Tag: Mariah May

Mariah May removed from AEW roster page, still believed to be WWE-bound

Posted on by Josh Nason

The next step toward Mariah May departing AEW has taken place as she has been removed from the company’s roster page.

The news comes after mid-April reporting that May was believed to be in her contract year after she initially inked a two-year deal with no option year. It has yet to be reported when the exact contract expiration date is, but she would be a free agent when it does.

There has been no reporting to this point of whether she is being released early as was the case with other wrestlers that departed for WWE like Miro, Malakai Black, Rey Fenix and Ricky Starks.

Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez both noted in April that it was known she wanted to go to WWE and those within AEW expected that to happen.

The former AEW Women’s World Champion has been absent from TV since March’s Revolution when she lost in her trilogy bout with reigning titleholder Toni Storm.

After a run in Stardom, May made her on-screen debut on a November 2023 edition of Dynamite and was immediately aligned with Storm. Their alliance and eventual feud was one of the more notable feuds in company history. May defeated Storm for the title at All In London in August 2023 and held the title for 174 days before dropping it to Storm at February’s Grand Slam Australia.

Hulk Hogan names Toni Storm as his favorite AEW women’s wrestler

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Hulk Hogan is a fan of the work “Timeless” Toni Storm is doing in AEW.

Forbes published an interview with Hogan and Eric Bischoff on Wednesday about their new Real American Freestyle amateur wrestling venture. During the conversation, the subject of AEW Dynamite surpassing WCW Nitro as the longest-running weekly wrestling series in TBS/TNT history came up. Hogan said he believes Nitro has left a bigger impact than Dynamite, but he has respect for what AEW is doing.

“Well, I don’t know Tony Khan, I got nothing but respect for what he’s done, and how he’s pushed and created opportunities for these guys,” Hogan said. “And you can get hooked into some of those storylines. I started watching some of those girls grind out there, and I’ve never seen people work so hard in my life. Some of the girls, phew, some of [the] bloodbaths and some of the stuff I’ve seen is kind of really cool stuff. But I like the grit and the real aggressive stuff. But yeah, nothing but respect for Tony Khan.”

When asked if he has a favorite wrestler in the AEW women’s division, Hogan offered praise for Storm and Mariah May.

“Bro, I kind of like was all over the place until I watched that Toni Storm,” he said. “The one that acts like the 1920s, the Roaring ’20s. Bro, when I saw her start grinding in there and digging, and when I saw her gaffe through her hairline, when she pulled that blade through her hairline and she needed about 10 staples, I went: ‘Holy crap, this girl ain’t playing.’ And the girl she was wrestling [May], I can’t remember her name. It was like a protege or a really hot blonde… Yeah, bro. She was grinding too, man. And I’m telling you, those girls, I would not want to be in that match with them. They were playing hardball.”

The match Hogan is referring to is Storm and May’s Hollywood Ending from AEW Revolution 2025, where Storm defeated May to remain AEW Women’s World Champion. It’s rumored that May — who has not competed since that match — could be headed to WWE when she’s contractually able to.

Mariah May believed to be heading to WWE

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

The tenure of Mariah May in AEW looks to be a brief one as WWE appears to be in her future according to both Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio, seen below.

Last month, it was reported that May was believed to be in her contract year with AEW and the former AEW Women’s World Champion has been off TV completely since March’s Revolution when she lost in her trilogy bout with reigning titleholder Toni Storm.

After May posted an Instagram story with a plane window this weekend with a quote saying, “You can’t make the wrong decision because every decision leads you to where you’re supposed to be,” speculation increased as to what that meant.

Meltzer said from talking to people in WWE, “they know she wants to go there” and that the belief is the 26-year-old’s contract is up this summer. Alvarez said he was under the impression that she initially signed a two-year deal with AEW and that even within AEW, they feel she is going to WWE.

After a run in Stardom, May made her on-screen debut on a November 2023 edition of Dynamite and was immediately aligned with Storm. Their alliance and eventual feud was one of the more notable feuds in company history. May defeated Storm for the title at All In London in August 2023 and held the title for 174 days before dropping it to Storm at February’s Grand Slam Australia.

WOR: WWE Raw report, Jeff Cobb & Mariah May updates, news

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Image: WWE

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the (likely) WWE futures for Jeff Cobb and Mariah May, Ryan Nemeth’s lawsuit, ROH adding a new title, New Japan lineups, Arena Mexico, the Raw report, and tons more.

A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Jeff Cobb heading to WWE after leaving New Japan, Stephanie Vaquer talks what led her to joining WWE

13:57: Mariah May’s status

23:38: PAC update, Ryan Nemeth-AEW lawsuit moves to arbitration, new ROH Women’s Pure title announced

35:08: New NJPW lineups, Arena Mexico notes, ratings

46:56: WWE Raw recap

Right Click Save As or watch on YouTube with a premium subscription

WOL: Will The Rock return for WrestleMania week?

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: WWE

It’s Sunday and WrestleMania week has arrived, so let’s get things going on Wrestling Observer Live as I fill in for the ailing Andrew Zarian.

Off the top, I look through the big story leading into the week for WWE: is The Rock coming back as part of this John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes angle or what? I also talk about the Bespectacled One’s NJPW Rubik’s Cube picture.

I look at an X poll about whether YOU are into WrestleMania 41 this year and opine on why the answer might be wait and see, plus a fun opponent I would love Randy Orton to take on at this weekend’s big events.

I delve into AEW Collision and this Wednesday’s hyped-up edition of AEW Dynamite, why there will be work to be done to make Double or Nothing feel important, and more. I also chat about Mariah May’s IG story comment among the rumors of her impending contract status.

And I complain a bit about a new title coming to Ring of Honor.

Click here to listen (no sub needed)

Fight Game: Has the road to WWE WrestleMania been disappointing so far?

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I are back to talk about the major topics in the world of wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast.

We kicked off the show by giving out our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before going into our Top Five topics which included:

  • Discussions on Mina Shirakawa, Mariah May and Saraya and their futures
  • AEW viewership being up
  • Jon Moxley vs. Swerve Strickland at AEW Dynasty
  • John Cena’s second heel promo
  • The Jey Uso familiar looking story

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Toni Storm wins bloody ‘Hollywood Ending’ match at AEW Revolution

Posted on by Josh Nason

The “Hollywood Ending” anything goes match between AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm and former champion Mariah May was more like something out of a horror movie at Sunday’s AEW Revolution.

In the end, Storm retained the title after multiple high heel strikes to May’s head, followed by a Storm Zero on a table on the entrance ramp that gave her the pin and the win. The heel was used by May in the 2024 angle that kicked off their feud.

