Ring Of Honor – November 20, 2025: Time To Rush

Ring Of Honor
Date: November 20, 2025
Location: Erie Insurance Arena, Erie, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We now have three shows to go before Final Battle and that means it is time to get the card together. While there are some matches that will be set up in the coming weeks, there are several title matches that still need to be set up. Hopefully they get some of that covered here, just for the sake of having a few weeks of build. Let’s get to it.

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

Billie Starkz is told that she’s “on a roll” in the Pure Rules Title tournament (where she has won one match) but Athena comes in to….not be able to say she’s proud. Athena is worried about her title defense tonight and asks who she is if she can’t beat Harley Cameron. The interviewer, and former Minion, recites her statement and has to cut the segment before she gets hugged.

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Women’s Title: Harley Cameron vs. Athena

Athena is defending. Cameron starts in on the arm and cuts off an escape attempt. Athena fights up again and they go outside with Cameron being rammed into the apron. Back in and Athena smiles a lot while beating Cameron down, followed by a cravate. Cameron avoids a backsplash though and snaps off a headscissors but Athena rips at her face. That’s broken up and Cameron knocks her down for two as the fans are getting behind the comeback.

An O’Connor roll gives Athena two but the kickout sends Athena into the ropes, where she hits a springboard splash for two. They head outside with Cameron being sent into the barricade, allowing Athena to remind us that this is her show. Back in and Cameron grabs a superplex and a pumphandle suplex gets two. They both counter That’s Her Finisher so Cameron kicks her in the face, setting up a Backstabber. An STF has Athena in trouble but she bites the hand to escape. Athena pulls her into the Koji Clutch to retain at 12:36.

Rating: B. Cameron continues to feel like a rising star but there was no way she was going to be the one to end Athena’s now legendary reign. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Athena defending the title, though it would make sense to have this one set up for Final Battle, which needs the match. For now though, it did feel like a big match and Cameron brought it in her chance.

Billie Starkz vs. Katie Arquette

Pure Rules. Starkz grabs her to start and Arquette has used her first two rope breaks in about thirty five seconds. Arquette gets a headlock and backs Starkz into the ropes, which apparently counts as Starkz’s first break. Starkz hits her in the face for the official warning and then rams Arquette into the buckle over and over. Arquette takes her into the corner for a running hip attack but Starkz is fine enough for a brainbuster onto the knee. The Swanton finishes for Starkz at 4:22.

Rating: C-. The worst kind of Pure Rules (or any gimmick matches for that matter) are the kinds where you can take the gimmick away entirely and nothing changes. That’s the case here, as there was nothing added on with the Pure Rules deal, which again makes me wonder why we need a title for this non-division. But what else were we going to spend 7+ months on otherwise?

Post match Deonna Purrazzo comes out for her match and gets in a staredown with Starkz.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Viva Van

Another Pure Rules match. Purrazzo takes her down without much trouble to start so they trade forearms. A quick running ax kick gives Van two but Purrazzo is back with a kick to the face. The Fujiwara armbar sends Van over to the rope for her first break before it’s a powerbomb to drop her again. The second Fujiwara armbar finishes for Purrazzo at 3:33.

Rating: C. It’s the second Pure Rules match and we’re just over half an hour into the show. Naturally neither of them was a tournament match, but thank goodness I’ve only got a few more weeks before this title can be basically forgotten for months at a time. Purrazzo is the big favorite to win the whole thing, which has me thinking she loses in a surprise.

Post match Billie Starkz comes in to jump Purrazzo.

Persephone challenges Athena for Final Battle, citing two things. First of all, she beat Athena at Global Wars. Technically true, as her partner did pin Athena…..’s partner (in June). Second, she’s “been running through all the women of Ring Of Honor”. She’s had three matches in Ring Of Honor and is 2-1, most recently in July (a loss). In other words, sounds perfect for a Final Battle title match.

Satnam Singh vs. JP Grayson

Singh chops him in the corner to start and then does it again in a different corner. A gorilla press drop and a chokeslam finish for Singh at 2:13. Exactly what he does.

Jakked Jameson vs. QT Marshall

The Frat House is here with Jameson so Marshall brings out the Costco Guys. Jameson is sent outside to start and Marshall takes him down with a quick dive. One heck of a backdrop sends Marshall outside, where the Frat House gets in some cheap shots. Back in and a spinebuster gives Jameson two but Marshall is up with the clotheslines. The Cookie Cutter finishes for Marshall at 2:34.

Post match the Frat House goes after Big Boom AJ and Marshall, who clear the ring. RPG Vice come in and lay the good guys out. AJ’s hand is crushed with a chair.

Mercedes Mone brags about winning the Ring Of Honor Women’s TV Title. Well kind of, as she uses it as proof that she’s ready to beat Kris Statlander. Note that Mone never specifically mentions what she just won or ROH in general, but that’s about how important the title is for her.

Persephone vs. Valentina Rossi

Persephone runs her over with a shoulder to start but Rossi is back with a quick legdrop for two. They trade rollups for two each until Persephone plants her for the same. Rossi wins a fight over a suplex for two of her own but Persephone knocks her right back down. The running Razor’s Edge finishes Rossi at 3:09.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what the thinking was here, as Persephone is likely a few weeks away from challenging for the Ring Of Honor Women’s Title. While she won and the finish looked good, Rossi got in a lot of offense rather than being squashed. That’s not the best way to make Persephone look good, and I’m not sure what the thinking was here.

Post match Athena comes out for the staredown, which seems to set up the title match. Cue Diamante to jump Persephone from behind and Athena sends her face first into the title.

Infantry vs. Top Flight

SkyFlight is here with Top Flight. The Infantry jumps them at the bell to start, which doesn’t last long as Top Flight clears the ring in a hurry. Back in and Dante gets taken into the corner for the beatdown, setting up the running hip attack for two. An enziguri into a jumping neckbreaker gets two and we hit the chinlock.

The villains switch without making a tag until Dante monkey flips his way to freedom. Darius comes in to clean house, including a cutter to Bravo. A suplex/neckbreaker combination gets two on Dante as everything breaks down again. The referee sees Dean bringing in a belt and the distraction lets Dante grab a sunset flip for the pin at 8:14.

Rating: C+. The match was a fine enough way to set up the pretty obvious Six Man Tag Team Title match for Final Battle. That’s a completely acceptable way to go, with the best aspect being the fact that SkyFlight have been a regular team in recent months. Hopefully they wind up getting the titles, as they have interesting potential as champions.

Post match Shane Taylor runs in for the beatdown but Scorpio Sky makes the save, setting up a Six Man Tag Team Title match at Final Battle to close the show.

Overall Rating: C+. Well, it was the match that set up a bunch of stuff for Final Battle, which was needed, but the Persephone stuff just made me shake my head. Other than that, there was a good bit of stuff that set up Full Gear rather than Final Battle, which continues to show you what this show means. They actually did something here though, and that’s one of the best things that you can say week to week in Ring Of Honor.

Results
Athena b. Harley Cameron – Koji Clutch
Billie Starkz b. Katie Arquette – Swanton
Deonna Purrazzo b. Viva Van – Fujiwara armbar
Satnam Singh b. JP Grayson – Chokeslam
QT Marshall b. Jakked Jameson – Cookie Cutter
Persephone b. Valentina Rossi – Running Razor’s Edge
Top Flight b. Infantry – Sunset flip to Dean

 

 

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Collision – September 17, 2025 (September To Remember): Well, They Tried

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

It’s the second show of the night as Dynamite and Collision are separate shots, likely for the sake of contracts or something. It’s also the last show before All Out and the pay per view needs another push. There was only so much done on Dynamite so hopefully this show features more pay per view build than usual. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Collision officially opened with the end of the Thekla vs. Queen Aminata match from Dynamite, with Thekla winning off a Stomp onto some chairs. A big brawl with the women in the four way title match at All Out, plus the rest of the Triangle Of Madness, followed.

Christopher Daniels gives Top Flight a pep talk before their qualifying match later tonight.

Matriarchy vs. Jet Speed

Tag Team Title qualifying match. Sabian and Knight start things off with Knight hitting a quick dropkick and scaring Sabian into the corner. Bailey comes in for a kick to Killswitch’s leg and a dropkick before some kicks to the face drop the villains. More running kicks stagger Killswitch but Sabian pulls the rope to send Bailey outside. We take a break and come back with Sabian planting Bailey for two.

Bailey isn’t having that and is back up with the bouncing kicks, allowing the tag back to Knight. A double super hurricanrana (as it sounds) brings Killswitch down for two but Sabian is back up with a springboard tornado DDT. Back up and Killswitch chokeslams Bailey but Sabian slaps Killswitch for a tag. That makes Killswitch break up Sabian’s rollup with feet on the ropes and then drops away from a tag attempt. Knight kicks Sabian into the Tornado Kick to give Bailey the pin at 12:02.

Rating: B-. AEW is going to get Jet Speed over through either pure willpower or the fans just accepting them. The team isn’t bad by any means but Bailey continues to be so uninteresting and so non-threatening that it’s hard to take him seriously. Knight is at least better, but the team screams midcard flippy guys and that’s about it. On the other hand you have the Matriarchy and I have no idea what they’re doing or why I’m supposed to care about these losers.

