El Hijo del Vikingo may have been injured last night.
Mas Lucha is reporting that Vikingo’s match at Arena López Mateos on Saturday was stopped early after the AAA Mega Champion came down awkwardly on his right knee. He was assessed at the building and there was said to be concern he may have ruptured a tendon.
The injury was addressed by our own Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, who noted it’s a meniscus injury that will likely require surgery.
Meltzer said:
El Hijo del Vikingo injured his right knee in a match tonight, and it’s a meniscus injury as far as we know. I just got the word of a meniscus injury, that he might need surgery.
The knee was already bad. And he was probably going to need surgery at some point soon, and this may speed that up and he could be out for a pretty long length of time.
Mas Lucha says Hijo del VIkingo suffered a right knee injury in his match tonight, and it may be a serious one. https://t.co/cbw9UQx4l4
Footage of the injury was posted to YouTube by La Tijera Lucha Libre.
Vikingo has wrestled just twice on AEW programming so far in 2024. He wrestled in a four-way match won by Trent Beretta on the January 3 Dynamite and another four-way won by Komander on the January 24 Rampage taping.
Vikingo has wrestled under the ROH banner twice this year as well. He successfully defended the Mega Championship against Action Andretti at the January 10 taping and then teamed with Penta El Zero Miedo in a win against Jon Cruz and KM at the January 31 taping.
Andrade El Idolo will have a chance to get his treasured mask back from the House of Black’s Buddy Matthews in a ladder match on next Saturday’s AEW Collision.
Julia Hart of the House of Black took Andrade’s mask recently which he has wanted to get back ever since. Andrade attempted to get into the building on Saturday’s Collision but was escorted out by security due to the House of Black defending the AEW Trios titles on the show.
Malakai Black, Brody King and Hart will be banned from the building for the match.
In trios action, Bullet Club Gold’s Juice Robinson & The Gunns will take on El Hijo del Vikingo, Action Andretti & Darius Martin. Robinson and Jay White defeated Martin and Andretti Saturday, followed by the Gunns attacking Martin and Andretti after the match. This will be Vikingo’s Collision debut.
The new additions join the previously announced AEW Tag Team title match between champions FTR and MJF & Adam Cole.
Here’s the current lineup for Hartford, Connecticut:
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) defend against MJF & Adam Cole
Andrade El Idolo vs. Buddy Matthews in a ladder match for Andrade’s mask
El Hijo del Vikingo, Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. Juice Robinson & The Gunns (Austin & Colten Gunn)
Tonight’s special “Championship Friday” edition of AEW Rampage will feature four title matches from three different promotions — none of which are AEW.
AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo will look to extend his 500+ day reign as titleholder as he defends against Komander and Dralistico in a three-way. This will be Vikingo’s fifth match in AEW.
Fresh off another title defense on ROH TV, inaugural NJPW TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. will defend his gold against Action Andretti. Sabre Jr. bested Rocky Romero Thursday as his recent run in ROH continues.
Inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale will have her first title defense as she takes on Emi Sakura. Nightingale won the title by defeating Mercedes Mone last month in a tournament.
After his successful defense against Alex Coughlin on Thursday, ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata will look to fend off the title challenge of Lee Moriarty and earn his third title defense.
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Taped in San Diego, California. Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone and Excalibur were on commentary for “Championship Friday!”
El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Komander defeated Dralistico (w/ Jose the Assistant) to retain the AAA Mega Championship (10:07).
Vikingo’s 500 days into his title reign, or halfway into a ridiculous celebration and his cousins turning on him. Dralistico got the first near fall of the match with a slingshot senton. The crowd was very into this match. Komander got hung up in the ropes, and Dralistico took him out with a double stomp. Vikingo then flew into the action with a moonsault to the floor, which popped the crowd. Vikingo hit an implosion hurricanrana, then followed up with a Phoenix Splash (started outside of the ring and facing the wrong way, no big deal). JR is so impressed with the action he will give the winner a barbeque sauce. He should throw in his seasoning, too. That stuff is great.
During the split-screen break, Jose helped Dralistico set up a table on the floor. Well, Jose is an assistant.
After the break, Dralistico and Komander worked in the ring while Vikingo hid on the floor, continuing the pattern of two guys working in the ring while the third hid. Komander tried a crazy springboard hurricanrana, but it didn’t really work. Dralistico took a bump to the floor anyway. Komander followed his opponents out ot the floor with a rope walk moonsault to the floor. Badk in the ring, Komander hit a rope walk 450 for a near fall. Vikingo took Komander down with an inverted hurricanrana, then put him through the table with a 630 springboard senton.
Back in the ring, Vikingo countered a powerbomb from Dralistico with a hurricanrana and a cradle and got the pinfall.
Spectacular insanity.
– Let’s go back to January when Aubrey Edwards made some fair calls that didn’t go Jeff Jarrett’s way. And then six months later, Karen Jarrett kept Aubrey Edwards from doing the same thing at Double or Nothing by thwacking her with a guitar. Backstage, Mark Briscoe and Aubrey Edwards attacked Jarrett and his crew in the middle of an interview with Lexi Nair.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Action Andretti to retain the NJPW Television Championship (10:15)
Crowd was behind Sabre. Andretti tried to hang with Sabre, but he was very clearly out of his depth on the mat. Sabre got a wristlock on Andretti, who tried four different escapes before one finally worked. Andretti hit a springboard tornio for a near fall, then sent Sabre to the floor with a springboard hurricanrana. Sabre tied up Andretti in the ropes with an armbar, then sent Andretti down to the mat by yanking down on his arm. Sabre continued to work over Andretti’s arm and leveled him with forearms in the corner. Sabre locked in a hammerlock and a body scissors, but Andretti was able to power Sable over with a suplex.
Andretti hit a springboard kick for a near fall. Sabre caught Andretti with a kick to the arm to regain the advantage. Andretti hit a jumping enziguri and an avalanche hurricanrana for a near fall. Andretti picked up Sabre in a torture rack, but Sabre countered by grabbing him in a choke. Andretti hit a superkick and a poisoned rana for a near fall. Andretti hit a shotgun dropkick and a spit-legged moonsault for a near fall. Andretti came off the ropes with a springboard, but Sabre yanked him out of the air with an armbar, then tied both of Andretti’s arms up with his legs and got the submission. Great match!
Willow Nightingale defeated Emi Sakura to retain the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship (8:00 aired)
JR wished Mercedes Mone a speedy recovery on commentary. Both women fought over a suplex on the ring apron, but Sakrua used an eye poke to get the advantage. She sent Nightingale to the floor with a crossbody, then threw her into the barricade as the show went to break.
After the break, Nightingale hit a shotgun dropkick off the middle rope for a near fall. Sakura hit a CrossRhodes variation for a near fall, then a twisting senton for a near fall. Nightingale hit a low crossbody for a near fall. Sakura tried for La Magistral’s cradle, but Nightingale powered out. Sakura hit a sitout Jay Driller, but Nightingale came back with a pounce and a cannonball. Nightingale finished off Sakura with a lariat and an awesome Doctor Bomb to get the pinfall. The crowd was very into this match as well.
– New for Dynamite Wednesday: MJF makes an appearance, and Jungle Boy & Hook take on Dralistico & Preston Vance in a Texas Tornado match.
– The next Ring of Honor pay-per-view, Death Before Dishonor, was announced for July 21st in Trenton, New Jersey.
Katsuyori Shibata defeated Lee Moriarty to retain the ROH Pure Championship (9:09).
The pure rules: a 20-count outside the ring, each competitor gets 3 rope breaks, and no closed fist strikes.
Periodically a timer is shown on the screen. It’s barely a minute into the match before Moriarty had to use his first rope break. Moriarty caught Shibata with a dropkick to the knee. Moriarty worked over Shibata’s knee during the split screen break.
After the break, Shibata had Moriarty locked in a figure-four, and Moriarty had to use his second rope break. Shibata hit a diving dropkick in the corner on Moriarty, then suplexed him out of the corner for a near fall. Moriarty used his third rope break (I don’t think he meant to), but then locked in the Border City Stretch. Shibata countered with a cradle, then ran into a forearm. Shibata locked Moriarty in a sleeper. Moriarty faded, and Shibata finished him off with a PK kick for the pinfall.
After the match, Daniel Garcia came to the ring and stood face-to-face with Shibata, who held his Pure Championship belt up for the crowd.
Final Thoughts:
This show was excellent in the ring and the crowd was into every match.
This week’s MLW Fusion was taped in Tijuana, Mexico, as part of the MLW and AAA Super Series tapings featuring Joe Dombrowski and Christian Cole were on the call.
