Ring Of Honor
Date: August 29, 2024
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s going to be hard to surpass last week’s show, which featured the World Title on the line plus a good bit more. The show also featured quite a few extra matches, some of which had things extended for quite a while. There is a good chance that happens again this week but let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Athena vs. Aleah James

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if James wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, she gets a future title shot. Athena takes her down by the arm to start and then spins her way out of James’ wristlock. Back up and James grabs a monkey flip into a headscissors for two but Athena sends her arm into the apron. James manages a hurricanrana out of a pop up powerbomb attempt but Athena hits some running forearms in the corner. Three straight powerbombs into a Crossface finishes for Athena at 6:13.

Rating: C. Not much to this one, but that’s the point of these matches. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Athena not in the ring as often as it was starting lose some of the impact. She’s one of the biggest stars around here and having her wrestle every week wasn’t working so well. This was a quick way to get her back in the ring and it was entertaining enough while it lasted.

Post match the hold stays on but Abadon comes in to chase Athena off. The fans declare this spooky and Athena’s right hand just has Abadon chasing her around. Billie Starkz cuts Abadon off with a belt shot…but Athena thinks Lexi Nair did it instead.

We look at the 16 man tag from the All In Zero Hour show, which in no way shape or form should have been a dark match since the stadium was about half full.

Johnny TV vs. Sidney Akeem

TV has Taya Valkyrie with him and Akeem is better known as Reggie in WWE. TV takes him down by the arm to start but Akeem is back up to avoid a clothesline with a flip. With TV on the floor, Akeem hits a big dive, only to get dropped face first onto the apron. Taya gets in a quick chop of her own and TV grabs a chinlock back inside.

A spinning knee to the face into the Flying Chuck sets up a missed Starship Pain though as Akeem gets away just in time. Akeem strikes away and hits a top rope spinning elbow for two but Taya distracts the referee again. This time it’s enough for TV to get in a low blow, setting up Starship Pain for the pin at 5:37.

Rating: C+. I’m really not sure if this was enough to get Akeem more appearances, as he wasn’t exactly a big star in WWE and didn’t really do much to showcase himself here. The movement and flying are good enough, but how many people around here can do something similar? Not a bad match at all, but nothing I need to see again from either of them.

Lance Archer vs. Ozzy

Archer jumps him during the entrance as usual and is stunned that Ozzy dared try a kick in the corner. Archer hits some big chops and the Blackout finishes at 2:20.

Shane Taylor hypes up Lee Moriarty as the best technical wrestler in the world. Moriarty will give Angelico a Pure Rules Title shot tonight.

Rachael Ellering vs. Mina Shirakawa

Shirakawa grabs a headlock to start but gets sat on the middle rope for her efforts. A quick takedown lets Shirakawa dance a bit and then knock her down out of the corner. Ellering is back up with a heck of a clothesline and some chops in the corner get two. Shirakawa gets in a kick of her own for a breather, setting up a Russian legsweep. A fisherman’s suplex gives Ellering two but Shirakawa knees her out of the corner. The top rope splash (non-frog) gives Shirakawa two and she reverses the Boss Woman Slam into a cradle for the pin at 7:04.

Rating: B-. It’s nice to see Shirakawa actually get in the ring, even if she hasn’t been doing much of anything either around here or in AEW as of late. She’s an absolute ball of charisma and it is fun to see her doing her thing. Ellering continues to be a good hand in the ring, though I could go for seeing more from her.

Post match Taya Valkyrie runs in and jumps them both. Why Taya changed from earlier isn’t clear but I would assume a different taping.

Top Flight/Action Andretti vs. Ace Of Space Academy

Andretti takes LSG down to start and it’s quickly off to Darius for a splash. GKM comes in to kick Andretti in the head though and a cheap shot from the apron makes it even worse. Colton Charles hits a clothesline for two but Andretti kicks and rolls his way out of trouble. The hot tag brings in Dante to clean house as everything breaks down. GKM gets caught on his own and Dante’s jumping knees to the back finish him off at 4:39.

Rating: C. As usual, Top Flight and Andretti are fine on their own and still feel like they are doing absolutely nothing important. Top Flight could easily be in the Tag Team Title picture either around here or in AEW but instead they’re just thrown out there with little of importance to do. I still don’t get it and for some reason it never changes.

EJ Nduka vs. Demo Diamond

Diamond grabs a headlock to start but gets hit with something like a spear for his efforts. Nduka misses a charge into the corner but comes back with a huge spinebuster. The toss powerbomb finishes Diamond at 2:00.

Rachael Ellering says the loss was tough but Harley Cameron interrupts. She gives something of a weird pep talk and Ellering isn’t impressed.

Evil Uno vs. Jacoby Watts

Before the bell, Watts offers Uno and the Dark Order a spot on the team, but Uno is a one cult man. Uno chops away in the corner to start and they head outside where a running clothesline puts him down again. Hold on though as the seconds get into it at ringside, allowing Watts to hit a running clothesline. Uno shrugs that off and hits the piledriver for the pin at 2:40. Well that was nothing.

Josh Woods vs. Barrett Brown

Woods backs him up against the corner to start and drops him with a hard shot. A running knee sets up the tombstone wheelbarrow suplex to finish Brown at 1:42. Total squash.

Leila Grey vs. Promise Braxton

Grey fights out of an early headlock and snaps off some armdrags. Back up and Braxton’s chops don’t get her very far, as Grey grabs a headscissors. A Blockbuster gives Grey two and a full nelson slam plants Braxton again. The full nelson slam finishes for Grey at 2:44.

Blake Christian vs. Rosario Grillo

Christian dropkicks him in the corner to start and snaps the arm back. Grillo gets sent to the apron for a kick to the head, setting up a springboard 450 to give Christian the pin at 1:42.

Ariya Daivari vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Daivari chops away to start but gets taken own by a running shoulder. Ishii chops away in the corner and Daivari is already needing a breather on the floor. That means Ishii gets to fire off more chops, but one of them hits the post to give Daivari a breather. Back in and Daivari grabs a chinlock but Ishii chops his way to freedom, even if the bad hand is broken up. A suplex gives Ishii two and, after a failed Mark Sterling distraction, the basement lariat finishes Daivari at 6:45.

Rating: C+. Commentary hyped up an appearance by Ishii as a big deal. That’s all well and good, but he was literally just on Dynamite the night before this aired in a longer, more intense match against a more successful opponent. This wasn’t exactly part of a red hot feud and came from a marathon taping session, so why not space it out better? Seeing Ishii against Hangman Page on Dynamite was good. This was more “ok, I’ve seen this done better recently”. Why did that need to be on this show?

Pure Title: Angelico vs. Lee Moriarty

Angelico, with Serpentico, is challenging, while Shane Taylor is here with the champ. Moriarty grabs the arm to start but Angelico takes him down by the leg. The technical off continues to go to a stalemate so Moriarty rolls away and dances a bit. Angelico pulls him down into something like an STF, sending Moriarty to the ropes for his first break. Back up and Moriarty rolls him up for two, leaving Angelico surprised.

Angelico takes him down by the arm but misses some kicks, allowing Moriarty to grab the Border City Stretch. Another rope break gives us one used each, with Moriarty looking rather pleased. Angelico’s kneebar sends Moriarty over to the ropes for another break but Moriarty is right back with a crank on the arm. The rope breaks are pulled to even again for the save so Moriarty grabs a Kimura, meaning Angelico has to use his last break. Angelico grabs a kneebar so Moriarty uses his last rope break as well. Back up and Angelico’s rollup is reversed into one from Moriarty to retain at 12:18.

Rating: B-. The Pure Rules matches are starting to feel a lot more formula based, as it’s turning into either “this person doesn’t know what he’s doing and burns through rope breaks” or “they both use their breaks and then the match ends shortly after”. Technically they’re fine matches, but they feel like they’re VERY scripted out in advance and that takes away a lot of the enjoyment.

Respect is shown to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This was a very uninteresting show and the wrestling wasn’t exactly burning up the mat to make up the difference. Half of the matches were squashes and the rest was stuff that didn’t really change anything. It wasn’t quite as long, but it felt a lot less interesting because so little happened. It’s another nothing show which was only long because Tony Khan decided it needed to be, which is a big reason why this show feels like such a waste of time more often than not.

Results
Athena b. Aleah James – Crossface
Johnny TV b. Sidney Akeem – Starship Pain
Lance Archer b. Ozzy – Blackout
Mina Shirakawa b. Rachael Ellering – Cradle
Top Flight/Action Andretti b. Ace Of Space Academy – Jumping knees to GKM
EJ Nduka b. Demo Diamond – Toss powerbomb
Evil Uno b. Jacoby Watts – Piledriver
Josh Woods b. Barrett Brown – Tombstone wheelbarrow suplex
Leila Grey b. Promise Braxton – Full nelson slam
Blake Christian b. Rosario Grillo – Springboard 450
Tomohiro Ishii b. Ariya Daivari – Basement lariat
Lee Moriarty b. Angelico – Rollup

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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AND

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Ring Of Honor
Date: August 15, 2024
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re getting closer to the end of the Texas engagement and odds are that means more from some combination of Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara/the Von Erichs. In theory that is designed to cater to the local crowd, but as usual, it’s a case of the same people being on the show a good bit too often. Let’s get to it.

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

Earlier today, Paul Wight talked about how Ring Of Honor is on fire. Taya Valkyrie and Johnny TV come in, with the latter asking for a World Title shot against Mark Briscoe. Sure.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Mark Briscoe vs. Johnny TV

TV, with Taya Valkyrie, is challenging. Briscoe grabs the arm to start and the ensuing armbar sends TV straight over to the ropes. TV’s headlock works a bit better but Briscoe enziguris his way out of trouble. Back up and TV knocks him down into the corner before taking it outside to keep up the beating. TV grabs the chinlock back inside before switching to a Shining Wizard for two.

Some kicks to the face put Briscoe down again but he fights up and hits a quick missile dropkick. TV is knocked outside for a running dropkick through the ropes, leaving Taya to block the Blockbuster. That’s enough for an ejection, setting up the Blockbuster to give Briscoe two back inside. TV’s flipping neckbreaker sets up Starship Pain for two and they both need a breather. A double clothesline leaves both of them down again before they slug it out. Briscoe gets the better of things and hits the Jay Driller to retain at 9:05.

Rating: C+. What is there to say here? The match came and went with no story or build and Briscoe won. It’s nice to have the champion around and actually defending the title, but there is only so much you’re going to get out of a match being made with the backstory of “hey I want a title shot”. TV hasn’t exactly been on a roll around here (he beat Fuego del Sol and…that’s it) but he gets a title shot anyway. That’s how ROH works though and it explains a lot of why the show is kind of a mess.

We look at Robbie Eagles beating Darien Bengston last week. Now he wants a TV Title match. The title match is on tonight, marking the second title match with a one match winning streak earning a title shot with the challenger just asking for a shot. That’s….something.

Blake Christian vs. Lio Rush

Christian rolls him up for two to start and cuts off Rush’s signature misdirection. Rush knocks him outside instead for a bottom rope Asai moonsault, only for Christian to kick him in the head back inside. They’re already back on the floor, with Christian driving Rush’s arm into various hard things.

Back in and Christian plants him down on the arm for two but Rush slips out of the armbar. A spinning kick to the head rocks Christian but he’s right back with a superkick. The springboard 450 misses so Rush kicks him down again, only to come up holding his arm. Christian sends him outside for a Tombstone on the floor, followed by a springboard 450 back inside….for two, because of course. Rush is right back up with the springboard Stunner for the fast pin at 9:47.

Rating: C+. The action was fun but my goodness that near fall off the Tombstone and 450 took me out of everything. If you’re going to do that, have it finish Rush off. If Rush is going to win, don’t do those spots back to back. Why a Tombstone on the floor isn’t the finish in the second match on the show (or even taking place whatsoever) is beyond me, but logic doesn’t often have a lot of room in some of these matches.

We look at Athena and Billie Starkz stealing last week’s main event over Queen Aminata and Red Velvet.

Here are Athena and Starkz (the latter who seems to be limping) for a chat. Athena introduces herself and tells Starkz to do some situps before saying Lexi Nair is her Minion Bestie. Nair isn’t here training because she didn’t lost Athena’s Women’s TV Title. She is on her way to becoming the longest reigning champion in ROH history…and here is Abadon to scare Athena and Starkz off.

Mark Briscoe, with Tomohiro Ishii, isn’t happy with his loss to the Beast Mortos. That means Mortos is getting a title shot because the word of the day is recapitulation. He’s getting the match made.

Katsuyori Shibata vs. Ariya Daivari

Before the match, Daivari says Shibata is only good at wrestling but he’s good at every sport, including dressage! Shibata wastes no time in pulling him down into the Figure Four, which is quickly broken up. Instead Shibata knocks him outside, where Daivari gets in a posting to take over.

Back in and Daivari stomps away in the corner, setting up the chinlock. That’s broken up and Shibata fights out of the corner, setting up a half butterfly suplex for two. Daivari drops him for a change and hits the Magic carpet Splash for two. Shibata gets in the headbutt but Tony Nese trips him up, earning the big boot back down. A claw into the cross armbreaker makes Daivari tap at 6:34.

Rating: C. This was a way to get Shibata out there and have him beat up a lower level guy. That’s something we’ve seen a few times now and it wasn’t anything special, but there is something to be said about seeing the Premiere Athletes get beaten down. Not a bad match, but nothing that you really needed to see.

The MxM Collection is happy to be here when Maria Kanellis and Griff Garrison interrupt. Maria wants to turn them into a trio but Garrison grabs their fingers rather than doing the tip touch. Panicking ensues.

Harley Cameron vs. Viva Van

Cameron knees away at the ribs to start but misses a running basement version. Van takes her down by the leg but gets reversed into a bodyscissors. That’s reversed as well with Van grabbing a Rocking Horse, only to get taken down and punched in the face. Back up and Van strikes away but Eat Defeat into a Backstabber gives Cameron two. Van is sweeps the leg but gets knocked down again, setting up a running knee to give Cameron the win at 5:10.

Rating: C. Cameron feels like one of the next projects around here and it’s only kind of working. She’s not someone who is standing out for the most part and while she has some star power, it’s not like she’s really doing anything above the rest. This was a perfectly decent match, but Cameron is going to need more.

Serpentico vs. Griff Garrison

For Serpentico’s mask and Maria Kanellis is here with Garrison. Serpentico dives on him to start and whips Garrison into the barricade over and over. Some chops have Garrison in more trouble but Maria cuts off a charge, allowing Garrison to drop Serpentico onto the steps. Another whip into the steps has Serpentico down again before they go inside for the first time. Serpentico gets whipped into the corner for two and a torture rack powerbomb gets two. Garrison picks him up but Serpentico collapses, only to beg the referee to not stop it.

A spinning forearm drops the referee by mistake and Maria sends Garrison a chair. Said chair is wedged in the corner and here is Angelico to yell at Maria. Serpentico is back up and sends Garrison into the chair, setting up a low blow with another chair. There’s still no referee so the rather delayed cover gets two. They slug it out from their knees until Garrison kicks him in the face. Garrison rips off the mask, revealing ANOTHER MASK. A jumping Downward Spiral sends Garrison into a downward spiral, setting up a frog splash to give Serpentico the pin at 7:31.

Rating: C+. And it’s over right? The feud has been going on for months and running around in a huge circle so this has to be it yes? Serpentico got his win and his mask back and the feud should be over. It’s been a feud built around low level tag teams that kept going months after it should have ended and this is as perfect of an ending as it can have so let it be over.

Athena is NOT happy with the implication that she is scared of Abadon.

Anthony Henry/Beef vs. Dante Leon/Vinnie Massaro

Henry and Leon start things off with Henry working on the arm and hitting a running shoulder. Massaro comes in so it’s off to Beef, because of course his name is Beef. Massaro gets knocked outside and Leon is run over, setting up some running crossbodies. Henry’s bridging German suplex finishes Leon at 2:33.

Lee Moriarty vs. Action Andretti

Non-title Proving Ground match under Pure Rules, meaning if Andretti wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. Moriarty takes him down for an armbar and Andretti uses his first rope break in less than thirty seconds. The Border City Stretch makes Andretti use his second break in just over a minute but Andretti is back up with a knockdown. A springboard spinning moonsault gets two on Moriarty, who fires off some knees to the ribs.

Moriarty stays on the arm, including an abdominal stretch with a wristlock at the same time. That’s enough to burn off Andretti’s final rope break but he does start the comeback with a backbreaker into a neckbreaker. Moriarty sends him to the apron for a right hand, only to miss a charge and get taken down with an Arabian press. A springboard clothesline gives Andretti two back inside and he grabs a half crab. Moriarty uses his first rope break and puts on the Border City Stretch. The ropes don’t help Andretti and he taps at 6:23.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have a lot of time here but it told a story of Moriarty knowing the rules better than Andretti, who burned through the rope breaks so fast and then didn’t have one when he needed it. That’s more than you usually get in a match like this and it kept things more interesting. Nice match here and one of the better things on the show thus far.

Post match Moriarty offers a handshake but walks away rather than give one.

We look at Leyla Hirsch beating Diamante at Death Before Dishonor.

Hirsch is proud of being such a great fighter and is ready to show everyone how legit she is.

TV Title: Atlantis Jr. vs. Robbie Eagles

Eagles is challenging and flips over him to start. A hard shot to the face gives Atlantis two but Eagles is back up to knock him to the floor for a running flip dive. Back in and a basement dropkick gives Eagles two, followed by a spinwheel kick. Eagles goes for the mask (as is required in every match with a masked man around here) but Atlantis hits a superkick. A modified Tombstone into a wheelbarrow suplex gives Atlantis two but a frog splash misses.

Eagles pulls him into the Ron Miller Special (that wacky leglock), sending Atlantis over to the ropes. Back up and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker plants Atlantis but the knee is damaged again. They trade rollups for two each until Eagles puts him down, only to miss a 450. Atlantis’ knee is fine enough to pull him up into something like a torture rack to retain at 9:34.

Rating: B-. This is a perfect example of why I have trouble getting into this show. Counting this one, Eagles has had two matches in ROH (in this run) and Atlantis has had four. With a handful of matches between the two of them, I’m going to need a bit more of a reason to be interested besides “here are two cool people, they’re fighting over a title”. The match had practically no build and the wrestlers are just a step above being strangers around here. That doesn’t make things interesting for me and the wrestling wasn’t exactly blowing the roof off the place. If ROH can get away from that style, it would be a lot better show.

Paul Wight announces that Beast Mortos is getting his World Title shot next week. Tony Nese interrupts and says the Premiere Athletes should get a title shot. Wight says if Nese can beat Lio Rush, they’ll talk about title shots.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs vs. Cage Of Agony

Rhodes and the Von Erichs are defending. Kaun grabs Ross’ arm to start and they trade some takedowns. It’s off to Marshall so the Von Erichs can dropkick the Gates out to the floor. Back in and Kaun hits a hard clothesline to drop Marshall and take over, with Cage coming in to fire off the chops.

That doesn’t last long as Marshall gets over for the tag off to Ross, who is tripped down by Cage. The double powerbomb puts Ross down again and Liona grabs the nerve hold. Ross is back up to send him into the corner and it’s off to Dustin to pick up the pace. Cross Rhodes gets two on Cage with Liona making the save as everything breaks down. Dustin reverses an F5 into a Canadian Destroyer on Cage…and the Dark Order and Undisputed Kingdom runs in to jump the champs for the DQ at 9:01.

Rating: C. Of course they did. Of course that’s the way this show ends because WE’RE IN TEXAS so Dustin and the Von Erichs are suddenly the most important people on the show. We have to have the Dark Order in there too because we have to have Six Man Titles and even though the Dark Order is a bunch of losers, they keep getting involved with the champions because WE’RE IN TEXAS and the Texas wrestlers have to be on every single show. I’m sick of seeing these same people on the show every week and now we’re going to see it even more because these titles just have to exist.

Post match the beatdown is on and Sammy Guevara runs in for the failed save. Angelico and Serpentico run in and get beaten down as well as the villains wreck everything to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. And this is what I was afraid of with Ring Of Honor getting its own shows during the residency. The show was back to the old style of “here’s a bunch of stuff, there’s no important reason for a lot of it but here is more, more, more”. The wrestling wasn’t particularly good in a lot of places and while I do like some vague attempts at continuity, so much of this show felt like it was put together on a napkin from a list of people available that weekend.

As usual, it could have been cut in half and made far better, but why do that when you can just cram in more matches with the same people we see every week? Including Dustin and the Von Erichs, because in case it wasn’t made clear, they’re from TEXAS and that means they need to be on every show in TEXAS. This show wasn’t horrible, but dang it was one of the least fun watches I’ve had in a good while.

Results
Mark Briscoe b. Johnny TV – Jay Driller
Lio Rush b. Blake Christian – Springboard Stunner
Katsuyori Shibata b. Ariya Daivari – Cross armbreaker
Harley Cameron b. Viva Van – Running knee
Serpentico b. Griff Garrison – Frog splash
Anthony Henry/Beef b. Dante Leon/Vinnie Massaro – German suplex to Leon
Lee Moriarty b. Action Andretti – Border City Stretch
Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs b. Cage Of Agony via DQ when Dark Order interfered

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.

Ring Of Honor
Date: August 8, 2024
Location: Esports Arena Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re still in Texas and the big story coming out of last week is Sammy Guevara showing up to join the other Texans because we all love Texas around here. Odds are we get some fallout from that this week as we build towards pretty much nothing for the foreseeable future. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Dark Order vs. Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara

Fallout from last week’s show closing angle. Guevara drops Silver down to start and it’s off to Dustin for a clothesline to send Reynolds outside. Everything breaks down and Guevara’s teased dive turns into a break dance into a pose. Dustin does the same and the fans are rather pleased. We settle down to Dustin getting caught in the wrong corner but he manages the powerslam, only to bang up his knee in the process. Dustin and Reynolds head outside, where Evil Uno gets in a cheap shot to give Reynolds a quick two.