Following the win, Storm lay on May as both women were absolutely exhausted while the screens behind them displayed the words “The End.”

Both women were bleeding extensively, gruesomely highlighted by their blonde hair. Storm was busted open first followed by May after getting punched by Storm’s taped wrist that was previously dipped into a bucket of broken glass.

The match started on the entrance ramp where May took Luther out by kicking him over a table of champagne glasses, and Storm later took May out with a choke bomb to a table on the outside.

The fight eventually ended up back in the ring with the aforementioned glass getting involved, a chain, a broken champagne bottle to Storm’s thigh and more before things spilled back to the ramp for the finale.

May was attempting to regain the title she lost to Storm in their rematch at February’s Grand Slam Australia.

AEW Revolution preview & predictions: Back to the future

Posted on by Mike DellaCamera

Image: AEW

The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects that of the author and not our website.

AEW ended 2024 on a down note. The loss of Bryan Danielson into pseudo-retirement left a yawning void. The person who anchored their programming for a full year was gone. In his place was a once promising heel faction that is now milquetoast at best; a group of people who attempted murder multiple times on television somehow became run of the mill heels, their matches full of interference and unsatisfying finishes instead of company-defining violence.

Compounded with the fact that there was no promise of a David to topple this wanna be-Goliath, AEW felt adrift. But then, a funny thing happened. They got back to basics. They remembered what they were built on: killer in-ring action with interesting enough stories to support it. It’s like a lightbulb went off, they realized the wealth of talent on the roster, and leaned into it.

Revolution is, in many ways, the future. There are young wrestlers up and down the card that would be World champions in any company. MJF (28), Hangman Page (33), Swerve Strickland (34), Will Ospreay (31), Kyle Fletcher (26), Konosuke Takeshita (29) and Mercedes Mone (33) represent, frankly, an appalling collection of talent. Any number of them can be the face of the company. Blending this youth with the still valuable experience of the older talents on the roster (Samoa Joe, Cope, Christian Cage, etc.) is how a company grows exponentially. Over-indexing on the veterans is how they stagnate.

Whether it’s Tony Khan taking a heavier role in day-to-day creative, Kenny Omega returning or wrestlers just finding their groove, AEW has emerged from the ashes of 2024 with a promising year ahead. A good year is more important now than ever with WWE being hotter than a Middle Eastern climate. This card is a great start to their PPV year with an on-paper lineup that looks as good as anything they’ve ever run.

Let’s preview Sunday’s show (8 PM Eastern main card from Los Angeles, California on PPV):

MJF vs. Hangman Adam Page

MJF said it himself: Hangman is the main character of AEW. I’d take it a step further and say that they both fill that role: the man the crowd loves to hate and the man the crowd loves to love. Page has proven to be one of the most versatile performers in wrestling, able to coax reactions out of the audience regardless of how his character is aligned. Connection like that is a gift and his happens to be a transcendent one, aided by playing three-dimensional characters.

He does not live in a linear space and is never a bad guy just ‘because.’ There are justifiable reasons for everything he does. Whether we agree with them is a matter of our respective codes of ethics, but nothing he’s done has been unfounded. His descent into madness started because someone broke into his house and threatened his family. That does something to a person. It transforms them. It transformed him into what he is now and what he’s always been at his core: the heart of AEW.

The realism of his performance and the subsequent connection it provides leads to what we always want: immersion. The goal of watching anything performative is not to ignore it or wonder what’s happening on our phones. Rather, it’s the opposite. We yearn to connect to it and feel something. We don’t want to think of anything else other than what we see on screen or in the arena. When Hangman is on that screen, he is the moment and the crowd hangs on every word and action.

His opponent in this match is his opposite as a performer. Where Hangman leans into gray areas and non-traditional wrestling roles, MJF plays the tried and true hits. When engaged and interested, he’s as good a heel as there is. When he indulges in his bad habits (lame insults and over-reliance on ‘the real world’) he becomes much less so.

But one thing is true with MJF: he raises his game to meet his dance partner where they are. With Hangman operating at a top level, MJF has had no choice but to match him and match him he has. This is as invigorated as Max has felt in quite some time. He could sink his teeth into this program and it’s shown in the quality of results. This is a match with nothing on the line, but it’s important because MJF and Page made it that way.

Prediction: Page

Ricochet vs. Swerve Strickland in a World title number one contender’s match

Prince Nana added weight to this. What otherwise could have been a paint-by-numbers program has introduced the ideas of friendship, loss, and legacy. It’s easy to label Nana as a sidecar to Swerve’s incredible act, but he’s much more. He’s so ingrained in the universe of Swerve’s character that we can lose sight of him. But whenever he’s been called upon for more, he has shined. His promo on the February 26th Dynamite has stayed with me. He showed his pain and how deeply he’s hurt by losing his robe.

It’s so important to him that he’s willing to walk away from something that’s brought him such fulfillment and success. This isn’t a cheesy breakup angle; this is about someone who is hurting and seeking help from a friend. They have fought through challenges together, struggled, and reached the peak as a unit. What defines a great friend is the ability to selflessly uplift each other. Nana’s done that for Swerve and now it’s time for Swerve to help him. 

Ricochet has been unlocked as a heel. He’s always performed best when he’s cocky, and he’s always been able to do it. The smiling ‘happy to be here’ persona doesn’t resonate, doesn’t work, and hasn’t for years in wrestling. The tried and true heel tactics still work, but the Hulk Hogan/John Cena style of pure good guy rarely does. You can’t just smile and be happy to be there. It’s boring and has been done hundreds of times.

In modern wrestling, a character needs depth to thrive. Ricochet realized the crowd doesn’t love him like they used to and it changed him. As a result, he became so much more interesting. A geek with an edge is a tough thing to sell, but Ricochet has done it and developed into a valuable player for AEW. 

As good as the turn has been, it still needs time to marinate. It’s not something that feels like a main event level act just yet. What does? The return of the Most Dangerous Man in AEW. The World title picture needs life, and Swerve is just the man to provide it. 

Prediction: Swerve

Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher in a steel cage match

Fletcher’s growth over the last year has been stratospheric. He’s taken to being a heel better than anyone could have expected. Instead of filling the space in matches with more moves and more action — things he is preternaturally gifted at — he is filling them with less. By taking fewer opportunities to show his impressive skill and using the space to pose and preen, he’s denying the crowd something they want.

To temper oneself by suppressing a gift that less than one percent of people have is tremendous restraint for someone raised in the ‘moment making’ era of wrestling. Fletcher can do everything in the ring, but by deciding to do less and focusing on the space between, he is learning a lesson that can sometimes take decades and is positioning himself for a potentially historic career.

