All Japan Pro Wrestling 4/30/2023 Champion Carnival 2023 Day 8

All Japan Pro Wrestling 4/30/2023 Champion Carnival 2023 Day 8

There's 4 Champion Carnival matches today:

Champion Carnival - Takao Omori vs Manabu Soya

They lock up. Omori face kicks him and shoulders him over. Soya is facekicked off the apron then thrown into the rails. Omori then ends up taking a back body drop on the mats outside. Soya hits some forearms to the lower back then then they trade chops. Omori suplexes, facekicks then spinning heel kicks him for 2.

Soya spears him and they trade chops. Soya sits on the top rope and Omori samurai drivers him for 2. Omori 2nd rope backdrops him for 2. Soya deadlift brainbusters him for 2 and they lariat battle. Soya lariats him down then hits a running lariat and wins it.

It was fine and exactly what you would want and expect with lariats and stiff strikes. The only issue was that Omori just is older now and moves in slow motion.

Champion Carnival - Hokuto Omori vs Yuma Anzai

Omori grabs him by the hair and headlocks him then Yuma shoulders him over. Yuma dropkicks him then takes a running forearm off the apron. They trade forearms outside then Omori grounded sleepers him inside.

They trade more forearms and Omori belly to belly suplexes him. Yuma suplexes him for 2 then double arm suplexes him. Omori cutters him then puts him in the anaconda vice. Omori and Yuma trade forearms and Omori jumps up and takes a german. Omori koppo kicks him then takes a flying knee.

Omori deadlift germans him then dragon suplexes him. Omori then ki krushers him for the win.

There was nothing wrong with it. Pretty basic match here with them trading some trikes then some suplexes at the end. Omori's heavyweight run just isn't working for me though. It just seems like he lost a lot of his intensity and his stuff just does not look as good against bigger guys.

Champion Carnival - Suwama vs Rei Saito

They shoulder battle to start and Rei knocks him over. Rei is tossed out and Suwama throws him into the rails outside. Suwama chokes him with rope and drags him into the seats. Suwama hits him with a chair and throws him over the rails back into ringside. Suwama picks up a railing and Wada stops him.

They get back in the ring and Suwama sleepers him. Rei lariats him, shoulders him then splashes him for 2. Rei hits machine gun chops in the corner. Suwama flying forearms him then hits a stiff lariat. Rei comes back with lariats then is backdropped. Suwama kicks and clubs on him outside. Suwama beats him up against the rails. They fight more outside and both get counted out.

The idea was there but execution could have been a lot better. Suwama tries to do this brawling style, but he really doesn't have the intensity for it and he's kind of slow, so it doesn't look as good as it could. This was only about 10 minutes but it still dragged.

Champion Carnival - Shotaro Ashino vs Shuji Ishikawa

Ashino wristlocks him then is wristlocked back. Ashino chopblocks him then bangs his leg off the apron and post.  Shuji fire thunders him on the apron. Shuji hits forearms in the corner then sleepers him. Ashino escapes it with gut punches then is lariated. Ashino jumping headbutts him then hits a running euro for 2.

Ashino germans him and goes for the ankle lock but Shuji ropebreaks. Shuji running shoulders him and running lariats him in the corner. Shuji then 2nd rope double stomps him for 2. Ashino goes for an ankle lock and is pushed over the top rope with Shuji's feet. They trade forearms as Ashino is on the apron then Shuji 2nd rope superplexes him.

Shuji goes for a powerbomb but is hurricanrana'd then Ashino ankle locks him. Shuji gets out and forearms him. They trade forearms for euros then Ashino takes a fire thunder for 2. Ashino shoots in and takes a knee to the face then another knee for 2. Shuji goes for another knee but is ankle locked and Ashino taps him out.

There was nothing wrong with it. It made sense for the most part with Ashino working the ankle and finally winning with the ankle lock, but it was just missing that extra energy and intensity like a lot of the stuff on the show. 

Overall thoughts: The matches were all just missing the intensity and aggression and the crowd wasn't that great. I'm not sure what it was exactly. Nothing was bad but nothing was great or exciting either.

IWA Puerto Rico Zona Caliente 4/27/2023

IWA Puerto Rico Zona Caliente 4/27/2023

The last show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/iwa-puerto-rico-impacto-total-4222023.html

We see clips of Invader heart punching TNT from the TNT/Romeo match.

IWA Women's Title - Krystal vs Nathalya Perez vs Roxxy

Krystal is referred to as La Peligrosa and as a shaman. They say Roxxy has broken every mold, isn't afraid of anything and has fought men. Krystal and Perez hit forearms on Roxxy then Roxxy clotheslines both. Roxxy shoulders Perez then Perez hiptosses and armdrags her. Perez hits a dropkick then Krystal blindsides her with a lariat.

Krystal chokes Perez then bangs her head off the mat. Krystal slams her then Roxxy rolls on her. She turns her back and Krystal nails her and legdrops Perez. Roxxy superplexes Krystal and Perez gets under them to powerbomb Roxxy. Perez and Roxxy trade forearms then Perez hits an unusual ddt. Roxxy double underhook ddt's Perez but is pushed off the top by Krystal. Krystal running knees Perez and picks up the win.

It wasn't anything special as they didn't get much time and had to account for 3 people here but they didn't botch anything or have any screw-ups.

