Rampage
Date: December 27, 2024
Location: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Matt Menard, Tony Schiavone

It seems to be the last episode of the show and that means…well pretty much nothing, as there is nothing out of the ordinary announced for the show. It’s also the last show before tomorrow’s Worlds End event and that means we should be getting one big final push towards the pay per view. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Chris Jericho vs. Anthony Bowens

Non-title and Big Bill and Max Caster are here too. Jericho mocks the scissoring to start and Bowens elbows away but Caster gets on the apron to pose, with Bowens shoving him away. A belly to back suplex lets Jericho chop away in the corner but the bulldog is shoved off. Bowens wins a chop off and hits a spinning hanging DDT for two. A quick Liontamer has Bowens in trouble and we take a break.

Back with Bowens finally making the rope and hitting a Fameasser for two. Jericho gets thrown outside so Bowens can dive onto both villains at once. Cue Bryan Keith for a failed distraction, allowing Caster to come in for Scissor Me Timbers. A superkick gives Bowens two but Caster and Keith come in with the ROH title. That means a tug of war with Caster accidentally hitting Bowens in the face with the belt to give Jericho the pin at 10:10.

Rating: C+. This was Bowens’ first big singles match and while he held his own, it was also about the issue with Caster at the end rather than the match itself. The Acclaimed seems to be on the way to a split and that might be best for everyone involved. The team seems to be out of steam and Bowens has shown potential before. He did it again here as he was fine enough on his own, with the fans seemingly rather invested in him.

Video on Private Party going through the streets of New York on their way to the arena.

Private Party vs. Alec Price/Leo Sparrow

Non-title. Gin and Juice finishes Price at 1:01. Just a quick squash for the hometown champs.

Post match Lio Rush/Action Andretti run in for the brawl, with Top Flight joining in.

Powerhouse Hobbs is ready to take the International Title from Konosuke Takeshita.

Thunder Rosa vs. Leila Grey

They go with the grappling to start until Grey takes her down. That’s reversed into a chinlock before a basement clothesline gives Rosa two. Grey fights up and strikes away, with a basement dropkick connecting for two of her own. We take a break and come back with Rosa hitting a running shot in the corner, setting up a slingshot dropkick. A Side Effect gives Grey two more but Rosa stomps her in the back, shouts YOU CAN’T KILL ME, and grabs a seated cobra clutch for the tap at 7:49.

Rating: C+. This was a way to get Rosa warmed up for her title shot on Saturday against someone who is a bit better than the usual cannon fodder. Rosa turned on the jets at the end here and it made for a nice showcase. I’m not sure if Rosa is going to win the title but at least she’s getting a strong build on the way there.

Worlds End rundown.

Hook vs. Nick Wayne

The Patriarchy is here with Wayne, who jumps Hook in the corner to start. That doesn’t work for Hook, who sends him into the same corner and hammers away. A snapmare into a quick legdrop gives Wayne two but Hook backdrops him out to the floor. Wayne sends him into the steps, where the Patriarchy can smash Hook’s bad hand. The referee tosses the rest of the villains though and we take a break.

Back with the cast having been removed from Hook’s hand so Wayne can stomp on the bare hand. Hook snaps off a suplex but Wayne goes to the hand to block another one. They go to the apron where Wayne goes after the hand again, only to get German suplexed down. Since it’s just a German suplex onto the apron, Wayne pops up and knocks him down, setting up a frog splash for two. Wayne mocks Taz’s pose and is promptly dropped with a clothesline. The Patriarchy comes back out but Hacksaw Shibata chases them off with a 2×4. Wayne’s World is loaded up but Hook pulls him into Redrum for the tap at 12:29.

Rating: B-. This made Hook look good as he continues his way towards Christian Cage. That’s all you need for a match like this, as he got to smash through another of Cage’s minions. Wayne losing isn’t going to hurt his status as this is all about Cage, and that match can be set up later on.

The Death Riders have attacked Darby Allin. They Pillmanize his neck and kick him down some stairs, which eels like a normal Friday night for him.

Here are the Death Riders with a chair for an in-ring chat. Jon Moxley thinks the fans booing him really hate themselves and there are a lot of people who don’t like the things that he does. If anyone has a problem with what he and the Death Riders do, come out here and tell him to his face. Cue Komander, who is promptly beaten down. Top Flight gets the same treatment so here are Willow Nightingale and Orange Cassidy. Jay White and Hangman Page run in for the big brawl.

The locker room clears out and we have an even bigger brawl. The Death Riders escape and destroy the tech equipment, leaving the arena mostly dark. Riccaboni: “This is a preview of what we will see at Worlds End.” You might not want to say that the pay per view is “pretty much nothing” Ian. We go to the tech truck where Moxley officially ends the show. So yes, the Death Riders have killed off an AEW program.

Overall Rating: B-. It was certainly a unique way to wrap up a show and it came after a pretty decent Rampage. The action was good enough and while it had a VERY New York heavy theme, it was an hour of wrestling that went by quickly and gave us a big closing segment to wrap things up before the pay per view. Nothing worth going out of your way to see here, but it could have been worse.

So that’s it for Rampage and…yeah it was time to go. At the end of the day, the show regularly had good action, but it was rarely anything that needed to be seen. If nothing else, I’m glad that we’re getting a night off from Tony Khan produced wrestling. Having it on four straight nights a week was getting to be too much so having a bit of time off might help. It wasn’t a bad show at all, but it didn’t feel important a lot of the time and that made for some long Friday nights.

Results
Chris Jericho b. Anthony Bowens – Belt shot from Max Caster
Private Party b. Alec Price/Leo Sparrow – Gin and Juice to Price
Thunder Rosa b. Leila Grey – Seated cobra clutch
Hook b. Nick Wayne – Redrum

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: December 20, 2024
Location: Entertainment & Sports Arena, Washington DC
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard, Ian Riccaboni

We’re on the second night of Holiday Bash and that should make for an interesting show. We’ll get some more of the Continental Classic, which only has a week left at this point and is starting to come into focus. Other than that, we are in for more of a build towards next weekend’s Worlds End so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Tony Schiavone bring out the Don Callis Family for a chat. Don Callis, now in a hat, brags about the team being the 1%ers of the wrestling world and brags about their recent efforts. Kyle Fletcher claims biased refereeing cost him his most recent Continental Classic match and now it is time to take out Daniel Garcia. Callis is ready to see Powerhouse Hobbs taken out at Worlds End.

Powerhouse Hobbs/Mark Davis vs. Konosuke Takeshita/Brian Cage

Don Callis is on commentary. Takeshita has to escape from an early spinebuster attempt and Hobbs isn’t pleased. Cage comes in to ram into Hobbs, who takes over. Davis comes in for a double shoulder but Takeshita breaks up a double suplex attempt. Takeshita hammers on Hobbs in the corner and gets in a bite as we slow down a bit. A suplex gets Hobbs out of trouble and it’s back to Davis to drop Cage. The backsplash hits knees though and Takeshita grabs the Blue Thunder Bomb for two as we take a break.

Back with a double tag bringing in Hobbs and Takeshita with the former cleaning house. A running powerslam plants Cage and there’s another one to Takeshita, with Callis not being pleased. The spinebuster hits Takeshita but Cage shoves Davis onto the cover for the save. Cage grabs a pumphandle faceplant for two and they all get in to trade big strikes. Hobbs Cactus Clotheslines Cage to the floor, leaving Davis to hit a running forearm to Takeshita in the corner. Takeshita is back up with a knee though and Raging Fire finishes Davis at 12:27.

Rating: B. This was a hard hitting match between four rather strong guys. Davis is still little more than a person who is there to fill in a spot but I’ll take him losing over someone with more value. Hobbs isn’t likely to win the title at Worlds End but I can go for seeing him getting a title shot to pay off his time in the Don Callis Family.

Willow Nightingale is fired up for Wrestle Dynasty. Kris Statlander comes in, almost sheepishly, and wishes her good luck.

Action Andretti/Lio Rush vs. Goldy/Myles Hawkins

Rush sends Goldy to the floor to start and Hawkins is kicked outside too. Back in and some strikes have Hawkins in trouble, setting up Andretti’s torture rack neckbreaker for the pin on Hawkins at 1:11.

Post match Private Party come out for the staredown but Top Flight makes the save.

Harley Cameron and Penelope Ford agree to watch each others’ backs, after some confusion over what is on Cameron’s back.

Willow Nightingale vs. Harley Cameron

Nightingale powers her down to start and grabs a belly to back suplex for an early two. Some corner clotheslines have Nightingale in more trouble and we take a break. Back with Nightingale missing a Cannonball, allowing Cameron to hit a Shining Wizard for two. Cameron reverses an electric chair into a victory roll for two but the Babe With The Powerbomb finishes her off at 6:45.

Rating: C. I really could go for less of Cameron losing. She has quite a few tools to be a star and the biggest of them all is that the fans care about her. That is a lot more than some stars can say and Cameron is starting to put things together in the ring to back it up. She shouldn’t be beating Nightingale or anything, but she doesn’t need to be losing as often either.

Post match Penelope Ford comes in for the save but Kris Statlander makes the save. Statlander leaves before any hugging can ensue.

Video on Thunder Rosa vs. Mariah May.

Jeff Jarrett teases doing something new in 2025.

