NXT
Date: November 19, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We have some major stakes tonight as Chase U’s future is on the line when Andre Chase faces Ridge Holland. The #1 contendership to the NXT Title is on the line too but that doesn’t seem to be as important. Other than that, we have more Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying matches. Let’s get to it.

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

Axiom and Nathan Frazier still can’t get along over Frazier wanting single success and Axiom wanting to focus on the tag teams.

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Nathan Frazier vs. Eddy Thorpe

Axiom is here with Frazier, who is wrestled down to the mat but Frazier is up with a leg lariat. Various tag teams pop up to watch as Thorpe kicks away in the corner but misses a charge into the buckle. A reverse Hennig necksnap gives Frazier two and they collide for a double knockdown as we take a break. Back with even more teams coming out to distract Frazier, allowing Thorpe to belly to back superplex him down for two. The teams get in a big brawl on the floor so Frazier dives onto them, followed by a swinging suplex to Thorpe. The Phoenix splash gives Frazier the pin at 10:34.

Rating: C+. This was more about the tag stuff, which still isn’t really going anywhere other than a bunch of wild brawling. Frazier getting a spot is fine way to go as he can fly around the ring and do his stuff, which is rather good. The match itself wasn’t the point here and that’s ok, as Thorpe wasn’t likely getting the Challenge spot anyway.

Andre Chase talks to Chase U and goes over some of their accomplishments and how it’s time to put it all on the line to stop Ridge Holland.

Giulia talks about bringing her Beautiful Madness to NXT and promises to win the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge.

Robert Stone and Stevie Turner are with Kelani Jordan, who wants Giulia in a qualifying match next week.

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Jaida Parker vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Parker shoulders her own a few times to start so Vaquer goes after the arm. Some cranking has Parker in trouble until she sends Vaquer into the corner for the sitdown splash as we take a break. Back with Parker hitting a reverse suplex for two and cranking on both arms. Vaquer fights up and hits a running Meteora in the corner, followed by the figure four necklock faceplants onto the mat. Parker is back up with a Falcon Arrow for two but cue Lola Vice to break up the Hipnotic. Vaquer hits a superkick into the package backbreaker for the pin at 10:54.

Rating: C+. This was another match where the result wasn’t quite in question, as Vaquer wasn’t going to lose a singles match so soon into her NXT run. That being said, I’m not wild on having Parker lose again, even with the distraction. Parker is starting to turn into something around here and I could go for having her move up a bit, though she shouldn’t have beaten Vaquer. Put someone else in the spot instead.

Dion Lennox and Brinley Reece fire each other up.

Roxanne Perez is on vacation until after Deadline but Sol Ruca pops up to say she’s coming for the title.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Brooks Jensen

Non-title with Riz and Shawn Spears here as well. D’Angelo forearms him own to start and hammers away in the corner but Jensen gets in a hot shot for a breather. The chinlock goes on with Jensen switching it into a rear naked choke but D’Angelo is back up. D’Angelo bangs up his knee on the ropes and Jensen’s Codebreaker gets two. Back up and the spinebuster finishes Jensen in a hurry at 4:24.

Rating: C. This felt like a way to set up Shawn Spears as the next challenger to D’Angelo, as he can get Jensen to soften D’Angelo up for the title match. D’Angelo as a smashing machine is a little weird but he’s doing well enough. He needs a more interesting challenger than Jensen and Spears though, as I’m not sure how well the latter would go in a big time title match.

Post match Jensen takes out the bad knee again.

Ashante Thee Adonis and Karmen Petrovic are ready for their mixed tag. Flirting is included.

Lexis King is trying to be the best version of himself that he can be and people are starting to take notice. Yoshiki Inamura says he understands and King leaves. Josh Briggs comes in to ask what that was about and Inamura says he doesn’t know because this is a crazy place. We pan over to the tag teams still brawling. Inamura: “My kind of crazy!”

Ashante Thee Adonis/Karmen Petrovic vs. Dion Lennox/Brinley Reece

They come to the ring in Washington State/Oregon State gear for a college football tie-in. The women are set to start but a pair of tags…mean the women are going to start. Or not as more tags mean it’s the men. Or maybe the women. Reece finally rolls Petrovic up for two before Petrovic goes after the arm. Adonis tags himself in and gets hiptossed by Lennox but comes back with some dropkicks. Lennox is sent throat first into the top rope to slow him down again but manages to get over for the tag anyway. Reece cleans house until Adonis offers a flirty distraction, allowing Petrovic to kick her in the face for the pin at 3:54.

Rating: C. This story has been going on for a few months now and I’m still not sure I get the appeal. Petrovic falling for Adonis, who doesn’t seem to have any kind of similar feelings, isn’t making her look bright but it’s giving her something to do. Lennox and Reece still aren’t doing much but they’re good for opponents in a spot like this.

Ridge Holland is ready to end Chase U.

Video on the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Wren Sinclair vs. Zaria

Charlie Dempsey is here with Sinclair. Zaria stalks her to start and blocks a rollup without much effort. Some suplexes have Sinclair down and her dropkick attempt goes badly. Sinclair gets two off a rollup but Zaria knocks her to the floor without much effort. Dempsey offers a distraction so Sinclair can get in a dive, followed by a rollup for two back inside. Zaria has had it with this and hits a spear into the F5 for the pin at 4:04.

Rating: C+. Sinclair got in some offense here but Zaria is all about enacting beast mode and running through anyone in front of her. That’s a good role for her as there is always a place for that kind of a powerhouse. The match was a fine way to get another top name into the challenge, as putting these new names into some kind of a competition is the right way to go.

Tony D’Angelo is banged up but ready to fight Shawn Spears on one leg. Ava agrees and then tells Eddy Thorpe that the tag tams getting involved in his match isn’t enough of a reason to reverse the decision. Thorpe doesn’t like the double standard with D’Angelo and leaves.

Fatal Influence still doesn’t like all of the newcomers but want to fight. Fallon Henley is ready for an open challenge for next week…and here is Meta Four to interrupt. They’re ready to accept but a bunch of other women come in for a brawl. Tatum Paxley jumps Henley and lays her out to hold up the title.

Shawn Spears is pleased with Brooks Jensen.

Karmen Petrovic is happy with Ashante Thee Adonis…but Nikkita Lyons comes in to say she’s still waiting on that text back from Adonis. Petrovic isn’t pleased but Adonis says he never texted Lyons.

Ethan Page is ready to win the Iron Survivor Challenge and he’ll qualify next week.

Nathan Frazier isn’t impressed with Page but Axiom is ready to stop him from winning. Frazier isn’t pleased with Axiom being in but if Frazier can do it, why not him too?

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Andre Chase acknowledges being hard on a bunch of his students….but he wouldn’t apologize for a thing. It’s time to become NXT Champion.

Ridge Holland vs. Andre Chase

For the #1 contendership (Trick Williams is on commentary) and Chase U is basically done if Chase loses. Chase sends him into the corner to start but gets run over with a hard shot. Holland goes outside and pulls up the floor mats but takes too long, allowing Chase to hit a flip dive off the apron. We take a break and come back with Holland muscling him up into a spinning DDT for two.

A low blow takes Chase down again but here is Duke Hudson to pull the referee out and brawl with Holland. That’s broken up so Holland goes after Thea Hail, with Riley Osborne making the save this time. Holland gorilla presses Osborne onto the exposed concrete but Chase is back up for the brawl. Chase’s Russian legsweep into the spelling stomps gets two before a powerbomb out of the corner connects for the same. Holland rolls through a high crossbody though and the lifting DDT finishes Chase at 11:57.

Rating: B. Dang they actually did it. Chase U isn’t likely going away but it’s going to be completely changed in some way, whatever that means. Holland getting to be the one to slay the school is certainly a big step, though I wasn’t quite expecting it to come in a clean win. Holland is ready for a title shot now, and based on this, I’d be surprised if he didn’t win the thing.

Chase and the school are devastated to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was all about the main event and it worked well, with most of the rest being about setting up the Iron Survivor Challenges. That makes for a focused show with a theme to it, but stuff liked the mixed tag and the D’Angelo vs. Spears/Jensen parts weren’t so good. Deadline is coming together, but dang tonight’s main event was a punch to the gut.

Results
Nathan Frazier b. Eddy Thorpe – Phoenix splash
Stephanie Vaquer b. Jaida Parker – Package backbreaker
Tony D’Angelo b. Brooks Jensen – Spinebuster
Karmen Petrovic/Ashante Thee Adonis b. Dion Lennox/Brinley Reece – Kick to Reece
Zaria b. Wren Sinclair – F5
Ridge Holland b. Andre Chase – Lifting DDT

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NXT
Date: November 12, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph

We’re back at home this week after last week’s field trip to Philadelphia and the ECW Arena, meaning it’s time to start getting ready for Deadline. That means we’ll be seeing some Iron Survival qualifying matches this week, which should have some potential. Other than that, Zaria seems to be coming for the Women’s Title so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of last week’s show with the slightly rowdy crowd.

Meta Four vs. Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer

Legend and Giulia start things off with Legend kicking her in the face and handing it off to Jackson for a basement dropkick. They trade rollups for two each until Giulia takes her into the corner so Vaquer can come in for a double elbow. A running legdrop gives Vaquer two so it’s back to Legend for a hard right hand. Everything breaks down and Meta Four clears the ring as we take an early break.

Back with Jackson holding Vaquer in a crossarm choke, which is quickly escaped for the tag to Giulia. A snap suplex gets two on Jackson and a double belly to back suplex gets two. Giulia dropkicks Legend on the floor and a missile dropkick into a package backbreaker into stereo knees to the face finish Jackson at 10:54.

Rating: C+. Giulia and Vaquer continue to be the dream team and there is no reason for them to be losing anytime soon. They didn’t quite run through Meta Four here but they shrugged off the offense and won in pretty dominant fashion. Good opener here, with Giulia and Vaquer already feeling like a big deal.

Post match Vaquer and Giulia are ready for the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Video on the Iron Survivor Challenge.

Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Cora Jade vs. Sol Ruca

Jade stalls to start and they take turns sitting on the turnbuckles for some taunting. Ruca takes her down and surfs on Jade’s back but Jade gets in a quick knockdown. A stomp to the back has Ruca in trouble and Jade chokes away in the corner. Back up and they trade forearms until Ruca hits a springboard crossbody. Another springboard is broken up but Jade misses a charge into the corner, allowing the Sol Snatcher to give Ruca the pin at 3:32.

Rating: C. The Sol Snatcher is always worth a look and that’s about all they had time for here. You’re not going to be able to get much out of a match that barely breaks three and a half minutes, but at least Ruca won to give her a shot in the bigger match. It’s good to have Jade back, but she’s just not at that higher level and it’s showing more often in the ring.

Je’Von Evans and Cedric Alexander are ready to qualify for the men’s version.

Karmen Petrovic seems to hit on Dion Lennon when Brinley Reece interrupts. She wants to know what is going on but Ashante Thee Adonis comes in and can’t believe this is going on. Lennox: “Since when have we been friends?” A mixed tag seems likely.

Ava holds a meeting with the tag team division. They all bicker, with Ava telling the teams to show her.

Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifying Match: Wes Lee vs. Cedric Alexander

Alexander shoves him down a few times to start before slapping on a headlock. Lee flips out into an armbar before sweeping out the leg and adding a flipping backsplash. Alexander sends him outside for a dive but leaves it rather short as we take a break. Back with the Cardiac Kick being countered with a dropkick and adding a basement version for a bonus.

Something like an STO onto the apron sets up a springboard Downward Spiral to give Alexander two. Lee is right back with the Cardiac Kick for two but Lee pulls the turnbuckle pad off to break up the Lumbar Check. Alexander settles for a Michinoku Driver for two, only to miss a charge into the exposed buckle. The Meteora finishes for Lee at 11:51.

