Tag: Chris Jericho

AEW/ROH Global Wars matches announced for Australia debut

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the first time in years, Global Wars has returned to Ring of Honor as part of AEW’s first-ever visit to Australia this Saturday.

ROH Women’s World Champion Athena will defend against Alex Windsor as part of what is being called AEW/ROH Global Wars. It’s the first time that term has been referenced for the Brisbane show, done to distinguish it from the Grand Slam Australia portion being taped for TNT and Max.

Where these matches will be seen was not announced with ROH’s weekly HonorClub show as a strong possibility.

Athena has held the title for nearly 800 days while the UK native Windsor has competed in AEW twice, last seen being defeated by Toni Storm last June. This will be her first ROH singles match.

Reigning ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty will defend against native son Robbie Eagles. Moriarty has held the title for over 200 days with four title defenses. It will be his first time he has faced the NJPW regular who competed in ROH last July. He has unsuccessfully challenged for both the ROH World and men’s TV title in the past.

In another match, ROH World Champion Chris Jericho will team with Bryan Keith & Big Bill against former champion Bandido & The Outrunners. Since returning in late-December, Bandido has targeted Jericho and defeated Keith last Saturday in his first post-injury televised match in nearly 18 months.

A fourth match will see ROH Tag Team Champions Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara put the titles on the line against MxM Collection.

Global Wars, formerly Border Wars, was a series of shows between ROH and NJPW which began in 2012 and ended in the fall of 2019.

Here’s the current lineup for this Saturday:

Grand Slam Australia (TNT/Max following NBA All-Star Weekend activities) —

  • Kenny Omega & Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher
  • AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Buddy Matthews
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May defends against Toni Storm
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Harley Cameron
  • Jay White & Cope vs. Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli in a Brisbane Brawl

AEW/ROH Global Wars (broadcast options TBA) —

  • Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith vs. Bandido & The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)
  • ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty defends against Robbie Eagles
  • ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defends against Alex Windsor
  • ROH Tag Team Champions Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara defend against MxM Collection (Mansoor & Madden)

Bandido makes AEW return on Collision

Posted on by Josh Nason

A month after sustaining a concussion during his initial comeback, Bandido once again made a comeback in a Tony Khan-owned ring to target Chris Jericho as part of Saturday’s AEW Collision.

Following Jericho and Bryan Keith’s victory over The Outrunners, Jericho and Keith set up a table for Big Bill to chokeslam both men through when the Mexican star’s music hit and he ran out to make the save. After taking out Bill, he hit a tornillo on Jericho and then press slammed Keith through the table.

It was very similar to December’s Ring of Honor Final Battle where Bandido also ran out to attack the three heels. However, he concussed himself after hitting the mat following a dropkick on Jericho. He was slow to get up with the referee even checking on him at one point. Keith and Lee then did clunky-looking spots with him before eventually leaving the ring.

He later confirmed he sustained a concussion.

Bandido has been out of action since June 2023 after breaking his wrist in an AEW Rampage match with Konosuke Takeshita. Complications have kept him out longer than expected, but vignettes began appearing on AEW TV in December ago heralding his return. It appears the former ROH World Champion is targeting the current champion in his return feud.

Mid-South street fight, TNT three-way title match set for AEW Collision

Posted on by Josh Nason

A Mid-South street fight will be one of the featured matches on this Saturday’s AEW Collision.

After making the challenge during Dynamite after running The Death Riders off, FTR (seen above) will take on AEW World Champion Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta in the aforementioned match.

The TNT title will be on the line in a three-way as reigning titleholder Daniel Garcia defends against Kyle O’Reilly and Lee Moriarty. The three men have been part of larger issues between their respective trios factions, setting this into motion.

After Samoa Joe made his AEW return for the first time since this past July, Joe will team with Hook against The Patriarchy’s Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian. Joe defeated Wayne this past Saturday in his return bout.

The Learning Tree’s Chris Jericho & Big Bill will take on The Outrunners while Max Caster will host his first open challenge match.

The show will also feature an appearance by Toni Storm and a Ricochet interview with Renee Paquette.

Here’s the current lineup that was taped before and after Dynamite in Huntsville, Alabama Wednesday:

  • FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta) in a Mid-South street fight
  • TNT Champion Daniel Garcia defends against Lee Moriarty and Kyle O’Reilly in a three-way
  • Hook & Samoa Joe vs. Kip Sabian & Nick Wayne
  • Chris Jericho & Big Bill vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
  • Max Caster open challenge
  • Toni Storm appearance
  • Ricochet interview with Renee Paquette

Daily Update: WWE NXT, Logan Paul, Chris Jericho

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • What are the issues with AEW and what can be done to fix some of them easily
  • A look at Wednesday’s show and the different issues regarding the big picture
  • Why WWE doesn’t get hurt when it does the same things listed as mistakes when AEW does them
  • Where AEW actually stands in television
  • Preview of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Royal Rumble and business notes
  • UFC 311 coverage of the show changed at the last minute
  • A look at TNA’s Genesis PPV, its relationship with WWE and its first live TV shoot
  • Game Changer Wrestling returns to the Hammerstein
  • What happened with PCO and why
  • 2024 Awards ballot
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week including Raw on Netflix
  • New CMLL marketing gimmick
  • Stardom comes up with new booking concept and debuts it this past week
  • Dragon Gate comes to the U.S.
  • Japanese promotions try to present united front
  • Notes on first live TNA TV show in eight years
  • Britt Baker update
  • Ricky Starks update
  • Grand Slam Australia update
  • Notes on new AEW dates
  • Major issue long-term for AEW younger talents
  • Advanced ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • More on Dana White and boxing
  • Chris Weidman retires
  • Craig Piligian announced for UFC Hall of Fame
  • One of the most popular fighters from 15 year ago cut by UFC
  • Lots more on WrestleMania
  • Corey Graves update

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • The full main event from last night’s NXT can be watched here. It saw Bianca Belair & Naomi defend their Women’s Tag Team titles against Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson.
  • Rapper Killer Mike was in attendance last night with NXT taking place from his hometown of Atlanta.
  • PWInsider reports that WWE is seeking to hold an NXT episode at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, which is a smaller venue located inside MSG. The theater has a capacity of 5,570 (not factoring in production configuration). The proposed date for the show is Tuesday, March 11 – one day after Raw is being held at MSG itself.
  • Logan Paul and his brother Jake both posted teasers yesterday hinting that they would be boxing each other on Max on Thursday, March 27. But the teasers reportedly are not for a boxing match. Instead, they are for a reality series that will air on Max. Details regarding the premise of the series are not known yet. The Paul brothers will be doing a press conference on Instagram Live tomorrow (January 30) at 4 p.m. Eastern.
  • Logan Paul responded to Bad Bunny’s comments where Bad Bunny called himself the greatest celebrity wrestler ever:
    • Yo, I seen online something crazy. I seen Bad Bunny saying it’s a fact – fact is the word he used – that he’s the greatest celebrity wrestler there is. And people commenting, you know, ‘Logan Paul this, Logan Paul that.’ Here’s my take on that – I actually think he’s right. Bad Bunny is a fantastic celebrity wrestler. Keyword, celebrity. I am a wrestler – born, raised, and bred. Do not compare me to him, y’all. There is a difference between a popstar named after a rabbit and a superstar they call The Maverick. Levels to this sh*t. And if he ever wants to run it, Ok, Mr. Bunny. Mavericks like me eat bunnies like you for breakfast.
  • In a tweet that may or may not be related to her WWE status, Alexa Bliss posted a photo holding her daughter today and included the following caption: “If you need me. I’ll be here. For a while”
  • Bleacher Report has an interview with Solo Sikoa.
  • Nikki Bella is featured on the cover of a new edition of Us Weekly.
  • D-Von Dudley was a guest on Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • While being interviewed by the Toronto Sun, Chris Jericho was asked if he would appear for a WWE Hall of Fame induction one day if WWE wanted to induct him:
    • I mean, I’m not one of those guys who cares about the Hall of Fame, because I don’t think it’s really real anyways. So in some ways, it’s like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ In other ways, I want to pull a Sex Pistols and just refuse to show up. Send a letter saying, ‘Do not mention my name,’ like Axl Rose did. What a great wrestling thing to do. It doesn’t matter to me. It really doesn’t. It’s great that guys go in there, and I’m glad they get a chance to. But I’m already in the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is up here [points to his head].
    • It’s more for the fans. But, you know, at this point in time I could get put in the Hall of Fame and maybe get booed out of the building. So who knows? We’ll see what happens. But for right here, right now, I’m enjoying what I’m still doing. I definitely wouldn’t go in the Hall of Fame if I’m still actively performing in the ring. So we’ll see. We’ll see where it goes. And for right now, I feel good and I’m doing great work. And when I feel it’s time to hang up the boots, I will do so. Until then, I’m just enjoying being part of the business, as I always have for the last 34 years.
  • Renee Paquette spoke with Jon Moxley and the Death Riders on a new episode of AEW Close-Up.
  • MuscleManMalcolm interviewed Deonna Purrazzo.
  • MLW announced Janai Kai vs. Mila Moore for the promotion’s SuperFight event in Atlanta on Saturday, February 8. The match is Moore’s MLW debut.
  • Gabe Kidd will face Mance Warner in a non-tournament match at night two of the GCW & JCW Jersey J-Cup 2025 on Sunday, February 16. The show is being held at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey.
  • Going Ringside interviewed Scott Steiner and AJ Francis.

