WWE fans were introduced to Rey Fenix in March last year not too long after his brother, Penta, arrived on the WWE main roster.
In a recent interview with RRBG Inc (seen below), Fenix discussed the possibility of eventually reuniting the Lucha Bros in WWE, emphasizing the importance of the two getting the opportunity to initially demonstrate their talents as individual in-ring competitors.
“I see it this way: it’s not bad. Obviously, I miss fighting with my brother, but it’s a good opportunity to show who we are individually,” Fenix said. “I’ve worked with Je’Von Evans, I’ve worked with Andrade when he was there, I’m working with Sami Zayn, I’ve worked with Rey (Mysterio) at recent AAA events. I think it’s a good opportunity for us as wrestlers and for the public to see something different.”
“And believe me, they know that people are waiting for the Lucha Bros, and the Lucha Bros are waiting for the moment. But something that wrestling and this sport have taught me is patience. It’s going to be the right moment that the Lucha Bros deserve.”
“It’s not that we don’t deserve it and you don’t deserve to see the Lucha Bros today, but I know that when the moment gets there is the right moment, and it’s going to be the right moment.”
A reunion for the two almost happened in AAA in late-2025. They were scheduled to face Dominik Mysterio & El Grande Americano at AAA Guerra de Titanes but a shoulder injury the month earlier left Penta medically unfit to compete. Rey Mysterio stepped in as a replacement.
The Lucha Brothers are back, and are looking for a challenge.
During Saturday’s AAA tapings in Mexico City, Dominik Mysterio and El Grande Americano were in the ring when suddenly they were interrupted by Rey Fenix and Penta, who called out both men and issued the challenge for Guerra de Titantes, which takes place on December 20. Mysterio accepted on their behalf, setting up a giant tag team match.
Although the two frequently teamed together previously in AAA, AEW, and elsewhere, Penta and Rey Fenix have yet to team up under the WWE umbrella. Penta has been a fixture on the Raw brand, while his brother has been wrestling on SmackDown.
Another match was made for Guerra de Titantes on Saturday. After Psycho Circus (Psycho Clown, Murder Clown, Pagano, and Dave the Clown) were victorious against El Ojo, Bo Dallas appeared in a taped promo. He said that the Wyatt Sicks had accepted their invitation and would introduce them to a carnival of carnage at Guerra de Titantes. The last several months have seen the Wyatts attack Psycho Clown & Pagano after their matches.
In the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer shared the latest on The Lucha Brothers’ AEW contract situation.
Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix are both impending free agents. There’s an internal belief within AEW that they will be leaving for WWE, though Meltzer writes that AEW does have the option to extend Fenix’s contract for another year due to time he’s missed because of injury:
Obviously Penta & Fenix are not being featured. There is concern now because AEW has the right to extend Fenix’s deal for another year due to time off due to injuries. Because of all the talk of his going to WWE and when he’s starting and such, Penta did a tweet saying to stop the gossip and ‘My present is in AEW.’ There were rumors going around he was going to NXT or getting a physical for WWE in Pittsburgh and he’s obviously not about to do anything of the sort while under AEW contract. He just as obviously can’t have signed a WWE deal until that AEW contract expires.
Penta’s AEW contract is expected to expire between August and September of this year. Fenix’s deal is also believed to be up soon if AEW does not extend it.
Fenix was set to compete for indie promotion New Era Wrestling in El Paso, Texas, on September 27, but it was announced last week that Fenix is off the show “due to personal circumstances.”
The Lucha Brothers debuted for AEW in 2019 and are former AEW Tag Team, AEW Trios, and ROH Tag Team Champions. Fenix is a former AEW International Champion as well.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including SummerSlam fallout, Jacob Fatu, ratings against the Olympics, the Lucha Bros perhaps heading to WWE, RAW from Monday with some great angles, mailbag and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Bryan Alvarez is reporting that the internal belief within AEW is that both Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix would be leaving the company for WWE when their contracts expire. This comes after WrestlePurists reported earlier on Monday that the two were expected to leave, and a Trios Championship match that had been set for All In involving the duo has since been changed.
LuchaLibreonline reported back in June that Penta’s contract was set to expire between August and September of this year, and there was interest within WWE in bringing him in. Fightful reported last week that Fenix’s contract was also coming up this year.
The Lucha Brothers have been part of AEW dating back to the company’s first show in 2019, when they lost to The Young Bucks at the very first Double or Nothing. Since then, they have held the AEW Tag Team titles on one occasion and the AEW World Trios titles one time with PAC, where together they are known as Death Triangle. Fenix is also a former International Champion.
Death Triangle recently made an appearance in CMLL last month, where they lost to Mascara Dorada, Mistico, and Volador Jr..
The in-ring return for Rey Fenix is finally on the horizon.
On Friday, Northeast indie promotion House of Glory announced that the former AEW International and Tag Team Champion will be in action on their Sunday, May 5th Cinco de Mayo event in Jamaica, New York.
Unless he makes his AEW in-ring return before then, it will be Fenix’s first match since losing the International title to Orange Cassidy on the October 10th Title Tuesday edition of AEW Dynamite.
Fenix has been on the shelf recovering from what he called an old injury and one he feels is the worst he’s ever had — one that Dave Meltzer reported as either being a bad back, bad hip or both. In October, Fenix said the injury had been bothering him since September’s Grand Slam event.
🔥FENIX 🔥
Sunday, May 5th, direct from Mexico City, one of the greatest luchadors in the world today, @ReyFenixMx , returns to HOG on #CincoDeMayo !!! 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽
— House Of Glory Wrestling (@HOGwrestling) March 8, 2024
Fenix’s brother and fellow AEW roster member Penta El Zero Miedo has continued on, competing as both a singles wrestler and teaming up with Komander.
While AEW has announced there will be a tournament for the vacant Tag Team titles, they have not formally announced teams and brackets, leaving open the possibility the Lucha Brothers will enter and attempt to once again hold the titles.
Less than a week after making her surprise return on AEW Collision, Jade Cargill will challenge TBS Champion Kris Statlander in a rematch on this Friday’s AEW Rampage.
It will be Cargill’s first match since May’s Double or Nothing when she lost the title to the returning Statlander minutes after defending it against Taya Valkyrie. It was Cargill’s first career defeat.
Statlander, the second TBS titleholder in company history, will be looking for the tenth defense of the championship.
In an eight-man tag team match, The Lucha Brothers will team with the Hardys against Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal and The Butcher & The Blade.
AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn will be in non-title action against opponents to be named while The Kingdom will take on Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal.
Here’s the lineup being taped after Wednesday’s Dynamite in Cincinnati, Ohio:
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Jade Cargill
AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed (Max Caster and Anthony Bowens) & Billy Gunn vs. TBD in non-title action
The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs. Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal
Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) and Matt & Jeff Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, The Butcher & The Blade
The card for this Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite was rounded out Friday with the Young Bucks vs. Jeff & Matt Hardy as the featured new attraction.
In a backstage promo on Rampage, Matt & Nick Jackson said they were going to get back into the tag team division when they invited the Hardys to join them on-screen. Matt Hardy then suggested if they were getting back into the deep end, they should face them right from the start and the match was made.
The two teams have squared off several times throughout the years, but just once in AEW when the Hardys defeated the Bucks at 2022’s Double or Nothing.
In another tag team match, the Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli will take on the Lucha Brothers following Moxley & Castagnoli’s victory over Best Friends Friday in their parking lot fight.
After their rematch for the AEW World title was made Wednesday for this month’s All In at London’s Wembley Stadium, champion MJF and Adam Cole will be on the show.
The additions join the previously announced FTW title match between champion Jack Perry and Rob Van Dam.
Here’s the current lineup:
The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
MJF & Adam Cole appearance
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix)
FTW Champion Jack Perry defends against Rob Van Dam
After nearly coming to blows while on the same AEW Blood & Guts team, Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli will defend the title against PAC at tonight’s ROH Death Before Dishonor in Trenton, New Jersey.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena will look to avenge her loss in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament semifinals when she defends against tournament winner Willow Nightingale.