In some ways, he is learning the right lessons from Ospreay’s career. The move to AEW has certainly helped curb some of his worst habits. Far less prone to overwhelming bouts of self-indulgence and forgetful selling, Ospreay is an example of someone who too often finds himself trying to create something momentous at the expense of something memorable. For better or for worse, he is a pro wrestling maximalist even when the situation doesn’t require it.

If I come off as consistently critical of such an acclaimed and talented wrestler, it is because there are so few with his physical gifts. Those with the most talent face the most scrutiny.  I just want less, and subsequently more, from him.

A loss for Ospreay means nothing, but a win for Fletcher means everything. He gets the biggest one of his career on Sunday.

Prediction: Fletcher

AEW World Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)

From day one in AEW, the Hurt Syndicate have been stars. Most ex-WWE acts struggle after an initial push before finding something that works with the aforementioned Ricochet being a perfect example. Not Bobby, Shelton and MVP. They came in with an established act that should never have ended. From presentation to promos to in-ring, the Hurt Syndicate does everything at such a high level while bringing much needed fresh air to the tag team division.

Historically, AEW’s tag division has been full of high work-rate champions. Having a physical, bruising team like the Hurt Business on top changes the dynamic for the better. 

The Outrunners are never going to be the best tag team in the world, but they are absolutely going to be someone’s favorite tag team and there is value in that. Acts like this are necessary for a well-rounded company. Not everyone can be a top act, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try to be fully developed characters that connect with the audience. Low-card, fan-favorite acts round out a roster and The Outrunners are exactly what they should be.

Prediction: The Hurt Syndicate retains

AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Kenny Omega

The return of a modern god of pro wrestling cannot be wasted. Omega almost transcends description at this point. Being on the shelf for over a year and returning with that match with Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Kingdom? What an absolute freak. A legendary wrestling sicko.

The days of him having classic matches on the regular are likely over. There are still bullets in the chamber, but they aren’t going to fire as frequently. He’s still fully capable of having classic matches, and he gave us proof of concept on January 4th. It was just a different kind of special. The once remarkable athleticism and explosiveness were lessened, but the match remained captivating. Omega has a unique wrestling mind, one that knows how to structure, how to build to an inflection point, and how to take us on a ride home. As his ability to drop jaws with pure physical prowess lessens, his ability to capture minds, and hearts, remains. This is the transition of an all-time great to the next stage of his career.

This match needs to be different than the ones they’ve had before. Omega is not the athlete that Takeshita is at this point in his career, and he knows it. He’s never doubted his capabilities as an all-time performer, but he’s lost to Takeshita twice already and knows what a third loss means. He desperately needs to prove that even in this new season of his career, he’s the better wrestler. Trading bombs and huge moves with Big Soup is the recipe for an unwinnable disaster, but Omega has forgotten more about wrestling than most people will ever know. His path to a win involves using more of his mind and less of his body.

There are still two PPVs to get through, but the money match at All In is with Okada, ideally with belts on the line (hopefully with some kind of unification). The build to that should start at Revolution.

Prediction: Kenny Omega wins the title

AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Brody King

This might sound odd, but I wish this were the main event of a Dynamite rather than here. Top to bottom, this card is loaded, so much so that this runs the risk of being lost. No shade to either of these cats intended. King is long overdue for some singles shine and Okada is Okada — one of the best wrestlers of this century. I worry there will be too much of the same. But then again, if Okada flips the ‘big match’ switch, this could steal the whole show. 

Here’s the list of wrestlers who’ve beaten Okada clean, one-on-one in AEW: Bryan Danielson (2x) and Kyle Fletcher. How beautiful would it be to have Brody on that list? In a match with Ricochet, Okada, and Strickland, he was the one getting the chants and biggest reactions. The crowd has loved him forever and he deserves the opportunity to bathe in their appreciation with success and gold. Unfortunately, there are probably bigger plans for Okada that require a title around his waist.

Prediction: Okada retains

TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Momo Watanabe

The doubters have been silenced. The haters continue shouting into the void as they know no other way. Through it all, Mone sits atop the wrestling world. Her matches with Kris Statlander were remarkable. Her match with Hazuki was sensational. She tossed Harley Cameron into her backpack and carried her to a solid match at Grand Slam Australia. Few wrestlers are better at big match wrestling.

She is both a floor lifter and ceiling raiser, and is a talent that will be appreciated far more once she’s done. There isn’t much she hasn’t accomplished in wrestling. One of the few things left is a run towards the AEW Women’s World Championship. Mone vs Toni Storm for both belts at All In sounds like a (no pun intended) money match to me. To get there, she needs to keep her title. 

Prediction: Mone retains

AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Mariah May in a Hollywood Ending match

This is the real main event and what should be the final chapter in a 12+ month story. Regardless of your feelings about “Timeless,” it’s one of the more impressive character performances in modern wrestling. A gimmick that should have expired long ago, she has somehow kept it fresh and relevant. This would have been fodder for eye rolls and channel changes in the hands of less dedicated and weaker performers. In a sea of expected and flat characters, this continues to stand out as something different and always worth the time. 

May’s run up to the title was a combination of great writing and great performance. The same writing that brought her success undermined her time as champion. She was rarely given anything substantial to do, and her character devolved into a stereotypical ‘mean champion’ trope. It often felt, correctly I might add, that she was waiting for Storm to come back around. May needs a soft reset to get away from the only meaningful program she’s been involved with in AEW. Her future as a performer remains as bright as ever. She just needs some time and some tweaks. 

A Hollywood Ending match promises finality and even though all signs point to Storm retaining, is this the end of the “Timeless” character? It’s impossible to separate “Timeless” (I am so tired of typing this) Toni and May from each other. Their stories are so intertwined, is it reasonable to expect that one can’t exist without the other? The most interesting outcome sees Storm retain, May get a break, and “Timeless” Toni retires to Sunset Boulevard – this show is in Los Angeles, after all – and Storm reinvents herself once again.

Prediction: Storm retains

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends against Cope

An unfortunate truth about this match is that a clean outcome isn’t satisfying. Not a ringing endorsement of the main event scene! The Death Riders are an unsuccessful experiment. Extending Moxley’s run with the title is just kicking the can down the road. A 51-year-old Cope being the one to overcome the heel champion is equally empty. The intrigue lies in the gray. Credit to AEW for having multiple outside options that impact the main event’s outcome. 

I rarely do in-depth fantasy booking in this space, but indulge my thinking for a moment. This week’s Dynamite introduced both Jay White and Wheeler Yuta as additional ingredients in the de facto main event. A White heel turn could not have been telegraphed any harder, to the point it feels like a red herring. We’ve also been hit over the head with the idea that Moxley is truly all alone. The heel all alone, but the face with someone in their corner for support? I wonder what could happen there.

Imagine a world where Cope is close to winning, White tries to cost him the match, Yuta stops him, but Moxley retains. This gives everyone something more interesting to do. White is properly aligned as a heel and can have a serious program with Cope. Yuta splinters The Death Riders while Strickland can be the one to take down Moxley at April’s Dynasty. I don’t know how likely this is, but I’d leave Revolution feeling better about where the top title is.

Prediction: Moxley retains

Mariah May-Toni Storm attack angle takes place at ‘Queen of the Ring’ premiere

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Just days before their AEW Women’s World Championship match at Revolution, an angle involving Toni Storm and Mariah May took place in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

May blindsided Storm with a sucker punch as she was being interviewed on the red carpet at last night’s “Queen of the Ring” premiere in LA. After the sucker punch, Christopher Daniels stepped in to separate May from Storm and stop the attack from escalating. Video of the angle can be seen below:

“You are nothing without me,” May yelled. “I made you a star.”

“She’s ruined my moment. She’s ruined my red carpet moment,” Storm said. “Bloody hell, look at me — look at the state of me. Where the hell is she? Where is that bitch?”

Revolution will be the third time these two have faced off since May betrayed Storm last summer. May won the AEW Women’s World Championship from Storm at All in 2024, but Storm regained the title last month with a victory at Grand Slam Australia.

Crypto.com Arena in LA is hosting Sunday’s pay-per-view. Storm vs. May has a falls count anywhere stipulation and is being billed as “The Hollywood Ending.”

Last night’s “Queen of the Ring” screening was held at the AMC The Grove 14. The movie is a Mildred Burke biopic, and it features Storm in a role as wrestler Clara Mortensen.

New title matches, rules for ‘Hollywood Ending’ bout announced for AEW Revolution

Posted on by Matt Boone

The card for AEW Revolution continued to take shape Saturday with three matches and rules for another officially announced during AEW Collision.

A video aired featuring “Timeless” Toni Storm in bed wearing a neck brace. The AEW Women’s World Champion reacted to the attack she endured at the hands of Mariah May last Saturday and her talk of wanting a ‘Hollywood Ending’ for the two.

Storm accepted May’s challenge for a third encounter under these rules: no disqualifications, no countouts, no rope breaks and falls count anywhere in the building.

Later in the show, The Costco Guys duo of Big Boom A.J. and Big Justice appeared for a backstage interview, only to be interrupted by Johnny TV. A challenge was issued for a trios match with Johnny TV and two of his friends against A.J. and two of his.

Later, A.J. and Big Justice appeared in another backstage segment where they were joined by Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe who both offered up their services as partners. MxM Collection were later announced as Johnny TV’s partners, making the match official for the Zero Hour pre-show.

The Outrunners later approached the Hurt Syndicate, asking about the promise MVP made last week regarding a Tag Team title shot after they defeated the Murder Machines on Dynamite.

MVP pointed out how it was actually the Hurt Syndicate that provided an assist that led to The Outrunners getting the victory, but said he is a man of his word and the title match is on.

Here’s the current lineup for next Sunday’s pay-per-view from Los Angeles, California:

  • AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defends against Cope
  • AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Kenny Omega
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Mariah May in a Hollywood Ending match
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Momo Watanabe
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet in a AEW World title no. 1 contender’s match
  • MJF vs. Hangman Page
  • Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher in a steel cage match
  • Zero Hour pre-show: Big Boom A.J., Orange Cassidy & Mark Briscoe vs. Johnny TV & MxM Collection (Mansoor & Madden)

Toni Storm wins Women’s World title at AEW Grand Slam Australia

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the fourth time in her AEW career, Toni Storm can call herself AEW Women’s World Champion.

Storm defeated blood rival Mariah May in the main event of Saturday’s AEW Grand Slam Australia to take home the title, avenging her title loss at last August’s All In at Wembley Stadium.

After several close nearfalls, the new champion finally picked up the victory with a small package counter.

The win ends May’s 174-day run which saw her successfully defend the title seven times.

Storm, a native of New Zealand who bills herself from Australia, earned the title shot with a mid-January victory in the first-ever women’s casino gauntlet match at which point she was pretending to be an AEW rookie with case of amnesia.

During the recent Homecoming edition of Collision, May attacked Storm and laid her out in the ring, leading to Storm revealing herself as her “Timeless” character and eventually explaining her ruse.

With the win, Storm will have now held the title at least one day during each of the past four years as part of her reigns: 2022 (76 days), 2023 (66 days), and 2023-2024 (281 days).

AEW Grand Slam Australia live results: Three title matches, Kenny Omega & Will Ospreay team up

Posted on by Suit Williams

AEW makes its much-discussed Australia debut with tonight’s Grand Slam Australia from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre with a five-match show featuring three title defense and two of AEW’s top stars teaming up.

The headliner will see AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May defending against New Zealand-born Toni Storm in a rematch from last August’s All In where Storm lost the title.

Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega teams with Will Ospreay to take on Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher of the Don Callis Family which will open the show.

TBS Champion Mercedes Mone looks to remain undefeated in singles action as she defends against budding star Harley Cameron who is attempting to win her first AEW title.

Native son Buddy Matthews will challenge AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada.

The show is rounded out by a Brisbane Brawl between Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli against Cope and Jay White.

Things will kick off at approximately 10:30 PM Eastern following NBA All-Star Weekend coverage.

**********

Grand Slam Australia kicked off with shots of the large crowd for this show as Tony Schiavone welcomed everyone to the show. Nigel McGuinness was on the call alongside Schiavone.

Kenny Omega & Will Ospreay defeated Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher (w/Mark Davis)

What superlatives can I give this match that I haven’t given these four men already? A PPV quality tag team match and an excellent opener to the show, especially considering the NBA All Star Saturday lead-in audience.

The ring looks smaller than usual, possibly a local ring. Fletcher and Ospreay started the match, with Fletcher dropping Ospreay with a shoulder block to big boos as the Australia crowd isn’t playing favorites with their countryman. Omega tagged in to a massive pop, taking Fletcher to the floor with a headscissors. Omega set up the Terminator dive, but Takeshita cut him off. Ospreay cleared Takeshita out, allowing for the tecnicos to hit stereo Terminator dives on opposite sides of the ring.

