Dynamite
Date: July 8, 2026
Location: BayCare Sound, Clearwater, Florida
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

It’s Beach Break and we have a couple of big matches this time around. The real main event is MJF defending the World Title against Kenny Omega in what is Omega’s last shot ever if he loses. Other than that we have a big grudge match as Tommaso Ciampa faces Chris Jericho. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Kenny Omega is looking rather serious in the back and says this is it, do or die. That’s when he does his best work and the only person with him tonight is Michael Nakazawa, who has been with him for twenty years (potential uh oh). Catchphrase.

The venue is an outdoor arena, looking something like Daily’s Place. There’s also a beach setup with sand, ala Bash At The Beach. That’s a rather cool look.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Chris Jericho

Ciampa tries a sneak attack at the entrance but Jericho sneaks up on HIM and jumps him in the sand. Jericho throws him inside and the bell rings with Ciampa’s leg cut open, possibly with sand inside to make it even worse. Ciampa is sent outside for a big dive but comes back with a quick Willow’s Bell.

They go to the apron for a Death Valley Driver, with Ciampa crashing onto the apron and out to the floor. That’s shrugged off and Ciampa hits a Fairy Tale Ending onto the steps to take over. That leaves Jericho busted open and we take an early break. We come back with Jericho hammering away in the corner but getting caught with a super Air Raid Crash.

Jericho counters an attempt at the Walls with a small package for two and now the super hurricanrana connects. Back up and Ciampa grabs a bucket full of sand but walks into a Codebreaker for two. The Lionsault misses so Ciampa knees him down for two of his own. Another knee is countered into the walls but Ciampa throws some sand into the eyes to blind Jericho. The running knee finishes Jericho at 13:45.

Rating: B. This was a good, hard hitting match with Jericho putting someone else over on his latest AEW run. It’s a case where Ciampa does feel like he got something out of this as it was mostly serious Jericho rather than his latest mostly not funny stuff. Odds are the feud continues but for now at least, both guys looked good in the process.

Post match Ciampa hits him with a chair…and grabs the power drill. Security comes in to prevent a bad case of murder.

The Brawling Birds beat up some people in a bar.

Will Ospreay is pulling for Kenny Omega tonight but MJF comes in to mock him for trying to get Jon Moxley’s approval. MJF isn’t happy with everyone wanting Ospreay vs. Omega at All In and is ready to take out Ospreay’s neck in Wembley. Ospreay calls MJF a beggar and says there are 14 year old Japanese girls who can do what he does. The brawl is on and is quickly broken up.

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher, with Don Callis and Lance Archer, is challenging. They start slowly with Takeshita’s running shoulder not getting him anywhere. A jumping shoulder drops Fletcher instead and Takeshita fires off some right hands in the corner. Fletcher’s running boot sends Takeshita outside and a running kick off the apron staggers him again. Takeshita is right back up with a running clothesline but he elbows the post by mistake. Back in and Takeshita suplexes him down, with Fletcher bailing to the floor for a running flip dive.

We take a break and come back with the traditional exchange of forearms until Takeshita catches him with a Blue Thunder Bomb. They go to the apron again, with Takeshita hitting a Tombstone into a wheelbarrow suplex, leaving Fletcher mostly dead on the floor. Naturally Fletcher is back on his feet about a minute later, with Takeshita reversing a lawn dart into a poisonrana.

Takeshita gets caught on top but powerbombs Fletcher right back down. Callis’ distraction doesn’t work as Fletcher is back with a Raging Fire, only for Fletcher to put a foot on the rope. Fletcher’s brainbuster gets two and a brainbuster onto the turnbuckle gives him the title back at 16:47.

Rating: B+. I wasn’t exactly expecting this one but it came in a heck of a match (save for the usual lack of selling after Fletcher should have been legally dead). Fletcher getting the title back is something of a surprise as I’m not sure where it leaves Takeshita. It’s not like Fletcher getting the title is ridiculous but he’s been in a similar spot before and I’m not sure how much different this will be. Still though, heck of a match.

Post break the Don Callis Family is in the ring with Mick Foley coming out for a special interview. Foley asks Fletcher about winning the title with Fletcher saying Takeshita was never his friend. Callis accuses Foley of stealing the spotlight but Foley says he means it when he praises Fletcher as a great talent (Fletcher seems appreciative). For now though, Foley wants to bring up his shoes, which have pictures of Foley’s dogs (only one of whom is still alive). If Callis says anything like that again, one of those dogs is going to be inside of Callis.

Cue Kevin Knight, who mocks Fletcher for taking so long to get a title shot. He’s coming for the World Title after tonight but here is Andrade El Idolo, who wants a title of his own. Callis insults him and gives him a match with Jake Doyle tonight, and if Andrade wins, he can have a National Title shot. The chase is on and they run into Darby Allin in the back, with a skateboard exploding thanks to Andrade. That was quite the situation and a nice use of Foley, who did perfectly well.

Will Ospreay/Jon Moxley vs. Workhorsemen

Ospreay is apparently officially a Death Rider. Henry actually takes Moxley down by the arm a few times to start and Drake drops a backsplash. Moxley is back up with a dragon screw legwhip to take Henry down and it’s off to Ospreay for the big slingshot dive as we take a break. We come back with Ospreay kicking out of trouble and bringing Moxley back in for a suicide dive. Right hands and some biting in the corner have Drake in more trouble and Ospreay hits a Styles Clash. The Paradigm Shift and Hidden Blade connect at the same time, with Moxley pinning Drake at 8:31.

Rating: C+. This was getting very close to far too long for the match we were seeing, but ultimately the last few moments were pure destruction of the Workhorsemen. I’m still not sold on the whole Ospreay/Death Riders stuff but Moxley is going to be on almost every show no matter what so at least give him something different to do. If nothing else, Ospreay hitting a bunch of finishers made for a fun ending.

Video on Hikaru Shida.

Casino Gauntlet Match

For a Women’s Title match at Redemption (with champion Thekla on commentary and Mercedes Mone watching from a beach chair) and it’s first fall wins, with the fall being possible at any time, no matter how many entrants have taken place. Athena is in at #1 and Maya World is in at #2 with World hitting her in the face. World gives her a running boot and a fall away slam as Skye Blue is in at #3.

Blue starts swinging the kendo stick and neckbreakers World for two but Athena slams Blue into the steps. We take a break and come back with Mina Shirakawa in at #4 (Thekla approves) to go after Athena. Shirakawa’s slingshot dive gets two on World with Rina (from Stardom) in at #5. Thekla: “Rina is one of the few smart b****** I know from Stardom.” The slugout is on until Julia Hart is in at #6 and beats up various people, including security. Blue joins in on beating up security as we take a break.

We come back with Thunder Rosa in at #7 and neckbreakering Athena. Rosa cleans house for some near falls but Athena’s O Face drops Rosa for two with a save having to be made. Willow Nightingale is in at #8, making me think there wasn’t much of a reason to vacate the TBS Title. That means Nightingale gets to wreck various people until the Babe With The Powerbomb gives Nightingale the pin on Hart at 17:31.

Rating: B-. Well, the ending was a nice surprise and I do like having an unexpected name getting the shot. There is a very good chance that Nightingale wins the title and moves on to All In, but please don’t have her just drop the title to Mone again. Nightingale has turned herself into something and it would be a shame to see her suffer the same fate.

Post match Thekla goes after Nightingale but Megan Bayne and Lena Kross beat up the Sisters Of Sin. Mone takes out Thekla to stand tall.

Video on Jack Perry, who has officially re-signed with AEW.

Mike Bailey wants a National Title shot on Collision.

AEW World Title: Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Kenny Omega

Omega is challenging but can never challenge again if he doesn’t win the title. Omega gets a bit entrance and MJF has a card for his own entrance, saying he isn’t from this land of incest. MJF hits him in the throat to cut off the early right hands and sends Omega to the floor to cut off an early One Winged Angel.

MJF (with his bad leg) limps into the crowd with Omega giving chase and hammering away in the audience. Omega throws him through some chairs and it’s time to go for a walk around the arena. They get back to ringside and then inside, where the referee gets in the way of a V Trigger. MJF goes to the eyes and hammers away, setting up a slingshot cutter for two. The fight goes back up to the entrance, with Omega moonsaulting off a lifeguard chair.

Back in and Omega hits a big running flip dive to the floor, followed by a running Fameasser (more like a bulldog) back inside. The V Trigger is countered with a drop toehold into the ropes and they strike it out. A double clothesline leaves both of them down for a needed breather. MJF is back up with a package piledriver for two and loads up the announcers’ table.

A Tombstone is loaded up on the apron (uh oh) but Omega slips out and hits a running kick to send MJF through the table for an awesome video. We take a break and come back with MJF raking the face to escape a fireman’s carry on the apron. Omega is right back with You Can’t Escape on the floor, which only hits raised knees. Back in and MJF’s knee gives out, allowing Omega to hit a V Trigger. The One Winged Angel is countered so Omega settles for a German suplex.

The V Trigger to the back connects in the corner and Omega tries a super One Winged Angel. That’s broken up though and MJF spikes him ON HIS HEAD with a super poisonrana. That and the Heatseeker get two and they’re both down again. MJF grabs the title as a ruse to load up the ring, but here is Will Ospreay to take it away. Omega picks up the belt but won’t do it, allowing MJF to hit him low. The belt shot only gets one and MJF is stunned. Some V Triggers rock MJF and a third knocks him into another planet. The One Winged Angel gives Omega the title back at 24:08.

Rating: A. They were doing all kinds of things to hide that MJF’s knee is messed up but it went about as well as it could have. Omega does deserve another title reign and MJF could barely walk at times so the title change had to happen. This felt like an Attitude Era brawl as they were all over the building at first and then came back for the real action in the end. It’s a heck of a match and an even better moment, which had to happen if the knee is that bad.

Omega gets the big celebration to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. What more can you ask for? The opener was rather good, Fletcher vs. Takeshita was better, and the main event was awesome with a huge moment. This felt like a short form pay per view and it sets us up for the road to Redemption, even if they were mainly talking about All In for most of the show. For a free TV show, what more could you really want?

Results
Tommaso Ciampa b. Chris Jericho – Running knee
Kyle Fletcher b. Konosuke Takeshita – Brainbuster onto the turnbuckle
Will Ospreay/Jon Moxley b. Workhorsemen – Hidden Blade to Drake
Willow Nightingale won the Women’s Casino Gauntlet match – Babe With The Powerbomb to Hart
Kenny Omega b. Maxwell Jacob Friedman – One Winged Angel

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

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

Dynamite
Date: July 1, 2026
Location: Viejas Arena, San Diego, California
Commentators: Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

We’re done with Forbidden Door (thank goodness) and it’s time to get ready for Redemption, the pit stop in July, on the way to London for All In. Will Ospreay and Mercedes Mone are in line for title shots, but first up is Mark Briscoe challenging MJF for the World Title tonight. Let’s get to it.

Here is Forbidden Door if you need a recap.

We get a clip from after Forbidden Door with Will Ospreay being rather happy with his win. Ospreay then ran into Jon Moxley and asked what Moxley meant about seeing something in him. If Moxley could explain it in words, he would explain it to anyone. This place could be something special but if Ospreay wants the Death Riders’ patch, he has to ride with them

Ospreay went on to see Kenny Omega, who praised him for his win but not being wild on the Death Riders tease. MJF came in to mock them both, with Omega threatening to come after the title and MJF not really caring. With MJF gone, Omega seemed to suggest that everything was fine with Ospreay.

