NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today in Niigata with A Block & B Block matches.
In the main event, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA will try to remain undefeated in this year’s G1 as he takes on Yota Tsuji. Tsuji will be looking for his first win after a draw and a loss in his first two G1 bouts.
It will be a battle of two undefeated wrestlers in the semi-main, with 2-0 Kazuchika Okada facing 2-0 Taichi.
Today’s lineup:
A Block: SANADA (2-0, 4 points) vs. Yota Tsuji (0-1-1, 1 point)
B Block: Kazuchika Okada (2-0, 4 points) vs. Taichi (2-0, 4 points)
A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya (2-0, 4 points) vs. Shota Umino (0-1-1, 1 point)
B Block: Will Ospreay (1-1, 2 points) vs. KENTA (1-1, 2 points)
A Block: Chase Owens (1-1, 2 points) vs. Hikuleo (0-2, 0 points)
B Block: Great-O-Khan (0-2, 0 points) vs. El Phantasmo (0-2, 0 points)
A Block: Gabe Kidd (1-1, 2 points) vs. Ren Narita (0-0-2, 2 points)
B Block: YOSHI-HASHI (1-1, 2 points) vs. Tanga Loa (1-1, 2 points)
Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
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Recommended Matches
Gabe Kidd vs. Ren Narita – This match was remarkable, easily amongst my favorite from the tournament.
Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Shota Umino – I knew going into this match would be special, and it lived up to all of my expectations and then some—my current favorite from G1 33. This was the best singles performance in Shota’s career.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi – A great, dramatic match and particularly exceptional Taichi outing in the last act.
SANADA vs. Yota Tsuji – As good, if not better, than their IWGP title match.
YOSHI-HASHI defeated Tanga Loa
This was built like a much bigger match than it needed to be. After a ton of dry chops and power move sequences, YH was able to close with a crucifix bomb.
YH has tied the leaders of B Block.
Gabe Kidd defeated Ren Narita
Oh my, this match. From the opening moments, it was electric. Narita and Kidd matched each other’s energy from the open, making for one of my favorite matches from the tournament thus far. Kidd won out in the end after hitting a low blow and a piledriver.
Kidd catches the A block leaders with this win, leaving him with 4 points.
Great-O-Khan defeated El Phantasmo
This match was all about ELP trying to fly and O-Khan trying to ground him. After surviving all of ELP’s dives, O-Khan hit a Tenzan Tombstone Driver on the floor and forced ELP to tap with an iron claw.
This was the most aggressive outing from O-Khan this tournament, and it worked to score him his first 2 points.
Chase Owens defeated Hikuleo
Unsurprisingly, this match was about Hikuleo using his size to bully his former faction mate and Owens trying to weasel his way out of the situation. Also unsurprising, this match was not good. Chase closed with a shot from his knee brace, followed by a knee strike.
Chase continues to keep up with the block leaders, moving up to 4 points.
Will Ospreay defeated KENTA
KENTA worked a very violent match, not giving Ospreay a chance from the beginning. Even after being brutalized with moves on the floor, weapons, and a low blow, Ospreay held on, hitting a Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker to win the match.
With his second win in block action, Ospreay secures 4 points.
Time Limit Draw: Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Shota Umino
This match was a showcase between two very similar wrestlers in different stages of their careers. Throughout the match, Shota held his own, maintaining control for significant portions; this provided Kaito considerable time to sell, which he’s better at than everyone in the world. This match was a breeze, even as it approached the time limit. At different points, it looked like both men would close, but in the end, neither could secure the win.
This draw leaves Kaito ahead in A block with 5 points. Shota is behind with 2 points, both from draws.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Taichi
This was a great match. Okada seemed indifferent throughout the match’s runtime, simply brushing off most of Taichi’s offense. This allowed Taichi to eventually caught Okada with a powerbomb, leading to a prolonged sequence of power moves and nearfalls. Even still, Okada held on, eventually winning with a sudden pin out of a reversal.
Okada retakes the lead of B block, remaining the only man with all wins and 6 points.
SANADA defeated Yota Tsuji
While the stakes weren’t comparable, this was as good as their IWGP match, with the urgency created by the 20-minute time limit playing a significant factor. Tsuji looked incredible at certain points, establishing himself as a threat throughout the match. In the closing seconds, SANADA kicked out of a curb stomp and reversed a spear attempt before landing a moonsault and Deadfall to secure the win.
SANADA maintained his perfect record and retook the lead in A Block with the last perfect record and 6 points.
The Impact Tag Team titles will be on the line as part of tonight’s Slammiversary fallout edition of Impact on AXS TV.
After losing the gold last Saturday in a multi-team match, ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) will challenge current champions Subculture (Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews) for the titles.
The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) attacked Bey and Austin as they were about to finish the match which allowed Andrews to hit a prone Brian Myers with the pin to win the titles.
After making a surprise return at Slammiversary after a multi-month injury absence, former Impact World Champion Josh Alexander will be on hand to talk about what’s next and when he could return.
Another surprise return last Saturday — Jake Something — will be in action as he faces Kevin Knight.
Tonight will also see the grudge match between Santino Marella vs. Dirty Dango happen as well as Courtney Rush vs. Savannah Evans.
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Scott D’Amore open
After his tag team victory with the returning Eric Young at Slammiversary over Bully Ray and PCO, D’Amore opened tonight’s show thanking his hometown fans in Windsor and that the events of Slammiversary will stay with him forever.
Now that the match is over, he is now back as Impact president. He was running down the show until The Good Hands (John Skyler & Jason Hotch) came out to call him a coward along with other insults. They were about to throw down until D’Amore said they could fight with these two guys…being Sami Callihan and Rich Swann. Good thing they were ready in the back to come out!
Sami Callihan & Rich Swann defeated The Good Hands
Callihan and Swann are coming off an unsuccessful opportunity in the Tag Team title four-way at Slammiversary. They were successful here, however, in picking up the win after a double arm ringer into an elevated slam for the pin and win in a quick and decent match.
– Ace Austin and Chris Bey are tired of The Rascalz and are a little bit salty after they cost them the Tag Team titles at Slammiversary. They are focused on tonight’s rematch, but Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz walked up and taunted them. That led to a pull-apart brawl that D’Amore and security broke up. He told Bey and Austin to go focus on their match and kicked Miguel and Wentz out much to their chagrin.
D’Amore then turned around and had to deal with Johnny Swinger and Zicky Dice. D’Amore said his previous stipulation that he would have to win 50 matches to earn a title shot was a little much. All he needed to do was win one match…and that would be against Zicky Dice. When Dice suggested he would just lay down for Swinger, D’Amore added it would be a loser leaves Impact match. Foiled!
– Eric Young was with Gia Miller in the back after his big return. Young said he’s got a lot to say and was happy to help D’Amore. Nick Aldis then interrupted to say hi to his old friend. He wanted to align with Young against those looking to run Impact into the ground. Young then talked him into having a singles match and away we go.
Jake Something defeated Kevin Knight
Something returned at the Ultimate X match in another Slammiversary surprise and now has short hair which will visually take a bit to get used to. He reminded me of Hercules Hernandez in your 80s reference of the night. Knight was also in that match so there’s your tie-in.
This was Something’s power vs. Knight’s speed and athleticism. They worked hard, but I struggled to get into it as it felt long and not that interesting until the last few minutes. Something hit his Into the Void (black hole slam) for the pin and win
Courtney Rush (w/ Jessicka) defeated Savannah Evans (w/ Gisele Shaw & Jai Vidal)
Things broke down on the outside of the ring which brought out Jody Threat who put Vidal on her shoulder and carried her to the back. Rush then hit a distracted Evans with a spear and pin. This all felt unnecessary.
– They ran a video package featuring new Knockouts Champion Trinity. She gave the new champion’s promo that the real work begins now.
– Taylor Wilde and KiLynn King then cut a backstage promo complaining about how they got screwed out of their Knockouts title at Slammiversary by Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly. They also have Trinity in their sights as well.
– Slammiversary in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, was Impact’s highest-attended event in four years.
– Jonathan Gresham sat with Tom Hannifan in a pre-taped interview as he had something to say that he just couldn’t hold back anymore. Gresham is upset that the X-Division needs rules which is what he fought for in Ring of Honor. He said, “Maybe this environment isn’t for me” and then walked off the set. Alright, then.
Dirty Dango defeated Santino Marella
This has been built up for at least a few months as Dango was revealed to be the mystery attacker of Marella as he began his run as Impact’s Director of Authority. They have exchanged plenty of words since then and their grudge match finally takes place tonight.
Having seen Dango in a big brawl a few weeks ago at an indie show, I would have liked if this was more of that vs. a straight wrestling match. Marella took out the Cobra sock and was about to strike when a man in riot gear came out on the apron. Dango ran Marella into him and Marella collided with his helmet, giving him the roll-up for the pin. The man was revealed to be John E. Bravo so the comedy will continue.
– Gisele Shaw and Savannah Evans were looking for Jai Vidal backstage and ran into new Knockouts Tag Team Champions Killer Kelly and Masha Slamovich. Words were exchanged so that’s a match we’re getting soon. Jody Threat then dumped Vidal on the floor and said she didn’t want to have to do that again. Vidal is a grown man who is a champion in other places. He couldn’t have simply got away?
– Alisha Edwards had a lot to say on Eddie Edwards’ behalf to Frankie Kazarian and Traci Brooks after Slammiversary. A brawl then ensued as Kazarian and Brooks just happened to be right there. Again, we’ll see that mixed tag team match soon.
Impact Tag Team Champions Subculture (Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews) (w/ Dani Luna) defeated ABC (Chris Bey & Ace Austin) to retain
Webster and Andrews made their first Impact win a big one at Slammiversary, nabbing the tag titles after The Rascalz interfered in the four-way and cost Bey and Austin their chance to retain. It’s an interesting call to put the titles on Webster and Andrews since they haven’t been on Impact TV that much and I’d argue aren’t a real well-known entity even though they were NXT UK Tag Team Champions. But that’s the gamble.
This was a competitive match as expected. Bey and Austin have really gelled well as a team and are super athletic, both using and flying between the ropes as if they were gymnasts. All four men ended up on the outside at one point, punctuated by a Bey swanton over the top rope that sent viewers into the break.
The former champions nearly had it won after Bey hit Art of Finesse on Andrews, but Austin couldn’t hit The Fold and Andrews rallied to hit a Stundog Millionaire to reset things. Wentz and Miguel got involved even though they were banned from the building as Miguel knocked Austin out of the match as Wentz had the ref distracted. Andrews had a roll-up contest with Bey and eventually got the better of him for the pin and win. Miguel looked like he hurt his leg as he was limping off following the Austin shot.
– Tom Hannifan and Matt Rehwoldt said there has been no word on the status of Chris Sabin after losing the X-Division title to Lio Rush where he was knocked out by a pre-match attack but wanted to continue. Stay tuned to Impact social media for updates, friends.
Josh Alexander in-ring promo
Alexander made his surprise return at the end of Slammiversary to confront Alex Shelley after his World title defense over Nick Aldis. This started with about 15 minutes to go before the end of the show so you know something was going to happen.
He was in fully babyface mode, recalling when he had to relinquish the title in Windsor due to his torn triceps. He eventually got around to saying he got motivated to come back sooner when he saw Steve Maclin win the title at Rebellion and that he is now 100% cleared to return. The irony, of course, is that Maclin is injured and not the champion anymore.
He got around to Shelley and had a question: is Shelley good enough to beat him? Shelley then came out and wasn’t happy, referring to Alexander as Wolverine for recovering in four months. He referred back to their match from last year that Alexander won and wanted to have the match again to prove he could beat Alexander.
X-Division Champion Lio Rush then strolled out and tl;dr, if he wants to be World Champion, he just needs to exercise Option C which means he cashes in the title for a World title shot.
That brought out KUSHIDA who has the next X-Division title shot after he won Ultimate X last Saturday. He said there is no Option C until he faces KUSHIDA.
Then, Bully Ray came out and as everyone in the ring wondered why, Moose and Brian Myers attacked everyone in the ring. Ray then joined the fray as the heels beat down the babyfaces with Rush sitting on the apron looking on. They wanted Rush to use the actual X to nail Shelley, but he declined and the show just ended.
It was a flat ending to a meh Slammiversary follow-up show. There’s some intrigue with the World title picture, but Bully Ray, Moose and Myers aren’t part of that intrigue for me.
We’re on the road to Emergence.
Next Week:
Johnny Swinger vs. Zicky Dice loser leaves Impact match
The Coven (KiLynn King & Taylor Wilde) vs. Trinity & Dani Luna
With Death Before Dishonor just 24 hours away, Ring of Honor will present their weekly HonorClub TV show in the final stop before the pay-per-view.
In the finals of the four-man TV title eliminator tournament, Dalton Castle will take on Shane Taylor. The winner will move on to challenge ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe tomorrow.
Former Stardom titleholder Utami Hayashishita will make her promotional debut as she takes on Trish Adora.
Ahead of his challenge of ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata tomorrow, former champion Daniel Garcia will face Jason Geiger in a Pure rules match.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena will face Nikita in a non-title Proving Ground match. Athena will defend against Willow Nightingale tomorrow.
The Kingdom face The Bollywood Boyz, The WorkHorsemen, and Action Andretti & Darius Martin in a four-way ahead of their inclusion in a four-way tomorrow for the ROH Tag Team titles.
The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) face The Boys (Brandon & Brent Tate).
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This week’s ROH emanated from Calgary, Alberta, Canada in the Saddledome as part of last Saturday’s AEW Collision tapings. Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman were on commentary.
We start with a video package hyping the Pure Title match between Daniel Garcia and Katsuyori Shibata at Death Before Dishonor. Since last week, we’ve had five title matches set for the PPV, including an ROH World Title match against Claudio Castagnoli and PAC.
Pure Rules Match – Daniel Garcia defeated Jason Geiger
This was a good opener, although I do wonder why Garcia gave so much offense to a local yokel before a PPV Title match.
The judges for this match were Matt Taven, Christopher Daniels, and Jerry Lynn.
The announcers hyped Geiger’s jiu-jitsu prowess, noting his high ranks in both Canada and the US. Garcia knocked down Geiger with a shoulder block but waved off his dance to boos. He changed his mind after escaping a headscissors, dancing in Geiger’s face. Geiger got some shots in on Garcia and mocked his dance before catching Garcia in an armbar. That forced Garcia to use his first rope break.
Garcia dropped Geiger over the ropes with a hotshot to regain control. Garcia locked on a front facelock, spun Geiger around, then dropped into a guillotine submission. Geiger got back to his feet and pulled Garcia over into a suplex.
A strike exchange ended with Geiger getting the upper hand, hitting a suplex for a nearfall. Geiger went for a submission, but Garcia peppered him with strikes before laying him out with a lariat. Garcia locked Geiger into a Boston Crab, but Geiger reversed it into a triangle choke. Garcia escaped and locked on the Dragon Tamer sharpshooter – to massive boos in Calgary – to get the win.
After the match, Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata came to the ring to face off with his challenger for tomorrow night.
Utami Hayashishita defeated Trish Adora
This started slowly, but it built up well and the crowd got behind it. Hayashishita looked good, and Adora hung in there with her acclaimed opponent.
No entrance for Hayashishita, as the former World of Stardom Champion makes her ROH debut here. Adora held onto Hayashishita’s arm early on, sneaking in a La Magistral cradle for a nearfall. Adora twisted Hayashishita in a submission hold, but she escaped and hit a sliding lariat for a nearfall. Hayashishita struggled with a bodyslam attempt due to the arm work but got it for a nearfall.
Adora landed body shots, but Hayashishita scored with forearms to the face that knocked Adora down. They traded waist locks until Adora snatched the arm and hit an overhead kick to it. Adora went for the Lariat Tubman, but Hayashishita ducked and hit a set of German Suplexes for a nearfall. Hayashishita went for an Air Raid Crash, but Adora locked on a wrist lock that forced Hayashishita to the ropes.
Adora fired up, landing a pump kick and a senton for a nearfall. Adora hit the kneeling German suplex for a nearfall. Hayashishita followed Adora off the ropes and hit a lariat. Hayashishita hit a twisting Torture Rack bomb for a nearfall, then hit a spinning Razor’s Edge to score the win.
ROH World Television Title Eliminator Tournament Final Match – Shane Taylor defeated Dalton Castle
Castle’s feats of strength energized the crowd, peaking with the impressive Bangarang on Taylor. To his credit, Taylor worked very well here too. Hopefully, he can play a more meaningful role on ROH television moving forward.
Castle tried to get Taylor with a single-leg takedown, but Taylor kept warding him off. Castle caught Taylor with a flurry that ended with a DDT that sent Taylor to the floor. Taylor caught Castle by the feet and dropped him to the floor with the Tower of London. Castle got back in the ring but quickly got taken down with a sidewalk slam for a nearfall.
Taylor worked on Castle’s back before dropping him with a headbutt. Taylor followed up with a pull-up uranage and a big splash for a nearfall. Taylor locked in a sleeper hold, but Castle escaped it with a roll-up attempt before low-bridging Taylor to the floor. Castle caught Taylor with a hurricanrana on the floor. Castle avoided a corner charge and fought back with strikes, but Taylor caught Castle with a body shot that took him down.
Castle caught Taylor with an overhead suplex that surprised the crowd. Castle hit a bulldog for a nearfall. Taylor used a rope break to land a cheap shot punch, but Taylor came back with a stalling German suplex. Castle then got Taylor up for a massive Bangarang to score the win and the TV Title shot against Samoa Joe.
Pure Rules Match –Josh Woods (w/The Varsity Athletes) defeated James Stone
The judges for this match were a fresh Dalton Castle, Christopher Daniels, and Jerry Lynn.
Woods controlled the early portion of this match, forcing Stone to use his first rope break early on. Woods locked on the Gorilla Lock to force Stone to use his second rope break within the first two minutes. Woods hit a knee then landed an ugly Anarchist Suplex for the win. Hopefully Stone is okay, he landed high on his neck.