Harry William does a promo. He said they almost became tag champs and it was because of him. He says he doesn't know what's going on with Niche and questions if he forgot how to win. He says a win is a win and said if he hadn't cheated, the FoD's would have. Harry said he'd take a match with him, but the winner has to be able to get any title shot they want for winning it. He said Niche cost him two title chances and the third time will be the charm here. He said he plans on killing him because his hunger to be champ is bigger than Niche's.

Savio Vega talks to who I think is Bolo the Red Bulldog. This is from March 2022. He says he has a ref position to offer him and says he may have more for him to do from time to time.

El Atleta Manu vs Azazel

Azazel arrives in a coffin. The person pushing it leaves. Manu opens it up and is brought into the coffin. Bolo knocks on the coffin to see what is going on. It opens up and Manu is getting beaten up and bleeding. They say Manu's face looks like a pizza. Manu then has his head cut with a pizza cutter.

Manu is hit with a kendo stick and then weapons are pulled out of the coffin. Manu takes some chair shots then is whipped with a belt. Manu is put on a chair then Az runs around the ring but gets nailed with the chair when he comes back around. Manu chairs him and hten hits him with a handicap parking sign. Manu canes him in head and back, breaking the stick over him. Manu hits him with a trash can then slams him on the can.

Az takes another kendo stick shot and rolls out. Manu grabs one of the fans chairs with his shirt on it and nails him then he hits him with a bat from a fan. Manu then hits him with an air horn and bangs his head off the casket. Az gets busted open and Wizard says it's like a shark on prey. Az gets a fork and stabs Manu with it then Manu kendo stick shots him. 

Manu forks Az in the head then Az takes a side slam on the top edge of a chair. Manu wraps his hand around a chain then hits Az with it. Manu then puts his head in an unfolded chair and camel clutches him. Az hits him with the trash can to get out. Az flying lariats him then running knees him in the corner. Az then does a coast to coast dropkick into the can into Manu's face for 2.

Manu is seated up top and hit with stuff. Az pours out thumbtacks and gets knocked onto them. Wizard laughs then Manu powerbombs Az for 2. Manu stares down Bolo and says something to him then he chairs Az. Manu gets his head rammed into a chair between the buckles then Az hits a jumping flatliner for 2. Az superkicks him with a chain wrapped around his boot then curb stomps him with it to win.

I thought it went on too long and they did too much. It went around 17 minutes and was all weapons shots and not much else.

Manu puts him in the coffin after and closes the lid.  

Roxxy is interviewed. She said the title was stolen from her in the triple threat and said they would have a triple threat rematch at the next show. She said her goal since she came here was to be women's champ.

Bullrope Match - Mr. Big vs Apolo

Big runs at and hits Apolo before he can get the rope put on him. Big then hits him with the cowbell on it. Apolo finally gets the rope on him while he is being beaten with the cowbell. Big lariats him and goes to touch all 4 corners but Apolo stops him. Apolo is bleeding then lariats him and whips his back with the rope. Apolo hits Big with the cowbell and makes him bleed.

They trade punches and Big chokeslams him in the ring. Big goes to touch the 4 corners then lariats him. Big touches 3 corners and Apolo touches 3 behind him. Apolo rock bottoms him then touches the 4th corner and wins it.

This was very short and disappointing. There was just not much to it before the finish and they didn't get the most out of the gimmick or each other here.

Nathaly Perez is interviewed. She said she will continue giving her all and says she carries the talent in her blood.  She said Krystal is selfish and says Roxxy does deserve to be here, but it doesn't matter. She said what does matter is that Krystal stopped her destiny. She said she will be the women's champ in the rematch.

La Gran Amenaza does a promo. He said money is most important thing and says life gives you what you put in. He gets censored. He said Cuervo did a good job against Ferno but will take care of business on 4/29. He said he's always been a big threat to Ferno and said this is just the beginning.

IWA Title - John Hawking (c) vs "El Escorpion" Mike Mendoza

Mike rolls him up to start and Wizard says Mike has many resources at his disposal and lots of experience. Mike clean breaks in the corner but John pushes him off. They said Mike's grandfather was the wrestler "El Vikingo" Salvador Perez, who was a star in South and Central America and managed the Sheepherders. they also said he was in the first fire match and faced a bear. Mike hits kicks on John then is shouldered, hiptossed, armdragged and dropkicked. Mike goes out to recover.

Mike pulls John's throat over the top rope then Mike top rope crossbodies him. John catches him then is pulled over the top. Mike then is pulled down hard onto the apron. John hits punches outside then Mike enzugiri's him on the apron. Mike sends him into the post then superkicks him as he stands on the apron and as John is on the floor.

Mike eye pokes John then kicks him in the back. Mike beats up on John then hits a nice dropkick. Mike mocks John then is back body dropped. Mike hits a superkick and a spinning high kick. Mike euros him then they botch a flatliner.

John hulks up and hits punches. John flying shoulders him then back body drops him. John flips him with a lariat then hits a full nelson slam for 2. John lariats Mike over the top then jumps off the apron onto him. John goes up top and takes a palm strike then John does a top rope blockbuster for 2. They trade shots on their knees then trade shots standing. Mike top rope double stomps the back of John as he is bent over twice for 2.

