The pre-sale for the AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view kicks off this morning at 10AM ET on Ticketmaster.com using the code AEWFD24.
The show will be taking place from the UBS Arena at Belmont Park in Long Island, New York, after it was originally marked for Arthur Ashe Stadium in nearby Queens.
This is the third Forbidden Door pay-per-view collaboration between AEW and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, with the first one held at the United Center in Chicago and last year at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, April 25 at 10AM ET.
Top Flight & Action Andretti vs Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe
Backstory: NONE
Briscoe and Andretti to start. Andretti got in a Karate Kid stance and I’m already done. You’re losers, you’re not serious, go away.
He kipped up to grab a headlock, Briscoe rolled through a sunset flip attempt, basement lariat into a headlock. Andretti landed on his feet out of a hiptoss then landed a tejeiras and a dropkick. Springboard tornijo, Briscoe out at barely one.
Turnaround forearm off the buckle from Briscoe, stiff chop, Andretti to the vets’ corner, Copeland in, double shoulder charge, Andretti down. Vets very popular here. Crowd must feel they’ve hit the jackpot with this lineup too compared to your average Saturday.
Andretti began throwing crisp kicks, weak chops and strikes, handspring back elbow, trying to tag, Darius in, right after Copeland’s shoulder, backslide for two, dropkick, tag to Dante, crowd chanting for ‘Adam’ as Top Flight got into their double team game. So were booed.
Dante missed then dodged a corner charge but was hauled out of the corner via running powerslam. Kingston in, headbutts to the corner, stiff chop knocking the youngster to his knees, he came back via springboard senton but was just walloped down via lariat.
Loud ‘Eddie’ chants, break.
Dante struggling to his feet, ducking a lariat, step-up tejeiras, leaping knee, Darius in, Briscoe too, Darius shots and lariats for the opposition, tornado ddt on Copeland into a double ddt on he and Briscoe. For two.
Andretti and Dante took out the others via dive.
Briscoe fought the youngsters off with exploders, Kingston back in to take a Dante tornado ddt off his brother’s chest, Andretti running shooting star, Copeland saving the pin. Nice sequence.
All six struggling to their feet, racing at each other, all six lariats, all six down. Crowd loving this. Andretti and Kingston up first, the vet yelling at Andretti to bring it, shaking off his shots until an enziguri landed. Dante landed a thrust kick, seemed to hurt his left leg landing after a moonsault, taken out by impaler, Briscoe Jay Driller on Darius.
Action ran at a ducking Briscoe, right into an Uriken, right into a Spear, Briscoe to the top, Froggy Bow, Kingston got the pin.
Fantastically fun, fast-paced tag from start to finish. Helped by a crowd who loved the vets here. The vets held up the youngsters’ arms. Before the inevitable dulling of the lights. Spooky promo from the House. Malakai addressed ‘Adam’ personally. They’ll take them to hell or something. But ‘hell is where the heart is.’ Whatever that means. Copeland went all serious; Kingston’s dismissive, quizzical smirk more apropos.
Collision feels like a show they should be using to build up young acts like the losers here. Obviously that changes a bit the day before a ppv.
Winner: Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe
Recap of the Joe/Swerve feud. Particularly the show-closing angle Wednesday. Good job making it seem dramatic. This was very good.
Will Hobbs vs ???
Backstory: NONE
‘Nice, they’re actually featuring all of the Callis Fam,’ I thought as Hobbs was coming out. Then remembered he’s facing Mox Weds and it’s the standard, feature a guy once against a nobody before he loses to a somebody.
Will won quickly with the Torture Rack. Playing into the whole I break backs thing.
Callis left the announce booth and grabbed a mic. Heavy boos as norm. He won’t be at ringside for the bunkhouse match out of concerns for his personal safety. He said he was responsible for Omega winning the IWGP title in 2017 and Jericho/Omega in 2018.
New Japan considered that a favor, so he’s cashed that in (Please no, not another pointless title match) and Hobbs match with Mox is for the title. Yaaay, 99% certainty just became 100.
Total waste of time. Tonight and Wednesday. This formula doesn’t work Tony. If it did, you wouldn’t be showing Brawl In footage.
Winner: Will Hobbs
Ospreay/Danielson promo. Really ramming home Danielson being the underdog. All of the quotes here from Ospreay, since Danielson hasn’t really said anything of note during the feud.
*****
Recap of Hook/Jericho from Weds.
Jericho promo from backstage. Booed from the start, he nonetheless went back to his early days in WCW, playing the OTT Sorry I lost my temper babyface. He said Hook was justified in what he did after Jericho’d put his hands on Taz.
And they at least back-splained that Jericho asked Tony Khan for the FTW Title to be on the line. Though it’s ‘tell’ rather than ‘show.’ He said he’s going to teach Hook lessons and they’ll hurt him more than they hurt Hook.
Boos were pretty drab here.
The Gunns vs the Acclaimed
Backstory: The Acclaimed challenged the Gunns Weds ahead of their unification match tomorrow
Though better than the non-response for BCG as they made their entrance. Damage done. Acclaimed weren’t all that much hotter. Caster cut a lame rap about incest among other things.
Schiavone got on a mic to say Tony Khan threatened to remove them from the ppv if BCG tried to leave. This was not smoothly done.
Acclaimed quickly hit scissor me timbers to Austin, Colten missed a corner splash. But of course got back on offense because the break was coming.
Ads.
Caster kept being cut off from the tag till finally getting it, Bowens’ comebacks always good, really should do more with this guy, over the shoulder fameasser which Billy called from ringside. For two.
Schiavone pointed out that ‘Jay White wants nothing to do with the legend himself Billy Gunn.’ Lesson not learned. And the word legend just lost like half its value.
Colten nearly got a pin with his feet on the ropes after causing Bowens to knock Caster outside. Austin just saved the pin, this crowd could not care less about these guys. The contrast with the opener is striking.
Colten got two with a fameasser. There’s just constant silliness and interference here. Austin got another two count. They were going to hit their finish but Bowens backed up, Caster tagged in, Colten raked the eyes but it didn’t matter since he just waited till Caster got up. Caster was crotched by Austin, Bowens smashed him into the ring and took out the Gunns with superkicks.
