Dynamite
Date: June 4, 2025
Location: Mission Ballroom, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni, Taz

It’s Fyter Fest, and that means we are in for an especially big show. In this case, this is a four hour special, which I guess means we have Dynamite and then Collision. That means we could be getting some big things over the course of one night, including a four way for the International Title on this show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Toni Storm is ready to tango.

Here is Will Ospreay for a chat. We see a clip of Ospreay and Swerve Strickland getting into it backstage last week. In the ring, Ospreay says he wants Swerve and Hangman Page to realize that Jon Moxley is the real enemy. Maybe they could put their differences aside for one night and then kill each other. Moxley hates what AEW has become. Well then maybe p*** off.

Ospreay is going to do his part to get the title back from Moxley but Swerve might be getting in the way. That’s why he wants to face Swerve next week…but here is Cru (Ospreay: “Who is this?”) to interrupt. Cru doesn’t want to hear from the crowd and says that Brits like Ospreay LOVE to talk a lot. Lio Rush has some energy to burn off and that’s fine with Ospreay, who is down for a match. The more I hear from Ospreay, the more I get vibes that he might cost Page the title at All In.

Mark Briscoe does not like the implication that he gave up to Jon Moxley last week. Now his kids are doubting him and it’s time to man up, even if it’s not about the World Title.

Jon Moxley vs. Mark Briscoe

Non-title and the Death Riders are here with Moxley. Briscoe backs him up against the ropes to start and Moxley bails to the floor. That earns him some chops from Briscoe but Moxley takes over back inside. A choke doesn’t work for Briscoe so he fires off some right hands. Moxley rips at his face in the corner but gets sent outside for a running dropkick through the ropes.

Another dive misses though and Wheeler Yuta sends Briscoe into the post to earn his keep for the week. We take a break and come back with Briscoe busted open and flipping out of a backdrop. Some Redneck Kung Fu sends Moxley outside for the running flip dive, followed by a boot to the face back inside. The Jay Driller is broken up so Briscoe knocks him down again.

The Froggy Bow is pulled into a rear naked choke, followed by a cross armbreaker to send Briscoe over to the ropes. Yuta posts Briscoe again but he manages to come back in for a Jay Driller and a very delayed two. The Cutthroat Driver is countered into a Stomp and the Bulldog Choke goes on again. Briscoe can’t flip out and the referee stops it at 14:11.

Rating: B-. Just in case you thought Briscoe might get something out of the rematch you see. Of course Moxley beats him in the exact same way again, because Moxley needed to conquer another popular star. Briscoe had a reason to fight for his own honor and all that jazz but Moxley chokes him out, again, because Moxley is amazing and tough or whatever it is this week.

Video on Mistico, who is back next week….for another four hour AEW block.

Toni Storm/Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart/Skye Blue

Mercedes Mone is at ringside and eating steak with some wine. Storm tries to do Shirakawa’s dance to less than enthusiastic results. Blue misses a running shot in the corner to Shirakawa and gets hit in the face. Storm comes in as a launch pad for Shirakawa to land on Blue but it’s too early for the Glamorous Driver.

Hart comes in for the Tarantula to Shirakawa before Blue sends Storm into the barricade. Back in and Shirakawa gets planted and we take an early break. We come back with Hart hitting Old School but Shirakawa comes back with a top rope Sling Blade. The tag brings in Storm to clean house, including a jiggle exchange with Shirakawa, followed by the stereo running hip attacks. The TCM Chickenwing finishes Blue at 9:50.

Rating: C+. Blue’s downward slide continues, though there are worse things than getting beaten by the champ. Storm and Shirakawa are fine as the fun tag team, though that’s not something we have time to go into at the moment as Storm is getting ready to likely lose to Mone at All In. I’m not sure what is next for her after that, but it might be time for her to step away from the title picture anyway.

Post match Storm eats Mone’s steak.

MJF comes up to Will Ospreay who says Ospreay can’t get the World Title if Hangman Page wins it. Ospreay goes to leave but MJF mocks him again, earning a grab by the jacket. The Hurt Syndicate comes in and Ospreay thinks better of it.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate for a chat. Bobby Lashley used to live here and is glad that he left for Texas. MVP talks about how there is no one who can challenge them for the titles. NO ONE. With that out of the way, MJF says he wants the World Title back. That brings him to Mexico and Mistico, who needs to understand that the best wrestlers in the world come from the greatest country in the world: the United States.

MJF sold out Arena Mexico because he is a star and Mistico is a big fish in a small pond. Next week he’ll watch Mistico’s match and maybe, maybe, he’ll agree to face him at Grand Slam in Mexico. Cue Komander, Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight, with Komander insulting MJF in Spanish. Bailey says they’re a group of international killers….and MVP laughs at him. The challenge seems to be issued though. It’s not a good sign when you ask for challengers to step up for the titles and no one does so. The tag division really is that dead at the moment and that needs to be fixed.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Mike Bailey/Komander/Kevin Knight

The fight starts fast and everyone goes out to the floor with the good guys taking over. Rush gets caught in the corner back inside for some running shots, setting up Bailey’s basement dropkick. The rest of the villains come in to take over on Bailey and knock all three of them to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Komander cleaning house and bringing Knight back in to hammer on Rush. That doesn’t last long as Rush sends Knight into the corner for the cocky kick to the face and everything breaks down again. A triple dropkick puts La Faccion on the floor for the triple dives. Back in and Komander gets suplexed into a pop up Samoan drop for two. Bailey comes back in for the moonsault knees on Mortos before tossing Knight at him for a clothesline. Komander hits his rope walk flip dive and Knight’s twisting top rope splash finishes Mortos at 14:28.

Rating: C+. Knight continues to look good out there while Komander and Bailey were their usual selves. This was only so interesting as it was another six man tag designed to pop the crowd with big spots. AEW likes to feature these things a lot and it feels like something we’ve seen quite a few times around here.

Post match the Hurt Syndicate comes out to say that the winners can face them next week. The Syndicate comes to the ring and is quickly cleared out, setting up the triple slingshot dives.

The Paragon and Daniel Garcia agree to team up to fight the Don Callis Family tonight.

The Patriarchy is in the back. Christian Cage tells the fans to sit down and shut up while he conducts his business. Cage talks about Nick Wayne’s run in the Best Of The Super Juniors in New Japan….and tonight he gets to defend the TNT Title in a four way. Wayne does not seem thrilled.

Here is Max Caster with a petition to declare him the best wrestler alive. Caster asks the referee to sign it while he gets the fans doing his chant. The challenge is on.

Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Max Caster

Spinebuster finishes for Hobbs in 48 seconds.

International Title: Kenny Omega vs. Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Mascara Dorada

Omega is defending and this is one fall to a finish. King and Castagnoli hammer Omega down in the corner to start but wind up fighting each other. Castagnoli is knocked outside and King joins him, leaving Dorada to flip away from Omega. King and Castagnoli come back in, with Castagnoli hitting a Cactus Clothesline.

Dorada hits a big dive of his own and King crushes Dorada and Castagnoli against the barricade. Omega snapdragons King on the floor and then busts out the big flip dive as we take a break. Back with Castagnoli escaping You Can’t Escape with some raised knees and King crushes Omega in the corner. Dorada is Death Valley Drivered into Omega in the same corner but Castagnoli plants King for two.

Omega tries a One Winged Angel on King but winds up being the base for a Doomsday uppercut from Castagnoli. The bleeding King gets tossed off the top and Omega hits a V Trigger to Castagnoli. The parade of knockdowns sees King hit a clothesline for two on Castagnoli, who is right back with the Swing to King. Dorada grabs something like a West Coast Pop for two on Castagnoli before monkey flipping him to the floor. Dorada dives onto King but gets caught in the One Winged Angel to retain Omega’s title at 17:37.

Rating: B. Well aside from the time being the same date as the whiskey that Long John Silver offers the crew in Muppet Treasure Island, this was the usual fast paced and exciting match that AEW knows how to do rather well. Omega gets a good win to show that he still has it, along with likely setting himself up for the title match with Okada at All In. I was a bit surprised that Dorada took the fall here, but it’s better than King or Castagnoli getting pinned again.

Overall Rating: B. I had a good time with this show as it went by fairly quickly and the action worked well enough. Hobbs being the latest person to smash Caster is a good use for him and Storm stealing the steak was fairly funny. Other than that, this was more about setting things up for the next few shows, including a bit about tonight’s Collision. I’d call this a pretty solid show, and hopefully the other one can back that up.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Mark Briscoe via referee stoppage
Toni Storm/Mina Shirakawa b. Julia Hart/Skye Blue – TCM Chickenwing to Blue
Mike Bailey/Komander/Kevin Knight b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Top rope twisting splash to Mortos
Powerhouse Hobbs b. Max Caster – Spinebuster
Kenny Omega b. Brody King, Claudio Castagnoli and Mascara Dorada – One Winged Angel to Dorada

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

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Dynamite
Date: May 28, 2025
Location: El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Ian Riccaboni

We’re done with Double Or Nothing and that means it is time to start getting ready for All In, which is about a month and a half away. That is going to be one of the biggest AEW shows in history and we now have two of the top matches already set. Hangman Page and Mercedes Mone will be challenging for the World and Women’s Titles and they’ll likely have a lot to say. Let’s get to it.

Here is Double Or Nothing if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Tony Schiavone brings out Hangman Page for a chat. Page talks about how fleeting triumph can be, but the same is true for loss. At Double Or Nothing, they both knew that one of them would lose and thank you Will Ospreay for giving him the fight of his life. Ospreay can be the man who carries this company forward, but one of them won. This victory is fleeting as well though, because it is time to hand off the Owen title, because someone will win it next year.

Now it is time to win the World Title, which has been locked in a briefcase for seven months. That title was supposed to be a symbol to everyone and he promises to win the title, which will be held high for all to see. Cue Swerve Strickland to interrupt and he shows us a clip of why he’s here. We see a clip from April 9, with the Young Bucks saying they came back to cost Swerve the World Title. Back in the ring, Swerve says he had the title won, but then the Bucks cost him.

Page was in the ring at the same time and Swerve is calling collusion on this. Swerve wants a straight answer: did Page have anything to do with what the Bucks did? Page: “Well, dumba**,”. Page says that he even considered helping Swerve at Dynasty but he implies he wasn’t working with the Bucks. Swerve: “You’re still full of s***.” Cue Will Ospreay to say he doesn’t want to do this but he tells Swerve that he’s wrong about Page. On Sunday, Page came back to the ring and helped him up, which is what Swerve did to him last year.

People are starting to believe in them again, and the reality is that Page is the guy who can get the title back. They have one shot at this and they need to work together. Swerve slaps the mic from Ospreay and he insists he will NEVER work with Page. That seems to be mutual from Page, who storms off as well. This is very reminiscent of Cody Rhodes and company coming together to take the WWE Championship from Roman Reigns and that is a story worth doing again.

Video on Anarchy In The Arena.

Death Riders vs. Willow Nightingale/Mike Bailey/Mark Briscoe

Kidd and Briscoe slug it out to start and everything breaks down in a hurry. Bailey hits a running kick to Moxley and Briscoe adds a big flip dive as we take a break. Back with Briscoe getting over for the tag off to Bailey, who fires off the kicks to Moxley. The double tag brings in Shafir and Nightingale to slug it out with Nightingale hitting a spinebuster for two. Shafir comes back up with a shot of her own and it’s back to Bailey vs. Moxley.

They waste no time in going outside, where Moxley throws him over the barricade for a crash as we take another break. Back again with Bailey being dropped over the top rope and kicked in the face. Bailey comes back up with some kicks to the chest and the standing moonsault knees hit Kidd.

Briscoe comes in to clean house, including a dropkick through the ropes to Moxley. Bailey hits a dive of his own and Briscoe’s Froggy Bow gets two on Kidd. Claudio Castagnoli offers a distraction but here is Komander (facing Castagnoli on Collision) to take him out. Moxley uses the distraction to come in and choke Briscoe out for the win at 18:42.

Rating: B-. Pretty standard six man tag here and the two breaks in the middle cut off some of the momentum. At the same time, this felt like the way for the Death Riders to get some momentum back after Sunday’s loss. The match is nothing that hasn’t been done multiple times around here but the flips were good enough.

MJF is ready to help the Hurt Syndicate retain the Tag Team Titles against anyone. It’s just business.

Penelope Ford and Megan Bayne want revenge on Anna Jay and Harley Cameron in a No DQ match.

Ricochet talks about wanting to get some gold around here but he sees how things are going around here. It’s clear that he needs a group and we’ll be working on that.

Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay/Harley Cameron

No DQ and it’s a brawl on the floor to start with the weapons being brought in fast. A trashcan lid to the back gets two on Ford with Bayne making the save. Bayne shrugs off a chair shot and hits a double clothesline but gets knocked down again. That means it’s time to get the table and we take a break. Back with Bayne getting chaired in the head, sending her off the apron and through a table. That doesn’t last long either and it’s Bayne getting back up to send Cameron face first into the steps. Back in and Bayne clotheslines Jay down, setting up a Doomsday Device for the pin at 11:01.

Rating: C+. This was what the Double Or Nothing match should have been, as it was all about making Bayne look like a killer. She smashed through the two of them and it made for a great showcase. Ford was there as well, with Jay and Cameron being good cannon fodder. Bayne feels like she is on the way up again, and that is as obvious of a move as you can get.

Mercedes Mone arrived in a low rider.

Opps vs. Frat House

Non-title and the Frat House is from Ring Of Honor. Joe is not impressed at Jakked Jameson’s discussions of recruitment parties and the beating is on fast. Joe hammers away and it’s off to Shibata, who shrugs off some forearms and marches at Garrison, even as Garrison forearms away. It’s off to Hobbs for some clotheslines so some of the pledges come in, earning a string of spinebusters. A less than great looking spinebuster gives Hobbs the pin at 3:13.

