AEW Collision – May 27, 2026: That’s A Sharp One

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

It’s the third of three hours this week as we’re still coming off of Double Or Nothing. This time around we have a pretty big main event in the form of a street fight between Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida. Other than that, it’s likely your usual Collision, but at half the size. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with Mark Davis throwing Jack Perry (who Davis just beat in the Dynamite main event) out of the ring. Don Callis threatens Will Ospreay, who is Davis’ second round opponent. With that out of the way, Callis insults Konosuke Takeshita, who was never anything compared to Kyle Fletcher.

Cue Fletcher, who gets a big hug from Fletcher and brags about being back from a serious injury so soon. He’s a genetic freak and officially medically cleared to return to the ring. He wanted to get back to cut away the dead weight of the Don Callis Family, which means Takeshita himself. Cue Takeshita…and the Conglomeration, to quickly clear the ring. Takeshita is glad to have his title back and wants Fletcher, who seems interested.

Will Ospreay is fired up for a six man. Marina Shafir and Jon Moxley are cool with Ospreay, but Pac isn’t so thrilled.

Death Riders/Will Ospreay vs. Rascalz

Xavier snaps off some headscissors to take Ospreay down to start but gets kicked in the chest. The annoyed Pac comes in to cravate Xavier but it’s off to Wentz, who is chopped back into the corner. The Rascalz fight back and hit the dives to the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Ospreay hitting a double handspring Pele kick, allowing the tag back to Pac. House is quickly cleaned and Reed is suplexed into the corner for two. The Riders hit the running clotheslines in the corner and Pac and Ospreay hit stereo running clip dives. Back in and Reed ducks Moxley’s clothesline and hits a jumping cutter. Ospreay and Pac are back in to beat on the Rascalz, setting up a triple submission for the tap (Ospreay making Reed tap to the cross armbreaker is what seems to count) at 10:22.

Rating: B-. The ending was never really in doubt but at least it wasn’t a straight up squash. Instead this was more the Death Riders reining the Rascalz in like fish and eventually catching them in some holds. That’s a fine way to go, even if it continues to make the Rascalz look that much less important week after week.

The Opps say that even though things haven’t been going well, the mission doesn’t change. That being said, Samoa Joe is stepping away for a few months for another movie/TV role. Sweet goodness just disband the team already if the lineup keeps changing this often.

Video on Kris Statlander vs. Hikaru Shida, with both of them talking about how sick they are of each other.

Lena Kross and Megan Bayne have laid out Tay Melo and Anna Jay.

Andrade El Idolo vs. Ace Austin

Andrade’s headlock is broken up to start so he snaps off a hurricanrana. Austin sends him into the ropes for the pose and we take a break. We come back with Andrade knocking Austin down and Andrade poses with a woman on the floor. Said woman is pulled over the barricade for a better picture, allowing Austin to get in a shot of his own.

A standing legdrop hits Andrade, who is sat on top for a running anklescissors. The Death Valley Driver gives Austin two but Andrade knocks him into the corner. The running knees miss for Andrade though and Austin is back with a springboard kick to the face. Andrade isn’t having that and hits the spinning elbow, followed by the DM for the pin at 8:09.

Rating: B-. It’s another good performance from Austin, who loses while looking impressive in the process. I know that’s AEW’s standard practice but it would be nice to see him win something over a more impressive name for once. Or just not lose for a change, though I can’t really imagine either happening anytime soon.

Kris Statlander vs. Hikaru Shida

Anything goes street fight. They slug it out to start and Statlander kicks her out to the floor. Statlander grabs a chair but takes too long, allowing Shida to sit it on the top rope. They go outside together with Statlander being sent into the barricade for a hard beating. That just earns Shida a hard powerbomb onto the floor and they go up towards the entrance. Make that into the back, with the fans not approving. Shida suplexes her onto a piece of barricade and we take a break.

We come back with Statlander superplexing her onto a pile of chairs and a chair/kendo stick duel breaking out. Statlander’s moonsault hits chairs and Shida nails a top rope Meteora for two. Shida hits a Falcon Arrow, with Statlander nipping up to escape in a cool moment. Statlander fires a chair at her head and it’s time to set up a table on one side of the floor and chairs on the other.

Shida is Death Valley Drivered onto the open chairs but Statlander can’t bring herself to swinging some light tubes. Instead Shida kicks her down and breaks the tubes over her back, cutting Statlander open. They fight to the apron, where Statlander hits a Tombstone to put Shida through the table. Cue Harley Cameron to cheer Statlander on, with Staturday Night Fever finishing Shida at 15:56.

Rating: C+. Well they did indeed have a street fight because they were in Philadelphia, making it a requirement. Ignore that it was their first singles match against each other but you have to keep the ECW fans happy. This was more violence for the sake of violence, with the light tubes doing their usual job of dimming any interest I had in the thing.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a totally fine Collision, even if it came a good bit later than the usual show. The main event felt enough like a main event to warrant that spot, even if we have another hour for the “real” main event on Saturday. It’s not the best feeling to have a three hour block so soon after a five hour pay per view, but it’s both not AEW’s fault and the action was good enough.

Results
Death Riders b. Rascalz – Cross armbreaker to Reed
Andrade El Idolo b. Ace Austin – DM
Kris Statlander b. Hikaru Shida – Staturday Night Fever

 

 

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Dynamite – May 6, 2026: It Had To Be There

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

 

 

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AEW Collision – May 2, 2026: Yeah That Was Great

Collision
Date: May 2, 2026
Location: Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re firmly into the Darby Allin title reign now and that very well could have something tied into this week as well. Other than that, we’re on the way to Double Or Nothing in a few weeks and that means the card needs to be put together. Some of the matches are either set or practically made so maybe we get some movement in that direction this week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Death Riders/The Dogs vs. Top Flight/Rascalz

The Rascalz and Top Flight jump the villains to start and the brawl is on the floor before the bell. The bell does indeed ring and Reed is right there with a big dive onto a pile at ringside. Back in and Connors misses a charge into the corner, allowing Wentz to strike away in the corner. Finlay comes in to stomp Wentz in the corner but it’s quickly off to Darius to strike away at Pac.

That doesn’t last long either as Moxley comes in to rain down right hands in the corner but Darius fires off some forearms. Darius gives him a suplex into Dante’s slingshot hilo, allowing Reed to hit a springboard spinning dropkick. Castagnoli drops Reed on the floor though and we get a stream of knockdowns outside. Back in and Reed dives into Castagnoli’s uppercut as we take a break.

We come back with Reed fighting out of trouble but getting taken right back down. Reed gets close to the tag but the other villains run in to knock his partners off the apron. The diving tag brings Xavier in a few seconds later and everything breaks down. Connors gets double stomped for two but the push moonsault is broken up. A spear gets two on Wentz but he knocks Connors down, allowing the tag back to Darius.

Everything breaks down and Pac gets taken down with a springboard Downward Spiral for two more. Finlay gets caught in the wrong corner and pummeled with a string of strikes but he shoves Reed into Wentz. A high/low hits Xavier but the Rascalz are back in with stereo springboard Codebreakers. Moxley gets tornado DDTed for two, only for Pac’s big lariat to drop Darius. The Brutalizer makes Darius tap at 16:23.

Rating: B. I mean, yeah it’s a lot of fun and you could tell the people involved had a great time. The thing is, I feel like I’ve seen a version of this match or something really close to it dozens of times in AEW. That doesn’t make it bad in any way, but if you want to get the “I can’t believe I just saw a match like that” feeling, maybe don’t have multiple versions of it every week.

Jack Perry, and his bus, are on the way.

National Title: Jack Perry vs. Mascara Dorada

Perry is defending and, after a handshake, goes for the wristlock. A headlock takeover works a bit better for Perry and he follows it up with a monkey flip. Back up and quite the headscissors drops Perry for a change and they trade very springboardy wristdrags. Dorada sends him crashing out to the floor and then into the crowd, where Perry comes up swinging. They slug it out on the barricade until Dorada hits a Canadian Destroyer.

We take a break and come back with the two of them trading flips until Perry superkicks him into a poisonrana. Dorada’s Code Red drops Perry and they both need a breather. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Perry two more and he sends Dorada outside for a moonsault. Back in and Dorada kicks his leg out and loads up an electric chair, which is flipped into a neckbreaker for a rather near fall.

The 450 gets two more and Dorada knees him out of the air. A Razor’s Edge Dominator plants Perry for another near fall but the shooting star press hits raised knees. Dorada goes up top again but gets pulled down with a super hurricanrana for the pin to retain the title at 14:20.

Rating: A-. This got rather outstanding by the end and that’s no surprise given Dorada was in there. He shows up every so often and has become a remarkable treat around here. That fast paced style works so well for him and that was certain the case with this one. Perry is a lot better when he’s firmly in the midcard where he belongs because he can do stuff like this. Very good stuff here as they kept pulling me in further, which doesn’t happen often.

On Dynamite, Kris Statlander snapped on Hikaru Shida for costing them the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Shida promised to make it up to her.

Conglomeration vs. MxM TV

Non-title. O’Reilly and Mansoor start things off with some kicks sending Mansoor over for the tag to TV. That’s fine with O’Reilly, who hammers away in the corner to put TV in trouble. Cassidy takes too long to hit a single punch though and TV kicks him down, followed by a big dive to the floor. MxM poses inside and it’s a side kick/German suplex combination to Cassidy.

