Dynamite
Date: February 18, 2026
Location: Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Bryan Danielson

We’ve got a big match this week, as Kenny Omega will be facing Swerve Strickland. That is the kind of match that could easily be on the upcoming Revolution card but instead we have it this week. At the same time, we are getting ready for the pay per view, meaning MJF and Hangman Page need to go face to face this week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Mina Shirakawa wants the TBS Title.

Willow Nightingale knows that it’s tough to be a double champ but may the best woman win.

Megan Bayne says she deserves gold.

Swerve Strickland needs to beat Kenny Omega.

Omega says Strickland is in his way.

Orange Cassidy has a replacement partner for Roderick Strong: Tomohiro Ishii.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Jon Moxley vs. Mark Davis

Non-title. Feeling out process to start with Davis grabbing a waistlock to little avail. Instead Davis tries some chops, which have Moxley chopping right back. A sunset flip is broken up with a sitdown splash and a sliding forearm in the corner knocks Moxley silly again. They go outside where Davis hits some rather loud chops but Moxley ducks one of them, which hits the post instead.

The suicide dive connects and Davis’ hand is bleeding (that’s a rare one) as the fans are way behind Moxley. Naturally Moxley bites and stomps on the cut as we take a break. We come back with Moxley biting the cut again and superplexing Davis down. A PK gives Moxley one and they strike it out, with Davis using the bad hand.

Davis gets smart by using an enziguri but the clothesline is countered with a jumping cutter. Back up and Davis manages to hit the clothesline, followed by a gutwrench piledriver of all things for two. Moxley shakes a lot and escapes a choke, allowing him to avoid a running enziguri. The stomp doesn’t leave Davis down for very long so they’re back up to trade clotheslines. Moxley pulls him into the bulldog choke for the win at 14:00.

Rating: B-. They did a nice job of beating each other up as Moxley is always going to be in for a big brawl. Davis still feels a lot better as a tag guy but it’s not his fault his partner got hurt. I can go with having him around for something like this, but he’s going to be better off with someone helping him out.

After winning on Collision, Hangman Page praised Andrade El Idolo but says he’s coming for MJF and the World Title at Revolution.

Here are FTR and Stokely Hathaway to complain about the Young Bucks. The Bucks coined the phrase FTR but now they’re the second best team in AEW’s history. Hathaway is sick of doing the same things over and over and they hate everyone around here. He insults the Bucks over and over…and here they are to superkick FTR. Hathaway (still in his wheelchair) gets superkicked as well and the Bucks want their title shot at Revolution.

After losing at Collision, Brody King says getting so close to winning the World Title and losing makes him want it that much more. On February 25, he’s getting back in the title hunt. I’ll avoid making a joke about the bag of ice on his knee.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

TBS Title: Marina Shafir vs. Megan Bayne vs. Mina Shirakawa vs. Willow Nightingale

Nightingale is defending and Penelope Ford is here with Bayne. Shirakawa is sent outside to start, leaving Bayne and Shafir to double team Nightingale. That’s broken up as Nightingale sends them outside for the cannonball off the apron, only for Shirakawa to hit a dive of her own. Back in and Nightingale gives the villains a double Codebreaker but Bayne is able to snap off a super hurricanrana. Shirakawa is sent crashing out to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Shirakawa striking away and Bayne accidentally hitting Shafir. Nightingale fires back with three straight spinebusters before she and Bayne drop each other with a double clothesline. Bayne clears the ring and hits a big dive to the floor but Shafir breaks up the pin attempt. A powerbomb puts Shafir down on the floor but Nightingale puts Bayne down back inside. Shirakawa is right there with a missile dropkick and kick to the head for Nightingale. That lets her load up the Figure Four, which Nightingale reverses into a small package to retain at 11:15.

Rating: B. They got rolling here and it turned into quite the spectacle for all four. Nightingale gets to retain again and that’s always nice to see, even if it still feels like she has no need to be a double champion. At the same time, Shirakawa’s fall continues, as she loses the match not long after losing some of her hair. That’s just a bad run, unlike this good match.

Video on Grand Slam.

Commentary pays tribute to WWE director Kerwin Silfies, who passed away at 75. That’s rather touching.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Here are Hangman Page and MJF for their face to face showdown. MJF says he isn’t going to cut some cutesy wrestling promo to sell Revolution. The truth is that he hates everything about Page, from his attitude to his wrestling, and he hates the fact that the fans think Page is the main character of AEW. What makes it even worse though is that MJF has lost to Page twice.

Page is just a lucky shot and on March 15, MJF’s birthday, MJF is going to prove it. Page talks about how the fans carried him to two World Titles and says MJF basically stole the belt. The reality is Page hates MJF far worse than MJF hates him, because they’re so much alike. MJF’s desperation for love and acceptance feels just like Page and they have both always needed the fans’ reception. He wants to end this at Revolution for good so it needs to be something different.

MJF can think of a stipulation because Page already has his own, and the people can pick. MJF thinks he hears Texas Death but SHUT UP because this is going to be a regular match. Page is willing to sweeten the pot a bit: if he loses, he never challenges for the World Title again. MJF says that’s a deal, but he wants a week to think about his stipulation. That’s fine with Page, who wants Texas Death. They definitely raised the stakes, but hopefully they have a good stipulation because otherwise it could be quite the mess.

The Death Riders still hate the Don Callis Family and a challenge is issued for Collision. As for Revolution, Jon Moxley wants Konosuke Takeshita, no time limit. That’s not exactly under Continental Rules there Mox.

Orange Cassidy/Tomohiro Ishii vs. Gabe Kidd/Clark Connors

Cassidy has to duck a big swing from Kidd to start and immediately hands it off to Ishii. Kidd wastes no time in taking Ishii into the corner and it’s off to Connors, who dares to try chopping. That just ticks Ishii off and Connors gets double chopped in the corner (Ishii is a bit more into it than Cassidy) before everything breaks down. Cassidy gets chopped down and Ishii is sent into the announcers’ table as we take a break.

We come back with Ishii and Kidd chopping it out until Kidd bites the head. Something like a Pounce puts Kidd down and they slap each other in the face over and over. Kidd hits a hard running lariat to put Ishii down and it’s back to Connors, who drops Ishii again. Ishii, who is favoring either his back or hamstring, manages a belly to back suplex and brings Cassidy back in. Everything breaks down and Kidd is sent outside, where Darby Allin kidnaps him into the crowd. Ishii grabs the brainbuster (really a suplex but it’s understandable as he seems injured) to pin Connors at 9:53.

Rating: C+. This was kind of a messy match, though that might be due to Ishii getting hurt. They kind of had to go to the ending in a hurry, though they got the big deal with Allin in and that’s all that matters. It’s certainly better than having Allin get beaten up all the time, as he has a reason for revenge here and is actually taking it for a change.

The Don Callis Family beat up a bunch of people in the back and accept the Death Riders’ challenges, both for Collision and Revolution. Kazuchika Okada comes in to say he’s here because he’s a champion while Konosuke Takeshita couldn’t even show up. Andrade El Idolo comes in to say he wants the World Title. Don Callis wants the CMLL World Title for the Family.

Hook wants to bring some new members into the Opps.

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Brawling Birds vs. B3cca/Viva Van

Windsor hammers on Van in the corner to start and quickly powers out of a headlock. A sunset flip takes Van down and Hayter comes in for a running boot to the face. The Birds chop away in the corner but Van slips out of a double suplex. B3cca comes in and gets catapulted into an Irish Curse. A Hart Attack finishes for Windsor at 3:58.

Rating: C. Total squash here and that’s a nice start for the Birds. They’re pretty much two women with nothing else to do being thrown together and that’s a tried and true way to build a tag division. It was just a small sample size but it was a good way to start, so maybe they have something here.

Renee Young brings in Kris Statlander, who wants the Women’s Title back, and Thunder Rosa, who is back and cleared to return. That’s good to hear.

Kevin Knight vs. The Beast Mortos

Mike Bailey is here with Knight, who avoids a charge to start and sends Mortos crashing out to the floor. Knight slingshots over the post and takes Mortos down as we take a break. We come back with Mortos sending him outside for a running flip dive, which is quite the sight. Back in and the pop up Samoan drop gives Mortos two but Knight hits a great looking dropkick. A jumping clothesline drops Mortos again and Knight even manages a slam. The running splash gets two and Knight plants him with a running DDT. The UFO Splash gives Knight the pin at 8:36.

Rating: B-. They did some good stuff here, which shouldn’t be a surprise, and they didn’t waste any time. Knight continues to feel like a star in the making, with some outstanding athleticism. At the same time, I have absolutely no idea why Page/Jetspeed are the Trios Champions, as I don’t remember the last time they were even together on TV.

Video on Will Ospreay.

The Demand wants the Trios Titles. Say on Collision. They go to their dressing room, where they find a knife in the door. Eh must be nothing.

Swerve Strickland vs. Kenny Omega

Prince Nana is here with Swerve. They fight over a lockup to start with Swerve knocks him down. Omega is back with a running shoulder so Swerve slaps him in the face. Swerve is knocked outside but it’s way too early for the Terminator dive. They head outside with Omega chopping away and moonsaulting off the barricade as we take a break. We come back with Omega grabbing a suplex to put them both down.

You Can’t Escape gives Omega two and he drops Swerve face first onto the top turnbuckle. The snapdragon drops Swerve for two more but he manages to send Omega into the buckle right back. The Vertebreaker is countered though and Omega grabs a snapdragon on the apron for the big knockdown. Swerve is able to escape a snapdragon from the apron to the floor but then has to flip out of a German suplex to the floor.

That lets Swerve grab a suplex on the floor as they’re both starting to feel this. Back in and a 450 in the general vicinity to Omega’s back gets two but Omega is able to hit a running knee in the corner. The snapdragon superplex plants Swerve for two but he pulls the referee into the V Trigger (though it might have been due to her checking on Swerve’s banged up shoulder).

The One Winged Angel is countered into the House Call but there is no one to count. Instead it’s a Swerve Stomp to the apron before Swerve catapults him throat first into the exposed turnbuckle. Another Swerve Stomp gets two from another referee but Omega grabs another snapdragon. The poisonrana looks to set up the One Winged Angel but Swerve escapes for the House Call. Big Pressure finishes Omega at 20:10.

Rating: A-. These two had a pay per view quality match and I’m still not sure why it wasn’t on the pay per view. Swerve was definitely going more violent here, though I’m not sure how easily he would be able to turn heel. Either way, it was a heck of a match and definitely worth a look, as Swerve gets to show how good he can be in a huge match.

Post match Swerve beats Omega down even more and even hangs him over the top rope with the chain. A Vertebreaker through the announcers’ table ends the show.

Overall Rating: B. The main event is great and the TBS Title match was worth a look, but the rest of the show wasn’t quite as awesome. The good thing is that they’re setting up Revolution, which has the potential to be quite the show. They still have some time to add a few things in and I’m curious about what is next for Swerve. For now though, the excellent main event more than carries the show.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Mark Davis – Bulldog choke
Willow Nightingale b. Marina Shafir, Megan Bayne and Mina Shirakawa – Small package to Shirakawa
Brawling Birds b. B3cca/Viva Van – Hart Attack to B3cca
Kevin Knight b. The Beast Mortos – UFO Splash
Swerve Strickland b. Kenny Omega – Big Pressure

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

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

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

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

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

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

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bandido vs. The Beast Mortos

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

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

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

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

Brody King vs. Lee Johnson

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

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

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

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Josh Alexander vs. Jon Moxley

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

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

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

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

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

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

IMG Credit: All Elite Wrestling

National Title: Jack Perry vs. Ricochet

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

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

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

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

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

Willow Nightingale is ready to get her title back.

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

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Willow Nightingale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ring Of Honor
Date: December 4, 2025
Location: The Pinnacle, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

it’s the night before Final Battle and we’re on the second of three Ring Of Honor shows this week. The big draw this time is that the Women’s TV Champion is actually going to be here as Mercedes Mone is going to be doing something. The pay per view can use some extra buildup so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the top of the Final Battle card.

The Beast Mortos vs. Komander

Komander does the bull pass Ole’s to start so Mortos hits him in the face. An anklescissors and headscissors take Mortos down but he cuts off the bouncy springboard hurricanrana. Mortos’ fireman’s carry backbreaker has Komander in more trouble and it’s time to choke on the rope. A neck twist keeps Komander in trouble but he gets in a quick hurricanrana for two more.

Mortos is sent outside for the big dive, though he’s fine enough to grab a pop up Samoan drop for another near fall. Komander’s crucifix bomb gets two so he goes up, where Mortos counters a hurricanrana into a powerbomb backbreaker. A poisonrana drops Mortos again and Komander goes up, only for Sammy Guevara to shove him down for the DQ at 9:40.

Rating: C. This was starting to pick up before the not so great ending. I get the idea of not wanting one of them to be pushed harder before Final Battle, but if that’s the case, why bother putting it together in the first place? Either way, at least Komander got to do his high flying stuff, which does work well most of the time.

Post match Komander gets his mask ripped off but Bandido comes out for the save. Cue Don Callis to ask about his white pants and to introduce Hechicero. The good guys are beaten down and the other three argue over the title.

Premiere Athletes vs. Philly Collins/Marino Tenaglia/Zoey Lynn

Daivari unloads on Tenaglia in the corner to start and it’s off to Denali for more of the same. Denali chokes on Lynn before it’s off to Collins, who catches Nese’s boot. Daivari breaks it up with a hammerlock lariat to Collins and Denali chokeslams Lynn for the pin at 2:53. Total destruction.

Rosario Grillo vs. Sidney Akeem

Grillo works on the arm to start as commentary talks about the World Title match. Akeem nips up and hits a running shoulder but gets taken into the corner for some elbows to the head. Akeem’s springboard is broken up with a forearm to the face but he’s back with a spinning crossbody. The backflip cutter is broken up so Akeem connects with the second attempt for the win at 4:31.

Rating: C. The flips and acrobatics were nice, but why in the world is this on the last show before Final Battle? It would be a stretch in a regular week and yet here it is, even in a week where they had another show as a bonus. It’s not like there is any required amount of content to fill and this felt like nothing more than filler for the sake of making the show longer.

Dalton Castle/The Outrunners vs. Jake Omen/Ashton Adonis/Josh Crane

Magnum poses at Omen to start and hands it off to Floyd for a running knee lift. Castle’s falling splash gets two but it’s Magnum getting caught in the wrong corner. That’s broken up in a hurry though and it’s Floyd coming back in to help clean house. It’s off to Castle for the suplexes and the Mega Powers Elbow into the Bang A Rang finishes Adonis at 4:40.

Rating: C. Dalton Castle has a match for the National Title at the biggest show of the year so he wrestles two six man tags this week. Of course he does. Even though there is a grand total of no chance that Castle wins the title at Final Battle, it shouldn’t be asking too much to have him win some squash matches while the Outrunners pose at ringside.

Post match here is Ricochet for a distraction, allowing the Gates Of Agony to jump the Outrunners. Ricochet comes in for a belt shot, plus the Spirit Gun.

Death Riders vs. Damien Reel/Damon Reel

Yuta and Damien start things off with Yuta easily taking over. It’s off to Garcia to send him into the corner for some glaring. Yuta comes back in to tie up the leg, with Garcia adding some right hands to the head. Damien fights up and brings in Damon to make a comeback, which doesn’t last long. Instead it’s a flying forearm Hart Attack into the Dragontamer for the tap at 3:53.

Rating: C. This is another match involving people who have nothing to do with Final Battle. That’s the theme of way too much of this show, as again it’s not like Yuta and Garcia are strangers. They’re people who have been well established on AEW and yet here they are again, doing the same thing they always do. Why did this need to be here?

Queen Aminata tells Deonna Purrazzo that she is injured and out of the tournament, meaning Purrazzo is in the finals. Purrazzo is understanding, as well as ready for whomever she faces tomorrow night.

Mercedes Mone vs. Little Miss Larkin

Non-title. Larkin is very excited to be here and gets pulled down by the hair to start. Statement Maker finishes at 34 seconds.

Women’s Pure Rules Title Tournament Semifinals: Billie Starkz vs. Yuka Sakazaki

They start a bit slowly until Starkz drives her into the ropes for Sakazaki’s first break. Sakazaki grabs a bodyscissors and rolls her around the ring for two and they head outside. Starkz slugs away to take over and stomps away back inside. A DDT gives Starkz two but Sakazaki fights back, forcing Starkz to use the rope. Starkz comes out with a right hand into a DDT to stay on the neck. Sakazaki uses the second rope break to get out of a chinlock and she Snowplows Starkz for two.

An ankle lock makes Starkz use her second rope break and she slams Sakazaki off the top. The Swanton misses though and Sakazaki’s top rope splash misses. Starkz grabs a kneebar but Sakazaki does the same thing, meaning they need to trade forearms for the double escape…and they both use their final rope break. They strike it out again until Starkz trips her into a rollup with feet on the ropes for the pin at 10:43.

Rating: B-. And that’s how we get to the finals of the tournament. This was another case of how gimmicky can they get with the rope breaks, which is basically all the Pure Title stuff is most of the time. Starkz cheating in the end was at least something different, but my goodness I cannot bring myself to care about this tournament.

And that’s it. Seriously, that’s it. Mone, the big advertisement for this show, was out there for a 34 second squash and nothing more. That’s so lame it’s almost funny.

Overall Rating: D+. Maybe it was having the extra show earlier this week (which was completely and totally necessary), but this felt like the biggest waste of time. The wrestling was mediocre at best and a lot of it had little or nothing to do with the pay per view. This show was supposed to sell me on Final Battle and instead it sold me on wanting to go to my local library and find a nice ornamental horticulture book. Totally nothing show here, but at least we had to pay to see it.

Results
Komander b. The Beast Mortos via DQ when Sammy Guevara interfered
Premiere Athletes b. Philly Collins/Marino Tenaglia/Zoey Lynn – Chokeslam to Lynn
Sidney Akeem b. Rosario Grillo – Backflip cutter
Dalton Castle/The Outrunners b. Jake Omen/Ashton Adonis/Josh Crane – Bang A Rang to Crane
Death Riders b. Damien Reel/Damon Reel – Dragontamer to Damon
Mercedes Mone b. Little Miss Larkin – Statement Maker
Billie Starkz b. Yuka Sakazaki – Rollup with feet on the ropes

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: December 2, 2025
Location: The Pinnacle, Nashville, Tennessee
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s Final battle week and we’re getting a special edition of the show. That could mean just about anything, but there is always the chance that it doesn’t mean much at all. This one is also airing on YouTube, which doesn’t have the best track record for special editions. I’m more than a bit worried so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

The Beast Mortos vs. Gravity

Gravity won’t shake hands to start and can’t get an early sunset flip. Instead a headscissors takes Mortos down and Gravity does his slow walk, earning himself a knockdown. A snap powerslam gives Mortos two and he twists Gravity’s neck around for two more. Gravity’s spinning sunset flip out of the corner gets two more, setting up the running flip dive out to the floor. The pop up Samoan drop gives Mortos another near fall and he grabs a powerbomb backbreaker. The discus lariat finishes Gravity at 4:47.

Rating: C+. It was a basic power vs. speed match here with Mortos getting the dominant enough win on his way to the World Title match later this week. It’s also nice to have this stay short, as there is no reason for it to go any longer. Gravity being the designated victim makes sense given that he’s Bandido’s brother, though that’s only so much of a connection to the Final Battle match.

Frat House vs. Dalton Castle/The Outrunners

Magnum and Jameson start things off but Jameson immediately hands it off to Rosario Grillo (a pledge). Magnum chases him into the corner and Grillo’s cheap shot from behind has no effect. Castle comes in for the falling splash and it’s off to Garrison to face Magnum, who gets sent into the wrong corner.

Magnum’s comeback is cut off and he’s sent outside for the triple teaming. Back in and a chokeslam gives Jameson two but Magnum flips over Grillo to make the needed tag off to Castle. The quick suplex drops Garrison and the Frat House walks out on Grillo, who gets Mega Powered elbowed. The Bang A Rang finishes for Castle at 6:29.

Rating: C. Pretty basic match here, though it’s nice to see Castle and the Outrunners actually built up. They have enough to be a threat to the Six Man Tag Team Titles and it’s nice like many teams fit that description. Commentary said that the winners might be in line for a titl….yeah I don’t believe it either.

Leila Grey vs. Trish Adora

They fight over a lockup to start and Adora takes her down a few times. A running dropkick and a faceplant have Adora in trouble and a crucifix bomb gives Grey two. Grey’s powerslam gets two more but Adora is back with some kicks to the back. The cobra clutch doesn’t last long and Grey slugs away for the comeback. A superkick sets up the German suplex but Adora grabs one of her own. They trade rollups for two each until Grey grabs a sitout Pedigree for the pin at 6:10.

Rating: C. Grey continues to feel like she could become something if she can take it up another level. She’s not there yet, but there is enough charisma to at least give her a chance. Adora is a much more polished star in the ring, though she feels like she’s pretty firmly stuck in the midcard at the moment.

Dark Order vs. Vin Parker/Jimmy House/Jay Alexander

Silver grabs a hammerlock on House to start before it’s off to Reynolds for a running elbow to Alexander. House offers a distraction though and Reynolds gets caught in the wrong corner. A neckbreaker gets Reynolds out of trouble and it’s Uno coming in to clean house. The double DDT connects as everything breaks down, including the triple flipping slam to pin Parker at 4:29.

Rating: C. Pretty much a squash here, with the Order getting to showcase themselves for a bit. They’re still popular despite not having much in the way of success in bigger matches, which is why they’re still around on the show. Just let them do stuff like this and not much more and they’re fine.

Leila Grey (who has apparently taken a shower, changed clothes and redone her hair and makeup in about ten minutes) meets Zayda Steel, who challenges her to a match. Sure.

Final Battle rundown.

Diamante vs. Persephone

Neither can get very far with the power to start until Persephone shoulders her down. The fall away slam has Diamante flying but she faceplants Persephone on the apron. A running hurricanrana to the floor has Persephone in trouble and a running dropkick sends her into the barricade.

Back in and Diamante hammers away in the corner but Persephone hits a running dropkick. Diamante grabs a quick Stunner for two and she reverses a Razor’s Edge attempt into a hurricanrana for two more. Code Red gives Diamante two, with Persephone getting a foot on the rope. Persephone is right back with a spear into a moonsault for the pin at 6:25.

Rating: B-. Persephone getting a win over a known name around here is fine, as it’s not like she’s done much in the way of being built up for the title match later this week. Diamante’s status isn’t hurt by such a loss and Persephone gets what she needs. There are far worse options for a main event.

Post match Athena comes in for the brawl but Diamante makes the save, getting Athena out of trouble to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. Outside of maybe the main event, this show was quite the waste of time. Nothing on here is overly good (not that it’s bad, but entirely mediocre) and it barely boosted anything for Final Battle. With the regular episode airing on Thursday, this felt like some deleted scenes thrown together as a special. In other words, it’s Ring Of Honor.

Results
The Beast Mortos b. Gravity – Discus lariat
Dalton Castle/The Outrunners b. Frat House – Bang A Rang to Grillo
Leila Grey b. Trish Adora – Sitout Pedigree
Dark Order b. Vin Parker/Jimmy House/Jay Alexander – Triple flipping slam to Parker
Persephone b. Diamante – Moonsault

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: November 28, 2025
Location: Agganis Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re on Friday this week due to the avoidance of Thanksgiving. It’s a week before Final Battle and thanks to AEW TV, we actually have some of the bigger matches set for the show. This includes the World Title match, but more importantly than that, we’re actually finishing the first round of the Women’s Pure Title tournament, a mere three months after it started. Let’s get to it.

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

Sammy Guevara reveals that due to Rush’s injury, the Tag Team Titles have been held up, so he’s teaming with The Beast Mortos to win the titles next week at Final Battle.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Dark Order

Silver takes Moriarty down to start and poses, allowing the rest of the Order to come in for some rapid fire triple teaming. Taylor comes in so Reynolds goes for his leg, only to get dropped with a hard clothesline. It’s off to Ogogo for some knees to the ribs and a slam for two and it’s back to Moriarty for a front facelock. Reynolds gets his feet up in the corner though and cuts off a charging Taylor, allowing Uno to come in for the house cleaning. A double DDT plants Moriarty and Ogogo as everything breaks down. Taylor breaks up the triple flipping slam and Moriarty Border City Stretches Uno for the win at 7:17.

Rating: B-. This was….fun? I liked a Dark Order match? Geez it must be the holiday still impacting me or something as that’s not something that often happens. These guys went out there and had a heck of an entertaining match, with everyone working hard. This was a pretty awesome surprise and I’ll take that every time.

Blake Christian is in the World Title match on a technicality and that’s ok with him. All that matters is he can win the title.

Von Erichs vs. Zack Mason/Warren Johnson

Kevin Von Erich is here too. Ross takes Mason down to start and it’s off to Marshall for a dropkick. Marshall gets taken into the corner so Johnson can come in and whip him around a bit. A backdrop out of the corner gets Marshall out of trouble and it’s back to Ross to clean house. The Claws are good enough to give the Von Erichs the double pin at 3:57.

Rating: C. Nothing to see here as it’s the same Von Erichs stuff you’ve seen time after time. They’re perfectly fine in the ring but just dull in almost every imaginable way. If nothing else, they’re a logical choice to go after the Tag Team Titles, as they have a history with LFI and are at least an established team. Just please find something to make them more interesting. There has to be a way.

Jay Lethal apologizes to Adam Priest for accidentally hitting him with a Lethal Injection. Priest’s neck is still sore but he seems to accept the apology.

Frat House vs. Adam Priest/Jay Lethal/Tommy Billington

It’s a brawl to start fast and Lethal hits Garrison with a basement dropkick. Priest comes in and gets choked in the corner, setting up the triple teaming. Lethal’s save attempt doesn’t do any good as it’s off to Jameson for an elevator slam. Taking a drink takes too long though and Jameson misses his middle rope backsplash. Priest avoids a charge into the post and brings Billington in to clean house. Everything breaks down and it’s the Lethal Injection into the Swan Dive to give Billington the pin at 6:35.

Rating: C. Nothing to this one, with the Frat House being their usual self and the other guys getting to prove that they still have it. That doesn’t really matter if they’re going to keep losing in AEW, but it’s not like wins or losses on this show matter when it comes to the bigger shows anyway. I do like Billington/Lethal/Priest as a team though, as they have some nice chemistry and it gives Lethal something to do.

Post match we’re told that Billington and Priest are in the Tag Team Title match at Final Battle. As usual, enjoy your hearty laugh at commentary so constantly telling you that teams winning title matches gets them into title contention. That’s the case with probably half a dozen teams but who gets the title shot? A team who hasn’t actually wrestled a two on two tag match in Ring Of Honor (and are winless in AEW). Again: nothing that happens around here matters because it’s just stuff being thrown together to make a card, with continuity having no impact.

Women’s Pure Rules Title Tournament First Round: Yuka Sakazaki vs. Serena Deeb

We’re told that the semifinals are taking place next week as Sakazaki starts in on the arm. Some armdrags send Deeb outside for a clothesline, followed by an ankle lock back inside. That means the first rope break from Deeb, who sends her hard into the ropes to take over. Something like a Black Widow on the mat has Sakazaki in trouble, only for her to reverse into an arm crank of her own.

Deeb uses the ropes again and crabs Sakazaki’s arm, making her use the rope for a break as well. Sakazaki hits a slingshot knee to the head and a suplex gets two. An STF makes Deeb use her third rope break so Sakazaki grabs a superplex. Sakazaki gets suckered into a slugout until it’s a Snowplow to drop Deeb. The Magic Girl Splash hits raised knees but it’s a spinning hammerlock faceplant to pin Deeb (whose foot on the rope doesn’t matter) at 10:31.

Rating: B-. Nice enough match here, even if it continues the tradition of this tournament feeling like nothing. It took about four months to complete the first round but it’s ok because we’ll have the last three matches in the span of two days. At least they had a good match on the way to the second round, though sweet goodness I lost any potential interest in the whole thing a long time ago.

Video on Persephone vs. Athena.

Premiere Athletes vs. Carrie King/Gino/Exodus Prime

Denali powers King into the corner to start and brings in Gino, with Nese hitting a quick dropkick. Prime gets the tag and is planted by Denali, setting up the Magic Carpet Splash (complete with carpet) for the pin at 3:03.

Rating: C-. It’s not a good sign when I have to figure out the jobbers’ names by listening to commentary as they didn’t even get a graphic. The match was the usual squash and therefore I have no reason to believe it changes anything for the Athletes. They’re one of the acts that gets on a lot of shows but doesn’t seem to go anywhere, which makes their continued use feel like nothing more than filler.

Main Man Oro/Beef vs. Swirl

So Christian is in a World Title match in a week and he’s in a tag match here. Right. Johnson and Oro start things off with Johnson taking it over. Christian comes in for a whip into the corner and a running dropkick to the back. It’s off to Beef, who is quickly beaten down, only to come back with a double crossbody. Oro gets the tag and is sent outside for a suicide dive, followed by a double superkick to Beef. Back in and the Swirl Stomp finishes Oro at 6:16.

Rating: C+. So again, the Swirl looks dominant here and continues their winning ways, but for some reason they’re nowhere near the Tag Team Title match. As usual, this promotion’s wins/losses have no impact on anything, which makes for quite the tedious show when there are so few storylines. It’s even more annoying when Swirl is getting better and are actually fun to watch most of the time.

We get Ricochet’s victory promo from Collision.

We run down the Final Battle card and….wait. Sammy Guevara and The Beast Mortos are in both the Tag Team and World Title matches? BUT THE REGULAR TEAMS HAVE NOTHING TO DO? If they can do that, why isn’t Swirl in the Tag Team Title match? Or the Von Erichs? Or ANYTHING THAT MAKES MORE SENSE???

Nigel McGuinness wants a thirty minute Iron Man match with Lee Moriarty at Final Battle.

Mansoor vs. Komander

The rest of MxM TV is here with Mansoor, who armdrags him down and poses in the corner. A quick rollup gives Komander two and he kicks Mansoor in the back of the trunks. Mansoor bails to the floor for a bit before his cheap shot is cut off. Instead Mansoor kicks him out to the floor and strikes a pose earning a trip out to the floor.

Valkyrie offers a distraction though and Johnny TV powerbombs her onto Komander. Back in and they slowly trade forearms until Komander grabs a middle rope facebuster. A DDT gives Komander two but TV offers a distraction. Komander uses him as a stepping stone to set up a moonsault to TV, followed by a satellite DDT to Mansoor. Cielito Lindo gives Komander the pin at 9:09.

Rating: B-. I guess this counts as building towards Komander in the World Title match. To their credit, there is something to be said about having him go through multiple people on his way to an elimination match. It’s not quite the same challenge, but you have to take what you can get around here.

Overall Rating: C+. Well it wasn’t boring and things were set up for Final Battle. If you can ignore how head scratch inducing some of those matches are, you can call this something of a success. The show still features WAY too much filler and is dying for something to break up the monotony, but at least the six man and women’s matches were good and they made Final Battle seem important. I’ll take that over the usual around here.

Results
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Dark Order – Border City Stretch to Uno
Von Erichs b. Zack Mason/Warren Johnson – Double pin
Adam Priest/Jay Lethal/Tommy Billington b. Frat House – Swan Dive to Karter
Yuka Sakazaki b. Serena Deeb – Spinning hammerlock faceplant
Premiere Athletes b. Carrie King/Gino/Exodus Prime – Magic Carpet Splash to Prime
Swirl b. Beef/Main Man Oro – Swirl Stomp to Oro
Komander b. Mansoor – Cielito Lindo

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

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

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

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

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

Opening sequence.

Kota Ibushi vs. Josh Alexander

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video on Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MxM TV vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

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

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

Eddie Kingston vs. The Beast Mortos

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

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

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

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

FTR/Megan Bayne vs. Jet Speed/Willow Nightingale

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dynamite
Date: October 7, 2025
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Bryan Danielson, Taz

It’s Title Tuesday and that means it’s time to get ready for WrestleDream in just over a week. As usual, this show is going to be focused on titles and there are quite a few to pick from around here. In this case, we have an open challenge for the TBS Title and a tag match which could determine a #1 contender for three different titles. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone brings out Hangman Page and Samoa Joe for a face to face chat. Page talks about the various things he has done on this show over the years, from arson to dressing up as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, but he has never been as confused as he was last week when Samoa Joe lost it. That makes him think Joe is angry and he has been for a long time.

Now Joe is going to get the World Title shot and Page is making sure that he gets it because he owes Joe. That ends at WrestleDream though. Joe says everything Page has said is true and now it’s time for him to say some uncomfortable truths. The reality is that Page isn’t a real champion because he’ll give someone an opportunity of a lifetime and then face them in ten minutes to pad his stats.

That’s not going to work with Joe at WrestleDream, where he’s going to choke Page out and take his title. Page knows he’s going to take a beating at WrestleDream but he’ll hit Joe twice as much. Then Page is going to beat him once and for all and after, he hopes Joe can shake his hand and admit that Page is the World Champion. Thankfully they kept this short as they didn’t have much to say and it didn’t need to go long.

The Conglomeration is ready to win tonight and on Collision. Kyle O’Reilly better not hear one LET’S GO KYLE chant when he faces Kyle Fletcher because he can’t stand anyone else with that name. What a specific issue.

Jon Moxley vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Marina Shafir is here with Moxley. Shockingly enough, they trade strikes to start and then go outside for more forearms. Ishii gets the better of things but Shafir gets in a distraction, allowing Moxley to knock him into the barricade. We take a break and come back with Moxley hammering away in the corner again, which wakes Ishii up. A suplex drops Moxley, who is right back with a sleeper, which is reversed into a belly to back suplex.

Moxley hammers away in the corner until a powerbomb gets Ishii out of trouble. Ishii hits a running clothesline for two and they trade hard shots to the head until both of them are down. Moxley grabs a jumping cutter for two but Ishii pops up from a powerbomb. A curb stomp gives Moxley two so Ishii goes for a choke, which is countered into the Paradigm Shift. The rear naked choke finishes for Moxley at 12:41.

Rating: B-. As soon as Ishii got up from the Paradigm Shift, I was expecting Ishii to lose by submission within about fifteen seconds, which is pretty much exactly what happens. It’s a recurring pattern in AEW’s match structures, much like trading a lot of forearms in the middle of the ring. You know what you’re going to get with an Ishii match and it was on full display here.

The Young Bucks are trying to talk to Tony Khan (they need money, again) but will be there to watch the Jurassic Express later.

Video on Kris Statlander vs. Toni Storm.

We look at the Triangle Of Madness laying out Statlander and Storm on Collision.

Hurt Syndicate vs. The Demand

Street fight. They start the brawl on the ramp until Liona takes Lashley inside for a Samoan drop onto some chairs. They’re already outside with Ricochet and MVP coming inside to grapple against the ropes. A crutch to the back has Kaun in trouble and he gets inside with Benjamin. That doesn’t last long as they go outside as well, where Ricochet hits a big running flip dive to knock the pile down.

We take a break and come back with the Demand in control, including some slams on the floor. Lashley gets knocked down and a chair but gets up, where his spear is cut off with a chair to the head. The Gates send Lashley through a table and Kaun’s elbow puts him through a second. MVP and Liona crash through a barricade, leaving Benjamin to get double spinebustered for two.

Ricochet shooting stars Benjamin on a table, which doesn’t break (OUCH), so Liona and MVP crash onto Benjamin to really break the thing. Somehow Benjamin gets back up to strike away and backdrop Ricochet out to the floor. Ricochet gets back in and takes a knee from Benjamin to save Liona as Lashley is back up. The spear drops Ricochet and then Liona, followed by a spinebuster to put Kaun through a table. Back in and Benjamin gives Ricochet a GREAT release German suplex through a table for the pin at 16:36.

Rating: B. This one worked quite a bit better than the previous version, as the Demand winning before made me believe they could do it again here. That sounds minor, but it made all the difference in the matches. They also got a nice bit of time and were able to make it feel like a fight, which is what you want out of something like this. Good match, with the weapons and violence feeling more appropriate.

The Don Callis Family has some matches coming up, with Don Callis accusing Kyle O’Reilly naming himself after Kyle Fletcher. They’re ready to beat everyone they’re facing.

Jurassic Express vs. O’Ryan/KM

Perry (and it’s now Jungle Jack Perry, which is light years ahead of Jungle Boy if he’s supposed to be taken seriously) takes O’Ryan (who doesn’t even get a first name) into the corner and then hurricanranas him down. A dropkick connects as the Young Bucks are stuck sitting in the crowd with some random kids.

Luchasaurus comes in for a suplex and just drops O’Ryan in a good spot. A beach ball is thrown in and thrown back out (amen) and the Extinction finishes O’Ryan at 2:40. This was an effective squash, with Jurassic Express doing well with the big man/little man style. That can work very well for them, as long as Perry isn’t treated as too serious of a star again.

Post match the Bucks run in and beat the Express down. Well it was nice while it lasted. The Bucks challenge the Express for WrestleDream and then lay Perry out with a TK Driver.

The Death Riders, now seemingly with Pac as an official member, are outside, where they promise to take out Orange Cassidy tonight.

TNT Title: Kyle O’Reilly vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher (with Lance Archer) is defending and we’re finally at a title match almost halfway into the show. Don Callis joins commentary as O’Reilly takes Fletcher down. A kneebar sends Fletcher over to the ropes so O’Reilly goes after the arm instead. O’Reilly double legs him and hammers away to send Fletcher outside. The running knee drops Fletcher again but he’s right back with a Michinoku Driver as we take a break.

We come back with O’Reilly hitting a German suplex and going back to the arm, including a hammerlock guillotine. O’Reilly switches back to the leg, with Fletcher heading over to the rope. They strike it out on the apron until O’Reilly hits a big running dive off the apron. Back in and Fletcher can’t get a brainbuster but can lawn dart him into the buckle. They slug it out until O’Reilly grabs a reverse fisherman’s suplex for two. A Boom gives O’Reilly two more and he goes back to the ankle lock. Fletcher breaks that up and hits a brainbuster, followed by another brainbuster to retain at 13:11.

Rating: B. These two have good chemistry together and they made it work again here, with O’Reilly not being the most likely new champion but giving it a heck of a go on the way. The idea of trying to take Fletcher apart limb by limb is a good story for the match and it worked well. Fletcher is going to need a bigger challenger soon though and there are more than a few options to come for the title.

Post match Archer goes after O’Reilly but the Conglomeration comes in for the save. More of the Don Callis Family comes in so Mark Briscoe is in as well to stare Fletcher away.

Post break Fletcher is not pleased with Briscoe coming out there after a big title match. To make it worse, he has to defend against Briscoe at WrestleDream.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. ???

Mone is defending against…Lacey Lane (formerly Kayden Carter in WWE), who is from Florida as Mone requested. Mone works on the arm to start but gets rolled up for two. Lane avoids a running dropkick in the corner and gets two more on Mone, who has to bail outside. That lets Lane dance a bit, followed by a basement superkick back inside. A hanging Pedigree gives Lane two and we take a break.

We come back with Lane kicking her down but Mone grabs Three Amigos. The frog splash hits raised knees though and they trade some strikes to the face. A Codebreaker sends Lane into the corner, where the running knees miss. Lane is back with a springboard spinning legdrop for two and they trade rollups for two each. Mone manages a quick Mone Maker to retain at 9:24.

Rating: B-. It was a nice debut for Lane (which came after her debut in ROH a few weeks ago) who put in a solid first appearance. She gave Mone a good fight and while there was no reason to believe she was going to win the title, which is an issue for everyone who challenges for the title. Either way, good stuff here and far better than it could have been.

Sammy Guevara promises that The Beast Mortos will destroy Eddie Kingston on Collision.

Kingston, with Hook, will see them on Collision.

Don Callis Family vs. Bandido/Brody King

Non-title, but if either Bandido or King win they get a Unified Title shot, but if the Family win, they get a Tag Team Title shot. Kazuchika Okada’s entrance cuts off Konosuke Takeshita’s, which isn’t sitting well with the latter. Bandido, with his bad shoulder, starts with Takeshita, who is smart enough to go after the bad arm.

An armdrag sends Takeshita into the corner for a shot from King, who drops Bandido onto him for a bonus. Okada comes in and gets chopped hard in the corner before Bandido adds a dropkick. King gets sent to the apron and high/lowed to the floor, where Takeshita and Okada have a staredown as we take a break.

We come back with King belly to back suplexing his way out of trouble and hitting a double clothesline. Bandido comes back in and scores with a spinning high crossbody on Okada. A suplex gets two with Takeshita making the save King drops Okada so this time Takeshita shoves Bandido into them for the save. King is back up with a Boss Man Slam to Takeshita but Okada gets smart by going after the bad arm.

Takeshita gets in a rather impressive wheelbarrow suplex to King and he goes after the bad arm to drop Bandido again. Takeshita’s running knee hits Okada by mistake and the X Knee connects for Bandido. The arm gives out on the 21 Plex attempt though and Takeshita grabs a poisonrana. The running knee is loaded up but Okada tags himself in and hits the Rainmaker for the pin on Bandido at 12:02.

Rating: B. You had two stories taking place here at the same time and they meshed together well enough to set up the title match later on. Takeshita and Okada are still having troubles and those very well could boil over when they get to the title match. Bandido’s shoulder being banged up cost them the match and it made sense for the villains to work on it throughout. Good stuff here and the rematch should be better.

Jet Speed and Willow Nightingale aren’t worried about FTR and Penelope Ford/Megan Bayne.

Stokely Hathaway and FTR can respect Jet Speed just a bit, but they don’t think much of Willow Nightingale. Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford don’t either.

Bandido and Brody King are ready to defend the Tag Team Titles against the Don Callis Family at WrestleDream.

Orange Cassidy vs. Pac

They fight over wrist control to start before Cassidy does the lazy kicks. Pac isn’t having that and picks the leg to grind away on a headlock. A flying mare into an armbar gets Cassidy out of trouble and they head outside, where Pac gets in a suplex. We take a break and come back with Pac hitting a missile dropkick before shrugging off the lazy chops. They trade some more aggressive forearms until Pac grabs a rebound German suplex.

Cassidy knocks him right back down and we get a double breather. The fight heads outside again and Cassidy hits a Stundog Millionaire, followed by a DDT. There’s an Orange Punch onto the announcers’ table, followed by the hands in the pockets…fall? Dive? Either way, Cassidy follows it up with a tornado DDT back inside.

Cassidy goes up so Pac slowly rolls away (as Cassidy did to him once before) and they go out into the crowd. Pac Tombstones him onto a platform and Cassidy rolls down the steps…but Darby Allin pops up to tape Cassidy’s foot to a railing. Cassidy manages to get back in (What Tombstone?) and Pac dives over the top as well, only for Cassidy to roll him up for the pin at 15:39.

Rating: B. The ending was more than a bit overbooked, but that’s pretty normal for AEW> Pac losing so soon after his return is a bit of a stretch, though I’ll take it over Cassidy losing again so soon. These two have a history together and it does feel like a big enough match, so this was a good way to go for the main event.

Post match Allin yells at Pac, who gives chase but gets cut off by a taser. The rest of the Death Riders chase Allin as well and security cuts Allin off before he can….light a Molotov cocktail. Because that’s a thing. Security holds Allin down to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Yeah this was a heck of a show, ridiculously goofy ending aside. There was nothing close to bad on here and everyone was working hard throughout. They also boosted up WrestleDream, which is looking like a better card than it was coming into this week. Daily’s Place seems to bring out the best in AEW and that was certainly the case here.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Tomohiro Ishii – Rear naked choke
Hurt Syndicate b. The Demand – Release German suplex to Ricochet through a table
Jurassic Express b. O’Ryan/KM – Extinction to O’Ryan
Kyle Fletcher b. Kyle O’Reilly – Brainbuster
Mercedes Mone b. Lacey Lane – Mone Maker
Don Callis Family b. Bandido/Brody King – Rainmaker to Bandido
Orange Cassidy b. Pac – Rollup

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

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Ring Of Honor
Date: September 18, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s another week of the show and we’re back to a regular edition after last year’s Action Dean edition. That means we should be back to the same style that we tend to get around here and hopefully the action is there to back it up. At the same time, it would be nice to see some bigger storyline developments. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Mistico vs. Mansoor

The rest of MxM TV is here with Mansoor, who kicks him down to start, followed by a running shoulder. Mistico is right back with a running hurricanrana to take over. Hold on though as Mansoor claims a cheap shot from Alex Abrahantes, allowing him to jump Mistico and take over again. Mansoor misses a moonsault though and Mistico powerslams him down for two. Taya Valkyrie gets caught interfering and Mistico fights back with a kick to the face. A springboard high crossbody into La Mistica finishes Mansoor at 5:22.

Rating: C+. Mistico is set for a big title match against MJF in CMLL this week and this is his last boost up before the show. At the same time, I’m not sure how much that really matters as this match was barely (if at all) advertised in advance and it’s not like Mansoor means much. I’m still not sure why you would waste Mistico like this, but it’s what they keep doing.

We recap the Women’s Pure Rules Title tournament.

Olympia vs. Viva Van

Pure Rules. Olympia hits a clothesline to start and adds a basement dropkick but Van knocks her into the corner. That’s broken up and Van is back with a slingshot Bronco Buster for two. Van gets in another running shot but Olympia is back with a fireman’s carry and does some squats. That’s escaped as well and Van hits a springboard crossbody. Olympia is right back up with a German suplex into a swinging Side Effect for the pin at 4:49.

Rating: C-. Olympia was impressive here, but there was zero reason for this to be a Pure Rules match other than getting to say it was a special match. There wasn’t even a rope break here, which is often the big focal point of the Pure Rules. We’re getting a lot more of these things and it still feels like they’re just trying to validate having another title that doesn’t need to be around.

Alan Angels vs. The Beast Mortos

Angels actually drops him with a quick dropkick and kicks Mortos out to the floor. A suicide dive connects as well but Mortos is back in with a backbreaker. The Samoan drop finishes for Mortos at 1:52.

MJF’s Abraham Lincoln looking associate threatens MJF in English and Spanish.

Matt Mako vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Pure Rules. Shibata works on the wrist to start and pulls him down into an armbar. The cross armbreaker is switched into a Figure Four, which Mako turns over, but Shibata turns it right back over. The first rope break gets Mako out of trouble so it’s back to the armbar, with Mako’s attempt at a counter getting pulled into a triangle choke. That’s escaped as well and Mako kicks him into a suplex for two. Mako’s choke is countered into a legbar, with Mako going to the second rope. Another legbar makes Mako use his final rope break so Shibata sleepers him into the PK for the win at 7:27.

Rating: C. At least they seemed to understand what kind of match they were having. At the same time, this was another match that felt like it was tacked onto the card for the sake of putting people on the show. Shibata has nothing going on in Ring Of Honor but here he is anyway, doing just about the same thing he always does.

Respect is shown post match.

We look at the Premiere Athletes’ contingency plan, who will join them in the ring next week.

Death Riders vs. Aleah James/Man Like Dereiss

James is sent outside, leaving Yuta to take over on Dereiss. That’s broken up and Dereiss gets to stomp away in the corner. It’s off to the women, with Shafir kicking James down without much trouble. James snaps off a headscissors but Shafir ties up all of her limbs in quite the painful visual.

James gets thrown down again so it’s off to Dereiss for a 619 to Yuta, who kicks Dereiss in the head. Dereiss ducks a clothesline though and comes back with a jumping cutter. A high crossbody gives James two on Shafir, who judo throws her down into Mother’s Milk to make James tap at 5:22.

Rating: C. The Death Riders showing up to wreck people on here isn’t exactly interesting but at least they’re important on another show. At the same time, it would be nice to see Dereiss used for something better than a way to make Yuta look good. He’s a talented star but he didn’t get to show much of that here for the sake of the Death Riders.

Lance Archer beats up various people backstage, including Beef.

The Frat House do frat things.

Satnam Singh vs. CPA

Yes he’s a wrestling accountant. For some reason CPA goes for the leg and loses his tie as a result. Singh finishes with a chokeslam at 1:07.

We go to QTV, where the cast is a bit confused about QT Marshall’s match with Paul Walter Hauser. He’s also not sure what is up with the Costco Guys.

Yuka Sakazaki vs. Janai Kai

Pure Rules. Again. The grappling doesn’t go anywhere to start and they trade armdrags. Sakazaki sends her outside for a dive but Kai nails a big kick to the head back inside. Kai grabs a dragon sleeper and Sakazaki has to use her first rope break. A running hurricanrana and dropkick put Kai down and Sakazaki’s spinning hammerlock slam finishes at 4:42.

Rating: C. Yeah it’s another one, as we have Sakazaki in the tournament so she needs to beat someone who isn’t around very often in a Pure Rules match. It’s still not a particularly good match as they barely had time to do anything and the Pure Rules didn’t change anything. Why should that matter though when we have another tournament for a new title? That’s what matters most right?

Shane Taylor Promotions wants competition.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Kingdom/AR Fox vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Fox and the Kingdom are challenging and they’ve at least won a match as a trio before. The champs clear the ring to start until Bennett gets caught in the corner for some running forearms from the Infantry. The chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s off to Taylor for a loud chop in the corner.

Bennett fights out of trouble and shrugs off a knee, setting up a bit clothesline to put Taylor down. Taven comes in to clean house but misses the Lionsault. Fox is in with a spinning suplex, followed by Taven and Fox hitting big dives to the floor. Back in and Rockstar Supernova into a 450 gets two on Bravo with Dean making the save. Taylor knees Fox into the double stomp to give Bravo the pin to retain at 6:38.

Rating: C+. That’s one of the best parts of the show, as if nothing else it had something of a story to build upon and that helped. Fox and the Kingdom worked well together, though it still only means so much when they’ve barely teamed up before. At least it wasn’t more Pure Rules for a change.

Overall Rating: D+. This was the latest edition of Ring Of Honor where they threw a bunch of matches out there and tried to act like there was some reason to have them out there. Instead, it was a bunch of people having matches which mean very little, with a big focus on the Pure Rules stuff. As in the tournament that took months to be set up, started, and is now getting what feel like preview matches because we have to stretch this out longer and longer. Just more matches to fill in time that doesn’t need to be done and that’s going to be the case most of the time.

Results
Mistico b. Mansoor – La Mistica
Olympia b. Viva Van – Swinging Side Effect
The Beast Mortos b. Alan Angels – Samoan drop
Katsuyori Shibata b. Matt Mako – PK
Death Riders b. Aleah James/Man Like Dereiss – Mother’s Milk to James
Satnam Singh b. CPA – Chokeslam
Yuka Sakazaki b. Janai Kai – Spinning hammerlock slam
Shane Taylor Promotions b. AR Fox/Kingdom – Double stomp to Bravo

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

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Dynamite
Date: September 17, 2025
Location: Canada Life Place, London, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Bryan Danielson, Excalibur, Taz

It’s the last night before All Out as we have both Dynamite and Collision airing back to back, albeit with only one hour of the second. That means we could be in for some big stuff this week, as they need to push All Out over the line. The show is only so interesting right now and needs a nice final night of build. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

We’re starting with a contract signing for All Out so here are Hangman Page and Kyle Fletcher, with Tony Schiavone running things. Don Callis cuts Schiavone off though and talks about how Page took the title from him by beating Kenny Omega. Now though Callis has a better challenger for the title and no one can do anything to a star like Fletcher.

Page talks about being tired of all the interference in his title matches and he sees the potential in Fletcher. That’s why he wants Fletcher to be a star of the future without the Family helping him. Page has a new rule in the contract: if the Family interferes or if Fletcher gets disqualified, he loses the TNT Title.

Callis panics but Fletcher is more than fine with the terms. He knows he’s better than Page and signs but Page talks about how he knows what Fletcher is feeling right now. What Fletcher doesn’t know is how it will feel after All Out and that’s how his future will be defined. Page signs as well and we should be done but Fletcher promises to leave as a double champion. Violence is promised for later tonight but until then, say his full name. While I don’t believe that the Family won’t get involved, Fletcher has more than held his own in these promos and that’s a good sign for his future.

Video on Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley in a coffin match.

Jon Moxley vs. Roderick Strong

The Death Riders are here with Moxley while Strong has Kyle O’Reilly. Strong starts fast by dropkicking Daniel Garcia on the floor but Moxley goes outside to rake Strong’s eyes. Strong drops Moxley onto the barricade and it’s time to chop it out back inside. Another dropkick sends Moxley outside and we get a double staredown on the floor.

We take a break and come back with Strong striking away and hitting some suplexes for two. Moxley cuts off an exchange of strikes and gets two off a piledriver. The cross armbreaker is broken up as Strong makes the rope. They go up top with Strong hitting a super belly to back faceplant for two of his own. Garcia grabs Strong’s boot so O’Reilly jumps him, which allows Wheeler Yuta to come out and trip Strong. The Paradigm Shift into the bulldog choke finishes Strong at 12:48.

Rating: B-. This was about all you would expect from this match and that’s not the most thrilling thing in the world. Strong is able to have a good match with some hard hitting shots but he’s pretty much never a threat to win anything important. Moxley is on his way to a big grudge so it wasn’t so much about if the Death Riders would cost Strong but rather when they would do it.

Video on MJF in a tables and thumbtacks match. This includes MJF going to yell at Tony Khan about the match but Khan yelled back and said no. MJF suggested he’ll kill Briscoe.

Bobby Lashley vs. Toa Liona

Their respective seconds and thirds are here too. They fight over a lockup to start and Lashley powers him into the corner to hammer away. Lashley charges into a boot in the corner though and they go to the apron, where Liona hits a Samoan drop. We take a break and come back with Lashley managing an electric chair out of the corner. They trade clotheslines until Lashley hits an overhead belly to belly. Liona rolls outside to avoid the spear and everyone else gets into a brawl. Back in and Liona hits a Pounce for two but Lashley is back with the Hurt Lock for the tap at 10:02.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure if I’d have the Hurt Syndicate’s representative win here, as the team feels like a major favorite going into the six man in the first place. It was nice to see Lashley have someone who could match him size and power wise though, even if Liona got knocked out at the end. Still maybe not the best way to go in the end, as the Gates Of Agony hardly have the best results in the first place, but maybe there’s a surprise on Saturday.

Post match the Hurt Syndicate easily clears the ring.

Tony Schiavone brings out Adam Copeland and Christian Cage for a chat and yeah they’re crazy over in their home country. They’re joined by FTR, with Stokely Hathaway recapping their issues. Hathaway makes it clear that Copeland will be heavily fined if things get physical here. Wheeler talks about meeting Copeland 16 years ago when he was a huge star and then he and Harwood became a legendary team.

Harwood talks about the Canadians being a great team but it was only because their competition was mediocre. We hear about the greatness of FTR until Copeland cuts him off. Copeland talks about how he helped Wheeler, even letting him live in his apartment when Wheeler was homeless.

Yes FTR is in the discussion of the greatest tag teams ever. Copeland and Cage have been there for twenty five years. They pioneered a match that became a pay per view. Cage disagrees about the team name and says that a $500,000 fine for jumping FTR right now is worth it because he’s right. The brawl is on and FTR is cleared out. FTR vs. Copeland and Cage is a dream match on paper, but the build for this has been draining my interest in the match more and more every week.

The Young Bucks are back in suits and pay off production to make their entrance better this week. As an apology, they give Renee Paquette $10,000.

Young Bucks vs. Bang Bang Gang

Qualifying match for the Tag Team Title ladder match at All Out. Matt and Robinson start things off with Matt working on an armbar. The Bucks get to pose for a bit and it’s a double clothesline to take them down. Gunn comes in to slug Nick down but gets caught with a neckbreaker. Matt adds a slingshot hilo and we take a break.

We come back with Gunn missing a diving tag, allowing Matt to knee him in the face for two. For some reason Nick grabs some of the money, which is knocked away by Gunn, who grabs a tilt-a-whirl slam. Robinson comes in to clean house before it’s already back to Gunn (Danielson thinks it’s too early) but Robinson comes back in rather quickly.

A slingshot X Factor hits Robinson but Nick misses a moonsault and gets taken down by a Fameasser on the floor. Back in and an assisted German suplex sets up a double basement superkick for two on Robinson. The EVP Trigger is broken up and a Downward Spiral drops Nick for two. We get a pinfall reversal sequence for two each, followed by a TK Driver to pin Robinson at 11:39.

Rating: B-. The Bucks winning again isn’t the most thrilling result in the world, but I can live with it over the remnants of the Bang Bang Gang. The group has been absolutely decimated so having these guys lose to the Bucks is hardly a stretch. I’m not sure what is next for the Bucks, but I’ll be fine as long as they don’t get the titles back anytime soon.

Video on the eight woman tag on Saturday’s Kickoff Show.

Unified Title Qualifying Match: Mascara Dorada vs. The Beast Mortos

They trade armdrags to start and Mortos runs him over with a shoulder for no count. An anklescissors into an enziguri has Mortos in trouble but he’s back with an even bigger shoulder. Dorada is sent outside for a big corkscrew dive and we take a break. We come back with Mortos missing a charge into the corner and getting taken down by an armdrag. They go to the apron where Dorada hits a Canadian Destroyer, followed by his own big corkscrew dive.

Back in and Dorada misses a 450 and gets flipped into a piledriver for two. Dorada reverses a torture rack into a crucifix bomb but Mortos catches him on top. They both go up top and a super anklescissors brings Mortos back down for one. Dorada is back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker into a shooting star press to pin Mortos at 10:03.

Rating: B. Power vs. speed works just about every time and Dorada is one of the better stars from CMLL, so this worked well for a good match. I still have no idea why the title match needs to be a triple threat but it’s the kind of choice that feels like it’s being overthought. That being said, at least Dorada had a heck of a performance here, even if it’s over Mortos, who never wins anything important.

Post match Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita come out for a staredown. Dorada dives onto Okada and glares at Takeshita. The dive helped, but Dorada in the background while Takeshita and Okada stared at each other was a perfect representation of this match in one visual.

Here is Toni Storm for a chat and she lists off her usual nicknames. She’s still the champ, but it isn’t clear how long that will last. She has spent every day of her reign like it is her last and loved every second of it. If you aren’t willing to put your life on the line every time you get in the ring, you ain’t s***. If any of those three women want her title, be ready to burn her body and smoke the ashes. Jamie Hayter comes in to say she’s coming for the title because Storm invited her into the match. Kris Statlander comes in to say she’ll win but Storm says “trim your bushes b******” because they’re going all out.

Thekla vs. Queen Aminata

Anything goes. The brawl is on outside to start with Aminata getting the better of things and throwing some weapons inside. Thekla uses those weapons to beat the fire out of her and knocks Aminata over the barricade. We take a break and come back with Aminata hitting a hanging Twist Of Fate for two. Thekla hits a spear to send Aminata into an open spear for two and they slug it out from their knees.

Aminata’s big headbutt gets two as Dynamite officially ends and Collision starts. Thekla sits up to escape the Tree of Woe and trashcan lids Aminata in the head. Aminata cuts off the spear though and a fisherman’s buster onto some chairs gets two. A middle rope legdrop misses though and Thekla Stomps her onto some chairs for the pin at 10:29.

Rating: B-. It’s another odd choice to have Thekla doing this side feud with Aminata while she’s on her way to the title match, but it hasn’t exactly made her feel like a big deal. Thekla has some appeal to her and she could be a threat to the title, but it’s another case where it feels like AEW is trying to focus on too much at the same time and it’s hurting things.

Post match Thekla calls out Toni Storm so the brawl is on, with Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander and the rest of the Triangle Of Madness joining in. Statlander leaves and the Triangle is chased off, leaving Hayter and Storm to have a big staredown. We’ll wrap this show up there.

Overall Rating: C+. There were some good matches here but man alive All Out does not feel important. This was the bigger portion of the go home show and I’m not exactly interested in seeing the pay per view at all. Hopefully they find something better with Collision, but it’s not exactly a promising sign so far. What we got here was fine, but it didn’t help All Out that much and that’s not great to see.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Roderick Strong – Bulldog choke
Bobby Lashley b. Toa Liona – Hurt Lock
Young Bucks b. Bang Bang Gang – TK Driver to Robinson
Mascara Dorada b. The Beast Mortos – Shooting star press
Thekla b. Queen Aminata – Stomp onto chairs

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

Ring Of Honor
Date: September 5, 2025
Location: 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

It’s a special bonus show, because we didn’t get enough matches on this week’s regular show. The advertised card features eleven matches, making it a good deal longer than yesterday’s episode. I’m not sure how well that is going to go, but hopefully it’s more interesting than what we usually get. Let’s get to it.

Here are this week’s edition if you need a recap.

We open with a Death Before Dishonor recap.

Opening sequence.

Frat House vs. AR Fox/Kingdom

The Frat House pose on the floor and get taken down by some dives because Taven and Fox don’t like toasts. We start with Taven dropkicking Vance but Jakked Jameson offers a distraction, allowing Garrison to get in a cheap shot. Fox’s dive is pulled out of the air and he gets sent into the barricade, leaving Taven to get caught in a delayed suplex.

Taven manages an enziguri and brings Fox in to pick up the pace. The skin the cat dropkick sets up a cutter to Vance, followed by a flipping stomp and flipping dive. Bennett comes in and gets dropped with a discus lariat as everything breaks down. Karter misses a 450 though and Rockstar Supernova into the 450 gives Fox the pin at 7:51.

Rating: B-. Hot match to start here with a bunch of people flying around and doing their thing to get the show going. I’m not sure I can imagine Fox and the Kingdom going after the Six Man Tag Team Titles, but at least there’s a chance of something happening. Just get something happening with the titles already.

At Death Before Dishonor, Shane Taylor Promotions are happy with winning the Six Man Tag Team Titles. This might mean more if they didn’t lose so frequently in AEW/ROH but it’s still better than the Sons Of Texas. I think.

Premiere Athletes vs. Spanish Announce Project

In case you needed to know the most Ring Of Honor match possible. Before the match, Mark Sterling says he’s injured but has a contingency plan. Nese takes over on Angelico to start but they roll around a bit until Angelico snaps off a dropkick. Serpentico comes in and gets hiptossed onto Nese, followed by a falling splash for two. It’s off to Daivari, who chokes Serpentico on the ropes, which allows Nese to…well do the exact same thing actually.

Nese misses a triangle moonsault though and Serpentico rolls away, allowing the needed tag to Angelico. A kick to the head gets two on Daivari and a Downward Spiral into the Swanton gets two. Sliced Bread gets two more on Daivari but Sterling gets on the apron. Cue a rather tall woman to chokeslam Serpentico so Daivari can get the pin at 7:40.

Rating: C+. This is one of those matches where it’s hard to imagine that this is going to mean much. I like the idea of the Athletes having their version of Chyna, as it’s something that could suit them well. At the same time, this match couldn’t feel much less important given what these teams have meant over the years.

Post match Sterling announces the woman (who is a good 3-4 inches taller than the Athletes) is the contingency plan.

Rachael Ellering vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Pure Rules, but NOT a tournament match, because we need preview matches. Ellering has to burn a rope break about thirty seconds in but she’s right back with a running mare. A backsplash gets two but Ellering has to get out of a Fujiwara armbar. Another Fujiwara armbar makes Ellering use another rope break. Some forearms and a suplex get Ellering out of the armbar and Purrazzo accidentally uses a rope break to get out of an O’Connor roll. The Boss Woman Slam connects but Purrazzo is right back with the Venus de Milo for the tap at 5:13.

Rating: C. Yes, the woman in the Pure Rules tournament, who is known for her technical abilities, beat someone who…well isn’t either of those things. Why this match needed to be on this show rather than another part of the tournament is beyond me, but at least Purrazzo won in fairly convincing fashion. Now just do the tournament already so the title can almost never be defended.

Post match Trish Adora comes out to stare down Purrazzo (who she’s facing in the tournament).

Trish Adora vs. Ashley Vox

Pure Rules and Adora uses a rope break less than thirty seconds in. Adora works on the arm and powers Vox up, making Vox use her first rope break. A backpack Stunner sets up a double hammerlock to make Vox tap at 2:46.

Post match Adora kicks Vox outside.

The MxM Collection and Johnny TV are happy with the Seed fragrance and say you’ll be facing it when you face them.

Alex Zayne vs. Johnny TV

The MxM Collection and Taya Valkyrie are here with TV. Zayne starts fast but has a superplex attempt broken up. TV has to bail out of a springboard but settles for a running knee for two instead. Zayne is sent outside for a cheap shot from the Collection and TV powerbombs Valkyrie onto him against the apron. Back in and we hit the chinlock, followed by the Flying Chuck.

TV stops to kiss Valkyrie, which is enough of a distraction for Zayne to knock TV into the corner. The flipping faceplant gives Zayne two, with the Collection pulling TV outside. Zayne dives onto everyone but TV, who drops him with a superkick. Back in and a cutthroat driver connects for Zayne, only for Valkyrie to distract the referee. Mansoor sprays seed in Zayne’s eyes to give TV the win at 5:17.

Rating: B-. I was having a good time with this one and it’s nice to see the Collection getting to do something that ties into what they’re doing. Zayne is someone who can have an exciting match and do a bunch of cool stuff so he’s a fun addition to the show. Not exactly a lengthy classic, but it was at least a bit different.

The Premiere Athletes’ contingency plan is Story Denali and yes she’s an official member of the team.

Jordan Oliver vs. The Beast Mortos

Mortos uses the ropes to flip into a wristlock before Pouncing Oliver into the ropes. Oliver tries to strike away but Mortos flips over him and hits a headbutt for two. A dropkick to the knee gets Oliver out of trouble and he hits a springboard hurricanrana. Oliver dragon screw leg whips him out of the corner but Mortos is fine enough to hit a pop up Samoan drop. Oliver goes to the knee again and hits a slingshot stunner. Mortos is right back with a backbreaker into the spinning piledriver for the pin at 5:31.

Rating: C+. Oliver continues to be someone who could turn into a thing if he’s given the chance around here, though it depends on if he’s sticking around after the residency ends. On the other hand you have Mortos, who did his thing of running through everyone in front of him. That’s a style that works well for him, even if he’s not around very often.

The Outrunners say they’re down but not out.

LSG/Beef vs. Don Callis Family

Archer kicks Beef down to start and fires off the crossfaces in the ropes. Beef’s jabs are cut off with a crossbody and it’s off to Hechicero, with the fans approving. LSG comes in to jab away and is taken down just as fast. Hechicero’s running knee in the corner sets up a flapjack, with Beef making a failed save attempt. Hechicero powerbombs LSG for the pin at 3:27.

Rating: C. You know what I saw on Dynamite this week? A Lance Archer match. Last night on Ring Of Honor? Lance Archer having a match. Tonight? That would be Lance Archer in action. Archer isn’t someone who is going to mix it up very much in the first place and yet here we are, seeing him three times in three days. This is a prime example of how it feels like this show is just stretching to make the shows longer for the sake of more time.

We get a long video on Athena’s 1000 day reign as Women’s Champion. She deserves the praise, along with a full time spot in AEW but why do that when you can just keep doing the same stuff?

Josh Woods vs. Matt Mako

Pure Rules (again). They go to the grappling to start until Woods ties up the legs, sending Mako to the ropes. Ring announcer: “He has used his first rope break.” They go back to the mat but Mako uses a closed fist to take over. Woods slams the knee into the mat a few times and grabs the ankle lock, setting up a German suplex. Back up and Mako misses a spinwheel kick in the corner before they trade boots to the face for a double down. Woods is back up with the spinning suplex into the corner for the pin at 7:05.

Rating: C+. Mako has had one match here since 2021 and this was Woods’ first match here since November. These are the people who are in the third Pure Rules match of the night. This show isn’t even trying to hide that it’s content for the sake of content against this week’s Smackdown. I get why Tony Khan would want to do that, but MAYBE PUT SOME EFFORT INTO IT FOR ONCE???

Hologram vs. Aaron Solo

They trade armdrags to start until Hologram stacks up a rollup for two. A running headscissors sends Solo outside but he’s ready before the dive. Instead they trade places and Solo hits his own dive, followed by a snap suplex back inside. An elbow to the face gives Solo two more and he’s getting rather cocky. Naturally it’s time to go for the mask, which doesn’t work, and Hologram sends him outside for the big flip dive. Back in and a hammerlock faceplant gets two but Solo drops him right back. Hologram knocks him out of the air though and the torture rack bomb finishes Solo at 7:25.

Rating: C+. Well, I’m not sure what to think of the match. It might have been as good as the match Hologram had at Death Before Dishonor but not as good as the one the next night on Collision. I’m thinking it was better than the one he had last night on Ring Of Honor, but maybe I’m getting the four matches he’s had in eight days confused. Eh either way it’s not that it matters as he wins all the time and never moves up the ladder, while people like Shane Taylor Promotions never actually win and get a title shot. Such is Ring Of Honor.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

Lee Johnson vs. Bandido

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Johnson (with Blake Christian) wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, he gets a future World Title shot. Johnson backs him into the corner to start and they head outside, with Bandido being dropped onto the apron. Back in and Johnson chops him down for a sliding forearm and two. Johnson gets two more off a belly to back suplex but Bandido is back up with a spinning high crossbody.

The X Knee is countered so Bandido runs him over. Christian blocks the 21 Plex though and Johnson gets in a kick to the face. The brainbuster gives Johnson two and they trade kicks to the face. Johnson hits the ropes but Bandido presses strong grapple and flicks the joystick to hit a pop up cutter. The X Knee finishes for Bandido at 5:28.

Rating: C+. You kind of had an idea of how this was going when the bell rang with only a few minutes left in the show. It’s nice to see Bandido get in the ring, but again it makes me wonder why Johnson is getting pinned, even by Bandido, when Swirl is supposed to be climbing the ranks. It’s not quite the same thing, but maybe protect your team a bit better?

Post match Christian runs in and hits a Lethal Injection to drop Bandido to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. It wasn’t as dull as last night’s show, but the problem here is how bleh the whole thing was. While I liked some of the action, we had three Pure Rules matches, plus people like Archer and Hologram making their third and fourth appearances in about a week. Throw in the Premiere Athletes and the Spanish Announce Project etc. and it’s just so repetitive every single time. Oh and we’ve had two shows since Death Before Dishonor in the same venue. Any sign of the new Six Man or Tag Team Champions? Of course not.

Results
AR Fox/Kingdom b. Frat House – 450 to Karter
Premiere Athletes b. Spanish Announce Project – Chokeslam to Serpentico
Deonna Purrazzo b. Rachael Ellering – Venus de Milo
Trish Adora b. Ashley Vox – Double hammerlock
Johnny TV b. Alex Zayne – Rollup
The Beast Mortos b. Jordan Oliver – Spinning piledriver
Don Callis Family b. Beef/LSG – Sitout powerbomb to LSG
Josh Woods b. Matt Mako – Spinning suplex into the corner
Hologram b. Aaron Solo – Torture rack bomb
Bandido b. Lee Johnson – X Knee

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