Big Bill is still ready for Eddie Kingston but doesn’t believe it’s happening until Kingston shows up. If Kingston shows up, Bill will prove he’s a fraud.

Earlier today, Bryan Danielson sat down with Darby Allin, who climbed Mt. Everest because he was tired of living someone else’s life. He thought he was going to die up there a few times but he was going to plant the AEW flag on top of the world. Allin talks about his uncle dying in the car they were in when Allin was five and Sting, who he would never let down. Danielson has to promise to not interfere on Saturday. Danielson agrees, but whispers something he wants Allin to do, which Allin agrees to as well. Since when was there a worry that Danielson would get involved?

Riho vs. Robyn Renegade

Mercedes Mone is on commentary. Renegade grinds away on a headlock but Riho sends her outside and hits a big dive. We take a break and come back with Renegade knocking her down in the corner as Mone certainly approves. Riho fights back but misses a double stomp, allowing Riho to snap off a German suplex. The crucifix bomb finishes for Riho at 4:54.

Rating: C+. Riho is another name who pops in every so often, is shoved into a title match, and then vanishes again. I’m sure there are people in the back who are big fans and fair enough, but dang it’s hard to get myself to care about this match with her being out there again. They didn’t have much time here, but it was just a warmup for Riho anyway.

Post match Mone stares at Riho, with Renegade jumping Riho from behind. Mone hits a Backstabber to leave her laying.

Daniel Garcia wants to finish Katsuyori Shibata.

Samoa Joe accepts on Shibata’s behalf.

Don Callis Family vs. Top Flight

The final qualifying match for the All Out Tag Team Title match and Don Callis is on commentary. Hechicero takes Darius down to start but Darius is back up with a rollup for two and a standoff. Dante dives in to drop the Family as everything breaks down. The Family is sent out but Alexander is back with his crossbody to the back as we take a break.

We come back with Darius kicking his way out of trouble and bringing Dante in with the Nose Dive for two on Alexander. Hechicero is back in for an assisted DDT from Alexander and Darius is dropped with an elbow. Dante dives onto Alexander but gets caught with a running hurricanrana driver to give Hechicero the pin at 10:41.

Rating: B. Another fast paced and entertaining match, even as Top Flight continues to go around in circles as they have been for years now. I still see no reason for them to not get some kind of a chance (and no, the injuries don’t explain it away as AEW has pushed all kinds of injury prone stars). Either way, we already have a high flying team in the title match with Jet Speed so the Callis Family is a more unique option here.

Post match the rest of the teams involved in the ladder match run in for a brawl, with Bandido hitting a big dive to take out the pile. Hangman Page runs in to help take out the Don Callis Family but Rocky Romero grabs his leg, allowing Kyle Fletcher to run in and beat him down. Page fights back but gets belted in the face. A brainbuster off the apron and through a table leaves Page laying to end the show. So what was Fletcher’s plan to leave Page laying (as he promised on Dynamite) if Page didn’t run out there?

Overall Rating: B-. Well it did do something more for All Out, but focusing on the Tag Team Titles and TBS Title only offered so much interest. All Out just does not feel important and there isn’t much of a way around it at this point. Hopefully the pay per view winds up working, as this only offered so much extra interest in the show. They did something a bit different with this Collision and while it covered some ground for All Out, there was only so much they could do.

Results
Jet Speed b. Matriarchy – Tornado Kick to Sabian
Riho b. Robyn Renegade – Crucifix bomb
Don Callis Family b. Top Flight – Hurricanrana driver to Dante

 

 

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Ring Of Honor – June 26, 2025 (Global Wars): Instant Classic, YES

Global Wars 2025
Date: June 26, 2025
Location: Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni

It’s time for another special event, which happened to be taped last week in Mexico. This is a Ring Of Honor vs. CMLL card and we have the World Title on the line as Bandido defends against Mascara Dorada. Other than that, this is one of three shows we have left before Supercard Of Honor and it would be nice to start the build. Let’s get to it.

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

Red Velvet/Athena vs. Thunder Rosa/Persephone

Rosa and Athena start things off with Rosa being taken into the corner but coming out with an armdrag to the now legal Velvet. Persephone comes in for a double basement dropkick and pulls a springboarding Athena out of the air. Persephone’s spinning slam gets two but Athena takes her into the corner to fire off some forearms. Velvet hits some running knees to the back of the head but Persephone fights up and gets over to Rosa. Everything breaks down and Velvet splashes Rosa in the corner. Athena O Faces Persephone but gets kneed down by Rosa. A rollup gives Rosa the pin on Velvet at 7:14.

Rating: C+. This was the best way to set up Rosa vs. Athena and that’s about as good of an idea as they were going to have without Athena taking a fall. Rosa is someone who can give Athena a real challenge and that is something that has been lacking for a LONG time. Persephone getting a shot at Velvet wouldn’t be a bad thing either, as Velvet needs someone to come after her as well.

Nick Wayne vs. Titan

Non-title but if Titan wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, he receives a future TV Title shot. Titan flips out of the corner to start but gets knocked off the top for a crash. Wayne follows him out for another crash and gets in some posing. Back in and Wayne chokes a bit before going after the mask, as is custom. A running uppercut in the corner gives Wayne two but Titan is back up to strike away.

Back up and a springboard dropkick drops Wayne, who comes back with a handspring Stunner for two. They forearm it out until Titan charges into a superkick, only for Wayne to grab a standing Sliced Bread. Titan gets up and knocks him to the floor for a running flip dive. A springboard tornado DDT plants Wayne and Titan starts tying up the legs as time expires at 10:00, meaning Titan gets a future title shot.

Rating: B-. Another fine match, though Titan might not have gotten the rules at the end (though in this case it doesn’t make much of a difference). Titan is a talented star and someone who has done well everywhere he’s gone. Putting Wayne in the ring with someone like him is a good move and now they’ll get to do it again.

Titan is annoyed at not winning, possibly not quite getting the rules.

We recap Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada. Bandido was getting beaten down and Bandido made the save but held up the World Title. The match was set.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada

Bandido is defending. They take their time to lockup and Dorada backs him into the corner for a friendly tap on the chest. An exchange of legsweeps and takedowns gives us a standoff but Dorada takes him down in the corner. The 450 misses but the 21 Plex is blocked, giving us another standoff. Dorada uppercuts him down and hits a dropkick to the floor, setting up the running corkscrew dive.

Back in and Dorada’s 450 gets two but Bandido gets in some shots of his own. Dorada is knocked outside for a running dive to take him out. Bandido muscles him up for a delayed superplex and a near fall. They trade running shots in the corner until Bandido knocks him outside again, this time for a running flip dive over the corner. A frog splash gives Bandido two but Dorada jumps up, climbs onto Bandido’s shoulders, and then drops down into a hurricanrana for two.

They chop it out until both of them drop to their knees, only to keep at the slapping. They go to the apron and keep chopping until they both try running dropkicks for a double knockdown to the floor. Now it’s time to go to the ramp for an exchange of throws until Dorada climbs the set and hits a huge dive. Dorada sends him back into the ring and gets a running start down the ramp for a moonsault over the top back inside.

Bandido is back up to grab the arms and tie up the legs at the same time, with Dorada pulling himself up. With that not working, Bandido switches into a rollup for two. Dorada catches him on top and does another shoulder stand hurricanrana into a shooting star for two more. Bandido is back with the X Knee into the 21 Plex for a rather near fall. That means it’s a super flipping fall away slam to knock Dorada silly, setting up another 21 Plex to retain the title at 19:09.

Rating: A-. Excellent stuff here, with two guys who have no issues with each other fighting to leave with a prize. You can tell Bandido knows how to work this style very well and Dorada is more than capable of having some great performances. This was easily the best thing ROH has had in a long time and is definitely worth a look.

Rocky Romero, with Konosuke Takeshita, challenges Bandido for Supercard Of Honor on Takeshita’s behalf. Hokey smoke they remembered the show was a thing.

Leila Grey gives Top Flight a pep talk before their #1 contenders match against the Infantry.

We run down the Supercard Of Honor card, including Bandido defending against Takeshita, Athena defending against Thunder Rosa and the Sons Of Texas defending against either the Infantry or Top Flight.

Lee Moriarty talks about what being here means to him and how much he wants to face Blue Panther.

Lee Moriarty vs. Blue Panther

Non-title. They fight over wrist control to start and trade arm holds with neither being able to get very far. Moriarty pulls him into an abdominal stretch, which is quickly countered but Moriarty stops to applaud himself. A bridging rollup gives Moriarty two and they shake hands, with Moriarty kicking him in the ribs.

Some chops and running clotheslines put Moriarty down but he sends Panther outside. The dive connects and Moriarty does it again, followed by the Border City Stretch back inside. Panther can’t roll his way out so Moriarty grabs the other arm, with Panther making the ropes anyway. They chop it out until Panther gets two off a clothesline. Panther knocks him outside and gets a running start for a dive off the ramp. Back in and Panther pulls him into a Fujiwara armbar for the tap at 11:14.

Rating: B-. Panther is quite the star as he is in his mid 60s and can still have a perfectly acceptable match. That was the case here, as it never felt ridiculous that he was hanging with someone younger and more athletic. Panther is an absolute legend around here so having him get a win over the lowest champion on the men’s roster is hardly much of a stretch.

