AAA Noche de Los Grandes week two live results: Rey Mysterio to address AAA

AAA Noche de los Grandes Week 2 will air tonight on Fox in Latin America and on Facebook and YouTube elsewhere.

Scheduled for tonight’s show is a six-woman tag team match with Lola Vice, Bayley, and La Catalina facing Las Tóxicas (Flammer, La Hiedra, and Maravilla).

There will also be a fatal five-way match for the number one contendership to the AAA Cruiserweight Championship, currently held by Rey Fenix after he defeated Laredo Kid for the belt last week. The five competitors booked for tonight’s match are Mini Vikingo, Octagón Jr., Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, and Lince Dorado.

Also scheduled for tonight, Rey Mysterio will address AAA after having been revealed as the promotion’s new general manager last week.

Announced for tonight’s AAA Noche de los Grandes Week 2:

  • Lola Vice, Bayley & La Catalina vs. Las Tóxicas (Flammer, La Hiedra & Maravilla)
  • Mini Vikingo vs. Octagón Jr. vs. Joaquin Wilde vs. Cruz Del Toro vs. Lince Dorado in a number one contender’s match for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship

Rey Mysterio addresses AAA

Our live coverage kicks off at 10 p.m. Eastern.

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Noche de los Grandes has already paid for itself many times over. Last week, we had what is arguably the match of the year between El Grande Americano and (the former) Original El Grande Americano. A match that was so good, they actually tacked it onto the end of RAW, just to show it off.

Tonight we get a pair of high-level multi-person matches and if I were a betting man (which I’m not) I’d have my money on both of these matches delivering. Plus we get to hear from AAA GM Rey Mysterio Jr, because it just wouldn’t be a WWE show without an extended talking segment and/or authority figure angle.

With all that said and done though, lets tighten our laces and get Noche de los Grandes night two underway!

AAA Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender’s Match: Mini Vikingo vs. Octagón Jr. vs. Joaquin Wilde vs. Cruz Del Toro vs. Lince Dorado

And this is a pretty good way to do it! Laredo Kid lost the Cruiserweight title last week to Rey Fenix, so now we need to know who’s got next!

After a brief scrum off the bell LWO members Wilde and Del Toro double teamed Vikingo, tossing the smallest man in the ring around with suplexes and finally sending him to the outside. When that happened, Wilde tried to roll up Del Toro and steal one, but only got a two count.

Del Toro got a quick pin attempt off of a high flying move, but neither man was able to get one over on the other. Dorado and Octagon came back in and both tried a pin, but neither could get it. Octagon went up top and hit a diving armdrag before Dorado countered a monkey flip.

Dorado dispatched Octagon to the outisde, but that just opened things up for Vikingo to come back in. Dorado got him on his shoulders, but Vikingo countered it into a headscissor takedown. Vikingo used his gymnast-like skills to take down Octagon as well, but Wilde grabbed his ankle from the outside and pulled him to a stop.

Del Toro hit a tornado off the top turnbuckle to take Dorado, Octagon and Wilde down, leaving him one on one with Vikingo. He went for a pop up powerbomb, but Vikingo countered it into a takedown. Dorado hit a double stunner on Wilde and Del Toro, but Wilde hit a DDT on him.

Dorado came back with a brainbuster and then a shooting star press on Wilde. Everyone else was on the outside so he hooked the leg and 1-2-3, Dorado became the #1 Contender to Rey Fenix’s Cruiserweight title.

Match Result: Lince Dorado defeated Mini Vikingo, Octagón Jr, Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro.

-Backstage footage was show of the War Raiders and El Hijo de Vikingo celebrating their title victories from last week. Spoiler: They were stoked.

Rey Mysterio then took questions from “the media” (aka two guys holding cell phones next to his face) about everything happening in AAA. He said:

  • Mask Vs Mask Was awesome.
  • WWE is doing a Latin America tour throughout September.
  • He will be fair when it comes to Dominick Mysterio.
  • Speaking of the AAA Mega Champion, Dominick will appear on the June 20th episode of AAA.
  • Whomever is Mega Champion at the time will defend the title at Triplemania Night two in September.

-Backstage footage from last week was shown of El Grande Americano with Los Americanos thanking his friends and fans for supporting him.

Six-Woman Tag Match: Lola Vice, Bayley & La Catalina vs. Las Tóxicas (Flammer, La Hiedra & Maravilla)

Las Toxicas came down to the ring in a set of cheerleader outfits much to JBL’s excitement. Even though she came out to her “role model” music, it was clear that in Mexico, Bayley is all hugger. Vice and Catalina came out to great ovations and we were ready to go.

Flammer looked to start things off against Catalina but she didn’t want to give the crowd what they wanted, so she tagged in Maravilla instead. She lasted a few minutes before Hiedra came in to face a takedown from Catalina.

Vice tagged in and kicked her way to ta two count. She and Hiedra exchanged blows with Vice coming out on top. Vice used her patented glute-based offense, which brought everyone into the ring. Las Toxicas fell to a triple suplex though and they all went to the outside.

Back in the ring, Hiedra bounced Vice’s head off the turnbuckle, Isolating her in the Toxicas corner. They all tagged in and out, hitting her with strikes and slams. Flammer got a two count off of a meteora and pushed Bayley and Catalina off the ring apron.

Flammer hit vice with a lariat for another two count, then put her in a full nelson/waist lock submission. Vice tossed her through the ropes and got a tag to Bayley who cleared the ring. Hiedra was left to face Bayley and she hit her with a through the rope DDT.

Bayley dropped an elbow from up top, but Maravilla kicked out at two. Las Toxicas came together for a triple team, with Flammer adding a dropkick on to the end of it. Catalina broke up the pin and she and Flammer talked trash while the ref got everyone sorted.

Bayley came back to life and tagged in Catalina officially so she could hit a moonsault from the top rope on Flammer. Maravilla and Hiedra came in and when the dust settled, Maravilla ate a suplex from Bayley.

Catalina and Flammer tagged in and Catalina met her with a hip attack and big running knee. She quickly covered her and got the pin for her tream.

Match Result: Lola Vice, Bayley & La Catalina defeated Las Tóxicas

AEW Collision live results: Women’s tag title match, Persephone vs. Hazuki

AEW Collision is live tonight from the Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio.

Announced for tonight’s show is an Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament quarterfinal match between Persephone and Hazuki.

The AEW Women’s World Tag Team titles will also be on the line tonight as champions Divine Dominion (Lena Kross and Megan Bayne) defend against TayJay (Anna Jay and Tay Melo).

The winner of Persephone vs. Hazuki will move on to the tournament semifinals to take on Mercedes Moné, who returned to the company on Dynamite and defeated Alex Windsor in the quarterfinals. On the other side of the bracket, Athena has advanced to the semifinals after her win over Mina Shirakawa, and she’ll face the winner of Skye Blue vs. Sareee, scheduled for Dynamite on Wednesday.

Announced for tonight’s AEW Collision:

  • Persephone vs. Hazuki in an Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament quarterfinal match
  • AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion (Lena Kross and Megan Bayne) defend against TayJay (Anna Jay and Tay Melo)

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

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TayJay (Tay Melo & Anna Jay) vs. Divine Dominion (Lena Kross & Megan Bayne) for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship

Anna Jay made started the match with Megan Bayne, but it wasn’t long before Kross and Bayne were going for Divine Intervention. Jay slipped out and Melo and Jay hit a series of double team moves and dodges that kept Divine Dominion crashing into each other. Melo and Jay hit stereo crossbodies of the middle ropes to the floor on Kross and Bayne as they went to an ad break on TNT.

Kross and Bayne were able to isolate Jay on the floor after enticing Jay to chase her around the ring. Kross then started getting the heat on Anna Jay. Bayne hit a German suplex on Jay as they came back from break, and tagged out to Kross again. Kross charged Jay in the corner, but Jay dodged and hit a bulldog and tagged out Melo who hit a series of strikes and a spinning back fist to stun Bayne.

Melo hit a series of strikes in the corner and then scraped her boot on Bayne’s face. Melo tagged out to Jay and they went for a double team move, but Bayne powered out and tagged out to Kross. This did not help matters as they both ate superkicks, and then hit a double DDT on Kross for a 2-cout that Bayne broke up. Bayne and Kross then hit a German suplex/pump kick combo, and Tay Melo broke the pinfall up. All four women hit moves and did a quadruple down. After a scramble Jay locked the sleeper hold on Kross, but Kross walked her back to her corner and drove Jay into the corner before Bayne came in and they hit Divine Intervention for the pinfall. Solid tag match.

Result: Divine Dominion defeated TayJay to retain

–A hype video aired for Brody King and Swerve Strickland for Dynamite on Wednesday.

–Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta cut a promo on Konosuke Takeshita while Lance Archer and Jake Doyle beat the crap out of a ton of local talent in the background. This was quite fun.

Shane Taylor (w/ Shane Taylor Promotions) vs. Alan Angels

Alan Angels makes his return to AEW and immediately dies at the hands of Shane Taylor. After making a few dodges of Taylor’s offence, Taylor caught him with a forearm as he springboarded of the ropes and then hit a package piledriver for the pinfall.

Result: Shane Taylor defeated Alan Angels

–Shane Taylor took a mic and said that the Death Riders has been the most violent group in AEW, but as of this moment, Shane Taylor Promotions was the most violent group in AEW. Moxley noted that all they had to do was beat him, so Taylor said his crew should come down to the ring and get beat. The Death Riders music hit, and Jon Moxley led his crew to the ring to a massive pop from the crowd.

The Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & PAC) (w/ Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, & Marina Shafir) vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty, Carlie Bravo, & Shawn Dean) (w/ Shane Taylor, Trish Adora, & Christyan XO)

Moxley started the match and took it right to Moxley, driving him back into the corner and isolating him. Bravo tagged in and started chopping Moxley, who just started getting fired up and asked him to hit him harder. Moxley turned him around after the next chop and hit ten punches in the corner before thumbing him in the eye and tagging out to PAC.

It was not long after this that it broke down into a 6 person brawl and Moxley dumped Shawn Dean into the front row as they went to an ad break on TNT. Claudio was beating on Carlie Bravo in the ring, and Shane Taylor indicated that this was just one of their gameplans to wear them out by surviving everything they had, even though Bravo was looking worse for wear as PAC tagged in. This changed when Shawn Dean tripped PAC from the floor and hit a cutter across the apron.

Shane Taylor Promotions isolated PAC with this and started beating on him in their corner, with Carlie Bravo punching PAC and biting him, taunting Mox for his thumb to the eye earlier. Dean hit a lariat from the second rope on PAC for a 2-count. Moxley started getting the crowd fired up to cheer for PAC to escape, and was going nuts on the apron, and the fans started a very loud chant for Moxley, and Shane Taylor Promotions cut off PAC from that very tag to a chorus of boos.

Moxley saw enough and started attacking everyone on the floor himself, but got beaten down. It did allow PAC to dodge a corner charge from Moriarty and hit a German suplex on him before tagging out Castagnoli though, which was a really nice “take one for the team” moment for Mox. Castagnoli hit a series of very violent forearms in the corner and then went for the Neutralizer, but Moriarty cut him off. Moxley and Castagnoli laid out Bravo and then PAC went for the Black Arrow, but Shane Taylor distracted the referee and Trish Adora shoved PAC’s feet from the ropes.

While the referee was distracted, Yuta hit a dive on Taylor while Marina Shafir took out Trish Adora and Christyan XO, letting the Death Riders lay out Carlie Bravo and did the brutalizer on him for the submission finish.

Result: The Death Riders defeated Shane Taylor Promotions

This match was fantastic. The Death Riders are incredible babyfaces in this match.

–A highlight video aired of all the major storylines from Dynamite, which was excellent. They should do this on every show.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Beef

Beef was surprisingly agile in this match, cartwheeling out of the way of a clothesline and hitting a dropkick. Beef went for a bulldog but Ciampa blocked it and yanked the hair to drop Beef before hitting a running knee on Beef. Nigel McGuinness said the cows were coming home. I laughed. Ciampa locked on the Liontamer and tapped Beef out, sending a message to Chris Jericho.

Result: Tommaso Ciampa defeated Beef

–Ciampa continued the attack after the match and locked the Liontamer on again on the floor and demanded that Tony Schaivone announce to the audience that Tommaso Ciampa was better than Chris Jericho. Schiavone said so, and Ciampa said that Schiavone has been friends with Jericho for years and even he knew the truth. Good promo here.

–Shane Taylor was backstage with Trish Adora and Taylor said that he wanted Jon Moxley to answer the age old question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Taylor said he failed his brother, as they picked off Wheeler Yuta and left him laying on the ground with The Death Riders nowhere to be seen. Taylor then challenged Moxley for the AEW Continental Championship on Dynamite.

Clark Connors (w/ David Finlay) vs. Juice Robinson (w/ The Bang Bang Gang)

These former Bullet Club members were set to battle here, with Connors immediately attacking Robinson and choking him with his own t-shirt. The announcers talked about how the Young Bucks pushed all of the War Dogs’ buttons noting that they were a discount Bullet Club compared to them. It is interesting how many different incarnations of the Bullet Club are present in AEW at the moment. Robinson started hitting a few jabs but Connors bailed, and Robinson mimed a dog relieving himself in Connors direction.

Connors did not enjoy this display and pulled Robinson from the ring and drove him into the guardrail. Connors continued this assault for a few minutes, including hitting some shoulder blocks in the corner, then a running shoulder tackle to a seated Robinson for a 2-count. Robinson and Connors shared punches, but Connors continued with this extended heat segment. Robinson started to fire up at some of the weak punches Connors threw and then hit a shoulder tackle and hit a back senton.

Robinson hit a series of punches and chops that backed Connors back to the corner and he hit a cannonball in the corner. Robinson then hit a powerbomb for a 2-count. Robinson signaled going for the Killswitch, but Connors shoved him aside and hit a powerslam for a 2-count. Connors went for a spear, but Robinson jumped over it and hit a lariat that sent Connors to the floor. Robinson hit a pescado to the floor and David Finlay ran down to try and hit Robinson with the shillelagh, but Robinson hit the Left Hand of God on Finlay. Robinson hit another Left Hand of God on Connors and went for Pulp Friction, but Finlay hit Robinson in the back and this led to Connors hitting a spear on Robinson for the pin.

Result: Clark Connors defeated Juice Robinson

This was a really solid match with Connors looking excellent, and Juice Robinson showing he is underutilized as a babyface.

–A hype video for the Survival of the Fittest match for the TBS Championship, with an excellent promo from Hikaru Shida in English and Japanese (with subtitles). Statlander, Mina Shirakawa, Harley Cameron, Queen Aminata, & Zayda Steel all commented on the match. This was very good.