Fletcher isolated Omega, allowing Takeshita to hit a second rope senton on Omega’s abdomen for a nearfall. Omega fought his way to the corner and tagged in Ospreay, kicking off a move train that ended with an Ospreay Spanish Fly on Fletcher as we went to a commercial. After the break, Ospreay and Fletcher were back up and going back and forth, with Ospreay countering a powerbomb into a big DDT.

Another DDT from Ospreay led to Don Callis leaving commentary to hook Ospreay’s leg, giving Fletcher the opening for a half-and-half suplex. Omega and Takeshita tagged in, with Takeshita hammering Omega’s midsection with a forearm. Takeshita hit the King Kong clothesline on Omega before dropping Ospreay with a forearm. Takeshita got both Omega and Ospreay over on a double German suplex, but an assisted powerbomb got countered into a headscissors off the top rope by Omega.

Ospreay hit a Skytwister Press to Fletcher on the floor, allowing Omega to hit a V-Trigger for a nearfall. Takeshita avoided another V-Trigger to hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Omega hit a V-Trigger to the back but flubbed a poisonrana attempt. Omega got back on his horse and hit a V-Trigger, then set up a One Winged Angel off the ropes that Ospreay turned into a cutter off the ropes.

Fletcher got involved but ate a Hidden Blade. Omega hit a V-Trigger and the babyfaces set up their finishers, but the Callis Family reversed them into their piledriver variants for a nearfall. We got a forearm exchange that ended with Fletcher and Takeshita drilling both guys with forearm/superkick combinations. Omega kicked out of the Power Drive knee, and Ospreay saved the match on a brainbuster nearfall.

Ospreay covered up Omega before fighting 2-on-1, taking Fletcher out with a Stundog Millionaire. Takeshita took Ospreay out with a big forearm, but Omega held onto a knee strike. Omega came back with a V-Trigger of his own. One Winged Angel was avoided again, with Takeshita backing Omega into the corner for a Fletcher Yakuza Kick.

Omega shoved Fletcher off the top rope on a brainbuster attempt, then dumped Takeshita onto the ring post. Ospreay dove over the post onto Fletcher, then got to the top rope as Omega set up the One Winged Angel on Takeshita. Ospreay hit a flying Hidden Blade that propelled Takeshita into the One Winged Angel for the win. Ospreay and Omega shook hands as the crowd cheered them.

AEW TBS Title Match – Mercedes Mone (c) defeated Harley Cameron

Some will consider this a mistake, but I’m not one of them. Cameron has benefited immensely from this feud already and got a good showcase in her home country. But the longer Mone holds this title, the bigger the rub will be to the person who wins it. I can see them wanting it on more of a higher-tier wrestler than Cameron, for as entertaining as she has been. Good stuff here, and an interesting direction post-match with STARDOM’s Momo Watanabe. Also, the puppet in the match was a bit much.

Unlike the dastardly Kyle Fletcher, Australia gave Cameron a big reaction on her entrance. STARDOM wrestler and International Women’s Cup winner Momo Watanabe was ringside, with the announcers noting that her International Women’s Cup victory gives her a shot at any title worldwide.

Cameron came out of the gates hot, hitting a leg sweep and a flatliner for a nearfall. Cameron avoided an early Mone Maker and went on a flurry of offense. Cameron pulled out Puppet Mone from under the ring and did the ten punch spot, but Human Mone dropped her onto the buckles and laid the boots to the puppet. What the hell am I saying? Mone hit a low Meteora for a nearfall as we went to commercial.

Back from the break, Cameron hit the Trish Stratus rebound bulldog to put Mone down. Cameron fired up, but Mone cut her off with the Three Amigos. Mone went for a Frog Splash, but Cameron got the knees up for a nearfall. Cameron hit a pumphandle side suplex for a nearfall. Mone came back with a backstabber that sent Cameron to the floor. Cameron popped up with Puppet Mone and punched Mone in the face.

Cameron hit a high cross, then hit a Destroyer for a nearfall. Cameron countered another Mone Maker, so Mone hit a powerbomb before landing a Meteora for a nearfall. Cameron went for a series of flash pins for nearfalls, then hit an Area Code Shot. Cameron went for a top rope senton, but Mone moved out of the way. Mone finally scored with the Mone Maker to retain. Mone got in Momo Watanabe’s face after the match before leaving.

Kenny Omega & Will Ospreay were backstage. Omega should have been happier after winning that match, but he was tired of hearing about Konosuke Takeshita beating him twice in a week. He challenged Takeshita to an International Title match at Revolution, wanting to see if Takeshita could beat him three times. Ospreay took over, surprised that the fans in Australia were cheering for “Babyface Billy” over Kyle Fletcher. He was tired of the Callis Family getting involved in their business, so he challenged Fletcher to a steel cage match at Revolution.

(The Revolution card is filling out fantastically, as both of those matches have massive potential on paper.)

Brisbane Brawl Match – Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley) defeated Cope & Jay White

I was surprised at the finish here, with Moxley choking Cope out ahead of their title match. An average plunder match with a hot crowd, although they weren’t happy at the finish. Both of these guys have tag teams partners that they regularly team with (The Gunns & FTR, respectively), why didn’t they think to hop on the plane and help out?

In a cool moment, the people sang Cope’s song after it stopped playing. Cope and White jumped the Death Riders once they crossed the barricade, kicking off the brawl across Brisbane. Castagnoli and Cope brawled into the crowd as White and Moxley fought ringside. Moxley hit White with a bin lid (gotta use the local vernacular), as Cope dove onto Castagnoli from a perch in the crowd. Moxley set up White on a table, but Cope cut Moxley off as he climbed the ropes. Shafir hammered Cope with a kendo stick, allowing Castagnoli to put Cope through the table after dropping White with an uppercut.

After a commercial, the Death Riders were stomping on White in the corner. Cope made his re-appearance with a double clothesline, but Moxley dropped him with the Paradigm Shift and sent him into the post. White came back and ran wild with a kendo stick, but Moxley cut him off by throwing him into a chair wedged in the corner. The Death Riders went for a Doomsday Device, but White knocked Moxley off the top rope and hit Castagnoli with a Blade Runner.

Wheeler Yuta appeared to break up the pin and whip White with a belt, but that only served to annoy White as he hit Yuta with a Blade Runner. Moxley popped up to hit White with a Curb Stomp but Cope crotched Moxley on the ring post. Cope sent Castagnoli through a table with the Spear, then hit Moxley with a Spear.

Instead of going for a pin, Cope grabbed a chair wrapped in barbed wire and drilled Moxley with it. Cope went for a Con-Chair-To, but Yuta pulled the chair away. Castagnoli hit the Neutralizer for a nearfall, but Moxley locked on the Bulldog Choke as Yuta held White back. Cope tried to fight up, but Moxley kept the choke on and choked Cope out. Moxley refused to release the hold as the crowd chanted BULL***T.

AEW Continental Title Match – Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Buddy Matthews

When Okada hit the first Rainmaker, I was ready to call this match a disappointment. But Matthews kicked out and had a good flurry at the end before Okada escaped away with the title.

Matthews offered a handshake, but Okada responded with a middle finger. The opening exchange ended with Matthews sending Okada outside with a headscissors, then cutting Okada off when he tried to slide back in the ring with a dropkick. Okada went to leave when Matthews gave him a middle finger, but Matthews called him a wanker to get him back in the ring.

Matthews went on an offensive flurry, getting a nearfall with a knee drop. Okada caught Matthews with a flatliner, then dropkicked him off of the ropes to send him to the floor. After a commercial break, Matthews fought back on a bad leg, hitting a Meteora for a nearfall. Okada rolled through a move to hit his neckbreaker. Okada hit the elbow drop and gave the crowd the finger, but Matthews grabbed the finger and held on.

Matthews countered a Rainmaker attempt and hit a Go To Sleep, but Okada avoided the stomp and hit the Rainmaker. To Okada’s shock, Matthews kicked out to a big pop. Okada grabbed his belt and went into the ring, but Matthews caught him with a roll up and a stomp for a nearfall. Matthews hit Matthew’s Law – doesn’t work as well as Murphy’s Law – for a nearfall as Okada got his foot on the ropes.

Matthews followed Okada to the floor, where Matthews got hit with a DDT. Okada sent Matthews into the ring and rose to the top rope, but Matthews caught him with a knee and took him down with a superplex. Matthews hit a Jackhammer for a nearfall, then locked on Rhea Ripley’s Prism Lock to a big pop. I wonder what that’s about. Anyway, Okada shoved Matthews towards the referee, and after a do-si-do, Okada hooked the referee as he hit a mule kick to Matthews. Okada followed up with a Rainmaker for the win.

Tony Schiavone ran down the International Championship Series that begins this week on Dynamite. This Wednesday, former International Champions face off as Orange Cassidy will take on Roderick Strong in a rematch from the 2024 Revolution show. The winner of that match will challenge Konosuke Takeshita for the International Title on the February 26th Dynamite. The champion coming out of that match will defend the title against Kenny Omega at Revolution.

(While the outcome is almost guaranteed to be Takeshita/Omega, this is an interesting way to have some matches with stakes on upcoming episodes of Dynamite.)

Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Big Bill in a street fight was announced for Wednesday’s Dynamite.

AEW Women’s World Title Match – Toni Storm defeated Mariah May (c)

While I don’t think either woman has been good enough to warrant fifteen months of the Women’s Title, they closed it pretty well here with a good match here to end this feud. There have been a lot of women in the last year that have stepped up their games, and I’m excited to see who is up next to challenge Toni. A solid main event to a nice Saturday night special event. This had the Clash of the Champions energy that people wanted out of Battle of the Belts.

May came out first. Luther The Butler was in the crowd. Storm came out donned in blue with the Australian flag on her gear. The two locked up before immediately throwing punches and getting to work. Storm dropped May with a Thesz Press and clubbered on her in the corner. May hopped out of the corner with a Slingblade and a shotgun dropkick to take control. Storm fired back with a septory – that’s seven – of German suplexes. Storm tried to suplex May off the apron, but May dumped her on the apron and dropkicked Storm into the barricade.

After a commercial, Storm fired up with clotheslines and got a nearfall with a tree slam. Storm locked on an STF, which May escaped by biting the arm. Storm slammed May’s head into the ropes and re-applied the STF. May got to the ropes and rolled to the apron, where she avoided a hip attack against the post. May hit the Mayday on the floor. May dropped Storm with a shotgun dropkick from the top rope when they both got back in the ring.

May hit the hip attack and tried to follow with the Storm Zero, but Storm hit the Mayday for a nearfall. Storm hit one, two, three hip attacks before hitting the Storm Zero for a nearfall. May played possum before hitting a back suplex and two Maydays for a nearfall. May set Storm up on the top rope, but Storm slid down and hit a powerbomb. Storm hit a Storm Zero, but May rolled to the floor.

May dragged Storm into the turnbuckles before hitting a Storm Zero, but as May went for the Mayday, Storm caught May with an inside cradle to win the title for a fourth time.

AEW Collision live results: Three-way trios match, Bandido returns

Posted on by Suit Williams

Tonight’s live AEW Collision from Houston, Texas, will continue to build next Saturday’s Grand Slam Australia from Brisbane.

In a trios match that has been building for weeks, Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong will take on Shane Taylor & The Infantry and TNT Champion Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker.

Bandido will return to AEW in-ring action for the first time in nearly two years as he faces Bryan Keith.

In a Continental Classic rematch, Kyle Fletcher will go one-on-one with Mark Briscoe.

Ahead of their Continental title match at Grand Slam Australia, Kazuchika Okada and Buddy Matthews will have a face-to-face confrontation.

AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May will compete in an exhibition match ahead of her title defense against Toni Storm next Saturday.

The show is rounded out by former champion Thunder Rosa vs. Penelope Ford, Dustin Rhodes in action ahead of his Dynamite match with MJF, and a live Harley Cameron concert.

**********

Collision began with promos from Mark Briscoe & Kyle Fletcher. Sir Elton John played us in to Collision from Houston, Texas. Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness were on the call. They were running down the card when a security guard was flung across the screen by Marina Shafir.

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley was behind her, saying that the show began when he said it did. Moxley said that he was tired of Cope demanding a World Title match and made it clear that he called the shots. Moxley said that he had 1,000 reasons to deny Cope a title shot, but the major one was that he didn’t like Cope. Moxley said that while he wouldn’t give him a title shot, he would fight him whenever he wanted. He told Cope to bring his friend Jay White and his half-broken neck to Australia and pray that Moxley gave him the grace to walk out of Australia.

(A solid promo to start the show, with the crowd giving Moxley a ton of heat.)

Trios Three Way Match – The Undisputed Kingdom (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong) defeated Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Carlie Bravo, & Shawn Dean), & TNT Champion Daniel Garcia, Angelo Parker, & Matt Menard

(A phenomenal start to the show, as this may have been the best match on AEW TV in 2025 to this point. This is the ideal version of a trios division, as singles stars teamed with their established partners/friends. This Houston crowd was red hot for everything, which helped the cause. And the turnaround the Kingdom has done since the MJF feud has been impressive. Their in-ring work has helped to rehab them all, and now they feel like a real challenge for the Death Riders come Wednesday. An excellent segment.)

Strong and Taylor started off, with Strong baiting Taylor into the Kingdom corner to get peppered with shots from him and O’Reilly. Taylor took them down with a clothesline and brought O’Reilly into the STP corner, but Menard blind tagged O’Reilly to sneak in. Quick tags were the game here as Menard pulled double duty by hopping on commentary as Garcia hit the ten punches on The Infantry. STP took control of Garcia with an apron attack as we went to commercial.

Garcia took Taylor down with a side suplex as we came back from the break, but the Infantry pulled 2.0 off the apron to keep a tag from happening. Garcia was forced to tag out to O’Reilly, with the Kingdom running wild. We got a move train with everyone getting a big shot in as the Houston crowd was rabid. More fast action saw Taylor get taken out on the floor with a Total Elimination, and Cole scored the win with The Boom on Bravo.

After the match, The Death Riders attacked everyone. Claudio Castagnoli took the mic and congratulated Cole before reminding everyone who the best trio really was. The Kingdom fought back, with O’Reilly tapping out Yuta with an ankle lock. The Death Riders fled, and on behalf of the Kingdom, Cole challenged the Death Riders to a Trios Title match on Dynamite. The match was quickly confirmed for Wednesday in Austin, Texas.

We got a video package for FTR. They said that they’ve taken a back seat for too long, and that they wanted the World Tag Team Titles for a third time.

Max Caster was backstage with Alicia Atout, who asked about Hangman Page. Caster said that how Page acted on Dynamite wasn’t very manly, and that if Page wanted a fight, he should accept his Open Challenge when it returns on Dynamite.

$200,000 Bounty Match – Bandido defeated Bryan Keith

(This Collision rocks so far. Bandido looked awesome in his return, earning the crowd even as some were behind Keith as a native Texan. That duel at high noon spot was phenomenal, and the crowd ate it up. I truly believe that with his gimmick and his work, Bandido has the upside to be the next major lucha star in America if he’s given the chance.)

Keith threw his duster in Bandido’s face to sneak a boot in, but Bandido quickly came back and dropped Keith with a dropkick. Keith caught a diving Bandido with a forearm as he came off the ropes before we went to a commercial break. After the break, Bandido came back with a step-up tornillo and a one-armed gorilla press for a nearfall.

Keith cut off a 21-Plex with a lariat, then stunned Bandido with a rising headbutt. Keith took Bandido off the top rope with an exploder suplex. The two traded strikes before they stood back-to-back. The two men faced off at high noon by taking ten paces to the corner before taking each other down with boots. Bandido got Keith on his shoulders to hit the X-Plex, then hit the 21-Plex to score the win in his return match.

Powerhouse Hobbs was backstage with Lexy Nair. He told Big Bill that his boy wasn’t able to collect the bounty, and that he would be in Texas all week for a fight. He said that he would be in Austin on Tuesday, which is when Dynamite is being taped next week.

La Faccion Ingobernable (Rush, Dralistico, & The Beast Mortos) defeated Ares Alexander, Jay Alexander, & Brick Savage

(Another great segment with AEW taking advantage of their location this week by highlighting the lucha stars on their roster. I was worried about Hologram’s momentum drying up after getting hurt a few months back, but the crowd was still into him as he made the save for Komander to possibly form a new team.)

LFI got a quick win, with Rush getting the pin after the Bull’s Horns. They beat down the locals after the match before Komander made the save. He took down Mortos with a springboard poisonrana, but the numbers were too much for him. LFI went to unmask him before Hologram made his return to AEW to get revenge on the men that put him on the shelf. Hologram and Komander posed before they hit big dives on LFI and brawled to the back.

In the meantime, Rush was threatening a referee with a chair. Other referees tried to hold him back, but Rush shoved them away and laid one out with a big forearm as the announcers said that big fines were headed Rush’s way.

Lexy Nair attempted to interview Megan Bayne, who stonewalled her. Thunder Rosa turned the corner and tried to welcome her to AEW, but Bayne stonewalled her too. Rosa took over the interview as Bayne went on her way, excited to be back in Texas to take on Penelope Ford tonight.

Harley Cameron, Live In Concert

(This segment had a real chance to bomb, but this was as good as you could hope a segment like this could be. This felt straight out of a 2015 episode of NXT in all the right ways. The crowd has really taken to Harley Cameron, and Mone was a great foil here for her to set up her next title defense.)

Cameron had Puppet Mercedes Mone in tow and kicked off by singing about she wanted to ride the Mone Train. She was quickly cut off by Mercedes Mone, who asked if Cameron was stupid or dumb. Mone was about to call Cameron a loser again, but Cameron cut her off to sing another song about Mone feeling the wrath. She got the crowd to chant Feel The Wrath, but Mone cut her off again.

Mone called Cameron a loser and told her to leave the ring, but the crowd chanted for Harley. Cameron said that she wanted to be where Mone was and wouldn’t stop until she got a shot at the title in her hometown. Cameron said that the most entertaining Mone had ever been was when she was a puppet. Mone slapped Cameron, but Cameron bonked her with the mic to send her to the floor. Mone accepted Cameron’s challenge and promised to embarrass Cameron in her hometown.

Buddy Matthews was sat backstage with Lexy Nair. They were scheduled for a sitdown interview with both Matthews and Kazuchika Okada, but Okada hadn’t arrived yet. Okada burst in late and asked for a water, but Matthews decided to cut to the chase. He wasn’t falling for Okada’s comedy schtick and knew what he was capable of, but didn’t think he knew what Matthews was capable of. Okada called Matthews a bitch, and Matthews feigned a swing to make Okada jump. Matthews left, and Okada threw his water down in anger.

Dustin Rhodes defeated Izzy James

This was not the old Bayley fan Izzy, in case I needed to make that clear. Dustin hit his moves and won in the time it took for me to write this down.

After the match, Rhodes took the mic and said MJF wasn’t the devil. Rhodes had looked the devil in the eyes, knocked his teeth out, and dragged his way out of hell. Rhodes said that everything MJF was planning to do to Rhodes had already been done, and that he would make sure MJF met the devil on Dynamite.

The Death Riders were in the back. PAC said that they had been Trios Champions for what felt like an eternity with no challengers and credited the Undisputed Kingdom for stepping up. Castagnoli gave the Kingdom credit for having teeth and promised to pull them all out. PAC and Castagnoli left, leaving Yuta by himself. All he did was give a little smirk, and the people booed him.

Thunder Rosa (w/ Toro The Mascot) defeated Penelope Ford

(I don’t know if Ford got dinged up or got gassed at some point, but there was clearly a point where these two were stalling for Ford to get her bearings. We seem to have Megan Bayne’s first program set with a former Women’s World Champion.)

Toro is the Houston Texans mascot, for those wondering. Rosa scored a nearfall with a sliding lariat before Ford forced her back into the corner. Ford sent Rosa to the apron before hitting a knee drop as we went to commercial.

Ford got a nearfall with a gutbuster after we came back from the commercial break. Rosa avoided a handspring charge into the corner and fired up, hitting a hesitation dropkick and a suplex for a nearfall. Ford came back with a Muta back handspring elbow and a boot across the face. Ford went to the top, but Rosa avoided the moonsault and got a nearfall. Ford hit a shotgun dropkick, but Rosa caught her with a victory roll for a nearfall. Rosa caught Ford with strikes, but Ford Matrix-ducked a lariat and hit a cutter for a nearfall. Rosa hit a backstabber and the Tijuana Bomb for the win.

After the match, Megan Bayne came out and went face-to-face with Rosa. Ford was still in the ring and jumped Rosa from behind, leaving Bayne to pick the scraps and leave Rosa laying with an F-5.

We got footage of Ricochet beating Swerve Strickland on Dynamite, then going to a DEFY Wrestling event to gloat in front of Strickland’s hometown fans in Seattle. Strickland made a surprise appearance to attack Ricochet, with Prince Nana helping him land a House Call.

Legendary Houston rapper Bun B was backstage with Lexy Nair, promoting his Trill Burgers that they were serving in catering. Ricochet entered the frame to confront Bun B, who was friends with Swerve and was part of his Wembley entrance last year. Ricochet helped himself to a Trill Burger before spitting it out and accosting the poor guy making the burgers. Ricochet said to thank Prince Nana for the Embassy robe he stole after Dynamite.

Non-Title Exhibition Match – AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May defeated Shay Carmichael

(A good angle here with the misdirection attack on May. I’ve had my issues with this angle throughout, but they seem to have the match hot right in time for the payoff.)

May came out with a big bag, the brand of which I wasn’t privy to. May jumped Carmichael before the bell, hit her moves, and won with the Mayday.

After the match, May dressed Carmichael up like Storm and smeared lip stain on her. Luther The Butler came out with a tray, revealing the bloody shoe May used all those months ago. May took the shoe and went to attack Carmichael again, but Toni Storm was in her place and attacked May. Storm went to piledrive May on the ring steps, but May escaped through the crowd.

Backstage, The Don Callis Family were laying people out, as they do. Mark Davis was hesitant but was told to start pulling his weight and joined in the attack.

Kyle Fletcher defeated Mark Briscoe

(An excellent main event to cap off the clear-cut best episode of AEW television this year. Briscoe was phenomenal here as the never-say-die babyface against this cocky heel, and the spots playing off of the Continental Classic match brought this match up to another level. This quickly supplanted the trios opener as the best AEW match of 2025, and I cannot recommend this episode of Collision enough. Awesome, awesome show.)

Fletcher jumped Briscoe with a boot at the bell and laid the boots to him in the corner. Briscoe came back and sent Fletcher to the floor, where he followed him out with a dive. Briscoe pulled out the plunder, tossing a chair in the ring and setting up a table on the floor. Briscoe sent Fletcher to the floor again, but Fletcher caught Briscoe and lawn darted him into the ringpost. Briscoe came up bloody, and Fletcher put him down with a powerbomb into the apron as we went to a commercial.

After the commercial, an even bloodier Briscoe fired back with shots before both men laid each other out with clotheslines. Briscoe laid in chops and hit an exploder suplex for a nearfall. Fletcher fought out of a Jay Driller and hit a hanging DDT. Fletcher hit a running knee and a cradle Tiger Driver for a nearfall. Fletcher hit the Yakuza Kick, but Briscoe countered the Brainbuster with a Fisherman’s Buster for a nearfall.

Fletcher cut Briscoe off on the top rope, but Briscoe slid out of a Brainbuster and went for a Cut Throat Driver that won the first match between these two. Fletcher held onto the referee and snuck in a low blow before hitting a brainbuster for a close nearfall. Fletcher dropped Briscoe with half-and-half suplexes before he slumped to the apron. Fletcher pulled the table into position, but Briscoe knocked Fletcher off the ropes and hit a Froggy Bow off the top rope through the table to a massive pop.

Briscoe got Fletcher in the ring and hit another Froggy Bow for another nearfall. Briscoe set up another Cut Throat Driver, but Fletcher held onto the ropes. Briscoe cut Fletcher down with a chop and set up a top-rope Jay Driller, but Fletcher escaped and hit two Yakuza Kicks. Fletcher hit the top rope Brainbuster to score the win.

After the match, Fletcher took the mic and bragged to the crowd about his win and promised to do the same next week in Australia.

Mariah May on potential Mercedes Mone match: ‘I don’t know if the people are ready’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Mariah May knows a match between her and Mercedes Mone in AEW would be big, but she’s not interested in any of Mone’s “indie titles.”

The AEW Women’s World Champion was a guest on a recent episode of The Wrestling Classic and was asked about a potential showdown with Mone in AEW. May questioned whether fans are ready for a match with that much star power.

May said:

“I say title for title I’m not interested in this plethora of indie title she’s now running around on TV with. I don’t care and I don’t want to cover up this body. I’m interested in the world title and the TBS title because I’m in All Elite Wrestling, so I would love to hold both. Mariah Two Belts, how about that? But she kind of came in with her little MM initials, trying to steal my flame, and it hasn’t really worked out for her because I’m the world champion she’s not.”

May says she was a fan of Mone when she was aspiring to get into wrestling and that Mone is definitely someone she would like to face at some point.

“Yes, I was always a fan of Mercedes coming up as a wrestler. I thought she was fantastic and she does change the game and she does make history and she does push boundaries. So, she’s definitely someone I want to step in the ring with but I don’t know if people are ready for that. I don’t think they are. It’s a lot, that’s a lot of star power in one ring and I don’t think AEW women have had that so I don’t know if they’re ready.”

While a match against Mone could happen down the line, May’s immediate focus is defending her AEW Women’s World Championship against former champion Toni Storm at AEW Grand Slam Australia on February 15. She is also set to provide commentary for Storm vs. Queen Aminata on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.

May’s full appearance on The Wrestling Classic is available below.