Rating: C. Total destruction here and that’s what it needed to be. Hobbs looked good enough (save for that not very good spinebuster finish) and that’s something that needs to happen every so often. Occasionally you need a team to just smash through everyone in front of them and the Opps know just how to do that.

Renee Paquette brings out Jamie Hayter for a chat. Before she can say much though, the lights go out and Thekla, formerly of Stardom and recently of the spiders on screen, is here to lay Hayter out.

Video on Mistico, who isn’t on the card tonight. So they promote him when he isn’t there and don’t promote him when he is there?

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Adam Cole

Cole is defending. Feeling out process to start with neither being able to get very far. Cole knocks him into the corner for some stomping and SHOUTS HIS NAME. A superkick sends Fletcher outside but RPG Vice is there to cut off a dive. Cue Paragon to take them out, leaving Fletcher to give Cole a TERRIFYING apron powerbomb, with Cole’s head slamming into the apron as we take a break.

Back with Fletcher hitting a spinning slam but Cole catches him with a superkick. Cole strikes away and hits a Death Valley Driver onto the knee for two. The Panama Sunrise is blocked so Cole goes with a brainbuster onto the knee. Cue Josh Alexander to jump Cole for the DQ at 9:35.

Rating: B-. They were starting to roll before the DQ and it seems like we have the Paragon vs. Don Callis Family coming for the next few weeks. There is a good chance that one of them will take the title from Cole, which is not a bad way to go. This was a good match, but dang Fletcher needs to work on that powerbomb, because that could have gone far worse.

Post match the beatdown stays on until Brody King makes the save with a chair.

Brody King vs. Josh Alexander

For a spot in a four way International Title match next week. They go straight to the brawling with King getting the better of things. They go outside where King gets in a few shots, only to be knocked up against the barricade. Alexander sends him into the steps and we take a break.

Back with Alexander working on the arm but King hits a hard clothesline. They brawl out to the apron, where Alexander snaps off a German suplex. King shrugs that off and hits the running crossbody against the barricade. The Cannonball misses back inside though and Alexander locks up the apron. As tends to be the case, that’s broken up rather quickly so Alexander goes with the bridging German suplex for two. King raises the knees to cut off the moonsault and the Ganso Bomb finishes Alexander (who was busted open somewhere in there) at 14:11.

Rating: B. Take two big guys, have them beat the fire out of each other for the better part of fifteen minutes until one of them can’t get up. King needed the win after a stretch of bad results, though Alexander could use a good one of his own. Either way, good, hard hitting match here, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

Here’s what’s coming on Collision.

Adam Cole and Kyle Fletcher get in another fight in the back.

Here is Mercedes Mone for a chat. Mone talks about what it means to win the Owen Hart tournament (which she ties into Eddie Guerrero) but here is Toni Storm to cut her off. Storm says Mone has never spoken to her and she told Anthony Khan how much she wanted this match. So what took so long? Mone says this is about her because she is the Beyonce of women’s wrestling. They met years ago and Mone is no longer a Boss but rather a CEO. Storm talks about how they were in the same place and now they are in AEW where they can be their real selves.

The difference is while Mone wants all of the titles, Storm only needs one (that’s a great line). Storm has bled, cried and died for the Women’s Title. They will meet in 45 days and a little girl will be watching. That little girl will say “holy s*** these b****** are crazy” and Storm will still be timeless. Mone says it’s time for Storm to come to an end. Mone offers a handshake and Storm kisses it, leaving them to both miss their finishers, sending Mone running to end the show. This felt like a major showdown and that’s what it needed to be, as this is probably going to be the second biggest match at All In.

Overall Rating: B. That ending segment boosted this up a bit as I want to see Storm and Mone fight. Other than that, the show was the usual collection of good action as we move towards the four way next week, plus All In a little over a month from now. Good, hard working fallout show from the pay per view, but now it’s time to get ready for All In and that’s going to be difficult.

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

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Double Or Nothing 2025
Date: May 25, 2025
Location: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

It’s time for another full fledged pay per view and that means the show is likely going to run long. In this case we have what is mostly a two match show and that could create some issues. The big matches here are Anarchy In The Arena, plus the Men’s Owen Hart Tournament final between Hangman Page and Will Ospreay. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay/Harley Cameron

Bayne powers Cameron into the corner to start and faceplants her down, followed by a hair pull from Ford in the corner. It’s off to Ford for a slap to Cameron before Jay comes in for a running spinning kick in the corner. Cameron then sends Ford’s face into the back of Jay’s tights, which is enough to bring Ford back up for a fireman’s carry gutbuster. Jay is back up with a basement dropkick and a neckbreaker over the middle rope…wakes Ford up for a clothesline.

Bayne sends Jay flying with a t-bone suplex and Ford’s running dropkick to the back gets two. Some stomping and choking in the corner but Jay gets in a kick to the face, allowing a middle rope Blockbuster to connect. Cameron comes in to clean house and Bayne splashes Ford by mistake. A double DDT gives Cameron two but Bayne is back up to double German suplex both of them.

That’s not impressive enough so Bayne tosses Ford onto the two of them at ringside. Back in and a parade of knockdowns leaves everyone on the mat, allowing Bayne to go up top. A double superplex brings her down for a crash and a two but Bayne is back up for a double clothesline. A Doomsday Device is broken up though and Bayne goes outside with Jay, leaving Cameron to hit Her Finishing Move on Ford for the pin at 12:35.

Rating: C+. This was a match which could have been on any given episode of Dynamite and that means it is a great choice for a spot like this one. Sometimes you need to have a fun tag match, which is exactly what you got here. Cameron needed a win after some recent setbacks and Bayne was a monster, which is about as well as it could have gone.

Kickoff Show: Cru/RPG Vice vs. AR Fox/Bandido/Los Titantes del Aire

The villains jump them from behind to start and it’s Bandido getting caught in the corner for some running clotheslines. That’s broken up and we settle down to Romero getting taken into the wrong corner for a running shot to the face. Komander grabs a chinlock for a bit before Bandido comes back in for the delayed vertical suplex. That’s broken up and Cru double teams Bandido down so Los Titantes come in to knock them outside.

A double suplex onto the apron puts Komander in trouble but it’s back to Bandido for a top rope corkscrew crossbody. Fox comes in and cleans house with a cutter and slingshot hilo, setting up a suicide dive to the floor. Beretta drops Fox on the floor though and Rush forearms him down for two back inside. Fox is back up with a double top rope clothesline but a spike Strong Zero plants him for two.

Andretti clotheslines Fox back down but he’s right back up for the tag off to Hologram to clean house. Komander adds a running hurricanrana as everything breaks down again. A quadruple dive takes out the villains on the floor so they’re thrown back inside for a quadruple splash off the top for two. An assisted 21 Plex finishes Andretti at 13:18.

Rating: B-. Take a bunch of people, let them go nuts and do a bunch of high spots. I could have gone for the match being a bit shorter as these things tend to go better in short stretches, but it went well enough. I’m still not sure when Hologram is going to actually do something important, but that hasn’t stopped AEW with him for months now.

And now, the show proper.

Women’s Owen Hart Tournament Finals: Mercedes Mone vs. Jamie Hayter

Non-title. They stare each other down to start and lock up, with Hayter powering her into the corner. Mone slips away and fires off some forearms, only to get knocked down for a quick two. Mone’s rollups get two each, sending them into a battle over leg cranks. Hayter finally pulls her into a half crab but Mone rolls out and hits the running knees against the ropes. Another running shot sends Hayter crashing out to the floor and it’s time to crank on some limbs back inside.

A Backstabber sets up a cross arm choke until Hayter powers up and drives her into the corner. The middle rope Meteora hits Hayter but she’s right back up with some right hands in the corner. Mone pulls her crashing down onto the buckle for two more and some running knees to the back make it even worse. Hayter is fine enough to snap off a suplex and a middle rope dropkick sends her into the corner. Some running knees rock Mone but she’s right back with the Three Amigos.

A Backstabber looks to set up the Mone Maker but Hayter superkicks her into a hard clothesline. They go to the floor and Hayter hits a step up clothesline off the steps (with a quick slip) and they’re back inside. Three straight Backstabbers set up the Mone Maker, which is broken up rather quickly. Something like a middle rope seated senton gives Mone two but Hayter pulls her into a rear naked choke.

That’s broken up and Mone pulls her into the Statement Maker. Mone tries to kick herself back to the middle of the ring but Hayter gets up and hits a backbreaker for two. Back up and a Tombstone gives Hayter two more (with a heck of a sell from Mone) and she loads up Hayterade but gets small packaged to give Mone the pin at 21:18.

Rating: B-. I liked it well enough, though it felt like they were getting a bit repetitive in there. Hayter managed to make it feel like she could pull it off once or twice here, which is a lot more than I was expecting off what felt like a layup coming in. Mone vs. Toni Storm (more than likely) is a dream match around here and this gets us ready on the long road to All In.

Commentary wishes Jim Ross good health in a nice moment.

We recap FTR vs. Daniel Garcia/Nigel McGuinness. FTR went full evil by attacking Cope and Tony Schiavone didn’t like it. This sent them after Schiavone, so McGuinness stood up for his broadcast partner. Garcia didn’t like it either so it’s time for a tag match, with McGuinness admitting that he and Garcia are likely in trouble.

FTR vs. Nigel McGuinness/Daniel Garcia

Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR while Matt Menard is with McGuinness/Garcia. Wheeler and Garcia lock it up to start before shoving away out of the corner. Garcia punches him down and Wheeler backs away, meaning it’s off to Harwood vs. McGuinness. Harwood chops and strikes away in the corner and then does it again in another corner to keep things level.

Everything breaks down and FTR is cleared out to the floor for a breather. Back in and McGuinness takes both of them down in the corner but they send him outside. Some rams into the apron and announcers’ table have McGuinness in trouble and they go back inside. Harwood gets a hard whip to send McGuinness into the buckle and lays down to mock him a bit, like most good villains should.

Wheeler goes outside to mock Schiavone and we hit the chinlock back inside. McGuinness fights up and manages a rebound lariat, which is enough for the diving tag to Garcia. Some clotheslines take FTR down and a belly to back suplex gets two on Harwood. Wheeler quickly breaks up the Sharpshooter and Harwood escapes the Tower Of London. Garcia helps McGuinness hit a Tower Of London in the middle of the ring and FTR gets caught in stereo holds. Hathaway offers a distraction to break that up and the fight heads to the floor, where Wheeler gets in a cheap shot.

Back in and Garcia hits his rolling superplexes on Harwood but Wheeler breaks them up. A spinning superplex into Wheeler’s top rope splash gets two, leaving Hathaway frustrated. FTR takes McGuinness outside for a Shatter Machine, which is enough for Schiavone to get up and seemingly beg for mercy. Garcia fights back inside until a piledriver is countered to give Harwood two. A spike piledriver gives Harwood two, followed by a Sharpshooter to keep Garcia in trouble. McGuinness is held back and Garcia passes out at 22:30.

Rating: C+. WAY too long here for a match that probably could have been cut in half without missing match. It didn’t help that it was a fairly random pairing against one of the best teams going today, as the result wasn’t exactly in doubt. I wasn’t feeling this one and the length was the biggest problem, as there was no need for this to break fifteen minutes, let alone twenty two.

We recap Mark Briscoe vs. Ricochet. They don’t like each other, Ricochet uses scissors, stretcher match. Totally logical sequence of steps there.

Mark Briscoe vs. Ricochet

Stretcher match, where you have to be put on n stretcher and into an ambulance, which would usually make it an ambulance match. Ricochet jumps him to start and takes things out to the floor, where Briscoe fires off some chops. Briscoe sends him into the ambulance and so Ricochet jumps out and SPRINTS to the ring in a funny bit.

Back at ringside and Briscoe rams him with the stretcher but it’s too early for a Bang Bang Elbow. Ricochet knocks him onto the stretcher but the shooting star press from the apron only hits stretcher. Now the Bang Bang Elbow can hit Ricochet and a chair to the ribs keeps him in trouble. A table is set up but Ricochet gets whipped into the barricade and it’s time to get….some cleaning products?

Briscoe of course polishes Ricochet’s head (that’s worthy of a chuckle), followed by a bucket to the (well polished) head. A tribute to Sabu takes too long though and Ricochet gets in a shot to the head to take over. Some cleaning products to the eyes cuts Briscoe off again and it’s time to take the padding off the stretcher.

The bloody Briscoe is carried back to the ambulance but he uses a crutch to block the door. A fire extinguisher blast blinds Ricochet and they go back to the ring, where Briscoe hits a Jay Driller. Now the table is set up for the Froggy Bow but Ricochet fights back. The scissors to the head staggers Briscoe but he gets the scissors and swings away. A low blow cuts him off though and Ricochet sends him into the ambulance to win at 16:03.

Rating: B. It was a bloody, violent fight and that made for a change of pace from what we’ve seen so far. I’m still not sure why this needed to be a stretcher match but it had some funny moments and Ricochet won in the end, as he should have. That’s all this needed to accomplish, and they did it with Briscoe bleeding a gusher.

We recap the Tag Team Title match. The Hurt Syndicate are the dominant champions and the Sons Of Texas have been the Ring Of Honor champions for several months due to reasons I have yet to begin to fathom. Now Dustin Rhodes wants a third title and Sammy Guevara is here too.

Tag Team Titles: Sons Of Texas vs. Hurt Syndicate

The Syndicate, with MVP and MJF, is defending (unlike the Sons Of Texas). Rhodes and Lashley start things off with the latter driving him into the corner a few times. Rhodes fights out and gets shouldered down so it’s off to Benjamin. Some right hands stagger Benjamin, who is right back with a German suplex. A running knee lift gets Rhodes over for the tag off to Guevara to clean some house.

