Two Continental Classic matches, as well as Mina Shirakawa, is set for Saturday.
Tony Khan announced on social media that Shirakawa will take on veteran Emi Sakura on Saturday’s live Collision in Columbus, Ohio as part of GalaxyCon.
“2 top international stars will collide in Columbus 1-on-1 when Emi Sakura fights Mina Shirakawa days before her Winter Is Coming World Title match!,” Khan wrote.
2 top international stars will collide in Columbus 1-on-1 when Emi Sakura fights Mina Shirakawa days before her Winter Is Coming World Title match! pic.twitter.com/aO9lUhP0Q4
Shirakawa has been feuding with former longtime friend Mariah May after May attempted to attack Shirakawa during their champagne celebration at Full Gear last month. Shirakawa caught May before she could do anything and, in a rage, speared May off the entrance stage to the floor. May retaliated last week, jumping Shirakawa during a sit-down interview segment. They will face off at AEW Dynamite Winter is Coming on December 11 for May’s AEW Women’s Championship.
In addition, Khan announced two Contintental Classic matches for Saturday. In a Blue League match, Daniel Garcia will meet Mark Briscoe. In a Gold League match, Darby Allin will face Komander.
Here is the updated card for AEW Collision:
Continental Classic Gold League: Darby Allin vs. Komander
Continental Classic Blue League: Daniel Garcia vs. Mark Briscoe
Wrestle Dynasty Women’s Invitational tournament: Willow Nightingale vs. Serena Deeb
The new issue of the Observer is on the site today. Our lead story is the most detailed coverage of the new AEW TV deal, an analysis of what it means for business, profits losses, what the deal does and doesn’t cover, FOX rumors and analysis and much more. We also have a major history piece looking at the 2024 Hall of Fame and the candidates and their credentials.
Value of the deal for each specific year
What the deal does and doesn’t cover
Update on the PPV business
What AEW is losing in the deal
How PPV will be distributed
Quotes from Tony Khan and WBD
MAX and cable distribution
Breaking down expenses, revenue, profits and losses and the financial future of AEW
Analysis of the potential FOX deal
A look at the first NXT show on CW, business, ratings and how the segments did
Update on Bad Blood and WrestleDream, including interest levels for both shows
A look at the 2024 Hall of Fame voting, candidates and favorites in each category
A rundown of the leading candidates, some of who you would know and wouldn’t.
New Japan building King of Pro Wrestling–What business lesson was reinforced by CMLL Noche de Campeones this past week
The most detailed look at the ratings for all the major television shows, competition, comparisons with a year ago, placings and segment-by-segment
Woman wrestling star retiring to become a referee
CMLL head gives stats on how many fans come to Arena Mexico from other countries
What major celebrity was at Shinjuku Face for a pro wrestling show
Hall of Famer having 40th anniversary show
Major Japanese celebrity does two matches this week
Notes on the deaths of Pete Rose and Kris Kristofferson and both men’s connections to pro wrestling
Jimmy Hart prior to wrestling
AEW and WWE current injury rates
What percentage of fans watch shows live vs DVR
AEW video game notes
Major star opening up a gym for post-wrestling business
International TV ratings
Injury stats regarding PowerSlap
What famous boxer turned down a two fight series with Conor Mcregor
How many people watched the Mr. McMahon documentary and an approximation of how it would compare to a regular WWE TV show
Martha Hart reacts to the documentary
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue
The company posted a video featuring Shawn Michaels and Triple H spoofing their ‘State of the Union’ promo from 1997 while hyping NXT, replacing profanity with modern-day lingo.
WWE posted a vlog featuring NXT stars that was taped ahead of the brand’s premiere on The CW.
Regarding WWE stars’ travel amid the arrival of Hurricane Milton in Florida, Dave Meltzer wrote on X: “With the Orlando airport being shut down, NXT talent at this point are under the impression they will have to spend several more days in St. Louis until it clears up.”
Emi Sakura wrote about her upcoming match against Mercedes Mone: “In 2019, I met a girl in Sendai Girl’s Korakuen Backstage. She introduced herself and was friendly. I had never seen American wrestling before, so I didn’t know who she was. She calls herself a CEO now, and that nice respectful girl is nowhere to be found. I gotta beat that respect back into her it seems.”
A TBS Championship match has been added to the lineup for Dynamite.
Julia Hart will defend her title against Emi Sakura on tonight’s show.
Dynamite this week takes place from Hart’s hometown of Minnesota. She trained at Academy SOPW in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and wrestled for local promotions such as Midwest All-Star Wrestling before signing with AEW.
Tony Khan announced the match via X on Wednesday.
Khan wrote:
A luminary with decades of experience Emi Sakura will fight one of wrestling’s rising stars Julia Hart for the TBS Title in Julia’s hometown Minneapolis, TONIGHT!
TONIGHT! Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite TBS, 8pm ET/7pm CT
A luminary with decades of experience Emi Sakura will fight one of wrestling's rising stars Julia Hart for the TBS Title in Julia's hometown Minneapolis, TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/Bs1sNnrmHi
Tonight’s AEW Rampage airs live from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, following a live edition of Collision — the final stop before Saturday’s Full Gear in the same venue.
“Timeless” Toni Storm, the number one contender to the AEW Women’s World Championship, will be in action against Emi Sakura. Storm asked for a tune-up match ahead of her challenge for current champion Hikaru Shida at Full Gear. Tonight will be the third time Storm has squared off with Sakura in AEW (2-0 Storm).
AEW World Champion and ROH Tag Team Champion MJF will have a sit-down interview with Renee Paquette. He and a mystery partner will defend the tag titles on Saturday’s Zero Hour pre-show in addition to MJF defending the World title against Jay White.
Paquette will also conduct a sit-down interview with White who left MJF laying in the final segment of Wednesday’s Dynamite in addition to carrying around MJF’s AEW World title belt.
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Live from Kia Forum in Los Angeles, California.
Chris Jericho joined Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness on commentary.
Christian Cage (w/ Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne defeated Trent Beretta to retain the TNT Championship (10:17)
Beretta won a #1 contender’s match earlier in the night on Collision to get this title match.
After two minutes of stalling and posturing, Beretta got things going when he floored Cage with a meteora, then caught Cage on the floor with a plancha. Back in the ring, Cage send Beretta shoulder-first into the ringpost to take control. .
After a split-screen break, Christian wore down Beretta with a chinlock. Beretta caught Cage with a spear through the middle ropes. Beretta dropped Christian with an half-and-half. Christian countered the spinning DDT, and Beretta blocked Christian when he tried for his own spinning DDT. Beretta got a near fall after a top rope rana.
Christian dodged a top rope crossbody from Beretta. Christian went for a spear, but Beretta caught him with a knee and the spinning DDT for a near fall. Beretta hit another high knee for a near fall. Christian went for a Killswitch, but Beretta countered with a Strong Zero for a close near fall.
Luchasaurus distracted Beretta, which allowed Christian to snap Beretta’s neck against the top rope. Christian stomped on Beretta’s injured neck, sent him headfirst in the middle turnbuckle, and hit the Killswitch to get the pinfall.
This was fine.
– Chris Jericho cut a promo on the Young Bucks. He kept saying the Bucks are mad because he “stole their friend Kenny,” even though a few weeks ago on Dynamite the Bucks made it clear they were still mad at Jericho for attacking their dad. Nonetheless, Jericho is gonna beat the Bucks tomorrow night and take their title shot.
“Timeless” Toni Storm (w/ Luther) v. Emi Sakura (8:17)
Storm tried to give Sakura the “script” for the match, which she tore in half. Well, scripts have never worked in wrestling, anyway. Storm and Sakura brawled to the floor. Storm suplexed Sakura on the floor. Sakura came back with a spear through the ropes, then a cannonball on the floor.
Sakura and Storm exchanged chops, with Storm getting the advantage. Storm hit a bulldog, then wound up and delivered a big right hand. The crowd came alive for Storm. She went for the hip attack, but Sakura caught Storm with a tiger driver for a near fall. A double underhook into a back breaker also got Sakura a near fall. Storm dodged a moonsault from Sakura, hit a DDT, and then hit the hip attack in the corner (complete with black and white treatment). After a stuff piledriver, Storm got the victory.
It would be a mistake not to put the belt on Storm tomorrow night.
– Rene Paquette is in the back with Eddie Kingston and Jay Lethal’s crew. Lethal announced that he’s getting his Ring of Honor World title match at Zero Hour tomorrow night. Kingston called Lethal a coward, and Karen Jarrett led Lethal crew away before things got violent. As Kingston turned to leave, Ortiz met up with him, and the faded out before they could say anything. It’s way too early to take the ROH title off Kingston.
Roderick Strong (w/ Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defeated Action Andretti (9:35)
Stong’s entrance is just perfect.
Lots of hard chops form Strong, and a solid side backbreaker. Andretti caught Strong with a spinning neckbreaker for two. On the floor, Bennett and Taven freaked out after the neckbreaker. Strong tried a sunset flip, but Andretti countered that and deadlift Strong into a falcon arrow for a near fall. The fight went to the floor, where Taven and Bennett distracted Andretti, which allowed Strong to hit Andretti with a dropkick.
After a break, Andretti hit a jawbreaker and a back elbow, then pitched Strong to the floor. Andretti took out the Kingdom with a dropkick, then caught Strong with an Arabian Press. Back in the ring, Andretti went for a Spanish Fly and Strong landed right on his head. The match immediateky stopped and the referee checked on Strong. The commentators realized something had gone wrong and started talking about the dangers of the match. The camera panned to a wide shot while the doctors checked on Strong.
Strong was able to continue the match, and after another minute of action, Strong hit his finisher for the pinfall.
They replayed the scary spot of Strong landing straight on his head. I can’t believe Strong was moving, let alone finished the match.
– Rene Paquette had a sit down interview with Jay White. White predicted that MJF won’t even make it to the main event when the Gunns dismantle him in Zero Hour. White will show the gap between he and MJF was wide, and he prove it Saturday. MJF ran in and attacked White. They fought into a hallway, where Juice Robinson jumped MJF from behind. Juice and MJF brawled into a room and Juice slammed the door.
When White got into the room, MJF stood over Robinson with a broken LCD TV in his hands. Juice was bleeding and covered in glass. MJF chased White, and they made it into the arena and eventually the ring. The Gunns followed, but MJF quickly disposed of them. MJF laid out White, and MJF finally got the belt back… until the Gunns recovered and jumped MJF from behind. After a struggle, White got the belt back. The Gunns held MJF open for a belt shot, but Samoa Joe ran in and chased off Bullet Club. Joe extended his hand to MJF, and after thinking it over, MJF shook it. Thus, Max accepted Joe’s help for Zero Hour, and will give him an AEW World title shot.
– The commentators ran down the card for Full Gear to end the show. MJF and Bullet Club Gold exchanged trash talk to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
Full Gear looks stacked. Hopefully Roderick Strong is okay after that scary bump he took in his match. The show-closing angle was a great hard sell for the ppv.
“Timeless” Toni Storm will have a tune-up match on this Friday’s AEW Rampage ahead of her Full Gear Women’s World title match.
As announced during Wednesday’s Dynamite, Storm will face Emi Sakura on Friday’s live Rampage episode. Storm asked for a tune-up prior to Full Gear in a backstage segment where she was introduced to Mariah May on Dynamite. Sakura was announced as the opponent later in the broadcast.
