It’s time for the next pay per view and the show isn’t exactly feeling like a hot one. In addition to having come off of an only so good Forbidden Door, there are a lot of big names missing due to injuries or health issues. That’s going to make for a bit of a messy show, but the wrestling can often pull them out of the fire. Hopefully that’s the case again here so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Opps vs. WorkHorsemen

This was reportedly set for the show though I didn’t see it officially announced. I can’t blame AEW for not publicizing it more because…well would you really want to see it? The WorkHorsemen are another team that has a bigger guy who can move around fairly well and that’s about it for their appeal. They’re a team who aren’t bad at all but they don’t really stand out, which makes their addition to the show a bit unnecessary.

There is a grand total of no doubt about the winners here, as Joe and Hobbs can get a nice victory in what should be dominant fashion. I say should be because it won’t be, because this is a match that will likely get way more time than it needs. Joe getting to smash people is always fun though and that’s the appeal here, as he’s really good when he gets to do his thing.

Kickoff Show: Daniel Garcia vs. Katsuyori Shibata

It’s the third match in a trilogy where the first two matches were only so interesting in the first place. This is also coming just after Garcia joined the Death Riders so he’s going to be even more evil and….whatever you call the Death Riders. Shibata is likely going to be his usual self and that’s going to mean a lot of cool looking stuff without a ton of charisma behind it.

I have no reason to believe that Shibata is winning here as Garcia can get his revenge and get off to a nice start as part of the Death Riders. That’s a good way to go as beating Shibata still feels like an impressive feat. Garcia needs to show that he has gotten something out of his turn and this is as good a chance as he is going to have to start off pretty fast.

Kickoff Show: Harley Cameron/Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale vs. Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford/Triangle Of Madness

This is likely going to be the Kickoff Show main event as it’s a Tornado Tailgate Brawl, which is the latest term for a hardcore/weapons match. The good thing is that these teams have been fighting for a few weeks now so there is at least a story to the whole thing. I’ll take that over another randomly thrown together match and there will at least be some nice violence to start things off.

I’ll take Bayne and company to win here, likely beating Aminata in the process. Cameron’s team is a bunch of more fun people rather than tougher stars, which is going to be a problem against a monster like Bayne. Either way, there should be some fun spots in here and it feels a good bit more interesting than some of these things that we have seen over the previous shows.

Hurt Syndicate vs. Ricochet/Gates Of Agony

This is a rare instance of MVP getting back in the ring and that’s one of the only reasons to believe that the Syndicate is in danger. The Gates Of Agony are not going to be threats to Lashley and Benjamin, as has been proven before, so the only real chance the team has is to take out MVP. I’m not sure what is where it is going to go, but it makes for the only interesting option.

I keep wanting to say Ricochet sand the Gates win but I’ll take what feels like the more reasonable pick and say the Syndicate. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them move up to something more important in the near future (they might want their Tag Team Titles back) and that doesn’t involve losing here. Either way, it should be a nice power brawl, with MVP being able to hold up his end despite not being in the ring in a good while.

Big Bill vs. Eddie Kingston

So this one is just kind of happening, as Kingston has been gone for about a year and a half due to his injuries and didn’t have any major issues with Bill. Then one day Bill just randomly started talking about Kingston and the match was set. I kind of like the idea of mixing up a return rather than having Kingston show up to end a show for a change, but this is kind of out there.

Again, I don’t see any reason to believe that Kingston is losing here, as you don’t bring him back to lose in his first match. At the same time, I kind of wish it wasn’t Bill getting stuck with a loss as he’s been doing well, but the match is so random and out of nowhere that it’s not like they have another choice. Kingston wins here, because there is pretty much no reason for him to lose.

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

Hey look: a ladder match for the titles. It’s another match where they can do all of their stunts and dives without having to really put together a coherent match and that’s what always tends to happen. In this case we have the Bucks getting back into the title hunt because they’re the Bucks, Jet Speed because they’re the new tag team that AEW wants to push and the Family because…well there are so many of them that they have to go somewhere.

I’ll take the champs to retain here, as they haven’t had the belts for very long and could use a big win. While it would be better to have them beat some teams clean in a regular match where they can tear the house down, the best we’re going to get is this kind of a thing because AEW really likes having ladder matches. You knew this was coming so just enjoy the popcorn style match because it has to be checked off a list.

Unified Title: Kazuchika Okada(c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mascara Dorada

This is two matches in one as you have the “get it before it’s gone” portion as the Unified part will be taken away for the sake of this year’s Continental Classic, along with the “here’s a match that would be better with two people but we’re doing three” with Dorada added. My guess is that AEW needs an excuse to talk about Okada being “the greatest tournament wrestler of all time” even though this has been a tournament only in the loosest sense of the word.

While Takeshita is the red hot hand at the moment, I’m thinking they keep the title on Okada so we can get Takeshita’s moment later on, perhaps in the tournament final. As in the other tournament final later this year with the Continental Classic. Dorada is likely there to take the fall as this keeps stretching out, despite it being the perfect time for Takeshita to end Okada’s however long reign with whatever title you say he has at the moment.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone(c) vs. Riho

It’s time for the annual Riho push as she’s back from her hiatus for whatever reason it was this time and of course she’s right in the title picture. At the same time, Mone is coming off her loss to Toni Storm and needs another victim, so we’ve been lucky enough to have Riho get moved up to the front of the line. This match has felt entirely tacked on and yet it gets a pay per view spot anyway because Mone is a major star or something.

This feels like the next regularly scheduled victory for Mone so we’ll say the title stays in one place for the time being. I have no idea who is supposed to take the thing from her but hopefully she drops it sooner rather than later. Her matches are good but just watching her stack up her eleventy billion belts from places like BestYa Wrestling (yes that’s a real place) isn’t exactly interesting. Either way she retains here.

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

Here we have another match that feels like it should be a singles match as Thekla has been coming after Storm for a few weeks now but Hayter and Statlander are just kind of here too. That makes for another messy match where they can trade off on occasion, though I’m wondering if Willow Nightingale is going to get involved and cost Statlander the match in some way.

I’ll go with Storm retaining here, as she has been champion for a long time now but I’m scared that we’re building up to Mone taking the title from Storm in a rematch. For now though, it’s going to be a wild match with a bunch of things going on and people flying around, but Storm probably retains here. It still should be Thekla vs. Storm, though why do that when you can put more people into the match?

Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. FTR

This is a match that is about as much of a layup as you can get on paper, but somehow they’ve managed to make it feel less important. The problem here is that FTR has been doing their side feud with Adam Priest/Tommy Billington and had trouble beating them in two straight matches. Then they jumped back to Copeland and Cage, which just kind of made FTR seem weak leading into their huge match.

That being said, I’ll of course take Cage and Copeland to win here, as there is no reason to have them lose. It isn’t like FTR is doing much of note at the moment so having them lose to the legendary team is a smart way to go. Hopefully they don’t bother trying to do anything ridiculous for the sake of heat, as this should be one result without veering off the path no matter what.

Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley

Well at least Moxley isn’t champion anymore. This is a coffin match, which is now Allin’s signature deal and hopefully a way to write Moxley off for a bit. In short, AEW needs a breather from Moxley, who has dominated the company for far too long. He’s no longer the World Champion but now he gets the chance to beat Allin for good and wrap up their feud that started like a year ago and then stopped for the sake of mountain climbing.

There’s no reason for Allin to lose here so we’ll go with Moxley losing to hopefully start the downfall of the Death Riders. There is little reason to even consider Moxley winning here, as he dominated the company for so long that he needs to lose some big matches for a change. While I’m scared that Moxley might get the win to set up some final showdown with Allin, I’ll take the logical move of Allin winning.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Mark Briscoe

This is a Tables N Tacks match because reasons of tables n tacks need to be a thing. It’s supposed to be little more than violence and Briscoe getting revenge on MJF for everything he has done, which will work out well enough. At the same time though, it’s hard to believe that Briscoe is going to win here because Briscoe is just not the kind of person who wins big time matches.

So yeah, I’ll take MJF to win here, as it’s one of those matches that seems to be set up for him to lose, only for him to pull off the win in the end. It’s the kind of thing that makes the most sense, with MJF getting to head back to his World Title feud with Page, while Briscoe heads back to being the kind of weird guy who pops up and beats midcarders but loses to bigger opponents. It makes sense, even if I could go for Briscoe getting a nice win for a change.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page(c) vs. Kyle Fletcher

I’m liking Fletcher more and more in recent weeks, but at the same time I’m nowhere near close enough to seeing him as a viable World Championship challenger. He feels like someone who is being thrown out there because we need someone to face Page. The idea of having Fletcher doing this on his own is a good move, but I’m not sold on the idea that the Family stays out.

I can’t imagine this actually closes out the show but either way, Page wins to retain the title. He’s likely going to be moving on to the next challenger, whomever that might be, as Fletcher is dispatched in a long match. That’s where it should go at least and I can’t imagine it being much of anything else. Fletcher is going to be fine after the loss, though I have no idea how he is the best option available as a reigning champion.

Overall Thoughts

I’m still not feeling this show, as a lot of it feels like it should be featured on a big time TV special rather than a pay per view. There are some parts that look good, but a lot of it feels like they threw things together without many better options. The action will wind up being very good as every AEW pay per view is, but I’m not overly interested in seeing this show and that’s not a great feeling.

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

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Collision
Date: September 13, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s finally the last show in Philadelphia and we’re also just a week away from All Out. That means the show is pretty much officially coming together and now we get to see some of the last pieces of the buildup. In this case, we’re seeing FTR vs. Adam Priest/Tommy Billington II because…I’m really not sure. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Ian Riccaboni is in the ring to start and brings out MJF for a chat. MJF gets right to the point: Ian is to stand there while he does the talking. He talks about how stupid the fans are, which is somehow as stupid as Mark Briscoe. MJF brags about his recent and future successes, which make him ok with Briscoe picking their All Out stipulation.

Cue Briscoe on screen to say he hasn’t been this excited since he was a kid waiting on Santa Claus. That’s why he’s been thinking about things, like the fact that they’re in Philadelphia. This city is known for its love of tables, so we’ll make that the first piece of the puzzle. We’ll throw in thumbtacks as well, and he means tens of thousands of them. He’ll even throw in a wedding present, which involves Briscoe running in and jumping MJF, who escapes a Jay Driller onto the thumbtacks.

We look at Daniel Garcia joining the Death Riders.

Hologram and Paragon (complete with the corrupt file thing) yell about Garcia turning on his friends. Paragon is ready to give the Death Riders a beating.

Unified Title Tournament First Round: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Anthony Bowens

Takeshita strikes away to start and hits a running clothesline. Bowens is back with a running faceplant and a neckbreaker gets two. A dragon screw legwhip in the corner has Takeshita in trouble and Bowens sends him into the post. Bowens hits a big dive to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Bowens striking away for two but Takeshita snaps off a poisonrana. Bowens pops up for a running Fameasser and a middle rope neckbreaker gets two. The Mollywop knocks Takeshita outside but he’s right back in with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Raging Fire finishes Bowens at 9:10.

Rating: B-. Well, the latest unnecessary tournament is on and I’m really not sure why. Was anyone buying Bowens, who is known for losing, having a chance here against one of the hottest stars in the company? That’s not a great sign, but at least the whole tournament, as much as it is one, is only going to be four matches.

Mascara Dorada is ready for The Beast Mortos on Dynamite.

Video on Riho vs. Mercedes Mone.

Triangle Of Madness/Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford vs. Harley Cameron/Kris Statlander/Tay Melo/Anna Jay/Jamie Hayter

For $500,000 and Toni Storm is on commentary. Earlier today, Cameron and company got in an argument, with Hayter and Statlander in particular not getting along, despite Cameron’s cheerleading. Cue Wheeler Yuta to cheer for Statlander, who wants to start with Bayne but Hayter comes in instead. They fight over the lockup to start and neither can get a hiptoss.

Instead Bayne powers her into the corner and it’s off to Cameron, whose shoulders don’t get very far. A headscissors works a bit better though and it’s off to Jay as everything breaks down. Cameron and company rain down right hands in the corner but get reversed for some quadruple stomping. Ford sends Melo into the ropes for a running shot to the back and we take a break (and yes Storm throws us to commercial).

We come back with Bayne hitting a Falcon Arrow for two on Hayter, with Statlander making the save. Everything breaks down again and the Triangle starts taking over. We hit the parade of knockdowns until it’s down to Bayne vs. Hayter for the slugout. The double tag brings in Thekla to spear Jay for the pin at 9:13.

Rating: C+. This was the latest All Star tag match and not much different than last week’s version. Storm was funny on commentary and it’s smart to give Thekla the pin as she’s still getting established around here. I still don’t buy Storm in much danger in the title match but at least they’re building up one of the challengers.

Post match the brawl stays on but Queen Aminata and Mina Shirakawa run in with…a spatula and a cooler for the save. Storm gets in a dive of her own and counters Thekla’s spear into Storm Zero to clear the ring.

Here’s Max Caster for another open challenge.

Max Caster vs. Big Bill

Even Caster seems to know this isn’t good. Bill knocks him into the corner to start and talks a lot of trash, including about Eddie Kingston. The beating is on in the corner and, after mocking Caster’s clap, Bill finishes with the swinging Boss Man Slam at 1:58.

Post match Bill calls Eddie Kingston out again, saying he’s tired of people yelling at him for not showing Kingston respect. Bill doesn’t care about Japanese wrestling and the challenge is on for All Out. He doesn’t think Kingston will show up.

Jerry Lynn talks to Anthony Bowens again but Bowens jumps Max Caster and they brawl into the arena. Caster fights back but gets choked down, drawing Lynn out to break it up. Lynn remembers how good of a team they were but then they wanted singles runs. Neither of them are doing anything but here is the Swirl to interrupt. Blake Christian is tired of Lynn trying to become Billy Gunn II and jump him but Caster helps Lynn fight back. Bowens runs in as well and the Swirl is cleared out. Neither caster nor Bowens seem to want any part of a reunion though.

