The former ROH World Champion appeared on Saturday’s AEW Collision, saying right off the bat this wasn’t about giving an injury update, as he still had “a long road to go.” Instead, he focused his promo on Bryan Danielson, calling him out over his lack of urgency ahead of All In next Saturday.
Sporting a bushy beard and a large knee brace, Kingston asked Danielson just which version of Danielson this was, as it wasn’t the person who beat him up or the one that wrestled KENTA years ago in Ring of Honor. Kingston said that this version was disrespectful to the sport, and this version was someone who would be beaten by Swerve Strickland at All In. Kingston ended his promo by asking Danielson if he would step up and find that fire, or just go to Wembley Stadium to lose.
As he continues to recover from injury. Eddie Kingston wants to know if Bryan Danielson really still has the FIRE needed to conquer the #AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland at #AEWAllInLondon!
The challengers for the AEW Tag Team title at this month’s All In will decided on tonight’s AEW Collision from Arlington, Texas.
The match will see rivals and former champions FTR and The Acclaimed battling it out with the winners set to face The Young Bucks for the titles in London. The match happened after FTR interfered in Wednesday’s title match, causing a DQ loss for The Acclaimed.
In a surprise announcement Friday, Eddie Kingston will make an appearance on tonight’s show as he has All In on his mind. The former ROH World Champion has been out of action since May after tearing his ACL, meniscus, and fracturing his leg in a match against Gabe Kidd at NJPW Resurgence.
Tonight’s show will also feature ROH Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) defend against Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara, Britt Baker vs. Harley Cameron, and TNT Champion Jack Perry in action. Toni Storm is also set to debut a new film.
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The final Collision from the eSportatorium started with Britt Baker making her entrance for the opening match. Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness were on the call.
Dr. Britt Baker DMD defeated Harley Cameron
Decent build for the TBS Title match at Wembley.
We got footage of Baker’s attack on Mercedes Mone from Dynamite. The two went back and forth as the announcers ran down the card for tonight. Baker fired up with forearms before running wild, scoring a nearfall with the Twist and Shout neckbreaker. Baker pulled out the glove, but Cameron showed her no love by hitting her with Sole Food and a Shining Wizard for a nearfall.
The two jockeyed for position before Baker scored with a question mark kick. The two traded kicks before Baker hit a Slingblade and a curb stomp for the win. After the match, Mercedes Mone & Kamille came out. Mone sent Kamiile to the ring, with Baker responding by fishing a kendo stick from under the ring. Kamille took the kendo stick and broke it over her knee before booting Baker in the face. Kamille carried Baker into the ring before dumping her with the Dominator. Mone & Kamille stood tall over Baker to end the segment.
We got footage of the press conference announcing All In: Texas for July 12, 2025. Arlington mayor Jim Ross – not that one – was shown in the front row for tonight’s Collision.
We got a recap of Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara’s recent history on Ring of Honor television, with them getting laid out by the Undisputed Kingdom on Thursday’s episode of ROH.
ROH World Tag Team Title Match – Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara defeated The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) (c) to win the titles
This was a load of fun, as the eSportatorium got behind the Texas boys winning the titles here. Dustin Rhodes is a double champion in Ring of Honor, as we all predicted back in 2002.
Bennett & Rhodes started the match off, with Rhodes working hard to eventually catch both men with the sliding uppercut. Guevara tagged in and ran wild with dives, with him and Rhodes posing to big cheers. The Kingdom got the advantage on Guevara by chucking him into the stairs as we went to a commercial break.
The champions continued to beat on Guevara as we came back from the commercial. Rhodes provided a distraction to Taven while he was on the top rope, allowing Guevara to race up the ropes and hit a little Spanish Fly. Rhodes got the hot tag and ran wild, dropping Taven with the Canadian Destroyer. Rhodes set up for Shattered Dreams, then sent Bennett into Taven’s crotch before hitting the move behind the referee’s back.
Rhodes hit Taven with the Cross Rhodes for a nearfall. A move train broke out before Rhodes and Taven were left alone again. Roderick Strong & The Beast Mortos came out, with Mortos providing distraction as Strong hit a Sick Kick. Rhodes kicked out, and the Von Erichs came out to lock on them both in the Claw.
A battle royal broke out at ringside, with Cage of Agony & The Conglomeration joining the fray on the floor. Back in the ring, Guevara cut off the Hail Mary with a springboard cutter to Taven. Rhodes hit the Curtain Call on Bennett before Guevara scored the win with a senton.
We got a video package of the roster making predictions on the Swerve Strickland/Bryan Danielson AEW World Title match at All In: Wembley, set to Machinehead by Bush.
FTW Champion Chris Jericho was with Renee Paquette backstage, who noted that Jericho would be facing Tommy Billington on Dynamite in Wales. Jericho called his All In opponent, Hook, stupid for fighting him blind. He told Hook that he would be banned from the Jericho Vortex after All In and said that he wanted a warm-up against one of the UK’s top prospects. He said that Billington’s uncle wouldn’t have liked Billington as he hadn’t worked enough to earn his opportunities. Jericho called himself a modern-day Stu Hart and said that the Dynamite Kid would be Dynamite done.
Hologram defeated Angelico
The announcers made sure to note that Hologram used his mat skills to beat the technician, spotlighting the diversity of Hologram’s work. I wonder how Hologram’s push will translate to the bigger buildings, with this being the last show in the eSportatorium for now. And yes, I am shoehorning eSportatorium into this review as much as possible.
The two worked on the mat, with Hologram spinning on his head to take Angelico down with his legs. They fought to a stalemate before Hologram armdragged Angelico with his feet to send him to the outside. Hologram hit a massive suicida as we went to a commercial break.
After the commercial, Hologram evaded Angelico in the corner before hitting a high kick and a ropewalk hurricanrana. Angelico caught Hologram in the corner, but Hologram turned it into a DDT for a nearfall. Hologram went for a 450 splash, but Angelico moved out of the way and hit a rising enzuigiri for a nearfall. Hologram stood on Angelico’s back, then vaulted up into a rana for a nearfall.
We got a pinning predicament before Hologram stuffed a La Magistral cradle for a nearfall. Hologram caught Angelico with a leg-trap crucifix pin to win.
We got a video package highlighting the danger of the Tiger Driver ’91, with Will Ospreay talking about how there is no way for the man taking the move to protect himself. We got footage of Mitsuharu Misawa using the move in Ring of Honor as Excalibur talked about the origins of the move. After Misawa’s death in 2009, the move was effectively retired until Ospreay used it at Forbidden Door 2023 against Kenny Omega. Ospreay regretted using it on Bryan Danielson because of his neck issues and walked out of the interview.
(Mitsuharu Misawa footage on Collision. This really is the People’s A-Show.)
Non-Title Match: TNT Champion Jack Perry defeated Danny Orion
I was expecting Perry’s personalized TNT Title to be made of glass. I don’t know how that would have worked, but it would’ve been something.
Orion was billed from “Dallas Singles dot com.” Perry quickly drilled Orion with a rebound lariat. Perry hit the Glass Jaw knee to score the win.
After the match, Perry grabbed a can of spray paint and a body bag. He painted half of Orion’s face white and stuffed him and the TNT Title in the body bag, which was branded with Darby Allin’s name. He pulled out another bag which held a personalized TNT Title, spraypainted black with veiny leather. Is there a better way of describing the look of the leather? It looked veiny.
