Tag: main story

WWE SmackDown live results: Three Stages of Hell

Posted on by Marc Quill

Tonight, from Berlin, Germany, the Undisputed WWE Championship will be on the line in a Three Stages of Hell match as Cody Rhodes defends his title against Drew McIntyre.

The first fall will be a standard match, with the second fall being Falls Count Anywhere. If the match reaches the third stage, it will be contested inside a steel cage.

After weeks of being unable to reciprocate McIntyre’s antagonizing due to a “no-touch” stipulation, Rhodes finally gets his chance to put his hands on hated rival. Meanwhile, McIntyre hopes to finally win the Undisputed WWE Title after repeated attempts ended in failure.

Trick Williams makes his SmackDown debut tonight as he faces Rey Fenix one-on-one. Last week, Williams confronted Sami Zayn and made it clear that he was gunning for the best.

The Wyatt Sicks and Solo Sikoa’s M.F.T.s take their war to an eight-man tag match tonight after weeks of hostile words and brawls.

**********

– The show began with shots of the two men entering Three Stages of Hell, Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre entering the arena, with the latter getting cheered and the former being booed. Also seen arriving were Carmelo Hayes, Giulia, and Alexa Bliss as Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett greeted us to tonight’s show from Berlin. They noted that the final hour of SmackDown, which will feature the Three Stages of Hell match, will be presented commercial-free.

Randy Orton kicks off SmackDown

“The Viper” Randy Orton opened the show to a massive ovation from the Berlin crowd, who serenaded him with a singalong of his theme song. Orton took in the cheers from the crowd as he got to the ring before he took a mic, ready to speak his mind.

Orton said that it was good to be back in the ring as he welcomed everyone to SmackDown. Before he could continue, he was interrupted by the music of the newest addition to the blue show’s roster, Trick Williams.

Williams started by talking about how another comes out every week and says it’s going to be “their year”. He said that he didn’t do that because that a new star has arrived, and his name is Trick Williams. He noted how every country loved themselves some “Trick Willy” as he boasted about his physical traits. “This ain’t 2006, this is 2026, let’s talk ’bout it,” said Williams.

Orton responded by talking about how he’s 6″5′, 270 pounds, has five kids and a “smokin’ hot wife” but that the only number that matters is 14, which is the number of World Titles he’s won. Orton expressed confusion on why Williams came out to interrupt him, of all people, questioning if he has the brains.

Williams said that he was the only one to seize the opportunity to brush up against greatness, and that he was here to put Orton on notice, as he was the Viper no longer. Williams posed as Orton warned him not to turn his back on him again because if it happened again, he wasn’t going to whoop that Trick, he was going to kick that ass. Williams belligerently slapped Orton’s microphone away as he got punched by the Viper.

Orton hit Williams with his signature draping DDT and looked like he was going to hit him with the RKO until the Miz snuck up from behind to attack him. As Miz tried to plant Orton with a Skull-Crushing Finale, that got reversed into an RKO instead to the delight of the crowd. Orton looked down on Williams, who was left stunned outside the ring and had some harsh words for him.

As Orton left the ring, Rey Fenix’s music hit with our first match set to take place in mere moments. Orton showed respect to Fenix with a fistbump before he walked to the back and encouraged Fenix to kick Williams’ ass (while also emulating Fenix’s entrance taunt).

A fun opening segment and I have to say, I like how Trick Williams has been presented so far in his main roster as a cocky such-and-such who’s willing to talk a big game and can back that up. It makes for a nice dynamic, especially when he’s brushing up against veterans such as Orton, like we saw here tonight. With the reports that SmackDown is overseen by someone new creatively (more on that in the wrap-up), it’s a good start.

**********

Trick Williams vs. Rey Fenix

Our opening bout tonight got underway with Williams shoving Fenix to the rope and talking some smack to his face. Williams slammed Fenix’s head to the mat but couldn’t keep up with Fenix’s athletic display early on. Fenix avoided the spin kick from Williams, but got shoulder blocked to the mat afterwards.

Williams chopped at Fenix’s chest and Irish whipped him. Fenix dodged between the ropes and used his speed to capitalize with a springboard missile dropkick, which sent Williams out of the ring. Fenix faked out Williams with a diving feint, but got shellacked with a leg lariat from the former NXT Champion. Williams planted Fenix with a MIchinoku Driver for a near-fall as he then threw his foe out of the ring. At ringside, Williams sent Fenix into both steel steps as we took a break in the action.

Our match continued as Williams hit Fenix with a popup uppercut for another near-fall. Williams tried to maintain the aggression as he used his raw power to hoist Fenix on his shoulders. Fenix got out of that predicament as he put Williams on the top rope, looking for a high-risk maneuver. After a struggle, Fenix connected with a top rope hurricanrana on Williams, who managed to kick out at two afterwards. With Williams laid out in the ring, Fenix launched himself from the top rope. Williams put his knees up to block the attack as he then hit a spinning pump kick on Fenix. The former TNA World Champion then hit an impressive modified Book-End for yet another near-fall.

Williams missed on the running splash as Fenix fought back and connected with a reverse spinning DDT from the top rope, but that wasn’t enough to put this one away. Fenix kicked Williams in the back of the head as he then hit the Adios Amigo kick from the ropes. Williams caught Fenix on the dive and the subsequent pinning exchanged ended with the upstart picking up the win thanks to a handful of tights on his pin.

Trick Williams def. Rey Fenix via pinfall

Fantastic SmackDown debut match for Williams that was a good show of his strength and Fenix was the perfect foe to match him up with here.

**********

– Intrepid reporter Byron Saxton was with Giulia and Kiana James and asked them about the Women’s U.S. Title victory. Giulia said that the title was back where it belongs and that tonight, Alexa Bliss will be made an example of when they face off.

– We got a recap of last week’s Ambulance Match between Damian Priest and Aleister Black. After that recap, Priest was interviewed about that match. Priest said that he was hurting because Black put a beating on him, but he ultimately won the war. As for what’s next for him? He said he was going to call his shot for the WWE Title, as it might lead him to the path of a man he respects, Cody Rhodes. At that moment, Drew McIntyre interrupted. Priest reminded McIntyre of the last time when they faced off when his brains got scrambled.

After Priest left, McIntyre was asked about Three Stages of Hell as he reveals that he had Cody Rhodes’ coveted Rolex watch. He reiterated his vow to win the WWE Title by taking advantage of Rhodes’ anger towards him.

– Elsewhere, Alexa Bliss was chatting with Charlotte Flair on the phone before Nia Jax and Lash Legend, who tried to antagonize her. Bliss said that Jax was maybe projecting her own insecurities about her own trust towards her and Charlotte. Bliss then warned Legend that Jax might not be as she seems, speaking as someone who was once in that position.

Women’s U.S. Championship: Giulia (c) (w/ Kiana James) vs. Alexa Bliss

Giulia and Bliss got into a shoving battle to start as neither woman could get the upper hand. That was until Giulia grabbed Bliss’s hair and pulled her into a suplex. With Bliss in the corner, Giulia ran into her with a charging attack before she capitalized with a missile dropkick. The women’s U.S. Champion seemed to have things in control until Bliss dodged an attack from Giulia, which caused her to fly out of the ring. Bliss then connected with a dive from the apron as we took a break.

The match continued as Giulia kicked out of a pin attempt from Bliss. The champ got the advantage once more as Kiana James got involved thanks to Giulia’s distraction of the ref providing an opening for her to attack Bliss. An elbow from Bliss allowed her to start a bit of a comeback, as she then followed up with strikes and a dropkicking to a kneeling Giulia. Bliss then hit her modified version of Natural Selection, but Giulia kicked out at two.

Giulia hit Bliss with the Arrivederci Knee, but she couldn’t capitalize on the Northern Lights Driver as Bliss countered it. Bliss had Giulia in position for the Sister Abigail, but Kiana James got on the apron to cause a distraction. Bliss gave James a punch for her troubles. With the referee distracted by James, Bliss headed up top and looked like she had one in the chamber with Twisted Bliss, but Lash Legend pushed her down from her perch. This allowed Giulia to connect with the Northern Lights Bomb for the three and a successful Women’s U.S. Title defense.

Post-match, Nia Jax and Lash Legend attacked Bliss without interruption as Charlotte Flair was not around to make the save.

Giulia def. Alexa Bliss via pinfall to retain the Women’s U.S. Championship

Not sure what can be done with regards to the lack of reactions for Giulia, but having her win matches due to outside interference — especially in the service of others getting heat like the Jax/Legend duo — isn’t gonna help her at all.

**********

– Nick Aldis was meeting with Jordynne Grace, who was officially welcomed to the SmackDown roster when Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre barged in. Green complained about not getting her re-re-rematch for the Women’s U.S. Championship, as Grace talked about how she wasn’t going to be another diva like Green. Aldis booked Fyre against Grace for later tonight. Before he could enter, Kit Wilson interrupted and talked about how Matt Cardona was an embodiment of toxic masculinity. Aldis told Wilson to “hold that thought” as he just entered his office and slammed the door shut. Wilson then declared Aldis to be toxic in response.

– And speaking of Cardona, he was interviewed about how he felt being back in WWE. Cardona talked about how he had three options: 1. be negative and bitter, 2. coast off the Zack Ryder name for the rest of his career, 3. reinvent himself and bust his ass. Before Cardona could continue, he chatted with his old friend Cody Rhodes. Cardona reminded Rhodes that he wasn’t just back for no reason, he was staking his claim for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Rhodes said that once he was done with Drew McIntyre, he’d consider giving Cardona a shot.

Eight-Man Tag: The M.F.T.s (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga, Tanga Loa) vs. The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan)

Lumis and Tanga started off, and the Wyatts had the upper hand early with double team sentons that left Tanga isolated. Outside the ring, Tama and Tanga were shelled by dual suicide dives from Lumis and Gacy. On the outside, the two factions faced off as we took a break in the action early.

We continued from commercial with Sikoa stomping on Gacy in the corner, as he then blasted him with a running hip attack. Tama was tagged in as he continued the attacked on Gacy, who tried to tag in Rowan. Meanwhile, Tama struggled to get to his corner in a tug of war. Gacy escaped and hit his handspring clothesline on Tama, which allowed Rowan to enter the match and clean house on the M.F.T.s. After this chaos, Talla tagged in as we got big meaty men slapping meat here. Talla knocked Rowan to his knees, but he got nailed by a clothesline from the Wyatts’ big man instead. Talla managed to escape an attempted slam from Rowan and knock him down instead. He then chokeslammed Lumis when he tried to intervene as Talla and Rowan got each other with a double-down on the clothesline.

As both big men struggled to their corners, Uncle Howdy and Solo Sikoa begged their respective giants to tag them into the match. With both family leaders now the legal men, Sikoa and Howdy duked it out in the middle of the ring. Howdy and Sikoa gave each other their best shots, but it was the former who avoided a Samoan Spike from Sikoa and responded with a fiendish uranage on his foe. Howdy targeted Sikoa for Sister Abigail, but he couldn’t connect. Tama entered the match and got hit with the uranage by Howdy, as J.C. Mateo then found himself thrown into the fire by the Wyatt Sicks leader.

Howdy locked the Mandible Claw on Mateo while Sikoa absconded the Bray Wyatt lantern and held it in his hands. This got Howdy’s attention and allowed him to be taken out by a Talla big boot, followed by a not-so-elevated and not-so-hidden bladed Cutthroat from Tama for the three.

The M.F.T.s def. The Wyatt Sicks via pinfall

This wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t really good either. It was honestly inoffensive, which is probably the best I can say about this match, and indeed this M.F.T.s/Wyatt Sicks feud as a whole.

**********

– The Miz confronted Carmelo Hayes and bragged about how he’d be the Grand Slam Champion once more after he wins a new WWE Title opportunity given to him. Hayes was about to be on his way for the U.S. Title open challenge, as he told him to watch out for Randy Orton. After Miz left, Ilya Dragunov met with Hayes, as he talked about how there’d be a time and place for them to meet again, but he was on his way to talk to Nick Aldis about something different.

– We got another tease for Oba Femi, who is coming to either Raw or SmackDown, especially after he vacated the NXT Championship this past Tuesday.

Alba Fyre (w/ Chelsea Green) vs. Jordynne Grace

Grace went on the attack right away on Fyre with some hard strikes, particularly a set of fierce lariats that left Fyre stunned. A powerslam by Grace maintained the SmackDown newcomer’s early advantage until Fyre fought back with her signature DDT. Fyre tried to hit a suplex, but Grace used her strength to block it. Grace dodged Fyre in the corner and hit a spinebuster, followed by a package powerbomb. Chelsea Green got on the apron to yell at Grace, but got knocked down as Fyre was thrown into her on the apron. Grace then ended things with a torture rack bomb, called “Beast Mode”, to pick up the easy victory.

As Grace left the ring, Jade Cargill came out with mic in hand and began to trash talk her. Cargill said that Grace wasn’t anything special, because she was “that bitch”.

Jordynne Grace def. Alba Fyre via pinfall

The match was essentially a showcase for Grace, and her addition to the roster does somewhat help with the nagging problem of the SmackDown women’s division feeling a bit light, especially with talents like Michin and B-Fab having been recently injured.

**********

– Sami Zayn was interviewed backstage about who he thought would win tonight between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. Zayn said that part of him wanted McIntyre to win because he’s the one guy he hasn’t beat yet, but he also believes in his friend Rhodes. At the end of the day, however, Zayn said that he was waiting for whoever won tonight.

– Backstage, Nathan Frazer was confronted by Axiom, who suddenly attacked him. It turns out, “Axiom” was Johnny Gargano in disguise, who fled when the real Axiom ran after him.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Hayes and Nakamura engaged in a chain wrestling battle to start this title match off as the challenger tried to get ahead with striking attacks. Hayes was more than ready for it with a dropkick that caused Nakamura to roll out of the ring. As he got ready to dive to the outside, Nakamura intercepted with a kick. Hayes responded with his signature springboard clothesline, which was our cue to head to a break in the action.

We returned from the break with Nakamura battering Hayes in the corner with clubbing blows and knees to the ribs. Hayes got out of it and missed with the clothesline, and was instead hit in the upper quad by a kick from the challenger. Hayes’ quad remained a target for Nakamura, who exploited it with a dragon screw against the top of the rope. In the ring, Nakamura hit an axe kick on Hayes while the champ was draped over the top rope. Near-fall as Hayes kicked out at two after the kick from Nakamura.

Nakamura again used the dragon screw across the top rope as he then remained serious for a moment and locked in the single-leg crab on Hayes’ hurt leg. Nakamura kept the match to his pace as he went after the chest of Hayes. However, the champ started to fight back as he blocked Nakamura’s kick and went after him with a DDT for the near-fall. Nakamura responded as he put Hayes on the top rope, but he couldn’t find the opportunity to capitalize as Hayes instead got him with the elbow drop. With both men down, we took another break in the action.

We returned from break as Nakamura again attacked Hayes in the corner. He hoisted Hayes up on the top rope, as another kick on the leg put Hayes in a tree-of-woe position. Hayes managed to pull himself up at the last moment to avoid a sliding dropkick from Nakamura. With Nakamura writhing outside, Hayes capitalized with a diving forearm from the top. Back in the ring, Hayes missed the frog splash and found himself trapped in the kneebar submission by his ever-on-his-game challenger. Hayes reached the rope to break the hold, and managed to reverse a slam attempt into a modified Stundog MIllionaire. Nakamura answered with a nice kick to the jaw of Hayes, followed by the Michinoku Driver.

Hayes avoided a Kinshasa attempt as he hit Nakamura with a springboard elbow to the back of the head. The U.S. Champion powered through the pain and got himself to the top rope. Nakamura intercepted and stunned Hayes, which opened the champ up for a knee to the gut. He then hit an amazing avalanche Kinshasa on Hayes and looked like he was going to hit one more. Hayes intercepted with First 48, as he then headed up the top rope and made no mistake with Nothin’ But Net. Eins, zwei, drei. Hayes retains.

After the match, Hayes offered a respectful handshake to Nakamura, who accepted in a nice show of sportsmanship.

Carmelo Hayes def. Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall to retain the Men’s U.S. Championship

This was again another fantastic Open Challenge match, continuing the incredible streak of greatness we’ve had in terms of matches featuring the U.S. Title. Hayes having to overcome the hard-hitting strong style offense of Nakamura was a good story and these two made for a great match.

**********

– Cody Rhodes was interviewed about his final thoughts before Three Stages of Hell. He said that as far as Drew McIntyre is concerned, he saw that his dad’s watch was stolen. And now, he says that McIntyre’s tactics are cheap and that it’s him that makes the comeback. Tonight, it’ll be McIntyre who’ll be left looking at the lights, and after that it’s Royal Rumble time. Rhodes said we knew what that meant.

– We learned from SmackDown GM Nick Aldis that next week in London, we’ll have four qualifying matches, with the winners set to face off in a fatal four-way match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal, with the winner of that match set to face the Undisputed WWE Champion at the Royal Rumble.

Next Week on SmackDown

  • #1 Contender’s Qualifying Match: Randy Orton vs. The Miz
  • #1 Contender’s Qualifying Match: Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams
  • #1 Contender’s Qualifying Match: Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa
  • #1 Contender’s Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov

Three Stages of Hell for Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

Stage One: Standard Wrestling Match

Rhodes went after McIntyre right away and battered him with strikes before he clotheslined him out of the ring. Rhodes took the challenger out with a suicide dive to the outside of the ring, as McIntyre grabbed a chair and begged Rhodes to use it to cause a DQ. Rhodes didn’t take the bait and hit him with a boot to the face. Back in the ring, Rhodes hit McIntyre with the Disaster Kick, followed by the Dusty elbows, which were punctuated by a double-bird to McIntyre.

Out of the ring again, McIntyre finally managed to stop the barrage from Rhodes by throwing him into the steel steps. As the action returned to the ring, McIntyre failed to connect with a back suplex, as Rhodes flipped out of it and hit a super-springboard Cody Cutter for a near-fall. McIntyre was stomped on by Rhodes, who was backed off by the referee. The Scotsman soon found himself thrown across the ring by a German suplex from Rhodes. McIntyre ripped off the top turnbuckle, which caused the referee to check on the exposed turnbuckle. This allowed McIntyre to hit Rhodes right in the groin, followed by the Claymore to win the first stage.

Drew McIntyre wins Stage 1 (1-0)

Stage Two: Falls Count Anywhere

McIntyre pulled out the Slim Jim-branded table and powerbombed Rhodes through it. One, two… not quite! The battle spilled onto the narrow entryway as Rhodes slammed McIntyre’s head against the steel steps. He then threw him over the barricade and hit an axe handle off of it. The two continued to fight in the crowd for a bit. Rhodes bit at McIntyre’s head and took a selfie with a member of the audience with this fight heading into the edge of the backstage area. McIntyre threw Rhodes into the wall, but got thrown into the metal doors. Rhodes trhen took a banana from the catering table and stuffed it in McIntyre’s mouth as he then punched him in the face repeatedly.

McIntyre regained momentum by smashing the back of his head against the railings just by the bleachers. He then took a table and looked like he was about to powerbomb Rhodes through it. The WWE Champion escaped by climbing the guard rails to break free. Rhodes then threw McIntyre into the railing repeatedly and placed him onto the table. Rhodes looked upwards and climbed up the stairs as he then got on the railing to hit a splash through the table. Somehow, that was not enough to pick up the victory as McIntyre managed to kick out at two.

The two eventually made their way to the ringside area as McIntyre hit Rhodes in the ribs with a chair, followed by a shot to the back. Rhodes avoided the Claymore Kick against the table with a kick to the face as he then rearranged the furniture on the commentary table. Rhodes hit a Cross Rhodes through the commentary table and got the pin to win this stage.

Cody Rhodes wins Stage 2 (1-1)

Stage 3: Steel Cage Match

Rhodes rolled McIntyre back into the ring as the cage descended from above. Once the cage was lowered, Rhodes stalked McIntyre and repeatedly tossed him into the sides of the cage with great relish. McIntyre reversed and gave Rhodes a taste of his own medicine before he tried to scurry through the door. Rhodes intercepted and hit a suplex to bring him back into the ring.

McIntyre tried to climb up with Rhodes struggling to get to his feet. As the Scotsman got to the top, Rhodes sprang to life and intercepted him to prevent an escape. McIntyre got ahead of it and hit a superplex from the top of the cage. One, two… no! Rhodes recovered and punched away at McIntyre in the corner, but he was hit with a hard elbow from the challenger afterwards.

Rhodes again tried for a rally, but got sent into the corner by McIntyre, who then dropped him with the Future Shock DDT for a close near-fall. The side of Rhodes’ head was bleeding, likely from making contact with the ringpost as McIntyre pounced on the attack with strikes. Rhodes responded with a nice tilt-a-whirl roll-through reversal into Cross Rhodes, but somehow McIntyre kicked out at two. Both men struggled to get to their feet as they then put up their dukes and hit each other with hard-hitting strikes to the face.

Rhodes hit McIntyre with a snap powerslam for the near fall as he had McIntyre in his sights for a Cody Cutter. Again, McIntyre kicked out at two, so Rhodes went to the well with an attempt at the triple Cross Rhodes. The Undisputed WWE Champion managed to hit two, but a rake of the eye allowed McIntyre to escape. Rhodes ran into the exposed turnbuckle after a missed clothesline, as he then fell victim to a Claymore Kick. One… two…. 2.999999999!!!!!!

Both men got to their feet as McIntyre again tried to climb out to escape. Rhodes met him at the pass as the two fought it out sat at the very top of the cage. Rhodes smashed McIntyre’s face across the cage, as he then hit a super Cody Cutter from the cage. McIntyre miraculously kicked out of this at the last possible second. Again, McIntyre and Rhodes tried to get to a vertical base, but it was the champion who got to his feet first. He thought about climbing up the cage as McIntyre eventually made it and stopped Rhodes from ascending the cage. In the ensuing duel, both men fell groin-first into the top rope, as nobody got the better of one another.

McIntyre rolled towards the door and crawled his way through it. However, he was stopped by, of course, a hooded man. That hooded man revealed himself as Jacob Fatu. McIntyre looked like he saw a ghost as he was stomped on by Fatu. Rhodes tried to stop him, but he got slugged by Fatu. As Fatu was attacking Rhodes, McIntyre took advantage and crawled out the door of the cage to win the match and the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Rhodes looked despondent at losing the title in this manner, while McIntyre clutched his newly-won title like it was the most important thing in his world as the Levesque & Fitting credits saw us off this week.

Drew McIntyre wins Stage 3 (2-1) and is new Undisputed WWE Champion

**********

I’m not afraid to admit I was wrong, and in the case of whether or not Drew McIntyre losing this match was a foregone conclusion, I am willing to admit I was wrong here. This was a fantastic Three Stages of Hell and the finish fit with McIntyre’s opportunist character taking advantage of an opportunity in front of him and capitalizing on it. Granted, said finish coming off another black hoodie reveal (a Paul Levesque Special if there ever was one) was about the only thing I had an issue with. Other than that, I’m glad we got a shakeup in terms of the world title. Whether or not McIntyre is keeping the belt for long is anyone’s guess, but at least the trigger was pulled.

As I alluded to earlier, SmackDown is now being looked over on the creative side by Ryan Ward, with Brian “Road Dogg” James now answering to him. I mention this because so far, SmackDown is 2-for-2 in the three-hour era of being at least entertaining. The quality of the shows has shot up, and things have been mostly enjoyable to recap. Ward was responsible for the peak of the “Black and Gold” era of NXT, so his track record is an encouraging sign.

This week’s show was a step in the right direction. The shock world title change, another excellent U.S. Open Challenge match, and additions like Trick Williams and Jordynne Grace are adding some life to SmackDown. It’s not the perfect show just yet, but it hasn’t been a drag to watch since the move to three hours. We’ll see if they can keep it up in coming weeks.

Ring of Honor TV live results: Kyle Fletcher vs. Lee Johnson best-of-three falls

Posted on by Jeff Moss

Ring of Honor TV Champion Kyle Fletcher will defend his belt against Lee Johnson in a best-of-three-falls match on tonight’s ROH on HonorClub which will feature two title bouts.

Reigning ROH Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) will put their titles on the line against Cool Hand Ang & “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard after weeks of feuding between the two teams.

We will also hear from both ROH Women’s Champion Athena and ROH Women’s TV Champion Billie Starkz.

Other matches include the promotional debut of CMLL’s Titan as he battles Aaron Solo, Diamante vs. Leyla Hirsch, Jacoby Watts vs. Brandon Cutler, and a trios bout between Griff Garrison, Cole Karter & Anthony Henry vs. The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo) and Serpentico.

Other talent announced for tonight includes Lance Archer, Marina Shafir and The Iron Savages.

The Tag Team title match was taped on June 12th while the TV Title match was taped on June 15th. The rest of this week’s card was taped on June 8th.

**********

A big two-out-of-three falls match was headlining this week, but the extra-long show kicked off with some lucha libre stlye action!

Titan defeated Aaron Solo

Titan, the current CMLL Welterweight Champion, and Solo were pretty evenly matched in terms of size and speed and both had potential for some pretty cool high-flying moves.

Titan got the jump on Solo off the top though, sending him to the outside with a big dropkick. Solo recovered and the two exchanged punches and chops until Solo managed to knock Titan to the mat. However, Titan sprang back up and got the drop on Solo. Solo avoided a splash from the top and responded with a double stomp from the top rope.

The crowd began to turn on Solo, chanting that he sucked as Titan limbo-avoided a clothesline. Titan hit a double stomp of his own on Solo from the top rope to win his first ROH match in six years.

Griff Garrison, Cole Karter, and Anthony Henry defeated The Infantry (Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean), and Serpentico

Garrison. Karter. Serpentico. These three have been circling each other and fighting over Serpentico’s stolen mask for months now. Throw in Henry and The Infantry (accompanied by Trish Adora) and this match had all the making of what they used to call “a slobberknocker.”

Garrison and Karter were accompanied to the ring by Maria, still brandishing Serpentico’s stolen green mask. Serpentico arrived in a, frankly, way cooler black-with-green-accents mask, so he might not even care about the old one anymore.

Henry and Serpentico kicked things off and ran the ropes dodging lariats kicks until Serpentico got the upper hand and isolated Henry in the Infantry’s corner. A few double teams later, Garrison jumped in to try and save Henry, but was given a swift boot to the face for his trouble.

Garrison and Karter took out the Infantry outside the ring, leaving Serpentico all alone. Karter quickly tagged in and the beat down was on. Serpentico found himself isolated in his opponent’s corner and Henry locked in a straight jacket choke hold. Adora got the crowd going and Henry began showboating, which quickly cost him as Serpentico school boy’ed him for a two-count.

Eventually, both men remembered that they had teammates, and hot tags were executed by both, bringing in Bravo and Karter. Garrison tagged in and The Infantry executed a textbook Boot Camp for another near fall. All six men entered the ring and a brawl broke out. When the dust settled, it was Henry and Serpentico in the ring.

Garrison nailed Serpentico with a steel chair from the outside when the ref was distracted and Henry was able to pin him for the win.

-On the ramp, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena and ROH Women’s TV Champion Billie Starkz joined fellow “minion” Lexi Nair. Athena entered on crutches, her leg in a boot. Through tears, Athena told the crowd that she tore ligaments in her ankle, and it looks like it will take 4-6 months to recover. A sobbing Athena said she had to vacate the ROH Women’s Championship due to injury. The crowd chanted “keep it” but Athena then swerved us all and said she was not giving up the title! She vowed to be the ROH Women’s World Champion forever!

Suddenly, Queen Aminata and Red Velvet arrived. Velvet called Athena out, accusing her of faking the injury, just like Starkz faked an injury to win the Women’s TV Title Tournament. It came to blows and the IRL injured Athena was shoved to the ground. Starkz Chased off Aminata and Velvet as ROH staff came out to help Athena to the back.

Jacoby Watts defeated Brandon Cutler

This promised to be an interesting match, as in recent weeks Watts has been “teaming” with Nick Comoroto, who accompanied him to the ring. I say “teaming” because Comoroto has been doing all the work, and Watts has been… preaching? Proselytizing? Definitely not helping his partner. So seeing Watts in singles action was an interesting change. 

Watts started off with a promo, which was interrupted by Cutler who entered to no music but the loudest track suit known to man. Butler ran down the crowd, Watts and Comoroto. Comoroto responded by headbutting him in the chest. The bell rang and the match began.

Watts actually wrestled in this match, showing off some impressive speed and high slams. The two traded right hands until Cutler hit a cutter on Watts. Cutler had control and laid a beating on Watts while Comoroto tried to fire him up on the outside.

Watts hit a knee stunner on Cutler and actually got the pin to win the match. Watts and Comoroto celebrated in the ring.

Marina Shafir defeated Maggie Minerva

ROH has a problem, and the problem is Marina Shafir. Shafir has been on a very, very aggressive streak in ROH, and this match was a great chance for her to show why she’s a serious problem to everyone in the Women’s Division.

Minerva had a couple of inches in height on Shafir, but it didn’t seem to matter. Shafir wrestled Minerva to the ground, suffocating her. Upon breaking it up, she cartwheeled into another submission move on Minerva. The mean streak of Shafir was on display as she ground Minerva into the corner. Minerva got a nice kick on Shafir, but that was about it.

A powerbomb from Shafir that was heard in the next county led to a front headlock on a dazed Minerva, causing the Ref to stop the bout when Minerva passed out.

The Iron Savages (Bronson and Boulder) and Jacked Jameson defeated Isaiah Harris, Marsten and Eric Eznite

This was a squash from the start with Jameson and Eznite, who was working a Christian/prayer gimmick. The Savages and Jameson isolated him and beat him up in the corner. A quick tag to Harris resulted in much the same. At one point Boulder had both Eznite and Harris on his shoulder for a double slam. Marsten found his way into the ring and got a trip to Titty City for his trouble. A big slam later, it was all over.

Lance Archer defeated “Iceberg”

Archer jumped his opponent before his music had even stopped. The name of his opponent was never announced, but he had “Iceberg” on his tights, so that’s what I went with.

As mentioned, Archer had Iceberg from the start, throwing him around the ring like a rag doll. Iceberg tried his best to fight back, hitting a spear and attempting a swanton on Archer. Archer dodged though and chokeslammed him in the center of the ring. One Blackout later and it was over, with Archer getting the win.

Leyla Hirsch defeated Diamante

This looked to be a fun match between two touch women. Diamante has been working to get back into title contention in ROH, and Hirsch has only been pinned three times in ROH. Diamante hasn’t been able to defeat Hirsch in ROH, so this was a great match up.

Hirsch relied on her explosive power to keep Diamante at bay. Lots of roll throughs and suplexes by both women who excel at the technical aspects of the sport. Diamante managed to block a pendulum attempt in the corner to reverse fates in the match. Diamanta worked the braced-up knee of Hirsch, trying to keep her off her feet.

HIrsch managed to get a series of German suplexes on Diamante, driving her into the corner for a pendulum stomp. However, Diamante exploded out of the corner with a spear and got a 2.5 count on Hirsch.

Surprisingly though, Hirsch managed to counter Diamante’s finisher into an inside cradle to get the win. A frustrated Diamante nailed Hirsch after the bell and stomped off.

ROH Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) defeated Angelo Parker and Matt Menard for the ROH Tag Team Titles

-Earlier in the night, Bennett and Taven cut a promo lamenting their lack of legacy in tag team wrestling. They feel they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the Young Bucks, Briscoes and more. They are 5x world champions and “melvins” like Menard and Parker aren’t on their level. 

Fresh off his honeymoon with AEW’s Ruby Soho, Parker reunited with last week’s special color commentator Menard for a shot at the ROH Tag Team Titles, that the Undisputed Kingdom have held in their grip for quite some time.

Bennett and Parker kicked things off and Parker wasn’t able to get control over Bennett, so Menard tagged in to give it a shot. Once Taven tagged in, things picked up as Parker and Menard isolated and double teamed Taven in the corner.

Taven took advantage of Menard’s taped ribs as it was the Kingdom’s turn to isolate and double team. Manard fought back though against Bennett and the two traded blows. Tags flew, and poses were struck as the Kingdom maintained control over the match.

Parker was thrown to the outside by Taven. Bennett staked him, but Menard arrived to save his partner. They took out Bennett and Menard hopped back in the ring. Bennett wasn’t all out though and socked Parker in the face.

Parker was let alone in the ring and Bennett and Taven double teamed him without consequence until Menard jumped back up on the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring) looking for a Tag. Parker created some separation, but couldn’t get the hot tag to Menard.

The Kingdom tried a Hail Mary, but Parker knocked Taven into the ropes and got the tag on Menard. Menard cleaned house, punching Bennett in the corner exactly ten times. Menard got a Boston Crab locked in on Bennett and no-sold Taven’s attempt to break it up. Parker took out Taven and Bennett managed make it to the ropes to break the hold.

Menard and Parker hit a double DDT on Bennett who managed to kick out. Taven slid one of the title belts into the ring, but Menard intercepted it. The Ref tried to take it away, and Bennett managed to get a surprise rollup on Menard to win the match and retain the titles for his team.

ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher defeated Lee Johnson in a best of three falls match for the ROH TV Title

-Earlier in the evening, Atlantis Jr of CMLL appeared backstage to challenge the winner of this match in Mexico!

Johnson called out ROH World TV Champion Kyle Fletcher a couple of weeks ago. Fletcher reminded him that he had already beat him. Twice.  Johnson said that he thinks he can beat Fletcher twice in one night, and challenged him to a 2-out-of-3 falls match for the ROH World TV Title. Fletcher accepted and that brings us to this Main Event match.

The 17-0 Fletcher was very determined to not only keep his title, but prove that Johnson was no match for him. Johnson responded but diving through the ropes and taking him out before the match had even started.

Johnson dragged Fletcher into the ring and tried to get a quick pin, but Fletcher rolled out. Johnson dove on him again, from the ring post this time. The two battled on the outside, with Johnson coming out on top and pulling Fletcher into the ring.

It was Fletcher’s turn to send Johnson to the outside, where he threw him into the barricade, twice. He followed that up with a backdrop on the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring) and flexed for the crowd.

Back in the ring, Johnson hit a dropkick to show some signs of life. Johnson hit a big neckbreaker for a two-count, both men failing to secure the first fall in the match. Fletcher hit a hammerlock suplex on Johnson followed by a charging knee in the corner. Johnson reversed his pinning attempt into a spiccoli driver, but no falls were scored.

Fletcher began to show signs of frustration that he wasn’t able to put Johnson away. The two exchanged lariats and ended up on the outside again. Johnson drover Fletcher to the ground and pulled him back onto the ring apron. Fletcher hit a brain buster on the apron and pulled Johnson in for a pin, but Johnson refused and kicked out at two.

Fletcher lawn-darted Johnson into the corner, hit a big kick and brain buster and Johnson finally gave up the first fall of the match. The Ref checked on Johnson, who was favoring his leg and the match continued.

Johnson tried to rise to his feet several times, but every time he did, Fletcher kicked him in the face and sent him back to the mat. The ringside doctor entered the ring to check on Johnson. Johnson insisted continuing, and Fletcher dragged him up for a top rope brain buster, but Johnson reversed it. With a quick rollup, Johnson got the second fall, tying the match and sending it to next-fall-wins!

The challenger and champion traded blows. Fletcher went for a powerbomb, but Johnson reversed it for a two-count. Johnson hit a Canadian destroyer from the second rope and follwed it up with a diving sunset bomb to the outside.

A dazed Fletcher stayed on the outside and the ref began count. Fletcher made it back just before the count expired and Johnson hit him with a press from the top rope and then a frog splash. Johnson climbed up for a second splash, but Fletcher kicked out of the pin at two.

Johnson went in for the kill, but the ref stopped him, concerned about Fletcher’s neck. While they argued, Fletcher sent Johnson into the ref with a low blow. Fletcher hit the brain buster from the top rope and got the three count, the second fall and retained his title in this exhaustive and excellent match!