Christopher Daniels: Doctors told me ‘you really should stop doing this’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Christopher Daniels says doctors did advise him to stop wrestling after his Texas Death Match with Hangman Page, just as he stated on Dynamite last week.

Following the match against Page on the January 16 AEW Collision taping, it was reported that the bout was being treated backstage as Daniels’ last match and that it had been Daniels who made the call not to make a big deal out of it. However, Daniels was a guest on Talk is Jericho recently and said he had planned to continue his in-ring career after the match against Page, but doctors advised him against it. 

“The idea was going to be get to the point where I wrestle this match with Hangman and then, you know, when that story’s over, just do what comes next, whatever other young guy would come forward, and I would wrestle that person and go from there. And then that ended up not really working out because of the way the match went,” Daniels said on the show.

Daniels explained that his match against Page aggravated an injury he originally suffered on WCW Nitro in 2001. The injury occurred on the January 23, 2001, episode of Nitro when he slipped on the top rope in a match against Mike Modest and landed on his head. Before facing Page, he had considered surgery to address the damage that had accumulated in his neck over the 24 years since.

Daniels continued:

“So, then the match happens with Hangman. I was going to take this move, and I ended up sliding a little too far down, and I actually bumped my head a little bit, and got a little tingly in the arm. The finish was meant to be the buckshot lariat to the back of the neck but when it hit, I got a little bit of a jolt again, and I was like, ‘Oh.’ And I’ve had stingers before, so I didn’t think anything of it. I go check with the docs, and they were like, ‘How do you feel?’ I told them I feel okay, but there’s a little tingling here in my arm. They were like, ‘Oh, that’s disconcerning.’ That made them think, like, maybe we should check this out.”

“I did another little MRI, and they were like, ‘You really, really should stop doing this.’ I was like, ‘Seriously?’, and they said, ‘Well, yeah. You’re 54 years old, this isn’t going to get any better and your vertebrae are starting to fuse, so you’re going to get less and less flexible and you’ve taken enough bumps where any sort of whiplash the danger quotient sort of rises and rises. So, I had to sort of take a look at that and go, what am I really doing this for?”

“I grew up loving wrestling, but near the end, because of the amount of work I’m doing and I recognized that what I was doing backstage was more important to the company than my in-ring participation.”

Earlier in the conversation, Daniels said he was proud of how the match went.

“As the match goes, I’m very proud of how the match went,” Daniels said. “And knowing that that was my first match in four months at that moment, it was something.”

The angle with Daniels and Page continued on last week’s edition of AEW Dynamite. Daniels confronted Page and informed him that doctors had told him his in-ring career is over. Page appeared distraught as the segment came to a close.

Daniels’ full interview with Chris Jericho is available below:

Chris Jericho: Britt Baker is a ‘very valuable’ part of AEW

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Chris Jericho sees Britt Baker as a valuable part of the AEW roster and is looking forward to having her back on television.

Baker has not competed in an AEW ring since November 2024. Last week, rumors about her status emerged with it being reported that she might be done with the company. The rumors said Baker was unpopular in the AEW locker room and Tony Khan was fed up with her.

In a recent interview, Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown asked Jericho about Baker’s status. While he hasn’t heard much about what’s going on, Jericho said he thinks Baker is a great talent. He can’t see her leaving AEW.

“I mean, you’d have to ask Britt that. I haven’t really heard either way, but I know she’s obviously a very valuable part of the company,” Jericho said. “She’s one of the OGs, probably one of our first homegrown stars. And I think she does a great job whenever she’s in the ring. So I don’t see her leaving or going anywhere. And I’m looking forward to having her come back on the show, because she has a great character and a great presence and, once again, a great fanbase within AEW and within the wrestling world.”

Bryan Alvarez reported that, though Baker is not being used right now and there are no imminent plans for her in AEW, rumors of her being finished with the company “appear to be blown way out of proportion.”

Baker has not commented on this matter specifically, but she made a social media post last Wednesday addressing a different rumor that had been spread by Konnan on his podcast. Konnan claimed that the reason Baker and Adam Cole broke up was because Baker cheated on Cole — which Baker denies.

“I understand we as performers are expected to have thick skin through opinions and lies we read about ourselves, but spreading lies about my personal life is just low, weird, and something I won’t tolerate,” she tweeted. “I’ve never cheated on anyone in my life. #TellYourSource”

Chris Jericho gives update on potential ROH media rights deal

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In a new interview with TV Insider, Chris Jericho gave an update on Ring of Honor potentially landing a media rights deal.

Dave Meltzer reported in November that ROH was close to finally agreeing to a TV deal. That deal has still yet to be reached, but Jericho confirmed to TV Insider that Tony Khan has a couple of potential streaming suitors. Jericho said he doesn’t know if those are offers Khan wants. He thinks Khan wants to try and expand those offers.

“I think the fact Tony Khan put the title on me again is because Chris Jericho as the Ring of Honor World Champion, streaming platforms might pay more attention to it. I know Tony is working on that and has a couple of offers,” Jericho said. “I don’t know if they are offers he wants. I think he wants to try and expand those offers. I’m a thousand percent sure that he will continue to work to get a streaming deal because when he sets his mind on something, he usually makes it happen. He has invested fully in the Ring of Honor brand and product. I have no doubt there will be a bigger platform for Ring of Honor at some point.”

ROH has a weekly TV show that airs on HonorClub with ROH pay-per-views also available for those who subscribe to the service.

Jericho is currently in his second reign as ROH World Champion. He’s held the title since October 2024.

Outside of the ring, Jericho has a starring role in the horror movie “Dark Match” that premieres on Shudder on January 31.

Chris Jericho: AEW’s Max deal is ‘the way of the future’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Chris Jericho believes AEW content streaming on Max is an important step for the company.

As part of AEW’s new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, Dynamite and Collision are now both simulcast live on Max in addition to their regular television channels. AEW pay-per-views will also be available to purchase on Max starting at some point this year.

Jericho told The Takedown that he believes streaming deals like this are the way of the future. He thinks cable television will “pretty much go away” at some point, so having a foothold on Max is key for AEW.