Starship Pain gets two as everything breaks down. What looks like a double Doomsday Device is broken up and Mansoor gets crotched on top. Madden gets Angle Slammed and low bridged to the floor, with Cassidy sitting on O’Reilly’s shoulders. Cassidy chokeshoves Mansoor onto Madden and Cassidy’s falling top rope elbow finishes TV at 4:29.

Rating: C+. Yeah this was fine, with the champs getting to show off a bit against an established team. It was nice to see the Conglomeration win a shorter match for a change and look dominant enough. After a pair of long, wild matches, this was a nice change of pace and it went well.

Post match Tommaso Ciampa comes out for the staredown.

We get a rather somber moment with commentary wishing Rebel the best in her health situation. That’s a nice thing to see, but dang the whole situation is a punch to the gut.

We recap Will Ospreay seemingly joining the Death Riders.

TBS Title: Willow Nightingale vs. Anna Jay

Nightingale is defending in an Open Challenge and this is Jay’s first match since November. Jay’s early rollup attempt is blocked so she sits Jay on top instead. Nightingale wants Jay to show her fire, which apparently means a sunset flip for two. Some clotheslines in the corner have Jay in trouble but she avoids a backsplash. The running flipping neckbreaker gets two and Jay fires off the kicks in the corner. Nightingale sends her outside though and hits a flip dive off the apron.

We take a break and come back with Jay fighting back but getting sent into the corner again. A superplex drops Jay and a Death Valley Driver gets two. Jay kicks her in the face and grabs an X Factor for two, followed by the Queenslayer. Nightingale breaks that up though and grabs the Babe With The Powerbomb to retain at 9:45.

Rating: C+. It’s good to have Jay back, as she is one of the long lasting members of the division. At the same time, it seems like nothing has changed for her as she continues to lose big matches. The good thing is Nightingale gets another win, though she’s going to need a big challenger sooner rather than later.

Hikaru Shida’s make up gift to Kris Statlander is…a match against Harley Cameron and Mina Shirakawa. Shouting ensues.

Death Riders vs. Bang Bang Gang

Yuta and Robinson start things off with the former quickly being taken into the wrong corner. That’s broken up and a rolling tag brings Austin in to fight back. A basement dropkick hits Yuta and Austin hits a kick from the apron. That means the handstand can ensue, only for Austin to get dropkicked to the floor. Back in and Garcia hammers away in the corner as we take a break.

We come back with Austin still in trouble, with the Riders hitting a string of running shots in the corner. Austin fights out of Garcia’s front facelock and grabs a Death Valley Driver, allowing Robinson to come back in. House is quickly cleaned but Marina Shafir’s distraction lets Garcia get in a cheap shot. That’s shrugged off and Robinson hammers away on the now bleeding Yuta.

A lariat gives Robinson two as everything stays broken down. Austin is flipped over the top to the floor, meaning it’s a Fastball Special for two on Robinson. Back in and Austin hits his springboard spinning kick to the head but walks into an Angle Slam. Robinson is back up with his forward DDT and actually pins Garcia at 12:07.

Rating: B-. Well dang man. I wasn’t expecting that so well done on having a surprise result for a change. It helps when the Gang never wins anything of note so having them beat an established team is a good thing. The group still needs reinforcements, but a win is better than nothing.

Post match Jon Moxley freaks out and Robinson motions that he wants the Continental Title. That brings the Riders in for the beatdown but the Gunns are back to make the save. Yuta is laid out with the 3:10 To Yuma.

Megan Bayne and Lena Kross brag about their success.

Skye Blue vs. Nixi XS

Blue kicks her in the face at the bell and another boot sends Nixi out to the floor. A hanging swinging neckbreaker drops Nixi again and it’s a Cheeky Nandos Kick back inside. The running knee connects but Blue pulls her up at two. The Descent Into Madness finishes for Blue at 2:15. Complete squash.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

TNT Title: Hook vs. Kevin Knight

Hook, with Katsuyori Shibata, is challenging and takes Knight down by the leg to start. Back up and Knight gets in a shot to the arm before they fight over a lockup on the ropes. Hook flips out of a hiptoss attempt before avoiding a dropkick, leaving Knight frustrated. With nothing working, Knight slugs away in the corner and dropkicks him to the floor. The slingshot dive misses though and Hook suplexes him over the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Hook’s northern lights suplex getting two. Knight makes the clothesline comeback and hits the spinning splash for two of his own. A super hurricanrana sends Hook flying and a running dropkick hits him in the corner. The referee gets distracted though and Shibata crotches Knight on top. A belly to belly superplex and a high angle suplex give Hook two but Redrum is countered. Knight takes Shibata out and hits a running DDT into the UFO Splash to retain at 12:06.

Rating: C+. The match was fine for an extended Knight workout, but that’s about all it was. There was zero reason to believe that Hook was going to win the title, especially from someone who has been on a roll like Knight. As a result, the Opps, or at least half of them, were little more than some pests that had to be dealt with here. In other words, it’s exactly what you would expect from the Opps if Joe isn’t involved.

Overall Rating: B+. Any show with those first two matches is going to be a hit, even if the rest of the show was somewhat mediocre. This show felt like the usual Collision, but dang that Perry vs. Dorada match was awesome. The in-ring side of things have been on a roll lately in AEW and if they can get their stories close to that level, the place will be hard to stop. Check out the first two matches here, as they’re rather great.

Results
Death Riders/The Dogs b. Top Flight/Rascalz – Brutalizer to Darius
Jack Perry b. Mascara Dorada – Super hurricanrana
Conglomeration b. MxM TV – Top rope elbow to TV
Willow Nightingale b. Anna Jay – Babe With The Powerbomb
Bang Bang Gang b. Death Riders – Forward DDT to Garcia
Skye Blue b. Nixi XS – Descent Into Madness
Kevin Knight b. Hook – UFO Splash

 

 

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

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AEW Collision – April 25, 2026: They’re It

Collision
Date: April 25, 2026
Location: Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur

We’re back on Saturday nights and hopefully that doesn’t mean we’re back to the usual less than important shows. There are two title matches tonight and naturally the Don Callis Family is challenging in both of them. Other than that, we get to hear from FTR so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

The Conglomeration is ready to go but FTR and Stokely interrupt because they have something to say to Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.

Here are FTR and Stokely to do just that. They get right to the point by accepting Copeland and Cage’s challenge for Double Or Nothing but they want this to be definitive. It can be a street fight, but they want it to be an I Quit match (Harwood: “Five letters, two words.”) so the nostalgia run can end for good. Ball’s in your court.

Trios Titles: Conglomeration vs. Don Callis Family

Lance Archer/Hechicero/Andrade El Idolo are challenging for the Family. The Conglomeration run into FTR on their way to the ring and shove FTR down. That’s rather unpleasant. Hechicero and O’Reilly go technical to start with Hechicero going after the leg. Strong comes in and backbreakers Hechicero so Cassidy can…eventually…drop an elbow.

Archer comes in and Cassidy changes his mind by bringing Strong back in. That doesn’t last long either so it’s off to Andrade vs. Cassidy. The lazy kicks don’t do much to Andrade so Cassidy steals his belt and rips the pants down, leaving Andrade staggering. Strong comes back in to hammer away in the corner but Andrade clotheslines Cassidy and steals his shirt as we take a break.

We come back with Cassidy fighting out of the corner, including a double hurricanrana to Andrade and Hechicero. O’Reilly gets the big tag and everything breaks down, with Strong tossing Cassidy into various Family members. Andrade fights back and hits Two Amigos on O’Reilly, who breaks up the third. Archer is back in to clean house, with a spinning Boss Man Slam getting two on Cassidy. The chokeslam is countered with an Orange Punch and a high/low gives Cassidy the pin at 13:25.

Rating: B-. This was a good opener with the Family being fine as the designated losers to make the new champs look strong in their first defense. It helps that the titles have changed hands on this show before so the result wasn’t entirely a formality. At the same time, Archer taking the fall doesn’t seem to be a great idea, as that isn’t how a monster tends to be treated.

After Dynamite, the Death Riders sat down with Will Ospreay, with Marina Shafir apparently wrenching his neck to fix it. Jon Moxley asks what Ospreay is trying to do. They met seven years ago and at some point, Ospreay needs to realize that his body will break down. There is a door he can walk through and they can settle up, with Moxley sliding him a chair. Moxley says Ospreay can be anything he wants to be, or be like everyone else. With that, Moxley lays face down on the floor and Ospreay picks up the chair…and shoves the camera away.

Death Riders/The Dogs vs. Young Bucks/Rascalz

Moxley, apparently not dead, is on commentary. Xavier and Yuta start things off and everything breaks down, with Yuta getting caught in the wrong corner. Matt gets crushed in another corner but the Rascalz fight back to knock Castagnoli down. That doesn’t last long as Garcia and Castagnoli grab Sharpshooters, only for the Bucks to sunset flip in for Sharpshooters on the Dogs (rather than, you know, saving their partners).

