The Crockett Cup returns this week, Champion Carnival is nearly over, Impact’s second PPV Rebellion goes live! What will we see make the Top 5 Matches?

Well it sure was a busy week with content, and the coming weeks don’t promise to be any easier, but we’re closing in on finalizing our April pool at least! So last week’s match winner was, IWGP Intercontinental Championship: ZSJ vs Kota Ibushi, which breaks WWE’s two week winning streak.

There’s a good chance we get another company to join the pool after this week, but who knows, maybe WWE will continue their hold on the April votes.

Let’s find out!

5. NXT: Johnny Gargano vs Roderick Strong

Snippet from Mitchell’s Coverage:
Fans rally up as Gargano runs in to CHOP Strong! Strong hits back but Gargano wrings out the arm. Gargano swings a buzzsaw but Strong ducks to club Gargano’s back. Strong runs in but Gargano goes up and over to school boy kick Strong! Strong slumps out of the ring but Gargano slingshots. Gargano misses and Strong yanks him down. Strong builds speed but Gargano dodges the wrecking ball to give Strong CANNONBALL! Gargano puts Strong back in the ring and slingshots, but into a fireman’s carry! Strong tosses Gargano up but Gargano huricanranas and SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO!! Strong survives and fans cheer “NXT! NXT!” for giving them this match. Gargano drags Strong up and CHOPS him in the corner. And again, this time sending spit and sweat everywhere!

Gargano does it again for even more spit and sweat flies! Fans want “One More Time!” so Gargano gives a THIRD helping! Strong flounders around but Gargano puts him up top. Gargano scoops Strnog but STrong slips otu to Olymipc Slam. Gargano slips out and boots Strong, to then hop up and leap. Strong catches Gargano, but Gargano slips out again, only to get caught again! Gargano fights out furiously but Strong just puts him on the apron. Strong sees the spear coming, and makes it a butterfly backbreaker! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives, but what else would he do in a match like this? Fans rally up and Strong throws hands.

Gargano keeps sitting up and then he hits back! Strong returns the elbows, but Gargano ducks to enziguri! Gargano runs into a boot and kick, but avoids the knee, only to get an elbow. But he gives a discus lariat! Gargano aims from the corner, DIY S- Buckle Bomb! Shining Wizard and backbreaker, to slam! Cover, TWO!! Gargano lives again but Strong won’t let up. Strong has the legs but Gargano resists the turnover. Gargano pries one leg free to kick away at Strong, then he reels Strong in for the crossface! GargaNO Escape!! Strong flails and kicks, but here comes ADAM COLE!

Gargano goes after Cole, but still avoids Strong’s suplex. Cole talks trash as Gargano elbows Strong away. Here come Fish & O’Reilly, but Riddle holds them off! Things get chaotic, and Strong taps Cole only to get an enziguri!! Cole accidentally hits Strong!! Gargano DIVES on Cole! Then slingshot DDT’s Strong! Cover, Gargano wins!!

Winner: Gargano via Slingshot DDT

Rating: ****

4. Impact Wrestling Rebellion: Gail Kim vs Tessa Blanchard

From My Coverage:
Well now, Gail and Tessa prove why they are regarded so highly. This match was a war. Tessa tossing Gail off the ramp was reminiscent of Misawa Tiger Suplexing Kobashi from the ramp to the floor. Tessa tried to finish the match with the Slingshot Suplex, but Gail counters into Eat Defeat, but Tessa kicks out. Tessa hits Magnum, then when Gail kicks out, she transitions into a Cobra Clutch Crossface for the victory. Great match, great passing of the torch moment afterwards, just a really nice moment.

Winner: Blanchard via Cobra Clutch Crossface

Rating: ****

3. AJPW Champion Carnival: Kento Miyahara vs Yuji Okabayashi

From My Analysis:

So this match wasn’t bad at all. The beginning was a little back and forth while showcasing Kento’s personality. However, once Okabayashi cold cocked him, by the time Kento got back in the ring, it was dominated by Okabayashi. Kento was on the receiving end of a lot of offense, and did his best Kenny Omega impression by hitting numerous Blackouts (V-Trigger Knees) and really only hitting signature/finisher moves. So it was a damn good match, but felt very simple and built a lot more desire for Okabayashi than having the Ace win his block for the second year in a row.

Winner: Miyahara via Shutdown Suplex Hold

Rating: **** 1/4

Honorable Mentions:

ROH/NWA Crockett Cup: NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Nick Aldis (c) vs Marty Scurll
Winner: Aldis via King’s Lynn Cloverleaf
Rating: *** 3/4
Impact Wrestling Rebellion: X Division Championship oVe Rules: Sami Callihan vs Rich Swann (c)
Winner: Swann via Barbwire Bat Crossface
Rating: *** 3/4
AJPW Champion Carnival: Shuji Ishikawa vs Dylan James
Winner: James via Chokeslam
Rating: *** 3/4
AJPW Champion Carnival: Kento Miyahara vs Ryoji Sai
Winner: Miyahara via Shutdown Suplex Hold
Rating: *** 3/4
ROH/NWA Crockett Cup: Crockett Finals for NWA Tag Team Championship: PCO & Brody King vs Royce Isaacs & Thomas Latimer
Winner: PCO via Moonsault
Rating: *** 1/2
NXT: War Raiders vs The Street Profits
Winner: Raiders via Thor’s Hammer
Rating: *** 1/2
IMPACT: Lucha Bros & Johnny Impact vs LAX & Brian Cage
Winner: Cage via Weapon X
Rating: *** 1/2
ROH/NWA Crockett Cup: NWA National Championship: Colt Cabana vs Willie Mack (c)
Winner: Cabana via Superman Press
Rating: *** 1/2
WWE Raw: The Miz vs Baron Corbin vs Drew McIntyre
Winner: Corbin via Claymore
Rating: *** 1/2
ROH/NWA Crockett Cup: The Briscoes vs PCO & Brody King
Winner: King & PCO via DQ
Rating: *** 1/2
SmackDown Live: Andrade vs Finn Balor
Winner: Balor via Coup de Grace
Rating: *** 1/4
AJPW Champion Carnival: Yuma Aoyagi vs Ryoji Sai
Winner: Aoyagi via End Game
Rating: *** 1/4
IMPACT: Willie Mack vs Killer Kross
Winner: Kross via Kross Jacket
Rating: *** 1/4
WWE Raw: AJ Styles vs Baron Corbin
Winner: Styles via Phenomenal Forearm
Rating: *** 1/4
ROH/NWA Crockett Cup: Rock & Roll Express vs The Briscoes
Winner: Briscoes via Froggy ‘bow
Rating: *** 1/4
WWE Raw: Samoa Joe vs Rey Mysterio vs AJ Styles
Winner: Styles via Styles Clash
Rating: *** 1/4
Impact Wrestling Rebellion: Impact Knockouts Championship: Taya Valkyrie (c) vs Jordynne Grace
Winner: Taya via Road to Valhalla
Rating: *** 1/4
ROH/NWA Crockett Cup: NWA Women’s Championship: Allysin Kay vs Santana Garrett
Winner: Kay via Discus from Detroit
Rating: ***
WWE Raw: Cesaro vs Cedric Alexander
Winner: Cesaro via Swiss Death Uppercut
Rating: ***
AJPW Champion Carnival: Yuji Okabayashi vs Ryoji Sai:
Winner: Sai via Sky Kick
Rating: ***
AJPW Champion Carnival: Dylan James vs Atsushi Aoki
Winner: Aoki via Arm Drag into Head and Leg Cradle
Rating: ***
Impact Wrestling Rebellion: 6 Pack Scramble: Petey Williams vs Jake Crist vs Ace Austin vs Aiden Prince vs Cousin Jake vs Eddie Edwards
Winner: Ace Austin via Roll-Up
Rating: ***
ROH/NWA Crockett Cup: PCO & Brody King vs Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima
Winner: King via Michinoku Driver
Rating: ***

2. Impact Wrestling Rebellion: Full Metal Mayhem Impact Tag Team Championships: LAX vs Lucha Bros (c)

From My Coverage:
Aye dios mio. This was an insane spotfest, but with the tension, the fact they kept introducing more weapons and this being the blow off…I can’t be mad. Spike Fear Factor through chairs, the good ole sit down strike fest, Springboard Spanish Fly through tables. Jesus, there was just so damn much in this match. I do love the fact that Konnan had forks in his pocket that he handed to LAX at some point. There’s a Spanish joke about burritos and forks in there, but I’m not gonna look for it. While the finish was a little awkward, it was still good. Santana driving the fork into Pentagon’s head while on a ladder, with Ortiz in Powerbomb position. Maybe it was supposed to be a Street Sweeper through both tables with the tacks on it, but a Super Powerbomb is no joke either. Not sure if this is Lucha Bros swan song or if they just wanted to take the belts off of them before Double or Nothing. Guess we’ll see.

Winner: LAX via Super Powerbomb through tack covered Tables

Rating: **** 1/4

1. AJPW Champion Carnival: Zeus vs Shuji Ishikawa

From My Analysis:

Well last time these two met in singles action was Zeus’ first and only Triple Crown defense. That match was alright, but not at the level people expected for a championship match. This however, made up for any misgivings of the first. Zeus had a lot of spots that called back to his desperation during his defense against Kento. Removing the padding from the bar that connects the turnbuckle to the post, to choke Shuji, a diving Biceps Explosion over the barricade, a dead lift Vertical Suplex from the apron back into the ring and chops to the back of his neck as the match was winding down. Both men looked fantastic and this was on par if not slightly better than the Zeus vs Okabayashi match. Zeus may have been eliminated after the loss, but this was a very impressive match and hurt no one.

Winner: Ishikawa via Giant Slam

Rating: **** 3/4

Thoughts:

As much as I love Tessa and Gail, I’m going to have to go with my order this week. Champion Carnival: Zeus versus Shuji Ishikawa, was such a fantastic match that had a lot riding on it for the tournament and emotion from their previous encounters. Fantastic match, and one of the better matches in general of the Champion Carnival.

Use Your Head and vote for the match of your choice. If you don’t vote, you can’t complain if the results aren’t to your liking. Just like politics.