Briefly anyway, they hit him with 3:10 to Yuma, Caster came down via mic drop for two. This is a mess. Barely any tags, constant stupidity. As I was writing that, Jay White gave Colten leverage to bag the pin.
This stuff was Jarrett-esque.
Winner: The Gunns
Lexy with Danielson. She mentioned that Takeshita took him out with a brainbuster last week (which they still haven’t shown). Danielson said he ‘feel(s) alive.’ He wonders if Callis doesn’t have the faith in Ospreay that he says he does since he keeps trying to take Danielson out.
And tonight he’ll get revenge against Takeshita then test himself tomorrow against Ospreay.
Far too late in the day, Ospreay barged in to say he had nothing to do with Dynamite or last week’s Collision. *Shakes head*.
He wants Danielson at 100%, he had nothing to do with any of this stuff. Danielson smiled wryly then said, ‘Sure.’ And left. As Will continued protesting and wasn’t happy.
*****
They showed Rosa beating down then lipsticking Storm Wednesday.
Then cut to a Toni promo. She wanted it in full color to show what Rosa did. Problem is, the lipstick was now red. And there was more of it. Fairly certain it was purple Wednesday.
Storm said there’s nothing worse than a wrestler who says they’re not selfish. This business is selfish. If Rosa wanted to uplift women she should’ve remained a social worker. Rosa might be a fighter but she’s a star.
And Toni’s made the belt a star. She said a bunch of serious stuff then a bunch of sexual stuff about her bottom and hell being in her bedroom.
Edged toward good, stayed the wrong side of whacky.
Backstory: Takeshita laid Danielson out last Saturday with a brainbuster on the ramp
Sure would be nice if the Fam got a win for once. They attacked during the BCC’s entrance. All four dressed for a fight. They brawled into the crowd. Claudio ran down the steps into Fletcher as Danielson held him.
Danielson went retro to choke Fletcher with a chain. ‘Didn’t work out very well the last time he did that,’ observed Nigel (it got him fired from WWE). Claudio and Takeshita finally made it to the ring. The other two still brawling outside.
Takeshita bit Claudio but ran into a swing. Danielson returning to end with a dropkick. But was cut off on a dive by Fletcher flinging a chair at him. Claudio had Takeshita in the sharpshooter but was really dumb so just watched as Fletcher prepared then threw powder at him.
Impressive last ride for two. Fletcher has him some strength.
Ads. Danielson’s bleeding.
Back to him slipping out of a brainbuster on the ramp to land a ddt instead. Claudio obliterated Fletcher with something (it went flying so couldn’t see) then ran him headfirst into a chair. Then did the same into the steps.
Danielson was then striking Takeshita right by the camera and you could hear the thump of each blow. Claudio flung him back in then propped him across the top rope. Danielson off the top via leaping knee, Takeshita on his knees for yes kicks. Even the roundhouse at the end landed for once.
Busaiku coming, leading a yes chant, Fletcher grabbed his boot, Claudio took a German from Take, the heels hit synchronized brainbusters, both babyfaces out at two. Fletcher pulled out a chain from under the ring – that weapon’s vastly overused.
Danielson fought free to block a blow from it, heels taken into stereo H&A down into the LeBell. Hobbs out to spinebuster both. Facials were great as he heard the first strains of Wild Thing. These fans seriously hit the damn jackpot tonight.
He and Mox brawled around ringside then into the crowd and disappeared.
Danielson down, heels up, Claudio nowhere. They readied a top rope powerbomb onto a propped chair; Danielson rana’d Takeshita onto it instead. Claudio returned with his arm wrapped in a chain and waylaid the heels.
All leaving Fletcher to take a busaiku knee then LeBell with the chain in what was the most predictable individual winner and loser.
Fun enough. Not my style of match.
An angry Danielson then got on the mic to complain that people had complained about him having a bunkhouse match the night before he wrestles Ospreay. ‘It’s because of this!’ Some people think of heaven as gold or forty virgins. When Danielson dies he’ll be bleeding in the ring before a bunch of people.
‘Tomorrow at Dynasty, Will Ospreay, (right into the camera) I’m gonna beat your ass!’
Cannot believe they saved all this until the night before the ppv on a show half the audience watches. This is what was needed Wednesday – teasing that Danielson didn’t trust Ospreay, a fired-up promo…
Winner: Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli
Recap of Willow, Julia, Mercedes from Weds. Willow and Statlander with Stokely. Statlander played around with the letters ‘F U’ in corny fashion. Till Stokely said they meant something else where he’s from.
So offered the letters to the House and Julia.
Willow asked if a confident champion needs to use a chain just days before a title match. So Sunday Willow’s going to raise her high and ‘slam you! Powerbomb you through that mat.’
‘Tomorrow at Dynasty, I’m walkin’ out TBS Champion ya bitch!’
Now that’s how you use that word! After the nicest, most babyface babyface in the world takes a cheapshot and finally has enough. Less is more yo.
Stokely and Statlander both acted shocked she’d said it. Based on her character, it was a big deal. Very nice.
Skye Blue vs Leyla Hirsch
Backstory: NONE
Don’t think I’ve seen Leyla since covid. Not great just throwing her out in a cold match.
Blue attacked at the bell until being swept into ground and pound. Don’t want to be a dick (always a good start I know) but Skye runs the ropes and it just feels like you’re watching your friends practice moves on a trampoline.
Anyway, the ensuing Code Blue was countered. Very nice pump kick from Leyla, Blue bailed outside. And hit a swinging neckbreaker off the apron. Dude, why would you take that move!? Brutal.
Skye’s ‘almost unstoppable’ since aligning with Julia, per Nigel. Crowd silent. Tony pushed a Britt Baker action figure.
Leyla landed a few strikes but one from Skye took her down. Handspring elbow strike which Leyla immediately shook off. Wheelbarrow German. Seemed like a miscommunication since Leyla waited in a stance for Blue to get up but eventually had to just walk over to her.
Skye put her upstairs, thrust kick, Leyla blocked a superplex to hit a flipping German, looked dangerous as hell, neither looked comfortable with it, Blue’s head really snapped against the mat. Leyla then legit tripped up top and took a nasty spill. Skye got a dragon sleeper for the tap.
No business being on tv. Was worried either would legit get hurt several times. AEW need some sort of feeder system.
Winner: Skye Blue
The Elite vs Pac & FTR
Backstory: The Bucks are facing FTR tomorrow; likewise Pac and Okada
Did not expect this to get the usual Collision thirty mins. Even all of his Okada bucks couldn’t have bought a boo.
He and Pac to start. Loud chants for Okada. As happened Wednesday, he turned Pac’s back to the Bucks and they tried to attack from behind. Unlike Wednesday, Pac was ready so took them out then introduced Okada to the buckle.
Shots to the gut and face, Cash in, more stomps to the gut. European uppercut rocking Okada as Pac quickly back in. Bucks making the save by dragging Okada outside, to boos. Faces following with trio baseball slides, splitting off and brawling around ringside.
Until Pac flung Okada back in, tag to Dax, stinging chop, uppercut, Okada had enough and walked toward Dax, exchange of rights until the Japanese laid Dax out with an uppercut. Matt in right into a hip toss, Cash more uppercuts, Jackson stuck until raking Pac’s eyes and tagging Okada back in.
Quick tags from the faces as Pac came in off the top via stomp to the shoulder, Brutalizer coming, the Bucks raced in to break it. Nick in, the heels tried trio baseball slides, the faces moved and they brawled again around ringside, faces on top into the break.
Ads.
Cash in trouble after his balls were taken on a date with the ringpost. Boos for the heels turning into Punk chants which were themselves booed. Sigh.
Fist drop from Matt, into a sleeper on the mat, Cash fighting up seeking a tag, belly to back freeing him, Nick in to cut off the tag and whip Cash back to the Elite corner. Okada in via senton, exchange of words with Pac before Matt came back in. And raked the eyes but missed a cross body, Pac in, Nick too, Pac accelerating into a running elbow strike, surgical kicks into a running boot, brainbuster, two.
Dude’s so good.
Both FTR down, Pac fighting off the Elite: rebound German for Okada, twisting dive for the Bucks, off the top for a Dax-assisted spike piledriver. For two. Black Arrow coming, Matt and Nick booted off the apron but this left him open as Okada aimed a big boot. Then took the ref as the Bucks sent Pac to the steps.
Then sent him back inside, right into an Okada flapjack.
Ads.
Pac rana’d out of powerbomb in the corner, causing Nick to gamengiri his bro. Then run into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, Pac crawling, tagging, Dax in – snapping jabs, hammerlock lariat, just wailing on Nick in the corner till Okada entered.
They played around with Dax seeking the hammerlock lariat (obviously a bit like the Rainmaker) until he landed a brainbuster instead. This allowed Nick to recover but he was crotched up top. Landing in a tree of woe. Pac and Cash dragging Matt so his crotch crashed into his brother’s face and they crashed together. Crowd liked that. Very funny, very creative.
Nick was then tossed by Dax into a Pac German as Cash dove over into a jackknife pin for two. Already massively regretting only giving the Bucks and FTR an ‘8’ for match quality at Dynasty.
Matt returned to help his bro and Okada tagged in. Matt took out Nick when Dax ducked but Okada hit a ddt. His chest red as he aimed raking boots at Harwood. Then offered his chin for a wobbly Dax. Who responded with a wicked flurry until running into the dropkick.
Rainmaker coming, Dax ducked under, sharpshooter, the Bucks held back by the other faces until finally fighting free, superkick party to break the hold. Dax left 1:3, running Okada attack/Bucks double gamengiri in the corner, Okada avalanche, Nick running knee, Matt diving elbow, the faces saving the pin.
All six fighting now, powerplex coming on Matt right into a Pac 450, Okada and Nick shoved FTR down onto the pin to break it. All six slowly to their feet, head-to-head, three pairs of exchanges, Bucks superkicked FTR out of the ring, Shatter Machine to Pac for a very near fall.
EVP Trigger, Cash just making the save, sending Nick out, Matt right into a Shatter Machine, Okada bridged outside, dragging Dax out, ddt, Cash taking out Okada and Nick via tope, Matt down, Pac to the top, Black Arrow, ‘boom!’ as Tony Schiavone yelled, 1, 2, 3.
Good. God. That was phenomenal. Nice seeing the Bucks working a slower-building match. But bloody hell did they all make it peak. You must watch this.
The heels were beating down the faces when Daniel Garcia ran out but was taken down 1:3. Until Pac and FTR recovered, the Geordie locking Okada in some sort of crucifix hold, Okada screaming as the Bucks pulled him to safety and the heels fled up the ramp.
Plenty going on, far more than your average Collision, a very effective ‘go home’ show in fact, outside of not featuring Joe/Swerve this should’ve been a Dynamite, possibly my favourite AEW show of the year
*****
Could they have left the Ospreay/Danielson drama any later (that’s rhetorical yet also has an answer – ‘no’)
Anything involving the former BBSGang
Appreciate you reading. Enjoy Dynasty and the rest of the weekend.
Matt Hardy made his return to TNA Wrestling last night at Rebellion, coming out in his Broken gimmick to spoil Moose’s celebration at the end of the pay-per-view.
With Moose victorious over Nic Nemeth, lights inside the Palms Resort went out and a “lights out” video played on the big screen. When the lights came back on, Hardy was there in his full Broken gear, kicked the champion and hit the Twist of Fate. He then held the TNA World title as cameras faded to black.
Hardy, who is a free agent after he turned down signing a new AEW deal, had been teasing a return to WWE. It’s unknown if he is signed to TNA as no announcement was made.
Matt competed in TNA between 2014 and 2017 and had a quite successful run in the promotion, winning the Impact World title and the Tag Team titles twice.
Here are the results from last night’s TNA Rebellion pay-per-view which took place live from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
PRE-SHOW: Leon Slater, Ace Austin, and Chris Bey defeated Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz, and Myron Reed in a six-man tag team match; Laredo Kid defeated Crazzy Steve to become the new TNA Digital Media champion; Dani Luna and Jody Threat defeated Havok and Rosemary to retain the TNA Knockouts Tag Team titles.
PPV: Mustafa Ali defeated Jake Something to retain the TNA X Division title; Rich Swann defeated Joe Hendry; Frankie Kazarian defeated Eric Young in a full metal mayhem match; Mike Santana defeated Steve Maclin; Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers) defeated Mike Bailey and Trent Seven to retain the TNA Tag Team titles; Josh Alexander defeated Hammerstone in a last man standing match;Last Man Standing match; Jordynne Grace defeated Steph De Lander to retain the TNA Knockouts title; Moose defeated Nic Nemeth to retain the TNA World title.
AEW is back on pay-per-view tomorrow for its second show on its 2024 calendar with new arrival Dynasty.
Today we’ll take a look at the betting odds for some of the top matches and tomorrow we’ll have odds on most of the other matches as the show gets closer. Remember, these odds are preliminary and could change any time.
In the AEW World title match, Samoa Joe will defend his gold against Swerve Strickland. Strickland is the heavy favorite heading into the match with 1/10 odds while Joe is 11/2 to retain.
New AEW Tag Team champions will be crowned as FTR and The Young Bucks battle in a ladder match for the vacant titles. The EVPs are favorite with 1/20 odds while FTR are 7/1 for the big upset.
If there’s one man who is unlikely to lose according to bookmakers is Kazuchika Okada whose odds in the Continental title match are at a whopping 1/50 to retain while his opponent Pac is 12/1.
And in the AEW Women’s title match, Toni Storm is also 1/10 favorite to retain the title while Thunder Rosa is at 11/2.
AEW will have a three-hour block on TNT tonight with live Collision and then an episode of Rampage airing immediately after.
Collision will be headlined by a trios match featuring The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada against FTR and Pac. Another trios match will pit Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston, and Mark Briscoe against Top Flight and Action Andretti. Sky Blue battles Leyla Hirsch, The Acclaimed go up against The Gunns, Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli vs Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita in a bunkhouse brawl, and Powerhouse Hobbs will also be in action.
Rampage will follow with Kyle O’Reilly, Rocky Romero, and Daddy Magic vs Undisputed Kingdom in the third trios match of the night, Yuka Sakazaki vs Emi Sakura, and Rob Van Dam vs Komander vs Isiah Kassidy vs Lee Johnson in a high-flying 4/20 four-way elimination match!
Live from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, TNA Wrestling presents Rebellion 2024 on pay-per-view. The full card is as follows:
PPV: Moose vs Nic Nemeth for the TNA World title; Jordynne Grace vs Steph De Lander for the TNA Knockouts title; Mustafa Ali vs Jake Something for the TNA X Division title; Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers vs Mike Bailey and Trent Seven for the TNA Tag Team titles; Josh Alexander vs Hammerstone in a last man standing match; Joe Hendry vs Rich Swann; Frankie Kazarian vs Eric Young in a full metal mayhem match.
PRE-SHOW: Crazzy Steve vs Laredo Kid for the TNA Digital Media title; Dani Luna and Jody Threat vs Havok and Rosemary for the TNA Knockouts Tag Team titles; Leon Slater, Ace Austin, and Chris Bey vs Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz, and Myron Reed in a six-man tag team match.
Rebellion is available on TNA+ in the United States for $39.99 or via TRILLER TV everywhere else.
It’s time once again to forensically analyze guys – and girls – fighting in tight shorts.
Quick reminder, there are three categories: star quality, match quality, build. For each we’ll assign a score out of 10. To get a total score with which to rank the matches.
Scores are intended to be objective. If scores are even, matches’ll then be ranked according to personal preference.
New – each feud will be assigned a rating judging whether the promotion got it ready for the big show: Polar, Premature, Peaking, Peaked, Past It
We’ll then predict the winner(s) of each contest.
Without further ado.
Chris Jericho vs Hook (FTW Title)
Star quality: 5
Jericho turns so often it’s hard to care. And people don’t. They’ve done a much better job than usual keeping Hook involved after his title match with Joe. Fans like him coming out and killing people. It remains to be seen how they like him in longer matches. Since he doesn’t wrestle any.
Match quality: 4
Speaking to AEW’s need to get their youngsters more reps. And as a guy to do a house show loop with, Jericho’d be a good choice. As a guy to have one good match with? As of late, not so much.
Taz’ seed would benefit from a New Japan stint where he’d wrestle regularly and receive promo time away from prying eyes.
Build: 1 Past It
Why oh why is this for the FTW Title?
Let’s pretend for a second it isn’t a poorly defined, wholly unnecessary addition to what’s already just a pile of belts. Did Jericho say he wanted it? Did the youngster vow to back up his words by beating the vet again and he’d even put his title on the line?
Nope. It’s just there. Which is unfortunately a good way to describe oh so many AEW championships.
And resembles the scattershot booking of this feud. Which has vacillated like a speed-riddled mouse at an ice rink – friends, frenemies, respect, enemies. Largely because the company didn’t see which way the fans were blowing.
The angle Wednesday did make Hook look strong; this storyline’s already gone too long; fans want a break from Jericho.
Overall Score: 10
This should be Hook getting a win over a name before moving on to something else. But a hallmark of Jericho’s AEW run has been dragging things past their sell-by – the Inner Circle, the Appreciation Society and several feuds.
It is possible we’re just getting started here. And that would be with Hook winning the feud but not this match.
WINNER: Hook
Thunder Rosa vs Toni Storm (Women’s Title)
Star quality: 4
Toni’s act is entertaining and popular but at a cost to everyone she faces. She’s a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Frequently leading to her babyface opponents being booed. And just overriding everything she’s involved with.
Take her opponent’s recent #1 contender clash with Mariah May:
Peeing the chair, going commando, trying to pop the announcers, not remotely a heel, not getting the match over, neither were the cameras or the announcers, it was all about her, her character and her comedy.
Leaving Rosa, already at a deficit after coming back to little fanfare and rarely appearing on Dynamite, up shit’s creek. As Toni herself might say.
It’s also debatable whether fans actually care about seeing her wrestle r/t performing whacky antics.
Match quality: 5
Neither does Storm’s character lend itself to quality matches. And Rosa hasn’t seemed quite back in ring shape since returning.
However, if the Mexican does manage to get her cardio up and Storm performs as she did against AZM last Saturday, this score could look very dumb.
Build: 1 Polar
‘Well, they want women kissing on the show,’ said Dave Meltzer recently. And it about sums this feud up.
AEW really tried with Toni and Deonna. They were on tv every week, there was a story and a reason for their mutual dislike.
None of that applies here. Despite the obvious story of Rosa fighting back from an injury which took two years of her career. And which could’ve easily been storylined by Storm into Rosa ‘ducking her’.
Instead, they zoomed through Toni breaking a champagne bottle over her challenger’s head, making Rosa look dumb in the process. So that they could use the time to imply lesbianism between Storm and May. And between May and Mina Shirakawa, whose champagne smooch got more screen time than a laid-out Rosa, despite not a single fan having any idea who Shirakawa was.
None of which could be saved by a passionate though disjointed rah rah Rosa promo last Saturday.
Overall Score: 10
They really should get the belt off Toni. Her act is easily enough that they could simply place her in a feud that isn’t about a title.
However, Rosa got the better on Wednesday and we’re close enough now to Wembley that they probably want to hang on and have Jamie Hayter end a long title reign.
Given Storm’s ppv outings are to shenanigans what a rotting corpse is to bacteria, chances are Deonna will cost Rosa the match and the gold, cementing a much-needed heel turn. And providing another opportunity for a feud between women over an actual issue. Make us dream Tony!
WINNER: Toni Storm
Kyle O’Reilly vs Roderick Strong (International Title)
Star quality: 2
The Two Man Bland between them have the character of shouting guys’ first names.
After being off tv for two years, O’Reilly hasn’t been on Dynamite or Collision in the month of April. And has been closer to Kurt Angle’s deliberately heelish babyface than anything else. Except he’s not a heel.
Relative to the months of tv sunk into their arrival, the Undisputed Kingdom are the flattest group in company history.
Match quality: 8
If there’s a good match but nobody cares, is it really a good match?
There are so many talented young wrestlers who can’t sniff this show. Including a guy who had the best AEW bout of 2024 at the last one. This seems a waste of pay-per-view time and a missed opportunity to feature guys who might one day main event shows like these.
It’s a Rampage match for the purest of fans, placed onto the biggest of stages.
Build: 2 Polar
Don’t know about you guys, if I bumped into some friends I hadn’t seen for two years beating people up in a gang, I’d have some questions.
Not Kyle O’Reilly. Mr. Gee Shucks was just so gosh darn tickled to be back that he was happy enough for his ex-pals to be devil mask-clad psychopaths. Just so long as they let him fight his own battles against some of the lowest AEW’s roster had to offer.
He didn’t care when they were destroying other people, hard to feel sympathetic when they destroy him. Dug your own grave there dude. And did nada to merit a title shot.
Overall Score: 12
Probably Strong. As applied last time, his group are being held together by decaying twigs and his title.
WINNER: Roderick Strong
Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe vs House of Black
Star quality: 6
Despite varying levels of stale feuds, misuse, repetition and gobbledygook, all six remain pretty popular. Copeland certainly seems to be getting stronger as he goes and feels more a part of the show than separate to it as he did when feuding with Christian.
Won’t go into a whole thing on Kingston here but my god what a decline from December to April.
Match quality: 8
A large part of what keeps the House in popularity is their in-ring. They’re not only good, they’re all different to one another and in Malakai’s case just flat out different. The crowd will care because they like all three babyfaces too.
Assuming the finish is clean and decisive – which between AEW and Malakai is certainly an assumption – this should be a nice bang, bang, bang palette cleanser amid high-stakes singles.
Build: 0 Polar
Briscoe and the House trying to outright murder one another seems a long time ago and AEW have done nothing to remind us of it.
So the real issue here seemed to be with Malakai and Copeland. Adding the others a combined effort to get guys on the card and avoid the impermeable business of convincing Mr. Black to lose wrestling matches.
Overall Score: 14
Will respected vet Copeland be the exception? Perhaps building to a dodo-rare singles scrap for Malakai at DoN or in-between?
If that is the case, the House will win with Black pinning Copeland. If not, babyfaces time.
WINNER: Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe
Young Bucks vs FTR (Ladder Match, Tag Titles)
Star quality: 6
Despite their fresh, entertaining characters, it still doesn’t feel like the Bucks are all that hot. Possibly because they border on cartoon-y. In FTR’s case, no-one who appears only on Collision can be. Neither side helped by either this woeful tournament, the Punk/Perry video or the ongoing de-emphasis of tag wrestling.
Which was touched on the other day.
Match quality: 8
On some ‘fool me once’ ish, they’re not getting no 10 here. Both sides have competed in some of the best matches of the last few years. But never against each other.
There’s always just a little something missing. The Bucks’ best clashes have come against their Elite buddies and the Lucha Bros. FTR’s against the likes of Jay White, who’s never been accused of too many high spots.
Nonetheless, this should still be very good. And might even benefit from fans’ expectations being lowered after they failed to have the anticipated classic last summer. Try not to die guys.
Build: 0 Polar
AEW had all this inherent value in the tag belts courtesy of Sting going out the way he did. That Darby about killed himself for. And just let it die. While outside of their original one in 2020, these four’s feuds have been the victims of Tony Khan 101 – Dude, the match’ll be sick!
Which was his approach for their clash at All In last year.
The backstage footage of which will inevitably dredge up the divisive feelings Adam Copeland maturely implored us all to move on from. Feelings which help neither team here.
Big Punk fan? Then the Bucks might be bigger heels than they were before. But the babyface in the situation isn’t FTR, he no longer works for the company.
AEW backer? Then the Bucks are absolutely right about Punk and Jack Perry really is a scapegoat. Nothing like sympathy for heels. (To be very clear, I’m speaking hypothetically, not trying to take sides.)
We’ll get to the genuine reason for it being a ladder match below. As for the storyline one? Well, it doesn’t exist.
Not even one as basic as – the Bucks are experienced in ladder matches while FTR are not, so as EVP’s they’ve demanded this stip. That took like five seconds to think of. It’s not good; it’s far from creative, but at least it’d bring heat for the heels and sympathy for the babyfaces. It’s better than nothing. But nothing we got.
Overall Score: 14
So why would a company who’ve had a minimum of six weeks to plan a match suddenly jam a ladder stip in barely a week beforehand?
Well, because they’d clearly finally decided on a finish. Someone is going to interfere. And while the Bucks generally seem okay with their ref looking like a moron; FTR are not. So they needed a match where interference was outwith the official’s control.
It’s not an original thought to project the interferer as Jack Perry. It’s also believed the Motor City Machine Guns are AEW bound so there could just be a whole mess of run-ins here. But Perry as the decisive factor makes sense if they’re going to have him return (because re-debut isn’t a word AEW!) with a bang.
WINNER: Young Bucks
Danke for reading as always. Part two tomorrow. Where the big boys play. Feel free to ‘look at the adjective(s)!’
The new WWE Women’s World champion will be crowned on Monday Night Raw via a battle royal.
The title was vacated by champion Rhea Ripley on Monday after she suffered a shoulder injury the prior week in a backstage segment with Liv Morgan. Mami warned everyone that whoever is the champion when she returns, she will be back for blood.
16 WWE Superstars – including Xia Li who was released last night – were shown in the commercial which aired during Smackdown as participants.
Those shown included Becky Lynch, Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green, Indi Hartwell, Ivy Nile, Kayden Carter, Katana Chance, Liv Morgan, Maxxine Dupri, Natalya, Nia Jax, Piper Niven, Shayna Baszler, Tegan Nox, and Zoey Stark.
In the latest episode of his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker seemed like he gave away the location of next year’s WrestleMania.
“It’s in Vegas next year,” Taker said before a long pause. “That’s what I think, I think I heard that…good Lord!”
The location has not been officially announced by WWE yet with Minneapolis being one of the frontrunners to host the show.
But this is the first WrestleMania location to be chosen by the new regime, and considering Nick Khan’s ties to Las Vegas, the location makes perfect sense.
If Vegas is indeed the place, the Allegiant Stadium would be hosting the show and presumably the next-door T-Mobile Arena the home of the other events.
WWE are expected to formally announce a location within the next month.
Undertaker just leaked the Wrestlemania location for next year accidentally.
Just like the Raw Tag Team titles, the Smackdown Tag Team titles are no longer and they have now been rebranded as the WWE Tag Team titles.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Smackdown GM Nick Aldis presided over the presentation of the new belts to Austin Theory and Grayson Waller last night on Smackdown after the two won them in the six-pack ladder match at WrestleMania XL.
While the World Tag Team titles carry the same design as the men’s World and women’s World titles over at Raw, the newly-released WWE Tag Team titles have a different look from the male and female versions of the titles on Smackdown, and actually resemble the old titles that were used by the likes of The Hart Foundation, Demolition, Legion of Doom, and others.
The champions also got to learn their new number one contenders after a four-way elimination tag team match between AOP, New Catch Republic, The Street Profits, and Legado del Fantasma took place on the show. The Street Profits won that match and will now face A-Town Down Under in their first title defense.
LA Knight VS. AJ Styles with winner facing Cody Rhodes at Backlash
Styles was able to hit his Phenomenal Forearm to get the win after a thumb to Knight’s eye.
Winner: AJ Styles
They show what happened to Jimmy Uso last week then show Paul Heyman waiting outside. Solo Sikoa arrives and introduces Tama Tonga to Paul as the newest member of the Bloodline. Solo hugs Tama. Solo then asked Paul if Kevin Owens was there and asked him to take him to him.
Nick Aldis is in the ring and welcomes Paul “Triple H” Levesque as they give A-Town Down Under new WWE Tag Team championship belts.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Naomi about her match against Bayley for the championship tonight.
The Street Profits VS. New Catch Republic VS. Angel & Humberto VS. AOP with Winners facing A-Town Down Under for the WWE Tag Team Championship
After Ford hit a frog splash on Angel and Bate as Angel went for the pin and Dawkins tagged Bate and hit the sky high with Ford’s neck breaker to win the match.
Winners: The Street Profits
Byron Saxton interviews Bayley about her match with Naomi after they show Rhea announcing her injury on Raw.
Solo walks away from Heyman after he said he cannot find Kevin Owens. Paul then stops him and tells him he is making decisions he can’t make right now. They then walk out the curtain to the arena.
As Paul began to talk and was trying to talk about the Bloodline a “We want Roman” chant started. Paul went to speak, Solo ripped the microphone out of his hand. Solo said he had to lose a brother to gain another and announced Tama Tonga. Out from the back Kevin Owens comes rolling on the floor. Tama Tonga found Kevin and Kevin is bleeding and needed help to get to his feet as Tama joins Solo in the ring and they raise the number one sign.
Kevin comes to the ring and goes after Tonga but Solo hit him with the Samoan Spike and Tama beat him down more as officials try to help Kevin. Tama brings a chair in and Nick Aldis gets in the ring and says no and then a stare down between Solo and Aldis. Solo then leaves the ring and he, Tama and Paul pose at the entrance. Paul has a worried, confused look on his face.
Aldis is shown grabbing Heyman and dragging him to the parking lot where there are two crashed cars in the parking lot and Aldis said it’s Kevin and Tama’s rentals. Aldis then warned Paul about the Bloodlines’ behavior for next week and tells him on Smackdown we settle it in the ring.
Carlito VS. Santos Escobar
Zelina and Elektra got into a fight outside, with the distraction Escobar hit the phantom driver and gets the win.
Winner: Santos Escobar
Kayla Braxton interviews Damage Control in a luxury box as Dakota said the Kabuki Warriors are still the Women’ Tag Team champions and that is not going to change. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill join them, and they begin to argue.
Cody Rhodes sent in an interview who is looking forward to a match with AJ Styles. Cody is currently on tour in Europe.
Naomi VS. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
As the action really got going and spilled outside the ring. Tiffany Stratton comes in and punches Bayley causing the disqualification and then beat down both women.
Winner by DQ and Still WWE Women’s Champion: Bayley
Stratton then rolls both Naomi and Bayley back in the ring and hit the prettiest moonsault ever on both women.
It might be a new era but the same old tactics have returned as WWE released a few Superstars in their usual post-WrestleMania clean out according to both Fightful and PWInsider.
The most noteworthy name of these releases is former WWE champion Jinder Mahal. The 37-year-old had two runs in the company one which started in 2010 and lasted four years and then returning in 2016 for round two. Apart from the WWE title he also held the United States title and the 24/7 title.
Joining him on the unemployed list are his fellow Indian stars Veer and Sanga. The Indus Sher tag team wrestled on both NXT and main roster but never really went anywhere. Both of them signed with WWE in 2018.
Xia Li was the only woman cut from the roster yesterday. She is the product of the WWE Performance Center and started there in 2017. Despite her potential and several makeovers, the 35-year-old from China never found major success in the ring.
Xyon Quinn also got his marching orders. The 34-year-old Australian former rugby player started his wrestling journey in 2018. He was part of NXT until the 2023 Draft but rarely made any appearances on the main roster.
FOX 13 News in Tampa Bay is reporting that the official report detailing economic impact of the Royal Rumble in St. Pete puts the figure at $47,047,401.
Just over 48,000 fans from all 50 states and 40 different countries attended the Rumble at Tropicana Field this past January, boosting the local economy.
The report also said that there were $28,337,038 in total direct spending and $2,923,664 paid in taxes.
Other spots in the area also reaped the benefits of the Royal Rumble, with The Imagine Museum reporting a 25% increase in attendance the day after Royal Rumble, Ferg’s Sports Bar doing seven times the business of a normal Saturday, Green Bench seeing a 10-15% increase from normal Saturday operations, and the Sun Runner transport saw a 95% increase in ridership on the day of the event.
Also, $60,000 was donated to ARC Tampa Bay, Miracle by the Bay, Boys & Girls Club of St. Petersburg, and the Pinellas Education Foundation.
While doing media for the current Euro tour, Becky Lynch revealed that her husband Seth Rollins underwent surgery on Tuesday to fix the torn meniscus.
Rollins, who in January suffered a grade two tear in his MCL and also a torn meniscus, was cleared in time for WrestleMania and wrestled on both nights, main eventing night one in a 45-minute match with Cody Rhodes against The Rock and Roman Reigns and then opening night two losing the World Heavyweight title to Drew McIntyre.
Although injured, Rollins did not miss any TV time on the road to WrestleMania but he did not wrestle. Recovery time for a torn meniscus varies although it could take up to six months.
Appearing on RTE One in Ireland, Lynched joked that for rehab, running around their three-year-old daughter would do great for his knee.
The Rock labeled Rollins as the real MVP of WrestleMania in an Instagram post earlier this week.
Welcome to Aussie Play Casino, where every spin of the reel overflows with excitement! As a new player, a thrilling selection of offers awaits to amp up your gaming experience.
To start strong, claim the multi-tiered welcome bonus. Get a 250% match on every deposit you make, earning you up to $3,750 in bonus money. Later, dive into the game of the month offer and snatch special rewards on popular slots. You can also join Club Rouge, the VIP club oozing with treats for loyal gamblers.
As you play, watch your rank rise in this exclusive club. Each tier unlocks faster cashouts, bonus spins, cashback, and other red-carpet rewards. Before you know it, you’ll be indulging in your own VIP manager and birthday freebies as a Diamond member.
Revel in Generous Welcome Rewards
Ready to win big? Buckle up and grab the hot welcome package waiting for you at AussiePlay Casino. This bonus unfolds over your first three deposits:
First deposit: Score a 250% match up to $1,250 and 50 free spins on Cash Bandits 3
Second deposit: Secure another 250% match up to $1,250 and 50 free spins on Lucha Libre
Third deposit: Final round with a 250% match up to $1,250 and 50 spins on Asgard
You’ll have plenty of extra ammunition to take on slots, blackjack tournaments and other popular games with up to $3,750 in bonus cash. Wager through the fun 30 times to withdraw any big wins you make along the way.
Dive deeper with the simple, one-tier loyalty program, or take advantage of crypto banking for secure, speedy payments. You’ll never run out of ways to win at this top-tier playground.
Score Free Chips on the House
Aussie Play Casino welcomes all new players with open arms and free chips. As soon as you create your account, you can redeem a $20 free chip to enjoy real money games 100% risk-free!
Here’s a quick look at the key terms of this no deposit bonus:
Bonus Item
Details
Type of Bonus
No Deposit Free Chip
Bonus Amount
$20 Free
Wagering Requirement
60x
Maximum Cashout
$100
Expiry
7 days
There’s no purchase necessary. You have nothing to lose and free entertainment to gain! Try your luck at Keno, scratch cards, or pokies like Magic Mushroom. Just be sure to meet the easy 60x wagering requirement within a week to withdraw your winnings.
Climb the Ranks in Club Rouge
Loyalty deserves royalty – that’s why Aussie Play Casino treats veteran players to the VIP experience in Club Rouge. As you play your favorite games, you’ll rise through 7 tiers that each unlock exclusive perks. The rewards get bigger and better the higher your status:
Bronze: 10% weekly cashback
Silver: 15% weekly cashback
Gold: 20% weekly cashback + birthday bonus
Platinum: Dedicated VIP manager + invite to monthly prize draws
Black Diamond/Red Diamond: Exclusive bonuses, faster withdrawals, and more
The more you play, the more rewards will come your way when you visit Aussie Play Casino. You might even score free spins, luxury gifts, or tickets to exclusive events – the sky’s the limit when you become Aussie royalty!
Betting on the Future with Cryptos
At Aussie Play Casino, the future is now thanks to full integration with leading cryptocurrencies. As pioneers in crypto gambling, Aussie Play allows deposits and withdrawals in Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, and more digital coins.
Crypto transactions offer the ultimate in speed and security. Deposits arrive in real-time with no maximum limit imposed. Best of all, crypto payouts bypass traditional banking delays – withdrawal requests process in just 1-3 days!
As blockchain transforms finance, cryptocurrency gambling promises anonymity, safety, and convenience without parallel. Get started on the digital currency revolution today with your Aussie Play Casino login. Fund your account easily and play your favorite real money games using the latest crypto innovations.
Ensuring Fairness through Provable RNG
At Aussie Play Casino, we believe transparency and fairness are essential to building trust with players. That’s why we’ve implemented Provably Fair RNG technology for applicable games like keno, minesweeper, and scratch cards.
You can actually verify the randomness of the game with Provably Fair games. Here’s how it works:
Step
Description
1
The server generates an RNG seed before gameplay.
2
The seed’s hash is shown to the player.
3
After playing, the seed is revealed to match the hash.
4
Players can use the seed to see if the game is truly random.
This groundbreaking functionality provides an extra layer of assurance that every spin, card draw, or number selection relies on cryptography – not human meddling. When you play Provably Fair games at Aussie Play Casino, you can bank on results that are demonstrably unbiased.
During the Dynasty media conference call yesterday afternoon, AEW President Tony Khan couldn’t confirm CM Punk’s statement that he had to personally pay for his triceps surgery during his time in AEW.
Khan said it does not sound right and they usually pick up the bill for any injuries suffered while working for the company. Khan added that he will check properly about this and if it turns out that Punk did in fact pay for his own surgery, then he would reimburse him everything he paid.
It’s one of the few questions that Khan has answered about CM Punk since the two had their fallout at All In in Wembley in August of last year.
Punk made the statement during the Ariel Helwani interview in the lead-up to WrestleMania 40.
The Iron Claw movie will be streaming exclusively on Max starting on May 10.
Based on the true story of the Von Erichs, The Iron Claw follows the rise and fall of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport from the 1960s to the present day.
The film features Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich, Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich, Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich, Stanley Simons as Mike Von Erich, Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich and Maura Tierney as Doris Van Erich.
The movie is already available on demand on both Apple TV and Prime Video for a charge but it will be “free” as part of anyone’s Max subscription from May 10.
Released on December 22, 2023, The Iron Claw currently has a worldwide box office revenue of $36,966,593 according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
When considering orthodontic options for children, it’s essential to seek expertise and a comforting environment that eases the young ones into the treatment process. In Jackson Heights, NY, practices like Amazing Smiles Orthodontics offer a child-friendly atmosphere coupled with advanced diagnostic tools, such as 3D X-rays and iTero intraoral scanners. These technologies are not just impressive; they are pivotal in crafting precise and effective treatment plans tailored for each child’s needs.
Children’s orthodontic treatment typically starts with an evaluation of dental and facial development to determine the appropriate time to begin treatment. For many, this could include traditional metal braces or more aesthetic options as they grow older. The goal is to ensure a perfect smile and functional bite, setting a foundation for healthy dental future.
Orthodontics for Teens: Balancing Aesthetics and Effectiveness
Teenagers, often conscious about their appearance, might feel apprehensive about wearing braces. Addressing this concern, orthodontists in Jackson Heights provide several discreet options like ceramic braces and invisible aligners. Brands like Invisalign® and Spark™ offer solutions that are not only less visible but also promote quicker treatment outcomes compared to traditional braces.
Dr. Azariy Yusupov, a noted orthodontist with Amazing Smiles Orthodontics, emphasizes the importance of customizing treatments to suit the lifestyle and needs of teens. By opting for these modern treatments, teenagers can undergo orthodontic adjustments without compromising on their appearance, thus maintaining their self-esteem and confidence during these critical years.
Understanding the Benefits of Early Orthodontic Assessments
Early intervention in orthodontics can be pivotal in correcting bite problems and malocclusions in a child’s development phase. For residents in Jackson Heights, seeking an early consultation can lead to simpler, more effective treatments, and potentially shorter treatment times. Amazing Smiles Orthodontics, known for its comprehensive approach, recommends initial assessments for children around the age of seven. This early assessment allows orthodontists to identify and intercept potential problems before they become more complex and harder to treat.
During these early visits, orthodontists can plan out if and when treatments might be needed. In some cases, early treatment can prevent the removal of permanent teeth or future surgical interventions. Moreover, this proactive approach helps in managing the growth of the jaw and guiding the proper coming in of permanent teeth.
Customized Orthodontic Solutions: Embracing Technology and Comfort
The realm of orthodontics has greatly benefited from technological advancements, and practices in Jackson Heights are at the forefront of incorporating these technologies into patient care. At Amazing Smiles Orthodontics, the use of state-of-the-art diagnostic tools like iTero intraoral scanners and 3D X-rays facilitates detailed visualization of teeth positioning, which is crucial for creating effective and personalized treatment plans.
Such technology not only enhances the accuracy of treatments but also improves the patient experience by making the processes faster and more comfortable. For instance, the iTero scanners eliminate the need for unpleasant traditional dental impressions by using optical scanning to create a digital map of the mouth. This is particularly advantageous for patients who are apprehensive about dental visits, making the experience less daunting and more engaging.
Long-Term Care and Maintenance: Beyond the Treatment
After completing orthodontic treatment, whether it’s traditional braces or aligners, the journey towards maintaining that perfect smile continues. Post-treatment care is crucial and includes the use of retainers to ensure that teeth remain in their new positions. In Jackson Heights, orthodontists emphasize the importance of a follow-up care routine to protect the patient’s investment in their smile.
Practices like Amazing Smiles Orthodontics offer continued support and guidance on how to care for teeth post-treatment. This includes regular check-ups to monitor the teeth’s stability and the health of the patient’s oral cavity. By maintaining a close relationship with their orthodontist post-treatment, patients can ensure that their new smile is preserved for years to come.
LWO member Cruz Del Toro revealed on social media that he underwent surgery and will be out for a while.
Del Toro posted a photo in a hospital bed with his left arm in a cast and heavily bandaged. The surgery was performed by Dr. Kathleen McKeon, an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in hand and wrist surgery, in Homewood, Alabama at the Birmingham Surgery Center. Dr McKeon is a member of the Andrews Sports Medicine where WWE Superstars typically undergo surgeries.
He expressed his thanks to his surgeon and her team for their care and said surgery was a success.
“Thank you for your messages of support and good wishes. I will be back soon and better than ever,” Del Toro wrote.
His last match was at Smackdown on the eve of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
You must be logged in to post a comment.