We saw what The Second Gear Crew had been getting up to in Tijuana. In a hotel room, Mance Warner, 1 Called Manders and Matthew Justice woke up from a heavy night south of the border. Microman emerged from a mountain of blankets and female underwear. They left the room on the search for cervezas and a route to the border.
La Rebellion (Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf) defeated Taurus & Abismo Negro Jr
This was good non-stop action and the first of two matches like this in the episode.
It broke down into the more traditional lucha style tag matches where double teams and flexing of the more traditional tag rules were in play. The action was nonstop with all hitting high-impact moves throughout.
Abismo came out spraying fire via an air canister. During the match, he hit a power bomb and a middle rope dropkick to the groin on Bestia 666.
Taurus was brilliant here. For the MLW fans, he was compared to Jacob Fatu as having the larger frame but being able to keep up with the athleticism of the traditional lucha libre style wrestling.
Mecha Wolf and Bestia were on form as their tag experience showed early with stereo suicide dives followed by stereo beers from the Tijuana crowd. Later on, Bestia took out his opponents with a slingshot headscissors as part of the non-stop action.
The first nearfall came from Abismo after a Styles Clash. Taurus was thrown to the floor which left Abismo alone with La Rebellion. He eventually fell to a double team power bomb/backstabber combination called the Mark of the Beast for the pin and win. This was a great way to open the show.
– During the match, it was announced that the originally scheduled match between MLW Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie vs. Delmi Exo has been postponed. Later, Sam Leterna interviewed Exo and got word during the interview that Court Bauer had rebooked the match for two weeks.
– Willie Mack was having issues as he had supposedly had some news of the whereabouts of Cesar Duran. When Sam Adonis, John Hennigan and Valkyrie saw him trying to sell some of Duran’s belongings at the merchandise stand, they confronted Mack who ended up getting an Openweight title shot from Hennigan at the promise of disclosing what he knows.
– Jacob Fatu cut a promo following his recent beatdown by The Calling. He said that the attack only woke him up. He has been at war with CONTRA Unit before, and The Calling are no different. He also called out Hennigan as a reminder he still has a shot at the Openweight title when he is back in action.
– Ricky Shane Page & AKIRA vs. Juicy Finau & Lance Anoa’i was booked for July’s Never Say Never as well as the return of Timothy Thatcher.
– Ahead of his MLW title match with Alex Hammerstone at Never Say Never, Alex Kane said fans will find out who has been bankrolling the Bomaye Fight Club that same night.
– After picking up a win in her debut match a few weeks ago against Brittany Blake, the self-proclaimed “international pop star” B3CCA will be in action next week and a poll will determine if she will sing live at Never Say Never.
El Hijo del Vikingo, Psycho Clown & Rey Horus defeated Sam Adonis, John Hennigan & Gringo Loco in a no DQ match
This was 15 minutes of spots and competitive non-stop action. It was understandably hard to keep up with the action, but it was filled with continuous high-flying, impact moves and good heat for the American team representing MLW.
The ongoing AAA feud between Adonis and Clown continued as they started brawling with weapons on the outside. We were told they are partners in an upcoming AAA tag team tournament where the losing pair will compete in a mask vs. hair match with Clown wanting to take Adonis’ hair.
The USA team took control early, triple teaming their opponents one at a time and even bringing in the corrupt referee to put boots to Clown. Hennigan hit Starship Pain, but Horus made the save.
As the heels beat down Clown and Horus, Vikingo saved his teammates by launching himself from one corner to halfway down the ropes, then springboarding to the opposite side to flip onto the top rope, bounce back, and armdrag both Gringo and Hennigan. That’s the best way I can describe it. It was a typical incredible Vikingo spot. The three faces then hit stereo dives onto the fallen heels.
The faces then took control. Horus battered Hennigan with a chair on the outside, Clown hit Adonis with a steel drum in the ring and Vikingo slammed Gringo on the stage. Hennigan was doused in beer at ringside that caused the ring announcer to warn fans to stop.
Adonis was then isolated on the top rope, ate a lung blower and then powerslam from Clown while Horus and Vikingo hit stereo Spanish Flies for a triple nearfall.
Hennigan hit Horus with a splash mountain power bomb for a nearfall, but Horus returned with a top rope springboard DDT. Clown then came in to use chairs to attack Adonis’ groin before he took his belt off to get his shots in on his opponents and the crooked official too.
Vikingo and Gringo Loco were next up to go one-on-one in the ring. Vikingo popped up onto Loco’s shoulders and dropped down into a headscissors. He then leapt from the top rope to cartwheel off the other top rope and hit a hurricanrana. Next, he leapt from the ring, over the top rope to bounce off the middle rope and hit another hurricanrana on the floor.
In the ring, Horus hit his satellite DDT and then launched himself straight out of the ring over the top to the floor onto Hennigan.
The finish of this incredible match came from Clown and Adonis. Adonis missed a senton off the top and Clown hit a Code Red to pick up the pinfall win.
After just two weeks, this seems to be the end of the Super Series. It was a very enjoyable couple of shows with this week being the clear standout in terms of action.
Next week:
MLW Openweight Champion John Hennigan defends against Willie Mack
B3CCA in action
In two weeks:
MLW Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie defends against Delmi Exo
AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo’s run in the Tony Khan companies continues on a special Saturday edition of AEW Rampage.
Vikingo will defend against Dralistico in their first-ever singles match. Vikingo is coming off a non-title win on Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV over Gringo Loco, and this is his second-ever AEW match following his March Dynamite debut against Kenny Omega.
Jon Moxley will take on Christopher Daniels for the second time ever in a rematch from their unseen Jericho Cruise clash from January 2020.
At Mark Briscoe’s request, AEW Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) will team with Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal to take on Tony Nese, Ari Daivari, Josh Woods & Slim J.
Julia Hart will look to extend her long winning streak as she faces Kiera Hogan.
Rampage will also feature promos from TBS Champion Jade Cargill in addition to Matt & Jeff Hardy, FTW Champion Hook and Isiah Kassidy.
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Taped in Pittsburgh, PA. Jim Ross, Excalibur and Tony Schiavone were on commentary.
Jon Moxley defeated Christopher Daniels (8:58)
Moxley started out with a chain wrestling sequence and worked a side headlock. Excalibur tried to explain that Daniels was still a friend of the Elite, even though he was retired from tag team competition by the Young Bucks. Lots of matwork here. Daniels worked a crossface for a bit, until Moxley worked Daniels into the corner and mauled the Fallen Angel with chops. Daniels caught Moxley with a leg lariat and backdropped him to the floor.
Daniels came off the apron and hit Moxley with a clothesline. Moxley came back with a backdrop on the floor, then dropped Daniels on the steel ring steps.
During a split-screen break, Daniels was nearly counted out. He got back in the ring and Moxley hit him with a cutter. Daniels fought out of a superplex attempt and came off the top with a crossbody for a near fall. Daniels caught Moxley with a couple of near falls, but Moxley floored him with the King Kong Lariat. Moxie followed up with a piledriver and the bulldog choke. Daniels escaped the choke and countered the Death Rider with a backdrop.
Daniels came off the middle ropes and drove Moxley down with a flatliner. Daniels hit his Angel’s Wings finisher. Daniels set up a uranage, but Moxley escaped, brought down the hammer and anvil elbows, and locked in the bulldog choke. Daniels fought it as long as he could, but Moxley wrapped him up in a body scissors and Daniels passed out.
After the match, Moxley shook hands with Daniels.
– Lexi Nair tried to interview Jade Cargill, but Mark Sterling did all the talking for Jade. Sterling announced that Taya Valkyrie will be barred from using her version of the Jaded in her TBS championship match with Cargill on Wednesday.
– Hook, The Hardy Boys and Isiah Kassidy came to the ring for a chat. Jeff took the mic and got a huge ovation from the crowd an a “Welcome Back!” chant. Hardy announced his retirement… from screwing up. Jeff said he wants to retire on a high note. Matt took the mic, but Stokely Hathaway interrupted on the big screen. Hathaway wanted details on the “Firm Deletion” match, but Matt was not forthcoming. But this distraction allowed the members of the Firm to attack, and Kassidy took a vicious Ego’s Edge from Ethan Page. Kassidy did a fantastic bump off the move. The Hardys finally ran the Firm off with steel chairs.
– Recap of the Chris Jericho/Adam Page/Saraya/Britt Baker angle from Wednesday. Adam Cole will have an interview segment on Wednesday.
Julia Hart defeated Kiera Hogan (3:10)
Hogan hit a sliding dropkick in the corner for the near fall, but Hart caught Hogan with a hangman’s neckbreaker, kipped up and then hit a standing moonsault. Hart locked in her “Hartless” submission hold (kind of like the Rings of Saturn), and Hogan tapped out.