–Jon Moxley was backtage with Marina Shafir, and said that STP and Taylor himself want what he and the Death Riders have, and made the move of attacking Yuta. Moxley said that Taylor needed to be sure he really wanted it, because when he got to the ring with Moxley on Wednesday he is going to find out what it means to face Moxley alone for the AEW Continental. This was a tremendous promo. Taylor and Moxley have done a fantastic job on this show building up a TV match for next week.

Los Faccion Ingobernable (Rush, Dralistico, & Sammy Guevara) vs. The Conglomeration (Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, & Orange Cassidy) for the AEW World Trios Championships

Sammy Guevara told Orange Cassidy to tranquilo, which is a bit redundant as he is always relaxed. Guevara baited Cassidy in and hit a kick, but Strong blind tagged in and threw Orange Cassidy at Guevara with a hip toss. Strong tagged in and hit a backbreaker before tagging Cassidy, who went to the top rope, decided it was too high, went to the middle, then to the bottom rope, before dropping to the mat and hitting a walking elbow. Guevara did not like this and turned it around on Cassidy and drove him back to his own corner.

LFI was going to hit a trio of kicks to the back of Cassidy, but he casually laid down to avoid this. They tried again, so he laid down again, and they then stomped him repeatedly. Guevara hit a top rope eye poke on Cassidy, which was hilarious. Cassidy, however, soon escaped and tagged out to Strong, who started turning this into a serious fight, destroying people with high impact moves. It broke down soon after this with Guevara hitting a moonsault off the top rope to the floor on Strong.

LFI continued to get the heat throughout the ad break on TNT, and finally hit their triple dropkick, but it was on Strong instead. Cassidy broke up the pinfall attempt and Rush looked like he was going to kill Cassidy for it before throwing him from the ring. Strong decided to stand up to Rush and start hitting hard chops, and suddenly we had an awesome mean guy match with both Rush and Strong hitting hard strikes and forearms.

Dralistico came in and Kyle O’Reilly countered a lung blower attempt with an ankle lock on Dralistico. Guevara saved him, but O’Reilly hit a rebounding lariat on both and tagged out to Cassidy who hit a tornado DDT on Guevara, but Dralistico blocked it and hit a lung blower on Cassidy. Cassidy was not down long and went for an Orange Punch, but he ate a punch from Rush. Rush then went for the horns, but Cassidy rolled to the floor. Strong and O’Reilly attacked Rush and sent him into the audience, while Dralistico hit a crossbody over the ring post and steps onto them, only for Cassidy to hit a tope suicida on Dralistico. Guevara came in and tried to hit Go to Hell on Cassidy, but Cassidy fought out, shoved Dralistico into Guevara and then hit an Orange Punch on both for the pinfall win.

Result: The Conglomeration defeated LFI

This made me want to see Rush and Roderick Strong in a 20ish minute match. Hopefully we’ll get to see that at some point.

–The Dogs were backstage talking about their feud with the Bang Bang Gang, and their ongoing conflict with the Young Bucks over being the #1 contenders for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, so they wanted to settle it with the Bucks as soon as possible so they can get on to beating Cage & Cope.

–Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta walked up to the Conglomeration and they said that Andrade El Idolo was challenging Orange Casssidy to a match. Cassidy shrugged. Romero said, “Don’t say that!” Cassidy told them to get out of there because he accepted.

Hazuki vs. Persephone in a Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Match

Hazuki immediately locked a headlock on Persephone, but it was soon worked into an exchange of basic holds until they started countering pinfall attempts in very creative ways. Fun start to this match. Persephone dodged a clothesline, but Hazuki grabbed Persephone and went for a crossface that forced Persephone into grabbing the ropes. Persephone rolled through a sunset flip attempt and hit a shotgun dropkick on Hazuki for a 2-count.

Persephone went for a lionsault, but Hazuki countered and hit a back stabber. Persephone caught Hazuki as she went for a crossbody to the floor and slammed Hazuki on the mats outside before sending Hazuki back into the ring. Persephone charged Hazuki, but Hazuki immediately countered into a crossface, and as Persephone tried to get the ropes with her feet, Hazuki grabbed them and did a sort of inverted bow & arrow lock.

Persephone went for a crucifix bomb on Hazuki, but she slipped out and hit a hurricanrana from the middle ropes. As the match went on the audience got more and more into Hazuki, who hit a springboard shotgun dropkick for a 2-count. Hazuki then hit Persephone with a lung blower and went for a senton, but Persephone cut her off and hit a superplex. Persephone held on and then hit a jackhammer for a 2-count.

Persephone went for a crucifix bomb again, but Hazuki countered with a sunset flip for a 2-count. Persephone hit a trapped leg German suplex for a 2-count. Persephone went for a powerbomb, but Hazuki countered out, hit a lung blower, and then a La Magistral cradle for the pinfall. Hazuki has advanced to face Mercedes Mone in the next round of the tournament.

Result: Hazuki defeated Persephone

Both women shook hands after the match, and while there were some moments that were a little rough due to miscommunication, it ended up being pretty good just by how hard they worked.

–After the match, Mercedes Mone ran down and attacked Persephone from behind, hitting her with the Owen Hart Foundation title belt and locking on the Statement Maker. Hazuki ran down and made the save, but as she was checking on Persephone, Mone attacked and security came out to separate the two. Hazuki then hit a dive onto Mone and two or three security guards had to be pulled away from Mone, which proved quite difficult for the security as the show went off the air.

Final Thoughts

This was a fun show. The Death Riders and Shane Taylor Promotions match and promos were the best part of the show, in terms of action and build for next week, but nothing on this show stood out as bad. Most of it was even quite good. I liked how they dedicated time to adding a little heat to Mone and Hazuki at the end of the show. Thumbs up!

UFC Fight Night 278 live results: Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim

Action inside the Octagon is back in the home of the UFC this weekend as UFC Fight Night 278 takes place at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

The main event is a five-round bout in the welterweight division as former UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad takes on Gabriel Bonfim. Muhammad is looking to end a two-fight losing skid and get back on a path to regaining the title he lost before his current skid. Bonfim is looking to firmly get into the title picture as he comes in having won four consecutive fights.

In the co-main event, middleweight contender Brendan Allen looks for his third straight win against Edmen Shahbazyan, winner of three straight fights. Also on the main card is a lightweight bout between Fares Ziam and Tom Nolan; a bantamweight fight pitting Bryce Mitchell against Santiago Luna; and a light heavyweight fight between Iwo Baraniewski and Junior Tafa.

PRELIMS | 5 PM ET | 2 PM PT

> Women’s Strawweights- Ketlen Souza (16-6, 3-3 UFC) vs. Ariane Carnelossi (15-4, 3-3 UFC)

Carnelossi comes forward to start and throws, connecting with a jab to the body. Souza lands a right hand. Carnelossi with a leg kick. Carnelossi with a quick combo. Souza connects with a solid right hand. Carnelossi with a quick flurry. Souza lands a right hand and Carnelossi goes down, and then Souza drops Carnelossi with a head kick as she was getting up and it is all over! What a finish by Souza!

Fight Result- Ketlen Souza def. Ariane Carnelossi by knockout (head kick) at 1:34 of Round 1

> Women’s Flyweights- Jeisla Chaves (6-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Yuneisy Duben (6-1 1 NC, 0-1 UFC)

They both land leg kicks and Duben lands a high kick. Duben lands a jab then a leg kick. Chaves with a right hand as they attack at the same time. They trade and Duben gets a brief takedown, but they get right to their feet. Duben with some foot stomps and Chaves lands a knee to the body and a right hand as they break the clinch. Duben lands a leg kick. They both kick at the same time. Chaves lands a leg kick. They trade in close range. Chaves lands a right hand. Duben lands a leg kick. Chaves with an overhand right. Chaves with a solid right hand. Duben grabs the body and pushes Chaves against the fence. They separate. 10-9 Chaves.

Duben lands a right hand. They clinch in the center as Duben was throwing. Chaves lands some knees as Duben pushes her to the fence. They separate and Chaves lands some solid combinations. Duben tries a spinning back fist but Chaves ducks under and gets the tie up. Chaves lands some knees before they separate. Chaves gets a brief takedown and has Duben pushed against the fence on the feet. Chaves scores another takedown. Chaves gets the back and locks in a rear-naked choke. Duben is fighting it off and Chaves eases it and lands a right hand. Chaves with some left hands from the back. Chaves continues to land shots from the back. 10-9 Chaves, 20-18 Chaves.

They both throw and Chaves gets Duben to the mat and has side back control. Duben grabs the fence and gets a brief warning. They stand and Chaves continues to hunt the takedown. They move to the center and Chaves lands some knees and connects with a right hand as they separate. Duben with a high kick and Chaves lands a jab and Duben slips to the mat, but gets up. They trade and Chaves scores a takedown as she grabs the body lock. Chaves takes the back. They get to their feet and Duben is able to score a takedown. Duben lands from the half-guard. Duben with more shots from the top as Chaves throws from the bottom. They scramble up late and trade some clinch knees. 10-9 Duben, 29-28 Chaves.

Fight Result- Jeisla Chaves def. Yuneisy Duben by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Jordan Leavitt (13-3, 6-3 UFC) vs. Joanderson Brito (18-5-1, 6-3 UFC)

Leavitt shoots for a takedown as Brito throws a knee. They go to the mat with Brito on top as Leavitt is trying to work something from the guard. Leavitt is looking for a guillotine choke. They work to their feet and Leavitt lets go and looks for a takedown against the fence. Leavitt with some knees against the fence. They separate. Leavitt shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Leavitt lands a knee. Brito with some body shots as Leavitt lands a few knees. They trade knees against the fence and break the clinch. Brito lands a big right hand. Brito connects with more right hands. Leavitt shoots for a takedown and Brito grabs the neck and locks in a choke and Leavitt taps! Brito scores the submission out of nowhere.

Fight Result- Joanderson Brito def. Jordan Leavitt by submission (ninja choke) at 4:19 of Round 1

> Women’s Bantamweights- Priscila Cachoeira (13-8, 5-8 UFC) vs. Chelsea Chandler (6-4, 2-3 UFC)

Cachoeira backs Chandler up early with a big right hand, and then Chandler counters with an uppercut. Chandler lands a left hand. Cachoeira connects as she comes in and then throws Chandler to the mat. Cachoeira with some leg kicks and then Chandler is ordered to her feet. They clinch and both land knees. Chandler then drops Cachoeira with a left hand and jumps on the back. Chandler looks for a choke. Chandler lands some punches from the back. Chandler grabs the arm and locks in an armbar and Cachoeira taps!

Fight Result- Chelsea Chandler def. Priscila Cachoeira by submission (armbar) at 3:42 of Round 1

> Flyweights- #15 Bruno Silva (15-8-2 1 NC, 5-5 1 NC UFC) vs. Edgar Chairez (13-6 1 NC, 3-2 1 NC UFC)

Both working the jab early on. Chairez lands a jab and Silva counters with a right hand. Silva lands another right hand. Chairez with a leg kick. Chairez with a big right hand. Silva lands a combination but eats a big uppercut from Chairez. Chairez then lands a right hand. Chairez lands a big right hand and Silva goes to his butt, but gets right up. They trade in close range and Chairez lands the jab. Silva lands a right hand. Chairez lands an uppercut and Silva goes down. Chairez jumps on top and lands before taking the back and locks in a rear-naked choke and Silva taps! Chairez picks up an impressive win.

Fight Result- Edgar Chairez def. Bruno Silva by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:13 of Round 1

> Bantamweights- Marcus McGhee (10-2, 4-1 UFC) vs. John Yannis (10-4, 1-1 UFC)

McGhee coming forward and lands a pair of right hands. McGhee with a body kick. Yannis connects with a leg kick. Yannis with a body kick. McGhee lands a right hand. McGhee with a check hook. Both are connecting in close range. McGhee with a combination. McGhee working the jab from the southpaw position. McGhee with another combo and lands a right hand. McGhee lands inside the pocket. Yannis with a body kick then a right hook. 10-9 McGhee.

McGhee with a hard leg kick followed by a body kick. They trade leg kicks. Yannis connects inside the pocket. McGhee with a pair of right hooks. Yannis lands the jab. McGhee lands a combination. Yannis lands a right hook to the body. McGhee hurts Yannis with some body shots and connects with some head shots. Yannis lands a left hand and fires back with some stiff shots. Yannis lands to the body. McGhee lands to the body. 10-9 McGhee, 20-18 McGhee.

McGhee with a pair of body kicks. McGhee with a high kick. McGhee lands a pair of right hands. Yannis is pressing forward, but McGhee is landing off his back foot. Yannis with a right hand. McGhee with a short combination. McGhee lands a right hand and then a body kick. McGhee with a front kick. McGhee lands a jab. Yannis lands a right hand. McGhee with a jab. McGhee with a left hand. Yannis lands a body kick. 10-9 McGhee, 30-27 McGhee.

Fight Result- Marcus McGhee def. John Yannis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> 130-pound Catchweights- Matt Schnell (17-10 1 NC, 7-8 1 NC) vs. Alessandro Costa (15-5, 3-3 UFC)

Schnell with a body kick. They trade kicks. Schnell lands a leg kick. They both land big shots inside the pocket. Costa lands a right hand and Schnell is on wobbly legs. Schnell looks for a takedown as he goes down face first and Costa starts landing tons of punches from the back and it is stopped! Big finish from Costa to get the win.

Fight Result- Alessandro Costa def. Matt Schnell by TKO (punches) at 2:28 of Round 1

MAIN CARD | 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT

> Light Heavyweights- Iwo Baraniewski (8-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Junior Tafa (7-5, 3-5 UFC)

Baraniewski lands a leg kick. Baraniewski looks for a takedown as he pushes Tafa against the fence. Baraniewski with a knee and a right hand as they break. Tafa lands a right hand. Baraniewski lands a heavy calf kick. Baraniewski lands another leg kick and Tafa goes down. Baraniewski with a ton of right hands from the top and it is all over! What a finish by Baraniewski!

Fight Result- Iwo Baraniewski def. Junior Tafa by TKO (strikes) at 1:25 of Round 1

> Bantamweights- Bryce Mitchell (18-3, 9-3 UFC) vs. Santiago Luna (8-0, 2-0 UFC)

They both throw body kicks. Mitchell lands a left hand then a pair of leg kicks. Luna lands a right hand. Mitchell with a leg kick. Mitchell looks for a takedown and pushes it to the fence. Luna reverses and they scramble to the mat with Mitchell in the half-guard. Mitchell pressuring from side control. Mitchell isn’t really doing anything. Mitchell with more top pressure. Mitchell is able to get the full mount. Luna tries to reverse but Mitchell gets the back and looks for a choke. He lets go and lands from the mount. 10-9 Mitchell.