“Well, it’s kind of the way, the way of the future,” Jericho said. “I think cable television as a whole will pretty much go away at some point, because there is so much emphasis on streaming. Just the quality of the picture, the fact you can watch it whenever you want to. All of those things are such a positive. So even though we have such a great relationship with Warner Brothers and TNT and TBS, I think it’s very important that we were able to move on to Max.”

Viewership information for the Max simulcasts of Dynamite and Collision has not been made publicly available. Last week, Fightful reported that AEW content “has been among the top streamed live sports events” on Max since the Dynamite and Collision simulcasts began.

“The whole business is based on television revenue nowadays. Before it was pay-per-view and it was live attendance, and it was all that sort of thing, and now it solely rests on the television deal you can get. We’ve had ups and downs as far as ratings and demos go, but we still always do really, really well on cable. If we’re not number one or two, we’re in the top five, and at the very least the top 10, and that’s out of 1000s of shows.

In his interview with The Takedown, Jericho said that — with AEW’s new media rights deal in place — the promotion can now really concentrate on furthering the things it does well and improving the things that can be improved.

“The whole business is based on television revenue nowadays. Before it was pay per view and it was live attendance, and it was all that sort of thing, and now it solely rests on the television deal you can get. We’ve had ups and downs as far as ratings and demos go, but we still always do really, really well on cable. If we’re not number one or two, we’re in the top five, and at the very least the top 10, and that’s out of 1000s of shows,” he said.

“So, it’s a very valuable property and I think we all knew that within AEW and anybody Tony surrounds himself with, but there’s a lot of pundits and critics that still to this day don’t see how valuable AEW is and how much it’s growing. The television deal is $185 million a year. I mean, that’s next level. That’s pretty much four times that we were getting. So, I think that there was a sigh of relief, not that we didn’t know we could get it, but just now that it’s locked in, now we can get to work and really concentrate on the things that we need to concentrate on, both to continue upward ascension in some areas and to improve in others.”

Jericho is the current Ring of Honor World Champion in addition to competing on AEW programming.

AEW Collision Maximum Carnage live results: Texas Death Match, Continental title defense

Posted on by Suit Williams

Tonight’s Maximum Carnage edition of AEW Collision from Cleveland, Ohio, will feature two ends of the wrestling spectrum: a violent Texas Death Match and a Continental title defense.

Former AEW World Champion Hangman Page will square off with Christopher Daniels in a Texas Death Match. The two have an extensive history outside AEW and Daniels, who hasn’t wrestled since last September, will have contend with Page in his speciality match.

AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada will defend against old NJPW rival Tomohiro Ishii in their first singles bout since 2020’s G1 tournament.

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith will take on Cope, FTR, Powerhouse Hobbs & The Outrunners.

Adam Cole, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly go heads-up against The Infantry & Lee Moriarty.

The card is rounded out by Julia Hart vs. Harley Cameron, Dustin Rhodes vs. Adam Priest, and Lance Archer & Brian Cage vs. Top Flight.

**********

Collision started with words from Rated FTR, The Outrunners, Powerhouse Hobbs, Kazuchika Okada, & Hangman Page. Collision was live (to tape) from Cincinnati, Ohio, and our announce team was Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, & Matt Menard.

Texas Death Match – Hangman Page defeated Christopher Daniels by knockout

An ugly, vicious beating from the Hangman here as he dominated Daniels here. Daniels had some slight hope spots, but Page was unrelenting in his beating here and left him down for the count. A great match, and a great way for Daniels to go if the rumors of his retirement are true.

A vice principal no longer, Daniels came out as the Fallen Angel. Page slapped Daniels in the face and took him to the floor before drilling him with a chair to the head. Daniels was lacerated as Page pulled barbed wire out from under the ring and whipped Daniels with it as we went to the first commercial.

We came back to both men on the apron, stood over Chekov’s Table. Daniels backdropped Page into the ring, but Page threw Daniels into a chair wedged into the corner. We got a replay of Hangman dropping Daniels with a pop-up powerbomb through chairs during the commercial, and after we got back to full screen action, Page double-stomped Daniels through a table.

Daniels got up at the count of seven, with Page responding by pulling out another table with barbed wire taped all over it. Hangman set it up in the ring and looked to go for a Deadeye off the ropes, but Daniels countered with a uranage off the ropes into the barbed wire table. Daniels fired up, but Page quickly shut him down with a clothesline to the ramp. Daniels dodged a Buckshot but had an Angel’s Wings attempt countered with a backdrop into the ring.

Page went for a barbed wire assisted Buckshot, but Daniels countered with a facebuster and a Muta Lock. Page raked at Daniels’ eyes with the barbed wire to escape, but Daniels countered the Deadeye again with the Angel’s Wings. Daniels hit the Best Moonsault Ever, then sat part of the broken barbed wire table over Page and hit another one.

Page popped up at a count of nine with a bloody mouth, dropped Daniels with a lariat, and hit a Tombstone on a chair. Daniels’ arm was limp, and Page followed up with a Deadeye on a chair. Daniels got up, but Hangman dropped him with a Buckshot Lariat to the back of the head. Daniels was unmoving as the referee counted him out, giving Page the win by knockout. Page went to leave but came back to lay Daniels out with the Angel’s Wings. The referee and the ringside doctor checked on an unmoving Daniels as the announcers sold the beating he had taken.

Toni Storm Town Hall

Tony Schiavone welcomed Technicolor Toni Storm to the ring for an interview. Storm said that her dreams were coming true, as she would wrestle in the building where she saw her first wrestling match. Schiavone asked Storm about Mariah May, and Storm called her the best in the business. She said that she had yet to introduce herself to May and wanted to introduce herself to her next week on the Homecoming episode of Collision. Schiavone tried to get through to Storm that they had been in a feud, but Storm cut him off and said that since they were both Toni/Tony, then it was Toni Time.

We got a recap of Wednesday’s trios match before we cut to words from the Hurt Syndicate from after the match. MVP believed that their win made them the #1 contenders to the tag team titles and challenged Private Party to a title match on Dynamite, which was confirmed by an on-screen graphic.

The Undisputed Kingdom (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong) defeated Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty, Carlie Bravo, & Shawn Dean) (w/Shane Taylor)

Solid trios match here as the Kingdom finally pivots away from MJF. This had a good energy to it, and both teams would be good additions to the Trios division.

We got quick tags to start, with the Kingdom getting the first nearfall with a double suplex on Dean. Dean cut off O’Reilly from the floor, allowing STP to get heat as we went to a commercial.

O’Reilly got the tag out to Cole, who ran wild. Cole got a nearfall with a brainbuster over the knee. Strong tagged in and had a flurry of offense on Dean before getting saved by his partners on a nearfall. The Kingdom hit all of their finishers before finishing Dean off with a Total Elimination.

After the match, Shane Taylor laid out all three of the Kingdom and talked trash to Matt Menard. TNT Champion Daniel Garcia came out to take the fight to Taylor, and all the babyfaces worked together to take Taylor down and out. After the match, the Kingdom stared down Garcia before thanking him for the help.

We got a recap of the issues between the Don Callis Family, Kenny Omega, & Will Ospreay. We cut to an interview Alicia Atout held with Will Ospreay after Dynamite. Ospreay said that his battles with Omega were legendary, and they were linked through Don Callis. Ospreay said that it was time to have a chat with Omega and wanted to do it on Dynamite.

Murder Machines (Brian Cage & Lance Archer) defeated Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) (w/ Leila Grey)

A bad night at the office for Top Flight.

The Machines jumped Top Flight to start the match and pinballed them around until Darius dodged a corner charge from Archer. Cage tagged in and kept control until Darius landed an enzuigiri. Dante got a tag in and laid in some strikes before dropping Archer with a springboard cannonball. Cage and Archer quickly cut them off and hit a Chokebomb for the dominant win.

After the match, Action Andretti and his poofy coat came out to talk trash to Top Flight. Lio Rush attacked Top Flight from behind, and they laid out Top Flight.

The Learning Tree was backstage with Lexy Nair. They had none of Lexy’s muckraking and stirring the pot between the Learning Tree and the Death Riders. Jericho went over his history with Jon Moxley before saying they would prove why the Death Riders should trust them tonight.

TNT Champion Daniel Garcia & Matt Menard were backstage with Lexy Nair, but the Undisputed Kingdom interrupted them. Cole thanked Garcia again for their help before lamenting that Menard and Garcia didn’t have a third man to challenge for a trios match. Garcia said that he walked into Daily’s Place three years ago with two men he didn’t even know and left with a contract. Menard said that they would call their friend Angelo Parker to accept their challenge for next Saturday.

Max Caster Town Hall

(The end of the Acclaimed, and not a moment too soon. I was in the building at All Out 2022 for the Acclaimed’s breakout match with Swerve In Our Glory – remember them? – and they were a naturally over team of AEW originals. But they were about a year passed their sell-by date, and their Trios Title reign heavily impacted those titles in a negative manner. With that said, I have enjoyed how they’ve gone about breaking the team up, with Bowens getting fed up with Caster’s arrogance and ego. Caster in particular has done a good job of being an annoying weasel heel, and he’s gotten some good heat. I’m interested in seeing how these two do on their own.)

Max Caster was in the ring with a Louis Vuitton bag, getting booed by the crowd. He said that there had been a lot of rumors about the Acclaimed but wanted to clear the air with his partner Anthony Bowens. Bowens came to the ring, and Caster said that there was a misunderstanding between the two. Caster was upset that Bowens wouldn’t call him the Best Wrestler Alive, and Bowens immediately cut him off.

Bowens said that he had protected Caster for five years because he was his partner and he became Bowens’ best friend. Caster made him a liar, because he was an arrogant edgelord piece of s**t. The people thought he sucked, leading to Caster pulling out a framed trademark calling himself the Best Wrestler Alive. Bowens said that he was more than Caster’s partner, and that he had every tool he needed to be a World Champion. He was an ambassador for AEW, the pride of AEW, and wrestling’s five-tool player, and he didn’t need a piece of paper to prove it.

Billy Gunn came out to try and calm things down. Caster said that Gunn didn’t care about them and only attached himself to The Acclaimed to get attention for himself. (The man makes a point.) He said that Gunn made the team about himself when it should be about him, the best wrestler alive…oh, and Bowens too. Caster said that Bowens was his best friend, while Gunn’s own sons didn’t want anything to do with him. Gunn got in Caster’s face, and Caster told Bowens that if he wanted to keep the team together, he would pick him over Gunn.

Bowens threw up the scissors, but when Caster went to scissor him, Bowens gave him the middle finger. Caster threw a tantrum, telling Bowens that The Acclaimed was done because he said they were done. Caster said that he would prove that he was the Best Wrestler Alive, and that Bowens and Gunn would suck without him. Bowens and Gunn scissored one last time to end the segment.

We got footage of Swerve Strickland at a pro-am golf event, rubbing elbows with various celebrities, including recent Monday Night Raw guest Travis Scott. Does that count as a jump? Anyway, Strickland was backstage with Lexy Nair, who asked about his match with Ricochet on the February 5th Dynamite. Strickland said that this wasn’t cat-and-mouse, this was lion-and-rodent. Strickland planned on getting his hands on Ricochet far before February 5th.

AEW Continental Title Match – Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Tomohiro Ishii

(The word from the tapings is that Ishii hurt his ankle or his leg during this match, which would explain why this was far from what you would expect when you see these two paired up against each other. They basically cut to the closing stretch of a good match before actually having the good match, which is unfortunate as I was looking forward to this.)

Okada was cautious to lock up with Ishii to start before Ishii laid into him with a chop. Okada raked Ishii’s eyes before Ishii dropped him with a shoulder block. Okada bailed out of the ring, but Ishii dropped Okada with another shoulder block on the floor as we went to a commercial.

After the break, the announcers noted that the doctors had to check on Ishii’s ankle during the break. Ishii hit a superplex out of the corner, but Okada caught him with a neckbreaker as he tried to follow up. Okada hit the big elbow drop and did the middle finger pose, but Ishii popped up and grabbed the finger to give Okada one of his own. Okada raked the eyes and hit a landslide, but Ishii countered a Rainmaker with a lariat of his own.

Ishii went for another lariat, but he got cut off with a dropkick. Okada went for another Rainmaker, but Ishii cut him off with a pair of headbutts. Okada caught Ishii with a short-arm lariat, but Ishii powered through and hit another headbutt. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for a nearfall. Ishii went for a brainbuster, but Okada cut him off with a dropkick to the back. Okada grabbed the ring bell from ringside but only used it as a distraction. Okada hit a ripcord low blow, then hit the Rainmaker to win and retain the title.

The Gates of Agony were backstage, putting themselves over and telling AEW to send the best they had to Daily’s Place next week. During the next match, it was made official that the Gates of Agony would take on Brody King & Buddy Matthews.

Dustin Rhodes defeated Adam Priest

Rhodes dumped Priest high on a scoop slam, then went for the Shattered Dreams before the referee cut him off because, y’know, it’s a kick to the nuts. Rhodes was undeterred, hitting the Cross Rhodes and the Final Cut for the win.

We got a highlight video for Brody King & Buddy Matthews, with the encouraging words from Will Ospreay & Adam Copeland played over their highlight reel.

Julia Hart defeated Harley Cameron

As the match began, it was announced that Julia Hart would be taking on Jamie Hayter in a rematch on next week’s Dynamite.

Cameron came out with sunglasses on, or as her people would call them, sunnies. She sold her eyes being damaged after taking the glasses off, but she brought the fight to Hart. Hart clawed at Cameron’s eyes to get control, then dug her fingers into Cameron’s eyes while having her tied up in the ropes.

After a commercial break, Hart countered a fireman’s carry into an Octopus Hold. Cameron fought out of the hold, but Hart peppered Cameron with strikes in the corner before hitting a DDT for a nearfall. Cameron fought to the ropes as Hart tried to lock on Hartless, but Hart dropped her onto the turnbuckle and hit a rabbit lariat before locking on Hartless for the quick submission win.

We got a recap of Samoa Joe’s return to AEW on last week’s Dynamite, followed by the announcement that he would take on Nick Wayne on Dynamite this coming week.

That announcement was cut short, as we cut to the back where The Learning Tree was standing over Powerhouse Hobbs. Jericho had his bat, and Big Bill walked off with Hobbs’ knee brace.

Powerhouse Hobbs, Rated FTR (Cope, Cash Wheeler, & Dax Harwood) & The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd) defeated Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Wheeler Yuta) & The Learning Tree (Chris Jericho, Big Bill, & Bryan Keith)

(This main event caused a bit of a furor on social media, but it ended up being a fun fireworks match. The showcase at the end of the day was on Hobbs, who comes out of this important week looking pretty good. If he’s getting programmed with the Learning Tree moving forward, I would have him quickly put them away. The fact that I can’t definitively say whether putting the Ring of Honor World Title on him would be a positive move says everything about the state of ROH these days, but it would be a nice statement of intent to put a World Title on him.)

Hobbs was not out with his team as the match started, with Jericho and Harwood starting off with slaps and chops. Keith tagged in, but Harwood got the better of him and took him to the tecnico corner. Keith escaped to his corner and went to tag Big Bill, but Yuta tagged himself in to get pinballed by FTR. Some back and forth with Yuta and the Outrunners led to a Pier Six brawl breaking out as we went to a commercial.

After the break, Harwood was your mustache-in-peril as the Learning Tree worked him over. Jericho offered Moxley a tag, and Moxley accepted it as the two of them stared each other down. Mox hit Harwood with a piledriver before Yuta tagged in to put more work in on Harwood. Harwood ducked a Busaiku Knee and hit a German suplex, then dodged a Big Bill corner charge to tag in Cope.

Cope ran wild and went for a spear on Jericho, but Cope cut him off with a Codebreaker. Turbo Floyd tagged in and ran wild with bodyslams, eventually hitting the Predator elbow on Jericho and Keith. Another Pier Six brawl broke out, with Cope hitting Moxley with an Impaler DDT on the ramp. Cope went for a spear, but PAC cut him off as the referee was distracted. The Death Riders went to take out Cope’s leg, but Wheeler hit a dive off of the stage.

The Death Riders and Rated FTR brawled through the crowd, but Powerhouse Hobbs hobbled to ringside to tag in and fight off The Learning Tree on one leg. Hobbs and Big Bill faced off, with Hobbs winning the exchange. Jericho got hit with Total Recall, and Hobbs caught Keith trying to hit him with the ROH World Title. Hobbs hit Keith with the spinebuster to get the win.

AEW Collision live results: Cope vs. Big Bill, Chris Jericho vs. Dax Harwood

Posted on by Suit Williams

AEW heads to Athens, Georgia, for tonight’s live Collision which will see several champions in non-title action.

Former TNT Champion Cope (Adam Copeland) will take on Big Bill after the two were involved in a trios match last Saturday. It will be Cope’s first singles match since May’s Double or Nothing when he fractured his tibia.

In another match coming out of that trios bout, Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho will battle FTR’s Dax Harwood in a non-title match. The last time they went one-on-one, Mike Tyson was special guest enforcer.

Another non-title bout will feature AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May against Harley Cameron. They have squared off once with May leaving victorious.

In two matches made Saturday afternoon, AEW Trios Champion PAC will take on reigning ROH TV Champion Komander while PAC’s partners Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta will face the upstart Outrunners.

Join us for live coverage at 8 PM Eastern.

**********

Collision began with words from Harley Cameron, Mariah May, Rated FTR, & The Learning Tree. Sir Elton John played us into the show. Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness were on the call.

Cope defeated Big Bill

This was a very good return to singles action for Cope, as he and Big Bill had a quality opener here. However, I wouldn’t have had the guy stepping up to Jon Moxley use a low blow to beat a guy at Big Bill’s level. It felt cheap, as it took away from a quality match and victory here. I also would’ve just had Harwood vs. Jericho start here since they were both already out there.

Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho was on commentary to support his student Big Bill. Bill took Cope to the floor quickly, but Cope drove Bill into the steps and pinballed him around ringside. Cope drove Bill into the announce desk to Jericho’s chagrin, but Bill came back with a big boot. Bill clubbered on Cope around ringside as we went to a commercial.

After the break, Cope fought from underneath to take Bill down, scoring a nearfall with a Northern Lariat. Bill came back with a big Boss Man Slam for a nearfall. I didn’t even mean to do that on purpose. Bill called Jericho over to provide a distraction as he ripped the turnbuckle pad off, but Cope avoided a Snake Eyes into the buckle. Both men went to the top rope, and Cope pulled Bill’s head into the exposed buckle before hitting a powerbomb for a nearfall.

Cope went for the Spear, but Bill moved, and Cope hit the turnbuckle. Bill followed up with the Big Boot for a nearfall. Cope countered a chokeslam with an Impaler DDT and cut the Redwood in half with a spear, but Bill kicked out to a big reaction from the crowd. Bill goozled Cope, but Cope pushed the referee out of the way and kicked Bill in the groin before hitting another spear. Cope hit the trademark Moxley hammer-and-anvil elbows before choking Bill out for the win.

Jericho & Bryan Keith jumped Cope after the match, but FTR ran down to make the save. Dax Harwood will take on Chris Jericho later on in the program.

We got a video package for Kenny Omega ahead of his return to AEW action against Brian Cage on Dynamite.

Hangman Page Speaks

Hangman Page was sulking in the back, as per usual. He talked about how he tried to protect his family from the issues that fame brought, and that in one night, it was all taken away. He was ashamed of the incident and was ashamed that he allowed it to happen. He decided to do something about it and made sure that Swerve Strickland lost the World Title, took his potential family home away, and all but spilled his brains out in front of the world.

Page turned his attention to Christopher Daniels, who he humored for a long time because Daniels was the first star of substance to see something in Page when he was young. But Daniels crossed the line and put his hands on Page last week on Collision, so Page promised to make him pay next week on Collision in a Texas Death Match. Daniels made his bed, and Page would lay him down in it.

PAC defeated Komander (w/ Alex Abrahantes)

This was a very good showcase for Komander, who PAC had real trouble with before giving himself the slightest of openings and snatching on the Brutalizer. I may have thought about giving Komander the win to set up a trios title challenge, but I understand keeping the Death Riders strong.

The two went speed-for-speed to start before Komander hit a wacky headscissors over the ropes. Komander hit the ropewalk dive to the floor, following it up with a springboard crossbody for a nearfall. PAC shut Komander down and took him to the floor, where he got in his former Death Triangle associate Abrahantes’ face. PAC booted Komander in the ring before sliding out and getting his hands on Abrahantes, but the distraction allowed Komander to do a step-up moonsault to PAC on the floor.

Back in the ring, Komander hit a wild X-Factor before hitting a tilt-a-whirl DDT for a nearfall. Komander went for a step-up moonsault, but PAC cut him off and hung him up on the ropes. PAC went up for the Black Arrow, but Komander rolled away. Komander caught a charging PAC with a pair of superkicks, then hit a step-up Destroyer. Komander went for a 450 Splash, but PAC got the knees up and snatched on the Brutalizer for the win.

After the match, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta made their way to the ring, with the announcers talking about how Castagnoli wanted payback after Komander’s Christmas Dynamite upset over him. The Outrunners made the save for Komander, and this time, the upcoming match started right then and there.

Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) defeated The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)

This was the best straight-up tag match I’ve seen the Outrunners have in their AEW run, as the crowd was hot for them here against a main event act in the Death Riders.

The Outrunners worked over Yuta until Castagnoli knocked down Floyd from the apron. Castagnoli worked over Floyd until he got caught with a Thesz Press. The Outrunners knocked Castagnoli & Yuta to the floor as we went to the commercial break.

After the commercial break, the Death Riders were working over Magnum, scoring a nearfall with a Hart Attack. Magnum fought for the tag and eventually got it to Floyd, who ran wild with bodyslams. They hit the Predator Elbow on Yuta, but Total Recall got cut off. Yuta sent Floyd into the ropes, where Castagnoli hit an uppercut for a nearfall.

We got a pinning predicament with Yuta and Floyd, ending with Floyd stuffing a Seatbelt attempt for a nearfall. Castagnoli screamed at Yuta to finish the match but got annoyed and dragged Yuta to the corner to force a tag. They hit the Giant Swing dropkick, but a bit of confusion on the legal man allowed Floyd to break the cover. A Yuta cutoff allowed Castagnoli to drop Floyd with a Gutwrench Superplex, and a Rocket Launcher got the win for the Death Riders.

We got a commercial hyping all of the matches on Dynamite: Maximum Carnage on Wednesday.

We got a promo from Powerhouse Hobbs ahead of his AEW World Title match on Dynamite. He said that everything Jon Moxley wanted was standing in front of him, as Hobbs took initiative and won the Casino Gauntlet Match to earn a World Title shot. Hobbs said that he had been shot, stabbed, and left for dead. Moxley couldn’t do anything to him, and he would make Moxley his b***h.

Non-Title Match – Mariah May defeated Harley Cameron

AEW may have a prospect with Harley Cameron. She’s very charismatic, and she did well here against the World Champion.

Cameron has new music, which was probably urging fans to feel the wrath of Harley Cameron. Cameron went for some flash pins, but May shut her down with a headbutt. Cameron came back with a Russian leg sweep and an enzuigiri for a nearfall. May came back with a shotgun dropkick as we went to commercial.

May was still in control when we came back from commercial, scoring a nearfall with a headscissors off of the top rope. Cameron came back with a hairmare before running wild with strikes. Cameron hit a pumphandle back suplex for a nearfall. Cameron stuffed the Storm Zero with a jackknife for a nearfall, but May came back with a running knee and a Storm Zero for the win.

We got a promo from Christopher Daniels. He never came to Hangman Page as an official, but as a friend. He watched as Page went through the worst year of his life, and watched as the rest of Page’s friends deserted him. He tried to help Page out but was only met with violence. Daniels was angry that Page asked what he had done in the business, running down his resume as a former AEW World Champion and an architect of two separate wrestling promotions. He was AEW before AEW existed, and he would add beating Hangman Page to his resume.

Brody King (w/ Julia Hart) defeated Trevor Blackwell

King quickly handled Blackwell, beating him with a Gonzo Bomb.

After a commercial, Brody King & Julia Hart were backstage with Lexy Nair. He was interrupted by Cope, who said that he respected King after their run-ins over the last year. Cope said that it was time for King to take the reins and run.

TNT Championship Match – Daniel Garcia (c) defeated Katsuyori Shibata

This was a great defense for Garcia here. He tried to match Shibata at Shibata’s own game, and while Shibata remained a step ahead of him for most of the match, Garcia was able to outwrestle The Wrestler and get a win with his signature Jackknife cradle. I would have main evented the show with this to signal that the TNT Title is worthy of main eventing an episode of TV.

Matt Menard joined commentary for Garcia matches, as usual. The commentary brought up how due to the inclement weather in Georgia, Garcia had to get ready in the taxi on the way from the Atlanta airport. They questioned if Garcia’s lack of warm-up would cost him here in this championship match. Garcia and Shibata traded chops to start, with Shibata winning the exchange and hitting the hesitation dropkick in the corner.

Garcia made his comeback after the break, with he and Shibata trading inside cradle attempts for nearfalls. They went to trading boots and back suplexes before Shibata laid Garcia out with an STO. They both sat back up before Shibata won a chop exchange and locked in a Cobra Twist. Garcia hit a Dragon Screw leg whip and tried an ankle lock before Shibata countered it. A Dragon Tamer got countered into an Achilles Lock and a Figure Four from Shibata.

Garcia got to the ropes and ducked a Penalty Kick, but Shibata stuffed another Dragon Screw and popped Garcia with an open-hand slap. Shibata pulled Garcia into a hold, but Garcia caught Shibata with a jackknife cover for the win. The two shook hands and raised each other’s hands after the match.

We got a video package hyping the Women’s Casino Gauntlet on Dynamite, narrated by Renee Paquette.

Chris Jericho defeated Dax Harwood

This was a decent Jericho match with a sloppy and cold finish. I would had Cope vs. Big Bill in this spot instead. The post-match angle was why this match was the main event, with the Rated FTR/Learning Tree TV feud tying into the bigger Rated FTR/Death Rider angle. They did a good job of setting Hobbs up as a challenger for Moxley, having Moxley show a semblance of fear against the big man.

Jericho and Harwood locked on a collar-and-elbow tie-up and went all across ringside with it before re-engaging in the ring. Harwood went after Jericho’s leg after a deep Dragon Screw leg whip, wrapping the leg around the ringpost before Jericho yanked Harwood into the post. They fought around ringside again before Harwood hit a brainbuster in the ring for a nearfall. Jericho came back with chops before hitting a top rope hurricanrana into the commercial break.

Jericho had control coming out of the break before Harwood rolled through a high cross for a nearfall. Jericho couldn’t lock on the Walls of Jericho, so he catapulted Harwood into the corner buckles before hitting a Lionsault for a nearfall. Harwood hit another Dragon Screw, but Jericho sent Harwood into the corner post. After a near-slip in the corner, Harwood hit a superplex to lay both men out in the middle of the ring.

Harwood and Jericho laid into each other with chops before slapping each other down. Jericho rolled to the floor and went to use the title belt, but Harwood knocked him down on the outside. Jericho shoved Harwood into the stairs and laid him out with a Codebreaker. Harwood beat the count back in and fought off another Walls of Jericho attempt to lock on a Sharpshooter.

Jericho got to the ropes, and as the referee was dealing with Harwood, Jericho went for a belt shot and missed. Jericho popped the referee in the eye and moved out of the way of a diving headbutt. Jericho hit Harwood with the ROH Title but got a long nearfall out of it. Jericho landed the Judas Effect for the win.

After the match, the rest of the Learning Tree ran out to beat down Harwood. Cope & Cash Wheeler ran down to make the save before the Death Riders made their way to the ring to handle FTR & Cope. The Outrunners came down to even the numbers, and most of the guys fought to the floor.

Cope laid out PAC with a spear, but Jon Moxley appeared and dropped him with a Paradigm Shift. Marina Shafir brought two chairs to set up a Con-Chair-To to Cope before Powerhouse Hobbs made his way to the ring, bursting through all of the heels on the floor. He went face-to-face with Moxley before laying out Castagnoli with a spinebuster. Moxley hit Hobbs with a chair, but Hobbs didn’t budge and knocked the chair out of Moxley’s hands. Hobbs chased Mox to the outside before Shafir cut Hobbs off. Wheeler Yuta went to jump Hobbs, but Hobbs put him through the announce table with a uranage. Hobbs motioned for the title as the show went off the air.

During this match, it was announced that all three members of The Hurt Syndicate would be in action against tag team champions Private Party & Mark Briscoe on Dynamite.

Ring of Honor TV live results: Chris Jericho appearance, Billie Starkz in action

Posted on by Jeff Moss

Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho and Bryan Keith will make an appearance on tonight’s ROH TV on HonorClub.

Jericho is coming off a successful title defense over Matt Cardona at last month’s Final Battle and will face Dax Harwood in non-title action on Saturday’s AEW Collision.

After failing to upend ROH Women’s World Champion Athena at Final Battle, Billie Starkz will return to action.

Ahead of her non-title challenge of AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May Saturday, Harley Cameron will face Trish Adora while ROH Women’s TV Champion Red Velvet will offer up a Proving Ground challenge.

Former GCW Champion Blake Christian will look to get some momentum as he takes on Serpentico.

Gates of Agony will battle Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty while MxM Collection will face a team to be named.

The show is rounded out by Rachael Ellering vs. Queen Aminata, and Griff Garrison vs. Boulder of the Iron Savages.

**********

The 98th episode of ROH on Honorclub is just two away from the milestone episode #100. Will we hear about plans for a big celebration? Or will Shane Taylor Productions just beat up a bunch of people? Let’s find out!

Trish Adora (w/Shane Taylor) defeated Harley Cameron

This is a tough one for me. I like Adora, but I ADORE Cameron. Since joining up with STP (along with the Infantry) Adora has been hitting the gas and scoring victories over the likes of Rachel Ellering. Cameron, since arriving in ROH/AEW has been amazing at everything she’s done and should hold all the titles. Yes, ALL the titles. These two are both at the top of their game, so this promises to be a standout match to kick off the evening.

An enthusiastic Code of Honor started things off as they locked up. Cameron sent Adora to the ropes with a hip toss before setting her up in the corner. Adora reversed a monkey flip attempt and laid out Cameron with a huge boot followed by a big german suplex. Adora caught Cameron with a spinning backbreaker showing off her new aggression brought to you by Shane Taylor Promotions.

Cameron found herself caught by Adora in a modified submission move that ended in a two-count. She tried again, but Cameron reversed it and managed to get a suplex on the bigger Adora. Cameron drove Adora’s head into the turnbuckle followed by a Shining Wizard to get a two.

Adora scooped Cameron up, but Cameron wiggled out. Adora landed a Lariat Tubman and that was it for Cameron. The Infantry joined her in the ring for a celebration. Cameron continued to be great, despite this setback.

Blake Christian defeated Serpentico

Christian made a big impact in the NJPW Best of the Super Junior tournament in 2024, but has yet to turn that into ROH success. He did pick up a win over AR Fox on Boxing Day though and was one of the last standing in the Survival Of The Fittest Six Way Elimination match for the ROH TV Title at Final Battle. Serpentico? He’s been chilling. It’s been about a month since he defeated Sidney Akeem, so he’s due for something big. Or he’s not. Either way, he’s cool. 

Christian gave Serpentico a boot to the face to start things off, but the luchadore was able to bounce back (literally, he’s a luchadore after all) and put Christian on his back. The speed picked up from there and the two went back and forth, bouncing off the ropes until Serpentico slid outside for a breather. Christian didn’t let him stay long though, diving through the ropes onto him.

Christian wailed on Serpentico on the outside, sending him into the barricades and steps until Serpentico was able to return the favor. Christian caught him though and stomped his head on the steel steps. Christian then mocked Serpentico very, very softly.

Back in the ring, Christian went for a springboard 450, but faked out the crowd, flipping the bird. Serpentico tried a quick rollup while Christian was playing to the crowd, but only got the two. Christian hit Serpentico’s face off the turnbuckle and followed it up with a one-armed slam. Christian tried messing with Serpentico’s mask and delivered a big DDT and running knees to the back of the head. That was enough and Christian got the pin and the win.

Beefcake Boulder defeated Griff Garrison (w/Cole Karter)

Putting Boulder and Garrison across the ring from each other is kind of like watching a Kansas City Chiefs game. You know exactly what’s going to happen, but it’s kinda fun to watch the opponent try and figure out how to stop it anyway. The real story here is the return of Garrison’s tag partner, Karter who has been out for months with an injury. Garrison has been doing his thing solo, but Boulder rarely has a singles outing. So even if exactly what you expect to happen happens, it’s still a fun thing to watch. 

Boulder obviously had the size advantage, but Garrison’s speed and agility kept him in the match. Garrison tried to take the fight to Boulder, but that just got himt thrown at the ground. A lot. Boulder hoisted him up on his shoulder and Garrison went for a sleeper. Boulder had none of that though and tossed him off.

Garrison at one point hit Boulder with a forearm and managed to hurt himself more than the big man. Switching tactics he tried working Boulder’s shoulder, but that just led to Boulder dropping the straps and slamming Garrison to the ground before hitting four big splashes in the corner. He followed that up with a side slam that flattened Garrison.

Boulder headed up to the second rope, but Karter distracted him allowing Garrison to pull him off the ropes. it didn’t do much and Boulder flattened him with a Boulderdash and that was it. Boulder took the win back to his modest studio apartment in Titty City.

Billie Starkz defeated Brittany Jade

The Ballad of Billie Starkz

Billie is young, a big number Minion yet trained
Contracted by Athena to play her mind games.
Billie can’t break away, no she can’t break free
no matter how bummed about it she looks on TV.

CHORUS:
Billie’s a Minion and Athena don’t care.
Billie’s a Minion and Athena don’t care.
Billie’s a Minion and Athena don’t care.
Billie’s a Minion here to stay.

With that sung, er said, Starkz takes on Jade in what appears to be her yearly ROH match. Jade took on Leyla Hirsch & Rachael Ellering in a tag match in 2024 and lost a Proving Ground match to Athena in 2023.

Stakrz had Jade’s number right off the top. Jade did her best, but Starkz reversed everything she threw at her. Starkz even got in the Ref’s face after being told to stop stomping Jade’s head. The nerve.

Jade, who was trained by Caprice Coleman, did not quit, getting Starkz up on the turnbuckle for an attempted superplex. Starkz reversed it and climbed up for a swan dive. That was it, see you next year Jade! A squash for sure, but it’s always good to see Starkz in action!

Queen Aminata defeated Rachael Ellering

This match should boil down to Ellering’s technical prowess and sheer strength vs Aminada’s agility and gigantic hip attack. Ellering went 5-9 in 2024 but had some injury setbacks along the way. Aminata went 24-17 in the same time period, including being a finalist in the tournament to crown the inaugural ROH Women’s World Television Champion (which was won through trickery by Billie Starkz). A win here would be a step up for both, perhaps in the direction of ROH Women’s Forever Champion, Athena. 

The two locked up off the top, resulting in Ellering powering out of an Aminata hold. Aminata went for a drop down, but Ellering calmly stepped over her and picked her up for a gutwrench suplex. Aminata rolled out of the ring to collect herself. Ellering, having a lot of fun, held the ropes for her to get back in.

Aminata caught Ellering in a headlock, but again Ellering powered out. She then hit a Squish senton, but it only drew a two-count. Aminata got back to her feet and planted one of them in Ellering’s face. She followed that up with a huge boot to Ellering in the corner.

The fun stopped after that. The two traded blows in a very serious way until Aminata smashed Ellering so hard she was able to get a pin with a Headbutt. An abrupt end, but still a fun match. After the match, Aminata showed respect and checked on Ellering making sure she was OK.

ROH Classic Match: ROH Women Of Honor Champion Sumie Sakai vs Hazuki w/Hana Kimura & Kagetsu (30.06.2018 Fairfax, Virginia, USA)

Sakai was the original ROH Women of Honor Champion and kept it for 251 days, making her the longest-reigning holder of that title until it was deactivated in 2020.  At 53 years of age, she still competes, her most recent matches being in December for GCW and New Texas Pro. Hazuki starred in Stardom as HZK but changed her name around the time of this match. At the time, she was part of Odeo Tai under Kagetsu’s leadership and included the late Hana Kimura, who tragically took her own life over internet bullying. It’s important that people remember Kimura and what happened to her. Watching this match is a good way to do that. 

MxM Collection (Mansoor & Mason Madden) defeated The Dawsons (Dave Dawson & Zane Dawson)

Mansoor and Madden have become fan favourites in the last year, in spite of not actually doing all that much. They are really entertaining though and for a minute it looked like Johnny TV was about to sign up with them. That seems to have cooled, but after Final Battle, Danhausen is who they should really be worried about. The Dawsons live in a small New England creekside town and their childhood best friends sneak in their bedroom windows to watch movies every night. That may not be true, but in my mind it definitely is. #PaceyWasRight

Madden offered his tip to the bearded Dawson, but he refused. His name is Zane, and he tied up with Madden, showing that he was actually close to his size and strength. Madden offered the tip again, and Zane considered it but ended up chopping Madden instead. He no sold that and returned a chop, sending Zane to the mat.

Mansoor tagged in and the two double posed and double teamed Zane. Zane tagged in Dave (best wrestler name ever) and Dave took on the smaller Mansoor, getting a big slam and bringing his brother back in for a double team. Mansoor was able to avoid it and get a hot tag, er tip, to MAdden who came in and cleaned house.

All four men hit the ring and Madden dispatched Dave so that he and Mansoor could hit a Centerfold on Zane. That got them the win, a touch of the tips and a whole lot of posing.

ROH Women’s World Television Title Proving Ground Match: Red Velvet [c] defeated Jazmyne Hao

Velvet has been ROH Women’s TV Champion for 167+ days now, with a handful of defenses to her name. She’d have more, but she’s yet to lose a Proving Ground match, of which she’s taken on the likes of Lady Frost and Allysin Kay. Trying to get to the time limit of ten minutes or score a pinfall or submission to earn a future title shot is Hao, another Caprice Coleman student making her ROH debut. 

Of similar size, it was a feeling out process for the two women off the top. Hao had Velvet in a waistlock, but Velvet reversed it and sent her to the corner for a pummelling. Velvet hit a drop toe hold to hang Hao up in the ropes. Velvet nailed her with some double knees and called for Mama’s Kitchen. Hao fought back though, going up top, but missing the splash.

Velvet hit Hao with a singe right hand smack in the face and knocked her clean out. Velvet got the pin, dashing Hao’s title shot hopes.

-QT Marshall showed up for some reason. He talked about dodging Lexy Nair who totally has a crush on him. Marshall reminded us he earned a shot at Komander’s ROH TV Title. Marshall will cash that shot in next week and promised to win that title.

Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor) defeated Gates Of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)

Shane Taylor Promotions is the most dominant faction in ROH (and arguably AEW, or even wrestling). With Taylor and Moriarty as the anchors, they have taken over and taken out just about everyone they have faced. That should probably be the case here, when they face (checks notes)… oh, wait. Cage of Agony? Oh damn, Liona and Kaun are scary and brutal enough that they might be a team who can get one over on STP and put themselves in title contention!

Moriarty and Kaun started things off, with Kaun’s power edge giving him control of the pace. Kaun surprised Moriarty by taking him to the mat and starting to wrestle a technical style against the Pure Champion. Eventually though, it went back to hitting. Hard hitting from Kaun to Moriarty. That brought in Taylor who jawed at Liona before tying up with Kaun. Taylor encouraged Kaun to hit him and then destroyed him with a huge lariat.

Taylor smashed Kaun with some huge knees, causing Liona to jump in to break up a pin attempt. Moriarty jumped back in and STP continued to isolate Kaun, leaving Liona on the outside until a double hot tag brought Taylor and Liona in. The two literally ran at each other and bounced off for about 30 seconds. Liona then got Taylor up for a Samoan Drop if you can believe it (I can, I saw it).

Gates of Agony sent Taylor to the outside and double teamed Moriarty, but they couldn’t finish the job. Taylor hopped back in, but Liona sent him to the outside and hit him with a cannonball. Suddenly, a wild Trish Adora appeared and disrtracted the ref. That allowed the Infantry to come in and superkick Kaun into next week. Moriarty rolled up a groggy Kaun and got the win for STP, ending Gates of Agony’s 18-match win streak.

-To wrap up a pretty great night of wrestling, ROH World Champion “The Nueve” Chris Jericho graced us with his presence in the ROH Ring. Also, Bryan Keith was there. Jericho grabbed a mic and called the crowd idiots! “Stupid North Carolina Morons” to be precise. He was furious that no one chanted for him during the preceding matches. He was mad that they chanted “rock ‘n roll” instead*.

You see, they did that because the ever-lovin’ Rock ‘n Roll Express were in the house! Morton and Gibson sauntered down to the ring with even more chants echoing. Jericho claimed he hates rock ‘n roll… especially Morton! In fact, he has hated him since 1994 when Morton hazed him in WCW.

Morton decided that was enough and punched him in the face. Gibson did the same to Keith, running off Jericho and Keith and grabbing a mic. Morton thanked the crowd and the show came to a close.

Great episode! The 100th Edition of ROH on Honorclub is right around the corner, so stay tuned!

*The Rock ‘n Roll Express had been at the show that Jericho taped the promo at. Unfortunately, they were not around for the matches taped for this episode, so we had not heard any such chant all night.

Cope’s return to singles action part of AEW Collision lineup

Posted on by Josh Nason

A non-title match featuring AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May, a bout between two former AEW titleholders, and a first time ever clash have been announced for this Saturday’s Collision.

After they squared off as part of a trios bout last Saturday, Cope (the former Adam Copeland) will take on Big Bill for the first time ever. It will be Cope’s first singles match since he fractured his tibia in a barbed wire cage match with Malakai Black at last May’s Double or Nothing.

In another match coming out of that encounter, former AEW World Champion and current ROH World Champion Chris Jericho will take on former AEW Tag Team Champion Dax Harwood in a non-title bout. It will be their second-ever singles match and the first since an April 2021 match that featured Mike Tyson as special enforcer.

Reigning Women’s Champion Mariah May will take on Harley Cameron after Cameron challenged her in her own unique way on Wednesday’s Dynamite.

Here’s a look at the current announced lineup from Athens, Georgia:

  • AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May vs. Harley Cameron in a non-title match
  • ROH World Champion Chris Jericho vs. Dax Harwood in a non-title match
  • Cope vs. Big Bill

Rated FTR vs. The Learning Tree, Jeff Jarrett in action set for AEW Collision

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Two new matches have been added to Saturday’s AEW Collision, including a trios battle, and The Last Outlaw in action.

As announced during Wednesday’s show, Rated FTR will face The Learning Tree in six-man tag team action on this Saturday’s Collision. Rated FTR’s Cope, Dax Harwood, and Cash Wheeler will take on Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith of The Learning Tree.

Rated FTR defeated Jon Moxley’s Death Riders in this week’s Dynamite Fight for the Fallen main event with an assist from Jay White.

Also added to Saturday’s card, Jeff Jarrett will be in action against an unannounced opponent. Jarrett revealed on Dynamite that he has signed his final full-time contract as a wrestler with AEW, and plans to win the AEW World title in 2025.

Already announced for Collision are Deonna Purrazzo vs. Toni Storm, Daniel Garcia defending the TNT title against Mark Briscoe, plus Private Party defending the Tag Team titles against Lio Rush and Action Andretti. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express have also been advertised for the show in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Saturday’s Collision will also be the first episode of the show to be simulcast on the Max streaming platform.

The Saturday, January 4 AEW Collision lineup:

  • TNT Champion Daniel Garcia defends against Mark Briscoe
  • AEW Tag Team Champions Private Party (Brther Zay & Marq Quen) vs. Lio Rush & Action Andretti
  • Toni Storm vs. Deonna Purrazzo
  • Rated FTR (Cope, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Learning Tree (Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith)
  • Jeff Jarrett in action
  • The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express appear

Chris Jericho vs. Anthony Bowens set for final AEW Rampage

Posted on by Josh Nason

The final edition of AEW Rampage will feature Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho in action.

Jericho will take on Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed in non-title action after the two had a confrontation on last Saturday’s Collision. Jericho and the Learning Tree were verbally running down Big Boom AJ and Big Justice when Bowens came out to defend them and call out Jericho.

Hook will look to continue to avenge The Patriachy’s October attack on Taz as he goes one-on-one with Nick Wayne.

AEW Tag Team Champions Private Party will also be on the show in non-title action, taking on Alec Price & Leo Sparrow. The champions are awaiting a date when they will defend against Lio Rush & Action Andretti.

The card is rounded out by Thunder Rosa vs. Leila Grey ahead of Rosa’s challenge of AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May at Saturday’s Worlds End.

Rampage was not part of the AEW/WBD TV rights renewal which begins in January 2025.

Here’s the full lineup that was taped this past Sunday at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City:

  • ROH World Champion Chris Jericho vs. Anthony Bowens in a non-title match
  • AEW Tag Team Champions Private Party vs. Leo Sparrow & Alec Price in a non-title match
  • Hook vs. Nick Wayne
  • Thunder Rosa vs. Leila Grey

Wrestling Observer Live: ROH Final Battle, The Rock, ‘The Year of Griftmas,’ a holiday bonus

Posted on by Jim Valley

It’s a holiday (almost) weekend edition of Wrestling Observer Live.

ROH Final Battle from the Hammerstein Ballroom took place Friday featuring a strong main event from Athena and Billie Starkz, an excellent Survival of the Fittest match for the men’s TV title, and the pop of the night: Nigel McGuinness challenging Lee Moriarty for the ROH Pure title. Let’s discuss.

Als on today’s WOL: The Rock got roasted for a post on X and the annual reading of a Christmas tradition, AEW Rampage & Collision thoughts, WWE SmackDown, and I also provide a little holiday bonus content.

Happy Holidays! Check it out. Ho, ho, ho!

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