Ring Of Honor
Date: December 26, 2025
Location: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s a special Boxing Day edition, logically called Boxing Day Brawl. That should mean a big special show, with the Pure Rules Title on the line as Lee Moriarty defends against Komander. Other than that, it’s hard to say what we might be getting around here, as tends to be the custom. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

James Drake vs. Eddie Kingston

Zack Gibson is here with Drake and insults New York City, which brings Kingston out with a chair to smash both of them. Drake gets up and jumps Kingston to officially start things off, with commentary saying we have to make sure it’s a fair beginning. After one of them got smacked with a chair.

Kingston chops his way out of the corner but a neckbreaker is cut off. A kick to the head misses for Drake though and Kingston pulls him into the Stretch Muffler. Gibson offers a distraction though and Drake is back with a middle rope dropkick. Kingston is back with another neckbreaker but Drake’s running dropkick in the corner gets two. Drake goes up but dives into an exploder suplex, setting up the DDT to give Kingston the pin at 5:33.

Rating: C. The match wasn’t exactly in doubt, but it served as a way to give the fans something to cheer over because the loudmouthed heel. That’s a smart path to take on the opening match on a show like this as it’s worked forever in wrestling. If nothing else, Kingston needs the reps to get back to his old self after being out for so long.

Post match Gibson jumps Kingston and Drake adds a low blow. Drake’s top rope dropkick leaves Kingston laying and the villains talk a lot of trash.

Santa Claus is in the ring before the next match but the Premiere Athletes interrupt. Claus isn’t a fan of the team (who apparently helped with his weight loss) so Stori Denali gives him a chokeslam.

Premiere Athletes vs. VSK/Jon Cruz/Ashley Vox

Nese poses at VSK to start but VSK jumps over him and poses as well. Cruz comes in and gets taken into the corner to keep up the beating before it’s off to Vox. The chokeslam is broken up and Nese hits a dive over the top, leaving Denali to chokeslam Vox for the pin at 3:29.

Rating: C-. Well that was in fact a Premiere Athletes squash and that’s pretty much what they do a good chunk of the time. I’m not sure what makes this one any different than how they do it most of the time but here we are. Denali continues to be impressive, albeit in rather short sports. I’m just not sure what the three of them can do anytime soon.

Komander, wearing a backpack, is ready to face Lee Moriarty for the Pure Title.

Video on Athena/Mercedes Mone challenging the Babes Of Wrath for the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Rebecca Scott

Commentary says Shirakawa is trying to get back in Women’s TV Title contention. Why wouldn’t she want to go after Athena? She’s already lost to Athena as well so why go after the midcard title? Shirakawa gets to dance to start before dropping her with a Sling Blade. A top rope Sling Blade connects as commentary says Shirakawa took the Interim Women’s TV Title to new heights. As in the title she held for three months and successfully defended one time??? I love Riccaboni but he says some questionable things at times. The figure four makes Scott tap at 2:01.

Jay Lethal wants to team with Bandido to get rid of the Swirl. Sure.

Swirl vs. Alec Price/Jordan Oliver

Christian cuts Price off to start and sends Oliver outside. That doesn’t last long as Oliver is back in for a Fameasser but the Swirl knocks both of them to the floor. The flip dive connects for Johnson so the Swirl gets to pose a bit. Back in and Christian chinlocks Oliver, who manages to fight up for something of a hip attack. Price comes in to clean house, including a springboard clothesline to drop Johnson. A rebound clothesline does the same to Price and something like a springboard Steiner Bulldog (close enough) gets two. Price is sent outside though and it’s the Lethal Brainbuster to finish Oliver at 6:37.

Rating: B-. Oliver and Price are a good enough team to warrant another look and despite being presented as boring or uninteresting, Swirl is more than fine in the ring. If nothing else, it was nice to have something a bit more competitive on the show, even if there was no reason to believe Oliver and Price were going to win. Bring them back though, as the tag div…ok there pretty much isn’t a tag division but it would be nice to have them around again.

Zack Gibson vs. Bryce Donovan

Donovan is fresh out of the WWE ID Program and gets taken down to start. Back up and Donovan gets in a running clothesline, only to get kicked out to the floor. They get back inside and Gibson kicks him down, setting up a neck crank. Donovan fights up and hits a running clothesline into a swinging Boss Man Slam for two. A charge in the corner misses though and it’s a middle rope Codebreaker to drop Donovan. Gibson clotheslines him for the pin at 5:15.

Rating: C. During the match, Gibson vs. Eddie Kingston was announced for the Worlds End Zero Hour. That made this match the warmup for tomorrow, which probably wasn’t needed after Gibson laid Kingston out earlier tonight. Donovan showed about the same talent that was on display in the ID Program, meaning bringing him back won’t make much of a difference one way or another.

Dalton Castle and the Outrunners are jumped by MxM TV, who want a Fight Without Honor next week.

Boom & Doom vs. Frat House

Big Justice, Aaron Solo and the rest of the Frat House are here too. Karter ducks Marshall to start and poses, meaning it’s Marshall being taken into the corner for some shots to the head. That’s broken up and AJ comes in for a quick powerslam to Garrison. Back up and Garrison chokes on the rope, with Marshall trying to come in, allowing Karter to get in a cheap shot.

A belly to belly suplex gets AJ out of trouble and the tag brings in Marshall to clean house. Marshall hits a big running flip dive to the floor but a cheap shot earns him a group stomping on the floor. Back in and Garrison’s armbar keeps Marshall in trouble, allowing Karter to kick him down. Garrison misses a splash in the corner but AJ is knocked off the apron.

A flapjack/big boot combination gets two on Marshall, who is sent outside. Big Justice and Solo won’t let him get smashed by a chair but they all do get ejected. Back in and Marshall Downward Spirals Garrison, allowing the tag off to AJ. The Powerboom is broken up and everything breaks down, with Garrison breaking it up. A Powerboom/Blockbuster combination finally finishes Karter at 12:01.

Rating: C+. Well that was rather long, which isn’t the most positive way to describe a Frat House match. AJ isn’t likely to lose any match he’s in and his novelty has already worn off. He’s perfectly fine, but that doesn’t make for the most thrilling time in the ring. The match was acceptable enough, but it wasn’t exactly anything different than what you would expect from AJ and company.

Lee Moriarty is ready to beat Komander again, as he tends to do with everyone.

Lio Rush vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Shibata won’t shake hands to start but will take over with a knuckle lock. That’s broken up and they run the ropes until Rush gets two off a rollup. Shibata takes him outside for a suplex on the floor, followed by a ram into the barricade. They head back inside, with Shibata getting kicked right back to the floor for a suicide dive. Shibata is fine enough to grab a suplex but the springboard Stunner brings him right back down for two. The Final Hour is broken up though and it’s a low blow to set up Shibata’s cross armbreaker for the tap at 6:11.

Rating: C+. Rush was bringing his usual energy here and it made for a fairly nice match while it lasted. That being said, Shibata as a heel isn’t exactly interesting, especially when he’s currently doing something as part of a team in AEW. I have no idea why he’s in Ring Of Honor, though he’s now 21-0 and nowhere near a title match, though that’s a bit too logical around here.

Pure Title: Lee Moriarty vs. Komander

Moriarty is defending and bounces out of an early hammerlock attempt. Komander gets out of a cross armbreaker and a Border City Stretch, the latter of which is from the first rope break. Moriarty’s wristlock is broken up and Komander backflips out of the corner for a staredown. That earns him a spinning faceplant and Moriarty is looking rather confident.

A waistlock keeps Komander down and it’s off to a seated abdominal stretch, complete with a stomach claw. That’s broken up and Komander goes to the ropes (not for a break) so Moriarty pulls on a regular abdominal stretch. Komander breaks out of it again and tries a springboardy armdrag, which is reversed into an STF. That means the second rope break before Komander dropkicks the leg out. A running DDT gives Komander two and he walks the ropes into a crossbody.

The Fang gives Moriarty two more as Komander uses another rope break. The Border City Stretch is countered into a rollup for two and a standing Spanish Fly gives Komander the same. Moriarty is sent outside for a heck of a springboard moonsault but bangs up his own ribs in the process. Back in and poisonrana gives Komander two, followed by a cross armbreaker to make Moriarty use his first rope break. Cielito Lindo hits raised foot though and a Gory Special in the ropes makes Komander give up at 14:37.

Rating: B-. It was the usual fine Moriarty match and that’s about all. While Komander did feel like someone who could take the title and the match was built up, it feels like Moriarty is going to finally drop the thing on a much bigger stage. At least it felt like a main event and was treated like one though and that helps a lot.

Overall Rating: C. Apparently this qualifies as some kind of a special episode around here, with one match that felt big and I guess Boom & Doom as the second biggest match on the card. Other than that, it was just the usual cast of characters doing the same stuff they do so often around here. That’s why Ring Of Honor is such an afterthought so much of the time, and if this special is any indication, it’s going to remain that way for a long time.

Results
Eddie Kingston b. James Drake – DDT
Premiere Athletes b. VSK/Jon Cruz/Ashley Vox – Chokeslam to Vox
Mina Shirakawa b. Rebecca Scott – Figure four
Swirl b. Alec Price/Jordan Oliver – Lethal Brainbuster to Oliver
Zack Gibson b. Bryce Donovan – Clothesline
Boom & Doom b. Frat House – Powerboom/Blockbuster combination to Karter
Katsuyori Shibata b. Lio Rush – Cross armbreaker
Lee Moriarty b. Komander – Gory Special in the ropes

 

 

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: December 18, 2025
Location: Utilita Arena Cardiff, Cardiff, Wales
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re in the UK so it’s time for Global Wars, meaning Ring Of Honor vs. wrestlers from the international location. That could make for some interesting stuff, though it’s basically what we’ve been seeing on Dark and the other AEW shows since they’ve been in the UK. There are some rather talented UK wrestlers out there so hopefully most of them come in here. Let’s get to it.

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

Michael Oku vs. Rocky Romero

Amira Blair is here with Oku. Romero shoves him away to start but can’t get a song from the fans. A running hurricanrana and dropkick have Romero down but Romero goes after the arm. Oku is sent outside to stay on the arm and a double stomp gives Romero two back inside. The Forever Lariats are cut off with a dropkick though and Oku grabs a DDT for two.

It’s way too early for Oku’s half crab or Lionsault so he triangle dropkicks Romero to the floor. The running flip dive takes Romero out again and they both go up top, where Oku wins a slugout. Romero is able to crotch him on top though and it’s a butterfly superplex into a cross armbreaker. Oku switches that into a half crab, which is reversed as well, meaning Oku goes with a jumping knee. The half crab goes on again and Romero taps at 9:46.

Rating: C+. I still don’t get the massive appeal of Oku and I don’t get the appeal of Romero in the slightest. Oku is by far the more interesting and smoother of the two in the ring though and the fans were way behind him here. That made for a nice opener and the match was a nice mixture of technical wrestling and high flying.

Evil Uno vs. Mark Davis

Davis chops away to start and Uno gets fired up. He also gets dropped with a running shoulder and they go outside, where Davis’ chop hits chair. Back in and Uno fires off his own chops but gets German suplexed. The chinlock goes on for a bit, only for Uno’s DDT to connect for two. Uno’s Swanton gets two but Davis catches him with an enziguri. A running lariat finishes Uno at 6:36.

Rating: C-. This was as Ring Of Honor of a match as you could get, as Uno and Davis are the definitions of “these guys are still under contract?”. The match was fine enough, but this felt like it should have been the opener of a boring house show. These guys are ok in stables or on a team, but seeing them in a singles match is quite the stretch.

Video on Athena and Billie Starkz and their recent issues.

Madison Rayne thinks she still has something to give. She’s coming for Athena and Diamante.

Nina Samuels vs. Alex Windsor

Windsor takes her over with a headlock to start before working on the arm. Samuels can’t roll her way out and gets sent outside for a dive off the apron. Back in and Samuels kicks her in the head and stomps away, meaning it’s time to rake the eyes. Samuels pulls on the arms in the ropes and we hit the chinlock.

Windsor fights up with some clotheslines and something like a Blue Thunder Bomb gets two. An ax kick gives Samuels two of her own and she forearms Windsor down. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker drops Windsor again but she’s back with a hard clothesline to give us a double breather. Windsor is back with a twisting superplex into a Sharpshooter to make Samuels tap at 8:29.

Rating: C+. It’s nice to have Windsor back as she’s one of the better stars to be added to the women’s division in a bit. It wouldn’t surprise me to see her answer Mercedes Mone’s challenge for the Rev Pro Women’s Title on Collision. Samuels is someone who has done well in almost every promotion I’ve seen her in, though she doesn’t seen to stick for some reason.

Lee Johnson vs. Lio Rush

Rush starts fast and sends him outside, where Blake Christian cuts off a dive. Back in and Johnson avoids a cutter but gets sent outside again, this time for a heck of a suicide dive. Christian offers another distraction though and Johnson grabs a side slam for two. Rush manages a spinning DDT though and starts hammering away. Now the cutter can connect, followed by a spinning kick to the head for two. Johnson avoids a charge in the corner though and grabs a snap suplex. Rush fights back but has to deal with Christian, allowing Johnson to roll him up with feet on the ropes for the pin at 6:57.

Rating: C+. Another nice match here with both of them moving rather fast. Johnson relying on Christian to win is a fine way to go, but at the same time, get them in the Tag Team Title picture already. Either that or have Christian get his singles match for the World Title already, which is far from a bad idea.

Post match Christian brags about how the Swirl started this show but the World Champion isn’t here. Christian snapped Bandido’s arm and put him on the shelf at Final Battle so come get your arm snapped now.

Blake Christian vs. Angelico

Serpentico is here with Angelico. They trade takedowns to start with Angelico grabbing an armbar. Back up with Christian gets in his own takedown into a Jay Lethal strut. Angelico is sent outside for a spinning suicide dive before Christian goes after the arm. Angelico’s clothesline and kick to the head get two, followed by a spinning Downward Spiral for two. A Spanish Fly gives Christian two of his own and it’s a Lethal Injection to finish Angelico at 6:43.

Rating: C. Angelico is becoming the definition of someone who is just there too. You know the match you’re going to get from him and he doesn’t win any matches. That makes it a bit tedious to see him announced, as there’s no drama or surprise with him. Christian continues to grow on me, and at least they didn’t have this go too long.

Post match Christian goes after Angelico again and Serpentico gets taken out as well.

Session Moth Martina vs. Red Velvet

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Martina wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, she gets a future TV Title shot. Martina (who is basically a walking party) gets Velvet to dance to start and they trade headlocks. Velvet gets two off a leg lariat but Martina is back up with a dropkick. A spinning suplex gives Martina two more and they go to the corner, where an Iconoclasm pulls Martina down for two. Velvet kicks her down and hits Straight Out Your Mama’s Kitchen for the pin at 3:58.

Rating: C. Martina is often a lot of fun and one of the most entertaining people you’ll see on a show, but she didn’t get to showcase that here. It made for a less than interesting match, as they were in and out of there so fast. Velvet getting a mostly dominant win isn’t a bad idea at all though as she’s been doing rather well since she came back.

Wheeler Yuta vs. ???

It’s an open challenge and it’s Nigel McGuinness accepting. McGuinness says that Yuta ended Bryan Danielson’s career and that killed the Batman to McGuinness’ Joker, so it’s time for revenge. That….oddly makes sense. Slightly less sense? Someone answering an open challenge having an announced weight. They fight over wrist control to start before Yuta avoids a rebound lariat. A LeBell Lock is quickly escaped and Yuta wrestles him down, only to get stomped on the arm.

McGuinness takes him down by the arm and leans back on it (ouch) but Yuta is back up with a running dropkick. Cattle Mutilation has McGuinness in more trouble but he slips out and hits a running uppercut in the corner. Yuta’s running knee is cut off with a hard clothesline but the London Dungeon is escaped. They trade crossfaces until Yuta uses the ropes to escape, only to get blasted by a clothesline to give McGuinness the win at 10:48.

Rating: B-. This wasn’t a classic match, but it was more than good enough. At the same time though, this was a great idea for a main event as McGuinness is not only a legend, but a national star for England. It felt like a special treat and that’s a smart way to go to wrap up the show. McGuinness can more than still go in the ring and beating up Yuta is always fun to see.

Overall Rating: C+. The best thing about this show was that it felt different from the usual dull Ring Of Honor show. It had a hot crowd and a theme to the show which made it feel more interesting. While the action wasn’t exactly great, I’ll take something like this over the same stuff that we get time after time. It might not have been a great show, but the main event was fun and the whole thing worked well enough.