We got a video package of the recent events surrounding the AEW Trios Titles. The House of Black and the Bang Bang Gang cut separate promos about Christian Cage screwed them both over. It ended with Brody King asking Cage if he felt nostalgic. Vice Principal Christopher Daniels then announced that The Patriarchy would defend the AEW Trios Titles at All In: Wembley in a “London Ladders Match.” Their opponents would be The House of Black, The Bang Bang Gang, and a third team to be determined in a Wild Card match on Collision from Wales next Saturday.
Claudio Castagnoli defeated Lio Rush
This match was everything I wanted it to be, with Rush less challenging Castagnoli and more being a gnat that Claudio eventually caught.
Castagnoli is warming up for his Continental Championship match on Dynamite against Kazuchika Okada by facing his former CHAOS stablemate Lio Rush. Yeah, Lio Rush was in CHAOS for a minute last year, remember that? Rush manuevered around Castagnoli to find an opening and hit a stunner for a one count before getting booted. After a commercial, Castagnoli caught Rush on a poisonrana attempt, then stuffed a regular rana attempt before Rush baited him over the top to the apron. Rush hit a pair of handspring boots before going for a suicida, but Castagnoli caught him and tossed him on the apron.
Rush hit a kick and a rana off the apron, but Castagnoli vaulted him over the barricade and sent him tumbling among the humanoids. Rush beat the count into the ring, then evaded several strikes before hitting a low enzuigiri. Rush went for the frog splash, but Castagnoli moved before hitting the Swiss Death uppercut for the win.
Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway were in the back complaining about Willow Nightingale & Tomohiro Ishii. Statlander talked about how scary Ishii was, with Hathaway becoming more visibly afraid. Hathaway said that whoever won at Wembley would earn the right to pick the stipulation for Nightingale & Statlander’s singles rematch at All Out in Chicago on September 7th. Hathaway then feebly threatened Ishii, claiming that he was the Stone Pitbull around here and failing to bark with any bass in his voice.
Eddie Kingston, with a bushy Mick Foley beard, was at his home. He wasn’t here to give an injury update, as he still had a long road to recovery. He talked to Bryan Danielson, asking what version of Danielson this was. He called this version of Danielson disrespectful to the sport, and a man that would get beaten by Swerve Strickland at All In. This version of Danielson didn’t have the fire anymore. Kingston asked Danielson if he would find that fire and step up, or just go to Wembley and lose.
(In case you were wondering, Eddie Kingston can cut a money promo about a match he isn’t in while nursing a bum leg.)
Mariah May defeated London Dior
May jumped her opponent with a shotgun dropkick as she entered the ring. May hit a hip attack and a Storm Zero for the quick win, as Tony Schiavone barely spit out Dior’s name before the match was over.
After the match, we got a Toni Storm film entitled “My Final Gift.” Storm, in a black wig, told a story about the doctor recommending her to see a clown called Pagliacci. She said that Pagliacci should pay to see her. She threatened May, saying that the River Thames would run red with her blood. I think the River Thames is red anyway from the pollution, but that’s neither here nor there. Storm said that May would regret the day she met the woman who loved her. Wembley was waiting, so they would give them a show.
Back in the ring, May was seething. She beat the poor dead jobber with the shoe before leaving.
For an AEW World Tag Team Title Match at All In: Wembley – FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) ended in a time limit draw, both teams will challenge for the titles at All In
I looked at the clock when this match started and had a feeling it would go the time limit. The live crowd was very into the match, but I can’t say I agree. It was a solid effort, but there were some sloppy moments as well as some stretching to fill the time. This was also basically the same thing they did with the trios titles, both ending in a multi-team match at Wembley. They’re both undercard matches, so I’m not terribly upset about it, but it isn’t the most inspired booking here.
We got some video packages on both teams throughout the show to hype the match. Bowens and Harwood started as the crowd was firmly behind FTR. We got some Acclaimed chants as Caster and Wheeler tagged in. The teams worked slowly to start before the Acclaimed sent FTR to the floor. FTR baited Caster to the floor, where Harwood led him into a Wheeler lariat as we went to a commercial.
After the break, the crowd was hot as Caster fought his way to the corner for a tag to Bowens. Bowens ran wild until Harwood caught him with a series of German suplexes. Both Caster and Wheeler blind-tagged their partners, leading to a bit of confusion from FTR before Caster fought out of a Harwood powerbomb. The Acclaimed took control, hitting a suplex/high cross combo for a nearfall.
FTR came back, with Wheeler catching Caster with a sunset flip before getting him with a lariat. Caster went for a victory roll, but Wheeler backed into the corner to tag Harwood, who hit the Steiner Super Bulldog for a nearfall. After a commercial, Harwood and Bowens were trading shots in the ring. Harwood dropped Bowens with a DDT before both men made the tag. Wheeler ran wild on the Acclaimed, hitting Caster with a Gory Special for a nearfall.
Caster hit a powerbomb, but Wheeler rolled through the pin for a nearfall of his own. Harwood pulled Bowens in the ring for a spike piledriver, but Caster knocked Wheeler to the floor. The Acclaimed ran wild, but Wheeler cut off a tag move and allowed Harwood to score a nearfall with a small package. Harwood caught both men in separate Sharpshooters, but Bowens hit a jumping leg drop for a close nearfall.
Harwood and Bowens fought for positioning before Harwood sat Bowens on the top rope. The announcer gave the five-minute call as twenty-five minutes had passed. Harwood slipped on the Powerplex but still pulled Bowens up and over. Wheeler hit the splash and dove onto a sitting Caster on the floor. FTR went for the Shatter Machine, but Caster broke it up and hit the Shatter Machine with Bowens for the nearfall. The Acclaimed hit the Mic Drop, but Wheeler threw Caster into the pile to break up the pin.
The four men swung at each other before FTR hit the Shatter Machine on Bowens for a nearfall broken up by Caster. The one-minute call came as Caster tagged in, with he and Harwood trading flash pins before dropping each other with punches. Harwood sent Caster into the ropes and bonked heads with Caster, falling into the cover for a nearfall. The time limit expired, with the match ending in a draw.
The crowd chanted Five More Minutes as the four men got to their feet. Billy Gunn tried to settle things down, but Harwood punched him in the face and kicked off a brawl that got security out. Tony Schiavone announced on commentary that, since neither team lost, both teams would get the World Tag Team Title match at All In. It will be the Young Bucks vs. The Acclaimed vs. FTR for the AEW Tag Team Titles next Sunday, as the two teams continued to brawl to end the show.
Injured star Eddie Kingston will appear on Saturday’s AEW Collision to address the All In pay-per-view.
The new Kingston segment for Collision was announced during Friday’s AEW Rampage show. Kingston has been out of action since suffering a broken leg, torn meniscus, and torn ACL suffered at NJPW Resurgence in May.
Kingston was set to undergo surgery to repair the meniscus and ACL tears last month according to a report, but is not expected to return to action until 2025.
Three new matches, plus a Toni Storm segment have also been added to Saturday’s Collision lineup.
ROH Tag Team Champions Mike Bennett & Matt Taven will defend their titles against Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara on Saturday’s show in a bout also announced during Rampage.
TNT Champion Jack Perry in action has also been newly added to Saturday’s lineup.
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. will face Harley Cameron on Collision in another new match added during Rampage.