Benjamin sends him flying with a German suplex as well and Lashley hits a heck of a spinning spinebuster. Guevara is sent outside for a cheap shot from MJF, which the fans don’t seem to like. Back in and something like a Dominator plants Guevara, who manages a quick cutter for a needed breather. Rhodes comes back in and slugs away, including a powerslam to Lashley.

The Canadian Destroyer drops Lashley and MJF’s accidental distraction lets Rhodes hit Benjamin with Shattered Dreams. Benjamin is back up with a quickly broken ankle lock and Rhodes hits a quick Cross Rhodes for two. Rhodes goes up and gets pulled back down so MJF offers Benjamin the ring. That’s not happening so MJF backs off, leaving Lashley to spear Guevara. Rhodes breaks up the pin so MJF goes after him, with Lashley breaking up a ring spot. A spear sends Rhodes through the barricade and Benjamin cuts off a dive attempt. Benjamin superkicks Guevara for the pin at 12:39.

Rating: C. The Sons Of Texas still aren’t interesting, they’re nothing special in the ring and thank goodness MJF didn’t accidentally (or on purpose) help them win the titles. I didn’t care when they became the #1 contenders and the match wasn’t anything more interesting. Thankfully the Hurt Syndicate beat them here, as I can’t take anymore of Rhodes holding titles for months at a time.

We recap the Continental Title match, which doesn’t have much of a story other than Mike Bailey asking for and receiving the shot.

Continental Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Mike Bailey

Okada is defending. They stare at each other for a bit before locking up and going to an early standoff. A fight over wrist control lets Okada slap him on the chest and they’re quickly on the floor. Bailey hits a crane kick and goes back inside for the bouncing kicks, only to get taken down with a dragon screw legwhip.

They’re quickly back on the floor for a DDT from Okada but Bailey dives back in to beat the count. Back in and Okada does the taunting kicks, followed by a far more serious running kick to the face. A baseball slide puts Bailey on the floor but he is right back up for his “avoid the dive and hit a moonsault” sequence. Back in and a missile dropkick connects, setting up the running shooting star press for two.

Okada shoves him off the top and hits the Air Raid Crash onto the knee. The falling top rope elbow hits Bailey and Okada gets in a middle finger. Bailey kicks him down and tries the shooting star press, which hits raised knees. They forearm it out until Bailey hits a superkick and goes up, only to get dropkicked out to the floor.

The fight heads to the apron, where Bailey hits the moonsault knees. Back in and the Ultimate Weapon misses and the tornado kick is dropkicked away. Bailey kicks him down again for two and ducks the Rainmaker, followed by another kick to drop Okada. It’s back up top, but this time Okada dropkicks him out of the air. The Rainmaker retains the title at 16:04.

Rating: B-. Bailey is one of those guys where you’re either going to like him a lot of not at all and I’m more in the latter category. He did well here, but I can only get so much out of all those kicks and the stupid little bowing deal. Okada was only a bit better here, but the bigger issue was they have all but said it’s Okada vs. Kenny Omega at All In, so this didn’t have the most drama.

We recap Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa. Storm is on the way to All In but wanted a title defense before she got there. Shirakawa returned and won a #1 contenders match, which had Storm excited.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa

Storm is defending and gets taken down for some early kicks to the leg. That’s reversed and Storm dances a bit before grabbing a headscissors. Shirakawa reverses into a dancing double stomp to the knees but Storm makes the ropes to escape. The leg is kicked out again and wrapped around the post but Storm is fine enough to hit a snap suplex on the floor.

Back in and Storm gets two off a fisherman’s suplex, only for Shirakawa to hit a springboard tornado DDT. A clothesline hits Storm and she bails to the floor, where Shirakawa beats up Luther. Shirakawa isn’t done and uses Luther as a launchpad to tag Storm out again. Back in again and Shirakawa grabs a Figure Four, with Storm turning over for the escape.

They trade strikes to the face and both fall down for a double breather. Storm snaps off some suplexes but the knee won’t let her do the running hip attack. Shirakawa is smart enough to go after the knee again but Storm makes the rope to escape another leglock. A reverse implant DDT gives Shirakawa two and the Figure Four goes on again. That’s broken up with another grab of the ropes and they trade small packages for two each. Then Storm grabs a quick Storm Zero for the pin to retain at 15:54.

Rating: B-. The ending was absolutely out of nowhere, but that kind of fit as Storm was only able to do so much with her bad leg. Much like the previous match, there was only so much drama here, as Shirakawa vs. Mone doesn’t feel like quite the same level of showdown. What we got here was good, which is more impressive as they were in a pretty tight spot.

Post match, respect is shown.

We recap Anarchy In The Arena. The Death Riders and the Young Bucks are the two evil groups so a bunch of good guys (and Willow Nightingale) are fighting back. Therefore, it’s time for anything to go in a wild brawl.

Young Bucks/Death Riders vs. Opps/Swerve Strickland/Kenny Omega/Willow Nightingale

Anarchy In The Arena so anything goes. Swerve has some special gear which might be the Predator, while Omega is Captain America…and there is no Joe. The Death Riders come in from a bunch of different entrances and the Bucks get another big entrance about how great they are because this joke is still a thing. They’re the founding fathers and have their own patriotic sounding music, which plays for a bit as the brawl starts.

Joe pops up in the crowd to brawl with Castagnoli and we go to a quadruple screen for the four brawls. We settle down to a bunch of people in the ring and Omega asks for some new music, which is….I’m So Excited. The villains get pummeled in the corners and we cut to Joe beating up Castagnoli at a merchandise stand. Back in the ring and Omega says that doesn’t fit so we’ll play some Bodies by Drowning Pool, which is a better fit for this kind of thing.

Omega even leads some fans in a singalong as the fight heads into the crowd. Moxley forks Hobbs’ head and Yuta cuts off Omega’s dive from a balcony. Instead Yuta is tossed onto the pile and then Omega follows with a moonsault. Joe uses the Captain America shield trashcan lid to beat on Castagnoli at ringside before Moxley brings Hobbs into the ring. Moxley takes him down in the corner and grabs a table, with Hobbs spearing him through it (you knew that was coming).

Matt is pulled in for You Can’t Escape from Omega as Shafir and Nightingale have brawled outside. Back inside and Shibata puts Yuta in a laundry cart and rams him into a wall. A barbed wire kick has Yuta in more trouble and we cut back to Swerve and Omega beating up the Bucks. Castagnoli uppercuts Swerve out of the air though and swings him into a speaker (cutting off the music).

The women are back now and Shafir hits Nightingale with a frying pan. The Bucks are back up to send Omega through a table at ringside as Nightingale’s ear has been chained to the post. A bunch of people go back towards the entrance and Nick Swantons through Hobbs on a table. Hobbs fights up but gets kneed back down, followed by a chair to the head. Hold on though as here is Swerve on a forklift to Swerve Stomp onto the Bucks and Moxley.

Hobbs snaps off some spinebusters inside as Nightingale is finally unlocked. Joe and Moxley grab a choke each, as do Shibata and Shafir. Swerve and Matt break those up with 450s and Matt grabs a staple gun. Hobbs isn’t having any of that, including one to his head and Swerve has his own staple gun. A low blow cuts Matt off but Shafir hits Swerve low and his tongue gets stapled. Omega fires off some snapdragons, including one to Shafir (who spat on him).

The Bucks are back up with superkicks, including a double to the referee. Nightingale is back up for the Tombstone half of a Meltzer Driver to Matt for two. Joe plants Moxley out of the corner and Hook is back to go after Castagnoli. The MuscleBuster into the Koquina Clutch has Moxley in trouble but Gabe Kidd is here to break it up. Kidd piledrives Omega and Yuta puts thumbtacks into Omega’s mouth for an EVP Trigger.

Joe breaks up a bulldog choke from Moxley and they go up to the entrance, where Mark Briscoe is back to take out Kidd. The Death Riders are put in the ambulance, leaving the Bucks alone with Omega and Swerve. The Bucks are dropped in a hurry and Prince Nana brings in the special shoes, with Omega One Winged Angeling Matt through an exploding table. A Swerve Stomp with tacks on his shoes gives Swerve the pin on Nick at 35:11.

Rating: B+. This is one of the perfect examples of a match where your individual tastes are going to make all of the difference. If you like this kind of stuff, you’ll have a great time but if you don’t like this style, this was a huge waste of time. I had a good time with it, partially because while they had some barbed wire and tacks, it was far from the dominant feature. This was about people beating each other up until the ending and I had a fun time, which is all you can get in this thing.

We recap Paragon vs. the Don Callis Family. Neither had anything to do on the show so they’re having a match.

Paragon vs. Don Callis Family

Lance Archer and Don Callis are here with the Family. Cole and Takeshita trade arm cranking to start with Takeshita backing him into the corner. O’Reilly comes in to work on the arm as well before it’s off to Fletcher, who gets struck in the corner. That’s broken up and Alexander comes in to send Strong to the apron for the running crossbody to the back. Even Callis gets in a shot of his own but Strong is able to Angle Slam Takeshita. Alexander is right back to cut off the tag…for all of a few seconds as Strong dives over to bring Cole in.

House is quickly cleaned and it’s back to O’Reilly to go after Alexander’s arm. That doesn’t work so they clothesline each other for a double down. Takeshita is back in with a superbomb for two on Strong but he’s right back up with a running dropkick off the apron. Back in and we get a rapid string of strikes until O’Reilly’s guillotine is broken up. Fletcher grabs the brainbuster for the pin at 12:48.

Rating: B-. Oh man they were stuck in a rough spot here and it showed badly. There is just no way to follow that previous match and the lack of a big story other than “neither of us have anything else to do” didn’t help. They were all working hard and trying, but a six man tag after that wild thirty five minute war beforehand is not going to be easy.

Post match (because we needed a post match as it’s almost midnight with the main event to go) the Family jumps Paragon again but Brody King, Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi make the save.

We recap the main event. Hangman Page and Will Ospreay both want to be World Champion and they’re in the finals of the Owen Hart Tournament for the All In World Title shot. Ospreay wants to win because he wants to be the best, while Page wants to prove that he can still do it and that his first reign wasn’t a fluke.

Men’s Owen Hart Tournament Finals: Hangman Page vs. Will Ospreay

Ospreay easily wrestles him to the mat to start so Page grabs a headlock. Back up and Page hits a running shoulder, with Ospreay nipping right back up as he is known to do. Page backs him into the corner and they trade legsweeps for two each, giving us a staredown. The Oscutter is blocked and Page backdrops him before avoiding a quick Hidden Blade attempt. That means another standoff as they definitely seem to have a lot of time here.

A running hurricanrana sets up a corkscrew moonsault to give Ospreay an early two. Page knocks him out of the corner but gets caught with a quick Phenomenal Forearm. Ospreay’s slingshot dive is pulled out of the air though and a fall away slam sends Ospreay into the barricade. Back in and Page hits a corner clothesline into a German suplex for two, with Taz being right there to explain the science behind the throw.

Page’s chinlock doesn’t last long so he kicks Ospreay, which just fires him up. A Stundog Millionaire into a rolling kick sends Page to the floor and now the dive connects. Back in and Ospreay’s spinning torture rack bomb gets two but Page breaks up a dive off the top. Page hits a big moonsault to the floor, followed by a Sharpshooter back inside. The rope gets Ospreay out of trouble and Page’s chops just wake him up.

A kick to the face rocks Page, who hits a clothesline and they’re both down. They go to the corner for a Cheeky Nandos Kick to Page but he’s back with a flipping lariat. Ospreay breaks up the Buckshot Lariat though and hits a knee to the head for two. Page is back up with a Tombstone and Angel’s Wings for two but misses a Best Moonsault Ever. Instead Ospreay is back up with a Hidden Blade and they stagger out to the apron.

Ospreay powerbombs him onto the apron and hits a Styles Clash to the floor. Naturally Page is able to dive back in and beat the count, setting up an Oscutter for two. Another Hidden Blade gets two more and a frustrated Ospreay hammers away. A big boot knocks Page to the floor so Ospreay rams him face first into the announcers’ table. They get onto the table and load up…something that they don’t get to do as the table breaks.

Page gets the better of things and, after a staredown, hits a Buckshot Lariat for two. Ospreay is right back with a Stormbreaker but misses the Hidden Blade to leave them both down. Back up and Ospreay hits a V Trigger and something close to a One Winged Angel gets two. Ospreay can’t hit another Stormbreaker and Page hits a quick clothesline, setting up the Buckshot Lariat to finish Ospreay at 37:02.

Rating: A. This match had one of the best possible things going for it, as I had no idea who was going to win here. You could have gone either way and while I had guessed Ospreay, Page is the hotter hand right now and it makes for a better story. Other than that though, this was an outstanding story with the high flying Ospreay being far more athletic and skilled but Page going with more of his brawling and heart. I wanted to see where this was going and it was excellent stuff throughout as they more than lived up to the huge hype. Check this one out if you get the chance as it’s an instant classic.

Post match Page celebrates but comes back to check on Ospreay. A handshake ends the show.

Overall Rating: B. It’s too long. I know that’s not the most positive way to start a final thought but that was the biggest issue here and I was worried about it coming in. Counting the Kickoff Show (and if there are matches taking place, it sure does count), this ran about six hours. I get the idea of “giving them their money’s worth” and all that jazz, but my goodness man, stop having every match go so long. Garcia/McGuinness vs. FTR going 22 minutes? Everything getting at least 12 minutes? Come on already. I was sick of watching this show about halfway through and then it kept going. Quality aside, that isn’t a good thing.

Now with all of that out of the way, this was a rather good show, with the main event being outstanding and Anarchy In The Arena being a lot of fun (though I can get mileage varying). They covered a lot of stuff here and nothing was bad, but I’m not sure how much some of it needed to be on the card.

For a show that felt at least partially like a preview for All In, this show was more than worth a look. Just trim a good number of the matches down by a few minutes (if not moving them to TV) and it’s that much better. It’s a two match show and those matches were both good to great, which is more than enough to carry a perfectly acceptable undercard. Now it’s off to All In, and thankfully they’re off to a positive start.

Results
Anna Jay/Harley Cameron b. Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford – Her Finishing Move to Ford
Los Titantes del Aire/Bandido/AR Fox b. Cru/RPG Vice – 21 Plex to Andretti
Mercedes Mone b. Jamie Hayter – Small package
FTR b. Daniel Garcia/Nigel McGuinness – Sharpshooter to Garcia
Ricochet b. Mark Briscoe when Ricochet put Briscoe in the ambulance
Hurt Syndicate b. Sons Of Texas – Superkick to Guevara
Kazuchika Okada b. Mike Bailey – Rainmaker
Toni Storm b. Mina Shirakawa – Storm Zero
Kenny Omega/Swerve Strickland/Opps/Willow Nightingale b. Young Bucks/Death Riders – Swerve Stomp to Nick
Don Callis Family b. Paragon – Brainbuster to O’Reilly
Hangman Page b. Will Ospreay – Buckshot Lariat

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

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We’re back to the big time pay per views with one of the main AEW cards of the year. In this case the main event is going to be a preview for All In, but my goodness they have made me want to see what is going to happen. Other than that, we have a rather big Anarchy In The Arena, which as usual has the potential to be one heck of a spectacle. Let’s get to it.

Pre-Show: Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay/Harley Cameron

As you might expect, this is likely going to be a showcase for Bayne and that is not a bad thing. She is by far the most prominent of these four at the moment, as Jay and Ford never win anything important and Cameron has cooled down since her big loss in Australia. The good thing is Cameron is still hilarious and over with the fans, but that isn’t likely to be enough here.

I don’t see any reason to believe that Bayne and Ford will lose here so we’ll take them. There is a chance that Jay or Cameron get a quick win over Ford, but I’m not sure why AEW would want to have Bayne left out like that. Bayne winning and moving on to something bigger makes the most sense and while the other three can get a bit of spotlight, this should be her next featured presentation.

Mark Briscoe vs. Ricochet

I like the idea of these two getting on the show, but having this be a stretcher match feels…unnecessary. It comes off more like “here’s something we haven’t done before so let’s do it here”, which isn’t a great feeling. Ricochet definitely deserves this kind of a spot as he’s been doing rather well lately and Briscoe can work with anyone, so it’s hardly some kind of a ridiculous idea.

Since Briscoe rarely wins big matches, I’ll take Ricochet to win here, likely through some nefarious means. He gets a win on pay per view and can brag about it for weeks, which is what he would likely do no matter the result. That’s the mark of a good heel and he should be able to make it work well with Briscoe here. I’m still not sure why it’s a stretcher match, but I’ll take that over Briscoe getting pinned again.

FTR vs. Daniel Garcia/Nigel McGuinness

Speaking of matches where it feels like they came up with the idea first and then the story to back it up later, we have McGuinness’ latest return to the ring. I like the idea of McGuinness getting back in the ring no matter what as he is a special talent, but he was right when he said that he and Garcia have never teamed before and will likely get crushed. That’s a weird way to set up a match yet here we are.

Of course I’ll take FTR, as even McGuinness thinks there is no reason to believe he and Garcia will win. FTR are freshly heel and can likely get back into the title picture with a few wins. You don’t have them lose a prominent match so soon into their new roles so they should and will win here. This doesn’t feel overly important, and there isn’t much that can be done to overcome that issue.

Continental Title: Kazuchika Okada(c) vs. Mike Bailey

This is one of those matches where it is entirely going to depend on how you feel about the people involved. Okada is someone who has a very hit and miss record when it comes to working hard in AEW and Bailey is a case of “you know exactly what you are going to get”. It could make for a good back and forth match, but at the same time, it’s a match where you likely know what you’re going to get.

It’s a bit of a cheap way out, but there is no reason to believe that Bailey is winning here as Okada vs. Kenny Omega has been teased for All In for months now. That makes this match little more than a formality, and hopefully Okada will put in some work here to make the match better. Bailey will do all of his kicks and look rather ridiculous in the process, but Okada will win in the end, as he should.

Paragon vs. Don Callis Family

Here we have a match which was literally added on during Collision, with Adam Cole saying the Paragon had nothing to do on the show and agreeing to face the Family as a result. That doesn’t really feel like a big time match, though they are the kind of people who belong on a show given how often they are presented on the regular television shows. That is better than nothing, but it is putting more pressure on the match.

I’ll go with the Family to win here, as they have a tendency to win quite often, possibly with the winner being the next challenger to Cole’s TNT Title. Cole has flat out said he has nothing going on so he could use a challenger from the Family at this point. That can be accomplished here and even if it feels like a television match thrown onto the show, it could at least accomplish a goal.

Women’s Owen Hart Tournament Final: Jamie Hayter vs. Mercedes Mone

They’re in another tight spot here as you have the undefeated Mone, who seems like she is on a collision course with (likely) Toni Storm at All In. That leaves Hayter as someone who is just enough of a threat to be noteworthy but not likely enough of a threat to be a serious contender. That doesn’t bode well for her changes, though I’ve been brought in a bit more through their recent promos.

However, that’s not enough to sway my guess, and I’ll take Mone to win here and go on to the title match at All In. If nothing else, it might be due to the false hope of the idea that the Women’s and TBS Titles could be unified to get rid of one of them already. Other than that, this has the potential to be a good match, as Mone’s issues have never been between the bells. If Hayter is laying it in as she can, this could be quite the final.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm(c) vs. Mina Shirakawa

I’m really not sure why you would put Shirakawa, who is freshly debuted as a full time AEW star, in this spot when she doesn’t seem to have much of a chance. The problem with this show rears its head again, as All In is waiting for the winners and that doesn’t leave much room for a title change about a month and a half out. Shirakawa is awesome, but she’s in a weird place here and there isn’t much of a way around it.

In case the previous match didn’t give you much of a hint, I’ll take Storm to retain here. As over the top as she is, Storm has long since been established as the most successful Women’s Champion in AEW history. If that is meant to set up a showdown with Mone in Texas, there is no reason to have her lose here. Shirakawa is still new enough that she shouldn’t be losing, but that charisma of hers is more than enough to make up for a loss in a hurry.

Tag Team Titles: Hurt Syndicate(c) vs. Sons Of Texas

I’ve been trying to avoid this match as I still do not see the appeal of the Sons Of Texas. It felt like someone wanted to give Dustin Rhodes a lifetime achievement award and then forgot to wrap it up. They’ve been the Ring Of Honor Tag Team Champions since August and have one of the longest reigns in the titles’ history. That’s on top of Rhodes being part of the Six Man Tag Team Champions, which he’s held even longer. It makes me worried that AEW might want him to be a triple champion at All In, but hopefully that’s just the paranoia talking.

I’m going to go with what should be the obvious logical answer and say the Syndicate retains. While I could see the idea of having MJF cost them the titles, I’m hoping that’s held off for awhile, as there are so many better teams. The Syndicate is clearly the class of the tag division, and having them lose so soon, especially to Rhodes and Sammy Guevara, would be a huge misstep. Just please let me be right about this one.

Anarchy In The Arena

This is one of those matches that is so unique and over the top that it’s hard to really describe. It isn’t so much about the result but rather all of the insanity that takes place on the way there. I’m sure the ending will set up something for later, but this is the definition of a spectacle match, with everyone going as nuts as they can and doing whatever crazy shenanigans they can think of in the building.

I’ll go with the heroes to win here, as there are so many combinations where one of the Death Riders or Bucks could lose without being hurt too badly. If nothing else, why else would you have Wheeler Yuta out there? This should be a blast as AEW knows how to crank up the insanity and if they do it well here, we could be in for one of the matches that really makes AEW stand out.

Men’s Owen Hart Tournament Final: Hangman Page vs. Will Ospreay

It’s pretty rare for wrestlers to talk me into wanting to see a match but these two have done it with this one. I want to see these two fight because I want to see how far they are willing to go to get a World Title shot. They have set the stakes for their match and now we get to see just how well the whole thing will go. That’s how you build a good match and if they can deliver, it has all of the potential.

I keep going back and forth on this one as Page is the more compelling story but Ospreay is the more logical story. You have Page wanting to prove that his time on top wasn’t a fluke and that he has grown into a more mature star, while Ospreay is the closest thing AEW has to a superhero who should be taking down the big bad in Jon Moxley. I want to say Page here because it would be the more emotional win, but I’ll take Ospreay, as it feels like a better match for All In. As long as it doesn’t end in a triple threat, I’m happy either way though.

Overall Thoughts

The name Double Or Nothing is very appropriate as this is as much of a two match show as I’ve seen in a long time. The main event and Anarchy In The Arena both feel huge while the rest is just kind of there. If those two matches deliver and a few others step up (which they likely will), we should be in for a good night. At the same time, if one of those two matches doesn’t deliver, AEW could be in a lot of trouble.

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Dynamite
Date: May 21, 2025
Location: Rio Ranchos Events Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Ian Riccaboni

It’s the last Dynamite before Double Or Nothing and that means it is time to put most of the final touches on the pay per view. Odds are that means something getting us ready for Anarchy In The Arena, plus a bunch of build towards the Owen Hart Cup finals. That should be more than enough to get us through the night so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring and brings out Will Ospreay and Hangman Page for a chat. They agree to get physical and Ospreay has the security go to the back, though he does promise they’ll get paid (nice guy). He asks if Page still drinks and apologizes for the shot to the face last week. Ospreay has some beers brought in but puts his down and says he has an official request for Tony Khan: the two of them should be in the main event at Double Or Nothing.

That is a lot of pressure, but the winner goes on to All In and the winner has the responsibility of taking the World Title back. Ospreay flies around all the time and is jet lagged every Tuesday but puts on his crime fighting pants and says ring the bell. That’s what he wants more than anything else. He wants to be the World Champion at Forbidden Door in London, thirty minutes from his house.

More than that though, he wants his six year old to look at him as the World Champion. Ospreay knows Page wants it, but he wants it that much more. Page says that’s the difference between them. Ospreay wants it bad and Page has had that feeling before. There is no greater prize than being the World Champion, but for Ospreay, it could be a professional accomplishment.

It’s just that though: professional. Page calls it personal for him though because he doesn’t want it, but rather needs it. Page has not won anything in two years and those moments have killed him more every day. He needs his son to look at him and see his father and for his wife to look at him and see her husband. What he needs is for Ospreay to be wrong when he said it was “too little, too late” for Page.

Ospreay asks what Page is going to do about it. Wrap a chair around his skull? On Sunday, he is showing up and doing his best, which hasn’t been enough before. Yes he has lost but he has never given less than everything. Page asks if that is enough to beat Jon Moxley and the Death Riders but Ospreay doesn’t know. Ospreay asks if what Page is now is enough either.

The best of Ospreay has beaten a lot of people because he is the best in the world. Anything can happen when that bell rings and if Page wins and needs someone to have his back at All In, Ospreay has his back. He hopes Page will do the same if Ospreay wins, so meet him in the desert. They both drink the beers and stare hard at one another. They go up the aisle and get to the entrance at the same time for quite the staredown. This was GREAT, with both of them laying out why they want to win. I’m not sure who is going to win, but I’m almost more curious to see what happens when one of them loses.

Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir arrive, with Moxley saying the spoils will go to those who embrace the anarchy.

Jon Moxley/Young Bucks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs/Samoa Joe/Swerve Strickland

Marina Shafir and Prince Nana are here too. Joe and Moxley slug it out to start with Joe having to be held back. Hobbs and Matt come in with Hobbs running him over but not being able to hit the powerslam. Swerve comes in to backbreaker Nick and hits a neckbreaker as everything breaks down. Moxley’s dive is cut off by Hobbs so he dives onto Hobbs instead. The Bucks superkick Joe down but Swerve plants Matt and hits a dive to take him out as well. Now Joe can hit his suicide elbow as we take a break.

Back with Moxley hammering on Hobbs in the corner before going after the knee. For some reason Nick decides to slap Hobbs in the back, earning himself a World’s Strongest Slam. Swerve comes in to plant Nick, who avoids a running shot, allowing Matt to superkick Swerve down. Back in and an assisted Sliced Bread plants Swerve, who gets his knees up to cut off a Swanton. That’s still not enough for the tag though as Moxley is back in for a Crash Landing on Swerve.

Matt dives onto Joe and Hobbs, followed by Risky Business for two more. The hanging Swanton gets two on Swerve with Hobbs having to make the save this time. We take another break and come back again with Moxley’s piledriver (with a middle finger to the fans) getting two more. Something like the Rings Of Saturn bring the fans back to cheer Swerve so Moxley grabs a full nelson.

A headbutt drops Moxley and it’s Joe coming in to clean house, followed by Hobbs’ frog splash for two. Everything breaks down and the Bucks head fake Hobbs into a double DDT. Joe drops them with a double clothesline but Moxley is back in to take Joe down. Swerve gives Moxley the House call and adds a Swerve Stomp off the apron onto the Bucks. Back in and Hobbs busts out some spinebusters to clean house but Moxley is there to send him into Swerve. A double superkick puts Joe down but Swerve rolls Matt up for the pin at 21:17.

Rating: B. The length helped here, as the match had the time to build up rather than having to hurry through everything. As good as that part was though, it was another example of why the Bucks can be so annoying. Just like always, they got in all of their stuff, beat up just about everyone, and then lose on a fluke rollup. I’m sure they’ll get some kind of heat back later, because the Bucks just have to be part of everything no matter what.

Post match the Death Riders run in to beat the winners down but Katsuyori Shibata returns for the save. Marina Shafir cuts Shibata off with a low blow though so here is Willow Nightingale to Pounce Shafir. Kenny Omega runs in for the real save. A table is set up and Matt has to be saved from a One Winged Angel. The villains leave but Joe says they’re coming after them tonight.

The Hurt Syndicate says MJF should be the excited one tonight and he has a new suit for the occasion.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate to officially induct MJF into the team. MJF comes out and says his mom told him that the most important day of his life is the day you marry the love of your life. MJF: “It’s clear that that b**** never joined the Hurt Syndicate!” MJF and MVP take turns mocking the fans who boo a lot and everyone but Bobby Lashley signs. Lashley seems unsure but ultimately signs, and yes there is a commemorative hat.

Cue the Sons Of Texas, with Dustin Rhodes telling MJF to shut up. Rhodes and MVP have a long history of respect but Rhodes thinks he shouldn’t trust MJF. We hear about how they changed the business and now they want more gold. If they like to hurt people, jump on Rhodes and try to hurt him. They have been beaten up and hurt by bigger people and now they’re ready to fight with heart. He would bet on the Day One guys. As usual, Sammy Guevara is the guy just standing there nodding as Rhodes does everything.

Kazuchika Okada isn’t letting Mike Bailey call him out for Double Or Nothing….because he’s calling Bailey out instead. And no catchphrase!

Ricochet vs. Anthony Bowens

Billy Gunn is here with Bowens and this is to crown the true Scissor King. Bowens jumps over him in the corner to start and hits a clothesline to the floor. Ricochet stops to glare at Gunn, earning himself another shot from Bowens. They go back in where Bowens hits a quick knee, only to get sent hard into the post.

We take a break and come back with Bowens hitting the running Fameasser into something like a reverse Angle Slam. They trade forearms until Bowens hits a superkick for a quick two. The Arrival sets up the Mollywop but Ricochet is knocked outside. The referee goes after Gunn, allowing Ricochet to pull out a pair of scissors to stab Bowens. Stabbing a man in the head is of course a setup for the Spirit Gun to give Ricochet the pin at 9:26.

Rating: C+. I really don’t know if Bowens should be losing so soon into his singles run, but at least it was to a bigger name and through some cheating. That being said, I still have no idea why Ricochet uses scissors. It’s such a random weapon with no real connection for him, but that’s what he gets to do. On top of that, he’s in for kind of a weird gimmick match on Sunday, though at least he’s on the show.

Post match Mark Briscoe brings out a stretcher and beats up Ricochet.

Double Or Nothing rundown.

Stokley Hathaway, with FTR, wants to sign the contract for the Double Or Nothing tag match face to face. Nigel McGuinness and Daniel Garcia can even bring Matt Menard.

Renee Paquette brings out Jamie Hayter and Mercedes Mone for their own face to face interview (with chairs). Hayter says so be it if she is seen as the underdog because she is used to being there. She will fight back every single time because that is who she is. Hayter doesn’t have people running around here doing her dirty work and yes she is rough around the edges.

This means more to Hayter and they both know that, because it’s about not being forgotten. If she doesn’t win, what does it mean for her? Mone laughs it off and calls herself the Beyonce of wrestling. She’s going to All In to win the Women’s Title because she is the greatest TBS Champion of all time.

Mone hasn’t gotten here through luck because it’s about leaving her legacy. Hayter’s chapter finally ends at Double Or Nothing. Hayter points out Mone losing the NJPW Strong Women’s Title and that is going to be her destiny. Mone jumps her but gets dropped with Hayterade. Cue Toni Storm, who will be on commentary for the main event. It’s hard to believe that Mone is in any danger, and my goodness she gets less and less interesting every week.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart

Toni Storm is on commentary. Hart grabs a wristlock to start and hits Old School but Shirakawa does something similar, albeit with some hip shaking. Shirakawa goes outside to mock Storm, allowing Hart to take her down as we go to a break. Back with Shirakawa hitting a running knee, followed by some clotheslines.

Hart grabs something like a Tarantula but Shirakawa hits a spinning backfist. A not great top rope crucifix bomb gets two on Hart but she’s back up with a knockdown of her own. The moonsault misses though and Shirakawa goes after the knee. The spinning backflst looks to set up the Glamorous Driver but Hart rolls out. That’s reversed into a cradle to give Shirakawa the pin at 9:30.

Rating: C+. This was a bit of a weird choice for the main event, but there is only so much you can do on a three match show. Shirakawa is in a good place where she’s not new but she’s still fresh, so she doesn’t have to really be built up that much for the title shot at Storm. I can’t imagine she wins the title, but having her lose so soon in a high profile match would be a fairly odd way to go.

Post match Hart goes after Shirakawa, who ties up Hart’s bad leg. Skye Blue comes in to deck Shirakawa so Storm makes the save. Shirakawa and Storm get in a tug of war over the belt and Shirakawa goes after Storm’s knee, tying it around the post with the Figure Four.

The Young Bucks try to leave but Powerhouse Hobbs and Samoa Joe jump them. Cue the rest of the people in Anarchy In The Arena for the weapons filled brawl. The fight goes into the arena where the Bucks beat up Kenny Omega, who fights back as this is anarchy in the arena to set up the Anarchy In The Arena. Gabe Kidd runs in and helps the villains with the beatdown and the Bucks hit stereo dives to put Omega and Swerve through tables to end the show. This was a good example of a week that didn’t need an overrun as this was just a long brawl to set up the already announced long brawl at the pay per view.

Overall Rating: B. Double Or Nothing is going to be quite the booking challenge, as so many people are in one match. That leaves the two tournament finals to carry the thing and thankfully the men’s match got an incredible go home segment that really elevated things. Those are by far the two biggest things on the show, and it should be interesting to see if the rest of the card can live up to that hype. I’ll take a two match show, but they are in for a challenge if one of those matches doesn’t deliver.

Results
Samoa Joe/Powerhouse Hobbs/Swerve Strickland b. Young Bucks/Jon Moxley – Rollup to Matt
Ricochet b. Anthony Bowens – Spirit Gun
Mina Shirakawa b. Julia Hart – Cradle

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

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Dynamite
Date: May 14, 2025
Location: NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Taz, Excalibur

It’s Beach Break and that means it is time for the World Title to be in tone line. Jon Moxley is going to be defending the title inside of a steel cage against Samoa Joe, which has the potential to be a heck of a fight. Other than that, we don’t have much time left before Double Or Nothing and it’s time to build up the card. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Will Ospreay/Hangman Page vs. Don Callis Family,

They’re so excited about the opener that the entrances go to the split screen which is usually saved for commercials. Ospreay and Takeshita trade legsweeps for two each to start and it’s quickly off to Alexander. A middle rope dive misses for Ospreay and Alexander catches him with a flapjack to take over. Page gets drawn in so Alexander can choke on the ropes. That doesn’t last long as Ospreay gets up and hands it off to Page, who moonsaults off the apron onto Alexander.

Back in and a Death Valley Driver gets two on Takeshita, followed by a pop up sitout powerbomb for the same. Ospreay comes back in for a basement lariat into a standing shooting star press for two. Alexander is right back with a knockdown to the apron, setting up the running crossbody to the back.

We take a break and come back with Alexander grabbing a northern lights suplex for two on Page. Alexander pulls him into an ankle lock, which is broken up for the tag off to Ospreay to clean house. Page is back in to run Takeshita over, followed by back to back top rope dives to take the Family down again. Back in and Ospreay’s handspring is countered into a spinning torture rack bomb.

Takeshita gets a kind of weird Blue Thunder Bomb for two and it’s Page coming back in, with Alexander giving him a German suplex. Alexander rolls some German suplexes on Ospreay but he’s right back up with the Oscutter. Another one takes Alexander down for two but Page tags himself in, only to almost hit the Buckshot Lariat on Ospreay. Page and Ospreay get in an argument and the Hidden Blade almost hits Page. With the issues out of the way, the Buckshot Lariat and the Hidden Blade hit Alexander at the same time for the pin at 18:33.

Rating: B. This was the long form tag match that AEW tends to do well, especially with Ospreay and Page’s issues being advanced on the way to Double Or Nothing. That’s a nice way to go, as Page and Ospreay could go either way when we get there and they set things up here. Good opener here, with the four of them all working hard and getting a lot of time.

Post match Takeshita jumps both of them and the fight is on again wish Ospreay fighting back. Ospreay accidentally hits Page and immediately tries to calm things down, which doesn’t exactly work. Both leave in a huff. More logical and effective stuff here.

Video on Jon Moxley vs. Samoa Joe.

Top Flight and Leila Grey are sick of MJF and are ready to face the Hurt Syndicate tonight. The Sons Of Texas come in with Dustin Rhodes talking about how good Top Flight is. Oh and Sammy Guevara is there too.

Ricochet vs. Zack Gowen

Yes that Gowen and yes Ricochet has stolen his prosthetic leg. Gowen drops to the mat to start and Ricochet is already bailing to the floor. A boot through the ropes takes Ricochet down but he drops Gowen onto the barricade. We take a break and come back with Ricochet crotching himself on the ropes. He’s fine enough to counter a tornado DDT though and a springboard 450 crushes Gowen.

A shooting star press gives Ricochet two more and Vertigo connects for the same. The scissors are brought in but the referee takes it away, allowing Gowen to get in the prosthetic leg shot for two. The moonsault misses though and the Spirit Gun finishes for Ricochet at 7:22.

Rating: C. Naturally the first thing I thought of here was the episode of the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air when Ashley’s date wants to blow in her ear. Ashley gives a very confused response of “Why?” and the date realizes he has no idea why he’s asking about it other than he was told to. It’s the same thing here: why in the world is Zack Gowen wrestling in this spot in 2025? Ricochet stealing Gowen’s leg was a fine heel spot but putting him in the ring on Dynamite? Why?

Post match Ricochet gives him another Spirit Gun but Mark Briscoe makes the save.

MJF wants to be back on the top of the company and everyone knows he likes to work hard. That involves joining the Hurt Syndicate and he’ll make it happen. He’s asked about what happens if the team says no and it seems to make him think. The Hurt Syndicate comes in to say join them in the ring. MJF looks shaken, which you don’t see happen very often.

Hurt Syndicate vs. Top Flight

Non-title and MVP and Leila Grey are both here too. Top Flight starts fast but Lashley pulls Dante’s dive out of the air. Darius adds a dive of his own to break that up but Benjamin sends Darius flying with a suplex back inside. Lashley plants Darius on the apron and drops him with a neckbreaker, setting up Benjamin’s release German suplex. Dante tries a springboard to make the save but gets kneed out to the floor. The spear crushes Dante and the Hurt Lock finishes him off at 4:26.

Rating: C-. So Top Flight is leaving right? This was a total destruction that you do not see very often with actual established names. Top Flight got in pretty much nothing here and were completely decimated. And for what exactly? The sake of clearing the way for DUSTIN RHODES getting another big spot?

Post match the Sons Of Texas come out to say cut it out. The challenge is on but here is Cru to interrupt. They want the title match as well but Rhodes says not so fast. MVP calls it off and says make it a #1 contenders match instead. I have no idea why I would want to see that.

Post break and the Hurt Syndicate is still in the ring with MVP calling out MJF. There’s no MJF so Benjamin goes to the back to find him, with MJF hiding at the Gorilla Position. A rather scared looking MJF comes to the ring and it’s time for the official voting. MVP and Benjamin give him the thumbs up and that leaves Lashley. With his arm around MJF, Lashley teases the thumb going down and then puts it up, with MJF officially joining the team. Next week, the official contract signing. That’s a big surprise and I’m curious about the next step. I’d call that a good sign.

Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa vs. AZM vs. Skye Blue

Non-title Eliminator match and this is Blue’s first match in a very long time after breaking her ankle. We see a clip of AZM winning the NJPW Women’s Strong Openweight Title from Mercedes Mone (albeit in a triple threat with Mone not factoring into the decision). It’s a brawl to start with Storm and Blue fighting to the floor. Shirakawa and AZM trade rollups for two each, with Shirakawa’s dance being cut off.

The pairings trade places and Blue hits a springboard tornado DDT to drop Storm. Back up and Shirakawa and Storm have a staredown, which quickly breaks down into an exchange of forearms. AZM comes in as Shirakawa ties up Storm’s legs, only to suplex AZM at the same time. Storm makes it to the ropes to break the Figure Four and goes outside, with Shirakawa taking her out with a dive. AZM hits a dive of her own and Blue takes all three of them out with her own dive.

We take a break and come back the four of them fighting in the ring until Storm and AZM are dropped. That’s broken up as well and Storm hits a series of running hip attacks in the corner. Shirakawa kicks Blue in the head but gets suplexed by Storm. The chokebomb plants Blue but she’s fine enough to come back with Code Blue. AZM comes off the top for the save and plants Blue for two. Storm Zero gets two on AZM, only for Shirakawa to small package Storm for the pin at 12:12.

Rating: B-. Good, action packed match here, though I have no idea why Blue was brought back in her hometown and put in the middle of a four way match where pretty much anyone could have been in the spot. Shirakawa is at least someone the fans know and who has a bit of a history around here so making her the next #1 contender is a good enough way to go.

Post match the title match is set for Double Or Nothing and arguing ensues. Cue Mercedes Mone to jump AZM from behind and put her in the Bank Statement. Jamie Hayter makes the save. Let me guess: Mone gets a chance to win her title back on Dynamite or Collision against someone who has pretty much no history around here but Mone wants to do it so here we are.

Commentary pays tribute to Sabu, with Taz breaking down in tears.

MJF can’t believe he’s part of the team and MVP is pleased…but MJF calls in his lawyer Mark Sterling to check out the contract. MVP doesn’t seem pleased.

Here is Nigel McGuinness to address the FTR situation. After apologizing to Tony Schiavone (in the ring with him), he asks Daniel Garcia to come out for an apology as well. McGuinness immediately apologizes to Garcia for costing him the chance to win a match and promises it won’t happen again. Garcia says McGuinness did exactly what he should have done and he wants McGuinness to join him for a fight.

Cue Stokely Hathaway to interrupt and ask what is McGuinness’ problem. McGuinness didn’t like someone getting physical with him but Hathaway doesn’t accept. He issues the challenge to a match with FTR, but McGuinness keeps it simple: he and Garcia barely know each other and FTR are a great team so it wouldn’t be close.

Garcia doesn’t care and says he’s overcome the odds for his entire career and wants McGuinness to take the mat. Hathaway taunts McGuinness, saying he can’t beat FTR when he barely beat hepatitis. That makes McGuinness get way more serious but here is FTR from underneath the ring to jump the good guys. Matt Menard makes the save with a crowbar. That’s an interesting way to go and I kind of love McGuinness being realistic about the whole thing.

Here’s what’s coming on Collision.

The cage is lowered (and it comes down fast).

AEW World Title: Jon Moxley vs. Samoa Joe

Joe is challenging in a cage. They go with the grappling to start and go nowhere so it’s time to slug it out. Joe sends him into the cage before it’s off to the chopping. A running knee in the corner rocks Moxley and a big elbow gets two. Moxley starts going after the leg to take over, meaning it’s time for some cranking. A Figure Four has Joe in more trouble for a bit, only for Moxley to get back up for a big boot.

We take a break and come back with the Death Riders at ringside. Moxley and Joe are busted open as they slug it out as the Opps are here too. Joe wins the slugout and hits some atomic drops into the big boot and backsplash for two. The powerbomb into the STF into the crossface has Moxley in trouble but he makes the rope. For a break. In a cage match.

Back up and Moxley’s clotheslines rock Joe, setting up a cutter for two. A cross armbreaker is blocked so Moxley goes with the bulldog choke. That’s broken up as well and Joe grabs the Koquina Clutch, meaning it’s time for everyone on the floor to brawl. Joe lets go of the Clutch though and a guy in a black hoodie slides in the briefcase so Moxley can knock Joe out to retain at 14:57.

Rating: B-. This wasn’t a bad match at all, but it felt like a countdown to whatever way there was for Moxley to escape with the title again. In this case it was someone else interfering to take Joe out, possibly giving him a new opponent. Hopefully Moxley loses the thing at All In, but at this point I’m not getting my hopes up.

And it’s Gabe Kidd from New Japan. The cage is raised and everyone else gets in a big brawl on the floor. Cue the Young Bucks to offer a handshake to Moxley but cue Kenny Omega to go after the Death Riders. Kazuchika Okada takes Omega out and throws him inside as the cage is lowered again. Mike Bailey comes out and brawls to the back with Okada but the big beatdown is on.

Swerve Strickland comes in and climbs the cage to dive onto the villains. The cage is raised so the Death Riders and company leave. Strickland issues the challenge for Anarchy In The Arena at Double Or Nothing. That’s a tradition for the show and it lets Moxley keep the title until he gets to a new challenger at All In.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show where the bigger parts worked well but there was a stretch that really didn’t work so well. It did a nice job of getting things ready for Double Or Nothing so we’ll call those segments a success. I’m not sure if this really felt like a special, though the main event did feel big. It’s just time to get beyond the Death Riders stuff though, as it stopped being interesting a long, long time ago.

Results
Will Ospreay/Hangman Page b. Don Callis Family – Buckshot Lariat/Hidden Blade to Alexander
Ricochet b. Zack Gowen – Spirit Gun
Hurt Syndicate b. Top Flight – Hurt Lock to Dante
Mina Shirakawa b. AZM, Skye Blue and Toni Storm – Small package to Storm
Jon Moxley b. Samoa Joe – Briefcase to the face

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

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Dynamite
Date: May 7, 2025
Location: Masonic Temple Theater, Detroit, Michigan
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur

We’re less than a month away from Double Or Nothing, but before we get there, we have a World Title showdown between AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and Samoa Joe. That’s going to take place inside a steel cage next week in Chicago, so it’s time to really set things up a bit more. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, I believe with a new theme song. Thankfully not I’m So Excited again.

Here is Hangman Page for a chat. He has no idea why anyone would cheer for him after everything he has done but they certainly seem happy to see him. Page talks about the horrible things he has done to Swerve Strickland and how he was so close to closure but it never came. He didn’t know why, and then he channeled that anger at everyone around him. While he can never forget what Strickland did, he can put it behind him. That brings him to Double Or Nothing, where he will face Will Ospreay for a World Title shot.

Cue Ospreay, who says this is the first time they have ever actually met. Ospreay understands what this means to Page and talks about Page’s history here in AEW. Then he lost it and things went bad, but last week, for the first time in a good while, Page smiled again. While a lot of people want to see Page be happy again, Ospreay isn’t losing at Double Or Nothing. Ospreay has been doing all of Page’s jobs, from meet and greets to media to photos with kids. Just because Page is smiling again doesn’t mean he can take that spot back, because that doesn’t mean cowboy s*** to Ospreay.

This is about his ascension…and here is the Don Callis Family to interrupt. Callis calls Ospreay an idiot for leaving the team so Ospreay issues the challenge for a tag match…but Page doesn’t seem interested. That’s fine with Callis, who says the match is on for next week, assuming Page doesn’t have another mental breakdown before then. The Ospreay vs. Page stuff was good with Ospreay’s promo being rather strong, but as usual, Callis brings everything down several notches.

FTR and Stokely Hathaway comes up to commentary and mocks Tony Schiavone, who is almost ready to fight Hathaway. FTR cuts that off and is ready to beat up Daniel Garcia on Collision. They’ll see Nigel McGuinness tomorrow night too.

Harley Cameron and Anna Jay have the T & A (tenacity and aggression) to win tonight. Jay thinks they have the more common definition as well, with Cameron agreeing.

Toni Storm vs. Thunder Rosa vs. Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford

Non-title eliminator match and there’s no Cameron, even though Jay was riding her to the ring. Jay and Ford brawl to the floor to start and Rosa hits a running dropkick against the ropes for two on Storm. Back up and Storm hammers on Jay until Ford breaks it up. Ford takes both of them down with a moonsault to the floor but Rosa hits a dive onto all three.

We take a break and come back with Jay dropping Rosa for two before suplexing Ford on the floor. Ford is right back up to dive onto all three of them but Storm hip attacks Ford and Jay in the corner. Cue Megan Bayne to take out everyone but Ford, including a sitout powerbomb to Jay. Harley Cameron comes in with a pipe to clear the ring but Storm gets the TCM Chickenwing to make Ford give up at 10:53.

Rating: B-. It wasn’t bad, but Storm running through three potential challengers is quite the interesting way to go. At the same time, having two people interfere in the match made it even messier than it was coming in, which wasn’t exactly necessary. Having Storm in the ring so often because she doesn’t have a match (yet) at Double Or Nothing is kind of an odd move, but at least she’s not losing.

Cru is in the crowd.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate for a chat. They are the best tag team in AEW so who is here to challenge them? Cue Top Flight to interrupt, saying they know they’re underdogs but they’re ready to show they belong again. MJF, far less formally dressed than usual, jumps Top Flight from behind and lays them both out. Lashley, who looks pleased, seems to be ready to give MJF an answer next week. It’s nice to see the big moment coming up and I’m not sure where it’s going.

The Elite and Ricochet are ready for their matches tonight.

Ring Of Honor TV Title: Nick Wayne vs. ???

Wayne is defending against someone from Christian Cage’s (here with the rest of the Patriarchy) past. In this case it’s…hometown boy Rhino! Wayne actually takes him down and grabs a chinlock, only to miss a standing moonsault. The Patriarchy’s distraction doesn’t work as Wayne walks into a spinebuster, only to avoid the Gore. The Killswitch gives Wayne the clean pin at 3:20.

Rating: C. Well that was certainly a thing. I’m not sure why you would bring in someone like Rhino and have him lose clean like this but odds are this is only going to be a one or two off appearance for Rhino. The match was nothing, but Rhino continues to be someone who can do his basic stuff well, with the fans being behind him of course.

Post match Cage goes to put the belt on Wayne but then throws it down before leaving on his own.

Rush wants revenge on Kevin Knight for costing him $100k on Collision.

Mike Bailey/Swerve Strickland/Mark Briscoe vs. Young Bucks/Ricochet

Strickland and Ricochet start things off with Strickland striking away. Bailey and Briscoe come in for some shots of their own but the villains fight up and strike a pose. That earns then a trip out to the floor but the Bucks leave Ricochet on his own in a pretty on point move. Stereo dives take out Ricochet and the Bucks, setting up Redneck Kung Fu on Ricochet back inside. The Bucks are right back up with stereo dives to the floor and we take a break.

Back with Briscoe fighting out of trouble and bringing Bailey in to fire off the kicks. The shooting star press misses though and everything breaks down. We hit the parade of knockdowns and after a breather, Bailey’s diving tag is cut off. Bailey kicks the Bucks away though and it’s off to Strickland to clean house. Ricochet gets powerbombed and a series of knockdowns sets up the Froggy Bow for two on Matt, with Nick making the save. With the other four on the floor, Matt rolls Strickland up for the pin at 14:16.

Rating: C+. And that’s a Young Bucks match. They get to do all their stuff, the survive a bunch of moves, and they win in the end. This comes after they get to do their usual promo about being awesome and then they still don’t get much in the way of comeuppance. But I’m sure it’s coming any day now.

MJF interrupts Will Ospreay and they argue a bit, with MJF wanting to face him again to show that Ospreay isn’t on his level. Ospreay says he is on another level.

We get a sitdown interview with Jamie Hayter, who doesn’t think Mercedes Mone is much like Owen Hart. She wants to know the real Mone, who says that Hayter is like her. That doesn’t work for Hayter, who doesn’t have the same resume as Mone, but she has integrity, grit and truth. This is about showing Mone that she isn’t everything she thinks she is because Mone is looking past her. Mone runs in for a cheap shot and the chase is on. They brawl out into the arena and Mone runs off again, only to come back and grab the Bank Statement. They’re trying with Hayter but this match still doesn’t feel very important.

Willow Nightingale wants a title shot but Kris Statlander interrupts. Nightingale doesn’t want to talk to her, but they can have a match on Collision.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Kevin Knight

Non-title eliminator match. Hold on though as Rush jumps Knight from behind during the entrance and beats him down but here is Mike Bailey to interrupt. Granted that means posing at Rush while he chokes Knight, because Bailey isn’t all that smart. Knight wants to fight anyway and Okada hits a DDT for a fast two. A Flapjack gives Okada two more and he sends Knight outside as we take a break.

Back with Knight grabbing a quick powerbomb for two but Okada slams him down again. The top rope elbow connects and Okada gets to flip off the crowd. Some rollups give Knight two each and he scores with a dropkick. Okada dropkicks him out of the air though and the Rainmaker finishes Knight at 8:30.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have time to do much here and the story was that Knight was banged up to start. The match wound up being pretty good as they’re both talented, but there is only so much you can do with that little time in the first place, plus a break. Okada still seems destined to face Kenny Omega at All In, so this was just a week to give him something to do on the way to the big showdown.

Post match the beatdown stays on but Bailey runs in for the save.

The Don Callis Family tells the Outrunners to get some partners to face the Don Callis Family.

The Hurt Syndicate’s lawyer tells Bobby Lashley to not say anything about MJF.

Samoa Joe vs. Claudio Castagnoli

After conducting the fans in their JOE’S GONNA KILL YOU chants, Joe drives him into the corner and then takes it to the floor. Castagnoli gets sent into the barricade but then does the same to Joe to take over. Joe fights back and they get inside again where the beating continues on Castagnoli.

An arm snap over the top rope cuts Joe off though and we take a break. Back with Joe fighting out of a cobra clutch and hammering away. A powerslam into a running big boot gets two on Castagnoli, who is right back with the springboard spinning uppercut. That’s fine with Joe, who pulls him into the Koquina Clutch for the tap at 10:42.

Rating: B-. Much like the previous match, they only had so much time here and the match was more about setting up Joe for next week’s title match by having him take out a member of the Death Riders. Granted that’s pretty much what happened with Cope but Joe is a bit more intimidating. I don’t buy Joe having much of a chance to win the title, but at least he makes for an intimidating presence.

Post match the Death Riders come to the ring but Powerhouse Hobbs runs in with a chair for the save. Castagnoli gets beaten up to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This wasn’t so much a big show as much as it was the show getting us ready for the big show and that’s not a bad thing. It helps when most of the matches were good and they set some things up for later. With so many major events coming up, including next week’s Dynamite, you need a show like this and it worked well enough.

Results
Toni Storm b. Thunder Rosa, Anna Jay and Penelope Ford – TCM Chickenwing to Ford
Nick Wayne b. Rhino – Killswitch
Young Bucks/Ricochet b. Mike Bailey/Swerve Strickland/Mark Briscoe – Rollup to Strickland
Kazuchika Okada b. Kevin Knight – Rainmaker
Samoa Joe b. Claudio Castagnoli – Koquina Clutch

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

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Dynamite
Date: April 30, 2025
Location: Chartway Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We are less than a month away from Double Or Nothing and in this case it is time to start finalizing the card. Another big piece of that will be covered this week with the other semifinal of the Men’s Owen Hart Tournament. Other than that, we are probably going to get some more on the way to Samoa Joe vs. Jon Moxley for the World Title. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Mark Briscoe/Kenny Omega/Kevin Knight/Mike Bailey vs. Kazuchika Okada/Young Bucks/Ricochet

Commentary says there has been nonstop talk about Omega and Okada being in a match together since this was announced. The multiple times that Schiavone brought it up on Collision counts I guess, as I’m only so interested in seeing another pairing between two people whose last singles match was almost seven years ago. Omega and Okada start things off but all four villains come in to beat Omega down instead. Nick pokes Omega in the eye and Matt snaps the arm over the top rope a few times.

Ricochet’s top rope stomp on the arm lets Matt do the arm snap again (while not looking). Naturally Omega reverses and makes Matt do it to Ricochet (the classics always work). It’s off to Bailey to kick away at Ricochet and a double basement dropkick….well it only half connects as Knight misses his version. Briscoe comes in and gets hit in the face, allowing Matt to come in. That’s fine with Matt, who kicks him in the face to even things up and it’s time for everyone to miss an elbow drop.

That gives us an eight way standoff (Schiavone LOVES this) and the good guys clear the ring as we take an early break. Back with Bailey slipping out of a powerbomb attempt but Ricochet knocks all of his partners off the apron. Ricochet can’t hit a brainbuster and neither can Okada so all of the villains come in. They all shout BRAINBUSTER and have them reversed into suplexes to the floor.

Stereo dives take them out again, leaving Bailey to missile dropkick Okada down back inside. Knight’s spinning splash hits Matt’s knees but it’s back to Omega to clean house. The Bucks get in a double shot to Omega’s bad stomach though and we take another break. Back again with Matt planting Omega with a DDT but Ricochet gets taken down. Briscoe comes in to clean house and a fisherman’s buster gets two on Okada.

The Jay Driller is countered into an Air Raid Crash onto the knee but Bailey kicks a middle finger away. Knight is back in for a double Pele Kick to the Bucks and now we get the Omega vs. Okada slugout. The One Winged Angel is broken up and Okada hits the dropkick. Everyone else comes back in and Matt/Ricochet go up top for a double top rope backsplash/double spike Tombstone for two each.

Briscoe is back in with the Jay Driller for two on Okada with Ricochet making the save. Ricochet gets dropkicked onto a pile on the floor and Omega hits a big running flip dive. Excalibur: “You don’t have to go to Reseda, California for this one!” Then Okada hits the Rainmaker to finish Briscoe at 26:25.

Rating: B+. Yeah this is where AEW tends to shine, as they know how to have a bunch of people go nuts in the ring and do all kinds of stuff. It’s a total AEW party match and that’s always going to be entertaining. Focusing it around Omega vs. Okada is a fine way to go, though I certainly hope hope their singles match can live up to the hype. That’s not going to be easy, especially when they start hyping it up this far out.

The Hurt Syndicate beat up some guys in the back and MVP gives them another MJF sales pitch. It still seems to be a possibility.

Opps vs. Nick Comoroto/Rhett Titus/Myles Hawkins

Non-title. Joe works on Titus’ arm to start and then hammers away in the corner. The enziguri in the corner connects and it’s off to Shibata vs. Comoroto. They chop it out until Shibata drops him with a running pump kick. Hobbs comes in to spinebuster Hawkins for the pin at 3:04.

Rating: C. That’s about all it needed to be with the champs getting to slaughter another set of opponents. In this case they are people you might have heard of, with Comoroto getting to come back and…well at least he’s back. As usual, the Trios Champions need opponents and that’s not likely going to be the case anytime soon.

Post match the Death Riders run in for the brawl with the Opps. Joe and Jon Moxley brawl into the aisle, leaving Shibata to get taken out. Rather than going after revenge, he says he wants his title match with Moxley next week to be in a cage.

Renee Paquette sits down with Mercedes Mone and brings up her various international titles. Mone cares about honoring the Harts but this whole thing is about her of course. She knows she’s coming up against Jamie Hayter, who is bigger and stronger, but she’s not greater.

Jay Lethal interrupts the Patriarchy and says he wants to face Nick Wayne tonight. Christian Cage accepts on behalf of an uncertain Wayne.

Toni Storm vs. Miyu Yamashita

Non-title and Yamashita is a big star from Tokyo Joshi Pro. They fight over wrist control to start until Storm hits a Thesz press and hammers away. A backbreaker puts Yamashita down but she’s back up with a kick to the head on the top. Storm misses a hip attack on the apron though and Yamashita fires off some kicks. Luther gets kicked down and Yamashita drops Storm with another kick as we take a break.

Back with an exchange of forearms going to Storm, though Yamashita walks through a bunch of shots to the head. Storm’s release German suplex works a bit better but she charges into a kick to the head for two. A Sky High gives Storm two and a fisherman’s suplex connects for the same. Yamashita kicks her in the head but gets German suplexed into the corner. The hip attack and Storm Zero finish for Storm at 9:21.

Rating: C+. This was the same problem as always with these guest stars: Yamashita means nothing in AEW/ROH. She’s wrestled here about five times and hasn’t had a match for either company in over two years. That more or less makes her a stranger but here she is getting almost ten minutes with the World Champion. The match itself wasn’t bad, but I need a lot more of a reason to care other than Excalibur telling me about what Yamashita has done in a promotion I don’t watch.

Post match Mercedes Mone comes out to tell the fans to shut up. She’s coming for the title but here is Jamie Hayter to run in and deck Mone. Storm….well she drops to the mat and kind of shakes a lot.

Don Callis is ready for Kyle Fletcher to win tonight and go on to win the Owen Hart Cup.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate for a chat. MVP talks about how all three of them have to agree to induct a new member so here is MJF to try again. MJF gets right to the sucking up and gets a thumbs up from Shelton Benjamin and MVP. That leaves Bobby Lashley, who teases a yes but then says no. MJF is sick of this and points out Lashley’s baldness, so Lashley takes him into the corner. If MJF wants to impress Lashley, hurt someone like the team does.

We look at FTR joining Stokely Hathaway last week.

Ring Of Honor TV Title: Nick Wayne vs. Jay Lethal

Wayne is defending but Christian Cage’s theme music cuts Wayne’s off, with the champ not approving. They trade headlock takeovers to start and Wayne already needs a breather on the floor. Back in and Lethal fires off some loud chops in the corner before the basement dropkick connects.

Wayne is right back with a toss out to the floor and the hurricanrana takes Lethal out again. Lethal gets sent into the steps and we take a break. Back with Lethal grabbing la majistral and the Lethal Combination for two each. Hail To The King connects but Wayne reverses into a rollup for two of his own. Wayne kicks him down though and hits a fisherman’s buster to retain at 9:22.

Rating: C+. Wayne is getting a bit better in the ring and having him there against an old hand like Lethal is going to help. They have a little something with Cage and Wayne not getting along and if they play it right, Wayne could get a long way as a result. That hasn’t happened yet, but the pieces are being put in place for it to work.

Post match Cage takes the title…and wraps it around Wayne’s waist.

Samoa Joe vs. Jon Moxley is officially in a cage.

We take a quick look at the Owen Hart Cups.

Men’s Owen Hart Cup Semifinals: Kyle Fletcher vs. Hangman Page

Don Callis and Lance Archer are here with Fletcher. They fight over arm control to start as Callis sits in on commentary and argues with Taz. Page knocks him to the floor and is smart enough to not chase Fletcher outside. Back in and Page hammers him down again but it’s too early for the Buckshot Lariat. Instead Page clotheslines him on the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Fletcher bleeding from the back and Page fighting out of a choke. Page hits a hard clothesline and we get a double breather. A backdrop and elbow have Fletcher in more trouble and a Death Valley Driver gets two. Page’s triangle clothesline puts Fletcher on the floor but he’s fine enough to hit a brainbuster onto the apron. Page is right back with a Tombstone on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Page getting the better of a slugout and a powerbomb gets two. Page plants him down again, only to have his moonsault hits raised boots. They go to the apron, where Page hits the Deadeye and since Fletcher is on his feet less than fifteen seconds later, Page hits a moonsault to the floor. Back in and the Buckshot Lariat is countered into a low blow and brainbuster for two. They go up top where Page clotheslines him down, setting up a flipping clothesline from the top. The Buckshot Lariat sends Page to Double Or Nothing at 23:25.

Rating: B. This was a bit of a weird match as Fletcher never felt like he had a serious chance to win. It made for a different kind of match as Page was doing his usual stuff and won in the end, even without facing a ton of adversity. That being said, I definitely like Page vs. Will Ospreay better than another Ospreay vs. Fletcher match as that feud is done.

Overall Rating: B. Another solid show here with everyone working hard and some stuff being set up for the coming weeks. They’ve done a good job setting up options in the men’s Owen Hart Cup and I’m curious to see where it goes. The women’s version isn’t as strong but at least we’re getting ready for some of the upcoming events. Now just make the buildup to them work and it’s all good.

Results
Kazuchika Okada/Young Bucks/Ricochet b. Mark Briscoe/Kenny Omega/Kevin Knight/Mike Bailey – Rainmaker to Briscoe
Opps b. Nick Comoroto/Rhett Titus/Myles Hawkins – Spinebuster to Hawkins
Toni Storm b. Miyu Yamashita – Storm Zero
Nick Wayne b. Jay Lethal – Fisherman’s buster
Hangman Page b. Kyle Fletcher – Buckshot Lariat

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

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Dynamite
Date: April 23, 2025
Location: Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Taz, Excalibur

They have a lot to live up to after last week’s excellent show but things have been going well enough lately that I could see it happening. That’s not going to be easy, but we do at least have a few matches set which have potential. If nothing else, we’ll get the finals of the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament set this week so let’s get to it.

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

Tony Schiavone brings out hip hop legend Master P (of WCW fame of course) for a chat. He brings out the Opps (assuming Powerhouse Hobbs is officially part of the team) for a chat after winning the Trios Titles last week. Samoa Joe praises Master P and the work he has been doing for the local university but here are the Death Riders to jump the champions. Jon Moxley has a staredown with Master P and gets choked out by Joe. Cue the Elite to jump Joe but Swerve Strickland and Kenny Omega make the save. Joe says he’s coming for the World Title.

Christian Cage takes the ROH TV Title from Nick Wayne and says the title win is due to him. See what happens when Wayne listens to him? Wayne goes to grab the title back but Cage says he and Mother Wayne celebrated extensively. If you stick to the plan, you actually win titles. Cage gives him the belt back.

Ricochet vs. Mark Briscoe

Ricochet bails to the floor to start but comes back in to get punches in the face. A running boot to the face puts Ricochet on the floor and the beating continues, with Ricochet bailing to the apron. That’s fine with Briscoe, who knocks him to the floor again and hits a Bang Bang Elbow. Back in and Ricochet hides behind the referee, which is enough for him to pull Ricochet into the buckle.

We take a break and come back with Ricochet cuttering him for two but Briscoe hammers him in the head. A rollup and backslide give them two each and Ricochet’s brainbuster gets the same. Briscoe pulls him out of the air for a high collar suplex but it’s too early for the Froggy Bow. Ricochet drops him again and hits the springboard 450 for two but Briscoe knocks him to the floor. The running flip dive into a lariat gets two and Ricochet is rocked. Back in and the Jay Driller is countered into a rollup for two bur Briscoe reverses into a rollup of his own for the pin at 14:31.

Rating: B. These two worked well together and I’m rather pleasantly surprised at the upset. You don’t see Briscoe get big wins like this very often and especially over someone who has been presented like Ricochet. That’s a rather nice thing to see and something Briscoe has been needing for a long time now.

Post match Ricochet chairs him down and loads up the scissors but Kevin Knight makes the save.

And the Rock N Roll Express are here too.

Tony Schiavone brings out FTR, but Stokely Hathaway of all people comes out to handle the introduction. FTR shakes Schaivone’s hands and Hathaway says it’s time to address the elephant in the ring. There are all kinds of criminals around here like Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page and Jon Moxley, but none of them get punished. Based on that, Hathaway is getting the suspension ended and their fine for attacking Schiavone rescinded, because he is their new agent.

Cash Wheeler talks about beating up 2.0 and Daniel Garcia when they came after FTR first. Dax Harwood doesn’t like the hostility and that brings him to the Rock N Roll Express. They get in the ring but Harwood won’t let them talk. Harwood says the Midnight Express was a bit better and won’t let them answer anything. Ricky Morton says this isn’t happening but Hathaway pulls out an FTR: Living Legends Killer shirt. The spike piledriver plants Morton and the Paragon runs in for the save.

Young Bucks vs. Mike Bailey/Kevin Knight

Matt and Mike trade missed kicks to the head to start before the Bucks are sent outside. Stereo dives take them out again but the Bucks are back with the slingshot Fameasser. A moonsault to the floor drops Knight and we take a break. Back with Bailey getting two off a small package and enziguring Matt for a breather.

The tag brings in Knight to pick up the pace but a rolling DDT is countered into the rolling northern lights suplexes. Knight gets pulled out of the corner into a powerbomb for two but Bailey blocks the superkick party. Everyone is knocked down for a quadruple breather before Matt and Knight wind up on their partners’ shoulders.

They slug it out for another four way knockdown, setting up a high/low on Matt. The moonsault knees into a frog splash get two on Matt and they go outside. A Doomsday Device off the apron hits Knight and the Meltzer Driver off the barricade knocks Bailey silly. Back in and Knight hits a rolling double DDT but here is Ricochet to grab his feet. The EVP Trigger finishes Knight at 15:02.

Rating: B-. The Bucks are still the same team they’ve always been and that means the match was fine but so similar to things we’ve seen them do before. Bailey is similar to the Bucks in the ring and that left Knight as the only person doing something even somewhat different. I’m sure the Bucks will be involved in some big story and it’s only going to work so well because the Bucks are going to be the same no matter what they do.