Rating: B. As has been proven before, there is certainly something to the idea of just taking talented stars and giving them a chance to do something in the ring. These two got about twelve minutes and had a solid match as a result, which is about all you can want in this. Lee is definitely the hotter star of the two at the moment, as Alexander is mainly there to make people look good, which was the case again here.

Tony D’Angelo is eating at the restaurant when Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen come in. Spears wants the North American Title…so he’s asking for a title shot for Jensen. They leave and get into a car, which is driven by what appears to be Niko Vance, someone who has been on LVL Up for a few months.

Kelani Jordan wants her North American Title back but Fatal Influence comes in to say it’s not happening.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. He gets right to the point by saying he wants Ridge Holland out here right now. Instead here is Andre Chase, who says he has no issues with Williams but wants Holland too. Williams respects Chase and seems to be ready to offer him an NXT Title shot but Holland interrupts.

Holland is done with Chase and is ready to move on to Williams and the NXT Title. That doesn’t work for Chase, who wants one more match and is willing to put all of Chase U on the line. Holland doesn’t care so Williams suggests a #1 contenders match next week for the Deadline title shot. Holland agrees, but if Chase loses, Chase U is completely done. That’s quite a risk for someone like Chase who can never win the big one, but Chase is in. Williams decks Holland and Chase gets in some stomps to wrap it up. Holland moving forward makes sense…but don’t end Chase U.

Jaida Parker is ready to win the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge.

Josh Briggs, with Pro Wrestling Noah star Yoshiki Inamura, is in the back with Ava when Eddy Thorpe interrupts. Thorpe wants a chance, which is why Ava has put him in an Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match. Works for Thorpe.

Adriana Rizzo vs. Nikkita Lyons

Lyons strikes away to start and blocks an early sunset flip attempt. Riz gets in a shot and goes up, only to dive into a full nelson. Lyons throws her down for two and hits some hip attacks to the head, setting up a seated full nelson. That’s broken up and Riz hits a springboard spinning crossbody for a breather, only for Lyons to shrug of a middle rope Thesz press. A superkick into the Vader Bomb finishes for Lyons at 4:33.

Rating: C. I just don’t get it with Lyons. I’m trying to see the big star power in her and it’s just not clicking for some reason. It does help to have her wrestle as more of a monster as she has a physical style that is rather unique in the division. Other than that though, I just don’t get it and while it makes sense for her to beat someone like Riz, hopefully it doesn’t go much higher up than that. Which it likely will.

Post match, Riz decks her with a crowbar. Well that escalated.

The rest of Chase U asks Andre Chase what he’s thinking but this is the kind of risk that has to be taken. The team doesn’t buy it.

Men’s Iron Survival Challenge Qualifying Match: Je’Von Evans vs. Lexis King

They trade rollups to start and then flip over each other with neither getting very far. A springboard hurricanrana takes King down and Evans hits a big dive to the floor. Back in and King seems to hit him low off a leapfrog but King doesn’t want it that way. Instead we take a break and come back with Evans snapping off a suplex for two. A springboard high crossbody gets the same and the frog splash gives Evans two more. King is back with a Backstabber into a fisherman’s buster for two, only for Evans to hit a superkick. The top rope spinning splash finishes King at 9:37.

Rating: C+. I get more of what WWE sees in Evans but it’s still only getting him so far. It feels like someone where I’ve seen almost everything he can do and that’s not a great sign so soon into his career. Granted that also means he has time to develop, but it’s not showing so far. Granted, this was a good big better than last week against Wes Lee. As for King you can see the story they’re telling, but it could take a few different directions.

Respect is shown post match.

Nathan Frazier tells Axiom that he has an Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match and Axiom is not pleased. OTM and the D’Angelo Family come in to argue.

Lexis King is frustrated by another loss so some people try to calm him down. This turns into an argument between Gallus and Hank Walker/Tank Ledger.

Women’s North American Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Fallon Henley

Henley, with the rest of Fatal Influence, is defending. They fight over a lockup to start until Henley’s chop seems to make Jordan…sad? An armdrag off the ropes puts Henley down and an anklescissors out of the corner does it again. They go outside with Jordan’s moonsault off of the announcers’ table mostly missing as we take a break.

Back with a double armdrag takedown leaving them both on the mat for a breather. They trade forearms as more tag teams are brawling backstage. Jordan gets in a knockdown into a rolling…shooting star press for two. With that completely illogical move out of the way, Henley pulls her out of the corner for two of her own but Jordan catches her on top. A super Spanish Fly (which Vic calls a Phoenix splash for some reason) gives Jordan two and One Of A Kind connects, but Jacy Jayne puts the foot on the rope. Jazmyn Nyx gets in a cheap shot of her own and a Fameasser retains the title at 9:26.

Rating: B-. Henley has improved rather nicely in recent months and that was on display here with one of her better singles matches to date. At the same time, the Fameasser is a better finisher than another running strike as that has been done to death in modern wrestling. It’s also nice to see her get a win, albeit with some cheating, to make her feel like something of a more legitimate champion. One of the newcomers will be coming after her soon enough though and that’s where the trouble will begin. For now, though, nice stuff here, as Jordan can move on to something else.

Post match the tag teams get in another fight in the arena to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. There is always something to be said about a show that focuses on wrestling like this one did. Having a bunch of qualifying matches over this and the next few weeks is a good way to go and it worked here. There is a point to having these matches and it makes the show that much more interesting. It wasn’t a must see show, but it was a show that set things up for later and gave us some quality action throughout. I’ll take that every week.

Results
Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer b. Meta Four – Double knees to Jackson
Sol Ruca b. Cora Jade – Sol Snatcher
Wes Lee b. Cedric Alexander – Meteora
Sol Ruca b. Adriana Rizzo – Vader Bomb
Je’Von Evans b. Lexis King – Top rope spinning splash

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

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NXT
Date: November 6, 2024
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re in the ECW Arena and that is the main focal point of the show. The show is also featuring a bunch of ECW guest stars, which you might want to take or leave. The main event is Bubba Ray Dudley teaming with Trick Williams to face Ethan Page and Ridge Holland. Let’s get to it.

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

The opening sequence is set to the old ECW theme, which works rather well.

Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker

Hardcore match with Dawn Marie as guest referee. Parker jumps her to start and grabs a chair but Vice knocks it into her face with the spinning backfist. They go to the floor where Vice grabs a table but takes too long, allowing Parker to knock her down. Some chairs are thrown in but Parker’s big swing hits the corner, allowing Vice to get in another knockdown as we take a break.

Back with a bunch of weapons in the ring, including a bunch of ladders. Parker plants her with a spinebuster and puts her on the ladder for the big Tear Drop from the standing ladder for two. More weapons are brought in but Parker takes too much time and gets kendo sticked down.

Vice puts her in a trashcan for the running hip attack and a near fall but Parker throws a trashcan at her. Back in and Vice gets in some more kendo stick shots, only to get sideslammed onto a chair. A running elbow sends Vice into the ladder for two so breaks a BRICK over her head. That’s only good for two (of course) so Parker hits the Hipnotic for the pin at 14:47.

Rating: C. As usual in modern hardcore style matches, there were far too many weapons and it brought the match down. Throw in A BRICK to the head being a near fall and it was more than a bit much to take. Marie didn’t add a thing whatsoever either and the whole thing felt like a match for the live crowd, despite it not being entirely thought out.

Ethan Page and Ridge Holland are ready to take out Trick Williams and Bubba Ray Dudley.

Kelani Jordan is stretching with Rob Van Dam, who gives her a pep talk. Jordan leaves and Wes Lee jumps Van Dam with a chair.

The FBI met the D’Angelo Family and apparently Tony Mamaluke has gotten Rizzo a match with Nikkita Lyons next week. As for tonight, Nunzio gets a North American Title shot.

Apparently referees will be more lenient for the rest of the night.

Je’Von Evans vs. Wes Lee

Evans starts fast but his springboard cutter is countered. A rollup gives Evans two but Lee knocks him to the floor for a 619 around the post. Lee manages a brainbuster onto the steps and we take an early break. Back with Evans snapping off a top rope super hurricanrana and hitting a spinning slam. The top rope spinning splash misses though and Lee scores with the Cardiac Kick for two.

Lee grabs a chair but the referee takes it away, allowing Evans to come back with a running cutter. The top rope cutter connects, with Lee rolling out to the floor. Evans’ dive is sent crashing over the announcers’ table so Lee grabs a chair, only to be cut off by Rob Van Dam. Evans hits a springboard cutter into…what was supposed to be a Five Star frog splash (which was left so short that Evans’ knees hit the mat first) for the pin at 12:27.

Rating: C+. I cannot get into Evans and this wasn’t helping. I’m not sure how many cutters you need to use in a single match but Evans was flirting with the maximum allowed. Lee taking a loss, even with interference, isn’t the most appealing thing either here, especially to such a horrible looking finisher.

Ava doesn’t have time for Eddy Thorpe but promises to make it up.

Here are Ava and her lackeys for a special announcement. That would be the return of Deadline, which will take place on December 7. Robert Stone talks about how much better New York and Boston fans are than Philadelphia fans. Then the lights go out and Rhyno pops in for a Gore.

Kelani Jordan and company exchange pep talks before the ten woman tag. The big announcement here is that Jordan speaks Spanish, but here are Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson to brag about going after the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer aren’t impressed.

Ethan Page/Ridge Holland vs. Trick Williams/Bubba Ray Dudley

Williams and Holland start things off but Holland shoves Ray on the apron. Ray comes in and gets shouldered down by Holland, leaving him a bit surprised. A wristlock goes a bit better for Ray and it’s off to Williams for some arm cranking of his own. Page gets in a cheap shot from the apron though and the villains take over, only for Williams to slip out of a double neckbreaker. Ray comes back in to clean house and Page and Holland are knocked to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Ray getting crotched against the post and Holland grabbing an armbar. Ray fights out of trouble and brings Williams back in to pick up the pace, including a flapjack to Holland. A Rock Bottom gives Williams two with Page making the save. The Trick Shot is loaded up but Holland reverses into a rollup for the pin at 10:18.

Rating: B-. The ending is a fine way to go and makes sense over having Dudley take the pin. Holland as the next challenger makes sense and now we get to see a likely title match at Deadline. Odds are this is it for Ray, which I’ll take over having him feud with either Page or Holland.

Post match the beatdown is on but Bubba makes the save. We get the What’s Up and then it’s time to GET THE TABLES. Hold on though because here is D-Von Dudley with the table, with Page going through it.

Dion Lennox comes up to Ashante Thee Adonis and asks about him going from woman to woman. Karmen Petrovic comes in to ask about the other woman Adonis was with last week. Adonis isn’t interested but does remember that last week was her birthday. That’s enough to win Petrovic over. Again, with Lennox looking surprised in the background.

Roxanne Perez and company are ready to beat up the newcomers.

North American Title: Tony D’Angelo vs. Nunzio

D’Angelo, with his family, is defending and Tony Mamaluke is here with Nunzio. D’Angelo starts fast and sends him outside, where a clothesline hits Mamaluke. A belly to belly suplex plants Nunzio and D’Angelo puts him on top but Nunzio dropkicks his way out of trouble. The Sicilian Slice gives Nunzio two but a crow bar shot is caught by the referee. The spinebuster (with Nunzio crossing himself) retains the title at 2:18. That’s what it should have been.

Post match respect is shown.

Shawn Spears tells Brooks Jensen to be ready for next week.

William Regal gives Lexis King a pep talk after last week’s loss. King leaves and the No Quarter Cat Crew comes in. Charlie Dempsey says King couldn’t get the job done, with Regal saying King isn’t his father’s son. Dempsey asks if he’s his father’s son, but Regal suggests the team go after the Tag Team Titles instead.