ROH Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers will defend in a four-way against Aussie Open, The Kingdom and Best Friends.
ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata will defend the title against former champion Daniel Garcia while ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe defends against former champion Dalton Castle.
The Mogul Embassy will defend the ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles against Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & Leon Ruffin.
Dark Order faces The Righteous in a six-man Fight Without Honor while Komander takes on Gravity to round out the main card. Four matches are set for the Zero Hour pre-show.
**********
*****ZERO HOUR*****
Pure Rules Match – Josh Woods (w/ the Varsity Athletes) defeated Tracy Williams
The judges for this match were Christopher Daniels, Jimmy Jacobs, & Jerry Lynn.
After an early exchange, Woods rolled Williams into a double wristlock to force Williams to use his first rope break. Williams accidentally grabbed the ropes while Woods had his arm, thus exhausting his second rope break. Woods hung Williams on the ropes and hit a gutwrench suplex off the ropes for a nearfall.
After catching Woods in a rollup, Williams hit a high-angle suplex. Williams fired up, hitting a half-hatch suplex into the turnbuckles for a nearfall. Woods won a forearm exchange, but Williams caught his wrist and hit a fisherman’s suplex for a nearfall. Williams shrugged off a boot and hit a pump kick, following it with a piledriver. Woods used his first rope break to stop the pinfall.
Williams couldn’t hit a brainbuster due to the arm work Woods did earlier, allowing Woods to hit a gutwrench suplex and lock on the Gorilla Lock. Williams used his third rope break to escape, exhausting all of his rope breaks. They both ended up on the apron, where Woods hit a German suplex. Woods caught Williams in a guillotine submission in the ropes, forcing Williams to tap out with his foot.
Action Andretti & Darius Martin defeated The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)
An awesome match for the free hour. Both of these teams have been highlights of the weekly show, and they took advantage of their time here and really impressed.
Henry and Drake got a jump start on Andretti and Martin, but Martin and Andretti quickly cleared the ring. After more back-and-forth, Henry caught Martin with a double stomp to cut him off, while Drake forearmed Andretti out of the sky. The Workhorsemen worked over Martin in the corner, pummeling him with double-team moves.
Martin fought to make the tag to Andretti, who ran wild on both Workhorsemen. He backflipped off of Drake’s back before hitting a double bulldog. Andretti hit a shooting star on both men for a nearfall. Andretti couldn’t finish Drake on his own, so he tagged in Martin to assist on a DDT for a nearfall that Henry broke up. Henry hit a diving stomp on Martin, with Drake following up with a moonsault. But Andretti dropped Henry with a DVD onto the pile to break up the cover. Andretti got Drake up onto his shoulders, allowing Martin to help hit an assisted neckbreaker for the win.
It was announced after the match that Andretti and Martin would take on Bullet Club Gold on Collision tomorrow night.
Leyla Hirsch defeated Trish Adora
Both women went after their opponent’s arm to start. Adora went for a submission, forcing Hirsch to bail out of the ring. Hirsch tried to rope-a-dope Adora in the ring, but it didn’t work, with both women ending in a standoff. Hirsch stood on Adora’s foot in the corner and took her knee out to get control. Hirsch went back to the arm, booting it before going for a cross-armbreaker. Adora powerbombed her way free.
Adora fired up, hitting a big boot and a crossbody for a nearfall. Adora hit a kneeling German suplex for a nearfall. Adora hit a pump kick, but Hirsch avoided a corner charge and hit a hesitation dropkick. Adora hit a backbreaker for a nearfall. Adora went for the Lariat Tubman, but Hirscch avoided it. After a scramble on the mat, Hirsch got the cross armbreaker in and got the quick tapout.
After the match, Hirsch feigned going for the Code of Honor before pulling Adora back into the armbreaker. Skye Blue ran her off, as it was announced that Blue would be wrestling Taya Valkyrie on Collision.
AR Fox defeated Shane Taylor
Another quality match on the Zero Hour. Taylor has earned a higher profile role in ROH with his performances lately, while Fox goes into his AEW International Title match on Dynamite with a great showing here.
Taylor dropped Fox early on with heavy strikes, but Fox used his agility to spread out his shots and sent Taylor to the floor. Fox followed him to the floor, first with a spaceman dive, then a no-touch senton. Taylor pulled Fox off the ropes, dropping him with an End of Days style move for a nearfall.
Taylor clubbered on Fox in the corner, hammering him with loud strikes before beeling him across the ring. Fox and Taylor ended up on the floor, with Fox getting on the apron and hitting an inside-out springboard senton. Back in the ring, Fox rocked Taylor with a stunner before hitting a kip-up enzuigiri. Taylor cut him off with a headbutt, followed by a uranage and a big splash for a nearfall.
Taylor sat Fox on the apron, but Fox avoided a legdrop. Fox hit a codebreaker and a DDT while Taylor was tied up in the ropes, but it only got a two-count. Fox hit a flurry of offense, but Taylor cut off a stunner and hit Welcome to the Land, but Fox got the ropes. This Is Awesome chants from the crowd as Taylor brought Fox to the top rope for a Marcus Garvey Driver. Fox fought out, walking Taylor to the middle of the ring to hit a Death Valley Driver. Fox followed with the 450 to score the win.
*****MAIN CARD*****
Gravity defeated Komander (w/ Alex Abrahantes)
This was a stellar opener to the card. Gravity impressed in the biggest spot of his career, and Komander continued to dazzle with his high-flying prowess. These two used to be a group in the Mexican independent scene alongside Bandido, and I would have no problem with AEW or ROH putting them back together.
Gravity is the younger brother of former ROH World Champion Bandido. The announcers noted that Komander looked up to Rey Fenix as a young wrestler, which is why Alex Abrahantes has joined him in recent weeks. Both men worked on the mat trying to score quick wins but ended in a stalemate. On commentary, Riccaboni let us know that these two used to be a regular team on the lucha scene, so they should know each other well.
Komander hit a dive to the floor, then followed it with a Shooting Star Press in the ring for a nearfall. Gravity sent Komander to the floor, then rolled to the top rope and hit a dive to the floor. Back in the ring, Gravity held onto an armdrag and rolled into a pin for a nearfall. Gravity ran right into a pair of boots from Komander, but Komander moonsaulted into a pair of boots himself. Gravity hit a powerbomb for a nearfall.
They traded strikes mid-ring before Gravity hit a one-armed powerbomb for a nearfall. Komander hit a misdirection kick to knock Gravity to the floor, then followed him with a multi-jump corkscrew dive to the floor. Gravity cut off another dive in the ring, hitting a falling wristlock takeover for a nearfall. Both men ended up on the apron, with Komander hanging Gravity over the turnbuckle and hitting a kick. Komander hit a rope walk moonsault for a nearfall, then followed it with a top rope rana. Gravity then caught Komander with a rollup to score the win.
After the match, it was announced that Gravity would wrestle PAC this Wednesday on Dynamite. If PAC wins tonight, it will be for the ROH World Title as well. Yes, Gravity will wrestle The Man That Gravity Forgot. I chuckled at that.
This was slow building, but the crowd got behind Castle late with his feats of strength. The finish has had some build to it, with Joe menacing Hathaway in backstage segments over the past few weeks. This pairing of Joe and Hathaway has some potential, and a rematch with Castle would be welcomed.
This is Samoa Joe’s 13th defense of the title.
ROH Board Member Stokely Hathaway joined the booth, sounding fearful of Joe. After some ringside shenanigans to start, Castle caught Joe with an elbow before hitting a pair of splashes to Joe’s back. Joe fought back with chops before hitting a big boot and a senton. Castle fought back, but Joe ran through him with a back elbow and resumed with the offense.
Joe sent Castle into the corner, hitting the back splash and the enzuigiri. Joe clubbered on Castle for a few minutes here, choking him on the ropes in front of the Boys. Joe sent Castle to the floor, but the Boys threw Castle back in the ring as Joe came to the floor. Castle got some shots in, but Joe shut him down again with a powerslam. Castle avoided a back splash, with Joe hooking Castle on the ropes. But the Boys pushed him back on the apron, allowing him to low bridge Joe to the floor.
