Coverage

Andrew’s Wrestle Kingdom 15 Day 1 Results & Match Ratings

Wrestle Kingdom tries to kick off the NJPW year right, by tying up all the 2020 shenanigans in a bow! Has Naito bitten off more than he can chew? Does Ospreay cement his new Empire? Will G.o.D. break the tag title reign mark? Let’s find out!

Published

4 years ago

January 4, 2021

Andrew Balaz

The first day of an event, where I hope it goes back to being one day moving forward. 2020 was an awkward year for New Japan, and since Wrestle Kingdom is the culmination of the previous year’s stories; it makes complete sense that it looks awkward itself.

A roster and card that is exposed from quarantine limitations really should take a step back and reassess how they do their biggest event next year. But with all that said, there are some things to look forward to.

Ospreay and Okada have a lot of history and a known ability to put on quality matches, so that should be entertaining from an in-ring perspective. Ibushi and Naito might kill each other, so that has its own entertainment value. Satoshi Kojima gets one more chance at a decent sized match and the tag title match will either be a mess or pretty damn entertaining with all the heel shenanigans.

Is it a blockbuster card? No. Does it set your imagination ablaze? Not even close. But it has potential to still be entertaining.

Let’s check it out!

Ratings:

KOPW 2021 New Japan Ranbo: BUSHI, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & Toru Yano move on to the four way tomorrow! @34:40 – ***
#1 Contender for IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Phantasmo (Super J Cup Winner) vs Hiromu Takahashi (BOSJ winner): Hiromu wins via Huricanrana @17:46 – *** ¼
IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Dangerous Tekkers (ZSJ & Taichi) (c) vs Guerillas of Destiny w/Jado: Loa wins via Ape Shit @19:18 – *** ½ – TITLE CHANGE!!!
IWGP US Title Briefcase Rights Match: KENTA (c) vs Satoshi Kojima: KENTA retains via Go 2 Sleep @14:12 – ** ¾
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Great O-Khan: Tanahashi wins via High Fly Flow @17:13 – *** ¼
Kazuchika Okada vs Will Ospreay w/Bea Priestley: Okada wins via RAINMAKER @35:41 – **** ½
IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Championship: Tetsuya Naito (c) vs Kota Ibushi: Ibushi wins via Kamigoye @31:18 – **** ¼ – TITLE CHANGE!!!!

Results:

KOPW 2021 New Japan Ranbo

Chase Owens was giddy to be number one, until he saw number 2 was Tomohiro Ishii. Owens is actually holding his own against Ishii and then Minoru Suzuki’s music plays for number 3. Suzuki’s entrance takes so long, that it feels like he barely starts and then we get some Blue Justice music! Coming in at six is…Toa Henare. Okay, this is the first name that doesn’t really match up to what we already have.

Speaking of wrestlers most likely not going to win, here comes Hirooki Goto at 7! Suzuki and Nagata tunnel vision super hard on their personal rivalry nearly eliminate themselves, but Toa Henare comes in with Double Lariats to knock off the two legends and pick up the first 2 eliminations! Yujiro Takahashi, the best thing about him without Pieter is his entrance music, so…he peaked. Henare tries to reignite his attempted feud with Ishii, but after a quick combination, Ishii catches him and dumps him out onto the floor. The YOSHI-HASHI is 9.

Togi Makabe enters to try and break up this weird teammate heavy lineup in the ring. Makabe comes in angry, clears out Goto and YOSHI-HASHI together, as Ishii and Makabe go full 2016 on each other! Oh one of the few times you hear Tomoaki Honma’s music for 11^th! Makabe gets his GBH partner. Honma saves Makabe two different times, and then they start trading strikes as Hiroyoshi Tenzan’s music plays! Tenzan and Honma gang up a little on Makabe, dump him out and we got a little taste of allegiances of GBH past. Now it’s Rocky Romero at lucky number 13! DOUKI comes out next as not a lot is going on in the ring. Rocky cuts off DOUKI, hits a few Forever Lariats, but the pipe gets used and DOUKI is eliminated. SHO comes out while DOUKI tries to get his heat back, and SHO saves Rocky from the beatdown. 16 is BUSHI! Yujiro gets caught charging at BUSHI, so he eliminates himself in a way. You hear the classic Tiger Mask music as Tiger Mask IV comes out! Fale hits the ring, they were saying he politic’d to be last, so maybe this is the final entrant!

Fale eliminated Ishii while Ishii was trying to get Owens. But now Gabriel Kid comes out as Honma gets eliminated. Tenzan is next to fall after a lot of teamwork with Honma. Yuya Uemura comes out next for the 20^th name. Rocky, SHO and Tiger Mask get eliminated by Fale as they try and chop down the tree…and fail. Yota Tsuji is the 21^st entrant. All of the Young Lions try to gang up on Fale, but it’s not expected. Toru Yano comes out seemingly last! Kid, Tsuji and Uemura get eliminated fairly quickly. So Toru Yano makes it to the final four as he’s walking to the ring. BUSHI vs Chase Owens vs Bad Luck Fale vs Toru Yano for the trophy tomorrow.