Mitchell lands a combination. Luna with a right hand. Mitchell pushes it to the fence as they tie up. Mitchell lands some knees. Mitchell with more knees. They scramble to the mat and Luna is on top inside the guard of Mitchell. They get to their feet. Luna with a combo. Mitchell looks for a takedown as he pushes Luna to the fence. Mitchell gets a takedown. Mitchell working from the top as he lands some short shots and looks for the mount position. Mitchell gets side control and lands punches. 10-9 Mitchell, 20-18 Mitchell.

Luna comes out firing punches but misses and Mitchell lands a high kick. Mitchell shoots for a takedown, but Luna ends up on top. Luna looks to attack the neck and is trying to get a D’Arce choke locked on. Mitchell escapes into side control and then immediately gets into the mount position. Mitchell looking to set up an arm-triangle choke. Mitchell continues to control from the top as he’s blocking Luna’s attempts to reverse. Both land on the mat. Mitchell gets the back and flattens Luna out looking for a choke. He lets go and lands some short punches. Luna spins and Mitchell is in the mount looking for an arm-triangle choke. He has it locked in and Luna taps in the final seconds!

Fight Result- Bryce Mitchell def. Santiago Luna by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:52 of Round 3

> Lightweights- #14 Fares Ziam (18-4, 8-2 UFC) vs. Tom Nolan (10-1, 4-1 UFC)

Nolan lands a leg kick. He lands another. Nolan with a high kick then a leg kick. Ziam grabs the leg and gets a takedown and grabs the neck for a guillotine choke but lets go and grabs the back. They stand and Ziam lands an elbow. Nolan with a body kick as Ziam lands a left hook. Nolan with a straight left hand before he scores a big takedown. Nolan lands from the top and gets into side control. Nolan gets into the guard of Ziam. Nolan gets Ziam to the fence and lands more punches from the top. Nolan looks for the neck as they start to scramble up. Nolan has the back and scores a big takedown and is in side control. Ziam is able to reverse and is now controlling from the top. Ziam takes Nolan’s back. Ziam tries a takedown but Nolan escapes. Ziam lands a combination and Nolan gets the clinch. 10-9 Nolan.

Nolan with a leg kick but eats a big three-punch combination from Ziam. Nolan gets the clinch along the fence. Ziam reverses position and lands a knee. Nolan reverses and has the double underhooks. Nolan with some knees and he lands on the break and Ziam slips to the mat. Nolan gets on top into the half-guard and lands an elbow. Ziam attacks the arm from the bottom. Nolan gets out and postures against the fence. They scramble to the knees and Nolan lands a pair of knees to the legs of Ziam. They get to their feet. Nolan has body control and lands a knee. Ziam with a right hand as they separate. 10-9 Nolan, 20-18 Nolan.

Ziam is pressuring Nolan to back up. Nolan lands a knee then looks for a takedown as he pushes Ziam against the fence and has the body lock. Nolan with a knee. Ziam scores a big takedown. Ziam takes the back of Nolan. Nolan rolls and Ziam is in side control. Ziam takes the back. Ziam lands but Nolan is able to reverse and is inside the guard of Ziam. Nolan with some elbows from the top. Nolan has back control as they stand and lands a knee. Nolan lands a knee. Ziam scores another takedown. Ziam with some knees from the back. Ziam lands a big elbow as they stand. 10-9 Ziam, 29-28 Nolan.

Fight Result- Tom Nolan def. Fares Ziam by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Middleweights- #4 Brendan Allen (26-7, 14-4 UFC) vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (16-5, 9-5 UFC)

Allen throws but is unable to connect. Allen with a body kick. Allen lands a right hand. Allen lands a leg kick. They trade jabs. Allen with a body kick. Allen with a jab. They trade jabs. Both land a leg kick. They trade jabs. Allen with a quick combo as Shahbazyan misses a right hand. Allen shoots for a takedown and Shahbazyan stuffs it. Both land a knee as they tie up. They separate. Shahbazyan connects with a right hand. Shahbazyan with a double jab. Allen looks for a takedown but Shahbazyan defends. Shahbazyan with a double jab followed by a left hand. Allen lands a pair of leg kicks. Shahbazyan with a heavy combo late. 10-9 Allen.

Allen with a leg kick. Allen lands a right hand as Shahbazyan lands a jab. Allen with a right hand followed by a left hook. Allen with a leg kick. Shahbazyan lands a leg kick. Allen lands a right hand inside the pocket. That have an exchange in the pocket and Allen looks for a takedown, but Shahbazyan defends it. Allen with a stiff jab and lands a big right hand. They clinch and Allen with an elbow. Allen works the jab. Shahbazyan lands a right hand. Shahbazyan with a jab. Allen lands a right hand. They trade as Shahbazyan circles away. Allen with a leg kick as Shahbazyan lands a jab. They trade late. 10-9 Allen, 20-18 Allen.

Allen lands a combination. Allen with a right hand. Shahbazyan works the jab. Shahbazyan with another jab. Allen lands a leg kick. Allen lands a right hand. Shahbazyan lands a right hand to the body. Allen fires back with some punches and lands an elbow. They trade jabs. Shahbazyan with a right hand. They trade punches. Shahbazyan with a right hand. Allen lands a leg kick. Allen with a short combo and they trade right hands. Shahbazyan with a right hand but Allen fires back a big combination. Shahbazyan with the jab. Allen with a body kick. Allen lands a right hand followed by an uppercut. Shahbazyan gets the body lock and pushes it to the fence, but Allen lands as they separate. Allen with a short elbow. Shahbazyan lands a combo. Shahbazyan’s face is messed up. Allen gets a late takedown. They get up and have a big exchange late. 10-9 Allen, 30-27 Allen.

Fight Result- Brendan Allen def. Edmen Shahbazyan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

> Welterweights- #5 Belal Muhammad (24-5 1 NC, 15-5 1 NC UFC) vs. #11 Gabriel Bonfim (19-1, 6-1 UFC)

Muhammad with some early jabs. Muhammad lands a right hand. Bonfim with a body kick. Muhammad lands a right hand. Bonfim lands a body kick. Bonfim works the jab. Muhammad lands a right hand and then a combo. They trade leg kicks. Bonfim lands a body kick and they trade heavy right hands. Muhammad with a leg kick. Bonfim lands a left hook. They trade leg kicks. Bonfim with a high kick. 10-9 Bonfim.

Bonfim with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Bonfim lands another leg kick. Bonfim with a quick combo in close range. Muhammad lands a right hand. Bonfim with more calf kicks. Bonfim with another calf kick. Muhammad lands a left hand. Bonfim works the jab and Muhammad lands a leg kick. Bonfim with another leg kick and they have an exchange. Bonfim with the jab and both land a left hook. Muhammad lands a right hand. Bonfim lands another leg kick. He lands another. Bonfim with a double jab. Muhammad rushes in but Bonfim lands a counter combination. Muhammad sneaks in a head kick. Bonfim back to the calf kick. He lands another. Muhammad with a high kick. 10-9 Bonfim, 20-18 Bonfim.

Muhammad immediately shoots for a takedown but Bonfim defends. Bonfim lands a leg kick. Bonfim lands a right hand. Bonfim lands a leg kick. They trade in close range. Bonfim with another heavy calf kick. Muhammad with a body kick. Bonfim lands a big right hand and Muhammad loses his mouth piece. Herb Dean steps in and Muhammad puts it back in and they get back going. Bonfim with another right hand. They trade as Bonfim is pressuring. Bonfim lands another big right hand. Bonfim lands another right hand. 10-9 Bonfim, 30-27 Bonfim.

Bonfim lands the jab. Bonfim with another jab as Muhammad lands a right hand. Muhammad with a body kick. He lands another one. Bonfim lands a right hand as Muhammad lands a left hand. Muhammad’s nose is busted up. Bonfim lands a jab. He lands another. Muhammad with a body kick. Muhammad lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks at the same time. Bonfim with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Muhammad lands a body kick. Bonfim with a right hand. Muhammad lands a jab. Bonfim with a big right hand. They trade late. 10-9 Bonfim, 40-36 Bonfim.

They trade punches. Bonfim with a big right hand. Muhammad lands a body kick. Bonfim lands a right hand. Bonfim works the jab as Muhammad lands a right hand. They trade leg kicks. Bonfim with a body kick and Muhammad catches it and lands a right hand. Bonfim connects with another right hand. They trade jabs. They trade punches and kicks. Muhammad’s face is messed up some more. They trade and Muhammad with a jumping knee. 10-9 Bonfim, 50-45 Bonfim.

Fight Result- Gabriel Bonfim def. Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)

WOR: Mask vs. mask rating, WWE creative, Mick Foley

Dave Meltzer and I are back on Wrestling Observer Radio discussing the major stories from today’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We talked about:

  • El Grande Americano vs. El Grande Americano match rating
  • AAA vs. WWE
  • UFC at the White House
  • Forbidden Door main event
  • Mick Foley in AEW

Click here to listen (subscription required) or watch on YouTube

WWE SmackDown live results: King & Queen of the Ring matches in Bologna

Days removed from Clash in Italy, WWE SmackDown emanates live from Bologna this afternoon.

Cody Rhodes retained his Undisputed WWE Championship over Gunther on Sunday, but not without some controversy attached to the result, as Rhodes’ winning pin was made while Gunther’s foot was on the bottom rope.

Rhodes is set to appear on SmackDown this evening, but Gunther will certainly have a lot to say regarding the finish.

The road to Night of Champions and the King and Queen of the Ring finals continues as we’ll see two fatal four-way bouts.

For the men, Bron Breakker, Dominik Mysterio, Trick Williams, and Damian Priest will battle for a spot in the King of the Ring semis.

On the women’s side, Kiana James, Jacy Jayne, Bayley, and Raquel Rodriguez will do battle.

We’ll find out what’s next for WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley following her successful title defense over Jade Cargill. Plus, Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints will continue their rivalry with another match.

Today’s show is airing live on Netflix overseas starting at 2 p.m. Eastern time and will air in its regular USA Network time slot later tonight.

**********

– Following the WWE signature, we got a recap of last Sunday’s Clash in Italy PLE, specifically from the SmackDown side of things. After that, we opened with Michael Cole (filling in for Joe Tessitore) and Wade Barrett as they were interrupted by an irate Gunther ripping apart the commentary tables.

Gunther wants justice

Gunther ranted about how he was the greatest wrestler in the world and that he intentionally put his foot on the bottom rope, which invalidates Cody Rhodes’ win on Sunday. As Gunther called out Rhodes, the theme of the Undisputed WWE Champion interrupted.

Rhodes said that Gunther was right, but he wondered why a twenty year veteran acted like he never had moments where he was “big mad”. Rhodes said that sometimes, you’re the hero or the cold-blooded sausage maker, and that he knew who was which between him and Gunther as he challenged “The Ring General” to have a rematch for the title tonight. Sami Zayn interrupted not long after.

Zayn started by saying he knew how Gunther felt with all the complaining he’s doing. He again called Rhodes a “golden boy” as Gunther told him to go away. Zayn noted that he might not know what being a world champion is like, but he knew a thing or two about beating Gunther. Rhodes told Zayn to calm down, but the mouthy Canadian wouldn’t take that for an answer.

Gunther shoved Rhodes into Zayn and locked him into the sleeper. Zayn hesitated but tried to help Rhodes. The two brawled outside as Rhodes went for a suicide dive. Gunther shoved Zayn in the path of Rhodes’ dive. Gunther backed off as Zayn refused to accept Rhodes’ apology.

This Zayn/Rhodes story is one of the better things in WWE right now, and I enjoy it intersecting with the Gunther title feud. Hope they can make it interesting.

*************

– Nick Aldis admonished Gunther for what he did before the break, but Gunther said he was being disrespected, threatening to drown Aldis in lawsuits until he got what he wanted.

Queen of the Ring Fatal Four-Way Qualifier: Raquel Rodriguez vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Kiana James vs. Bayley

This match kicked off as all four women faced off in the ring. Bayley and Raquel fought it out briefly as James and Jayne tried to go after the Judgment Day’s giantess. A clothesline from Bayley took Rodriguez out of the equation, while she hit a Bayley-to-Belly on Jayne for an early near-fall. James tried to roll-up Bayley, but couldn’t get the pin.

Jayne attempted a double stack pin on Bayley and James, but the two kicked out. The action was fast and fureious in the ring as Raquel re-entered the fray with a crossbody that took everyone out as we took a commercial break.

Back from commercial as Raquel was driven shoulder-first into the steel steps by a group effort from Bayley, James, and Jayne. On the apron, Jayne took off with a diving cannonball to take out Bayley and James. Jayne threw Bayley into the ring and hit her with a neckbreaker. The throw to the ropes as Jayne stomped away on Bayley in the corner. Kick right into Bayley’s spine was followed by a Jayne senton for another near-fall. James tried to get back in the ring, but Jayne knocked her down. James recovered and had Jayne in the cornere, but she missed with the running shoulder charge. Jayne then got Bayley and James with rolling cannonball sentons. Rodriguez joined in and hit the corkscrew splash from the corner for a close two.

Raquel placed Bayley on the top rope and punched at her. Jayne pulled Raquel down and then went after Bayley herself. Frankensteiner connects as Raquel then hit a powerbomb on Bayley, throwing her right into Jayne. Double chokeslam by Raquel, but Jayne broke it up as we took another break in the action.

Back from commercial as Jayne pummelled James in the ring, but it opened her up for a knee strike from Bayley. On the top rope, Bayley hit the diving elbow on Jayne, but James broke up the count. James blocked a Bayley-to-Belly, as she then hit the Dealbreaker and a standing moonsault for a two. Outside the ring, Jayne took Giulia out, as James got the pin and used the ropes for leverage. Jayne knocked the foot off the rope as Giulia struck her down. When James recovered, she saw Giulia and yelled at her for supposedly ruining the win, but Bayley got James with the Roseplant. Rolling Encore to Bayley, but Raquel stepped in and hit the Tejana Bomb on James for the win.

After the match, James was still angry at Giulia for costing her the win, continually yelling at her and stating that she was done with Giulia. This led to Giulia snapping and attacking James for all the insults thrown at her.

Raquel Rodriguez def. Bayley, Kiana James, and Jacy Jayne via pinfall

This was a decent start to the night’s action, but the Giulia attack on Kiana should hopefully mean the beginning of righting the course, so to speak for Giulia, who many feel hasn’t gotten her fair shake on the main roster.

*************

– Sami Zayn stormed around backstage and found Johnny Gargano as he whined about Cody Rhodes some more to him. Nick Aldis appeared and warned him to stay out of Rhodes and Gunther’s business. Zayn kept whining, but Aldis said he had a very important meeting to attend to. Zayn wondered who was important enough for the meeting as Chad Gable, the former “Original” El Grande Americano appeared. Gable walked into Aldis’ office.