John rolls up Mike then takes a superkick. Mike tope con hilos John then rolls into a cutter. Mike double underhooks him and twists it into a cool ddt. John kicks out at two and the crowd gets excited.John full nelson slams Mike off a reversal then hits a TKO for the win.

There was nothing wrong with this. No great story or anything but it was good. Mike was good here and really seemed like he was going to win it.

Mike calls John into the ring after and wants to shake hands. They shake hands and Mike lifts his arm up in victory. Mike then leaves without causing any trouble.

Nick Mercer does a promo. He said Mike Medoza had a chance to win the title and failed. He then said he wants to be a double champ and said he deserves a shot at the title.  He challenges Mike Mendoza to hopefully earn a title shot. He said Mike is one of the best, but so is he. He tells Mike to give himself a challenge on 4/29 and says the winner should be the #1 contender to the title. Nick says they will kill and destroy themselves and says he will show him that there is no life after him.

They run down the 4/29 show which has:

Manny Ferno vs El Cuervo

Mike Mendoza vs Nick Mercer

Romeo and Mr. Big vs a team selected by Savio Vega

Khriz Diaz vs Miguel Perez

El Niche vs Harry William

Azazel vs Manu

Nathaly Perez vs Krystal vs Roxxy

They also promise a reaction from Savio Vega on Invader heart punching him and The Drunken Express.

Mike Mendoza does a promo on Nick Mercer He said his 10 years of experience helped earn him title shots and said Nick has to earn his chances. He said Nick shows a lack of respect for his partner by challenging for a singles title. He said Nick is just a hindrance. He said he has to win so the Era of the Scorpion can begin

Overall thoughts: The main was decent to good, the women's match was short but acceptable, Big/Apolo was too short and Manu/Azazel ran too long. It wasn't a fantastic ep, but it was nice to see the outcomes of all the matches they built up to. They had a tough time here as they only had 2 weeks between shows and could only do so much because of it. With the next show also having so many rematches, they couldn't get that creative angle or promo wise either.

New Japan Pro Wrestling 4/29/2023 Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni 2023

New Japan Pro Wrestling 4/29/2023 Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni 2023

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano

Oleg shoulders over both opponents to start. He shoulders Yoshi again and Yano grabs a turnbuckle pad. Yoshi gets it off him then Yano slaps him in the back of the head. Yano is double shouldered then Yoshi is hiptossed onto Yano. Yano takes the double clubs to the back then is stomped on.

They botch some hair pulling spot then Oleg beats up on his opponents with shoulder throws and then he slams Goto. Goto backs up Oleg and he takes a corner elbow. Yano trips Yoshi outside and Oleg hits a nice belly to belly on Goto for 2. Oleg crabs Goto then him and Goto collide with lariats. Oleg takes a neckbreaker + russian legsweep combo for 2. Oleg then takes a double team slice and is pinned.

Oleg wasn't perfect here but he looked good. He got to do more than the usual young lion moves so it's clear NJPW has faith in him. It was short and a little rushed but fine.

Oskar Leube & Shota Umino vs. House Of Torture (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi)

The faces are rushed before the bell. Umino is beaten up by Evil outside and Oskar shoulders Yujiro. Yujiro bites his hand and throws him where Evil and friends beat up on Oskar. Umino tries to break it up but is thrown into the rails. Oskar is thrown into the exposed buckle then the HoT assist on the abomdinal stretch.

Oskar hits forearms then does a nice facekick. Umino gets the hot tag in and hits basement dropkicks on Yujiro. He pulls him over the top and cannonballs Yujiro on the floor. Umino drops Evil on his chest then running euros him. Umino then hits a fisherman's suplex for 2.

Umino hits a nice dropkick on Yujiro then Oskar gets in. Oskar forearms Yujiro then hits a big suplex on him. Oskar hits a nice legdrop for 2 then slams Yujiro. Oskar crabs Yujiro but Togo comes in and breaks it up with a weapon. Oskar takes a wrench to the head then Yujrio ddt's him for the win.

It was short and what you would expect with the faces getting in some offense and the heels cheating. The faces were good here.

Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito) vs. Just 5 Guys (DOUKI, SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

LIJ is jumped before this starts and Sanada is sent into the rails outside. Douki and Naito trade forearms the Naito hiptosses him and sliding dropkicks him. Douki takes a dropkick to the knee then Bushi baseball slides him. Naito does his swinging slingshot dropkick on Douki in the corner. Douki ddt's Naito and Naito is sent over the rail outside.

Kanemaru baseball slides Naito then running boots him in the head as he hangs over the apron. Kanemaru slingshot sentons Naito for 2. Sanada suplexes Naito for 2 then Douki double armbars Naito and Naito ropebreaks. Douki enzugiri's Naito then Naito tornado ddt's him. Hiromu and Sanda get in. Hiromu headscissors him and shotgun dropkicks Kanemaru into him. Hiromu then dropkicks him for 2. Sanada hits nice leapfrogs and dropkicks Hiromu.

Sanada dragon sleepers Hiromu then Hiromu falcon arrows him. Bushi headscissors Sanada and knee dropkicks Kanemaru. Everyone gets in and Douki topes Naito into the rails. Sanada dragon sleeper swings Bushi and is nearly pinned then Sanada dragon sleepers Bushi for the win.

