Dynamite
Date: December 10, 2025
Location: Gateway Center Arena At College Park, College Park, Georgia
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Bryan Danielson

It’s Winter Is Coming and we have a few title matches. First of all, the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Titles will be decided as the Babes Of Wrath face the Timeless Love Bombs. Other than that, Samoa Joe is defending the World Title against Eddie Kingston in a match where the talking might be the best part. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Timeless Love Bombs vs. Babes Of Wrath

For the inaugural titles. Shirakawa takes her down to start and does her dance, only for Cameron to shove Shirakawa’s face into her chest. Nightingale comes in to shoulder Storm down, setting up the exchange of forearms. Everything breaks down and Cameron kicks the Bombs out to the floor for a crash. Back in and Cameron gets dropped onto Storm for two and it’s off to Shirakawa.

Cameron belly to back suplexes her as well and hands it off to Nightingale for the rapid forearms. Storm gets Pounced out to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Shirakawa DDTing Nightingale and handing it back to Storm for the Mongolian chops. Shirakawa comes back in to wrench Cameron’s knee and DDT Nightingale at the same time. Nightingale takes Storm down for a leglock of her own while Shirakawa grabs a Figure Four on Cameron.

Both of those are broken up and they strike it out for a double down. Shirakawa’s top rope Sling Blade to Cameron sets up Storm Zero for two but Nightingale makes the save. Nightingale suplexes Storm on the floor but Cameron reverses the Glamorous Driver into That’s Her Finisher. The Babe With The Powerbomb finishes Shirakawa for the titles at 13:55.

Rating: B. I like the result as Cameron and Nightingale are the popular team and have good chemistry together. It felt like a bit of a surprise result but not an all time shocker, which fits that much better. Cameron has come so, so far in her still relatively short career and it’s great to see her pick up some gold.

Post match the Babes are so proud of each other and the Bombs get up for some respect.

Samoa Joe, with the Opps, is ready to take out Eddie Kingston tonight.

Jon Moxley knows his back is against the wall in the Continental Classic but he’s ready to do anything to win. Daniel Garcia knows that they’re willing to fight harder than anyone else, which is why they’re great.

Continental Classic Gold League: Jack Perry (3 points) vs. Kazuchika Okada (3 points)

Perry is taking Darby Allin’s place due to injury and inherits his standing, including the points, in the tournament. Perry charges at him to start and fires off some shoulders in the corner. They fight around ringside and Perry takes him inside for an elbow. Some right hands in the corner have Okada in more trouble but he shoves Perry off the top for a crash onto a camera man. Perry is sent over the barricade and a hanging DDT drops him onto the floor as we take a break.

We come back with the exchange of forearms until Perry hits a rebound clothesline. Perry flips over him in the corner (didn’t quite stick the landing) and grabs a German suplex for two. Okada knocks him down again though and hits the top rope elbow, followed by the perfect dropkick.

Perry’s poisonrana into a running knee gets two but Okada bites the hand to escape the Snare Trap. Okada loads up a tombstone…and Perry bites his crotch to pull him into the Snare Trap. That’s escaped, with Okada bailing to the floor to deal with the aftermath of the bite. Back in and Okada avoids another running knee, setting up the Rainmaker for the pin at 12:11.

Rating: B. Another hard hitting match here with Okada getting the win, which makes the most sense. Perry being thrown into the tournament as an injury replacement doesn’t mean he’s suddenly on Okada’s level so having Perry as a near guaranteed win for a few opponents is about all you should expect from him. At least it came after a good match.

Gold League Standings

Kyle Fletcher – 6 points (3 matches remaining)
Kazuchika Okada – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Kevin Knight – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Pac – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mike Bailey – 0 points (4 matches remaining)
Jack Perry – 0 points (3 matches remaining)

Post match the Don Callis Family comes out and Perry gets up. Don Callis himself offers Perry a spot on the team and a signing bonus, as paid out of the Young Bucks’ money. Callis threatens him with violence but Perry says for the second time tonight, he’s biting off more than he can chew. Perry goes after him but Luchasaurus and the Young Bucks run in for the save. Callis hands the Bucks the money and runs, leaving the money behind as the Bucks superkick various Family members.

The Conglomeration celebrates the Babes Of Wrath’s title win, though Roderick Strong looks miserable.

We look at Mercedes Mone’s losing streak.

Eddie Kingston is nervous watching and realizes it’s the anniversary of Terry Funk winning the World Title. He knows Funk, and his own parents, are watching and he doesn’t want to get emotional. He’ll bring the fight to Samoa Joe.

Here is Mark Briscoe for a chat. Briscoe talks about how there are people who didn’t think he could win the big one and they can kiss his big white a**. It’s one thing to win a title but it’s another to defend the title, which he’ll be doing on Collision. Cue Wheeler Yuta and the Death Riders in the crowd to say Briscoe has more children than teeth. Daniel Garcia (challenging Briscoe on Saturday) to say he’s going to win the title and break Briscoe’s leg. The fight is nearly on but Garcia is held back by the rest of the team.

The Triangle Of Madness jumps various women but Kris Statlander makes the save.

Hangman Page/Swerve Strickland vs. Opps

Tornado tag. Page and Swerve come through the crowd with a chain and staple gun to beat up the Opps Dojo. The regular Opps come up into the crowd for the fight and they head into the concourse before the opening bell. Page puts Hobbs through a table and stops for a beer as Shibata kicks Swerve in the face.

We take a break before the match has officially started and come back with Page bringing a chair in for the opening bell. The referee takes the chair away and Shibata drops Page with a suplex. Shibata’s running dropkick connects in the corner and Hobbs adds a powerslam as Swerve is still down in the crowd. Hobbs goes after Prince Nana but Swerve is back to make a save.

Swerve hits a middle rope elbow to Shibata’s back but he avoids the Buckshot Lariat. A low blow drops Page, only for Shibata’s armbar to be broken up by Swerve’s top rope double stomp. Hobbs runs Shibata over by mistake and the 450 crushes him as well. A double powerbomb sends Hobbs through a table at ringside and the Buckshot Lariat into the House Call finishes Shibata at 7:16.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure why this needed to be a tornado tag but that’s a minor issue. This was all about Swerve and Page teaming together and it gives them a chance to do it again on a bigger stage. Beating the Opps makes sense for them and now we get to move on to whatever is next for both of them, which could be either together or on their own.

Don Callis wants the Young Bucks to find a partner and fight them next week for the million dollars.

FTR doesn’t like the Bang Bang Gang having delusions of grandeur because they’re addicted to the camera. They can have their Tag Team Title match and then after the loss, it’s time to go to the back of the line.

Continental Classic Gold League: Mike Bailey (0 points) vs. Kyle Fletcher (6 points)

They trade knockdowns and rollups for two each to start and Fletcher bails outside, with the fans approving. Back in and Fletcher stomps him down but Bailey snaps up with a heck of a springboard hurricanrana. That sends Fletcher outside so Bailey gives him another hurricanrana but Fletcher is back in with a spinning backbreaker.

Bailey dropkicks him down and hits a springboard corkscrew dive to the floor. That doesn’t work for Fletcher, who hits a heck of a superkick and slams him hard onto barricade. We take a break and come back with Bailey dropping him on the apron and snapping off the moonsault knees. Back in and the Flamingo Driver is broken up and the shooting star press hits raised feet.

Fletcher’s sitout Last Ride gets two but Bailey manages a running Spanish Fly. A quick hurricanrana gives Bailey two and he kicks Fletcher in the head for two more. The tornado kick gives Bailey a rather near fall and the Ultimate Weapon gets two more. Bailey misses the knees to the floor though and an apron powerbomb sets up the brainbuster….for two. They strike it out until Bailey traps the arms and grabs a sunset flip for the pin at 19:10.

Rating: A-. This was an awesomely entertaining match, which is what you need to see in this kind of a tournament. Bailey is someone who is the definition of junk food wrestling, as it might not be good but it can certainly be exciting. At the same time, I’m not sure if I would have Fletcher lose like this, but DANG this was a blast and that’s what they were shooting for here.

Gold League Standings

Kyle Fletcher – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Kazuchika Okada – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Kevin Knight – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Pac – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mike Bailey – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Jack Perry – 0 points (3 matches remaining)

Hangman Page wants the World Title back and is coming for it at World’s End.

The Young Bucks ask Luchasaurus to be their partner but he’s not interested. Instead they go to Kenny Omega and he’ll do it for free.

AEW World Title: Eddie Kingston vs. Samoa Joe

Joe, with Hook, is defending. They circle each other to start until Hook grabs a foot, which is enough to get an early ejection. Joe takes him down and starts striking away but some knees to the face wake Kingston up. Kingston grabs a running bulldog and we take a break. We come back with Kingston kicking away and asking Joe to do the same. Joe strikes him down and hits the enziguri in the corner, which might break Kingston’s nose.

Kingston gets up to exchange strikes until Joe’s scoop powerslam gets two. Joe knees away so Kingston fires off the chops and grabs an exploder for two of his own. Another knockdown lets Joe grab an STF, only for Kingston to bite the finger. The DDT drops Joe, who rolls to the floor, followed by a cutter back inside. The spinning backfist misses though and Joe Koquina Clutches him for the tap at 12:18.

Rating: B. This was the definition of “as advertised”, as these two beat the fire out of each other. Joe and Kingston are bigger guys who can hit each other rather hard, which is exactly what we got here. Kingston losing isn’t a surprise, though seeing him actually tap is a bit out of left field. Good match here though, with Joe getting Kingston out of the way before moving on to his next big opponent.

Overall Rating: A. Well dang that was great. You had nothing but solid to great matches all night and the title win at the beginning was awesome as well. This show flew by and never came close to dipping, which is about as much as I can ask for in a television show. Outstanding show here and something that felt like it would have fit back in the older days of AEW.

Results
Babes Of Wrath b. Timeless Love Bombs – Babe With The Powerbomb to Shirakawa
Kazuchika Okada b. Jack Perry – Rainmaker
Hangman Page/Swerve Strickland b. Opps – House Call to Shibata
Mike Bailey b. Kyle Fletcher – Sunset flip
Samoa Joe b. Eddie Kingston – Koquina Clutch

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

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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Full Gear 2025
Date: November 22, 2025
Location: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Bryan Danielson, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back on pay per view with a rare rematch in the main event. In this case that would be Hangman Page defending the World Title against Samoa Joe, this time inside of a cage. Other than that, we have the return of the Casino Gauntlet match to crown the inaugural National Champion. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Bang Bang Gang vs. Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Outrunners vs. Max Caster/Anthony Bowens

For $200,000 and Dalton Castle is on commentary. Gunn punches Bowens to start and the big shot to the head drops Bowens in a hurry. Back up and Bowens hits an atomic drop, prompting Caster to do the clapping. Bowens yells at him, saying he has this so Caster tags himself in. Robinson comes in to take over on Caster but Magnum tags himself in to dropkick Caster.

It’s off to Bill for the big boot to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Floyd coming in to clean house, including the Mega Powers elbow on Keith. The Unacclaimed break that up but Scissor Me Timbers is cut off. The Arrival into the Mic Drop has Keith in trouble and Caster wants to scissor. Bowens isn’t sure but Bill interrupts anyway. Bowens strikes him down but Robinson steals the rollup pin on Bowens at 7:27.

Rating: C+. Not a bad all over the place match here and I’ll take that over the Unacclaimed winning and being all annoying with the WE DON’T LIKE EACH OTHER deal. The Gang has been needing a win of some sort and this is as good as anything they’re going to do at the moment. Just let Robinson talk some more and they should be fine.

Kickoff Show: RPG Vice vs. Big Boom AJ/QT Marshall

Paul Wight and Don Callis are on commentary. Vice is beaten up to start and AJ powerslams Romero. Beretta gets punched off the apron and they all brawl to the floor as we take a break. We come back with Marshall fighting out of a chinlock but getting sent outside. The Rizzler checks on Marshall but Romero shoves Big Justice (AJ’s son) down, which draws Wight over to scare them away.

Back in and the tag brings in AJ to clean house, including some powerslams. A gorilla press and full nelson slam give AJ two with Romero making the save. AJ loads up the Powerboom but Callis offers a distraction. Beretta gets in a cast shot and the running knee connects for two. Strong Zero gets two on AJ with Marshall making the save from the top. Romero grabs the cast but Justice comes in with a Diamond Cutter. Beretta goes after Justice and gets punched by Wight, setting up a Powerboom/Blockbuster combination to finish Beretta at 9:14.

Rating: C. The match was fine and while I’m not a fan of the Costco Guys, they seemingly have an audience and there’s no harm in having them in a less than serious Kickoff Show match. It’s not like RPG Vice is doing anything important right now anyway. You can pretty safely call this “harmless” and that’s an acceptable use of time on this show.

Kickoff Show: Hook/Eddie Kingston vs. Workhorsemen

The Workhorsemen jump them on the floor to start and it’s Hook in trouble in the corner to start. Drake chops him up against the ropes but Hook suplexes his way to freedom. It’s off to Kingston (in street clothes) for a DDT and the pin at 1:52. I’m going to assume this was shortened due to time and hopefully not due to Kingston’s knee, which he was favoring at the end.

Kickoff Show: CMLL Trios Titles: Don Callis Family vs. Sky Team

Sky Team (Mistico/Neon/Mascara Dorada) is defending but there is no Kazuchika Okada, who apparently hasn’t arrived yet. Hechicero and Konosuke Takeshita jump the champs from behind to start, with Hechicero crushing Mistico’s arm with a chair. The arm is sent into the steps and then twisted around a chair as Takeshita chinlocks Dorada inside. We get the opening bell and it’s Dorada flipping over Takeshita and handing it off to Neon.

A top rope armdrag takes Hechicero down as we cut to Okada arriving in a rather fancy car. The Kickoff Show ends and we pick things up on the proper pay per view everyone brawling. Mistico has been taken out and now Okada manages to get to the ring. Hechicero tries to get his partners on the same page but Okada flips Takeshita off. The champs block superplex attempts and here’s a taped up Mistico to fight back. A springboard double high crossbody connects and a spinning wristdrag drops Okada.

Back in and Neon does the same to Okada but Takeshita grabs a kind of wheelbarrow Tombstone. Takeshita loads up Raging Fire but Okada breaks it up. The Family gets in a shoving match and a Rainmaker accidentally hits Takeshita. Dorada and Neon are back in to take Hechicero down, setting up stereo moonsaults to the floor. Mistico poisonranas Hechicero and La Mistica retains the titles at 13:44.

Rating: B. The Sky Team continues to be a blast, which shouldn’t be a surprise. The catch here though is that the titles were totally secondary to the stuff with the Family, which has been going on for a long time now. I’m not sure what that’s going to mean, but at least they seem to be setting up the big showdown, likely at World’s End.