Xavier DDTs Yuta in the middle and small packages him for two, which breaks the four holds. Yuta suplexes Xavier out of the corner and the bad guys are in control as we take a break. We come back with Reed cleaning house, including a rather bouncy cutter to Yuta. Moxley: “This is what we live for!” There is something to be said for seeing Yuta get beaten up. Matt comes back in to roll the northern lights suplexes and Connors is knocked down.

The good guys hit a string of dives and shots from the top, only for Castagnoli to cut off Xavier’s. The Swing sends Xavier into Yuta’s dropkick but the Bucks are back in for the save. Reed does his big running cutter to drop Castagnoli onto the pile at ringside, leaving Wentz to hit a top rope cutter on Finlay. A suplex is loaded up but reversed, with Wentz being lifted up so Connors’ top rope spear can finish him at 14:09.

Rating: B. The match was the usual insane collection of spots and dives…and my goodness I cannot bring myself to care. I feel like I’ve seen this match about 100 times this year alone and this one just happened to be a ten man version. It’s certainly not bad and the athleticism is great, but it came and went and I’m sure we’ll see something that is basically the same at least twice in the next week.

Mina Shirakawa and Harley Cameron want Hikaru Shida to apologize, but she stands by what she said: Cameron will never be on their level. Arguing ensues.

Kris Statlander vs. B3cca

B3cca jumps her to start and gets sent into the corner to start. Statlander actually gets tied up in the ropes for some stomps and a top rope dropkick. Back in and Staturday Night Fever is broken up, with B3cca grabbing Carmella’s Code Of Silence. That’s easily reversed into Staturday Night Fever to give Statlander the pin at 1:48. B3cca got in a lot here.

Post match Statlander walks past Hikaru Shida.

Megan Bayne and Lena Kross are ready for Statlander and Shida.

Rush vs. Adam Priest

Priest takes him down by the arm to start and mocks the horns pose, meaning it’s time to chop it out. Rush isn’t having that and knocks him into the corner to stomp away. The running slap in the corner connects for Rush and we take a break. We come back with Priest hitting an Alabama Jam for two but Rush sends him outside. Stomping against the barricade has Priest in more trouble and the Bull’s Horns finish for Rush at 8:12.

Rating: C. The match was just a step above a squash, with Rush running through Priest and shrugging off his offense, as he should have. On one hand that’s how this should have gone, but it would be nice to see Rush actually do something that matters. I haven’t seen it happen in a long time and it doesn’t feel like it’s changing anytime soon.

Konosuke Takeshita is ready to face Kazuchika Okada.

Kazuchika Okada is ready to face Konosuke Takeshita.

Skye Blue/Thekla vs. Persephone/Alex Windsor

Thekla quickly hands it off to Blue, who pulls Windsor down by the hair to start. They slug it out until Windsor hits a clothesline as everything breaks down. We settle down to Persephone taking over on Blue but Thekla trips Windsor from the floor. Thekla’s double stomp off the apron connects and we take a break.

We come back with Windsor still in trouble but managing a running clothesline. Persephone comes in to send Thekla flying off a fall away slam. Everything breaks down and Persephone hits a double high crossbody. Code Blue is broken up but Persephone misses a charge in the corner. Windsor and Thekla brawl out to the floor and Persephone loads up a Razor’s Edge. Cue Julia Hart to spit mist in Persephone’s eyes though, meaning Code Blue can finish for Blue at 10:29.

Rating: C+. This was another fine match, with Hart’s run in being timed well enough. The odds can even up when Jamie Hayter comes back from injury so there is at least a logical final step with the six woman tag. I’m a bit surprised that Persephone took the fall, but it’s better than Windsor getting pinned again.

We look at MJF and Kevin Knight on Dynamite.

National Title: Jack Perry vs. El Clon

Perry, who has shaved, is defending. They run the ropes to start and sends Clon to the floor, allowing Perry to untie his hair. A dive is cut off by a raised knee and Clon sends him into the steps. That earns Clon a posting into a 619 around the post, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two. Clon gets in a quick clothesline to take over again and we take a break.

We come back with Perry getting up to trade chops, followed by Sliced Bread for two. A spinning Canadian Destroyer gives Perry two more but Clon knees him in the face for the same. Clon’s step up Lionsault is blocked though and Perry’s running knee finishes at 9:51.

Rating: B-. It’s another “here’s a title match even though you probably don’t buy that the title is in jeopardy”. That’s a good way to use the rather large roster and something that has been done with the TV Title equivalent for the better part of ever in wrestling. This worked out well enough, with Perry getting a win while we wait for him to get a better challenger.

Willow Nightingale wants new competition.

Anthony Bowens asks the Opps if he’s on the team or not. Sure. Then the Opps leave him there.

Chris Jericho/Hurt Syndicate vs. The Demand

MVP is here with Jericho and the Syndicate and sits in on commentary. Jericho and Ricochet start things off with Ricochet tagging out before doing anything. Eh it was better when Thekla did it. Everything breaks down and the six way brawl is on. Ricochet is backdropped out to the floor and Kaun is sent outside as well, leaving Jericho to look at a fan’s shirt. Jericho’s big dive to the floor connects and we take a break.

We come back with Ricochet holding Jericho in a seated abdominal stretch. Jericho gives him a backdrop but Kaun is right there to cut off the tag, which is given up a few seconds later. Lashley comes in to clean house and it’s off to Benjamin to fire off the suplexes. It’s back to Jericho to hammer Ricochet on top, setting up the super hurricanrana.

Kaun drops Jericho with a right hand though and everything breaks down again. A Codebreaker gets two on Ricochet and it’s a spear to Kaun. Jericho gets the Walls on Ricochet, with Liona pulling them over to the rope. Ricochet gets in a low blow and the Ricosault finishes Jericho at 11:28.

Rating: B-. That’s a surprising result, as I would have expected Jericho to get his revenge here to set up a bigger match with Ricochet down the line. We will still likely get that, but there is a good chance that it happens at Double Or Nothing with Jericho putting something up. Like his AEW career. Or maybe something of value.

Overall Rating: B-. There were a lot of tag matches on this show and they started to get repetitive after a bit. The main event and a few other things felt like they advanced some stories, but this show combined to feel like quite a bit of filler. It’s not a bad show by any means and if you watch it, you’ll have a good enough time. It’s just not a show you really need to prioritize in the slightest. In other words, it’s what you get out of Collision a lot of the time.

Results
Conglomeration b. Don Callis Family – High/low to Archer
Death Riders/The Dogs b. Rascalz/Young Bucks – Suplex/top rope spear combination to Wentz
Kris Statlander b. B3cca – Staturday Night Fever
Rush b. Adam Priest – Bull’s Horns
Skye Blue/Thekla b. Persephone/Alex Windsor – Code Blue to Persephone
Jack Perry b. El Clon – Running knee
The Demand b. Chris Jericho/Hurt Syndicate – Ricosault to Jericho

 

 

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AEW Collision – April 11, 2026: Just Get There

Collision
Date: April 11, 2026
Location: Rogers Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone, Excalibur

It’s the night before Dynasty and we have something of a warmup title match this week. The Trios Titles are on the line as Mistico and Jet Speed defend against the Dogs, who have barely won anything but get a title match anyway. Other than that it’s likely time for the final hard sell to the pay per view so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Trios Titles: The Dogs vs. Mistico/Jet Speed

Mistico and Jet Speed are defending and get jumped by the Dogs to clear the ring to start. Back in and Bailey flips away from Kidd but gets knocked out to the floor. Mistico gets back in to grab a headscissors to send Connors outside. Kidd runs back in to take Mistico down but all six are back inside for the slugout. The champions all hit dives to the floor so they load up more, only to get knocked down as we take a break.

We come back with Knight fighting to his feet and bringing Mistico back in, meaning more dives can put the Dogs down again. Bailey hits a moonsault to the floor and Knight drops Finlay but the UFO Splash is broken up. Kidd piledrives Mistico but Bailey is back up with the Ultimate Weapon to put Kidd down. A straitjacket sunset flip gets two on Kidd, who is right back with a heck of a clothesline. Connors picks Bailey up for a suplex and a top rope spear gives us new champions at 13:39.

Rating: B-. It was the kind of wild match you would expect from these guys and while the Dogs don’t have the best win/loss record, it wasn’t like Mistico was going to be a regular around here. The titles are hardly some mega serious thing so having them bounce around might be the best option for them. They still don’t really need to exist but this is better than having them sit on a shelf for months at a time.

Post match Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong pop up on screen for a challenge, suggesting they have a third. Kyle O’Reilly I’m guessing?

Will Ospreay introduces the United Empire and then says they won’t be there at Dynasty. Ok then.

Kris Statlander/Hikaru Shida vs. Ava Lawless/Gigi Rey

Shida strikes away at Lawless to start and puts her down with a Falcon Arrow. Statlander comes in with some suplexes to Rey and Staturday Night Fever finishes at 1:40.

Post match Shida isn’t happy with Statlander tagging herself in to win the match.

Hyan and Maya World are getting a Women’s Tag Team Title shot at Dynasty. Their AEW record as a team: 0-5.

Jon Moxley says no one can hang with the Death Riders and if Will Ospreay is so determined to break his neck again, so be it.

Rush vs. Anthony Bowens

For the #2 spot in the Casino Gauntlet. They trade headlocks to start and then shove each other a bit. The exchange of strikes goes to Rush but Bowens is back up to send him outside. Rush is sent into various things, including the steps, but he whips Bowens into the barricade and we take a break.

We come back with Rush hitting a basement dropkick to the back of the head before they strike it out again. Rush misses a kick in the corner and gets caught with a hanging wind up DDT for two. Back up and Rush sends him into the corner but the Bull’s Horns is broken up. A running dropkick sends Bowens outside, where Rush sends him into the barricade. Back in and the Bull’s Horns finishes Bowens at 11:10.

Rating: B-. They had a hard hitting match here, but what mattered the most was the fact that either of them could have pulled this off. Bowens winning wasn’t out of the question as Rush hasn’t been the most consistent star in AEW. Odds are Bowens will be in the match anyway, but in this case the numbers actually matter so he’s at a disadvantage. Oh and is Bowens to the Opps still a thing?

The Brawling Birds are ready for their singles matches at Dynasty, as they want revenge and the Women’s Title.

Hurt Syndicate vs. Andy Anderson/Mo Jabari

Lashley shoves Anderson into the corner to start and gives him a delayed vertical suplex. Benjamin comes in and gets annoyed at Jabari’s chops. That earns him a knee to the head, followed by a spear to Anderson. Benjamin superkicks Anderson for the pin at 2:19. Total squash.

Mina Shirakawa and Harley Cameron are sad that their partners are gone. They opt to drink instead.

Young Bucks vs. Don Callis Family

Hechicero/Clon for the Family. Matt and Clon start things off with Matt grabbing a wristdrag/headscissors combination to put the Family down. The Bucks hit some dives, only for Hechicero to knee Matt in the face back inside. The rather spinning rollup gives Hechicero two, followed by the spinning backbreaker for the same.

We take a break and come back with Matt rolling the northern lights suplexes. Nick comes in with a double high crossbody and everything breaks down. The Bucks go with stereo sunset flips into stereo Sharpshooters, which are quickly broken up. The Family grabs a pair of bridging rollups for two each and everyone is knocked down for a breather. Back up and Clon flips out of a DDT, only to get superkicked down. Hechicero throws Matt into a choke with Nick making the save. The EVP Trigger misses but the Bucks are right back with the TK Driver to finish Clon at 14:49.

Rating: B. This was little more than a way to get the Bucks on the show, which is all it needed to be. The Bucks are one of those acts who are able to pop the crowd just by being in the ring and that’s what we got here. It’s a good enough match too, even with the D-list Family opponents.

We look at Chris Jericho and Ricochet’s meeting on Dynamite to set up their match at Dynasty.

International Title: Myron Reed vs. Kazuchika Okada

Okada is defending and both of their associates are here too. Okada misses a clothesline in the corner to start and sends Reed to the apron. That’s fine with Reed, who is back with a springboard kick to the face. A springboard is blocked though and Okada dropkicks him out to the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Okada hitting a DDT for a cocky one but the falling top rope elbow hits raised knees. Reed ties him in the ropes for a slingshot legdrop as Don Callis is starting to panic. Okada is sent outside and taken out with a dive but comes back in with the Air Raid Crash onto the knee for two. Now the top rope elbow can connect but Reed is right back up with the diving cutter to the floor. Back in and Reed’s springboard 450 hits raised knees and the Tombstone into the Rainmaker retains the title at 11:22.

Rating: B-. Reed was able to get in some stuff here but it wasn’t quite what he’s done before. At the same time, he has been treated as the singles star from the Rascalz, which isn’t the worst move. He’s one of those guys who puts everything into his matches and that makes for a nice feeling. At the same time, Okada is (still) gearing up for his match with Takeshita and this was a way to keep him warm.

Willow Nightingale wants some of the new talent to come after her title.

Lena Kross and Megan Bayne are ready for Hyan and Maya World.

Dynasty rundown.

Thekla/Marina Shafir vs. Brawling Birds

Thekla and Shafir jump them during the entrances and the brawl heads to the floor before the opening bell. Hayter gets choked with part of the barricade but Windsor drops Shafir onto the apron. The bell rings (the fans don’t seem thrilled) with the Birds getting beaten up again as we take an early break.

We come back with Windsor fighting her way out of trouble and bringing in Hayter to clean house. Thekla catches her in a Black Widow as everything breaks down again. All four are knocked down for a bit until Shafir is up to strike it out with Windsor. A shot to the face staggers Shafir and a quick Two Birds One Stone finishes her off at 9:01.

Rating: C+. There is nothing wrong with taking two PPV matches and having them do a tag match together to build it up. That’s all it needed to be here and it worked out fine enough. The Birds winning gives Hayter just enough momentum to make her feel like a bigger threat to the title. It’s not exactly a main event level match, but I’ll take what I can get.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a fine enough show, with just a show that got us over the final stretch to Dynasty. They added in a few matches to make the PPV card even bigger because we have to do that but nothing really big was changed. That’s all it needed to be and the show went by rather easily.

Results
The Dogs b. Mistico/Jet Speed – Suplex/top rope spear combination to Bailey
Kris Statlander/Hikaru Shida b. Ava Lawless/Gigi Rey – Staturday Night Fever to Rey
Rush b. Anthony Bowens – Bull’s Horns
Hurt Syndicate b. Andy Anderson/Mo Jabari – Superkick to Anderson
Young Bucks b. Don Callis Family – TK Driver to Clon
Kazuchika Okada b. Myron Reed – Rainmaker
Brawling Birds b. Thekla/Marina Shafir – Two Birds One Stone to Shafir

 

 

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Collision – January 24, 2026: Maybe They Should Do This More Often

Collision
Date: January 24, 2026
Location: Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight, Excalibur

This is kind of a weird one as the show was originally going to air live but the weather forced a double taping after Dynamite. That could mean a bit of a rushed show but hopefully the talent can make it work out. The big main event this time is for the CMLL World Title as Claudio Castagnoli defends against Roderick Strong. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Hangman Page vs. Katsuyori Shibata

They go straight to the slugging to start and head outside, with Shibata being sent into the announcers’ table. Shibata misses a running big boot and gets booted over the barricade, meaning it’s time to brawl in the timekeeper’s area. Page keeps hammering away and takes him inside for a fall away slam. The triangle clothesline is cut off with an elbow to the face though and Shibata starts in on the leg. An early Figure Four is reversed, with Page making it to the rope.

We take a break and come back with Page cutting off the kicks the chest so they can chop it out. Shibata hits a running boot in the corner and they trade release German suplexes. They knock each other down for a double breather and the fans approve, as usual. The referee misses Shibata’s low blow and they head to the apron, where Page hits the Deadeye (that low blow didn’t exactly do a lot of damage). The moonsault to the floor hits Shibata but he’s right back with some kind of a neck crank. That’s broken up and Page hits a clothesline into the Buckshot Lariat for the pin at 13:23.

Rating: B-. It was a hard hitting fight as Page and JetSpeed continue their battle against the Opps. Odds are we’ll see a big showdown as a Dynamite main event in the near future, though the Trios Titles still don’t feel overly important. At least Page is getting some nice wins, as he feels like one of the biggest stars in the company and is coming off like one, which is something he has been needing.

Earlier this week, Don Callis and Ricochet were on a golf course and seem to be on the same page. Davis and Doyle beating people up in the background was funny.

Isla Dawn vs. Kris Statlander

Non-title and the Grizzled Young Veterans are here with Dawn. Statlander forearms away in the corner to start and a catapult sends Dawn into the corner. Dawn avoids a charge though and forearms away, followed by a Saito suplex for two. Statlander is right back with a Falcon Arrow into Staturday Night Fever for the fast pin at 2:49.

Post match Thekla pops up on screen wearing a Statlander shirt, which she takes off, spits on, and makes a Star Trek reference.

Jack Perry, holding his knife, says he wants Ricochet’s National Championship. Ricochet took Perry’s friend from him and now he’s taking the title, but it won’t be enough. Nice promo here.

We actually talk about Ace Austin winning on Ring Of Honor but he can’t be here due to travel issues (I’m guessing due to not being there for Dynamite, which is fine), so we have a replacement.

Don Callis Family vs. Billy Gunn/Austin Gunn

Don Callis is on commentary. Fletcher backs Austin up against the ropes to start and then throws him down without much trouble. Austin is back up with a running neckbreaker and it’s off to Billy, who is starting to look his age. Billy tells Fletcher to suck it so it’s off to Takeshita instead. Takeshita powers him into the corner and then out to the floor, where Callis offers a distraction. That means a cheap shot to put Billy down and we take a break.

We come back with Fletcher avoiding the Fameasser, only to get caught with the second attempt. The 3:10 To Yuma drops Fletcher, with Takeshita having to make the save. The Quick Draw is blocked though and Fletcher hits a dragon sleeper to put Austin down. Takeshita comes in with the Blue Thunder Bomb and Billy has to make the save. The running knee misses so Fletcher kicks Austin in the corner, setting up Raging Fire for the pin at 10:20.

Rating: C+. This was little more than a nice moment with Billy teaming with his son under bad circumstances. There wasn’t much else they could have done so this was about as good as it could have gone. Fletcher and Takeshita weren’t going to lose a match to the regular Bang Bang Gang lineup so this was actually a slight upgrade.

Post match Takeshita and Fletcher seem to be ok but here is Kazuchika Okada. Fletcher has to hold Takeshita back, which can’t be good.

Ricochet says Jack Perry will get his National Title shot in Las Vegas, which is the only place with enough luck for a Jack to have a chance against a King.

The Grizzled Young Veterans are still mad at Eddie Kingston and Ortiz and weapons are teased. Why in the world would this feud continue? The Veterans have lost every time. Why?

Alec Price/Jordan Oliver vs. Davis and Doyle

Doyle runs both of them over without much trouble to start and Davis comes in for a German suplex. Price and Oliver are tossed at each other in a nice idea and we settle down to Davis dropping Oliver. The kickout just annoys Davis so it’s off to Price for a running boot in the corner. Oliver and Price are thrown at each other again and a piledriver/swinging Boss Man Slam get the double pin at 3:53.

Rating: C. I can go with an entertaining squash as Davis and Doyle got to run through these two, with the toss spots being rather fun. Davis and Doyle are a good example of what happens when you do what should be obvious, as they’re big guys who look alike. Don’t make this more complicated than it should be and you’ll be fine. Unlike Price and Oliver, who are losing so much that they’re reaching levels of pitiful.

Post match Callis talks about having a vision of destroying FTR and owning the Tag Team Titles.

FTR and Stokely Hathaway pop up on screen, with Hathaway saying Callis lies a lot so FTR is keeping the titles.

Darby Allin goes to see Bam Margera and they skateboard a lot.

TBS Title: Julia Hart vs. Willow Nightingale

Nightingale is defending and they start with some running, followed by blocking the other’s hiptoss attempt. Hart bounces off of her, which doesn’t seem to be a great idea. A fisherman’s suplex gives Nightingale two so Hart strikes away to some more success. An Old School hurricanrana drops Nightingale, who pops right back up.

Cue Skye Blue for a distraction so here is Harley Cameron to cut her off. Nightingale’s Cannonball misses though and Hart grabs a neckbreaker for two. We take a break and come back with Hart hitting some running corner clotheslines. Nightingale hits a much harder clothesline (Wight: “She started swinging in Florida and stopped in Nebraska.”) but Hart superkicks her off the corner.

They head outside, where Nightingale pulls her off the barricade for a suplex and the Cannonball gets two back inside. Hart is right back with something like a Black Widow, which is broken up just as quickly. The Babe With The Powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana for two, only for the second attempt to retain Nightingale’s title at 10:43.

Rating: B-. Hart continues to look smooth in the ring and she’s good at this kind of a match, where there is only so much drama about a title change but it’s an entertaining match anyway. Nightingale getting to beat someone is a good thing to see and the fans still love her. That’s a fine use of time on this show and I was never bored so call it a success.

The Rascalz are eating and talking about the nice couch they have. They’re ready to fight the Cru and Myron Reed is eventually out after losing some Rock Paper Scissors. This wasn’t as funny as the team usually is but they’re still new.

Magnus vs. Andrade El Idolo

Andrade chops him up against the ropes to start and a backdrop puts Magnus down again. A very loud chop connects for Andrade but Magnus knocks him outside. The dive is cut off, allowing Andrade to seemingly give a woman his number. We take a break and come back with…Andrade having lost his pants. Dang it that’s never good.

Andrade hits Three Amigos into an Eddie Dance but pulls Magnus up at two. The double arm crank goes on and Andrade gets to start untying the mask, which isn’t overly nice. Magnus fights back and hits a dive into the announcers’ table, followed by a Swanton for two back inside. Andrade sends him hard into the corner though and the running knees set up the DM for the pin at 11:08.

Rating: C+. This was about what you would expect from Andrade, as he had a fine match that didn’t exactly offer much in the way of interest. It was just Andrade doing his stuff and getting a win over someone who doesn’t mean much around here. Magnus got in a bit of offense but at least he only dragged this a bit beyond a squash.

Post break Andrade says he wants the World Title and is coming for Swerve Strickland on Dynamite.

CMLL World Title: Roderick Strong vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Castagnoli, with Wheeler Yuta, is defending, Jon Moxley is on commentary and Strong has Orange Cassidy with him. Castagnoli jumps him during the entrances but Strong chops back and tells Castagnoli to hit him harder. A headlock works a bit better for Castagnoli but Strong is back up with some right hands in the corner. They go outside with Strong striking away, only to get dropped hard onto the barricade.

Back in and Castagnoli starts in on the leg with some cranking, plus a slam to send the leg into the rope. A neckbreaker doesn’t work for Castagnoli as Strong sends him outside, only for Castagnoli to ram the leg into the barricade. We take a break and come back with Castagnoli staying on the leg but Strong kicks him to the floor. A dropkick through the ropes connects and Strong is back in with the belly to back faceplant for two.

Castagnoli goes right back onto the leg but the Neutralizer is blocked. Instead Castagnoli goes with an uppercut for two and kicks away at the leg in the corner. They go up top where Strong manages a super Angle Slam for two, setting up the Stronghold. The rope is grabbed (Moxley: “Oh boy.”) and Castagnoli Swings him into the half crab.

Strong gets out so the knee is wrapped around the post, with Yuta getting in a cheap shot. Cassidy Orange Punches him, only for Castagnoli to drop Cassidy right back. They head back inside, with Strong hitting a knee to the face but Castagnoli goes back to the leg. A one legged Swing sets up the Neutralizer to retain the title at 18:20.

Rating: B. This was a solid main event with Castagnoli getting to avenge his loss to Strong in the Continental Classic. That’s a good way to set up the main event of Collision and while the title doesn’t mean much around here, it’s at least something with a bit of a connection to AEW. The leg stuff worked well too, with that swinging single leg crab looking awesome. Nice job here.

Overall Rating: B. Maybe they should tape the show after Dynamite more often. This was a rather entertaining show and while it felt like it was another case of setting up Dynamite, it did so well enough. That’s mostly what Collision tends to be and while it didn’t have anything you really needed to see, it did a nice job of making me more interested in Dynamite. Throw in a good main event and I’ll take that week to week.

Results
Hangman Page b. Katsuyori Shibata – Buckshot Lariat
Kris Statlander b. Isla Dawn – Staturday Night Fever
Don Callis Family b. Billy Gunn/Austin Gunn – Raging Fire to Austin
Davis and Doyle b. Jordan Oliver/Alec Price – Double pin
Willow Nightingale b. Julia Hart – Babe With The Powerbomb
Andrade El Idolo b. Magnus – DM
Claudio Castagnoli b. Roderick Strong – Neutralizer

 

 

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Dynamite – January 7, 2026: They Get Violent

Dynamite
Date: January 7, 2026
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross

We’re in a new year and we have quite a long way to go before we get to Revolution in March. That’s why tonight is focused on something other than the World Title, as Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland team up to face the Opps in a Lights Out match. Other than that, Jon Moxley is facing Shelton Benjamin so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Jim Ross comes back, which is a great thing to see. Hopefully it’s a great

AEW, Dynamite, Jon Moxley, Shelton Benjamin, MVP

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

ley in trouble, including a German suplex. A second attempt is countered into a ram into the steps though and Moxley takes over on the arm back inside.

We take a break and come back with Benjamin running the ropes for a butterfly superplex. They forearm it out until Moxley goes to the eye but the bulldog choke is blocked. A big clothesline drops Benjamin but Moxley needs a breather as well. Benjamin snaps off some German suplexes until Moxley gets in a cutter. Moxley hammers away in the corner until something like a standing STF cuts him off.

Benjamin is sent outside for a dive from Moxley and they head back inside, where Moxley charges into Paydirt for two. Back up and Moxley blocks a kick and grabs the Paradigm Shift for two more. We have a minute left as Moxley gets the bulldog choke. That’s broken up and Benjamin hits a running knee, followed by a triangle choke. Moxley is in trouble but drives forward to stack Benjamin up for the pin at 19:54.

Rating: B+. These guys having a good match isn’t a surprise, though I could have gone with something other than Benjamin losing clean in his first big singles match. It makes sense for Moxley to get another tough win under his (Continental) belt, but dang Benjamin losing is a bit frustrating. Hopefully he gets to do something on his own, as he has earned it.

Darby Allin is looking for Pac.

We look at Hiroshi Tanahashi losing to Kazuchika Okada in Tanahashi’s retirement match.

Video on Kenny Omega wanting a shot at MJF.

Jack Perry/??? vs. The Demand

This was supposed to be JetSpeed, but Perry has replacements in the form of….the Young Bucks. It’s a brawl to start with the villains being sent outside for a dive from Nick. Perry adds a moonsault from the top to the floor, followed by a spear to Ricochet. Back in and the Bucks take over on Ricochet, with Matt’s triangle choke over the ropes setting up Perry’s diving DDT.

Kaun grabs Perry’s foot though and Ricochet adds a jumping knee to the back to send him outside. Perry gets Pounced into the timekeeper’s area and we take a break. We come back with Perry clotheslining his way out of trouble, allowing the tag off to Nick. Everything breaks down and the Bucks clean house with superkicks, plus a slingshot Canadian Destroyer to Ricochet.