Silver’s DDT on the knee gets two and the knee is wrapped around the middle rope. The Order takes turns working on the knee, including a half crab from Silver. That’s broken up and Dustin low bridges Reynolds outside, allowing the tag off to Guevara to pick up the pace. Back to back dives take out the Order but a superkick into a bridging German suplex gives Silver two. Guevara and Reynolds trade knees to the face until a DDT drops Guevara for two. Everything breaks down and Dustin’s knee is fine enough for the Canadian Destroyer. The GTH finishes Silver at 12:01.

Rating: C+. This was a completely by the book tag match and that’s perfectly fine. Dustin and Guevara fill in the Texas quota for the night while the Order has been around for so long that they’re kind of packaged into the whole thing. Hopefully this wraps up the feud though, as there isn’t much left for them (or the Von Erichs) to do here.

We look at the Women’s Title matches at Death Before Dishonor.

Athena is sick of Billie Starkz’s disappointments. Starkz’s MIT degree is revoked and she is officially Minion #400,237 ¾ in training again. Queen Aminata and Red Velvet come in and say it’s a tag match tonight because Athena and Starkz aren’t ducking them anymore. They JUST SHOWED a clip of the four of them in a pair of title matches from two weeks ago! How have Athena and Starkz been ducking them???

Taya Valkyrie vs. Hyan

Johnny TV, looking like he just finished a match, is here with Taya, who isn’t overly interested in the pre-match handshake. Hyan forearms her into the ropes to start and gets caught with a running elbow in the corner for her efforts. Taya knocks her down and cranks away on both arms before hitting a spear. Shania Pain finishes for Taya at 2:38.

Griff Garrison and Maria (minus Cole Karter) are cut off by the Spanish Announce Project. They want one more match for Serpentico’s mask, with Serpentico putting his mask on the line. This has to be it for this feud right? It has to be.

Tag Team Titles: Infantry vs. Kingdom

The Infantry, with Trish Adora, is challenging and it’s a brawl at the bell. The Kingdom tries to bail up the aisle but get pulled back to keep the brawl going at ringside. Bravo throws Taven inside to start properly and a double fist drop gets two. Bennett comes in and gets chinlocked down, followed by an armdrag into an armbar on Taven. A cheap shot from Bennett lets Taven grab a suplex and the villains take over. Bennett’s pop up right hand gets two and a Russian legsweep gives Taven the same.

Bravo fights out of a chinlock but gets dropped for two, with a grab of the rope being necessary. Back up and the diving tag brings in Dean to clean house. A frog splash gets two on Taven with Bennett making the save. The Death Valley Driver into Just The Tip gets two with Bravo making the save. The spike piledriver is broken up but so is Boot Camp. Bennett’s low blow sets up the spike piledriver to finish Dean and retain at 11:46.

Rating: B-. These teams have enough chemistry but that’s the second loss from the Infantry to the Kingdom. Normally I would say that it’s enough to end their feud but it isn’t like the tag division has that much depth. The Kingdom is more likely to lose the titles to an AEW team, as that is where they wind up spending most of their time in the first place.

Rachael Ellering vs. Brooke Havok

Ellering goes after the arm to start and powers her way out of a headlock. That’s enough for a standoff before Ellering runs her over, only to get tripped down so Havok can pose. Back up and Ellering fires off some chops in the corner but Havok takes her down and hits a basement dropkick. A neckbreaker gives Havok two but the Boss Woman Slam finishes for Ellering at 4:47.

Rating: C. Not much to this one here but Ellering matches are always going to b at least decent. That was the case again here, with Ellering needing to get a boost as she is still getting established around here. Havok was smooth enough out there and could be a nice choice for a spot like this going forward.

Respect is shown post match.

Lee Moriarty wants to face Action Andretti again and will put the Pure Rules Title on the line.

Outrunners vs. Stephen Wolf/Barrett Brown

Erica Leigh is here with the Outrunners, who shake hands with each other to start. Magnum chops the heck out of Brown in the corner to start and it’s off to Floyd to stay on the arm. An elbow drop sets up more posing and a powerbomb/neckbreaker combination finishes Wolf at 2:19.

Robbie Eagles vs. Darian Bengston

Eagles cranks away on the arm to start but Bengston takes him down and does some basketball poses. Back up and a spinwheel kick drops Bengston and a rather slow spinning toehold is broken up. Bengston’s forearms are broken up and Eagles kicks him in the leg. A 450 onto the leg sets up…something kind of leglock called the Ron Miller Special for the win at 5:21.

Rating: C+. Eagles is a star over in New Japan and looked good here, though it was little more than a squash with Bengston not being able to get very far. I could go for more of Eagles around here as the show could desperately use some more star power, but this might just be a cameo from an international star. That leglock certainly looked cool if nothing else.

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tony Nese

Mark Sterling and Ariya Daivari are here with Nese. For some reason Nese tries to chop away to start and gets knocked into the corner for his efforts. Nese’s forearms don’t get him anywhere so they head outside, where Nese manages to get in a quick dive for a knockdown.

Back in and Ishii fights out of a chinlock but gets caught in the Randy Savage jumping neck snap over the top. Ishii snaps off a belly to back suplex for two, followed by one heck of a clothesline for the same. Sterling is dealt with and the brainbuster is enough to finish for Ishii at 8:23.

Rating: C+. This felt like a way to have Ishii on the show and since the Premiere Athletes are the designated jobbers in AEW and ROH at the moment, the result wasn’t quite in doubt. Ishii can still do well enough, but like many others either here or in AEW, a lot of the special feeling goes away when he’s around so often. At least this one was a singles match instead of another big tag though.

Rachael Ellering is glad to be back after her injuries. Harley Cameron interrupts and seems happy to meet Ellering, who doesn’t seem impressed.

Johnny TV vs. Fuego del Sol

Taya Valkyrie is here with TV, who gets armdragged and dropkicked to start. TV knocks him down but it’s way too early for Starship Pain, allowing TV to hit a hard knee out to the floor. The flipping neckbreaker keeps del Sol down and we hit the chinlock back inside. A spinning knee to the face gives TV two and we’re back to the chinlock.

Del Sol fights out and hits an enziguri, setting up some running dropkicks in the corner. TV is back with a seatbelt for two, followed by a jumping kick to the head op top. Del Sol is fine enough to crotch him on top for a double stomp but TV easily gets in a knockdown of his own. Starship Pain finishes del Sol at 6:22.

Rating: C+. The del Sol push comes to a halt here and that isn’t the biggest surprise. Del Sol coming back was a nice surprise and it was nice to see TV actually get a win for once. At some point his status is going to fall with all of the losses so changing the results up a bit is not a bad idea.

Red Velvet/Queen Aminata vs. Athena/Billie Starkz

Both teams have matching gear, which is impressive for a match that wasn’t set when the show started. Starkz and Aminata start things off with Aminata taking her to the mat in a front facelock. It’s quickly off to Athena, who gets hammered down into the corner. Athena fights out and starts in on Aminata’s arm, setting up a Codebreaker for two. Starkz slams the bad arm into the mat a few times and, with Velvet being drawn in, some double stomping ensues.

Aminata fights up and gets over to Velvet, who tornado DDTs Athena for a fast two. A Codebreaker/German suplex combination sets up a running knee to give Aminata two. Back up and it’s off to Athena, who fires off superkicks to stagger Aminata and Velvet. A fall away slam/Samoan drop (at the same time) sends them flying again and Athena knocks Aminata silly with the big right hand. Velvet takes Athena down and hits the Mix on Starks but Athena makes the save. Aminata won’t let Athena use the microphone but Starkz gets in a belt shot for the pin at 12:11.

Rating: B-. The ending is a nice way to get Starkz back in Athena’s good graces, which she is going to need after losing last moth, which is not something Athena will like. The cheating is certainly an Athena way to go as well and it should set up a potential title rematch. At the same time, I could go for seeing some fresh challengers to either title, though I’m not sure that is going to take place for a good while.

Overall Rating: C+. The action was fine enough, and as usual, after about an hour and forty five minutes of decent/mediocre wrestling, I’m not overly interested in most of what I’m seeing around here. The World Title still might as well not exist most of the time and we’re back to the same Tag Team Title match that we saw over Wrestlemania Weekend.

The Women’s Titles are still in the same stories they’ve been in for a few months now, making this show feel like it is running a treadmill while being lost at the same time. As usual, it’s not a bad show, but an hour and forty five minutes of this stuff wears out its welcome very fast.

Results
Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara b. Dark Order – GTH to Silver
Taya Valkyrie b. Hyan – Shania Pain
Kingdom b. Infantry – Spike piledriver
Rachael Ellering b. Brooke Havok – Boss Woman Slam
Outrunners b. Stephen Wolf/Barrett Brown – Powerbomb/neckbreaker combination to Wolf
Robbie Eagles b. Darian Bengston – Ron Miller Special
Tomohiro Ishii b. Tony Nese – Brainbuster
Johnny TV b. Fuego del Sol – Starship Pain
Athena/Billie Starkz b. Queen Aminata/Red Velvet – Belt shot to Velvet

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Collision
Date: August 3, 2024
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re still in Texas with the Arlington residency and things have gone well enough so far. This show is coming off a Dynamite which wasn’t as eventful as recent weeks but that doesn’t mean things are going to be weaker this time around. Hopefully it can follow the successful Collision formula so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Here is the Patriarchy, with Christian Cage holding all of the belts, to get things going. Cage tells the fans to shut up while he conducts his business and can’t wait to get on his private plane to get out of here. He brags about winning the Trios Titles, which are a vehicle to get to the World Title. They aren’t belts but rather titles, because a belt holds your pants up or beats an unruly child. For now though, it is time to present the Patriarchy with their titles.

Nick Wayne is a prodigy and Killswitch is Cage’s finisher….but Killswitch didn’t give birth to a prodigy, so Mother Wayne gets his belt instead. Killswitch grabs Cage but here is the House Of Black to interrupt. Cage only sees two of them so no, they can’t be #1 contenders. Cage thinks they want some fatherly advice but the lights go out and here is Buddy Matthews to chase the Patriarchy off. Cue the Bang Bang Gang to cut them off and Kip Sabian sends Nick back inside for the beating. They’re teasing things with Cage and Luchasaurus and the fans are right there with them for it.

Dustin Rhodes and the Von Erichs talk about their partnership and families’ history. Sammy Guevara comes in to say he wants to team with them and earn their trust because they’re Texas legends. Dustin shakes his hand.

Mistico/Hologram vs. Premiere Athletes

Yes they have Mistico, no they didn’t announce him in any major way in advance and yes they are using him to get Hologram over. Hologram takes Daivari down to start and snaps off a hurricanrana into a dropkick to keep Daivari in trouble. It’s off to Mistico for a springboard high crossbody into something like Silly String. The luchadors tease dives but get in a stereo pose instead.

We take a break and come back with Mistico fighting out of a chinlock and hitting the double handspring elbow to drop the Athletes. It’s back to Hologram to pick up the pace with a hammerlock faceplant getting two on Daivari. Nese is back in with his pumphandle driver for two on Hologram with Mistico making the save. Hologram dives onto Mark Sterling (the fans approve) and Mistico hits a springboard missile dropkick on Nese. Hologram hits a big rope walk flip dive (taking out Mistico as well), setting up a 450 to finish Daivari at 9:40.

