Ring Of Honor
Date: March 12, 2026
Location: WJCT Studios, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re onto the second week in the studio this time and hopefully the show has a bit more of a chance to breathe this week. If nothing else, there are some titles on the line this time, with the Pure and Tag Team Titles being defended. There are also some Proving Ground matches, which I guess count for something. Let’s get to it.

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

Deonna Purrazzo talks about Athena trying to teach her a lesson and it hasn’t worked. She’s ready to face Billie Starkz next week in pure rules (implying the title is on the line) but tonight, Athena needs to worry about Maya World.

Athena vs. Maya World

Non-title Proving Ground match. Athena knocks her hard into the corner and shouts a lot but World gets in a spinning kick to the ribs. They head outside where World kicks her in the face but Athena fires off some kicks of her own back inside (nice mirroring of the counters there). World shrugs off some choking and fires off the forearms, only to get clotheslined out to the floor.

The ensuing dive connects for Athena, who drops her off the steps. Back in and the cravate goes on, followed by a chinlock, which is reversed into a rollup for two. Some rollups give World two so Athena hits her in the face as we have two minutes left. The O Face is broken up and World hits a spinning Falcon Arrow for two more. We have less than thirty seconds to go and World gives her a faceplant for two as time expires at 10:00.

Rating: B-. Well, at least Athena is going to have to defend the belt, which hasn’t been done since December. World might not seem like the biggest threat to the title but she’s certainly better than having no challenger. They had a good match here and the time flew by, mainly due to how well they pulled me into things. Nice job.

Women’s TV Title: Hyan vs. Red Velvet

Velvet is defending and they go to the grappling to start. A pump kick drops Velvet for two but she’s right back with a boot of her own for two of the same. Some rollups give Velvet two but she gets knocked into the corner for a running knee. Hyan’s Falcon Arrow gets two so she tries a tiger suplex, which is countered into a rollup to give Velvet two more. That’s enough for Velvet as she nails a spinning kick to the head to retain at 5:11.

Rating: C+. That kick looked great as Velvet absolutely blasted her. Hyan and Maya World seem to be the fresh blood in the division and that is not a bad thing at all as it could certainly use the help. At the same time, Velvet has been doing rather well lately and deserves a lot of credit for her rapid improvement.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Aaron Solo/Nick Comoroto/QT Marshall

Non-title Proving Ground match because these titles just aren’t defended these days. The champs jump them to start but Bravo gets caught in the corner for some running shots. Solo gets tripped from the floor though and a shot to the back of the head has him down on the apron. The Promotions get to pose a bit and it’s back to Bravo for a springboard Vader Bomb.

Bravo starts stomping on the ankle and Bronco Buster gets two. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a slingshot spear to keep Solo in trouble. Something like a Demolition Decapitator gets two more but Solo is back with that always stupid looking counter where someone DDTs their own partner, allowing the tag off to Marshall.

Everything breaks down and the Promotions mock Big Boom AJ (there’s a Revolution Zero Hour match), only to get caught with a springboard double Stunner. Taylor and Comoroto come in for the big man trade of shoulders before they knock down the other four with clotheslines. Comoroto slams Taylor for two and a double clothesline drops Bravo and Dean as we’re already past the ten minute time limit but oh well. Taylor punches Comoroto down and the double stomp finishes at 10:47.

Rating: C. I mean, the titles mean nothing so why bother keeping track of the time either? It’s not like they were calling the time or anything, so this was basically just a six man tag, which makes me wonder why they didn’t bother just making it a title match. The match was a long stretch of heat on Solo until Comoroto come in to do his big brawl with Taylor. Either way, it’s just more proof that these titles do not need to exist as Ring Of Honor can’t even bother following their own internal rules for finding challengers. Oh and thank goodness they let Comoroto look like a monster and then pin him when Solo was available.

Tag Team Titles: La Faccion Ingobernable vs. ???

La Faccion is defending in an open challenge (because winning tag matches around here means nothing) against any former Tag Team Champions. In this case that would be….the Colons, who were champions in WWE a cool thirteen years ago. Mortos, in his torn up suit, hands it off to Guevara to start with Eddie, but we’ll bring Mortos back in. Eddie gets tired of waiting and rolls Mortos up for two, followed by a double dropkick.

Orlando gets knocked down as we talk about the history of wrestling in Puerto Rico. Guevara doesn’t want to tag in so the champions go to the floor, where it’s a double dive to take them down. Back in and Mortos takes over on Orlando, with Guevara now willing to come in for a delayed suplex.

Orlando gets sent into the corner but manages a reversal, with Guevara accidentally powerslamming Mortos. Guevara is fine enough to hit a middle rope cutter for two on Orlando but the GTH is countered into a Downward Spiral for two. Eddie comes back in to clean house until he gets crotched on top. Mortos’ pop up Samoan drop finishes at 8:11.

Rating: C. The only thing that came into my mind here was how little Ring Of Honor seems to care about these titles. Since the start of 2025, they’ve been defended eight times total, often in random one off matches like this one. I have no idea why that is the best way to go, but at least we got the Colons. No not the biggest star in Carlito, but those other two! What a big deal!

Premiere Athletes vs. Angelica Risk/Mark Davidson/Parker Li

Davidson and Daivari trade wristlocks to start and it’s off to Denali, with Davidson crossing himself in fear. Denali drops Risk face first onto the turnbuckle and it’s off to Nese, who strikes away at Li. Everything breaks down and Denali chokeslams Risk for the pin at 2:30.

Jay Lethal and the Swirl want the World Title.

Scorpio Sky vs. Bryan Keith

Feeling out process to start with Sky taking him down for a stomp onto the arm. The armbar goes on for a bit until Sky switches over to the leg. Back up and Sky is knocked outside before being chopped down on the apron. Keith suplexes him for two before chopping Sky out to the floor again. Sky is able to come back with some running shots to the face, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two. Back up and Keith scores with a running headbutt, only to walk into a TKO for the pin at 9:35.

Rating: C+. This was in fact a wrestling match between two middle of the road stars. They’re both talented stars but neither of them are doing a single thing right now. Thankfully we didn’t hear about how this could put one of them into title contention because, well….well because it’s Ring Of Honor.

Post match Big Bill and the Grizzled Young Veterans run in to lay out Sky and Christopher Daniels.

Nick Wayne is defending the TV Title against Komander next week. Well that’s nice of him.

We look at Lee Moriarty retaining the Pure Title over Josh Woods back in September. This sets up the rematch, because it’s not like there is anyone else to come after the title.

Pure Title: Josh Woods vs. Lee Moriarty

Moriarty is defending. They go with the grappling to start and Moriarty grabs a headscissors. Woods reverses into a headlock before rolling some German suplexes. That’s enough for Moriarty to go to the ropes for his first break so Woods grabs an ankle twist. Woods slams the knee into the mat and Moriarty has to use his second rope break. Moriarty starts working on the hand, with an armbar sending Woods over to the ropes for his first break.

A reverse Koji Clutch goes on, with Woods using another break to even things up. Back up and they trade forearms and big boots for a double down. Moriarty gets sent to the apron so he comes back in with a springboard forearm. The Border City Stretch makes Woods use his third rope break so Woods is back with a running knee. A one knee Codebreaker gets two and an armbar makes Moriarty use his last break. Moriarty comes back with a leg lariat for the pin at 11:19, with Woods’ grab of the rope meaning nothing.

Rating: B-. It was fine, as is often the case with everything Moriarty does. At the same time, it’s another match that went pretty much the same way as every Moriarty match. It doesn’t help that the process for getting a title shot seems to be “win a Pure Rules match” and that’s about all. Moriarty has held the title for the better part of ever anyway and this was just another successful defense.

Overall Rating: C. This was another good example of what’s wrong with Ring Of Honor, as outside of a few things, it feels like a lot of the show is thrown together. Title matches are thrown out almost at random and you have things like the Proving Ground match going too long and it just being a thing that happened. The wrestling is fine but there is almost no reason to pay attention to anything around here because if Ring Of Honor doesn’t care, there’s no reason for fans to care.

Results
Athena vs. Maya World went to a time limit draw
Red Velvet b. Hyan – Spinning kick to the head
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Nick Comoroto/QT Marshall/Aaron Solo – Double stomp to Comoroto
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Colons – Pop up Samoan drop to Eddie
Premiere Athletes b. Angelica Risk/Mark Davidson/Parker Li – Chokeslam to Risk
Scorpio Sky b. Bryan Keith – TKO
Lee Moriarty b. Josh Woods – Leg lariat

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: February 12, 2026
Location: eSports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re getting closer to absolutely nothing right now and there are a lot of titles that could use a defense after literal months of no defenses. Hopefully they find a way around that, as the Swirl/Jay Lethal story, which was the best thing going, has already cooled off. Maybe we can switch it up a bit this week so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Tag Team Titles: La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Top Flight

La Faccion is defending for the first time since winning the titles on December 5, which was their first time teaming together. We get a cheer off to start and Dante speeds around Mortos. A running shoulder sends Dante flying and it’s off to Darius vs. Guevara. Well never mind as Guevara hands it right back to Mortos, which seems like a waste of time.

And it’s already back to Guevara, who is knocked into Mortos this time, but snaps off a headlock takeover. Guevara’s moonsault dropkick puts Darius on the floor so Dante comes in, only to miss a stomp. Dante gets taken into the corner for some clotheslines from Mortos, who is described as a good lawyer. As your bull monsters tend to be.

A shot to the hamstring lets Mortos start in on the leg but Dante manages a quick DDT. Darius and Guevara come in to pick up the pace but Mortos gets in a blind tag. A jumping Downward Spiral drops Guevara and a tornado DDT drops Mortos for two, as the blind tag didn’t make much of a difference. Mortos is right back with a pop up Samoan drop to pin Darius at 8:39.

Rating: C+. It was nice to see the titles actually defended, as if nothing else you might want to see the still mostly unproven team actually, like, team. It’s not like there are many teams in the title picture (whatever that entails) so it makes sense to give the champs some reps. At least more than one every two months at least.

Jay Lethal has Bandido’s mask and promises that Bandido will lose the World Title soon. Tommy Billington pops in to challenge Lethal. He doesn’t actually do anything physical, but he does make the challenge.

Michael Oku/Von Erichs vs. The OXP/Oday/Timur The Great

Kevin Von Erich is here too and gives Oku his cowboy hat on the way in. Oku grabs OXP’s arm to start and hands it off to the Von Erichs for some running clotheslines in the corner. Everything breaks down quickly and Oku hits the running shooting star to the floor. Back in and the double Claw and half crab give us the triple submission at 2:31. At least it was short.

We look back at last week’s main event.

Persephone vs. Julissa Mexa

Mexa takes her down to start fast and does a quick dance. The hips to the face have Persephone in more trouble and a spinning middle rope crossbody gives Mexa two. Persephone is right back up with a knockdown and basement dropkick to put Mexa in trouble. Some knees in the corner have Mexa down again and we hit the chinlock. That’s broken up and Mexa gets in a capture suplex, followed by a standing moonsault for two of her own. Mexa strikes away so Persephone gives her a bridging German suplex. A pumphandle dragon suplex puts Persephone down for two more but she’s right back with a crucifix bomb for the pin at 5:29.

Rating: B-. They made the most of their time here and it was a back and forth match. The good thing is that Persephone, who is apparently a big deal around here, got to look like a star. At the same time, Mexa had a solid debut and I could go for more of her, as the women’s division could certainly use some new names.

Dalton Castle/Outrunners vs. KM/Nathan Cruz/Rosario Grillo

Magnum scares Grillo into the corner to start so it’s quickly off to Cruz for an early change. Everything breaks down fast and the Outrunners clean house. Castle comes in for the suplexes and it’s a triple slam into the Mega Powers elbow to Cruz. The Bang A Rang gets the pin at 2:32. Total squash.