Also set for Friday’s Rampage, Renee Paquette will conduct a sit-down interview with AEW World Champion MJF. The champ was left laying by Bullet Club Gold at the conclusion of Wednesday’s Dynamite. MJF defends the World title against Bullet Club Gold’s Jay White at Full Gear, and defends the ROH Tag Team titles on the Full Gear pre-show against The Gunns of Bullet Club Gold. MJF’s partner for the match has yet to be revealed.
Paquette will also conduct a sit-down interview with White on Rampage.
This week’s Rampage airs live on Friday, November 17 at 10 p.m. Eastern time on TNT following a special Friday airing of Collision at 8 p.m. Eastern.
A new match has been added to Saturday’s Collision.
It was confirmed on Friday’s Rampage that Emi Sakura will face Willow Nightingale on Saturday. This follows Nightingale’s loss to Hikaru Shida on Wednesday’s Dynamite in a match that had been for the AEW Women’s Championship.
Following her loss on Wednesday, Julia Hart appeared in the ring and targeted Nightingale. Skye Blue, who has transformed her appearance since being misted by Hart, entered the ring. At first, she teased that she may turn on Nightingale. But instead, Blue attacked Hart, misting her. Blue followed up on Friday’s Rampage by defeating Marina Shafir.
A promo video on Thursday announced an eight-man tag team match for Collision, where FTR would team with Preston Vance and Rush to take on Ricky Starks, Big Bill, and The Gates of Agony.
Here is the updated lineup for Saturday’s Collision:
Darby Allin vs. Lance Archer
Swerve Strickland vs. AR Fox
Willow Nightingale vs. Emi Sakura
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) & La Faccion Ingobernable (Rush & Preston Vance) vs. Ricky Starks & Big Bill & The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
Athena will defend her ROH Women’s World Championship on Thursday’s episode of ROH on HonorClub.
Last week, Athena and Billie Starkz were defeated by Mercedes Martinez & Diamante in tag team action. As a result, it will be a rematch from Final Battle 2022 on this week’s show when Athena defends against Martinez in singles competition.
🚨 EMERGENCY M.E.M 🚨#ROH Women's World Champion @AthenaPalmer_FG doesn't sugarcoat anything while speaking to "Minion In Training" @BillieStarkz.
Other matches set for ROH TV this week include Darius Martin vs. Lee Moriarty, Josh Woods vs. Ethan Page, and a four-corner survival tag team match.
Thursday’s edition of ROH TV was taped on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at The Mohegan Sun Theater in Uncasville, Connecticut. Spoilers from the show are available here.
Ring of Honor on HonorClub November 2 lineup:
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defends against Mercedes Martinez
Darius Martin vs. Lee Moriarty
Josh Woods w/Mark Sterling vs. Ethan Page
Leyla Hirsch vs. Robyn Renegade
Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal vs. The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch)
The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) vs. The Wingmen (Peter Avalon & Ryan Nemeth) vs. The Iron Savages (Bronson & Boulder) vs. The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo in a Four-Corner Survival Match
Kiera Hogan vs. Charlette Renegade
Nick Comoroto vs. Action Andretti vs. Lee Johnson
Gravity, Dalton Castle & The Boys vs. Cole Karter, Griff Garrison, The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) w/Maria Kanellis
It will be student vs. teacher on tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite.
AEW has announced that Hikaru Shida will face her mentor Emi Sakura on Dynamite tonight. It’s a title eliminator match where, if Sakura wins, she’ll earn a future shot at Shida’s AEW Women’s World Championship.
Shida and Sakura have had two one-on-one matches against each other in AEW before this. Shida won both of those meetings.
At Dynamite Title Tuesday last week, Shida defeated Saraya to win the AEW Women’s World Championship. It’s Shida’s third reign with the title.
Sakura lost a match against Skye Blue on Rampage last Friday.
Dynamite is taking place from the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, Texas tonight. Here’s everything that’s been announced for the episode:
Dynamite Dozen battle royal
Jay White vs. Penta El Zero Miedo
Kenny Omega vs. Kyle Fletcher
AEW Women’s World Championship eliminator match: Hikaru Shida vs. Emi Sakura
Sting addresses the fans
Adam Copeland’s Rated-R rebuttal to Christian Cage
“Timeless” Toni Storm debuts her newest blockbuster film
Jim Ross conducts a sit-down interview with Nick Wayne and his mother
It’s Monday and you know what that means: an four-match episode of AEW Dark Elevation from Long Island, New York, with Paul Wight and Matt Menard on the call.
Maki Itoh defeated Ashley D’Amboise
Itoh made her way to the ring singing as she always does. I think she might have showed the most charisma out of anyone tonight. She flicked off D’Amboise and started driving her right hand into her head. The whole match was just Itoh going for her headbutt off the ropes and D’Amboise avoiding it. Itoh finally hit it and locked in a single-leg Boston crab which she converted into a Texas Cloverleaf to win the match.
Jericho Appreciation Society (Angelo Parker, Jake Hager & Matt Menard) defeated Jack Tomlinson, Mike Magnum & Zack Clayton
Menard exited the desk area and walked over to meet his teammates, immediately starting off the match with Tomlinson. The JAS kept mocking the other team with Parker proclaiming he has the best hair in the business and then slapping Magnum around. Tomlinson entered with Magnum and tried to take on Hager by themselves. Not only did it not work, but referee Aubrey Edwards let it happen.
Clayton was not impressed so he got in the ring and clotheslined both his teammates. He hopped out of the ring and the former 2point0 hit the double DDT onto Tomlinson to get the win.
Hardy Party (Isiah Kassidy & Matt Hardy) defeated Bobby Orlando & Brett Gosselin
Of course, there was no Ethan Page with Hardy and Kassidy this week after the recent split. Hardy grabbed a mic and led the crowd in a “delete” chant followed by Kassidy moaning.