For a Rumble this was fine, if not bloated. But surprisingly it was a little more serious than most Japanese Rumbles.

Riki Choshu comes out to kick off the official main card, with his little grandson in his arms! He hypes up the crowd just to kick off the show, nothing crazy announced.

#1 Contender for IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Phantasmo (Super J Cup Winner) vs Hiromu Takahashi (BOSJ winner)

Phantasmo continuing with his elite douchebag antics, where he walks around demanding to see Liger to put his jacket on him, to which Hiromu hits a Diving Dropkick to start off the action fast. Sadly for Hiromu, he attempts his Sunset Bomb, but ELP blocks it and manages to flip out of it. Lights up Hiromu a little and then hits him with a Sunset Bomb on the outside.

ELP starts to really dominate most of the action for a few minutes. An interesting move where he lays Hiromu on the top rope then uses Hiromu’s body as the rope for the Arabian Moonsault style of move. ELP does his rope walk, and finally Hiromu mounts some offense. Hiromu pulls off a Dynamite Plunger, ELP fights back with a Peach Sunrise style of reverse Piledriver, but the back and forth is definitely interesting. ELP uses a ton of former BC mannerisms, with the Kenny Omega rise of the Terminator, a Styles Clash, but the first big near fall is after ELP bumped the referee “accidentally”. A succession of closed fists, with a low blow followed by a Super Frankensteiner and Frog Splash, gave a bit of a hold your breath moment before Hiromu kicked out at 2.

Tons of counter moves roll throughs, a really nice sequence for the last few minutes of the match. Hiromu winning with a legitimate Huricanrana is a nice change that the finishers aren’t always needed. Immediately icing his hand though, Hiromu will be nursing a small injury tomorrow against Ishimori.

IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Dangerous Tekkers (ZSJ & Taichi) (c) vs Guerillas of Destiny w/Jado

Well this started off “interestingly” as was discussed on Outsider’s Edge. Taichi was utilizing a lot of chokes on Tama, ZSJ joined in for a few double team chokes, before Jado trips up Taichi to allow G.o.D. to cheat a bit, get in solid offense and then return the chokes in kind.

It takes this match a hot minute to get over the cheating in stereo, but once we see Tama and Loa pull off the old Faces of Fear Aided Powerbomb, the energy picks up and we get some fun. As ZSJ said during the match, “It’s the fucking Tokyo Dome”. Some nice transitions towards attempted tandem moves, pulling off signature moves, but it of course ends in heel fashion. Taichi looks to set up for the Super Kick, Jado hits the ring, Taichi and DOUKI take out Jado, but Tama has the Iron Fingers. Tama hits the upper cut, Loa hits Ape Shit and G.o.D. are the seven time champions while Taichi sells dead so much so that DOUKI literally carries him out on his back.

Prior to the rights holder match, we get a video package. Moxley is standing in a NJPW USA/NJPW Strong ring, with the US Title and basically saying he’s coming after the winner, instead of the usual other way around.

IWGP US Title Briefcase Rights Match: KENTA (c) vs Satoshi Kojima

This was definitely a hybrid of major puro styles. It started off like a typical Bullet Club match with a lot of stalling and misdirection from KENTA. Going after Tenzan to try and bait out Kojima and giving things an interesting pace. Once Kojima started landing some offense, that’s when we saw a little bit of the King’s Road pacing of storytelling in the ring.

Kojima’s machine gun chops definitely rang a certain way to KENTA, but he fought back pretty matter of factly. KENTA was almost screwed over by his personal desire to use the briefcase again, since Kojima knocked it out of KENTA’s hands with a lariat and threw some literal haymakers as he started head hunting.

KENTA was able to get distance with a few well place Busaiku Knees, and then eventually hit Go 2 Sleep to end the 3^rd generation wrestler’s bid at one more return to glory.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Great O-Khan

The match started off uniquely since O-Khan went to the ground and showed off a lot of his amateur ability with a lot of movements reminiscent of Antonio Inoki, even doing the Cobra Twist later on in the match.

Early on Tanahashi was trying to find a rhythm and wasn’t even able to Skin the Cat, which allowed for O-Khan to look pretty dominant for a good portion of the match. O-Khan showed a few variations of the claw hold and had his moments, but as soon as we saw Tanahashi pull off some old classics, like Skin the Cat, a Dragon Suplex and the Twist and Shout, things seemed to be heading a certain way.

Two High Fly Flows gave Tanahashi a hard fought victory, but a victory none the less.

Kazuchika Okada vs Will Ospreay w/Bea Priestley

We see an Okada we haven’t seen in a while from the start of the match. Okada pulls off a Tope con Hilo, Heavy Rain, and there’s a ton of references to previous matches. Ospreay did a great job keeping up early on and accelerating the aggression when he tried to pull up the mats to expose the wood.