The top rope double stomp to the back flips Ricochet into a sitout powerbomb for two but Liona is back in with a triple Samoan drop (ok not bad). Ricochet’s springboard 450 gets two on Perry, who flips over him and hits a German suplex. An assisted wheelbarrow cutter drops Perry for two but the Spirit Gun misses. A bunch of superkicks put Liona down and a BTE Trigger into the running knee gives Perry the pin on Ricochet at 13:11.

Rating: B. Are we sure being the National Champion is a good thing? That’s another loss for the champ since he won the belt and I’m really not sure how much sense it makes. At the very least, he still might have to deal with Bandido, who beat him a few weeks ago. Odds are this sets up Perry for another title shot, even though we covered that last week.

Post match the Don Callis Family runs in to lay out the Bucks. The banged up JetSpeed run in for the save but the lights go out…and Andrade El Idolo is back. FTR comes out for a staredown as well. So Doyle debuts under a new name, attacks JetSpeed off camera, and isn’t even the only member of the team introduced in the first hour? Nice job guys.

Here is Willow Nightingale for her championship celebration, with Harley Cameron and Kris Statlander joining her. Nightingale says this is the first step in the double champ tour (as the lights go out and they get a spotlight) and is proud to be back with her title and friends. She’ll face any challenger for any title, but she knows that since this is wrestling, someone is going to interrupt sooner or later.

Nightingale invites Mercedes Mone out here so cue Mone, apparently in mourning. She lists off Mone’s accomplishments in 2025, which made beating her that much better. Nightingale offers cake but Mone wrecks everything, eventually going into and onto the cake. That’s a classic and it still works.

Mark Briscoe has been sitting on the sidelines too long and he’s ready to face Hechicero for the title. His crystal ball is telling him that the title isn’t going anywhere, just like Willow Nightingale’s titles.

The Triangle Of Madness want Kris Statlander and the Babes Of Wrath, even if they know the alliance isn’t lasting long.

AEW, Dynamite, Bandido, MJF, Sammy Guevara

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Sammy Guevara vs. Bandido

Non-title. Guevara works on the arm to start before a kick to the face sends Bandido to the ropes. The charge misses though and Guevara falls out to the floor. It’s too early for a dive though as Bandido kicks him in the head from the apron. Guevara spits something into Bandido’s eyes though and a tornado DDT on the floor takes us to a break.

We come back with Bandido firing off some chops before they trade running clotheslines in the corner. A spinning high crossbody puts Guevara down and the one armed gorilla press does it again. Guevara is sent outside for the big running flip dive but he’s able to monkey flip Bandido into the ropes back inside. The shooting star to the floor hits Bandido again but the GTH is blocked. The 21 Plex is cut off with a springboard cutter and they trade shots to the face. Guevara’s flipping DDT gets two but Bandido knees him in the face again. The 21 Plex gives Bandido the pin at 11:46.

Rating: B-. Fun match as expected, though I still have no idea why this needed to be a reigning Ring Of Honor champion taking the loss. Bandido has now beaten both champions in the spin of a week and I don’t get why. There are so many other options available but this is what we get because…reasons.

Post match MJF comes in to interrupt and says he knows more about lucha libre than anyone else. He’s even brought out a translator (Jon Cruz) to explain things so there is nothing missed. Cruz gets in Bandido’s face and yells about MJF’s accomplishments before MJF brings up being a six time winner of the Dynamite Diamond Ring.

He wants the ring back from Bandido and they can just skip the World Title match next week, which isn’t in doubt anyway. Bandido says he can speak English and calls MJF a stupid son of a b****. MJF kicks him low and takes the ring back but the big shot hits Cruz. Bandido gets the ring back and hits a pair of 21 Plexes.

Video on Brody King.

Marina Shafir vs. Toni Storm

They go with the grappling to start until Storm gets taken down for a leglock. Some hair mares drop Shafir though and a running hip attack sends her outside. Storm stops to yell at the Death Riders though and gets caught in a triangle choke. We take a break and come back with Shafir knocking her down again, followed by the mock dancing.

A forearm to the back keeps Storm in trouble and another dance sets up a forearm to the face. Storm kicks her down and loads up the hip attack in the corner, only to get kicked down again. A headbutt staggers Shafir again though and Storm grabs a small package, only for the Death Riders to pull the referee for the DQ at 7:57.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time to do anything here, with the break in the middle eating up a bunch of the match. The ending was a smart move too, as you don’t want either of these two taking a fall. This probably isn’t over, likely with Orange Cassidy getting involved on Storm’s side.

Post match Storm gets laid out again, with Mina Shirakawa running in and getting dropped as well. Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong come in for the save, with Cassidy grabbing both women (he’s hardcore).

Pac has already beaten Darby Allin twice but Allin comes in to say he wants to do this one more time. That’s a no, so Allin sprays him with a fire extinguisher and teases breaking Pac’s ankle, which is enough to get him to accept the match.

Swerve Strickland/Hangman Page vs. Opps

Lights Out, so anything goes and the fight starts with the lights rather dim. The Opps take over early with Hobbs grabbing a chair. The big shot misses though and Swerve gets in a kick from the apron, leaving Hook alone. Page moonsaults off the top onto Hobbs and Swerve Death Valley Drivers Hook onto the apron. Thankfully the lights come up so we can actually see, with Page grabbing the chain but getting taken down by Hobbs. Hook catches Swerve with a suplex off the apron and we take a break (two minutes into the overrun).

We come back with Page getting suplexed through a table in the corner for two and Hook wedged a chair in the corner. Hobbs goes into it (of course) and it’s time to staple Hook’s torso. A short powerbomb drops Hook again and Swerve staples his way out of Hobbs’ suplex. It’s time to bust out the cinder blocks, which takes way too long so Hobbs is back with some chair shots. Prince Nana saves Swerve from a Conchairto and Swerve tries a guillotine.

That’s reversed into a World’s Strongest Slam onto the blocks but cue the Opps Dojo to jump Page. The good guys get tied together with the chain but Nana throws his coffee into Hobbs’ eyes. Page and Swerve flip out of the chain and Hobbs hits Hook by mistake. The Buckshot Lariat is cut off with a spinebuster but Swerve gives Hobbs the House Call.

A Swerve Stomp to the floor drops the Dojo and another Stomp into the Deadeye drops Hobbs onto the blocks. That leaves Hook to get dropped with a headbutt, followed by a rolling elbow with a chain. There’s the House Call (JR: “Now get it over with will ya?”) into a Buckshot Lariat into the choke over the ropes for the tap at 19:50.

Rating: B. This was the standard AEW hardcore based match and that went well enough. It came at the end of an even longer than usual show, but there was pretty much no way the Opps were going to be a serious threat. As usual, Hook was there to take the fall and Hobbs looked like a monster. Now maybe, I don’t know, do something with Hobbs already.

Overall Rating: B+. The opener and main event were both good, though dang this show felt every bit of its length, plus the eighteen minute overrun. That’s just something you have to expect from AEW though, so it’s not even worth getting mad about anymore. Next week’s show should be worth a look with Bandido vs. MJF, and then we’ll get to see where things are heading for Revolution. Good show here, but cut the time down a bit.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Shelton Benjamin – Rollup
Young Bucks/Jack Perry b. The Demand – Running knee to Ricochet
Bandido b. Sammy Guevara – 21 Plex
Toni Storm b. Marina Shafir via DQ when the Death Riders interfered
Hangman Page/Swerve Strickland b. Opps – Choke with a chain over the ropes to Hook

 

 

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

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Ring Of Honor – November 20, 2025: Time To Rush

Ring Of Honor
Date: November 20, 2025
Location: Erie Insurance Arena, Erie, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We now have three shows to go before Final Battle and that means it is time to get the card together. While there are some matches that will be set up in the coming weeks, there are several title matches that still need to be set up. Hopefully they get some of that covered here, just for the sake of having a few weeks of build. Let’s get to it.

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

Billie Starkz is told that she’s “on a roll” in the Pure Rules Title tournament (where she has won one match) but Athena comes in to….not be able to say she’s proud. Athena is worried about her title defense tonight and asks who she is if she can’t beat Harley Cameron. The interviewer, and former Minion, recites her statement and has to cut the segment before she gets hugged.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Women’s Title: Harley Cameron vs. Athena

Athena is defending. Cameron starts in on the arm and cuts off an escape attempt. Athena fights up again and they go outside with Cameron being rammed into the apron. Back in and Athena smiles a lot while beating Cameron down, followed by a cravate. Cameron avoids a backsplash though and snaps off a headscissors but Athena rips at her face. That’s broken up and Cameron knocks her down for two as the fans are getting behind the comeback.

An O’Connor roll gives Athena two but the kickout sends Athena into the ropes, where she hits a springboard splash for two. They head outside with Cameron being sent into the barricade, allowing Athena to remind us that this is her show. Back in and Cameron grabs a superplex and a pumphandle suplex gets two. They both counter That’s Her Finisher so Cameron kicks her in the face, setting up a Backstabber. An STF has Athena in trouble but she bites the hand to escape. Athena pulls her into the Koji Clutch to retain at 12:36.

Rating: B. Cameron continues to feel like a rising star but there was no way she was going to be the one to end Athena’s now legendary reign. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Athena defending the title, though it would make sense to have this one set up for Final Battle, which needs the match. For now though, it did feel like a big match and Cameron brought it in her chance.

