All Out 2024
Date: September 7, 2024
Location: NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

It’s the second pay per view in two weeks and we certainly have a big main event tonight. After Hangman Page burned Swerve Strickland’s house down on Dynamite, it’s time to lock them in a cage. Other than that, Jack Perry is challenging Bryan Danielson for the World Title because Jack Perry. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Iron Savages vs. Acclaimed

Bowens chops Bronson in the corner to start and it’s off to Caster, who gets crushed in the corner with a running splash. Caster is whipped hard into the corner again but can’t quite make a Flair Flip work. Instead Boulder hits a middle rope moonsault for two but a top rope elbow misses, allowing the tag to Bowens. Everything breaks down and Billy Gunn drops Jacked Jameson, leaving Caster to plant Bronson. The Arrival into the Mic Drop finishes for Caster at 8:51.

Rating: C. I’m not sure why this match was added as the Savages are about as low on the totem pole as you can get in the tag division. It was a nice little win for the Acclaimed, but this is something that could have easily been left on Rampage rather than here. The Acclaimed didn’t even rap!

Zero Hour: Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara/Hologram vs. Premiere Athletes

Guevara flips over Nese to start but gets caught in the wrong corner for the stomping. A quick shot knocks Daivari down though and it’s off to Hologram to take out all three Athletes at the same time. The numbers game catches up with Hologram and Daivari takes over before Woods throws him outside. Mark Sterling gets in some stomping but Hologram manages a tornado DDT and hands it off to Rhodes for his usual comeback. Guevara hits a big flip dive over the top and it’s time for a parade of superkicks back inside. Some Cross Rhodes put the Athletes down and another hits Sterling. The Final Reckoning finishes Woods at 10:00.

Rating: C. Remember last night when Rhodes and Guevara and Hologram won a six man match? Well they did it again here. There was nothing to see here other than Hologram doing the same stuff he usually does. Rhodes is a double champion including a Six Man Champion, but now he’s in another three man team, giving him three stories going on at once, while how many wrestlers have almost nothing to do?

Zero Hour: Bang Bang Gang vs. Dark Order

It’s a brawl to start with the Gunns being sent outside, allowing the Order to do their pose on Robinson’s back. Robinson fights back and knocks them into the corner, setting up the Cannonball. Austin comes in but walks into Something Evil to give Silver two. Austin fights up again and gets kicked in the face, only to get caught in the Quick Draw. Everything breaks down again and Robinson hits his forward DDT to pin Uno at 7:34.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what there is to say about these matches. They don’t have a story and they’re just put out there to get people on the card and fill in time on the pre-show. The Gang gets a bit of a win but how much value is there in beating the Order? It’s another match that could have, and likely should have, been on Rampage, or just a dark match.

Skye Blue comes out for a surprise and asks if we could have had All Out without her. I’m thinking we could, but Mariah May interrupts. She isn’t going to have her championship celebration in Chicago and insults Blue. They get rather catty with each other with some vague references to being promiscuous until May kicks Blue’s crutch out. Queen Aminata makes the save.

Zero Hour: Beast Mortos/Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Undisputed Kingdom vs. Top Flight/Action Andretti

Taylor punches Bennett down before the bell and officially starts with Dante. It’s quickly off to Darius to slug it out with Moriarty before Mortos comes in to wreck a variety of people. Dante comes in and gets taken down into the corner, with Taylor hitting a splash to crush him rather hard. Dante absorbs some right hands from Taylor and knocks him down, allowing the tag back to Darius.

Everything breaks down and Top Flight teases a double dive, only to have Strong break it up. Taven kicks Dante in the head and hits the Flight Of The Conqueror to take out a Taylor, Bennett and Moriarty. Mortos hits his own twisting dive and it’s back inside for the parade of strikes to the face. Andretti DDTs Mortos but gets release Rock Bottomed by Taylor. Mortos adds a powerbomb to Andretti but Strong steals the pin at 10:57.

Rating: C+. This at least felt a bit more interesting than anything else on the pre-show but it didn’t feel like anything better than a Rampage main event. There was no title shot or prize on the line here and that didn’t do the match any favors. Maybe the Kingdom gets a title shot as a result, but those things are kind of few and far between.

The opening video looks at the show’s major matches.

We recap Daniel Garcia vs. MJF. Garcia is back after MJF laid him out and wants revenge, promising to break his neck.

Daniel Garcia vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Garcia runs in from behind and jumps MJF from behind to start fast. The bell rings and MJF shrugs it off and takes over with a shot to Garcia’s neck. Some choking in the ropes and a belly to back suplex have Garcia down and we hit the cravate as the neck work continues. A brainbuster doesn’t work as Garcia knees him in the head and the crash out to the floor in a nasty landing. Back in and Garcia rolls some neckbreakers but has to block a piledriver attempt.

Instead MJF counters a leapfrog into a powerbomb for two before going after a cut on the forehead. The blood is flowing so MJF loads up the super Tombstone, which Garcia escapes to avoid a bad case of pain. Garcia fights up and fires off a bunch of elbows, only to get poked in the eyes. MJF calls for a brainbuster but gets rolled up for two instead. Back up and MJF hits a heck of a right hand to leave them both down.

Garcia fights up again and they trade German suplexes, followed by a big clothesline to put MJF down. MJF is back up with the Boston crab before switching over to a crossface. Garcia reverses into his variation of the Sharpshooter but MJF reverses into the Salt Of The Earth. MJF ties up both arms and a leg but Garcia uses the free let to make the ropes for the break.

Garcia’s jackknife rollup gets two and he strikes away before grabbing a front chancery. The arm starts to drop but Garcia blocks it because he wants to do more damage. The piledriver only gets two so Garcia loads up the super piledriver, only to get hit low. MJF uses Garcia’s jackknife rollup for the pin at 23:22.

Rating: B. This was a bit better than I was expecting with the right result. I get the idea of wanting to push Garcia, but MJF losing another pay per view match wouldn’t have been the right move. Garcia got something out of just being here, but there was no way you can put him over MJF in a spot this big. Not yet anyway.

Post match MJF offers a handshake but gets kicked low. Garcia hits the super piledriver and leaves through the crowd as commentary feels bad for MJF.

We recap the Young Bucks defending the Tag Team Titles against the Blackpool Combat Club, which is another part of the AEW vs. the Bucks feud over the summer.

Tag Team Titles: Blackpool Combat Club vs. Young Bucks

The Bucks are defending. Matt and Yuta start things off with Matt’s wristlock being broken up and Yuta taking him down for a backsplash. Castagnoli comes in for a double shoulder and a double wishbone has the champs in trouble. Back up and Matt knocks Yuta down, setting up the kicks to the back to take over. The running flipping neckbreaker onto the knee sets up a chinlock, followed by a slingshot legdrop for two.

Yuta fights up and gets over to Castagnoli to fire off the uppercuts in the corner. A high crossbody gets two on Matt but he catches Castagnoli in the ropes. Yuta breaks up the hanging 450 and throws Matt’s kick into Nick’s head. Cattle Mutilation goes on but Nick makes the save with a Swanton.

Castagnoli comes back in and gets caught with the EVP Trigger, with Yuta making a save of his own. The Bucks pump up the shoes but Castagnoli blocks another EVP Trigger. Castagnoli Swings Matt for two but the Fastball Special is broken up. Back up and they try it again, only for Yuta’s splash to hit raised knees, allowing Matt to get a small package for the pin at 15:43.

Rating: B. It was good while it lasted, but there was almost no reason to believe that the titles were changing hands here. If nothing else, the Club already have some titles and the Bucks are not going to have their “epic” title reign come to an end in a thrown together tag match. The action worked, but this felt like a token title defense more than anything else.

We recap Will Ospreay defending the International Title against Pac. They’ve known each other for years and Pac won the title shot before Ospreay won the title. Pac is here to win and be all mean, as is his custom.

International Title: Pac vs. Will Ospreay

Ospreay is defending and the fans are WAY into this one at the opening bell. We get the big staredown and Pac rolls outside for the early stall. Back in and a headlock takeover puts Ospreay down for a second. That’s broken up and they both flip over the other for a standoff. Pac knocks him outside and hits a big corkscrew dive to take him down again. Ospreay is right back up and hits his own corkscrew dive, followed by a double knockdown back inside.

They slap each other from the mat until Pac chokes in the corner. It’s already back to the floor with Ospreay being whipped into the barricade a few times. A brainbuster gives Pac two back inside and the headlock stays on Ospreay’s banged up neck. Ospreay fights up again and elbows him to the floor, setting up a Sasuke Special. Back in and a handspring spinning kick to the head drops Pac again.

The Cheeky Nandos Kick is broken up though and Pac hits a DDT into a Liger Bomb for two. Ospreay manages a standing Spanish Fly and the Oscutter for a delayed two to leave them both down again. Pac gets back up so Ospreay kicks him back down before they head to the apron. Another Oscutter is countered into a nasty German suplex, followed by a poisonrana to set up the Brutalizer. With that broken up, the Black Arrow hits raised knees to give Ospreay two more.

The Hidden Blade is countered and Pac hits a rebound German suplex for another near fall. Ospreay kicks him down and the fans are standing. Another poisonrana gives Pac another two and the Brutalizer goes on again. Ospreay powers up and hits his own poisonrana to rock Pac and a running elbow gets two. Pac crotches him on top but Ospreay slips out of a super poisonrana and hits another running elbow for another near fall. The Oscutter loads up the Stormbreaker, which is reversed into a hurricanrana to give Pac two. Ospreay has had it and hits the Hidden Blade to retain at 20:20.

Rating: A-. Yeah you knew this was going to be awesome coming in and they more than delivered. It was one big spot after another until Ospreay knocked him silly to retain. That’s all it needed to be and Pac can more than hang with just about anyone going today. Excellent match here, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

We recap Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander. They used to be friends but Statlander turned on her, likely at the influence of Stokely Hathaway. Nightingale got to pick the stipulation so we’re having a street fight.

Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale

Street fight and Stokely Hathaway is here with Statlander. A chair is brought in to start but Nightingale knocks it out of her hands and hits an early cannonball for two. They go to the apron with Statlander slipping out of a Death Valley Driver attempt and hitting her in the back with a chair. A powerbomb sends Nightingale through the announcers’ table and Statlander puts her on a regular table.

The Swanton from the top only hits table, though Statlander’s legs to hit the moving Nightingale. One heck of a Pounce sends Statlander through the barricade and they go up the ramp. Statlander gets in a suplex and orders Hathaway to bring her a trashcan full of weapons. That works for Nightingale, who grabs a light tube and breaks it over Statlander’s head. Not to be outdone, Statlander gets up and spears her off the stage and through some tables.

They go back to the ring to trade strikes and slams before heading right back to the floor. Statlander grabs a bag of tacks so Nightingale bites the cut on her head. The tacks are poured out and Statlander is slammed onto them, landing in the splits. The Death Valley Driver gives Nightingale two and they go up top, where Statlander grabs a super Spanish Fly.

A discus lariat, with a chain wrapped around the arm, gives Statlander two and Nightingale rolls outside. Statlander whips out a chain and ties them together but Nightingale plants her with a spinebuster. They slug it out again and Statlander hits Staturday Night Fever before choking her out with the chain for the win at 15:02.

Rating: B. It was a street fight with the same stuff you often see in these things. You had the table, the chair, the tacks and a light tube thrown in for the big spot. They beat the heck out of each other and it felt like a war between two people who wanted to hurt each other, but you know a lot of what you’re going to get in this and they didn’t change it up much here.

Will Ospreay is happy to have retained the International Title and knows Ricochet is watching. Cue Ricochet, who gets in Ospreay’s face and says he’ll see him soon.

Continental Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Mark Briscoe

Okada is defending and the challengers all won qualifying matches last night on Collision. It’s a brawl to start with Briscoe being knocked outside, leaving Cassidy to DDT Okada for two. Back in and Briscoe shoulders Okada down before trading clotheslines with Takeshita in the corner. Briscoe knocks him into the corner but Cassidy comes in to send Takeshita outside. Cassidy and Briscoe connect with stereo dives but Okada is back up with a suplex to Cassidy inside.

The Stundog Millionaire staggers Takeshita but Okada dropkicks Cassidy off the top. Briscoe gets the chair for the big flip dive to the floor and goes back inside to chop it out with Cassidy. Okada and Takeshita come back in to suplex both of them down and the fans are rather happy with the villains slugging it out. Okada hits the dropkick but gets caught with the Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Takeshita takes Cassidy up for a superplex but Briscoe is there with the Froggy Bow for two of his own.

Briscoe counters the Rainmaker and hits a hard clothesline of his own to put Okada down. Takeshita blocks both the spinning DDT and the Stundog Millionaire before running Cassidy over with the knee. Briscoe is back in with the Jay Driller but Okada makes the save. The Froggy Boy hits raised knees so Takeshita’s running knee gets two on Briscoe. Okada is back in to clean house until Cassidy rolls him up for two. The Rainmaker to Cassidy retains the title at 14:59.

Rating: B. This was pretty much all action and that’s what it needed to be. Okada was working well here but Takeshita felt like the star, as he was all over the place and hitting one big move after another. Cassidy taking the fall is fine enough as he tends to react well to adversity. I’m not sure who takes the title from Okada, but he could be holding it for a long time. Now just get Takeshita something of note already as it is long overdue.

We recap Mercedes Mone defending the TBS Title vs. Hikaru Shida. There isn’t much of a story here, especially as Mone has recently beaten Shida.

TBS Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Hikaru Shida

Shida is challenging. Mone charges at her to start and hammers away but Shida is back up with some running dropkicks. A Brock Lock has Mone in trouble until she gets over to the ropes. Shida’s running knee gets two but Mone is right back with a Meteora for the same. We hit the early chinlock for a bit, followed by the double knees in the corner to put Shida down again. Back up and Shida manages to send her hard into the corner, setting up a middle rope dropkick for two.

The right hands in the corner have Mone in more trouble but she pulls Shida down into the Bank Statement. Shida fights up and they knock each othe down until Shida comes back up with a knee to the head. Mone is fine enough to hit a sunset bomb into the corner for two as things are picking up. The Three Amigos connect but the frog splash hits raised knees. Shida rolls three straight Falcon Arrows for two of her own but the Katana is countered into a dragon screw legwhip.

Shida is back with a German suplex and a running knee for two but her own knee is banged up. That means the Katana doesn’t quite work so she hits it two more times, with Mone rolling out to the floor. They fight over the kendo stick with Mone being pulled into the post but Shida throws the stick down. Instead Shida tries a Meteora but bangs her knee up again, allowing Mone to hit the Mone Maker (which is somehow getting worse) for the pin to retain at 16:29.

Rating: B-. This was getting good near the end but the stuff with the stick felt kind of out of nowhere. The Mone Maker didn’t look like something that would have finished Shida off but Mone insists on sticking with it for whatever reason. Shida couldn’t have felt like much more of a lame duck challenger coming in after Mone beat her last month, so this was only going to have so much drama.

We recap Jack Perry challenging Bryan Danielson for the World Title. Danielson won the title at All In and has said he’s done when he loses. Perry is the first challenger.

AEW World Title: Jack Perry vs. Bryan Danielson

Perry, who rode to the back in his weird car and met with the Young Bucks, is challenging (and his TNT Title isn’t on the line). They fight over a lockup to start with Perry throwing him down and then slipping away from Danielson on the mat. Back up and Danielson charges into an armdrag but Perry goes outside for a breather. Perry gets back in so Danielson starts in on the arm before hitting a powerslam of all things.

The surfboard has Perry in more trouble but he gets outside before Danielson can stomp his head. A dive takes Perry down again instead but he superkicks Danielson out of the air. The fans are all over Perry as he whips Danielson into the barricade. Back in and Perry fires off some hard chops, setting up a neckbreaker for two. Perry goes up but gets caught in a nasty belly to back superplex. Danielson fires off the kicks and spins him into the LeBell Lock until Perry gets a foot on the ropes.

The moonsault over Perry looks to set up the running clothesline but Perry pulls him into what used to be known as the Snare Trap. Perry switches over to Cattle Mutilation, with Danielson slipping out, allowing Perry to hit a German suplex. They head to the apron where Danielson escapes a snapdragon suplex and they strike it out. Danielson suplexes him to the floor and it’s time for the YES Kicks back inside.

Perry pulls him back into the Snare Trap though, with Danielson making the ropes this time. Danielson kicks him in the head but a running dropkick hits the referee by mistake. Cue the Young Bucks to jump Danielson, including the TK Driver. The Blackpool Combat Club runs in to chase the Bucks off, leaving Perry to hit a running knee for two.

Perry stomps away but Danielson gets up and hits a running knee of his own to leave both of them down. They slug it out again until Perry’s slap just fires Danielson up. Danielson strikes him down and hits the running knee for two so Danielson stomps him in the head. Perry gets to his knees and holds his arms out, allowing Danielson to hit another running knee to retain at 27:02.

Rating: B. It was a good match but it was Perry challenging and it’s going to take more to beat Danielson than Perry’s big move of “DO YOU KNOW WHO MY FRIENDS ARE”. In theory this was just because of the short turnaround between All In and All Out, but Perry never felt like a real threat to the title. At least he got to do his pose at the end though, because he’s just that interesting.

Post match Killswitch comes in to lay out Danielson and here is Christian Cage with the Patriarchy. Jon Moxley gets in the way of the cash-in though and the rest of the Blackpool Combat Club (including Pac) has the Patriarchy turning away. Moxley gets in the ring to hug Danielson and the team poses…until Claudio Castagnoli decks Danielson. Moxley whips out a plastic bag to suffocate Danielson as Pac holds Wheeler Yuta (the only one trying to help Danielson) back. Marina Shafir is here to cut off a referee as the fans chant THIS IS MURDER. Moxley lets go and the team leaves as the bag is ripped off and Danielson is given oxygen.

We recap Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland. Page has become obsessed with Strickland after losing to him over and over. They are set for a cage match, but this week Page burned down Strickland’s childhood home to take this to quite a higher level.

Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland

Unsanctioned lights out and you can only win via pinfall, submission or knockout. Prince Nana is here with Swerve but the dancing is a bit subdued in a nice touch. The brawl is on as the cage lowers and Nana whips out a table. A bunch of other weapons are sent in as the cage is lowered and the bell rings. Swerve hammers away but neither can sent the other into the cage. Page gets knocked down and kicked in the head but Strickland takes too long looking at the weapons and gets caught with a German suplex.

With Strickland down, Page grabs a staple gun, which Strickland takes away and staples Page in the back. Strickland staples a picture of his family to Page’s chest and then his face for a bonus. Page tries to go up, earning himself a chair shot to the face. Something like a Death Valley Driver into the cage has Page in more trouble and Strickland chokes away. They both go up top, with Page dropping down to crotch Strickland on the rope. There’s a ram into the cage to rock Strickland again and Page wraps some barbed wire around the cage wall.

Strickland is sent head first into the wire and is busted open as well. The cut is raked over the wire and Page kicks him in the face. Some chair shots have Strickland down again and the referee tries to step in, only for Strickland to flip over him for a Buckshot Lariat to Page. Strickland chairs Page down in the corner and then launches him head first into the chair for a scary crash.

It’s time to bring out a cinder block (oh dear) and Strickland Vertebreakers him onto said block (or at least pretty close to it) for two. The table is set up and a top rope Swerve Stomp drives Page through it in a huge crash. Page pops right back up and hits a Deadeye for two before whipping out a piece of the burned house. Strickland takes that away too and stabs Page in the head but cries as he looks at it. The distraction lets Page powerbomb him onto the cinder block for two and Page slugs away. That takes too long and Strickland is back up with a toss powerbomb into the cage.

The House Call against the cage and a running knee give Strickland two so he goes to the top of the cage. Well he starts to at least as Page is there to powerbomb him back down. Another Deadeye gets two and Page hits him in the head with a chair. Strickland starts laughing at him but falls down again. Page whips out a syringe and drives it through Strickland’s cheek before hitting a TERRIFYING chair shot to the head (with the camera cutting away) for the knockout at 31:21.

Rating: A-. I’m not sure what to say on this one, but I was feeling Page’s utter hatred of Strickland and wanting to destroy him, which is what he did in the end. Strickland was violent as well, but him laughing at Page in the end didn’t quite feel right after the whole arson thing. Page pretty much had to win here so he can finally beat Strickland, but I’m not sure where things can go from here. For now though, an incredibly violent match, albeit with the syringe being a bit weird.

Post match Page leaves, teases coming back, and then screams a lot to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Yeah this was pretty awesome with nothing close to a bad match and the two big matches more than delivering. At the same time, it was kind of an odd show as there was very little in the way of title changes, but quite a bit in the way of moves such as the Club’s turn and Page getting his big win. It was a great show once I got into it and beyond the rather worthless Zero Hour. Now just give us some time before the next pay per view because this two week turnaround was annoying. Other than that, check this show out as it’s worth a look.

Results
Acclaimed b. Iron Savages – Mic Drop to Bronson
Hologram/Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara b. Premiere Athletes – Final Reckoning to Woods
Bang Bang Gang b. Dark Order – Forward DDT to Uno
Undisputed Kingdom b. Shane Taylor Promotions/The Beast Mortos and Action Andretti/Top Flight – Powerbomb to Andretti
Maxwell Jacob Friedman b. Daniel Garcia – Jackknife rollup
Young Bucks b. Blackpool Combat Club – Small package to Yuta
Will Ospreay b. Pac – Hidden Blade
Kris Statlander b. Willow Nightingale – Choke with a chain
Kazuchika Okada b. Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe and Konosuke Takeshita – Rainmaker to Cassidy
Mercedes Mone b. Hikaru Shida – Mone Maker
Bryan Danielson b. Jack Perry – Running knee
Hangman Page b. Swerve Strickland via knockout

 

 

 

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

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

AND

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

 

Rampage
Date: September 6, 2024
Location: NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Matt Menard

It’s the night before All Out as well as the third hour of a block of AEW, with Collision airing just before this. As usual with Rampage, things are not likely to be as big as Collision or Dynamite, but the lack of pressure often makes for a more entertaining show. That might be what we are getting here so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

The first 12 or so minutes of the show are the end of the Collision eight man main event, which ran over and saw the Blackpool Combat Club/Pac defeat the Elite.

The Outrunners and Erica Leigh are celebrating their first ever win in AEW (on Collision) when they get jumped by Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir. This is what Moxley is talking about.

Queen Aminata vs. Missa Kate

Aminata takes her down to start and the camera cuts to…a ceiling in the back. Well that was a wrong button. The headbutt finishes for Aminata at 1:05.

Video on MJF vs. Daniel Garcia.

Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara/Hologram vs. Dark Order

Hologram takes Uno down to start and it’s off to Reynolds, who Hologram plants with a DDT. The good guys pose together and we take a break. Back with Guevara diving over for the tag to Rhodes so house can be cleaned. The snap powerslams have the Order down but they’re back up with triple right hands. That’s broken up so Guevara and Hologram hit moonsaults to the floor. A Canadian Destroyer into Guevara’s middle rope cutter into Hologram’s 450 finishes Reynolds at 7:31.

Rating: C+. The efforts to get Hologram over continues and while he might not be the biggest breakout star ever, he’s certainly not doing badly. His high flying stuff is quite good, but treating him like some kind of special attraction is something of a stretch. For now though, having him get the pin with some popular stars is not a bad thing, especially over lovable losers like the Order.

The Bang Bang Gang want the Trios Titles but get cut off by the Gates Of Agony. A match seems imminent.

Top Flight/Action Andretti, Shane Taylor Promotions/The Beast Mortos and the Undisputed Kingdom are ready to win the three way trios tag on Zero Hour.

House Of Black vs. MxM Collection

This is a Friday Night Fashion Fight. Matthews and Mansoor start things off with Mansoor slipping out of a waistlock and striking a pose. Matthews poses as well and some judges (because there are judges) give him a low score. Mason comes in and gets his wish of facing King. Actually it’s right back to Mansoor, whose chop gets unanimous ten’s. The House gives themselves some ten’s and take out the Collection as we take a break.

Back with Matthews kneeing Mansoor down, allowing the double tags to bring in King and Mason. Mansoor’s superkick doesn’t do anything to King, who blasts him with a clothesline. King’s cannonball hits Mason for two but Mansoor makes a save, allowing Mason to grab a chokeslam for two. Matthews is back in to fire off knees before low bridging Mason out to the floor. A superplex into Dante’s Inferno finishes Mansoor at 11:43.

Rating: B-. They were going for a mixture of fun and serious here, with the judges being a bit of a weird addition. The Collection continues to be as entertaining of a thing as there is in AEW at the moment and it would be nice to see them getting to do something more important. There are the makings of a good tag division in AEW but that isn’t going to matter as long as the Young Bucks hold the titles.

Will Ospreay is ready for Pac and talks about their history in the British backyard wrestling
and the independents. Ospreay was told that he was good but he wasn’t Pac, and now he can never forget about Pac.

One more All Out rundown ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show definitely takes a hit when it’s coming after two hours of Collision, which is treated as far more important. This week’s show was even more different as it was clipped down due to the Collision match eating up time. It’s certainly not bad and the main event was pretty good, but it’s not a show you need to watch if you saw Collision.

Results
Queen Aminata b. Missa Kate – Headbutt
Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara/Hologram b. Dark Order – 450 to Reynolds
House Of Black b. MxM Collection – Dante’s Inferno to Mansoor

 

 

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

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

AND

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

 

Collision
Date: September 6, 2024
Location: NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re on a Friday due to All Out being in the regular spot. That means we should be in for a hard push towards the show, which will include qualifying matches for the Continental Title match at the pay per view. Other than that, we are going to be seeing the rest of the card getting some build of its own, which could go rather well. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with a look at Hangman Page burning down Swerve Strickland’s childhood home. Their cage match is now LIGHTS OUT UNSANCTIONED, because putting them in a cage wasn’t violent enough.

We run down the card for both tonight and tomorrow at All Out.

Continental Title Qualifying Match: Mark Briscoe vs. Lance Archer

Briscoe’s ROH World Title isn’t on the line and Archer jumps him from behind on the way to the ring, as is his custom. They get inside for the opening bell and the fans are rather behind Briscoe. A missed charge puts Briscoe (bleeding) on the floor for some chops against the barricade. Briscoe fights up and gets the chair for the step up flip dive to drop Archer. A spinebuster puts Briscoe down again though and we take a break.

Back with Archer knocking him to the floor again, this time for a chokeslam onto the apron. Briscoe shrugs that off and hits the Blockbuster off the apron, setting up a Death Valley Driver into the Froggy Bow for two. Archer breaks up the Jay Driller and hits a chokeslam into a buckle bomb for two, leaving Archer surprised. Briscoe knocks him off the top and hits a Froggy Bow for….not even one. A third Froggy Bow finishes Archer at 11:25.

Rating: B. This was two guys beating the heck out of each other until one of them couldn’t get up again. They kind of screwed up the timing with one Froggy Bow getting a near fall and then Archer doing the big kickout but that’s pretty minor. I wouldn’t have Briscoe fighting for another title at the pay per view (as he did earlier this year) as being Ring Of Honor World Champion should be enough, but that would imply Ring Of Honor mattered in the slightest. Good opener here.

The Learning Tree is impressed by the Conglomeration but it’s not the right time for Chris Jericho to face Tomohiro Ishii again…and we pan down to Ishii, who is out cold with a chair around his neck.

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Iron Savages

Gibson and Boulder start things off with the former hammering away and kicking him in the face. Drake comes in to pound away but the much bigger Boulder suplexes them both down (commentary doesn’t actually talk about it). The Veterans manage to send them both outside but Bronson is back in to slug away on Gibson. A double hot shot staggers Bronson though and Grit Your Teeth is good for the pin at 3:16.

Rating: C. Short and to the point here with the Veterans getting a win to establish themselves around here. They’re likely to have a much more important match against FTR sooner rather than later (likely next week on Collision) and that should be a good watch. Nice start for the newcomers, even if they are already pretty well known from elsewhere.

Post match FTR comes in to beat up the Veterans, leaving Jacked Jameson (the Savages’ manager) to get hit with the Shatter Machine.

Video on Will Ospreay vs. Pac.

Orange Cassidy promises to take out Bryan Keith and go on to win the Continental Title, which he’ll put in his backpack next to the $7,000 he’s keeping from Chris Jericho. Cassidy took the glasses off here to make it a much different vibe.

Continental Title Qualifying Match: Bryan Keith vs. Orange Cassidy

The rather serious Cassidy doesn’t even put his hands in his pockets before dropkicking him to the floor for the suicide dive. Two more dives connect with Keith and Cassidy whips him into the barricade as Schiavone and Nigel talk about how All Out will be starting before NFL kickoff (the NFL being the next day makes it easier). Keith gets in a shot of his own and we take an early break.

Back with Cassidy putting his hands in his pockets and knocking Keith into the corner for the lazy kicks. Keith goes after the banged up arm but can’t get him up for a piledriver. A running knee to the chest just annoys Keith but he charges into a boot in the corner. Cassidy’s top rope DDT is countered into a t-bone suplex into the corner and a Michinoku Driver gets two. The Stundog Millionaire and Beach Break give Cassidy two but Keith knees him in the face for the same. Cassidy cuts off a knee with the Orange Punch though and it’s the tornado DDT into the top rope DDT for the pin at 11:14.

Rating: B-. Cassidy’s evolution has been a nice upgrade for him as you can only do the same stuff for so long before it loses is charm. Having a bit more of an edge and a better finisher with the top rope DDT could do him some good. Nice enough match here and it keeps the Conglomeration vs. the Learning Tree going, because that has to be a thing.

Post match Chris Jericho comes up on screen and steals Cassidy’s backpack, which he threatens with scissors. Is…..this some weird parody of the CM Punk stolen bracelet?

Mercedes Mone isn’t worried about not having Kamille in her corner at All Out. Why is Christopher Daniels in her business? Kamille isn’t barred tonight though and you’ll see what she can do.

Outrunners vs. Davey Bang/August Matthews

Erica Leigh is here with the Outrunners. Matthews chops Magnum to start and that just doesn’t seem smart. Magnum shows him how the chopping is done and does it to Bang as well. Floyd comes in for a suplex and the double elbow his Bang. A powerslam/running neckbreaker combination (Total Recall) finishes Bang at 2:17, which is somehow the Outrunners’ first win in AEW.

We get a sitdown face to face interview with Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale. Statlander talks about being there for Nightingale but when Nightingale won the TBS Title, Statlander never got a rematch. Nightingale thinks this is Stokely Hathaway getting in Statlander’s head and they’re both happy with tomorrow’s match being a street fight so the violence can ensue.

Continental Title Qualifying Match: Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Beast Mortos

Don Callis is on commentary and they shove each other to start. Mortos kicks him in the head in the corner but misses a charge and crashes out to the floor. Takeshita hits a big dive and then whips him into the barricade, only for Mortos to hit a dive of his own. Back in and Takeshita hits a top rope superplex for the big crash and we take a break.

We come back with Mortos hitting a reverse Sling Blade. A backbreaker and Samoan drop get two on Takeshita, who is back with a German suplex and the Blue Thunder Bomb for two of his own. Mortos hits a spear for one but Takeshita rocks him with a headbutt. The running knee and the Raging Fire (spinning Falcon Arrow) finish Mortos at 11:18.

Rating: B. This was a match about two people beating the tar out of each other until one of them couldn’t get up anymore. It’s good to have Takeshita back, as he is one of the more consistently impressive stars in all of AEW. I don’t buy him winning the title tomorrow, but at least he got a good win here.

The Outcasts don’t like Jamie Hayter and accuse her of stalking them. Trouble is promised.

Mariah May says the best way to get to know a woman is to make her scream at your feet. Her championship celebration will be at All Out.

Hikaru Shida vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Purrazzo drives her into the corner for some kicks to the ribs to start before they trade rollups for two each. Shida hits a big boot but gets sent into the corner as we take an early break. Back with Shida hitting a missile dropkick and hammering away in the corner. Purrazzo pulls her into the Fujiwara armbar, sending Shida over to the ropes. Shida grabs a Falcon Arrow for two and the Katana finishes at 9:28.

Rating: C+. This was the way to boost Shida up for her title shot against Mercedes Mone, which is not likely to go as well for her. Shida is already one of the most successful stars in the history of the division so she doesn’t need much more of a push towards the title match. Other than that, Purrazzo continues to kind of float around, though being in a match like this is better than nothing.

Post match Mercedes Mone comes out for a distraction, allowing Kamille to jump her from behind. Mone grabs the kendo stick but hits Kamille by mistake, with Shida hitting the Katana to send Mone running.

FTR wants the Grizzled Young Veterans next week on Collision.

The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn say they can beat anyone. The MxM Collection come in and say they’re better, with the Acclaimed NOT liking their finger thing.

Blackpool Combat Club/Pac vs. Elite

Everyone is a champion, because AEW. Danielson and Okada start things off but we’ll go with Perry instead to take Danielson into the corner. The stomping from Perry allows Matt to come in, only to be taken straight into the corner as well. The Bucks dropkick Yuta into the corner so it’s off to Pac, who chokes Matt down without much effort. Castagnoli hits a backbreaker and everything breaks down with the Elite getting hammered in various corners.

We take a break and come back with Okada hitting a backbreaker on Pac as everything breaks down again. Matt’s 450 hits Pac and Castagnoli as they hang in the ropes and things settle back down. Nick poses a bit and stomps on Pac before Perry’s neckbreaker can get two. Pac sends the Bucks together and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two, allowing Castagnoli to come back in. A Hart Attack hits Matt but Nick makes the save. Okada and Castagnoli strike it out until Castagnoli hits a suplex, allowing the tag off to Danielson.

Perry comes in as well and they trade kicks in the corner. Danielson flips over him and hits the running clothesline but gets DDTed by Nick. Perry gets taken down by a missile dropkick and Danielson fires off the kicks as Collision ends and Rampage officially begins. The LeBell Lock is broken up but it’s Yuta coming in to strike away at Perry. The Rainmaker misses but the Bucks superkick Yuta into the Tombstone. That means the Bucks can hit dives, with Okada teasing a dive, only to pose instead.

Pac dives onto the Bucks and hits a springboard 450 for two on Okada. The Club takes over on Okada in the corner, with Danielson adding a middle rope dropkick. We take another break and come back with the Bucks saving Okada from the Brutalizer. Everything breaks down and all of the villains other than Perry get Tombstoned at the same time. A suplex/high crossbody combination hits Matt and Danielson chases Perry into the crowd. The Bucks hit the EVP Trigger on Yuta with Pac making the save. That means the Swing into Yuta’s dropkick can finish Matt at 28:28.

Rating: B+. This got all kinds of time and it felt like a special match before the much more important matches tomorrow. The ending is a tease of the Young Bucks losing but….yeah I don’t buy it either. Anyway, one heck of a main event here and it had the kind of insane action that makes AEW work most of the time.

Overall Rating: B+. The extra time was a one off thing due to the back to back Collision/Rampage deal but we had two rather awesome matches here, with the main event being worth a look. The show also helped set up the Continental Title match, with a rather unique group of challengers. Throw in the Outrunners and Takeshita and this was an easy success.

Results
Mark Briscoe b. Lance Archer – Froggy Bow
Grizzled Young Veterans b. Iron Savages – Grit Your Teeth to Bronson
Orange Cassidy b. Bryan Keith – Top rope DDT
Outrunners b. Davey Bang/August Matthews – Total Recall to Bang
Konosuke Takeshita b. The Beast Mortos – Raging Fire
Hikaru Shida b. Deonna Purrazzo – Katana
Blackpool Combat Club/Pac b. Elite – Giant Swing/dropkick combination to Matt

 

 

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

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

AND

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

 

Collision
Date: August 31, 2024
Location: Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re in the middle of All In and All Out and that means things should be happening here. There are a few matches set for the pay per view but it would not be surprising to see some more added on this show. Throw in the good action you tend to get around here and we could be in for a solid week. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Conglomeration/Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos/Johnny TV/Lee Moriarty

Shane Taylor and Taya Valkyrie are here with the villains. O’Reilly and TV get things going with some stand up grappling until Strong grabs a quickly broken cross armbreaker. Cassidy comes in for a basement dropkick and it’s off to Hologram for a monkey flip. Moriarty can’t do much with Cassidy on the mat so it’s back to Hologram, who gets rolled up for a fast two.

Hologram dropkicks him out to the floor so Mortos comes in, earning himself a rather spinning headscissors. Everything breaks down and we get a submission chain from almost everyone, with Mortos having to shoulder it apart. It’s time to head outside so Hologram can hit a big rope walk flip dive as we take a break. Back with Cassidy fighting out of trouble and getting over for the tag to O’Reilly. House is quickly cleaned but Mortos cuts that off, including a reverse Sling Blade.

O’Reilly gets over and hands it off to Hologram, who gets to clean house, including spite the spinning session to take down all of the villains in a row. Cassidy and O’Reilly fire off kicks to Mortos, setting up Cassidy’s Stundog Millionaire. Cassidy DDTs Mortos but gets suplexed by Moriarty. TV takes too long setting up Starship Pain to Hologram though and gets taken down with a reverse Spanish Fly, setting up a rollup to give Hologram the pin at 15:39.

Rating: B. This is one of those things that AEW does really well, as they took a bunch of people and put them into the ring at the same time for a fun match. It isn’t likely to be about much more than helping boost Hologram up but it was a match that went rather well for what it was supposed to be. It’s a good example of a match that didn’t take itself seriously and that’s how you can have a lot of fun with something like this.

We look back at Jon Moxley’s rather bizarre return on Dynamite.

Bang Bang Gang vs. Premiere Athletes

Austin and Nese start things off with the latter driving him into the corner with raw power. Woods comes in and a quick distraction lets the villains triple team Austin in the corner. Daivari gets in a knockdown of his own for two but Austin manages a quick Quick Draw, allowing the tag off to Robinson to pick up the pace. House is quickly cleaned, including a spinebuster to Woods. Everything breaks down and Colton gets two off a dropkick. Nese is sent into Mark Sterling at ringside and 3:10 To Yuma finishes Woods at 4:35.

Rating: C. The Gang gets a nice win here to put them back on the right track after some recent losses. That’s not a bad way to go and we could be in for some nice stuff from them going forward, though hopefully against some fresh opponents. The team is starting to gel, but Jay White coming back soon enough could take things in a different way.

We look at Mercedes Mone defending her NJPW Women’s Strong Title for NJPW.

Hikaru Shida (in tonight’s four way match for a TBS Title shot at All Out) is ready.

We look at Kevin Von Erich getting to do the Claw at All In.

FTR vs. Kingdom

Taven takes Harwood down to start but Harwood is right back up with a hiptoss. Some chops have Taven in trouble and it’s Wheeler coming in for a double hair toss. A double backdrop into a double clothesline has Taven on the floor and Bennett is sent out with him. Back in and Taven slips out of the slingshot suplex, allowing Bennett to get in a cheap shot as we take a break.

We come back with Harwood getting a VERY delayed two off a small package due to a distracted referee. Wheeler comes back in to clean house as everything breaks down. A top rope double clothesline puts the Kingdom down and it’s a German suplex into a flipping rollup for two on Bennett. Taven rakes the eyes to avoid a Sharpshooter but the Hail Mary is broken up. The Shatter Machine to Bennett sets up a PowerPlex to finish Taven at 10:08.

Rating: B-. Just in case the Kingdom losing on Rampage wasn’t enough I guess. FTR is in a similar place to the Bang Bang Gang from the previous match in that they need something to elevate them back up after a loss. There are worse ways to do it than this and the match went fine, though FTR needs something new in a hurry, which very well could be the Grizzled Young Veterans.

Post match the Grizzled Young Veterans come in to take out FTR. They’re tired of being compared to FTR but you will remember their name.

Thunder Rosa is ready for the four way.

Lance Archer abuses various production workers and security. One of them having their feet sticking up from a trashcan is a funny visual.

Top Flight/Action Andretti/Lio Rush vs. Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson/Turbo Floyd

Leila Grey and Truth Magnum (odd) are here too as Andretti and Floyd start things off. And never mind as Boulder comes in to run Rush over but we get a series of rapid tags without anything in between, leaving Darius in the wrong corner. That doesn’t last long either as Darius dives over to Dante, who actually airplane spins Bronson. A four man suplex drops Bronson but Floyd cleans house on his own. Everything breaks down and a Downward Spiral sets up a frog splash to give Dante the pin on Jameson at 4:46.

Rating: C+. This was a strange one as they had a weird lineup on the villains side and then it didn’t have much time to go anywhere. It certainly wasn’t boring though and I’ll take that over some of the other options. Not much to see here, but what were they supposed to do with these circumstances?

Queen Aminata and Serena Deeb are both ready to win the four way. Deeb knows she can beat the other three but offers an alliance, which has Aminata intrigued.

Kyle Fletcher vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Don Callis joins commentary. They forearm it out before trading shoulders, with Ishii getting the better of things. Fletcher is back with a slam and right hands in the corner but Ishii runs him over with a headbutt. Ishii takes him to the apron, where Fletcher is back with a brainbuster and we take a break.

Back with Ishii hitting a hard clothesline in the corner and sending him flying off a suplex. Fletcher manages a kick out to the floor into a dive but Ishii manages a powerbomb for a double breather. Back up and one heck of a clothesline gives Ishii two but Fletcher lawn darts him into the buckle. They go up top and Ishii busts out a jumping hurricanrana of all things, only to have Fletcher hit a brainbuster for two. Fletcher’s clothesline wakes Ishii up so it’s a Tombstone to put him back down for two more, followed by the piledriver to give Fletcher the pin at 12:46.

Rating: B-. The match was what you would expect, but this is a good example of how Tony Khan can burn through wrestlers. Between this, Dynamite and Ring Of Honor, I’ve watched more than half an hour of Ishii in the last four days. Seeing Ishii on the card this week didn’t have me interested, but rather saying “geez, again?”. With the amount of wrestlers that Khan has available, I don’t get the thinking in having someone show up that often and burn out their interest so quickly.

Video on Queen Aminata, also in the four way.

Video on Bryan Danielson winning the AEW World Title and being attacked by Jack Perry on Dynamite. The title match is official for All Out.

Pac is ready to face Will Ospreay at All Out and take the International Title. Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly come in and a tag match seems set for Dynamite.

Buddy Matthews vs. Komander

Matthews takes him down by the arm to start but Komander is back up with a wristlock of his own. A dropkick sends Matthews outside, where he reverses a dive into a suplex as we take a break. Back with Matthews hitting a hard knee on the apron but Komander grabs a running hurricanrana driver. Matthews strikes away until a poisonrana sends him to the floor, with Komander nailing a dive. Back in and a tornado DDT gives Komander two so he goes up, only to dive into another knee. Murphy’s Law finishes for Matthews at 10:00.

Rating: B. They got rolling near the end here and it was one of the more entertaining Komander matches I’ve seen. Who knew that if you stopped letting Komander run across the ropes while everyone waits around like a moron, things would get better? This was a heck of a match between the two as Matthews gets to show off, which he often does well.

The MxM Collection want the House Of Black next week. The House is in.

Video on Serena Deeb, the final entrant in the four way.

Serena Deeb vs. Queen Aminata vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Thunder Rosa

For a TBS Title shot at All Out. Shida slugs away at the other three of them to start and whips them into the same corner for a running knee. Deeb pulls Shida to the floor though and has a slugout with Rosa. Back in and Shida breaks it up, only for Shida and Rosa to be taken down with a double suplex. We take a break and come back with Aminata snapping off some suplexes, followed by some running kicks in the corner.

Deeb gets up and cleans house (including on Aminata, as the alliance is already gone) but Rosa breaks up the half crab on Shida. Rosa Backstabbers Aminata and hits some running dropkicks against the ropes for two. Deeb gets an Indian Deathlock on Rosa and suplexes Shida at the same time for a bonus. Rosa and Shida slug it out until Rosa snaps off a super hurricanrana. Rosa’s Death Valley Driver plants Shida but Deeb puts Rosa in a half crab. Aminata breaks that up but Shida hits the Katana to pin Aminata at 14:25.

Rating: B-. Shida is a good call here as she is still probably the most accomplished woman in AEW history. Letting her get a shot at the title, even in a match that doesn’t have much build, is a smart way to go. If nothing else, she should be able to have a quality match with Mercedes Mone, which is one of the reasons you would put her in a match like this one.

Overall Rating: B. Rather impressive show here with a bunch of stuff that kept my interest and a pay per view match being set up by the main event. That’s not a bad use of two hours, especially with so little time between pay per views. As usual, AEW is at its best when its wrestlers get to wrestle and we were seeing that for a long time this week, making for a higher level Collision.

Results
Conglomeration/Hologram b. Johnny TV/The Beast Mortos/Lee Moriarty – Rollup to TV
Bang Bang Gang b. Premiere Athletes – 3:10 To Yuma to Woods
FTR b. Kingdom – PowerPlex to Taven
Top Flight/Action Andretti/Lio Rush b. Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson/Turbo Floyd – Frog splash to Jameson
Kyle Fletcher b. Tomohiro Ishii – Piledriver
Buddy Matthews b. Komander – Murphy’s Law
Hikaru Shida b. Queen Aminata, Serena Deeb and Thunder Rosa – Katana to Aminata

 

 

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

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

AND

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

 

Ring Of Honor
Date: August 22, 2024
Location: Esports Arena Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re on the last few weeks of the Texas residency and we have new Tag Team Champions. Since it’s Ring Of Honor, the title change took place on Collision, with Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara beating the Kingdom to win the belts. Other than that, Mark Briscoe is defending the World Title against The Beast Mortos this week so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a look at Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara winning the Tag Team Titles.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Kingdom/Dark Order vs. Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara/Von Erichs

It’s a brawl to start before the bell with all eight fighting on the floor and various people being sent into various objects. We officially start with Ross dropkicking Reynolds and handing it off to Marshall. Reynolds takes him into the corner and it’s off to Silver, who gets dropped with a clothesline. Dustin comes in for the atomic drop (with the funny sell), only to walk into a Death Valley Driver.

Taven hits Just The Tip for two but hang on as the Kingdom and the Dark Order have to argue. We settle down to Bennett grabbing a chinlock before hitting a dropkick to cut Dustin off again. Reynolds adds a springboard elbow for two and it’s out to the floor, where Guevara finally cuts off the double teaming. Back in and Reynolds hits Taven by mistake, allowing Dustin to grab the bulldog. Guevara gets the tag to clean house and a springboard cutter drops Reynolds.

A Swanton sets up Marshall’s moonsault for two two on Silver with the Kingdom making the save. The villains get caught in the corner for quadruple Shattered Dreams, only for Evil Uno to offer a distraction so they can hit some low blows. We hit the parade of strikes to the face until Silver’s German suplex gets two on Marshall, with Ross making the save. A bunch of people go the floor so Taven hits a dive, with Guevara hitting a bigger one. Back in and Marshall’s spinning claw slam finishes Silver at 12:16.

Rating: B-. This was the fun match that had everyone going nuts at the end to make for something entertaining. It still feels like the story is “here are a bunch of good guys from Texas vs. a bunch of villains” and that only gets them so far. I’m not sure where this is going, but at least the match was quite energetic.

Mark Briscoe knows that the Beast Mortos beat him in a tag match a few weeks ago. After that though, Mortos might want to find a time machine to go back in time and NOT win that match because of the beating he’s getting as a result.

Cage Of Agony vs. Serpentico/Fuego del Sol/Atlantis Jr.

Serpentico slugs away at Liona to start and is knocked down just as fast. That means it’s time for Serpentico to be taken into the corner for the double stomping but he rolls away and hands it off to Fuego. A springboard hurricanrana takes Liona down but Kaun is right back up with a heck of a powerbomb. Cage comes in with a running legdrop and the ten rep fall away slam before flipping Fuego onto the ropes.

Kaun’s slingshot hilo gets two and we hit the seated armbar. Fuego finally fights out and gets over for the tag off to Atlantis as everything breaks down. Serpentico’s top rope splash gets two on Cage, who is right back with a powerslam. Atlantis sends the Gates outside but gets kneed in the face by Cage. Serpentico goes up but dives into the Drill Claw to give Page the pin at 10:02.

Rating: C+. This was in fact a six man tag with the biggest singles name (at least around here), Atlantis, being little more than a person filling in a spot. That didn’t make for the most thrilling match, but that is kind of to be expected with the Cage Of Agony. You know what you’re getting with them and it has been covered to death around here.

The MxM Collection is ready to procure another delicious victory but two guys in bear pelts show up. Mansoor warns Mason not to move, because bears sense fear.

Abadon vs. Alejandra Lion

Abadon jumps her to start and hits a basement dropkick, only to miss a charge into the corner. Back up and Abadon glares at her, setting up a Widow’s Peak. Black Dahlia finishes Lion at 1:33.

MxM Collection vs. Pillars of Destiny

The Pillars would be the bear enthusiasts from earlier. Grey powers out of a headlock to start but gets pulled into another one, meaning it’s time to bite Mansoor’s hand. The feet are fine enough to hit a dropkick though and it’s off to Mason for an elbow to the face. Back up and Grey runs Mansoor over with a body block before it’s time for some choking.

The bearhug goes on for a bit, only to have Mansoor fight out and hand it back to Mason. House is quickly cleaned, including a double chokeslam to both Pillars. Hold on though as the Collection walk up the ramp, only to strike a pose and run down for a double spear. Back in and an assisted double underhook implant DDT finishes Grey at 5:50.

Rating: C+. The Collection is the definition of a fun team and they know how to do their thing rather well. It helps that they’re just good enough in the ring to get by, even if it might not be enough to get them to the top of anything. I can go for an entertaining act like them, as they certainly add in a bit of spice around here.

Last week, Lee Moriarty was impressed with his win over Action Andretti. Shane Taylor says he’s injured right now but he’s coming for the World Title.

Angelico vs. Aaron Solo

Under Pure Rules. Solo grabs an armbar to start but gets taken down into a leglock, sending him straight over to the ropes. It works so well that Angelico does it again, meaning Solo has burned through two rope breaks in about two minutes. Back up and a running shoulder gives Solo two so he uses a right hand, which is good for a warning. Angelico’s sleeper sends Solo bailing to the ropes for his third and final break. Back up again and Angelico hits him with a left hand, meaning it’s a warning as well. Another leglock makes Solo tap, despite being in the ropes, at 5:20.

Rating: C. Remember last week when Action Andretti didn’t know the Pure Rules very well and burned through his rope breaks in a hurry, meaning he had to tap out when he was in the ropes? Well these two certainly remember it because this was almost a copy of the entire match. The pure division continues to be the “just kind of there” area of the roster and stuff like this doesn’t exactly make me more interested in seeing where it goes.

Trish Adora vs. Erica Leigh

Adora grabs a double underhook to start before grabbing a chickenwing/half nelson combination. With that broken up, Adora gets two off a rollup as Leigh is rather frustrated. A backbreaker into the nasty German suplex into the Lariat Tubman finishes Leigh at 2:31. Total squash.

The Righteous and Lance Archer are all threatening.

Komander vs. KM

KM squeezes his hand on the handshake to start and Komander doesn’t seem pleased. Komander’s springboard is shouldered out of the air and the much bigger KM knocks him into the corner. The threat of a stretch muffler sends Komander into the ropes but he’s back with a springboard Fameasser. Another kick to the head sets up Cielito Lindo to finish KM at 3:19.

Rating: C. Well that was a perfectly acceptable way to bring Komander back to the show, but it wasn’t exactly an interesting match. Just Komander taking down a big guy in a few minutes and then pinning him, which we’ve seen before. Not a bad match or anything, but on a long show, it probably could have been put elsewhere.

EJ Nduka vs. Deonn Rusman

Nduka powers out of a headlock to start and knocks him down, setting up a headlock of his own. Rusman shoves him away and unloads in the corner, only to miss a Stinger Splash. That’s enough for Nduka, who grabs a toss powerbomb for the pin at 2:57.

Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson vs. Colton Charles/Jay Alexander/Rosario Grillo

Jameson shoves Alexander away before Bronson hits the running splash. A double Rocket Launcher finishes Alexander at 1:44. The less of the Savages and Jameson, the better.

Marina Shafir vs. Tiara James

Shafir offers her a handshake from the mat to start before pulling James down to start fast. James’ forearms manage to knock Shafir into the corner but she throws James down without much effort. The bow and arrow keeps James in trouble and a running Codebreaker into Mother’s Milk finishes for Shafir at 3:24.

Rating: C. Of all the Shafir squashes I’ve seen over the last few months, this was the most recent. There’s not much to say about this one as Shafir did her thing, shrugged off James’ offense, and then did her finishing move to win. Until Shafir moves up, she’s just going to be the latest submission star who wins with a unique finisher.

Angelico, via internal monologue, wants a Pure Rules Title match.

Nick Comoroto/Jacoby Watts vs. Matt Menard/Angelo Parker

The bell rings and Watts does his catchphrase, earning Comoroto a trip out to the floor. Back in and Comoroto whips Parker hard into the corner, only to have Parker send him into Watts. Menard comes in to hammer away, with a double DDT finishing Comoroto at 3:41.

Rating: C. This has become the “hey, they still work here” show, with Menard and Parker having their first match together in quite some time. That’s a fine way to bring back a name or two, but we’re past five this week and it’s not exactly feeling important. Parker and Menard aren’t big names in the first place and this was just a quick win for them over a low level act.

Lio Rush vs. Tony Nese

Mark Sterling is here with Nese, who says people have been asking why the Premiere Athletes are on every show. Oh I know why. It’s just not an interesting answer. Nese jumps him to start and sends Rush outside for the stomping from Sterling. Back in and Rush does his dodging to set up a clothesline, setting up the Fameasser over the middle rope. Nese’s shot slows Rush down and a Sterling distraction lets Nese hit a running forearm for two.

Sterling gets in some cheap shots on the floor and Nese grabs a bodyscissors back inside. Nese hits the neck snap across the top but misses a springboard moonsault, but comes back with a pumphandle piledriver for two. Back up and Nese sends him into the ropes, with Rush diving onto Sterling in a nice spot. Rush gets back in, kicks him down, and this the Final Hour for the pin at 9:14.

Rating: B-. This was the match that Rush needed to win to get his momentum back after he lost a big match on Collision because Tony Khan loves that style of booking. Not that it is going to matter as Rush isn’t likely to be put in a prominent spot (like most of the people who have to get their momentum back) but this match just had to be done. It also had to get almost ten minutes on a show this long, because everything has to happen on every show.

All In rundown.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Mark Briscoe vs. The Beast Mortos

Briscoe is defending and knocks him to the floor to start, setting up the dropkick through the ropes. The Bang Bang Elbow connects as well but it’s way too early for the Jay Driller. Mortos pulls the arms around the ropes but gets confused by the threat of Redneck Kung Fu. Some shoulders in the corner set up a hard chop to rock Mortos, who knocks him off the top with a chop of his own.

They fight on top, where Briscoe knocks him to the floor, setting up a big flip dive. The chair sets up another big flip dive over the top, setting up another flip dive from the top. Back in and a clothesline gives Briscoe two but another Jay Driller attempt is broken up. Instead Briscoe settles for the rolling Death Valley Driver, only to miss the Froggy Bow. Mortos’ twisting Swanton misses and Briscoe drops the Froggy Boy for two. Another clothesline sets up the Jay Driller to retain the title at 10:58.

Rating: B. By far the best match of the show here, with two talented stars working together with the slightest reason to believe that the title might be in danger. Briscoe can make anything work well and Mortos has been quite the impressive star while he has been around. Solid main event here, which felt important, which is more than most of the rest of the show can say.

Overall Rating: C. Yeah I’m back to being sick of this show, as this was over two hours and WAY too much of it felt like Tony Khan maniacally rubbing his hands together and shouting MORE MORE MORE! There were so many matches here that weren’t long, but came off like they were just thrown in for the sake of adding more to the show. On a week where I’m already being asked to watch the usual AEW shows and an additional five hour pay per view, one might think that the idea of LESS IS MORE would come into play here. Tony Khan does not seem to see it that way, and that is a big reason why Ring Of Honor is such a waste.

Results
Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara/Von Erichs b. Kingdom/Dark Order – Claw slam to Silver
Cage Of Agony b. Serpentico/Fuego del Sol/Atlantis Jr. – Drill Claw to Serpentico
Abadon b. Alejandra Lion – Black Dahlia
MxM Collection b. Pillars Of Destiny – Assisted double underhook implant DDT to Grey
Angelico b. Aaron Solo – Leglock
Trish Adora b. Erica Leigh – Lariat Tubman
Komander b. KM – Cielito Lindo
EJ Nduka b. Deonn Rusman – Toss powerbomb
Iron Savages/Jacked Jameson b. Colton Charles/Jay Alexander/Rosario Grillo – Double Rocket Launcher to Alexander
Marina Shafir b. Tiara James – Mother’s Milk
Matt Menard/Angelo Parker b. Nick Comoroto/Jacoby Watts – Double DDT to Comoroto
Lio Rush b. Tony Nese – Final Hour
Mark Briscoe b. The Beast Mortos – Jay Driller

 

 

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

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

AND

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