Ospreay did show a more calculated attack, but so did Okada. Okada focused the back to try and take away the Stormbreaker, while Ospreay attacked different from different angles, but trying to stay ahead in the mind games. There was a beauty in what Ospreay did, since he took a few moments from the Kenny Omega saga, which seemed to spark a different Okada.

Respectably, Ospreay also wanted to beat Okada in the ring, so after a Brainbuster through ringside tables, Ospreay threw Okada back in the ring to try and win without any doubt. Oscutters, Spanish Fly, Money Clips and Tombstones, there was a lot of fun moments. We got to see Okada tap into who he used to be. The goading kicks to a downed Ospreay are a side of Okada that we haven’t seen in a long time.

Ospreay nearly pulled off a big upset when he got out of the Money Clip, hitting a Tombstone and Rainmaker of his own, but that wasn’t enough, but it did evoke something else. Almost as if Okada realized the Money Clip gimmick isn’t worth trying to continue to make work, he fought back, hit the Fire Thunder Driver that we haven’t seen in a while, and then kills Ospreay with a RRRAAIINNMMMAAAKKKERR! God I missed that move.

Odd booking that The Empire is 0-2 on January 4^th. Would’ve been big for the new stable to get a win over a standard bearer of New Japan, but I guess now is not their time.

IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Championship: Tetsuya Naito (c) vs Kota Ibushi

This had all the trappings of their previous encounters, from dangerous looking spots, slightly mistimed spots, but a lot of flashy and impressive violence. Early on we saw a few spots on the outside, where Ibushi slipped, it threw off the timing of the sequence and that marked the first time Ibushi’s head skipped off of something.

Naito tried to slow things down like his G1 matches, usage of the leglock Full Nelson, the back elbows and generally just trying to weaken the neck for Destino. Ibushi pulled out a lot of attempts, the Outside In German Suplex, Apron attempts at murder and even busted out the Phoenix Splash again, but missed that one.

Rough match, hard fought, both had a lot to prove, and it was evident from the fact that it took Ibushi 3 Kamigoyes to win this match. The last one coming off an exposed V Trigger to stun Naito and open him for the last necessary shot. A damn good match that suffered if for no other reason than it followed a 30 minute match which took risks that were executed a bit more cleanly.

Overall Score: 7/10

Well hot damn that was an odd show. The Ranbo was a bit more serious in execution but really threw in no one that most people care about beyond Yano for the 4 Way. Hiromu and ELP definitely fell a little flat as an opener, maybe if the crowd could’ve been more vocal it would’ve seemed better, but wasn’t as good as it should’ve been.

G.o.D. and Tekkers executed a fairly solid match, it’s always just weird when you have two heel teams try to out heel each other. Kojima put on a damn good showing for having little more than a week really to prepare for the fight with KENTA. The Moxley message at least allows us to get the damn belt off of him and stop with part time champions.

The Empire has fallen flat to begin with, but it did achieve one thing; reminding Kazuchika Okada who the hell he is. Ospreay brought us The Rainmaker back, so I guess that’s an accomplishment at least. As for the show in general, it was alright. Our last two matches were very good, but the fact that they were so damn long made for some odd perspective.

My biggest question is: Does Kota Ibushi go down as a 1 day champion?

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Up Next

NOAH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER VOL.116 ~ 3RD JANUARY 2021

Don't Miss

Mitchell’s WWE 205 Live Results & Report! (1/1/21)

Coverage

Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (4/18/25)

ROH says TGIF!

Published

4 hours ago

April 18, 2025

Steven Mitchell

420 Honor Club!

Can’t go wrong with ROH on a Friday afternoon! But will Dustin Rhodes & The Von Erichs still be World Six Man Tag Champions after facing #MXMTV?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Bandido & Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes VS The Infantry w/ Shane Taylor Promotions; Bandido & Komander win.
ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships: Dustin Rhodes & The Von Erichs VS Johnny TV & MXM Collection; Dustin & The Von Erichs win and retain the titles.
Sammy Guevara VS Lee Johnson w/ Blake Christian; wins.
The Frat House VS ???
Six Man Tag: Atlantis Jr, Fuego & Esfinge VS Euforia, Barbaro Cavernario & Zandokan Jr; win.
Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds VS Jon Cruz & Rosario Grillo; win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Bandido & Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes VS The Infantry w/ Shane Taylor Promotions!

The Most Wanted is once again ROH World Champion, but the Commander of the Skies just lost his ROH World Television Championship. Meanwhile, Captain Shawn Dean & “Bad News & Tattoos” Carlie Bravo want to take over the ROH Tag Division. Will someone be getting Two 2 Da Head? Or will the luchadores be dealing out a Blackjack 21?