Continental Classic Gold League: Brody King (3 points) vs. Komander (0 points)

Komander backs away to start, which is probably his best possible idea. Some strikes don’t do much to King, who drops Komander with a single shot. King slowly chops him around and hits some hard forearms to the side of the head. Back up and Komander’s very springboardy wristdrag is broken up with a chop and we take a break.

We come back with Komander still in trouble but managing something like an on the back abdominal stretch. A crucifix bomb sends King outside but he sends a diving Komander into the barricade. The running crossbody only hits barricade though and Komander is right there with a running flip dive to take King out again.

Back in and a heck of a sunset bomb sets up a 450 to give Komander two more. King misses a charge into the post and a double springboard moonsault to the floor drops him again. Cielito Lindo to the back has King in more trouble but he pulls Komander out of the air into a Ganso Bomb for the pin at 14:54.

Rating: B-. Komander has come a good way in the last few weeks and this was a good example. He was trying to bounce off a monster like King as well as he could and it went fairly well. As usual, King knows how to play a monster rather well and that was the case here. King gets a breather in the tournament and Komander continues to lose, which is just kind of expected at this point.

Gold League Standings

Darby Allin – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Claudio Castagnoli – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Will Ospreay – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Ricochet – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Brody King – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Komander – 0 points (1 match remaining)

Overall Rating: B. Rampage really has found something of a rhythm but again the biggest aspect of the whole thing is that the show feels like it matters. That is a lot more than I would have expected after such a long time of not much going on around here and it is nice to see. Good show this week and it would be nice to see it continue with what is likely the last show next week.

Results
Konosuke Takeshita/Brian Cage b. Powerhouse Hobbs/Mark Davis – Raging Fire to Davis
Action Andretti/Lio Rush b. Goldy/Myles Hawkins – Torture rack neckbreaker to Hawkins
Willow Nightingale b. Harley Cameron – The Babe With The Powerbomb
Brody King b. Komander – Ganso Bomb

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: December 14, 2024
Location: Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, Missouri
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

The road to Worlds End continues and that means we are going to be seeing more of the Continental Classic. Odds are that means some good action and if the trend continues, it will be more than enough to carry the show. The rest of the pay per view could use some attention as well so hopefully this show finds a good balance. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Claudio Castagnoli attacking Will Ospreay on Dynamite with Darby Allin making the save.

Allin asks Ospreay to help him fight the Death Riders but Ospreay is more focused on the Continental Classic. After it’s over, we’ll see.

The people involved in tonight’s Continental Classic matches are ready.

International Women’s Cup Qualifying Match: Willow Nightingale vs. Jamie Hayter

They go technical to start with neither getting very far. Hayter’s running shoulder doesn’t get her very far so Nightingale runs her over with a shoulder. Neither of them can get a backslide so they chop/slug it out instead to fire things up a bit. They go to the apron where Hayter gets in a DDT but Nightingale is right back up with a cannonball off said apron.

We take a break and come back with Hayter grabbing a superplex, followed by a basement lariat for two. Back up and they trade clotheslines for no impact so they trade big boots for a double knockdown. Nightingale’s torture rack backbreaker sets up a Lionsault (and a good one at that) for two. Hayter is back up with an Irish Curse for two but Nightingale muscles her up with the Babe With The Powerbomb for the pin at 12:08.

Rating: B. These two were beating the fire out of each other and that’s what you want from a hoss fight like this one. It’s nice to see Nightingale get a win, but at the same time I’m not sure if I would have had Hayter lose here. It’s a case where Nightingale could have beaten just about anyone to get this spot but Hayter takes the loss. Anyway, rather good match with two hard hitters.

Respect is shown post match. Nightingale leaves and here is Julia Hart to take Hayter out.

Video on the Continental Classic.

Continental Classic Blue League: Kazuchika Okada (4 points) vs. The Beast Mortos (0 points)

Non-title. Okada takes him up against the ropes to start and slaps him on the chest before Mortos hits a hard running shoulder. The snap powerslam out of the plants Okada and Mortos sends him outside, setting up the big flip dive. Mortos misses a charge into the steps though and we take a break.

Back with Mortos hitting the reverse Sling Blade as the fans certainly seem to approve. A trio of backbreakers give Mortos two but Okada is right back with a flapjack. They strike it out until Mortos hits a headbutt for the double knockdown. Okada is back up with a slam into the top rope elbow but the Rainmaker is countered into a discus lariat. Mortos’ Samoan drop gets two but he misses a twisting Swanton. Back up and Okada hits the dropkick and the Rainmaker finishes Mortos at 12:42.

Rating: B-. At this point, I’m just hoping Mortos gets a win for the sake of not squandering the reactions he’s receiving. I get that you can’t have him beat Okada (certainly after Okada just lost) but Mortos needs to do more than squash a jobber on Rampage. The match was pretty good with Okada being able to have a passable match in his sleep, but it felt more like a countdown to the Rainmaker more than anything else.

Blue League Standings

Kyle Fletcher – 9 points (2 matches remaining)
Kazuchika Okada – 7 points (1 match remaining)
Daniel Garcia – 4 points (2 matches remaining)
Shelton Benjamin – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mark Briscoe – 3 points (2 matches remaining)
The Beast Mortos – 0 points (2 matches remaining)

We look at Toni Storm returning on Dynamite, now without being Timeless.

Toni Storm vs. Shazza McKenzie

Storm shoulders her down to start and grabs a backbreaker but McKenzie gets two off a backslide. A German suplex drops McKenzie though and a running hip attack in the corner sets up Storm Zero for the quick pin.

Post match Storm officially declares herself All Elite. They wouldn’t do like, an amnesia deal….right?

Mariah May is ready to do whatever she has to do to keep the title, including to Thunder Rosa.

Thunder Rosa is ready for Mariah May anytime, but Toni Storm comes in to introduce herself. And she’s excited to meet Tony Schiavone. With that out of the way, Rosa issues the challenge for Worlds End in a street fight. More importantly though, yes they really do seem to be going with “she has amnesia.

Video on Darby Allin vs. Will Ospreay next week on Dynamite.

Top Flight vs. Action Andretti/Lio Rush

For a Tag Team Title shot and Leila Grey is here with Top Flight. Dante and Rush start things off with Dante grabbing an early rollup for two. Darius and Andretti come in for an exchange of rollups before Darius sends Rush into the corner. Everything breaks down and Top Flight are kicked out to the floor and we take a break.

Back with a rather choreographed sequence of flips and counters until Darius DDTs Rush for two. A double suplex gets two on Darius and Rush’s dodging sets up a clothesline to Dante. Some dives to the floor take Grey out and everyone is worried. Back in and the Final Hour into the springboard 450 pins Darius at 10:45.

Rating: B-. It was a fun match, though you might not care for the sequences that felt like they were carefully planned out backstage. At the same time, it’s hard to fathom that Rush and Andretti are getting a title shot when AEW has this may other teams who haven’t gotten a shot on a major stage. Like Top Flight.

Kris Statlander vs. Tootie Lynn

They trade kicks to start until Statlander grabs a rather delayed suplex for two. A hurricanrana out of the corner puts Statlander down but a clothesline into Staturday Night Fever finishes Lynn at 1:50.

Dustin Rhodes is ready to beat up the Righteous at Final Battle. He doesn’t mention his partner.

Outrunners/Orange Cassidy/Daniel Garcia/Komander vs. Premiere Athletes/MxM Collection

Woods takes Garcia up to the apron to start and mocks his dancing, which can’t be a good idea. Garcia takes him down for the cradle, setting up the real dancing. Cassidy comes in to stomp on Nese, who blocks the Stundog Millionaire. The Collection comes in to take Komander down and strike a pose as we take a break. Back with Komander getting powerbombed as everything breaks down. Garcia gets in a shot on the floor and Komander hits the rope run flip dive. The Orange Punch finishes Woods at 8:49.

Rating: C+. Well that happened. It had ten people involved with a good chunk of the match spent during the break. You can only get so far on a match like that, especially with that many people involved. I’m not sure why Cassidy was involved here but the fans liked him so this could have been worse.

Don Callis wants revenge on Mark Davis and Powerhouse Hobbs. That’s why it’s Hobbs vs. Konosuke Takeshita at Worlds End.

Continental Classic Blue League: Mark Briscoe (3 points) vs. Kyle Fletcher (9 points)

They take their time to start and Fletcher goes outside for an early breather. Back in and Fletcher takes him down into a headlock before a hard stomp wakes Briscoe up. Briscoe fights to his feet and knocks him to the floor for some running flip dives. Fletcher is back in to kick Briscoe outside but Briscoe is right back up for the apron Blockbuster.

A backdrop on the floor gets Fletcher out of trouble and he hits a running dive over the barricade to drop Briscoe again. Briscoe drops him right back though and we take a break. Back with Briscoe hammering away and grabbing a high collar suplex, followed by a fisherman’s buster for two. A clothesline into a basement clothesline has Fletcher down but he avoids the Froggy Bow.

Fletcher gets two off a Michinoku driver but Briscoe slips out of a powerbomb and they strike it out. The Cutthroat Driver is blocked, only for Fletcher to get caught using the ropes on a rollup. Back up and Briscoe catches him in the corner for the Cutthroat Driver, setting up a Froggy Bow to a standing Fletcher on the floor. The regular Froggy Bow gets two back inside and after blocking a low blow, the Jay Driller finishes Fletcher at 19:44.

Rating: B. They were teasing the time limit running out near the end and it made for some nice drama. Briscoe winning is a surprise, especially over Fletcher, who has been on the biggest roll so far in the tournament. For now though, it gives Briscoe some much needed life and that could make things a bit more interesting for the last week.

Blue League Standings

Kyle Fletcher – 9 points (1 match remaining)
Kazuchika Okada – 7 points (1 match remaining)
Mark Briscoe – 6 points (1 match remaining)
Daniel Garcia – 4 points (2 matches remaining)
Shelton Benjamin – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
The Beast Mortos – 0 points (2 matches remaining)

The Death Riders jump and kidnap FTR.

Overall Rating: B-. As usual, it’s a perfectly good show which would have been that much better if they cut it down to an hour or just past an hour. Throw in Storm seemingly having amnesia and the kind of weird choice for new #1 contenders to the Tag Team Titles and there were a few odd choices here. In other words, it was all about the Continental Classic and that helped things out more than anything else.

Results
Willow Nightingale b. Jamie Hayter – Babe With The Powerbomb
Kazuchika Okada b. The Beast Mortos – Rainmaker
Toni Storm b. Shazza McKenzie – Storm Zero
Action Andretti/Lio Rush b. Top Flight – Springboard 450 to Darius
Outrunners/Orange Cassidy/Daniel Garcia/Komander b. Premiere Athletes/MxM Collection – Orange Punch to Woods
Mark Briscoe b. Kyle Fletcher – Jay Driller

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

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

AND

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

Collision
Date: December 7, 2024
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone

As has been the case for the last few shows, we’re in for a big focus on the Continental Classic. That should be enough to carry a lot of the show, but we are also three weeks away from Worlds End and that show is going to need some build of its own. Odds are we get some of that here so let’s get to it.

We open with a recap of the Continental Classic.

Continental Classic Gold League: Darby Allin (0 points) vs. Komander (0 points)

Komander armdrags him out of the corner to start but gets reversed into a headlock. A rollup gives Allin two and he slows things down with a chinlock. Komander gets up and walks the ropes before springboarding off of them, only for his armdrag to be blocked. Allin gets sent to the floor though and a big dive takes him down. Back in and a phoenix splash gives Komander two, setting up a nice superkick to the floor. Allin fights back and puts him in a chair, only for the running flip dive to only hit said chair.

We take a break and come back with Allin hitting a Code Red for two and they’re both down. Allin goes up but gets super Spanish Flied back down. With the high flying not working, Allin goes with a more violent back rake instead, setting up a Coffin Drop with Komander draped over the top. Komander is right back with a poisonrana on the apron but Cielito Lindo takes too long. That’s enough for Allin to tie up the legs for a rollup and the pin at 13:11.

Rating: B-. Well, they ha to get Allin on the board and who better than Komander to take the loss? At the end of the day, Komander is mainly there to make others look good and he is doing a nice job of doing so. Allin needs to make a run in this thing, as once it’s over, there is a good chance he is getting into the World Title picture again.

Gold League Standings

Claudio Castagnoli – 6 points (3 matches remaining)
Will Ospreay – 3 points (4 matches remaining)
Darby Allin – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Ricochet – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Brody King – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Komander – 0 points (2 matches remaining)

Don Callis and Konosuke Takeshita are interrupted by Powerhouse Hobbs. He gets straight to the point by saying he wants an International Title match. Callis says Hobbs deserves a shot but he’ll get back to him later.

International Women’s Cup Qualifier Tournament Semifinals: Willow Nightingale vs. Serena Deeb

Deeb goes after the arm to start and takes her down, only to get run over with a shoulder. They trade rollups for two each until Nightingale gets a fisherman’s suplex for two. Deeb sends her outside in a heap though and we take a break. Back with Nightingale hitting some clotheslines but the Babe With The Powerbomb is blocked. A hammerlock lariat gives Deeb two but the Deebtox is blocked as well. Nightingale misses a Cannonball and the Deebtox connects to give two. That just earns Deeb the Pounce and the Babe With The Powerbomb finishes for Nightingale at 10:04.

Rating: C+. I still have no idea why this needs to be a tournament but at least they’re getting to the point fairly quickly. Nightingale getting a win here could help send her on to Japan but Jamie Hayter is a tough out in the finals. For now though, nice match, as Deeb can make anyone look good out there and it’s not like Nightingale needs that much help.

Thunder Rosa wants the next Women’s Title match and reads some insults about Mariah May off a piece of paper.

We look at Jay White, Orange Cassidy and Hangman Page beating up Jon Moxley with Christian Cage hovering around.

Here are the Death Riders for a chat. Jon Moxley talks about how no one in this building wants to be AEW World Champion. Some people might think they do, but the responsibilities would crush them. People like Jay White wants to be champion but doesn’t get what it takes. Hangman Page will crush himself before he gets close to another title reign.

Then we have Orange Cassidy, who has already come up short. Cue Cassidy to say he can live without ever being champion but he can’t live with Moxley being champion. The only way Moxley can stop him is to kill him and Cassidy takes his jacket off. The beatdown is quickly on and Cassidy is carried to the back as we take a break. Well at least they only beat up one person this week.

FTR talks about how they’re going to fight for hurricane relief in Asheville, North Carolina…but we cut over to the Death Riders attempting to spray some kind of cleaning fluid in Orange Cassidy’s mouth. FTR makes the save but things don’t get violent. FTR getting involved in this is at least something fresh so I can go for this.

Continental Classic Blue League: Kyle Fletcher (6 points) vs. Kazuchika Okada (4 points)

Non-title. Fletcher works on the arm to start and snapmares him into a chinlock. The fans aren’t pleased, as we are somehow seeing Okada as the crowd favorite. Fletcher grinds away on a headlock, with McGuinness saying he’s won a bunch of matches with a headlock. McGuinness: “One guy gave up during the instructions.” Eh funnier when Bobby Heenan said it thirty five years ago.

Okada fights up and they head to the floor for a DDT to Fletcher. Back in and Fletcher hits a hanging DDT (as the Randy Orton comparisons continue) to send us to a break. We come back with Okada fighting out of a chinlock but Fletcher knees him down. Okada is back with a kick to the head and a quickly broken cobra clutch. Instead Okada settles for a flapjack and the air raid crash onto the knee.

The top rope elbow and the dropkick sends Fletcher to the floor. The Tombstone on the floor is countered into a half and half suplex, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two on Okada back inside. A non-wind up Rainmaker connects but the regular version is cut off by a superkick. The referee almost gets bumped in the corner and it’s a low blow into the brainbuster to give Fletcher the win at 16:58.

Rating: B. The ending might seem a bit lame but you don’t want Okada to lose a clean fall. At the same time, like him or not, they are trying with Fletcher and that is a good thing. AEW needs some fresh stars and if they think Fletcher can be the guy, points for trying to push him as such. The best way to make that happen is with a string of wins and he’s certainly putting those together.

Blue League Standings

Kyle Fletcher – 9 points (2 matches remaining)
Daniel Garcia – 4 points (3 matches remaining)
Kazuchika Okada – 4 points (2 matches remaining)
Shelton Benjamin – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mark Briscoe – 0 points (3 matches remaining)
The Beast Mortos – 0 points (3 matches remaining)

There will be a special on-sale event for All In Texas this Monday.

Winter Is Coming is coming.

The Beast Mortos vs. Aaron Solo

Mortos jumps him, shrugs off a kick to the head, hits a powerbomb backbreaker and finishes with a discus lariat at 58 seconds.

Top Flight, with Leila Grey, isn’t happy with Lio Rush and Action Andretti in the tag team battle royal. Rush says it’s time for he and Andretti to go after the Tag Team Titles because Top Flight keeps losing. It’s time to settle this in the ring.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Emi Sakura

Sakura jumps her to start and hits some chops against the ropes. Shirakawa fights up and takes her down for some kicks but has to slip away. That means a bit of dancing, which only annoys Sakura. A bite to the hand has Shirakawa down and we take an early break. Back with Shirakawa fighting out of a chinlock and hitting a springboard kick to the face for two.

The Glamorous Driver is broken up so Sakura is back up with a rather delayed butterfly backbreaker as Thunder Rosa is watching from ringside. Sakura is back with a middle rope sling blade for two before diving over the referee to hit a splash. A top rope Sling Blade finishes Sakura at 9:51.

Rating: B-. That’s all it should have been as Shirakawa is coming up on the Women’s Title shot and needs a win to make her feel more important. That’s exactly what she got here and it was a good enough match all around. I’m not sure if she wins the title, but Toni Storm is likely going to be back soon and that is going to be a problem for Mariah May, which could cost her said title.

Video on Mariah May vs. Mina Shirakawa, complete with a history of their time in Japan and the triangle involving Toni Storm.

Mark Briscoe says he’s ready to beat Daniel Garcia “tomorrow” on Collision. Garcia wants Briscoe to bring it “tomorrow”.

Continental Classic Blue League: Mark Briscoe (0 points) vs. Daniel Garcia (4 points)

Non-title. Feeling out process to start with Garcia mocking red neck kung fu and grabbing a rollup for an early two. Garcia powers him into the corner and a rub to the face doesn’t sit well with Briscoe. A dropkick to the floor sets up a big flip dive through the ropes to take Garcia down for a change.

Back up and Garcia’s choke over the ropes sends Briscoe back to the floor, where Briscoe kicks him up against the barricade. Garcia hammers away as well and, after a dance, hits a running dropkick as we take a break. Back with Briscoe hammering away but not being able to superplex him out to the floor. They forearm it out and seem to be rather pleased, just like the crowd.

Briscoe gets the better of things and sends him to the floor for the Bang Bang Elbow. A fisherman’s buster gives Briscoe two but the Froggy Bow is reversed into a top rope superplex into a piledriver. Briscoe breaks up another superplex though and hits the Froggy Bow for two of his own. With nothing else working, Briscoe busts out the Cutthroat Driver (close to a Burning Hammer) for the pin at 17:04.

Rating: B. this is the problem with having a fellow champion in a tournament like this, as he just lost clean to Briscoe. In theory that should set Briscoe up as the #1 contender, but it might take a few weeks before we can get to that match. At the same time, Garcia probably shouldn’t be losing so soon after he won the title in the first place and hopefully this doesn’t damage him too much.

Blue League Standings

Kyle Fletcher – 9 points (2 matches remaining)
Daniel Garcia – 4 points (2 matches remaining)
Kazuchika Okada – 4 points (2 matches remaining)
Shelton Benjamin – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Mark Briscoe – 3 points (2 matches remaining)
The Beast Mortos – 0 points (3 matches remaining)

Respect is shown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Another good week of Classic action, slightly annoying result in the main event aside. I like what they’ve been doing with the tournament, but at some point it’s going to end and AEW needs to have something good to take up the slack. The rest of the show was ok enough, with the Death Riders stuff thankfully being limited to just one segment. As usual, AEW is at its best when the wrestling carries things and that was the case again here.

Results
Darby Allin b. Komander – Rollup
Willow Nightingale b. Serena Deeb – The Babe With The Powerbomb
Kyle Fletcher b. Kazuchika Okada – Brainbuster
The Beast Mortos b. Aaron Solo – Discus lariat
Mina Shirakawa b. Emi Sakura – Top rope Sling Blade
Mark Briscoe b. Daniel Garcia – Cutthroat Driver

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.

Dynamite
Date: December 11, 2024
Location: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness

It’s Winter Is Coming and that means we should be in for a bigger than usual show. This show has had some moments over the years and if they keep the tradition going, this should make for a nice addition to the series. It’s also another week in the Continental Classic so we should have some good action. Let’s get to it.Death Riders vs. Jay White/Orange Cassidy

White and Cassidy jump them before the bell and the fight goes outside, with Cassidy giving a young fan a fist bump (I love that kind of thing as it makes fans for life). Cassidy gets sent into the announcers’ table though and they head inside for the opening bell. The brawl heads back outside as the Patriarchy is shown watching in a sky box. Cassidy fights up and kicks Moxley in the chest, allowing the tag off to White. A pair of DDTs sends the Riders out to the floor and we take an early break.

Back with Moxley holding White in a chinlock as Christian Cage sends the Patriarchy to do something. White gets out of a chinlock but Pac kicks him in the chest to keep him in trouble. A quick knockdown gives White a breather though and it’s Cassidy coming back in to slug away. Cassidy drops Moxley but gets pulled into a rear naked choke. That’s broken up and Cassidy hits a spinning DDT on Moxley. White suplexes Pac and the Beach Break to Moxley gets two more. Wheeler Yuta’s distraction doesn’t work so Cassidy loads up the Orange Punch….but Hangman Page runs in to jump Moxley for the DQ at 13:34.

Rating: B-. Nice match to start the show here, though the ending feels like it’s designed to set up a four way match or a triple threat #1 contenders match. In theory they didn’t want Cassidy or White to get an upper hand on their way to World’s End, but that’s still quite the disappointing ending. You can’t have Yuta in there to take a fall instead of Pac?

Post match Page hammers on Moxley but Cassidy pulls him off. The two of them start fighting with White accidentally taking a shot and getting caught in the brawl. The Death Riders beat all of them down and leave.

We get another old west style vignette for the returning Bandido, this time with him riding in on a horse, with a posse waiting on him. Bandido beats all of them up without much trouble. These things have been rather cool.

Jon Moxley talks about being a marked man and that means living with a knife to your throat. He wouldn’t have it any other way and now there are a bunch of people saying they want the title shot. The challenge is on for the four way title shot at Worlds End. That doesn’t exactly make me want to boo him.

Christian Cage, still in the sky box, doesn’t like this four way because he doesn’t like anyone involved. He promises to jump anyone, including Jon Moxley, who he will send back to rehab. As Cage goes to leave, Hook breaks into the box and chokes Cage out. Age fights out of being thrown out of a balcony. The fight is on and some glass is broken (make your own jokes) until the Patriarchy makes the save.

Continental Classic Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli (6 points) vs. Will Ospreay (3 points)

Ospreay hits him in the face for two ten seconds in and Castagnoli is sent outside for a big running flip dive. A Phenomenal Forearm looks to set up the Oscutter but Castagnoli uppercuts him out of the air. Ospreay kicks him in the face and they’re both down. They go outside with Ospreay dropkicking the steps into Castagnoli’s legs. Castagnoli pulls him out of the air though and swings Ospreay into the steps for a big crash. Ospreay’s arm is stomped in the steps and we take a break.

Back with Ospreay grabbing a springboard hurricanrana and kicking Castagnoli in the face for a double down. Castagnoli goes to the arm to block a suplex attempt but Ospreay gets him up anyway. The standing sky twister press gets two but the Hidden Blade is blocked. The Riccola Bomb is countered into Ospreay’s octopus hold, only for Castagnoli to go back to the arm.

Castagnoli gutwrench suplexes him down and catches Ospreay up top but gets knocked back down. A regular sky twister press misses so Castagnoli kicks him in the face. The slugout sets up the Oscutter but Ospreay’s arm is banged up. A pop up uppercut and a big clothesline give Castagnoli two…but Ospreay rolls him up for the fluke pin at 13:28.

Rating: B. This was a lot of Ospreay fighting from underneath and that is where he often shines. Castagnoli overpowered him for most of the match but got caught in the end. It’s weird to see the Death Riders lose, but how else are we going to get Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher II? That has to happen of course because Ospreay is eternally tied to the Don Callis Family and therefore it has to happen again. Good match here, which shouldn’t surprise you.

Gold League Standings

Will Ospreay – 6 points (3 matches remaining)
Claudio Castagnoli – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Darby Allin – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Ricochet – 3 points (3 matches remaining
Brody King – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Komander – 0 points (2 matches remaining)

Post match Castagnoli jumps Ospreay again but Darby Allin makes the save.

Ricochet says he’s here for matches like the one he has tonight against Brody King. Even though King is a monster, he’s not Ricochet. He pulls out MVP’s business card and says he’s holding all of the cards.

MJF is back.

Matt Cardona is ready to face Chris Jericho at Final Battle but he’ll face Bryan Keith at Rampage.

Kyle O’Reilly is ready to face Adam Cole but the Kingdom comes in to say they’re still family. O’Reilly says they should have remembered that before one of them got hurt.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Adam Cole

For the shot at MJF at World’s End. Feeling out process to start with Cole trying an early rollup for two. The threat of a kick to the face sends him to the floor, where O’Reilly strikes away again to take over. We take a break and come back with O’Reilly striking away but missing a top rope knee drop.

Cole knees him in the face and they’re both down. O’Reilly grabs a brainbuster into an ankle lock, sending Cole over to the ropes. Cole is back up with the Panama Sunrise but he takes too long to follow up and gets his ankle locked. That’s broken up and Cole drops O’Reilly on the floor. Cue MJF for a distraction but Cole superkicks him down and small packages O’Reilly for the pin at 11:04.

Rating: C+. The story continues and that pre-match promo makes me wonder if the Kingdom won’t be joining MJF at World’s End to screw over Cole. This feud hasn’t done much for me and I’m not sure how many people have been interested in it either. It’s gone on too long and there is a good chance that it is going to continue into the new year. The match wasn’t exactly great either, which isn’t making the bigger problem any better.

Post match the Kingdom comes out but O’Reilly leaves without shaking hands with Cole.

FTR is ready to help rebuild Asheville, North Carolina with Fight For The Fallen on January 1. They want to be in a big match and they’ve had some issues with the Death Riders, so come talk to them.

Chris Jericho has a New York Minute and accepts the challenge for Matt Cardona vs. Bryan Keith on Rampage. Tomorrow on Ring Of Honor, there will be a contract signing for Jericho vs. Cardona at Final Battle.

We recap the Continental Classic matches from Rampage and Collision.

Earlier today, Darby Allin talked about how he waned to stop the Death Riders after they attacked Bryan Danielson. He is fighting for people who are here because they are getting a chance in AEW. Allin hits himself in the mouth to draw some blood and talks about how he has to win the Continental Classic to prove himself, even if there will be collateral damage along the way.

Continental Classic Gold League: Ricochet (3 points) vs. Brody King (3 points)

Ricochet begs off a bit to start and gets powered out to the floor without much trouble. A spring off the barricade lets Ricochet kick him in the face but King hits a powerbomb onto the apron. Ricochet misses a crossbody into the barricade and we take a break. Back with King winning a strike off but getting knocked out to the floor.

Ricochet hits a springboard 450 for a short one count but King blasts him with a clothesline for two. The Ganso Bomb is broken up and Ricochet knees him in the face a few times. King knocks him into the corner for a Cannonball but Ricochet turns a superplex attempt into a sunset bomb (with the turnbuckle pad being ripped off in the process).

The shooting star press connects…and King grabs him by the throat before the cover. Ricochet has to climb out of a choke and is promptly chopped down onto the apron. Back up and Ricochet manages a DDT onto the exposed buckle and Ricochet kicks him down onto the steel again. The Spirit Gun finishes for Ricochet at 12:51.

Rating: B-. Now this has me curious because Ricochet was definitely acting more heelish for a change. He’s someone who could use a change of pace because he hasn’t evolved much at all in the last several years. Maybe this is the chance that he needs, but at least it seems that they are trying something new with him. Seeing King lose is annoying, but Ricochet could get a nice boost out of a fresh style.

Gold League Standings

Will Ospreay – 6 points (3 matches remaining)
Claudio Castagnoli – 6 points (2 matches remaining)
Ricochet – 6 points (2 matches remaining
Darby Allin – 3 points (3 matches remaining)
Brody King – 3 points (2 matches remaining)
Komander – 0 points (2 matches remaining)

Lio Rush and Action Andretti interrupt Private Party. Rush an Andretti want a title shot but Top Flight come in to ask how many matches Rush and Andretti have won. Private Party suggests a #1 contenders match and it seems to be on.

Mercedes Mone and Anna Jay have a staredown but we need to talk about Mone defending her New Japan Strong Women’s Title this weekend. Mone shifts over to Jay, who is 26 years old and just getting started. That makes Mone chuckle because when she was 26, she was already a five time champion. Jay cuts her off from leaving and says that all she needs is one mistake from Mone to become champion. Yeah I’m not quite buying her chances.

We recap Mariah May defending the Women’s Title against Mina Shirakawa. They were friends and partners in Japan bu May has attacked her for the sake of bringing out Shirakawa’s best side. Shirakawa wants things to be back to normal and now we have the title match.

Women’s Title: Mariah May vs. Mina Shirakawa

Shirakawa is challenging. They slug it out to start with Shirakawa slapping her in the face to take over and kick away at the leg. A figure four sends May rolling over to the ropes but they roll outside with the hold still on. Thunder Rosa pops up in the crowd with a sign shouting about how May is NOT HER CHAMPION as May sends Shirakawa into the barricade. Shirakawa is back on the leg though and grabs a Figure Four around the post as we take a break.

Back with Shirakawa fighting out of a chinlock and starting an exchange of forearms. A hanging neckbreaker gives Shirakawa two but May kicks her in the face. May Day gets an arrogant cover for two but another May Day is broken up. The Glamorous Driver gives Shirakawa two, only for a quick Storm Zero to retain the title at 11:49

Rating: C+. The match was ok, but it showcases the bigger issue with May’s title reign: the whole thing is built around waiting for Toni Storm to return. She ties into this feud and May is still using Storm’s finisher. You can only get so far with that kind of specter hanging over them and that was the issue here. Not a terrible match, but it felt like something else that had to be done before we get to the big match.

Post match Toni Storm (no longer Timeless) is back. May is stunned (Rosa has a “WTF!” sign) and Storm stares her down to end the show. Well there’s the answer to the big question about May’s reign and it should make for a solid rematch, thankfully with enough of a twist to keep it interesting.

Overall Rating: B-. I wasn’t feeling this one as much as some previous Continental Classic shows. There was more of a focus on getting things ready for World’s End and while that helped, it wasn’t as engaging as some of the tournament focused events. You can see a lot of what is coming at the pay per view and it’s only so interesting, but they still have time to boost that up well enough.

Results
Death Riders b. Orange Cassidy/Jay White via DQ when Hangman Page interfered
Will Ospreay b. Claudio Castagnoli – Rollup
Adam Cole b. Kyle O’Reilly – Small package
Ricochet b. Brody King – Spirit Gun
Mariah May b. Mina Shirakawa – Storm Zero

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: December 5, 2024
Location: MVP Arena, Albany, New York
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman

We’re just over two weeks away from Final Battle and that means it is time to set up the card. For once, that means we are going to be seeing the World Champion actually show up around here, with Chris Jericho announcing his challenger for Final Battle. That could go in a variety of directions so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

We run down the card.

The Grizzled Young Veterans complain that the extras are eating before they get to catering. Think before you act next time.

Alex Reynolds vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Evil Uno is here with Reynolds and Shibata takes him to the mat to start without much trouble. A figure four necklock has Reynolds in trouble but a rope breaks that up rather quickly. The cross armbreaker goes to the arm again but Uno offers a distraction, allowing Reynolds to hit a boot to the face. Reynolds gets two off a DDT and grabs a neck crank. Back up and Shibata gets annoyed at being chopped so he hits a running dropkick in the corner. A Death Valley Driver into the Octopus Stretch makes Reynolds tap at 5:46.

Rating: C. This wasn’t exactly great and Shibata hasn’t been doing much lately so this was little more than him absorbing what Reynolds threw at him and then winning. It was nice to see him use something other than the PK for a change though, but there was only so much of a reason to think Reynolds would have a chance. Shibata continues to be his usual self, and I’m not sure what he might have going forward.

JD Drake/Beef vs. Waves And Curls

Beef has to get out of Jordan’s waistlock to start and it’s time to dance. Some running shoulders put Jordan down and Drake comes in for a headbutt. Brayden comes in, gets knocked down, setting up a spinebuster into the Beef Brigade for the win at 2:28. Total dominance.

Buy Outrunners merch! No you should as it seems awesome.

Jeff Jarrett and company have merch too. They’re no Outrunners, and QT Marshall comes in to brag about his success in Full Gear. Marshall offers a match with Jay Lethal but Lethal declines, saying he wants bigger fish.

Trish Adora vs. Rachael Ellering

Shane Taylor Promotions and the Infantry are here with Adora. They fight over arm control to start before an exchange of shoulders goes nowhere. Ellering takes over and chops away in the corner but Adora goes back to the arm for a breather. The arm gets stomped onto the mat but Ellering is fine enough to snap off a suplex. The backsplash connects to give Ellering two and an uppercut gets the same. Adora manages a German suplex though and Lariat Tubman finishes Ellering at 5:51.

Rating: C+. This was close to a hoss fight with both of them hitting each other rather hard. As usual, Ellering is able to make someone else look good and Adora is…well odds are she’s not going anywhere anytime soon, as almost anyone involved with Shane Taylor Promotions or the Infantry pretty much never does. At least they had a decent match here.

And now, for the first time in a good while, the Ring Of Honor World Champion is actually here, with Chris Jericho and Bryan Keith coming out for TV Time. Big Bill is off on a pilgrimage but Jericho is here to announce his challenger at Final Battle. He’s going to face someone from New York City (“The Windy City”). Maybe it’s Frank Sinatra….or maybe it’s Matt Cardona, who interrupts. Jericho: “If it isn’t Zack.” Cardona: “Zack is dead.” The title match is officially on, and Cardona knocks Jericho’s hat off to make it personal.

And this is why the weekly ROH show is the biggest waste of time in wrestling. Cardona has never appeared on that show, and yet here he is getting a World Title shot on one of the biggest events of the year. Meanwhile, in the months leading up to and in the months following Final Battle, commentary will continue talking about how wrestlers are trying to get into contention for a title shot. These title shots will never come because the challengers will either be someone from AEW or someone from out of absolutely nowhere like this. All this for a show you have to regularly pay to see.

Jon Silver is asked where he was earlier, but he’s been busy stealing the Grizzled Young Veterans’ scarves. So there’s a Final Battle pre-show match.

Griff Garrison/Preston Vance vs. Gates Of Agony

Garrison and Vance jump them to start and a delayed suplex puts Kaun down. Kaun gets choked down in the corner and a big boot gives Garrison two. Riccaboni: “We’ve seen this team of Vance and Garrison growing week after week.” This is their second match ever as a team. Anyway Vance drops an elbow and garrison pulls Kaun back into the corner. Kaun Rock Bottoms his way out of said corner and the tag brings Liona in to pick up the pace. Everything breaks down and Liona is sent into the steps, setting up a slingshot spear to Kaun. Back up and Kaun hits a quick Pedigree for the pin on Garrison at 5:49.

Rating: C. Am I supposed to cheer for the Gates Of Agony? I only ask because this match made it seem like I’m supposed to cheer for the Gates Of Agony. I’m not sure who in the world thinks that’s a good idea, but this is the same promotion that thinks Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara are the best option for the top of the tag division.

Harley Cameron interrupts Rachael Ellering and was cheering for her tonight. Cameron pulls a dog trophy from her pants, because Ellering is the top dog. They hug, with Lexi Nair in the middle. Ellering thinks there might be something to Cameron.

Billie Starkz vs. Lady Frost

Frost wins an early power off but gets pulled down into a rollup for two. Starkz misses a kick to the head and gets taken down with an anklescissors before being sent into the corner. Back up and Starkz kicks her in the face, followed by another to the head to cut Frost down again. Frost’s spinning kick misses and Starkz rolls her up for the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C+. Unless they do something quick in the next two weeks, we’re not getting Starkz vs. Athena for the Women’s Title at Final Battle, which is the only story that makes sense for the title at the moment. Odds are we’ll get some random title challenger and Starkz will be left on the sideline, which is annoying when her getting another shot at Athena has been built up. This worked well enough, though you can only do so much with four minutes and a quick ending.

Video on Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara vs. the Righteous, which is official in a bull rope match for the Tag Team Titles at Final Battle. Guevara might as well not even be part of the team given the story they’ve been telling.

From Final Battle 2008.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Nigel McGuinness vs. Naomichi Marufuji

McGuinness is defending and they go with some grappling to start. A cravate takes Marufuji down but he’s back up with an elbow to the face. The rebound lariat misses for McGuinness and they trade rollups for two each into a standoff. McGuinness catches him in the corner but Marufuji comes out with a spinning suplex. They hit the mat with Marufuji bouncing out of a headscissors and hitting a low superkick.

A running double stomp has McGuinness in more trouble and Marufuji grabs a figure our necklock. Back up and McGuinness kicks him out to the floor, where Marufuji is back with a superkick into Sliced Bread off the barricade. They get back in and McGuinness catches him on top for a hammerlock powerslam with Marufuji rolling outside. McGuinness spends too much time yelling at the fans though and gets dropkicked in the ropes, followed by a running clothesline for two.

A cobra clutch into a Backstabber gives Marufuji two but another Sliced Bread is broken up. McGuinness takes too long loading up a middle rope clothesline and gets dropkicked to the floor. Now the Sliced Bread can connect on the apron, meaning it’s a rather delayed cover for two.

Marufuji misses a Coast To Coast and the Tower Of London (or close enough) to the apron connects. Back in and one heck of a lariat gives McGuinness two as his right arm seems banged up. Another Tower Of London (traditional version) is blocked and Marufuji hits a Coast To Coast in the Tree of Woe. Some kicks to the head rock McGuinness but he comes back with the rebound lariat for the pin to retain at 18:16.

Rating: B+. As is the case with most of these classic matches, it’s a heck of a fight and they beat each other up, with Marufuji being his usual good self. At the same time, you really can see the greatness in McGuinness and he was one of the best in the world in his time. It’s no wonder WWE was interested and he looked great here, with these two beating the daylights out of each other until McGuinness hit one of his big shots for the win.

Matt Taven wants Lee Moriarty and the Pure Rules Title. The match is on for next week.

Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Action Andretti/Top Flight

The infantry and Trish Adora are here with the Promotions while Leila Grey is in the other corner. Riccaboni: “Of course in our retro match this week, we saw Matt Taven and Adam Cole.” No Ian, we didn’t. Andretti and Dean start things off with Andretti climbing the corner for a wristdrag. A basement dropkick gives Darius two and it’s off to Bravo, who is quickly kneed in the face.

The double backbreaker gets two on Bravo but Dean trips Andretti up on the floor for a Stunner on the apron. Taylor crushes Andretti as well and then knocks him down into the corner. Andretti fights up with a handspring elbow and Darius comes in with a kick to Dean’s head. Everything breaks down and Taylor gets triple teamed down but Bravo plants Darius for two. Boot Camp is broken up with a double superkick and Dante adds a top rope splash to pin Bravo at 5:56.

Rating: C+. Yeah remember a few weeks ago when Shane Taylor Promotions seemed to be coming after the Six Man Tag Team Titles? Ring Of Honor doesn’t seem to either. I like Andretti and Top Flight but there is no reason to believe that they’re going to get a title shot anytime soon. Granted it might be easier to believe if the titles had been defended in four months. This felt like a match that has been done over and over in some combination, which isn’t a good way to go.

Overall Rating: C+. I do appreciate that they’re actually setting up some things for Final Battle, but the show still isn’t looking overly interesting. You have Cardona getting the title shot without having wrestled in ROH before, Dustin Rhodes defending his dad’s memory or something and a random Women’s TV Title match. I need a bit more than that to make me want to watch a four hour show, and Ring Of Honor doesn’t seem interested in investing that much time in the show. Not a bad show here as it did build up the big card a bit more, but ultimately, Ring Of Honor isn’t very interesting and that needs to change.

Results
Katsuyori Shibata b. Alex Reynolds – Octopus Stretch
JD Drake/Beef b. Waves And Curls – Beef Brigade to Brayden
Trish Adora b. Rachael Ellering – Lariat Tubman
Gates Of Agony b. Griff Garrison/Preston Vance – Pedigree to Garrison
Billie Starkz b. Lady Frost – Rollup
Action Andretti/Top Flight b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Top rope splash to Bravo

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: November 30, 2024
Location: Santander Arena, Reading, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Matt Menard, Ian Riccaboni, Excalibur

It’s a special Saturday edition of the show and in this case we have a themed show, as this will be all about lucha libre. While there will be a bunch of guest stars from CMLL, the big raw is the debut of the mysterious Harleygram, who really could be anyone. I can go for something different from the usual Rampage so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

Thunder Rosa vs. Harleygram

The ring announcer is rather confused by the masked Harleygram, who is easily taken down. Commentary speculates that if, and of course it’s an if, that is Harley Cameron, she might want revenge for losing the Day of the Dead match. They don’t know Harleygram’s identity, but she was trained by the Midnight Rider. Harleygram gets two off a rollup…and unmasks as Harley Cameron. Well that ruins the mood.

Rosa hits a dropkick in the corner and grabs a reverse rocking horse but Cameron slips out. The mask is put back on and Cameron starts back in on the leg, including a 619 to the knee. The mask is ripped off again (Excalibur: “The shock never goes away.”) and Rosa hits a running dropkick against the ropes. Rosa’s package slam is good for the pin at 5:23.

Rating: C+. Oh of course it was fun. There is something to be said about a comedy match where we’re in on the joke and that is what we had here. It made for an entertaining match, as is the case with just about anything Cameron does these days. Rosa gets another win, likely on her way back into the title picture, and Cameron has fun. What more do you want?

Mercedes Mone doesn’t want to hear about Kamille but she wants more championship gold.

Top Flight/Action Andretti vs. Atlantis Jr./Katsuyori Shibata/Mascara Dorada

Leila Grey is here with Top Flight/Andretti. Shibata and Darius fight over arm control to start until Shibata goes for the leg. That’s broken up so it’s off to Dorada, who gets caught with a quick dropkick. Andretti comes in to trade some flips with Dorada before an assisted powerbomb gives Atlantis two.

Top Flight elbows Atlantis down and a backsplash gives Dante two. Back up and Atlantis snaps off a powerslam as commentary discusses French. Dante dropkicks Atlantis and we take a break. Back with Atlantis fighting out of the corner and taking down all three opponents, allowing the tag to Shibata. A running kick to the chest gives Shibata two and it’s back to Dorada for the big dive to the floor.

Shibata ties up both Martins’ legs at once until Andretti makes the save. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker plants Dante and Dorada’s 450 gets two. Dante pulls Dorada off the top though and it’s back to Darius for two off a double suplex. Andretti elbows Dorada and Atlantis down bu gets knocked down as well. Dorada’s shooting star press connects for the pin at 11:53.

Rating: B-. Top Flight and Andretti fit in perfectly on a show like this and it was nice to see them getting a little spotlight. That being said, this was all about the outsiders, who were in control for the most part and looked more impressive than anyone from AEW. It was a good way to spend part of the show though, as the trios style is such a big deal in Mexico.

Video on Hook vs. the Patriarchy.

Nick Wayne is ready to face Hook at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

The Beast Mortos vs. Serpentico

Serpentico starts fast with a headscissors into an armdrag before a missed charge sends Mortos outside. A dive takes Mortos out again but he’s right back in with a pop up Samoan drop back inside. We take a break and come back with Mortos hitting a powerbomb backbreaker. The discus lariat finishes at 6:22. Not enough shown to rate but there was no need for this to have a break.

Kamille has been attacked.

Video on the Dynamite Diamond battle royal, with a bunch of people wanting to get their hands on MJF.

Komander vs. Hechicero

Well you knew Komander was going to be in on this. Hechicero goes for the arm to start but has to fight out of a headlock. Some leg cranking has Komander down again but he’s back up with a quick cradle for two. Komander gets two off la majistral but Hechicero blocks a spinning headscissors. Hechicero kicks him down and we take an early break.

Back with Komander hitting a springboard dropkick but Hechicero grabs a sleeper over the ropes. Komander knocks him to the floor, setting up a big springboard moonsault. A high crossbody and tornado DDT have Hechicero down but he reverses a moonsault into an armbar. Komander stacks him up for two and the escape but Hechicero gives him a kind of Boss Man Slam backbreaker. A running headscissors driver finishes Komander at 13:03.

Rating: B-. Hechicero has been impressive in every appearance he has made and it’s no surprise that he got to do it again here. He has a certain kind of skill that you cannot imitate and it was working erll against a more traditional high flier in Komander. Maybe not a great match or anything, but Hechicero is fun to watch as he does things so much differently than anyone else.

Overall Rating: B-. It’s not something I’d need to see all the time, but for a one off special edition show, this was fun enough. It was nice to have the show feel like it was actually doing something rather than just filling time, and given that the show isn’t going to be around much longer, a special like this was fun. Do something different with this show and it’s that much better. Amazing how that kind of thing works.

Results
Thunder Rosa b. Harleygram – Package slam
Atlantis Jr./Katsuyori Shibata/Mascara Dorada b. Top Flight/Action Andretti – Shooting star press to Andretti
The Beast Mortos b. Serpentico – Discus lariat
Hechicero b. Komander – Running headscissors driver

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: November 9, 2024
Location: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, Rhode Island
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

We’re closing in on Full Gear and this week will see a Trios Titles match as the Death Riders defend against the Conglomeration. That should be enough to carry the end of the show, but there is going to need to be more. We could be seeing that coming in a few different ways, some of which should work. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

House Of Black vs. Jacked Jameson/Iron Savages

King knocks Bronson around without much trouble to start and the House gets in some running shots in the corner. Jameson comes in for some quick shots on Matthews, which go about as well as you would expect. King hits a dive to the floor to take out all three of them, followed by a Jackhammer to Boulder. The triple strike in the corner finishes Jameson at 3:27.

Rating: C. If the House is being turned good, this was a nice way to go about making it happen. They smashed their way through some annoying villains and the match was never in any real doubt. That’s what something like this should have been and the ending looked rather devastating.

Post match FTR interrupts the House and say they want the Tag Team Titles back. They want one more match with the House, so Black and King step up.

Lio Rush says there is a shift happening around here and that’s why he has one of MVP’s business cards. He’s been on a roll lately and wants to feel alive again, so he wants Swerve Strickland.

Outrunners vs. Top Flight

For one of the three spots in the Tag Team Title match at Full Gear so Private Party is out to watch. Magnum and Darius start things off with Darius hitting a flying shoulder to put Magnum down early. Floyd and Dante come in as everything breaks down, with an atomic drop staggering Darius.

We take a break and come back with Dante elbowing Magnum for two and sending him outside. Darius doesn’t like Magnum getting too close to Leila Grey so he hits a dive, which Dante doesn’t like for some reason. Back in and Top Flight gets dropped, with Floyd slamming Magnum onto Dante. Darius makes the save and breaks up a double suplex, with the Outrunners being knocked outside. Magnum is back in to Hulk Up, meaning it’s Total Recall to finish Dante at 10:18.

Rating: C+. The Outrunners getting a chance is a good thing to see as they’re one of the most popular teams going today, but sweet goodness it’s hard to believe it’s ever going to happen for Top Flight. They seem like they should be ready to move up to the title scene but here they are losing clean again. I’m not sure why they can’t get that kind of a push, though it doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.

The Acclaimed are ready to take out La Faccion Ingobernable but here is the Hurt Syndicate to say Max Caster should be more serious. Anthony Bowens tells them to drop it and leaves, but MVP knows Caster still has his business card.

Roderick Strong vs. The Beast Mortos

Mortos looks confused to start so he hits Strong in the face but Mortos knocks him down. A powerslam gives Mortos one but he continues to be conflicted over what to do. Strong gets planted with a crucifix slam and we take a break with Mortos in control. Back with Strong firing off some running forearms and the Sick Kick gets two. Mortos is back with a backbreaker into a discus lariat for two of his own but Mortos is conflicted again. The distraction lets Strong hit a jumping knee for the pin at 9:41.

Rating: C+. The idea here seems to be that Mortos is having issues deciding which side he wants to be on, which is fine. What isn’t fine is having him lose so often, as it’s hard to get interested in someone who can’t win a big match to save his life. There’s a story here, but wins and losses have a big impact on these people.

Post match Brian Cage and Lance Archer run in to take out Strong.

Mariah May used to love women’s wrestling but now that she is the Women’s Champion, she realizes she hates everything about it. She’s going to kill women’s wrestling because no one can touch her.

Anna Jay promises to choke May out and wants a third match, No DQ.

We look back at Will Ospreay returning on Dynamite.

Kris Statlander vs. Ashley Vox

Staturday Night Fever finishes Vox at 44 seconds.

Post match Mercedes Mone runs in to choke Statlander out.

La Faccion Ingobernable yells at The Beast Mortos and Jake Roberts is ready to take out the Acclaimed.

TNT Title: Jack Perry vs. Action Andretti

Perry is defending in an open challenge. They trade wrist control to start until Perry takes him outside for a whip into the steps. We take an early break and come back with Andretti getting two off a rollup. A Falcon Arrow gives Andretti two and they head to the apron for a slugout. Andretti hits a Death Valley Driver onto said apron and a top rope splash gets two more. Perry comes back with a superkick into a buckle bomb into a brainbuster for two but a running knee is countered. The second and third attempts both connect to finish Andretti at 9:49.

Rating: C+. This was the latest Perry win as he gets to do his thing, which went as well as most of his matches. Stealing the running knee from Danielson isn’t making Perry feel special, much like everything else he does. Perry needs better competition, though that’s only going to go so far as he’s not connecting, and there isn’t much of a way around that.

Post match Daniel Garcia comes out to call Perry a multi millionaire nepo baby while Garcia fights for everyone in the back. The challenge is on for Full Gear, with Perry accepting but saying Garcia isn’t ready.

We see Julia Hart as a cheerleader but she sees her evil version in the empty stands. Said evil version shoots the cheerleader version in the heart with an arrow.

Video on the Outrunners.

Matt Menard gives Daniel Garcia a pep talk.

AR Fox vs. Nick Wayne

Wayne says this is the anniversary of Fox’s dad’s death and a prodigy never forgets (referencing Fox attacking Wayne at his home over a year ago). Fox wastes no time in hitting a big dive but gets crotched on the barricade as we take an early break. Back with Fox hitting another big dive, setting up a Swanton for two.

A rolling cutter is countered into a dragon suplex to give Wayne two but Fox powerbombs him for the same. Lo Mein Pain looks to set up the 450 but Fox has to deal with Kip Sabian, meaning the 450 misses. Wayne dragon suplexes him into the double underhook Canadian Destroyer for the pin at 8:59.

Rating: C+. So this match was set up on Ring Of Honor as the two of them had a match each, plus a post match brawl. It wound up being about twenty minutes to set up this eight minute match, which seems to be tied to an angle that took place over a year ago when these two were rather different people. That seems like quite the setup for this match, which really didn’t need it in the first place. For now though, at least it should be over, even though neither of them have anything going on.

Post match Wayne staples a picture of Fox’s father to his head.

The MxM Collection has slid into Jonathan Television’s DM’s and they will get to be in his corner next week. They do TV’s pose and leave, as a cart wheels them out.

Trios Titles: Death Riders vs. Conglomeration

The Conglomeration is challenging. O’Reilly and Yuta go to the mat to start with O’Reilly striking away to take over. Briscoe comes in for some chops in the corner before handing it off to Ishii, who isn’t having any of Yuta hitting him in the face. It’s already back to Briscoe, who gets taken into the corner for some uppercuts from Castagnoli.

Everything breaks down and the villains are sent outside, with Briscoe hitting the step up flip dive off a chair. Back in and Yuta gets caught against the ropes but Pac comes in to take over on O’Reilly. We take a break and come back with a backbreaker/middle rope double stomp combination hitting O’Reilly for two. A Tombstone gets the same with Briscoe having to make a save.

O’Reilly is able to get up and bring in Ishii for the big house cleaning. Briscoe comes in with a fisherman’s buster for two on Castagnoli but the Jay Driller is blocked. A running flip dive takes out Castagnoli and the Froggy Bow gets two on Yuta with Pac making the save. Everyone is down so cue Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir. That brings out Orange Cassidy, with O’Reilly ankle locking Yuta. With that broken up, Shafir gets in a briefcase shot to O’Reilly, setting up the running knee to give Yuta the pin at 19:09.

Rating: B. Now this is more like it with the Death Riders. They spent their first few weeks running through people like the Dark Order and Top Flight/Action Andretti. That wasn’t going to get them anywhere and while the Conglomeration weren’t going to win here, they were a vast improvement over what we had been seeing. The Conglomeration at last feels like a team who could give the champs some trouble and that’s what the story has been needing.

Post match Cassidy Orange Punches Yuta and goes after Moxley and the big fight is on. Moxley bails so Cassidy dives onto the pile. Moxley looks worried to end the show. Cassidy has a grand total of no chance at Full Gear, but having Moxley show some fear is the right way to go. He has to have some kind of vulnerability or this isn’t going to go anywhere.

Overall Rating: C+. Not a great show here, but good enough with a nice main event and a better post match brawl. The rest of the show featured some bolstering of the midcard feuds, which they did need. As usual it feels nowhere near as important as Dynamite, but it did feel more important than what we usually get around here. Good show this week, and hopefully a new trend in how the show is going.

Results
House Of Black b. Jacked Jameson/Iron Savages – Triple strike to Jameson
Outrunners b. Top Flight – Total Recall to Dante
Roderick Strong b. The Beast Mortos – Jumping knee
Kris Statlander b. Ashley Vox – Staturday Night Fever
Jack Perry b. Action Andretti – Running knee
Nick Wayne b. AR Fox – Double underhook Canadian Destroyer
Death Riders b. Conglomeration – Running knee to O’Reilly

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: November 8, 2024
Location: SNHU Arena, Manchester, New Hampshire
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

The show’s slow departure continues with a rematch of last week (which drew the lowest audience in the show’s history, meaning the rematch doesn’t seem to be entirely logical) as Lio Rush faces Komander again. Other than that, we might hear some more from Will Ospreay after his return on Dynamite. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Hikaru Shida vs. Viva Van

They go with the grappling to start until Shida’s waistlock sends Van flying. Back up and Van runs her over for two before they slug it out. Shida’s middle rope dropkick connects and she hammers away in the corner. The Katana misses though, leaving Shida to have to roll through a middle rope crossbody. Shida is right back up with a Falcon Arrow for the pin at 5:18.

Rating: C. Not much to this one other than a way to get Shida back in the ring after an absence. Shida is someone who can work with anyone and Van is one of the better jobbers to the stars around here. I could go for Shida getting to do something else in the near future but the title picture is a bit booked at the moment. For now though, nice start back.

Harley Cameron recaps her recent actions in a rather long sentence, which gets more and more unhinged. She’s ready for more though. I have no idea what she’s talking about half the time but it still works.

Dark Order vs. The Infantry vs. Undisputed Kingdom

The Infantry knocks the Kingdom to the floor so the Order takes over on Dean. Taven comes back in with a dropkick and a clothesline gives Bennett two. Bennett gets taken outside though and a whip into the barricade has him in more trouble as we take a break. Back with something like a Demolition Decapitator keeping Bennett in trouble. The chinlock is broken up and Bennett hits a spinebuster, allowing the tag off to Silver. Everything breaks down and it’s quickly off to Taven to clean house. A pop up right hand rocks Reynolds and the Climax gives Taven the pin at 9:27.

Rating: C+. Pretty fun match here as I’ve long since wanted the Kingdom to be used better. There is only so much you can do when the team is a pair of comedy lackeys and the division has long since needed the depth. I fully expect them to wind up as low level villains again, but this is nice while it lasts.

Post match Brian Cage comes out for a distraction and Lance Archer jumps them for the beatdown.

Roderick Strong (thanks for the help) isn’t surprised that MJF sent the Don Callis Family after them. Jake Roberts comes in to say he’ll have the Beast Mortos come after him. The match is set for Collision.

Deonna Purrazzo and Taya Valkyrie, now known as the Vendetta, are interested in revenge.

Top Flight vs. JD Drake/Beef

Beef runs Darius over to start and then snaps off a cartwheel to set up a dropkick to Dante. Drake comes in and gets muscled over with a suplex as we take a break. Back with Dante hammering on Drake, who misses a charge into the corner. Everything breaks down and Drake gets caught with a tornado DDT on the floor. Beef misses the Meat Shower (yep) and it’s a DDT/leg trip combination to give Darius the pin at 8:27.

Rating: C. This is what gets annoying about Top Flight. They’ll start getting moved up a bit and then come crashing all the way back down to an absolute nothing match like this one. Yeah they won, but they’re a good team who seem like they can never get away from stuff like this. Give them something important where they can win already.

Respect is shown post match.

Komander vs. Lio Rush

Rush dodges around to start and gets two off an early rollup. Komander sends him out to the floor and we get a breather. Back in and Rush isn’t interested in a handshake, instead hitting him in the face with some forearms. A belly to back suplex and clothesline give Rush two and Komander is sent outside for the dive.

We take a break and come back with Komander hitting a springboard armdrag, followed by a standing moonsault for two. It’s too early for Cielito Lindo and Komander’s backstabber on the apron misses as well. Rush hits a big dive on the floor but Komander suplexes him into the corner. A moonsault gives Komander two but Cielito Lindo still doesn’t work. The springboard Stunner connects for Rush and the Final Hour finishes Komander at 12:08.

Rating: B-. And now I’m sure we’ll get a trilogy match next week and it’ll be about the same. There was nothing here that made me want to see these two fight again, but then again there was nothing last week that would make me want to see this match. It’s perfectly good, fast paced wrestling but nothing that isn’t being done by a bunch of people on the same shows.

Overall Rating: C. In case you needed a textbook definition of a show where the company does not care. This was as low level of an hour as you can get with pretty much nothing that felt important going on. It was a bunch of low level stars having completely fine matches, but you would not notice a bit of change on Dynamite if this show hadn’t taken place. I know it’s going away soon, but that doesn’t make shows like this feel any less useless.

Results
Hikaru Shida b. Viva Van – Falcon Arrow
Undisputed Kingdom b. Dark Order and the Infantry – Climax to Silver
Top Flight b. JD Drake/Beef – DDT/leg trip combination to Beef
Lio Rush b. Komander – Final Hour

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: November 1, 2024
Location: Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

Things picked up a lot earlier this week on Dynamite as Private Party actually won the Tag Team Titles by dethroning the Young Bucks. I’m not sure what that is going to mean on here, but it’s nice to have a nice moment for a change after so much negative. Hopefully this show can do well too so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

JD Drake/Beef/Butcher vs. La Faccion Ingobernable

Well this is certainly a thing. It’s a brawl to start with Dralistico stomping Beef down, only for Beef to get in a big shot to the face to run him over. Dralistico gets knocked into the corner and it’s Rush coming in for a slugout with Butcher. Drake comes in for a middle rope leg lariat to Mortos, who comes back with a Samoan drop.

Everything breaks down and La Faccion knocks the villains off the apron. Beef gets caught in the wrong corner and Rush/Dralistico pose us to a break. We come back with Drake hitting a spinebuster to put Rush down, meaning it’s off to Beef for the chop off with Rush. Everything breaks down and the running knees in the corner finish Butcher at 9:37.

Rating: C. This was a way to get La Faccion back on track but they were only beating a makeshift team with the Butcher being the most successful member. That’s only going to get them so far, but it’s better than taking so long to beat someone like Beef on his own. Next time it needs to be even faster, but this could have been worse.

Stokely Hathaway takes credit for Private Party winning the Tag Team Titles.

Taya Valkyrie vs. Zoey Lynn

A Blue Thunder Bomb and Shania Pain finish for Valkyrie at 58 seconds.

Post match Valkyrie and Deonna Purrazzo go to the back, where they are cut off by Stokely Hathaway. Apparently Lynn was talking trash about them so Valkyrie goes back into the arena and lays Lynn out in the aisle.

Video on Thunder Rosa vs. Harley Cameron in tomorrow’s Day Of The Dead match.

Queen Aminata vs. Leila Grey

They fight over arm control to start until Grey takes her down with a headlock. Back up and a dropkick gives Grey two but Aminata is back with an Air Raid Crash for two of her own. Aminata grabs a full nelson with her legs but Grey fights up and grabs a Blockbuster of all things. Back up and Aminata pulls her into…well their legs are tied up and it’s something like an Octopus hold on the mat for the tap at 5:39.

Rating: C. Aminata is a good enough hand to do something down the line but it isn’t going to matter if she doesn’t get a couple of bigger wins. This wasn’t exactly a big step forward but it’s better than having her lose again. If nothing else, that hold at the end looked quite good while it lasted.

Top Flight/Action Andretti vs. Dark Order

Reynolds works on Darius’ arm to start and Andretti hits an Arabian moonsault onto Uno on the floor as we take a break. Back with Andretti hitting a Falcon Arrow for two on Silver and an assisted torture rack neckbreaker taking him down again. The Order’s normal sequence into the flipping jackknife rollup gets two on Dante so it’s time for the Pendulum Bomb. Reynolds’ ribs give out though and Andretti is back in with a high crossbody. Darius and Andretti argue over going after Reynolds’ bad ribs, with Andretti taking the tape off the ribs. Said ribs are sent into the post and a split legged moonsault finishes Reynolds off at 8:38.

Rating: C. It feels like I’ve seen these teams fighting in some form or fashion for a good time now, but it isn’t exactly a great sign that they are often in matches where they can trade wins and not move up to the next level. I’m still not sure why Top Flight and Andretti have never gotten a chance at one of the six man titles, but here they are instead. It might even make them feel a little more serious if they’re taken out by the top villains again.

Post match Dante isn’t happy with the win coming that way.

Lio Rush vs. Komander

They run the ropes fast to start before getting a bit testy and shoving each other. Rush sends him outside for a big dive and we take an early break. Back with Komander hitting a springboard crossbody and a very springboardy armdrag for two. A quick Stunner gets Rush out of trouble, followed by another, though Rush doesn’t let go. Instead it’s a clothesline into a Falcon Arrow for two on Komander, followed by the springboard Stunner for two. The frog splash misses though and Komander kicks him down, setting up Cielito Lindo for the pin at 11:55.

Rating: C+. This was the moves match of the show and it went well enough while it lasted. Komander has been around a bit more frequently than in recent weeks and there are worse ideas than having him doing his high flying stuff all over the place. Rush is still just kind of there, but his rapid fire movements in the ring are still good.

Overall Rating: C. It was another skippable edition of the show and that isn’t exactly making for a great watch. Most of the matches on here were completely fine, but they felt like they were there for the same of filling in time and boosting up people who are permanently near the bottom of the totem pole. It’s a shame as there are people who could use the time to get somewhere, but it isn’t going to happen in this format.

Results
La Faccion Ingobernable b. JD Drake/Beef/Butcher – Running knees to Rush
Taya Valkyrie b. Zoey Lynn – Shania Pain
Queen Aminata b. Leila Grey – Seated Octopus hold
Top Flight/Action Andretti b. Dark Order – Split legged moonsault to Reynolds
Komander b. Lio Rush – Cielito Lindo

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.