Rating: B-. The match was the fun stuff you would expect but my goodness it boggles my mind that this is the best they can do with Mistico. You do not get someone of his caliber very often and this is the best they have for him? At least announce him a bit more in advance to draw some kind of an audience with what you have there. Also, maybe don’t try to get your new luchador over with the biggest luchador in the world right now.

We look at Bryan Danielson not being pleased with Jeff Jarrett and setting up their match on Dynamite.

Mariah May comes out for commentary during Toni Storm’s match but here is Storm to dive onto May for the brawl (McGuinness: “SHE’S GONE FULL NORMA DESMOND!”).

Toni Storm vs. Rache Chanel

Chanel uses the distraction to jump Storm, who hits the Hip Attack and Storm Zero for the pin at 57 seconds.

Kyle Fletcher talks about his friendship with Will Osprey, which is why he stood up to MJF.

We look at MJF coming to CMLL for an American Title defense.

Kyle Fletcher vs. Brian Cage

Don Callis is on commentary. They fight over a lockup to start with Cage kneeing him down but getting sent to the floor. The big dive takes him out again as Callis praises Fletcher (and himself) as much as he can. They go to the ramp for a running cannonball from Fletcher as we take a break. Back with Cage slamming him off the top but the Drill Claw (Callis: “This move scares me.”) is countered into a small package. Fletcher’s piledriver finishes at 6:01. Not enough shown to rate, but how in the world does a six minute match need a break?

Post match Fletcher challenges MJF to put the title on the line in their match. MJF pops up on screen and says he doesn’t like Fletcher’s accent so let’s make it an eliminator match instead. This sends us to a break, maybe five minutes after we came back from the previous break.

Bryan Danielson is having Wheeler Yuta go after his neck in training because he knows Swerve Strickland is coming for it at All In.

Jay Lethal and company cut off Jeff Jarrett, who says no one got what they wanted but he’s ready for Bryan Danielson on Dynamite. Danielson needs to get ready for Swerve Strickland so let’s make it anything goes.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Tomohiro Ishii vs. Lee Moriarty

For a Continental Title shot and Shane Taylor is here with Moriarty. They do the circle strike to start with Moriarty being shouldered down, leaving Ishii and Castagnoli to trade shoulders. Moriarty is back in with a dropkick to both of them but Castagnoli stomps him down in the corner. Back up and Moriarty dropkicks him out to the floor, setting up the dive as we take a break.

We come back with an exchange of German suplexes and everyone is down. Castagnoli and Ishii are both up to slug it out until Castagnoli Swings Moriarty. Ishii is back in but gets rolled up by Moriarty. Castagnoli makes a save and slugs it out with Ishii again. Moriarty rolls both of them up and gets the Border City Stretch on Ishii, who has to make the rope. Castagnoli plants Moriarty so Ishii makes a save of his own, leaving Castagnoli to uppercut Moriarty for the pin at 10:31.

Rating: B-. That’s a very AEW style of booking: taking three people, putting them into a random #1 contenders match and having the new Ring Of Honor champion take the fall. It’s another example of not being able to take Ring Of Honor seriously and I have no idea why Moriarty needed to be in there. Was there really not a non-champion available to do the job?

Top Flight, now with Leila Grey as their attendant, is interrupted by the MxM Collection. They don’t like Grey’s gear and pose.

Thunder Rosa vs. Taya Valkyrie

Johnny TV is here with Taya. An early TV distraction lets Taya jump her to start and the rope choking is on. Taya stomps away and kicks her in the back but Rosa is up with a running corner clothesline. The sliding lariat sends Taya outside and we take a break. Back with Rosa unloading with forearms on Taya and scoring with some dropkicks. Taya strikes away but gets double stomped for two. Johnny pulls Taya out and the distraction lets Taya score with a spear for two. Rosa dropkicks Johnny through the ropes and pulls Taya into the seated cobra clutch for the win at 7:50.

Rating: C+. Another match where they didn’t get to really showcase that much because of the break in the middle but Rosa gets to look good again, this time in victory. She’s done well since her return but losing to Deonna Purrazzo all the time isn’t helping things. For now though, a win over a nae who has been around for a good while should only help her.

Post match Rosa calls out Deonna Purrazzo, who mocks Rosa for all of her losses. Rosa issues the challenge for a Texas Bullrope match next week.

Darby Allin/FTR/Mark Briscoe vs. Beast Mortos/Undisputed Kingdom

Harwood and Strong start things off with Harwood grabbing a headlock. That doesn’t last long as Strong is back up with some chops but Harwood armdrags him into an armbar. Wheeler comes in to grab a hammerlock and the good guys get to take turns on the arm. Strong manages a quick shot though and it’s off to Bennett to chop it out with Harwood. Taven comes in to take over on Briscoe, who quickly brainbusters him for a breather.

It’s off to Allin for a headlock into a cradle for two as the fast tags continue. Mortos comes in (the fans approve) to drop Wheeler with a clothesline. Briscoe tries to go after Mortos but the referee holds him back, leaving Wheeler to chop it out with Strong. Wheeler gets dropkicked to the floor for the big beatdown as we take a break. Back with Wheeler hitting a middle rope bulldog for a needed breather. Strong is smart enough to take out Wheeler’s partners but the tag brings Briscoe in a few seconds later anyway.

Briscoe gets to clean house but has to slip out of the Proton pack. A Razor’s Edge/neckbreaker combination into the Froggy Bow gets two on Taven with Strong making the save. Mortos hits a huge suicide dive, followed by a twisting Swanton for two on Harwood. Strong comes back in but Harwood gets in a double clothesline for the double knockdown.

Bennett Death Valley Drivers Briscoe on the apron as everything breaks down. Mortos strikes away at Harwood until another double knockdown allows the tag back to Allin. House is quickly cleaned as Briscoe and Mortos knock each other down on the floor. Strong gets sent into the barricade but Taven lets go of the Hail Mary to go after Wheeler for some reason. Allin breaks up another Hail Mary attempt before he and Wheeler hit stereo suicide dives. The PowerPlex into the Froggy Bow into the Coffin Drop finishes Taven at 18:56.

Rating: B. This was a heck of a match with everyone looking good in the process, with Allin getting the pin to slowly build him up for the title match in nearly two months. In theory Mortos is the next challenger to Briscoe, who wanted to fight Mortos here, but it wasn’t exactly a focus. FTR going after the ROH Tag Team Titles would feel like a waste, but then again the titles don’t quite have much in the way of a status anyway right now.

Post match Harwood grabs the mic to say how much he loves everything here and calls his team the heart and soul of AEW. Cue the Acclaimed to say not so fast because FTR wasn’t in Blood & Guts last week. They don’t care about FTR’s legacy because the Acclaimed is the real heart and soul around here. The challenge is made for the tag match but Mark Briscoe breaks it up, saying this is what the Young Bucks want. Harwood extends his hand but Billy Gunn won’t let it happen. Gunn and the Acclaimed leave to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. That was certainly a Collision, with little that mattered and the big story being a match that we already knew about being turned into the dreaded Eliminator Match. Oh and Jeff Jarrett vs. Bryan Danielson is now anything goes. As usual, Collision needs a bit more than advertising what is going to happen on Dynamite, but if they can’t even advertise Mistico further in advance, it isn’t like it matters that much anyway.

Results
Mistico/Hologram b. Premiere Athletes – 450 to Daivari
Toni Storm b. Rache Chanel – Storm Zero
Kyle Fletcher b. Brian Cage – Piledriver
Claudio Castagnoli b. Lee Moriarty and Tomohiro Ishii – Uppercut to Moriarty
Thunder Rosa b. Taya Valkyrie – Seated cobra clutch
FTR/Darby Allin/Mark Briscoe b. Beast Mortos/Undisputed Kingdom – Coffin Drop to Taven

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Ring Of Honor
Date: July 25, 2024
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re a day away from Death Before Dishonor and a few more matches have been announced since last week’s show. Normally I would suggest that some more might be announced during this show, but that’s not how Ring Of Honor tends to go. Hopefully we at least get a nice preview for tomorrow so let’s get to it.

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

We run down the card.

We look at Mark Briscoe’s recent efforts, including in Blood & Guts.

Last night after Blood & Guts, a bloody Briscoe was jumped by Roderick Strong.

The Kingdom hasn’t heard from Tony Khan so they must have Death Before Dishonor off. Paul Wight of all people comes in to say he has been named to the ROH Board Of Directors so they will be defending against Tomohiro Ishii and Kyle O’Reilly. This would stem from Rampage when the two of them and Orange Cassidy beat the Undisputed Kingdom (Cassidy got the pin). Ishii has not wrestled in Ring Of Honor since 2019 and O’Reilly has not wrestled in Ring Of Honor since 2016.

They have teamed together once as a two man tea, losing a four way match at this year’s Forbidden Door, meaning they have never won a two on two tag match. Now with that out of the way, let’s make sure to watch any tag matches tonight, because they will obviously be VERY important to the title picture.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Blackpool Combat Club

Moriarty and Yuta start things off in a preview of tomorrow’s Pure Rules Title match. They go with the grappling to tart with Yuta working on the arm. Moriarty fights up and is promptly armdragged back into another armbar. It’s off to Castagnoli vs. Ogogo for the power lockup with Ogogo hitting him in the ribs. That doesn’t work for Castagnoli, who knocks Ogogo down and hands it back to Yuta. A big boot drops Yuta in a hurry but he’s back with a dropkick for a breather.

Moriarty comes in and gets armbarred right over to the ropes for the break. Back up and Yuta dives over for the tag to Castagnoli, who gets to clean house. Castagnoli knocks Moriarty for a running uppercut against the barricade and a double stomp gets two back inside. Ogogo comes back in for a running clothesline in the corner but Castagnoli is back with Swiss Death. Yuta sends Moriarty outside for a suicide dive, leaving Castagnoli to Swing Ogogo into a heck of a lariat for the pin at 11:24.

Rating: B-. This was a good, back and forth match which was longer than most matches get around here. That’s a nice thing to see and the star power helped, though I’m not sure how much it did to boost up Moriarty vs. Yuta at the pay per view. Given that the title hasn’t been defended in almost seven months, one might thing it could get more of the focus here.

Post match Yuta and Moriarty have to be separated and Shane Taylor drops Yuta with the big right hand.

Here are Queen Aminata and Red Velvet for a chat. Lexi Nair won’t let Velvet talk and, after asking Aminata about attacking the one legged Athena, won’t let her talk either. Aminata takes the mic and says the b**** got what she deserved. Cue Athena, who hitches a ride on the back of a security guard, before leaning on Nair to say the other two are too uncultured for an interview.

They have even called her and Billie Starkz names, including THE B WORD a second ago. Athena calls them “raggedy a** lot lizards” and here is Starkz (in matching gear to Athena), who starts walking around just fine. The beatdown is on and Athena swears to retain the title. One of them has to lose right?

Spanish Announce Project vs. Gates Of Agony

Serpentico gets pulled into the wrong corner to start but manages to dodge out to the apron. Angelico comes in and pulls Kaun down into a choke, sending Kaun over to the ropes. The Project takes turns working on Kaun’s arm until Kaun just blasts Angelico down to take over. Liona’s backsplash gets two and he steps on Angelico’s head.

Angelico gets stomped down in the corner and we hit the chinlock. Back up and Kaun trips him down, setting up a quick splash to the back to give Liona two. Angelico manages to kick them together though and it’s back to Serpentico as the pace picks up. Not that it matters as Open The Gates finishes Serpentico at 7:04.

Rating: C. This was exactly what you would expect from these four as the Gates continue to be right in the same place they feel like they have been in for the better part of ever. There is no reason to get excited about them and the same is true for the Project. Granted I’ll take this over another match with Cole Karter and Griff Garrison.

EJ Nduka vs. Jon Cruz

Nduka, who is in great shape, powers Cruz into the corner to start and walks him around the ring for a delayed toss suplex. It works so well that he does it again, setting up one heck of a running shoulder. The most casual big boot you’ll ever see sets up a belly to back slam for the pin on Cruz at 2:55. Short match but Nduka looked impressive with the power stuff.

The MxM Collection is ready to debut at Death Before Dishonor.

Johnny TV/Shane Taylor vs. Lio Rush/Atlantis Jr.

TV Title match preview and Taya Valkyrie is here with the villains. TV and Rush start things off but TV drops to the floor for some personal time with Valkyrie. The distraction lets Rush take TV down but Taylor drops Rush as well. Back in and Rush tries to dodge away from Taylor, who pulls a middle rope crossbody out of the air. That’s escaped as well and Atlantis comes in for a headscissors to TV. Rush and Atlantis take turns striking away on Taylor until Valkyrie trips Rush up.

Taylor hits a heck of a spinebuster to take over and it’s TV getting to stomp him down into the corner. TV knocks Rush outside before handing it back to Taylor to stay on the ribs. Rush finally gets in a shot on TV and it’s a double knockdown for a needed breather. The tag brings Atlantis back in for a missile dropkick but Taylor pulls his high crossbody out of the air as well. Rush high crossbodies into both of them for the double knockdown but Atlantis superkicks Rush by mistake. The Marcus Garvey Driver pins Atlantis at 9:53.

Rating: C+. Completely run of the mill tag match here which did little to change the fact that was know almost nothing about Atlantis. He had that one match with Chris Jericho a few months ago, worked in some tag matches, and then hey he’s the TV Champion. It isn’t about a lack of talent, but he’s the definition of a guy who is just thrown out there with nothing to make him stand out, which isn’t going to work most of the time.

Abadon vs. Dulce Tormenta

Abadon wastes no time in stomping away in the corner but gets hit in the face for a quick two. Back up and a cutter drops Tormenta, setting up the Black Dahlia for the pin at 1:58. Close enough to a squash.

Action Andretti/Fuego del Sol/Komander/Top Flight vs. Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson/Nick Comoroto/Anthony Henry

Andretti and Jameson start things off with Andretti busting out some clap pushups. Henry comes in and gets taken into the corner, only to kick Dante in the ribs to take over. Komander comes in and has to kick his way out of Boulder’s powerbomb, setting up a springboard missile dropkick to Bronson. It’s off to Fuego for a springboard hurricanrana but Henry takes over without much trouble. Comoroto’s running elbow gets two as commentary asks about the whereabouts of Jacoby Watts.

Bronson sits on Fuego’s chest for two and the villains take turns doing the same. Boulder’s Vader Bomb misses though and an enziguri allows the tag to Dante. A springboard Downward Spiral gets two on Comoroto as everything breaks down. Comoroto misses a charge into the corner and we get the triple dives from Top Flight and Komander. Fuego hits a tornado DDT and a series of top rope splashes sets up Dante’s frog splash to pin Comoroto (because the IRON SAVAGES must be protected) at 9:24.

Rating: B-. This was the “get a bunch of people on the show” match and they did well enough with all of the dives and flips near the end. I’m not sure if Fuego being back for the first time in about a year and a half is as big of a deal as commentary made it out to be but I’ve seen worse ideas. Fun match here, as you knew it would be.

Red Velvet and Queen Aminata are ready to win the titles tomorrow.

Death Before Dishonor rundown.

Dark Order vs. Von Erichs

Oh yeah we’re near Dallas and yes Kevin is here too. Ross and Silver start things off but it’s quickly off to Marshall for a dropkick. Silver’s running dropkick takes Marshall down though and it’s already time for some stomping in the corner. That’s broken up and it’s back to Ross for some big boots, plus a suplex for two. A grab of the leg from the floor slows Ross down though and Silver powerbombs him onto Reynolds’ raised knees.

The chinlock doesn’t last long as it’s back to Reynolds for a cheap shot to Marshall. Choking seems to fire Ross up but he gets pulled down into a front facelock. Ross fights up and hands it off to Marshall for the hot tag. The Claw is broken up but Reynolds stops to yell at Kevin, allowing Marshall to hit a lariat for the pin at 7:52.

Rating: C. They’re still the Von Erichs and they’re still not that interesting. They’re just such a generic, basic tag team and it shows every time they’re out there. I’m sure we’ll see more of them so their dad can make his special appearances and all that, but I was glad this was as short as it was. The team just isn’t very fun to watch and this match didn’t change that feeling.

Post match the Dark Order goes for the beatdown but Dustin Rhodes makes the save in a preview for their Death Before Dishonor match. That would be the match to decide who faces the Undisputed Kingdom at Battle Of The Belts for the ROH Six Man Tag Team Titles. That’s because A, the title match is happening on an AEW show because of course it is, and B, THE SIX MAN TAG TEAM TITLES ARE BACK BECAUSE OF COURSE THEY ARE! Anyway Iron Clawing sends the Order running to end the show. Yeah that’s it. No hype package, no one last promo, nothing else. Just the Von Erichs and Rhodes celebrating.

Overall Rating: C+. As completely good (at worst) that Death Before Dishonor will be, the more astounded I am at how little effort there is going into it. The World Champion can’t even appear on the show to hype it up? The Tag Team Title match is announced backstage with a new team getting the shot? Some matches getting no build whatsoever? But not that it matters anyway, as in a week or two we’ll be back to the same lack of attention that it always gets, because that’s how Ring Of Honor works.

Results
Blackpool Combat Club b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Lariat to Ogogo
Gates Of Agony b. Spanish Announce Project – Open The Gates to Serpentico
EJ Nduka b. Jon Cruz – Belly to back slam
Shane Taylor/Johnny TV b. Atlantis Jr./Lio Rush – Marcus Garvey Driver to Atlantis Jr.
Abadon b. Dulce Tormenta – Black Dahlia
Action Andretti/Fuego del Sol/Komander/Top Flight b. Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson/Nick Comoroto/Anthony Henry – Frog splash to Comoroto
Von Erichs b. Dark Order – Lariat to Reynolds

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Battle Of The Belts XI
Date: July 27, 2024
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Ian Riccaboni

It’s another of these shows and in this case most of the card isn’t for a title. We have two Eliminator matches, plus a match for the recently revived Ring Of Honor Six Man Tag Team Titles. That doesn’t make for much of a show but then again this has never been much of a series. Let’s get to it.

We open with a look at various titles, including some title matches being set up at All In.

Toni Storm vs. Taya Valkyrie

Non-title. Storm is looking a bit more serious here so Taya throws her some sunglasses. Said glasses go on and Storm hammers away to take over fast. A hair toss sends Taya flying and a running hip attack knocks her out to the floor. Taya is fine enough to hit a Meteora to against the steps to take over but Storm fights back without much trouble. That earns her an electric chair drop onto the apron and we take a break.

Back with Taya holding a half crab with Storm crawling over to the ropes. Storm grabs a Backstabber out of the corner and suplexes her down for two. The running hip attack sets up a DDT for two on Taya but she’s right back with the sliding German suplex. A spear gives Taya two more and Shania Pain is good for the same, with Storm having to grab the rope. Not that it matters as Storm Zero out of nowhere gives Storm the pin at 9:08.

Rating: C+. The important thing here is that Storm was playing it more seriously, which is what should happen after such a violent attack. Storm is someone who can make either story work and it seems that we are in for a fresh version of her. I’m not sure I can imagine her retaining the title at All In, but at least she is going into it as she should.

Post match Storm says this tramp is still the champ before saying Mariah May was perfect. She was all of Storm’s dreams come to life and occasionally a better Storm than Storm. Then May made a mistake by not cutting her head off when she had the chance. This is already a better version of Storm for this story and that is great to see.

Kip Sabian wants to do his family proud and that means going after the Patriarchy and Nick Wayne.

Willow Nightingale vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Non-title. Nightingale shoves her way out of a headlock to start so Purrazzo goes for a test of strength. Back up and Nightingale slams her down, setting up a faceplant and crossbody for two. Purrazzo knocks her outside for a breather though and we take a break. We come back with Nightingale clotheslining her way out of trouble and grabbing a spinebuster for two.

Nightingale goes up but gets pulled down in a heap, only to come back with a Death Valley Driver for two on Purrazzo. Back up and Purrazzo hits a superkick but Nightingale runs him over with a clothesline. Cue Taya Valkyrie with something made of metal, only to have Thunder Rosa run in for the save. The Pounce into the Babe With The Powerbomb finishes for Nightingale at 11:36.

Rating: C+. The interference at the end became the focus and we should be in for a tag match down the line. Nightingale gets a win shortly after winning the CMLL Women’s Title, and odds are this couldn’t be a title match due to some issue from CMLL itself. That makes me wonder why they would put this on, but at least Nightingale gets the win.

Ring Of Honor Six Man Tag Team Titles: Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs vs. Undisputed Kingdom

For the vacant titles and Kevin Von Erich is here as well. Paul Wight is on commentary as well to make this feel a bit more special. Ross and Strong start things off before it’s quickly off to Marshall for a dropkick. Some hiptosses put Bennett down so Taven comes in, meaning it’s off to Dustin for some arm cranking. Everything breaks down and the villains are kicked to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Taven suplexing Ross for two and grabbing the chinlock. That’s broken up and Ross hits a Sling Blade as Dustin gets back up after being piledriven on the ramp during the break. The Canadian Destroyer hits Taven and Cross Rhodes gets two on Bennett. Shattered Dreams is broken up and the Kingdom strikes away for two on Dustin. Bennett gets in a cowbell shot for two so here is Katsuyori Shibata with the Claw. Kevin adds his own, leaving the Von Erichs to clean house. Dustin gets the Final Reckoning to pin Bennett at 13:27.

Rating: C+. The match was good enough, but this was about Dustin getting a title and the Von Erichs getting to do something to pop the Dallas area crowd. That being said, it feels like the titles were brought back for the sole reason of this kind of moment and as a result, it doesn’t have the same impact. You had one thrown together team beating a team who rarely teams together and now they’re champions. That’s a stretch, but it could have been worse.

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

Overall Rating: C-. And yes, I did say all of the matches were better than the overall rating. That’s not the point here. This show is supposed to be about titles and title matches, but instead we got a show with two matches that weren’t for titles and one for a vacant title. No champions actually defended their titles here and most of the show didn’t even have belts on the line. Not only is the show thrown together at the last minute, but now they’re barely even focusing on the point of the show. This wasn’t a special but rather a lame version of Rampage with a “feel good” ending. AEW can and should do better than this.

Results
Toni Storm b. Taya Valkyrie – Storm Zero
Willow Nightingale b. Deonna Purrazzo – Babe With The Powerbomb
Dustin Rhodes/Von Erichs b. Undisputed Kingdom – Final Reckoning to Bennett

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Collision
Date: July 27, 2024
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

We’re continuing the rather long Tony Khan weekend as the road to All In has another Saturday stop. This is also the first half of a double header with the latest Battle Of The Belts, meaning some people might not be available. We also have the fallout from Blood & Guts to deal with so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Orange Cassidy vs. Johnny TV

Taya Valkyrie is here with TV and this is fallout from an event at Comic Con. Cassidy works on the arm to start so TV chills in the corner (upside down, just because he can). They take turns putting on the sunglasses until Cassidy sends him out to the floor. There’s the suicide dive (with hands in pockets and glasses on) but TV is back in with the Russian legsweep and a knee to the face. The standing moonsault misses but Cassidy is sent outside anyway, with TV pulling off the barricade cover.

Taya and TV stop for some kissing, with the delay allowing Cassidy to send him into the buckle. TV is back up with a Flying Chuck to knock him off the apron though and it’s time to work on the arm. The Stundog Millionaire gets Cassidy out of trouble and the tornado DDT gets two. TV counters the Orange Punch into the flipping neckbreaker, only to miss Starship Pain. The second neckbreaker sets up the connecting Starship Pain but Cassidy is right back with the Beach Break. The Orange Punch finishes TV at 10:32.

Rating: C+. This is one of those matches that was going to work because of who was involved. Cassidy is going to get a strong reaction no matter what he is doing while TV is a veteran who can make someone else look good. That’s what we had here and it made for a perfectly nice opener.

Post match Taya jumps Cassidy but Willow Nightingale (Cassidy’s partner in the Comic Con event) makes the save.

We look at the Patriarchy winning the AEW Trios Titles last week. This is different than the Ring Of Honor Six Man Tag Team Titles, because that is a thing that needs to exist.

The Bang Bang Gang swears vengeance on the Patriarchy, including Mother Wayne.

Blackpool Combat Club vs. Brian Cage/Lee Moriarty vs. Top Flight

Cage is replacing an injured Shane Taylor. Moriarty and Yuta start things off with the latter armdragging him into a dropkick. Darius comes in to avoid Yuta’s charge, setting up Dante’s springboard high crossbody for two. Castagnoli comes in as well but is quickly knocked outside as well. Back in and Cage tags himself in to full nelson slam Dante as we take a break.

We come back with Cage hitting a wheelbarrow neckbreaker for two on Dante but Yuta makes the save. Castagnoli comes back in to clean house with the running uppercuts in the corner. The Swing has Moriarty in trouble but Darius makes a blind tag to break up the big lariat. Cage is back in to powerbomb the heck out of Darius but gets in the staredown with Castagnoli. They slug it out until Top Flight superkick them to the floor, setting up the dives. Cage blasts Darius with the discus lariat but Yuta tags himself in, dropkicks Moriarty, and hits something like an Angle Slam into the Seatbelt to pin Darius at 10:41.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of match that AEW knows how to do rather well and they did it again here. In theory Yuta needed to get his win back after losing to Moriarty, but it would have been nice to not have Top Flight taking another loss. The team feels like they could be something but it isn’t going to happen if they keep losing over and over.

The Conglomeration is interrupted by Willow Nightingale, who is ready to fight on Battle Of The Belts. Mark Briscoe is ready too, and even has Kyle O’Reilly hold his title (which is thrown into the air multiple times) so he can introduce the newest member: his newborn son. Well that’s just awesome. Orange Cassidy is tired.

Beast Mortos vs. Hologram

Hologram spins around to start and armdrags Mortos down. The sunset flip is broken up though and we’re off to an early standoff. Mortos snaps off a powerslam for two and hits a heck of a Pounce to send us to a break. Back with Hologram snapping off a rather spinning headscissors but getting caught on top in a super Wing Clipper for one. They wind up on the apron with Hologram kicking him the face and hitting something like a running Canadian Destroyer.

A big rope walk flip dive hits Mortos on the floor, setting up a heck of a suicide dive. Back in and a step up poisonrana plants Mortos for two but he runs Hologram over for the same. They go up top with the super gorilla press being reversed into a headscissors to bring Mortos back down. A rope walk crucifix bomb into a crucifix gives Hologram the pin at 12:04.

Rating: B. Yeah this was a much better showcase for Hologram, who got to showcase some awesome stuff and wasn’t the second great high flier on the show this week. I’m still not sure if the gimmick (assuming he really has one) is working yet but at least the high flying aspects are working. Just do more of this and it should work better.

Thunder Rosa vs. Maya World

They circle each other a bit to start until Rosa grabs a quick armdrag. World gets in a shot of her own and Rosa is not happy, meaning it’s a Thesz press into some hammering. A running corner dropkick sets up a double stomp and a seated cobra clutch finishes World at 3:36.

Rating: C. Just a squash here to get Rosa boosted back up a bit after her repeated losses to Deonna Purrazzo. Rosa being moved back up the card is not a bad thing at all as it allows another established name to be around. I’m not sure where she would fit in, but the talent is there to make it work.

Lance Archer has attacked a bunch of people in the back. He wants Will Ospreay on Dynamite.

Conglomeration vs. Premiere Athletes

The Athletes insult the crowd on the way to the ring and it’s O’Reilly starting with Woods. The technical off goes to Woods who drives him into the corner for some right hands from Nese. O’Reilly brings in Briscoe for a clothesline, followed by the chops from Ishii. For some reason Nese tries to chop Ishii and it goes as well as you would expect. Briscoe grabs a suplex and it’s already back to O’Reilly as the rapid fire tags continue. Briscoe hits a big dive and we take an early break.

Back with O’Reilly suplexing Daivari down and handing it back to Ishii to clean house. Everything breaks down and Briscoe suplexes Nese for two. The Jay Driller is broken up and something like a reverse 3D into a frog splash gives Daivari two. Woods’ backbreaker into a lariat drops Briscoe and it’s time for the parade of strikes to the face. Nese’s big flip dive hits Daivari by mistake but Woods snaps off a series of suplexes. Not that it matters as O’Reilly cross armbreakers Daivari for the win at 1020.

Rating: B. This was a good example of a match where the people involved were allowed to go nuts. It says a lot about the Conglomeration that they were able to make the Athletes, who might be the least interesting villains in AEW today, work this well. Very entertaining match here and they pulled me into it.

Chris Jericho says Minoru Suzuki has broke his finger during his match, making it very hard to say HI GUYS. Revenge is sworn against both Suzuki and Katsuyori Shibata.

Lance Archer vs. ???

Two chokeslams and the Blackout finish for Archer at 1:00. Trash talk to Will Ospreay was included.

FTR vs. MxM Collection

That would be Mason and Mansoor, formerly known as the Maximum Male Models in WWE. Harwood grabs a wristlock to start but Mansoor flips out and strikes an early pose. Mansoor flips over him and dances a bit, earning a hard chop and a slingshot shoulder from Wheeler. Mason comes in and hits a hip attack, setting up a bit of a dance of his own. A double legdrop combination gets two on Wheeler but Harwood punches Mansoor in the face. It’s too early for the Shatter Machine though and we take a break.

Back with Harwood fighting his way out of the corner but Mason’s distraction means a small package gets a delayed one. Another hip attack takes Harwood down for two and the bearhug goes on. That’s broken up with a quick bite to the head but something like a Hart Attack gets two on Harwood. Back up and Harwood makes the tag off to Wheeler to pick up the pace. A Gory Bomb gets two on Mansoor and a sunset flip is good for the same. The spike piledriver is broken up but Mason is sent to the floor, setting up the Shatter Machine to pin Mansoor at 11:26.

Rating: B. This was a change of pace from the Collection’s debut as they were doing a more straight match, which shouldn’t be a surprise when they’re in there against FTR. They still got in enough of their comedy to make it work though and it made for an entertaining match. At the same time, I wouldn’t have the Collection lose so early, but they were far from buried or even heavily damaged.

Respect is shown post match.

The Acclaimed is fired up over winning at Blood & Guts and want their Tag Team Titles back.

Pac vs. Lio Rush

They go technical to start with Rush armdragging him into the corner and striking a bit of a pose. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker puts Rush down for a change but he rolls Pac up for a fast two. Back up and Pac strikes away as we take an early break. We come back with Rush fighting out of the corner but his hurricanrana is countered into a sitout powerbomb. The snap German suplex is blocked though and Rush knocks him down again. Pac is sent outside but a bottom rope Asai moonsault is cut off.

Instead Rush settles for a heck of a suicide dive into the barricade, followed by a Falcon Arrow for two. Rush hits a headbutt but has a springboard reversed into a heck of a German suplex. It’s too early for the Black Arrow though as Rush rolls away and kicks him in the head. The springboard cutter gives Rush two but Pac gets his knees up to block the Final Hour. Back up and Rush strikes away until Pac clotheslines him into the Brutalizer for the pin at 13:12.

Rating: B. I’m not normally a fan of Rush but he was doing his high flying and fast moving rather well here. It made for another entertaining match, especially with Pac there to beat him up. Pac finally caught him in the end for the win which is how it should have gone, though Rush did put up a good fight on the way there.

Overall Rating: A-. You don’t get that kind of a collection of matches on a free show very often and this was a heck of a way to spend two hours. It was one entertaining match after another and as usual, just letting the wrestlers do their thing and showcase their talent worked exceptionally. This was one of the better AEW shows in a bit and that is nice to see after some hit and miss results.

Results
Orange Cassidy b. Johnny TV – Orange Punch
Blackpool Combat Club b. Brian Cage/Lee Moriarty and Top Flight – Seatbelt to Darius
Hologram b. Beast Mortos – Crucifix
Thunder Rosa b. Maya World – Seated cobra clutch
Conglomeration b. Premiere Athletes – Cross armbreaker to Daivari
Lance Archer b. ??? – Blackout
FTR b. MxM Collection – Shatter Machine to Mansoor
Pac b. Lio Rush – Brutalizer

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Ring Of Honor
Date: July 11, 2024
Location: Landers Center, Southaven, Mississippi
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are less than a month away from Death Before Dishonor and last week saw the announcement of a bit of the card. There is of course a lot more that needs to be done but I’ll take something of a start over nothing. In theory we get more of that this week, but stranger things have happened. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Robyn Renegade vs. Taya Valkyrie vs. Marina Shafir

Johnny TV is here with Valkyrie. Renegade powers Shafir into the corner to start and hits a running dropkick to send her outside. That lets Valkyrie fire off some knees to Renegade but we stop for a kiss to TV. Back in and Renegade gets double chopped, only to have her kick her way to freedom. Renegade ties Shafir in the ropes for something like a springboard stomp before superkicking Valkyrie into the corner. Mother’s Milk goes on but Valkyrie makes the save and spears Shafir. Shania Pain finishes Renegade at 6:02.

Rating: C+. They packed a good bit of action into a little amount of time and Valkyrie continues her bit of momentum. In theory that would set her up for the next title shot after Death Before Dishonor, but that could be several weeks away. Other than that, Shafir and Renegade both get slowed down, which isn’t a great sign for either of them.

The Kingdom wants to have a night off at Death Before Dishonor. They have a bad history at that show so let’s just not do it this year.

TV Title: Serpentico vs. Atlantis Jr.