The fans rally for Bandido already, which annoys The Infantry. The Code of Honor is not upheld as The Infantry strike first! The bell rings, the ref reprimands and the fans boo as Dean fires forearms with Komander while Bravo has Bandido. Dean kicks Komander, then Bravo SUPERKICKS Komander! Bandido BOOTS Dean, then he brawls with Bravo! They go back and forth, Bandido ROCKS, KNEES, and headlocks. Dean tags in as Bravo powers out, and then Bravo drops down for Dean to take a swing. Bandido blocks that to DECK Dean, but Bravo CHOP BLOCKS Bandido! Bravo shoves Bandido out for Dean to whip hard into railing!

The fans boo but Bravo says, “That’s how we get down! S T P!” Dean drags Bandido up and into the ring, then stays between him and Komander. The fans rally, but Dean RAMS Bandido into the corner! The Infantry mugs Bandido, the ref counts, and The Infantry lets off. Tag to Bravo and he CHOPS Bandido! Bravo puts a leg in the ropes, stomps it, then CHOPS! Bravo stomps Bandido again, then backs off as the ref reprimands. Bravo brings Bandido out, but Bandido fights the suplex! Bravo hooks a leg to FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect, but Bravo drags Bandido from Komander with a HEEL HOOK!

Tag to Dean, Dean stomps Bandido, and Bravo says #TAIGASTYLE taught him that. Lee Moriarty gives a thumbs up, and Dean stomps Bandido. Dean puts Bandido’s leg on the ropes, then HIP DROPS it! The fans rally for Bandido but Dean stomps him down. Cover, TWO! Bandido stays in this but Dean drags him around by the leg. Dean drops an elbow on the knee! Then he drops an elbow on the other knee! Then back to the right knee! Then the left knee! The fans boo but Dean drags Bandido to the corner. Dean runs to ELBOW Bandido, then he tags Bravo. Dean scoops Bandido, Bravo goes up, ELBOW DROP BACKBREAKER!

Bravo swaggers while the fans boo, but then he goes back to cover Bandido. TWO, and the fans rally up. Bravo drags Bandido up to HEADBUTT, then he tags Dean. Dean sends Bravo in, but Bandido TOSSES Bravo out! Dean runs up, Bandido BOOTS him! Dean comes back, Bandido dodges and hobbles, hot tag to Komander! Komander springboards and salutes for the CROSSBODY! Bravo rushes back in, he has Komander, but Komander BOOTS Dean to go up and over Bravo! Komander shoves Bravo into Dean, then knuckle locks Bravo to CHOP! Komander goes up, jumps around, and FLYING RANAS Bravo away!

The fans fire up as Komander dodges Dean, ROCKS Bravo, then mule kicks Dean! Komander sends Dean into Bravo, then springboards to DROPKICK Bravo into giving Dean the DDT! Cover, but Bravo breaks it! Bandido runs up, Bravo wrenches and ROLLING ELBOWS! Bravo is fired up, but Komander SUPERKICKS him! Komander fires off on Dean with forearms and puts him in the corner. Bravo sneaks a tag while Komander climbs up. Komander rains down five punches, then whips Dean corner to corner. Dean reverses, Bravo runs up, CARLIE CROSSOVER! Then feed to Dean’s FLYING LARIAT!

The Infantry then hoist Komander up, wrench and URENAGE DOUBLE BACKBREAKER!! Bravo covers, but Bandido breaks it! The fans fire up as Dean whips but Bandido TOSSES him! Bravo runs up, Bandido SUPERKICKS him! The fans fire up as Bandido rises, but then Bravo distracts the ref. Shane Taylor gets on the apron, talks trash on Bandido, then ROCKS Bandido! Komander storms up, Shane grabs him, but Bandido comes back! Komander gives Bandido the boost to SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB Shane onto Moriarty & Dean! The fans are all fired up as Komander then BOOTS Bravo, ENZIGIRIS, and calls to Bandido!

Komander tags Bandido, then he ROCKS Bravo! Komander goes corner to corner to go up, up, and ESCALARA MOONSAULT onto STP! Bandido scoops Bravo for the X KNEE!! Bravo is on the ropes. Bandido runs, BLACKJACK 21 PLEX!! Bridging cover, Bandido y Komander win!

Winners: Bandido & Komander, by pinfall

A big victory for Bandido y Komander! With Sueprcard of Honor just a few weeks away, who will step up to take on The Most Wanted for his most wanted ROH World Championship?

ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships: Dustin Rhodes & The Von Erichs VS Johnny TV & MXM Collection!

The Natural may have been literally robbed of his belt, but he is still a champion alongside Marshall & Ross Von Erich. The Von Erichs are back to help Dustin take back that belt, will the Sons of Texas ride off into the sunset tonight? Or will they find they’re NOT #TVReady?

Speaking of not ready, Johnny, Mansoor & Mason Madden attack the Sons of Texas at the ramp! The fans boo the blindside attack, but Mansoor CLUBS Ross, Johnny CLUBS Marshall, and Mason stomps Dustin. Johnny kicks Marshall, Mason whips Dustin into the railing, and Mansoor RAMS Ross into the steel steps! The fans boo more, Mansoor tells them to shut up, but Marshall fights back! Marshall fires forearms, but Johnny CLAWS Marshall’s eyes! Mason sends Dustin into more railing, then LEG LARIATS Dustin down! Mansoor fires more shots on Ross, then he puts Ross in the ring for Johnny.

The ref checks on Ross, but Ross says he wants the match! The bell rings, and Johnny BOOTS, KICKS, ROCKS, and fires more shots on Ross! Taya Valkyrie shows off the remodeled ROH World Six Man belt while Johnny gives Ross some ground ‘n’ pound. The fans boo but Johnny drags Ross up. But Ross jumps to RANA! And then he arm-drags! And arm-drags again! And DROPKICKS! The fans fire up as Ross brings Johnny up, tags Marshall, and then whips so Marshall can DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Johnny rolls to his feet, mule kicks Marshall, then hot tags Mansoor! But Marshall dodges to BLAST Mason!

Marshall ROCKS Mansoor with counter punch after punch, but Mansoor puts him in a corner for body shots and stomps! The ref counts, Mansoor digs his boot in, but then Mansoor stops at 4. Mansoor argues with the ref while sneaking kicks. Mansoor whips corner to corner, but Marshall comes back to LARIAT! Marshall fires more hands, then he UPPERCUTS! Marshall ROCKS Mansoor, wrenches and whips corner to corner, but Mansoor comes back! Marshall runs through the lariat to then LARIAT Mansoor! The fans fire up and Marshall calls his shot! CANNONBALL for Mansoor! Cover, TWO!

Marshall drags Mansoor up, headlocks, and Ross tags in. They mug Mansoor and the fans cheer that CHOP! Ross headlocks and grinds, but Mansoor hooks Ross’ nose! Mansoor headlocks now, but Ross powers up and out. Mansoor jumps the dropdown, Mason tags in, and Mason BLASTS Dustin off the apron to then LEG LARIAT SPINEBUSTER COMBO! The fans boo, Marshall protests, but MXM mugs Ross! Johnny joins in and they all stomp away! The fans rally for Dustin while Mason TOSSES Ross out. MXM distracts the ref so Taya can stomp away on Ross with those bright green boots!

The ref has to hold Marshall back, and Mason goes out to fetch Ross. Mason puts Ross in the ring, throat chops him, then fires body shots as he says he’s H O T T, O~ G~ O~! Tag to Mansoor, Johnny lets Chappell Roan know they’re big fans, and Mansoor BLASTS Marshall off the apron! Mason scoops Ross, Mansoor runs up, CATWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Ross survives and Mansoor snarls. Mansoor clamps on with a chinbar and armlock! Ross pries at the grip, reaches out for the ropes, and Marshall coaches him. Ross fights up, Mansoor holds him back, but then Mansoor THROWS Ross down by his hair!

The fans boo, but Mansoor drags Ross back to tag Johnny. Johnny stomps Ross, then drags him up, only for Ross to fire body shots! Johnny gets up and under Ross, Alabama ROLLING SLAM! Cover, TWO! Johnny stands over Ross and pulls on the arms while he tags in Mason. Mansoor runs around the outside to blindside Dustin! The fans boo and Marshall protests, but there’s nothing to be done as Mason drops an ELBOW on Ross! And another ELBOW! And then a JUMP ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Mason is annoyed, Dustin is down, and Mansoor tags in. Mansoor tells Marshall that he saw the Iron Claw movie, and it SUCKED!!

The fans boo but MXM hoist Ross up! Mason runs, but Marshall DUMPS him out! Ross CLUBS away on Mansoor, reaches for Marshall, but Mansoor holds onto a hand! Ross fires a forearm, the fans rally up, but Mansoor still holds on! Mansoor ducks the shot, back suplexes, but Ross lands out! DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! The fans fire up as Ross and Mansoor crawl! But Mason is creeping up! Mason YANKS Marshall down, then THROWS him into the steel steps! And he CLUBS Dustin for good measure! Mansoor rolls up Ross, TWO! Ross feints high to BACKDROP Mansoor! Dustin rises up!

The fans are thunderous as Mansoor and Ross crawl, hot tags to Johnny and Dustin! The Natural rallies on the Guru of Greatness, then whips, but Johnny reverses! “Not Today!” UPPERCUT! SNAP POWERSLAM! Mansoor is in, but Dustin kicks and “Not Today!” UPPERCUT! SNAP POWERSLAM! Mason is in, but again, “Not Today!” But Mason grabs Dustin first! CHOKE- NO, Dustin slips free, and feeds Mason to a DOUBLE DROPKICK from the Von Erichs! Johnny CLUBS Dustin, whips, but Dustin hits a BULLDOG! Cover, Mansoor breaks it! The fans boo but Mansoor CLUBS Dustin. Mansoor whips, Dustin reverses, but Mansoor avoids the powerslam!

Mansoor DDTS Dustin, but Ross RANAS Mansoor! Johnny SUPERKICKS Ross! Marshall DISCUS LARIATS Johnny! Mason LEG LARIATS Marshall! Dustin storms up, Mason HEADBUTTS him! Mason runs, but Dustin dodges! Mason’s leg is in the ropes, and he begs Dustin not to. Dustin pokes Mason in the eyes! And then he puts Mason’s other leg in the ropes! Dustin takes a deep breath, but Johnny runs up! Dustin gets around and lifts Johnny, to stick him right in there with Mason! Taya protests, but that lets Dustin hit DOUBLE SHATTERED DREAMS!! Mansoor runs up, Dustin dodges, DESTROYER!!

Ross is in, and he gives Mansoor an IRON CLAW!! Marshall has Mason, and SLAM DUNKS him into Johnny’s TV! Johnny sits upright, right into Mansoor’s runway! Ross keeps Mansoor in a corner, and Dustin brings Johnny up! Dustin puts one out, then hits the FINAL RECKONING!! Cover, Sons of Texas win!!

Winners: Dustin Rhodes & The Von Erichs, by pinfall (still ROH World Six Man Tag Team Champions)

Taya is beside herself! Dustin gets his belt back as the Von Erichs keep theirs! Will no one ever truly stop The Last of His Kind from running the ROH Tag Division?

[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage will be on delay]

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Classic POD is WAR

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Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMAPCT! & Unbreakable Results & Match Ratings: 4.17.2025

iMPACT is the Pre-Show, Unbreakable is a TNA+ Special! See what happened!

Published

19 hours ago

April 18, 2025

Andrew Balaz

iMPACT! is getting the old Heat treatment as a TV episode pre-show. While nothing about the iMPACT episode seems overly intriguing, they all actually have narrative weight, and since the last two weeks have been devoid of weight and general cohesion…this might be a surprisingly good episode which would serve as a better pre-show than expected.

I’m still mad that it’s a damn Thursday and they want to have 4-5 hours of show because WrestleMania reasons. Even WWE realized doing long shows before workdays was stupid, so NJPW giving them the idea to break Mania into two nights is a boon for everyone over thirty.

Also the main reason I’m doing a joint article. Since Unbreakable starts immediately after iMPACT, I’m not gonna put up back to back articles. One stop shoppin it!

Will @AJFrancis410 be crowned the FIR$T TNA International Champion TONIGHT at #TNAUnbreakable?!

WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/rT1TusIxJd pic.twitter.com/rxiBn6PxPw

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 18, 2025

iMPACT! – Ratings:

Laredo vs Jason Hotch w/Tasha Steelz: Laredo wins via Laredo Fly – ** 1/4
Jazmyn Nyxx w/Fatal Influence vs Xia Brookside w/Lei Ying Lee: Xia wins via Small Package – **
KC Navarro vs Cody Deaner: KC wins via Loaded Fist – **
Maggie Lee & Heather by Elegance w/Personal Concierge vs Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley: Hot Topic Hotties win via Cemetery Drive – ** 1/4
Jakara Jackson w/Lash Legend vs Dani Luna w/Jody Threat: Dani wins via Luna Landing – ** 1/4
Leon Slater vs Brian Myers: Myers wins via Roster Cut – ** 1/2

Unbreakable – Quick Ratings:

Zachary Wentz vs Eric Young vs AJ Francis: Young wins via Piledriver – *** 1/4
Ace Austin vs Steve Maclin vs Eddie Edwards w/Alisha: Steve Maclin wins via KIA – *** 1/2
X Division Championship: Moose(c) w/Alisha vs Akeem: Moose wins via Lights Out – Long Squash
Mustafa Ali & Nemeths vs Hardys & Mike Santana: Jeff Hardy wins via Swanton Bomb – ***
Kaz & Tessa vs Joe Hendry & Masha: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – ** 3/4
Barb Wire Massacre: Sami Callihan vs Mance Warner w/Steph De Lander: Callihan wins via Cactus Driver ’97 – ** 1/2
Inaugural International Championship: AJ Francis vs Steve Maclin vs Eric You: Maclin wins via K.I.A. – *** – TITLE CHANGE!!!

Results:

Laredo vs Jason Hotch w/Tasha Steelz

Laredo starts quick with a Straight Right, Tijeras, a few quick strikes, kicks Hotch out of the ring, wants a Plancha, but Tasha gets in the way to stop Laredo’s offense which gives Hotch an opening. Quick trip, a few chops and a hard Irish Whip has Laredo trying to catch his breath. Hotch tries to go for another Strong Irish Whip but Laredo reverses, two kicks, Flying Neckbreaker into a Missile Dropkick sending Hotch to the outside. Laredo finally pulls off his Suicida, and he’s rolling. Corner Forearm, Uno Mass Corkscrew Moonsaults, but Hotch manages to get away after two. A Snap Jab staggers Laredo, Ali style Outside In Rolling Neckbreaker and Hotch tries to take things to the top. But Laredo counters and Avalanche Michinoku Driver…only for two.

Laredo tries to keep things going, Back Handspring Crossbody, but Hotch catches him, big Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker for two. Hotch looks to the corner and then gets scared because he thinks Santana might strike, Hotch and Tasha argue, Laredo recovers and runs up the corner and hits the Laredo Fly for the win.

If @CodyDeaner can take down @KCwrestles tonight on #TNAiMPACT he punches his ticket Ultimate X at #TNARebellion! @milanmiracle

WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/rT1TusIxJd pic.twitter.com/T5zqKHVr24

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 18, 2025

Jazmyn Nyx w/Fatal Influence vs Xia Brookside w/Lei Ying Lee

Jazmyn and Xia go for a chain wrestling or World of Sport kind of start. Xia even gets out of the Head Scissors with the classic Hand Stand and pop. After a little taunting, Jazmyn tries to charge but Xia loops around for a flash Cradle, Nyx kicks out quick and retreats to her Fatal Influence friends for a breather. Xia catches her with a Dropkick, a few strikes and starts putting things together until Jazmyn catches her in the corner and Snake Eyes Xia the hard way and then starts leaning her into the ropes, a few Leg Sweeps, PK kicks and Jazmyn is in control. Fisherman’s Suplex Hold from Jazmyn but Xia kicks at two. She tries to fight back up but Jazmyn is using her positioning to keep control. Bulldog into the middle buckle, puts Xia between the ropes and lays in a Round Kick to her chest and Xia has been eating offense for the last few minutes. The crowd tries to rally the little British Angel, but Jazmyn lays in some forearms, hits the ropes, Xia ducks and they hit stereo High Kicks to double down for a few moments.

Xia starts to rally, gets a few shots in, Tijeras, Xia tries Angel Wings but Jazmyn moves. Jazmyn tries to stay on her, but a Jawbreaker gives Xia time to go to the corner, Xia hits the Crossbody, Angel Wings, and looks for a DDT or something but Fatal Influence get involved distracting everyone. Lei has Fallon hanled, but Jacy is mouthing off causing Rosemary to come down and make a Mist save. Jazmyn tries to be opportunistic, but Xia blocks her move and hits the Small Package for the win.

Overbooked and timing was a bit shoddy in some spots, but not offensive. Not bad, but not good either.

KC Navarro vs Cody Deaner

This is for a spot in the Ultimate X match. Here’s to hoping the Blessed One beats the hell out of the loser who’s about as over as Herpes. Meaning he never goes away, and he’s unlikable. Anyone that says “Funny Underdogs are needed on shows”, isn’t that like 60% of the roster? No one is funny if everyone tries to be funny. KC however, he’s fucking hilarious and amazing.

KC tries to pay off Deaner and get him to forfeit, Deaner of course does the underdog thing of fighting back, dumb looking punches, goofball corner spot that he lengthens to the put of looking dumb and not funny. Oh thank God KC hits the Spiderman in the ropes, ducks Deaner and 305 gets hit for a near fall. Now KC is rolling, nice quick offense, Snapmare, Front Roll Neck Snap, Stomp into Split into cover for only two. Deaner goes for the comeback, and a few Lariats, Bulldog, and everything looks soo stupid. Deaner puts KC in the Airplane spin, gets dizzy and then goes again, TKO for two.

Navarro tries to powder, Deaner goes after him but the ref gets Deaner off of him since KC was in the ropes, KC wraps his necklace around his knuckles and a quick Jab to the face as Deaner tries to suplex him, 1-2-3, Blessed WIN.

If Deaner was the only doofus guy he’d be fine, but when we have Santino, Arianna, Laredo, KC, Great Hands, Brian Myers, Dango, Alisha, Hendry (while not a doofus isn’t close to serious), Kaz, Elegance Brand (all 3 of them), Ryan Nemeth and those are just off the top of my head. Everyone can’t be silly or no one is silly and nothing matters.

Maggie Lee & Heather by Elegance w/Personal Concierge vs Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley

I’m gonna keep any Gigi drooling to a minimum since I respect my boy Wentz, but I will say, you gotta love Hot Topic Hotties. Yes I like walking red flags, I’m self aware, and okay with it.

Maggie and Gigi start, a few quick counters, Gigi manages the Double Hook Cradle for two, then Hot Topic Hotties go tandem with a Dropkick and a Twisting Elbow for another two. Tatum is officially legal, Maggie looks for the tag but Heather wants to push Maggie more. Which is exactly how ASH treated her. Tatum turns it around, Gigi tags in, Poetry Bronco, and then Kawada Kicks from Gigi. Concierge distracts, Maggie grabs her, Heather takes the cheap shot, Suplex from Maggie for two. Heather and Maggie get some offense in together, and Heather is working Gigi over in the heel corner. Unicorn Stampede essentially. Heather goes for a pinfall and its only 2. Heather is getting frustrated, Gigi with an Upkick headscissors, Heather tries to stop the tag out, but eats the Mule Kick.

Tatum starts beating on Heather, rams Heather into Maggie, Cartwheel Peach Sunrise, tags in Gigi, Double Headbutts and Cemetery Drive from the Hot Topic Hotties and everyone wins. Jesus…will never leave this chat, he started it.

Jakara Jackson w/Lash Legend vs Dani Luna w/Jody Threat

Things start a little slow, Collar & Elbow tie up that they won’t relent for a while, Jakara tries to turn it into a Headlock Takeover, but Dani is too strong. Dani gets a few shots in, hops the rope for something but Lash makes her present felt and trips Dani while Jakara distracts the referee. The referee didn’t see anything but ejects Lash anyway. Lash won’t go, tries to intimidate the ref and say no. Jakara keeps things moving against Dani while Lash takes her sweet time slowly walking away. Jakara tries a Roll-Up but Dani too thicc to keep down. Dani fights back up, scoops Jakara and drops her unceremoniously.

Jakara starts laying in a bunch of Falling Knees and gets a quick two, before locking in a Cravat that Dani tries to fight out of. Dani counters out of it, ducks the Line, and they crash into each other with Forearms. The Double Fall Down spot is a little played out and this is only the pre-show really.

Dani levels Jakara with a few Lariats, looks for the Luna Landing, Jakara slips it so Dani comes off the ropes with a Busaiku Knee. Luna wants a Blue Thunder but Jakara gets away until Luna grabs her again for the Rebound Blue Thunder Bomb and a near fall. Luna charges the corner, misses, Jakara hits the Tornado DDT, but only two. Jakara tries to ram Dani’s head into the buckles, but Luna blocks, fires and takes Jakara’s head off, Luna Landing gets his and Dani wins!

Elijah has a promo segment and they have a really Sesame Street style “Walk this Way” words on the screen thing. When they did the bouncing ball lyrics with Ron Killings, it was at least cool. This comes off as corny and low budget public broadcasting crap just for Elijah to announce an open challenge at Rebellion or something. Admittedly I zoned out cause I figured it would be nothing of note.

Leon Slater vs Brian Myers

Myers and Slater start in a shoving match jawing at each other, and then Leon lays in a Shoulder Tackle off the ropes, some jumping crap and Myers is getting bounced from corner to corner like a dork. Leon tries to continue the Around the World but a punch, Thrust Kick and Irish Whip across the ring gives him some confidence, but he eats the Feint Mule Kick, Back Handspring Back Elbow…and again System matches are “look stupid and get beat up for 70% of the match until a shortcut can be taken”. Speaking of short cuts, Leon goes for his Corner Leap, Myers guards from it, Leon repositions but gets tripped and eats a Spear. Then…we go to commercial.

Coming out of the commercials Myers is still in control. Leon slips out of a suplex and then connects with a flurry of offense, Myers eats more kicks than I can count, powders, Leon does his corner post leap, comes in and looks to win but an Implant DDT, dick kick and Roster Cut gives Myers the win.

Overall iMPACT! Rating: 5/10

Nothing special but at least it made some sense and was a better than the last few episodes. Low bar comparatively. Now immediately onto Unbreakable! So because this is a long night, I figured I’d do a Watch A Long with Mat Sarpraicone over on Dirt Sheet Radio because I have zero faith in Unbreakable being worth the 2-3 hours it will take to watch it.

So you’ll get quick results with ratings and an overall thoughts at the end of Unbreakable from me, because it’s late and I needed something to keep me awake.

Overall Unbreakable Rating: 4.5/10

The iMPACT! episode was easier to watch and digest, three Triple Threats is too many and the Main Event being a slow paced triple threat after a Barb Wire match and a bunch of faster matches really doesn’t resonate well with fans. Even though I didn’t love the Sami vs Mance match, ending on carnage and the “babyface” winning would’ve been a much better way to send the crowd home happy and we wouldn’t have needed so much time fill during the last hour of the show.

Maclin being the inaugural International Champion is cool, setting up the first defense against Eric Young is good for their story, so most of the marks were hit. It just was too damn slow and had no business being a main event. Champions vs Challengers was okay, but it only really picked up when Masha and Tessa were mixing it up. I liked Moose having the extended squash match for shits and giggles, but two Triples back to back to open the show is an easy way to burn out a crowd. Sure the Moose match was an extended piss break to recharge the crowd, but the card was just laid out awkwardly and things felt like far more of a chore than they should have.

All in all this was a very lame event. Yes I get it was purely stop gap to take advantage of WrestleMania weekend, but with Rebellion next week, we all knew it wasn’t gonna shake things up too much. But hot damn was I about to fall asleep if I wasn’t doing the watch-a-long to not pass out.