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Mishal’s Top 5 NXT Matches Of 2020

Mishal takes a look at the WWE NXT brands in 2020 and ranks the Top 5 NXT Matches for the year!

Published

4 years ago

January 6, 2021

Chairshot

Mishal takes a look at the WWE NXT brands in 2020 and ranks the Top 5 NXT Matches for the year!

NXT in 2020 has certainly been something.

Admittedly not off the hottest of starts within its first few months, the brand slowly managed to find its footing over the course of the year with some outstanding results once it got out of its slump, particularly over the summer months. A plethora of redundant storylines, disappointing feuds, the temporary shutdown of their UK branch, terrible directional changes for some characters (I’m looking at you, Johnny Gargano) and the awkward inclusion of a returning Charlotte Flair for reasons that remain unexplained resulted in a product that didn’t deliver the excitement we were used to.

Whether the state of the product was due to the raging damage of COVID-19 which restricted creativity or the companies clashing creative visions which were reported on just a few days ago, NXT for a while simply wasn’t itself. However, things changed as the months moved along.

A new era in NXT begun, one with an uproar of new talent, never before seen contest, stacked programming and a revitalized product that finally tried to be something different. Despite its blunders, NXT managed to bring about the change they’ve always been known for at a time when their programming had hit its lowest point since it became a standout in the industry.

And as a result, we’ve got some fantastic matches in a year where WWE is, in all honesty, not at its best position creatively.

Rather than lump the choices I have here with the main roster product, it’s best to dissect a product with so many quality showings on its own time.

A product packed with newcomers, returning stars, international talent and a number of stars who could carry the company forward in the near future, here is my list for the 5 best matches taking place in NXT in 2020.

5. Pat MacAfee vs Adam Cole – NXT TakeOver XXX

This is more of a personal choice for me personally. Prior to his arrival in NXT most people, myself included, doubted the raw, untapped talent that a non-WWE athlete like Pat McAfee possessed between the ropes. His rivalry with Adam Cole started off well with a believable kickstarting angle, the build-up to the match marked the start of a new phase for the NXT brand and most importantly, showed that even before his first match, MacAfee was somewhat of a natural for this business.

And much to the surprise of many this match exceeded every expectation we had going into it. Even as far as in-ring debuts go, it’s tough to find one that was as smooth and as well-executed as this one came across on the night.

In terms of layout or action this was certainly nothing out of the ordinary. The flow was structured like any other match you can come across on free television, with your standard feeling out period, mid-match domination by the heel and then the subsequent match closing stretch with a plethora of near falls involved. Where this content stands out, is in the performances of both men involved. MacAfee never looked out of his element, not for one second, looking like someone with far more experience than he actually possessed rather than someone competing in their first-ever match in that moment. His solid base of in-ring work, ability to keep up with the matches flow, selling, over-the-top demeanour and ridiculous athleticism made him a must-see attraction that prior to this match, was another celebrity to most people tuning in.

While certainly not the most varied contest on this list in terms of action, this match accomplished what many this year failed to do, and that’s get people talking about someone with more talent in the ring than we’d ever grant them prior to this.

4. Io Shirai vs Rhea Ripley – NXT, November 18, 2020

Considering the fact that both these women nearly killed one another to deliver one of the best women’s matches of the year, that alone is worth enough to recognize this as the gem it truly ended up being.

Io Shirai has had a banner year under NXT in 2020, a welcome change considering how underwhelming her NXT career was before this point. She had her fair share of big-time matches and memorable angles along with the likes of Kairi Sane or Shayna Baszler, but something was always missing, something was always holding her character back. Rhea Ripley, on the other hand, started of 2020 with a surge of momentum following her capturing of the NXT Women’s Championship and opportunity to collide with Charlotte Flair at Wrestlemania, which led to low point in her career that would hinder the middle portion of the year for her almost entirely. Following Shirai’s pinfall over Ripley, resulting in Shirai taking Flair’s title from around her waist at TakeOver: In Your House, the two were destined for a collision course which would come over 5 months after that fateful night.