After the match, Anna Jay ran in and brawled with Hart in the ring. Finally, the gaggle of officials came in to break up the fight.
– Lexi Nair tried to interview Christopher Daniels, but the Blackpool Combat Club interrupted. Moxley, at first, kept Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta from attacking Daniels. But then, Moxley attacked Daniels himself, throwing him into the locker after Daniels said that Moxley still had some honor.
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler), Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal (w/ Sonjay Dutt) defeated Tony Nese, Ari Daivari, Josh Woods & Slim J (w/ Mark Sterling) (8:08 aired)
In a noteworthy moment on commentary, Tony Schiavone said Tony Khan wasn’t happy with how Sammy Guevara won the main event of Dynamite Wednesday. This is another hint the four-way title match for Double or Nothing isn’t dead.
Slim J tried to leapfrog over Cash Wheeler, but Wheeler caught him with a powerslam. Jarrett and Lethal tagged themselves into double-team Slim J. FTR helped Jarrett and Lethal dump all their opponents, and everyone did the Fargo Strut to celebrate.
During a commercial break, miscommunication between Lethal and Wheeler gave the Varsity Athletes the advantage. Mark Briscoe was shown watching from the back. Wheeler caught Daivari with a backdrop suplex and got the tag to Dax Harwood, who cleaned house on the heels.
The match broke down with everyone brawling in the ring. Mark Sterling jumped up on the apron and tried to get involved, was soon pulled into the ring. Miscommunication between Harwood and Jarrett saw Harwood nearly get pinned by Daivari. Jarrett hit Daivari with the Stroke, and allowed Harwood to get the pinfall.
After the match, FTR and Jarrett’s crew continued to argue until Mark Briscoe came from the back to try and make peace.
– Highlights of Orange Cassidy’s many defenses of the AEW International (and before that, All Atlantic) championship. His 20th defense of the championship will come against Bandido next Wednesday on Dynamite.
– New for Dynamite Wednesday: Dax Harwood will face Jeff Jarrett, The Butcher & The Blade will take on Konosuke Takeshita & Kenny Omega, and there will be an interview with Wardlow & Arn Anderson and an announcement from Tony Khan.
El Hijo del Vikingo defeated Dralistico (w/ Rush and Preston Vance) to retain the AAA Mega Championship (11:28)
Dralistico caught Vikingo with a tope con hilo before he even got in the ring. Vikingo missed his own dive onto the floor, making an audible splat when he hit the floor. Clearly he’s listening to the advice he’s getting about picking his spots. Back in the ring, they slowed down and exchanged chops and forearms. Vikingo hit a corkscrew kick, but Dralistico came back with a snap german suplex. Vikingo hit a poisoned rana, and Dralistico came back with a springboard destroyer. This was all in the first two minutes of the match.
After a commercial break, Dralistico hit a moonsault from the middle rope to the floor. Back in the ring, Dralistico hit a springboard into a codebreaker for a near fall. Vikingo and Dralistico fought up to middle rope and exchanged forearms and slaps. The corner camera got some great shots of this action. Vikingo hit a headbutt to send Dralistico to the apron, and Vikingo followed him down to deliver a Canadian Destroyer.
The referee caught Rush and Vance attacking Vikingo on the floor and sent them to the back. Dralistico got a near fall with a rollup. Vikingo hit a spinning kick and came off the top with a double stomp for a near fall. Dralistcio caught Vikingo (who was hung up in the ropes) with a rana that sent them both to the floor.
Back in the ring, Dralistico tried to get the submisison with an armbar, but Vikingo made the ropes. Vikingo hit another spinning kick and drove his knees into Draslistico in the corner. Vikingo hit a 630 senton and got the pinfall. Athletically amazing match.
After the match, the LFI came back to ringside and attacked Vikingo. Vance hit him with a discus lariat and the LFI celebrated their skullduggery.
Final Thoughts:
Jon Moxley and the main event aside, this felt like an episode of Dark.
Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV lineup will feature three champions, two of them in non-title matches.
Ahead of his title defense on Friday’s AEW Rampage against Dralistico, AAA Mega Champion El Hijo Del Vikingo will face Gringo Loco in non-title action.
ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe will defend against Colt Cabana while ROH Women’s Champion Athena will face Heather Reckless in a Proving Ground match.
Fresh off his save of The Elite on Wednesday’s Dynamite, Konosuke Takeshita will face Lee Moriarty.
Penta El Zero Miedo, one half of the ROH Tag Team Champions, will be in singles action against Nick Comoroto while Brian Cage, one third of the ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions, will take on Joey Jett.
After an alliance was formed last week, Action Andretti & Darius Martin will face The Kingdom’s Mike Bennett & Matt Taven.
Other action includes Willow Nightingale, Lance Archer, The Iron Savages and Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver.
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Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman were on the call for this week’s edition of ROH, taped on April 12th in Milwaukee, WI as part of the live AEW Rampage taping.
The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) (w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett) defeated Action Andretti & Darius Martin
The Kingdom isolated Martin to start, taking him down with a series of strikes in the corner. Martin fought out of the corner and leapt for a tag, but Bennett caught him in a spinebuster. Andretti got a blind tag in, and after a series of dives, Andretti hit a springboard moonsault onto the Kingdom to take control. Andretti hit a springboard clothesline to Taven before following it with a bulldog for a nearfall.
Andretti went for a running attack on Taven, but Bennett cut him off and set up a double team on Andretti. The Kingdom went for the Hail Mary, but Martin tossed Taven off the ropes to cut it off. Andretti hit a corkscrew crossbody on Bennett before following up with the split-legged moonsault for a nearfall. Andretti and Martin hit a double team move before setting up stereo dives, but Maria cut off Andretti. Taven sent Andretti off the buckle to the floor, leading to the Kingdom hitting the Proton Pack on Martin for the win.
– In the back, Athena threatened all the “porcelain hussies” around the world to step up and answer her open challenge.
Nightingale was in firm control early on, sending Renegade to the floor. Renegade cut off a Nightingale kick and dropped her on the apron. Renegade laid in the shots to Nightingale in the corner before slapping her in the face. The slap fired Nightingale up as she went on the offensive, laying out Renegade with a spinebuster for a nearfall. Nightingale hit the Pounce, sending Renegade into the ropes.
As Renegade laid in the ropes, her sister Charlette Renegade tried the Killer Bees switch out spot. It only served as a distraction as Robyn Renegade went for a roll-up, but Nightingale reversed the cover to score the win. After the match, Robyn adhered to the Code of Honor, but it was only a trap as Charlette chop blocked Nightingale. The Renegades laid out Nightingale with a Hart Attack and stood tall to end the segment.
– Dasha Fuentes was backstage with Colt Cabana, who will challenge Samoa Joe for the ROH TV Title later tonight. Cabana called this the triad, as he had previously challenged Joe for both the World and Pure Titles in ROH. He didn’t know what the future held for him, but he would capitalize on tonight’s opportunity.
Lance Archer defeated Jah-C
Archer got a jump start, dragging Jah-C out to the ring with him during his entrance. Jah-C got a total of two shots in before Archer crushed him in the corner with running elbows. Archer let Jah-C try to fire up, but Archer dropped him with a reverse DDT. A short-range lariat mercifully ended this one as Archer got the win. Archer dragged Jah-C to the back to continue the beatdown.
Brian Cage (w/Prince Nana) defeated Joey Jett
Jett got some chants as the bell rang, but Cage quickly took control with suplexes. Cage hit a boot in the corner as the crowd chanted for Jett. Jett caught Cage with some strikes on the apron, but Cage cut off an outside-in cutter with a lariat. Jett got more offense in, dropping Cage with a flatliner and a running boot. Cage cut him off and quickly put Jett away with an F-5.
ROH Women’s World Title Proving Ground Match: Athena defeated Heather Reckless
Reckless came out firing with strikes, getting a one count from a standing Sliced Bread. Reckless went for a crossbody off the apron, but Athena caught her and flung her into the barricade. Athena threw Reckless into the barricade twice more before dumping her back in the ring. Reckless caught Athena in a small package for a nearfall, but Athena came back with a series of powerbombs. Athena locked on the Crossface for the quick tapout victory. After the match, Athena drove Reckless’ head into the title belt for good measure.
The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) defeated Cole Karter & Lee Johnson
Silver out-paced Johnson to start, leading to a Dark Order double-team. Karter tagged in but met a similar fate as Reynolds booted him in the corner. Johnson took Reynolds’ attention, which allowed Karter to send Reynolds into the barricade outside. Karter & Johnson worked over Reynolds before Reynolds fought his way to the corner for a tag.
Silver sent Johnson into Karter with a gorilla press slam. Silver powerbombed Johnson into Reynolds’ knees before the Dark Order hit their finishing double-team sequence for the win.
Penta El Zero Miedo (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Nick Comoroto
After some shenanigans, Comoroto overpowered Penta to take control. Penta hit a Slingblade for a nearfall before clubbering on Comoroto in the corner. Comoroto burst out of the corner with a spear for a nearfall. Penta slipped out of Comoroto’s grip and hit a backstabber before following with a double stomp for a nearfall.
Penta snapped Comoroto’s arm back with the Sacrifice armbreaker, but Comoroto fought out of the Package Piledriver and hit an ushigoroshi. Comoroto lost Penta on a gorilla press due to the damage to the arm, leading Penta to hit the Sacrifice on the other arm to score the win.
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Lee Moriarty
This was a standout match between these two, as Takeshita sold Moriarty’s arm work well in the body of this match. I always appreciate when limb work pays off in the closing stretch of a match, and Takeshita and Moriarty made sure to link all the arm work together by the end of the match.
Takeshita and Moriarty traded arm drags before Takeshita laid out Moriarty with leg lariats. Moriarty hit some chops before Takeshita dropped him with a forearm. Moriarty fought out of a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt and hit an arm breaker to send Takeshita to the floor. Moriarty sent Takeshita into the barricades with a double knee rush.
Moriarty targeted Takeshita’s arm with strikes and holds. Moriarty sent Takeshita into the turnbuckles shoulder-first, but Takeshita cut off a third attempt and started fighting back. Takeshita hit the big head-of-steam clothesline before following it up with a brainbuster. Takeshita drilled Moriarty with forearms before hitting a second rope senton for a nearfall. Takeshita went to the top rope, but Moriarty cut him off and hit a superplex.
They had a strike exchange, leading to a Takeshita German suplex and Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Moriarty caught Takeshita with a capture suplex before locking on the Border City Stretch. Takeshita rolled Takeshita up to get out of the hold and got a backslide for a nearfall. Moriarty tried to counter another German with a roll-up, but Takeshita dropped him with a Bastard Driver for a nearfall. Takeshita tried the Chaos Theory, but the arm gave out. Moriarty dropped Takeshita with a lariat, but Takeshita caught him with a German. Takeshita hit a ripcord forearm and the running knee to score the win.
El Hijo del Vikingo defeated Gringo Loco
Vikingo is absolutely incredible. I’m awed every time I see him. He brings that megastar energy as well, as the crowd was red hot for this one. Go out of your way to see this one.
These two started off quick, with Vikingo taking Loco down with a Tijeras off of Loco’s shoulders. Loco handsprung out of another Tijeras, but Vikingo sent him to the floor with a hurricane kick. Vikingo went for a dive to the floor but crashed and burned as Loco moved. Loco hit a dive of his own as the crowd chanted This Is Awesome.
Loco sent Vikingo up and over with a facebuster for a nearfall. Loco went to the top rope but missed a spinning splash. Vikingo sent Loco into the corner and went to the top, but Loco cut him off. Loco went to the top rope and brought VIkingo down with a step-over Spanish Fly. Loco followed with another facebuster for a nearfall. Loco slapped Vikingo in the face, but Vikingo answered with a superkick.
Vikingo hit a spinning back kick and another superkick before hitting a handspring to the ropes. Vikingo hit an misdirection into a springboard Tijeras that sent Loco to the floor. Vikingo hit a step-up dragonrana to Loco on the floor, before hitting an outside-in Phoenix Splash for a nearfall. Loco cut off Vikingo, but Vikingo caught him on a crossbody and hit a spinning uranage. Vikingo sent Loco to the floor and hit a ropewalk tornillo splash to the floor.
Loco caught Vikingo and hit an Alley Oop into the turnbuckle. Loco brought Vikingo to the top rope and hit a gorilla press slam all the way down for an eventual nearfall. Vikingo avoided a charge from Loco and hit a springboard tornado poisonrana before following with the double knees into the corner. Vikingo hit the 630 splash to win.
Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) (w/ Jameson Ryan) defeated Logan Lynch & Ren Jones
Boulder sent Jones into Lynch with a gorilla press, before Bronson dropped Jones into Lynch with a piledriver. Boulder hit a double bodyslam on both opponents before electric chair dropping his own partner into his opponents for the quick victory.
– Gringo Loco talked about how he’s zig-zagged across the world trying to get Tony Khan’s attention. Loco said after the match, Khan raised his hand and invited him back to ROH anytime. Loco may not have won the match, but earning his way into ROH was just as big of a victory.
ROH World Television Title Match: Samoa Joe (c) defeated Colt Cabana
This was Samoa Joe’s ninth title defense.
Cabana used his technique to stay out of Joe’s hands, but Joe caught Cabana with a back elbow to cut him off. Joe hit the body splash and enzuigiri combination for a nearfall. Joe worked on Cabana’s neck and shoulders, hitting a big kick and an elbow drop for a nearfall. Joe drove Cabana into the corner with strikes before setting up the Muscle Buster, but Cabana fought him off and caught Joe with a roll up for two.
Cabana dropped Joe with a big elbow before hitting the Flying Apple. A big splash from Cabana got a nearfall. Cabana went for a moonsault, but Joe got the knees up and quickly locked on the Coquina Clutch for the win.
The following are spoilers for this Saturday’s AEW Rampage and future Ring of Honor TV content, taped in Pittsburgh before and after Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.
The Hardys, Hook, and Isiah Kassidy came out for a promo. Stokely Hathaway interrupted on the video screen and demanded details on The Firm Deletion match. Matt Hardy said he will reveal details when the time is right.
Julia Hart defeated Kiera Hogan
FTR, Jeff Jarrett, and Jay Lethal defeated Ari Daivari, Tony Nese, Slim J, and Josh Woods
El Hijo del Vikingo defeated Dralistico to retain the AAA Mega Championship.
It’s WrestleMania weekend which means GCW’s Collective series of events which means another edition of Joey Janela’s Spring Break.
The seventh edition in the series is live from Los Angeles, California, and features several high-profile, first-time-ever matches.
After he wrestled his first match since October 2021 Thursday at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, former NJPW star Kota Ibushi will return to traditional action as he takes on Janela himself.
Budding superstar and AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo will go one-on-one with “Speedball” Mike Bailey for the first time.
The GCW Tag Team titles will be on the line as the Motor City Machine Guns will defend against Nick Wayne & Jordan Oliver.
The unusual combo of Maki Itoh & Nick Gage (aka Maki Death Kill) will team up against former GCW Tag Team Champions BUSSY (Allie Katch & EFFY)
The PPV will also feature a Grab the Brass Ring DLC (doors, ladders and chairs) match.
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Show Report —
The show started 20 minutes late.
Grab the Brass Ring Ladder match: Blake Christian defeated Gringo Loco, Komander, Jack Cartwheel, Billie Starkz, Shane Mercer, Tony Deppen, Alec Price, & Cole Radrick
I’m sorry, but the name of this match is so funny. A “Grab the Brass Ring” ladder match in a venue where you literally can’t hang anything from the ceiling, so it’s just pinfall or submission? Anyway, the winner earns a title shot. Blake Christian was an unannounced addition.
Gringo and Komander had an early exchange. Mercer pressed Price over his head and tossed him onto a pile of opponents before Gringo whacked him with chairs and hit a jumping destroyer. Christian smashed Radrick with a ladder-assisted senton.
Price used two attempts to stomp Starkz through a door for two. Gringo was the base on a Cartwheel-Deppen Tower of Doom suplex spot. Cartwheel then put Radrick through a door on the floor. Mercer hit Moonsault & Battery off the ladder. Gringo smashed him over the head with unprotected chair shots.
Gringo set Mercer up on a door bridge, but the door broke before he could do anything with it. A second attempt led to Price jumping off a ladder bridge to the floor, Komander doing his rope-walk dive, and Gringo putting Mercer through the door with a senton bomb. Starkz planted Radrick for two.
Starkz hit the Sugoi Driver on Radrick, but Christian came in and stomped her face-first into the mat for the win.
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GCW Tag Team Championships: The East-West Express (Jordan Oliver & Nick Wayne) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) (c) to win the titles
The East-West Express gained the upper hand early on, landing simultaneous dives. Back in the ring, they kept it up with tandem offense until the Guns hit Oliver with a Magic Killer to take control. Shelley and Sabin isolated Oliver in the ring as Wayne was busted open.
Oliver fought back with a running clothesline and tagged in Wayne, who ran wild on Sabin. Shelley cut Wayne off with a facebuster into the turnbuckle pad. Oliver backflipped out of a sunset bomb attempt, but Sabin returned fire with a Death Valley bomb for two.