October 23, 2023 Observer Newsletter: WWE creative changes, Sting to retire in 2024

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The news that Ari Emanuel basically removed Vince McMahon from creative and put Paul Levesque in complete control is big in and of itself, but even bigger based on what it represents.

In April, when the announcement was made that Endeavor had put together a merger of WWE and UFC, and the new corporate structure was listed, Emanuel was on top as CEO while McMahon was underneath him as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.

When CNBC interviewed McMahon and Emanuel after the merger was announced, Emanuel said that McMahon would remain in charge of WWE. When asked specifically if there was a disagreement between the two of them, what would happen, and Emanuel said that if there was a disagreement, they would do what McMahon wanted as it pertained to wrestling.

But it was only a few weeks into the new company being finalized last month that Emanuel made the move of removing McMahon from the creative side. Between that and his quote last week regarding the reasons for the decline of TKO stock and Emanuel mentioning McMahon’s name, this becomes a very interesting situation.

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s newsletter.

Ring of Honor TV results: Billie Starkz vs. Diamante, Ethan Page vs. Tony Nese

Posted on by Suit Williams

Ring of Honor presents its weekly show on HonorClub tonight. 

Last week, Athena and her minion Billie Starkz were attacked by Mercedes Martinez and Diamante. Their storyline will continue this week as Starkz wrestles Diamante in singles competition. 

Ethan Page will also look to extend his five-match winning streak on Thursday. He’ll wrestle Tony Nese on the show.  

Metalik vs. Komander is also scheduled for tonight. Komander is coming off a loss to Eddie Kingston for the ROH title on the October 14 episode of Collision. 

Other matches scheduled for tonight include Kiera Hogan vs. Allysin Kay, and Josh Woods vs. Pat Buck in a Pure Rules match. The Gates of Agony vs. Workhorsemen vs. Action Andretti & Darius Martin in a triple threat is also advertised for the show. 

Ring of Honor TV this week was taped on Saturday at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. Spoilers from the show are available here. 

**********

Angelico defeated Gravity

A quality win here for Angelico ahead of his future title match against Eddie Kingston.

The two men grappled to a stalemate to start. Gravity sent Angelico to the floor with a dropkick before following him outside with a dive. Gravity went for a high crossbody, but Angelico caught him with an anti-air dropkick. Angelico tied up Gravity like a pretzel with a submission before leaning Gravity back onto his shoulders for a nearfall.

Gravity evaded a corner charge before sending Angelico down with an enzuigiri. They traded pinfall attempts before Gravity hit an around-the-world sunset flip. Angelico countered it into a triangle choke, but Gravity powerbombed his way free. Gravity went for a splash off the top rope, but Angelico got his knees up. Angelico locked Gravity into his half-crab submission to score the win.

The Righteous were backstage. They talked about leaving MJF all alone at WrestleDream, with him now having four hyenas chasing after him. Vincent says that when they speak, they speak the truth.

Shawn Dean (w/ Trish Adora) defeated Peter Avalon (w/ Ryan Nemeth)

Dean got the advantage early on with a dropkick, then scored a nearfall with a bodyslam. Nemeth cut off Dean on the outside, with Avalon dropping Dean. Adora chased Nemeth to the back, allowing Dean to get back on the offensive. Dean hit a Sonic Boom lariat, then followed it with a float-over DDT for a nearfall.

Avalon came back with a flurry of offense, scoring nearfalls with a superkick and a Death Valley Driver. Dean ducked an enzuigiri before hitting one of his own. Avalon cut Dean off on the top rope, but Dean knocked Avalon to the mat and hit the Last Salute splash for the win.

Mercedes Martinez defeated Marti Belle

Martinez escaped a leg hold by slapping Belle in the face. Martinez clubbered on Belle, drilling her with a knee to the face. Martinez hit the Anarchist Suplex for a nearfall. Belle got some offense in, dropping Martinez to a knee before booting her in the face. Belle hit a Penalty Kick for a nearfall.

Martinez ducked a big boot before hitting a rolling elbow and a Tree Slam. Martinez locked Belle in a guillotine submission to score the win.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Athena & Billie Starkz. Athena gave Starkz an aggressive pep talk for her match tonight against Diamante.

Tony Nese (w/Mark Sterling) defeated Ethan Page

A surprising result given Page’s recent build, but the post-match tells me that this isn’t over.

Nese decided to forgo group training to teach Page a lesson tonight. Nese evaded early attacks from Page before taunting him with exercises. Page went after Sterling on the outside, baiting Nese in to send him into the barricade. Page sat on Nese while holding a sign that said Tony Nese Sucks. Page sent Nese back in the ring and hit a shoulder block for a nearfall.

Page set up for the Headshot, but a Sterling distraction allowed Nese to sweep Page off of the apron. Nese hit a plancha to the floor. Nese hung Page in the Tree of Woe before hitting his crunch kicks to the chest. Nese cut off a Page comeback by dropping him neck-first on the ropes, but Page came back with a suplex.

Page fired up, hitting a powerslam on Nese for a nearfall. Nese escaped the Ego’s Edge, but Page hit a high kick. Page followed it with a pumphandle slam and the Headshot, but only got a nearfall. Sterling took Page’s attention on another Ego’s Edge attempt, allowing Nese to roll up Page and get the win with his feet on the ropes. Nese taunted Page after the match, with Page hitting them both. Page went for the Ego’s Edge on Sterling, but Nese pulled him away and bolted up the ramp.

Billie Starkz (w/ Athena) defeated Diamante (w/ Mercedez Martinez)

Starkz ducked a Diamante forearm before sending her to the floor and hitting a dive. Diamante drilled Starkz with a forearm and dropped her with a neckbreaker in the ropes. Diamante held Starkz in a Dragon Sleeper before dropping her with a neckbreaker for a nearfall. Diamante hit a shotgun dropkick to the back for a nearfall.

Diamante caught the feet of Starkz in the corner, turning her around and hitting a backstabber for a nearfall. Starkz came back with an enzuigiri out of the corner. Starkz landed a knee to the face and a spinning kick, before catching Diamante out of a wheelbarrow into a pin for the win.

After the match, Martinez and Diamante jumped Starkz and Athena. Things devolved into a Pier Six brawl, with referees breaking up the fight.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Maria Kanellis-Bennett, Cole Karter, & Griff Garrison. Karter cut off Garrison to gift Bennett a shirt that read Hot Moms Love Pro Wrestlers. Bennett looked less than pleased but took the shirt anyway.

Pure Rules Match – Josh Woods (w/ Mark Sterling) defeated Pat Buck

I liked how Buck wrestled this match, using his veteran smarts to get the advantage on Woods while he had it.

The judges for this match were Jimmy Jacobs, Madison Rayne, & Christopher Daniels.

Ian Riccaboni ran down Buck’s training credentials, with Buck having trained TBS Champion Kris Statlander and AEW World Champion MJF. Woods quickly caught Buck by the legs, forcing Buck to use his first rope break one minute into the match. Buck came back, forcing Woods into the ropes to burn one of his rope breaks.

Buck went for an O’Connor Roll, but Woods held onto the ropes, thus burning his second rope break. Sterling complained to the referee, allowing Buck to punch Woods in the face. Woods got his shot back, but the referee saw it and administered Woods an official warning. Woods caught Buck by the knee and stuffed it. Woods went after the knee, but Buck kept catching Woods in pinning positions for nearfalls.

Woods went back after the knee before hitting a gut-wrench powerbomb. Woods locked on the Woods Lock for the submission win.

Cole Karter & Griff Garrison (w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett) defeated Myron Reed & Ren Jones

Reed used his agility to duck a Garrison clothesline. Karter caught Reed with a knee to the back, allowing Garrison to drop him with a big boot. Karter hit a dropkick on Reed, but couldn’t stop the tag to Jones, who took him down with a running forearm. Jones hit a brainbuster for a nearfall. Garrison got a blind tag, hitting a ripcord elbow on Jones before Karter hit a Dominator for the win.

Dalton Castle was backstage. He knows that the people love when he’s on television and that he won’t let anyone stop the people from getting what they want. He’s gonna make ROH television extraordinary.

Kiera Hogan defeated Allysin Kay

Hogan avoided a Kay boot to start, catching Kay with a dropkick and a hip attack. Hogan had control until Kay caught her on a crossbody and dumped her on the knee. Kay cut off a wheelbarrow attempt, sending Hogan up and over with a German suplex. Hogan avoided a corner charge, hitting a shotgun dropkick off of the second rope. Hogan hit a hip attack and a running boot in the corner for a nearfall.

Kay dropped Hogan with a lariat for a nearfall. Kay brought Hogan to the top rope, but Hogan knocked her down and hit another dropkick. Hogan followed with Face The Music for the win.

The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) defeated KM & Rod Gordon

The Righteous made quick work of their opponents here, with Dutch hitting Gordon with the Bossman Slam and Vincent following with the Autumn Sunshine.

Lady Frost defeated Zoey Lynn

Lynn caught Frost with a crucifix pin early on, but Frost came back with a kitchen sink knee. Frost clubbered Lynn, hitting a hurricane kick and a cartwheel Air Raid Crash. Frost hit her corkscrew moonsault for a quick win.

Komander defeated Metalik

This was a fun lucha sprint.

Metalik caught Komander with the Slingblade bulldog before hitting the ropewalk dropkick. Metalik hit a plancha to Komander on the floor, before hitting a springboard splash in the ring for a nearfall. Komander ducked a corner charge and sent Metalik over with a rana. Komander walked the ropes and hit another rana before following Metalik to the floor with a dive.

Komander hit an elevator Code Red on Metalik for a nearfall. Komander brought Metalik to the top rope, where he hit a top rope rana for a nearfall. Metalik cut off Komander on the top rope, then hit a rana off of the ropes. Metalik hit a Cradleshock for a nearfall, then followed up with a moonsault. Komander got his feet up on the moonsault and hit a gutbuster, before following with the ropewalk Shooting Star Press for the win.

Gates Of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) (w/Prince Nana) defeated The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake) and Action Andretti & Darius Martin

The Workhorsemen, Andretti & Martin worked together to take out the Gates of Agony early. Andretti & Martin worked together to cross-up Drake, with Andretti hitting a reverse crossbody for a nearfall. Drake cut off Martin with a chop, allowing Henry to get in and hit a double-team on Martin for a nearfall. Liona flew in, taking both Henry and Martin out.

The Gates worked on Martin before Martin hit a combo move on both Liona and Kaun. Andretti got the tag but ran into both Workhorsemen. The match broke down into a Pier Six brawl before Andretti hit a springboard 450 onto Drake. Liona broke up the pin, allowing the Gates to hit Open the Gates on Henry to score the win in the main event.

October 16, 2023 Observer Newsletter: NXT vs. AEW, UFC/USADA relationship breaks down

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

WWE and AEW did probably their biggest head-to-head battle in history on 10/10, with WWE sending Undertaker, Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Rhea Ripley, Paul Heyman, Dominik Mysterio, and LA Knight to NXT while AEW pushed it as the biggest Dynamite in history, Title Tuesday, featuring Adam Copeland’s debut match.

As the week went on, WWE announced the first 30 minutes would be commercial-free. AEW then announced the first 30 minutes would also be commercial-free (the first commercial wasn’t until 47 minutes in) and then added a social media pre-game show featuring Eddie Kingston defending the ROH title against Minoru Suzuki. Both companies also talked about doing extended overruns, although in the end, NXT went eight minutes past the hour, which it does frequently, while AEW went 14 minutes past the hour, which should have been a very small advantage, but that ended up not really being the case.

You could say the competition led to the fans being the winners, which was true. WWE featured a very entertaining star-laden show with lots of surprises, an impromptu battle of champions with Ilja Dragunov vs. Dominik, with lots of build for its Halloween Havoc shows on 10/24 and 10/31. The full non-NXT talent list that appeared on the show was Rhodes, Dominik Mysterio, Ripley, Asuka, Shotzi, Butch, Ridge Holland, Becky Lynch, Finn Balor, JD McDonagh, Cena, Knight, Jade Cargill, Heyman, Tegan Nox, Solo Sikoa and Undertaker.

AEW presented great matches and also used the show to build a lot of prospective new angles. There was also a very controversial angle involving MJF and Bullet Club Gold, most notably Juice Robinson, that got the company some negative publicity.

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s newsletter.

October 9, 2023 Observer Newsletter: Adam Copeland debuts in AEW

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Adam Copeland, the former Edge, showed up at the end of the AEW WrestleDream PPV on 10/1, just ten days after his WWE contract expired.

Copeland, who turns 50 in November, had been widely expected by those in WWE to be leaving. Those in WWE said that they were far apart on a new contract money-wise and figured Copeland was going. Two nights earlier, when Edge was removed from the opening montage on the show, it seemed to confirm that would likely happen. When Copeland was looking to come back to wrestling, he was very close to signing with AEW but WWE came back with a tremendous offer, a $3 million per year deal for limited dates each year.

Copeland said that he and WWE outgrew each other and said they didn’t have more for him to do. After Copeland did what was strongly teased as his retirement match with Sheamus in Toronto in August, he tried to shoot down the AEW rumors saying he had a WWE contract offer in his hands. We were told the expectation was that he would end up in AEW. There had been talk going back some time that he wanted to end his career working with childhood best friend Christian Cage, and with Cage having far longer on his deal, that could only happen in AEW.

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s newsletter.

Ring of Honor TV live results: Athena vs. Leyla Hirsch, Fred Rosser debuts

Posted on by Suit Williams

The ROH Women’s World title will be defended on tonight’s episode of ROH TV on HonorClub. 

Athena will put her title on the line against Leyla Hirsch on the show. She will be going for her 16th successful title defense since winning the belt at Final Battle on December 10, 2022. Hirsch has picked up wins over Laynie Luck, Lady Frost, Leila Grey, and Rachael Ellering in recent weeks on ROH TV. 

Fred Rosser will also make his ROH debut tonight. He’s scheduled to wrestle Scorpio Sky, who defeated Tony Nese on last week’s show. 

Other matches scheduled for this week’s show include Tony Nese vs. Satoshi Kojima, Rocky Romero vs. Christopher Daniels, and Billie Starkz vs. Trish Adora. Ethan Page and Josh Woods are also both advertised to be “in action.” 

This week’s show was filmed on Saturday from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle following AEW Collision. Spoilers for the show are available here.

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The show started with ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston talking about his title defense at WrestleDream against Katsuyori Shibata. He praised Shibata before talking about the issues that have come up with Jay Lethal and ROH Board of Directors member Stokely Hathaway.

ROH Women’s World Title Match – Athena (w/Billie Starkz) (c) defeated Leyla Hirsch

Athena’s best title defense since Death Before Dishonor and the best Hirsch match I’ve ever seen. This is a match worth checking out.

Hirsch caught Athena with a dropkick before hitting a pendulum dropkick in the corner. Hirsch hit a dive to Athena on the floor. Athena avoided a throw into the ring steps, then dropkicked Hirsch near the steps. Hirsch threw Athena into the stairs, but Athena stuffed a suplex off of the stairs and dumped Hirsch to the floor with a gourdbuster.

Athena clubbered on Hirsch until Hirsch reversed an Irish Whip into the corner. Hirsch vaulted over Athena and caught her in a sleeper hold until Athena threw her down to the mat. Hirsch caught Athena with a roll-up, but Athena kicked out and floored Hirsch with a forearm. Athena clubbered on Hirsch some more until Hirsch fought back, hitting a German suplex for a nearfall.

Athena kipped up into a headscissors that sent Hirsch into the turnbuckles. Athena bounced Hirsch off of the ropes into position for a rolling senton. Athena went up for the O-Face, but Hirsch brought her down and locked her in an armbar. Hirsch transitioned into a triangle choke, but Athena hit a one-armed powerbomb for a nearfall.

They traded forearms until Athena hit a strike combination, then countered a forearm by locking Hirsch in a crossface. Hirsch got out of it and got an armbar in, but Athena stomped and forearmed her way out. Hirsch went to the top rope, but Athena hit a jumping kick and met her on the top rope. Hirsch brought Athena down with a cartwheel German suplex. Hirsch went for a moonsault, but Athena superkicked her down. Athena hit the move now called Despicable Knee for the win.

Athena superkicked Hirsch after the match. She went to throw Hirsch into the belt, but Starkz was able to talk her down. Maria Kanellis-Bennett walked to the stage, looking disapprovingly at Hirsch.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Christopher Daniels and his opponent tonight, Rocky Romero. They gave each other respect and said the better man would win.

Josh Woods (w/Mark Sterling) defeated Tyler Payne

Payne eluded Woods for a minute before Woods caught up to him and hammered him with strikes. Woods hit the Tilt-A-Woods for the quick win.

Rocky Romero defeated Christopher Daniels

The crowd chanted Defy, as both men wrestle in the local independent promotion in Seattle. Romero won the early exchange, sending Daniels to the floor and following him with a dive. Romero hit a knee off the apron, but Daniels avoided the Forever clotheslines and hit a T-Bone suplex.

Daniels held serve until Romero rolled out of a back suplex and hit a tornado DDT. Romero hit the Forever Clotheslines before tying Daniels into the ropes and hitting a springboard dropkick for a nearfall. Daniels cut Romero off on the top rope and hit a top rope hurricanrana for a nearfall. Romero backdropped out of the Angel’s Wings, hitting a rewind kick and the running Sliced Bread for the win.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Dalton Castle. Castle felt a lot of pressure to come through for the fans and needed to find a way to give the people what they wanted and what they deserved.

Scorpio Sky defeated Fred Rosser

I wouldn’t mind Fred Rosser being a regular in ROH, as he’s a great talent. His work on the NJPW STRONG brand would fit right in here in the AEW universe.

No entrance for Rosser, the former NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion. Sky caught Rosser on a dropdown before driving Rosser into the corner with forearms. Sky went to the middle rope, but Rosser pulled him down to the mat. Rosser hit chop/lariat combinations before hitting Sky with driving hip attacks.

Rosser held Sky down with headlocks before Sky dropped Rosser with a lariat. Rosser walked into a Sky High from Sky for a nearfall. Rosser rocked Sky with a rolling forearm, then dropped Sky on the apron with a side suplex. Sky countered a suplex with a cradle for a nearfall, then ducked a rolling forearm to hit a TKO for the win.

Kiera Hogan, Skye Blue & Willow Nightingale defeated Lady Frost, Charlette Renegade & Robyn Renegade

Frost and Nightingale started with forearms, with Nightingale dropping Frost with a bodyslam and a low crossbody. Blue and Hogan hit dual superkicks for a nearfall. The Renegades pulled Nightingale and Hogan out of the corner as Frost dropped Blue by the hair.

The Renegades and Frost clubbered on Blue in the corner. Blue flipped out of a double suplex to make the tag to Hogan, who ran wild on the Renegades with hip attacks. Hogan hit a sliding kick on a Renegade for a nearfall. The match broke down into a Pier Six brawl before the Renegades went for a double team on Hogan. Hogan avoided it and got a tag to Nightingale, who hit Charlette with the Babe With The Powerbomb for the win.

Lexy Nair was backstage with The Infantry. Bravo and Dean talked up their match against TMDK and Adora’s match against Billie Starkz later tonight. This was a nice establishing promo for this group.

Ethan Page defeated Invictus Khash

Khash used the Code of Honor to trap Page’s arm, but Page quickly got out of the hold with a bodyslam. Page hit a twisting suplex. Khash countered a corner charge with punches, but Page hit a high kick. Khash escaped the Ego’s Edge and hit a rolling elbow, but Page low-bridged him to the floor. Page hit a running shoulder block to the floor, before rolling Khash into the ring and hitting the Headshot for the win.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Tony Nese & Smart Mark Sterling. They said that carbs were the enemy, and waged war against anyone who liked bread. Nese faces Satoshi Kojima later tonight.

TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) (w/Bad Dude Tito) defeated The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) (w/Trish Adora)

Bravo started with Haste, getting the advantage on him before the Infantry got a double-team combination for a nearfall. Nicholls cut Dean off from the floor, allowing TMDK to take control. TMDK hit a senton/fist drop combination for a nearfall.

TMDK held serve on Dean until he fought through them to get the tag to Bravo. Bravo ran wild, hitting Haste with a Deadfall for a nearfall. TMDK took Bravo down off the top rope with an assisted superplex for a nearfall. The match broke down to a Pier Four brawl, ending with Nicholls hitting a spinebuster on Bravo. TMDK hit the Tankbuster for the win.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Ethan Page. Nair noted that Eddie Kingston was watching Page. Page responded that his ego was rebuilding and that he would soon be ready for Kingston and anyone else in Ring of Honor.

Satoshi Kojima defeated Tony Nese (w/Mark Sterling)

Nese dumped on bread before Kojima made his entrance. Kojima told Nese that he liked bread before Nese stomped on the loaf of bread he came out with. Kojima had control early on until Sterling hooked his boot from the floor. Sterling got a boot in on Kojima on the floor.

Nese held control of Kojima as the crowd chanted their approval of bread. Nese hit Kojima with a dropkick before locking on a bodyscissors. Kojima caught Nese in the corner and fired up with the machine gun chops. Kojima hit a diving elbow for a nearfall. Kojima hit a DDT and went for the Koji Cutter, but Nese chopped Kojima in the throat. Nese hung Kojima on the ropes before hitting a triangle moonsault for a nearfall.

The two men traded strikes before Nese went for a pumphandle slam. Kojima escaped and hit the Koji Cutter. Kojima loaded up for the Western Lariat, but Sterling got on the apron to distract him. Nese hit a spinning back kick to Kojima, but ran right into a Western Lariat from Kojima, scoring Kojima the win. After the match, Kojima stuffed bread down Nese’s throat and celebrated.

We got more Minion Training with Athena, Billie Starkz, and Lexy Nair. Nair passed, but Starkz failed again.

Billie Starkz (w/Athena) defeated Trish Adora

Adora took Starkz’ arm to start, forcing Athena to give Starkz a pep talk on the outside. Starkz came back with fire, but Adora dropped her with a bridging German suplex for a nearfall. Adora drilled Starkz with forearms before following up with hip attacks in the corner. Starkz came back with a pull-up forearm before going to the top rope for a swanton, but Adora got the knees up. Starkz hit the Star-Ten and locked on a crossface for the win.

Darius Martin defeated Lee Johnson

An opening exchange saw a stalemate, but Johnson caught Martin with a low dropkick. Martin came back with a big dropkick of his own. Johnson sent Martin into the turnbuckle before hitting a back suplex for a nearfall. Johnson held serve on Martin as Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty watched from backstage.

Martin blocked an ankle trap and brought Johnson down with a back suplex. Martin fired up, hitting a combination that ended with an outside-in flatliner for a nearfall. Johnson ducked a forearm and hit a snap German suplex before hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Martin ducked a corner charge, but Johnson caught him with a superkick on another flatliner. Martin came back with a superkick and a frog splash to score the win.

Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor) defeated Cole Karter & Griff Garrison (w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett), The Work Horsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake), & Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) (w/Jacked Jameson)

Karter kept tagging in and getting beat up by the others, so he tagged Garrison in to get pinballed by the Work Horsemen. Karter dragged Garrison out, allowing Moriarty to dropkick Drake in the ring. Henry and Taylor traded shots, with Taylor scoring with a headbutt and a uranage. Taylor hit a splash for a nearfall.

Henry got clubbered on by the other teams, with Karter hitting a dropkick for a nearfall. Garrison hit a big boot for a nearfall before Henry fought to his corner to get a tag to Drake. Taylor and Drake inadvertently worked together to hammer on Karter before the match broke down into a Pier Six brawl. The Savages got involved, leading to Bronson hitting a dive to the floor onto the pile. Boulder went to take down Karter, but Maria threatened the Savage Sauce. Taylor tagged in and laid out Karter with a knockout punch for the win.

Gravity, Komander & Metalik (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Spanish Announce Project (Angelico & Serpentico) & Gringo Loco

Metalik and Loco started, with Metalik hitting a ropewalk headscissors off the bat. We got a pair of lucha armdrags before Angelico and Komander tagged in respectively. Komander ran wild, hitting a strike combination on Angelico before assisting Gravity in a splash for a nearfall. Serpentico tagged in, getting a headscissors in on Gravity. Gravity hit a deadweight splash for a nearfall.

They traded strikes before the match broke down into a Pier Six brawl. Loco and the SAP hit a triple dropkick on Gravity for a nearfall. Gravity caught Loco on a corner charge, sitting him on the top rope. Angelico and Serpentico threw Gravity up into a Loco diving powerbomb for a nearfall. Komander tagged in and blocked three corner charges before hopping onto Loco’s shoulders to hit a rana on Angelico.

Metalik tagged in and hit a pop-up rana on Loco. Angelico took a rana as well before Metalik and Gravity hit dives to the floor. Komander went for his rope walk dive, but Gringo Loco met him on the top and hit a Spanish Fly. Loco hit a dive to the floor but missed Komander on a moonsault in the ring. Komander hit a step-up Canadian Destroyer before hitting the rope walk Shooting Star Press for the win.

October 2, 2023 Observer Newsletter: WWE releases Matt Riddle, more on Terry Funk

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Matt Riddle, 37, ended up being the biggest name as far as recent push goes among the WWE cuts since the recent merger.

Unlike all of the cuts with the exception of Yulisa Leon, Riddle was not released based on budget cuts or performance, but because of outside the ring incidents.

The most recent incident took place a few weeks ago at JFK Airport in New York when coming back from the show in India. There was no arrest made or even a police write up of an incident where airport security showed up after he was allegedly creating a disturbance, but he then claimed in social media that security allegedly sexually assaulted him, a claim he later took down.

It was said that this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Riddle had raised the ire of some of the veterans from day one, whether it was saying Bill Goldberg wasn’t any good as a wrestler, or claiming in a real fight he’d beat Roman Reigns. Riddle was a trained UFC fighter and former New York State champion in wrestling who beat Jon Jones in wrestling when both were in high school, something that WWE never mentioned when promoting him but almost every other promotion in history would have pushed to death. He had numerous incidents over the years of complaints from women after relationships had fallen apart, had a very public lawsuit by one (a suit filed also against WWE and Evolve where both promotions were thrown out of the suit quickly and the suit ended up being dropped with both sides agreeing not to talk about whatever agreement was made publicly) and failed two WWE drug tests.

Several in the company noted that he probably would have been among the top stars in the company, but because of the constant negative stuff that had come out, they were not going to push him past mid-level at this point.

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s newsletter.

Ring of Honor TV live results: Shane Taylor vs. Jimmy Jacobs

Posted on by Suit Williams

Ring of Honor presents its weekly show on HonorClub tonight. 

Jimmy Jacobs will make his return to the promotion for the first time since 2015 on the show. He’ll face Shane Taylor, who has added Lee Moriarty to Shane Taylor Promotions of late and has played a bigger role in the promotion since his match against Miro at AEW All Out. 

Scorpio Sky will return to Ring of Honor for the first time since 2018 tonight as well. He’ll face Tony Nese in singles action. 

Also on the card tonight is a match between heavyweight tag teams The Gates of Agony and The Iron Savages. Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona will be looking to rebound after their team with Brian Cage dropped the ROH Six Man Tag titles to The Hung Bucks at Rampage Grand Slam. 

Leyla Hirsch vs. Laynie Luck, Brian Cage vs. Metalik, Mercedes Martinez vs. Allysin Kay, and Billie Starkz vs. Lady Frost are also advertised for tonight’s show. 

This week’s show was taped at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan before and after AEW Collision on Saturday.

**********

Josh Woods (w/ Mark Sterling) defeated Brayden Erving

Woods got a lightning-quick victory in this opener with the Tilt-A-Woods.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Prince Nana and the Mogul Embassy. Nana hyped the Gates of Agony and Brian Cage for their respective matches tonight. Nana said that the Mogul Embassy would get back on track tonight.

Scorpio Sky defeated Tony Nese (w/ Mark Sterling)

I’ll give you three guesses as to what Tony Nese had to say before the match. Nese got a jump start on Sky as he was making his entrance, but Sky sent Nese to the floor after a back body drop. Sky chased Nese around ringside before getting the upper hand back in the ring, but Sky quickly came back with chops.

Nese feigned a walkout, but after a Sterling distraction, Nese sent Sky into the ring steps. Sterling put the boots to Sky as Nese took the referee. Nese cut off a Sky comeback before wringing Sky’s neck on the ropes for a nearfall. After a few minutes of control from Nese, Sky dropped Nese with a back suplex. Sky fired up with a lariat before hitting a Sky High for a nearfall.

Nese cut off Sky on the top rope with a rolling uppercut, then countered a sunset flip with a back heel kick for a nearfall. Nese countered a German suplex with a double stomp, but Sky came back with a TKO to score the win.

Gravity defeated Lee Johnson

They traded holds for a while to a stalemate before Gravity scored with a lucha armdrag and a wheelbarrow rollup for a nearfall. Johnson came back with a big dropkick to cut Gravity off. Johnson sent Gravity into the buckles hard with an Irish Whip before celebrating with pushups.

Gravity sent Johnson to the floor before hitting a double jump dive to the floor. After a nearfall, both men traded waistlocks before Gravity hit a powerslam and a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Johnson hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a close nearfall. Johnson hit a pair of superkicks before Gravity snatched an inside cradle for a nearfall. Gravity hit a suplex before landing a top rope splash for the win.

Lexy Nair was backstage with The Outrunners. They called themselves the best tag team in the galaxy before hyping their match against Andretti & Martin later tonight. They say if you haven’t seen the Outrunners, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Billie Starkz (w/ Athena) defeated Lady Frost

Frost hit a kitchen sink knee out of the Code of Honor. Starkz came back and sent Frost to the floor. Athena blew a whistle in Frost’s face before Starkz hit a dive onto Frost. Athena and Starkz had a disagreement on where to throw Frost – the ring or the steps – which allowed Frost to evade Starkz and take control.

Starkz came back with a rebound kick, but Frost vaulted off of her back and hit a dropkick to the back for a nearfall. They traded forearms before Starkz hit a spinning back kick and a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall. Frost came back by cartwheeling Starkz into a Beach Break. Frost hit a tornado moonsault, but Athena pulled Starkz out of the cover behind the referee’s back. Starkz then hit an armtrap Styles Clash for the win.

After the match, Athena attacked Frost and flung her into the barricade as Starkz tried to stop her. Athena went to throw Frost into the title belt, but Starkz pulled the belt away. Athena got in her face, yelling at her for not listening.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Allysin Kay. Kay hated the fact that she was on a losing streak but was ready for Mercedes Martinez tonight.

Action Andretti & Darius Martin defeated The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)

After the opening salvo, Andretti caught both Outrunners with a headscissors/hurricanrana combo. Martin and Andretti went for dual dives, but the Outrunners cut them off and sent Martin into the stairs. They focused their attack on Andretti, isolating him for a few minutes.

They went for Total Recall, but Andretti fought his way free and made a tag out to Martin. Martin ran wild, hitting a high crossbody on Magnum for a nearfall. Andretti hit a split-legged moonsault to the floor on Floyd. Martin and Andretti double-teamed Magnum before hitting their double-team slam for the win.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Griff Garrison, who was quickly joined by Maria Kanellis-Bennett & Cole Karter. Garrison wanted to make the team work, saying that his last team worked until they didn’t. His old partner – Brian Pillman Jr. – wasn’t around anymore, and he didn’t want that fate for either himself or Karter. Garrison wanted to do things the right way, to which Bennett & Karter agreed.

Leyla Hirsch defeated Laynie Luck

Before the Code of Honor, Maria Kanellis-Bennett made her way to the stage as per usual with Hirsch matches. Luck got some offense in, but Hirsch popped up from a German suplex and quickly took Luck down. Hirsch locked on an armbar and quickly got the submission win.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Mercedes Martinez & Diamante. She said that she’d beaten Allysin Kay over and over in the past and would continue the trend tonight.

Shane Taylor defeated Jimmy Jacobs

This was Jacobs’ first ROH match since 2015, and it also was in his hometown of Grand Rapids. Taylor didn’t care and shoved Jacobs into the corner. Jacobs blinded Taylor with his coat before getting some shots in. Taylor quickly overpowered Jacobs, but Jacobs sidestepped Taylor to the floor. Jacobs hit a suicide dive before locking on a guillotine choke, but Taylor rammed Jacobs into the post and flung him overhead with a suplex.

Back in the ring, Taylor sent Jacobs flying across the ring with a beel. Jacobs fought back, but Taylor shut him down with a headbutt. A uranage and a splash from Taylor followed for a nearfall. Taylor kept knocking Jacobs down with elbows, but Jacobs fought back and knocked Taylor down with a lariat. Jacobs hit his tornado suplex for a nearfall.

Taylor hit his misdirection lariat for a nearfall. Taylor went for a penalty kick, but Jacobs hit a round-the-world hurricanrana. Jacobs went to hit Sliced Bread, but Taylor caught him on his shoulder and hit Welcome To The Land to win.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Maria Kanellis-Bennett. Nair asked about Bennett’s tag team, but Leyla Hirsch interrupted. Hirsch said that things get messy when other people get into her business. While Bennett thought Hirsch wasn’t ready for a title shot, the ROH Board of Directors believed otherwise. Next week, Hirsch will challenge Athena for the ROH Women’s World Title.

Dalton Castle & The Boys (Brandon & Brent) defeated Ren Jones, Trenton Tormenta & Xavier Walker

Brent got triple-teamed by the local talent momentarily before Castle got a tag. Castle ran wild before the Boys got a double team on Tormenta. Castle hit the Bangarang on Jones for the win.

Cole Karter & Griff Garrison (w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett) defeated The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) (w/ Trish Adora)

Garrison started the match against Bravo. Garrison caught Bravo with a big boot before tagging Karter, who Bravo dropped with a back elbow. The Infantry quickly took control of Karter, but Karter caught Bravo with a punch to the gut and a lariat. A double suplex from Karter & Garrison got a nearfall. Karter and Garrison began working as a team, using double team moves to keep control of Bravo.

Bennett wanted Garrison to take a cheap shot, but Garrison wanted to wrestle the match clean. Bravo fought his way to the corner and made a tag to Dean, who ran wild on both his opponents. Dean hit a high crossbody for a nearfall that Garrison broke up. The Infantry sent Garrison to the floor before hitting a double-team Russian Leg Sweep. Bennett had the referee distracted, and after Adora chased her off, Karter got a rope-assisted rollup to score the upset win. Garrison wasn’t happy but left with them anyway.

Lexy Nair was backstage with Ethan Page. Page talked about his win streak in ROH before Rohit Raju interrupted, noting how he hadn’t been in ROH for a while. Page told Raju to enjoy the screen time because their match won’t be going too long.

Mercedes Martinez (w/ Diamante) defeated Allysin Kay

Diamante tried to distract Kay on the floor, but Kay caught Martinez and dumped her on the apron. Kay hit a back suplex on Martinez in the ring for a nearfall. Kay had Martinez loaded up for a kick in the corner, but Diamante pulled Martinez out of the ring. Kay followed, where Diamante held Kay in place for a boot from Martinez.

Martinez hit a pair of boots in the corner, but Kay came back with a German suplex. Kay fired up and booted Diamante off of the apron. Martinez ducked a corner charge before hitting a Cheeky Nandos kick to Kay in the corner. Diamante hit Kay with a wheelbarrow cutter on the floor, allowing Martinez to score the win with a fisherman’s buster.

Lexy Nair was with Billie Starkz. Starkz was happy with the win, unaware that Athena helped her out of a cover. Athena entered the frame, upset with Starkz and her lack of killer instinct. Athena wanted Starkz to take note next week as she handled her business against Leyla Hirsch.

Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) (w/ Jacked Jameson) defeated Gates Of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) (w/ Prince Nana)

Kaun started off hot, hitting Bronson with a dropkick and a belly-to-belly suplex. Bronson came back with a suplex of his own before both of their partners entered for a standoff. Liona and Boulder tagged in. They slammed shoulders and traded lariats before Boulder sent Liona to the floor. Boulder teased a dive, but the Gates cut him off. Bronson followed, but the Gates caught him and slammed him on the ramp.

They isolated Bronson for a few minutes before Bronson got the tag to Boulder. Kaun got a blind tag into Liona, who ran right into a World’s Strongest Slam from Boulder. Bronson hit a splash off the top for a nearfall. Boulder went for a Vader Bomb, but Kaun pushed him to the floor. Bronson wanted a sip of Savage Sauce, but Nana took it from Jameson. Liona hit a Pounce on Jameson on the floor. The Gates hit Bronson with Open The Gates to score the win.

Ethan Page defeated Rohit Raju

Raju booted Page on the Code of Honor, but Page quickly dropped him with a shoulder block. Page hit a pumphandle slam and tried to follow with the Ego’s Edge, but Raju slipped out and hit a neckbreaker. Raju fired up on Page in the corner, but Page hit a big boot on Raju. Page hit his outside-in cutter, now called the Headshot, for the win.

Brian Cage defeated Metalik

Cage caught Metalik on a crossbody attempt, but Metalik hit a headscissors that sent Cage to the floor. Metalik followed Cage to the floor, but Cage powerbombed him into the ring post. Back in the ring, Cage hit the Garvin Stomps on Metalik and clubbered him in the corner. Cage hit a release German suplex for a nearfall.

Metalik fired up with strikes before dropping Cage onto the ropes, but Cage cut him off with a clothesline. Cage hit a 619 but spent too much time celebrating. Metalik booted Cage on a corner charge and ripped off a hurricanrana. Metalik fired up on Cage, hitting a reverse Slingblade and the ropewalk dropkick to send Cage to the floor.

Metalik hit a double jump crossbody to Cage on the floor before hitting a springboard splash in the ring for a nearfall. Metalik hit a superkick, then stood on Cage’s back before dropping into a Code Red for a nearfall. Cage got his knees up on a ropewalk senton, then hit a sitout powerbomb for a nearfall. Cage went for another powerbomb, but Metalik fought out of it. Metalik went for a hurricanrana, but Cage dropped him with the Drillclaw to score the win.

September 25, 2023 Observer Newsletter: Terry Funk, WWE cuts, SmackDown leaving Fox

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The first major news by the newly merged TKO Holdings company was the expected major cuts by WWE, with more than 100 employees let go on Black Friday, and on the flip side, later that night Dwayne Johnson returned at Smackdown. Six days later a number of wrestlers that mostly weren’t being used were cut.

It was well known there would be massive cuts as plans were to cut back on $50 million to $100 million in expenses on the WWE side. Most of the cuts were made in regard to duplication of work, more from the Endeavor end than the UFC end.

WWE and UFC will largely operate autonomously from each other. For example, one of the hardest hit departments in the cuts was Analytics, where about 85 percent of the employees were let go. But the reasoning behind that was because Endeavor has a very strong analytics team that will not be covering WWE. So it wasn’t the idea that analytics aren’t important. Former presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson were very big on learning from and expanding that department, but it was duplication of jobs more within Endeavor than within UFC.

Employees were told that all the major cuts that would be made were related to the merger. As noted before, one of the things in UFC that left employees very bitter after it was bought by Endeavor in 2016 was that they were told after the first round of cuts that there would be no more cuts, and there were. They were also told many times that there would be no sale and the news stories were incorrect, and there was, while the fact WWE was going to be sold was public knowledge.

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s newsletter.

WWE SmackDown returning to USA Network in new TV rights deal

Posted on by Ian Carey

WWE and NBC Universal have reached an agreement for SmackDown to return to the USA Network. 

TKO Group Holdings and NBC announced today that they have agreed to a five-year domestic media rights partnership for the show that will begin in October 2024. The partnership also involves four specials a year to air on NBC in primetime. 

Although financial terms were not disclosed, the Wall Street Journal wrote, “People familiar with the pact valued it at roughly $1.4 billion, which is about a 40% increase over the deal WWE had with Fox.” 

CNBC wrote, “The deal comes out to an average of $287 million per year, a total value of over $1.4 billion, people familiar with the matter told CNBC.”

Mark Shapiro, president of TKO Group Holdings, told the Hollywood Reporter earlier this month that the deal is expected to meet “market expectations.” 

The rights to WWE Raw and WWE NXT are not part of the deal. WWE noted in today’s announcement that “WWE Monday Night Raw and WWE NXT will continue to air on USA Network through September 2024.” However, NBC Universal could still be in the running to retain the shows.  

The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the market for the rights to Raw is “extremely active” while Deadline writes that “a number of players are said to be circling Raw.”

“NBCUniversal has been a tremendous partner of WWE for decades,” said WWE President Nick Khan. “We are excited to extend this longstanding relationship by bringing SmackDown to USA Network on Friday nights and look forward to debuting multiple WWE special events annually on NBC.”

“It’s a privilege and thrill to continue NBCU’s decades-long partnership with WWE which has helped cement USA Network’s consistent position as the top-rated cable entertainment network in live viewership” said NBCU Entertainment chair Frances Berwick. “With Friday nights on USA, primetime specials on NBC, and the WWE hub on Peacock, we’ll continue to use the power of our portfolio to super-serve this passionate fanbase.”

WWE Raw live results: SummerSlam fallout

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: August 7, 2023
Location: Target Center in Minneapolis, MN 

********** 

Show Recap —

There was a long SummerSlam recap video.

Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are the new Raw announce team.

Opening segment

Cody Rhodes kicked off the show and received a big reaction. Rhodes spoke about Minnesota’s own Brock Lesnar. Rhodes has had the privilege, honour and misery of standing across from the Beast and — surviving him. He couldn’t have imagined what happened next. He showed a picture of Lesnar shaking his hand.

Rhodes spoke to his mother this morning and he shared his shock over the moment. She said, “Dummy, don’t you know what just happened? Brock Lesnar just acknowledged you.” Rhodes felt on top of the world after SummerSlam and felt like he could beat anybody.

Seth Rollins interrupted. He welcomed us to Monday Night Rollins (while staring at Rhodes, who smiled back). Rollins said he came out a while back to address the future of the world title and Rhodes was the first to enter, so Rollins wanted to return the favour. Rollins said if Rhodes felt like he could beat anyone, they just put that feeling to the test.

Judgment Day, minus Finn Bálor, interrupted. Damian Priest said Rollins and Rhodes must be confused if they thought that they ran Raw. Rhea Ripley said Judgment Day ran Raw. Priest said they decide what happens with champions and he held up his briefcase.

Priest said Ripley was already the most dominant world champion (she was cheered) and they had the NXT North American Champion in Dominik Mysterio (he was booed). Priest told Rhodes that Dom wasn’t done with him.

Before Rhodes could respond, Bálor jumped Rollins from behind and Judgment Day attacked both men.

Sami Zayn ran out to make the save and the good guys cleared the ring.

Rhodes challenged them to a six-man tag match. Rollins didn’t say anything but seemed taken aback by Rhodes making a challenge on his behalf. They argued off-mic as Zayn tried settling them down.

******** 

Earlier today, Ricochet complained to Adam Pearce about the finish to his match against Logan Paul. Pearce was apologetic but said the referee’s decision was final.

Matt Riddle, Chad Gable, and Tommaso Ciampa entered Pearce’s office. Pearce said they all had reason to be frustrated but they were all on the cusp of greatness. He put them in a match and the winner would get to face Gunther for the Intercontinental title. They each stated they would win before Gable told them to shoosh. Gable said he would win in his neck of the woods tonight.

Fatal four-way match: Chad Gable defeated Tommaso Ciampa, Matt Riddle and Ricochet (10:07)

The crowd chanted for Gable who gave them a big “Thank you!” a minute into the match. Gable and Riddle applied ankle locks to Ricochet and Ciampa respectively until they each escaped the ring. They led to an exchange between Gable and Riddle but Ciampa clonked their heads together. Ricochet hit Ciampa with a lionsault for two.

The four men exchanged moves and they showed a slow-motion replay of Ciampa giving Gable a reverse DDT because Gable’s head bounced right off the mat.

There was a big tower of doom spot that led to Gable bringing down the three other men with a triple-German suplex (Ricochet took a particularly big bump). The crowd popped for that and Gunther looked on in the back in amusement.

Gable put Ciampa in an ankle lock but Riddle nailed him with a knee strike and powerbomb but Ricochet broke up the cover. Riddle suplexed Ricochet before giving Ciampa a superplex. Ricochet and Gable tried moves off the top but both Ciampa and Riddle got their knees up leading to cradles for two counts.

Riddle wiped out Gable with a springboard diving before Ciampa gave Riddle a draping DDT. Gable got knocked down again, this time by a Ricochet dive before Ciampa hit Ricochet with a knee strike and Project Ciampa for two. Riddle gave Ciampa a Bro Derek but Gable broke up the cover with a diving headbutt.

Gable went for a Chaos Theory on Riddle but Ricochet brought Riddle down with a Recoil. Gable tried the Chaos Theory on Ricochet but Ciampa brought Ricochet down with a leg drop. Gable then gave Ciampa the Chaos Theory for the pinfall win. Gable earns a shot against Gunther.

This was a really fun match and the finish was awesome. The crowd was very happy to see Gable win. (The lack of a commercial break was nice, too.)

Gable pulled his young son out from the front row and celebrated with him around ringside. This was all great.

******** 

There was a recap of Rhodes beating Lesnar and the aftermath. Cole said Lesnar has never shown that sort of respect for his opponent in his fight career.

The six-man match set up in the first segment was made official.

Rollins confronted Rhodes in the back as he was speaking with Zayn. Zayn settled them down and said they have a chance to do something important tonight. Zayn was sick of Judgment Day and they were the reason Kevin Owens was on the shelf and their titles were in jeopardy.

Zayn said they could put Judgment Day away once and for all. Zayn asked if they were cool. Rhodes said yes. Rollins said yes and stormed off. Zayn wasn’t convinced.

******** 

There was a recap of Roman Reigns beating Jey Uso thanks to Jimmy Uso. Reigns will be on Friday’s Smackdown.

Miz walked through the back toward a planned photoshoot but was told to wait because LA Knight was in the middle of his own photoshoot. Miz was pissed and stormed off.

(The first hour of Raw is apparently commercial free but they’re also killing time with video packages.)

********

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Bronson Reed (11:55)

Nakamura was on offence but Reed ran him over, hit an elbow drop and knocked him out of the ring which led to our first commercial break of the evening (at 8:55 pm).

[SECOND HOUR]

The crowd was quiet but Nakamura’s comeback got them back into it a bit. Reed cut him off with a powerslam and a running sit-out powerbomb for a nearfall. Reed cut him off again moments later with a Death Valley Driver for two. Nakamura tried a kick but Reed dropped him with a clothesline.

Reed went for Tsunami but Nakamura moved and hit Kinshasa to the back of the head and another to the face for the pinfall win. The crowd was happy that the good guy won. (Nakamura also beat Reed a few months back in a Money in the Bank qualifier.)

********

Medical staff told Pearce that Raquel Rodriguez’s injury was serious and she couldn’t be cleared yet. Pearce relayed the message to a disappointed Rodriguez. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell tried comforting her and said she needed to be 100% to face Ripley.

******** 

Ludwig Kaiser approached Maxxine Dupri in the locker room. Kaiser congratulated her on Gable’s win and said Gunther was looking forward to wiping the ring with his body. Dupri told him to get out of their locker room. Kaiser said he’s had his eyes on her for a while and talked about how perfect he was but said she hung out with a big, disgusting freak. Dupri slapped him.

Kaiser was knocked back a bit. He smiled and went to look back at Dupri but saw Otis in her place. Otis challenged him to a match tonight and said he won’t be so pretty after he was done with him. Kaiser said he’d see Otis tonight and would see Dupri later.

********

Becky Lynch promo 

Lynch said she was almost close to the end and was getting her rematch against Trish Stratus next week. Lynch said it was the greatest of the previous generation against the greatest of this generation — and the next generation and the one after that and to infinity.

Zoey Stark interrupted. Stark said Lynch was scared of her and said “The Man” left her balls back at home. Lynch asked her what the heck she was doing. Lynch knew how good Stark was — but no matter how good she was, she was too stupid to realize she was playing second fiddle to Stratus instead of wrestling for championships.

Stark said she played second fiddle to no one and knew how amazing she was. Stark said the greatest of all time kicked Lynch to the side and picked her instead. Stark called herself the fastest-rising star in WWE.

