Collision
Date: July 20, 2024
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We are officially in the start of the residency in Arlington, which is going to run until around the end of the summer. I’m not sure how much sense that makes but it’s certainly something different, which might be what AEW needs. Hopefully the show winds up being up to the recent efforts from Dynamite and Rampage. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, now with a different theme song (first time I’ve noticed it at least).

Darby Allin vs. Beast Mortos

Mortos powers him down to start but misses a charge and falls outside. The big dive connects and Allin chops away against the barricade. Back in and Mortos stomps away in the corner, setting up a Samoan drop for two. A sunset flip dives Allin two and he grabs a sleeper but Mortos powers him into the corner. Back up and Mortos is set outside for the Coffin drop out to the floor.

Mortos isn’t having that and hits his own big dive, which has a bit more impact. Something close to a spear gives Mortos two but Allin strikes away and grabs a Code Red for two more. Mortos shrugs that off and grabs a super gorilla press before taking Allin back up top. A super Samoan drop is countered into a crucifix bomb, setting up the Coffin Drop to give Allin the pin at 10:37.

Rating: B-. This was good stuff with Allin fighting from underneath and trying to slow down the monster. That’s where Allin tends to shine and he did it again here, with Mortos only there to make Allin look good. Good opener here and a nice way to get Allin back in the ring after another absence.

Post match Allin says he’s ready for his first Blood & Guts because the Young Bucks aren’t going to promote anything around here. Other than that, he wants Jack Perry for the TNT Title at All In.

Billy Gunn fires up the Acclaimed before Blood & Guts.

Hikaru Shida vs. Skye Blue

Blue (already minus the cowboy gear) stomps away in the corner before winning a slugout. Shida hits a dropkick out to the floor and then hits a dive. We take a break….and the match was stopped during the break as Blue was hurt on the dive. Geez that’s never good to see.

Lance Archer beats up various people.

Minoru Suzuki attacked Chris Jericho on Dynamite.

Jericho has been ready for this match for a long time and now he can go move for move and blow for blow. Suzuki will realize he screwed up by turning Jericho down.

Here is Tony Nese, with the Premiere Athletes, for an open challenge and some insults about Texas.

Tony Nese vs. Rey Fenix

Mark Sterling and the Premiere Athletes are here too. They fight over wrist control to start until Nese hits him in the face to take over as commentary runs down upcoming shows instead of talking about what we’re seeing. Fenix’s springboard doesn’t work so well (commentary makes up for earlier by suggesting that Sterling tripped him) so he sends Nese outside. That’s fine with the Athletes, who stomp away on Fenix as we take a break.

Back with Nese winning an exchange of strikes and muscling him up for a powerbomb. Nese unloads in the corner but runs into a hurricanrana for two. Ariya Daivari’s distraction misses though and Fenix low bridges Nese out to the floor. Fenix hits the big running flip dive, followed by a rope walk kick to drop Sterling. Nese runs Fenix over for two but Fenix is back with a superkick and another rope walk kick. The frog splash pins Nese at 11:05.

Rating: B-. Fenix is a heck of a high flier and looked good here, which makes me wonder why he’s on this show when AEW is planning to debut another high flier later on in Hologram. It also makes me wonder why I’m still supposed to be interested when the Premiere Athletes couldn’t be less interesting if their lives depended on them doing so.

Here is FTR for a chat in the ring with Tony Schiavone. They’ve been going through a bunch of things, both personally and professionally, but the fans were there to support them. For now though, it’s time to go Buck hunting. They want the Tag Team Titles at All In, with Harwood promising to give it everything they have to get there. This is all for the Bucks, so top guys out. Normally I’d say “there’s no way they would run FTR vs. the Bucks at All In again just for the Bucks to get their win back”, but absolutely they would run FTR vs. the Bucks at All In again just for the Bucks to get their win back.

Hikaru Shida wants to face Britt Baker, who she made bleed once before. She’ll do it again at Dynamite.

Roderick Strong vs. Tomohiro Ishii

They trade chops to start and keep trading them until Ishii runs him over with a shoulder. Strong’s forearms out of the corner just annoy him and Ishii hits a heck of a forearm. Another shoulder sends Strong outside with Ishii following, only to get dropkicked down. We take a break and come back with Ishii fighting out of a chinlock, setting up a snap powerslam.

They forearm it out again with Ishii walking through them and suplexing Strong into the corner. A delayed superplex gives Ishii two and he runs Strong over again. Strong is right back with an Angle Slam into a gutbuster for two and they both need a breather. Some hard strikes rock Strong but here is the Kingdom for a distraction. Strong’s jumping knee finishes at 12:18.

Rating: B. This one is going to entirely depend on your taste in exchanges of strikes. I liked it well enough, but the ending was rather flat and felt like they didn’t have anything else to use. Strong needs the win over Mark Briscoe’s friend before Death Before Dishonor, because it’s not like they’re going to get any time on the Ring Of Honor show leading up to the match.

Post match the beatdown is teased but he Conglomeration runs in for the save.

We look at MJF beating Will Ospreay on Dynamite.

Hologram vs. Gringo Loco

Hologram starts fast with a running hurricanrana before sending him t the floor for a running flip dive. Back in and Hologram misses a charge into the corner and it’s a gorilla press drop into a standing moonsault to give Loco two. A corkscrew moonsault misses though and Hologram spins over him. Hologram’s big dive to the floor takes him down again and a spinning torture rack powerbomb finishes Loco at 4:16.

Rating: B-. If that’s their big debut for this guy, I’m not sure how much of an upside he has. It was a perfectly fine match, but when you have Rey Fenix, Penta, Private Party, Action Andretti, Top Flight and probably half a dozen others, Hologram is going to need a lot more to make him stand out. That might come later, but for now, it was nothing that really felt special.

Kevin Von Erich is here with his sons and Dustin Rhodes. Everything has changed since his time and he thinks Dustin can be a great mentor for them. Works for Rhodes. You had to have these guys around for a series in Texas.

Mark Briscoe is ready for Death Before Dishonor and says he’s better and tougher than he was the last time he faced Roderick Strong. Team AEW is ready for Blood & Guts though, because the Elite is everything wrong with society today.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Thunder Rosa

Lumberjack match. Purrazzo bails to the floor to start and is thrown right back in, much to Rosa’s delight. A dropkick puts Purrazzo down and a chop in the corner gets one. There’s a spinning middle rope crossbody for two but Purrazzo is right back with a hanging DDT. Back up and Rosa sends her outside where the lumberjacks get into a fight, only to have Purrazzo superplex Rosa onto the pile.

We take a break and come back with Purrazzo getting two off a Backstabber. Rosa’s airplane spin into a Death Valley Driver gives her two of her own but Purrazzo grabs an exploder suplex for another near fall. The Fujiwara armbar sends Rosa over to the ropes so Purrazzo snaps the arm over said ropes. Rosa is back up with a dive and the lumberjacks get into it again. Purrazzo manages to find a turnbuckle and blasts Rosa in the face for the pin at 11:14.

Rating: B. It was another good match between them but this feud has lost me. Purrazzo feels like she has won multiple times now and there is little reason to keep it going. Hopefully this wraps it up for both of them and Purrazzo gets to move closer to a title match, as the feud has boosted her up enough. Just get on to someone new already.

Trios Titles: Patriarchy vs. Bang Bang Gang

For the vacant titles. Wayne and Austin lock up to start with an exchange of headlock takeovers. Austin sends him into the corner and it’s off to Cage vs. Robinson. Cage hands it off to Killswitch instead, with Robinson’s chops not having much effect. Robinson fights back but Cage trips him down so Luchasaurus can drop him hard.

We take a break and come back with Colten coming in to clean house. Colten misses a charge into the corner though and Wayne is pleased with the crash. Killswitch comes back in for a hard chop but Colten gets a boot up in the corner. Robinson comes in off the tag to clean house as everything breaks down. Luchasaurus is sent over the barricade, leaving Robinson to hit a Jackhammer for two with Cage making the save.

Cage is quickly surrounded and punched down, with Cage bailing to the floor. Robinson blocks Wayne’s low blow but Killswitch chokeslams him off the top. Killswitch hits Cage by mistake (McGuinness: “YOU FOOL!”) but Mother Wayne sprays Robinson with hairspray. The Killswitch gives the Patriarchy the titles at 11:17.

Rating: B. Good match, but the ending makes me wonder why the titles needed to be stripped in the first place. Would it have been that bad to just have the Patriarchy beat the Gang in the first place. Either way, Cage being a champion again is a good thing, as it means he’ll get to talk more often, which is one of the best things in AEW.

Post match the lights flicker and….nothing happens as Cage holds up all three belts to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Definitely a good wrestling show, which is enough to make up for some of the not so interesting matches. Everything around here is about Blood & Guts and then All In though, so a show like this only had so much interest. I’ll definitely take something like this though, as it was a solid use of two hours, which is as good as you’re getting with Collision most weeks.

