Hot off the heels of the TNA and WWE working relationship announcement, the Kickoff show already has the first sprinkle of NXT talent with Ashante “Thee” Adonis coming out after Ariana Grace tries to take all of the credit for the partnership. Jake something runs over Ashante, but it’s a good quick nod on free YouTube. Oh it also looks like the ring announcer is McKenzie Mitchel again. I did like her first run in TNA in what was that… like 2016-2018 or 19? She’s got personality, she’s cute and a solid announcer, so nice to see her back.

I’m not gonna run down any predictions on who I think will win, because honestly, I just feel like Hendry needs to win today or it’s been an entire waste of momentum. So lets get to the main show!

Ratings:

• X Division Championship: Moose (c) vs Ace Austin: Moose retains via Lights Out – *** 1/4
• The System vs Maniac Marines: Marines win via K.I.A. – ***
• Knockouts Tag Titles: Elegance Clique (Heather & Ash) w/Personal Concierge vs Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) (c): Spitfire retain via Pressure Drop – **
• Jordynne Grace vs Tessa Blanchard: Tessa wins via Magnum – ****
• I Quit Match: Josh Alexander vs Mike Santana: Santana wins! – ***
• TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardyz (c) vs The Rascalz: Hardyz retain via Swanton Bomb – *** 1/2
• Raven’s Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match: TNA Knockouts World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Rosemary: Masha wins via Avalanche Requiem – ** 3/4
• TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – *** 3/4 – TITLE CHANGE!!!!!!!

Results:

X Division Championship: Moose (c) vs Ace Austin

As soon as the bell rings, Ace jumps on him, forces him into the corner and stomps on him. Moose tries to fight out but Ace stays relentless. Ace has a counter for everything Moose is trying to counter in the early goings. Even when Moose catches him during the apron Handstand Dodge, Ace still has a counter for his counter. It’s not until a rake to the eyes from Moose that finally gives him a moment to start dictating the pace. A huge Irish Whip on the outside through the barricade is what Ace feels…twice. Ace tries to fight back from Moose continuing the momentum, Ace eats a Pump Kick, but blocks Moose’s attempt at a Suplex and counters with his own Vertical Suplex on Moose! JDC gets in the proximity of Ace so Ace kicks him, which delays his springboard, so Moose catches him and bounces him off the apron like a super ball.

Moose lets the count go, Ace barely gets in at 9, Moose throws him corner to corner, is slowing things down and being very deliberate. Ace starts powering through the pain, catches a Pump Kick, dodges a Spear into the corner and puts together a few strikes, Double Stomp, Triangle Kick, wants The Fold but Moose puts the brakes on there. Ace tries to spring off the ropes but Moose grabs him and hits Go To Hell for two! Fighting Spirit spot, Ace starts winning the trade, a Headbutt from Moose stops Ace, Moose flips him over the ropes to the apron, tries a few more things, Ace looks for a Springboard, Moose catches him but Ace slips it for a Frankensteiner. Moose powders to the opposite apron and Ace hits his Inside Out Headscissors sending Moose crashing to the floor. Alisha and JDC try to help up Moose, and while the referee is distracted JDC posts Ace. Moose goes for the Around the World Lights Out, but Ace moves and Moose kills JDC! Ace hits The Fold on the floor!

Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers run down the ramp, Ace sees them so he hits the Fosbury Flop to take them out. Ace is rolling, he goes for the Triangle Kick but Moose counters with Lights Out! 1-2- KICK OUT? Moose sets up for another Lights Out, Ace sidesteps it for the Cradle, kickout, Uranage, Cradle counter, Art of Finesse from Ace but Lights Out to the Spine from Moose! Moose sets up another and lands the Lights Out to retain!

Post Match the System looks to beat down on Ace, but Maniac Marines music hits and they go after Myers and Edwards. Guess the match is now! 

The System vs Maniac Marines

Steve and Eric beat the hell out of the System members while the referee tries to set the match, it still hasn’t started but we get stereo 10 count punches in the corner, big fists causing Myers and Edwards to powder. This is essentially a Tornado Tag right now because the match hasn’t even started. Okay it eventually starts and Maclin hits the Backbreaker on Edwards and Busaiku Knee on Myers. He looks for a SCUD but Lish grabs the foot which is just enough! Maclin tries to charge anyway but gets caught in the Blue Thunder Bomb and now the match slows down and Eddie is in control.

Maclin absorbs some Chops from Eddie in the corner, no sells a little and fires, Eddie tags out Myers tries to slow things down with a Russian Leg Sweep but Maclin continues to try and rally. Eddie’s back in, shortarm Gowan Lariat into a cocky cover for two. Eddie tries to keep moving but Maclin hits the Vertical Suplex. Maclin is too slow to tag out so Eddie tags out and Myers cuts off Maclin. After a few more quick tags from System members, Maclin finally lands a Lariat to get the simultaneous tag and EY comes in hot. EY does the Flair corner flip, knocks Eddie off the apron, Myers eats a Macho Elbow but only two. Eddie knocks Maclin off the apron, Tandem Tiger Driver for two, EY fights back to level Eddie, Tree of Woe Myers Caught in Crosshairs but Lish gets in the ring! Eddie grabs Eric and distracts the ref, Lish clocks Maclin with either knuckles or a full hand of rings, Spear from Myers is only a two!

System Overload attempt, it’s thwarted by EY, Myers gets crotched in like a Reverse Tree of Woe, so Maclin hits the Caught in the Crosshairs on the back, EY with a Plancha to the outside to take Edwards out and K.I.A. from Maclin means Maniac Marines win!

Knockouts Tag Titles: Elegance Clique (Heather & Ash) w/Personal Concierge vs Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) (c)

Elegance duo comes out dressed like Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. They do a Go Eagles chant right before the bell rings to a chorus of Boos.

Even though Elegance Clique throws their pompoms and try a cheap shot, Spitfire just plow through them, literally. Quick tags, some assisted moves, Ash gets away from Spitfire, tags in Heather and shoves her forward trying to take them off guard, but they turn around…grab Heather and a long Tandem Stalling Suplex with a Deep Squat for two. Concierge distracts the referee, looks for a low Dive onto Heather but Ash just kicks Dani in the face, and the referee sees nothing. Heather rolls her back in, Kawada Kicks, Forearm Shiver, trip into a Dropkick to the face! Ash hangs Dani off the apron and Heather hits the Double Stomp from the apron to the floor.

Ash starts choking Dani on the ropes, distracts the referee and Heather paintbrushes Dani with pompoms as Ash goes for a series of pinfall attempts. Quick tags, Dani is in their corner, Cartwheel Back Handspring Elbow from Ash into a Seated Dropkick from Heather. Dani has been getting smacked around for the last 4 or 5 minutes. Ash leans on Dani for a while, but Dani gets a head of steam, comes off the ropes and Shotgun Dropkick gives her space. Jody gets a hot tag, she Sack of Shits them both, Vader Hammers in the corner into a Michinoku Driver, which Ash breaks up with a Meteora. Heather and Ash have a nice tandem move for a two count. Jody tries to fight back, but Elegance stops it, blind tag from Dani, Senton takes out both Elegance Clique members and Dani stalks her prey. Snap Suplex two times on Ash, but Heather stops the third and Jody just tosses Heather out of the ring in a rough way. Jody tries her Double Knees German Suplex spot but Ash moves. Dani with the Shinsuke Nakamura Inside Out German, Pressure Drop and Spitfire retains.

Boo…

Jordynne Grace vs Tessa Blanchard

Grace charges Tessa immediately, and the ref needs to pull her off, but Tessa gets thrown around the ring literally, the crowd is chanting “Fuck You Tessa”, Tessa powders, eats a Dive and then a Jackhammer on the outside! Grace puts Tessa on her shoulders up to the ring, but Tessa finally fights off and flips off the crowd, revels in it for a second, tries the Frankensteiner, but Grace holds on, smashes Tessa into the guardrail twice, looks for the Reverse Bomb on the apron, but Tessa gets out, stomps on Jordynne a few times, hooks Jordynne’s face with the crook of her leg and drives Jordynne’s face into the apron. Unique looking and decent.

Tessa has the correct intensity, pushes into two quick pinfall attempts and starts getting deliberate. Drags Jordynne’s face across the rope, throats Grace, kicks her in the face and Slingshot Elbow is another near fall. Tessa with the Front Facelock, Grace tries to fight out but Tessa holds on and drops her with a Scorpion Death Drop for another near fall. Jordynne fights Tessa off with a few elbows, looks for a Superplex, but Tessa fights off, wants the Avalanche Sunset Bomb, but Jordynne stops it, Tessa kicks Grace’s feet, looks for a Rope Hung Death Drop but Jordynne fights it off and smashes Tessa’s face into the turnbuckles but Tessa hits the Rope Hung Backstabber for two. Tessa looks for Magnum, but Jordynne cuts her off, they fight at the top, Avalanche Sack of Shit! They both sell the exhaustion of the match so far.

They trade blows, two Scoop Slams from Jordynne, Lawn Dart into the Top Turnbuckle! Package Powerbomb for two! Dragon Suplex attempt from Grace, Tessa breaks it, Headlock Takeover, quick counter wrestling, Tiger Destroyer from Tessa! Only for a two count, but still nice. Buzzsaw attempt is shrugged off, Tessa comes off the ropes and eats the Spinebuster from Jordynne for two quick pinfall attempts. Tessa with the Body Scissors and pulls herself up and fights back, Jordynne slaps her around, looks for the Suplex but Tessa slips it and Neckbreaker Counter for a two count! The brawl to the apron, Grace eats a forearm and Tessa hits the Tornillo on Jordynne! They posture on the steps, Tessa wants a move but Jordynne counters her and Spicolli Driver from the stairs to the floor from Jordynne!