Nikkita Lyons promises to take out everyone and win gold.

Nathan Frazier and Axiom are told about a meeting with the tag division next week where the new challengers will be determined. Axiom thinks that’s a great way to scout everyone at once but Frazier sees it as a week off.

Fatal Influence/Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia/Zaria/Kelani Jordan/Jordynne Grace/Stephanie Vaquer

Jordan armdrags and dropkicks Henley to start and it’s off to Vaquer for a springboard crossbody. Nyx comes in and gets caught with a 619, setting up a double elbow to give Giulia two. It’s off to Perez, who gets caught with an overhead belly to belly suplex. A shot from the apron slow Giulia down though and Perez hits a running dropkick against the ropes.

Zaria comes in for the tease of a powerbomb but all ten get in for the shouting and brawling. The villains are sent to the floor and Jordan hits a big moonsault as we take a break. Back with Jordan being sent outside, where Nyx takes out Giulia and Vaquer with a dive. Jordan fights up back inside but Henley breaks up a tag attempt. Not that it matters as it’s a diving tag off to Grace to clean house.

A Vader Bomb hits Jade for two and Zaria and Grace’s double powerbomb gets two more. We hit the parade of knockdowns until everyone is down, as Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend come out. More dives take them out as well and it’s off to Perez. Zaria spears Grace by mistake but pops back up with the F5 to pin Perez at 15:04.

Rating: B-. It was a fairly wild match, though I’m not sure why I was supposed to believe that the villains had any real chance to win. The other team has no weak links and it was them mainly steamrolling Perez and company, save for a few brief spots. Evan Zaria spearing Grace didn’t make much of a difference. That being said, it was a fun spectacle and that’s what it needed to be.

Overall Rating: B-. The big appeal here was ECW and if you weren’t a fan, it isn’t going to work out so well. Most of the stuff was harmless enough and they didn’t get a big focus at the end. D-Von was a nice surprise and the non-ECW stuff was good enough. This wasn’t a great show, but you can see a lot of what is being set up for Deadline in about a month. Things will be back to normal next week, but for now, it could have been worse.

Results
Jaida Parker b. Lola Vice – Hipnotic
Je’Von Evans b. Wes Lee – Frog splash
Ridge Holland/Ethan Page b. Bubba Ray Dudley/Trick Williams – Rollup to Williams
Tony D’Angelo b. Nunzio – Spinebuster
Giulia/Zaria/Kelani Jordan/Jordynne Grace/Stephanie Vaquer b. Fatal Influence/Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez – F5 to Perez

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

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NXT
Date: October 29, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re done with Halloween Havoc and the big story is wee seem to be heading for a mini ECW reunion when the show heads to Philadelphia next week. Odds are that means we get some hype for the show this week, as Bubba Ray Dudley does not seem happy with Ridge Holland for attacking NXT Champion Trick Williams to end Sunday’s show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Halloween Havoc if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Halloween Havoc but it’s interrupted by Tatum Paxley shoving a casket to the ring.

Tatum Paxley vs. Wendy Choo

Casket match with Paxley bringing a casket and Choo bringing a bed. Paxley starts fast with a dropkick to stagger Choo as commentary says the first casket match was between Undertaker and Kamala in 1992, showing commentary doesn’t know the difference between Casket and Coffin. Choo gets a trashcan wrapped around her head for some stick shots, followed by something like a reverse Angle Slam back inside. Back up and Choo puts her in a trashcan for a dropkick as we take a break.

Back with Paxley being hiptossed into a dollhouse but Paxley uses the pillow to avoid the casket being closed. Choo pulls out a pillow full of Legos and a full nelson slam plants Paxley in a rather painful way. Paxley still won’t be slammed inside so they both crash in with the lid closing. A fire extinguisher blast to the face sends Choo onto her bed and Paxley puts her into the casket for the win at 10:10.

Rating: C. This felt like something that belonged on the Halloween Havoc Kickoff Show more than here, but I do like Paxley getting a win. That and anything involving Choo and this dumb sleep/pillow/bed thing taking a step down. I’m still not sure what the heck Choo is supposed to be about but I also can’t bring myself to be remotely interested.

Now we get the Halloween Havoc recap.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. Williams went into the Devil’s Playground at NXT and he’s still your NXT Champion. Ridge Holland attacked him after the match though and that’s why he owes Bubba Ray Dudley a thank you. Cue Bubba, who says he did what he did because Holland was disrespectful. Bubba was watching Holland get involved and wondered where everyone was, but none of them came out because of that title.

Williams needs to have eyes in the back of his head, which Williams understands, but he wants revenge. What he wants is a tag match with the two of them against Holland and Ethan Page in the ECW Arena next week. Ray says he’s known Williams for about three minutes and the juices are already flowing. He’s ready to bring out the tye dye and puts on the glasses, but then he says no. I heartily approve of this decision.

Ava is in the back with Rob Van Dam, who says if Bubba doesn’t want to do it, he will. Ava says she’d love to have him on the show and will think of something for him to do. Kelani Jordan comes in and wants the North American Title back. Nikkita Lyons comes in to say Jordan is at the back of the line, which doesn’t work for Jordan.

Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen play Tony D’Angelo a voicemail from someone not happy with how this has been going. They’ll deal with D’Angelo next week. Commentary confirms that was Nunzio on the phone, meaning we’re likely getting the FBI. Sure.

Heritage Cup: Lexis King vs. Charlie Dempsey

King is challenging and has William Regal in his corner. Round one begins with a bit of a slow start before they trade rollups for two each. Dempsey fires off some knees to the face but Dempsey hits a spinning high crossbody for two. A rollup (ala his father Brian Pillman) gets the same but Dempsey grabs a bridging butterfly suplex for the pin at 2:24.

Round two begins with Dempsey elbowing him in the face and grabbing a cravate to crank away. Back up and Dempsey sends him over the top, with King hurting his knee on the apron. We take a break and come back with the clocking having been paused for the commercial (erg). King’s belly to back suplex into a superkick drops Dempsey as the round ends.

Round three begins with Dempsey going after the bad knee and a fisherman’s suplex gets two. A half crab stays on the leg but King fights back, only for the knee to go out again. Regal tries to slip him the brass knuckles but King says no, allowing Dempsey to grab a German suplex for the pin to retain at 2:55 of the round and 13:34 overall.

Rating: C. This was another step in the evolution o King into a nice guy, but at the same time it’s also another loss on a large pile of them. At some point he has to win some bigger matches, which could still come, but he also has to do something that stands out a bit more. I didn’t see it here, even with Regal in his corner.

Video on Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker.

Zaria vs. Brinley Reece

Zaria shoulders Reece down and lifts her up by the arm or some pain. Reece’s clothesline doesn’t work as it’s a spear into an F5 to give Zaria the pin at 2:48. Total destruction.

Post match Fatal Influence pops up to mock Zaria but here are Roxanne Perez/Cora Jade to do the same. Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer run in to even things out a bit (some may say they’re already ahead) but Jordynne Grace (from TNA) runs in to officially wreck the villains.

Post break, a ten woman tag has been set up.

Nikkita Lyons vs. Kelani Jordan

Jordan snaps off an armdrag to start and hits a running dropkick. A basement crossbody gets two on Lyons before they pull each other into the splits. Lyons sends her hard into the corner but Jordan fights up with some running forearms. Those are cut off but here is Rizzo for a distraction, allowing Jordan to pull Lyons down. One Of A Kind finishes Lyons off at 4:04.

Rating: C. I can certainly go for Lyons not getting close to a title, as she loses what little appeal she has every time she’s on the show. Rizzo going after Lyons could be interesting as Rizzo has done well enough when she is given the chance. Jordan is likely going to either go after Fatal Influence again or go after the Women’s Title.

Post match Rizzo runs in to beat Lyons down and they brawl to the back.

Here is Ethan Page for a chat but Ridge Holland cuts him off in a hurry. Holland says everyone is sick and tired of Page but Holland will be taking the NXT Title from Trick Williams. Bully Ray made the right call by turning down the offer of a tag match but here is Ray to interrupt.

Ray has learned a lot about Holland in the last 48 hours, who has commanded the conversation on Busted Open Radio. He’s impressed by Holland’s rugby background and ability to come back after serious injuries so quickly. Ray doesn’t like disrespect but isn’t going to be wrestling again. Holland isn’t surprised because Ray is just a radio host and is overrated, just like ECW. The beating is on but Trick Williams makes the save. The tag match is on.

This was a good example of what has kept me from caring about the whole story. Ray talked about being half of the greatest tag team ever and while the Dudleys were great, Ray on his own is just kind of there. He’s dragged down a lot of shows he’s been on in recent years and it’s hard to care about him again just because they’re going to a certain arena. At least it’s likely to be done next week though.

Stephanie Vaquer and company are ready for the big ten woman tag next week. Rhea Ripley comes in and tells them to blow the roof off.

Jaida Parker is ready to take out Lola Vice and Dawn Marie better stay out of her way.

Judgment Day is here…and Rhea Ripley has been attacked.

Tag Team Titles: Nathan Frazier/Axiom vs. Cedric Alexander/Je’Von Evans

Frazier and Axiom are defending. Alexander works on Axiom’s arm to start but gets armdragged without much effort. Frazier and Evans come in to trade missed kicks and flips but Alexander comes in of a blind tag for a running dropkick. Frazier knocks Alexander into the corner so Axiom holds out his hand for a tag but Frazier would rather stomp away.

Back up and Frazier is sent outside, with Evans and Alexander hitting dives as we take a break. We come back with Alexander hitting a fireman’s carry kick to the head to Axiom and Evans comes back in. A springboard clothesline gets two on Frazier and Evans makes Axiom DDT Frazier for two. Evans’ powerbomb gets two with Frazier making the save.

A double springboard cutter gives Evans two on Axiom, who is right back with a super Spanish Fly to Alexander. Frazier’s phoenix splash gets two but Evans makes the save while also hitting a step up cutter on Axiom. Cue Wes Lee to brawl with Evans to the back, leaving Alexander to hit a Michinoku Driver. Not that it matters as the brainbuster/superkick combination finishes Alexander to retain at 14:55.

Rating: B-. This was pretty much the same thing Axiom and Frazier have done for months now: bicker a lot leading up to the match, have some issues during the match, win to retain anyway, stat the whole thing over. They’re going to split up someday and neither of them are going to come out looking good because this story has been going on way too long. That being said, I’m not sure who else there is to take the titles, but find something new for them already.

Wes Lee and Je’Von Evans are brawling in the back when Ava and Rob Van Dam come in. The fight is broken up, with Van Dam saying he knows what he wants to do next week. I’m going to assume it’s another special referee and if so, egads find something else to do already.

Overall Rating: C. I was not feeling this one at all, as there is a bunch of stuff that I feel like we have to get through before we can get to something better. This includes the Frazier/Axiom stuff and the ECW nostalgia, which thankfully should only last a week. Just not the most appealing show here, but hopefully it picks up when we get done with the latest reminder that ECW was supposed to be far better than it really was.

Results
Tatum Paxley b. Wendy Choo – Paxley shut Choo in the casket
Charlie Dempsey b. Lexis King 2-0
Zaria b. Brinley Reece – F5
Kelani Jordan b. Nikkita Lyons – One Of A Kind
Nathan Frazier/Axiom b. Cedric Alexander/Je’Von Evans – Brainbuster/superkick combination to Alexander

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

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Halloween Havoc 2024
Date: October 27, 2024
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T

It’s another big time show on the road as we have one of the most obvious WCW shows being brought back to the big time. That means a bunch of Spin The Wheel, Make The Deal matches, which could make for an interesting card. The main event is another Trick Williams defending the NXT Title against Ethan Page, which isn’t so interesting. Let’s get to it.