Results
Darby Allin b. Beast Mortos – Coffin Drop
Hikaru Shida b. Skye Blue via referee stoppage
Rey Fenix b. Tony Nese – Frog splash
Roderick Strong b. Tomohiro Ishii – Jumping knee
Hologram b. Gringo Loco – Torture rack powerbomb
Deonna Purrazzo b. Thunder Rosa – Turnbuckle to the face
Patriarchy b. Bang Bang Gang – Killswitch to Robinson

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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Ring Of Honor
Date: July 11, 2024
Location: Landers Center, Southaven, Mississippi
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are less than a month away from Death Before Dishonor and last week saw the announcement of a bit of the card. There is of course a lot more that needs to be done but I’ll take something of a start over nothing. In theory we get more of that this week, but stranger things have happened. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Robyn Renegade vs. Taya Valkyrie vs. Marina Shafir

Johnny TV is here with Valkyrie. Renegade powers Shafir into the corner to start and hits a running dropkick to send her outside. That lets Valkyrie fire off some knees to Renegade but we stop for a kiss to TV. Back in and Renegade gets double chopped, only to have her kick her way to freedom. Renegade ties Shafir in the ropes for something like a springboard stomp before superkicking Valkyrie into the corner. Mother’s Milk goes on but Valkyrie makes the save and spears Shafir. Shania Pain finishes Renegade at 6:02.

Rating: C+. They packed a good bit of action into a little amount of time and Valkyrie continues her bit of momentum. In theory that would set her up for the next title shot after Death Before Dishonor, but that could be several weeks away. Other than that, Shafir and Renegade both get slowed down, which isn’t a great sign for either of them.

The Kingdom wants to have a night off at Death Before Dishonor. They have a bad history at that show so let’s just not do it this year.

TV Title: Serpentico vs. Atlantis Jr.

Atlantis Jr. is defending, having defeated Kyle Fletcher for the title a few weeks ago. Serpentico grabs a headlock at the bell and they head out to the floor where Atlantis gets knocked down. Back in and Atlantis is fine enough to grab a rolling cutter for two, only to get caught in a Downward Spiral for the same. A missed charge leaves Serpentico in the Tree of Woe for a running dropkick to give Atlantis two more. Serpentico is back with his own kick for two but Atlantis hits a powerslam into a frog splash to retain at 4:21.

Rating: C+. This is where a lot of the problems with these crossovers come from: what about this was supposed to stand out? Atlantis Jr. is talented, but it isn’t like there was anything here that made me really want to see more of him. We don’t know anything about him other than he beat Fletcher and has a famous dad. That doesn’t matter though, as we’re just supposed to go with Atlantis as a big deal because we’re told that he is without seeing it. That doesn’t work, but it’s all we get most of the time.

Skye Blue vs. Laynie Luck

Blue starts fast with a rollup and then takes Luck into the corner for some choking. Luck is right back with a Death Valley Driver for two, only to have Blue slug away to knock her back. A quick Code Blue gives Blue the pin at 3:40.

Rating: C. This was the latest attempt to get Blue in the ring as often as possible, albeit it in a rather cold match. Luck has shown that she can be better than a lot of the local jobbers but she didn’t have much of a chance to showcase herself here. It was kind of a random match and that rarely helps anyone.

The MxM Collection (Mansoor and Mason) is coming. These guys look very fun, just due to how over the top they’re going.

Billie Starkz vs. Mackenzie Morgan

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Morgan wins or survives the ten minute time limit, she gets a future title shot. Starkz (with Athena) works on the arm to start but stops to pose, allowing Morgan to grab an armdrag into an armbar. That’s reversed into a quickly broken chinlock but Morgan misses a dropkick. Athena, still on crutches, gets in a cheap shot before remembering that she’s injured. Back in and Starkz slips out of a fireman’s carry, setting up the fish hook chickenwing for the win at 5:22.

Rating: C+. Starkz is already set for a title match at the pay per view so the chances of her winning here didn’t seem that high. At the same time, Morgan got in some offense here, which is surprising given that Starkz probably needed a stronger showing. It wasn’t a bad match, but they put it together in an odd way.

Diamante vs. Nyxx

Diamante doesn’t waste time by hammering away to start, only to walk into a side slam for two. Back up and Diamante grabs her rolling cutter into the cross armbreaker (which she dedicates to Leyla Hirsch) for the win at 1:39.

Athena celebrates, only to remember that her ankle hurts.

Roderick Strong and Dalton Castle are having a #1 contenders match, with the winner getting the World Title shot at Death Before Dishonor. It’s taking place this weekend on Collision, because this is the most useless show in wrestling.

Lee Johnson/Infantry vs. Dark Order

Silver grabs a headlock on Bravo to start with Bravo ducking and dodging to set up a running elbow. It’s time to go after Silver’s arm as commentary talks about Broadway. Reynolds and Johnson come in as everything breaks down. The Order gets sent outside for a series of dives but manage to take over, with a suicide dive/suplex combination dropping Johnson.

Back in and the Order take turns beating on Johnson, with the other two holding him so Silver can get in a big boot. Johnson enziguris his way to freedom and it’s off to Dean to clean house. Everything breaks down again and Johnson gets triple teamed into a German suplex for two. They trade stereo shots to the face but Johnson escapes the triple flipping slam. Johnson’s frog splash finishes Uno at 10:06.

Rating: B-. Probably the best match on the show this week, but it’s another case where I don’t quite believe that any of this is going to matter. Beating the Order hasn’t meany anything in forever and the other three feel like the latest makeshift team. We have two shows left until Death Before Dishonor but they’re still burning off main event slots for pretty meaningless six man tags. That’s part of this show’s problem in a nutshell and I have no reason to believe it’s going to get better.

Overall Rating: C. This is a show where, as usual, the wrestling wasn’t the problem. The problem here is they have two weeks to go before one of their three pay per views and they did NOTHING for the show. What did we get here? Some people building momentum, a nothing TV Title match and a six man that has no bearing on anything. Where do we go to get the build to Death Before Dishonor? Collision, where Ring Of Honor’s World Title will be used as filler to take up part of that show’s two hours.

This show actually made me mad because it felt like Ring Of Honor saying “yeah this show doesn’t matter, but make sure you pay to watch the big show, which isn’t going to have much of a build because we can’t bother but TRADITION IS REALLY, TOTALLY IMPORTANT TO US!” The pay per view will be fine, but this show, which I remind you that you have to pay to watch monthly, is somehow getting more useless, which I didn’t think was possible.

Results
Taya Valkyrie b. Marina Shafir and Robyn Renegade – Shania Pain to Renegade
Atlantis Jr. b. Serpentico – Frog splash
Skye Blue b. Laynie Luck – Code Blue
Billie Starkz b. Mackenzie Morgan – Fish hook chickenwing
Diamante b. Nyxx – Cross armbreaker
Lee Johnson/Infantry b. Dark Order – Frog splash to Uno

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: July 13, 2024
Location: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re still in Canada after a pretty awesome Dynamite, meaning this show is going to have some work to do. The good thing is there is always the chance that they could pull it off, as the lineup looks strong enough. If nothing else, we should be able to move a bit closer to the All In card so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tommy Billington

Don Callis is on commentary and the fans are behind Billington to start. Takeshita isn’t having anything of Billington’s running shoulders to start but Billington manages to knock him outside for a breather. Back in and Takeshita powers him into the corner before avoiding a running dropkick.

Billington hits a running crossbody and they go outside, with Billington sending him face first into the apron a few times. Back in and Takeshita hits a nice top rope superplex for two and we hit the chinlock. The double arm crank keeps Billington down and Takeshita sends him into the post as we take a break.

We come back with Billington hitting a top rope dive to the floor, followed by a missile dropkick back inside. There’s the snap suplex as Billington sounds impressed. Takeshita slams him off the top but Billington is right back with a Tombstone to leave them both down. The Swan Dive misses though and Takeshita hits the Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Takeshita’s running knee finishes at 13:30.

Rating: B. Billington has done rather well in his two matches so far and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him getting a spot if he shows up more regularly. Throw in the family connection and it’s even better. His aggression makes up for some of his size issues and that could go a long way. Good, impressive stuff here.

Post match Callis offers Billington a spot in the Don Callis Family, but Billington says kiss my a**. Billington goes after Callis but gets jumped by Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher. FTR makes the save.

We look at Mariah May winning the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament and then destroying Toni Storm.

Bang Bang Gang vs. Michael Allen Richard Clark/Shaun Moore/London Lightning

Non-title. Robinson and Moore start things off, with Robinson allowing him a headlock. That goes rather badly for him as it’s the Gunns coming in for some running splashes. Lightning comes in and gets punched in the face for his efforts, setting up 3:10 To Yuma for the pin at 2:05.

Post match Austin says that since Jay White was injured at the hands of Christian Cage, Juice Robinson is officially a champion in his place. Cue Christopher Daniels to say not so fast, because an injured champion means the titles are officially vacated. Cue the Patriarchy to say they can just be the champions, but Daniels instead makes the Patriarchy vs. the Bang Bang Gang for the titles. Christian Cage passes on doing it now though. This seems to be quite the overly complicated solution, but I’ll certainly take it over an interim champion.

We look at Jake Perry beating Marko Stunt last week.

The House Of Black is ready to start building towards All In.

We get a nice look at Jeff Jarrett talking to Owen Hart’s family.