Toni Storm is ready for the winner of the Owen Hart Tournament and to be on the red carpet this weekend. A Championship Eliminator is set up for Collision and here is Queen Aminata to accept the challenge.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate for a chat. MVP brings up that every team they have beaten has disappeared and hands the mic to Bobby Lashley, but here is MJF to interrupt. MJF brings up the good time he gave the Hurt Syndicate last week. He asks about the thumbs up again and this time gets Shelton Benjamin. It’s not because of the women and the watch though, but rather MVP.

That works for MJF, so it’s up to Lashley, who puts his thumb in the middle. MJF says if they work together, they can run wrestling and he knows how things work around here like no one else. He even apologizes to getting off on the wrong foot with Lashley and then offers his car. They agree to go look at the car and MJF hands him the keys. Lashley and Benjamin drive off, with Lashley giving him a thumbs down. MVP goes off to talk with MJF.

Hangman Page is ready to take out Kyle Fletcher but MJF comes in to mock him. Page brings up the missing car but MJF mocks him over not being able to win the big one. As usual, Page will choke.

Will Ospreay/Brody King vs. Don Callis Family

Ospreay and Takeshita start things off as Don Callis sits in on commentary. Alexander comes in as well for a double belly to back suplex but Ospreay knocks Alexander down. The standing moonsault misses and Alexander gets the ankle lock. That’s broken up and Ospreay hurricanranas him into an armbar. King comes in and hammers on Alexander before chopping Ospreay for a tag. Alexander drops Ospreay though and we take a break.

Back with Ospreay hitting a double handspring Pele, allowing the tag off to King. House is quickly cleaned and the villains are crossbodied up against the barricade. Back in and Takeshita wins a slugout with Ospreay, setting up the Blue Thunder Bomb for two. King comes back in for a clothesline on Alexander, setting up the Cannonball. Lance Archer offers the distraction though, only to be taken out by Ospreay. Back in and Takeshita Helluva Kicks Alexander and a double discus elbow gets two. A running knee into the C4 Spike (Jay Driller) finishes for Alexander at 13:20.

Rating: B. Another good tag match here, though King couldn’t have been more of the designated pinee if his life depended on it. It’s smart to give Alexander a pin here and thankfully it wasn’t over Ospreay, who is in line for a big match in the tournament coming up. Nice stuff here, and the extra time helped as well.

Post match the beatdown is on and Ospreay’s save is cut off with a chokeslam. Cue Kyle Fletcher but Hangman Page comes out as well, only for Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero to jump Page from behind.

Women’s Owen Hart Tournament Semifinals: Jamie Hayter vs. Kris Statlander

They trade strikes to the face to start, including some big boots. Hayter sends her into the corner for a running Meteora but gets sent into the buckle. They fight to the apron with Statlander being knocked outside. A running knee drops her again and we take a break. Back with Statlander ducking an enziguri and getting German suplexed into a dragon sleeper.

That’s broken up so Statlander hits an electric chair faceplant. Staturday Night Fever is countered into a rollup for two and Statlander hits a powerbomb for two more. Hayter is back up with the Hatebreaker and they’re both down. Statlander puts her down again for a 450 and a near fall so Statlander goes up again. This time though Hayter pulls her down for a clothesline, setting up Hayterade for the pin at 11:43.

Rating: B-. You could have gone either way here and the result would have worked so I can’t get too annoyed with either result. Hayter vs. Mone should be good and while Mone is a likely favorite, Hayter is just good enough to be a threat. Solid main event here, with the Hayterade looking nice as always.

Mercedes Mone comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. While it wasn’t quite as good as last week’s classic, this was still a rather good show with everything clicking and some good action throughout. The Briscoe win was a surprise and Hayter vs. Mone should be a hard hitting match when we get to Double Or Nothing. Even a Young Bucks match couldn’t bring this one down so you know it was working.

Results
Mark Briscoe b. Ricochet – Rollup
Young Bucks b. Mike Bailey/Kevin Knight – EVP Trigger to Knight
Don Callis Family b. Will Ospreay/Brody King – C4 Spike to King
Jamie Hayter b. Kris Statlander – Hayterade

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

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Collision
Date: April 17, 2025
Location: MGM Music Hall At Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s a special Thursday edition of the show and hopefully that means AEW uses the chance that they have to crank things up a bit. We still have a long time to go before Double Or Nothing but we are coming off one heck of a Dynamite so this show is going to have its work cut out. Hopefully they can live up to the hype so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, still with the Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting theme.

We get a big recap of Dynamite.

Marina Shafir beats up…I guess a production worker and here are the rest of the Death Riders to wreck a bunch of stuff. Jon Moxley says everyone who was celebrating last night, enjoy it while you can. He officially doesn’t like the Young Bucks and threatens their future if they cross his path again. That brings him to Samoa Joe, who Moxley has always respected but Joe has started something that Moxley has to finish. That is why Moxley is challenging Joe for a World Title match and the team leaves.

We run down the card.

Kevin Knight vs. Lance Archer

Don Callis is here with Archer, who unloads on Knight in the corner to start. Knight slips out of a chokeslam and dropkicks him onto the ramp. A dive takes him down again and Knight unloads in the corner, only to get dropped with a single shot. Archer misses a shot to the face and gets knocked down by a heck of a running shoulder. They go outside with Knight being swung into the steps.

We take a break and come back with Knight still in trouble and being dropped with a single right hand. An overhead German suplex sends Knight flying again but the Blackout and a chokeslam are both escaped. Knight avoids a charge in the corner but gets kicked down to cut him off again. A super hurricanrana brings Archer out of the corner and a splash gets two. Archer buckle bombs him into a chokeslam for two but Knight breaks up Old School. Knight hits a diving clothesline to the floor and another one connects for the surprise pin at 11:42.

Rating: B. I dug this, with Knight fighting from beneath the entire way and finally knocking the giant down for the win. Knight is clearly someone AEW sees something in and if they are going to push him as a big deal, he needs to win matches like this one. Good win here, with Archer being someone who can be rebuilt rather quickly.

The Opps are still serious but they’re happy with their Trios Titles win.

Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter respect each other but they’re ready to face off in the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament.

FTR has sent in an apology to Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness, though Schiavone needed to be scared a bit. They didn’t want to hurt Nigel either, as his body and mind are fragile.

We look at Josh Alexander joining the Don Callis Family.

Josh Alexander/Konosuke Takeshita vs. Rocky Romero/Tomohiro Ishii

Takeshita and Ishii slug it out to start until Ishii shrugs off a running shoulder. Takeshita clothesline him down and it’s a double tag to Alexander and Romero. Alexander easily takes over and we go to a break. Back with Romero hitting a super Sliced Bread on Takeshita and handing it back to Ishii to slug away. Everything breaks down and Ishii drops Takeshita with a clothesline.

Alexander’s torture rack bomb plants Ishii for two but Romero is there with a springboard spinning crossbody. A German suplex gives Alexander two on Ishii but he’s back up to save Romero from a powerbomb. Ishii shrugs off a German suplex and a double shot to the face leave Ishii and Alexander down. Romero is knocked down as well, leaving Alexander and Takeshita to hit stereo discus forearms to Ishii. A powerbomb gives Alexander the pin at 10:22.

Rating: B-. Another good, hard hitting match here, even with Romero there as his usual annoying self. This was a way for Alexander to look good and while he probably would have gotten more out of doing this on his own, I’ll take him getting a win where I can. Takeshita gets a win after his loss to Will Ospreay in their classic on Dynamite, so this was a good way to go.

Post match Ishii and Romero have issues and the fight is on. Cue a man in a hoodie to help take Ishii out….and it’s Trent Beretta. They pull out a monkey wrench to lay Ishii out again.

Mercedes Mone is excited to be in Boston but Harley Cameron pops up with the puppet. Mone gets annoyed that she started talking to the puppet and storms off.

Megan Bayne vs. Rebecca Scott/Ashley Vox

Penelope Ford is here with Bayne. A double dropkick doesn’t hurt Bayne, who suplexes both of them at once. Three straight powerbombs have not Bayne in trouble and Fate’s Descent drops Vox onto Scott for the double pin at 1:15. The fans were WAY into Bayne here and it’s no surprise given how awesome she looked.

Video on Anthony Bowens.

TNT Title: Adam Cole vs. ???

Cole is defending in an open challenge against….Claudio Castagnoli. Well that’s a big one. Castagnoli throws stuff on the way to the ring and seems to have banged up Nigel’s knee. Cole gets powered into the corner to start and knocked down but grabs a quickly broken sleeper. Cole’s running knee gets two and Castagnoli is frustrated on the floor.

That’s fine with Cole, who avoids a running uppercut against the barricade, only to get sent flying over said barricade. Since countouts aren’t a thing around here, Cole gets back inside, where Castagnoli grabs a chinlock. Someone is bleeding from somewhere as Cole is sent outside again and we take a break.

Back with Castagnoli charging into a superkick in the corner and we get a double breather. Castagnoli blasts him with a clothesline but gets caught with a Death Valley Driver onto the knee. Back up and the swing has Cole down into a crossface, followed by Swiss Death for two. Castagnoli unloads with uppercuts in the corner and a top rope superplex gets one…and Cole reverses into a crucifix to retain at 15:14.

Rating: B. This was almost a squash until the ending, which came so out of nowhere that it took me by surprise. It’s nice to see the Death Riders losing clean again, even if it came after Castagnoli beat the fire out of Cole. That’s not the worst way to go and I liked how well it went, even if it was Castagnoli getting caught rather than being defeated.

Post match Castagnoli wrecks a bunch of things and Jon Moxley and the Death Riders have to get him away from ringside.

We recap Chris Jericho walking out on the Learning Tree last week.

The Learning Tree is disappointed in Jericho but Bryan Keith tells Big Bill to keep it private. They want to handle it like family, but Bill doesn’t seem happy.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. KM/Rosario Grillo/LSG

La Faccion jumps them at the bell and the beatdown is on in a hurry. LSG gets taken apart and KM is knocked into the corner. Dralistico hits a big flip dive to the floor and the Bull’s Horns finishes Rush at 1:52. Complete destruction.

Kevin Knight is happy with his win but not so much with the Don Callis Family. Mike Bailey congratulates him but Ricochet interrupts. Ricochet tells him to not mess with the chain of command, though Knight says he respects Ricochet for what he has done. Knight mocks Ricochet’s lack of hair and a fight is teased, with Bailey saying they’ll do this later.

Ring Of Honor TV Title: Nick Wayne vs. Komander

Wayne is challenging and gets hammered into the corner to start. Komander cuts him off with a kick to the head but it’s too early for Cielito Lindo. Instead Komander hits a springboard high crossbody, only for Wayne to snap the back of his neck across the top rope. Another springboard is broken up and Komander is sent crashing out to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Komander putting him on the top and running the corner for a kick to the head. A running Swanton hits Wayne on the ramp but he rolls Komander up for two. Komander’s poisonrana gets two more so Wayne kicks him in the head. Wayne’s World is broken up and Komander knocks him to the floor for a big dive. Back in and Cielito Lindo hits raised boots and a fisherman’s buster gives Wayne the pin and the title at 11:03.

Rating: B. This got going near the end and I’ll take Wayne getting the title rather than having Komander just being around as champion and not doing much. I could go for Christian Cage coming after the title and not being able to get it, but at least Wayne is doing something. Now if only he could be doing that on Ring Of Honor instead of around here.

Video on Hologram.

Top Flight is ready to fight Cru next week. Cru comes in for some shouting.

Kris Statlander/Julia Hart vs. Mercedes Mone/Harley Cameron

Toni Storm is on commentary. Cameron tries to throw the puppet in to start and it is promptly stomped down. A headscissors sends Statlander down for a bit better success but she muscles Cameron over for a suplex. Hart comes in with Old School and a basement lariat for two but Cameron is back up with an enziguri. Mone comes in but gets sent outside as we take an early break.

Back with Mone grabbing a wristdrag out of the corner, setting up Three Amigos to Statlander. That’s fine with Statlander, who rolls double suplexes to show off. Mone and Cameron wind up on top of each other so Hart moonsaults onto both of them. Everything breaks down and Hart is up first (Storm: “That is one spooky b****.”) for the moonsault to Mone’s raised boots. Statlander muscles Mone up but Cameron tags herself in, allowing Statlander to hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Statlander hits Hayterade to pin Cameron at 11:03.

Rating: C+. The ending was a fine enough way to set up Hayter vs. Statlander and that’s all this match really needed. Cameron taking the fall is a good enough way to go as losing to Statlander isn’t going to hurt her. At the same time, Mone and Cameron could wind up being a fun wacky pair if they go that way, though it could go in a few different directions.

Overall Rating: B. Another pretty awesome show here with some solid action throughout and the Death Riders taking another step towards falling apart. That’s what we have been needing around here for a long time now and while they have a long way to go, this is definitely a step in the right direction. Other than that, the stories were advanced well enough and they still have time to get ready for Double Or Nothing. This show felt like another edition of Dynamite and that’s what it should have been given the situation they were in here.

Results
Kevin Knight b. Lance Archer – Springboard clothesline
Josh Alexander/Konosuke Takeshita b. Rocky Romero/Tomohiro Ishii – Powerbomb to Alexander
Megan Bayne b. Rebecca Scott/Ashley Vox – Double pin
Adam Cole b. Claudio Castagnoli – Crucifix
La Faccion Ingobernable b. KM/Rosario Grillo/LSG – Bull’s Horns to Rush
Nick Wayne b. Komander – Fisherman’s buster
Kris Statlander/Julia Hart b. Harley Cameron/Mercedes Mone – Hayterade to Cameron

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