Shelley and Wayne exchanged finisher attempts until Shelley hit Shell Shocked for two. He immediately transitioned into the Border City Stretch as Sabin put Oliver in a cloverleaf. Wayne cradled Shelley to break the submission, but the Guns maintained control.
Bad timing led to Shelley booting Sabin. Wayne took Shelley out with a dive and Oliver hit Shelley with the Clout Cutter for a good near fall. Both of the East West Express hit Clout Cutters for another near fall. They finally hit a double team Clout Cutter for the win.
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DDT’s Yoshihiko, a human-sized doll (and current Ironman Heavymetalweight champion), came out for a promo. Interviewed by Emil Jay, she said nothing but gestured a lot. She nodded “yes” when asked whether she’d stick around in GCW.
Charles Mason and Parrow interrupted. Mason took Yoshihiko out with a cheap shot and called her “not real.” He took out a knife and was about to cut Yoshihiko open, but Yoshihiko’s handler got in the way. Parrow crushed the handler, and Mason unmasked him as Jimmy Lloyd. Mason made Lloyd look as Parrow was about to spike Yoshihiko, but she fought back and hit Parrow with a German.
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Hijo del Vikingo defeated Mike Bailey
They both had each other scouted at the start. Bailey got a brief advantage after some kicks, but Vikingo returned fire with a rope-rebound kick of his own. He stumbled on a double springboard but recovered to land a tope suicida. Back in the ring, Bailey took out Vikingo’s legs and began to dismantle the left. He twisted over into a modified deathlock.
Vikingo fired back with overhand chops. They had a long multiple-minute chop exchange until Bailey surprised Vikingo with a kick combination. A running shooting star press got two. Vikingo came back with a black hole slam and running knees through the ropes before concluding the run with a shooting star press off the apron.
Back inside the ring, Vikingo hit a springboard Phoenix Splash for two. Bailey avoided a dive and hit a top-rope Asai moonsault. He landed moonsault double knees and a buzzsaw kick for two. Bailey kept up the relentless assault with kicks, but Vikingo avoided the Ultimate Weapon. They botched Vikingo’s imploding dragonrana, but Vikingo hit a stalling German for two.
They traded strikes on the apron. Vikingo avoided moonsault knees and landed a crazy diving destroyer on the ring frame. Bailey countered a top-rope shooting star press and hit Meteor Rain, a top-rope fisherman’s buster, for a near fall. Vikingo fought out of the Flamingo Driver.
After jockeying for position on the top rope, Vikingo hit an avalanche spinning side slam followed by the 630 splash for the win.
Allie and Itoh had a cute-off at the start. Gage and Effy tagged in, with Gage taking control after a running elbow drop. BUSSY cut Gage off and isolated him with double teams. Gage fought off both opponents, and a stalling vertical suplex allowed him to tag in Itoh.
Itoh let us know that she’s the cutest in the world before hitting a swinging DDT on Effy for two. Gage produced a pizza cutter, but Allie cut him off and wrapped a chair around his head. Effy and Allie both used the pizza cutter on Itoh until Gage ran in for the save. Itoh got her payback with the pizza cutter as Gage carved up Effy.
Gage and Allie both took out an opponent, leading to them exchanging forearms in the ring. Gage then hit the Chokebreaker, but Effy broke up the pin. Itoh whacked Effy with a chair, but Effy gained control of the chair and smashed it over Gage’s head. Itoh chokeslammed Effy over some propped-up chairs, but Allie broke up the pin attempt.
Allie made Itoh cry, then mocked her. Effy rolled Itoh up for two. Gage made it back in as Itoh hit a diving DDT and Gage hit almost like a One Winged Angel for the simultaneous pinfall victory.
– Gage was about to cut a promo post-match, but Matt Cardona showed up with Steph De Lander and attacked Gage with a chair. He complained about not being booked on WrestleMania. GCW World Champion Masha Slamovich then showed up and faced off with De Lander, leading to an impromptu GCW World Championship match.
GCW World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) defeated Steph De Lander
De Lander somehow maintained control throughout pretty much the entire match despite not being in wrestling gear and wrestling the promotion’s world champion. She eventually chokeslammed Slamovich through chairs for two. Slamovich came back with an air raid crash through a door. She went for the White Knight Driver, but Cardona ran in and broke it up.
Cardona was about to hit Slamovich with a chair, but Gage and Itoh ran out for the save. Slamovich locked on the sleeper for the win.
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Kota Ibushi defeated Joey Janela
Neither man took control for a few minutes. Janela tried to play some mind games to get into Ibushi’s head. He surprised Ibushi with a rolling elbow and laid in chops in the corner, but Ibushi returned fire with a mid kick. Janela cut him off and beat him down until Ibushi popped up with a hurricnrana. Ibushi then landed an Orihara moonsault to the floor.
Ibushi kept up the attack with an arm-trap German, He climbed the ropes again, but Janela popped up and brought Ibushi crashing down with a superplex. They fought on the apron, where Janela charged at Ibushi — but Ibushi moved out of the way, sending Janela face-first into the ring post. Janela was busted open.
Janela caught a running attack from Ibushi and turned it into an apron DDT. He set up a structure of doors and chairs on the outside. They fought each other around the turnbuckles, leading to Ibushi hitting a crazy German suplex from the ring to the floor through the door structure. It wasn’t perfect, but it was definitely insane.
Back inside the ring, Janela hit two Death Valley drivers, but Ibushi kicked out at one. They traded forearms until Ibushi finally stopped the exchange with a suplex. Janela returned fire with a German, but Ibushi hit one of his own. Simultaneous clothesline attempts led to the double down.
Ibushi laid in a flurry of strikes, his classic strike combination. Janela countered a standing moonsault and landed a lariat followed by a package piledriver for two. He laid in repeated thrust kicks, but Ibushi cut him off with a running knee before hitting the Kamigoye for the win.
– After the match, Janela talked about his career and what led to this point. He thanked Tony Khan before welcoming Ibushi back to the business of pro wrestling. They shook hands and posed before signing off.
Ring of Honor returns to pay-per-view on a busy Friday night in pro wrestling with Supercard of Honor.
ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli will defend the title against past friend and rival Eddie Kingston. The two have had a history dating back to 2004 and will meet in singles action for the first time since 2011.
After their recent star-making performances on AEW Dynamite, AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo will defend against Komander while NJPW legend Hiroshi Tanahashi will answer the challenge of Daniel Garcia.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena defends against Yuka Sakazaki, ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta will defend against NJPW star Katsuyori Shibata, ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe defends against Mark Briscoe, and ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Embassy defend against AR Fox, Blake Christian & Metalik.
The ROH Tag Team titles will find a new home as The Kingdom, Lucha Brothers, Top Flight, Aussie Open and Rush & Dralistico will battle in a ladder match for the vacant titles.
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**Zero Hour**
Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman welcomed us to the Galen Center on the campus of USC for the Zero Hour pre-show before throwing to our first match of the night.
Jeff Cobb defeated Tracy Williams
Both men had on black armbands with Jay Briscoe’s name printed. After starting with some grappling, Cobb stuffed a headlock takeover attempt and sent Williams flying with a Spin Cycle side suplex. Cobb won a strike battle with a palm thrust to the neck before hitting a stalling suplex for a nearfall. Williams avoided a standing moonsault and went for a facelock, but Cobb powered up to his feet. Williams took Cobb down with a side suplex. Cobb went after Williams in the corner, but Williams caught Cobb with a DDT for a nearfall.
Cobb lifted Williams up, but Williams got a small package for another nearfall. Cobb ducked a set of lariats before hitting a German suplex. Williams went for a set of strikes before Cobb suddenly finished proceedings with a Tour of the Islands.
– Riccaboni and Coleman announce that this show will be done in honor of the late Jay Briscoe before throwing to a hype video for the Shibata/Yuta Pure Title match.
– Bobby Cruise welcomed the third commentator for the night, former ROH World Champion Nigel McGuinness.
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Willie Mack
Mack and Takeshita hammered each other with shoulder blocks, with Mack winning the exchange with a punch. Takeshita gained a head of steam before laying out Mack with a flying clothesline. Takeshita looked to follow up with a dive to the floor, but Mack evaded it and laid out Takeshita with a lariat. Back in the ring, the men traded headscissors, with Takeshita sending Mack to the floor. Takeshita hit a senton to the floor and sent Mack into the ring, where Mack answered with a senton to the floor of his own.
Back in the ring, Takeshita fought up from a chinlock but got taken down by a Mack lariat. Mack hit a jumping Shining Wizard and followed with a Samoan Drop. Mack nipped up and hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Takeshita fired up with elbows, but Mack dropped him with a dropkick. Mack went to follow up, but Takeshita dropped him with a lariat for a two count.
Takeshita set up for the Blue Thunder Bomb, but Mack fought out and went for a Stunner. Takeshita fought out, but Mack hit two Stunners. Takeshita answered with a jumping knee and a Stunner of his own, but Mack got the last word in the exchange with a Shining Wizard.
The crowd chanted This Is Awesome as both men got up. Mack hit an exploder suplex into the corner before smashing Takeshita with a cannonball. Mack went to the top for a frog splash, but Takeshita moved out of the way. Takeshita hit the Blue Thunder Bomb before scoring the win with the running knee strike.
– In the middle of that match, it was announced that Komander vs. El Hijo Del Vikingo would be the opener.
– We got a hype video for the Women’s World Title match between Athena and Yuka Sakazaki.
Willow Nightingale defeated Miranda Alize
Alize smacked away Nightingale’s hand for the Code of Honor, which Nightingale responded to by tossing Alize around with suplexes. Alize bailed out of the ring, forcing Nightingale to chase her before catching her with a spike rana. Nightingale fought back with chops before Alize clawed at her eyes to get away. Alize hit a face wash boot and a shotgun dropkick before scoring a nearfall with a butterfly suplex.
Nightingale cartwheeled out of the way of an Alize attack and went on offense, hitting a spinebuster for a nearfall. Alize hit a ripcord knee and a neckbreaker for a nearfall. Alize hit a low dropkick and a DDT for another nearfall, which she quickly followed with an armbar. Nightingale rolled her up to get out of the hold before hitting a Spicolli Driver for a two count.
Alize ducked a cannonball and spun Nightingale around into a cutter. Alize set up for the Drive By knee, but Willow ducked it and hit a pounce. Nightingale dropped the straps and hit the Babe With The Powerbomb for the win.
– We got a hype video for the Reach For The Sky ladder match, the Mark Briscoe/Samoa Joe Television Title match, and the Eddie Kingston/Claudio Castagnoli World Title match.
Stu Grayson (w/Evil Uno) defeated Slim J (w/Ari Daivari & Smart Mark Sterling)
It’s not a new-era ROH show until the Trustbusters show up. That’s not a good thing. Slim J is good though, and this was a fine showcase for the returning Grayson.
Grayson overpowered Slim J to start, sending him flying with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. After convening with his team on the outside, Slim J hit a pair of headscissors, but Grayson hit one of his own. Grayson hit an inside-out senton to Slim J on the apron. Sterling and Daivari ran distraction, allowing Slim J to hit a hurricane kick off the top rope before ripping off his pricey t-shirt.
Slim J hit a springboard reverse DDT for a two count. Slim J laid in strikes that only fired up Grayson, leading to a Grayson offensive flurry. Grayson hit a springboard twisting senton for a two count. Slim J caught Grayson in a sleeper hold, but Grayson hit a pop-up powerslam for a nearfall. Slim J fought out of a backbreaker and hit a standing Sliced Bread for a nearfall.
Slim J went to the top rope and missed a high-arcing moonsault. Sterling got involved again, leading to Evil Uno taking him and Daivari out. Grayson got his hands on Slim J and finally hit the Nightfall to score the win.
– After the match, former ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions Vincent and Dutch of the Righteous made their way to the stage and menaced the Dark Order team.
**Main Card**
– Riccaboni, Coleman, & McGuinness welcomed us to the main card before introducing our first match.
AAA Mega Title Match: El Hijo del Vikingo defeated Komander to retain
An absolutely dazzling affair. The raw athleticism on display was unreal. You would think these two came from a different planet with the moves they pulled off. I cannot recommend this match enough, as this was a fantastic way to kick off Supercard of Honor.
We got a pop at the bell as the crowd was red hot for this match. Komander caught Vikingo by the legs and went for a trap pinfall that only got a two count. Vikingo responded by trapping Komander in a surfboard stretch that Komander got out of. They got their legs tied up, eventually ending up in a headstand. They slapped each other out of it before Vikingo sent Komander to the floor. Vikingo hit a Fosbury Flop and landed with Komander in a reverse DDT position, but Komander reversed position. They do-si-do’ed position before Vikingo sent Komander in the ring.
Komander sent Vikingo to the floor and hit a top rope dive. He hit a senton to the floor before pulling out a table. Komander hit a 450 splash to Vikingo on the floor. Back in the ring, Vikingo got back in control, hitting an imploding hurricanrana and a hurricane kick. Vikingo hit a meteora that sent Komander to the floor. Komander got his knees up on a Shooting Star Press from the apron. Komander went for a rope-walk shooting star, but Vikingo got his feet up.
Vikingo hit a snap Frankensteiner for a nearfall before following up with a spinning uranage. Vikingo went for a double jump springboard hurricanrana, but Komander caught him with a powerbomb for a nearfall. Komander went to the top, but Vikingo shoved him down to the floor. Vikingo stood on the top of the ringpost, then hit a springboard imploding 450 to Komander on the floor. This is madness!
Vikingo sent Komander in the ring and hit a outside-in Phoenix Splash for a nearfall. They rolled to the apron, where they engaged in a strike battle. Komander rolled up onto Vikingo’s shoulder before hitting a Destroyer on the apron. Komander went to the turnbuckle on the far-side of the ring and hit his rope-walk soaring dive to a massive pop. Back in the ring, Komander hit the rope-walk Shooting Star Press successfully, but only got a nearfall.
Komander went back to the well, but Vikingo knocked him down onto the ropes. Vikingo went to the top, but Komander walked the ropes to him. Vikingo then caught Komander off the top rope with a Canadian Destroyer that sent Komander to the table on the floor. Vikingo hit a step-up 630 to Komander on the table that didn’t break the table, but was no less spectacular.
Vikingo went to the top rope and missed the 630 Splash into the ring. Komander went to the top rope and hit a twisting Phoenix Splash, but Vikingo grabbed the rope on the cover. Komander took Vikingo to the top rope, but Vikingo slammed him down with the twisting uranage off the top. Vikingo hit a Meteora in the corner before crushing Komander with a 630 to win this incredible match.
ROH World Six Man Tag Team Title Match: The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Kaun) (w/Prince Nana) defeated AR Fox, Blake Christian & Metalik to retain
This match had a solid story, with the challengers trying to blitz the champions before they got their feet under them. Eventually, the Embassy were able to keep one guy isolated long enough to win. There was no way they could match the spectacle that the opener was, but this was a solid trios match nonetheless.
The challengers brought the fight to the champions, sending them to the floor before hitting a triple dive to the floor. Metalik tried to follow with a crossbody onto Liona, but Liona caught him and sent him down with a twisting senton. The champions isolated Metalik, who hit a back elbow to tag out to Fox. Fox hit a set of cutters on Cage, before taking out Kaun with a cutter. Liona tried to cut him off, but Fox ducked his charge and hit dives onto Kaun and Cage. Fox hit a top rope senton onto Cage for a nearfall.
Cage caught Fox on a dive and hit an F-5 before tagging out to Liona. Fox got the tag out to Christian, who took out Kaun on the apron before hitting a Fosbury Flop to Liona on the floor. Metalik hit a splash, but Liona kicked out before the ref started counting. The Embassy isolated Christian, hitting a top rope backbreaker and an apron splash on him. Fox cut off Cage and hit a powerbomb, leading to a flurry of offense on Cage. This broke down into a pier 6 brawl, ending with Metalik hitting a DDT on Liona.
Cage lined up a powerbomb, but Christian walked on Kaun’s back to hit a Destroyer on Cage. Kaun and Liona took out Christian with a facebuster. Metalik and Cage were left alone in the ring, with Cage hitting the Drillclaw to win the match and retain the titles.
ROH Women’s World Title Match: Athena defeated Yuka Sakazaki to retain
This wasn’t as good as Athena’s title defenses on Ring of Honor television as it lacked the hyper-intensity that those matches had, but this was still a quality title match. Athena has become one of the most compelling women’s wrestlers in America just from the viciousness of her offense.
Athena charged Sakazaki to start, but the opening challenge ended in a stalemate. Sakazaki picked up steam, hitting a headscissors that sent Athena to the floor before following it with a step-up cannonball to the floor. Athena tried bailing through the crowd, but Sakazaki caught up with her and sent her back in the ring. Athena sidestepped a missile dropkick and brought Sakazaki down with a Black Hole Slam.
Athena caught Sakazaki’s leg on a corner charge and drove her down to the mat by the neck. Sakazaki hit a jawbreaker and followed with a sliding lariat for a nearfall. Sakazaki hit an up kick in the corner before Athena caught her on a headscissors attempt. Athena hit a trio of powerbombs for a nearfall. Athena hit the double-knee facebuster for a nearfall as the crowd chanted for Sakazaki. Sakazaki rolled to the apron where Athena dropkicked her to the floor.
