Dynamite
Date: October 28, 2026
Location: Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, Missouri
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

It’s the Halloween Dynamite with Fright Night, which very well could mean some snappy costumes. We also have some title shots with the TBS and TNT Titles on the line. That’s all in addition to the build towards Full Gear and Blood & Guts, which should make for a rather full show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Commentary runs down the card.

Death Riders vs. The Cut

Yes the Cut, as The Last Outfit was dropped after less than a day. Moxley and White start things off and of course White hands it off to Finlay instead. That’s fine with Moxley, who chops away in the corner before it’s off to Garcia. The Cut stomps him down in the corner, which doesn’t last long either as it’s back to Moxley. That means White bails out to the floor and Finlay takes over on Moxley’s leg.

Now White is willing to come in and crank on said leg, followed by a chinlock. Garcia gets in a running clothesline and hammers away on both villains in the corner at the same time. The Dragontamer goes on and is broken up just as fast, with the brawl heading outside as we take a break.

We come back with Garcia neckbreakering his way out of trouble and bringing Moxley back in. A bunch of rights and lefts in the corner have White rocked and Moxley sends him outside for a whip into the steps. Back in and the Paradigm Shift connects, setting up the running corner clotheslines. There’s the cutter to White and a dive to Finlay, with Garcia getting two on White. Cue Ace Austin so Wheeler Yuta cuts him off, allowing Clark Connors to spear Garcia. The Blade Runner gives White the pin at 14:06.

Rating: B-. This is what it should have been with White looking to be on the way towards a big Continental Title match with Moxley. Have him win some matches against Moxley and company to set that up and everything should go well. The Cut (thank goodness for that name change) is already feeling like a threat and that’s nice to see.

Post match the beatdown continues with Gabe Kidd’s save not working. Claudio Castagnoli comes in for the real save though and the Death Riders grab chairs to clean house. Moxley issues the challenge for Anarchy In The Arena at Full Gear.

We look back at the challenge being thrown out for the women’s Blood & Guts on Collision.

Jack Perry vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher bails outside for an early hug from Don Callis so Perry goes outside for one from Taz. Back in and Fletcher backs him into the corner before taking Perry down. Perry knocks him outside for a dropkick into the barricade and then sends him over said barricade. Another running dropkick knocks Fletcher off the barricade but Fletcher gets in a leg lariat. We take a break and come back with Perry still in trouble off a slam.

Another slam wakes Perry up a bit and he gets in a hard clothesline. Fletcher is sent outside for some dives but catches the third into an apron bomb. Perry is fine enough to snap off a hurricanrana to the floor but Fletcher snaps off a dragon suplex. The brainbuster gives Fletcher two so he hammers away in the corner, with Perry reversing into a powerbomb.

Perry is back with a poisonrana into the Snare Trap, sending Fletcher straight over to the rope. They fight in the corner, with Fletcher getting caught in a super hurricanrana. Perry gets superkicked out of the air and the brainbuster onto the buckle finishes for Fletcher at 16:22.

Rating: C+. So Fletcher seems to be in line for another big push, though I’m not sure what is left for him to do outside of winning the World Title, which he shouldn’t be doing soon. Then you have Perry, who was getting warm for a bit and then got smacked down by Samoa Joe. That’s only going to get him so far for so long without a change.

Post match Fletcher challenges Will Ospreay for the World Title at Full Gear.

Video on Blood & Guts, as narrated by Dean Malenko, known violent wrestler.

Here is the New Level for a chat. They’re not sure about the idea of a Texas Deathmatch as they haven’t been around long enough to hate Brodido. They kind of like the champs but they like the idea of taking the Trios Titles that much better. Cue Brody King but Hangman Page calls him off, again saying we don’t want to get into a Texas Deathmatch. Hold on though as here is Prince Nana to point at the screen.

We see Swerve Strickland holding Bandido’s match, which he then puts back on a rather bloody Bandido. Back in the arena and King thinks New Level was behind the attack, with Page having to calm him down as they plead their innocence. I get the idea, but they’re already having Anarchy In The Arena. Do we really need another big team violence match? Especially with Blood & Guts so close to Full Gear?

Don Callis and his Family are ready to beat various opponents.

FTR vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Match #3 (1-1 so far) in a best of five series and Stokely is dressed as James Brown. Shelley and Harwood go to the mat to start with Shelley getting an armbar, allowing Sabin to come in and stay on the arm. The Guns take turns on the arm, followed by the Dream Sequence. Harwood needs a breather on the floor, which allows him to take over on Sabin back inside. It’s right back to Shelley, with Wheeler having to make a fast save. FTR is sent outside and we take a break.

We come back with Sabin hitting his big suicide dive but Harwood rolls through a high crossbody for two. Wheeler gets in a powerslam and Harwood’s slingshot powerbomb connects, albeit on the illegal man for no count. Shelley breaks up the PowerPlex but the second attempt is a lot more successful for a near fall. Some rollups get two each on Harwood and a Shatter Machine drops Harwood for two more. Back up and Wheeler grabs a German suplex but Shelley rolls through into a cradle to pin Harwood at 12:58.

Rating: B. You know what you’re going to get with these guys and the matches are still good. The important part here is that we’re already over halfway done with the series and it hasn’t overstayed its welcome yet. In other words, it’s still going to be fresh when they wrap it up and that’s a great thing to see.

Post match FTR shakes hands but throw powder in the Guns’ eyes and take out Shelley’s knee.

Queen Aminata and Persephone have a staredown in the back, with Britt Baker (in a 1972 Olympics sweatshirt and looking rather large in….some kind of costume) mocking Aminata.

Here is Tommaso Ciampa for a chat. He had the National Title won at WrestleDream and everyone but the referee saw it. That’s why he’ll be taking on Matt Sydal this Saturday on Collision, which is a message to Andrade that he wants a rematch. This brings out Ilja Dragunov, who takes issue with Ciampa saying he can beat anyone. Ciampa might have a match set for Collision, but what about the two of them fight right now? The fight is teased but Ciampa bails instead. Yeah this should work.

Roderick Strong wants the Conglomeration to be more serious and they’re facing the Cut on Collision.

Marina Shafir vs. Rachel Armstrong

Shafir sends her into the corner to start and hammers away, followed by some judo throws. A double underhook facebuster sets up Mother’s Milk to make Armstrong give up at 1:37.

Post match Shafir calls out, and receives, Mercedes Mone. They argue about genitalia and Mone slaps her (with Shafir allowing it) but Shafir takes her into the corner. Cue the Cut to jump Jon Moxley (who was on commentary) as well as Gabe Kidd for trying to make a save. More Death Riders are beaten down as well so here is Claudio Castagnoli with a trashcan.

Castagnoli throws the trashcan at a Gunn….and it bounces back to Castagnoli, who catches it on the fly in a stroke of luck that made the save that much better.. Juice Robinson chairs Castagnoli in the back and Castagnoli gives him an amazing glare, with Robinson being too stupid to know he’s about to die. The Cut finally holds Castagnoli back for a wrench shot to the head to put him down. White isn’t done and gives Castagnoli a Blade Runner on the exposed concrete. Good beatdown, but nothing was topping that trashcan catch.

TNT Title: Darby Allin vs. Josh Alexander

Allin is defending and tries to start fast but gets knocked outside rather quickly. Alexander sends him into the steps and they go up to the apron. Allin gets caught in an ankle lock, followed by a scary German suplex onto said apron. Taz is of course right there to talk about the physics until Allin throws Alexander off the top for a crash onto the apron as we take a break.

We come back with Allin’s Coffin Drop to the floor being countered into a release German suplex. Allin is of course able to pop back up for a suicide dive but comes up favoring his elbow. Back in and Allin gets Alexander’s head gear off for some hard shots, setting up the Scorpion Deathlock. That’s broken up so they go outside again, with Allin sitting him in a chair. Alexander gets up and trips Allin down before setting up another chair.

A jumping Tombstone off the apron sends Allin through both chairs, say it with me, for two (34 seconds later) so here is RPG Vice. Cue Steven Borden (in a clown mask in the front row) for the save and Alexander gets the ankle lock. That’s reversed into a Last Supper to retain the title at 13:19 (or 2:15 after Allin got Tombstoned through chairs).

Rating: C. Yeah whatever. I was getting into the match and then Allin took that ridiculous bump which just slowed him down a bit rather than, you know, HURTING HIM. We got the idea of Allin a long time ago and yet here he is, doing more dumb stuff and surviving it every time. If driving him from the apron through two chairs doesn’t finish him, why would I think anything else would?

We look at some AEW moments in St. Louis.

Steven Borden says he’s doing this because something like Blood & Guts is in the Borden Family. He trusts his teammates and Darby Allin wants blood and guts.

TBS Title: Queen Aminata vs. Persephone

Persephone, with Britt Baker, is defending (thankfully commentary points out that Baker is Miss Trunchbull from Matilda, which leaves me less confused). Aminata starts fast with an attempt at the Chocolate Kisses, with Persephone breaking out rather quickly. Back up and they chop it out until Aminata gets in a running faceplant. Now the Chocolate Kisses connect but a Baker distraction lets Persephone choke in the ropes.

We take a break and come back with Aminata caught in a headscissors but crawling over to the rope. A headbutt sets up the clothesline comeback on Persephone, followed by a fisherman’s neckbreaker. One heck of a hard stomp gives Aminata two but Persephone is up with a spear.

Aminata sends her into the ropes though and Off With Her Head sends Persephone crashing to the floor. Persephone is sat in a chair for a running dropkick but Baker gets in a belt shot. Back in and Persephone’s moonsault gets two, leaving Aminata to hit another headbutt. Off With Her Head gives Aminata the title at 13:27.

Rating: B-. Aminata still doesn’t do much for me but what matters here is that she got to win something. She has spent a lot of time being built up and now she has finally gotten somewhere, which has been lacking for her entire time in AEW. The company definitely deserves credit for trying someone new and hopefully it works out.

The locker room comes out to celebrate with Aminata to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Overall, the show was a good one with some nice action (and the latest stupid Allin moment) but I’m not sure why this show had a special branding. You had a few people in costume (Renee Paquette had some cat ears and Persephone and Aminata were in black and orange) but there was no special themed match or promo or really anything that made this show feel special. Anyway, the good thing is they built towards the two upcoming big events and that’s a hard thing to do with two major things coming up so soon.

Results
The Cut b. Death Riders – Blade Runner to Garcia
Kyle Fletcher b. Jack Perry – Brainbuster onto the turnbuckle
Motor City Machine Guns b. FTR – Rollup to Harwood
Marina Shafir b. Rachel Armstrong – Mother’s Milk
Darby Allin b. Josh Alexander – Last Supper
Queen Aminata b. Persephone – Off With Her Head

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

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

Dynamite
Date: October 21, 2026
Location: Watsco Center, Coral Gables, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

We’re done with WrestleDream and Will Ospreay is still the World Champion, having survived Clockwork Carnage. That probably isn’t the biggest surprise but he was pinned a few times in the match and that very well could set up some challengers for him in the coming weeks. Those coming weeks also include Full Gear so let’s get to it.

Here is WrestleDream if you need a recap.

We run down the card.

Young Bucks vs. Don Callis Family

Non-title. The Family jumps the Bucks to start fast and they’re sent outside, with the Bucks being sent into the steps. A powerbomb sends Nick onto the announcers’ table and another puts him through it. Back in and the double standing clothesline hits Matt and three piledrivers knock him cold. Doyle bearhugs Nick out and it’s a double pin on the Bucks at 2:49. The Bucks had no significant offense here whatsoever and it was a total squash.

Long WrestleDream recap.

Adam Copeland/Will Ospreay vs. Don Callis Family

This would be Kyle Fletcher/Kevin Knight for the Family. Copeland and Knight start things off with Copeland hitting an early clothesline. Knight is right back up to choke in the corner, earning himself a swinging neckbreaker. Ospreay comes in to face Fletcher and it’s already time to slug it out. Fletcher gets knocked down for the standing corkscrew moonsault and it’s back to Copeland. Ospreay’s running hurricanrana is blocked though and a standing Doomsday Device dropkick drops Copeland as we take a break.

We come back with Ospreay in trouble and getting kneed in the face. The brainbuster is countered into a Stundog Millionaire but Knight is over to cut off the tag. A Phenomenal Forearm gets Ospreay out of trouble though and it’s back to Copeland to start firing off the clotheslines. Knight gets back up with a springboard clothesline of his own and Fletcher’s Michinoku Driver gets two.

Everything breaks down and Fletcher knocks Ospreay off the apron. Cue Kazuchika Okada to distract Copeland, who is fine enough to give Fletcher a Killswitch. The spear hits Knight but Okada gets in a belt shot to Copeland. That and a brainbuster are enough to give Fletcher the pin at 13:22.

Rating: B-. This was your standard big time tag match and it was a good way to set up a few things. Copeland has quite a few options for singles matches and it seems like Okada is going to be up next. There is definitely something to be done with Copeland going after the World Title but warming up with Okada isn’t a bad idea either.

Okada’s diabolical smile after costing Copeland is great, but he stops to come in and beat on Copeland instead. More of the Family comes in and Ospreay is beaten down as well. Fletcher holds up the World Title and the lights go out. Darby Allin, the returning Steven Borden and a Young Buck run in for the save. Borden: “I’m back. For Blood & Guts.” On one hand, I get the idea, but with the Bucks getting wrecked, Borden having had about five matches, and there only being so much reason for him to hate the Family, this feels like a less than thrilling Blood & Guts team.

Swerve Strickland vs. Tome Filip

Strickland gives him the House Call before the bell and finishes with a Vertebreaker at 22 seconds.

Orange Cassidy/Jay White vs. Death Riders

Garcia grabs a waistlock to start but gets backed into the ropes so White can escape. A chop and suplex give White an early one and Cassidy comes in for a less than strong effort on a double suplex. Yuta comes in to take Cassidy down by the leg before blocking the Stundog Millionaire. Cassidy gets tied up in the ring skirt and pummeled, leaving White to get taken down with a suicide dive as we take a break.

We come back with Cassidy escaping a sunset flip attempt and calmly walking over to bring in White. Some chops and a DDT get two on Yuta but it’s Garcia grabbing the Dragontamer. Cassidy offers the lazy strikes for…I guess we’ll call it a save as everything breaks down. The Fastball Special hits raised knees and it’s a pair of Orange Punches into the Blade Runner to pin Yuta at 10:27.

Rating: B-. This was about what you would have expected, with the makeshift team getting to beat the lower part of the Death Riders. I do love seeing White getting a chance to win as the important thing he’s back and at least he’s getting to have some success. That just needs to stay the case for a long time, which is far from a guarantee.

Hangman Page and Brodido are happy to be the first three time Trios Champions but Swerve Strickland comes in. He and New Level (not here) want a rematch so Page says name the time and the place. That would be Full Gear, but Swerve wants Texas Death. Page says no way as he’s not letting them get dragged down to that level again. The rematch seems to be set though.

Nick Wayne, with a shirt advertising his win over Chris Jericho, arrives and glares at Jericho’s image on a truck.

Here is Mercedes Mone for a chat. She brags about her recent wins and calls her challengers stupid before telling Renee Paquette to get out. Mone is the division and she wants to know who is next…so here is Marina Shafir, who has Mone a bit shaken. Shafir tells her to not be a pu*** and Mone bails.

Roderick Strong vs. Jon Moxley

Non-title. They go with the grappling to start and Moxley gets a hammerlock on the mat. Strong is back up with a quick dropkick for two but Moxley wins a strike off. A running dropkick to the leg has Strong going outside, where he drops Moxley onto the apron. We take a break and come back with Moxley in trouble but grabbing a quick Paradigm Shift.

Strong falls outside so Moxley hits him with a suicide dive before unloading on him in the corner. Some backbreakers have Moxley in more trouble but he’s right back with the big clothesline. A tiger driver lets Strong grab the Stronghold, which Moxley escapes rather quickly. The rear naked choke finishes for Moxley at 11:02.

Rating: B-. Yeah this was what you have to expect from Moxley as he runs through another name. The match is pretty formula based at this point, which makes it a bit pesky when Moxley is on the shows so often. It was a perfectly fine match, but I’ve seen Moxley do something like this so many times that it’s hard to get that interesting.

Post match Moxley rolls out and Strong is left in the ring, when the Dogs run in to jump Strong. Moxley sees it and gets back inside to call them off…so the Dogs jump Moxley from behind. Gabe Kidd runs in to stop them but gets beaten down by the Dogs as well. The Conglomeration and Jay White run in, but White turns on the Conglomeration (ending their partnership after what must have been a good 30 minutes).

The rest of the Bang Bang Gang runs in to jump the Conglomeration, as well as the Death Riders who try to make a save. Claudio Castagnoli tries to fight back but can’t hang with the numbers. So the Dogs are split and most of them have joined the Bang Bang Gang (which now has seven members) but Kidd seems to be full time Death Riders. I still have no idea why the Dogs need to be here but this was a hot angle for sure, and White is FAR better as a heel.

Video on Ilja Dragunov, who is ready to share all of the passion that he has around here.

Megan Bayne, Lena Kross and the Triangle Of Madness jump Kris Statlander, Harley Cameron and the Brawling Birds to leave the latter four laying.

Here is Nick Wayne for a chat. Wayne brags about his TWO wins over Chris Jericho and we get a double shot of pyro. That means Jericho needs to come out here and apologize (which was established before the rematch) and, eventually, he does show up. Wayne keeps cutting him off, saying how excited he’s been to hear this, eventually getting a WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUT THE H*** UP!

Jericho praises Wayne for his win and says Wayne has learned a lot. Wayne brings up the win again and more pyro goes off. Jericho: “How do you do that?” Wayne: “I’m a prodigy.” Wayne keeps demanding the apology and Jericho calls him a douchebag. Then again, Jericho was the same when he was 21 and does apologize.

Jericho says this is the turning point of Wayne’s career and he can get to the top of his business, just like Jericho did. He lists off some great names that have helped him over the years and if Wayne listens too, he can become that big of a star. Jericho: “So don’t f*** it up.” Jericho leaves and Wayne looks like he has something to think about. Wayne has been doing very well in this and that continued here.

We look at the first Motor City Machine Guns vs. FTR match from WrestleDream.

Queen Aminata vs. Maya World

For a TBS Title shot against Persephone, who is on commentary with Britt Baker. World flips out of a wristlock to start but gets pulled into Chocolate Kisses. The fisherman’s neckbreaker is broken up and World sends her outside for a middle rope crossbody. We take a break and come back with the exchange of forearms.

Aminata misses a boot in the corner and gets moonsaulted for two. They trade rollups for two each until World’s running knee gets two. Aminata sends her into the ropes but the threat of Off With Her Heads has World bailing to the floor. World is put in a chair for the running shot off the apron and Off With Her Head finishes for Aminata at 10:13.

Rating: C+. World is back and is already losing, though Aminata will be fine as another victory for Persephone. I’m not sure if I get the appeal of Aminata for the most part but AEW certainly sees a lot in her as she has been around rather frequently. She’s far from bad, but I’m not sure I can picture her as a real threat to win the title.

Don Callis announces that the Don Callis Family is in for Blood & Guts.

Samoa Joe, with the Opps (minus Anthony Bowens), wants the World Title back. Jack Perry comes in to say he wants one more match with Joe to get the handshake he didn’t get last time. Sure.

Mike Bailey vs. Ilja Dragunov

They go to the mat to start before Dragunov takes him to the corner for a missed chop. Bailey takes the leg down and we’re off to a chinlock. A headscissors sets up a running kick in the corner but Dragunov is right back with a jumping kick. They head outside where Bailey kicks the apron by mistake, allowing Dragunov to hit a German suplex as we take a break.

We come back with Dragunov unloading with forearms but getting kicked in the head for a double down. Bailey can’t get a cross armbreaker and has to kick his way out of a half crab attempt. Back up and Dragunov wins a strike off before rolling the German suplexes (with Taz doing his always great physics lessons). Dragunov’s top rope backsplash gets two and they go to the apron, where Bailey hits some moonsault knees to put him down.

Dragunov catches him on top and fires off a bunch of headbutts, setting up the superplex. The D Bomb (a running forearm to a downed opponent) misses as Bailey gets two off a small package and a crane kick puts Dragunov down again. The tornado kick connects but Bailey’s Ultimate Weapon is broken up. Instead it’s a D Bomb to the leg and a regular D Bomb for the pin on Bailey at 16:04.

Rating: B. This was certainly a Dragunov match but it was necessary to introduce him to the new audience. Dragunov isn’t the biggest guy in the world but he knows how to beat the fire out of someone. This was a good way to show what they have with him and Dragunov looked good. Bailey was his usual self here and that’s all he needed to be.

Dragunov celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. They were in a weird place here as they only had so much to build from coming out of WrestleDream. What we got worked, though they’re now building towards Blood & Guts as well as Full Gear at the same time. This was a good first step, but they need to find some time to let things breathe a bit. Having so many big shows in a row can wear things out a bit and that’s a danger they’re approaching. That might start clearing up after Full Gear, but at least the build is off to an effective start.

Results
Don Callis Family b. Young Bucks – Double pin
Don Callis Family b. Will Ospreay/Adam Copeland – Brainbuster to Copeland
Swerve Strickland b. Tome Filip – Vertebreaker
Orange Cassidy/Jay White b. Death Riders – Blade Runner to Garcia
Jon Moxley b. Roderick Strong – Rear naked choke
Queen Aminata b. Maya World – Off With Her Head
Ilja Dragunov b. Mike Bailey – D Bomb

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

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

Dynamite
Date: September 30, 2026
Location: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

These things never get easier. Unfortunately this is another tribute show to a fallen wrestler, as Pac tragically passed away over the weekend, less than twenty four hours after wrestling at All Out. I would be surprised if there is much of anything in the way of regular storyline development here and that is absolutely fine in this case. The rules are basically out the window with this kind of a show and that’s how it should be. Let’s get to it.

In Memory Of Pac.

Excalibur is alone on commentary to start and reads a tribute to Pac and you can hear his voice breaking as he talks about things Pac cared about.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring with a photo and wreath for Pac, who he says taught them all a lot. Pac taught them about how you could be a bastard (which he uses in a friendly way) to some people and part of a family elsewhere. You can learn to be friendly to everyone, which is what Pac taught us.

We go to a clip from after All Out, with Jon Moxley talking about how he gave everything he could and you just have to keep getting up. There’s nothing better than this and every day is a gift. There are two kinds of eulogies: some about who you were and some about what you did. Moxley wants to be the former and he and Will Ospreay have wrestling in the palm of their hands. He gets up and leaves with the Death Riders following him, with Pac the last one to leave. That was about as haunting as you could get.

Back in the arena, the locker room is on stage for a ten bell salute.

Continental Title: Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy

Moxley is defending and Pac’s chair is left sitting in its usual spot as he walks to the ring. You can tell Cassidy is shaken up here and Excalibur sounds on the verge of tears. The bell rings and Cassidy pauses for a second before Moxley grabs a hammerlock, sending Cassidy to the ropes. An armdrag sends Moxley into the ropes and they trade some quick near falls. Moxley tries the bulldog choke, sending Cassidy straight over to the rope. Back up and Cassidy is sent out to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Moxley getting two off a delayed piledriver. Moxley hammers away in the corner but gets sent into the buckle for his efforts. That doesn’t last long for Moxley, who knocks Cassidy down, meaning it’s time to roll around a lot. Moxley finally catches him but Cassidy pops up for a high crossbody. Cassidy goes up top and this time it’s Moxley rolling away, which is rather rather clever.

The Orange Punch connects, with Moxley popping off a cutter to leave them both down. Back up and they trade the lazy kicks, with Moxley teasing the hands in the pockets but flipping Cassidy off instead. The Stundog Millionaire hits Moxley but he’s right back with a big clothesline. The Brutalizer is blocked so Cassidy tries his own, which is blocked as well. A Stomp and Death Rider retain the title at 17:17.

Rating: B. This was a good, hard hitting match between two people who were associated with Pac in different ways. Slipping in some of Pac’s moves was a great touch and you could feel the emotions from both of them. That’s how this match should have gone and it was a nice moment between two guys who are probably wrecks.

Post match Moxley sits up…and here is a rather somber looking Bryan Danielson. He gets in the ring, looks at Moxley, and breaks into tears for the big hug.

Hangman Page talks about getting to know Pac and how much Pac cared about everyone.

Don Callis Family vs. The Elite

Eight man tag (RPG Vice/Kyle Fletcher/Kevin Knight for the Family) and yeah that’s quite the reunion. The Family jumps them to start fast but get beaten up by the Bucks, with the flipping neckbreaker/backbreaker combination putting Fletcher down. The Bucks pose but get taken down by Romero, only to get stared at by Page.

Romero is surrounded before the Elite clears the ring for a four man Rise Of The Terminators. Naturally that means a quadruple dive and quadruple right hands in the corner. Fletcher breaks up More bang For Your Buck and Strong Zero gets two on Nick with Matt making the save. The Family clears the ring and we take a break.

We come back with Matt fighting out of trouble and grabbing the rolling northern lights suplexes. It’s back to Page to clean house, with a running shooting star press getting two on Knight. Omega gets the tag and fires off the Snapdragon as everything breaks down. Another Strong Zero is broken up with some superkicks, followed by a Buckshot Lariat/V Trigger combination. The One Winged Angel finishes Trent at 14:01.

Rating: B-. This was about having a special treat for the fans with the Elite getting back together. Like them or not, they’re the core group of AEW and having them back together is a big moment. I doubt it leads to some full time reunion, but as a way to give the fans something memorable on a night like this, it worked well.

Cash Wheeler and Jay White offer tributes.

Renee Paquette reads a statement from Pac’s family and has some trouble getting through parts of it.

Here are New Level and Swerve Strickland (with Austin Creed in tears) to lay the Trios Titles down and put a Pac towel over them (as Pac held the titles for more combined days than any individual person).

Ricochet talks about basically living with Pac in Japan and how they had known each other for such a long time.

Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay

Non-title. They both kneel in the middle of the ring and hug for quite the emotional moment. Ricochet takes him down to start and they trade some flips for an early standoff. Ospreay misses a charge in the corner and gets taken down by a springboard high crossbody. Back up and Ospreay knocks him outside for the slingshot dive. They get back inside with Ricochet taking over and getting in his own big dive.

We take a break and come back with Ricochet charging into an overhead belly to belly into the barricade. Back in and Ospreay hits the Kawada kicks and a DDT plants Ricochet on his head for two. A hurricanrana gives Ricochet two of his own and a middle rope Phoenix splash gets the same. Ospreay is back up with a super poisonrana so of course Ricochet sticks the landing. Ricochet’s poisonrana works about the same so Ospreay snaps off a poisonrana to leave them both down.

They get up and trade forearms until Ospreay flips him up into a Blue Thunder Bomb. Ricochet’s sitout powerbomb gets two more and he shooting star knees Page in the back of the head for a nice tribute to Pac. The shooting star press gives Ricochet two but Ospreay is right back with a Styles Clash. A Hidden Blade connects and Ospreay looks up, with the fans knowing what’s coming. The Black Arrow (with the camera showing the Pac graphic in a great visual) finishes Ricochet at 16:13.

Rating: B+. You knew what you were going to get coming in and that’s exactly what it was. This was all about being a tribute to Pac with both of them using his offense, including Ospreay in the end. They were trying to honor their friend and it was a heck of a match between two people who know exactly how to do this style. Rather great stuff.

Post match the seconds come in as Ospreay breaks down in tears. Ospreay and Ricochet share a big hug.

Will Ospreay talks about being told he was similar to Pac and it couldn’t have been a bigger compliment. Then he got to meet and work with the real Pac, who was such a great person.

Hyan/Marina Shafir/Thunder Rosa vs. Britt Baker/Persephone/Mercedes Mone

Shafir comes to the ring in a jersey which I’m assuming has some kind of a tie to Pac. Persephone headlocks Hyan to start with Hyan getting out and hitting a big boot. Rosa comes in and gets caught with a basement dropkick for two. That’s shrugged off and Shafir comes in for a 619 into a headscissor driver to plant Persephone on the apron as we take a break.

We come back with Rosa in trouble and getting Meteoraed by Mone. Persephone comes in for a chinlock with a knee in the back but Rosa is up with a knockdown. It’s back to Shafir, who strikes and throws Mone without much trouble. Everything breaks down and a spear hits Shafir and Baker adds a Stomp. Lockjaw is loaded up but Shafir flips Baker into the Brutalizer for the tap at 10:57.

Rating: B-. Shafir winning was almost a guaranteed result and that’s not a bad thing. She was clearly close with Pac and rarely gets in the ring so let her have the moment like this. Much like the rest of the show, the wrestling wasn’t the point here, as this was about having Shafir get in the tribute ending.

Swerve Strickland talks about meeting Pac and immediately knowing how great he was. He misses Pac already and always will.

Darby Allin talks about fighting Pac on a golf course and hopes they can fight there again someday.

Don Callis Family vs. Death Riders

Wardlow is here as the newest (I think?) member of the Family (teaming with Jake Doyle/Josh Alexander/Mark Davis/Lance Archer). The Riders come to the ring and do their circle around Pac’s chair and Jon Moxley sits in on commentary so the Riders need a fifth man. That would be…..freaking BRYAN DANIELSON, wrestling his first match in nearly two years (well, save for an 8 second pin over Max Caster last June but I think we can let it slide.

The big brawl is on to start with Yuta giving Doyle a basement dropkick and not covering. We settle down to Garcia getting caught in the wrong corner but he fights out for the tag to Kidd. After Kidd rams his own head into the buckle, he gets pulled into a quickly broken chinlock. Castagnoli comes in to drop Alexander over the top rope and it’s the Swing as everything breaks down.

Wardlow Samoan drivers Yuta and we take a break. We come back with Yuta fighting out of trouble and hitting a missile dropkick. Danielson gets the tag and fires off right hands into the YES Kicks. Alexander pulls Danielson into an ankle lock, which is broken up rather quickly. Castagnoli’s springboard uppercut drops Wardlow and we hit the parade of knockdowns.

Danielson gets in the big kick to the head and it’s Garcia coming in to strike away at Doyle. Yuta and Danielson hit stereo running knees Shafir gets caught by Archer, who is triangle choked over the top. Garcia gets in his dance and the Riders hit about 20 running clotheslines to Doyle in the corner. The Dragontamer with a Stomp from Castagnoli is enough to pin Doyle at 15:23.

Rating: B. Same as everything else on the card here as the wrestling wasn’t the point. Having the Riders win was the only way to go and Danielson being out there was a great surprise. He’s kind of the “in case of emergency” wrestler for AEW and again, this isn’t exactly a regular show so going outside of the regular rules is perfectly fine.

Post match we get the big hugs from the Riders and Danielson.

And now we close it up with the big tribute video, taking us through the history of Pac’s career, including his time on the indies and then AEW, looking at Death Triangle and the Death Riders. We see clips of him with Brodie Lee and the Butcher, along with some narration, including Jon Moxley’s eulogies line from earlier. Pac says until we meet again to wrap it up.

We get one final shot of the chair with the Death Riders and Danielson in the background to end the show. That’s as emotional and gutwrenching of a moment as I’ve seen in wrestling in a long time. I know everyone is messed up over this in the first place but AEW could not have done this better.

Overall Rating: A. What else is there to say? This show was designed to pay tribute to Pac and they did that about as perfectly as could have been done. This was pretty much just raw emotion and grief throughout the night as a lot of the people probably still haven’t processed what happened. Pac was a part of this company’s (and the industry’s as a whole) family and it is never easy to lose someone like that. This was an incredible spectacle as they basically stopped everything else to get us here, which is how it should have been. Pac will be missed very much and this show explained why. Absolutely outstanding.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Orange Cassidy – Death Rider
Elite b. Don Callis Family – One Winged Angel to Beretta
Will Ospreay b. Ricochet – Red Arrow
Marina Shafir/Hyan/Thunder Rosa b. Britt Baker/Persephone/Mercedes Mone – Brutalizer to Baker
Death Riders b. Don Callis Family – Stomp to Doyle

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

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Dynamite
Date: September 9, 2026
Location: Akins Ford Arena, Athens, Georgia
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

So this is a special show called Rebel Heart, with a focus on Rebel, the AEW performer who was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year. That could make for a rather special show, but we also have the recent passing of the Butcher Andy Williams, who tragically passed away last week. This could be a heavy show and we’re also less than three weeks away from All Out. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

In memory of Andy Williams.

Commentary is a bit more subdued this week, which is rather appropriate. They run down the card as usual.

And now, we have the return of the Waiting Room, with Rebel welcoming the dancing Britt Baker. That means a rather nice moment as Baker tells “Reba” how much of an inspiration she is but now let’s bring in Persephone. She is rather pleased with saving the TBS Title and isn’t happy with Maya World. Baker brings in Hikaru Shida, who is teaming with the two of them in a six woman tag tonight. The three of them leave, with Rebel saying Baker forgot her glove. Rebel getting to be in this segment was outstanding and rather emotional.

Trios Titles: Conglomeration vs. Swerve Strickland/New Level

Strickland and the New Level, with Prince Nana, are defending. Kofi and Cassidy start things off and they trade legsweeps, though Cassidy just walks away from Kofi’s attempt in a funny bit. O’Reilly and Creed come in with Creed actually winning a strike off so Strong runs inside to clean house.

Kofi gets taken into the wrong corner and we take a break. We come back with Creed fighting out of trouble but getting struck back down by O’Reilly. A suplex doesn’t work though and it’s off to Kofi to clean house. It’s back to Strickland, who holds Strong up for an apron double stomp from Kofi to the floor. Back in and a top rope splash to the back and Creed’s top rope elbow combine for two on Strong.

Cassidy gives Strickland a Stundog Millionaire but O’Reilly gets caught in a Fameasser/wheelbarrow combination to put him down as well. Cassidy is back up with his hands in his pockets to kick away at Strickland, followed by a double DDT to New Level. Creed is sent into the barricade but Kofi is up with the big dive to the floor. Back in and the Day Break to Cassidy retains the titles at 15:03.

Rating: B. And we have a party match as the titles are successfully defended again. Strickland and New Level are working together well enough so far, though they’ve only been doing this for a few weeks yet. If nothing else, New Level can be fine as a regular tag team if that’s where they need to go. Rather energized opener here.

Post match respect is shown but the Demand, with the Swirl, comes out to say that Toa Liona’s shoulder wasn’t down for the three count. The brawl is teased but Hangman Page/Brodido run in for the save. The villains leave and Page/Brodido have a staredown with the champs but peace holds.

Darby Allin and Steven Borden are ready for their debut tonight, with Borden talking about wanting to get out of his father’s shadow. Tonight he wants to run right at what scares him the most and that is why he wants to team with Allin.

Commentary praises Andy Williams, with Excalibur breaking down. That was a rough one as 48 is an insane age to lose anyone. Apparently he’s getting a bigger tribute on Collision.

The Don Callis Family are ready for their tag matches tonight. Kazuchika comes in for a staredown with Kyle Fletcher but the mics seem to have been turned off.

Hyan/Maya World/Thunder Rosa vs. Britt Baker/Persephone/Hikaru Shida

Baker runs away from Rosa to start and it’s off to Persephone, who hammers away in the corner. World comes in for a basement dropkick and a leg lariat gives Hyan a fast two. That’s cut off with a powerslam so Shida comes in, where she is quickly dropped into the corner. Baker offers a distraction though and Shida gets in a kick to the head as we take a break.

We come back with World getting elbowed in the corner but flipping away for the tag off to Rosa. The running dropkicks in the corner hit Persephone and Shida, who almost take each other out. Hyan crossbodies both of them but Baker’s fisherman’s neckbreakers her down. Rosa comes back in to chase Baker off, only to run into Persephone’s spear on the floor. Cue Rebel in a wheelchair to give Baker her glove, meaning Lockjaw can finish Hyan at 10:24.

Rating: B-. The ending was the big important part here and that’s the best thing imaginable. Rebel got to go out there and get the spotlight one more time. The period with Baker was the highlight of Rebel’s career and she got to relive it on her special night. The rest of the match should keep the TBS Title picture going but we can worry about that later.

Baker gets a ride to the back with Rebel, dubbed the Roll Model.

We get a video on Rebel’s time in AEW, with Rebel and various people talking about the seriousness of ALS and the importance of funding for research and treatment. This includes various AEW names taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. If you have an issue with any of this being on the show, go outside and play in the traffic.

Video on Andrade El Idolo.

National Title: Andrade El Idolo vs. The Beast Mortos

Andrade is defending and avoids a cheap shot to start, meaning it’s an anklescissors to take Mortos down early. That means Andrade can get his picture out of the way early on but Mortos uses the distraction to get in a backbreaker. Mortos gets in a dive and Andrade is in trouble as we take a break.

We come back with Andrade nipping up and taking off his pants, with the latter drawing quite the reaction. Mortos cuts off the running knees with a pop up Samoan drop and a gutbuster for two. A pop up electric chair drop of all things is countered into a rollup to give Andrade two of his own. Back up and the Dia de los Muertos sets up the DM to retain the title at 7:19.

Rating: C+. That was rather quick with the break eating up a lot of the time. I’m thinking that electric chair deal didn’t go as planned, as they went home almost immediately. Either way, this was Andrade getting out there to keep his momentum going as he waits for the big challenger to come up. And it wasn’t even an open challenge!

Post match Andrade hits the catchphrase but the Dogs run in for the beatdown. Will Ospreay (facing David Finlay tonight) runs in for the save. Andrade and Ospreay clear the ring but here are Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir to interrupt.

Will Ospreay vs. David Finlay

Non-title. Andrade gets rid of the Dogs as Moxley sits in on commentary. Finlay hits a running elbow in the corner and sends Ospreay flying, only for Ospreay to come back with some right hands. They switch places and Finlay hammers away as well but gets sent outside. Ospreay scores with a dive and we take a break.

We come back with Ospreay fighting out of a chinlock and hitting a top rope forearm. Ospreay’s handspring kick to the head and some Kawada kicks wake Finlay up for some reason and he grabs a Rock Bottom backbreaker for two. A pop up powerbomb gives Ospreay two and Finlay rolls to the apron before the Hidden Blade can become unhidden. An Oscutter gives Ospreay two and it’s a Stundog Millionaire into a Styles Clash to pin Finlay at 10:32.

Rating: B-. You don’t see Ospreay getting to have that kind of a match and it was nice to get this kind of thing out there on occasion. Ospreay got in some of his big moves and won in the end, all with Moxley out there to scout him. I’m sure we’ll get more on this tonight, as they only have so much time before the title match.

Hangman Page and Brodido agree that they’re still a trio, even if this wasn’t what Page had in mind when he came back.

Darby Allin/Steven Borden vs. Don Callis Family

Borden and Davis start things off with Davis grabbing a running armdrag. Allin comes in and helps catch Davis between some forearms. That earns Allin a backsplash and we take a break. We come back with Davis holding Allin in a Texas Cloverleaf, with Allin breaking out rather quickly. Davis isn’t about to let the tag go through though and it’s Alexander coming in for a slam.

Allin gets in a knockdown but Davis sends Borden into the barricade to cut the tag off again. A belly to back suplex is broken up though and NOW the tag brings Borden in to clean house. Borden gets in the big jumping elbow but Davis breaks up a superplex attempt. Instead it’s a torture rack bomb to send Borden crashing again with Allin having to make the save. That means a Scorpion Death Drop/Coffin Drop combination can finish 11:51.

Rating: B-. The point here was to get Borden in the ring for his first televised match and it makes all the sense in the world to have it be with Allin. I’m not sure if he’s ready to be a full time AEW star but at some point you have to get in the ring for some time and that’s what he’s been doing for months now. Borden definitely has a long way to go and he’s still very green, but he has the athleticism to get him through a lot of his issues. Now just get some more ring time and develop, as he seems to understand.

Video on the not-TLC TLC match at All Out.

Here is Thekla to mock Mercedes Mone’s comments about making moments last week. She was playing guitar in a bar in Vienna when she saw some wrestling and knew she could do it better than anyone. Mone pops up in the crowd to suggest that the title dangling between her legs is something rather large. They both mock Willow Nightingale, who runs in to chase Thekla off. The Sisters Of Sin pop up and it’s a big staredown. The only thing I learned from this: Mone isn’t a great talker, which is hardly new information.

The Death Riders yell at Jon Moxley for trusting Will Ospreay but here is Ospreay to say he’s not surprised. He owes Moxley for training him to help win that title and that makes Moxley the #1 contender. The match will NOT be under Continental Rules and Ospreay is coming in with a plan. They’ll be ready for each other in Chicago. Pac isn’t convinced and Moxley is rather annoyed.

Young Bucks vs. Don Callis Family

Tables match and both members have to be put through a table with an offensive maneuver for the win. The Bucks run in and the fight is on fast with the Family being cleared out to the floor. Back in and a sunset flip/German suplex combination puts Fletcher down but he’s back up to pull Knight off the table. The table is set up in the corner but the Family breaks up a double northern lights suplex.

Instead they’re sent outside, where Matt’s running flip dive is pulled out of the air for a double powerbomb onto the apron. Nick gets dropkicked and Knight hits a big dive to drop both Bucks and we take a break. We come back with Matt hitting a Sliced Bread off the table in the corner, plus a DDT. Fletcher gets faceplanted and the top rope double stomp flips him into a powerbomb onto the table.

The Meltzer Driver onto the apron is broken up with a super hurricanrana as the fans want tables. The tables are already in play so do they just want the show to end? Back up and they slug it out, with the Bucks giving Fletcher the BTE Trigger. A superkick into a powerbomb off the apron puts Knight through a table but Matt gets backdropped through a table of his own. Nick uses a table for a running Canadian Destroyer to Fletcher before superkicking him onto the table. Cue FTR for a distraction, allowing Fletcher to hit a brainbuster through the table for the win at 15:13.

Rating: B. FTR interfering to cost the Bucks in the end made perfect sense as they have the title match coming up in a few weeks. Fletcher and Knight are definitely some of the bigger names in the Family so the result is hardly some ridiculous choice. I’m assuming we’ll be seeing a chairs match and a ladder match in the near future, which is quite the way to set up a title match.

Post match FTR and Knight go after the Bucks but Steven Borden and Darby Allin run in for the save. The Bucks shake Borden and Allin’s hands to end the show. I was expecting Adam Copeland and Christian Cage here so that was kind of a surprise finish.

Overall Rating: B. I know I have a reputation of complaining about AEW a lot, but I can’t bring myself to do it with this show. This week was about paying tribute to Rebel and saying goodbye to the Butcher (with more to come). That stuff was incredibly emotional and that’s more than enough to make this show special. We got enough of a build towards the two big All Out matches but that was just a bonus. AEW did a good job here and it felt like a different kind of show here, as it should have been.

Results
Swerve Strickland/New Level b. Conglomeration – Day Break to Cassidy
Britt Baker/Persephone/Hikaru Shida b. Hyan/Maya World/Thunder Rosa – Lockjaw to Hyan
Andrade El Idolo b. The Beast Mortos – DM
Will Ospreay b. David Finlay – Styles Clash
Steven Borden/Darby Allin b. Don Callis Family – Coffin Drop/Scorpion Death Drop combination to Davis
Don Callis Family b. Young Bucks – Brainbuster to Nick through a table

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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Death Before Dishonor 2026
Date: August 21, 2026
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s time for a pay per view with some interesting choices on the top of the card. The two main events see Hazuki challenging Athena for the Women’s Title and Bandido defending the World Title against Nick Wayne. That’s certainly a pair of matches to have on top and hopefully they overcome their less than thrilling setups. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Viva Van/Vertvixen vs. Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata

Shirakawa blocks a spin from Vertvixen to start and rolls her up for two. Back up and they both miss strikes, meaning it’s time to go chest to chest. Aminata and Van come in to trade the forearms until Aminata’s Chocolate Kisses are reversed into the same thing from Van. That doesn’t do much as Aminata is up for a running knee to the face and everything breaks down.

Van’s rolling kick to the head hits Shirakawa and she gets sent into the wrong corner. A spinning faceplant gets Shirakawa out of trouble and it’s back to Aminata to clean house. The top rope double stomp gets two as everything breaks down. Everyone hits someone else and they’re all down for a bit. Aminata takes Van out on the floor and Shirakawa’s top rope Sling Blade gets the pin on Vertvixen at 10:00.

Rating: C+. This was the third match from Shirakawa and Aminata in four days and it’s about the same as it’s been all three times. The match was pretty much what you would have seen on any given weekly ROH show and that’s all it needs to be on a show like this. Maybe Shirakawa and Aminata wind up doing well together, but please don’t do the stupid “here they are teaming on every single show” thing, as it pretty much never works.

Post match, respect is shown.

Zero Hour: El Phantasmo vs. Adam Brooks

Brooks goes after the arm to start and they’re quickly on the mat for the pinfall reversal sequence. Back up and they do shake hands before striking it out until Phantasmo grabs a rather springboardy hurricanrana. A suplex into the corner gives Phantasmo two but Brooks is back with a basement dropkick for the same. Brooks knees him to the floor for the suicide dive, followed by a Liger Bomb for two.

Phantasmo is right back up with a springboard spinning crossbody into a Lionsault for two more. Brooks’ brainbuster onto the knee gets another near fall and a middle rope Codebreaker gets him even closer. The Swanton hits raised knees though and Phantasmo’s spinning torture rack neckbreaker gives him two of his own. A frog splash finishes Brooks at 8:48.

Rating: B. This got rolling near the end and it was one big spot after another. That was a lot of fun and I wanted to see where they were going. Phantasmo has impressed me multiple times in a few different promotions and it’s nice to see him doing this kind of thing here. It’s hard to buy him as a big deal around here long term, but this was fun.

Post match respect is shown.

Zero Hour: AR Fox vs. Soleil vs. Komander

Fox springboards up to take them both down to start and then kicks Komander to the floor. Soleil is only sent to the apron for a running flipping double stomp but Soleil is right back in with a running Meteora to Fox. Komander is back in with a Spanish Fly to Soleil, who is taken down by Fox’s big dive.

Komander runs the corner for a springboard moonsault to Fox but it’s way too early for Cielito Lindo. Fox drops Soleil with a suplex and forearms Komander, who is back with a DDT for two. Komander is caught on top and Soleil suplexes Fox, only to get caught with Cielito Lindo to give Komander the pin at 6:33.

Rating: B-. It was exactly what you would have expected and that means it’s very fun, though it only had so much time to really go anywhere. At the same time, it’s another match just thrown out there that felt like it could have been on any given weekly show. That doesn’t really make this stand out, despite it being rather energetic.

Post match Fox gives Komander a handshake.

Video on the Don Callis Family.

Zero Hour: Don Callis Family vs. Bustah And The Brain

Oliver and Hechicero start things off, with Oliver tripping him down. Cage comes in to take over on Oliver in the corner, only to get clotheslined out to the floor. Back in and Hechicero takes over on Oliver with a snap of the arm, followed by Cage’s slam. That’s broken up and it’s off to Price, who is clotheslined down just as fast. Cage takes him up top but gets caught, allowing Price to hit a super sitout gordbuster. That just earns Price an F5 for two, followed by a toss over the top onto Oliver. The apron superplex into the headscissors driver gives Hechicero the pin at 7:41.

Rating: C+. Huh? Why in the world would you have Bustah And The Brain, who have become one of the hot new teams in ROH, lose here? Ah right: the Don Callis Family, who have to be featured on every single show no matter what. It doesn’t matter that this is the latest thrown together team, because we have to be reminded that ROH is worthless right before we’re asked to pay for their show.

And now, the show proper.

The opening video talks about how a career is defined by moments rather than wins and losses. Oh geez and I thought it was dumb when Summerslam had a similar opening last year.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Dalton Castle/The Outrunners vs. Lethal Twist

The Twist is challenging and Magnum starts against Johnson. Magnum shoulders him to the mat and everything breaks down, with the champs quickly clearing the ring. Back in and the Outrunners take over on Johnson, with a knee lift into a belly to back suplex. Lethal comes in and gets taken down with a quick headscissors but Johnson is back in to break up the Mega Powers Elbow.

Magnum gets stomped down in the corner but he manages to send a charging Johnson out to the floor. That’s still not enough for the tag though as Christian gets to hammer on Magnum some more and does the Outrunners spinning pose. It’s back to Lethal for the strut (the fans do not approve) so Magnum knocks him down. Lethal is up to go after Floyd on the apron so Magnum goes over to Castle instead.

House is quickly cleaned with the barrage of suplexes and the Lethal Injection is countered into a German suplex to give Castle two. The Mega Powers Elbow is loaded up again but Christian pulls the belt off of Floyd to really go evil. A frog splash and Hail To The King connects, though Christian slips off the top and kind of legdrops Floyd, with Magnum having to make the save. The Lethal Injection drops Castle and Christian (limping) rolls Magnum up with an assist from Lethal for the pin and the titles at 14:02.

Rating: C+. The win might not be the most thrilling for the live crowd but it’s certainly historic, as Lethal becomes the first wrestler to win all five men’s titles. It was a hot opener as things got going near the end, though it’s still disheartening to see the champions lose. They were so fun and hopefully they get to do something else.

The Kingdom wants La Faccion Ingobernable to team up with them, perhaps with some AI inspired name changes. They’re actually in. And something about cheese.

We recap the Women’s Pure Rules Title match, with Steph de Lander not thinking much of the rules and coming after the title. Deonna Purrazzo doesn’t seem scared.

Women’s Pure Rules Title: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Steph de Lander

De Lander is challenging. The fans are split to start and Purrazzo takes her down by the arm for an early stomp. That’s enough for de Lander to burn through her first rope break so she grabs a chair, which is slid right back into her own ribs. De Lander gets in a cheap shot on the floor to take over and side slams Purrazzo for two.

Purrazzo’s side Russian legsweep is blocked with a grab of the rope and that’s actually a second rope break, despite it not breaking anything. Back up and they trade shots to the face, with de Lander getting warned for throwing a punch. Now Purrazzo’s Russian legsweep works and she floats right into the Fujiwara armbar, with de Lander using her last break.

Back up and de Lander is fine enough to pull her off the top for a superplex and the near fall. They trade forearms and the referee is almost bumped, allowing de Lander to hit her in the face again. De Lander plants Purrazzo for two, leaving Purrazzo to use the rope. Purrazzo is right back up with a powerbomb into the Fujiwara armbar, and then the Venus de Milo, to retain at 8:48.

Rating: C+. It was pretty much what you would have expected, as there was no reason to believe that Purrazzo was going to lose. The idea here was that de Lander was in over her head and that was pretty much the case, though I’ll take de Lander being all against the rules than trying to play by them. I’m not sure who is taking the title from Purrazzo, but it almost has to be a unification match, because who else is doing it?

Quick recap of the Women’s TV Title. The four of them have been facing each other in tags so now it’s a four way.

Women’s TV Title: Zayda Steel vs. Skye Blue vs. Marina Shafir vs. Red Velvet

Velvet is defending and Jon Moxley makes a cameo for Shafir’s entrance and sits in on commentary. They trade rollups to start fast until Velvet and Steel dropkick the other two outside. That means Steel and Velvet can fight over armdrags to no avail so they’re quickly on the apron. Steel Codebreakers her back inside for two but Shafir is back in to take over on Velvet.

Back up and Velvet actually pounds her into the corner until Shafir gets in a shot of her own. Blue tries a backslide on Shafir, who is not pleased (likely because Blue is wearing black). Steel is back in to go after Blue so Shafir half crabs Velvet, with Steel making the save. Steel’s tornado DDT plants Shafir and she hits a suicide dive for quite the crash.

Back in and everyone but Shafir goes up in the same corner so it’s a Tower Of Doom to put everyone but Shafir down. That leaves the other three to go after Shafir with running clotheslines in the corner, only for Velvet to be powerbombed onto Blue. Steel makes the save and half crabs Velvet, with Blue making the save this time. Blue uses a belt to break up Shafir’s choke, earning herself a leglock. Velvet frog splashes Shafir for both the save and the pin at 10:53.

Rating: B. This was all action from bell to bell and it’s nice to see that kind of a match. At the same time, pointing out that she’s lapped the field for the title reigns throughout history takes away a bit of her impact. She’s been champion for so long that it doesn’t really mean much anymore so it might be time for her to go after Athena or just go back to the main roster.

We recap the Pure Wrestling Title match. Nigel McGuinness was set for the match but got hurt and is focusing on the AEW Continental Title (fair) so Katsuyori Shibata won a match to get the shot. Fair enough.

Pure Rules Title: Katsuyori Shibata vs. Lee Moriarty

Moriarty is defending under Pure Rules. Shockingly they go to the mat and fight over arm control to start, with Shibata taking over for an early near fall. The armbar has Moriarty in some trouble and a kneebar has Moriarty using an early rope break. Moriarty is right back up so Shibata gets a headlock to maintain control.

With that broken up, Shibata offers a handshake and then elbows away in quite the cheap shot. Shibata sends him upside down into the ropes a few times, followed by a Figure Four. Moriarty has to use the rope again, leaving him to fire off some completely ineffectual chops. Instead Moriarty hits a dropkick but hurts his own leg, which is fine enough for a bridging suplex for two. Shibata is back up with a running boot to the apron, where he plants Moriarty with a painful looking DDT.

The Figure Four, with an ankle lock, has Moriarty using his last rope break so Shibata strikes away in the corner. A suplex gives Shibata some near falls so he chops Moriarty in the back, which seems to wake him up. Moriarty knocks him down and tries the Border City Stretch but Shibata reverses into a sleeper. That’s broken up as Moriarty sends him into the ropes and gets one off a dropkick. They go to a pinfall reversal sequence until Moriarty gets a European Clutch for the pin at 13:18.

Rating: B+. Yeah this was a lot of fun and very good, mainly because Shibata actually made Moriarty sweat. That hasn’t been the case in any title defense over the last few months and it was nice to see for a change. I’m not sure who is taking the title from Moriarty, but it was a heck of a match here.

The Dark Order argues over whether or not Preston Vance should be back in. This is the same thing they did earlier this week.

We get a quick video on the Tag Team Title match.

Tag Team Titles: Sky Team vs. La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Top Flight vs. The Kingdom

Sky Team is defending. The villains jump the champions and Top Flight before the bell and the brawl goes to the floor for the big dives. Back in and the bell actually rings, with Taven getting caught in the wrong corner. Top Flight takes over on Taven as this is already moving in fast forward. Mortos makes the save and continues the alliance with the Kingdom as Darius is in trouble for a change.

A rather dramatic tag brings in Guevara, who is not the most popular with the crowd. Darius cuts him off with a dropkick and a pose so Guevara tags Mistico, much to the fans’ approval. Mistico and Darius wrestle to a standoff so they shake hands and tag off to their respective partners. Dante and Dorada trade kicks and shake hands as well before taking out the invading LFI.

Mortos runs Top Flight over with a double clothesline and Guevara makes Dante DDT Darius. Guevara shooting stars onto the pile at ringside, leaving Mortos to backbreaker Dante for two. The Kingdom is back in with a pop up right hand for two on Dante but we pause for the team to argue with the AI on their phone. That lets Mortos give Dante a good looking pop up Samoan drop for two.

Taven comes in to miss a Lionsault and it’s back to Mistico with a springboard high crossbody. It’s back to Dorada to clean house, with Mistico adding a nice springboard hurricanrana. Mortos plants Dorada for two more so he’s back up with a spinning headscissors to take Mortos down as well. Taven low bridges Dorada to the floor and busts out Flight Of The Conqueror for the big knockdown.

Darius gets dropped on the floor and a Death Valley Driver into Just The Tip hits Dorada for another near fall. Dorada gets quadruple teamed as Riccaboni rants about people being too reliant on AI. Dorada is over for the tag to Guevara, who gets quite the negative reaction again. The villains are sent to the floor for some dives, leaving Top Flight and the champs to trade their own takedowns. Mistico’s super Spanish Fly takes care of Darius to retain the titles at 19:23.

Rating: A-. They were just going nuts out there in this one and that made for a heck of a match. You know Mistico and Dorado are going to show off incredibly well and Top Flight can more than hang with them. That leaves the Kingdom and their AI thing, which is fine, and LFI, who are….well Guevara’s only going to be so interesting. Still though, awesome stuff here.

Post match RPG Vice runs in to go after the champs but a bunch of teams run out for the save. COOL! NOW DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR DIVISION ON THE REGULAR SHOW! STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING WITH IT!

Eddie Kingston is out of the Continental Challenge Cup so we’re having a match to determine his replacement. Therefore, we run down the rules for the ENTIRE TOURNAMENT, because this show isn’t going to be long enough already.

Daniel Garcia vs. Adam Priest

For a spot in the second round of the Continental Challenge Cup. Priest backs him up against the rope to start so Garcia gets in a shove. That’s fine with Priest, who kicks him in the shin in a smart move. Priest goes after the leg and the half crab sends Garcia over to the rope. Garcia isn’t going to stand for that and wraps Priest’s leg around the post to even things up a bit.

Some right hands in the corner have Priest in more trouble but Garcia stops due to being a wrestler, allowing Priest to get in a suplex. Priest’s DDT gives him a breather and they head to the apron, where Priest gets in a dragon screw legwhip onto the rope. A big top rope superplex drops Garcia hard and another dragon screw legwhip has him in more trouble. Garcia is right back with a leglock and steps on Priest’s head, which sends him over to the rope.

Back up and some chops just fire Priest up even more so they trade the forearms, as is required. Garcia’s knee gives out though and Priest drills him with a clothesline. The Figure Four goes onto the bad leg but Garcia turns it over, sending them into an exchange of rolling. They even roll to the floor, with the hold not breaking up.

The hold has to be broken so they can limp back inside to beat the count. They both kick at the leg until Priest gets in a piledriver for two. The half crab has Garcia in more trouble but he slips out and kicks Priest in the knee. Some elbows to the knee set up the Dragontamer to make Priest give up at 16:55.

Rating: B+. Gah I was hoping Priest would win here as he has been on something of a roll. I get why they wouldn’t want to have him go over Garcia to cut off the Death Riders showdown on Collision, but dang it would have been cool to see Priest pull off the upset. Hopefully he gets the chance to do something sooner than later, because he has earned the chance in recent weeks.

Shane Taylor Promotions is rather pleased with Lee Moriarty, who is one of the great fighters of his generation. With the Hurt Syndicate in their pocket, they are unstoppable.

We recap Action Andretti challenging Lio Rush for the TV Title. They were a nothing team, then Rush became a human wolf/dog creature thing (it’s weird) and now it’s a Fight Without Honor.

TV Title: Lio Rush vs. Action Andretti

Rush is defending in a Fight Without Honor, basically meaning a street fight. Therefore, Rush brings out a cart full of weapons and his umbrella hat is wrapped in barbed wire. How festive. Rush, who looks like he’s in Sabu cosplay, goes to the mat to start and Andretti is frustrated early on. They head outside with Rush getting sent into the post but blocking a broom shot.

The broom shots do get through though but Rush takes said broom away for some shots of his own. Back in and Andretti chokes with the broom and does a Sabu finger point. That means Andretti can throw in some more toys, many of which hit Rush on the way in. Rush fights back and whips out an umbrella for a Mary Poppins (and yes the fans chant that) dive onto Andretti.

Naturally it’s table time, which allows Andretti to get in a superkick. Rush is back with a spear through the table for two back inside, so let’s bring in a shovel and some trashcan lids. One of them is pelted at Andretti’s head and Rush puts a chair in the corner over Andretti, and then pelts another chair at the two of them. Andretti of course pops back up to send him into a chair for two, followed by a whip through the chair in the corner to send Rush crashing out to the floor.

Rush (bleeding) goes to the eyes and sets up another table, followed by one heck of a suicide dive over said table. It’s time for a black box (uh oh) and some barbed wire (less uh oh), but Rush would rather load up a door in the corner. Rush pours out a bag of…I think glass, which he uses to carve up Andretti’s head. That being said, at least Rush is nice enough to clean up the mess.

Rush uses a chair to crush Andretti on the table at ringside but Andretti is up to throw the chair at Rush’s face. A trashcan lid goes upside Andretti’s head and the cravate choke goes on….and the lights go out. Hook is in the ring (because we’re redoing the Taz/Sabu staredown in 1995, because ECW is not allowed to die for whatever reasons that I do not want to understand).

Rush clears him out and plants Andretti for two, meaning it’s time to go after the box. Cue Anthony Bowens to stop Rush though and Hook grabs Redrum. Rush is laid on the glass on the table and Andretti hits a springboard 450 for one. Ah yeah I forgot this is a Tony Khan promotion. They slug it out and Rush misses a charge into the barbed wire chair. Lights Camera Action gives Andretti the title at 23:58.

Rating: B-. I was digging the match and then everything fell apart. Ignoring having to sit through yet another ECW moment (Yes I’m aware we’re in their arena. NOW LET THE STUPID THING DIE ALREADY! Good grief has nothing else happened in wrestling in twenty five years?) but ANDRETTI? He’s the most generic of the generic heels so let’s put him over Rush for the sake of the Opps, because Hook hasn’t gotten a chance to get over by association in recent weeks. This was just annoying in large quantities, despite them having a heck of a fight for a good while.

Post match Rush opens the box, finds a black heart, and drinks whatever is inside of it. Black good emerges from his mouth.

We recap the World Title match. Bandido has been champion for a long time and Nick Wayne is getting a title shot for no adequately explained reason. Go.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Nick Wayne vs. Bandido

Bandido is defending. Wayne won’t shake hands and backs Bandido into the corner to start. A waistlock is broken up and Wayne mocks the finger gun pose before they fight over wrist control. They both miss some shots to the face and Bandido does the real gun pose. A dropkick puts Wayne on the floor and Bandido is right there with a dive. Another dive has the same result but Wayne is ready for a third attempt.

Bandido misses a charge into the barricade and Wayne sets up the steps in a manner other than intended. Back in and Wayne rips at the mask before suplexing him into the corner. Naturally Bandido is right back up with the one handed gorilla press into a frog splash for two of his own. A reverse gorilla press into a Shining Wizard knocks Wayne silly again and Bandido backdrops him to the floor.

Bandido gets tied up in the ropes though and that means a Swanton can bring him back down. Back in and a standing Sliced Bread gives Wayne two so he gets cocky (for some reason) and offers his chest for a chop. Instead Bandido kicks away to take over but Wayne grabs a pop up cutter. That earns him a knockdown, only for Wayne to snap off a driver and they’re both down.

They trade shots to the face, then agree to continue the fisticuffs on the apron. Wayne gets tripped down and faceplanted onto the steps to bust him open and they both get a breather. The shooting star press hits raised knees though and they both hit clotheslines to collapse onto each other.

Wayne reverses a powerbomb into a Code Red for two but Bandido kicks him in the head. The 21 Plex is countered into the poisonrana and the ProdigyPlex gets two. Bandido is right back with the X Knee into the 21 Plex for a rather near fall but the referee almost gets dropped. The low blow sets up Wayne’s World and Wayne hits the ProdigyPlex, only for Bandido to reverse into a cradle to retain at 23:49.

Rating: B+. This was presented as a star making performance for Wayne, which it pretty much was. Granted it would have been a lot better if there was any reason to believe that he was going to take the title, which wasn’t going to happen based on the rather non-existent build. That being said, they beat the fire out of each other and I got into it, which is a lot more than I was expecting.

Jon Moxley talks about how injuries can give you an opening. Daniel Garcia now has such an opening and he doesn’t want anything less than Garcia’s best. Garcia wants to know where Claudio Castagnoli is, but he’s ready for Collision. This is all Garcia has but this is a love story instead of a sob story. He loves Castagnoli and he’s going after the title for the love of the game. This didn’t need to be on this show.

We recap the Women’s Title match. Hazuki gave Athena some trouble in a match so it’s time for the match. That’s a good idea, though having this as the main event is quite the stretch, as Hazuki doesn’t feel like a threat at all. Naturally this was built up by not having Hazuki wrestle in ROH whatsoever, basically leaving the build as Athena ranting about Hazuki and beating people up. Nice job ROH.

Women’s Title: Hazuki vs. Athena

Athena is defending and has to avoid a charge to start. Athena is right back up for a standoff and the fans get in their chants. Hazuki knocks her to the floor and Athena is already having a breather. Back in and Athena grabs a headscissor choke before switching to a leglock. That’s broken up and Athena hits her in the face, which doesn’t go well with Hazuki.

Cue the Minions for a distraction, allowing Athena to knock her into the corner. Billie Starkz gets in some choking from the floor with Athena grabbing something like a lifting abdominal stretch. Back up and they lock hands to trade forearms, with Hazuki getting the better of things. Athena is back with a fireman’s carry and they actually go outside, where Hazuki escapes and takes over again.

Hazuki drops her and goes back in, with the Minions throwing Athena inside again, which doesn’t seem to be the best use of lackeys. They’re quickly on the apron, with Hazuki charging into a powerslam for a unique crash. Athena takes her up top but Hazuki is right back with a super crucifix driver for a rather near fall. Hazuki’s pop up hurricanrana drops Athena again and they strike it out, with Hazuki being sent to the apron.