More back and forth in the corner, just positioning and counters, it’s like watching chess. Jordynne grabs Tessa for an Avalanche Air Raid Crash, but Tessa fights it and turns it into an Avalanche Crucifix Bomb! After trying a grounded submission Tessa locks in the Octopus, tries to wrench the fingers but Jordynne counters, Rope Assisted German Suplex into a Capture Suplex for 2! Kudome Valentine attempt from Grace but Tessa gets out, Backfist from Jordynne, Tessa bounces off and Cutter gives her a two count! Tessa calls for Magnum, Jordynne dodges it, Tessa rolls through, tries boots but Grace grabs Tessa and hits the around the world Reverse Alabama Slam! Tessa keeps trying to remove Buckle Pads but they’re on good, Tessa reverses out of the Kinikku Buster, hits the Buzzsaw into the partially exposed buckle but Grace grabs the rope. Tessa removes another pad, Bulldog into exposed buckle, Magnum, and Tessa is still sexy.

The turnbuckle pads being on too well made the finish a little flat, but it was a damn good match. There’s also a joke in the match with Tessa coming out wearing Red and Gold (Yellow), so the racism allegations are never going away if she keeps making it easy.

I Quit Match: Josh Alexander vs Mike Santana

There’s intensity but its all just technical tactics to take each other to the ground and grab a limb. But since we just came off of a pretty good match, things can’t start too hot. Every time Santana throws Josh to the outside, Josh scurries back to the ring, he’s playing scared. There’s a “He’s a bitch” chant that pops up. Santana cuts off Josh’s charge with a few well placed boots which sends Josh outside, Tope con Hilo levels the bald man. Santana throws Josh into a guardrail, Yakuza Kicks back to back rock Josh a bit. Fans call for tables and Santana slides one out to a huge pop. Santana sets it up, plays to the crowd, tries a Powerbomb onto the table but Josh slips it and Overhead Belly to Belly sends Santana crashing. A fan can be heard saying “That look like it hurt” to which Santana replies ” It did asshole”. Now Josh is dissecting Santana’s legs to soften him up for the Ankle Lock. Josh goes for the corner spot with the Figure Four around the post after bouncing the knee off the post a few times.

Josh tries to continue but Santana slides out and counters Josh and bounces his face off the post. Josh walks it off a bit as Santana stalks him and then a quick Chop Block has Santana writhing in pain. Josh decides to be a heel and do the Three Amigos instead of the Kurt Angle Germans. Disrespectful bald jerk. Santana gets throated, dropped to the apron on his ass, Low Crossbody but Santana flattens out and Josh goes flying! Santana tries a Dive, but Josh catches him and just drops him spine first on the apron. After a small resilient flurry of slaps from Santana Josh goes for the Germans. Santana brushes off on the third, goes for the Rolling Buck Fifty, gets caught in the Torture Rack, Santana fights off Josh’s shoulders, kicks him into the corner, Senton into the seated Josh. Perches him up top, points at the table, tries something but Josh fights him off, Moonsault from Josh misses and a Death Valley Driver gives both a moment to breathe.

Santana Spin the-BLOCK-ED! Josh sweeps the leg, Ankle Lock and Santana refuses to quit twice but slips the boot ala Eddie Guerrero. Josh pauses a moment, Santana charges and Josh dumps him over the top rope through the table! Santana says he doesn’t quit, Josh looks surprised, so he goes looking for more plywood. He also grabs the bottom set of stairs and throws them into the ring. Scoop Slams Santana into the broken table and continues looking for weapons, like a chair and zip ties. Santana crawls into the ring, Josh steps on the worked on leg and smashes it repeatedly with the chair. Josh goes into Full Mount, rains down strikes, exposes the elbow for Elbow Strikes and tries to soften him up for the zip ties. C4 Spike but Santana raises up like the Undertaker and fires into beating the piss out of Josh. Frankensteiner on Josh into the Frog Splash, Spin the Block! Josh doesn’t quit. Santana grabs the zip ties that Josh introduced, ties the hands behind Josh’s back, Spin the Block 2! Josh doesn’t quit. Santana sets up the steps as a ramp, table in front of Josh in the corner and Cannonballs through the table into Josh! Josh still doesn’t quit off the Jackass stunt. Santana finds a sock filled with quarters and starts beating Josh like it’s a slapjack. Josh still doesn’t quit. Santana tells Josh to bite the curb and is about to Curb Stomp him into the steps and Josh gets scared and quits.

TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardyz (c) vs The Rascalz

Fraxiom comes out to watch the match, so this nicely sets up a potential early angle between NXT and TNA for the crossover. 

Trey and Matt start, but it’s a slow Headlock basic counters and feint spots. Jeff and Wentz want to play, so this is very Japanese in giving each member a free chance to interact before any cutoffs or tandems. The crowd likes both men, so this is interesting but more Stalemate spots. Jeff manages a Polish Hammer to tag in Matt and go for a quick tandem move and keep Wentz in the Hardy Corner bouncing his face off buckles in Delete fashion. Tag from Jeff for another tandem Rocket Launcher into the bottom rope and Leg Drop from Jeff. Wentz counters the Twist with a Jumping Knee so he manages a tag to Trey and then a few quick striking double team spots. Quick tag to Wentz, Matt comes in to break it up, drops Matt and Wishbone. Quick Tag, MCMG ACS Rush homage. Wentz Dives onto Matt on the outside, Matt catches him into the Side Effect on the floor! Jeff gets the best of Trey after he’s a little distracted. Manhattan Drop from Jeff, into a tag to Matt and then some double team strikes for a near fall. Delete Head Smashes again on Trey.

Vertical Suplex from Matt for another 2. Matt tags out and Hardys look for more Tandem attacks, Plot Twist but Wentz recovers and makes the break! Trey flips out of Jeff’s arms, tags in Wentz, and Wentz cleans house on both Hardys. Corner to corner, tags back in Trey they hit the Saki Kashima assisted Dropkick on each Hardy and then they dump the Hardys at the feet of Fraxiom. FIVE HOLE DIVE FROM RASCALZ! Misses the Hardys and hits Fraxiom! This builds heat for The Rascalz and Fraxiom as Hardys attack the Rascalz while distracted. Poetry in Motion off the stairs from Jeff!

Facebuster from Jeff for two! Wentz hits a Busaiku Knee on Jeff to stop him from hitting Trey, Side Effect drops Wentz, Enzuigiri from Trey drops Matt and all four are down to catch their breath a bit. Original Poetry in Motion on Trey! Twist of Fate from Matt but countered and Matt is thrown into Jeff who’s selling a knee. Superkick into Feed Em to the Lions! Wentz Dives on Matt but Trey can’t quite make a clean pinfall. Jeff eats a Cheeky Nandos and Top Rope Tiger Feint, Twist of Fates for everyone and Jeff re-NO Trey kicks out! Another Twist but eats a Superkick from Wentz, tries the UFO Cutter on Matt but Matt just throws him to the outside. A Twist of Fate from each Hardy Boy, Swanton Bomb and the Hardyz retain!

Thursday’s Live Show will have Fraxiom vs The Rascalz for the NXT Titles! 

Raven’s Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match: TNA Knockouts World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Rosemary

Do Rosemary’s shorts have Pokemon Gym Badges on em? Masha goes for the Staple Gun, it almost gets countered immediately, but she gets the first few clicks of the Staple gun, it actually doesn’t backfire, but she lets Rosemary powder and starts grabbing a few weapons. Masha finally decides to attack Rosemary with a cane, but Rosemary turns things around with the green mist. Slamovich gets some of the mist out of her eyes, chases her into the ring and eats a Drop Toehold into a Chair. Rosemary sets up the table, panders to the crowd and Masha launches herself over the top with a Crossbody, into Rosemary and then through the table! Masha finds her old chain she used to make Killer Kelly submissive and starts choking and dragging Rosemary around the ring and then Sabus the chair at Rosemary for emphasis.

Masha tries to hit the front flip Senton onto a seated Rosemary, but Rosemary moves and Masha hits the chair weird. Rosemary beats her with a chair a few times, looks under the ring, gets giddy and finds Janice! Rosemary swings Janice, breaks it, and then uses the two pieces to block the cane Masha had and then pressed the nail portion into Masha’s back! Rosemary is talking to Janice and goes to the back to find tacks that she spills out on the stage. Rosemary wants a Chokeslam into tacks, Masha counters, misses a Lariat and then eats the Spear into the tacks! Barbed Wire board is set up in the ring, Spicolli…nope! Russian Death Device into the Barbed Wire! Masha goes to the top, Footstomp into the barbed wire but only for 2 again! Masha goes to the outside and grabs a ladder.

A trash can lid gets thrown at Rosemary for good measure, Masha ascends the ladder and then Rosemary pushes the ladder and Masha goes crashing through one of two tables set up on the outside. Rough spot, rough looking, but Masha manages to move enough to break the pinfall since its falls count anywhere. Rosemary now goes full Kevin Steen and makes some chair art for a spot, drags Masha into the ring, sets he on the chairs and goes to the top. Masha sits up as Rosemary climbs, counters the momentum and Avalanche Requiem through the chairs! Masha retains.

Cora Jade’s music hits and sets up nicely after Masha was on NXT. 

The Countdown Panel starts off with their main event picks they hinted towards and it’s necessary because they have to clean up the ring. Mark Henry picks Joe Hendry, and he better be correct. Ryan Nemeth interrupts with the “my brootthhheerrr” stuff, and Santino calls him “Fuck Face Guy”. It’s all good stuff, and I’m still a big fan of the Mokuba gimmick, but now they ban Ryan Nemeth. 

TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs Joe Hendry

Simple chain wrestling start until Nic has a few words and then snaps off a Dropkick, does his show off Dolph stuff so Hendry runs him over with a Shoulder Block and then a Knee Lift. Hendry tries his Stalling Suplex but Nic slips it into a Rear Naked Choke! Hendry spins Nic around, walks around with the Stalling Suplex before finally dropping Nic. Ryan Nemeth shows up with a ticket, so he’s sitting in the crowd now. Joe gets distracted just enough for Nic to jump up and hit a delayed DDT. After Nic tries to stretch Joe a little, Hendry goes into locomotion Cradles but Nic drops Joe to take a breather. Nic does his single Shot to the Heart Elbow and he’s really embracing the old Dolph Ziggler show off ego. Ziggler looks for a Rude Awakening after more arrogant moments, but Joe tries to fight it off, so Nic just snaps off a Jumping Neckbreaker.

Joe manages to hit a Cutter off the ropes to try and get some energy from the crowd. Strike exchange happens here, Uppercuts from Joe and Fists from Nic. Joe blocks one fist, throws a few of his own together and a Lariat levels Nic. Sack of Shit into the Kip Up! Counters galore from both men before Nic gets caught in the Pop-Up Powerbomb! Attitude Adjustment for just a near fall. You see moments of Nic trying to cheat or find an angle but he hasn’t done anything overtly heelish yet. Joe is rocking him with chops, perches Nic on the top, looks for the Superplex but Nic fights back, Hendry gets pushed off, Crossbody but Hendry rolls through, holds on and gets his Powerbomb countered into a FAMEasser for two! Nic crawls to a corner, looks to climb for something big, Hendry cuts him off, Avalanche Sack of Shit! Kaz walks out with the trophy as both men sell, but JBL comes out of the crowd and Clothesline from Hell on Kaz. JBL punches Ryan in the face as he comes out to say something. Then Tuxedo JBL leaves after doing his job. Standing Ovation from HENDRY! 1-2-NO! Nic kicks out!

The crowd chants “One More Time” and it fires up Hendry, he does the heel turn and goes full Queen Stomp, tries again, but Nic slips it. Superkick into Danger Zone and it’s….HENDRY KICKS OUT! Nic is tuning up the band, Hendry catches Nic, Sack of Shit, Kip Up, big fire, Standing Ovation! JOE HENDRY WINS!

Overall Score: 7/10

Even if the match quality wasn’t bonkers, mostly all the matches did what they needed to do, were fairly good and a good number of NXT talent showed up to make the Live iMPACT! and TNA really feel like something special right now. I’m an unabashed Tessa fan, so I’m giddy she won and Hendry finally getting the title is the latest they could’ve really dragged this out to, but at least it stops him from becoming Tetsuya Nai-Joe.

I’m not gonna be a hypocrite from previous complaints I made with too many champions being babyfaces, because that’s still bad and proves the next few title defenses could prove volatile. However, I of course just enjoy most of the current champions. So while it doesn’t erase the fact it’s bad, it makes it more palatable for me personally. Now if only PCO destroyed the Knockouts Tags instead of a different irrelevant belt.

Also let’s be very clear, anyone that believes the PCO stunt was a legit shoot doesn’t know wrestling. Everything is a work until it isn’t and then it still could be turned into a work. Don’t be gullible and just anticipate something to be worked out of it one way or the other.

Still though, good show with a lot of hype for the Live iMPACT, so Thursday should be fun! See you there!

Now this is Maximum Carnage!

There’s a star-studded dirty dozen, as well as TEXAS DEATH between Hangman Page and Christopher Daniels, all on AEW Maximum Carnage: Collision!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Texas Death Match: Hangman Page VS Christopher Daniels; Hangman wins.
• Six Man Tag: The Undisputed Kingdom VS Shane Taylor Promotions; The Undisputed Kingdom wins.
• Brian Cage & Lance Archer w/ Don Callis VS Top Flight w/ Leila Grey; Cage & Archer win.
• AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada VS Tomohiro Ishii; Okada wins and retains the title.
• Dustin Rhodes VS Adam Priest; Dustin wins.
• Julia Hart VS Harley Cameron; Julia wins.
• 12 Man Tag: The Death Riders & The Learning Tree VS “Powerhouse” Hobbs, The Outrunners & Rated FTR;  Hobbs, The Outrunners & Rated FTR win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Rated FTRunners & “Powerhouse” Hobbs speak.

Dax Harwood says, “12 men, one ring, chaos will ensue.” Truth Magnum says the only thing he knows for sure is that if you think you can mess around with the Outrunners and not find out, you got a better chance of pissing in a hot sauce bottle! Tell ’em, Turbo! Turbo Floyd says messing with the Outrunners is one thing, but what about this big super group right here? The best super group since the Yankees! Give it to ’em, big man! Hobbs says on Wednesday, he almost had that AEW World Championship. But even with a bad leg, he’ll hobble out there and beat dat ass! Cope adds that Moxley better shut up and listen.

The Rated R Superstar himself is coming for The Maniac, and he is going to take that AEW World title. The road to that starts tonight, Cash says #TopGuysOut.

Kazuchika Okada speaks.

The Rainmaker tells “Ishii-san, you are the Stone Pitbull. So~ scary~! But I’m the Continental Champion. You were my friend. I used to look up to you. But tonight, I’ll put you down like the dog you are. B*tch!”

Christopher Daniels speaks.

“Hangman Page, I tried over and over to explain my intentions to you, but it seems that all you understand is violence! Well, if you want violence, I’ll show you how violent I can become. Tonight, Hangman Page, Fallen Angel, Texas Death Match!”

Hangman Page speaks.

“Christopher Daniels, for far too long, I have listened to the ruminations and opinions of how I should live my life from old men like you. CD, you are wrong. And you are long in the tooth. Tonight, Texas Death, I take you out to pasture.” The Blackhat Cowboy is ready to put the Fallen Angel out of his misery, but will he hit that Buckshot right in Daniels’ face?

Texas Death Match: Hangman Page VS Christopher Daniels!

No sense in waiting to find out, the Cowboy and the Fallen Angel start us off! Will “Maximum Carnage” be an understatement after these two go until one man can’t keep going?

The bell rings and the fans rally up already. Hangman and Daniels stare down, step up, and Daniels says Hangman could’ve just let it all go. It didn’t have to be like this! The fans duel, but Hangman SLAPS Daniels! Hangman throws hands in the corner, but Daniels CHOPS in return! Daniels ROCKS Hangman, RAMS him again and again, but Hangman CLUBS Daniels back. Hangman fires hands, but Daniels kicks low! The shots go back and forth but Hangman ROCKS Daniels! Hangman CLAWS Daniels’ eyes, then fires body shots and haymakers! Hangman CLUBS away on Daniels, the fans fire up, and Hangman whips corner to corner.

Daniels reverses, runs up, but into a BOOT! Hangman rains down fists, then lets off to pace around. Daniels bails out, but Hangman runs to triangle jump LARIAT! Daniels falls to the floor, but he rises up, into a PLANCHA from Hangman! The fans fire up again while the ref checks Daniels. Daniels is in this but Hangman puts him in the ring. Hangman snarls, but Daniels WRECKS him with a dropkick! Daniels then aims, ARABIAN- NO, Hangman YANKS Daniels down, then sends him into railing! The fans are torn as Hangman grabs a chair! Hangman runs up, and he CLOBBERS Daniels with the chair!

Daniels flounders, Hangman fires the fans up, then he puts the chair in the ring. Hangman grabs more chairs, and Daniels rises up. Daniels is busted open, but Hangman shoves Daniels into the ring. Hangman goes looking, and he brings out BARBED WIRE! Hangman is escalating this quickly as he goes for Daniels’ face! Daniels fights back, but Hangman still DIGS the wire into Daniels’ forehead! He was already bloodied but it’s only gonna get worse! The fans tell Hangman he’s sick, but Hangman LASHES Daniels on the back with the wire! And LASHES him again! Hangman then puts the wire in Daniels’ mouth!!

The fans are freaking out as Hangman is practically flossing Daniels’ teeth with the wire! But Daniels throws Hangman away! Daniels blocks a kick, ducks a lariat, but then the BOOT comes back! Daniels is down, Hangman grabs the rest of the wire, and he wraps it around his arm! Hangman aims, Daniels staggers up, BARBED WIRE ROLLING ELBOW! Daniels falls again, Hangman holds up the wire and the fans cheer, but Collision goes picture in picture.

Hangman stalks Daniels to the ropes, then CHOKES him! Hangman only lets off so he can grab a chair. Hangman sits that chair up, and Daniels sputters from behind his crimson mask. Hangman sets another chair up, those sit facing each other. Hangman brings Daniels over, fireman’s carries, but Daniels fights free! Daniels staggers to a corner, Hangman runs up, but into a BOOT! Daniel runs up, but into a POP-UP POWERBOMB onto the chairs! Daniels writhes and Hangman snarls. The standing count starts, but Daniels uses ropes to stand at 5 of 10! Hangman KICKS him in the side!

Hangman grabs a chair, wedges it into a corner, but Daniels flops out of the ring. Daniels is buying himself as much time as he can but Hangman clears everything else out of the ring. Hangman storms after Daniels, scoops him, and FALL AWAY SLAMS him onto the floor! Daniels writhes again but Hangman goes looking under the ring again. Hangman brings out a TABLE! Hangman positions the table to be ringside, but Daniels drags himself to the apron. Hangman goes up to join Daniels as Maximum Carnage returns to single picture. Hangman brings Daniels over, Alabama Lifts, but Daniels CLUBS away on Hangman’s back!

