Dynamite
Date: November 19, 2025
Location: Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

It’s another long form night of AEW, with a two hour Dynamite and an hour long Collision. At the same time, it is the last night before this weekend’s Full Gear. As a result, we have a mixture of prep for the pay per view as well as fallout from last week’s Blood & Guts, which could make for quite the night. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Bobby Lashley vs. Ricochet

For the #1 spot in the Casino Gauntlet at Full Gear and MVP is here with Lashley. The bell rings and Ricochet grabs the mic and says FLY EAGLES FLY. He hates this state and the only good thing to come out of here is his beautiful wife. As for MVP, he’s getting old and might have dementia because he said this was about the International Title rather than the National Title.

It’s the National Title and Ricochet is going to be the inaugural champion. Lashley finally jumps him and throws him over the top, with Ricochet screaming into the mic all the way down in a funny bit. The Gates Of Agony are sent over the announcers’ table but Lashley misses a charge into the corner. Ricochet hits a running shooting star press for two and then hides in the corner, which is enough to avoid the spear. Back up and Lashley hits a spinebuster, followed by the spear for the pin at 5:25.

Rating: C+. More than half of that was on Ricochet’s promo but the whole thing was still rather entertaining. There’s a lot to be said about having someone with as big of a mouth as Ricochet and then getting to see him get shut up. Lashley smashing through people is always worth a look and this went well, even with only so much action.

The Opps are ready to wreck Hangman Page after what he did to Powerhouse Hobbs. Tonight, Page is getting a beating at the hands of Katsuyori Shibata.

Renee Paquette asks the Young Bucks if they’re joining the Don Callis Family. Cue Callis to come in and say that there’s no gotcha journalism tonight. He’ll even do the Bucks’ entrance for them.

Young Bucks/Josh Alexander vs. SkyFlight

Nick and Dante start things off as Don Callis sits in on commentary. Dante gets taken down with a rope walk wristdrag but Nick misses an enziguri. They both miss dropkicks and it’s off to Alexander to whip Darius into the corner. Darius sends him into another corner though and it’s off to Dante for a quick elbow in the corner. Sky comes in and everything breaks down, including the series of dives to the floor. Alexander low bridges Sky to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Matt accidentally hitting Alexander in the face, allowing Sky to get over for the tag to Darius. House is quickly cleaned, with Alexander getting dropped off a powerbomb/Nose Dive combination, with the Bucks having to make a save. Sky is tossed into a spear, leaving the Bucks to fire off the superkicks. Dante is up with the big flip dive over the top onto the Bucks but Alexander cuts off a dive. Back in and Alexander shoves Dante into the Meltzer Driver, with Alexander adding in the ankle lock for the tap at 10:38.

Rating: B. Good, fast paced match here, even if it’s beyond tiring to see SkyFlight (especially Top Flight) losing so often. The Bucks and Alexander get their momentum before their match for a million dollars at Full Gear. I’m still not sure why that’s supposed to be interesting, but it’s what we get over and over.

Post match Callis gets in the ring and again tries to convince the Bucks to join the Family. They aren’t wild on that so Callis starts making with the threats. He even brings up what happened to Kenny Omega, who comes out with a pipe, only to get dropped by Alexander. Callis wants a BTE Trigger but before they can do it, here is the Jurassic Express (with a shovel and a vacuum cleaner) for the save.

The Babes Of Wrath are ready for the Sisters Of Sin and are rather enthusiastic about it.

We get a tribute to Bob Caudle, a former NWA announcer who passed away earlier this week at the age of 95. That’s a nice touch.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Mike Bailey

For the #2 spot in the Casino Gauntlet match at Full Gear and MVP is here with Benjamin and Kevin Knight is here with Bailey. We do get a handshake to start and Benjamin shrugs off a chop in the corner. They go outside with Benjamin’s arm being sent into the post. An armbar doesn’t work well for Bailey as he gets sent into the barricade, only for Bailey to grab some rollups for two back inside.

Another armbar is reversed into a quickly reversed ankle lock and they’re right back on the floor. Benjamin slams him down out there and we take an early break. We come back with Benjamin grabbing a chinlock, with MVP telling him to stop playing with their food so they can go eat. Bailey fights up and kicks away but still can’t get very far with the cross armbreaker.

Benjamin gets sent outside for a knockdown but manages to beat the count. Back in and a superkick sets up a shooting star press for two on Benjamin, with the moonsault knees getting the same. Benjamin powers his way out of trouble with a rather impressive toss, followed by a nasty superkick for two. A running knee in the corner sets up another superkick to pin Bailey at 12:08.

Rating: B-. That superkick looked great and I’m not sure why it wasn’t the finish here. Anyway, Benjamin vs. Lashley to start the Casino Gauntlet should be fun, though it’s still hard to get interested in another big match for yet another title. At least they’re trying something new, even if it’s just the start of a much bigger match.

Death Riders vs. Orange Cassidy/Roderick Strong

Cassidy and Moxley brawl to the floor to start with Strong dropkicking Castagnoli inside. Moxley comes back in to chop block Strong but Cassidy is back in with a high crossbody. Castagnoli rolls through though and takes Cassidy outside for a toss into the barricade. The Riders are sent over the barricade and Cassidy hits a dive to take them both out as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy not being able to get his hands in his pockets as Castagnoli sends him into the corner instead.

Cassidy’s diving DDT gets him out of trouble and the much needed tag brings in Strong to clean house. The alternating running forearms hit Moxley in the ropes but he’s back with a Paradigm Shift. Everything breaks down and Strong hits a top rope superplex on Moxley. Cassidy has to chase after an interfering Wheeler Yuta though, allowing Castagnoli to hit Swiss Death. Moxley’s bulldog choke finishes Cassidy at 12:21.

Rating: B-. This was the rebound win that the Riders, and Moxley in particular, needed after last week’s loss. I’m assuming it’s going to be a brief bump on the road of Moxley’s collapse. I’m not sure of where this is going, but it’s not likely going to end well for him one way or another. Either way, that might be a good thing for him, as it could mean some time away from AEW TV, which could be just what he needs.

Post match Moxley stays on Cassidy so here is Kyle O’Reilly to ankle lock Moxley, who taps again. The Death Riders finally make the save, even with Cassidy and Strong back up in the fight. O’Reilly issues the challenge to Moxley and we’ll make it No Holds Barred.

Brody King and Bandido are ready for FTR at Full Gear.

Kenny Omega, with the Jurassic Express, is ready for Full Gear and no money can save the Bucks and Josh Alexander. As usual, Omega is a lot better when he’s playing it serious.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Timeless Love Bombs vs. Riho/Alex Windsor

Shirakawa backs Riho up against the ropes to start and gives her a running shoulder, followed by a quick Shirakawa dance. They trade legsweeps and it’s a standoff, meaning a double tag to Storm and Windsor. A quick dance off sets up a test of strength, followed by an exchange of armdrags. Windsor takes over by bringing her into the corner for something like Poetry In Motion.

Storm comes out with a backbreaker, allowing Shirakawa to come back in with a slingshot dive. Windsor is right back in to send her throat first into the top rope, setting up Riho’s big dive out to the floor. We take a break and come back with Shirakawa DDTing her way out of trouble so Storm can clean house. A quick DDT gives Storm two, followed by an assisted splash for two on Windsor.

Back up and Windsor knocks Storm off the apron for a cannonball but Riho misses a top rope splash. Shirakawa backfists Riho down and grabs a Figure Four. That’s turned over, leaving Storm and Windsor to headbutt each other and fall on top for the break. Everything breaks down and the Bombs hit stereo running hip attacks in the corner. Storm Zero finishes Windsor at 12:53.

Rating: C+. Well they weren’t going to have one of the few close to regular teams in the tournament losing to a thrown together pairing. Storm and Shirakawa have gone from friends to what feels like the latest Storm performance art thing and that’s not a bad idea. Storm and Shirakawa have great chemistry together so pushing them towards the titles could go a long way.

We get a new Full Gear announcement: there will be a four way between the semifinalists at Full Gear with the winners getting to pick the stipulations for their semifinal match. Sweet goodness that is about as overbooked as you can get.

Mark Briscoe and Kyle Fletcher are in the back, with Briscoe talking about how failure is not an option because it’s No DQ and he’s going to make his family proud. Then the Don Callis Family jumps him, with Fletcher promising to make Briscoe’s sons orphans. Kazuchika Okada says he did this because Konosuke Takeshita couldn’t.

Pac is ready for Darby Allin at Full Gear but wants it as a straight match because with everything taken away, Allin can’t contend with him.

Hangman Page vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Non-title with Samoa Joe on commentary. Page jumps him from behind in the aisle to start fast but Shibata gets in a running boot to knock Page off the apron. The bell rings and Shibata sends the taped up Page into the barricade a few times, only for Page to fight out of trouble. They get inside with Page stomping away, followed by a backbreaker into a clothesline for two. Joe’s distraction lets Shibata get in a shot from behind into a suplex on the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Page hitting a springboard clothesline out to the floor, meaning it’s another stare at Joe. Back in and an STO drops Page, who catches the PK. Instead Shibata takes him into the corner for a running kick to the, ahem, thigh. Page misses a clothesline and gets hit low, allowing Shibata to get the cross armbreaker. That’s broken up so Shibata shifts over to the ankle lock. Page loses his boot on the escape but knocks Shibata down again. The boot is replaced and the Buckshot Lariat finishes for Page at 10:49.

Rating: B-. Nice stuff here, with Page getting by one of Joe’s friends before they face off again at the pay per view. Page fought through the odds again and won, which is a great way to present a top star in the company. They didn’t make this more complicated than it needed to be and it went well enough.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked the show well enough, but the focus being on more titles being introduced and a match coming up for a bunch of money (one of two) isn’t making the most thrilling Full Gear. Unfortunately it doesn’t make for the best build towards a pay per view. That absolutely does not mean that things are going to go badly on Saturday, but it’s not doing the best job of making me want to see the show.

Results
Bobby Lashley b. Ricochet – Spear
Young Bucks/Josh Alexander b. SkyFlight – Ankle lock to Dante
Shelton Benjamin b. Mike Bailey – Superkick
Death Riders b. Roderick Strong/Orange Cassidy – Bulldog choke to Cassidy
Timeless Love Bombs b. Alex Windsor/Riho – Storm Zero to Windsor
Hangman Page b. Katsuyori Shibata – Buckshot Lariat

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

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Collision
Date: November 15, 2025
Location: Erie Insurance Arena, Erie, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Matt Menard

We’re done with Blood & Guts and a week away from Full Gear, which is going to be needing some extra time to get ready. There is a good chance that things will be coming together here thanks to some fallout from earlier this week. Hopefully Collision lives up to its reputation with solid matches, which is certainly an option. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We run down tonight’s card.

Long Blood & Guts recaps.

Death Riders vs. Tommy Billington/Jay Lethal/Adam Priest

Hold on though as Daniel Garcia gets in a fight with Matt Menard before the bell. Menard is taken out by the medical team so Jon Moxley takes his place, as we can’t go four days without hearing from him after Blood & Guts. Garcia gets taken into the corner to start and pummeled in the head before it’s off to Yuta. Lethal works on Yuta’s arm before it’s back to Garcia, who gets double elbowed in the face. Billington gets low bridged to the floor though and we take a break.

We come back with Billington still in trouble, with the Riders hitting some running shots in the corner. Pac’s Tombstone gets two, thankfully with Lethal making a save. Billington is able to fight his way off the top and adds a nice missile dropkick (even Moxley is impressed), only to get sent outside again. Back in and the much needed tag brings in Lethal to clean house, including a Lethal Combination to Yuta. Garcia saves Pac from the Figure Four but Lethal accidentally Lethally Injects Billington. The Brutalizer finishes Lethal at 10:53.

Rating: C+. Rather Collisiony Death Riders match here, with little doubt about who was going to win but it got some time anyway. There is only so much you can get out of something like this, especially with the team showing pretty much no ill effects from Blood & Guts. Lethal and company have barely been together for a few weeks now and it’s not like they seemed to be some hot new team anyway.

Post match Pac talks about how awesome it was to watch Darby Allin burn. The challenge is officially on for Full Gear. What is this? Four straight pay per views of Allin vs. the Death Riders?

The Don Callis Family is ready for Mark Briscoe, both tonight and at Full Gear.

Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa are in the back with Storm saying that while she dies every day, the other team hurt the woman she loves. Vengeance is sworn.

Mark Briscoe vs. Mark Davis

The brawl is on to start fast and Briscoe hits a running Blockbuster off the apron. Davis breaks up the Bang Bang Elbow though and starts hammering away back inside. A top rope superplex gives Davis two and we take a break. We come back with Briscoe fighting of an abdominal stretch but getting knocked right back down instead.

Some chops wake Briscoe up and he wins a slugout off a running forearm. The Froggy Bow hits raised knees though and Davis heads outside to grab a chair. Naturally that takes too long though and Briscoe is up with a step up running flip dive. Back in and the Froggy Bow finishes Davis at 11:17.

Rating: C+. Briscoe continues to be one of the better stars around here as he is able to work well with anyone. At the same time, this was another match where it felt like we were waiting around for the inevitable finish. Briscoe is ready for his big title shot next week, and having him beat up Fletcher’s only so successful partner won’t give him a ton of momentum.