Results
Michael Oku b. Rocky Romero – Half crab
Mark Davis b. Evil Uno – Clothesline
Alex Windsor b. Nina Samuels – Sharpshooter
Lee Johnson b. Lio Rush – Rollup with feet on the ropes
Blake Christian b. Angelico – Lethal Injection
Red Velvet b. Session Moth Martina – Straight Out Your Mama’s Kitchen
Nigel McGuinness b. Wheeler Yuta – 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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Survivor Series 2020
Date: November 22, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Byron Saxton, Samoa Joe, Tom Phillips, Michael Cole, Corey Graves

I can list off the lineups for just about every Survivor Series up until the mid 90s, but I couldn’t tell you what headlined this show if my life depended on it. There is something about the Battle For Brand Supremacy years that suck the fun out of these shows and that was certainly the case again with this one. Maybe it holds up better upon seeing it though. Let’s get to it.

We’re still in the original Thunder Dome for this one, just in case you needed a time capsule effect.

Kickoff Show: Battle Royal

Dolph Ziggler, Elias, Chad Gable, Cedric Alexander, Humberto Carrillo, Shelton Benjamin, Shinsuke Nakamura, Robert Roode, Jeff Hardy, Apollo Crews, Ricochet, Angel Garza, Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Murphy, Kalisto, Miz, John Morrison

This is the first match for Brand Supremacy so I don’t bother listing brands for everyone. The Mysterios and Miz (Mr. Money in the Bank)/John Morrison are the only ones to get entrances. Dominik clotheslines Morrison out in a hurry as Kalisto and Rey have a lucha off in the middle. Cedric gets rid of Kalisto though and Ziggler superkicks Rey to break up the 619.

Ziggler tosses Rey and Garza gets rid of Carrillo to clear out a bit of the ring. The Hurt Business (Benjamin/Alexander for you non-history geeks….who are reading this by mistake) eliminate Garza but Ricochet gets rid of Alexander. Benjamin eliminates Ricochet with a knee but Crews tosses Benjamin for some rapid fire eliminations.

Ziggler gets in his first of probably 183 saves before fighting to the apron with Murphy. Roode knocks Murphy out but gets dumped by Dominik, who avoids a Ziggler charge and kicks him out. Crews and Elias double team Miz until Nakamura knees Crews out. We’re down to Hardy, Nakamura, Gable, Miz, Dominik and Elias, with Hardy getting rid of Nakamura and Elias back to back.

Hardy and Gable pair off with Gable tossing him out before Miz kicks the other two in the face. Some YES Kicks have Dominik in more trouble but he sends Miz to the apron. Miz slides back in just before Dominik baseball slides him outside (that’s clever). Gable is back up with some rolling belly to bellys to Dominik but Rolling Chaos Theory is blocked. Dominik hits a 619 and dumps Gable, only to get thrown out by Miz for the win at 12:08.

Rating: C-. As usual, a battle royal is usually based on how long it went and this didn’t quite overstay its welcome. At the same time, it had a smart moment with Miz rolling back in, even if it was the “hey he’s not out!” deal. This was a simple way to get a lot of people on the show and just like Wrestlemania, it served its purpose well.

Raw – 1
Smackdown – 0

The opening video looks at the Battle For Brand Supremacy, including the champion vs. champion matches. Oh and one more thing: it 30 years to the day of Undertaker’s debut and he’s making his final farewell. The fact that I forgot about that tells you how nutty the last year has been.

Team Raw Men vs. Team Smackdown Women

Raw: AJ Styles, Keith Lee, Sheamus, Braun Strowman, Riddle
Smackdown: Kevin Owens, Jey Uso, King Corbin, Seth Rollins, Otis

It’s kind of amazing to see how many of these people have changed shows in just a year, as things continue to be shaken up. Omos is here with Styles (self appointed team captain) and everyone gets individual entrances, including Lee, allowing commentary to talk about his amazing performance at Survivor Series 2019. The fact that he wound up doing absolutely nothing as a result is very sad, as well as telling about how bad things have gotten in WWE. Otis is the Blue Collar Working Man and Jey is freshly on Roman Reigns’ side. It’s also still part of Rollins’ messiah phase, which hasn’t gotten better with age.

Styles and Uso start things off with Jey working on a headlock. That’s broken up and AJ hits a quick dropkick, only to miss the Pele kick. The pop up Samoan drop gets two on Styles as Graves thinks Cole wants to take Styles out for a chocolate malt (I’ll go if AJ won’t). Otis comes in and misses a charge, allowing the tag off to Riddle.

Some kicks to the chest wake Otis up (via gyrating) but he takes Riddle down and hands it off to Owens. Things get intelligent as Owens stomps on Riddle’s bare feet, only to let him get over for the tag to Sheamus. Rollins wants to come in and face Sheamus….which means dropping to his knees. Rollins tells Sheamus to DO HIS PART, so there’s the Brogue Kick for the elimination at 6:07, as Rollins needed to go off on paternity leave.

Team Smackdown has a meeting on the floor so Strowman runs them over and tells Team Raw to work together. In this case, that means Lee comes in to face Otis so they can fight over a power lockup. Lee can’t shoulder him down and can’t hit the Grizzly Magnum, but neither can throw the other. A shot to the face puts Otis down though and it’s Strowman coming in for a dropkick. Otis jawbreaks Styles to get a breather though and it’s off to Owens for a backdrop. Everything breaks down and Owens hits a bunch of Stunners but walks into the Phenomenal Forearm to give Styles the pin at 12:17.

Corbin comes in with Deep Six to Sheamus but AJ Peles him down. Riddle adds the Floating Bro and Corbin is done at 13:08. It’s Uso and Otis vs. the whole Raw team and Sheamus knees Jey in the face for two. Otis is back in to run various people over but Strowman comes in to kick him in the face. Somehow Otis knocks him down though and hits the Caterpillar but the Vader Bomb is countered into the running powerslam at 16:40.

Uso is left alone so he fires off as many superkicks as he can, setting up a dive onto the whole team. Omos pulls AJ out of the way of the Superfly Splash but Uso superkicks AJ’s leg to break up the Phenomenal Forearm. Lee comes in off a blind tag though and it’s the Spirit Bomb to finish Usos for the win at 18:59.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t great as Raw never felt like it was in any serious danger. Even at the start, it’s a little hard to buy Jey Uso and Otis as threats against three former World Champions, Riddle and Lee. It wasn’t a terrible match, but this started off slow and then got weaker as things went on. Uso’s comeback at the end was good, but how much can you do when it’s 5-0?

Raw – 2
Smackdown – 0

New Day (Raw) vs. Street Profits (Smackdown)

New Day is in Gears of War costumes (due to being in the game) and they look pretty awesome. Before the match, the Profits sing Shawn Michaels’ theme and do his pose for reasons of they like to talk a lot. Dawkins and Woods start things off and, after doing a grand total of nothing, it’s off to Kingston vs. Ford. They jump over each other a few times until Ford kick shim outside.

That doesn’t last long so Ford takes him down inside and Dawkins adds a splash for two. Kingston blocks the belly to back suplex into a moonsault and it’s the Profits taken outside for a big dive. Back in and Woods gutbusters Ford for two and we hit the chinlock, with Kofi grabbing a solo cup. Said cup is then kicked, sending it all of two feet. Kofi comes in for a waistlock but Ford finally grabs a jumping DDT, allowing the hot tag to Dawkins. House is cleaned in a hurry and Dawkins throws Woods at Ford for a belly to back suplex.

Back to back spinning splashes crush Woods in the corner but he escapes what looks to be the Midnight Hour. Instead, Kofi is back in for the real thing (or as real as it can be without Big E.) for two on Ford. One heck of a dropkick rocks Kingston though and it’s back to Dawkins for the Anointment.

Ford adds the Cash Out but the ribs mean there’s a very delayed near fall. Woods comes in with a missile dropkick to Dawkins but Ford hits Kingston with Trouble in Paradise. That earns him a gorilla press gutbuster for a very close two and Ford is taken up top. It takes a bit too long though and Dawkins loads him into an electric chair for a Doomsday Blockbuster and the pin at 14:03.

Rating: B. Now this picked up the pace a lot and was the kind of match that should have opened the show. The Profits get to prove that they can beat one of the best teams ever, and it’s not like New Day can be hurt by pretty much anything. I got into this with all of the near falls and big moves and it felt like a big match throughout.

Raw – 2
Smackdown – 1

The Smackdown women begrudgingly agree to work together.

Nia Jax rallies the Raw women but leaves Lana out because she’s mean.

Bobby Lashley (Raw) vs. Sami Zayn (Smackdown)

The rest of the Hurt Business is here with Lashley. Zayn bails to the floor to start but takes too long yelling at the Hurt Business, allowing Lashley to get in his first shot to the back. They get back in and Sami tries a clothesline, which Lashley runs through in an impressive visual. Zayn tries to run off but can’t get around the Hurt Business. Instead, he snaps Lashley’s throat across the top rope to take over.

Back in and the beating is on, at least until Lashley sends him flying with a release suplex. The delayed vertical suplex drops Zayn, who says it gives him vertigo. Sami uses the goldbricking to get in a cheap shot before going outside to yell at the Hurt Business. That’s just enough time for Lashley to get back up and jump Zayn, only to miss a charge into the pose. As Lashley barely beats the count, Sami tries to take off the turnbuckle pad but charges into a spinebuster instead. One more attempt at going after MVP fails and it’s the Hurt Lock to make Zayn tap at 7:45.

Rating: C-. This was the most realistic way to go, but that doesn’t make it the most interesting match. The main thing here was you had to have Zayn running away from the monster that is Lashley. No one is going to buy Zayn as a physical threat to Lashley, so trying to get the DQ was the right call. What we got was a long cat and mouse game until Lashley finally pulled him in, as he should.

Raw – 3
Smackdown – 1

Roman Reigns fins the Usos and blames Jey for the loss. Jey lost because he couldn’t control the team, meaning they don’t respect Reigns or his family. That makes it hard for them to have a seat at the table, so go find your brother and get out of here.

Asuka (Raw) vs. Sasha Banks

Banks takes her down into an armbar to start and then switches into a headlock. The chinlock sets up a quick armbar as Asuka can’t get anything going to start. Asuka tries to roll out of an armbar but has to fight out of a Bank Statement instead. That’s broken up and Asuka grabs a fireman’s carry into the Asuka Lock. Banks is right back out of that too and the Backstabber gets two, meaning Asuka needs a breather.

Back in and the hip attack sends Banks outside, setting up the mocking dancing. A sliding kick to the face drops Banks again and we hit the armbar. We’ll make that an abdominal stretch but Asuka drives her into the corner for the break this time. They fall out to the apron, where Asuka gets the world’s fastest ankle lock. That’s released after about half a second so it’s the running hip attack to put Banks on the floor.

Banks is right back up to the apron but she dives into a Codebreaker to put them both down. Back in and Banks grabs the Backstabber for two as the noise machine is getting more into this. The running knees in the corner set up the Bank Statement, which is reversed again so Asuka can grab another Codebreaker for two more. The pinfall reversal sequence gets some more near falls until Asuka kicks her in the head, only to charge into a rollup to give Banks the fast pin at 13:02.

Rating: B. Good stuff here as they are talented women getting time to do their thing. Banks is someone who can feel like a huge star with every tool you could ask for and it’s great to see her showcase herself on the big stage. Asuka might not be the top star anymore, but she can easily hang in a match like this and arguably have a better match than anyone else else in the division. Rather solid match here and that shouldn’t be any kind of a surprise.

Raw – 3
Smackdown – 2

We recap Miz winning the Kickoff Show battle royal.

Also on the Kickoff Show, the Gobbledy Gooker won the 24/7 Title from R-Truth.

The Gooker follows a trail of birdseed (ala Wile E. Coyote) so Akira Tozawa can win the title.

R-Truth hits Tozawa with a bag of birdseed to win the title back.

Raw Women vs. Smackdown Women

Raw: Nia Jax, Lana, Shayna Baszler, Lacey Evans, Peyton Royce
Smackdown: Bianca Belair, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Bayley, Natalya

This is during the stretch where Nia put Lana through a table nine times in a row (complete with counter) and then shunning her into fear. Smackdown seems more united here, more or less guaranteeing their downfall. Evans drives Bayley into the corner to throw the napkin in her face. That means Natalya can come in to front facelock Peyton, setting up a double suplex from Natalya and Belair.

Morgan comes in to hit Royce in the face but it’s a double clothesline to put them both down. It’s off to Baszler vs. Riott with the former firing off the hard kicks to the face. Jax comes in and has to fight off the big group beatdown in the corner. Lana tags herself in much to Jax’s annoyance but Natalya shoulders her down. Commentary makes it clear that Lana is about to get killed so Jax tags herself in and yells at her, ordering Lana to stand on the steps.

It’s off to Royce (who plays cheerleader) and gets tossed into the corner by Bayley. Belair comes in for a gorilla press Snake Eyes, setting up Bayley’s top rope elbow. We hit the parade of secondary finishers until Peyton superplexes Bayley onto a pile on the floor. Back in and Royce hits Deja Vu (swinging suplex) to finish Bayley at 9:55.

Natalya comes in and elbows Royce in the face, setting up the belly to back drop. Royce pulls her into a half crab but Belair offers a distraction from the floor, allowing Natalya to tie Royce up in…..I have no idea what she was trying. The more recognizable Sharpshooter makes Royce tap at 11:48. Evans comes in, misses the double jump moonsault (which still looks awesome) and pops back up to hit the Women’s Right to finish Natalya for the elimination at 12:39.

Evans catches Belair on top and it’s a super Spanish Fly for two. With that not working, it’s off to the Riott Squad to beat up Jax in the corner, including the Riott Kick to really stagger her. Baszler tags herself in and goes after Riott’s arm but has to settle with the Kirifuda Clutch. That’s flipped over for a near fall but Riott is out cold anyway and Baszler gets the pin at 16:57.

Morgan wants Baszler but gets to hip attack Evans in the corner instead. A missile dropkick sets up the crucifix to finish Evans at 18:05. We’re down to Jax/Baszler/Lana (still standing on the steps) vs. Belair/Morgan so Morgan hits a running tornado DDT on Jax. An enziguri doesn’t do much to her so it’s the Samoan drop to finish Morgan at 19:08.

That leaves Belair alone between Jax and Baszler but she sends Baszler outside and hammers on Jax. A big shot to the face puts Belair down and Jax drops the leg for two so it’s back to Baszler. The Kirifuda Clutch goes on in a hurry but Belair gets to her feet. The walk to the ropes only kind of works though as she passes out and lands in the ropes. That doesn’t bother Baszler, who won’t let go and gets disqualified at 22:32.

So it’s Jax/Lana (still standing there) vs. Belair, who is mostly unconscious. Belair is able to fight out of the Samoan drop through the table and they fight on the floor for the double countout at 23:22….meaning Lana is the sole survivor. She’s so excited that she starts crying while celebrating like a moron.

Rating: D+. This was stupid when it aired live and it’s stupid now. The whole Raw side was about Jax being horrible to Lana, who I guess we’re supposed to cheer because she cowered in fear. In other words, she didn’t actually do anything but we’re supposed to cheer for her anyway because she’s plucky or something for getting put through nine tables and then standing there. Morgan was working hard out here and did as much as she could, but she isn’t Lana or Jax so it doesn’t matter. This Lana vs. Jax feud was terrible and this was the latest bad part of the whole thing.

Raw – 4
Smackdown – 2

TLC is coming.

We recap Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre in the battle of the World Champions. Reigns is the unstoppable monster and McIntyre beat Randy Orton on Raw to get the title back. Now we have a showdown.

Roman Reigns (Smackdown) vs. Drew McIntyre (Raw)

Non-title again and Paul Heyman is here with Reigns. They hold their titles up at each other before we get the big lockup to start. An exchange of shoves don’t get either of them anywhere until Reigns grabs a headlock takeover. McIntyre does it right back and then shoulders Reigns to the floor in a power display.

Back in and Reigns starts pounding him down into the corner, setting up a ram into the buckle to send McIntyre outside. A whip into the steps has McIntyre in more trouble and we hit the chinlock back inside. That works so well that Reigns knocks him down and grabs another chinlock to keep McIntyre in trouble. McIntyre fights up again but the Future Shock is countered.

Reigns scores with a Samoan drop for two and they’re both down for a bit. Back up and the Superman Punch is countered into a spinebuster for two and they head outside again. This time it’s Reigns being sent into the barricade and then the steps before they head back inside. Reigns kicks him in the head to take over again though and it’s time to start talking a lot.

They trade big shots to the face but Reigns misses the running clothesline and gets dropped with the Future Shock for two. Back up and Drew has to send him flying to break up the guillotine choke but gets sent shoulder first into the post. The spear is loaded up but countered into a Kimura with a bodyscissors. That sends Reigns straight to the rope and then the floor, where he Samoan drops McIntyre through the announcers’ table in a big crash.

Now the spear can send McIntyre through the barricade…which is good for two back inside. Another spear gets another two and Reigns is STUNNED. Yet another spear is loaded up but McIntyre hits the Claymore, knocking Reigns into the referee. Cue Jey Uso for a distraction so Reigns can hit a low blow, setting up a superkick. Reigns grabs the guillotine and McIntyre is out at 24:53.

Rating: A-. This was the kind of match that you would expect from these two as it felt like a clash of the titans. Reigns was ahead of McIntyre throughout but McIntyre had some moments to give you a reason to believe he could pull it off. The fact that he kicked out of two spears and then had to get cheated out of the win was even better, as McIntyre came off like a real threat to Reigns. Odds are we’ll see this again, and probably on a bigger stage.

Raw – 4
Smackdown – 3

Post match Reigns is happy with Jey, though Jey doesn’t seem thrilled with what he had to do.

It’s time for the Undertaker’s Final Farewell and we’ve got some special guests:

Shane McMahon
Big Show
JBL
Jeff Hardy
Mick Foley
Godfather
Godwinns
Savio Vega
Rikishi
Kevin Nash
Booker T.
Shawn Michaels
Ric Flair
HHH
Kane

With the guest list out of the way, we get the expected awesome video on Undertaker’s career, set to Metallica’s Now That We’re Dead, featuring just about everything you could want from an Undertaker retrospective. Various talking heads talk about how great Undertaker is and how he is one of the few constants in WWE.

Back in the arena and the legends are gone, with Vince McMahon in the ring instead. Vince talks about how Undertaker debuted in the WWF (yes F) and has entertained a global audience. Now it is time to say goodbye, and the Undertaker’s legacy will live on eternally. Vince brings out the Undertaker, who gets an extended entrance (grab a lunch) and takes a long time looking around….at what would be an empty arena, but that’s not exactly the point. You can tell how emotional this is for him and we pause for him to soak in the canned UNDERTAKER chants.

Undertaker says that he has made that slow walk to the ring for thirty years. He has laid people to rest time and time again, and now his time has come. Now it’s a THANK YOU TAKER chant before he says it is time for him to rest in peace. Undertaker strikes his pose….and we get a hologram of Paul Bearer holding the Urn to make it extra special. There’s the throat slit as the music swells as Undertaker takes the long, long (LONG) walk up the aisle. With one look back and the big fist in the air, Undertaker walks through the curtain to end the show.

This is one of the more unique and special moments you get in wrestling, as no one goes thirty years and getting to end it on the exact day makes it even more special. Undertaker absolutely deserves something like this, and I can get the idea of him not having that much to say. It wouldn’t surprise me if this had to be done here instead of at a regular event with fans, just for the sake of Undertaker being able to keep his composure. This was a cool moment and it was the only thing that could have headlined the show. Thank goodness there was no angle or anything, because this is how it should have ended.

Overall Rating: C+. The amazing Undertaker segment was enough to bring this up, as otherwise it was right in the middle, with one good match for every bad. As usual, the Battle For Brand Supremacy was a grand total of nothing, with the final match having no impact and a bunch of people wearing different color shirts as their only means of a bond. The stories and overall theme of the show really hurt it, which is saying a lot as the wrestling was pretty good for the most part. It’s not a great show, but it was running with a big anchor, as the Brand Supremacy deal is destroying Survivor Series.

Ratings Comparison

Battle Royal

Original: D
Redo: C-

Raw Men vs. Smackdown Men

Original: D+
Redo: C-

New Day vs. Street Profits

Original: B
Redo: B

Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn

Original: C-
Redo: C-

Asuka vs. Sasha Banks

Original: B+
Redo: B

Raw Women vs. Smackdown Women

Original: D
Redo: D+

Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns

Original: B
Redo: A-

Overall Rating

Original: B
Redo: C+

Dang I really don’t know what I’m doing with this stuff do I?

Here is the original review if you’re interested:

 

 

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Survivor Series 2019
Date: November 24, 2019
Location: Allstate Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Attendance: 13,271
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Vic Joseph, Jerry Lawler, Nigel McGuinness, Beth Phoenix

I was thinking about this show the other day and couldn’t remember it very well so it was time for a rewatch. The theme here is the three way fight between all of the brands, with NXT launching a full on invasion for the sake of this show. That should be more than enough to carry things with a bunch of different brand vs. brand vs. brand matches. Let’s get to it.

I was in the arena for this show, sitting in the upper deck and looking straight at the Titantron.

Kickoff Show: Tag Team Battle Royal

OC, Revival, Forgotten Sons, Robert Roode/Dolph Ziggler, Street Profits, Zack Ryder/Curt Hawkins, Breezango, Lucha House Party, Imperium, Heavy Machinery

Only one member has to be eliminated. It’s the usual brawl to start and the Forgotten Sons are out rather quickly. The House Party follows them (thankfully meaning their seconds go with them), as do Hawkins and Ryder in a hurry. Ziggler is catapulted to the apron and pulls Dawson with him for an exchange of headbutts.

Kaiser tries to make a save but it lets Roode knock Dawson out to get rid of the Revival, with Kaiser being eliminated to eliminate Imperium too. Otis stops to dance and gets tossed as they are flying out of here so far. Fandango is sent outside (not out) and manages to catch Breeze, who is eliminated a few seconds later. The Profits dropkick the Revival out and we’re already down to Roode/Ziggler, the OC and the Profits.

Ziggler has to save Roode from the Magic Killer and superkicks the OC out to leave us with two. Roode and Ziggler get the better of things until Ziggler superkicks Roode by mistake. The Sky High lets Ford go up but he gets sent out to the apron. He’s able to get back up and frog splash Ziggler, only to get tossed by Roode for the win at 8:22.

Rating: C. They flew through this and that’s probably a good thing, as this was little more than a way to get things going. It’s nice to see the match just move along so quickly, with Ziggler and Roode being a fine choice to win. Not a good match or anything, but it was a fast paced start.

Smackdown – 1
NXT – 0
Raw – 0

Kickoff Show: Cruiserweight Title: Lio Rush (NXT) vs. Akira Tozawa (Raw) vs. Kalisto (Smackdown)

Rush is defending. They stare at each other to start until the challengers get together to knock Rush outside. Back in and Rush tries to make a save but is sent to the floor just as fast. Kalisto kicks Rush in the head on the apron but gets kicked down by Tozawa. Rush is back in to strike away at both of them as they’re at a very fast pace to start. Tozawa punches Rush in the face (he’s always been good at that) and a sliding boot to the face drops him as well.

Kalisto catches Rush on top and Tozawa goes up with them for a super….well they all flipped over and they’re all down. It looks like Rush super armdragged both of them, setting off an exchange of strikes to the face. Tozawa’s bridging German suplex gets two on Rush, as does the Salida del Sol, with Tozawa making the save. Tozawa’s top rope backsplash hits Rush as well but Kalisto makes the save this time. Another Salida del Sol hits Tozawa but Rush is in with the Final Hour to Kalisto to retain the title at 8:20.

Rating: B. They went with the fast paced, rather athletic match here and it worked rather well. Rush might have some issues behind the scenes, but the way he can move and fly is rather impressive. There is something fun about watching these people go nuts, even if they didn’t have a ton of time. Another rather good choice for the Kickoff Show.

Smackdown – 1
NXT – 1
Raw – 0

Kickoff Show: Viking Raiders (Raw) vs. New Day (Smackdown) vs. Undisputed Era (NXT)

They’re all champions but this is non-title. Big E., Ivar and O’Reilly start things off with O’Reilly’s strikes not working in the slightest. Fish comes in and gets tossed with ease, leaving Ivar to slip out of Big E.’s slam attempt. Instead Big E. runs him over with a shoulder, only to get low bridged to the floor by the Era. That leaves the Vikings to beat the Era up until Big E. is back in for a tag to Kingston.

New Day and the Vikings have their big showdown until the Era is back in to break it up. Fish kneebars Kingston with Ivar making the save, leaving Fish to beat on Kingston on the apron. With the other four on the floor, Ivar slams Erik onto the pile for the big crash. Back in and Ivar misses a charge into the corner, allowing Kingston to hit a standing double stomp on Erik.

The Midnight Hour gets two, with Ivar making the save. Big E.’s spear through the rope hits Erik but Kingston’s Trouble In Paradise hits the post. That leaves Big E. to get caught with the German suplex/springboard clothesline combination. The Era gets back in and O’Reilly is promptly powerslammed onto Fish to give Ivar the pin at 14:42.

Rating: B-. It got a good bit more time and while it wasn’t hard to figure out the result, it was another fast paced match that made for an entertaining showcase. The Raiders winning is a good way to go, as occasionally the best method is just straight power. It’s rarely great to see a champion lose, but a developmental champion losing to a main roster one makes it a bit better.

Smackdown – 1
NXT – 1
Raw – 1

And now, the show proper.

The opening video looks at the brand vs. brand vs. brand issue, with the big focus on NXT invading, as it should be. The other matches get some attention as well, which is a nice bonus.

Women’s Survivor Series Match

Smackdown: Sasha Banks, Carmella, Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, Nikki Cross
Raw: Charlotte, Natalya, Sarah Logan, Asuka, Kairi Sane
NXT: Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Toni Storm, Io Shirai, Candice LeRae

Three in the ring at once, regular elimination rules. Storm, Evans and Logan start things off with Evans knocking both of them down but walking into a double flapjack. Cross comes in and gets knocked down, leaving Logan to cartwheel knee Storm in the back of the head. Everyone gets knocked down and it’s off to Sane, Sky and Carmella, the latter of whom tries to get attention while the other two stare each other down. That earns her some shots to the face so Brooke comes in instead.

A springboard headscissors drops Shirai and it’s Brooke coming back in for some rollups. The handspring elbow crushes Shirai and Sane, followed by a Swanton to both of them. It’s back to LeRae to kick Evans down and strike away in the corner. A middle rope spinning Downward Spiral plants Evans for two and it’s off to Ripley for a heck of a roar. That earns her a cross armbreaker from Asuka, setting off the parade of knockdowns.

Banks clears the ring and LeRae and Shirai are knocked out to the floor for a nasty crash (which comes after they were both in WarGames the previous night). That’s enough for the two of them to be out at around 7:45 so NXT is already down to three. Ripley, Charlotte and Banks come in, with Ripley taunting the other two of them to quite the reception but it’s off to Belair, Logan and Cross without any contact being made. Cross hammers on Storm on the floor, but the distraction allows Belair to grab a rollup with feet on the ropes to pin Cross at 9:38.

Carmella comes in to clean house but walks into a KOD, sending Carmella outside. Logan is back up with running knees from the apron to Charlotte and Storm but gets tossed down by Belair. The handspring moonsault gets two with Natalya making the save so Belair 450s Logan for the elimination at 12:10.

Charlotte comes in to yell at Belair and gets rolled up for her efforts. Carmella is in with a super hurricanrana to send Charlotte onto Belair for two each. Back up and Natural Selection hits Carmella for the pin, allowing Charlotte to mock Banks’ dance. That leaves us with four for Raw and three each for the other two as Banks, Sane and Storm come in. Storm takes Sane down in a hurry and Banks adds the Meteora to get rid of Sane at 16:48. Asuka is in to fire off the kicks, including a huge one to eliminate Brooke at 17:25.

Charlotte forcefully tags herself in and gets in a shoving match with Asuka, who gets shoved down. Evans tries to come in off a cheap shot and gets struck down, only for Asuka to mist Charlotte. Asuka walks out and the Women’s Right gets rid of Charlotte at 19:07. So Natalya is alone for Raw against Evans/Banks for Smackdown and Ripley/Belair/Storm for NXT. Natalya comes in and drops Evans, followed by the discus lariat to Storm. A rollup gets rid of Evans at 19:56 as commentary realizes that NXT is suddenly way ahead. Storm gets caught in a Sharpshooter/Banks Statement for the tap at 20:47.

Belair yells at Natalya and gets caught in a Hart Attack for the elimination at 21:16 to continue the rapid fire eliminations. That leaves us with Natalya vs. Banks vs. Ripley, with Banks quickly turning on Natalya and getting the easy elimination. We’re down to one on one and you can tell the fans are into the idea of Ripley getting this kind of a chance. Ripley stares her down and adds a running dropkick but Banks is right back up with a choke.

Banks sends her into the corner for some running knees, followed by the middle rope Meteora for two. That sends Banks back up, with Ripley kicking her out of the air for two more. The Prism Trap has Banks in more trouble until she flips her way into a Bank Statement on Ripley. Cue Shirai and LeRae to make the save…as I guess they’re still in this.

As I try to figure out if that means Asuka should still be in there as she left without her elimination being announced either, Banks knocks both of them down with a baseball slide. Ripley cuts that off but the Riptide is broken up. Shirai offers a distraction and hits a springboard missile dropkick, followed by Ripley’s Riptide for the win at 27:53.

Rating: B. The kind of confusing ending aside, this was one heck of a coming out party for Ripley, who came off like an absolute star throughout and that’s exactly the point. Other than that you have Charlotte and Asuka’s issues continuing and Belair looking like a star as well. The fans get to cheer for NXT though (especially in Ripley’s case), and that’s exactly what needed to be done for this crowd, who are certainly more behind them than anything else.

NXT – 2
Smackdown – 1
Raw – 1

We look back at Kevin Owens making a surprise return to NXT last night at Takeover.

Seth Rollins comes up to Owens, his Raw teammate, and asks what was up with that. Owens says NXT doesn’t need him like Raw does, so tonight he’s on the red side. He does however find it interesting that SETH ROLLINS of all people is talking about disloyalty…and he mocks the Shield pose.

Shinsuke Nakamura (Smackdown) vs. Roderick Strong (NXT) vs. AJ Styles (Raw)

Battle of the midcard champions with a dancing Sami Zayn here with Nakamura. Styles gets kicked down to start and a knee to the ribs drops Strong as well. Strong is back up to clean house and send Nakamura outside. Styles knocks Strong to the floor as well, followed by a hard knee to the head. Nakamura is back up with a suplex to Strong and a knee drop to Styles, with Zayn looking rather pleased.

Back up and Strong stretches Nakamura over his back before swinging him into a gutbuster. Styles sleepers Strong down, which doesn’t last long as Strong is back up to strike away at both of them. The running forearms in the ropes have Styles in trouble, as does a belly to back faceplant. Nakamura sends Strong into the corner though and kicks Styles down for two more. A sliding knee gets two on Strong with Styles making the save. Strong kicks Styles down to break up the Clash to Nakamura, who is pulled outside by Zayn.

Back in and a tiger driver gives Strong two before Nakamura drops him. Kinshasa is broken up by Styles, who is cut off by Zayn. That leaves Strong to knee Nakamura down for two but Nakamura is back up to clean house. Strong is knocked outside so Nakamura tells Styles to COME ON, meaning it’s time for a strike off. The Landslide gives Nakamura two and he blocks the Styles Clash attempt. Instead Styles settles for the Phenomenal Forearm, only for Strong to steal the pin at 16:48.

Rating: B+. I didn’t remember liking this one as much but they were all working hard and it didn’t get dull despite getting quite a bit of time. In addition to NXT getting yet another win, there was something great about Zayn on the floor as he was giving it his all out there. Solid match here and a rather nice treat.

NXT – 3
Smackdown – 1
Raw – 1

Daniel Bryan is warming up when the Miz comes in. Miz talks about feeling the evil of the Fiend and wants Bryan to put an end to him for the sake of themselves and their children. Bryan: “Get out of my face.”

NXT Title: Pete Dunne vs. Adam Cole

Cole is defending and is really banged up after being in WarGames last night. Dunne works on the arm to start, which is quickly broken up. They fight outside with Cole getting in a shot and starting in on Dunne’s bad knee. Dunne fights up and moonsaults over Cole in the corner, setting up an enziguri. The release German suplex sets up a big kick to the head, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two as they take a bit of a breather.

Dunne’s moonsault to the floor drops Cole again but another one hits raised knees back inside. The Last Shot gives Cole two and he brainbusters Dunne onto the knee for the same. The Boom misses and Dunne grabs the Bitter End for another near fall. They trade kicks to the head until Dunne goes up, only to have his moonsault superkicked out of the air (that always looks awesome) for two.

Dunne powerbombs him down for two more and Cole bails out to the floor. They head out to the apron, where Cole grabs a Panama Sunrise for a near countout. Back in and Dunne slugs away but the Bitter End is spun around into another Canadian Destroyer (and it didn’t look bad). The Boom retains the title at 14:06.

Rating: B. At this point, it was feeling like Cole was never going to lose the title no matter what happened, as he was coming in banged up from the night before and still hung in there to beat someone as good as Dunne. It’s still a good match, but seeing Cole retain without even having to cheat is a bit much to take. Yeah Dunne wrestled the night before as well, but Cole took the big bump in WarGames. That should mean a bit more.

The Smackdown men argue over leadership.

We recap the Fiend defending the Smackdown World Title against Daniel Bryan. The Fiend won the title at Crown Jewel and is all evil and such, even attacking Bryan, who was a heel at the moment. It seemed that the Fiend wanted to push Bryan into bringing back the YES Movement so he could kill it once and for all, which is quite the fiendish thing to do.

Smackdown World Title: Daniel Bryan vs. The Fiend

The Fiend is defending. Bryan fires off the dropkicks in the corner (under the red lights) until Fiend hits a running clothesline. Fiend slugs away and knocks him to the floor for a ram into the barricade. A hard posting drops Bryan again and there’s the backsplash on the floor. The release Rock Bottom drops Bryan back inside and a toss suplex makes it worse. The nerve hold goes on for a bit before they head outside again.

This time Fiend’s running knees hit the steps, followed by a posting from Bryan. Fiend gets taken down by a running knee from the apron, plus a big dive from the top. Back in and Bryan kicks away at the head, with Fiend getting up over and over. The stomping to the head has Fiend down and the running knee connects for two. Fiend does the big scary stand up so Bryan grabs a rollup, only to get caught in the Mandible Claw to retain the title at 10:01.

Rating: B-. This was about the Fiend running through one of the biggest heroes WWE has ever seen because the Fiend is one of the biggest monsters around. It made for a nice story, though it was hard to believe that Bryan had much of a chance here. Even with the alleged return of the YES Movement, it didn’t feel like much of a threat to beat the Fiend, certainly not so soon after he won the title.

Rey Mysterio is going to be more violent against Brock Lesnar and hopes his son Dominik is watching up close.

Men’s Survivor Series Match

Raw: Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Ricochet, Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton
Smackdown: Roman Reigns, King Corbin, Shorty G, Braun Strowman, Mustafa Ali
NXT: Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Walter, Damian Priest, Matt Riddle

The fans are VERY behind Walter (who you might know better as Gunther) as we figure out who is starting. Ciampa, Rollins and Strowman start things off, with Ciampa being shoved down. McIntyre and Walter come in, with Walter being more than happy to have a hoss fight. A running clothesline drops Strowman and McIntyre gets crushed with a seated senton.

Walter German suplexes McIntyre but can’t do the same thing to Strowman. Instead it’s a running dropkick to send Strowman into the corner, only for McIntyre to Claymore Walter for the pin at 2:57 in one heck of a middle finger to the fans. Priest comes in and strikes it out with McIntyre as the fans are ticked off about Walter. Strowman misses a charge into the post, allowing G (Gable, in case you had blocked out this stupid idea) to moonsault Priest. Riddle comes in and gets into a wrestling match with G, which doesn’t seem like a good idea.

The grappling goes to a standoff so Ricochet comes in with a springboard moonsault to G and McIntyre. Owens gets the tag and picks to frog splash G for the pin at 6:27. Owens goes outside but gets caught by Ciampa with the Willow’s Bell for the pin at 7:46. Orton comes in to stare Ciampa down but Ciampa is smart enough not to walk into the RKO. Instead they get up and brawl, with Orton grabbing the RKO a few seconds later. Priest tags himself in though and tries to roll the dice, only to get reversed into the RKO for the pin at 10:16.

Riddle comes in and has to escape an RKO attempt, which he counters into a rollup to pin Orton at 10:29. Riddle celebrates the huge win and walks into an RKO, allowing Corbin to get the pin at 10:54. Lee comes in and the fans are VERY pleased, only for McIntyre to take him down with a cheap shot. It’s back to Strowman, who takes them outside for the running shoulders….and then does it again for a bonus, only for Lee to cut him off in a massive crash.

McIntyre adds a Claymore to Strowman, who is counted out at 13:18. So we’re down to Rollins, Ricochet and McIntyre for Raw, Reigns, Corbin and Ali for Smackdown and Lee and Ciampa for NXT. Ricochet comes in to clean house but walks into the End Of Days for the pin at 14:30. Ali (hometown boy) comes in to clean house, including a sweet pop up X Factor to Ciampa. The tornado DDT drops Rollins and Ciampa gets posted. Corbin pulls Ali back to the floor though and yells a lot, which is enough for Rollins to hit the Stomp for the pin at 16:10.

Reigns yells at Corbin and McIntyre plants Ciampa with the reverse Alabama Slam for two. The Claymore is cut off with a spear though and McIntyre is done at 17:33, leaving Rollins alone. Rollins jumps Reigns but the suicide dive is knocked out of the air. Willow’s Bell hits Reigns, who counters the Fairy Tale Ending into a Superman Punch. With both of them down, Corbin comes in to knock Lee off the apron, though he’s also smart enough to drag Reigns over for the tag. Corbin yells at Reigns but a chokeslam to Ciampa doesn’t work, leaving Reigns to spear Corbin and Ciampa gets the pin at 19:55.

That leaves Reigns vs. Rollins vs. Ciampa/Lee with Reigns and Rollins getting together on Ciampa before doing the same to Lee. Rollins throws Ciampa outside but Lee is back up to cut off the TripleBomb through the announcers’ table. Back in and Ciampa’s running knee and Project Ciampa get two on Rollins but the Fairy Tale Ending is escaped. Ciampa avoids the Stomp but can’t avoid Reigns’ Superman Punch. The Stomp gets rid of Ciampa at 24:00 and we’re down to one each. The fans start to sing for Lee, who gets serious as he heads back inside.

Lee runs them both over with shoulders and sends Rollins flying, followed by a slingshot crossbody to take both of them out. Rollins escapes the Big Bang Catastrophe and kicks Lee down, setting up a frog splash for two, leaving commentary stunned. Back up and the Big Bang Catastrophe gets rid of Rollins (and Raw) at 26:34.

Reigns is back up with some Superman Punches for two on Lee, who kicks out, even as the referee hits the mat for the third time. The spear is countered into the Spirit Bomb for two more and my goodness the heat on that near fall. Lee goes up but misses the moonsault, allowing Reigns to hit the spear for the pin at 29:55.

Rating: B+. This was a lot more like it, as it felt like NXT had a chance to shock the world. Lee came off like an absolute star here and Ciampa more than held his own. At the same time, it might have been a bit of a stretch for NXT to be able to beat all star teams like this, even with their issues. The good thing is that NXT held its own here, and that’s exactly how you make it feel like a genuine third brand rather than just developmental. The Walter nonsense aside, this was a good performance from NXT and the fans went nuts all the way.

NXT – 3
Smackdown – 2
Raw – 1

Post match Reigns shows Lee some well earned respect.

Becky Lynch is tired of these fights with Shayna Baszler because Baszler has been training while Lynch has been going around the world. It doesn’t matter though as Lynch knows there is nothing Baszler can do to take her down. Then there’s Bayley, who made Lynch come looking for her. Now she’s going to hurt her.

We recap Brock Lesnar defending the Raw World Title against Rey Mysterio. Lesnar beat up Rey and then attacked his son Dominik (almost unrecognizable compared to what he would be a few years later) to make it personal. Rey brought in former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez to go after Lesnar, which went pretty horribly, so now Rey is fighting for himself.

Raw World Title: Rey Mysterio vs. Brock Lesnar

Lesnar, with Paul Heyman, is defending and anything goes. Mysterio gets smart by grabbing a lead pipe to start, sending Lesnar to the floor. Back in and Lesnar runs him over with some clotheslines, sending Mysterio outside. Mysterio gets sent flying over the announcers’ table and then rammed hard into the post as the slow beating is on. Another posting is broken up though as Mysterio sends him into the post instead, only for Lesnar to German suplex him onto the pipe.

Lesnar gets in another German suplex but here is Dominik Mysterio with a towel. Lesnar grabs Dominik so Rey gets in a low blow, as does Rey. Some pipe shots have Lesnar in trouble and Dominik adds a chair shot, followed by a double 619. Dominik and Rey hit a frog splash each…for two, and you can feel the air go out of the place. Lesnar is back up with a German suplex to Dominik before pulling Rey out of the air for the F5 to retain at 6:55.

Rating: B. The good thing about Mysterio is that you can put him in a spot like this and the fans will believe that he could pull off a miracle. The false finish with the double 619 was great but after that, you knew it wasn’t going to happen. They were smart to keep this short and action packed, as there was only so much of a way to believe that Mysterio was going to be a threat long term.

We recap the women’s triple threat. Becky Lynch is still arguably the biggest star in WWE but Shayna Baszler isn’t scared of her. Bayley has to be there too because of the triple brand thing.

Bayley (Smackdown) vs. Becky Lynch (Raw) vs. Shayna Baszler (NXT)

Non-title again. Bayley rams Baszler into Lynch but Lynch fights out without much effort. A clothesline puts Lynch down, leaving Baszler and Bayley to brawl to the floor. That’s broken up and Baszler is knocked outside, leaving Bayley to sunset bomb Lynch into the corner. Baszler takes Lynch’s place and gets beaten up again, only to come back with a stomp to Bayley’s arm.

Bayley is back up and knocks Baszler outside before unloading on Lynch in the corner. A Stunner over the ropes cuts Baszler off again but Lynch knocks Bayley down to take over. Lynch plants both of them and drops the top rope legdrop for two on Bayley. Baszler is back up as well, only to get kneed down by Bayley, who takes Lynch out as well. The Bayley To Belly gets two on Baszler, who is right back with a gutwrench faceplant.

Baszler fireman’s carries Bayley, which is broken up by a missile dropkick from the returning Lynch. Bayley breaks up the slugout and gets choked by Baszler, with Lynch making the save. Lynch powerbombs Baszler out of the corner but gets choked as well. Baszler is sent into Bayley for the save and Lynch gets the Disarm-Her, which is broken up too. Bayley pulls Baszler outside but hurts her own leg, allowing Baszler to take both of them out. Baszler plants Lynch on the announcers’ table but gets suplexed by Bayley back inside. That’s shrugged off and the Kirifuda Clutch gives Baszler the win at 18:03.

Rating: B-. They were working hard and it was far from a bad match, but there was very litter crowd energy for this. At the end of the day, the crowd was just done after the Lesnar/Mysterio and Men’s Survivor Series matches. You can’t take that much energy out of them and then expect a match which doesn’t mean a ton (NXT was at worst tying here) to feel special. It’s not bad, but the show needed to be laid out better.

NXT – 4
Smackdown – 2
Raw – 1

Post match Baszler poses over Lynch, who knocks her onto the announcers’ table. Lynch puts her through said table (with a chair falling on Baszler’s head to make it even worse) and poses to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Excellent show here, with NXT feeling like they had arrived and actually winning with a pretty dominant performance. There’s nothing close to bad on the whole show and the crowd carried it to another level. I had forgotten how good the matches were throughout and the three way competition actually worked all night. Find a better way to finish and it’s that much better, but this was awesome stuff.

 

Ratings Comparison

Tag Team Battle Royal:

Original: D
2020 Redo: D+
2025 Redo: C

Lio Rush vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Kalisto

Original: C+
2020 Redo: C
2025 Redo: B

New Day vs. Viking Raiders vs. Undisputed Era

Original: B
2020 Redo: B
2025 Redo: B-

Raw Women vs. Smackdown Women vs. NXT Women

Original: B-
2020 Redo: B-
2025 Redo: B

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Roderick Strong vs. AJ Styles

Original: B
2020 Redo: B
2025 Redo: B+

Pete Dunne vs. Adam Cole

Original: A-
2020 Redo: B+
2025 Redo: B

The Fiend vs. Daniel Bryan

Original: B
2020 Redo: C+
2025 Redo: B-

Raw Men vs. Smackdown Men vs. NXT Men

Original: B+
2020 Redo: A-
2025 Redo: B+

Rey Mysterio vs. Brock Lesnar

Original: C+
2020 Redo: C+
2025 Redo: B

Bayley vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Becky Lynch

Original: D+
2020 Redo: C
2025 Redo: B-

Overall Rating:

Original: B+
2020 Redo: B+
2025 Redo: A-

The main event was a lot better than I gave it credit for before, as was the tag team battle royal. All around, an outstanding show.

 

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Dynamite
Date: June 18, 2025
Location: Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s the annual Grand Slam edition of the show and in this case we’re in Mexico City at one of the most famous arenas in all of wrestling. The show will feature a variety of stars from CMLL, including a major showdown between Mistico and MJF. Other than that, we have less than a month to go before All In so the show is going to need some more build. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Hangman Page to get things going. Page actually speaks Spanish and talks about the importance of working together. He thanks the fans for having them in CMLL’s house and together, they have the best wrestling in the world. Page doesn’t like Jon Moxley and while he won’t be wrestling tonight, Page can do something after the main event is over. That was a rather nice change of pace and made Page feel like that much bigger of a good guy.

Adam Cole/Atlantis/Atlantis Jr./Bandido/Brody King/Daniel Garcia/Templario vs. Dax Harwood/Don Callis Family/Volador Jr.

Stokely is here with the villains, though Cash Wheeler and Callis himself are nowhere to be seen. Before the match, Stokely (now minus Hathaway) says that Wheeler can’t be here (I wonder if that’s due to previous legal issues) so they do at least acknowledge it. Bandido and Takeshita start things off, with Bandido spinning into the gun pose. The X Knee is blocked and it’s Hechicero, who the fans certainly react to, coming in to flip Bandido into a choke.

Garcia comes in and dances at Hechicero, who pulls him into something resembling a Boston crab. Harwood and Atlantis Jr. come in, with the latter holding Harwood up for a dropkick from Templario. Atlantis and Templario clean house until we get a Templario vs. Volador showdown. Templario clears the ring and hits a flip dive and it’s off to Archer, who is sent into Alexander on the apron.

King Death Valley Drivers Alexander onto the apron and it’s Cole clotheslining Fletcher back inside. Atlantis takes Fletcher down and Garcia knocks Fletcher to the floor as we take a break. Back with Garcia neckbreakering Alexander, allowing Bandido to come in and hammer away. A Doomsday Device is broken up and Bandido and Templario hit a pair of super flipping World’s Strongest Slams to Alexander and Takeshita.

Atlantis Jr. superkicks Fletcher and everything breaks down, including a string of dives to the floor. King and Archer have a big man showdown but Hechicero breaks that up in a hurry. That’s fine with King, who gives him a running hurricanrana, leaving Harwood to pound on Atlantis. Back up and Atlantis grabs a small package for the fast win at 15:45.

Rating: B. This was a fast paced match with a bunch of people flying around and doing entertaining stuff. That’s all you need for something like this and the fans were certainly into what they were seeing. Atlantis doesn’t do much for me, but that’s not the point of a show like this so letting a legend pin a more than over former champion is a perfectly fine idea.

Post match Harwood jumps Atlantis and runs off.

Video on Kazuchika Okada joining the Don Callis Family before his title unification match with Kenny Omega. Because Don Callis has to be involved in everything.

Mark Briscoe talks about his history with Kenny Omega and he wants some revenge on Kazuchika Okada.

Mark Briscoe vs. Kazuchika Okada

Non-title and Don Callis is on commentary. Okada is sent outside to start but comes back in to pat him on the chest. Some Red Neck Kung Fu takes Okada down and Briscoe sends him outside for the running flip dive. Back in and Okada dropkicks him off the top and we take a break. We come back with Briscoe fighting out of a chinlock and reversing a Tombstone attempt. A double down gives them both a breather and they slug it out until Okada goes to the eyes.

Briscoe is back up with a running corner clothesline for two but Okada grabs the neckbreaker onto the knee for two. Okada flips Briscoe off so, of course, Briscoe bites the finger. The Froggy Bow gets two but Okada dropkicks him down. The Rainmaker and Jay Driller are both blocked so Okada gives him a Tombstone. Now the Rainmaker finishes Briscoe at 13:30.

Rating: B-. Briscoe can work well with anyone and that includes Okada working at half speed. That’s just what you’re going to get most of the time with Okada, but there is quite the potential for his showdown next month with Omega. I could go with Briscoe having a better story though, which has been missing for a good while.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Mistico

Naturally MJF has the very American style gear, which looks quite a bit like MVP’s old stuff. Mistico gets an incredible reaction, with the fans singing his song, which is no surprise given what an incredible draw he is for CMLL, especially around here. MJF takes him down to start and we get a standoff with the fans rather behind Mistico.

Back up and Mistico runs the ropes for a wristdrag to the floor before teasing a dive. Mistico gives chase on the floor but is smart enough to not run into the Hurt Syndicate. That’s enough of a distraction for MJF to get in a cheap shot and pose as the fans calm down a bit. A powerbomb onto the knee puts Mistico down again and we take a break. We come back with MJF slugging away and Mistico hammering him down. Mistico tornado DDTs him down and sends MJF outside for a springboard dive.

Back in and a springboard Swanton sets up Mistico’s missed moonsault so he settles for a powerslam instead. A Canadian Destroyer cuts MJF off again and they go to the ramp, where Mistico charges into a tombstone. Mistico manages to beat the count back in, where the super Spanish Fly (albeit not a great one) gets two. La Mistica makes MJF tap but MVP distracts the referee, allowing MJF to hit a low blow for two more. Back up and MJF kicks him low and that’s enough for the DQ at 16:50.

Rating: B. This is the kind of spot where MJF shines, as he knows how to drive a crowd crazy like few others. That was the case again here, with the fans going nuts at the idea of MJF doing such things to their hero. Odds are we’ll be seeing these two again and it would make a lot of sense to put that match on All In.

Post match MJF beats on Mistico some more and takes the mask. That sounds lucha de apuestay at All In to me. Various good guys come in for the save.

Hologram vs. Lio Rush vs. Ricochet vs. Mascara Dorada

The winner gets four million pesos. Rush poses to start so the other three glare at him, only for Ricochet to team up with Rush for the beatdowns. Hologram and Dorada are back up with superkicks to Ricochet and Rush, both of whom are knocked outside. The villains cut off some stereo dives, leaving Ricochet to plant Dorada. Rush dives onto Hologram and we take a break.

Back with Hologram slugging away but Ricochet and Rush take him down. That’s enough of the working together though and Ricochet shoves Rush, only to get caught with a running hurricanrana from Dorada. Hologram and Dorada hit some dives before Hologram tornado DDTs Dorada for two back inside. Dorada’s crucifix bomb gets the same but Rush is back in to cut him off.

Ricochet can’t hit Vertigo so Rush snaps off some poisonranas. A middle rope version gets two on Dorada so Ricochet goes up, only to get cut off. Rush’s super hurricanrana is blocked so Rush rolls Hologram up with feet on the ropes for two. Hologram grabs his spinning torture rack bomb to finish Rush at 15:55.

Rating: B. Here’s the problem with Hologram: I was relatively certain that he was going to win because, well, that’s what he does. At the same time, Hologram feels like he has been in this same spot for months. I’m not sure what they’re waiting on with him, but it would be nice to see him getting to do something a bit more important than these random matches which are rarely more than flying around for one spot after another.

CMLL Women’s Title: Zeuxis vs. Mercedes Mone

Mone is challenging and gets thrown down by the stronger Zeuxis to start. Mone’s middle rope sunset flip is blocked and Zeuxis plants her down for two. Something like the Bank Statement goes on but Zeuxis rolls away to the floor, only for Mone to come back with a middle rope Meteora. Zeuxis knocks her outside again though and hits a heck of a dive as we take a break.

Back with Mone kicking out again and both of them needing a breather. Mone gets another Bank Statement but Zeuxis powers up and slams her down for two more. Zeuxis takes her to the middle rope for a slam, which is reversed a super small package to give Mone the pin and the title at 9:17.

Rating: C+. And Mone wins again, which is just kind of what she does. In theory that’s what she’s going to do again at All In, though seeing her with another title doesn’t change anything. She’s just doing a lot of the same stuff over and over again, which is still entertaining because she is incredibly talented, but at the same time, it would be nice to see something fresh.

Post match Toni Storm pops up for a film noir speech about how she’s coming for Mone. Mina Shirakawa appears for a distraction and Storm appears to chase Mone off.

Will Ospreay/Opps/Swerve Strickland vs. Death Riders/Young Bucks/The Beast Mortos

Mortos kicks (the bandaged) Ospreay into the corner to start and grabs a quick Samoan drop. Ospreay fights up to send Mortos outside but the Bucks cut off the dive. Back in and the Bucks beat up Ospreay and Strickland without much trouble and Ospreay’s comeback is cut off. Yuta comes in and hammers on Strickland, which seems to just annoy him.

Strickland fights up and brings in Joe to unload on Yuta in the corner. It’s off to Shibata for some beating of his own before the Opps take turns with running corner shots. Moxley comes back in to strike it out with Joe before everything breaks down. Ospreay’s big corkscrew dive to the floor takes out a pile and we go to a break.

We come back with Moxley slamming Ospreay for two and starting in on his arm. That’s broken up and Hobbs comes back in to clean house. Hobbs does not care for the Bucks going after him and he fights off an attempted quadruple teaming. A powerslam gets two on Yuta but Mortos is back up to clean house. Joe Rock Bottoms Mortos out of the corner but the Bucks are back in with the superkicks.

A double Oscutter takes the Bucks down and Strickland hits a dive. Shibata shrugs off Yuta’s running knee and kicks him in the chest, leaving Strickland to slug it out with Moxley. Ospreay and Strickland team up for Chasing The Dragon on Moxley…but Marina Shafir offers a distraction, allowing Moxley to roll Strickland up with tights for the win at 16:15.

Rating: B. Another wild match with Hobbs getting some great shine, though naturally Moxley takes a big beating and wins anyway, because that’s what he does (a pattern is emerging on this show). Swerve and Ospreay continue teasing working together, which very well could be coming at All In as well. There was a lot going on here but they made it work, which is rather impressive given how many bodies they had moving around.

Post match the villains beat Strickland down but Hangman Page comes in for the save. The slugout is on with Moxley but Page’s Buckshot Lariat hits Nick Jackson. Matt Jackson is annoyed so Moxley tries to bring in the briefcase, which is cut off by a group stare. Page glares at the Bucks to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. I had a very good time with this show, with the crowd being more than enough to help carry things. That being said, I could have gone with something other than the usuals winning, as Mone, Hologram and Moxley winning feels like something that has been done to death. Overall though, rather entertaining and quality show, with nothing bad in the ring and some things being tightened up before All In.

Results
Adam Cole/Atlantis/Atlantis Jr./Bandido/Brody King/Daniel Garcia/Templario b. Dax Harwood/Don Callis Family/Volador Jr. – Small package to Harwood
Kazuchika Okada b. Mark Briscoe – Rainmaker
Mistico b. MJF via DQ when MJF kicked him low
Hologram b. Lio Rush, Ricochet and Mascara Dorada – Spinning torture rack bomb to Rush
Mercedes Mone b. Zeuxis – Super small package
Death Riders/Young Bucks/The Beast Mortos b. Will Ospreay/Swerve Strickland/Opps – Rollup with tights to Strickland

 

 

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Collision
Date: June 4, 2025
Location: Mission Ballroom, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

Now we have the second half of the show and hopefully that means they keep the momentum going from Dynamite. For some reason, AEW has a tendency to present a not so thrilling Collision when it is in a special time slot and it can be quite the disappointing presentation. It would be nice to not see that again here but we’ll have to see. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with Kenny Omega in the ring after his successful title defense in the main event of Dynamite. Kazuchika Okada comes out for the big staredown and shove their belts in the other’s face. The brawl is on and Okada goes to the body to cut him down. The Rainmaker and One Winged Angel are broken up and we have a staredown.

We look back at FTR getting in an argument with CMLL’s Atlantis Jr. and Templario.

Ricochet is still searching for talent for his team.

Will Ospreay vs. Lio Rush

Action Andretti is here with Rush, who bails out to the floor to start. Rush gets back inside and picks the leg to no avail as Ospreay chases him into the corner. A springboard hurricanrana is countered into a failed Styles Clash attempt, with Rush bailing out to the floor again. This time Andretti’s distraction lets Rush hit a suicide dive as we take a break.

Back with Ospreay breaking up a sleeper and hitting a spinning torture rack bomb for two. Rush’s poisonrana into a springboard Stunner gets two but Ospreay cutters him out of the air. The Oscutter gets two and Ospreay throws Rush over the top onto Andretti. That means the big dive, followed by a Phenomenal Forearm to drop Rush back inside. Rush is back up with a DDT into the Final Hour for two as the crowd gets VERY quiet in a hurry. Rush stops to yell at the referee and walks into the Styles Clash for the pin at 9:01.

Rating: C+. It was fine enough, but I’m really not sure why Ospreay needed the better part of ten minutes to beat Rush. Ospreay is in the main event scene and is likely in a high profile match at All In, plus being tied into the World Title match. That is not a place that should require him to need so much time to beat half of a low level tag team.

Post match Andretti comes in to lay out Ospreay. Hangman Page makes the save and Ospreay leaves. Page says he appreciates Ospreay’s help but he doesn’t need help to become the World Champion. He will never take help from Swerve Strickland either, but he will roll into Texas and win the World Title. Cue Jon Moxley followed by the Death Riders but Ospreay comes in with some chairs to chase them off.

Don Callis and company want the Outrunners and Bandido, with Hechicero coming in as the newest member.

Atlantis Jr./Templario vs. FTR

Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. Wheeler won’t shake Atlantis’ hand to start with Atlantis, who takes over without much trouble. The frustrated Wheeler brings in Harwood to slap Templario in the (awesome) mask, earning himself an enziguri. Now Harwood shakes his hand, earning Templario a poke in the eye. Everything breaks down and Atlantis dropkicks FTR to the floor but Wheeler takes over on Templario back inside.

We take a break and come back with Templario still in trouble and Schiavone promising a REALLY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT from Tony Khan later tonight. Atlantis comes in to clean house and hits a dive to the floor. Templario’s splash off Atlantis’ shoulders gets two on Harwood but he’s back up for a Shatter Machine. Atlantis makes the save so Harwood sweeps Templario’s leg to break up a suplex and give Wheeler the pin at 13:45.

Rating: C+. I had missed the time before Forbidden Door where wrestlers are suddenly angry at people from a different promotion and now we’re getting the Grand Slam version. MJF wants to fight Mistico and FTR is battling various CMLL stars. That hasn’t been overly interesting in the years that we’ve seen before and it’s the case again here.

Post match Hathaway grabs the mic to brag about FTR’s success. And that’s it.

Video on Thekla attacking Jamie Hayter last week.

Don Callis Family vs. Bandido/Los Outrunners

Hechicero takes Bandido down by the leg to start but a spinning armdrag gets Bandido out of trouble. Everything breaks down and the Family is triple dropkicked out to the floor. Fletcher is able to send Magnum into the barricade a few times and we take a break. Back with Magnum getting up for the hot tag off to Floyd to pick up the pace. Hechicero ties Bandido up for some near falls before they trade big boots for a double down.

Takeshita comes in for the Blue Thunder Bomb on Bandido and everything breaks down. Fletcher gets suplexed into a frog splash from Bandido but he blocks the 21 Plex. Instead Fletcher hits a brainbuster but Bandido is back with a superkick. Magnum comes back in but the Family breaks up the Mega Powers handshake. The brainbuster gives Fletcher the pin on Magnum at 14:16.

Rating: B-. Another long match that didn’t need to get so much time and felt like it was just there to fill in a long portion of the show. The Ring Of Honor World Title is beneath most of the Family so they probably won’t go after it, making this mini feud feel all the less important. It wasn’t a bad match at all, but I’m going to need something more interesting than the Outrunners in masks.

Penelope Ford and Megan Bayne attack Anna Jay but Tay Melo makes her return after nearly two years for the save.

Anthony Bowens declares this the Pride Of AEW Month and challenges Kyle Fletcher for next week.

Ring Of Honor TV Title: Sammy Guevara vs. Lee Johnson vs. AR Fox vs. Nick Wayne

Wayne is defending and Ricochet is on commentary. Wayne and Johnson are sent outside to start so the other two nip up and miss stereo dropkicks for a standoff. Fox hits a big running flip dive onto Johnson before Guevara dropkicks Wayne down as well. Guevara hits his own running flip dive to the floor but Johnson hits one of his own. Fox moonsaults down onto Johnson but Johnson’s friend Blake Christian gets in a cheap shot.

We take a break and come back Wayne kneeing Guevara in the face but Guevara faceplants him for two. Johnson takes Wayne’s place and they fight out to the floor, leaving Fox to suplex Wayne. Fox hits a big flip dive off the top onto everyone else but Wayne shrugs off a Swanton. Something close to a fisherman’s buster pins Fox to retain the title at 11:07.

Rating: B-. Yeah if the Ring Of Honor World Title isn’t interesting, the TV Title isn’t much better. These are people who have been established as not being overly important so putting them all in a title match isn’t the best way to go. Wayne’s issues with Christian Cage continue to grow, but I’m not sure when it’s finally going to snap, or how much I’ll be able to care about Wayne when it does.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Thekla vs. Lady Frost

Frost drives her into the corner to start but gets shoved right back out. A running boot to the head staggers Frost and Thekla cuts her down with a spear. Thekla grabs something like an abdominal stretch with a bodyscissors for the tap at 2:30.

Post match the hold goes on again but Queen Aminata runs in for the save.

Post break Aminata says that she’s tired of people showing up here and trying to make their name off her. She’ll face Thekla anyway though.

Tony Khan’s big announcement, as made by Tony Schiavone: Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada at All In, winner take all. We really needed a special announcement to confirm that the match that has been all but announced for months now?

Paragon/Daniel Garcia vs. Don Callis Family

Strong and Romero fight over a wristlock to start before it’s off to Beretta to hammer Cole down in the corner. Cole shrugs that off and brings Beretta over to the corner for the tag to O’Reilly. A running knee to the ribs cuts Alexander down and it’s Garcia coming in for the right hands in the corner. Garcia hammers away at everyone but Archer, who chokeslams him out of the corner as we take a break.

Back with Strong and O’Reilly cleaning house before handing it back to Cole for more of the same. The Backstabber gets two on Alexander and a superkick sends Romero outside. Almost everyone heads to the floor for a string of running dives until Alexander German suplexes Cole for two back inside. The Panama Sunrise hits Alexander and Garcia’s rollup gets two with Archer making the save. We settle down to Beretta trading forearms with Cole until Beretta scores with a half and half suplex. Cole starts firing off the superkicks though and hits the Boom to finish Romero at 11:23.

Rating: B-. They were trying here and the match was the best part of the show, though that’s only so much of a hurdle to clear. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Cole finally get a win, as it feels like it’s been a bit since it happened. Good enough match, though having this at the end of a four hour marathon show was a bit much to ask.

Overall Rating: C. I know it’s not reflective of the action, but this was one of the least interesting things I’ve seen AEW do in a very long time. It felt like almost nothing on here mattered, with the big moment being an announcement of a match that was all but set a few months ago. That left a pair of Callis Family matches, an ROH TV match, Thekla winning a squash in her debut, and a few other matches. What on here was supposed to make me want to see more AEW? They really need to work on this, and I have a bad, bad feeling about what we’re going to see next week.

Results
Will Ospreay b. Lio Rush – Styles Clash
FTR b. Atlantis Jr./Templario – Crossbody to Templario
Don Callis Family b. Bandido/Los Outrunners – Brainbuster to Magnum
Nick Wayne b. Sammy Guevara, Lee Johnson and AR Fox – Fisherman’s buster to Fox
Thekla b. Lady Frost – Seated abdominal stretch
Paragon b. Don Callis Family – Boom to Romero

 

 

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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Joey Janela’s Spring Break 4
Date: October 10, 2020
Location: Marion County Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, Indiana
Commentators: Dave Prazak, Kevin Gill, Lenny Leonard

So due to me having an obsession with finishing series, we have one of the two Spring Break shows that I’ve never done. This is from the time when Covid was still running wild so the crowd is shall we say sparse. It’s also not spring, but Wrestlemania Weekend was canceled so this is about as good as we’re getting. I have no idea what to expect here so let’s get to it.

The opening video shows Joey Janela walking into a convenience store and getting a drink but getting annoyed at seeing something about the Rock N Roll Express. Another customer comes in and the clerk asks if he’s going to spring break. We see a graphic for Janela vs. Ricky Morton…and then the clerk chokes Janela. I’ve seen weirder from this show.

The crowd looks tiny due to social distancing.

Here is GCW World Champion Rickey Shane Page, with the required goons, to say he won’t defend the title but he does have an opponent in mind: Marcus Mathers, who is a young student here. Mathers comes out but Page calls him stupid and tells him to leave. The second option is the son of ECW legend 911, 411! Apparently it’s a guy named Big Dom, who comes to the ring and gets beaten down by Page’s goons. Cue Danhausen and he gets beaten down by the goons as well. We do have an opponent though.

Rickey Shane Page vs. Orange Cassidy

Page’s GCW World Title isn’t on the line and he has a bunch of goons with him. They both roll to the floor to start until Cassidy rolls back inside…and keeps rolling to the other side. The goons throw him back in, with Page having to stop another roll. Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets and Page takes them out for the BOO/YAY sequence. They run the ropes and Cassidy dropkicks him outside but a goon cuts Cassidy off so Page can run back in to stomp away.

Another trip to the floor lets the goons hammer away before setting up a door over some chairs. Back in and Cassidy gets in the lazy strikes, setting up the dive to the floor. Cassidy’s double noggin knocker sends two goons off the apron and through some doors at ringside. Back in and the chokebreaker gives Page two so he goes to get some of Cassidy’s juice. That goes too far so Cassidy kicks it into his face, decks one of the goons, and grabs the Mousetrap for the pin on Page at 8:00.

Rating: C+. So the point is that Page, the World Champion, is losing a bunch in these non-title matches but he’s bragging about still having the belt? I’ve heard worse ideas, but it’s one of those things that is kind of a self defeating concept. The fans popped for Cassidy though and that shouldn’t be a surprise given how he was being featured in AEW.

Video on Matt Tremont, who is apparently finishing up with GCW, with his last match tonight.

Ironbeast vs. Rascalz

That would be KTB/Shane Mercer vs. Zachary Wentz/Desmond Xavier, the latter of whom is better known as Wes Lee in NXT. The Rascalz start fast and Wentz hits a Bronco Buster on KTB, followed by a double dive to the floor. Back in and Ironbeast starts throwing them around with the suplexes but pauses to grab the doors. Wentz gets stomped down in the corner, with Xavier getting thrown into him so they can both be crushed in the corner.

A pop up piledriver sets up a Lionsault for two on Wentz, but he’s back with a headscissors to send the monsters together. Xavier comes back in to clean house but stereo dives are pulled out of the air. Ironbeast throws them together but Xavier slips out of a Doomsday Device. A four way knockdown gives us a breather before the Rascalz strike KTB down. Xavier’s dive is cut off with a raised door and a toss into a German suplex finishes Wentz at 9:32.

Rating: B-. Simple, to the point story here with the classic power vs. speed setup. It’s worked for years in wrestling and it worked again here. Mercer isn’t someone who is likely to become a big star elsewhere but he’s fine as an indy powerhouse. The Rascalz are quite good at what they do and they were getting to showcase themselves a bit here, even in defeat.

Jonathan Gresham vs. Lee Moriarty

They shake hands to start before going to the mat, with Gresham out wrestling him to start in on the arm. Moriarty has to bail over to the ropes and the fans approve early on. They fight over hammerlocks and Gresham can’t spin out of a wristlock. An exchange of headlocks goes to the mat and we have another standoff. A high angle springboard armdrag takes Gresham down and Moriarty gets to take over on the arm.

Something close to a crossface chickenwing has Gresham in more trouble and Moriarty rams the arm into the corner. Gresham gets out and snaps Moriarty’s arm for a breather, followed by a running kick to the arm. Moriarty’s arm gets tied up on the mat, including with Gresham’s legs, with the ankle being spun around for a bonus. Moriarty finally rolls out so Gresham starts twisting the fingers.

Back up and Moriarty uses the good forearm to escape and an enziguri staggers Gresham. A running double stomp gives Moriarty two and he rams his own shoulder into the buckle to get it back in place. Moriarty goes after Gresham’s arm for a change with a DDT on the arm, setting up a Fujiwara armbar to send Gresham over to the ropes.

Back up and Gresham kicks him out to the floor for a change before tying the arm up again back inside. Moriarty is back with another cross armbreaker but Gresham, eventually, makes the rope. They trade forearms to the face until Gresham grabs a German suplex into a running forearm to the back of the head for two. Two more running shots to the head get two more and the Octopus with shots to the head makes Moriarty tap at 20:46.

Rating: B. This was the technical showcase and it worked rather well, which shouldn’t be a surprise. Gresham was long since known as the technical master and Moriarty more or less followed in his footsteps. He wound up signing with AEW about a year after this, which isn’t shocking given how easily he hung in there with someone as good as Gresham.

Post match Gresham puts over Alex Shelley and Lee Moriarty. After some prodding, Moriarty eventually shakes hands.

Team Pazuzu vs. Alex Zayne/Blake Christian/Jordan Oliver

Pazuzu is Chris Dickinson/Santana/Ortiz. Christian goes after the rather strong Dickinson’s arm to start but gets wrestled down without much trouble. A double leg brings Dickinson down for a change and they roll into the ropes. Back up and Dickinson wants a shot to the face, with Christian just making him mad. A hard shoulder drops Christian again and it’s Santana coming in to strike away in the corner.

Santana’s running clothesline cuts off the comeback attempt but Christian gets over to Oliver anyway. That’s fine with the villains, who take Oliver into the corner for the alternating beatdown. Christian manages to get over for the tag to Zayne, who is quickly northern lights suplexed for two. Zayne fights up and hits a slingshot hilo to the back, allowing Christian to come back in for the rapid fire forearms.

Dickinson comes back in with the kick to the back and a snap suplex gets two. Santana hits his own snap suplex for his own two as everything breaks down. A powerbomb drops Christian and his leg gets wrapped around the post. Dickinson actually gets smart by grabbing a half crab, followed by a leg trap piledriver (ok then) for two. Santana is back in with a top rope double stomp to the back before kicking the leg out again. Christian finally manages to get in a kick of his own, setting up a snap German suplex.

Everything breaks down and Zayne hits a shooting star double knees to the back of Dickinson’s head (ow). Christian’s springboard 450 gets a VERY delayed two but Dickinson is back up with a hard clothesline. Another powerbomb into Santana’s German suplex gets two and a Death Valley Driver into a frog splash gets….two on Zayne as these near falls are getting a bit much. Christian comes back in to slug it out with Dickinson until Oliver is in to help with a running knee. Zayn hits a big dive but Christian’s 450 hits raised knees. A toss Razor’s Edge gives Dickinson the pin at 23:54.

Rating: B-. GCW doesn’t have the best reputation but this was yet another good match in a series of them on this show. They played a simple story here and that’s all it needed to be. You had a bunch of talented villains against three scrappy underdogs who were trying their best. It worked well here, with an enjoyable match despite it being rather long.

Post match Dickinson asks for some respect for the other team and GCW as a whole. Santana thanks the fans and we get a bunch of handshakes.

Tony Deppen vs. Alex Shelley

This is Deppen’s handpicked match and Shelley uses a chair to get into the ring for some reason. Deppen grabs a cravate to start as commentary puts over GCW’s stars as the future of wrestling. They go to the back mat with Shelley working on the leg and then grabbing a headlock. That’s broken up and Deppen hits a dropkick, only to get caught with a tornado DDT out of the corner.

A slugout on the apron sets up Shelley hitting a DDT but Deppen blocks the Downward Spiral into the corner. Deppen switches things up with a Figure Four, with Shelley making the ropes without much trouble. Back up and Shelley keeps it simple with a kick to the head, only for Deppen to take the leg out again. Shelley sends him into the corner for a needed breather and they trade the forearms.

Deppen gets smart by chopping the bad knee so Shelley knees him in the ribs. A hanging swinging suplex gives Shelley two but the knee gives out again. Deppen knees him into the corner and a springboard Codebreaker gets two more. An STF sends Shelley over to the ropes again so Deppen knees him in the face. Shelley is right back with some superkicks into an Air Raid Crash for two, followed by Shell Shock for the same. The Border City Stretch goes on but Deppen spins out and grabs La Majistral for the surprise pin at 13:29.

Rating: B-. Deppen is known for being a horrible scoundrel but he was able to hang with a long established veteran like Shelley. It was a big win for Deppen, as Shelley is someone who is pretty much universally respected in the ring. This felt like Deppen’s breakthrough match and he would win the Ring Of Honor TV Title the following year.

Lio Rush vs. ACH

Man ACH just fell off the planet a few years ago. We get the handshake and hug to start as it seems to be all nice feelings here. They fight over wrist control to start and that’s good for an early standoff. Some standing switches don’t get us anywhere either so Rush takes him down with a headlock. That’s enough of the wrestling stuff so Rush snaps off a springboard hurricanrana to send ACH outside.

Some kicks to the face set up a bottom rope Asai moonsault but ACH is back in with a swinging backbreaker. Another backbreaker gets two as the pace slows down a bit. ACH kicks him down and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but Rush manages some forearms. Rush sends him to the apron and hits a kick to the floor as the comeback is on. The springboard Stunner gets two but ACH kicks him down in the corner.

Back up and Rush tries another handspring but dives into a bridging German suplex for two. They trade some rapid fire kicks until ACH’s double stomp to the back gets two more. The frustration is setting in for ACH, who has to win an exchange of forearms. Rush slugs right back and sends him outside for a big suicide dive. Back in and ACH grabs a tiger driver for two but Rush kicks him in the face. A running Spanish Fly into the Final Hour gives Rush the pin at 16:21.

Rating: B. Sweet goodness this show has been way better than I was expecting. These two worked well together and you could see ACH getting more and more frustrated with everything not working. Rush hung in there long enough and finally pulled it out, which made for a good story to go with the solid action.

Joey Janela vs. Ricky Morton

The fans are into Morton (of course) as he works on the wristlock to start. Janela flips him down and does the Shawn Michaels pose so Morton hits a running shoulder out to the floor. Back in and Janela hammers away as commentary makes 1986 references. The chinlock goes on for a bit but Morton is back up with another shoulder to send Janela outside. They chop it out until Morton kicks him low, sending Janela over to set up a plastic table.

That takes so long that Morton piledrives him through the table but Janela is back on offense 25 seconds later (yes I timed him). A chair to the face hits Morton and believe it or not, he’s busted open. Morton manages a dropkick for a needed breather and they fight to the apron. A Death Valley Driver plants Janela (that’s a new one for Morton) and it’s time for a door.

That takes too long and Morton gets sent into it, setting up a top rope backsplash onto the door onto Morton for two. Some door shots to the knee set up a Figure Four, sending Morton to the ropes, which works in a match where he was just beaten up by a door. Janela takes too long putting him up top and gets caught with a Canadian Destroyer for two. The Figure Four goes on again but this time Morton rolls him over….for the tap at 13:50. That’s a new one.

Rating: C. You know that Janela is going to have a featured match on his show, but this one was far shorter than what he does most of the time. That being said, it also wasn’t all that interesting with the ending being more of a surprise than anything else. At least Janela puts someone else over, even if it is someone who has been a legend for decades.

Clusterf***

It’s a Royal Rumble with an unknown number of entrants and fairly randomly timed intervals. You’re eliminated by pinfall, submission, over the top, leaving the building, or death (Commentary thinks the latter should go without saying.). Spyder Nate Webb (hometown boy) is in at #1 and we get the full Teenage Dirtbag entrance. JTG is in at #2 and they shake hands to start, with JTG taking over with a clothesline. A powerbomb is loaded up but Jimmy Lloyd is in at #3 to chop away.

Cole Radrick is in at #4 (very quickly, as this show is probably running long) and Starboy Charlie is in at #5 with maybe thirty seconds between the entrances. Flash Flanagan (geez he’s ancient at this point) is in at #6 to clean house as commentary is commenting on the fast intervals. Sugar Dunkerton (Pineapple Pete from the AEW days, albeit with a basketball) is in at #7 to cross over on JTG and then dribble his head on the mat in a nice spot. Radrick (with a bad leg) steals the basketball but gets blocked by Dunkerton and then stomped down into the corner as Allie Kat is in at #8.

A seated senton out of the corner hits Charlie and it’s Kung Fu (Joey) Janela in at #9. Charlie sends him to the apron but gets chopped in the head, leaving Dunkerton to piledrive Janela. That’s no sold (naturally) and it’s Violence Is Forever (Kevin Ku/Dominic Garrini) in at #10 (Or is it 11? I can’t imagine it matters.). Another piledriver actually slows Janela down and Violence Is Forever gets to clean house. Ku curb stomps Kat and a high/low pins Flanagan for the first elimination. JTG fights up but gets caught with Chasing The Dragon for the pin.

Kerry Awful/Nick Iggy (The Carnies) are in at #12 with a selection of chairs, allowing the two teams to sit down and slap each other in the face. Willow Nightingale/Solo Darling (another team) are in at #13 with chairs of their own and it’s time to sit in a circle for a string of punches to the face. Then they throw the chairs at each other and Darling gets Garrini in a reverse Figure Four. That’s broken up and Webb comes back in as Levi Everett (he’s Amish) is in at #14.

Everett churns the butter (of course) and Webb gets into it as well, only for Everett to hit him with the….whatever it is that holds butter being churned. Cassandro El Exotico is in at #14 to kiss Lloyd and snap off a running hurricanrana. Dustin Thomas (the wrestler with no legs) is in at #15 for a 619 to Cassandro and it’s Kerry Morton (whose name is not mentioned for a good while) in at #16. Dropkicks abound as most of the entrants are out on the floor.

Jody Threat is in at #17 for a top rope seated senton to Kody Lane (who I don’t think had an entrance). Juicy Finau is in at #18 for a Samoan drop to Threat and then hits one on three people at once. Calvin Tankman is in at #19 and uses Lane to beat up Garrini for a double elimination. Tankman gets rid of Awful and Ku as the ringside is starting to clear a bit at least. Morton is eliminated over the top and there goes Iggy, leaving Finau and Tankman to have the big man showdown. Tankman Death Valley Drivers Finau for the elimination and Billie Starkz is in at #20.

Tankman tries to dive onto Charlie but hits the pile at ringside instead (not eliminated). Charlie and Starkz slug it out and Starkz kicks him in the head, setting up a bridging German suplex for two. It’s Tankman getting back in to go after Starkz, and it’s the entire 4-4-0 (Rickey Shane Page’s goons: Atticus Cogar, Eddie Only, Gregory Iron and Eric Ryan) in at #21.

Iron stomps on Starkz and cranks on her leg until the referee calls it off for the elimination. Janela goes after the team and is eliminated, with Cassandro and Threat getting the same treatment. Threat powerbombs Ryan for two and then stops to smoke, earning an elimination. Thomas gets triple stomped but Iron, who has cerebral palsy, has a bit of sympathy. That doesn’t work for Thomas, who doesn’t buy it, and hits a top rope DDT on Iron.

Thomas gets beaten down again and it’s Elayna Black (the future Cora Jade) in at #22 with some tarot cards….and the Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner, AJ Gray, 1 Called Manders, Matthew Justice and Effy) is in at #23 to get rid of 4-4-0. They all brawl off and it’s Nasty LeRoy in at #24. LeRoy teaches Kat and Black to dance but 4-4-0 are back in to jump him. The Crew is back in to eliminate 4-4-0 and the….Wal-Mart (I think? There are references made to Target to it sounds right.) Dudes in at #25.

One of the Dudes (Tahir2x, partner of Lord A) get to clean some house and almost immediately turn on each other. A third Wal-Mart Dude comes in (doesn’t seem to be an official entrant, in case it matters) and helps beat up Lord A as Cabana Man Dan is in at #26. Nightingale is back in to give Dan a spinebuster but Parrow is in at #27 to beat up Nightingale and Darling for a double pin. A sitout powerbomb gets rid of Dan and it’s Manders coming in for the hoss fight. Parrow World’s Strongest Slams Manders for the fast pin as Robert Anthony and Frank The Clown are in at #28.

LeRoy is back in and gets beaten down by Anthony and Frank, who then manage to knock Parrow down. That’s broken up and Frank bails, albeit without an elimination. The Invisible Man (there it is) is in at #29 and gets to clean house but Everett powerslams him down. Everett churns the Invisible Man but misses a splash, allowing the Invisible Man to crank on Everett’s arm. A clothesline gets rid of Everett and Parrow is sent to the apron, with Thomas managing to get rid of him. Thomas is sent outside and….I won’t ask how he can be eliminated if both feet….never mind.

Anthony and Frank beat up the Invisible Man, who fights back with a double chokeslam. Tankman is back in to get rid of Anthony and Frank as Young Dumb and Broke (Charlie Tyler, Griffin Taylor and…someone commentary doesn’t bother naming) is in at #30 to go after Lloyd. Black is back in to go after them and something like Matt Morgan’s Hellevator is enough for Black to be tossed out.

As we find out that the third member is named Ellis Taylor, Working On Dying (Steve Sanders and Dylan McKay) are in at #31. McKay flip dives onto the floor but gets back inside anyway to go after Young, Dumb and Broke. Stereo flip dives off the top get a double near fall and the Crew is back in to get rid of McKay and Sanders. John Thorne (a promoter) is in at #32 as a big dive hits the pile on the floor. Thorne grabs a weapon, charges at Kat, and is eliminated. Logan Stunt (Marko’s brother) is in at #33 as McCoy (I think) is tossed by Tankman.

Cue Marko to throw Logan out and they brawl to the back, with Marko being eliminated as well. Tiger appears to be out too and Radrick is rolled up for another elimination. The Wal-Mart Dudes are back to keep fighting with Lord A hitting a spinning Tombstone to get rid of Tahir2x but Lloyd sends Lord A through a table for the pin. Thunderkitty is in at #34 and knocks Webb down without much trouble.

The Invisible Man takes Thunderkitty down and then plants Taylor for a fast pin. The Second Gear Crew grab chairs to go after the Invisible Man but get tossed outside (though Effy does get in a kiss first). Yoshihiko is in at #35 and plants the Invisible Man for the fast pin. A bunch of Canadian Destroyers and poisonranas give Yoshihiko the pin on Lloyd but Webb is in to beat up Yoshihiko.

Webb hits a moonsault with a chair for the pin and Shark Boy is in at #36 to complete the field. The Chummer gets rid of Thunderkitty but Webb has a cooler. Shark Boy gets a drink but Kat and LeRoy want in on this too. The toast sets up a double Stunner to get rid of Kat and LeRoy. Charlie is back in with a Stunner on Shark Boy for the elimination but Cogar rolls him up for another pin.

That leaves….I think Cogar, Webb, Tankman and AJ Gray so Tankman is here to Pounce Cogar. Gray and Tankman strike it out until Gray hits a string of clotheslines for the elimination. Cogar throws fire at Gray for the pin and Webb is back in for the final showdown. They fight out to the floor with Webb getting chaired in the head.

A bunch of chair shots to the back have Webb down and an Air Raid Crash through the chair gets two. Webb throws a trashcan to tie Cogar in the Tree of Woe. A moonsault Van Terminator (that’s either amazing or stupid and I’m not sure which) hits Cogar and a Razor’s Edge spun into a DDT gives Webb the final pin at 72:25.

Rating: C+. This is the definition of “just sit back and have fun” and there is nothing wrong with that. Obviously the winner means absolutely nothing so letting the hometown crowd favorite go wire to wire is not a bad thing. This was before the match became a total insane spectacle like it would become in later years but I’ll absolutely take it for what we got here. Fun, though other editions have been better.

Since that’s not enough, we have another match to go. We do pause for a mat change because that was a lot of people in there over and over. And for weapons to be set up of course.

Video on Matt Tremont’s history at Spring Break and now he’s headlining in his final match. A lot of violence is involved but it’s set to Metallica so at least it’s not all bad.

Matt Tremont vs. Alex Colon

Colon has Markus Crane and this is a Deathmatch in Tremont’s GCW farewell. They stare at each other a bit to start and lock up to go nowhere. The much bigger Tremont shoves him down a few times as they’re starting slow, which has me worried that they’re getting time. They both tease going into the light tubes so Colon grabs one, which Tremont blocks. Tremont sends him through a bunch of the tubes but gets thrown through them as well.

Colon starts carving Tremont’s forehead up with a broken tube and then breaks another one over his back. That works so well that Tremont does it right back to him but stops to lick his own blood. Colon fights up and sends him through a barbed wire board before they just hit each other in the face. Tremont gets staggered with a chair to the head and a running forearm knocks him out of said chair.

Something like a powerslam puts Colon through a chair and they walk towards the bleachers, which isn’t very social distancing. They go back to the ring where Colon hits him with some light tubes. It’s time for a ladder, which takes too long, allowing Tremont to backdrop him onto the ladder. That gets the very delayed two and they suplexes each other through some more light tubes.

Another light tube (we get the idea) over the head staggers Colon but he’s back with a swinging DDT through some tubes. A double knee breaks some tubes over Tremont and they go to the apron, with Tremont Samoan dropping him through a barbed wire board. We pause for Tremont to be freed from the wire before it’s time to walk around some more. The fight heads into the crowd where they sit on the bleachers and seem to chat a bit.

Tremont hits a suplex and they go back to the floor, where a bunch of doors are set up. Colon dives off a balcony to put him through the doors and we pause again for a breather. Back in and a top rope double stomp crushes more light tubes onto Tremont, who pops to his feet. A big clothesline puts Colon down and a Death Valley Driver through another tube gets one. Thankfully they mix things up a bit with Colon hitting him with a trashcan, which is put over Tremont’s head for a top rope double stomp.

Cue some goons with fans/rakes made of light tubes, plus a big box of light tubes which are poured out on the mat. They take turns breaking tubes over the other’s head, getting up to about ten each. Colon breaks about ten in a row over Tremont’s head but Tremont grabs a belly to back suplex, because this is still wrestling you see. Colon pops up and hits him with two more light tubes, followed by breaking a rake (with five tubes in a row) over Tremont’s head. Tremont wants him to do it again so Colon uses the other rake, which is enough for the pin at 26:29.

Rating: D-. Nope. Ignoring that I absolutely cannot stand this stuff most of the time, but this one was especially bad. A good chunk of this match was standing around waiting for the other to get up so they could use more light tubes. That’s where they lost me, as the last few minutes of the match was almost literally them just standing there breaking light tubes over the other’s head. Then Colon used A BUNCH of tubes for the win. I can occasionally tolerate a deathmatch, but this was just the same stuff over and over for the better part of half an hour.

Post match Colon checks on Tremont and then leaves him alone so Tremont can have a moment. Tremont shouts something and pays tribute to a former wrestler/wrestling personality who has passed away. We get the big moment of respect to end the show. Tremont would indeed stay away from GCW for over a year before returning in 2021.

Overall Rating: B-. The original version of this show that I found didn’t include the main event and my goodness do I wish that’s how it stayed. This show was SO MUCH BETTER before the main event. Prior to that mess, I was having a great time with this show offering one good to very good match after another. You don’t get that on almost any show and it was rolling here. It says a lot when the Cluster**** was the weakest match because it’s one of those “fun by definition match”. The less said about the main event the better, but dang they were feeling it until then.

 

 

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

Collision
Date: January 18, 2025
Location: Andrew J. Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

We’re about a month away from grand Slam and in this case we have another special in the form of Maximum Carnage. The big deal this week is a Texas Deathmatch between Hangman Page and Christopher Daniels, which should be rather violent. Other than that, we’ll need to see what is next for a lot of people. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

The Outrunners, Powerhouse Hobbs, Rated FTR, Kazuchika Okada, Christopher Daniels and Hangman Page are ready to fight.

Christopher Daniels vs. Hangman Page

Texas Deathmatch, which in AEW terms means you can only win by knockout or submission. Page cuts off the early jawing and hammers away in the corner before clotheslining Daniels to the floor. There’s a dive to take him out again and Daniels is sent into the barricade as this is total dominance. A chair to the face drops Daniels again and we’ve already got some blood.

Barbed wire to the cut has Daniels in more trouble and Page rips at the jaw. The wire is wrapped around Page’s arm for a discus forearm as we take a break. Back with Daniels hitting a desperation clothesline but getting sent face first into a chair in the corner. Daniels is laid on a table for a stomp from the apron, with the table collapsing but not breaking for a unique look.

It’s time for a barbed wire table (because of course) but Page takes too long up top and gets super Rock Bottomed through the table. A Buckshot Lariat and Angel’s Wings on the apron are both blocked but Daniels is back with a Koji Clutch. That’s broken up as well so Daniels grabs Angel’s Wings for a breather. The BME connects, followed by another onto a table onto Page. That doesn’t really matter as Page is back up for a Tombstone onto the chair. Daniels is on his feet in less than thirty seconds so it’s a Deadeye onto a chair, followed by the Buckshot Lariat to the back of the head to end Daniels at 16:44.

Rating: B. Word on the street is that this is the end for Daniels and if that is the case, he went out with a hard hitting, violent match which made Page look great. Daniels has been a dependable hand in AEW for a long time now and it was nice to see him getting out there one more time. Heck of a match here, and Page should be on his way to bigger things soon.

Post match Page comes back and hits an Angel’s Wings.

Here is Toni Storm for a chat. She can’t believe that she is going to her hometown for a title shot in the building where she saw her first wrestling show. Mariah May is the best in the world and they need to meet face to face next week. Tony Schiavone isn’t convinced but goes along with it anyway.

We look at the Hurt Syndicate wrecking Mark Briscoe and Private Party on Dynamite.

The Hurt Syndicate wants the Tag Team Titles.

Undisputed Kingdom vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Shane Taylor is here with his own Promotions. Strong and Moriarty start things off so it’s quickly off to Dean, who gets kicked in the chest. Some cheating from the floor takes the good guys down though and the Infantry gets to pose on the apron as we take a break. Back with Cole missing the Panama Sunrise but scoring with the superkick. Strong comes in to clean house as everything breaks down. The High/Low finishes Bravo at 6:54.

Rating: C+. I have no idea why a six minute match needed a break in the middle, but at least they kept the match short. This wasn’t a match that was going to need a lot of time and it made the Kingdom look that much better. At the same time, this isn’t going to make hearing Taylor talk about how dominant the team is in ROH, but it’s not like that show matters anyway, even to the people running it.

Post match Taylor comes in and wrecks the Kingdom but Daniel Garcia comes in to take him down.

We look at Kenny Omega returning to the ring on Dynamite but getting beaten down by the Don Callis Family, with Will Ospreay not being able to make the save.

Ospreay isn’t happy and wants to meet Omega face to face next week on Dynamite.

Murder Machines vs. Top Flight

The Machines jump them to start and a backbreaker/running kick to the head combination hits Darius. A kick to the head gets Darius out of trouble though and it’s Dante coming in to pick up the pace. Archer misses a charge into the corner and everything breaks down, with the Machines easily taking them down. A powerbomb/chokeslam combination finishes Dante at 3:47.

Rating: C. This wasn’t quite a squash but what matters the most is that the Machines looked good. They could be the resident monster team around here without much trouble and to do that, they have to win matches like this one. At the same time, I could go for seeing Top Flight as something other than jobbers, as they are more than good enough to be in a better place than that.

Post match the Machines leave so here are Action Andretti and Lio Rush to jump Top Flight. Sweet goodness do the Martins owe AEW money or something?

The Learning Tree insists they will be on the same page as the Death Riders tonight. Chris Jericho talks about his history with Jon Moxley and if Moxley is as smart as Jericho thinks he is, they’ll be fine here.

The Undisputed Kingdom thanks Daniel Garcia and challenge he and Matt Menard to find a partner for a six man on Dynamite. Deal. For some reason, the audio here was terrible and I could barely hear what they were saying.

Here is Max Caster, with a bag, for a chat. He wants to clear the air with Anthony Bowens, who comes to the ring as well. Caster talks about how they’re a great team, but the issue is that Bowens will not admit that Caster is the best wrestler in the world. That sends Bowens off, as he talks about how he has protected Caster from people finding out his expectations. Bowens has worked to represent this company for a long time now and is AEW’s five tool player. Caster whips out a trademark dubbing him the best wrestler in the world, which is kind of awesome.

Cue Billy Gunn to ask what is going on with the two of them because they did some amazing things together. Caster calls Gunn selfish for making it about himself when it should have been about Caster all along. Gunn ruins every team, including his own kids. Bowens is told to pick a side and he picks Gunn, which has Caster walking off, going on a huge rant about how much the other two suck. Bowens scissors with Gunn as Caster storms off.

Swerve Strickland was in a celebrity golf tournament.

Strickland, with Prince Nana, is ready to end Ricochet in Atlanta on February 5. He can’t wait to choke Ricochet, which is a rather specific wish.

Continental Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Okada is defending and Schiavone explains their history together. A chop rocks Okada and he bails out to the floor, where another clothesline takes him down. We take a break and come back with Ishii getting two off a superplex, only to get dropped onto Okada’s knee. The top rope elbow connects but Ishii wrenches the extended middle finger. Ishii hits a clothesline but runs into the dropkick. The Rainmaker is blocked and Ishii knocks him down for two. Okada hits another dropkick and grabs the bell, which is quickly taken away. That means it’s a low blow into the Rainmaker to retain the title at 8:14.

Rating: B-. It was a hard hitting fight and I’m well aware of the history between the two of them. That being said, we just finished a month long tournament to get a shot at this title, with wrestlers having to win multiple matches and survive. On the other hand, Ishii has never actually won a singles match in AEW and lost multiple recent title shots both here and elsewhere. I could go for a better reason for a title match than “they teamed together in Japan and had a really good match there years ago”.

The Gates Of Agony want a match next week.

Dustin Rhodes vs. Adam Priest

Priest isn’t interested in respect to start and gets his arm cranked as a result. The snap powerslam doesn’t quite go smoothly and the referee breaks up Shattered Dreams. Rhodes isn’t bothered and hits Cross Rhodes into the Final Reckoning for the pin at 2;12.

We look at Cope suggesting the House Of Black go its separate ways.

Julia Hart vs. Harley Cameron

Cameron is wrestling in sunglasses in her smart way to avoid the mist. And then she takes them off at the bell. A takedown lets Cameron hammer away to start and an enziguri gets two. Hart is back up and chokes away on the ropes as we take a break. Back with Hart fighting out of a fireman’s carry and grabbing an Octopus. With that broken up, Hart hits some running shots in the corner for two but it’s too early for Hartless. Cameron gets in Eat Defeat but misses a charge into the corner. A clothesline to the back of the head sets up Hartless to make Cameron quit at 7:24.

Rating: C+. This wasn’t meant to be some masterpiece but Cameron has gotten far better at what she does every week. Hart is still getting back in the swing of things after so much time away due to injuries and that is going to take some time in the ring. For now though, nice stuff and I’m sure Cameron will be fine when she has some more offbeat shenanigans.

We look at the return of Samoa Joe on Dynamite. Next week, he gets Nick Wayne.

The Learning Tree has attacked Powerhouse Hobbs.

Rated FTR/Outrunners/Powerhouse Hobbs vs. The Learning Tree/Death Riders

Minus Hobbs. Jericho and Harwood start things off, which doesn’t seem like the best idea after last week. They slap it out with Harwood getting the better of things so it’s off to Keith to hammer away. Wheeler and Wheeler come in with Wheeler chopping away at Wheeler in the corner. Magnum comes in and gets chopped as well before it’s off to Floyd for a running knee. A brainbuster gets two on Yuta and everything breaks down with the villains being cleared out as we take a break.

Back with Bill choking away at Harwood but it’s off to Jericho, who whips Harwood into Moxley. It’s off to Moxley (the fans approve) for a piledriver before Yuta comes in (the fans don’t approve). A suplex sets up the chinlock before Yuta sends him shoulder first into the post. Bill misses a charge into the corner though and the tag brings in Cope to clean house. Jericho counters the spear with a Codebreaker so it’s Floyd coming in to pick up the pace.

Jericho and Keith get caught with the Mega Powers Elbow before we hit the parade of knockdowns. The Shatter Machine hits Bill and Cope gives Moxley the Impaler on the ramp. Cue Pac to jump Cope and the Death Riders put a bag over his head. Cash makes the save and a bunch of people brawl into the crowd. Cue the limping Hobbs to get the tag and clean house until we get the showdown with Bill. Total Recall hits Jericho and Hobbs spinebusters Keith for the win at 18:04.

Rating: B-. Well that was certainly was a mess, but not in a bad way. It says a lot when the match was supposed to start with twelve, maxed out at eleven, and then wound up as a six man. It felt like something out of ECW with the insanity and it would not surprise me if that was the plan. Hobbs gets a bit back after Dynamite, though he’s not exactly breaking through to the next level after this match.

Overall Rating: B-. This was the standard for Collision, in that it felt like an hour long show stretched out to twice that long. That’s not the best thing to see, but they did well enough with some nice action. As usual, this doesn’t feel like the most storyline heavy show and that’s ok, as it is establishing something of an identity of its own. Not a must see show as usual, but a fine way to spend a Saturday night.

Results
Hangman Page b. Christopher Daniels – Buckshot Lariat to the back of the head
Undisputed Kingdom b. Shane Taylor Promotions – High/Low to Bravo
Murder Machines b. Top Flight – Powerbomb/chokeslam combination to Dante
Kazuchika Okada b. Tomohiro Ishii – Rainmaker
Dustin Rhodes b. Adam Priest – Final Reckoning
Julia Hart b. Harley Cameron – Hartless
Rated FTR/Outrunners/Powerhouse Hobbs b. Death Riders/Learning Tree – Spinebuster to Keith

 

 

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Ring Of Honor
Date: January 2, 2025
Location: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re starting a new year and that could make things more interesting around here. I mean it probably won’t as tends to be the case with this series, but we do at least have some title matches coming up at Wrestle Dynasty. I’m not sure what that is going to mean, but it’s better than the usual stuff around here. Let’s get to it.

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

We preview the show.

Women’s TV Title: Red Velvet vs. Hanako

Hanako is challenging after defeating Harley Cameron on the Final Battle kickoff show. Velvet poses at her to start and they fight over arm control. Back up and Hanako shoves her into the ropes, where Velvet tells her to get away. More mocking earns Velvet a hard shoulder before a slam sends Velvet outside.

Back in and Velvet starts working on the leg, including wrapping it around the post. Hanako’s knee is fine enough to muscle her up with a suplex and hit some running corner clotheslines. Velvet is back with running knees against the ropes and the Stir It Up gets two. A flipping faceplant finishes Hanako at 8:36.

Rating: C. The match was fine, but Velvet’s incredibly sudden heel turn isn’t exactly doing anything for her. The problem is she doesn’t really have that much of a personality in the first place so it wasn’t some shocking moment when she turned. Without a reason to care about her in the first place, the turn doesn’t have any impact. Throw in Hanako having wrestled for less than ten minutes in ROH coming into this match and there wasn’t much to get interested in here.

Shane Taylor Promotions wants it all. Cool. Now stop talking about it and do something already.

Action Andretti/Lio Rush vs. Homicide/Rocky Romero

Rush jumps Romero to start before it’s off to Andretti to draw Romero in. Homicide comes in legally to chase Rush to the floor, followed by a double shoulder to take him down back inside. The Forever Lariats are broken up and a double suplex drops Romero. A double flapjack sets up Rush’s front facelock but Andretti accidentally decks Rush. Romero kicks Andretti in the face and it’s back to Homicide to clean house. The cutter gives Homicide two and everything breaks down. Romero misses a dive to the floor, allowing Andretti to hit Homicide low for the pin at 8:08.

Rating: C+. This was more action packed to keep the pace up, though it definitely felt like a match that had been written out to the letter to set it up. Rush and Andretti are the new team around AEW/ROH and they are getting some wins together, which makes sense for their future. They could use a name of some kind, but getting a win is what matters most.

We look at Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara retaining the Tag Team Titles at Final Battle.

After the match, Rhodes talked about how important this was and how they have grown together. They’re ready for a match at Wrestle Dynasty, as the House Of Torture have challenged them for the titles.

Harley Cameron vs. Ashley Vox

Vox takes her down to start but Cameron gets a drive into the corner. Cameron avoids a quick Cannonball attempt and grabs a suplex for two. The cross arm choke is broken up in a hurry so Vox can hammer away in the corner. The Cannonball connects as the camera rapidly cuts away from a row of empty seats. Cameron is back with some forearms into the Shining Wizard for the pin at 5:06.

Rating: C. The match wasn’t much to see and in Cameron’s case, it makes sense that she isn’t running through people. She isn’t presented as some kind of dominant force but rather someone who is so out there that she believes she’s amazing. It makes her close to the female Danhausen and it’s nice to see that kind of talent featured here.

Red Velvet is asked why she cheated at Final Battle. She’s tired of being asked that but Leyla Hirsch comes in to demand a rematch. Velvet says sure but on her time.

Shane Taylor Promotions/The Infantry vs. Iron Savages/Dark Order

Trish Adora, Jon Silver and Jacked Jameson are here too. Reynolds and Moriarty grapple to the mat to start with Moriarty getting two off a crucifix. Bravo comes in to hit Boulder in the face so Bronson comes in for his hairy chest spot to make Bravo scream. Adora gets in a cheap shot from the floor and it’s Taylor coming in to take Bronson into the corner. A belly to back suplex/backbreaker combination drops Bronson but he piledrives Bronson onto Dean.

Uno comes in to clean house and everything breaks down, with Boulder hitting a double Downward Spiral. Boulder powerslams Taylor but Bronson gets posted. Moriarty gets Reynolds in the Border City Stretch on the floor and Uno is caught with a double stomp inside. Moriarty comes back in to Border City Stretch Uno for the win at 9:10.

Rating: D+. There is so much wrong with this match, I don’t know where to start. First and foremost, the problem here is the Iron Savages, who have been the most obnoxious villains in the company for months, are suddenly good. There was no promo, no action and no explanation, but now we’re supposed to cheer them. That’s poor storytelling no matter how you look at it. On top of that, forgive me for believing that THIS will be the time that Shane Taylor Promotions finally starts moving up the card. I’ve heard it for so long that I have no reason to believe it. The action was fine, but this match was annoying on multiple levels.

We look at Athena firing Lexi Nair last week.

From Death Before Dishonor 2023 (and from a previous review).

Ring Of Honor Women’s Title: Athena vs. Willow Nightingale

Athena is defending in the rubber match and immediately bails to the floor. Back in and Willow powers her around before they forearm it out. Athena gets two off a crucifix but Willow’s fisherman’s buster gets the same. A crucifix gives Athena two and she sends Willow outside in a crash. Back in and the double knees connect in the corner, setting up the chinlock.

Willow powers her way up and hammers away, only to get dropped with a quick shot to the face for two. Willow is fine enough to try the Babe With The Powerbomb but Athena reverses into a snapmare driver for two. Willow’s swinging neckbreaker gets two but Athena is right back with Obliteration. She muscles Willow up and into a sitout powerbomb for two (that was impressive) before going up.

That takes too long as well though and Willow grabs a super Death Valley Driver for a rather near fall. They head outside and Athena posts her, setting up the O Face for a VERY near fall back inside. The Babe With The Powerbomb gets the same but Athena is back up with another O Face. The crossface goes on and Athena even grabs a leg. Willow passes out to retain Athena’s title at 20:28.

Rating: B-. Well. Ok then. I’m not sure what this weird obsession Ring Of Honor has lately with the heroes losing in the end but they did it again here. It also makes me wonder why the Owen Hart tournament wasn’t just for the title shot with someone else in Athena’s place, thereby giving us the same result and no Athena loss. They had a hard hitting fight, but that was one more deflating ending on a long list of them in Ring Of Honor’s recent history. Someone is going to have to beat Athena, and it’s going to have to be an AEW import at this point. Anyway, solid main event with a rather surprising result.

QT Marshall vs. Komander

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning Marshall gets a title shot if he wins or survives the ten minute time limit. Marshall immediately bails to the floor to burn off a minute to start. Komander isn’t having this and hammers away but gets sent into the corner for a chop. A kick to the ribs staggers Komander and a knee drop gets one. Marshall grabs a neck crank before switching to a basic choke, followed by a chinlock to complete the trifecta.

Komander fights up and his the very springboardy hurricanrana to the floor. Back in and Marshall gets two off a suplex powerbomb and they go up top. Marshall’s super cutter is countered into a super hurricanrana. Marshall is sent outside again for a big springboard moonsault and a springboard Canadian Destroyer sets up Cielito Lindo…but Marshall rolls outside for the time limit at 10:00.

Rating: C+. If there was one match that summed up why this show can be so annoying, it might be this one right here. First and foremost, Marshall hasn’t won a match in AEW or ROH in over a year. Why is he getting this chance? Why not former champion Brian Cage or Survival Of The Fittest runner up Blake Christian? No, instead it’s someone who is known for losing low level matches on Zero Hour getting this shot, again with absolutely no explanation as to why.

Second, Komander, who just got the biggest win of his career and followed it up with an upset in the Continental Classic suddenly can’t be comedy jobber QT Marshall. This is what I mean when I saw this show feels like it just comes and goes with no logic or reasoning behind almost anything that happens, and my goodness it is so frustrating at times.

Overall Rating: C. This show was all kinds of frustrating, if nothing else due to just how all of the place it felt. Case in point, you have three title matches coming up and they were earned by someone winning their only match in ROH, someone just asking for a shot, and someone losing every match they have before going to a draw. Meanwhile, how many people are THIS CLOSE to a title shot and have been for months now?

I’m not expecting this show to be the greatest, tightest booked show of all tie but having it include some sort of continuity or sense. Throw in the unforgivable sin of trying to make me like the Iron Savages and this was a really hard show to watch. As usual, the action was fine, but the show feels like it’s thrown together with an excuse of “oh who cares” when it comes to structure or internal logic.

Results
Red Velvet b. Hanako – Flipping faceplant
Action Andretti/Lio Rush b. Homicide/Rocky Romero – Low blow to Homicide
Harley Cameron b. Ashley Vox – Shining Wizard
Shane Taylor Promotions/The Infantry b. Iron Savages/Dark Order – Border City Stretch to Uno
QT Marshall vs. Komander went to a time limit draw

 

 

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Collision
Date: January 4, 2025
Location: Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, North Carolina
Commentators: Matt Menard, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s a new year and that means…well very little right now actually as this is pretty much just another Collision. We do at least have a title match with Daniel Garcia defending the TNT Title against Mark Briscoe as a result of the loss in the Continental Classic. Assuming Garcia survives there, we should be seeing him face Kyle Fletcher down the line. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Mark Briscoe, Daniel Garcia, the Learning Tree and Rated FTR are ready to fight.

Opening sequence.

TNT Title: Mark Briscoe vs. Daniel Garcia

Briscoe is challenging and they start slowly. Briscoe drives him into the corner to start as the fans are feeling a bit split. They trade slides out to the floor before going back inside to trade wrist cranking. Garcia ties up the legs and stomps them onto the mat but has to escape a Jay Driller attempt. Garcia’s dance just annoys Briscoe, who misses a charge out to the floor. Back in and Briscoe sends him flying off a suplex, only to get caught with some rolling neckbreakers for two. Briscoe is fine enough to knock him to the floor for a dropkick through the ropes as we take a break.

Back with a suplex sending both of them crashing over the top for a crash. They get back in where Briscoe hits a fisherman’s buster, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two. Briscoe slugs him into the corner but Garcia ducks a shot and rains down some right hands. A piledriver gives Garcia two and the Dragontamer goes on.

That’s broken up rather quickly as we have three minutes left in the time limit. Briscoe puts him down and hits the Froggy Bow for two. The Jay Driller connects but Garcia gets a foot on the rope. The Cutthroat Driver is loaded up but Garcia reverses into a rollup to retain at 18:15.

Rating: B. Briscoe’s pre-match promo was rather good and as usual he was showing that kind of fire that only he has. Garcia is starting to feel like someone who can hang at this level and giving him a clean win, even off a fluke rollup, is a good way to make that more realistic. Well done back and forth opener here and they both looked strong.

Respect is shown post match.

The Death Riders are unhappy with Jay White and Adam Copeland. Jon Moxley respects Copeland but Copeland shouldn’t go down this road.

We look at Jeff Jarrett saying he is coming for the World Title.

Jeff Jarrett vs. Aaron Solo

Solo jumps him to start but Jarrett is right back up with a pair of Strokes for the win at 1:30. That’s what it should have been.

We look at Ricochet going all violent on Dynamite.

Tag Team Titles: Private Party vs. Lio Rush/Action Andretti

Rush and Andretti are challenging. Kassidy ducks a shot from Rush to start and knocks Andretti off the apron as everything breaks down fast. Private Party clears the ring rather quickly but Quen gets suplexed onto the apron. We settle down to Andretti shouldering Kassidy in the corner and there’s a double suplex to drop him again.

We take a break and come back with Kassidy spinebustering his way out of the corner, allowing the diving tag off to Quen. Everything breaks down, with Quen being planted down on the floor. Kassidy is sat up top for Gin and Juice for two as Top Flight and Leila Grey appear in the front row to throw popcorn.

Quen is back in for a slugout and the quadruple clothesline leaves everyone down. The champs hit some dives and it’s a Twist Of Fate into a shooting star press for two on Rush with Andretti making the save. Back up and Andretti grabs a sunset flip with Rush holding on for more leverage, only for Dante Martin to break it up. Kassidy rolls Andretti up to retain at 13:44.

Rating: B-. Remember when the Tag Team Titles felt important? Private Party is far from a bad team, but they feel like they’re miles beneath the top of the division despite being champions for over two months. They need some bigger challengers, and while Top Flight might not be huge, they would be an upgrade over this.

We look at Darby Allin fighting against the Death Riders and it hasn’t been going well.

Cope doesn’t like Jon Moxley hiding the AEW World Title and saying no one wants to be champion. He wants to be champion and would wear the belt proudly. Chris Jericho comes in and Cope goes over their history together, with Jericho saying he doesn’t remember any of this. They’re in a six man tonight and with Cope gone, Jericho declares “Cope is a dope. Sick burn.” Cope talking about wanting to be champion is fine, but again, calling him Cope is just funny sounding.

Toni Storm vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Taya Valkyrie is here with Purrazzo and they fight over wrist control to start. They both bridge up but Storm is nice enough to shake hands upside down. Purrazzo is sent outside and Valkyrie offers a distraction, allowing Purrazzo to get in a baseball slide. We take a break and come back with Storm’s STF being broken. Taya’s distraction lets Purrazzo strike away but a DDT gives Storm two. Another distraction doesn’t work and Storm small packages Purrazzo for the pin at 9:21.

Rating: C. Storm’s rise continues, with commentary flat out asking if she has really lost her memory or if this is just an elaborate ruse. I’ll take that over what we have been getting around here, though as usual I’ll say that I like this Storm better than Timeless. The other one was great, but it has been around for a good while now. Let her have an actual run with this instead.

Hangman Page and Christopher Daniels get in a big argument over Daniels not helping Page. That has Page asking who Daniels has ever helped and what he’s done for wrestling. Daniels attacks him with a bunch of headbutts (drawing blood) and Page is beaten down.

The Acclaimed argued after their loss on Dynamite.

The Beast Mortos vs. Brian Cage vs. Komander vs. Dante Martin

Non-title but the winner gets $100,000. Everyone goes after Mortos to start before Cage is double teamed to the floor. Rather than fight each other, Martin and Komander hit stereo dives to take out the monsters on the floor. Back in and Komander snaps off a headscissors to send Mortos outside, setting up a heck of a dive.

Martin dives onto the other three but here are Lio Rush and Dante Martin to take both of them down. Cage comes back in to clean house and we take a break. Back with Mortos wrecking everyone before Cage has to cut Komander off again. Martin is taken out as well and Cage hits the apron superplex on Mortos (that was nice). Cage takes out Komander and gives Martin Weapon X for the pin at 9:39.

Rating: C+. I wouldn’t want to see this kind of a prize used on a regular basis, but I’ll take it over some vague notion of a title match possibly being in the cards for the winner. Cage thankfully didn’t pin Komander, who probably owes him a rematch for the title. For now though, nice enough use of about ten minutes.

The Rock N Roll Express is here with FTR but the Outrunners come in. The Express owes them gas money from Memphis in 1982 but only get an apology and handshakes instead. Ok points for a funny gag.

Rated FTR vs. The Learning Tree

Cope and Jericho start things off…and let’s go with Bill instead. Er, make that Keith, whose headlock doesn’t work as Cope dropkicks him instead. Cash comes in to work on the arm but it’s quickly back to Bill. The villains take over on Cash back inside and we take an early break.

Back with Cope coming in for the showdown with Jericho and they chop it out. Cope takes over but the Impaler is broken up, allowing Jericho to grab a rollup with feet on the ropes for two. Now the Impaler can connect but the spear is countered into a Codebreaker for two. Keith comes in to work on Cope in the corner, only for Cope to knock his way out of trouble. It’s back to Cash to hammer on Bill, with the PowerPlex into a top rope elbow giving Cope two.

Harwood brainbusters Jericho for two and grabs a Sharpshooter on Keith, only for Jericho to put Cash in the Walls. Schiavone: “What a Collision moment we’re seeing right here!” You uh, might want to get some more interesting standards there Tony. Bill is back in to clean house but Cope sends him outside for a dive. Back in and Harwood goes up, only for Keith to get in a belt shot to give Jericho two. The Shatter Machine into the spear finishes Jericho at 16:47.

Rating: B-. This was the longer former AEW six man tag and it worked well enough. What mattered here was Cope getting the pin, as he is seemingly now feuding with two champions at the same time. That might be a bit much or him but I’ll take it over what we’ve been seeing in the last few months.

Post match Cope grabs the mic and thanks the fans…but the Death Riders pop up on screen. They’ve bound and gagged the Rock N Roll Express and jump the Outrunners or trying to make a save. Rated FTR run to the back and get the Express loose, with the Express confirming that they weren’t hurt. So what was the point in tying them up then?

Overall Rating: C+. This was a two hour show that should have been one hour. You could easily cut out some of the stuff on here and have one heck of an hour long show, but instead it was all stretched out with more stuff being dded to fill in the run time. That really shouldn’t happen with a company as deep as AEW. Some of their stars are in Japan, but with the amount of people they have available, that shouldn’t be such an issue. Not a bad show, but dang it would have been better if it could have been cut in half.

Results
Daniel Garcia b. Mark Briscoe – Rollup
Jeff Jarrett b. Aaron Solo – Stroke
Private Party b. Lio Rush/Action Andretti – Rollup to Andretti
Toni Storm b. Deonna Purrazzo – Small package
Brian Cage b. Dante Martin, Komander and The Beast Mortos – Weapon X to Martin
Rated FTR b. The Learning Tree – Spear to Jericho

 

 

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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