Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Report: Wrestling Dontaku 2018 Part 2!

Published

6 years ago

June 8, 2018

It’s night two of AXS TV’s coverage of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2018! The Aerial Assassin, Will Ospreay, defends his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against The Time Splitter, Kushida, to revive their epic rivalry! Plus, Suzuki-Gun and Los Ingobernables de Japon take their feud to a new level with a TEN MAN TAG!

This review of Wrestling Dontaku 2018 will be as broadcast by AXS TV.
Therefore, all images are courtesy of AXS TV.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

10 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Suzuki-Gun; LIJ wins.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Kushida; Ospreay wins and retains the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship.

PLAY BY PLAY

NJPW and AXS review what led to tonight’s matches.

Will Ospreay took the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship back in a rare Fatal 4 Way at Wrestle Kingdom. The Aerial Assassin has defended and retained the title time and again against his WK opponents Hiromu Takahashi and Marty Scurll in separate 1v1 matches. But now he wants to prove he didn’t win by luck. Ospreay called out Kushida, and Kushida accepted. The overall series is still in Kushida’s favor, but can Ospreay has proven he can win. Can he prove it again?

10 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Suzuki-Gun!

This feud has been growing from the IWGP Junior Tag to the Heavyweight Tag to the very prestigious Intercontinental Championship. Can the entirety of LIJ overcome El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemura, Killer Elite Squad AND Suzuki himself all at once?

We join this war of Tranquilo and aggression as the Ticking Time Bomb crawls towards his corner. Hot tag and Naito is in. Naito runs and hits Kanemaru with the kick, then sweeps to swing in the dropkick. Fans fire up for Naito as he brings Kanemaru back up. Suzuki runs in and prevents Destino, but then Sanada grabs Suzuki for Skull End. But then KES run in and grab Sanada. Sanada fights them off and EVIL clotheslines Davey Boy Smith Jr. out. EVIL also dumps Lance Archer out, and then Bushi returns to intercept Desperado. Sanada and Bushi coordinate to double slingshot out onto KES and Desperado!

Suzuki goes after Naito in a corner with forearms, then whips, but Naito comes back with a flying forearm! Kanemaru runs in but is fed to EVIL’s mule kick. Naito enziguris Kanemura, than EVIL hits a clobbering clothesline. Naito drags Kanemaru up, and hits Destino!

Cover, LIJ wins!

Winners: LIJ, Naito pinning

Suzuki-Gun goes down in 5v5 warfare, and Suzuki himself is furious. Suzuki threatens Young Lions with physical violence, especially with a chair. He comes close to using that chair on LIJ.

Young Lions manage to pull Suzuki away, so they suffer his wrath instead. Suzuki leads his team away while Naito’s team celebrates in the ring. But as LIJ makes their own way out, someone from the crowd jumps Naito!

This masked man beats down Naito, and puts him into railings! They make their way back to the ring, and the masked man even uses the railings as weapons on Naito! Naito is hit over and over with right hands, and his attacker reveals himself. It’s CHRIS JERICHO!!

Y2J returns to NJPW, and hits Naito with a Code Breaker! Jericho was #AlphaClub when going against Kenny Omega, and now he’s #ListaIngobernablesdeJericho! Jericho rains down rights on Naito, then stomps and kicks him. Referees and Young Lions rush the ring but Jericho lashes out at the young wrestlers. Jericho leaves Naito and the Young Lions down in the ring, but then grabs the ring bell! Jericho takes aim but the referees try to stop him. They don’t, as Jericho SMASHES Naito’s face with the bell!

Jericho holds the bell up triumphantly while Naito bleeds on the mat. Referees repriman Jericho, and LIJ finally return. Young Lions barricade Jericho from Naito while Naito’s team checks on him. Jericho slaps the Young Lions out of the way, but because Naito is still stirring, Jericho goes after him more! LIJ rushes the ring and they run Jericho off. Jericho throws a chair at the ring! Then he throws Young Lions around into railing and railing around into Young Lions. However, Jericho has done more than enough to his new target. Will Naito be in good enough shape to defend his Intercontinental Championship? Let alone go after Jericho for revenge?

Naito, with crimson mask of blood, manages to stand, and then CHUCKS the stretcher away. Despite the damage done by Jericho, the Uncontrollable Charisma still has fire in his heart. He even pulls a page out of Suzuki’s book and beats up a Young Lion by whipping him into railings! Can Naito stay Tranquilo when he goes after Jericho for revenge?

Backstage interviews.

Chris Jericho shouts “You see what happens, Naito!?” This is what happens when a “piece of sh*t” angers Jericho. “You hear me, Naito?!” Jericho storms his way through the halls, throwing whatever he can grab. He even busts his way through a dividing wall just to keep going forward. “You see what happens, New Japan?!” Jericho storms his way out of the arena and threatens the camera men before getting into his taxi. He promises Naito that he’s coming for him, before the taxi drives off.

As for Naito, he has to sit down. “Man, that was intense.” Naito can tell Jericho’s challenge is “crystal clear.” Naito doesn’t really know much about Jericho, but he’s famous, right? For someone that famous to get that worked up, Naito must’ve really gotten to him, huh? Jericho’s actions prove how valuable Naito is. “It’s all good.” Jericho scores a perfect 100 with Naito. But NJPW is Naito’s home, and Japan is Naito’s turf. If Jericho thinks he can do what he wants and leave without a scratch, he’s wrong. Jericho “summoned the courage to make the first move.” But that doesn’t mean thing will turn out well for him. Naito will teach him that personally. As bad as Naito looks right now, will he make Jericho look even worse after their actual match?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Kushida!

The Time Splitter leads the series against the Aerial Assassin, but he still lost the title. Ospreay wants to prove to the world that Junior Heavyweights belong, and that he belongs at the top of the Junior Heavyweight Division. Who will win this newest rematch in this epic feud?

The belt is shown and the bell rings, but the two rivals hear the fans already dueling with chants. Kushida and Ospreay circle and tie up, and Ospreay powers Kushida to the ropes. Kushida turns it around but Ospreay turns it back. Ospreay honors the ropebreak, but is on his guard. The fans applaud as the two circle again. They tie up, Kushida rolls after the legs but Ospreay keeps him off. They tie up, and Kushida gets a wristlock. Ospreay reverses but Kushida reverses back and brings Ospreay down to the mat. Kushida wrenches the arm and wrist but Ospreay stands up. Ospreay spins and breaks to snapmare but Kushida goes right back to the wrist. Kushida wrenches but Ospreay rolls and kip-up, only for Kushida to again get the wrist.

Ospreay’s shoulders and neck are still badly hurt from his match with Marty Scurll, and it shows as he screams in pain. He still stands up and snapmares, and anticipates Kushida’s reversal to snapmare again. Kushida reverses again, so Ospreay snapmares again, but Kushida still gets back to the wristlock. Ospreay endures but Kushida backslides then rolls Ospreay to a chinlock. Ospreay endures as Kushida pulls back. They stand up, and Ospreay powers out. Kushida runs Ospreay over, then runs again, but Ospreay gets up and things speed up. Kushida hip tosses but Ospreay kips up and dropkicks. The dropkick misses but Ospreay avoids the kick to the arm. Ospreay rolls and handsprings, but Kushida hands off the headscissors to Red Shoes! Kushida then lines it up, and kicks Ospreay’s ribs!

Ospreay rolls out of the ring but Kushida pursues. Ospreay leads Kushida around the corners, then lurks behind a camera man. Kushida moves the camera man, and narrowly avoids Ospreay’s rolling kick, only to turn around into Ospreay’s boot! Ospreay takes tme to check his arms, then whips Kushida. Kushida reverses but Ospreay jumps the railing. Kushida runs over, but Ospreay forearms him away. Ospreay uses the railings to springboard, but he flies into Kushida’s armbar!

Ospreay endures, but it won’t matter if he taps because they’re outside the ring. Kushida holds on until Red Shoes counts him. He lets go at 4, and we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns as Kushida puts Ospreay back in the ring. Ospreay crawls to the other side but Kushida runs in and dropkicks him in the arm! Ospreay screams in pain, but Kushida keeps on him with a hammerlock against the mat. Kushida stands on then stomps the hammerlock, covers, TWO, into a short-arm scissors. Kushida pulls on the arm, but Ospreay resists. Ospreay moves it to a cover, TWO and Kushida keeps the scissors. But Ospreay uses his legs for the ropebreak, so Kushida lets him go. Fans applaud while Kushida backs off. Kushida brings Ospreay up but Ospreay hits back with body shots. Ospreay backs Kushida up but Kushida gives Ospreay a buckle shot! Ospreay gets out to the apron, and Red Shoes checks on him in regards to his neck and shoulders. Kushida walks over but Ospreay kicks at him from the mat.

Ospreay kicks, crawls, then kicks, but then Kushida is all over him with a facelock. Ospreay screams as Kushida shifts to a half camel clutch, and Ospreay comes within seconds of tapping, but Red Shoes has Kushida let go over concerns of a choke hold. Kushida stalks Ospreay to a corner, then snapmares him into a chinlock. Kushida wrenches Ospreay back, squeezing the neck. Ospreay gets up to his feet, then pries his way out enough to fight with back elbows. Ospreay runs, but into a chinlock. He snapmares Kushida off for his own chinlock, but Kushida reverses back into his chinlock. Ospreay endures again while fans rally. Kushida does a headstand to put more weight, then falls to put more torque. Kushida does it again, but Ospreay doesn’t quit.

They stand up again, and Ospreay fights out, but Kushida roundhouses the bad arm! Kushida whips but Ospreay manages a reversal. Kushida handsprings, but Ospreay evades and somehow manages his own handspring. Ospreay hits the handspring enziguri! Both men are down, but Kushida rolls out of the ring. Fans rally while Ospreay stands. Ospreay gets himself going, and manages the Sasuke Special!

The two collide and go down, but fans applaud. Red Shoes checks on them, and they both are okay to continue. Ospreay stands up first and brings Kushida into the ring. Fans applaud while Ospreay springboards and hits the flying clothesline. Cover, TWO! Ospreay’s shoulders still bother him, but he gets himself up again. He goes over to Kushida, dragon sleeper but Kushida turns it around into a cravat. Ospreay breaks free and roundhouse kicks Kushida in the chest. Kushida staggers to a corner, and Ospreay hits a running back elbow. Ospreay sweeps the legs then runs corner to corner for a BIG hesitation dropkick! Kushida rolls away, but Ospreay fires up, and hits a standing shooting star. TWO, and Ospreay grits his teeth as he works on his neck and shoulders.

Ospreay stands up and jams his shoulders, then calls for his standing finisher. He drags Kushida up and butterfly underhooks, but his shoulders just won’t let him. He clubs Kushida to keep him down, then tries again. Ospreay gets Kushida up but Kushida breaks free. Kushida swings, Ospreay catches him into a full nelson but Kushida breaks free again. Ospreay swings the hook kick but Kushida ducks, to PELE Ospreay in return! Kushida runs, but into the dropkick flip. Ospreay enziguris but Kushida ducks, so Ospreay slides under. Kushida copies that, then rolls Ospreay for the Hoverboard! Ospreay quickly waistlocks out of it, and German Suplexes Kushida down! Ospreay can’t keep the bridge with those bad shoulders, but both men are down as we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns as Ospreay gets to a corner. Red Shoes checks on him, but he won’t end this match here. Kushida also gets up, and fans rally for them both. Ospreay stands up, and he circles Kushida. He kicks Kushida in the chest, but Kushida dares him to do more. Ospreay kicks, then kicks again, but Kushida catches the leg, so Ospreay clubs away on Kushida’s back. He even peels of Kushida’s tap to kick and stomp and hammer away on it more. Ospreay runs but Kushida follows for the handspring rolling kick! Ospreay hangs halfway out of the ring, then slumps to the apron. Kushida joins Ospreay out there, and they stand up.

Both men teeter on the edge, and Kushida throws a forearm. Ospreay throws a forearm, but Kushida comes back with another. Ospreay forearms again but Kushida fires off several. Kushida backs up and runs over, but barely grabs the ropes in time to deny Ospreay the apron complete shot! They stand back up and Kushida elbows Ospreay. Ospreay elbows Kushida, then boots him off the apron. Kushida staggers, but then somersaults back to DDT Ospreay off the apron!!

Ospreay goes down but Kushida himself is down from exhaustion. Red Shoes checks on Ospreay, but somehow Ospreay is good to continue. Red Shoes starts the 20 count and it reaches 10 before Kushida sits up. It climbs past 15 when Kushida gets in, but Ospreay only just comes to. Ospreay hurries to his feet and into the ring at 19! Kushida springboards and huricanranas Ospreay down! Cover, TWO!! And Kushida can’t believe it. Kushida gets up and fires up, as do the fans. He drags Ospreay up and around to a cravat for stiff knees. Kushida kicks out the arm, then runs in again, but Ospreay throws the tilt-o-whirl and Kushida hits the mat!

Both Ospreay and Kushida are slow to get up, but Kushida is up first. Ospreay runs in for a helluva kick! Then he hoists Kushida up onto the top rope, and tucked in for Cheeky Nandos SUPERKICK. Ospreay gives another SUPERKICK, then a flurry of endless SUPERKICKS! Kushida slumps down to the mat, but Ospreay positions him before climbing up. Ospreay takes a moment to steady himself, then jumps for the Air Assassin imploding 450!

But he can’t make the cover right away, he’s too sore. Kushida saves himself with a ropebreak. Ospreay fires up and stands up, and waits for Kushida. Ospreay takes aim, and hits the Robinson Special! But Ospreay isn’t done there, as he gets up and springboards, but Kushida catches him into the Hoverboard! Kushida wrenches on that arm with the double wristlock, then again. Ospreay endures, reaches, but Kushida sits on him. Ospreay manages to slip out and gets a hand on the ropes, but Kushida rolls him away! The Hoverboard is on all over again, but Ospreay keeps fighting. Kushida stomps Ospreay’s head as he wrenches the arm. Ospreay refuses to give up, and works a new angle out of the hold. He reaches for ropes, but Kushida shifts and rolls, and goes for Back to the Future. Ospreay denies, dodges and runs for a blockbuster DDT!

Both men are down again, but fans rally for them. Ospreay and Kushida stir, and brawl with forearms on their knees. The KT tape comes off, and the forearms fly fast and furious! Both men slump down, but then Kushida springs up and eggs Ospreay on. They go again, on their feet, then Ospreay roundhouses. Ospreay kicks and kicks and kicks, but Kushida kicks and kicks and kicks back. They get forehead to forehead with angry trash talk, and start up the forearm fight all over again. Ospreay unleashes a strike fest then dodges the fastball, to go for the full nelson. Kushida breaks free, but the hook kick connects! Ospreay runs, but into the fastball! Kushida falls back from exhaustion, but then gets himself back up. Kushida works on his neck while Ospreay stirs on the mat.

Fans cheer as Kushida thinks of what else to do. Kushida drags Ospreay up just to stomp him out. Yet Ospreay grins?! And he flips Kushida off. So Kushida turns Ospreay over for more stomps! Kushida gives one big stomp, then runs in for a dropkick to the back! But Kushida keeps going, as he drags Ospreay up to the top rope with him. Kushida fisherman hooks, but Ospreay escapes, to springboard for a SUPER CUTTER!

But Ospreay isn’t done, he butterfly underhooks and lifts, into the Stormbreaker!!

Cover, Ospreay wins!

Winner: Ospreay, by pinfall; still IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion

Even with a bad neck and shoulders, the Aerial Assassin overcomes one of his greatest rivals. We go to break while both men are tended to.

NJPW on AXS returns once more.

Kushida is helped away while Ospreay stands back up. Chaos’ Aerial Assassin raises his belt, successful in his third defense.

But the lights dim, and “He is Back.” Bullet Club? Bone Soldier?! But wait, it’s Tama Tonga who comes out instead.

Tama Tonga heads to the ring, cutting Ospreay’s celebration short. Tama Tonga takes the mic, and says “Amazing…” He wants Ospreay to get up, but he’s really just distracting Ospreay from what’s creeping up behind! Bone Soldier IS here, and when Ospreay turns around to see him, he strikes! Bone Soldier, if this is THE Bone Soldier, beats Ospreay down then brings Ospreay up, for a suplex gutbuster!

Ospreay goes down and the crowd is silent as Tama Tonga tells him, “You been having a bit of luck” with the lightweights. Ospreay stepped over Kushida, and even The Bullet Club’s Villain, Marty Scurll. But that luck runs out. “There was an idea to bring somebody into this Club and turn that gold into diamonds.” Ladies and gentlemen, Bullet Club’s diamond: the NEW Bone Soldier, Taiji Ishimori!!

Ishimori drops the persona and reveals quite the “amazing” specimen! This is only the beginning of a new day for Bullet Club. Will the three-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion take away the title from the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion? Or can Ospreay recover and end the Bullet Club’s revival before it starts?

My Thoughts:

A great and practically infamous pair of moments were featured in this episode. LIJ wins, but it was all for the shock appearance of Chris Jericho. Jericho ups the personal heat with that attack, and I was really surprised by the amount of blood on Naito’s face. This Intercontinental Championship match will happen at Dominion 2018, literally tonight at Midnight PST for America, at least for those with NJPW World. If this were any other promotion, they might have made this match No Disqualifications, but NJPW can do a lot with just the standard rules. I’d say there’s no way Jericho would take that title given his relationship with other promotions, but who knows, NJPW could shock the world with a title change.

The Junior Heavyweight Championship of Ospreay VS Kushida, their sixth time facing off 1v1, is an instant classic given all the story between both each other and Ospreay’s neck issues. Ospreay guts it out just ahead of the Super Juniors, and what a time for the character of Bone Soldier to return, only to be unmasked as Taiji Ishimori of Pro-Wrestling Noah and Impact Wrestling fame. Ishimori has been champion in both those promotions as well as AAA Lucha Libre, but in present time we already know Ishimori loses to Hiromu Takahashi in the finals of the Super Juniors. Either way, Ishimori can still make his own run at the Junior Heavyweight Champion after Dominion, regardless of who holds the belt.

My Score: 8.5/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.25.2024

We just got done with Rebellion, and Under Siege is two weeks away! Gotta see how these dots connect!

Published

9 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Andrew Balaz

Rebellion had quite a few returns, Mike Santana, Sami Callihan and Broken Matt Hardy. All three of these guys could easily be main event players, and its nice to mix up and expand what felt like a rather small pool of potential challengers.

Under Siege is only like 2 weeks out, so we’ll see how the dots connect in such a short period of time.

.@AJFrancis410, Rich Swann, and rap legend @BunBTrillOG are IN THE HOUSE Meanwhile, @joehendry announces he will deliver an apology to Fir$t Cla$$ NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! pic.twitter.com/4GNe2xWfyU

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024

Ratings:

Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz: Santana wins via Spin the Block – ** 1/2
#1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander: Josh wins via Grapevine Ankle Lock – ***
ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside: Xia wins via School Girl Roll-Up – ** 3/4
Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands: Sami Callihan wins via Cactus Driver ’97 – SQUASH
Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth: Eddie wins via Boston Knee Party – *** 1/4

Results:

Did @NicTNemeth say BROKEN? @MATTHARDYBRAND has arrived in the iMPACT Zone! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/HbkUangt6e

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024

A weird opening that is just framed to put Nemeth and Hardy together against The System. Feels a little awkward, but who knows how it will play out.

.@JordynneGrace vs @miyu_tjp NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT will now be for the Knockouts World Championship! pic.twitter.com/YnKZjb9yjx

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024

Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz

Ahh I didn’t really pay attention to Santana’s theme at Rebellion, but its pretty damn cool. Good stuff.

Rascalz blindside Santana early, but the heel advantage doesn’t last more than a few moves. Santana whips Myron from corner to corner, hits a few Hip Attacks before Myron finally dodges one and starts using his unique offense and agility to his advantage. Matrix dodge, into an Leaping Outside Back in Slingshot Codebreaker. Some more offense and Santana powders to the ramp, Myron jumps over the rope and tries a Flying Cutter, but Santana blocks it, turns things around, gets pushed forward and hits the Rolling Cutter. Santana takes out the Rascalz, heads back into the ring, Myron tries to catch him unawares but eats the Spin the Block off the rope run! Santana wins fairly quickly.

Maclin’s music hits, he tries to employ the help of The Rascalz to attack Santana, but as soon as Maclin positions himself to get in, The Rascalz bail and flip off Maclin. Maclin makes it out of the confrontation relatively unscathed, but at least we know where he’s going for Under Siege probably.

OH FUCK ME WITH RUSTY KNIVES. Because Cardona is hurt Kon is paired with SDL, and she just challenges Jordynne and PCO to a tag match. WHY!? STOP IT. This is hot garbage.

Josh Alexander comes out…I wonder who’s Super Finisher he’s gonna conveniently kick out this time? Brian Myers? Frankie Kazarian? Rich Swann? Because yes, I’m still annoyed that Hammerstone has been in TNA for half a sandwich, he already connects with a Super version of his finish on tacks, and that’s not a finish. Oh Kaz’s music hits. Okay, so time for Josh to kick out of Fade to Black or Flux Capacitor. Kaz talks smack, says he won his match too so he should have a say in who’s number one contender. Josh challenges him, Kaz says not right now, but a referee runs out and says the match is official.

#1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander

Kaz throws his jacket on Josh’s head, and attacks him with some strikes before Josh fights back and throws Kaz out. Commercial break, we see Kaz misses his Apron Guillotine, Josh goes for the Low Crossbody but Kaz dodges and Josh goes flying. Kaz starts throwing some chops and claws at the cauliflowered ears of Josh. Russian Leg Sweep from Kaz for a near fall. Josh swings wildly and Kaz ducks the strike and levels Josh with a Lariat.

Josh blocks a Vertical Suplex attempt, but Frankie pulls off a Fisherman’s Suplex after a few overhead strikes for a near fall. Josh stands up and connects with a straight right, rocks Kaz, Back Body Drop, into a Charging Forearm, Rolling Senton, 2 count! C4 Spike attempt countered into a Back Stabber and then Chicken Wing, but Josh fights it off, rolls through and into an Ankle Lock, Kaz kicks off and into a Head and Arm Cradle for a near fall and then the Guillotine Leg Drop into Slingshot DDT spot from Kaz for another 2 count!

Fade to Black, but its fought off, Big Boot but then Kaz counters the next move with a Power Slam into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop, but Josh grabs the Ankle Lock! Locomotion German Suplex time from Josh, Halfhatch Suplex after the Germans, floats over for a 2 count! C4 Spike attempt again, but Kaz fights it off, dumps him over the top rope, slingshots him in and into the Cutter for a near fall for Kaz! After the 2 Kaz grabs a chair and chain, the referee stops the chair of course, so he tries the chain, EY runs down and grabs the chain so Kaz pulls the Eddie Guerrero and the referee admonishes EY, but doesn’t DQ Josh. So as Kaz is busy laughing at EY, Josh picks the ankle, Ankle Lock with the Grapevine, Kaz taps.

Tensions are sky-high between @alexhammerstone and @JakeSomething_! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/LLCUJOCy7H

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024

ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside

Both are jawing at each other and then throw hands before Xia gets the upper hand with a Headscissors from the Top Turnbuckle, Charging Knees, a Flurry of Kicks, but when the ref forces some space in the corner, ASH is finally able to dodge and work over Xia with her Twisting Body Splash, a few choking moves, a corner Stomp into a Snap Suplex for 2. ASH is in charge elegantly, but the referee keeps forcing space on both of them when they go for corner attacks. Xia manages to take advantage a little, but ASH regains control, kicks Xia up the ramp and then lands her Cartwheel Back Elbow up the ramp. It actually looks pretty cool executed like that.

Headlocks and Hair Pulling to keep Xia down and using energy to kick out. ASH is getting frustrated but Xia is remaining persistent. ASH goes back to the Headlock, but Xia fights up, Jawbreaker, Back Elbow, Kick to the gut and Drop Toe Hold sends ASH face first into the middle buckle. Xia rips off 4 Double Knee Smashes to the back of ASH’s head into her Flying Crossbody for a close 2! Xia pulls her up, but ASH spins out, then Xia slips it, but ASH kicks her in the chest and deposits her to the outside and demands a count from the referee. Iceman puts Jeweled Knuckles/Rings on ASH’s hand, the referee catches her, removes the stuff from her fingers and Xia hits the School Girl Roll-Up for the flash win.

Fraud has thrown the Ballot Box Battle into chaos, but also paved the way for an explosive showdown between @TheTreyMiguel and @The_Ace_Austin NEXT WEEK to determine the #1 Contender for the X Division Championship! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/lYHrtgNrc3

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024

Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands

So the Good Hand Jobs are about to do their job to Sami. I’m just gonna assume Sami beats the hell out of both and wins with a Cactus Driver ’97. If anything interesting happens I might actually cover it, but come on now.

.@SteveMaclin has a proposition for @FrankieKazarian #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/XY6lMdmSWo

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024

Kaz makes a Metallica reference with the “Wash Your Back So You Won’t Stab Mine”…and Sweet Amber is the only good song on St. Anger. So…I ain’t mad.

Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth

A little early ground wrestling and headlocks for control from both men. Nothing super flashy to start until we get to the rope run and Nemeth goes for the Flying Body Press to drop Eddie. Before Nemeth can follow up, Lish grabs his foot. Nic does have his brother Ryan in the crowd, trying to get chants going and do the old school ‘power up the babyface’ thing, but Eddie has been in control since Lish got involved. Simple offense, chokes, strikes, Snap Suplexes, Knee Drops, simple yet effective. But then Eddie ducks his head too early, Nemeth kicks him in the face, bounces his head off the buckles a few times, Dropkick sends Eddie reeling to the corner, Nemeth starts the 10 Count Punches but Myers hits the apron to distract and Eddie manages to slip the situation and push Nemeth to the floor.

Commercial break happens, Nemeth is trying to fight back with Chops, but a Kitchen Sink from Eddie puts Nemeth on the floor again! Clubbing blow from Eddie, but Eddie then misses the Hip Attack in the corner and Nemeth counters with the Rude Awakening into the 10 Count Rain of Elbows. Fame Ass-er miss, Eddie tries something but Nemeth turns it into that hesitation DDT for 2! Tuning up the band starts to build and Eddie powders to avoid it. Nemeth throws Eddie back in, goes to the top, but Eddie crotches him, rises up and hits the Superplex into Tiger Driver for 2! Eddie starts mocking with Tuning Up the band but Nemeth hits his own Superkick into an Olympic Slam for 2!

Both men just trade strikes Fighting Spirit style, Eddie says “Always Trust the System” and Nemeth shuts him up with a Headbutt. Danger Zone is blocked, Boston Knee Party gets ducked, they level each other with Lariats! Myers and Ryan Nemeth start fighting to distract the referee, Moose hits the ring and hits Nemeth with the belt. Eddie lands Boston Knee Party and The System wins again!

Overall Score: 6/10

A lame opening segment, a squash match, ASH by Elegance getting her first loss, and a weird way of just pulling the number one contender out of mid air makes for an awkward show. Also Kon still be involved in, literally anything, is negative. However, I can say there was a ton of stuff thrown at the wall this episode, so there’s a chance that some things landed better with other people than myself. The ballot segments were amusing, they overused the “I need to talk to you Santino” gimmick a bit much and personally I feel like having Jake versus Hammerstone is booking yourself into a weird corner.

But hey, the main event was fun, Nemeth getting laid out to the point that there could be a story reason to take him out of the Under Siege match. Kaz with the Metallica reference was pop worthy and I guess its a lot of ‘let’s see where it goes’ kind of angle creation. So it wasn’t complete trash, but its definitely a wait and see episode.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (4/25/24)

Champions need challengers!

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Steven Mitchell

The Queen is coming for her crown!

Athena & Billie Starkz are the top champions in the ROH Women’s Division, but Queen Aminata’s coming after them! Who will she target first?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Isiah Kassidy VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes; Zay wins.
Six Man Tag: Top Flight VS The Dark Order; Top Flight wins.
Anna Jay VS Allysin Kay; Anna wins.
Johnny TV w/ Taya Valkyrie VS Will Austin; Johnny wins.
Six Man Tag: The Mogul Embassy VS MANDERS & BEEFTANK; The Embassy wins.
Yuka Sakazaki VS Leila Grey; Yuka wins.
ROH World Tag Team Championships Proving Ground Match: The Undisputed Kingdom VS The Outrunners; The Kingdom wins and denies The Outrunners a title match.
Taya Valkyrie w/ Johnny TV VS Laynie Luck; Taya wins.
Six Man Tag: Lance Archer & The Righteous VS Jon Cruz, GPA & Ren Jones; Archer & The Righteous win.
Abadon VS Nova; Abadon wins.
Triple Threat: Blake Christian VS AR Fox VS The Beast Mortos; Mortos wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Isiah Kassidy VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes!

Brother Zay and the Commander of the Skies are coming down from the high of competing against Rob Van Dam on April 20th, but they’re both ready to get back up. Will Kassidy earn his shot (shot shot) at a championship? Or will the AAA Cruiserweight Champion be aiming for ROH gold?

The Code of Honor is upheld, but Zay has his fingers crossed! Zay trips Komander at the bell, says he’s too smart, then he steps on Komander’s dropdown to say “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” and “SUCK IT!” Komander keeps cool, he and Zay tie up, and Komander headlocks. Zay pulls on the mask, powers up and out to hurdle, but then Komander steps on him! Komander mocks “SHOTS! SHOTS!” Zay runs up, Komander avoids the boot to then wrench, wrench and mule kick a leg! Kmoander steps over, rolls through, then rolls again, to a HALF CRAB! Zay endures, fights around, ROPEBREAK! Komander lets go and Zay stands back up.

The fans rally, Komander runs in but is put on the apron. Zay runs in but into a slingshot BOOT! Zay comes back but Komander goes up and headscissors Zay into buckles. Komander comes back to springboard, wheelbarrow, but Zay HOTSHOTS Komander and then throws him down! The fans boo but Zay says they don’t teach that at school. Just follow Zay and he’ll get your right. Zay then smothers Komander with his towel! The ref reprimands, Zay lets off and Komander sputters to a corner. Zay bumps Komander off buckles, CHOPS him, then stomps Komander down. Zay says “SHOTS! SHOTS!” as he gives stomp after stomp.

The ref counts, Zay lets off at 4 and dusts his shoes off. Zay goes back to scuff Komander, taunt him, but the fans rally up for Komander. Zay scuffs Komander more, eggs him on, but Komander fights up to fire hands! Zay ducks a roundhouse but not the HEEL KICK! Zay leans on ropes, Komander runs in but Zay puts him on the apron. Komander gets up but Zay triangle jump STUNNERS! Komander flops to the floor, Zay scowls and goes out after him. The fans rally, Zay backs Abrahantes off, and the fans boo. Zay goes back for Komander, SMACKS him off barriers, then grabs the chair.

The fans boo, Zay says watch this, it’s about to be an 8K. Zay runs and uses the chair to LAUNCH, into barriers! Komander avoids disaster, puts Zay in the ring, and he hurries to a corner. The fans fire up as Komander springboards, but Zay moves! Komander rolls through, ducks ‘n’ dodges then RANAS! The fans fire up while Zay bails out. Komander builds speed and WRECKS Zay with a dropkick! Then ASAI MOONSAULT and down goes Zay! The fans fire up, Komander drags Zay up and in, then he springboards again, for a SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO! Zay stays in this as fans chant “DOS! DOS! DOS!”

Zay goes to the apron, Komander storms up and stands him up. Zay shoves Komander away, goes up the corner, but Komander runs up! Zay anticipates and GAMANGIRIS! Zay goes up to SUPSER SUSNET FLIP, but Komander flips through!! The fans fire up and Zay is shocked! Zay still BOOTS Komander, fires forearms, but Komander bobs ‘n’ weaves to SLAP, UPPERCUT and power up! Zay turns Komander around but gets a SHOTEI! Komander then jumps up top POISON-RANA! The fans fire up again and Komander runs, but into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! Or as the fans remind us, “DOS! DOS! DOS!”

Zay says Komander’s done wasting his time. Zay whips, Komander reverses but Zay reverses back to scoop, only for Komander to tilt-o-whirl sunset flip! TWO, but Komander tries a side roll sunset, TWO! Zay escapes, Komander dodges his haymaker and waistlocks. Zay switches, Komander switches back, but Zay grabs the ref! LOW BLOW MULE KICK!! The fans boo as Zay gets away with that one! Abrahantes protests but the ref can’t call what he didn’t see! Zay blows a kiss, before the INVERTED TWIST OF FATE! Cover, Zay wins!

Winner: Isiah Kassidy, by pinfall

Brother Zay didn’t break rules but he did find a loophole to DELETE Komander’s momentum. Will Zay soon have a WONDERFUL ascension to the top of ROH?

ROH hears from Bullet Club Gold.

It was backstage at AEW Dynasty this past Sunday that the Bang Bang Gang unified the AEW and ROH World Trios Championships! Jay White says, “Today, our destiny, fulfilling our destiny by building our Dynasty! Y’see, I’m full! I’m full of that feeling when I get to say, I told you so! When I came to AEW, joined forces with The Gunns, I said the Gunns were money! Brought them in along with Juice Robinson, to Bullet Club GOLD. I said I would bring you gold, and boys, we’re running out of space. Because we’ve got gold a plenty, haven’t we, boys? Cuz I’m the mother effin’ Catalyst of Professional Wrestling! I told you so!”

Austin says their backpacks are heavier on the ride home, but that extra weight just reminds him that the Bang Bang Gang runs this Trios ish! Colten says they like to have fun before and after, but during? They don’t take no ish! There’s this saying around here, “Restore the Feeling.” That’s something for the young guys to get on TV, but guess who are never mentioned? The Gunns! Is it because they’ve been in too many main events? Is it because they’ve been tag team world champions? And now they’re AEW & ROH Trios Champions! The Gunns are the best damn team in the world! White is the best singles man in the world!

And tonight, they are the BEST trio in the world!! And if you’re not down with that, they’ve got two words for ya: GUNS UP!! The Bang Bang Gang is firing on all cylinders, but will they be able to shoot down those who take aim at them?

Six Man Tag: Top Flight VS The Dark Order!

Speaking of the trios championships, Action Andretti, and the brothers Martin get their shot at the Bang Bang Gang this Saturday! Will Top Flight pick up speed going into that Collision? Or will Evil Uno, John Silver & Alex Reynolds prove they are worthy contenders?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the trios sort out, and Darius Martin starts against Johnny Hungy. The bell rings, the fans rally and the two circle. The fans rally for “JOHNNY HUNGY!” as the two tie up. Darius wrenches, wristlocks, but Silver spins and fireman’s carries for the takeover. Silver has the cording hold but Darius fights up. Silver wrenches but Darius spins, slips around, waistlocks, spins Silver and cravats for the neck wrench. Silver endures, powers up and out, but Darius rolls over the dropdown. Darius sweeps a leg to cover, ONE! Darius turns Silver’s sweep into a cradle, TWO!

Silver gets up but Darius arm-drags him back down. The fans cheer, Darius wrenches Silver and tags Action. Action runs to LEAP FROG ATTACK the arm! Action wrenches Silver, tags Dante, and Dante goes up to AX HANDLE the arm! Dante clamps onto the arm, digs a knuckle into Silver’s ribs, or was it a tickle attack? Tag to Darius and Dante snapmares Silver. Darius runs to basement dropkick! Cover, ONE!! Silver stays in this but Darius stays on him. Tag to Dante, Top Flight reel Silver in but the rest of Dark Order save him from the double suplex! So Action jumps in and Top Flight TRIPLE SUPERKICKS!

The fans fire up while Uno and Reynolds spill back out. Action and Darius aim, DOUBLE PLANCHA but Uno and Reynolds DECK them outta the air! Dante brings Silver up but Silver fights the half nelson to then whip Dante into the ropes! Silver then runs up, Uno & Reynolds join in, TRIPLE DROPKICK! Silver then waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX Dante into a bridging cover, TWO! Silver tags Reynolds and he short arm LARIATS Dante! Cover, TWO! Reynolds brings Dante up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Uno. Uno CHOPS Dante, then snapmares him to stomp him down! The fans rally for Uno as he tautns Action.

Uno goes back for Dante but Dante throws body shots. Uno CLUBS Dante, bumps him off buckles, and tags Reynolds. Silver holds Dante in whiel Reynolds whips Uno for the SPLASH! Uno goes again, but Dante dodges, goes up and over Reynolds, hot tag to Action! The Sight to See rallies on the Dark Order! ELBOW for Uno! BOOT for Silver! ELBOW for Reynolds! Uno kicks low, whips, but Action handsprings to DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up as Action kips up, and he runs in at Reynolds in a corner. UPPERCUT! Uno runs in but the SPLASH is sent into Reynolds! Uno staggers away, Action DECKS Reynolds!

Action aims, slingshot and SPLIT LEG but he has to bail out as Reynolds moves! Action just uses that to roll and PELE Uno! SPANISH FLY on Reynolds! Cover, Silver breaks it! Darius tosses Silver out but Silver ROCKS Darius! Darius drops down but Dante runs in and uses Darius as a step, POETRY IN MOTION! Silver falls, Reynolds dodges Darius to RAM Dante! Dante comes back, Darius helps him get up and over, then Dante helps in the TORNADO DDT! Darius sets Reynolds up for the STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, Uno shoves Dante onto it! Uno then CHOPS Darius down and goes to his corner.

Reynolds crawls over, hot tag to Uno! Uno fires forearms on all of Top Flight! Uno winds up, but Dante JUMP KNEES! Darius mule kicks! Action KICKS, Darius BUZZSAWS! But then Silver & Reynolds drag the Martins out! Uno dodges Action, tells him to STOP, then ROCKS him! The rest of Dark Order get in, Reynolds spins Action before the TRIPLE ROLLING ELBOWS!! Action wobbles, Uno reels him in, and Silver gives Reynolds the BOOST to take out the Martins! PILEDRIVER for Action! Cover, TWO!! Action survives and shocks the Dark Order! Uno cools off, tags Silver in, and Silver tags Reynolds.

The Dark Order surrounds Action and the fans rally up. They stand Action up, hoist him up, and Silver builds speed, but the Martins trip Silver! Darius drags Silver out, Action gets away and Dante baits Uno. Uno runs in, Dante goes up and over to JUMP KNEE Reynolds! GAMANGIRI for Uno, then Action SUPERKICKS! Dante DIVES to take out Silver, Darius steps in to COMPLETE SHOT Uno! Action and Darius have Reynolds for the double pump handle, DOUBLE LIGHTNING SPIRAL! Cover, Top Flight wins!

Winners: Top Flight, by pinfall

Action, Dante & Darius are flying high and heading for Collision, will they take those unified World Trios Championships away from the Bang Bang Gang in the blink of an eye?

Backstage interview with Athena & Billie Starkz.

Lexy Nair is with the ROH Women’s World and Women’s Television Champions, and says “Ladies and gentlemen, we are calling an Emergency MEM, a Minion Empowerment Meeting.” The Fallen Goddess asks the Minions why they’re here, and Minion #400,237.75 knows why. This is because of Red Velvet and Queen Aminata. They decided to stick their noses in Athena’s moment. The main event of Battle of the Belts, live on TNT, the first time the Overlord has been on live TV in over a YEAR. And Aminata put her hands on Athena, put Athena on her head, and proved that she is nothing more than “a hot piece of porcelain hussy garbage.”

Billie says not to forget about Red Velvet. Velvet acted all high ‘n’ mighty, but she just forgot Billie hasn’t beat her yet. Lexy says then it seems there is some unfinished business. The champs bring Lexy in for an uncomfortable double side hug, and Athena says “Bestie” is right. There is unfinished business. And since MIT is a nonprofit, they’ll give a “scholarship to the biggest ass-whooping Queen Aminata and Red Velvet have ever seen. Got it?” Athena tells Queenie and “Blue Velvet” to either step up or step out. Challenge issued to the Queen and the Chef, but are the Overlord and her sidekick about to get cooked?

Mark Sterling speaks.

“Some people get into professional wrestling because they need to. You haven’t needed anything in your entire life. You have an unlimited amount of resources at your fingertips. Money, culture, knowledge. You wanted to excel at this business, so you got the best training, the best workouts, the best diets, the best gear, the best moves. If it’s not the best, it’s simply not you. But the wisest man doesn’t think he’s the best until he’s surrounded by the best. And now, we all are. You are Ariya Daivari. And you are a Premier Athlete. We are the Premier Athletes.”

The Premier Athletes are here in person.

Sterling talks to his stable and tells them the beginning of phase two was a success. They wanted to assert dominance over ROH, and he would say message sent. However, they were not aware that the message would be sent to ROH World Champion, Mark Briscoe, to Dalton Castle, and half of the ROH men’s locker room. It took SIX men to stand face to face to these three. They’ve got Ariya back and more pissed off than ever. They’ve got National Champion, Josh Woods. And they’ve got Tony Nese in peak, physical performance. Now, they all know The Infantry wasn’t personal. They were just in the line of fire.

The Infantry is just on a long list of people who do not deserve the opportunities. Opportunities that belong to these three physical specimens! Because these are The Premier Athletes. When and where will Sterling’s stable finally break through to that next level?

Backstage interview with Griff Garrison & Cole Karter.

Lexy is now with Maria Kanellis’ baby boys and says they haven’t had the best luck as of late. What’s next? Karter isn’t sure. They keep getting opportunities, but they keep failing. Karter recently had a match against Christopher Daniels, and he lost! Griff says Karter thinks that’s bad, but Griff lost his shot at the ROH World Championship. Griff has faced Mark Briscoe twice in his career, and he’s 0-2. Karter’s match wasn’t even for a title! Griff had so much more on the line! Maria then walks in and sees her boys are disappointed. Well, Mama is disappointed, too. They both could’ve done much better in their matches.

But every loss is an opportunity. Griff was in the ring with THIRTEEN TIME ROH World Tag Team Champion, Mark Briscoe! Karter was up against Christopher Daniels, a legend! Maria’s been in the ring with both of those men, and they have so much experience. That is what Griff & Karter gain every time they’re out there. Every single loss is an opportunity. And everyone around here is always jealous of the abs and the looks, and it’s great that they are. But eventually, they’ll be jealous of what these two do in the ring. And eventually, these two will get back her championships, the ROH World Tag Team Championships.

Maria leads the way, but does anyone wanna tell her that that would mean her baby boys going up against her husband, Mike Bennett?

ROH World Tag Team Championships Proving Ground Match: The Undisputed Kingdom VS The Outrunners!

Speaking of Mike Bennett, he and Matt Taven are still champions after the big assist from Wardlow at Supercard of Honor. But will the Kingdom need their War Machine again real soon? Or will they be able to handle Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum in 10 minutes or less?

The fans rally up for the Outrunners already while the Code of Honor is upheld Mega Powers style. The teams then sort out, and though Taven is confused, Bennett steps up and starts against Truth. The fans chant “TAVEN SUCKS!” but Taven just eggs the Melvins on. Truth and Bennett tie up, then Truth wrenches to wristlock. Tag to Turbo, he takes the handoff, and he nods as he wrenches and wristlocks. Bennett knees low, flexes on Turbo, then wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Bennett wristlocks, says this is old school wrestling, but Turbo powers up! The fans fire up as Turbo rolls, handsprings, and kips up! Turbo then BOPS Bennett on the head!

The fans cheer, Turbo tags Truth, and Truth wrenches to wristlock. Truth grinds the arm, whips, but Bennett reverses. Taven trips Truth up while Bennett’s all up in the ref’s face! The fans boo and Turbo protests but Bennett dropkicks Truth down! Bennett mocks the old school posing then takes a bow. Tag to Taven, he CHOPS Truth in the corner. Taven CHOPS again, digs his boot in, but the ref counts. Taven lets off to taunt Turbo, and Bennett gets a cheap shot on Truth! Bennett drags Truth up by his hair, the ref sees that and reprimands, but Taven ROCKS Truth. Taven whips, but Turbo trips Truth to actually save him from the crossbody!

Taven tumbles up and out of the ring, Truth gets up to tag Turbo! Truth then runs and Turbo holds ropes up, BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICK! Bennett runs up, is sent out, and The Kingdom regroups. The fans fire up for Turbo as he fires up, then PLANCHAS! Down goes The Kingdom and Turbo is all revved up! Turbo gets in the ring, shakes the ropes, then tags in Truth. The Outrunners coordinate, to spin and pose! The fans fire up but The Kingdom CLOBBER The Outrunners from behind! The fans boo but Bennett flexes. Bennett brings Truth up, CHOPS, and now fans chant “BENNETT SUCKS!”

Bennett CHOPS Truth, puts him in the corner, and tags Taven. Bennett feeds Truth to a BOOT, adds the BOSTON BAYONET, then Taven LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Truth is tougher than that, but Taven argues with the ref. The ref defends his count, so Taven brings Truth over to ropes. Taven CHOKES Truth but the fans boo. The ref counts, Taven lets off at 4, and Taven soaks up the heat. Truth sputters but Taven tags Bennett. The Kingdom mugs Truth, then Bennett keeps Truth from Turbo with a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Truth stays in this but Bennett stays on him with a chinlock and stretch. The fans rally as Truth endures.

Truth is red in the face but he fights to his feet. But Taven BLASTS Turbo! Bennett throws Truth by his hair! Turbo storms in but the ref has to stop him. Turbo is upset but Bennett stands on Truth’s face! Bennett clamps onto Truth with a chinlock and grinds him down with a knee in the back. The fans fire up, we pass five minutes as Truth fights up, but Taven runs at Turbo again! Turbo ROCKS Taven first this time! Truth then hits a BIG back suplex on Bennett! The fans fire up, Turbo is feeling it, and Truth crawls over! Truth staggers ot his feet, hot tag to Turbo! Turbo rallies on The Kingdom with big haymakers!

The fans fire up as Turbo scoops and SLAMS Taven! Then he scoops and SLAMS Bennett! Scoop and SLAM for Taven! Scoop and SLAM for Bennett! The fans fire up and Turbo drops an elbow! And another elbow! And then he winds up, flexes, and JUPM ELBOW DROPS! Taven runs up but Turbo kicks! Turbo reels Taven in, flexes again, and hits a BIG suplex! Turbo points to Truth, Truth tags in, and Truth goes up! FLYING FOREARM on Bennett! The Outrunners hurry to get Bennett up, but Taven ENZIGIRIS Truth to stop Boot Camp, er Vice City, or whatever they were calling it! Bennett shoves Turbo into Truth then rolls Truth up, with tights! The Kingdom wins!

Winners: The Undisputed Kingdom, by pinfall (denies The Outrunners a title opportunity)

Taven grabs the belts to celebrate and Bennett says that was too easy. But then the ref suspects shenanigans! Did Bennett pull tights? Bennett defends his innocence, as does Taven, and the ref drops the issue. Will The Kingdom do anything and everything they have to in order to stay champions?

Red Velvet & Queen Aminata speak.

The Chef and The Queen are backstage, and Velvet tells Athena, “There you go again. Stirring up the pot. Oh my gosh, we ruined your moment~! I’m done with you. Billie? You wanna hang with the big girls? You wanna get in big girl business? Then bring it on. Yes, I haven’t forgotten I beat you, twice. And I’ll do it again, and this time, I’m a beat you like your mama never did. You know why? Cuz I don’t roll with minions. I roll with royalty.” Aninata says that’s right. And Athena, oh, they feel so sorry for “ruining” the moment. Actually, Aminata would do it again and again and again. And wanna know why? Because Queen Aminata does not respect Athena as a champion!

Athena has ZERO honor! And no one knows better about honor than The Queen. And Velvet says, “Y’know what, Queen? I’m looking for a fight. Are you looking for a fight?” Aminata is definitely ready for a fight. Velvet says it is time to cook, eat, leave no crumbs, and take out the trash! This dynamic duo is ready to tear down the Forever Champion and her little buddy, will they take the gold right off Athena & Billie?

Backstage interview with The Infantry.

Lexy is now with Trish Adora, Carlie Bravo & Captain Shawn Dean, and we’ve seen them get on a roll. How are they continuing the momentum? Carlie is so glad she asked. Have no fear, you know The Infantry is here. Dean says yes, they are here. And there’s been nothing but targets on their backs. They said they’re the most popular team, and people have been after them. Carlie does realize now that they had those OG Ops, then those really big Ops, and last week, there’s Ops they didn’t even know about. But let’s not forget those really old Ops, the- Oh wait, The Outrunners walk in. Turbo & Truth are feeling good. They may not have targets on their backs, but they’ve got some guns!

Wait, wait, wait. Are they wearing brightly colored camo?! Okay, first they take the Infantry’s move, now they’re copying the swag? What’s next? Trying to take Adora and their homes? What the what, son? Dean has Carlie calm down. He’s always got great ideas. He does? Yes, because next week, Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida, they take this to where it all began! Finally, Infantry take The Outrunners to where they belong, and that’s Boot Camp! Hold on, The Outrunners have been using camo since The Cow Palace. Dean has to hold Carlie back on that one! Turbo has a better idea! Outrunners VS Infantry, Daily’s Place, where it all began!!

WHAT!? Didn’t they just- Fine, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Oh yeah? The Outrunners will do Infantry one better and THEY will accept! Let’s roll out! Copy that! WHAT!? Stop copying them, Outrunners!! But will Dean & Carlie finally get through the delusional duo and make them find their own schtick?

Backstage interview with Johnny TV & Taya Valkyrie.

Lexy is with Mr. & Mrs. TV Ready and notes the season finale of Johnny Loves Taya just dropped. How are they feeling? Amazing~! Everyone loves their show, they worked so hard on it for months. Ten episodes, the grand finale, it couldn’t have gone any better. And think about it: awards season! The acceptance speeches, the red carpets, the fashion moments. But in sneaks Aaron Solo. That sounds fun! Though they would’ve won more awards if they had this face on the show. Maybe next season? Johnny says maybe Aaron would’ve been on the show, if he supported it once. He didn’t tweet about it once! All their real friends did.

Uh, Aaron is the Retweet King! Especially those first three episodes. Aaron and Johnny argue but Taya has them calm down. Taya runs the socials for the show, and she can confirm, Aaron did retweet. Oh, well, thanks, bro. Yeah, man! Remember QTV? The handshake? They do the handshake, right down the rocket ship taking off. Aaron says see? They’re bros. Before Johnny Loved Taya, Johnny Loved Solo. Uh… No. Aaron is a loser! TV Ready people do not hang with losers. Remember how his name used to be S O L O W? They took the W away cuz he keeps getting L’s! He’s 0 and THIS CENTURY! Get a win already!

Aaron says fine, if that’s what they want, he will win. And he’ll prove to both of you that Aaron is TV Ready! Aaron heads out, and Taya says it’ scute that he’s so confident. Not that it’ll work out. And they got the last word. Aaron then says “Bye” from offscreen, so Johnny says, “Adios.” Aaron has bet on himself, but will he win out?

Triple Threat: Blake Christian VS AR Fox VS The Beast Mortos!

All Heart, The Whole Fox’n Show and the evolved Black Taurus are among the fastest, toughest and hungriest competitors around, and they’re all looking for that golden opportunity. Will Blake be rolling into NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament? Or will another big name prove they’re a big deal?

The Code of Honor is upheld between Fox and Blake, but not Mortos. The bell rings, Mortos stares down Fox and Blake. Fox runs in to RAM Mortos but bounces off! Blake RAMS Mortos but also bounces off! They both run up, but he runs them over! Fox & Blake both kip up, but Mortos choke grips them both. Mortos shoves Blake away, but Fox flips through the choke slam! Blake & Fox DOUBLE SUPERKICK Mortos down! Mortos bails out, Blake and Fox coordinate, and Fox runs. But then Blake sweeps the legs! Fox ends up on ropes, Blake runs to BASEMENT 619! The fans boo but All Heart also has some brains.

Blake aims from the apron, springboards in and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Fox flounders to a corner, Blake runs in, but Fox puts him on the apron. Blake RAMS into Fox, slingshots, but Fox goes out to then slingshot SENTONS! The fans fire up, Fox suplexes for ANARCHY! Blake bails, Mortos LARIATS Fox down! The fans fire up as Mortos roars, and Mortos drags Fox up. Mortos suplexes, Fox slips free to waistlock but Mortos switches. Mortos shoves, follows, then rolls off Fox’s back! Mortos SOBATS, KNEES, ELBOWS and snapmares, to then NECK TWIST! Then SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!

Fox survives that onslaught but Mortos roars again. Mortos drags Fox up, wrenches and grabs a leg, for a SHIN BREAKER! Fox writhes, Mortos gets legs and steps through, and Mortos ties Fox up for a NAVARRO DEATH ROLL! Fox endures the leg lock, but Blake DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS Mortos! The fans fire up and Blake smirks as he runs in at Mortos. Mortos BOOTS Blake, SLING-DOGS, then CRUCIFIX DRIVERS! Blake wobbles, Mortos whips to POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Blake survives but Mortos snarls. Mortos drags Blake up, UPPERCUTS him down, and Blake flounders to a corner.

The fans cheer as Mortos drags Blake back up. Mortos reels Blake in to back suplex, but Blake lands out! Blake dodges in the corner, then whips to ropes. Mortos reverses but Blake handsprings, wheelbarrows, SPLASH 182! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Mortos and Blake stir while Fox returns. The fans rally, Fox and Mortos stand first and Fox throws a haymaker! Blake adds a haymaker, he and Fox pinball Mortos around! They put him in a corner, throw more hands, then Fox goes up to rain down fists! Mortos shoves Fox away so Blake rains down fists. Mortos shoves him away, Fox returns to A-LIST LARIAT!

Mortos slumps down, Blake adds a LOW CROSSBODY! Fox skins the cat to DROPKICK Mortos, and then Fox goes to the apron. The fans fire up as Fox goes up, but Blake ROCKS him first! Blake goes up, brings Fox up, but Mortos adds on! The fans are going nuts already for the SPANISH FLY BOMB!! Cover on Blake, TWO! Cover on Fox, TWO!! Mortos snarls but he drags Fox back up. Mortos trophy lifts Fox, but Fox slips free to BOOT! Mortos tumbles out to the apron, and Blake SPEARS him down! Blake hurries to build speed so he can DIVE! Mortos stays up!? So Fox FLIES! Down goes Mortos and the fans fire up!

Fox puts Mortos in but Blake aims first! Springboard 450 SPLASH! Fox adds the SWANTON BOMB! But then Blake TOSSES Fox to cover Mortos, only for Fox to break it! Fox has had it with Blake being so sneaky, and TOSSES him out! Blake is on the apron, he ROCKS Fox, but Fox stops the slingshot! Fox has Blake in ropes, step-up DRAPING DDT! Roll through, but Mortos reels Fox in! Scoop and MORTOS DRIVER!! Cover, Mortos wins!

Winner: The Beast Mortos, by pinfall

Blake and Fox couldn’t say on the same page, and that allowed the minotaur of lucha to take the win! Will nothing stop The Beast Mortos from stampeding his way to a championship opportunity?

My Thoughts:

A good episode of ROH here at an hour and 38 minutes, but that made for quite a bit of filler. I did like the Six Meaty Men Slapping Meat Tag match of Mogul Embassy VS 1 Called Manders, BEEF and Calvin Tankman, but of course The Embassy won. Good return matches for Johnny and Taya, but I liked their promo with Aaron Solo better. It was a good use of continuity bringing up the failed QTV to pivot into a new story for Johnny TV now that Dalton Castle is moving on. Good promos from Mark Sterling, but a bit redundant again to have him hype up Ariya Daivari, then for him to talk directly to Ariya and the others.

Another confusing thing was the promo from The Infantry and Outrunners. Well, the promo wasn’t confusing, the timing was. Perhaps it was a victim of poor pacing as we’ve seen all over AEW & ROH. But I do appreciate we’re finally seeing these two teams have it out for ROH at Daily’s Place “next week,” aka prerecorded sometime this week. Outrunners had a good match with The Kingdom but of course The Kingdom won. But we’re getting an interesting detail where Maria wants her new boys, Griff & Karter, to go for those ROH World Tag Team Championships while her old boys, Bennett & Taven, still have them. Some sort of Kingdom Civil War angle in the works here?

Really good stuff with Zay winning by going to new lows, and really good Six Man Tag to give Top Flight momentum going into their title match with Bang Bang Gang. Really good promo from Bang Bang Gang and of course White & The Gunns are going to retain. And at least they did just what I was hoping by having a promo from Bullet Club Gold on ROH so that it counts as them being on this show. Just needs to keep happening, maybe with some in-person appearances. Not even matches, just BCG watching other trios fighting it out because they’re scouting, aka foreshadowing, new opponents.

Great main event Triple Threat but also a fast one, Mortos with the big win over Fox and Blake. While there’s something brewing for the ROH World Championship with Mark Briscoe being around Dalton Castle and The Premier Athletes, maybe Mortos can find himself in the world title scene for the next ROH PPV. And then great promos from Athena & Billie as well as Velvet & Aminata. We’re definitely getting a tag team match that will end up earning Velvet a shot at the Women’s TV title and Aminata a shot at the Women’s World title, and those will be awesome matches.

And if either of the champs is losing, I’m actually thinking it’s more Athena losing to Aminata than Billie losing to Velvet. I’ve said it before, Aminata’s proven herself worthy, and if she wasn’t gonna be inaugural Women’s TV Champ, might as well make her the woman that dethrones the undefeated Athena.