Scorpio Sky, with Christopher Daniels, wants the TNT Title back.

Josh Alexander breaks Michael Nakazawa’s ankle and challenges Kenny Omega for Dynamite.

Here is MxM TV for their Casting Call (open challenge with any combination of the team).

Taya Valkyrie vs. Tay Melo

Melo chops away in the corner to start but Valkyrie takes her into the corner the sliding German suplex. That’s shrugged off and Melo is up with a flip dive to the floor, followed by the TayKO for the pin at 2:14.

Post match Marina Shafir comes in to deck Melo and chokes her out but Toni Storm runs in for the save.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Powerhouse Hobbs from Dynamite (a great match), setting up Page vs. Samoa Joe in a cage at Full Gear.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Scorpio Sky

Sky, with Christopher Daniels, is challenging and his offer of a handshake is kicked away. A wristlock works a bit better for Sky but Fletcher pulls him into one of his own. Fletcher gets back into the corner so he bails out to the floor, allowing Sky to steal his cape. Back in and it’s Sky working on the arm before goldbricking his way into a rollup for two.

A running forearm puts Fletcher outside again, where he drops Sky onto the apron. Fletcher even boots Daniels in the face, with the medics coming out to check on him as we take a break. We come back with Sky fighting out of a chinlock and telling Fletcher to bring it. Sky unloads with right hands in the corner and sends him outside for a quick hurricanrana off the apron.

Back in and a dragon screw legwhip drops Fletcher again, followed by a slingshot cutter to the apron. Granted it’s more the top of Fletcher’s head than anything else but that could have been rather painful otherwise. The half crab is broken up as Fletcher makes the rope and Fletcher hits a running boot in the corner. The brainbuster retains the title at 15:11.

Rating: B. While it was as predictable of a result as possible, it was at least a harder hitting and more interesting match. That’s good to see and not at all surprising, with Sky being someone who can do just about anything. Fletcher needs some momentum on the way to Full Gear and a hard fought match with a former champion isn’t a bad way to go.

Post match Sky gets beaten down, with SkyFlight and Mark Briscoe running in for the save. Briscoe tells Fletcher to give the title some kisses and hugs, because it’s coming home with him at Full Gear. Fletcher reveals he’s one win away from the all time defense record in a single reign. That’s not exactly important but I’m sure we’ll hear about it over and over.

The former Acclaimed, the Bang Bang Gang, Big Bill/Bryan Keith and the Outrunners are ready to fight for $200,000 at the Full Gear Kickoff Show.

We get a By The Numbers look at Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander.

Riho/Alex Windsor vs. Hyan/Maya World

World backs Riho into the ropes to start but gets caught with a running knee in the corner. Windsor comes in but can’t get the Sharpshooter. Instead she settles for a running clothesline in the corner, followed by a running flip dive off the apron. We take a break and come back with Riho slipping out of a suplex and handing it off to Windsor. Everything breaks down and Hyan gets hit from behind, allowing Riho to grab a crucifix bomb for the pin at 7:49.

Rating: C. Hyan and World replace a team who were complaining about only having three minutes in the ring and get more than double that time shortly thereafter. That feels like a bit of a rub in the face and if so, good for AEW. Riho and Windsor get their warmup win before they’re in the tournament, which suggests that they shouldn’t be in the tournament in the first place yet here we are.

Post match Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa pop up on screen to say they’ll be facing Riho and Windsor in the first round. Violence is promised in the form of a bloody good time.

After Blood & Guts, the Conglomeration is thrilled that Kyle O’Reilly made Jon Moxley submit.

That’s enough for Moxley to get off commentary and grab the mic to challenge O’Reilly for anytime, anyplace.

Tay Melo respects Toni Storm and wants to fight Marina Shafir.

La Faccion Ingobernable/FTR vs. Juice Robinson/Jet Speed/Bandido

Bandido and Harwood start things off with Hardwood uppercutting away. A snap suplex drops Bandido and it’s off to Wheeler, who gets taken down by a spinning high crossbody. Bailey come sin and is quickly dropped, allowing Guevara to go up, drop back down, and hits a basement superkick. That doesn’t get Guevara very far as it’s off to Knight vs. Rush, with Knight having to clothesline his way out of trouble.

Robinson comes in to clean house with atomic drops and spinebusters, at least until Rush nails him with a forearm. Bandido and Bailey hit stereo Asai moonsaults to the floor and Knight’s DDT gets two on Harwood as we take a break. We come back with Bailey hitting a missile dropkick but getting caught in a belly to back DDT. The moonsault knees get Bailey out of trouble and the big tag brings in Bandido to clean house.

The frog splash gets two on Rush, who apron superplexes Bandido for two, with Bandido being stuck on his own. That doesn’t last long and it’s Bandido left alone with Rush. The Bull’s Horns are countered into a German suplex but Rush headbutts Bandido for a double down. Guevara hits a huge moonsault onto Robinson and Wheeler Gory Bombs Knight onto the apron. Bailey misses the moonsault knees on the apron but Bandido 21 Plexes Rush for the pin at 14:38.

Rating: B. Another exciting match with good action, though very little in the way of interest. It felt like a case where someone looked at the locker room and threw together whomever happened to be around into an eight man tag. In other words, it’s a perfect way to wrap up this particular edition of the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Here’s the thing about this show: it was perfectly fine from a wrestling perspective. At the same time, it was a show that you absolutely did not need to watch, with little (though some) storyline advancement other than a few challenges being laid out. It’s a show where you would probably have fun if you’re a diehard AEW fan and love anything they produce (nothing wrong with that), but if you’re looking for a show that moves things forward, just wait for Dynamite.

Results
Death Riders b. Tommy Billington/Jay Lethal/Adam Priest – Brutalizer to Lethal
Mark Briscoe b. Mark Davis – Froggy Bow
Tay Melo b. Taya Valkyrie – TayKO
Riho/Alex Windsor b. Hyan/Maya World – Crucifix bomb to Hyan
Bandido/Juice Robinson/Jet Speed b. FTR/La Faccion Ingobernable – 21 Plex to Rush

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: November 13, 2025
Location: Bayou Music Center, Houston, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re coming up on the biggest show of the year and therefore, it’s time to keep things slow on the way here. That includes (very) slowly setting up the Women’s Pure Rules Title match, along with everything else that we don’t know for the show so far. Maybe we get something set up with four shows to go. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We actually have a recap of last week’s show.

We run down this week’s card.

Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. Zack Mason/Warren Johnson/Savage King

Magnum and Mason (who is in incredible shape) start things off and the Outrunners take turns working on Mason’s arm. King (in a mask) comes in to take over on Magnum in the corner but Floyd is quickly in for the save. Castle comes in to suplex Johnson and there’s another to Mason. Everything breaks down and it’s the Mega Powers Elbow into the Bang A Rang to finish Johnson at 3:23.

Rating: C. Just a squash here as the Outrunners and Castle continue to look good together. That’s a nice sign and a fine example of what can happen when you take some people with nothing going on and put them on the same page. They’re one of the better things going on in Ring Of Honor at the moment and I could go for more of them, possibly with a title shot at Final Battle.

Spanish Announce Project vs. Don Callis Family

Angelico and Hechicero start things off with Hechicero taking him down by the arm. Angelico slips out, with Hechicero telling him that it was this close. An easy takedown gives Hechicero two before they trade some takedowns for two each. Serpentico comes in for a headscissors on Romero, who sends him crashing out to the floor.

Back in and Hechicero starts in on Serpentico’s leg, with Romero getting in a kick to the ribs. Romero gets in his dance but the Forever Lariats are cut off by Serpentico’s clothesline. Everything breaks down and Serpentico is hiptossed onto Hechicero, followed by a backsplash for two. Back up and Hechicero gives Serpentico a buckle bomb, setting up a cobra clutch to make Serpentico tap at 10:07.

Rating: C+. Nice enough match, even if you accept that the Spanish Announce Project only mean so much. They’re around here a lot and while the Family seems to be on the way up, beating the Project is only going to boost them so much. Maybe the Family gets put into what is likely going to be a multi team ladder match for the Tag Team Titles at Final Battle, as there is little reason to believe that the Family will be the next challengers on their own.

It’s time for QTV, with QT Marshall saying he and Big Boom AJ are partners but not friends. Also, Harley Cameron is ready to beat Athena next week and she’s taking it seriously. Yes she’s a big underdog, but she only needs three seconds.

Athena/Billie Starkz vs. Maya World/Hyan

Athena forearms World down to start fast and it’s off to Hyan for some clotheslines. Starkz is taken down so it’s back to Athena to take over. A snap suplex gives Starkz two but Hyan manages a Falcon Arrow. That earns her a beating in the corner, with Starkz being rather pleased about her choking. Hyan manages to drop Athena again though and it’s back to World to clean house. Everything breaks down and Hyan is sent into the barricade. Back in and a faceplant into the Koji Clutch makes Hyan tap at 7:08.

Rating: C+. Athena and Starkz continue to work well together, which makes me think they would have been better in the Tag Team Title tournament than Athena and Mercedes Mone. Either way, it was nice to see Hyan and World get some offense here, as the match wasn’t a squash. That was a fun surprise and the match could have been far worse.

Post match Athena takes her time letting go and says Harley Cameron is next.

Swirl vs. Vin Parker/Will Allday

Allday flips away from Johnson to start and actually knocks him down. A dropkick gets Johnson out of trouble and it’s off to a strutting Christian. Allday kicks his way out of trouble so Parker can come back in. That’s fine with the Swirl, who hiptoss him into a basement dropkick, ala Jay Lethal (and ala Wheeler Yuta ripping off Bryan Danielson’s moves). The brainbuster/handspring kick to the head combination finishes Allday at 4:04.

Rating: C. The Swirl is a rather nice heel team and would be better suited to hold the Tag Team Titles than LFI. If nothing else, they wrestle more frequently and have a better presence as a team. Instead we have Sammy Guevara as the newest member of LFI to tie the whole thing into Dustin Rhodes, because he hasn’t gotten enough of the focus this year.

Lance Archer vs. Aaron Solo

As usual, Archer jumps him from behind on the stage and keeps up the beating in the corner. Archer cuts off the comeback attempt but the chokeslam is countered with a dropkick. A hurricanrana and tornado DDT get one on Archer but Rocky Romero crotches Solo on top. The chokeslam and Blackout finish for Archer at 3:11.

Rating: C. You know how Archer does the same thing every time he has a match? Well he did it again here. I don’t know what else there is to say, but this is a very Ring Of Honor thing. There are certain people who do pretty much the same match in all of their appearances and Archer is at the top of that list.

SkyFlight vs. MxM TV

It’s probably not a good sign that there are two stables on the same show with initials and then TV as the group name. Anyway Darius gets headlocked down by Mansoor to start but comes up with some armdrags. Grey comes in with a hurricanrana before going after Valkyrie’s arm. Dante and TV come in, with Top Flight hitting a double dropkick for two.

TV seems to get in a low blow to Sky to take over before Madden’s elbow gets two more. Sky kicks his way out of trouble and Dante comes in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Grey is sent outside, with Valkyrie following for the brawl. Back in and Top Flight saves Sky from Madden, setting up the double implant DDT to pin Mansoor at 7:26.

Rating: B-. The right team won, as SkyFlight continues to look like one of the better teams going these days. It would be nice to see them getting involved in the title picture (choose which one) and odds are they’ll do something for some of those titles at Final Battle. Just maybe let them win over someone as lifeless as Shane Taylor Promotions.

Post match the Infantry runs in to jump SkyFlight.

Willie Mack vs. Lee Moriarty

Non-Title Proving Ground match under Pure Rules, meaning if Mack wins or survives the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. They slowly start in with a battle over a wristlock to start until Moriarty takes him down into an armbar. That means it’s a rope break for Mack and things reset a bit. Some armdrags have Moriarty down and a Shining Wizard gives Mack two.

Back up and Moriarty starts in on the fingers, with the Border City Stretch making Mack use his second rope break. A pop up right hand gives Mack a needed breather and the reverse cannonball hits Moriarty. The swinging slam plants Moriarty again and the standing moonsault gets two. Moriarty is able to pull him into the Border City Stretch though and they roll into the middle, where Mack taps at 8:20.

Rating: B-. As usual, the match was fine, but with Moriarty already owing Komander a title shot, there was only so much in the way of drama here. The Pure Rules Title still doesn’t feel important, though they have done a good job of making Moriarty feel like the ace of the division. While that won’t do much for the next champion’s title reign, it should give them a hot start, whenever the new reign begins.

Post match Komander comes out for the staredown with Moriarty to end the show. You can probably pencil that in for Final Battle.

Overall Rating: C+. While you can probably guess a few more matches for Final Battle, we still don’t have anything set in stone (at least with actual participants). This show, with only three more before the pay per view, didn’t do much for Final battle. In other words, it’s likely going to be another rushed build, because that has worked so well thus far. Not a bad show as usual, but absolutely not worth the time to watch it.