That means a DDT to Athena, followed by a Codebreaker out of the corner for two. Hazuki misses a dive off the top and gets flipped into a Koji Clutch. That’s reversed into a crossface, but Athena escapes to the floor, where she cuts off a dive with a kick to the head. They go up the ramp and Hazuki gets her up for a suplex, followed by a heck of a posting. A top rope backsplash gives Hazuki two back inside so Starkz comes in to deck the referee.

The Minions beat up Hazuki, who escapes a double suplex and sends them outside for a dive. Athena gets in a knockdown for two and it’s time to load up the announcers’ table. Hazuki is back up with a hanging DDT off the apron and the top rope splash puts Athena through the table. Back in and a brainbuster gives Hazuki two but Athena cutters her over the top. An O Face to the floor sets up another O Face to retain the title at 30:21.

Rating: B+. It was a heck of a match and the ending looked good, but again it just never felt like the title was in jeopardy. Hazuki means nothing in Ring Of Honor (where she hasn’t wrestled since 2019) so this was a rather long path to the only realistic result. Now, it was an excellent match and the two of them beat the fire out of each other, but I never had any drama about the result and that hurt things a bit.

Post match Athena actually shows respect to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Yeah this was outstanding, with one of the best ROH shows I’ve seen since the comeback. Nothing on here is anywhere close to bad (some frustrating results, but that’s not the wrestlers’ fault) and some of the matches were outstanding. If you have some drama in the main events, this is even better, especially if you swap the last two matches.

If nothing else though, this showed how utterly useless the weekly show is most of the time. With a better build, this is an AEW level PPV and that’s not something you reach very often. As it is, it’s rather good, and another illustration of how much talent there is around here, which is held down by a bunch of awful presentations and booking choices. Check this out, but skip the pre-show, which just adds time to an already really long show.

Results
Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata b. Vertvixen/Viva Van – Top rope Sling Blade to Vertvixen
El Phantasmo b. Adam Brooks – Frog splash
Komander b. AR Fox and Soleil – Cielito Lindo to Soleil
Don Callis Family b. Bustah And The Brain – Headscissors driver to Oliver
Lethal Twist b. Dalton Castle/The Outrunners – Assisted rollup to Magnum
Deonna Purrazzo b. Steph de Lander – Venus de Milo
Red Velvet b. Marina Shafir, Zayda Steel and Skye Blue – Frog splash to Shafir
Lee Moriarty b. Katsuyori Shibata – European Clutch
Sky Team b. La Faccion Ingobernable, The Kingdom and Top Flight – Super Spanish Fly to Darius
Daniel Garcia b. Adam Priest – Dragontamer
Action Andretti b. Lio Rush – Lights Camera Action
Bandido b. Nick Wayne – Cradle
Athena b. Hazuki – O Face

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: August 20, 2026
Location: Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s the night before Death Before Dishonor and in that case it means we need to have the big final push towards the show. That’s the best case scenario of course though, as you never know what you might get around here. If nothing else, Nick Wayne vs. Bandido could use some more attention so let’s get to it.

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

Dark Order says they have had a hard road but it’s time to move forward. Preston Vance is back on the team, but John Silver isn’t happy with that. Silver brings up all of the things that Vance did, with Evil Uno saying Silver will come around.

Opening sequence.

Athena vs. Gia Scott

Non-title Proving Ground match. Riccaboni says that Athena’s 1,350 day reign is the longest in modern wrestling and you have to look back to Bruno Sammartino for a longer reign, which is such nonsense that I don’t even know where to start. Athena doesn’t seem impressed to start and gets kicked in the face to give Scott an early two. That just earns her a beating and the quick curb stomp to give Athena the rather fast pin at 2:53.

Post match Athena keeps up the beating and mocks Hazuki, who doesn’t show up for the save.

Video on Athena vs. Hazuki.

Preston Vance vs. Danny Grandview

Grandview kicks him in the ribs before the bell, earning himself a running boot in the corner. A spinebuster and the discus lariat finish Grandview off at 59 seconds.

Post match the Dark Order (sans John Silver) come out for their match and hug Vance on the way out.

Dark Order vs. Action Andretti/Hook

Andretti shoves Uno around to start and poses a bit. Some flips have Uno frustrated so it’s off to Reynolds, who gets his eyes raked. Hook comes in and is quickly caught in an abdominal stretch, which doesn’t last long either. Hook’s gutwrench suplex sends Reynolds back into the corner but some uppercuts just seem to annoy Reynolds. Said annoyed Reynolds is taken down with pumphandle slam for two and his high crossbody misses for a crash.

Uno finally comes in for the save and Reynolds sends the villains into each other. That’s enough for the tag back to Uno so house can be cleaned, including a brainbuster onto the knee for two on Andretti. Reynolds tries a rollup but gets caught in Redrum, which is broken up thanks to Hook being less than legal. Andretti drops a 450 on the out cold Reynolds for the pin at 9:10.

Rating: C+. The only thing that mattered here was Andretti getting the pin as he needs all of the momentum that he can get on the way to the TV Title shot against Lio Rush. Hook and Andretti as a team feels like a case of “they have nothing else to do”, and the battle of Cru still isn’t the most interesting. Perfectly fine match here and at least it gave Andretti some momentum.

Video on Action Andretti vs. Lio Rush.

Alec Price vs. Daniel Garcia

They actually shake hands to start and Garcia grabs a wristlock, with Price running around for the flipping escape. Garcia sends him outside for a fisherman’s neckbreaker and we hit the chinlock with a knee in the back back inside. The running corner clotheslines hit Garcia but Price fights out of the corner for a breather.

Some running knees in the corner have Garcia in trouble but he pulls Price into a choke. That’s broken up rather quickly and they yell at each other before trading right hands. Price gets the better of things and sends him to the floor for the big dive, followed by a springboard Blockbuster for two back inside. Back in and Garcia fires off some chops to set up a choke, setting up a piledriver to pin Price at 8:38.

Rating: C+. This was another basic match and I’m not entirely sure why it was happening. These two are both usually tag wrestlers around here and it’s not like they’re in a feud. It’s also not like they’re challenging for the Tag Team Titles on Friday, or doing anything else on the show for that matter, so this was kind of a weird choice for the show.

Post match we do get another handshake.

Jordan Oliver talks about his history as a team with Nick Wayne, but then Wayne left him on the indies. They’re facing off tonight and it’s more than just a test for Wayne.

Lio Rush vs. Joe Keys

Non-title Proving Ground match. Rush kicks him in the head to start and hits the suicide dive to the floor. Back in and the Stunner into the cravate choke finishes for Rush at 1:09.

Post match Action Andretti runs in to take Rush out. Andretti goes after keys though and gets taken down by Rush, who grabs a barbed wire chair.

Dalton Castle and the Outrunners are sick of the Lethal Twists, who are going to melt in their title match.

The Lethal Twist seems to see things differently.

Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata vs. Erica Leigh/Brittany Blake

Aminata backs Blake up against the ropes to start and gets hit in the stomach for her efforts. That earns Blake a side slam and a snap suplex and it’s off to Leigh. A facebuster staggers Shirakawa, who quickly takes the leg out. Aminata gets in the hips to the face and the full nelson with lets, with Blake having to make a save. Blake’s chinlock doesn’t last long Shirakawa comes back in to strike away, with Aminata getting two off a top rope double stomp. Everything breaks down and Aminata headbutts Blake into the ropes, with the running knee connecting for the pin on Blake at 7:15.

Rating: C+. This got more interesting at the pin, though I’m not sure what Shirakawa and Aminata are going to do together around here. Maybe it leads to something in AEW, but for now it’s just a pair of women teaming together with nothing else going on. I’ll take more Shirakawa though, as she deserves more than what she’s been getting around here lately.

Deonna Purrazzo isn’t scared of Steph de Lander, who doesn’t follow the rules, including the Pure Rules.

Video on Deonna Purrazzo vs. Steph de Lander, which uses audio from the promo we saw 30 seconds earlier.

Jordan Oliver vs. Nick Wayne

We do get a handshake to start, with Oliver backing him into the corner to start and suggesting some intelligence. Wayne tries a drop doe and Oliver calmly steps over him as this is getting into the mind games. Back up and Wayne stomps away in the corner, setting up the seated abdominal stretch. Oliver gets up and crossbodies him out of the air, which earns Oliver a suplex into the corner.

They yell and slap at each other until Oliver grabs a sitout gordbuster. Wayne is back up with a poisonrana but his handspring is countered into a bridging German suplex for two. Riccaboni: “Jordan Oliver going move for move with the #1 contender. Shows you how big Jordan Oliver is and can be.” Or how Wayne has no business as #1 contender and was a ridiculous choice. Oliver hits a heck of a superkick in the corner but an Iconoclasm is countered. Wayne kicks him in the head and grabs a fisherman’s buster for the pin at 10:28.

Rating: B. This started slowly but them went from zero to sixty out of nowhere, with the last few minutes being good stuff. Wayne still feels like a ridiculous #1 contender and having that waiting for him tomorrow took something away from this match. This could have been a good feud and a grudge match at Death Before Dishonor but instead it’s a weird pit stop.

Post match Wayne loads up a Conchairto but Bandido makes the save.

Video on Bandido vs. Nick Wayne, focusing on Bandido’s really long title reign.

Death Before Dishonor rundown.

Nigel McGuinness is injured and can’t compete at Death Before Dishonor. He’s still focusing on All In and the Continental Challenge Cup. This has been the “Hey, make sure you remember that Ring Of Honor and it’s titles mean nothing. Wouldn’t want you to think otherwise.” moment of the show.

Wheeler Yuta vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Pure Rules and the winner gets a Pure Rules Title shot on Friday. They fight over a lockup to start and Shibata uses his first rope break, possibly not on purpose. Shibata pulls him into a Figure Four to even up the rope breaks, followed by Yuta using a second to get out of a sleeper. Naturally Shibata uses the rope to get out of a rollup, leaving them with one left each, so Yuta punches him in the face.

A middle rope elbow gives Yuta one and he hits something like an Angle Slam for twice that much. Back up and Shibata strikes away in the corner and they trade forearms in the corner. Yuta is chased to the ropes for the last break and Shibata suplexes him on the apron. Back in and the sleeper sets up an Octopus on Yuta for the tap at 7:11.

Rating: B-. It’s not the most thrilling result but they were backed into a corner here and this was as good as any other choice they had. Shibata is someone who can have a great technical match against Lee Moriarty and that should be fine. It’s also nice to see Yuta get beaten up so we’ll call that a bonus.

Nick Wayne says that was a message to Bandido.

We look at Zayda Steel and Red Velvet winning a tag match on Tuesday.

Zayda Steel/Red Velvet vs. Skye Blue/Marina Shafir

Tornado Tag. Steel and Velvet charge into the ring to start fast and Velvet kicks Blue down for an early two. A Codebreaker and double suplex get two on Blue but Shafir is back in to take over. Steel is slammed and let’s get a table set up on the floor. Christopher Daniels isn’t having that at all and gets beaten up, only for Steel and Velvet to hit a pair of dives.

Back in and a pair of Thesz presses let the heroines hammer away, with Steel using a kendo stick. Shafir and Blue send Steel into the corner though and some running clotheslines connect. We get an exchange of kicks to the face and everyone is down. They slug it out from their knees until Shafir is knocked onto the apron. Velvet misses a charge though and gets choked, with the two of them crashing through a table. That leaves Blue to knee Steel in the face, setting up Code Blue for the pin on Steel at 10:45.

Rating: C+. This really didn’t need to have any special rules and it’s weird to see them splitting a two match series. That should be setting up a rematch but I don’t particularly need to see them do this again, especially not with an even bigger stipulation. It’s a weird choice for a main event, but at least it was playing off of something else.

Post match the winners get in another beatdown and argue over the Women’s Title Title. As it turns out, a four way for the Women’s TV Title is announced for Friday. Well that’s better than nothing.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a mixed bag, but they did focus on the pay per view, with most of the matches getting at least a look. It still had all kinds of things that had nothing to do with Friday and likely won’t mean much going forward, but I’ll take a bit of a good result over nothing. Friday’s show is still likely to be a hot one, but hopefully they have a nice follow up to go along with that.

Results
Athena b. Gia Scott – Curb stomp
Preston Vance b. Danny Grandview – Discus lariat
Daniel Garcia b. Alec Price – Piledriver
Lio Rush b. Joe Keys – Cravate choke
Queen Aminata/Mina Shirakawa b. Brittany Blake/Erica Leigh – Running knee to Blake
Nick Wayne b. Jordan Oliver – Fisherman’s buster
Katsuyori Shibata b. Wheeler Yuta – Octopus
Skye Blue/Marina Shafir b. Zayda Steel/Red Velvet – Code Blue to Steel

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: August 18, 2026
Location: The Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re coming up on Death Before Dishonor later this week and that means we have a bonus show which is likely going to be little more than leftovers. That tends to be the norm with these things, though they have some specials which actually focused on the pay per view. Hopefully that’s the case as the card could use the help. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Komander vs. Ariya Daivari

Beef and Mark Sterling are here too. Komander jumps him on the floor to start fast and hammers away in the corner. A snapmare gets Komander out of a snapmare attempt but he gets sent outside. Beef won’t jump Komander though and gets tossed by the rest of the Athletes, as insubordination isn’t tolerated in this stable.

Back in and a clothesline has Komander in more trouble, with a chinlock making it works. Komander fights up and starts the comeback but has to dropkick Sterling to the floor (with Sterling landing on his head in a terrifying bump). That’s enough for Daivari to hit a hammerlock DDT into the Magic Carpet Ride for two more in a pretty effective near fall. Komander sends him outside for a suicide dive, setting up Cielito Lindo for the pin at 8:31.

Rating: C+. That near fall was rather good, but there was only so much to be gotten out of a match involving one of the Athletes. The team has long since been little more than a group who happens to be out here most weeks and are still in the same spot they’ve been in. Komander was his usual self, but he’s also in his usual spot of going almost nowhere.

Video on Lio Rush vs. Action Andretti. Again, the fact that there is a blowoff match from Cru tells you how out there ROH can be.

Action Andretti/Hook vs. Lio Rush/AR Fox

Fox flips away from Andretti to start and avoids a few stomps, meaning they can trade rollups for two. They both try dropkicks and flip up to a standoff so it’s off to Rush vs. Hook. Rush isn’t sure what to do with him and it’s right back to Fox, who takes Hook into the corner.

Hook wrestles him down and grabs a suplex but Fox rolls out of the corner. Rush comes back in to clean house on Hook, including a spinning kick to the head. Everything breaks down and Rush’s springboard Stunner hits Andretti, setting up the cravate choke. That’s enough for Hook to use the belt on Rush for the DQ at 8:00.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure if that’s the best way to go with Andretti on his way to the title shot in three days. Andretti doesn’t feel like he’s a real threat to Rush and having him need to be saved before tapping out didn’t help. At the same time, this won’t matter much if Rush beats him on Friday and hopefully that’s where this winds up.

Post match Hook chokes Rush out and Andretti hammers on him before holding up the title.

Video on Dalton Castle/The Outrunners vs. the Lethal Twist for the former’s Six Man Tag Team Titles.

Sky Flight vs. Manny Lemons/Tommy 2 Scoops/Dave Cole

Sky and Lemons start things off with Sky armdragging him into an early armbar. Darius comes in to take over on Scoops and everything breaks down, with Top Flight’s tornado DDT planting Cole. Sky’s TKO finishes Cole at 4:18.

Rating: C. This was little more than a squash, with Sky Flight running through a team involving lemons and what sounds like ice cream. Yeah I don’t get it either but modern wrestling can have some odd names. Anyway, Sky Flight continues to be fun, but it doesn’t matter if they don’t wind up doing anything.

Nigel McGuinness is injured but he’s going to wrestle at Death Before Dishonor and in the Continental Challenge Cup, hurt or not. It’s his last chance in ROH and he’s going no matter what.

Anthony Ogogo vs. Aaron Solo

Ogogo shoves him around to start but gets knocked out to the floor. Solo goes up but gets crotched down, allowing Ogogo to stomp him down into the corner. Solo gets to his feet for a running neckbreaker into a top rope double stomp for two on Ogogo. Back up and Ogogo hits some running strikes to the face but gets kicked in the head. Ogogo gives a German suplex and the right hand gets the knockout at 4:43.

Rating: C. Thrilling. Ogogo continues to be able to do one thing and pretty much one thing only, which has been the case since he debuted all the way back in the Cody Rhodes days. I have a grand total of no idea how he’s still seen as any kind of a prospect but here we go again, with Ogogo doing the same stuff he always does. He’s a good example of a person who doesn’t need to be around, as he hasn’t changed in any meaningful way and is just clogging up the massive roster.

The Hex vs. Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata

Shirakawa kicks away at Kay to start and stops to do her dance. Kay gets kicked down and it’s off to Aminata for the hips to the face. Belle doesn’t care for this and comes in for the running Meteora and Kay’s running boot hits Aminata in the corner. It’s right back to Shirakawa and everything breaks down, with the slingshot corkscrew drive connecting. Aminata kicks Kay in the ropes and Shirakawa Figure Fours Belle for the win at 5:33.

Rating: C. This was in fact a match that happened. I’m not particularly sure why when we’re three days away from a pay per view but they have to pad these shows out with something. As usual, Shirakawa feels like absolutely nothing these days and that’s a shame with how much charisma she has to spare.

Video on Deonna Purrazzo vs. Steph de Lander for the Women’s Pure Rules Title.

Video on Athena defending the Women’s Title against Hazuki.

El Phantasmo vs. Adam Priest

Priest takes him down by the arm to start but gets wristdragged into a dropkick. Back up and Phantasmo snaps off a hurricanrana but a rather bouncy springboard is broken up when Phantasmo tries a rope walk. Priest takes him down out of the corner but Phantasmo punches him in the face (keeping it simple has its merits).

Phantasmo misses a Lionsault so he sends Priest outside instead, setting up a suicide dive and a moonsault to the floor. Back in and the Lionsault connects and a tornado DDT sends Priest crashing back to the floor. Priest tries the half crab but gets reversed into some rollups for two. A Texas piledriver gets two on Phantasmo and sets up another half crab….to make Phantasmo tap at 10:31.

Rating: C+. Well I’m stunned. I would not have bet on Phantasmo tapping out here as he’s a much bigger name than Priest but odder things can happen. At the same time, it doesn’t mean much if this is just another match for Priest. He’s shown the potential before, but like everyone else, it doesn’t matter if that potential doesn’t go anywhere. For now though, heck of a surprise there.

Video on Bandido vs. Nick Wayne for the World Title. This would mean more if Wayne had meant anything in ROH in the last several months.

Zayda Steel/Red Velvet vs. Marina Shafir/Skye Blue

Shafir takes Velvet down to start so Velvet jumps on her back for a choke. It’s off to Blue to get caught in the wrong corner, with Steel taking her down for two. A Shafir distraction lets Blue get in a shot from behind for two and Shafir comes in for the right hands in the corner. That’s broken up and it’s back to Velvet to strike it out with Shafir.

A German suplex is shrugged off so Velvet and Shafir kick each other in the head for a double down. Steel comes in to hammer on Blue but the Unprettier is broken up. Instead Blue hits a DDT for two but Steel is right back up with another Unprettier for the rather sudden pin at 10:02.

Rating: C+. Well, I do like Steel getting a win, even if it’s in a match that has almost nothing to do with anything going on at the moment. I’m not sure what Velvet is supposed to be doing at the moment, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see her get thrown into a random title defense at the pay per view. If nothing else, at least there are a few names who could reasonably come after the belt. I mean they probably won’t, but the options are there.

Overall Rating: C+. As is so often the case, I don’t exactly know what they were going for here. You had one match that tied into the pay per view card and the rest could have taken place on any random Ring Of Honor show. This is just kind of what happens in Ring Of Honor as they throw stuff out there and most of it doesn’t seem to have any kind of particular reason. The action was fine and the wrestlers were doing their thing, but this pretty much did nothing for Friday, which isn’t much of a surprise.

Results
Komander b. Ariya Daivari – Cielito Lindo
Lio Rush/AR Fox b. Action Andretti/Hook via DQ when Hook used a title belt
Sky Flight b. Manny Lemons/Tommy 2 Scoops/Dave Cole – TKO to Cole
Anthony Ogogo b. Aaron Solo via knockout
Mina Shirakawa/Queen Aminata b. The Hex – Figure Four to Belle
Adam Priest b. El Phantasmo – Half crab
Zayda Steel/Red Velvet b. Marina Shafir/Skye Blue – Unprettier to Blue

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: August 13, 2026
Location: Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

So here we have another international show with some members of the ROH/AEW roster going to one of the most important wrestling venues in the world. We’re likely going to get some build towards next week’s Death Before Dishonor, though it’s hard to say what to expect from any given Ring Of Honor show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Some of these matches aired on the AEW vs. CMLL Semana Internacional special last week, albeit with different commentary.

AEW TNT Title: Kevin Knight vs. Titan

Knight is defending and suckers Titan into an early dropkick. Titan is sent outside for a springboard clothesline and some posing, followed by a near fall. Knight takes too long though and Titan kicks his way out of the corner, setting up the dive out to the floor. A suicide dive sends Knight halfway into the crowd, with Titan grabbing a leglock back inside.

Knight gets to the ropes before a big so he can run said ropes, only to get kicked in the face. Titan’s top rope double stomp gets two and he grabs a Muta Lock but Knight grabs the rope again. Knight crotches him on the top and gets a running star, setting up the diving cutter for two. The UFO Splash retains the title at 12:18.

Rating: B-. It’s another good match, though Titan didn’t get to show much out there. I’ve seen him steal some shows before and it would be nice to see him do that again. At the same time, this made Knight feel like a star and that’s one of the most important things they could do here. This worked for a semi main event so nice job.

TV Title: Lio Rush vs. El Clon

Clon, with Don Callis, is challenging after pinning Rush on Collision. Naturally Rush has a bright umbrella hat on because….well because Rush is kind of odd. Rush takes the hat off and chases him up the ramp with it before going inside for the opening bell. A quick Spanish Fly gives Rush two and he Stunners Clon across the top rope.

Back up and Rush gets chopped in the corner, which only makes him smile. A moonsault gives Clon two and he hammers away in the corner, this time with some more success. Clon tries the Pele so Rush bites the leg, earning himself a kick out to the floor. Back in and Clon strikes away, setting up a Falcon Arrow for a quick two.

Rush gets in a spinning kick to the head, only to get caught with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for another near fall. Rush goes for the mask and hits a poisonrana, with Clon popping back up. Clon tries picking him up, with Rush reversing into a Canadian Destroyer for two of his own. Back up and Rush goes for the mask again, setting up a cutter into a Stunner into the cravate choke to retain at 10:51.

Rating: B-. They were playing up the idea that Rush’s usual timing and speed didn’t work on Clon, who was cutting him off every time. That works well enough, and it’s interesting to see Rush going with what would have been cheating otherwise but having it mostly accepted. Rush isn’t exactly a clear cut good guy and that’s fine as he’s not really a clear cut anything. This was a unique match and actually gave Clon something to do for a change.

Athena is ready for Hazuki and bets a quarter on her, because the odds are so high against Hazuki that even in a loss, Athena would make a fortune.

Caprice Coleman sits down with Billie Starkz, who started wrestling in Indiana because she could do it younger there than in her native Kentucky. She was obsessed with wrestling but still managed to be her high school valedictorian. Then she started going all over the world and finally realized that she was making it, even as she wrestled during college. She also wants to be a farmer with big legged chickens, which is enough to have Athena come in and drag her away.

Skye Blue/Marina Shafir/Hikaru Shida vs. Hyan/Maya World/Thunder Rosa

Blue and company jump them to start fast with Hyan getting choked against the barricade. We settle down to World stacking Blue up for two but getting dropped by Shafir. Hyan comes in with a high crossbody so it’s off to Rosa vs. Shida. Rosa gets in a running hip attack in the ropes and everything breaks down, with Hyan and World hitting dropkicks through the ropes. Shida is right back up with a running knee to World on the apron but gets kicked away without much trouble.

Rosa comes in with a double high crossbody and everything breaks down, with a jumping wheelbarrow Downward Spiral dropping Blue. Shafir makes the save and everyone is knocked down for a big breather. World escapes Code Blue and gets kicked in the face by Shida for her efforts. Shida grabs Blue’s Stardom title but hits Shafir by mistake, allowing Rosa to get the pin at 10:21.

Rating: B-. This got going near the end and the ending worked well with Shafir getting cut off by some accidental cheating. It’s kind of a random match to have but at least Blue was back after not being around for a bit. Rosa was rather popular of course, which shouldn’t be surprising as she was the home country star.

Dalton Castle and the Outrunners are ready to challenge for the Six Man Tag Team Titles at Death Before Dishonor.

Komander vs. Soberano Jr.

Komander wastes no time in sending him outside to start for the early dive. Another dive is loaded up but Soberano blocks a diving headscissors and superkicks him off the apron. Back in and Soberano gets two off a quick rollup but Komander runs the corner and armdrags him into a seat belt for two of his own. A powerslam cuts Komander off again, though he’s fine enough to avoid a moonsault.

Komander’s rope walk moonsault gets two so they head to the apron, where Soberano gives him an over the back piledriver. Naturally Komander pops back up to catch Komander’s dive, with Soberano getting two back inside. A quick Spanish Fly gives Soberano two more and another belly to back piledriver connects. Soberano’s sitout Tombstone finishes at 9:19.

Rating: B. Hey look: Komander does a bunch of high flying and big flip dives but loses in the end. That’s the story of his life most of the time and it’s a shame to see him putting in these efforts and barely ever getting to win anything. That being said, it isn’t like he’s losing any status with the defeats so it seems to still be working out well enough.

Kyle Fletcher vs. Mascara Dorada

Non-title and Don Callis is here to introduce Fletcher with his bad Spanish bit. They take their time to start until Fletcher sends him outside for a kick from the apron. Back in and Fletcher stomps him down and poses a bit, allowing Dorada to get back up. A rather springboardy headscissors takes Fletcher down, setting up a corkscrew springboard moonsault to the floor. Fletcher gets up again and tries a sitout powerbomb, which is countered into a sunset flip for a fast two.

A spinning hurricanrana is countered into the aforementioned sitout powerbomb for two but Dorada breaks up the brainbuster attempt. Dorada grabs a springboard spinning Canadian Destroyer for two, allowing me to try to figure out what the spin added in the slightest. The 450 gives Dorada a VERY near fall but he has to bail out of a shooting star press. That lets Fletcher hit a running knee to the back but Dorada small packages him for another close two. Fletcher is done with this and kicks him in the corner, setting up the brainbuster for the pin at 11:52.

Rating: B. I’m fine with Fletcher winning of course as he’s the biggest AEW name on the show. There’s just something funny about the idea of another Ring Of Honor champion losing in the main event of the show because OF COURSE RING OF HONOR LOSES AGAIN. Anyway, it’s another quality match in a series of them tonight so well done again.

Overall Rating: B. The crowd was hot and the action backed it up so that’s definitely a good show. If nothing else, I’ll take this over another week of the same stuff that they do around here most of the time. Normally it would be more of a focus on the upcoming pay per view but that’s not the Ring Of Honor style. The pay per view is the big deal next week but I liked this for a nice one off change of pace.

Results
Kevin Knight b. Titan – UFO Splash
Lio Rush b. El Clon – Cravate choke
Hyan/Maya World/Thunder Rosa b. Skye Blue/Marina Shafir/Hikaru Shida – Belt shot to Shafir
Soberano Jr. b. Komander – Sitout Tombstone
Kyle Fletcher b. Mascara Dorada – Brainbuster

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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Forbidden Door 2026
Date: June 28, 2026
Location: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Commentators: Excalibur, Walker Stewart, Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

It’s time for the international show with guest stars from CMLL, New Japan and Stardom coming over. At the same time though, we have a bunch of #1 contenders matches, with the finals of the Owen Hart Cups and the 12 man cage match, with MJF having challengers on both his team and his opponent’s. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Daniel Garcia (AEW) vs. Drilla Moloney (NJPW)

Feeling out process here with Garcia taking him down and spinning up, which annoys Moloney. The running shoulders put Garcia down for a change and Moloney knocks him outside for a chop over the barricade. Back in and Garcia knocks him out to the floor again, this time for a running kick in the chair. Marina Shafir gets in some choking (of course) and Garcia locks up the ankle.

With that broken up, Garcia settles for a dropkick to the leg and the right hands in the corner to keep Moloney rocked. Moloney is right back with the AJ Styles drop down into a dropkick and it’s time to chop it out. Garcia charges into a powerbomb for two and of course pops up for a Sharpshooter, sending Moloney over to the ropes. Back up and Moloney grabs an over the shoulder backbreaker, with Shafir making the save. Garcia strikes away and grabs a rolling neckbreaker but charges into an over the shoulder piledriver for the pin at 10:23.

Rating: C+. Moloney isn’t a regular around here and it was a bonus match but I’ll take it for an opening match to a rather long night. If nothing else, seeing Garcia lose, even with the interference from Shafir, is kind of amusing. They kept this moving and it was about all you could have expected here.

Survival Of The Fittest Qualifying Match: Maika (Stardom) vs. Skye Blue (AEW)

Blue backs her into the corner to start and pulls Maika down by the air. Back up and Maika runs her over for a basement clothesline but misses a charge to the floor. The hurricanrana attempt is countered into a powerbomb onto the apron, which naturally doesn’t do much damage.

Back in and Blue kicks her in the face in the corner but Maika grabs some suplexes for two. A superplex gets the same but Blue Cheeky Nandos Kicks her into a powerbomb out of the corner. That and a tornado DDT give Blue two and they fight out to the apron, where Maika hits a brainbuster. Back in and a Michinoku Driver finishes for Maika at 9:20.

Rating: C+. It was nice to have this actually mean something, with Maika getting to qualify for the title match. While she isn’t likely to win, it’s perfectly fine to have her win here and get onto the bigger stage, as it’s a nice way to give Stardom a win. Besides, it’s not like Blue has any status in the first place.

Kickoff Show: Olympia/Persephone (CMLL/AEW) vs. Megan Bayne/Lena Kross (AEW)

Bayne and Kross are defending. Rosa hammers on Kross to start and is quickly dropped with a running shoulder. Everything breaks down and a pair of hurricanranas send the champs outside. Rosa’s corkscrew dive takes both of them out and Olympia adds a dive of her own. Back in and Rosa gets sent into the wrong corner for some shoulders to the ribs, setting up Kross’ basement clothesline for two.

Rosa fights up and gets over to Olympia, who cleans house as everything breaks down. A step up basement dropkick in the corner hits Kross and Olympia’s splash gets two. The parade of strikes leaves everyone down and it’s Olympia striking it out with Kross. Bayne is up with a super hurricanrana to Olympia, who is back with a gorilla press out of the corner. Bayne’s powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana for two but it’s a German suplex/running boot combination to put Olympia down. Divine Intervention retains the titles at 10:49.

Rating: B-. There was no reason to believe that a makeshift team was going to take the titles here but it was a fast paced match with both teams working hard. AEW has done a good job of building up the champions as a pair of monsters and it is going to take something special to get the titles off of them. I’m just not sure who that is going to be.

And now, the show proper.

Young Bucks (AEW) vs. Sky Team (CMLL) vs. Unbound Co. (NJPW)

Sky Team’s ROH Tag Team Titles aren’t on the line. Mistico and Titan start things off with Titan knocking him down and stomping away. Mistico is right back up with the great looking springboard hurricanrana and it’s already off to Dorada vs. Matt. Neither of them can make any contact and it’s a pair of dropkicks into stereo nipups for a standoff. Nick backbreakers Dorada so Matt can add a top rope double stomp but Dorada armdrags both Bucks without too much trouble.

Takagi comes in to add some power and Titan’s springboard splash gets two. It’s right back to Mistico to pick up the pace but the Bucks take over on Dorada again. Dorada is fine enough to hurricanrana Titan onto the pile at ringside and Mistico adds a springboard Swanton for two. Back in and Matt snaps off his rolling northern lights suplexes, at least until Takagi cuts him off with a DDT.

Mistico is in with his wristdrags and Dorada’s shooting star takes out the pile on the floor. Takagi comes back with the hard clotheslines but a bunch of superkicks take him down, followed by clotheslines to put everyone else down. That’s enough for a six way breather before Mistico catches Takagi up top with a super Spanish Fly.

Dorada shooting stars onto the Bucks but they’re back up to save Takagi from La Mistica. Takagi is back up to plant Mistico for Titan’s top rope double stomp, with the Bucks making another save. The Bucks and Unbound slug it out until the Meltzer Driver finishes Titan at 17:44.

Rating: B+. You had AEW vs. CMLL vs. NJPW and somehow, ROH lost. Anyway, this was exactly what you would have expected and it was as exciting as you would have expected, with pretty much nothing resembling a tag match for the most part. That being said, it was also rather entertaining, as the Bucks and Sky Team could do this stuff in their sleep and Takagi was there for the power. Good start to the show here and the right kind of match to get things going.

We recap Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kenny Omega. There’s no real story here, other than Sabre wanted the match and Omega was in.

Zack Sabre Jr. (NJPW) vs. Kenny Omega (AEW)

They actually go technical to start and that’s good for an early standoff. A battle over arm control goes to Sabre and he sends Omega into the corner, with Omega fighting out rather quickly. Sabre is sent outside and Omega hits a dive, followed by the chops to take over. The top of an announcers’ table is dropped onto Sabre and Omega adds a stomp but can’t superplex him through the table.

Instead Sabre gets an Octopus before being nice enough to put the cover back onto the table (how British of him). Back in and Sabre kicks away in the corner but Omega is back with the running Fameasser. Sabre is knocked outside again and there’s the big running flip dive, setting up the missile dropkick to the back inside. A Last Shot drops Sabre again and it’s time to strike it out. Omega gets the better of things and the knees to Sabre’s ribs set up some Snapdragons.

For some reason Omega tries to go to a cross armbreaker but Sabre slips out to kick him in the chest. Sabre pulls him into a Fujiwara armbar, which is broken up as well so they can trade some more hard strikes. Once again Omega gets the better of things and there’s a V Trigger to Sabre in the corner. Sabre grabs a sleeper but Omega climbs the corner and drops backwards onto the mat for a crash that probably makes Mick Foley cringe.

Another V Trigger is countered into an ankle lock, which Omega quickly escapes for a poisonrana. Omega misses the V Trigger yet again though and the European Clutch gets two. Back up and Omega smashes him with a V Trigger but Sabre’s Zack Driver connects for another near fall. Omega wins another strike off and tries the One Winged Angel, which is reversed into a triangle choke. A powerbomb into a knee to the head knocks Sabre silly though and the One Winged Angel finishes for Omega at 26:28.

Rating: A-. This was about Omega’s striking against Sabre’s technical style, which is pretty much exactly what you knew it was coming. They went with just that and it wound up being awesome stuff, with Omega getting to show that he still has it. Sabre is one of the big stars who does not show up around here that often and his reputation helped boost this up again. Outstanding match here and it was the dream match it was designed to be.

We recap Jon Moxley vs. Bandido. There isn’t much to this one either, as Bandido just popped up and wanted to face Moxley. It should be noted that there have been rumors that this was going to be Moxley vs. Callum Newman but Newman got hurt, so there might be a reason for the complete randomness.

AEW Continental Title: Jon Moxley vs. Bandido

Moxley is defending. I would tell you that Bandido’s Ring Of Honor Title isn’t on the line too but you’re smart enough to figure that out by yourself. Bandido goes with a front facelock to start but Moxley is back up with a middle finger. Then it’s a double middle finger from Moxley before they trade flips over each other. The big exchange of chops lets Moxley send him outside for the suicide dive but Bandido is back up for a running flip dive of his own. Back in and Moxley gets his boots up in the corner to cut Bandido off again, followed by a piledriver onto the steps.

Bandido is busted open and sitting up less than a minute later so Moxley goes outside and bites at the mask. Back in and Moxley rips at the mask so Bandido slaps him in the face, earning one heck of a clothesline. Moxley hammers away in the corner but Bandido gives him a heck of a release running Liger Bomb. Moxley is nice enough to stay down for a full twenty seconds before Bandido hits a spinning high crossbody. The right hands in the corner wake Moxley up again so Bandido gives him a running knee for two.

The one armed gorilla press sets up Bandido’s frog splash, which only hits raised knees. They strike it out again until a snap German suplex…has Moxley popping up for a hard clothesline. Moxley goes up so Bandido catches him with the super flipping fall away slam. Bandido tries the 21 Plex and gets reversed into the bulldog choke on the apron. Moxley pulls him back inside and, even with Bandido standing up to drop back onto him, holds on until Bandido is out at 18:10.

Rating: B. It was a hard hitting match but my goodness it felt like Moxley would have kicked out of being hit by a bus. Bandido threw everything he had at him here but it never felt like Moxley was in any danger. This was also the third pay per view out of four that saw Bandido lose a singles match with zero indication that any of the people beat him cared about the ROH World Title. Why do it that way?

Post match Bandido shows respect to Moxley, just in case Moxley hadn’t taken everything from him yet.

We recap Shota Umino defending the IWGP Global Title against Pac. Again, it’s pretty much “Hey, want to fight? Yeah sure.”.

IWGP Global Heavyweight Title: Shota Umino (NJPW) vs. Pac (AEW)

Pac is challenging and charges at Umino at the bell to stomp away. They’re already on the floor with Umino being sent into the barricade a few times, followed by a heck of a missile dropkick back inside. Umino finally gets in some offense with a dropkick and a fisherman’s suplex for two as we settle down a lot.

A slingshot DDT drops Pac onto the apron and Umino drapes him into the barricade for a hanging DDT. Back in and Umino gets two off a powerbomb but he charges into an overhead belly to belly into the corner. It’s time for a table (erg) but Pac cuts him off and hits a heck of a moonsault out to the floor.

Pac takes him inside again and hammers away, which wakes Umino up one more time. The strike off goes to Umino, who is quickly German suplexed and powerbomb outside through the table. Back in and a 450 sets up the Brutalizer but Umino makes the rope. Umino hits him in the face and nails a running knee for two of his own. One heck of a clothesline and a Paradigm Shift sets up a northern lights bomb to retain the title at 18:12.

Rating: B+. You had two guys beating the living daylights out of each other until one of them couldn’t get up again. That’s not a bad way to go and the reason this worked so well is because Pac has been established as a rather tough man to beat. This made Umino feel like that much of a bigger deal for beating him and it was a good fight to get there. I liked this a good bit, as Pac continues to be one of the more dependable stars on the AEW roster.

Post match Jon Moxley gets in the ring to stare at his former partner/student Umino but here is Hiroshi Tanahashi to put the belt on Umino.

We recap Thekla vs. Starlight Kid, which is more about Thekla vs. all of Stardom. I’m not entirely sure who I’m supposed to cheer for here but it’s one of the few stories on this show that feel like it’s actually promotion vs. promotion.

AEW Women’s Title: Thekla (AEW) vs. Starlight Kid (Stardom)

Thekla is defending and comes to the ring with some fire dancers. Kid flips over her to start and hits a dropkick so Thekla wants a breather on the floor. Back in and Thekla knocks her down before ripping at the mask, which has Kid slugging away. They’re quickly on the floor with Thekla sending her into the barricade and ripping at the mask some more, as we have a theme here.

Hold on though as Thekla needs to go yell at the Stardom president before stomping away back inside. Kid is back up with a springboard spinning crossbody before starting in on Thekla’s knee. The knee is fine enough for a hanging choke in the ropes, plus a spider superplex. They head out to the apron where Thekla runs into a heck of a knee to the face (that looked great).

Kid picks her up and spikes her onto the apron, followed by something like a fisherman’s suplex for two back inside. Thekla is right back up with a spear for two so Kid dropkicks her in the back. Another strike off goes to Thekla and a high crossbody drops Kid for two more. Kid is right back to grab a stretch muffler while grabbing the arm (geez) but Thekla uses the free arm to make the rope. Something like a Tombstone gives Kid two and her moonsault gets the same. Thekla escapes a tiger suplex and cuts her in half with another spear for another two. Back to back stomps finish Kid to retain the title at 18:40.

Rating: B. They had a good back and forth match, with Kid showing off some rather impressive and painful looking stuff. I could have gone without Thekla being dropped on her head on the apron but that’s almost tame given some of the ridiculous things people have popped up from tonight. The match was good, but I’m glad we’re back to the regular AEW roster getting a chance at the title, as it’s been missing for a few weeks.

Post match Thekla takes off the mask and hits the Stardom president with it.

And with that, the outsiders are done and the rest is all AEW.

We recap the Dogs challenging Adam Copeland and Christian Cage for the Tag Team Titles. The Canadians won the belts and need some challengers so the Dogs have mocked the Five Second Pose and are coming for the titles as well. Nothing wrong with a basic story.

Tag Team Titles: Adam Copeland/Christian Cage vs. The Dogs

The Dogs are challenging. Cage, with his still injured arm, and Connors start things off with the latter missing a right hand in the corner. Connors charges into a boot to the ribs and Cage gets two off a middle rope sunset flip. Copeland and Finlay come in with Copeland grabbing a headlock to grind away. A side slam/reverse DDT combination puts Finlay down and Cage hammers on Connors in the corner.

Cage’s charge hits the post though and Connors posts him again for a bonus. Back in and Finlay slows things down by stomping on the bad arm, followed by Connors getting in some basic cranking. A backdrop doesn’t get Cage out of trouble and Connors goes lights a match to burn Cage’s head. As you do. Copeland finally gets smart by coming in to take both of them out and brings Cage over for the tag.

House is quickly cleaned but Finlay avoids the spear and Copeland is double shouldered down. Cage is up for the save but it’s a chop block/spear combination for two on Copeland. Back up and Copeland tosses Finlay into Cage’s spear, with Connors making the save by bumping the referee. Finlay and Copeland spear each other at the same time so Finlay grabs the shillelagh. The lights go out though and the Bang Bang Gang is here, complete with the returning Jay White. Finlay is taken out and the speared by Copeland to retain the titles at 16:46.

Rating: B. Yeah this worked, as they didn’t really try to do anything too complicated and just let the veterans work a match. It’s nice to see that they can still do it and without a bunch of shenanigans so this was kind of a treat. At the same time, it’s nice to see White back, though it’s also hard to believe that he’ll stay healthy for more than about 18 days.

We recap Maya World vs. Mercedes Mone in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup finals, with World being the big underdog and in over her head against the star in Mone.

Women’s Owen Hart Cup Finals: Mercedes Mone vs. Maya World

World backslides her for a fast two to start and Mone is thinking twice about this. Back up and World cartwheels over her and dances a bit before avoiding a charge to put Mone on the floor. Mone finally comes back with something like a 619 from the apron but can’t get the Statement Maker back inside.

With the hold not working, Money kicks her into the corner, only to get driven into another corner. Mone knocks her outside for the Meteora off the apron, followed by a middle rope Meteora for two back inside. A third Meteora (erg) gives Mone two more and she throws World outside before mocking the fans a good bit. Back in and World gets some boots up in the corner but can’t hit a Tombstone.

Mone stomps her down instead but World gets in a rollup into a stomp of her own. A springboard cutter gives World two and she connects with a Shining Wizard, only to get caught with Three Amigos. The frog splash hits raised knees but Mone is right back with the Statement Maker. Some rolling fall away slams result in Mone being tossed outside, followed by the suicide dive.

Back in and a Swanton gives World two but she can’t hit a Cheeky Nandos Kick. Mone can’t get her up for a powerbomb so she goes with a running sunset bomb into the corner. Another Meteora gets two on World and Mone is getting frustrated. Mone’s spinning faceplant drops World again but she’s back with her own sunset bomb to the floor.

A moonsault takes Mone out again and another gets two back inside. World gets her own Statement Maker but they roll into the middle of the ring (ala the famous Bayley counter) with Mone getting one of her own. World actually doesn’t tap…so Mone Backstabbers her into it again and this time World taps at 24:51.

Rating: B. Shockingly, Mone makes World tap after making her tap after winning the semifinals and in their tag match on Collision. I’m sure the idea here is that World gets elevated by getting close to beating Mone (close being a bit of a stretch) but unless she beats Athena or gets promoted to the main roster full time, it pretty much means nothing. The match also went a good bit too long and would have been much better served by chopping off about seven minutes. And probably two of Mone’s Meteoras.

Athena brags about being great and mocks World, her former student, for dreaming so many big dreams. The title match is coming and while it would make sense for World to win, Athena has seemed primed to lose about a dozen times now.

The cage (a big circular one) is lowered.

We recap the twelve man cage match. Mark Briscoe wants a World Title shot against MJF but MJF doesn’t want to give him one. Therefore, we’ll have a twelve man cage match (likely due to MJF’s knee being banged up) and if Briscoe’s team wins, he gets a title shot. MJF is teaming with the Don Callis Family, some of whom want title shots if they win too.

Team MJF vs. Team Briscoe

MJF, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada, Andrade El Idolo
Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Konosuke Takeshita, Darby Allin

In a big round cage, which thankfully has room to fight on the floor and the villains even have matching shirts for a nice touch. It’s a big brawl to start (as it should be) and a bunch of them head to the floor (as they should) with a bunch of brawls breaking out around ringside. Doyle powerbombs Allin against the cage and it’s already table time.

Briscoe fights back but it’s time for another table, complete with the MJF/Don Callis painting. MJF and Andrade stop for a pose off and have to be separated, allowing Strong to come back with a rather large bag. The good guys find their own backpacks, complete with an NES (and controllers) to hit MJF in the head. Briscoe pours out tacks but Doyle saves Fletcher from a suplex.

Briscoe takes Doyle out and O’Reilly is launched face first into the middle turnbuckle. Briscoe gets thrown onto the tacks so Allin is back up with the skateboard. That earns him a face first drop onto the tacks because Allin is not a well man. With the damage done, MJF grabs a broom to sweep the tacks out (rather on point for him, but him paying someone else to do the sweeping would have been perfect).

That’s enough for Cassidy to get up with a bag from Willow Nightingale…and everyone gets orange slices. Naturally the juice is sprayed into the cut on Fletcher’s head because we’re actually getting a spot involving oranges. Takeshita and Okada slug it out and Takeshita grabs a backpack containing…his middle finger. Fletcher is back in and accidentally superkicks Okada, allowing Takeshita to German suplex both of them.

Knight and Allin get in a brawl with Allin hitting a Code Red, only to get chaired in the back by Doyle. Knight’s Coast To Coast dropkick drives the chair into Allin’s face and MJF chairs Briscoe in the head (nope). MJF rakes at Briscoe’s bleeding head and Okada goes for the big bag…which contains Lio Rush. I guess he’s the new Orange Cassidy who has to appear in every random place possible.

Rush beats up the Don Callis Family and goes after MJF’s ring but Doyle and Knight manage to get him back in the bag and chain him up. Rush is deposited underneath the ring…and I guess he’s just staying there from now on. Briscoe finds a ladder to spin around, even when there is no one around to hit. Strong Angle Slams Doyle off the apron and through a table before Andrade hits running knees to drive a chair into O’Reilly’s face. Takeshita beats up Okada on the apron but gets superkicked by Fletcher.

The Blue Thunder Bomb drives Fletcher through the table at ringside, leaving MJF to punch Cassidy in the jaw. A Coffin Drop puts MJF down and Knight splashes him by mistake. Knight and Allin climb to the top of the cage…where some pyro goes off (apparently set up by Allin) to send Knight crashing through the cage. Allin Coffin Drops onto the pile and the Jay Driller hits MJF, with Doyle making the save. MJF wants Andrade to hold Briscoe but gets elbowed in the face. Andrade takes off his shirt revealing one saying “F*** MJF AND F*** DON”. Briscoe pops up with a Jay Driller to pin Doyle at 30:45.

Rating: B. It had its spots but this was the usual “and everyone gets to do everything they can think of” match. The cage was a nice feature as it kept them from running all over the arena, so at least it was somewhat different. The spot with Andrade was good and it gets the Family’s numbers down a bit, which is always appreciated. It was another wild match, but I’ve seen so many of them in AEW that they don’t mean as much anymore.

The winners are at least nice enough to drag Lio Rush away, albeit still in the bag out of fear. I’ll take that over them just standing still.

Mark Briscoe yells a lot but the audio doesn’t work so it’s even harder to understand than usual. Excalibur explains that Briscoe was challenging MJF for Dynamite.

We recap the Men’s Owen Hart Cup Finals. Will Ospreay had a broken neck but worked with the people who broke it to get back in the ring. Now he wants to go to Wembley Stadium and win the World Title, which means he has to win the tournament. Oh and Swerve Strickland is all evil and wants to hurt Ospreay and win too. Can’t you tell how much of a chance Strickland has here?

Men’s Owen Hart Cup Finals: Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland

Ospreay looks like Bane from the Dark Knight Rising and Strickland is on a motorcycle, looking like Lobo. I’ve seen worse. Ospreay misses a springboard to start and a missed Hidden Blade sends Strickland out to the floor. Back in and Ospreay snaps off a hurricanrana before kicking Strickland in the face.

Strickland’s rolling Downward Spiral gets two and he rolls some neckbreakers to stay on the obvious target. Ospreay comes up with a handspring kick to the head and a Phenomenal Forearm to put Strickland down again. The Styles Clash is countered though and Ospreay flips him up into a powerslam (that always looks good) for two. Strickland pulls the pad off one of the bars that holds the turnbuckle and sends Ospreay outside.

That’s fine with Ospreay, who grabs a cross armbreaker for the tap, which doesn’t matter as they’re on the floor but has Strickland in trouble. Strickland is right back with a shot of his own before catapulting Ospreay into the exposed bar. Ospreay is rather busted open but yells at Strickland anyway, earning himself a suplex. The House Call is countered into a Spanish Fly, followed by the Styles Clash for two.

The Hidden Blade connects but Ospreay is too weak so Strickland just hits him in the face to take over again. Ospreay breaks up the Swerve Stomp and the 630 Kick gets two. The Oscutter is countered into the Deadeye for two more but another Swerve Stomp misses, with Ospreay swinging him into the steps for a big crash. The announcers’ table is loaded up but Ospreay goes after Prince Nana, earning himself a House Call.

Ospreay is gushing so much blood that the steps are stained as Strickland loads up the Vertebreaker. That’s reversed into a Styles Clash onto the announcers’ table and the Oscutter gets two back inside. Ospreay hits him in the face a few times and Strickland seems a bit unconscious. Strickland gets counted but is up at nine, with the Hidden Blade connecting for two. Back up and Strickland ties him in the ropes for a Swerve Stomp to the back, followed by a House Call and Hidden Blade for one each.

They hit each other at the same time and both of them are down again. They both stand up, stare at each other, go to different corners, and Ospreay Hidden Blades him into the Stormbreaker for two. The referee almost gets hit so Strickland gets in a low blow, followed by the Vertebreaker for two. Strickland hits a Hidden Blade into a JML Driver and here are the Death Riders. A Buckshot Hidden Blade into the Death Rider into the Tiger Driver 91 gives Ospreay the pin at 34:45.

Rating: A-. I’m not sure how much drama there was to the result here, but it wasn’t so much about would Ospreay get there but how. That’s not a bad thing whatsoever and they beat each other senseless, thankfully without getting ridiculous like Strickland could do at times. The Vertebreaker was a perfectly logical spot for the match and Ospreay kicking out of it made for an awesome moment. This was a heck of a fight, with Ospreay bleeding buckets to make it feel that much more intense.

Ospreay says something to Strickland and the Death Riders celebrate with Ospreay to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. The main event and Omega vs. Sabre are both rather awesome and the show as a whole is another great one. There was only so much drama to who was winning the main events (or most of the matches for that matter) but the action made up for the issues.

The problem here (aside from the show lasting nearly six hours of course) is more that it’s about setting up a bunch of stuff for the future rather than anything really happening here. You have to have shows like that at times and there was only so much that MJF could do given his injury, but it still makes the show feel a bit less important. Either way, awesome show, but could we maybe keep it on a single day?

Results
Drilla Moloney b. Daniel Garcia – Over the shoulder piledriver
Maika b. Skye Blue – Michinoku Driver
Megan Bayne/Lena Kross b. Olympia/Persephone – Divine Intervention to Rosa
Young Bucks b. Sky Team and Unbound Co. – Meltzer Driver to Titan
Jon Moxley b. Bandido – Bulldog choke
Shota Umino b. Pac – Northern lights bomb
Thekla b. Starlight Kid – Stomp
Adam Copeland/Christian Cage b. The Dogs – Spear to Finlay
Mercedes Mone b. Maya World – Statement Maker
Team Briscoe b. Team MJF – Jay Driller to Doyle
Will Ospreay b. Swerve Strickland – Tiger Driver 91

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

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Dynamite
Date: June 24, 2026
Location: Rio Rancho Events Center, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Taz

It’s the last Dynamite before Forbidden Door and the finals are officially set for the Owen Hart Cups. That means we need to have the big hype segments for Sunday’s final showdowns. As for tonight, Zack Sabre Jr. is here again to face Jack Perry in his Forbidden Door warmup match. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Jon Moxley gives the Death Riders a pep talk. Will Ospreay gets in their bouncing circle and falls down. Well of course he did.

Death Riders vs. Brodido/Mistico

Yuta grabs Bandido’s arm to start and they trade takedowns. Back up and Bandido snaps off a running headscissors before headlocking Moxley. That earns Bandido a trip into the corner, meaning Castagnoli can stomp him down. Bandido shrugs that off and brings Mistico in to get a rather spinning headscissors to take Castagnoli down.

It’s off to King for the big man slugout and of course King can run the ropes to springboard into a double wristdrag to Castagnoli and Moxley. The Riders are sent outside for a triple dive and we take an early break. We come back with Bandido still in trouble and Moxley getting two off a suplex.

Bandido gets in a running kick to the chest and Mistico gets the much needed tag. That means house can quickly be cleaned, including a quick sunset flip for two on Castagnoli. Bandido muscles Castagnoli over for a suplex but Marina Shafir offers a distraction. That’s enough for Moxley to get in a belt shot and roll King up for the pin at 12:19.

Rating: B. This was a good, hard hitting opening match with King getting to showcase his impressive athleticism. At the same time, this doesn’t make Bandido look strong going into his title shot and Mistico has his upcoming tag match and this…really had nothing to do with that either. It’s a weird way to go, though Bandido getting a pin here would have made a bit more sense.

Post match Bandido has a quick staredown with the Riders.

The Conglomeration is ready to fight in the cage at Forbidden Door. Darby Allin is ready to fight and the team promises to load up their backpacks. The rest of the team leaves and Orange Cassidy looks a bit annoyed but insists he’s fine. Renee Paquette doesn’t seem convinced.

Survival Of The Fittest Qualifying Match: Marina Shafir vs. Harley Cameron

Cameron is in Supergirl inspired gear and gets kicked in the ribs to start fast. Shafir mounts her but Cameron is right out into a half crab. That’s broken up as well and Cameron knocks her outside for a crossbody off the steps. Back in and Shafir gives her an AA and we take an early break. We come back with Shafir snapping off some judo throws but Cameron manages a belly to back suplex. Cameron hammers away in the corner until Shafir knees her right back. The half crab is broken up again so Shafir flips her into a choke, only to have Cameron backflip into a cradle for the pin at 7:52.

Rating: C+. This was a nice surprise victory for Cameron but what matters the most here is that Cameron is going to be in next week’s match. I’m not sure if she’s going to win the title and she probably won’t, but at least she’s going to bring her rather amazing charisma to the whole thing. She’s a good bonus to the match and could even win the whole thing, which is kind of stunning considering where she was when she first came to AEW.

Video on Maya World vs. Mercedes Mone in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup finals.

Will Ospreay vs. ELP

ELP (El Phantasmo) works on the arm to start and runs Ospreay over with a shoulder, earning him a nip up. Ospreay sends him outside without much trouble and hits a slingshot dive but ELP is back up with a quick drop onto the apron. One heck of a moonsault takes Ospreay down again and we take an early break.

We come back with Ospreay hitting an enziguri, only for ELP to grab a tornado DDT. Ospreay’s forearms make ELP laugh and they trade kicks to the head until Ospreay grabs a standing Spanish Fly. ELP gets in a superkick for two of his own but Ospreay flips over into a Styles Clash. The Hidden Blade pins ELP at 10:42.

Rating: B-. It was another entertaining match with Ospreay getting to do all of his stuff, though again I’m not sure how well this did to make Ospreay look great. It did a good job of building up ELP, who hung with Ospreay for a good while before getting taken out. That’s something that happens quite a bit during this season and it’s kind of annoying as Ospreay is in the likely main event of Forbidden Door and ELP isn’t likely going to be here beyond tonight.

Post match Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana come out for a staredown, with Ospreay leaving through the crowd.

Swerve Strickland vs. Daniel Garcia

Garcia walks in from outside and…how long has he been waiting out there? Strickland runs him over to start so Garcia pops up to get in Strickland’s face. That’s not a good idea as Strickland shoves him down and stomps away, setting up a running boot to the floor. This time Garcia pulls Strickland down for a hammering but takes too long yelling at a fan. Strickland kicks him in the face again and we take a break.

We come back with Strickland missing a Swerve Stomp to the apron and getting his leg dragon screw whipped. Strickland’s leg is fine enough to roll over and drop Garcia with a suplex. Garcia’s clothesline is shrugged off so he kicks out the leg instead. The ankle lock has Strickland in more trouble but he backbreakers his way out. A powerbomb is spun into a powerslam (cool) to plant Garcia, who pops up with a Styles Clash for two of his own. Strickland House Calls him for two, followed by a Hidden Blade to finish Garcia at 12:25.

Rating: B. Much like the previous match, this was a good way to build up someone who has nothing going on while the person set for a big match on Sunday is going 50/50 with Garcia. If protecting Garcia is that important (and I’m sure it is for whatever reason), don’t put him in the match. Strickland and Ospreay should have looked like killers in their matches and instead they’re just out there taking 10+ minutes to beat stars beneath them.

Post match Strickland goes after Garcia’s arm so Ospreay runs back in for the brawl. Nana offers a distraction though and Strickland gives Ospreay the House Call. A Vertebreaker drops Garcia and Ospreay chases Strickland off with a chair.

Video on Team Ospreay vs. Team MJF.

Don Callis and his Family are ready to win but MJF cuts them off to rant about Mark Briscoe. The reality is that Briscoe has never beaten MJF and that isn’t going to change. MJF thinks the two sides haven’t been on the same page but Callis whips out a shirt for TEAM DCMJF and yes the image is of them muscular and in limited clothing. MJF and Callis love it but the Family is less than impressed.

Jack Perry vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Sabre takes him down with a cravate and shrugs off Sabre’s attempt to go after the leg. They fight over a double arm crank until Perry rolls him up for some near falls. A very near fall sends Sabre outside but he’s fine enough to start in on the arm, including snapping it over the top rope.

We take a break and come back with Perry hitting a Sliced Bread but getting sent outside. Sabre grabs a cross armbreaker on the floor but has to let it go, allowing Perry to hit another Sliced Bread on the apron. A moonsault to the floor takes Sabre out again, only for him to grab a triangle choke back inside. Perry reverses into a sitout powerbomb for two and the Snare Trap has Sabre in trouble for a change. Sabre twists the arm around to escape so Perry grabs a package powerbomb for two more. That earns him a double arm crank, with Sabre using his leg to pull Perry’s arm down for the submission at 13:12.

Rating: B-. This was a good example of Sabre getting to take Perry apart, which boosts him up on the way to facing Kenny Omega on Sunday. Granted we saw Sabre do something similar in his most recent match around here so it was only so necessary. It’s certainly fitting the theme for the night though and we’ll get the big match with Omega soon enough.

Young Bucks vs. TMDK

Tito jumps Matt from behind to start fast but the Bucks are right back with their stereo running bulldogs. A double clothesline puts TMDK on the floor for the stereo dives, followed by some back elbows to the face back inside. Matt gets crotched on top though and Nick gets pulled out of the air, with a spinebuster getting two on Matt in a big crash. Matt flips away from both of them though and grabs a DDT, allowing the tag off to Nick. House is cleaned and the Superkick Party is on, setting up the Meltzer Driver to pin Nicholls at 4:20.

Rating: C+. It was fun while it lasted and I’ll take this over the rest of the matches, as the Bucks get a pretty nice win over a team who doesn’t have anything going on. That’s a good way to go here as there was no reason to have the Bucks in any serious trouble. Nice enough job here and I’ll take that just about all the time.

Post match TMDK jumps the Bucks and Kenny Omega makes the save. Forearms are exchanged with Sabre and TMDK bails. Omega says may the best man win on Sunday and he certainly will.

We look at Thekla invading a Stardom show and attacking the owner.

Survivor Of The Fittest Qualifying Match: Red Velvet vs. Queen Aminata

Velvet’s ROH Women’s TV Title isn’t on the line. Velvet rolls over her into a sunset flip for an early two and then wristdrags her down again. Aminata is right back with a snap suplex for one but the big headbutt misses. Aminata’s right hands in the corner are countered into a powerbomb and we take a break.

We come back with Velvet grabbing a sitout bulldog for two but Aminata gives her a slingshot reverse suplex to leave them both down. The running boot in the corner sets up a middle rope double stomp for two on Velvet. Back up and Velvet flips her off the top, setting up a frog splash to the back for two. Velvet kicks away and, after an apology, misses the big kick to the head. Aminata knocks her into the ropes and hits a PK for the pin at 10:17.

Rating: C+. And of course a reigning champion loses clean in a qualifying match. I’m sure there was absolutely no one else available to take this loss, but it’s just Ring Of Honor anyway, which has been treated like nothing since it was brought back from the dead to create a promotion of cannon fodder. This is the kind of stupid stuff that drives me crazy in wrestling and it doesn’t need to happen but here we are anyway.

The Young Bucks are ready to superkick their opponents at Forbidden Door but Adam Copeland and Christian Cage brawl through with the Dogs. They brawl into the makeup area and Connors blinds Copeland with some hairspray to take over. The Dogs choke them both out. And we get a five second pose, complete with Cage’s old over the top sunglasses.

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Ricochet

Takeshita is defending and the Gates Of Agony are here with Ricochet. An early cheap shot knocks Takeshita outside and the big flip dive hits him as well. Back in and a springboard 450 gives Ricochet two as he’s certainly starting fast. Takeshita is back up but misses a charge in the corner, allowing Ricochet to hit a 619. The springboard clothesline and a running shooting star press give Ricochet two and we take a break.

We come back with Ricochet striking away in the corner and knocking him out to the floor. The shooting star off the apron is countered into a suplex though and they’re both down. Back in and a Blue Thunder Bomb gives Takeshita two before they trade kicks to the head. The wheelbarrow suplex drops Ricochet, who is right back up with Vertigo for two.

A shooting star press gives Ricochet two but he flips out of a German superplex. Takeshita’s Last Ride gets two but Ricochet uses the referee to cut off the running knee. A kick to the head sets up a Ricosault for two and Ricochet is stunned on the kickout. Takeshita drops him with a clothesline though and it’s the running knee and Raging Fire to retain at 13:48.

Rating: B. I don’t think anyone is going to be surprised that these two had a fast paced match together and they made it work here. Ricochet getting a somewhat random title match is hardly a stretch and it’s fine as a main event for a bit of an odd show. Takeshita gets a nice title defense as well and that’s a good thing as he looks for his next big challenger.

Here is Mark Briscoe with something to say about MJF. He and his friends are ready to fight in the cage on Sunday and he brings up their history in Blood & Guts. That was all about the thrill of the fight but this has some more consequential implications. Briscoe agrees that he and MJF are nothing alike (and he thanks God for that) but he knows he can beat MJF if they get a chance. On Sunday, he’ll be fighting with his friends while MJF has some hired stars who don’t care about him.

Cue Don Callis for a distraction so MJF can jump Briscoe from behind. Briscoe fights back and we get the parade of people running in one at a time to hit a single big move. Andrade has to save MJF from the Jay Driller but they go face to face. Callis cuts that off and MJF loads up the ring, only to accidentally hit Andrade. The Jay Driller lays MJF out to end the show. This was pretty much what you would have expected, though they do have some stories in the big cage match, which does help things.

Overall Rating: B-. This is a good example of a show where it’s perfectly fine from a quality standpoint, but it’s not something that interests me. A good chunk of this show was built around setting up Forbidden Door matches for wrestlers who aren’t likely to be regulars around here in a few days.

They aren’t regulars coming into this show either and it made for a less than thrilling show. Forbidden Door isn’t doing much to get my attention this year, though they’ve done an effective enough job with what they had. Not a bad show at all here (though another champion losing in a qualifying match makes my head hurt), but not my taste for the most part.

Results
Death Riders b. Brodido/Mistico – Rollup to King
Harley Cameron b. Marina Shafir – Cradle
Will Ospreay b. ELP – Hidden Blade
Swerve Strickland b. Daniel Garcia – Hidden Blade
Zack Sabre Jr. b. Jack Perry – Double arm crank
Young Bucks b. TMDK – Meltzer Driver to Nicholls
Queen Aminata b. Red Velvet – PK in the ropes
Konosuke Takeshita b. Ricochet – Raging Fire

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

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