Tag: mainstory

May 4, 2026, Observer Newsletter: WWE releases & town hall comments, another Nielsen ratings change

Posted on by F4W Staff

The new Wrestling Observer Newsletter has landed.

Dave Meltzer goes in depth on last Friday’s WWE and NXT releases, the decision making behind it, and speculates on where some of the talent could go next.

He also dissects this past Monday’s WWE town hall and the reporting that brought some of the interesting comments from Nick Khan and Mark Shapiro to light.

Dave also looks at the latest change in the Nielsen ratings and how it appears to again be negatively affecting wrestling.

All that plus an early look at AEW Double or Nothing, WWE Backlash, CMLL, news, notes, UFC, and more.

Click here to read (sub needed)

TNA Impact live results: Jeff Hardy vs. Vincent, Elijah vs. Frankie Kazarian

Posted on by Joseph Collins

TNA Wrestling is back on AMC tonight with a new episode of Impact.

This week’s show was taped on April 14 in the Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse, New York.

Advertised for the show is a Walk With Elijah match, pitting Elijah against Frankie Kazarian.

The rivalry between The Hardys and The Righteous also continues as Jeff Hardy takes on Vincent in singles competition.

Mustafa Ali will put the TNA International Championship on the line as well against Adam Brooks.

The full lineup for the show is as follows:

  • Mr. Elegance vs. The Hometown Man
  • Mustafa Ali (c) vs. Adam Brooks for the TNA International title
  • Elijah vs. Frankie Kazarian in a Walk with Elijah Guitar Strap Match
  • Jeff Hardy (w/ Matt Hardy) vs. Vincent (w/ Dutch)
  • Mara Sadè, Rosemary & Allie vs. Tessa Blanchard, Victoria Crawford & Mila Moore
  • We will hear from X Division Champion Leon Slater on the show.

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

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

Taped! From Syracuse, New York! 

Tom Hannifan & Matthew Rehwoldt were on commentary. 

Vincent v. Jeff Hardy 

Matt Hardy and Dutch were banned from ringside, because that stipulation worked out so well last week. 

Jeff attacked Vincent before the bell. Hardy snapmared Vincent and then hit him with a dropkick to the shoulder blades. Vincent dropped to the floor to regroup, and Hardy followed with a body block from the apron to the floor. 

Back in the ring, Hardy went to the top, but Vincent yanked him off the top rope and crotched him. Hardy dropped to the floor, and Vincent worked him over against the ring apron. 

Vincent worked over Hardy’s back in the ring. Hardy came back with a jawbreaker. Both guys went for a crossbody and collided in the middle of the ring. Hardy recovered and hit a clothesline and some vintage Jeff Hardy offense. Hardy went for a Twist of Fate, but Vincent blocked it. Vincent went for Sliced Bread, but Hardy countered that into a Twist of Fate for a near fall. 

Hardy got a near fall off a Russian leg sweep. Vincent got a near fall of his own off of a rollup. Hardy dropped Vincent to the mat with a face-first suplex. Vincent came back with an inverted back suplex for a near fall. Vincent went to the top for a Swanton Bomb, but the lights went out. When they came back on, “Broken” Matt Hardy was standing between Vincent (on the top rope) and Jeff. For some reason, the referee did not call for a disqualification while Matt lead the crowd in “Delete! Delete! Delete!” chants.  The lights went out again. When they came back up, Vincent was on the mat, Jeff was standing on the top rope, and Matt was gone. Jeff then hit the Swanton Bomb and got the pinfall. 

Match Result: Jeff Hardy pinned Vincent (7:53). 

Dutch came out after the match to drag Vincent to the back. 

— Gia Miller interviewed Frankie Kazarian, who promised to win the first ever “Walk With Elijah Guitar Strap Match” tonight. 

Adam Brooks v. Mustafa Ali (w/ Order 4)  for the TNA international Championship

Brooks is from Australia, and his weight was announced in kilos because they’re a proper country that uses the metric system. The TNA International Championship looks great on Ali, and would only look better if it were the TNA World title. 

Ali ground away on Brooks with a side headlock, then caught him with a beautiful step-up rana. Brooks charged in with a boot, but Ali caught him and spun around and caught Brooks with a back kick. Brooks caught Ali with a brutal boot, then backdropped Ali. Ali rolled to the floor to regroup. 

Brooks followed Ali out to the floor for a brawl. Brooks tried to whip Ali into the ring apron, but Ali deftly slid over the mat, under the bottom rope, and onto the other side of the ring. When Brooks tried the same move, Ali caught him and drove him to the floor with a DDT. 

Back in the ring, Ali hit his rolling hangman’s neckbreaker. A series of reversals and counters led to Brooks eating another DDT. Ali went for a powerbomb, but Brooks escaped and hit an enzuiguri. Ali tried for a dive, but Brooks caught him with a forearm. 

Brooks charged right into a superkick from Ali, but Brooks still managed to powerbomb him out of the corner. Brooks hit a fisherman’s ushigoroshi for a near fall. 

Brooks charged at Ali for a dropkick in the corner, but Ali got out of the way and Brooks landed on his head. After a bit of taunting from Ali towards Carlos Silva, Ali hit a 450 splash and got the pinfall. 

Match Result: Mustafa Ali remains YOUR International Champion, pinning Brooks after a 450 Splash (5:58). 

— Eric Young challenged EC3 in a “No Rules, Anything Goes” match for next week to find out who the best man is.

Mila Moore, Victoria Crawford & Tessa Blanchard v. Rosemary, Allie & Mara Sadé

So the two months of nonsense in the haunted house has led to this, the return of Allie and Rosemary. At least this means the skits are over though. 

“Allie died in Rosemary’s arms seven long years ago” was an actual line from Tom Hannifan as he built up this match. 

Rosemary gave Crawford an exploder suplex out of the corner, and then when she wandered into Allie’s corner, Allie bit her. Rosemary dumped Moore and Blanchard to the floor, and then Sadé hit the three of them with a crossbody to the floor. Back in the ring, Rosemary got a near fall on Crawford. 

Rosemary clotheslined Crawford and got the tag to Sadé. Moore also got the tag, and Moore and Sadé had a nice exchange. Sadé caught Moore with a sliding dropkick on the floor. Moore yanked Sadé off the ring apron to take control. 

Sadé reversed a suplex on Moore, and got the tag to Rosemary. Rosemary missed a splash in the corner, and Crawford took her down with a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. 

Blanchard tagged in and worked over Rosemary’s knee. Blanchard dropkicked Rosemary in the back of the neck for a near fall. Rosemary was cornered in the heels’… uh, corner, and worked over. Blanchard drew Allie and Sadé into the ring to allow Moore and Crawford to choke out Rosemary. 

All the heels hit Rosemary with a knee in the corner for a near fall. Rosemary got the hot tag to Allie, and she hit Blanchard with a series of clotheslines and a knee lift. Allie hit a death valley driver for a near fall. Allie and Rosemary choked Blanchard and Crawford with a head scissors while hanging backwards over the ropes. Alie hit Moore with a code breaker and got the pinfall. 

Match Result: Rosemary, Allie and Mara Sadé defeated Blanchard, Moore & Crawford when Allie pinned Moore (approx. 9 minutes). 

The TNA Injury Report

  • Mike Santana and Rich Swann are both cleared, but have the night off. 
  • Trey Miguel remains sidelined with a knee injury. 
  • Frankie Kazarian and Elijah are both cleared for the strap math. 

Santino Marella Checks In Via Zoom 

Marella was not at the arena, but he was checking in from home to let us know he was cleared of all charges for “punching a talent.” I believe his argument was that he punched Sacks, who is a no-talent. Santino is back to business and no more nonsense. Also the whole business of going into the women’s locker room was a simple misunderstanding.

Marella made Leon Slater & Moose v. Eddie Edwards and Cedric Alexander to make up for the 4-on-2 match from a few weeks ago. A fair match for this week. He also announced Nic Nemeth & KC Navarro v. The System for the tag team titles, and Arianna Grande v. Lei Ying Lee for the Knockouts Title with Xia Brookside banned from ringside. Both of those bouts are for next week. Also, the star witness was Indi Hartwell, who makes her return!

Hartwell returned in front of the line crowd, and challenged Arianna Grace, whether she has the title or not. 

— Mike Santana wanted to talk about his match with Rich Swann from last week, but Nic Nemeth came along with his trophy to remind Santana he still had a title shot to cash in. 

— In her “office” in the back, Daria Rae confirms with someone via video conference that all of what Santino did in his video call was legitimate, constantly calling them “sir” and is that a fifth authority figure for this show? Indi Hartwell came into gloat about her suspension being lifted, and Rae threatened her with contract negotiations. 

Mr. Elegance (w/ The Elegance Brand) v. The Home Town Man 

Mr. Elegance is undefeated in TNA, having wrestled a bunch of matches on Xplosion. 

The Home Town Man gave Mr. Elegance a cutter out of an airplane spin. The Homer punched Mr. Elegance in his beautiful face in front of the other members of the Elegance Brand, who overreacted. The Homer walked right into a spinebuster, who hit him with tackles and knees. Mr. Elegance than rubbed Homer’s face into the mat. Mr. Elegance choked The Homer against the ropes while Ash laughed at him. 

M then rubbed his Syracuse jersey in his face, which riled up the Homer. The Home Town Man made his comeback, slamming Elegance and dropping a big elbow. The Home Town Man came off the top with a crossbody for a near fall. 

Ash by Elegance got up on the ring apron to taunt The Home Town Man with her sexuality. So the Home Town Man grabbed one of his masks and rubbed it in Ash’s face… which I think we were supposed to think Ash was thinking she was making out with the Home Town Man? Ash over-acted again. Home Town Man turned around and walked right into a Alexis Bliss style Sister Abigal DDT for the pinfall. 

Match Result: Mr. Elegance pinned The Home Town Man (6:00). 

This was 4 minutes too long. 

— In the back, Mara Sadé, Allie and Rosemary celebrated their big victory by practicing Sadé’s dance. 

— Gia Miller interviewed Lei Ying Lee at a restaurant. Lee announced she doesn’t want a title shot, and just wants to go back home to China. Tommy Dreamer showed up to convince Lee not to go back to China just because her best friend turned on her. His best friend turned on him in summer camp and they’ve been fighting ever since! This convinced Lee not to go back to China and instead, she said she’ll win the title next week. 