We recap Darby Allin vs. Pac. Allin has been going after the Death Riders for what feels like ever and now it’s time to have him face someone other than Jon Moxley. The catch this time is that Pac wants it one on one with no shenanigans.

Pac vs. Darby Allin

After a quick video of a bandaged Allin getting ready to fight, with Allin’s face being fine (not so much with his taped up arm and ribs). Allin takes him down by the arm to start and cranks away, including an armbar. A shotgun dropkick sends Pac outside but he reverses a hurricanrana back inside. Allin grinds away on a headlock instead before switching to a leglock, which has Pac in the ropes.

Pac is back up with a gorilla press onto the floor, which isn’t going to do well on those bad ribs. That’s only good for an eight count so Allin ribs the tape off Allin’s arm and gives him an Indian burn. A hard whip sends Allin through the corner and outside again for a nasty crash. Back in and Pac scores with a missile dropkick but Allin ties him in the ring skirt and hammers away.

A dive drops Pac and Allin puts him in a chair for a missile dropkick. Back in and Pac grabs a snap German suplex, followed by a toss into the corner. Allin fights up with a knockdown of his own but Pac blasts him with a lariat for two. The Brutalizer goes on, with Allin getting his feet into the ropes for the break. Allin sweeps the leg and gets the Scorpion Deathlock but here is Wheeler Yuta for a distraction. That makes Allin let go and a baseball bat to the face finishes for Pac at 16:57.

Rating: B. Allin wanting to do this clean and then cheating in the end is about as on point for the Death Riders as you can get, though I’m almost scared to know how much longer the team is going to be fighting Allin. Odds are Allin will want revenge and that sounds like a reason for quite the violent match. Again.

We recap the women’s four way tag. They’re all in the Women’s Tag Team Title tournament. Pretty much end of recap.

Sisters Of Sin vs. Timeless Love Bombs vs. Babes Of Wrath vs. Megan Bayne/Marina Shafir

The winners get to pick the stipulation for their semifinals match in the tournament. It’s a brawl to start with Storm and Shafir being left alone in the ring. Storm gets sent into the corner for the rapid fire kicks and forearms from Shafir and Bayne. A suplex sends Storm flying into the corner again but she’s able to flip Shirakawa onto Bayne for a quick two.

Back up and Bayne takes over on Shirakawa so Shafir can come back in for some choking. Blue comes in with a quick swinging neckbreaker but the Babes come in to take Blue down. Hart gets a chance to take over on Cameron but stops to shove Shafir. This doesn’t go well for Bayne, who gets in a shot of her own so Shafir can take over on Cameron. A tornado DDT finally gets Cameron out of trouble and the much needed tag brings in Nightingale.

That doesn’t last long either as it’s off to Shirakawa, who takes over on the Sisters. Shafir is right back in with Mother’s Milk but Storm makes a quick save. That’s enough for Storm to come in and clean house but Cameron tags herself in. A high crossbody gives Cameron two on Storm but Bayne German suplexes the Sisters at the same time. Everything breaks down and Shirakawa hits a dive to the floor, leaving Storm to small package Cameron for the pin at 13:10.

Rating: C+. Bayne got to show off a bit, but as usual there is only so much you can do with so many people in one match at one time. It also doesn’t help that this was for a stipulation in a tournament semifinal match. That doesn’t exactly make it feel must see, but with so much of the women’s division in the tournament, it was about all they could do.

We recap FTR vs. Bandido/Brody King for the Tag Team Titles. FTR are the all time team around here but King/Bandido are the hot team.

Tag Team Titles: Bandido/Brody King vs. FTR

FTR, with Stokely Hathaway, is challenging and we get a quick video from Hathaway where he walks in a dimly lit room and looks at footage of the champs. I’m assuming he’s not a fan. Bandido and Wheeler start things off with Wheeler working on the arm but Bandido is back with some armdrags. Harwood and King come in to slug it out with King taking over and hitting a quick backsplash for two.

Bandido comes in and slams King onto Harwood, meaning it’s Macarena time. Hathaway’s distraction doesn’t do much as Bandido dives over him, only to get dropped face first onto the announcers’ table. Back in and Harwood grabs a Gory Stretch but Bandido is out with a kind of double spinebuster (or a double flapjack that didn’t work). It’s still not enough for the tag though as Bandido gets pulled into the corner.

That doesn’t last long either as he kicks his way to freedom and brings in King to wreck both of them. A Death Valley Driver sends FTR into the corner for a cannonball but Harwood low bridges Bandido out to the floor. King is able to block the PowerPlex though, with Bandido coming in with a frog splash back to Harwood. King’s dive onto Hathaway only hits the floor, leaving Bandido to roll Harwood up for two.

The sitout powerbomb into a top rope splash gets two on Bandido, who is right back with a one armed gorilla press to send Wheeler outside. The big dive takes FTR out again and Bandido counters the Shatter Machine back inside. That’s enough to set up the 21 Plex but Harwood pops up for a Shatter Machine, with King having to make the save. Wheeler grabs a title and knocks Bandido silly for two but he’s right back up for a Shatter Machine to Harwood for two.

The monkey flip 450 is broken up, just like the Doomsday Device, as Bandido powerslams Wheeler out of the air for two more. King tries to get back in and is quickly spike piledriven onto the apron. Something like a double reverse AA plants Bandido for two and the spike piledriver gets the same. The Shatter Machine gives FTR the titles back at 20:12.

Rating: B. This was the kind of high speed, action packed match you would expect, but dang some of the lack of selling took me out of it. People were hitting big moves and the other person just kept popping up. That’s a good way to derail things a bit, as it made me roll my eyes more than anything else. FTR getting the titles back is fine as Bandido and King never felt like a long term team. That being said, can we do something with Bandido already? I’d say he’s earned it.

We recap the Casino Battle Royal for the inaugural National Title. Well recap it as much as possible, as we only know a few of the entrants so it’s basically just about Ricochet and the Hurt Syndicate.

National Title: Casino Gauntlet Match

For the inaugural title. The idea is basically a Royal Rumble with unknown entrants, untimed entrances and the first fall wins, meaning it could be over with only two entrants. Bobby Lashley is in at #1 and Shelton Benjamin is in at #2 and they show respect to start. Lashley goes for the leg and can’t get anywhere so they circle a bit until Ricochet is in at #3 after quite the disappointing segment.

Ricochet says we want violence so here are the Gates Of Agony to jump the Syndicate. MVP gets jumped on the floor while Benjamin is dropped onto a chair and Lashley is sent into the steps. The Gates are sent to the back as Ricochet dances and Claudio Castagnoli is in at #4. Ricochet’s dive is cut off by an uppercut and Castagnoli throws him back inside. The Swing sets up the running uppercut in the corner but Ricochet manages a headscissors out to the floor.

Daniel Garcia is in at #5 to choke Ricochet from the apron, allowing the Riders to crush him in the corner. Orange Cassidy is in at #6 and gets picked up by Castagnoli. The spinning DDT is blocked so it’s a Stundog Millionaire for Castagnoli as Wheeler Yuta is in at #7. Cassidy and Yuta’s staredown is cut off by the Death Riders, with Ricochet getting in on the running shots in the corner.

Kevin Knight is in at #8 and takes out Garcia on the floor but gets cut off by Ricochet. The Riders take over again and it’s Roderick Strong in at #9 with a Sick Kick for two on Ricochet. Mark Davis is in at #10 for a spinning piledriver on Ricochet and another one to Cassidy. Mike Bailey is in at #11 with a DDT to Davis but Bailey and Knight aren’t sure who should cover. Knight rolls Bailey up for a fast two so he kicks Knight in the face. Garcia grabs a Dragontamer on Bailey but Matt Menard is in at #12.

Menard and Garcia yell at each other and it’s Davis vs. Castagnoli, which is cut off by the returning Hurt Syndicate. Davis and Castagnoli are sent outside so Ricochet comes back in and immediately realizes his screwup. The Syndicate quickly beats him up but Cassidy is back in with some Orange Punches. Lashley misses a charge into the barricade and Wheeler knees Cassidy for two, with Knight making the save. Knight hits the UFO splash but Ricochet drops him with the Spirit Gun for the pin and the title at 22:55.

Rating: B-. This was a bit weaker than some of the previous editions of the match as it was pretty much just Ricochet vs. the Hurt Syndicate with some other stuff going on. Most of the people involved were little more than warm bodies and there wasn’t much drama about a lot of them winning the title. Ricochet is a good choice though, as he’s been doing some great stuff in recent weeks.

We recap Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly. Moxley has been broken by submitting so he’s facing a submission expert, who has made him tap out before. This time though it’s No Holds Barred, which is a bit less violent after the last time Moxley tapped out inside Blood & Guts.

Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly

No Holds Barred. O’Reilly strikes away at the bell to start and they go to the grappling. That’s broken up and O’Reilly kicks him into the corner, with Moxley sticking out his face for some free shots. A bend of the finger sets up an abdominal stretch on Moxley, which O’Reilly switches into an ankle lock. Moxley bails out to the floor before coming back inside to work on the arm.

That’s enough wrestling, so Moxley whips out a fork to stab O’Reilly in the head. The blood starts flowing and Moxley bites away at his head. Moxley works on the arm and bites a finger before switching to a full nelson. That’s reversed into another ankle lock, which is countered into a stabbing of O’Reilly’s nipple (Schiavone: “You want to describe that one Excalibur?”).

O’Reilly grabs a choke and dragon screw legwhips Moxley over the rope. A catapult sends Moxley into the post and the ankle lock goes on again back inside. The kneebar has Moxley in trouble and O’Reilly stabs him in the head with the fork for a change. O’Reilly grabs a chain and they take turns wrapping it around each others’ neck before fighting for a suplex. Moxley is the one getting suplexed but they’re still connected so neither can go anywhere.

They trade forearms until Moxley shrugs off some kicks and bulldog chokes him. That’s reversed as well until Moxley gets an STF, which is broken up with a stab to the hand. Moxley stomps him onto the chain (the fans do Seth Rollins’ song) and it’s time to Pillmanize the arm. The Death Rider sets up a Kimura, which is reversed into an ankle lock with the chain to make Moxley tap at 19:18.

Rating: C+. They were getting close to some good stuff here with the grappling but then it kept getting derailed by the fork nonsense. The chain was fine and the chair fit in well, but the fork stuff felt like it was from a totally different match. I do like the stuff with Moxley’s tough man image being broken as it fits the long term story for him. Just stop with the ultraviolent garbage and let the match work on its own.

Post match Moxley beats him down again but gives what looks like a look of respect.

We recap Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher for the TNT Title. They’ve traded wins but Briscoe wants one more shot at the title. If he loses though, he has to join the Don Callis Family.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe is challenging, Don Callis is on commentary and it’s No DQ. We get a special video with Briscoe talking about trying to find a new family after his brother passed away. He found that with the Conglomeration and now his future family depends on this match. This was really good and it hit the emotional notes perfectly well to sell the stakes for Briscoe. They forearm it out to start (as tends to be the case in AEW) but Briscoe can’t get an early Jay Driller.

Instead Fletcher sends him outside, where Briscoe gets in a trip off the apron. Some chairs are brought in, with one of them hitting Fletcher in the back. The Bang Bang Elbow is pulled out of the air though and Briscoe gets brainbustered onto the chair. A short ladder is brought in and Briscoe’s missed running flip dive sends him through it for a crash. The bleeding Briscoe is taken inside and whipped into the ladder again.

Briscoe fights out of trouble though and it’s a missile dropkick to send the ladder into Fletcher. That’s enough to get Callis off commentary and Briscoe grabs a table. Fletcher gets off of said table before the dive though and suplexes Briscoe on the floor instead. A bunch of chairs are loaded up on the floor but Briscoe gets up and sends him onto them. That takes too long as well, allowing Fletcher to shove him off the top and through the table for the big crash.

Back in and something like a running Alabama slam sends Briscoe through another table in the corner for two. As Callis tries to figure out if he has to feed Briscoe’s kids if Briscoe joins the Family, Fletcher pours out the thumbtacks (of course). The powerbomb onto the tacks is broken up and Briscoe gives him a fisherman’s buster onto the tacks. Briscoe grabs a barbed wire table, plus a ladder and a regular table (yet somehow, Fletcher can’t be kept down for three seconds at the moment).

They go to the apron, where Briscoe drives him into the group of open chairs. Back in and they both climb the ladder, with Briscoe getting to the top for an elbow to drive Fletcher through the table (onto the tacks) for two. That means that either Fletcher is winning or they missed the point where it should have ended. Fletcher is back up with the screwdriver (yep they missed it) but after stabbing Briscoe, gets it stuck in the turnbuckle. A brainbuster onto the tacks gets two on Fletcher, who manages to turn the screwdriver upside down in the buckle.

The super brainbuster onto the pointed up screwdriver is teased (this is stupid), only to be reversed to avoid a bad case of death. The Cutthroat Driver is broken up with a stab to the head and a running stab sets up the brainbuster to give Fletcher two more. They go up top, with Briscoe managing a toss Razor’s Edge through the barbed wire table. That and the Jay Driller are enough to finish Fletcher at 25:16.

Rating: B-. I know what they were going for here and what makes it all the more frustrating is THEY HAD IT. If this ended with Briscoe’s big elbow from the ladder (and maybe a Jay Driller for the family thing), it would have been great and easily the best thing on the show. Instead, they went another five minutes and had the stabbing stuff, which is, in a word, REALLY FREAKING STUPID. Forgive me for not buying the image of Fletcher teasing impaling Briscoe’s head on a screwdriver. The first twenty or so minutes were great and the last five minutes were dumb, which makes this quite the irritating situation.

We recap the Young Bucks/Josh Alexander vs. Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express for a million dollars. The Bucks have been broke for a bit but are teasing joining the Don Callis Family for the sake of getting their money back.

Young Bucks/Josh Alexander vs. Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express

For a million dollars. Nick works on Perry’s arm to start and they flip around a bit until they both try dropkicks. Matt and Luchasaurus come in with Luchasaurus working on the arm. It’s quickly off to Omega for more of the same, though Omega comes up favoring his recently damaged ankle. The villains take over on Omega, who manages to hurricanrana Nick to the floor.

The ensuing dive slows Omega down though and it’s back to Perry, who gets World’s Strongest Slammed onto the apron. Nick dives onto Luchasaurus and hands it back to Matt for Risky Business on Perry. The chinlock goes on for a bit until Perry hits a nice running diving DDT, allowing the much needed tag off to Luchasaurus. The Bucks superkick him down but he manages a double knockdown of his own and it’s back to Omega.

House is quickly cleaned but Alexander escapes You Can’t Escape. Everything breaks down and it’s a springboard Destroyer to Luchasaurus but Perry hits a running knee to leave everyone down. Omega and Alexander get up to slug it out until Omega grabs a snapdragon. The Bucks come in to take Omega down and we hit the ankle lock, which is broken up via the ropes. Matt gets caught in a spike Tombstone but the Countdown To Extinction is broken up.

Alexander clotheslines Matt by mistake though and now the Countdown To Extinction connects, with Alexander making the save. Perry hits a double Doomsday Device on the Bucks, who completely no sell it (because a springboard double clothesline has no effect) and start firing off the superkicks. Some of those superkicks hit Alexander, who gets planted with the One Winged Angel on the floor. A rollup gives Perry two but it’s the BTE Trigger to finish Perry at 19:06.

Rating: B+. I’m not big on the Bucks but they know how to do an exciting six man tag. I wasn’t expecting the Bucks to win here, as it felt like Alexander was only there to take the loss. The match was rather entertaining, though you can tell Omega is a far shell of what he used to be. That’s no surprise given what he’s been through, but dang it’s getting rough to see him out there.

Post match the Bucks get their money and Callis says they’re in the Family. Alexander and the rest of the Family jump Omega and the Express, with the Bucks almost being dragged away by Callis. The Bucks come back for the big save and make peace with the Express, followed by the big hug with Omega. Oh good grief ENOUGH WITH THE ELITE MELODRAMA ALREADY. Omega has to be helped to the back and even collapses on the ramp. The Family seems to have left with all of the money, so the Bucks are still broke.

We recap Mercedes Mone challenging Kris Statlander for the Women’s Title. Mone beat her before and now wants to do it for her 385th title.

Women’s Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander

Only Statlander is defending. Mone goes for the leg to start but gets rolled up for two instead. The Statement Maker is broken up as well so Mone sends her outside in a crash. Statlander is able to roll through a dive though and a nice superplex drops Mone hard. It’s too early for the 450 though as they’re definitely starting fast. Statlander rolls outside and seems to be favoring her elbow, with Mone hitting a running Meteora off the apron.

A big stomp to the arm has Statlander in even more trouble and it’s off to a Fujiwara armbar back inside. Back up and the bad arm is sent into the buckle but she uses the good arm to elbow Mone in the face. Mone uses her feet to bend the arm again and snaps off a tornado DDT for two. Fourteen Amigos have Statlander down and the fans cheering for Mone (the villain, because doing something cool is more important).

The frog splash lands on raised feet and Statlander manages a backdrop, followed by something like a Michinoku Driver for two. The bad arm gets crushed again but Statlander gives her a Blue Thunder Bomb on the floor. Back in and Mone hits a Codebreaker into a Backstabber into a sunset bomb into the corner. The running Meteora is cut off with a clothesline so Mone kicks at the bad arm again.

Statlander’s crossface is reversed into one from Mone, which is broken up as well. A super gutbuster (Dean Malenko style) drops Mone for a delayed two but the arm is too banged up for Staturday Night Fever. Instead it’s a package piledriver for two, with Mone having to grab the rope for the escape. Mone is back with a hurricanrana and running knees against the ropes for two and they fight over a Tombstone. Statlander finally sends her into the corner and muscles her up into the Staturday Night Fever to retain at 23:06.

Rating: B+. This was rather good as well and would have been even better had Mone not seemingly been more about getting cheered than winning. What matters the most is that Statlander won, which is what should have happened. There was no reason for Mone to win here and while she will likely get the title down the line, at least she didn’t get it here, as Statlander picks up probably her biggest win ever. Really nice match here, with the arm injury telling a good story as Statlander didn’t have her usual power advantage.

The Don Callis Family is happy with having the money and Callis says that it’s time for the team to come together for the Continental Classic. Konosuke Takeshita says he’ll be in, as does an angry Kyle Fletcher. Well that was obvious, but in a good way.

We recap Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe. Page retained the World Title over a good Joe last month so now it’s evil Joe in a cage.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe

Page is defending in a cage and apparently comes to the ring to a song from Red Dead Redemption 2. They tease rams into the cage to start with Page getting the better of things to bust Joe open early. Page takes his boot off to hammer Joe in the head for two but Joe sends him into the cage right back.

Now it’s Page busted open and getting his face raked against the cage, which isn’t a good sign. Page is back up to win a slugout and even tries his own Koquina Clutch. Joe’s release Rock Bottom out of the corner drops Page and he takes a turnbuckle pad off. Another comeback lets Page tease the Deadeye but here is Katsuyori Shibata for the distraction.

Eddie Kingston cuts him off but the referee gets crushed against the cage. The Deadeye connects for no count and here is Powerhouse Hobbs to break through the door. Page sends him into the cage and hits a Buckshot Lariat on Joe for no count. Instead here’s Hook to deck Page with the title and reveal an Opps shirt. Commentary acts like this is some shocking moment, as someone joining a stable he was part of just a few months ago is shocking. The Elite has done that what, half a dozen times? Anyway, Joe hits the MuscleBuster to retain the title at 16:02.

Rating: B. It was a violent, bloody brawl in a cage, which might have had a bit more impact had there not been two blood baths earlier in the night and two far bloodier cage matches just ten days ago. On the other hand, I do kind of like Joe winning the title again, as Page was (again) coming off as a huge afterthought as champion. I don’t get why that’s the case, but Joe is more interesting almost by definition. Good, violent match here, though a heel on top of a stable as champion, AGAIN, isn’t the most thrilling way to go.

Post match the Opps (complete with a group of Opps Dojo goons) celebrate but the lights go out. We see a burning home and Swerve Strickland is back. The Opps bail and Swerve takes out the goons (Like a…..house of fire?), with Page getting up to help to end the show. I’ve heard worse ideas.

Overall Rating: B+. This did exceed my expectations, which weren’t overly high coming into the show. What matters the most is that they changed the World Title, which just wasn’t an interesting situation for a long time. At the same time, we got some rather good matches, with the six man and Women’s Title matches being pretty close to excellent. I really could go with a lot less of the blood and more hardcore violence, but that’s just baked into a lot of modern wrestling. Either way, more than solid show tonight with some very good moments, even at five and a half hours (yes, the Kickoff Show counts, as always).

Results
Bang Bang Gang b. Max Caster/Anthony Bowens, Outrunners and Big Bill/Bryan Keith – Rollup to Bowens
Big Boom AJ/QT Marshall b. RPG Vice – Powerboom/Blockbuster combination to Beretta
Hook/Eddie Kingston b. Workhorsemen – DDT to Henry
Sky Team b. Don Callis Family – La Mistica to Hechicero
Pac b. Darby Allin – Baseball bat to the face
Timeless Love Bombs b. Sisters Of Sin, Marina Shafir/Megan Bayne and Babes Of Wrath – Small package to Cameron
FTR b. Bandido/Brody King – Shatter Machine to Bandido
Ricochet won the Casino Gauntlet Match – Spirit Gun to Knight
Kyle O’Reilly b. Jon Moxley – Ankle lock with a chain
Mark Briscoe b. Kyle Fletcher – Jay Driller
Young Bucks/Josh Alexander b. Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express – BTE Trigger to Perry
Kris Statlander b. Mercedes Mone – Staturday Night Fever
Samoa Joe b. Hangman Page – MuscleBuster

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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I’m not sure if it’s due to Blood & Guts last week or something with the build itself, but it’s been a bit difficult to get up for this show. Part of it comes down to a lack of a hot main event. I’m assuming the main event is the cage match, but there is only so much you can get when Page already beat Joe last month. Hopefully the action is able to carry things over the finish line so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Big Boom AJ/QT Marshall vs. RPG Vice

So the Costco Guys are back and that means it’s time to act like they’re really interesting all over again. While AJ is far from terrible or even bad, it’s still hard to get interested in whatever the story is with himself and Marshall, which has been going on for way too long now. At least it’s in this spot and it’s not like Vice is going to lose much when they get beaten here.

In case that’s quite the spoiler, go back in time and insert your own warning. Of course there’s no reason to believe that the celebrity team is going to lose here. AJ is one of the bigger names that AEW can get at the moment so he’ll need to win here to keep his star power. It does help quite a bit that this is about as low level on the ladder as you can get, which at least keeps this from taking up more important time.

Kickoff Show: Hook/Eddie Kingston vs. Workhorsemen

In addition to the World Title match, here we have what is basically another rematch, or at least a repeat of the same setup. In this case, we have Kingston and Hook teaming up in an open challenge, only with the Workhorsemen accepting rather than the Frat House. I get the idea of wanting to get Kingston and Hook on the show, but maybe come up with something a bit more interesting?

As uninspired as this feels, there’s pretty much no doubt about the winner here, as this is all about trying to get Kingston and Hook to mean something. I’m not sure which one one is seen as the bigger star at the moment, but neither of them are exactly on fire right now. Maybe they can find something to spark them up a bit, but it’s hard to believe that them winning here will change much.

Kickoff Show: Max Caster/Anthony Bowens vs. Bang Bang Gang vs. Big Bill/Bryan Keith vs. Outrunners

It’s another match for a bunch of money which is code for “we have nothing else for these people to do but here they are anyway”. Caster and Bowens are by far the most important team at the moment, even if they’re not really a team. I could go for seeing the two of them together more often as the singles stuff was only so good, but either have them get back together or not.

That being said, I’ll take the Gang to win, partially due to how fun it could be to see Juice Robinson doing his stuff about the money, as you saw earlier this week. It sounds better than Caster and Bowens’ will they/won’t they deal, though that is the more likely pick. Maybe it’s due to me not caring much about Caster and Bowens, but hopefully the Gang wins here.

Kickoff Show: CMLL Trios Titles: El Sky Team(c) vs. The Don Callis Family

This is a bit of a confusing one as the names involved would make it feel like it belonged on the main card. While the titles might be in jeopardy, this feels like it’s much more about Konosuke Takeshita’s and Kazuchika Okada’s issues, which very well may spill over here. That has been teased for a good while now and it can only be stretched out so much longer. At the same time, getting the titles is something certainly in the realm of possibility.

I’ll take the champions to retain, as the Family doesn’t need to do much more at this point. Let them have some issues, possibly with a big showdown coming up in the Continental Classic. The Sky Team is fun to watch and it should make for a good match here, with the Family having some variety to spice it up a bit. The champs retain, but the focus is going to be on the Family, as tends to be the case.

National Title: Casino Gauntlet Match

We’ll start the main show with this one because it’s hard to say what we’re going to be seeing. While we are likely to have about twenty entrants, we only have five coming into the show. That doesn’t give us much in the way of the knowing where this is going as we’ll have to pick from the limited options that we have, which is hardly the best way to go but it’s the problem with a match like this.

Of the five options that we have (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight and Ricochet), I’ll take Ricochet as the most likely choice. Given that he’s been getting a good bit of screen time and actually needs to win something, this would be a good way to start. I’m not sure who else is going to be in there and there is always the chance that it’s someone out of nowhere, but Ricochet seems like at least a safe bet.

Darby Allin vs. Pac

This is the next match in Allin’s seemingly never ending war with the Death Riders. The idea here is that this is going to be a regular match with no extra shenanigans. I know that’s quite the concept on a wrestling show, but it would be nice to see after all of the insanity that Allin has been doing lately. If nothing else, it’s not Allin vs. Jon Moxley for a change and the breather should be nice.

There’s no reason to think Allin will lose here so we’ll go with him getting the win. In theory Allin is going to be going over the Death Riders in the end, though I have no idea what kind of big closing match they’re going to have. This doesn’t feel like a pay per view match, but at least it’s something different than what we’ve been seeing from Allin for such a long time now.

Kenny Omega/Jurassic Express vs. Young Bucks/Josh Alexander

This is the other money match (a million dollars in this case), as Tony Khan continues to give the evil and annoying Young Bucks a chance to make a huge sum all at once. At the same time, there was something of a tease of an Elite reunion earlier this week, which sums up just how annoying this whole thing has been. The Bucks doing all of their stuff is one thing but my head might implode if I’m supposed to cheer for them again.

Ultimately, this feels like Omega and the Express’ to win, as the Bucks need to fall even further before they can turn it around. Omega probably does not have many big matches left in him as his body is breaking down so quickly, but at least he’s still in the ring for the time being. Alexander feels like he’s there to take the fall, which has been the case for a long time now. Either way, the good guys win here.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher(c) vs. Mark Briscoe

Title vs. Briscoe joining the Don Callis Family, which makes me think that it’s going one certain way. The Family continues to do pretty much whatever it wants, which doesn’t make for the most thrilling story. On the other hand you have Briscoe, who rarely wins the big one and has been chasing this title for a VERY long time now. One of those things is going to have to give and that is where we are today.

I’ll take Briscoe to win here, as Fletcher has held the title for a very long time now and there isn’t much to gain by having him keep it any longer. On the other hand you have Briscoe, who needs to win the title again before he starts losing his status. Fletcher is at the point where a loss won’t hurt him very much and he seems likely to move up to the main event scene anyway. Briscoe winning here makes more sense.

Babes Of Wrath vs. Sisters Of Sin vs. Timeless Love Bombs vs. Megan Bayne/Marina Shafir

I can’t get my head around this one, as it’s that dumb of an idea. In this case we have the four semifinalists for the Women’s Tag Team Title tournament (which as of this coming Wednesday will be one of three ongoing title tournaments under the Tony Khan banner). The winner of this match gets to pick the stipulation for their semifinal match, which is likely happening this coming week. Yes, this is the best they could come up with for a pay per view.

As this has such little impact on who wins the titles, give me the Bombs to win, just to see whatever wacky idea Storm gives us in the semifinals. I still can’t fathom that this was the best they could do for this show, though I guess it’s due to Blood & Guts taking up a week. It’s almost like AEW tries to do too much and isn’t great at pacing its stuff out, but that must be nonsense of course.

Women’s Title: Kris Statlander(c) vs. Mercedes Mone

So this is Mone’s chance to win her….I believe it’s 14th title? The idea is that Mone has been TBS Champion for about 37 years now and has all kinds of other titles but failed in her one attempt to win the AEW Women’s Title. I’m still not sure what the appeal of the Belt Collector deal is supposed to be yet here we are, with the whole thing somehow still continuing.

I think I’ll go with Statlander retaining here, as Mone needs to lose something here sooner than later. While I’m sure she’ll get the title at some point and that’s fine, Statlander hasn’t had it very long yet and deserves a better run as champion. Hopefully it doesn’t turn into another case of “let’s all praise Mone”, but that is probably what winds up happening in the end.

Tag Team Titles: Bandido/Brody King(c) vs. FTR

This is another case where we’ve seen FTR as champions so many times now that it’s hard to bring myself to care about the possibility of seeing it again. Bandido and King have done really well with the titles thus far and it would be nice to get to see that continue. At the same time though, there is a real chance that the “real” team wins the belts here as Bandido moves on to whatever else.

Give me the champs retaining here, if nothing else for the sake of I’ve enjoyed seeing them more often. What I don’t need to see is FTR winning and then defending against a reunited Copeland/Cage, which is a rather strong possibility. Maybe it’s just me having false hope, but hopefully King and Bandido get to hang onto the titles here, as they’ve earned the right to keep them for awhile.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jon Moxley

This is No DQ and could be another big step in the already rather lengthy downfall of Moxley. The idea is that Moxley keeps giving up in matches after months of talking about how tough he is and it’s not exactly holding up. In theory this leads to the downfall of the entire Death Riders, which has LONG since run its course. On the other hand though…it’s O’Reilly.

As little sense as it might make, I’ll take O’Reilly to win here, as that’s the story that has been built up. Maybe it comes with some shenanigans, but there is no reason to have Moxley win here after losing so many times in recent weeks. The Death Riders desperately need to come to an end already and this is as good of a way to do so as there is right now. It’s hard to imagine O’Reilly as the guy to make it happen, but for now, the pieces are there.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page(c) vs. Samoa Joe

So this is a case where had it been anything other than the World Title and likely the main event, I would have put this way higher as there just isn’t much doubt over the winner. We’ve already seen this last month with Page retaining over Joe clean, which set up the ensuing heel turn. I’m not sure why I would want to see this again here, but someone has to challenge for the title.

Of course I’ll take Page to win here, as there is no reason to believe that Joe is taking the title. This has felt like quite the filler feud for the title, which isn’t exactly much to see. I’m sure the fight will be good enough as these two know how to make it work, but Page really needs to move on to something else, as the two matches with Joe haven’t exactly felt that important. At least this one is different though.

Overall Thoughts

Dang that’s a lot of matches. I know four of them are officially on a separate show, but it’s one big block of AEW without much in the way of a top match. That’s been an issue for a good while now in AEW, as they really don’t seem to have a major story going on. Maybe that changes soon, but it’s not making for the most interesting pay per view, at least on paper. That’s been the case for the last few shows too, and that really needs to change.

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

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Collision
Date: November 19, 2025
Location: Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

It’s the second half of the latest double taping and in this case that means the final push towards this weekend’s Full Gear. That could go in a few different directions, though hopefully we get some more personal issues this time around. The biggest story is likely Mercedes Mone trying to become the official Ring Of Honor Women’s TV Champion because the interim version just doesn’t mean enough. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with Hangman Page and Katsuyori Shibata in the ring following Page’s victory in Dynamite’s main event. Page glares down at Samoa Joe (who was on commentary) and says that Joe is now alone and that isn’t going to go well when they’re in a cage. Just remember what happened the last time Page was in a cage with another man. We also see Page kicking Shibata low, which apparently took place between shows.

FTR is ready to take out Bandido and Brody King at Full Gear because they want to win the Tag Team Titles again.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Megan Bayne/Marina Sharif vs. Anna Jay/Tay Melo

Penelope Ford is here with the villains. Melo and Shafir trade takedowns to start until Melo hits her in the face a few times. Jay comes in and everyone is quickly on the floor for the double brawls. Jay and Melo hit stereo dives off the barricade but Shafir plants Jay back inside. We take a break and come back with Melo coming in to clean house as everything breaks down.

A bunch of running kicks in the corner have Bayne and Shafir in trouble but stereo guillotines are broken up with suplexes. Bayne gets Downward Spiraled into a running necksnap for two and Jay gets the Queenslayer. Shafir breaks that up and grabs a quick Mother’s Milk to make Jay give up at 8:49.

Rating: C+. Even though Jay and Melo are a regular team, there was no reason to believe they were going to lose to a pair of monsters like these two. That’s the kind of team that should be there to be slayed by the winners of the tournament, assuming Shafir and Bayne don’t win them themselves. Not much here, but the fans like Melo and Jay.

Post match the Timeless Love Bombs pop up on the screen to promise to win the four way at Full Gear. That means they can pick the stipulation for their semifinal match, which could be a chicken coop match, apartment wrestling or a Taipei Death Match.

Video on Kris Statlander.

The Bang Bang Gang is VERY interested in winning $200,000 at Full Gear.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Mascara Dorada

This is a double jeopardy match, meaning the winner gets a future title shot at the other’s title. Okada backs him up against the ropes to start and gives him some applause, which is a bit of a surprise. Dorada starts flipping around and knocks Okada to the floor. That means it’s time to do the “roll inside to break the count a few times” deal, allowing commentary to point out that Okada has the longest title reign in AEW history.

Okada gets back inside and taken down with a springboard armdrag right back to the floor. Naturally that means a dive but Okada is right back in with his dropkick and we take a break. We come back with Dorada falling off the top for a DDT onto the apron (that could have been a lot worse). They get back inside for a springboard hurricanrana to send Okada outside, setting up the big dive. Dorada grabs a running cutter over the barricade and a hurricanrana but the 450 misses back inside.

The top rope elbow connects for Okada but the Rainmaker is cut off. Instead Okada hits the dropkick and goes up, where Dorada catches him for a quick slam. Now the 450 connects for two and they both go up top, with Dorada getting almost no rotation on a super hurricanrana (thankfully not breaking his neck). He’s fine enough to counter the Rainmaker into a small package for two so Okada gives him Takeshita’s Raging Fire. Now the Rainmaker can finish Dorada at 12:09.

Rating: B. I’m not sure what was with Dorada here as he’s usually much more sure footed than that. Hopefully it’s just an off night (happens to everyone) as those botches could have been far worse. This sets up the Family for a CMLL Trios Titles match and that means Okada and Takeshita can argue some more.

Post match Callis is rather pleased to announce that the Trios Titles match will take place at the Full Gear Kickoff Show. And yes, Takeshita will be in the match. And yes, Okada is less than pleased.

The Sisters Of Sin are ready to get creative when they win the four way at Full Gear.

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

Kris Statlander is on commentary. Mone is the Interim Champion but this is to unify the titles. It’s also Velvet’s first title defense since April and commentary points out that she’s the longest reigning champion in the title’s history. True, though they neglect to point out that she’s the second champion ever. Velvet rolls her up for two to start before they both miss dropkicks.

Mone avoids a charge into the ropes and dropkicks her out to the floor for the big crash. There’s the Meteora off the apron and Mone poses with some titles, only to get kicked into Statlander. Back in and of course it’s an Eddie Guerrero tribute, with Velvet pretending to get hit with a belt and dropping down into a rollup for two as we take a break.

We come back with Velvet grabbing a wheelbarrow bulldog and hitting a running crotch attack on the ropes. Mone pulls her into the Statement Maker, which is reversed into a reverse cross armbreaker. That’s broken up as well and Velvet grabs a German suplex into the Black Widow. Mone reverses into a Backstabber but gets caught with a super victory roll for two. They go up again and this time it’s a super Codebreaker to give Mone another title at 12:25.

Rating: B-. Welp, Mone sure did beat that longstanding champion who hadn’t defended the title in about seven months so this had all of the impact that you would think. I get that it’s not the point, but waiting for three hours to see Mone get to celebrate in her hometown isn’t exactly a thrilling way to wrap up a night. I’m not sold on the idea of her beating Statlander and this changed pretty much a grand total of nothing. The one thing it did confirm: interim titles are stupid and one of the concepts that AEW needs to drop.

Post match Mone throws some titles at Statlander and gives her a Meteora off the announcers’ table. Mone grabs a Statement Maker to make Statlander tap until the referees break it up. Statlander then….leaves with Velvet as Mone takes Statlander’s title and dances on the table. What a hero.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked it a bit better than Dynamite, though that might be due to focusing on some more interesting stories. That being said, Full Gear is not feeling like an important show and AEW needs to break out of that rut. Maybe it’s the focus on the Death Riders and Don Callis Family and stuff like “the winner of this four way gets to pick the stipulations for one semifinal” (good grief) and the fact that we’re coming up on the third tournament taking place at the same time starting next week, but dang it’s hard to get interested in a lot of this stuff.

Hopefully they have something new in mind, because they could use the change after the last few months. As usual, the wrestling isn’t the problem but rather doing something that has me wanting to see what happens next. Wondering if the Young Bucks or one of the four teams on the Kickoff Show will get one of the two big cash prizes or if Kenny Omega or Jon Moxley is facing someone with a better ankle lock isn’t exactly thrilling, but it might be a sign that this company is in need of some fresh ideas.

Results
Marina Shafir/Megan Bayne b. Anna Jay/Tay Melo – Mother’s Milk to Jay
Kazuchika Okada b. Mascara Dorada – Rainmaker
Mercedes Mone b. Red Velvet – Super Codebreaker

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: November 5, 2025
Location: Bayou Music Center, Houston, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Bryan Danielson, Tony Schiavone

We are a week away from Blood & Guts and therefore this week’s show is going to focus on setting up the two cage matches. In this case that means determining who will have the advantage in the matches, which can be rather important. Other than that, we’ll have some more build towards Full Gear, which isn’t very far away. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring and….there is going to be something called the National Title introduced. Cue the Opps to interrupt, with Samoa Joe not being happy with Schiavone for the deal with Hangman Page at the end of last week’s show. Cue Page for the save, with Eddie Kingston and Hook joining him. They’re already set for a six man tag tonight and Hook thinks it should be a Trios Titles match. Works for a ticked off Joe.

Men’s Blood And Guts Advantage Series: Orange Cassidy vs. Claudio Castagnoli

First of a three match series. Cassidy fires off the suicide dives before the bell and the ten right hands connect against the barricade. Castagnoli manages a ram into the ropes though and gets inside for the opening bell. A tornado DDT cuts Castagnoli off but they go outside with Cassidy being dropped over the barricade. Castagnoli grabs a suplex and walks him up the steps (because that’s something a human can do) to throw him back inside.

Cassidy’s sleeper goes on and Castagnoli can’t even swing him off. It’s finally reversed into the regular swing and Cassidy is in trouble as we take a break. We come back with Cassidy putting his hands in his pockets, which earns him a gutwrench suplex in a smart move from Castagnoli. Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets again and shrugs off a string of punches in the corner.

Castagnoli is sent outside for a diving tornado DDT before planting Castagnoli for two back inside. A sitout powerbomb gives Castagnoli two and he grabs a crossface. That and a basement uppercut give Castagnoli two but the apron superplex is countered into a super Stundog Millionaire (that was great). An Orange Punch rocks Castagnoli but he’s right back with Swiss Death for the pin at 12:21.

Rating: B-. I was worried that Cassidy would survive that kind of a beating and win on a fluke so it was nice to see Castagnoli get a clean win like this for a change. He’s been just a guy in the Death Riders for a long time now and it’s good for him to have something other than just another loss. Cassidy is just kind of floating around at the moment, but he’ll be fine given the way the fans care about him.

Mark Briscoe is in the back with Kyle Fletcher, who hasn’t responded to Briscoe’s challenge for Full Gear. Briscoe lost to him at WrestleDream thanks to a low blow so let’s do it No DQ next time. Don Callis has an idea though: if Briscoe loses, he joins the Family.

The Young Bucks haven’t officially joined the Don Callis Family but Callis offers Kazuchika Okada as a testimony on what it means to join.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron vs. Mercedes Mone/Athena

The villains jump them to start fast as we hear about Queen Aminata being injured and therefore out of Blood & Guts. Mone chokes Cameron on the ropes a bit but Cameron manages a belly to back suplex. Nightingale comes in for a middle rope dropkick as the house cleaning is on. It’s already back to Cameron, who gets dropped onto Mone for two. Everything breaks down and a Meteora drops Nightingale, leaving Athena to drop Mone onto Cameron for two.

We take a break and come back with Mone taking too long on Three Amigos, allowing Cameron to escape. The big tag brings in Nightingale to clean house, with a Cannonball hitting Athena for two. Athena cuts her off with a hard forearm and everything breaks down. A double Codebreaker sets up the Statement Maker on Cameron so Nightingale Pounces Athena into the two of them for the save.

Nightingale clotheslines Mone down but Athena is up with a spinning knee to the head. Athena puts Nightingale into a fireman’s carry and then fall away slams Cameron at the same time (geez). Cue Athena’s minion Billie Starkz to hand Athena a title but Kris Statlander cuts her off. The Babe With The Powerbomb into That’s Her Finisher to pin Athena at 12:44.

Rating: C+. Odds are that sets up Cameron as the next victim for Athena and I’ve heard worse ideas. One such bad idea would be to have Mone get closer to winning a tag team title in addition to all of her singles belts so at least they did the right thing here. The tournament has me wondering who is going to wind up with the titles so they’re certainly off to a nice start.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring to announce a Casino Gauntlet Match for Full Gear for the inaugural National Title. Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, the first entrants, come out with MVP for a chat. MVP talks about the history of the National Title, which apparently will have lineage with the original NWA version.

Cue the Demand to interrupt, with Ricochet mocking the Syndicate for being old. MVP is ready to fight but Ricochet says he’ll be the next National Champion. I’d hope that they don’t go any further with the lineage/heritage of the National Title, as the NWA, which still sanctions it to this day, might have some issues.

Jurassic Express leaves the Young Bucks $100 to deal with their money issues.

Men’s Blood And Guts Advantage Series: Darby Allin vs. Daniel Garcia

If Garcia wins, the Death Riders clinch the advantage. Allin rolls around to start and grabs a headlock takeover. That’s broken up and Garcia chokes in the corner, only for Allin to put Garcia’s arm into the post (as in the hole on the top). Some biting keeps the arm in trouble before Allin sends him into the barricade. Garcia hits a big boot to the head to cut Allin off though and we take a break.

We come back with an exchange of chokes, with Allin backflipping onto him for two. Garcia takes him up top for a superplex but Allin rolls through into a Scorpion Death Drop. They head outside, with Garcia putting Allin’s arm between the steps and post for a running dropkick. Cue Pac for a cheap shot with a clothesline and Allin has to dive back in to beat the count. The bleeding Allin is put in the Sharpshooter but manages to reverse it into the Scorpion Deathlock for the tap at 13:26.

Rating: B-. There wasn’t much in the way of drama here as not only was it the second match in a best of three series, but Garcia wasn’t likely to beat Allin in any way. At least they didn’t do anything too nuts here, as Allin gets to go through and win a match he should have. Now just get him away from the Death Riders already, because the story needs to be done.

Post match the Death Riders run in for the beatdown, with Orange Cassidy’s save attempt getting cut off as well.

Here is FTR to call out Bandido/Brody King for a chat. The champs don’t show up though and we see their locker room door locked. Back in the arena, Harwood goes over to meet Bandido’s family with some less than great Spanish. Harwood mocks Bandido’s grandmother for being too old and does the keep pulling his microphone away before she can say much. She finally slaps him and Bandido’s brother jumps the barricade for the brawl. We cut to the back where Brody King punches through the wall and grabs Stokely Hathaway so the champs can escape for the save.

Video on Blood & Guts as narrated by….Dean Malenko?

Women’s Blood And Guts Advantage Series: Mina Shirakawa vs. Megan Bayne

Toni Storm is on commentary. Bayne shrugs off some shots to the ribs to start so Shirakawa gives her a running dropkick to the floor. Back in and Shirakawa kicking her in the head out of the corner but Bayne grabs an impressive release German suplex. Shirakawa fights back and hurricanranas Bayne into the corner. Cue Marina Shafir to jump Storm for the brawl, which distracts Shirakawa. The running Liger Bomb finishes for Bayne at 9:36.

Rating: C+. Bayne getting to wreck someone else is a good thing and this was little more than a preview for the big match next week. They’re almost putting everyone of note in the division into Blood & Guts, which is certainly a way to go. It has me interesting in what’s going to happen though and Bayne getting to be a smashing machine is a fun thing every time.

Post match the beatdown is on until Storm makes the save with a chair. Most of the rest of the teams come in for a brawl, with Mercedes Mone stopping short. Kris Statlander comes out to jump her from behind and the heroes stand tall.

Trios Titles: Opps vs. Hangman Page/Eddie Kingston/Hook

The Opps are defending. Joe does the really played out “yeah I’ll start but I’m tagging out before I make contact” deal and hands it off to Shibata. A quick slugout goes to Page and it’s Hook coming in for a suplex. Hobbs comes in for some backbreakers but Hook manages a nice overhead suplex to get a breather.

We take a break and come back with Joe putting Kingston in a nerve hold. That’s broken up and Page comes back in to clean house, including posting Hobbs on the floor. The top rope moonsault press gives Page two and it’s back to Kingston, which brings in the banged up Hook. Hobbs drops Page onto the apron and decks Kingston into a German suplex from Shibata. Page is taken up to the stage for a World’s Strongest Slam through the table, leaving Joe rather pleased. The injured Hook tries to make the save with Redrum, only to get reversed into the torture rack to give Hobbs the submission at 12:03.

Rating: B-. Hook being there to take the fall was fine, as this was about Hobbs and Page having a nice angle before Page defends against Joe at Full Gear. That’s the kind of thing that the Trios Titles can do rather well, as it gives them another reason for them to fight. Now just make the Joe vs. Page rematch a bit more interesting and they’ll be in business.

With about three seconds left in the show, Hobbs vs. Page, falls count anywhere, is announced for next week.

Overall Rating: B-. The majority of this show was built around setting up Blood & Guts and that’s not a bad thing. The show is going to be one heck of a detour on the way to Full Gear, so giving it a week mostly dedicated to preparation is a smart move. Full Gear is going to need some work in the last week after Blood & Guts, but there is a good chance those matches will build towards the pay per view. Good enough show here, with the really important ones coming.

Results
Claudio Castagnoli b. Orange Cassidy – Swiss Death
Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron b. Athena/Mercedes Mone – That’s Her Finisher to Athena
Darby Allin b. Daniel Garcia – Scorpion Deathlock
Megan Bayne b. Mina Shirakawa – Running Liger Bomb
Opps b. Hangman Page/Eddie Kingston/Hook – Torture rack 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: October 29, 2025
Location: Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg, Texas
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur

We continue the road to Full Gear and it seems that some of that will be similar to the build towards WrestleDream. There is a good chance that will include Samoa Joe coming after the World Title again and that might be set up tonight in a four way for the #1 contendership. Hopefully the pay per view can be spiced up soon so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

It’s Fright Night so we have a big castle theme with some pumpkins and bats.

Orange Cassidy/Darby Allin vs. Death Riders

Tornado Tag, which AEW certainly loves. Allin whips Cassidy into Yuta and Garcia to start fast and stereo backdrops put them down again. They head outside with Allin chairing Yuta in the back and then flip diving through him for a bonus. The fight goes into the crowd, where Allin is right there to dive onto the Riders and save Cassidy. They go back to ringside with Allin dropkicking Garcia from the apron as we take a break.

We come back with Yuta kicking Allin into the corner, leaving the Riders to set up a table. Cassidy tornado DDTs Yuta but gets guillotine choked by Garcia. Yuta puts Cassidy through the table so Allin grabs the skateboard, which he offers to Garcia for a free shot. Instead it’s a Code Red for two on Garcia but Yuta breaks up the Coffin Drop. Cassidy’s top rope DDT plants Yuta though and the Coffin Drop gets two, with Garcia making the save. Cassidy Orange Punches Garcia to the floor for a suicide dive through a table, allowing Allin to Scorpion Deathlock Yuta for the win at 11:27.

Rating: B-. This was a rather AEW match, with violence and everyone running around in a match that doesn’t exactly have much staying power. The good guys beating the Death Riders is a good way to go, though I have no idea why Allin is still dealing with the team. The I Quit match should have wrapped it up, though it seems we’ll be seeing at least one more match.

Hook is ready to be the underdog in the #1 contenders match, but he’s also wanting to make sure Samoa Joe doesn’t get another title shot.

Don Callis is ready for tonight’s Family summit but calls the Young Bucks over. Callis pitches the Bucks joining the Family and has a special entrance set up for them. The Bucks head to the ring, passing a cow, a man in black and the Staypuft Marshmallow Man.

Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express vs. Jet Speed vs. FTR

For the Tag Team Title shot at Full Gear and Callis does the Bucks’ entrance, complete with pyro scaring them. Harwood backs Bailey up against the ropes to start and slugs away, only for Bailey to kick him in the chest. Bailey and Perry trade some flips and it’s Jet Speed double teaming Luchasaurus down. The good guys have a staredown until the other teams jump them from behind but Luchasaurus fights out of trouble.

Knight comes in and gets beaten down, only to come back and bring Perry in to clean house. Wheeler kicks Matt out to the floor and Harwood superplexes Knight onto the pile at ringside. Knight comes up holding his knee and we take a break. We come back with Perry fighting out of trouble, allowing Luchasaurus to come back in and wreck things. Some chokeslams have the Bucks down and Luchasaurus’ standing moonsault gets two.

Knight is back in with a running DDT to cut Luchasaurus off and then dropkicks Perry onto the pile at ringside. Bailey moonsaults onto them as well as Knight hits a springboard splash for two on Luchasaurus. The Bucks get back in to superkick the Express and Bailey. FTR get superkicked and the Shatter Machine hits Yuta. The BTE Trigger gets two on Knight but Luchasaurus is back up to clean house again. Bailey moonsaults onto Wheeler and Luchasaurus but a quick Shatter Machine finishes Knight at 13:42.

Rating: B+. It was a bunch of wild insanity for the better part of fifteen minutes and that worked rather well. FTR is one of the only teams who can be plugged into the title picture at anytime and Bandido/Brody King beating them would be a big step forward. If nothing else, it’s not the Bucks or Bailey so I’ll call this a positive.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe.

Here is the Don Callis Family for their summit. First up, we have four very important questions. Rocky Romero asks the first question: who is the Don Callis Family? They are the most dominant faction in all of wrestling, including the missing Konosuke Takeshita. Romero unveils a painting of the Family with a very muscular Callis in the center. Josh Alexander asks the second question: what is the Don Callis Family? We take care of that with a video package on the Family.

The third question is asked by Kyle Fletcher, who asks why the Don Callis Family. He reads a pledge they all signed before joining the Family (basically saying it’s all about the team) but here is Takeshita to interrupt. Callis tells Takeshita that this is a family of Alphas, as Takeshita and Okada go face to face.

There is no I in team, but there is one in Family, so Callis needs Takeshita to put his issues with Okada aside. Callis refers to the IWGP Title as “theirs” and demands that they shake hands. Takeshita eventually extends his hand but Okada flips him off. Callis says they have work to do so they’ll team up on Collision to prove what they can do.

Video on Olympia, who is going to challenge Mercedes Mone for the CMLL Women’s Title.

Kris Statlander is willing to meet Mercedes Mone face to face tonight if Mone has anything to say to her.

Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly

Moxley goes after him to start fast and has to escape an armbar attempt. Back up and Moxley flips him off and they trade some forearms. A backdrop sends O’Reilly out to the floor and we take a break. We come back with Moxley getting two off a piledriver, followed by a crossface. That’s broken up and O’Reilly hammers away, setting up an ankle lock. A running knee to the back of the head gets two and the triangle choke has Moxley in more trouble.

With that broken up, Moxley hits a rebound lariat but the Death Rider is countered into the ankle lock. Moxley is sent outside and taken out with a dive, followed by a dragon screw legwhip into the barricade. A Death Rider attempt onto a chair is countered into a guillotine…and they’re both counted out at 11:49.

Rating: B-. Another hard hitting match here, though I was only so interested in seeing them fight again after last week. Moxley being around and active so soon after WrestleDream doesn’t make the pay per view match feel very important. If Moxley giving up is such a big deal, maybe have him seem a bit more upset by it?

Post match O’Reilly takes issue with the referee, who is decked by Marina Shafir. Claudio Castagnoli runs in to take O’Reilly out but Roderick Strong runs in for the attempted save. The Death Riders run in to take Strong out but the rest of the Conglomeration and Darby Allin makes the save. Mark Briscoe says the Riders like to run off, so Cassidy has an idea: Blood & Guts. So are we doing two of them or is the women’s version just not happening?

Kris Statlander and Mercedes Mone brawl in the back and come into the arena. Mone sends her into the ring and Athena is in with the O Face. Cue Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale to make the save.

Bandido is ready to face Mascara Dorada on Collision and recently even brought his grandmother to see him wrestle live for the first time.

Penelope Ford is apparently injured and out of the Women’s Tag Team Title tournament and Blood & Guts. So there’s your answer about the women’s edition.

Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Sisters Of Sin vs. Jamie Hayter/Queen Aminata

Aminata and Hayter double team Hart down, leaving Aminata to give Blue the hips to the face. Some snap suplexes drop Blue for two so Hart comes in, with a double suplex taking the Sisters down. Back up and a double flapjack drops Hayter and we take a break. We come back with Hayter suplexing her way out of trouble so Aminata can come back in to clean house.

Hayter is right back in with a missile dropkick and everything breaks down. The Sisters are dropped with stereo German suplexes but they pop up with superkicks. A four way clothesline leaves everyone down and Hayter rolls to the floor. Cue Thekla to spear her down, leaving the Sisters to hit an assisted swinging Rock Bottom to finish Aminata at 10:01.

Rating: C+. Well, it’s nice to have the tournament start and the result helps set up Blood & Guts. That’s what they need to do and the story is already starting to come together, but Thekla vs. Hayter as the main feud is only getting me so far. For now though, I’ll take a start to the tournament, which will have more long term impact.

Penelope Ford confirms that she has injured her arm and promises pain in the future. Megan Bayne has a new partner: Marina Shafir. Jon Moxley approves.

Hook vs. Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Ricochet

For the World Title shot at Full Gear. Ricochet and Lashley go to the floor to start but Ricochet is back in to dropkick Lashley off the apron. Back up and Lashley takes turns with Hook as they suplex Ricochet. For reasons of general stupidity, Hook slugs away at Lashley, earning himself a spinebuster onto the apron. Joe is back up with the suicide elbow to Ricochet and Lashley as we take a break.

We come back with Joe wrecking various people, including Hook with the snap powerslam for two. Back up and Ricochet tries a dive on Joe, who casually walks away. That gives us the big Lashley vs. Joe brawl, with Lashley hitting a spinebuster. Ricochet is planted with a Dominator but Joe clotheslines Lashley.

Hook is back up to suplex Joe and Ricochet hits a running flip dive to hit Lashley on the floor. The shooting star press gets two on Hook but the Spirit Gun is countered into Redrum. Joe breaks that up but Lashley breaks up the MuscleBuster with a spear. Ricochet makes a save of his own and chairs Lashley, who chases him up the aisle. That lets Joe Koquina Clutch Hook for the win at 11:52.

Rating: B. There were some rather good saves in there and I had a fun time with the match, even if there was only so much doubt about the winner. Save for maybe Lashley, there was no reason to believe that anyone but Joe was going to win. It’s a good main event and Hook being the perfect choice to take the fall.

Post match the Opps are in the ring because it’s time for the contract signing. Cue the Dynamite crew, meaning the people in costumes from earlier, now with the Marshmallow Man, a cow, a chicken, and some meat. Hobbs and Shibata clear out the non-Marshmallow Man, who is unveiled as….a guy. Joe knocks him down and signs the contract before promising to win the title. Tony Schiavone offers them beers for a toast but Schiavone…is Hangman Page in a mask to jump Joe. Referees break it up to end the show as I try to figure out how Page set that whole thing up and if he would have done it if Joe hadn’t won.

Overall Rating: B. It was a fun night of wrestling and they did set some things up, but the last few weeks haven’t exactly made me think much of WrestleDream. Moxley is right back to what he’s been doing and is ready for Blood & Guts while Page and Joe are right where they were coming into their previous match. Hopefully they make it into a better and bigger game changer of a show, as AEW needs something fresh soon. For now though, the wrestling carries things again, as it tends to do around here.

Results
Darby Allin/Orange Cassidy b. Death Riders – Scorpion Deathlock to Yuta
FTR b. Young Bucks, Jurassic Express and Jet Speed – Shatter Machine to Knight
Kyle O’Reilly vs. Jon Moxley went to a double countout
Sisters Of Sin b. Jamie Hayter/Queen Aminata – Assisted swinging Rock Bottom to Aminata
Samoa Joe b. Hook, Bobby Lashley and Ricochet – Koquina Clutch 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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WrestleDream 2025
Date: October 18, 2025
Location: Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, Missouri
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back with the annual Antonio Inoki tribute show because…well it was the best theme they could think of at the time. The big draw here is an I Quit match between Jon Moxley and Darby Allin, which should be more about who will attempt to maim the other one (or themselves) worse. Samoa Joe is also challenging Hangman Page for the World Title so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Death Riders vs. Conglomeration/Roderick Strong

Strong knocks Garcia down to start and it’s off to O’Reilly to strike away. Cassidy adds his basement dropkick but Yuta slams him down to cut things off. We take a break and come back with Ishii and Castagnoli trading forearms until Ishii is knocked into the corner. The Riders take turns beating on him until a double clothesline drops Garcia and Yuta.

The tag brings in Cassidy to clean house but Castagnoli is back in with a Swing. That’s reversed into a choke and the other Riders all get caught in abdominal stretches. Those are all broken up and we take a second break. We come back again with Cassidy not being able to sunset flip Castagnoli.

Instead he gets over for the tag off to Strong and everything breaks down. Ishii rolls some German suplexes but Castagnoli blocks one to him. Pac is back up with a German suplex to Ishii but Cassidy grabs a tornado DDT. Ishii lariats Pac, only for a chop block to cut him down. The running knee gives Pac the pin at 15:46.

Rating: B-. Well that was long. If there is one way to get the fans into a show, it’s a heavy dose of Garcia and Yuta, as the two of them can bring down just about anyone if given a chance. The Riders needed the momentum after some less than successful outings and it’s not like Ishii is going to be hurt by taking a fall. This makes the most sense, but dang that’s a long opener of a Kickoff show.

Kickoff Show: Hook/Eddie Kingston vs. Frat House

The Frat House is answering an open challenge and we immediately go to a split screen interview with La Faccion Ingobernable at the bell. We go back to full screen with Hook throwing Garrison down but a cheap shot drops Kingston. Karter comes in with a dropkick but Kingston manages a middle rope shoulder. It’s back to Hook to clean house until Garrison breaks up a suplex attempt. Everything breaks down and Kingston hits the spinning backfist. The Redrum finishes Karter at 3:22.

Rating: C. That’s what this needed to be as there was no reason to do anything but have Kingston and Hook win a squash. Kingston and Hook aren’t likely to be a big deal in the tag division as it feels like the latest attempt to get Hook over by attaching him to someone popular. It hasn’t really worked yet, but at least they kept it short here.

The Costco Guys are going to face the Don Callis Family at Full Gear when Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta interrupt. AJ is beaten down.

Kickoff Show: Penelope Ford/Megan Bayne vs. Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron

Nightingale knocks Ford into the corner and fires off the clotheslines to start. Cameron comes in for a basement dropkick but she’s smart enough to hand it back to Nightingale to face Bayne. Nightingale clotheslines both villains down at once and drops Cameron down onto Ford. That doesn’t last long as Ford is up with a moonsault to the floor onto both of them and we take a break.

We come back with Cameron managing a spinning DDT to drop Bayne, allowing the tag off to Nightingale. The Babe With The Powerbomb is countered into a hurricanrana and Bayne tosses Ford into Nightingale for a Stunner. Everything breaks down and a series of knockdowns leaves them all on the mat.

Nightingale clotheslines Bayne, who is right back with a middle rope double clothesline. Cameron rolls out of a Doomsday Device but Ford hits a fireman’s carry….we’ll say gutbuster to drop Cameron for two. Cameron’s pumphandle suplex drops Ford though and the Babe With The Powerbomb gives Nightingale the pin at 12:13.

Rating: B-. They were working hard here and I like Nightingale getting a win. In theory these people might be a part of the upcoming Blood & Guts match, though Bayne still needs to be moving on to the next level already. Unfortunately there is a good chance that she and Ford will be going after the Women’s Tag Team Titles, which doesn’t exactly feel like what is best for Bayne. For now though, I’ll take Nightingale getting a pin.

Kickoff Show: FTR vs. Jet Speed

So the bell rings with 4:20 to go before the pay per view starts so yes, this show (one of two Kickoff Shows) is going to have an overrun. Knight gets taken into the wrong corner to tart but he jumps over them and brings in Bailey to clean house. FTR is sent outside and taken down again with some stereo dives. Knight dives off the barricade to take Harwood down but a running DDT is blocked back inside.

They all crash to the floor…and the Kickoff Show ends, meaning we’ll pick it up on the main show. We get some pyro while the match is going on and Harwood piledrives Bailey for two. Knight’s DDT gets the same and he rams Wheeler into Stokely Hathaway. Wheeler sends Bailey into the apron and the Sharpshooter goes on, with Knight having to make the rope.

The PowerPlex is broken up but the Shatter Machine connects, only for Bailey to shooting star knee in for the save. Bailey kicks away at Harwood and another PowerPlex attempt is blocked with raised knees. Bailey’s suplex is broken up with a trip from Hathaway, who holds the leg so Harwood can get the pin at 12:19.

Rating: B. The match was fine, though the break between shows in the middle didn’t so much make me think it was interesting as much as “good grief this is already feeling really long”. Aside from that, at least FTR won their first big match after the big attack on Beth Copeland, which feels like it has already been forgotten for the time being. At least Jet Speed didn’t win either, which is always a nice perk.

We recap Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla. Hayter returned and was attacked by Thekla, leading to a long running feud. It seems to have set up Blood & Guts next month, with this as a stopping point.

Lou Thesz’s widow is here.

Thekla vs. Jamie Hayter

Everyone is banned from ringside. Hayter kicks her in the face to start and hammers away on the mat before pulling Thekla back up. Thekla needs a breather on the floor, so Hayter follows her out for some rams into various things. Some chops connect in front of Thesz’s widow (a rather sweet woman named Charlie) but Thekla is back up with a big dive off the top to the floor. Hayter’s back seems to have been banged up on the crash, which tends to be a recurring theme for her.

Back in and Thekla slows things down, including the triangle choke over the ropes. Hayter gets in a forearm to cut her off though and snaps off a suplex for a needed breather. A running clothesline looks to set up a brainbuster but Thekla knees her in the head for the escape. Thekla catches her on top, only to get dropped with a headbutt. Some kicks to the head set up a fireman’s carry backbreaker to put Thekla down again.

They forearm it out from their knees until Thekla is back up with a Black Widow. Well that makes sense. Hayter reverses with a backbreaker but Thekla pulls her into something like a Black Widow on the mat. That’s broken up as well and the rather small Thekla hits a spear. Hayter shrugs that off and hits a clothesline, followed by Hayterade for the pin at 15:25.

Rating: B-. This was rather long and didn’t really feel like anything but a Collision main event. It’s ok enough for the start of a show (or at least the first match that aired in full) and should help build towards Blood & Guts. In theory it would be better for Thekla to win as she’s not quite as big of a deal as Hayter, but they both needed to win here given their current situations.

Post match Queen Aminata comes out to celebrate with Hayter.

We recap the Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express. The Express returned last month and the Bucks attacked them. As a bonus, the Bucks are broke and this is for $500,000.

Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express

For $500,000 (which is just sitting in a bag on the announcers’ table). We get a graphic showing that the Bucks have about $32 and a repeating electronic voice saying “INSUFFICIENT FUNDS, TRANSACTION DENIED”. Perry and Matt start things off with an exchange of shoves until Matt hammers him down. That’s cut off and Perry goes after the arm before handing it off to Luchasaurus.

Nick comes in and gets powerbombed onto Matt so the Bucks head outside, where Luchasaurus moonsaults onto both of them. Perry dives onto them as well and gives a rather Adam Cole looking smile. Matt is able to come back with a Sliced Bread on the floor, leaving Nick to check on the money. Back in and a backbreaker/slingshot legdrop combination has Perry in more trouble.

Matt knees Luchasaurus off the apron and drops Perry again, allowing the Bucks to do their double biceps pose. Perry is hung on the top rope for a double stomp to the back…which makes him bounce off for a hurricanrana to Matt. That’s either terribly stupid, totally awesome or both. Either way it allows the tag off to Luchasaurus who has to flip away from the double superkicks. Matt gets chokeslammed onto Nick and a reverse powerbomb/cutter combination gets two.

It’s back to Perry, who gets draped over the top rope, with the double stomp into the sitout powerbomb working this time. Perry gets kicked in the head and winds up on Matt’s (on the floor) shoulders. Nick winds up on Luchasaurus’ shoulders and it’s time for an electric chair slugout. That doesn’t last long until Perry has to escape the TK Driver. A powerbomb onto the apron sets up a spike piledriver/double stomp combination (ala the Lucha Bros), followed by the BTE Trigger for two, with Luchasaurus making the save.

Back up and a chokeslam into a standing moonsault gives Luchasaurus two and a Doomsday Device gets the same. A TK Driver gets two on Matt with Nick making the save this time. The Bucks fire off the superkicks and the BTE Trigger gets two on Perry. Luchasaurus is back in as Perry grabs a poisonrana, followed by the Extinction for the pin on Matt at 23:08.

Rating: B. Good match here as you might have expected given the talent involved, though the Broke Bucks thing has lost a lot of its charm. It feels like something we’ve done to death at this point and thankfully we don’t have to watch them lose it again. At the same time, the Express is getting a bit of momentum after their return, which could turn into something good if it continues.

Post match Perry teases making amends with the Bucks but the Don Callis Family runs in to beat him down. The Bucks leave so cue Kenny Omega to glare at the Bucks and then run in for the save. Omega gets a red scarf and does a quick Antonio Inoki tribute because that’s still a theme on this show.

We recap the Hurt Syndicate vs. the Demand. They’ve been fighting for a few weeks and traded wins so it’s time for a tornado tag to blow it off.

Hurt Syndicate vs. The Demand

Tornado Trios match and the winners get a future Trios Titles match. The brawl starts in the aisle with the Demand taking over and sending MVP into the barricade. A running Spirit Gun cuts Lashley down and he gets sent into the steps. Back in and Benjamin takes over on the Gates until Ricochet makes a save. Ricochet’s suicide dive and Liona’s Pounce drop Lashley and he’s laid on a table.

Benjamin is Open The Gates’d through him and the table, leaving MVP mostly surrounded. Ricochet knocks him down and some running shots in the corner set up running boot/Russian legsweep combination for two. MVP manages to send them outside though and Lashley is back up with some running clotheslines. The Dominator gets two on Ricochet but a superplex is turned into a double powerbomb for a slightly modified Tower Of Doom.

Benjamin suplexes Ricochet over the top onto the pile at ringside and then busts out a great looking running flip dive (being able to do that at any age, let alone 50, is nuts). MVP is back in with Ballin to Ricochet but Liona makes the save. Benjamin gives Liona an enziguri and Lashley spears him to the floor. That leaves Ricochet alone against the entire Syndicate (nice mirroring from earlier) but Kaun pulls him outside to take his place. The spear gives Lashley the pin at 13:27.

Rating: B. These guys work well together, though the Syndicate moving forward is the right move. They feel like bigger stars and while I don’t care to see them go after the Trios Titles, I’ll take it over the Demand winning. Just let this be it for the feud, which it certainly seems to be.

We recap Kyle Fletcher defending the TNT Title against Mark Briscoe. They’ve done this four times now and this is round five.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe

Briscoe is challenging and takes him down by the arm to start, which is broken up rather quickly. Fletcher gets up and strikes a double bicep but Briscoe knocks him outside. Back in and they stare each other down as commentary bickers over Briscoe’s IQ. Briscoe knocks him outside and chops away, setting up the Bang Bang Elbow. A superkick knocks Fletcher back to the floor, where Briscoe sits him in a chair.

The big running flip dive sends Fletcher through the chair but he’s able to get back up and superkick Briscoe down. Fletcher powerbombs him onto the steps and stomps away in the corner, followed by a Michinoku Driver for two. Back up and they trade forearms, big boots, and then clotheslines to put them both down again. Briscoe fights up but can’t get a Death Valley Driver or a Jay Driller.

Fletcher’s sitout powerbomb gets two, with Briscoe’s belt being broken on the impact. They go to the corner where Fletcher slips out of a super Razor’s Edge and grabs a top rope superplex for the big crash instead. They head out to the apron again where Briscoe hits a Jay Driller, leaving them both down on the floor. Back in and Fletcher can’t hit another superplex, instead being laid on the top rope for a Froggy Bow (that’s a new one).

Another Froggy Bow to the floor connects with a standing Fletcher, followed by a regular version for two back inside. Briscoe Jay Drillers him down but Fletcher reaches over and gets a single finger on the rope. The Cutthroat Driver is broken up but Fletcher slips out and nearly crushes the referee. A low blow and brainbuster get two, followed by a lawn dart into the corner. The brainbuster onto the turnbuckle retains the title at 24:47.

Rating: B+. This was a heck of a match with the two of them beating the fire out of each other. Fletcher getting a win helps make up for last month’s loss and it was cool to see him come out fighting after surviving a bunch of things from Briscoe. I liked this a good deal and Fletcher’s rather impressive rise continues.

Post match the Conglomeration comes out to help Briscoe up.

We recap Toni Storm challenging Kris Statlander for the Women’s Title. Statlander won the title last month by pinning Storm in a four way. Storm needs to know if she can win one on one and now it’s the big showdown. Logical storytelling there.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm vs. Kris Statlander

Statlander is defending and Storm gets a weird entrance, talking about how she is ready to meet her murderer but death isn’t ready for her. Statlander gets a singing entrance, which sounded like either Storm or Harley Cameron. They go with the grappling to start and Storm grabs a headlock takeover. Statlander’s headlock is broken up with a headscissors but she slaps it right back on.

Storm is able to send her to the apron for a hip attack but the tornado DDT to the floor is broken up. Instead Statlander kicks her to the floor for a quick moonsault, followed by a slingshot hilo for two back inside. A bodyscissors stays on Storm’s ribs and a hard lariat drops Storm for another near fall. Storm is back up with a shot of her own, setting up a tiger driver.

Statlander shrugs that off and electric chairs her into something like a Black Widow on the mat. Storm’s leg makes the rope and her choke sends Statlander over to the ropes as well. Something like a Blue Thunder Bomb puts Storm back down and a 450 gives Statlander a rather near fall. Storm shrugs off a German suplex but walks into Staturday Night Fever. A headscissor choke with the arm trapped has Storm in more trouble until another Staturday Night Fever retains the title at 16:35.

Rating: B-. This was a hard enough hitting match but it never hit that next level. I like the idea of Statlander winning and it’s the right call, though having her try for the submission and then let it go, seemingly in frustration, wasn’t the best look. It was a good enough match with the right result though and that’s what matters the most.

Post match Mercedes Mone comes to the ring for the big staredown. She brings up her open challenge for a title vs. title match and it’s on.

TBS Title/ROH Interim Women’s TV Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Mina Shirakawa

Title for title. Shirakawa kicks at the knee to send Mone outside, meaning it’s time for some quick dancing. Back in and the Statement Maker is broken up but a second attempt works a bit better for Mone. That’s broken up so Mone goes with a Backstabber into a gutbuster for two. Mone knees her out of the corner for two and Three Amigos connect. Shirakawa breaks up a Figure Four attempt and gets Meteoraed right back down.

Back up and they trade forearms until Mone twists the knee around. The knee is bent over the rope and Shirakawa hits a top rope Sling Blade for two. The Glamorous Driver and Mone Maker are both blocked so Shirakawa grabs a Glamorous Driver for another near fall. Now the Figure Four can put Mone in trouble but she gets to the ropes rather quickly. Naturally that means a running Meteora, followed by a middle rope version AND a running version in the corner.

The third one misses so Shirakawa hits a discus forearm and a big kick to the head. Another Figure Four is escaped so Mone pokes her in the eye and gets two off a rollup. The Statement Maker goes on until Shirakawa reverses into a rollup for two. The Mone Maker connects with Shirakawa getting a hand on the rope to save herself. Mone is rammed into the buckle a few times but reverses into a rollup and puts a foot on the rope to retain at 16:12.

Rating: B-. Well at least Mone won. It’s been so long since she won anything that the only solution was to give her another win. They’re trying to promote the idea that she has all of the titles and…yeah I’m still not caring, as ROH means nothing in the first place so the Interim (again: stupid concept that needs to go FAR away) midcard title doesn’t exactly mean much. Throw in Mone not selling the knee and it was a bit annoying to watch. If Mone won’t sell the knee, why should Shirakawa even bother?

Post match Kris Statlander comes out to scare Mone off.

We recap the Tag Team Title match. Bandido and Brody King are the new champions who have been an instant success, while Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita are having trouble getting along.

Tag Team Titles: Bandido/Brody King vs. Don Callis Family

The Family is challenging. Bandido and Okada lock up to start and we actually get a clean break. Okada gets backed up against the ropes for a standoff but manages to take Bandido down for an elbow. Takeshita comes in for the exchange of forearms and it’s off to King, who gets knocked into the wrong corner. Okada’s neckbreaker drops King again and Okada knocks Bandido off the apron in a smart move.

King gets fired up and fights back, allowing Bandido to come back in with a spinning high crossbody. Bandido’s big moonsault to the floor takes the Family down, followed by King dropping Bandido onto Takeshita back inside. We pause for the Macarena, with Okada breaking it up in a hurry (as he should have). That leaves Okada to do a middle finger Macarena before going after Bandido’s banged up shoulder. Takeshita sends the arm into the buckle, followed by a posting from Okada.

King gets knocked outside and sent into the barricade, leaving Okada to drop a top rope elbow. The Family bickers though and Bandido chops away, allowing the much needed tag off to King. That means the Family gets stacked up in the corner for a double Cannonball but Okada is back with an Air Raid Crash onto the knee. Bandido’s Code Red gets two on Takeshita and they trade some big strikes to the face. Takeshita counters the 21 Plex though and Okada dropkicks Bandido into the corner.

King Cannonballs Okada again and Takeshita gets planted for a shooting star press from Bandido for two in a great sequence. Back up and Takeshita shrugs off Bandido’s chops and knocks him down hard. The running knee is loaded up but Okada tags himself in, much to Takeshita’s annoyance. The confusion lets Bandido get over for the tag to Bandido and Takeshita is sent outside. Running shots in the corner set up a fire thunder driver for two on Okada.

Takeshita slips out of a Doomsday Device attempt and manages to wheelbarrow suplex King. The 21 Plex is blocked though…leaving King to German suplex all three of them at once. Everyone is down so King is sent outside, leaving Bandido to kick at both of them. Okada Rainmakers Takeshita by mistake…and doesn’t seem to mind. Naturally Bandido can X Knee Okada with one arm but the arm gives out on the 21 Plex. King is back up with a suicide dive to Takeshita though and now the 21 Plex can hit Okada to retain the titles at 27:30.

Rating: A-. This turned into a heck of a match at the end, which is a great thing to see. Bandido is doing some incredible work at the moment and King compliments him very well. This was a nice mixture of multiple stories at the same time, with Takeshita and Okada’s issues possibly near the top. Awesome match here, as tends to be the case with Bandido and King.

Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa say they’ve lost everything but still have each other. Sounds like the Tag Team Titles are up next.

We recap Samoa Joe challenging Hangman Page for the World Title. Page accidentally disrespected Joe (even Page said he was confused by what happened) and it’s time to fight.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe

Page is defending and after the Big Match Intros, we’re ready to go. Joe backs him into the corner for a cocky clean break to start before grabbing a headlock. That’s broken up so Joe knocks him hard to the floor for a breather. Back in and Page’s kick to the face is shrugged off, allowing Joe to run him over with an elbow. Page fights out again and tries the moonsault, which is broken up rather quickly.

Instead Joe is low bridged to the floor, where he avoids the moonsault again. Page dropkicks him against the barricade and they head back inside, where Joe plants him with the Rock Bottom out of the corner. The double arm crank keeps Page in trouble and the backsplash gives Joe two. Page charges into a powerslam for two but the jabs to the face just wake him up. An enziguri staggers Joe and they trade kicks to the head.

A running boot sends Joe outside so he slides back in, where Page almost entirely misses a moonsault. It gets two anyway but Joe powerbombs him into the STF. That’s switched into the crossface, which is switched into something like the Rings of Saturn. Page gets out and powerbombs him out of the corner for two more. The Deadeye is broken up and Joe shouts COME ON MOTHERF*****, which is exactly what Page does. The comeback is cut off with a Koquina Clutch, with Page getting a foot onto the rope. Joe can’t get the MuscleBuster and walks into a Deadeye for two. Three straight Buckshot Lariats retain the title at 19:02.

Rating: B. This still didn’t feel like a big time title match but it had some good moments. The good thing about these two is they can have a hard hitting fight and make it work. That’s what they managed to make happen here, with Joe always being able to bring it and Page more than holding up his end. I wasn’t buying the threat of a title change, but that’s ok in a match like this.

Post match the Opps come out to check on Joe and respect is shown…and then the Opps beat Page down. The MuscleBuster onto the belt knocks Page silly. I’m glad to see Joe as a heel again, but it might be better had he not just gotten pinned clean.

Mercedes Mone yells about Kris Statlander ruining her big night and wants the Women’s Title at Full Gear.

We recap Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin. They hate each other, they’ve hated each other for a long time, and they hate each other enough to have an I Quit match. And something about climbing Mt. Everest.

Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley

I Quit and Marina Shafir is here with Moxley. Allin whips out the flag from the top of Mt. Everest and they’re already on the floor. That doesn’t last long as Moxley comes back in and snaps off a shotgun dropkick. Moxley starts hammering away and sends him ear first into the rope. Allin is sent into the steps and the barricade before Moxley stretches the arm across the steps. Shafir brings in some skewers, which are jammed under Allin’s fingernails.

After making sure that his nail is still there, Allin wins a slugout and grabs a Code Red for a needed breather. Allin gets simple by choking with the flag before just hamming on the apron. The Coffin Drop only hits apron though and Moxley stomps on his head. Some whipping with a belt sets up a piledriver and Moxley yells at him a lot. Allin invites him to whip with the belt and is immediately knocked down again.

Somehow Allin gets over to the corner and whips out some lighter fluid to spray in Moxley’s eyes. More Death Riders run in but get chased off, allowing Moxley to hit a cutter. Moxley wipes the fluid off and shocks him with a taser (of course). A Stomp sets up a bulldog choke but Allin flips him off instead of quitting. Castagnoli gorilla presses Allin from the ring onto the announcers’ table and Moxley adds a Death Rider through a regular table at ringside. The fans declare this murder and it’s time for…an aquarium?

The Death Riders put water into said aquarium so Moxley can attempt to drown him. Rather than murder Allin, Moxley lets him out and yells a lot…as the lights go out. STING is here (with white hair and a big white/black beard) to clear out the Death Riders (and smash the aquarium). Sting throws Allin the bat and leaves, kidnapping Shafir in the process. Moxley tells Allin to hit him with the bat, which he does, followed by a Scorpion Death Drop with the flag. The Coffin Drop into the Scorpion Deathlock (in the water from the aquarium) makes Moxley give up at 26:05.

Rating: B. I’m not sure what to say here and that’s a good thing in this case. My biggest worry coming into the match was that it was going to be total insanity with some really stupid ending. The aquarium got close but it didn’t quite get that far. Sting not attacking Moxley was a good touch as well, as he didn’t so much help Allin beat Moxley as much as he evened the odds, which is a fine way to go. It didn’t go too far and it didn’t reach a level of insanity, so I’ll call this about as much of a success as it could be.

Allin celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. I’ll call it a good show overall, with the Tag Team and TNT Title matches being the highlights. As usual, there’s nothing bad on the show but the biggest problem is that it ran so long. I wasn’t so much interested by the end as much as I was wondering how much longer this was going to go. Other than that though, it’s hard to get overly annoyed here, as tends to be the case with the pay per views.

Results
Death Riders b. Conglomeration/Roderick Strong – Running knee to Ishii
Hook/Eddie Kingston b. Frat House – Redrum to Karter
Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron b. Penelope Ford/Megan Bayne – Babe With The Powerbomb to Ford
FTR b. Jet Speed – Rollup with Hathaway holding the leg
Jamie Hayter b. Thekla – Hayterade
Jurassic Express b. Young Bucks – Extinction to Matt
Hurt Syndicate b. The Demand – Spear to Kaun
Kyle Fletcher b. Mark Briscoe – Brainbuster onto the turnbuckle
Kris Statlander b. Toni Storm – Staturday Night Fever
Mercedes Mone b. Mina Shirakawa – Rollup with foot on the ropes
Bandido/Brody King b. Don Callis Family – 21 Plex to Okada
Hangman Page b. Samoa Joe – Buckshot Lariat
Darby Allin b. Jon Moxley – Scorpion Deathlock

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

AEW is back on pay per view and it doesn’t seem like they’ve been away for very long. The card is not so much centered around the main event for the World Title as much as it is built around a violent grudge match. That is something that could work out well, though hopefully they aren’t still going into Sunday morning. The card is looking ok enough though so let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Hook/Eddie Kingston vs. ???

It’s an open challenge, because wrestling loves those things these days. Kingston is the latest star Hook is being attached to in an effort to get him over and as usual, it’s only kind of working. I’m not sure what that is going to mean, but it almost has to be better than watching Kingston wrestle on his own. Hopefully it winds up working here, but it might depend on the opponents.

I’ll bet on Hook and Kingston winning here and it’ll likely be against the Swirl (or the MxM Collection). Either way, it’s not a match that needs to be on this show at all and is just a way to get Kingston back in the ring. As usual, AEW feels the need to get as much action as they can out there and Hook/Kingston are hardly the most interesting idea, as the whole “we’re from New York” deal doesn’t feel like it has the longest shelf life.

Kickoff Show: FTR vs. Jet Speed

Well, it’s better than no FTR. Jet Speed is the latest team that AEW is pushing every chance they can, though that shouldn’t matter when FTR is coming off what happened at All Out. FTR had the big angle with Adam and Beth Copeland and yet here they are on the Kickoff Show. That’s quite the way to go, though it’s not like they have anything else going on at the moment.

I’ll take FTR to win here as they have a bigger story going on, though you never know with what they might do around here. Hopefully sanity prevails here, as there is no reason to have them lose in their first pay per view match after the whole taking out Beth Copeland. The match should be good, even though it feels like it should be the main event of a Collision, which is almost what this show is so maybe it fits.

Kickoff Show: Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron vs. Divine Vanity

So here we….hang on. DIVINE VANITY? Sweet goodness can we stop with the team names that sound like discount perfume? Megan Bayne is a star and could be the next challenger for the Women’s Title, but she’s now part of a team with a horrible name. I have no idea who thinks of these names but they do it in all kinds of promotions these days and it’s really annoying.

With that out of the way, give me Bayne and Ford to win, with Bayne hopefully getting away from the tag team almost immediately. She’s been presented as a major star and a dominant force, though that’s only going to last so long if she’s stuck going after the Tag Team Titles. Odds are that’s what happens, but either way she should be on the winning side here.

Kickoff Show: Conglomeration/Roderick Strong vs. Death Riders

It feels like we’ve seen this match about a dozen times in recent weeks, but that might just be due to how frequently the Death Riders are in the ring. This is likely the big main event of the Kickoff Show and should get a bit of time, with the Death Riders being such a big deal. At the same time, it isn’t a guarantee that they’ll win, as they have only had so much success as of late.

Give me the Death Riders to win here, as it would be strange to have Pac lose again so soon after his big return. Orange Cassidy already beat him once so doing it again might be a bit of a stretch. Either way, I could certainly go for a break from the Death Riders, as the idea has been beaten into the ground for a long time now and the impact is rapidly losing its impact. Odds are they win here though, as they are always featured in some way.

Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla

This is another match in the build towards next month’s Blood & Guts, which is happening despite the story not really feeling like it’s going in that direction. Thekla vs. Hayter has definitely been a feud that has been set up for a few months now, though this definitely doesn’t feel like the big blowoff to the whole thing. Both of them need a win before they get to the big match in November, so we’ll see where we go from here.

I’ll take Hayter to win here, as she can beat Thekla and then get beaten down by the rest of the Triangle Of Madness. That allows both of them to move forward towards November, which is the whole point of this. It’s a great example of a match that could be taken off the show without much being taken away, or it should have been on the Kickoff Show at best. Either way, I’ll take Hayter to win here as she continues to get back to where she was before her injury.

Jurassic Express vs. Young Bucks

This is another match for money, because just having a match for the sake of winning a match is too passe. I’m also not sure why Tony Khan would put the Bucks, who have wasted his money for years and abused their power, in a match where they can get what they want more than anything else. Other than that, it’s the Express’ first real match since they came back so now we get to see how serious they’ll be treated.

In theory, there is no reason for the Express to lose here so I’ll take them to win. They’re freshly back and seemingly popular, plus the whole point of the Bucks is that they need to be broke. Otherwise, how could they be on TV doing their wacky comedy that they’ve been doing for weeks now? Just let the Bucks lose again, as I’ll take that over them dominating the tag division for months on end.

Hurt Syndicate vs. The Demand

Speaking of terrible names, we have the Demand getting another shot here, albeit in a Tornado Trios match. I’m glad they added the stipulation as it was looking like a regular six man tag coming into this, would would make for a terrible rematch after the street fight. They’ve done a nice job of making me wonder who wins here, and that’s made this a lot more interesting than it could have been.

I’ll actually go with the Demand to win here, mainly on a total hunch. In theory, they’ve got something to do going forward, as the Hurt Syndicate has already had a long Tag Team Title reign. Unless they’re going after the Trios Titles (please no), it might be time for them to see what they can do in some singles matches. The Demand might be interesting getting a push of their own and they can start that with a win here.

TNT Title: Kyle Fletcher(c) vs. Mark Briscoe

These two have been feuding for a good while now and it’s nice to see Briscoe getting this kind of a chance. They’re in their fifth match together and that should make for a bit more drama. It’s easier to believe that the title could change hands here, though I’m not sure I can buy the idea of Fletcher losing on back to back pay per views. That’s where things kind of fall apart here.

As you might guess, I’ll take Fletcher to retain the title here as it would be a not so great idea to have him lose another pay per view title match. Fletcher is likely going to become a big star in AEW sooner than later and is already one of the bigger names in the Don Callis Family. I’ll go with him winning here, as Briscoe winning another big match feels like quite the stretch.

Women’s Title: Kris Statlander(c) vs. Toni Storm

Statlander took the title from Storm last month in a four way match where she did manage to pin Storm, so at least she doesn’t feel like a paper champion. They did need to do a singles version of the title match as well though and this is it, even with Storm’s rather odd way to build towards the showdown. They could have a good match here, though I have a feeling I know where it’s going.

I’m going with Statlander to retain here due to a mixture of two things. First of all, Storm has had the title for such a long time now and it’s well past the time for someone new to get a chance. Statlander can be that someone, at least for the time being, as that brings us to the other factor. That would be Megan Bayne, who seems like she could be ready to be the first (and perhaps last) challenger to Statlander’s title reign. For that to happen, Statlander has to win here, which she will.

Tag Team Titles: Bandido/Brody King(c) vs. Don Callis Family

So here we have something of a dilemma, as there are two options in this case. You could go with Okada and Takeshita falling apart and losing the title shot as a result, leaning into their long teased feud. On the other, and far more annoying hand, there is the option of “these guys don’t get along but they’re the new Tag Team Champions!” That doesn’t interest me in the slightest, so here we go.

I’ll take the Family to win, as the idea of the two of them being partners who don’t get along but have to face off in the Continental Classic is likely too tempting for Tony Khan to pass up. Bandido and King have been a nice surprise as champions, but the idea of someone being the IWGP World Champion and an AEW champion is something that AEW would pounce on if given the chance, which is what they have here. New champions abound in an annoying booking trope.

AEW World Title: Hangman Page(c) vs. Samoa Joe

This is the latest mostly thrown together title match for Page, who really hasn’t had much to do since winning the belt. That’s quite the problem, but it’s what you get when there are about fifteen people tied up in two heel stables. Your options to come for the title are limited and that’s what we’re seeing here. Joe is a fine choice for a challenger, but it all feels like we’re treading water until we get to the real challenger.

I don’t see any reason to believe that Joe is winning here so we’ll go with the logical pick of Page retaining. Page needs to beat some big names before MJF gets back to be his major challenger and Joe meets the qualifications, though he has pretty much no chance of winning here. That was obvious from the time the match was set, but at least they’ll get to beat the daylights out of each other.

Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley

Whether it goes on last or not, this is absolutely the real main event of the show in the form of an I Quit match. The idea here is that these two will do all kinds of horrible violent things to each other and….yeah I don’t care. I’ve been utterly sick of the Death Riders and Moxley in particular for months now, and the whole deal with Allin pulling out a Molotov Cocktail the other night was the point of no return for me. It’s silly at this point and….something about climbing Mount Everest? Either way, they’re going to fight and that’s what matters here.

The thing is though, I actually think Moxley wins. They’ve been building up the idea that ALLIN WILL NOT QUIT NO MATTER WHAT for weeks now and it feels like a way to set up some big swerve where he does in fact quit. Giving Moxley another win is about as dumb of an idea as they can have, but it would not surprise me in the slightest to see them do this one more time at Full Gear. I’ll pick Moxley in a choice that already feels wrong but AEW can do some wacky things.

Overall Thoughts

As has been the case with a few of AEW’s recent shows, this does not feel like a major pay per view. The World Title match feels slapped on, the Tag Team Title match is more about the challengers’ issues with each other and Moxley vs. Allin feels like it’s going to be about doing the wackiest stunts possible. There are some interesting matches on here (Joe vs. Page should at least be entertaining and the Hurt Syndicate is always worth a look), but a 12 match card that is likely to go about five hours total (minimum) is going to make for a long, long night. As always.

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: October 11, 2025
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s Homecoming, meaning we’re back where the show has only been a few times over the years. It’s hard to say what we’re getting here, but with WrestleDream in a week, I would hope that some more of the pay per view card starts to come together. Hopefully the show is a bit more interesting this time around. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Triangle Of Madness, Harley Cameron, Kris Statlander, Toni Storm, Bryan Keith, Big Bill, Anthony Bowens, Max Caster (bickering with Bowens), FTR, Penelope Ford, Jet Speed and Willow Nightingale are ready to fight.

Opening sequence.

Kota Ibushi vs. Josh Alexander

Don Callis is here with Alexander. Feeling out process to start with Alexander taking him up against the ropes. They do the same thing with the roles reversed and Alexander bails out to the floor. Back in and Alexander shoulders him down but Ibushi slips out of a fireman’s carry to send Alexander outside. The slingshot dive drops Alexander again but he’s right back with a DDT on the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Ibushi grabbing a powerslam but getting caught on the top. Ibushi slips out of that and grabs a dragon suplex before kicking Alexander in the face. A standing moonsault gives Ibushi two but Alexander rolls through into an ankle lock. That doesn’t last long (it rarely does for Alexander) and he hits a torture rack bomb.

Ibushi shrugs that off and hits a running knee for two more. Alexander is right back with a World’s Strongest Slam onto the apron, followed by a running forearm for another near fall. They go up top and crash down to the floor…Ibushi has broken his leg. Alexander wins via a quick countout at 14:01.

Rating: B-. They were getting going near the end here before the injury and egads there is nothing good about that. I’m not sure how much of a future Ibushi is going to have given his injury issues, but odds are this is going to be another long time away from the ring. That’s going to be a big change of pace for everyone and hopefully AEW has a fresh idea in mind for where to go next.

Post match Callis grabs the mic and says this is what happens when you mess with the Family. Mark Davis returns to go after Ibushi but Kenny Omega runs in for the save. It was a messy angle, but given the circumstances, I’m thinking that can be excused.

Mark Briscoe knows Kyle Fletcher fears him and it’s time for Briscoe to finally win the TNT Title.

Video on Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe.

Bryan Keith/Big Bill vs. Max Caster/Anthony Bowens

Caster and Keith start things off, mainly due to Caster tagging himself in. Keith takes him down to start but Bowens tags himself in, with Caster kicking some of Bowens’ magazine covers away. A facebuster takes Keith down and it’s off to Bill for a change. Caster and Bowens argue over who has to fight him until Caster gets his eyes raked and back forearmed.

A shot to the face staggers Bill though and Bowens comes in with a running Fameasser. Bowens and Caster stare at each other until Bill pulls Bowens outside. Caster gets double teamed and we take a break. We come back with Keith holding Bowens in a headlock, which is broken up so Caster can springboard in to start the comeback. A Death Valley Driver gets two on Keith but Bowens breaks up a top rope elbow. That’s enough for Bowens and Caster to argue, leaving Bowens to Mollywop Keith for the pin at 10:20.

Rating: C+. Well, it’s better than the five minute challenges and Bowens just floating around with nothing important to do. I’m not sure where this is going, but it seems something like a reunion where they get along in spite of their issues. The team was great in their day and it’s not like either of them was doing anything on their own anyway, so this is at least an upgrade.

The Bang Bang Gang is in the back when Bryan Keith and Big Bill run in for the argument.

Anna Jay/Tay Melo vs. Dream Girl Ellie/Carolina Cruz

Jay backs Cruz into the corner to start and a double hip attack crushes her head. A running faceplant drops Ellie and everything breaks down. Some running kicks in the corner set up a Gory Bomb into a knee from Melo for the pin at 2:11.

The Conglomeration is ok while Mark Briscoe is away. They don’t like that other Kyle and Willow Nightingale does Briscoe’s sendoff. And better than she should be doing.

Video on the Demand vs. Hurt Syndicate, who will fight again at WrestleDream.

We look back at Darby Allin almost lighting a Molotov Cocktail on Dynamite. Because that was a thing. Nigel McGuinness: “They have lost the plot.” Allin and Jon Moxley got in a fight at New York City Comic Con as well.

The Death Riders don’t think much of Allin, with Pac accusing him of using too many weapons and props.

Toni Storm/Kris Statlander/Harley Cameron vs. Triangle Of Madness

Storm jumps Thekla and knocks her into the corner to start, followed by a Thesz press. Cameron comes in and, after escaping Blue’s fireman’s carry, hits a basement dropkick. Statlander drops Cameron onto Blue for two but Blue pulls Statlander into the corner. Hart comes in and takes Cameron down with a DDT and we take a break.

We come back with Cameron fighting out of trouble but Blue knocks Storm off the apron. That doesn’t last long as Storm is back up and gets the tag to come in and clean house. Storm Zero is broken up and Blue’s superkick allows the tag back to Hart. The double suplex is broken up and Storm hands it back to Statlander, who drops Blue onto Hart for two. Everything breaks down and Statlander almost superkicks Storm by mistake so the villains throw them into each other. Thekla spears Cameron for the win at 11:27.

Rating: C+. The Triangle is a good enough team, though I’m almost worried about who is going to join them for Blood & Guts next month. The lineups are still moving around a bit, though Storm and Statlander would make perfect sense. This was a nice way to get the Triangle looking stronger, which has been done fairly well since their debut.

Kenny Omega is sick of Don Callis and is ready to deal with him. Jack Perry comes in and Omega isn’t happy, but Perry is sorry for what happened to Kota Ibushi. Perry has his back and goes to leave but Omega wants to know what is going on. Perry says they have the same enemies, though Omega isn’t convinced. He does not have Perry’s back, but if Perry wants to prove something, he can do it on Dynamite. This was a more serious than usual Omega.

Kris Statlander and Harley Cameron say things are not getting tense between Statlander and Toni Storm. Cameron says she can’t team with Statlander to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles but Statlander gets it, as she has to defend the Women’s Title. Cameron thinks that means she’s a tag team orphan (she manages to make that sound so sad) but Wheeler Yuta interrupts. Storm interrupts the interruption and yells at Statlander before pulling her shirt open.

Here is MxM TV for their casting call. They’re ready to fight, as last week the Don Callis Family failed to defeat them, just like the people here failed to make their parents proud.

MxM TV vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

Dralistico takes over on TV to start and drops him with a spinning kick to the head. Guevara comes in for a dropkick but gets to face Maddin, who chokebombs him down for two. Dralistico and Rush come in for a double basement dropkick to Maddin, only for Taya Valkyrie to hurricanrana Dralistico on the floor. Everything breaks down and Dralistico hits a top rope Codebreaker on Mansoor. The Bull’s Horns and an ugly Swanton finishes Mansoor at 3:47.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time here but they crammed in quite a bit with the amount they had. LFI is getting some more attention and television time in the last few weeks, which is only so much of a good idea in a company with multiple big heel stables. TV losing over and over isn’t a bad thing, though it feels a lot like what Max Caster was doing a few months ago.

Eddie Kingston vs. The Beast Mortos

They trade running shoulders to start with Kingston getting the better of things. The threat of the spinning backfist sends Mortos bailing to the floor, with Kingston grabbing a headlock back inside. Mortos knocks him down though and we take a break. We come back with Mortos getting two off a running clothesline but missing a running knee in the corner. A hangman’s neckbreaker gives Kingston two and they take turns biting each other’s hands. Mortos gets two off a spear but he misses a corkscrew moonsault. The spinning backfist finishes for Kingston at 8:00.

Rating: C+. This was the best Kingston has looked since he’s come back, which might be due to the match not running very long. At the same time, Kingston got to brawl a bit more here, which suits him that much better. He’s still finding his footing after such a long break, but there is only so much you can get out of matches like these.

The Triangle Of Madness is jumped by Jamie Hayter and Queen Aminata. Security breaks it up.

Katsuyori Shibata is back and issues a challenger to LFI for a Trios Titles match on Dynamite.

FTR/Megan Bayne vs. Jet Speed/Willow Nightingale

Stokely Hathaway and Penelope Ford are here too. The women start things off and shove each other away a few times, with an exchange of shoulders goes nowhere. Bayne knocks her down but Nightingale is back up with some clotheslines in the corner. Knight and Harwood come in, with Harwood taking over, only for Knight to fire off some dropkicks. Wheeler gets dropkicked off the apron and Knight hits a springboard clothesline on Harwood. Nightingale Cannonballs Harwood to give Knight two but Bayne shoves Harwood out of the way of a dive.

We take a break and come back with Bailey getting the tag to clean house, including Knight dropkicking Harwood into a rollup for two. Everything breaks down and Bayne hits a dive to the floor. Harwood brainbusters Bailey for two but Bailey is back with his bouncing kicks. A tornado DDT drops Wheeler but Bayne comes in to forearm Bailey. He takes her down for a change and hands it off to Nightingale, who beats up FTR (to the fans’ delight).

Knight dives onto Wheeler as Nightingale spinebusters Harwood for two. Ford’s distraction breaks up the Babe With The Powerbomb but the villains get caught in stereo half crabs. Those are broken up so Jet Speed dives onto FTR on the floor. That leaves Bayne to powerbomb Nightingale out of the corner for the pin at 14:41.

Rating: B. This was a fun brawl with Nightingale being strong enough to hang with FTR. That made for some good moments, though Bayne continues to smash through most of the competition. There is a good chance that she’ll wind up in Blood & Guts, though after that she needs to win some singles gold in a hurry.

Post match Bayne and Ford go after Nightingale again but Harley Cameron makes the save with a guitar handle.

Overall Rating: B-. Nice show here, though they are banking a lot on that women’s Blood & Guts match. It’s the dominant story around here and that’s kind of an issue, as we don’t even know a lot of the lineup yet. You can piece enough of it together from here, but dang that’s a bit of a gamble. Other than that, it was the usual midcard content around here, which went well enough, though it was a pretty run of the mill week.

Results
Josh Alexander b. Kota Ibushi via countout
Max Caster/Anthony Bowens b. Bryan Keith/Big Bill – Mollywop to Keith
Anna Jay/Tay Melo b. Dream Girl Ellie/Carolina Cruz – Gory Bomb/knee lift combination to Ellie
Triangle Of Madness b. Toni Storm/Kris Statlander/Harley Cameron – Spear to Cameron
La Faccion Ingobernable b. MxM TV – Swanton Bomb to Mansoor
Eddie Kingston b. The Beast Mortos – Spinning backfist
FTR/Megan Bayne b. Jet Speed/Willow Nightingale – Powerbomb to Nightingale

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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