Post match the Infantry comes in for the beatdown, with Shane Taylor joining them. Panther is down but BRYAN DANIELSON of all people sends in some luchadors for the save. Danielson even hits a running knee to Taylor and hugs Panther (Danielson is known to be a massive Panther fan). Danielson gets the mic and praises Mexico for welcoming AEW and Ring Of Honor.

Moriarty vs. Panther for the Pure Title is set for Supercard Of Honor to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The World Title match alone made this a show worth seeing and at only about an hour and fifteen minutes, it’s not like you have to be here long. It does help that the CMLL stars have been around for a bit in advance so it isn’t like we’re seeing a bunch of strangers. Very good show here, and my goodness they actually remembered Supercard Of Honor. The wonders never cease.

Results
Thunder Rosa/Persephone b. Red Velvet/Athena – Rollup to Velvet
Nick Wayne vs. Titan went to a time limit draw
Bandido b. Mascara Dorada – 21 Plex
Blue Panther b. Lee Moriarty – Fujiwara armbar

 

 

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Ring Of Honor – June 19, 2025: The Numbers Do Lie

Ring Of Honor
Date: June 19, 2025
Location: Adrian Phillips Theater At Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We have four shows left before Supercard Of Honor but you probably wouldn’t know it from watching around here. There has not been anything officially announced for the show yet, though a thing or two has been teased. Hopefully that means we get something added here, as the rapid fire builds don’t make for great viewing. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Anthony Gangone/Sal Mistretta

During the entrances, an errant camera shot shows a disturbing amount of empty seats. Moriarty knees Gangone down to start and works on the arm before bringing in Taylor. Mistretta comes in and gets crushed, setting up a release Rock Bottom. Moriarty grabs a Border City Stretch on Gangone and the big right hand finishes Mistretta at 2:09. And the latest push is on.

We look back at Thunder Rosa chasing off Athena two weeks ago. They’ll meet in a tag match at Global Wars.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Marti Belle

Pure Rules. They fight over wrist control to start until Purrazzo takes her down with a headlock. Belle is sent outside by the arm and Purrazzo stomps away on the way back in. A small package gives Belle two but Purrazzo snaps the arm. The Venus de Milo makes Belle give up at 4:24.

Rating: C-. The Pure Rules deal here meant absolutely nothing to the match and it would have been the exact same match without them. That sums up the tournament (which is absolutely going to start sometime soon) as I still have n o idea why this needs to be a thing. We’re still getting these one off matches with nothing but promises that the tournament is coming, and I certainly hope they aren’t going to do the whole thing at Supercard Of Honor.

We look at the Frat house cheating to beat the Dark Order last week. Then John Silver returned for the save.

The Frat House discuss packages and want to beat up Silver.

Aaron Solo vs. Lance Archer

Solo strikes away to start and even avoids a charge in the corner. A chokeslam attempt is countered with a dropkick and Solo scores with a spinning kick. Archer charges into a boot in the corner, but it just seems to annoy him. The Blackout finishes for Archer at 1:38.

We look at Athena beating Miyu Yamashita in a hard hitting match back in April 2023.

Miyu Yamashita vs. Brooke Havok

Havok works on the arm and they roll over each other until Havok hits a dropkick. Yamashita strikes her down but Havok hits some elbows for two. A springboard rewind kick drops Havok and another kick to the face does it again. Yamashita blasts her with a spinning kick to the head for the pin at 3:33.

Rating: C+. Havok got in a lot here before the big strikes took her out. That spinning kick to the head at the end looked great and felt like the kind of knockout blow that should be ending a match. If Yamashita is going to be around she could be a thing, but it isn’t going to matter if her next noteworthy match isn’t for another two years.

Mark Sterling has gotten some of the Premier Athletes’ losses expunged from their records and now they want the Tag Team Titles. Sweet goodness. So even if you count all of their matches (which included a bunch of multi-team matches) as wins, they’re 8-0 this year. Why should they get a title shot over Shane Taylor Promotions, who are 10-0 this year? Why do I expect that to actually be answered?

Grizzled Young Veterans/Infantry vs. Top Flight/The Kingdom

The villains jump them from behind to start fast and everything breaks down into a big brawl. We settle down to Top Flight (looking odd in purple) double teaming Drake and Taven comes in for a dropkick. Taven gets taken outside though and Gibson drops him onto the barricade. Back in and Taven gets taken into the corner for some running charges in the corner.

A double belly to back suplex drops Taven for two but he gets in a spinning kick to drop Bravo. The big tag brings in Darius to clean house and everything breaks down again. Bennett comes in for the rapid fire chops in the corner but Dean hits a weird Pedigree variant on Taven. Back up and Hail To The King is broken up but Bravo is thrown over the top onto the pile. Dante’s top rope splash is good for the pin on Dean at 8:56.

Rating: C+. This was a bunch of teams with very little going on getting thrown out there for a bit for the sake of a main event. That’s a fine way to go, but it would be nice to see something a bit more important taking place with Supercard Of Honor coming up so soon. These matches are perfectly fine, but I could go for something that feels like it matters around here.

Overall Rating: C-. Normally I would be surprised by how they’ve done a grand total of nothing so close to Supercard Of Honor (as in nothing has been announced, save for the Pure Tournament finals, which hasn’t even started yet) but that’s how Ring Of Honor works. I’m sure we’ll get some matches added in the next week or so, but a lot of it will probably be done at the last minute, which again makes watching this show feel completely unimportant.

Results
Shane Taylor Promotions b. Anthony Gangone/Sal Mistretta – Right hand to Mistretta
Deonna Purrazzo b. Marti Belle – Venus de Milo
Lance Archer b. Aaron Solo – Blackout
Miyu Yamashita b. Brooke Havok – Spinning kick to the head
Top Flight/The Kingdom b. Grizzled Young Veterans/The Infantry – Top rope splash to Dean

 

 

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Collision – May 31, 2025: Yeah Yeah We Know

Collision
Date: May 31, 2025
Location: El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re in the early days of the build towards All In and that means it is time to start getting going towards the biggest show of the year. It helps that two of the major matches are already set but before we get there, we have a four way for the International Title next week. One of those spots will be filled tonight so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Komander

For a spot in the International Title match on Dynamite. We get an insert promo where Komander says he is ready to win in the heart of lucha libre country. Castagnoli starts fast and stomps away in the corner, followed by a shoulder to cut off Komander’s comeback. A shot to the face lets Komander walk the ropes and grab a springboard armdrag.

Komander’s dive is countered into the Swing though and they head outside, where Castagnoli sends him into the barricade. Castagnoli gets in a drop onto the barricade and they head back inside, where Komander hits another double springboard into a headscissors. This time Castagnoli is sent outside but the rope walk takes so long that Castagnoli runs back in to pull him out of the air for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

The half crab doesn’t last long as Komander fights up but it’s too early for Cielito Lindo. Castagnoli fireman’s carries him to the top, where Komander snaps off a super hurricanrana for the counter. Something like Whisper In The Wind is blocked though and Castagnoli Neutralizes him for the win at 7:38.

Rating: B-. Komander being in a match of this magnitude is all but a guarantee that he’s going to lose and that’s getting a bit annoying. Having a jobber to the stars is fine, but unless he wins something of note at some point, this might as well have been a bye for Castagnoli. You know what you’re getting with Komander and that is very rarely going to be success.

We recap the fallout of Hangman Page winning the Owen Hart Tournament, with Swerve Strickland not being willing to stand behind him, even if it means taking out the Death Riders.

Strickland still isn’t in on this but Will Ospreay wants him to get on the same page. Strickland will not accept that Page is the best option and brings up that Ospreay hasn’t beaten him. A fight breaks out.

Don Callis Family vs. Paragon/Tomohiro Ishii

Don Callis is on commentary and the Family jumps them from behind to start fast. Takeshita sends Ishii into the barricade but Strong makes the save with some chops. O’Reilly hits a running charge to take the villains out and we settle down to Ishii chopping away at Romero in the corner. Romero gets over for the tag off to Beretta though and O’Reilly gets taken into the corner as we take a break.

Back with Strong Angle Slamming his way out of trouble, allowing the tag off to O’Reilly. House is quickly cleaned and it’s off to Ishii vs. Romero, which is apparently a feud. Takeshita comes in and gets dropped with a suplex, followed by the sliding lariat for two. Back up and Takeshita gets two off a Blue Thunder Bomb and they trade the big shots to the face. Romero hits Ishii low though and it’s the Raging Fire to give Takeshita the pin at 10:20.

Rating: C+. Ishii is one of the standard guest stars around here and while he’s still good enough, it’s getting less and less interesting to see him. Granted it doesn’t help to have him in there with RPG Vice, who aren’t much to see in their own right. I could go for Takeshita against Adam Cole for the TNT Title though, and there is a real possibility that is coming up.

Anthony Bowens vs. Kazuchika Okada

Non-title and Billy Gunn is here with Bowens. Okada backs him into the ropes to start and we get the tap on the chest. Bowens does the same, but offers a scissoring pose instead. The running jumping Fameasser takes Okada down for two and they head outside to strike it out. Okada gets in a knockdown on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Okada dropping the top rope elbow but the middle finger is cut off with some scissoring. Bowens cuts him off on top and hits a spinning hanging DDT. Okada misses the dropkick and gets rolled up for two but comes back with the Air Raid Crash onto the knee. The Money Clip is broken up and Bowens hammers away. The Rainmaker misses and a superkick gives gives Bowens a quick breather. The Mollywop is cut off with a Rainmaker though and Okada gets the pin at 10:31.

Rating: C+. I really hope that Bowens isn’t falling into the trap of “well he has good matches and that makes up for not winning”. It’s something that has been an issue around here for a long time and it would be a shame to see it happen to someone with his potential. Things seemed to be coming together for Bowens and now he’s on a losing streak, which doesn’t bode well for his future.

Matt Menard tries to perk up a disappointed Daniel Garcia. Don Callis, with Lance Archer, comes in to mock Menard but he might want Garcia on the team. Callis wants him to think for a change. It would at least be something for Garcia to do.

Tony Schiavone brings out FTR, with Stokely Hathaway, for a chat. Well not really as Schiavone leaves, with Hathaway talking about how FTR crushed Daniel Garcia and Nigel McGuinness at Double Or Nothing. They’re close to the Mexico border and issue a challenge (which they have written down) to any team from south of the border. Cue Templario and Atlantis Jr. (good thing they were by the entrance) but Wheeler says they’re somewhat living lucha legends themselves.

Maybe they should go win the CMLL Tag Team Titles. Wheeler brings up the upcoming Arena Mexico show and asks what it’s like to be popular with your countrymen. After mocking the “Power Ranger masks”, Harwood says he knows Tony Khan will have big plans for FTR at the show, so they can’t have the match. Harwood tells Atlantis Jr. to tell his dad to stay away from the team, earning some insults in Spanish. The brawl is on but the luchadors fight back to clear the ring. Did it really have to be Atlantis Jr.? I’ve yet to see him do anything interesting either here or in ROH.

We look at Mercedes Mone and Toni Storm’s face to face showdown from Dynamite.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Skye Blue

The fight over a lockup doesn’t get them anywhere to start so Shirakawa gets the better of an exchange of forearms. A snap suplex drops Shirakawa but she grabs the wrist and runs the ropes for a dancing clothesline. Blue plants her on the apron and we take a break. Back with Shirakawa hitting a running knee but Blue powerbombs her out of the corner for two. A superkick staggers Shirakawa again but she hits Blue in the face for a breather. Shirakawa’s super sling Blade gets two and they trade rollups for two each. More strikes to the face set up Shirakawa’s Glamour driver for the pin at 9:10.

Rating: C+. Again, Blue is back and losing, making her big return after nearly a year away feel completely wasted. She wasn’t going to be a major star, but you can’t have her win a few quick matches before taking losses like this one? If that’s the case, why bother making her return into a thing at all?

Post match Julia Hart jumps Shirakawa but Toni Storm (holding her skirt) makes the save.

Video on the Gates Of Agony.

Gates Of Agony vs. Gmo Kaminari/Cosmo Orion

Kaun gleefully beats up Orion in the corner to start and an Irish Curse sets up a running suplex. Orion tries a hurricanrana and it goes horribly, earning himself a toss across the ring. Kaminari comes in and gets beaten up as well, setting up Open The Games for the double pin at 2:19. Yeah yeah I’m sure this will be the time when the Gates break out. Any day now.

Max Caster teaches fans how to do his chant and gets them to sign a petition saying he is in fact the greatest wrestler alive. Now he’s supposed to take photos…but he runs down the hallway for some reason instead. Ok then.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. Top Flight/AR Fox

Leila Grey is here too. La Faccion jumps them to start and a turnbuckle pad is quickly pulled off. Fox sends Dralistico to the apron and flips onto Mortos, leaving Dante to hit the big flip dive. Back in and Dante’s tornado DDT gets two on Rush and we continue the string of running shots to the face. Rush crushes Fox in the corner and hits the mocking boot, followed by the Tranquilo pose as we take a break.

Back with a string of running dropkicks in the corner hitting Fox but he gets in a shot off the top for a needed breather. Darius comes in to clean house, including a shotgun dropkick into a DDT on Rush. An assisted cutter gets two on Dralistico, who is right back with a springboard Canadian Destroyer. The springboard Codebreaker into a dive has Dante down on the floor, leaving Rush to Bull’s Horns Darius for the pin at 10:22.

Rating: B-. Top Flight is in the same spot as Komander, as you know they’re probably going to lose the second you hear that music. They might not be the greatest team in the world, but they deserve a better spot than they have at the moment. Again: they aren’t good enough for the ROH Tag Team Titles? Really? That’s beyond their abilities?

Post match Rush chokes Darius with a camera cord but Mike Bailey and Komander make the save.

Mark Briscoe had to tell his son that he did NOT quit in the six man tag on Dynamite. Now he wants Jon Moxley one on one.

Hechicero vs. Mascara Dorada

For the final spot in the International Title match on Dynamite. They fight over wrist control to start with Dorada taking him down into an early leglock. Hechicero reverses into one of his own and grabs a quickly broken surfboard. Dorada grabs one of his own but Hechicero is out and starts the sliding underneath the ropes.

That doesn’t work for Dorada, who grabs a running hurricanrana around the post and out to the floor. Back in and Hechicero scores with the running hurricanrana driver. We take a break and come back with Dorada snapping off a hurricanrana to the floor. That means a dive to drop Hechicero again but he flips Dorada into a choke. That’s broken up as well and they trade some quick near falls.

A double knockdown gives them a double breather, followed by Dorada’s anklescissors getting two. Hechicero grabs a dragon screw legwhip over the rope, followed by a top rope elbow for two of his own. They strike it out until Dorada grabs a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, followed by a springboard super poisonrana (geez). The shooting star press gives Dorada the pin at 13:52.

Rating: B. It helps a lot when you can see just how good these people are in the ring. Hechicero is someone who has out wrestled Daniel Bryan and Dorada is incredibly smooth with everything he does. It made for a very entertaining match and I like that they went with the star who hasn’t done as much around here, as it gave a bit of a surprise result.

Overall Rating: C+. While it wasn’t the case in every match, there were too many instances here where the results were pretty obvious coming in. That’s something that happens on every show, but having stuff like Okada beating Bowens, Komander and Top Flight doing their usual and the latest Gates squash all in one show makes for kind of a tedious night. It’s not that the action was bad, but you probably could have guessed who would win all but the main event without much doubt. As usual, shifting some of the bigger stuff over from Dynamite, even a bit of it, would help, but that doesn’t seem to be likely.

Results
Claudio Castagnoli b. Komander – Neutralizer
Don Callis Family b. Paragon/Tomohiro Ishii – Raging Fire to Ishii
Kazuchika Okada b. Anthony Bowens – Rainmaker
Mina Shirakawa b. Skye Blue – Glamour Driver
Gates Of Agony b. Gmo Kaminari/Cosmo Orion – Double pin
La Faccion Ingobernable b. Top Flight/AR Fox – Bull’s Horns to Darius
Mascara Dorada b. Hechicero – Shooting star press

 

 

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Dynamite – May 14, 2025: Get On With It Already

Dynamite
Date: May 14, 2025
Location: NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Taz, Excalibur

It’s Beach Break and that means it is time for the World Title to be in tone line. Jon Moxley is going to be defending the title inside of a steel cage against Samoa Joe, which has the potential to be a heck of a fight. Other than that, we don’t have much time left before Double Or Nothing and it’s time to build up the card. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Will Ospreay/Hangman Page vs. Don Callis Family,

They’re so excited about the opener that the entrances go to the split screen which is usually saved for commercials. Ospreay and Takeshita trade legsweeps for two each to start and it’s quickly off to Alexander. A middle rope dive misses for Ospreay and Alexander catches him with a flapjack to take over. Page gets drawn in so Alexander can choke on the ropes. That doesn’t last long as Ospreay gets up and hands it off to Page, who moonsaults off the apron onto Alexander.

Back in and a Death Valley Driver gets two on Takeshita, followed by a pop up sitout powerbomb for the same. Ospreay comes back in for a basement lariat into a standing shooting star press for two. Alexander is right back with a knockdown to the apron, setting up the running crossbody to the back.

We take a break and come back with Alexander grabbing a northern lights suplex for two on Page. Alexander pulls him into an ankle lock, which is broken up for the tag off to Ospreay to clean house. Page is back in to run Takeshita over, followed by back to back top rope dives to take the Family down again. Back in and Ospreay’s handspring is countered into a spinning torture rack bomb.

Takeshita gets a kind of weird Blue Thunder Bomb for two and it’s Page coming back in, with Alexander giving him a German suplex. Alexander rolls some German suplexes on Ospreay but he’s right back up with the Oscutter. Another one takes Alexander down for two but Page tags himself in, only to almost hit the Buckshot Lariat on Ospreay. Page and Ospreay get in an argument and the Hidden Blade almost hits Page. With the issues out of the way, the Buckshot Lariat and the Hidden Blade hit Alexander at the same time for the pin at 18:33.

Rating: B. This was the long form tag match that AEW tends to do well, especially with Ospreay and Page’s issues being advanced on the way to Double Or Nothing. That’s a nice way to go, as Page and Ospreay could go either way when we get there and they set things up here. Good opener here, with the four of them all working hard and getting a lot of time.

Post match Takeshita jumps both of them and the fight is on again wish Ospreay fighting back. Ospreay accidentally hits Page and immediately tries to calm things down, which doesn’t exactly work. Both leave in a huff. More logical and effective stuff here.