JD Drake doesn’t think much of Adam Priest going after Kazuchika Okada and wants to teach him a lesson. That’s quite the downgrade from Okada.

Lance Archer vs. Will Allday

Allday bounces off of Archer to start but manages to backflip out of a chokeslam attempt. A choke toss sends Allday flying but he avoids a charge in the corner. Archer has had enough and knocks him down, setting up the chokeslam and Blackout for the pin at 2:30. Anyone think maybe they should do something with Archer and his undefeated run? Anything at all?

Swirl/Premiere Athletes vs. Bandido/Mascara Dorada/Komander/Xelhua

Daivari and Xelhua start things off with Xelhua firing off some early dropkicks. Dorada comes in and gets his mask pulled, allowing the big beatdown in the corner. That doesn’t last long as Dorada is back with a spinning kick to Nese’s head. Komander comes in to face Johnson and flips over into a standoff. That works so well that Komander flips over into a standoff before bringing in Bandido to face Christian.

They forearm it out until Johnson and Komander come in as well. The luchadors clear the ring but some evil cheap shots leave Komander in trouble for a change. Nese drops a leg and the Athletes hit a quick double suplex. Bandido avoids a charge in the corner but gets speared down on the apron in a nice sequence. Back in and Johnson hammers away while Christian hits on Stori Denali.

Daivari and Komander crash on stereo crossbodies and Bandido comes back in to clean house. Komander’s very bouncy hurricanrana connects and the luchadors hit a nice quadruple dive. Christian flips out of the 21 Plex though and Denali sneaks in to chokeslam Bandido. Christian’s frog splash gets two with Dorada making a save. We hit the parade of knockdowns, including a pop up cutter to Daivari. More dives connect to the floor and Bandido 21 Plexes Daivari for the win at 14:07.

Rating: B-. This was a fun match with the luchadors getting to go out there and do some impressive things, as they are known to do. That’s always going to work, though at least this did something to keep up the build towards Christian vs. Bandido. I have no idea when that is actually going to happen, but at least they’re doing something to make it happen. Kind of.

Overall Rating: B-. While there was a lot of filler in the middle, it was nice to see a show actually feel important for a change. That’s not something that you often see around here and putting one of the ridiculous amount of titles on the line helped. Throw in some Bandido/Christian build in and I could go for more of this style. I doubt I’ll get it, but I’ll take it for a week.

Results
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Sky Flight – Pop up Samoan drop to Darius
Michael Oku/Von Erichs b. The OXP/Oday/Timur The Great – Triple submissions
Persephone b. Julissa Mexa – Crucifix bomb
Dalton Castle/Outrunners b. KM/Nathan Cruz/Rosario Grillo – Bang A Rang to Cruz
Lance Archer b. Will Allday – Blackout
Bandido/Xelhua/Mascara Dorada/Komander b. Swirl/Premiere Athletes – 21 Plex to Daivari

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

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Final Battle 2025
Date: December 5, 2025
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, Jon Moxley

It’s the biggest show of the year and most of the card was actually set up in advance. The main event is a six way Survival Of The Fittest, which should be fun and quite the spectacle. Other than that, the vacant Tag Team Titles are to be decided and various other titles are on the line. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Premiere Athletes vs. Outrunners

Mark Sterling and Stori Denali are here with the Athletes and Sterling says the Outrunners are the long term effects of unfiltered cigarettes. Magnum and Nese start things off with Nese backing him into the corner to little effect. Instead Nese moonsaults over a charging Magnum, who grabs a running headscissors to take Nese down. The other two come in and it’s a double suplex to drop the Athletes again.

Back in and Sterling’s distraction has Magnum in trouble for a change, allowing Sterling to choke away on the rope. Magnum avoids a charge and the needed tag brings in Floyd to clean house. Everything breaks down and Total Recall gets two, with Nese making the save. Nese is back in with a superkick, allowing Daivari to hit one of his own. Magnum drops Daivari but gets distracted by Sterling, allowing Denali to take Magnum down. The Magic Carpet Ride gets two and the Outrunners get fired up, allowing Total Recall to finish Daivari at 9:15.

Rating: C. This could have been on any given edition of the weekly show and that makes for quite the uninteresting addition here. This match wasn’t announced in advance and feels like it was just there to boost up the already high match count. I have no reason to believe the Outrunners are going to be near the Tag Team Titles anytime soon, but at least they got to use this ten minutes instead.

Zero Hour: Zayda Steel vs. Leila Grey

Steel is recently departed from the WWE ID Program and Evolve. Steel tries a quick rollup to start and they trade running elbows against the ropes. Grey avoids a running knee in the corner but comes back with a sling blade for two. A hard clothesline drops Steel as commentary ignores the match to talk about Survival Of The Fittest.

Angel’s Wings is countered into a half crab to put Grey in trouble (on YouTube, the feed went out here and the rest of the match wasn’t aired) but she manages to power out. A bulldog out of the corner drops Steel but she sends Grey outside for a nice dive. Back in and Steel hits a tornado DDT, only for Grey to roll through into the Angel’s Wings to finish at 6:33.

Rating: C. I had to watch this in two parts due to the transmission issues and it didn’t really make things much better. Grey has all kinds of charisma and could be something if she’s given a chance (and some more polishing in the ring). Steel is someone who will get a chance given her look and background, which are more than enough in the Ring Of Honor women’s division.

Zero Hour: Ace Austin vs. Lee Johnson

Feeling out process to start with Austin using the speed to take over. A bridging rollup gets two, with Johnson having to go to the eyes to escape. Austin suplexes him out to the floor but gets sent into the steps for his efforts. Back in and Johnson hammers away at the banged up face before taking him back outside. The moonsault from the barricade into the reverse DDT plants Austin on the floor but he’s fine enough to avoid a clothesline back inside.

A guillotine legdrop hits Johnson and a doctor bomb gets two more. Austin misses the Fold and gets caught with a Blue Thunder Bomb for another near fall. Johnson’s half and half suplex drops Austin again but he escapes a powerbomb. The pop up version of the powerbomb drops Austin for two but he kicks Johnson in the face. The Fold finishes for Austin at 9:26.

Rating: B-. The crowd wasn’t overly interested but this was a case of two talented stars getting to showcase themselves. Austin feels like he could be a star if he’s given the chance and while this is about as low on the totem pole as you can be, at least he won. Now just do something with him and see what he can do.

Zero Hour: Death Riders vs. Grizzled Young Veterans

Jon Moxley is on commentary as Yuta takes Drake down by the hair to start. Garcia comes in and goes with some grappling, only to be sent outside by Drake. The fans approve as he gets back in and is knocked down just as fast. Garcia finally manages to knock him down and goes after the arm before Yuta’s German suplex gets two. Drake fights out of trouble and brings in Gibson, who snaps off a suplex into the corner.

The Riders shrug that off and it’s a middle rope forearm Hart Attack to Gibson. Yuta takes Drake out and it’s a splash to Gibson to set up the Dragontamer. The rope is eventually reached and Gibson knocks both of them down, allowing the tag back to Drake. A nearly Coast To Coast missile dropkick gets two on Yuta as Moxley is getting fired up. Drake gets sent outside and a chop block cuts Gibson down. Yuta’s running knee finishes at 10:03.

Rating: C+. And the Riders are around again, despite doing nothing out of their ordinary here. It’s another match that felt like it was there for the sake of tacking on another episode of the weekly show before we get to the biggest show of the year. Just more filler content and hardly anything noteworthy.

And now, the show proper.

The opening video talks about how many things have changed in the last year. I’m really not sure how much I’d focus on the pace of changes in Ring Of Honor.

We recap the Women’s Pure Title tournament. Almost eight months after it was announced, we’re finally at the finals, with the woman who was favored to win the thing from the beginning included.

Women’s Pure Title: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Billie Starkz

For the inaugural title and Purrazzo takes her down into the Fujiwara armbar at the bell. Starkz burns off her first rope break less than twenty seconds in so Purrazzo grabs a headlock. An armbar keeps Starkz in trouble but the Fujiwara armbar is reversed into a rollup for two. They fight outside with Starkz sending her into the steps a few times, as this is stretching the “pure” moniker.

Back in and Starkz works on the arm before grabbing what looks like a Tazmission. That’s broken up and Starkz is sent outside for a baseball slide. Starkz shrugs that off and forearms away but clotheslines the post by mistake. A Russian legsweep sends Starkz back first into the announcers’ table and they go back inside. They trade kicks to the face until Purrazzo hits a discus lariat to leave both of them down.

Back up and they forearm it out with Purrazzo knee lifting her into the Fujiwara armbar. Another rope break gets Starkz out as Moxley sounds like he’s finally understanding Pure Rules (which isn’t a good sign that he didn’t seem to get them for the first ten minutes). They fight to the apron, where Starkz hits an Alabama Slam into a running Swanton to the back.

The Swanton gives Starkz two and a choke sends Purrazzo over for her first rope break. Purrazzo is back up with a German suplex into the Gotch style piledriver for two. The threat of the Venus de Milo has Starkz using her third rope break so Purrazzo cranks on both arms in the ropes. Starkz breaks out and hits a spinning Downward Spiral. The Swanton is loaded up but Purrazzo reverses into the Venus de Milo in the middle of the ring for the tap at 13:52.

Rating: B-. The action was good, but there was pretty much nothing here that mattered with the Pure Rules. It was basically Purrazzo trying to get her big hold and then finally managing to get it on. You could have dropped the Pure Rules from the whole thing and it wouldn’t have particularly mattered. It doesn’t help that the tournament turned into a running joke in Ring Of Honor and there was almost no way to make it live up to the hype. Certainly not a bad match, but at usual, just nothing that felt like you needed to see the thing.

Post match Queen Aminata comes out for the staredown.

We recap Nigel McGuinness vs. Lee Moriarty. They had a Pure Rules Title match last year with Moriarty winning but then McGuinness beat him in a four way match. Somehow this counts as making them 1-1 against each other so now it’s a 30 minute Iron Man match. Non-title of course.

Nigel McGuinness vs. Lee Moriarty

Non-title thirty minute Iron Man match and Shane Taylor is here with Moriarty. McGuinness wears the old Pure Rules Title because….I guess it looks nice? They go technical to start with neither being able to get very far. The threat of a rebound lariat has Moriarty stepping away and it’s an early standoff. Moxley talks about the Heartland Wrestling Association as McGuinness escapes a cravate. McGuinness misses another rebound lariat but grabs some rollups for two each. The Border City Stretch makes McGuinness tap at 3:45 for the first fall.

Moriarty – 1
McGuinness – 0

McGuinness takes over with a wristlock so Moriarty rolls around and picks the ankle, only to get caught in a cravate. An uppercut knocks Moriarty into the corner and McGuinness is getting frustrated. They fight over an abdominal stretch until Moriarty has to go to the ropes. The Tower Of London is broken up and Moriarty goes outside, where McGuinness chops him down with twenty minutes to go. Back in and Moriarty grabs a small package for the pin at 10:56.

Moriarty – 2
McGuinness – 0

McGuinness manages to grab a quick hammerlock DDT before twisting the arm around as a bonus. Moriarty reverses into an ankle twist as the fans start chanting for McGuinness. The London Dungeon is broken up so McGuinness twists him down by the arm. A double arm crank is broken up, leaving McGuinness to use his feet to snap the arm instead.

Moriarty knocks him off the top and hits a high crossbody. McGuinness is right back with the London Dungeon, sending Moriarty right back to the rope. They trade chops in the corner until McGuinness pokes him in the eye (and shrugs in a nice moment). McGuinness goes back to the arm and grabs the London Dungeon to finally make Moriarty tap at 19:08.

Moriarty – 2
McGuinness – 1

You can see McGuinness’ confidence kick in as he knows he can beat Moriarty. McGuinness goes after the arm again but Moriarty rolls him up for the fall at 19:48.

Moriarty – 3
McGuinness – 1

McGuinness goes after the arm again and ties it up using his legs. Moriarty manages to slip out and it’s time to trade uppercuts. Moriarty’s missed charge in the corner lets McGuinness grab a neckbreaker out of said corner for two. A London Dungeon with a backbreaker is broken up so McGuinness switches into a triangle choke.

McGuiness’ LeBell Lock sends Moriarty to the ropes with five minutes to go. Another hammerlock DDT is countered into a rollup for two so McGuinness hits the rebound lariat for tow more. They go outside with Moriarty choking him out for a near countout as McGuinness manages to beat the count. The Border City Stretch goes on but McGuinness reverses into a rollup for the pin at 28:10.

Moriarty – 3
McGuinness – 2

Back up and they collide for a double down as we have a minute left. McGuinness pulls him into another rollup for the pin at 29:30.

Moriarty – 3
McGuinness – 3

McGuinness grabs a rollup for another fall at 29:48.

McGuinness – 4
Moriarty – 3

Taylor punches McGuinness out and Moriarty gets the pin at 29:59.

Moriarty – 4
McGuinness – 4

And then time expires. Hold on though as McGuinness goes to leave but Moriarty wants sudden death. McGuinness is back in and rolls Moriarty up with trunks for two. A sunset flip gets the same and they trade rollups for two each. It works so well that they do it again, with Moriarty grabbing a European clutch for the pin at 34:08.

Moriarty – 5
McGuinness – 4

Rating: B+. I loved that last bit of regulation time as I wasn’t expecting two straight falls in such a short span of time. It made for some nice extra drama and that’s what I wanted to see out of something like this. Moriarty winning is the right move as this needs to wrap everything up. McGuinness has lost to him twice now and that should be it for their rivalry, which is what it should have been. Rather good match though, with a heck of a story involved.

Post match McGuinness gives Moriarty the old title as major respect is shown.

Jon Moxley grabs the mic and talks about the Don Callis Family. Those guys thinking they’re owed something but he was raised and fortified by Ohio tap water. If Konosuke Takeshita wants to make any ground in the tournament, he’s going to have to take it from him.

We recap Mercedes Mone defending the Women’s TV Title against Red Velvet. This is one of Mone’s titles and now Velvet, who was out of action for months of her reign, is getting her rematch.

Women’s TV Title: Red Velvet vs. Mercedes Mone

Mone is defending and gets jumped during the Big Match Intros. They fight over small packages for some near falls each until Velvet misses a standing moonsault. Mone slams her down for two more and it’s off to a double arm crank. Three Amigos have Velvet in more trouble but a frog splash hits raised knees. Velvet slugs away and hits some running knees to the back.

Some stomping and choking, include Velvet doing the splits, have Mone in more trouble but she manages to send Velvet outside. The Meteora off the steps connect with Velvet, followed by the running knees against the ropes back inside. Mone takes her up top and it’s a super victory roll to give Velvet two. A Backstabber and gutbuster give Mone two and it’s time to get frustrated.

What looks like a super Tombstone is countered into a flipping faceplant into the Final Slice gives Velvet two. That means a stunned face off the kickout but the Mone Maker is countered into a faceplant for two more. Velvet kicks her in the head for another near fall but Mone gets the Statement Maker. That’s broken up with a kick off the ropes…and Velvet cradles her for the pin and the title at 13:45.

Rating: B+. Well that was awesome. I’m not sure what to think as I’ve never seen Velvet come anywhere close to what she did here and it was a heck of a match. What matters the most is that Mone put her over clean, which is what has been a rare situation for her in AEW/ROH. Awesome stuff here, and if Velvet can do this going forward, I can more than live with it.

Post match Velvet is thrilled and Mone is devastated.

We recap the Tag Team Title match. La Faccion Ingobernable had to vacate the titles due to Rush being injured so the titles have been held up. Former champion Sammy Guevara is teaming with the Beast Mortos against….a team who has never had a regular tag match before. Because Ring Of Honor.

Tag Team Titles: La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Adam Priest/Tommy Billington

For the vacant titles. Guevara and Billington start things off with Billington working on the arm to keep Guevara down. That’s broken up and Guevara knocks him away, meaning it’s time to yell at the fans. Billington goes to the leg and Guevara is quickly over to the ropes for some safety. Priest comes in to hammer on Mortos in the corner, earning a choke shove. Guevara jumps in on commentary to brag about the team’s success as Billington dropkicks Mortos.

A double backdrop puts Mortos down for two but he’s right back with a neck twist to Priest. Guevara comes in (the fans cannot stand him) for a basement superkick and it’s already back to Mortos (the fans can stand him a bit more). The right hands in the corner have Priest staggered and the villains get to take turns beating on him. Priest is able to come back with a middle rope tornado DDT and the much needed tag brings Billington back in.

The missile dropkick gets two on Mortos, who is right back with a Samoan drop for two more. Something like a Doomsday Device is broken up and Mortos misses a charge into the corner. A running clothesline/German suplex combination drops Mortos for another near fall and priest snaps off a super hurricanrana. Cue Hechicero to shove Priest off the top though and Mortos’ corkscrew moonsault pins Billington for the titles at 13:11.

Rating: B-. There wasn’t much to this one, as the action was fine but there was no reason for Billington and Priest to get the title shot. You have all kinds of teams on the ROH roster and yet here’s a team just being thrown out there for the vacant titles. It’s like they do all of the work and then just do something else at the last minute. I don’t get it, but it’s a good example of the problems with the weekly show. Either way, nice enough match here, but absolutely nothing memorable.

We recap Eddie Kingston vs. Josh Woods. They have no story here, as this is just a way to build Kingston up for his AEW World Title shot next week. That’s it.

Eddie Kingston vs. Josh Woods

Woods goes for the legs to start but Kingston pulls him down into a quick neckbreaker. Back up and a springboard kick to the head drops Kingston, allowing Woods to go after the arm. That’s broken up as well and Kingston starts hammering him down but Woods is back with shots of his own. They trade the strikes until it’s a double down for a fairly early breather.

Woods gets the better of things but walks into a German suplex. Kingston fires off chops in the corner but gets caught in an armbar. That’s broken up as well and Kingston fires off some headbutts in the corner. Even Kingston is a bit staggered but he’s able to superplex Woods down for two. The Rolling Chaos Theory gives Woods two more, with Kingston grabbing the rope. Back up and Kingston grabs a German suplex to drop Woods, allowing Kingston to shout about Samoa Joe. The DDT finishes Woods off at 9:45.

Rating: B-. They beat each other up here but there was only so much to be gotten out of two people who don’t have any issues. This was all about warming Kingston up for the World Title match next week, which means this didn’t need to be on the pay per view. Put this on Collision instead and let the show breathe a bit.

Post match, respect is shown.

We recap the Six Man Tag Team Titles. Shane Taylor Promotions have been champions for a bit and SkyFlight wanted a shot. End of build.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: SkyFlight vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

The Promotions are defending and jump them from behind to start fast. SkyFlight fights back and a jumping back elbow puts Dean down. It’s time to alternate shots on Dean’s arm until Dean gets Dante into the corner for a cheap shot. Taylor comes in to hammer Darius down in the corner before the Infantry gets to slug him against the ropes. Darius fights back but gets sent into the corner again, meaning Taylor can come in to be imposing.

The big splash gives Taylor two and it’s back to Dean, who knocks Dante outside. The running shot in the corner hits Darius and the big running flip dive takes Dante down again. Back up and Dante manages to be on the apron for the tag. House is quickly cleaned but Trish Adora trips Dante from the floor. Leila Grey takes her shoes off for the big brawl and here is Christopher Daniels to Angel’s Wings Anthony Ogogo. Everything breaks down and Taylor knocks Darius silly with the right hand, giving Dean the retaining pin at 11:30.

Rating: C+. Much like the Tag Team Title match, this didn’t have much in the way of a story to the whole thing. It was just a match between two teams, with the Promotions getting a successful title defense. It’s certainly not bad, but there’s only so much you can get out of a match with so little build put in.

We recap Ricochet defending the National Title against Dalton Castle. Ricochet won the inaugural title last month and is making the first defense of an AEW title in ROH. Castle has messed with Ricochet and has had two matches this week to get ready. Granted they were trios matches but you can’t expect it to be that much better.

AEW National Title: Dalton Castle vs. Ricochet

Ricochet is defending. They take their time to start until Ricochet grabs an early rollup for two. Castle takes him down as well and we get a lap around the ring, including the Boys. Back in and Castle takes him down again, setting up the falling splash and a spinning elbow to the face. Ricochet bails out to the floor and hits one of the Boys, meaning Castle needs to check on him.

That’s fine with Ricochet, who is right back with a running flip dive, followed by a Steve Austin middle rope elbow for two. Castle is sent into the corner for a legsweep into a slingshot dropkick. Ricochet goes up so Castle rolls away in a smart move. Ricochet’s handspring is countered into a German suplex and there’s a suplex to drop Ricochet again. The reverse Sling Blade gives Castle two so Ricochet is back up with an enziguri. A Lionsault gives Ricochet two but the Spirit Gun misses.

Ricochet escapes the Bang A Rang and grabs a standing Sliced Bread #2 for two. Some kind of big flip off the top misses for Ricochet and they fight over suplexes onto and back off of the apron. Castle manages to drop him onto the apron and it’s the Bang A Rang back inside for the near fall. Ricochet is sent outside again and this time he throws one of the Boys at Castle. That’s enough of a distraction for the Spirit Gun to retain the title at 14:57.

Rating: B. Once you saw Castle messing with the Demand, you knew the match was going to be good due to the talent involved. That was exactly what happened here and it made for a solid match. While calling Ring Of Honor an outside promotion, at least it’s a first step in the title actually feeling different.

We recap the World Title match. Rush is injured so Bandido is defending against five people in an elimination match. End of build.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Blake Christian vs. Sammy Guevara vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Hechicero vs. Komander

Bandido is defending in Survival Of The Fittest (elimination rules). There are no tags so we have Guevara and Mortos getting boos/cheers for a bit before everyone fights to the floor. Christian is fine enough to stand back and watch as Komander is sent into the corner by Guevara and Mortos. Hechicero and Mortos want Christian inside so Christian goes after Mortos to limited success.

Back in and Christian takes Guevara down but walks into a gutbuster. Mortos spears Hechicero down to end their brief alliance but Hechicero fights out of the corner. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker drops Guevara, only for Christian to send Hechicero outside for a heck of a dive.

Back in and Christian gets beaten up by Komander and Bandido, with Bandido’s corkscrew high crossbody hitting Christian and Guevara. Bandido isn’t done as he kind of powerbombs Komander onto the villains on the floor. Christian is brought back in and flipped into a backbreaker for two but Guevara breaks up Bandido vs. Komander. Guevara gets X Kneed into the Cielito Lindo for the first elimination at 11:25.

Mortos is back in to clean house but Komander cuts him off with a springboard poisonrana (dang). Bandido grabs a German suplex on Mortos and Hechicero’s hurricanrana driver finishes Mortos at 13:01. Hechicero isn’t done as he cross armbreakers Bandido but Komander makes a kind of questionable save. Bandido and Komander go up top, where Christian’s springboard hurricanrana brings them down, with Komander giving Bandido a super Spanish Fly. Well that was a mess, albeit an awesome one. Christian cutters Komander for the elimination at 15:28 and we’re down to Christian vs. Bandido vs. Hechicero.

Bandido’s leg gets tied up in the ropes with Hechicero cranking away before everyone gets two off a rollup. Christian superkicks Hechicero by mistake, allowing Bandido to hit a running hurricanrana to the floor. Back in and a frog splash gives Bandido two on Christian, whose Lethal Injection gets the same on Bandido. An X Knee staggers Christian and Hechicero is back in with the spinning hammerlock backbreaker for a rather near fall. Hechicero chokes Bandido, who jumps up and sunset flips Christian for the elimination at 20:36.

That leaves us with Bandido vs. Hechicero for the title (again) so Christian jumps Bandido and reinjures his shoulder. We pause for the medics to check on him before Hechicero sends the shoulder into the corner. A backdrop sends Bandido onto the apron and he lands on the steps, with Hechicero’s slingshot dive only hitting said steps. Bandido’s running suicide dive takes Hechicero out again but he’s back up with a rather spinning rollup for two. Hechicero’s electric chair is countered into a poisonrana and a small package retains Bandido’s title at 27:55.

Rating: B+. They did a very nice job here with the fast paced action, which is quite impressive given how thrown together the whole thing felt. I’m not sure on Bandido retaining here, but they’re doing a good job of making him feel like THE star. Hechicero continues to look good and Christian is still someone who could make for a great annoying champion. Solid stuff here, though I’m not sure how great of a choice it was for the World Title match on the biggest show of the year.

A rather psychotic looking Mercedes Mone is upset but Leila Grey comes in to say she might be the next TBS Champion. Mone freaks out and the match is set for Collision this week.

Here’s what’s coming on Dynamite.

We recap Athena defending the Women’s Title against Persephone. Athena has been champion for years and Persephone has indeed wrestled in Ring Of Honor before.

Women’s Title: Athena vs. Persephone

Athena, with Diamante, is defending and does not seem impressed to start. The tease of a test of strength lets Athena dance a bit so Persephone slaps her in the face. Another shot knocks Athena outside for a meeting with Diamante. Athena tells the fans that this is her show before heading back inside, where Persephone hits her in the face. This time Athena heads outside again, where Persephone gets hit in the face for a change.

A Codebreaker off the steps drops Persephone again but Athena seems to hurt her back. They get back inside, where Athena manages a belly to back suplex for two, though her back is giving her trouble. Diamante gets in a quick cheap shot and Athena hits a faceplant onto the apron. Persephone manages a swinging Irish Curse for two as she has quite the target. A rollup gives Athena two but Persephone is right back to the injured back. They head outside again, where Athena gets slammed HARD onto the announcers’ table, sending her bailing to the ropes.

Stereo clotheslines leave them both down before a big boot drops Athena for two more. Athena manages to catch her in a handstand, with a dropkick sending Persephone outside. Persephone is fine enough to counter a suicide dive into a fall away slam on the floor. Diamante tries to interfere and gets kicked in the face for her efforts. A missile dropkick gives Persephone two and it’s off to something like a modified Sharpshooter.

That’s enough to send Athena to the ropes and she’s back up with a springboard moonsault for two. Athena can’t get an Alabama Slam but she can get a Koji Clutch. Persephone gets out so Athena grabs it again, with Persephone getting a foot on the rope. Athena yells at her a lot, earning herself a northern lights suplex. The Razor’s Edge gives Persephone two the shock is real. Persephone takes too long loading up a moonsault and gets German superplexed back down. The O Face retains the title at 27:09.

Rating: B+. These two beat the living daylights out of each other and Athena’s insane reign continues. I’m not sure who is going to take the title from her (please no on the Billie Starkz stuff, as we’ve been there TWICE) but it’s going to be quite the moment. Persephone felt like a star as well, and it would have been even better if she had done anything of note in ROH just yet.

Athena celebrates with Diamante and Billie Starkz to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. It’s a really good show with some outstanding action, but sweet goodness it’s the third Ring Of Honor show of the week and the whole thing breaks five hours. While I was enjoying the matches, I was sick of hearing the same commentary and seeing the same logos after so much of them this week.

As is so often the case with something from Tony Khan, the wrestling is enough to make the show work, but the illogical (or in ROH, the almost non-existing) booking holds it back. Figure those things out and make the weekly show worth anything and this stuff could be great, because the wrestling is more than good enough to be worth a look.

Results
Outrunners b. Premiere Athletes – Total Recall to Daivari
Leila Grey b. Zayda Steel – Angel’s Wings
Ace Austin b. Lee Johnson – The Fold
Death Riders b. Grizzled Young Veterans – Running knee to Gibson
Deonna Purrazzo b. Billie Starkz – Venus de Milo
Lee Moriarty b. Nigel McGuinness 5-4
Red Velvet b. Mercedes Mone – Cradle
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Adam Priest/Tommy Billington – Corkscrew moonsault to Billington
Eddie Kingston b. Josh Woods – DDT
Shane Taylor Promotions b. SkyFlight – Right hand to Darius
Ricochet b. Dalton Castle – Spirit Gun
Bandido won Survival Of The Fittest last eliminating Hechicero
Athena b. Persephone – O Face

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

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Collision
Date: November 15, 2025
Location: Erie Insurance Arena, Erie, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Matt Menard

We’re done with Blood & Guts and a week away from Full Gear, which is going to be needing some extra time to get ready. There is a good chance that things will be coming together here thanks to some fallout from earlier this week. Hopefully Collision lives up to its reputation with solid matches, which is certainly an option. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We run down tonight’s card.

Long Blood & Guts recaps.

Death Riders vs. Tommy Billington/Jay Lethal/Adam Priest

Hold on though as Daniel Garcia gets in a fight with Matt Menard before the bell. Menard is taken out by the medical team so Jon Moxley takes his place, as we can’t go four days without hearing from him after Blood & Guts. Garcia gets taken into the corner to start and pummeled in the head before it’s off to Yuta. Lethal works on Yuta’s arm before it’s back to Garcia, who gets double elbowed in the face. Billington gets low bridged to the floor though and we take a break.

We come back with Billington still in trouble, with the Riders hitting some running shots in the corner. Pac’s Tombstone gets two, thankfully with Lethal making a save. Billington is able to fight his way off the top and adds a nice missile dropkick (even Moxley is impressed), only to get sent outside again. Back in and the much needed tag brings in Lethal to clean house, including a Lethal Combination to Yuta. Garcia saves Pac from the Figure Four but Lethal accidentally Lethally Injects Billington. The Brutalizer finishes Lethal at 10:53.

Rating: C+. Rather Collisiony Death Riders match here, with little doubt about who was going to win but it got some time anyway. There is only so much you can get out of something like this, especially with the team showing pretty much no ill effects from Blood & Guts. Lethal and company have barely been together for a few weeks now and it’s not like they seemed to be some hot new team anyway.

Post match Pac talks about how awesome it was to watch Darby Allin burn. The challenge is officially on for Full Gear. What is this? Four straight pay per views of Allin vs. the Death Riders?

The Don Callis Family is ready for Mark Briscoe, both tonight and at Full Gear.

Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa are in the back with Storm saying that while she dies every day, the other team hurt the woman she loves. Vengeance is sworn.

Mark Briscoe vs. Mark Davis

The brawl is on to start fast and Briscoe hits a running Blockbuster off the apron. Davis breaks up the Bang Bang Elbow though and starts hammering away back inside. A top rope superplex gives Davis two and we take a break. We come back with Briscoe fighting of an abdominal stretch but getting knocked right back down instead.

Some chops wake Briscoe up and he wins a slugout off a running forearm. The Froggy Bow hits raised knees though and Davis heads outside to grab a chair. Naturally that takes too long though and Briscoe is up with a step up running flip dive. Back in and the Froggy Bow finishes Davis at 11:17.

Rating: C+. Briscoe continues to be one of the better stars around here as he is able to work well with anyone. At the same time, this was another match where it felt like we were waiting around for the inevitable finish. Briscoe is ready for his big title shot next week, and having him beat up Fletcher’s only so successful partner won’t give him a ton of momentum.

Scorpio Sky, with Christopher Daniels, wants the TNT Title back.

Josh Alexander breaks Michael Nakazawa’s ankle and challenges Kenny Omega for Dynamite.

Here is MxM TV for their Casting Call (open challenge with any combination of the team).

Taya Valkyrie vs. Tay Melo

Melo chops away in the corner to start but Valkyrie takes her into the corner the sliding German suplex. That’s shrugged off and Melo is up with a flip dive to the floor, followed by the TayKO for the pin at 2:14.

Post match Marina Shafir comes in to deck Melo and chokes her out but Toni Storm runs in for the save.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Powerhouse Hobbs from Dynamite (a great match), setting up Page vs. Samoa Joe in a cage at Full Gear.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Scorpio Sky

Sky, with Christopher Daniels, is challenging and his offer of a handshake is kicked away. A wristlock works a bit better for Sky but Fletcher pulls him into one of his own. Fletcher gets back into the corner so he bails out to the floor, allowing Sky to steal his cape. Back in and it’s Sky working on the arm before goldbricking his way into a rollup for two.

A running forearm puts Fletcher outside again, where he drops Sky onto the apron. Fletcher even boots Daniels in the face, with the medics coming out to check on him as we take a break. We come back with Sky fighting out of a chinlock and telling Fletcher to bring it. Sky unloads with right hands in the corner and sends him outside for a quick hurricanrana off the apron.

Back in and a dragon screw legwhip drops Fletcher again, followed by a slingshot cutter to the apron. Granted it’s more the top of Fletcher’s head than anything else but that could have been rather painful otherwise. The half crab is broken up as Fletcher makes the rope and Fletcher hits a running boot in the corner. The brainbuster retains the title at 15:11.

Rating: B. While it was as predictable of a result as possible, it was at least a harder hitting and more interesting match. That’s good to see and not at all surprising, with Sky being someone who can do just about anything. Fletcher needs some momentum on the way to Full Gear and a hard fought match with a former champion isn’t a bad way to go.

Post match Sky gets beaten down, with SkyFlight and Mark Briscoe running in for the save. Briscoe tells Fletcher to give the title some kisses and hugs, because it’s coming home with him at Full Gear. Fletcher reveals he’s one win away from the all time defense record in a single reign. That’s not exactly important but I’m sure we’ll hear about it over and over.

The former Acclaimed, the Bang Bang Gang, Big Bill/Bryan Keith and the Outrunners are ready to fight for $200,000 at the Full Gear Kickoff Show.

We get a By The Numbers look at Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander.

Riho/Alex Windsor vs. Hyan/Maya World

World backs Riho into the ropes to start but gets caught with a running knee in the corner. Windsor comes in but can’t get the Sharpshooter. Instead she settles for a running clothesline in the corner, followed by a running flip dive off the apron. We take a break and come back with Riho slipping out of a suplex and handing it off to Windsor. Everything breaks down and Hyan gets hit from behind, allowing Riho to grab a crucifix bomb for the pin at 7:49.

Rating: C. Hyan and World replace a team who were complaining about only having three minutes in the ring and get more than double that time shortly thereafter. That feels like a bit of a rub in the face and if so, good for AEW. Riho and Windsor get their warmup win before they’re in the tournament, which suggests that they shouldn’t be in the tournament in the first place yet here we are.

Post match Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa pop up on screen to say they’ll be facing Riho and Windsor in the first round. Violence is promised in the form of a bloody good time.

After Blood & Guts, the Conglomeration is thrilled that Kyle O’Reilly made Jon Moxley submit.

That’s enough for Moxley to get off commentary and grab the mic to challenge O’Reilly for anytime, anyplace.

Tay Melo respects Toni Storm and wants to fight Marina Shafir.

La Faccion Ingobernable/FTR vs. Juice Robinson/Jet Speed/Bandido

Bandido and Harwood start things off with Hardwood uppercutting away. A snap suplex drops Bandido and it’s off to Wheeler, who gets taken down by a spinning high crossbody. Bailey come sin and is quickly dropped, allowing Guevara to go up, drop back down, and hits a basement superkick. That doesn’t get Guevara very far as it’s off to Knight vs. Rush, with Knight having to clothesline his way out of trouble.

Robinson comes in to clean house with atomic drops and spinebusters, at least until Rush nails him with a forearm. Bandido and Bailey hit stereo Asai moonsaults to the floor and Knight’s DDT gets two on Harwood as we take a break. We come back with Bailey hitting a missile dropkick but getting caught in a belly to back DDT. The moonsault knees get Bailey out of trouble and the big tag brings in Bandido to clean house.

The frog splash gets two on Rush, who apron superplexes Bandido for two, with Bandido being stuck on his own. That doesn’t last long and it’s Bandido left alone with Rush. The Bull’s Horns are countered into a German suplex but Rush headbutts Bandido for a double down. Guevara hits a huge moonsault onto Robinson and Wheeler Gory Bombs Knight onto the apron. Bailey misses the moonsault knees on the apron but Bandido 21 Plexes Rush for the pin at 14:38.

Rating: B. Another exciting match with good action, though very little in the way of interest. It felt like a case where someone looked at the locker room and threw together whomever happened to be around into an eight man tag. In other words, it’s a perfect way to wrap up this particular edition of the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Here’s the thing about this show: it was perfectly fine from a wrestling perspective. At the same time, it was a show that you absolutely did not need to watch, with little (though some) storyline advancement other than a few challenges being laid out. It’s a show where you would probably have fun if you’re a diehard AEW fan and love anything they produce (nothing wrong with that), but if you’re looking for a show that moves things forward, just wait for Dynamite.

Results
Death Riders b. Tommy Billington/Jay Lethal/Adam Priest – Brutalizer to Lethal
Mark Briscoe b. Mark Davis – Froggy Bow
Tay Melo b. Taya Valkyrie – TayKO
Riho/Alex Windsor b. Hyan/Maya World – Crucifix bomb to Hyan
Bandido/Juice Robinson/Jet Speed b. FTR/La Faccion Ingobernable – 21 Plex to Rush

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

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Collision
Date: November 1, 2025
Location: Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s Fright Night, meaning it’s time to have something a bit scarier around here. However, we also have quite the stacked lineup, with the Ring Of Honor World Title on the line, plus Mercedes Mone defending…well one of her many titles. Other than that, we are in the middle of the Women’s Tag Team Titles tournament so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

The opening video focuses on the Dia de los Muertos and looks at the card.

Opening sequence.

Max Caster/Anthony Bowens vs. Kazuchika Okada/Konosuke Takeshita

Don Callis is on commentary and the match is having so he can prove his Family works well together. Takeshita and Bowens trade arm cranking to start before chopping it out. Bowens knocks him down and Caster comes in to knock the Family outside. Bowens teases a dive off the top but Caster takes them down with a slingshot dive instead, much to Bowens’ annoyance.

Back in and Caster gets beaten up in the corner, setting up Okada’s falling top rope elbow. Okada’s middle finger to Takeshita lets Caster get two off a rollup so Okada gives him the Air Raid Crash onto the knee for two. Caster is able to slip over for the tag off to Bowens, whose house cleaning is quickly cut off by Okada as we take a break. We come back with Bowens striking away at Okada and flipping away from Takeshita.

That’s enough for Caster to tag himself in, meaning it’s time for some claps. Everything breaks down and Takeshita hits a Tower Of Doom, including a powerbomb to Okada. Bowens plants Okada but Caster tags himself in to load up the top rope elbow. They argue again and Okada Rainmakers Bowens, leaving Takeshita to take himself in for Raging Fire on Caster (ignore his shoulder being on Takeshita’s leg and therefore up during the pin) for the pin at 14:02.

Rating: C+. The action was fine, though I was having flashbacks to something out of a Battlebowl here. Having both teams fighting among themselves didn’t make for the most exciting match and that’s what we had here. Takeshita still seems likely to leave the Family soon, which would be a better move, just because this is quite the odd usage of the IWGP World Champion.

Post match Callis makes them raise their hands together but they aren’t happy.

Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale are a team because they have matching gear. You can take the babes out of the wrath but you can’t take the wrath out of the babes.

Video on Toni Storm/Mina Shirakawa.

CMLL Women’s Title: Olympia vs. Mercedes Mone

Mone is defending and Kris Statlander is on commentary. They pose at each other to start before Mone takes her down and dances. That earns her a whip into the corner and some running knees into a dance from Olympia. Mone gets thrown down again and Statlander is rather impressed. A superplex is broken up and Mone sends her outside for the Meteora off the apron.

We take a break and come back with Mone getting two off a fisherman’s suplex but an armbar is countered into a sitout powerbomb. Mone tries some rollups but gets muscled into a sitout F5 for two. That’s enough for Mone to go outside where she gets in an argument with Statlander. Back in and Mone easily gets the Statement Maker to retain at 10:56.

Rating: C+. Again, you knew what you’re going to get from Mone, as the matches are usually fine but it’s almost impossible to imagine her losing anything. Yes it happened once and that does help, but at the same time, Mone having so many titles and defending a few of them on TV is a lot to take. Either have her lose some titles or just stop with the belt collector deal, which still isn’t that interesting.

Post match Mone has to run away from a charging Statlander.

We recap Dynamite.

The Young Bucks are distraught when Don Callis comes in. He’s gotten them a six man tag at Full Gear, where they can team with Josh Alexander against the Jurassic Express and Kenny Omega. The prize for the winners: $1 million. Question: why would Tony Khan keep giving the Bucks these chances? They’ve abused his money and power for years and are under contract, so why would he keep letting them try to get back on their feet?

Miranda Alize/Nixon Newell vs. Marina Shafir/Megan Bayne

Jon Moxley is on commentary. Alize and Newell jump them to start fast and Bayne misses a charge in the corner. Double superkicks stagger Bayne again but she German suplexes both of them at once. It’s off to Shafir to slam both of them at once and everything breaks down. Bayne gives Newell the running Liger Bomb for the pin at 2:26 while Shafir gives Alize Mother’s Milk.

We unveil the lineups for the women’s Blood & Guts match:

Triangle Of Madness/Megan Bayne/Marina Shafir/Mercedes Mone
Jamie Hayter/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron/Toni Storm/Kris Statlander

So just about every woman on the roster of note.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. The Conglomeration

Strong and Guevara go with the grappling to start, with Guevara actually getting the better of things. Komander comes in to fire off the chops before flipping over Dralistico. They trade armdrags and legsweeps into a standoff and it’s off to Mortos to shoulder Briscoe. Guevara even jumps in on commentary to brag about his teammates before Mortos gets in a big backdrop. Briscoe strikes away to take over and it’s back to Komander for a spinning anklescissors.

La Faccion is sent outside for stereo dropkicks through the ropes from Briscoe and Strong. Guevara cuts Komander down though and we take a break. We come back with Dralistico hitting a springboard spinning Canadian Destroyer for two. Komander gets in a faceplant though and it’s Strong coming back in to clean house. Mortos comes in to deck Strong, who gets over to Briscoe to strike away. Briscoe adds a big dive to the floor but Mortos breaks up the Jay Driller. Komander is back in with a springboard poisonrana though, leaving Briscoe to Jay Driller Dralistico for the pin at 11:56.

Rating: B-. This was the usual AEW six man tag, with everyone flying around and getting in their stuff. Briscoe gets a win as he’s trying to find something else to do, which is always appreciated. LFI doesn’t have anything going on anyway (yes that includes being ROH Tag Team Champions) so put them out there and let them get at least a bit of exposure.

We recap the Hangman Page attack on Samoa Joe from the end of Dynamite.

Eddie Kingston was checking on Hook after his loss to Samoa Joe but doesn’t have much to say.

Here is MxM TV for their Casting Call.

MxM TV vs. Bang Bang Gang

Austin and TV start things off and everything breaks down rather quickly. Gunn cleans house and Austin hits a running flip dive to the floor. Back in and Austin flips out of a double belly to back suplex, allowing the tag off to Robinson. The forward DDT hits TV and a powerbomb gets two on Mansoor. A double suplex drops Madden and it’s the Fold to finish TV at 3:32.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here and it was nice to see the Gang getting back on track. Granted it helps when you have an actual three man team rather than the leftovers of the original version. If nothing else, Austin getting time on a bigger stage is nice to see, as he’s certainly good enough to get a shot.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

We recap Mascara Dorada challenging Bandido for the Ring Of Honor World Title. They had a classic in their first title match so we’ll do it again.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Mascara Dorada vs. Bandido

Bandido is defending and they fight over arm control to start. Dorada takes him to the mat and tries a surfboard, with Bandido standing up to escape. That works so well that they switch places and do the exact same thing for another standoff. Stereo handspring flips leave them staring at each other again but Bandido sends him outside. A dive misses though and Bandido’s shoulder is banged up again as we take a break.

We come back with Dorada elbowing him down for two but getting taken down with a spinning high crossbody. Bandido slams him with one arm and Dorada is knocked outside for an Alley Oop onto the apron. The big dive connects but Bandido goes head first into the announcers’ table for a nasty crash. Back in and a monkey flip sends Dorada into the corner so the frog splash can give Bandido two. A spinning DDT gives Dorada two and they go to the apron, where Bandido hits a pop up cutter to the floor.

We take another break and come back with Dorada hitting a springboard high crossbody. A hurricanrana sends Bandido outside for the running corkscrew dive, followed by a shooting star. Back in and Bandido’s running knee gets two but Dorada reverses a DDT into a suplex. A pop up powerbomb gives Bandido a breather and they trade running boots for a double down. Dorada’s shooting star press hits raised knees but he’s fine enough to catch Bandido on top. A running super hurricanrana is countered into a sunset bomb for two, followed by the 21 Plex to retain Bandido’s title at 22:44.

Rating: A-. Yeah this was great, as Bandido is on the roll of rolls this year. He’s seemingly incapable of having a bad match and it’s awesome to see what he does no matter who he’s out there against. Dorada has turned into a star as well and he had an outstanding performance of his own here. Great stuff, though it would be nice to have it actually on Ring Of Honor instead of elsewhere.

Respect is shown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The main event helped the show a lot and that’s a good thing, as the rest of this week was just decent. It was a lot of focus on less than interesting stuff, including the Don Callis Family and Mercedes Mone. Blood & Guts and Full Gear coming up will help a lot, though it would be nice if something more interesting happened around here. Bandido can only do so much, and while the main event was great, it’s still just the Ring Of Honor World Title.

Results
Konosuke Takeshita/Kazuchika Okada b. Max Caster/Anthony Bowens – Raging Fire to Caster
Mercedes Mone b. Olympia – Statement Maker
Marina Shafir/Megan Bayne b. Miranda Alize/Nixon Newell – Running Liger Bomb to Newell
The Conglomeration b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Jay Driller to Dralistico
Bang Bang Gang b. MxM TV – Fold to TV
Bandido b. Mascara Dorada – 21 Plex

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

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Dynamite
Date: October 15, 2025
Location: Cable Dahmer Arena, Independence, Missouri
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

It’s another special night as we have WrestleDream coming up in three days. As a result, this week sees Dynamite and Collision going back to back, which means we’ll be seeing the final pushes to the pay per view in one night. That means we’ll be seeing quite a bit here so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We look at Kota Ibushi breaking his leg on Collision, leading to Jack Perry saving Kenny Omega from a post match brawl. Omega doesn’t trust Perry but says we’ll see where it goes tonight.

We run down the card.

Renee Paquette sits down with Toni Storm and Kris Statlander for their final words before the title match. After they all take off their jackets (including a frustrated Paquette), Storm says she needs the title back and is ready to do anything to get it. If that means being murdered by Statlander, so be it. Statlander says she is constantly evolving, so the woman who beat Storm for the title is already gone. She is the champion and will be forever. Storm gets up and they go face to face, with Storm saying they’ll meet each other in the ring. Paquette is frustrated and wants her jacket back.

Here are Storm and Statlander in the ring and the fight is on. Storm hands her the belt and drops to her knees, only to German suplex Statlander down. Then Statlander drops to her knees as Storm picks up the title, which she hands to Statlander and leaves.

Jack Perry is cutting a piece of wood and says he doesn’t hate the Young Bucks. He is happy with what they did together but they weren’t there when he needed them. That’s why he had to look to his past for help, which is why he is back with Luchasaurus.

Gates Of Agony vs. Hurt Syndicate

Ricochet and MVP are here too. Benjamin and Kaun start things off and slug it out, with Benjamin shrugging off the beating in the corner. Kaun gets kicked down and it’s off to Lashley for a double shoulder. A delayed suplex drops Kaun but he kicks the ropes into a low blow on Lashley.

Liona gets in a Samoan drop on the floor and we take a break. We come back with Liona charging into an overhead belly to belly, allowing Benjamin to come in and clean house. Benjamin’s running DDT plants Kaun and Lashley collides with Liona on the floor. The distraction lets Ricochet come in with a Spirit Gun to Benjamin, allowing Kaun to steal the pin at 9:38.

Rating: B-. There is something fun about watching these teams throw each other around with some rather impressive power. It’s little more than a preview for the six man tag at WrestleDream and in that case, the Gates really needed the win to give them some more momentum. Nice match here, with the villains cheating to win as they should.

We look at Darby Allin getting in a fight with Jon Moxley at New York Comic Con.

Earlier today, Moxley and Allin had a face to face meeting with some glass between them. Moxley says the game is rigged in both directions because neither of them will ever quit. Allin can join the Death Riders and end this but he doesn’t respect Moxley. Why would he want to join someone who treated Bryan Danielson the way they did?

Moxley says sacrifices have to be made but Allin talks about how he saw the freedom at the top of Mount Everest. Now Moxley is chipping away at everything around here, though Moxley says Allin is fighting ghosts of the past. Then Pac comes in to jump Allin, whose blood winds up on the glass. I am out of words to explain how sick I am of Moxley and everything he says and does.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Roderick Strong

They go with the grappling on the mat and then against the ropes to start. Strong avoids a charge in the corner and chops away before chopping away even more. Castagnoli’s headlock is broken up so he grabs it again, followed by a hard elbow. Strong fights up and gets out to the floor, where Castagnoli swings him into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Castagnoli grabbing a crossface, which sends Strong into the ropes. That’s enough to start the comeback and sending Castagnoli outside for a drop onto the barricade. Back in and Strong drops him onto the turnbuckle, only to charge into Swiss Death for the pin at 10:49.

Rating: B-. As usual, the match was fine, but it’s kind of hard to get interested in a match between two people who have been beaten down this much. Castagnoli is in a better place than Strong, though that’s not saying much. Strong hasn’t won anything important since he’s been in AEW, so how much does it matter for either of these two to win here?

The Don Callis Family is having a birthday party for Don Callis. After a quick song, Callis says this is all about power and is presented with….a video from Konosuke Takeshita, who promises to win the IWGP World Title for Callis. Kazuchika Okada cuts the video off and they toast to family.

We see Konosuke Takeshita winning the IWGP World Title earlier this week.

Don Callis Family vs. Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express

Omega and Alexander start things off, with Alexander immediately tagging Hechicero. Omega’s leg is taken out and twisted around, setting up a dragon screw legwhip. The comeback is cut off as Omega won’t tag and gets taken down by the leg again. Alexander works on the leg in the ropes but Omega gets out and rolls over for the tag to Perry. That means Alexander is quickly beaten down Davis runs Perry over as we take a break.

We come back with Alexander pulling Perry into the ankle lock, which is quickly broken up. Omega dramatically gets on the apron for the tag, with even Callis admitting that Omega is on fire here. A running knee gets two on Alexander as everything breaks down. Davis and Luchasaurus knock each other down but Luchasaurus is back up to take over.

Callis offers a distraction to cut off the V Trigger but Perry sacrifices himself to take a clothesline from Davis. A piledriver gets two on Omega and Hechicero grabs a cross armbreaker, with Luchasaurus having to chokeslam Alexander onto them for the break. Everything breaks down and a springboard Doomsday Device finishes Hechicero at 13:57.

Rating: B. The match was pretty good, though there is only so much interest that is coming from the Don Callis Family. They’ve been around for so long and are so dull most of the time that it’s making their matches run with an anchor. Throw in the drama between Perry and Omega being solved in all of a few minutes and this wasn’t the most dramatic match.

Post match the Young Bucks run in to jump the Express, with Omega coming in to yell until Luchasaurus makes the save. Perry moonsaults onto the Don Callis Family.

Skye Blue vs. Jamie Hayter

Julia Hart is here with Blue. Hayter grabs a front facelock to start before switching into a headlock takeover. Back up and Hayter sends her into the buckles, followed by a snap suplex for two. They go outside where Hart’s distraction lets Blue grab a neckbreaker as we take a break.

We come back with Hayter hitting a missile dropkick and a Saito suplex getting two. They trade shots to the face and Hayter’s backbreaker leaves both of them down. Hayter takes her outside for a throw, followed by a fireman’s carry backbreaker back inside. Hayterade finishes Blue off at 12:05.

Rating: C+. The long build towards Blood & Guts continues and it’s still only so interesting. It’s a feud that has been going on for a bit, though it still doesn’t feel violent or angry enough for that kind of a match. I do like that Hayter is at least getting some wins, as she was on fire before her crazy long injury layoff and needs to be built back up in a big way.

Post match Thekla pops up on the screen to say she attacked Hayter (back in May) because Hayter was there. At WrestleDream, they’ll get toxic to the core.

Mercedes Mone brags about winning her tenth title (in DENMARK), which ties Ultimo Dragon’s record. She’s going to defend her CMLL Women’s Title on Friday and on the same day, become the longest reigning TBS Champion of all time. Then she’ll win at WrestleDream! And yes, you are supposed to be impressed that Mone is winning all of these tiny independent titles. That’s really what they’re doing here.

Trios Titles: Opps vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

The Opps are defending and Hangman Page is on commentary. Hobbs and Mortos start things off with Hobbs firing off the clotheslines in the corner. Mortos is right back with a Sling Blade so Rush comes in and requests Shibata. They chop it out and trade German suplexes until Shibata’s STO leaves them both down. Joe comes in to fire off the jabs at Mortos before it’s right back to Shibata, who is quickly triple teamed. A triple dropkick drops Shibata again and we take a break.

We come back with Shibata still in trouble, including with Dralistico sending Mortos into him for a spear in a cool sequence. Shibata suplexes his way out of trouble and it’s back to Hobbs to clean house. Joe is in as well and starts to run people over, with a powerslam getting two on Dralistico. Everything breaks down and the Koquina Clutch finishes Dralistico at 11:25.

Rating: B-. It wasn’t a great match, but I definitely appreciate the titles being defended. There is little more frustrating than for titles to just sit on the shelves for months on end so getting a title defense in there is a good move. Joe gets to look dominant enough going into the title match on Saturday, which is even more important than anything involving these titles.

Post match LFI jump Joe and Rush spits at Page, who comes in to clean house, with LFI bailing to the floor. Joe gets the World Title and, eventually, hands it to Page before leaving to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Not a bad show at all and it did a nice enough job building towards a lot of the WrestleDream matches. At the same time, sweet goodness they have got to get away from the Death Riders and Don Callis Family. I’m not sure who thought it was a good idea to have two huge heel stables, but it’s even worse with having them be so dull. This company really needs some better villains, because what they’ve got at the moment is not working. As usual, the in-ring side of things was fine, but the rest left a good bit to be desired.

Results
Gates Of Agony b. Hurt Syndicate – Spirit Gun to Benjamin
Claudio Castagnoli b. Roderick Strong – Swiss Death
Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express b. Don Callis Family – Springboard Doomsday Device to Hechicero
Jamie Hayter b. Skye Blue – Hayterade
Opps b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Koquina Clutch to Dralistico

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: September 11, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Dylan Hales, Johnny Mosley

This is a special show produced by Ring Of Honor and Action Wrestling under the name “Action Dean 3”. This was previously done back in May and the show was fun enough, though I have no idea what to expect here. There will be a bunch of luchadors included, which could make for an interesting night. Let’s get to it.

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

Hechiero/Xelhua/Dr. Cerebro vs. Blue Panther/Virus/El Panthera

2/3 falls, submission only. Cerebro and Panthera start things off with Panthera taking him down to escape a headlock. Panther and Xelhua come in and they go to the mat for a quickly escaped headscissors. Panther goes after the legs and rides around a bit before getting us to a standoff. Virus and Hechicero come in with more grappling, including Hechicero rolling him around for a cradle but realizing that there are no pins. Hechicero is sent outside so Panther can hit a diving hurricanrana off the apron. Back in and Xelhua ties Virus (almost a reverse cross armbreaker) for the tap and the first fall at 7:35.

Panthera sends Xelhua into the corner and headscissors him down, meaning it’s off to Panther vs. Hechicero. Cerebro has to come in for a save so Panther armdrags him down. Virus dropkicks Cerebro into a frog splash from Panthera and Panthera ties Xelhua’s arms and legs up for the submission at 13:27.

Xelhua comes back in and takes Virus down with an elbow to the face but Virus ties up some limbs. Hechicero makes the save so Panther breaks that up, leaving Cerebro to armbar Panthera. That’s broken up so Hechicero comes off the top with a forearm but quickly lets go of Panthera’s leg. Panther dives onto Hechicero on the floor, leaving Panthera to crawl to the ropes. Back in and Panthera sunset flips Hechicero, which means nothing, so Hechicero ties up all four limbs to make Panthera submit for the win at 19:57.

Rating: B-. I never know what to say about a match like this because I barely know anything about it. That’s the thing with this kind of a show: I need to know a lot more about what I’m seeing and that isn’t being offered. Instead it’s just “here these people are, have fun”. That made for a good enough match, but commentary only offered so much here.

Nicole Matthews vs. Billie Starkz

Commentary points out that Starkz is reckless, even as she grabs a headscissors. Matthews isn’t having any of the mocking offers of a test of strength so Starkz gives her an Alabama Slam into the corner. With that rather scary crash out of the way, Matthews fights up with some clotheslines but Starkz hits a Death Valley Driver onto the knee. A brainbuster gets two more but Matthews misses the moonsault. Starkz kicks her in the head and hits an electric chair driver for the pin at 7:44.

Rating: C-. Starkz’s reputation for being sloppy in there is becoming her signature thing, which isn’t a good sign for anyone. This match featured two spots where Matthews’ head took a scary bump and that is far from a one off for Starkz. Either that needs to improve or Starkz shouldn’t be in the ring, because the safety thing can’t be ignored.

Sammy Guevara and Rush, with the rest of La Faccion Ingobernable, is ready for everyone.

Matt Mako vs. Wheeler Yuta

Marina Shafir is here with Yuta. Mako takes him down into a kneebar to start, with Yuta going straight to the rope. An armbar is blocked so Mako goes after him, with Yuta having to cover up. Back up and Yuta sends him outside and then knocks him off the apron, allowing Yuta to work on the arm back inside. Cattle Mutilation keeps Mako in trouble, only for him to escape into a slightly better headlock. Back up and Mako sends him into the corner, where Yuta gets a turnbuckle pad off.

We’ll get to that later as they head outside, with Mako grabbing a choke. That’s broken up so Mako tries his cross armbreaker back inside. Yuta fights out of that so Mako sits him on top for a suplex into a powerbomb for two. Mako’s kick to the face is shrugged off and Yuta German suplexes him for two. They go up top, with Mako flipping him into a cross armbreaker. Shafir offers a distraction, allowing Yuta to go to the eyes. A running knee finishes for Yuta at 11:46.

Rating: B-. Nice technical match here, as Mako has shown some skills during his limited appearances. I’m not sure if there is a place for him in AEW either long or short term, but he’s done well in the chances he has received. Yuta might be boring, but he knows how to do this kind of match rather well.

Video on the Premiere Athletes and their newest acquisition, Sori Denali.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Cheeseburger/Rhett Titus/Eli Isom

Mortos and Titus start things off but it’s Guevara coming in without any contact being made. Dralistico comes in to take him into the corner and it’s off to Mortos for a hard clothesline to Cheeseburger. A triple dropkick puts Isom down and everything breaks down, with Titus being sent into the barricade. Guevara drops the Swanton to pin Isom at 3:41.

Rating: C. Total squash here, with La Faccion getting to smash through some people. That’s nice to see after Guevara and Rush (who wasn’t wrestling here) won the Tag Team Titles, as they haven’t been around much since. It didn’t set anything up, but I’ll take something showing me that they’re at least still here.

Post match Guevara gets the mic and gets booed out of the building. Guevara talks about how great the team is and they want more titles.

Lee Johnson says Swirl is awesome and they want Blake Christian to get the next title shot against Bandido.

Demus El Demonico vs. Mad Dog Connelly

Hair vs. Hair and Connelly has a bad eye. Connelly misses some right hands to start but elbows Demus in the face. What looks like a shirt is used to choke Demus across the ropes as there are A LOT of empty seats visible. They go outside with Demus being sent into the steps but he whips Connelly in as well. Back in and a spinning middle rope crossbody gives Demus two and he goes after the eye.

Demus bites Connelly’s nipple but Connelly is back with a gutwrench suplex for two. A chair to the back has Demus in trouble but a spear only hits the open chair. Demus chairs him down for a change, only to miss a middle rope backsplash. A cradle piledriver gives Connelly two but he gets caught with a kneeling MuscleBuster for the same. Demus ties a chain around Connelly’s neck and chokes him over the ropes for the win at 10:31.

Rating: C+. I’m sure there’s a big story here but there apparently wasn’t time to tell us what that story was. Commentary mentioned a history but not exactly why they’re fighting. Then again there’s really no explanation for why we’re watching most of this so it fits in with the theme of the night. It was a nice enough power brawl, but I’m going to need a bit more of a reason to care about what I’m seeing.

Post match Demus goes to cut the hair but Connelly does it himself.

Video on the Pure Title.

Pure Title: Josh Woods vs. Lee Moriarty

Moriarty is defending. Woods takes him down by the leg to start and they trade small packages for two. Moriarty starts in on the arm and the Border City Stretch goes on. They go to the ropes, with Woods using the first break. A kneebar makes Moriarty us his first break and it’s time to trade armbars. Back up and Woods hits a release gordbuster but Moriarty uses the ropes to block a fisherman’s buster.

Woods’ gutwrench suplex is countered with a hurricanrana to the floor, followed by another armbar. Woods uses another rope break but Moriarty is right there with a springboard forearm for two more. The cross armbreaker into a triangle choke has Woods in trouble, until he powerbombs his way to freedom. That lets Woods cover him for three, but Moriarty’s foot was underneath the ropes for his final break. An exchange of rollups goes to Moriarty to retain the title at 10:10.

Rating: B. Pretty easily the best match of the night as both of them are rather good at this style. At the same time, it’s still Moriarty having the same kind of a match that he’s had for over a year as champion. It was barely built up and came and went, as Moriarty’s record setting reign continues.

Shane Taylor Promotions come out to celebrate and Shane Taylor himself wants a fight with someone from Action Wrestling.

Shane Taylor vs. AR Fox

Fox ducks away from some right hands to start and kicks Taylor in the back. Taylor is sent to the floor for some dives but he pulls one out of the air. Fox gets swung into the barricade and some hard chops give Taylor two. A hard clothesline drops Fox for two and a release Rock Bottom puts him down again.

Fox gets in some enziguris and elbows him down in the corner. The skin the cat dropkick connects but they head to the apron, with Fox being thrown onto the barricade. That just earns Taylor a jumping cutter, followed by a Swanton for two back inside. Taylor punches him out for the pin at 5:55.

Rating: B-. For a match that had very little time, they got something going here and I wanted to see Fox win. That’s a good sign for how far he’s come, but at some point he needs to win one of these featured matches. I get it as Taylor is a fresh champion, but dang it’s frustrating to see Fox lose again.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a show where it felt like I was dropped into the middle of a book and just expected and figure it out from there. Action Wrestling is hardly some big time promotion but we’re thrown into the middle of a tribute show for someone you might not know. The wrestlers aren’t exactly household names either and that made for a show where it’s rather hard to care about what I’m seeing. I’ll certainly take a break from the dull ROH show, but do a better job of telling me what I’m seeing.

Results
Hechicero/Xelhua/Dr. Cerebro b. Blue Panther/Virus/El Panthera 2-1
Billie Starkz b. Nicole Matthews – Electric chair driver
Wheeler Yuta b. Matt Mako – Running knee
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Cheeseburger/Rhett Titus/Eli Isom – Swanton to Isom
Demus El Demonico b. Mad Dog Connelly – Choke with a chain over the ropes
Lee Moriarty b. Josh Woods – Rollup
Shane Taylor b. AR Fox – Right hand

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

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

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

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

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

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

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

We recap Darby Allin challenging Jon Moxley for Forbidden Door.

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

Jon Moxley vs. Kevin Knight

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

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

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

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

We recap FTR attacking Adam Copeland, who wants revenge.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Copeland vs. Stokely Hathaway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opps vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Collision
Date: August 9, 2025
Location: Berglund Center, Roanoke, Virginia
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Paul Walter Hauser

Things are picking up a bit on the way to Forbidden Door later this month. The card is getting some matches together but now the question becomes how many additional stars will be brought in from around the world. That’s something that is going to need to be addressed rather soon so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Ishii is a surprise challenger. They trade forearms to start (as Ishii tends to do) and then…well they continue to trade forearms. Ishii’s clothesline sets up a failed brainbuster attempt but Fletcher wants a breather on the floor. Back in and they trade chops, which is quite the difference from trading forearms.

With that not working, Fletcher goes with the tried and true method of kicking Ishii in the face before grabbing the chinlock. Ishii suplexes his way to freedom but Fletcher grabs a powerbomb as we take a break. We come back with Ishii suplexing him again before firing off more chops in the corner. A superplex gives Ishii two and they go to the apron, where Fletcher grabs a brainbuster.

Back in and a top rope elbow gives Fletcher two but Ishii shrugs off a German suplex. Ishii’s German suplex into an enziguri has both of them down for a bit before they trade forearms again. The big lariat gives Ishii two but Fletcher hits some running kicks in the corner. The brainbuster retains the title at 16:45.

Rating: B. It was a hard hitting fight, though you know what you’re going to get with an Ishii match. This pretty much followed his usual trend and that was only going to be so good. Fletcher gets another win though and that’s a good sign for his future, as it’s pretty clear that he’s a big star in the making.

Post match Fletcher calls out the best of New Japan for Forbidden Door. Then everyone will have no choice but to say his full name.

Don Callis is ready to fulfill his destiny at Forbidden Door and wants New Japan to send his best. Then he’ll use his custom New Japan tie to choke them.

Nigel McGuinness is going to be in a four way on Dynamite for a shot against Zack Sabre Jr. at Forbidden Door.

Earlier today Ricochet and the Gates Of Agony beat up a bunch of people. Ricochet said give them what they want or this will keep happening.

The Patriarchy is asked about the Conchairto to Christian Cage last week. Cage had said he respected them for standing up to them but now they’re being questioned. Nick Wayne is a shooting star who has been released and now their mission is to end Cage’s career.

Megan Bayne vs. Emily Rose

Total squash with Bayne hitting a middle rope clothesline and a powerbomb out of the corner for the pin at 1:06.

Big Bill and Bryan Keith swear vengeance on Juice Robinson.

Juice Robinson vs. Ricochet

Austin Gunn is here with Robinson. Ricochet bails outside to start before taking Robinson into the corner. Robinson breaks that up and sends him outside again, where Ricochet knocks down the cardboard cutouts. That’s too far for Robinson, who hammers him down inside and drops a backsplash for two.

Ricochet misses a moonsault out of the corner but here is Bryan Keith for a distraction. The Gates Of Agony drop Robinson on the floor and Ricochet adds a dive as we take a break. We come back with Robinson fighting out of a chinlock and hitting a spinebuster. Robinson’s running side kick gets two but the forward DDT is blocked.

Ricochet kicks him down in the corner and hits a slingshot dropkick for two. A springboard clothesline into a Lionsault gets two but the Spirit Gun misses. Robinson’s Downward Spiral gets two, leaving the Gates to beat up Gunn. That’s enough of a distraction for Big Bill to come in for the big boot, setting up the Spirit Gun to pin Robinson at 12:26.

Rating: B-. This was more about the interference than anything else, which should set up a tag match with Robinson and Gunn against Bill/Keith next week. Ricochet and his team are still finding their footing but beating Robinson is a nice enough win. A run at the Trios Titles certainly doesn’t feel out of the question either.

We get a By The Numbers video on Athena vs. Toni Storm.

We look back at Max Caster surviving against Rush last week.

Caster says Rush got a moral victory last week and he doesn’t need AR Fox’s help. Tonight it’s another open challenge so he does some pushups and claps with some nutcrackers.

FTR/Stokely Hathaway vs. Ryan Zukko/Joe Keys/Josh Fuller

Hathaway throws his crutch down to start and Wheeler trades shoulders with Keys to start. Harwood and Zukko come in, with Harwood taking him into the corner. Fuller gets his turn and is knocked down, meaning Hathaway can come in for some slapping. Fuller’s enziguri drops Harwood but Zukko walks into the Shatter Machine. A double spike piledriver lets Hathaway finish Zukko at 3:23.

Rating: C. This was all you would have expected it to be, with Hathaway getting in his basic stuff before FTR did the heavy lifting. I’m not sure what to expect from Copeland vs. Hathaway but odds are it’s going to include some sort of shenanigans. Hathaway barely got to do anything here, but that’s exactly the point, especially him looking so nervous.

Hathaway standing on Zukko to celebrate the win is rather amusing.

Video on Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin.

Hechicero vs. AR Fox

Daniel Garcia is on commentary. Hechicero takes him down by the leg to start and drops a quick elbow on his back. Back up and Fox hits a neckbreaker to send Hechicero outside, setting up some suicide dives. The Swanton hits Hechicero’s raised knees though and he adds a backbreaker as we take a break. We come back with Hechicero knocking him down again but Fox hits an enziguri. A rolling cutter drops Hechicero again but Fox misses his 450. Hechicero grabs a choke for the win at 8:13.

Rating: B-. This was a technical vs. high flying match and that’s a formula that works rather well. Fox has enough credibility to make Hechicero look good, especially with Hechicero on his way to a Ring Of Honor World Title match (which of course is barely, if ever, mentioned around here). Both of these guys are always worth a look though and they did well here.

Video on what seems to be a double turn between Max Caster and Anthony Bowens.

A woman with a bandaged face is watching Harley Cameron get hurt. The woman puts on a mask and, after doing a Jim Carrey impression, turns into Harley Cameron.

Triangle Of Madness vs. Tay Melo/Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale

Thekla and Aminata start things off with Aminata doing her always their comedy deal early on. A slap sends Thekla into the corner and it’s off to Melo to kick Hart down. Nightingale fires off the corner clotheslines and then suplexes Hart and Thekla at the same time. A camel clutch has Blue in trouble, with Melo and Aminata coming in to pose next to her as we take a break.

We come back with Nightingale in trouble and going over for the tag…which the referee of course doesn’t see. Nightingale and Thekla knock each other down though and it’s Aminata coming back in to clean house. A swinging neckbreaker gets two on Blue and Melo is back in to kick away in the corner. Melo’s DDT gets two with Thekla making the save, followed by the spider walk. That’s cut off with one heck of a Pounce (the fans approve) but Hart is back in with a kick to the head. An assisted swinging Rock Bottom finishes Melo at 9:28.

Rating: B-. The Triangle is starting to get some chemistry together here and that is great to see. There hasn’t been much in the way of female stables recently so hopefully this one works out. Melo not having Anna Jay there with her is a bit surprising, but at least the fans still care about Nightingale and her Pounce.

Video on Skyflight, who want to fight the Don Callis Family.

