Will Daddy Magic earn a golden ticket?

Lee Moriarty is still ROH Pure Champion, but he’s looking for contenders! Will Matt Menard survive the Proving Ground? Or will he lose in ten minutes or less?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Adam Priest & Tommy Billington VS The Premier Athletes; Priest & Billington win.
• 2v1 Handicap: Satnam Singh VS Josiah Jean & Dante Leon; Singh win.
• Alec Price & Jordan Oliver VS CRU; CRU wins.
• Six Man Tag: Dalton Castle & The Outrunners VS Auzzy, Hitt & Gino Medina; Castle & The Outrunners win.
• ROH Pure Championship Proving Grounds: Lee Moriarty VS Matt Menard; Lee wins and denies Menard a title match.
• Billie Starkz & Diamante w/ Athena VS Londyn Dior & Rachael Ellering; Billie & Diamante win.
• “Big Bill” Morrissey & Bryan Keith VS KM & Will Allday; Bill & Keith win.
• Ace Austin VS Johnny TV w/ Taya Valkyrie; Ace wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Adam Priest & Tommy Billington VS The Premier Athletes!

After being betrayed by Jay Lethal, then cheated by Lethal & The Swirl, #AllGenresAdam and The Dynamite Kid could use a rebound, but they’re up against Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari, who are of course accompanied by Stori Denali & “Smart” Mark Sterling. And of course the latter has to interrupt Bobby Cruise to do the introductions. “Everybody knows we are The Premier Athletes: Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari, and folks, 128 days ago, my bicep was ripped from the bone. And I have not been attacked in that time once, thanks to my protector, the Big SD, Stori Denali!

“And you have to think, if the Dallas Cowboys had even one athlete the caliber of my team, maybe, maybe they would’ve made the Playoffs instead of watching from the sidelines like you NARP losers.” The fans boo, but Sterling says it’s okay. Tonight, he will let them all be part of a winning team. So when he says, “Athletes,” you all say, “Rule!” NOTHING ELSE! Hands in, everyone. Ohh… ATHLETES! “SUCK!” GOTTEE! And finally, Billington & Priest make their entrance. Will they humble Nese & Daivari? Or will it be another team of big egos stepping all over them?

The teams sort out, Priest starts with Daivari, and Priest offers the Code of Honor. Daivari doesn’t want to, but Priest pushes him! Sterling protests, Daivari slaps the hand, and that’s good enough. The bell rings as the two circle, and the two tie up. Priest headlocks, wrenches, but Daivari rolls to wrench back. Priest rolls but Daivari wrangles him with a wristlock. Priest stands up but Daivari shifts to a hammerlock. Priest fires elbows, then trips Daivari. Daivari kicks Priest away, things speed up, and Daivari hurdles, only for Priest to RUN him over! Priest wrenches Daivari, but Daivari powers him to the Premier corner.

Nese tags in and the Premier Athletes mug Priest! The ref counts, the fans boo, but the Athletes back off. They shout, “ATHLETES!” The fans shout, “SUCK!” Nese brings Priest around, but Priest fires body shots and CHOPS! Nese headlocks, Priest powers up and Billington tags in as he powers out. Priest drop toeholds Nese, Billington runs and ELBOW DROPS! The fans cheer while Billington wrenches and YANKS the arm. Tag to Priest and he goes up, AX HANDLE on Nese’s arm! The fans cheer while Priest wrenches Nese and tags Billington back in. Billington goes up, he AX HANDLES Nese’s arm, and the fans cheer again.

Billington wrenches, he tags Priest back in, and Priest goes up again, AX HANDLE! Priest taunts Daivari, then he drags Nese up to tag Billington. Billington CLUBS the arm, whips, but Nese reverses. Billingston reverses back to HIP TOSS! Nese UP KICKS, then headlocks for the takeover! Billingston fights up, powers up, and turns things into a roll-up! TWO, Billingston headlocks, but Nese powers up and out. Nese drops down, Billington RUNS Nese over, RUNS him over again, but Nese trips him up! CHOP BLOCK! The fans boo but Nese drags Billingston out to shout, “Athletes!” “SUCK!” Fans are still not going for it.

But Billington RAMS Nese into the barriers! The fans fire up but here comes Daivari! Billington DECKS Daivari, but Nese THROWS him into the apron! Priest storms over that way but Nese points him out. The ref has Priest stay back, but then Nese distracts them all, letting Daivari and even Sterling stomp away on Billington! Daivari puts Billington in for Nese to ROCK him. Nese CLUBS Billington in the corner again and again, but the fans chant, “ATHLETES SUCKS! ATHLETES SUCK!” Billington throws body shots but Nese whips him. Billington slips through the scoop to scoop Nese! But the bad arm bothers him and he has to let Nese down.

Nese storms up on Billington to WRING that arm out! Cover, TWO! Nese is annoyed but he drags Billington up again. “Athletes!” “SUCK!” Nese CLUBS Billington’s arm, wraps it around the ropes, and he pulls on it! The ref counts, Nese steps outside, and he uses the ropes in the BEARHUG! The ref reprimands, Nese stops, and Nese steps back in. HOTSHOT BULLDOG! The fans boo but Nese jumps back in, PREMIER TRIANGLE FLOPS as Billington moves! Nese hurries to hot tag Daivari! ELBOW DROP on Billington’s back! Daivari whips Billington, Billington ducks ‘n’ dodges, and DOUBLE LARIATS collide!

Both men are down and the fans fire up! Billington and Daivari crawl, Daivari tries to anchor Billington but Billington shakes loose. Hot tag to Priest! Priest LARIATS Daivari again and again, then whips corner to corner. Priest runs up to CHOP, then he whips Daivari corner to corner again. Priest blocks a boot to spin Daivari for a GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up as Priest goes up, but Nese jumps up to get him! Priest SHOVES Nese down, then TORNADO DDTS! The fans fire up and Priest has Daivari, only for Daivari to cradle! TWO, Daivari dodges a lariat, but not the BODY CHECK! And the HALF CRAB!

Nese is in, but Billington snatches him! CROSSFACE! The fans fire up, but Sterling gets on the apron! Billington chases him off, but Nese THROAT CHOPS Billington! And he STOMPS Priest! The fans boo but the Premier Athletes stand Priest up. Daivari runs, but Priest slips free, the SHOULDER TACKLE hits Nese! The fans fire up again, and Priest fires body shots and haymakers on Daivari! UPPERCUT and Daivari falls! Priest helps Billington to his feet, they get Daivari up, and Billington runs, but Nese DUMPS him out! The fans boo, but Daivari has Priest hooked up! LION’S LARIAT! Tag to Nese!

Nese gets Priest up, he and Daivari work together, ELEVATED DDT! Cover, TWO!! Priest survives and the fans fire up! They also rub that in Sterling’s face! Nese fireman’s carries, but Priest slips free and SHOVES him into Daivari! Then Priest snatches Nese’s leg to DRAGON SCREW it! Then he turns Nese over, HALF CRAB! Sterling gets on the apron, but Billington YANKS him down! The ref reprimands, but STORI gets in! SIX STORI CHOKE SLAM!! Nese covers, but Billington DIVING HEADBUTTS! Even Stori is shocked! Daivari fires off on Billington, then whips, but Billington reverses to TOSS him out!

Billington them DIVES to wipe Daivari out at the ramp! Nese hurries to get Priest, but Priest snatches him to a cradle, TWO! Nese is up, Priest kicks and whips, but Nese reverses to slide under! Pump handle, and- NO, Priest slips free, O’Conner Roll! PRIEST & BILLINGTON WIN!

Winners: Adam Priest & Tommy Billington, by pinfall

But then THE LETHAL SWIRL attacks! The fans boo as Lethal, Johnson, Christian, and even the Premier Athletes all mug Priest & Billington 5v2! The fans boo, but Big Shotty and The Franchise put them in FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCKS! The fans boo, but Lethal & Johnson let them go. The Premier Athletes let The Lethal Swirl handle this, and even Vanilla Baby gets to put on a FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK! Lethal, Johnson & Christian stand tall, and Blake Christian signals he’ll have a belt soon enough. Will Bandido have to finally give Vanilla Baby what he wants? Or will he give Blake Christian what he deserves?

Alec Price & Jordan Oliver VS CRU!

“Bustah & The Brain” gave FTR a run for their money in their Dynamite debut, but they’ve got a bright future ahead of them. Meanwhile, The Man of the Hour & The Sight to See want to prove they’re the now, calling out The Rascalz before The Rascalz have even really landed in AEW. Which tag team proves they’re the ones to watch in the New Year?

The Code of Honor is upheld and the teams sort out. Oliver and Andretti start and the bell rings. The fans rally as the two circle, and the two tie up. Oliver waistlocks, Action switches, but Oliver backs him up to the ropes. Oliver drop toeholds, but Action stays up! Action wags his finger, but Oliver rolls the other way! Action rebounds off ropes and Oliver drop toeholds after all! Oliver says he’s smart, and he floats to a headlock. Action fights up, Oliver wrenches, and he tags Price. Price CLUBS the arm, wrenches and ELBOW BREAKERS, then wristlocks. Action spins, bridges, and handsprings to wrench and whip. Price reverses, Action goes up and over and handsprings away.

Price runs up but Action DROPKICKS him down! The fans fire up as both men hurry up. Action arm-drags Price down for the armlock and the fans applaud. Price fights up, but Action wrenches and tags in Lio. Lio wrenches Price to wristlock, but Price uses the ropes to flip through! Price wrenches, whips, arm-drags, but Lio handsprings through! Lio drops down on the dropdown to gator roll Price! Lio drags Price up, but Price wrenches free to wristlock and whip again. Lio reverses, Price tags Oliver, then Price whips Lio! Lio dodges Oliver, avoids Price, tag to Action! Lio runs up on Oliver but Oliver ducks the lariat!

Action dodges Oliver, Price dodges Action, and the teams stand off. The fans cheer that, and both teams agree to a truce. They back away, but Price & Oliver sneak attack! The fans are torn but the ref reprimands. Oliver says use your brain. Oliver stands Action up to CHOP him! Action CHOPS in return, so Oliver CHOPS again! Tag to Price, they double whip and DOUBLE ELBOW! Then high-ten, DOUBLE LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Action survives and the fans rally up as Price brings Action up. Price suplexes, Action slips free, and he BOOTS Price! Action ELBOWS Oliver, runs up on Price, but Price gets around, only for Lio to sneak the tag!

Price O’Conner Rolls Action, but Lio is on him for a whip! Price reverses but Lio steps up to whip again. Action mule kicks, knee lifts, and ROLLING ELBOWS Price, and Lio fires off fast hands! Action mule kicks again, Lio joins in, but Oliver saves Price! Oliver blocks a kick, hands it to Price, but Action SUPERKICKS Price! Oliver SUPERKICKS Lio! Action BOOTS Oliver! Price dodges Action, scarecrow and COMEBACKER! Price runs up on Lio, Lio puts him on the apron, but Oliver runs up! Lio puts him on the apron, too, and CRU DOUBLE HANDSPRING KICK! Then they DOUBLE DIVE! Down go Bustah & The Brain and the fans fire up!

CRU gets Price up, puts him in the ring, then they stand Oliver up. But Price FLIES and down goes CRU! The fans fire up as Price puts Lio in and Oliver hurries up. Oliver runs corner to corner, DOUBLE KNEES! Tag to Price and Oliver puts Lio up top! Price jumps up, and we get a CRUCIFIX BULLDOG! Cover, ACTION TACKLES OLIVER ONTO IT! The fans fire up while all four men are down! Action rises first, he TOSSES Oliver to the apron, but Oliver traps Action! Price runs up, but Action ducks! Price BLASTS Oliver, Lio rolls Price, and kip to SPIN KICK! The fans fire up with CRU as they have Price isolated.

Price staggers up, Action & Lio run, redirect, and again, but Price dodges Lio! Action LARIATS Price! The fans fire up again as CRU hoist Price up for a DOUBLE FALCON ARROW! Cover, CRU wins!

Winners: CRU, by pinfall

Another strong showing for Price & Oliver, but this was just the win Lio & Action needed to keep climbing. Best of all, they all keep the Code of Honor. Will Oliver & Price have to really buckle up for their Collision with Mark Davis & Doyle this Saturday? Will CRU show The Rascalz how to light it up?

BREAKING NEWS!

Given the winter storm hitting Central Texas, not only has this Saturday’s Collision been changed from Arlington to Orlando, ROH must sadly postpone their Global Wars special with MPX, with more details to come.

Deonna Purrazzo speaks.

“Tagging alongside Madison Rayne and standing with her in her final match ever has meant more to me than I could ever put into words. But at the end of the night, she was right: I still have work to do. It’s time to wipe the tears, it’s time to start creating my legacy as the first-ever reigning and defending ROH Women’s Pure Champion. So let me officially issue an open challenge to anyone, anywhere, because I am a fighting champion by design. And in ROH, excellence is required. But becoming fluent in Purrazzo, well, that’s inevitable.” Who will put themselves to the test when they step up to The Virtuosa?

ROH Pure Championship Proving Grounds: Lee Moriarty VS Matt Menard!

#TAIGASTYLE is also looking for competition, and Daddy Magic has stepped up to the plate! Will Menard earn himself a golden ticket here in Arlington? Or will Moriarty solve the puzzle in ten minutes or less?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and we’re on the clock. The fans cheer and duel as the two circle. They tie up, Lee waistlocks to SLAM Menard, then floats to a facelock and gator roll. Cover, ONE, but Lee claps at Menard. The fans are torn but Menard shrugs that off. The two reset, circle, and Menard says Lee’s a funny guy. They tie up, Menard waistlocks but Lee wrenches to ELBOW BREAKER! Lee clamps on an armlock and he dares Menard to go for ropes. Menard instead powers up to THROW Lee out! Menard then storms out after Lee but Lee slides in. Now Lee dares Menard to get back in.

Menard asks if Lee thinks this is a joke. Menard storms in, but he avoids the leg pick. The two reset, tie up, and Menard headlocks. Lee powers up but he can’t power out as Menard holds on tight. Lee tries again, he powers out this time, but Menard RUNS him over! The fans fire up, things speed up, and Menard hits a headlock takeover! The fans cheer while Lee endures and fights around. Lee rises up as we’re two minutes in already. Lee wrenches out, trips Menard, then floats to a cover, ONE! ARMBAR! Menard clasps hands and fights around! Lee has the top wristlock but Menard has the ROPEBREAK!

Lee lets go, that is Menard’s first of three. Lee kicks Menard and rubs in that he’s already used one. Menard is annoyed, but he storms up on Lee to shove him. Lee smirks, then SOBATS! And BOOTS! Menard staggers but Lee UPPERCUTS him to the ropes! Menard sputters, Lee whips, and he catches Menard to a COBRA TWIST! Menard endures, the fans rally, and Menard powers up to power free. But Lee slips around to have the COBRA TWIST again! Lee even adds an extra wristlock to hold Menard back. Menard endures, fights around, and he pushes Lee around to have the ROPEBREAK! That is the second of three!

Lee shoves Menard around as we approach four minutes in. Menard DECKS Lee, but that is his one warning for a closed fist! Menard forgot about that rule, but Lee BOOTS him outta the ring! The fans rally while Menard sputters. Lee lets the ring count climb while Menard rises up. Menard stands at 7 of 20, he rolls in, but Lee stomps Menard down. And jumps stomps again and again! The ref counts, Lee stops, and we’ve reached the five minute mark! Menard blocks Lee’s suplex, but Lee wrenches to CLUB the arm! Lee whips Menard, Menard reverses, but Lee goes Spider-Man in the ropes! Lee springboards, but Menard dodges!

Menard runs up and he LARIATS Lee down! The fans cheers while the clock is ticking. Menard and Lee stir while the fans duel again. Menard drags himself up, he and Lee bump into each other, and Lee ROCKS Menard again! And again! Menard wobbles but Lee clinches. Lee ROCKS Menard, Menard drops, and we have four minutes left! Lee ROCKS Menard, eggs him on and tells him to earn this opportunity! Menard CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Menard fires forearms, then whips Lee to a corner for an ELBOW! The fans fire up with Menard, he puts Lee in a corner, and Menard climbs up! The ref reminds Menard, he can’t use a closed fist!

Menard understands, and he rains down ELBOWS! The fans count along, Menard goes to TEN, then he RUSSIAN LEG SWEEPS! Cover, TWO! We are under three minutes as Menard has Lee’s legs! Lee fights the turnover, pries free, and he TWEAKS Menard’s arm! Lee whips, Menard rolls him up, and roll through to a trip! Menard turns Lee over! BOSTON CRAB! Lee endures and reaches out! The fans rally, Lee grits his teeth, and he powers up to have the ROPEBREAK! That is just Lee’s first, but we’re at the two minute warning! Menard hauls Lee up, reels him in, but Lee fights the lift! Lee rolls Menard, TWO!

Lee floats to the BORDER CITY STRETCH!! Menard TAPS, Lee wins!

Winner: Lee Moriarty, by submission (denies Matthew Menard a title opportunity)

Menard had one ropebreak left and a minute and 42 left on the clock, but it didn’t matter against the longest reigning ROH Pure Champion ever! But just as Lee is showing Menard respect, The Infantry attacks! Shane Taylor joins in, and the fans boo as STP bullies Menard! But wait! SkyFlight rushes in! Scorpio, Darius, Dante, and even Zayda Steel chase STP off! Will STP learn that they don’t run ROH? Or will they show SkyFlight how to rumble, bad man, rumble?

Billie Starkz & Diamante w/ Athena VS Londyn Dior & Rachael Ellering!

Minion 400,237 and The Cuban Diamond can take pride in the fact they beat Madison Rayne in her last match ever. But they still want to make the Fallen Goddess proud by earning golden opportunities both here and in AEW. Could those AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships be in their future? Or will Luxurious Londyn & The Queen of Strong Smile send them on quite the detour?

The teams sort out and Diamante starts against Rachael. They keep the Code of Honor, if just barely, and the bell rings. The two tie up, Diamante waistlocks to roll Rachael, TWO! Rachael RUNS Diamante over and the fans fire up. Rachael wrenches and WRINGS Diamante, then basement DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Rachael keeps close on Diamante, fireman’s carries, but Diamante fights around to sunset flip! TWO, Raachael sits on it, ONE! Diamante has it, ONE! They teeter totter, then Diamante has it, TWO! Diamante KNEES low, headlocks, and fires punches! Tag to Billie and they mug Rachael.

Billie headlocks, talks trash, and grinds the hold. Rachael steps on Billie’s foot and elbows free. Rachael wrenches, wristlocks, and puts on the pressure. But Billie stomps Rachael’s foot! Billie whips, Rachael ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Billie blows past her! Billie dosidos with Rachael, Diamante tags in, and Billie SWEEPS the leg! Diamante hops on for crossface forearms, then she holds Rachael up for the basement DROPKICK! Billie soaks up the heat while Diamante scuffs Rachael. Diamante taunts Rachael, but Rachael CHOPS! CHOPS! And CHOPS! Diamante falls back, but Rachael brings her up, only for Diamante to KNEE low!

Diamante CLUBS Rachael, bumps her off Billie’s boot, then she tags Billie in. The fans rally but Billie sends Diamante in for the UPPERCUT! Billie LARIATS, then she sits Rachael down, for Diamante to basement DROPKICK! The fans are torn while Billie covers, TWO! Billie argues with the ref about the count but the count was fair. Billie then argues with Dior before she stands Rachael up. Rachael fires body shots, but Billie CRAVAT SMASHES! Billie taunts the fans, whips Rachael, but Rachael blocks! Billie tries again but Rachael still blocks. Billie ROCKS Rachael, tags Diamante, and they double whip.

Rachael breaks the double lariats, and then again, to then DOUBLE LARIAT in return! The fans fire up as Rachael crawls, hot tag to Dior! The fans fire up as Dior dodges Billie to fire off boxing elbows, and a BACKHAND! Dior even DECKS Diamante! Then she dodges Billie, runs up, and blocks boot! But not the FLYING CHUCK! Billie goes up, Diamante tags in, but Dior trips Billie up! Diamante KNEES Dior, then SPINEBUSTERS! Diamante tells Billie to go up so Billie obliges. SWANTON BOMB! Then Billie DIVES onto Rachael! Diamante grabs a leg, INSIDE ANKLE LOCK! Dior TAPS, Diamante & Billie win!

Winners: Billie Starkz & Diamante, by submission

The Cuban Diamond just proved she’s a ring general, but is that her way of saying she wants Deonna’s ROH Women’s Pure Championship?

Ace Austin VS Johnny TV w/ Taya Valkyrie!

Bang Bang Gang is taking some hits with Juice Robinson back on the shelf, but the newest team member looks to build momentum in his stead. Will an ROH title opportunity be inevitable for Austin? Or will Johnny show him he’s not #TVReady?

The Code of Honor is upheld and the fans are dueling already. The bell rings, and the fans agree to cheer “Both These Guys! Both These Guys!” Ace steps up, but Johnny swats the grapple to DECK Ace! And KICK him, too! Johnny brings Ace up, fires body shots, and he brings Ace around to scoop. Ace slips free, waistlocks, but Johnny switches. They go to ropes, Ace bucks the O’Conner and then rolls back to wheelbarrow and arm-drag! Then DROPKICK! Johnny tumbles out, the fans fire up, and Taya checks on Johnny. Ace eggs Johnny on, Taya tells him to wait! Ace goes out but Taya stands in the way.

The fans are torn, Ace pushes past Taya, but Johnny kicks low! MOONLIGHT DRIVE on the floor! The ref counts, Johnny rolls in and distracts him, and that lets Taya stomp away on Ace! The fans boo but Taya sneaks away unseen. Johnny goes back out to kiss his wife, and the fans are torn on the PSA. Johnny drags Ace up, puts him in, and swaggers as he steps back in. The fans rally, Johnny eggs Ace on, but Ace trips Johnny to a jackknife bridge! TWO as they bridge up, and Johnny spins Ace, then trips him into a REAR NAKED CHOKE! The fans rally and duel as Ace endures. Johnny shifts to a COBRA CLUTCH, then a STRAITJACKET STRETCH!

Ace endures, even as Johnny pulls him back. Ace fights up, powers Johnny to a corner, then throws elbows! Johnny lets go, Ace arm-drags him away, but Johnny comes back! Ace dodges and Johnny hits buckles! Ace KNEES low, KNEES high, then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEPS! “Click click!” BOOM DROP! The fans fire up while Johnny goes to a corner. Ace runs up and A-LIST LARIATS! Then he fires off LARIAT again and again! The fans count all the way to TEN! Ace shoves Johnny away, then steps in, FLYING CHUCK! The fans fire up, Ace gut wrenches, DOCTOR BOMB! Cover, TWO! Johnny survives and Taya is able to breathe again.

Johnny stirs, Ace aims, but Taya slithers over. Taya trips Ace up, and Johnny CLOBBERS him! Johnny fireman’s carries, SAMOAN POP! Then Johnny goes to the corner, STARSHIP- NO, Ace rolls him up! TWO, and Ace goes to the corner. Johnny runs in, but Ace goes sideways! Johnny hits buckles, Ace FLYING- NO, Johnny ducks it to show Ace the OG FLYING CHUCK! And then the SHINING WIZARD! And now, STARSHIP PAIN FLOPS as Ace moves! The fans fire up, Taya pounds the apron, and the fans rally again. Johnny and Ace rise up, and Ace ROCKS Johnny! Johnny ROCKS Ace! Ace kicks low, but Johnny kicks in return!

Ace BODY BLOWS, then fires forearms! Johnny KICKS again, but Ace blocks a shot to KICK, mule kick, and ROCK Johnny again! Johnny staggers, Ace CHOPS, and Ace whips. Johnny reverses, Ace grabs ropes, but Johnny blocks the boot! Johnny FLIPS Ace to the apron, but Ace RAMS Johnny! Johnny distracts the ref, Taya creeps up, but Ace warns her. Johnny GAMANGIRIS! Johnny drags Ace up the corner and the fans rally. Johnny fireman’s carries, but Ace fights free! The fans cheer as Ace hops down and ENZIGIRIS! Johnny wobbles, Ace gets space, and Ace runs to SLINGSHOT STEINER! The fans fire up but Taya panics! THE FOLD!! Cover, Ace wins!

Winner: Ace Austin, by pinfall

Ace was more than #TVReady, and now Ace is high! But will Bang Bang Gang still be able to hit the jackpot in 2026?

My Thoughts:

A very good ROH clocking in at 72 minutes, and with some good story development here and there. We still had filler squash matches, of course, but it was still great to see Dalton Castle throw a VERY big “Hitt,” and to see the equally gigantic Big Bill and KM squaring off. A little surprised Ace VS Johnny was the main event, it went pretty quick, and it was kinda clear Ace would win out. I would’ve made the Pure Rules Proving Ground the main event. Yes, it was only going to be ten minutes at most, but given the closing moments where STP mugs Menard and SkyFlight making the save, it made for a good story beat to end on. Lee continues to differ from STP in that he wants to show respect but they just wanna beat everyone up, and that could make for quite the story down the line.

Good stuff in Billington & Priest VS Premier Athletes, and clearly they’re not done feuding with #LethalSwirl. As I’ve said, Bandido needs to get in there and join Billington & Priest on a Six Man Tag to finally give us Bandido VS Blake Christian for the world title. I probably didn’t need to keep CRU VS Price & Oliver, but both teams are really good and very innovative, so that was just a good match to watch. Billie & Diamante also got a good match from Rachael & Dior and a good win, and with Deonna putting out the open challenge, it might be Deonna VS Diamante before we get Deonna VS Billie, or even Deonna VS Athena.

My Score: 8.6/10