Shayna Baszler interrupted. Baszler had a black eye. Lynch said, “Damn, Shayna, you’re looking rough.” Baszler said you should see how Ronda Rousey looks. Baszler said we won’t actually be seeing Rousey because she beat her and drove her out of WWE. The crowd applauded and there was a modest, “Thank you, Shayna” chant.

Baszler got in Stark’s face and asked her who was the baddest now. Stark called her the baddest punching bag and threatened to send her home just like Rousey. Lynch was entertained and thought they should have a match tonight.

Pearce walked out and made the match official.

******** 

JD McDonagh spoke with Bálor in the back. Priest approached them and wanted to speak to Bálor alone. Bálor said he’s known JD for 20 years and could say whatever he wanted in front of him. They argued over what happened at SummerSlam. Priest said that, even with his help, Bálor still lost.

Bálor got in Priest’s face and said maybe it was because of him that he lost. Priest said Bálor was crowding him. Bálor said his briefcase was crowding them.

Ripley ran in to separate them and tried to get them on the same page. She told Bálor that they were all there at SummerSlam to help him. At her behest, Bálor and Priest agreed to stay on the same page.

McDonagh chimed in. He thought the briefcase was getting between them and they should get rid of it. Bálor left with McDonagh. Priest was annoyed but Ripley stopped him from going after them.

******* 

Lynch sat at ringside to watch the match and shared a pitcher of lemonade with Wade Barrett. (Lynch made a social media post the day of SummerSlam — which she was left off of — about turning lemons into lemonade.)

Shayna Baszler defeated Zoey Stark (11:49)

Stark took control ahead of a break with a missile dropkick. Stark tried to do Baszler’s arm stomp spot but Baszler avoided it and hit a gut wrench suplex for two. Stark countered a Kirifuda Clutch and hit a springboard dive. Stark was distracted by Lynch who was just standing there so Baszler hit her with Rousey’s Piper Pit (spinning Samoan Drop) for the pinfall win.

(This match was fine but it felt long and there were some rough spots, including the finish.)

— Lynch toasted Baszler with her lemonade for beating Stark.

******** 

Nakamura told Byron Saxton he was tired of people getting involved in his business and was ready to carve his own path.

Just as he said this, the interview stopped when they heard crashing noises nearby. It was McDonagh attacking Sami Zayn. Officials stepped in to stop it.

******** 

Ludwig Kaiser (w/Giovanni Vinci) defeated Otis (w/Maxxine Dupri) (3:01)

Otis was too much for Kaiser early on but he ran shoulder-first into the ring post. Kaiser got face-to-face with Dupri so Otis went after him. Otis set up for the Caterpillar but Vinci jumped on the apron. Otis suplexed Vinci from the apron into the ring.

The ref was distracted trying to get Vinci out of the ring so Gunther ran into and booted Otis. Kaiser followed with a running boot for the pinfall win. Kaiser gave Dupri a look as they announced him the winner.

— Imperium attacked Otis after the match but bailed after Gable ran down to make the save. The crowd chanted for Gable as Gunther smiled confidently at him.

******** 

Jackie Redmond caught up with Rollins and Rhodes as they left the trainer’s room. She asked about Zayn. They both tried to answer at the same time and gave each other an annoyed look. Rhodes left and invited Rollins to do the interview himself. Rollins said Zayn wouldn’t be cleared to wrestle tonight.

Nakamura appeared and offered to be their partner. Rollins said he has respected Nakamura for years and accepted his offer. 

(They zoomed in on a smirking Nakamura as he watched Rollins leave.)

********

[THIRD HOUR]

The Miz / LA Knight segment

Miz entered. He complained about LA Knight (and the battle royal) and about a lack of respect. He spoke about learning the hard way early in his career about having to introduce yourself in the locker room, show respect, and shake hands. Miz said Knight never shook his hand. (The crowd yelled, “Yeah!” whenever Miz said Knight’s name.)

LA Knight interrupted. He was cheered. Knight thought they had a good introduction in the battle royal but offered a handshake anyway. Miz said no.

Miz has seen other wrestlers come into WWE and try to ride his coattails. Miz said if you stripped away his charisma and his hot wife, you get guys like LA Knight. The crowd loved him now and they’ll buy his t-shirts for five months but Knight was just an Attitude Era fanboy playing cosplaying in his ring. The crowd chanted “Tiny balls.”

Knight said he had no problem with Miz but warned him not to make this personal. Miz said he always took it personally because people told him he’d never make it but he main evented WrestleMania, won world titles, etc. Miz wondered what Knight has done over the last 20 years.

Knight said he’s been making himself a dangerous man, scratching and clawing to get in, while WWE bet on all the wrong horses — Miz’s included. Knight was a thoroughbred waiting for the right opening but Miz got a 20-year head start because he was safe. They knew they could smack Miz around and kick him out of the locker room and Miz would just take it.

They knew that they couldn’t do that to LA Knight because he wasn’t to be messed with. Knight said his career was climbing while Miz’s was in the toilet. Knight said he would step over Miz to get to the main event. Miz said he was the main event and Knight was not on his level. Knight offered to prove him wrong because he wasn’t going anywhere.

Miz took off his suit jacket but didn’t fight. Knight looked away for a moment so Miz chucked his jacket in his face and tried to hit a Skull Crushing Finale. Knight countered it and gave Miz the Blunt Force Trauma. As Miz lay on the mat, Knight “shook” his hand.

******** 

The following segment was billed as an open challenge by the Viking Raiders and it led to a return.

Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods defeated The Viking Raiders (w/Valhalla) (5:39)

Erik and Ivar had control over Woods until he hit Erik with a tornado DDT. Kingston made the hot tag and hit Ivar with strikes, a dropkick, clothesline, crossbody, leg drop and an SOS for two. Ivar dropped Kingston and Erik followed with a knee strike for two. Ivar tagged back in but Kingston used a hurricanrana to take out Erik.

Kingston hit Ivar with Trouble in Paradise before wiping out Erik with a flip dive. Woods hit Ivar with Limit Break (ropewalk elbow drop) for the pinfall win.

******** 

Saxton wanted to interview Lynch but they were interrupted by Baszler. Baszler said she didn’t want Lynch’s help tonight or ever. Baszler had a list of scores to settle. She was done with Rousey and would be coming for The Man one day. Lynch said she looked forward to it.

******** 

Redmond approached Kingston and Woods in the back as they celebrated. Kingston looked surprised upon seeing her and asked, “Who are you?” Woods knew what she was going to ask and they said they felt great to be back. Kingston said the Viking Raiders wanted to make a sacrifice to the gods but the New Day were the gods of the tag team division.

Woods noted the Usos breaking up and said they needed to bring positivity back to the tag team division. They planned on becoming tag team champions and invited Redmond to dance with them as they chanted “New Day rocks.” Kingston and Woods told Redmond it was nice to meet her.

******** 

They announced, via TMZ, that Sonya Deville was out indefinitely with a torn ACL. (You could hear a few fans sighing at the news.) They provided no other updates other than Cole saying, “We’ll have to figure out who is going to become Women’s tag team champions.”

******** 

Rodriguez jumped Ripley during Judgment Day’s entrance for the main event and hammered away at her until officials broke it up. Ripley broke loose and went after Rodriguez but they were separated again. LaRae and Hartwell joined to help separate them but Ripley attacked them too. LaRae went after Ripley and officials had to separate them too.

Despite what happened, Ripley remained at ringside following a break.

********

Six-man tag team match: Cody Rhodes, Shinsuke Nakamura & World Champion Seth Rollins defeated Finn Bálor, Damian Priest & NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio (w/Rhea Ripley) (14:41)

Rollins and Rhodes couldn’t agree on who should start first so Nakamura stepped in for them. Bálor was ready to start for his team but Priest tagged himself in. They had a discussion before Dom tagged himself in to start. Nakamura was all over Dom so Priest pulled Dom out of the ring and they went to break a minute into the match.

Judgment Day worked over Nakamura as the crowd chanted, “Dom’s a loser.” Barrett thought that was ludicrous. Rollins made a hot tag and ran wild on Priest until Priest cut him off and tagged in Bálor who dropkicked Rollins into the barricade. That led to another break at 10:52 pm.

(The initial entrance for Judgment Day, before the Rodriguez attack, happened before 10:30 pm. They went to break, the babyfaces entered, the match started, and they went to break a minute later. They came back at 10:48 pm but went to break again 4 minutes later.)

At 10:56 pm, Rollins made the hot tag (after a slight hesitation) to Rhodes who had an exchange with Bálor that led to a Cody Cutter for two after Dom broke it up. Nakamura took out Dom, Priest took out Nakamura, Rollins took out Priest, and Bálor took out Rollins.

Priest hit Rhodes from behind with the briefcase as the ref was distracted. Zayn ran in and attacked Priest with his one good arm (heavily selling his left arm). Bálor tried using the briefcase but Rollins superkicked it into his face. Rhodes followed with a Cross Rhodes on Bálor for the pinfall win.

— Rollins invited Zayn into the ring and the four babyfaces celebrated. Rhodes tried to get Rollins to cheer up and Zayn raised their hands in victory. Rollins shook hands with Rhodes.

— As they all celebrated, Nakamura dropped Rollins with a Kinshasa and casually left the ring. Zayn and Rhodes checked on Rollins as Nakamura sauntered up the ramp. 

Report: WWE finalizing deal to be sold to Endeavor

Posted on by Ian Carey

Endeavor, the parent company of UFC, is reportedly in advanced talks to purchase WWE on a deal that could be announced as soon as Monday.

CNBC’s Alex Sherman reported the news Sunday afternoon, hours before the second night of WrestleMania 39. 

As part of the agreement, WWE and UFC would merge into one publicly traded company with 51% owned by Endeavor and the other 49% by WWE shareholders, according to the outlet’s sources.

Sherman reported the deal will give WWE an enterprise value of $9.3 billion and UFC with an enterprise value of $12.1 billion.

Vince McMahon is reportedly expected to remain as Executive Chairman of WWE with Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel expected to become the new company’s chief executive. 

Endeavor president Mark Shapiro will serve in the same role for the newly created company with WWE CEO Nick Khan acting as president of the wrestling side of the business with Dana White remaining president of UFC.  

Emanuel commented on the company’s potential interest in WWE last month during Endeavor’s fourth quarter earnings call. At the time, he seemed to suggest they weren’t looking at purchasing the company. 

“As it relates to WWE, it’s an unbelievable product,” Emanuel said. “Vince, you know, created a great business. We’ve had a longstanding relationship with them over two decades. We’re doing on location business with them, streaming business with them, his business is really valuable. But we’re not going to do anything as it relates to changing our leverage position right now.”

Tony Khan reveals premiere date for weekly ROH TV

Posted on by Ian Carey

Ring of Honor’s new weekly television series has a premiere date. 

In an interview with SI.com released Wednesday, ROH owner Tony Khan revealed the show will debut Thursday, March 2, 2023, on HonorClub. The first episode will air exactly one year from the date that Khan announced he purchased the promotion. 

Khan also confirmed that the first set of tapings will take place Saturday, February 25, and Sunday, February 26, 2023, from Universal Studios in Orlando. 

Khan said:

Ring of Honor TV is coming Thursday, March 2 on HonorClub.

We’ll have our first tapings on Feb. 25 and 26 at Universal Studios in Orlando, and we’re going to put tickets on sale for the inaugural taping on Thursday. Those will be the first-ever tapings of the new Ring of Honor.

He would continue to promote Ring of Honor’s streaming service, HonorClub, which was relaunched in December. 

We also have the library on the HonorClub with 20 years of matches. All the Briscoes-FTR matches are available, including Final Battle from December, and those matches are going to stand the test of time in wrestling. Ring of Honor has a tremendous history. We have been able to introduce it with a further reach across the world this past year, and I’m excited to finally introduce weekly Ring of Honor shows.

HonorClub is available through the ROH app on IOS, Android, Amazon FireTV, and Roku as well as through WatchROH.com. A subscription to the streaming service costs $9.99 USD per month. 

Ticket information for the first set of ROH tapings will be announced tonight on AEW Dynamite during the Mark Briscoe vs. Josh Woods match.