Results
Outrunners/Dalton Castle b. Zack Mason/Warren Johnson/Savage King – Bang A Rang to Johnson
Don Callis Family b. Spanish Announce Project – Cobra Clutch to Serpentico
Athena/Billie Starkz b. Hyan/Maya World – Koji Clutch to World
Swirl b. Vin Parker/Will Allday – Brainbuster/handspring kick to the head combination to Allday
Lance Archer b. Aaron Solo – Blackout
SkyFlight b. MxM TV – Double implant DDT to Mansoor
Lee Moriarty b. Willie Mack – Border City Stretch

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

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

Collision
Date: November 8, 2025
Location: Bayou Music Center, Houston, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the last show before Blood & Guts and as luck would have it, we’ll be getting to see what happens with the two advantage series. That should be enough to carry most of the show, but other than that, we’re likely in for some build towards Full Gear, which is coming up as well. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

FTR vs. Bang Bang Gang

Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. Gunn starts with the Guns Up pose to Harwood before taking Wheeler down in an armbar. That’s broken up and it’s off to Harwood vs. Robinson as things slow down a bit. Robinson hammers away in the corner but is smart enough to catch Wheeler with a spinning high crossbody.

Harwood is taken out again but Wheeler is back in with a chop block to take Robinson down. Robinson fights out of trouble and gets two off a sunset flip, followed by a double DDT. Gunn gets the tag and cleans house, including busting out the old Quick Draw. Wheeler low bridges Gunn to the floor though and we take a break.

We come back with Robinson coming in to clean house, including a leg lariat to Harwood. A slingshot dive drops Wheeler but Harwood rolls through a high crossbody and grabs the tights for two. Cue Bandido and Gravity to go after Hathaway, though they stop to superkick Wheeler. The Fameasser of the middle rope staggers Harwood and the forward DDT gives Robinson the pin at 14:09.

Rating: B. They certainly kept the energy up here and it made for a hot opener. At the very least, I rather like seeing the Gang get a nice win, as they’ve been doing nothing for such a long time now. Hopefully this is a sign that they’re getting back on their feet, as it’s not like they had much further to fall.

Kyle Fletcher is ready to beat up Ace Austin tonight and Mark Briscoe at Full Gear. Kazuchika Okada comes in to say they’ll win and be Proto-Kada. Fletcher likes it…I think?

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Ace Austin

Fletcher is defending. They fight over wrist control to start with Fletcher taking him down and striking a double biceps pose. Back up and Austin knocks him outside for an early breather so things can reset a bit. A big boot puts Austin down but he’s right back with la majistral for two. Fletcher backbreakers him into a swinging full nelson slam for two and we take a break.

We come back with Austin striking away, setting up a Russian legsweep. Fletcher bails out to the floor, where he counters a kick to the chest into a powerbomb onto the apron. Back in and the sitout Last Ride gets two on Austin, who is right back with some corner clotheslines.

A super hurricanrana plants Fletcher though and a faceplant gives Austin two. The Fold misses though and Fletcher lawn darts him into the corner. Austin fights back up but another Fold attempt is countered into a brainbuster for two. They trade kicks to the head until Fletcher takes him up top for the brainbuster onto the turnbuckle to retain at 14:38.

Rating: B. Good stuff here, as Austin is someone who has proven himself well in AEW thus far and Fletcher is rather dependable to put it mildly. This is the match designed to have Austin become a big deal and that’s a good way for him to go. Then again, that’s how a lot of people are treated in AEW and the results have been a mixed bag of success.

We look at Megan Bayne and Marina Shafir joining forces.

Kris Statlander thinks Mercedes Mone has a lot of things that she’ll never have, but Statlander has the focus. Statlander will follow her into Blood & Guts and then on to Full Gear to beat her once and for all.

The Don Callis Family wants the Death Riders to destroy Mark Briscoe and offers them favors for a job well done. Jon Moxley isn’t interested and a lot of staring ensues.

Anna Jay/Tay Melo vs. Hyan/Maya World

Melo takes Hyan into the corner to take over and Jay comes in to hammer away. World makes a save but gets sent outside, meaning it’s a Gory Bomb into a knee to the face to finish Hyan at 1:48. Total dominance.

Athena is annoyed at getting pinned by Harley Cameron, who is getting a Ring Of Honor Women’s Title match later this month. Now it’s time for pain in Blood & Guts and then retaining the title.

Women’s Blood & Guts Advantage Series: Skye Blue vs. Jamie Hayter

Blue’s team is up 1-0 and a win gives them the advantage. They trade some early rollups and go outside, with Hayter giving chance but getting sent into the steps. Back in and Hayter’s spinebuster lets her hammer away but she misses a dropkick. Blue gets two off a basement superkick and we take a break.

We come back with Hayter hitting a middle rope dropkick for two, followed by a big boot for the same. They trade forearms and then headbutts, with Hayter falling on top for two. Blue powerbombs her out of the corner for the same but Code Blue is countered. Hayterade gives Hayter the pin at 10:06.

Rating: B-. They weren’t exactly hiding the fact that Hayter was going to win here as otherwise there wouldn’t have been another match. Hayter continues to rise up the rankings and hopefully she’s able to get back into the title picture sooner than later. Blue is someone who can take losses without losing much and it won’t hurt her, so this was fine.

Post match the Triangle Of Madness run in for the beatdown but Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale make the save.

Women’s Blood & Guts Advantage Series: Thekla vs. Harley Cameron

For the advantage. It’s a brawl to start with the fans entirely behind Cameron in quite the reaction. They go outside with Cameron hitting a Russian legsweep before heading back inside. Thekla pulls her out of the corner for a face first crash onto the buckle, followed by a suplex on the floor. Thekla adds another one and we take a break with Cameron in trouble.

We come back with Cameron getting caught with the upside down choke in the ropes for two. Back up and a running faceplant drops Thekla and Cameron gets to stomp away in the corner. A sling blade gives Cameron two and she headbutts Thekla into the Tree Of Woe for a running dropkicks. That doesn’t get her very far though as Thekla hits a spear for the pin and advantage at 12:04.

Rating: C+. Cameron is getting better in the ring but what matters the most is that the fans love her. You can’t plan that kind of thing and it made for a great step forward for her career. She’s coming up on the biggest singles match of her career, which makes the loss here a bit of a bad idea, but it’s not like Cameron is likely to beat Athena anyway.

Jet Speed aren’t done with FTR and they’re ready to be in the Casino Gauntlet match for the North American Title.

Anthony Bowens insists that the Acclaimed is done. He and Max Caster will both be at the Tailgate Brawl but Tony Khan insists that there is more interest in them working together. Therefore, that’s what will happen at the Tailgate Brawl. Bickering ensues.

Full Gear rundown, oddly with the camera on commentary instead of the graphics.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe, setting up Page vs. Powerhouse Hobbs at Blood & Guts.

Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat will both be at Blood & Guts.

Men’s Blood & Guts Advantage Series: Jon Moxley vs. Roderick Strong

For the advantage. Moxley’s early front facelock is countered into an armbar but he pulls that into a Kimura. That’s broken up so Strong shoves him out to the floor, where Moxley gets to flip off the crowd. Back in and Moxley takes over on the arm again, with Strong being knocked outside for a change. Moxley follows him outside but gets whipped into the steps. Strong tries a suplex but gets dropped onto the steps as we take a break.

We come back with Moxley tying up the legs with an Indian deathlock, sending Strong over to the ropes. A butterfly superplex drops Strong for two but he’s right back with a tiger driver for the same. Moxley tries the bulldog choke, which is escaped just as fast for the slugout. Marina Shafir trips Strong so here is Kyle O’Reilly, who is cut off by Wheeler Yuta.

That earns him an ejection so here is Pac to kick Strong in the face. That’s only good for two so Moxley gets a cross armbreaker, which is quickly escaped. Pac loads up a table at ringside but Strong puts an invading Daniel Garcia through it instead. A full nelson slam sends Moxley onto the steps and….someone (it’s Darby Allin) grabs his leg to make sure Strong wins by countout at 18:10.

Rating: B-. It was a nice brawl and Moxley’s fall continues, but I could go a long, long, long time without seeing the Death Riders doing anything again. It feels like the same “here comes all of them one after another as Moxley does submissions” that we’ve seen forever. In theory the team is mostly done after Blood & Guts, but that feels like it has been the case for a long time now.

Overall Rating: B-. This started really well and then slowed down a good bit. The problem is you’re only going to get so much out of control series for matches that are going to wind up with everyone staring at each other for a big showdown. Full Gear didn’t get a ton of attention here, but odds are that will have a lot of fallout from Dynamite. This was another Collision that would have been better at just an hour, which is so often the case around here.

Results
Bang Bang Gang b. FTR – Forward DDT to Harwood
Kyle Fletcher b. Ace Austin – Brainbuster onto the turnbuckle
Anna Jay/Tay Melo b. Hyan/Maya World – Gory Bomb into a knee to the face to Hyan
Jamie Hayter b. Skye Blue – Hayterade
Thekla b. Harley Cameron – Spear
Roderick Strong b. Jon Moxley via countout

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: November 6, 2025
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re about a month away from Final Battle and that means it’s time to start getting ready to get ready for the build. Maybe in three weeks or so. You never know what you might get on that show, though there is always the chance that they throw something out there earlier. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look back at the great Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada ROH World Title match from Collision with Bandido retaining the title.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Beef/Workhorsemen vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

The Promotions are defending. Henry and Bravo trade arm control to start and it’s off to Beef to hammer away. That doesn’t work for the Promotions, who clear the ring and pose on the apron. Taylor comes in for the forearms in the corner, followed by a running splash. Dean hits a Bronco Buster and a belly to back suplex/neckbreaker combination drops him again. Beef fights out without much trouble and brings Henry in to clean house. Anthony Ogogo offers a distraction on the floor though and Rush comes in with a belt shot to Beef’s head. The double stomp retains the title at 7:08.

Rating: C. It’s not a good sign when you need help to beat Beef and the Workhorsemen, but I’ll take a fairly nothing match like this over the titles sitting on the shelf for months. I’m not sure where that ending is leading, but I would hope that Beef and the Horsemen aren’t going to be going after the Tag Team Titles now. There has to be a better option for Final Battle. Right?

Post match the beatdown is on but SkyFlight runs in for the save.

Skyflight vs. Matt Menard/The Kingdom

Darius and Bennett get things going with Darius getting two off a rollup and armdragging him into an armbar. Dante comes in and gets tossed into a right hand but Taven is cut off with a double dropkick. It’s off to Menard as everything breaks down, leaving Menard to DDT Darius. A catapult into a kick to the face staggers Darius again and some corner clotheslines have Darius in trouble.

Taven neckbreakers Dante but misses a Lionsault, allowing Darius to grab an assisted tornado DDT for two. Sky comes in to clean house, including a Sky High (makes sense) for two on Taven. Bennett is back in with a Death Valley Driver into Just The Tip for two on Sky, who snaps off the TKO to pin Menard at 8:06.

Rating: C+. I like SkyFlight a bit more every time I see them and hopefully they get to be out there a bit more often. If nothing else, put them in the Six Man Tag Team Title scene. Or just give them the titles already. If nothing else, just getting a single win should put them in title contention.

We recap the Costco Guys vs. the Don Callis Family, with QT Marshall being dragged in to help the Guys at Full Gear.

Don Callis Family vs. The OXP/Orion

Hechicero shoves OXP in the face to start and then easily moves out of an armbar. A twist of the leg has OXP in more trouble and Hechicero pulls him out of the air again. Archer comes in to backdrop OXP onto Orion as Riccaboni recommends just walking out. A spinning facebuster plants OXP again and Hechicero grabs a surfboard. Archer gets a running start and faceplants OXP out of it, followed by a chokeslam. The spinning seated cobra clutch gives Hechicero the win at 4:05.

Rating: C. Total squash but it was fun enough while it lasted. There is something entertaining about seeing Archer throwing them around and Hechicero just tormenting them in various ways. That’s what a squash should be, especially without Callis himself being there to drag it down.

We look at Alex Windsor’s time with Yuka Sakazaki.

Alex Windsor/Yuka Sakazaki vs. Robyn Renegade/Taya Valkyrie

Sakazaki and Renegade start things off but it’s quickly off to Windsor to chop away at Valkyrie. A basement dropkick gives Windsor two and Sakazaki’s rollup gets the same. Renegade comes back in and hammers on Sakazaki, setting up Valkyrie’s running knees in the corner. Valkyrie works on the armbar but Sakazaki fights up and hits a missile dropkick.

Windsor comes back in with some corner clotheslines and a Blue Thunder Bomb for two on Renegade. A quick Eat Defeat gets two on Windsor and it’s Valkyrie gives Sakazaki a hard clothesline for two. Back up and Sakazaki grabs a quick sliding German suplex to drop Valkyrie, followed by the Magical Girl Splash for the pin at 8:28.

Rating: C+. This is a good example of a match that was technically fine but not exactly interesting. I’m assuming Windsor and Sakazaki will be a team going forward and might wind up facing the Women’s Tag Team Champions after the tournament in AEW. If nothing else, it’s nice to see some consistency. Just maybe get some slightly more interesting opponents?

We finally get it confirmed: the Women’s Pure Rules Title tournament final will be at Final Battle. That’s not exactly shocking, but dang if this is the best you can do, maybe don’t start it up so early?

Women’s Pure Rules Title Tournament First Round: Trish Adora vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Purrazzo hits her in the face for the official warning less than ten seconds in, only to be knocked right back down. Adora takes her down and hits a kick to the back, followed by a headscissors for two. Purrazzo’s quick Fujiwara armbar sends Adora to the ropes for the first time before she works on the arm as well. A big headbutt gives Purrazzo two and Adora’s bridging German suplex gets the same. Back up and Purrazzo’s Fujiwara armbar into the Venus de Milo makes Adora give up at 7:02.

Rating: C. Here’s the problem with this tournament (among many other things): the matches are just ok. We waited over a month for this thing to pick back up and we get a seven minute match that is….well, pretty much fine. There’s nothing to this that is worth getting excited over and now we’ll have a champion of this so called division in about a month. There is still no need for this title to exist and the tournament matches, which will likely ramp up soon, aren’t making it much better.

Aaron Solo/Angelika Risk vs. Death Riders

Yuta takes Solo down to start and works on the arm but Solo is back up with a middle rope armdrag. Risk comes in to yell a lot and slaps Shafir in the chest, earning a judo throw down. Shafir chokes her down and works on the arm while taking off her own shoes and socks for some reason. Risk gets up and it’s back to Solo, who double stomps Yuta. Everything breaks down and Risk gets caught in Mother’s Milk for the tap at 4:10 while Yuta knees Solo down.

Rating: C. Yeah this was the Death Riders’ weekly match as they get to squash someone else. Just in case you didn’t get to see them enough on Dynamite and Collision, here they are again. It doesn’t add anything here other than making the show go on longer, which isn’t a good feeling.

We look back at Bandido bringing his grandmother to see him for the first time. We’ve seen this package on a recent AEW show.

Satnam Singh vs. Gino Adonis

Adonis slugs away to start and has as much effect as you would imagine. Singh sends him flying and hits a lawn dart. The chokeslam finishes Adonis at 1:57.

We look at Swirl annoying Jay Lethal.

Willie Mack/Alex Zayne vs. Swirl

Mack and Johnson start things off with Mack’s headlock not getting him very far. Johnson slips out of a slam attempt but gets taken down by a running knee to the face. Zayne and Christian come in to exchange a miss of flips and kicks. Christian hammers away in the corner and sends him outside, where Johnson hits a cheating clothesline. Back in and Zayne has to fight out of the corner, allowing Mack to come back in and clean house.

It’s already back to Zayne for some running kicks in the corner, setting up the running kick/brainbuster combination…for two. Mack and Johnson go up top, where Zayne grabs a running hurricanrana to bring Johnson back down. Mack gives Christian a super Stunner for two but Mack is sent outside. That leaves Johnson to Death Valley Driver Zayne while Christian adds a top rope double stomp for the pin at 11:21.

Rating: B-. Easily the best match of the night thus far as the Swirl continues to be a pretty nice heel team. They could be a thing if they were given the chance, though that’s the problem with ROH: it takes so long for anyone to actually get a chance. Mack and Zayne were just the designated opponents here, but they did well enough as a team.

Komander vs. Lee Moriarty

Non-title Proving Ground match under Pure Rules, meaning that if Komander survives the ten minute time limit or wins, he gets a future title shot. They go to the mat to start with an exchange of grappling, with Moriarty getting the Border City Stretch. That means the first rope break for Komander, who gets tripped down to the mat.

That’s reversed into something like an Indian deathlock, sending Moriarty over to the ropes. A hurricanrana drops Moriarty again but he sends Komander into the buckle to cut him off. We reach the halfway point as Moriarty grabs a quickly broken chinlock. Moriarty switches to an armbar, with Komander using his second rope break.

Komander’s choke has Moriarty burning another rope break and a quick DDT gives Komander two. They knock each other down with two minutes to go and Moriarty misses a charge into the corner. A tornado DDT gives Komander two more and a springboard moonsault gets the same. They trade some rollup attempts until Moriarty gets a choke with thirty five seconds left. Komander flips out and ties up an arm and leg but time runs out at 10:00.

Rating: B-. They picked up here at the end, though it continues to make me wonder why Komander would be going for the win as just a tie is the same thing. In theory it’s because he’s a good guy, which fair enough, but it doesn’t make much in the way of drama at the end. Either way, nice match and you can pencil the rematch in for Final Battle.

Respect is shown to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The main event helped a bit but this show has had the same underlying problem since it came back: the majority does not feel important. There might be some stories here or there, but far too much of it comes off as “this stuff doesn’t matter”. When you have months waiting to finish the first round of a tournament, most of the matches having no long term impact and almost everything involving the World Title taking place elsewhere, it makes this show feel pretty useless. As usual, decent wrestling up and down, but nothing that makes me want to watch week after week.

Results
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Beef/Workhorsemen – Double stomp to Beef
SkyFlight b. Kingdom/Matt Menard – TKO to Menard
Don Callis Family b. OXP/Orion – Spinning seated cobra clutch to OXP
Alex Windsor/Yuka Sakazaki b. Robyn Renegade/Taya Valkyrie – Magical Girl Splash to Valkyrie
Deonna Purrazzo b. Trish Adora – Venus de Milo
Death Riders b. Aaron Solo/Angelika Risk – Mother’s Milk to Risk
Satnam Singh b. Gino Adonis – Chokeslam
Swirl b. Willie Mack/Alex Zayne – Death Valley Driver/top rope double stomp combination to Zayne
Komander vs. Lee Moriarty went to a time limit draw

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

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Dynamite
Date: November 5, 2025
Location: Bayou Music Center, Houston, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Bryan Danielson, Tony Schiavone

We are a week away from Blood & Guts and therefore this week’s show is going to focus on setting up the two cage matches. In this case that means determining who will have the advantage in the matches, which can be rather important. Other than that, we’ll have some more build towards Full Gear, which isn’t very far away. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring and….there is going to be something called the National Title introduced. Cue the Opps to interrupt, with Samoa Joe not being happy with Schiavone for the deal with Hangman Page at the end of last week’s show. Cue Page for the save, with Eddie Kingston and Hook joining him. They’re already set for a six man tag tonight and Hook thinks it should be a Trios Titles match. Works for a ticked off Joe.

Men’s Blood And Guts Advantage Series: Orange Cassidy vs. Claudio Castagnoli

First of a three match series. Cassidy fires off the suicide dives before the bell and the ten right hands connect against the barricade. Castagnoli manages a ram into the ropes though and gets inside for the opening bell. A tornado DDT cuts Castagnoli off but they go outside with Cassidy being dropped over the barricade. Castagnoli grabs a suplex and walks him up the steps (because that’s something a human can do) to throw him back inside.

Cassidy’s sleeper goes on and Castagnoli can’t even swing him off. It’s finally reversed into the regular swing and Cassidy is in trouble as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy putting his hands in his pockets, which earns him a gutwrench suplex in a smart move from Castagnoli. Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets again and shrugs off a string of punches in the corner.

Castagnoli is sent outside for a diving tornado DDT before planting Castagnoli for two back inside. A sitout powerbomb gives Castagnoli two and he grabs a crossface. That and a basement uppercut give Castagnoli two but the apron superplex is countered into a super Stundog Millionaire (that was great). An Orange Punch rocks Castagnoli but he’s right back with Swiss Death for the pin at 12:21.

Rating: B-. I was worried that Cassidy would survive that kind of a beating and win on a fluke so it was nice to see Castagnoli get a clean win like this for a change. He’s been just a guy in the Death Riders for a long time now and it’s good for him to have something other than just another loss. Cassidy is just kind of floating around at the moment, but he’ll be fine given the way the fans care about him.

Mark Briscoe is in the back with Kyle Fletcher, who hasn’t responded to Briscoe’s challenge for Full Gear. Briscoe lost to him at WrestleDream thanks to a low blow so let’s do it No DQ next time. Don Callis has an idea though: if Briscoe loses, he joins the Family.

The Young Bucks haven’t officially joined the Don Callis Family but Callis offers Kazuchika Okada as a testimony on what it means to join.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron vs. Mercedes Mone/Athena

The villains jump them to start fast as we hear about Queen Aminata being injured and therefore out of Blood & Guts. Mone chokes Cameron on the ropes a bit but Cameron manages a belly to back suplex. Nightingale comes in for a middle rope dropkick as the house cleaning is on. It’s already back to Cameron, who gets dropped onto Mone for two. Everything breaks down and a Meteora drops Nightingale, leaving Athena to drop Mone onto Cameron for two.

We take a break and come back with Mone taking too long on Three Amigos, allowing Cameron to escape. The big tag brings in Nightingale to clean house, with a Cannonball hitting Athena for two. Athena cuts her off with a hard forearm and everything breaks down. A double Codebreaker sets up the Statement Maker on Cameron so Nightingale Pounces Athena into the two of them for the save.

Nightingale clotheslines Mone down but Athena is up with a spinning knee to the head. Athena puts Nightingale into a fireman’s carry and then fall away slams Cameron at the same time (geez). Cue Athena’s minion Billie Starkz to hand Athena a title but Kris Statlander cuts her off. The Babe With The Powerbomb into That’s Her Finisher to pin Athena at 12:44.

Rating: C+. Odds are that sets up Cameron as the next victim for Athena and I’ve heard worse ideas. One such bad idea would be to have Mone get closer to winning a tag team title in addition to all of her singles belts so at least they did the right thing here. The tournament has me wondering who is going to wind up with the titles so they’re certainly off to a nice start.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring to announce a Casino Gauntlet Match for Full Gear for the inaugural National Title. Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, the first entrants, come out with MVP for a chat. MVP talks about the history of the National Title, which apparently will have lineage with the original NWA version.

Cue the Demand to interrupt, with Ricochet mocking the Syndicate for being old. MVP is ready to fight but Ricochet says he’ll be the next National Champion. I’d hope that they don’t go any further with the lineage/heritage of the National Title, as the NWA, which still sanctions it to this day, might have some issues.

Jurassic Express leaves the Young Bucks $100 to deal with their money issues.

Men’s Blood And Guts Advantage Series: Darby Allin vs. Daniel Garcia

If Garcia wins, the Death Riders clinch the advantage. Allin rolls around to start and grabs a headlock takeover. That’s broken up and Garcia chokes in the corner, only for Allin to put Garcia’s arm into the post (as in the hole on the top). Some biting keeps the arm in trouble before Allin sends him into the barricade. Garcia hits a big boot to the head to cut Allin off though and we take a break.

We come back with an exchange of chokes, with Allin backflipping onto him for two. Garcia takes him up top for a superplex but Allin rolls through into a Scorpion Death Drop. They head outside, with Garcia putting Allin’s arm between the steps and post for a running dropkick. Cue Pac for a cheap shot with a clothesline and Allin has to dive back in to beat the count. The bleeding Allin is put in the Sharpshooter but manages to reverse it into the Scorpion Deathlock for the tap at 13:26.

Rating: B-. There wasn’t much in the way of drama here as not only was it the second match in a best of three series, but Garcia wasn’t likely to beat Allin in any way. At least they didn’t do anything too nuts here, as Allin gets to go through and win a match he should have. Now just get him away from the Death Riders already, because the story needs to be done.

Post match the Death Riders run in for the beatdown, with Orange Cassidy’s save attempt getting cut off as well.

Here is FTR to call out Bandido/Brody King for a chat. The champs don’t show up though and we see their locker room door locked. Back in the arena, Harwood goes over to meet Bandido’s family with some less than great Spanish. Harwood mocks Bandido’s grandmother for being too old and does the keep pulling his microphone away before she can say much. She finally slaps him and Bandido’s brother jumps the barricade for the brawl. We cut to the back where Brody King punches through the wall and grabs Stokely Hathaway so the champs can escape for the save.

Video on Blood & Guts as narrated by….Dean Malenko?

Women’s Blood And Guts Advantage Series: Mina Shirakawa vs. Megan Bayne

Toni Storm is on commentary. Bayne shrugs off some shots to the ribs to start so Shirakawa gives her a running dropkick to the floor. Back in and Shirakawa kicking her in the head out of the corner but Bayne grabs an impressive release German suplex. Shirakawa fights back and hurricanranas Bayne into the corner. Cue Marina Shafir to jump Storm for the brawl, which distracts Shirakawa. The running Liger Bomb finishes for Bayne at 9:36.

Rating: C+. Bayne getting to wreck someone else is a good thing and this was little more than a preview for the big match next week. They’re almost putting everyone of note in the division into Blood & Guts, which is certainly a way to go. It has me interesting in what’s going to happen though and Bayne getting to be a smashing machine is a fun thing every time.

Post match the beatdown is on until Storm makes the save with a chair. Most of the rest of the teams come in for a brawl, with Mercedes Mone stopping short. Kris Statlander comes out to jump her from behind and the heroes stand tall.

Trios Titles: Opps vs. Hangman Page/Eddie Kingston/Hook

The Opps are defending. Joe does the really played out “yeah I’ll start but I’m tagging out before I make contact” deal and hands it off to Shibata. A quick slugout goes to Page and it’s Hook coming in for a suplex. Hobbs comes in for some backbreakers but Hook manages a nice overhead suplex to get a breather.

We take a break and come back with Joe putting Kingston in a nerve hold. That’s broken up and Page comes back in to clean house, including posting Hobbs on the floor. The top rope moonsault press gives Page two and it’s back to Kingston, which brings in the banged up Hook. Hobbs drops Page onto the apron and decks Kingston into a German suplex from Shibata. Page is taken up to the stage for a World’s Strongest Slam through the table, leaving Joe rather pleased. The injured Hook tries to make the save with Redrum, only to get reversed into the torture rack to give Hobbs the submission at 12:03.

Rating: B-. Hook being there to take the fall was fine, as this was about Hobbs and Page having a nice angle before Page defends against Joe at Full Gear. That’s the kind of thing that the Trios Titles can do rather well, as it gives them another reason for them to fight. Now just make the Joe vs. Page rematch a bit more interesting and they’ll be in business.

With about three seconds left in the show, Hobbs vs. Page, falls count anywhere, is announced for next week.

Overall Rating: B-. The majority of this show was built around setting up Blood & Guts and that’s not a bad thing. The show is going to be one heck of a detour on the way to Full Gear, so giving it a week mostly dedicated to preparation is a smart move. Full Gear is going to need some work in the last week after Blood & Guts, but there is a good chance those matches will build towards the pay per view. Good enough show here, with the really important ones coming.

Results
Claudio Castagnoli b. Orange Cassidy – Swiss Death
Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron b. Athena/Mercedes Mone – That’s Her Finisher to Athena
Darby Allin b. Daniel Garcia – Scorpion Deathlock
Megan Bayne b. Mina Shirakawa – Running Liger Bomb
Opps b. Hangman Page/Eddie Kingston/Hook – Torture rack to Hook

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: October 30, 2025
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are closing in on the beginning of Final Battle season and that means it is time to start thinking about getting ready for some matches. The World Title is set to be on the line soon, albeit on this weekend’s AEW Collision, but it’s better than nothing. Other than that though, we’re closing in on the fourth calendar month of the Women’s Pure Rules Title tournament, so that’s certainly something. Let’s get to it.

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

The Swirl is annoyed at their lack of advancement despite winning all the time.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. The Gifted

Magnum and Tyshaun Perez start things off with an exchange of headlocks. An armdrag takes Perez down and it’s off to Leeroy Shogun, who hits a hard chop. Everything breaks down and Floyd takes down Shogun and Perez at the same time. Castle comes in for some suplexes and it’s the Mega Powers Elbow into the Bang A Rang to give Castle the pin at 3:35.

Rating: C. I’m liking the Castle/Outrunners team as it’s not like they have anything else going on. Take three fun people and put them together to see what they can do. There are far worse ideas and the Six Man Champions certainly need some fresh challengers so maybe this gets them somewhere.

Billie Starkz vs. Aleah James

Fallout from last week where Starkz walked out on James. Starkz gets caught in a wristlock to start and a monkey flip sends her down again. A dropkick knocks Starkz outside but she’s right back in with a faceplant. Starkz’s DDT out of the corner gets two and she forearms James down. The Swanton hits raised knees though and James kicks her in the head. A fisherman’s suplex gives James two but Starkz kicks her in the face right back. The brainbuster onto the knee gives Starkz two so she rolls James up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 6:55.

Rating: C. I’ll take a match with a short form story over nothing and this was about as good as it was going to get. Starkz doesn’t exactly have much to do with Athena teaming with Mercedes Mone in AEW so having her beat some low level stars isn’t a bad idea. James is fine as a rather perky jobber, but that’s about it at the moment.

Don Callis Family vs. Aaron Solo/QT Marshall

Callis insults the fans before the match and gets yelled at by the referee as a result. Marshall and Solo storm the ring and manage to send Archer out to the floor. We settle down to Solo armdragging Romero and handing it off to Marshall, who makes the mistake of going after Archer on the apron. Marshall is sent outside where Callis HAMMERS ON HIM, with even commentary freaking out.

Back in and Marshall manages a quick shot, allowing the tag off to Solo for some house cleaning. Archer comes in and gets kicked in the head, leaving Romero to make the save. A pop up forearm into a superkick cuts Romero down but Archer is back in with a chokeslam. Trent Beretta gets in a cheap shot from the floor and it’s a top rope double stomp to give Romero the pin at 7:25.

Rating: C+. The Family being around all the more isn’t the most encouraging thing to see, though I guess when that much of the roster is in one stable, you have to do something with them. The match was a bit better than I was expecting, though the Family needing to cheat to beat Solo and Marshall isn’t a good sign.

Post match the beating continues, with even Don Callis getting in a shot. Big Boom AJ comes in to save QT Marshall and they seem to be ready for Full Gear.

The Outrunners and Dalton Castle are happy with their win…and then they run into a big version the Jacksonville Jaguars mascot and slow down a bit.

Alex Zayne vs. Lee Moriarty

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Zayne wins or survives the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. Zayne takes him down by the leg to start and they trade waistlocks. The Border City Stretch sends Zayne over to the ropes for an early break so Moriarty knocks him down again. The slingshot splash gives Moriarty two and he cranks on both arms.

Moriarty switches into an abdominal stretch, with Zayne having to use his second rope break. Zayne has some more luck with a suplex and the flipping ax kick gets two. Moriarty kicks out of an ankle lock but Zayne is right back with the same thing. This time Moriarty rolls out so Zayne gives him a flipping faceplant for two. A running hurricanrana out of the corner is broken up though as Moriarty rolls into an STF for the win at 7:33.

Rating: C+. As usual, Moriarty gets to show off what he can do in the ring, but he’s been the champion for such a long time now and goes so long between meaningful defenses that it’s hard to care about this stuff. Zayne got to do his usual stuff, though it only got him so far here. Get Moriarty a better challenger and the title could work, though this stuff is hardly getting very far.

Respect is shown post match.

We recap the Premiere Athletes attacking the Grizzled Young Veterans and Isla Dawn.

Premiere Athletes vs. Grizzled Young Veterans/Isla Dawn

Mark Sterling is back and talks about how great it is to have him return on the same night that Stori Denali is making her Jacksonville debut. Nese pauses to pose before headlocking Gibson, who can’t roll out to start. Gibson gets away but misses some clotheslines, instead going with a double poke to the eyes. Drake comes in to take over on Daivari and it’s off to Dawn, who snaps off a suplex.

That means a showdown with Denali, who gets kneed in the corner. A single shot to the face cuts Dawn off so Nese comes back in, only to have his fingers bitten. It’s back to Drake to chase Gibson outside, where Denali gets in Drake’s way. Back in and a quick Flying Carpet splash hits Drake for two and the villains take over.

A belly to back suplex allows the tag off to Gibson to pick up the pace, including stomping the Athletes down in the corner. Nese gets sent to the floor and Daivari gets suplexed. Back in and Nese breaks up a Doomsday Device but gets sent outside for a dive. Denali comes in to knock Drake off the top so Dawn kicks away at her leg. That’s shrugged off and Denali grabs a chokeslam for the win at 8:48.

Rating: C+. This is a nice story they have going on here and it feels like a feud is coming together. Denali continues to look like a monster and someone who could smash through a lot of women on the way to a title match. Then again, neither of the two main Women’s Titles have been defended in more than two months around here so that isn’t likely happening anytime soon.

Swirl vs. Komander/Mascara Dorada

Christian flips Dorada off to start so Dorada flips around a bit. A wristdrag out of the corner drops Christian, who rolls Dorada into the corner for the tag off to Johnson. That means a rather hard clothesline for two on Dorada, who sends the Swirl into each other. Komander comes in but gets sent to the apron, where a superkick puts him on the floor.

Johnson hits a big running flip dive and the villains drape them over the barricade. Christian adds a dive onto their backs before going after Komander’s eye back inside. Komander fights out of trouble and brings in Dorada to make the comeback on Johnson. Everything breaks down and the luchadors snap off running hurricanranas to the floor. Stereo flip dives drop the Swirl again and Dorada small packages Johnson for two back inside.

Back in and a handspring kick to the face/brainbuster combination drops Dorada for two more. A diving tag brings Komander back in as everything breaks down again. Christian’s Lethal Injection gets two on Komander with Dorada making the save. Some kicks to the head into a poisonrana puts Johnson down and the shooting star press gives Dorada the pin at 11:39.

Rating: B. This didn’t have much in the way of a story but the action was rather good, as Dorada and Komander tend to be. At the same time, the Swirl takes another step back after seemingly getting ready to come after the Tag Team Titles a few weeks ago. I’ll take Dorada though, as he’s someone who puts in a good performance every time he’s out there.

Overall Rating: B-. You know what made this show a lot easier to watch? The stories, as minor as they were, to some of the matches. You had James wanting revenge on Starkz, the Veterans/Dawn wanting to get back at the Athletes and the Swirl not liking Komander and Dorada for getting so much attention. It felt like this week was building off of something else and it made the show that much more interesting. Nice show here, even if pretty much none of this involved any important stories around here.

Results
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. The Gifted – Bang A Rang to Perez
Billie Starkz b. Aleah James – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Don Callis Family b. Aaron Solo/QT Marshall – Top rope double stomp to Marshall
Lee Moriarty b. Alex Zayne – STF
Premiere Athletes b. Grizzled Young Veterans/Isla Dawn – Chokeslam to Dawn
Komander/Mascara Dorada b. Swirl – Shooting star press to Johnson

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

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Dynamite
Date: October 29, 2025
Location: Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg, Texas
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur

We continue the road to Full Gear and it seems that some of that will be similar to the build towards WrestleDream. There is a good chance that will include Samoa Joe coming after the World Title again and that might be set up tonight in a four way for the #1 contendership. Hopefully the pay per view can be spiced up soon so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

It’s Fright Night so we have a big castle theme with some pumpkins and bats.

Orange Cassidy/Darby Allin vs. Death Riders

Tornado Tag, which AEW certainly loves. Allin whips Cassidy into Yuta and Garcia to start fast and stereo backdrops put them down again. They head outside with Allin chairing Yuta in the back and then flip diving through him for a bonus. The fight goes into the crowd, where Allin is right there to dive onto the Riders and save Cassidy. They go back to ringside with Allin dropkicking Garcia from the apron as we take a break.

We come back with Yuta kicking Allin into the corner, leaving the Riders to set up a table. Cassidy tornado DDTs Yuta but gets guillotine choked by Garcia. Yuta puts Cassidy through the table so Allin grabs the skateboard, which he offers to Garcia for a free shot. Instead it’s a Code Red for two on Garcia but Yuta breaks up the Coffin Drop. Cassidy’s top rope DDT plants Yuta though and the Coffin Drop gets two, with Garcia making the save. Cassidy Orange Punches Garcia to the floor for a suicide dive through a table, allowing Allin to Scorpion Deathlock Yuta for the win at 11:27.

Rating: B-. This was a rather AEW match, with violence and everyone running around in a match that doesn’t exactly have much staying power. The good guys beating the Death Riders is a good way to go, though I have no idea why Allin is still dealing with the team. The I Quit match should have wrapped it up, though it seems we’ll be seeing at least one more match.

Hook is ready to be the underdog in the #1 contenders match, but he’s also wanting to make sure Samoa Joe doesn’t get another title shot.

Don Callis is ready for tonight’s Family summit but calls the Young Bucks over. Callis pitches the Bucks joining the Family and has a special entrance set up for them. The Bucks head to the ring, passing a cow, a man in black and the Staypuft Marshmallow Man.

Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express vs. Jet Speed vs. FTR

For the Tag Team Title shot at Full Gear and Callis does the Bucks’ entrance, complete with pyro scaring them. Harwood backs Bailey up against the ropes to start and slugs away, only for Bailey to kick him in the chest. Bailey and Perry trade some flips and it’s Jet Speed double teaming Luchasaurus down. The good guys have a staredown until the other teams jump them from behind but Luchasaurus fights out of trouble.

Knight comes in and gets beaten down, only to come back and bring Perry in to clean house. Wheeler kicks Matt out to the floor and Harwood superplexes Knight onto the pile at ringside. Knight comes up holding his knee and we take a break. We come back with Perry fighting out of trouble, allowing Luchasaurus to come back in and wreck things. Some chokeslams have the Bucks down and Luchasaurus’ standing moonsault gets two.

Knight is back in with a running DDT to cut Luchasaurus off and then dropkicks Perry onto the pile at ringside. Bailey moonsaults onto them as well as Knight hits a springboard splash for two on Luchasaurus. The Bucks get back in to superkick the Express and Bailey. FTR get superkicked and the Shatter Machine hits Yuta. The BTE Trigger gets two on Knight but Luchasaurus is back up to clean house again. Bailey moonsaults onto Wheeler and Luchasaurus but a quick Shatter Machine finishes Knight at 13:42.

Rating: B+. It was a bunch of wild insanity for the better part of fifteen minutes and that worked rather well. FTR is one of the only teams who can be plugged into the title picture at anytime and Bandido/Brody King beating them would be a big step forward. If nothing else, it’s not the Bucks or Bailey so I’ll call this a positive.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe.

Here is the Don Callis Family for their summit. First up, we have four very important questions. Rocky Romero asks the first question: who is the Don Callis Family? They are the most dominant faction in all of wrestling, including the missing Konosuke Takeshita. Romero unveils a painting of the Family with a very muscular Callis in the center. Josh Alexander asks the second question: what is the Don Callis Family? We take care of that with a video package on the Family.

The third question is asked by Kyle Fletcher, who asks why the Don Callis Family. He reads a pledge they all signed before joining the Family (basically saying it’s all about the team) but here is Takeshita to interrupt. Callis tells Takeshita that this is a family of Alphas, as Takeshita and Okada go face to face.

There is no I in team, but there is one in Family, so Callis needs Takeshita to put his issues with Okada aside. Callis refers to the IWGP Title as “theirs” and demands that they shake hands. Takeshita eventually extends his hand but Okada flips him off. Callis says they have work to do so they’ll team up on Collision to prove what they can do.

Video on Olympia, who is going to challenge Mercedes Mone for the CMLL Women’s Title.

Kris Statlander is willing to meet Mercedes Mone face to face tonight if Mone has anything to say to her.

Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Moxley goes after him to start fast and has to escape an armbar attempt. Back up and Moxley flips him off and they trade some forearms. A backdrop sends O’Reilly out to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Moxley getting two off a piledriver, followed by a crossface. That’s broken up and O’Reilly hammers away, setting up an ankle lock. A running knee to the back of the head gets two and the triangle choke has Moxley in more trouble.

With that broken up, Moxley hits a rebound lariat but the Death Rider is countered into the ankle lock. Moxley is sent outside and taken out with a dive, followed by a dragon screw legwhip into the barricade. A Death Rider attempt onto a chair is countered into a guillotine…and they’re both counted out at 11:49.

Rating: B-. Another hard hitting match here, though I was only so interested in seeing them fight again after last week. Moxley being around and active so soon after WrestleDream doesn’t make the pay per view match feel very important. If Moxley giving up is such a big deal, maybe have him seem a bit more upset by it?

Post match O’Reilly takes issue with the referee, who is decked by Marina Shafir. Claudio Castagnoli runs in to take O’Reilly out but Roderick Strong runs in for the attempted save. The Death Riders run in to take Strong out but the rest of the Conglomeration and Darby Allin makes the save. Mark Briscoe says the Riders like to run off, so Cassidy has an idea: Blood & Guts. So are we doing two of them or is the women’s version just not happening?

Kris Statlander and Mercedes Mone brawl in the back and come into the arena. Mone sends her into the ring and Athena is in with the O Face. Cue Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale to make the save.

Bandido is ready to face Mascara Dorada on Collision and recently even brought his grandmother to see him wrestle live for the first time.

Penelope Ford is apparently injured and out of the Women’s Tag Team Title tournament and Blood & Guts. So there’s your answer about the women’s edition.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Sisters Of Sin vs. Jamie Hayter/Queen Aminata

Aminata and Hayter double team Hart down, leaving Aminata to give Blue the hips to the face. Some snap suplexes drop Blue for two so Hart comes in, with a double suplex taking the Sisters down. Back up and a double flapjack drops Hayter and we take a break. We come back with Hayter suplexing her way out of trouble so Aminata can come back in to clean house.

Hayter is right back in with a missile dropkick and everything breaks down. The Sisters are dropped with stereo German suplexes but they pop up with superkicks. A four way clothesline leaves everyone down and Hayter rolls to the floor. Cue Thekla to spear her down, leaving the Sisters to hit an assisted swinging Rock Bottom to finish Aminata at 10:01.

Rating: C+. Well, it’s nice to have the tournament start and the result helps set up Blood & Guts. That’s what they need to do and the story is already starting to come together, but Thekla vs. Hayter as the main feud is only getting me so far. For now though, I’ll take a start to the tournament, which will have more long term impact.

Penelope Ford confirms that she has injured her arm and promises pain in the future. Megan Bayne has a new partner: Marina Shafir. Jon Moxley approves.

Hook vs. Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Ricochet

For the World Title shot at Full Gear. Ricochet and Lashley go to the floor to start but Ricochet is back in to dropkick Lashley off the apron. Back up and Lashley takes turns with Hook as they suplex Ricochet. For reasons of general stupidity, Hook slugs away at Lashley, earning himself a spinebuster onto the apron. Joe is back up with the suicide elbow to Ricochet and Lashley as we take a break.

We come back with Joe wrecking various people, including Hook with the snap powerslam for two. Back up and Ricochet tries a dive on Joe, who casually walks away. That gives us the big Lashley vs. Joe brawl, with Lashley hitting a spinebuster. Ricochet is planted with a Dominator but Joe clotheslines Lashley.

Hook is back up to suplex Joe and Ricochet hits a running flip dive to hit Lashley on the floor. The shooting star press gets two on Hook but the Spirit Gun is countered into Redrum. Joe breaks that up but Lashley breaks up the MuscleBuster with a spear. Ricochet makes a save of his own and chairs Lashley, who chases him up the aisle. That lets Joe Koquina Clutch Hook for the win at 11:52.

Rating: B. There were some rather good saves in there and I had a fun time with the match, even if there was only so much doubt about the winner. Save for maybe Lashley, there was no reason to believe that anyone but Joe was going to win. It’s a good main event and Hook being the perfect choice to take the fall.

Post match the Opps are in the ring because it’s time for the contract signing. Cue the Dynamite crew, meaning the people in costumes from earlier, now with the Marshmallow Man, a cow, a chicken, and some meat. Hobbs and Shibata clear out the non-Marshmallow Man, who is unveiled as….a guy. Joe knocks him down and signs the contract before promising to win the title. Tony Schiavone offers them beers for a toast but Schiavone…is Hangman Page in a mask to jump Joe. Referees break it up to end the show as I try to figure out how Page set that whole thing up and if he would have done it if Joe hadn’t won.

Overall Rating: B. It was a fun night of wrestling and they did set some things up, but the last few weeks haven’t exactly made me think much of WrestleDream. Moxley is right back to what he’s been doing and is ready for Blood & Guts while Page and Joe are right where they were coming into their previous match. Hopefully they make it into a better and bigger game changer of a show, as AEW needs something fresh soon. For now though, the wrestling carries things again, as it tends to do around here.

Results
Darby Allin/Orange Cassidy b. Death Riders – Scorpion Deathlock to Yuta
FTR b. Young Bucks, Jurassic Express and Jet Speed – Shatter Machine to Knight
Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jon Moxley went to a double countout
Sisters Of Sin b. Jamie Hayter/Queen Aminata – Assisted swinging Rock Bottom to Aminata
Samoa Joe b. Hook, Bobby Lashley and Ricochet – Koquina Clutch to Hook

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

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WrestleDream 2025
Date: October 18, 2025
Location: Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, Missouri
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back with the annual Antonio Inoki tribute show because…well it was the best theme they could think of at the time. The big draw here is an I Quit match between Jon Moxley and Darby Allin, which should be more about who will attempt to maim the other one (or themselves) worse. Samoa Joe is also challenging Hangman Page for the World Title so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Death Riders vs. Conglomeration/Roderick Strong

Strong knocks Garcia down to start and it’s off to O’Reilly to strike away. Cassidy adds his basement dropkick but Yuta slams him down to cut things off. We take a break and come back with Ishii and Castagnoli trading forearms until Ishii is knocked into the corner. The Riders take turns beating on him until a double clothesline drops Garcia and Yuta.

The tag brings in Cassidy to clean house but Castagnoli is back in with a Swing. That’s reversed into a choke and the other Riders all get caught in abdominal stretches. Those are all broken up and we take a second break. We come back again with Cassidy not being able to sunset flip Castagnoli.

Instead he gets over for the tag off to Strong and everything breaks down. Ishii rolls some German suplexes but Castagnoli blocks one to him. Pac is back up with a German suplex to Ishii but Cassidy grabs a tornado DDT. Ishii lariats Pac, only for a chop block to cut him down. The running knee gives Pac the pin at 15:46.

Rating: B-. Well that was long. If there is one way to get the fans into a show, it’s a heavy dose of Garcia and Yuta, as the two of them can bring down just about anyone if given a chance. The Riders needed the momentum after some less than successful outings and it’s not like Ishii is going to be hurt by taking a fall. This makes the most sense, but dang that’s a long opener of a Kickoff show.

Kickoff Show: Hook/Eddie Kingston vs. Frat House

The Frat House is answering an open challenge and we immediately go to a split screen interview with La Faccion Ingobernable at the bell. We go back to full screen with Hook throwing Garrison down but a cheap shot drops Kingston. Karter comes in with a dropkick but Kingston manages a middle rope shoulder. It’s back to Hook to clean house until Garrison breaks up a suplex attempt. Everything breaks down and Kingston hits the spinning backfist. The Redrum finishes Karter at 3:22.

Rating: C. That’s what this needed to be as there was no reason to do anything but have Kingston and Hook win a squash. Kingston and Hook aren’t likely to be a big deal in the tag division as it feels like the latest attempt to get Hook over by attaching him to someone popular. It hasn’t really worked yet, but at least they kept it short here.

The Costco Guys are going to face the Don Callis Family at Full Gear when Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta interrupt. AJ is beaten down.

Kickoff Show: Penelope Ford/Megan Bayne vs. Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron

Nightingale knocks Ford into the corner and fires off the clotheslines to start. Cameron comes in for a basement dropkick but she’s smart enough to hand it back to Nightingale to face Bayne. Nightingale clotheslines both villains down at once and drops Cameron down onto Ford. That doesn’t last long as Ford is up with a moonsault to the floor onto both of them and we take a break.

We come back with Cameron managing a spinning DDT to drop Bayne, allowing the tag off to Nightingale. The Babe With The Powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana and Bayne tosses Ford into Nightingale for a Stunner. Everything breaks down and a series of knockdowns leaves them all on the mat.

Nightingale clotheslines Bayne, who is right back with a middle rope double clothesline. Cameron rolls out of a Doomsday Device but Ford hits a fireman’s carry….we’ll say gutbuster to drop Cameron for two. Cameron’s pumphandle suplex drops Ford though and the Babe With The Powerbomb gives Nightingale the pin at 12:13.

Rating: B-. They were working hard here and I like Nightingale getting a win. In theory these people might be a part of the upcoming Blood & Guts match, though Bayne still needs to be moving on to the next level already. Unfortunately there is a good chance that she and Ford will be going after the Women’s Tag Team Titles, which doesn’t exactly feel like what is best for Bayne. For now though, I’ll take Nightingale getting a pin.

Kickoff Show: FTR vs. Jet Speed

So the bell rings with 4:20 to go before the pay per view starts so yes, this show (one of two Kickoff Shows) is going to have an overrun. Knight gets taken into the wrong corner to tart but he jumps over them and brings in Bailey to clean house. FTR is sent outside and taken down again with some stereo dives. Knight dives off the barricade to take Harwood down but a running DDT is blocked back inside.

They all crash to the floor…and the Kickoff Show ends, meaning we’ll pick it up on the main show. We get some pyro while the match is going on and Harwood piledrives Bailey for two. Knight’s DDT gets the same and he rams Wheeler into Stokely Hathaway. Wheeler sends Bailey into the apron and the Sharpshooter goes on, with Knight having to make the rope.

The PowerPlex is broken up but the Shatter Machine connects, only for Bailey to shooting star knee in for the save. Bailey kicks away at Harwood and another PowerPlex attempt is blocked with raised knees. Bailey’s suplex is broken up with a trip from Hathaway, who holds the leg so Harwood can get the pin at 12:19.

Rating: B. The match was fine, though the break between shows in the middle didn’t so much make me think it was interesting as much as “good grief this is already feeling really long”. Aside from that, at least FTR won their first big match after the big attack on Beth Copeland, which feels like it has already been forgotten for the time being. At least Jet Speed didn’t win either, which is always a nice perk.

We recap Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla. Hayter returned and was attacked by Thekla, leading to a long running feud. It seems to have set up Blood & Guts next month, with this as a stopping point.

Lou Thesz’s widow is here.

Thekla vs. Jamie Hayter

Everyone is banned from ringside. Hayter kicks her in the face to start and hammers away on the mat before pulling Thekla back up. Thekla needs a breather on the floor, so Hayter follows her out for some rams into various things. Some chops connect in front of Thesz’s widow (a rather sweet woman named Charlie) but Thekla is back up with a big dive off the top to the floor. Hayter’s back seems to have been banged up on the crash, which tends to be a recurring theme for her.

Back in and Thekla slows things down, including the triangle choke over the ropes. Hayter gets in a forearm to cut her off though and snaps off a suplex for a needed breather. A running clothesline looks to set up a brainbuster but Thekla knees her in the head for the escape. Thekla catches her on top, only to get dropped with a headbutt. Some kicks to the head set up a fireman’s carry backbreaker to put Thekla down again.

They forearm it out from their knees until Thekla is back up with a Black Widow. Well that makes sense. Hayter reverses with a backbreaker but Thekla pulls her into something like a Black Widow on the mat. That’s broken up as well and the rather small Thekla hits a spear. Hayter shrugs that off and hits a clothesline, followed by Hayterade for the pin at 15:25.

Rating: B-. This was rather long and didn’t really feel like anything but a Collision main event. It’s ok enough for the start of a show (or at least the first match that aired in full) and should help build towards Blood & Guts. In theory it would be better for Thekla to win as she’s not quite as big of a deal as Hayter, but they both needed to win here given their current situations.

Post match Queen Aminata comes out to celebrate with Hayter.

We recap the Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express. The Express returned last month and the Bucks attacked them. As a bonus, the Bucks are broke and this is for $500,000.

Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express

For $500,000 (which is just sitting in a bag on the announcers’ table). We get a graphic showing that the Bucks have about $32 and a repeating electronic voice saying “INSUFFICIENT FUNDS, TRANSACTION DENIED”. Perry and Matt start things off with an exchange of shoves until Matt hammers him down. That’s cut off and Perry goes after the arm before handing it off to Luchasaurus.

Nick comes in and gets powerbombed onto Matt so the Bucks head outside, where Luchasaurus moonsaults onto both of them. Perry dives onto them as well and gives a rather Adam Cole looking smile. Matt is able to come back with a Sliced Bread on the floor, leaving Nick to check on the money. Back in and a backbreaker/slingshot legdrop combination has Perry in more trouble.

Matt knees Luchasaurus off the apron and drops Perry again, allowing the Bucks to do their double biceps pose. Perry is hung on the top rope for a double stomp to the back…which makes him bounce off for a hurricanrana to Matt. That’s either terribly stupid, totally awesome or both. Either way it allows the tag off to Luchasaurus who has to flip away from the double superkicks. Matt gets chokeslammed onto Nick and a reverse powerbomb/cutter combination gets two.

It’s back to Perry, who gets draped over the top rope, with the double stomp into the sitout powerbomb working this time. Perry gets kicked in the head and winds up on Matt’s (on the floor) shoulders. Nick winds up on Luchasaurus’ shoulders and it’s time for an electric chair slugout. That doesn’t last long until Perry has to escape the TK Driver. A powerbomb onto the apron sets up a spike piledriver/double stomp combination (ala the Lucha Bros), followed by the BTE Trigger for two, with Luchasaurus making the save.

Back up and a chokeslam into a standing moonsault gives Luchasaurus two and a Doomsday Device gets the same. A TK Driver gets two on Matt with Nick making the save this time. The Bucks fire off the superkicks and the BTE Trigger gets two on Perry. Luchasaurus is back in as Perry grabs a poisonrana, followed by the Extinction for the pin on Matt at 23:08.

Rating: B. Good match here as you might have expected given the talent involved, though the Broke Bucks thing has lost a lot of its charm. It feels like something we’ve done to death at this point and thankfully we don’t have to watch them lose it again. At the same time, the Express is getting a bit of momentum after their return, which could turn into something good if it continues.

Post match Perry teases making amends with the Bucks but the Don Callis Family runs in to beat him down. The Bucks leave so cue Kenny Omega to glare at the Bucks and then run in for the save. Omega gets a red scarf and does a quick Antonio Inoki tribute because that’s still a theme on this show.

We recap the Hurt Syndicate vs. the Demand. They’ve been fighting for a few weeks and traded wins so it’s time for a tornado tag to blow it off.

Hurt Syndicate vs. The Demand

Tornado Trios match and the winners get a future Trios Titles match. The brawl starts in the aisle with the Demand taking over and sending MVP into the barricade. A running Spirit Gun cuts Lashley down and he gets sent into the steps. Back in and Benjamin takes over on the Gates until Ricochet makes a save. Ricochet’s suicide dive and Liona’s Pounce drop Lashley and he’s laid on a table.

Benjamin is Open The Gates’d through him and the table, leaving MVP mostly surrounded. Ricochet knocks him down and some running shots in the corner set up running boot/Russian legsweep combination for two. MVP manages to send them outside though and Lashley is back up with some running clotheslines. The Dominator gets two on Ricochet but a superplex is turned into a double powerbomb for a slightly modified Tower Of Doom.

Benjamin suplexes Ricochet over the top onto the pile at ringside and then busts out a great looking running flip dive (being able to do that at any age, let alone 50, is nuts). MVP is back in with Ballin to Ricochet but Liona makes the save. Benjamin gives Liona an enziguri and Lashley spears him to the floor. That leaves Ricochet alone against the entire Syndicate (nice mirroring from earlier) but Kaun pulls him outside to take his place. The spear gives Lashley the pin at 13:27.

Rating: B. These guys work well together, though the Syndicate moving forward is the right move. They feel like bigger stars and while I don’t care to see them go after the Trios Titles, I’ll take it over the Demand winning. Just let this be it for the feud, which it certainly seems to be.

We recap Kyle Fletcher defending the TNT Title against Mark Briscoe. They’ve done this four times now and this is round five.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe is challenging and takes him down by the arm to start, which is broken up rather quickly. Fletcher gets up and strikes a double bicep but Briscoe knocks him outside. Back in and they stare each other down as commentary bickers over Briscoe’s IQ. Briscoe knocks him outside and chops away, setting up the Bang Bang Elbow. A superkick knocks Fletcher back to the floor, where Briscoe sits him in a chair.

The big running flip dive sends Fletcher through the chair but he’s able to get back up and superkick Briscoe down. Fletcher powerbombs him onto the steps and stomps away in the corner, followed by a Michinoku Driver for two. Back up and they trade forearms, big boots, and then clotheslines to put them both down again. Briscoe fights up but can’t get a Death Valley Driver or a Jay Driller.

Fletcher’s sitout powerbomb gets two, with Briscoe’s belt being broken on the impact. They go to the corner where Fletcher slips out of a super Razor’s Edge and grabs a top rope superplex for the big crash instead. They head out to the apron again where Briscoe hits a Jay Driller, leaving them both down on the floor. Back in and Fletcher can’t hit another superplex, instead being laid on the top rope for a Froggy Bow (that’s a new one).

Another Froggy Bow to the floor connects with a standing Fletcher, followed by a regular version for two back inside. Briscoe Jay Drillers him down but Fletcher reaches over and gets a single finger on the rope. The Cutthroat Driver is broken up but Fletcher slips out and nearly crushes the referee. A low blow and brainbuster get two, followed by a lawn dart into the corner. The brainbuster onto the turnbuckle retains the title at 24:47.

Rating: B+. This was a heck of a match with the two of them beating the fire out of each other. Fletcher getting a win helps make up for last month’s loss and it was cool to see him come out fighting after surviving a bunch of things from Briscoe. I liked this a good deal and Fletcher’s rather impressive rise continues.

Post match the Conglomeration comes out to help Briscoe up.

We recap Toni Storm challenging Kris Statlander for the Women’s Title. Statlander won the title last month by pinning Storm in a four way. Storm needs to know if she can win one on one and now it’s the big showdown. Logical storytelling there.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Kris Statlander

Statlander is defending and Storm gets a weird entrance, talking about how she is ready to meet her murderer but death isn’t ready for her. Statlander gets a singing entrance, which sounded like either Storm or Harley Cameron. They go with the grappling to start and Storm grabs a headlock takeover. Statlander’s headlock is broken up with a headscissors but she slaps it right back on.

Storm is able to send her to the apron for a hip attack but the tornado DDT to the floor is broken up. Instead Statlander kicks her to the floor for a quick moonsault, followed by a slingshot hilo for two back inside. A bodyscissors stays on Storm’s ribs and a hard lariat drops Storm for another near fall. Storm is back up with a shot of her own, setting up a tiger driver.

Statlander shrugs that off and electric chairs her into something like a Black Widow on the mat. Storm’s leg makes the rope and her choke sends Statlander over to the ropes as well. Something like a Blue Thunder Bomb puts Storm back down and a 450 gives Statlander a rather near fall. Storm shrugs off a German suplex but walks into Staturday Night Fever. A headscissor choke with the arm trapped has Storm in more trouble until another Staturday Night Fever retains the title at 16:35.

Rating: B-. This was a hard enough hitting match but it never hit that next level. I like the idea of Statlander winning and it’s the right call, though having her try for the submission and then let it go, seemingly in frustration, wasn’t the best look. It was a good enough match with the right result though and that’s what matters the most.

Post match Mercedes Mone comes to the ring for the big staredown. She brings up her open challenge for a title vs. title match and it’s on.

TBS Title/ROH Interim Women’s TV Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Mina Shirakawa

Title for title. Shirakawa kicks at the knee to send Mone outside, meaning it’s time for some quick dancing. Back in and the Statement Maker is broken up but a second attempt works a bit better for Mone. That’s broken up so Mone goes with a Backstabber into a gutbuster for two. Mone knees her out of the corner for two and Three Amigos connect. Shirakawa breaks up a Figure Four attempt and gets Meteoraed right back down.

Back up and they trade forearms until Mone twists the knee around. The knee is bent over the rope and Shirakawa hits a top rope Sling Blade for two. The Glamorous Driver and Mone Maker are both blocked so Shirakawa grabs a Glamorous Driver for another near fall. Now the Figure Four can put Mone in trouble but she gets to the ropes rather quickly. Naturally that means a running Meteora, followed by a middle rope version AND a running version in the corner.

The third one misses so Shirakawa hits a discus forearm and a big kick to the head. Another Figure Four is escaped so Mone pokes her in the eye and gets two off a rollup. The Statement Maker goes on until Shirakawa reverses into a rollup for two. The Mone Maker connects with Shirakawa getting a hand on the rope to save herself. Mone is rammed into the buckle a few times but reverses into a rollup and puts a foot on the rope to retain at 16:12.

Rating: B-. Well at least Mone won. It’s been so long since she won anything that the only solution was to give her another win. They’re trying to promote the idea that she has all of the titles and…yeah I’m still not caring, as ROH means nothing in the first place so the Interim (again: stupid concept that needs to go FAR away) midcard title doesn’t exactly mean much. Throw in Mone not selling the knee and it was a bit annoying to watch. If Mone won’t sell the knee, why should Shirakawa even bother?

Post match Kris Statlander comes out to scare Mone off.

We recap the Tag Team Title match. Bandido and Brody King are the new champions who have been an instant success, while Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita are having trouble getting along.

Tag Team Titles: Bandido/Brody King vs. Don Callis Family

The Family is challenging. Bandido and Okada lock up to start and we actually get a clean break. Okada gets backed up against the ropes for a standoff but manages to take Bandido down for an elbow. Takeshita comes in for the exchange of forearms and it’s off to King, who gets knocked into the wrong corner. Okada’s neckbreaker drops King again and Okada knocks Bandido off the apron in a smart move.

King gets fired up and fights back, allowing Bandido to come back in with a spinning high crossbody. Bandido’s big moonsault to the floor takes the Family down, followed by King dropping Bandido onto Takeshita back inside. We pause for the Macarena, with Okada breaking it up in a hurry (as he should have). That leaves Okada to do a middle finger Macarena before going after Bandido’s banged up shoulder. Takeshita sends the arm into the buckle, followed by a posting from Okada.

King gets knocked outside and sent into the barricade, leaving Okada to drop a top rope elbow. The Family bickers though and Bandido chops away, allowing the much needed tag off to King. That means the Family gets stacked up in the corner for a double Cannonball but Okada is back with an Air Raid Crash onto the knee. Bandido’s Code Red gets two on Takeshita and they trade some big strikes to the face. Takeshita counters the 21 Plex though and Okada dropkicks Bandido into the corner.

King Cannonballs Okada again and Takeshita gets planted for a shooting star press from Bandido for two in a great sequence. Back up and Takeshita shrugs off Bandido’s chops and knocks him down hard. The running knee is loaded up but Okada tags himself in, much to Takeshita’s annoyance. The confusion lets Bandido get over for the tag to Bandido and Takeshita is sent outside. Running shots in the corner set up a fire thunder driver for two on Okada.

Takeshita slips out of a Doomsday Device attempt and manages to wheelbarrow suplex King. The 21 Plex is blocked though…leaving King to German suplex all three of them at once. Everyone is down so King is sent outside, leaving Bandido to kick at both of them. Okada Rainmakers Takeshita by mistake…and doesn’t seem to mind. Naturally Bandido can X Knee Okada with one arm but the arm gives out on the 21 Plex. King is back up with a suicide dive to Takeshita though and now the 21 Plex can hit Okada to retain the titles at 27:30.

Rating: A-. This turned into a heck of a match at the end, which is a great thing to see. Bandido is doing some incredible work at the moment and King compliments him very well. This was a nice mixture of multiple stories at the same time, with Takeshita and Okada’s issues possibly near the top. Awesome match here, as tends to be the case with Bandido and King.

Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa say they’ve lost everything but still have each other. Sounds like the Tag Team Titles are up next.

We recap Samoa Joe challenging Hangman Page for the World Title. Page accidentally disrespected Joe (even Page said he was confused by what happened) and it’s time to fight.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe

Page is defending and after the Big Match Intros, we’re ready to go. Joe backs him into the corner for a cocky clean break to start before grabbing a headlock. That’s broken up so Joe knocks him hard to the floor for a breather. Back in and Page’s kick to the face is shrugged off, allowing Joe to run him over with an elbow. Page fights out again and tries the moonsault, which is broken up rather quickly.

Instead Joe is low bridged to the floor, where he avoids the moonsault again. Page dropkicks him against the barricade and they head back inside, where Joe plants him with the Rock Bottom out of the corner. The double arm crank keeps Page in trouble and the backsplash gives Joe two. Page charges into a powerslam for two but the jabs to the face just wake him up. An enziguri staggers Joe and they trade kicks to the head.

A running boot sends Joe outside so he slides back in, where Page almost entirely misses a moonsault. It gets two anyway but Joe powerbombs him into the STF. That’s switched into the crossface, which is switched into something like the Rings of Saturn. Page gets out and powerbombs him out of the corner for two more. The Deadeye is broken up and Joe shouts COME ON MOTHERF*****, which is exactly what Page does. The comeback is cut off with a Koquina Clutch, with Page getting a foot onto the rope. Joe can’t get the MuscleBuster and walks into a Deadeye for two. Three straight Buckshot Lariats retain the title at 19:02.

Rating: B. This still didn’t feel like a big time title match but it had some good moments. The good thing about these two is they can have a hard hitting fight and make it work. That’s what they managed to make happen here, with Joe always being able to bring it and Page more than holding up his end. I wasn’t buying the threat of a title change, but that’s ok in a match like this.

Post match the Opps come out to check on Joe and respect is shown…and then the Opps beat Page down. The MuscleBuster onto the belt knocks Page silly. I’m glad to see Joe as a heel again, but it might be better had he not just gotten pinned clean.

Mercedes Mone yells about Kris Statlander ruining her big night and wants the Women’s Title at Full Gear.

We recap Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin. They hate each other, they’ve hated each other for a long time, and they hate each other enough to have an I Quit match. And something about climbing Mt. Everest.

Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley

I Quit and Marina Shafir is here with Moxley. Allin whips out the flag from the top of Mt. Everest and they’re already on the floor. That doesn’t last long as Moxley comes back in and snaps off a shotgun dropkick. Moxley starts hammering away and sends him ear first into the rope. Allin is sent into the steps and the barricade before Moxley stretches the arm across the steps. Shafir brings in some skewers, which are jammed under Allin’s fingernails.

After making sure that his nail is still there, Allin wins a slugout and grabs a Code Red for a needed breather. Allin gets simple by choking with the flag before just hamming on the apron. The Coffin Drop only hits apron though and Moxley stomps on his head. Some whipping with a belt sets up a piledriver and Moxley yells at him a lot. Allin invites him to whip with the belt and is immediately knocked down again.

Somehow Allin gets over to the corner and whips out some lighter fluid to spray in Moxley’s eyes. More Death Riders run in but get chased off, allowing Moxley to hit a cutter. Moxley wipes the fluid off and shocks him with a taser (of course). A Stomp sets up a bulldog choke but Allin flips him off instead of quitting. Castagnoli gorilla presses Allin from the ring onto the announcers’ table and Moxley adds a Death Rider through a regular table at ringside. The fans declare this murder and it’s time for…an aquarium?

The Death Riders put water into said aquarium so Moxley can attempt to drown him. Rather than murder Allin, Moxley lets him out and yells a lot…as the lights go out. STING is here (with white hair and a big white/black beard) to clear out the Death Riders (and smash the aquarium). Sting throws Allin the bat and leaves, kidnapping Shafir in the process. Moxley tells Allin to hit him with the bat, which he does, followed by a Scorpion Death Drop with the flag. The Coffin Drop into the Scorpion Deathlock (in the water from the aquarium) makes Moxley give up at 26:05.

Rating: B. I’m not sure what to say here and that’s a good thing in this case. My biggest worry coming into the match was that it was going to be total insanity with some really stupid ending. The aquarium got close but it didn’t quite get that far. Sting not attacking Moxley was a good touch as well, as he didn’t so much help Allin beat Moxley as much as he evened the odds, which is a fine way to go. It didn’t go too far and it didn’t reach a level of insanity, so I’ll call this about as much of a success as it could be.

Allin celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. I’ll call it a good show overall, with the Tag Team and TNT Title matches being the highlights. As usual, there’s nothing bad on the show but the biggest problem is that it ran so long. I wasn’t so much interested by the end as much as I was wondering how much longer this was going to go. Other than that though, it’s hard to get overly annoyed here, as tends to be the case with the pay per views.

Results
Death Riders b. Conglomeration/Roderick Strong – Running knee to Ishii
Hook/Eddie Kingston b. Frat House – Redrum to Karter
Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron b. Penelope Ford/Megan Bayne – Babe With The Powerbomb to Ford
FTR b. Jet Speed – Rollup with Hathaway holding the leg
Jamie Hayter b. Thekla – Hayterade
Jurassic Express b. Young Bucks – Extinction to Matt
Hurt Syndicate b. The Demand – Spear to Kaun
Kyle Fletcher b. Mark Briscoe – Brainbuster onto the turnbuckle
Kris Statlander b. Toni Storm – Staturday Night Fever
Mercedes Mone b. Mina Shirakawa – Rollup with foot on the ropes
Bandido/Brody King b. Don Callis Family – 21 Plex to Okada
Hangman Page b. Samoa Joe – Buckshot Lariat
Darby Allin b. Jon Moxley – Scorpion Deathlock

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

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AEW is back on pay per view and it doesn’t seem like they’ve been away for very long. The card is not so much centered around the main event for the World Title as much as it is built around a violent grudge match. That is something that could work out well, though hopefully they aren’t still going into Sunday morning. The card is looking ok enough though so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Hook/Eddie Kingston vs. ???

It’s an open challenge, because wrestling loves those things these days. Kingston is the latest star Hook is being attached to in an effort to get him over and as usual, it’s only kind of working. I’m not sure what that is going to mean, but it almost has to be better than watching Kingston wrestle on his own. Hopefully it winds up working here, but it might depend on the opponents.

I’ll bet on Hook and Kingston winning here and it’ll likely be against the Swirl (or the MxM Collection). Either way, it’s not a match that needs to be on this show at all and is just a way to get Kingston back in the ring. As usual, AEW feels the need to get as much action as they can out there and Hook/Kingston are hardly the most interesting idea, as the whole “we’re from New York” deal doesn’t feel like it has the longest shelf life.

Kickoff Show: FTR vs. Jet Speed

Well, it’s better than no FTR. Jet Speed is the latest team that AEW is pushing every chance they can, though that shouldn’t matter when FTR is coming off what happened at All Out. FTR had the big angle with Adam and Beth Copeland and yet here they are on the Kickoff Show. That’s quite the way to go, though it’s not like they have anything else going on at the moment.

I’ll take FTR to win here as they have a bigger story going on, though you never know with what they might do around here. Hopefully sanity prevails here, as there is no reason to have them lose in their first pay per view match after the whole taking out Beth Copeland. The match should be good, even though it feels like it should be the main event of a Collision, which is almost what this show is so maybe it fits.

Kickoff Show: Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron vs. Divine Vanity

So here we….hang on. DIVINE VANITY? Sweet goodness can we stop with the team names that sound like discount perfume? Megan Bayne is a star and could be the next challenger for the Women’s Title, but she’s now part of a team with a horrible name. I have no idea who thinks of these names but they do it in all kinds of promotions these days and it’s really annoying.

With that out of the way, give me Bayne and Ford to win, with Bayne hopefully getting away from the tag team almost immediately. She’s been presented as a major star and a dominant force, though that’s only going to last so long if she’s stuck going after the Tag Team Titles. Odds are that’s what happens, but either way she should be on the winning side here.

Kickoff Show: Conglomeration/Roderick Strong vs. Death Riders

It feels like we’ve seen this match about a dozen times in recent weeks, but that might just be due to how frequently the Death Riders are in the ring. This is likely the big main event of the Kickoff Show and should get a bit of time, with the Death Riders being such a big deal. At the same time, it isn’t a guarantee that they’ll win, as they have only had so much success as of late.

Give me the Death Riders to win here, as it would be strange to have Pac lose again so soon after his big return. Orange Cassidy already beat him once so doing it again might be a bit of a stretch. Either way, I could certainly go for a break from the Death Riders, as the idea has been beaten into the ground for a long time now and the impact is rapidly losing its impact. Odds are they win here though, as they are always featured in some way.

Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla

This is another match in the build towards next month’s Blood & Guts, which is happening despite the story not really feeling like it’s going in that direction. Thekla vs. Hayter has definitely been a feud that has been set up for a few months now, though this definitely doesn’t feel like the big blowoff to the whole thing. Both of them need a win before they get to the big match in November, so we’ll see where we go from here.

I’ll take Hayter to win here, as she can beat Thekla and then get beaten down by the rest of the Triangle Of Madness. That allows both of them to move forward towards November, which is the whole point of this. It’s a great example of a match that could be taken off the show without much being taken away, or it should have been on the Kickoff Show at best. Either way, I’ll take Hayter to win here as she continues to get back to where she was before her injury.

Jurassic Express vs. Young Bucks

This is another match for money, because just having a match for the sake of winning a match is too passe. I’m also not sure why Tony Khan would put the Bucks, who have wasted his money for years and abused their power, in a match where they can get what they want more than anything else. Other than that, it’s the Express’ first real match since they came back so now we get to see how serious they’ll be treated.

In theory, there is no reason for the Express to lose here so I’ll take them to win. They’re freshly back and seemingly popular, plus the whole point of the Bucks is that they need to be broke. Otherwise, how could they be on TV doing their wacky comedy that they’ve been doing for weeks now? Just let the Bucks lose again, as I’ll take that over them dominating the tag division for months on end.

Hurt Syndicate vs. The Demand

Speaking of terrible names, we have the Demand getting another shot here, albeit in a Tornado Trios match. I’m glad they added the stipulation as it was looking like a regular six man tag coming into this, would would make for a terrible rematch after the street fight. They’ve done a nice job of making me wonder who wins here, and that’s made this a lot more interesting than it could have been.

I’ll actually go with the Demand to win here, mainly on a total hunch. In theory, they’ve got something to do going forward, as the Hurt Syndicate has already had a long Tag Team Title reign. Unless they’re going after the Trios Titles (please no), it might be time for them to see what they can do in some singles matches. The Demand might be interesting getting a push of their own and they can start that with a win here.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher(c) vs. Mark Briscoe

These two have been feuding for a good while now and it’s nice to see Briscoe getting this kind of a chance. They’re in their fifth match together and that should make for a bit more drama. It’s easier to believe that the title could change hands here, though I’m not sure I can buy the idea of Fletcher losing on back to back pay per views. That’s where things kind of fall apart here.

As you might guess, I’ll take Fletcher to retain the title here as it would be a not so great idea to have him lose another pay per view title match. Fletcher is likely going to become a big star in AEW sooner than later and is already one of the bigger names in the Don Callis Family. I’ll go with him winning here, as Briscoe winning another big match feels like quite the stretch.

Women’s Title: Kris Statlander(c) vs. Toni Storm

Statlander took the title from Storm last month in a four way match where she did manage to pin Storm, so at least she doesn’t feel like a paper champion. They did need to do a singles version of the title match as well though and this is it, even with Storm’s rather odd way to build towards the showdown. They could have a good match here, though I have a feeling I know where it’s going.

I’m going with Statlander to retain here due to a mixture of two things. First of all, Storm has had the title for such a long time now and it’s well past the time for someone new to get a chance. Statlander can be that someone, at least for the time being, as that brings us to the other factor. That would be Megan Bayne, who seems like she could be ready to be the first (and perhaps last) challenger to Statlander’s title reign. For that to happen, Statlander has to win here, which she will.

Tag Team Titles: Bandido/Brody King(c) vs. Don Callis Family

So here we have something of a dilemma, as there are two options in this case. You could go with Okada and Takeshita falling apart and losing the title shot as a result, leaning into their long teased feud. On the other, and far more annoying hand, there is the option of “these guys don’t get along but they’re the new Tag Team Champions!” That doesn’t interest me in the slightest, so here we go.

I’ll take the Family to win, as the idea of the two of them being partners who don’t get along but have to face off in the Continental Classic is likely too tempting for Tony Khan to pass up. Bandido and King have been a nice surprise as champions, but the idea of someone being the IWGP World Champion and an AEW champion is something that AEW would pounce on if given the chance, which is what they have here. New champions abound in an annoying booking trope.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page(c) vs. Samoa Joe

This is the latest mostly thrown together title match for Page, who really hasn’t had much to do since winning the belt. That’s quite the problem, but it’s what you get when there are about fifteen people tied up in two heel stables. Your options to come for the title are limited and that’s what we’re seeing here. Joe is a fine choice for a challenger, but it all feels like we’re treading water until we get to the real challenger.

I don’t see any reason to believe that Joe is winning here so we’ll go with the logical pick of Page retaining. Page needs to beat some big names before MJF gets back to be his major challenger and Joe meets the qualifications, though he has pretty much no chance of winning here. That was obvious from the time the match was set, but at least they’ll get to beat the daylights out of each other.

Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley

Whether it goes on last or not, this is absolutely the real main event of the show in the form of an I Quit match. The idea here is that these two will do all kinds of horrible violent things to each other and….yeah I don’t care. I’ve been utterly sick of the Death Riders and Moxley in particular for months now, and the whole deal with Allin pulling out a Molotov Cocktail the other night was the point of no return for me. It’s silly at this point and….something about climbing Mount Everest? Either way, they’re going to fight and that’s what matters here.

The thing is though, I actually think Moxley wins. They’ve been building up the idea that ALLIN WILL NOT QUIT NO MATTER WHAT for weeks now and it feels like a way to set up some big swerve where he does in fact quit. Giving Moxley another win is about as dumb of an idea as they can have, but it would not surprise me in the slightest to see them do this one more time at Full Gear. I’ll pick Moxley in a choice that already feels wrong but AEW can do some wacky things.

Overall Thoughts

As has been the case with a few of AEW’s recent shows, this does not feel like a major pay per view. The World Title match feels slapped on, the Tag Team Title match is more about the challengers’ issues with each other and Moxley vs. Allin feels like it’s going to be about doing the wackiest stunts possible. There are some interesting matches on here (Joe vs. Page should at least be entertaining and the Hurt Syndicate is always worth a look), but a 12 match card that is likely to go about five hours total (minimum) is going to make for a long, long night. As always.

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

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