Collision
Date: January 31, 2026
Location: eSports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

I believe this is the last show of the Arlington residency and hopefully that means we’re going out with a good one. Last week’s Collision was quite good and it would be great to see them match that here. Mark Briscoe is defending the TNT Title against Tommaso Ciampa, which should be interesting. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Darby Allin vs. Clark Connors

Connors jumps him from behind to start fast and it’s a powerslam for an early two. Allin strikes back and grabs a Code Red for two but gets knocked outside in a crash. The big whip sends Allin into the barricade and a running knee knocks him off the apron. Clark drops him onto the barricade and apron as we take a break.

We come back with Clark dropping an elbow for two and hitting a spear through the ropes to send him into the apron again. The steps are loaded up but Allin rakes the eyes and hits a running dropkick off of said steps. The suicide dive connects for Allin but Clark sunset bombs him into a spear for two of his own. A crossarm choke has Allin down again and something like a powerbomb gets two more. Allin is able to flip him forward into the Scorpion Death Drop, setting up the Scorpion Deathlock for the win at 11:51.

Rating: C+. This is where Allin loses me, as his matches are turning into “he gets beaten up a lot and should be broken in half but wins anyway”. I like him doing the Sting finishers as they fit him well and it’s one less big bump to not have the Coffin Drop, but I’ve kind of seen enough of him getting destroyed. That’s been done for years now and the charm is pretty lost.

Post match Allin talks about beating the Death Riders and now he wants to be atop AEW. Cue Gabe Kidd to jump him from behind and the big beating ensues. Allin is dropped onto the steps and the steps are then dropped onto him. Kidd says this isn’t Death Riders business and he’ll follow Allin to the ends of the earth to destroy him.

Video on the Babes Of Wrath vs. the Sisters Of Sin.

Jet Speed is ready to fight the Don Callis Family. They are officially dubbed Jet Set Rodeo, because Jet Speed And Hangman Page isn’t good enough.

Cru vs. Rascalz

That would be Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz for the Rascalz with Xavier and Rush fighting over a headlock to start. That goes nowhere as Xavier takes him down without much trouble, with Rush staggering into the wrong corner. Wentz comes in and hits a Bronco Buster so Andretti comes in for a double springboard armdrag. The spinning crossbody gets Wentz out of trouble and the big running dive takes Cru down as we take a break.

We come back with Xavier getting forearmed and kicked down for two as we get a countdown to the TNT Title match. Wentz kicks his way out and it’s off to Wentz for a German suplex to Andretti. Everything breaks down and Cru kicks them outside for the stereo suicide dives. Wentz is back in to clean house, followed by some running elbows to keep Cru in the corners. Hot Fire Flame (Wentz does a standing moonsault and Xavier shoves him through the air onto Andretti) for the pin at 11:46.

Rating: B-. It was nice to see the Rascalz win a match rather than losing their first several outings. That being said, maybe it’s not a great idea to have them out there against a team who wrestles a similar style. Cru being similar doesn’t make the Rascalz stand out but rather make the teams seem interchangeable. Maybe come up with something better?

Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor think they can be a great team together.

Jon Moxley wants the best competition and he wants to beat Konosuke Takeshita to get his win back after Takeshita beat him in the Continental Classic. He doesn’t seem to like the Don Callis Family either.

Orange Cassidy/Toni Storm vs. Gino Medina/Lady Bird Monroe

The men start things off with Cassidy rolling backwards and putting his hands into his pockets. Monroe comes in and Cassidy does the lazy kicks until Storm comes in for the running dropkick. Storm beats Medina up too and the Orange Punch finishes him off at 1:47. Yeah that worked.

Post match Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir run in and beat down Cassidy and Storm. Yuta grabs the mic and interviews Cassidy, who Shafir has in a full nelson. Cassidy mocks Yuta’s hair and gets beaten down again. Yuta goes for some scissors to cut Cassidy’s hair but Storm makes the save. Storm wants hair vs. hair in two weeks.

Eddie Kingston/Ortiz and the Grizzled Young Veterans have another face to face meeting in the back and Kingston wants a parking lot fight. Big Bill and Bryan Keith run in to beat down Kingston and Ortiz, with the Veterans paying them off. The match is on, because Kingston beating them three times isn’t enough.

Video on Mark Briscoe vs. Tommaso Ciampa.

TNT Title: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe is defending and we do get an intense handshake to start. Briscoe backs him into the corner to start and Ciampa does the same (with the roles reversed that is) so they can go to a test of strength. That doesn’t go anywhere so they trade shoulders and forearms. Briscoe knocks him outside for the running flip dive before they head to the apron for a chop off. An Air Raid Crash knocks Briscoe hard onto the apron and Ciampa applauds himself as we take a break.

We come back with Briscoe knocking him to the floor for the running Blockbuster off the apron. Back in and the Willow’s Bell (hanging elbow) gives Ciampa two but Briscoe knocks him right back down. The Froggy Bow gets two so Briscoe goes up again, with Ciampa hitting a super Air Raid Crash for two of his own.

Ciampa knees him out to the floor, where Briscoe loads up the table. Ciampa’s posing on the table takes too long and Briscoe gets up top for a Froggy Bow to a standing Ciampa through the table. Back in and Briscoe gets the better of the strike off, setting up another Froggy Bow. The Jay Driller is countered into a German suplex though and Ciampa hits the running knee for the pin and the title at 18:41.

Rating: B+. Well dang they actually did it. This was one of the better matches Collision has had in awhile and it made Ciampa feel like an instant star, which is the right idea. I was worried that he would lose and get lost in the midcard shuffle right off the bat. These guys beat the heck out of each other and it worked rather well. Heck of a match here and a great start for Ciampa.

Post match respect is shown again and Kyle Fletcher comes out to slowly applaud.

The Don Callis Family beats up more people while Josh Alexander talks about the team wanting various titles.

International Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Adam Priest

Okada is defending and Rocky Romero is on commentary. A neckbreaker and slam put Priest down and he misses a charge in the corner. Okada follows him in but seems to hurt his knee, which is only a ruse so Romero can get in a cheap shot. We take a break and come back with Okada missing a charge and Priest striking away in the corner.

A neckbreaker gives Priest two and a German suplex out of the corner drops Okada again. Priest’s top rope legdrop gets two more and he grabs the Figure Four. Okada makes the rope and hits the dropkick and, after Priest grabs a rollup, hits the Rainmaker to retain at 10:16.

Rating: C+. Here’s the thing: it’s not a bad match, but I absolutely could not bring myself to believe that Priest was giving Okada this much trouble. Okada is one of the most successful stars in AEW history and he has trouble beating Adam Priest? I’m fine with Priest getting a better spot, but this was way too much of a leap. Cut the time down and let Priest get in some offense here and there, or give him a better opponent and it’s that much better.

The Rascalz think they should help Eddie Kingston in the parking lot. Kingston comes in and apparently it’s now an eight man parking lot fight. Sure.

We look at the World Title situation.

Tommaso Ciampa is happy to be here and respects Mark Briscoe. Now he’s ready to do something special as TNT Champion.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Sisters Of Sin vs. Babes Of Wrath

The Babes are defending. Hart and Cameron start things off with Hart knocking her to the floor early on. That means it’s off to Blue, who is knocked down for a double splash. Hart comes back in and gets rolled up for two before it’s back to Cameron for the rapid fire kicks. We take a break and come back with Cameron rolling Blue up for two. Nightingale comes in to clean house, including a big Pounce to Blue.

Hart is back in for an attempted Old School hurricanrana, with Nightingale falling down while trying to catch her (fair enough). The Babe With The Powerbomb is countered into an X Factor and the double superkick gets two, with Cameron making a save. More superkicks have the champions in trouble but Cameron is back with a DDT for two on Blue. Eat Defeat sends Blue into something like the Paige Turner to retain the titles at 11:23.

Rating: B-. It was a fine way to give the champions a title defense and that’s about all it needed to be. What mattered here was getting the Babes in the ring as the fans certainly seem to love them. That worked well enough and the Sisters can now get out of the way for Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford. Perfectly acceptable main event.

Post match the brawl stays on, with Thekla and Kris Statlander coming in. Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford run in and the champs are left laying.

Overall Rating: B-. Yeah it was ok, with the Ciampa vs. Briscoe match absolutely stealing the show. As usual, Collision only feels so important, with most of its appeal being setting up things for later. The closing segment is interesting, but Allin vs. Kidd doesn’t exactly do much for me, as it feels like just more of Allin vs. the Death Riders. Check out Briscoe vs. Ciampa, but the rest was the usual just ok Collision fare.

Results
Darby Allin b. Clark Connors – Scorpion Deathlock
Rascalz b. Cru – Hot Fire Flame to Andretti
Orange Cassidy/Toni Storm/Gino Medina/Lady Bird Monroe – Orange Punch to Medina
Tommaso Ciampa b. Mark Briscoe – Running knee
Kazuchika Okada b. Adam Priest – Rainmaker
Babes Of Wrath b. Sisters Of Sin – Paige Turner 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:

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

Dynamite
Date: January 28, 2026
Location: H-E-B Center At Cedar Park, Cedar Park, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

We’re continuing the march towards Revolution and the question is who will be challenging MJF for the World Title. Kenny Omega has thrown his hat into the ring and that means it is time to start getting him ready for his chance. It might take some time to get there, but there is still more than a month remaining before the show. Let’s get to it.

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

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Kenny Omega vs. Rocky Romero

They’re starting fast and this is described as “massive”. Rocky Romero is not in a massive match. There is no way around this. Romero jumps him to start fast but gets elbowed in the corner right back. A slingshot dive to the floor drops Romero again as we’re told that Samoa Joe has suffered an injury during training.

Omega hits the Kitaro Crusher but it’s too early for the V Trigger, with Romero bailing out to the floor. Back in and a running Sliced Bread drops Omega, who kicks Romero in the face. Romero stops to dance and is promptly kneed in the back of the head for a great comeback. The V Trigger into the One Winged Angel finishes Romero at 3:48.

Rating: C. This worked and it worked well, with Omega just running through Romero, including that awesome running knee to the head. It’s also nice to see a match just come and go without stretching out too long. That was the situation here and it went exactly as it should have. Nice job, and Romero getting beaten up was a nice bonus.

Post match Tony Schiavone (in neon yellow shoes) comes in to announce that Omega one of the four top contenders to the World Title. Omega says he hasn’t felt this good in years and he’ll beat anyone in his way to get there. Cue Hangman Page to say he’d rather be fighting beside Omega rather than against him, but he made the mistake of looking ahead.

Page is going to be the next champion, which brings out Swerve Strickland to say he’s here for the World Title. He hasn’t been pinned since he came back and it doesn’t matter who he has to beat to get the title back. Omega says it sounds like Swerve is looking for a fight, which Swerve says is truer than Omega knows. Cue Don Callis, who says Swerve’s undefeated streak ends tonight against Andrade El Idolo. Then Andrade is coming for Omega, because the Don Callis Family runs this show. Omega says Callis is the one who should worry and the chase is on.

Video on Thekla vs. Kris Statlander.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Jon Moxley vs. Ace Austin

Non-title. Moxley jumps him to start and hammers away in the corner before glaring at the referee. Austin takes it to the mat for a rather spinning rollup, followed by a springboard (from the bottom rope) armdrag. Moxley is sent outside and we take an early break. We come back with Moxley getting out of a headscissors on the mat and taking him to the top for a back rake.

A superplex brings Austin down with a crash but he’s back with a Russian legsweep. That doesn’t work for Moxley, who blasts him with a clothesline and they go to the pinfall reversal sequence. One heck of a spinning kick to the head gives Austin two and a springboard spinning kick to the head gets the same. Moxley isn’t having this as it’s a cutter into the Death Rider for the sudden pin at 10:05.

Rating: B. Austin was trying his best here and some of those kicks looked rather good. Losing to Moxley is one thing but hopefully they don’t do the same thing of “here’s someone new, watch them lose over and over” for a few weeks. It was a nice start for Austin though as Moxley seems set for an eventual showdown with Konosuke Takeshita.

Post match here is Konosuke Takeshita for a staredown with Moxley. Davis And Doyle run in from behind and Moxley gets taken out. No Death Riders make the save for some reason.

TNT Title: El Clon vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe is defending and Don Callis is on commentary because this has been his show thus far. Clon actually knocks Briscoe down to start but Briscoe Red Neck Kung Fus his way out of trouble. With Clon sent outside, Briscoe loads up the chair but Clon starts flipping around. That just earns him a clothesline, followed by the dive off the apron. Clon manages to tie him up in the ring skirt though and a running dropkick sends us to a break.

We come back with Briscoe knocking him outside for the running flip dive. The snap jabs have Clon in trouble but he gets in a kick to the head. A brainbuster drops Clon again and the Froggy Bow connects for two. The Jay Driller is loaded up but Clon bounces out of it (I’m not sure if that was a no sell or a counter but it looked cool. Illogical but cool.) and knocks him outside. Back in and Briscoe rolls him up to retain at 11:18.

Rating: B-. Clon is fun to watch with his flips and such, but it feels like we’re just waiting around for Hologram to come back for their one big match. Otherwise, Clon feels like just another warm body for the Don Callis Family. That’s not exactly a great place to be, but at least he got to do something here.

Post match Briscoe says it’s an Open Challenge for Collision, but he’s tired of the Don Callis Family so no one from them. The lights go out and a beating heart is on screen. And it’s Tommaso Ciampa making his debut to quite the reception. We get the big staredown and the match is apparently set for Collision. Ciampa even kisses him on the cheek.

Kyle Fletcher and Kazuchika Okada have a meeting in the back, with Okada saying he wasn’t thinking when he took the screwdriver at World’s End. It was just about winning and he wasn’t trying to hurt Fletcher. That’s acceptable to Fletcher and they shake hands in peace.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Here is MJF for a chat. After asking Taz why they’re working in a dump like this, MJF gets cut off by Brody King. For some reason MJF calls him dumb and stupid before saying King needs to win something to get the title shot. MJF accuses King of following people around, such as Malachi Black with their spooky light tricks. Or Buddy Matthews with his scary name and his bad ankle.

Maybe King should follow MJF, who can use a big scary man, even if MJF has, quote, “never in my life have I met a liberal man who looks more like a nazi”, unquote. The reality is that to be World Champion, you need to be a leader rather than a follower, but he needs to beat someone. King agrees, which is why he has gotten an eliminator match against MJF for next week. If he wins, he gets a title shot in Australia.

Video on the Young Bucks’ issues and their rise back up, with their return next week. They were gone?

Women’s Title: Thekla vs. Kris Statlander

Thekla is challenging and slaps her in the face to start. That earns her a glare out to the floor and some chops back inside. Thekla hangs in the ropes to avoid a charge but Statlander knocks her outside without much trouble. A delayed vertical suplex drops Thekla on the floor and a catapult sends her into the steps. Statlander takes too long getting up though and is knocked outside, followed by a double stomp to the back as we take a break.

We come back with Thekla grabbing the headscissors choke in the ropes, which is countered with a reverse Alabama slam. A Falcon Arrow gives Statlander two and a running clothesline knocks Thekla silly again. The 450 is broken up and a spider suplex (Taz: “Black Widow Jones.”) sends Statlander crashing down.

She heads outside so Thekla can hit her with a big dive, only for Statlander to come back with a spear. Thekla spits in her face and pulls her into a Black Widow, which is broken up just as fast. A Stomp give Thekla two but she charges into a superkick. Thekla’s quick rollup gets two but Statlander gives her a gutwrench powerbomb and Staturday Night Fever to retain at 11:45.

Rating: B. This was an interesting case of the powerhouse having to figure Thekla out and get the win to retain. It worked well with Thekla being weird enough to offer Statlander a challenge but not being able to trip her up. I’m not sure who is next for the title but there should be a solid group of challengers available.

Post match the Babes Of Wrath come out to celebrate but Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford are there for the staredown.

Don Callis wants the Family to bring him some gold. However, he does want Konosuke Takeshita to apologize to Kazuchika Okada. With Callis gone, Takeshita is not pleased with Fletcher forgiving Okada and walks away, leaving Fletcher worried.

Video on Jack Perry vs. Ricochet.

Earlier today, the Demand beat Perry up, with Ricochet trying to interview Perry at the same time.

Tag Team Titles: Davis And Doyle vs. FTR

FTR, with Stokely Hathaway, is defending. Doyle shoves Wheeler into the corner to start and then runs him over with some shoulders. Wheeler is able to send Davis into the corner for some clubberin but he’s right back with some chops. Davis and Doyle are sent outside, where Wheeler’s dive is easily cut off and we take a break.

We come back with Harwood and Davis chopping each other out until everything breaks down. FTR gets splashed in the corner until Doyle gets DDTed onto the apron. That leaves Davis to get belly to back superplexed into a top rope splash to give Wheeler two. Wheeler is knocked outside and Davis grabs a sleeper…but here are the Death Riders to clock Davis with a belt. The Shatter Machine retains the titles at 9:28.

Rating: B-. I’m worried about Doyle, who just disappeared after that DDT on the apron. Hopefully he’s not injured. Either way, this was another nice defense from FTR as they turned back a different kind of challengers. Again I’m not sure who is next for the titles, but in this case there aren’t as many ready to go challengers.

Orange Cassidy talks about dealing with Wheeler Yuta for five years now and even mocks Yuta’s beard. Yuta, with Marina Shafir, comes in to get in Cassidy’s face but Toni Storm evens things out. A mixed tag seems ready, with Cassidy and Storm tangoing away.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Swerve Strickland vs. Andrade El Idolo

Don Callis (of course) is on commentary (of course) and the winner faces Kenny Omega next week. Andrade grabs a headlock, which doesn’t last long, as Swerve is up for the forearm off. They both trade flips away from headscissors and the fans approve. Swerve takes him down and Andrade begs him to come off the ropes, with Swerve sending him outside instead.

Back up and Swerve gets whipped into the steps and we pause for Andrade to hit on….well it’s supposed to be a fan but that would be independent wrestler Jazmin Allure. We take a break and come back with Andrade cutting off a comeback, followed by the double moonsault for two. Swerve pulls him off the top though and it’s a Death Valley Driver onto the apron. They fight onto the barricade, with Swerve getting backdropped hard onto the edge, which has the fans feeling his pain.

Both of them dive back in at nine and Andrade fires off some forearms but the DM is blocked. The spinning back elbow drops Swerve (Callis: “We worked on that one all week.” Schiavone: “Oh for crying out loud.”) but the double knees are countered with the House Call for a rather near fall. A super poisonrana sends Swerve into the corner for the running knees, followed by the hammerlock DDT for two. Big Pressure is countered so Swerve hits the House Call, only to get pulled into the DM to give Andrade the pin at 14:51.

Rating: B. Giving Swerve’s first pinfall loss since his return to Andrade is certainly a way to go, though egads it means having to hear from Callis even more. Swerve will be around the World Title picture sooner than later as he pretty much has to be, though he might have to work to get back there for awhile. I’m assuming Omega beats Andrade next week, as the idea of putting any kind of long term faith in Andrade sounds a bit misguided.

MJF is ready for Brody King next week but Kenny Omega comes up to say it’s one more win and then they’ll see each other at Revolution. MJF walks off and runs into Andrade, who wants the title. That’s enough to send MJF outside, where Hangman Page is waiting on him. MJF gets in his car and has the driver speed off to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. I liked the show and they did a nice job of not making this feel like a skippable show on the way to the bigger shows. Having so many people come after the World Title is a good way to go, assuming it doesn’t set up some multiman match. There are some openings for the title pictures and that’s a nice place to be on the way to the next pay per view. Good show here, and hopefully they keep it up for the next few weeks.

Results
Kenny Omega b. Rocky Romero – One Winged Angel
Jon Moxley b. Ace Austin – Death Rider
Mark Briscoe b. El Clon – Rollup
Kris Statlander b. Thekla – Staturday Night Fever
FTR b. Davis And Doyle – Shatter Machine to Davis
Andrade El Idolo b. Swerve Strickland – DM

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

Collision
Date: January 24, 2026
Location: Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight, Excalibur

This is kind of a weird one as the show was originally going to air live but the weather forced a double taping after Dynamite. That could mean a bit of a rushed show but hopefully the talent can make it work out. The big main event this time is for the CMLL World Title as Claudio Castagnoli defends against Roderick Strong. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Hangman Page vs. Katsuyori Shibata

They go straight to the slugging to start and head outside, with Shibata being sent into the announcers’ table. Shibata misses a running big boot and gets booted over the barricade, meaning it’s time to brawl in the timekeeper’s area. Page keeps hammering away and takes him inside for a fall away slam. The triangle clothesline is cut off with an elbow to the face though and Shibata starts in on the leg. An early Figure Four is reversed, with Page making it to the rope.

We take a break and come back with Page cutting off the kicks the chest so they can chop it out. Shibata hits a running boot in the corner and they trade release German suplexes. They knock each other down for a double breather and the fans approve, as usual. The referee misses Shibata’s low blow and they head to the apron, where Page hits the Deadeye (that low blow didn’t exactly do a lot of damage). The moonsault to the floor hits Shibata but he’s right back with some kind of a neck crank. That’s broken up and Page hits a clothesline into the Buckshot Lariat for the pin at 13:23.

Rating: B-. It was a hard hitting fight as Page and JetSpeed continue their battle against the Opps. Odds are we’ll see a big showdown as a Dynamite main event in the near future, though the Trios Titles still don’t feel overly important. At least Page is getting some nice wins, as he feels like one of the biggest stars in the company and is coming off like one, which is something he has been needing.

Earlier this week, Don Callis and Ricochet were on a golf course and seem to be on the same page. Davis and Doyle beating people up in the background was funny.

Isla Dawn vs. Kris Statlander

Non-title and the Grizzled Young Veterans are here with Dawn. Statlander forearms away in the corner to start and a catapult sends Dawn into the corner. Dawn avoids a charge though and forearms away, followed by a Saito suplex for two. Statlander is right back with a Falcon Arrow into Staturday Night Fever for the fast pin at 2:49.

Post match Thekla pops up on screen wearing a Statlander shirt, which she takes off, spits on, and makes a Star Trek reference.

Jack Perry, holding his knife, says he wants Ricochet’s National Championship. Ricochet took Perry’s friend from him and now he’s taking the title, but it won’t be enough. Nice promo here.

We actually talk about Ace Austin winning on Ring Of Honor but he can’t be here due to travel issues (I’m guessing due to not being there for Dynamite, which is fine), so we have a replacement.

Don Callis Family vs. Billy Gunn/Austin Gunn

Don Callis is on commentary. Fletcher backs Austin up against the ropes to start and then throws him down without much trouble. Austin is back up with a running neckbreaker and it’s off to Billy, who is starting to look his age. Billy tells Fletcher to suck it so it’s off to Takeshita instead. Takeshita powers him into the corner and then out to the floor, where Callis offers a distraction. That means a cheap shot to put Billy down and we take a break.

We come back with Fletcher avoiding the Fameasser, only to get caught with the second attempt. The 3:10 To Yuma drops Fletcher, with Takeshita having to make the save. The Quick Draw is blocked though and Fletcher hits a dragon sleeper to put Austin down. Takeshita comes in with the Blue Thunder Bomb and Billy has to make the save. The running knee misses so Fletcher kicks Austin in the corner, setting up Raging Fire for the pin at 10:20.

Rating: C+. This was little more than a nice moment with Billy teaming with his son under bad circumstances. There wasn’t much else they could have done so this was about as good as it could have gone. Fletcher and Takeshita weren’t going to lose a match to the regular Bang Bang Gang lineup so this was actually a slight upgrade.

Post match Takeshita and Fletcher seem to be ok but here is Kazuchika Okada. Fletcher has to hold Takeshita back, which can’t be good.

Ricochet says Jack Perry will get his National Title shot in Las Vegas, which is the only place with enough luck for a Jack to have a chance against a King.

The Grizzled Young Veterans are still mad at Eddie Kingston and Ortiz and weapons are teased. Why in the world would this feud continue? The Veterans have lost every time. Why?

Alec Price/Jordan Oliver vs. Davis and Doyle

Doyle runs both of them over without much trouble to start and Davis comes in for a German suplex. Price and Oliver are tossed at each other in a nice idea and we settle down to Davis dropping Oliver. The kickout just annoys Davis so it’s off to Price for a running boot in the corner. Oliver and Price are thrown at each other again and a piledriver/swinging Boss Man Slam get the double pin at 3:53.

Rating: C. I can go with an entertaining squash as Davis and Doyle got to run through these two, with the toss spots being rather fun. Davis and Doyle are a good example of what happens when you do what should be obvious, as they’re big guys who look alike. Don’t make this more complicated than it should be and you’ll be fine. Unlike Price and Oliver, who are losing so much that they’re reaching levels of pitiful.

Post match Callis talks about having a vision of destroying FTR and owning the Tag Team Titles.

FTR and Stokely Hathaway pop up on screen, with Hathaway saying Callis lies a lot so FTR is keeping the titles.

Darby Allin goes to see Bam Margera and they skateboard a lot.

TBS Title: Julia Hart vs. Willow Nightingale

Nightingale is defending and they start with some running, followed by blocking the other’s hiptoss attempt. Hart bounces off of her, which doesn’t seem to be a great idea. A fisherman’s suplex gives Nightingale two so Hart strikes away to some more success. An Old School hurricanrana drops Nightingale, who pops right back up.

Cue Skye Blue for a distraction so here is Harley Cameron to cut her off. Nightingale’s Cannonball misses though and Hart grabs a neckbreaker for two. We take a break and come back with Hart hitting some running corner clotheslines. Nightingale hits a much harder clothesline (Wight: “She started swinging in Florida and stopped in Nebraska.”) but Hart superkicks her off the corner.

They head outside, where Nightingale pulls her off the barricade for a suplex and the Cannonball gets two back inside. Hart is right back with something like a Black Widow, which is broken up just as quickly. The Babe With The Powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana for two, only for the second attempt to retain Nightingale’s title at 10:43.

Rating: B-. Hart continues to look smooth in the ring and she’s good at this kind of a match, where there is only so much drama about a title change but it’s an entertaining match anyway. Nightingale getting to beat someone is a good thing to see and the fans still love her. That’s a fine use of time on this show and I was never bored so call it a success.

The Rascalz are eating and talking about the nice couch they have. They’re ready to fight the Cru and Myron Reed is eventually out after losing some Rock Paper Scissors. This wasn’t as funny as the team usually is but they’re still new.

Magnus vs. Andrade El Idolo

Andrade chops him up against the ropes to start and a backdrop puts Magnus down again. A very loud chop connects for Andrade but Magnus knocks him outside. The dive is cut off, allowing Andrade to seemingly give a woman his number. We take a break and come back with…Andrade having lost his pants. Dang it that’s never good.

Andrade hits Three Amigos into an Eddie Dance but pulls Magnus up at two. The double arm crank goes on and Andrade gets to start untying the mask, which isn’t overly nice. Magnus fights back and hits a dive into the announcers’ table, followed by a Swanton for two back inside. Andrade sends him hard into the corner though and the running knees set up the DM for the pin at 11:08.

Rating: C+. This was about what you would expect from Andrade, as he had a fine match that didn’t exactly offer much in the way of interest. It was just Andrade doing his stuff and getting a win over someone who doesn’t mean much around here. Magnus got in a bit of offense but at least he only dragged this a bit beyond a squash.

Post break Andrade says he wants the World Title and is coming for Swerve Strickland on Dynamite.

CMLL World Title: Roderick Strong vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Castagnoli, with Wheeler Yuta, is defending, Jon Moxley is on commentary and Strong has Orange Cassidy with him. Castagnoli jumps him during the entrances but Strong chops back and tells Castagnoli to hit him harder. A headlock works a bit better for Castagnoli but Strong is back up with some right hands in the corner. They go outside with Strong striking away, only to get dropped hard onto the barricade.

Back in and Castagnoli starts in on the leg with some cranking, plus a slam to send the leg into the rope. A neckbreaker doesn’t work for Castagnoli as Strong sends him outside, only for Castagnoli to ram the leg into the barricade. We take a break and come back with Castagnoli staying on the leg but Strong kicks him to the floor. A dropkick through the ropes connects and Strong is back in with the belly to back faceplant for two.

Castagnoli goes right back onto the leg but the Neutralizer is blocked. Instead Castagnoli goes with an uppercut for two and kicks away at the leg in the corner. They go up top where Strong manages a super Angle Slam for two, setting up the Stronghold. The rope is grabbed (Moxley: “Oh boy.”) and Castagnoli Swings him into the half crab.

Strong gets out so the knee is wrapped around the post, with Yuta getting in a cheap shot. Cassidy Orange Punches him, only for Castagnoli to drop Cassidy right back. They head back inside, with Strong hitting a knee to the face but Castagnoli goes back to the leg. A one legged Swing sets up the Neutralizer to retain the title at 18:20.

Rating: B. This was a solid main event with Castagnoli getting to avenge his loss to Strong in the Continental Classic. That’s a good way to set up the main event of Collision and while the title doesn’t mean much around here, it’s at least something with a bit of a connection to AEW. The leg stuff worked well too, with that swinging single leg crab looking awesome. Nice job here.

Overall Rating: B. Maybe they should tape the show after Dynamite more often. This was a rather entertaining show and while it felt like it was another case of setting up Dynamite, it did so well enough. That’s mostly what Collision tends to be and while it didn’t have anything you really needed to see, it did a nice job of making me more interested in Dynamite. Throw in a good main event and I’ll take that week to week.

Results
Hangman Page b. Katsuyori Shibata – Buckshot Lariat
Kris Statlander b. Isla Dawn – Staturday Night Fever
Don Callis Family b. Billy Gunn/Austin Gunn – Raging Fire to Austin
Davis and Doyle b. Jordan Oliver/Alec Price – Double pin
Willow Nightingale b. Julia Hart – Babe With The Powerbomb
Andrade El Idolo b. Magnus – DM
Claudio Castagnoli b. Roderick Strong – Neutralizer

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: January 7, 2026
Location: BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross

We’re in a new year and we have quite a long way to go before we get to Revolution in March. That’s why tonight is focused on something other than the World Title, as Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland team up to face the Opps in a Lights Out match. Other than that, Jon Moxley is facing Shelton Benjamin so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Jim Ross comes back, which is a great thing to see. Hopefully it’s a great

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

ley in trouble, including a German suplex. A second attempt is countered into a ram into the steps though and Moxley takes over on the arm back inside.

We take a break and come back with Benjamin running the ropes for a butterfly superplex. They forearm it out until Moxley goes to the eye but the bulldog choke is blocked. A big clothesline drops Benjamin but Moxley needs a breather as well. Benjamin snaps off some German suplexes until Moxley gets in a cutter. Moxley hammers away in the corner until something like a standing STF cuts him off.

Benjamin is sent outside for a dive from Moxley and they head back inside, where Moxley charges into Paydirt for two. Back up and Moxley blocks a kick and grabs the Paradigm Shift for two more. We have a minute left as Moxley gets the bulldog choke. That’s broken up and Benjamin hits a running knee, followed by a triangle choke. Moxley is in trouble but drives forward to stack Benjamin up for the pin at 19:54.

Rating: B+. These guys having a good match isn’t a surprise, though I could have gone with something other than Benjamin losing clean in his first big singles match. It makes sense for Moxley to get another tough win under his (Continental) belt, but dang Benjamin losing is a bit frustrating. Hopefully he gets to do something on his own, as he has earned it.

Darby Allin is looking for Pac.

We look at Hiroshi Tanahashi losing to Kazuchika Okada in Tanahashi’s retirement match.

Video on Kenny Omega wanting a shot at MJF.

Jack Perry/??? vs. The Demand

This was supposed to be JetSpeed, but Perry has replacements in the form of….the Young Bucks. It’s a brawl to start with the villains being sent outside for a dive from Nick. Perry adds a moonsault from the top to the floor, followed by a spear to Ricochet. Back in and the Bucks take over on Ricochet, with Matt’s triangle choke over the ropes setting up Perry’s diving DDT.

Kaun grabs Perry’s foot though and Ricochet adds a jumping knee to the back to send him outside. Perry gets Pounced into the timekeeper’s area and we take a break. We come back with Perry clotheslining his way out of trouble, allowing the tag off to Nick. Everything breaks down and the Bucks clean house with superkicks, plus a slingshot Canadian Destroyer to Ricochet.

The top rope double stomp to the back flips Ricochet into a sitout powerbomb for two but Liona is back in with a triple Samoan drop (ok not bad). Ricochet’s springboard 450 gets two on Perry, who flips over him and hits a German suplex. An assisted wheelbarrow cutter drops Perry for two but the Spirit Gun misses. A bunch of superkicks put Liona down and a BTE Trigger into the running knee gives Perry the pin on Ricochet at 13:11.

Rating: B. Are we sure being the National Champion is a good thing? That’s another loss for the champ since he won the belt and I’m really not sure how much sense it makes. At the very least, he still might have to deal with Bandido, who beat him a few weeks ago. Odds are this sets up Perry for another title shot, even though we covered that last week.

Post match the Don Callis Family runs in to lay out the Bucks. The banged up JetSpeed run in for the save but the lights go out…and Andrade El Idolo is back. FTR comes out for a staredown as well. So Doyle debuts under a new name, attacks JetSpeed off camera, and isn’t even the only member of the team introduced in the first hour? Nice job guys.

Here is Willow Nightingale for her championship celebration, with Harley Cameron and Kris Statlander joining her. Nightingale says this is the first step in the double champ tour (as the lights go out and they get a spotlight) and is proud to be back with her title and friends. She’ll face any challenger for any title, but she knows that since this is wrestling, someone is going to interrupt sooner or later.

Nightingale invites Mercedes Mone out here so cue Mone, apparently in mourning. She lists off Mone’s accomplishments in 2025, which made beating her that much better. Nightingale offers cake but Mone wrecks everything, eventually going into and onto the cake. That’s a classic and it still works.

Mark Briscoe has been sitting on the sidelines too long and he’s ready to face Hechicero for the title. His crystal ball is telling him that the title isn’t going anywhere, just like Willow Nightingale’s titles.

The Triangle Of Madness want Kris Statlander and the Babes Of Wrath, even if they know the alliance isn’t lasting long.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Sammy Guevara vs. Bandido

Non-title. Guevara works on the arm to start before a kick to the face sends Bandido to the ropes. The charge misses though and Guevara falls out to the floor. It’s too early for a dive though as Bandido kicks him in the head from the apron. Guevara spits something into Bandido’s eyes though and a tornado DDT on the floor takes us to a break.

We come back with Bandido firing off some chops before they trade running clotheslines in the corner. A spinning high crossbody puts Guevara down and the one armed gorilla press does it again. Guevara is sent outside for the big running flip dive but he’s able to monkey flip Bandido into the ropes back inside. The shooting star to the floor hits Bandido again but the GTH is blocked. The 21 Plex is cut off with a springboard cutter and they trade shots to the face. Guevara’s flipping DDT gets two but Bandido knees him in the face again. The 21 Plex gives Bandido the pin at 11:46.

Rating: B-. Fun match as expected, though I still have no idea why this needed to be a reigning Ring Of Honor champion taking the loss. Bandido has now beaten both champions in the spin of a week and I don’t get why. There are so many other options available but this is what we get because…reasons.

Post match MJF comes in to interrupt and says he knows more about lucha libre than anyone else. He’s even brought out a translator (Jon Cruz) to explain things so there is nothing missed. Cruz gets in Bandido’s face and yells about MJF’s accomplishments before MJF brings up being a six time winner of the Dynamite Diamond Ring.

He wants the ring back from Bandido and they can just skip the World Title match next week, which isn’t in doubt anyway. Bandido says he can speak English and calls MJF a stupid son of a b****. MJF kicks him low and takes the ring back but the big shot hits Cruz. Bandido gets the ring back and hits a pair of 21 Plexes.

Video on Brody King.

Marina Shafir vs. Toni Storm

They go with the grappling to start until Storm gets taken down for a leglock. Some hair mares drop Shafir though and a running hip attack sends her outside. Storm stops to yell at the Death Riders though and gets caught in a triangle choke. We take a break and come back with Shafir knocking her down again, followed by the mock dancing.

A forearm to the back keeps Storm in trouble and another dance sets up a forearm to the face. Storm kicks her down and loads up the hip attack in the corner, only to get kicked down again. A headbutt staggers Shafir again though and Storm grabs a small package, only for the Death Riders to pull the referee for the DQ at 7:57.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time to do anything here, with the break in the middle eating up a bunch of the match. The ending was a smart move too, as you don’t want either of these two taking a fall. This probably isn’t over, likely with Orange Cassidy getting involved on Storm’s side.

Post match Storm gets laid out again, with Mina Shirakawa running in and getting dropped as well. Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong come in for the save, with Cassidy grabbing both women (he’s hardcore).

Pac has already beaten Darby Allin twice but Allin comes in to say he wants to do this one more time. That’s a no, so Allin sprays him with a fire extinguisher and teases breaking Pac’s ankle, which is enough to get him to accept the match.

Swerve Strickland/Hangman Page vs. Opps

Lights Out, so anything goes and the fight starts with the lights rather dim. The Opps take over early with Hobbs grabbing a chair. The big shot misses though and Swerve gets in a kick from the apron, leaving Hook alone. Page moonsaults off the top onto Hobbs and Swerve Death Valley Drivers Hook onto the apron. Thankfully the lights come up so we can actually see, with Page grabbing the chain but getting taken down by Hobbs. Hook catches Swerve with a suplex off the apron and we take a break (two minutes into the overrun).

We come back with Page getting suplexed through a table in the corner for two and Hook wedged a chair in the corner. Hobbs goes into it (of course) and it’s time to staple Hook’s torso. A short powerbomb drops Hook again and Swerve staples his way out of Hobbs’ suplex. It’s time to bust out the cinder blocks, which takes way too long so Hobbs is back with some chair shots. Prince Nana saves Swerve from a Conchairto and Swerve tries a guillotine.

That’s reversed into a World’s Strongest Slam onto the blocks but cue the Opps Dojo to jump Page. The good guys get tied together with the chain but Nana throws his coffee into Hobbs’ eyes. Page and Swerve flip out of the chain and Hobbs hits Hook by mistake. The Buckshot Lariat is cut off with a spinebuster but Swerve gives Hobbs the House Call.

A Swerve Stomp to the floor drops the Dojo and another Stomp into the Deadeye drops Hobbs onto the blocks. That leaves Hook to get dropped with a headbutt, followed by a rolling elbow with a chain. There’s the House Call (JR: “Now get it over with will ya?”) into a Buckshot Lariat into the choke over the ropes for the tap at 19:50.

Rating: B. This was the standard AEW hardcore based match and that went well enough. It came at the end of an even longer than usual show, but there was pretty much no way the Opps were going to be a serious threat. As usual, Hook was there to take the fall and Hobbs looked like a monster. Now maybe, I don’t know, do something with Hobbs already.

Overall Rating: B+. The opener and main event were both good, though dang this show felt every bit of its length, plus the eighteen minute overrun. That’s just something you have to expect from AEW though, so it’s not even worth getting mad about anymore. Next week’s show should be worth a look with Bandido vs. MJF, and then we’ll get to see where things are heading for Revolution. Good show here, but cut the time down a bit.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Shelton Benjamin – Rollup
Young Bucks/Jack Perry b. The Demand – Running knee to Ricochet
Bandido b. Sammy Guevara – 21 Plex
Toni Storm b. Marina Shafir via DQ when the Death Riders interfered
Hangman Page/Swerve Strickland b. Opps – Choke with a chain over the ropes to Hook

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: December 31, 2025
Location: Liberty First Credit Union Arena, Ralston, Nebraska
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

We’re done with Worlds End and we’re wrapping up the new year with MJF back on top of the mountain. MJF won the World Title again at the pay per view, marking what I’m sure will be a humble title reign. Other than that, we also have a new Continental Champion in Jon Moxley, whose losing ways were completely erased with a pair of huge wins on Saturday. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

We get a recap of the bigger events of Worlds End.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

MJF arrives and it’s time for a championship celebration. On Saturday, he beat the franchise (Swerve), the Samoan Submission Machine (the Samoan) and the main character (Page) at once and that makes him the top man. The World Title is thrown down and the Triple B is back. He loves the idea that anyone thinks they can catch him, because he’s a stallion and he’s tired of walking around so everyone can keep up.

It’s time to sprint….but Kenny Omega pops up on screen. Omega knows his time is coming to an end, but what if he becomes World Champion again? He isn’t collecting belts anymore, because he’s collecting one belt. There are a lot of people coming for the belt and his name is on the list. MJF says Omega wouldn’t say that to his face but here are Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland in (different parts of) the crowd.

Security runs out to cut him off and says they need to earn a title shot by getting some wins. Page and Swerve get in the ring so MJF bails, leaving security to get beaten up. The two of them say they’re coming for the title but the Opps appear on screen. Samoa Joe says he should be the #1 contender but he’s sick of hearing about these two. He wants to wrap this up next week so it’s a lights out match.

The Conglomeration is ready for tonight when Toni Storm comes up next to Orange Cassidy (“Citrus Boy”). Mina Shirakawa comes up and is NOT happy but Storm insists it’s not like that. Storm does have Luther produce an orange for a big bite, but Shirakawa pulls her away. Mark Briscoe asks for a bite and Roderick Strong wants no part of this.

Orange Cassidy/Toni Storm/Roderick Strong vs. Death Riders

Tornado match. The men go to the floor to start, leaving Storm to hammer on Shafir inside. Castagnoli knocks Storm outside but gets dropkicked by Strong, who gets hammered in the corner by Garcia. Cassidy is back in for the save and puts his hands in his pockets to escape Shafir’s full nelson. The Riders beat the fire out of Cassidy and we take a break. We come back with Strong chopping his way out of trouble and giving Castagnoli an Angle Slam.

Cassidy and Storm get back inside for the dancing offense, plus a double hiptoss to Castagnoli. Storm teases her own Swing on Castagnoli, which is broken up due to avoiding the battle against the laws of physics. Strong has to save Cassidy from Mother’s Milk and it’s a Stundog Millionaire to Castagnoli. Storm gives him the hip attack but Wheeler Yuta shows up for a distraction, allowing Castagnoli to uppercut Cassidy for the pin at 9:38.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure why this was a tornado match, but the match seemed to be more about having an excuse to do the Storm/Cassidy stuff. Now granted, there’s nothing bad about that as those two have some great chemistry, though I’m not sure if that’s going to be anything more than a funny bit. The match itself was nothing out of the ordinary for everyone else, with the Death Riders being up to their old shenanigans.

Post match Mina Shirakawa comes in to yell at Cassidy, with Storm calming her down.

Video on Mercedes Mone and her very long TBS Title reign.

Bandido vs. The Beast Mortos

Non-title. Bandido flips around to start and does the bullfighting deal, likely in a tribute to Tito Santana. Mortos knocks him outside for the running flip dive but Bandido is back with a leg sweep into the gun pose inside. This time it’s Mortos being sent outside so Bandido can put on the cape and dive.

We take a break and come back with Bandido snapping off a very spinny headscissors into a frog splash for two. Mortos is right back with his big backbreaker into the discus lariat for two, followed by another lariat for zero. The moonsault misses though and Bandido is up with an impressive X Knee, followed by the 21 Plex for the pin at 9:56.

Rating: B-. I’m hardly surprised that these two worked well together as Bandido can work against anyone and Mortos is a great choice to face a fast moving star. It’s also a good way to build up Bandido before his title match against MJF in two weeks. That being said, I could go for having champions lose less often, as there are more than enough wrestlers on the roster to find someone for this spot who doesn’t have a title.

Post break Bandido and Brody King are in the back, with Bandido saying he’s ready to be the World Champion. Er, the AEW World Champion. King loves the idea, and says he’s first in line for the new champ. Works for King.

Brody King vs. Lee Johnson

Johnson jumps him to start but gets chopped down hard on the floor. The bell rings and Johnson gets a foot up, only to be blasted with a lariat. The cannonball and the piledriver finish for King at 52 seconds. Note that Johnson is set for a big match tomorrow on Ring Of Honor. This certainly makes me want to see more of him. They finally hype up a match for Ring Of Honor with some weeks of build and hype: the Swirl vs. Jay Lethal/Bandido. Instead though, here is one half of the Swirl getting squashed in less than a minute. Either make ROH seem important or get rid of it already.

And then the night before on Dynamite, half of the Swirl gets squashed in less than a minute. Because of course he does.

Darby Allin talks about how pain gives him peace. He wants the World Title, but first he needs to beat Pac to end this with the Death Riders.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Josh Alexander vs. Jon Moxley

Non-title contenders match, as Alexander, with his two singles wins in eight and a half months in AEW, gets a chance to earn a title shot. Alexander hammers him in the back to start but Moxley is back up for the exchange of forearms. Moxley pounds him down in the corner before hitting the big big forearm. Back up and Alexander knocks him outside for a crash, with Moxley coming up holding his knee. Some shots in the Tree Of Woe have Moxley in more trouble and we take a break.

We come back with Alexander still working on the knee and they trade their signature holds. Moxley makes the rope rather than tapping to the ankle lock and they go to the apron. Neither can hit a piledriver so they strike it out until Alexander hits a World’s Strongest Slam. Back in and Alexander misses the moonsault so they trade more forearms.

The running cutter gives Moxley two and a hard clothesline turns Alexander inside out. Moxley knocks him outside for a dive, though the knee is banged up again. Alexander wraps the knee around the post and grabs the Hartbreaker. They get back inside with Moxley grabbing the bulldog choke, followed by the elbows to the face and another choke for the pin at 15:33.

Rating: B-. So I guess Moxley is just awesome again. After a few months of having troubles where he kept giving up and going against everything he spoke about, he’s just….back? Like he just woke up one day, decided he was done losing, and is unbeatable again? And we’re supposed to cheer him? Hopefully that isn’t where we’re going (and it very, very well may not be, as it’s still early in the new turn) because that’s a lot to take.

Post match Shelton Benjamin and MVP come out to stare Moxley down and he seems to be fine.

The Triangle Of Madness liked seeing Kris Statlander drop Jamie Hayter on her head. Let them take her place and make it really toxic.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

National Title: Jack Perry vs. Ricochet

Perry, with Luchasaurus (whose shoulder is banged up), is challenging and the Gates Of Agony are here with Ricochet. Perry backs him up against the ropes to start so Ricochet grabs a wristlock. After some glaring between the big guys on the floor, Perry and Ricochet trade some flips until Ricochet is sent outside. Perry’s dive sends him into the barricade but Luchasaurus gets beaten down, allowing Ricochet to hit a dive of his own as we take a break.

We come back with Ricochet rolling some suplexes into a running shooting star press for two. A big running clothesline gives Perry two but the threat of the running knee sends Ricochet out to the apron. Perry follows him to the floor for a sitout bulldog, only to get crotched on top. He’s fine enough to give Ricochet a top rope tornado DDT but the Gates offer a distraction, meaning the Spirit Gun can retain the title at 10:15.

Rating: B-. I still have almost no idea why this title needs to exist but Ricochet cheating like a weasel to win is a fine way to go. It’s nice that they set this up on Saturday and then did the title match here, though there is still only so much to get out of Ricochet having the title. In theory they’ll have something better going forward, but this was about as basic as you can get (which isn’t a terrible thing).

Post match Luchasaurus gets beaten down, which might be a way to write him off to heal up that shoulder.

Jon Moxley, with the Death Riders, are fine with fighting Shelton Benjamin. As for Darby Allin, if he wants to face Pac, he…has to face Wheeler Yuta first.

Willow Nightingale is ready to get her title back.

MJF is ready to make his previous title run look like nothing but Bandido and Brody King interrupt. King says MJF needs to worry about Bandido, rather than Kenny Omega and company.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Willow Nightingale

Nightingale is challenging and gets knocked outside to start fast, with Mone sending her into the barricade. Mone’s running knees only hit the barricade and Nightingale absolutely smashes her with a clothesline back inside. A middle rope dropkick knocks Mone outside again, with the apron cannonball dropping her again. Mone is able to send her into the steps though and the running knees connect as we take a break.

We come back with Nightingale hitting a Death Valley Driver and they’re both down. Nightingale hits a Pounce into another Death Valley Driver for two. The Babe With The Powerbomb gets the same as Mone gets over to the ropes. Nightingale misses a moonsault but she gets her knees up to block a frog splash.

An AA onto the apron drops Mone again but another cannonball misses. Mone can’t get the Three Amigos so Nightingale clears off the announcers’ table, where Mone hits the third suplex. Back in and Mone elbows her into the Statement Maker but Nightingale powers out rather quickly. The Babe With The Powerbomb is blocked so they trade rollups, only for Nightingale to hit the Babe With The Powerbomb for the pin and the title at 15:24.

Rating: B. This was a match where it felt like they were building up to something special and then they paid it off with the big title change. Mone has been losing a lot lately, but at least she finally lost the big title. I’m not sure what is going on with Mone next, but at least Nightingale got her big singles win. Nightingale has been having some success lately and that is great after seeing her come up short so many times. Nice ending here, which is a good way to close out the year.

Various stars, including Kris Statlander, come out to celebrate to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. The ending was more than good enough to make the show a success, though there were a few things that got on my nerves here. That’s the usual for AEW, as they have quite a few good things and some less than appealing ones, though also as usual, the good outweighed the bad. MJF as World Champion again is good, but I’m going to need some more time with the new Moxley. Good show here, with a great finale.

Results
Death Riders b. Orange Cassidy/Toni Storm/Roderick Strong – Swiss Death to Cassidy
Bandido b. The Beast Mortos – 21 Plex
Jon Moxley b. Josh Alexander – Bulldog choke
Ricochet b. Jack Perry – Spirit Gun
Willow Nightingale b. Mercedes Mone – Babe With The Powerbomb

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: December 24, 2025
Location: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Bryan Danielson

It’s Christmas Eve and naturally that means it’s time to do more in the Continental Classic. The next two nights will determine the final four at Worlds End this weekend and that that should make for an interesting double header. Other than that, we need to build towards the rest of the pay per view, which will likely take place this week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Continental Classic Blue League: Orange Cassidy (6 points) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (7 points)

Cassidy rolls him up to start and he spins out of a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt. A crucifix gets a very close two and they go outside, with Takeshita sending him into the barricade. Cassidy comes back with a slingshot DDT into a tornado DDT for two of his own. The lazy kicks have their usual effect, followed by a hands in the pockets middle rope hurricanrana. Takeshita is right back up with a Blue Thunder Bomb and we take a break.

We come back with Cassidy reversing a super Raging Fire into a Stundog Millionaire. Takeshita rolls outside but gets caught with a diving DDT for two back inside. A wheelbarrow suplex drops Cassidy, who comes right back with an Orange Punch. They head to the apron where Cassidy grabs a Beach Break, followed by another Orange Punch into the crowd. Takeshita dives back in and reverses a small package into the Raging Fire for the pin at 15:26.

Rating: B. This was the serious Cassidy (for the most part) and he did well before being taken out in the end. That’s how it should have gone as Takeshita turning on the jets to beat someone like Cassidy makes sense. Takeshita is all but guaranteed (if not entirely guaranteed) a spot in the final four and now we get to see where that goes.

Blue League Standings

Konosuke Takeshita – 10 points (1 match remaining)
Claudio Castagnoli – 7 points (1 match remaining)
Jon Moxley – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Orange Cassidy – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Mascara Dorada – 3 points (2 matches remaining)
Roderick Strong – 0 points (2 matches remaining)

Gabe Kidd wants revenge on Darby Allin, who he has already sent down the steps and lit on fire.

The Bang Bang Gang wants a Chicago street fight with FTR.

Continental Classic Blue League: Roderick Strong (0 points) vs. Mascara Dorada (3 points)

They both go technical to start and fight over wrist control, with Strong bailing over to the ropes. Strong can’t get a cross armbreaker, instead being pulled into a surfboard. They head outside, with Strong dropping him onto the apron as we take a break. We come back with Dorada armdragging him on the floor, followed by a Swanton for two back inside. Strong’s Sick Kick gives him two of his own but Dorada kicks him down. The shooting star press gives Dorada the pin at 9:23.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have as much time as some of the tournament matches have received but it was still a good enough match. Dorada wins to keep himself alive while Strong can only play spoiler. It’s a bit more interesting when you see some of the people eliminated and things tightening up somewhat, which is the point we’ve finally reached.

Blue League Standings

Konosuke Takeshita – 10 points (1 match remaining)
Claudio Castagnoli – 7 points (1 match remaining)
Jon Moxley – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Mascara Dorada – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Orange Cassidy – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Roderick Strong – 0 points (1 matches remaining)

AEW won a bunch of Sports Illustrated awards.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Here are Jamie Hayter and Kris Statlander for a face to face stat. Statlander tells her to let it go with her sob story about having everything taken away from her. Don’t pity her for what she was, but fear her for what she’s become. They’re both ready to win.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Dustin Waller

A running knee, a slap, a lifting DDT and the Salt Of The Earth finish for MJF at 1:12.

Post match MJF gets the mic and the fans greet him with a HAPPY HANUKKAH chant. Cue Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland in the crowd to stare at him though, with Page saying the no physicality thing was left in England. Page tells MJF to cut another 90s style promo insulting them, but Page comes to the ring, where he and Swerve take out the Opps Dojo members.

Samoa Joe pops up on the screen to say he’s coming for all of them one by one and promises to retain the title at Worlds End. Page and Swerve lay MJF out and choke him with a chain, leaving Swerve to say MJF is more of a Diddy than he’ll ever be. Swerve talks about a bunch of the people MJF has used, such as Wardlow, the Pinnacle and Adam Cole. The reality is Swerve always works to make himself better while MJF just uses them. We hit the catchphrase to wrap it up.

The Babes Of Wrath are ready for their upcoming matches and praise each other quite a bit.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Dynamite Diamond: Bandido vs. Ricochet

For the vacant ring (and a World Title shot in January) and neither title is on the line. Feeling out process to start with neither being able to get anywhere so it’s another standoff. Bandido connects with a headscissors into a dropkick but Ricochet manages a toss out to the apron.

Ricochet tries the Macarena but gets slapped in the back of the head, followed by the one armed gorilla press. Bandido throws him outside and we take a break. We come back with Ricochet rolling some suplexes, including one on the apron. Bandido rolls through that for a suplex of his own on the floor and they both get back inside. The referee almost gets crushed in the corner and Ricochet uses the distraction to hit Vertigo for two.

The Spirit Gun is blocked but Ricochet flips out of the 21 Plex. A Styles Clash is loaded up but instead Bandido jumps down into a sitout powerbomb (that was cool) for two more. The X Knee looks to set up the 21 Plex again but cue Kaun to make the save. Ricochet kicks him low and tries the Spirit Gun, which is reversed into a cradle for the pin at 12:27.

Rating: B. I’m a bit surprised Ricochet lost here, though either champion losing a singles match doesn’t feel like a good idea. If nothing else, this should set Bandido up for a National Title shot, which would go nicely with his ring. I still don’t know why this has to remain a thing, but it was nice to see it wrapped up this fast.

Post match Ricochet and the Gates Of Agony go after Bandido, with Brody King running in for the save.

Darby Allin isn’t worried about Gabe Kidd, who shows up and throws him down the steps.

Marina Shafir vs. Mina Shirakawa

Shirakawa fires off the kicks in the corner to start and snaps the leg over the middle rope. A missile dropkick gives Shirakawa two but Shafir counters a kick to the head with a powerbomb. We take a break and come back with Shirakawa hitting a top rope clothesline for two. The Figure Four goes on but Shafir fights out and grabs Mother’s Milk for the rather quick win at 7:20.

Rating: C+. This didn’t have a ton of time with the commercial in the middle taking up so much of the match. At the same time, Shirakawa basically squashed her until Shafir got in a few shots to win with the choke. Maybe this sets up Storm to come after Shafir, but for now it’s rather surprising that Shafir would win while looking fairly week for the most part.

Post match the choke goes on again but Toni Storm runs in for the save…and gets laid out just as fast.

The Young Bucks reveal that they are officially not cleared to return to the ring for the rest of the year. Kenny Omega has something to do while they’re out.

Jon Moxley wants to fight more in the Continental Classic.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Continental Classic Gold League: Pac (6 points) vs. Jack Perry (3 points)

Pac works on the arm to start and they go to the mat, with Perry grabbing a hammerlock. A running hurricanrana sends Pac outside and Perry takes him down with a suicide dive. Back in and a top rope standing elbow gives Perry two and they head back outside. Pac hits a quick suplex of his own, with Perry banging up his ankle and we take a break.

We come back with Pac getting two off a missile dropkick before they slug it out. Perry belly to back suplexes him down but the leg is giving him trouble. A DDT gives Perry two but he charges into a suplex into the corner. Pac belly to belly superplexes him for two so Perry comes back with a poisonrana. One heck of a rebound lariat drops Pac again but Pac pulls him into the Brutalizer. That’s broken up so Pac goes with another hard clothesline into the Brutalizer…which is reversed into a cradle to give Perry the upset pin at 14:26.

Rating: B. Another good one here, with Perry getting a big win and making the Gold League VERY interesting. That’s one of the best things that can happen with this kind of a tournament and I’m curious to see where it goes. Hopefully they have some kind of a clever way out of things, though it’s getting into some uncharted territory. At least Perry is getting something out of the tournament rather than just being a doormat.

Gold League Standings

Kazuchika Okada – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Mike Bailey – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Kyle Fletcher – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Kevin Knight – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Pac – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Jack Perry – 6 points (1 match remaining)

Post match Luchasaurus brings out mile and cookies for Perry. And of course a Santa hat.

Overall Rating: B. The tournament stuff was working well here, though the rest of the show was only so good. The Dynamite Diamond stopped being interesting years ago and hopefully it isn’t anything more than something that we hear about from time to time. I’m almost scared of what is going to happen to a lot of these people when the tournament is over. Hopefully that includes some of these matches being followed up on, which should also be the case with Bandido pinning Ricochet. Either way, good enough show here, even on a fairly busy day.

Results
Konosuke Takeshita b. Orange Cassidy – Raging Fire
Mascara Dorada b. Roderick Strong – Shooting star press
Maxwell Jacob Friedman b. Dustin Waller – Salt Of The Earth
Bandido b. Ricochet – 21 Plex
Marina Shafir b. Mina Shirakawa – Mother’s Milk
Jack Perry b. Pac – Rollup

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

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Collision
Date: December 17, 2025
Location: Co-op Live, Manchester, England
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

It’s the second half (or last third) of the double show on Wednesday. We’re still in England and that means it’s time to have a rather rowdy crowd. There is always the chance that this winds up going well, as there are going to be some Continental Classic matches to help bring the show up. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Jon Moxley says he likes the Continental Classic because it’s all about getting in the ring and seeing who wins. He likes to antagonize people and that’s what happened when he beat Roderick Strong in a tough match on Dynamite. Moxley left it all in the ring.

Continental Classic Blue League: Orange Cassidy (3 points) vs. Mascara Dorada (3 points)

They shake hands to start before going to the mat for the grappling. Dorada sends him bailing over to the ropes and Cassidy seems to know he needs to do something else. An armdrag sends Dorada over to the ropes as well and we take a break. We come back with Dorada flipping away from Cassidy, who is a bit confused.

Cassidy grabs a wristlock and teases walking the ropes but can’t decide which rope to walk. Instead he puts his hand in his pocket and jumps down. The hands in the pockets allow Cassidy to roll away and dropkick Dorada to the floor for a change. Something like an apron 619 staggers Cassidy, followed by the suicide dive.

A running shooting star off the apron hits Cassidy on the floor, followed by a springboard high crossbody for two back inside. A powerslam keeps Cassidy’s back in trouble and his spinning DDT is countered as Dorada extends his hands for a change. Another attempt connects but Dorada is right back with a backbreaker. They trade rollups for two each but the Orange Punch is blocked. Instead, Dorada tries a top rope armdrag, which is reversed into a crucifix to give Cassidy the win at 11:12.

Rating: B-. This was a good way to go, though I was wanting to see Dorada win here after mostly dominating the match. Cassidy couldn’t figure him out for the most part but did wind up winning with a smart rollup in the end. It was far from a bad match but it didn’t quite click as well as I was hoping.

Blue League Standings

Konosuke Takeshita – 7 points (2 matches remaining)
Claudio Castagnoli – 7 points (1 match remaining)
Orange Cassidy – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Jon Moxley – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Mascara Dorada – 3 points (2 matches remaining)
Roderick Strong – 0 points (2 matches remaining)

Post match Cassidy gives Dorada his glasses in a show of respect.

Mercedes Mone and Athena aren’t happy with being asked if their win avenges their loss in the Women’s Tag Team Title tournament. They want a title shot at World’s End and Mone will defend her Rev Pro Women’s Title on Collision. Uh the other Collision.

Jamie Hayter vs. Isla Dawn

They go to the mat for an early standoff until Hayter wins an exchange of strikes. Dawn sends her outside for a baseball slide and we take a break. We come back with stereo crossbodies leaving both of them down. Hayter gets up for a middle rope dropkick but Dawn grabs a snap belly to back suplex for two. A not great looking Haytebreaker sets up the Hayterade for the pin on Dawn at 6:50.

Rating: C+. You can only expect so much when about half of the match was spent in the break but it was nice to see Hayter get a boot on the way to her title match against Kris Statlander. Hayter is starting to get some of her old momentum back and if that can be rebuilt, AEW has quite the star on their hands. Dawn isn’t a big star, but she’s enough of a name that beating her still has some value so having her around in this spot makes sense.

Respect is shown post match but the Triangle Of Madness runs in to jump both of them. Kris Statlander runs in for the save but Hayter accidentally gives her Hayterade to leave her laying.

Tag Team Titles: FTR vs. Bang Ban Gang

FTR, with Stokely Hathaway, is defending. Gunn and Wheeler start things off as the fans get to their singing. They fight over wrist control until Gunn takes over and hands it off to Robinson. A rake to the eye cuts Robinson off but he manages to fight out of the corner. Another cheap shot takes Robinson down but this time Gunn saves him from a double suplex. Wheeler gets catapulted out to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Gunn grabbing a small package but the referee is distracted. Wheeler knocks Gunn down again but dives into some raised boots. The tag brings Robinson back in to clean house, including a double clothesline. A spinebuster gets two on Harwood and his suplex is reversed into a small package for two more. Stokely’s powder doesn’t work and Robinson gets two off a rollup.

The Gang steals the PowerPlex for two on Harwood, with Wheeler’s splash hitting Harwood by mistake. The Fameasser gets two on Harwood but Wheeler sends Gunn crashing over the barricade. Gunn is able to come back and break up the Shatter Machine though and the left hand drops Harwood for two, thanks to a foot on the rope. Back up and FTR crush Robinson’s knee, setting up an Indian Deathlock to retain the titles at 14:31.

Rating: B. I liked the match but there was pretty much no reason to think that the titles were changing hands to the leftover pieces of the Gang. It was a match that was built up and that did it a lot of good, as the work had been put in to make it better. I’m not sure who is next for FTR, but the division needs some new teams to come after the belts.

Overall Rating: B-. This show felt pretty short and it was a bit under an hour due to Dynamite going long. It helps that two of the three matches felt important in one way or another and that made for a pretty easy show to watch. It’s not some kind of great show, but for something that came and went so fast, it could have been far worse.

Results
Orange Cassidy b. Mascara Dorada – Crucifix
Jamie Hayter b. Isla Dawn – Hayterade
FTR b. Bang Bang Gang – Indian Deathlock to Gunn

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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Dark
Date: December 16, 2025
Location: Utilita Arena, Cardiff, Wales
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz

So AEW was in Wales last week and since we’re getting an hour less of Collision this week and since AEW has to film EVERYTHING rather than having actual dark matches, Dark is back for one week. It’s a short form show as opposed to the former two hour marathons this series would have, which does sound appealing. Let’s get to it.

Isla Dawn vs. Marina Shafir

Shafir backs her into the corner to start and grabs a double knuckle lock to take Dawn down with ease. A cartwheel sets up a kick to the back has Dawn in trouble but she fights back with some forearms. This leads to the always good sign of Shafir telling Dawn to kick her in the head, with Shafir beating her down rather quickly. A hurricanrana driver sends Dawn into the apron as the dominance is on. Back in and a short arm clothesline sets up Mother’s Milk to finish Dawn at 5:51.

Rating: C. Dawn was there for the sake of having a wrestler from the UK involved and that’s not exactly a surprise. She’s a bit of a name from her time in WWE but it isn’t like she has been anything but a person in AEW. Shafir pretty much dismantled her here and that’s about all it needed to be.

Mark Andrews/Kid Lykos I/Kid Lykos II vs. Orange Cassidy/Mascara Dorada/Roderick Strong

Dorada flips away from Andrews to start and armdrags both Lykoses down. Cassidy comes in and gets enziguried, setting off some triple teaming. Andrews and II hit Lionsaults onto the floor but Dorada is back with a Code Red. Cassidy gets the tag and puts his hands in his pockets for some dropkicks. The Stundog Millionaire hits I and a less than enthusiastic Strong comes in. Everything breaks down and End Of Heartache ends II at 4:16.

Rating: C+. They got in some fast paced offense here and the fans seemed to approve. I’m not sure how wise it is to have a popular Welsh wrestler lose in a match like this, especially to a popular team from AEW, but in theory the chance to see Cassidy and Dorada in person makes it better. It was fun while it lasted and I’ll take that.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Death Riders vs. Grizzled Young Veterans/Nathan Cruz

The Riders jump them to start fast but Drake is back up with a spinwheel kick to Yuta. Cruz comes in to faceplant Pac and the Veterans hit a pair of suicide dives to the floor. Back in and Pac takes over on Cruz in the corner, including some casual choking. Moxley drapes him over the top for a double stomp from Yuta, who grabs a front facelock.

Cruz enziguris his way to freedom and brings in Gibson to make the comeback. A dropkick/Michinoku driver combination gets two on Yuta but Pac slips out of a Doomsday Device. Moxley is back in with a cutter but walks into a middle rope Codebreaker. Everything breaks down and Moxley kicks out of Cruz’s Samoan driver before Cruz gets sent into the corner. The rapid fire clotheslines set up the Brutalizer for the tap at 8:34.

Rating: C+. For a match where there was no reason to believe the Riders were in any danger, this could have been worse. Cruz has done well in his few appearances and the Veterans are a nice pair of hands who never win anything. Moxley is a main event star, Pac is a UK star and Yuta is apparently contractually obligated to be on every Tony Khan produced show ever, so the pieces made logical sense.

Overall Rating: C+. While I’m not clear on why actual dark matches were out of the question, this could have been a lot worse. That being said, the show is less than thirty two minutes long and that makes it pretty hard to be annoyed about. The wrestling was fine and no one was out there too long so this could have been a lot worse. Just don’t make it a regular thing, because Tony Khan really does need another plate to spin.

Results
Marina Shafir b. Isla Dawn – Mother’s Milk
Orange Cassidy/Mascara Dorada/Roderick Strong b. Mark Andrews/Kid Lykos I/Kid Lykos II – End Of Heartache to II
Death Riders b. Grizzled Young Veterans/Nathan Cruz – Brutalizer to Cruz

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

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Collision
Date: December 6, 2025
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Ian Riccaboni

It’s still Continental Classic season and that means we’ll still be seeing some rather quality matches. We’re still pretty early in the tournaments and it can be interesting to see who goes where. In addition, Ricochet is ready to defend the National Title, which could make for something fun. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Continental Classic Blue League: Orange Cassidy (0 points) vs Roderick Strong (0 points)

Strong wins an early grapple off to start but Cassidy grabs the foot to slow him down. Cassidy can’t do much from there but eventually manages a headlock to grind Strong down. A spinning backbreaker can’t get Strong out of trouble as Cassidy stays on the headlock. They head outside with Strong hitting another backbreaker to really take over, followed by another back inside.

We take a break and come back with Cassidy hitting a spinning DDT. Cassidy makes what counts as a fired up comeback and sends Strong outside for the rams into the buckles. A high crossbody is countered into a powerslam to give Strong two and Cassidy is back with a slingshot tornado DDT. Another tornado DDT gives Cassidy two but Strong gives him another backbreaker. Cassidy’s rollup gets two and he manages the Stundog Millionaire. Strong tries another backbreaker but Cassidy slips out and cradles him for the pin at 13:24.

Rating: B. They had a hard fought match here and that’s what you want to see in something like this. Cassidy gets the win to get on the board, which isn’t overly surprising as Strong isn’t someone who gets a big push in this kind of a tournament most of the time. Good opener here, which is always nice to see.

Blue League Standings

Claudio Castagnoli – 6 points (3 matches remaining)
Konosuke Takeshita – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Orange Cassidy – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Jon Moxley – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mascara Dorada – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Roderick Strong – 0 points (3 matches remaining)

Post match, Strong storms off.

Darby Allin is officially out of the tournament due to injuries and Jack Perry is taking his place.

Allin talks about how the Death Riders are winning the war because they’re out here doing pushups. He was wrestling Kevin Knight and he couldn’t feel his legs. It was the first time he was ever scared and while he’s never seen eye to eye with Perry, go win the whole thing. He’s not sure about his own future though.

Here is FTR, with Stokely Hathaway, for a chat. Hathaway is happy with his win but he has to address what happened this week on Dynamite. The fans boo him out of the building over and over, but Hathaway makes it clear: they want the Bang Bang Gang right now. Wheeler says that the Gang will always be Billy’s boy and Mr. Toni Storm (Robinson’s “is that a bad thing?” look is great).

Harwood brags about FTR’s all time success and they’re willing to let Robinson touch the belt because he’s a man of his word. Gunn says he’s the son of a Hall Of Famer. Robinson is the son of a carpenter, Wheeler is the son of his first cousin, and Harwood is just a son of a b****. Gunn brings up beating FTR recently and now they want a title match. Apparently the match is officially set for the United Kingdom next week, with the Gang promising to TOUCH the belts.

The Death Riders are ready to destroy Mark Briscoe and take the TNT Title.

Continental Classic Blue League: Claudio Castagnoli (6 points) vs. Mascara Dorada (0 points)

They fight over a lockup to start and neither can get very far. Dorada handles his own in a wrestle off until Castagnoli gives him a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. Back up and Dorada flips around a lot until Castagnoli is sent outside. Castagnoli cuts off a dive with an uppercut and Dorada is dropped onto the barricade as we take a break.

We come back with Castagnoli going for the mast but the Swing is escaped rather quickly. Castagnoli gets caught with a quick headscissors and Dorada sends him outside rather quickly. A top rope armdrag sends Castagnoli down again so a rollup can get two back inside. Castagnoli’s tilt-a-whirl cuts Dorada off as we’re halfway through the time limit. A rather spinning headscissors brings Castagnoli down but he’s right back up to try a superplex. That’s broken up as well and Dorada’s shooting star press is good for the pin at 12:00.

Rating: B-. I’m a bit surprised by the result here but it’s good to see Dorada get a win. He’s shown that he can hang in the ring with just about anyone but at some point that has to translate into some wins. It doesn’t matter as much in the tournament, though it’s certainly better than nothing. Castagnoli was never going to run the table in this thing anyway, so getting the loss out of the way is fine.

Blue League Standings

Claudio Castagnoli – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Konosuke Takeshita – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Orange Cassidy – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mascara Dorada – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Jon Moxley – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Roderick Strong – 0 points (3 matches remaining)

Earlier today, the Timeless Love Bombs and the Babes Of Wrath sat down for champagne. Storm talked about how she and Shirakawa love each other no matter what and she’s beaten both Babes. Cameron says the Babes have wrath but Shirakawa says they’re here for the titles. A toast is had.

Here is Swerve Strickland for a chat. Swerve talks about how he’s freshly back from three months out due to injury. When he was champion, he made it clear that he was going to bring everything and that brings him to Samoa Joe. Swerve beat him the last time they fought and now he has to go through a bunch of people to get to the Opps. It doesn’t matter though as Joe will fall.

That brings him to Hangman Page, and Swerve is willing to have his back for one night at Winter Is Coming. Cue Josh Alexander of all people to say this is Don Callis’ house. Why isn’t Swerve looking for revenge on the people who hurt him? Alexander thinks he should get the title shot so a match is set for Winter Is Coming….and Katsuyori Shibata sneaks in to chop block Swerve’s recently repaired knee.

Mercedes Mone does NOT want to talk about last night’s loss at Final Battle and now it’s time for some revenge.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Leila Grey

Grey is challenging and has Christopher Daniels with her. Mone jumps her to start fast and sends Grey outside, with a Meteora off the apron hitting Daniels. Back in and Grey slugs away but gets sent face first into the buckle. Grey’s bulldog out of the corner is blocked and we take a break. We come back with Grey hitting a running knee in the corner but Mone pulls her into the Statement Maker for the tap at 5:49. Not enough shown to rate but they didn’t waste time with Mone getting back to winning.

Post match the hold stays on until Daniels breaks it up, earning himself a low blow.

Eddie Kingston talks about how he’s been doing this for twenty five years and he doesn’t like Samoa Joe taking wrestlers down the wrong path. That all starts with the World Champion and Kingston wants it to change for the good. He’s not just doing this for the title but to show people how to do it the right way, as AEW was supposed to be.

The Triangle Of Madness have jumped a bunch of women. They’ll be in Cardiff.

National Title: Ricochet vs. Ace Austin

Ricochet, with the Gates Of Agony, is defending. Austin’s headlock doesn’t last long to start so he tries it again, which is broken up just as well. Ricochet is sent outside before getting la majistraled for two back inside. That’s enough for Ricochet to grab the bell hammer but the Gates trip Austin down so Ricochet can take over.

We take a break and come back with Ricochet missing a running dropkick in the corner, allowing Austin to drop a leg. After avoiding a Gates distraction, Austin hits a springboard clothesline into a doctor bomb. Ricochet is back with a dropkick into a standing shooting star press for two. The Spirit Gun misses though and Austin grabs a small package for two. A superplex into a running stomp gives Austin two more but he almost runs into the referee. Ricochet hits a quick clothesline into Vertigo to retain at 10:04.

Rating: B-. They only had so much time here given the commercial but Austin was able to showcase himself a bit. At the same time though, it’s still freshly into Ricochet’s title reign and the fans dislike him enough that he should hold onto the belt for a good while. Nice enough match here and a good way to feature both of them.

Post match FTR runs in to beat down Austin with the Bang Bang Gang making the save. The Gang holds up the titles, meaning they have to touch them, as FTR demanded never happen again.

Continental Classic Blue League: Jon Moxley (0 points) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (3 points)

Non-title. Feeling out process to start and they go to the mat with Moxley’s headlock not lasting long. Takeshita reverses into a leglock before they trade shoulders. A running elbow takes Moxley down and he seems to be favoring his recently injured ankle. Said ankle is rammed into the barricade and it’s a dragon screw ankle whip back inside.

We take a break and come back with Takeshita staying on the leg in the corner but Moxley goes after Takeshita’s ankle. A stomp on the apron rocks Takeshita and a double clothesline leaves both of them down. They trade forearms until Moxley’s running clothesline drops Takeshita hard. Moxley’s ankle lock sends Takeshita over to the ropes and he knocks Moxley outside. Takeshita can’t get a running start due to his ankle but a second attempt sets up a big running flip dive.

The Blue Thunder Bomb sends Moxley through the announcers’ table and he has to dive to beat the count. Unfortunately he dives right into a frog splash from Takeshita for another near fall but Moxley is back with a cutter. A double middle finger sets up the Paradigm Shift but Takeshita gets a foot on the rope. Moxley charges into a knee for two and a running knee into Raging Fire gives Takeshita the pin at 17:48.

Rating: A-. Well dang that worked. This started slowly and then turned into a heck of a fight, though I’m almost scared as it felt like they were teasing a Moxley face turn out of this whole thing. I get why that would be the case but the idea of this version of Moxley as a hero is disturbing. Otherwise, Takeshita’s incredible run continues, as he can basically do no wrong at this point.

Blue League Standings

Claudio Castagnoli – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Konosuke Takeshita – 6 points (3 matches remaining)
Orange Cassidy – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mascara Dorada – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Jon Moxley – 3 points (2 matches remaining)
Roderick Strong – 0 points (3 matches remaining)

Overall Rating: B+. Rather solid show here as the Continental Classic continues to deliver. This was about a bunch of people having solid matches, plus Mone running through Grey. It’s still relatively early in the tournament so this can keep going for a bit, though that main event is going to be hard to top. Solid show here, as it mainly focused on one thing, which is often where Collision works best.

Results
Orange Cassidy b. Roderick Strong – Rollup
Mascara Dorada b. Claudio Castagnoli – Shooting star press
Mercedes Mone b. Leila Grey – Statement Maker
Ricochet b. Ace Austin – Vertigo
Konosuke Takeshita b. Jon Moxley – 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:

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Dynamite
Date: December 3, 2025
Location: Fishers Events Center, Fishers, Indiana
Commentators: Excalibur, Bryan Danielson, Tony Schiavone

We’re getting closer to Worlds End and that means it’s time to continue the Continental Classic. While I won’t even bother trying to get my head around the title situation, I can certainly enjoy the matches that come with the tournament. Hopefully it lives up to the hype so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring to start and brings out World Champion Samoa Joe and next week’s challenger, Eddie Kingston. Joe tells Schiavone to get out and then insults the crowd, saying he’s not looking nice out here because….well because it’s Indianapolis. With that out of the way, he explains that Hook is where he is because he has had the right training. Joe wanted Hook to see what it was like to be around the low level stars and that’s why he picked Kingston.

Next week, Kingston will fight for everything he has but just like every other time, he won’t cross the finish line. Kingston talks about how Hook learned to never quit and yeah he yells a lot, but he gets stuff done. He accuses Joe of being the kinds of people who got in heads and messed with people. That’s who Joe used to hate but now he’s one of them. It better be old school Joe, or Kingston will eat him alive on the tenth (imagine that: saying the date of a big match!). Kingston was bringing the intensity here and that’s been missing since he came back.

The Opps are ready to fight tonight and they’re going to beat up….the Dark Order. Of course.

Continental Classic Gold League: Pac (3 points) vs. Kazuchika Okada (0 points)

Okada works on the arm to start and they forearm it out with Pac getting the better of things. Pac hits a nice missile dropkick and Okada needs a breather on the floor. Okada gets the better of things outside but Pac kicks him down back inside. We take a break and come back with Pac missing a dropkick, allowing Okada to hit a dropkick of his own. A DDT gives Okada two and the top rope elbow lets Okada flip off the crowd.

The Rainmaker is blocked though and Pac grabs a slingshot cutter. Okada shrugs that off and hits the dropkick but the Rainmaker is cut off again. The German suplex out of the corner drops Okada and a bridging version gives Pac two. Okada is back up with a Tombstone and goes to the top, where Pac superplexes him down. The Brutalizer is loaded up but Okada reverses into a cradle for the pin at 13:30.

Rating: B. They were laying it in out there and that made for a good opener, with Okada getting on the board in the tournament. Pac is someone who can be put out there and feel like a threat no matter who he’s facing. That’s a good combination and it made for a solid match here, which could have gone on even longer.

Gold League Standings

Kyle Fletcher – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Kevin Knight – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Kazuchika Okada – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Pac – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mike Bailey – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Darby Allin – 0 points (4 matches remaining)

Mark Briscoe is ready to face Daniel Garcia again for the TNT Title. He doesn’t think as much of Garcia this time, but he knows the talent is there.

Earlier today, Ricochet, with the Gates Of Agony, promised to beat Dalton Castle at Final Battle and he’ll even have another title defense on Collision.

Mark Briscoe is ready for Orange Cassidy vs. Roderick Strong in the Continental Classic, but Strong insists he is NOT in the Conglomeration and promises to break Cassidy’s back.

Darby Allin is injured and cannot travel, let alone wrestle. Well that’s not promising.

Continental Classic Gold League: Kyle Fletcher vs. Kevin Knight

Knight backs him up against the ropes to start and gives Fletcher a pat on the chest. They go to the mat with Fletcher throwing him down and getting in a kick to the face. Back up and Knight snaps off some armdrags and the threat of a dropkick sends Fletcher bailing to the floor. Fletcher manages to kick him out to the floor but Knight hits a springboard lariat (that looked good) as we take a break.

We take a break and come back with Knight hitting a great dropkick for two. Fletcher sends him into the ropes but Knight scores with another springboard clothesline for two more. A running DDT plants Fletcher on the apron but Knight gets crotched on top. Knight is able to tie him in the Tree Of Woe for the Coast To Coast but the UFO Splash hits raised knees. A sitout powerbomb gives Fletcher two more and he cuts Knight off with a superkick. The Helluva Kick into the brainbuster finishes Knight at 13:09.

Rating: B+. Maybe it’s being a sucker for a top rope clothesline but I had a good time with this and Knight came off looking like a serious threat to someone like Fletcher. The good thing is that a loss only does so much damage to Knight and he was always going to be an underdog here anyway. Solid stuff here as Knight is becoming more and more of a star every time.

Gold League Standings

Kyle Fletcher – 6 points (3 matches remaining)
Kevin Knight – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Kazuchika Okada – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Pac – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mike Bailey – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Darby Allin – 0 points (4 matches remaining)

Post match Don Callis gets in the ring for a chat and here are Josh Alexander and Hechicero, each carrying a bag of money. After a break, Callis calls out the Young Bucks for doing the unforgivable by signing with Kenny Omega. Callis tells the Bucks to come get their money so here they come, only to get beaten down. The Jurassic Express comes in but so do more members of the Family, with the villains taking over. Kenny Omega makes the real save and the Family escapes with the money.

Video on the Babes Of Wrath.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament Semifinals: Megan Bayne/Marina Shafir vs. Timeless Love Bombs

Death match so it’s a brawl to start fast, with the Bombs actually taking over. The Bombs bust out some hard candy canes (Schiavone thinks it might be different than usual candy canes) to take over and Shirakawa is dropped onto Bayne. Shafir is back up with a headscissor driver to send Storm into the apron and Shirakawa is thrown onto Storm as we take a break.

We come back with the villains still in control and unloading with various weapons. Shirakawa dropkicks a chair into Bayne’s face though and Storm Zero sends Bayne from the apron through a table. Mother’s Milk is broken up and Shirakawa knocks Shafir outside, setting up the big dive.

A top rope sling blade onto a chair gives Shirakawa two, with Bayne driving Storm into the cover to break it up. Bayne spears Shirakawa HARD into a table in the corner but Storm Zero sends Bayne’s head into Shafir’s ribs. Cue Santa Claus with a present for Shafir…and it’s Luther, with a middle finger in the present. Storm gets in a shoe to Shafir’s head for the pin at 11:07.

Rating: B-. Good fight here, but certainly nothing that we haven’t seen done a bunch of times before. The stuff with Luther at the end felt stupid as Storm should be able to beat Shafir without help, but I guess they wanted to protect the villains a bit more. Either way, Storm and Shirakawa are a nice choice for the finals and the match certainly wasn’t dull.

The Triangle Of Madness are sick of Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter. The latter want a tag match…and Hayter wants to talk about the Women’s Title after.

The Dark Order is excited about being in action but tell Hangman Page not to ruin this. Page says he won’t, but he’ll be there as soon as the match is over.

Mercedes Mone doesn’t want to hear about Full Gear and brags about her various successes. She’s ready to beat Red Velvet again and she’ll even be on this week’s Ring Of Honor. How nice of her.

We look at FTR getting challenged by the Bang Bang Gang.

Stokely Hathaway finds it pathetic that the Bang Bang Gang wants the titles for their injured friends. FTR mocks every member and dare the Gang to touch their titles again.

Opps vs. Dark Order

Non-title. The Opps jump them from behind before the bell and keep up the beating as we officially start. Reynolds is dropped onto the apron and we take an early break. We come back with Uno fighting back, including a double DDT. Hobbs is back in though and the World’s Strongest Slam gets two. The spinebuster finishes Uno at 6:10. Not enough shown to rate but it was basically a squash, as it should have been.

Post match Hangman Page comes in and manages to clean house, but security cuts off the Buckshot Lariat to Hobbs.

Don Callis thinks the Family will win the Continental Classic. He tries to explain the Unified Title but he’s not putting the other legs of the title up because it would be stupid.

Hangman Page calls out the Opps for next week and says he won’t be coming alone.

Continental Classic Blue League: Jon Moxley vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Marina Shafir goes for a test of strength as Castagnoli wins a test of strength to start (shocking I know). Moxley goes for the fingers but gets taken down with a backbreaker as we take a break. We come back with Moxley busted open (ah, an old classic) and Castagnoli grabbing the Swing. The Sharpshooter has Moxley in more trouble and Castagnoli switches it into a crossface.

That’s broken up and they slug it out with Moxley knocking him outside. Moxley’s suicide dive sends Castagnoli into the announcers’ table but Castagnoli blasts him with a clothesline back inside. Moxley hits a heck of a clothesline of his own and a Stomp gets two. Castagnoli powers him out to the floor and hits a running double stomp as Moxley is sitting in a chair. Back in and a powerbomb gives Castagnoli two but Moxley grabs a Paradigm Shift. They pull themselves up and Castagnoli hits a running uppercut for the clean pin at 15:05.

Rating: B. The fall of Moxley continues, though sweet goodness they’re taking their time getting there. I do like Castagnoli getting a run in the tournament, though it’s hard to imagine he actually wins the thing or really comes close. At least Moxley is losing for a change and not looking like the most awesome toughest guy ever and it does give Castagnoli a big win of his own.

Blue League Standings

Claudio Castagnoli – 6 points (3 matches remaining)
Konosuke Takeshita – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Jon Moxley – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Roderick Strong – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Mascara Dorada – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Orange Cassidy – 0 points (4 matches remaining)

Overall Rating: B+. As usual, the Continental Classic shows offer some of the most consistent in-ring action that AEW can offer. They might not be much in the way of storyline advancement, but they are quite entertaining while they last. I liked the show again, which isn’t a big surprise, and now we get to see where things go for a bunch of people, including the Death Riders, who are having a rough time.

Results
Kazuchika Okada b. Pac – Cradle
Kyle Fletcher b. Kevin Knight – Brainbuster
Timeless Love Bombs b. Megan Bayne/Marina Shafir – Shoe to the head
Opps b. Dark Order – Spinebuster to Uno
Claudio Castagnoli b. Jon Moxley – Running uppercut

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