“Timeless” Toni Storm will also debut a new film during Saturday’s Collision.
The updated lineup for the Saturday, August 17 AEW Collision:
AEW Tag Team Championship number one contender’s match: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens)
Eddie Kingston addresses All In
ROH Tag Team Champions Mike Bennett & Matt Taven defend against Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara
Eddie Kingston’s surgery date to repair his torn ACL and torn meniscus is set, according to a new report.
PWInsider reports that Kingston will undergo surgery on Monday, July 8 to address the ACL and meniscus tears he suffered during a match at NJPW Resurgence earlier this month.
In addition to the meniscus and ACL tears, Kingston also suffered a broken leg in the match at Resurgence, and the report notes that Kingston has been advised that the leg fracture needs to heal before the ACL and meniscus surgery can take place.
The report also notes that 10 months is the expected recovery from the surgery, keeping in line with the May 2025 return timetable Kingston had mentioned.
Kingston suffered the leg injuries on a table spot in a no ropes last man standing match against Gabe Kidd at Resurgence where Kidd suplexed Kingston onto a table bridge set up on the ringside barricade. Kingston’s leg struck the barricade and caused the injuries.
Eddie Kingston could be out of action longer than expected.
Kingston suffered not only a broken leg at NJPW Resurgence earlier this month, but also a tibular fracture and a torn ACL and meniscus.
It was originally reported that he would be out of action for nine months following surgery. However, Kingston told PWInsider that after meeting with surgeons on Thursday, he’s learned he won’t be able to get the surgery he needs until July at the earliest. This pushes his timeline for return back to May 2025.
Kingston says he’s been told he needs to wait for his tibular fracture to heal and do physical therapy before doctors can operate on his knee.
The 42-year-old was injured during his No Ropes/Last Man Standing match with Gabe Kidd on the NJPW pay-per-view. He took a suplex through a table on the outside and hit his leg on the guardrail. Kingston took part in a post-match angle with Jack Perry and the Young Bucks, who would later take credit for causing his injury as part of their storyline in AEW.
A broken leg is believed to be the injury that has forced Eddie Kingston out of action.
Kingston was injured during his no rope Last Man Standing match against Gabe Kidd at NJPW Strong Resurgence last weekend. Kidd defeated Kingston in the match to win the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship. At the end of the bout, there was a spot where Kingston got hurt when his leg hit the guardrail while being suplexed through a table. Kingston was still able to take part in a post-match angle where he was confronted by Jack Perry and laid out by The Young Bucks.
Kingston was supposed to be part of Team AEW at Double or Nothing, teaming with Bryan Danielson & FTR in an Anarchy in the Arena match against The Young Bucks, Perry & Kazuchika Okada. Because of his injury, Kingston has been removed from Double or Nothing and replaced by Darby Allin. The pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, May 26.
The finish saw Kidd and Kingston handcuffed together when Kidd suplexed Kingston from the ring through a table bridging the guard rail and apron. In going over, Kingston’s legs hit the guard rail hard and he immediately grabbed his right leg. That was to be the finish as Kingston wasn’t supposed to beat the count. There was also supposed to be an angle after the match.
Kingston laid there for about five-and-a-half minutes on his back, in pain. Eventually he told the officials that he could get up, and slowly basically crawled his way into the ring for the angle but was able to stand on his feet. Jack Perry came out after Kingston. Then the Young Bucks, who were not booked on the show and hadn’t appeared in a New Japan ring since the 2019 Tokyo Dome show, came out and attacked Kingston and laid him out with the EVP trigger. It was a great angle to set up Anarchy in the Arena, but with Kingston suffering what was being talked about on Dynamite backstage as a broken leg although that was not confirmed it was the exact injury, obviously that changed things. He was limping badly after the match and they were hopeful the injury wasn’t bad enough to put him out. But on 5/13, they found out the leg was broken and had to change around Dynamite and the main event for Double or Nothing.
Kingston shared a photo on Instagram this week with his leg in a brace:
It was announced on Wednesday that Eddie Kingston is out of Double or Nothing after suffering a leg injury at NJPW’s Resurgence event on Friday. After the main event between Kazuchika Okada and Dax Harwood, The Elite, Bryan Danielson, and Cash Wheeler all started to brawl. Allin then came out and made the save for FTR & Danielson, officially positioning himself as the new fourth man for FTR’s team.
After the show ended, Allin said he wasn’t 100 percent and thought a superplex spot by Harwood may have injured him even further. Bryan Alvarez, who was at the show, wrote on X:
Darby notes he's not 100%, he's still got a limp and his nose was broken by a fucking bus, and he thinks a beam hit him in the head when Dax did that superplex, so he needs to go to the hospital or something. He vows to see us next time.
Following the announcement that Kingston was out of the match on May 26 in Las Vegas, he posted a picture on Instagram wearing a huge leg brace, confirming his injury.
Footage from Resurgence was shown on Dynamite where Kingston smacked his leg on the barricade after taking a suplex off the apron and through a table from Gabe Kidd, who defeated Kingston to win the Strong Openweight title. After the match, The Young Bucks and Jack Perry attacked Kingston. After the footage was shown, The Elite was shown reacting to what had happened and figured that FTR and Danielson would fight 3 on 4, or forfeit the match for Double or Nothing.
Allin has been out of action since AEW Big Business in March when he injured his leg in a match against Jay White. During his recovery, he wrote on Instagram that he was also recovering after being hit by a bus.
Thoughts on the Cung Le lawsuit settlement, and meaningful changes in business and what this closes the door on in MMA
Why TKO paid $335 million and considered this as a win
Why the stock market thought the same
UFC & WWE financials
Changes in television and Smackdown plans going forward
The crazy story of WWE losing more money in this quarter than they made in virtually any year of its existence and multiples of the total losses of AEW since its inception and why there is nothing to worry about
How the interest on loans for TKO alone is more than WWE ever made until the Austin era
Complete coverage of WWE Backlash
The business numbers both good and bad
Notes from the French crowd
Next year’s WrestleMania
A look at the departures of Gable Steveson and Drew Gulak Ric Flair talks heart attack
Saudi Arabia getting more traction in WWE & UFC business
New Japan Dontaku coverage
UFC 301 coverage
Final Dark Side of the Ring episode on Black Saturday looked at
Coverage of three other major shows this week
Next TripleMania show
Arena Mexico heats up
Champion Carnival coverage
International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
Ric Flair incident
MLW looking at expanding into new markets
Wrestler song makes U.K. charts
NBA rights and how this affects AEW
Chuck Taylor career legit in jeopardy
Update on Double or Nothing
Advance ticket sales for AEW & WWE upcoming shows
Art Jimmerson remembered
Canelo Alvarez along with WWE, AEW and TNA PPV number updates
– We have three weekend shows already up on the site. We did two shows on Friday, one with Jim Ross talking about his new book, his career, Bill Watts, Black Saturday, Sting, Tony Schiavone, and tons of other topics, and then Garrett and I went through a show talking about all the news of the week including things that needed to be said regarding the dichotomy of wrestling media.
Last night’s show with Bryan focused on New Japan Resurgence, Smackdown, and Collision as well as the rest of the news.
– We don’t have more of an update on Eddie Kingston. The only thing we heard today is that they were crossing their fingers and hoping he’d be okay. There was no word whether he’d be able to do Anarchy in the Arena past they were hoping he could. In the last move of his last man standing match with Gabe Kidd, Kidd suplexed Kingston off the apron through a table and Kingston’s leg crashed hard on the guard rail. He wasn’t able to get up for a long time. It was scary but it did make the angle when Jack Perry & The Young Bucks attacked him even more of a heel deal.
We did hear from people at the show who said the issue was the crowd micing in Ontario and not that the crowd was dead.
– I want to wish every mother out there a Happy Mother’s Day. For those of you who have mothers, cherish them and make it a special day for them. For those who don’t, please remember them because you wouldn’t be here without them.
– It was announced at Resurgence that the first Fantastica Mania show ever in the U.S. will be on 7/13 at the San Jose Civic Auditorium.
– We’re looking for reports on tonight’s WWE house show in Macon, GA which has a King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring tournament match with Kofi Kingston vs. Rey Mysterio and Shayna Baszler vs. Maxxine Dupri in tournament matches. The Kingston-Mysterio winner faces Gunther on Raw on Monday while the Baszler-Dupri winner faces Iyo Sky tomorrow.
– Also on tomorrow’s show is Jey Uso vs. Ilja Dragunov and Zoey Stark vs. Lyra Valkyria in tournament matches. We’re looking for results, finishes, and highlights to [email protected]. We’re also doing polls for New Japan Resurgence so you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to [email protected]
– WWE from last night in Chattanooga:
Miz & R-Truth retained the Raw tag titles over JD McDonagh & Finn Balor
LA Knight b Santos Escobar to advance in the King of the Ring tournament. He faces Tama Tonga on Friday.
Austin Theory & Grayson Waller b Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano to retain the Smackdown tag titles
Liv Morgan b Nia Jax in a street fight
Damian Priest b Jey Uso to keep the world title
Tiffany Stratton b Michin to advance in the Queen of the Ring tournament. She faces Bianca Belair on Friday.
– There were only two Google search items that made the top 20 this week related to boxing, wrestling, and MMA, both from yesterday. The Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosis fight was No. 3 with 100,000 searches. Derrick Lewis from yesterday’s UFC show was No. 12 with 50,000.
– If you watched the New Japan show last night and noted Ian Riccaboni talking about the Young Bucks being in Vancouver and then being at the show, it was just an honest mistake. Before the show, he was watching a feed of the show and a taped segment with the Young Bucks aired and he wasn’t aware it was taped, so when they did arrive, he assumed they must have flown in from Vancouver.
– There will be another three-hour AEW block this coming Saturday night but back on TNT with Collision at 8 p.m. and Rampage at 10 p.m.
– Kento Miyahara beat Jun Saito today in Yokohama to win the AJPW Champion Carnival tournament. They also announced EC 3 would be defending his NWA world title on 5/29 at Korakuen Hall. The hope is that will start an All Japan/NWA relationship.
I haven’t heard anything on the Miyahara-Saito match although Miyahara singles matches are usually great. As far as big matches people have noted to us, Shuji Ishikawa vs. Kazusada Higuchi in the King of DDT tournament was recommended. AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton on Smackdown and most of Collision was very strong in the ring. The two best bouts were Kingston vs. Gabe Kidd and Jon Moxley vs. Shota Umino for the IWGP title. The latter was great and I’ve had people say it was Moxley’s best singles match ever, which covers ridiculous ground. The crowd micing hurt it but it was an exceptional match.
– Another big match this weekend was the Joey Janela vs. Nick Wayne Iron Man Match from Defy on Friday night in Seattle. That can be found in full here.
– Sami Zayn did a comedy show in Los Angeles last night at the Vermont Hollywood. Here is a report on it from Chris Campol:
It was a great time. He opened with a twenty-minute stand-up set. Told some really funny wrestling stories. Then he brought out a few comics who are wrestling fans one at a time for a chat. They had a couch and chairs on stage. At one point someone started heckling Sami, and after some back and forth he was invited on stage. After some more insults, the guy took off his wig, glasses, and fake mustache, and it was Johnny Knoxville. They acted like they were gonna fight, and then Becky Lynch came out to be the peacemaker. She was absolutely hysterical. Becky stuck around for the rest of the show.
They brought up a few volunteers from the crowd to see who could cut the best promo. Cathy Kelley was there to give them prompts, which she totally improvised on the spot. She was great. Eventually, Knoxville came back out with flowers trying to make up with Sami. They hugged but then Wee Man came out and low-blowed Sami, then gave him a frickin bodyslam. Holy s*** chants. He sold it like he was dead and that was the end of the show.
For someone who, by his own admission, had no idea what he was doing, Sami was awesome here. As seen in WWE, his comic timing is really spot on. Hopefully, he does more of this kind of thing. He really has a knack for it.”
– A&E tonight has WWE Rivals with Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes at 8 pm. and Most Wanted Treasures on Ultimate Warrior at 9 p.m. I don’t know if they’ve done a WWE Rivals using an NWA feud before, as Flair vs. Rhodes wasn’t even WCW, it was NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions.
– The death of entertainment news host Sam Rubin of KTLA in Los Angeles does have a pro wrestling connection. When he was a kid, Mike Lano, Mark & Gary Dawson (sons of Richard Dawson of Family Feud fame), and Rubin would go every Saturday to the newsstands together to read the wrestling magazines from the 70s. They’d also at times go to used magazine stores to try and buy old wrestling magazines. He also did backyard wrestling matches at Emerson Junior High and University High in Santa Monica.
Rubin was 64. He was on TV Thursday morning but called in sick Friday and had a heart attack. He was a lifelong fan and would interview wrestlers on his newcast. All the major stations in Los Angeles covered his death, showing him interviewing everyone from Hulk Hogan to Prince Harry to Presidents Clinton, Obama, and Bush. (thanks to Mike Lano)
– Best of the Super Juniors at 5:30 a.m. Eastern from Korakuen Hall tomorrow morning
A block-Kevin Knight vs. Blake Christian
B block-Francesco Akira vs. Ninja Mack
A block-Hayata vs Clark Connors
B block-Robbie Eagles vs. Drilla Moloney
A block-TJP vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
B block-Taiji Ishimori vs. Dragon Dia
A block-Titan vs. Bushi
B block-Sho vs.Kushida
A block-Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita
B block-Hiromu Takahashi vs. Douki
– Derrick Lewis, who knocked out Rodrigo Nascimento in UFC’s main event last night, took off his shorts and fanned Nascimento as he was trying to revive him. He then took off his cup and threw it to the media table and then pulled down his underwear to moon the crowd. He then said he appreciated the crowd in St. Louis for letting him show them his naked ass.
– Dani Mo will wrestle Bhagawati Khadka on Mount Everest on 5/23. They are attempting to say it’ll be a world record for a match held at the highest elevation. I don’t know what the record is but Mexico City is 7,349 feet.
– When Mercedes Mone threw out the first pitch at the Boston Red Sox game yesterday, the PA announcer first called her Sasha Banks and claimed she was the first woman to main event WrestleMania. I thought that was Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch. But then he called her Mercedes Mone from Boston (thanks to Ron Lemieux)
– Jerry Lawler was inducted into the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame on Friday night.
– TV Guide lists “Iron Claw” as one of the best things to stream this month. It debuted on MAX on Friday night. They wrote that people who thought this was a pro wrestling movie and skipped it missed out on a tear-jerker family drama. (thanks to Matt Schreiner)
– Kurt Angle will make an appearance for Absolute Intense Wrestling on 5/24 in Cleveland at Temple Live. He will have a meet and greet at the show.
– Defy from Friday night in Seattle: Nick Wayne b Joey Janels 5 falls to 4 in a 60:00 Iron Man match, Marina Shafir b Vert Vixen to win the Defy women’s title, Big Damo & Axel Tischer (Sanity) b Ricky Gibson & Eddie Parl to keep the Progress world tag titles, Danhausen b Randy Myers, KENTA b Bryan Keith to retain the Defy title.
After Eddie Kingston lost a brutal no ropes Last Man Standing match at NJPW Resurgence, Jack Perry walked out and the two had a staredown. The distraction allowed Nicholas and Matthew Jackson to enter the ring and attack Eddie Kingston from behind, eventually giving him the EVP trigger.
Just moments after losing a war over the #njpwSTRONG Openweight Championship, now he's being attacked by Matthew and Nicholas Jackson!
Nicholas and Matthew Jackson haven’t been seen in NJPW since they left the company shortly after the formation of All Elite Wrestling. In recent weeks, they have been feuding with Kingston, who lost the Continental title to Kazuchika Okada, who did not appear at Resurgence.
Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite event ended with Kingston and Bryan Danielson revealing themselves as FTR’s tag team partners for Double or Nothing, where they will face The Elite in an Anarchy in the Arena match. The show ended with the two teams having to be separated by security.
During Dynamite, Kenny Omega appeared in a hospital room, recovering from last week’s attack by The Elite. He made a match that would see The Young Bucks, Jack Perry, and Kazuchika Okada compete in an Anarchy in the Arena match, naming FTR as the first two participants. Later in the night, it was revealed that Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson would round out the team. The show ended with both teams having to be separated by security.
Kenny Omega has a special announcement concerning The Elite and #AEWDoN.
Following the events of last month’s Dynasty, The Elite have been looking to consolidate their power by attacking Tony Khan, causing him to recuperate at home. On last week’s Dynamite, they attacked Kenny Omega, who is still recovering from diverticulitis. Kingston and Okada also have a history with one another, as it was Okada who defeated Kingston to win the Continental title at Dynasty.
Danielson had been away from television in recent weeks, selling a Tiger Driver 91 that he took at Dynasty from Will Ospreay. He will return to action this Saturday on Collision.
Here is the updated lineup for Double or Nothing:
AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland defends against Christian Cage
International title: Roderick Strong defends against Will Ospreay
AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm defends against Serena Deeb
TBS title: Willow Nightingale defends against Mercedes Mone
Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, and Jack Perry) vs. FTR, Bryan Danielson, and Eddie Kingston
A new match has been added to the lineup for AEW Collision.
Adam Copeland, Mark Briscoe, and Eddie Kingston vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti is now scheduled for the show.
Saturday could be considered a tune-up match for Copeland, Briscoe, and Kingston, as they’ll face House of Black at AEW Dynasty the following night.
Saturday’s show is scheduled for the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, IL. Four matches are confirmed. Rob Van Dam will also be in action, although his opponent has yet to be named.
AEW Collision lineup for Saturday, April 20, 2024 —
Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher in a Bunkhouse Brawl
Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) vs. PAC & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. The Gunns (Austin & Colten Gunn)
Adam Copeland, Mark Briscoe, & Eddie Kingston vs. Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) & Action Andretti
Nearly 22 years after making his Ring of Honor debut, Mark Briscoe can now call himself the promotion’s World Champion.
Briscoe defeated Eddie Kingston in the main event of Friday’s Supercard of Honor to win the title, his first major singles title in any company.
The win comes 11 years to the day after his late brother, Jay, won the ROH World title.
Briscoe, bloodied after getting his head rammed into the announcer’s table, and Kingston had a wild affair as expected. The challenger picked up the win after hitting Kingston with a Jay Driller to get the clean pin.
Briscoe was mobbed in the ring afterward by family and longtime ROH roster members like Christopher Daniels, The Undisputed Kingdom, Dalton Castle, and plenty of others much to the joy of the Philadelphia fans that Briscoe has wrestled in front of so many times in the past.
On April 5th 2013 Jay Briscoe captured the #ROH World Title for the first-time.
On April 5th 2024 Mark Briscoe is now the NEW ROH World Champion.
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) April 6, 2024
Briscoe came out to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Gimme Back My Bullets,” the long-time entrance song for The Briscoes tag team.
It’s the latest title loss for Kingston who had entered 2024 as the first-ever Continental Crown holder with the ROH World title, NJPW Strong Openweight title and the inaugural AEW Continental Classic title. Kingston has just one of those belts left after losing the Continental title to Kazuchika Okada last month on Dynamite and the ROH title Friday.
As part of a busy WrestleMania weekend in Philadelphia, Tony Khan’s Ring of Honor holds Supercard of Honor tonight from the Liacouras Center — home of AEW shows in the past.
ROH World Champion Eddie Kingston defends his title against Mark Briscoe in a first-time-ever match. The champion is looking for his 12th title defense while Briscoe is trying to win his first singles World title.
Currently on an extensive winning streak in the promotion, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena will defend against former multi-time AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida.
The inaugural ROH Women’s TV Champion will be crowned as Queen Aminata faces Billie Starkz while men’s TV Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Lee Johnson.
The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) will defend the ROH Tag Team titles against The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo).
The show will also feature Dalton Castle vs. Johnny TV in a Fight Without Honor, a six-woman Stardom showcase bout, and more.
**********
It all comes down to tonight! Titles! Showcases! Boys! It’s all (mostly) happening on Supercard of Honor, Live. But first, we count things down with the Zero Hour Pre-show.
Zero Hour – The Premiere Athletes (Josh Woods, Tony Nese and Ari Daivari) Defeated Tony Deppen, Rhett Titus and Adam Priest.
A surprise addition to the Zero Hour card, this six-man was an excellent kickoff match. Each participant got a chance to shine, with Nese’s athleticism on display in this technical clinic. Lots of chain moves and fast paced exchanges. In the end though, a dominant Nese scored the pin for his team The Premier Athletes.
Zero Hour – Beast Mortos defeated Blake Christian
It was Heart vs a literal Beast-man and Mortos had not only the size advantage on Christian, but also strength and Cool mask advantages. What was surprising though was Mortos’ ability to keep up with Christian when he began some high-flying offense. Mortos responded with a series of powerslams, dazing Christian and allowing the bigger man to take control. Christian fought back though, and tried to pick up the pace, but Mortos was having none of it and ground him down to the mat. Christian hit a spear on Mortos on the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring) and threw him back into the ring. After a battle up the ramp and back, Mortos hit a pump handle piledriver and put Christian away for the win, in a hard-hitting affair.
-After the match Komander appeared at the top of the ramp to salute Mortos. It was unclear if this was a challenge, or a friendly wave.
Zero Hour – Cole Karter and Griff Garrison (with Maria) defeated Spanish Announce Project (Angélico and Serpentico)
Karter and Garrision were tricked into this match on ROH TV by Serpentico, who asked them to sign a paper without reading it. Maria wasn’t around to advise them, so they did and find themselves facing off on Zero Hour.
Maria had Serpentico’s stolen green mask with her as she escorted her boys to the ring. Serpentico wore his backup black mask to the ring, and the bout got underway as Garrision and Karter jumped the SAP as soon as they got to the ring. Angelico and Serpentico fought back quickly though and the match settled into a back and forth affair, both inside and outside the ring. Maria taunted Serpentico with his mask, and Angelico suffered what appeared to be a knee injury leaving Serpentico to get double teamed by Garrison and Karter.
The two isolated Serpentico and tore up his black mask, adding insult to, well, mask-tearing. Serpentico made a hot tag to the revitalized Angelico who cleared house in the ring. Maria tried to introduce a chair, but was stopped by the Ref who ejected her from ringside. Maria was not happy, but the threat of a DQ convinced her to leave, leaving Serpentico’s mask on the ramp for some reason. In the ring, Karter grabbed a handful of tights and pinned Serpentico, ripping off his mask. Maria came back and retrieved the green mask.
Zero Hour – Mariah May defeated Momo Kohgo
Another surprise addition to the Zero Hour show, these were two women were rekindling a feud started in Stardom. May spent the opening minutes mocking her opponent. That did not pay off as it lit a fire under Kohgo who showed up with some high-flying moves to get May off her feet. May fought back, utilizing her size to keep Kohgo on the mat.
Kohgo’s speed was the difference maker in this match though and May was often on her back before she even realized she was hit. Kohgo tried to out-strike May, but May’s strength was not to be trifled with. May delivered an insane suplex and a hard knee strike and was able to pin Kohgo, right in the middle of the ring.
-With the Zero Hour behind us, Supercard of Honor officially began and kicked off with the Television Title Match! But before that, Nigel McGuinness made his ROH return to join the commentary team.
Kyle Fletcher defeated Lee Johnson to retain the ROH World Television Championship
Johnson has been on a hot streak in ROH, winning his last 8 matches in dominant fashion. Fletcher has been in AEW. I’m sure he did some great things there, but tonight was all about his ROH World Television Championship and the fact that he had never lost in ROH. One man was going home with the title, the other very disappointed.
Strictly speaking of ROH matches, Johnson had the edge here as Fletcher’s been spending most of his time with the Callis Family in AEW. That said, Fletcher wasn’t going to go out easily, and the two battled pretty evenly off the top.
Johnson’s hard chops echoed throughout Philly as he tried to out-power Fletcher. Fletcher battled back though, planting Johnson with a swinging side slam and few chops of his own. Determination flooded Fletcher’s face as he outpowered Johnson.
On the outside, Fletcher suplexed Johnson onto the barricade, leaving him writhing in the crowd. As he staggered to his feet, Fletcher met Johnson with a big senton over the barricade, driving Johnson into the concrete before dragging him back to the ring.
Johnson made the first mistake as Fletcher reversed an attack on the top rope into a devastating super falcon arrow. Fletcher went for his signature pile drive, but Johnson flipped it into a hurricanrana for a quick two count.
Fletcher then took it to Johnson, who kicked out of piledrivers, suplexes, big kicks and a massive powerbomb. Fletcher, growing frustrated, resorted to heavy kicks to the chest, trying to put Johnson down, but the challenger refused. Johnson reversed a piledriver attempt into a Big Shot Drop onto the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring). Both men lay dazed outside the ring.
This match was fantastic, with lots of near falls and both men making a great case as to why they deserve the title. In the end though, a twisting brainbuster from Fletcher ended Johnson’s win streak, and kept The Television Title around Fletcher’s waist.
Mei Seira, Mina Shirakawa, and Maika defeated Tam Nakano, Saya Kamitani, and AZM (Stardom Showcase)
A surprise addition to Supercard of Honor, this trios match showcased some of the best that the Japanese Stardom promotion has to offer. Stardom is a massive women’s wrestling organization and anyone who’s anyone has made a stop or two there in their careers.
Seira, Shirakawa and Maika all held Stardom Championships, and their opponents did not. The match kicked off with AZM and Seira. True to Stardom, they put on a fast-paced exchange of moves, ending in a double kip up. Nakano was tagged in, and isolated Seira for a triple team in the corner. Seira battled back for a hot tag to bring in the heavy-hitting Maika, who hit an impressive double suplex on Nakano and AZM.
AZM climbed to the top rope, but missed a dive onto Shirakawa. Maika and AZM were the legal competitors and managed to knock each other silly while their teams regrouped. Hot tags put Shirakawa and Kamitani in the ring together, and they bounced around the ring taking shots at each other until Shirakawa landed a big shin breaker.
Shirakawa locked a figure four onto Kamatani while the other four battled outside. AZM managed to break up the hold and double superkicks put Maika and Seira down. Nakano launched herself off the top rope and laid out all five of the wrestlers in the match. Things settled down a bit after that and the bushido fighting spirit was on full display as Shirakawa laid out Kamitani to get the win for her team.
This was a really impressive match, showcasing just how good Stardom matches can be. High flying, hard hitting and fast paced with great back and forth action. More Stardom in ROH, please!
-At the end of the match, Mariah May stomped down to the ring to try and intimidate her former Stardom compatriots…but then they all gave each other big hugs! The winning trio and May toasted each other with champagne in the ring.
The Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defeated The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo) to retain the ROH Tag Team titles.
The Infantry took the Kingdom to a 10–minute draw in a Proving Ground match on the last episode of ROH TV to earn a shot at the ROH Tag Team Champions.
The Kingdom jumped the Infantry right off the bat, before the bell had even rung. They beat them from pillar to post to set the challengers on their heels to start the match. The bell rung, and the Kingdom was looking to make a statement with Taven manhandling Dean. Dean fought back though, trading dozens of hard chops with Bennett.
Shades of the Briscoes, Dean and Bravo took Bennett and Taven to the outside, brawling their way around and up onto the ramp. A big dive from Taven took out all four men, and Taven dropped Bravo hip-first onto the barricade, while Dean reversed a piledriver on the ramp from Bennett.
Bennett told Taven to “kill him”, and the two nailed a spiked piledriver on Bravo on the rampway. Back in the ring, the double team continued as Taven and Bennett absolutely clobbered him in the corner. The crowd was not amused, as they did not like the Champions, who they may not have recognized because the ROH Tag Titles have been rarely defended on ROH TV.
A hot tag brought in Dean, but Bravo disappeared and Dean had to take on Bennett and Taven by himself. Finally, Bravo returned and they double teamed Bennett after disposing of Taven on the outside. All four men got in the ring and some brawling ensued until they were all laid out in the ring. Bravo went for a cover on Taven, but Dean missed the block on Bennett who dove in to break up the pin.
Earlier in the match, Taven had set up a table next to the rampway. This came back to bite him as Bravo put him through it with a leap off the rampway. IN the ring, Dean hit a salute splash on Bennett for the 1-2-3-4-5… the ref didn’t see! The Ref also missed Wardlow sneaking into the ring to deliver a huge slam to Dean, knocking him out. Bennett crawled over him for the pin to retain the ROH Tag Titles for The Kingdom.
Billie Starkz defeated Queen Aminata to become the inaugural ROH Women’s World Television Champion
This was the culmination of a 16-woman tournament that saw Aminata and Starkz battle through the best ROH has to offer. The winner tonight would be crowned the inaugural ROH Women’s World Television Champion and both these women have earned the right to wear that title.
This match took place during Ramadan and Aminata, a devout muslim, had been fasting in accordance with the time of year. The commentary team wondered if this would be a factor in the match. It didn’t seem like it during the start of the match, where Aminata held her own against the spunky Stakz. The two women felt each other out in a slow start, but Aminata eventually landed a really crisp snap suplex. She followed that up with an absolutely deadly knee to Starkz’ face.
Aminata went the submission route, locking Starkz into a series of holds and locks, but Starkz was able to escape to the corner. Starkz tried to pick up some offense with whips and a big lariat, but Aminata wasn’t going down easy. She grabbed Starkz in a German suplex that left the younger competitor staring up at the lights.
Aminata began toying with Starkz, who did not take it well. Starkz hit a twisting ushigaroshi, seemingly damaging the neck of Aminata. Aminata wasn’t all out, as she hit a rolling dice counter to a facelock attempt by Starkz. Dueling chants erupted from the crowd as the two women staggered to their feet to exchange hard forearms.
Starks climbed to the top rope to try a swanton onto Amimata on the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring) but Aminata managed to dodge, and Starks did more damage to herself than anyone else. Aminata threw Starkz around outside until she was practically limp. Putting her back in the ring, Aminata climbed to the top rope and hit a swanton of her own, but Starkz kicked out at two.
Aminata seemingly had the match won, but Starkz, who looked dazed and out of it, managed to kick out time and time again. After multiple decimating strikes in the corner, Starkz could barely see straight. Starkz missed a second swanton when Aminata put up her knees to block. Starkz landed hard and refs and doctors dove into the ring.
Starkz wailed in pain in the ring and was attended to by doctors. Aminata and the crowd held their breath. The medical staff wrapped Starkz’ neck in a brace and she was able to stand. Everyone waited to hear if the match would continue, but as Starkz was about to be taken from the ring, Starkz slapped in a sleeper hold on Aminata! She was playing Possum!
Aminata Passed out, and Starks tore her not-needed brace off to celebrate as the inaugural ROH Women’s World Television Champion! Wow, what a psyche-out in a great, great match!
-Backstage, Lexi Nair had a chat with Top Flight. On Collision, Top Flight will face FTR in the AEW Tag Team Title Tournament. Top Flight said that they will overcome because that’s what they do. They will win the match, and head to Dynasty for the Finals.
-Next up, The ROH 6-Man Champtions the Bang Bang Gang arrived in the ring. Jay White grabbed a mic while the Gunns danced in support. White announced that they would be defending their titles RIGHT NOW!
The Bang Bang Gang (Jay White, Austin and Colton Gunn) defeated Monster Sauce (Alex Zayne and Lance Archer) and Minoru Suzuki to retain the ROH 6-Man Tag Titles
To say that the Bang Bang Gang were surprised to see Suzuki would be an understatement. This impromptu match immediately became more important with the addition of Suzuki.
The dream pair of Suzuki and White started things off and the crowd was hyped for this unannounced match. Suzuki called White a “young boy” and slapped on several really painful looking finger holds. He immediately put White in the sleeper, and the Gunns broke things up to save their friend. The Bang Bang Gang regrouped behind the announce table, seemingly very afraid of Suzuki.
Austin Gunn took the next shot at Suzuki who called him “Ass boy.” Hopefully a reference to Gunn’s father, Mr Ass Billy Gunn. Suzuki seemed unstoppable though, and folded Austin in half, leading him to tag in Colton. Archer jumped in though and the two exchanged holds.
Archer tagged in Zayne and he drove Colton into the corner. Austin tagged in and stomped a proverbial mudhole in Zayne. The Bang Bang Gang proceeded to lead the match both in terms of hitting devastating moves, as well as body glitter that was pretty much everywhere.
Zayne tagged in Archer, who ran through all three members of the Bang Bang Gang. Archer Choke-flipped (you read that right) Zayne onto Austin, but Austin recovered and bulldogged Archer to the mat. Hot tags brought in White and Suzuki much to the crowd’s delight.
Suzuki beat up White, then Austin, then Colton and stood tall in the ring as the crowd chanted his name. White thumbed Suzuki’s eye, but Suzuki countered into a sleeper. Zayne tagged himself in and leveled White with a lariat. White battled back though, and hit a bladerunner on Zayne to get the win and retain the ROH 6-man Titles.
This match was a great balance of veteran dominance by Suzuik and entertaining, innovative moves from the Bang Bang Gang. Super fun and fun to watch!
-White grabbed a mic and re-iterated that The Bang Bang Gang were the best. Suddenly the Acclaimed arrived and a massive brawl broke out. The Bang Bang Gang escaped leaving Billy and The Acclaimed in the ring.
Dalton Castle defeated Johnny TV (Fight Without Honor)
OK, follow me here: Dalton Castle and Johnny TV hate each other. Castle wants to smash TV’s face, and TV hates Castle’s face because it will “never be TV ready.” The two had a match that resulted in TV and his wife, Taya Valkyrie, gaining custody of Castle’s Boys. Sadly, TV and Valykrie then lost The Boys during a mountain outing where they were doing manly things (there was a bear involved). This enraged Castle, and now the two will meet in only the 15th ever Fight Without Honor match.
Castle entered with a new jumpsuit and a baker’s dozen of brand new Boys to try and soften the loss of his original Boys. The crowd was clearly behind Castle, chanting his name as the bell rang.
Castle seemed to have TV’s number, knocking him to the outside repeatedly. TV Taunted Castle and Castle chased him around the ring, until TV stomped on his hand on the rampway. With no countouts to worry about, the two battled on the outside until TV dragged Castle back into the ring. Castle bumped into Valkyrie, which caused TV to become enraged and hammer him with some hard strikes.
TV searched under the ring and pulled out a table. He and Valkyrie set it up while Castle writhed in the ring. Valkyrie handed TV a kendo stick and the couple wailed on Castle with them. The ring filled with debris, as TV hit Castle again and again with the Kendo stick. Castle finally caught some offense, hitting TV with a big Olympic-slam style suplex. Castle then considered the weapons he could use on TV, ultimately choosing the kendo stick. Before he could do much though, TV sprayed some powder in Castle’s eyes, and Valkyrie attacked him with a leaf blower. TV then powerbombed Castle through the table and tossed him back in the ring.
Setting up a chair, TV locked Castle’s shoulder and arm in the legs. He then spammed the chair shut, crushing Castle’s arm. TV placed two kendo sticks and three chairs on Castle’s body and went for a Starship Pain. Castle came to life though and nailed TV with the kendo stick.
In the ring, Castle screamed “Bring me a boy!” and one of his boys ran out to the ring. Castle threw the Boy onto TV, and a second boy came out! Castle threw that boy onto TV too, and then it was just a stream of Boys running out and being tossed onto TV on the outside.
Suddenly, a very familiar looking Boy CARTWHEELED his way to the ring and right into TV. Another boy walked to the ring in street clothes and an ROH t-shirt. This new Boy laid out on the ropes and watched. The Mystery Boy then hit a Sky High and we realized it was Paul Walter Hauser!
The Boys on the outside then kidnapped Valkyrie and dragged her to the back! TV was left alone with Castle and Hauser as they spread thumbtacks all over the ring. Castle hit a Bangarang on TV, driving him face first into the tacks and getting the pin to win the match.
Athena (c) defeated Hikaru Shida to retain the ROH Women’s World Championship
This match came to be because Athena, riding a 49-match win streak and 400+ days as chamption, felt like the ROH Women’s Division was lacking in real competition. She ran through them all, and was bored, darn it! That request caught the attention of former AEW Women’s Champion, Shida. She arrived with determination and violence and this match promised a hearty helping of both.
Athena (decked out in red, not a red outfit mind you, just painted red for some reason) started the match by ducking out of the ring. After pumping herself up a bit she jumped in and the match actually began.
The pace began to pick up with neither woman really gaining an advantage, but the wheels were definitely in motion in both of their minds. Athena went the mind games route, trying to lure Shida in for a Code of Honor handshake. Shida saw through the ruse though and hit Athena with a series of lariats into a backbreaker.
After a few twists and turns, Athena began working Shida’s knee, wrapping it in the rope and stomping it, trying to tear ligaments. After an Alabama slam, Athena put Shida in an ankle lock, wrenching Shida’s knee even more. Shida fought back though, catching Athena in a big backbreaker.
The pace of the match slowed significantly, with both women taking turns hitting kicks and corner slams, trying to gain the advantage. Athena managed get Shida in another ankle lock, twisting her damaged knee. Shida crawled to the ropes, but the Champion took her time in breaking the hold.
Shida got Athena up and piledrove her into the rampway outside the ring. Shida threw her into the ring and landed a meteora from the top rope. “This is awesome” chants were aplenty.
Athena began spamming powerbombs, trying to throw Shida over the top rope. Shida managed to reverse into a hurricanrana to the outside, but almost simultaneously, Athena reversed and powerbombed her onto the concrete. Athena put Shida back in the ring and bullseye Shida with a top rope neckbreaker, but Shida kicked out.
Shida tried a flurry of moves ending in a Katana, but Athena kicked out. Shida tried another Katana, but Athena caught her knee. The two pounded on one another until Athena was able to get to the top rope and hit an O Face to put Shida down and get her 50th win, continuing her reign as ROH Women’s Champion.
This match was really fun, but suffered by being near the end of the show. Supercard entered it’s 4th hour (including Zero Hour) during this match and the crowd was beginning to show some fatigue.
Mark Briscoe defeated Eddie Kingston to become the ROH World Champion
The only word to describe this matchup was “emotional.” Kingston, fresh off of losing his Continental Title, was near the end of his rope and questioned whether he could hold onto his sanity and even sobriety should he lose. Briscoe had just as much on the line, looking to honor his late brother Jay 11 years to the day that Jay won the ROH World Championship. Both men promised each other they’d be bringing their best and the stakes were high.
As was expected, this was a hard-hitting match. The arena seemed to shake with every slam and strike. Kingston had control in the beginning, but Briscoe used some of his redneck kung fu to keep himself in the running.
One the outside, Briscoe hit a cannonball to plant Kingston against the barricade. Briscoe introduced a chair to the ring, making it legal for Kingston to chokeslam Briscoe right through it. Kingston pounded Briscoe’s head against the announce table, busting him open. Blood poured from Briscoe’s face as Kingston waited for him in the ring. Briscoe jumped right back in and the two exchanged punches and chops.
The ref checked on Briscoe, making sure he could continue while bleeding. Kingston took advantage and raked the open wound on Briscoe’s head. A series of strikes from Kingston left him covered in Briscoe’s blood. On the outside, Briscoe took a big bite of Kingston’s head and set him up in a chair to drive him into the corner barricade. Briscoe then dropped a Cactus Jack elbow on the champion from the ring apron.
Blood absolutely poured from Briscoe’s head as the ref checked on him for the fourth time. He checked again after Kingston nailed Briscoe in the face with a baseball slide.
Briscoe began to fight back, taking Kingston’s chops and laying out a few of his own. Briscoe’s face looked like hamburger meat but he refused to go down. Some more Redneck Kung Fu gave Briscoe an opening and he began to take it to Kingston. These two were in a war, not a wrestling match.
Briscoe hit a Froggy-bow from the top rope, but Kingston kicked out at two. The men began trading suplexes and powerbombs trying to find an opening to come out on top. Eventually though, both men were down, in pools of Briscoe’s blood.
Kingston hit a t-bone suplex from the ring apron (the hardest part of the ring) onto the concrete below leaving Briscoe dazed as the crowd chanted “man up” at the competitors. Both men escaped the 20-count by sliding back into the ring, Briscoe managing to do it at 19 and a half.
Bloodied and beaten, both men swung at each other from their knees. Rising to their feet Briscoe got a big clothesline and began to gain momentum over the sluggish Kingston. Kingston fired back though, and tried a pin which Briscoe kicked out of at 2.
Briscoe reached deep into his bag of tricks, pulling out a cutthroat driver. Signaling to the his brother in the sky, Briscoe droppe Kingston on his head with a massive driver and pinned him for the 1-2-3! Mark Briscoe is your new ROH World Champion, 11 years to the day his brother won the same title!
The ring filled up with Briscoe’s family and ROH wrestlers hugging and congratulating Briscoe on his well deserved victory, and Kingston on his hard fought loss. The two men embraced into the ring as the confetti and streamers rained down. What an incredibly emotional and hard-hitting match. A perfect way to end Supercard of Honor 2024.
Ring of Honor World Champion & men’s NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston addressed this week’s AEW releases in addition to the critical comments former in-ring rival CM Punk made about AEW.
“My heart goes out to them. That’s what I’m more concerned about than what (Punk) said because the people that got let go did work for us and now they have to find another way to make ends meet and that’s what concerns me more. Whether I knew them — because some I knew very well, some I didn’t — my heart goes out to them. I’m not saying it’s right, I’m not saying it’s wrong. What I am saying, it’s the business. People get hired and fired daily,” he said.
Kingston mentioned that he is heartbroken that he won’t see released ring announcer Dasha Kuret as he loved seeing her every week and always put a smile on his face.
Regarding the Punk comments, Kingston said he “don’t give a f**k” about Punk’s comments because the current WWE roster member doesn’t work for the company anymore.
“…No, I don’t care. I know other people do, but I really don’t give a f**k because he doesn’t work for AEW. That’s the way I look at it. If he worked for AEW and did that, then I might feel a certain way for a little bit and then I would just let it go and go, ‘Well, that’s Phil being Phil. Can’t control him. That’s his thing.’ He ain’t me and I ain’t him, so, but he doesn’t so I don’t care what he does,” Kingston stated.
Kingston will defend the ROH title against Mark Briscoe on this Friday’s Supercard of Honor.
A six-man tag team match has been added to AEW’s next pay-per-view.
Adam Copeland will team with Eddie Kingston and Mark Briscoe to take on The House of Black. Copeland had retained the TNT Championship against Matt Cardona on Collision when the lights went out. Malakai Black appeared when they came back on, which led to Buddy Matthews attacking Copeland from behind. Briscoe and Kingston came out for the save. The match was then announced for April 21 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Briscoe has been feuding with The House of Black in recent weeks. He came out during their match against The Infantry in an AEW Tag Team title tournament match. His distraction allowed The Infantry to score an upset win over The House of Black, eliminating them from the tournament.
Here is the updated lineup for Dynasty:
AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe defends against Swerve Strickland
TBS Championship: Julia Hart defends against Willow Nightingale
Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson
Tournament final to determine new AEW World Tag Team Champions
The House of Black vs. Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston, and Mark Briscoe