Gigi Dolin hosts the opening video, which is focusing on people being different tonight for one night of the year. The matches involved get attention too.

The set looks GREAT with a bunch of Halloween themed pieces, ala the old WCW sets (no big pumpkin though). Even ring announcer Mike Rome is dressed as Beetlejuice.

North American Title: Oba Femi vs. Tony D’Angelo

D’Angelo is defending in a Tables, Ladders and Scares match, meaning street fight with pinfalls or submissions. D’Angelo breaks up the Big Match Intros and they go straight to the brawl, with D’Angelo taking him outside for a spear through the barricade. The weapons are busted out, with a ladder being bridged between the ring and the apron, allowing Femi to chair D’Angelo in the back.

A chokeslam onto a chair gives Femi two and he puts a chair over D’Angelo in the corner. D’Angelo kicks his way out and they go out to the floor, where Femi sends him into the apron. There’s a slam onto the ladder back inside and it’s already table time. Femi blasts him through said table for two and then wraps a crowbar around D’Angelo’s face. A powerbomb is loaded up but D’Angelo reverses into a backdrop, followed by the spinebuster for two.

Back up and Femi throws him again, with D’Angelo coming up holding his leg. Femi busts out a zip tie to tie D’Angelo to the corner, but he has to stop and beat up the D’Angelo Family. Riz gets stalked to the apron, where she grabs the crowbar, which Femi snatches away without much trouble. D’Angelo rips off the tie and spears Femi through the bridged ladder but Femi is right back up with the pop up powerbomb for two. Riz is back in with the crowbar and the Family hits a Shatter Machine with a chair. The spinebuster through the table gives D’Angelo the pin at 15:33.

Rating: B. They beat the fire out of each other here and it made for a good opener, with D’Angelo retaining via some interference in the end. I get that Femi was threatening Riz, but having a bunch of people come in to help D’Angelo beat a monster doesn’t make me want to cheer him. The good/bad stuff has been all over the place in this feud, though in theory this is it for them.

Lexis King still needs a corner man for his Heritage Cup match but no one trusts him. William Regal comes in to say he knew King’s father and hopes the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Regal will be the corner man. Oh dear.

Fatal Influence has decided that Kelani Jordan will defend the Women’s North American Title in a gauntlet match.

Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer

Vaquer cranks on Jade’s arms to start and hands it off to Giulia for a top rope ax handle to one of those arms. Perez comes in and gets caught in a headlock before she and Vaquer trade rollups for two each. Giulia sets up Vaquer’s 619, followed by a double elbow to Jade as this is one sided early on. Perez’s crossface attempt doesn’t work as Giulia pulls her into an STF, with Vaquer adding the same thing on Jade.

Giulia’s missile dropkick puts Perez down for two more but Jade grabs the leg to take over. A running elbow to the back gets two on Giulia and Jade grabs the chinlock. Back up and Giulia and Perez both knock the other down, allowing the tag back to Vaquer. A high crossbody puts Perez down again but Jade comes in, only to get headbutted into the corner. Vaquer dragon screws Perez’s leg as everything breaks down again.

The rapid fire headbutts have the villains in trouble but they’re back with stereo superkicks. Perez hits the dive to take them both out on the floor, with Jade adding a Darby Allin Coffin Drop to drop them both on the floor. Back in and Perez snaps off a super hurricanrana, with Jade adding a Swanton for two. Giulia is back in with a spinning piledriver to plant Vaquer, followed by a running knee to Jade. Perez superplexes Perez and Vaquer adds a huge corkscrew moonsault for the pin at 14:37.

Rating: B. This was more of a showcase for Giulia and Vaquer, which isn’t a bad idea at all. They’re the new stars in the women’s division and are likely o take the title from Perez rather soon. At some point you can only keep the title off of them or so long and we might be reaching that point. Jade was trying to hang in there with three more talented stars and did well enough, but this was about everyone else.

Post match Zaria pops up in a box to stare at everyone else.

Cedric Alexander talks to Je’Von Evans, who isn’t sure if he should have slapped Nathan Frazier. Alexander tells him to keep his cool….but they did get a Tag Team Title shot out of it so maybe snap on occasion. Works for Evans, who wants the titles.

Busted Open Radio’s Dave LaGreca and Bubba Ray Dudley are here and recap/preview the show.

We recap Ridge Holland vs. Andre Chase. Holland joined Chase U and won the Tag Team Titles, only to turn on them when they lost. He put Chase in an ambulance, so now it’s an ambulance match. Makes sense.

Andre Chase vs. Ridge Holland

Ambulance match, meaning you put your opponent in an ambulance and shut the door to win. Chase starts fast with a clothesline out to the floor, setting up a running flip dive off the apron. Holland drives him over the barricade though and Chase is knocked silly. They go up to the ambulance, with Holland pulling out the stretcher (lazy ambulance people not clearing things out) but Chase is back with a blast from a fire extinguisher.

The stretcher is taken to ringside, with Chase being bounced off of it before they go back inside. Holland snaps off an overhead belly to belly, followed by some chair shots. They both grab kendo sticks, with Chase getting the better of things and hitting the spelling stomps. The fight heads back to the floor, with Chase countering the Redeemer and hitting a DDT onto the announcers’ table.

Holland fights back up and puts him onto the stretcher but can’t put him into the ambulance. It’s time for a pumpkin (the ans REALLY like that) but Chase hits him with the backboard. The pumpkin hits Holland and a flip dive off the ambulance puts him down again. That’s still not enough to close the ambulance though as Holland fights out and hits the Redeemer on the stage for the win at 14:28.

Rating: B-. That’s probably the right result but dang it’s rough to see Chase lose again. I’m not sure what is next for him but this definitely feels like the end of the feud. Holland is likely moving on to something bigger while Chase is off to do whatever he has planned. It was a good fight and a nice return for Chase, though Holland winning opens more doors.

Nathan Frazier was training this week when Axiom interrupted. Axiom wasn’t happy with Frazier going all mad on NXT and they argue. Again. With Axiom saying Frazier is condescending.

Ava is fired up for various things coming up on NXT. This includes Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker, with ECW legend Dawn Marie as guest referee. Sure. And we’ll make it a hardcore match. Sure again.

Women’s North American Title: Fatal Influence vs. Kelani Jordan

Jordan is defending in a gauntlet match, with Jazmyn Nyx up first. Jordan works on a wristlock to start and sends her to the floor for a moonsault. Back in and Nyx kicks her down and grabs a fisherman’s suplex for two. Another one is blocked though and Jordan puts her down, setting up a 450 for the pin at 3:32.

Jacy Jayne is in next with a running hurricanrana, only to be sent out to the floor. Jayne misses a charge to the floor though and Jordan hammers away. Back in and One Of A Kind is broken up, allowing Jayne to hit a Cannonball in the Tree of Woe. Jayne’s running knee gets two but Jordan elbows her way out of trouble. A rollup gives Jayne two more and she drops Jordan with a neckbreaker. Back up and Jordan grabs a quick neckbreaker for the pin at 7:58 total.

Jayne drops Jordan in between falls though and here is Fallon Henley as the final opponent to get a quick two. A spinning suplex out of the corner gives Henley two but Jordan is back with a standing legdrop for two of her own. Jordan kicks away but gets caught with a swinging faceplant for two more. Cue Nyx for a distraction though, allowing Henley to get her knees up to block a 450. The running knee gives Henley the title at 14:14 total.

Rating: C. This was only so good and the win fits Fatal Influence pretty well: they barely win but get to brag about getting some gold. That had to happen at some point, as Henley and company can only brag so much while piling up the losses. Jordan is well protected with the loss, but the match itself just wasn’t very good.

Post match Fatal Influence talks about that being a statement made but here is Zaria to lay them all out. Well that was effective.

Tony D’Angelo is happy with his win. Riz knows who attacked her and is coming for revenge on Tuesday.

Bubba Ray Dudley and Dave LaGreca talk about the show when Ridge Holland interrupts. Ray doesn’t like it and a match seems likely. In Philadelphia.

Booker T. is on the stage and showing the various places the main event could end. Tatum Paxley pops out of a box and says she wants Wendy Choo on Tuesday. Ava makes the match, but Paxley spins the wheel to make it a casket match.

We recap Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams for the NXT Title. They’ve traded the title, so now it’s time to go all violent to wrap it up.

NXT Title: Trick Williams vs. Ethan Page

Williams is defending in a Devil’s Playground match, meaning anything goes and falls count anywhere. Page jumps him to start but they both grab chairs, with Williams’ knocking Page’s out of his hands. Williams puts a pumpkin over Page’s head and nails a spinning kick for two before it’s time to go back to the floor. They fight into the crowd with both of them hitting each other with various things before going back to ringside.

Page flips him off the top for two back inside but a quick Trick Shot gives Williams two…as Page was in the ropes, despite it being falls count anywhere. Commentary has to point out that it was a bad call as Page fights back. The announcers’ table is cleared off as Williams is bleeding from the mouth.

Ego’s Edge off the steps and through the announcers’ table gets two on the floor and they’re both down. Medics come out to check on Williams, but he waves them off, leaving Page to plant him hard onto the steps back inside. Williams avoids a big crushing with the steps but gets kicked low to cut him off again. Another low blow cuts Page off though and the Trick Shot retains the title at 15:54.

Rating: B. The match was good and violent, but there was only so much more that could be wrung out from this feud. Williams beat him definitively before so this was only going to be so good. Now that being said, they worked hard here and beat each other up and it was better than I was expecting. Not a classic, but a good enough main event.

Post match Ridge Holland runs in to jump Williams, with Bubba Ray Dudley making the save. Yes it’s an ECW moment, because the show is going to Philadelphia next month and therefore we must do something with ECW, because a promotion that closed 23 and a half years ago must be remembered forever.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a pretty strong show, with the worst match being the decent gauntlet match. While there might not be anything worth going out of your way to see, you have about three hours of entertaining wrestling with some big moments. Quite a bit of Ridge Holland, but if you’re cool with him, it’s worth a look if you have the time.

Results
Tony D’Angelo b. Oba Femi – Spinebuster through a table
Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer b. Cora Jade/Roxanne Perez – Corkscrew moonsault to Perez
Ridge Holland b. Andre Chase – Holland shut Chase in an ambulance
Fatal Influence b. Kelani Jordan – Running knee
Trick Williams b. Ethan Page – Trick Shot

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

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NXT
Date: October 22, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

It’s the last show before Halloween Havoc and the card…well it somewhat exists. There have been a few matches set, including those with Spin The Wheel Make The Deal attached, but very little is standing out. The main event will see Ethan Page getting another shot at Trick Williams and the NXT Title, with the two of them going face to face this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Damage CTRL vs. Meta Four

Jackson backs Sane up against the ropes to start but Sane is back up with a running dropkick. It’s off to Sky for some stereo basement dropkicks but a missed charge lets Jackson send her into the corner. The much bigger Legend comes in to choke Sane, with Legend holding both Sane and Sky up at the same time to bounce them on the ropes. A sleeper slows Legend down though and Sane sends her outside, setting up Sky’s Asai moonsault as we take a break.

Back with Sane coming back in for a running Blockbuster to Jackson with Legend being knocked to the floor. A top rope forearm gets two on Jackson and an assisted elbow drop gets the same. Jackson gets over to Legend though and a pump kick knocks Sane silly. Cue Piper Niven to pull Jackson outside for the DQ at 11:16.

Rating: C+. The match was just good enough, but the interesting thing here is that WWE seems to actually be pushing the women’s tag division. You can only get so far with the same two or three teams fighting each other over and over so mixing it up a bit is great to see. What matters the most is building up some actual teams for a division with some depth. It will take time but the start is there, which I’ll take more than what they’ve been doing lately.

Post match Chelsea Green is here to help assist Niven with the beatdown.

Cole Custer, a NASCAR driver, arrives and is greeted by Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. OTM interrupts and a match seems likely.

Ashante Thee Adonis hits on Karmen Petrovic again but Brinley Reece and Sol Ruca pop in to say she’s not interested. Petrovic doesn’t approve.

Tatum Paxley vs. Jaida Parker

OTM is here with Parker. Paxley starts fast with a rollup for two but Parker sits her on the middle rope for the sitdown splash. Parker sends her flying and cranks on both arms as Lola Vice is watching backstage. Back up and a facebuster gets Paxley out of trouble and something like a modified Angle Slam gets two. Parker flips out of a rollup though and hits a pair of running hip attacks for the pin at 4:17.

Rating: C. Short match here but Parker’s rise continues. She is probably in for a showdown with Lola Vice sooner rather than later and that could be a big step up the ladder. Parker is someone who feels like she could be a player at a higher level in the future and another win like this one is just one more move in the right direction. They kept this quick and to the point, with Parker doing well enough.

Post match Lola Vice has to be held back from Parker. Cue Wendy Choo to kidnap Paxley.

Lexis King asks the No Quarter Catch Crew how he can get some better respect around here. Maybe winning the Heritage Cup can make it happen, so the match is made. Just find a corner man.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier congratulate Je’Von Evans, with Cedric Alexander, on coming close and say he’ll get there someday. Evans slaps Frazier in the face and they have to be held apart. Wes Lee pops in to say he knew someone would get under Evans’ skin eventually.

Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia talk about their friendship on the way to WWE and now they are here to dominate.

Riz has been attacked, with the D’Angelo Family wanting revenge.

Luca Crusifino vs. Oba Femi

Crusifino hits a dropkick and goes after the knee to start but a shoulderbreaker cuts him off. Some knees to the back set up a quickly broken chinlock so Femi knocks him down again. The chokeslam is countered into a Codebreaker but Femi sends him flying. The toss powerbomb finishes for Femi at 3:04.

Rating: C. That’s all it needed to be as Femi gets to smash one of the Family before his rematch with Tony D’Angelo. It’s as logical of a result as you can have and the title match is already looking like it could go either way. He looks like one heck of a monster, though the stipulation gives him enough of an out to lose without being downgraded. That’s smart booking, or he just gets the title back.

Post match Femi lays out the Family, with Tony D’Angelo running down for the save but getting zip tied to the post. With D’Angelo stuck, Femi slams Crusifino onto a ladder.

The woman in red, named Zaria, will be at Halloween Havoc.

Andre Chase talks about how Chase U is about giving people a chance, just like they gave to Ridge Holland. Then Holland turned on them because there are some people who can’t be saved. At Halloween Havoc, they’re having an ambulance match. Makes sense.

Here are Ethan Page and Trick Williams for a face to face chat. Williams is willing to wait for Halloween Havoc to fight, but he thinks Page is desperate. Page talks about how he’s been at this for seventeen years and didn’t have the resources Williams had at his disposal. Williams says he gets it, which is all the proof Page needs to know Williams doesn’t get it. Has Williams ever tasted his own blood and sweat?

Williams is ready to make Page tastes his blood again on Sunday, which Page sees as fake confidence. The match is the Devil’s Playground, which benefits page, because Williams isn’t ready to go through that. Page is ready to take this further than anyone else Williams has faced, but Williams says Page has never pinned him. Page is desperate, but Williams is looking forward to it. This was as good as it could have gotten, but this story still isn’t interesting.

Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade are ready for Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer. Fatal Influence comes in to say they’re ready, with Kelani Jordan coming in to say she’s not so sure. The wheel will be spun tonight.

Sol Ruca vs. Karmen Petrovic

Ruca takes her down to start but Petrovic is back up with some strikes. That’s fine with Ruca, who drops her again and gets in some surfing on the back. A superkick gives Petrovic two but Ruca hits a Codebreaker as we see Ashante Thee Adonis in the crowd with some woman. Petrovic catches her on top with an Iconoclasm but Adonis and said woman distracts Petrovic. The Sol Snatcher gives Ruca the pin at 4:04.

Rating: C. Another short match in a series of them tonight as the Adonis story actually goes somewhere for a change. Having Petrovic fall for him a bit without realizing what he really is could be a nice path to follow, though I’m not sure where it could lead. Any excuse to see the Sol Snatcher is a plus though and that was certainly true here.

Nikkita Lyons gives Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont a pep talk. Oba Femi comes in to give Ruca her jacket, saying she dropped it. Oh dear.

OTM vs. Hank Walker/Tank Ledger

Jaida Parker and Cole Custer are here too and the fight starts on the floor with Walker and Ledger taking over. Meet In The Middle gets two on Nima but it’s off to Price to plant Ledger. That’s broken up and the rolling tag brings in Walker to clean house in short order. A swinging Boss Man Slam gets two on Price as Lola Vice comes out to deck Parker. Custer’s distraction sets up the Collision Course to finish Price a 3:09.

Rating: C. There’s your guest star match of the night and Custer added as much as most guest stars over the years. OTM is still around but hasn’t done anything in a good while, with this match not helping things. At least Vice and Parker got to do something, which should move us closer to their big showdown.

Post match, dancing ensues.

Axiom and Nathan Frazier argue but get a Tag Team Title match with Je’Von Evans and Cedric Alexander. The champs leave but Lexis King comes in to say he needs a corner man for the Heritage Cup shot. Ava seems to have an idea.

Ridge Holland is ready to hurt Andre Chase.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Tony D’Angelo is ready to hurt Oba Femi.

Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Fatal Influence

Giulia knocks Henley into the corner to start and takes her down without much effort. Vaquer comes in to drive Henley’s face into the mat but it’s off to Jayne to take over in the corner. Back up and a dropkick gets Vaquer out of trouble and it’s off to Giulia as everything breaks down. Jazmyn Nyx gets in a cheap shot on the floor and the villains take over as we take a break.

Back with Giulia hitting a basement dropkick to get out of trouble and the big tag bringing in Vaquer to clean house. Everything breaks down and Jayne has to make a save, leaving Giulia and Henley to slug it out. Jayne hits a spinebuster with Vaquer making a save of her own so Nyx gets involved. Cue Kelani Jordan fr the save so Giulia can knee Jayne into a package backbreaker for the pin at 12:13.

Rating: C+. Fatal Influence was little more than cannon fodder for the new monster dream team here and that’s perfectly fine. Giulia and Vaquer are designed to be some great team and I could go for the two of them on some path of destruction for the time being. Perez and Jade are bigger challengers, but I wouldn’t be getting my hopes up about them for Sunday.

Post match, Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade show up for the staredown. Fatal Influence spins the wheel for their match with Jordan and it’s…Spinner’s Choice. Never mind though as Zaria shows up for the debut to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. NXT is getting more and more divided, as the men’s stuff is becoming downright uninteresting while the women’s division is rather entertaining. The latter is keeping the show afloat and thankfully NXT seems to understand what they have there. At the same time, Halloween Havoc is looking more like the big finale to the summer feuds, which were only so good in the first place. Not much of a show here, with the limited positives coming from the women’s side of things.

Results
Meta Four b. Damage CTRL via DQ when Piper Niven interfered
Jaida Parker b. Tatum Paxley – Hip attack
Oba Femi b. Luca Crusifino – Toss powerbomb
Sol Ruca b. Karmen Petrovic – Sol Snatcher
Hank Walker/Tank Ledger b. OTM – Collision Course to Price
Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer b. Fatal Influence – Package backbreaker to Jayne

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NXT
Date: October 15, 2024
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T.

We’re back at the home base after a few weeks on the road, meaning it’s time for something big for the home crowd. In this case that means we’ll be seeing the in-ring debut of Stephanie Vaquer as she faces Wren Sinclair. On top of that, the Wheel is back and we get to see some stipulations for next weekend’s Halloween Havoc. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

The commentators are in front of the entrance to hype up the show. Nothing wrong with that.

We recap last week.

Here is new North American Champion Tony D’Angelo in the ring at a table with a glass of wine to celebrate his new title. He toasts former champion Oba Femi, who was the longest reigning champion in history, but D’Angelo used Femi’s greatest strength against him. Part of him wants to think this is over, but since it probably isn’t, to Femi, who is here to interrupt. Femi says we’re not done and next time, the Family won’t be around. As he leaves he spins the wheel, which is apparently for their rematch at Halloween Havoc, which will be Tables, Ladders And Scares. Ok then.

We go over the rules of the Gentlemen’s Duel (breaking any of these is a DQ):

• Can’t strike opponent when they have our points of contact on the ground.
• Can’t throw someone over the top and out to the floor.
• 3 count on a rope break instead of 5
• Absolutely no fighting on the floor

Oro Mensah doesn’t know what’s up with Lexis King wanting this match. King comes in and says it’s going to be fair, with Mensah not buying it.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Wren Sinclair

They go to the mat to start with Vaquer getting some early rollups for two each. Sinclair flips over for some Cattle Mutilation, which is quickly broken up. Vaquer kicks her down and hits a running legdrop for two as Sinclair can’t get much going. A dragon screw legwhip out of the corner has Sinclair down again and a double underhook backbreaker finishes her off at 4:41.

Rating: C+. They were mainly going technical here and that’s a fine way to go for the debuting Vaquer. She looked like a killer out there and ran through Sinclair, who is just good enough of a star that she has some value in defeat. Vaquer is going to be something big around here and this was a smart way to start her off.

Post match Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade run in for the beatdown but Giulia makes the save. Vaquer issues the challenge for Halloween Havoc.

Trick Williams is in the back with Kelani Jordan and they’re both ready to find out their next challenges. Fatal Influence watches from the shadows as Jordan still can’t talk.

Karmen Petrovic and Brinley Reece are in the back when Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to try and make amends. Shawn Spears and Brooks Jensen don’t approve and they have to be separated. Petrovic seems interested in the torn up flower.

Lexis King vs. Oro Mensah

Gentlemen’s Duel. They go to the mat to start before locking up to little avail. Mensah slugs away so King drops to all fours, with Mensah having to stop to avoid the DQ. King’s middle rope spinning high crossbody gets two but Mensah is back with his own running crossbody as we take a break.

Back with King hitting a Swanton for two but Mensah sweeps the leg and starts the comeback. They trade uppercuts until Mensah hits a rolling Liger Kick. King tries to go up but gets kicked down again, setting up a springboard kick to the face for two. The running spinwheel kick in the corner misses but Mensah reverses the Coronation into a small package for another near fall. The trade rollups until King bridges back on one for the pin at 10:57.

Rating: C+. Well it was different, but this feud is still not that interesting and yet it just keeps going. King winning clean is a bit of a twist as his face turn continues to be teased, though he’s not quite there yet. I’m not sure where this is going, though I’d hope it’s in some different directions for them as this hasn’t been getting either of them very far.

Cedric Alexander and Je’Von Evans are talking to Axiom and Nathan Frazier when Wes Lee interrupts. Lee doesn’t wan Evans to think that he matters just because he’s in a #1 contenders match. Just stay out of Lee’s way tonight, but Evans doesn’t think much of that one. They argue and have to be separated.

Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend want to take out Damage CTRL and then get the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Video on Nikkita Lyons.

Lola Vice vs. Nikkita Lyons

Vice kicks her down and dances a bit before Lyons does the same. Lyons powers Vice into the corner but misses a charge into the post. Vice takes it to the mat and hammers away, setting up the running hip attack in the corner. Cue Jaida Parker for a distraction, and a running knee, allowing Lyons to hit a Vader Bomb for the pin at 3:50.

Rating: C. I know she has star power and the fans seem to like her but I can’t get interested in Lyons. Maybe it’s that she keeps getting injured and disappearing but there is something about her that is a bit offputting. Parker vs. Vince continuing is fine as they can have a big showdown at Halloween Havoc, though I’m not sure what is next for Lyons.

Ava makes Giulia/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez/Cora Jade for Halloween Havoc but Fatal Influence interrupts. They don’t like matches being handed out like that so Ava makes a tag match for next week instead.

Riley Osborne vs. Ridge Holland

Thea Hail is here with Osborne, who knocks him off the apron before the bell and hits a big running flip dive to the floor. They get inside to officially start with Holland fighting back and hitting a running knee to take over. Osborne fights off the announcers’ table though and hits a running DDT to the floor. Back in and Holland grabs a head and arms superplex to put Osborne right back down. The lifting DDT finishes or Holland at 3:43.

Rating: C+. They started fast here and it made for a good enough match, with Osborne fighting for Chase U but coming up short in the end. This is pretty clearly just Holland clearing out the rest of the team until Andre Chase is back and that’s a logical story to tell. Halloween Havoc would make for a good spot for Chase vs. Holland, and there are no more roadblocks before Chase can come back.

Post match Holland keeps up the beating but Andre Chase is back for the save. Holland is cleared out and Hail is VERY pleased as we get a MR. CHASE chant. So there’s another Havoc match.

We look at Tatum Paxley saving Sol Ruca from Wendy Choo in a dark match last week.

Paxley, with her dolls, isn’t happy with Choo for stabbing her in the back and playing with said dolls. Jaida Parker and OTM (hey they’re still here) interrupt but Paxley actually argues with them for interrupting. Parker says she doesn’t play.

Ashante Thee Adonis vs. Brooks Jensen

Jensen powers him into the corner to start but Adonis is back with a running clothesline. Adonis rakes the eyes and scores with some forearms, only for Jensen to knock him right back down. A missed charge sends Jensen outside, where Adonis takes him down again. Back in and a dropkick hits Jensen but here is Karmen Petrovic to pour out the rose petals from earlier. Oddly that fires Adonis up, at least until Jensen catches him on top and hits a hanging DDT for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C. Not much time for this one and it was only so much of a story in the first place. Adonis’ ladies man deal is finally starting to go somewhere but it’s still not the most interesting stuff. Jensen and Shawn Spears aren’t much ether, but this is better than Jensen being all weird and wrecking things. I think.

The unnamed woman in red is still coming.

Lexis King leaves and says hi to various wrestlers, including the D’Angelo Family. The family wants to soften up Oba Femi next week.

Wes Lee vs. Ethan Page vs. Je’Von Evans

For the NXT Title shot at Halloween Havoc. Lee gets superkicked at the bell and Evans sunset flips Page for two. Evans kicks Lee out to the floor and hurricanranas Page in a snazzy sequence. Page drops Evans for a near fall of his own but Lee is back in to take them both down again. They go outside, where Page throws Lee over the announcers’ table, only to get taken out by Evans as we take a break.

Back with Evans missing a charge in the crowd and all three are down. Lee and Evans slug it out until Page hits a powerslam for two on Evans, with Lee making the save. We get the circle strike off and everyone is down again. Page knocks Lee off the top but Evans is right there with a running super Spanish Fly for two more. Ego’s Edge is broken up and Evans’ top rope cutter gets another near fall. Something like a Tower Of Doom is broken up so Evans hits the spinning top rope splash, only for Page to steal the pin at 15:28.

Rating: B-. Yes Page vs. Williams is continuing and I’m not sure I get why either. It’s a feud that has come and gone with Williams getting the definitive win. I guess the idea here is that Williams doesn’t have anyone else to face so they’ll do some gimmick match where Williams can get another win, but dang that’s not exactly exciting.

Post match Page calls out Trick Williams to spin the wheel and it’s….Devil’s Playground. Page drops Williams to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. NXT hasn’t been doing much for me lately, as while it’s technically sound, it’s not exactly intriguing. As has been the case for a good while, the women’s division is far outshining their male counterparts, but even that is only taking them so far. The main event was just decent this week and there was nothing on here that you need to see. Maybe Halloween Havoc boosts it up, but this hasn’t been the most exciting run over the last few months.

Results
Stephanie Vaquer b. Wren Sinclair – Butterfly backbreaker
Lexis King b. Oro Mensah – Bridging rollup
Nikkita Lyons b. Lola Vice – Vader Bomb
Ridge Holland b. Riley Osborne – Lifting DDT
Brooks Jensen b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Hanging DDT
Ethan Page b. Je’Von Evans and Wes Lee – Rollup to Evans

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

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It’s that time again as we have the show built around the idea of gust stars from a variety of other promotions. You get to wrestlers from around the world coming in to compete against the stars of AEW, which can make for some rather interesting situations. The buildup to the show is not often the strongest but you can see one heck of a night of action. That should be the case again so let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Kris Statlander/Momo Watanabe vs. Willow Nightingale/Tam Nakano

This, along with the other two Zero Hour matches, were not important enough to be announced on Dynamite but rather a few hours later on Twitter. I’m not sure I get the thinking, but it isn’t exactly making me interested in what we’ll be seeing here. In this case, Statlander vs. Nightingale is the big draw, as they are already set to face off in the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament.

I’ll go with Statlander and Watanabe winning here to give a bit of doubt about Nightingale being able to make it to the finals of the tournament. That should make for a good match here, but Watanabe and Nakano are people who have not been around AEW very much over the years. That doesn’t exactly make for a big time match, but that is kind of the point in having the match on the Zero Hour show.

Zero Hour: Women’s Owen Hart Tournament First Round: Mariah May vs. Saraya

It’s a little weird to have May on the show when she already has a major role in another, bigger match on the card. For now though, we could be in for a nice match as either of them going forward could be an interesting way to go. Both of them could make for an a solid choice for the next round, though there is some logic that comes into play here which should determine the winner.

At the end of the day, May being involved in the Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa match is a lot more important and there is pretty much no reason for her to go into that spot as a loser. May going over here makes a lot more sense and while there is something to the idea of Saraya going on towards a title shot in London, it isn’t the best option that they have available here.

Zero Hour: Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. Mistico/Lucha Bros

The big draw here is that Mistico and the Bros have never teamed together before. That isn’t the biggest draw in the world but it is certainly a cool enough moment and better than nothing. In other words, this feels like an excuse to get Mistico onto the show and that is not a bad idea. The match itself is only so important here, but that is often the case on Zero Hour.

There is pretty much no reason for Mistico and the Bros to lose here as Mistico can do his stuff and pop the crowd. There are some talented people in Los Ingobernables but it feels like they are here for the sake of making Mistico look that much bigger. It’s not a bad idea either, so hopefully they at least have an entertaining match on the way to the main show proper.

Zero Hour: House Of Black vs. Tomohiro Ishii/Kyle O’Reilly vs. Gabriel Kidd/Roderick Strong vs. Private Party

Yes there is a fourth match on this show, which was added during this week’s Collision. This feels like little more than a way to get a bunch more people onto the card, which is often not the most thrilling way to go. In this case we do have some big names who probably should have been on the show, but that doesn’t exactly make for the most exciting match possible.

I’ll take the House Of Black here, as they’re the biggest of the two regular teams (at least in AEW) and it makes the most sense to give them the win. This is going to be the insane match with everyone going nuts all over the place and trying to get in as much as they can, which isn’t going to be easy given how many people are involved. Odds are it should be fun though and that’s what you want out of a match like this one.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Orange Cassidy

We’ll start the main card here as Sabre wants revenge on Cassidy for beating him at last year’s show in a four way match. The other idea is that Cassidy isn’t good enough to beat Sabre on his own and is going to need some kind of special trick to pull it off. I’m not sure what that is going to be, but then again that’s kinds of the point of watching the match in the first place.

As much as I want to take Sabre here, it feels like a situation where Cassidy is coming in as the huge underdog but manages to pull it off somehow anyway, as tends to be his custom. It might not be the most thrilling way to go but that has never really stopped AEW with Cassidy before. It’s always fun to see whatever Sabre can do to torment someone else so we should be in for a good one here with Cassidy winning.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Hechicero

This is a bit early for a match involving someone as big as MJF but it isn’t like AEW has treated it like anything important. For the second year in a row, MJF’s Forbidden Door match feels like it was thrown on for the sake of giving him something to do and I do not get the thinking behind that move. It’s MJF’s first pay per view match since December and he’s more or less an after thought. That’s quite the odd way to go, but at least it’s an easy pick.

Save for some wacky interference, there is no reason for Hechicero to win here so we’ll take MJF in what should be an easy one. MJF will probably get in some trouble here but then wind up winning anyway, because there is pretty much no reason for Hechicero, who is probably not sticking around, to beat one of the biggest stars in the company. I’m still not sure I get the thinking here, but MJF wins.

Men’s Owen Hart Tournament First Round: Bryan Danielson vs. Shingo Takagi

The roller coaster that is the last full time year of Danielson’s career continues and that means we have another match against a hard hitter. That is kind of his trademark at this point and in this case he actually has a better chance to pull it off. It’s quite the way to go for a first round match in a #1 contenders tournament, but Danielson has a tendency to go a bit nuts anyway.

While Danielson might not have the best win/loss record, there is no reason to believe he goes down here. Takagi is another guy who isn’t likely to be around for the long term, which would likely include another match in the tournament. That leaves Danielson to win a heck of a fight, which isn’t something you get to say very often in AEW but it makes all the sense in the world here.

Learning Tree/Jeff Cobb vs. Samoa Joe/Hook/Katsuyori Shibata

Cobb is substituting for an injured Bryan Keith as Jericho’s latest weird character gets a pay per view match. The good thing about Jericho being in the match is that he can’t talk, which would be about as bad as it could get around here. Joe vs. Cobb is the hoss fight fans would want to see while the rest…well they’re all involved as well, no matter how odd it might be.

I’ll take the Learning Tree and Cobb to win here, as it seems like we’re going to be seeing Jericho do his thing for a long time to come, no matter how much of a mess it might be. That doesn’t go well if he loses his big match as part of the team, so odds are Cobb pins Shibata to get the win, giving Jericho something else to talk about. The match itself should be ok, but egads this has been a rough sit for a good while now.

Elite vs. Acclaimed/Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tanahashi is replacing Billy Gunn for the sake of it’s Forbidden Door and therefore Tanahashi has to be on the show. Much like the Learning Tree match, the good thing here is that if the Bucks are in the match, they can’t be talking (in theory at least) and that should make things a bit less annoying. This feels like a match that should be on Dynamite but here we are instead, though at least the addition of Tanahashi makes it feel more special.

It’s hard to imagine the Bucks losing a big match until Blood And Guts at the earliest so we’ll say the Elite wins here and keeps things going. Odds are we get a rematch of this later on with Gunn in there rather than Tanahashi, but for now at least we should be in for something good enough. The Elite go over though, as they’re a bigger deal than another makeshift team.

TNT Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Dante Martin vs. El Phantasmo vs. Mark Briscoe vs. Lio Rush vs. Jack Perry

Here we have a ladder match for the vacant title as Adam Copeland decided that jumping off a cage and landing on his feet was a good idea. The ladder match part makes it all the more eye roll inducing because it’s such a cliché at this point, but it also lets someone potentially steal the title without having to get a pinfall. That opens up some doors, but I think you know where this is going.

As much as I’d love to see someone like Martin, who could actually be made by something like this, get the title, this feels like it’s Perry all day. AEW is obsessed with getting this guy over one way or another and it feels like he’ll do it here as a way to become that much bigger of a deal. The match will be the usual car crash, meaning it’s only going to be so good, but it should be exciting.