AEW World Title: Mark Briscoe vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

MJF is defending and insists on being announced from the Best Coast, the east coast. Briscoe knocks him down to start but MJF is right back up to rip the bandage off of Briscoe’s head. MJF bites at the cut but Briscoe flips out of a backdrop, meaning it’s time for Red Neck Kung Fu.

Briscoe gets crotched on top but knocks MJF down, with the Froggy Bow getting two. Another shot sends MJF outside for the dive, followed by the chair step up flip dive for a bonus. The table is set up on the floor but Briscoe takes too long and knocks him off the top. That lets him return the table under the ring and we take a break. We come back with Briscoe winning a slugout and knocking him out to the floor, with Briscoe pulling the pads back.

MJF is able to backdrop him onto the concrete but can’t hit a Tombstone, instead getting slammed on the concrete. The Bang Bang Elbow on the floor and a Cutthroat Driver connect for two back inside, allowing Briscoe to set up the table again. Once again it takes too long but once again Briscoe cuts MJF and gives him a Blockbuster on the floor.

The Froggy Bow puts MJF through the table for two, as the foot on the rope saves the title. MJF goes to the eye but gets clotheslined for a double down. Another Froggy Bow connects and the Jay Driller gets a rather near fall. A sunset flip doesn’t work for Briscoe so he tries another Jay Driller, which is countered into an Alabama Slam. The Heatseeker retains the title at 18:23.

Rating: B. Well, that was quite the use of Briscoe’s title shot after building it up for a good while. I was expecting this to be at Beach Break but I guess they want to clear the way for Ospreay for the next month and a half. The match wasn’t an instant classic but it was physical and hard hitting, with Briscoe being so easy to cheer for to make it better.

Post match MJF loads up the Diamond Ring and knocks him silly. He loads up another shot but Kenny Omega runs in for the save. Omega wants a title shot tonight but MJF shoots that down, saying he’s beaten Omega before. MJF will face Omega next week, but if MJF wins, Omega can never challenge for the World Title again (note that MJF did not say Omega had to win the title). Omega has until the end of the night to decide.

Post break, MJF promises that payback is coming for Andrade El Idolo. With that out of the way, he lists off all of the names he has beaten, including Cody Rhodes, with Kenny Omega being 0-2 against him. He knows Omega won’t agree because MJF is gutless. Will Ospreay comes in to ask why the stipulation, with MJF saying it’s because he’s the champion. MJF will see Ospreay at Wembley.

He is Andrade El Idolo for a chat. He is done with the Don Callis Family and wants the World Back Title. How you know? Cue the Family to jump him from behind and the big beatdown is on. Don Callis wants Andrade out of here for Kevin Knight’s match.

Mercedes Mone brags about winning the Women’s Owen Hart Cup because she is the conversation no matter where she was going.

TNT Title: Kevin Knight vs. Lio Rush

Only Knight is defending. Rush scares him to start and throws Knight a backpack, containing…a black version of the ROH TV Title. Knight is freaked out so Rush sends him into the ropes, with Knight bailing to the floor. Rush does his run around the ring for the suicide dive and we take a break.

We come back with Knight hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but banging up his knee on a springboard attempt. Rush grabs a weird choke (as in Rush looks like he’s trying a cutter but just holds on when they’re on the mat) until Jake Doyle pulls Knight outside. Back in and Knight hits a sitout spinebuster, followed by a Rock Bottom to retain at 8:45.

Rating: B-. The match was fine, but did they really need to have Rush lose here? Rush is A, on fire with his new gimmick and B, a champion in ROH. Bandido and Athena have already lost recently and it would be nice for the ROH champions to be something other than jobbers to the main roster stars. I get that they’re beneath the AEW stars, but there are so many people in AEW/ROH who aren’t champions who could lose just as well.

Post match Darby Allin comes out to say he wants the TNT Title shot or the same things are going to keep happening to Knight. That has Knight ready to agree but Callis cuts him off because Allin was a criminal at Forbidden Door. Allin says that’s Knight digging his own grave.

We look at Chris Jericho beating up JD Drake and mocking Tommaso Ciampa.

Ciampa calls Jericho a bully but Jericho jumps him from behind. They go outside, where Ciampa rolls a shopping cart at him and then tries to stab Jericho in the head with a drill. Security tries to break it up but Jericho dives out of a truck to take out both Ciampa and some guards. The drill was dumb but I want to see these two fight.

Kenny Omega talks to the Young Bucks about the stipulation but Omega hasn’t made a decision just yet. He didn’t like what he had to do to win the title in the first place and wants to do it on his own. The Bucks have his back no matter what but Omega still hasn’t decided.

Will Ospreay/Jon Moxley vs. The Swirl

The Swirl jumps Moxley to start fast and seem to hurt his knee. Moxley fights back like he’s Jon Moxley and they’re the Swirl, allowing him to roll over for the tag to Ospreay. A running hurricanrana sends Christian outside and there’s the running flip dive to take the Swirl out again.

We take a break and come back with the Swirl’s Death Valley Driver/top rope double stomp combination getting two on Moxley. Marina Shafir beats up Jay Lethal on the floor and Moxley makes the comeback, allowing Ospreay to come back in. Johnson gets beaten up in the corner and Christian springboards into a cutter. The Paradigm Shift into the Hidden Blade finishes Johnson at 9:15.

Rating: C+. On one hand, I get the idea of Ospreay and Moxley as the unlikely super team, but at the same time, I’m still not sure why they’re together in the first place. In theory Ospreay got the help that he needed and now wants to see how far they can take him and Moxley is happy with getting the new member of the team. I guess that’s the story and while it makes sense, I’m not sure I buy Ospreay just suddenly being cool with the Death Riders. Or Moxley being cool with him for that matter.

After retaining their Tag Team Titles, Christian Cage and Adam Copeland weren’t sure about Jay White. Cage still doesn’t like him and Copeland isn’t sure what to think.

Here is the Bang Bang Gang for a chat. Jay White says they have waiting for well over a year to do this and he’s glad to get to say the catchphrase again. He remembered people not liking the Death Riders but now they’re hanging with the biggest fraud in wrestling. That aside, he wants to talk about the Dogs, who he doesn’t like because of things that happened in New Japan.

White remembers joining the New Japan Dojo with David Finlay, who is a fourth generation wrestler and raising a fifth generation star. Finlay has wrestling in his blood but he’s still a whiny little boy. White is still the catalyst of wrestling and this is still his era. If the Dogs, or anyone, has a problem with that, Guns Up. I still like White a lot and he can talk very well, but he has to prove that he can go more than a few months without a major injury.

Shane Taylor Promotions want the Bang Bang Gang in an eight man tag on Collision.

TBS Title: Kris Statlander vs. Maika vs. Harley Cameron vs. Persephone vs. Queen Aminata vs. Hikaru Shida

Survival Of The Fittest (six way elimination match) for the vacant title. It’s a brawl to start with Persephone standing tall but Shida takes her down with a rollup for two. Cameron is back in with a Shining Wizard to Maika before hammering on Aminata in the corner. Persephone sneaks up on Cameron for a Razor’s Edge and the elimination at 2:33. Well there goes the crowd favorite. Statlander Angle Slams Persephone and we take a break

We come back with Maika and Statlander slugging it out until Shida comes in with the kendo stick. Maika drops Shida with a discus clothesline but Statlander takes away the kendo stick. Shida hides behind the referee and rolls Maika up for the elimination at 7:52. We’re down to four and it’s Aminata coming back in to slug it out with Shida. Aminata’s fisherman’s neckbreaker gets two but she misses a top rope double stomp. The big headbutt sends Shida into the ropes for the running knee, only for Persephone to roll Aminata up for the pin at 9:49.

Persephone actually does the L on her forehead to mock Aminata as we take another break. We come back again with Statlander’s Blue Thunder Bomb getting two on Persephone. A bridging German suplex drops Statlander for two but Shida is back in, only for Statlander to chop Shida and Persephone. Staturday Night Fever is broken up but Statlander cradles Persephone for the pin at 15:30.

Shida kicks Statlander in the head, only for Statlander to grab the Falcon Arrow for two more. They fight over a rollup until Shida gets the ankle lock, with Persephone getting in a belt shot (fine with the referee). Shida grabs the leg and adds a choke to the out cold Statlander for the title at 17:27.

Rating: B-. This was kind of a strange match as there wasn’t a heavy betting favorite coming and a few different people could win the thing. Shida certainly fits the description, as she has a long history of winning titles so this is a nice fit. She might not be champion for a long time (though it wouldn’t be crazy), but beating her means enough that it could be a big moment.

Here’s what’s coming on Collision and next week at Beach Break.

Will Ospreay tries to talk Kenny Omega out of making a bad decision but Omega says if he’s going out, it’s with guns blazing.

Here is Omega for his big decision. Omega talks about how he has been doing this for over half of his life and he always gives this everything he has. He has a career that he could hang his hat on and be proud about but there is a part of him that believes he still has it. If the Elite can believe and the people can believe, then he knows he can be a champion AEW can be proud of one more time. At Wembley, against Will Ospreay.

All he has to do is put everything on the line against MJF, but Cody Rhodes and Hangman Page have done the same thing. He is still the best bout machine and yes the match is on and he’ll be ready for whatever MJF has for him. MJF runs in for the brawl but Omega fights back, with security breaking it up to end the show. That’s a huge match and they’re throwing it out there pretty quickly, but the result feels far from certain, which helps a lot.

Overall Rating: B. There was a lot on this show but the best part about it is that the show flew by. Nothing felt like it was dragging here and I had a good time with the show. It set up something big for next week and gave us the MJF vs. Briscoe match, even if it came and went rather quickly. There’s a new TBS Champion as well so that gap is covered, making this a pretty eventful night for the Forbidden Door follow up. See how nice it is when AEW can focus on AEW?

Results
Maxwell Jacob Friedman b. Mark Briscoe – Heatseeker
Kevin Knight b. Lio Rush – Rock Bottom
Will Ospreay/Jon Moxley b. The Swirl – Hidden Blade to Johnson
Hikaru Shida won Survival Of The Fittest last eliminating Kris Statlander

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

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

Dynamite
Date: June 24, 2026
Location: Rio Rancho Events Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

It’s the last Dynamite before Forbidden Door and the finals are officially set for the Owen Hart Cups. That means we need to have the big hype segments for Sunday’s final showdowns. As for tonight, Zack Sabre Jr. is here again to face Jack Perry in his Forbidden Door warmup match. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Jon Moxley gives the Death Riders a pep talk. Will Ospreay gets in their bouncing circle and falls down. Well of course he did.

Death Riders vs. Brodido/Mistico

Yuta grabs Bandido’s arm to start and they trade takedowns. Back up and Bandido snaps off a running headscissors before headlocking Moxley. That earns Bandido a trip into the corner, meaning Castagnoli can stomp him down. Bandido shrugs that off and brings Mistico in to get a rather spinning headscissors to take Castagnoli down.

It’s off to King for the big man slugout and of course King can run the ropes to springboard into a double wristdrag to Castagnoli and Moxley. The Riders are sent outside for a triple dive and we take an early break. We come back with Bandido still in trouble and Moxley getting two off a suplex.

Bandido gets in a running kick to the chest and Mistico gets the much needed tag. That means house can quickly be cleaned, including a quick sunset flip for two on Castagnoli. Bandido muscles Castagnoli over for a suplex but Marina Shafir offers a distraction. That’s enough for Moxley to get in a belt shot and roll King up for the pin at 12:19.

Rating: B. This was a good, hard hitting opening match with King getting to showcase his impressive athleticism. At the same time, this doesn’t make Bandido look strong going into his title shot and Mistico has his upcoming tag match and this…really had nothing to do with that either. It’s a weird way to go, though Bandido getting a pin here would have made a bit more sense.

Post match Bandido has a quick staredown with the Riders.

The Conglomeration is ready to fight in the cage at Forbidden Door. Darby Allin is ready to fight and the team promises to load up their backpacks. The rest of the team leaves and Orange Cassidy looks a bit annoyed but insists he’s fine. Renee Paquette doesn’t seem convinced.

Survival Of The Fittest Qualifying Match: Marina Shafir vs. Harley Cameron

Cameron is in Supergirl inspired gear and gets kicked in the ribs to start fast. Shafir mounts her but Cameron is right out into a half crab. That’s broken up as well and Cameron knocks her outside for a crossbody off the steps. Back in and Shafir gives her an AA and we take an early break. We come back with Shafir snapping off some judo throws but Cameron manages a belly to back suplex. Cameron hammers away in the corner until Shafir knees her right back. The half crab is broken up again so Shafir flips her into a choke, only to have Cameron backflip into a cradle for the pin at 7:52.

Rating: C+. This was a nice surprise victory for Cameron but what matters the most here is that Cameron is going to be in next week’s match. I’m not sure if she’s going to win the title and she probably won’t, but at least she’s going to bring her rather amazing charisma to the whole thing. She’s a good bonus to the match and could even win the whole thing, which is kind of stunning considering where she was when she first came to AEW.

Video on Maya World vs. Mercedes Mone in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup finals.

Will Ospreay vs. ELP

ELP (El Phantasmo) works on the arm to start and runs Ospreay over with a shoulder, earning him a nip up. Ospreay sends him outside without much trouble and hits a slingshot dive but ELP is back up with a quick drop onto the apron. One heck of a moonsault takes Ospreay down again and we take an early break.

We come back with Ospreay hitting an enziguri, only for ELP to grab a tornado DDT. Ospreay’s forearms make ELP laugh and they trade kicks to the head until Ospreay grabs a standing Spanish Fly. ELP gets in a superkick for two of his own but Ospreay flips over into a Styles Clash. The Hidden Blade pins ELP at 10:42.

Rating: B-. It was another entertaining match with Ospreay getting to do all of his stuff, though again I’m not sure how well this did to make Ospreay look great. It did a good job of building up ELP, who hung with Ospreay for a good while before getting taken out. That’s something that happens quite a bit during this season and it’s kind of annoying as Ospreay is in the likely main event of Forbidden Door and ELP isn’t likely going to be here beyond tonight.

Post match Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana come out for a staredown, with Ospreay leaving through the crowd.

Swerve Strickland vs. Daniel Garcia

Garcia walks in from outside and…how long has he been waiting out there? Strickland runs him over to start so Garcia pops up to get in Strickland’s face. That’s not a good idea as Strickland shoves him down and stomps away, setting up a running boot to the floor. This time Garcia pulls Strickland down for a hammering but takes too long yelling at a fan. Strickland kicks him in the face again and we take a break.

We come back with Strickland missing a Swerve Stomp to the apron and getting his leg dragon screw whipped. Strickland’s leg is fine enough to roll over and drop Garcia with a suplex. Garcia’s clothesline is shrugged off so he kicks out the leg instead. The ankle lock has Strickland in more trouble but he backbreakers his way out. A powerbomb is spun into a powerslam (cool) to plant Garcia, who pops up with a Styles Clash for two of his own. Strickland House Calls him for two, followed by a Hidden Blade to finish Garcia at 12:25.

Rating: B. Much like the previous match, this was a good way to build up someone who has nothing going on while the person set for a big match on Sunday is going 50/50 with Garcia. If protecting Garcia is that important (and I’m sure it is for whatever reason), don’t put him in the match. Strickland and Ospreay should have looked like killers in their matches and instead they’re just out there taking 10+ minutes to beat stars beneath them.

Post match Strickland goes after Garcia’s arm so Ospreay runs back in for the brawl. Nana offers a distraction though and Strickland gives Ospreay the House Call. A Vertebreaker drops Garcia and Ospreay chases Strickland off with a chair.

Video on Team Ospreay vs. Team MJF.

Don Callis and his Family are ready to win but MJF cuts them off to rant about Mark Briscoe. The reality is that Briscoe has never beaten MJF and that isn’t going to change. MJF thinks the two sides haven’t been on the same page but Callis whips out a shirt for TEAM DCMJF and yes the image is of them muscular and in limited clothing. MJF and Callis love it but the Family is less than impressed.

Jack Perry vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Sabre takes him down with a cravate and shrugs off Sabre’s attempt to go after the leg. They fight over a double arm crank until Perry rolls him up for some near falls. A very near fall sends Sabre outside but he’s fine enough to start in on the arm, including snapping it over the top rope.

We take a break and come back with Perry hitting a Sliced Bread but getting sent outside. Sabre grabs a cross armbreaker on the floor but has to let it go, allowing Perry to hit another Sliced Bread on the apron. A moonsault to the floor takes Sabre out again, only for him to grab a triangle choke back inside. Perry reverses into a sitout powerbomb for two and the Snare Trap has Sabre in trouble for a change. Sabre twists the arm around to escape so Perry grabs a package powerbomb for two more. That earns him a double arm crank, with Sabre using his leg to pull Perry’s arm down for the submission at 13:12.

Rating: B-. This was a good example of Sabre getting to take Perry apart, which boosts him up on the way to facing Kenny Omega on Sunday. Granted we saw Sabre do something similar in his most recent match around here so it was only so necessary. It’s certainly fitting the theme for the night though and we’ll get the big match with Omega soon enough.

Young Bucks vs. TMDK

Tito jumps Matt from behind to start fast but the Bucks are right back with their stereo running bulldogs. A double clothesline puts TMDK on the floor for the stereo dives, followed by some back elbows to the face back inside. Matt gets crotched on top though and Nick gets pulled out of the air, with a spinebuster getting two on Matt in a big crash. Matt flips away from both of them though and grabs a DDT, allowing the tag off to Nick. House is cleaned and the Superkick Party is on, setting up the Meltzer Driver to pin Nicholls at 4:20.

Rating: C+. It was fun while it lasted and I’ll take this over the rest of the matches, as the Bucks get a pretty nice win over a team who doesn’t have anything going on. That’s a good way to go here as there was no reason to have the Bucks in any serious trouble. Nice enough job here and I’ll take that just about all the time.

Post match TMDK jumps the Bucks and Kenny Omega makes the save. Forearms are exchanged with Sabre and TMDK bails. Omega says may the best man win on Sunday and he certainly will.

We look at Thekla invading a Stardom show and attacking the owner.

Survivor Of The Fittest Qualifying Match: Red Velvet vs. Queen Aminata

Velvet’s ROH Women’s TV Title isn’t on the line. Velvet rolls over her into a sunset flip for an early two and then wristdrags her down again. Aminata is right back with a snap suplex for one but the big headbutt misses. Aminata’s right hands in the corner are countered into a powerbomb and we take a break.

We come back with Velvet grabbing a sitout bulldog for two but Aminata gives her a slingshot reverse suplex to leave them both down. The running boot in the corner sets up a middle rope double stomp for two on Velvet. Back up and Velvet flips her off the top, setting up a frog splash to the back for two. Velvet kicks away and, after an apology, misses the big kick to the head. Aminata knocks her into the ropes and hits a PK for the pin at 10:17.

Rating: C+. And of course a reigning champion loses clean in a qualifying match. I’m sure there was absolutely no one else available to take this loss, but it’s just Ring Of Honor anyway, which has been treated like nothing since it was brought back from the dead to create a promotion of cannon fodder. This is the kind of stupid stuff that drives me crazy in wrestling and it doesn’t need to happen but here we are anyway.

The Young Bucks are ready to superkick their opponents at Forbidden Door but Adam Copeland and Christian Cage brawl through with the Dogs. They brawl into the makeup area and Connors blinds Copeland with some hairspray to take over. The Dogs choke them both out. And we get a five second pose, complete with Cage’s old over the top sunglasses.

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Ricochet

Takeshita is defending and the Gates Of Agony are here with Ricochet. An early cheap shot knocks Takeshita outside and the big flip dive hits him as well. Back in and a springboard 450 gives Ricochet two as he’s certainly starting fast. Takeshita is back up but misses a charge in the corner, allowing Ricochet to hit a 619. The springboard clothesline and a running shooting star press give Ricochet two and we take a break.

We come back with Ricochet striking away in the corner and knocking him out to the floor. The shooting star off the apron is countered into a suplex though and they’re both down. Back in and a Blue Thunder Bomb gives Takeshita two before they trade kicks to the head. The wheelbarrow suplex drops Ricochet, who is right back up with Vertigo for two.

A shooting star press gives Ricochet two but he flips out of a German superplex. Takeshita’s Last Ride gets two but Ricochet uses the referee to cut off the running knee. A kick to the head sets up a Ricosault for two and Ricochet is stunned on the kickout. Takeshita drops him with a clothesline though and it’s the running knee and Raging Fire to retain at 13:48.

Rating: B. I don’t think anyone is going to be surprised that these two had a fast paced match together and they made it work here. Ricochet getting a somewhat random title match is hardly a stretch and it’s fine as a main event for a bit of an odd show. Takeshita gets a nice title defense as well and that’s a good thing as he looks for his next big challenger.

Here is Mark Briscoe with something to say about MJF. He and his friends are ready to fight in the cage on Sunday and he brings up their history in Blood & Guts. That was all about the thrill of the fight but this has some more consequential implications. Briscoe agrees that he and MJF are nothing alike (and he thanks God for that) but he knows he can beat MJF if they get a chance. On Sunday, he’ll be fighting with his friends while MJF has some hired stars who don’t care about him.

Cue Don Callis for a distraction so MJF can jump Briscoe from behind. Briscoe fights back and we get the parade of people running in one at a time to hit a single big move. Andrade has to save MJF from the Jay Driller but they go face to face. Callis cuts that off and MJF loads up the ring, only to accidentally hit Andrade. The Jay Driller lays MJF out to end the show. This was pretty much what you would have expected, though they do have some stories in the big cage match, which does help things.

Overall Rating: B-. This is a good example of a show where it’s perfectly fine from a quality standpoint, but it’s not something that interests me. A good chunk of this show was built around setting up Forbidden Door matches for wrestlers who aren’t likely to be regulars around here in a few days.

They aren’t regulars coming into this show either and it made for a less than thrilling show. Forbidden Door isn’t doing much to get my attention this year, though they’ve done an effective enough job with what they had. Not a bad show at all here (though another champion losing in a qualifying match makes my head hurt), but not my taste for the most part.

Results
Death Riders b. Brodido/Mistico – Rollup to King
Harley Cameron b. Marina Shafir – Cradle
Will Ospreay b. ELP – Hidden Blade
Swerve Strickland b. Daniel Garcia – Hidden Blade
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Jack Perry – Double arm crank
Young Bucks b. TMDK – Meltzer Driver to Nicholls
Queen Aminata b. Red Velvet – PK in the ropes
Konosuke Takeshita b. Ricochet – Raging Fire

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

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

Dynamite
Date: June 17, 2026
Location: Smart Financial Center, Sugar Land, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Taz, Excalibur

We’re less than two weeks away from Forbidden Door and the tournaments are on a roll. We have the two Owen Hart Cups and the qualifying matches for the upcoming Survival Of The Fittest, which is basically a tournament of its own. That’s in addition to the six on six cage match and tonight we’re getting that match minus the cage. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

MJF and the Don Callis Family are in the back with MJF bragging about his abilities and now he’s ready for Mark Briscoe and company. Other than that though, he’s ready for Will Ospreay, who needs to realize that it isn’t 2024 and time has passed Ospreay by. As for Briscoe, it’s hilarious that he thinks he has a prayer to win the match tonight or at Forbidden Door. Callis introduces the rest of MJF’s team, which includes Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada and Andrade El Idolo. That’s quite a team, but Andrade isn’t happy with the move. Callis calms him down, again, and tells him to do the match.