Video on Jon Moxley vs. Samoa Joe.

Top Flight and Leila Grey are sick of MJF and are ready to face the Hurt Syndicate tonight. The Sons Of Texas come in with Dustin Rhodes talking about how good Top Flight is. Oh and Sammy Guevara is there too.

Ricochet vs. Zack Gowen

Yes that Gowen and yes Ricochet has stolen his prosthetic leg. Gowen drops to the mat to start and Ricochet is already bailing to the floor. A boot through the ropes takes Ricochet down but he drops Gowen onto the barricade. We take a break and come back with Ricochet crotching himself on the ropes. He’s fine enough to counter a tornado DDT though and a springboard 450 crushes Gowen.

A shooting star press gives Ricochet two more and Vertigo connects for the same. The scissors are brought in but the referee takes it away, allowing Gowen to get in the prosthetic leg shot for two. The moonsault misses though and the Spirit Gun finishes for Ricochet at 7:22.

Rating: C. Naturally the first thing I thought of here was the episode of the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air when Ashley’s date wants to blow in her ear. Ashley gives a very confused response of “Why?” and the date realizes he has no idea why he’s asking about it other than he was told to. It’s the same thing here: why in the world is Zack Gowen wrestling in this spot in 2025? Ricochet stealing Gowen’s leg was a fine heel spot but putting him in the ring on Dynamite? Why?

Post match Ricochet gives him another Spirit Gun but Mark Briscoe makes the save.

MJF wants to be back on the top of the company and everyone knows he likes to work hard. That involves joining the Hurt Syndicate and he’ll make it happen. He’s asked about what happens if the team says no and it seems to make him think. The Hurt Syndicate comes in to say join them in the ring. MJF looks shaken, which you don’t see happen very often.

Hurt Syndicate vs. Top Flight

Non-title and MVP and Leila Grey are both here too. Top Flight starts fast but Lashley pulls Dante’s dive out of the air. Darius adds a dive of his own to break that up but Benjamin sends Darius flying with a suplex back inside. Lashley plants Darius on the apron and drops him with a neckbreaker, setting up Benjamin’s release German suplex. Dante tries a springboard to make the save but gets kneed out to the floor. The spear crushes Dante and the Hurt Lock finishes him off at 4:26.

Rating: C-. So Top Flight is leaving right? This was a total destruction that you do not see very often with actual established names. Top Flight got in pretty much nothing here and were completely decimated. And for what exactly? The sake of clearing the way for DUSTIN RHODES getting another big spot?

Post match the Sons Of Texas come out to say cut it out. The challenge is on but here is Cru to interrupt. They want the title match as well but Rhodes says not so fast. MVP calls it off and says make it a #1 contenders match instead. I have no idea why I would want to see that.

Post break and the Hurt Syndicate is still in the ring with MVP calling out MJF. There’s no MJF so Benjamin goes to the back to find him, with MJF hiding at the Gorilla Position. A rather scared looking MJF comes to the ring and it’s time for the official voting. MVP and Benjamin give him the thumbs up and that leaves Lashley. With his arm around MJF, Lashley teases the thumb going down and then puts it up, with MJF officially joining the team. Next week, the official contract signing. That’s a big surprise and I’m curious about the next step. I’d call that a good sign.

Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa vs. AZM vs. Skye Blue

Non-title Eliminator match and this is Blue’s first match in a very long time after breaking her ankle. We see a clip of AZM winning the NJPW Women’s Strong Openweight Title from Mercedes Mone (albeit in a triple threat with Mone not factoring into the decision). It’s a brawl to start with Storm and Blue fighting to the floor. Shirakawa and AZM trade rollups for two each, with Shirakawa’s dance being cut off.

The pairings trade places and Blue hits a springboard tornado DDT to drop Storm. Back up and Shirakawa and Storm have a staredown, which quickly breaks down into an exchange of forearms. AZM comes in as Shirakawa ties up Storm’s legs, only to suplex AZM at the same time. Storm makes it to the ropes to break the Figure Four and goes outside, with Shirakawa taking her out with a dive. AZM hits a dive of her own and Blue takes all three of them out with her own dive.

We take a break and come back the four of them fighting in the ring until Storm and AZM are dropped. That’s broken up as well and Storm hits a series of running hip attacks in the corner. Shirakawa kicks Blue in the head but gets suplexed by Storm. The chokebomb plants Blue but she’s fine enough to come back with Code Blue. AZM comes off the top for the save and plants Blue for two. Storm Zero gets two on AZM, only for Shirakawa to small package Storm for the pin at 12:12.

Rating: B-. Good, action packed match here, though I have no idea why Blue was brought back in her hometown and put in the middle of a four way match where pretty much anyone could have been in the spot. Shirakawa is at least someone the fans know and who has a bit of a history around here so making her the next #1 contender is a good enough way to go.

Post match the title match is set for Double Or Nothing and arguing ensues. Cue Mercedes Mone to jump AZM from behind and put her in the Bank Statement. Jamie Hayter makes the save. Let me guess: Mone gets a chance to win her title back on Dynamite or Collision against someone who has pretty much no history around here but Mone wants to do it so here we are.

Commentary pays tribute to Sabu, with Taz breaking down in tears.

MJF can’t believe he’s part of the team and MVP is pleased…but MJF calls in his lawyer Mark Sterling to check out the contract. MVP doesn’t seem pleased.

Here is Nigel McGuinness to address the FTR situation. After apologizing to Tony Schiavone (in the ring with him), he asks Daniel Garcia to come out for an apology as well. McGuinness immediately apologizes to Garcia for costing him the chance to win a match and promises it won’t happen again. Garcia says McGuinness did exactly what he should have done and he wants McGuinness to join him for a fight.

Cue Stokely Hathaway to interrupt and ask what is McGuinness’ problem. McGuinness didn’t like someone getting physical with him but Hathaway doesn’t accept. He issues the challenge to a match with FTR, but McGuinness keeps it simple: he and Garcia barely know each other and FTR are a great team so it wouldn’t be close.

Garcia doesn’t care and says he’s overcome the odds for his entire career and wants McGuinness to take the mat. Hathaway taunts McGuinness, saying he can’t beat FTR when he barely beat hepatitis. That makes McGuinness get way more serious but here is FTR from underneath the ring to jump the good guys. Matt Menard makes the save with a crowbar. That’s an interesting way to go and I kind of love McGuinness being realistic about the whole thing.

Here’s what’s coming on Collision.

The cage is lowered (and it comes down fast).

AEW World Title: Jon Moxley vs. Samoa Joe

Joe is challenging in a cage. They go with the grappling to start and go nowhere so it’s time to slug it out. Joe sends him into the cage before it’s off to the chopping. A running knee in the corner rocks Moxley and a big elbow gets two. Moxley starts going after the leg to take over, meaning it’s time for some cranking. A Figure Four has Joe in more trouble for a bit, only for Moxley to get back up for a big boot.

We take a break and come back with the Death Riders at ringside. Moxley and Joe are busted open as they slug it out as the Opps are here too. Joe wins the slugout and hits some atomic drops into the big boot and backsplash for two. The powerbomb into the STF into the crossface has Moxley in trouble but he makes the rope. For a break. In a cage match.

Back up and Moxley’s clotheslines rock Joe, setting up a cutter for two. A cross armbreaker is blocked so Moxley goes with the bulldog choke. That’s broken up as well and Joe grabs the Koquina Clutch, meaning it’s time for everyone on the floor to brawl. Joe lets go of the Clutch though and a guy in a black hoodie slides in the briefcase so Moxley can knock Joe out to retain at 14:57.

Rating: B-. This wasn’t a bad match at all, but it felt like a countdown to whatever way there was for Moxley to escape with the title again. In this case it was someone else interfering to take Joe out, possibly giving him a new opponent. Hopefully Moxley loses the thing at All In, but at this point I’m not getting my hopes up.

And it’s Gabe Kidd from New Japan. The cage is raised and everyone else gets in a big brawl on the floor. Cue the Young Bucks to offer a handshake to Moxley but cue Kenny Omega to go after the Death Riders. Kazuchika Okada takes Omega out and throws him inside as the cage is lowered again. Mike Bailey comes out and brawls to the back with Okada but the big beatdown is on.

Swerve Strickland comes in and climbs the cage to dive onto the villains. The cage is raised so the Death Riders and company leave. Strickland issues the challenge for Anarchy In The Arena at Double Or Nothing. That’s a tradition for the show and it lets Moxley keep the title until he gets to a new challenger at All In.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show where the bigger parts worked well but there was a stretch that really didn’t work so well. It did a nice job of getting things ready for Double Or Nothing so we’ll call those segments a success. I’m not sure if this really felt like a special, though the main event did feel big. It’s just time to get beyond the Death Riders stuff though, as it stopped being interesting a long, long time ago.

Results
Will Ospreay/Hangman Page b. Don Callis Family – Buckshot Lariat/Hidden Blade to Alexander
Ricochet b. Zack Gowen – Spirit Gun
Hurt Syndicate b. Top Flight – Hurt Lock to Dante
Mina Shirakawa b. AZM, Skye Blue and Toni Storm – Small package to Storm
Jon Moxley b. Samoa Joe – Briefcase to the face

 

 

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Collision – April 26, 2025: They’re Still Fighting

Collision
Date: April 26, 2025
Location: Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We are about a month away from Double Or Nothing and in this case it means we have a lot of things to set up for the show. There is a chance some of those will come together here, but odds are this is going to be more of a wrestling based show. That’s what Collision tends to do better so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Here is Swerve Strickland, with Prince Nana, to get things going. Hold on though as here are the Young Bucks, who say Swerve’s match is….now, despite him being in street clothes.