Mistico is cut off by MJF, with a guy who looks like a short Abraham Lincoln. MJF is ready to take Mistico’s mask for the better of wrestling. The Lincoln guy runs his mouth and gets slapped.

FTR vs. Tommy Billington/Adam Priest

Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. Billington and Wheeler lock up to start before Billington runs him over a few times. Harwood comes in and gets taken down as well, only to come up with some right hands in the corner to Priest. Back up and Priest starts in on Harwood’s arm, with Billington coming off the middle rope with an elbow to said arm. Billington gets caught on top though and a belly to back superplex brings him down.

We take a break and come back with Priest cleaning house but Wheeler low bridges him to the floor. Priest gets dropped onto the apron and some double teaming knocks him back inside. A backbreaker lets Wheeler taunt Billington a bit and Priest’s slap just makes Wheeler angrier. Priest Saito suplexes his way out of trouble but Harwood is there to backdrop Billington on the apron. Priest makes the comeback on his own, including a kick to the leg to set up a half crab.

That’s broken up so Billington missile dropkicks Harwood into the post. The snap suplex drops Harwood again but he catches Billington up top. Priest is back up with a tornado DDT to plant Wheeler on the apron and there’s a suicide dive to drop him again. Stereo flying headbutts get two on Harwood before Priest and Wheeler crash out to the floor. Billington crossfaces Harwood but a foot on the ropes gets him out. Wheeler catapults Priest into a post and the spike piledriver finally finishes Billington at 17:11.

Rating: B. It was a good match and absolutely should not have been happening here. Just like last week, the idea is that FTR is going into a dream match and one of the biggest challenges of their career. This week though, rather than using their experience against this brand new team, it takes them even longer to win. These matches haven’t made FTR look like they’re ready for a huge match, but rather that they’re not as sharp as they used to be.

Post match FTR celebrates and we’re told about a four way ladder match for the Tag Team Titles at All Out.

Various teams are ready to qualify for the ladder match.

Unified Title: Michael Oku vs. Kazuchika Okada

Okada is defending and this is part of the tournament as well because…..oh let’s just move on. Okada strikes away to start but Oku knocks him to the floor for the Fosbury Flop. Back in and a frog splash misses for Oku and Okada knocks him to the floor as we take a break. We come back with Oku kicking him away and hitting a superkick. The top rope Lionsault gets two but the half crab is broken up. Okada’s Rainmaker is countered into a small package for two but Okada Tombstones him into the Rainmaker to retain at 9:16.

Rating: C+. Let me see if I can remember this. Okada just won this match to qualify to defend his title in a three way a few months before it is vacated for the Continental Classic, during which the Unified Title will be split, making it no longer unified. Did I get all of that right? Either way, there was no reason to believe Oku was going to win here, making it just another not exactly inspiring Okada match.

Post match Konosuke Takeshita comes in for a staredown.

Video on Kyle Fletcher vs. Hangman Page.

Death Riders vs. Paragon

Garcia, now in black shorts, takes O’Reilly down to start and it’s quickly off to Strong for a change. Strong wins a wrestle off and Paragon chases Garcia outside for a series of strikes against the barricade. Back in and Moxley has to break up a cross armbreaker so Strong goes after him, only for Garcia to take out the leg. A Figure Four around the post has Strong in more trouble and we take a break.

We come back with Moxley working on O’Reilly’s leg but O’Reilly fights out and brings Strong back in. Strong’s belly to back faceplant gets two on Moxley and the top rope superplex puts him down again. Naturally Moxley, who just got superplexed from the top, is able to grab a choke from his back, followed by the big clothesline.

The Riders get stereo holds but Paragon gets out and strikes away at Moxley for two. O’Reilly dives onto Moxley with a dropkick against the barricade, followed by the cross armbreaker to Garcia. That’s broken up and the Dragontamer on the bad leg makes O’Reilly tap at 12:48.

Rating: B-. The team that loses pretty much every important match they have loses an important match. Let me show you my big surprised face. Paragon matches can be entertaining as they work well together, but egads it would be nice to have had some double about the result. Garcia is now a villain and…yeah he’s the same not very interesting wrestler that he’s been for years, but now in different gear. What a thrilling adjustment.

Post match Matt Menard yells at Garcia, who just leaves to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. As much as I liked last week’s show, this was a show that you could easily skip and not lose much of anything. It was a bunch of matches that had no realistic question about the winners or no real consequences (I’m sure the winning women’s lives will be changed by the money), with the only important changes to All Out being….a thumbtack/tables match and of course, a ladder match. I was bored throughout a lot of this, as it was a show that made me realize just how long Collision can feel a lot of the time.

Results
Konosuke Takeshita b. Anthony Bowens – Raging Fire
Triangle Of Madness/Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford b. Kris Statlander/Anna Jay/Tay Melo/Jamie Hayter/Harley Cameron – Spear to Jay
Big Bill b. Max Caster – Swinging Boss Man Slam
FTR b. Adam Priest/Tommy Billington – Spike piledriver to Billington
Kazuchika Okada b. Michael Oku – Rainmaker
Death Riders b. Paragon – Dragontamer to O’Reilly

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

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Dynamite
Date: September 3, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We’re less than a month away from All Out and the card is rather slow out of the gate. There is only one match announced so far so there is a good chance that some of the matches might come together this week. AEW is still in the old WCW Arena and that means we should be in for a rowdy crowd. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Here is Gabe Kidd to interrupt the show’s opening but Darby Allin jumps him from behind. Allin sends him neck first into the turnbuckle rod but Kidd fights back with a clothesline. Allin fights up with the skateboard and some tacks, even taking out an intervening Wheeler Yuta. The rest of the Death Riders come out but here are Hook, Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs and Willow Nightingale for the big brawl. Kidd and Allin fight to the back, where Kidd tries to crush Allin’s head with a hammer. Allin chokes him out though and puts him in a body bag, which is tied to a truck and driven away. And that’s the first eight minutes of the show.

We recap Alex Windsor vs. Mercedes Mone for the latter’s TBS Title.

TBS Title: Alex Windsor vs. Mercedes Mone

Mone is defending and forearms away to start but gets caught in an early Sharpshooter attempt. With that broken up, Windsor settles for some armdrags but has to use the ropes to get out of a quick Statement Maker. Windsor sends her outside for a flip dive off the apron and slams Mone’s knee into the apron. Another Sharpshooter in the ropes is broken up and Mone drops her onto the apron as we take a break.

We come back with Windsor hitting some clotheslines and a flying shoulder. A Blue Thunder Bomb sets up the Sharpshooter, which is reversed into the Statement Maker, which Windsor reverses into a crucifix bomb for two. The Sharpshooter attempt sends them outside, where the Sharpshooter goes on again outside but has to be released due to the count.

Back in and Mone grabs the Statement Maker but Windsor is back up with a running clothesline. They forearm it out and a Grace Driver gives Windsor two more. The Statement Maker goes back on, with Windsor using the ropes to escape but Mone rolls her up to retain at 15:03.

Rating: B. This is the kind of match that I was hoping to see, even with the spamming of the dueling submission holds (Natalya does it all the time in WWE so maybe it’s a Sharpshooter thing). Other than that it’s the two of them going after each other after a story was set up for a few weeks. Windsor got a lot out of the build and match, but Mone losing the title is going to be a major deal and it wasn’t likely to happen here.

Post match Mone puts the Statement Maker on again….and Riho returns to make the save. Riho kicks Mone to the floor and picks up the title, as I guess it’s time to treat Riho like the biggest star ever before she leaves for months again. Lucky us.

Hook comes up to Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs, saying he can fight his own battles. He’s not happy with the Opps replacing him so fast but Joe says the Opps are about opportunities. Joe made the call and the team will still have Hook’s back when he needs it, whether he wants it or not. Hook doesn’t look pleased as he leaves.

Ricochet, with the Gates Of Agony, talks about how his legacy with the Hurt Syndicate, which started a long time ago. The Gates are a bit more assertive and issue the challenge for a six man at All Out.

Here is Mark Briscoe for a chat. Briscoe talks about how he and his brother fell in love with wrestling in this very building. Now his focus is on Kyle Fletcher and the TNT Title so he has to talk to a man named Don Callis. He has to beat a member of the team to get the title shot so here are Callis and some of his Family. Callis emphasizes the name MARK and says that he’ll be facing Konosuke Takeshita on Collision. Takeshita comes out for the staredown but Briscoe wants to fight right now.

Mark Briscoe vs. Lance Archer

They slug it out to start and Briscoe knocks him to the floor, only for Archer to cut off the dive. Archer chokeslams him onto the steps and we take a break. We come back with Briscoe still in trouble but knocking Archer outside. The running flip dive connects but Archer is right back with a buckle bomb. The chokeslam gives Archer two and Briscoe goes up, where he bites Archer’s head on top. A sunset bomb sets up the Froggy Bow to finish Archer at 7:59.

Rating: B-. This is where Archer can be well used, as the idea is to make Briscoe feel like a threat to the TNT Title. Therefore, he beat a monster and looks like he could pull off the upset against Takeshita and then Fletcher. It’s a simple way to go and one of the perks of a huge stable like the Family, as you can throw one member after another like this.

Toni Storm knows the history of this building and is ready to be the baddest b**** it has ever seen. Now it is time for someone new to step up and come after the title.

Kris Statlander takes off Harley Cameron’s mask and reveals…what looks to be pink paint. They’re ready to win more but Wheeler Yuta comes in to say the Death Riders have their back. Marina Shafir comes in for the staredown, with Statlander saying tell their friend she got his message. Yuta: “Ok I’m going to go wrestle now.”

Tag Team Titles: Bandido/Brody King vs. Death Riders

Bandido and King are defending. Yuta works on Bandido’s arm to start but Bandido is right back up with a headscissors. Castagnoli and King come in to slug it out, with King getting the better of things. Bandido comes back in and manages to muscle Castagnoli over with a suplex. Castagnoli sends him outside though and Yuta hammers away as we take a break.

We come back with Bandido managing a springboard hurricanrana to Castagnoli, allowing King to come back in. Bandido hurricanranas King into Castagnoli in the corner and King superplexes Castagnoli as everything breaks down. Cue Jon Moxley to post King and the Fastball Special gets two on Bandido. The Swing into the dropkick gets two so Moxley tries to get involved again, only to get taken out by Darby Allin. King decks Yuta from the floor and the 21 Plex gives Bandido the pin at 12:45.

Rating: B. Good match here as Bandido is turning into a bigger star almost every time he’s out there. That’s a rather positive sign for his future and now we are going to see how far he and King can go. I’m not exactly picturing them as long term champions, but they’re a hot team right now and that’s what they need to be.

Kazuchika Okada is happy with his win with Konosuke Takeshita last week but Takeshita needs to realize that Okada is the crown jewel of the Don Callis Family.

The Hurt Syndicate isn’t sure what happened to Ricochet and don’t want the Gates Of Agony to be turned into punchlines. Yes they accept the challenge and they’re ready to give Ricochet and the Gates a beating.

Here is Adam Copeland for a chat…and FTR run in to jump him. Christian Cage runs in for the save and the brawl is on. Harwood is busted open as security gets the four of them apart. Some other wrestlers come out and FTR hits a jobber with a spike piledriver. Adam Priest isn’t happy and goes after FTR.

Video on Daniel Garcia vs. Jon Moxley.

Stokely Hathaway and FTR are ready to take out Christian Cage and Adam Copeland. Adam Priest comes in and gets yelled at as well.

Here’s what’s coming on Collision.

Young Bucks/Don Callis Family vs. Jet Speed/Kenny Omega/Hangman Page

Apparently the Bucks had issues at a meet and greet because they need the money. Page takes Alexander down by the wrist to start and everything breaks down. The villains are sent outside for a quadruple slingshot dive. Alexander gets double chopped down and we take a break. We come back with Bailey coming in to pick up the pace, including a middle rope dropkick to Matt. Knight takes Matt down as well but the spinning splash hits raised knees.

A tornado DDT gets Knight out of trouble and it’s back to Page to pick up the pace. Alexander saves Fletcher from the Buckshot Lariat but Fletcher gets caught with a sitout powerbomb. Bailey comes back in to kick away at Alexander, who rolls some German suplexes. The Bucks are back in with a pair of TK Drivers to Jet Speed and we take another break. We come back with the Bucks hitting a top rope double stomp to Bailey’s back with a bunch of people making a save. Bailey is back up with a poisonrana to Alexander and Omega comes in to clean house.

Some snapdragons and we get the big Page/Omega vs. Bucks showdown and it’s a big four way strike off with Page having to pull up from hitting Omega. Everyone is down until it’s Fletcher coming in to slug it out with Page. Fletcher’s jumping Tombstone plants Page but Jet Speed is back in to clean house. Knight DDTs Fletcher but the top rope splash misses. Fletcher kicks Knight in the face and another team Tombstone plants him again for the pin at 22:11.

Rating: B+. It was a wild match, with the Bucks getting to look awesome again but it’s different because they’re being mocked this time. Other than that, it was the bad guys getting to dominate again, though at least Knight took the loss rather than the bigger stars. Fletcher seems to be coming for the World Title, even if Mark Briscoe is after him as well. That could go either way, but for now the villains stand tall.

Post match the villains keep up the beating and the rest of the Don Callis Family comes in to help. Fletcher brainbusters Page through an open chair and a table is set up at ringside. Omega gets chaired down again and a brainbuster sends him through the table. Omega is put in a neck brace to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The wrestling itself was pretty nice, though I wasn’t wild on some of the developments. Seeing the heels standing tall in the end, even if it’s a different group of heels, is a bit much after watching the Death Riders do it for so long. Throw in Riho being back and it didn’t leave me overly interested in the future. Hopefully it’s not just more heel dominance for weeks on end, though we still need a good deal of work on the All Out card.

Results
Mercedes Mone b. Alex Windsor – Rollup
Mark Briscoe b. Lance Archer – Froggy Bow
Bandido/Brody King b. Death Riders – 21 Plex to Yuta
Young Bucks/Don Callis Family b. Jet Speed/Kenny Omega/Hangman Page – TK Driver to Knight

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

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

Forbidden Door 2025
Date: August 24, 2025
Location: 02 Arena, London, England
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Bryan Danielson

We’re back to the international show, but this time the guest star aspect has been toned down a good deal. That’s made for a better build to the show, which feels like more of a regular AEW pay per view with a few bonuses rather than a big side trip before we can get back to what matters. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Yuya Uemura/El Desperado/Paragon vs. Cru/Don Callis Family

Don Callis is here with the villains. Hechicero and Desperado start things off and go to the mat, which is good for an early standoff. An exchange of rollups gets two each and Desperado rolls out of a leglock. Cru comes in to send Desperado into the corner but he rolls over for the tag off to O’Reilly. Kicks to the chest put Cru down and Strong comes in for the save. The backbreaker/middle rope knee drop combination hits Hechicero but Andretti slips out and hammers away for a bit.

O’Reilly fights up and gets the cross armbreaker on Andretti. That’s switched into a leglock on Rush but Andretti is back in with a running shooting star. Uemura and Alexander slug it out with Uemura getting the better of things off a dropkick. Hechicero is back in to kick Uemura into a DDT and Rush hits the Final Hour for two as everything breaks down. Andretti hits a big corkscrew dive to the floor and Uemura grabs a butterfly suplex for two on Rush. A double arm capture suplex gives Uemura the pin on Rush at 12:04.

Rating: C+. Fun match, but this was a case where you could drop Paragon and Cru without losing much. Paragon has been losing a good bit lately and Cru hasn’t wrestled on TV in over a month. I’m not sure why they needed to be here, save for adding more people to the card. Still though, nice fast paced match to start the show, which is often a good idea.

Post match the beatdown is on but Tomohiro Ishii comes in for the brawl with Lance Archer. Ishii gets to stand…well not very call but he gets rid of Archer at least.

Zero Hour: Gates Of Agony/Ricochet vs. Jet Speed/Michael Oku

The Gates and Ricochet jump them to start and pose on the apron, only for Jet Speed to slap Ricochet in the head. Back up and a Pounce sends Oku over the top and out to the floor for a big crash. We settle down to Liona dropping a knee on Oku, who manages to avoid a shot and bring in Jet Speed (yeah both of them) to clean house.

Everything breaks down and Oku hits a missile dropkick, followed by Bailey’s standing moonsault knees to Kaun. A missed charge sends Kaun into the post and Oku hits a frog splash for two on Ricochet. Bailey moonsaults onto the Gates, leaving Oku to Lionsault Ricochet into the half crab. A rake to the eyes breaks that up though and it’s Open The Gates into the Spirit Gun to finish Oku at 9:54.

Rating: B-. The flips and dives were nice, with Jet Speed and Ricochet getting to do their flips and dives. I’m still not sure I get the appeal of Oku, but he’s a talented star in the ring. Other than that, the Gates getting to smash through smaller people was fun, though they are little more than Ricochet’s goons at this point. Granted that’s better than pretending that they’re going to be serious title challengers anytime soon.

Zero Hour: Triangle Of Madness/Megan Bayne vs. Willow Nightingale/Queen Aminata/Kris Statlander/Harley Cameron

It’s a big brawl to start, with Cameron shouting FEEL THE WRATH as the villains are sent to the floor. Some dropkicks through the ropes have Bayne and the Triangle down until Thekla comes back in to kick Nightingale in the face. Statlander comes in to take over on Hart but the Triangle knocks her outside. Bayne sends Aminata and Cameron flying and a pair of dives drop them on the floor.

Blue’s front facelock is broken up but Statlander intentionally brings in Cameron instead of Nightingale. Cameron hits some running shots in the corner before it’s back to Aminata, who gets clotheslined by Bayne. The hips to the face just annoy Bayne but Aminata pulls her down with a headscissors.

Nightingale comes in to a big reaction as everything breaks down. Thekla hits a big dive to the floor and brawls to the back with Aminata. That leaves Cameron to take her mask off and hit Bayne in the face, setting up a tornado DDT for two. Bayne kicks Nightingale off the apron and Statlander kicks Nightingale, setting up Bayne’s Liger bomb for the pin at 11:16.

Rating: C+. Well thank goodness Cameron came back and got to take a pin so fast. It’s not like Aminata was right there to take the fall or anything. The match was basically another chance for Bayne to come in and wreck people, which she does rather well. As has been the case here though, there are too many people in the match for someone to really stand out, including Bayne.

Zero Hour: Trios Titles: Opps vs. Bullet Club WarDogs

The WarDogs (Clark Connors/Robbie X/Drilla Maloney) are challenging. Connors and Shibata slug it out to start with Shibata getting the better of things and taking him outside for some rams into the barricade. Back in and Joe comes in, which scares Maloney away. It’s off to Robbie X, who gets knocked into the corner, with Shibata coming back in for a running dropkick.

Everything breaks down and Connors sends Shibata into the barricade with Hobbs making the save. Back in and Maloney takes over on Shibata, with Shibata dropping an elbow. Connors chops away with Shibata telling him to keep going before coming back with an STO. Hobbs comes in to clean house but the numbers take him down. Robbie X’s Spiral Tap gets two but Hobbs is back in with a spinebuster for two. Joe kicks Robbie X into the corner as everything breaks down. Shibata chokes Maloney and Joe MuscleBusters Robbie X to retain at 7:21.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have much time here and you could see how rushed they were as a result. Again though, it isn’t like there was much of another option because Zero Hour absolutely had to have four matches with that many entrances and people. Anyway, it’s nice to see the champs get a win over an established group, as there are only so many of them out there to come after the belts.

And now, the show proper.

The opening video talks about how special it is to have wrestlers from so many promotions on one show. That would have more of an impact if these wrestlers weren’t around so regularly.

Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. Matriarchy

This is Copeland and Cage’s first match as a regular team in over 14 years. As usual, the fans sing Copeland’s song to him. Copeland and Sabian start things off and it’s already time for a chase, with Copeland managing to send him face first onto the floor. Cage comes in and hammers on Sabian in the corner before it’s off to Killswitch. That’s enough for Cage, who lets Copeland have him for a change.

A superkick cuts Copeland down and now Sabian is willing to come back in for a neck snap across the top rope. Killswitch sends Sabian hard into Copeland in the corner and we hit the neck crank. That’s broken up so Sabian tells Killswitch to tag him, earning a chop for a tag. Sabian comes in and takes Copeland up top, with Cage coming in for an electric chair and a Doomsday spear.

That’s enough for Cage to come in and face Killswitch with Cage sending him into the post. Cage chokes both Killswitch and Sabian on the rope and then hits a big dive onto Killswitch. Back in and Killswitch kicks out at one but Sabian tags himself in. A double implant DDT drops Killswitch and Copeland spears him to the floor. Cage fights out of Sabian’s Killswitch attempt and throws Sabian into the air cor Copeland’s spear and the pin at 13:48.

Rating: C+. The second the match was announced, it was a question of whether Sabian would get pinned off the spear or a Killswitch from Cage. Killswitch got to look awesome as you knew he would in his return to the ring but there was no way Copeland and Cage were going to lose here. They’re in for a major match at All Out in Toronto so this was little more than a warmup which went a good bit longer than it needed to last.

We recap Kyle Fletcher defending the TNT Title against Hiromu Takahashi. Fletcher recently won the title and needs a top challenger so here we go.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Hiromu Takahashi

Fletcher, with Don Callis, is defending and shoves Takahashi down to start. Back up and Takahashi strikes away but Fletcher kicks him in the face. Takahashi strikes away in the corner but gets knocked down just as fast. The chinlock does on to keep Takahashi in trouble, only for him to fight up and snap off a hurricanrana.

Fletcher is right back with a Michinoku Driver and they’re both down for a breather. A hard belly to back suplex into a sitout powerbomb gives Fletcher two more. Back up and a boot to the face makes Takahashi come up smiling so they go to the apron. Fletcher’s suplex is reversed into a DDT and Takahashi powerbombs him to the floor.

A clotheslines gives Takahashi two and he reverses a powerbomb into a Canadian Destroyer for two more. Fletcher is back with a jumping Tombstone for two and a running boot in the corner. The brainbuster is countered into a rollup to give Takahashi two, only for Fletcher to come back with the brainbuster to retain at 15:23.

Rating: B. This took its time to get going but then it really picked up once Takahashi made his comeback. What mattered the most is that Fletcher had to break a sweat against someone with that kind of a resume. Fletcher is going to be a big project for AEW and having him win here is the right way to go. There was no reason to believe Takahashi was winning here, but at least the match went as it should have.

We recap the TBS Title match, which has Mercedes Mone defending against challengers from three companies. Only Alex Windsor has gotten a serious focus and it would be a lot better off with her getting her own shot.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Bozilla vs. Alex Windsor vs. Persephone

Mone is defending. It’s a staredown to start with Mone being sent outside, leaving the rather large Bozilla to clothesline the other two. Back in and Mone gets gorilla pressed out to the floor as it’s all Bozilla to start. Mone comes in again and gets flapjacked by Persephone and Windsor, only for Bozilla to come back in and run them over.

Bozilla drives Mone into the corner but a Codebreaker over the ropes sends Bozilla outside. Mone’s dive is countered though, leaving Persephone to make a save. Back in and Persephone gets some rollups for two on Mone, only to get bearhugged by Bozilla. That’s broken up and Mone comes off the middle rope with a double knee to put Bozilla down. They go to the corner for the Tower Of Doom with Windsor getting the best of it.

Windsor ties up Mone and Persephone in a double half crab, at least until Bozilla making some saves. Bozilla clotheslines Windsor for two but Persephone is back with a Razor’s Edge. Mone breaks up Windsor’s Sharpshooter and counters Persephone’s Razor’s Edge into a hurricanrana to retain at 15:34.

Rating: B. Kind of like the Copeland/Cage match, there wasn’t much doubt here as the question was more who was taking the pin. Persephone and Bozilla were both basically just there to fill in the international quota, as the build for this was all about Mone vs. Windsor, which will likely take place at All Out.

Bozilla absolutely stood out here, as someone with her size and power is going to get attention no matter what she’s doing. On the other hand, Persephone didn’t really get the chance to show up until the ending, which again goes back to the theme of having too many people in the match. That’s always an issue and it was certainly the case again here.

We recap Nigel McGuinness challenging Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title. McGuinness is mostly retired but he’s a technical master who has Daniel Garcia in his corner. Ignore Garcia seemingly all but saying “I’m going to turn on you.”

McGuinness trained with wrestling legend Johnny Saint by playing chess. To be fair, McGuinness did win.

IWGP World Title: Nigel McGuinness vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Sabre is defending and McGuinness has Daniel Garcia with him. Feeling out process to start and they both roll through a snapmare attempt to start. McGuinness takes him down with a headlock but Sabre slips out as only he can. Sabre’s headlock takes him down as well, with McGuinness slipping out too.

Some arm cranking has McGuinness down again but he comes up with a middle finger to a nice reaction. McGuinness pulls him down into an armbar, which is reversed into the neck twist, allowing Sabre to go after the arm again. Back up and McGuinness avoids a charge into the corner and hits a clothesline for a needed breather. The big lariat gives McGuinness two but Sabre gets to the rope to avoid the London Dungeon.

The Tower Of London is countered as well and Sabre gets in a Disarm-Her, which is escaped rather quickly. They uppercut it out until the rebound lariat blasts Sabre for two. Something close to a Rainmaker drops Sabre for two more so it’s something like the London Dungeon again. Sabre makes the rope again but McGuinness grabs another Tower Of London for another near fall. They trade rollups for two each until Sabre gets a sunset flip to retain at 17:01.

Rating: B. Points for not having Garcia cost McGuinness the title here, though McGuinness was a long shot at best to take the title here. Sabre is an absolute monster when it comes to the technical stuff, though McGuinness more than held his own out there. This was more a “here’s one last great moment for McGuinness in his hometown” and there is nothing wrong with that, as they had a heck of a match.

Post match Tony Schiavone gets in the ring for a special presentation, which (after Garcia and McGuinness stand there for a second and realize it has nothing to do with them) is the pro wrestling record attendance for the venue: 18,982.

Queen Aminata and Thekla brawl from the back into the arena, with the Triangle Of Madness running in to beat Aminata down. Jamie Hayter returns for the save to quite the strong response.

We recap the Tag Team Titles. The Hurt Syndicate are the dominant champions and Bandido/Brody King and FTR…well they didn’t win a tournament but they didn’t lose it either, so it’s time for a three way title match.

Tag Team Titles: Hurt Syndicate vs. FTR vs. Bandido/Brody King

The Syndicate is defending and Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. The challengers pair off to start, with FTR taking Lashley to the floor while Bandido and King take over on Benjamin. We settle down to Bandido headscissoring Harwood to take over. Lashley is back in with a double clothesline and a suplex. Harwood dares to chop at Benjamin, who just glares at him in response.

Bandido comes in to send Benjamin outside for a suicide dive, only for Lashley to take Bandido down. Benjamin can’t hit a suplex as Bandido slips out but FTR drops to the floor to avoid a tag. Bandido’s spinning high crossbody drops Benjamin and it’s off to King to clean house. King crushes FTR in the corner and hits a cannonball, followed by the showdown with Lashley (the fans like this).

The big spinebuster drops King but he’s back up with a clothesline to send Lashley outside. Back in and Benjamin rolls some German suplexes on King but walks into a Shatter Machine. King makes the save and sends Wheeler into the Syndicate on the floor, with King taking them down. Bandido’s top rope flipping fall away slam onto the pile leaves everyone down. Cue some guys in New Japan gear (we can’t see their faces) to brawl with the Syndicate, leaving Bandido to kick a chair into Harwood’s face.

Wheeler gets punched out of the head but Harwood chairs King in the head. The New Japan guys are Ricochet and the Gates Of Agony, who can’t believe King kicks out. The PowerPlex is loaded up but Bandido breaks it up and hits a frog splash. King monkey flips Bandido into the 450 to Harwood for the pin and the titles at 15:07.

Rating: B+. Good stuff here and while the Syndicate wasn’t even involved in the decision, they did have a reason for being taken out. At the same time, it would have been better to have Bandido and King win the tournament and the titles, even with the interference. Just let them be the best team rather than a team that escaped with the belts. Either way, best match of the night thus far and the new champs are an interesting choice.

We recap Kazuchika Okada defending the Unified Title against Swerve Strickland. Okada is the dominant champion and Strickland doesn’t like him, so the title match is on.

Unified Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Swerve Strickland

Strickland is challenging and Okada gives him the pat on the chest against the ropes to start. That’s shrugged off and Strickland hits a dropkick to send him outside. Strickland follows with a knee, which he seems to bang up on contact. Back in and some rolling neckbreakers put Okada down, followed by the middle rope elbow to the back of the neck.

Okada catapults him over the top so Strickland tries to stick the landing, over to hurt his knee again in the process. Okada sends him into the steps to keep the knee in trouble and they go back inside with the pace slowing a good bit. Strickland manages to roll some suplexes, followed by a belly to back superplex for two. They head back outside, with Okada hitting a tombstone on the floor.

Back in and the Rainmaker is countered into the House Call and Strickland fires off some clotheslines. The Rainmaker misses again and Strickland hits a dropkick. A powerbomb is swung into a powerslam (cool) to plant Okada, followed by the Swerve Stomp for two. Okada gets smart by going back to the knee, meaning it’s another dropkick, only Strickland to hit another House Call. Strickland tries it again but walks into the Rainmaker to retain the title at 16:33.

Rating: B. This got going in the end, though Strickland’s knee injury seemed to go away for a long stretch in the middle. I wasn’t quite sold on Strickland winning here but it felt like there was at least a reasonable chance he would get the title. It was a good, hard hitting match with Strickland going for it but ultimately coming up short, which is a good way to go.

Post match Okada goes after the knee again but Prince Nana makes the save with a pipe. Freaking WARDLOW of all people comes in for the beatdown though, laying out both Nana and security. Then Wardlow hugs Don Calls, whose Family somehow has another member. Konosuke Takeshita comes out to show his approval.

We recap Athena challenging Toni Storm for the Women’s Title. Athena is cashing in her Casino Gauntlet title shot and has been coming after Storm, who finds Athena rather annoying.

Women’s Title: Athena vs. Toni Storm

Only Storm is defending and Billie Starkz is here with Athena. Storm hammers away in the corner to start and they head outside, where Starkz offers a quick distraction. Athena dropkicks her up against the barricade and we hit the neck crank back inside. A backsplash misses for Athena but she swings Storm’s head into the post.

Storm gets knocked into the corner but Athena takes too long loading up a running hip attack. A clothesline drops Athena for two, though the TCM Chickenwing is broken up. Athena hits a snap belly to back suplex and they forearm it out. Storm Mongolian chops her down but Athena hits an elbow to the face for two. Starkz’ distraction lets Athena hit a running boot in the corner, followed by a powerbomb for two more.

A Koji Clutch has Storm in even more trouble until she makes the rope and gets outside. Storm sends Athena face first into the steps, followed by Storm Zero for another near fall. Starkz offers another distraction though and the O Face across the top rope connects but here is Mina Shirakawa to cut Starkz off. Another O Face is countered into the TCM Chickenwing to retain the title at 15:15.

Rating: B. Gah I was getting into this one near the end and I was wanting to see Athena win the title. While there are other challengers waiting for Storm, it would be great to see Athena’s incredible Ring Of Honor reign rewarded with a run with the real title. Either way, good match here, though the ending left me a bit disappointed.

We recap Hangman Page defending the World Title against MJF. They don’t like each other as MJF says they’re the villain/main character of the AEW story, with MJF cashing in his Casino Gauntlet contract. Then he changed his mind, but got the title shot anyway by threatening to burn Mark Briscoe alive (as you do).

AEW World Title: Hangman Page vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

MJF (in a snazzy green feathered robe) is challenging and Page can lose the title via countout or DQ. After the Big Match Intros, MJF bails out to the floor, with Page following him to hammer away against the barricade. Page drops him throat first across the barricade, followed by a belly to back suplex back inside. They’re already back on the floor, with Page teasing using a chair and getting sent into the post as a result.

Back in and a quick piledriver gives MJF two before he goes after the arm. Page is suplexed into the corner by the arm but he’s fine enough to hit a top rope clothesline for two. MJF is sent outside for the moonsault, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two back inside. Somehow MJF grabs a quickly broken Salt Of The Earth but the Heatseeker is blocked. A hammerlock DDT gives MJF two and he sets up a table at ringside, only for Page to snap off a moonsault.

Rather than covering, Page loads up the table (Danielson disagrees) and hits the Deadeye through the wood (now Danielson approves). MJF manages a foot on the rope back inside and they’re already back outside, with MJF avoiding a charge to send Page into a chair. They jumping (and running) Tombstone onto the broken tables rocks the (bleeding) Page but he beats the count at nine.

Back in and the turnbuckle is exposed, with Page sending MJF into it to bust him open as well. They pull themselves up and slug it out (I’ll take it over forearms) until stereo rolling elbows drop both of them. A rather rapid fire pinfall reversal sequence gets a bunch of twos (and ones) until the Deadeye gives Page a rather near fall. Page is frustrated so MJF hands him the ring and insults him, only for Page to use a regular punch.

The referee gets bumped and MJF gets in a low blow into the Heatseeker, with Page’s foot on the rope. Cue Mark Briscoe for a distraction as the referee gets up and sees the foot on the rope, meaning no count. MJF kicks Page low again and hits him with the contract for two but Page is back with the Deadeye. The Buckshot Lariat FINALLY retains the title at 31:10.

Rating: B-. WAY too long here as they proved the point time after time: MJF was trying to steal the title through any means he could but Page kept surviving. The idea was explained multiple times in there and it was getting to the point of “get on with this already”. Page winning is good, but dang I was annoyed when they pulled back the contract and that’s still the case now. Just let Page move on already, but he can’t because of that stupid contract.

The cage is lowered.

Quick recap of the main event. The Death Riders and the Young Bucks are bad and a bunch of people are after them. Put them all in a cage, including the injured Will Ospreay, non-sanctioned.

Young Bucks/Death Riders/Gabe Kidd vs. Kenny Omega/Kota Ibushi/Darby Allin/Hiroshi Tanahashi/Will Ospreay

In a cage, which is VERY wide and basically a Cell without the roof. Ospreay gets a special entrance video for quite the hero’s welcome. The Bucks’ pyro and entrance stuff isn’t exactly right, but at least the chyron spells their names properly. It’s a huge brawl to start and yes there are weapons already provided around the ring. Tanahashi does the air guitar inside but gets decked by Kidd, who gets in a brawl with Ospreay.

Back up and Ospreay hits a big flip dive to the floor onto Kidd and Allin hits his own running flip dive. We get the Bucks vs. Omega/Ibushi showdown with the Bucks being sent outside for stereo moonsaults. Allin and Moxley are handcuffed together as the Bucks fight back and beat up Omega and Ibushi inside.

The Legos are poured out and Tanahashi comes in to faceplant Matt, followed by Omega powerbombing him into Ibushi’s German suplex. A ladder is brought in and the Bucks (amazing how they keep popping back up) powerbomb Allin into said ladder, allowing the Bucks to clear out the Legos. The bleeding Ospreay is up and wraps a chair around Moxley’s neck (no longer handcuffed) but Kidd is back in with a piledriver.

Castagnoli swings Omega and catapults him into a superkick from Matt. The TK Driver gets two on Ibushi and Allin gets launched over the top and into the cage for a crazy crash. Tanahashi is back in to clean house until Moxley drops him with a DDT. Back in and Allin is duct taped to a chair….so Moxley can try to use a fork to cut his ear off. Hey did you know that Moxley is hardcore? I’m not sure we made that clear.

The barbed wire table is loaded up as Allin is out as well (because not much has a lasting impact in this match). Moxley is sent face first into the barbed wire but Castagnoli gives Tanahashi the Neutralizer. The BTE Trigger connects on Tanahashi but Ospreay dives in for the save. Tanahashi drives Moxley through the barbed wire board and Omega takes Kidd down with the snapdragon.

Ibushi adds a snapdragon of his own (he’s been looking WAY better here) and everyone goes out to the floor. Naturally Ospreay goes up to the top of the cage for a moonsault back down, because he’s kind of out there. Kidd and Omega have their staredown but everyone else gets back in and brawls for the big everyone down.

Omega beats up Moxley and hits the one Winged Angel for two with multiple saves being made. A big stack of four tables are set up outside of the cage so of course Allin goes up, with Kidd trying to choke him. They go crashing through the tables, leaving Nick to take the Golden Trigger. A top rope Hidden Blade into the One Winged Angel drops Matt and the High Fly Flow gives Tanahashi the win at 32:36.

Rating: B-. I get the appeal of the match, but this felt like they were trying to do Anarchy In The Arena without going around the arena. Having this be in a cage only added a few spots, to the point where you could probably have gotten rid of the cage and done about the same thing. Other than that, it felt like a big collection of violence and spots without anything that really felt like it belonged in the main event spot of the pay per view.

Post match Ospreay gets the big moment (as he’s likely off to have neck surgery)…but the Death Riders jump him for a big beatdown. They lock the cage and Pillmanize Ospreay’s neck until the cage is raised, allowing the Opps and company to run in for the save. Everyone is sad and serious as Ospreay is checked on to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. This was in a weird place as the wrestling itself ranges from good enough to rather good, with only the opener being a bit lower on the scale. The problem here was that with the guest stars concept mainly being just a feature rather than the focus (Tanahashi could have been taken out of the main event without losing much of anything), there was only so much that felt really high level about this show. It came off like a pretty weak level pay per view (at least by comparison to other AEW shows) and hopefully they come up with something better next year.

The biggest problem though is I really didn’t care that much about what was happening. The action was good and it’s a fine enough show, but in addition to the usual length issues, the two main events don’t really change anything. MJF still has a World Title shot in his back pocket and the main event was really just about revenge. That doesn’t make it feel must see, especially when the two matches added up to over an hour. Anyway, a good show overall, but it really didn’t feel special.

Results
Paragon/El Desperado/Yuya Uemura b. Don Callis Family/Cru – Double arm capture suplex to Rush
Gates Of Agony/Ricochet b. Michael Oku/Jet Speed – Spirit gun to Oku
Megan Bayne/Triangle Of Madness b. Queen Aminata/Harley Cameron/Kris Statlander/Willow Nightingale – Liger Bomb to Cameron
Opps b. Bullet Club WarDogs – MuscleBuster to Robbie X
Adam Copeland/Christian Cage b. The Matriarchy – Spear to Sabian
Kyle Fletcher b. Hiromu Takahashi – Brainbuster
Mercedes Mone b. Alex Windsor, Persephone and Bozilla – Hurricanrana to Persephone
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Nigel McGuinness – Sunset flip
Bandido/Brody King b. Hurt Syndicate and FTR – Monkey flip 450 to Harwood
Kazuchika Okada b. Swerve Strickland – Rainmaker
Toni Storm b. Athena – TCM Chickenwing
Hangman Page b. MJF – Buckshot Lariat
Hiroshi Tanahashi/Kenny Omega/Kota Ibushi/Darby Allin/Will Osprey b. Death Riders/Young Bucks – High Fly Flow to Matt

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We’re back to the international themed show and in this case it’s actually going international. In this case the show is taking place in London, which should open up quite the excited audience. The big main event features Lights Out steel cage match, which has the potential to be quite the spectacle. Other than that, there are multiple title matches, which makes sense in a promotion that has so many titles. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Paragon/El Desperado/Yuya Uemura vs. Cru/Don Callis Family

This is your latest reminder that Cru is in fact still employed. It’s a match that was thrown together on the Collision before the show, meaning it doesn’t have much in the way of a backstory, though the action should be fine. Paragon is getting more serious and wants revenge for Adam Cole being injured, so maybe they can start things off here, even if Kyle Fletcher isn’t around.

I’ll take the good guys to win, as there are too many people on the other side who could take a fall. Cru has absolutely no value at the moment so beating one of them is a perfectly fine way to go. Paragon or one of the guest stars can get a win so this is likely going to be fine, albeit without much drama. In other words, it’s fine for a match on the Kickoff Show, assuming it isn’t coming up fourth.

Zero Hour: Triangle Of Madness/Megan Bayne vs. Harley Cameron/Kris Statlander/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale

This one was set up on Collision so points for having an actual build to the match for a change. The villains are another group trying to dominate without actually winning anything and that’s not the most thrilling deal, but Bayne is someone who could be put into the title picture at the drop of a hat. Other than that, you have the in-ring return of Cameron, which should work out rather well.

When I was putting the participants down for this match, it was a case of looking to see who would be taking the fall and it’s hard to imagine it being anyone but Aminata. Odds are Bayne pins her and gets to look all dominant while saving the others for bigger stuff. That’s a good way to go and a nice effort to get a bunch of women on the show, though it only feels so important.

Zero Hour: Gates Of Agony/Ricochet vs. Jet Speed/Michael Oku

I still don’t know if I get the appeal of Oku, who is fine in the ring but never really comes off as a huge star. That being said, he’s fine as a guest star here as the fans will know who he is and he’s a bigger deal in England than he is in the United States. The rest of the people involved seem to be cases of “get them on the show one way or another” and there are worse options for that status.

I’ll take the good guys to win here, for the sake of having the guest starring Oku win. The Gates have shown that they can lose over and over (and over and over) without really changing so they should be fine here. Ricochet very well could get the win here and if that involves him getting to beat up Mike Bailey along the way, I can think of a few worse outcomes for the match.

Zero Hour: Trios Titles: Opps(c) vs. Bullet Club War Dogs

It’s better than no main event at all. The Opps are at least turning into something of an established team with the titles so I’ll take that over another thrown together team with no reason to be in the title picture. At the same time, they’re facing an established faction so this could be a heck of a lot worse (as it tends to be when either set of six person titles are defended around here).

I’ll go with the champions retaining in a hard fought match, which will be another nice win on their resume. The Opps have already been champions for several months and there is a good chance that they’ll hold the titles for a long time to come. Let them face other established teams (as many of them as there are) and their reign will feel even better, with this being a nice example.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone(c) vs. Persephone vs. Alex Windsor vs. Bozilla

We’ll get one of the international matches out of the way here with challengers from AEW, CMLL and Stardom. The problem with Forbidden Door season is that Bozilla and Persephone have barely been a factor while Windsor has been the real challenger to Mone. In theory that’s going to be the match at All Out, as it’s certainly the match that has gotten the most attention on the way to this show.

So yeah of course I’m going to take Mone to win, as she needs to get a victory back after losing to Toni Storm (and since winning those random titles means a grand total of nothing, this is what she can do). Odds are she beats either Bozilla or Persephone to retain, leaving Windsor free to get the title shot later. It should be a good match, though it would be that much better as a singles match.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher(c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi

This is another match where there isn’t exactly much in the way of drama about the result. Fletcher just won the title a few weeks ago and seems primed for a big run. Takahashi is an incredible talent in his own right but he feels like he’s there for the sake of making Fletcher look good. That’s not the worst thing in the world, but it doesn’t exactly leave much in the way of questions about how it’s going to go.

Naturally Fletcher retains here, albeit after a heck of a match. Fletcher can work well with anyone and Takahashi is one of the most talented starts you’ll find today. This has the potential to steal the show (or at least come close) but I can’t find a way to believe that Takahashi is going to win here. It’s part of the issue of the international theme, but at least the match should be great.

Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. Matriarchy

I’m still not sure if that’s the right name for the team or not but I’m going with it. Now I’m trying to figure out something to say about the match, as it’s rather amusing to suggest that this has any kind of drama. The team is back together after twenty plus years (ignoring two matches in March 2011 because…well they don’t really matter) and they’re coming up on the pay per view in Toronto. What do you think is happening here?

You can put Killswitch in there all you want and it isn’t going to matter, as Cage and Copeland could go out there and split a sandwich and they would find a way to win. This is all about getting the big reunion and that should get quite the reception. I’m sure the match itself will be fine, but there is just no reason to believe that the Canadian legends are going to have any real trouble.

IWGP World Heavyweight Title: Zack Sabre Jr.(c) vs. Nigel McGuinness

So again, there isn’t much drama about who is walking away with the title here, but also again, this should be a heck of a match. Sabre can get in the ring and torture anyone, while McGuinness is a technical master in his own right. Both of them are from England as well so the fans will be way into things. At the same time though, there is a wild card to be considered and that’s not going to go well.

While Sabre is all but a lock to retain here, McGuinness is likely to give him a run for his money and probably get close with some submission attempts. That being said, ever since McGuinness won the Technical Spectacle to get the title shot, there has been a big countdown going until Daniel Garcia turns on him. That likely happens here, with Garcia likely costing McGuinness the title to set up something of a teacher vs. student match at All Out. McGuinness comes close here, but ultimately comes up short, thanks to Garcia.

Tag Team Titles: Hurt Syndicate(c) vs. Bandido/Brody King vs. FTR

This is the result of a #1 contenders tournament, because tournaments don’t need to have conclusive winners in the name of a triple threat title match. If nothing else, it’s nice to have a match which could go in a few ways though and that’s what we have here. While the Syndicate is great at what they do and have been dominant champions, they might not be able to hang in there the whole way here.

While there is always the chance of having the Syndicate win and move on to All Out as champions against fresh challengers, I’ll go with what feels like the more likely path of FTR winning here. That means they can face Copeland and Cage at All Out, possibly even in a ladder match for the belts. While that match doesn’t need the belts (or the ladders), it’s what feels the most likely, so we’ll say FTR wins here.

Unified Title: Kazuchika Okada(c) vs. Swerve Strickland

Now we’re getting into the interesting stuff, as while Okada would seem like the heavy favorite here, beating Strickland is no easy feat. That could make for some interesting results, as Strickland is certainly a worthy challenger. Okada is someone who could run with the title until the Continental Classic, but there is also an interesting situation with Strickland possibly taking it.

I’ll take Okada to retain here, but dang it should be a fun one. This is one of the matches that has me the most interested and hopefully it lives up to its potential. Strickland has shown that he can hang with anyone in the world and beating Okada isn’t out of the question. Either way, Strickland needs something to do, though I don’t think it’s going to be winning the title.

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

Here we have another one that has me really intrigued. Storm is one of the most successful stars in the history of the women’s division (if not the most), but at the same time, Athena has been Ring Of Honor Women’s Champion for so long that it’s hard to remember not having the belt. She’s absolutely hit the ground running in AEW and feels like she could easily carry the division. That being said, I’m just not sure if she will.

I’m going to go out on a limb and take Athena to win here, with the full on feeling that Storm will wind up winning so she can put Mercedes Mone over and give her the win back later on. Athena needs the win more, and it isn’t like Storm is going to be hurt by losing anything. Hopefully Athena wins and I’ll go with that as my pick, albeit one that I expect to be wrong.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page(c) vs. MJF

So this was the contract match from All In but instead we’re getting that later, because the Money In The Bank style thing HAS TO BE AROUND. As annoying as that is, we should be in for a good match here, as MJF has an ability to bring it on the big stage. The stipulations of Page being able to lose the title by countout or DQ make things more interesting and that’s a positive sign for this.

That being said, it’s almost impossible to imagine Page losing the title in his first pay per view defense after the big title win at All In. I’ll take Page to win here as it makes the most sense, though hopefully we get the contract for another match immediately thereafter to burn that thing off for good. Either way, Page overcomes the odds to win and retain the title.

Kenny Omega/Kota Ibushi/Darby Allin/Hiroshi Tanahashi/Will Ospreay vs. Death Riders/Young Bucks/Gabe Kidd

This is a Lights Out steel cage match with Will Ospreay likely not being around much longer after this due to needing neck surgery. I’m not sure what that is going to mean, but having ten people in a single cage is kind of asking for trouble. That being said, I have no reason to believe that they’re all going to stay in the cage anyway, which tends to be the case with these things.

At the end of the day, this is a match which could go either way and I’m curious about how it goes, but I’ll take the villains to win here. It allows Moxley to get a big win back after his World Title loss and sets up Allin to be the one to finally take Moxley and the Death Riders down. This also could be the match where Ospreay is written off television, even if it means sacrificing him getting a big win in the main event in front of his home country.

Overall Thoughts

If I didn’t know any better, I might miss the fact that this is Forbidden Door. The build has been far less than previous years and that is making it a lot better. Instead of taking a big side trip with all of the guest stars, the outsiders are little more than bonus pieces on the show and that has me a lot more interested. The show might not be a guaranteed smash hit, but it fees a lot more interesting coming in and I’ll definitely take that.

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Collision
Date: August 23, 2025
Location: OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the night before Forbidden Door and the card is pretty much all set. That means this show is going to be centered around getting everything set up. There is also the chance of adding in some more matches, as that whole Zero Hour has the space for at least three or four matches. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Don Callis Family vs. SkyFlight/Hiromu Takahashi

Don Callis handles his team’s introduction and screws up the Spanish for Hechicero. Takahashi runs the ropes to start and hits a quick dropkick to Alexander. Darius comes in for an assisted DDT to Alexander but Archer cuts off a dive and chokeslams him onto the apron. Back in and Hechicero takes Dante down and Archer fires off a kick to the chest. Romero gets to dance a bit before Hechiero gets to work on the leg. Alexander adds a gutbuster into a gutwrench suplex and we take a break.

We come back with Archer missing a charge into the corner, allowing the tag off to Sky so everything can break down. Everything breaks down and Archer gives Sky a swinging Boss Man Slam. Hechicero kicks Sky into a DDT from Alexander and everything breaks down with Archer getting double suplexed. Romero’s Sliced Bread is countered into a TKO from Sky before Skyflight hits a triple dive. Back in and the Time Bomb finishes Romero at 12:31.

Rating: B-. This was a fun opener and it’s nice to see SkyFlight actually win a match (even if they didn’t get the pin) before they are likely put into the jobbing vortex. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Romero losing the fall for a change instead of Alexander. It’s not like Romero has much else in the way of value in the ring so let him lose the fall here for the good of the team.

Post match Kyle Fletcher comes out for a staredown with Takahashi.

Video on the Forbidden Door four way for the TBS Title, with a look at all four participants.

Hook is coming back.

Megan Bayne vs. Isla Dawn

Penelope Ford is here with Bayne, who runs Dawn over without much trouble to start. Dawn’s waistlock attempt goes nowhere and Bayne snaps off a few slams. A hard clothesline sets up a running boot in the corner but Dawn fires off some kicks to the leg. Dawn’s running knee connects in the corner but Bayne shrugs it off and hits a running powerbomb for the win at 4:44.

Rating: C. Pretty much a squash here with Dawn getting to make a nice appearance. I’m not sure if she’s going to get a run around here, but putting a former WWE star with connections to the live crowd is a smart idea. The same can be said of having Bayne destroy her, as Bayne is on the way to getting somewhere around here, if she can get out of the midcard quagmire.

Post match Willow Nightingale comes out for her match and passes Bayne/Ford on their way to the back.

Willow Nightingale/Queen Aminata vs. Triangle Of Madness

Blue chokes Nightingale on the ropes to start but gets run over with a shoulder. Some corner clotheslines have Hart in trouble but it’s off to Aminata, who gets caught with Old School. Aminata gets in her hips to the face thing and is taken down by the hair as we take a break.

We come back with Nightingale spinebustering Hart for two but a double DDT gives Hart the same. Aminata gives Blue a reverse DDT but misses a top rope double stomp. Everything breaks down and the Triangle get stereo holds, which are broken up rather quickly. Aminata headbutts Blue into the ropes and the running knee gives Aminata the pin at 9:30.

Rating: C+. This was another example of taking a bunch of women with little going on and putting them in a tag match. It’s nice to see Nightingale on the winning side more often than not for a change, though I’m not sure if this is going to lead anywhere. At the same time, the Triangle continues to be off to a hit and miss start, though at least it wasn’t the full version here.

Post match Thekla comes in for the beatdown, with Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford joining the villains. Harley Cameron makes a failed save attempt but Kris Statlander is back for the real thing.

Daniel Garcia is disappointed about not getting the IWGP World Title shot but he’ll be there for his friend, Nigel McGuinness.

Here is Max Caster for another open challenge and the fans are starting to get into him. So get him an opponent out here.

Max Caster vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Non-title and oh dear. Caster is a bit frustrated and Sabre starts working on his arm. A headlock takeover doesn’t work for Caster so he ax handles Sabre in the neck instead. That’s cut off as well and a cobra twist gives Sabre the win at 2:20.

Post match Sabre comes out for a staredown with McGuinness and they shake hands, though McGuinness doesn’t let go immediately. With Sabre gone, Anthony Bowens runs in to beat Caster down, with Billy Gunn having to come out and yell at Bowens.

Harley Cameron is thankful to Kris Statlander for her help but Statlander hasn’t gotten her $100,000. Apparently it was supposed to come out of the Young Bucks’ salary but there are insufficient funds. Cameron is off to get it, but is told next week. The Death Riders come in to glare a lot, with Jon Moxley producing Statlander’s money.

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Believe it or not, they trade forearms to start until Takeshita takes him down with a flying clothesline. Back up and Ishii knocks him to the floor but Takeshita gets a hanging DDT from the apron as we take a break. We come back with Ishii hitting a delayed superplex, meaning it’s time to trade more forearms.

Takeshita gives him a knee but gets dropped for the sliding lariat. A Blue Thunder Bomb cuts Ishii off for two but Raging Fire is blocked. Takeshita reverses the brainbuster into the poisonrana, only for Ishii to enziguri him for a double down. An exchange of clotheslines gives Takeshita two and the Raging Fire finishes at 10:33.

Rating: B. Ishii is nowhere near what he used to be but dang this was working. They were beating the fire out of each other here, which is where Takeshita tends to shine. There wasn’t going to be much drama about the winner here before Takeshita won the G1 and now that he’s gotten the biggest win of his career, it was even less likely for Ishii. Heck of a hard hitting match here.

Big Bill vs. Mark Andrews

Bryan Keith is here with Bill, who jumps Andrews in the corner. A big boot sends Andrews to the floor, followed by a swinging Boss Man Slam for the pin at 1:46.

Post match Bill chokeslams him through two open chairs. Bill and Keith go into the crowd but stop to watch the next entrance.

Gates Of Agony vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Ricochet is here with the Gates (whose entrance Bill and Keith were watching) for commentary as Liona sends Drake flying to start. Kaun comes in for a bow but can’t get a suplex, allowing the Veterans to double team him down. A running boot in the corner knocks Liona to the floor but Ricochet offers a distraction so the Gates can take over again.

Drake gets whipped into the barricade and apron over and over and we take a break. We come back with Kaun missing a charge into the post, allowing Gibson to come back in and clean house. A Saito suplex gets two on Kaun and a Michinoku Driver/dropkick combination gets the same. Liona is back in to clear the ring and Open The Gates finishes Gibson at 9:07.

Rating: C+. The Gates continue to be fine in matches like this with no pressure on them, but there is no reason to believe that they’re going to be a big deal anytime soon. They’re good enough as Ricochet’s lackeys, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up for them going after any gold. Well maybe the Trios Titles with Ricochet, though that’s a stretch as well.

Gabe Kidd brings in the Bullet Club Wardogs, who are coming for the Trios Titles at Zero Hour.

Young Bucks vs. Paragon

The Bucks (Rod and Todd) are already in the ring and don’t like their name changes. O’Reilly works on Matt’s arm to start and snaps on the cross armbreaker. That’s blocked so O’Reilly tries an ankle lock, which doesn’t work either. Nick comes in and gets kicked down, with Matt tripping on the way in for the save and hurting his foot by kicking the announcers’ table.

Back up and Matt takes over on O’Reilly, who hands it off to Strong without much trouble. The belly to back faceplant drops Nick, followed by the Bucks colliding for another mistake. Matt kicks O’Reilly down though and the draping 450 hits Strong. The spike Tombstone plants O’Reilly on the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Matt giving O’Reilly a flipping cutter on the floor while Nick superkicks Strong for two. More Bang For Your Buck is broken up and O’Reilly is back up on the apron so Strong can get the needed tag. That means O’Reilly gets to clean house, including a cross armbreaker to Nick.

The Bucks manage to superkick their way out of trouble but O’Reilly catches them with a rebound double clothesline to leave everyone down. Matt suplexes his way out of a guillotine and Strong is sent outside for Nick’s running twist drive. An assisted Sliced Bread gets two on O’Reilly but the TK Driver is broken up. End Of Heartache hits Nick but here is Don Callis for a distraction. Cue Kazuchika Okada to give Strong the Rainmaker and the TK Driver finishes O’Reilly at 15:46.

Rating: B. I’m not sure about the Bucks winning again after their fortunes started to turn bad, though at least they had some help. Paragon continues to look good in defeat, but unfortunately they’re getting rather experienced in that area. They’re basically the upper midcard jobbers of the tag division and that’s only going to have an impact for so long. Good match though, and a solid main event.

Post match the beatdown is on until Swerve Strickland makes the save. The numbers game gets to Strickland though, with Okada taking out his knee. A Rainmaker takes Strickland out to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show was about getting things ready for Forbidden Door and the matches that got some time here did the job well. At the same time, we had some nice action, which is a good way to fill out what is basically a big commercial for the pay per view. Collision continues to be unnecessary in its current form, but it can work well at times, which was the case here.

Results
Skylight/Hiromu Takahashi b. Don Callis Family – Time Bomb to Romero
Megan Bayne b. Isla Dawn – Running powerbomb
Willow Nightingale/Queen Aminata b. Triangle Of Madness – Running knee to Blue
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Max Caster – Cobra Twist
Konosuke Takeshita b. Tomohiro Ishii – Raging Fire
Big Bill b. Mark Andrews – Swinging Boss Man Slam
Gates Of Agony b. Grizzled Young Veterans – Open The Gates to Gibson
Young Bucks b. Paragon – TK Driver to O’Reilly

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

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Dynamite
Date: August 20, 2025
Location: OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

It’s the last Dynamite before we get to this weekend’s Forbidden Door. As a result, that means we are probably going to get some rapid fire build to the show. The good thing is that most of the card is already set, including a rather big lights out steel cage match, which should be…something. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Bryan Danielson comes out to be a special guest commentator. Yeah that still works.

Here is Will Ospreay to get things going. Ospreay says he’s been having one of the worst months of his career. He talks about the first time he ever came to Glasgow and got screwed over by a promoter. Ospreay praises the UK’s ability to drink and brings up Greggs’ sausage rolls (which are delicious) and we pause for a SAUSAGE, SAUSAGE ROLLS chant. Ospreay: “None of that vegan crap either!”

After calming Danielson down (that was funny), Ospreay talks about feeling human for the first time after having a bunch of health issues. A lot of wrestlers have gone down this same road and they never come back the same. Last week, he was not cleared for Forbidden Door, which is why he wanted the match to be lights out, meaning unsanctioned by AEW. He knows the risks and is willing to take them, and if he can’t be Will Ospreay after Sunday, then he’s going to give everything he has. This is about revenge and he is ready to enter the cage and tear the Death Riders apart.

Cue the Death Riders to interrupt, with Ospreay asking why Jon Moxley needs people to fight his battles. Ospreay is coming to get rid of Moxley, so Moxley should be ready to fight on his own. Cue Jet Speed to brawl with the Death Riders (before their scheduled six man tag tonight) and here is Hiroshi Tanahashi so let’s do the match now.

Jet Speed/Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Death Riders

Tanahashi crossbodies Moxley down to start but gets kicked in the face by Castagnoli to cut him off. Bailey comes back in to kick away at Yuta, who knocks him down to take over again. Marina Shafir gets in a cheap on the floor, with the referee looking right at her, before we continue. Thankfully she is ejected, with Will Ospreay coming out to carry her to the back, and we take a break.

We come back with Knight in trouble in the corner, allowing Castagnoli to strike away. Knight kicks his way to freedom and it’s Tanahashi coming back in to clean house. Triple Twist And Shouts take the Riders down but cue the Bullet Club Wardogs from New Japan for a distraction. Cue Will Ospreay with a body bag, leaving Tanahashi to hit the High Fly Flow for the pin on Yuta at 11:04.

Rating: B-. Tanahashi is retiring in a few months and that is pretty much the best for everyone. He’s an all time legend and one of the best ever, but my goodness his body is horribly broken down and it’s sad to see what he can’t do these days. The rest of the match was fine and Yuta losing is always worth a look, but Tanahashi’s inability to run is just sad to see.

Post match the Wardogs and the Death Riders beat down the winners, with the Young Bucks running in to superkick Ospreay. The Conglomeration cuts them off but Darby Allin pops out of the body bag to help with the brawl. Cue the Opps to help clear the villains out but the brawl goes into the crowd, where Allin Coffin Drops off the balcony to wipe everyone out. Total people involved in this whole thing: 19.

Video on MJF vs. Hangman Page, focusing on the main character vs. villain angle.

Here is Adam Copeland for a chat, along with a serenade from the crowd. Before he can say anything though, here is Christian Cage to join him in the ring. Cage goes to tell the fans to be quiet but Copeland cuts him off, saying these people love him. Copeland admits that Cage is an a******, but he’s COPELAND’S a******.

As Copeland realizes that wasn’t the best way to word things, Cage acknowledges that he has found himself…which is someone who does not need to change. They aren’t on the same page, but at least they are reading the same book. This is a reunion of necessity because they are agreeing to help each other with their respective problems. We get the handshake and here are Kip Sabian and Mother Wayne to interrupt.

Nick Wayne pops up on screen, carrying a pair of crutches though, because he has a broken foot. Wayne won’t be at Forbidden Door, so consider it a blessing that he can’t cost Copeland and Cage everything. He is always one step ahead though…and Killswitch is back. A chokeslam plants Copeland and Cage is laid out as well, as Sabian seems to have a replacement partner. Copeland and Cage being back together is what matters here, and I’m sure they’ll be on the same page sooner than later. It’s the Canadian way.

Mark Briscoe is in England to hurt MJF.

MJF interrupts Ricochet and the Gates Of Agony, asking for their help with Briscoe tonight. Ricochet is in.

#1 Contenders Tournament Finals: FTR vs. Bandido/Brody King

Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. Bandido shoves his way out of the corner to start before Harwood takes him down by the arm. Harwood’s running shoulder drops Bandido again and they trade takedowns until Bandido does the gun point at Harwood’s head. Wheeler comes in and gets dropkicked to the floor as the Hurt Syndicate is watching in the back. Harwood is so frustrated that he grabs a chair as King comes in to shove Wheeler down.

King strikes away at Harwood, who is right back with a piledriver…which King shrugs off. Bandido is dropped onto Harwood for two but Wheeler comes in to send King outside. Hathaway gets in a cheap shot with a loaded sling and King is in trouble as we take a break. We come back with Bandido and Harwood coming in to pick the pace back up. Everything breaks down and Bandido’s dive to the floor is cut off, with FTR dropping him onto the apron.

A Demolition Decapitator gives Wheeler two, though Danielson wasn’t impressed by the cover. The chinlock goes on but Bandido fights up and hits a middle rope crossbody for two more. We take another break and come back again with Bandido hitting a double hurricanrana, followed by a double DDT. That’s finally enough for the tag back to King to clean quite a bit of house. The cannonball in the corner gets two on Harwood, with Wheeler having to make the save.

Bandido hits a big flip dive to hit Harwood but he has kick Hathaway down and get his mask back. A frog splash gives Bandido two and Wheeler tornado DDTs King on the floor. The PowerPlex is cut off by King’s choke but King gets crotched on top. The top rope belly to back superplex into the top rope splash gets two as we hear the five minute call. A quick Shatter Machine gets two as Bandido is back in for some rollups. King saves Bandido from a Shatter Machine and chokes Harwood, who is chopped out to the floor.

Harwood is back up with a spike piledriver on the apron but Bandido is up with a moonsault to the floor. Back in and the Shatter Machine is blocked, as is the 21 Plex. Another Shatter Machine connects with King making the save…so FTR grabs a table with less than a minute left? King sends them into the barricade but Wheeler is up to miss a suicide dive through the table as time expires at 30:00.

Rating: B+. The ending with the table was rather odd and the ending setting up another triple threat for the titles is rather annoying. Maybe it’s a way to get the titles off of the Hurt Syndicate without them having to lose, but at least the match was rather good. King and Bandido are a team who were thrown together and wound up working very well, though being in there with FTR isn’t hurting things. Heck of a match here, weird table aside.

Post match Bandido gives Harwood the 21 Plex, as his timing is a bit off. And then we get the announcement of the three way title match because…well because of course.

Video on Swerve Strickland vs. Kazuchika Okada.

Here is Hangman Page for a chat. Last week, he was attacked in the parking lot by MJF and that shouldn’t be a surprise, because MJF is a coward. Page needs him to know that at Forbidden Door, there are no second chances and Page is sticking his boot up MJF’s checkered a**. MJF’s music plays but he’s nowhere to be found. Tony Schiavone says that MJF is in the back and has a message for Page, and if Page leaves the ring before he’s done, something bad is going to happen.

MJF is with Ricochet and the Gates of Agony, who have kidnapped Mark Briscoe. They threaten to LIGHT HIM ON FIRE unless Page agrees to three conditions at Forbidden Door: the title can change hands via countout or via DQ and the contract is NOT being used. MJF whips out a lighter and Page agrees. OH SCREW OFF with the contract still being a thing. Just get rid of the stupid contract and move on.

Post break, Page jumps Ricochet with a chair and then beats up security.

Mercedes Mone/Athena vs. Toni Storm/Alex Windsor

Billie Starkz is here with Mone/Athena. Mone headlocks Windsor to start but it’s too early for the Statement Maker. Windsor fall away slams Mone into the corner, where Storm kisses the side of her head before coming in. Athena backs Storm into the corner but gets caught with a basement dropkick. Mone breaks up a double suplex as everything breaks down. Double headbutts put Athena and Mone in the corner, though they avoid the double hip attack. Athena plants Storm on the floor but gets taken out by Windsor’s dive as we take a break.

We come back with Storm getting to come in and clean house, including a PerfectPlex for two on Athena. Windsor’s short arm lariat gets two and it’s right back to Storm, who gets Codebreakered into the Statement Maker. That’s broken up and Mone misses the running knees in the corner. Storm gives Athena a tornado DDT, which is enough for the diving tag back to Windsor.

A running clothesline and Blue Thunder Bomb get two each, leaving Athena to piledrive Storm on the steps. Windsor decks Athena and gives Mone a Samoan drop. The Sharpshooter makes Mone tap…but she’s not legal so it means nothing. Athena comes in with the O Face to finish Windsor at 16:02 in a smart finish (and extra points for Athena looking all fired up after the win, which doesn’t happen often enough in modern wrestling).

Rating: B. That ending was awesome and clever, which is a nice combination to see. I’m always a fan of taking two title matches and mixing them together like this, with the result working well. Good match here, and I’m becoming more and more convinced that Athena is winning the title.

Post match Mone gets shoved down by Persephone, another of her challengers at Forbidden Door, to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. I get that it makes sense for the person doing it, but that whole deal with the contract took me out of a lot of the show. It feels like a twist for the sake of a twist or some massive backtracking, neither of which are something you want to see. Other than that, the show was rather good, with the tournament final and main event offering good action and Forbidden Door’s build going well, even without bogging the show down with all kinds of guest stars.

Results
Jet Speed/Hiroshi Tanahashi b. Death Riders – High Fly Flow to Yuta
FTR vs. Brody King/Bandido went to a time limit draw
Mercedes Mone/Athena b. Alex Windsor/Toni Storm – O Face to Windsor

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

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Dynamite
Date: August 13, 2025
Location: Andrew J. Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

We have about a week and a half to go before Forbidden Door and the show could use some build, as there are only a few matches set up. MJF seems to be coming after the World Title and has that contract waiting if he wants to use it. There is always the chance for some shenanigans there too, though MJF also has to deal with the Hurt Syndicate. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Here are MJF and Hangman Page for a face to face chat to get things going. MJF says Page is the main character and he is the main antagonist of AEW. He wants Page to be as angry as possible and the only reason Page is still standing is MJF hasn’t broken him yet. Page doesn’t like being called Seabiscuit and brings up that Seabiscuit wins in the end. He wants MJF to execute the contract already, like a man would.

MJF says Page is the real problem, even if people treat him like he’s perfect. Page can’t be all good and MJF is planning to expose him as a weak minded, depressed, alcoholic little boy. The difference is that MJF is real and he’s going to crucify Page. That doesn’t work for Page, who knows his faults like no one else.

If MJF wants to talk about Forbidden Door, he can use that contract he has to take his shot but he’s afraid. MJF should know that AEW is about going all in so prove that he is not a scared little boy. That’s finally enough for MJF to agree to use the contract. Why do I have a feeling that there’s going to be some kind of shenanigans in how he worded that?

We recap Darby Allin challenging Jon Moxley for Forbidden Door.

Hometown star Moxley, with the Death Riders, says whatever Allin thinks is happening at Forbidden Door isn’t happening.

Jon Moxley vs. Kevin Knight

The Death Riders are here with Moxley and Mike Bailey is here with Knight, who stomps Moxley into the corner to start. Moxley is fine with winning a chop off and sends Knight outside to hammer away. Knight is able to jump up to the apron for a nice dropkick and they’re back inside. That doesn’t last long as Knight sends him to the ramp for the running clothesline but Moxley sends him crashing into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Knight fighting out of a crossface but getting pulled into another neck crank. That’s broken up as well and Knight hits a dropkick before biting Moxley’s hand. They go up top, where Moxley rakes him across the back, only for Knight to grab a top rope superplex. A cutter out of nowhere drops Knight for two but he’s right back up to send Moxley outside. The slingshot dive connects but the UFO Splash hits knees back inside. Moxley chokes him out at 13:44.

Rating: B-. Knight gets a nice rub by being in there against Moxley, though there was pretty much no way he was going to win here. Moxley is trying to get back on track after losing the World Title and the big match against Darby Allin, whenever that happens, could get him there. Or it could be another big hit for the Death Riders, which would be rather nice to see.

Post match the choke stays on so Bailey comes in, earning himself a beating as well. Cue Darby Allin with a body bag and a skateboard for the save. Wheeler Yuta is put in the body bag but Moxley breaks that up. Allin is put in the bag instead and Castagnoli gives him the spinning torture rack slam. The villains get a chair but Will Ospreay is back for the real save. Ospreay says he and Moxley can both bring their friends to Forbidden Door for a lights out steel cage match. Well yeah I’d say that counts as different.

We recap FTR attacking Adam Copeland, who wants revenge.

Mercedes Mone/Thekla/Skye Blue vs. Alex Windsor/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale

Hold on though as here is Toni Storm to cheerlead in the crowd…but Athena is (elsewhere) in the crowd too. Blue and Windsor start things off with Windsor running her over. Nightingale comes in for the rapid clotheslines in the corner so it’s off to Mone. Aminata gives her a swinging full nelson (screaming ensues) and Windsor gets in some slams. Windsor is caught in the wrong corner for some choking though and we take a break.

We come back with Nightingale giving Blue a Death Valley Driver as everything breaks down. Nightingale cleans house and gets two on Thekla, followed by Aminata’s running side slam for the same. Windsor Russian legsweeps Mone into a basement clothesline for two but has to go after Blue. Everything breaks down again as Storm and Athena approve from the crowd. Blue superkicks Windsor but charges into a spinebuster and the Sharpshooter for the tap at 9:56.

Rating: C+. Windsor has gotten a heck of a nice push since showing up a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if that’s going to get her any gold anytime soon, but at least she’s getting a chance to do something. If nothing else, she’s already getting to go after Mercedes Mone so there is something to build on from here. The rest of the women were pretty much just there to keep things going, but the match was good enough.

Post match Storm and Athena get in a brawl in the crowd and the six in the ring start brawling again. Athena and Storm wind up on the ramp with Storm fighting back and saying we can do this in Scotland. Storm and Windsor get to tango a bit.

Will Ospreay has been talking to some New Japan stars and can confirm that Hiroshi Tanahashi is on his team. As Renee Paquette is doing the interview, Ospreay asks to talk to her husband next week.

Adam Copeland vs. Stokely Hathaway

Justin Roberts calls him Cope but commentary and the chyron say Adam Copeland and that’s good enough for me. FTR is banned from ringside and Hathaway has to be dragged to the ring by security. Hathaway’s attempt at a spear does nothing to Copeland, who punches Hathaway in the mouth. They go to the floor, where Copeland does a quick audience poll, with the fans not liking Hathaway that much.

Apparently he has no chance of getting any women either, with Copeland asking one woman if Hathaway has a shot. Woman: “Is this a serious question?” Back in and the spear drops Hathaway so here is FTR…who can only watch as Copeland hits another spear. FTR finally come in, which breaks their restraining order, but Copeland beats them down anyway. Another spear to Hathaway is cut off by some powder for the DQ at 4:23.

Rating: C. This was about exactly what it was clearly going to be, with Hathaway having no chance against…well anyone really. It was more a matter of waiting for the screwy finish and FTR had to get involved with the match somehow, just so Copeland can go after them later. The survey thing was funny enough, so call this a decent joke fight.

Post match Copeland gets beaten down until Christian Cage, with Spike, runs in for the save. Nick Wayne tries to jump Cage with a chair but Cage uses Spike to knock it out of his hands. The fans certainly seem to approve and Cage hands Spike to Cope. We get the big hug and the tag match is pretty much a matter of time.

We get what looks like a shot of the New York skyline and an H spotlight comes on.

Young Bucks/Don Callis Family vs. Brody King/Hologram/Tomohiro Ishii/Hiromu Takahashi

The Bucks still can’t get their entrance right, with Justin Roberts referring to them as “these guys”. Takahashi is a big surprise and slugs it out with Fletcher to start. Everything breaks down in a hurry and the Bucks superkick Roberts to….why would that make me boo them? Hologram hits a big flip dive onto the pile and we take a break.

We come back with King clotheslining all four villains down and Cannonballing Fletcher. Another flip dive takes the Bucks down on the floor but Alexander gets in a shot to cut King off. Fletcher knocks Takahashi off the apron, which is enough of a distraction for King to get in a shot of his own. Ishii comes in to clean house but Hologram’s 450 hits raised knees. Takahashi cuts off the Bucks but gets World’s Strongest Slammed onto the apron. King is dropped on the ramp and we take another break.

We come back with Hologram grabbing some hurricanranas and bringing Takahashi back in to make the comeback. Alexander is dropkicked into Fletcher in the corner but the Bucks hit Takahashi with a standing assisted Sliced Bread. Fletcher shoves Takahashi, who quickly kicks his way out of trouble. Alexander can’t hit the C4 Spike so Takahashi gives him a Downward Spiral for two instead. King is back up with the suicide dive, setting off a string of various dives. Back in and Takahashi gives Alexander the Time Bomb for the pin at 16:25.

Rating: B+. This was the traditional wild multi man tag match that AEW tends to do well. As usual, Alexander takes the pin, which is kind of annoying as he never had much of a shot to stand out, but you can’t have Fletcher lose and the Bucks have been jobbing a good bit lately. Granted it might make sense for them to do it again, but at least the match was rather entertaining.

Renee Paquette’s audio isn’t working for an interview on the ramp. After a bit of a delay (it happens), she brings out Swerve Strickland for a chat. Strickland won’t say if he is medically cleared or not because all he cares about is beating Kazuchika Okada. Cue Okada to say Strickland has no chance. Strickland just asks “Whose house?” so Okada does his catchphrase. Security has to break it up rather quickly.

Jon Moxley is told Will Ospreay has Hiroshi Tanahashi for his Forbidden Door team. Moxley: “Tanahashi Tanahashi?” He goes to the jobber dressing room….and apparently recruits the Young Bucks. Ok points for a funny visual.

Confirmed for Forbidden Door: Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne/Kip Sabian (remember FTR are still alive in the #1 contenders tournament so they might be busy that night) and the cage match, with the Death Riders/Gabe Kidd/Young Bucks vs. Will Ospreay/Darby Allin/Hiroshi Tanahashi/Kenny Omega/Kota Ibushi.

Opps vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

Non-title. Hobbs blasts Mortos with a flying shoulder and it’s quickly off to Joe to beat on Dralistico. Shibata comes in but gets caught in the wrong corner for some running clotheslines. We take a break and come back with Dralistico working on Shibata’s leg and Rush adding the cocky kick to the face. Shibata gets up and trades the strikes with Rush in the corner. Another big shot is enough for the tag off to Hobbs to clean house. Joe comes in rather quickly and Koquina Clutches Dralistico for the win at 8:58.

Rating: C+. They only had so much time here, especially with so many people involved. At the same time, it’s nice to have Joe back, as you can only have so much with having two of the three Trios Champions around. I’m not sure why this couldn’t be a title match as the belts have only been defended once since mid April, but odds are they’ll be on the line at Forbidden Door.

MJF jumps Hangman Page in the parking lot and rams his head into a car hood over and over to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. While it was a bit of a step down from last week’s outstanding show, this was still quite a good show with more than enough to keep me interested. Forbidden Door got a huge boost this week with the cage match being set up, plus the big Copeland/Christian reunion. That was the important moment and now the question is when they get to face FTR. Solid show again here.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Kevin Knight – Choke
Alex Windsor/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale b. Mercedes Mone/Thekla/Skye Blue – Sharpshooter to Blue
Adam Copeland b. Stokely Hathaway via DQ when Hathaway used powder
Hiromu Takahashi/Hologram/Tomohiro Ishii/Brody King b. Don Callis Family/Young Bucks – Time Bomb to Alexander
Opps b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Koquina Clutch to Dralistico

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

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

Dynamite
Date: August 6, 2025
Location: Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

We’re getting closer to Forbidden Door and the show is at least starting to come together. There might not be many matches officially announced but we should be getting some of that covered this week. This might including World Champion Hangman Page, who is going to need a new challenger after dispatching Jon Moxley again last week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

MJF, now the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Champion, is willing to send Mark Briscoe to Hell so he’ll never see his brother again. Or just back to Delaware. Tonight, Mark Briscoe’s luck runs out.

Jon Moxley vs. Mike Bailey

The Death Riders are here with Moxley while Bailey has Kevin Knight. Bailey kicks away in the corner to start so Moxley reverses to rain down some right hands. A crossface chickenwing has Bailey in more trouble but he gets up and flips away. Some kicks send Moxley outside, where he goes to the eyes to cut Bailey off. Shafir sweeps Bailey’s leg out and Moxley slaps Knight in the face.

The fight is teased but Bailey uses the distraction to take Moxley down. The moonsault knees to the back hit Moxley on the barricade and we take a break. We come back with Moxley working on the arm/fingers before shoving him into the corner. Bailey blocks a whip out of the corner though and hits a middle rope dropkick. The running shooting star press gives Bailey two, followed by the top rope version for the same.

A cross armbreaker has Moxley in more trouble and the moonsault knees connect. The Death Riders’ distraction let Moxley hit a big boot into a Crash Landing for two but Darby Allin pops up in the crowd and kidnaps Wheeler Yuta. Moxley has to break out of another cross armbreaker and hits the Death Rider for the pin at 14:15.

Rating: B. This match had Bailey getting beaten up and Yuta possibly vanishing. I’d call that a success on multiple points to start and Moxley gets some of his heat back after the consecutive losses to Page. That being said, it shouldn’t take him that long to beat a tag wrestler, especially with the Death Riders out there helping him.

Alex Windsor is ready for her four way TBS Title #1 contenders match. Toni Storm is ready to “whip out her t*** and tango” with Athena tonight. Then she dances off with Windsor.

The Death Riders are in the parking lot when Darby Allin throws a white bag (Wheeler Yuta shaped) out of his car. The team opens the bag and finds a note saying FORBIDDEN DOOR attached to Yuta. Excalibur seems to think that’s obvious, but without a “check yes or no” option, how can we be sure?

Earlier today, Mercedes Mone returned and, when asked about her loss, told Renee Paquette to not be such a mark.

Alex Windsor vs. Queen Aminata vs. Skye Blue vs. Billie Starkz

For one of three spots in a four way for the TBS Title at Forbidden Door and Toni Storm and Athena are both here. Starkz gets knocked outside to start and Blue is chopped back and forth. Blue asks both of them to stop and is double chopped down for her request. That leaves Aminata to waistlock Windsor and kick her in the back.

Blue breaks that up and pulls Aminata outside for a ram into the steps. Windsor gets taken down with a running hurricanrana and Blue gives Aminata a hanging neckbreaker to the floor. Starkz dives in to crush the pile and we take a break. We come back with Aminata slugging away at Blue until Windsor gives Blue a blue thunder bomb for two. Windsor’s sitout powerbomb gets two on Starkz but Aminata breaks up the Sharpshooter.

Aminata and Windsor strike it out before German suplexing the other two down. A bunch of headbutts leave everyone down, with Athena and Storm seeming to approve. Aminata gives Blue a reverse implant DDT but Starkz Swantons in for the save. Aminata and Blue go to the floor, leaving Windsor to discus lariat Starkz. Athena’s attempt at a save is cut off by Storm and Windsor’s small package gets the pin on Starkz at 11:31.

Rating: B-. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Windsor so far and she’s a nice breath of air to the division. Her moving on to an immediate title match is a good sign for her future, even if she isn’t likely to win the title. This was almost as much about Athena vs. Storm though, which is feeling like a big time title match which could go either way. Nice stuff here.

Post match Mercedes Mone comes in for the staredown. The distraction lets Athena hit the O Face on Storm. Mone and Athena have a bit of a staredown of their own.

The Young Bucks, in their founding fathers gear, commandeer the camera and yell at the production guy for not doing their entrance properly in recent weeks. They have some special instructions for him tonight.

Here is Kyle Fletcher, with the Don Callis Family, for a chat. Don Callis cuts Renee Paquette off and says he is building such a huge roster because it means power. The more titles you have, the more power you have, and he loved seeing Fletcher take out Dustin Rhodes last week.

Fletcher talks about how Rhodes doesn’t belong in the same ring as him and says anyone who tries to take the title from him will receive the same fate. Callis unveils a new painting of the two of them together, with Fletcher naked and the title strategically placed and a rather muscular Callis next to him. Fletcher is ready to be champion for a long time and is first title defense is this weekend on Collision.

Cope is ready to deal with Stokely Hathaway and FTR and next week he’s facing Hathaway. If FTR interferes, their whole restraining order is gone.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinals: Brody King/Bandido vs. Young Bucks

The Bucks’ entrance is screwed up again as the set doesn’t rise, leaving them to crawl underneath. In addition, their instructions are read verbatim, including saying to make them look like stars instead of jobbers. On top of that, they are now listed as Max and Jeremy, their Generation Me names from TNA. Throw in bad pyro and a messed up version of their song and things aren’t looking great for them.

Bandido runs Matt over to start and King clotheslines both Bucks down. The Bucks are sent outside for a moonsault from Bandido, setting up King’s running crossbody against the barricade. We take a break and come back with Matt still in trouble, with Bandido’s crossbody connecting for two. A cheap shot from the apron cuts Bandido off though and Risky Business gives Matt two of his own.

King comes back in and gets taken down with a standing Sliced Bread into a kick to the head for two. More Bang For Your Buck doesn’t work due to King being a rather large man and it’s back to Bandido. The Bucks take him down as well though and a slingshot X Factor sets up the apron moonsault to King. A superkick into a flipping cutter has the Bucks in even more control and we take another break.

We come back with the Bucks arguing over what they should call the EVP Trigger. That’s enough of a delay for their knees to collide so King can come back in for a Cannonball to Matt. Bandido hits a big step up flip dive to the floor but some kind of a double team move doesn’t quite work. Nick superkicks Bandido but gets superplexed by King. Back up and multiple superkicks rock King and the TK Driver gets two on Bandido with King having to dive over for a save.

Nick dives at King, who Death Valley Drivers him on the apron, leaving Matt and Bandido to fight on the barricade. Bandido gets the better of things and takes him back inside for the X Knee into the 21 Plex, with Nick making a save of his own. The super flipping fall away slam gives Bandido two on Matt so King comes back in for the monkey flip into the 450 to finish Matt at 20:26.

Rating: A-. The match was a lot of fun with the flips and the dives, plus the Bucks losing, which makes the story that much better. It’s one thing to have them be treated like losers, but that doesn’t make a difference if they keep winning. Here they look like goons and lose at the same time, albeit after a very entertaining match. Rather awesome stuff here, with the Bucks looking like goons again to make it better.

Video on MJF vs. Mark Briscoe, including some of the rather personal insults they’ve thrown at each other.

The Hurt Syndicate is ready to hurt either team in the tournament finals at Forbidden Door. MJF comes in to say they they can win the World Title, but MVP says he’s tired of hearing about MJF all the time. The team is about them, but MJF’s ego is out of control. MVP gives him the thumbs down.

FTR and Stokely Hathaway don’t like what Adam (thank goodness that seems to be his name again) is doing. Hathaway is on a crutch and says Adam is a bully. He’s going to pin Adam next week anyway though, just like that.

Video on Swerve Strickland vs. Kazuchika Okada.

Here is Strickland for a chat (oddly in the aisle). Strickland talks about doing well in big matches as well and brings up the things he’s done to people he likes, such as Will Ospreay. So what will he do to someone like Okada? Three times now, Okada has come after him to no avail and now it’s Okada in a big match because he is in there with a dangerous man. Strickland is ready to win the title at Forbidden Door, while Don Callis cries like a little b****. Good stuff here from Strickland, who knows how to make things feel big.

Mark Briscoe is ready to do his talking with his fists and make MJF pay for his sins. When asked if a win puts him in the World Title picture, Hangman Page comes in to interrupt. They’ve known each other for a long time and he hopes Briscoe is his next challenger. We get a respectful handshake.

Willow Nightingale interrupts Queen Aminata to give her a pep talk but Kris Statlander interrupts, seemingly mocking Nightingale. That doesn’t work for Nightingale, who tells Statlander to get serious and then come find her.

MJF vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe punches him in the face to start and teases the Froggy Bow but MJF bails into the crowd instead. That’s fine with Briscoe, who chases him up the steps and then back to ringside. It’s already time for a table but MJF rolls away before another Froggy Bow attempt. MJF uses the referee as a shield and pokes Briscoe in the eye, setting up the chinlock. Some back rakes and choking have Briscoe in more trouble so MJF drops him ribs first across the top.

We take a break and come back with Briscoe fighting out of an abdominal stretch and Hulking Up. MJF gets dropped but manages to roll away before the Froggy Bow for the third time. Instead it’s a Bang Bang Elbow from Briscoe, followed by a flip dive through the ropes. Briscoe puts him on a table but MJF rolls away and hits an Alabama slam back inside.

The Boston crab has Briscoe in more trouble but he slips out before countering the Heatseeker as well. MJF crotches him on top, only to get knocked back down. NOW the Froggy Bow can connect…for two, which is quite the letdown after it being one of the stories of the match. Another Froggy Bow through the table misses MJF, but does make good table contact. Back in and the Heatseeker to Briscoe gets the pin at 17:30…even with the foot on the rope, but MJF knocks it away at 17:30.

Rating: B. The ending feels like a way to set up the World Title match at Forbidden Door, as MJF can have a title match and Briscoe gets cheated out of the win. That’s a good way to keep things going and it came after a hard hitting match. MJF was out to win and Briscoe was out to prove a point, which is why MJF was able to avoid so much of Briscoe’s offense. Nicely put together match here with the ending making sense as well.

Post match MJF beats Briscoe down and gets in a Dynamite Diamond Ring shot. Hangman Page comes out for the brawl, which is broken up but they brawl again with security not being able to do much. The threat of a Buckshot Lariat sends MJF running to end the show.

Overall Rating: A. The show featured solid action throughout and set up some more things for Forbidden Door. I can go for that kind of a show, as it has me more interested in seeing where things are going. It continues to make me wonder why the pay per view needs all of those guest stars, as this was far better than seeing everyone come in to do their annual guest staring appearances. Heck of a show here and I could go for a lot more like this.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Mike Bailey – Death Rider
Alex Windsor b. Queen Aminata, Skye Blue and Billie Starkz – Small package to Starkz
Brody King/Bandido b. Young Bucks – Monkey flip 450 to Matt
MJF b. Mark Briscoe – Heatseeker

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

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

Dynamite
Date: July 30, 2025
Location: Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

It’s time for a big rematch as we’re seeing Hangman Page defend the AEW World Title against Jon Moxley. Page beat Moxley for the title at All In and now it’s time to do it again without any stipulations. That should make for an interesting match, but the question is who is going to interfere. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

The opening video recaps Moxley vs. Page, which is really all they should be focusing on tonight.

#1 Contenders Tag Team Tournament: Young Bucks vs. Outrunners

In a funny bit, the Bucks are not only already in the ring, but their chyrons say “talent name”, “stat” and “social media” like placeholders. It’s a brawl to start with the Outrunners both raining down right hands in the corner. The Bucks get in shots of their own though and Floyd is knocked down, allowing the Bucks to strike a double pose.

Floyd is back up with a double suplex and the tag brings in Magnum, who is quickly double teamed in the corner. Magnum is sent outside for a dive and Nick yells at commentary as we take a break. We come back with Matt pulling Floyd off the apron so Magnum can’t get a tag. A cutter drops Floyd on the floor and Risky Business gets two on Magnum.

Back up and Magnum fights out of trouble, allowing the tag back to Floyd to pick up the pace. The Bucks fire off the superkicks but Floyd knocks Nick down, setting up the Mega Powers Elbow. Everything breaks down and Matt hits Floyd low but gets in an argument with the referee. Said referee shoves Matt into a rollup for two, followed by Total Recall for the same. Magnum gets posted though and the TK Driver gives Nick the pin at 14:19.

Rating: B-. While I’m not wild on the Bucks being right back as one of the bigger teams around, there is nothing wrong with them beating the Outrunners. Like them or not, the Bucks are the most successful team in AEW history and they shouldn’t have a problem with what is little more than a cult favorite team. We’ll have to see how far they go in the tournament and beyond, but winning here is a good way to go.

Post match the beatdown is on, with Kazuchika Okada coming down to help the Bucks. Swerve Strickland comes out for the save.

Mark Briscoe is ready for MJF but Ricochet and the Gates Of Agony interrupt to warn him about their match tonight. Briscoe doesn’t seem worried.

MJF talks to Shelton Benjamin about how things went bad last week. Benjamin cuts him off though and says MVP isn’t here, because he’s disgusted with MJF. He holds up the watch that MJF gave him and reveals he knows it’s a fake. MJF is out of the team and Benjamin shuts the door in his face. Well that was abrupt.

Here is Christian Cage for a chat. Cage says that he is “an a**hole* and he doesn’t care who is left in his wake, because he is obsessed with being the World Champion. Earlier this year, he was this close to winning the title but he thought of his past for a second and he became an a**hole with feelings. As for the rest of the Patriarchy, he has spent more on rental cars to make towns than they have made in their entire careers. He changes the plan because he didn’t think they could pull it off.

That brings him to Cope, who didn’t like what Cage told him to do. Cope has done some unsavory things to get to the top, so as different as they are, they are still the same. As for the Patriarchy, he has clawed out of holes before (none as deep as the last time he was with Mother Wayne) and Nick Wayne has more talent than he has ever had. But Nick called himself the new face of AEW, which is going too far.

Nick has to go through Cage to reach that point, and he disowns them all. Cue the former Patriarchy to lay Cage out and give him the Conchairto. Nick disowns Cage. Schiavone thinks the Conchairto is “NOT GOOD FOR THE REST OF HIS CAREER”. This was a lot longer than it needed to be, and I’m not exactly going to want to cheer for the Patriarchy.

Stokely Hathaway doesn’t like Cope or the Hurt Syndicate and says FTR is ready for the Bang Bang Gang tomorrow night. The Young Bucks come in for the staredown and scare Stokely off.

AEW World Title: Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page

Page is defending and everyone is banned from ringside. Moxley takes him into the corner to start but Page switches places and hammers away. They chop it out and we go to a wide shot, which is a bit of a jarring change. Page gets the better of things and they go outside, where Page gets the better of the brawl. Back in and Page elbows away even more but Moxley grabs a German suplex to take over.

The choking and right hands in the corner connect and Page is in trouble. Moxley steps on his face and grabs another German suplex but Page hits a rolling elbow to the face. A Death Valley Driver gives Page two but he has to bail to the ropes to escape a Kimura. They go outside and Page is sent into the steps, with Moxley piledriving him onto said steps. We take a break and come back with Page fighting out of a crossface.

Moxley strikes away, including an elbow to the top of the head but Page gets up anyway. They trade forearms until Page kicks him in the face and grabs a belly to back suplex. The Buckshot Lariat is broken up with a boot to the floor and they go onto the announcers’ table. Another piledriver is countered into the Deadeye and Moxley is in trouble. Back in and Page hits a Tombstone for two before pounding Moxley in the face.

Moxley is fine enough to pull him into the bulldog choke, which he switches into a quickly broken front facelock. Page grabs a LeBell Lock but Moxley makes the ropes and they go to the apron. Another piledriver plants Page on the apron, followed by a Gotch style piledriver for two back inside. They strike it out with Page sending him to the floor for the moonsault. Back in and the Buckshot Lariat and Paradigm Shift are both blocked and the referee gets dropped.

Cue the Death Riders to send Moxley the title, with the shot to the head getting two. Marina Shafir gets ejected (because breaking the match’s established rules isn’t enough for a DQ) and here is Darby Allin to dive out of the balcony onto the Death Riders. The Buckshot Lariat looks to set up the Deadeye but Moxley slips out. The seconds Deadeye attempt knocks him silly though and the Buckshot Lariat retains the title at 26:12.

Rating: B. It was rather nice to have a mostly clean match between these two, as there was no point in trying to top the violence and carnage of their previous match. Page winning is what matters the most here, with the interference being little more than a quick note in an otherwise good match. This is what the rematch should have been and we can move on to Moxley vs. Allin.

Video on Dustin Rhodes vs. Kyle Fletcher on Collision.

Athena/Billie Starkz vs. Toni Storm/Alex Windsor

Windsor and Athena start things off but it’s quickly off to Storm. That means Athena is going to roll over to bring Starkz in, with Storm headlocking her down. A backbreaker sends Starkz into the corner so Windsor can come back in for some double dancing kicks in the corner. Windsor grabs a hanging DDT for two on Starkz and hits a running flip dive off the apron to drop Athena.

Back in and Athena grabs a quick spinebuster to drop Windsor and we take a break. We come back with Starkz hitting a top rope double stomp to Windsor. The double teaming continues but Windsor fights up and hits a Liger Bomb for a needed breather. The tag brings Storm back in for some Mongolian chops (of all things) but Athena makes a blind tag and hits an O Face for the fast pin on Storm at 11:22.

Rating: B-. Simple, to the point stuff here with Athena continuing to outsmart Storm. That’s a good way to build up the title match, though now the question becomes whether Athena can do it when the pressure is on. I would certainly hope so, as she is feeling like the biggest deal in the division in a long time.

MJF interrupts Hangman Page and mocks the idea of him being the main character. MJF remembers the days of us having a REAL World Champion like Swerve Strickland. Page wants MJF to beat Mark Briscoe first and they glare at each other.

Willow Nightingale isn’t impressed by the Triangle Of Madness because she is the Trapezoid Of Grapezoid. She’s gotten a match with Thekla tomorrow and will pull off however many legs she has.

Ricochet vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe strikes away to start and sends Ricochet into the corner to hammer Ricochet down even more. A suplex gives Mark two and he yells at Ricochet for having the nerve to fight back. Cue the Gates Of Agony for a distraction though and Ricochet takes over as we take a break. We come back with the referee taking a chair away from Ricochet, allowing Briscoe to fire off some right hands.

The Gates low bridge Briscoe to the floor though and Ricochet takes him down with a running flip dive. Back in and the running shooting star press gives Ricochet two but the Spirit Gun misses. The Jay Driller is broken up as well and Ricochet bails to the floor. That’s fine with Briscoe, who uses the chair for the step up dive to take Ricochet out again.

Back in and the Jay Driller is blocked so Briscoe settles for a clothesline. The Froggy Bow is broken up with a shove from Liona though and Ricochet gets two off Vertigo. Cue Bandido and Brody King to get rid of the Gates, leaving Ricochet to escape the Jay Driller. The second attempt works a bit better though and Ricochet is done at 13:50.

Rating: B. Good story here with Briscoe fighting through the odds to defeat a talented star in Ricochet. It’s nice to see Briscoe actually getting some wins and that is great for a change. At the same time, he still needs to win the big one and that is going to be coming with MJF sooner than later. For now though, I’ll take the wins where I can get them.

Post match Briscoe says MJF is making him wonder if he’ll ever see Jay again. Briscoe knows Jay is up in his mansion but if Briscoe does what he wants to do to MJF and doesn’t repent, he won’t be around Jay one day. He wants MJF out here right now so MJF pops up on screen to say the match is on for next week. MJF then pops up in the ring for a low blow and yells about Hangman Page, who comes out for the save to send MJF running to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. The World Title match was the big focal point here and it went rather well. The best thing is that Page won (relatively) clean and can move on, likely to MJF, which is where this needs to go. Other than that, the rest of the card kept the build going towards…well it doesn’t really feel like Forbidden Door, but I’ll take this over another big side trip with a bunch of guests stars. Rather strong show this week.

Results
Young Bucks b. Outrunners – TK Driver to Floyd
Hangman Page b. Jon Moxley – Buckshot Lariat
Athena/Billie Starkz b. Toni Storm/Alex Windsor – O Face to Storm
Mark Briscoe b. Ricochet – Buckshot Lariat

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