Kenny Omega vs. Tony Nese

This is the result of Nese wanting a match. Omega wastes no time in taking over and hitting the Snapdragon. The V Trigger and One Winged Angel finish at 1:49. Now that’s how you properly use an ROH star, as Nese doesn’t do anything on his own and was perfect cannon fodder for Omega.

Post match Omega gets the mic but here are TMDK to interrupt. The three of them get in the ring so Omega wisely bails, with the Elite coming out to back him up. Omega explains that no one knows what TMDK means anyway but he’s ready for Zack Sabre Jr. at Forbidden Door. This is what it should have been, as it’s just another thrown out there Forbidden Door match and I’d rather they do this than have Sabre get a bunch of TV time to build him up at the last minute.

We look at the Dogs beating the Young Bucks on Collision.

We run down the rest of the card.

Death Riders vs. Brodido

Garcia shoves Bandido around to start and takes him to the mat for a slap to the back of the head. Back up and Bandido takes over on him rather quickly and hand it off to King for a slam. Garcia stops to dance and is double chopped down and it’s time for Moxley to come in. The big exchange of forearms (complete with intense glaring) goes to King as Moxley is sent outside for the dive from Bandido.

We take a break and come back with King and Moxley striking it out again. Moxley hits a cutter but King pops back up for a running clothesline. Bandido comes back in to suplex Garcia into the corner but King stops to yell at Marina Shafir, allowing Moxley to get in a suicide dive. A spike piledriver puts King down on the floor and Bandido is knocked down as well.

King is getting to his feet about 40 seconds after being spike piledriven on the floor so the Riders throw him back inside for two. Moxley plants King down again and we take a second break. We come back with Moxley knocking Bandido off the apron so King can’t escape. Moxley and Garcia fire off the corner clotheslines but he double clotheslines his way out.

It’s off to Bandido for the house cleaning, with Garcia and Moxley both having to be saved from delayed vertical suplexes. Instead Shafir is suplexed and Bandido hits a big dive to hit all three of them. Back in and everyone is knocked down again until Bandido catches Garcia with a pop up knee. King dives onto Moxley and the 21 Plex finishes Garcia at 22:04.

Rating: B. Well that was…random. I’m not sure where this came from but it wound up being a good match, King’s ridiculous selling of a spike piledriver on the floor aside. If nothing else, it was nice to see Bandido avoid taking a fall as it keeps the ROH World Title looking even remotely important. I mean it isn’t, but at least they’re giving it a bit of an impression.

Kyle Fletcher and Kazuchika Okada aren’t sure who they’ll be facing tonight, but it won’t be Tomohiro Ishii, who has been attacked. Oh no. Not that guy who never wins anything important!

Tommaso Ciampa talks about how he used to respect Chris Jericho. He loved the version who changed the wrestling world and took over New Japan. The version last week though? The one with all of the puns? Ciampa hates that one and offers to dance with Jericho if Jericho is interested.

The Dogs are coming to the ring for a chat but Adam Copeland and Christian Cage pop up to beat them down. Cage says he didn’t do anything to the Dogs’ mothers because he would never do anything to a team named after their mothers. Copeland talks about the things he and Cage learned over the years, including facing teams like the APA and learning from their beatings. The Dogs can walk through the Forbidden Door, but they’re walking back out as housebroken little pups.

Starlight Kid is ready to stand up for Stardom and beat Thekla. Thank goodness someone is standing up for…that other promotion.

Thekla talks about doing everything that Kid did and she got fired from Japan. Now it’s time for Thekla to beat Kid and take her mask.

Bandido is really happy about the win over the Death Riders. Bandido wants to face Jon Moxley for the Continental Title at Forbidden Door so Jon Moxley comes in to tell him to shoot his shot. This is going to be Bandido’s third pay per view out of four where he loses a singles match with the person beating him having no interest in being the ROH World Champion. As in the title he has defended once in America this year. Which absolutely needs to be a thing.

Women’s Owen Hart Tournament Semifinals: Hazuki vs. Mercedes Mone

They run the ropes to start until Hazuki slips on a springboard attempt but knocks Mone down. The threat of a running shot sends Mone bailing out to the ramp and she bails again from what looks like a rolling clothesline. We take a break and come back with Mone hitting a nasty gutbuster for two, with Hazuki rolling outside this time. Mone knocks her into the corner for two more but Hazuki gets in a toss to the floor. The suicide dives connect, as does a missile dropkick back inside.

Back in and Mone gets in two Amigos but the third is blocked, leaving Mone to snap the arm over the middle rope. A Meteora knocks Hazuki onto the ramp as we take a break. We come back with Hazuki firing away but getting sent face first into the middle buckle. Hazuki knocks her down again and drops the top rope backsplash, setting up the crossface. That’s broken up as well and they trade forearms from their knees with Hazuki getting the better of things.

They trade kicks to the face for a double down but Hazuki is back up with a kick to the face for two more. A brainbuster sends Mone out to the floor but she comes back inside for an exchange of rollups. The Statement Maker goes on and is broken up, leaving Mone rather frustrated. La majistral gives Hazuki two and they trade running shots to the face. Mone catches her with a Backstabber into the Statement Maker out of mostly nowhere for the tap at 22:28.

Rating: B. I never know what to say in a match like this because this whole thing was based on what these two did when they faced each other somewhere else. I’m sure that match was great, but basically we’re just told “yeah they had an awesome match”. Hazuki doesn’t mean anything in AEW (where she debuted last month) but Mone gets to have another match that I’m sure will be described as a classic.

Video on Maya World vs. Athena in the other semifinal.

Here is Will Ospreay, who is rather happy after getting married over the weekend. Yeah he has to go on his honeymoon so he took his wife upstairs, did various things, and told her to clean herself up because he was going to Houston. With that out of the way, here is Swerve Strickland as well, with Prince Nana mocking Tony Schiavone’s suit.

Strickland says it’s been awhile and Ospreay says the look on Strickland’s face is different. Actually Strickland thinks Ospreay has changed because no one knows why Ospreay is with the Death Riders. Ospreay says people need to let it go because he’s training with them and the training is working. That night where the Riders hurt him though, he didn’t see Strickland anywhere. Then they agreed to help Hangman Page get the World Title but where was Strickland there again? So where was Strickland?

Before he can speak, Ospreay takes the mic and says his own dream is bigger than Strickland’s explanation. Their match is going to be the semifinals of Ospreay’s World Cup. Strickland threatens to take Ospreay out and asks where Page is now. After everything they did, Page is just gone and now Strickland is supposed to step aside again?

Strickland is ready to get his title back because he’s better than Ospreay on his best day. Ospreay shoves him down so Strickland gets the chain out. Cue the Death Riders, with Strickland saying Ospreay really has changed. They got the point across well enough, but this was a rather lengthy exchange.

Chris Jericho wants to go face to face with Tommaso Ciampa on Collision.

Will Ospreay yells at Daniel Garcia when Jon Moxley comes in to ask if Ospreay feels in control. Moxley tells him he can’t lose control and Ospreay lets go of Garcia.

MJF and the Don Callis Family come to the ring for the main event but Mark Briscoe and the Conglomeration pop up. Briscoe introduces the rest of the team, including Konosuke Takeshita (who he introduces with a less than great name for someone Asian) and Darby Allin.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman/Don Callis Family vs. Conglomeration/Darby Allin/Konosuke Takeshita

Briscoe starts with MJF, who breaks new ground by tagging out at the bell. Andrade comes in and is sent outside for his regular photo, earning a dropkick through the ropes from Briscoe. Back in and the good guys take turns beating on Andrade in the corner but he’s able to take his pants off anyway. Fletcher and O’Reilly come in with Fletcher posing a lot before taking over.

O’Reilly rolls into an ankle lock and everything breaks down into the big brawl. Takeshita hits the big running flip dive but Allin gets jumped from behind inside. Fletcher and Knight almost get in a fight until it’s MJF coming back in to stomp on Allin’s ankle. We take a break and come back with Doyle working on Cassidy’s arm, only for Cassidy to feed him MJF’s arm instead. That’s enough for Strong to come in and clean house, including throwing Cassidy at various people.

Doyle is back in and gets knocked down to give Strong two as everything breaks down again. We get the parade of knockdowns until Takeshita and Fletcher fight over a brainbuster. Takeshita gives him a Blue Thunder Bomb instead and it’s off to MJF vs. Briscoe for the big showdown. Briscoe cleans house again but Knight breaks up the Jay Driller. Allin hobbles after Knight through the crowd but Doyle grabs Allin and sends him off the stage and into the post. The Jay Driller plants MJF so Don Callis distracts the referee. MJF takes Strong down into the Salt Of The Earth for the rather fast tap 17:23.

Rating: B-. This is one of the things that AEW does and I don’t get it. They have this match go over seventeen minutes and then expect me to be interested in seeing it again, albeit in a cage, in about a week and a half. I really do not get it and while the match was good enough, I don’t really need to see them do it even bigger at Forbidden Door. The result is fine enough, even with Strong tapping out so quickly.

Post match the good guys are beaten down, with Andrade and MJF almost getting into a fight. That’s broken up and Briscoe gets hit in the face with the diamond ring to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was the big push towards Forbidden Door and it accomplished that pretty well. The important thing here was setting up some matches for the pay per view while also advancing some of the stuff that is already set. You need to have shows like this and they did it with some good matches here, albeit with some parts which were less than enthralling.

Results
Kenny Omega b. Tony Nese – One Winged Angel
Brodido b. Death Riders – 21 Plex to Garcia
Mercedes Mone b. Hazuki – Statement Maker
Maxwell Jacob Friedman/Don Callis Family b. Conglomeration/Darby Allin/Konosuke Takeshita – Salt Of The Earth to Strong

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

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

Dynamite
Date: June 10, 2026
Location: Andrew J. Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

The road to Forbidden Door continues as we have the first half of the Summer Blockbuster shows. That means two more Owen Hart Cup matches, but also hometown boy Jon Moxley gets to defend the Continental Title against Shane Taylor. Mark Briscoe is still hunting the World Title as well so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

I was in attendance for this show, sitting in the ninth row on the floor with the entrance on my left. My seat was right in front of the special curtain where wrestlers would interrupt or run in from throughout the night, which led to some rather jarring moments when people would run in or appear out of nowhere.

Tony Schiavone brings out Tommaso Ciampa, who wants to get right to the point. Ciampa wants Schiavone to repeat the he is better than Chris Jericho, even threatening violence to make it happen. This brings out Jericho and we get a chorus of Judas. Ciampa cuts it off and asks if we’re happy that the song and dance is done.

Jericho wants to know who he has to talk to in order to fight someone with hair. He thinks they’ve gotten off on the wrong foot so he introduces himself, but Ciampa has known him his entire career. Jericho: “It’s very nice to meet you Tommy.” The fans chant Tommy, which makes things all the more surreal for me. Ciampa says no one calls him Tommy, not even his mother. Jericho: “You mean….Tommy’s Mommy?”

That’s chanted as well as things get even more bizarre. Jericho wonders why Ciampa doesn’t like him, while throwing in some insults of his own (“Also bald. Bad beard. Goblin face. Mean Santa.”), with Ciampa saying this is a joke to him. Jericho gets in his face and goes serious, saying Ciampa is finding out that he isn’t Jericho and it has left him angry. “Tommy”. The fight is on and security sprints out for the save but can’t separate them. A few more brawls finally result in them being held apart. Good segment here, with Jericho and Ciampa being an interesting pairing.

Don Callis and Kevin Knight arrive but Andrade El Idolo interrupts, asking for his World Title shot. Knight is brand new to the Family and is already asking for a title shot but needs to go to the back of the line. That doesn’t sit well with Knight, who is going to the ring, with Callis promising Andrade a title shot. Andrade doesn’t seem to buy it.

Continental Title: Jon Moxley vs. Shane Taylor

Moxley, the hometown star, is defending and gets the insane reaction you would expect. They take their time to start with Moxley working on the arm before going with the exchange of forearms. Taylor goes after the body but gets knocked outside for a suicide dive (oh yeah he’s happy to be here). Moxley is knocked over one of the announcers’ tables and then put through a regular table as we take a break.

We come back with Taylor dropping a leg on the apron but Moxley strikes away. A jumping clothesline puts Taylor down and Moxley hammers/bites away in the corner. Taylor knocks him off the top for the middle rope splash, followed by a big clothesline for two. The chinlock goes on until Moxley fights his way out and grabs a cutter. The cross armbreaker goes on but Taylor is back with a big knee to the face. Moxley pops back up with a Stomp into the bulldog choke for the tap at 13:11

Rating: B-. It wasn’t a great showdown but I don’t think it was supposed to be. This was more about getting Moxley out there in front of his home crowd and letting them have a good time. That worked out rather well with the fans going nuts for Moxley and not liking Taylor, so it served its purpose all around.

Post match Taylor lays him out with a right hand. Taylor gets a belt to whip Moxley so here is Daniel Garcia through the crowd (from the area right behind me which made for quite the jarring surprise), only to get beaten down as well. Marina Shafir gets taken out too and the Promotions leave. While I like seeing the Riders get beaten down for a change, this is stretching the feud a bit too far.

Video on Mercedes Mone, who talks about being here to save the division.

Here is Don Callis to introduce Kevin Knight, who praises Callis for seeing his star power. The signing bonus helped too. Anyway, Knight calls out MJF but gets the returning Darby Allin instead. Allin jumps him from behind with the skateboard but is smart enough to vamoose when the Family comes after him, even running out of the building in a nice visual.

Mark Briscoe talks to Tony Khan, who thinks it’s a good idea.

Mark Briscoe vs. Pac

Pac drives him into the corner for an early clean break. Back up and Briscoe knocks him down for a change. Briscoe gets knocked outside but switches places and hits a dropkick through the ropes. The Bang Bang Elbow connects from the apron but Pac busters his brain on the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Briscoe striking away and hitting an Iconoclasm. It’s too early before the Froggy Bow can launch so Briscoe tries another suplex and they crash out to the floor. A Blockbuster off the apron connects but the Froggy Bow hits knees. Pac tries a shooting star press but hits raised knees, allowing the Froggy Bow to connect and give Briscoe the pin at 12:12.

Rating: B. Well you knew these guys were going to beat each other up and it was a heck of a showdown. Briscoe is on a roll right now and seems like he’s getting ready for the World Title shot sooner than later. As usual, there is something to having someone beat a bunch of people to get the title shot and that’s where they seem to be going with Briscoe.

Post match Briscoe calls out MJF and we take a break (In the arena, Tony Khan came out to say MJF was getting his makeup finished so he would answer after the break. As a bonus, Briscoe entertained us with a joke: Two muffins are in an oven. One muffin says “Dang it’s hot in here.” The other muffin said “HOLY S*** A TALKING MUFFIN!”).

Post break MJF does come out to say that he’s the boss around here and Briscoe doesn’t get a title shot. MJF is the rising tide that lifts all of the boats but MJF would be just an anchor. The other thing is that MJF has all of the money, and it talks. This brings out the Lethal Twist to jump Briscoe so the Conglomeration makes the save.

Briscoe grabs the mic to say that MJF is just an a****** and not the real power around here. That would be Tony Khan, who has decided that Briscoe and MJF can get five partners each and fight at Forbidden Door. If Briscoe’s side wins, he gets a title shot. Oh and we’ll do it in a cage. MJF panics as Orange Cassidy is ready for his scheduled match.

Andrade El Idolo vs. Orange Cassidy

Feeling out process to start with Cassidy not being able to get very far. They go to the test of strength dance deal over the hands in the pockets until Andrade gets frustrated. The pants come off and the fans approve…so Andrade takes his own off, revealing a pair of jogging jeans (or whatever they’re called). Either way, that’s freaking brilliant.

Andrade is livid and goes after Cassidy to knock him outside as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy firing off a clothesline to send Andrade rolling to the floor. Cassidy’s dive is countered into a suplex so Andrade stops for a photo with a redhead. Cassidy hits a dive this time…and Lio Rush (I’m not a fan of the gimmick, but him doing his run on all fours two feet from you is CREEPY) is next to the woman. He wants a picture with Cassidy, who reluctantly agrees, only for Andrade to go after Rush.

That doesn’t work either, allowing Cassidy to hit a DDT on the floor. Back in and Andrade crotches him on top, setting up some running knees in the corner. Cassidy reverses something into a Stundog Millionaire and they slug it out from their knees. They both wind up on the rope, with Cassidy DDTing him onto the ramp. Another DDT gets two back inside but the Orange Punch is cut off with a spinning elbow. The DM finishes Cassidy at 15:12.

Rating: B-. The Rush deal was a funny moment and Andrade’s rise up to the title match continues to be a nice thing to see. Much like Briscoe beating Pac, Andrade beats an established name to get him ready for something even bigger. In other words, this is going well enough and it’s not a bad thing to see.

Post match Andrade asks how you know.

Last week, Will Ospreay was happy with his win but Alex Windsor came in to cry in his arms. Ospreay hugged her tight and got rid of the camera.

Video on Thekla.

Jon Moxley is banged up so the Death Riders want a five on five street fight on Collision.

Women’s Owen Hart Cup First Round: Skye Blue vs. Maya World

World is replacing an injured Sareee and her brother recently passed away. Blue jumps her to start fast and they trade some running forearms. World gets knocked down and hammered in the face, followed by the boot choke in the corner. Back up and World kicks her out onto the ramp and we take a break.

We come back with Blue knocking her down for two and they fight over a suplex. World’s bridging German suplex gets two but Blue catches her in the corner. A Cheeky Nandos kick connects but World blocks a running knee. That means World can hit her own running knee for two and they forearm it out. Blue gets German suplexed and pops up for a running knee and they’re both down. A TKO gives Blue two but the Code Blue is blocked. Instead World grabs a flipping rollup for the pin at 11:12.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have a great option here as there is pretty much no way either of them is beating Athena in the semifinals anyway. I’ll take World getting the spot over Blue, as she’s a more interesting opponent for Athena and has the rather emotional situation with her brother as a bonus. It’s a completely fine match and that’s all it needed to be in this situation.

Zack Sabre Jr. will be at Forbidden Door and wants Kenny Omega. And it’s set.

MJF comes in to see the Don Callis Family and wants to buy some wrestlers for Forbidden Door. Callis goes on a rant about how he’s not a pimp or a butcher but MJF whips out a briefcase full of money. That changes Callis’ mind and they’ll figure out the team next week. Kevin Knight wants to be on the team and MJF agrees, though Knight wants a title shot if MJF’s team wins.

MJF agrees, but it’s Knight’s last title shot. The Family goes to leave but Andrade asks Callis about his title shot again. Callis assures Andrade it’s coming and Andrade isn’t sure. Commentary points out that Callis is lying, just in case you didn’t get the obvious lie from the known liar.

Men’s Owen Hart Cup Semifinals: Brody King vs. Swerve Strickland

King starts fast and goes for the choke, which takes them both out to the apron. King knocks him to the floor for the running flip dive but Prince Nana cuts King off. A drop toehold sends King into a chair and Strickland adds a running double stomp off the apron. We take a break and come back with King blocking a powerbomb out of the corner and ripping a turnbuckle pad away.

Swerve goes up top for a super Russian legsweep and a Swerve Stomp gets two. They go outside with King chokebombing him onto the announcers’ table to leave them both down. They get back inside with Strickland striking away and hitting a House Call, only to get dropped with a clothesline.

Back up and a charging King is sent into an exposed buckle to bust him open. The House Call doesn’t even knock him down but a top rope House Call…gets two (and there’s your “that should have been it but let’s keep going” spot). King flips him into the corner for a cannonball and the piledriver gets two. Nana gets in a cheap shot though and the Vertebreaker gives Strickland the pin at 14:59.

Rating: B. These guys know how to beat each other up rather well and it’s great to see them getting to do it again. King is the definition of a midcard monster and while he wasn’t going to beat Strickland, he made Strickland work for it. Good stuff here, with King’s blood making it all the better.

Overall Rating: B+. I had a good time with this show, which granted might have at least partially been due to being there. It was a show that moved things forward and Forbidden Door is starting to come together. I liked the show and it did feel like a big deal to have so many names around. Allin and Jericho coming back (ok the latter wasn’t gone as long but it was a cool moment) made it more special and there wasn’t really anything close to bad on the whole show. Nice job here.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Shane Taylor – Bulldog choke
Mark Briscoe b. Pac – Froggy Bow
Andrade El Idolo b. Orange Cassidy – DM
Maya World b. Skye Blue – Flipping rollup
Swerve Strickland b. Brody King – Vertebreaker

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

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

Dynamite
Date: June 3, 2026
Location: Siegel Center, Richmond, Virginia
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We’re less than a month away from Forbidden Door and that means we have a lot of the Owen Hart Tournaments to go. The tournaments will decide two of the bigger matches at All In and the finals will be taking place later this month at the pay per view. They both continue this week, including a mystery wildcard name so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Rush is ready to win the World Title. MJF pops in to say he doesn’t buy it and gets beaten up as a result. Somehow this leads to the match being No Countouts. You know, because that changes so much around here.

Andrade El Idolo comes up to Rush, telling him to do it for the family.

AEW World Title: Rush vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

MJF is defending and there are no countouts. Hold on though as MJF makes sure to point out that he beat Virginia’s Hangman Page and that the fans put the virgin in Virginia. Rush hammers away to start so MJF spits in his face and gets in a poke to the eye. Back up and Rush sends him outside for the running flip dive. Rush whips him into the barricade a few times and chokes with the camera cable to make it worse.

The charge is countered with a drop toehold though and Rush is sent into the chair. A charging MJF is backdropped over the barricade and through the timekeeper’s table and Rush stomps away back inside. The turnbuckle pad is removed but the referee blocks the ram, allowing MJF to send Rush into it instead. MJF hits a better than expected spinebuster but gets sent face first into the exposed buckle.

Back up and a running knee gives the bleeding Rush two, followed by a running dropkick for two. MJF is right back with a powerbomb backbreaker for two and we hit the quickly broken Salt Of The Earth. Rush heads to the apron and cuts off MJF with a headbutt before planting him on the apron.

We take a break and come back with the Bull’s Horns getting two, with MJF having to put a boot on the rope. A piledriver on the apron sees Rush’s arm give out and another running dropkick misses, sending Rush crashing through the barricade. MJF Tombstones him onto the broken barricade and grabs a LeBell Lock back inside. Rush flips off the camera and then passes out to retain MJF’s title at 18:34.