Swerve Strickland vs. Blake Christian

The Bucks are watching from the aisle as Christian stomps away to start. A springboard kick puts Strickland down again and a dropkick sends him to the floor. There’s a running flip dive and a ram into the steps to keep Strickland in trouble. Back in and Christian neckbreakers him down but gets caught with the House Call. The JML Driver finishes for Strickland at 4:24.

Rating: C. So the Bucks can control the show and the best they have for Swerve is mildly inconveniencing him against a jobber? That’s not the best punishment, but then again they’re not exactly the best bosses. I’m sure this feud will keep going for weeks with a likely tag match of some sort at Double Or Nothing, because the Bucks have to be a thing in this company.

Post match Lee Johnson runs in to go after Swerve and gets cleared out. That brings in the Young Bucks to beat Swerve down. Kenny Omega runs in for the save.

Samoa Joe thinks Jon Moxley has simple motivations because he benefits from the chaos he causes. Joe is not a problem who is disturbed by chaos and he is coming for the title.

Toni Storm vs. Queen Aminata

Non-title. Storm takes her down a few times to start and pulls her into a headlock off a handshake. Aminata drops her with a shoulder as we talk about Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada being in a tag match on Dynamite. A snap suplex drops Storm against the ropes but she avoids the running hip attack. They go to the apron where Aminata gets in a running boot and we take a break.

Back with a double headbutt putting both of them down before Storm pulls her into an STF. The rope is grabbed so Aminata is back up with a running boot to the face. They go to the floor with Aminata avoiding the running hip attack against the barricade. Instead Aminata hits a Beach Break of all things for two back inside. A pop up powerbomb gives Storm two more and she snaps off a German suplex. The running hip attack sets up the Storm Zero to pin Aminata at 11:38.

Rating: C+. Aminata is firmly in the area of “she has nothing to do but she’s good enough in the ring to keep her around”. That doesn’t make for bad matches, but it does make matches like this, where she has next to no chance of winning, feel pretty long. Storm is just killing time until she gets to the winner of the Owen Hart Cup, but that’s going to take a good while.

Respect is shown post match.

Jeff Jarrett and company yell at Sonjay Dutt for being late so Jay Lethal is ready to be the new idea man.

Here is Max Caster for his chant and open challenge.

Max Caster vs. Hologram

Hologram runs the ropes to start and snaps off a running hurricanrana. Caster’s chop in the corner only hits buckle and a Spanish Fly cuts him off. They go outside with Hologram hitting a running headbutt, setting up the Portal Bomb for the pin at 1:54. As usual, commentary hypes up Hologram’s undefeated streak and I continue to wonder when he’s going to do anything important.

We look at the opening of Dynamite, with Master P coming out, triggering a brawl between the Opps and the Death Riders.

Cru vs. Top Flight

Texas Tornado tag and Leila Grey is here with Top Flight. It’s a brawl to start and Cru whip out some kendo sticks as commentary recaps the feud. Rather than use the sticks, Cru goes back inside and gets beaten down, with a double belly to back suplex getting two on Andretti. Cru goes after Grey though and the distraction lets them take over with a pair of dives. Darius gets cracked with a trashcan and we take a break.

Back with Dante fighting back with a trashcan lid before a bag of Mardi Grab beads is poured out. The spinning half nelson slam onto the beats has Rush in trouble but a dropkick slows Darius down. A double suplex through the chair gets two on Darius but Grey grabs a chain shot. Grey gets knocked off the apron and it’s a springboard 450 to finish Darius at 11:05.

Rating: C+. If you can find a reason for this feud to need to keep going this long, you’re smarter than I am. I’m not sure why this is supposed to be interesting but it feels like they have been feuding for months now. Cru seems to only exist to annoy Top Flight and since Top Flight hasn’t mattered in forever, it’s hard to get that into the feud.

Anna Jay vs. Taylor Gainey

This is Jay’s first match in about four months and she wins with the Gory Bomb in 55 seconds.

Post match Penelope Ford comes in for the brawl with Jay and Megan Bayne comes in to lay Jay out.

Mercedes Mone is ready for Jamie Hayter.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Dralistico

Bandido is defending. We get a pose off to start and Dralistico bails to the floor before coming back in for a lockup. Bandido takes him down but misses a slingshot splash, allowing Dralistico to come back with a slingshot hurricanrana. They chop it out on the apron as commentary continues to hype up Omega and Okada in a tag match on Dynamite.

A hurricanrana sends Bandido crashing to the floor and we take a break with the medics checking on Dralistico. Back with Bandido dropkicking him to the floor for the running flip dive. Bandido’s frog splash gets two but so does Dralistico’s enziguri. A crucifix bomb drops Bandido but he pops back up with a PK for the double down. Dralistico stops to yell at the referee and gets caught with the 21 Plex to retain the title at 11:24.

Rating: B-. For those of you keeping track, Dralistico has not won a singles match in either AEW or ROH since 2023. Therefore it is a bit much to believe that he is worthy of a World Title shot, but that’s how Ring Of Honor and its titles work. It’s one of those things that keeps happening and it isn’t going to change, which is hardly a surprise at all.

Big Bill and Bryan Keith want to win matches and hurt people.. Therefore, they want the Gates Of Agony.

Rush vs. AR Fox

Rush starts fast by knocking him to the floor for some rams into the barricade. Back in and Rush kicks him in the face, setting up the tranquilo pose. Fox rolls him up for a fast two and an enziguri sends Rush outside. The big dive connects and a rather long Swanton gives Fox two more. That’s enough for Rush, who knocks him into the corner for the Bull’s Horns and the pin at 3:06.

Rating: C. This has been the latest “Rush beats someone up and then (probably) doesn’t do anything for months on end” match. Fox is firmly in the spot of being there to make someone else look good and he did so well enough here. As is the case with so many others around here though, it’s hard to buy that Rush is going anywhere given his track record.

Roppongi Vice is back together and beat up the Outrunners.

Video on Kyle Fletcher vs. Hangman Page.

FTR vs. Paragon

Stokely Hathaway is here with FTR. Strong and Harwood start things off with Harwood hitting a running shoulder. Everything breaks down and FTR bail to the floor, where it’s time to threaten Schiavone. Back in and Harwood is knocked outside so a backbreaker/middle rope knee combination can hit Wheeler.

We take a break and come back with O’Reilly coming back in, only to get dropped with a clothesline. Strong’s leg gets crushed in the steps and O’Reilly is whipped into them as well. In case you didn’t get it the first two times, we hear about Omega vs. Okada in the Dynamite tag match again. Back in and Wheeler’s clothesline sets up Harwood’s slingshot suplex for two. Strong gets knocked off the apron again to make his knee even worse, meaning there is no one for O’Reilly to tag.

O’Reilly kicks away at FTR and a collision with Harwood leaves both of them down. Strong tries to get up and gets dropped knee first onto the steps again. Back in and O’Reilly’s guillotine choke is cut off with a top rope ax handle and we take another breaker. We come back again with O’Reilly Angle Slamming Harwood but getting knocked outside. O’Reilly gets back in and finally brings Strong in to (gingerly) clean house.

The fireman’s carry gutbuster gets two on Harwood and a half nelson backbreaker hits Wheeler, banging up the knee all over again. Harwood puts on the Hartbreaker around the post and Wheeler grabs a Figure Four back inside. O’Reilly is back in to take Wheeler outside and Strong ankle locks Harwood. Wheeler makes the save though and the spike piledriver finishes Strong at 20:45.

Rating: B. This got time and had a story built in with the knee, along with FTR being a lot more aggressive after their recent turn. Hathaway alone makes them feel more evil as he’s quite the squirrely manager. I’m not sure where FTR is going as they aren’t likely to go after the Hurt Syndicate, but this is a breath of fresh air for a team that needed it.

Post match the beatdown stays on but Adam Cole and Daniel Garcia, the latter with a crowbar, make the save to end the show. Garcia says FTR didn’t stick the knife deep enough so revenge is coming.

Overall Rating: C+. This show had quite a bit of wrestling, which thankfully included some shorter matches to keep things moving. At the same time, it also had a bunch of stuff that really didn’t feel important but rather came from the lower levels of the card to fill in this show. As usual, it’s not a bad show at all, but not quite a show that feels like necessary viewing.

Results
Swerve Strickland b. Blake Christian – JML Driver
Toni Storm b. Queen Aminata – Storm Zero
Hologram b. Max Caster – Portal Bomb
Cru b. Top Flight – Springboard 450 to Darius
Anna Jay b. Taylor Gainey – Gory Bomb
Bandido b. Dralistico – 21 Plex
Rush b. AR Fox – Bull’s Horns
FTR b. Paragon – Spike piledriver to Strong

 

 

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Ring Of Honor – April 24, 2025: Wake Me When It’s Over

Ring Of Honor
Date: April 24, 2025
Location: MGM Music Hall At Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re in another weird period as Supercard Of Honor has been moved to the summer, meaning we have a few weeks where very little is going to matter. Maybe it has something to do with nothing being announced for a show which would have been held next week. Either way, we could use some fresh challengers for various titles so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

Premiere Athletes/The Righteous vs. Spanish Announce Project/Kingdom

The Athletes take Angelico into the corner for the early beating but it’s quickly off to Serpentico for a knockdown. Serpentico is hiptossed onto Nese for two and it’s Taven coming in for a dropkick. Bennett’s clothesline gets two and Nese bails out to the floor, with the chase resulting in Bennett taking a beating.