FTR and Stokely Hathaway are happy with their win and they’re ready for bigger and better things.

Here is Max Caster for his latest open challenge. Even Caster has to point out that the fans are doing better on their clapping.

Max Caster vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Shibata chops away in the corner to start and kicks away but Caster gets two off a quick rollup. That earns him a bunch of forearms in the corner and we hit the sleeper. The PK finishes for Shibata at 2:08. So last week he survives the time limit and this week he’s nicer to the fans but loses to a face anyway? Interesting choice.

Post match La Faccion Ingobernable comes in for the beatdown but Jet Speed makes the save.

Hangman Page/Jet Speed vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

The fans are VERY happy to see the home state Page. Mortos headlocks Page to start before they flip up to a standoff. Page kicks him in the face and it’s off to Rush for a staredown. The chop it out until Mortos gets in a cheap shot from the apron. Everything breaks down and Page hits his moonsault off the top to take Rush down. Page gets double teamed on the floor and sent back inside, where he’s fine enough to hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

Knight comes in to kick Dralistico down so Bailey can get two, only for Bailey to be taken into the corner. That doesn’t last long as he fights out and brings Knight back in to pick up the pace, including a great looking springboard double clothesline to the floor. We take a break (with less than ten minutes left in the show) and come back with Knight dropkicking his way out of trouble and Page coming back in to clean house.

The fall away slam drops Dralistico and a slingshot dive to the floor takes down Mortos. Back in and Page Death Valley Drivers Rush, who suplexes him into the corner. The Bull’s Horns is broken up by Knight and we hit the parade of knockdowns. Dralistico springboards in for a crucifix bomb and a near fall on Page. Dralistico’s springboard is countered into a sitout powerbomb and Bailey moonsaults down onto Mortos. The Buckshot Lariat finishes Dralistico at 14:43.

Rating: B-. Nice main event here, where the whole point was in having Page get a win in front of his local(ish) fans. The people went nuts for his entrance so it was certainly close enough to have the desired result. Page and Jet Speed are kind of an odd combination, but odds are this is just going to be a one off pairing anyway.

Overall Rating: B-. Pretty run of the mill Collision here, with good enough action, a few stories moving forward and some promos to hype up the bigger show. It’s still not a show you really need to watch, but there are worse ways to spend a Saturday night. At the same time, it would still be nice if this show felt important even in the slightest, and that’s really not the case most of the time.

Results
Kyle Fletcher b. Tomohiro Ishii – Brainbuster
Megan Bayne b. Emily Rose – Running sitout powerbomb
Ricochet b. Juice Robinson – Spirit Gun
FTR/Stokely Hathaway b. Ryan Zukko/Joe Keys/Josh Fuller – Double spike piledriver to Zukko
Hechicero b. AR Fox – Choke
Triangle Of Madness b. Queen Aminata/Willow Nightingale/Tay Melo – Assisted swinging Rock Bottom to Melo
Katsuyori Shibata b. Max Caster – PK
Hangman Page/Jet Speed b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Buckshot Lariat 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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Dynamite
Date: June 4, 2025
Location: Mission Ballroom, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Excalibur, Ian Riccaboni, Taz

It’s Fyter Fest, and that means we are in for an especially big show. In this case, this is a four hour special, which I guess means we have Dynamite and then Collision. That means we could be getting some big things over the course of one night, including a four way for the International Title on this show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Toni Storm is ready to tango.

Here is Will Ospreay for a chat. We see a clip of Ospreay and Swerve Strickland getting into it backstage last week. In the ring, Ospreay says he wants Swerve and Hangman Page to realize that Jon Moxley is the real enemy. Maybe they could put their differences aside for one night and then kill each other. Moxley hates what AEW has become. Well then maybe p*** off.

Ospreay is going to do his part to get the title back from Moxley but Swerve might be getting in the way. That’s why he wants to face Swerve next week…but here is Cru (Ospreay: “Who is this?”) to interrupt. Cru doesn’t want to hear from the crowd and says that Brits like Ospreay LOVE to talk a lot. Lio Rush has some energy to burn off and that’s fine with Ospreay, who is down for a match. The more I hear from Ospreay, the more I get vibes that he might cost Page the title at All In.

Mark Briscoe does not like the implication that he gave up to Jon Moxley last week. Now his kids are doubting him and it’s time to man up, even if it’s not about the World Title.

Jon Moxley vs. Mark Briscoe

Non-title and the Death Riders are here with Moxley. Briscoe backs him up against the ropes to start and Moxley bails to the floor. That earns him some chops from Briscoe but Moxley takes over back inside. A choke doesn’t work for Briscoe so he fires off some right hands. Moxley rips at his face in the corner but gets sent outside for a running dropkick through the ropes.

Another dive misses though and Wheeler Yuta sends Briscoe into the post to earn his keep for the week. We take a break and come back with Briscoe busted open and flipping out of a backdrop. Some Redneck Kung Fu sends Moxley outside for the running flip dive, followed by a boot to the face back inside. The Jay Driller is broken up so Briscoe knocks him down again.

The Froggy Bow is pulled into a rear naked choke, followed by a cross armbreaker to send Briscoe over to the ropes. Yuta posts Briscoe again but he manages to come back in for a Jay Driller and a very delayed two. The Cutthroat Driver is countered into a Stomp and the Bulldog Choke goes on again. Briscoe can’t flip out and the referee stops it at 14:11.

Rating: B-. Just in case you thought Briscoe might get something out of the rematch you see. Of course Moxley beats him in the exact same way again, because Moxley needed to conquer another popular star. Briscoe had a reason to fight for his own honor and all that jazz but Moxley chokes him out, again, because Moxley is amazing and tough or whatever it is this week.

Video on Mistico, who is back next week….for another four hour AEW block.

Toni Storm/Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart/Skye Blue

Mercedes Mone is at ringside and eating steak with some wine. Storm tries to do Shirakawa’s dance to less than enthusiastic results. Blue misses a running shot in the corner to Shirakawa and gets hit in the face. Storm comes in as a launch pad for Shirakawa to land on Blue but it’s too early for the Glamorous Driver.

Hart comes in for the Tarantula to Shirakawa before Blue sends Storm into the barricade. Back in and Shirakawa gets planted and we take an early break. We come back with Hart hitting Old School but Shirakawa comes back with a top rope Sling Blade. The tag brings in Storm to clean house, including a jiggle exchange with Shirakawa, followed by the stereo running hip attacks. The TCM Chickenwing finishes Blue at 9:50.

Rating: C+. Blue’s downward slide continues, though there are worse things than getting beaten by the champ. Storm and Shirakawa are fine as the fun tag team, though that’s not something we have time to go into at the moment as Storm is getting ready to likely lose to Mone at All In. I’m not sure what is next for her after that, but it might be time for her to step away from the title picture anyway.

Post match Storm eats Mone’s steak.

MJF comes up to Will Ospreay who says Ospreay can’t get the World Title if Hangman Page wins it. Ospreay goes to leave but MJF mocks him again, earning a grab by the jacket. The Hurt Syndicate comes in and Ospreay thinks better of it.

Here is the Hurt Syndicate for a chat. Bobby Lashley used to live here and is glad that he left for Texas. MVP talks about how there is no one who can challenge them for the titles. NO ONE. With that out of the way, MJF says he wants the World Title back. That brings him to Mexico and Mistico, who needs to understand that the best wrestlers in the world come from the greatest country in the world: the United States.

MJF sold out Arena Mexico because he is a star and Mistico is a big fish in a small pond. Next week he’ll watch Mistico’s match and maybe, maybe, he’ll agree to face him at Grand Slam in Mexico. Cue Komander, Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight, with Komander insulting MJF in Spanish. Bailey says they’re a group of international killers….and MVP laughs at him. The challenge seems to be issued though. It’s not a good sign when you ask for challengers to step up for the titles and no one does so. The tag division really is that dead at the moment and that needs to be fixed.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Mike Bailey/Komander/Kevin Knight

The fight starts fast and everyone goes out to the floor with the good guys taking over. Rush gets caught in the corner back inside for some running shots, setting up Bailey’s basement dropkick. The rest of the villains come in to take over on Bailey and knock all three of them to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Komander cleaning house and bringing Knight back in to hammer on Rush. That doesn’t last long as Rush sends Knight into the corner for the cocky kick to the face and everything breaks down again. A triple dropkick puts La Faccion on the floor for the triple dives. Back in and Komander gets suplexed into a pop up Samoan drop for two. Bailey comes back in for the moonsault knees on Mortos before tossing Knight at him for a clothesline. Komander hits his rope walk flip dive and Knight’s twisting top rope splash finishes Mortos at 14:28.

Rating: C+. Knight continues to look good out there while Komander and Bailey were their usual selves. This was only so interesting as it was another six man tag designed to pop the crowd with big spots. AEW likes to feature these things a lot and it feels like something we’ve seen quite a few times around here.

Post match the Hurt Syndicate comes out to say that the winners can face them next week. The Syndicate comes to the ring and is quickly cleared out, setting up the triple slingshot dives.

The Paragon and Daniel Garcia agree to team up to fight the Don Callis Family tonight.

The Patriarchy is in the back. Christian Cage tells the fans to sit down and shut up while he conducts his business. Cage talks about Nick Wayne’s run in the Best Of The Super Juniors in New Japan….and tonight he gets to defend the TNT Title in a four way. Wayne does not seem thrilled.

Here is Max Caster with a petition to declare him the best wrestler alive. Caster asks the referee to sign it while he gets the fans doing his chant. The challenge is on.

Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Max Caster

Spinebuster finishes for Hobbs in 48 seconds.

International Title: Kenny Omega vs. Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Mascara Dorada

Omega is defending and this is one fall to a finish. King and Castagnoli hammer Omega down in the corner to start but wind up fighting each other. Castagnoli is knocked outside and King joins him, leaving Dorada to flip away from Omega. King and Castagnoli come back in, with Castagnoli hitting a Cactus Clothesline.

Dorada hits a big dive of his own and King crushes Dorada and Castagnoli against the barricade. Omega snapdragons King on the floor and then busts out the big flip dive as we take a break. Back with Castagnoli escaping You Can’t Escape with some raised knees and King crushes Omega in the corner. Dorada is Death Valley Drivered into Omega in the same corner but Castagnoli plants King for two.

Omega tries a One Winged Angel on King but winds up being the base for a Doomsday uppercut from Castagnoli. The bleeding King gets tossed off the top and Omega hits a V Trigger to Castagnoli. The parade of knockdowns sees King hit a clothesline for two on Castagnoli, who is right back with the Swing to King. Dorada grabs something like a West Coast Pop for two on Castagnoli before monkey flipping him to the floor. Dorada dives onto King but gets caught in the One Winged Angel to retain Omega’s title at 17:37.

Rating: B. Well aside from the time being the same date as the whiskey that Long John Silver offers the crew in Muppet Treasure Island, this was the usual fast paced and exciting match that AEW knows how to do rather well. Omega gets a good win to show that he still has it, along with likely setting himself up for the title match with Okada at All In. I was a bit surprised that Dorada took the fall here, but it’s better than King or Castagnoli getting pinned again.

Overall Rating: B. I had a good time with this show as it went by fairly quickly and the action worked well enough. Hobbs being the latest person to smash Caster is a good use for him and Storm stealing the steak was fairly funny. Other than that, this was more about setting things up for the next few shows, including a bit about tonight’s Collision. I’d call this a pretty solid show, and hopefully the other one can back that up.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Mark Briscoe via referee stoppage
Toni Storm/Mina Shirakawa b. Julia Hart/Skye Blue – TCM Chickenwing to Blue
Mike Bailey/Komander/Kevin Knight b. La Faccion Ingobernable – Top rope twisting splash to Mortos
Powerhouse Hobbs b. Max Caster – Spinebuster
Kenny Omega b. Brody King, Claudio Castagnoli and Mascara Dorada – One Winged Angel to Dorada

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