Billie Starkz vs. Katie Arquette

Pure Rules. Starkz grabs her to start and Arquette has used her first two rope breaks in about thirty five seconds. Arquette gets a headlock and backs Starkz into the ropes, which apparently counts as Starkz’s first break. Starkz hits her in the face for the official warning and then rams Arquette into the buckle over and over. Arquette takes her into the corner for a running hip attack but Starkz is fine enough for a brainbuster onto the knee. The Swanton finishes for Starkz at 4:22.

Rating: C-. The worst kind of Pure Rules (or any gimmick matches for that matter) are the kinds where you can take the gimmick away entirely and nothing changes. That’s the case here, as there was nothing added on with the Pure Rules deal, which again makes me wonder why we need a title for this non-division. But what else were we going to spend 7+ months on otherwise?

Post match Deonna Purrazzo comes out for her match and gets in a staredown with Starkz.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Viva Van

Another Pure Rules match. Purrazzo takes her down without much trouble to start so they trade forearms. A quick running ax kick gives Van two but Purrazzo is back with a kick to the face. The Fujiwara armbar sends Van over to the rope for her first break before it’s a powerbomb to drop her again. The second Fujiwara armbar finishes for Purrazzo at 3:33.

Rating: C. It’s the second Pure Rules match and we’re just over half an hour into the show. Naturally neither of them was a tournament match, but thank goodness I’ve only got a few more weeks before this title can be basically forgotten for months at a time. Purrazzo is the big favorite to win the whole thing, which has me thinking she loses in a surprise.

Post match Billie Starkz comes in to jump Purrazzo.

Persephone challenges Athena for Final Battle, citing two things. First of all, she beat Athena at Global Wars. Technically true, as her partner did pin Athena…..’s partner (in June). Second, she’s “been running through all the women of Ring Of Honor”. She’s had three matches in Ring Of Honor and is 2-1, most recently in July (a loss). In other words, sounds perfect for a Final Battle title match.

Satnam Singh vs. JP Grayson

Singh chops him in the corner to start and then does it again in a different corner. A gorilla press drop and a chokeslam finish for Singh at 2:13. Exactly what he does.

Jakked Jameson vs. QT Marshall

The Frat House is here with Jameson so Marshall brings out the Costco Guys. Jameson is sent outside to start and Marshall takes him down with a quick dive. One heck of a backdrop sends Marshall outside, where the Frat House gets in some cheap shots. Back in and a spinebuster gives Jameson two but Marshall is up with the clotheslines. The Cookie Cutter finishes for Marshall at 2:34.

Post match the Frat House goes after Big Boom AJ and Marshall, who clear the ring. RPG Vice come in and lay the good guys out. AJ’s hand is crushed with a chair.

Mercedes Mone brags about winning the Ring Of Honor Women’s TV Title. Well kind of, as she uses it as proof that she’s ready to beat Kris Statlander. Note that Mone never specifically mentions what she just won or ROH in general, but that’s about how important the title is for her.

Persephone vs. Valentina Rossi

Persephone runs her over with a shoulder to start but Rossi is back with a quick legdrop for two. They trade rollups for two each until Persephone plants her for the same. Rossi wins a fight over a suplex for two of her own but Persephone knocks her right back down. The running Razor’s Edge finishes Rossi at 3:09.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what the thinking was here, as Persephone is likely a few weeks away from challenging for the Ring Of Honor Women’s Title. While she won and the finish looked good, Rossi got in a lot of offense rather than being squashed. That’s not the best way to make Persephone look good, and I’m not sure what the thinking was here.

Post match Athena comes out for the staredown, which seems to set up the title match. Cue Diamante to jump Persephone from behind and Athena sends her face first into the title.

Infantry vs. Top Flight

SkyFlight is here with Top Flight. The Infantry jumps them at the bell to start, which doesn’t last long as Top Flight clears the ring in a hurry. Back in and Dante gets taken into the corner for the beatdown, setting up the running hip attack for two. An enziguri into a jumping neckbreaker gets two and we hit the chinlock.

The villains switch without making a tag until Dante monkey flips his way to freedom. Darius comes in to clean house, including a cutter to Bravo. A suplex/neckbreaker combination gets two on Dante as everything breaks down again. The referee sees Dean bringing in a belt and the distraction lets Dante grab a sunset flip for the pin at 8:14.

Rating: C+. The match was a fine enough way to set up the pretty obvious Six Man Tag Team Title match for Final Battle. That’s a completely acceptable way to go, with the best aspect being the fact that SkyFlight have been a regular team in recent months. Hopefully they wind up getting the titles, as they have interesting potential as champions.

Post match Shane Taylor runs in for the beatdown but Scorpio Sky makes the save, setting up a Six Man Tag Team Title match at Final Battle to close the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Well, it was the match that set up a bunch of stuff for Final Battle, which was needed, but the Persephone stuff just made me shake my head. Other than that, there was a good bit of stuff that set up Full Gear rather than Final Battle, which continues to show you what this show means. They actually did something here though, and that’s one of the best things that you can say week to week in Ring Of Honor.

Results
Athena b. Harley Cameron – Koji Clutch
Billie Starkz b. Katie Arquette – Swanton
Deonna Purrazzo b. Viva Van – Fujiwara armbar
Satnam Singh b. JP Grayson – Chokeslam
QT Marshall b. Jakked Jameson – Cookie Cutter
Persephone b. Valentina Rossi – Running Razor’s Edge
Top Flight b. Infantry – Sunset flip to Dean

 

 

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

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Ring Of Honor – November 13, 2025: One Of Those Years

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

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

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

Opening sequence.

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

We run down this week’s card.

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

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

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

Spanish Announce Project vs. Don Callis Family

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

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

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

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

Athena/Billie Starkz vs. Maya World/Hyan

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

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

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

Swirl vs. Vin Parker/Will Allday

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

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

Lance Archer vs. Aaron Solo

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

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

SkyFlight vs. MxM TV

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

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

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

Post match the Infantry runs in to jump SkyFlight.

Willie Mack vs. Lee Moriarty

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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AEW Dynamite – November 12, 2025 (Blood & Guts): Just Another Day At The Office

Dynamite
Date: November 12, 2025
Location: First Horizon Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
Commentators: Excalibur, Bryan Danielson, Tony Schiavone

It’s time to get back to one of the biggest shows of the year with Blood & Guts. This time though that means a pair of matches as the women are getting a chance as well. Other than that, Powerhouse Hobbs is facing Hangman Page in a falls count anywhere match, so this is going to be a violent night. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

For the sake of simplicity, here are the rules for Blood & Guts for both matches:

• One entrant from each team starts for five minutes.
• The team with the advantage gets to send in its second entrant.
• Every “few” minutes another entrant enters.
• Once all entrants are in, the first pin or submission wins.

Team Statlander vs. Team Mone

Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale, Harley Cameron, Jamie Hayter, Mina Shirakawa, Toni Storm
Mercedes Mone, Skye Blue, Julia Hart, Thekla, Megan Bayne, Marina Shafir

Willow Nightingale and Skye Blue start things off and they go straight to the hockey fight style. Nightingale puts her hair up and commentary knows that’s going to be serious. They head over to the space between the ropes and the cage, with Nightingale slingshot alley ooping her into the steel. A Pounce sends Blue into the cage and she’s already busted open. Blue tries to fight out of the corner and it’s Julia Hart in to give the villains control (not quite five minutes but that’s going to happen).

Hart hammers away and starts looking for something in the turnbuckle pad. Nightingale manages to get to the other ring but a flipping elbow rocks her again. Harley Cameron is in to even things up and it’s a Sling Blade to take Hart down. Cameron slips out of a double suplex and Nightingale is there with a double clothesline. A baseball slide dropkick in to a chair hits Hart in the corner and we take a break.

We come back with Thekla coming in to uneven things up and house is quickly cleaned. Thekla whips out a belt to start some whipping and stereo dropkicks have Nightingale and Cameron in trouble. Jamie Hayter comes in to make it 3-3 and cleans house with a trashcan lid. That’s not enough so she grabs a barbed wire kendo stick. The tacks are poured out and Thekla is sent face first into them for a crash that should have been a bigger deal.

Megan Bayne is in at #4 and starts wrecking people, including a double suplex to Cameron and Nightingale. Hayter slugs away until Cameron’s trashcan lid to the back has no effect on Bayne. Kris Statlander evens things up again (wearing the title, which seems inconvenient), including a Vader Bomb. The injured Queen Aminata chases off the also injured Penelope Ford and we get the Statlander vs. Bayne showdown as we take another break.

We come back again with Cameron climbing the structure and Bayne giving chase, only for Bayne to be powerbombed down. Everyone is down and Mercedes Mone (yes the belts are at ringside) is in for the next to last advantage. House is quickly cleaned, including a tornado DDT to send Statlander onto the belt. Since we don’t have enough weapons (and no one in the other ring), Mone goes outside and grabs some belts for her team to use as weapons.

Mina Shirakawa comes in with a barbed wire baseball bat, which she throws at Bayne for a dropkick. Shirakawa goes after Mone until Marina Shafir completes her team. Shafir takes Statlander outside and knocks her into a bed of nails before beating up Hayter inside. Toni Storm completes the field and NOW we can officially have a submission to end the match. Storm hits Shafir in the face, which is shrugged off so Storm can be sent into the cage.