The match itself lived up to & exceeded every expectation. Worked at a break-neck pace with both women trading countless unforgiving blows, leaving Shirai badly bruised but most visibly, resulting in Ripley losing a couple of earrings that were pulled out during the contest. None of this stopped either woman from creating a match that lived up to the hype of being one of the ”Most Anticipated Matches in NXT History”, marking a career-defining moment for both of them and a match that will likely become one of the standard-bearers for the division down the line.

3. The Undisputed Era vs Imperium – NXT World’s Collide

Dream matches can be hard to come by in these times, especially amongst the modern crop of talent in WWE. With so many stars being mauled due to inconsistent or outright terrible booking decisions and the constant reliance on stars from previous generations to create collisions that fans want to see, we often forget how sometimes there are legitimate cases to be made that some of the current acts we see in wrestling have just as much ability to create the excitement something like the return of Edge did earlier this year.

When it came to NXT’s World’s Collide event, that happened to be just the case. Both Imperium and The Undisputed Era laid their cases for being the two best wrestling factions on the planet today through their multiple championships, complete domination under their respective brands, record-breaking leaders and the array of underrated talent lurking from within their ranks posed both units as forces of nature just waiting for an inevitable clash. The Undisputed Era existed for slightly longer than Imperium at the time of their match, but it was clear that there was an argument present as to which group dominated the landscape more, and on January 25th we finally got to decide the result to that question.

Feeling somewhat reminiscent of the dream collision between The Shield & The Wyatt Family back in 2014, this had the ”big fight feel” you look for when two dominant factions collide in the squared circle. Both teams through everything but the kitchen sink into this match, making it feel more like an all-out brawl rather than your prototypical multi-man contest we so often witness. The action was always at a maximum, despite a tragic injury to Alexandre Wolfe that threatened to derail the contest entirely, all the remaining men involved found a way to pick this back up after seemingly falling over to create a war that exemplifies just how good both factions can be, and how worth the time & effort it has been investing into both groups of talent.

Despite the remaining two entries being slightly better than my opinion, this is easily the match on this list I’ve sat through the most times since it happened earlier in 2020.

2. Finn Balor vs Kyle O’Reilly – NXT TakeOver 31

The best example this year of the main event being a pure, unhinged fight between two of the very best this business has to offer. So much of today’s wrestling can feel overly choreographed, flashy and too overly lengthy for its own good, but this was one of those occasions where a contest is booked to such perfection that it overcomes all of those obstacles without ever flinching.

Balor vs O’Reilly is the year’s best example of exceeding expectations set before a given bout. Many, many matches in 2020 have gone beyond their limitations, but both men involved here had to overcome a fairly rushed card for a TakeOver event that never really felt entirely warranted due to it taking place so shortly after the previous event just roughly six weeks prior, and gave us something spectacular.

Similar to other entries such as Shirai vs Ripley or Undisputed Era vs Imperium, this wasn’t without its long-term ramifications. A plethora of injuries occurred on the side of both men here, including a broken jaw on the part of Finn Balor that kept him out for close to two months after the match concluded. Neither man came out of this match looking better than they went going in, they pounded each other into a bloody pulp and came out of this looking like warriors who went through the fight of their life. Nothing about this main event was pretty, an aspect that in many ways resulted in it being the gem that it’s now known for being.

Champion & challenger both looked like they arrived to steal the show on an evening that came from out of nowhere for many but that didn’t stop them from putting on a prime example of just why NXT events are lauded for their world-class main events almost every single time a show comes around. Balor & O’Reilly battled through immense levels of physical pain, never holding back and always trying to one-up each other, while taking O’Reilly from a star generally known for being a tag team specialist, into a bonafide headliner in a 30-minute period. The finish of the match is a bit abrupt due to the damage both men endured to put on this masterclass, but it doesn’t hurt the fact that this is one of the best main events of 2020 as a whole.