In a video from last week, Tony Khan announced the Women’s Title match for Death Before Dishonor. It will be Athena defending the title against Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winner Willow Nightingale, who beat her on last week’s Rampage. Nightingale noted that she’s got experience with big title matches at this point and that she’s going to win this title as well.
In a video from earlier today, Athena complained to the Board of Directors, but Tony Khan made it clear that the title match was on.
ROH Women’s World Title Proving Ground Match – Athena defeated Nikita
Athena came out in her street clothes, with Coleman noting that she was wearing the same clothes at the airport. Athena was upset in the corner and sat in the corner as the bell rang. Nikita piefaced her to get the match started. The match then ended with Athena hitting a knockout forearm for the win.
Athena then beat down Nikita after the match, booting her across the ring and sending her into the barricades. Willow Nightingale came out to face off with her.
The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) (w/Stu Grayson) defeated The Boys (Brandon & Brent)
Dutch blindsided the Boys to start the match. Vincent and Dutch double-teamed Brandon until slipping out to make a tag to Brent. Brent tried to knock down Dutch, but Dutch hit a body block to cut him off. Vincent tagged in, hitting the Autumn Sunshine for the win. Vincent talked to the camera to send a message to the Dark Order, but Evil Uno came out with a chair. Grayson was fired up, hitting a backbreaker on Brent as Uno watched on.
Leyla Hirsch defeated Nicole Matthews
Hirsch and Matthews worked on each other on the mat. Matthews got the upper hand, with Hirsch quickly forcing her into the corner to cut her off. Hirsch took Matthews down before hitting elbows to the back of the neck. Matthews hit a neckbreaker and fired up with forearms, but Hirsch brought Matthews down and hit a knee strike for the win.
We got a rundown of the Death Before Dishonor card. Matches announced for the Zero Hour include:
· Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. The WorkHorsemen
· Josh Woods vs. Tracy Williams
· Leyla Hirsch vs. Trish Adora
· AR Fox vs. Shane Taylor
Matches added to the main card include:
· The Dark Order vs. The Righteous and Stu Grayson in a Fight Without Honor
· Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Leon Ruffin vs. The Mogul Embassy for the ROH Six-Man Tag Team Titles
· Komander vs. Gravity in a lucha showcase
We then got video packages for the four-way ROH Tag Team Title match and the ROH World Title match between Claudio Castagnoli and PAC.
The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) (w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett) defeated The Bollywood Boyz (Gurv Sihra & Harv Sihra), The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake), & Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Drake and Bennett started with a chop exchange. Bennett went low with a dropkick, leading to a tag exchange that ended with Andretti and Martin running wild on the Workhorsemen. Drake and Henry hit an assisted powerbomb on Martin for a nearfall before isolating Martin. Bennett tagged in, leading to a tag team flurry from the Kingdom on Martin. Taven hit Just The Tip on Martin for a nearfall that Drake broke up.
Martin hit a tornado DDT/death drop combo to escape the Kingdom, but Henry hit a high kick on Martin to cut him off. Henry locked Martin in the corner, hitting a combo that scored a nearfall that Taven broke up. The Kingdom and the Workhorsemen fought each other, with Andretti hitting a dive on both teams.
Martin tagged in Gurv Sihra, who ran wild on Bennett. The Bollywood Boys ran wild, landing superkicks on everyone. They hit the Demolition Decapitation on Bennett for a nearfall that Andretti broke up with a Shooting Star Press. The match devolved into a Pier Eight Brawl, ending with the Kingdom hitting the Proton Pack to score the win.
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight from Boston with The Golden Elite facing Blackpool Combat Club in the third annual Blood & Guts match.
Kota Ibushi makes his AEW debut, teaming with Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson), and Hangman Page as The Golden Elite. They take on a Blackpool Combat Club team comprised of Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita, and PAC.
Moxley, Castagnoli, and Yuta will take part in the Blood & Guts match for a second consecutive year, with this year’s seven other competitors taking part in the match for the first time.
World Champion MJF & Adam Cole team in the finals of the Blind Eliminator Tournament against Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia. The winning team will earn a shot at FTR’s AEW Tag Team Championship.
The FTW Championship is also on the line, as Hook defends the title against “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry in a grudge match.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz, as Tarzan Boy played, but Jungle Boy Jack Perry never came out. Instead, we saw a video of Perry in the desert pulling a body with Jungle Boy’s boots into a grave and he dug the hole. A limousine pulled up and Perry stepped inside as he was announced simply as Jack Perry and walked out to his new music, Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.
Jack Perry defeated HOOK to win the FTW Title
(It appears Jungle Boy is officially dead and buried, as the new theme and look for Perry set the stage for handing HOOK his first loss. This feud is far from over and this was a good first battle between the two. My one complaint was the ref bump looked absurd and made Paul Turner look ridiculous in the process. Pun intended, but by hook or by crook, Perry did what was needed to win his first singles title in his AEW career.)
Despite Taz literally being right there on commentary, Excalibur asked Tony Schiavone to give the history of the FTW Title. HOOK immediately went after Perry, who bailed outside and was launched over the barricade with HOOK going right out after, launching off the barricade with a Superman punch. Back inside, Perry got an eye rake and dropkick to gain control. The crowd really let Perry hear it as the fight went back to the floor during commercial.
HOOK fought off a German suplex off the apron and delivered an Exploder suplex to the floor with both landing super hard. HOOK went to throw Perry back inside, but Perry posed HOOK and connected with a draping DDT off the apron. Perry was content with a countout win, but HOOK broke the count at 9 as Perry hit a release German, but HOOK no sold and hit a multiple bridging Germans for two. HOOK went for a third, but Perry grabbed the ref, hit a mule kick and charging forearm to the neck for a close near fall.
Perry grabbed the FTW Title and brought it in the ring, as referee Paul Turner awkwardly tried to take it from him, but got sandwiched instead. HOOK hit a head and arm suplex, had the visible pin, but the ref was down. HOOK went to revive the official when Perry grabbed the FTW Title and waffled HOOK. Perry draped an arm over HOOK, getting the win and the title, ending the undefeated streak of HOOK in the process.
-We see footage of Alex Marvez earlier today seeing Chris Jericho & Don Callis having a meal together when Callis’ security spots them and shoves him away.
-Footage of MJF & Adam Cole last night at Kowloon restaurant with Cole saying MJF has to face his fear of one of the things Max hates most, spicy food and not poor people, which MJF thought it’d be. Another chapter in the bonding of Better Than You Bay Bay, as they ate spicy food and drank what they thought was water, but it was 100 proof alcohol. A drunken Cole & MJF thought the waiter looked like Daniel Garcia & Sammy Guevara and were about to give him a double clothesline when the video ended.
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-We see Alex Marvez outside of the arena earlier today waiting for Don Callis’ limousine to pull up as he arrived with Chris Jericho. Marvez asked if Jericho has made a decision with both calling him a fat headed idiot.
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. defeated Kayla Sparks
(With the Owen Hart Cup over, this was a way to get Baker back on the winning track after being eliminated so early in the tournament.)
Baker hit a Sling Blade, double underhook suplex and Lock Jaw for the quick victory.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Adam Cole & MJF who talk about winning the Blind Eliminator Tournament tonight. MJF presented Cole with matching trunks, while Cole had matching ring jackets made. There was one final surprise Cole had, as they walked off and Roderick Strong came into the shot yelling for Cole. Paquette tried to tell him what just happened, but he didn’t want to hear it, looking dejected again.
-Chris Jericho joined commentary before the match, cutting his music off before the crowd could sing along to the Judas chorus. The surprise Cole was referencing was he had a mash-up made with his & MJF’s entrance themes, which popped MJF like crazy. I know I was late to the party on this, but Cole & MJF have completely won me over as a buddy duo.
AEW World Champion MJF & Adam Cole defeated Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia to win the Blind Eliminator Tournament
(I did my best to describe what took place in the pre-match, but I can’t recommend seeking it out more, as it was a whole lot of fun. We finally got our pay off to the build of the double clothesline spot and it made the crowd go wild. Post match not only planted more seeds of dissention between Jericho & his crew, but we also saw cracks in the friendship between Cole & MJF. The time will come, assuredly sooner rather than later, but this pairing has turned into a lot of fun while it’s lasted.)
Prior to the bell, MJF & Garcia had what can only be described as a Thrust Off. This turned into a full blown Dance Battle, as MJF jumped ringside and literally hit the music as Garcia & Guevara were first and obviously had a routine planned out ready for this moment. MJF took the stage and did his dance before Cole thrusted so often and terribly that the music scratched and MJF begged him to stop. This was one of the most surreal, yet amazing openings to an AEW match ever. Garcia & Guevara attacked immediately, but bailed when Cole & MJF yelled for a double clothesline. MJF hit the ropes tirelessly, faking a dive before opting to pose, as Garcia took control soon after into commercial break.
MJF remained isolated the whole break before MJF fell head first into the groin of Guevara, which Taz called Yam-Bag Yahtzee. MJF dodged a double clothesline and made the hot tag to Cole, who ran wild, dropping Garcia with a series of superkicks, but missed the Panama Sunrise. Garcia opted to thrust at referee Bryce and ate a Cole superkick, as did a springing Guevara. Cole & MJF signaled for the double clothesline, but Guevara ducked and hit a double standing Spanish Fly. MJF dodged a super Cutter and tried Cross Rhodes, but Guevara avoided and Cole made a blind tag. Garcia hit a double chop block and sank in the Dragon Slayer on Cole, who got the ropes. Garcia was backdropped to the floor onto Guevara, as Cole told MJF to do the dive. Hesitant at first, MJF connected on the tope on both outside and the crowd lost their minds. Back inside, Cole hit the Panama Sunrise on Garcia, tagged MJF and they finally hit the elusive double clothesline with MJF getting the pin and win.
Jericho tried to cheer up Guevara & Garcia at the ramp, but both men walked away from him, similar to Jake Hager walking away last week. Meanwhile, in the ring, Cole held the AEW Title and MJF ripped it away furious before cooler heads prevailed with both hugging, but MJF giving a look when Cole turned his back. FTR’s music hit, as Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler came to the ring for the face off, as the match is set for July 29th on Collision for the AEW Tag Team Titles.
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-Renee Paquette is backstage with Best Friends, Kris Statlander, Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin & Nick Wayne. Paquette talked about Allin & Wayne being in the Royal Rampage this Friday, while Statlander will be facing Marina Shafir for the TBS Title on Rampage as well. Allin said Swerve Strickland will also be in the Royal Rampage, but asks Cassidy if he’ll do him a favor and give someone a shot that helped him out when he was homeless, that being AR Fox. Cassidy says Allin & he are cool, so he grants the shot to Fox next week on Dynamite. Best Friends tried doing an all hands in, but Allin & Wayne walked off with Paquette being the only one who joined in.
-Chompy The Shark joined commentary to plug Shark Week starting Sunday as Taz said if the shark touched him, he’s tossing it off the stage.
-A video package on the history of The Golden Elite & Blackpool Combat Club is shown, as the main event is up next.
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The Golden Elite (Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson), Hangman Adam Page & Kota Ibushi) defeated Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita & PAC) in a Blood & Guts Match
(An incredibly violent and action packed war to put an end to such a hard hitting saga. I wrote a lot about this match because a hell of a lot happened. This was my favorite Blood & Guts match that AEW has done as this was filled with holy sh*t moments. If you aren’t a fan of violence, I don’t know what to tell you, as this match lived up to the billing. At one point the crowd chanted they wanted fire and I’m thrilled they didn’t get their wish as I think they had just run out of things to chant for, since they had already gotten glass, tacks, chairs, nails, tables, forks, screwdrivers, etc. You have multiple stories you could tell coming out of this match, especially since two teammates bailed on the BCC. It’ll be interesting the direction they go heading into All In & All Out.)
Omega & Castagnoli began for their respective teams and it was Castagnoli getting the upper hand as we were told the BCC won the coin toss and will be getting the early advantage. Omega hit a cross body off the top and launched Castagnoli into the second ring. After Castagnoli regained control, Omega hit an up and over in the corner, snap hurricanrana and drunk slam as PAC was the next entrant and caught Omega with a quick missile dropkick. PAC & Castagnoli had a brief face off before beating down Omega during commercial.
Hangman Page joined the match right when they returned from break and the crowd is already on fire. Page caught PAC on a cross body and hit a fall away slam before wiping out Castagnoli with a springing clothesline and moonsault off the top rope. Page & Omega showed great teamwork and why they were former Tag Team Champions with their double team pop up German suplex on PAC. Castagoli was able to dropkick Omega against the cage repeatedly and gain control just as Jon Moxley entered the arena. Page was waiting for Moxley, who jumped in with a screwdriver and stabbed Page & Omega repeatedly with it, even biting the fingers of Omega. Moxley handed Castagnoli a fork, before grabbing a bucket from under the ring, dumping broken glass out. Before anything could happen, Nick Jackson ran to the ring and hit a dropkick on Moxley, landing on the glass. Thankfully Moxley had a jacket on to absorb a lot of it.
Nick ran wild, sending Castanoli & PAC almost colliding and brief argument before Jackson laid them both out. Nick hit a double springboard hurricanrana that dropped Castagnoli onto the glass, but Moxley quickly hit suplex on Nick, stomping down glass onto the chest. Castagnoli & Moxley hit a double suplex on Omega onto the glass as Wheeler Yuta was in next, running to the ring with a chair during commercial. Even in picture in picture, the camera unfortunately cut right as Yuta dropped Nick with a brainbuster onto the set up chair. Omega tried a springboard on Moxley, who shoved Omega back first into the cage. Omega found himself trapped between the cage and the ring when Matt Jackson entered and dropped PAC with a face buster and Yuta with a DDT onto the chair.
I could be wrong, but Moxley is I believe the first person to officially bleed as The Young Bucks connected with Risky Business. Omega emerged from under the ring as Moxley mounted a comeback with Castanoli’s help on The Bucks with suplexes and uppercuts. Yuta meanwhile, was driven face first into the glass by Omega with Konosuke Takeshita the final entrant for the BCC as Don Callis joined commentary. Takeshita cracked Page with a chair and hit The Bucks with dueling suplexes before turning Omega inside out with a lariat. Moxley brought out a bed of nails with Taz calling him a horror movie dude. Omega blocked the first shot, but Moxley hit a shotgun dropkick sending Omega into the nails followed by a bodyslam by Moxley. Callis loved it as even Castagnoli looked at Moxley with an impressed reaction.
Kota Ibushi’s music hit to a monster reaction, as Yuta sprinted up the ramp and was laid out. Ibushi laid out Castagnoli, PAC & Takeshita as Ibushi stared down Moxley, who stomped down on Omega’s hand onto the nails, flipping Ibushi off. Both men started a wild strike exchange until PAC & Castagnoli ate a double Pele kick before Moxley was dropped onto the nails by Ibushi who followed with a standing moonsault. Ibushi clutched his wrist, as The Golden Lovers were going to do the BTE Trigger on Takeshita, but PAC & Castagnoli made the save. Nick was pressed over Castagnoli’s head and launched into the cage before they went to commercial.
Yuta & Matt Jackson had been brawling on the stage before both decided to climb to the top of the cage. Matt did his rolling Northern Lights suplexes up there, but Yuta countered the final one into a DDT. Yuta wisely climbed down the cage as Excalibur plugged the American Red Cross during Blood & Guts and even acknowledged how wild that was. PAC & Castagnoli were about to do double piledrivers on Page & Nick when Matt rained down thumbtacks from the top of the cage and PAC & Castagnoli got backdropped onto them in one of the coolest visuals I’ve seen. All 10 men are finally in the ring and The Elite hit You Can’t Escape, standing shooting star, top rope elbow & 450 Splash combo on PAC heading into the final commercial break.
During picture in picture, The Bucks & Page hit an assisted Tombstone & Dead Eye combo as Nick set up a table teetering between the rings. We had four superplexes in succession by The BCC and finally PAC held onto the top of the cage and swung into a double stomp through the table on Nick in an incredible moment. The back of Jon Moxley was shown and it was quite the gnarly image as each team regrouped in separate rings before a 10 man brawl commenced. Everyone took turns hitting home run shots with PAC being planted with a Snap Dragon into the glass. Omega tried One Winged Angel, but PAC countered into the Brutalizer. The BCC had 4 submissions applied while Matt ate the Giant Swing into the Sharpshooter.
Ibushi broke free and busted up all the submissions, really having to work to break up Castagnoli’s. Omega ate corner splashes when miscommunication occurred again between Castagnoli & PAC, who had to be separated by Yuta, Takeshtia & Moxley. PAC flipped off everyone before getting bolt cutters under the ring, snapped the cage door and bailing, slamming the door at Castagnoli. Omega fired up with Snap Dragons, Page hit a Buckshot on Castagnoli, and a Buckshot Trigger on Yuta with Omega. Moxley was handcuffed, as Callis pulled Takeshita from the match and they also bailed leaving it 5 on 3. Yuta meanwhile was busted open with a thumbtack covered shoe by Matt Jackson. Page wrapped a chain around the throat of Yuta and he passed out, ending the match, as Moxley was forced to watch handcuffed as The Golden Elite had their hands raised.
AEW Rampage 7/21/23
· 20 Man Royal Rampage with the winner getting a TNT Title shot at All Out. Participants shown were Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Big Bill, The Gates of Agony, Swerve Stickland, Brian Cage, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Jake Hager, Ethan Page, Matt Sydal, Brother Zay, Matt Hardy, Darby Allin, Nick Wayne, The Butcher, The Blade, Komander & Minoru Suzuki
· Kris Statlander defends the TBS Title against Marina Shafir
· The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass takes on QT Marshall, Johnny TV & Aaron Solo
AEW Collision 7/22/23
· Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews defend the AEW Trios Titles against The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Daddy Ass
AEW Dynamite 7/26/23
· Orange Cassidy defends the AEW International Title against AR Fox
NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today with C Block & D Block matches in Sendai.
In the main event, Tomohiro Ishii faces Tama Tonga in a battle of NJPW veterans. Both are looking for their first win of the tournament.
In the semi-main, Hirooki Goto faces Tetsuya Naito in another matchup of NJPW stalwarts.