Leon Slater Addressed the Live Crowd 

Mark the date down in your calendars: on May 15th, Leon Slater will become the longest reigning X=Division champion of all time. Slater addressed Cedic Alexander, who thinks he’s “prime,” but he hasn’t been prime since Slater was in elementary school. That was sick burn. Slater will give Alexander another shot at the X-Divsion title. Slater has beaten Alexander twice, so he’ll have no problem doing it for a third time. 

Alexander came out and since Daria Rae wants to one-up Santino in the match making department. So on the live TNA Impact on May 14th, Cedric Alexander will get his title shot. But Alexander thinks that Leon Slater won’t make it to May 14th, and on cue the rest of the System attacked Slater from behind. Moose came out to break up the four on one and run off the System, powerboming Brian Myers on to a bile of the System members on the floor. Moose then went to spear Alisha Edwards, but Eddie pulled his wife out of the ring. 

During this interview, Alexander clarified that the Slater/Moose v. Alexander/Edwards tag team match was happening next week, correcting Santino’s earlier video call promo. 

This thing they’re building to with Slater being the longest reigning X-Division champion could be something special.

— Ryan Nemeth was belly-aching to AJ Francis about his brother upstaging him. Francis doesn’t care about the Nemeth family drama, but Ryan better leave KC Navarro to AJ Francis. 

Next Week on Impact:

  • The System’s Bronson & Myers v. KC Navarro & Nic Nemeth for the Tag Team Titles 
  • Eric Young v. EC3 in a No Disqualification Match. 
  • Leon Slater & Moose v. Cedric Alexander & Eddie Edwards 
  • Arianna Grace v. Lei Ying Lee for the TNA Knockouts Title. 

Frankie Kazarian v. Elijah in a “Walk With Elijah Guitar Strap Match” 

So TNA added their own special twist to the strap match: the match will start backstage, where the competitors will get strapped up and fight. Once they get to the ring, it’s standard strap match rules, where the winner is the first to touch all four corners. 

This was your standard walk and brawl. Kazarian rubbed some hand sanitizer in Elijah’s eyes. They visited the doctor, where Kazarian slammed a door in Elijah’s injured shoulder. Elijah sat Kazarian up on a luggage cart and shoved him into some crates, then threw him into a loading bay door. 

Elijah then carried Kazarian through the backstage and into the arena. Kazarian rolled down the entrance ramp. Elijah chopped Kazarian. 

They finally made it into the ring, where Elijah backdropped Kazarian. Elijah touched two of the turnbuckles before Kazarian “broke his momentum” with a forearm to the back. Kazarian touched two of the turnbuckles before Elijah cut him off with a forearm. 

They went to the floor, and Kazarian pulled a guitar out from under the ring. Kazarian choked Elijah with the strap (I think this was the first time the strap was actually used as a weapon). The crowd chanted for a table while they brawled around ringside. Elijah looked for a table, but couldn’t find one under the ring. 

Kazarian tried to walk off, but he couldn’t get far since he was attached to Elijah with a strap. Elijah chopped Kazarian some more. 

Back in the ring, Elijah hit a flying clothesline. Kazarian then rope-walked with Elijah, with Elijah taking Kazarian down with a sunset flip off the top. Elijah touched three of the turnbuckles, but Kazarian finally remembered there was a strap attached to his arm and started whipping Elijah. 

The fight went to the floor, and Elijah hung up Kazarian around the ringpost and whipped him with the strap. Kazarian came back and whipped Elijah, then dropped a leg. Kazarian then used the strap to pull Elijah into the ringpost, and Elijah responded in kind. 

Back in the ring, Elijah chopped and whipped Kazarian while the crowd chanted for tables. Kazarian went for the chicken wing, and Elijah started walking around with Kazarian on his back and began touching corners. He got to three turnbuckles (and Hannfian rightly pointed out that Kazarian wasn’t actually doing anything to break the momentum), but Elijah dropped to the mat before he could touch the fourth turnbuckle. 

Kazarian tried to do his own version of the rope walk, but jumped into a jumping knee from Elijah. Elijah then whipped Kazarian, who countered with a back stabber. Kazarian tried to touch the turnbuckles, but wound up with the strap between his legs. Elijah yanked on the strap, flipping over Kazarian and breaking the strap. 

Elijah hit Kazarian with a tombstone piledriver. Elijah touched three of the turnbuckles, but before he could get to the fourth, Kazarian pulled him back with the strap. However, in this last corner was the guitar Kazarian pulled out from under the ring. Elijah grabbed the guitar, busted it over Kazarian’s head, and then touched the final turnbuckle to get the victory. 

Match Result: Elijah walked to victory by touching all four corners (16:26). 

I actually thought this was a cleverly laid out match. Elijah continues to be impressive in this TNA run.

ROH TV live results: Shane Taylor vs. Mance Warner, Don Callis Family vs. TMDK

Posted on by Jeff Moss

Ring of Honor is back on HonorClub with its weekly show tonight.

Viva Van vs. Sara Leon is advertised for the show.

Christyan XO of Shane Taylor Promotions will be in singles action against Frankie B.

Paid in Full, the team of Big Bill and Bryan Keith, will be in tag team action. Their opponents have yet to be announced.

The IInspiration, Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay, will be in action.

Top Flight’s Dante Martin and Darius Martin will wrestle Soleil and Gringo Loco.

ROH Women’s Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo will face Remi Reade in a Proving Ground match.

Stori Denali of The Premier Athletes will make her ROH singles debut.

Mance Warner will make his Ring of Honor debut as he faces Shane Taylor.

Also, it will be TMDK against The Don Callis Family in a six-man tag team match.

Matches for this week’s episode were taped on April 6 in Jacksonville. Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.

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

It’s true, I’m mostly alive and covering Ring of Honor on Honorclub! it’s a packed show tonight, so let’s get right into it shall we?

Konosuke Takeshita vs Matt Menard

And it started with a bang as the 4-0 in ROH Takeshita opened the evening against Quebec’s own Matt “Daddy Magic” Menard. Takeshita is a Callis Family member and Menard is presumably a Habs fan. Takeshita had what was pretty much the ROH Match of the year at Supercard of Honor 2025 against Bandido.

Off the top, Takeshita tried to take control, but Menard played a bunch of French Canadian mind games, stopping and starting and throwing Takeshita off. Menard managed to get a scoop slam on the bigger man and Takeshita slid to the outside to collect his thoughts.

Menard tried to move things along, but Takeshita pulled him out of the ring and brutalized him on the barricade with a big boot. He dragged Menard back into the ring and laid some knees and elbows in. Menard fought back, but it was short lived with Takeshita maintaining control and twisting by the neck.

Menard built up some steam throwing clotheslines off of a missed discus elbow by Takeshita. Menard hit a DDT that stood Takeshita on his head, but he still managed to kick out at two.

Menard picked a fight with the bigger man who hit him with a right cross and then a blue thunder bomb, which anyone who’s seen wrestling knows cannot end a match. So, Takeshita hit Menard with a big knee to the face and that was enough to put him down.

Match Result: Konosuke Takeshita defeated Matt Menard

Shane Taylor vs Mance Warner

From one heavy hitter to another, as Talyor, one third of the ROH Six Man Tag Champions with The Infantry took on the debuting “king of the brawlers” Mance Warner. The king has his work cut out for him though, giving up at least 100lbs on Taylor.

Taylor spat on Warner’s Code of Honor and the Warner wiped it into his hair. Gross.

The strikes were heavy off the top with both men coming out swinging. Warner no-sold a bunch of Taylor offense which I didn’t think was possible, but eventually Taylor wore him down. Warner came back with a Three-Stooges eye poke, before sending Taylor into the barricade on the outside.

Warner went to jump off the apron, but Taylor caught him in mid air and threw him into the ring post. Then he threw him into the steps for good measure. Taylor dropped a guillotine leg drop on Warner’s chest on the ring apron (the droppiest part of the ring!) and sent him back in.

Taylor then pulled a chair out from under the ring and set it up but the steps. Warner exited the ring swinging, but Taylor dazed him and set him up in the chair for a running forearm to the face. Taylor threw Warner back into the ring and no-sold some body jabs.

Taylor laid Warner out with a lariat, but could only get a two count. Taylor hit a Rock Bottom followed by a splash, but Warner still wouldn’t go down and kicked out at two. Taylor scoop slammed him and then went to the second rope for a splash, but Warner moved out of the way.

Warner tried his best to come back with lariats and something of a back suplex. He then went for the chair, bringing it into the ring. He used it to launch himself into a tornado DDT on Taylor, and the ref got rid of it.

Taylor caught one of Warner’s running knees and threw him back to the mat. Warner tried to out head-butt Taylor, but that just opened him up for a Marcus Garvey Driver. Taylor made the pin and won the match .

Match Result: Shane Taylor defeated Mance Warner

-Backstage the Premier Athletes were interviewed. Mark Sterling said that it’s been 234 days since he was last attacked and thanked the Athletes for protecting him. Tony Nese put the locker room on notice that if anyone in the locker room lays a finger on Sterling, they will have to deal with the Premier Athletes. Which makes sense because that’s who they are and he’s their lawyer.

Stori Denali (w/Mark Sterling) vs Jacey Love

And that took us out to the ring where Sterling declared Denali to be an “act of God” and a “lawsuit waiting to happen.” Are we sure Sterling is a lawyer and not an insurance broker? Anyway, Jacey Love didn’t get an intro and was about two feet shorter than Denali, so the odds weren’t really in her favour.

Denali threw Love around the ring, letting her tie up every now and again. Love tried to take Denali off her feet with some shoulder tackles to Denali’s thigh (thats how big the height difference was) but Denali just shrugged it off.

Coleman and Riccaboni started talking about Podcasts and Denali beat up on Love, ending the match with a chokeslam and a standing cover.

Somewhere, Satnam Singh smiled and didn’t know why.

Match Result: Stori Denali defeated Jacey Love

Alan Angels vs Lio Rush

Rush is working a new gimmick where he’s the “Blackheart” Lio Rush. Apparently, that means he just crawls around a bunch to Mankind b-side music and talks to himself while wearing Marilyn Manson contacts. Personally, I preferred the big coats of Cru, but to each their own.

Anyway, Rush started the match talking to his own hand and Angels slapped him in the face about it. Rush found this hilarious and went for a choke, but Angels wouldn’t let him get a hold of him. Rush changed tactics and clotheslined him.

Rush’s weird eyes freaked out Angels, but he recovered enough to kick him in the gut. From there they ran through a technical exchange that let to Rush getting a two count and Angels bailing to the outside. Angels chopped Rush who seemed to like it? Angels then hit a cannonball off the apron onto Rush on the outside.

Angels hit a Northern Lights Suplex into a bridge pin, but Rush kicked out at two. Rush hit a Thez Press off the ropes, but Angels came back with a shoulder to the face. Rush dodged a splash and bit Angels on the head. He hit a springboard Stunner, but Angels kicked out.

Angels hit a powerbomb followed by a spin kick, but Rush kicked out at two. Angels went for a butterfly suplex, but Rush powered out of it and they traded pinning combinations. Angels hit a series of German Suplexes and went up top.

Angels hit a big splash, but Rush kicked out. Rush hit a stunner on the apron followed by a rolling heel kick to send Angels to the outside. Rush then ran aound the ring like an animal and brought Angels back in for a Blue Thunder Bomb that, in spite of what I said earlier and every wrestling match I’ve ever seen, ended the match.

That’s how you know Lio Rush is weird.

Match Result: Lio Rush defeated Alan Angels

ROH Women’s Pure Title Proving Ground Match: Deonna Purrazzo [c] vs Remi Reade

Next, we headed to the Proving Ground and Women’s Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo giving a potential title shot to the newcomer Remi Reade.

The clock started and Reade and Purrazzo traded wristlocks until Reade got Purrazzo into a scissor lock that Purrazzo easily got out of. Purrazzo went for a backslide but only got a one count. Reade and Purrazzo spent more time posing than wrestling in the first two minutes which was an interesting strategy on Reade’s part.

Purrazzo threw Reade into the ropes and put on a quick hold, costing her a rope break at 7:52. They traded kicks and Purrazzo hit a sit out powerbomb into the fujiwara lock. Reade immediately tapped and that was it.

Match Result: Deonna Purrazzo defeated Remi Reade

Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) (w/Christopher Daniels) vs Gringo Loco & Soleil

Soleil had a great debut a few weeks ago and Gringo is, well, loco. Their lucha skills will come in handy against the high-flying Martin brothers.

Darius and Gringo kicked things off with a flurry of off-the-ropes strikes. Dante and Soleil tagged in and Soleil did a couple of really impressive Matrix-style dodges to avoid Dante. Dante finally caught Soleil and sent him into the corner for a snap suplex and diving senton.

Darius tagged in and Soleil hit a big boot as Gringo tagged in. Darius sent them both to the outside and then dove after them. He seemed to take the worst of it though and Darius got back into the ring against Gringo. Soleil tagged in and they double teamed Darius until Gringo exited and it was one-on-one.

Soleil postioned Darious as Gringo went up top for a split-legged moonsault. Darious hit a rolling clothesline and got a tag to Dante who met Soleil in the ring with a springboard crossbody. Dante hit a high knee and Gringo tagged in. They threw Dante around and Soleil hit a twisting meteora from the top turnbuckle.

Darius came in to help but ate a sideswipe kick from Soleil. Dante tagged in and hit a satellite DDT on Gringo. Darious joined him and the nailed Gringo with a double facebuster to get the win.

Match Result: Top Flight defeated Gringo Loco & Soleil

The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessie McKay) vs B3CCA & Madi Maxx

It is always a pleasure to see McKay and Lee doing their thing. B3CCA, in spite of not knowing how to spell, grabbed Maxx and mocked the IInspiration’s entrance, and possibly their inability to spell as well.

The tags were quick as McKay and Lee worked B3CCA over. Maxx tried to help, but ate a double kick to the gut for her trouble. Mckay and Lee hit duelling splashes and knees in the corner before locking in their signature pose.

McKay isolated B3CCA in the Iinspiration’s Ccorner, bouncing her head of the turnbuckles in sequence. B3CCA managed to get a back elbow in and get a tag to Maxx. Maxx came flying out of the corner right into a double team. B3CCA tried to help but Mckay hit a swinging neckbreaker.

The IInspiration hit a double underhook facebusters and then the Finalizer to get the pin and victory. As they should.

Match Result: The IInspiration defeated B3CCA & Madi Maxx

Caprice Coleman then “chopped it up” with Ian Riccaboni. Essentially, they just talked about how they enjoy working together as the longest-running duo in professional wrestling (apparently). Riccaboni then invited Red Velvet in to be “chopped it up” with.

Coleman looked very nervous talking to Velvet due to either unpreparedness or a crush. It wasn’t really clear. Then it ended. The segment just ended.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Viva Van vs Sara Leon

While we all tried to wrap our heads around that, Leon and Van made their entrances. Leon was touted as an actor (in Spain) and had a metric ton of energy to her.

Van took control off the bell but Leon was able to keep her wits about her and throw Van out of a wristlock. Van dropped a knee on Leon’s arm and then dropped to her knees and posed. That drew Leon into a lock up and Van transitioned it into an arm bar.

Leon rolled it through into a pin attempt, but Van exploded back and dropped her with a spinning heel kick. Van hit a big boot and an upkick before picking Leon up on her shoulders. Leon countered the electric Chair into a hurricanrana.

Van countred by wrapping her up in an ankle lock. She dropped a knee on Leon’s leg and transitioned into a surfboard stretch. Leon managed to bridge out of it and stunned Van with a back elbow.

Van hit a driver and Van put her up in a straight jacket electric chair, dropping Leon to the mat on her back. Van made the cover and picked up the win.

Match Result: Viva Van defeated Sara Leon

Paid In Full (Big Bill & Bryan Keith) vs Nick Halen & Vin Parker

Paid In Full have been working as mercenaries in ROH, taking out whoever they are paid to take out. I don’t know who Halen and Parker made mad to put them in Bill and Keith’s sights, but here we are.

Keith exploded off the bell with a clothesline that dropped Halen. Halen tried to come back with a second rope dropkick, but Keith punched him in the face in mid air. He then hit a t-bone suplex and raked the eyes of Halen.

Bill tagged in and once again I marveled at how far he’s come in terms of skill and physique. He knocked Parker off the apron then threw a couple of splashes in the corner on Halen. Parker tried to help, but Bill dispatched him. Bill and Keith each hit a big boot on Halen and that was it. Keith made the pin to win the match.

Match Result: Paid In Full defeated Nick Halen & Vin Parker

Christyan XO (w/Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) vs Frankie B

This is the singles debut of XO, coming off the very tall heels of Stori Denali’s singles match earlier in the show. I imagine that eventually someone in ROH will say “hey we’ve got two really tall women here!” and have them fight each other, but for now I’m sure we’ll enjoy both of them Lance Archer-ing their way through the ROH Women’s roster.

XO held her hand up high, preventing B from locking up. She did this a bunch, and eventually B figured out she could just punch her. XO kocked her to the ground and B tried to roll XO up, but couldn’t pull the big woman down.

B leapt up to try a sleeper, but XO shrugged her off and set her up on the top turnbuckle for a headscissor. B tried to come back, but XO dropped her with a big boot while the Infantry cheered. She hit a scissor kick and made the pin to pick up the victory in the battle of women with letters for last names.

Match Result: Christyan XO defeated Frankie B

Don Callis Family (Mark Davis, Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta) vs TMDK (Bad Dude Tito, Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste)

And then it was Main Event time as TMDK air-drummed their way to the ring to take on select members of the Don Callis Family. Also, have you seen Trent Beretta’s episode of Floor Is Lava on Netflix? It’s great, he teams with Orange Cassidy and Kris Stratlander. They don’t win.

Anyway, Davis towered over every other participant in the match, but Tito and Romero were the ones to kick things off. Tito no-sold a chop from Romero then sent him scrambling into Beretta’s arms with a chop of his own.

Tito immediately drove Beretta into the corner then threw him with a snap suplex. Nicholls and Haste ran in to drop double fists on Beretta, with Haste staying legal. Beretta started spamming superkicks, sending Haste out of the ring where Davis picked him up and lawn-darted him into Nicholls.

Back in the ring, the Callis Family isolated Haste in their corner and beat him up with a bunch of quick tags. Davis then started throwing bombs on him in the opposite corner. Then isolation. Then Bombs. Then Isolation. It went on like this for a while.

Davis scoop slammed Haste, but whiffed on the senton. Romero tagged in, cutting off Haste from making a tag. Haste kicked him and got the hot one to Nicholls. Nicholls took out Beretta and Romero, but Romero fired back off the ropes.

Davis and Tito got hot tags and the two brusiers traded forearms and elbows. Tito missed a spinning kick and Davis made him pay for it with suplexes. Tito managed to cut off a Davis lariat with a superkick, laying both men out.

They got to their knees and traded forearms. Then they got to their feet and traded forearms. Then they traded spinning kicks. That’s not true, Davis got the kick in, but Tito blocked the next move and set Davis up on the top turnbuckle. Tito managed to execute the superplex and subsequent brainbuster, but Davis kicked out of the cover.

With Romero and Beretta taken care of, TMDK triple teamed Davis until Beretta flew in to break up a pin. Tito took on Beretta and Romero who nailed him with stereo high knees. Davis came back in and hit Tito with a shining wizard for a two count.

The match completely deteriorated after that with people in black trunks just hitting other people in black trunks, while other people in black trunks watched.

Tito managed to double clothesline Romero and Beretta out of the ring, leaving him and Davis one-on-one. Davis executed a really nasty piledriver on Tito and I guess he was legal because he made the pin and won the match.

Match Result: Don Callis Family defeated TMDK

WOL: Dynamite recap, Wembley build with new AEW PPV, injuries updates

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm is back with tons to talk about including last night’s Dynamite, a look at the AEW title situation heading into Wembley with the addition of a new PPV in an interesting place, Smackdown going to two hours in two months, WWE injury updates, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOR: Smackdown to two hours, WWE and AI, Dynamite and NXT, more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of Carol Sammartino, plans for Smackdown’s move to two hours, Night of Champions update, NXT and the CW, more from the WWE Town Hall meeting including what’s up with AI and creative, CMLL update, ratings, full Dynamite and NXT reviews, and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Carol Sammartino passes away, update on SmackDown returning to two hours
3:13: WWE & Saudi Arabia update, other town hall notes
14:52: NXT PLEs to CW & ESPN
17:56: Carlos Silva comments on pulling TNA talent from matches featuring AEW wrestlers
27:24: WWE signs Zoe Hines, Tiger Mask vs. DOUKI thoughts, NOAH & CMLL notes
36:35: Ratings
46:29: AEW Dynamite recap
1:03:03: WWE NXT recap

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AEW Dynamite live results: Darby Allin vs. Brody King, MJF vs. Kevin Knight

Posted on by Ryan Howard

AEW Dynamite is live tonight from EagleBank Arena in Fairfax.

Four championship matches are scheduled for tonight’s show.

Kicking off the broadcast, Kevin Knight will defend the TNT Championship against MJF.

Darby Allin will look to defend the AEW World Championship for a second time as he goes up against Brody King.

Kazuchika Okada will put the International Championship on the line against Ace Austin.

The AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion put the titles on the line against Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander.

The full lineup for the show:

  • AEW World Champion Darby Allin defends against Brody King
  • AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion (Megan Bayne & Lena Kross) defend against Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida 
  • TNT Champion Kevin Knight defends against MJF
  • AEW International Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Ace Austin
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta
  • Brawling Birds (Jamie Hayter & Alex Windsor) vs. TBA
  • Rush vs. TBA

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

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

AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone & Taz as they run down tonight’s card, including 4 title matches. We’re kicking off with the TNT Title and go to a recap package of the past few weeks. Taz said it looks like MJF is nude not having a title around his waist. He also mentioned how he doesn’t like Knight or his partner, Tae Kwon Do Jones (I’ve sure missed Taz on commentary).

Kevin Knight vs. MJF for the TNT Title

(The fans were loudly behind Knight from the opening introductions, as this would wind up being undoubtedly the biggest win of his career thus far. Tony Khan has talked about recently how there’s big plans for Knight as a future World Champion and it’s great to see him involved with guys in the main event picture. The post-match made it official that Knight gets a World Title shot next week and it sends MJF off the edge even more, forcing him to think about what he’s willing to put on the line if he wants a World Title shot of his own.)

We get big match introductions from Justin Roberts, as MJF told him to say he doesn’t hail from a white trash town like Virginia. MJF rushes Knight at the opening bell, sends him crashing outside, driving him with a powerbomb onto the railing before taking the camera and filming Knight, calling him a bum. Back inside, Knight was able to fire off a leaping lariat, but MJF met him with a kitchen sink. They trade back suplex attempts, with MJF hitting a variation into a cutter for two. Knight used his speed to avoid multiple attacks and hit a jumping DDT into a double down. Knight is up first and swarms MJF with strikes in the ropes, as a huge dropkick connects into a kip up and huge pop from the crowd. Leaping standing splash gets a near fall, as he positioned MJF for the home run shot, but MJF rolled outside three separate times, with each time being met with a Knight slingshot cross body, Tope and somersault dive. MJF did it a fourth time, with Knight capping it all off with a springboard diving lariat up the aisle.

Back inside, Knight wanted a UFO Splash, but MJF suckered him into the ropes, missed a Heatseeker, they traded pin attempts until MJF countered a rolling DDT into a pop-up cutter for two. Knight fights off a Panama Sunrise, goes up with MJF in the ropes, backflips out, but tweaks his knee in the process. Knight still hit his leaping standing hurricanrana from the corner, as he went for a UFO Splash, but crashed and burned. Knight kicked free from a Figure Four, charged for a corner splash, but his leg buckled right in position for MJF to hit a Panama Sunrise for two. MJF smells blood in the water and pounces on the injured knee, sinking in a Half Crab, but Knight kicked free, only to crumble yet again. MJF wanted another Panama Sunrise, but leapt into a thrust kick with the good leg. Knight went up top and hit a UFO Splash, but took too long to make a cover, MJF kicking out at two.

Dragon screw in the ropes by MJF, who continued snapping at the knee before blowing a snot rocket and spitting on Knight. Multiple kick outs by Knight pisses MJF off, as he grabs the TNT Title, distracts referee Bryce with it, who rips it away, giving MJF time to put on the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Before he could use it, Knight hit a low blow and inside cradle, as Bryce turned around, made the three count for the flash pin, MJF can’t believe it. Knight slowly got to his feet and held the title high for a brief moment before MJF chop blocked out the leg. MJF was about to use the ring when Darby Allin did a Sting-esque entrance from the top of the arena, getting in the ring and laying out MJF with a Scorpion Death Drop.

MJF scattered away up the aisle with a microphone saying the fans suck, while two low life cheaters get along with each other. MJF said he doesn’t care about Kevin Knight; he was barely trying in that match. The only thing he cares about is his Triple B, demanding his rematch. Allin said no and if he wants a shot, he’ll have to put something on the line. If Allin makes it by Brody King tonight, he knows who deserves the next shot, Kevin Knight. Brody King’s music hits and he power walks to the ring, staring down MJF before going face to face with Allin, saying he has bad news for Allin, he’s not going to survive tonight. He told Knight he’s got some bad news for him as well, next week, he won’t be facing Allin, he’ll be facing King. So it seems official that no matter what, Knight is getting an AEW World Title shot next week.

Match Result: Kevin Knight defeated MJF to retain the TNT Title

-After everything that just happened, we cut to a video package on the rivalry between Allin & King in AEW and the wars they have been through over the years. There’s no bigger match in their series than tonight’s main event for the AEW World Title.

**********

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Adam Copeland & Christian Cage, asking about Cage’s fractured arm, but he said it’s fine not to worry about it. Paquette asks if they accept FTR’s challenge to their match at Double or Nothing being an I Quit Match and Cage accepted. Copeland said he’s surprised he accepted considering his history with I Quit Matches and a pissed off Cage stormed off saying he never said it. Copeland told Paquette he totally said it, but won’t again.

The Brawling Birds (Jamie Hayter & Alex Windsor) vs. Emily Jaye & Jordan Blade

Hayter wasted no time popping Blade & Jaye with forearms, as The Birds make quick tags and even faster chops. Windsor mows down Jaye ringside, as Hayter dished out ground and pound to Blade before hitting a double headbutt with Windsor. Sandwich double lariat led to Two Birds One Stone for the dominant win.

Match Result: The Brawling Birds defeated Emily Jaye & Jordan Blade

-Photos of Swerve Strickland at the NFL Draft was shown (no mention of Britt Baker, who was also there).

-Thekla & Skye Blue are backstage and Thekla said she wishes she could stop calling people dumb bitches, but there’s too many in AEW for her to stop. Blue said she feels sorry that Persephone got misted last week by Julia Hart, but it’s the best thing that ever happened to her, maybe it’ll open her eyes. Thekla bad mouths The Brawling Birds and said one on one, she’s everything, while they are nothing, so they should stick to a tag team.

Kazuchika Okada vs. Ace Austin for the AEW International Title

Don Callis joins commentary, as Excalibur told us Austin & Okada have history competing in New Japan Pro Wrestling, but I actually believe this is their first time meeting. Okada got the upper hand early, but a rolling drop toe hold led to a cradle for an early Austin near fall. Austin goes to work with strikes and a deep squat Death Valley Driver, leading to a comeback spring kick sending Okada outside. Okada tried to sweep the leg on the apron, but Austin did a handstand out of it, seeing Okada applaud the effort, but side stepped a slingshot from Austin, spiking him with a DDT on the floor, as Okada had a big smile on his face.

Okada proceeded to pick apart Austin (even high-fiving a child ringside in the process), planting him with an Air Raid Crash on the knee before connecting on his top rope elbow, flipping off the crowd, which Callis said was directed at Tony Schiavone. Austin fights off a Rainmaker, sends Okada outside where he hit a pump kick on the apron followed up by a Fosbury Flop. Back inside, combo of strikes led to a leaping leg drop followed by a springboard twisting leg drop for two. Okada attempted, but missed his leaping dropkick, giving Austin a roll-up for two. Austin tried the springboard leg drop again, but Okada hit his dropkick in mid-air. Austin ducked a Rainmaker into a crazy close backslide for two, but Okada quickly got up and hit another dropkick, this time followed by a Tombstone and Rainmaker for the win.

Post-match, Callis went to attack Austin, as Mark Davis congratulated Okada, while Juice Robinson ran out to save his Bang Bang Gang buddy. Konosuke Takeshita slowly walks out to the stage and signals the International Title will be his at Double or Nothing.

Match Result: Kazuchika Okada defeated Ace Austin to retain the AEW International Title

-A video is shown in the Wild West and Bandido Most Wanted signs around town. People have been attacked and left lying, as someone walks out of the bar and stops to pick up a dust covered Bandido sign. It’s Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana, as Strickland sets fire to the Wanted sign before the screen fades to black.

**********

-We recap the footage from Collision of the offer Jon Moxley made to Will Ospreay, making him the most dangerous version of himself he’s ever seen. We then go to the Death Riders training until Ospreay shows up, with Moxley asking if Ospreay has gotten cleared? Ospreay said no, but it’s not stopping him from going to Japan, as he and his boys have a big title match. Moxley said loyalty, you’re too good to be true. He tells Ospreay he needs to drop everything that clouds his vision, that makes him see things that aren’t there, whatever pulls at his heart strings, the anger that burns a hole in his stomach, drop it all, it’s excess baggage, they don’t need it. Ospreay’s feelings about Moxley, drop it, they don’t need it. Moxley doesn’t promise miracles, but when he promises something, he sees it through til the very end, all he asks for is the same in return. Ospreay says ok, looks at PAC before asking where’s the ring? Moxley said they don’t do a ring; they start from the ground up and shoves the camera away. This was another excellent video, as the Death Riders are making Ospreay into a machine on his quest for the AEW World Title.

-Stokely joins commentary for the upcoming tag match, as FTR are by his side getting a close look at their opponents for Double or Nothing.

Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. RPG Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta)

(This ended up being a really good challenge for Copeland & Cage in their first official tag match on AEW TV. While we don’t see RPG Vice much as a duo on Dynamite, they always are a solid team and brought it tonight. The Conglomeration & FTR interaction seems like a Collision match waiting to happen, so we’ll see if that’s announced by the end of the night. The post-match was a simple way for Copeland & Cage to get their opponents tonight to yell I Quit before the trying to make FTR do the same at Double or Nothing.)

Stokley said they have nothing to worry about at Double or Nothing, saying they’ve beaten them before and they will again, easily. Romero & Cage kick things off, with Romero going right for the injured forearm, but Cage escaped and flipped off FTR. Romero went back to the forearm before clocking Cage with a dropkick, doing an early sliding celebration to the camera, allowing Cage to drop him with a reverse DDT. Tag to Copeland, as we get a running boot/leg sweep combo for two. Romero made a tag to Beretta, who planted Copeland with a jumping double stomp for a near fall of his own, but Copeland answered with another running boot and drop toe hold into the ropes. Cage tagged in and did his standing choke before a double team strikes led to Beretta being chucked into the barricade. Cash Wheeler ran distraction long enough for Beretta to slam Cage’s bad forearm into the post.

Stokely gets up to applaud, not seeing Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong behind him in the front row. Stokely swung and missed Cassidy, who smacked him with popcorn and the brawl between The Conglomeration, FTR & Stokely are on out of the arena.

As this all went on, Cage was clipped with a running knee off the apron by Romero, as RPG Vice continued working over Cage for an extended period. Romero managed a flying cross arm breaker out of the corner, took Cage to the corner again, but was spiked with a Tornado DDT for the reset. Copeland made the hot tag, ran wild, spiked Beretta with an Impaler for two. Copeland would eat multiple double pump knees from RPG Vice, as Beretta went for Strong Zero, but Cage made the save, sending Copeland in to hit a Code Red on Beretta. Cage & Romero spilled outside, as Beretta leap frogged a Copeland Spear, tried a pin with his foot on the ropes, but got caught. Beretta argued with referee Rick Knox, but turned into a pop-up Spear from Cage & Copeland for the win.

Post-match, Cage brought a chair in the ring and ripped it apart, allowing Copeland to put a crossface on Beretta using part of the chair. Cage ordered Beretta to say it, as he pleaded I Quit. Cage said he would never say it, you little b*tch. Copeland looked at the AEW Tag Titles that were still at commentary before Cage went to leave with them, but Knox was able to get it away. Copeland, popcorn bucket on is head, ran around ringside with the other title as well.

Match Result: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage defeated RPG Vice when Copeland pinned Beretta

**********

-Renee Paquette is backstage earlier today with Jericho and brings up Ricochet saying The Ricosault is an improvement on The Lionsault. Jericho said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but he’s pissed off. Before he could say anything else, The Demand attack from behind, as Liona & Kaun hold Jericho up as Ricochet said no more subliminal messages and if this is what Jericho wanted? Jericho told Ricochet to eat sh*t, bald. Ricochet slammed Jericho into the side of a table, then teased a Ricosault, but landed on his feet, saying Jericho isn’t worth it.

Divine Dominion (Megan Bayne & Lena Kross) vs. Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles

(The first part of this match saw everyone on different pages, as I thought there were some incredibly awkward moments, but thankfully it got back on track the second half. While we’ve seen people use partners as a projectile in the past (Roderick Strong & Orange Cassidy comes to mind), we’ve never seen them boot the other in the ribs before doing it, so at one point, the fans thought Shida was turning on Statlander, who just had to accept what happened before being isolated. It was all very odd.)

Renee Paquette was ringside before the match and said she talked to Shida earlier today, who said Statlander, her good friend, have teamed with her more than Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron, as tonight, they’ll win tag gold together.

Shida attacked both Kross & Bayne at the bell, but both no sold, as Kross drove her shoulder repeatedly into the ribs of Shida in the corner before rag-dolling her with a beal. Double shoulder tackle by Kross & Bayne, who I think tried a fall away slam, but both ladies just awkwardly collapsed. Shida was able to battle back, tried a jumping knee, only to be slammed by Bayne. Shida, visibly pissed outside, regrouped and tried to use her kendo stick, but Statlander put a stop to it. She pulled it away just in time for Bayne to miss a charge and post herself in the corner. Shida actually kicked her own partner in the stomach and delivered a snap suplex on her onto Bayne in the corner. Statlander got up and was pissed, as Bayne had already recovered, but Statlander low bridged her outside. Statlander delivered a spinning back elbow, looked for Wednesday Night Fever, but Kross rolled through, kicking Statlander into the ropes, where Bayne flew in with a leaping boot. Kross delivered a Hot Shot variation on Statlander, who continued to be isolated.

Statlander finally started mounting her comeback with a double hurricanrana, as she fought of Bayne with a massive discus lariat. Shida & Kross tag in and they trade stiff shots until Shida hit a missile dropkick out of the corner. Bayne got in a cheap shot, as Kross threw a thrust kick, Shida ducked and sent the champs into each other before getting a 2 for 1 sliding knee on both. Shida hit a double missile dropkick off the apron before taking Kross back inside, as Kross hit a thrust kick of her own, causing Shida to stumble to her corner and Statlander making the blind tag. Bayne & Kross hit stereo Helluva Kicks and a Bayne release German for two. Blind tag from Kross, who ultimately takes a Blue Thunder Bomb, as Statlander stacked the champs and hit a 450 Splash on the pile for two.

Statlander went for her finisher, but Shida made another blind tag, hitting a Meteora off the top before doing the deal with a Falcon Arrow for two. Kitana was stopped by a Bayne belly to belly suplex, as Statlander came in with a thrust kick, only to eat a flying boot/release German. Bayne & Kross then flattened Shida with their double chokeslam for the win.

Match Result: Divine Dominion defeated Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida to retain the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles when Kross pinned Statlander

-Renee Paquette is backstage with Don Callis & Andrade El Idolo, but are interrupted by MJF, who said thanks to Andrade, AEW is ruined. Andrade keeps mocking him saying “how do you know?” and starts laughing until MJF shoves him. Callis calms them down and said Andrade is his money man, MJF is the money man and said they’re all better off when MJF is on top, so let’s just focus on business. Callis told Paquette wild horses, they’re going to run.

Rush vs. Steven Fuerte

Fuerte wanted a handshake, but was absolutely destroyed by a Rush right hand. Quickly to the floor, Rush continued beating the hell out of him before going back inside, where he delivered the Bulls Horns for the victory in a slaughter.

Post-match, Rush took the mic and said when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

Match Result: Rush defeated Steven Fuerte

-Renee Paquette is backstage with The Opps in full force, as she asks Joe what the game plan is moving forward? Joe said to reassert their dominance moving forward, it’s by Katsuyori Shibata, who will kick your head off, Anthony Bowens, who has always been overlooked and you’ll see what he’s capable of, while HOOK will become the TNT Champion this weekend. Joe told Will Ospreay they had his back when he needed it, but now he has to make a choice.

**********

-Stokely is backstage with FTR and said he just left Tony Khan’s office and said he has a proposition for Orange Cassidy. Next week on Dynamite, Cassidy vs. Dax Harwood, if he wins, he can challenge for the Tag Titles with any partner. If Harwood wins, then FTR can challenge for the Trios Titles with the man who took Darby Allin to his limit last week. Tommaso Ciampa walks in and said the last time he teamed with FTR, he put Mark Briscoe on the shelf indefinitely and next time, they’ll win the Trios Titles, top guys, out.

Darby Allin vs. Brody King for the AEW World Title

(To no one’s surprise, these two beat the ever-loving crap out of each other and Allin took some crazy bumps, shocking I know. If ever there was a truer statement on commentary, Excalibur said that Darby Allin is going to take this until the wheels fall off and these matches the last few weeks have proved exactly that, really all of Allin’s matches. I’d say Allin survived this one, as next on his schedule is the TNT Champion, who we learned has his own hands full this week on Collision against HOOK. Regardless of what happens there, Knight vs. Allin next week should be excellent.)

Both men shake hands at the opening bell, but Allin exploded out with a shotgun dropkick, tried a Coffin Splash, but was swatted in mid-air by a King chop and release overhead German followed by his corner cannonball. Gonzo Bomb was fought off, as Allin went to the corner, King right up after him, allowing Allin to hit an Avalanche Code Red for two. King went outside, where Allin tried a Tope, but bounced off King like a ball to a wall. King placed Allin on a chair, charged, only Allin hit a chop block and King ate a face full of chair. Allin sat King down on the chair and hit his signature dropkick from the top, as both men are in rough shape early on.

Allin tried to start a slugfest back inside and you know full well King won that exchange, as he continued to ragdoll Allin for multiple two counts until a running senton onto the knees of Allin. King placed Allin on the top rope, decked him with a chop and Allin flew to the floor with a splat. Brutal chokeslam on the edge of the apron, as King cleared out the commentary table, placing the top part against the railing. We see Kevin Knight watching from the crowd, as Allin piggy backed King with a sleeper, but King ran and put him through the top of the table. MJF is also shown watching backstage as both men continue to be down.

King brought Allin up, who wiggled free and sent King stomach first into the corner of the commentary table. Both start trading chops before both stood up on the table and King got his standing choke. Allin got free and somehow hit a Code Red, but the table didn’t budge. Allin went back to the ring and on one leg, hit his Tope. Allin returned King inside, went up top, but was cut off in a Tree of Woe and King hit a massive cannonball and home run lariat for two. Another running lariat turned Allin inside out, but again, Allin kicked out. King couldn’t believe it, as Allin continued to fight back, threw a headbutt, which only angered King, who launched Allin clear over the top, clipping a cameraman in the process. Allin is holding onto the padding ringside for dear life as King drags him away. King got a full charge, wanted a cannonball, but Allin moved and King crashed through the barricade. Allin quickly exposed more of the concrete ringside, as King went up to the apron, Allin slid out and hit a powerbomb onto the concrete. Allin followed with a Coffin Drop on the exposed floor and you could audibly hear the thud. King just broke the count at 9, but rolled right into a Coffin Drop to the back, as Allin followed with a Coffin Drop proper for the win.

Post-match, Knight applauded from the stands and commentary said he must not look past HOOK on Collision for the TNT Title and Taz said he hope he does. King recovered and showed respect to Allin before giving him the ring, as Allin stared down Knight, their AEW Title match is official for next week.

Match Result: Darby Allin defeated Brody King to retain the AEW World Title

AEW Collision 5/2/26

  • Kevin Knight vs. HOOK for the TNT Title
  • Jungle Jack Perry vs. Mascara Dorada for the AEW National Title
  • Willow Nightingale vs. Anna Jay for the TBS Title
  • Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & PAC) & The Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors) vs. Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) & The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz & Myron Reed) in a Tornado Tag
  • Bang Bang Gang (Ace Austin & Juice Robinson) vs. Death Riders (Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia)

AEW Dynamite 5/6/26

  • Darby Allin vs. TNT Champion Kevin Knight for the AEW World Title
  • Dax Harwood vs. Orange Cassidy in a Double Jeopardy Match (if Cassidy wins, he gets a Tag Title match with a partner of his choosing, if Harwood wins, FTR & Tommaso Ciampa get a Trios Title match)

AD: Gary Brand talks Sandown Clown, Bigfoot, Mel’s Hole, Grinning Man

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

After Dark Radio with Bryan Alvarez is back with special guest Gary Brand of the Within the Mist podcast! We’ve got tons to discuss including Bigfoot, THE SANDOWN CLOWN, Mel’s Hole, the Florida Skunk Ape and its most famous photo, the Grinning Man, and tons more! A super fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOL: NXT 4.0 recap, new faces, WWE and AI, ratings and more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including a full recap of the brand new NXT from Monday night with some new faces, WWE’s comments about AI and that that appears to mean, AEW Dynamite tonight, ratings notes from the week, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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B&V: JCW STRANGLEMANIA 2026 part 1, plus Granny~!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with tons to talk about as we’re joined by Granny for her weekly segment, including the Q&A, a report of a crazy week on the soaps, a Danhausen match for the review, a batshit crazy trivia segment, and more. Then, the boys review part 1 of WrestleMania weekend’s STRANGLEMANIA show! A fun time as always so check it out~!

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WWE NXT live results: Tony D’Angelo appearance, Ricky Saints vs. Shiloh Hill

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT is the first since last week’s call-ups to the main roster. Fatal Influence, Sol Ruca, Ricky Starks, Ethan Page and Blake Monroe among those called up.

NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo will be on the show tonight as GM Robert Stone reveals who is his next challenger.

Before Starks heads to SmackDown this Friday, he will take on Shiloh Hill in his final NXT match.

In a defense of the men’s NXT North American title, Myles Borne puts the title up against Saquon Shugars of DarkState.

The MVP of last year’s SummerSlam tryouts — Lizzy Rain — will make her NXT in-ring debut tonight.

EK Prosper & Dorian Van Dux vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Uriah Connors of BirthRight rounds out the announced matches.

Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.

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

NXT is back on the air in front of a live studio audience from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.

The show begins with a clip from earlier today of General Manager Robert Stone meeting with Shawn Michaels and Matt Bloom. They are talking about the call-ups, and how there are big shoes to fill. Stone pitches for new faces. HBK says to “throw a stick of dynamite into that locker room and see who the hell runs out.”

Opening the show in the ring is a title match.

Myles Borne vs. Saquon Shugars (with DarkState) for the NXT North American Championship

—

Fast start with a quick pace. Shugars powders, which leads to Borne doing a flip dive over the top rope to the floor on DarkState. Shugars’ cohorts try to interfere, but Borne fights them off. He is soon cut off, and Shugars has momentum. Shugars works over Borne during the break.

As they fight on the ring apron, Shugars pulls Borne into a turnbuckle. On commentary, Vic Joseph claims the metal turnbuckle was exposed. Borne sells his throat from the spot as the show cuts to a commercial break.

Soon after the show returns from the break, Borne comes back as they trade near falls. Borne with a rally and his is fired up. Dion Lennox tries causes a distraction to allow Shugars to gain an underhanded advantage. Shugars lands on is own head on a modified Northern Lights suplex.

Cutler James and Osiris Griffin distract the referee as Lennox stalks Borne with a metal folding chair. Before Lennox can use the chair as a weapon, Shugars rushed out the ring to stop him. Shugars yells at Lennox as he takes the chair away from Shugars. As they argue, Borne shoves Shugars into Lennox. Borne thwarts the interference of Lennox, and Borne soon thereafter uses his Borne Again finisher on Shugars. Borne then covers Shugars to win the match.

Match result: NXT North American Champion Myles Borne defeated Saquon Shugars via pinfall to retain his title.

In a post-match angle, Tristan Angels debuts with a microphone to cut a promo on Borne. Angels introduces himself as “Mr. England”, and he says we will see much more of Angels on NXT.

As Angels is cutting his promo, Kam Hendrix from LFG runs in to ambush Borne. Hendrix lays out Borne as Angels looks on from afar.

— WWE Women’s Speed Champion Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey are talking backstage when Kelani Jordan interrupts them. They bicker until Sinclair challenges Jordan to a match for later tonight.

—

EVIL debuts to confront NXT Champ Tony D

NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo enters the sound stage for an in-ring monologue. The main focus of his promo is the mystery box he received last week. This leads to the surprise debut of EVIL. A cloaked and hooded figure appears through fog to confront D’Angelo in the ring. The mysterious figure offers a shirt with something written in Japanese on it.

The figure then reveals himself as EVIL, although he was never called by that name. On commentary, he is referred to as a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Vic Joseph wonders aloud if the gift is given to Tony for admiration, or if it is “gift of pure evil.”

EVIL leaves the ring with Tony D holding the gift, and the impact of the debut is immediately lessened when Tavion Heights ambushes D’Angelo. Heights gives Tony D a belly-to-belly suplex. Heights is fired up as he leaves the ring. While he is leaving, an unidentified individual (Will Kroos) in a WWE hoodie climbs the turnbuckles and does a moonsault press on D’Angelo.

— Tatum Paxley and Shiloh Hill are featured in an outdoor skit where they are burying Blake Monroe’s casket in a wooded area. They hope her soul find peace wherever she ends up. The conversation shifts to Hill’s match tonight against Ricky Saints. Hill ran a series of simulations on how to defeat Saints. Hill then leaves, and Paxley lays down next to the grave.

— Out comes BirthRight for an in-ring promo. WWE Speed Champion Lexis King speaks while flanked by Arianna Grace, Stacks and Uriah Connors. King throws to a video clip from earlier today where Grace films BirthRight attacking Dorian Van Dux in an injury angle. That leaves EK Prosper without a partner for a tag team match against BirthRight.

Prosper storms the ring and takes the fight to BirthRight. They gang up on Prosper until Sean Legacy runs in for a save. Prosper has a tag partner after all.

EK Prosper & Sean Legacy vs. BirthRight (Uriah Connors & Stacks with Lexis King & Arianna Grace)

—

Hot start by the babyfaces, and a lots of high spots and dives before a commercial break. BirthRight with an advantage as the show cuts to commercials. Legacy is being worked over as the show returns from the break. Legacy creates separation after an avalanche backdrop.

Hot tag to Prosper, and he runs wild on the heels. Near fall for Prosper with a Michinoku Driver. Connors with a swanton bomb for another near fall. Parade of high spots down the stretch. Legacy executes a crazy finisher that combines a Burning Hammer with a twisting neckbreaker. Legacy then covers Stacks for a pinfall. On commentary, the outcome is called an upset.

Match result: Sean Legacy & EK Prosper defeated Uriah Connors & Stacks when Legacy pinned Stacks.

— In a post-match angle, BirthRight gang up on the babyface team for a beat down. Tate Wilder runs in to make a save. Wilder marks another debut on the show, and I have already lost count on the run-ins so far.

— Kali Armstrong has words with Jaida Parker in a locker room skit, which sets up a match between the two for next week. The match is later made official for next Tuesday on NXT.

— Shawn Michaels voices over a plug for the new deal with CW to air NXT premium live events. Not exactly a “premium” for the shows when the supercards air on free broadcast television, but the supercards are nonetheless begin airing on CW this summer.

— Robert Stone has an encouraging words with Tate Wilder backstage. NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice walks by and she vows to call out Izzi Dame.

NXT Women’s Champ Lola Vice & Mr. Iguana thwart The Culling

—

Vice storms the ring and calls out Dame. Shawn Spears appears on the Titantron, which serves as a distraction while Izzi Dame and Niko Vance sneak up behind Vice. The heels have the tables turned on them when Mr. Iguana sneaks up on them with La Yesca. Of course, Iguana and Vice are the AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions.

Mr. Iguana and Vice send the heels packing. The Culling flees, and this would seem to set up a mixed tag match for the near future. Later in the show the mixed tag is made official for next Tuesday, albeit it appears to be non-title.

— DarkState argue among themselves in a backstage skit. Shugars argues with Lennox, and they are yelled at by Griffin and James. Besides teasing dissension, the point of the skit is DarkState is going for tag team gold again.

Lizzy Rain vs. Nikkita Lyons

—

Rain debuts with a voiceover that proceeds her ring entrance in which Rain vows that she and heavy metal will never die. The heavy metal gimmicks very much fits Rain as she is the niece of Iron Maiden’s original drummer Clive Burr.

Lyons in a pretaped promo vows to ruin Rain’s debut, only for Lyons to put over Rain in her in-ring debut in NXT. In the match, Lyons briefly gets heat on Rain. Comeback by Rain, and she is fired up. She chops Lyons while the studio audience chants “make it rain” in unison.

Rain is briefly cut off, but she soon makes another comeback. Rain executes her finisher, which is called “Thunderstruck”. Rain then covers Lyons for a pinfall to win her debut match in NXT. Fun debut for Rain, and she brings a ton of energy.

Match result: Lizzy Rain defeated Nikkita Lyons via pinfall.

— Myles Borne bickers with Tavion Heights over Heights’ run in from earlier. This teases a potential match between the former associates. Borne turns around to find Keanu Carver confronting him. Carver issues a warning to Borne.

— Vanity Project is backstage chatting, and they agree that Jackson Drake should make an impact. Jasper Troy then confronts Drake. They get face-to-face, and Troy challenges Drake to a match next week. The match is made official in a plug later in the show.

WWE Women’ Speed Champion Wren Sinclair (with Kendal Grey) vs. Kelani Jordan in a non-title match

—

Being a non-title match, no Speed time limit. Thus, they were given a lot of time. They made the most of it. The match goes through a commercial break. Doing a dive before the break, Sinclair looks to have apparently tweaked her left knee. She shrugs off concern while telling the ref she can continue.

Jordan is working the left leg as the show returns from the break. Sinclair sells the leg but still makes a comeback. They go back-and-forth. Sinclair goes for her “Final Wrench” submission hold (cattle mutilation), but Sinclair’s knee buckles. She sells big before taking an Olympic slam from Jordan. She follows up a split-legged moonsault, and Jordan covers Sinclair for a pinfall. With Jordan pinning the Speed champ, this would seem to set up a title match.

Match result: Kelani Jordan defeated WWE Women’s Speed Champio Wren Sinclair via pinfall in a non-title match.

— Zaria is focus of a video package, along with Sol Ruca. Zaria voices over the package, which was heavily edited with special effects and such. Seemingly, this is meant to get Zaria over as a killer heel.

Shiloh Hill vs. Ricky Saints

—

They are having a decent enough match when Hill goes under the ring. Saints goes to pull out what he thinks is Hill. Instead, Saints puts out a dummy dressed like Hill with a hockey mask similar to horror movies monster Jason. With the clothing, the dummy may have looked more like Casey Jones from TMNT fame. Regardless, Saints is distracted by the bait and switch tactic. Hill then leaps off the ring steps with a somersault senton.

AS the show cuts to a commercial break, Hill props the dummy on the barricade so it can watch the rest of the match. Saints cuts off Hill during the break, but Hill fights back. When the show returns from the break, they are having a slugfest.

They trade numerous near falls down the stretch. Saints bumps into the referee, who hits the ropes. That causes Shiloh to crotch himself on the top rope. Ref bump leads into Saints executing a superplex for yet another near fall.

They soon go home after an “Old School” spot. Saints first slaps Hill across the face, and Hill’s false teeth go flying. Saints then attempts to walk the top rope like he is The Spoiler. Hill losing his false teeth only serves to hulk him up.

Saints cuts off Hill to give him a Dominator on the floor. Saints tries to use a metal folding chair, only for that to backfire on Saints. Hill trips Saints, and Saints takes a bumps on the chair. Hill executes his falling neckbreaker finishing move, and he covers saints for a pinfall.

Match result: Shiloh Hill defeated Ricky Saints.

— A fired up NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo cut a promo on the recent choas. D’Angelo appears to yell “let’s f****** go!” That was censored, and the show goes off the air.

WOL: Raw report, Kairi Sane update, Lesnar retirement, more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm is back with tons to talk about including the latest on the wrestling fan who went missing over WrestleMania weekend, the situation with Kairi Sane, RAW injury updates, the full RAW report from Monday, Brock’s retirement, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOR: Hogan and wrestling history, RAW report, TKO Town Hall

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including updates on the WWE shareholder lawsuit and the townhall meeting where TKO extended Hunter’s contract, the upcoming AEW schedule, the RAW report with Backlash less than two weeks away, the history of wrestling and Hulk Hogan’s place in it, and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Wrestling fan who went missing during WrestleMania 42 weekend found dead, Puck article on WWE shareholder lawsuit
15:51: Triple H’s creative contract with WWE extended, more on town hall
23:18: AEW’s television schedule for May, Dave argues why wrestling would not have died without Hulk Hogan
41:16: More on WWE WrestleMania 42 Netflix numbers, WWE Raw recap, lineups for the week

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WWE Raw live results: Roman Reigns answers Jacob Fatu

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: April 27, 2026
Location: Sames Auto Arena in Laredo, TX 

The Big Takeaway —

Roman Reigns accepted Jacob Fatu’s world title challenge for Backlash after Fatu laid him out in the main event segment. Fatu made it clear he would be seeing Reigns again next week (on the final Raw before Backlash). 

Iyo Sky lost to Becky Lynch in an impromptu Women’s Intercontinental title match thanks to interference by Asuka. Sky and Asuka will wrestle at Backlash. 

Kairi Sane was not mentioned by name on the show, but was written off with a few passing references. There were chants for Sane when Asuka attacked Sky after her match.

**********

Show Recap — 

They’ve adjusted the signature video that starts every show. Brock Lesnar is now in the “Forever” portion, while Oba Femi has been added to the “Now” portion. 

Roman Reigns & The Usos opening pre-taped promo 

I would call this a cold open, but it was preceded by a video package of last week’s events. This was similar to a few weeks ago when Raw started with a Roman Reigns pre-taped video instead of the usual in-ring segment. (Although we still got one of those.)

Reigns sat down with Jimmy and Jey Uso. He said the past was the past, and that’s where he would leave it, because they were blood and they were the only ones he could trust. He wanted their thoughts because he wasn’t sure where Jacob Fatu was coming from. 

Reigns told everyone that they had two years to climb the mountain (after he lost the title), but after all that time, it was Reigns himself who climbed the mountain and won the title—but now Fatu was trying to take it from him. 

Jimmy understood where Fatu was coming from. He understood Fatu wanting to upgrade his household, but it shouldn’t come at Reigns’ expense. Jey said Fatu was dangerous. He dismantled the MFTs one by one on SmackDown. They left Fatu on his own for a reason. If Fatu beat Reigns, he would take everything. Jey said this couldn’t all be about respect—there had to be consequences. 

Reigns said Jey was right. They weren’t giving out charity. Reigns said he would sit on this and address it later tonight. 

The three men put their hands together, and Reigns called them the first family. 

********

Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker segment 

Rollins entered to a strong reaction wearing an all-black suit. He said it was Bron Breakker’s fault that he was not currently the world champion and why he lost to Gunther at WrestleMania. Rollins took credit for Breakker having nine staples in the back of his head and called him out. 

Breakker entered with Paul Heyman. Rollins said he gave Breakker the world on a silver platter, but Breakker repaid him by taking everything away from him. Breakker was the reason Rollins had to forfeit the title, the reason he didn’t main-event WrestleMania, and the reason he lost at the show. Rollins asked Breakker how it benefited him at all. 

Breakker asked Rollins what he gave to him and Bronson Reed. It was the two of them putting out Rollins’ fires week after week and fighting his battles. Breakker and Reed had to sit in the background as Rollins started Raw every week by repeating the same thing over and over. Breakker held his nose and did a nasally impression of Rollins’ usual opening promo (which he, in fact, started this promo with). Breakker said he never needed Rollins—he only needed Heyman. 

Rollins laughed at this. Rollins said he was the world champion two years ago and wanted to fight the best in the world. He called Shawn Michaels so he could fight his best in NXT, and Michaels named Breakker. Rollins was on board. Last year, Heyman asked Rollins to take Breakker under his wing. Rollins was on board with that, too, because under his tutelage, he knew Breakker could be the biggest star in the industry. 

Rollins has seen athletes of all disciplines come in over the years, but Breakker was the most unique. He had everything to be the next big star in the industry. Everything except the most important thing. Rollins pointed at his head. 

Rollins knew what it was like being a 28-year-old young cat coming into the company, thinking the business owed him something. He knew what it was like to bet on himself and make decisions people wouldn’t be happy with. The difference between them was that Breakker tried, while Rollins succeeded. 

Rollins took chances that got him WrestleMania main events, while Breakker took chances and wound up with Austin Theory, Logan Paul, dinners on a private jet and happy endings from Heyman. Rollins told Breakker he wasn’t ready. 

Breakker said he was well on his way to becoming a main eventer with or without Rollins. He said Rollins’ body and mind couldn’t handle it anymore, and his shoulder couldn’t handle the weight of the strap. 

Breakker admitted he came up short in his world title match (against CM Punk), but he could sleep at night knowing he lost to the best in the world rather than to someone who self-proclaimed it. Breakker knew Rollins was a future WWE Hall of Famer. But he was also the very best in the world at being number two. 

Rollins responded, “That was pretty good, baby Steiner.” Rollins wondered if Breakker came up with that on his own or if he called Big Poppa Pump for his hookup. Rollins challenged Breakker to a match at Backlash to prove he was ready. Rollins told Breakker Steiner (that’s what he called him) that he wasn’t even number two in his own family.

(The show was 21 minutes old by the time this was done. They laid out their issues well enough—after weeks of physically assaulting each other—but Rollins’ promo in particular probably could have been cut in half. I know Reigns likes to start and end the shows, hence why his promo went first, but they should spread out these long talking segments.) 

********

Wrestlers were shown arriving, but Stephanie Vaquer’s introduction was interrupted when she was attacked by Raquel Rodriguez. Roxanne Perez appeared on screen to a big pop (she’s from this town), but the crowd went quiet when she crushed Vaquer with an equipment box. Liv Morgan told Vaquer, “Now this is over because this is my championship.” 

Intercontinental Championship: Penta (c) vs. Rusev 

The opening match started 29 minutes into the show. It went seven and a half minutes, and three of those were during a break. 

As Penta set up for a springboard move, Rusev was about to kick him out of the air with a Machka Kick, but Penta knew it was coming and held onto the rope a second longer to avoid it. Rusev whiffed on the kick, and Penta caught him in a schoolboy for the pinfall win. 

— Rusev was annoyed, so he attacked Penta after the match. Ethan Page, who watched the match from ringside, tried to join Rusev, but Rusev wasn’t interested. After Penta fought back, Page decked him from behind. Rusev and Page put the boots to Penta until Je’Von Evans ran out to make the save. 

Match result: Penta defeated Rusev to retain the Intercontinental Championship (7:31) 

********

There was a commercial for the Hulk Hogan Netflix documentary. This aired during the actual broadcast, not during the Netflix ad break. 

El Grande Americano cut a promo about his upcoming mask vs. mask match. In order to prepare, he wanted to challenge the biggest lucha libre star around here, so he challenged Rey Mysterio to a match tonight. The crowd cheered. 

During the break, they re-aired the Danhausen/Miz segment from SmackDown. (They aired more of this later.)

********

Becky Lynch promo 

Lynch said she finally got rid of AJ Lee and ended her horrible title reign. She put gold around the waist of somebody who deserved it and became the first person to win four different titles at WrestleMania. She’s the first three-time Women’s IC champion and has won more Mania matches than any woman in history. She claimed she was coming for Undertaker’s win record next. (This got no reaction.) 

All of that was wonderful, but what happened after the match was more important. She saw a sea of over 50,000 fans at Mania with her daughter sitting in the front row. She took her daughter up the ramp and to the back. She realized she needed to show her what a real champion was. It wasn’t about the five-star hotels or private jets or fancy tour buses, even though she indulged in all of that. It wasn’t about going to the biggest cities—it was about showing up in run-down towns like Loredo and showing up for all the common folk. 

She knew the fans wanted her to be a fighting champion and not just against a nostalgia act or an underdog. She knew they wanted something new, shiny and exciting, so she issued an open challenge. 

Iyo Sky entered, and the crowd chanted her name. Sky accepted. Lynch laughed. She said she wanted something new, shiny and exciting, and Sky was none of those things. She thought maybe Sky was accepting on Rhea Ripley’s behalf. She wanted to fight Shawn Michaels, not Marty Jannetty. After Lynch said Sky was holding Ripley back, Sky smacked her in the face. 

Lynch was about to bail, but Adam Pearce sauntered out to make the title match official. 

********

Women’s Intercontinental Championship match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. IYO SKY 

There was a passing reference to Kairi Sane during this match, though they never said her name. Michael Cole mentioned Sky and Ripley beating the Kabuki Warriors last week, and that Asuka was still pissed about it. Corey Graves said Asuka was so upset that we wouldn’t be seeing her former pupil for a long time.

Lynch blindsided Sky before the match began. Sky fought her off and tossed her around ringside, and the match began once they reentered the ring. They actually got to wrestle for a good six minutes or so before this went to break. Lynch got some offence, but Sky got the better of her and hit a powerbomb outside the ring. 

They traded submission attempts during a break until the fight spilled back outside, where Sky hit a high cross off the barricade. After the break, Lynch hit a superplex and floated over into a DDT for two. Sky countered a Man-handle, hit a great-looking superkick, and a butterfly backbreaker for two. 

Sky hit a tornado DDT and went for a moonsault, but Lynch got her feet up and hit a Man-handle Slam for a nearfall. Sky followed later with an Asai moonsault. 

As the ref (not Jessika Carr) checked on Lynch, Asuka ran down and tripped Sky off the rope. The ref had to play dumb and pretend she couldn’t see Asuka standing nearby with Sky suddenly down. 

Lynch took advantage and hit the Man-handle Slam for the pinfall win. Lynch retains. 

— Asuka attacked Sky after the match. Asuka put her in the Asuka Lock, and Sky tapped out. The crowd chanted, “We want Kairi,” as Asuka stood tall. 

Match result: Becky Lynch defeated IYO SKY to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (13:22) 

This was a really good match until the finish. It was refreshing to see Lynch finally wrestle someone other than Maxxine Dupri or AJ Lee in a singles match (for the first time since August 2025). The crowd was really into Sky, who suffered her fourth straight singles loss.

********

Chad Gable Americano approached Rey Mysterio backstage. Gable asked whether he would have to watch his back when he faced El Grande Americano in their mask vs. mask match. Mysterio said no. All he wanted was for the two of them to respect lucha libre. Mysterio said something in Spanish, and Gable pretended to understand. Mysterio shook his head. 

El Grande and his two buddies showed up. El Grande spoke to Mysterio in Spanish, but Gable told him to mind his business. They yelled at each other until Mysterio cut them off and said he wasn’t choosing sides. El Grande said he’d see Mysterio in the ring, and Mysterio was ready. 

********

Byron Saxton tried interviewing the Usos, but they were cut off by LA Knight. He asked if they were sitting at the table again, with Reigns at the head of the table. Knight reminded Jey that he was world champion on his own. Jimmy had the potential to be the champion, too, but he couldn’t do that under Reigns. 

The Usos told him this was family business. Knight told them that the power they had under the Bloodline eventually corrupts, and then it would be his business. 

********

Joe Hendry concert 

Hendry said he had a big decision to make and wanted to explain it via song. He sang a song announcing that he signed with Raw. In the song’s final verse, he said he respected the OTC and wanted to fire Logan Paul. He got the crowd to sing along to “fire Logan Paul,” until Paul interrupted. 

Paul marched out with Theory and was red-hot. He called himself unfireable. Theory and Paul bragged about being champions. Hendry said he saw their match on ESPN and called them primetime losers. 

Theory shoved the microphone into Hendry’s chest, so Hendry decked him with a clothesline and tackled Paul into the corner. The Vision swarmed him, though, until Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford ran out to make the save. 

After The Street Profits cleared Paul and Theory from the ring, Hendry wiped them out with a leaping dive. Hendry’s music hit, and he posed with Dawkins and Ford. 

(Singing a song proclaiming your admiration for Roman Reigns and hatred of Logan Paul is definitely one way to get yourself endeared to a new audience. Maybe he can shoot the t-shirt gun next week.) 

********

Backstage, Grayson Waller complained to Pearce about giving everyone else opportunities. Pearce tried to warn him that Oba Femi was standing behind him, but Waller didn’t get it. Waller said Femi was overrated and only beat Lesnar at the end of his career. Waller turned around to see Femi, who told Peare to make a match. Pearce made it official. (Our third impromptu match.) 

*******

The Street Profits officially welcomed Hendry to Raw. Before he left, Ford told Hendry to switch his blue shirt now that he was on Raw. 

Rollins approached Dawkins and Ford. He was about to thank them for their help last week, but they cut him off. They said Rollins thought everything was about him, like he was something special, and they walked off. 

(I enjoyed Ford and Dawkins telling off Rollins.) 

*******

The mask match between El Grande Americano and the Original El Grande is taking place in AAA on May 30th.  

Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano (w/ Bravo & Rayo Americano) 

There was a funny moment on commentary when Cole said he couldn’t wait to see what this guy looked like without his mask. Graves told him to go watch some old WCW before quickly realizing he meant El Grande, not Rey. (Graves knew what he meant.) 

After a break, Rey fought back and hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT. The ref was distracted as Rey tried to get rid of Bravo on one side of the ring, as Rayo tried placing the metal plate inside El Grande’s mask on the other. Rey gave Rayo a 619 for his trouble. 

The plate wound up in the ring, and El Grande tried to grab it for himself, but Gable Americano showed up and took it away. Rey shoved El Grande into Gable before giving El Grande a 619 and a springboard splash for the pinfall win. 

— Gable and El Grande brawled after the match until officials broke it up. 

Match result: Rey Mysterio defeated El Grande Americano (8:36)

******** 

Announced for Backlash so far: 

  • Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker 
  • IYO SKY vs. Asuka 

Asuka promo 

Asuka said she wasn’t done with Sky yet. She was still Sky’s senpai. All she tried to do was help Sky, but she only disappointed her. Sky was ungrateful, selfish, and her biggest failure. Sky failed Asuka and failed her family. 

Asuka said, “And now, we’re both alone, because I didn’t want another IYO.” (Another reference to Sane without saying her name.) Asuka said Sky killed her family, and now nothing would stop Asuka from destroying her. She would teach Sky one final lesson: that she would never be ready for Asuka. 

*******

Oba Femi vs. Grayson Waller 

Femi slammed Waller before hitting a running uppercut and a Fall From Grace powerbomb for the pinfall win. 

— After the match, Femi said the top champions were all tied up, and the United States Champion wasn’t accepting open challenges. Instead, Femi issued an open challenge to face him. He offered everyone a chance to step up, but warned that anyone who did so would be punished by the ruler. 

The crowd was into Femi as usual. 

Match result: Oba Femi defeated Grayson Waller (1:04)

********

Liv Morgan spoke to Roxanne Perez backstage. Morgan wanted to finish the conversation they were having before WrestleMania when Vaquer bashed their heads together. (So they had no opportunity to chat in the last three weeks outside of this show.) 

Morgan knew it must have been tough for Perez to watch everything that went down with Finn Bálor, because she knew they were close. But Morgan said they were a family, and Bálor put himself before the family. Morgan would never do that, so she would be in Perez’s corner tonight. 

Morgan asked Perez if she trusted her. Perez nodded her head, but told Morgan to go ahead without her. 

After Morgan left, Bálor slipped into the room unnoticed somehow and warned Perez that she couldn’t trust anyone in Judgment Day. Perez wondered if she could trust Bálor. She told him to leave before he got hurt. He wished her luck and left. 

Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (w/ Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan) vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria 

Perez was a huge fan favourite in front of her hometown crowd, and the crowd booed whenever the babyfaces went on offence against her. Cole said she had about 30 friends and family in the crowd. 

Perez and Valkyria got hot tags after a break, but it was the babyface Valkyria who ran wild to the chorus of boos. Perez fought back and gave Bayley a Russian leg sweep as Rodriguez simultaneously hit a big boot, but Valkyria broke up the cover. 

Perez knocked Valkyria off the apron and set up Bayley for Pop Rox, but Bayley countered and hit Bayley-to-belly for two after Rodriguez broke up the cover. Valkyria tackled Rodriguez out of the ring. 

Morgan leaped on the apron, so Bayley went after her. Bayley grabbed Morgan by the hair, but Morgan jumped down to the floor to break it up, and Bayley bounced off the rope as a result. The ref didn’t call a DQ, but this was basically Bayley’s own fault. 

The distraction allowed Perez to hit a shining wizard and Pop Rox for the pinfall win to a big pop from the crowd. 

Match result: Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez defeated Bayley & Lyra Valkyria (9:20)

The match itself was just ok, but it was nice to see Perez get a big ovation and a win in her hometown in her return to the ring. 

******** 

There was a quick Sol Ruca video package. She signs her Raw contract next week. 

Main event segment 

Roman Reigns entered to a very big reaction. He said it’s been a while since he’s been in Texas, and if you couldn’t tell by watching at home, they loved him here. Everyone cheered. 

Reigns said they created this world title belt in spite of him. They made it to try to take away from his shine, but it didn’t work. There was an old saying, and it was true: the title didn’t make the man, the man made the title. That’s exactly what he did. He put the title in the main event and on night two of WrestleMania. He made the title relevant, and now, you could finally be proud of it. Now, you could finally choose to acknowledge this title. Reigns told Loredo to acknowledge him. They did. 

Jacob Fatu entered. Reigns said he gave Fatu a week to think it over and hoped he had made the right choice. Reigns hoped that Fatu would choose to unite their family and not divide. 

Fatu said he didn’t need a week, a day, or an hour to think about it. Fatu knew exactly what he wanted when he came out last week. He didn’t hesitate when he said he needed that title. 

Fatu said Reigns must be stuck in his WWE main event bubble. Reigns didn’t grind like him. Twelve years of hard work and suffering, not knowing what the next meal was going to be. While Reigns was running the Bloodline, Fatu was broke, foaming out the mouth, grinding on the front line, trying to figure out if he would get here or not. 

It wasn’t how you started, but how you finish, and it got him standing out here now in front of Reigns’ ass. When he got started in WWE, Reigns, Jimmy, and Jey didn’t call him. Solo Sikoa did. Sikoa gave him a chance. 

Reigns cut him off. Reigns said Fatu was either confused or dumber than he thought. Sikoa couldn’t even get a coffee delivered to the building if he wanted to. Reigns was the one who ran the place. 

Reigns admitted he got a little distracted because things did get hectic around here, but he did sign off on Fatu. But now Fatu was sounding like a confused fool. Fatu didn’t deserve it and hasn’t earned it. Allowing Fatu to compete against him was nepotism, and he couldn’t allow that. 

Before Reigns could continue, Fatu aggressively grabbed him by the jaw and wouldn’t let go until Reigns bonked him with the mic. Fatu put him in the Tongan Death Grip and headbutted him until he fell to the mat. Fatu warned Reigns that he would take everything from him. 

Fatu held the title before dropping it on Reigns. There was a smattering of boos for Fatu as he walked off. 

Reigns, still down on the mat, grabbed the mic and said he would see Fatu at Backlash. Before the show ended, Fatu told Reigns off-mic that he’d see his punk-ass next week.

(This was another strong segment following last week’s setup. Fatu comes across as completely different from everyone else on the show and as a title challenger. It’s tricky because he’s an easy guy to root for, but going against Reigns seems to automatically make him a heel to this audience right now. He doesn’t seem to be going full-fledged heel, he’s just out of his mind with the title within his grasp, so we’ll see how they handle it.) 

WOL: WWE cuts in detail, Smackdown recap, call-ups and clammy backs

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about as we go over all the WWE main roster and developmental cuts from this past week with details on every single one of them, all the call-ups to Smackdown and how that might affect NXT, your Smackdown TV report, CLAMMY BACKS and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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