Women’s Title: Toni Storm(c) vs. Mina Shirakawa

This is both a title match and part of a love triangle, as both of them are trying to woo Mariah May. That has made for quite the unique story but it is something that has been set up well enough that I’m curious to see where it goes. The match quality itself might be up in the air as Shirakawa doesn’t have a long track record in AEW, but that is far from the most interesting part here.

I’ll go with Storm to win of course, as the title isn’t likely changing hands here, though the question becomes what happens with May. It would not surprise me at all to see her side with Storm before eventually winning the Owen Hart Tournament and getting a shot against Storm at Wembley. For now though, all is right in the world as May signs with Storm and moves forward, though it could be quite the path there.

AEW TBS Title/NJPW Women’s Strong Title: Mercedes Mone(c) vs. Stephanie Vaquer(c)

We’re going title for title here and…I have almost no idea what to expect here as all I’ve seen from Vaquer is most of an eight minute match this week on Collision. Other than that it’s been all hype videos and promos from Mone, which isn’t the best way to go. What matters though is that we have what could be a huge match which could go either way, as the title vs. title stipulation shakes things up.

While there is a chance that Vaquer wins, I can’t imagine Mone loses anywhere near this close to her AEW debut. AEW knows that she is a star and isn’t about to have her lose a big match, or any match for that matter, here. They have also hyped up the idea that she needs to win the NJPW belt, even if that means we are going to be seeing another title running around AEW, because we haven’t had that in a bit.

IWGP World Title: Jon Moxley(c) vs. Tetsuya Naito

This is the other World Title match on the show, which is arguably a bigger match than the main event. Thankfully AEW has managed to avoid treating this as such a big deal, as that would be about as bad of a result as you could get for the AEW World Title. Moxley is already one of the biggest stars in AEW, but that brings up the question of whether or not he gets to retain the title here.

This one could go either way, but I’ll take Naito to win here, as I can’t imagine Moxley being the next big thing in AEW. Naito can get back the title that Moxley took fro him and we could be in for a rather good match on the way there. It also gives the other promotions their big win on the show, which very well could otherwise be dominated by AEW. This one could go either way of course, but I’ll take Naito to get the title back.

AEW World Title: Swerve Strickland(c) vs. Will Ospreay

Here we have the biggest match on the card and thankfully the best built up story. It’s an idea that has been done before, as you have Ospreay as the new ace of the company and Strickland being the “not so fast” champion. Ospreay has pretty much been able to do no wrong so far in AEW and Strickland can work well with anyone. That opens up the door for something great, but there is one thing in the way.

That thing is the Don Callis Family and unfortunately I’m expecting them to be what costs Ospreay the match here. Ospreay getting the World Title at some point seems to be an inevitability, but I would hope that Strickland gets at least one successful defense in the main event spot. Strickland has done incredibly well in this role and this could be another great one, though odds are the Family gets involved to cost Ospreay. It’s predictable, but that’s about all I can expect to happen.

Overall Thoughts

As you can probably tell from here, this is going to be a very long show. Fourteen matches and a show that could go around six hours makes for one heck of a marathon and I’m worried about things getting bogged down by sheer volume. There is a great show in there somewhere but AEW has a tendency to put in way too much on any pay per view. Hopefully they can find a way around it, but they’ve got a big challenge in front of them.

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

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Collision
Date: June 29, 2024
Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness

We’re a day away from Forbidden Door and that means it is time for the big final push towards the show. That could go in a variety of ways but with most of the show already set, this is likely going to be about pushing things that have already been set up. That could still make for a good show so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Orange Cassidy/Tomohiro Ishii vs. TMDK

Haste wants to check on Cassidy’s pockets to start but with nothing happening, it’s off to Ishii instead. They go head to head to no avail so we’ll try Eagles vs. Cassidy instead. Cassidy takes him down without much trouble and sends Eagles into the corner so many times that Eagles has to grab the referee. Tis but a ruse though, as Haste drops Cassidy onto the apron, allowing Eagles to hit a bit flip dive as we take a break.

Back with Cassidy kicking Haste into Eagles, allowing the tag off to Ishii to clean house. Haste’s kick to the face is shrugged off and Ishii grabs a Saito suplex for two. Ishii and Cassidy hit the alternating strikes in the corner and Cassidy’s top rope elbow gets two. Back up and a Falcon Arrow plants Cassidy but he’s back with Stundog Millionaire. Eagles plants him again but Ishii makes the save. Cassidy kicks Haste into the corner though and grabs the Beach Break for the pin at 10:46.

Rating: C+. This was about getting Cassidy in the ring with Zack Sabre Jr.’s teammates and little more, which made for kind of a weird match. Cassidy is working rather hard as of late and might be more than a bit worn down for Sabre, which tends to be exactly what he tends to do most of the time. Not bad at all here, but it feels a bit off from the matches Cassidy and Ishii have tomorrow.

We get a Hangman Page vignette as he sits and drinks in his empty house. That very well could be the wildcard from the Elite. Or he’s just a loner drunk again.

The Learning Tree is in the back and walks into the trainer’s area to complain about faulty wrist taping. Chris Jericho also advocates stealing tape.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Lady Frost

Non-title and here is Mercedes Mone to watch. Vaquer puts her down to start and then spins out of a wristlock. An STF sends Frost over to the ropes and they head outside, where Frost snaps off a hurricanrana. Frost tries a handstand on the apron but gets superkicked, leaving us with a Mone/Vaquer staredown as we take a break.

Back with Frost hitting some faceplants to send Frost into the mat but Frost kicks her in the head. A twisting high crossbody gives Frost two, with Mone approving at ringside. Vaquer is back with a spinning DDT for two and some headbutts in the corner have Frost in more trouble. A package backbreaker finishes Frost at 7:58.

Rating: C+. Well at least they finally got Vaquer in the ring for once before her title match against Mone. That’s what we’ve been needing since the match was announced as Vaquer hasn’t wrestled in AEW prior to this, which doesn’t give fans much to go on. This was better than nothing, but the story is only going to be so interesting going into tomorrow.

Post match Mone comes in for the staredown but Vaquer leaves. Vaquer’s partner, Zeuxis, comes in to jump Mone, allowing Vaquer to lay Mone out.

The Lucha Bros are ready for Forbidden Door when Los Ingobernables de Japon come in to challenge Death Triangle. The Bros are going to pass because Pac is in the Owen Hart Cup, but they’ll team with Mistico instead. Los Ingobernables are cool with that. Well Takahashi isn’t, as he’s kind of panicking over the Mistico idea.

Serena Deeb vs. Kelly Madan

Deeb chops away to start and hits a neckbreaker over the middle rope. A hammerlock lariat into Deebtox finishes Madan at 1:15.

Post match Deeb says she isn’t going into wrestling purgatory and wants some competition. And cue Riho for the staredown, because it’s time to pretend she’s amazing again.

The Learning Tree critiques hand washing techniques.

Post match the Learning Tree tries to ride a Zamboni machine but get beaten up by Samoa Joe and pals. The fight heads into the arena, where Jeff Cobb runs in to even things out so the Learning Tree can stand tall.

Video on Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Orange Cassidy.

Cassidy says his world is falling apart but he’s here, unlike Sabre. Cue Sabre to say he knows what Cassidy is going to do, so Cassidy offers to pin him with his hands in his pockets. Cassidy grabs him by the shirt, with Sabre saying he’s already won.

Hechicero vs. Kevin Blackwood

Hechicero takes him down and ties up the leg before switching to an ankle lock. Some elbows to the face and a flapjack set up a Mad Scientist Bomb to rock Blackwood again. The Rings of Saturn with the legs makes Blackwood tap at 2:22.

The Patriarchy wants the Trios Titles so here is the Bang Bang Gang for the argument. Jay White mocks the team but gets why Christian Cage wants to latch onto him.

Daniel Garcia vs. The Butcher

They’re both from Buffalo. They fight over a lockup to start until Butcher powers him into the corner for some stomping. Garcia fights back but gets taken outside for a ram into the barricade. Garcia’s running boot is countered into a backdrop onto the barricade and we take a break. Back with the fans declaring this awesome as Butcher keeps Garcia in trouble. Garcia fights back and grabs a swinging neckbreaker for the breather. Back up and Garcia shrugs off a big boot before dropping Butcher with a clothesline. The piledriver finishes for Garcia at 9:00.

Rating: C+. The fans were into it, but I’m really not sure what the point is in having the fans split between two hometown stars before Garcia gets his big title match next week. Garcia isn’t likely to win, but this wasn’t the best way to get the fans behind him on the way there. Then again there have always been some rather odd choices for Garcia in AEW.

Post match dancing ensues and respect is shown.

The Don Callis Family interrupts Will Ospreay, who still says he can win the World Title on his own. That works for Callis and we pan out to show Rush standing with the Family.

Brodie Lee is getting his own custom shoe.

Jack Perry wants the TNT Title but doesn’t want to wrestle tonight. Christopher Daniels pops in to say Perry wrestles tonight or he’s out of the title match. Fans chant for CM Punk.

Women’s Owen Hart Tournament First Round: Hikaru Shida vs. Deonna Purrazzo

They fight over wrist control to start before switching to an exchange of forearms. Purrazzo gets knocked into the corner with an enziguri and then out to the floor, with Shida hitting a big dive. Back up and Purrazzo kicks her down and we take a break. We come back with Shida hitting some running knees for two but Purrazzo legsweeps her down. The Fujiwara armbar goes on but Shida slips out again. A step up kick to the head drops Purrazzo and the Falcon Arrow connects. The Katana finishes Purrazzo at 9:09.

Rating: B-. I’m a bit surprised that Purrazzo lost here as she was on something of a roll. That being said, Shida is possibly the most successful star in the history of AEW’s women’s division so losing to her is hardly some career killer. They did well here with Shida getting another win, and while I can’t imagine her winning the whole thing, someone will get a nice boost from beating her.

Post match Purrazzo jumps Shida again but Thunder Rosa runs in for the save.

We get another rather serious video from Jeff Jarrett, talking about what it means to honor Owen Hart’s legacy. The rest of Jarrett’s friends are ready to have his back, though he wants to go to the ring on his own. They all seem ok with this and will be with him in spirit.

We get a very slow pan up Toni Storm as she talks about how she is ready to beat Mina Shirakawa. As you might expect, this is rather over the top, as only Storm can do.

Mark Briscoe/Dante Martin/Lio Rush vs. Konosuke Takeshita/Jack Perry/El Phantasmo

Rush and Perry start things off but let’s try Takeshita instead. Rush gets two off a quick rollup before getting kicked in the face for his efforts. Phantasm comes in and all three opponents send him into the corner for some running clotheslines. We settle down to Rush’s suplex getting two on Phantasmo but he fights back up for a breather. Hold on though as Perry drops to the floor instead of tagging. Briscoe dropkicks Perry through the ropes and we take a break.

Back with Martin hurricanranaing Phantasm and Takeshita at the same time, allowing the tag back to Briscoe. Phantasmo kicks Briscoe in the head so Rush can come back in to pick up the pace. A suicide dive take Takeshita down but Phantasm and Martin hit dives of their own. Back in and Martin’s frog splash gets two with Perry making the save.

Briscoe’s running flip dive from the apron misses though and Takeshita comes back in to clean house. Martin catches him on top with a super hurricanrana, only o have Perry break up something on top. The distraction lets Takeshita hit the Blue Thunder Bomb into the running knee to finish Martin at 10:51.

Rating: B-. This was the preview for the ladder match which has nothing to do with ladders but that’s how ladder matches are built up. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Perry winning but at least there is quite the lineup of talent involved. It also helps that it was the best match of the night so far, though the lineup has only been so good this week.

Post match Perry decks Takeshita, who gets superkicked by Phantasmo, who gets Stunnered by Rush, who gets in a tug o war with Martin, who is knocked down by a ladder shot from Briscoe, who climbs the ladder and throws the title onto the pile before hitting a flip dive onto everyone.