Daniels underhooks! Hangman lifts! Daniels fights and slips around, to then LARIAT Hangman into the ring! The fans rally up and Daniels steps back in. Daniels storms up on Hangman, but Hangman sends him into the chair! Daniels falls back, the chair stuck around his head! Hangman snarls again while Daniels sputters. Daniels rolls out and ends up on the table, so Hangman runs to DOUBLE STOMP him down through the table!! The fans lose their minds, the standing count begins, and Hangman watches Daniels crawl. Daniels manages to rise at 7, but Hangman KICKS him back down! Hangman rains down fists on the bloody forehead!

Hangman goes looking, and he finds a table with barbed wire on it!! Hangman shoves that into the ring, careful not to poke himself too bad. Hangman sets this monstrosity up near a corner, and Daniels has made his way to the apron. Hangman climbs the corner to bring Daniels up. The fans are already worried, and Hangman Alabama Lifts Daniels! Daniels fights with everything he has left! Daniels HEADBUTTS away on Hangman, then fires down elbows! Daniels slips in, clinches, and URENAGE DOWN THROUGH THE BARBED WIRE TABLE!!! The fans lose their minds while both men are down!

The ref clears the wreckage while both men crawl to the corners. Daniels runs in to LARIAT from behind! GERMAN SUPLEX! S T O! Daniels roars and the fans fire up! Daniels drags Hangman up, clinches again, UREN- NO, Hangman arm-drags free! Hangman LARIATS Daniels up and out, onto the ramp! Hangman snarls, aims, and BUCKSHOT- NO, Daniels ducks that to mule kick! Daniels underhooks, but Hangman BACKDROPS Daniels back into the ring! Daniels snarls through the crimson mask, but Hangman has more barbed wire! Daniels storms up, and Hangman DIGS the wire into Daniels’ face!!

Daniels staggers away, Hangman wraps his arm again! BARBED WIRE BUCK- FLATLINER!! KOJI KLUTCH!! Hangman endures, the fans fire up, and Daniels squeezes as tight as he can! But Hangman DIGS the wire into Daniels’ face again!! Daniels lets go, sputters through the blood, and slowly rises. Hangman aims, lifts, but Daniels grabs ropes! Daniels holds on, but then lets go to underhook! ANGEL’S WINGS!! Both men are down so the count is on them both! Daniels is already up at 5, Hangman is up at 6! The fans fire up for another URENAGE! Daniels points to the corner and the fans fire up!

Daniels goes up, up, BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! But Daniels isn’t done, he grabs what’s left of the barbed wire table and pushes it onto Hangman! BEST MOONSAULT EVER onto the wood!! Daniels crushes Hangman under the wood, then shoves it aside! Fans hope these tow “FIGHT FOREVER!” but it has to end somehow! Hangman is still down at 5 of 10! And at 7! Hangman scrambles to his feet at 9!! Hangman is bloodied but he’s going nuts! He steps on the chair so Daniels can’t use it! Daniels ROCKS Hangman, Hangman LARIATS Daniels! Scoop and tuck! TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER onto the chair!!

Daniels crawls with one good arm, and he’s somehow still in this! Fans want that “ONE MORE TIME! ONE MORE TIME!” Hangman waits on Daniels to stand, then reels him in! Alabama Lift, DEADEYE onto the chair!!! Daniels sputters but he’s staying down! Hangman goes to the apron and he loads up all the same. Daniels somehow rises up before 5 of 10, so a BUCKSHOT from behind takes him down!! The count starts again while Hangman stands over Daniels. The count is 5 of 10, then 7. 8! 9! 10!! Daniels is done, Hangman wins!

Winner: Hangman Page, by knockdown

The medics check Daniels, but Hangman leaves him behind. But then on second thought, Hangman drags Daniels up! Underhooks and ANGEL’S WINGS!! Hangman adds insult to injury by using Daniels’ own move!! Hangman storms off, leaving Daniels to the medics. Is this the end of the Fallen Angel? Is this only the beginning of Hangman’s violent road back to the world title?

Tony Schiavone is in the ring.

He welcomes us back to Maximum Carnage, and he welcomes out Toni Storm! Cincinnati fires up as The Rockstar is back again, and “Rookie” Toni joins Schiavone in the ring. Schiavone notes her historic win in the inaugural Women’s Casino Gauntlet, and with it, her shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship! It will be Grand Slam: Australia, Toni’s hometown of Brisbane, how does she feel? Toni says honestly, she doesn’t even know what her life is right now. It is so surreal! All she can say is, her dreams are finally coming true!

Because she’s going to Australia, to the building where she saw her first wrestling show, and she’ll never forget how her mom scraped together all she could so that they could get tickets, just to sit in the back row. Mom sold hot dogs to pay for Toni’s training. Mom sewed together Toni’s original ring gear. Now Toni can call mom and tell her, “Get ready, cuz I’m coming home!” The fans cheer that! Schiavone says that is a great feeling, but Toni surely realizes she is facing Mariah May, and that is an entirely different feeling. The fans boo Mariah, but Toni says Mariah is “the best in the business today. She’s killing it!”

But Toni hasn’t even had a chance to introduce herself to Mariah. Maybe next week, in Jacksonville, Daily’s Place, the home of AEW… It’s time for Toni and Mariah to finally meet face to face. The fans cheer, but Schiavone wants Toni to understand. C’mon now, Toni. Aw, c’mon yourself, Schiavone! It’s Tony and Toni! That means… IT’S TONI TIME~! WOO~! Say it with her! Okay. It’s TONI TIME! The fans cheer and Toni gets Tony to be all fired up! But the point Schiavone was trying to get to is valid: Is Toni really unaware of her timeless rivalry with The Glamour?

The Hurt Syndicate speaks.

It was after the show on Wednesday that MVP said a definitive statement was made. MVP promised Lashley & Shelton that when they came to AEW, the championship gold would be theirs for the taking. The All Mighty has never been a tag team champion while the Standard of Excellence has many times. That changes everything. With the defeat, the ASS KICKING, they just put on Private Party, that should make the Hurt Syndicate the #1 contenders. So Private Party, time to crash the party! Next week, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Private Party better put up the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Shelton & Lashley. See what you’ve really got!

But just remember: #WeHurtPeople. Lashley says this ish is gonna be easy. He and Shelton fist bump, but will they put the hurt on Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy?

Six Man Tag: The Undisputed Kingdom VS Shane Taylor Promotions!

Adam Cole, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly are reunited once more, ready for more, and they have all sorts of targets in mind. But Lee Moriarty, Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo have their eyes on those same championship targets, which is why they’re crossing paths here tonight. Will #TAIGASTYLE & The Infantry show the Kingdom how to rumble, bad men, rumble? Or will Maximum Carnage be undisputed?

The trios sort out and the ROH Pure Champion starts against Adam Cole BAYBAY. They circle, tie up, and Lee already gets a leg pick. Lee then switches to a waistlock, Cole switches with him, repeat. Cole headlocks, Lee powers up and out, but Cole KICKS the backdrop! Cole then dodges the lariat, PELES, and he brings Lee over. Tag to Roddy, they mug Lee, and Roddy CHOPS! Roddy CHOPS again, then wrenches to a wristlock. Lee rolls, slips through, traps the arms, and he pulls on an ear! Tag to Dean, STP mug Roddy, and then Dean scoops, only for Roddy to slip free. Roddy shoves and DROPKICKS Dean down!

The fans fire up, Strong tags Kyle, and they CHOP and KICK away on The Captain! lee runs up, Kyle KICKS him down! Kyle & Roddy double suplex Dean onto Lee! Cover on Dean, TWO! Kyle drags Dean up but Dean JAWBREAKERS free! Tag to Carlie but Kyle kicks, clinches, and fires Muay Thai knee after knee! Kyle KICKS Carlie down, then stalks him to ropes. Kyle whips, Carlie reverses, and Dean trips Kyle up! The ref is arguing with Carlie, and now with The Kingdom, as Dean hits an APRON CUTTER! Carlie goes up and out to then GUILLOTINE AX HANDLE! Kyle flops down, STP pose together, and Collision goes picture in picture.

Kyle sputters, The Infantry distract the ref, and that lets Shane THROW Kyle into railing! Shane DECKS Kyle while The Kingdom protests! The ref keeps everyone back, and Dean brings Kyle around. Carlie puts Kyle in the ring, whips him to a corner, then storms up to JAB! JAB! JAB! Carlie pops, locks ‘n’ winds up, to CHOP! Carlie talks smack, tags Dean, then Dean sends Carlie in to SPLASH! Dena runs up, whips Carlie in again, forearm SMASH! Then Dean ELBOWS Kyle! Kyle staggers, into a LARIAT from Dean! The Captain scowls while he stands over Kyle. Dean then pushes Kyle to a cover, TWO!

Dean drags Kyle back, anchors him, then tags Lee. Lee drags Kyle up to UPPERCUT! Kyle staggers around, Lee Mongolian CHOPS! Kyle staggers some more, and Collision goes to break.

Collision returns while both Kyle and Lee are down. The fans rally up, both men crawl, hot tags to Dean and Cole! the fans fire up as Cole dodges Dean, BLASTS Lee & Carlie, but Dean waistlocks! Cole elbows free, then LARITS Dean down! And ELBOWS him! And BOOTS him! Dean staggers, Cole fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Cole keeps his focus and he climbs a corner. Dean rises, for the PANAMA- NO, Dean slips under the sunrise! But Cole SUPERKICKS! Cole suplexes, LAST SHOT! Cover, TWO!! Well, not quite the last shot, so Cole tags ROddy. Rioddy hauls Dean up to CHOP away!

Roddy runs, BLASTS Carlie, then runs to SHINING WIZARD Dean! Side to side, forearm SMASH! Then a RUNNING FACEBUSTER! Cover, Carlie & Lee break it! STP mugs Roddy, double whips, but Roddy grabs ropes! Roddy BOOTS and ENZIGIRIS Lee, Kyle sneaks a tag! Roddy TOSSES Carlie and Kyle FLYING KNEES him down! Lee runs up but Cole gets him with 52 Fake Out! Then a PANAMA SUNRISE! The fans fire up as Dean staggers up! Roddy & Kyle call their shot, TOTAL ANNIHILATION! Cover, Undisputed Kingdom wins!

Winners: The Undisputed Kingdom, by pinfall

STP put up quite the fight, but now Shane himself CLOBBERS Kyle! And he blocks a kick to KNEE Cole down! And he HEADBUTTS Roddy down! The fans boo but Big Bad Shaney T is that bad! He talks trash, even to Daddy Magic! Matt Menard says alright then! If Shane thinks he’s bad, then step to him! Or rather, step to DANIEL GARCIA! The TNT Champion makes his way out here, and he CLOBBERS Carlie! He CLOBBERS Dean! And he fires hands on Shane! Garcia throws off his jacket, storms in, and he fires more hands! Shane shoves Garcia away, but Kyle KICKS! Cole SUPERKICKS! Strong KNEE!

Daniel reels Shane in, SAIDO! The fans fire up as Garcia and the Undisputed Kingdom stand tall together! STP retreats, but then The Kingdom eyes that TNT Championship. Garcia holds it up, and he dares any which one of them wants it to come get it. Who will be the first from The Kingdom to challenge the Red Death?

AEW shares more footage from after Dynamite.

Alicia Atout was with Will Ospreay and asked him about the save he made for Kenny Omega against the Don Callis Family. What are his thoughts after all that? Ospreay says you can call it a save for Kenny but it was really Ospreay trying to get after Kyle Fletcher. But hey, he and Kenny have had their differences. Their battles in Japan and Canada have gone down as legendary. But they both know each other because of Don Callis. That is their link, that is how they’re tied together. Before, it was all about egos, but to be honest, this is bigger than both of them. Time they had a chat. Next week, Dynamite in Knoxville, Ospreay calls out Kenny to have that chat.

The Bruv wants to talk with The Best Bout Machine, will they come to an agreement when it comes to their common enemies?

Brian Cage & Lance Archer w/ Don Callis VS Top Flight w/ Leila Grey!

Speaking of Don Callis, his Murder Machines are back in action, ready to make #EverybodyDie! Will Cage & Archer be waiting on the other side of Private Party VS Hurt Syndicate for their tag title shot? Or can Dante & Darius Martin show that the bigger they are, the harder they fall?

The teams sort out and then the Murder Machines attack! The fans boo but the bell rings as Cage beats up Dante and Archer CLUBS Darius. Archer scoops Darius to SLAM him, then Cage waistlocks Dante. BOOT GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO! Dante flounders out of the ring while Cage RAMS Darius into the corner! And RAMS him in again! Then he CHOPS Darius, tags Archer, and they THROW Darius into the corner! Archer whips Cage in to UPPERCUT, then Cage feeds Darius to the scoop! BACKBREAKER! BASEMENT DROPKICK! Cage adds on and Archer says, “EVERYBODY DIES!” Dante is up but Archer DECKS him!

Archer puts Darius in the corner, fires body shots, then he ROCKS Darius! Archer goes corner to corner and back again to ELBOW! And then he keeps going, but Darius dodges! The fans rally up as Darius crawls, but Archer BLASTS Dante again! Darius fires haymakers, but Archer knees low! Archer bumps Darius off buckles, tags Cage, and the mugging continues. The fans boo but Cage runs side to side, and he BOOT WASHES Darius! Cage says “Ain’t nobody betta!” Cage drags Darius up, whips him to an open corner, then he runs in, but into BOOTS! The fans rally but Cage ROCKS Darius! Darius TIGER WALL PELES with the corner!

The fans fire up while both men are down! Darius crawls, reaches out, but Cage also carwls. Hot tags to Archer and Dante! Archer SHOVES Dante to the apron! Archer laughs, but Dante RAMS into him! Dante springboards, CROSSBODY, but Archer catches him! Archer pops Dante around, but Dante slips free! Datne shovves Archer iinto Cage! Dante fires forearms on Archer and the fans fire up! Dante throws even more shots, then whips, but Archer blocks! Archer whips Dante, runs in, but Dante slips out! Dante goes up and around, then GAMANGIRIS! Dante springboards, FLYING CANNONBALL!

The fans fire up and Dante calls Darius. Cage shoves Dante at Darius, but Darius pops Dante up and over Cage! ASSISTED TORNADO- NO, Cage powers out of that! Archer has Dante, Cage DISCUS LARIATS Darius! Archer ripcords Dante into the HELLICOASTER! The fans boo but Cage drags Dante up. Cage puts one out, lifts Dante up, and Archer adds on! CHOKE SLAM BOMB!! Cover, Murder Machines win!

Winners: Brian Cage & Lance Archer, by pinfall

Top Flight are fast but they don’t hit hard enough to stop these tanks! Will nothing stop the Murder Machines from taking the tag titles for their own? Wait, Action Andretti makes his way out here? The Sight to See is rubbing salt in the wounds of his former friends, and Lio Rush attacks from behind! the fans boo as The Bad Child beats down Dante, TOSSES him out, then beats up on Darius! Leila wants them to stop, but Action just talks trash on Darius. The fans boo more but Lio goes up the corner. Action smiles as Lio gives Darius the FINAL HOUR!! Is this the final hour for Top Flight? Or will they make sure Lio & Action get what’s coming to them?

Backstage interview with The Learning Tree.

Lexy Nair is with Chris Jericho, Bryan Keith & “Big Bill” Morrissey, and she asks Jericho about how on Dynamite, he assured us all that The Learning Tree and The Death Riders would be on the same page, and that Jon Moxley can trust them. How is Jericho so sure that things will go well when The Death Riders didn’t even show for this interview? The Redwood says, “As the Learning Tree always says, ‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder.'” Jericho says that’s so true. And Moxley isn’t the type to show up and do interviews. Jericho isn’t the type to stand here and allow someone to stir the pot.

So enough of this muckraking! Bryan Keith adds, “No mother effin’ muckraking!!” Lexy is a bit taken aback, but Jericho tells Moxley that he’ll address him directly. They’ve known each other a long time. They were the first two AEW World Champions! They have beaten the hell out of each other around the entire world! Moxley left this scar right on Jericho’s left eyebrow. See? And Jericho took a spike and tried to take Moxley’s eye. So like Jericho said, they’ve beaten each other all around the world, but tonight they have common enemies! Moxley knows there is no one in AEW as driven or as smart as Moxley as Jericho.

So if Moxley’s as smart as Jericho thinks, it would behoove Moxley to trust The Learning Tree. And if there’s any doubt, then The Learning Tree will prove it to you before you meet them in the ring. Lexy asks what he means, but Jericho counters with, “What does anything mean, Lexy?” Jericho storms off, Bill says that was a sick burn. Keith says it was a sick ass burn! The Learning Tree heads out, but seriously, what does Jericho mean? How’re they going to prove themselves to The Death Riders before their 12 Man Tag?

Backstage interview with Matt Menard & Daniel Garcia.

Collision returns as Lexy is now with Daddy Magic & The TNT Champion, and she notes them helping out The Undisputed Kingdom. Can they explain how and why? But before Garcia can, Roddy shouts at “DANIEEEL~!” The Kingdom thanks Garcia for that, they appreciate the help. And trust Cole when he says that if there’s anyone who understands competition, certainly it’s Garcia. It is a shame, though, that Garcia & Menard don’t have a third man, because Cole, Roddy & Kyle wanna prove they’re the best trio in AEW. Garcia says yeah, well, they’ll be in Jacksonville next week for Collision: Homecoming.

And Garcia remembers walking into Jacksonville three years ago with two people he barely even knew, at the bottom of the totem pole. Three years later, we’re going back to Jacksonville and it’s a completely different story. Menard checks with Garcia. Is he saying they’re call the brand new father? The new father? Then Kingdom is on! Homecoming, Jacksonville, Six Man Tag! Cole and the boys like that, and they head out. Will things still be undisputed? Or will Cool Hand Ange’s return to the ring tip the scales?

Max Caster is in the ring.

Platinum Max has both a mic and a leather bag, and he thanks the fans, missing how they’re booing him. But Caster says there has been a lot of issues going on within The Acclaimed. There are a lot of rumors online, a lot of talk, but he wants to clear the air right now with his teammate, Anthony Bowens. Caster asks Bowens to come to the ring, and he has the fans cheer Bowens on. Bowens does walk out here, and he grabs a mic for himself. Caster says this has gone on long enough. There has been a huge misunderstanding between the two of them. They are a great team, and more importantly, they are great friends.

The biggest issue here is that Bowens just won’t admit that Caster is the Best Wrestler Alive! The fans boo and Bowens stops Caster there. Bowens says it is finally time for Caster to listen! Because for the last five years, Bowens has tried with every fiber of his being to protect Caster in the ring, in the locker room, and in the media. Because they, The Acclaimed, were tag team partners, and then became best friends. But now Bowens has to live with the very uncomfortable truth that Caster has made Bowens into a liar! Because for those five years, Bowens has had to lie to every single fan about who Caster is as a person!

Because Cincinnati, you need to know that Max Caster is an arrogant, cocky, selfish, edge lord PIECE OF S*IT! And Caster wants the fans to believe he’s the Best Wrestler Alive? Newsflash: The fans believe YOU SUCK! The fans cheer, but Caster brings out a (fake) degree from his bag that says “Best Wrestler Alive!” Bowens says this is what he means! Cater is selfish, he lost the team spirit! Why did Caster start looking down on Bowens? Maybe it’s because Bowens is the Scissor King, not that Caster’s been doing that. Well guess what? Bowens is more than that! He possesses every tool necessary to be a world champion! Cincy agrees there!

Bowens has proudly represented AEW since he put pen to paper! He is the GADDAMN PRIDE of AEW! He is the Five Tool Player!! The fans cheer that! And Bowens doesn’t need some piece of paper to prove it. Caster says don’t touch him! Wait, the music hits? They’re both here, so that means it is DADDY ASS! Billy Gunn is back, mic in hand, and he sighs looking at his boys fighting. The fans cheer and Billy says first off, what is wrong with these two? They are The Acclaimed! AEW World Tag Team Champions, AEW World Trios Champions, and they got everyone to scissor just because it was cool!

Caster claims Billy doesn’t care about them! He just attached himself to a couple of young, hungry wrestlers like them just so they could hear the fans chant his name again. Billy made it about Billy, when it should be about MAX! The Best Wrestler Alive! Oh, and Anthony! They are best friends! Seriously! Okay? They are two guys who were randomly put together, didn’t know each other, but they became the winningest tag team in AEW history! Every team Billy has been a part of has broken up, and there’s a reason for that. Yeah, even Gunn Club! Billy’s own two sons did not want anything to do with him!

Billy gets pissed and he gets in Caster’s face. The fans tell Billy, “KICK HIS ASS! KICK HIS ASS!” Caster says he is not doing this. Bowens has to choose: Caster or Billy. If Bowens wants The Acclaimed to continue, it is either Caster or “washed-up” Billy Gunn. The fans cheer for “BILLY! BILLY!” Bowens is conflicted, but Caster stands there with open arms. Bowens offers the scissors, so Caster says okay. But then Bowens makes it a middle finger! The fans cheer as Bowens stands with Billy! So is that how it is? Caster says fine! Another bad decision from “Bad Decision Bowens.” You can’t walk away from Caster, he’s walking away from them!

Acclaimed is done because CASTER said so as leader of the team! It is Bowens’ fault, it is Billy’s fault, and it’s the fault of every fan here! Caster will prove to everyone that he IS the Best Wrestler Alive, and without him, Bowens sucks, Billy sucks, and all the fans suck! The fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” Bowens tells Caster that he didn’t need Caster then, and he doesn’t need Caster now! Get outta his life! Billy, Cincy, one last time! Throw the scissors up! The fans cheer as Bowens & Billy SCISSOR~! Caster is frustrated, but will he just have to put up or shut up?

Backstage interview with Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana.

Lexy is with The Realest and says the past few weeks, he and Ricochet have had this cat ‘n’ mouse game. But it was announced that February 5th, Dynamite in Atlanta, we will get Swerve VS Ricochet. But until then, what is Swerve’s strategy? Swerve says respectfully, the longer they waste time talking, the more time Ricochet has to get away. And as for “cat ‘n’ mouse,” this is more like lion and rat. It will end now. February 5th, Swerve gets Ricochet in the ring to himself, but Swerve plans on seeing him way before then. Swerve has been cursed with the ability where everything he touches dies…

With that said, Swerve plans on using that for when he gets his hands on Ricochet’s throat! The Most Dangerous Man is only going to be more dangerous from now on, will Ricochet have no chance of escape?

AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada VS Tomohiro Ishii!

As Okada said himself to open the show, these two used to be the best of friends in NJPW under the banner of Chaos. But being part of The Elite (The, The Elite) has brought out the worst in one of the best wrestlers today. Will he continue to make it rain even here in Cincinnati? Or will the Stone Pitbull soon sink his teeth into some gold?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and Maximum Carnage gets some Strong Style thrown in!

The bell rings and the fans fire up as these two stare down. They circle, but then Okada backs off to the ropes. The fans boo but the ref has Ishii back up. Okada and Ishii reset, the fans cheer on “Both These Guys!” Okada again uses ropes for defense, and Ishii dares him to bring it! Okada runs up, they tie up, and Okada puts Ishii on ropes. Okada lets off, fakes the chop, then pats Ishii on the shoulder. But then Ishii CHOPS! Ishii fires forearms, Okada wobbles, but then Okada CLAWS the eyes! Okada runs, but Ishii CLOBBERS him! Ishii brings Okada up, CHOPS him, then eggs Okada on. Ishii whips, Okada grabs ropes, and Okada bails out!

The fans boo but Ishii storms out after Okada! Okada kicks low! Okada grins, but Ishii RAMS him into the railing! Ishii runs, and he CLOBBERS Okada again! The fans fire up while Ishii paces, and Collision goes picture in picture.

Okada sputters, Ishii drags him up, and Ishii CHOPS! Okada sputters, Ishii CHOPS again, and then Ishii CHOPS again! Ishii pushes Okada into the ring, storms in after him, and runs, but into a FLAPJACK! Okada snarls, Ishii sputters, and Okada brings Ishii up. Okada bumps Ishii off buckles, wrenches and whips, then he runs in to ELBOW Ishii down! Okada soaks up the cheers and jeers while the ref checks Ishii. Ishii is still in this so Okada storms up. The ref has Okada back off and the medic checks Ishii. A leg may have been tweaked after that last fall, but Okada storms up again. Ishii CHOPS him!

Ishii CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Okada kicks low! DDT! Ishii is stuck on his head, but Okada pushes him over to cover. TWO, but Okada kicks Ishii around. Ishii snarls as Okada scuffs him, and then Okada BOOTS! Ishii wobbles but stays on his feet! Okada BOOTS him again, but Ishii eggs Okada on! Okada runs, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Both men are down as Maximum Carnage returns to single picture. Okada goes to a corner, Ishii runs up, and Ishii LARIATS! Ishii hoists Okada up top, then he climbs up after Okada. Ishii brings Okada to the very top, for a SUPERPLEX! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally as Okada survives. Ishii snarls, stomps his foot to get feeling back in it, and he reels Okada in. But Okada fights to lift and REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Okada hauls Ishii up to scoop, SLAM, and he goes to the corner! Okada climbs, aims, and MACHO ELBOWS! The fans fire up as Okada stands, and he winds up for the Rainmaker MIDDLE FINGER~! But Ishii BENDS that finger! Ishii gives a middle finger back, but Okada CLAWS Ishii’s face! Okada swings, Ishii ducks, but Okada elbows free. Okada whips, but Ishii avoids the dropkick! SLIDING0 NO, Okada avoids that to scoop and LANDSLIDE DRIVER!

Okada fires up, the fans are torn, but Okada ripcords and- LARIAT from Ishii!! The fans are thunderous as Ishii waits on Okada! Ishii runs, but Okada DROPKICKS him down! Okada ripcords again, but Ishii RAMS low! Then HEADBUTTS! Okada ROCKS Ishii! Okada brings Ishii around and short arm LARIATS! Ishii takes it, and HEADBUTTS Okada down! Ishii runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives and the fans fire up! Ishii fires up and he brings Okada around. Ishii suplexes, but Okada slips free! Okada DROPKICKS Ishii in the back! The fans are torn but Okada grins as he goes outside.

Okada grabs the ring bell!? The ref reprimands but Okada gives up the bell. Ishii runs up, Okada ripcords to LOW BLOW! Then a ripcord and RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!

Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (still AEW Continental Champion)

Okada grins, having cheated his former friend out of this one! Will nothing stop the reign when Okada’s willing to drag his own reputation through the mud?

The Gates of Agony speak.

Bishop Kaun has the camera come in close while they tell us who they are. Kaun has eight years in this game, and is a THREE-TIME ROH World Six Man Champion. Toa Liona is a Division I athlete, and so you know these two aren’t here by accident! They have run through the roster, shown up and shown out. Next week, they’re starting the run of a lifetime. Collision comes home to Daily’s Place, and The Gates want AEW to send the best they’ve got! AEW will soon belong to G O A!!

BREAKING NEWS for Collision: Homecoming.

Tony Khan has heard this request and has fulfilled it! The Gates of Agony will be battling The House of Black’s Brody King & Buddy Matthews! Will Kaun & Liona be able to #CloseTheGates on them? Or will the King of Death & Aussie Juggernaut tear the Gates down?

Dustin Rhodes VS Adam Priest!

The Natural is still the DUAL ROH World Tag Team & ROH World Six Man Champion, and he is looking to prove this is his best run yet! Will that continue through Maximum Carnage? Or will Priest read Dustin his last rites?

The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally, Dustin offers a handshake, but Priest says nope! The fans boo but the two tie up. Dustin headlocks, Priest powers up and out, drops down, and Dustin jumps over to then whip Priest away. Dustin arm-drags Priest on the return, then he wristlocks. The fans cheer as Dustin wrenches, but Priest kicks low! Priest ROCKS Dustin, then stomps Dustin to a corner. Priest fires hands, the ref counts and the fans boo, but Priest stops at 4. Priest stalks Dustin along ropes, then whips. Dustin says, “Not Today!” RHODES UPPERCUT! Priest staggers around into a SNAP POWERSLAM!

A rough landing for Priest, but Dustin fires up! The fans are with Dustin and he puts Priest in the corner. Dustin puts Priest’s leg in the ropes, UPPERCUTS him, then puts the other leg in the ropes. The ref says don’t do it! The fans say yes do it! Dustin CHOPS Priest, goes corner to corner, and the fans fire up. Dustin lines up the shot, takes a deep breathe, but the ref steps in the way! No shattering dreams tonight! Priest gets free and he CLOBBERS Dustin! The fans boo but Priest soaks up the heat. Priest CLUBS and kicks Dustin, whips him, but Dustin CLOBBERS Priest! And then snatches Priest into a dragon sleeper! CROSS RHODES!

Dustin isn’t done there, he gives Priest the FINAL RECKONING! Cover, Dustin wins!

Winner: Dustin Rhodes, by pinfall

This result was only natural, and Dustin is looking to keep things going in the New Year. Will he and the Sons of Texas all be shining between AEW and ROH?

Julia Hart VS Harley Cameron!

It was the Women’s Casino Gauntlet when The Princess of the Black Throne was aiming for Jamie Hayter, but she got this wild Aussie right in the face with that black mist! Will Julia soon #FeelTheWrath? Or will she prove that then, now and forever, The House Always Wins?

The bell rings, and Harley takes the sunglasses off. Her eyes are still sensitive from what Julia did to her, but Julia likes the look. The two tie up, Harley trips Julia and rains down fists! The fans fire up as Harley lets off, and then she runs. Julia swings, Harley gets around, but Julia fights the waistlock. Julia ROCKS Harley, whips her, but Harley reverses. Harley arm-drags, then runs up at the corner. Julia puts her on the apron but Harley ROUNDHOUSES back! Harley runs in, dodges, and ENZIGIRIS! Cover, TWO! Julia stays in this, but Harley storms around. Harley clamps onto Julia to rain down elbows!

The fans are torn as Harley drags Julia up. Julia CLAWS the eyes! Harley swings blindly, but Julia wrenches for an STO! Julia smiles while the fans are torn. Julia stalks Harley to ropes and CHOKES her! The ref counts, Julia CLAWS Harley’s eyes while she lets off. Harley flounders away while Collision goes picture in picture.

Julia pushes Harley back onto ropes and CHOKES her again! The ref counts, Julia lets go at 4, and she stalks Harley again. Julia CLUBS Harley, CLUBS her again, then has her back on ropes. Julia SCRAPES Harley’s face off the ropes, then bumps her off buckles. Julia fires forearms, stops as the ref counts, and Harley sputters as she staggers away. Julia pursues Harley, CLAWS her face again, then pushes her down. Julia DRIBBLES Harley off the mat! The ref reprimands, Julia stops and makes it a cover, TWO! Julia is almost amused by Harley, and she brings Harley up to throw her to the corner! Julia fires forearms again and again!

Julia digs her boot in, stops as the ref counts, and again Harley staggers away. Julia brings Harley around, reels her in, and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Harley stays in this and Julia is now annoyed. Julia CLUBS Harley, CLUBS her more, then brings her up. Harley ROCKS Julia! Julia ROCKS Harley! Julia KNEES Harley low and Collision goes to break.

Maximum Carnage returns and Harley has Julia down! Harley drags Julia up to fire knees into her! Harley then fireman’s carries, but Julia fights with elbows! Julia then shifts around for an IRON OCTOPUS! Harley endures, the fans fire up, and Julia pulls on the arm! Harley pulls on a leg, powers up, and she pops free! Julia pulls hair, but Harley throws Julia away! Julia comes back, whips her to a corner, then runs in. Harley goes out and around to then roll Julia up! TWO, but Julia SUPERKICKS! Julia ELBOWS Harley in the corner, runs side to side and ELBOWS her again! Julia reels Harley in for a DDT! Cover, TWO!

Harley survives and the fans fire up, but Julia snarls. But Harley has her in a ghost pin! TWO!! Julia escapes, and she SWEEPS the legs! Julia clamps onto Harley, brings her around, but Harley fights to the ROPEBREKA! The ref counts, Julia drags Harley from the ropes to try again. But Harley JAWBREAKERS! SOLE FOOD! Julia wobbles, Harley runs up, but Julia FLAPJACKS her off the buckles! BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Julia is pissed, she clamps on the HARTLESS LOCK! Harley taps, Julia wins!

Winners: Julia Hart, by submission

Harley put up quite the fight, but Julia found the way to win. Will Julia continue to be just as Hartless until she’s once again a champion?

Something is going down backstage!

Cameras catch the Learning Tree beating up Hobbs! Jericho sees the camera and says, “Hi, guys.” Big Bill shows he has Hobbs’ leg brace! The Learning Tree leaves the Powerhouse down, but is he out of the main event? Time is running out, because the main event is next!

12 Man Tag: The Death Riders & The Learning Tree VS “Powerhouse” Hobbs, The Outrunners & Rated FTR!

The AEW World Champion, the AEW World Trios Champions, the ROH World Champion, and “The Branches” all stand against what was going to be The Book of Hobbs with Turbo Floyd, Truth Magnum, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood & Adam “Cope” Copeland. But after what Jericho, Bill & Keith just did to Hobbs, is this going to be a 6v5? Can Cope and comrades still win even with the odds against them?

The teams sort out and Bill shows off the “trophy” they took from Hobbs. Dax the Ax steps up against The Nueve in another go-around from last Collision. The fans rally up with the bell and the two circle. They tie up, go around, then break. Dax eggs Jericho on, Jericho storms up on him, and they go forehead to forehead. Jericho pie faces Dax, then SLAPS him! The afns boo but Dax says oaky. And he SLAPS back! Jericho SLAPS, Dax SLAPS, repeat! Dax then CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Dax whips corner to corner, runs up, but Jericho BOOTS him! Jericho goes up, MISSILE DROPKICKS, and he fires up while fans boo.

Tag to Keith, the Learning Tree mugs Dax, and then The Bad Apple throat chops! And regular CHOPS! Keith stalks Dax, but Dax CHOPS again and again! Dax snap suplexes Keith, drops a leg, then covers, ONE!! Dax fishhooks Keith’s mouth, then ELBOWS him down. Tag to Cash and FTR hoists Keith up. BOOSTED GOURD BUSTER! Cover, ONE!! Keith shows some true grit and he scrambles away. Cash says fine, someone get in. Yuta tags in, sniping things from Bill. Wheeler and Wheeler talk smack, circle, and they tie up. Cash wrenches to wristlock, then he WRINGS Yuta’s arm! Yuta kips up, and he ROCKS Cash!

Yuta CHOPS Cash, puts him in the corner, then CHOPS! Cash turns things around to CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Cash whips corner to corner, Yuta bounces off buckles, and Cash BACKDROPS him! Dax is there to ROCK Yuta! Cash ROCKS Yuta! Yuta gets pinballed, then Cash DECKS Yuta! Tag to Truth and he wrenches Yuta for a wristlock. But Yuta pulls hair to throat Truth down! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Yuta CHOPS Truth in a corner! Yuta CLAWS Truth’s face, CHOPS him, but Truth gets in Yuta’s face! Truth CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! The fans fire up as Truth DECKS Yuta! Tag to Turbo!

The Outrunners double whip, body shot and KNEE LIFT, then Truth ROCKS Yuta! Turbo reels Yuta in, the fans rally up, and Turbo suplexes! Turbo holds Yuta up, then SLAMS him down! Cover, but Moxley breaks it! The fans boo but Truth runs up to ROCK Moxley! Claudio and The Learning Tree storm in, but so does the rest of the Rated FTRunners! The fans fire up as it is a 6v5 brawl, but the ref wants this to return to order! Rated FTRunners throw out Jericho, then they throw out Claudio, but Moxley falls back on his own. Bill and Dax take things outside, Cash keeps on Keith while Truth has Yuta, and Collision goes picture in picture!

The Outrunners mug Yuta while Cash climbs up to rain down fists on Keith! Things continue on the outside, Keith sends Cash into the railing! Dax KNEES Bill low, CLUBS him on the back, but Keith CLAWS Cash’s eyes! Turbo goes out there to CLUB Keith! Cash brings Keith around to SMACK off the railing! The fans get fired up as Cash CHOPS! Cash even high-fives the very excited kid up front. Keith says that kid needs to RESPECT Chris Jericho! Cash stands Keith up so the kid can CHOP him! Bill CLUBS Cash! Dax high-fives the kid, then goes back for Bill. The ref goes out and tells everyone to settle down!

Cope and the Outrunners also high-five the kid, and the teams finally go back to their corners. Turbo brings Yuta around, tags in Dax, and Dax kicks Yuta in the side. Dax bumps Yuta off buckles, then throws hands. Yuta counter punches, then he ROCKS Dax in the corner. Tag to Bill! Bill winds up to UPPERCUT Dax! Dax falls and crawls away, but Bill soaks up the cheers and jeers. Bill puts Dax against ropes and bends him back before he CLUBS him down! Bill fires a BODY SHOT, then soaks up more cheers and jeers. Dax kicks low, fires hands, then runs, but Marina trips him up! The ref missed that from arguing with Claudio!

Bill reels Dax in, hoists him up, and POWERBOMBS Dax down! Cover, Cope breaks it right as Maximum Carnage returns to single picture! The ref has to get everyone back again, and Bill protests. Bill drags Dax to a corner and stands on his neck! The ref counts, Bill steps off at 4, and Bill tags Jericho. The fans boo as Bill grabs Dax’s legs, YANKS him from the ropes, then stands him up. Jericho winds up to CHOP! Dax is stinging from that one, but Jericho brings Dax up again. Jericho whips Dax, Dax bumps Yuta! Yuta was too busy soaking up heat, but the Death Riders still look upset over that.

Jericho walks over, wants a tag, but Moxley thinks about it. Dax crawls, and Moxley finally tags in! The fans fire up as they want Moxley to go after Jericho, but Jericho brings up what he said earlier tonight. Moxley sees Dax is almost to his corner! Moxley gets Dax, reels him in, and lift shim up for a PILEDRIVER! Moxley drags Dax back, he tags Yuta, and Yuta drops a knee on Dax! Yuta soaks up heat, Keith ROCKS Dax, Bill ROCKS Dax, Claudio CHOKES Dax! The ref misses it all from dealing with Rated FTRunners! Yuta drops another KNEE, then he covers, TWO! Dax flounders but in the wrong direction!

Yuta drags Dax up, suplexes, then covers, TWO! Yuta keeps Dax down with a chinlock. The fans rally as Dax endures and fights up. Dax rises, fires body shots, then he shoves Yuta away. Dax catches Yuta to a SLEEPER! But Yuta powers out to catch Dax in a SLEEPER! Dax hits a back suplex, Yuta lands out, and Yuta POSTS Dax! FTRunners rally for Dax, but Yuta runs in! Dax dodges the knee to GERMAN SUPLEX! Yuta crawls, tag to Bill! Bill runs up, but Dax dodges again! Bill hits buckles then falls back! Dax crawls, hot tags to Cope and Jericho! Cope rallies on Jericho with shoulder tackle after shoulder tackle!

Cope whips, Jericho reverses, but Cope CLOBBERS him! Cope then gets around, COPE-A-SETIC! Cope BLASTS Moxley for good measure! Cope then aims at Jericho and the fans fire up! Jericho rises, Cope runs in, CODE BREAKER! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Cope and Jericho both crawl, hot tag to Turbo! Turbo rallies on Jericho with big haymakers! The fans fire up as Turbo scoops and SLAMS Jericho! Truth jumps in, Turbo scoops and SLAMS him onto Jericho! Keith runs in, but Truth scoops him to SLAM onto Jericho! Keith & Jericho are side-by-side, and Truth says, “TURBO FLOYD! YOU SONOVAB*TCH!”

THey shake hands, and DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! Claudio storms in to DOUBLE LARIAT! Cash runs in, and he LARIATS Claudio up and out! Yuta wrenches Cash to the PAIN THRILLER! Dax bobs ‘n’ weaves ‘n’ DDTS! Moxley CUTTERS Dax! Cope hits a THESZ PRESS and rains down fast hands! Moxley gets up, so Cope LARIATS him up and out! Bill BOOTS Cope! Dax & Cash sneak in, SHATTER- NO, Bill JABS free! Bill runs, but INTO A SHATTER MACHINE!!! FTR then brawls with Yuta & Claudio! Moxley CLAWS Cope’s eyes! Moxley underhooks but Cope wrenches out! IMPALER DDT on the ramp!!

The fans fire up while Moxley flounders, clutching his jaw! Marina has the briefcase and storms in! The ref stops Marina, Cope aims at Moxley! Cope runs, but into a BOOT from The Bastard, Pac!! Pac was the ace in the hole for The Death Riders! The fans boo but Pac talks smack on Cope. But wait, now Claudio & Yuta have come in from the back, and they have a blindfold bag! They put it on Cope, then drag Cope from ramp to floor! But CASH CANNONBALLS IN! FTR has caught up to them and the brawl is on again! Cope and Yuta brawl, the Death Riders and Rated FTR brawl their way into the crowd! The fans go wild as the action is now in their laps!

All that is left is Jericho and Turbo! Jericho runs to LIONSAULT, but he FLOPS as Turbo moves! The fans fire up as Jericho crawls, and he reaches out for his corner. But Turbo has no one! WAIT! Hobbs is finally making his way out here!! He said himself that even if he has to hobble, he’d be part of this match! Hot tags to Keith and Hobbs! The Powerhouse CLOBBERS the Bad Apple! And CLOBBERS Jericho! And back to Keith! Hobbs TOSSES Jericho, then sends Keith into him! DOUBLE SPLASH! Hobbs keeps moving, and he DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES them down! The fans fire up with Hobbs, but here comes Bill!

The fans fire up for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Bill and Hobbs step to each other, and the haymakers start flying! The fans continue to chant “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Hobbs gets the edge, but Bill choke grips! Hobbs pries the grip away! Bill UPPERCUTS! Bill runs, but Hobbs TOSSES him! Jericho is up top, and he AX HANDLES Hobbs down! But then Turbo is there to scoop! Truth runs in, TOTAL RECALL on Jericho! The ref reprimands and The Outrunners step out. Keith has the ROH World Championship! Keith runs up on Hobbs, but Hobbs blocks the cheap shot! The fans tell Keith he messed up! Hobbs LARIATS Keith down!

Hobbs brings the straps down and he says thumbs down! SPINEBUSTER for Keith! Cover, Hobbs wins for the team!

Winners: “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs, The Outrunners & Rated FTR, by pinfall

The Learning Tree tried to earn the Death Riders’ trust, but they only angered The Powerhouse! Will The Book of Hobbs still find his way back to a championship story in the New Year? And what of Rated FTR? Are they still brawling with The Death Riders somewhere in Cincinnati? Will they be brawling all the way to Knoxville this Wednesday?

My Thoughts:

A great Collision here, but with some obvious new examples of Tony Khan forgetting his own stories. The Undisputed Kingdom VS Shane Taylor Promotions was a great Six Man Tag, and a great win for Cole, Roddy & Kyle now that they’re all back together, but I guess The Conglomeration meant nothing to anyone in the end. Secondly, Daniel Garcia making the save is fine and all, but why’re we pivoting away from how Garcia is friends with Private Party and should be helping them with The Hurt Syndicate? Not to mention, Shelton and Garcia still have beef from the C2 to settle, aka a TNT Championship match. Hurt Syndicate had a good promo, and it’s really hard to think Private Party retains the tag titles.

Back to Garcia, I do appreciate we’re getting back to him teaming with Menard & Parker, and we’ll have a fun Six Man Tag for Homecoming, but I feel like Undisputed Kingdom wins again. We’ll probably get the Kingdom member who scores the fall challenging for the TNT Championship, so maybe like Kyle VS Garcia, but even that should be a one-off. If The Kingdom wants to be the “best trio” in AEW, that means they want the trios titles, and that means running afoul of The Death Riders, who already have Rated FTR after them. I suppose the easiest solution is just for Claudio, Yuta & Pac to defend against both teams in some kind of wild Trios match, but it’s hard to say if TK can sort out a mess like that.

There’s also the ROH World Six Man titles, but it doesn’t seem like The Von Erichs ever leave Texas. And All In: Texas is the big attraction for the Summer, so I can’t imagine “The Sons of Texas” losing in Texas… Well, that’s a problem to be solved later, we still got a good match from Dustin Rhodes tonight, but then that was about it. I was expecting someone from the ROH side to call him out for the tag titles, but nope. Gates of Agony had a very good promo to put a challenge of their own out there, and I suppose since they want the best possible, TK wasn’t going to short change them. Brody & Buddy having a match for Homecoming could help them introduce their new team name that is no longer House of Black related, given Malakai Black seems on his way out for real this time.

Speaking of, Julia had a very good match with Harley and got a very good win out of it. Julia still seems to be working the rust off but she can definitely find her way back to a title. If it’s Mercedes Mone still as TBS Champion, Julia isn’t winning. And even then, whoever beats Mone isn’t losing to Julia… Toni Storm had a good promo with Schiavone, especially the subtle way she stopped Schiavone from bringing up her past with Mariah. Whether this is a delusion or a deception, that will surely come to a head next week when Toni and Mariah meet face to face. I am really going to enjoy the moment Toni finally says, “How DARE you!” again.

Very good tag match of Murder Machines VS Top Flight, but of course Archer & Cage were going to win. They need their own momentum, for starters, and also they’re just massive. Depending on how the tag title match goes, I could see the Murder Machines going after Private Party, or even stepping to the Hurt Syndicate to make that the next phase of the Don Callis Family story. Ospreay had a good promo to bring up that feud, and I would think Ospreay’s chat with Omega next week is to make an alliance so that they can take on The Don Callis Family. Then as I said on Wednesday, we can get Ospreay & Omega VS Murder Machines first, then Ospreay & Omega VS Kyle & Konosuke after that.

Hangman VS Daniels was an awesome Texas Death Match, just a little bit short of the matches Hangman has had with Swerve. But even so, Daniels looked awesome, even with how he was bleeding and beat up. Hangman wins, of course, and he could go after just about anyone after this. And if this is Daniels’ sendoff as an in-ring competitor, what a way to go out, #ThankYouCD. Speaking of Swerve, he’s of course going to be hunting Ricochet, and the three weeks until Dynamite Atlanta will be some interesting ones. But I feel like they could’ve instead kayfabed that each week is meant to have Ricochet VS Swerve, Ricochet keeps ducking Swerve, and then TK takes an onscreen role to say enough is enough, Ricochet HAS to face Swerve in Atlanta, last warning.

Okada VS Ishii was a great match, and Okada sure hit all his usuals. Okada cheating to get the win is fitting of this Heel persona, but it’s hard to say where he’s going after this. Part of me wonders if Hobbs can step to him given how strong he’s getting to look lately. Good promo from Hobbs & Rated FTRunners, and I do commend Learning Tree for attacking after as a way of trying to win over The Death Riders. It didn’t work out, obviously, as Hobbs gets to look even stronger. Rated FTR and Death Riders brawling out of the building to take themselves out of the equation was smart, too, keeps them from being part of the math once Hobbs “heroically” goes out there and wins it for the Faces. Hobbs VS Okada would be an awesome match, and the promos oughta be fun, too.

My Score: 8.8/10