The Boys caught Castle on a dive that Joe walked away from, allowing him to hit a rana to the floor. Castle hit another dive, after which the Boys helped bring Joe into the ring. Castle hit an overhead suplex to a big reaction. Castle fired up, hitting another German suplex to send Joe to the floor. Joe crawled to Hathaway on commentary, yelling at him to fix this. Hathaway forced the referee to eject the Boys from ringside. Joe hit a low blow while the referee was dealing with Hathaway. Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch to score the win. Joe shook hands with Hathaway and patted him on the head, which was very disrespectful.
This was fun chaos in the tag team division. The Lucha Brothers and Best Friends got more aggressive as the match went on, teasing a rekindling of their feud. Aussie Open getting a spotlight as ROH Tag Team Champions is a great call, winning the titles in their first tag match as contracted members of the company.
This is the Lucha Brothers’ 3rd defense of the titles.
The Kingdom held control of the Best Friends early on before Beretta tagged out to Fenix. Taven tagged in Fletcher, who engaged in a forearm battle with Fenix before hitting a massive bodyslam and tagging in Davis. Fenix avoided the squisher clotheslines, using Davis as a stool to hit a cutter on Fletcher. Penta tagged in, with both teams trading strikes until the Kingdom knocked the Lucha Brothers out of the ring. Bennett and Beretta tagged in, with the Best Friends running wild until Aussie Open sent them to the floor.
Aussie Open ran around the ring with the Best Friends, crashing them into each other. That started a dive train that ended with Beretta superplexing Bennett from the top rope to the pile on the floor. Taven hit a frog splash on Beretta, giving Bennett a nearfall. The Kingdom isolated Beretta while the other teams were down, scoring several nearfalls. Beretta hit a tornado DDT on Bennett, with no choice but to tag in Penta. The Lucha Bros ran wild on Taven, with Penta hitting Made In Japan on Taven for a nearfall.
Taven avoided the Package Piledriver but walked into a tag from Fletcher. Aussie Open ran wild, taking all the other teams out. They hit the Whirly Bird on Penta for a nearfall broken up by Taven. The Kingdom hit Rockstar Supernova on Fletcher for a nearfall broken up by Taylor. Taylor cut off a Taven dive, allowing Fletcher to tag out to Beretta. Best Friends hit an assisted superplex for a nearfall, then ran wild on Bennett.
We got a train of piledrivers that ended when the Lucha Brothers hit a double superkick on Davis and their double stomp package piledriver for a nearfall. The Kingdom hit a Hail Mary on Penta, but Penta kicked out at one. The Kingdom set up the Proton Pack, but Penta escaped. Beretta tagged in, and the Best Friends hit their double-team move. The Lucha Brothers pulled the referee out of the ring, and Penta hit Beretta with a chair. In the mayhem, Fletcher tagged in and helped Davis hit Coreolis on Beretta to score the win and the titles.
This was a fun six-man. The result was never in doubt, but the challengers worked well together, and it’s always nice to see the Forbidden Door opened.
This is the Mogul Embassy’s 5th defense of the titles.
Wato and Taguchi have held the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Titles in the past, with Wato going on to win this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament in New Japan. Taguchi and Cage started, with Wato coming in and hitting some double-team offense on the Embassy. Cage dodged everyone and hit a double German suplex on Wato and Taguchi. Ruffin evaded everyone but ran into a Liona pounce. Liona suplexed Ruffin into the Embassy corner, allowing Prince Nana to get some shots in. The Embassy clubbered on Ruffin as Big Bill watched backstage.
After hitting a DDT to Kaun, Ruffin tagged out to Wato. Watomania ran wild, as Wato took down all three members of the Embassy. Wato locked both Kaun and Cage in submissions, but Liona broke it up. Taguchi tagged in and hit hip attacks on all three opponents. Taguchi avoided a charge from all three, then caught Kaun in an ankle lock. Liona broke it up, leading to an offensive flurry that included 619’s from both Cage and Taguchi. Nana distracted the referee, allowing Kaun to hit a low blow. But Taguchi caught Kaun low on the way down, getting a rollup for a nearfall.
Ruffin tagged in, taking down Cage with a cutter. He tried to hit the same cutter on Liona, but Liona cut it off and turned it into a backbreaker. The Embassy then won by throwing Ruffin in the air, letting gravity do the damage. No, gravity the concept, not the wrestler from earlier.
This was stellar. Garcia told the story of defiantly being an entertainer in the eyes of THE Wrestler so well. Garcia is reaching the level of pro wrestling prodigy at age 25 which makes you excited to watch his future.
This is Shibata’s 4th defense of the title. The judges for this match were Christopher Daniels, Jimmy Jacobs, & Jerry Lynn.
After a scramble for position, Shibata stopped Garcia from dancing and stomped on his hands. Shibata then locked on an inside Figure Four that forced Garcia to use his first rope break. Garcia went to the floor, baiting Shibata to the outside where he sent him into the barricade. Garcia mocked Shibata in the ring, sending Shibata after him. Shibata sent Garcia into the barricades repeatedly before booting him into the crowd.
Shibata went to bring Garcia over the barricade, but Garcia hooked Shibata’s arm over the barricade. Garcia sent Shibata into the post before slamming his arm into the apron. Garcia posed with the title before going to work on Shibata’s arm in the ring.
Shibata fired up, asking for more shots to the arm. Shibata rocked Garcia with a forearm, but Garcia sent Shibata into the mat shoulder-first. Garcia did his dance in Shibata’s face, but Shibata sat down. Garcia went to dance again, but Shibata slapped him and fired up. Shibata hit the shotgun dropkick and a suplex for a nearfall.
They traded submissions and suplexes before both falling down from exhaustion. They traded forearms and strikes until they collapsed again. Shibata booted Garcia, but Garcia caught a slap and locked on the Dragon Tamer. Garcia leaned too far back though, allowing Shibata to catch him in a choke. More slaps were traded before Shibata locked on a sleeper hold. Garcia defiantly danced until he faded out, with Shibata hitting the Penalty Kick to score the win.
– Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Aussie Open. They bragged about their victory and said that they would run the world.
Fight Without Honor – The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno & John Silver) defeated The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) & Stu Grayson
This exceeded my expectations, as these guys went all out here. This was vicious and violent, peaking with some wild high spots.
My feed froze during the Dark Order’s entrance. I came back in time to see Grayson spear Uno off the apron through a table. Dutch and Silver faced off with dueling 2×4’s, Dutch’s wrapped in barbed wire. Silver dropkicked the barbed wire board into Dutch’s face, lacerating him. After Vincent and Reynolds fought, Dutch dropped Reynolds face first into the 2×4. Vincent grinded the wire into Reynolds’ eyes.
Silver fought off Dutch and Vincent, introducing thumbtacks to proceedings. Grayson cut off Silver, walking him into a Bossman Slam from Dutch into the tacks. Uno laid into Grayson with a chair until Vincent shoved Grayson out of the way to take a shot. Uno set the chair up in the corner, but Vincent reversed Uno into the chair. Vincent tore Uno’s mask as Dutch and Grayson set up tables on the floor. Grayson punched a bloody Uno before Silver got involved. The Righteous set up Silver for a powerbomb through the tables, but Reynolds hit Dutch with a chair.
Reynolds and Silver hit their tag team combo on Dutch for a nearfall. Uno drilled Grayson and Dutch with the barbed wire board before dumping a bag of Legos into the ring. Dutch powerbombed Uno into the tacks and Lego, while Vincent and Grayson hit dives onto Silver that put him through a table. Dutch hit another powerbomb for a nearfall. Dutch and Grayson pulled out a table covered in barbed wire. Grayson got Reynolds on his shoulders, but Reynolds hit a DDT on the stage. Dutch came to help Grayson, but Reynolds sent Dutch through a table.
Silver came up with a tack-studded kickpad, landing Kawada kicks on Vincent who asked for more. Grayson took out Silver and laid Uno across the two tables. Grayson pulled out a massive ladder and set it up in the ring. Uno recovered, tipping the ladder and sending Grayson through the tables on the floor. The Dark Order isolated Grayson in the ring. They hit Grayson with the Ragnarok into the tacks to score the win.
This was a fantastic battle for the World Title. Both men being shades of grey muddied the waters as far as the babyface/heel divide went, but the work overcame that. This was hard-hitting and smartly worked, as you would expect from these two high-level wrestlers. Go out of your way to see this one.
This is Castagnoli’s 9th defense of the title.
Castagnoli charged PAC to start, hitting an uppercut and Swiss Death for a nearfall. PAC bailed out before a Neutralizer attempt. Castagnoli caught a PAC moonsault off the apron, dropping PAC into the barricade. PAC tried to bail out, but Castagnoli caught him on the stage and hit the Giant Swing. At the crowd’s request, Castagnoli hit another Giant Swing before attempting a Neutralizer on the ramp. PAC backdropped Castagnoli onto the stage, jamming Castagnoli’s knee. PAC then hit his apron moonsault to Castagnoli on the floor.
PAC set up a table on the floor, but Castagnoli uppercut PAC up and over the table before sending him into the barricade. Castagnoli charged PAC, but PAC moved, and Castagnoli jammed his knee again. PAC hit a shotgun dropkick for a nearfall. PAC brought Castagnoli to the top and brought him down with an avalanche brainbuster for a nearfall.
PAC taunted Castagnoli, but Castagnoli gorilla pressed PAC out of the ring through the table on the floor. Castagnoli went to the top rope and hit an elbow drop for a nearfall. Castagnoli dropped the hammer and anvil elbows before setting up the Neutralizer, but PAC hit an enzuigiri. PAC went for a springboard, but Castagnoli caught him and hit an Alley Oop before finally hitting the Neutralizer. It only scored a nearfall.
Castagnoli taunted PAC before drilling him with forearms. PAC came back and engaged in a strike exchange that Castagnoli got the better of with a lariat. Both men got to their feet, where PAC dropped Castagnoli with a pair of superkicks. PAC hit a stalling German suplex for a nearfall. PAC went to the top rope, but Castagnoli knocked him down with an uppercut. Castagnoli went for the outside-in deadlift superplex, but PAC cut him off and went for a super hurricanrana. Castagnoli stuffed it and went for the Ricola Bomb, but PAC ripped off the rana.
PAC went to the top rope but missed the Black Arrow. Castagnoli hit a lariat and went for the Ricola Bomb, but PAC locked on the Brutalizer. Castagnoli tried to slam his way out of it, but PAC clutched it back on. Castagnoli lifted PAC up again, this time onto the ropes, and hit an Air Raid Crash to escape the hold. After both men recovered, PAC went to take the turnbuckle pad off when Wheeler Yuta stopped him. Castagnoli then hit an uppercut before hitting the Ricola Bomb for the win.
After the match, the Lucha Brothers came out to help their Death Triangle partner. They beat down Castagnoli and Yuta until Best Friends made the save. Orange Cassidy came out to help the Best Friends. He went to hit an Orange Punch on Yuta, but Yuta ducked, and Castagnoli took the shot. The Best Friends stood tall to end the scene here.
– The announcers ran down the Collision card, noting that we will hear from FTR, Ricky Starks, and CM Punk. They ran down the Dynamite card, which will feature a three-way tag team match between Best Friends, the Lucha Brothers, and the BCC team of Castagnoli and Jon Moxley.
They billed the two World Title matches as a double main event. I went in believing this was just marketing, but this match lived up to the billing. These two put on one of the best World Title matches of the year, up there with Castagnoli and PAC, and rivaling Flair/Ripley from Wrestlemania as a Women’s Match of the Year. This was dramatic, had shoutouts to the women that built Women of Honor, and had the crowd rocking by the end. A fantastic main event to a show that out-delivered any reasonable expectations. I gave the ROH brass a lot of grief for their lack of build to this show. While I stand by my criticisms, I knew that the talent would still be put in positions to deliver. They delivered in spades, making this one of Ring of Honor’s best PPV events ever.
This is Athena’s 12th defense of the title.
Nightingale’s family is in the front row. Nightingale controlled early, hitting an enzuigiri. Athena went for quick pinfalls, but Nightingale kept kicking out. Both women ended up on the apron, with Athena dropping Nightingale on the apron with a back suplex. Athena clubbered on Nightingale in the corner and avoided a senton when Nightingale tried fighting back. Athena menaced the referee, which allowed Nightingale to surprise her with a Pounce.
Nightingale fired up, hitting a main event spinebuster – this time in the actual main event – for a nearfall. They traded strikes until Athena hit a strong forearm. Athena followed up with a side kick and her lungblower variant for a nearfall. Athena pulled Nightingale to the apron, but Nightingale elbowed her down. Nightingale hit a crossbody off the apron, then powerbombed her onto the apron. Athena fought off of Nightingale’s shoulders and dropkicked her.
Athena went for the double knees into the steps, but Nightingale moved. Nightingale then hit a cannonball into the stairs, getting Athena back into the ring for a nearfall. Athena hit a Shining Wizard and a standing moonsault, but Nightingale rolled up to her feet and hit Smash Mouth – ROH regular Sumie Sakai’s finisher – for a nearfall. Athena hit a rana, but Nightingale popped back up and hit the Royal Butterfly – Sara Del Ray’s old finisher – for a nearfall.
Nightingale went for the Babe With The Powerbomb, but Athena countered it with a Heart Punch and a Snapmare Driver – Daizee Haze’s old finisher – for a nearfall. Shoutouts to the women of ROH’s past in this first-time PPV main event. Nightingale hit a spinning DDT – Mickie James’ finisher she used in ROH – for a nearfall. Athena avoided a cannonball and hit an Obliterator – MsChif’s old finisher – and followed it up with a powerbomb for a nearfall.
Athena brought Nightingale to the top rope, but Nightingale hit a top rope DVD for a nearfall. My browser crashed for a moment but came back just in time to see Athena send Nightingale into the stairs. Athena hit the O-Face, but Nightingale kicked out to a massive reaction. Athena menaced the referee again, but that allowed Nightingale to roll Athena into the Babe With The Powerbomb. Athena kicked out at two. Nightingale brought Athena to the top rope, but Athena knocked her down and hit the O-Face again. Athena locked Nightingale in a crossface. Nightingale fought until she couldn’t fight anymore, passing out in the hold. Athena retained by referee stoppage.
A Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team title match is part of Thursday’s NJPW-tinged ROH on HonorClub lineup.
The Embassy’s Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun will defend against LIJ’s BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi in search of their fourth title defense since winning the gold last December.
After being part of the Forbidden Door pre-show, El Desperado will make his ROH debut against Willie Mack while Sho & Yujiro Takahashi will face Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta).
In eight-man action, ROH Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers will once again team with El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander to take on The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry), Shane Taylor & Gringo Loco.
In one of two non-title Proving Ground matches, ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli will take on Chuck Taylor while ROH Women’s Champion Athena goes one-on-one with KC Spinelli.
Here’s the full 11-match card, taped last Saturday in Chicago:
El Desperado vs. Willie Mack
Lucha Brothers, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander vs. The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake and Anthony Henry), Shane Taylor & Gringo Loco
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun) defend against LIJ (BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi)
ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli vs. Chuck Taylor in a Proving Ground match
ROH Women’s Champion Athena vs. KC Spinelli in a Proving Ground match
Diamante vs. Leila Gray
Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) vs. The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch)
United Empire (Kyle Fletcher, TJP & Jeff Cobb) vs. Christopher Daniels, Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Dralistico & Preston Vance vs. Mark Wheeler & Vikram Prashar
In the main event of Thursday’s Ring of Honor on HonorClub, ROH Women’s Champion Athena will look to go into Forbidden Door weekend as champion as she defends against Kiera Hogan in a Chicago street fight.
ROH Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers will team with AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander against The Butcher & The Blade, Kip Sabian and Serpentico.
Daniel Garcia will take on Rocky Romero in a Pure rules match ahead of Garcia’s AEW International title opportunity at Sunday’s Forbidden Door.
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) will face Trenton Storm, AJZ & Luke Kurtis in a non-title match.
After they were unsuccessful on Dynamite, AR Fox, Action Andretti & Darius Martin return to action against The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) and Shane Taylor.
The 13-match lineup also will feature Gringo Loco vs. Willie Mack; Lee Moriarty & Big Bill vs. Blake Christian & Matt Sydal, and more.
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This week began Ring of Honor’s traveling tenure with AEW Collision, as this week’s show was taped last Saturday from the United Center in Chicago, IL. I can’t say I’m a fan of the change, as the half-empty crowds do put a damper on my excitement for the show. However, the Universal Studios tapings weren’t much more than Dark tapings with a big match here and there. This is more of a complaint about the show’s format than it is about the show’s weekly setting.
The show began with the ROH Board of Directors – Tony Khan, Stokely Hathaway, & Jerry Lynn – standing with Samoa Joe on the Collision set last Saturday. They want to celebrate Samoa Joe reaching one year as ROH World Television Champion, so they present him with a brand-new title belt. Joe says he can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by breaking CM Punk’s face. We then cut to a video recap of the Collision main event, highlighting Joe and Punk’s faceoff.
Ian Riccaboni and Caprice Coleman are on the call as we head to the first match.
El Hijo del Vikingo, Komander & The Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) (w/ Alex Abrahantes) defeated Kip Sabian, Serpentico & The Butcher & The Blade (w/Penelope Ford & Angelico)
Vikingo and Serpentico started off. Serpentico got the better of Vikingo with a powerbomb, but Vikingo hit a hurricane kick and tagged out to Komander. The Butcher tagged in on the other side and took control after Kip Sabian cut Komander off with a knee to the back. The Sabian side rushed Komander with offense, ending with a Butcher lariat for a nearfall.
The Sabian side ran an offensive flurry in the corner on Komander, ending with a Sabian fisherman’s suplex for a nearfall. Komander fought his way out of a double team and tagged out to Penta, who ran wild on both the Blade and Sabian. Fenix tagged in and ran wild on the Blade and Serpentico. Quadruple superkicks on all four opponents gave Fenix a nearfall on Sabian.
The Lucha Brothers’ tag team Package Piledriver got broken up, leading to a triple team on Fenix for a nearfall. The match broke down into a Pier Eight brawl before the luchadors caught the Sabian team in a rowboat in the middle of the ring. Penta hit a Canadian Destroyer on Serpentico in the middle of it all. Vikingo and Fenix hit dives to the floor, leaving Penta to hit the Package Piledriver on Serpentico to score the win.
Gringo Loco defeated Willie Mack
These two went to a stalemate early on, cartwheeling out of each other’s headscissors attempt. Mack caught Loco with a DDT out of the corner. Mack hit a pair of running strikes before landing a cannonball in the corner for a nearfall. Loco fought back before running into a Samoan Drop from Mack. Mack hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall.
Mack took Loco to the top rope, but Loco knocked him down and hit a double jump moonsault. Mack rolled to the floor, but Loco followed him with a plancha. Loco went for a corkscrew moonsault, but Mack moved and hit a main event spinebuster for a nearfall. They traded strikes before Mack hit a Shining Wizard to put both men down. Loco cut Mack off as he went to the top rope and hit a double jump Spanish Fly for the hometown win.
Trish Adora defeated Allysin Kay
Adora caught Kay in an Octopus hold, but Kay dumped her on the ropes to escape. Kay laid in some strikes before landing a neckbreaker for a nearfall. Kay laid in the strikes to Adora before Adora caught her with a German suplex from her knees. Adora fired up, sending Kay into the corner shoulder first. Adora hit a bridging suplex for a nearfall. Kay avoided the Lariat Tubman and hit a boot for a nearfall. Adora rolled out of a powerbomb position and hit the Lariat Tubman for the win.
Kyle Fletcher defeated Silas Young
After trading shoulder blocks, Fletcher sent Young to the floor with a boot. Fletcher hit a crossbody over the top rope. On commentary, Riccaboni noted that a win here would give Fletcher three straight wins over three former ROH TV champions. Young cut Fletcher off with a hotshot across the top rope before sending Fletcher into the turnbuckles hard with an Irish Whip.
Fletcher muscled Young up into a suplex. Fletcher fired up, hitting a running forearm and a back suplex for a nearfall. Young cut Fletcher off with a back elbow, but Fletcher hit a half-and-half suplex before following it with a running kick in the corner. Fletcher followed it with a brainbuster for a nearfall. Young fought out of the twisting Tombstone, but Young sent Fletcher to the apron and hit a springboard lariat. Young hit the backbreaker/lariat combo but missed the headstand moonsault. Fletcher scored the win with a hammerlock reverse DDT, a move Riccaboni noted was a new finisher for Fletcher.
The Mogul Embassy (Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage & Toa Liona) (w/Prince Nana) defeated AJZ, Luke Kurtis & Trenton Storm
Liona charged Kurtis while Kurtis still had his entrance robe on. Kurtis caught Liona with a DDT, but Liona got right back up and hit a belly-to-belly for a nearfall. Cage tagged in and dropped Storm with a lariat. Storm went for a headscissors, but Cage shrugged him off and hit a German suplex. AJZ tagged in and got a bit of offense in on Kaun, but Kaun hit a Stun Gun over the top rope before hitting a running back elbow on the floor.
The Embassy went into their finishing sequence, taking out all three men before hitting three separate power moves to win. Liona got the pin on AJZ. I think Cage was the legal man, so if the other team wanted to file a complaint with the Board of Directors, they may have a case.
Both men have amateur wrestling experience, so they started this match with some impressive grappling. They got tied up in the ropes, where Woods yanked Castle’s head and neck into the top rope. Castle fired up the crowd before getting back in the ring and dropping Woods with a DDT. Castle hooked Woods on the top rope before kneeing him down. The other Varsity Athletes got distracted Castle, allowing Woods to send Castle into the barricade twice.
Woods tied Castle in the ropes before hitting a German suplex for a nearfall. Castle hit a clothesline before firing up with suplex variants. Castle caught a charging Woods with a German suplex for a nearfall. Woods escaped the Bangarang – with the help of Sterling – and hit a gutwrench suplex and a charging knee for a nearfall. Castle fought off all of the Athletes before using the Boys to take out Nese on the floor. Castle caught Woods on a leapfrog and hit the Bangarang for the win.
– We got a pair of video packages setting up our next match. The Kingdom went up to Stokely Hathaway and accused the Infantry of talking trash about him. The Infantry accused the Kingdom of lying about that and made a challenge for a match.
The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) defeated The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) (w/Maria Kanellis-Bennett)
A genuine upset here, as the newer team scored the win and a third against the former ROH World Tag Team Champions.
After trading double team moves, Bravo hit a cutter over the ropes on Taven for a nearfall. Bennett dropped Bravo with strikes before landing a brainbuster for a nearfall. Bennett hit a main event spinebuster before Taven hit a springboard moonsault for a nearfall. Taven hit a DDT on Bravo for a nearfall as the Kingdom isolated Bravo. Bravo fought his way to his corner to make the tag to Dean, who ran wild on both men.
Dean hit a top rope crossbody as a fan could be heard cursing out MJF for some reason. Dean hit a Tiger Driver on Bennett for a nearfall. The Infantry hit a tag team uranage for a nearfall. Taven cut off Bravo with a knee and a Kick of the King. The Kingdom hit a neckbreaker/powerbomb combination for a nearfall. Bravo fought out of the corner, hitting a scissors kick to Bennett. Dean hit a big splash for a nearfall.
The match broke down into a Pier Four brawl before Bennett and Dean took each other down with clotheslines. As Maria distracted the referee, Bennett cut Dean off with a chair. As the Kingdom set up the Hail Mary, Trish Adora came out to remove Maria from proceedings. Dean rolled up Bennett to score the upset win.
Big Bill & Lee Moriarty defeated Blake Christian & Matt Sydal
Big Bill has rounded into a very good wrestler. He and Moriarty have become a solid team.
Moriarty and Sydal began with mat work. Sydal hit a headscissors and a corkscrew senton for a nearfall before tagging in Christian. Christian hit a big dropkick before landing a bottom-rope 619. Christian hit a handspring kick before tagging in Sydal to hit some double-team offense, ending with a running knee from Sydal. Bill tagged in and poked Sydal in his third eye before hitting a kitchen sink knee. Bill cut off a headscissors, allowing Moriarty to boot him in the head.
Moriarty tagged in and clubbered on Sydal to the point where Bill had to tell him to calm down. Moriarty hit a bridging suplex for a nearfall before tagging Bill back in. Sydal avoided two corner charges from Moriarty and Sydal. Christian backflipped off the apron when Moriarty went to cut him off, allowing Sydal to hit a spin kick and tag out to Christian. Christian fired up, hitting a suicide dive to Bill and a Fosbury Flop to Moriarty. Christian hit a springboard 450 for a nearfall that was broken up by Bill.
Sydal and Christian hit a double dropkick on Moriarty, but Bill tagged in and took them both out with clotheslines. Christian cut off a chokeslam with a knee but ran right into a Bossman Slam for a nearfall that Sydal broke up. Sydal took Bill to the floor with a headscissors, but Bill avoided a big dive and chokeslammed Christian on the apron. Bill hit the East River Crossing – Hirooki Goto’s Shouten Kai – for the win.
– Backstage, Lexy was with The Kingdom. They were upset at their loss, blaming Stokely Hathaway for setting it up. Maria said that she gave Trish Adora her first opportunity in ROH and would make sure it would be her last chance as well.
The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) (w/Negative One) defeated August Matthews & Davey Bang
Silver started with Bang and quickly caught him in a double team. Riccaboni noted on commentary that Matthews and Bang had a naughty tag team name on the independent scene. Reynolds hammered Matthews before Silver powerbombed Matthews into the knees of Reynolds. Reynolds and Silver hit their strike combination finisher to score the quick victory.
After the match, The Righteous and Stu Grayson came up on the screen. Grayson asked if the Dark Order would ever bleed for him, turning Evil Uno’s question against him. Vincent asked the Dark Order if they would bring the same aggression next week. In response, Reynolds and Silver dropped Bang with more offense.
– Backstage, Lexy was with Diamante. Smart Mark Sterling came in and offered Diamante half of the winner’s purse to forfeit. Well, 49% of the winner’s purse. Surprisingly, Diamante rejected the offer.
Leila Grey (w/Mark Sterling) defeated Diamante
Diamante seemed to change her mind and laid down for Grey but caught her with a kick when she went for the cover. Diamante hit a baseball slide, but Grey caught a boot and dropped Diamante on the apron. Grey hit a boot for a nearfall. Grey clubbered on Diamante, hitting a bulldog for a nearfall.
Grey missed a senton, allowing Diamante to fire up and hit a German suplex. Diamante hit the hesitation dropkick in the corner for a nearfall. Sterling distracted Diamante for a moment. Diamante stomped on his hand, but Grey caught Diamante with a roll-up to score the win.
Action Andretti, AR Fox & Darius Martin defeated Shane Taylor & The WorkHorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)
Good trios match here with two new, solid teams. Taylor and the WorkHorsemen are gelling together well.
Henry and Drake sent their opponents out of the ring while Taylor had Fox’s hand in the Code of Honor. Martin tried to fire up, but Drake cut him off on the floor. That allowed Taylor’s team to blitz Martin with offense. Fox caught Drake with a moonsault off the apron. Andretti tagged in and fired up, landing big offense on Henry and Taylor. Drake tried to fight Andretti, but Andretti was able to take them out with the help of Martin.
Taylor was the last man standing, fighting off all three of his opponents until Drake was able to get back in. Drake slingshot Fox into a Marcus Garvey Driver that Henry hit a double stomp to assist with. The cover got broken up, and the match broke down into a Pier Six brawl. Henry and Fox were left in the ring, and Fox caught Henry with a rollup out of a nip-up to steal the win.
– Backstage, Lexy was with Leila Grey and Smart Mark Sterling. They gloated about their win until Diamante came in demanding a rematch. Grey dismissively agreed to a rematch down the line. I was fine with the one match.
Pure Rules Match: Daniel Garcia defeated Rocky Romero
The judges for this Pure Match were Pat Buck, Stokely Hathaway, and Jerry Lynn.
Garcia forced Romero into the ropes to burn one of Romero’s rope breaks. Romero then caught Garcia in the Diablo Armbar to get Garcia to use his first rope break. Romero hit a dive to Garcia who escaped to the floor before hitting a running Sliced Bread back in the ring for a nearfall. Garcia cut off the Forever clotheslines and hit a butterfly suplex into the ropes. The crowd began chanting You’re A Wrestler to Garcia, who responded with a dance and a suplex for a nearfall.
Romero caught Garcia with an Octopus Stretch to burn Garcia’s second rope break. Garcia cut off a headscissors and locked on an STF. Romero dragged Garcia to the ropes and grabbed the ropes to use his second rope break. Garcia taunted the crowd while he had Romero down, allowing Romero to drill him with a jumping knee. Garcia cut off Romero on the top rope, but Romero caught him with a hurricanrana off the top. Romero tied up Garcia in the ropes and hit the Strong Zero for a nearfall, which Garcia used the ropes to break. Garcia used his final rope break.
Garcia caught Romero with the Walls of Jericho, forcing Romero to use his last rope break to escape. The crowd informed the wrestlers that they were both out of rope breaks. Garcia tried to send a message to Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata by finishing Romero with a Penalty Kick, but Romero caught it and fired up. Romero went on the offensive and caught Garcia in the Diablo Armbar. Garcia got to the ropes and rolled over top to transition the armbar into the Dragon Tamer. Romero tried to escape out of the ring, but Garcia held on through the ropes and got the submission win.
After the match, Garcia feigned a Code of Honor handshake before trying to hook on the Walls of Jericho again. Orange Cassidy made his way out to a big pop to save his best friend’s friend and run off Garcia.
ROH Women’s World Title Chicago Street Fight: Athena defeated Kiera Hogan to retain
These two went all out in this one, giving their bodies up for this main event. But there was a lot of dead time in this one with the setting up of weapons taking up most of it. It would have benefitted greatly from either a tighter time frame or more urgency with the set-up. But the spots they set up did work in getting great reactions from the crowd, so it worked out in the end.
Hogan took the fight to Athena to start, but Athena caught Hogan with a Bossman Slam to cut her off. Athena went for a ladder, but Hogan dropkicked it into her chest. Hogan hit a headscissors into a standing ladder on the floor. Athena shoved Hogan into the ladder before sending her into the barricade. Hogan cut Athena off and tossed weapons into the ring, but Athena grabbed a garbage can lid and hit Hogan with it.
Athena sent Hogan into the open end of a trash can and hammered it with a kendo stick for a one count. Athena went for a handspring, but Hogan threw the trash can into Athena’s face before throwing her can in Athena’s face with a hip attack. Hogan hit a baseball slide to the trash can, then followed it with a neckbreaker for a nearfall. Hogan set Athena up on a ladder bridge and went for a splash, but Athena moved, leaving nothing but ladder for Hogan.
Athena set up a table on the floor, as well as a chair contraption at ringside. After some time, Athena went back to Hogan, but Hogan sent Athena through another table at ringside. Hogan hammered Athena with the kendo stick, but Athena got one of her own. They traded kendo stick shots before Athena won the battle. Hogan dropped Athena across a table and hit a splash thro…onto the table. Another splash broke the leg of the table, so it kind of counted.
Hogan set up a table in the ring, but Athena cut her off and went to the top rope. Hogan cut her off and went for a headscissors, but Athena stuffed it and powerbombed Hogan through the table for a nearfall. Athena grabbed a black bag from under the ring and emptied it, revealing thumbtacks all over the ring. Hogan fought out of a Razor’s Edge and sent Athena into a trash can before hitting a side suplex into the tacks for a nearfall.
Hogan choked Athena with her braids, but Athena clawed at Hogan’s eyes to escape. Athena rolled to the apron and superplexed Hogan through the chair contraption at ringside. Athena rolled Hogan into the ring and got the pin to win and retain the title. This was Athena’s 11th successful defense of the title.
– Backstage, Lexy was with Athena. Athena complained about the lack of a celebration before telling the rest of the roster to step up or step out.
Ring of Honor released a 13-match lineup for Thursday’s Ring of Honor on HonorClub which will be headlined by a Women’s title defense.
As announced last Thursday, Athena will defend the ROH Women’s title against Kiera Hogan in a street fight. The two have been feuding for several weeks.
In an eight-man match, ROH Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers will team with AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander against The Butcher & The Blade, Kip Sabian and Serpentico.
Daniel Garcia will continue his campaign for a Pure title rematch as he takes on Rocky Romero in a Pure rules match.
Ahead of their high-profile match on Dynamite, AR Fox, Action Andretti & Darius Martin will be in trios action against The WorkHorsemen & Shane Taylor.
Here’s the full 13-match lineup taped on Saturday in Chicago:
Lucha Brothers, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander vs. Serpentico, Kip Sabian and The Butcher & The Blade
ROH Women’s Champion Athena defends against Kiera Hogan in a street fight
Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) vs. Davey Bang & August Matthews
Leila Grey vs. Diamante
Gringo Loco vs. Willie Mack
Dalton Castle vs. Josh Woods
Blake Christian & Matt Sydal vs. Lee Moriarty & Big Bill
AR Fox, Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry) and Shane Taylor
Kyle Fletcher vs. Silas Young
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) vs. Trenton Storm, AJZ & Luke Kurtis in a non-title match
The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) vs. The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo)
Trish Adora vs. Allysin Kay
Daniel Garcia vs. Rocky Romero in a Pure rules match
Four women will vie for an AEW Women’s title shot on Friday’s Rampage on TNT from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In a four-way former champions Britt Baker and Nyla Rose will face Skye Blue and former Ring of Honor Women’s Champion Mercedes Martinez. The winner will challenge current titleholder Toni Storm on this Wednesday’s Dynamite.
The plot will continue to thicken in the AEW trios division with two matches.
In one, ROH Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers (Penta & Rey Fenix) will unite with Bandido against former Firm teammates Ethan Page, Lee Moriarty & Big Bill. In the other bout, former AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) and Billy Gunn battle the Spanish Announce Project (Serpentico, Angelico & Luther).
Powerhouse Hobbs will return to action ahead of an anticipated move to the impending Collision show on Saturdays.
Our coverage begins at 10 PM Eastern.
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Taped in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jim Ross, Excalibur, and Tony Schiavone were on commentary.
Bandido & The Lucha Brothers vs. Big Bill, Lee Moriarty, and Ethan Page
Ethan Page was teaming with his former partners in The Firm, even though his contract is now under the control of Matt Hardy. Because this match was signed before Hardy got control of the contract, you see. Page hit a nice-looking rana on Rey Fenix before tags were made to Bandido and Moriarty. Bandido hit Moriarty with a tornio and then a tijeras, before tags were made to Big Bill and Penta. Penta showed no fear facing Bill. Bill kept going for a choke on Penta, who kept breaking free with kicks. Pent tried for a tope through the ropes on Bill, who cut him off with a right hand. Bill whipped Penta into the barricade, and soon everyone was brawling around the ring.
After a split screen break, Bill overpowered Bandido in the corner. Bill hit Bandido with a boot, and Page hoisted Bandido from the mat into a powerslam for a near fall. Bandido slipped out of a powerbomb attempt and hit an enziguri, then got the tag to Ray Fenix. Fenix sent Page to the floor with a superkick, then the Lucha Bros took out Bill with a series of double team superkicks. Penta catapulted Bandio over the ropes into a torino onto their opponents on the floor. Back in the ring, Page took a beat from the Lucha Bros. Bill ate some more superkicks, and Moriarty caught a cutter from Fenix.
The Lucha Bros hit the Fear Factor on the ring apron on Moriarty. Page got his knees up when Bandido went for a splash. Page set up the Ego’s Edge, but the Hardys came out to chastise Page for not wearing the special arm sleeves that Jeff Hardy gifted Page. Page pulled his brand new arm sleeves up, but this distraction allowed Bandido to hit the 21-plex and get the pinfall.
– A QTV segment. They can’t think of an edgy idea for Collision that hasn’t already been done, so they agree to send Powerhouse Hobbs out to beat someone up.
Crush is from Colorado Springs, which is probably convenient for him since he’ll know where the hospital is. Hobbs destroyed this poor kid. Crush caught Hobbs with an enziguri. Hobbs bodyblocked him into the ropes and put him through the mat with a spinebuster to get the pinfall.
– Rene Paquette interviewed Arn Anderson and Wardlow about the beating Brock Anderson took at the hands of Christian Cage and Luchasaurus. Wardlow promised to make Cage and Luchasuarus pay, and talked about an open challenge he has next Wednesday with Jake Hager for the TNT title.
The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn defeated Serpentico, Angelico, and Luther
Collectively, Serpentico, Angelico and Luther are known as SAP, and in his rap Max Caster revealed what that really stood for.
The first four minutes of this match were just goofiness around scissoring spots before they went to a split-screen break.
After the break, Billy Gunn got the hot tag. Angelico caught Gunn with an enziguri and Luther got a near fall. Bowens got the tag and hit Luther with the Arrival, and Caster dropped the big elbow to get the pin. As a match, this was nothing but the crowd was happy.
– A Dynamite recap.
– Rene Paquette brought out Jeff Jarrett’s crew for an interview. Karen Jarrett grabbed the mic and demanded Aubrey Edwards come out. Edwards came out with Mark Briscoe. AEW won’t sanction a one-on-one match between Edwards and Karen (because Aubrey is a referee and Karen “sure as hell isn’t a wrestler.”). But Mark announced that they will sanction a mixed trios match, The Jarretts & Jay Lethal against Aubrey Edwards, Mark Briscoe… and Papa Briscoe.
Skye Blue defeated Nyla Rose (w/ Marina Shafir), Britt Baker (w/ Hikaru Shida) and Mercedes Martinez in a four-way match to become the No. 1 contender for the AEW World Women’s Championship.
Toni Storm and Ruby Soho were shown watching the match in the back.
Shafir interfered and tried to choke out Martinez, and Shida chased her to the back with a kendo stick.
After the split-screen break, Rose had Martinez hung up in the ropes for her guillotine legdrop, but Baker pushed her off the ropes to the floor. Baker hit Martinez with a slingblade for a one count. Blue and Baker exchanged forearms in the middle of the ring, and Blue got a near fall after an enziguri. Baker went for the lockjaw on Martinez, and Blue added a half crab, but Rose broke the submission attempt up.
Blue and Barker hit a double superkick on Rose. Rose chokeslammed Baker and went for the pin, which Martinez broke up with a running knee. Baker gave Rose a stomp, and Martinez dumped Baker to the floor. Baker pulled Martinez out. Blue then snuck back in the ring and hit Rose with the Code Blue and got the surprise pinfall. Blue teared up after getting the surprise win.
As a result, Sky Blue will face Toni Storm for the AEW World Women’s championship on Dynamite Wednesday. Toni Storm reacted to the win by spray painting a green “L” on the monitor in the back.
The next challenger for AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm will be made on this Friday’s AEW Rampage.
Former champions Britt Baker and Nyla Rose will face former Ring of Honor Women’s Champion Mercedes Martinez and Skye Blue in a four-way no. 1 contender’s match. The winner will move on to face Storm on next Wednesday’s Dynamite.
The show will feature two trios matches. One will feature ROH Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers teaming with Bandido against Ethan Page, Lee Moriarty & Big Bill while The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn battle the Spanish Announce Project.
Here’s the full lineup that is being taped in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Wednesday:
Lucha Brothers & Bandido vs. Ethan Page, Lee Moriarty & Big Bill
Powerhouse Hobbs in action
The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn vs. Spanish Announce Project (Serpentico, Luther & Angelico)
Britt Baker vs. Skye Blue vs. Mercedes Martinez vs. Nyla Rose in a four-way no. 1 contender’s match for an AEW Women’s title shot
It’s another early edition of AEW Rampage Friday due to the NHL playoffs on TNT.
Tonight’s show will feature a cinematic match of sorts in The Firm Deletion which should be the end of the feud between Matt Hardy and Stokely Hathaway’s faction. Matt & Jeff Hardy, Hook and Isiah Kassidy will face Ethan Page, Hathaway, Big Bill and Lee Moriarty at the Hardy compound.
In trios action, Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) & El Hijo del Vikingo will unite to take on Powerhouse Hobbs, QT Marshall & Aaron Solo. This was made after the events of Wednesday’s trios battle royal.
TBS Champion Jade Cargill will be in non-title action against Gia Scott. Cargill is looking to keep her career-long undefeated streak alive as she awaits her next real challenge.
Mark Briscoe will compete close to his home of Laurel, Delaware, against Preston Vance of LFI.
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Taped in Baltimore, Maryland. Jim Ross, Excalibur & Tony Schiavone were on commentary.
Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) & El Hijo del Vikingo (w/ Alex Abrahantes) defeated Powerhouse Hobbs, QT Marshall & Aaron Solo (w/ Harley Cameron) (12:23)
This match stemmed from the Trios Battle Royal from Dynamite Wednesday. Nice to see something set up on Dynamite and followed through on Rampage. Marshall started with Vikingo and got schooled. Vikingo hit an implosion hurricanrana and a Phoenix Splash for a near fall. Tags were made to Rey Fenix and Aaron Solo. Solo couldn’t keep up with Fenix and tagged in Powerhouse Hobbs. Penta got the tag and matched power for a bit with Hobbs, but cut off with a clothesline. Vikingo dove onto Hobbs and right into a powerbomb. Hobbs with a delayed vertical suplex on Penta, then tossed him to the floor.
Marshall dropped to the floor and sent Penta into the steel ringpost. Marshall pulled a table out from under the ring and the show went to a split-screen break.
Back from break, Penta hit slingblades on Marshall and Solo. Fenix hit Hobbs with a rope-running punt kick. Vikingo and the Lucha Bros took out Marshall’s crew with triple topes to the floor.
Back in the ring, Vikingo hit a shooting star press on Solo, and the Lucha Bros followed up with the wheelbarrow double team into a splash for a near fall. Solo tried a comeback, but Vikingo took him down with a uranage. Penta hit a springboard Canadian Destroyer on Marshall and Fenix took out Hobbs with a cutter.
Marshall caught Fenix with a pop-up forearm, and Solo came off the top with a double stomp for a near fall. Fenix caught Solo with a superkick, but Marshall cut off Vikingo on the top rope. Vikingo hit him with a Canadian Destroyer on the ring apron. Vikingo then gave Solo a German suplex out of an electric chair. On the floor, Hobbs started choking out Alex Abrahantes. The Lucha Bros finished off Solo with the Fear Factor.
Hobbs went from something special to just another guy thanks to getting paired with Marshall’s group. They are less than the sum of their parts.
– There was a tease of controversial comments from MJF after his loss on Wednesday, but it was just him angry backstage and demanding his belt. That’s still the closest he’s come to working Rampage.
– Lexi Nair interviewed Chris Jericho at his locker room. Jericho will not work Rampage tonight because he needs some “insurances” that he will be safe from another attack from Adam Cole. Jericho doesn’t want to work in the same building as Cole which sounds a lot like the actual problems AEW’s having with some other performers.
TBS Champion Jade Cargill (w/ Leila Grey) defeated Gia Scott (0:35)
Pump kick and Jaded and it’s over. Jade is 57-0.
– Lexi Nair’s interview with Mark Briscoe is interrupted by Jeff Jarrett’s crew, looking for more insights on FTR from Briscoe. FTR will respond to Jarrett’s challenge this Wednesday on Dynamite.
Mark Briscoe vs. Preston Vance (w/ Jose the Assistant)
Mark Briscoe’s kids were at ringside. Vance grabbed their signs and tore them up. Briscoe brawled with Vance around the ring and sent him headfirst into the ringpost. Briscoe went for a moonsault onto the floor, but Vance dodged it and Briscoe hit the floor. Vance tossed Briscoes into the barricades around ringside.
After a split-screen break, Vance locked Briscoe in the full nelson. Briscoe kicked off the turnbuckles into a pin for a near fall. Brisco and Vance exchanged forearms. Briscoe floored Vance with a clothesline. Briscoe countered Vance’s discus lariat with an ugly flatliner for a near fall. Briscoe went for the Jay Driller, but Vance escaped and hit the discus clothesline. Vance dropped to the floor for a chair, but opted not to use it. Vance hit a spear for a near fall. Jose tried to slide Vance the chair, which distracted the ref and allowed Vance to hit a low blow.
Briscoe backdropped Vance to the floor, then used the chair as a springboard for a tope. Back in the ring, Vance countered the discus lariat and hit the Jay Driller for the pin. I love Mark, but this was just a match.
After the match, Briscoe’s family came into the ring to celebrate with Mark.
– Lexi Nair’s interview with Dustin Rhodes was interrupted when the Mogul Embassy blindsided him. Keith Lee ran them off. Seems like this feud is building to the Dynamite in Austin, Texas on May 17th.
New for Dynamite Wednesday:
Anna Jay v. Julia Hart in a No Holds Barred match.
ROH Tag Champion Rey Fenix v. ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli in a match where the winner will get a shot at the other man’s championship.
The House of Black v. The Best Friends & Bandido in a House Rules Trios Title match.
The Hardy Boys, Hook & Isiah Kassidy defeated Ethan Page, Big Bill, Stokley Hathaway and Lee Moriarty in The Firm Deletion Match
The Firm showed up at the Hardy Compound and busted up Hardy’s mailbox. They were greeted by Hardy’s drone, who deemed them “rude AF.” It went from daylight to night (via time travel?), and Hardy’s team shot fireworks at the Firm. Then the brawl started in the dark. Kassidy and Jeff Hardy double-teamed Big Bill. Bill chokeslammed Isiah Kassidy into a tree. This took Kassidy out of the match for a bit.
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Hardy gave Page a vertical suplex, but Page countered a Twist of Fate with a double leg takedown, then broke a tree branch over Matt’s back for a near fall. Back to Jeff and Big Bill, and Jeff choked Bill out with a stick. Bill’s eyes rolled into the back of his head.
In another part of the compound, Matt Hardy’s kids tried to run over Stokely Hathaway with a motorized big wheel. Hardy and Page made their way into the warehouse with the ring, and the show went to a split screen break.
Most of Hook’s involvment in the match came during the slip-screen break, when he suplexed Hathaway in the ring, then caught a leg lariat from Lee Moriarty.
In the ring, Hardy hit the Twist of Fate for the near fall. Caprice Coleman was one of the referees for the match, but this wasn’t acknowledged by the commentators. Stokley Hathaway found what looked like Matt Hardy’s screening room in the house. Before he could settle in to watch “Coming to America,” he was jumped by Matt Hardy’s kids. Back outside, Bill had doused the Hardys with gasoline and threatened to set them on fire. Isaiah Kassidy reemerged as “Brother Zay” on the top of the warehouse, and dove onto everybody.
Back in the warehouse, Reby Hardy hit a Twist of Fate on Hathaway. Maxel hit the swanton bomb before Reby put the kids to bed. Back outside, “Brother Zay” put Bill through a table on the outside.
Back in the warehouse, Ethan Page was left to fend for himself in a 4-on-1. Hook hit an exploder on Page, Hardy gave him the Twist of Fate, and Jeff came off the top with a swanton bomb. Referee Caprice Coleman counted the pinfall. After the match, Jeff Hardy walked off into the night. The Hardy team celebrated by lighting a giant Hardy cross symbol on fire.
Final Thoughts:
There might have been a lot of inside jokes I missed in the Firm Deletion match because I’m not totally immeresed in the Hardyverse. It was just goofy enough to be fun, but I don’t know if it’s worth going out of your way to see.