Forbidden Door rundown.

We get the weigh-in for the World Title match between Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay, with Prince Nana as moderator. Ospreay weighs 220 and Swerve weighs 230. They go nose to nose and pose for photos before Ospreay says they are 24 hours away from ushering in a new era. Swerve talks about how he’s a businessman and offers Ospreay’s wife a contract. That’s enough for the fight to be on, with all of the seconds getting into it as well. Ospreay manages a quick Hidden Blade and poses over Swerve to end the show. This has been the best built match on the pay per view, but I’m worried that it’s going to get overshadowed.

Overall Rating: B-. The ending segment was good, but this was a show that seemed more designed as a big preview for tomorrow’s event. While that makes sense on paper, there is only so much that you can get out of having a preview of what is supposed to be a bunch of one off special matches. It also doesn’t help that this was a two hour show which came the day before an hour long show and the day before a four plus hour pay per view (with an hour and a half pre-show). Not a bad show, but not one you really needed to watch.

Results
Orange Cassidy/Tomohiro Ishii b. TMDK – Beach Break to Haste
Stephanie Vaquer b. Lady Frost – Package backbreaker
Serena Deeb b. Kelly Madan – Deebtox
Hechicero b. Kevin Blackwood – Rings of Saturn with legs
Daniel Garcia b. The Butcher – Piledriver
Hikaru Shida b. Deonna Purrazzo – Katana
Konosuke Takeshita/Jack Perry/El Phantasmo b. Mark Briscoe/Dante Martin/Lio Rush – Running knee to Martin

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

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Dynamite
Date: June 12, 2024
Location: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We have less than three weeks to go before Forbidden Door and last week saw some more of the card coming together. In addition to all of that though, Will Ospreay is the #1 contender and will be challenging Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Title. On the New Japan front, Jon Moxley will be defending the IWGP Title against former champion Tetsuya Naito. We have 18 days to get to those matches though so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Here is Swerve Strickland, with Prince Nana, for an opening chat. He hypes up the Forbidden Door title match against Will Ospreay and praises Ospreay’s recent successes. Ospreay has been an assassin, but that won’t be the case at Forbidden Door. Strickland is called Killshot because if you don’t pull the trigger, he will. Ospreay is a fighting champion, unlike the Young Bucks….which brings out the Elite to interrupt.

The Bucks brag about how they have cleared out half the roster and that means they want the best of AEW to Blood & Guts at some point in the future. The Elite gets in the ring and offer Swerve a spot on the team as the fifth man. They throw in an offer of their new shoes, but they aren’t Swerve’s size so he throws them into the crowd. The fight is teased but the Acclaimed and Billy Gunn run in for the save. Christopher Daniels pops in to say get out of the ring because we have a match to get going. I’m not sure when Blood & Guts is happening but it very well might be the big blowoff to the whole Elite thing.

TNT Title Qualifying Match: Dustin Rhodes vs. Jack Perry

Perry is in street clothes and they brawl out to the floor to start, with Perry sending him into the steps. A piledriver onto the exposed concrete is countered into a backdrop to put Perry down and we take a break. Back with Rhodes busted open and Perry choking on the rope. Perry takes too long though and gets caught in a snap powerslam for a breather.

They slug it out until Rhodes snaps off a bulldog and hammers away as well. Cross Rhodes is broken up so we get an old Flip Flop And Fly. Now Cross Rhodes can connect for two but Perry sends him into an exposed buckle (apparently the pad was pulled off earlier). Dustin gets dropped onto the exposed concrete but beats the count. Back in and Perry gets in a low blow, only for Dustin to flip him off. The running knee finishes for Perry at 10:06.

Rating: C+. I still do not get the Perry hype and this didn’t change that stance. The match was full of things like low blows and cheap shots and it didn’t make me care about Perry any more or less. He’s still just a guy in the ring whose best attribute seems to be the friends he keeps and that’s not exactly making him feel like a star. Odds are he wins the TNT Title, though maybe sanity will prevail instead.

We look at Kyle O’Reilly and Willow Nightingale saving Orange Cassidy on Collision.

Cassidy is happy to have O’Reilly, Nightingale and Mark Briscoe behind him. Briscoe calls them a conglomeration and goes into a crazed rant about how they are going to hurt the Don Callis Family (O’Reilly’s jaw dropping in awe makes it even better). That was some amazing stuff from Briscoe, who just turned up the insanity and went nuts on his opponents.

Rush vs. Deonn Rusman

Rush knocks him to the floor, beats him up, and hits the Bull’s Horns for the pin at 1:29.

Post match Rush grabs the mic and calls Rusman a typical weak American. Cue MJF and the brawl is on, with MJF and Rush stopping to beat up security. The fight heads into the crowd and then into the back, with Christopher Daniels failing to break it up. The locker room and agents break it up.

We look at Samoa Joe and Hook attacking the Premiere Athletes on Collision.

Mark Briscoe/Orange Cassidy/Kyle O’Reilly vs. Roderick Strong/Kyle Fletcher/Konosuke Takeshita

Don Callis is on commentary and Trent Beretta and the Kingdom are here with the villains. Strong wants to face O’Reilly to start before handing it off to Fletcher instead. Briscoe comes in and strikes away at Takeshita and it’s off to O’Reilly as the rapid fire tags continue. Everything breaks down and Fletcher hits a big dive, followed by one from Cassidy. Trent offers a distraction though and Takeshita drops Cassidy as we take a break.

Back with O’Reilly getting the tag and starting to clean house. Everything breaks down and Red Neck Kung Fu clears the ring. Cassidy’s top rope DDT gets two on Fletcher but Takeshita counters the Jay Driller into a Blue Thunder Bomb. Stundog Millionaire hits Fletcher but Strong distracts Cassidy on top. Fletcher gets dropped with a brainbuster and Briscoe adds the Froggy Bow for two. A cheap shot drops Briscoe and Fletcher hits the piledriver for the pin at 13:05.

Rating: B. They didn’t even try to have a normal tag match here and they shouldn’t have. This was all about getting in as much as they could and it was a blast once they just went full speed ahead. I’m not wild on the Ring Of Honor World Title being made to look less important, but that whole thing has been a wash for a long time now. Really fast paced, entertaining match here.

Post match the villains keep up the beatdown so Willow Nightingale tries to make the save. Kris Statlander cuts that off though and Stokely Hathaway threatens more violence.

Rey Fenix is ready for Will Ospreay.

Shingo Takagi is in the Owen Hart Cup.

Christopher Daniels says Tony Khan is putting the Elite in Eliminator Matches next week, with all seconds barred from ringside.

Hook/Samoa Joe vs. Premiere Athletes

Hook and Joe jump them during their entrance and Katsuyori Shibata is a cameraman. We start with Joe hammering away on Nese before it’s off to Hook, who gets stomped down in the corner. Hook sidesteps Daivari’s dive (Joe approves) and stereo chokes finish the Athletes at 2:30. Now can we please stop presenting the Athletes as a big deal on ROH? Of course not, but this isn’t going to make me care about them any more.

Stephanie Vaquer is ready to face one of the best in Mercedes Mone.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Zeuxis

Zeuxis (Vaquer’s regular partner) is challenging and sends her into the ropes to start. That doesn’t get her very far as Mone gets in her dancing before taking Zeuxis down for two. A spinning kick staggers Mone but she takes the legs out, only for Zeuxis to pop back up. The running dropkick puts Mone on the floor as we take an early break.

Back with Zeuxis hitting a fireman’s carry into a powerbomb for two. Mone’s middle rope sunset flip is countered into a stomp to the ribs for two more. Back up and Mone hits a middle rope Meteora for two of her own. Three Amigos are countered into a Backstabber for two on Mone but she’s right back with the Mone Maker for the pin at 10:07.

Rating: C+. This is a good example of why Forbidden Door season is a problem. We barely know who Stephanie Vaquer is and now we’re supposed to be interested in Mone wrestling Vaquer’s partner. These stories tend to go at about a million miles an hour (as they don’t have time to do anything else) and if you aren’t familiar with the guest stars, it can be really hard to get into these matches. Zeuxis was good enough, but I’m having a real hard time getting into this Mone vs. Vaquer match and this didn’t help things.

Video on Mina Shirakawa and her friendship with Mariah May.

May, cuddled up to Toni Storm, promises to run next week’s contract signing, though Storm isn’t worried.

Big Bill introduces Chris Jericho for TV Time (and yes there is now a Learning Tree set). Jericho tells the local farmers how to grow better corn but thinks Private Party needs to learn. Cue Private Party, with Jericho not thinking much of their fundamentals. He learned from Stu Hart and explains how to go up top like Owen Hart. Then Private Party beats up the villains and clear the ring. Well at least this should be the lone Jericho segment this week.

Video on Jon Moxley vs. Tetsuya Naito at Forbidden Door.

The Bang Bang Gang isn’t impressed by the House Of Black so the challenge is issued for Collision.

Daniel Garcia vs. Nick Comoroto

Jacoby Watts is here with Comoroto (for those of you who don’t watch ROH). With MJF watching in the back, Garcia grabs a guillotine and hits the Red Cross for the win at 1:10.

Will Ospreay is ready for tonight and Forbidden Door.

A ticked off Pac enters the Owen Hart Cup.

International Title: Will Ospreay vs. Rey Fenix

Ospreay is defending and Swerve Strickland is watching in the crowd. They trade missed kicks to the head to start and it’s an early standoff. A pop up hurricanrana sends Ospreay outside and a frog splash gives Fenix two. We take a break and come back with Fenix grabbing a quickly broken Black Widow.

As we’re told that Blood and Guts is on July 24 in Nashville, Ospreay flips out of a super hurricanrana to stick the landing. They trade kicks until Ospreay’s spinning Air Raid Crash gets two, sending us to another break. Back again with Ospreay getting the better of a strike off until Fenix grabs another Black Widow.

A crucifix bomb gives Fenix two and a German suplex gets the same. The Oscutter gives Ospreay two but the Hidden Blade is countered with a jumping hurricanrana. Fenix’s flip is forearmed out of the air and Ospreay (with a stare) hits his own Swerve Stomp. The Hidden Blade retains the title at 15:11.

Rating: B. I don’t think there was any doubt to this one but it was a way to give Ospreay another big win on the way to Forbidden Door. Fenix is someone who can wrestle an exciting match with anyone and of course Ospreay can do that kind of thing rather well too. It was a big spot fest and that’s what it should have been, with the pretty obvious result not being a problem.

Post match Strickland gets in the ring and won’t shake hands. Strickland accuses Ospreay of thinking this is still a game and says he isn’t strong enough to hold this on his shoulders. Ospreay takes the title and puts it on his shoulder so Swerve takes it back. Swerve says he’d kill Ospreay if they weren’t friends and leaves, with Ospreay pointing at the Forbidden Door sign (oh dear) to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show where the wrestling carried it, though they did build up more than a few things for Forbidden Door. While I am having a really hard time caring about what happens there as almost nothing has my attention, they did a nice enough job of making what they have feel more important. I can go with a show that has a goal and makes a good effort to accomplish it, even if it’s not my style. Nice show this week.

Results
Jack Perry b. Dustin Rhodes – Running knee
Rush b. Deonn Rusman – Bull’s Horns
Roderick Strong/Kyle Fletcher/Konosuke Takeshita b. Mark Briscoe/Orange Cassidy/Kyle O’Reilly – Piledriver to Briscoe
Samoa Joe/Hook b. Premiere Athletes – Redrum to Daivari
Mercedes Mone b. Zeuxis – Mone Maker
Daniel Garcia b. Nick Comoroto – Red Cross
Will Ospreay b. Rey Fenix – Hidden Blade

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

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

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.