You know the deal with these matches. If there's 6 or more and it doesn't get 15, it'll be a rushed waste of time and that's mostly what it was. Not awful or anything but certainly nothing great.

IWGP Tag Team Title Match - Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) (c) vs. TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste)

We have all Australians here in a match. That feels like a rare event outside of Australia. Mikey headlocks Mark and Mark wins their shoulderblock battle. Shane and Kyle go at it and Shane armdrags him only to get slammed. Mikey is pulled over the top then Shane takes a double chop then a PK and senton. Mark slams and sentons Shane for 2.

Shane hurricanrana's Kyle then Mikey hits a ddt and a short ddt for 2. Kyle is thrown into the rails outside then is backdropped on the apron. Shane hits a nice dropkick on Kyle then Mikey chinlock Kyle. Kyle then takes a backdrop + neckbreaker combo. Kyle suplexes Shane.

Mark fights off a 2v1 and takes down both opponents. Mark steps off the 2nd rope to lariat an opponent then Kyle topes both outside. Mark hits a high backdrop on Mikey for 2. Mikey and Mark trade lariats and forearms. They go head to head and scream then lariat battle. Mikey death valley drivers him but is belly to belly suplexed. Mikey no sells it and they lariat each other down.  

Shane and Kyle trade chops then Shane misses a euro and takes a dragon suplex. Kyle running kicks Shane in the corner then does an orange crush for 2. AO gets sunset flipped at the same time then their opponents lariat them in the corner. AO try to do it and miss then ram their backs together. Everyone gets a move in and the sequence ends with Mark hitting an enzugiri on Shane.

Mikey is thrown into a kick then Shane is held up for a 2nd rope cutter. Shane ligerbombs Mark for 2. Mark takes lariats to the front and back then takes a high and low lariat combo. Kyle germans Mikey then flips him with a lariat. Kyle running kicks Mikey in the corner then Mikey is flipped off the reverse razor's edge for 2. Mikey is down and kicked around then Shane is double face kicked off the apron. Mikey takes a double kick and goes down. Shane top rope crossbodies AO then does a nice tope con hilo on both. Kyle takes slaps at the same time from both then takes a coriolis. They trade forearms on their knees then get up and trade them. TMDK get knocked off the apron.

Mark takes a back body drop on the apron then Kyle takes a lifting double team ddt on it. Mikey lifts Shane for a 2nd rope ddt for 2. Kyle is lifted for a double gorilla press but counters it with a double ddt. Shane takes a sandwich forearm and rolls up Kyle for 2. Mark enzugiri's Mikey then kicks him when he takes a tombstone. Shane then takes a kick into a piledriver. Shane takes a sandwich lariat and a coriolis then AO grab the win.

They tried for a classic here but didn't really get it. The match was okay but the crowd was not as into it as they should have been and it was just missing some of the intensity and emotion that it needed.

NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling Title Takagi-Style Triad Match - Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Taichi

 They shoulder battle to start. Shingo knocks him down then takes a boot and is thrown out. They trade chops then trade forearms for leg kicks. Shingo is thrown into the rails outside then Taichi goes into them. Both get sent into the post then Shingo hits his chop and punch combo inside. Taichi superkicks him then hits Kawada kicks.

Taichi running knees him and puts him in an abdominal stretch. Taichi has his back rammed into the apron then Shingo is back body dropped on the floor. Taichi ddt'd him on the floor then Shingo pins him to meet one of the requirements here at 10 minutes.

Shingo hits some elbows then does a gori special move. Shingo crossfaces him. Shingo death valley drivers him on the apron. They get in after a while and Taichi gedo clutches him to meet his pinfall requirement. Taichi running knees him in the corner then hits some kicks. Taichi throws off his pants. They trade backdrops then exchange lariats. Taichi enzugiri's him then powerbombs him.

Taichi running lariats him then hits a schwein. Shingo can't meet the 10 count and Taichi gets his KO reqirement. Shingo hits a made in Japan on Taichi then does a sliding lariat. They trade short arm lariats. Shingo piledrivers him with his arms behind his back then running lariats him. Shingo last falconry's Taichi and Taichi is KO'd to meet Shingo's KO requirement.

Shingo top rope death valley drivers him then grounded sleepers him. They tease having Kanemaru throw in the towel but Taichi hits the ropes. Shingo goes for a last falconry but both fall over. Shingo lariats him and takes a backdrop. Taichi high kicks him and both fall out of the ring. Shingo barely beats the count in with the announcer saying 20 but the ref not giving the signal for it. 

They trade chops to the head and neck. Shingo headbutts him and they trade shots. Taichi superkicks him then puts him in a stretch plum. Taichi enzugiri's him then has his other enzugiri lariated down. Shingo runs at him and takes a kick then Taichi stretch plums him. Shingo passes out and Taichi wins it at around 43 minutes.

It was very long with a lot of laying around and selling it. The match format kind of requires a longer match, but just because something is longer doesn't make it great. I didn't think it was awful, but 10-15 minutes could have been shaved off of this and I don't think it would have suffered.

Overall thoughts: Of what I saw, it was a good show. The main wasn't a classic but it was enjoyable as was the semi-main. The two opening matches I saw were decent as well.

AEW Rampage 4/28/2023

AEW Rampage 4/28/2023

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/aew-rampage-4222023.html

This aired early on Friday night.

Jay White and Juice Robinson vs Ricky Starks and Shawn Spears

The faces run down to the ring and pound on the heels. They fight outside then evetnually get back in. Starks double axe handles Juice's arm and then stands on hi throat while Spears makes gun shooting motions at Jay. Jay knees Spears as he hits the ropes then Juice hits a jumping side kick. Spears is dropped chest first on the apron.

We go to PiP break and return to Jay chopping up Spears. Spears hits a suplex then gets Starks in. Starks back body drops Juice then suplexes Juice. Starks lariats Juice over the top. Juice takes a superplex then Spears top rope splashes Juice. Spears hits a sky high on Jay for 2. Juice is thrown out and Starks jumps on him off the steps.

Spears superkicks Jay then Jay hits a blade runner on Spears and wins it.

This wasn't anything special and did nothing to put over Jay White. If anything, it seemed like this was designed to put over Shawn Spears, who will never be over.

Starks pounds on Jay after and Juice pulls him off to pound on Starks. Juice ends up running away and Jay says he owns the ring as the heels walk off.

This photo describes this segment well

The Hardy's and Hook are interviewed. Isaiah Kassidy is missing somehow and Matt asks where he is. Stokeley Hathaway and Lee Moriarty then say they beat him up at Applebees and we see Kass getting beaten up on scaffolding. Big Bill has Kass ready for a chokeslam and Page said their match is happening next week on Rampage at the Hardy Compound or else Kass gets it. Matt agrees and Page said he is a man of his word and tells Bill to let him go. Bill then chokeslams him off of it, though of course the camera doesn't show his landing and the scaffolding is wobbly, so it looked really lame.  Stoke says they will see them next week, but probably not Kassidy. Stoke says he will run through his house, turn every light on and right up the electrical bill. We then see Kassidy laying. Matt flips out while no one else seems to care and Hook says The Firm is getting deleted.

This angle was terrible. Kass getting thrown off looked bad and Matt being the only one who really seemed to care didn't help things. They also acted like we knew that Kassidy was missing somehow, when they never mentioned it on TV.

Keith Lee and Dustin Rhodes vs Brady Pierce and Charlie James

Lee continues to look like the grandpa from the Nutty Professor.

Dustin shoulders over Brady then takes a double backdrop. James starts dancing then takes a shoulder and goes down. Lee throws him across the ring then Lee hits a double clothesline. Lee then throws Dustin into their opponents. Lee then hits a sit out powerbomb and wins it.

This was just a squash. Tony really emphasized how much he likes this team. Well, that makes one person.

The Mogul Embassy comes out after with Parker and Trench missing. Despite having the 4v2 advantage, the Mogul Embassy opts not to attack.

Sammy Guevara is interviewed. Tay Melo walks in and tells him MJF is not his friend. Tay says she wants the best for him and asks if the child version of Sammy on his shirt would be proud of him giving away his world title shot. Tay asks why and says he doesn't need money nor does he even like MJF.

Anna Jay vs Ashley D'Amboise

Anna spin kicks her in the corner. Ash does an up and over then hits armdrags. Ash hits corner spears then takes a corner kick. Anna drops her throat over the top rope then stretches her over the post.

We go to PiP break then a full break. Anna neckbreakers her then put her in a grounded sleeper to win.

This was a short squash that was cut up by a commercial break.

The lights go out then Julia Hart appears and decks her from behind. Julia bangs her head off the floor. Julia is thrown into the post then is stretched around it.

The Outcasts do a promo. They said they don't care about Britt and Jamie and wear shirts with Britt's black eye on it. Saraya says she will whoop Willow like a dog and then they bark and say they will show why AEW is their house.

The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn vs Cameron Stewart, Rizin and ?

One of the jobbers runs into the Acclaimed as they enter and gets nailed. Bowens superkicks someone as he enters and one of them starts gesturing before Billy nails him. The Acclaimed hit the arrival and the mic drop and win it in this waste of time.

We get a split screen interview with FTR and Jay Lethal's crew. Jay says he will bust the bubble that FTR lives in tonight and says he and Jarrett will be the next tag champs. FTR says they know they will cheat. FTR said they will have Mark Briscoe at ringside to make sure Lethal's crew doesn't get what they want.

Cash Wheeler vs Jay Lethal

Jay stalls outside to start and hugs Mark Briscoe. Cash hits chops early then hits a euro. Jay shoulders him over and slams him twice. Cash hiptosses him and hits an armdrag. Jay knees him in the gut then Cash dropkicks him. Cash spears him hard on the ropes then back body drops him. Cash lariats Jay over the top and we go to PiP break.

We return after 4 minutes with Jay having Cash in an abdominal stretch. dutt tries to get involved and Mark pulls him out. Cash hiptosses Jaythen takes a stun gun. Jay goes for a top rope elbow but Cash gets his knees up. Cash euros Jay then powerslams Jay. Cash hits a tornado ddt for 2. Jay back body drops Cash then hits a lethal combination. Cash has Jay on his back in a gori special then slams him back. Dutt gets on the apron and Mark gets up there with him. Jay pushes Cash into Mark then hits a lethal injection and wins it.

The finish made sense for the story they are telling. Other than that, this was really cut up by the break like most Rampage main events are and there wasn't a ton left.

Overall thoughts: A very skippable edition of Rampage with no big or must see matches and tons of squashes.

WWE NXT Level Up 4/28/2023

WWE NXT Level Up 4/28/2023

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/wwe-nxt-level-up-4212023.html

Tyler Bate vs Luca Crusifino

Luca comes out to rip-off music from The People's Court and hands out business cards to people. He wrestles in a dress vest with a tie, with dress pants.

Luca headlocks him then Bate headlocks him and grabs his own foot to kick him. Bate split his legs and used his own feet to push them further apart. Bate keeps him in it and pulls out a business card. He tries to give it to him, Luca grabs his hand and is pulled up, adding to the pain. Luca tilt-a-whirl backbreakers him then chinlocks him.

Luca misses a tilt-a-whirl then Bate knees him and 2nd rope euros him from the corner. Bate airplane spins him then slams him. Luca is dizzy and falls over then Tiger does a tiger driver and wins it.

It was kind of a silly match but it was okay. The leg split spot was kind of neat and Luca wrestling in business attire is fun.

Tank Ledger and Hank Walker are interviewed. They said they met during lunch and said they ordered the same things. They shared their lunch and said their food tasted similar. Tank says Dyad are the green beans of the NXT tag division, but you want the ground beef and that's "Hanky-Tanky". They ask if Dyad are ready for the beef to close the promo.  Oh boy, this was uh something alright.

Ivy Nile vs Lola Vice

Lola dances on her way to the ring.

They lock up and they take each other down while tied up. They trade waistlocks and Ivy does a nice move into a pin attempt. They trade leg kicks then kick each other in the chest. Lola kicks her and then axe kicks her back for 2. Lola spin kicks her then hip attacks her in the corner.

Lola does a neat rings of saturn variation then Ivy high kicks and shoulders her. Ivy flying kicks her in the head then hits a gutwrench suplex. Ivy flips her into her dragon sleeper and Lola takes a bad looking fall as she submits.

This was a little messy towards the end but the two both do MMA offense and they weren't a bad match for each other. 

Hank Walker and Tank Ledger vs The Dyad

Hank pushes off Jagger to start then runs him over with a shoulder. Jagger comes off the top and is caught wit ha crossbody. Jaggers pull Hank's singlet then we get a 4-man standoff. Hank shoulders Rip over then Tank slams Rip. Tank flying shoulders Rip then Rip takes a double shoulderblock.

Ava gets on the apron for a distraction and Hank is rammed into the buckles. Hank suplexes Rip then Tank hits lariats on his opponents. Tank runs through a double clothesline and hits his own. Tank then hits a double fallaway slam and does his cartwheek into a splash. Tank high kicks Rip then Jagger enzugiri's Tank. Jagger is slammed onto his chest then Hank lifts him up with the full nelson and drops him backwards.

Rip pulls Hank out and nails him then Tank takes a double codebreaker for the Dyad win.

Wasn't a bad match at all. Hank and Tank are a fun team that I'm sure we will be seeing more of. 

Overall thoughts: Nothing must see, but this was a fun little show with Hank and Tank goofing around and Luca wrestling a match in his business outfit.

All Japan Pro Wrestling TV 1/23/1993

All Japan Pro Wrestling TV 1/23/1993

全日本プロレステレビ 1993年1月23日

Giant Baba, Takao Omori and Tamon Honda vs Kenta Kobashi, Jun Akiyama and Satoru Asako

You can see the fear on Baba's face

The finish

We join this in progress with Kobashi putting the crab on Honda. He then hits a stiff corner lariat and holds him so Asako can flip on him from the top. Asako bulldogs Honda then baseball slides him in the side of the head. Jun gets in and trades chops with Honda then slams him. Jun then sharpshooters him and Baba breaks it up. 

Honda suplexes Asako then Omori gets in. Asako dropkicks Omori out. He then cannonballs him off the apron. Kobashi hits chops on Omori then hits chops on Baba when he gets in. Baba chops him in the head then puts him in an octopus stretch. Kobashi rolls Honda around the ring and that is broken up too.

Jun back body drops Honda then elbow drops him. Asako crabs Honda when they get in and Omori breaks it up. Kobashi delay suplexes Honda for 2. Jun gets in and is backdropped by Honda then Baba hits chops on Jun. Jun backdrops Baba then Asako 2nd rope dropkicks Baba. Kobashi slams and legdrops Baba and Jun joins in.

This was a very fast paced tag match. The tags were happening so fast and frequently that it was easy to miss them. They kept it moving here and what we saw of this was fine.

Kobashi hits a stiff lariat on Baba for 2. Kobashi slams and the moonsaults on Baba for 2. Kobashi hits machine gun chops on Baba then Baba takes corner attacks from his opponents. Baba gets the boot up on Asako's corner attack and Honda top rope knee drops Asako. Omori top rope elbows Asako and wins it.

We have a Puroresu News segment. We see clips of Baba playing baseball and some shots of an exhibition on Baba's Giant's team with some of his baseball gear.

Richard Slinger vs. Ryukaku Izumida

We join this in progress with Izu missing a dropkick. Slinger sunset flips him then is powerslammed for 2. Slinger hits a nice backdrop then is thrown off the top. Izu hits a stiff lariat for 2. Izu slams him and misses a top rope moonsault. Slinger stomps on him, slams him and pump kicks him. Slinger then backdrops him for 2. Slinger slams him and top rope splashes him for the win.

What we saw wasn't bad at all, but that's what we saw. It's hard to know what we missed out on here but the crowd didn't seem real excited, so it might not have been much.

We go back to Puroresu News. They talk about Terry Gordy and show dropping Jun Akiyama on his neck. They then shill an All Japan theme song CD, which I actually have. It has the themes for Baba, Misawa, Hansen and all your AJPW favorites.

Mitsuharu Misawa vs Johnny Gunn

Gunn is Tom Brandi. Gunn headlock takeovers him and goes up and over in the corner and hits a japanese armdrag. Gunn crossbodies and armdrags him, then he keylocks him. Misawa hits some elbows then jumping front kicks him. Gunn comes back with chops and they trade forearms.

Misawa gutwrench suplexes him then front facelocks him. Gunn hammerlocks him then works a fujiwara armbar. Gunn hammerlock takedowns him. Misawa tries to make a comeback but takes a 2nd rope shoulderblock then a suplex. Misawa hits a forearm, a forearm out of the corner then a spinning high kick. Misawa running forearms him and puts in the facelock and wins via submission.

This was a pretty lame match and not exactly something you are going to see on a best of Misawa tape. Look, everyone knew Gunn wasn't winning and him putting basic holds on Misawa didn't do much to sell people on thinking differently. The finish was pretty lame and tame as well. This was just nothing but restholds. 

Toshiaki Kawada and Akira Taue vs Stan Hansen and John Nord

Kawada and Hansen trade shots to start. Hansen slams him then Kawada takes a running double shoulder block. Nord slams Kawada and chinlocks him. Kawada kicks him in the head while in the hold then Nord gives him the big boot. Hansen forearms Kawada and works his arm. Kawada reverses it into an AT lock then hits kicks.

Taue arm wringers Hansen. He rams the arm into the buckle, ties it around the ropes and fujiwara armbars it. Nord breaks it up then Taue armbars Hansen. Kawada kicks Hansen in the arm and drops knees on it. Taue hammerlocks Hansen's arm around the top rope and Hansen headbutts him. Hansen hits him with various strikesand rolls out. Kawada sends Hansen's arm into the post out there.

Taue takes Hansen into the seats and then puts his shoulder into the post. Taue works the arm and takes a backdrop. Taue kicks him while laying on the mat and fujiwara armbars him again. Hansen hits headbutts then Nord flying shoulders Taue. Taue is thrown out and takes a running facekick then Nord slams Taue on the floor.

Nord backdrops Taue in the ring then hits chops and clubs on him. Nod does a camel clutch variation on him. Taue takes a double shoulder. Hansen crabs Taue then Nord stomps Taue. Hansen elbow drops Taue then hits stiff forearms. Hansen misses a corner charge and goes over the top. Nord backdrops Taue.

Kawada gets in and hits kicks on both opponents. He uses the 2nd rope to kick Hansen then 2nd rope kneedrops him. Kawada takes a hard back elbow then a legdrop from Nord. Nord misses a 2nd rope splash and Taue is in. Nord slams Taue then Taue takes a double suplex. Nord takes a back drop + chokeslam combo for 2. Taue then ddt's Nord for 2. Taue hits a chokeslam on Taue and wins it.

The armwork on Hansen didn't really lead to anything. The crowd wasn't super into it and they just worked the match weird. Hansen should have been the face here and made the big comeback, but Taue and Kawada were in that role and it just messed up the whole dynamic of the match.

Overall thoughts: While one might think the reality of All Japan was constant classic matches, a show like this was more of the true reality. Not everything always hit and even some of the best workers ever had clunkers here. The main was disappointing and Gunn/Misawa was not good at all.

Ring of Honor on Honor Club Episode #9 4/27/2023

Ring of Honor on Honor Club Episode #9 4/27/2023

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/ring-of-honor-on-honor-club-episode-8.html

I skipped one match here.

Proving Ground Match - Athena vs Lady Frost

Athena headlock takeovers her Forst handsprings and backflips then Athena misses a dropkick. Frost rolls and back flips into a headscissors takedown. Frost tries to go up and over in the corner but is kicked and senton'd. Athena slaps her around then takes shots. Athena then backbreakers her.

They trade chest forearms then Frost back kicks her. Frost step up kicks her in the corner then hits a forward cartwheel into a cannonball. Frost hangs from the top rope and is hit and then put in a facelock as she hangs. Frost spinning high kicks her then does a top rope corkscrew moonsault. Athena grabs onto the ropes so she can't be pinned.Athena is pulled from the ropes and hits a big forearm and wins it.

Athena then pounds on her after.

Lady Frost is much better than Athena and I don't know why they had her not only lose, but not go the needed time to get the title shot either. I thought Frost was good here and she carried this one.

The Kingdom do a promo. Bennett says this is Ring of Honor and says ROH means something to them. Taven said they should have gotten a title shot at Final Battle but had to fight Top Flight instead. Mike said he's tired of people like Action Andretti and Top Flight using their company as a step stool. Matt says other teams took their moment at Supercard of Honor. Maria said she would never forget having things taken from her and Matt said they want revenge on every team in the Supecard of Honor ladder match. They said they built what they are, brick by brick. They said when people talk about Ring of Honor, they talk about something built. They said they will teach them what Ring of Honor means and said if they don't get the honor they deserve, they will take it. 

LFI (Rush and Preston Vance) vs  The Infantry

Vance flips off Bravo then takes chops. Vance pump kicks him then hits shots in the corner. Vance his corner lariats then spinebuters him. Vance full nelsons Bravo and Dean breaks it up. Vance double lariats The Infantry then spinning lariats Dean. Bravo then gets a spinning lariat. Rush does a stiff dropkick on Bravo in the corner and picks up the win.

It was a short squash. I don't know how much this is really going to accomplish since these two haven't really teamed together much. Rush's dropkick was nice here and I liked Vance's spinning lariats.

Best Friends vs Joe Ocasio and Mookie Summers

Joe throat thrusts Trent to start and hits shots on him in the corner. Trent backdrops him then pounds on him with forearms. Joe is thrown into the rails by Chuck then takes a lariat. Mookie forearms chuck then is popped up into a powerbomb. Chuck piledrivers Joe then Mookie takes a flying kick doomsday device for the loss.

This was a squash and I really have no idea why this needed to be on here.

Brian Cage vs Leon Ruffin

Cage drives him into the corner to start and hits spears. Cage hits a big belly to belly. Leon goes for a tornado ddt but is caught. Leon kicks him from the apron then top rope crossbodies him. Leon is caught and powerslammed. Cage goes for the F-5 but Leon ddt's him out of it. Leon does his rope escape then springboard cutters him. Cage hits a big spinning lariat, a powerbomb and a powerbomb on the knee. Cage then does a very stiff texas cloverleaf variation and wins it.

This was just a short squash here with Leon getting a couple things in before his doom.

They had Vincent and Dutch come out on the ramp after the Dark Order's match, which is the one match I didn't cover.

Christopher Daniels is interviewed. He said he knows what its like to be at the top and bottom and says he is at his all-time low right now. He said nothing comes easy in an ROH ring and said he has to earn everything he wants. He said he's not going to take baby steps and is swinging at the fences. He brings up Samoa Joe. He said they have a history drenched in blood and have been friends and enemies. He said he wants his title. He said he's ready to go and not afraid of him. He said he is challenging him for the title.

Skye Blue vs Diamante

They shoulder each other and Dia knocks her over. They try pin attempts then Dia baseball slides her off the apron. Dia backbreakers her then Skye hits a forearm. Skye dropkicks her then top rope crossbodies her for 2. Skye swing kicks her from the mat. They fight on the apron then Dia germans her on the apron. Dia corner dropkicks her for 2. Dia goes for a suplex, slides out of a full nelson and Skye pins her.

They had a lot of sloppy moments here and what we did get wasn't good. The ending wasn't real good either.

Athena comes out after and stomps Skye's hat on the ramp.

Rocky Romero vs Lee Moriarty

Rocky 2nd rope double stomps him as he is over the 2nd rope early. Rocky goes for a springboard but he is distracted by Big Bill outside. Lee then hits him and drives him into the rails. Bill then takes a shot at Rocky outside.

Lee splits Rocky's fingers then Rocky hits a springboard ddt. Rocky hits corner lariats then Lee criss crosses and lariats him. Lee lifting flatliners him. Rocky armbars him then Lee puts him in a border city stretch. Rocky rolls him up then hits a pumping knee.

They trade kicks and Rocky hits a back enzugiri. Rocky hurricanrana's him off the steps then does a shiranui for 2. Lee tries to powerbomb him but is lariated over the top. Rocky then tries to tope him but hits Big Bill instead. Bill grabs Rocky and chokeslams him on the apron, and he hits his neck on it. Lee then leg lariats him and wins it.

Good for them giving Lee the win even if it was through cheating. I didn't think this was anything special.

Rocky Romero does a promo on Lee. He said he could be ROH champion. He said he got the win due to Big Bill and said next week they need to meet in a pure rules match so he can get a pure @ss whooping next week.

Gringo Loco vs Blake Christian

Loco headflips then Blake does the same right behind him and poses. Loco pushes him and gets piefaced. Blake flips over him, rolls under him then they each avoid each others moves. Blake hits a headscissors and sends him out. He lands on a fosbury flop attempt on his feet then Loco tope con hilos him. Blake spears him on the apron then hits a fosbury flop.

Loco spinning enzugiri's him then takes an enzugiri. Blake hits a handspring back enzugiri then Loco superkicks him in the gut. Loco then hits a sitout powerbomb out of the electric chair for 2. They go up top and Loco hits a reverse olympic slam up there for 2.

Blake hits a standing spanish fly then springboard 450's him for the win.

They did too much here but they matched up okay otherwise. Lots of unnecessary flips here.

They show a classic match from 2005 to finish the show, but I won't be covering that here. I think they had just ran out of new footage so they cut this one short.

Overall thoughts: You can say what you want, but ROH having to show classic matches to fill time in its 9th episode is not a good look. AEW has way too much money to be doing stuff like that. The show really wasn't that good as it was mostly squashes and short matches. They set up Rocky Romero vs Lee Moriarity for next week and they are teasing an Athena/Skye Blue match at some point, but there's really not a lot going on in this promotion right now otherwise. There's no excuse for it either as they have enough wrestlers and they have enough money to run an additional taping if they need to.