Orlando (from Beyond Wrestling and other Northeast indies) started with Kassidy, but most of the moves were of the double-team variety that included Hardy. Gosselin tried to get involved, but they rid of him quickly. Hardy got the tag and hit the Deletes in the corner and a Side Effect. This set up the swanton bomb and win by Kassidy, surely intentional with the return of Jeff Hardy even though he returned after this was taped.
Emi Sakura defeated Mizuki
Mizuki, like Itoh, is from Japan’s TJPW. I actually saw this exact same match in Raleigh at DPW last year. This was obviously not as good as that one, but still fun.
Mizuki was just a Sakura punching bag for the start of this match. Mizuki finally ducked a chop and rolled her up for a near fall. Mizuki followed with a double stomp to the outside, but Sakura countered with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
After Mizuki hit another double stomp, they went back in the ring and went back and forth for a little bit until Mizuki tried to roll up Sakura, which she countered with her own roll-up for the win.
The first Ring of Honor pay-per-view go-home show of the Tony Khan era has arrived with Thursday’s TV show on HonorClub.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena will defend her title against Emi Sakura with the winner moving onto Friday’s SuperCard of Honor in a title defense against Yuka Sakazaki.
AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo will take on Blake Christian.
All five teams involved in Friday’s ladder match for the vacant ROH Tag Team titles will be in action as Rush, Dralistico & The Kingdom face the Lucha Brothers & Top Flight while Aussie Open battles Tony Nese & Ari Daivari.
Thursday will also feature ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Embassy in action ahead of their title defense Friday.
Mark Briscoe will be on hand with some words to say ahead of his challenge of ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe Friday.
Miyu Yamashita will make her ROH debut as she faces Shazza McKenzie.
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This week’s ROH was taped on Wednesday as part of the AEW Dynamite taping. from St. Louis, Missouri. Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are on the call.
This week’s ROH was taped on Wednesday as part of the AEW Dynamite taping. from St. Louis, Missouri. Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are on the call.
Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) defeated The Varsity Athletes (Tony Nese & Ari Daivari) (w/ Smart Mark Sterling)
Aussie Open made their way to the ring to a big pop from this St. Louis crowd. Fletcher and Daivari started off. Davis tagged in and took down both Varsity Athletes before Fletcher came in to hit tandem offense on both men. Aussie Open were set up for the double forearms, but Sterling hooked Davis’ leg. As Davis was tied up with him, Nese and Daivari worked on Fletcher on the outside.
The Athletes isolated Fletcher in their corner, losing the advantage when Daivari missed a top rope splash. He made the hot tag to Davis, who ran wild on Nese and Daivari with big strikes. Nese escaped a Waterslide attempt but ran right into a pop-up powerslam from Davis for a nearfall. Fletcher tagged in and went for the Dental Plan, but Daivari got in the ring to cut it off.
Aussie Open isolated Nese for the Coreolis, but Sterling got on the apron and cut them off. Nese dumped Davis out of the ring, allowing the Athletes to get tandem offense in on Fletcher. Nese capped off the offensive flurry with a 450 Splash, but Fletcher kicked out.
Fletcher fought off them off long enough for Davis to get in and hit the Dental Plan on Nese. They hit an assisted cutter on Daivari, then ran the Athletes into each other on the floor. They superkicked Sterling, hit the forearm smashes on Nese, then scored the win with Coreolis.
Miyu Yamashita defeated Shazza McKenzie
Yamashita took control early, laying in the kicks to McKenzie’s midsection. McKenzie tripped her up and scored a nearfall with a bulldog. McKenzie hit a set of kitchen sink knees before hitting a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Yamashita fought out of an Octopus hold before hitting a triangle corner kick for a nearfall.
A forearm in the corner got Yamashita another nearfall. Yamashita countered an O’Connor Roll and hit a running kick for a two count. McKenzie got Yamashita tied up in the ropes and hit a set of kicks before getting a nearfall with a high crossbody. Yamashita caught McKenzie with a set of mid kicks before hitting a spinning roundhouse kick to score the win.
ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona, & Kaun)(w/ Prince Nana) defeated JD Griffey, Dak Draper, & Arjun Singh
Cage and Draper started, with Cage powering around the 6’7” Draper. After a Cage German suplex, Griffey and Kaun tagged in. Griffey rocked Liona with some strikes, but Liona sent Griffey flying with a beel.
Singh tagged in but got caught with a crossbody from Liona. Kaun tagged in and hit a backbreaker on the top turnbuckle. Liona followed it with a senton on the apron before Cage finished Singh off with the outside-in superplex. A total squash.
Metalik & AR Fox defeated The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean)
Metalik and Dean started off, with Metalik hitting his signature offense on Dean. Metalik lost Dean on a tilt-a-whirl and Dean looked to land on his head. Dean was well enough to hit tandem offense with Bravo on Metalik soon after. Bravo hit ten punches in the corner on Metalik before sending Dean into Metalik in the corner. The Infantry hit an offensive flurry of splashes and elbows for a nearfall.
Bravo and Dean did more work on Metalik, with Dean hitting a Sky High on Metalik for a nearfall. Bravo put Metalik on the top rope, but Metalik got out and hit a sunset flip powerbomb. Fox tagged in and ran wild on Bravo. He hit a twisting suplex on Dean before dropping Bravo with an enzuigiri. Fox hit the roll through cutter on Bravo for a nearfall.
Metalik took out Dean with a springboard moonsault, but back in the ring, Bravo rolled into a facebuster for a nearfall. After some confusion on a tag, Fox hit Lo Mein Pain on Bravo before Metalik followed it with a rope-walk elbow drop for the win.
Not only would this have fit right in on a Bloodsport card, but it would have been one of the best matches of the night. This was an intense, hard-hitting battle that I highly recommend. My hope is that Sakura gets regular work in ROH, as she’s really been able to get over in her last few appearances on AEW/ROH television.
The winner of this match would go on to defend the title at Supercard of Honor against Yuka Sakazaki.
Sakura brought the fight to Athena to start, sending her to the apron with forearms, and sending her to the floor with a crossbody. Athena sent Sakura into the post before dropping her with a side suplex on the apron. Athena hit a shotgun dropkick that sent Sakura into the apron. Suruga tried to hit a crossbody on Athena, but Athena caught her and dropped her with a bodyslam on the floor. Sakura took advantage of the distraction and sent Athena into the steps, before hitting a crossbody into the steps.
Back in the ring, Athena cut Sakura off on a moonsault attempt and stuck her in the Tree of Woe. Athena drilled Sakura with kicks before clubbering on her in the middle of the ring. After a pair of splashes from Athena, Sakura cut off a third with a chop. Sakura hit a delayed butterfly backbreaker for a nearfall as the crowd chanted her name. Sakura hit a top rope moonsault, but only scored a two count.
The two engaged in a forearm battle that devolved into a chop battle that Sakura won with a lariat. Athena cartwheeled out of Sakura’s reverse DDT and hit a big boot for a nearfall. The crowd gave this a This Is Awesome chant as Athena went to the top rope for the O Face, but Sakura caught Athena and hit the reverse DDT for a nearfall. Sakura followed up with a Tiger Driver for another nearfall.
Sakura hammered Athena with palm strikes before Athena cut her off with a forearm. Athena hit Sakura with the double knee facebuster and transitioned into the Crossface for the win.
After the match, Athena went after Sakura’s knee and trapped it in the stairs. After Suruga tried and failed to cut Athena off, Yuka Sakazaki fought Athena off. The two got into a pull-apart brawl, with Athena beating up security for stopping the fight. Sakazaki hit a crossbody into Athena and a bunch of security before standing tall with the ROH Women’s Title.
The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) & Los Faccion Ingobernable (Rush & Dralistico) (w/ Maria Kanellis-Bennett & Jose The Assistant) defeated Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) & The Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero Miedo)
This was a constant flurry of offense. It was very fun to watch, and a lot harder to do play-by-play for. A great preview for the Reach For The Sky ladder match tomorrow night.
Riccaboni brought up how Taven once lost the ROH World Title to Rush, his partner tonight. After some glove frivolity with Penta and Taven, the match quickly devolved into a Pier Six brawl. The Kingdom cut off a Top Flight dive, allowing LFI to take out the Lucha Brothers on the floor. The rudo team isolated Penta, with the Kingdom hitting tandem offense on both Lucha Brothers. Penta tagged out to Dante Martin, who LFI quickly cut off. Bennett tagged in, with Taven hitting Just the Tip on Martin for a nearfall.
Penta tagged in, and the Lucha Brothers hit superkicks to all four of their opponents. A wheelbarrow splash from Fenix got a nearfall on Taven. Taven hit the Kick of the King on Fenix to set up the Proton Pack, but Penta cut them off and kicked them away. Darius Martin tagged in, with Top Flight hitting tandem offense on Rush and Dralistico. Dralistico hit a springboard codebreaker and followed it with a springboard destroyer. Rush followed up with the Bull’s Horns for the win.
– Mark Briscoe made his way to the ring. He talked about how he wasn’t going to win the ROH TV Title just for himself. He was going to win it for himself, for his kids, for Jay’s kids, and for everyone who has ever rolled with the Briscoes. Briscoe said that winning the TV Title was his destiny. Samoa Joe interjected on the video screen. He said that Briscoe had forgotten who Joe was, but Joe would quickly remind him at Supercard of Honor.
– Dasha Fuentes interviewed Jay Lethal, who asked for this time. He wanted to say something to Mark Briscoe, who was coming back from the ring. Lethal wished Briscoe luck in his title match against Samoa Joe. Lethal played this as a complete babyface.
BJ Whitmer, Dean Malenko, & Jerry Lynn were the judges for this Pure Title match. The winner of this match would go on to defend the title against Katsuyori Shibata tomorrow night. Yuta came out with the new design of the Pure Championship.
Yuta quickly tied Ruffin up with a single leg crab, but Ruffin slipped out into a pin cover. Yuta caught Ruffin on an evasion attempt and dropped him with a German suplex. Yuta tied Ruffin up with a Cobra Twist, forcing Ruffin to use his first rope break. The announcers made the connection of Yuta using the foundational hold of training in New Japan as a call out of Shibata.
Yuta tied Ruffin up with a dungeon leg lock, before walking Ruffin closer to the ropes so Ruffin would have to use his second rope break. The announcers made it clear that this was Yuta’s strategy – to force his opponent to exhaust their rope breaks. Ruffin dodged a charge and hit a neckbreaker. Ruffin used springboards to get away from Yuta, but Yuta knocked him out of the sky with a forearm. Yuta locked on a crossface to get the tap and retain the title.
After the match, Yuta ran down the names he’s beaten before saying that Shibata’s efforts wouldn’t be enough. Katsuyori Shibata then made his way to the ring. Yuta tried running him down, but Shibata ripped the microphone out of his hands and went nose-to-nose with him before Yuta left the ring.
El Hijo del Vikingo defeated Blake Christian
Vikingo is as incredible as advertised. He is one of the most breathtaking professional wrestlers that I’ve ever seen in real time. Christian kept up with him, and gave us a fantastic match. Seek this one out.
The AAA Mega Championship was not on the line here. There were people in the St. Louis crowd jumping for joy as Vikingo’s name came up on the video board. They started fast, with no one gaining a clear advantage. Vikingo sidestepped a dropkick and hit a running shooting star press for a nearfall. Vikingo hit a handspring into the corner before hitting a step-up hurricanrana. Vikingo followed it up with a springboard inverted 450 to the floor, which looked as insane as it sounds.
Back in the ring, Vikingo laid some shots into Christian. Christian came back with a low dropkick and a bottom-rope 619. Christian hit a handspring kick that sent Vikingo to the floor, then followed him to the outside with a Fosbury Flop. Christian brought Vikingo back into the ring and scored a nearfall. Christian laid on Vikingo with a chinlock as the crowd chanted for Vikingo. Christian sent Vikingo into the ropes, but Vikingo bounced off the ropes with his arms and hit a hurricane kick.
Vikingo caught Christian on a dive and hit a uranage. He followed it with an outside-in Phoenix Splash for a nearfall. Vikingo went up for the inverted 450, but Christian cut him off and took him down with a German Suplex. Christian met Vikingo on the apron and lifted him up in an electric chair, but Vikingo took him down with a poisonrana. Vikingo went for a Shooting Star Press to the floor, but Christian moved and hit a Spanish Fly. Christian followed it with a 450 splash in the ring, but only got a two count.
This Is Awesome chants rang out as Vikingo fought out of a suplex. Vikingo set Christian up on the top rope before following him to the top. Vikingo went for a reverse Spanish Fly, but they both landed on their feet. Christian hit a lariat and went to follow it with a powerbomb, but Vikingo rolled through with a Frankensteiner for the win. Fans bowed at the men in the ring as Christian and Vikingo shook hands and adhered to the Code of Honor.
– Dasha interviewed Blake Christian in the back. Christian was quickly cut off by Prince Nana, who asked him to bail on tomorrow’s Six-Man Title match before getting his heart broken. Christian said no, so The Embassy jumped him before Christian’s partners – AR Fox & Metalik – ran them off.
Eddie Kingston defeated Christopher Daniels
Dueling chants for both men broke out as they started off. Kingston cut off Daniels with a back elbow before hitting a kitchen sink knee and a butterfly suplex for a nearfall. Kingston hit a Saito Suplex and called for the Backfist, but Daniels ducked it and hit a neckbreaker. Daniels tied Kingston up in the ropes and clubbered on him before sending Kingston into the corner with a hard Irish Whip.
Daniels hit the STO for a nearfall. Kingston peppered Daniels with strikes to the knees, but Daniels hit a facebuster and transitioned into a Koji Clutch. Kingston got to the ropes and initiated a forearm battle that Daniels cut off with a knee to the bread basket. Kingston fought out of an Angel’s Wings attempt and laid in the chops to Daniels. Daniels dropped the straps and laid in the chops to Kingston. We then got one hell of a chop battle as the crowd fired up.
Kingston ducked a chop and hit an enzuigiri, following it with a big boot for a nearfall. Kingston hit a T-Bone suplex that sent Daniels into the corner. Daniels cut off the machine gun chops in the corner before pulling the straps back up. Kingston hit another enzuigiri before scoring the win with two Backfists. Daniels shook Kingston’s hand before ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli came out with a brand new World Title belt.
– Kingston and Castagnoli went face-to-face as Claudio held the title up high. Kingston challenged Castagnoli to a title match right here in St. Louis. Castagnoli disrobed and looked ready to fight but bailed at the last second. Kingston got a mic and called Castagnoli an “upside-down diamond.” The crowd smartened me up to what that meant.
– Kingston said that if the fans didn’t order the PPV, they would feel like crap. Kingston said he couldn’t give his mother a daughter-in-law or a granddaughter because he was too focused on pro wrestling. He said that Castagnoli met his parents and shook their hands, but didn’t do business for Kingston when it was time to do it. He left to dress up like a f*****g clown and be an entertainer. Kingston said that the spirit of ROH and former champions like Daniels, Homicide, Xavier, & Low Ki ran through him, and that he would win the ROH World Title.
This week’s AEW Dark matches were taped recently at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, and was headlined by Trent Beretta vs. Tony Nese.
It also saw the AEW debut of the former Bodhi Hayward in WWE NXT.
Matt Sydal defeated Slim J (w/ Sonny Kiss & Jeeves Kay)
Sydal and Slim J started out with a shoving match. Slim J then bailed from the ring in frustration, but Kiss and Kay calmed him down before he got back in the ring.
Sydal and Slim J began to trade counters, but Sydal eventually caught him with a kick on the jaw. Later, Kiss and Kay proceeded to distract Sydal, allowing Slim J to take him to the mat and lock in a leg scissor submission.
Slim J would go on to further hurt Sydal, planting him with an impressive springboard reverse DDT. Sydal would respond moments later with a great roundhouse kick which went Slim J crashing to the canvas.
Sydal had momentum at this point, laying in a few more kicks. After nailing Slim J with two more roundhouse kicks, Sydal planted his opponent with a lightning spiral and picked up the win shortly after.
After the bout, The Trustbusters tried to further injure Sydal, but Top Flight and AR Fox made the save.
Julia Hart defeated Devlyn Macabre
Macabre was able to sneak in a forearm early on, which only sent Hart to a dark place. After stomping Macabre into the mat, Hart rained down about fifteen stiff elbow strikes into her chest and neck area. Macabre tried to regain her footing, but Hart tripped her and proceeded to submit her with her signature Heartless submission for her 18th straight win.
The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) defeated Oliver Sawyer & Jay Malachi
Sawyer and Henry started out. After getting in a few licks on Sawyer, Henry tagged out to Drake, who did the same. The WorkHorsemen continued to work in tandem, tagging in and out frequently as they worked down Sawyer, who had got in no offense at this point.
Sawyer found some life as he moved out of the way of a Drake headbutt. Malachi, who came in off the hot tag, splashed Drake in the corner. Moments later, Drake sent Malachi over his head with a German suplex. Drake and Henry hit a double flatliner on him to get the win.
The Renegades jumped The Blairs as the bell rang. Robyn and Charlette exchanged tags as they beat down Peyton. Lizzy came in off the hot tag, but was immediately met with an assisted spinebuster combo from The Renegades for the pin and win.
Preston Vance (w/ Jose The Assistant) defeated Blanco Loco
Vance had control of this bout from the get-go as he squashed Loco in the corner with a number of running splashes. Loco was subject to a spinebuster moments, giving Vance the win.
Tony Deppen defeated Caleb Konley
Deppen laid in a few kicks and knee drops in the early going. Konley tried to fight back with a few chops, but Deppen gouged his eyes and shoved his head into the turnbuckle.
Konley would eventually find his footing, allowing him to plant Deppen with a fantastic fisherman’s buster. Deppen responded with a half and half suplex, which was followed up by a running knee strike and a pin for Deppen.
Iron Savages (Bronson & Boulder) defeated Chris Sandson & Terry Kid
Early on, Kid tried to jump on the back of Boulder, but he was thrown off by being cannonballed onto Sandson, who was taken down with a big boot. Seconds later, Boulder tagged Bronson in and assisted him with a splash onto both men, giving the Savages the win.
Brady Booker defeated Dak Draper
This was the debut for the former Bodhi Hayward in WWE NXT. Draper had control early on, hitting a nice cartwheel into a knee drop to punctuate things. He continued with his hard-hitting offense until Booker hit a powerslam counter to regain control. He eventually got the tapout after getting Draper in a torture rack.
Raju and Cannon started out, but Johl came in shortly after and ripped both of Cannon’s shirts off after planting him with a delayed suplex. Raju came back in the match, which gave Cannon the time to tag out to Springs. The former Impact X-Division Champion nailed Springs with a running knee strike, followed by Johl hitting him with his signature pump kick to score the win.
This was great as Starkz and Sakura made the most out of their time here.
Starkz quickly slammed Sakura into the mat after a lock-up. Sakura popped back up rather quickly and began to beat on Starkz after shoving her in the corner. Starkz responded with some heavy shots of her own, but Sakura doubled the intensity and responded with even heavier shots.
Starkz drilled Sakura with a pump kick which got a two count. Starks then tried to lift her up, but it was countered into a dragon sleeper from Sakura. After nearly passing out, Starkz popped up and planted Sakura into the mat with a tombstone piledriver which got another near fall. Starkz then landed on Sakura with a diving senton for yet another near fall.
Starkz lost her momentum when she tried to do another diving senton on Sakura on the apron after Sakura moved. After delivering a sliding knee strike to Starkz on the arena floor, Sakura got her back in and drilled her into the mat with a butterfly piledriver. Sakura ended the match after hitting Starkz with a moonsault.
The Wingmen (Peter Avalon, Cezar Bononi & Ryan Nemeth) defeated Jay Marte, Jarett Diaz & Rich Adonis
Avalon and Adonis started out, but The Wingmen quickly entered the ring and jumped all three of their opponents.
Bononi went to work on Adonis as he beat him down with various strikes. Nemeth came in and did more showboating than anything, which allowed Adonis to tag out to Diaz. Bononi came back in and slammed Diaz into the mat.
Seconds later, Nemeth and Bononi hit an assisted fireman’s carry driver on Diaz. Avalon came off the top rope with a splash on Diaz for the win.
Jeff Jarrett & Satnam Singh defeated The Boys (Brandon & Brent)
Jarrett and Brandon started out. After trapping him in the ropes and hitting his signature strut, Jarrett allowed Brandon to tag out to Brent. Singh came in and practically tackled Brent with a crossbody. Singh would proceed to chokeslam both Boys and double pin them to score the victory.
Trent Beretta defeated Tony Nese (w/ Mark Sterling)
This match lagged early, but once it got going, it was pretty good.
Beretta and Nese locked up at the bell, but Nese gained control after backing Beretta in the corner with ease. The match quickly spilled to the outside where Beretta beat down Nese with a few chops. After he was distracted by Sterling for a split second, Beretta had his face covered by Nese with the ring apron.
Nese took back control and with Beretta favoring his knee, Nese had a clear target. The tides turned for Beretta after Nese missed a springboard moonsault. Beretta would then launch Nese over his head with a suplex, but Nese responded by throwing Beretta stomach-first into the top rope. That was followed by Nese successfully hitting the springboard moonsault that he had tried earlier.
Nese tried to go to the top rope, but Beretta met him up there. After some back and forth, Beretta sent him crashing to the mat with a fantastic superplex. Beretta then hit Nese with his signature corner DDT, but Nese kicked out of the pinfall attempt at the last second.
In the final stages, Nese tried to hit put away Beretta with a frog splash, but the referee’s count came up short once again. Nese then tried to hit Beretta with a 450 splash, but he crashed and burned. Beretta put Nese away seconds later with the Dudebuster.
The Regina Di Wave Championship from Japan’s WAVE promotion will be defended on AEW Dark: Elevation.
Hikaru Shida will put the title on the line against Emi Sakura. It will be Shida’s first defense since defeating Suzu Suzuki for the belt at the WAVE 15th Anniversary show on August 14.
Dante Martin, Julia Hart, Serena Deeb, Rush, and Matt Hardy are all also scheduled for Dark: Elevation this week. The show was filmed from the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio last Wednesday.
AEW Dark: Elevation airs Monday at 7 p.m Eastern time on YouTube. The lineup for the show is as follows:
Regina di Wave Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Emi Sakura
Frankie Kazarian vs. Andrea Guercio
Dante Martin vs. Wes Barkley
Julia Hart vs. Arie Alexander
Serena Deeb vs. Katie Arquette
Rush, The Butcher & The Blade vs. Elijah, Zach Nystrom, & Chase Oliver
Matt Hardy vs. RSP
Nyla Rose & Marina Shafir vs. Queen Aminata & Skye Blue
Following up on an angle from Monday’s AEW Dark: Elevation, former AEW Women’s Champion and current Regina Di WAVE Champion Hikaru Shida will defend against Emi Sakura on next Monday’s episode.
The match will be taped prior to Dynamite in Cleveland, Ohio, tonight. Will Washington first reported the news Wednesday.
The title is part of Japan’s Pro Wrestling WAVE promotion, a promotion Shida has appeared for in the past. She won the title by defeating Suzu Suzuki in August, her third WAVE title including their singles and Women’s Tag Team titles.
Sakura will be looking for her first title reign.
On Monday, Shida and Sakura were on opposite ends of a tag team match that also included Skye Blue and Maki Itoh, respectively. After the heels got the win, Sakura challenged Shida for the title which the champion wore to the ring.
It will be the latest non-AEW title to be defended in an AEW ring, joining a list that includes the Impact World title, AAA Tag Team and Mixed Tag Team titles, and the NWA Women’s title.
Taped in Columbus, Ohio, with Mark Henry, Tony Schiavone and Madison Rayne on commentary. Schiavone introduced Rayne as the “head women’s coach” of AEW.
Hikaru Shida defeated Emi Sakura
Sakura won a slugfest early and chopped Shida into the corner, but Shida took her down with a shoulder block.
The fight went to the floor and Sakura whipped Shida between the ring apron and the ringside barricade. Sakura had a great spot in the corner where she chopped Shida to the rhythm of “We Will Rock You.” If Excalibur and Taz were on commentary they would have called it the “We Will Chop You.”
Shida came back with a suplex and a running knee in the corner, then a dropkick in the corner. A brainbuster from Shida got a near fall. After some misdirection around the ring ropes, Sakura caught Shida with a double underhook backbreaker.
Shida caught Sakura with a high knee and a sliding forearm for a near fall. Sakura hit a double underhook powerbomb for a near fall.
Sakura went for a double underhook again. Shida escaped, hit a hurricanrana, came off the top with a spin kick, and finished off Sakura with a knee strike for the pinfall.
**********
Jade Cargill and Stokely Hathaway came out to introduce themselves to Madison Rayne. Rayne was not impressed. Rayne announced she would be an in-ring competitor and suggested she’d challenge Jade Cargill.
Cargill will be busy tomorrow night during Rampage, but Leila Grey will be available. Grey v. Rayne was made for Rampage tomorrow night.
**********
Mance Warner defeated Serpentico (w/ Luther)
Luther attacked Warner when the fight went to the floor, hitting a pump kick and throwing Warner into the ring barricade. Back in the ring, Serpentico choked Warner against the ropes and delivered a suplex.
Warner came back with a pair of clotheslines and a big boot that Serpentico sold with a 360 bump. Serpentico came back with a flatliner for a near fall. Serpentico went for a powerbomb, but Warner escaped.
Warner hit a clothesline, a running knee and a DDT to get the pinfall.
Tony Nese & Josh Woods (w/ “Smart” Mark Sterling) defeated Damian Chambers & Dean Alexander
Woods tossed around Chambers and buried knees into his midsection. Nese got a near fall with a stomach buster on Chambers, but Alexander slid in to break up the pinfall.
Woods ran in and hit Alexander with a pair of stiff knees that took him out of the match. Chambers went to the top and Nese caught him with a flying uppercut.
Woods got the tag, charged in with a forearm on Chambers, then rolled Woods up into a German suplex on Chambers to get the pinfall. Pretty brutal squash.
**********
A Mance Warner pre-taped promo about his match with Jon Moxley ended the show.
Final thoughts —
They can run Elevation (or Dark) five nights a week if they keep it to 30 minutes. It was also a nice touch to set up a match on Rampage.
It’s Monday and you know what that means: a six-match AEW Dark: Elevation taped last Wednesday at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. Paul Wight and Mark Henry were on the call tonight.
Lance Archer defeated Cameron Stewart
As usually happens on Dark shows, Archer brought his opponent to the ring and then destroyed him. Archer hit several lariats and then the Blackout to win the match and improve his record to 48-10. After the match, Stewart ate another lariat. It’s safe to say that Stan Hansen would happy with what he saw here from Archer.
Ruby Soho defeated Session Moth Martina
This was the AEW debut of Martina. Soho worked her left arm and shoulder while Martina used her trademark bants to confuse Soho to no avail. Soho hit No Future for the win.
Daniel Garcia (w/ 2point0) defeated Ray Jaz
Garcia (19-15) won this short match with a scorpion deathlock.
Scorpio Sky (w/ Ethan Page & Dan Lambert) defeated Shawn Dean
Lambert interfered on Sky’s behalf during the match. Sky targeted Dean’s back with several backbreakers. Sky finished off “The Captain” with the TKO ahead of his challenge of TNT Champion Sammy Guevara Wednesday.
While Sky has been undefeated over the last year, this match was also marked the end of Dean’s 2022 win streak.
Kris Statlander defeated Emi Sakura
Sakura attacked Statlander before the bell rang and gained an early advantage, but Statlander used her strength to turn things around. Powerslams and back breakers were her allies in this match as were a sidekick and the Big Bang Theory that helped her pick up the linear victory after Sunday’s loss to Leyla Hirsch.
Wheeler Yuta defeated Aaron Solo
This was a clash between two wrestlers that use speed as their primary weapon. Solo was too distracted working the crowd which Yuta used to his advantage. During the match, QT Marshall came out to distract both the ref and Yuta, but Yuta outsmarted everyone and pretended that Marshall attacked him to get him kicked out of ringside. Yuta used a mouse trap to win and improve his overall record to 20-15.
Final Thoughts:
AEW initially uploaded the wrong episode of Elevation for 26 minutes showing last week’s instead which was kind of funny. Must have been a long night after Sunday’s Revolution show.
The show was fast and to the point. The matches were fine but a special shoutout must go for the main event that was both a fun match and longer than most matches on this episode.
