tries a super DDT, which is countered into…something close to a pop up uppercut (it didn’t seem to make contact but fair enough as that was a pretty complicated spot). Knight is back up and springboards into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, meaning it’s time to go Swinging. A catapult sends Knight into the corner but he bounces back with a spinning clothesline. The UFO Splash retains the title at 9:44.

Rating: B. I could go for more of Knight as he’s getting better and more confident in the ring almost every day. That’s a great thing to see as Knight has all kinds of talent and it works to have him in the ring like this. At the same time, Castagnoli is someone who is at his best when he is making someone else look good and beating him clean still feels like a pretty big deal. Nice match.

Post match Knight praises Castagnoli and says he’s not mad at Mike Bailey about losing the Trios Titles. This is moving through another door and he’s ready to go.

Video on Ricochet beating Chris Jericho at Dynasty.

Here is Jericho for a chat. Jericho soaks in some cheering before saying he might have lost at Dynasty because he was down 3-1. Cue the Demand, with Ricochet saying he had the chance to win on Sunday by using what is now the Ricosault. Now Jericho should just leave for good as we’ve seen everything he has.

Jericho thinks Ricosault is a brutal name and keeps calling out Ricochet for being bald while issuing the challenge to come down here one on one. Ricochet gets in the ring and Jericho beats him up, only for the Gates Of Agony to come in and drop Jericho without much trouble. Ricochet even adds a Ricosault. So who does Jericho get to help him?

At Dynasty, Konosuke Takeshita mocked Kazuchika Okada after their loss, which Takeshita intentionally caused.

Will Ospreay vs. Hechicero

Hechicero’s CMLL World Title isn’t on the line. Hechicero takes him down by the arm to start before going after Ospreay’s taped up neck. A headscissors is broken up but Ospreay’s neck is in trouble. Ospreay is able to hit a running hurricanrana into a slingshot dive and we take an early break.

We come back with Hechicero hitting his swinging hammerlock backbreaker. Hechicero spins the neck around and Ospreay has to bail out to the floor. Back in and Hechicero grabs the surfboard but Ospreay escapes for a handspring kick to the head. Hechicero gets up and takes his straps down, allowing Ospreay to fire off some chops. The Hidden Blade is countered into a headscissor driver and we take another break as the medics look at Ospreay’s neck.

We come back again with Hechicero choking on the apron and then knocking him out to the floor. A top rope elbow to the back of the neck gives Hechicero two but Ospreay hits a Stundog Millionaire. Ospreay kicks him in the head but the Oscutter is blocked. Hechicero tries the cross armbreaker so Ospreay stands up and reversed into the Styles Clash (that was slick). The Hidden Blade finishes Hechicero at 17:56.

Rating: A-. You know what this was? An awesome comic book miniseries. Hechicero wasn’t going to beat a star like Ospreay but the superhero fought back against the lesser known villain and beat him after an entertaining fight before moving on to the bigger issues. You could see Ospreay trying to find a way around Hechicero’s skills and hit his big shot, which is exactly what happened in the end. Awesome match here and I got way into this.

Post match Mark Davis runs in to take out Ospreay and gives him a piledriver.

After being attacked by Kamille at Dynasty, Willow Nightingale says she’s ready to take Kamille out on Dynamite.

Renee Paquette is here to talk to…someone but Thekla interrupts. She says the Toxic Spider is in the house and brags about beating Jamie Hayter. Cue Alex Windsor who wants a fight of her own and calls out Thekla for getting fired from Japan. Thekla: “I did not get fired from Japan! Ok I did get fired from Japan!”

Japan couldn’t handle her, just like Windsor can’t do it. The challenge is on and here are the Sisters Of Sin, who are taken out just as fast. Thekla is one of the best, or certainly most entertaining, on the mic in the company, with her firing line being hilarious. Even if she just slipped up, she rolled with it and it worked fine.

Jon Moxley, with the Death Riders, doesn’t feel bad about going after Will Ospreay’s neck to beat him at Dynasty. He’ll be facing Nick Wayne on Collision and doesn’t know much about him, so hopefully Wayne has a surprise.

TBS Title: Willow Nightingale vs. Kamille

Nightingale is defending and strikes away to start fast. Kamille is back to work on the bad arm and twists it down as we take an early break. We come back with Nightingale sending her into the corner for the Cannonball. A running X Factor and Rough Ryder give Kamille two so she tries a cross armbreaker. Nightingale stacks her up for two and sends Kamille into the corner. A backslide retains the title at 8:26.

Rating: C+. Well that came out of nowhere. I’m not sure what the point was in having Kamille come back to win a squash at Dynasty and then lose in a title match three days later. I like Nightingale getting this kind of a win, but this felt like it was rushed through at the last minute rather than at the beginning, which is basically the case coming straight off of a pay per view.

Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander are ready to win at Collision. Well Shida is at least, as Statlander can’t get a word in edgewise.

Darby Allin is asked about the main event….and Sting shows up. Allin says it’s showtime, but Sting says it’s YOUR time. Allin has to win here right? Like….he has to right?

AEW World Title: Darby Allin vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Allin is challenging and after the Big Match Intros, MJF backs away and asks for time. MJF gives the ring to the referee and uses the distraction to kick Allin low. Allin shoves MJF away though and the referee ducks, allowing Allin to hit a low blow of his own. The Scorpion Death Drop sets up four straight Coffin Drops….and Allin grabs a headlock takeover for the pin and the title at 2:15.

The locker room comes out to celebrate with Allin and even Grandpa Sting shows up for the big feel good moment.

Whoo boy. Ok then. I’m not a big Allin fan, but this couldn’t have gone much better. Allin is someone who has felt ready to move up to the title picture more than once and they threw a curve ball by having him do it this way. They had the very nice touch thrown in of MJF cheating first so Allin’s low blow was evening the score instead of cheating as well.

The headlock takeover was great as well and the whole thing went so fast that you were left wondering if it would actually happen. Normally I would say “save it for the PPV”, but I like the change of pace here with the out of absolutely nowhere ending. It is absolutely not something you can do very often, but if you nail it like this, it’s ok if done very infrequently. Great moment.

Overall Rating: A-. Yeah this went pretty great, with the outstanding shock title change unfortunately overshadowing an incredible Ospreay vs. Hechicero match. There wasn’t much else worth seeing on the show, but I’m thinking a 1-2 punch like they had here was more than enough. I’m not sure I’d call this a big reset, but it was a huge moment in the end and that went about as perfectly as possible. Awesome show here, though I have no idea where things are going from here (which isn’t a bad thing).

Results
Tommaso Ciampa b. Dezmond Xavier – Running knee
Kevin Knight b. Claudio Castagnoli – UFO Splash
Will Ospreay b. Hechicero – Hidden Blade
Willow Nightingale b. Kamille – Backslide
Darby Allin b. Maxwell Jacob Friedman – Headlock takeover

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

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

Dynasty 2026
Date: April 12, 2026
Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back on pay per view for what doesn’t feel like the biggest show. That’s been the case before though and things have wound up going rather well so maybe they have another one up their sleeves here. The main event is MJF defending the World Title against Kenny Omega so let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Alex Windsor vs. Marina Shafir

Windsor’s New Japan Strong Women’s Title isn’t on the line. They go right to the slugout to start with Windsor taking her down. Shafir can’t get the armbar all the way in but there’s enough damage to put Windsor in trouble. Another armbar on the ropes sends Windsor outside and Shafir sends her hard into the barricade. Back in and a judo throw takes Windsor down and Shafir steps on her face, which has the fans rather upset.

A whip into the corner has Windsor in more trouble but she manages to send Shafir outside for a breather. Shafir gets back inside and is shouldered down a few times but blocks a Sharpshooter attempt. Back up and another armbar has Windsor in trouble and they strike it out again. A kick to the face puts Windsor down and they get a double breather. Windsor tells her to bring it before grabbing….call it a t-bone DDT for the pin on Shafir at 8:42.

Rating: C+. This was almost a squash until Shafir came out of nowhere with the surprise pin. I do like Windsor winning here though, as Shafir is kind of locked into her spot as one of the Death Riders’ enforcers and doesn’t really need to win anything. On the other hand you have Windsor, who could be turned into a title contender pretty quickly if need be. I’m not sure why this was on the pre-show, as it had enough of a story to be a main roster match, but they got the result right.

Zero Hour: Kamille vs. Big Anne

So Kamille attacked Willow Nightingale and ruined the open challenge for the TBS Title so she gets this instead, ending her 500+ day hiatus from AEW. Kamille stomps away in the corner and hits a pump kick, followed by a torture rack powerbomb for the fast pin at 1:25 to complete the squash. Cool. Now do something with her.

Post match a taped up Nightingale comes in and gets beaten up again.

National Title: Mark Davis vs. Jack Perry

Perry is defending. Davis throws him down to start and knocks Perry’s flying shoulder out of the air. Back up and Perry dropkicks him to the floor but Davis grabs a dive out of the air. That’s escaped as well and Perry hits a quick 619 around the post. They get back inside, with Perry getting knocked back into the corner for a running elbow and backsplash to give Davis two. The chinlock goes on but Perry is right back up to low bridge him to the floor.

Perry grabs a Sliced Bread out of the corner but can’t grab a piledriver. Instead Davis sends him to the apron for a big running shoulder and a suplex slam drops him onto the apron. The piledriver is broken up back inside though, with Perry eventually swinging around into a DDT. Perry hits his own piledriver for two but Davis is back with an enziguri. A quick hurricanrana is enough for Perry to retain the title at 8:30.

Rating: B. I liked this one way more than I was expecting to, as they told a good story out there. It was Perry in over his head physically so he had to pick some shots where he could. That wound up working well, partially because Davis is becoming pretty awesome at being a powerhouse. Good stuff here and a rather nice surprise.

Zero Hour: Women’s Tag Team Titles: Hyan/Maya World vs. Megan Bayne/Lena Kross

Kross and Bayne are defending and Kross knocks World down to start. World pops right back up and brings in Hyan to face Bayne. A hurricanrana out of the corner takes Bayne down but she knocks both of them outside without much trouble. Bayne’s suplex sets up a basement crossbody for two and some running pump kicks in the corner drop Hyan for two. Hyan manages to low bridge Bayne to the floor but it’s still not enough for the tag.

Bayne misses a charge into the post though and it’s back to World to pick up the pace on Kross. Everything breaks down and a running knee into a neckbreaker drops Kross for two. That doesn’t last long as Kross kicks her way out of trouble and Bayne fall away slam/Samoan drops the challengers. The double chokeslam is broken up and World is back with a double DDT. Hyan dives onto the floor and World adds a moonsault onto both villains. A TKO gets two on Kross but Bayne boots World into a German suplex. The double chokeslam retains the titles at 10:38.

Rating: B-. The champs had to break a sweat here and I’ll take that as a nice surprise. Hyan and World aren’t a successful team and were little more than cannon fodder here but at least the action wound up being good. I’m not sure who is going to take the titles from Kross and Bayne, but this was closer than I was expecting.

And now, the show proper.

Konosuke Takeshita/Kazuchika Okada vs. Young Bucks

Don Callis is on commentary. Takeshita shoulders Nick down to start so it’s off to Okada, who shakes Takeshita’s hand on the way in. Okada’s slingshot hilo connects but Nick is up with the springboard wristdrag/armdrag combination. Matt comes in to sunset flip Nick, who German suplexes Takeshita at the same time. The TK Driver is loaded up but Nick headfakes Okada into missing a dropkick in a funny spot.

Matt gets knocked down and Takeshita grabs a chinlock, leaving Callis to call for getting Matt’s eye (he’s offering money). Callis goes after Matt’s eye on the floor and Okada is over to pull Nick to the floor, meaning there’s no tag. That lets Okada grab the Bucks’ gear for some posing (Callis: “What a fiery young babyface!”) but Matt manages to knock both of them down. Nick comes in to make the rapid fire comeback and the fans certainly approve.

The Bucks are sent to the apron but come back with stereo sunset flips into Sharpshooters. That leaves Okada and Takeshita facing each other and slapping one another in the face rather than tapping. They eventually make the ropes so the Bucks take them down with the superkicks. A top rope elbow and Swanton get a double near fall but Okada breaks up another TK Driver attempt. The Family hit a Tombstone each and Matt gets sent flying with an overhead release German superplex.

Nick is back in for the save and everyone is down again. Okada is up with his falling top rope elbow to Nick but it’s a sunset flip into a German suplex to put everyone down again. Takeshita’s running knee drops both Bucks but he can’t cover as the fans are rather enthused. Back up and they slug it out until Okada hits Takeshita and they forearm each other.

Matt gets between them and then sends them into each other so Takeshita’s running knee hits Okada. Takeshita breaks up the BTE Trigger but Okada Rainmakers him by mistake. The BTE Trigger gets two on Okada…and Takeshita leaves him to take the TK Driver for the pin at 20:12.

Rating: B+. This got rather good and they were doing a nice job of tying the story between Takeshita and Okada into the match. There was only so much of a reason for these teams to fight so having the Family fighting among themselves (again) was a good idea. If nothing else, we might finally gets the Takeshita vs. Okada grudge match, which has been built for…ever?

Post match Takeshita leaves and Callis is livid.

We recap Chris Jericho vs. Ricochet. Jericho returned, Ricochet didn’t like it, the match was set.

Chris Jericho vs. Ricochet

The Gates Of Agony are here with Ricochet. Jericho takes him down to start fast and mocks Ricochet a bit, followed by his stolen camera deal. Ricochet flips into his pose and gets chopped down, setting up Jericho’s running bulldog. The Lionsault is shoved off though and the Death Valley Driver plants Jericho on the apron. Jericho is sent shoulder first into the post and Ricochet nails his slingshot dropkick in the corner.

The bad arm is bent around the ropes, with Liona getting in some pulling of his own. Ricochet cranks on the arm but Jericho gets back up to avoid a dropkick. Now the Lionsault connects but the Walls attempt is countered. A kick to the back lets Jericho try it again, only for Liona to offer a distraction so Kaun can send him into the corner. Jericho fights up and they slug it out from their knees but Ricochet grabs the Detonation Kick.

Vertigo gets two so Ricochet goes up and gets crotched back down almost immediately. Ricochet kicks him away and tries the shooting star press but gets Codebreakered out of the air for two instead. The Walls go on so of course the Gates get involved for the save. Jericho dives onto all three of them and hits a Judas Effect on Kaun. That doesn’t get rid of Liona though, who is right there with a running clothesline. Back in and Ricochet hits a shooting star press for two, followed by a Spirit Gun. That’s not enough for a cover though, as Ricochet adds a Lionsault for the pin at 19:12.

Rating: B. This had its moments and I was a bit surprised by the result, but I’m more worried about this being the high point for Jericho’s return. There is a good chance that he goes to find some new lackeys to help him deal with the Gates and that’s not the best sign for his future. It was a nice return and the fans liked it, though I’m worried about how long those good feelings are going to last.

We recap Darby Allin vs. Andrade El Idolo. Allin wants the World Title and MJF has paid the Don Callis Family to stop him. Therefore, if Allin wins here, he gets the title shot.

Darby Allin vs. Andrade El Idolo

Idolo powers him into the corner to start so Allin comes back with a rather aggressive headlock. That’s broken up rather quickly and Idolo pulls him into a surfboard to have Allin in some early pain. Idolo is up with the Tranquilo pose in the ropes so Allin gets smart by knocking him to the floor. A woman at ringside inspires Idolo to fight back and grab a suplex while walking Allin up the steps.

Now it’s time to meet said woman, allowing Allin to take him out with a dive. They fight into the crowd and go up the steps, with Allin dropkicking him back down. Allin throws him back inside (after three minutes and fifteen seconds on the outside because countouts are a thing of the past) and gets caught in the Three Amigos, with the third sending him into the corner. Andrade’s running knees miss though and Allin grabs the flipping Stunner. They go up top with Allin grabbing…some kind of a flipping slam into a crossface, which sends Idolo into the ropes.

Idolo heads back outside and gets caught with a suicide dive, though Allin hits the announcers’ table instead. A bite to the head has Idolo in more trouble and they slowly get back inside. Andrade goes to the apron and suplexes Allin to the floor, because of course he’ll take that bump.

Back in and the running knees hit Allin in the corner for two so Idolo takes his (I’ll let you guess whose) pants off. The double moonsault gets two on Allin but he’s back up with a Scorpion Death Drop out of the corner. The Coffin Drop gets two, with Idolo having to grab the referee’s arm. Back up and the spinning elbow gives Idolo two but Allin grabs a quick Last Supper for the pin at 16:33.

Rating: B. Allin seems to be on his way to the main event scene and that’s pretty overdue. There are very few wrestlers who get the same kinds of reactions as Allin and it was nice to see him not do a bunch of stupid stuff. Allin has the wrestling abilities to make something like this work and he did rather well here, though Idolo loses something without the pants.

We recap FTR vs. Adam Copeland/Christian Cage for the former’s Tag Team Titles. Copeland and FTR were really close but FTR turned on him, even attacking his wife. Copeland left for a bit and came back with Cage to reform their famous team to get revenge. And the titles. FTR did attack Cage’s arm on Dynamite so he’s coming in banged up.

Tag Team Titles: Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. FTR

FTR, with Stokely, is defending. Copeland and Wheeler won’t shake hands to start so the four way brawl is on. The Canadians take over and it’s a side slam/reverse DDT combination to put Harwood down. We settle back down but FTR takes over on Copeland anyway, with Harwood grabbing a chinlock. Wheeler misses a charge in the corner though and it’s off to Cage, who puts both champions in the ropes.

Cage stands on their back and a low blow cuts Harwood off. FTR is sent outside for a big dive out to the floor, which sets up the Unprettier for two as Wheeler makes the save. Cage’s arm is wrapped around the post and slammed into the post, followed by the seated armbar. The piledriver is broken up and Cage blocks the PowerPlex. A Swan Dive hits Harwood and it’s back to Copeland for the top rope clothesline.

Copeland and Cage load up a PowerPlex of their own but Cage’s splash hits knees. Harwood’s does as well though and we get stereo crossfaces on FTR. Those are broken up so Wheeler tries to bring in a title, which knocks Copeland silly. A 3D gets two on Harwood as Copeland is busted open. Stokely’s distraction sends Copeland running into the Shatter Machine, with Cage shoving Stokely into the cover for the save.

Copeland is back up with a spear for two and Cage goes to grab a chair. That earns him a posting and a toss over the announcers’ table, leaving Copeland to slug it out with FTR. That’s reversed into FTR’s version of the Young Bucks’ kicks, only for Copeland to spear both of them down. Back up and Copeland charges into the Shatter Machine to retain the titles at 21:05.

Rating: B. The match had the good moments you would expect as Copeland and Cage still have their chemistry together but having them lose here is quite the surprise. It felt like a layup to change the titles in the big moment for the Canadian fans but they went the other way instead. Copeland was the big star here, which isn’t a surprise, though Cage did look good in his return. FTR is still a heck of a team, but I’m not sure who is supposed to take the belts. As long as this doesn’t lead to another ladder match (it probably will), it should work out.

We recap the TNT Title match. Kyle Fletcher is injured, Casino Gauntlet match, end of recap.

TNT Title: Casino Gauntlet

For the vacant title with random intervals, first fall wins (can happen at any time so there is no guarantee of how many entrants you’ll get) and Tommaso Ciampa in at #1 and Rush in at #2. They slug it out to start and seem to enjoy an exchange of chops. Rush gets the better of things and knocks him into the corner for the cocky kick to the face. Ciampa is back up with a running knee in the corner and it’s Bandido in at #3.

Bandido starts fast with a running clip dive to Ciampa and a frog splash hits Rush, with Ciampa making the save. Rush is back up to throw Bandido down and go for the mask as Mike Bailey is in at #4. As usual, that means Bailey gets to clean house, with a running shooting star press hitting Ciampa for two. Rush chops Bailey down and El Clon is in at #5. Clon gets to fire off some kicks but we’re already up to Pac in at #6.

Pac’s corkscrew moonsault to the floor takes out a bunch of people and we get a Pac vs. Bandido vs. Bailey showdown. Hurricanranas abound and it’s Daniel Garcia in at #7. Garcia tries some fast rollups but gets superkicked by Clon for two. Anthony Bowens is in at #8 and gives Clon the running Fameasser. The wind up DDT out of the corner drops Pac for two and it’s Kevin Knight in at #9.

Jet Speed gets the better of the fight against the Death Riders and knock them to the floor for the stereo dives. Rush is back in to unload on Bowens in the corner and Bandido’s 21 Plex hits Garcia for a VERY close two. Wheeler Yuta is in at #10 and joins the pile, with Ciampa superplexing Knight onto a bunch of people. Pac throws Bailey back inside but Garcia is back with the Dragontamer to Bailey. Knight breaks that up with the UFO Splash and pins Garcia for the title at 21:21.

Rating: B. I love the result as Knight has felt like he has been ready to jump up to the next level for a long time now. Having him hopefully break out on his own is a good idea as we get to see where he’s going. At the same time, the match was fun but these things haven’t nearly reached the heights of the first editions. There were no surprising names here and it felt more like a big scramble, which isn’t quite as fun. Thankfully we aren’t seeing them as often, but throw a few curve balls in there next time.

We recap Jamie Hayter challenging Thekla for the Women’s Title. Thekla attacked Hayter when she arrived and now Hayter wants revenge.

Alex Windsor wishes Jamie Hayter luck.

Women’s Title: Thekla vs. Jamie Hayter

Thekla, with the Sisters Of Sin, is defending. Hayter slugs her down to start and hammers away but Thekla hits a quick spear to send Hayter outside. They trade right hands against the barricade with Hayter getting the better of things and trying a rather delayed suplex on the ramp.

She also tries one off the ramp but Thekla fights out and knocks Hayter down the ramp in a heap. Thekla’s big dive to the floor connects and a slap to the face drops Hayter again. The Black Widow is broken up as Hayter gets over to the rope so Thekla kicks her hard in the face. Hayter manages a suplex on the ramp and fires off some running clotheslines in the corner.

A Liger Bomb gives Hayter two and a Tombstone connects for the same. Hayter catches her up top with the spider suplex, followed by a top rope double stomp to the back. Hayter’s chokebreaker looks to set up the Hayterade but Thekla reverses into a rollup, while grabbing the rope, for the pin at 16:33.

Rating: B-. Another good one here, with Hayter feeling like just enough of a threat to take the title. That’s all this needed to be, as Hayter was little more than a filler on the way to the next really big challenger. I’m not sure who that is going to be, but Hayter is being built up rather well with these title defenses.

Post match Alex Windsor runs out and protests the rope hold but gets nowhere.

We recap Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley for the latter’s Continental Title. Moxley and the Death Riders hurt Ospreay’s neck so it’s time for more revenge.

Continental Title: Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley

Moxley is defending. The bell rings and Ospreay hits the Hidden Blade about a second later but doesn’t cover. Another Hidden Blade puts Moxley on the floor so Ospreay follows him for a hanging neckbreaker from the apron. Back in and Moxley tries a triangle choke, which is countered into a powerbomb. They head back outside with Ospreay loading up the steps but missing a running knee. Moxley snaps off a sleeper suplex back inside and things slow down a bit.

Back up and they slug it out before heading to the apron, where Ospreay takes over. Ospreay’s springboard is knocked out of the air though and they chop it out again. Ospreay tries a Spanish Fly but gets pulled into the bulldog choke. That’s broken up as well and Ospreay flips out of a belly to belly superplex. Some kicks to the face rock Moxley, who grabs a Paradigm Shift, only to get Hidden Bladed for a double down.

The referee almost gets bumped before Ospreay grabs a Styles Clash into a bulldog choke of his own. That’s broken up but Ospreay hits a third Hidden Blade, only to come out with his arm banged up. They head outside again, where Moxley hits a piledriver onto the steps. Ospreay beats the count so Moxley hits a Stomp and two Paradigm Shifts…for two. The Death Rider retains the title 18:12.

Rating: B. That ending is a bit of a surprise, but I’m assuming the idea here is that Ospreay was going too far after revenge and his body couldn’t hold up. That feels like more of a long term story, though it’s quite the move to have Ospreay lose here. Moxley is being built back up into the evil Superman and I’m not sure who is supposed to take the title from him. Either way, another good match.

Darby Allin is getting his World Title shot on Dynamite.

The Dogs won the Trios Titles last night on Collision. Now the Conglomeration wants the titles and have a mystery partner to come after them.

Trios Titles: Conglomeration/??? vs. The Dogs

The Dogs are defending but we cut to a Conglomeration sitcom set. Roderick Strong comes in (Orange Cassidy wants more sleep) but Kyle O’Reilly pop in to be the mystery partner. Makes sense. The Dogs break down the set and do various unpleasant things to the couch. O’Reilly takes Finlay down to start and sends him into the corner for the rapid fire kicks. Everything breaks down and the Conglomeration sends them outside to hit some dives.

The Dogs take over again and Cassidy gets sent into the corner as we settle down a bit. That doesn’t last long as Cassidy fights up and brings Strong in to clean house. Strong gets double teamed to put him in trouble but hang on as Kidd seems to be injured. The medics check on him as Strong fights up and hands it off to O’Reilly for the real comeback. The kicks abound and an ankle lock makes Connors tap the titles away at 9:50.

Rating: C+. This was fine and O’Reilly was a nice bonus (not the biggest surprise but that’s ok), though Kidd’s injury might have cut things short. Hopefully he’s ok as you never want to see someone get hurt, especially when the Dogs were finally starting to win a bit. The Conglomeration are fine as the new champions, as they’re certainly popular enough to hold the titles.

We recap MJF vs. Kenny Omega for the former’s World Title. MJF is the rather cocky champion and Omega wants the title back. Let’s go.

AEW World Title: Kenny Omega vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Omega is challenging. They circle each other for a bit to start before MJF tries an early Salt Of The Earth. That’s reversed into a rollup for two and Omega scares him out to the floor (oh yeah they’re going long). Back in and Omega snaps off a hurricanrana to send MJF outside again, this time for a slingshot dive. MJF drops him onto the barricade but Omega moonsaults off of it for the knockdown. A table is stomped onto MJF but Omega takes too long setting up the table.

That lets MJF get in a knockdown and the chinlock goes on back inside. An Alabama slam gives MJF two so he fakes a knee injury and grabs a piledriver for two on Omega. MJF’s V Trigger misses and Omega grabs a snapdragon, setting up the Fameasser from behind of two. MJF bails outside again and gets taken out by the big running flip dive. Back in and MJF bites in the corner but can’t hit a super Tombstone. Instead Omega fights back..but gets caught with a poisonrana.

Omega pops up with a running knee for two and they’re both down. The Heatseeker is blocked so MJF settles for the slingshot cutter for two instead. Omega breaks up You Can’t Escape and hits a V Trigger for two of his own. MJF escapes You Can’t Escape but gets hurricanranaed out to the floor. The means a moonsault from Omega and they both need a breather on the floor. Back in and MJF goes after the stomach before stereo crossbodies leave them both down again.

Omega’s dropkick gets two…and a super One Winged Angel knocks MJF silly. Omega can’t cover due to the stomach though and MJF manages to roll outside. Back in and another snapdragon gives Omega two so he tries another One Winged Angel. That’s reversed into a Cross Rhodes and a package piledriver for a rather near fall and MJF is ticked off. MJF slowly strikes away but Omega gets mad and beats him down in the corner, setting up a heck of a V Trigger.

The One Winged Angel is broken up though and the referee gets bumped. A low blow puts Omega down and MJF finds the Dynamite Diamond. The big shot misses and it’s another One Winged Angel…and another referee comes in to count two. That counts as kicking out of it for the first time, though it should have an asterisk. They go to the apron where MJF hits him in the stomach with the ring. A Tombstone through the table sets up the Heatseeker to retain at 38:50.

Rating: B+. It did feel like this big epic struggle and MJF beating Omega is going to be a big deal for him. The match probably went a bit longer than necessary, but the result was the right call as Omega can come back and win the title later. MJF gets to continue to establish himself as this big villain and it’s working well so far. Omega might not be as great as he was before, but he can still put on a heck of a performance. Great main event here, which isn’t a surprise.

MJF poses on his throne to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This was another very good show, with the main event and a lot of other things delivering. At the same time, it was another show where I was just wanting it to be over with about an hour and a half to go. That’s par for the course for AEW, along with having a bunch of rather awesome matches. On on top of that, the villains won most of the top matches, which is quite the choice for a show like this. It’s a show worth a look, though as usual you might want to watch it in shifts, which isn’t the greatest feeling.

Results
Alex Windsor b. Marina Shafir – T-bone DDT
Kamille b. Big Anne – Torture rack powerbomb
Jack Perry b. Mark Davis – Hurricanrana
Megan Bayne/Lena Kross b. Hyan/Maya World – Double chokeslam to Hyan
Young Bucks b. Don Callis Family – TK Driver to Okada
Ricochet b. Chris Jericho – Lionsault
Darby Allin b. Andrade El Idolo – Last Supper
FTR b. Adam Copeland/Christian Cage – Shatter Machine to Copeland
Kevin Knight won the Casino Battle Royal – UFO Splash to Garcia
Thekla b. Jamie Hayter – Rollup while holding the rope
Jon Moxley b. Will Ospreay – Death Rider
Conglomeration/Kyle O’Reilly b. The Dogs – Ankle lock to Connors
Maxwell Jacob Friedman b. Kenny Omega – Heatseeker

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

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