Royce Keys vs. Talla Tonga (w/ Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga)

Keys stood nose-to-nose in front of Talla and got pie-faced for it. Keys responded with some strikes that barely staggered Talla. The M.F.T.s’ monster responded with a huge shoulder block. Keys attempted a powerslam, but couldn’t get Talla up as he got battered in the back. The two big men traded strikes, but Talla blasted Keys with a throat thrust that brought the powerhouse to his knees. Slam attempt was countered by Keys, as a pair of clotheslines sent Talla over the top rope, which took us to the break.

Back to SmackDown as Keys’ attempt at a slam was blocked by Talla, who dropped onto the chest of Keys. The running big boot from Talla into the corner failed to find its target, which gave Keys the opening to try and create something. Clubbing strikes from Keys rocked Talla, but not enough to ground him. Running clotheslines to no avail, as well as the slam attempt. Talla missed with a running splash into the corner, which opened him up for Keys knocking the giant off his feet with a running pounce. Finally, Keys was able to hit the powerslam on Tallla as the straps went down.

Solo Sikoa got on the apron to distract as Tama Tonga tried to instigate further. He ate a punch for his troubles at ringside. As Keys got back into the ring, he got hit with the big boot from Talla and the Talla T-Bomb for the win.

Post-match, Sikoa had Talla and Tama attack Keys until R-Truth ran in to try and make the save. The Numbers’ Game™ seemed too much as Damian Priest ran down, but not to save Keys. This left the powerhouse open for a Cutthroat from Tama, who struck with the dulled edge of an osprey.

Talla Tonga def. Royce Keys via pinfall

The Bloodline over on Raw and the M.F.T.s on SmackDown are just not grabbing my attention, and this match being more of the same when it comes to M.F.T. stuff is boring. The tease at Clash in Italy of these two factions potentially feuding is something I’m dreading and given WWE’s predilection for reheated leftovers, especially when it comes to anything Bloodline-adjacent, it’s an inevitability.

*************

– We got a vignette teasing the arrival of SmackDown’s newest arrival, Finn Balor. We’ll see him next week in a King of the Ring Fatal Four-Way where he’ll take on Jey Uso, Royce Keys, and L.A. Knight.

– Elsewhere, Damian Priest was upset about helping about someone that he doesn’t even know. Royce Keys is not someone that Priest knows, and that his priority was keeping R-Truth okay. As Priest left, the AAA Tag Team Champions, the War Raiders, appeared and said that when Priest and Truth were ready to face them, they’d be game. Truth told the Raiders that he never met either of them ever.

Rhea Ripley addresses Clash in Italy

The WWE Women’s Champion entered to a huge ovation from the Bologna crowd, fresh off of her defeat of Jade Cargill at Clash in Italy.

Ripley started by saying hello to the Bologna crowd before she talked about how she finally put the Jade Cargill chapter behind her this past Sunday. Ripley noted that she didn’t come out completely unscathed, as her knee was a little bit banged up after Clash in Italy. The Bologna crowd continued to sing their love for Ripley.

Ripley noted how Cargill came into Sunday with a gameplan to take her out, use the numbers of The Baddies against her, but at the end of the day, Cargill failed because Ripley was still the WWE Women’s Champion. As for that numbers advantage Cargill tried to play, Ripley said that she got some unexpected help in that situation as Charlotte Flair made her way down to the ring.

Flair said that she knew that Ripley didn’t ask for her help, but she had Ripley’s back because she respected her. Flair admitted after the past few weeks, she had fun teaming up with Ripley, but with the Queen of the Ring coming up in a few weeks, she knew that she was a competitor. So, for as much fun as Ripley had in teaming up with Ripley, at SummerSlam, it would be her standing in front of Ripley. That’s because Ripley still had what she wanted.

Tiffany Stratton, the WWE Women’s United States Champion interrupted things. Flair wondered if Stratton was her to apologize to her, but Stratton said she was here to call her shot for the WWE Women’s Championship. Enter Jade Cargill and fellow Baddies B-Fab and Michin.

Cargill said that since she was in the Queen of the Ring alongside Flair, she was ready to make her pay for her little sidequest on Sunday. Cargill then turned her attention to Stratton, telling her to stay out of the grown folks’ business. Cargill then said she was coming after what was her’s right now.

SmackDown’s esteemed GM, Nick Aldis cut in before Charlotte Flair said that maybe we should see her and Tiffany Stratton face off against Cargill and one of her Baddies right now. Aldis said that he never let a good idea pass her by as this match officially was made. Holla holla.

Standard setup for the Queen of the Ring fatal four-way matches involving Cargill, Flair, and Stratton happening next week. Nothing much else to say here.

*************

Charlotte Flair & Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill & Michin

Flair and Michin started off here as she got her with the rolling head-scissors before she stared down Cargill. This allowed Michin to recover and hit her with a release German suplex. Stratton tagged in and hit Michin with the running hip attack against the ropes, followed by the basement dropkick. Cargill tagged in and got Stratton with the fallaway slam, followed by the spinebuster for a near-fall.

Flair tagged in and connected with a crossbody on legal woman Michin, followed by the stepover clothesline. In the corner, Flair chopped at Michin twice before she nailed her with a big boot. Flair got Cargill and B-Fab with big boots as she hit them with a diving crossbody. This opened her up to a Michin suicide dive as we took a timeout.

Back fromt he break as Flair hit a huge back suplex on Michin to create some needed separation. Michin tried to stop Flair from making the tag to Stratton. Cargill got Flair with a cheapshot, which allowed Michin to hit the Styles Clash. One, two… Stratton broke up the count. Michin attempted a figure-four, but Flair reversed it as she sent Michin crashing into the ringpost. This allowed a hot tag from Stratton, who unleashed a back elbow on Michin and a shotgun dropkick to Cargill. Alabama Slam by Stratton to Michin as she headed up top and connected with the Swanton Bomb. One, two… Michin kicked out at two.

Pele kick from Michin allowed for the tag to Cargill, who got hit with a springboard Stunner by Stratton for the two-count. Flair and Michin took each other out, which led to Stratton and Cargill mixing it up in the ring. Cargill caught Stratton and lifted her up for the Powerbomb and the near-fall. Outside the ring, B-Fab blasted Flair with a pump-kick as Stratton got lifted up for Jaded. To no avail. On the second time around, Cargill hit Stratton with Jaded and the win.

Jade Cargill & Michin def. Charlotte Flair & Tiffany Stratton via pinfall

An alright tag match. The Cargill & Baddies faction is still doing nothing for me whatsoever, no matter how hard WWE tries with them.

*************

– Backstage, Fatal Influence attacked Paige & Brie Bella, as they interrupted a photoshoot by the WWE Women’s Tag Champions.

– A video of Cody Rhodes hanging out with contest winners at Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe was shown.

– R-Truth chatted with Royce Keys, wanting to get him to play ball with Damian Priest, or as Truth called him “D.P.”. Keys said he wasn’t willing to team up with Priest.

Ricky Saints vs. Carmelo Hayes

Saints ambushed Hayes before the bell could even ring as he attacked him in the corner before lighting his chest up with a chop. Hayes fought back and threw Saints out of the ring as he took off with the tope con hilo. In the ring, frog splash by Hayes on Saints got a near-fall. Saints wrenched Hayes’ arms and chopped him, but he got hit the springboard clothesline. A clothesline from Hayes to Saints took us to the commercial break.

We returned from the break as Saints hit Hayes with a clothesline before he kept the pressure on his foe. The running uppercut into the corner, followed by the bulldog for a near-fall from Saints. Hayes countered a Northern Lights Suplex attempt from Saints into a DDT that kept both men down. Both Saints and Hayes got to their feet and began to exchange strikes. Big Boot by Saints was met by Dirty Diana from Hayes. One, two…. 2.999999999!!!!!!! First 48 countered into a jackknife pin combination, but no three.

A bounce off the turnbuckle and the Revolution DDT by Saints on Hayes, but that wasn’t enough for the three. Powerbomb by Saints reversed into the First 48 by Hayes, but the Absolute One kicked out at two. Hayes headed up top and looked for Nothin’ But Net, as Saints used the ropes to knock his foe off balance. Out of the ring, Hayes leapt at Saints, but got hit in the gut, with the referee counting down. Hayes beat out the count as Saints argued with the referee. Hayes rolled up Saints but got only a near-fall. Hayes’ rollup was turned into a rollup by Saints, and a handful of tights got the win for Saints.

Ricky Saints def. Carmelo Hayes

I enjoy these two facing off one another and this match was another solid entry in their current duology of matches.

*************

– Trick Williams’ interview was interrupted by Bron Breakker, who stared him down. These two will be in the King of the Ring fatal four-way later on tonight.

– Chelsea Green tried to once again ask for Tiffany Stratton’s help, but got told by the Women’s U.S. Champion that she could handle it herself.

– Blake Monroe focused on Tiffany Stratton in this latest vignette heralding that she was coming soon to SmackDown (despite, again, having appeared in a brief backstage cameo two weeks ago). Monroe said that Tiffy Time was going to run into “Monroe Minutes” real soon.

Chelsea Green vs. Lash Legend (w/ Nia Jax)

Green slapped Legend in the face, as she ran out of the ring and was chased at ringside. Green slid in the ring and hit Legend with a Codebreaker. However, Legend got her with the rolling uppercut. Legend took time to play with her food as she hit the running splash on Green. Bearhug by Legend had Green ragdolled out of the ring as Nia Jax attacked with the ref focused on Legend in the ring.

In the ring, Sunset Flip by Green led to an Aloha Arn struggle, but Legend kept her balance before she absolutely tattooed Green with the big boot. Running splash by Legend was missed as Green began to try and mount a comeback., Clotheslines by Green weren’t enough to keep Legend out cold, but the top-rope-a-dope was enough to send her out of the ring. Green to the top rope and a diving crossbody onto both Jax and Legend. In the ring, Green went for another high-risk move as the missile dropkick found its target in Legend. One, two… not quite.

Un-Pretty-Her by Green, but Legend used her strength to block it and turn it into the Lash Extension for the three.

Lash Legend def. Chelsea Green via pinfall

This was decent, and the Lash Legend counter of the Un-Pretty-Her into the Lash Extension was well-executed.

*************

– We got a recap of Jacob Fatu acknowledging his Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, on Raw this past Monday.

– Royce Keys was confronted by Solo Sikoa backstage. Sikoa said that Roman Reigns made Keys’ boy Jacob Fatu kneel like a dog, which meant Keys had nobody around. Sikoa asked if anybody checked up on him even as Keys was busting his ass. Roman Reigns didn’t. Jacob Fatu didn’t. But Solo Sikoa did. Sikoa said that they needed to get ready for war as Keyes needed to stop making it difficult, or else Sikoa would make it difficult himself.

– We got a recap of Chad Gable’s unmasking following Mask vs. Mask last Saturday in AAA. After that, AAA World Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix was chatting with the Fraxiom duo of Nathan Frazer & Axiom before Chad Gable showed up. Gable said that he and Fenix had an awesome match at WrestleMania, but it was under false pretenses. Gable noted that he wore the El Grande Americano mask originally as a mockery of lucha libre. Gable flew all the way from Italy and asked for Fenix’s forgiveness. Fenix said that he accepted Gable’s apology, but told him that he wasn’t the only one that he needed to ask an apology from.

– Elsewhere, Cody Rhodes was informed by Nick Aldis that he had to wait until next week for Gunther to announce the terms for the rematch for the Undisputed WWE World Title. We learned that this match would happen in two weeks in Kansas City, MO.

King of the Ring Fatal Four-Way Qualifier: Damian Priest vs. Bron Breakker vs. Trick Williams vs. Dominik Mysterio

Breakker didn’t waste time as he hit Williams with a German suplex to start. Priest then began to fight with Breakker as he got hit with a German suplex. Another German suplex to Williams by Breakker as he then flattened Priest with the super-speedy shoulder block. Outside the ring, Breakker stalked Dominik and got him with the massive shoulder tackle as we took a commercial break.

Back to our main event as Priest and Breakker stared down before they briefly worked together to hit an interfering Breakker with a superkick. With Breakker taken care of, Priest hit Dominik with a slam before he unleashed his flurry of kicks on Williams and Breakker, who both got deposited to the outside. Superkick to Dominik by Priest turned the AAA Mega Campeon inside out. Priest’s forearm was countered by Dominik, but that couldn’t keep him down for long. Breakker connected with the Frankensteiner for a pinfall, but Dominik broke it up.

Dominik tried for the Three Amigos, but Breakker reversed it into a military press World’s Strongest Slam. Williams broke up the subsequent pinfall attempt by Breakker. Williams and Breakker exchanged strikes as the U.S. Champion then hit him with the sidekick. There was one for Dominik, as he was then flattened by the clothesline. Neckbreaker to Priest by Williams, who then connected with the Book-End for a near-fall. Priest headed up top but he was met by Dominik. Williams hoisted Dominik on his shoulders as Priest got his shots in the prone Dominik. Breakker tried for another Frankensteiner, but that was blocked. Breakker and Williams briefly teamed up as they hit the double superplex and we headed to one last commercial break.

Our main event returned from the break with all four men fighting in the ring. Dominik moved out of the way of Breakker’s spear, which sent him crashing into the ringpost. Meanwhile, Dominik got taken for the Razor’s Edge ride by Priest. The cover, but Liv Morgan distracted the referee. Breakker grabbed Priest by the neck as he lifted him up and hit the uppercut on the crash to Earth. Breakker then took down Williams with a toss across the ring. Superkick by Dominik followed by the dropkick, which put him in the 619 position. Spear by Breakker on Priest, he got sent out of the ring with a Trick Shot knee from Williams. The cover on Priest, but Dominik pulled the ref out of the ring.

Breakker recovered and put Williams through the commentary table with his signature leaping apron clothesline. In the ring, Priest was dropkicked by Dominik, but he was met with a big boot. J.D. McDonagh tried to interfere, but he got dropped with South of Heaven by Priest. Dominik got choked by Priest, but Liv Morgan hit him with the low blow. 619 by Dominik, then the Frog Splash, and that’s it, over. Dominik Mysterio is on his way to the King of the Ring Semifinals…. and a date with Oba Femi.

Dominik Mysterio def. Damian Priest, Bron Breakker, and Trick Wiliams via pinfall.

*************

A good main event for an otherwise by-the-numbers edition of SmackDown. The dynamic between Dominik, Trick, Breakker, and Priest was great and it made for a fun four-man match to cap off the show.

Elsewhere, the show didn’t really seem all that exciting, and a lot of it stems from how the booking feels like it’s on autopilot right now, especially in the runup to Night of Champions. The reheated leftovers of things like the Bloodline don’t help, either.

Speaking of reheated leftovers, as good as the Sami Zayn stuff is, the same really can’t be said for Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther. The wrinkle of a title match on TV in a couple of weeks being preceded by a set of stipulations to be named by the challenger who complained of a questionable finish? That’s pretty much what the booking was for the Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre title feud from a few months back. In which case, don’t be surprised if Gunther does win in Kansas City, but through dubious means to set up the rubber match this Summer.

All in all, not really a SmackDown to write home about. Some good stuff (the main event, Saints vs. Hayes), but everything else just feels kind of there.


June 8, 2026 Observer Newsletter: Wrestling war escalations, AAA’s mask vs. mask classic, WWE Clash in Italy ratings

Dave Meltzer has returned with a new and packed Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

He leads off with the latest escalations in the various wrestling wars including WWE NXT, AEW and TNA going head-to-head later this month while WWE owned AAA is also making moves against rivals CMLL.

Dave recaps last weekend’s incredible match and atmosphere for the battle of the El Grande Americanos in their mask vs. mask match including his ratings for the event.

He also looks at the latest in the WWE shareholder lawsuit, his WWE Clash in Italy review and ratings, and news from all around the wrestling and MMA/UFC world.

Click here to read (sub needed)

B&V: AEW Dynamite and NXT, plus backstage notes!

The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with tons to talk about including a full recap of AEW Dynamite with one person already heading to the finals of the Owen and a surprise debut on the women’s side. We’ll also talk a very average version of NXT filled with, well, average stuff up and down the show, AND LIMITED FUCKING GRAPHICS. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Right Click Save As

TNA Impact live results: The Hardys vs. The Righteous Wicked Garden match

TNA Impact travels to the Wicked Garden tonight.

A Wicked Garden match with Vincent and Dutch (The Righteous) against Matt and Jeff Hardy is scheduled for tonight’s show.

Also scheduled, Stacks and Arianna Grace will wrestle Grace’s father, Santino Marella, and Indi Hartwell in tag team action.

AJ Francis is advertised for the show, though it’s not clear what he will be doing.

Eddie Edwards vs. BDE is set for singles action.

Eric Young is also advertised for the show, though it’s not clear what he will be doing.

In a mixed singles bout, TNA Knockouts World Champion Lei Ying Lee will wrestle Mr. Elegance of The Elegance Brand.

TNA Impact lineup for tonight:

  • A Wicked Garden match with Vincent & Dutch vs. Matt & Jeff Hardy
  • Stacks & Arianna Grace vs. Santino Marella & Indi Hartwell
  • Eddie Edwards vs. BDE
  • TNA Knockouts World Champion Lei Ying Lee vs. Mr. Elegance
  • AJ Francis advertised
  • Eric Young advertised

Our live coverage kicks off at 9 p.m. Eastern.

*******************************

“I wanna run through your wicked garden
Heard that’s the place to find you
‘Cause I’m alive, so alive now
I know the darkness blinds you”

Welcome in friends to TNA where they love a good car crash because becuase they’re full of high-impact action! Tonight we hear from AJ Francis (I’m just speculating, but I bet he says ‘money’ a lot) and Eric Young (who’s currently suing RFK for stealing his voice).

We also get a rare Inter-gender match, a mixed tag bout and a Stone Temple Pilots concert with the Hardys and the Righteous! But to kick things off:

Eddie Edwards vs BDE

Edwards its looking to show the world that he’s still got what it takes to be in the TNA Title picture. And if it means going through BDE to do it, well, then that’s probably whats going to happen I guess.

Edwards had a size advantage over BDE, but BDE brought the speed and got the first hit of the match in off of a springboard crossbody. He went up top, but Edwards was ready for it and crotched him on the turnbuckle. Edwards then hit a massive superplex off the top, but BDE kicked out of the cover.

BDE came back swinging, throwing jabs at Edwards’ face. He then hit a modified unprettier, but Edwards kicked out at two. BDE countered Edward’s attempt at a blue thunder bomb and hit him with double knees. Then Alicia Edwards got up on the apron to cause a distraction, but BDE was able to shake it off and hit a springboard cutter on Edwards (Eddie, not Alicia).

BDE went for a frog splash, but Edwards got the knees up and hit him with a Boston Knee Party (I love that name). Edwards made the cover and picked up the win.

Match Result: Eddie Edwards defeated BDE

After the matchj, Fabian Aichner came stomping down to the ring and single-handedly took out the System. Haha, no he didn’t! Aichner fell victim to the damn numbers game, but then Leon Slater showed up to even the odds. Aichner, BDE and Slater took out The System, but it should be noted, they did not beat them.

A cinematic, pre-taped promo for the Wicked Garden match aired next and it was exactly as weird as you think it would be, without telling us anything about the match itself.

Back from a break, AJ Francis made his way to the ring. Last week, Elijah rejected his offer to make music together, so this week, Francis is looking for money, money (sigh) money. Francis made fun of his former friends KC Navarro and Rich Swann, and then debuted his brand new song called “Walk.”

It made R-truth’s “What’s Up” look like Jay-Z’s “Encore.”

Francis’ “rap” was interrupted by Elijah who came out and said that he heard his guitar sampled in the song and walking is his thing, so he came out to see what was going on.

He accused Francis of using ChatGPT to rip him off. Francis then handed him a cease and desist letter. Last week, after Elijah refused to collaborate with him, Francis went and trademarked the look and name of Elias, Elijah and Ezekiel. Somehow, that also gave Francis ownership of all of Elijah’s music.

Elijah said he didn’t care about the legality and wanted to debut is new song “No Skill Uncle Phil.” Francis punched him in the face and that mercifully ended the segment.

-Back from break Elayna Black cut a promo from backstage about how she’s better than everyone. She then took aim at Indi hartwell who she accused of trying to suck up to the boss instead of getting by on talent, like Black does.

Mixed Tag Match: Santino Marella & Indi Hartwell vs Arianna Grace & Stacks

It’s a tale as old as time. Dad is a wrestler, so his daughter becomes a wrestler. Daughter starts dating a guy who’s a bit of a jerk, Dad takes away her Knockouts title. Then Indi Hartwell gets involved somewhere a long the line. Like I said, tale as old as time.

Also, Frankie Kazarian joined commentary under the orders of Daria Rae for some reason.

Also, Also: As someone from Missussauga, Ontario, Canada I love that Santino is billed as from there.

Santino and Stacks started things off, picking up where they left off last week in their singles bout. Immediately, Stacks tagged in Grance who yelled at Santino, eventually shoving her father. That brought Hartwell in to shove Grace, and then Stacks started fighting with Santino.

Somewhere in there, the match started.

Santino fought out of the corner, throwing punches at Stacks. Stacks sent him off the ropes and Santino grabbed a sleeper. Stacks elbowed himself free and then before he could do anything, we went to commercial break.

8 minutes later (seriously) we were back and Stacks went to mock Santino with a saluting headbutt, but Santino moved and sent him out of the ring. Hartwell tagged in, which brought in Grace. Hartwell hit a spinebuster and then got Grace on her shoulders. Grace wiggled out of it and started stomping Hartwell in the corner.

Grace hit a swinging neckbreaker, but Hartwell kicked out at two. Grace hit a suplex and running elbow off the ropes, but still no cover. Grace grabbed a headlock, preventing Hartwell for making a tag. Hartwell got free and the two collided in simultaneous clotheslines.

Santino and Stacks tagged in and Santino dropped him with an armbar. That brought out the Cobra, but Grace snatched it from her father. Stacks held Santino, but when Grace went to strike, Santino ducked and Stacks took the brunt of the Cobra.

Santino brought out a backup cobra and Hartwell put on the other one and they hit stereo cobras on Grace and Stacks. Santino made the pin and they picked up the vctory.

Match Result: Santino Marella & Indi Hartwell defeated Arianna Grace & Stacks

Back from break, the Elegance brand discussed Mr Elegance but then the lights went out and when they came back on, the Goth Girls were there, leading to the Elegance Brand running away.

Then Eric Young was in the ring. He said that TNA was a place of lies and false heroes like Joe Hendry and EC3, who Young chased out of TNA. He claimed that Mike Santana is sick with ego, selfishness and an addiction to crowd applause and approval.

He then said that he is going to beat Santana because he doesn’t need those things. That summoned Santana who Yeeted his way through the crowd to the ring. He grabbed a mic and said that Young was just bitter and irrelevant.

Young said hes been around a long time and has watched TNA rot from the inside due to people like Santana. Santana responded by saying that Young was just an old failure. Young then said that all the crowd cares about is a shiny new toy and once the shine was off of Santana, they will turn on him.

Young then said that he was going to take his power back by piledriving Santana and taking his belt. Santana said that next week he’s going to break his foot off in Young’s posterior. He then said maybe they should do it right here, right now. So, Young kicked him in the crotch and hit him with a piledriver. He then posed with the belt as we went to break.

-Back from said break, TNA International Champion Mustafa Ali called KC Navarro earning a shot at his title a fluke and he will prove it next week.

Intergender Match: TNA Knockouts World Champion Léi Yǐng Lee vs Mr. Elegance

As the doctor said to me at my last colonoscopy, “hang on to something, because this is happening.”

On the way to the ring, the Concierge took an arguably racist swipe at Lei Ying Lee while introducing Mr Elegance. Xia Brookside then joined commentary and her first words were “I don’t know why I’m here.”

Mr Elegance began the match by dancing, shoving Lee to the mat, then dancing some more. Lee then tripped him and mocked him before laying him out with an armdrag. She sent him to the corner for exactly 10 punches and the rest of the Elegance brand hopped up to cause a distraction. So, the ref ejected them from ringside.

Lee tried to pick up Mr in a suplex, but he countered it and danced some more before giving Lee a Devil’s Kiss. He then posed some more until Lee punched him in the gut. Mr dodged a spin kick and dropped Lee with a big left hand punch.

Lee fought back with a flurry of kicks and punches and then got Mr in an ankle lock. He managed to get to the ropes to break the hold, but Lee flapjacked him for a two count. Lee then tried to get him up on her shoulders, but Mr responded with a pop up strike.

He took too much time on the top rope though and Lee crotched him on the turnbuckle. She then went to spin slam him, but Brookside caused a distraction allowing Mr to hit Excuse Moi and pick up the victory.

Match Result: Mr. Elegance defeated Léi Yǐng Lee

After the match, Brookside grabbed a mic and cut a promo over the unconscious Lee. She revealed that their match was official for Slammiversary and then left.

Wicked Garden Match: The Hardys (Matt & Jeff) vs The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent)

“I wanna run through your wicked garden
Heard that’s the place to find you
‘Cause I’m alive, so alive now
I know the darkness blinds you”

So, the Hardys and the Righteous have been neck and neck in the battle of who can be weirder. Last time they met, the Broken Hardys (and even Willow) showed up to help Matt gain a singles victory over Vincent. Tonight, The Righteous are hosting a “Wicked Garden” match which boils down to a street fight with a lot of lattice, flowers and barbed wire wrapped around the ropes. No countouts, no DQ, pin must be in the ring.

The Righteous came to the ring crowned in barbed wire and flowers along with about 30 members of their cult who surrounded the ring, which had me asking, why not just beat up the Hardys 30 on 2? But my thought was interrupted by the entrance of Broken Matt and Brother Nero. The cult members then all left as we went to a commercial break.

When we came back, the bell rang and the match was on. After a prolonged staredown, Matt and Dutch started brawling as did Jeff and Vincent. The Righteous went to whip the hardys into the barbed wire, but they were able to pull back just in time.

Jeff then arm dragged Dutch through one of the lattice pieces coverd in barbed wire and flowers. Vincent then shoved him into the barbed wire wrapped ropes. Matt made the save with an inverted DDT and grabbed a gardening rake. He, well, raked it across Dutch’s face while Jeff stomped Vincent.

Vincent hit a side slam on Matt and then raked it across Matt’s forehead. He turned to Jeff, who hit him with an atomic drop then a pair of dropkicks for a two count. The Hardys then hit a series of combo movies on the Righteous, sending Dutch and Vincent to the outside.

Jeff emptied a bottle of whatever sports drink sponsors TNA onto Dutch and then we went to commercial break.

Back from break, everyone was bloodier, but we won’t bore you with the details of their brutal battle.

Vincent broke some lattice over Jeff and tore his shirt off. Dutch choked Matt in the ring, going for a cover but only getting a two count. Vincent dumped Jeff back into the ring and wrapped his fist in barbed wire to punch Jeff. On the other side of the ring, Matt did the same to Dutch, then low blowed him with the wire.

Jeff got tanlged in the barbed wire, but Matt hit a twist of fate on Vincent to give him space to get free. They wrapped Vincent in a barbed wire crown and then a bloody Dutch came in for a save. The Hardys double suplexed him for his trouble, then put the barbed wire in his mouth. Ew.

Vincent saved Dutch and the Hardys whipped him into the corner for Poetry In Motion. Matt hit a Side Effect on Dutchm but only got a two count. He set him up for a Twist of Fate, but Dutch ran him through the lattice, knocking Jeff off the top turnbuckle in the process.

A kendo stick appeared in Vincent’s hands and he beat up Jeff with it. He and Dutch then tied Jeff to the ropes with some barbed wire. Vincent then pulled out a flower from a pouch, making sure not to touch it. They they forced it into Jeff’s mouth. He collapsed, presumeably because the flower was poisonous?

Matt took out Dutch and Vincent and Jeff stumbled off the ropes, dazed. He then convulsed and slipped out of the ring. Vincent grabbed Matt and threw him at Dutch for a lariat. On the outside Jeff collapsed again, foaming at the mouth.

As they put Jeff on the stretcher, Vincent cackled “I hope you liked meeting Lily of The Valley, Brother Nero.” Then Jeff jumped up and ran back to the ring, flailing into a shot from Dutch before passing out. The Righteous hit Orange Sunshine and got the pin to end the match.

Match Result: The Righteous defeated The Hardys

After the match, the Righteous posed in the ring. Suddenly the lights went out and when they came back on, the Hardys were gone.

ROH live results: Athena vs. Hyan, Lee Moriarty vs. Mance Warner

Ring of Honor is back on HonorClub tonight.

Three proving ground matches are scheduled for tonight’s show.

ROH Women’s Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo will wrestle Isla Dawn in a proving ground match. If Dawn can defeat Purrazzo or last the time limit, she will earn a future shot at the title.

ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty will wrestle Mance Warner in a proving ground match as well.

The Kingdom are back. Mike Bennett and Matt Taven will wrestle Alec Price and Jordan Oliver in tag team competition.

ROH Women’s World Champion Athena will wrestle Hyan in a proving ground match.

Full lineup for tonight’s ROH on HonorClub:

  • Lacey Lane vs. Queen Aminata
  • ROH Women’s Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo vs. Isla Dawn in a proving ground match
  • ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty vs. Mance Warner in a proving ground match
  • Mike Bennett & Matt Taven vs. Alec Price & Jordan Oliver
  • ROH Women’s World Champion Athena vs. Hyan in a proving ground match

Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.

************************

– We got right into it as Ian Riccaboni welcomed us to tonight’s show.

Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) vs. The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz & Myron Reed)

We got underway with Drake hitting Wentz with a cheapshot from behind as he then took a shot at Reed in the Rascalz corner. Gibson tagged in, but it gave Wentz time to get away and tag in his partner Myron Reed. The Rascalz hit the GYV with stereo superkicks that sent them out of the ring, followed by the dual suicide dives to Drake and Gibson. Back in the ring, Wentz and Reed used double team mvoes to take Drake out of the equation before a double clothesline from Gibson stopped the momentum briefly. Hurricanrana by Reed led to nowhere as Gibson avoided the crossbody. The tag to Drake as the jumping dropkick took down Wentz from the apron.

Gibson choked Reed in the GYV corner while the ref was distracted as he and Drake had control of the match. Legal man Drake attempted a suplex, but Reed turned that into a cutter. The momentum of th emove sent Drake stumbling back into his corner as Gibson tagged in. The speedy Reed acrobatically avoided Gibson’s attack, then following that with a clothesline. The hot tag to Wentz led to a German suplex to Drake. In the corner, the high knee from Wentz was followed by a rolling snapmare and a P.K. Blockbuster to Gibson from Wentz followed by the high crossbody. Double-knee codebreaker to Gibson by Wentz, as Reed tagged himself into the match. 450 attempt by Reed was blocked and turned into an inside cradle by Drake, but Reed kicked out at two. The GYV attempted the Doomsday Device on Reed, but couldn’t execute. Superkick to Drake by Reed as the tag made to Wentz. Double-leg take down from Wentz as he then headed up top for the double stomps, but that waas not enough.

Outside the ring, Reed was sent into the ringbost by Drake, but a diving attack by Wentz took him out. Inside the ring, the facebuster from Gibson was somehow not enough to put Wentz away. The tag to Drake as he hit a coast-to-coast dropkick, but Wentz again was able to kick out in the nick of time. Another tag as the GYV looked to have this match won, but Reed recovered and took Drake out with a leaping cutter to the outside of the ring. Springboard cutter by Wentz was followed by the barrage of 450s from the Rascalz and that’s the match, over.

The Rascalz def. Grizzled Young Veterans via pinfall

Frenetic opener to get the night’s action going. I wouldn’t mind seeing these two teams mix it up in the near future.

************************

– Backstage we got remarks from Athena ahead of her Proving Ground match against Hyan later on tonight’s show. Athena talked about what lied ahead of her, namely Global Wars Cincinnati. Athena said that she was going to defeat her Global Wars opponent…. Syuri, with this match for the ROH World Championship.

Lacey Lane vs. Queen Aminata

Lane and Aminata adhered to the Code of Honor before we got underway as Lane ducked underneath a clothesline from Aminata. Side headlock takeover by Aminata, but Lane turned that into an escalara. Armdrag by Lane forced Aminata to retreat to the outside. Slide to ringside from Lane was met with a slap from Aminata. Lane regained momentum with a dropkick to the side of Aminata, followed by a high crossbody to ringside. As Aminata got back into the ring, she caught Lane with a running big boot that left her reeling at ringside.

Aminata headed back out and blasted Lane with a hard chop to the chest before she threw her opponent back into the ring. The cover, but Lane kicked out at two. Spinning neckbreaker by Aminata was again kicked out of by Lane on the pinfall attempt. Aminata lifted her up for a sidewalk slam, as she followed it with a modified Rings of Saturn, but Lane got out of it by rolling through of the hold.

Lane tripped up Aminata and got her with the kick to the face. With Aminata in a prone position in the corner, Lane hit her with the running dropkick. Spinning splash to Aminata got a near-fall for Lane. A hard series of chops to the chest from Lane led to a faceoff between the two in the middle of the ring. With words exchanged, Lane and Aminata traded strikes until a headbutt from the latter nearly had the match won. Aminata pressed her foot to Lane’s face and mockingly kicked at her while arguing with the referee. Hammerlock Flatliner by Lane, but Aminata managed to kick out at two. German suplex by Aminata, soon was followed by the high-impact running boot against the lower ropes, and the three for the win.

Post-match, Aminata picked up Lane and gave her a hug in a show of respect.

Queen Aminata def. Lacey Lane via pinfall

This was a nice hard-hitting match. Both Aminata and Lacey are great talents and I’m glad they got their chance to shine here.

************************

– We got remarks from Bustah and the Brain, Alec Price and Jordan Oliver, who talked trash about The Kingdom ahead of their tag match against Matt Taven & Mike Bennett.

Bruss Hamilton, Alex Kane, Kiran Gray vs. Los Colons (Eddie & Orlando Colon) & Serpentico

Kane started off strong with a shoulderblock on Orlando Colon, but was met with a dropkick. Sunset flip, but Eddie tagged into the match as he and Serpentico kept Kane in place with the chop to the chest. Hurricanrana by legal man Serpentico on Kane led to Bruss entering the match. Serpentico posed and flex as he tried to hit a crossbody. Bruss caught him and lifted him high for the Snake Eyes as Kane tagged in and got the suplex on Serpentico. Bruss tagged in again and kept Serpentico isolated from the Colons with a running splash attack. Now it was time for Kiran to enter the match as he swept Serpentico’s leg.

Serpentico was still left alone as Kane and Hamilton attempted a double back suplex. Serpentico landed on his feet on the big men’s corner, but he dodged running attacks to get a brief respite. Double big boots to Kane and Bruss just as Kiran tagged in. Eddie with the hot tag as he got Kiran with the leaping back elbow. The leg drop by Eddie and the pinfall attempt, but Kane broke up the count and held Orlando in place, but Bruss ran into him after Orlando dodged. Serpentico took out Kane and Bruss with a double suicide dive. In the ring, Kiran was left wide open for the Backstabber by Eddie, and a Frog Splash from Orlando for the victory.

Los Colon & Serpentico def. Kiran Gray, Alex Kane, & Bruss Hamilton via pinfall

This was an alright match. Not necessarily a favorite of mine, but it was great to see Serpentico to get a win.

************************

– We got remarks from Isla Dawn as she got set to face Women’s Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo in a Proving Ground Match.

ROH Women’s Pure Championship Proving Ground: Deonna Purrazzo vs. Isla Dawn

Ten minute time limit here as we got underway with a slow, technical pace. Isla attempted to escape Purrazzo’s arm wrench, but couldn’t. This forced her to burn one of her three rope breaks. This gave Isla the chance to have Purrazzo trapped as she held on to both hands and got into a test of strength with the Women’s Pure Champion. Purrazzo broke free, but got struck hard by Isla. She responded with a big boot, followed by the fierce lariat. Attempt at a piledriver was blocked by Isla, as Purrazzo got pushed into the corner. Strikes to the chest, but Purrazzo broke free again. On the apron, Isla hit Purrazzo with a knee. She then followed this with the Meteora for a near-fall.

With Purrazzo in the corner, Isla ran into her with a back elbow. The hip attack by Isla as she applied a schoolyard press pin for another close count with the clock hitting the five minute mark. Isla kept the advantage with the snap suplex on Purrazzo. Big boot by Isla still wasn’t enough to secure the win. With five minutes remaining, Isla applied a modified London Dungeon submission, but the hold wasn’t secure enough. Double down from Isla and Purrazzo as they hit each other with simultaneous clotheslines. Purazzo got back up first and hit Isla with clotheslines, the side Russian leg sweep into the Fujiwara armbar. Isla was able to get out of the submission almost instantly. Isla with the lungblower as she hit the Saito suplex. One, two….. 2.9999999995!!!!! wiith three minutes remaining!

Purrazzo countered into a near-firewoman’s carry, as she then turned that into an armbar as she forced Isla to tap out with 2:15 left on the clock.

Deonna Purrazzo def. Isla Dawn via submisssio

************************

– The second part of Caprice Coleman’s interview with the “Forever” ROH World Women’s Champion Athena was shown. Coleman asked Athena about Billie Starkz, who she stated was the now at the moment. She said that Billie had what it takes to be successful in pro wrestling, which is why she keeps that M.I.T. contract so close. Until Billie could beat the “big bad wolf”, she’d stay a Minion in Training. Coleman asked Athena if Billie will ever think she’s that “big bad wolf”.

Athena defended her actions towards Billie as “tough love”. She said that if Billie did things her way, she fails, but if Billie did it Athena’s way, she succeeds like becoming a champion. Coleman said that he saw something in Billie that’s ticking and that Athena should be careful.

Again, Athena stated that Billie would be nothing without her, as Coleman suggested that her biggest challengers were the ones that Athena created. The “Forever Champion” stated that it might be by design.

Finally, Athena was asked “why Ring of Honor?” Athena said ROH meant so much to her as a kid, and that she saw an opportunity and built herself up, and those around her. Athena declared ROH was her show and that she’d be the Forever Champion for a long time, and it was time that everyone got over that fact.

Bryan Keith vs. Tommy Billington

Billington offered a handshake for the Code of Honor but Keith ignored it as he tried to ambush him. The Brit turned that into a German suplex into the side headlock takeover. Running shoulder block from Billington as he targeted Keith’s arms afterwards. The Bounty Hunter attempted an arm-wrench of his own, but got sent for a ride with a suplex from Billington. Keith backed Billington into the ropes and then hit him with a hard chop to the chest. Billington got a head of speed but it was a swing and a miss for the dropkick, as Keith then hit him with a powerful clothesline that sent the two out of the ring.

Keith chopped Billington’s chest, as he planted him head-first with the DDT onto the floor. Back inside the ring as Billington attempted to fight back. Thumb to the eye from Keith was met by a warning from the referee. Choking big boot to the face of Billington by Keith as he lifted him up for an Electric Chair-based moved. Victory roll counter by Billington couldn’t get the three. Keith responded with a hard lariat on his foe. Keith bit Billington in the corner, though he missed with the clothesline on the opposite side. Rollup pin by Billington was kicked out of, but he made no mistake with the spinning piledriver. Diving elbow from the top from Billington, but only a near-fall. Billington headed up to the top rope again, but Keith intercepted and had him in position for an Spanish Fly, but had to settle for a headbutt. Running big boot by Keith as he looked to go in for the kill.

Keith’s powerbomb was countered into a piledriver by Billington, but The Bounty Hunter still managed to kick out of the second piledriver. Keith pulled at the turnbuckle to block a waistlock from Billington, which forced the referee to put it back. This gave Keith the opening to hit Billington in the head with a fork. One Emerald Tiger Driver later, and this one was done.

Bryan Keith def. Tommy Billington via pinfall

With Big Bill set to make a return to WWE, it’s time for Bryan Keith to break out, and this win here is a good sign for him .

************************

– Backstage, Lacey Lane & Queen Aminata were interviewed. Lane stated that she and Aminata beat the hell out of each other and it only made her stronger, so she was ready to do it again. Aminiata obliged Lane’s challenge.

ROH Men’s Pure Championship Proving Ground: Lee Moriarty vs. Mance Warner

Ten-minute time limit here as Moriarty went for the cross armbar almost immediately, as Mance unknowningly put his foot on the rope to use the first of his three rope breaks. Mance bit at Moriarty’s fingers and got warned to stop it as he then threw his foe out of the ring. At ringside, Mance took it to Moriarty as he threw him right into the barricade repeatedly. Chickenwing attempt by Mance was blocked as Moriarty shoved him into the ringpost. Mance got sent crashing into the steel steps as Lee struck a pose in the ring.

Wristlock by Moriarty to Mance as he transitioned it seamlessly into the hammerlock stretch. Again, this forced Mance to use his second rope break with one remaining at 6:45 left in this match. Moriarty kicked at Mance’s head, but his opponent seemed to welcome the kicks. This led to Mance hitting with a closed fist strike, which prompted a warning. One, two… no. Mance hit Moriarty with a big boot, then the popup headbutt. The lariat from Mance led to another near-fall. Back clothesline from Mance on Moriarty as the Crossface was then applied with five minutes to go. Moriarty forced to exhaust a rope break, but Mance refused to let up. Moriarty blocked Mance’s lariat, as he hit the straight jacket followed by the Border City Stretch. Mance held up two fingers and poked Moriarty in the eye. Shining Wizard by Mance Warner, but another kickout!

Running knee by Mance was blocked by Moriarty, who turned it into the Border City Stretch. Mance struggling to reach the bottom ropes, bu Moriarty kicked at the hands of Mance. This forced a tapout at 2:51 remaining.

Lee Moriarty def. Mance Warner via submission

Both Lee Moriarty and Mance Warner are both great talents in my opinion, and this was a good showcase for the two of them. I enjoyed how their styles clashed here and it worked really well.

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– Deonna Purrazzo talked about how her open challenge.

“Blackheart” Lio Rush vs. Griff Garrison

Garrison, representing The Frat House, had an unenviable task ahead of him taking on the eccentric and creepy “Blackheart”.

Lio moved in that weird manner around the ropes as he muttered to himself while doing so. Griff didn’t seem to know how to take it as Lio offered a handshake. He slithered past Griff and took the red Solo cup that Griff brought to the ring. It was empty as Lio tried to pounce on him. Griff couldn’t grab a hold of Lio, but the shoulder rush ground. Lio arched himself back up and grabbed at the chest of Griff. Running clothesline by the Blackheart as he headed up top. Diving frog-splash, missed as Griff struck him down with another clothesline. The running splash as Lio got taken for the ride with a release Northern Lights suplex by Griff.

Lio continued to mumble to himself as he took a headbutt from Griff. Knee press to the back of Lio by Griff, but the Blackheart just laughed maniacally. Griff lifted Lio up for a torture rack bomb, but that was reversed into a sleeper hold. Griff began to drift into unconsciousness with Lio having the hold cinched in tight. Griff was able to recover and drive Lio into the corner to break the hold. Lio sent Griff to the outside as he moved in that Gollum-like wamy towards the corner while Griff looked on. Griff tried to get on the apron, but the Lio hit the rolling Liger heel kicks on him. Lio missed with the running splash as Griff took him down. In the ring, Griff hit the torture rack bomb, but Lio kicked out at two.

Rush got into the corner and hit a spear on Griff before he bit at the fingers of his opponent. Lio hit a massive popup powerbomb before a low springboard cutter that transitioned right into the cravate. Griff was out cold, which forced the referee to stop the match.

Lio Rush def. Griff Garrison via referee stoppage

This Blackheart character for Lio Rush is certainly one that’s gotten a wide variety of reactions both loving and hating the gimmick. Consider me on the camp that firmly enjoys it. A lot of it comes down to the committment that Lio is showing to it and it’s translated nicely into his in ring action. It’s just rounded into one of the most compelling things to watch on AEW/ROH.

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– Los Colon and Serpentico called their shot for the ROH World Six-Man Championships, as they’re set to face Shane Taylor Promotions on next week’s show.

Next Week on Ring of Honor

  • ROH Men’s World Championship Proving Ground: Bandido vs. Angelico
  • Los Colons & Serpentico vs. Shane Taylor Promotions
  • Eddie Kingston & Ortiz vs. The Workhorsemen

The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs. Bustah & The Brain (Alec Price & Jordan Oliver)

Price and Taven got this tag match started for their teams. Side headlock echanges between the two as Price hit a unique armdrag using the ropes as leverage to do so. Speed quickening before Taven blasted Price with a dropkick. Bennett now in the match as The Kingdom hit Price with elbow attacks. In the corner, Price was hit with chops from Bennett, but the speedster flipped over his foe and then hit a springboard crossbody. Price held Bennett in place with Oliver tagging into the match. Double back elbow from Bustah & The Brain.

Chop to the chest of Bennett as Price tagged in. The two partners again used their unorthodox tag offense to get the upper hand here. Bennett fought out of the B&TB corner and Taven tagged in. Spinning heel kick on Price, followed by the rolling neckbreaker on Oliver from Taven. Springboard moonsault on Oliver, but Price broke up the count.

Boston Bayonet uppercut from Bennett, but Oliver kicked out at two. Bennett kept Oliver in the corner with a chop, followed by the suplex. The Kingdom continued to control the match as Oliver was left allone. Now it was Taven with the suplex on Oliver as Bennett continued to keep the momentum going. The toss into a kick from Bennett, then the diving elbow, but Oliver would not stay down.

Oliver started to fight back, but Taven took him down. Springboard attack was intercepted by a dropkick from Oliver, which created some separation. Unfortunately, Bennett was tagged in as Price was taken down in the process. This forced Oliver to hold his own a bit more, and he did so with a leapfrog sidewalk slam, which finally allowed Price to get the hot tag. Kick to Bennett as he hit the Sky Splitter on him . Price hit Taven with a kick followed by a springboard Blockbuster. One, two…. NO!

Things began to pick up as Taven and Price traded kicks and knees. Spicolli Driver from Bennett, followed by the kick from Taven. Oliver broke up the pin but got thrown out of the ring. Proton Pack attempt by The Kingdom, but Oliver stopped it. In the corner, Oliver fought off Bennett, but Taven intercepted him at the top rope. Superplex reversed into an avalanche facebuster. Price with the frog splash. One, two…. KICKOUT! Bennett was thrown into the ringpost outside the ring, as Bustah & The Brain had Taven all to themselves. Oliver put Taven on his shoulders, but Bennett stopped Price from applying the finish. The splash from Price to Bennett. Meanwhile, in the ring, Taven escaped the electric chair and rolled up Oliver. With a grab of the tights, The Kingdom got the win.

The Kingdom def. Bustah & The Brain via pinfall

This was a solid tag match, and I liked the Kingdom showing their veteran instincts to pick up the win in the match over the young upstarts. The dubious way Taven got the pin on Oliver did well to set up a future match down the line.

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ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground: Athena (w/ Diamante) vs. Hyan

Athena held Hyan in a side headlock to start, but found herself in the gator roll. Suplex blocked and it turned into an rolling ball of inside cradles before Hyan had the pin attempt, which forced Athena to kick out. Big boot from the apron to Athena by Hyan followed by the dropkick. Hyan punished Athena with a hard forearm in the corner, but the spear was caught by the “Forever Champion” as she threw Hyan out of the ring. With a head of steam, Athena flew right into Hyan outside the ring with the suicide dive.

Athena clubbed the back of Hyan before she threw her into the ring to continue the onslaught with a boot in the corner. Athena yelled at the referee when she was told to break the hold. Athena grabbed Hyan by the head and hit her with a series of hard knees to the head. The wrench of the head from Athena kept Hyan grounded as the Women’s World Champion kept control here.

Hyan reversed out of her predicament with a release Northern Lights suplex. Running pump kick from Hyan sent Athena into the corner, where she got crushed with the running splash. On the top rope, Hyan hit Atrhena with the crossbody as the five minute mark was hit on this match. Running back elbow from Hyan stunned Athena momentarily, but she used her legs to take her down with a scissors. Facebuster countered into a pin by Hyan, but Athena turned that into a grapevine stomp to the canvas. One, two…. 2.999999999999!!!!!!!!!

An incensed Athena slapped Hyan repeatedly and continued to talk trash with three minutes left on this match. This seemed to only motivate Hyan who hit Athena with a spear to intercept a crossbody. One, two…. no. Hyan lifted Athena up for the Michinoku driver, but that still wasn’t enough to win this. Hyan missed with the kick from the corner as the two-minute warning was announced by Bobby Cruise. Athena snuffed out Hyan’s hopes as she applied the Koji Clutch to pick up the win by submission.

After the match, Athena picked up Hyan and slammed her right into her ROH Women’s World Title to wrap up tonight’s edition of ROH on HonorClub.

Athena def. Hyan via submission

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A great main event match between Athena and Hyan to wrap up a fine edition of in-ring action on the weekly ROH show.

The standouts for me this week was Athena vs. Hyan, Moriarty vs. Mance Warner, and the Kingdom vs. Bustah & The Brain. The beauty of the ROH on HonorClub shows is that while they may skew more towards a strong emphasis on in-ring action over storyline stuff, it’s a great showcase for some great wrestling that may fly under the radar for some.

I especially appreciate how there’ll be some names from the indie scene that show up on these shows, which is just a nice bonus for me and introduces me to some wrestlers that I’m might end up finding really neat in the process.

Overall, ROH on HonorClub is something I really enjoy watching and recapping every week.

WOR: WWE shareholder lawsuit, AEW vs. NXT PLE, Dynamite, more!

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including Nick Khan’s biggest whopper in awhile, the WWE shareholder’s lawsuit, Great American Bash vs. AEW, Best of the Super Juniors, ratings notes from this past week, the AEW TV report from Wednesday, Real American Freestyle run-in and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Nick Khan says everything about WrestleMania 40 was planned
8:41: WWE decides to run NXT Great American Bash during AEW Forbidden Door weekend
23:36: Latest on WWE shareholder lawsuit
34:36: NJPW Best of the Super Juniors report, Mexico notes
42:32: Ratings
1:05:00: AEW Dynamite recap

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AEW Dynamite live results: MJF vs. Rush, Will Ospreay vs. Mark Davis

AEW Dynamite is live tonight from the Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

Two title matches and two Owen Hart Foundation tournament bouts are scheduled for the show.

MJF will put the AEW World title on the line against Rush. TNT Champion Kevin Knight will defend his title against his former JetSpeed tag team partner, Mike Bailey.

In the men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament, Will Ospreay will wrestle Mark Davis. On the women’s side, Alex Windsor will face a wild card entrant replacing the injured Willow Nightingale.

Here are all of the confirmed matches for tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite:

  • AEW World Championship Match: MJF (c) vs Rush
  • TNT Championship Match: Kevin Knight (c) vs Speedball Mike Bailey
  • Owen Hart Foundation Tournament: Will Ospreay vs AEW National Champion Mark Davis
  • Owen Hart Foundation Tournament: Alex Windsor vs Wild Card entry

Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Renee Paquette backstage with Rush earlier today, asking his thoughts on his first AEW World Title shot tonight. Rush tells the camera he’s beaten the entire roster, winning his matches in less than a minute, waiting 3 years, finally, he’s getting his shot for the AEW World Title and will die in the ring if that’s what it takes. This is for his people, his family, his pride, he will take the title because when you mess with the bull…MJF walks in and tells him to finish his catchphrase, slapping him in the face saying if he’s the bull, that makes MJF the matador. Rush shoots a double leg and security quickly are in to separate them.

Excalibur welcomes us alongside, Tony Schiavone & Taz (who had his first pro match 39 years ago today and said on Twitter you can file that under who gives a sh*t, but you’re wrong, congrats Taz!) and they mention tonight’s opener will be MJF vs. Rush for the AEW World Title under No Countouts.

We go back to Paquette standing by with Rush, again, as they are approached by Andrade El Idolo, telling Rush to do this for his family, la raza and for anyone who says we can be World Champion. Show everyone who Rush is because you mess with the bull…do it. Rush puts on his mask and is out for the opening contest.

MJF vs. Rush for the AEW World Title under No Countouts

(These two beat the living hell out of each other, as the crowd were loudly behind the challenger from the very start. While I don’t expect MJF to be having title defenses on TV the frequency that Darby Allin did, this would rank right up there with the title matches we had from that reign. I can only assume Mark Briscoe is next in line, though, it is certainly possible that Andrade is on that list as well.)

MJF came out dressed as El Matador and demanded Justin Roberts tell the fans he took out their hometown boy Hangman, who can never be World Champion again and they all put the virgin in Virginia as the 3x World Champion banner fell from the rafters. Bell sounds and both slug it out, until MJF spat in the face, slapped Rush and told the crowd to suck it before running into an overhead throw to the outside. Rush just cleared the top with a somersault dive and spat back into MJF’s face before chucking him repeatedly into the LED board and guardrails. Choking MJF with a camera cable, referee Bryce reminds Rush it’s not No DQ, as a delay allowed MJF to hit a drop toe hold into a chair before decking Rush over the barricade with a running boot. Mocking the crowd too long, MJF charged and Rush hit an overhead through onto the time keeper’s table. Back inside, Rush tossed aside a top turnbuckle pad, as MJF begged off and was waffled with a loud right hand to the face.

Rush signaled Bulls Horns, but MJF bailed, only to be brought back in to eat more shots. Rush went to drive MJF into the exposed corner, but Bryce stepped in the path, was shoved aside, allowing MJF to drive Rush face first into the steel, busting him opened. They repeated the corner spot, this time with MJF being driven into the exposed buckle. Bounce back German and running dropkick got Rush his first near fall before going up top for a shotgun dropkick. Jackknife pin from MJF got two, as he double stomped the arm out of the corner and followed with a powerbomb on the knee for a near fall before applying Salt of the Earth. Rush countered into a rollup, MJF missed a Heatseeker and charged right into a Rush headbutt on the apron. Rush brought MJF out with him and hit a straightjacket piledriver.

Rush seemed to be attempting to put his shoulder back into place, was checked on by Bryce and a doctor, who told Justin Roberts to call off the match. Roberts said both men were unable to continue, as Rush put a stop to it and took out the doctor with a headbutt. This is still going, as Rush brought MJF back inside and hit Bulls Horns, but MJF got his hand on the ropes. Rush wanted another piledriver on the apron, but his left arm gave out. Attempting a Bulls Horns against the barricade, MJF avoided, Rush crashed and burned, leading to MJF connecting on a Tombstone on the concrete and broken parts of the barricade. Back inside, MJF wanted a Heatseeker, Rush avoided and MJF’s left leg buckled. Rush took a long time to go up top, missed a missile dropkick, allowing MJF to apply a LeBell Lock, as Rush initially mocked MJF while in the hold, flipping him off, but ultimately passed out.

Post-match, MJF lined up Rush to deliver a belt shot, when Mark Briscoe’s music hit and he sprinted out. Briscoe ducked a belt shot, wanted a Jay Driller, but MJF got a low blow. MJF held the title high, was about to deliver a shot when The Conglomeration all hit the ring (Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & the returning Big Tom, Tomohiro Ishii).

Match Result: MJF defeated Rush to retain the AEW World Title

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Mark Briscoe vs. Lio Rush

(If there’s one word to describe this one, it’d be fun. These two had the crowd from the opening bell and their craziness made this a pretty dang entertaining battle. The post-match, my goodness, what a promo from Briscoe, one of his best to date, as there’s nothing better than a fired-up Mark Briscoe promo.)

Briscoe remained in the ring, as earlier today there was a promo backstage with Rush interrupting The Conglomeration, leading to this match. Rush made his entrance as The Conglomeration boys were heading to the back and didn’t move a muscle, a smart strategy Cassidy had last week, as Red Light, Green Light apparently works with the Blackheart.

Bell sounded and Rush whispered something to Briscoe, who hit with early Redneck Kung-Fu, sending Rush spilling outside. Both brawl on the apron, as Briscoe let out a Bang! Bang! only to get his fingers bit, as Rush galloped around ringside after Briscoe. Back inside, Briscoe hit a baseball slide and Blockbuster from the apron. A fan had a sign that said “throw him here” and Briscoe obliged, slamming Rush onto it. Back inside, Rush’s speed put him in control, leading to a low Tope, rolled through a Frog Splash, as Rush teased Redneck Kung-Fu of his own, resulting in a bounce back stunner. Both start slugging it out and screaming at one another, as Briscoe unleashed the palm strikes, flying forearm and Exploder. Iconoclasm connects for two, as Briscoe took Rush’s head off with a lariat, but Rush fought off a Jay Driller into a jackknife cover for two. Kip-up corkscrew enzugiri led to another attempted bounce back stunner, only Briscoe was ready to swat Rush out of mid-air and deliver a Cutthroat Driver for the win.

Post-match, Briscoe took the mic and talked about January 2023, when his brother, his tag team partner for 20+ years, in the blink of an eye, gone. One day later, Mark’s birthday, one week later, Jay’s birthday, but instead of celebrating together, Mark found himself making his debut in AEW, alone. Briscoe told MJF he could only imagine the whirlwind of emotions and rage that he has to bury deep inside him. AEW saved his life, this was his therapy, but still deep down to his core, couldn’t find joy, until he found The Conglomeration, making his heart full once again.  Then, he crossed paths with MJF, week by week, with every bullsh*t sentence that came out of MJF’s mouth, that rage came back, as he’s never felt the hatred MJF has made him feel. You know what happened when he finally got his hands on MJF, he pinned him, causing MJF to go away, which felt go, it let Briscoe’s mind at ease. Sure enough, MJF popped back up and the rage returned, only difference is MJF has something he wants, the AEW World Title. MJF bitches, whines, complains until he gets what he wants, while Briscoe is a grinder, who doesn’t complain, only does his job. He’s calling out MJF, his manhood, Max says he’s the best, prove it. Briscoe feels these demons on him, how appropriate, Devil, ain’t that cute. Big Hebrew, it says Child of God on Briscoe’s chest and demands a title shot, calling MJF a moist ass b*tch.

Match Result: Mark Briscoe defeated Lio Rush

-Video package of Kevin Knight’s heel turn and the fallout of JetSpeed last week was shown ahead of their TNT Title match tonight

Triangle of Madness interrupt Excalibur running down the card for next week, they come from the crowd, as Thekla talks about challenging any girl from Stardom, the company she was thrown out of. Thekla admits she did get fired from Japan, so they have to do this all over again, as they all have jobs to do, Skye Blue has to win the Owen Hart Tournament, Julia Hart has to get her TBS Title back, while Thekla’s sights are set on Forbidden Door. Blue & Hart bring out a ladder, as Thekla isn’t declaring war on Stardom, she’s declaring death to Stardom. If that message wasn’t clear enough, Thekla climbs the ladder on the stage and spits on the Stardom name on the Tron, something Excalibur has to apologize for.

**********

-Will Ospreay is backstage with Death Riders, as Daniel Garcia is bringing up what Mark Davis did to him last time, as Jon Moxley walks in and asks what Garcia is doing, Garcia said my bad. Moxley said this Ospreay is indestructible, Don Callis is going to have to run down Ospreay with an 18-wheeler to stop him, as Moxley doesn’t like all these groups in AEW. Ospreay’s job is to beat Mark Davis, don’t worry about anything else, Moxley will take care of it. Ospreay questioned it initially, but Moxley said he’s serious, he’s not blowing smoke up anyone’s ass. He’s starting to see it in Ospreay, who thanks them, as the Death Riders leave.

Andrade El Idolo vs. DK Vandu

Andrade opted to take his traditional selfie with a female fan ringside prior to this one instead of mid-match. Vandu was able to hook a leg and waist lock, but ate a brutal back elbow, spinning back elbow and DM to give Andrade the quick win. Post-match, Andrade said in the post-match, since MJF has the World Title, he really wants it. He knows MJF has beaten Rush, but does MJF think he can beat The Real Latino Man? How You Know?

Don Callis walked out with Jake Doyle, told Andrade great job, but has something very important to say. He introduces the newest member of the Don Callis Family, The Jet Kevin Knight, said with so much enthusiasm that Callis lost his teeth in the process. Knight came out, hugged Callis, as Andrade looked clearly annoyed at this. This leads to our next title match of the evening.

Match Result: Andrade El Idolo defeated DK Vandu

Kevin Knight (w/Don Callis & Jake Doyle) vs. Speedball Mike Bailey for the TNT Title

(In a match filled with counters and having the other scouted perfectly, these two put on a great one. Interesting that Knight becomes another member of the Callis Family and I’m intrigued on seeing where that ultimately goes, as I certainly don’t see Knight being just another number in the ranks.)

Knight took an early powder and regrouped with Callis, as Bailey went out after, but was slammed shoulder first into the steps. Back inside, the pace picks up majorly, as each have a counter for another, as Knight matrixed out of a thrust kick leading to a stalemate, until Knight clotheslined Bailey back outside. Knight missed a leaping lariat from the apron, as Bailey connected with a leaping kick and Corkscrew springboard plancha down the aisle. Back inside, Bailey up top for a Shooting Star, rolled through, as Knight took his head off with a huge dropkick, as Knight pounced with punches in bunches.

I need to point out that during commercial; commentary did nothing but hilariously roast Callis for losing his teeth, something Schiavone said is common in Virginia and question whether the Callis Family offers dental.

Bailey attempted a tilt-a-whirl DDT, but Knight had it countered into a suplex and sliding lariat for two. Knight argued with referee Rick Knox, as the fans chanted “You Sold Out” giving Bailey a chance to get a roll-up for two and Crane Kick to follow. Knight tried a leapfrog, but Bailey cracked him right in the face with a wheel kick mid-air to pop the whole crowd. Bailey locked eyes with Doyle, as both Knight & Bailey wound up on opposing sides of the ring, as they teased springing at one another, as Knight put on the brakes, mocked Bailey, who nearly hit a springboard moonsault, only Knight had it scouted and shoved Bailey hard to the floor. At the 10-minute call, Knight connected on a springboard lariat from the ring to the outside, as back inside, Bailey got a flash roll-up for two and moonsault double knees to the chest. Buzzsaw Kick connects for two, as Bailey hit his corner spin kick, looked for Ultimate Weapon, only Knight leaped up with his standing hurricanrana.

Wild spinning backbreaker led to a close two, as Knight went for a springboard, Bailey was ready for a straightjacket pin for two, as Bailey hit another wheel kick to the head. Bailey wanted a Flamingo Driver, only Knight held on, as Doyle distracted Knox long enough for Callis to sweep out Bailey’s leg. Scary spot, as I genuinely have no clue what they were intending to do, as Knight hit an Avalanche Spinebuster off the top (maybe that was it?) and followed with a huge Rock Bottom for the win.

Post-match, Knight took the mic and said that’s how you do it, just needed to get rid of the dead weight and link up with Don Perignon and become Jet 2 Belts saying MJF, he’s waiting on him.

Match Result: Kevin Knight defeated Speedball Mike Bailey to retain the TNT Title

-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Dogs, who mock their new 5-second pose with a new shirt, 5-second brews and 5-second kazoos. The Young Bucks walk in and ask who let the dogs out? They know The Dogs are the new guys and want to make an impression, they noticed and said they question if the Tag Team Titles should go to the worst leader of Bullet Club and Temu Hangman? Matt said they can wrestle tonight to determine who’s next in line, but Finlay said the #1 contenders will wrestle when they feel like it.

**********

-Renee Paquette talks with MJF, who’s in an ice bath and brings up the recent list of potential challengers for his title. MJF said no match for Mark Briscoe, as the World Title is for winners, top guys like MJF, which Briscoe is not. MJF’s word is bond and no one in his company can trump him. For the last and final time, stop asking Briscoe, cause it ain’t happening.

Alex Windsor vs. Mercedes Mone in a Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal

(Even though she put up one hell of a fight here, any chances of Windsor being a favorite in this thing went out the window when Mone’s music hit. For not having wrestled on AEW TV since New Year’s Eve, Mone looked good here and I assume she’ll be heading to the Finals and is the new odds-on favorite to take this whole thing for the second year in a row.)

Massive pyro goes off before the new theme for the returning Mercedes Mone kicks in and she gets a huge ovation. Mone got early corner strikes and just casually stepped over Windsor, as Mone fired off a quick dropkick for a series of one-counts. Windsor floated over in the corner, got a few arm drags before running into a corner back elbow and spinning arm drag from Mone, who applied a Statement Maker, as Windsor rolled through, but Mone met her with a backstabber. Windsor countered a low Meteora, attempted a Sharpshooter, only Mone quickly got the ropes, knee lift and gnarly neckbreaker between the middle ropes. Meteora off the apron outside, as Mone stands tall to the chants of CEO. Mone drags Windsor to the Owen Hart trophy and title telling her she’s never getting this, as she slowly picked Windsor apart back inside for a brutal double knees out of the corner.

Three Amigos connects for Mone, who took too long going up the ropes, allowing almost an Iconoclasm from Windsor, who ramped up into a misdirect flying forearm. Mone went outside, as Windsor met her with a somersault senton and flying lariat off the apron before back inside, Windsor leapt into Mone trying another Three Amigos, only this time, Windsor spun out into a scary Made in Japan for two. Windsor kept inviting Mone to throw boots and Mone obliges, as she brought Windsor up in the corner, where Mone hit a Meteora onto a hanging Windsor for a close two, shocking Mone. Running sunset bomb into the corner from Mone, but she missed another Meteora, as both ladies trade pin attempts for near falls. Mone hit a stiff knee lift, another backstabber and Statement Maker applied once more, with this time, Windsor tapping. Post-match, Mone took the Owen title and held it high, as commentary brought up how she won it last year and seemingly is defending her crown.

Match Result: Mercedes Mone defeated Alex Windsor to advance in the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Don Callis & Kazuchika Okada talking about constantly recruiting top stars, as Callis is a magnet with everyone coming to him, saying it’ll be no time until Kevin Knight wins two titles. Now, Mark Davis will break the chicken neck of Will Ospreay and the Callis Family will strut into the World Title picture at Wembley and All In. Callis said Okada was screwed and they aren’t standing for it. Okada said Konosuke Takeshita is nothing without the Callis Family and the International Title doesn’t belong in a backpack and won’t be there for long.

**********

-Footage of last week’s attack on Jericho by Tommaso Ciampa was shown, along with Ciampa delivering his 1,004 reasons why he hates Jericho on Collision. We go backstage to Ciampa, who said Jericho is home this week because Ciampa beat him up A-Gain. The fans welcomed Jericho back with open arms, then reality struck, while Jericho was gone, Ciampa arrived in AEW and what better way to plant his flag in the ground than cut the head off the snake called Jericho? Ciampa tells Jericho to stay away, lick his wounds and if he returns, Ciampa will be waiting, you stupid idiot. Very good promo from Ciampa here.

Will Ospreay vs. AEW National Champion Mark Davis in a Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Semifinal

(Holy smokes, this match was already turning into a Dynamite classic, only then it somehow hit another gear and the crowd lost their minds at the final 5-minutes and chaos that ensued. Sure, there were lots of interference, but for every heel, there was a babyface there to have Ospreay’s back and it led to a wild finishing sequence as a result. This was an all-timer finish to Dynamite and I highly suggest checking it out, as Ospreay has officially stamped his ticket to the Finals.)

Pre-match, we see clips of Ospreay being taken out by Davis in their previous match, resulting in a rare referee stoppage and laid groundwork for Death Riders starting to re-program Ospreay. Renee Paquette is ringside, saying Ospreay has fought hard to get to this moment and said Jon Moxley told her this isn’t the same Ospreay as the last match with Davis, he’s stronger in his body, mind and spirit.

Davis, still rocking an eye patch from Stadium Stampedge, eats a snap hurricanrana early from Ospreay, who ripped the patch away immediately and took corner punches. Davis launched Ospreay clear across the ring with a bodyslam, as Ospreay answered with a wall walk enzugiri, but ran into a huge back drop and running senton. Davis zoned in on the neck while applying an abdominal stretch, as Ospreay flipped out into a handspring corkscrew kick. Pip, Pip, Cheerio connects, as a dropkick crumbled Davis to the outside. Crowd loudly behind Ospreay, who pulled up before trying a slingshot, only to get sent crashing into the LED board from Davis, who wanted a powerbomb on the apron, Ospreay fought out, teased a Sky Twister Press, as Davis wisely went to the opposite side of the ring. Ospreay sprinted around into a snap hurricanrana, slamming Davis into the announce table, wanted a Tornado DDT, but was flipped into a suplex on the table. Placing Ospreay on a chair, full head of steam, Davis mowed straight through him in the process. Back inside, huge superplex from Davis, as Ospreay is wiggling his fingers for feeling.

Taz compares Davis’ size and athleticism to the late John Kronus, as Davis remains in control, clobbering Ospreay in the corner with forearms. Ospreay tried a springboard, but was bealed across the ring and spiked with a huge backdrop suplex for two. Massive chops continue to crumble Ospreay, who keeps sitting up with fight left in him, as he starts mounting a comeback kipping up into a quick enuzigiri. Kawada Kicks led to a thrust kick on the mark, as Davis threw a desperation chop, only Ospreay no sold and connects on another enzugiri. Davis swatted Ospreay before he could fire Hidden Blade, but Ospreay was there with multiple hook kicks and Robinson Special for two. Ospreay looked for Death Ground, but Davis got a high stack into a massive powerbomb. Davis pulled Ospreay for a snap piledriver, but Ospreay kicked out at two. Both men fight to the apron, as Ospreay wanted a piledriver, Davis held on, clotheslined Ospreay back into the ring, but pulled Ospreay right back out, teased the piledriver like their previous match, only this time, Ospreay countered into a hurricanrana to the floor.

After all this action outside, we get a count out tease, as Davis just broke the count, but rolled right into a springboard dropkick by Ospreay, who followed with a Styles Clash, but Davis kicked out. Oscutter was blocked, as Davis tried an enzugiri, Ospreay ducked and referee Paul Turner was decked. Ospreay hit Hidden Blade, had a visible pin, but no ref. Trent Beretta & El Clon hit the ring to attack Ospreay, as they teased Strong Zero, but Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia made the save with a Flatliner/Busaiku Knee combo. Lance Archer ran out and mowed down both men, so Claudio Castagnoli flew in with a springboard spinning uppercut. Brian Cage in for a F-5 on Castagnoli, so PAC jumped in with a combo of kicks. Davis returns, tries to attack, but Ospreay saved him with an Oscutter. PAC threw in Turner, who started to count, but Jake Doyle pulled him out, attacked PAC and laid out Ospreay with a jump knee. Marina Shafir leapt onto the back of Doyle, as he slammed her down, she spat at him, while Jon Moxley appeared from behind and slugged it out before spiking Doyle with a Paradigm Shift. Moxley & Shafir clotheslined Doyle to the floor, as PAC hit a massive moonsault onto the entire pile.

Ospreay & Davis were left alone in the ring, as Death Riders & The Callis Family brawled to the back. Kyle Fletcher then appeared from behind Ospreay and spiked him with a Snap Dragon before pulling out a screwdriver. Konosuke Takeshita made the save before he could use it, as ProtoShita brawled around ringside. Davis was left with the screwdriver, but Ospreay hit a Hidden Blade through it and another to the jaw, but still no referee. Bryce Remsberg sprinted out, but Davis kicked out at two. Davis ducked Hidden Blade and spiked Ospreay with an Awful Waffle, but Ospreay kicked out, as the crowd are going nuts. Davis went for his bounce back lariat, only Ospreay floated through, locked in Death Ground, Davis panicked and tapped frantically.

Match Result: Will Ospreay defeated Mark Davis to advance in the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament

AEW Collision 6/6/26

  • Divine Dominion (Megan Bayne & Lena Kross) defend the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles against TayJay (Tay Melo & Anna Jay)
  • Persephone vs. Hazuki in a Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal Match

AEW Dynamite Summer Blockbuster 6/10/26

  • Swerve Strickland vs. Brody King in a Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Semifinal Match
  • Skye Blue vs. Sareee in a Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal Match

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WOL: Three PLEs on one day, Dynamite, NXT TV report, Nick Khan whopper

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez is back with a solo show talking a ton of news including AEW Dynamite tonight, THREE PLE’S all taking place on the same day June 27th, Grand Slam Mexico and the AEW schedule, some WWE corporate WHOPPERS, the NXT TV report, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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B&V: NOCHE DE LOS GRANDES, plus GRANNY

The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with tons to talk about including an attempt to fix Granny’s computer to open the show, then her usual segment with wrestling (Penta vs. Je’Von!), soaps and trivia, a guilt trip, and more! Then the boys review AAA Noche de los Grandes with the mask vs. mask match! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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