The full lineup:
C Block: Tomohiro Ishii (0-1, 0 points) vs. Tama Tonga (0-1, 0 points)
D Block: Hirooki Goto (1-0, 2 points) vs. Tetsuya Naito (0-1, 0 points)
C Block: Shingo Takagi (0-1, 0 points) vs. HENARE (0-1, 0 points)
D Block: Shane Haste (1-0, 2 points) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (0-1, 0 points)
C Block: Eddie Kingston (1-0, 2 points) vs. EVIL (1-0, 2 points)
D Block: Jeff Cobb (1-0, 2 points) vs. Alex Coughlin (0-1, 0 points)
C Block: David Finlay (1-0, 2 points) vs. Mikey Nicholls (1-0, 2 points)
D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. (1-0, 2 points) vs. Toru Yano (0-1, 0 points)
Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
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Recommended Matches
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Toru Yano – While not a must-watch, this was easily the best Yano match since his 2019 encounter with Jon Moxley, and that’s worth a mention. ZSJ is remarkable at everything he does.
Jeff Cobb vs. Alex Coughlin – This was an engrossing match on a structural level and an outstanding performance from Coughlin.
HENARE vs. Shingo Takagi – If you’re a fan of this pairing or big-match-Shingo, this is a must-see.
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Results
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Toru Yano
This was an entertaining/clever match, even if it was borderline absurd. From both men having young lion doppelgangers to Yano tapping ZSJ’s legs together, this was a silly Yano match from the beginning. In the end, ZSJ caught Yano with a rollup after Kosei Fujita provided some assistance.
ZSJ takes lead of D block with 4 points.
David Finlay defeated Mikey Nicholls
This was a slow-built match structured around prolonged segments of Finlay control. Finlay utilized this control to close the match with Oblivion.
David Finlay stays undefeated with 4 points.
Jeff Cobb defeated Alex Coughlin
In a cool twist, this match was all about Coughlin proving he could match Cobb’s power. While Cobb did his fair share of power moves, it was all the more impressive when Coughlin stood toe-to-toe. Cobb ultimately ended Coughlin’s hubris with a Tour of the Islands.
Cobb continues his hot start, advancing to 4 points.
EVIL defeated Eddie Kingston
This match didn’t come together at all for me. EVIL, unsurprisingly, worked a dirty match from the opening bell. Eddie attempted to fight off the barrage but fell to Everything is Evil after a Dick Togo distraction.
EVIL remains on top with 4 points.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Shane Haste
Haste established control early and used it to wear down Tanahashi for long stretches. Tanahashi eventually launched a rally, enabling him to hit High Fly Flow and win the match.
Tanahashi is on the board with two points.
HENARE defeated Shingo Takagi
This match was comparable to a Shingo main event in a compressed package. Only after prolonged back-and-forth sequences, multiple major momentum shifts, and false finishes did HENARE manage hit streets of rage to close the match with less than 30 seconds in the match remaining.
HENARE has scored his first win in block action, earning 2 points.
Tetsuya Naito defeated Hirooki Goto
This was the kind of match you would’ve expected from this pairing a few years ago. Both guys were on the ball, leading to dramatic back-and-forth sequences. Naito was able to close with Destino, ending one of his best performances in a long while.
Naito earned his first points in D block.
Tama Tonga defeated Tomohiro Ishii
This was a reasonably standard Ishii affair. Most of the twists were built around Ishii avoiding the gun stun. Once Tama hit the gun stun, he followed up with a Jay Driller to win the match.
Dominik Mysterio has the chance to capture NXT gold tonight.
The North American Championship will be on the line as Wes Lee defends against Dominik on tonight’s episode of NXT. The match was made after The Judgment Day appeared on NXT last week. Dominik confronted Lee backstage and wanted to answer an open challenge for a North American title shot. Dominik accused Lee of being scared of him. Lee was ready to face Dominik immediately, but Dominik delayed the match to tonight.
The winner of Lee vs. Dominik will defend the North American title against Mustafa Ali at NXT Great American Bash later this month.
One week after being freed from jail, Tony D’Angelo will return for a homecoming tonight. Stacks earned D’Angelo’s freedom when he defeated Joe Coffey last Tuesday. D’Angelo & Stacks are in line for a Tag Team title shot against Gallus.
Dragon Lee & Nathan Frazer vs. Los Lotharios, Gigi Dolin vs. Kiana James, Bronco Nima & Lucien Price vs. Scrypts & Axiom, and Thea Hail vs. Elektra Lopez have also been announced for tonight. Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Opening the show is NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams coming to the ring for a live promo inside the soundstage at the Performance Center in Orlando.
Hayes does not feel like doing his “I AM” catchphrase because they lost last week in a tag team match against Judgment Day. Williams says they should have won last week, and he notes the outside interference.
Hayes then shifts the discussion to Ilja Dragunov, who came out to make a save for Hayes. That is something Hayes takes exception to, and out comes Dragunov to confront Hayes in the ring for bringing up his name.
Dragunov and Hayes banter back and forth. They sort of put each other over, and they talk about the title match between them scheduled for The Great American Bash.
Dragunov talks about giving his all in the ring and it meaning something. Dragunov vows to defeat Hayes at The Bash. Hayes responds by talking about how he feels the weight of being champion. Hayes also says there is no one greater to face him at The Bash than Dragunov. Hayes plans on having a long title reign, and Hayes cautions Dragunov. Hayes goes on to say he is “Mr. PLE”. That is very RVD of him.
Dragunov gets very intense and gets in Hayes’ face. All I could think about was how Dragunov’s suit jacket looked too small on him. Nevertheless, his face was flush with rage as he glares a hole through Hayes. Hayes looks him dead in the eye. They have a staredown as the Vic Joseph on commentary plugs tickets on sale for The Bash.
Mustafa Ali rushes into a locker room for a chat with NXT North American Champion Wes Lee. Ali is upset with Lee for accepting the title match tonight against Dominik Mysterio. Ali, who is booked to challenge for the North American title at The Bash, tells Lee he wants to face Lee for the title, not Mysterio. Lee takes offense, thinking Ali does not think he can beat Mysterio. Ali insists that is not what he meant. Tension remains between the two ahead of their match at The Bash.
A vignette shows Tony D’Angelo getting out of jail. Stacks meets him and brings Tony D a hat. They hug and get into a car to leave.
Dragon Lee pinned Carillo to win the match in what was the in-ring return to NXT of Carillo & Garza. They had a really exciting tag match. Afterwards, a frustrated Carillo shoved down Garza after the match.
Last week, Carillo & Garza were billed as “Los Lotharios,” but no mention of that name this week. Maybe because they are breaking up. We shall see.
Carillo & Garza jump Frazier & Dragon Lee before the bell with stereo wrecking ball dropkicks through the ropes. They settle into a tag match when Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon walk down to ringside to watch the tag bout.
Just before cutting to the first commercial break of the show, Carillo & Garza cut off the momentum being built by Lee & Frazier. They rudos get heat on Frazier as they work him over on their half of the ring.
Hot tag to Dragon Lee, and he is on fire. Frazier soon gets back into the fight, but he military pressed and dropped on the announce desk. Meanwhile, Dragon Lee has climbed to the top rope. Garza trips him up, and Dragon Lee is crotched on a turnbuckle. Standing on the ropes, both rudos press slam Lee off the top rope into the ring. Garza then moonsaults off the middle rope onto the floor to wipe out Frazier. Carillo then does a moonsault press into the ring on Dragon Lee for a near fall.
Moments later, Dragon Lee cuts off Carillo to deliver a double foot stomp of the top. Dragon Lee goes to follows up, but he is superkicked by Garza. That begins a flurry of high spots that lead to Dragon Lee giving Carillo a Liger bomb for a another two count. The live studio audience goes crazy for the closing minutes.
Carillo & Garza try to impress Leon & Feroz at ringside, which is their downfall. Carillo & Garza are cut off by Frazier with a missile dropkick. Frazier then does a plancha on both rudos. Frazier rolls Garza back into the ring so Dragon Lee can execute his tilt-a-whirl slop drop finisher. Lee then covers Garza for a three count.
Carillo was so upset at Garza that Carillo shoves him down at ringside. Carillo then storms off and leaves trough the crowd. A stunned Garza goes after him.
Baron Corbin is still on a search to find his next gimmick or whatever. His new gimmick is just him, whatever that means.
In a skit posted to social media, Booker T gives Roxanne Perez a pep talk ahead of her match against Blair Davenport at The Great American Bash. This skit was supposedly recorded in secret, which upset Booker T a lot, and he said as much.
Kiana James defeated Gigi Dolan
James pinned Dolan to win this grudge match where they brawled a lot for better or worse. Leading to the finish, James retrieved her loaded bag. Dolan takes the bag from James after a tug-o-war, only for Dolan to get into a tug-o-war with the referee over the bag. James jumps in to deliver her “401k” flatliner finisher, and James covers Dolan for a three count.
Eddy Thorpe is being interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell when they are interrupted by the Meta-Four. Thorpe was supposed to be a guest on Supernova Session last week, but Noam Dar cancelled that. A distraught and ragged-looking Dar is with the Meta-Four as they banter here with Thorpe. As a consolation prize for the cancellation, Oro Mensah presents Thorpe with a 8×10 signed by Dar. Thorpe rips up the 8×10. This angers Mensah, setting up a match for later on between Thorpe and Mensah.
Bronco Nima & Lucien Price defeated Axiom & Scrypts
Price pinned Axiom to win. This tag bout was set up in a skit where Scyrpts accepts a challenge for a match, much to the chagrin of Axiom. In the match itself, Scrypts turns on Axiom in a sneak attack. Scrypts watches as Axiom is pummeled by Nima & Price. Axiom takes a fall as Scrypts smirks.
The Family celebrates Tony D’Angelo’s release from custody
Up next is a talking segment where family and friends gather to welcome back Tony D’Angelo after his release from jail. The ring filled with a bunch of extras as Stacks introduces the returning Tony D.
Hugs and embraces all around from Tony D and The Family. Tony D then grabs a microphone for a speech. He first thanks Stacks, and then Tony D throws to a video package that shows how he and Stacks planned to swerve Gallus.
Out comes Gallus to interrupt the celebration. Joe Coffey is flanked by his brother Mark and Wolfgang. Joe cuts a promo on The Family. Tony D and Stacks responds with a promo of their own, vowing to win the NXT Tag Team titles from Gallus at The Bash. Coffey warns The Family they will not make it to the The Bash.
In a comedy bit, Joe Coffey pulls out a crowbar to use as a weapon. All of the extras in the ring with The Family pull out crowbars, as does Tony D and Stacks. The extra all get out of the rig as there is going to be a brawl. Tony D and Stacks thwart an attack, and they strike with crowbars. The Family cleans house, and Stacks put Mark Coffey through table set up in the ring. The Family stands tall.
In a backstage skit, Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Drahunov get into a pull-apart brawl with The Schism. This seems to set up a tag bout for next week.
Hail won via submission in a showcase match, which builds her up for a title challenge at The Bash. They had a short match, where Hail caught Lopez in a kimura lock. Lopez tapped out.
Hudson leads the audience in a “Hail yeah” chant after the match. Hail cuts a promo wanting another shot at the title. Hudson leads a “rematch” chant. Hail yells for NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton to come out so Hail can kick her ass. Stratton accepts the challenge for a title rematch.
Hail then adds a stipulation by wanting to make it a submission match. Stratton says “no” to that stip, and says Hail cannot make her. Hail leaps on Stratton to apply a kimura, and Hail forces Stratton into submission. Thus, Stratton accepts the stip. That does not seem legally binding given the circumstances, but whatever. It is pro wrestling.
A vignette highlights Gable Steveson. Next week he “decides his future” on NXT.
Oro Mensah (with Lash Legend, Jakara Jackson & Noam Dar) defeated Eddy Thorpe
Mensah pinned Thorpe after outside interference by Dijak. He ran in to ambush Thorpe, thus costing Thorpe the match.
Dar was limp as a dishrag. He was doing the Bernie gimmick from Weekend at Bernie’s. Legend rolled Dar’s lifeless body into the ring, which distracted the referee. He is busy rolling Dar out of the ring as Thorpe and Mensah are at ringside.
With the ref distracted with Dar, out of nowhere is Dijak for an ambush. Dijak jumps Thorpe, and Dijak drops Thorpe with a big boot. Thorpe takes a bump on the floor, and he does the New Japan spot where he teases a countout only to break the count at nine. Nevertheless, Thorpe is dazed, allowing Mensah to nail Thorpe with a flip kick. Mensah then covers Thorpe for a pinfall.
Dana Brooke and Kelani Jordan do some gymnastics in a vignette. Cora Jade, with her trusty kendo stick, watched on a monitor. Jade scoffed at the gymnastics routine.
Roxanne Perez and Blair Davenport are in a split-screen segment where they address each other. They banter in a fairly boring exchange. Davenport threatens Perez, and it upsets Perez so much she storms off set.
Dominik Mysterio (with WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley) defeated NXT North American Champion Wes Lee to win the title
Mysterio pinned Lee after outside interference by Judgment Day. Finn Balor and Damian Priest run in at the finish, but they are thwarted by Lee. However, Ripley hits Lee with a belt shot, and “Dirty Dom” crawls over to cover Lee. With the help of “Mami,” Mysterio wins his first championship in WWE.
The match itself goes through a commercial break. Lee is in control of Dom, and Dom takes a powder to hide behind Ripley as the show cuts to a split-screen. Dom tries a Zbyszko Stalk during the break, but that backfires when Lee jumps out of of the ring to pummel him. Back in the ring, Dom begs off. This was a ploy for Dom to do the Ric Flair spot where he begs off, only to trick Lee into letting his guard down so that Dom can send him into the turnbuckles.
Dom is working over Lee as the show returns from the commercial break. Dom does a 619, and he follows up with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Dom mimics Eddie Guerrero as Dom signals for a frog splash. No water in the pool as Lee moves out of the way. Crash and burn for Dom. Ripley seems worried as she watches from ringside.
Lee is cut off, but he in turn cuts off Dom seconds later. Comeback by Lee with a flurry of moves. Lee and Ripley glare at each other moments before Lee executes a tornado DDT. Dom takes the DDT and rolls outside. Lee looks to go for a dive, but he stops short as Dom grabs the title belt. Dom goes to leave with the North American strap. Lee flew outside with a dive to block Dom’s exit.
Lee with twisting corkscrew senton on Dom in the ring. Suddenly, Finn Balor and Damian Priest run in. Balor distracts the referee while Priest attempts to hit Lee with a belt shot. Lee ducks and does a handspring to hit Priest with a Cardiac Kick. Lee is seemingly in control when he is hit with a belt shot from Rhea Ripley. She jumped on the apron and smacked Lee with the women’s title belt. Dom crawls over and covers Lee for a three count. Dominik Mysterio wins gold!
NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today in Yamagata with A Block & B Block action.
In the main event, Kazuchika Okada faces El Phantasmo in B Block. Both enter the match 1-0 in the tournament.
In the semi-main, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA takes on Shota Umino. Umino & Ren Narita went to a time limit draw in their first tournament bout, while SANADA scored a win over Hikuleo.
The full lineup:
B Block: Kazuchika Okada (1-0, 2 points) vs. El Phantasmo (1-0, 2 points)
A Block: SANADA (1-0, 2 points) vs. Shota Umino (0-0-1, 1 point)
B Block: Will Ospreay (0-1, 0 points) vs. YOSHI-HASHI (1-0, 2 points)
A Block: Ren Narita (0-0-1, 1 point) vs. Yota Tsuji (0-1, 0 points)
B Block: Taichi (1-0, 2 points) vs. Tanga Loa (1-0, 2 points)
A Block: Hikuleo (0-1, 0 points) vs. Gabe Kidd (0-1, 0 points)
B Block: KENTA (0-1, 0 points) vs. Great-O-Khan (0-1, 0 points)
A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya (1-0, 2 points) vs. Chase Owens (1-0, 2 points)
Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
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There was nothing “must-see” from tonight’s show. There were some strong individual performances (Okada, Kaito, and Kidd come to mind), but no matches that stand out as particularly great.
Kaito Kiyomiya defeated Chase Owens
This was a simple match structurally. Chase got and maintained the heat for most of the bout. Kaito eventually launched a comeback before winning with the shining wizard.
Kaito now leads A Block with 4 points.
KENTA defeated Great-O-Khan
This was a strange one. The match featured a lot of outside brawling, with both men utilizing chair shots and environmental offense. Back in the ring, the match was built around failed ref bumps, which didn’t even play into the finish. KENTA used the ropes after a rollup to win the bout.
KENTA scores his first 2 points of the tournament.
Gabe Kidd defeated Hikuleo
Ruthless Kidd is such a fantastic addition to this roster. His matches always feel urgent. Kidd rushed Hikuleo before the match could begin, setting up another brawl-heavy bout. Hikuleo won the advantage on the floor, which he maintained in the ring. Kidd eventually landed a low blow and a pile driver to eke out a win.
This was Kidd’s first win, leaving him with 2 points.
Taichi defeated Tanga Loa
This wasn’t great. The match opened as a sluggish strike-heavy affair. The ending sequence was moves-heavy, with Taichi coming out on top with his Gedo Clutch variation.
Taichi remains undefeated with 4 points.
Time Limit Draw: Ren Narita vs. Yota Tsuji
This match played out as you would imagine, with Tsuji using his power to gain and maintain a lead, with Narita’s fire acting as a constant check. As time wound down, both men grew desperate and climbed to the top rope where the match would find its end.
Will Ospreay defeated YOSHI-HASHI
This match was a fairly standard Ospreay affair with a fair bit of back-and-forth. YH survived an awful lot of Ospreay offense, but in the end, a corkscrew senton marked the end.
Ospreay is on the board with 2 points.
SANADA defeated Shota Umino
This was a match with no real urgency, even as the clock ticked on. Just before the time limit, SANADA hit the shining wizard and deadfall to win the match.
SANADA maintains his position on top of A block with 4 points.
Okada defeated El Phantasmo
Okada was indifferent for most of the match, which allowed ELP to gain advantage. After avoiding a Rainmaker, ELP hit CR2, a moonsault to the floor, and a tombstone but failed to finish. In the end, it was an Okada Rainmaker that marked the end for ELP.
Date: July 17, 2023 Location: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA
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Show Recap —
The announcers ran down tonight’s card. Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick spat out nicknames for every wrestler as they did. The Hellions from Hades Judgment Day, the cantankerous Kevin Owens, the spirited Sami Zayn, the menacing Gunther, the cheeky Chelsea Green, the self-aggrandizing Sonya Deville, the strong-willed Raquel Rodriguez, and the bubbly Liv Morgan.
I know they often do this sort of thing, but it felt like a new edict was handed down and it sounded completely unnatural.
Cody Rhodes / Brock Lesnar segment
Cody Rhodes entered to a big reaction and “welcome home” chants. Rhodes said we don’t need to talk — Brock Lesnar can enter right now and accept his SummerSlam challenge. Lesnar didn’t enter and Rhodes wasn’t surprised. Rhodes said Lesnar could come at 9pm or 10pm or at the end of the night but no matter what, Rhodes would still be in the ring waiting for him.
Rhodes became emotional upon mentioning that his mother Michelle was in the front row. Rhodes said that his catchphrase wasn’t something like “Let’s get funky like a monkey” for a reason. Rhodes mentioned training with the Nightmare Family and said the person who made him a fighter was a fighter herself. He encouraged the fans to applaud Michelle.
Rhodes said his relationship with Lesnar was complicated and only two words could describe it right: “Hard times.” Rhodes said tonight would not be hard times in front of his people, it would be hard times for Lesnar. The crowd cheered.
Rhodes hugged his family in the front row when Lesnar’s music hit. Rhodes awaited Lesnar but he still didn’t show. As Rhodes got closer to the stage, Lesnar’s music hit again but he still didn’t appear.
Rhodes marched to the back and you could hear the sound of a steel chair. Lesnar chucked Rhodes back down the ramp and hit him repeatedly with the chair.
Lesnar hoisted Rhodes on his shoulders and gave him an F5 in front of his mother. Lesnar also put him in a Kimura as Michelle yelled at Lesnar. Lesnar put him in the Kimura one more time in the ring (but didn’t hold on long enough to break the arm again).
Lesnar said, “Challenge accepted. I’ll see you at SummerSlam, bitch.” The crowd booed as Lesnar left.
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Lesnar hit Rhodes with a chair one more time during the commercial break.
Non-title match: Intercontinental Champion Gunther defeated Matt Riddle (8:12)
Riddle leaped off the ring steps but Gunther chopped him out of mid-air and hit a body slam. Riddle fought back after a break and they exchanged strikes until Riddle hit an exploder suplex.
Gunther responded with chops and Riddle came back with kicks to the chest. Gunther chopped him again, hit a German suplex and clothesline for a nearfall. Riddle back with kicks and hit a sliding knee to the back of the head for two.
Riddle went for a floating bro but Gunther got his knees up. Gunther followed with a dropkick and powerbomb for the pinfall win. Fun stuff for the time they had.
— Gunther stood on the announce table as the crowd booed. He said they can boo all they want but this was the best night of their lives because they came here to see the greatest IC champion of all time. Gunther said Riddle was done and he was building a legacy. Drew McIntyre could ride his coattails too but he will fall like everyone else to the ring general.
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Jackie Redmond interviewed Rodriguez and Morgan. Morgan knew that Green and Deville didn’t follow the rules but they’d be ready. Morgan said they wouldn’t back down from anyone.
Rhea Ripley appeared and got in Rodriguez’s face. (The crowd popped for her appearance.) Rodriguez said they wouldn’t back down to her, either. Morgan tried to chim in so Ripley headbutted her.
Rodriguez attacked Ripley and they brawled as officials tried to separate them. The brawl ended when Ripley kicked Raquel’s leg out of her leg. Morgan and officials checked on Rodriguez.
— Judgment Day, with Ripley, entered for the next segment. Patrick said the mood in Atlanta has taken a sinister turn with the appearance of this villainous quartet.
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Judgment Day segment
Ripley said Judgment Day were stronger than ever and they don’t just run Raw, they dominate it. Ripley called herself unbeatable as champion and said Finn Bálor and Damian Priest would soon become world champions. Ripley said Dominik Mysterio would become NXT North American Champion tomorrow.
The crowd loudly booed as Dom said he would beat Wes Lee on NXT. Priest tried to talk for him so the crowd booed over his promo too. Priest held up his briefcase and said he would become world champion. Bálor gave him a look but Priest told him to take it easy because Bálor still had the first shot. Bálor told Priest, “I love you, bro.”
Bálor said his issues with Seth Rollins would never be over until he beat him for the title. Dom tried to put over Bálor but the crowd booed again.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens interrupted. Zayn asked the Atlanta crowd if they paid their hard-earned money to hear Dom talk. They booed. He asked if they paid money to see someone shut Dom’s mouth. They cheered. Zayn said they would take on Dom and Priest tonight and shut Dom’s mouth for good.
Priest said they’ve been focused on individual titles but told Dom the tag titles would look great on them. Priest told them to put the titles on the line. Zayn considered it as the crowd chanted Yes.
Owens appeared annoyed so Zayn let him speak. The crowd chanted for Owens. Owens fired up and said he wanted to stun Priest and put his fist through Dom’s stupid face. Owens accepted.
(Priest held up his briefcase and Owens yelled, off the mic, that no one cared about the briefcase because it didn’t matter right now.)
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A trainer told Adam Pearce that Rodriguez was technically cleared but he wanted to get scans. Rodriguez said no because the last time this happened, they had to give up the belts. Pearce was concerned and understood the trainer’s recommendation but made the title match official.
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Both teams entered before a break and they went to another break after they entered the ring.
[SECOND HOUR]
Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green defeated Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan to win the Women’s Tag Team Championships (5:13)
Deville applied a half crab on Rodriguez’s injured knee and held the hold a long time before Morgan finally broke it up. Morgan tagged in and hit Green with a Codebreaker and Oblivion but Deville just barely broke up the cover with a knee strike.
Deville chop-blocked Rodriguez outside the ring before giving Morgan a cheap shot with the referee’s back turned. Green hit an Unprettier (if you can call it that) for a close nearfall.
Morgan tried fighting off both women on her own but the Green hit another Unprettier and Deville followed with a running knee strike for the pinfall win. Deville and Green are the new champs.
Fireworks went off as Deville and Green posed with the belts.
Morgan sat with Rodriguez as someone checked on her leg.
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Byron Saxton congratulated the new champs but added that it was almost a two-on-one match. Deville dismissed Rodriguez’s fake injury while Green tried to thank everyone she could think of including her fans, her parents, her sister, and Janine from the tanning salon.
There was a video package of Jey Uso’s segment from Smackdown. Roman Reigns will be on this week’s Smackdown and they’re pushing hard that it’s on FS1.
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Seth Rollins sit-down interview
Saxton wanted to know Seth Rollins’ plans for the world title after hearing from Bálor. Rollins said the World Heavyweight Championship deserved a marquee match at SummerSlam and mentioned Bálor, Priest, McIntyre, Gunther and Owens as potential challengers.
Bálor interrupted before Rollins could name more challengers. Rollins told Saxton he could leave and Bálor sat in his chair. Bálor said the line started with him and their issues weren’t over. Bálor told Rollins to talk to Pearce and make the match.
Rollins told Bálor to stop living in the past. Bálor said he wasn’t living in the past, he was living in the chaos, and he would do to Rollins what Rollins did to him. Bálor would take his title, laugh in his face, and alter his career forever.
Rollins told Bálor that the world title was about more than Bálor’s personal vendetta. It was bigger than both of them. Rollins said they didn’t need a match to settle the score and they could finish things right now. Rollins told Bálor to take a shot or get out of his face.
Bálor said, “Cool,” and left. Rollins took off his mic and got ready to leave but Bálor chucked a chair in his face and put the boots to him. Bálor told Rollins to make the match.
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The Viking Rules match is next. Patrick said, “Coming up next, a match with no rules — Viking Rules,” and Graves responded, “And when you say, ‘Viking Rules’, let’s be honest, there are no rules!”
Titus O’Neil joined commentary for the match. Graves said O’Neil could provide input because he knows all about the Viking Raiders and Viking Rules. O’Neil informed him that he only ever had regular matches against them.
The front section of a Viking boat was connected to the ring and there were shields attached to the ring ropes. Otis yelled, “Get the tables” at Gable but he was stopped by Erik. Ivar tried a springboard crossbody but Otis caught him and hit a powerslam, which was awesome.
They came back from break and Graves let us know for the 80th time that this was a Viking Rules match which meant there were no rules.
Ivar hit Otis with a moonsault but Gable broke up the cover with a moonsault of his own. Gable followed with a damn impressive German suplex on Ivar but Erik broke up the cover. The crowd was really into all of this.
Erik and Gable exchanged strikes until Gable hit an exploder suplex and a diving headbutt but Valhalla broke up the cover. Maxxine took her out with a flying crossbody.
Gable put the letterman jacket on Dupri and she yelled, “Thank you!” but Valhalla speared her through a corner table. The Raiders drove Gable into some shields.
Otis ran over both Raiders, slammed Ivar and gave Erik a fallaway slam. Otis hit Ivar with a Caterpillar but Valhalla slapped him as he climbed the ropes. The Raiders brought down Otis with a double powerbomb off the middle rope for the pinfall win.
This was a fun match that went as well as it could have and the crowd was into it. Alpha Academy winning probably would’ve gotten a really big pop.
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Shayna Baszler vs. Nikki Cross (0:20)
Baszler won immediately by submission with Kirifuda Clutch.
— Ronda Rousey proclaimed, “And the crowd goes mild!” after the match. Rousey stood in the upper deck and cut a promo.
Rousey said she could have taken the long way through the door in WWE — or go through the backdoor by earning a historic Olympic medal in judo and having an earth-shattering UFC career. She got thrown into the wolves by being put into a WWE ring with no training and developed a Hall of Fame career in just a year.
She did everything in a fraction of the time that it took Baszler and she still eclipsed her in everything. Rousey called herself the greatest combat sports athlete of all time and the crowd booed. Rousey said Baszler was just a knock-off version of her.
Baszler said she was a better Ronda Rousey in the ring than the real Ronda Rousey. Baszler challenged her to a fight right now. Rousey said no and put her legs up.
Baszler went into the crowd and was going to go after her but Rousey got up and said she would do Baszler a favour and finally get her booked on SummerSlam. Rousey said, “I’ll see you in Motor City, bitch,” and she left.
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Redmond interviewed Ricochet. Ricochet said Logan Paul thinks he’s a joke but he lives in his own world of social media. In this world of WWE, Logan was a joke. Ricochet said Paul wanted a fight but when they got into it last week, Paul was the one who was laid out. Ricochet challenged him to show up on Raw next week in Tampa where he could hurt him where it hurts — his ego.
[THIRD HOUR]
Miz TV with Becky Lynch
Miz gloated about his win over Tommaso Ciampa and proclaimed that he was back. He spoke about competing in a celebrity golf tournament alongside Charles Barkley, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Miles Teller, and the most overpaid person in sports, Pat McAfee. He said the only person more overpaid was Trey Young (Atlanta Hawks).
Miz introduced Becky Lynch and asked her what it was like to sit next to a winner. Miz noted her recent losses to Trish Stratus and Zoey Stark and at Money in the Bank. Miz wondered if she had lost a step.
Lynch stood up and chucked both chairs out of the ring. She got in Miz’s face and said she may have lost titles and friends and maybe her mind but she has not lost a step. Lynch knew how his stupid little show worked and knew she wasn’t the only guest so she told Miz to get Stratus out here before she took his tiny balls.
Stratus and Stark entered but Lynch spoke over her music and repeatedly demanded a rematch. Stratus called Lynch a child and wondered if it was Roux in the ring. Lynch told Stratus to keep her daughter’s name out of her mouth. Stratus said she already beat her and declined a rematch. Stratus noted that Lynch lost to her and lost at MITB and lost to Stark, so they were done with her.
Stratus said Miz TV was the perfect platform for Lynch to finally say, “Thank you, Trish.” Lynch said Stratus wanted to return to WWE so Lynch brought her back. Lynch told her the issues she was having and Stratus attacked her when she was at her lowest because she knew she couldn’t take her at her strongest.
Lynch challenged her with a rematch without Stark by her side. Lynch mocked her and wondered if she was all about hair flips and her Instagram.
Stratus accepted a rematch under a few conditions. First, Lynch would have to beat Stark. Lynch said, “Done.” Stratus said when Stark beat her, Lynch would have to get on her knees and say, “Thank you, Trish.” Lynch accepted. Stratus also wanted Lynch to tattoo the phrase across her chest.
They abruptly attacked Lynch but she fought them off and ripped off Stratus’ face mask. Lynch hit her in the nose, put on the face mask herself, and headbutted Stark.
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Bronson Reed defeated Shinsuke Nakamura via disqualification (7:32)
Reed took control but Nakamura fought back after a break. Reed responded with a Death Valley Driver for two. The crowd chanted for Nakamura who hit strikes and a knee strike off the ropes for two. Nakamura set up for Kinshasa but Reed flattened him with a crossbody.
Ciampa suddenly hit the ring and attacked Reed for the DQ. (Reed cost Ciampa his match against Miz.)
— Ciampa seemed apologetic to Nakamura but Nakamura dropped him with a kick to the chin. The crowd actually cheered because he was understandably upset.
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Saxton interviewed Nakamura who said, “I’m tired of everybody getting involved in my business.” Saxton asked about him attacking Ciampa. Nakamura rolled his eyes, stood up, and yelled, “Byron! I said I’m tired of everybody getting involved in my business!” Nakamura left.
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Next week on Raw in Tampa:
Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark
Gunther and Drew McIntyre face-to-face
Logan Paul appears
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(There was a wide shot during the main event showing the sold-out crowd of about 13,500 — according to Kevin Patrick.)
After they introduced both teams for the main event, Rollins appeared out of nowhere and took out Bálor with a suicide dive. Rollins hammered away and Bálor ran to the back.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defeated Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio (w/Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley) to retain the Tag Team Championships (15:30)
Owens and Zayn had their way with Dom until Zayn got distracted by Ripley. Dom hit Zayn with a baseball slide and Priest chokeslammed him onto the apron.
The crowd cheered on Zayn after a break and he eventually made a (very) hot tag to Owens who knocked Dom and Priest out of the ring. Owens clotheslined both men outside the ring and gave Priest a senton. Owens also hit Dom with a frog splash off the apron.
Owens hit Priest with a cannonball but Priest got his knees up on a senton bomb attempt. Dom followed with a frog splash but Zayn broke up the cover. Zayn dumped Priest from the ring before Dom dumped Zayn.
The crowd chanted “Dom you suck” moments before Owens hit him with a pop-up powerbomb but Priest broke up the cover. Zayn tagged in and hit Priest with a tornado DDT for a nearfall. Zayn went to the top as the crowd chanted “Olé” but Priest cut him off and hit a Frankensteiner for two.
Dom made a blind tag and dropkicked Zayn into the middle rope. Zayn avoided a 619 and chucked Dom from the ring. Owens wiped out Priest with a dive off the apron and Zayn wiped out Dom with a flip dive.
Ripley drove Owens into the steel steps and Zayn pointed it out to the referee. Priest attacked Zayn with the ref’s back turned and Dom put him in a schoolboy for a nearfall.
Ripley yelled at the referee when Liv Morgan ran out and drove her into the timekeeper’s area.
Owens dropped Priest with a stunner and Zayn hit Dom with Helluva Kick for the pinfall win.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, before Monday’s Raw.
The all-women’s edition this week didn’t quite deliver, but it was fun to see Natalya in action while Indi Hartwell is getting better all the time. JD McDonagh vs. Apollow Crews III has still yet to happen and would have been a way better curtain-jerker than either of these matches.
Natalya defeated Xia Li (5:20)
Although the crowd rallied to give this one some energy, it was a tepid affair that lost its way a few times toward the end. This was, according to Byron Saxton, Natalya’s 1517th televised WWE match.
Natalya sold and sold for Li in the early going. Li’s offense is pretty basic and there was a lot of clubbing and chops to the corner, as well as a rest hold. The idea was clearly for Natalya to allow Li to show off what she can do, but it didn’t translate into anything particularly interesting.
When Natalya made her comeback, she went for the Sharpshooter but got kicked off and then was nailed with a pop-up enziguri in one of the best spots of the match.
The crowd recovered here and when Li missed a running knee to the corner, they could sense the end was coming. Natalya locked in the Sharpshooter and that was all she wrote.
Natalya is so good at building tension. When she put Li in the submission hold, she paused and gave a long look to the crowd which they ate up. What a pro.
Indi Hartwell (w/ Candice LeRae) defeated Dana Brooke (7:56)
They lost the crowd and it dragged after a very early commercial break. However, Hartwell and LeRae are getting over while Brooke is increasingly well-appreciated by live crowds.
No offense to either of these two, but this is not the match to get a pre-Raw crowd hyped up for the show ahead. They should have given Brooke a partner and this would have reaped far better rewards as a result.
They worked hard for an audience that pretty much sat on their hands. Hartwell took the bulk of the offense, trying quick covers to get it done early.
LeRae kept shouting advice from the sidelines. Hartwell went for rest holds and a sleeper and the match slowed right down. Eventually, Brooke fought her way out by backing Hartwell into the corner.
They fought on the top rope, and teased a superplex, but Brooke came out on top and used a crossbody that led to them both being down. Just when it looked like Brooke was going to take this one, her plans got thwarted at the last minute.
Brooke used a handspring back elbow and went for a sunset flip, but Hartwell was too strong and stood still before sinking to her knees and hooking Brooke’s legs to steal the win.
The seventh edition of AEW Battle of the Belts will kick off right after the conclusion of AEW Collision from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Per usual, three title matches will make up the card — all of which are for AEW championships. Additionally, all three are first time ever matchups.
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm will defend against Taya Valkyrie, who has been a champion in Impact, AAA and MLW among other places. Storm came out on Friday’s Rampage to ridicule Valkyrie after a victory and ended up getting talked into a title defense instead.
In another match made Friday, AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will defend against Lance Archer. Archer picked up a victory over Trent Beretta and then called his shot for a title match against Cassidy. Cassidy came out to help his friend, leading to Archer and Roberts stealing his belt and Jansport backpack.
TNT Champion Luchasaurus will have the first defense of his title as he faces Shawn Spears.
**********The night continues with Battle of the Belts VII coming live from Calgary, Alberta, Canada as part of the Calgary Stampede. Ian Riccaboni and Nigel McGuinness are on the call.
We came back to the scene that ended Collision, with Ricky Starks winning the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament over CM Punk. Starks got out of dodge quickly, snatching the trophy out of the hands of special guest Jushin Thunder Liger and bailing. An easy payday for Liger.
AEW International Title Match – Orange Cassidy defeated Lance Archer (w/Jake Roberts) by countout to retain
This was a good opener, as Cassidy used his smarts to survive another defense against a monster of an opponent. A weak finish, but I don’t think they’ll leave this hanging here.
Archer and Cassidy got off to a jump start, with Cassidy jumping Archer during his entrance. Archer brought Cassidy to the top rope and hammered him with a forearm. Archer set up the Blackout, but Cassidy fought out. Archer hit a rising knee to Cassidy on the top rope, then went for the Blackout again. Cassidy slipped down and locked on a sleeper hold. Archer slammed Cassidy down and hit a shoulder block that forced Cassidy to the floor.
Cassidy rolled to the other side of the ring before hitting Jake Roberts with his soft kicks. It baited Archer to his side, but Archer caught Cassidy on a hurricanrana attempt and threw him into the barricade. Archer began flinging security around, allowing Cassidy to dropkick Archer into the barricade. Cassidy began flinging security guards into Archer, but Archer came back up and flung Cassidy into the barricades again. They both beat the ten count into the ring, where Archer hit a big forearm as we went to break.
Back from the break, Cassidy went for a flying DDT, but Archer caught him and flung him across the ring with a suplex. Cassidy tried to hit a Stundog Millionaire, but Archer stuffed it and hit a barge attack. Cassidy went for a satellite DDT, but Archer caught him again. Cassidy went low, hitting a chop block. He got Archer down to his knees and called for the Orange Punch. Archer caught the punch and laid Cassidy out with a Bossman Slam for a nearfall.
Cassidy ducked a lariat and bailed to the floor where Roberts set up the DDT, but Archer stopped him. Cassidy hit a basement dropkick before hitting a DDT on the floor in front of Roberts. Archer got back up on the apron and taunted Cassidy, but Cassidy punched Archer to the floor. Cassidy fell into the ring, where the referee made the ten count. Cassidy wins by countout.
– Tony Schiavone was in the ring and welcomed The Acclaimed. They accepted QTV’s challenge, saying that they would beat them in and out of the Royal Rampage. Bowens then announced that next Saturday on Collision, The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn would get a rematch for the AEW Trios Titles against the House of Black. They then scissored with Tony Schiavone as we went to break.
AEW Women’s World Title Match – Toni Storm defeated Taya Valkyrie by satellite interruption to retain
Valkyrie is the hometown babyface here. Storm charged her to start, but Valkyrie fought back and sent Storm to the floor. Valkyrie hit a knee lift to Storm before following up with running knees for a nearfall. Storm hooked Valkyrie over the top rope, forcing her to the floor where she tossed her around with hairmares. Valkyrie came back with a hairmare of her own as we went to break.
Back from break, as Valkyrie avoided a hip attack and fired up on Storm. She hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a one count, but followed with a hip attack of her own for a nearfall. The feed seemed to go out as we abruptly went to commercial. We came back to footage from last week’s Collision, where Julia Hart took on a local competitor. I’m assuming there’s technical problems in Calgary. We cut back in to the commentators welcoming us back, noting that there was a satellite interruption due to storms in the Calgary area. They later told us that Storm retained, showing Ruby Soho interfering and allowing Storm to hit the Storm Zero to win. Well, there you go.
– Tony Schiavone welcomed out Willow Nightingale and Ricky Starks before welcoming out Dr. Martha Hart for the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament ceremony. She gave a nice speech about the history of Calgary to the Hart Family before officially presenting Nightingale and Starks with their commemorative title belts.
AEW TNT Title Match – Luchasaurus (w/Christian Cage) defeated Shawn Spears to retain
Scorpio Sky was shown watching in the back as the bell rang. Luchasaurus cut Spears off with a big punch as we went to commercial break. Spears hit the ten punches in the corner as we came back from break. He hammered Luchasaurus with short-arm clotheslines before eventually dropping him with one. Spears booted Luchasaurus on the apron before booting his head against the post. Spears chased Cage around ringside, leading to Luchasaurus chokeslamming Spears through a table at ringside.
Luchasaurus brought Spears back into the ring, where Spears reversed a chokeslam into a rollup for a nearfall. Luchasaurus kicked out and hit the chokeslam, but Spears kicked out at two. Christian set up Spears’ chair in the corner, but Luchasaurus ended up going headfirst into the chair. Spears rolled him up, but Luchasaurus kicked out. Spears set up the C4, but Christian distracted him, allowing Luchasaurus to hit the lariat to the back of the head to win and retain the title. Christian celebrated with the title as we faded out.
AEW will make their debut tonight in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, as Collision will feature the finals of the second-ever Owen Hart Foundation tournaments.
On the men’s side, CM Punk will face Ricky Starks for the first time ever. Punk advanced with wins over Satoshi Kojima and Samoa Joe to get here while Starks defeated Juice Robinson and Powerhouse Hobbs.
On the women’s side, Willow Nightingale will face former partner-turned-rival Ruby Soho. Soho got wins over Britt Baker and Skye Blue while Nightingale beat Nyla Rose and Athena to punch her ticket. Soho was unsuccessful in last year’s final that Baker won.
Nightingale and Soho have faced off once before in singles action with Soho picking up the victory in March.
After losing in a title eliminator last Saturday, AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will defend against Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White & Juice Robinson in a two-out-of-three falls match.
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We got our pre-roll videos, featuring comments from everyone in our key matches tonight. After a few weeks, I can do without these videos. Instead of the good kind of old-school, they feel antiquated and lame.
This week’s Collision takes place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada as part of the Calgary Stampede. Joining Nigel McGuinness on commentary this week is Ian Riccaboni, as Kevin Kelly is in Japan doing commentary for New Japan’s G1 Climax tournament.
AEW World Tag Team Title Two Out Of Three Falls Match – FTR defeated Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson) 2 falls to 1 to retain the titles
I’ll get my small criticisms out of the way first. There was a lot of dead time in this one. The first fall was a lot of stalling, which tipped me off that this one was going long. Despite that, this was an incredible effort from these teams as they came together to have an excellent match. They peaked all three falls well, bringing the crowd to a fever pitch by the end of the third fall. This one will be talked about for a long time as the first Collision classic.
A good bit of stalling to start, which makes me think this one will be going long. Once they got started, White got the better of Harwood with armdrags. Both men made tags, with Wheeler sending Robinson out of the ring with a shoulder block as we went to our first picture-in-picture break.
As we came back from the commercial, Harwood tripped White up on a dropdown before hitting a side Russian leg sweep for a nearfall. Harwood caught White in a Cobra Twist, taunting Robinson as he grabbed the rope for leverage. Tags made on both sides led to Robinson dropping Wheeler with the Left Hand of God. The two traded pinfalls before Wheeler press slammed Robinson and tagged in Harwood. Harwood laid out Robinson with a chop before chopping him more in the corner.
As Harwood and Robinson traded headlocks, the announcers told us that Malakai Black & Brody King would be in tag team action tonight. After some headlock exchanges, Robinson sent Harwood shoulder-first into the ringpost before tagging in White. White leathered Harwood with chops. Harwood fought back but missed a corner splash and hit the ringpost head-first. White laid both Harwood and Wheeler out with DDTs before hitting a DVD for a nearfall. White dropped Harwood down with a facebuster before pulling him up and over with a bridging German suplex for a nearfall. Harwood fought back with chops before knocking White down with a lariat.
Things quickly broke down into a four-way scramble that ended with Robinson cutting off a Shatter Machine attempt and punching Wheeler with the Left Hand of God. That led to White hitting the Blade Runner to score the first fall as we went to a full screen break.
Robinson worked over Harwood’s arm as we came back from the break. Wheeler tagged in and laid into White, dropping him with a lariat for a nearfall. White came back with a back suplex before tagging out to Robinson, who laid into Wheeler with a pair of sentons. Robinson and White isolated Wheeler, with White clawing at Wheeler’s eyes to stop him from going for the tag. White hit Wheeler with a slingshot into the bottom rope before Robinson dropped Wheeler with a DDT on the floor.
More clubbering on Wheeler before Wheeler got his knees up on a Robinson senton to cut him off. Wheeler went for a sunset flip on Robinson, but White tagged in and went after the eyes again. Wheeler caught White with a headscissors before making the tag to Harwood, who ran wild on the challengers. Harwood got a pair of nearfalls on Robinson before sending him flying with two German suplexes. Harwood hit a brainbuster for a nearfall.
The Saddledome came alive with This Is Awesome chants as Harwood went for the Sharpshooter, but Robinson kicked him off and tagged in White. White hit a suplex into the turnbuckles that Robinson followed with a cannonball for a nearfall. White sent Harwood to the floor before teasing a stuff piledriver on Wheeler with Robinson. But FTR came back as Harwood hit a sunset flip off the ropes for a nearfall. FTR hit the Redneck Boogie on White, shouting out the Briscoes, for a close nearfall. FTR went for the Powerplex on White, but White got the knees up on Wheeler’s splash. Robinson came off the ropes with a Frog Splash on Harwood for another nearfall. This crowd is at a fever pitch as the match resets. FTR quickly got the second fall with some misdirection leading to the Shatter Machine on Robinson.
Back from commercial, and a Pier Six brawl broke out during the break. White backdropped his way out of a piledriver on the apron. Harwood got White in powerbomb position on the floor, but White took Harwood over the barricade. The doctors came to check on both men, but the match continued as White and Harwood brawled with each other in the crowd. Harwood dropped White with a suplex on the concrete, before FTR brought White back to ringside with a double suplex. Robinson came in, but FTR dropped him with a double suplex as well. White beat the countout before leading to the West Side Story staredown. They brawled with each other, with Wheeler suplexing Robinson over the ropes to the floor as we went to a picture-in-picture commercial.
Harwood got to the ropes to get out of a White submission as we came back. White tuned up the band but put Harwood in the Sharpshooter instead to big boos. Harwood reached the ropes and fought off a double-team attempt. Harwood brought White to the top rope before bringing him down hard with a back superplex. We got a 55-minute call as Robinson cut off a Harwood tag. White hit a bridging back suplex for a nearfall. White teased the Bladerunner, but Harwood pulled him into a Sharpshooter. Wheeler cut off Robinson and put him in a Sharpshooter. FTR couldn’t hold the position on the Sharpshooter and collapsed. Robinson tagged in, but Harwood snatched him into the Sharpshooter again. Robinson tapped out, giving FTR the deciding second fall and the win to a big pop.
After the match, FTR offered a handshake. Instead, White and Robinson spat on their hands and left. I’ve heard that might be a fine nowadays.
– We got a hype package for Blood and Guts this Wednesday, hyping it as the bloodiest match in AEW.
Owen Hart Foundation 2023 Women’s Tournament Final Match – Willow Nightingale defeated Ruby Soho
Soho came out solo, with the announcers noting that she made it to the finals last year. Nightingale started the match in control, countering Soho’s offense before hitting a trio of suplexes for a nearfall. Soho avoided a charge in the corner and tied Nightingale in the ropes, hitting her with knees to the chest. Soho got a nearfall as we went to picture-in-picture break.
Back from the break as Nightingale hit an enzuigiri. Nightingale fired up on Soho, clubbering on her in the corner. Soho hit a back elbow, but Nightingale pulled her into an Oklahoma Stampede for a nearfall. A pinning predicament led to a forearm exchange, which led to Soho getting a rollup for a nearfall. Nightingale hit a main event spinebuster and locked on a single leg crab. Soho got to the ropes, where she grabbed her spraypaint can. She put it in Nightingale’s hands and feigned innocence before clawing the eyes and hitting the No Future for a nearfall. Soho went for the paint again, but Nightingale hit a pounce that sent the can out of the ring. Nightingale hit the Babe With The Powerbomb to win the tournament. Tony Khan raised Nightingale’s hand as the announcers noted that Martha Hart would have an official ceremony for both tournament winners during Battle of the Belts.
– We cut to a video from last week, where Tony Schiavane was looking to talk to Powerhouse Hobbs after QTV accidentally cost him his tournament match against Ricky Starks. QT Marshall and Harley Cameron went into his locker room, with Marshall pleading his case to Hobbs. Hobbs seemed to buy it.
Kings of the Black Throne (Brody King & Malachi Black) defeated Artemis Spencer & Randy Myers
King powered one of the men into the corner, forcing a tag. Black tagged in, kicking the legs out of his opponent. Black locked on a knee bar as King hit a senton. This was a destruction that brought out Andrade El Idolo. Black hit the Black Mass for the win as referees held Andrade back. The House of Black taunted Andrade with his stolen mask.
– The announcers ran down the Battle of the Belts card before running down the Blood and Guts Dynamite card, featuring the Blood and Guts match, the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament Finals with Adam Cole & MJF taking on Sammy Guevara and Daniel Garcia, and an FTW Title match with Hook defending against Jack Perry. They then announce that next Friday’s Rampage will feature the return of the Royal Rampage match.
Owen Hart Foundation 2023 Men’s Tournament Final Match – Ricky Starks defeated CM Punk
This was fine. The work was nothing special, but the crowd was electric for and against Punk.
Punk had a mixed reaction coming out here. Dueling chants for both men as they traded arm wringers to start. Starks knocked Punk down with a shoulder block before taunting him with the Go To Sleep pose. Punk hip-tossed Starks to the floor as we went to commercial.
Starks avoided a corner charge as we came back from the break. Starks went Old School on Punk as the announcers noted that the legendary Jushin Thunder Liger would be helping to present the trophy to the winner of this match. Punk heated up on Starks, hitting a big kick to the back. Punk bodyslammed Starks before hitting the Bret Hart second rope elbow. Wrong brother, Punk. A Russian leg sweep scored a nearfall for Punk. Punk laid out Starks with a leg lariat as the crowd continued to be mixed for Punk. Another bodyslam set up the elbow, but Starks cut him off as we went to break again.
Punk hit the rising knee as we came back from commercial. Starks booted Punk on a corner charge, but Punk cut off a satellite DDT and hit a La Magistral cradle for a nearfall. Another rising knee scored for Punk, but Starks got the DDT for a nearfall. Starks went to the top rope, but Punk sat up out of the way of an elbow drop. Punk hit the Pepsi Twist for a nearfall. Both men met in the middle with crossbodies, crashing into each other for a double down.
They had a strike exchange that fired up Starks, but Punk caught Starks with a Piledriver for a nearfall. Punk called for the Go To Sleep, but Starks elbowed out and hit a spear that sent Punk to the floor. Starks dragged Punk back into the ring and went for another spear, but Punk caught him in a front guillotine that forced Starks to the ropes. Punk brought Starks to the top rope and hit a hurricanrana. They rolled through each other’s pins until Starks got the pin with second rope in hand. Starks celebrated as Punk sat in shock as we cut to Battle of the Belts.
Impact Wrestling will celebrate their 21st anniversary at Slammiversary from Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
In the main event, Impact World Champion Alex Shelley will defend against former champion Nick Aldis while Shelley’s Motor City Machine Guns teammate Chris Sabin will defend his X-Division title against Lio Rush.
Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo will defend against Trinity who is looking for her first run with the gold.
Tag Team Champions Ace Austin & Chris Bey will defend against Subculture (Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews), Sami Callihan & Rich Swann, and Brian Myers & Moose in a four-way.
Knockouts Tag Team Champions The Coven (Taylor Wilde & KiLynn King) will defend against Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly.
Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry will defend against Kenny King on the pre-show.
Also part of the ten-match card is a five-way Ultimate X match with Mike Bailey vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Angels vs. Kevin Knight vs. KUSHIDA.
**********
Jody Threat & The Death Dollz (Courtney Rush & Jessicka) defeated The SHAWntourage (Gisele Shaw, Savannah Evans, & Jai Vidal)
Jai Vidal got in the ring with Jessicka, and it did not end well for him, with Jessicka hit a series of punches that dropped him. Vidal tagged out to Shaw soon thereafter. Jessicka resumed handing out beatings, driving Shaw’s head repeatedly into the turnbuckle before tagging out to Rush, who hit a bulldog on Shaw across the knee of Jessicka. Jai Vidal distracted Rush, leading to Savannah Evans hitting a big boot on Rush on the floor.
The SHAWntourage draped Rush across the middle ropes in their corner and hit several moves as they tagged out to each other. Rush managed to slip out of a Fireman’s Carry from Evans and then hit an inverted DDT to tag out to Jody Threat. Threat ran wild, hitting suplexes on everyone before tagging back out to Rush, who hit a spear on Vidal for the win.
–We saw video of Trinity and Deonna Purrazzo arriving at the arena.
–A video aired about Joe Hendry and Kenny King, and they added some unnecessary goofy music, but thankfully the music didn’t last long, and they retained the humour of this angle.
–Joe Hendry grabbed a mic and talked about Kenny King liking it when he lost his clothes, and this infuriated Kenny King. He said King wanted him to lose some of his clothes – the Impact Digital Media Championship, and since he wasn’t Stripper Hendry, it would be ridiculous for him to lose. This was entertaining.
Kenny King defeated Joe Hendry to win the Impact Digital Media Championship
Rather than being worried about losing his shirt this time, Kenny King threw the shirt at Hendry, but Hendry ducked and hit a stalling vertical suplex on King. Sheldon Jean got the attention of Hendry by running through the ring, leading to King attacking Hendry from behind and then taking out the knees and kicking King in the chest for a 2-count.
Sheldon Jean got on the apron to distract the referee, and he handed King a bowtie, which King used to choke Joe Hendry before putting it on Hendry’s neck. King put a guillotine choke on Hendry, who powered out and hit another vertical suplex out of the choke. Hendry caught King on a crossbody and hit a fallaway slam. Hendry did a hip swivel after realizing he had a bowtie on, and hit King with a back body drop.
Hendry hit a standing ovation on King, but Sheldon Jean put King’s foot on the ropes to break the pinfall. King tried to hit a corkscrew plancha on Hendry who was on the floor with Jean, but Hendry moved. As they got back in the ring, Kenny King rolled up Joe Hendry with his feet on the ropes, and Jean held onto the feet of King to maintain leverage, and King won!
–The great hype video for Alex Shelley and Nick Aldis aired to close the preshow.
Impact Slammiversary Main Card
Impact Slammiversary wasted no time getting into the action, with the Ultimate X match to determine the #1 Contender to the Impact X-Division Championship.
KUSHIDA defeated Jake Something, Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, Jonathan Gresham, & Alan Angels in an Ultimate X Match
Very good match to open the PPV, with KUSHIDA getting the shot at the X-Division Championship. Love to see KUSHIDA getting used in a top position in Impact.
Jake Something joined the match as a surprise right when the referee went to ring the bell. Kevin Knight almost got the X immediately by climbing Jake Something, but Something grabbed him in a powerbomb position and threw Knight over the ropes onto everyone. Gresham and Bailey ate a double shoulder tackle as Something tried to figure out how to get the X. Gresham, KUSHIDA, Bailey, and Knight hit a quadruple dropkick on Something, only driving him back into the ropes, where Angels hit a Cactus clothesline to take him to the floor.
Gresham and Bailey seemed to team up against Knight and KUSHIDA, forming tag teams briefly. Gresham then hit a suicide dive on Something followed by Mike Bailey hitting a triangle moonsault to drop Something again. Gresham and Bailey started to fight on the ropes a bit about who would grab the X, so they started righting on the top ropes. Angels ran up the ropes and hit a Spanish Fly, and I think he planted himself head first on the mat, as he did not land on his stomach.
KUSHIDA put Angels on his shoulders and Knight hit a standing dropkick on Angels, leading to Angels moonsaulting backwards onto everyone on the floor. Bailey and KUSHIDA fought on one of the posts, with Bailey knocking KUSHIDA off with a kick. Bailey climed to the topand hit a moonsault onto everyone on the floor. That was insane.
Angels grabbed a chair and started hitting everyone, including hitting 5 chair shots on Something. Angels was on the ropes and shimmied over to where Kevin Knight was climbing the ropes and jumped into a poison rana on Knight. Jonathan Gresham tried to cut off Angels, but Angels hit him low. Something climbed the ropes, but Angels jumped off the top rope and hit a low blow. Bailey tried to bring Angels down, but Angels hit him with a low blow too. KUSHIDA punched Angels right in the face and dropped him from the ropes, letting KUSHIDA grab the X for the win!
–Tom Hannifan pointed out former Team Canada member, A1 in the crowd with his family.
–Gia Miller was with Kenny King and Sheldon King backstage, and King said that he did strip – he stripped Joe Hendry off his Impact Digital Media Championship. King cut a promo on Shelley, calling him MySpace, and saying Sabin used to be cool, as X-Division Champion, but he’s like Twitter, whereas King is cutting edge and hit title is the only one that matters. This was a good promo!
Killer Kelly & Masha Slamovich defeated The Coven (Taylor Wilde & KiLynn King) for the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship
This was pretty good, by all standards. Killer Kelly and Masha Slamovich were awesome in this, and putting the tag titles on them is a good call for match quality in the women’s tag division.
Slamovich and Kelly immediately charged The Coven, throwing them around the ring before Kelly hit a pump kick on Wilde and a suplex for a 2-count. Kelly continued the assault, hitting knees and elbows to the face of Wilde. Wilde tagged out after hitting an inverted DDT on Slamovich, telling King to get in there. Slamovich got briefly laid out by King, but Slamovich hit a forward roll into a pinfall on King and immediately leaped into the air and hit a double stomp before tagging out to Kelly.
King dropped Kelly with a boot, but Kelly got right up. King sort of botched a stun gun, so she quickly recovered and hit a flatliner into the middle rope instead. Wilde and King got the heat on Kelly for the next few minutes. King hit running double knees to the face of Kelly in the corner. King missed a senton off the middle rope and it led to Kelly tagging out to Slamovich, who hit a superkick on Wilde, a clothesline on King, a mafia kick on Wilde, followed by a climb up knee strike in the corner and spinning wheel kick for a 2-count on Wilde.
Slamovich hit a buzzsaw kick on Wilde, but King broke up the pinfall attempt. King hit Kelly with a headbutt, and helped set Wilde up to hit a code breaker on Slamovich. King hit a German suplex on Slamovich, but missed her corner knees. Slamovich hit a missile dropkick on King, while Kelly hit a dropkick on Wilde. Kelly and Slamovich tried to hit a double powerbomb on Wilde, but King broke it up. Wilde hit the Witch’s Wrath on Slamovich for a 2-count, but she kicked out. Kelly pulled King from the ring and Slamovich countered the Witch’s Wrath into a Snow Plough for the win.
Team Canada (Scott D’Amore & Eric Young) defeated Deaner (w/ Kon) & Bully Ray
This was all sorts of fun. Not a great match in terms of star ratings, but fun. As a Canadian, it made me smile to see all the Canadiana in it too.
Scott D’Amore came out wearing a robe that he last wore in 2004 when facing Dustin Rhodes. The Canadian National anthem hit, and Eric Young came out to team with his mentor. The announcers were baffled that Eric Young was back from the dead as the crowd (including A1) cheered on the old Impact Wrestling stable reunited. Young started the match with Deaner as the crowd chanted loudly for Young.
Deaner looked terrified, and immediately tagged out to Ray. Young got an arm wringer and tagged out to D’Amore, who did a jumping splits when in the ring. I did not expect that. Deaner tagged back in and ate a leaping kick from D’Amore. Young tagged in and a backdrop into a neckbreaker with D’Amore while pointing at Ray.
D’Amore hit a sky high powerbomb on Deaner for a 2-count. Kon got on the apron and Darren McCarty, the special enforcer, came in to get rid of him, but the referee got distracted by it, letting Ray attack D’Amore from behind. Bully Ray got in the face of Scott D’Amore’s mom, who was in the front row, taunting her while beating on D’Amore.
Eric Young led the crowd in singing “O Canada,” but Ray responded with low blowing D’Amore. Ray did it right in front of the referee, and demanded to be disqualified, but after being shoved a few times, the referee took off his shirt and threw it across the ring. Darren McCarty grabbed the shirt and put it on to become the referee.
D’Amore speared Ray and then made the hot tag to Eric Young, who ran wild, taking out both Deaner and Ray, hitting a rolling lariat on Deaner. Young followed this with a piledriver and got a 2-count as Kon pulled McCarty from the ring. A1 ran in and clotheslined Kon over the top rope, while McCarty hit a stunner on Bully Ray. Young and McCarty split Ray’s legs and D’Amore hit a headbutt to the lower regions off the top rope. D’Amore, Young, and McCarty screamed “Get the tables!” and set one up in the ring as Eric Young ran around the ring waving a Canadian flag.
McCarty and D’Amore hit a chokeslam on Ray through the table. D’Amore hit a Canadian Destroyer on Deaner, and Young flew off the top rope with a flying elbow on Deaner for the win. This was lots of fun. A1, Young, D’Amore, and McCarty all celebrated after the match before putting the Canadian flag on Ray.
Lio Rush defeated Chris Sabin to win the Impact X-Division Championship
I did not expect this to be what it was, but Sabin has an excuse for losing because Rush jumped him before the bell and knocked him out.
Lio Rush attacked Sabin before the bell, hitting a suicide dive on Sabin on the floor, driving Sabin backwards into the ramp. Sabin sold this like he was knocked out. The doctor said Sabin shouldn’t wrestle, so Sabin shoved him away and made his way into the ring. Rush immediately hit a running kick and Sabin went down. Rush hit a spinning kick and then hit the Final Hour, but Sabin kicked out at 2. Rush hit a second Final Hour and won the X-Division title.
Subculture (Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster) (w/ Dani Luna) defeated ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) (Bullet Club) Moose & Brian Myers, and Sami Callihan & Rich Swann to win the Impact World Tag Team Championship
Chris Bey and Mark Andrews started the match with fast offence, before Bey tagged out to Austin, who hit a kick to the face of Andrews, and tried a head scissors. Andrews and Austin exchanged some headlocks while Webster tagged in blind and both men hit a series of high flying moves on Austin.
Webster hit a lionsault on a standing Austin, who rolled to the corner and Rich Swann tagged in. Moose came in and tried to send Swann to the floor, but Swann blocked it and then hit a cannonball off the apron onto Myers. Moose charged ABC, but they low bridged him and sent him to the floor. Bey tried to hit a flip dive, but Moose caught him and powerbombed Bey on the apron.
Myers speared Austin on the apron, and Andrews hit a flip dive on Myers. Callihan grabbed Webster and dumped him over the top ropes onto everyone before hitting a flatliner and DDT on Subculture. Callihan hit a DVD on Webster while Swann followed with a splash for a 2-count. Austin and Bey hit some double team moves on Swann before Moose and Myers ran in and hit stereo powerbombs on Bey and Austin.
Swann tagged out to Andrews because he was about to be killed by Moose and Myers, and Andrews tried to fight Moose, but ate a pump kick. Andrews hit a Stundog Millionaire, while Webster hit Shadows over Malice on Moose for a 2-count. This match completely broke down at this point with everyone hitting big moves, and I can’t keep up with it. Moose ran up the ropes and went for a crossbody to Bey and Swann, but Swann and Bey responded by both hitting a cutter on Moose.
ABC went for the fold/art of finesse on Myers, but The Rascalz ran out and pulled them from the ring, before sending Austin into the steps and neutralizing Bey. Webster responded by hitting a senton bomb onto everyone on the floor leading to Andrews hitting a shooting star press on Myers for the win.
This was a very good match that felt like it could have been better.
Edwards and Kazarian exchanged some basic holds to start, but Alisha Edwards tripped Kazarian, leading to Edwards hitting Kazarian with a brutal chop. Edwards hit the ropes, and Brooks tripped Edwards, letting Kazarian hit a back stabber. Edwards got the advantage back on the floor and hit several hard chops again.
Kazarian ate a Manhattan drop and belly-to-belly from Edwards for a 2-count. Edwards followed up with another hard chop and Kazarian collapsed to the mat. Edwards hit a running back elbow for a 2-count. Edwards continued his attack with hard chops for the next minute until Kazarian ducked under a lariat attempt and hit a German suplex on Edwards.
Every time Kazarian would try to get the advantage back, Alisha Edwards would get involved, including raking the back of Kazarian, which led to Edwards hitting a suicide dive on Kazarian, absolutely crushing him with it. That looked brutal. Edwards trash talked Kazarian’s son while the fans chanted “Boston sucks!” As a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, I can get behind that chant.
After this extended heat on Kazarian, both men ended up facing off in the middle of the ring, hitting Yakuza kicks until Kazarian hit a back elbow and then a clothesline. Kazarian hit a springboard leg drop for a 2-count. Edwards hit a series of enziguris in the corner before hitting the backpack stunner for a 2-count.
Edwards hit a big top rope superplex on Kazarian. Edwards went for the chicken wing on Kazarian, but Kazarian shoved him off and went for the Boston Knee Party, but Edwards ducked. Edwards suplexed Kazarian over the top rope, and both men went tumbling to the floor. Brooks and Alisha Edwards looked on concerned for their husbands, but as they came back into the ring, Kazarian managed to hit a slingshot cutter on Edwards for a 2-count.
Kazarian went for a flying forearm but accidentally hit the referee, then both men hit clotheslines at the same time. Alisha Edwards grabbed a kendo stick and entered the ring. Traci Brooks came into the ring and took the legs out of Edwards and started fighting with her. Brooks hit a clothesline that sent Alisha to the floor. Kazarian locked on the chicken wing and got the tap out, but the referee was out. As Kazarian tried to wake up the referee Edwards hit Kazarian with a kendo stick and followed up with the Boston Knee Party of the 3-count.
Trinity defeated Deonna Purrazzo to win the Impact Knockouts World Championship
Solid match here, with Trinity going over and winning the Knockouts title. This was easily one of the better matches in Trinity’s career, and my recap really didn’t do it justice.
Purrazzo almost got an armbar early on, but Trinity managed to get out. As Trinity tried to pick up the pace, Purrazzo broke it down and started working over the arm of Trinity. This is a very different style match than Trinity would be used to working in WWE, as Purrazzo worked over the arm, continually getting heat as Trinity sold. Trinity got a leg trip, but missed a leg drop and ate a basement dropkick from Purrazzo for a 2-count.
Trinity rebounded with a kick when Purrazzo tried to put her on the top rope, and she hit clotheslines with hir right arm rather than her left. Purrazzo got hit with a face buster and a split legged moonsault for a 2-count. Purrazzo managed to hit the Queen’s Gambit on the apron, and got a 2-count. Purrazzo went for the Queen’s Gambit off the middle ropes, but Trinity hit a series of headbutts on Purrazzo before hitting a full nelson bomb off the middle ropes before rolling into Starstruck, and Purrazzo tapped out.
Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defeated Nick Aldis defeated to retain
This was a very good match, with Shelley working a mat based style and viciously attacking the arm, while Aldis clearly underestimated Shelley’s ability and paid for it. Aldis’ cheating backfiring leading to Shelley hitting Shell Shock proved to be a great finish on a show that had a lot of heel heat.
Shelley started the match spitting water into the eyes of Aldis, but Aldis powerbombed Shelley off the top rope right away, and Aldis locked the Kingsland Cloverleaf on Shelley. Shelley managed to drag himself to the ropes to escape, and the crowd showered Aldis with boos. Aldis slowed the match down and acted as the bully to Shelley for the next few minutes, including catching Shelley as he jumped from the ropes and turning it into a vertical suplex.
Shelley managed to get Aldis’ knee caught in the ropes, and hit a dragon screw through the ropes to begin an attack on Aldis’ left leg. Aldis managed to trap Shelley in the apron and hit a punch before shoving Shelley back first into the ring post. Aldis hit a snake eyes into the apron on Shelley. Aldis tried to suplex Shelley to the floor, but Shelley responded with a stunner across the ropes and hit a slingshot stomp to the arm of Aldis.
Aldis tried to send Shelley into the post again, but he slipped out and sent Aldis face first into the post. Shelley stuck the fingers of Aldis into the turnbuckle and twisted the metal to work over the hand. The fans in the front row told him to break his fingers, so Shelley stomped on the hand to their delight. Shelley hit another dragon screw in the ropes, going back to the leg. Shelley hit a chop block to the knee of Aldis, and Aldis collapsed in a heap. As he was struggling, he raked the eyes of Shelley.
Shelley went back to the hand and wrist of Aldis, snapping the wrist with his feet. Shelley hit a superplex on Aldis. Aldis and Shelley got up and they started exchange punches and chops. Shelley hit Sliced Bread #2 on Aldis before transitioning into the Border City Stretch, but Aldis countered into a pinfall attempt. Aldis went for the Kingsland Cloverleaf, but Shelley went after the fingers and snapped them.
Shelley went for Sliced Bread #2 again, but Aldis caught him and hit a tombstone for a 2-count, and then followed with an elbow drop for another 2. Aldis grabbed the Impact World Championship and went to hit Shelley again, but Shelley kicked Aldis in the gut and went to hit Aldis with the title while the referee protested. Shelley gave the title to the ref, but as he was putting it aside, Aldis low blowed Shelley and hit a Michinoku driver for a 2-count. Aldis tried to hit Shelley with the belt again, but Shelley stopped him and hit a DDT onto the belt by accident, busting Aldis open. Shelley hit the Shell Shock and got the pin to retain his title.
–As Shelley was celebrating, Josh Alexander’s music hit and he made his way down to the ring to face off with Alex Shelley. It’s clear that we are heading towards a big match between Alexander and Shelley based on this, though I am surprised Alexander is back already after his surgery. The fans chanted “Welcome back” as Alexander grabbed a mic and said “I’m back!”
Final Thoughts
This was a good show, but not a great one. That said, I didn’t feel like my time was wasted, and that the matches had finishes that were mostly satisfying or leading somewhere. I was surprised Shelley retained, as I thought Aldis and Alexander would be a bigger match for upcoming shows, but Impact seems to want to establish Shelley as a viable and real world champion, which I’m in favour of. Shelley is still great, and having some of the best matches of his career, and I can’t wait to see him and Alexander wrestle.
UFC action is back inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas this weekend for UFC on ESPN 49: Holm vs. Bueno Silva, headlined by a women’s bantamweight bout that could have title shot implications.
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm takes on Mayra Bueno Silva in the main event as both are in the hunt to compete for the vacant women’s bantamweight title. Holm is looking for her second straight win while Bueno Silva has won three straight.
Also on the main card is a welterweight bout between exciting rising contender Jack Della Maddalena and newcomer Bassil Hafez; a women’s featherweight bout pitting Norma Dumont against Chelsea Chandler; and a pair of lightweight bouts as Ottman Azaitar takes on Francisco Prado, and Nazim Sadykhov battles Terrance McKinney.
Perez lands a body kick. Perez lands a combo. Evans-Smith throws and Perez scores a takedown. Perez is working from the half-guard but not landing as she goes into Evans-Smith’s full guard. Perez now landing lots of shots from the top as Evans-Smith is having trouble defending herself. They get to their feet and Perez lands some knees. Perez gets it back to the mat and is in side control. Perez with an elbow from the top and moves to the mount. She gets the back and is landing punches before Evans-Smith spins over. Perez continues to land from the top. They stand and Perez lands a knee then a combo before they go back to the mat. They stand and Perez lands a combo then a high kick. Perez lands a body kick. 10-8 Perez.
Perez lands a leg kick. She lands a body kick then scores a takedown and is in side control. Perez gets the back as they stand. Perez lands and is trying to get it down but Evans-Smith lands some. Perez then clips Evans-Smith and scores another takedown. She is in side control and lands an elbow. Perez with short punches from the top. Perez continues to land from the top as they get to their feet. They separate. Perez gets a takedown at the end. 10-9 Perez, 20-17 Perez.
They tie up right away and Perez has the back. Perez gets it down and is working in the half-guard against the fence. They get to their feet and Perez lands a knee. Perez is working to get it back down. Perez gets another takedown. She’s in side control and lands a hammerfist. They get to their feet and Perez lands a head kick. Perez gets another takedown. She’s in full mount. Evans-Smith gives up her back. They stand and Evans-Smith lands late. 10-9 Perez, 30-26 Perez.
Official Result- Ailin Perez def. Ashlee Evans-Smith by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)
> Lightweights- Alexander Munoz (6-2, 0-2 UFC) vs. Carl Deaton (17-6 2 NC, 0-1 UFC)
Deaton lands a left hand. Munoz shoots for a takedown but Deaton stops it. Deaton lands but Munoz landed and Deaton was backing away. Deaton lands a right hand. Deaton lands a right hand then a combination. Munoz lands an overhand left but eats a flying knee from Deaton as he was chasing him. Deaton lands a right hand. Deaton lands a kick. Close round. 10-9 Deaton.
They trade and both equally land. Deaton landing more in the early moments of the second here but there isn’t a ton happening. Munoz lands a high kick. Munoz lands a nice jab and then a combo. Munoz lands a body kick. Deaton lands a right hand. They trade as both are circling around. They both land. Another close round. 10-9 Deaton, 20-18 Deaton.
Munoz drops Deaton right away and gets on top and starts to land. He has the back and is landing punches. Deaton is able to survive and gets up but Munoz gets a takedown. They get back up and Munoz pushes it against the fence and they’re battling against the fence. They separate. They trade and Deaton lands a right hand late. 10-9 Munoz, 29-28 Deaton.
Official Result- Alexander Munoz def. Carl Deaton by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)
> Flyweights- Tyson Nam (21-13-1, 3-4 UFC) vs. Azat Maksum (16-0, 0-0 UFC)
They both land early. Both land the jab. Maksum looks for a takedown but Nam defends. Maksum lands a body kick and follows it with a combo. Nam lands a leg kick. Nam lands a leg kick. Maksum lands a body kick. Nam lands a leg kick that trips Maksum up. Maksum with some leg kicks then one to the body. Maksum gets a brief takedown and has the back and lands late. Close round. 10-9 Maksum.
Nam landing more to start the second as he’s mixing his punches and leg kicks. Maksum lands a left hook and they trade hard punches. They continue to trade in close range. Nam lands a right hand to the body. Nam landing with more volume here as they continue to stand close to each other and look for openings. Maksum lands a nice combo. Nam lands two leg kicks. Nam lands a leg kick as Maksum lands a left hand. 10-9 Nam, 19-19.
Nam landing more to start the third as he lands some inside leg kicks. Maksum lands a couple of jabs. Nam lads the jab and follows with a leg kick. Nam lands a jab then comes in with a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. Nam lands a right hand. Maksum swings himself off balance and Nam lands a combo then lands an overhand right. Maksum tries for a takedown but Nam defends. They tie up against the fence and Nam is landing to the body. They trade and Maksum gets a late takedown. Close fight. 10-9 Nam, 29-28 Nam.
Official Result- Azat Maksum def. Tyson Nam by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Elder rocked Valdez right away and looked for a guillotine choke but Valdez escaped. Elder lands a leg kick then follows with a combo. Valdez lands a right hand as Elder landed a leg kick. Valdez lands a jab and right hand. Valdez lands a combo. Elder lands a leg kick. Valdez lands a nice jab. They both land in close range. Elder lands a left hand. Valdez lands a right hand. 10-9 Elder.
Valdez lands a leg kick. Elder sits Valdez down with a punch but he gets right up. Elder lands a leg kick. They trade inside the pocket. Elder lands to the body then an overhand right. Valdez drops Elder with a right hand but Elder stands though he is still in trouble. Valdez looks to capitalize but misses and Elder recovers. Valdez lands a right hand. We have a timeout for an eye poke. They get back to action and Valdez lands a right hand. Elder lands a leg kick. Valdez lands a combo. Elder lands to the body. They trade and both land hard shots. Close round. 10-9 Elder, 20-18 Elder.
Elder lands a jab then a leg kick. Elder staggers Valdez with a punch. Elder lands a right hand. Elder continues to land the jab. Elder lands a jab then a right hand. Valdez missing most of what he throws. Elder continues to work the jab. Elder lands a combo as Valdez lands an uppercut, then Elder fires back with a combo. Valdez lands a leg kick and Elder gets a brief takedown and lands from the top before they stand. Elder lands a combo. They trade big punches in the final ten seconds. 10-9 Elder, 30-27 Elder.
Official Result- Evan Elder def. Genaro Valdez by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
> Featherweights- Austin Lingo (9-2, 2-2 UFC) vs. Melquizael Costa (19-6, 0-1 UFC)
Costa lands a body kick. He lands a leg kick. Costa lands a left hand. Lingo lands a right hand. Costa lands a left hand. They tie up but Costa throws Lingo off. Lingo lands a jab. Costa with a left hand then a head kick. Costa lands a body kick. Costa lands a pair of body kicks that hurt Lingo. He lands a big leg kick then a hard body kick. Costa lands another body kick. Costa scores with another body kick. Costa lands a combo. Costa with more kicks and punches. Costa lands a spin kick to the body. 10-9 Costa.
Costa lands a left hand then a high kick. They exchange leg kicks. Costa lands a body kick. Lingo lands a pair of leg kicks. Costa lands a body kick. Costa lands a body kick then Lingo lands a combo and hurts Costa with a jab. Costa lands to the body. They trade and Costa lands a knee to the body. Costa lands a combo as Lingo rushes in and lands. Costa lands a spin kick. 10-9 Costa, 20-18 Costa.
They trade and Costa trips Lingo up and lands a knee as they stand. Costa lands a pair of body kicks. Costa lands a flying knee then a head kick. Costa gets a takedown and has the back. He’s landing from the back as he works to get the body triangle in while looking for a choke. Costa almost had it but Lingo gets out and Costa ends up inside of Lingo’s guard. They get to their feet and Costa has the back standing. Costa gets it back down. He looked for a guillotine choke but time is going to run out. 10-9 Costa, 30-27 Costa.
Official Result- Melquizael Costa def. Austin Lingo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Nunes lands as Dudakova lands. Dudakova shoots for a takedown and Nunes was posting with her arm and her arm snaps and the fight is stopped as Nunes is badly hurt and screaming in pain. Dudakova is going to get the win here.
Official Result- Viktoriia Dudakova def. Istela Nunes by TKO (injury) at :34 of Round 1
Baghdasaryan lands a high kick. They trade punches. Baghdasaryan with another high kick. Lutz lands a body kick then a leg kick. They trade body kicks. Lutz lands a left hook as Baghdasaryan lands a body kick. Lutz lands a couple of body kicks. Lutz gets a takedown against the fence. Lutz is controlling the body as Baghdasaryan is unable to get to his feet. They get to their feet and Lutz has the back and tried for a takedown but Baghdasaryan grabbed the fence. 10-9 Lutz.
Baghdasaryan lands a hook kick. Baghdasaryan hurts Lutz with a combo and rushes forward as Lutz is circling. They clinch and Baghdasaryan lands in the clinch as Lutz lands a knee on the break. Baghdasaryan lands to the body. Lutz lands a body kick. Baghdasaryan landed a low blow kick then a head kick before timeout was called. They get back to action and are trading in close range. They trade hook punches. They trade kick. Lutz lands a body kick. He lands another. Lutz goes for a takedown against the fence and gets it. 10-9 Baghdasaryan, 19-19.
We have a timeout for an immediate eye poke. They get back to action and Baghdasaryan lands a combo with a body kick. Lutz lands to the body then a right hand upstairs. Lutz pushes it against the fence as he’s looking for a takedown. Lutz gets it to the mat and has the back. He’s not doing much and they get to their feet. Baghdasaryan lands a couple of knees. Lutz is trying hard to get it back down. They separate. Baghdasaryan lands a spin kick to the body. Baghdasaryan lands another body kick then a left hand. They clinch and Baghdasaryan lands a knee before they break. Baghdasaryan lands late. Close fight. 10-9 Baghdasaryan, 29-28 Baghdasaryan.
Official Result- Melsik Baghdasaryan def. Tucker Lutz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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> Lightweights- Nazim Sadykhov (8-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Terrance McKinney (13-5, 3-2 UFC)
Sadykhov lands a leg kick as McKinney lands a left hand. They clinch and McKinney lands a knee. He lands another. McKinney gets a takedown. He gets the back and has the body triangle locked in. McKinney is trying to find a choke but Sadykhov is fighting it off. McKinney is landing from the back as Sadykhov is hand fighting. Sadykhov is able to reverse position and they stand. Sadykhov lands a left hand and then another. They clinch against the fence and end the round there. 10-9 McKinney.
They’re trading to start the second. Sadykhov lands a left hand as McKinney fires back wit a high kick. McKinney is trying for a takedown as Sadykhov is grabbing the fence. Sadykhov is able to get the back and locks in a rear-naked choke and forces McKinney to tap. Big finish from Sadykhov though he did grab the fence and that could’ve helped towards the finish.
Official Result- Nazim Sadykhov def. Terrance McKinney by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:07 of Round 2
> Women’s Featherweights- #13 Norma Dumont (9-2, 5-2 UFC) vs. #15 Chelsea Chandler (5-1, 1-0 UFC)
Dumont landing early. Dumont rocks Chandler and Chandler is running away as Dumont chases her across the Octagon and lands before they clinch. Chandler lands a knee then a left hand as they break. Chandler lands a left hand. They clinch and Chandler is landing in the advantage. They go to the mat and Dumont is inside the full guard of Chandler. Dumont ends the round on top. 10-9 Dumont.
They trade to start the second. Dumont lands a heavy leg kick. They swing before clinching against the fence but quickly break. They trade in close range. Dumont lands a right hand. She lands a big right hand. They trade and Dumont gets a takedown. Dumont is working from the top as Chandler looks for an armbar possibility. Dumont stands and Chandler lands an upkick though Dumont gets back on top and has the back. They stand and clinch and trade knees. 10-9 Dumont, 20-18 Dumont.
They trade before tying up against the fence and Chandler gets a brief takedown but they stand and are tied up against the fence. Dumont gets a takedown. She has the back and is landing punches. Dumont now on top and landing. She postures up and looks to land as Chandler looks for a triangle. Dumont gets back into Chandler’s guard. They end the fight there. 10-9 Dumont, 30-27 Dumont.
Official Result- Norma Dumont def. Chelsea Chandler by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Middleweights- Albert Duraev (16-4, 2-1 UFC) vs. Jun Yong Park (16-5, 6-2 UFC)
Duraev lands a leg kick. Park lands a jab. Park lands a right hand. Park lands a leg kick then Duraev lands a big left hook. Duraev lands to the body. Duraev lands a leg kick. Park is landing the jab. Duraev lands a leg kick. Duraev scores with a combo. They trade leg kicks. Duraev lands a combo as Park is landing the jab, and Duraev lands a right hand. Park lands a combo and a leg kick. Park lands the jab. Duraev scores with a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Park catches a kick and almost gets a takedown but jumps for a guillotine choke. It is in tight as they go to the mat. Duraev is able to survive to the end. 10-9 Park.
Duraev presses forward and lands. Duraev gets a takedown. He swivels the hips and looks for the back. They get to their feet as Duraev has the back. They separate. Park is working the jab once again. Duraev lands a right hand and Park counters with a combo. Park pressuring but both are landing. Duraev scores with a right hand. Park lands a combo then starts to land a flurry and Duraev is hurt. Duraev misses a big right hand as Park is pouring it on and then drops Duraev with a left hand. Park landing from the back and he’s looking for a choke. He flattens Duraev out from the back and is landing and now has a choke locked in. Duraev is trying to punch his way out. Park lets go but tries to lock it back in. Park locks it back in and Duraev taps. Great showing from Park to get the finish.
Official Result- Jun Yong Park def. Albert Duraev by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:45 of Round 2
> Lightweights- Ottman Azaitar (13-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Francisco Prado (11-1, 0-1 UFC)
Azaitar lands a leg kick. Prado lands a leg kick. Prado went for a takedown but Azaitar defended. Prado lands a leg kick. Prado scores with a head kick. Azaitar lands a right hand. Prado shoots for a takedown but Azaitar defends and lands some punches before they break. Azaitar lands to the body. Prado tries a takedown but Azaitar defends and lands some punches. Azaitar lands a pair of standing elbows. Azaitar lands a spinning elbow that sends Azaitar to the mat and Prado is landing big punches from the top. He’s landing hard shots and it is stopped. Big finish from Prado and Azaitar is upset at it being stopped.
Official Result- Francisco Prado def. Ottman Azaitar by TKO (strikes) at 4:05 of Round 1
> Welterweights- #14 Jack Della Maddalena (14-2, 4-0 UFC) vs. Bassil Hafez (8-3-1, 0-0 UFC)
Hafez goes right away for a takedown and gets it. Maddalena looks for a guillotine but Hafez is out of it. They get to their feet and Hafez has the back. Maddalena is landing body shots against the fence and they break. Maddalena lands a right hand. They trade in close range and Hafez gets a takedown and is in side control. They get to their feet and trade punches. Hafez tries for another takedown but Maddalena defends. They break and trade. Hafez shoots for another takedown and is able to get it. Hafez threatens with a choke late. 10-9 Hafez.
Hafez tries for a takedown but Maddalena defends. Hafez lands a body kick. Hafez landing the jab. They trade hard punches. Maddalena lands a left hand. Hafez scores with a combo. Hafez tries for a takedown but Maddalena defends. They break ad Maddalena is landing with a little more volume. He lands to the body and to the head and has Hafez in trouble. Hafez tries a takedown but Maddalena defends. Maddalena tried for a guillotine but it let Hafez get on top. Maddalena let go and Hafez is on top but not much is happening. 10-9 Maddalena, 19-19.
Maddalena landing more on the feet to start the third. Hafez tries for a takedown and pushes Maddalena against the fence. They separate. Hafez goes back for the takedown and pushes it against the fence but they break. Maddalena lands a big right hand that rocks Hafez. They clinch against the fence but break. Maddalena lands a knee to the body and is landing big punches. Hafez tries a takedown but Maddalena defends. Hafez is exhausted. They tie up against the fence and Maddalena lands some big punches. Maddalena with some big punches against the fence. Maddalena is on top and has the mount. Hafez is able to spin to the top. They get to their feet. Hafez tries for a takedown. They go to the mat and end it there. Fun fight. 10-9 Maddalena, 29-28 Maddalena.
Official Result- Jack Della Maddalena def. Bassil Hafez by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Holm rushes forward and lands. They trade in close range and Holm grabs the leg and pushes it against the fence. Holm landing as they’re clinched before they separate. Holm lands a combo. They clinch and not much happens before they break. Holm lands a combo. Silva lands a left hand then they clinch but separate. They clinch and Holm lands punches as Silva lands a knee. Holm lands some body kicks and Silva lands a big left hand. They clinch and end the round there. 10-9 Holm.
Silva lands a big punch and Holm grabs her and pushes it against the fence. Silva is looking for a standing guillotine choke and has it locked in and Holm taps! What a finish from Silva!
Official Result- Mayra Bueno Silva def. Holly Holm by submission (standing guillotine choke) at :38 of Round 2
Ring of Honor Women’s Champion Athena will look to continue her winning ways on Friday’s AEW Rampage as she faces former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale.
This time, there’s a wrinkle as the winner will advance to Saturday’s Owen Hart Foundation women’s tournament final against Ruby Soho on Collision.
Athena’s winning streak extends back to last fall as she has been dominant in both AEW and ROH.
Ahead of this Wednesday’s Blood & Guts match, Konosuke Takeshita will be in action against Mentallo.
Lance Archer will make his return to AEW TV for the first time since February when he takes on Trent Beretta.
Naturally Limitless (Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee) will return to teaming up as they face Matt Menard & Angelo Parker of the Jericho Appreciation Society.
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm and Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds, John Silver & Evil Uno will appear in separate promo segments.
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Taped in Saskatoon, Saskatewan, Canada.
Tony Schiavone, Excalibur and Chris Jericho were on commentary.
Naturally Limitless (Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee) defeated Matt Menard & Angelo Parker (9:49)
This lacks a lot of the star power of last week’s opener. Lee dominated Parter early, and Rhodes worked over Menard’s arm. Parler pulled the ropes open on Rhodes when he tried running the ropes, and Rhodes fell to the floor, allowing the heels to take control. Menard’s biggest offensive move on Rhodes was a hard Irish whip into the turnbuckles. Menard then took Rhodes down with a drop toe hold, and Parker used his partner’s back as a springboard to drop an elbow.
After a split-screen break, Menard caught Lee with a dropkick while he was waiting for the tag from Rhodes. Rhodes hit Menard with a spinning powerslam, and got the tag to Lee. Lee avalanche clotheslined both Parker and Menard in opposite corners, then tossed Parker into Menard. Lee then tossed Rhodes into Menard and Parker. Menard saved his partner from the Supernova, and both Parker and Menard gave Lee a double DDT for a near fall.
Menard and Parker tried the springboard elbow move a second time, but Lee caught Mendard and powerbombed him down. Lee then hit the Supernova on Parker and got the pinfall. Perfectly fine tag match.
Taya Valkyrie defeated Izzy McQueen (0:24)
Spear and Curb stomp ended it in short order for Valkyrie against the Saskatoon native McQueen, who may or may not be named after Mongoose McQueen.
After the match, Tori Storm and Saraya came out and called Valkyrie a Canadian loser. A very bad back and forth between Storm and Valkyrie led to a match between the two at Battle of the Belts VII for the AEW Women’s Championship.
– Hook accepted Jungle Boy’s challenge for the FTW Title from wherever he was eating lunch today. The match will be Wednesday’s Dynamite from Boston.
Archer went for a powerbomb, but Beretta tried to counter with a sunset flip. Beretta was able to leverage Archer to the floor, where he hit a middle rope moonsault on Archer. Then, he and Taylor got to give the people what they want! Jake Roberts then gave Beretta something he did not want, a short=arm clothesline behind the referee’s back. Archer dominated Beretta on the floor, whipping him into the ring barricade during the split-screen break.
After the break, Beretta hit a half-and-half suplex, a running knee and a piledriver for a near fall. Beretta hit a series of forearms and an enziguri, then ran into a bodyblock from Archer. Beretta escaped a chokeslam attempt and went to the top, but Archer popped-up and hit him with a knee, crotching Beretta on the ropes. Archer hit the Blackout slam out of the corner, then followed up with a lariat to get the pinfall.
After the match, Archer beat up Taylor and Beretta, than grabbed a mic and called out Orange Cassidy, demanding an International Title match. Cassidy came out and through Excalibur, Tony Khan made Cassidy v. Archer for Battle of the Belts VII. Archer choked out Cassidy and Roberts took the bag with the International Title belt. Cassidy can try and get it back from Archer tomorrow night.
– Dueling pre-taped promos from the Jeff Jarrett/Sonjay Dutt crew and Matt Hardy/Ethan Page crew established that the “Royal Rampage” two-ring royal rumble will return on Rampage next week and both of those groups will be in it.
Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis) defeated Mentallo (4:07)
After the bell rang to start the match, Don Callis cut an in-ring promo explaining that Mentallo is a training partner and childhood friend of Kenny Omega. Taskeshita hit a running boot and a lariat in-between ineffective flurries of offense from Mentallo. Mentallo blocked a running knee with a dragon-screw legwhip and got a bridging german suplex for a near fall. The crowd chanted for Mentallo, and Takeshita cut him off as he went up the ropes, and hit a delayed superplex. A tombstone and senton bomb ended Mentallo’s night.
– Renee Paquette interviewed The Dark Order. Silver and Reynolds took credit for Hangman Page’s career flourishing the last two years. Evil Uno announced it was time to rebuild the Dark Order.
Willow Nightingale defeated Ring of Honor Women’s Champion Athena to advance to the Finals Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament (10:36)
Athna took Nightingale down with a pounce (and mocking Willow by mimicking her celebration), so Willow countered with a charging forearm in the corner. Athena went after Nightingale’s leg, and got a near fall after a sliding dropkick.
Athena continued working over Nightingale’s leg during the split screen break. They battled over a bodyslam, and Nightingale hit the Pounce. Nightingale hit a spinebuster for a near fall. Athena blocked a doctor bomb attempt and rolled up Nightingale for a near fall. Athena hit a face-front suplex and a sliding elbow strike for a near fall.
Nightingale absorbed a series of chops from Athena and slammed her to the mat. Athena moved out of the way of a swanton bomb and hit a standing moonsault, then locked in a crossface. Nightingale countered into a cradle for a nearfall, then hit a death valley driver for another near fall. Athena went for her finisher, an overhead vice into a code breaker (kind of like the Stormbreaker). But, Nightingale landed on her feet and when Athena dropped to her back, Nightingale quickly cradled her and got the pinfall. Willow Nightingale advanced to the final round to face Ruby Soho tomorrow night. Pretty clelver finish.
Final Thoughts:
This show felt twice as long as it was, and most of it was just a hard sell for Collision and Battle of the Belts VII. If you missed this, you didn’t miss much.
After weeks of asking for a match against Asuka for the WWE Women’s Championship, Bianca Belair will get her shot on tonight’s SmackDown from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The last time Asuka defended her title was against Charlotte Flair on SmackDown two weeks ago. Belair caused that match to end in a no contest.
Tonight will also feature the fallout of last week’s Trial of Roman Reigns. We’ll see if Reigns provides an answer to Jey Uso’s challenge for an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match.
WWE’s United States Championship Invitational will begin with a fatal four-way match involving AJ Styles, Santos Escobar, Butch, and Grayson Waller. Another four-way match is scheduled to take place on SmackDown next week. The winners of the four-way bouts will advance to face each other for the right to become the next challenger for Austin Theory’s United States title.
Plus, Sheamus & Ridge Holland face Pretty Deadly in tag team action. Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– The show began with Jey Uso walking backstage as Michael Cole voiced over that Jey is on a warpath. We went to the ring, where Bianca Belair’s music hit.
The Bianca Belair/Charlotte segment
The crowd chanted “EST!” before Belair began to talk. Belair said it’s been hard to be patient because she has wanted a rematch with Asuka so badly. Belair mentioned all the hoops she had to go through to get her rematch. Belair said tonight will be her night. Belair said she’s going to show Asuka that patience is a virtue. Belair said she will strut out of there as the new WWE Women’s Champion, but before she could finish her sentence, Charlotte’s music hit.
After Charlotte got in the ring, the crowed graced her with a million “Woooos!” Charlotte said Belair fired Charlotte up and then said Charlotte said she believes Belair will win later tonight and she’s manifesting a win in Flair Country. Charlotte said when Belair wins, she wants to makes sure Belair knows that Charlotte is next in line. The crowd was excited at the thought and Belair said she wouldn’t jinx herself, but Belair said there would be nothing better than Charlotte vs. Belair at SummerSlam for the WWE Women’s Championship. Belair said she’s ready for Asuka before Belair and Charlotte shook hands, solidifying the potential match between Charlotte and Belair next month. Charlotte let out a “Wooooo!” to end the segment.
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– The Brawling Brutes were shown backstage. Sheamus hyped up Butch competing in the four-way for a shot at the U.S. Title. Ridge Holland said tonight, Pretty Deadly is going to be eaten alive by he and Sheamus. We went back to the ring, where the Brutes made their entrance.
Pretty Deadly [Elton Prince & Kit Wilson] defeated the Brawling Brutes [Sheamus & Ridge Holland] [10:27]
You just knew that somehow, some way, Pretty Deadly would get the win here. Still, the Brutes looked strong and outside of a commercial break that allowed Pretty Deadly to take control, Sheamus and Holland got the bulk of the offense. Pretty Deadly is growing on me on the main roster. I enjoyed the bit on NXT for what it was, but it’s beginning to translate well on SmackDown. If nothing else, they are very good pest heels and seeing them get cheap wins only helps that perception. Both teams worked hard here and all told, it was a good opening match – especially at a time when SmackDown lately has been very talk-heavy. In a lot of ways, this was refreshing.
Sheamus and Prince began the match. Prince retreated to the outside. As a result, Sheamus pulled Wilson into the ring and beat him up. Prince returned to the ring and went for a hip-toss, but Sheamus blocked it and hit a clothesline. Holland tagged in and worked Prince over with a headbutt and some punches. Holland lifted Prince, but Prince wiggled out of it and chop-blocked Holland to give his team control. Wilson tagged in and the Pretty Deadly guys double-teamed Holland until Holland lifted and back-dropped both of them.
Sheamus tagged in and Sheamus dumped Wilson over the top. Sheamus worked 10 Bells on Wilson and Holland worked a variation of it on Prince until the show went to a commercial break. When the show returned, Prince was stomping on Sheamus. Wilson tagged in and kept momentum up with some elbows to Sheamus’s chest. Wilson landed a running uppercut and tagged in Prince. Wilson tagged in quickly and kicked Sheamus in the face. Sheamus lifted Wilson on his shoulders and slammed him, but when Sheamus went for the tag, Prince ran around the corner and pulled Holland off the apron.
Wilson utilized Prince’s help and took Sheamus down. Wilson went to the top, but jumped into a knee from Sheamus. As a result, Sheamus finally got the hot tag to Holland, who landed a wild back-body drop on Prince. Holland took out both members of Pretty Deadly and fired up before hitting a German Suplex on Prince, who landed on Wilson. Holland landed a Fisherman’s Buster on Prince for a two-count. Pretty Deadly went to the outside and Sheamus came off the top onto both Pretty Deadly members. Back in the ring, Holland hit a side-slam on Prince for a two-count. Prince took a top turnbuckle padding off and ran Holland into it. Prince then hit a leg drop from the top for the 1-2-3.
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– Grayson Waller was interviewed backstage by Cathy Kelly. Waller recalled how he swam against Edge last week. Waller talked about how The Rock loves him. Waller then said he’s going to face three of the best SmackDown has to offer later and will have his hand raised in victory. Waller closed the interview by saying everything will happen … “if you smell what he’s cooking.”
– A video recapping last week’s Tribal Court segment aired. Footage from Money In The Bank was part of it. Michael Cole announced that Jimmy Uso is injured and will be out for the “foreseeable future.” Cole said today marks the 1,048 day as champion.
– Backstage, Charlotte ran into Adam Pearce and Charlotte told Pearce she’s leaving the arena because she feels good about the match later. Bayley and IYO SKY came into the frame and said Charlotte isn’t the only one who feels good as they pounded on SKY’s MITB briefcase. Charlotte, who was still around, said on second thought, she’s going to stick around.
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Bayley defeated Zelina Vega [2:02]
This was fine for what it was, but nobody thought this was going more than three minutes – which was sad because those two could have had a pretty good match if they were just given a little bit of time. The Shotzi post-match angle was interesting and I can’t say I’m not interested to see where this Shotzi/Bayley program goes. Good for Shotzi for getting some booking love.
Bayley jumpstarted the match and ran Vega to the outside, where she worked over Vega on the commentary table. The two fought on the apron and Vega fought for control, rolling Bayley inside the ring and hitting a Meteora for a two-count. Vega landed a swinging neck-breaker for a two-count. Bayley fought back and grabbed Vega’s flip-fop. Bayley ran into a Codebreaker and Vegan drove Bayley out of the ring with the flip-flop. Instantly, Bayley got back into the ring and hit the Rose Plant for the win.
After the match, a video from Shotzi appeared on the big screen. Shotzi said Bayley probably thinks she has control over Shotzi. Shotzi grabbed a razor and said she’s in control. Shotzi shaved her head and laughed uncontrollably. Shotzi put the hair in her mouth. Bayley looked a little concerned.
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The Jey Uso/Bloodline segment
Jey stood in the ring for a bit before saying anything. Jey said growing up, he and Jimmy were inseparable. The crowd gave him the “What?” treatment, but everyone seemed to be in on it and it felt more fun than patronizing. Jey said if Jimmy is sad, he’s sad and so on and so forth. It ended with Jey saying if Jimmy is hurt, Jey is hurt, too. Jey said he’s going to disrespect Roman Reigns and he’s going to spank Solo Sikoa. Jey said they’re looking at the real head of the table and his name is Main Event Jey Uso. The crowd cheered until they heard Paul Heyman’s voice.
Heyman introduced himself and said Sikoa is the enforcer of the Bloodline as they both walked toward the ring. Heyman said Sikoa was there to enforce peace. Heyman said that next week, Jey and Roman will go face to face and discuss the rules of engagement. Heyman followed that up by saying tonight, they just wanted to have a chat about things. Heyman said Jey is sounding more and more like a tribal chief every single day. Heyman said Sikoa is right in that Jey has no self-awareness. Heyman said Jey doesn’t have the conscience needed to be a right-hand man. Heyman said what happened to Jimmy is all Jey’s fault.
Heyman said Jey was the one who confronted Roman Reigns and Jey was the one who wanted to be the leader. Heyman spoke to Jimmy into the camera and said the only reason Jimmy is in the hospital is because of Jey Uso. Heyman said Jey’s father and mother will never forgive Jey for what he did to Jimmy. Heyman said both he and Reigns will never forgive Jey. Sikoa put his hand otu for the microphone. Heyman put it in Sikoa’s hand. Sikoa said what happened to Jimmy is all on Jey. Sikoa said he’ll never forgive Jey and threw down the mic.
Jey threw an elbow at Sikoa and eventually landed a super-kick on Sikoa, which left Jey alone with Heyman in the ring. The crowd rose up for the altercation. Before Jey could get his hands on Heyman, Sikoa returned to the ring and beat Jey down. Sikoa went for the Samoan Spike, but Jey countered and worked a ground-and-pound on Sikoa before actually hitting a super-kick on Heyman. Jey landed a suicida on Sikoa, who was on the outside. The crowd went nuts. Left in the ring was Jey, Heyman and a chair. Heyman begged Jey not to do anything. Jey picked up the chair, but Sikoa ran in and Jey hit Sikoa with the chair instead of Heyman. Sikoa rolled to the outside and he, along with Heyman, left to go to the back.
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Santos Escobar defeated AJ Styles, Butch and Grayson Waller [12:35]
It depends on the style you like, and I’ll fully admit that WWE rolls by its own rules, but for a WWE four-way, this was really very good. Waller played his part almost perfectly as the chicken-s!#$ heel who tried as hard as he could to take advantage of whatever advantageous situation presented itself, Styles was very good as The Guy Who Was The Favorite To Win, Butch was Butch and Escobar was forgotten. Naturally, then, Escobar winning was a curious call, but I’m all in if this means we can get the guy going on the main roster. The LWO has worked well enough, but it feels like we’re coming up on the end of the line and if this win means Escobar will have a shot at being a solo player, I’m all for it. I can do without the stupid big screen distraction finish, but outside of that, this was very good.
Austin Theory sat in on commentary. Waller started by punching Butch and rolled to the outside to jaw at Theory. Butch went after Waller. Inside the ring, Escobar worked over Styles with some chops until Styles put Escobar over the top to the outside. Butch and Styles squared off in the ring and traded pin attempts until Waller went for a double pin on them both, but only got a two-count. Styles and Butch fought until Escobar came off the top and took them both out. Waller took Escobar down, but Escobar came back with a boot to the face. Waller came back and ran into a German Suplex from Butch. Everybody exchanged shots on each other until everyone was down and the show went to break.
Back from break, Butch was doing the finger spot on Waller. Waller dumped Butch to the outside in response and Styles hit a sliding forearm on Waller. Styles hit a knee to the back of Waller’s neck and went for a pin but Butch broke it up. Escobar came back into the fold and flipped Butch onto Styles, who pinned Butch for a two-count. Escobar came right back and took down Styles before going to the top rope. Waller cut Escobar off and Butch hit Waller with an enziguri. Styles woke up, too, and all four guys were in a corner. Ultimately, Escobar landed a sunset flip, triple-power-bomb on the other three from the top rope.
Escobar hit knees on everyone else after they got to their feet. Escobar landed a Phantom Driver on Waller for a two-count. Waller rolled to the outside and the three babyfaces stood in the ring, trading strikes. Cole said the crowd was chanting “This is awesome,” but if they were, boy, that didn’t come up well on TV. Eventually, Waller lifted Butch, but Butch worked out of it and kicked the back of Waller. Waller threw Butch to the outside, but was ultimately the recipient of a moonsault from Butch. Escobar followed that up with a splash, but quickly, Styles set Butch up for a Styles Clash inside the ring. On the big screen, Karrion Kross appeared to stop Styles. Styles ran to the back and Waller hit a rolling stunner on Butch, but immediately after that, Escobar came off the top to hit a splash on Waller and pinned him.
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– Back from break, Styles was backstage talking to The OC, saying Kross was right and their feud wasn’t over. The show then cut to the Street Profits, who were standing next to a limo. Wouldn’t you know it: Bobby Lashley stepped out of the limo and embraced the Profits. The Profits got into the limo and Lashley left with them.
– Rey Mysterio cut a remote promo, ostensibly announcing himself as a participant in next week’s four-way for the other half of the U.S. title invitational. Cameron Grimes cut a similar promo and said he was going to the moon. Sheamus popped up and did the same.
– La Knight’s music hit back in the arena and the crowd went bonkers (I mean, come on, WWE. I know you’re hearing this week after week). Knight stopped before talking and the crowd chanted his name. Knight said all of a sudden LA Knight’s everywhere. Knight said he’s the best decision WWE ever made. Knight said the worst decision it made was to make a U.S. title invitational. Knight said he’s coming for that title. Knight said one way or another, they’re going to call him a champ someday. The crowd was all too happy to agree. We’re going to get Mysterio vs. Sheamus vs. Knight vs. Grimes next week as the other half of the US title invitational.
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Asuka defeated Bianca Belair via DQ [9:01]
If you thought we were getting a clean finish here, I have some beachfront property in Iowa that I’d love to sell you. Still, the match was all right for what it was. Belair and Asuka only seem to be getting better together and I’m interested to see if we’re headed more toward a four-way than a three-way at SummerSlam. Bayley and SKY are laying it on thick and we are less than a month away. Time will tell. I’m all for the women being put in the highest profile spots SmackDown has; I’d just love it if the booking was better. Good for Belair and Asuka for working hard; this just could have been so much more.
Bayley was shown with IYO SKY as two people who bought a ticket before the match began. Belair had the upper hand early. SKY and Bayley yelled at the two from the front row. Asuka tripped Belair to gain back control. Belair ultimately struck back and the two were down on the mat. In the meantime, Charlotte presented a ticket for the show, too, and sat at ringside as the show went to its final commercial.
The show returned and Belair had control, hitting a suplex and a standing moonsault for a two-count. With the two on the top, Asuka ultimately hit a shotgun dropkick from the top for a two-count. Asuka ran at Belair and Belair moved, eventually landing a spine-buster for a two-count. Asuka went for the Asuka Lock, but Belair rolled through and got a two-count out of it. Belair was on the apron, but Belair lifted Asuka and hit a KOD on Asuka on the commentary table.
Bayley and SKY and Charlotte hopped the barricade. Charlotte took out Bayley and SKY ran Charlotte into the ring post. Charlotte then speared Belair, which resulted in a DQ win for Asuka. SKY hit Charlotte in the head with her MITB briefcase. Bayley and SKY tried to cash in, but Asuka hit Bayley with the mist to stop all of it, the cash in didn’t happen and Asuka walked up the ramp. The show ended with all the women looking frustrated as Asuka smiled her way away.