Atlantis Jr. is defending, having defeated Kyle Fletcher for the title a few weeks ago. Serpentico grabs a headlock at the bell and they head out to the floor where Atlantis gets knocked down. Back in and Atlantis is fine enough to grab a rolling cutter for two, only to get caught in a Downward Spiral for the same. A missed charge leaves Serpentico in the Tree of Woe for a running dropkick to give Atlantis two more. Serpentico is back with his own kick for two but Atlantis hits a powerslam into a frog splash to retain at 4:21.

Rating: C+. This is where a lot of the problems with these crossovers come from: what about this was supposed to stand out? Atlantis Jr. is talented, but it isn’t like there was anything here that made me really want to see more of him. We don’t know anything about him other than he beat Fletcher and has a famous dad. That doesn’t matter though, as we’re just supposed to go with Atlantis as a big deal because we’re told that he is without seeing it. That doesn’t work, but it’s all we get most of the time.

Skye Blue vs. Laynie Luck

Blue starts fast with a rollup and then takes Luck into the corner for some choking. Luck is right back with a Death Valley Driver for two, only to have Blue slug away to knock her back. A quick Code Blue gives Blue the pin at 3:40.

Rating: C. This was the latest attempt to get Blue in the ring as often as possible, albeit it in a rather cold match. Luck has shown that she can be better than a lot of the local jobbers but she didn’t have much of a chance to showcase herself here. It was kind of a random match and that rarely helps anyone.

The MxM Collection (Mansoor and Mason) is coming. These guys look very fun, just due to how over the top they’re going.

Billie Starkz vs. Mackenzie Morgan

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Morgan wins or survives the ten minute time limit, she gets a future title shot. Starkz (with Athena) works on the arm to start but stops to pose, allowing Morgan to grab an armdrag into an armbar. That’s reversed into a quickly broken chinlock but Morgan misses a dropkick. Athena, still on crutches, gets in a cheap shot before remembering that she’s injured. Back in and Starkz slips out of a fireman’s carry, setting up the fish hook chickenwing for the win at 5:22.

Rating: C+. Starkz is already set for a title match at the pay per view so the chances of her winning here didn’t seem that high. At the same time, Morgan got in some offense here, which is surprising given that Starkz probably needed a stronger showing. It wasn’t a bad match, but they put it together in an odd way.

Diamante vs. Nyxx

Diamante doesn’t waste time by hammering away to start, only to walk into a side slam for two. Back up and Diamante grabs her rolling cutter into the cross armbreaker (which she dedicates to Leyla Hirsch) for the win at 1:39.

Athena celebrates, only to remember that her ankle hurts.

Roderick Strong and Dalton Castle are having a #1 contenders match, with the winner getting the World Title shot at Death Before Dishonor. It’s taking place this weekend on Collision, because this is the most useless show in wrestling.

Lee Johnson/Infantry vs. Dark Order

Silver grabs a headlock on Bravo to start with Bravo ducking and dodging to set up a running elbow. It’s time to go after Silver’s arm as commentary talks about Broadway. Reynolds and Johnson come in as everything breaks down. The Order gets sent outside for a series of dives but manage to take over, with a suicide dive/suplex combination dropping Johnson.

Back in and the Order take turns beating on Johnson, with the other two holding him so Silver can get in a big boot. Johnson enziguris his way to freedom and it’s off to Dean to clean house. Everything breaks down again and Johnson gets triple teamed into a German suplex for two. They trade stereo shots to the face but Johnson escapes the triple flipping slam. Johnson’s frog splash finishes Uno at 10:06.

Rating: B-. Probably the best match on the show this week, but it’s another case where I don’t quite believe that any of this is going to matter. Beating the Order hasn’t meany anything in forever and the other three feel like the latest makeshift team. We have two shows left until Death Before Dishonor but they’re still burning off main event slots for pretty meaningless six man tags. That’s part of this show’s problem in a nutshell and I have no reason to believe it’s going to get better.

Overall Rating: C. This is a show where, as usual, the wrestling wasn’t the problem. The problem here is they have two weeks to go before one of their three pay per views and they did NOTHING for the show. What did we get here? Some people building momentum, a nothing TV Title match and a six man that has no bearing on anything. Where do we go to get the build to Death Before Dishonor? Collision, where Ring Of Honor’s World Title will be used as filler to take up part of that show’s two hours.

This show actually made me mad because it felt like Ring Of Honor saying “yeah this show doesn’t matter, but make sure you pay to watch the big show, which isn’t going to have much of a build because we can’t bother but TRADITION IS REALLY, TOTALLY IMPORTANT TO US!” The pay per view will be fine, but this show, which I remind you that you have to pay to watch monthly, is somehow getting more useless, which I didn’t think was possible.

Results
Taya Valkyrie b. Marina Shafir and Robyn Renegade – Shania Pain to Renegade
Atlantis Jr. b. Serpentico – Frog splash
Skye Blue b. Laynie Luck – Code Blue
Billie Starkz b. Mackenzie Morgan – Fish hook chickenwing
Diamante b. Nyxx – Cross armbreaker
Lee Johnson/Infantry b. Dark Order – Frog splash to Uno

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Ring Of Honor
Date: June 27, 2024
Location: Covelli Center, Youngstown, Ohio
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We are less than a month away from Death Before Dishonor and, as usual, there is nothing announced for the card. In theory we should be getting something set up for it rather soon, but in this case we have the World Title on the line in a match that seemed like it was destined for the pay per view. Let’s get to it.

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

Athena holds a Minions In Training meeting and announces that she will be out 8-12 months. Therefore, she has some extra security around here, with even Lexi Nair fired up to deal with Queen Aminata and Red Velvet.

Alex Reynolds vs. Lee Johnson

Evil Uno is here with Reynolds. Johnson takes him down by the arm to start and the clean break gets some polite applause. Back up and Johnson takes him down again, only to miss a kick to the head and get rolled up for two. They fight over a standing switch until Johnson clotheslines him out to the floor, setting up the quick dive. Uno offers a distraction though and Reynolds gets in a cheap shot to take over.

Johnson is sent hard into the steps for two but he fights up and makes the clothesline comeback. A standing moonsault gets two on Reynolds but the Big Shot Drop is countered with a knee to the face. Some hard forearms to the face give Reynolds two and a tiger driver gets the same. Reynolds rolls out of the Big Shot Drop but gets sent face first into the buckle instead. Uno gets superkicked off the apron and the Big Shot Drop finishes Alexander at 8:49.

Rating: B-. This was Johnson’s rebound win after losing the TV Title match last week. That’s a good way to go, though taking this long to beat someone as low level as Alexander didn’t exactly make him look strong. It also doesn’t help that it’s Johnson having to build himself up again, which has happened multiple times now.

Marina Shafir vs. Erica Leigh

Shafir takes her down with ease and forces a handshake on her on the mat. Some hard forearms have Leigh in trouble but she fights up with some shots of her own. Something like a 619 in the corner sets up Mother’s Milk to finish Leigh at 2:34.

The Kingdom is tired of everyone wasting their time and need more competition. Mike Bennett drops to his knees to pray to Tony Khan to find some good challengers.

Lance Archer/Righteous vs. Duke Davis/Victor Benjamin/Ganon Jones Jr.

Archer pounds the rather large Davis into the corner but actually gets shouldered into another corner. Vincent comes in to hammer on Benjamin, who strikes his way out of trouble. Vincent’s running basement Downward Spiral gets two and they head outside. A ramp into the steps keeps Benjamin down, followed by Dutch’s swinging Boss Man Slam for two back inside. Benjamin stumbles into the corner though and it’s the also big Jones coming in to fight back. Another Boss Man Slam hits Davis and Orange Sunshine finishes Jones at 5:44.

Rating: C. Hey you know how Archer and the Righteous do this seemingly every other week or so and it leads nowhere but the matches are almost always the same? Well this is the most recent edition, as the Righteous and Archer got to beat some people up and odds are it won’t be leading anywhere. I would say maybe that can let them go somewhere, but it doesn’t seem likely.

Post match the beatdown continues.

Taya Valkyrie vs. Trish Adora

Valkyrie chops away to start but Adora gets in her own chops and snapmares her down. The threat of the Lariat Tubman sends Valkyrie bailing to the floor, where she reminds us of how smart she is. Valkyrie gets in a few shots of her own, including a few kicks in the corner. The double arm crank goes on, followed by a quick clothesline to give Valkyrie two. Adora fights back with a snap suplex for two but Valkyrie slips out of an airplane spin. Back to back Shania Pains finish Adora at 6:31.

Rating: C+. This one gives me a bit more hope, as there is the chance that we could actually see Valkyrie getting a title shot somewhere down the line. I won’t quite believe it until I see it, but at least it seems like something that could happen. On the other hand, Adora seems to be locked into jobber to the stars territory, which doesn’t give me much hope for her future.

Leyla Hirsch has beaten Diamante four times, but Diamante comes in and wants one more. They’ll make it a street fight.

Billie Starkz vs. Angelica Risk

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning that if Risk survives the ten minute time limit or wins, she gets a future title shot. Starks grabs a choke to start and then kicks Risk in the face to take over. The running boot in the corner hits Risk again and Starkz stomps away. They head outside with Starkz sending her into the corner, setting up a running knee. Back in and Risk rolls away before the Swanton can launch, leaving Starkz to mock Red Velvet. Risk fights back but Starkz pulls her into the fish hook choke for the win at 4:18.

Rating: C. There is only so much you can get out of Athena, and now Starkz, having this kind of a match over and over. In short, it has been done and there was little reason to believe that Risk was going to get a win, or even put up a fight here. Red Velvet seems to be the next challenger but it’s been set up for such a long time now that it’s kind of hard to care in the slightest.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher

Only Briscoe is defending and yes we are doing this here rather than on the pay per view. Briscoe sends him into the corner to start and the fans approve, just like they do as we hit the headlock. Back up and Fletcher knocks him hard into the corner for a change, only to get knocked off the top. There’s the dive to the floor to take Fletcher but he’s right back with some shots of his own.

Briscoe’s chops are shrugged off and Fletcher gets to lay out on the steps for a breather. Back in and Briscoe wins a slugout, setting up a fisherman’s buster for two of his own. A Pele kick into a discus forearm connects but Fletcher catches Briscoe on top. Briscoe catches him on top as well though, meaning it’s a fisherman’s superplex (that’s a new one) to bring Fletcher back down.

They head to the apron with Briscoe hitting a few shots, setting up the Bang Bang Elbow. The Froggy Bow hits raised knees back inside though and the piledriver gives Fletcher two. Briscoe Death Valley Drivers him down and now the Froggy Bow connects for two more. Fletcher kicks away but walks into one heck of a clothesline, setting up the Jay Driller to retain the title at 13:11.

Rating: B-. Well, it was the best match of the show, but thank goodness they got rid of what could have headlined Death Before Dishonor this early. Why go with a story that is ready made when you can make something from scratch on short notice? The match itself was what you would expect, but I could go without seeing Fletcher for a rather long time.

Overall Rating: C+. And that was Ring Of Honor, as it had some good to ok matches, little in the way of setting anything up, and a grand total of absolutely nothing set for Death Before Dishonor with four shows left before the pay per view. I’m sure something will happen on AEW TV or elsewhere to set up the top of the card in a hurry but the pay per view builds really do show you how slowly things move around here. Not a bad show, but they need to actually get the pay per view ready.

Results
Lee Johnson b. Alex Reynolds – Big Shot Drop
Marina Shafir b. Erica Leigh – Mother’s Milk
Lance Archer/Righteous b. Duke Davis/Victor Benjamin/Ganon Jones Jr. – Orange Sunshine to Jones
Taya Valkyrie b. Trish Adora – Shania Pain
Billie Starkz b. Angelica Risk – Fish hook choke
Mark Briscoe b. Kyle Fletcher – Jay Driller

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 8, 2024
Location: Mid-American Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We have about three weeks to go before Forbidden Door and there is a chance we’ll see some more build towards it this week. Toni Storm is set to defend her Women’s Title against Mina Shirakawa and has a warmup match against Lady Frost this week, which could see Shirakawa get involved. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Blackpool Combat Club vs. FTR

For the same of simplicity, I’ll only refer to Cash Wheeler as “Wheeler” and Wheeler Yuta as “Yuta”. Wheeler (in long tights for a change, just like Harwood) wrestles Yuta to the mat to start and it’s off to Castagnoli vs. Harwood. They go around the ropes to start until Castagnoli uppercuts him out to the floor. Back in and Harwood hits a hard chop but Castagnoli knocks him right back down.

Yuta comes in to strike away in the corner and a backsplash gets two. A hard shot to the face gets Harwood out of trouble and it’s back to Wheeler to uppercut the heck out of Yuta. FTR catapults Yuta throat first into the bottom rope for two but he’s right back over to Castagnoli for the tag anyway. Wheeler breaks up the Swing on Harwood but we get stereo Sharpshooters from Harwood and Castagnoli. An exchange of slaps break those up and everything breaks down again with the fights heading outside.

We take a break and come back with Castagnoli grabbing a superplex for two on Harwood. Yuta comes in to cut off Wheeler but Harwood is back with a spinebuster for two of his own. Everyone is down for a bit before Wheeler gets Giant Swung into the dropkick from Yuta for two more. Castagnoli uppercuts the heck out of Wheeler for two and everyone is down again.

Wheeler is back up with a Sharpshooter of his own to Castagnoli, who reverses it int the same thing. That’s broken up and Yuta dives onto Harwood. Wheeler’s piledriver gets two on Castagnoli and we have a minute left in the time limit. Castagnoli superplexes Wheeler and rolls through into the Neutralizer for two. A crossface into the Rings of Saturn have Wheeler in trouble but the time limit expires at 20:00.

Rating: A-. I was wondering why one of these teams was going to lose and I’m rather pleased with the outcome we got instead. FTR can still work a good to great match with anyone and they had me wondering who was going to win all the way until the end. This was one of the best TV matches I’ve seen in a while and I had a lot of fun with the whole thing.

Post match Harwood wants five more minutes but Brandon Cutler is here on behalf of the Young Bucks (oh geez) to say no. Castagnoli swings Cutler and FTR adds the Shatter Machine. Ok so the Bucks don’t work Collision, but Tony Khan was here last week to make a ruling. Is Khan not here this week, or is he just not paying attention or doesn’t care here? Either way, assuming this isn’t just a one off, this is now FIVE PEOPLE with authority in this company. With that out of the way, Castagnoli says a handshake is too much of a cliché, but they’ll have a rematch anytime.

Kyle O’Reilly respects Orange Cassidy but the Undisputed Kingdom interrupts. They think someone or something is missing for O’Reilly and the team is cheering for him tonight. O’Reilly doesn’t want to hear it. Strong tells O’Reilly to remember what he said when he came back, but we don’t know what that is.

Kris Statlander vs. Robyn Renegade

Statlander powers her into the corner to start and fires off some shoulders to the ribs. Renegade slips out of a powerbomb out of the corner but the second attempt works just fine. Saturday Night Fever finishes Renegade at 1:33. Statlander looked awesome here.

Post match Stokely Hathaway praises Statlander and as of earlier today, she is officially in the Owen Hart Foundation Cup.

Post break, Willow Nightingale says she’s in the tournament too and hopes to see Statlander there.

Dustin Rhodes vs. Johnny TV

Taya Valkyrie is here with Johnny. Dustin slugs away to start and goes outside to annoy Taya for a bonus. A hard chop against the barricade rocks TV but Taya’s yelling lets him come back with a running flip dive through the ropes. They both step onto Dustin for some kissing on the steps as we take a break.

Back with Dustin fighting back and getting two off the scoop powerslam. The flipping neckbreaker gives TV two but Dustin hits a Destroyer (with TV appearing to give him a lot of help), setting up Shattered Dreams. The Cross Rhodes gives Dustin two, with Taya putting the foot on the rope. That’s enough for an ejection, with TV using the distraction to hit a superkick for two. Some knees to the face set up a missed Starship Pain and Cross Rhodes gives Dustin the pin at 9:33.

Rating: C+. I know it’s impressive that he’s been around for the better part of ever, but Dustin’s matches haven’t done much for me in a good while. It’s cool to see him still be able to have a decent match this late in his career, but odds are this is going to lead to another “I don’t know if I still have it in me but I’m going to give it all I’ve got” speech. That might work a bit better if we hadn’t heard it from him since AEW started.

Post match Dustin says he’s getting old. He’s got two things to talk about tonight, starting with the fans, who have not abandoned him after almost 37 years. Dustin thanks the production crew before moving on to the second thing, which is Jack Perry. AEW missed Perry when he left and they were happy to see him come back, but then Perry attacked the boss.

Perry has been talking about sacrifice despite being born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Dustin has been sacrificing for his family for decades but Perry has been a follower for years. If you’re a follower for that long, the view never changes. Dustin is facing Perry on Dynamite and Dustin promises to destroy his little punk a**. Perry will never forget his name. This was close enough to Dustin’s normal stuff, and that means it was good enough but not exactly exciting.

Zack Sabre Jr. wants Orange Cassidy at Forbidden Door.

Premiere Athletes vs. Trip Gordon/Dante Leon

The Athletes jump them to start and an over the shoulder Tombstone finishes Leon at 48 seconds.

Scorpio Sky offers to be our hero, our voice, and our champion.

Toni Storm vs. Lady Frost

Non-title and Luther and Mariah May are here with Storm. Frost gets taken down to start and Storm dances a bit before they fight over wrist control. Storm is knocked to the floor for an apron moonsault and we take a break. Back with Storm hitting the hip attack in the corner for two but Frost’s Air Raid Crash gets the same. Frostbite misses and Storm Sky Highs her for two more. Storm Zero finishes Frost at 7:57.

Rating: C+. Storm gets a nice win over someone who can work hard in the ring and that’s about all it needed to be. What mattered here was making Storm feel strong again, which should often be the case for a champion on the way into a big title match. Frost has a unique look, but she sems destined to be there to make people look better.

Post match Storm hugs May and says she knows how rough it is for May to see Storm and Mina Shirakawa fighting. As a distraction, Storm demands that May is entered into the Owen Hart Tournament. They’ll get through this together.

Dante Martin and Lee Moriarty argue over an Owen Tournament spot, with their respective partners getting in on it too.

Samoa Joe and Hook, after arguing about lacrosse, jump the Premiere Athletes.

Daniel Garcia vs. Tate Mayfairs

Mayfairs is from Progress Wrestling and this is his AEW debut. Garcia takes him down into a wristlock to start but Mayfairs knocks Garcia into the corner for some posing. Mayfairs hammers away both on the mat and on their feet but Garcia rolls some swinging neckbreakers. The Saito suplex into the shotgun dropkick into the Red Cross finishes for Garcia at 3:19.

Rating: C+. I guess it’s time for the next Garcia push, though I’m not likely to get my hopes up for this one being the time where everything comes together for him. Garcia has been a project for AEW for a long time now but it has never quite clicked. He’s come a long way, but seeing him make it up to the next level does not seem like the most likely result.

Post match, dancing ensues.

Video on Zeuxis, who faces Mercedes Mone on Dynamite.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Orange Cassidy talks about how bad things are going for him and now he has to deal with Zack Sabre Jr. at Forbidden Door. He has to go deal with things, including Kyle O’Reilly tonight.

Orange Cassidy vs. Kyle O’Reilly

O’Reilly takes him to the mat to start as the Undisputed Kingdom is watching from the crowd. Cassidy makes it over to the ropes so O’Reilly sits down and tells him to bring it. Instead Cassidy tries a monkey flip but has to get to the ropes to escape an armbar. They trade rollups for two each before a neck crank sends Cassidy to the floor and us to a break. Back with Cassidy grabbing a headlock takeover but O’Reilly reverses into a sleeper.

That’s reversed into a cradle to give Cassidy two but Cassidy has to escape a standing choke. The hands go into the pockets so O’Reilly sweeps the leg without much trouble. O’Reilly starts in on the arm before switching to a dragon screw legwhip over the ropes. They head outside and the Kingdom distracts O’Reilly but he’s fine enough to dragon screw Cassidy into the barricade. It works so well that O’Reilly does it again and there’s a fourth back inside.

We take another break and come back again with Cassidy working on O’Reilly’s arm. Cassidy sends him outside for a dive, followed by the high crossbody back inside. O’Reilly kicks the leg out and snaps off a German suplex, only for Cassidy to do the same, leaving them both down. Back up and they trade lazy kicks until Cassidy’s Stundog Millionaire is countered into a cross armbreaker.

Cassidy slips out of that and hits a Michinoku Driver for two, followed by a hard kick to the face. The Orange Punch is countered into a chickenwing, with O’Reilly putting his own hand into Cassidy’s pocket in a…..I guess you can call it smart touch. Cassidy powers him up for a Beach Break and a standing Orange Punch staggers O’Reilly. The more regular version finishes for Cassidy at 19:37.

Rating: B. Another good back and forth match here with the two of them both working hard. Cassidy needed a win after having some bad luck as of late, though O’Reilly losing again isn’t the best thing to see. Maybe he joins the Undisputed Era after some more losses, but egads I could go for a long, as in permanent, break from that entire team getting together again. Rather good main event here, with the fans still loving Cassidy.

Post match Trent Beretta and Kyle Fletcher come in to jump Cassidy but O’Reilly makes the…well the failed save attempt actually as the villains take over. Kris Statlander comes in as well and shakes hands with Trent. Willow Nightingale runs in to chase Statlander off to end the show

Overall Rating: B+. The opener was outstanding and the main event was rather good, which is enough to make this a heck of a show. They focused on the wrestling here and as usual, it made for a solid AEW offering. It still amazes me how much easier AEW is to watch when they don’t focus on the top storylines, but I can easily take something like this week to week. Check out the opener, as it was rather awesome.

Results
Blackpool Combat Club vs. FTR went to a time limit draw
Kris Statlander b. Robyn Renegade – Saturday Night Fever
Dustin Rhodes b. Johnny TV – Cross Rhodes
Premiere Athletes b. Trip Gordon/Dante Leon – Over the shoulder Tombstone to Leon
Toni Storm b. Lady Frost – Storm Zero
Daniel Garcia b. Tate Mayfairs – Red Cross
Orange Cassidy b. Kyle O’Reilly – Orange Punch

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