With that not working, Storm dips her taped hands into a bucket of broken glass, because when you can go Ian Rotten, you go Ian Rotten. A double DDT puts Bayne down and we take a break (now that the match can end). We come back with Blue being powerbombed onto a table, which doesn’t break. Statlander drops an elbow onto Blue….and the table only half breaks. That’s enough to set up the parade of knockdowns until Cameron whips out the puppet (oh no). Mone pulls it away….and reveals the brass knuckles under the puppet (nice save), which knock Mone silly.

Hart and Thekla slip through part of the cage and go outside to take the key from the referee, meaning the fight can go to the floor. Statlander and Mone go up, with Statlander Samoan dropping her through the belt table. The villains lock the cage, with a bunch of Statlander’s team outside. Storm pours out the bucket of glass and it’s a double DDT to send Shafir into said glass.

Back up and Shafir breaks a mirror over Storm’s head, leaving Statlander to superplex Bayne between the rings. Shirakawa grabs a figure four with the barbed wire baseball bat on Bayne, only for Shafir to….put glass in her foot and stomp Shirakawa for the save. Why she couldn’t have just, like, stomped her without injuring herself, isn’t clear. That’s enough for the villains to hold Storm while Shafir chokes Shirakawa. Bayne whips Shirakawa with a belt until Storm gives up to save her at 46:09.

Rating: B-. I’m never quite sure what to think of these things. I did like a lot of this and it was violent, but they could have dropped a member or two per team and, of course, shortened it a lot. The ending was fine enough as Storm and Shirakawa have been established as having that kind of relationship, but I’m not sure how good it was for a finish.

It kind of sums up the underlying problem with the match: I’m not quite sure what the major feud was supposed to be. It started with Thekla vs. Hayter, but that’s not exactly a top story. They had a bunch of stuff going on here, and the match felt like it was too much going on at once. As usual, it needs to be trimmed down, which is a regular issue for AEW.

We recap Hangman Page vs. Powerhouse Hobbs, who had a heck of a fight last week.

In the back, the Don Callis Family lays out Jurassic Express. The Young Bucks pop up and say it was a message. Don Callis wants an answer about the Bucks joining next week.

Hangman Page vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

Non-title and Falls Count Anywhere. Page has taped up ribs and Hobbs rips off a turnbuckle pad to start. They both tease sending each other into the buckle until Page knocks him into the other ring. Page misses a shot and gets knocked down with a clothesline. Hobbs heads outside but takes too long, allowing Hobbs to hit a shot from the apron. A charge misses Page and only hits the steps but Hobbs is right back up to slam page onto various things.

Hobbs is World’s Strongest Slammed onto the steps Page backdropping Hobbs off the announcers’ table (Hobbs landed on his tailbone and that looked ROUGH). Page clotheslines him over the barricade and they go into the crowd, with Page hitting a moonsault in the people. Hobbs cuts him off with a spinebuster through a table and they go up into the crowd. Page takes his boot off for a running shot to the face, knocking Hobbs off a balcony and through a table (which explodes) to give Page the pin at 14:11.

Rating: B+. I got into this one as it felt like Page was fighting against a monster and had to do whatever he could to survive. I cringed more at the backdrop off the table than anything in the cage match, as that’s the kind of thing that makes it look like more of a painful fight. Page came off like he was in a war here and Hobbs felt like a monster. Hobbs losing again isn’t great to see, but at least he held his own in there.

Post match the Opps run in to go after Page, with the cage lowering. Eddie Kingston and Hook comes out for the save just in time. Page turns the Full Gear match into a cage match. Of course.

Tony Schiavone brings out Ricky Steamboat for a special appearance. He talks about his history in this territory and his history around here with Ric Flair. The story is cut off by FTR (Steamboat: “I KNOW HIM!”), with Stokely Hathaway introducing himself to Steamboat. As Steamboat makes fun of Hathaway’s height, Stokely says he wants his favorite wrestler front row at Full Gear. Hathaway: “You got Macho Man’s phone number?”

FTR brags about making Steamboat look good in his retirement match and Harwood mentions Steamboat being his trainer. The thing is…Steamboat didn’t teach him a thing. Steamboat says he didn’t teach Harwood to have his attitude, but Harwood says Steamboat taught him to save his money.

If he and Ric Flair (who hasn’t been seen) followed that advice, they wouldn’t have to be here tonight. The brawl is teased with FTR telling Steamboat to get out and Steamboat saying he’s going to play it smart here. FTR jump shim so Bandido and Brody King make the save, with Steamboat getting in a few chops to send the villains running. This was WAY too long and dragged badly.

Team Death Riders vs. Team Darby Allin

Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, Claudio Castagnoli, Pac
Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly

Allin and Yuta start things off and they go straight to the floor, with Allin missing a charge and crashing into the barricade. They get back inside with Allin hitting a quick Coffin Drop from the cage to a standing Yuta. That’s enough to send Yuta to the other ring to reach for Allin’s skateboard. Allin gives him a Code Red and uses the thumbtacks on the back to cut Yuta open. Orange Cassidy is in to give the good guys the advantage and BREAKS HIS OWN SUNGLASSES. He uses the pieces to stab Yuta in the head (I’ve seen worse ideas) and Yuta is bleeding even more.

A jumping skateboard shot to the back has Yuta down again as Daniel Garcia is in to even things up. Garcia chokes Allin and Cassidy at the same time and a double chain shot puts Cassidy down. We take a break and come back with Garcia and Yuta being tied up with the chain as Mark Briscoe joins the fray. Well he’s supposed to at least as he has been attacked in the back.

Roderick Strong goes instead to buy time and drops Yuta onto Garcia. Claudio Castagnoli evens things up and sends Strong into a chair in the corner. Cassidy chokes Castagnoli….who swings Allin at the same time, because that’s something a human can do. The bleeding Strong’s head is rubbed into the cage and one heck of an uppercut drops Allin. Kyle O’Reilly is in as the next to last member of his team but Garcia and Yuta are back up with chair shots.

Yuta gives Allin a piledriver on the chair and we take another break. We come back again with Jon Moxley coming in and stabs O’Reilly in the head with a fork. Strong is stabbed in the head and Allin is stabbed in the back…and Briscoe isn’t here as Moxley stabs Strong with a piece of the mirror from the first match. We get word that the Don Callis Family attacked Briscoe as Allin is piledriven into a pile of glass. That’s enough to send us to another break and we come back again with Pac completing the field (with the villains up 5-4).

Allin Coffin Drops from the roof onto everyone else, leaving the very bloody Strong to get beaten up by Pac. One heck of a running clothesline drops Allin….and here is Briscoe with some boltcutters to break into the cage. Briscoe sends a toolbox into the ring and the good guys find some tools. Moxley shrugs off a wrench shot (of course) as Briscoe sets up a table on the floor. Garcia is put on the table and Briscoe goes up the cage, only for Garcia to move before the big jump.

Yuta joins Briscoe on top so Briscoe and O’Reilly rig up a pulley system to get some chairs up there. Yuta has to low blow his way out of a Jay Driller and we take one more break. We come back with Briscoe hitting the Jay Driller to Yuta onto a chair on top of the cage as Allin chokes Moxley with a hammer. Cue Gabe Kidd to drag Allin up the aisle as Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets.

They are then stapled as Kidd chokes Allin on the stage. Pac pulls All on top of the entrance…and Kidd lights some tables on fire. Pac is sent through the flaming tables and Kidd is taken away by security. Moxley chokes O’Reilly with a chain and gets flipped off so Castagnoli wraps a chair around O’Reilly’s neck. Cassidy rips the staples out of his pockets and Strong is up with some running knees. The Orange Punch hits Moxley and Garcia is sent into a table in the corner, with Garcia bouncing off of it in a nasty crash.

A powerbomb sends Yuta into (not through) another table in another corner before he gets whipped through it. Cassidy counters Swiss Death into an Orange Punch but Strong can’t put Castagnoli through the table (Where did they get these things from?). Another Orange Punch knocks Moxley into an ankle lock, which is reversed into the bulldog choke. That’s reversed into an ankle lock with a grapevine and Moxley taps at 54:07.

Rating: C. Was it a disaster? No. Was it bad? Not really. What it was instead was a FAR too long match that felt like it was just there to fill in time, with stuff like the Allin being sent through a burning table just being a moment in a long series of them. It’s another match that could have had nearly half an hour cut out without losing much. Now that being said, the ending was rather good and tied in with the bigger Moxley story. That part was well done, but it came at the end of a very long match and it didn’t have as much of an impact that it could have had otherwise.

Overall Rating: B-. This is just what Blood & Guts is and that isn’t a surprise anymore. It goes on far longer than it needs to and doesn’t exactly make me care about most of the people involved. I’m certainly not more interested in seeing Full Gear (which is now going to feature a smaller cage match) and that’s not a great feeling. The non-cage match here was very good, but the big focus was on Blood & Guts, which was pretty much exactly what you would have been expecting.

Results
Team Mone b. Team Statlander when Storm submitted
Hangman Page b. Powerhouse Hobbs – Boot to the head
Team Allin b. Team Moxley – Ankle lock to Moxley

 

 

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