Athena hit a wheelbarrow suplex to Sakazaki on the floor. She tried to follow with a dropkick into the barricade, but Sakazaki moved. Sakazaki hit a big slam on the floor before sending Athena into the ring steps. Sakazaki got on the stage and took a long run before hitting Athena with a running Thesz Press. Back in the ring, Sakazaki hit a splash from the top rope for a nearfall.
Sakazaki hit a quintet of forearms before setting up her finish, but Athena drilled her with a forearm of her own. Sakazaki grabbed the ropes to break the pin. Athena went to the top for the O-Face, but Sakazaki met her on the top and hit a superplex. Sakazaki hit her spinning facebuster finish – think Dalton Castle’s Bang-a-rang but inverted – but Athena kicked out. Sakazaki went for a top-rope splash again, but Athena sent the referee into the ropes and took Sakazaki down with an elevated O-Face for the win.
ROH World Television Title Match: Samoa Joe defeated Mark Briscoe to retain
A stunning result here to a really good, hard-hitting match.
Joe bailed out of the ring to start, letting the emotion of the moment simmer down before locking up with Briscoe. Briscoe peppered Joe with Redneck Kung Fu strikes before engaging in a chop battle that Briscoe won with a chop to the neck. Briscoe hit the Spicolli Driver and went for the Froggy Bow, but Joe rolled out of the ring. Briscoe charged Joe on the floor, but Joe took Briscoe down with a suplex to the floor.
Back in the ring, Joe hammered Briscoe with strikes and dropped him with a back elbow. Joe kept control with heavy strikes, but Briscoe fired up after Joe started laying in the punches. Joe ducked a corner charge and hit the body block/enzuigiri combination to send Briscoe to the floor. Briscoe came back in the ring only for Joe to send him back to the floor and hit the Elbow Suicida.
Joe grabbed a chair, but Briscoe cut him off with a baseball slide. Briscoe used the chair to hit a step-up dive over the top before pulling a table out from under the ring. Hopefully it wasn’t the same table that Vikingo used. Briscoe hit a running blockbuster off the apron through the table. Back in the ring, Briscoe laid in the chops on Joe, but Joe responded with elbows and a headbutt. Briscoe took Joe down with a forearm off the ropes.
As both men recovered, Ian Riccaboni announced that Supercard of Honor broke the all-time ROH gate record in Southern California. I don’t think there’s much competition there, but a record is a record. Briscoe crawled to the corner for a tag, but instead fired himself up and hit a uranage for a nearfall. Joe fought out of a Jay Driller attempt and hit the snap powerslam for a nearfall. Joe hit a powerbomb, and when Briscoe kicked out, transitioned into the ST-Joe. When Briscoe started crawling to the ropes, Joe transitioned to a crossface, but Briscoe got to the ropes regardless.
Briscoe fired up, fighting through a high-angle back suplex, but Joe landed a big lariat for a nearfall. Joe’s nose was busted as he set up the Muscle Buster, but Briscoe fought off and hit a boot that sent Joe to the mat. Briscoe went to the top and hit the Froggy Bow, but only got a close nearfall. Briscoe called for the Jay Driller, but Joe powered out again. Joe countered the Cut-Throat Driver and locked in the Coquina Clutch. He sent Briscoe up and over with a sleeper suplex before locking in the Clutch again, forcing Briscoe to pass out.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Daniel Garcia
This was a good match. I realize saying that about a Tanahashi singles match is like saying the grass is green, but good is about all this match was. The work was smart, but the crowd still felt down from the Briscoe loss. They did get up for Tanahashi’s signature offense.
Garcia is entering this match without any Jericho Appreciation Society backup. Tanahashi is entering this one without his front teeth, as his veneers broke while eating an apple yesterday. Garcia grabbed a hold of Tanahashi’s hair and laid in shots to Tanahashi’s back. Tanahashi came back with a back elbow and a crossbody off the second rope. Tanahashi beat Garcia around the ring, but Garcia took control after a drop toe hold onto the stairs.
Garcia worked over Tanahashi’s knee before playing his own air guitar to boos. Garcia does more work on Tanahashi’s leg before getting distracted by the crowds chant of You’re A Wrestler. Garcia channels Shinsuke Nakamura by hitting Tanahashi with the good vibrations boot in the corner. He hit the Nakamura pose on the ropes to massive heat as Ian Riccaboni promoted a very special announcement from Tony Khan this Wednesday on Dynamite. Hmm.
Tanahashi fought back and hit the second-rope senton for a nearfall. Garcia cut off Tanahashi and hit a scissors kick for a nearfall. Tanahashi and Garcia engaged in a strike battle that became a boot-to-the-knee battle that Garcia won. Garcia went for a Sharpshooter, but Tanahashi rolled him up for a nearfall. Tanahashi caught Garcia’s boot and hit a Dragon Screw before locking on the Texas Cloverleaf.
Garcia reached the ropes and dropped Tanahashi with a kneebreaker and a German suplex. Garcia hit the Bryan Danielson running knee for a nearfall. Garcia went for a piledriver, but Tanahashi maneuvered into the Twist and Shout before landing the Slingblade for a nearfall. Tanahashi went to the top rope and hit the High Fly Flow for the win. Garcia denied Tanahashi a handshake after the match.
Reach For The Sky Ladder Match for ROH World Tag Team Titles: The Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) defeated Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin), The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett), Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis), & La Faccion Ingobernable (Dralistico & Rush) to win the titles
Absolute mayhem from start to finish.
You will have to forgive me if I don’t catch every spot in this one folks. LFI and the Kingdom stay in the ring, clearing out the rest of the teams before the Kingdom dropped LFI and sent them to the floor. Top Flight avoided a ladder attack and dropkicked the ladder into both members of the Kingdom. LFI tied up Top Flight in the corner, allowing Rush to crush them with a ladder-assisted Bull’s Horns. Aussie Open caught Dralistico with the Dental Plan before dropping Rush with the tandem cutter.
The Lucha Brothers come in and take out Aussie Open with a wheelbarrow splash on top of those two and a ladder. We got a run of dives, peaking with the Kingdom taking out Darius Martin with an inside-out Doomsday Device. LFI isolated Penta and sent him into the post as the Kingdom set up a massive pile of tables on the floor. Aussie Open laid out the Kingdom with dual piledrivers. They sandwiched a Martin brother with two ladders on the floor.
Aussie Open set up the ladder, but the Lucha Brothers cut them off. The Kingdom was busted open on the stage. LFI took out the Lucha Brothers, but the Kingdom fought back in. Bennett and Rush climbed the ladder, but climbed down and moved the ladder to fight to a big pop from the crowd. Rush wiped Bennett’s blood on his chest before engaging in a chop battle. Rush won it but got met with a King of the King from Taven. Dralistico sent Taven into a ladder in the corner with a suplex.
Darius Martin cut off Dralistico before catapulting Dante Martin to the top. They took out Rush with a dropkick to a chair, but Aussie Open took out Top Flight by sending them into a ladder. Aussie Open send both Lucha Brothers into ladders with a beel throw. Dante Martin dropkicked Fletcher in the ankles to knock him off the ladder. Darius Martin hit a Spanish Fly off a ladder bridge to Matt Taven. Dante Martin took out Bennett with a sunset flip powerbomb, but got dropped by Aussie Open with the Coriolis. Aussie Open took out Darius Martin with a tandem spinebuster onto a ladder bridge on the floor.
Dralistico sent Fletcher off the apron into the announce table with a rana. The Kingdom double-teamed Dralistico, with Taven sending Dralistico through a ladder with a splash. Rush sent Davis into a ladder with a German suplex off the apron. Jose The Assistant and Alex Abrahantes got into fisticuffs. Dante Martin tried fighting off both Lucha Brothers, but Penta sent Dante off of a ladder bridge through four tables with a Canadian Destroyer. The Kingdom tried fighting off Fenix, but Fenix fought them off and grabbed the titles to win.
After the match, Mark Briscoe and FTR raised the arms of the Lucha Brothers.
ROH Pure Title Match: Katsuyori Shibata defeated Wheeler Yuta (w/ Jon Moxley) to win the title
Yuta got himself in way over his head. On ROH TV, he had been toying around with his opponents, showing his proficiency in the Pure style. He got a big head and made a challenge to man much better than him and found out he made a massive mistake. This was a great culmination of Yuta’s work over the past month of work in Ring of Honor. Seeing Shibata in the ring, holding a Ring of Honor Championship is surreal.
Pat Buck, Madison Rayne, and Christopher Daniels were the judges.
Seeing Shibata in the ring is still surreal after all of these years. Moxley made his way to the back during the opening exchanges. Shibata won the early exchanges, almost scoring with the Penalty Kick before Yuta moved. Shibata was in firm control early on, tying Yuta up in a figure four leglock. Yuta tried hard to escape the hold, but was forced to use his first rope break. Yuta rarely used his rope breaks in his television defenses of the title, so this is signaling a big step up in competition for the champion.
Shibata got Yuta in position and laid in the hammer-and-anvil elbows. McGuinness reminisced about the time “Clam Digger Danielson” beat him for the Pure Title with those strikes. Yuta escaped a figure four head lock by forcing Shibata on his shoulders for a pin cover. Yuta took hold of Shibata’s arm and began working on it, but Shibata worked his way to his feet and stomped Yuta in the chest. Yuta laid in the chops to Shibata, who didn’t sell it and hit a palm strike that sent Yuta to the corner.
Yuta trapped the referee and hit a low blow behind the referee’s back. The referee did see Yuta hit Shibata with a closed fist, which earned a warning. Yuta worked over Shibata and taunted him with boots. Yuta tried chopping Shibata again, but Shibata walked into them and drilled Yuta with an elbow. Shibata hit the face wash before landing the picture-perfect basement dropkick. A suplex landed for a nearfall.
Yuta used his second rope break as Shibata pulled him off the ropes. Shibata booted Yuta in the chest repeatedly, with Yuta spitting in his face. Yuta hit a set of strikes and went for the Seatbelt pin cover, but Shibata cut it off. Yuta went for the rebound suplex, but Shibata slapped him in the face and locked him in the sleeper choke. Yuta went down, leading to Shibata hitting the Penalty Kick to win the match and the Pure Title. After the match, Yuta blew off the Code of Honor and left to boos.
– The announcers ran down the card for Dynamite this week, including the additions of Sammy Guevara vs. Komander and Hook vs. Ethan Page for the FTW Title. They also announced that Athena would defend the ROH Women’s World Title against Miyu Yamashita on ROH TV this Thursday.
ROH World Title Match: Claudio Castagnoli defeated Eddie Kingston to retain
A match with intensity and fire that built up to an excellent crescendo. Kingston once again came up short against Castagnoli, but he proved that the talent gap between the two wasn’t as steep as Castagnoli believed. With the next set of Ring of Honor tapings coming in New York, I wouldn’t be surprised if a rematch came about, replaying the decade-old Chikara story that is so foundational to this feud. An excellent, emotionally charged main event to this show.
Kingston tackled Castagnoli to start, laying in the strikes to start. Castagnoli sent Kingston out of the ring with a set of uppercuts. Kingston grabbed a chair, but let the referee take it out of the ring. Castagnoli hit a side suplex, but Kingston came back with chops and a headlock. Kingston went after Castagnoli’s knee, sending him into a split. Castagnoli bailed to the floor to stop the attack. Kingston went for a dive, but Castagnoli cut him off with an uppercut in the ropes.
Kingston and Castagnoli brawled in the ropes, with Castagnoli tying Kingston up and hitting open hand slaps to Kingston. He dragged Kingston over the second rope to the floor with a suplex. Castagnoli hit a double stomp to Kingston before following it with a diving headbutt for a nearfall. Kingston and Castagnoli exchanged palm strikes, with Castagnoli cutting it off to spin Kingston with the Giant Swing. He only got three rotations, as Kingston’s work on the knee forced Castagnoli to stop.
Castagnoli hit a running uppercut in the corner and sent Kingston to the top rope. Kingston threw more palm strikes, with Castagnoli answering with a dropkick to Kingston seated on the top rope. Castagnoli went to the top and brought Kingston with him before bringing him down with a Superplex that scored a nearfall. Castagnoli laid in the boots before double stomping Kingston in the face, but Kingston cut off a cover attempt by clawing Castagnoli in the face.
Kingston hit an enzuigiri that sent Castagnoli to the floor, and quickly followed with a dive. Kingston hit an exploder suplex on the floor and rolled back in the ring. Castagnoli followed and was met with a bulldog off the second rope for a nearfall. Kingston tried for a side suplex, but Castagnoli didn’t go and clubbed at him with strikes. Castagnoli went for a big uppercut, but Kingston hooked him in the Stretch Plum.
Castagnoli got to the ropes, so Kingston hit the Backdrop Driver for a nearfall. Castagnoli blasted Kingston with elbows and hit a German suplex. We had a forearm battle. Kingston had a backfist blocked, and Castagnoli hit a heavy lariat for a nearfall. Castagnoli laid in the knees to Kingston’s midsection, setting up the Ricola Bomb. But Kingston slipped out and hit the Backfist for a tight nearfall.
Castagnoli rolled to the apron, where Kingston tried to hit an Exploder off the apron. But Castagnoli got Kingston in a gutwrench and suplexed him off of the apron to the floor. Castagnoli grabbed the barricade and threw it into Kingston’s back multiple times. Castagnoli dumped Kingston’s limp body into the ring and called for the running uppercut. He hit it clean, but Kingston kicked out at two. Castagnoli talked trash and slapped Kingston, but Kingston answered back with two Backfists.
Castagnoli hit the Neutralizer, but Kingston kicked out at one. Castagnoli rebounded with a massive uppercut, but Kingston kicked out again. Castagnoli laid in heavy uppercuts and went for the Ricola Bomb, but Kingston rolled through into a pin. Castagnoli rolled into a pin of his own to steal the win and retain the title.
After the match, Wheeler Yuta came to the ring to help Castagnoli up. They cornered Kingston before Katsuyori Shibata made his way to the ring to even the odds. They had a tense staredown before Castagnoli and Yuta left the ring. Kingston grabbed the mic and swore a lot before closing the show by saying that he wasn’t going anywhere, and that he would still be coming for Castagnoli and the title.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including AEW Dynamite from last night with that amazing Vikingo vs. Kenny Omega main event, AEW expanding house shows, Steve Austin talks WrestleMania, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including AEW Forbidden Door ticket sales, Alexa Bliss update, should AEW bring back CM Punk, Jamie Hayter, New Japan Cup finale and Sakura Genesis line-up, full reviews of AEW and NXT with that amazing Vikingo vs. Kenny Omega match, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Forbidden Door likely to sell out quickly, Alexa Bliss eliminated from Masked Singer and gets treatment for skin cancer
The dream match a lot of fans (including myself) have been waiting for finally took place! Join Denise Salcedo on Speak Now Pro Wrestling as she breaks down the March 22, 2023 episode of AEW Dynamite.
Wrestling Observer Live with Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about.
Topics include a full recap of NXT, which was full of wackiness two weeks away from Stand & Deliver. Plus a preview of tonight’s AEW Dynamite on TBS, Kenny Omega says Vikingo could “change the way people think about wrestling,” Hiroshi Tanahashi replaces Hiromu Takahashi against Speedball Mike Bailey, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Hijo del Vikingo has commented on his upcoming AEW debut against Kenny Omega.
The current AAA Mega Champion spoke through a translator to SI.com for an interview released on Tuesday. He admitted to being nervous about his match on Dynamite but also excited to finally be wrestling Omega.
“I’m excited to be on television on Dynamite and show my skills to the world,” says Vikingo, speaking through a translator. “I’ve wanted this fight for so long. It is an honor to come to AEW and wrestle Kenny.”
“I am very nervous,” he continued. “I am coming to Kenny’s home in AEW. I am nervous to represent Mexico. But those nerves won’t get in front of me. It will only add to my excitement and fire.”
Vikingo teased debuting new moves on Wednesday as well.
“I have a lot of special moves that I want the world to see,” says Vikingo. “Some I’ve already mastered, and I want to show those off, and I want to show off some moves that people have never seen before.”
“I am fighting for all the luchadores that came before me,” he continued. “I am going to bring that Aztec fighting spirit. This is going to be a fight like you’ve never seen before.”
Vikingo was scheduled to challenge Omega for the AAA Mega Championship at Triplemanía Regia II on December 4, 2021. However, Omega ended up vacating the title and pulling out from the match due to an accumulation of injuries that would put him on the shelf until August 2022.
Vikingo won several categories in the 2022 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards. He was voted Mexico MVP for the second year in a row, Best High Flyer, and Non-Heavyweight MVP.
AEW Dynamite, Wednesday, March 22 —
AEW Tag Team Championship: The Gunns (Colten Gunn & Austin Gunn) defend against Top Flight (Darius Martin & Dante Martin)
Kenny Omega vs. El Hijo del Vikingo
Jon Moxley vs. Stu Grayson
Toni Storm vs. Skye Blue
No DQ match: Hook vs. Stokely Hathaway
Kip Sabian, The Butcher & The Blade vs. Sting, Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy
