Collision
Date: May 22, 2025
Location: Rio Rancho Events Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Adam Cole

It’s the last show before Double Or Nothing and in this case the show is taking place on Thursday rather than the usual Saturday spot. In theory that should mean AEW is going to try something a bit bigger than usual, with likely more people watching the show than their traditional audience. Or they’ll just do a show with low level people to fill in time. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone brings out Adam Cole to join commentary.

Here are FTR/Stokely Hathaway, Daniel Garcia (with Matt Menard) and Nigel McGuinness for a contract signing. Cash Wheeler gives them one more time to get out of this because they still see Garcia as a son. McGuinness has been hiding behind the commentary desk and making jokes but there is no one to save him on Sunday. FTR signs but Garcia says they’re the ones who turned on him.

The reality is that Garcia is standing up for everyone FTR has hurt. They might be one of the greatest teams of all time but Sunday is going to be a fight. Garcia has seen the fire in McGuinness’ eyes and he knows McGuinness still has it. Garcia signs and McGuinness says we’ll see if he still has it at Double Or Nothing. Before he signs though, he wants a guarantee that FTR ignores himself and Schiavone for good. McGuinness goes to sign but Dax Harwood stops him.

Harwood says he needs to know that this isn’t all about McGuinness. If he wants FTR to finish him off, sign the contract. Otherwise, McGuinness can go sit down and we’ll forget about all of this and maybe be friends. This is just business, because otherwise, Harwood would have already dropped McGuinness. The brawl is on and FTR get put in stereo holds before they run off. McGuinness was bringing it as well as he could here, but it’s really hard to believe that a thrown together team is going to have a chance against FTR.

Toni Storm is ready to see Mina Shirakawa ended and it’s time for them to fight. They’ll make every cactus cream itself and then, decades from now, when they’re giving Brutus Beefcake a lap dance at the wrestlers’ retirement home, she’ll look at Shirakawa and say they lived. That’s quite the image.

Don Callis Family vs. Outrunners/Bandido

That would be Los Outrunners, just in case there is any confusion. Bandido takes over on Beretta to start and gives him the very delayed suplex. The Outrunners hit suplexes of their own and we take an early break. Back with Bandido cleaning house, setting up a showdown with Takeshita.

The corkscrew crossbody takes Takeshita down but he’s right back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Back up and it’s off to Floyd for some slams as house is cleaned. The Mega Powers Elbow hits Romero but Total Recall is broken up. Lance Archer gets in a cheap shot from the floor and a double spike piledriver finishes for Takeshita at 9:36.

Rating: B-. The Family being around is a good enough feature on the show, as they’re established names and can eat up a portion of the night. I’m not sure how much help RPG Vice brings to the group but I guess you need someone to take the fall later on. At the same time, it’s almost sad to see what has happened to the Outrunners, who never felt like they were used in a meaningful way.

Video on Gabe Kidd, who is working with the Death Riders and the Young Bucks because they’re going to eat AEW alive.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Reyna Isis

Mone is defending and Excalibur describes Isis as “tearing it up lately on Ring Of Honor”. This translates to “she has won two matches, most recently last October”. They trade rollups for two each to start and it’s off to an early standoff. Hold on though as Isis stops to dance, allowing Mone to grab a headscissors.

The Statement Maker is blocked so Isis kicks her in the back and follows with some running knees. Isis runs her over again for two and hits some kneelifts, only to get caught with a running headscissors. Mone hits a Meteora in the corner but dives into a Codebreaker for two. A quick Backstabber gives Mone two and she pulls on the Statement Maker for the tap at 5:20.

Rating: C+. Normally I would get annoyed at someone like Isis, who has pretty much no meaningful history around here, getting a title shot but they billed it as an open challenge. That’s its own set of issues, but at least they didn’t say she had earned the #1 contendership. Mone seems all but destined to win on Sunday so we’ll call this a nice warmup for her.

Post match Jamie Hayter comes out for a staredown but security is right there in advance.

Video on the Sons Of Texas, with Dustin Rhodes wanting to become a triple champion.

Kyle Fletcher vs. Jay Lethal

Lance Archer is here with Fletcher and Don Callis is on commentary. Feeling out process to start before Lethal takes him into the corner and hammers away. That’s broken up (as Callis doesn’t approve) and Fletcher knocks him down (Callis does improve) but Lethal goes for the legs. Fletcher is knocked outside for a suicide dive, only to come back with a powerbomb onto the apron.

We take a break and come back with Lethal striking away until a backslide gets two. Lethal goes for the legs again with some hard kicks but the Lethal Injection is blocked. The Figure Four goes on and Fletcher is in some trouble. They move around until Fletcher gets to the rope so Lethal goes up. After knocking Fletcher down, Lethal’s top rope elbow only hits raised knees. The brainbuster gives Fletcher the pin at 11:13.

Rating: B-. The match was good, as you would expect given who was in there, but it’s also a fine example of a match that didn’t need to go this long. Lethal has not been treated as anything important in a long time and he got over eleven minutes with an up and coming star. This could have been done in far less time and accomplished the same, if not even more. That’s been a flaw around here for a good while and hopefully AEW fixes it, at least a bit.

Post match the Don Callis Family comes in for the beatdown so Adam Cole gets up. The Paragon comes in and the villains bail.

Paragon vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

O’Reilly and Drake trade arm control to start and Drake rolls him up for two. A backbreaker into a running kick to the chest gets two on Drake but Gibson saves him from a suplex. O’Reilly comes back in to strike away on Gibson but the Veterans fight up and kick Paragon out to the floor. Drake drops O’Reilly on the floor and yells at Cole as we take a break.

Back with O’Reilly kicking Drake away, allowing the tag off to Strong. A Codebreaker out of the corner cuts Strong down though and Drake hits a Coast To Coast dropkick to the ribs. O’Reilly makes the save and it’s a four way slugout. High/Low cuts Drake off for the pin at 9:04.

Rating: C+. The Veterans do indeed still work here, even if you might have forgotten that given their absence from the ring. I’m not sure why you would have Gibson , one of the most annoying talkers in all of wrestling today, here and not let him talk though. If AEW wants the Veterans to matter, the key is to let Gibson drive everyone nuts and that hasn’t been the case in a long time.

Adam Cole challenges the Don Callis Family for Double Or Nothing.

Josh Alexander vs. AR Fox

Don Callis is on commentary again and accepts Paragon’s challenge. Alexander takes Fox down to start and then pulls him out of the air. Back up and Fox kicks him out of the corner, setting up a springboard Stunner. Fox ducks a clothesline and nips up for a cutter, with even Callis having to compliment him. Alexander avoids a 450 and counters a rolling cutter into a German suplex. The C4 Spike finishes for Alexander at 4:12.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here but that was kind of the point. This was designed to make Alexander look like more of a monster, which has been lacking since he got to AEW. Having Alexander pull Fox in and then give him a beating for the win is a good way to go, even if Alexander feels like just another lackey for Callis.

Video on Will Ospreay vs. Hangman Page.

Mascara Dorada/Mistico/Templario vs. Los Depredadores

Templario and Rugido slug it out to start until Templario shoulders him down. Magnus comes in and gets armdragged down and it’s off to Dorada, who flips away from Rugido in the corner. A double springboard armdrag sends Rugido outside and Volador Jr. comes in. That means more flips from Dorada, setting up a hurricanrana out to the floor.

Mistico comes in and gets dropkicked in the back, meaning everything breaks down. We take a break and come back with Mistico and company hitting stereo dives. Back in and Mistico cleans house with headscissors, followed by a dive to the floor. Magnus is sent back inside, where Dorada poisonranas him into a shooting star press for the pin at 10:10.

Rating: B. Take six talented luchadors, including two of the biggest names in the style at the moment, and let them fly around for a bit. This was different from what you usually get on the show and that makes things feel so much better. The fans were into it too and that makes all the difference. Fun match here, with Mistico getting to show off his superstar power.

Video on Megan Bayne/Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay/Harley Cameron, with the tag match being set for the Buy In.

Double Or Nothing rundown.

Kris Statlander isn’t sure what she did to Willow Nightingale….other than choking her with a chain and spearing her off a stage. Statlander: “You may have a point.” Either way, she isn’t pleased with Nightingale and sounds a bit threatening.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Mike Bailey/Komander

Dralistico runs in from behind and starts hammering away to start fast. Rush wrecks both of them on the floor, including an energy drink to the head. We settle down to Dralistico chopping Bailey, who quickly kicks his way out of trouble. Komander comes in with a double springboard missile dropkick but the villains block some dives as we take a break.

Back with Komander kicking his way out of trouble, allowing the tag off to Bailey for the rapid fire kicks. The running shooting star press gets two on Dralistico before Rush and Bailey get to strike it out. Rush knocks him into the corner and hits the cocky kick to the face but Bailey is back up with a superkick.

Bailey and Komander hit dives to the floor, followed by stereo shooting star presses for two each. Back in and Rush hits a snap German suplex into a knee to Bailey and Dralistico’s super Pedigree gets two. Komander is back up with a Canadian Destroyer though and Bailey’s tornado kick sets up Cielito Lindo for the pin on Dralistico at 12:15.

Rating: C+. If you want Komander and Bailey’s flips and dives to stand out, you might not want to put them on after the CMLL match. Other than that, this really didn’t feel like a main event match but rather just the match that happened to go on last. Bailey is a fine enough challenger for Okada, even if Okada feels all but locked in to face Omega at All In.

Post match Kazuchika Okada comes out and flips Bailey off, earning himself a kick to the face. The big running flip dive takes Okada down and Bailey holds up the title to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. If they were trying to make me more interested in Double Or Nothing, I wouldn’t call this the biggest success. There was very little on here that you needed to see, even if there was some good action, including the CMLL match. I’m really not sure why AEW doesn’t do more with these Thursday Collisions, as they feel more like shows where they don’t want to get the extra attention, despite it being such a better time slot. Either way, Double Or Nothing has potential and that’s a good thing to see.

Results
Don Callis Family b. Outrunners/Bandido – Double spike piledriver to Floyd
Mercedes Mone b. Reyna Isis – Statement Maker
Kyle Fletcher b. Jay Lethal – Brainbuster
Paragon b. Grizzled Young Veterans – High/Low to Drake
Josh Alexander b. AR Fox – C4 Spike
Mascara Dorada/Mistico/Templario b. Los Depredadores – Shooting star press to Magnus
Mike Bailey/Komander b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Cielito Lindo to Dralistico

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: April 18, 2025
Location: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s time for the second Ring Of Honor show of the week as we are coming off a bonus episode yesterday afternoon. In theory, that should mean that we are in for some better than usual stuff here, with the weaker, less important stuff burned off yesterday. We are only a few weeks away from Supercard Of Honor as well so let’s get to it.

Here are yesterday’s results if you need a recap.

Bandido/Komander vs. Infantry

No entrances here, likely to hide that Komander had the TV Title when this was taped. It’s a brawl to start with Bandido slugging away at Bravo but getting taken out for a whip into the barricade. Back in and they be clubberin at Bandido in the corner before a leglock keeps him down.

A Demolition Decapitator gets two on Bandido but he gets over for the tag without much trouble. Everything breaks down and Dean is sent outside, drawing Shane Taylor up to the apron. That’s fine with Bandido, who sunset bombs Taylor onto the rest of the Promotions. Komander moonsaults onto them, leaving Bandido to hit the 21 Plex for the pin at 5:56.

Rating: C+. Bandido is the featured star of the promotion these days so of course he’s opening the show against a midcard tag team. At least he got the win, but this feels like a match that was put together before they knew Bandido was going to be the champion. If that’s the case, it makes me wonder why it still happened, but at least the right person won.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs vs. MxM Collection/Johnny TV

Rhodes and the Von Erichs are defending for the first time since July but get jumped from behind during their entrance. We get inside where TV beats on the banged up Ross and the bell officially rings. Marshall fights up and slugs away at Mansoor, setting up a Cannonball for two. Ross comes in for a rather aggressive headlock but Madden tags himself in for a Harlem Heat Heat Seeker.

Taya Valkyrie gets in some stomps on the floor and a Sidewinder gives Mansoor two. Rhodes, still banged up from the attack before the bell, is knocked down again but Marshall low bridges Madden to the floor. A clothesline gives Ross a breather but Madden pulls Marshall to the floor. The tag brings in Rhodes instead and everything breaks down, with a bulldog getting two on TV. Everything breaks down and the Collection gets a double Shattered Dreams. The Claw puts Mansoor in trouble and the Final Reckoning to TV retains the titles at 11:12.

Rating: C+. That’s what we’ve waited about eight months to see and it’s the same problem as always: Rhodes and the Von Erichs aren’t that interesting. This match was built around Rhodes getting the hot tag so he could clean house. Rhodes isn’t exactly a big enough star to make this interesting and having him hold two titles for so many months isn’t making it that much better. I’ll take this over the titles not being defended, but not by much.

Lee Johnson vs. Sammy Guevara

Blake Christian is here with Johnson. Guevara grabs a headlock to start but can’t get anywhere and they both nip up for a standoff. Back up and Guevara hits a dropkick but Christian pulls him face first onto the apron. Johnson fires off some shoulders to the ribs but Guevara fights up to knock him down. A cutter gives Guevara two and he pulls Johnson into a rollup for the pin at 5:50.

Rating: C. Guevara feels like he’s the partner you had to pick in Wrestlemania 2000’s Road To Wrestlemania mode but he actually has to have matches. That doesn’t make for the most thrilling stuff, as every bit of Guevara’s star power has gone sailing away. That’s a shame as he’s that talented, but being Dustin Rhodes’ (the main character in the game) sidekick isn’t the way to go.

Post match Christian jumps Guevara but Dustin Rhodes makes the save. Johnny TV and the MxM Collection run in for the save, as do the Von Erichs. The villains beat them down and Guevara covers Rhodes from the beating.

Video on CMLL working with Ring Of Honor, setting up Grand Slam Mexico in June.

Jon Cruz/Rosario Grillo vs. Dark Order

It’s a brawl to start with the Order cleaning house, setting up Reynolds’ running elbow in the corner to Cruz. That’s broken up and it’s off to Uno, who hits the Gory Bomb/Codebreaker combination for the pin at 3:30.

Rating: C. This really is the best they have for their Wrestlemania Week show. The Dark Order haven’t felt important in the better part of ever and putting them out there against Cruz and his partner of the week isn’t going to make that any better. The match barely had time to do anything and that might be the best way to go.

Post match the Frat House comes out, complete with recruits, who the Frat House beat up. And now, a match.

Frat House vs. Charles Mason/Love Doug/TJ Crawford

The Dark Order is watching from the aisle. The recruits are beaten down but Doug chops away for some reason, earning himself a discus lariat for the pin at 59 seconds.

Post match the beatdown continues until the Dark Order make the save. This passes for a personal feud around here.

Serena Deeb and Queen Aminata are in the first round of the Women’s Pure Title tournament. Trash talk is exchanged. There is pretty much no reason for that title to exist but here it is anyway.

Atlantis Jr./Esfinge/Fuego vs. Barbaro Cavernario/Euforia/Zandokan Jr.

We start fast with an exchange of kicks to the face and a triple sunset flip for two each. Cavernario hits a running Vader Bomb for two on Fuego. Esfinge comes in and gets beaten out to the floor rather quickly. Fuego is back in for a double dropkick and it’s Esfinge coming in to clean house.

An Alabama Slam out of the corner into a sitout powerbomb gives Zandokan two. Atlantis is there with a kick in the corner but he gets caught with a triple powerbomb. Euforia goes for Atlantis’ mask to no avail and a double dropkick puts Atlantis down again. Fuego and Esfinge hit some dives before Atlantis’ frog splash pins Euforia at 7:48.

Rating: B-. You know the same things I say about all of these CMLL six man tags? Update it to include this match. It’s an entertaining match but there is pretty much nothing that makes it stand out in any way. You have a few new names included but I lost interest in these being anything more than fun filler a long time ago. Mainly because these things have been going on that long.

Overall Rating: C. Remember that this isn’t just the best they have, but also the show after they got rid of a bunch of the filler yesterday. At the end of the day, this show feels so much like filler and there is no way around that. Instead of doing something interesting, it’s the same people doing the same stuff with Dustin Rhodes being treated as the biggest star around. There is something that could be done with this show, but this absolutely wasn’t it.

Results
Bandido/Komander b. Infantry – 21 Plex to Bravo
Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs b. MxM Collection/Johnny TV – Final Reckoning to TV
Sammy Guevara b. Lee Johnson – Rollup
Dark Order b. Jon Cruz/Rosario Grillo – Gory Bomb/Codebreaker combination to Cruz
Frat House b. Charles Mason/Love Doug/TJ Crawford – Discus lariat to Doug
Atlantis Jr./Esfinge/Fuego b. Barbaro Cavernario/Euforia/Zandokan Jr. – Frog splash to Euforia

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: April 17, 2025
Location: MGM Music Hall At Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s a special Thursday edition of the show and hopefully that means AEW uses the chance that they have to crank things up a bit. We still have a long time to go before Double Or Nothing but we are coming off one heck of a Dynamite so this show is going to have its work cut out. Hopefully they can live up to the hype so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, still with the Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting theme.

We get a big recap of Dynamite.

Marina Shafir beats up…I guess a production worker and here are the rest of the Death Riders to wreck a bunch of stuff. Jon Moxley says everyone who was celebrating last night, enjoy it while you can. He officially doesn’t like the Young Bucks and threatens their future if they cross his path again. That brings him to Samoa Joe, who Moxley has always respected but Joe has started something that Moxley has to finish. That is why Moxley is challenging Joe for a World Title match and the team leaves.

We run down the card.

Kevin Knight vs. Lance Archer

Don Callis is here with Archer, who unloads on Knight in the corner to start. Knight slips out of a chokeslam and dropkicks him onto the ramp. A dive takes him down again and Knight unloads in the corner, only to get dropped with a single shot. Archer misses a shot to the face and gets knocked down by a heck of a running shoulder. They go outside with Knight being swung into the steps.

We take a break and come back with Knight still in trouble and being dropped with a single right hand. An overhead German suplex sends Knight flying again but the Blackout and a chokeslam are both escaped. Knight avoids a charge in the corner but gets kicked down to cut him off again. A super hurricanrana brings Archer out of the corner and a splash gets two. Archer buckle bombs him into a chokeslam for two but Knight breaks up Old School. Knight hits a diving clothesline to the floor and another one connects for the surprise pin at 11:42.

Rating: B. I dug this, with Knight fighting from beneath the entire way and finally knocking the giant down for the win. Knight is clearly someone AEW sees something in and if they are going to push him as a big deal, he needs to win matches like this one. Good win here, with Archer being someone who can be rebuilt rather quickly.

The Opps are still serious but they’re happy with their Trios Titles win.

Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter respect each other but they’re ready to face off in the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament.

FTR has sent in an apology to Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness, though Schiavone needed to be scared a bit. They didn’t want to hurt Nigel either, as his body and mind are fragile.

We look at Josh Alexander joining the Don Callis Family.

Josh Alexander/Konosuke Takeshita vs. Rocky Romero/Tomohiro Ishii

Takeshita and Ishii slug it out to start until Ishii shrugs off a running shoulder. Takeshita clothesline him down and it’s a double tag to Alexander and Romero. Alexander easily takes over and we go to a break. Back with Romero hitting a super Sliced Bread on Takeshita and handing it back to Ishii to slug away. Everything breaks down and Ishii drops Takeshita with a clothesline.

Alexander’s torture rack bomb plants Ishii for two but Romero is there with a springboard spinning crossbody. A German suplex gives Alexander two on Ishii but he’s back up to save Romero from a powerbomb. Ishii shrugs off a German suplex and a double shot to the face leave Ishii and Alexander down. Romero is knocked down as well, leaving Alexander and Takeshita to hit stereo discus forearms to Ishii. A powerbomb gives Alexander the pin at 10:22.

Rating: B-. Another good, hard hitting match here, even with Romero there as his usual annoying self. This was a way for Alexander to look good and while he probably would have gotten more out of doing this on his own, I’ll take him getting a win where I can. Takeshita gets a win after his loss to Will Ospreay in their classic on Dynamite, so this was a good way to go.

Post match Ishii and Romero have issues and the fight is on. Cue a man in a hoodie to help take Ishii out….and it’s Trent Beretta. They pull out a monkey wrench to lay Ishii out again.

Mercedes Mone is excited to be in Boston but Harley Cameron pops up with the puppet. Mone gets annoyed that she started talking to the puppet and storms off.

Megan Bayne vs. Rebecca Scott/Ashley Vox

Penelope Ford is here with Bayne. A double dropkick doesn’t hurt Bayne, who suplexes both of them at once. Three straight powerbombs have not Bayne in trouble and Fate’s Descent drops Vox onto Scott for the double pin at 1:15. The fans were WAY into Bayne here and it’s no surprise given how awesome she looked.

Video on Anthony Bowens.

TNT Title: Adam Cole vs. ???

Cole is defending in an open challenge against….Claudio Castagnoli. Well that’s a big one. Castagnoli throws stuff on the way to the ring and seems to have banged up Nigel’s knee. Cole gets powered into the corner to start and knocked down but grabs a quickly broken sleeper. Cole’s running knee gets two and Castagnoli is frustrated on the floor.

That’s fine with Cole, who avoids a running uppercut against the barricade, only to get sent flying over said barricade. Since countouts aren’t a thing around here, Cole gets back inside, where Castagnoli grabs a chinlock. Someone is bleeding from somewhere as Cole is sent outside again and we take a break.

Back with Castagnoli charging into a superkick in the corner and we get a double breather. Castagnoli blasts him with a clothesline but gets caught with a Death Valley Driver onto the knee. Back up and the swing has Cole down into a crossface, followed by Swiss Death for two. Castagnoli unloads with uppercuts in the corner and a top rope superplex gets one…and Cole reverses into a crucifix to retain at 15:14.

Rating: B. This was almost a squash until the ending, which came so out of nowhere that it took me by surprise. It’s nice to see the Death Riders losing clean again, even if it came after Castagnoli beat the fire out of Cole. That’s not the worst way to go and I liked how well it went, even if it was Castagnoli getting caught rather than being defeated.

Post match Castagnoli wrecks a bunch of things and Jon Moxley and the Death Riders have to get him away from ringside.

We recap Chris Jericho walking out on the Learning Tree last week.

The Learning Tree is disappointed in Jericho but Bryan Keith tells Big Bill to keep it private. They want to handle it like family, but Bill doesn’t seem happy.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. KM/Rosario Grillo/LSG

La Faccion jumps them at the bell and the beatdown is on in a hurry. LSG gets taken apart and KM is knocked into the corner. Dralistico hits a big flip dive to the floor and the Bull’s Horns finishes Rush at 1:52. Complete destruction.

Kevin Knight is happy with his win but not so much with the Don Callis Family. Mike Bailey congratulates him but Ricochet interrupts. Ricochet tells him to not mess with the chain of command, though Knight says he respects Ricochet for what he has done. Knight mocks Ricochet’s lack of hair and a fight is teased, with Bailey saying they’ll do this later.

Ring Of Honor TV Title: Nick Wayne vs. Komander

Wayne is challenging and gets hammered into the corner to start. Komander cuts him off with a kick to the head but it’s too early for Cielito Lindo. Instead Komander hits a springboard high crossbody, only for Wayne to snap the back of his neck across the top rope. Another springboard is broken up and Komander is sent crashing out to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Komander putting him on the top and running the corner for a kick to the head. A running Swanton hits Wayne on the ramp but he rolls Komander up for two. Komander’s poisonrana gets two more so Wayne kicks him in the head. Wayne’s World is broken up and Komander knocks him to the floor for a big dive. Back in and Cielito Lindo hits raised boots and a fisherman’s buster gives Wayne the pin and the title at 11:03.

Rating: B. This got going near the end and I’ll take Wayne getting the title rather than having Komander just being around as champion and not doing much. I could go for Christian Cage coming after the title and not being able to get it, but at least Wayne is doing something. Now if only he could be doing that on Ring Of Honor instead of around here.

Video on Hologram.

Top Flight is ready to fight Cru next week. Cru comes in for some shouting.

Kris Statlander/Julia Hart vs. Mercedes Mone/Harley Cameron

Toni Storm is on commentary. Cameron tries to throw the puppet in to start and it is promptly stomped down. A headscissors sends Statlander down for a bit better success but she muscles Cameron over for a suplex. Hart comes in with Old School and a basement lariat for two but Cameron is back up with an enziguri. Mone comes in but gets sent outside as we take an early break.

Back with Mone grabbing a wristdrag out of the corner, setting up Three Amigos to Statlander. That’s fine with Statlander, who rolls double suplexes to show off. Mone and Cameron wind up on top of each other so Hart moonsaults onto both of them. Everything breaks down and Hart is up first (Storm: “That is one spooky b****.”) for the moonsault to Mone’s raised boots. Statlander muscles Mone up but Cameron tags herself in, allowing Statlander to hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Statlander hits Hayterade to pin Cameron at 11:03.

Rating: C+. The ending was a fine enough way to set up Hayter vs. Statlander and that’s all this match really needed. Cameron taking the fall is a good enough way to go as losing to Statlander isn’t going to hurt her. At the same time, Mone and Cameron could wind up being a fun wacky pair if they go that way, though it could go in a few different directions.

Overall Rating: B. Another pretty awesome show here with some solid action throughout and the Death Riders taking another step towards falling apart. That’s what we have been needing around here for a long time now and while they have a long way to go, this is definitely a step in the right direction. Other than that, the stories were advanced well enough and they still have time to get ready for Double Or Nothing. This show felt like another edition of Dynamite and that’s what it should have been given the situation they were in here.

Results
Kevin Knight b. Lance Archer – Springboard clothesline
Josh Alexander/Konosuke Takeshita b. Rocky Romero/Tomohiro Ishii – Powerbomb to Alexander
Megan Bayne b. Rebecca Scott/Ashley Vox – Double pin
Adam Cole b. Claudio Castagnoli – Crucifix
La Faccion Ingobernable b. KM/Rosario Grillo/LSG – Bull’s Horns to Rush
Nick Wayne b. Komander – Fisherman’s buster
Kris Statlander/Julia Hart b. Harley Cameron/Mercedes Mone – Hayterade to Cameron

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/B00E6282W6redit

Ring Of Honor
Date: March 20, 2025
Location: Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

Normally we would be on the way towards Supercard Of Honor but that doesn’t seem to be the case this year. At the moment, the big story seems to be Chris Jericho defying Gravity and annoying Bandido in the process, which doesn’t seem likely to play an important role on this show. The TV Title is on the line though so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Hechicero/Volador Jr./Rugido vs. Mistico/Fuego/Neon

Hechicero takes Neon down by the leg to start and they go into the grappling. Neon’s leg gets tied up but he reverses into a Brock Lock of all things. Back up and Hechicero pulls him into a surfboard, with Neon standing up to escape. Neon spins him out with an armdrag and it’s off to Mistico vs. Volador. Rugido comes in for a cheap shot on Mistico as Ian gives us a history between Volador and Mistico, which is kept short and to the point, making it that much more valuable.

Neon comes back in and gets thrown into the air for a kick to the chest but it’s quickly back to Mistico. A wishbone has Mistico in trouble again but he elbows and hurricanranas his way out of trouble. Everything breaks down and Mistico and company hit stereo dives. Fuego comes in to dance at Rugido before taking him down with an armdrag. It’s off to Hechicero, who gets some more Fuego dancing before Neon springboard hurricanranas Rugido to the floor. Mistico comes in again and gets to clean more house before Fuego and Neon hit stereo dives. Back in and La Mistica finishes Rugido at 12:32.

Rating: B. As usual, it was the fun match that you have come to expect but at the same time, it’s the same match that doesn’t build anywhere and is little more than a showcase. If only there were, I don’t know, some titles that these six man teams could challenge for in the future. But nah, that would mean defending those belts and we haven’t done that in nearly eight months so why bother?

Viva Van vs. La Catalina

They fight over wrist control to start and trade legsweeps for some near falls. A fisherman’s suplex gives Catalina two but Van is back up with a spinwheel kick for two of her own. The Rocking Horse keeps Catalina in trouble but she’s back up with a Shining Wizard for two more. Van is back up with a victory roll for another near fall and a springboard crossbody drops Catalina again. Catalina’s running dropkick in the corner sets up a Pedigree for two so she pulls Van into an arm trap choke for the win at 6:18.

Rating: C+. More fun stuff here, with Catalina getting to stand out with some of her rather impressive offense. She’s already gotten her title shot against Athena so maybe she could move on to the Women’s TV Title or something else. On the other side, Van has come a long way in the last few months and it’s nice to see her develop so well.

We look at the Beast Mortos’ success in ROH. Ignore his lack of success in AEW.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Eli Theseus/Gabriel Aeros

Aeros and Dralistico chop it out to start and Dralistico stomps away to take over. More stomping in the corner has Aeros in more trouble before it’s off to Mortos to slug away at Theseus. Dralistico is back in with his springboard Codebreaker for the pin at 2:22.

Video on Komander before tonight’s title defense.

Kevin Knight vs. AR Fox

They fight over wrist control to start and go to an early standoff. Stereo nipups lead to both of them blocking armdrags for the standoff sequel. Fox sends him outside and hits an early dive, followed by a ram into the steps. A flip dive off the barricade knocks Knight down again but he’s back up with a dropkick through the ropes.

Back in and Knight’s twisting splash gets two and we hit the double armbar. Fox fights up and hits a running hanging DDT. A package piledriver is broken up though and Knight plants him down. An F5 gives Knight two but Fox is back with an Iconoclasm into a cutter. Fox’s Swanton gets two more and they go into a pinfall reversal sequence. Fox pulls him into a crossface until Knight turns over into the ropes as time expires at 10:00.

Rating: B-. It was fun while it lasted, though I’m not sure I can remember Knight doing anything of note in ROH coming into the match. As usual, Fox is good at getting in a bunch of his stuff and looking impressive in the process, but it isn’t going to mean as much if he never wins anything important. That being said, fun match and I could go for more of Knight around here.

Satnam Singh vs. Sid Ellington

Ellington looks like an evil clown, which gives you one of the weirder names compared to his look. Singh throws him around, chops him down, throws him onto the turnbuckle, and finishes with a chokeslam at 2:41. As dominant as you would expect.

QT Marshall/Aaron Solo vs. Top Flight

Darius and Solo fight over a waistlock to start with Darius hitting a dropkick, seemingly impressing himself. Marshall comes in for a headlock but gets taken down by an anklescissors. It’s off to Dante, who is knocked outside for a crash to the floor. Back in and Darius gets suckered in for…well nothing actually so Dante hits a high crossbody.

The tag brings in Darius to clean house. A jumping clothesline gets two on Solo and a tornado DDT gets the same as everything breaks down. Darius gets caught with a belly to back suplex/neckbreaker combination for two and Dante is knocked to the floor. Dante is back in with a hurricanrana to take Marshall out. That leaves Darius to get something like the Rings Of Saturn to make Solo tap at 8:27.

Rating: B-. Another entertaining match here, with Top Flight continuing their undefeated streak. That should mean something about the idea of them getting into the title hunt but you should know better than that by now. I have no idea why they haven’t gotten the chance to do something already, but Ring Of Honor isn’t known for the logic in its booking.

Here are the Outrunners to hype up the University Of Omaha’s game against St. John’s in the NCAA Tournament. The Infantry comes out to praise St. John’s and mock Omaha’s mascot, earning themselves a beating with some trashcans from the Outrunners. St. John’s would go on to massacre Omaha.

TV Title: Dark Panther vs. Komander

Komander is defending. Panther takes him down by the leg to start but Komander is back up to avoid a charge in the corner. A takedown sets up a sunset flip for two on Panther and we get an early standoff. The very springboardy armdrag is blocked and Panther hits a basement dropkick for two. The armbar has Komander in trouble until he fights up, only to get dropped with a clothesline.

Panther misses a charge into the post but he’s back up to cut off a dive. Komander gets tied up in the ropes and a rather loud chop drops him again. An inverted Gory stretch is broken up so Panther faceplants him down for a big crash. The surfboard goes on to stay on Komander’s knees but he backdrops a charging Panther over the top. The springboard flip dive drops Panther again but a moonsault hits raised boots. Panther dropkicks him down again for two, only to get backdropped outside again. Komander’s rope walk flip dive hits Panther again and the Cielito Lindo retains the title at 11:38.

Rating: B-. More good, entertaining high flying here, but what mattered the most with this match was the fact that they actually set up the match over a few weeks. This wasn’t just “someone wins a match and gets a title shot”, as they gave it a bit more effort and attention. It didn’t make for a great match but it made for a much better story and that is very welcome around here.

Respect is shown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. As has been the case in recent weeks, the show is entertaining, though the fact that a good chunk of it is focused on guest stars from CMLL doesn’t help things. It makes the show feel like it isn’t so much about Ring Of Honor but rather everyone else that they can find to fill in the gaps. That makes me wonder why Ring Of Honor continues to be a thing, but I’ve wondered that for a very long time now.

Results
Mistico/Fuego/Neon b. Hechicero/Volador Jr./Rugido – La Mistica to Rugido
La Catalina b. Viva Van – Arm trap choke
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Eli Theseus/Gabriel Aeros – Springboard Codebreaker to Theseus
Kevin Knight vs. AR Fox went to a time limit draw
Satnam Singh b. Sid Ellington – Chokeslam
Top Flight b. Aaron Solo/QT Marshall – Rings Of Saturn to Solo
Komander b. Dark Panther – Cielito Lindo

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

Revolution 2025
Date: March 9, 2025
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for another major pay per view and in this case, the card is looking rather stacked. The card is very strong with a bunch of title and grudge matches, which should make for quite the nice show. The main event is likely going to be Cope challenging Jon Moxley for the World Title so let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Komander/Hologram vs. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian

It’s not a good sign for EJ Nduka, Johnson’s usual partner, that he isn’t getting this spot. Johnson and Christian jump them before the bell to start fast but Christian accidentally elbows Johnson in the face. Komander hurricanranas Christian to the floor and stereo dives take the villains out. Back in and stereo running strikes get two on Johnson as we settle down a bit. Commentary talks about royalties of Tony Schiavone appearing on Arliss, Komander gets double clotheslined for two and Christian chokes away on the ropes.

Christian’s springboard is dropkicked down and the diving tag brings in Hologram to pick up the pace. Hologram takes Christian up top but gets shoved down, allowing Johnson to hit a dive. Back in and Christian’s middle rope 450 sets up Johnson’s frog splash for two more. They go to the apron and Hologram can’t quite poisonrana Christian (that looked nasty) so it’s a dive onto Komander to leave all four down onto the floor. Back in and a slingshot cutter sets up a Last Chancery with Hologram making the save. Komander’s top rope Canadian Destroyer sets up Hologram’s 450 to pin Christian at 9:54.

Rating: B. This was a good choice for an opener as there is always room for a fast paced match to let the fans get interested to start things off. They didn’t waste time here and just did a bunch of big spots. It doesn’t mean much as far as any kind of storyline as Hologram doesn’t really have any and the other three are mainly in ROH, but this was a fun way to start the night.

Zero Hour: Daniel Garcia/Undisputed Era vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Strong grabs a hammerlock on Bravo to start and it’s quickly off to O’Reilly to go for an armbar. Cole gets in the right hands in the corner as commentary goes into the comedy routines. Garcia comes in with a swinging neckbreaker on Moriarty before a dancing double leg stomp keeps Moriarty down. Taylor has had it with the waiting around and runs people over on the floor as we see the Opps watching.

We settle down to Garcia trying to suplex Taylor but the rest of the Promotions come in for the beatdown. Moriarty stomps away in the corner and let’s look at the Opps again. Taylor adds an apron legdrop but Garcia is back up with the belly to back suplex. That’s enough to bring Cole in to clean house but Garcia tags himself back in, despite Cole loading up the Panama Sunrise. The Dragontamer makes Moriarty tap at 9:37.

Rating: C. On Collision, Moriarty, the Ring Of Honor Pure Champion, was pinned in a singles match. The following night, Moriarty, still champion, tapped out in a match where he had three partners. I know Ring Of Honor doesn’t mean much, but could we stop going out of the way to make it feel worthless and beneath everything else?

Zero Hour: Ring Of Honor World Title: Chris Jericho vs. Gravity

Jericho is defending…or he would be if he didn’t hit Gravity with the baseball bat before the bell. The Learning Tree comes in to beat Gravity down and Bandido’s save attempt is cut off as well. No match. Also no mask as Jericho unmasks Gravity and gives him the Judas Effect. Bandido and Gravity’s family comes in to cover him. So yes, the feud will continue.

Zero Hour: Johnny TV/MxM Collection vs. Big Boom AJ/Conglomeration

The Rizzler, cosplaying as Orange Cassidy, and Big Justice are here with the non-villains, while Taya Valkyrie is here to cancel them out. TV dances away from Cassidy to start so Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets for the dropkick. Briscoe comes in for a double shoulder before hammering away in the corner. AJ does the same so it’s off to Madden, allowing Mansoor to cheap shot Cassidy.

The Collection strikes a pose and Mansoor steals the cookies from the Rizzler and Big Justice. Valkyrie cuts Cassidy off the top and kisses TV, who stretched Cassidy’s abdominals. Cassidy gets out and brings in Briscoe, who is quickly chokeslammed off the top. Briscoe is right back with a missile dropkick to TV and it’s AJ coming in to clean house.

Madden’s chokeslam is countered into a powerslam for two but TV is back in to kick AJ down. More kissing ensues but here is Harley Cameron to cut Valkyrie off. The Powerboom puts TV down, only for Mansoor to superkick AJ. Mansoor hammers on AJ in the corner….and Big Justice powerbombs him down for the save. Justice gets saved and a triple Powerboom finishes Madden at 12:56.

Rating: C+. As was the case last time, AJ being a former wrestler makes this far easier to watch. We’re not sitting around for five minutes to wait on him to do three moves and then let everyone else do their thing. If it draws in some extra eyes to the product and nothing of note is lost (I love the Collection but they don’t exactly mean much), it’s a perfectly fine way to go.

Post match the Murder Machines run in for the beatdown but Powerhouse Hobbs makes the save. Two actors from the Righteous Gemstones come in and help with a chokeslam so posing can ensue.

And now, the main show.

Hangman Page vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

The hype package was on the Kickoff Show, showing the two of them arguing until things got more and more violent. This led to MJF attempting to light Page on fire, as you do in wrestling. MJF teases coming out to Page’s music for some pre-match mind games. They slug it out at the bell and Page hits a running boot in the corner. MJF gets smart by pulling the referee in the way and using the distraction to get in an eye rake.

The chinlock doesn’t last long and MJF has to get out of a sleeper. MJF mocks the cowboy side of Page before catching him with a powerbomb backbreaker for two. The trash talk makes Page hammer away but MJF takes him down and says this is HIS company. Page gets in a knockdown of his own and nips up (which the camera mostly misses) before kicking him off the apron. The moonsault to the floor drops MJF again (it feels like forever since Page busted that out) but he catches Page with an upside down superkick into an Alabama Slam for two.

A lifting hammerlock DDT gives MJF two and they’re both down for a bit. Back up and the Deadeye gets two, followed by the Buckshot Lariat for the same, with MJF putting a foot on the ropes. MJF bails out to the floor and avoids a charge to send Page shoulder first into the steps. The Salt Of The Earth goes on before MJF switches over to a reverse cross armbreaker.

That’s broken up as well and they go outside for a fight over a Tombstone, with MJF hitting a jumping version onto an open chair. Page is on his feet to beat the count 1:26 later and MJF starts crying, shouting WHY NOT ME. The Heatseeker is countered into a Deadeye and the Angel’s Wings drops MJF on his head (GEEZ). The Buckshot Lariat finishes for Page at 19:04.

Rating: B. This was good and hard hitting, but what matters the most is that Page is starting to move up the ranks again. It would not surprise me to see him getting closer to the World Title scene and beating MJF is a good step in that direction. Ignoring the jumping Tombstone onto the chair, it felt like a fight between two people who wanted to beat each other up and it made for a good opener to the main show.

We recap Mercedes Mone defending the TBS Title against Momo Watanabe. Back at Wrestle Dynasty, Watanabe won a #1 contenders match and then showed up again a few weeks ago to announce she was challenging Mone. One decent match against Serena Deeb later and here we are.

TBS Title: Momo Watanabe vs. Mercedes Mone

Mone is defending. They fight over arm control to start until Watanabe takes her down. The threat of a kick to the back has Mone cringing and her armdrag is countered into a crossface chickenwing. They trade rollups for two each before Mone counters a Meteora into a Bank Statement.

Back up and a Meteora connects to Watanabe in the ropes but Mone can’t hit a piledriver on the apron. Instead it’s a powerbomb onto the floor to drop Watanabe hard. Back in and Mone grabs an armbar but Watanabe reverses into something like a Deadeye for two. Both of their Three Amigos are blocked, but Watanabe ties her in the Tree of Woe for some kicks to the ribs. A running dropkick rocks Mone again and Watanabe mocks Mone’s dance.

The crossface chickenwing is cut off and Mone hits a quick Backstabber for a breather. Watanabe kicks away out of the corner and hits a middle rope Meteora to the apron for two more. The Mone Maker is blocked so Mone settles for a powerbomb for two of their own. They go up top where Watanabe belly to belly superplexes her for another near fall, followed by some hard kicks to the face for the same. Mone is back with a high crossbody for two, setting up the Mone Maker into the Bank Statement for the tap at 18:18.

Rating: B. These two beat the heck out of each other and it was another rather good match from Mone, which isn’t a surprise. Her ability in the ring has never been the issue and that was on display again here. When you take away everything outside of the ring from Money, it’s easy to see why she is presented as a star. Just find something a bit better to set up the title matches and maybe have Mone be a bit less hard to watch outside of the ring.

Billie Starkz is watching from the crowd.

We recap Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet for the #1 contendership. Ricochet has been driving Strickland crazy and has gotten rather violent, including stealing Prince Nana’s robe. Nana wants the old Strickland back and has basically threatened to leave if Strickland doesn’t win.

Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet

Strickland has Prince Nana with him and gets live drummed to the ring for a bit of a special entrance. They both miss early shots to start until Strickland hits a shoulder to send Ricochet outside. Back in and the flip around a bit more until Strickland hits a backbreaker to take over again. Ricochet is able to send him face first into the middle buckle, only to be sent outside for a beating against the barricade.

For some reason Nana tries to call Strickland off and gets knocked down for some reason. That’s enough for Nana to leave as Ricochet hits a Lionsault for two. A running cutter drops Strickland again but has to stop yelling at actress Leslie Jones at ringside. Strickland fights out of a chinlock and gets two off a brainbuster.

They go to the top and Strickland is knocked down, setting up a West Coast Pop for two. A hurricanrana takes Strickland outside and they go to the announcers’ table. Strickland grabs a Vertebreaker onto the table, which doesn’t break, setting up a Swerve Stomp for two. Ricochet is right back up with a low blow into a brainbuster, followed by the 630 for two more.

Cue Prince Nana again to steal the robe back but Ricochet cuts him off and steals it back again. Strickland’s dive is cut off with a Death Valley Driver onto the floor for the scary crash. Back in and Vertigo gets two but Nana grabs the robe again. Nana gets in and gets crushed in the corner, leaving Ricochet to grab a rollup for two. A pair of House Calls gives Ricochet two and Big Pressure finishes him off at 18:10.

Rating: B-. This was where the near falls went a bit too far, with both guys getting up from things that should have knocked them out a lot faster. What matters the most here is that Swerve won, as he has needed to move back up the ladder for a few months now. Beating Ricochet and (in theory) getting the robe back is a good way to go. Not a bad match at all, but some of the instances of these two getting up was a lot to take.

Post match Strickland gives Nana the robe back in a nice moment.

We recap Brody King challenging Kazuchika Okada for the Continental Title. Okada beat King’s partner Buddy Murphy so now King is getting a title shot of his own.

Continental Title: Brody King vs. Kazuchika Okada

Okada is defending and tries a slam to start for some reason. King sends him outside but gets hammered on the way back inside to slow him down again. A forearm puts Okada on the floor again though and King hammers away, only to miss a charge. Back in and Okada slams him down but the top rope elbow is broken up. A top rope superplex drops Okada and a backdrop does it again.

King hits a suicide dive, setting up the big crash against the barricade. Back in and Okada misses a dropkick but scores with a neckbreaker. Now the top rope elbow can connect but the Rainmaker is countered into a Death Valley Driver into the corner. They go back to the floor where Okada hits a dropkick into the barricade. Back in and Okada grabs something made of metal, which is a distraction so a belt shot can hit King for two. Another Rainmaker is blocked but Okada knocks him back and now the Rainmaker can retain the title at 10:57.

Rating: C+. Yeah this didn’t work nearly as well as anything else on the show so far as it was basically a cold match with no reason to believe that King was going to win the title. Okada was trying well enough here but he wasn’t exactly burning up the mat. It wasn’t a match that needed to be on the pay per view and the fans seemed to realize that.

We recap the Hurt Syndicate defending the Tag Team Titles against the Outrunners. The Syndicate are the dominant champions and the Outrunners earned a title shot. This is looking like a one sided title defense on paper, which might be the point.

Tag Team Titles: Hurt Syndicate vs. Outrunners

The Outrunners are challenging. Benjamin suplexes and slams Magnum to start and it’s quickly off to Floyd. The Outrunners actually clear the ring and MVP needs to fire the champions up a bit. Back in and Benjamin takes over on Magnum in the corner, where Lashley fires off some shoulders to the ribs.

Benjamin snaps off a German suplex and a running powerslam gets two. Magnum manages to get in something of a running bulldog and there’s the tag off to Floyd. The Mega Powers Elbow hits Benjamin and it’s time for Floyd to Hulk Up. A rope walk armdrag seems to annoy Benjamin, who kicks Floyd in the head. Lashley is back in with a spear, followed by another to let Benjamin get the retaining pin at 8:01.

Rating: C. Remember the previous match not feeling like it belonged on the pay per view? This was that same case here but cranked up to about a fifteen out of ten. There was no reason to believe that the Outrunners were going to win the titles here and then they just lost clean. That’s how it should have gone, but it should have been on Collision at best.

We recap Toni Storm vs. Mariah May in the Hollywood Ending match. May beat Storm for the title, then Storm faked amnesia and won the title back in Australia last month. Now it’s time for the big blowoff in a violent fashion.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Mariah May

Storm is defending and anything goes with falls counting anywhere. The brawl starts on the stage with May getting the better of things and planting her down for an early two. May whips out a taser so Luther takes it away, earning himself a low blow. Storm is back up with a chokebomb off the stage and through a table for two on the floor. They go to ringside where May is dropped onto the barricade for a hanging DDT, only for Storm to miss a running hip attack.

Storm Zero onto the steps knocks Storm silly but May grabs a chain instead of covering. Storm, who is rather busted open, is tied in the Tree Of Woe for May’s running hip attack. A quick German suplex gives Storm a breather…and it’s time for both of them to tape broken glass to their hands. May gets punched out to the floor and the broken glass is poured out. May’s head is busted open but she’s fine enough to get in a super hurricanrana onto the glass.

Back up and May Day onto the glass gets two, as does Storm’s Storm Zero. With nothing else working, Storm goes outside and grabs the shoe, which gets a nice gasp from the fans. Storm whips her with the title but gets caught with a May Day onto the stage for two. That’s shrugged off and Storm hits her with the shoe a bunch of times, setting up the Storm Zero through a table (with the Hollywood sign) to retain the title at 12:54.

Rating: B+. Sweet goodness this was wild and it felt like the kind of blowoff to a violent feud that they needed. Yes it was a bit silly with the shoe and overdone drama, but that was kind of the point of the whole thing. It’s a big time blowoff and the way to end the war, though I could also see how it went a bit too far with the blood. I’m not sure what is next for Storm, but dang it’s going to be hard to top this one.

Post match May is DONE and Storm holds her, with both of them covered in blood.

We recap Konosuke Takeshita defending the International Title against Kenny Omega. Takeshita beat him twice in a week at one point and then Omega missed a year due to diverticulitis. Now it’s time for Omega to see if he still has it and can beat an old rival.

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kenny Omega

Takeshita, with Don Callis, is defending. They collide to start and trade some forearms, with Takeshita getting the better of things. The fight goes outside with Omega driving Takeshita back first into the apron. Takeshita fights back and they head back inside for a DDT. Callis gets in a few shots on the floor and we hit the chinlock back inside. Takeshita switches up to the recently repaired abdomen with a knee to the ribs, followed by the shoulders to the ribs in the corner.

A table (of course) is loaded up at ringside but Omega is back with some hard chops. You Can’t Escape is broken up as Omega is shoved off the barricade for a ribs first crash to put him down again. We hit the bodyscissors back inside but Omega fights up and hits a spinning middle rope crossbody. Omega strikes away and now You Can’t Escape connects for two. Callis grabs Omega’s leg to cut that off though and a Cactus Clothesline sends them both outside.

Takeshita’s release German suplex drops Omega again and Callis joins commentary because we’re just that lucky. Omega fights up again and turns the table over, only to get dropped ribs first onto the underside of the table. Another drop onto the side of the table sets up a backsplash back inside as the ribs are crushed even more. Takeshita misses a Swanton to give Omega a breather and he grabs a dragon suplex.

The V Trigger into a powerbomb sets up another V Trigger for two on Takeshita and they’re both down. The Blue Thunder Bomb gives Takeshita two but Omega catches him on top and hits a springboard sunset bomb. Another V Trigger connects but the ribs give out on a One Winged Angel attempt.

Back to back piledrivers give Takeshita two and a pair of running knees give Takeshita two and one each. Omega is back up with a Texas piledriver for two of his own and they’re both down again. Another V Trigger is blocked so Omega goes with a poisonrana instead. Now the V Trigger connects so Callis tries to intervene, only for Omega to grab a crucifix for the pin and the title at 28:32.

Rating: B+. This is how it should have gone with Omega getting to show that he is still able to do it at the highest level. They told a good story here with Omega’s ribs being banged up and slowing him down but he caught Takeshita with a rollup at the moment. It was a heck of a match and a good sign that Omega is still able to be one of the top stars around here.

Omega gets a bunch of pyro as he slowly pulls himself up to leave.

We recap Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher. They were friends in Japan but Don Callis got in Fletcher’s ear, setting off a months long feud. Fletcher beat him, then Ospreay beat him, so now it’s time to do it in a cage to see the two of them face off one on one.

Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher

In a cage with pin/submission only and Don Callis is on commentary. They go straight to the slugout to start with Fletcher getting the better of things. Neither of them can send the other into the cage so Fletcher goes with a hard clothesline. The Stundog Millionaire gives Ospreay a breather but Fletcher sends him into the cage. Ospreay is already busted open and Fletcher licks the blood off the cage, as you do.

Back up and Ospreay sends him into the cage a few times before nailing a standing moonsault for two. Fletcher snaps off a half and half suplex for a needed breather and it’s time to take the turnbuckle pad off. Ospreay gets sent into the buckle for a running kick to the head but is right back with a Cheeky Nandos Kick. They both go up and Fletcher is rammed into the cage a few times, setting up a twisting moonsault for two.

Fletcher is back up with a running boot to the face to send Ospreay into the cage again, setting up a sitout powerbomb for two. Fletcher is busted open as well so a rather pleased Ospreay fires off the Kawada kicks. They trade kicks to the head until Fletcher nails a brainbuster for two. Cue Mark Davis to send in a bag of weapons but Ospreay takes it away and beats on Fletcher with a barbed wire baseball bat.

Fletcher throws up the United Empire hand sign for a distraction, allowing him to hit a low blow. A Hidden Blade into the Stormbreaker gets two as Davis comes in to make the save. Osprey fights up again and knocks Davis outside so the cage door can be locked again. An Oscutter off the cage gives Ospreay two so Fletcher climbs up, where he finds the fabled screwdriver. A stab to the head hits Ospreay, but a second misses, allowing Ospreay to try the Styles Clash (37 seconds after he was STABBED IN THE HEAD with a screwdriver).

That’s broken up as well and Fletcher hits a brainbuster, followed by another onto an open chair for two. Now we get the bag of thumbtacks but Ospreay reverses a suplex (1:23 after the brainbuster onto the steel chair) into a hurricanrana. The Styles Clash onto the tacks gives Ospreay two and they fight to the top of the cage. This time Ospreay stabs Fletcher with the screwdriver and it’s a super Spanish Fly off the cage to drive Fletcher into the tacks. Fletcher is up to yell about how much he hates Ospreay so it’s the Hidden Blade into the Tiger Driver 91 to give Ospreay the pin at 28:59.

Rating: B-. Yeah they lost me here more than a few times and it wasn’t the showdown that it needed to be. Some of the things that they were doing was a bit too much and it should have been cut down by a few minutes. Ospreay winning here is a great sign for him though, and hopefully this wraps up everything he is doing with Callis, because it’s going to be hard to top something like this.

Some of the cast of Queen Of The Ring is here and want you to see the movie.

We recap Cope challenging Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title. Moxley is holding the title hostage and being all evil so Cope is trying to get it away. Cope has been smart enough to take out the Death Riders, though he left Wheeler Yuta standing. That never sounds like a good idea.

AEW World Title: Cope vs. Jon Moxley

Cope is challenging and the fans sing his song in a nice moment. They slug it out to start, both from their feet and then from their knees before going back to their feet. Cope knocks him outside for a dive from the top, setting up the clothesline off the apron. Moxley fights back and sends him into the barricade over and over, setting up a neckbreaker onto the apron for two. Some crossface shots keep Cope in trouble and Moxley knocks him down again…as we see the Opps watching.

Cope gets back up with a quick Impaler for a breather and the clothesline comeback is on. The top rope superplex gives Cope two and the Grindhouse goes on (to SILENCE from the crowd). That’s broken up and Cope spears him through the ropes to the floor, only for Moxley to whip him into the steps. The floor mats are peeled back but the piledriver is cut off. Instead Moxley hits a stomp onto the concrete, followed by a piledriver for two back inside.

The bulldog choke has Cope in more trouble but he eventually makes it over to the rope for the break. The referee has to take the chair away and Cope gets kicked into him, meaning there is no one to count after the Paradigm Shift. Moxley tries a Conchairto but Cope kicks one of the chairs into his face for a breather.

Cue Wheeler Yuta to knee Cope down (of course) so here is Jay White to even things out a bit. White steals the briefcase from Moxley but accidentally knocks Cope out, giving Moxley a rather close two. Back up and the spear gives Cope two so he hits a few more spears….and Christian Cage pulls the referee out. Cage knocks Cope silly with the contract, which he then signs to make this a three way title match.

AEW World Title: Cope vs. Jon Moxley vs. Christian Cage

Moxley is still defending and Cage hits a spear for two on Cope. The Killswitch hits Cope but Moxley is back in to grab the bulldog choke on Cage. That’s enough for Cage to go out and Moxley retains at 26:34.

Rating: C. Oh this didn’t work and the fans were letting them know about it until the cash-in woke them up for a bit. This was about Moxley beating the fire out of Cope and then Cope hitting a bunch of spears to not much success. In other words, Moxley wins again and does so against a fresh Cage because Moxley continues to be the most dominant person ever while everyone else is stupid. Not a good main event, but it wasn’t exactly feeling great in the weeks building up to it either.

Moxley goes to leave the arena but runs into Prince Nana. Swerve Strickland dives out of the crowd to take him down and end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. There were weak points on this show but the stuff that worked did work very well. I had a good time with the show and it felt like the kind of pay per view that built up AEW’s reputation in the first place. Other than maybe the main event, there was pretty much nothing weak with some matches that you might have liked even more. It was a very good show with one solid match after another and that’s what a show like this should be. AEW is on a roll right now and this was another step in that pretty great run.

Results
Komander/Hologram b. Lee Johnson/Blake Christian – 450 to Christian
Daniel Garcia/Undisputed Era b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Dragontamer to Moriarty
Big Boom AJ/Conglomeration b. Johnny TV/MxM Collection – Triple Powerboom to Madden
Hangman Page b. Maxwell Jacob Friedman – Buckshot Lariat
Mercedes Mone b. Momo Watanabe – Bank Statement
Swerve Strickland b. Ricochet – Big Pressure
Kazuchika Okada b. Brody King – Rainmaker
Hurt Syndicate b. Outrunners – Spear to Magnum
Toni Storm b. Mariah May – Storm Zero through a table
Kenny Omega b. Konosuke Takeshita – Crucifix
Will Ospreay b. Kyle Fletcher – Tiger Driver 91
Jon Moxley b. Christian Cage and Cope – Bulldog choke to Cage

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Collision
Date: March 8, 2025
Location: Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

It’s the last show before Revolution and that means we very well may get some more matches added at the last minute. Other than that, it is time to firm up what we already have on the card, which should come in the form of some good stuff. AEW has been going well as of late and if they can keep that going throughout the weekend, things will be looking up. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opps vs. Jack Banning/Starboy Charlie/Titus Alexander

Hook suplexes Charlie to start and then does the same to Alexander. Shibata and Joe chop away at Alexander and then Joe gets to hammer away at the jaw. Shibata’s running corner dropkick sets up the PK for the pin at 2:18.

Cope is ready to win the title from Jon Moxley, who is a spin doctor rather than a messiah. He wants the Moxley who will come after him so he has to make this count. There is no tomorrow because this might be his final shot at a world title. You know, other than tomorrow, when he gets his title shot.

Momo Watanabe vs. Serena Deeb

Mercedes Mone is on commentary. Deeb works on the arm to start and spins out of Watanabe’s wristlock for a bonus. They trade headlock takeovers and headscissors escapes before we stop to look at Mone again. Deeb pulls her into a surfboard but lets it go, allowing Watanabe to hit a dropkick. Watanabe starts firing off kicks to the chest but gets caught in a dragon screw legwhip as we take a break.

Back with Watanabe snapping off some suplexes and hitting a PK for two. Deeb’s Octopus hold doesn’t last long as Watanabe is out with a snap suplex. Back up and a hammerlock lariat gives Deeb two as Mone is getting frustrated. A half crab has Watanabe in more trouble but she fights up and hits a kick to the head. Watanabe grabs a bridging half nelson suplex for the pin at 11:09.

Rating: B-. And that’s the extent of build that Watanabe is getting for her title match against Mone tomorrow night. Watanabe won a four way in Japan, threw something on Mone, and took a good while to beat Deeb. There isn’t much of a reason to believe that she’s going to win the title tomorrow, but here we are anyway as Mone gets to face someone who means very little to the AEW audience. It isn’t about Watanabe’s talent, but rather about her not meaning much of anything around here. That’s a bad thing and AEW likes to do it far too often.

Post match Mone gets in Watanabe’s face and gets taken out just as fast.

We look back at Will Ospreay getting taken out by the Don Callis Family on Dynamite.

At Dynamite, Ospreay was banged up but he is ready for the cage match at Revolution. He talks about his history with his old friends in Japan and how they took over. Then last year, Kyle Fletcher turned on him and it’s time to face off. He loves Fletcher but now he has to fight like an animal and prove that he is on another level.

Harley Cameron vs. Tatevik Hunanyan

Hunanyan jumps her from behind to start and chokes away on the mat, followed by a Russian legsweep. Cameron gets some boots up out of the corner and nails a Shining Wizard. Her Finishing Move (the official name) finishes for Cameron at 2:15.

Kyle Fletcher doesn’t like Will Ospreay treating their cage match like a stepping stone to the World Title. The reality is that Ospreay is the thing standing in Fletcher’s way. Ospreay is going to be locked in a cage with a lion and the mat will be painted red with his bed.

The Infantry vs. Undisputed Kingdom

Dean gets taken into the corner and chopped a bunch to start, setting up O’Reilly’s suplex for two. It’s off to Bravo, who gets kneed in the ribs, but is able to take O’Reilly into the corner to take over. O’Reilly backdrops his way out of trouble though and the tag brings in Strong to clean house.

We take a break and come back with Dean hitting a jumping clothesline on Strong, setting up a splash for two. Strong fights up without much trouble and hands it back to O’Reilly for strikes and suplexes. Dean breaks up a guillotine choke but the High/Low finishes Bravo off at 8:39.

Rating: C+. The Infantry being presented as a thing might have been a bigger hit if I hadn’t seen them lose on Ring Of Honor two days ago. That’s the way things keep going around here, as someone might start getting some momentum but they lose a random match and things get derailed. It isn’t like the Infantry has much going for them, but if AEW wants the Kingdom to get something out of this, maybe don’t have them lose so recently?

Don Callis dubs Konosuke Takeshita as the new god of professional wrestling and promises to end Kenny Omega.

We recap the Learning Tree trying to prove themselves to Chris Jericho. Gravity wants a Ring Of Honor World Title shot.

Jon Moxley talks about how he and Cope are the last of a dying breed. Cope is always feeling that dream of being champion one more time. That’s why this is about respect, which Moxley wants to do for Cope. When he gets his hands around Cope’s neck, should he show him mercy? Would Cope do that? Moxley promises to hurt Cope and then he’ll know what respect feels like.

Hologram vs. Dralistico

They take turns flipping over each other to start and that’s good for a standoff. Dralistico puts him up against the ropes, waits about ten seconds, and then hits a loud chop. Hologram avoids a charge to the floor and hits a big dive as the pace picks up. Back in and Dralistico grabs a top rope hurricanrana out to the floor, setting up a dive of his own. Hologram is sent mask first into a few things and Dralistico hits a basement superkick as we take a break.

Back with the referee yelling at Dralistico, leaving Hologram to hit a Spanish Fly on the floor. They chop it out on the apron until Dralistico hurricanranas him outside again. The slugout ensues on the floor until they both dive back in at nine to beat the count. Dralistico grabs a springboard Codebreaker for two but Hologram’s sitout powerbomb gets the same.

A Spanish Fly rocks Dralistico, but he’s right back with a crucifix driver to leave both of them down. The springboard Canadian Destroyer gives Dralistico two (as the referee catches his feet on the ropes) so Hologram grabs a very spinning torture rack powerbomb for the pin at 13:32 (ignore Dralistico raising his arm up, almost in a salute, during the pin).

Rating: B. Take two talented guys, put them in the ring and let them go nuts for a bit. It’s an idea that has worked well for the better part of ever and that was the case again here. I’m not sure what Hologram is going to do as far as moving up the card, but for now he seems to be back in the “just let him do cool stuff” mode for the moment.

Post match the Beast Mortos runs in for the beatdown and goes for Hologram’s mask but Komander makes the save. That doesn’t work either and the beatdown ensues…until the villains just stop.

FTR kind of apologizes for not showing respect to the Undisputed Kingdom last week. They’ll run it back next week. Adam Cole wants a rematch with Daniel Garcia, but he’s off to defend his title.

The Hurt Syndicate sees the Outrunners as underdogs, which the Syndicate has never been. Tomorrow, those dogs are being put down. Good, serious promo here from the champs. Er, well MVP as the champs didn’t actually talk.

Outrunners vs. Premiere Athletes

Mark Sterling is here with the Athletes. Nese forearms Magnum to start but Magnum is right back with the big wind up punch. A suplex drops Nese again and it’s off to Floyd, who gets hammered down in the corner. Floyd fights up but goes after Sterling, earning himself another beating.

Everything breaks down and the Athletes are knocked outside as we take a break. Back with Magnum fighting out of a chinlock but getting his throat snapped over the top rope. Nese clotheslines Daivari by mistake though and the hot tag brings in Floyd to clean house. The Mega Powers Elbow hits Nese but Total Recall is broken up. Cue the Hurt Syndicate to watch as Total Recall finishes Daivari at 8:28.

Rating: C. The Outrunners are as weird of a set of pay per view challengers for the titles as you’re going to find in AEW as they don’t have a reputation for winning major matches but yet here they are. That’s going to lead to some interesting possibilities at Revolution, but this was little more than a way to build the Outrunners up a bit at the last minute. That’s not a bad idea at all, though I’m not sure how much impact it had.

We go to the premiere of Queen Of The Ring, where Mariah May jumped Toni Storm.

Revolution rundown.

We get a music video for MJF vs. Hangman Page. It’s a look at how both of them rose up the ranks and got here, with MJF getting more serious for this fight. Page on the other hand is insane most of the time so it fits him well.

The Conglomeration is ready to team with Big Boom AJ against Johnny TV and the MxM Collection at Revolution.

TNT Title: Lee Moriarty vs. Daniel Garcia

Only Garcia is defending. They go to the mat to start and wrestle to a stalemate before fighting over a crossarm choke. An exchange of armdrags lets Garcia get two so Moriarty goes to the ropes. Garcia isn’t having that and hits a running boot before hammering away in the corner. That earns him a drop onto the turnbuckle and they go outside, where Garcia hits a running boot against the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Garcia caught in an abdominal stretch, followed by some running knees to the ribs. Garcia wins a battle over a suplex and hammers away in the corner again. A neckbreaker gives Garcia two and a top rope superplex hits Moriarty. Garcia’s ribs give out on a piledriver attempt though and Moriarty plants him for two.

Back up and a discus lariat gives Garcia two and they trade rollups for two each. A double clothesline leaves both of them down and the fans approve. They strike it out until Moriarty pulls him into the Border City Stretch. That’s reversed into the Dragontamer, which is reversed back into the Border City Stretch. This time Garcia escapes and hits the piledriver to retain at 14:56.

Rating: B-. Another solid match here, though I’m not sure how much drama there was as far as a title change goes. Moriarty doesn’t mean much of anything in AEW and he gets to lose here again. I’m still not sure what the point is in having a reigning Ring Of Honor champion losing here, when Shane Taylor was right there to take the loss without devaluing a title. I know Ring Of Honor doesn’t mean anything, but could you quit reminding us that it doesn’t mean anything?

Post match Shane Taylor Promotions come in for the beatdown but the Undisputed Kingdom runs in for the save to.

Kenny Omega is ready for Konosuke Takeshita at Revolution. What happens after he takes the title? What does Don Callis want Takeshita for then? Takeshita needs to show what he can do tomorrow night.

Overall Rating: C+. This wasn’t a bad show, but it was a lot of talking about the big matches at the pay per view with a few things here to fill in the time. What matters the most is getting things ready for Revolution and this show did it well enough. The good thing is that I’m excited for Revolution and this show was enough of a boost on some of the matches. Just get the pay per view right and things should go well.

Results
Opps b. Jack Banning/Starboy Charlie/Titus Alexander – PK to Alexander
Momo Watanabe b. Serena Deeb – Bridging half nelson suplex
Harley Cameron b. Tatevik Hunanyan – Her Finishing Move
Undisputed Kingdom b. The Infantry – High/Low to Bravo
Hologram b. Dralistico – Torture rack bomb
Outrunners b. Premiere Athletes – Total Recap to Daivari
Daniel Garcia b. Lee Moriarty – Piledriver

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: February 22, 2025
Location: Arizona Financial Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Jim Ross

We’re about two weeks away from Revolution and things picked up a bit last week at Grand Slam. We now have a few matches set for the show, with the big story still being Cope coming after Jon Moxley and the World Title. Cope seems interested in taking out the Death Riders one by one and we’ll probably see something like that here. Other than that, Chris Jericho is defending the Ring Of Honor World Title against Bandido so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Mariah May jumps Toni Storm in the back and brings her to the stage for a Storm Zero on the ramp. May demands a spotlight and, cradling Storm, says Storm never knew how to write an ending. This is their spotlight and moment so they can be stars together. They’ll have a Hollywood ending at Revolution. That should be the big ending and Storm winning there does make sense.

We look at Kazuchika Okada retaining the Continental Title over Buddy Matthews last week.

Okada says that is what you do to a b**** and he’ll do it to any other who comes after him.

Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos

Mortos wastes no time in running him over with a shoulder but misses a charge in the corner. Hologram dances around and flips off of Mortos’ chest, setting up a headscissors. Mortos is sent outside for a rope walk hurricanrana, only to grab an armdrag back inside. The Pounce sends Hologram outside for the corkscrew dive and we take a break. Back with Hologram taking him up top, where Mortos super gorilla press slams him back down.

Another hurricanrana sends Mortos outside and the big dive takes him down again. A kick to the head staggers Mortos but he grabs a crucifix driver on the ramp. Hologram grabs a Code Red on the ramp and they head back inside for a rope walk high crossbody for two on Mortos. The pop up Samoan drop gets two on Hologram but he’s back with a Spanish Fly. Another super gorilla press is countered into an anklescissors though and Hologram is back with a sunset flip for the pin at 13:51.

Rating: B. It was another good match between them but I’m only getting so much out of Hologram. He’s just kind of there to do his random matches and that’s only getting him so far. I could go for him doing something and his matches are quite entertaining, but him having a story would go a long way for him. And hopefully soon.

Post match Mortos jumps Hologram and goes for the mask but Komander makes the save.

Speedball Mike Bailey is coming. Yay.

Here is Harley Cameron for a chat. Cameron talks about a little girl who loved singing and puppets but above all else, she loved wrestling. One day she told her grandmother that she would go to America and become a wrestler. That little girl was…her next door neighbor Suzette Dickinson. Cameron doesn’t know what happened to her but she’s ready to make everyone feel her wrath. The awesomeness continues.

Gabe Kidd vs. The Butcher

Kidd strikes away in the corner to start but Butcher sends him outside. That’s shrugged off and Kidd hits a heck of a clothesline (which JR describes as “toxic”). Back in and Butcher kicks him in the face, only to get dropped by another clothesline. A piledriver finishes Butcher at 3:40.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t quite a squash but Butcher was out there for the beating and nothing more. Kidd is one of the bigger names outside of the two main promotions at the moment and it’s a nice deal to have him show up here. Kidd has some great charisma and gets your attention and I could see him being a big deal elsewhere if given the shot.

Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher are ready for Will Ospreay at Revolution in a cage. They’re going to use the cage like a Veg-O-Matic. Can we get a Double Goozle instead?

Julia Hart vs. Queen Aminata

Aminata grabs an armbar to start and wiggles her hips a bit because that’s what fun wrestlers do. A snapmare takes Hart down for a kick to the back and a double chop in the corner makes it worse. Hart knocks her down for two and we take an early break. Back with Aminata hitting a backbreaker and snapping off some suplexes for…no cover, which even commentary realizes is a bad idea. A running boot in the corner gives Aminata two but Hart kicks her down. The moonsault hits Aminata’s raised boots though and Aminata releases some German suplexes. Hart is right back up with an Octopus for the tap at 9:48.

Rating: C. Aminata is a good example of someone who can do all of the things in the ring but she’s still fairly dull. There’s nothing about her that makes her stand out and that isn’t going to leave her much to do. Hart beating her is good and it wasn’t a stretch for it to go this long, but it’s rather difficult to get invested in an Aminata match most of the time.

Murder Machines vs. ???/???

The Murder Machines beat them up on the ramp and throw them inside so destruction can ensue. The powerbomb/chokeslam combination finishes at 1:15.

Post match the Murder Machines want the Hurt Syndicate and the Tag Team Titles. Cue the Syndicate, with MVP not being impressed. MVP says if the Machines beat a REAL team next week, we’ll consider a title shot.

Action Andretti and Lio Rush are now Cru. Does every team need a name? Well in this case, yeah they really kind of did.

Thunder Rosa and Kris Statlander are ready for Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford.

Trios Titles: Daniel Garcia/Angelo Parker/Matt Menard vs. Death Riders

The Riders are defending. Parker dropkicks Yuta down to start but it’s quickly off to Castagnoli. Swiss Death puts Parker down and Garcia has to make a save. Garcia, in red and yellow, comes in to clean house but doesn’t bother to tag, meaning Parker gets beaten down even more. Parker finally gets away and brings in Menard to…get kicked in the face by Castagnoli.

Everything breaks down and Yuta and Pac get suplexed down. We take a break and come back with Yuta kicking Menard down so Pac can kick him while he’s down. Castagnoli powers Menard around and it’s back to Pac for a headlock. Pac teases a springboard dropkick but head fakes Menard, who misses a dropkick out of the air. Menard slams his way out of trouble though and it’s Garcia coming in to clean house.

Garcia rolls Yuta into the Sharpshooter and Parker takes Pac out. Castagnoli makes the save with a Jackhammer, leaving Garcia to strike it out with Yuta. Garcia gets Swung into the dropkick from Pac fort two but Menard breaks up the Black Arrow. Parker superplexes Pac for two and everyone is down. Pac is back up with the Brutalizer to make Parker tap at 16:55.

Rating: B-. This was more of a formality than anything else, with the Death Riders not being in trouble against a team including Menard and Parker. Garcia can hang with the champs long enough but that wasn’t going to be enough here. It wasn’t exactly a top level set of challengers, but I’ll take a title defense over the belts sitting cold for months on end.

Post match the hold stays on but the Undisputed Kingdom makes the save. Pac gets taken out and here is Cope to give him a pair of Conchairtos.

The Vendetta isn’t impressed with Harley Cameron.

Here is Max Caster for another open challenge.

Max Caster vs. Brody King

Caster gets his requested handshake and the pain begins in a hurry. Caster’s headlock is countered into a headscissors as the fans know that pain is coming. King sends him into the corner and finishes with the Cannonball at 1:40.

The Outrunners agree to face the Murder Machines next week. The Hurt Syndicate says the good news is if they win, they get a title shot. But the bad news is if they win, the get a title shot.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Chris Jericho vs. Bandido

Jericho is defending and is here on his own for a change. The fans are behind Bandido to start so Jericho goes to the eyes to take over. Bandido isn’t having that and sends him to the floor for a dive. Back in and a quick Codebreaker gives Jericho two, setting up a super hurricanrana.

We take a break and come back with the two of them striking it out with Bandido going down. Bandido is back up with a belly to back faceplant for two and they trade kicks to the face. They do their ten paces deal but Jericho reverses the knee to the face into the Walls. Bandido breaks out and grabs the one handed gorilla press into a frog splash for two.

The triangle dropkick is countered into a powerbomb for two more but Jericho bulldogs him down into the Lionsault. A flying headscissors (with a wave, called the High Spot) gets two on Bandido and they go up top for Bandido’s tabletop superplex. The 21 Plex is loaded up but Jericho reverses into a cradle to retain at 17:20.

Rating: B-. Well of course Jericho beat him. Bandido was built up for a few weeks here and then loses clean to Jericho, who counters the big finisher for the win. Jericho has already held the title for about four months and it’s only so interesting. Bandido is someone who could have gotten a big moment out of the win here but I have a feeling we’ll be waiting for Eddie Kingston to come back and beat Jericho as a real New Yorker. That’s not exactly a thrilling way to go but Jericho going over someone with that kind of potential isn’t a surprise anymore.

Overall Rating: B. Sigh inducing result of the main event aside, this was a rather good show with a bunch of solid matches. As has been the case recently, there has been a nice mixture of long and short matches to make things move that much faster. Good show here, and if they can stick the landing with a bunch of this stuff at Revolution, we could be in for one of AEW’s best runs in a long time.

Results
Hologram b. The Beast Mortos – Sunset flip
Gabe Kidd b. The Butcher – Piledriver
Julia Hart b. Queen Aminata – Octopus
Murder Machines b. ???/??? – Powerbomb/chokeslam combination
Death Riders b. Daniel Garcia/Angelo Parker/Matt Menard – Brutalizer to Parker
Brody King b. Max Caster – Cannonball
Chris Jericho b. Bandido – Rollup

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: February 20, 2025
Location: Fort Bend Epicenter, Rosenberg, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re back on land this week and it’s another somewhat special episode as we have some guest stars from CMLL. That might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it almost has to be more interesting than what we usually get around here. Other than that, we have a Ring Of Honor World Title match on Collision this weekend so it might be time to hype it up some more. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a Global Wars recap.

Opening sequence.

Wheeler Yuta vs. Fuego del Sol

Yuta jumps him at the bell and starts fast, with a fisherman’s suplex getting two. A dropkick staggers Yuta but he comes back with a running clothesline to drop Fuego in a hurry. Yuta faceplants him and hits a basement dropkick before tying up the leg. Fuego makes the rope and fights up, setting up a basement superkick. Yuta ducks something off the top and hits a running knee for the pin at 3:56.

Rating: C. Pretty much a squash here for Yuta and that still doesn’t make him overly interesting. Fuego is one of those fun people who doesn’t win much but isn’t going to be a thing in AEW so this is about as far as he’s going. I’m not sure what it says for Yuta to count as star power around here but it’s not the best sign.

Post match Yuta grabs a chain and ties Fuego up in a surfboard for a choke.

Rachael Ellering vs. Abadon

Ellering grabs a headlock to start and gets her hand bitten as a result. A basement kick to the face cuts Ellering down but she’s right back with a running elbow to the face. The backsplash misses though and Abadon hits an apron legdrop to take over. Ellering is right back with a suplex and now the backsplash connects for two. Back up and Abadon grabs a running cutter, setting up the Black Dahlia for the pin at 4:08.

Rating: C-. There is something missing from Ellering’s matches and I’m not sure what it is. Granted some of the problem might be that she only exists to put people over and that isn’t going to get her very far. At some point she needs to win something, or the little value that she has is going to go away rather quickly. Abadon continues to look weird, but there is a pretty firm ceiling when you’re only around every few months.

Jacked Jameson is fired up about his potential stable mates, who interrupt and say the Frat House is now a thing. They share a drink and give Jameson a hat.

Frat House/Premiere Athletes/Mark Sterling vs. Top Flight/Outrunners/Von Erichs

The Von Erichs have been gone for six months and the Six Man Tag Team Titles have been sitting cold since then and they come back in a random twelve man tag. Because of course. Darius and Nese start things off with Nese taking him into the corner so Garrison can come in. That means Dante can come in for a jumping stomp to the back as the rapid fire tags continue.

Ross kicks Jameson down and Marshall hits a standing moonsault for two more. Magnum comes in and gets knocked into the wrong corner so it’s off to Sterling to hammer away. The chinlock goes on but Magnum fights up, only for the villains to pull his partners off the apron. Magnum suplexes his way to freedom and the tag brings in Floyd to clean house. Sterling gets slammed down to set up the Mega Powers Elbow. Total Recall finishes Sterling off at 8:53.

Rating: C. The Six Man Titles are coming up on seven months without a defense but we needed to have the Von Erichs in here because it’s TEXAS and therefore we need TEXAS wrestlers in there. Ignore the issue of the Von Erichs really not being that interesting and the Six Man Tag Team Titles feeling less than worthless and it’s a bit hard to care about them. The rest of the people are the usual goons around here, which is why this match was a Dark Order short of hitting every check mark in an ROH match.

The MxM Collection celebrates stealing the Tag Team Title again at Global Wars, despite not winning the belts.

Billie Starkz vs. Hyan

Athena is here with Starkz, who flips out of a wristlock to start. A German suplex drops Hyan again and a kick to the head out of the corner does it again. Hyan avoids the Swanton though and grabs a suplex of her own. Starkz forearms the heck out of her in the corner though and finishes with an electric chair slam at 4:00.

Rating: C+. For the love of all things good and holy, tell me we are not building towards Starkz vs. Athena again. It seems that’s where we’re going, and my goodness I cannot fathom having to see that a third time, especially if Starkz finally beats her. The title has just gone ice cold lately as Athena has been out of major challengers for so long. The action here was at least good, which somehow is the best thing so far tonight.

TV Title: Komander vs. Lee Johnson

Komander is defending and Johnson has EJ Nduka in his corner. They trade standing switches to start before Komander nips out of a headscissors for a standoff. A springboard wristdrag is broken up so Komander sends him outside and moonsaults into a headscissors. Nduka offers a distraction though and Johnson drops Komander to take over. Johnson sends him outside for a bit, followed by a chinlock back inside.

That’s broken up so they head to the apron for a slugout, with Komander grabbing a running hurricanrana driver. A springboard moonsault to a standing Johnson connects back inside but it’s too early for Cielito Lindo. Johnson fights up but gets dropped with a poisonrana for two. They fight over a suplex and go out to the floor, where Johnson plants him hard.

That’s not good enough so Johnson rams him ankle first into the barricade over and over. Back in and Komander unlaces his boot, allowing Johnson to hit a frog splash. Johnson gets knocked off the top so Komander dives onto both of them for the big crash. Back in and Cielito Lindo connects anyway for the pin to retain at 15:22.

Rating: B-. Yeah it was good, but it still feels like a match between people who are here because they don’t belong anywhere else. Komander has been treated like a loser for so long on AEW TV that it’s hard to care about him being the midcard champion in the minor league. On the other hand you have Johnson, who isn’t bad in the ring but keeps losing his big shots. Fix that and he might be worth something.

Video on Red Velvet.

Gates Of Agony vs. Exodus Prime/Josiah G

A Samoan drop and Open The Gates means a double pin for Kaun at 1:15. Total decimation.

The World Title match for Collision gets a graphic. Thanks for bothering.

Barbaro Cavernario/Hechicero/Soberano Jr. vs. Dark Panther/Fuego/Sammy Guevara

Cue the MxM Collection to watch from the stage. It’s a brawl to start with Guevara’s team being knocked down with a triple clothesline. Soberano bites Guevara’s boot before Hechicero pounds away on his head. Guevara gets caught in a triple flipping slam (I believe BDK used to call it Ragnarok) so he rolls outside, allowing Fuego to come in.

Hechicero grabs a Rocking Horse and Soberano gets dropped down with a Fameasser at the same time. Panther comes in and gets faceplanted, allowing the villains (I guess?) to take him into the corner. Some tilt-a-whirl backbreaker get Panther out of trouble and we settle down to Hechicero vs. Guevara. The latter clears the ring and hits a dive, which counts as a tag so it isn’t that nuts.

Instead of switching places, Guevara comes back in and hits a big dive of his own, only for Cavernario to take him down. Now it’s off to Fuego, who seems confused by Cavernario’s Worm. Everything breaks down and Hechicero is sent outside and Soberano dives onto Panther. Fuego takes Soberano out with a dive of his own but Mansoor comes in to hit Guevara with the belt. Hechicero flips Fuego into a very spinny rollup for the pin at 12:11.

Rating: B. One match. Not the entire card and not some invasion angle that no one was asking to see. It was one match where the talented CMLL guys got in, did their stuff to pop the crowd and then got out. That’s WAY more effective than having them around week after week in some feud that feels tacked on. Treat these guys as a special attraction, because they’re good enough to warrant popping in on occasion, which was the case again here in the best thing on the show.

Post match Hechicero touches tips with the Collection but Guevara gives Mansoor the GTH. Madden escapes with the belt to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show was a good illustration of why this series rarely works. So many of the matches either feel like they’re stretching out something that lasts for a long time (Athena/Starkz) or is just there to fill in time with little being gained (pick almost anything on the card) while the important stuff (the World Title match) is taking place on another show. There’s nothing interesting to get behind here and it makes for a very dry show most of the time. The wrestling isn’t the worst, but I need a reason to care about these people other than “they have some pretty good matches”.

Results
Wheeler Yuta b. Fuego del Sol – Running knee
Abadon b. Rachael Ellering – Black Dahlia
Top Flight/Outrunners/Von Erichs b. Frat House/Premiere Athletes/Mark Sterling – Total Recall to Sterling
Billie Starkz b. Hyan – Electric chair slam
Komander b. Lee Johnson – Cielito Lindo
Gates Of Agony b. Exodus Prime/Josiah G – Double pin
Hechicero/Barbaro Cavernario/Soberano Jr. b. Fuego/Sammy Guevara/Dark Panther – Spinning rollup to Fuego

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: February 13, 2025
Location: Norwegian Pearl Cruise Ship, International Waters
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

Well this is different. This show was taped on the Chris Jericho Rock N Rager At Sea cruise, meaning the matches are taking place on a ship in international waters. One of my biggest issues with this show has been that nothing about it really stands out as different week to week but that won’t be the case here. Let’s get to it.

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

Chris Jericho welcomes us to the show and presents the idea of what we are going to see tonight. And he speaks some Spanish.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

You can see the water through the portholes and it’s rather cool to see.

Jay Lethal vs. Mason Madden

Mansoor, in limited clothing, is here with Madden, with the stolen Tag Team Title belt. To make things a bit more festive, Lethal is Black Machismo. We get a pose off to start as Mansoor puts on the bedazzled title. They tease a finger point before Madden kicks him in the ribs to take over.

Back up and Lethal presses strong grapple and flicks the controller stick to fire off the alternating punches to the face and ribs. Madden chokebombs him down for two and it’s time to start working on the arm. Lethal is back up with a springboard high crossbody and they trade some shots to the face for some alternating staggers. A big boot sets up the missed elbow and Lethal Injection puts Madden down. Hail To The King finishes for Lethal at 6:06.

Rating: C+. This was already more fun than almost anything ROH has done in months and it made for a nice start to the show. What matters the most here is that things are at least interesting and I’m actually wanting to see what else is going to happen on the show. Lethal as Black Machismo was a fun little surprise and he does a great impression of Savage’s movements. Good enough here, with the right vibe already being set.

Last week, Athena yelled at Billie Starkz for not living up to expectations.

Billie Starkz vs. Harley Cameron

Cameron grabs a headlock to start but gets reversed into an armbar. Back up and Starks gets in a quick spank against the ropes, only for Cameron to do the same. Some right hands in the corner have Starkz in trouble but she’s back with a DDT as commentary talks about the movie Trading Places. Starkz chokes on the ropes and she ducks an enziguri to set up a choke.

That’s broken up and Cameron makes the Clothesline Comeback, followed by some choking in the corner. Now the enziguri can connect for two on Starkz and Cameron’s pumphandle back suplex gets two. Starkz is with a twisting implant DDT spun into a backbreaker for two, only for Cameron to grab a crucifix for the pin at 7:34.

Rating: C. It was another win for Cameron as her confidence is growing, but I’m still not buying her as a threat against Mercedes Mone. She’s putting in the work in the ring and it’s working far better than it did before, but Cameron is going to be better known for everything else for a good while. Starkz losing again isn’t going to set well for Athena, though I don’t think I can take another match between the two of them.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tommy Billington

Non-title and the sun is setting for a really cool visual. Takeshita misses a charge to start and doesn’t seem thrilled. Back up and they take turns avoiding the other to a nice reaction…so Takeshita pulls out a spoon. Some shots to the head set up a suplex for two as the referee is fine with Takeshita spooning Billington. A snap suplex gets Billington out of trouble and they fight over a Tombstone until Takeshita gets planted. The Swan Dive misses though and Takeshita hits the running knee. The Blue Thunder Bomb finishes Billington at 5:52.

Rating: C+. This was a bit of a disappointment as I was expecting something more out of them. Granted they didn’t have enough time to do much, but it felt like they went from the middle of the match to the end without much in the middle. That made for kind of a weird showcase, as Billington has done better multiple times before.

Outrunners vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Magnum poses at Drake to start before cranking on the arm. A headscissors has Drake in more trouble so it’s off to Gibson to take over in the corner. Some atomic drops set up stereo airplane spins to stagger the Veterans, meaning we have more atomic drops. Drake trips Magnum down though and a running boot to the head gets two. Gibson comes in off a blind tag to elbow Magnum and cut off anything resembling a comeback.

We hit the chinlock but Magnum is up with a suplex for a breather. The diving tag brings in Floyd to clean house and yes we do get a double noggin knocker. The double slam sets up the Mega Powers Elbow but Total Recall is broken up. Drake uses the scarf for some choking but Magnum is back in for Total Recall and the pin at 9:16.

Rating: C. The Outrunners being on something like this is about as easy of an idea as you can have and it worked well here. As has been the pint tonight, the match was more about having fun than advancing anything else and that’s perfectly fine in a case like this. As usual, the Veterans have fallen through the floor and they really aren’t that bad. I don’t get it, but it doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon.

Earlier this week, Serena Deeb challenged Queen Aminata to a Pure Rules match. Works for Aminata.

Serpentico vs. Ricochet

Ricochet wastes no time in knocking him into the corner and hitting a running shoulder. Back up and Serepentico knocks Ricochet outside where it’s time for a breather on the ramp. A cheap shot takes Serpentico down though and drops an elbow to keep him in trouble.

Ricochet grabs a headscissor choke before driving Serpentico’s head into the mat for a hard crash. The People’s Moonsault gives Ricochet two and a running shooting star press gets the same. The Benedryller is loaded up but Serpentico reverses into a Canadian Destroyer. That’s enough for Ricochet, who is back with Vertigo into the Spirit Gun for the pin at 8:00.

Rating: C. This was an extended squash for Ricochet and that isn’t a surprise as he’s a main roster star and Serpentico is, uh, Serpentico. Ricochet gives Serpentico a bit of offense here but it was only ever going to be so interesting. For a match designed to add in some star power, it could have been much worse.

TV Title: Nick Wayne vs. Komander

Komander is defending. They fight over a test of strength to start before Komander sticks the landing on a monkey flip. They trade some flips until Wayne knocks him into the corner to take over. Komander flips around a bit and grabs a headscissors to the floor, where Wayne cuts off a dive.

Wayne plants him on the ramp and then works on the eyes back inside. A kick to the back gives Wayne two but Komander dives onto the ramp to leave Wayne confused. Back in and a dive gives Komander two, only for Wayne to come back with a dragon suplex for the same. A Canadian Destroyer plants Wayne though and sets up Cielito Lindo for the retaining pin at 9:22.

Rating: C+. As usual, there is pretty much no particular rhyme or reason to set up the title matches around here and that doesn’t make for the best continuity. At the same time, Wayne is at least a name in AEW and they were able to have an entertaining enough match. I’ll take the title being on the line over nothing at all and it was a fine enough main event.

Overall Rating: C+. Fun. That was the best thing I can say about this show and it was what Ring Of Honor has been missing for such a long time. Yes it was just a one off show and it wasn’t the most thrilling event with nothing worth going out of your way to see, but it was ANYTHING different after months and months of the same stuff. That was such a relief around here and my goodness was it nice to have this instead of the same show we see every week.

Results
Jay Lethal b. Mason Madden – Hail To The King
Harley Cameron b. Billie Starkz – Crucifix
Konosuke Takeshita b. Tommy Billington – Blue Thunder Bomb
Outrunners b. Grizzled Young Veterans – Total Recall to Drake
Ricochet b. Serpentico – Spirit Gun
Komander b. Nick Wayne – Cielito Lindo

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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Collision
Date: February 8, 2025
Location: Fort Bend Epicenter, Rosenberg, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re closing in on Grand Slam and the show is mostly set up. The question now becomes what happens with everything already on the card but there is still the chance that something else is added tonight. Odds are we’ll get some good action as that tends to be the norm around here. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Mark Briscoe and Kyle Fletcher are ready to fight.

Opening sequence.

Here are the Death Riders to jump security and get in the ring. Jon Moxley isn’t about to give Cope (or Adam Copeland) a title shot. Instead a tag match is set up for Grand Slam.

We run down the card.

Undisputed Kingdom vs. Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Daniel Garcia/Matt Menard/Angelo Parker

Strong and Taylor start things off, with Strong managing to kick him into the corner to start the beating. O’Reilly comes in but gets caught in the corner so the Infantry can start firing off the running forearms. Parker and Menard take over on Dean though, only for Menard to jump on commentary and brag about his team. Garcia comes in and hammers on Dean in the corner but it’s back to Taylor for a headbutt. The Promotions get to pose a lot and we take a break.

Back with Garcia suplexing his way to freedom and the Kingdom coming in to beat on the Infantry. Everything breaks down and the posing Cole gets rolled up for two, followed by a double clothesline to leave everyone down. Back up and the nine way brawl is on, with Garcia getting double stomped down hard. Taylor gets jumped on the floor, leaving Dean to get caught with the Boom to give Cole the pin at 13:15.

Rating: C+. There were a lot of people involved here and that made things a bit tricky to follow. You can only get so much out of this much, but maybe it leads to the Kingdom getting to do something more. Other than that, the Promotions get to lose again, which is probably the only reason they were there in the first place.

Post match the Death Riders run in to beat down the Kingdom. The beatdown is on, but Cole issues the challenge for the Trios Titles on Dynamite.

Video on FTR.

Max Cater says his open challenge is still set for Dynamite.

Bandido vs. Bryan Keith

The slugout is on with Keith knocking Bandido’s hat off, which isn’t the best way to bring him back to action. Back up and Bandido knocks him down but gets knocked out of the air as we take a break. We come back with Bandido hitting a spinning high crossbody into a one armed gorilla press for two.

Keith catches him on top with a high collar superplex and they’re both down again. They trade kicks to the head, then go back to back, nod at each other, march away, and hit running strikes for a double knockdown. Back up and Bandido flips him into a knee to the head, setting up the 21 Plex for the pin at 10:05.

Rating: B-. The showdown spot was funny enough and that’s all it needed to be. You had a logical match here and it worked out well, with Bandido getting a win on the way back. There is a good chance that Bandido gets the next title shot against Chris Jericho and having him win over Jericho’s good makes sense.

Powerhouse Hobbs challenges Big Bill for Dynamite.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Ares Alexander/Jay Alexander/Brick Savage

Ares gets planted with a pop up Samoan drop and the Bull’s Horns finishes at 1:24.

Post match the beatdown is on but Komander makes the save. Komander gets beaten down as well, with Hologram returning to make the save. Rush beats up some referees because he has to look strong. Komander getting beaten up is almost a free spot on the AEW Bingo card these days.

Thunder Rosa and Megan Bayne have a bit of a staredown before Rosa talks about being ready for Penelope Ford.

And now here is Harley Cameron for a concert, complete with the Mercedes Mone puppet. First up, she sings a song called The Money Train, which consists of saying the title over and over. Cue Mercedes Mone to interrupt, saying everyone is here to see her. The second song is about how Mone is scared to feel the wrath but Mone cuts her off, saying Cameron is a loser.

Cameron goes on a rant about how she’s worked hard to get here and has had her hand up Mone’s puppet’s a**. A mic shot puts Mone down and she agrees to the title match at Grand Slam. I could have gone for more of Cameron, but that would mean less Mone and that is just not ok.

We get a sitdown interview with Buddy Matthews and…an empty chair which is supposed to contain Kazuchika Okada. Eventually Okada strolls in, with Mathews talking about how it’s Australia’s best vs. Japan’s best. They go nose to nose and Okada calls him a b****, only for Matthews to make him flinch off the threat of violence.

Dustin Rhodes vs. Izzy James

Cross Rhodes and the Final Reckoning finish James at 25 seconds.

Post match Rhodes talks about how MJF calls himself the Devil but Rhodes has already beaten the Devil up. He has been doing this in five decades and put in the effort and MJF can’t do the same thing. Rhodes issues the challenge for next week on Dynamite.

The Death Riders are ready to beat the Undisputed Kingdom next week.

Thunder Rosa vs. Penelope Ford

A local sports mascot comes out with Rosa, who fights over a lockup with Ford to start. Rosa goes up top but gets forearmed outside as we take an early break. Back with Ford getting two off a gutbuster but missing a charge into the post. Rosa’s running dropkick connects against the ropes and a northern lights suplex gets two. Ford is back up with a handspring elbow in the corner and a lick to Rosa’s face (yep) sets up a missed moonsault. Back up and Ford hits a quick dropkick only to get caught in a Tijuana Bomb to give Rosa the pin at 10:04.

Rating: C+. Yes Ford loses a fairly big match. I’m not sure why this should be even slightly surprising, as that is just what she does every time she’s out there. The match was fine, though I kept waiting for the mascot to do something. It’s a good enough match, ubt Rosa seems to be set up for a big match with Megan Bayne instead.

Post match Megan Bayne comes out for the staredown, with Ford jumping Rosa from behind. Bayne drops Rosa with an F5.

We look at Ricochet cheating to beat Swerve Strickland and stealing Prince Nana’s robe. Then over the weekend, Strickland attacked Ricochet at an independent show but couldn’t get the robe back.

Someone named Bun B is here but Ricochet interrupts and mocks him for being Strickland’s friend. Ricochet tries a burger that Bun seems to have provided and spits it out. Ricochet beats up the food worker as Bun isn’t happy.

Mariah May vs. Shay KarMichael

Non-title and a running knee sets up May Day to finish KarMichael at 24 seconds.

Post match May attacks KarMichael with lipstick but here is Luther (Toni Storm’s butler) for a distraction. Cue Storm to jump May, sending her running.

The Don Callis Family beats up various people backstage, with Mark Davis joining in.

Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher strikes away in the corner to start but Briscoe is back up in a hurry. Briscoe knocks him to the floor and loads up a table, only to get launched head first into the post. An apron bomb rocks Briscoe and we take a break, coming back with Briscoe, head being rather busted open.

A double clothesline leaves both of them down before Briscoe grabs a suplex for two. Fletcher is back with a flipping butterfly powerbomb for two but Briscoe catches him with a fisherman’s buster. The Froggy Bow is broken up but so is the counter, only for Fletcher to come back with a brainbuster for two.

Briscoe knocks him off the top and out to the floor, where a Froggy Bow sends a standing Fletcher through the table. Back in and a super Jay Driller is broken up, allowing Fletcher to catch him on top instead. Fletcher hits a brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle to knock Briscoe silly for the pin at 14:55.

Rating: B. These two beat each other up pretty well and that’s all it needed to be. Fletcher was doing his usual thing, while Briscoe was doing the same, which means looking good in defeat. This is a way to tie things together with the Continental Classic, but at the same time it would be nice to see Briscoe get another win here or there.

Post match Fletcher promises to win at Grand Slam.

Overall Rating: B-. Nice show here and I liked having some of those matches go short. There was no reason for those to go long and thankfully they got to the point, which made things that much better. It makes you wonder how long a match will go while still being effective. That’s something AEW has been missing and it helped things here. Good enough show here, with some stuff being advanced for the upcoming bigger events.

Results
Undisputed Kingdom b. Shane Taylor Promotions and Daniel Garcia/Matt Menard/Angelo Parker – Boom to Dean
Bandido b. Bryan Keith – 21 Plex
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Ares Alexander/Jay Alexander/Brick Savage – Bull’s Horns to Ares
Dustin Rhodes b. Izzy James – Final Reckoning
Thunder Rosa b. Penelope Ford – Tijuana Bomb
Mariah May b. Shay KarMichael – May Day
Kyle Fletcher b. Mark Briscoe – Brainbuster onto the turnbuckle

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.