Rating: B. This was kind of a weird choice for the whole thing but it was nice to see Rush’s never ending string of wins actually turning into something. I’m not sure why MJF needed this kind of a win but it’s not like he has anything going on with Forbidden Door coming up. It wouldn’t stun me to see him not defend the title, and right now it isn’t like there is much to do there.

Post match MJF loads up a belt shot but Mark Briscoe runs in for the save. The Conglomeration is here to make sure MJF runs off.

Mark Briscoe vs. Lio Rush

The Conglomeration is still at ringside and freeze because Rush can’t see them if they’re not moving. Or something (your champions people). Rush says something in Briscoe’s ear to start and then does his dodging to get in Briscoe’s face. Briscoe charges into a boot in the corner and they go to the apron to shout a lot.

Rush chases him around on the floor (running on all course because Rush is weird and creepy and stuff) until Briscoe gets in a Blockbuster off the apron. We take a break and come back with Rush hitting a suicide dive and then mocking the Red Neck Kung Fu. They strike it out until Briscoe hits an Iconoclasm for two but the Jay Driller is blocked. The Cutthroat Driver finishes Rush at 9:12.

Rating: B-. So the crazy man, who is likely the next in line for the World Title shot, was running away in fear from a man who makes weird faces and runs around the ring like a dog. This was after the same running man scared the Trios Champions so badly that their best solution was to stand there like statues. All for the sake of someone who hasn’t won a match in AEW in over a year. But he’s weird and wacky so it’s all ok.

Post match Briscoe talks about his brother passing away and then having his own birthday a few weeks later. Instead of having birthday cake with his brother, he had to debut in AEW alone. Then he met some people who were down to conglomerate and it gave him some joy about being a wrestler again.

Then he crossed paths with MJF, who tried to take that joy away. Briscoe beat him once and MJF left so the joy was back. Now MJF Is back again and Briscoe wants the World Title. MJF calls himself the Devil, but the book says the Devil loses. Heck of a promo. Maybe next time don’t do it after he was running scared from a guy acting like a dog.

Video on Kevin Knight turning on Mike Bailey.

Here is the Triangle Of Madness, with Thekla explaining that she hates Stardom because they don’t like how she treated their stars. She wants the rest of her team to win gold, but she’s focused on Stardom. Thekla then climbs a ladder and spits on the Stardom logo.

The Death Riders work on Will Ospreay’s neck before he faces Mark Davis again. Jon Moxley comes in to say this is a different Ospreay coming after Davis. Moxley says Ospreay’s job tonight is to win, and he’s starting to see something change in Ospreay.

Andrade El Idolo vs. EK Manning

Spinning back elbow and DM finish at 39 seconds.

Post match Andrade says MJF just beat Rush, but does MJF think he can beat him? This brings out Don Callis and Jake Doyle to interrupt, which seems to have Andrade confused. After some quick praise, Callis introduces the newest member of the Family: Kevin Knight. And…that’s it. No explanation or anything. Just time for Knight’s title defense.

TNT Title: Mike Bailey vs. Kevin Knight

Knight is defending. Bailey is so mad at Knight for turning on him that he starts with a lockup. They run to the floor where Knight blocks a kick and sends him into the steps. Back in and Knight misses a springboard clothesline but avoids another kick. A clothesline sends Bailey outside again but he’s back up with a corkscrew moonsault. Back in and Knight avoids the Ultimate Weapon and hits a dropkick as we take a break.

We come back with Knight hitting a basement clothesline for two but Bailey finally connects with some kicks. Another kick sends Knight to the floor but he pops back up to shove Bailey’s moonsault down. Knight gets in a dive of his own, only for Bailey to connect with moonsault knees back inside. A backbreaker gives Knight two but Bailey kicks him in the head again. Bailey takes him up top so Jake Doyle offers a distraction, allowing Don Callis to get in a cheap shot. A super spinebuster (or something) puts Bailey down and the Crash Landing retains the title at 12:54.

Rating: B-. The match was fine and hopefully ends the Jet Speed stuff for good. That being said, way to take Knight, who felt like he could be a big deal, and put him in the Don Callis Family. I definitely look forward to him teaming with RPG Vice on Collision and being cannon fodder in whatever other feud Callis has that goes on for a year or so without getting to a point.

Post match Knight says that’s how you do it. He had to get rid of the dead weight….so he joined the Don Callis Family. And he wants to be World Champion too. There is nothing here to suggest that he needs to be part of the Family whatsoever.

The Dogs continue to mock Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, complete with kazoos. The Young Bucks come in to call them stupid and mock Finlay for being the world Bullet Club leader ever. Now that we have our required New Japan reference out of the way, a match seems likely for tonight.

MJF says Mark Briscoe doesn’t get a title shot.

Women’s Owen Hart Quarterfinals: Alex Windsor vs. ???

The surprise entrant is…the returning Mercedes Mone. She takes Windsor down without much trouble to start and hits a dropkick to cut off an early comeback. A basement dropkick connects for Windsor but Mone pulls her into the Statement Maker. That’s escaped so Mone grabs a Backstabber instead.

Windsor goes for the rope and knocks Mone to the apron, only for Mone to neckbreaker her to the floor. The Meteora off the apron puts Windsor down again and we take a break. We come back with Mone hitting Three Amigos but Windsor hits a running shot of her own. Windsor hits a running clothesline off the apron and blocks another Three Amigos back inside.

Mone gets planted but gets back up so they can head up top. Windsor is knocked down, setting up a top rope Meteora for two. The running Meteora in the corner only hits corner though and Windsor gets two off a rollup. The Backstabber cuts Windsor off though and the Statement Maker finishes at 12:26.

Rating: B-. I’m not a Mone fan, but she absolutely does feel like a big deal to have back. While I don’t want her to get right into the title picture, it’s hardly a horrible travesty to have her beat Windsor, who has mainly been in the midcard picture. This was a good enough way to bring Mone back, though I did forget how annoying it was to see her spamming the Meteora over and over.

Video on Tay Melo and Anna Jay going to a time limit draw with Megan Bayne and Lena Kross on Collision, setting up their title match on Collision.

Don Callis, with Kazuchika Okada, is glad to have Kevin Knight in the Family. Then he’s ready to see Mark Davis win the Owen Hart Tournament. Okada wants the International Title back.

Tommaso Ciampa takes credit for sending Chris Jericho home and says things have changed since Jericho had his big hiatus. Jericho can come back but it will only be worse, you stupid idiot.

Men’s Owen Hart Tournament Semifinals: Mark Davis vs. Will Ospreay

Davis’ National Title isn’t on the line (makes sense as he hasn’t actually defended it on an AEW show yet). Ospreay snaps off a running hurricanrana to start and hammers away in the corner, earning himself a rather big slam. Davis hits a running backsplash and grabs an abdominal stretch, which doesn’t last long. Instead Ospreay is back up with a handspring kick to the head and they head outside.

A kick to the head staggers Davis but he’s smart enough to move away before Ospreay can dive. Ospreay tries a tornado DDT off the apron and gets caught with a Crash Landing onto the announcers’ table. We take a break and come back with Davis getting slammed off the top for two, allowing Davis to chop away. That fires Ospreay up and he kicks Davis in the face a few times, setting up the 630 kick for two.

A German suplex drops Davis again and Ospreay gets in a springboard stomp to the arm. Davis reverses an armbar into a powerbomb though, followed by the piledriver for two. Another piledriver on the apron is blocked and Davis clotheslines him back inside. Ospreay manages a hurricanrana out to the floor with Davis beating the count. He dives back inside and Ospreay comes in from off camera with a missile dropkick in a great visual.

The Styles Clash connects for two but Davis is back up with a kick…which accidentally hits the referee. We’re 18 minutes into this match and 12 minutes into the overrun and now get a ref bump. There’s the Hidden Blade but there’s no referee so the Don Callis Family runs in for the save. The Death Riders make the save so Lance Archer is in to take them out.

Claudio Castagnoli, Brian Cage and Pac all get to run in for a save each until a springboard Oscutter hits Davis. Jake Doyle pulls the revived referee at two though so Marina Shafir jumps on his back. Doyle throws her down so Jon Moxley runs in to go after Doyle, allowing Pac to hit a big dive.

Then Kyle Fletcher runs in to break up the Stormbreaker but Konosuke Takeshita pulls him to the floor for a brawl. Davis grabs a screwdriver and gets hit with the Hidden Blade but there’s still no referee. OH MY GOODNESS JUST FINISH THE MATCH ALREADY! Another referee runs in for two and Davis spins Ospreay into a piledriver for two. Back up and Ospreay spins him into the Death Grounds for the tap at 23:05.

Rating: C. Buckle up because I’m probably going to go for awhile. I’m sure that I’ll be told that this was so awesome and such and yeah, the first two thirds or so were rather good. It was Davis getting to continue his awesome run and feel like a big threat to Ospreay, who he has beaten before. They were clicking for the most part and having a good match. But that’s not how things work around here.

No no, just having a good match isn’t enough. Instead, we needed to bring in about 12 people with three different stories for a big old spectacle. Writing up all of the people running in made me feel like I was seven years old and writing down all the superheroes and TV characters I’d want to come to my birthday party. I’m sure it was fun to have all those people run in because the two stables have about 18 people between them, but that doesn’t make for a good TV presentation.

But that’s how AEW has to be. This was the semifinals of a #1 contenders match and the World Title match from this whole tournament isn’t happening for almost three months. The semifinals had a dozen run ins, a ref bump and the return of the screwdriver. There was absolutely no reason for this match to be such a circus or go anywhere near this long. It was a spectacle for the sake of having all these people in there for STABLE WARZ (which is a totally original idea in AEW and not something they have driven into the ground over the years).

I’m sure this will probably tie into this year’s Blood & Guts and that had to be built up here. It’s not like there was any other place to do it outside of a tournament to go to another pay per view before we wait two months for the title match. This was just the semifinals too! What are they going to have for the finals? Nothing like this probably, because that’s the finals, where the wrestling is allowed to sell itself.

No, instead we had to have this be a big stable fight because that’s what Tony Khan thinks is good booking: throwing as much stuff out there as he can week after week whether it needs to be there or not. I liked most of this match and then it turned into something that felt like it belonged on a Vince Russo show. In short, just stop doing so much already, because you’re wasting what could have been a heck of a match.

Overall Rating: C. This show was one of the most frustrating things that I’ve seen in a very long time. As usual, the wrestling was good and I’m not taking any of that away from the wrestlers. They were out there working hard and some of the matches were rather nice, with the opener probably being the best on the show. That’s not the issue here and it rarely ever is with AEW.

This show featured some entertaining action, a heck of an emotional promo from Briscoe, a big return in Mone (I’m far from a fan but she is absolutely a big star around here and I can see why she’s in this spot so soon). It even set up a few possible options for World Title matches and got us closer to Forbidden Door.

You know what I’m going to remember about this show though? Mark Briscoe running away in fear from low level weird guy Lio Rush, who also scared the Conglomeration into standing still like statues. That’s in addition to Kevin Knight, who was looking like a potentially strong heel, joining the Don Callis Family because they just aren’t on the shows enough lately.

There’s also “it’s Forbidden Door season so you better know all these things about promotions from around the world because we get to have guest stars! This is totally different from when these wrestlers are here every month because crossovers are really important to the TV show for….they’re just awesome ok? Oh and don’t forget the main event, featuring more wrestlers than some pay per views, because an established story between two good wrestlers isn’t enough. We just needed those run-ins and other stories to be involved.