Back in and the Righteous takes turns beating on Bennett, with Dutch’s clothesline getting two. The chinlock goes on and Nese comes in for one of his own. Bennett fights out and the big tag brings in Taven to clean house. A superkick into the Lionsault gets two on Daivari and Serpentico comes in off a blind tag. Everything breaks down and the Boss Man Slam into Orange Sunshine finishes Serpentico at 8:13.

Rating: C. This was the latest match involving all of the tag teams around here and there is only so much you can get out of these teams who are not going anywhere anytime soon. That is the problem with the tag division basically being Rhodes and Guevara and one other team at a time, because….oh you know the rest by now. It’s the same problem it’s been for months and it isn’t changing.

Crowbar vs. Lance Archer

Yes the one from WCW and he’s in good shape. Crowbar drops to his back a few times and gets forearmed in the face before the bell. Archer grabs a suplex and Crowbar is sent outside, where he gets in a shot of his own. Back in and Archer knocks him down again, only to miss a charge in the corner. Crowbar drops some legs between the legs for two but Crowbar takes too long going for the crowbar, meaning it’s a chokeslam. The Blackout finishes for Archer at 4:51.

Rating: C. There is something amazing about seeing someone like Crowbar, who hasn’t been around on the big stage in decades, showing up here for a perfectly fine match. He’s in good shape for someone at his age and he didn’t get entirely destroyed here. Not a great match or anything, but a nice little surprise.

We look at Nick Wayne winning the TV Title last week. On Collision of course.

Red Velvet vs. Ashley Vox

Non-title Proving Ground match meaning if Vox wins or lasts the ten minute time limit, she gets a future Women’s TV Title shot. Vox’s rather firm handshake is pulled into a clothesline and Velvet starts fast. Velvet knocks her down again and we hit the chinlock with a knee in Vox’s back. Vox fights up but gets hammered in the corner. Another comeback works a bit better as Vox hits a running knee into a spinning clothesline for two. Back up and Velvet knocks her cold with the big left hand for the win at 4:28.

Rating: C-. They didn’t have much time to do much here and Vox is a decent enough independent star but you can only get so much out of a women’s midcard title when it doesn’t need to be there in the first place. The division barely exists as Athena has destroyed everyone so it’s a collection of losers. That doesn’t make for an interesting title picture and it’s only going to get worse with a third title being brought into the division.

Post match La Catalina comes out for a staredown.

Leila Grey, Taya Valkyrie and Deonna Purrazzo are in the Women’s Pure Rules Title. For those not keeping track: the men’s version has only been defended twice this year.

Mark Briscoe/AR Fox/Top Flight vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

Briscoe and Taylor slug it out to start until Briscoe’s crossbody is pulled out of the air. Fox and Moriarty come in with Fox taking over, including knocking Bravo down as well. Back in and Bravo tosses Fox into a suplex from Dean and the villains take over. Bravo’s gutbuster gets two and the chinlock goes on.

Fox fights up with a spinning suplex for the break and it’s off to Darius to pick up the pace. House is cleaned, at least until Taylor gets in a big forearm. The splash gets two and Taylor’s chop seems to destroy part of Darius’ soul. Darius manages a running C4 to Dean and it’s off to Dante to clean house. A springboard Swanton gets two on a standing Moriarty as everything breaks down. Fox dives onto Taylor on the floor and the Jay Driller finishes Dean at 8:27.

Rating: C+. At least some of the people involved here feel somewhat important, as that has not exactly been the case for most of this show. Briscoe is always worth a look and the Promotions are more or less the designated punching bags. Not exactly a great main event, but it’s the best thing on the show this week.

Overall Rating: C-. On one hand, this show gets big points for only being about forty five minutes long, but on the other hand, my goodness did it feel like the most nothing show imaginable. None of the four matches on here felt important in the slightest and the only thing we got was a staredown about the….we’ll say second most important women’s title of the three. It certainly wasn’t a terrible show, but I don’t think they could have made it feel less important.

Results
Righteous/Premiere Athletes b. Spanish Announce Project/Kingdom – Orange Sunshine to Serpentico
Lance Archer b. Crowbar – Blackout
Red Velvet b. Ashley Vox – Left hand
Mark Briscoe/AR Fox/Top Flight b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Jay Driller to Dean

 

 

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Collision – April 17, 2025: They’re On A Roll

Collision
Date: April 17, 2025
Location: MGM Music Hall At Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s a special Thursday edition of the show and hopefully that means AEW uses the chance that they have to crank things up a bit. We still have a long time to go before Double Or Nothing but we are coming off one heck of a Dynamite so this show is going to have its work cut out. Hopefully they can live up to the hype so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence, still with the Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting theme.

We get a big recap of Dynamite.

Marina Shafir beats up…I guess a production worker and here are the rest of the Death Riders to wreck a bunch of stuff. Jon Moxley says everyone who was celebrating last night, enjoy it while you can. He officially doesn’t like the Young Bucks and threatens their future if they cross his path again. That brings him to Samoa Joe, who Moxley has always respected but Joe has started something that Moxley has to finish. That is why Moxley is challenging Joe for a World Title match and the team leaves.

We run down the card.

Kevin Knight vs. Lance Archer

Don Callis is here with Archer, who unloads on Knight in the corner to start. Knight slips out of a chokeslam and dropkicks him onto the ramp. A dive takes him down again and Knight unloads in the corner, only to get dropped with a single shot. Archer misses a shot to the face and gets knocked down by a heck of a running shoulder. They go outside with Knight being swung into the steps.

We take a break and come back with Knight still in trouble and being dropped with a single right hand. An overhead German suplex sends Knight flying again but the Blackout and a chokeslam are both escaped. Knight avoids a charge in the corner but gets kicked down to cut him off again. A super hurricanrana brings Archer out of the corner and a splash gets two. Archer buckle bombs him into a chokeslam for two but Knight breaks up Old School. Knight hits a diving clothesline to the floor and another one connects for the surprise pin at 11:42.

Rating: B. I dug this, with Knight fighting from beneath the entire way and finally knocking the giant down for the win. Knight is clearly someone AEW sees something in and if they are going to push him as a big deal, he needs to win matches like this one. Good win here, with Archer being someone who can be rebuilt rather quickly.

The Opps are still serious but they’re happy with their Trios Titles win.

Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter respect each other but they’re ready to face off in the Women’s Owen Hart Tournament.

FTR has sent in an apology to Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness, though Schiavone needed to be scared a bit. They didn’t want to hurt Nigel either, as his body and mind are fragile.

We look at Josh Alexander joining the Don Callis Family.

Josh Alexander/Konosuke Takeshita vs. Rocky Romero/Tomohiro Ishii

Takeshita and Ishii slug it out to start until Ishii shrugs off a running shoulder. Takeshita clothesline him down and it’s a double tag to Alexander and Romero. Alexander easily takes over and we go to a break. Back with Romero hitting a super Sliced Bread on Takeshita and handing it back to Ishii to slug away. Everything breaks down and Ishii drops Takeshita with a clothesline.

Alexander’s torture rack bomb plants Ishii for two but Romero is there with a springboard spinning crossbody. A German suplex gives Alexander two on Ishii but he’s back up to save Romero from a powerbomb. Ishii shrugs off a German suplex and a double shot to the face leave Ishii and Alexander down. Romero is knocked down as well, leaving Alexander and Takeshita to hit stereo discus forearms to Ishii. A powerbomb gives Alexander the pin at 10:22.

Rating: B-. Another good, hard hitting match here, even with Romero there as his usual annoying self. This was a way for Alexander to look good and while he probably would have gotten more out of doing this on his own, I’ll take him getting a win where I can. Takeshita gets a win after his loss to Will Ospreay in their classic on Dynamite, so this was a good way to go.

Post match Ishii and Romero have issues and the fight is on. Cue a man in a hoodie to help take Ishii out….and it’s Trent Beretta. They pull out a monkey wrench to lay Ishii out again.

Mercedes Mone is excited to be in Boston but Harley Cameron pops up with the puppet. Mone gets annoyed that she started talking to the puppet and storms off.

Megan Bayne vs. Rebecca Scott/Ashley Vox

Penelope Ford is here with Bayne. A double dropkick doesn’t hurt Bayne, who suplexes both of them at once. Three straight powerbombs have not Bayne in trouble and Fate’s Descent drops Vox onto Scott for the double pin at 1:15. The fans were WAY into Bayne here and it’s no surprise given how awesome she looked.

Video on Anthony Bowens.

TNT Title: Adam Cole vs. ???

Cole is defending in an open challenge against….Claudio Castagnoli. Well that’s a big one. Castagnoli throws stuff on the way to the ring and seems to have banged up Nigel’s knee. Cole gets powered into the corner to start and knocked down but grabs a quickly broken sleeper. Cole’s running knee gets two and Castagnoli is frustrated on the floor.

That’s fine with Cole, who avoids a running uppercut against the barricade, only to get sent flying over said barricade. Since countouts aren’t a thing around here, Cole gets back inside, where Castagnoli grabs a chinlock. Someone is bleeding from somewhere as Cole is sent outside again and we take a break.

Back with Castagnoli charging into a superkick in the corner and we get a double breather. Castagnoli blasts him with a clothesline but gets caught with a Death Valley Driver onto the knee. Back up and the swing has Cole down into a crossface, followed by Swiss Death for two. Castagnoli unloads with uppercuts in the corner and a top rope superplex gets one…and Cole reverses into a crucifix to retain at 15:14.

Rating: B. This was almost a squash until the ending, which came so out of nowhere that it took me by surprise. It’s nice to see the Death Riders losing clean again, even if it came after Castagnoli beat the fire out of Cole. That’s not the worst way to go and I liked how well it went, even if it was Castagnoli getting caught rather than being defeated.

Post match Castagnoli wrecks a bunch of things and Jon Moxley and the Death Riders have to get him away from ringside.

We recap Chris Jericho walking out on the Learning Tree last week.

The Learning Tree is disappointed in Jericho but Bryan Keith tells Big Bill to keep it private. They want to handle it like family, but Bill doesn’t seem happy.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. KM/Rosario Grillo/LSG

La Faccion jumps them at the bell and the beatdown is on in a hurry. LSG gets taken apart and KM is knocked into the corner. Dralistico hits a big flip dive to the floor and the Bull’s Horns finishes Rush at 1:52. Complete destruction.

Kevin Knight is happy with his win but not so much with the Don Callis Family. Mike Bailey congratulates him but Ricochet interrupts. Ricochet tells him to not mess with the chain of command, though Knight says he respects Ricochet for what he has done. Knight mocks Ricochet’s lack of hair and a fight is teased, with Bailey saying they’ll do this later.

Ring Of Honor TV Title: Nick Wayne vs. Komander

Wayne is challenging and gets hammered into the corner to start. Komander cuts him off with a kick to the head but it’s too early for Cielito Lindo. Instead Komander hits a springboard high crossbody, only for Wayne to snap the back of his neck across the top rope. Another springboard is broken up and Komander is sent crashing out to the floor as we take a break.

Back with Komander putting him on the top and running the corner for a kick to the head. A running Swanton hits Wayne on the ramp but he rolls Komander up for two. Komander’s poisonrana gets two more so Wayne kicks him in the head. Wayne’s World is broken up and Komander knocks him to the floor for a big dive. Back in and Cielito Lindo hits raised boots and a fisherman’s buster gives Wayne the pin and the title at 11:03.

Rating: B. This got going near the end and I’ll take Wayne getting the title rather than having Komander just being around as champion and not doing much. I could go for Christian Cage coming after the title and not being able to get it, but at least Wayne is doing something. Now if only he could be doing that on Ring Of Honor instead of around here.

Video on Hologram.

Top Flight is ready to fight Cru next week. Cru comes in for some shouting.

Kris Statlander/Julia Hart vs. Mercedes Mone/Harley Cameron

Toni Storm is on commentary. Cameron tries to throw the puppet in to start and it is promptly stomped down. A headscissors sends Statlander down for a bit better success but she muscles Cameron over for a suplex. Hart comes in with Old School and a basement lariat for two but Cameron is back up with an enziguri. Mone comes in but gets sent outside as we take an early break.

Back with Mone grabbing a wristdrag out of the corner, setting up Three Amigos to Statlander. That’s fine with Statlander, who rolls double suplexes to show off. Mone and Cameron wind up on top of each other so Hart moonsaults onto both of them. Everything breaks down and Hart is up first (Storm: “That is one spooky b****.”) for the moonsault to Mone’s raised boots. Statlander muscles Mone up but Cameron tags herself in, allowing Statlander to hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Statlander hits Hayterade to pin Cameron at 11:03.

Rating: C+. The ending was a fine enough way to set up Hayter vs. Statlander and that’s all this match really needed. Cameron taking the fall is a good enough way to go as losing to Statlander isn’t going to hurt her. At the same time, Mone and Cameron could wind up being a fun wacky pair if they go that way, though it could go in a few different directions.

Overall Rating: B. Another pretty awesome show here with some solid action throughout and the Death Riders taking another step towards falling apart. That’s what we have been needing around here for a long time now and while they have a long way to go, this is definitely a step in the right direction. Other than that, the stories were advanced well enough and they still have time to get ready for Double Or Nothing. This show felt like another edition of Dynamite and that’s what it should have been given the situation they were in here.

Results
Kevin Knight b. Lance Archer – Springboard clothesline
Josh Alexander/Konosuke Takeshita b. Rocky Romero/Tomohiro Ishii – Powerbomb to Alexander
Megan Bayne b. Rebecca Scott/Ashley Vox – Double pin
Adam Cole b. Claudio Castagnoli – Crucifix
La Faccion Ingobernable b. KM/Rosario Grillo/LSG – Bull’s Horns to Rush
Nick Wayne b. Komander – Fisherman’s buster
Kris Statlander/Julia Hart b. Harley Cameron/Mercedes Mone – Hayterade to Cameron

 

 

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Ring Of Honor – April 17, 2025: Because We Need More

Ring Of Honor
Date: April 17, 2025
Location: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

This is a special bonus episode of the show to hype up the special Spring Breakthru edition of Collision later tonight. I’m not sure what Ring Of Honor has to do with getting me excited for Collision but who am I to argue about more Ring Of Honor? If nothing else, we only have about two weeks before Supercard Of Honor so it’s time to get ready for the show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Top Flight vs. Tomohiro Ishii/Rocky Romero

Leila Grey is here with Top Flight. Dante and Romero go with the grappling to start and Romero’s armbar doesn’t last long. Darius comes in for a suplex and Dante’s slingshot hilo gets a fast two. It’s off to Ishii, who actually loses a slugout with Darius and gets caught with a dropkick.

Ishii pulls him into a suplex though and chops away in the corner before handing it back to Romero. Darius ducks a chop and dives over to Darius for a springboard crossbody. An assisted tornado DDT plants Romero for two with Ishii making the save. Romero uses Ishii as a springboard to hit a standing Sliced Bread on Darius but Ishii lariats Romero by mistake. Darius takes Ishii out and Dante’s spinning half nelson slam finishes Romero at 6:46.

Rating: C+. Nice opener here, with Top Flight being about as good of a choice as you’re going to find for such a match around here. Ishii and Romero are established enough names despite not being much of a regular team in Ring Of Honor. I’ll spare you my usual rant about Top Flight needing to get closer to the titles because it just isn’t going to happen.

Post match Romero and Ishii get in a bit of an argument.

Shane Taylor vs. KM

KM’s running shoulders don’t have any impact as Taylor knocks him down instead. The big right hand finishes KM at 1:20.

Red Velvet is ready for either Taya Valkyrie or La Catalina. Either one can come for the title but it will still be “and still”.

La Catalina vs. Taya Valkyrie

For a Women’s TV Title shot. Catalina armdrags her down to start but Valkyrie is back up with a big boot. They fight to the floor with Valkyrie taking over and getting in a bit of dancing. Back in and Catalina hits a running knee and a Sling Blade gets two. Valkyrie hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two of her own, followed by a spear for the same. Catalina catches her up top though and an electric chair sets up a top rope splash to finish Valkyrie at 5:46.

Rating: C+. This was a fine enough way to set up Catalina for a title shot, as Valkyrie has been treated as a big enough star for the time being. I could go for Catalina winning the title, as it isn’t like Velvet has been doing anything with it in recent months. Throw in the idea of CMLL winning another title and it could make the ties between the promotions that much better.

Nick Wayne vs. Michael Oku

Mother Wayne is here with Nick. Wayne kicks away a handshake offer so they run the ropes, only for Oku to hit a dropkick into the corner. Oku sends him into the buckle and hits a dropkick dropkick out to the floor. It’s too early for a dive though as Wayne flips the leg to send Oku crashing onto the apron. Back in and Oku blocks a full nelson and hits a missile dropkick into a tornado DDT.

A Lionsault hits knees though and Wayne snaps off a dragon suplex to leave them both down. Oku sends him outside for a running flip dive, setting up the half crab to send Wayne to the ropes. Back in and Mother Wayne offers a distraction, allowing Kip Sabian to shove Oku off the top. Wayne’s World finishes Oku at 8:09.

Rating: B-. This was one of the better Oku matches I’ve seen in a good while as I’m usually not the biggest fan of his stuff. The ending was a bit annoying as it was the same stuff that happens far too often with the Patriarchy or other heel stables. It helps that they kept things moving here and had a pretty action packed match.

Overall Rating: C+. They didn’t exactly do much here and I’m not sure what this was supposed to do to make me care about this week’s Collision. That being said, it was only about thirty six minutes long and it helps to get them in and out. It certainly felt like a bonus show and not something you need to see, but at least it was on Youtube, where Ring Of Honor should always be.

Results
Top Flight b. Tomohiro Ishii/Rocky Romero – Spinning half nelson slam to Romero
Shane Taylor b. KM – Running right hand
La Catalina b. Taya Valkyrie – Top rope splash
Nick Wayne b. Michael Oku – Wayne’s World

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