Roderick Strong vs. Dalton Castle

The winner gets a Ring Of Honor World Title shot at Death Before Dishonor and this match is taking place here because the regular Ring Of Honor show is useless. The Kingdom and the Outrunners are here too. Strong works on the arm to start and messes with Castle’s hair, which is really not that nice. Castle wrestles him down and they go to the ropes, with Strong needing a breather on the floor.

Back in and Castle sends him outside for a change, where the Outrunners give him enough of a pep….uh muscle flexing to fire him back up. Castle gets in a shot of his own to take over and a hurricanrana off the apron has Strong down. A Kingdom distraction lets Strong get in a cheap shot though and we take a break.

Back with Castle hitting a belly to back suplex and some hard strikes in the corner. Strong manages to knock him outside though, meaning the Kingdom can get in some good mocking. Strong suplexes him onto the apron and, after escaping the Bang A Rang, hits the jumping knee for the pin at 10:53.

Rating: B-. Not much to see here and there wasn’t exactly much drama about the winner in the first place. Strong is a bigger deal than Castle, who has fallen firmly into the jobber to the stars spot. At the same time, the Ring Of Honor World Title feels less and less important every day, with the #1 contender being decided here rather than, you know, in Ring Of Honor.

Ring Of Honor World Champion Mark Briscoe is at home in Delaware and training in his ring. He’s ready for blood and guts because that’s what he does, blood, guts and chicken s***. After that though, it’s going to be his title match against Roderick Strong. Works for him.

Someone who seems to be named Hologram appears to be coming next week.

Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway don’t think much of Willow Nightingale, whose favorite color is three. This will never end for Nightingale.

Nyla Rose vs. Ava Lawless

Chokeslam, superkick and Beast Bomb finish for Rose at 1:54.

We look at Bryan Danielson winning the Men’s Owen Hart Tournament by beating Hangman Page, setting up his World Title match against Swerve Strickland at All In.

Top Flight vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

In case the six man version on Rampage didn’t do enough for you, with Action Andretti and Shane Taylor at ringside. Dante rolls Moriarty up a few times to start and armdrags him into an armbar. Darius comes in but gets taken into the corner for a forearm from Ogogo. Back up and Darius sens him into the other corner so Dante can hit a running clothesline. A cheap shot from Moriarty lets Ogogo take over though and we take a break.

Back with Moriarty working on an armbar but Darius fights out, allowing the tag back to Dante. House is quickly cleaned, including a springboard high crossbody for two on Ogogo. It’s back to Darius but Ogogo knocks Dante outside to take over. Moriarty hits a clothesline for two and Taylor trips Darius down. Andretti dives onto Taylor, leaving Darius to hit something like an F5 to pin Moriarty at 11:49.

Rating: B-. This was getting good but never quite got to that next level. I can go for seeing these groups fighting each other, but it would be nice to see it have something on the line. Even if that means the next shot at the Trios Titles, it would be better than just having them keep fighting for weeks on end.

Post match Taylor comes in and the good guys are beaten down.

Deonna Purrazzo isn’t done with Thunder Rosa but is ready to burn everything down to remake it in her image. Rosa comes in and says they have a lumberjack match next week.

Nyla Rose is accepting the open challenge to face Mercedes Mone on Dynamite. She’s never driven a Mercedes but she’s going to wreck one next week. As usual, Rose is one of the most entertaining talkers around.

Skye Blue vs. Harley Cameron

Blue has a new cowgirl look while Cameron has Saraya (also in a cowboy hat) in her corner. Cameron grabs a rollup for an early two before choking away in the corner. A kick to the head and a clothesline put Blue down again but she ties Cameron in the corner for the Cheeky Nandos Kick.

Saraya offers a distraction so Cameron can ram Blue’s head onto the floor and we take a break. Back with Blue planting her for two more but Cameron slips out of a fireman’s carry. A running knee gives Cameron two but Blue hits a superkick. Blue’s TKO into something like a dragon sleeper finishes Cameron at 8:04.

Rating: C+. This was a good sign for Blue, as she has been needing something to move her up to the next level. While not losing as much would be a good start, the new hold could be another nice boost for her. Code Blue is fine enough, but it doesn’t feel like something that would be a big time finisher. Cameron has gotten better and could go somewhere, though it’s going to take more time.

We look at Chris Jericho taking out Samoa Joe on Dynamite, plus part of Jericho’s mocking response on Rampage.

Skye Blue challenges Hikaru Shida for next week.

Orange Cassidy/Kyle O’Reilly vs. Kingdom

Non-title and Roderick Strong is on commentary. The Kingdom bails to the floor to start so Cassidy takes them out with a dive. Back in and Cassidy trades armdrags with Bennett before backdropping Taven. O’Reilly comes in to strike away until Taven rakes his eyes. Everything breaks down and O’Reilly ankle locks Bennett, which is broken up by Taven.

Cassidy and Bennett fight to the floor before Bennett comes back in for the backpack Stunner/running boot combination to O’Reilly. Back up and O’Reilly hits a double clothesline as we take a break. We come back with a pop up right hand dropping Cassidy for two but he avoid a splash in the corner. Bennett gets kicked away and the tag brings in O’Reilly for the house cleaning. Some dragon screw legwhips have the Kingdom in trouble but it’s a springboard spinning kick to the face to put O’Reilly back down.

Bennett is catapulted into the corner to knock Taven down and it’s back to Cassidy. The Beach Break gets two and it’s time for Strong to come down to the ring. Cue Tomohiro Ishii to brawl with Strong but the distraction lets Trent Beretta run in and take out Cassidy. The distraction lets the Hail Mary finish O’Reilly at 13:40.

Rating: B. The ending picked up a good bit and it was nice to see the champions actually win a match for a change. If nothing else, this avoids the champions taking another loss before defending against a random team at Death Before Dishonor. Cassidy’s issues continue as well and there is a good chance that it lets to yet another match with Beretta. Just in case you hadn’t gotten the point already.

Post match Trent jumps Cassidy and then goes to yell at the Kingdom, allowing Cassidy to grab a wrench and deck Trent from behind. Ishii comes back in to pose with Cassidy and O’Reilly.

A video on MJF vs. Will Ospreay ends the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show was a bit more entertaining than last week’s as it didn’t feel like it had quite so much filler. That is often the worst thing about Collision so any week where the pace picks up a bit is nice to see. The main event was a hot enough match and the titles being stripped, while a bit more complicated than needed, is a big moment. Throw in a good opener and this was a pretty easy watch, which is always nice.

Results
Konosuke Takeshita b. Tommy Billington – Running knee
Bang Bang Gang b. Michael Allen Richard Clark/Shaun Moore/London Lightning – 3:10 To Yuma to Lightning
Roderick Strong b. Dalton Castle – Jumping knee
Nyla Rose b. Ava Lawless – Beast Bomb
Top Flight b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Fireman’s carry faceplant to Moriarty
Skye Blue b. Harley Cameron – Modified dragon sleeper

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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Rampage
Date: July 12, 2024
Location: Landers Center, Southaven, Mississippi
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

We’re on the way to All In and coming off the huge turn on Dynamite as Mariah May destroyed Toni Storm. That almost has to be addressed this week but you never know what you’re going to see around here. I do like the kind of random feeling to the show as you get some fresh matches, which should be the case again this week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Premiere Athletes vs. Kings Of The Black Throne

Black and Daivari start things off with the threat of a kick sending Daivari bailing into the corner. Nese comes in and gets elbowed down, allowing King to come in and glare a lot. For some reason Nese goes to the beard and is quickly chopped down as the beating picks up. King’s backsplash gets two but Josh Woods low bridges him to the floor, allowing a big flip dive to put King down.

We take a break and come back with King fighting out of the corner and slamming Nese down for a needed breather. Black comes back in to strike away, setting up a springboard moonsault for two on Nese. Woods tries to interfere again but gets taken down, only for the distraction to let Nese break Mark Sterling’s clipboard over Black’s head. The 450 hits Black (meaning the knees crush his ribs), leaving King to crossbody Sterling. Black brainbusters Nese, who catches him on top, only for the 450 to hit raised knees. The End finishes Nese at 9:56.

Rating: C. It picked up a bit at the end but it’s quite the stretch to suggest that the Kings took almost ten minutes to beat the Premiere Athletes. The team has been little more then the whipping boys around here but for some reason the Kings have trouble beating them? It wasn’t exactly a great match either, with some spots missing and the whole thing being kind of a mess.

Roderick Strong vs. Ben Bishop

The Conglomeration is on commentary and the Kingdom is here with Strong. The rather tall Bishop shoves him outside to start, where the Kingdom gives him a pep talk. That talk seems to include suggesting a running knee to put Bishop down back inside. The jumping knee finishes for Strong at 1:17.

Deonna Purrazzo is ready to burn everything down and create the age of the virtuosa.

Rey Fenix vs. Angelico vs. Komander vs. AR Fox

Komander and Fenix work on the arms to start and Angelico is sent outside rather quickly. Fox sends Fenix outside for a running dropkick through the ropes but Angelico is back in for the save. Angelico’s spinning kick to the head gets two and it’s back to Fenix vs. Komander for the slugout. Fenix connects with the rope walk kick and we take a break.

Back with Angelico pulling Fenix out of the air and tying up his leg and arm for some cranking. Komander breaks that up with the rope walk moonsault but Fenix dives in for his own save. Everybody but Angelico goes up on the same corner, with Komander moonsaulting down onto Angelico. That leaves Fenix to knock Fox down and frog splash him for two, setting up a double armbar for the win at 10:29.

Rating: B-. It was a fun match but it’s nothing that we haven’t seen a dozen times. You know what you’re going to get from this kind of a match and the question becomes just how many big spots they can fit in. Fenix is by far the biggest star of the match and it’s fine to see him get the win, but it would be nice if it felt like it actually meant something.

We look at Chris Jericho injuring Samoa Joe with a forklift.

Jericho says this is what happens if you don’t listen to the Learning Tree.

Thunder Rosa vs. Rachael Ellering

Ellering throws her around to start but Rosa is right back with a running dropkick. Rosa ties up the arm and elbows away before hitting a running dropkick against the ropes. Ellering gets two off a rollup but Rosa ties her up in a seated cobra clutch for the win at 3:28.

Rating: C. Pretty much a squash for Rosa here, even against a bigger name like Ellering. That’s a bit strange to see, but it isn’t like Ellering has meant much around here in a long time. Hopefully Rosa is done with Deonna Purrazzo and needs someone new to face, but we’ll have to see who that is.

Post match Deonna Purrazzo runs in the cheap shot on Rosa. Why does this feud need to continue?

Top Flight/Action Andretti vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Moriarty full nelsons Darius to start but gets reversed into a headlock as they start fast. A dropkick puts Moriarty down so it’s off to Ogogo vs. Dante. Some arm cranking has Ogogo in trouble and Andretti comes in to stay on the arm. Ogogo powers him into the corner for the tag to Taylor, who is hurricanranaed out to the floor. The dive is broken up though and we take a break.

Back with Dante fighting out of the corner and managing a middle rope DDT to put Taylor down. Darius comes in to pick up the pace and it’s Andretti adding a dropkick into Darius’ German suplex for two on Moriarty. Taylor comes back in with a hard clothesline and Moriarty adds his suplex Downward Spiral. Andretti manages to fireman’s carry Taylor, which is broken up, allowing Taylor to hit a running knee for the pin at 11:23.

Rating: B-. Another good, fast paced match here with the villains winning to wrap up the show. Much like the four way though, it’s really hard to believe that this is going to lead to anything for the Promotions. It should finish up the mini feud with Top Flight/Andretti so it’s better than nothing, but it doesn’t exactly feel like the most important match.

Overall Rating: C+. This was the kind of frustrating show that you get a bit too often, as the wrestling was completely fine, but it could not have felt less important. What was the big story here? Rosa vs. Purrazzo continuing? One low level trio beats another? I need a lot more than that from an hour of national television, but that’s what you get far too often around here. Not a bad show by any means and you wouldn’t waste your time watching it, but there was nothing important here in the slightest.

Results
Kings Of The Black Throne b. Premiere Athletes – The End to Nese
Roderick Strong b. Ben Bishop – Jumping knee
Rey Fenix b. AR Fox, Komander and Angelico – Double armbar to Fox
Thunder Rosa b. Rachael Ellering – Seated cobra clutch
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Top Flight/Action Andretti – Running knee to Andretti

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Collision
Date: July 6, 2024
Location: Landers Center, Southaven, Mississippi
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

The big story this week is going to be focused on talking, as Maxwell Jacob Friedman is set to open the show with an explanation for what he did to Daniel Garcia on Dynamite. Other than that, we have the second semifinals of the men’s Owen Hart Tournament, as the winner of Jay White vs. Hangman Page will face Bryan Danielson next week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of MJF turning on Daniel Garcia on Dynamite.

Here is MJF to explain what he did. MJF laughs off the idea that he and Daniel Garcia would be friends because Garcia is a Make-A-Wish Kid at best. Of course he isn’t going to give Garcia a match at All In and now Garcia might never wrestle again. With that out of the way, MJF shows us a clip of himself talking about his condition with rejection and how scared he is to let anything go wrong.

Back live, MJF says he let everyone in and then he lost it all. He was sitting on his couch watching Dynamite and saw his fans turn on him for Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland and WILL OSPREAY. Garcia was just the tip of the iceberg because he is going to take everything they love.

The only way to do that is with him on top and Ospreay is a guy who only cares about ratings from Meltzer. MJF cares about ratings from Nielsen so get out here right now. Ospreay’s music plays but MJF laughs, as there is no Ospreay tonight. He is MJF (and he doesn’t like the fans chanting his name) and you can thank him later. Good enough explanation and rather in line for MJF.

The Conglomeration is ready for another fight and to get back up after a bad Forbidden Door. Orange Cassidy doesn’t care.

Conglomeration vs. Jacked Jameson/Iron Savages

Roderick Strong, with the Kingdom, joins commentary. Briscoe grabs the Savage Sauce to start and gets even zanier than usual. O’Reilly comes in and gets run over as we take an early break. Back with O’Reilly getting over for the tag to Briscoe to clean house. Cassidy comes in and starts rather quickly, including the tornado DDT for two on Bronson. Everything breaks down and Briscoe hits a big flip dive to the floor, leaving Cassidy to hit the Orange Punch for the pin on Boulder at 7:56.

Rating: C+. I like that they’re doing something different with Cassidy, as he hasn’t had much in the way of a different trajectory in a long time. This is the kind of thing that could lead somewhere for him, though we’re still at the beginning. Other than that, it’s nice to see the Savages and Jameson get beaten up, though I could go with them not being around as much. Or at all really.

Jack Perry talks about the sacrifices that he has made to become TNT Champion. Now he to give someone else a chance to make the same sacrifice.

Video on Swerve Strickland beating Will Ospreay to retain the World Title at Forbidden Door.

Hangman Page is asked why he is back, sending him into a near meltdown over how much he wants to destroy Swerve Strickland.

Toni Storm vs. Trish Adora

Non-title and Mariah May and Luther are here with Storm while the Infantry is with Adora. They fight over headlocks to start until Adora runs her over with a shoulder. Adora ties her up for some neck cranking but Storm escapes and hits the hip attack to the floor as we take a break. Back with Storm hitting a running hip attack in the corner, setting up the forearm off. Storm gets the better of things and hits Storm Zero for the pin at 8:24.

Rating: C+. This was the traditional short and to the point women’s match with the commercial break eating up even more of the time. Adora is someone who can work well with anyone but doesn’t seem likely to win much on her own anytime soon. On the other hand you have Storm, who is being kept warm before her big showdown, likely against Mariah May, at All In.

Willow Nightingale and Mariah May are ready for the Owen Hart finals.

The Patriarchy wants the Trios Titles but Christian Cage had to look up who held the titles. That’s how unimportant the Bang Bang Gang really is. Colten Gunn has some promise but that’s beside the point. He’s going to take the titles and revive them. Kip Sabian comes in to say he’s just lost his father and implies he wants some guidance. Cage says it’s a good thing Sabian’s dad isn’t here to see what kind of a loser he is and has Killswitch wreck him. Cage’s delivery here was great as usual.

TNT Title: Jack Perry vs. Marko Stunt

Stunt, the home state boy, is challenging and Perry is stunned. Perry knocks him down to start and hits some hard forearms before planting Stunt for a fairly near fall. Stunt fights up and gets two off a hurricanrana but Perry buckle bombs him. The running knee finishes Stunt at 3:21.

Rating: C-. They weren’t exactly hiding what they were going for here and while I would usually want a bit more time for this kind of a call back match….it’s Marko Stunt. The idea here was to have Perry get an easy win because the Young Bucks are treating him favorably, which is fine enough, but it’s not going to give us much of anything for a bit. I’m sure he’ll get a better challenger one day, but we could be a long way off from that.

The House Of Black is ready to hurt the Patriarchy.

Video on Bryan Danielson’s path in the men’s Owen Hart Tournament.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Beast Mortos

Castagnoli flips out of a wristlock to start and hits a quick backbreaker. Back up and Mortos sends him into the corner for a running elbow and an early two. Mortos’ running knee misses though and the crash to the floor takes out the cameraman for a great visual. Mortos is right back up and sends Castagnoli outside for the corkscrew suicide dive. Castagnoli gets in his own knockdown back inside and we take a break.

Back with Castagnoli getting the better of a slugout until Mortos headbutts his way to freedom. Castagnoli knocks him outside for the running uppercut against the barricade as the fans want the Swing. Back in and Mortos’ torture rack backbreaker gets two but Castagnoli uppercuts him out of the air. Now we get the Swing and a big clothesline finishes Mortos at 11:35.

Rating: B-. This felt like “hey, Castagnoli is still around”, and that’s not a bad thing. There is always going to be a place for a strong man to throw around a big guy and that is exactly what we got here. Castagnoli has been kind of floating without much to do as of late and it would be nice to see him have a little something. Hopefully this is a start, but I’m not sure if I would get my hopes up.