This week was everything that I can’t stand about Tony Khan’s booking rolled into one show. It was a bunch of ideas that I’m sure made he and his friends laugh their heads off making it to television, him getting to bring in a bunch of wrestlers from other promotions because he thinks that his e-fed ideas make for good shows, and, of course, MORE MORE MORE! Everything has to be more because that’s just how things work in Tony’s mind. Longer shows, more people, more action, more promotions, more everything.

I legitimately got annoyed at this show more than once, which is frustrating as AEW has been having some better efforts lately. Instead though, they revert back to form as Forbidden Door rolls around, because it’s about getting in a bunch of stuff that is there because the calendar says so. Next week’s show is about an hour and fifteen minutes from my house. I have the show written down on my things to do list and planned on going. This show might have convinced me otherwise, as the idea of paying to see something like this is almost scary. As usual, the wrestling was fine, but someone sedate Tony already.

Results
Maxwell Jacob Friedman b. Rush – LeBell Lock
Mark Briscoe b. Lio Rush – Cutthroat Driver
Andrade El Idolo b. EK Manning – DM
Kevin Knight b. Mike Bailey – Crash Landing
Mercedes Mone b. Alex Windsor – Statement Maker
Will Ospreay b. Mark Davis – Death Grounds

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

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

Dynamite
Date: May 27, 2026
Location: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Taz, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

We’re done with Double Or Nothing and MJF got the World Title back from Darby Allin. That’s the big story, but it wasn’t the last part of the show. After the title change, Kevin Knight came to the ring and attacked Allin, turning evil in the process. Other than that, we are about a month away from Double Or Nothing and we need some Owen Hart Cup finalists. Odds are we’re get closer to those this week, especially since we have another hour of Collision after this show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Double Or Nothing if you need a recap.

Back at Double Or Nothing, Will Ospreay was happy with his win and ran into Kenny Omega. They get to the point, with Omega asking why Ospreay is hanging out with the Death Riders. Omega said Ospreay could have trained with him if he wanted the World Title, but Ospreay points out that Omega is barely ever here.

That leaves Omega without much of a defense but as a friend, he wants Ospreay to watch out for the Death Riders. Ospreay doesn’t seem offended but here is Jon Moxley to say that’s good advice. Moxley gives Ospreay a bag of ice and says the truck is outside. With Moxley gone, Omega says Ospreay can call anytime and they seem to part as friends.

Here is Kevin Knight for a chat. He knows everyone wants to know why he attacked Darby Allin. The answer is because Allin let them all down and even though they’re in Philadelphia, he’s not trusting the process. Knight was the last person to beat MJF but he didn’t get a title shot.

Instead Knight was sitting on the bench even though he isn’t a bench player. He wasn’t wasting any time because he should be in the main event. This brings out Mike Bailey (in a less than nice jacket) who thinks Knight can turn around and apologize. Knight ignores the handshake and lays Bailey out. That’s a smart move.

Ricochet, with the Demand, isn’t worried about Chris Jericho tonight, even if everyone else is banned from ringside.

Chris Jericho vs. Ricochet

Everyone is banned from ringside. I take it that doesn’t involve commentary or the production crew but I guess that’s implied. Ricochet starts fast and kicks him into the corner but Jericho is up with a backdrop to the floor. Jericho hits a dive and loads up the announcers’ table for the Walls on said table. With that broken up, Ricochet sweeps the leg off the apron and starts going after the leg as we take a break.

We come back with Jericho hitting a Death Valley Driver on the apron and they’re both down on the floor. They get back inside where Jericho tries the Lionsault but has to switch to a springboard back elbow as Ricochet gets up. The threat of the Judas Effect sends Ricochet back outside and he snapmares Jericho over the top. The suicide dive and running flip dive connect, as does a springboard Phoenix splash to give Ricochet two back inside.

Jericho is right back up with another Walls but Ricochet goes after the banged up knee to escape. Ricochet uses the referee as a distraction and hits Jericho low but misses the 630. Jericho’s Codebreaker gets two and there’s the Judas Effect into a not so clean Lionsault to pin Ricochet at 13:57.

Rating: B. This was the kind of match that Jericho needed as they didn’t do any shenanigans and he won clean (well, mostly clean as the Lionsault landed on Ricochet’s face) in the end. That’s how this should have gone and it wound up being a good TV match. Jericho can still go in the ring when he has to, but the situation has to be set up right, as it was here.

Post match Jericho celebrates but Tommaso Ciampa runs in to jump him from behind. The running knee leaves Jericho laying.

Andrade El Idolo wants the world Title because he’s that awesome and better than MJF.

Orange Cassidy vs. Lio Rush vs. Brian Cage vs. Rush

For the sake of simplicity, Lio Rush is “Lio” and Rush is “Rush”. Cage sends Lio outside to start and Cassidy is tossed as well, leaving the power guys to go at it. Rush cuts off a charge with a shot to the face but they knock each other down, allowing Cassidy and Lio to come in and get two each.

Lio starts running the ropes to confuse Cassidy before sending him to the apron. A handspring kick to the head knocks Cassidy outside but Cage pulls a suicide dive out of the air. Back in and Rush hits the Tranquilo pose as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy dropping his top rope elbow on Cage, who muscles him up with an apron superplex. Lio is dropped with a Falcon Arrow for two more but Cassidy manages a Stundog Millionaire to send Cage outside.

The diving tornado DDT plants Cage again but here is Lance Archer to cut Cassidy off. Cue the returning Jake Doyle to go after Cassidy, with Roderick Strong running in for the save. The teams brawl off, with Cassidy being carried to the back. Lio hits a quick springboard Stunner on Rush but misses the Final Hour. Rush sends him into the barricade and chokes a bit, setting up the Bull’s Horns for the win at 12:10.

Rating: B-. It was little more than a showcase match and that’s how it was described. Thankfully once two of them left, Rush didn’t waste time in running through Lio, which is how this should have ended. It was a good enough match with Cassidy doing his thing and Cage and Rush beating each other up. If nothing else, Rush beating someone with some actual status is nice to see.

MJF runs into Kevin Knight and thanks him for the beatdown on Sunday. Knight says he’s coming for the World Title, which doesn’t sit well with MJF. Kyle Fletcher comes in to stare Knight down and Don Callis likes what he sees.

Video on Mark Briscoe, including some cool old Briscoe Brothers footage.

The Brawling Birds aren’t happy with Jamie Hayter losing on Sunday but Alex Windsor is ready for whomever she is facing in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup.

Here is MJF for some bragging. He’s rather pleased with being a three time World Champion by the time he’s thirty years old and they will talk about him for years to come. The banner and confetti fall but here is Mark Briscoe to interrupt. He calls MJF a stranger in a strange place here in Philadelphia, almost like he’s a penguin.

Briscoe accuses MJF of thinking he’s above everyone else, but Briscoe beat him not too long ago. So he wants a title shot and asks if MJF is going to man up. That’s a firm “no” because this is a business and Briscoe isn’t business. MJF goes to leave but gets cut off by Rush, who wants the title as well. MJF says no to tonight but actually agrees for next week. That sounds shenanigansy.

Jack Perry is on his bus and uses the loudspeaker to say he’s ready for Mark Davis. Then he does a Rocky training montage.

Men’s Owen Hart Tournament First Round: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King

They fight over a lockup to start and neither can get anywhere so they stare at each other a bit more. A big running clothesline sends Castagnoli outside where King chops away and we take a break. We come back with the two of them slugging it out and hitting stereo clotheslines.

They forearm it out with Castagnoli getting the better of things but King knocks him into the corner. A forearm knocks Castagnoli into the corner for the cannonball but he’s able to cut off a suicide dive. The Neutralizer is cut off so Castagnoli uppercuts away. Swiss Death is shrugged off though and King’s big clothesline finishes at 12:02.

Rating: B-. This was about two big guys beating the fire out of each other and that’s exactly what you knew it would be the second the match was announced. I do like King advancing as there is no reason to pretend that Castagnoli is going to make a serious run in the tournament. He’s there for one purpose and he served that purpose right here.

Here are Adam Copeland and Christian Cage for a chat after winning the Tag Team Titles at Double Or Nothing. Cage loads up his catchphrase and says it wasn’t that bad, because he didn’t bang of the fans’ mothers. Ok maybe he did. Either way, FTR was the top team but not the tippy top team. Copeland is so happy that he’s bringing back the FIVE SECOND POSE!

Cage points out that there is no such thing as flash photography again, but Copeland whips out a bag of disposable cameras, which he stocked up on 25 years ago just in case. Cage is STUNNED (that’s one of the funniest facial reactions I’ve seen in a good while) as Copeland hands them out and explains the concept but the Dogs attack them to break up the pose. The beatdown is on and Cage’s bad arm is injured again. The Dogs do their own pose and promise to win the titles.

Swerve Strickland is happy with his first round win and is ready to take out Brody King in the second round.

Tay Melo/Anna Jay vs. Ava Everett/Allie Katch

After an insert promo from Lena Kross and Megan Bayne about how they aren’t impressed by Melo and Jay, we’re ready to go. Katch is sent into the corner and hit with some running shots to the face to start. Everett comes in and gets kicked down as well, setting up a Gory Bomb into Melo’s knee for the pin at 1:13. Total squash.

Mike Bailey wants to face Kevin Knight.

Men’s Owen Hart Tournament First Round: Mark Davis vs. Jack Perry

Non-title and Davis jumps him to start fast so the beating can ensue. Back up and Perry takes Davis’ eye patch and sends him outside for the suicide dives. There’s the running flip dive as well and we take a break with Davis in trouble. We come back with King fighting back and sending him hard into the barricade.

Perry can’t piledrive him on the apron but can knock him put him on the ropes for a hurricanrana. Back in and top rope moonsault gets two, followed by a step up backsplash for two more on Davis. Perry sends him outside and hits a sliding wheelbarrow bulldog but Davis is fine enough to hit a suplex onto the apron.

We take another break and come back with Perry having lost his shoes but being able to hit a top rope DDT. They trade rollups for two each and Perry hits his own piledriver for two. The Snare Trap goes on until Davis makes the rope and is up with a huge clothesline. They go up top and Davis knocks him into a super piledriver for the pin at 17:25.

Rating: B+. These guys beat the fire out of each other and it was fun to see Davis getting another win. If nothing else, it’s good to see a champion get a pin rather than losing right out of the blocks. Perry is going to be fine and he lost to that big of a move so it’s not like it’s some quick upset.

Overall Rating: B+. They had a good followup to the pay per view here with enough action and storyline advancement to make for a fun show. MJF having to deal with a bunch of people makes sense, and it seems like we’re well on the way to Ospreay getting the big title win in England. Good stuff here and I could go for seeing what they’re setting up for the summer.

Results
Chris Jericho b. Ricochet – Lionsault
Rush b. Orange Cassidy, Brian Cage and Lio Rush – Bull’s Horns to Lio
Brody King b. Claudio Castagnoli – Clothesline
Tay Melo/Anna Jay b. Ava Everett/Allie Katch – Gory Bomb into a knee to Everett
Mark Davis b. Jack Perry – Super piledriver

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

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

Dynamite
Date: May 20, 2026
Location: Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, Maine
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We’re getting another three hour block this week as Collision is taking place tonight in a one hour version due to this weekend’s Double Or Nothing event. As has been the case with recent shows, Darby Allin is defending the World Title again, this time against Mike Bailey. That could be quite the showdown so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Earlier today, Chris Jericho and the Young Bucks were outside near a lighthouse to talk about tonight’s six man tag match and the biggest Stadium Stampede of all time this weekend. They imply having a special team name too. It’s going to be Bucks Of Jericho isn’t it?