To those who think the trials & tribulations wrestlers go through is ”fake”, I highly recommend checking out the brutality on display in this one.

1. WALTER vs Ilja Dragunov – NXT UK, October 29, 2020

A masterpiece, a work of art and a perfectly crafted piece of wrestling history.

I’m not going to write my thoughts all over again here as I’ve already put together a lengthy piece delving into just why WALTER vs Ilja Dragunov is the work of art so many people hail it to be since it took place just about two months ago, and deserves every ounce of praise it receives from fans or critics alike.

At a time when the absence of a live audience has affected so much of professional wrestling as a whole, this was one of those rare examples from 2020 where a match is able to capitalize on the tragic situation it’s being held under. If anything, the lack of audience, live participation or overall reaction made this the blistering spectacle of utter violence and passion we ended up getting from two of the best European stars in the world right now. You felt every punch, kick, slap, chop, slam, scream or stomp that was hurled from either man, further being displayed with the damaged state their bodies were in once the contest came to a close.

While it does feel I’m under-selling this match despite the pure excellence on display across the 20+ minutes it runs, it’s something I don’t want to due to what I’ve said prior, but also because experiencing this match with your own eyes rather than the commentary or babbling of some stranger on the internet is how this should be experienced. To those of you who haven’t seen this yet, you should actively go out of your way to do so, and to those of you who have, here’s to you enjoying the multiple repeated viewings you’re bound to have of this modern-day classic.

Not just the finest thing the NXT brand as a whole has produced in 2020, arguably the best match of the entire year from any promotion.

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Related Topics:2020 Featured Featured Big NXT Top 5 WWE

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Greg DeMarco’s WWE WrestleMania 41 BOLD Predictions

WWE WrestleMania 41 is upon us, and—it’s time to throw logic out the window and dive headfirst into the wild world of Greg DeMarco’s BOLD Predictions.

Published

2 days ago

April 18, 2025

Chairshot

WWE WrestleMania 41 is upon us, and you know what that means—it’s time to throw logic out the window and dive headfirst into the wild world of Greg DeMarco’s BOLD Predictions.

I’m not here to give you the safe picks. I’m here to hit you with the predictions that make you yell “NO WAY!” before whispering “…but maybe.” These aren’t your dirt sheet spoilers or fantasy booking pipe dreams—these are Bullheaded, Outlandish, Lascivious, and Deplorable takes straight from the brain of the man who sees the wrestling business for what it is: ruthless, unpredictable, and gloriously absurd. Welcome to WrestleMania 41… DeMarco style.

These are NOT supposed to come true–but you can be rest assured that when one does, you won’t hear the end of it.

WWE WrestleMania 41 – Night 1

World Heavyweight Championship – Jey Uso vs. Gunther (champion)

Real Prediction – Jey Uso wins the World Heavyweight Championship

BOLD Prediction – Ludwig Kaiser prevents Gunther from using a chair on Uso, after being frustrated that he can’t keep the 2025 Royal Rumble winner down. After Jey wins, this sets up Gunther’s post-WrestleMania program, and the biggest push for Kaiser to date.

World Tag Team Championships – The New Day vs. The War Raiders (champions)

Real Prediction – The New Day defeats The War Raiders to win the World Tag Team Championships

BOLD Prediction – Big E interferes and costs The New Day, allowing The War Raiders to retain. This only works if Big E can actually return to the ring–otherwise, there’s no payoff!

Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano

Real Prediction – Rey Mysterio picks up the win but doesn’t take the mask.

BOLD Prediction – El Grande Americano pulls out some “twin magic” with different versions of himself entering the match–played by Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, and even Ivy Nile. In the end, it’s not the true “El Grande Americano” that eats the pin.

Jade Cargill vs. Naomi

Real Prediction – Naomi defeats Jade Cargill via nefarious means.

BOLD Prediction – Those nefarious means involve Bianca Belair, who doesn’t want to see her two best friends fight, “accidentally” doing something that costs Cargill the match.

United States Championship – Jacob Fatu vs. LA Knight (champion)

Real Prediction – Jacob Fatu wins the title clean.

BOLD Prediction – Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga interfere and cost Jacob Fatu. Also, the Las Vegas crowd treats Jacob like the babyface, so Knight leans into it by showing heel tendencies (the man is basically a heel as it is).

WWE Women’s Championship – Charlotte Flair vs. Tiffany Stratton

Real Prediction – Tiffy Time picks up the biggest win of her career over Charlotte Flair.

BOLD Prediction – THIS MATCH STINKS. Charlotte Flair, plain and simple, has not been the same Charlotte Flair that we’ve grown accustomed to since she won the 2025 Royal Rumble. She’s had so many outside distractions, and so many negative voices coming at her that she’s not the GOAT at the moment, and it shows in this match.

Triple Threat Match – CM Punk (with Paul Heyman) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns

Real Prediction – Seth Rollins gets his WrestleMania main event victory.

BOLD Prediction – Seth Rollins joins up with Paul Heyman, but in the real surprise it is Brock Lesnar that helps Rollins win.

WWE WrestleMania 41 – Night 2

Women’s World Championship – Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair vs. Iyo Sky (champion)

Real Prediction – Iyo Sky proves she wasn’t the afterthought and picks up the win.

BOLD Prediction – Naomi interferes, but openly helps Bianca Belair win, fully turning The EST heel in the process, with the duo revealing during the week that follows that they both orchestrated the attack on Jade Cargill.

Sin City Street Fight – Drew McIntyre vs. Damian Priest

Real Prediction – Damian Priest picks up the win much to the dismay of the Las Vegas crowd.

BOLD Prediction – This match features your outlandish spot of the weekend, where there is some huge fall or giant superplex through an apparatus with pyro going off after it happens, which leads to Priest’s unpopular (but deserving) win.

AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul

Real Prediction – AJ Styles surprisingly gets the clean victory–he’s not quite done yet!

BOLD Prediction – Jake Paul interferes in the match and the Paul Brothers compete as a tag team in WWE later this year.

Randy Orton vs. ???

Real Prediction – Randy Orton defeats Nick Aldis, shaking his hand in a show of respect after.

BOLD Prediction – When it appears that Aldis will be Orton’s opponent, Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga get involved, leading to a Tag Team Match that is won by Aldis and Orton. (Thank you, Andrew Balaz.)

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships – Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (champions) vs. Bayley & WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria

Real Prediction – Liv & Raquel retain after miscommunication between their opponents.

BOLD Prediction – Roxanne Perez interferes to cost Bayley in the match, possibly bringing Cora Jade with her, setting the table for her main roster program.

WWE Championship – John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes (champion)

Real Prediction – LOLCODYWINS – clean, to retain his championship.

BOLD Prediction – John Cena doesn’t get the job done, so The Rock brings out Brock Lesnar, who ultimately wins the WWE Championship. By the end of the match, this all includes Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins being involved to reveal that Cena, Rollins, Lesnar, and Heyman are The Rock’s new unit in WWE.

You didn’t come here for “well maybe” or “if the booking makes sense.” You came for BOLD—for the predictions that light Twitter/X on fire and make group chats erupt in rage or awe. WrestleMania 41 is WWE’s playground, and I’m here to knock down the jungle gym. Whether I’m right, wrong, or just plain insane… at least I’m not boring. Enjoy the show, and remember: Wrestling is better when it makes you feel something—even if that feeling is total disbelief.

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SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

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Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (4/17/25)

Prelude to Spring Breakthru!

Published

3 days ago

April 17, 2025

Steven Mitchell

The Prodigy is going to prove his worth!

It’s a special week in wrestling, so ROH will get you started right with a FREE YouTube special! Will Nick Wayne be red hot going into Spring Breakthru?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Top Flight w/ Leila Grey VS Tomohiro Ishii & Rocky Romero; Top Flight wins.
Shane Taylor w/ The Infantry VS KM; Taylor wins.
ROH Women’s World Television Championship #1 Contender’s Match: La Catalina VS Taya Valkyrie; Catalina wins and will challenge Red Velvet for the title.
Nick Wayne w/ Shayna Wayne VS Michael Oku w/ Amira; Nick wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Top Flight w/ Leila Grey VS Tomohiro Ishii & Rocky Romero!

While Darius & Dante Martin are still stinging from Nick Wayne & Cru getting the better of them, they’ll brush that off and look to start again. Will they take off towards tag title opportunities? Or will the Stone Pitbull & Azucar represent for The Conglomeration?

The teams sort out and Dante starts against Rocky. The bell rings, the fans rally, and the Code of Honor is upheld. The two circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. Dante kicks an arm, wrenches the other, then swings Rocky around to waistlock. Dante then half nelsons, spins Rocky to a cravat, but Rocky wrenches free to top wristlock. Rocky wrangles Dante, the fans rally up, and Dante kips up. Dante goes to the ropes, springboards to arm-drag, then things speed up. Rocky avoids the dropkick, but then Dante kips up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and DROPKICKS after all! Dante whips Rocky to the corner, A-LIST LARIATS, then tags Darius!

Darius snap suplexes, tags back to Dante, and Dante slingshot SENTONS! Cover, ONE, but Dante brings Rocky up. Dante wrenches an arm, tags Darius, and Darius LEAP FROG HIP DROPS the arm! Darius whips Rocky, leaps, but Rocky FLAPJACKS him down! Tag to Ishii! The fans fire up and Ishii runs up, but Darius DROPKICKS! Ishii stays put, runs, but Darius arm-drags! And arm-drags! But Ishii stuffs the headlock takeover! Ishii whips Darius to ropes, Darius comes back to RAM Ishii! Ishii rebounds, runs through the lariat, and CLOBBERS Darius! The fans fire up as Ishii then fires forearms with Darius back and forth.

The fans rally as the forearms keep going and going, and going! Darius blocks, CHOPS, but Ishii ROCKS him! Darius DROPKICKS and Ishii falls! Darius drags Ishii up, but Ishii SAIDOS! Tag to Rocky and the Conglomeration double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Rocky flexes, the fans cheer, and Rocky gives some Azucar Heat. Rocky drags Darius up to CHOP him! Then he snap suplexes Darius! Tag to Ishii and Ishii stomps Darius. Ishii CHOPS Darius to the ropes, then CHOPS him on the ropes! And CHOPS! CHOPS! Darius sputters, Ishii tags Rocky, and Rocky snapmares Darius to KNEE him in the back!

Rocky KNEES Darius again, then eggs him on. Darius fires body shots, UPPERCUTS, but Rocky kicks low! Rocky CHOPS Darius, the fans rally, and Rocky whips Darius away. Darius BLASTS Ishii, then goes up and over Rocky, hot tag to Dante! The fans fire up as Dante ELBOWS Rocky, LARIATS him, then whips. Rocky reverses, but Dante slips outside, goes up and over, then GAMANGIRIS! Dante springboards to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Dante brings Rocky up, whips him to the corner, but Rocky stops to BLAST Darius! Rocky UPPERCUTS Dante, then runs corner to corner, LARIAT! That’s One-Ever!

Rocky comes back to TWO-EVER! And THREE- NO, Dante dodges! Darius gives him the boost, then Dante gives the assist, TORNADO DDT on Rocky! Cover, Ishii BLASTS Darius onto it! Ishii waistlocks but Darius fights free. Feed to the JUMP KNEE! Top Flight double whip, but Ishii reverses to send Dante into Darius! GERMAN SUPLEX for Dante! Darius BOOTS Ishii, but Ishii ROCKS Darius! Darius CHOPS, Ishii HEADBUTTS! Rocky SOBATS Darius, then gets help from Ishii in the SHIRANUI! Ishii ROCKS Dante, Rocky ENZIGIRIS, and then another SHIRA- NO, Dante powers out! Ishii runs up, Dante dodges, but Rocky ROCKS him!

Rocky has Dante, Ishii runs in, but Dante slips free, the LARIAT takes out Rocky! The fans fire up, and Darius SUPERKICKS Ishii! Ishii bails out, Darius PLANCHAS! Down goes Ishii, and Dante has Rocky! Half nelson for the SLAM! Cover, Top Flight wins!

Winner: Top Flight, by pinfall

Darius & Dante used their athleticism and teamwork to get that win, and now they’ve got momentum back on their side! Will nothing stop Top Flight from heading back to the title scene?

As for Rocky and Ishii, Rocky is on edge and Ishii tells him to calm down. Azucar is feeling spicy, but he still hugs it out with Ishii. Will Rocky’s frustration become motivation so that he can go for gold of his own?

PROGRAMMING NOTE for ROH!

Just because we’ve got this early helping today doesn’t mean we won’t get more ROH! Tune in at 4:20 PM Eastern tomorrow for a special Friday edition of ROH TV! Watch Duston Rhodes & The Von Erichs defend their ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships against Johnny TV & MXM Collection!

Red Velvet speaks.

“Your longest-reigning ROH Women’s World Television Champion is back and cooking. And word around the kitchen is that Taya Valkyrie and La Catalina of CMLL are gonna duke it out for an opportunity at my baby.” Velvet laughs at that, and says, “Spoiler alert!” It doesn’t matter if it’s La Wera Loca or La Diva, because those two are just idiots! And Red Velvet always gets her lick back. She doesn’t back down from anyone, because it will be #AndStill.

ROH Women’s World Television Championship #1 Contender’s Match: La Catalina VS Taya Valkyrie!

Speaking of that match, La Diva and La Wera Loca are ready to serve it up! But who will be tasting sweet victory while the other is left with the bitter taste of defeat?

The Code of Honor is upheld, but Taya makes sure Catalina knows this is serious business. The bell rings, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Taya waistlocks, then spins Catalina to wrench an arm. Catalina rolls, arm-drags, and the fans cheer as Catalina tosses her hair. Taya stays cool, circles with Catalina, and gets around for another waistlock. Taya SLAMS Catalina down, flips her over, but Catalina kips up, only for Taya to throw her down! Catalina kips up again, but Taya throws her back down! Catalina kips up a third time, breaks free, and fires a flurry! Catalina hits an arm-drag, then kips up again! But Taya BOOTS her down!

Taya messes with Catalina’s hair, the ref reprimands and the fans boo, but Taya shrugs. Taya whips Catalina, but Catalina redirects to then SHOTGUN! The fans fire up with Catalina while Taya bails out. Catalina builds speed, but Taya hurries away. The fans are torn but Catalina storms out after Taya. Catalina wheelbarrows, but Taya SLAMS her on the railing! Taya gives some of her own cha-cha skills, then brings Catalina around to SMACK her off the apron. Taya pushes Catalina into the ring, stomps her down, then sits her up for a SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Catalina stays in this but Taya grabs the legs.

Taya smiles as she steps through, spinning toehold! Then a roll into the KNEEBAR ANKLE LOCK COMBO! Catalina endures, crawls forward, and drags Taya along as she manages the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Taya holds until 4, and then Taya talks trash. Catalina ELBOWS her back! And BOOTS her, too! Catalina runs to SHOTGUN KNEE! Taya stumbles onto the ropes, Catalina fires up, HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up with Catalina as she runs, dodges, and fires boxing elbows! Catalina runs again, SLAM DUNK! Cover, TWO! Taya stays in this but Catalina stays focused. Catalina whips Taya to a corner, sits her down, and fires up again!

The fans cheer as Catalina goes around the world, but Taya dodges! The hips hit buckles, Taya comes back, METEORA! Taya drags Catalina up for the BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Catalina survives, but Taya is actually amused. Taya fireman’s carries, but Catalina fights free! Catalina shoves, follows, and then FACEBUSTERS on the run! Cover, TWO! Taya is still in this, but Catalina is getting frustrated. Catalina whips Taya, Taya reverses, but Catalina dodges! Taya dodges, redirects, and SPEARS! Taya fires up, the fans are torn, but Taya DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Catalina survives, but Taya has a wild look in her eyes!

Taya drags Catalina to a drop zone, grabs a leg, stomps it, then goes up the corner. The fans rally for Catalina, Taya soaks up heat, but Catalina CLUBS Taya! Catalina has Taya for the ELECTRIC CHAIR DROP! Catalina hurries up top and the fans cheer her on! FROG SPLASH!! Cover, Catalina wins!

Winner: La Catalina, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the ROH Women’s World Television Championship)

Catalina is herself a little surprised, but then she celebrates and does her dance! Will La Diva soon eat up everything Red Velvet sends her way?

Nick Wayne w/ Shayna Wayne VS Michael Oku w/ Amira!

The Prodigy has a spot in this year’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors, and he even has an ROH World Television Championship match waiting for him on Collision, but this is a bit more than a tune-up here. Will The Master of The Half-Crab show why he’s the TWO-TIME RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion? Or will that not matter now that he’s in Wayne’s World?

The fans already rally with, “Let’s Go, Oku!” The Code of Honor is not upheld as Nick kicks the hand away. The bell rings, Nick and Oku circle, and they tie up. The two are in a deadlock, until Nick finds a point of leverage. Nick puts Oku in a corner, smothers him, but then mockingly pats him on the shoulder before giving him a little slap on the cheek. Oku stays cool and the two reset. They tie up, Nick headlocks, but Oku fires body shots. Oku powers up and out, Nick runs him over and flexes, but the fans still boo. Nick runs, Oku stays low, hurdles over, but then dodges and RANAS! The fans fire up, and Oku DROPKICKS!

Nick flounders away, Mama checks on her boy, but Amira rallies the fans for her guy. Oku grabs Nick’s legs, drags him but Nick holds onto ropes. The ref counts, Nick UP KICKS at 4! Nick then goes to the apron, climbs up, but Oku grabs him first! Oku bumps Nick off buckles, then triangle jump DROPKICKS! Nick falls, Mama is there for him, but the fans fire up for Oku as he runs corner to corner! Oku jumps the ropes, Nick runs away, but then Nick blocks the Penalty Kick to FLIP Oku! Oku lands hard on the apron, Amira is upset, but Mama has her back off. Nick drags Oku to THROW into railing! Nick climbs up the barriers just to taunt the fans!

The fans boo, Nick says “SUCK IT!” and then goes back for Oku. The fans taunt Nick as a “Mama’s Boy! Mama’s Boy!” Nick puts Oku in the ring, pushes him to a cover, TWO! Oku stays in this but Nick is annoyed. Amira rallies behind her man but Nick goes for a full nelson. Oku fights it, gets to his feet, and he arm-drags Nick away! Nick runs in, Oku ELBOWS, but Nick RAMS Oku into the corner! Oku BOOTS Nick, goes up, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while Oku and Nick are both down. Oku and Nick crawl to ropes, stand up, and Oku blocks a shot to ROCK Nick! And ROCK him again! And again!