Matt Menard says Daniel Garcia lost all of the strength in the left side of his body but he’ll get better. Garcia is going to get his revenge on MJF and it’s going to be Red Death.

Someone dives into a vortex and will apparently be loading soon.

Serena Deeb is willing to run it back with Riho, but she’s grown since their first match in 2021.

Lady Frost vs. Riho

They trade escapes to start until Frost gets two off a neckbreaker. Riho drop toeholds her to set up a 619 and we take a break. Back with Riho fighting out of a double arm crank and sending her outside for a dive, which hits Frost’s feet. Back in and Frost kicks her in the head for two, with frustration setting in. Frostbite is broken up via a grab of the leg but Frost knocks her down again and hits a regular moonsault for two. Riho is right back with a dragon suplex into Run Hey (Kofi Kingston’s SOS) for the pin at 7:45.

Rating: C+. Frost seems to be one of the better designated jobbers to the stars around here and that’s not a bad role for her. She has a unique look and can do almost anything asked of her in the ring so it went well enough. At the same time you have Riho, who is likely going to go over Serena Deeb, win another match or two and then go away for a few months, so it’s hard to get that invested in whatever she does.

Shane Taylor Promotions is ready for Top Flight and Action Andretti on Rampage. They’re ready to fight tonight but nothing happens.

Samoa Joe wants to hurt Chris Jericho on Dynamite.

Men’s Owen Hart Tournament Semifinals: Jay White vs. Hangman Page

The rest of the Bang Bang Gang is here with White. Actually hold on, as the Young Bucks send in an order to get rid of everyone else to make it one on one. Page knocks him to the floor for some chops to start, followed by a hard forearm back inside. There’s the fall away slam to send White to the apron again but he manages a shot of his own. They head back outside with White being sent into the barricade, followed by some rapid fire right hands back inside.

We take a break and come back with Page busted open and White starting in on the knee in the corner. White chops away and rakes at the eyes, setting up a DDT for two. They slug it out until a Downward Spiral into a German suplex plants Page. White drops him on the apron but gets powerbombed back inside for two.

The Buckshot Lariat is countered into a spinning Rock Bottom for two more but the Blade Runner is blocked. The referee gets bumped and Page chokes White with a belt. Cue Jeff Jarrett to take said belt away, allowing White to suplex Page. Another referee gets rid of Jarrett, allowing Christian Cage to come in with a spear to take out White. The Buckshot Lariat finishes White at 15:41.

Rating: B. Easily the best match on the show here and that shouldn’t be a surprise. The match having some actual stakes helped and they managed to pull off quite the feat here. It’s rather impressive that this turned into a competitive and engaging match when Page couldn’t have been a more obvious winner. That takes some effort and talent and they pulled it off here. Good stuff to wrap up the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a great example of a show that would have been much better at just an hour. They had enough stuff in there that felt like it mattered and had the quality to back it up, but then there was almost just as much that felt like “ok who else can we throw out there to fill in time”. That’s been an issue for Collision for a long time now and while the show wasn’t bad by any means, a lot of it didn’t feel overly important.

Results
Conglomeration b. Jacked Jameson/Iron Savages – Orange Punch to Boulder
Toni Storm b. Trish Adora – Storm Zero
Jack Perry b. Marko Stunt – Running knee
Claudio Castagnoli b. Beast Mortos – Lariat
Riho b. Lady Frost – Run Hey
Hangman Page b. Jay White – Buckshot Lariat

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Ring Of Honor
Date: July 4, 2024
Location: PPL Center, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re rapidly approaching Death Before Dishonor and there are a few matches you can probably guess from here, though nothing has been announced. In this case, there is a good chance that we will see some of them officially set, though some of the titles do not exactly have apparent challengers. Let’s get to it.

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

The Infantry welcomes us to the show, which they will be hosting. After confirming that this isn’t about the Will Smith movie, they send us to the opening sequence.

Opening sequence.

Dark Order vs. Bang Bang Gang

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if the Dark Order wins or survives the time limit, they get a future title shot. Oddly enough, this is the Juice Robinson/Gunns version of the team, meaning they can have a Proving Ground match but not defend the titles. Austin and Uno trade shoulders to start with Austin being taken into the Order corner. Everything breaks down and the Gang misses triple splashes in the corner, allowing the Order to hammer away.

Colten gets caught in a triple pose, with Robinson breaking it up for a distraction. That’s enough for Colten to take over on Reynolds in the corner with a snap suplex getting two. Robinson’s clothesline gets the same and we hit the chinlock. Reynolds fights up and hits a neckbreaker, allowing the tag to Uno to pick up the pace. The Gang all wind up in 619 position and get kicked in the head for two on Robinson. Reynolds kicks Robinson to the floor but walks into 3:10 to Yuma to give the Gang the pin at 7:23.

Rating: C+. That’s about the ceiling for the Dark Order and it isn’t a bad idea. They tested the champions just enough before the loss and that’s all they should have done. The Gang is better than the Dark Order and there was no reason to set up a title match. Perfectly fine stuff here and it didn’t overstay its welcome.

The Infantry talk about the rest of the card.

We look at Atlantis Jr. winning the Ring Of Honor TV Title in Arena Mexico. Fletcher wants a rematch.

Athena and the Minions have recruited Tony Deppen (not named) as their security guard. Queen Aminata and Red Velvet come in to say that Aminata is getting the Women’s Title shot against the still injured Athena at Death Before Dishonor. Billie Starkz will defend the North American Title against Velvet too. Athena wants Tony Khan. Those are the matches you knew were coming.

The Infantry talks about various places in Washington DC and plug Honor Club.

Komander/Metalik vs. Kingdom

Another Proving Ground match. Taven chops Komander to start but misses a splash in the corner. Komander strikes away but Bennett comes in for the double teaming. That’s broken up and Komander hands it off to Metalik for the rope walk dropkick and two on Bennett. Everything breaks down and Metalik hits a dive to take both of them down on the floor. Komander adds a springboard moonsault to drop the champs again as commentary is getting into this.

Back in and Metalik gets catapulted into a kick to the head from Taven as we get the five minute call (which we didn’t get in the first match). A sunset bomb gets Metalik out of trouble and it’s back to Komander to pick up the pace. Komander hits a tornado DDT to plant Taven and Cielito Lindo gets two with Bennett making the save. An assisted moonsaults the same, albeit without the save this time. Back up and Rockstar Supernova out of nowhere gives Taven the pin at 8:05.

Rating: B-. This was about as good as it was going to be as Komander and Metalik might as well have been “and here are our resident luchadors”. That is a team who can do well enough with just about anyone and it worked well enough here. The Kingdom really needs some fresh challengers though and I don’t quite see these two as those challenges.

Mason Madden and Mansoor, the MxM Collection, are coming.

The Infantry go to Mount Rushmore and hype Death Before Dishonor.

Wheeler Yuta vs. Lee Moriarty

Another Proving Ground match under Pure Rules as Ring Of Honor remembers Yuta is a thing around here. Yuta takes him down for an ankle crank to start before hitting a basement dropkick for two. Back up and Yuta cranks on a cravate but Moriarty reverses into an armbar. Moriarty even bridges back onto the arm for a rather nasty looking bend. The cross arm choke has Yuta in more trouble but he reverses into the elbows, with Moriarty needing his first rope break.

Yuta snaps off a German suplex for two but Moriarty pulls him into the Border City Stretch. That means Yuta has to use his first rope with less than three minutes to go. The Stretch goes on again and is quickly reversed into a cradle to leave them both down with under two minutes to go. They trade rollups for two each and keep going with a minute left. The reversals go on for over a minute until they slug it out as time expires at 10:00. Therefore, Moriarty gets a future title shot.

Rating: B-. This is only the second time a challenger has survived a Proving Ground match and that is a great thing to see. The concept is still overused but having it actually set up a title match, likely at the pay per view, is a good thing. At the same time though, the six month hiatus of the title which didn’t really seem to matter is a very bad sign for the whole thing. It just doesn’t feel important and that is something they might want to address. Like say by getting rid of the thing.

Post match Yuta stares Moriarty down but Shane Taylor Promotions scare him off to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Well it certainly felt somewhat more important. The show was taking place on the Fourth of July so it wasn’t like it was going to be drawing a huge audience in the first place. They set some things up for Death Before Dishonor, though not having a World Title match with three shows left before the pay per view is not a great look. They felt like they went with the easiest path this week and that makes sense given the circumstances of the holiday, plus what needed to get done.

Results
Bang Bang Gang b. Dark Order – 3:10 to Yuma to Reynolds
Kingdom b. Komander/Metalik – Rockstar Supernova to Komander
Wheeler Yuta vs. Lee Moriarty went to a time limit draw

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Rampage
Date: July 5, 2024
Location: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Don Callis

We’re still in Chicago for the second half of Beach Break, which didn’t exactly mean much on Dynamite. Hopefully the show goes somewhere off of the big ending from Dynamite, but there is a real chance they save that for tomorrow night. We are starting to get ready for All In though and that build might continue here. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Rush vs. Komander

Metalik is here with Komander. For some reason Komander tries a handshake to start, earning a shove down. Rush knocks him outside without much trouble and adds a whip into the barricade as Callis talks taking Rush to a baseball game. A chair is sent in, which is enough of a distraction to let Rush whip Komander with a camera cable. Back in and Rush hits a running double stomp but Komander manages a tornado DDT. That doesn’t work for Rush, who takes him outside for a HARD swing into the barricade as we take a break.

We come back with Rush stomping away in the corner and hitting the cocky kick to the mask. Komander is tied in the Tree of Woe for a rather hard kick but the Bull’s Horns misses. The comeback is on with a dropkick to the knee (Callis: “That’s a dirty move.”) to send Rush outside. Komander hits the dive into the Asai moonsault, setting up the shooting star press for two back inside. A headbutt cuts Komander off and an apron superplex gives Rush two. Rush suplexes him off the apron and the Bull’s Horns finishes at 11:56.

Rating: C. This is a good example of a match that went long and really shouldn’t have. If Rush is supposed to be the next big star for Callis, there is pretty much no reason for him to take about twelve minutes to beat Komander. It’s ok to just have Rush go in there and maul someone and that’s what should have happened here.

Post match Rush throws Komander at Callis’ feet.

The Undisputed Kingdom isn’t worried about the Conglomeration, who has Kyle O’Reilly bamboozled. Roderick Strong swears vengeance and are ready to bring O’Reilly back.

Konosuke Takeshita/Kyle Fletcher vs. Private Party

The Family jumps them before the bell and Private Party is in trouble to start. Kassidy armdrags Fletcher down for a breather and it’s off to Quen for a springboard missile dropkick. Takeshita comes in and gets caught with a moonsault but he’s fine enough to suplex Kassidy and Quen at the same time. We take a break and come back with Quen fighting his way to freedom, allowing the tag off to Kassidy. The pace picks up and the Family is sent outside for Kassidy’s big flip dive.

Kassidy throws on a shark hat but the Family fights back and hits stereo brainbusters for two each. A superbomb is reversed into Gin and Juice to Takeshita and Silly String gets two on Fletcher. Takeshita runs both of them over with a clothesline though, leaving Fletcher and Quen to slug it out. Back in and Takeshita takes out Kassidy, leaving Quen to get caught with the piledriver for the pin at 10:10.

Rating: B-. For once, commentary covered part of the issue here, as they hammered in the idea that Takeshita and Fletcher are part of the same stable but not a regular team. That makes the match feel a bit more competitive, as while Private Party isn’t the most successful team, they’re at least a regular team with experience. Takeshita got to look like his usual awesome self and Fletcher was….well Takeshita was great.

We see a clip from earlier this week, with Rush and Don Callis coming to terms.

We look at MJF turning heel and attacking Daniel Garcia on Dynamite.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. GPA

Roderick Strong, with the Kingdom, is on commentary. O’Reilly kicks away to start and shrugs off GPA’s comeback attempt. The cross armbreaker finishes for O’Reilly at 1:48.

Samoa Joe wants to massacre Chris Jericho on Dynamite. Ticked off Joe is always awesome.

Video on Mariah May vs. Hikaru Shida.

Toni Storm does a kind of old school newsreel announcement about her match with Trish Adora on Collision.

Women’s Owen Hart Tournament Semifinals: Mariah May vs. Hikaru Shida

Toni Storm and Luther are here with May. The fans are behind Shida to start before the slow forearm exchange gets things going. May takes her down out of the corner and a running kick to the chest gets two. May’s sunset bomb to the floor is countered into a hurricanrana, leaving Storm annoyed as we take a break.

Back with May making the clothesline comeback and hitting a middle rope hurricanrana out of the corner. May goes up but gets caught with a superplex. Back up and May grabs a spinning side slam before they trade German suplexes. Shida’s Falcon Arrow gets two but May sends her into the corner for the hip attack. They trade rollups until Shida tries the Katana, which is reversed into a cradle to give May the pin at 11:37.

Rating: B-. They haven’t exactly been hiding that this is May’s tournament to win, but they’re doing a nice job of making her work to get there. Beating Shida still means a lot as she’s one of the most successful stars the division has ever seen and May gets to beat another former champion. Storm is waiting for her though, and the finals could not feel like more of a formality.

Overall Rating: C+. The wrestling was mostly good but this was a show that you absolutely could have skipped. With the first half being the Don Callis Show and the main event being the only match with any value (and not exactly much in the way of drama), I wasn’t exactly invested in this one. That’s a bit of a step down from recent Rampages, which is a shame as the show was fun for a bit.

Results
Rush b. Komander – Bull’s Horns
Konosuke Takeshita/Kyle Fletcher b. Private Party – Piledriver to Quen
Kyle O’Reilly b. GPA – Cross armbreaker
Mariah May b. Hikaru Shida – Rollup

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Rampage
Date: June 28, 2024
Location: PPL Center, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni

We are two days away from Forbidden Door and that means the card is mostly set up. While there is a chance that we could see something else for the pay per view, there is a good chance that we are going to be seeing a few minor pushes towards Sunday and little more. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Orange Cassidy vs. Outrunners

Cassidy works on Magnum’s arm to start and then mocks the double bicep pose. Floyd comes in and manages a running shoulder to drop Cassidy, meaning we get the REAL double bicep. Back up and Cassidy knocks both of them down, setting up the double dropkick. The referee almost gets hit but gets hugged instead, with the distraction causing Cassidy to get caught in a double belly to back suplex. A double slam gives the Outrunners two but Cassidy rams them into each other. Floyd is sent outside for a dive and the high crossbody hits Magnum. The Orange Punch gives Cassidy the pin on Magnum at 6:05.

Rating: C. That’s quite the odd choice to give Cassidy a win on his way into a showdown with a technical master like Zack Sabre Jr. The Outrunners are little more than a couple of comedy goofs and it isn’t a bit deal to see Cassidy beat them. Nothing much to see here and I’m not sure I get the thinking behind this one.

The Learning Tree has a new partner for the six man tag at Forbidden Door and we’ll find out who it is on Collision.

Gabe Kidd/Roderick Strong vs. Infantry

The Kingdom and Trish Adora are here too. Kidd runs Bravo over with a shoulder to start and it’s Strong coming in for some hard chops in the corner. Strong gets caught in the wrong corner but cuts Dean off with a backbreaker as we take a break. Back with Dean caught in the wrong corner but a missed double clothesline allows the diving tag to Bravo. A slingshot cutter gets two on Kidd and there’s an ax kick to put him down again. Strong breaks up Boot Camp though and Kidd hits a quick piledriver to pin Bravo at 6:27. Not enough shown to rate but it was a competitive enough match.

There is going to be a Brodie Lee commemorative shoe.

TNT Title Qualifying Match: El Phantasmo vs. AR Fox

They run the ropes to start until Phantasmo snaps off a headscissors into a dropkick. A very springboardy hurricanrana takes Fox down but he avoids a dive and knocks Phantasmo outside. The big dive connects but Phantasmo is back up with a running forearm. An atomic drop into a Russian legsweep has Fox down as Nigel notices the Bret Hart homage. Phantasmo’s Lionsault gets two but Fox enziguris him into a twisting brainbuster. Fox puts him up top but takes too long, allowing Phantasmo to come back with a middle rope Canadian Destroyer. A faceplant finishes for Phantasmo at 5:24.

Rating: B-. Nice, fast paced match here, though it’s kind of hard to get behind the idea that Fox is going to win anything of value. Phantasmo is the New Japan representative in the title match, though it’s hard to imagine that he is going to win. For now though, I’ll take a pretty good match on TV with two talented stars.

Deonna Purrazzo is ready for the Owen Hart Tournament and her first round match against Hikaru Shida.

Dalton Castle vs. Shingo Takagi

They fight over a lockup to start until Takagi runs him over and we take an early break. Back with Takagi hitting a backsplash and driving in some elbows to the head. Castle is back up with a suplex and a spinning elbow to the head, followed by a reverse Sling Blade for two. Takagi grabs a Gory Bomb into a DDT, setting up Made In Japan to finish Castle at 7:49.

Rating: C+. The more I see Castle out there doing his awesome stuff, if nothing else his entrance, the more amazed I am that he is little more than a jobber to the stars. I know his back is messed up, but how do you look at someone with his unique set of talents and have nothing better for him? It’s one of the bigger shames in AEW and while I’d love to believe that it’s going to get better, it’s hard to believe that is a realistic option.

Saraya isn’t worried about Mariah May.

Skye Blue vs. Queen Aminata

They start fast with Blue missing a big boot and getting German suplexed for an early two. An exchange of rollups doesn’t go anywhere so Aminata grabs a pair of vertical suplexes. Back up and Blue hits some running knees to put Aminata outside, setting up the dive to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Aminata hitting a PK for two, followed by a heck of a running boot against the rope. Another suplex on the apron rocks Blue but the running hip attack only hits the steps. Blue suplexes her off the steps for a change of pace and a near fall back inside. Skyfall is broken up and Aminata headbutts her for the pin at 9:45.

Rating: C+. What an odd choice for a main event. There is almost nothing going on with these two, at least in AEW, and yet they get the main event slot and longest match on the show. Aminata seems likely to be in line for a Women’s Title match in Ring Of Honor, but I’m not sure why she is getting this kind of a spot on a pay per view weekend.

Aminata tries to show respect post match but gets superkicked for her efforts. Red Velvet runs in for the save to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. In theory this was a preview for Forbidden Door with some other stuff thrown in, though Kidd isn’t on the pay per view card at the moment and Phantasmo is going to be one of a bunch of people in a ladder match. In other words, this was the usual somewhat random assortment of matches that tends to fill out Rampage. It’s not a bad show at all, but there were a few times where I was wondering why something was taking place.

Results
Orange Cassidy b. Outrunners – Orange Punch to Magnum
Gabe Kidd/Roderick Strong b. Infantry – Piledriver to Bravo
El Phantasmo b. AR Fox – Faceplant
Shingo Takagi b. Dalton Castle – Made In Japan
Queen Aminata b. Skye Blue – Headbutt

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Ring Of Honor
Date: June 27, 2024
Location: Covelli Center, Youngstown, Ohio
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are less than a month away from Death Before Dishonor and, as usual, there is nothing announced for the card. In theory we should be getting something set up for it rather soon, but in this case we have the World Title on the line in a match that seemed like it was destined for the pay per view. Let’s get to it.

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

Athena holds a Minions In Training meeting and announces that she will be out 8-12 months. Therefore, she has some extra security around here, with even Lexi Nair fired up to deal with Queen Aminata and Red Velvet.

Alex Reynolds vs. Lee Johnson

Evil Uno is here with Reynolds. Johnson takes him down by the arm to start and the clean break gets some polite applause. Back up and Johnson takes him down again, only to miss a kick to the head and get rolled up for two. They fight over a standing switch until Johnson clotheslines him out to the floor, setting up the quick dive. Uno offers a distraction though and Reynolds gets in a cheap shot to take over.

Johnson is sent hard into the steps for two but he fights up and makes the clothesline comeback. A standing moonsault gets two on Reynolds but the Big Shot Drop is countered with a knee to the face. Some hard forearms to the face give Reynolds two and a tiger driver gets the same. Reynolds rolls out of the Big Shot Drop but gets sent face first into the buckle instead. Uno gets superkicked off the apron and the Big Shot Drop finishes Alexander at 8:49.

Rating: B-. This was Johnson’s rebound win after losing the TV Title match last week. That’s a good way to go, though taking this long to beat someone as low level as Alexander didn’t exactly make him look strong. It also doesn’t help that it’s Johnson having to build himself up again, which has happened multiple times now.

Marina Shafir vs. Erica Leigh

Shafir takes her down with ease and forces a handshake on her on the mat. Some hard forearms have Leigh in trouble but she fights up with some shots of her own. Something like a 619 in the corner sets up Mother’s Milk to finish Leigh at 2:34.

The Kingdom is tired of everyone wasting their time and need more competition. Mike Bennett drops to his knees to pray to Tony Khan to find some good challengers.

Lance Archer/Righteous vs. Duke Davis/Victor Benjamin/Ganon Jones Jr.

Archer pounds the rather large Davis into the corner but actually gets shouldered into another corner. Vincent comes in to hammer on Benjamin, who strikes his way out of trouble. Vincent’s running basement Downward Spiral gets two and they head outside. A ramp into the steps keeps Benjamin down, followed by Dutch’s swinging Boss Man Slam for two back inside. Benjamin stumbles into the corner though and it’s the also big Jones coming in to fight back. Another Boss Man Slam hits Davis and Orange Sunshine finishes Jones at 5:44.

Rating: C. Hey you know how Archer and the Righteous do this seemingly every other week or so and it leads nowhere but the matches are almost always the same? Well this is the most recent edition, as the Righteous and Archer got to beat some people up and odds are it won’t be leading anywhere. I would say maybe that can let them go somewhere, but it doesn’t seem likely.

Post match the beatdown continues.

Taya Valkyrie vs. Trish Adora

Valkyrie chops away to start but Adora gets in her own chops and snapmares her down. The threat of the Lariat Tubman sends Valkyrie bailing to the floor, where she reminds us of how smart she is. Valkyrie gets in a few shots of her own, including a few kicks in the corner. The double arm crank goes on, followed by a quick clothesline to give Valkyrie two. Adora fights back with a snap suplex for two but Valkyrie slips out of an airplane spin. Back to back Shania Pains finish Adora at 6:31.

Rating: C+. This one gives me a bit more hope, as there is the chance that we could actually see Valkyrie getting a title shot somewhere down the line. I won’t quite believe it until I see it, but at least it seems like something that could happen. On the other hand, Adora seems to be locked into jobber to the stars territory, which doesn’t give me much hope for her future.

Leyla Hirsch has beaten Diamante four times, but Diamante comes in and wants one more. They’ll make it a street fight.

Billie Starkz vs. Angelica Risk

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning that if Risk survives the ten minute time limit or wins, she gets a future title shot. Starks grabs a choke to start and then kicks Risk in the face to take over. The running boot in the corner hits Risk again and Starkz stomps away. They head outside with Starkz sending her into the corner, setting up a running knee. Back in and Risk rolls away before the Swanton can launch, leaving Starkz to mock Red Velvet. Risk fights back but Starkz pulls her into the fish hook choke for the win at 4:18.

Rating: C. There is only so much you can get out of Athena, and now Starkz, having this kind of a match over and over. In short, it has been done and there was little reason to believe that Risk was going to get a win, or even put up a fight here. Red Velvet seems to be the next challenger but it’s been set up for such a long time now that it’s kind of hard to care in the slightest.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher

Only Briscoe is defending and yes we are doing this here rather than on the pay per view. Briscoe sends him into the corner to start and the fans approve, just like they do as we hit the headlock. Back up and Fletcher knocks him hard into the corner for a change, only to get knocked off the top. There’s the dive to the floor to take Fletcher but he’s right back with some shots of his own.

Briscoe’s chops are shrugged off and Fletcher gets to lay out on the steps for a breather. Back in and Briscoe wins a slugout, setting up a fisherman’s buster for two of his own. A Pele kick into a discus forearm connects but Fletcher catches Briscoe on top. Briscoe catches him on top as well though, meaning it’s a fisherman’s superplex (that’s a new one) to bring Fletcher back down.

They head to the apron with Briscoe hitting a few shots, setting up the Bang Bang Elbow. The Froggy Bow hits raised knees back inside though and the piledriver gives Fletcher two. Briscoe Death Valley Drivers him down and now the Froggy Bow connects for two more. Fletcher kicks away but walks into one heck of a clothesline, setting up the Jay Driller to retain the title at 13:11.

Rating: B-. Well, it was the best match of the show, but thank goodness they got rid of what could have headlined Death Before Dishonor this early. Why go with a story that is ready made when you can make something from scratch on short notice? The match itself was what you would expect, but I could go without seeing Fletcher for a rather long time.

Overall Rating: C+. And that was Ring Of Honor, as it had some good to ok matches, little in the way of setting anything up, and a grand total of absolutely nothing set for Death Before Dishonor with four shows left before the pay per view. I’m sure something will happen on AEW TV or elsewhere to set up the top of the card in a hurry but the pay per view builds really do show you how slowly things move around here. Not a bad show, but they need to actually get the pay per view ready.

Results
Lee Johnson b. Alex Reynolds – Big Shot Drop
Marina Shafir b. Erica Leigh – Mother’s Milk
Lance Archer/Righteous b. Duke Davis/Victor Benjamin/Ganon Jones Jr. – Orange Sunshine to Jones
Taya Valkyrie b. Trish Adora – Shania Pain
Billie Starkz b. Angelica Risk – Fish hook choke
Mark Briscoe b. Kyle Fletcher – Jay Driller

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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Ring Of Honor
Date: June 20, 2024
Location: Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s time for a double title show this week as the Tag Team and TV Titles are on the line, with the latter in a 2/3 falls match. Other than that, we might want to start getting ready for the Death Before Dishonor card as the show is just over a month away. Then again it isn’t like the show is going to be announced until a week or two out so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Aaron Solo vs. Titan

They shake hands to start before Titan dropkicks him out to the floor. The threat of a dive brings Solo back in though and he strikes away. Titan is back up with a high crossbody to send Solo outside again, this time with a dive connecting. Back in and Solo slowly hammers away but Titan fights up for the chop off. A jumping kick to the head drops Solo but a top rope double stomp misses. Solo hits his own double stomp for two and nails a superkick, only to have Titan kick him in the face out of the corner. Now Titan’s top rope double stomp can finish at 6:20.

Rating: C+. This was just a step above a squash for Titan, as Solo isn’t exactly what I would consider a top star in any major promotion. It felt like another “hey here’s someone you might see at Forbidden Door” match and that works well enough as long as it isn’t overkill. Titan has done nicely in his few appearances and this continued that trend.

Anthony Henry/Griff Garrison/Cole Karter vs. Infantry/Sepentico

Maria and Trish Adora are here too. Henry gets caught in the wrong corner to start and the Infantry starts with the rapid fire double teaming. Karter comes in and takes Serpentico down with a clothesline, setting up and earl chinlock with Henry. A neck twist keep Serpentico down and Henry grabs another chinlock.

Serpentico fights up and grabs a hurricanrana out of the corner, allowing the tag off to Bravo. Everything breaks down and Garrison drops Dean, leaving Serpentico to hit a dive. Serpentico’s Swan Dive gets two and everyone is down. Back up and Serpentico knocks Henry down again, only to get chaired in the back by Garrison. A quick faceplant gives Henry the pin on Serpentico at 9:59.

Rating: C. I don’t know how to be subtle about this so I’ll just go with being blunt: the Garrison/Karter vs. Serpentico/Angelico feud is one of the lamest, least interesting things I have seen in wrestling in a very long time and for some reason IT JUST KEEPS GOING. There is little reason for them to be fighting anymore but here they are again because there is apparently nothing else for them to do but they must be on the show for some reason. This is one of the feuds that is making Ring Of Honor more and more annoying every time they’re on TV and for the life of me I do not get why.

Video on Kyle Fletcher vs. Lee Johnson tonight in a 2/3 falls match for the TV Title.

Here are Athena and Billie Starkz for an emergency meeting….and Athena is on crutches and in a walking boot. She’s looking at being out for 4-6 months due to some torn ligaments and she has decided that it is best or her to keep the title. Cue Queen Aminata and Red Velvet, with Aminata saying she’ll hurt Athena if the injury isn’t real in the first place. Maybe Athena is faking just like Starkz did to win her title. Starkz gets shoved down and lands on Athena, which is enough to clear everyone off. Things may change, but Athena not wrestling for months and retaining the title is not exactly a good idea.

Jacoby Watts vs. Brandon Cutler

Nick Comoroto is here with Watts, who does his usual speech, with Cutler cutting him off. Cutler isn’t sure where we are but knows the fans are stupid. Watts jumps him before the bell and the slugout is on, with Cutler grabbing a cutter. Cutler is back with a suplex but Watts grabs a swinging Downward Spiral. A Stunner finishes for Watts at 2:17. That was certainly a thing that happened.

Marina Shafir vs. Maggie Minerva

Shafir takes her down with a judo throw and cranks on the neck before choking in the corner. Minerva gets in a kick to the face but walks into a powerbomb. Mother’s Milk finishes Minerva at 2:06.

The Kingdom is tired of not being respected enough and is ready to beat 2.0.

Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson vs. Eric Eznite/Isaiah Harris/Jay Marston

Jameson starts with Eznite, who wants to pray to start the match. Jameson agrees and then decks him from behind. It’s off to Bronson, who sends him flying into the corner so Harris can come in. Harris slips off Boulder’s shoulders and hands it off to Marston, allowing Boulder to send multiple people flying. Marston is sent into Boulder’s chest and Bronson’s top rope splash finishes at 4:30.

Rating: D+. I cannot stand this team. I can’t stand their work, I can’t stand their talking, I can’t stand how they do THE EXACT SAME THING EVERY TIME THEY’RE OUT THERE and I can’t stand the fact that they have to be on this show or AEW so often. If “they’re muscular and strong but one guy has a hairy chest” is good comedy, then I would recommend taking up drama. Or just letting the three of them go because sitting through this nonsense over and over is infuriating.

Lance Archer vs. Deonn Rusman

Archer starts fast and knocks him to the floor, setting up a Black Hole Slam….for two. Rusman charges into a boot in the corner but manages a spear. Back up and Archer grabs a chokeslam, followed by the Blackout for the pin at 3:13.

Rating: C. It’s quite the choice to have your monster get speared down by someone the size of Rusman, though at least Archer came back and did his usual dominance for the win. Archer isn’t going to be a big star, but he’s a good choice for a midcard boss on the way to someone getting their chance at the bigger name. Keeping him strong is a fine way to go and that’s what they did here.

Atlantis Jr. wants a TV Title shot in Arena Mexico.

Diamante vs. Leyla Hirsch

Hirsch runs her over with a shoulder to start and then does it again, followed by a suplex. A running basement dropkick connects before Hirsch gets to hammer away in the corner. Diamanate’s gutbuster gets her out of trouble and she grabs an abdominal stretch. That’s broken up and Hirsch hits a knee to the ribs into a German suplex. The ribs give out though and Diamante hits a spear for two of her own. Hirsch is back up with a small package for the pin at 6:24.

Rating: C+. This was a good enough way to go and the extra time made it a bit better, though forgive me for not believing that this is going to be the win that gets Hirsch off the hamster wheel and into title contention. That’s one of the biggest problems with the women’s division, as Athena has made everyone else look like a middle of the road star. The TV Title might help, though I’ll believe Hirsch getting a big shot when I see it.

Post match Diamante drops her again.

Tag Team Titles: Kingdom vs. Angelo Parker/Matt Menard

The Kingdom is defending. Bennett headlocks Parker down to start and it’s quickly off to Menard, with his taped up ribs. Menard takes over on Taven’s arm and pulls him down, with Parker dropping a top rope elbow to the back. Parker gets sent outside so Menard goes after the champs outside. Back in and Taven kicks Menard in the face and grabs a suplex for two on Parker.

Just The Tip gets the same and Parker fights up, including a dropkick to put Bennett down. A neckbreaker cuts off the tag attempt but the Hail Mary is broken up. The hot tag brings in Menard to clean house, including a Boston crab to Bennett. Taven’s slaps can’t break it up so Bennett goes to the ropes instead. Double Snake Eyes into a double DDT get two on Bennett so Menard grabs the belt. The referee tries to take it away, allowing Bennett to roll him up and retain at 10:05.

Rating: C+. Well so much for that. They built up Parker trying to win the titles for the sake of his family as a feel good story and then he just loses his shot instead. I’m not saying the titles needed to change, but the Kingdom are little more than Roderick Strong’s lackeys anyway so the loss would hardly be some game changer. Not a bad match, but that finish was incredibly flat.

TV Title: Lee Johnson vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher is defending and it’s 2/3 falls, with Johnson diving over the top onto the floor to take him down. A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Johnson two and Fletcher bails outside, with a big dive taking him out again. Back in and Fletcher manages a Stunner over the top rope to send Johnson to the floor for a breather. Johnson is sent into the barricade and the slow beating continues back inside.

A neckbreaker gives Johnson a quick two but Fletcher is right back with a hammerlock suplex. Johnson is back with a Death Valley Driver into a standing moonsault for two of his own. Fletcher knocks him hard to the floor but Johnson escapes a powerbomb and his a moonsault from the apron. They fight to the apron, with Fletcher hitting a brainbuster into a powerbomb back inside for two more. Back in and they fight over the Big Shot Drop until Fletcher hits another brainbuster for two another two, followed by a brainbuster for the first fall at 11:47.

Johnson says bring it so Fletcher kicks him in the chest. We pause for the doctor to check on Johnson but he’s good to go. The super brainbuster is broken up and Johnson grabs a rollup to even things up at 15:29 total. Back up and they slug it out, with Johnson getting two off a sunset flip. Johnson sends him to the floor for a sunset bomb (ok that was cool) for a nineteen count, with Fletcher diving back inside. Three straight frog splashes give Johnson two but the referee wants to check on Fletcher. The distraction lets Fletcher get in a low blow and another brainbuster to retain at 20:38 total.

Rating: B-. Best match on the show pretty handily, with Johnson continuing to look good against almost anyone. I’m assuming they’re saving the Fletcher loss for a bigger stage, but that impact might not be the same after watching him lose over and over again on AEW TV. This was a good, long match that probably could have been on Death Before Dishonor, but I get why you don’t want to run the same title match on back to back pay per views.

Overall Rating: C-. Now before people say “but the match ratings were good and that doesn’t add up”, (because someone will of course do that), this, again, wasn’t about the wrestling. This was a show that ran about 1:50:00 and A LOT of that could have been cut off for the sake of not dragging things out.

There were so many matches here that felt like they were being put on there to get an appearance out of wrestlers. That’s not a bad idea on paper, but Ring Of Honor has trotted out these same people for months on end with statements of “oh this person is building momentum and it wouldn’t surprise me if they were a champion soon”. This is probably true, save for the fact that titles change hands around here either on one of three nights a year or on AEW TV.

The same people come out there, win matches, and then someone with no experience around here will get the title shots on pay per view because that’s how Ring Of Honor works. I can live with that in smaller doses, but sitting through almost two hours of this for one rather good match is nowhere near good enough. I couldn’t stand a good chunk of this show and for the love of all things good and holy, do not let this be what the show is going to be again going forward.

Results
Titan b. Aaron Solo – Top rope double stomps
Anthony Henry/Griff Garrison/Cole Karter b. Infantry/Serpentico – Spinning faceplant to Serpentico
Jacoby Watts b. Brandon Cutler – Stunner
Marina Shafir b. Maggie Minerva – Mother’s Milk
Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson b. Eric Eznite/Isaiah Harris/Jay Marston – Top rope splash to Marston
Lance Archer b. Deonn Rusman – Blackout
Leyla Hirsch b. Diamante – Small package
Kingdom b. Matt Menard/Angelo Parker – Rollup to Menard
Kyle Fletcher b. Lee Johnson 2-1

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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AND

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