Chris Jericho/Young Bucks vs. Don Callis Family/Ricochet

Yeah it’s Bucks Of Jericho. On the other side you have Andrade El Idolo/Mark Davis for the Family. Ricochet tags out immediately (that has been done WAY too often lately and it could use a long break) so it’s Andrade vs. Jericho to start things off. Naturally Andrade bails out to the floor for a photo with some women, earning chops from Jericho. Back in and Andrade gets taken into the corner, setting up a Risky Business/fish drop combination.

Matt gets driven into the corner as well but fights out rather quickly, allowing Nick to come in and clean house. The Bucks hit stereo dives and Jericho hits a top rope version of his own and we take a break. We come back with Nick fighting out of trouble and bringing in Jericho, meaning Ricochet bails again. Everything breaks down and Jericho and the Bucks hit a bunch of right hands on top, setting up three straight super hurricanranas.

Ricochet runs in to make a save so the Bucks start firing off the superkicks. Andrade is back up but gets low blowed into a step up Canadian Destroyer. Jericho knocks Ricochet to the floor for a baseball slide and they crash through some tables. Back in and More Bang From Your Buck is broken up by Davis. The Bucks take out Andrade but here are the Dogs to take Nick out. A foreign object shot knocks Matt cold for the pin at 13:58.

Rating: B-. This was the usual “here’s everything going nuts and people doing all kinds of stuff”, meaning it was entertaining but little more than a preview for Stadium Stampede. That makes sense and thankfully they didn’t go too long or have too many people involved. I’m not wild on Stadium Stampede, but the preview version went well enough.

Post match the beatdown is on but Jack Perry makes the save with…a bag of onions. Yeah of course. Anyway the Hurt Syndicate comes in to help clear the bad guys out with some of the brawls going into the crowd. Jericho and company stand tall.

Video on Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kazuchika Okada.

Darby Allin says he keeps taking these title matches because he feels it. He basically says he can’t wait to get to Double Or Nothing, more or less treating Mike Bailey as the nothing challenger that he really is.

Video on MJF vs. Darby Allin.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Mark Briscoe

Anything goes. Briscoe throws in a trashcan full of weapons to start but Ciampa gets in a shot to the back to put him down. Ciampa goes under the ring to find his own trashcan full of weapons…including a mousetrap, which catches his own hand. A chair is sat up at ringside, with Ciampa being sat down for a Blockbuster. The Froggy Bow through the table is broken up and Ciampa sends him through the table instead. The cheese grater slices open Briscoe’s head (ignore that his head seemed to be bleeding first) and we take a break

We come back with Ciampa covering a stuffed chicken but Briscoe pulls the referee out. Briscoe whips out a fire extinguisher to spray Ciampa (and the air around him) and then staples barbed wire to a table. Believe it or not, that takes WAY too long and Ciampa is back up to staple a piece of paper to Briscoe’s head. Loading up a kneepad covered in thumbtacks takes way too long as well as Briscoe sends him into the ladder in the corner.

Briscoe uses a screwdriver for some stabbing but Ciampa suplexes him through the ladder for two. Back up and they slug it out, with the rather bloody Ciampa getting the better of things again. The super Air Raid Crash through some open chairs is broken up so Briscoe puts them back to back for an Iconoclasm onto their edges. A Jay Driller through the barbed wire table and the Froggy Bow finish Ciampa at 14:16.

Rating: C+. Yeah ok. This was just carnage for the sake of carnage and they lost me a few minutes into it. Much like what I’m expecting from Stadium Stampede, you could pretty much picture the two of them mapping out the stunts. It was violent and intense, but it didn’t feel like they were really fighting, which isn’t a good sign.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring to talk about the Owen Hart Tournament but Prince Nana interrupts and says he has this. He brings out Swerve Strickland but here is Bandido to jump Strickland. Bandido goes after Nana though and Strickland gets in a shot to the knee. The Vertebreaker on the chair is broken up and Bandido gorilla presses him instead. Strickland bails from the threat of said chair.

Willow Nightingale talks about some of her great moments, including a recent title defense against Red Velvet. Unfortunately she injured her shoulder and is out of the Owen Hart Cup and has to vacate the TBS Title. GAH that’s a bad one as she was having the run of her career. She doesn’t know when she’ll be back but she’ll be back on top.

Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Non-title eliminator match. O’Reilly goes after the arm to start and gets reversed into a headlock takeover. This lets Taz talk about leverage and control, which is what he does best. They get up and grapple again, with Moxley getting him into the corner to take him down. Moxley starts stomping on the fingers but wins another strike off. O’Reilly kicks away in the corner, followed by a snap suplex.

They strike it out again with Moxley getting in a body shot to put O’Reilly down. Moxley puts him against the ropes and hammers away but gets backdropped out to the floor instead. O’Reilly’s ribs/body won’t let him dive though and Moxley knocks him down again as we take a break. We come back with Moxley holding a bodyscissors until O’Reilly goes for the eyes to break it up. O’Reilly kicks the leg out and they trade some running shots against the ropes.

Some knees to the face let O’Reilly flip him over and a running boot puts Moxley on the floor. They go outside and trade a bunch of kicks to the chest until O’Reilly goes up top. Moxley bites the head and rakes the back, setting up a superplex to leave them both down again. O’Reilly escapes a choke and grabs the ankle lock, which is reversed into the bulldog choke. The rope is reached for the break and O’Reilly gets to the apron to twist the arm down.

A running dropkick has Moxley in more trouble but Moxley is back with a cutter gets two. O’Reilly grabs a choke of his own, setting up a t-bone suplex. One heck of a PK drops Moxley again but he pops up and, say it with me, they trade forearms. We have less than a minute to go as Moxley misses a Stomp and gets ankle locked again. The grapevine goes on but Moxley manages to make it through the time for the draw at 20:00.

Rating: B. That’s our Moxley. He’s tapped to O’Reilly before but he won’t do it again because he’s this awesome tough guy who doesn’t tap anymore because now he’s just too tough. This is a rather basic way to set up a rematch at the pay per view and while I’m not sure why I’d want to see them do it again so soon after a twenty minute draw, it does make sense and I’ll take that. Just imagine how many times they can trade forearms in a rematch!

Hold on though as O’Reilly says Moxley survived him so he wants a no time limit title match.

Kris Statlander is upset over Willow Nightingale but Hikaru Shida interrupts, saying they’re here to watch and want the women to fight hard in their upcoming match.

Rush wants Darby Allin next week if he survives his next title defenses.

Athena/Triangle Of Madness vs. Thunder Rosa/Mina Shirakawa/Brawling Birds

Athena wins a wrestle off with Rosa to start and shakes a bit before handing it off to Blue. Windsor comes in and gets caught in a headlock but Hayter tags herself in and, after accidentally kicking Windsor, boots Blue down for one instead. Shirakawa comes in to take over on Thekla and hits a slingshot spinning splash.

We take a break and come back with Blue pulling Shirakawa down by the hair and a Tarantula in the corner. Hayter tries to make a save and gets caught in an Upside Down, leaving Shirakawa to get beaten up even more. Shirakawa fights out of the corner and brings in Rosa to clean house, including a running shot to Blue in the corner. Everything breaks down and Athena gets to clean house until she is the only one left standing. Shirakawa tornado DDTs Athena on the floor and Blue kicks Rosa down inside. Thekla’s belt shot is cut off but Hart mists Rosa, allowing Thekla to roll her up for the pin at 9:43.

Rating: B-. There was a lot going on here and there is only so much you can do with that many people and a somewhat limited amount of time. Athena got to showcase herself while she could but as usual, she feels like someone who AEW tolerates rather than wants to push. Hopefully she gets to do something in the tournament, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The match was pretty good as a preview for Sunday and the tournament, so at least it accomplished its goals.

Kevin Knight gives Mike Bailey a pep talk and wants a shot at the World Title. Works for Bailey.

The Death Riders do group pushups and he’s ready for Kyle O’Reilly in their no time limit match at Double Or Nothing. Moxley thanks O’Reilly for giving him a chance to practice what he preached. O’Reilly survived tonight and on Sunday he gets to try his odds and see if he can go double or nothing (thankfully Moxley does acknowledge that it’s kind of a lame line).

AEW World Title: Mike Bailey vs. Darby Allin

Allin is defending and before the bell, here is MJF to join commentary. Bailey hits…I think a kick but the camera was on MJF as we start. The Tornado Kick connects less than fifteen seconds in and Allin has to go to the apron to avoid the Ultimate Weapon. The triangle moonsault hits Allin on the floor and Bailey slams him outside as well. That means a double knee drop off the steps but Allin crotches him on the barricade. The Scorpion Death Drop plants Bailey onto the barricade and we take a break.

We come back with the two of them still on the floor and Allin using the steps to crush Bailey’s foot. They get back inside with Bailey knocking him down again but missing the Ultimate Weapon. The Coffin Drop connects but MJF puts the foot on the rope. Cue Kevin Knight to yell at MJF, who backs off and sits back down. Bailey kicks Allin the head a few times for two before the moonsault knees connect as well. The Flamenco Driver is countered into a Scorpion Death Drop but the Scorpion Deathlock sends Bailey to the rope. A Coffin Drop sets up another Deathlock to retain the title at 11:00.

Rating: B. The best thing here is they didn’t go as insane with Allin surviving stuff. That has been an issue with some of his title defenses and thankfully it wasn’t quite so badly. Bailey never felt like he was a real threat to win the title and they didn’t spend nearly as much time on a match that didn’t need it. Allin got beaten up, made a comeback and retained. Simple, yet effective here.

MJF storms off to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a good example of a show where my bigger issues were more around the style being presented. The main portion of this show felt like it was all about the insanity or violence and more the people just getting to do what they liked. That being said, the last two matches were better and Moxley vs. O’Reilly had some moments. I can accept that some of the things they did accomplished what they were trying but I’m just not a fan, as that’s not the same thing as being bad. I didn’t have a great time for a lot of this, but it did get better by the end.

Results
Don Callis Family/Ricochet b. Young Bucks/Chris Jericho – Foreign object shot to Matt
Mark Briscoe b. Tommaso Ciampa – Froggy Bow
Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly went to a time limit draw
Athena/Triangle Of Madness b. Brawling Birds/Thunder Rosa/Mina Shirakawa – Mist to Rosa
Darby Allin b. Mike Bailey – 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:

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

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

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

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video on Stadium Stampede.

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

Mike Bailey vs. Westbrook

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

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

TNT Title: Kevin Knight vs. ???

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

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

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

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

Here are the Men’s Owen Hart Cup brackets:

Samoa Joe
Will Ospreay

Mark Davis
Jack Perry

Swerve Strickland
Bandido

Claudio Castagnoli
Brody King

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

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

Will Ospreay vs. Ace Austin

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament brackets:

Persephone
Hazuki

Willow Nightingale
Alex Windsor

Mina Shirakawa
Athena

Skye Blue
Sareee

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

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

Triangle Of Madness vs. Hikaru Shida/Brawling Birds

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

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

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

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

Video on Rush.

AEW World Title: Darby Allin vs. Konosuke Takeshita

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

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

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

We get a ten bell salute to Turner.

Opening sequence.

Jon Moxley vs. Juice Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

Orange Cassidy vs. Dax Harwood

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

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

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

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

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

Video on Rush.

Last week, the Demand jumped Chris Jericho.

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

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

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

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

International Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Keith

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

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

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

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

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

Video on Andrade El Idolo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AEW World Title: Darby Allin vs. Kevin Knight

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

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

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

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

Sting comes out to celebrate to end the show.

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

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

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

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