Oku fires a flurry, then whips, but Nick reverses. Oku reverses to kick, wrench and TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Nick survives and Oku is a bit surprised, but the fans rally up. Oku drags Nick by a leg, and shouts, “NOW, WE PLAY!” Nick fights off the Half Crab by pulling hair and throwing hands! Nick is up, but Oku gets around to shove, redirect, only for Nick to dodge! Nick wants the nelson but Oku fights that and trips Nick! Nick kicks Oku but Oku PENALTY KICKS! Then TOP ROPE LIONSAULT, but onto knees! DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Oku survives but Mama Shayna argues the count.

Amira coaches up Oku and the fans rally again. Oku and Nick rise, and Nick goes up, up, but Oku stops the cutter! Oku then redirects and BUSAIKU KNEES! Nick tumbles out of the ring but Oku rallies the fans. The fans clap along, speed up, and Oku builds speed! HIGH JUMP FOSBURY!! The fans are thunderous but Mama Wayne is upset! Amira tells her to be mad, and Oku puts Nick in. The fans fire up as Oku goes up, up, and FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!!! Nick survives, but Oku has the leg! HALF CRAB!! Nick endures Oku’s favorite hold and the fans go wild! Nick scrambles reaches out, and Mama even pushes the rope closer for the ROPEBREAK!

The fans boo, the ref reprimands, and Amira gets in Shayna’s face! Nick tells Mama to stand down, Amira’s not just a manager! Nick hobbles, Oku DROPKICKS him! Oku fires up, the fans are with him, and Oku goes up, up and- NO, Shayna is distracting the ref! Amira argues with Shayna, but KIP SABIAN shoves Oku down! BOOTS from Nick, into WAYNE’S WORLD!!! Cover, Nick wins!!

Winner: Nick Wayne, by pinfall

Kip gets revenge on a UK rival while helping out his Patriarchy “brother,” talk about a Superbad night. But while the “family” helped Nick here, Christian Cage said that Nick must win the ROH World TV title on his own. Can Nick make “Father Christian” proud? Or will he be stumbling along towards the Best of the Super Juniors?

My Thoughts:

Tony Khan has ROH doing too much. I get that because of scheduling reasons (WrestleMania being this weekend), Collision was going to be on tonight instead of Saturday, which complicates how ROH airs. But why you gotta do this “prelude” when you can just have it all on Friday? For that matter, why have anything on Friday? This half of ROH was fine, clocking in at 37 minutes. Even then, I didn’t have time for all of it because I didn’t realize they did this until I checked on ROH’s official site. Guess that’s my mistake for not following ROH related social media like YouTube.

Good stuff from Top Flight VS Ishii & Rocky, and a good win for Top Flight. It was also serving a story point with Rocky where he is frustrated over being kinda last place in The Conglomeration. Orange Cassidy has been International Champion, Mark Briscoe has been ROH World Champion, Ishii just got the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, and Rocky hasn’t had much of anything in a long time. I don’t see Rocky ditching Conglomeration since that’d also be tantamount to him ditching Chaos/Hontai in NJPW.

Shane Taylor VS KM went about how I expected, but I do believe Shane was saying after that he’s tired of waiting. Honestly, I agree, TK needs to do something more with Shane Taylor Promotions than just having them lose to “bigger stars.” They should at least be running ROH, taking on The Sons of Texas for their various gold and then aiming for the TV and world titles while they’re still on Face wrestlers like Komander and Bandido. In fact, I think Komander y Bandido are a duo going up against The Infantry for Friday’s episode, maybe we get started on some good story for Supercard of Honor.

Very good promo from Red Velvet, and a very good match from Taya VS Catalina. Taya and Velvet both being Heels, it makes sense Catalina would win. Plus that’s a good crossover match of ROH VS CMLL. No idea if Catalina wins or not, but she’ll give Velvet a very good match. And we also got a very good match from Nick Wayne and Michael Oku. Oku is definitely a top talent, and at least his loss is protected from the interference run by Shayna Wayne & Kip Sabian. I wonder if Oku tries to get payback on Collision during Nick’s match with Komander… After all, I’m not quite sure if Nick takes the ROH TV Championship given he’s also going to be part of NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors.