AEW Double Or Nothing 2026 Review 25.5.26.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

Intro.

As this year has gone on, and the Summer is slowly creeping in. AEW has continued its solid run as we head on the rd to Wembley Stadium. It's no secret that AEW has had a better creative run when compared to WWE of late. This is down to two factors in my opinion. In WWE at the moment it seems like their lazor focus has gone, this means that AEW have some clear leverage when it comes to fan perception. with the second being the fact there storytelling also won't suffer. In WWE at the minute it's hard for me to feel fully invested in anything that they put forward. This  is not a hate speech against WWE, this is the way that I look at this industry. I think it's important that AEW keeps this in mind, because as the Summer is starting to heat up, there in ring product needs to maintain it's cool hand in order to become no1 in the playground.

I Quit Street Fight Adam Copeland And Christian Cage vs FTR.

When I watched this at 8am in the morning. One of the things that came to my mind was the fact that the look on all four mens face said everything. This felt final, and it needed to be. This was a fantastic plunder Match, that was centred around the theme of family. The Mania 17 call backs were a nice touch, because this Match took me back to that time, as Copeland battered Dax Harwood with a ladder. Christian refused to say I quit in the only way that he knows how, by telling Cash Wheeler to f*** off, and then revealing that he's had sex with both of FTR's mums. The levels of violence was elevated when Beth Copeland came out, and was nearly put through a fire table, and even though my stance on violence against women has never changed, this actually made sense, because Stokeley was the one who ended up taking the bump. This was another call back to Manias past, because this happened on the show that Mick Foley was confirmed as All Elite. The weapon spots made sense as the violence gave room for the Match to breathe. This allowed for the final sequences to set the stage for the Match to come to an end. Copeland put a spike flavoured crossface on Dax Harwood, and made him say the words I quit. I liked this. Many critics are calling this one of the best Matches on the card, and even though I did like it. I don't think it's on that level, and it's because this Match needed a couple more minutes in my opinion.

Kazuchika Okada vs Konosuke Takeshita AEW International Championship.

To quite a lot of fans, this looked like a Dream Match, and I was one of those fans, because had a lot of promise going into it, and oh my, oh my, this didn't disapoint. It's also worth noting that when you isolate these type of Matches when they're happening. You've got to remember that Pro Wrestlers are running a marathon, and not a sprint, so this played into the urgentcy of the early going. This was a stylistic look at both Japanese styles that both men inhabit. This was my most anticipated Match on the card, and as I watched both men kicked out of brainbusters, and. rainmakers, I was reminded of the fact that, their bag of tricks was being dragged out for fan enjoyment, because as the Match went on, the fans grew louder. This New York crowd was onfire last night, and this elevated the work from both men. Konosuke got the win, and is the new AEW International Champion, but the drama wasn't done after the Match had finished, because in the aftermath Kyle Fletcher made his return to AEW. The Don Callis Family all left the ring, and Protoshita were left in the ring together, and then it happened. Kyle raised the hand of his former tag team partner, and then smacked him with the belt. The heel has gone even more down the heel rabbit hole. I loved this Match, and I would reccomend anyone to check this out.

Mina Shirakowa vs Athena Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter Finals.

I'm going to be honest, this Match was decent, but I think it would've been better placed on Dynamite. This is nothing against the ladies. I just felt this Match got lost in the echo. And if i'm being honest, I think I might be right. Mina got the win, and has advanced to the semi finals.

Jon Moxley vs Kyle O'reilly AEW Continental Championship.

I'm going to be honest. I've heard a lot of fans online say that this Match was one of the best on the card, and i've got to state my case. I think this was miles better than the Match that they had last Wednesday on Dynamite, however this outweighed my expectations. Is this a Match of the year Contender, well no, what we got was a solid hard hitting affair, in which the story of the Match, being the theme of game recognising game, working well within the confines of the no time limits stipulation. Jon got the win, and retained his Continental Championship. I think we need another round at Forbidden Door next month.

Will Osperay vs Samoa Joe. Owen Hart Tournament Quarter Finals.

This was another Match of the night contender. I'm fascinated by the direction that AEW is taking Will Osperay down, and you could tell that it's working, as his heel turn is slowly starting to cook. Will has said that the Triple Threat Match that featured AJ Styles. Samoa Joe, and. Christopher Daniels in TNA from 2005, is the reason that he's even a Pro Wrestler, because of how it impacted his future career path. As a fan of this sport for over thirty years of my life. I do love it when differant styles make Matches. This is a perfect case and point. This was another Dream Match. Everything from Joe not selling moments of wills offence, the debuting of Wills new asthetic, and even though overall outcome was predictable. The physicality of Will being groomed by The Deathriders is one of the best things in Pro Wrestling at this minute. Will got the win, and the rise of Wills heel turn is going to shape the industry going forward. Some fans want Will to headline Wembley Stadium in August, and if i'm being honest I just want to see him in an incredibly well told story that can go head to head with the main event scene, because  if AEW can manage this properly, then they will see the tickets rise. Creative needs to be clear, and cohesive.

Swerve Strickland vs Bandido Owen Hart Tournament Semi Final.

I think that this might be my second Match of the night. This was simply sensational, and a fantastic effort from both men. Most of you that read my work will know that I also love MMA, and I have a love for Surfing documentaries. One of my favourites is The Billabong Obyssey, now I know what you're all thinking, what do both of these things have to do with any of this? well let me explain. Styles are known to make fights, and when Surfers are in competition, they seem to spend time looking at how other competitors work, this is called making magic happen, and wanting to be the best, and being a step ahead of their own game. This is the perfect way to describe both Swerve Strickland, and. Bandido. I could sit here and wax lyrical about how both examplified what the term fighting spirit means, when it comes to this Match, but that would do it a diservice. There exchanges, and sequences were gold, and as the final moments came. Swerve advanced, and I could've done with 5 minutes more of this. I loved this Match.

AEW Womens World Championship Four Way Thekla vs Kris Statlander vs Jamie Hayter vs Hikaru Shida.

I liked this. When you look at this Match, the Matches within the Match were solid, and the chemistry between all four women was great to see, however this Match fell a bit short in length, and as a result the Match suffered. Thekla retained.

Stadium Stampede Match Jericho. The Elite And The Hurt Syndicate vs The Demand The Dogs And Andrade El Idolo And Mark Davis.

As I watched this Match earlier on this morning. I had to take a step back, because when the first one happened, we were all in lockdown. due to the covid 19 pandemic. Fast forward six years, and AEW are bringing back this stipulation after a three year break. I was at All In 2023 when the last one took place. Even though i'm not the biggest fan of Jericho these days for reasons that I can't talk about, this was a lot of fun. When these plunder Matches come around, I always struggle when it comes to writing about them, because so much happens, to the point that I struggle to keep up. The weapon induced chaos made sense, and the backstage moments involving Lio Rush frightening Bobby Lashley, Jack Perry commiting near manslaughter, and a brawl in the merch area, leading to a near food fight in the catering area, which made me think that Satnam Singh loves Cake. When you add this in with the work in the ring, like Shopping carts being used, inconjunction with chair shots, and table spots, this became a chaotic masterpiece, because poor Bishop Khan had to take seven superkicks, as the babyfaces got the win. Also the entrances were great. Kenny Omega looks cool being soundtracked to Metallica. I'm just going to say it Metallica rule.

MJF vs Darby Allin AEW World Heavyweight Championship.

The entrances on this night have been a study in contrast, and this was the main case and point. Max walked past some clippers, because if he lost, then he would lose his Golden esc locks, whilst Darby took solace in the underground sewers of New York City. This could have gone south in the early going, when Darby attempted a torpe suiceda, only for his feet to catch the middle rope, giving him a concerning bump to his neck. Darby was able to get to his feet. This became the story of the Match, as Darby's body was starting to fail him. This Match is also the standard that AEW has set for themselves, when you look at this Match, because both men were original day one guys, when the company came into starlight from a dream. They played back moments from there history, which dated back to Full Gear 2021. There exchanges were excellent, and it bled into how the Match finished. Darby took an insane dive from the top of the scaffolding onto Max who was placed on a table below. This also left Darby cut open on the back of his head. This played into the final exchange, and how it played out. Max got the win with a Piledriver, and side headlock combo. Then it happened. Kevin Knight came out, and then attacked his friend, who was also trained by Darby's mentor Buddy Wayne, after Max tried humiliate Darby further,  by wrecking him whilst he was on the stretcher being taken out the arena, with a UFO Squash. This was excellent.

Overview Of AEW Double Or Nothing 2026.

I've heard a lot of fans call this one of AEW's best ever PPV's, and if i'm being honest. I don't think that this comes up with the likes Double Or Nothing 2021. All Out 2021. All In 2023, and. Revolution 2022. This was an incredibly good show with some Match of the year contenders, but when you dig beneath the surface. The direction coming off the back of this, we need to see were they go, and after that I would make my ranking.

AEW Double Or Nothing 2026 is a high 9/10.

 AEW Dynamite Review 21.5.2026.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

The Young Bucks and Chris Jericho Go Sight Seeing, And Trios Match Against Ricochet. Mark Davis And Andrade El Idolo.

I'm just going to say it, the name Bucks Of Jericho is one of the worst names that i've ever heard in my life, and Y2Jackson is even more horrible. However the view of them standing near what looked a seaside pier was beautiful. Even though i'm not the biggest fan of Chris Jericho these days, due to reasons that I can't talk about online, I've got to abmit that his performance last night was good. The Matches within the Match flowed quite easily, and this is what you need to do if you're going to open up the show this way. The near falls were excellent, but then came the finish. The Dogs came out, and attacked The Bucks with a shaleleigh, allowing Ricochet to get the pin over Matt Jackson. This led to one hell of a fight all over the arena, as Jack Perry made everyone cry with onions, and The Hurt Syndicate just wanted to wreck everyone in sight. This was a lot of fun, however the end to the Match was terrible.

Darby Allin Worries Me.

I don't know about you guys, but I think that Darby Allin is an insane person, and I love it. More on this guy later on.

Tommaso Ciampa vs Mark Briscoe Anything Goes.

I might in the minority, but I think that AEW do plunder Matches better than anyone in the business, when you compare them to how WWE layout their Street Fights. From rat traps. barbwire, multiple table and chair shots, and a cheese grater being used to the point that it has put me off from having a pizza for my dinner tonight. This was a bloodstained masterstroke of TV booking, and by far the Match of the night. Mark got the win with a froggy bow.

Swerve Strickland Returns.

Prince Nana was on some serious smoke, last night he was rude to Tony Schiavone, and then brought out his boss Swerve Strickland. Swerve came out to the ring, but he attacked by Bandido. The fans sounded well up for this, as it showed a good 50/50 balance, when Swerve thought back. I liked this.

Willow Nightingale Segment.

Ok this is were I have to give you guys some bad news. Willow Nightingale is going to be out for quite sometime, this is due to an injury that she suffered whilst working a Match on Collision against Red Velvet, this means that she's out of the Owen Hart Tournament, and has also had to vacate the TBS Championship. It's unclear how long she will be out for. From what I heard you could hear a gasp in the crowd.

Jon Moxley vs Kyle O'reilly Continental Championship Eliminator. 

I didn't like this. I know some people liked this Match, but this wasn't for me. I think that it had a difficult task placed against it, given the position on the card that it had. The problem that I had was this, it was far two lofi, and it didn't get to the point quick enough, but then again, maybe this was the point given the fact that the pair will meet again this coming Sunday at Double Or Nothing. This ended in a time limit draw, and Kyle then cut a solid promo on Jon in the aftermath. Jon answered this back later in the broadcast.

Rudeness Is Not What Is Needed.u

Rudeness isn't needed. First Prince Nana cuts off Tony Schiavone, and Hikaru Shida is interrupting Renee Paquette. I'm starting to feel like the time when Peter Frampton did a guest voice on The Simpsons. Shida is in my cooler.

8 Women Tag Team Match.

Athena, and. The Triangle Of Madness, beat. The Brawling Birds. Mina Shirakowa, and. Thunder Rosa, in what was a fun Match, that was starkly under booked.

Darby Allin vs Speedball Mike Bailey AEW World Heavyweight Championship.

I've got to sayt it. The rise of Speedball Mike Bailey is something that needs to be studied, because how he's got into the mainstream of the Pro Wrestling world is awesome. I've watched him since his day working on the indy scene, and in TNA, so seeing him in a main event slot on a weekly TV show is pretty cool. I loved this. Mike, and. Darby have got chemistry, and i've been looking forward to see this Match, because I knew this would be awesome. And I was right. I loved the physicality, and having MJF on commentary insulting Excalibur, and being a genuine pain was funny. Darby retained, and then Kevin Knight took to the mic, and praised his friend. This looks a heel turn in the making, and I can't wait to see it.

Overview Of AEW Dynamite. 

I'm just going to start by saying, that I've had to cut off looking at Collision, because I simply just don't have time. So I decided to just take a look at Dynamite. This was a great edition of weekly tv, and a good way to send AEW into this Sunday, and beyond.

This weeks AEW Dynamite is a high 8/10.

 Classic UFC 101 Declaration PPV Breakdown.

Written By Patrick O'malley

Intro.

This past few weeks hasn't been very easy for me, because at the start of the month I was trying to get over a nasty feeling flu. This meant that i've had to miss the past three UFC shows, this is due to the fact that It took longer to get over, because I was tired for a long time. I'm all right now, and feeling 100% again. I wanted to give you guys something that is quite in depth, so I decided to go back and watch one of my favourite UFC PPV's. UFC 101 Declaration. I know what you're all thinking, why this PPV Patrick, well let me tell you something, this was one of the first events that I watched with my own family, as I tried to educate them on the sport of MMA. The year was 2009. Justin Bieber had just been signed to a major label. The film 500 days Of Summer was on record to became a lofi success story, given the fact that it was made with a minor budget, when you look at the budgets of bigger films of the time, and Radiohead headlined that years Reading festival. But what was going on with the worlds biggest fight organisation, well they were breaking ground across the world, by the time that the year was out, they had celebrated 100 PPV's, and had travelled all over the globe, proving the fact that MMA is on the rise, as the sport grew, and grew, and grew. This PPV was a look at the future of one divsion, as a former champ was starting to slow down. So sit back, and enjoy my guys, and girls, because this one is going to be interesting.

Josh Neer vs Kurt Pellergrino. ( Lightweight Division ).

This fight is a clear look at how a fighter should utilise the groundgame philosophy. Kurt owned Josh in the first round on the ground, whilst Josh tried to stay standing. The second round saw this philosophy come even more into the light. Kurt continued to be dominant on the ground, and Josh was starting to not have an answer for how to come back. And in the third round this was evidently clear, as Kurts onslaught of how manipulate his jiu jitsu groundgame was starting to come undone, as Josh managed to get in some office, but it was too little too late, as Kurt got the win. Kurt would leave the UFC in 2011, and then take a fight with Bellator, before retiring shortly after. He now works as a coach. Josh Neer would also leave the UFC, but two years later in 2013, and would go on to take fights in several fight promotions, some being unsanctioned. I must stress that unsanctioned fights are highly dangerous, and deemed unsafe in MMA. I do not condone unlegalised fights in anyway shape or form.

Kendall Grove vs Ricardo Almeida ( Middleweight Division ).

In the early stages of the first round, you could easily be forgiven that this would be an easy win for the former Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall Grove, this wasn't the case. Both men tried to keep things standing, whilst Ricardo managed to take his side control whilst standing. You could argue that both men took major points from the first round, whilst Kendall was a clear favourite heading into the second round. He managed to keep Ricardo at Bay with two submission attempts, after Ricardo made some detrimental mistakes. The third round made me think that I would hate to be an MMA Judge, because this round for me was quite difficult to score, and you could tell that both fighters wanted to try and finish strong, after having a solid start. Ricardo got the win, and then it hit me, his stand up in the third got this result over the line. In 2011 Kendall would leave the UFC, and go on to fight for other promotions, before retiring in January of 2023. Ricardo Almeida retired from Mixed Martial Arts in 2011, and as of 2026 works as a Jiu Jitsu instructor.

Johny Hendricks vs Amir Saddolah ( Welterweight Division ).

This fight was over in less than 30 seconds. Johny beat Amir in quick succession. Johny would go on to become the UFC Welterweight Champion in March of 2014, after he beat Ruthless Robbie Lawler for vacant belt, after George Saint Pierre stepped away from MMA in the after of there fight at UFC 167, which pissed off Dana White. Since he retired from MMA in 2018. Johny Hendricks had a short stint in Bare Knuckle boxing. He now works as a Wrestling Coach in Texas. Amir Saddolah left the world of MMA behind him, after he got cut from the UFC in late 2015. He hasn't come back to the fight scene, and is now prioritising his private life as his main focus.

Shane Nelson vs Aaron Riley. ( Lightweight Division )

This was by far the worst fight on the card. The first round was centred around both mens excellent stand up, however this was a problem, because when they went to the ground, neither fighter managed to advance their settings. This would be a problem as the second round started. When Shane went to the ground, he failed to gain any form of momentum. This would be detrimental as the third round kicked off. Aaron took him to the ground, and was starting to lay in some ground and pound, however the punches and elbows that he threw did nothing to abvance his position, and as the final 10 seconds klaxon sounded you could  make the case that neither fighter had any form of urgentcy in there bodies. Aaron got the win, and all I was left feeling was letdown, because this fight was a lifeless shell. The former UFC Ultimate Fighter contestant was released from the company not long after this fight, after losing both of his fights on his two fight contract, Whilst Aaron Riley retired from the sport in the summer of 2013. I couldn't out much info on him from after this point.

Anderson Silva vs Forrest Griffin ( Light Heavyweight Division ).

This fight didn't make it out of the first round, because Anderson would knocked Forrset out. Now we all know about the legal struggles of Anderson, and i've covered them before so I won't go down that route, so I'm going to talk about what happened to Forrest in the aftermath of this fight. He would go on to have a mixed bag relationship with the sport, stating a mixed fight record in his final years with the promotion, before retiring in late 2012.

BJ Penn vs Kenny Florian UFC Lightweight Championship. 

When this fight got confirmed back in May of 2009. I was excited to see it. Some have called this one of the worst BJ Penn fights, but if you ask me I don't think it was that bad. BJ Penn has one of the most unauthordox fighting styles in the history of the sport, so it was interesting to see him fight Kenny Florian, who was known for his Wrestling. BJ is known for his Jiu Jitsu groundgame, so on paper this looked slick, and this was how the fight played out. The first round showcased BJ's excellent boxing, whilst Kenny tried to hold him against the cage for the first round. The second round saw both men own the centre of the cage, with BJ landing the better of the exchanges. Interesting fact, BJ Penn taught Grey Maynard this same technique during his time coaching him on the Ultimate Fighter, so it was cool to see the master using his skills. The third round looked a bit more measured, and you could sense this both fighters looked exhausted. The fight went to a fourth round, and it was here when Kenny made a serious mistake, allowing BJ to lay in the choke for the retention. In the years that followed BJ would go on to lose his belt to Frankie Edgar, and then in the rematch had an even worse performance, he would then go on to have a disasterous run with the promotion over the following years, whilst Kenny retired in 2012, and then went into TV presenting, in which he hosted Battlebots. Which as a sci fi fan wasn't actually a bad show, so take that online haters.

Overview Of This show. 

I had fun watching this PPV back for the first time in a long time, and as a big UFC fan, It's great to see were fighters are now, and how these fights shaped the industry going forward.

UFC 101 comes highly recomended at 8/10.

 WWE Monday Night Raw Review. 19.5.2026.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

The Bloodline Saga Kick Off The Show.

Adam Pearce was in for hell of a night, and it started off greating Roman when he got out of his hummer. Adam told Roman that after last week Jacob needs to be let go. Roman told Adam that he only wants 2 minutes with his cousin. In the background Jacobs music started to play, because he was on his way out to the ring. Jacob called him out, but all he got was The Usos. Big Jim talked some truth, as the look on Jacobs face rose from annoyed to anger. He attacked Jimmy applying the Tongan Deathgrip around his throat. Jey tried to help by smacking Jacob with a chair, only for Jacob to turn on him, and the look on Jeys face said that he messed up. Roman made the save, and his cousins took over. Roman left, and Jacob was left in muddle in the middle of the ring. Adam stood with Roman at the top of the rampway, trying to keep the peace, and Jacob then issued the Challenge of Tribal Warfare, as Roman looked on with concern on his face. I loved this opening. It got straight to the point, and it made Jacob look weak, which is something that this feud has needed from the start.

Superstar Arrivals.

Seth Rollins. Oba Femi, and. The Judgement Day were all see showing up to work for there shifts.

Finn Balor vs JD Mcdonagh Street Fight.

This Match pretty much examplified my issues with this stipulation. This Match didn't feel very original, and it's not the fault of the performers, it's the fault of the bookers. Let me explain. I'm not saying that we should go back to the days of Randy Orton vs Mick Foley, of Cactus Jack vs HHH, but this stipulation has become incredibly predictable, and stagnant. Because if you watch a Street Fight if it's on a PLE or standard TV, they all feel the same. This stipulation needs a new flow of blood. This Match fell into all of these traps, and it was sad to see. Finn got the win, and at this point I just want this feud to come to an end.

Seth Rollins Segment.

Kathy Kelley was backstage interviewing Seth Rollins, and I got the feeling that he's not done with The Vision ( sigh ) and he wants another run against Bron Breakker. Put Paul Heyman has other ideas, and puts Austin Theory in his place. This is another feud that needs to just stop.

Becky Lynch And Sol Ruca Segment.

Byron Saxton was backstage interviewing Sol Ruca, that was until Becky lynch turned up. This was a tease for something that I want to see, but we didn't get it last night, because it's coming at SNME. Sol Ruca vs Becky Lynch for the WWE Womens Intercontinental Championship, yes please WWE. There in ring promo was decent.

OG Elgrande Americano and The Credo Brothers vs Los Americanos And Elgrande Americano.

I'm not going to lie. I'm not the biggest fan of AAA because I just don't get time to watch it, but this feud is one of the best things going in all of Pro Wrestling, because it's just a lot of fun. Los Americanos and Elgrande got the win. 

I'm Hungry. 

I've got a ritual before I sit down to watch AEW, and. WWE on weekday mornings. I go downstairs and make my breakfast of Toasted Sausage and Bacon Bagels. We don't have Doordash in the UK so I have to use my imagination. I do love a nice Bagel, and then washed down with Cherry flavoured Lucozade. I know what you're all thinking. Patrick do you like the thought of grease? Well yes.

LA Knight Is Back.

LA Knight is back, and he's annoying The Usos, and you know what i've missed this man. Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaah.

Ethan Page Gets Interviewed My Michael Cole.

I didn't like this. It didn't offer anything new, and was completely pointless. I normally like these type of segments, but this one missed the target.

Roxanne Perez And Raquel Rodriguez vs Paige And Brie WWE Tag team Championship.

I didn't like this. The in ring work felt flat, and incredlibly pedestrian. The Champs retained, and the beatdown angles from Liv Morgan, and. Bayley and. Lyra that came after was another predictable thing that happened on this broadcast.

Oba Femi Open Challenge.

I hated this. Look this is nothing against Oba Femi, because you guys know my thoughts on Brock Lesnar. Brock vs Oba at Clash In Italy. Oba deserves better than this. In the aftermath of there WrestleMania Match. Brock left his gloves in the ring, which signalled the end of his career, and I was one of them that bought into this. However there were people in the Pro Wrestling media like Dave Meltzer, and Sean Ross Sapp, who both said that this could be a roose, and they were right. I think he will bow out at Summerslam which is in his home of Minnesota this year against Gunther. I personally don't care for Brock due to the alligations that are against his name.

Seth Rollins vs Austin Theory.

You guys know that i'm going to give you my honest thoughts, and opinions. This Match was terrible, but it did have it's promises, for instance Bron vs Seth needs a round two, because even though i didn't like their first Match, other fans did like it, so you could make the arguement that the storyline needs to continue. On the other hand we've got the seperation of The Street Prophets, which is a move that WWE has needed to make for sometime. The Match however was an under booked disaster that fell into the path of obscurity, and overall predictability. Seth got the win, and the aftermath left me feeling baffled, because it was a painful build to what we might get at Clash In Italy. This to me was a copmplete misfire, and it never recovered.

Overview Of This Weeks WWE Monday Night Raw.

This weeks WWE Monday Night Raw was a complete letdown, with minor things that I enjoyed. Roman Reigns, and. Jacob Fatu's rivalry got to a good stage, and LA Knight coming back after a break can only be seen as a good thing in my opinion. This was a newsworthy episode of weekly TV, but at what cost did it come at. This wasn't for me.

This weeks WWE Monday Night Raw is  4/10.

 My 5 Top 5 Most Underrated Ultimate Fighter Fights To Have Taken Place On The Show.

Writtten By Patrick O'malley.

Intro.

The term underrated used to get thrown around a lot when I was growing up, especially when it came to music. A good example is this. My favourite Rage Against The Machine album is The Battle Of Los Angeles, whilst this has been argued over the years, with most fans saying that there debut is the best thing that they've ever done. The UFC discussion around it's reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter has kind of gone the same way, when it comes to talking about the fights, that we all like to go back and watch again, and again, and again. This is just my take at some of the fights that have gone under the radar, when it comes to this show.

5. Shana Dobson vs Roxanne Modaferri season 26. ( Flyweight Division )

When this fight got announced on 26th season of The Ultimate fighter, I was excited to see it, because it was a look at were two of standouts were going to go. Roxanne tried her hand at getting her hands on The Ultimate Fighter prize during her time on the 18th season of the show, but she came up short in her preliminary fight. She went on to then go and hone her skills in Invicta, whilst Shana Dobson worked on the indy scene, and become a standout working on the national scene. This fight never made out of the first round, but the reason that it has made it on this list is because, within the few minutes of action that we did see, both ladies showed how much they wanted it, but it was Roxanne who got the win by Submission. This is one of those fights that you can't turn your eyes away from. Even though this fight didn't last long, I think it's a gift when two competitors give their everything to the aim of getting the win.

4. Dustin Niece vs Akira Korisani season 14. ( Featherweight Division )

When I watched this fight during the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter. I remember getting the feeling that in house tension being played for the world to see, and I was right, because these two men couldn't stand each other. Both men went back and forth with each other in the house, and came to blows at the fight announcement, you knew that this was going to be good. This was a crazy war that didn't let up, from Dustin exposing Akira's poor groundgame, and nearly ending the fight early on, only for him to let go because he couldn't wait for Herb Dean to step in. The second round saw Akira keep things standing, and this was when the fight started to change, and some might say that the fight was won on the feet. Akira managed to bounce back, and exposed Dustins awkward stance towards the stand up game. Akira in the second round managed to take Dustin to the ground, but when you look at the strikes that Dustin took, then the fight was done by the end of the second round. Akira got the win by Unanamous decision.

3. Nicko Shipczak vs Demarques Johnson Season 9 ( Welterweight Division )

This was a fight that was very tight, and snug, and just waiting to explode. I'm going to be honest I couldn't score this fight. The first round was based around their pace, this meant that Demarques could work his groundgame, as Nicko tried to keep things standing. This would be the theme of the second round. Both men threw hands, and went to the ground on multiple occassions. This led the fight to go to a third sudden death round, and this was when the fight went into hyper drive, as even the crew was getting into the action. I've lost count of how many times that i've watched this fight, when revisiting this season, and everytime I see it, I end up finding out something new, and on this occassion I did. I'm not sure that Demarques should've got the win. I don't think that he did enough on the ground, whilst Nick did more in the stand up. This is just my opinion. But i'm not an MMA Judge, so what do I know.

2. Frankie Lester vs James Wilks Season 9 ( Welterweight Division ). 

This pair met during the 9th season of The Ultimate Fighter on two Occassions. The relationship that stemmed from the pair during the season can be described in one word. Contentious. Frankie was quoted calling James a traitor to his own country, after he moved to Orange County from Leicestershire here in the UK, only for him to comeback, when the UFC tryouts rolled through Birmingham in the later part of October 2008. I'm going to be talking about their first fight. Frankie's groundgame was counteracted perfectly by James stand up. This would be theme of all the three rounds. I love how these two put on a minor show with the first two rounds, that led to a sudden death round. James got the win on both times, and one other RIP to Frankies teeth. For a tv fight, this had a lot of drama, and it delivered. This fight was the definition of passion, and when you dig beneath the surface it was a clear look at how the world was viewing UK MMA, and the future it was soon to have. Dana White has said it before. MMA is on the grow, and it's going to be the biggest sport in the world. This fight in my opinion was the start of the invasion, and to think that he was coached by the man that started it all in the UK Michael The Count Bisping.

1. Nate Diaz vs Rob Emmerson Season 5 ( Lightweight ).

This is the fight that i've made my mum watch, in order to show her what the sport is like, and at times I have asked myself, why did I show her this fight? Well that's simple, because when you look at this fight on paper. It was more than the indy standout vs the partial inventor of the stockton slap. This was an underrated gem that needs to be seen to be believed. Both fighters were on the rise before coming on the show back in 2007, as there fight records showed some solid potential. The first round was a clever, and strategic run that worked as Nate tried to work his groundgame, whilst Rob focussed on his stand up. The second round saw Rob get the better of the man who just nine years later would own Connor Mcgregor, all the whilst Nate showed how his Jiu jitsu was getting better. This would be Robs downfall, as the the third sudden death round, was a a close to call mix up, because both men threw everything at each other. This third round to me is one of the best in Ultimate Fighter history, and it's sad, because no one ever talks about this fight. Nate got the win, and would then go on to win the show. Becoming the first ever lightweight winner. In the aftermath of both men appearing on the show, there careers would take differant paths. Nate would go on to become a no1 contender, on several occassions, and go on to become a standout in the lightweight, and Welterweight Divisions, whilst Rob Emmerson would go on to take fights in Bellator MMA, and the art of Pancrase. proving that there is life after the Octagon.

Overview Of This Piece.

To some people the art of the fight is something that is in the eye of the beholder. Some fights can go on to be classics, whilst others can be ignored. I don't think that this should be the case, because when two people have the nerve to show there hand, us as fans should be looking at these fighters, and think, they're giving us there all in order to create magic. I want all fighters to be successful, and ignoring these fights isn't right. The Ultimate Fighter has given us some great moments, and fights, so long may they continue.

 WWE Friday Night Smackdown Review. 16.5.2026.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

Superstar Arrivals.

Cody Rhodes. Truth And Priest. The MFT's. Jade Cargill and her baddies. Team Blair, and. Trick Williams, were all seen showing up to work.

Trick Williams Segment And Impromptu Match Trick Williams vs The Miz.

I have to say it. I liked this. Trick Williams with his mate Lil Yachty was in his home state, and he got a great pop upon his return. This was great to see, because it showed that the hometown hero has come home, and has done good. He spoke about his education he got from his state of North Carolina, and his love for fried chicken. However good things don't always last, because outcame The Miz and Kit Wilson. Ok I'm going to pull this apart, because yes Kit getting showed up by Lil Yachty was funny having a rap off against him, and Kit was right to insult Buckinghamshire here in the UK. I live just 10  minutes drive away from High Wycombe, and this town has been voted one of the worst towns in the UK on several occassions. What came next was an impromptu Match between The Miz, and. Kit Wilson. I had fun watching this. I get that this wasn't for everyone, but when you take a look at this Match. It was set up for a one week run, and it worked. The Miz has become that trusted hand that younger talent need, because he has an ability to be able to guide a match from the back of his palms. This was a good solid TV Match, that did its job. Trick got the win, thanks to his mate Lil Yachty battering Kit Wilson with a kendo Stick.

Sami Zayn Heel Turn.

WWE need to get their act into gear with Sami Zayns heel turn, because even Johnny Gargano is getting bored of this.

WWE Womens Tag Team Championship Match Brie And Paige vs Kiana James And Giulia.

This did nothing for me. The in ring work felt flat, and what was even more worrying is the fact that it played out to crickets. Brie And Paige retained their belts. Also am I the only person who wants to see Chelsea Green, and. Tiffany Stratton become a Tag Team.

Cody Rhodes Segment. 

If Cody's in ring career comes to a sudden end, then he's got a career in production waiting in the wings, because he took it upon himself to set up the ring for Gunther to sign the contract, and you know what, he actually did alright. He went straight to work and called out The Ring General. Both men had a great promo dual, which led to Gunther stalling when it came signing on the dotted line, so outcame Royce Keys, who threatened to take Gunthers spot. Nick Aldis then put a stop to this, and said that because Gunther has tried to lowball his hand, he will now have to face Royce Keys  in the main event, and the winner will go on to face Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship At Clash In Italy. This was all over the place, and it didn't get to the point quick enough, and this was a real shame, because Gunther, and. Cody have been two of my favourite things about WWE over the past year.

Carmelo Hayes vs Ricky Saints.

So far as in the way of how NXT call ups go. I do like how WWE have booked Ricky Saints , and pairing him next to Carmelo Hayes was a stroke of genius, even if we did get a dodgy film ad during the Match. On paper this looked like a good idea, and it was, because i could've watched another half'n hour of this. Carmelo got the win, proving that cheating does work kids so give it a try.

Danhausen Segment.

I don't know about you guys, but I think that Danhausen is working on something very nice, but also very evil.

Damien Priest vs Tama Tonga.

This was another flat Match from what was a flat overall broadcast. Priest got the win, and Shinsuke Nakamura then got decked in the aftermath By Talla Tonga.

Jade Cargill Segment followed by Team Blair vs Bfab And Michin.

I was baffled watching this. Jade Cargill has never found her feet on the main roster, and if i'm being honest, I think she was booked better when she was with AEW. Her scripting her felt playful, and when you're in a feud like this, that has Fatal Influence intertwining, segments like these are just not good enough. Not even the appearance of Team Blair could save this. The Match however was thrown out when Jade Cargill got involved. This was a painsakingly bad waste of time.

Gunther vs Royce Keys.

This was my highlight of the show, and given that this weeks Friday Night Smackdown has been a mixed bag, the bar has been set a bit low. This resembled the art of two big men slapping some serious meat. Gunther got the win in what was an excellent tv main event, he mouthed into the camera in the aftermath, and was then attacked by Cody Rhodes, who looked like he was getting ready to wrestle a dark match to send the fans home happy. Gunther vs Cody, now that's more like it WWE, see you can book quality if you try. Oh and one other thing Hello Solo Sikoa.

Overview Of This Weeks WWE Friday Night Smackdown.

I've got an anology when it comes to how I feel about this weeks WWE Friday Night Smackdown. When me and my brother were kids. My mum and dad would take us into our local town Princess Risborough every weekend so we could spend our pocket money. Being a child who couldn't read, and who had learning issues my mum would try to get me to look at the comics, whilst my brother would be off looking at the toys. By the end of it all she would choose my Pick'n mix, that would normally consist of sweats that I liked and loathed in equal measure. What i'm trying to say is this. This weeks WWE Friday Night Smackdown was a bit like letting someone choose your pick'n mix. Eat the sweats that you like, and leave the ones that you don't.

This weeks WWE Friday Night Smackdown is a low 5/10.

 My Top 5 Times Pro Wrestling And MMA Promotions Accidentally Me Something That I Wanted.

Written By Patrick O'malley

Intro.

I think that we can all agree that it's nice to get something that we want. I mean when you go into your local shops, or market places to get your weekly shop, and you pick out your meals for the week, along with the treats that you like, but what if those shops or markets gave you something that you like, without evening realising. The WWE. AEW, and the UFC are perfect examples of this, so today I'm going to take you down the road, and take a look at incidents when Major Promotions gave me the fan, a look at something that is very appeteising.

5. UFC On Paramount+

Over here in the UK we get the UFC on TNT Sports which is behind a monthly paywall. Stateside things were on the change from the early part of last year when the Promotions deal with ESPN came up for renewal. I understand that the first broadcast may have let a lot of fans down, but when you dig beneath the surface, this is actually a fairly good deal. When the Las Vegas outlet was on ESPN fans were having to pay up to 80$ for a ppv, this deal when broken down means that more fans would be able to access the UFC with a wider range, because Paramount+ has a base of up to 77million subscribers worldwide. In my country of the UK, the deal with TNT is set to continue until the end of the year, but after that I fully expect them to move to Paramount+.

4. Roman Reigns Heel Turn.

In late August of 2020 Roman Reigns came back to the WWE after taking six months off due to being immuno comprimised due to having a history with Leukemia, in the face of the global pandemic. Roman returned and was then partnered next to Paul Heyman, and just like the bubbling was underway under the surface. He instantly went into a programme against his cousin Jey Uso, this would lead to some steller Matches as the grounds for Manipulation had started to grow. The reason that I call this an accident, is because I don't think that WWE knew what they had on it's shoulders. In this time space WWE were throwing everything against the wall in a creative sense, and nothing was sticking like glue, however the building of acknowledgement, as the rise of My Tribal chief took place. Roman went on to become the hottest in the company, as the industry stood up, and started to see that he was more than just the words believe that.

3. The Rise Of Connor Mcgregor.

Some old school fans of the UFC have argued that in 2012, they were struggling to make new stars. I don't get why some would think that, because it's simply not true, However the reason that the rise of one of Irelands most recognisable athletes, and all of his controversies has made to this list is very simple, they had no idea what they were in for. The UFC has had its fairshare of brash personalities before this, with the Likes of Tito Ortiz. Josh Koscheck, and. Chael Sonnen all being part of the roster over the years, but Connor took things to the next level were ever he went. His rise would start in March of 2013 when he beat Max Holloway at a UFC on Fuel Fight Night, and would continue all the way through to 2017, when he ventured into the world of Boxing when he faced Floyd Mayweather, and ended up losing, having sustained some substantial blows. He would come back to the UFC in October of 2018, to face Habib Nurmagnamedov, in a losing bout for the lightweight championship that was shrouded in controversy due to his actions from the past april, and the chaos that ensued in the aftermath of UFC 229. This was a dream fight, which turned into an accident, because according to Dana White the mayor of Las Vegas was running out of the building in the chaotic aftermath. This would be a blackeye that the UFC would struggle to get over for sometime in the eyes of the fans.

2. The Elite Saga In AEW.

In earlier 2020 AEW was still finding it's feet, as the rise of Jon Moxley as a babyface World Heavyweight Champion, and the Inner Circle provided some of their best moments in this time period, but when you isolate the main event scene from this time, and take a look at how the build of how The Elite saga came to fruition. You could easily be mistaken for this being the main event picture, because this was a superb piece of booking, that would take shape throughout 2020, and into 2021, from steller matches, to the outright bullying of Hangman Adam Page, from his former friends. The Young Bucks, and. Kenny Omega. This was AEW at it's very best, and in my opinion this is something that they've been striving to hit ever since it ended at Full Gear 2021. The reason that I label this as an accident is because. I don't think that Tony Khan knew what he had on his hands.

1. Cm Punk In AEW.

August 20th 2021 The United Centre in Chicago, became the sight, and night, that history was made in the world of Pro Wrestling, as all of the easter eggs that AEW had placed over the past two months had come down to this. The return to Pro Wrestling of one Cm Punk. This would start off a relationship with the Promotion, that was filled with high praise from a storyline aspect, and even higher turbulence, as rumours of his backstage behaviour became paramount. This would happen when stories would get leaked about him to the dirtsheets. Punk took this as a personal shot, and things would get worse as time would go on. In  March of 2022 Tony Khan would purchase the defunct ROH brand from its previous owners Sinclair, and moved Scott Carlson aka Colt Cabana to the brand as a talent. This would be met with heavy crosswires from Hangman Adam Page, which led to the August 17th edition of AEW Dynamite when Hangman outright called out Punk when it came to his stance on Colt Cabana. This led to mirrage of issues, that caused several legal issues, because Punk defended his belt at that years All Out PPV against Jon Moxley. which was held in the same venue as his debut on Rampage just over a year prior. He went into the Press conference in the aftermath, and completely tried to burn down the world with his words. He laid waiste to Hangman Adam Page. The Elite, and a reurning MJF, who had comeback on that PPV after a 3 month lay off, due to his issues stemming from his relationship with Tony Khan. What came after this was nothing short of embarrassing. The Elite barged into Punks locker room, and a fight broke out. This would lead to several suspensions, and the removal of Ace Steel. Punks friend, and AEW producer. This was a mistake because, when you book certain scenarios, you need to have every single duck in order. It's clear at this time that Tony Khan didn't do this, because this would be a blackeye against his company that would end up lingering on its face for quite sometime. Yes fans wanted to see Punk back, but not at this cost. The big question is this. Was all the attention that he brought with him really worth it? I would argue, No.

Overview Of This Piece.

Like I said in the intro I think it's clear that I love the treats that are bad for me, and when it's given to me by a Pro Wrestling, or MMA Promotion, I tend to gobble them up like the best slop i've ever tasted. This is what makes the industries of Combat Sports so special, because you never what you're going to get. I live by the phrase that was coined by Tom Hanks in the Robert Zimmeckis 1993 classic Forest Gump. Life is like a box of chocolates because you never know what you're going to get. I think that this is the right way to look at life, because both the sports of Pro Wrestling, and. MMA have taught me so much about myself over the decades that I've been a fan. What i'm trying to say is this. Treats are good, and when they're free,  and accidental, they're even better.

 AEW Dynamite Review 14.5.2026.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

MJF Walk Through Opening Shot.

Renee Paquette tried to catch up with Maxwell Jacob Freeman in footage that was recorded earlier in the day, and he completely ignored her. Instead what we got was Max having a walk through shot, and looking at bald people that Included Tommaso Ciampa. John Silver who got a great pop, and of course Ricochet, who had a great laugh at the thought of Maxwell becoming a shaved head beast like myself. Max embrace the bald my friend, you'll look great. More on this later. I cried laughing watching this.

Tommaso Ciampa. The Dogs, and FTR vs The Young Bucks. Orange Cassidy, and Cope And Cage.

If you're going to kick off the show with a party Match, then this is how you do it. from fighting in the fans. The good Matches within the Match, all men involved having solid incyncricity, and. Clark Connors getting three superkicks to the face. This allowed the final exchange to take shape, and for Cope to get the win by pinning Connors for the win with a sphere. The Dogs then joined Ricochets team for Stadium Stampede at Double Or Nothing, and I'm pretty sure that Jungleboy Jack Perry, doesn't like Mark Davis. I wonder why?

The Deathriders Segment.

The Deathriders took Will Osperay on a special field trip to the top of what looked a Multistory Tesco car park for this weeks edition of Karate Kid 3 training.

Speedball Mike Bailey vs Westbrook.

Speedball Mike Bailey, beat a guy called Westbrook, and then this bled into the Next Match. Kevin Knight vs Brian Cage in a TNT Championship. The first Match was a run of the mill flat talent enhancing Match, whilst the second was a stonewall banger.This was a solid piece of great tv booking, that worked well to get over both mens in ring style. Knight retained, and he and Speedball then had a fantastic promo dual, in which they said they want more gold. This was excellent.

The Owen Hart Tournaments Bracketts Are Announced.

The Owen Hart Tournament Bracketts have been announced, and oh my both the men and ladies bracketts are looking mighty awesome. Will Osperay vs Samoa Joe anyone.

Will Osperay vs Ace Austin.

As I sat down to watch this Match before I went to my day job. I got the feeling that I was watching an indy scene Match playing out on national tv. Was this the best Will Osperay Match ever, well no, but it served to do the right job, and set up was to come next. Will got the win by submission, and then outcame Samoa Joe, who then cut a promo on Will. This was excellent. Joe went straight to business as he stated that Will has chosen greed over help, and this was captivating, as he sent The Opps in to destroy Will, but he had back up in the form of The Deathriders. I liked this, but it has left the All In booking looking a bit merky in my opinion.

Mark Briscoe Is Back.

Ok everyone the word of the day is Overjoyed, because Mark Briscoe is back, and i'm conglomerating as a result.

The Triangle Of Madness vs Hikaru Shida, and. The Brawling Birds.

I'm not sure what to make of this, because on paper it looked good. And then the Match happened. It felt fast paced, but something was differant, and I couldn't put my finger on why, and then it hit me. It was underbooked, and had a bad finish. Thekla got the Match thrown after she attacked Jamie Hayter with the AEW Womens Championship belt.

Darby Allin vs Konosuke Takeshita AEW World Heavyweight Championship.

I loved this. I went back and watched their first encounter from January 2024, as a bit of a refresher before watching this show, and until this day it's one of my favourite AEW dynamite Main Events from the shows history. This was a total elevation affair, that worked to put over there prior efforts. The action was fast paced, as this played into their first Match. After Darby gave Konosuke two Coffin drops to the outside, this gave way for the final exchanges to breathe, as Darby retained his belt. He then called out MJF in the aftermath. Max out came to sign the contract, for there AEW World Heavyweight Championship Match at Double Or Nothing, and just like the fire was allowed to take shape. Both men delivered their words with fire, passion, and grace, as they signed on the dotted line. Max then beat Darby down in the aftermath, and tried to give him a piledriver from the top rope, this was when Kevin Knight then made the save. This was a great way to send the show off the air. I don't know about you guys, but I think that Max would great bald.

Overview Of This Weeks AEW Dynamite.

Now that i'm feeling a lot better, and fully recovered from the flu that I had last week. I'm back at my humerous best, and AEW is also back on form. This was a great edition of weekly tv, as it offered up a very promising look at how AEW is going to book its Summer heading into its biggest show of the year.

This weeks AEW Dynamite is a solid 8/10.

 Top 5 Times Pro Wrestling Promoters Were Tone Def.

Intro.

I first remember hearing this term when I was a kid, after my brother and dad would tell me to listen to what they were saying. My mum would say. Patrick why won't you just listen to what there telling you. This is the same thing that I think of when Pro Wrestling Promoters do incredibly dumb things. So this is my list of top 5 times when Pro Wrestling Promoters acted completely tone def. Sit back and get yourself a drink guys, because things are going to get very interesting from this point on. Sometimes I question my life choices.

5. Blame Baron Corbin.

How many longterm WWE fans like to go back to the year 2018, if you are one of these people, then I don't know what to tell other than. Ok I guess. This wasn't a good time for the Greenwich Conneticut company from a creative standpoint, we had Roman Reigns being shoved down our throats, the reliance on Brock Lesnar, and He Who Shall Not Be Named's ability to not want to listen to what the audience is telling him. This led to the Monday Night Raw on the 10th of december 2018. All the Mcmahons stood in the ring and acknowledged how bad the product had become. And then they flipped the script, and blamed Baron Corbin. Fans have been asking for a change for sometime, and for the heads of the company to pull this was a highly tone def thing to do. Monday Night Raw, and. Smackdown were slowly becoming a stale rhetoric of their former selves. Gone were the days of the year 2000, and in it's place was this tripe.

4. We Want Brock.

In the controversial aftermath of last years Summerslam. WWE took the brave option to bring back Brock Lesnar, in the wake of him still being mentioned in the Janelle Grant/ WWE sex trafficking lawsuit. This came about, due the fact that both parties couldn't decide whether or not to head to abortration. Then came the post show. WWE at this point had a history of doing press events after big shows, in which members of the media would have to follow strict guidlines when it came to what questions they asked. This time WWE cancelled this aftershow normality, due to the overwhelming backlash that was coming from social media, so HHH took to the Post show, as fans behind him were chanting for Karrion Kross. All he could say was. Oh you want Brock. I get that a promoter has to save face, but this was ridiculous.

3. WCW In The Year 2000.

Were do I begin when talking about WCW in the year 2000. It's a difficult one, because the company by the Summer of that year was in a bad financial state, some would argue that it was a ted turner issue, whilst others place the blame at the doors of Eric Bischoff, and. Vince Russo. In my opinion it was due to the fact that no one listened to what the audience was saying when it came down to a creative stand point. The consistant changes didn't help matters, as the attendences went further into the abyss, and as for the PPV market. WCW were starting to hemerage money. The creative woes were at this point detrimental to the brand, as one of them led to a serious legal issue between Turners company and Hulk Hogan, whilst the health issues of Bret Hart would force him into retirement, whilst underutilised talent on screen looked ignored, and by all accounts some felt like that. Who ever was running the shows, were completely tone def Because it costs nothing to listen to your audience.

2. Ric Flair Is All Elite.

I think Tony Khan has a lot of great qualities, from bringing back nuanced, and lapped fans back into this industry. However at times I've felt that he needs to have his phone priviledges taken away from him. This came from October 2023, when Ric Flair was brought into AEW. Khan was taken to task after he had a online spat with a fan. and then pulled this controversial move out from his sleeves. Ric was due to come into AEW in September of 2021, but this got shelved after alligations of sexual assault came out in an episode of Darkside Of The Ring, which focused on WWE's plain ride from hell. This was something that in our year of 2023, that no one wanted. Many called this a slap in the face to genuine victims of assault, so this decision was met with utter contempt.

1. The Yes Movement.

If you were a fan of the WWE in the time space between 2007, and 2014, then you could remember that the company was failing to create new stars. Daniel Bryan comes to mind with the yes movement. The reason that this has made it to this list is because WWE don't have the best reputation when it comes to listening to the fans. This is a perfect case and point. In 2013. Daniel had a solid amount of momentum following him after he got robbed of the WWE Championship thanks to Randy Orton screwing him over, and cashing in his MITB Briefcase. As the following months would go on, fans became more vocal with who there favourite was. It's at times like these when Pro Wrestling Promoters need to take notice, because when somethings hot, it's hot. This is how the Yes Movement came to fruition. Daniel was treated like the background piece of scenary whilst Randy Orton stunk out the main event scene, and fans wanted an Adsent Cm Punk to come back. This was a space in time, that if you were into Daniel as a character, then you knew that the pay off was around the corner as the build to WrestleMania intensified, and the occupation of Monday Night Raw had just aired. Daniel would go on to become the WWE Universal Champion, after going through HHH, and then beating Randy Orton and Batista in the main event of the show of shows. The reason this ended up on this list is because Promoters need to listen when fans are talking. This is the true definition of  being completely tone def.

Overview Of Piece.

In hindsight, if history has taught us anything. Pro Wrestling Promoters have got things right at the behest of fans, but the big question is this? Should they have gotten things wrong in the first place. My take is this. Sometimes in life we all get things wrong, and it's how you comeback from mistakes that matter the most, Because were all human.

WWE Monday Night Raw Review 12.5.2026.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

Superstars Arrivals.

Paige and Brie. Oba Femi. Iyo Sky. The Street Profits, and Joe Hendry were all seen showing up to work.

Roman Reigns shows up.

As the show was starting to wake up, a hummer was seen entering the arena back entrance, and it was dropping off My Tribal Chief. And he was missing his belt, and at that point Adam Pearce came across like a high maintenance diva. CAN SOMEONE GET ROMAN HIS BELT. This would kick off an excellent episode long storythread.

The Vision Segment And Impromptu Match.

I'm going to say it. This was a mixed bag. From Paul Heyman welcoming us to Monday Night Raw from an inbread town like Knoxsville Tennesse. He went straight to business and said that after Saturday night, his crew are done with Seth Freakin Rollins. And then just like that, this segment went off the rails. Austin Theory took to the mic, and started to insult Bianca Belair, this brought out The Street Profits. Montez Ford then stood up for his wife, and said that he's having to step in because she's at home pregnant with there first kid. Joe Hendry then seranaded the fans, so everyone singalong. Paul. Paul. Can we fire Logan Paul, this led to an impromptu Match, between The Vision and. Street Profits And Joe Hendry. I liked the Match, because the Matches within the Match got straight to the point. The Street Profits and  Joe Hendry got the win, thanks to Seth Rollins. I liked the Match, however the promotrain that came beforehand was woeful.

Adam Pearce Segment.

As the weeks go on, i'm convinced that Adam Pearce is Pro Wrestling answer to Rodney Dangerfield, because he just gets no respect. First the OG Elgrande Americano, and his band of merrymen, and then Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan. This man can't catch a break.

Penta Segment.

This Segment, oh my, were do I begin. Because this promotrain between Penta. Ethan Page. Rusev, and. Jevon Evans was beyond bad. However it did lead to a great impromtu Match between Rusev, and. Jevon Evans. I liked this, because it was the perfect balance between both mens movesets. Jevon got the win, and Penta will face Rusev at SNME next Saturday.

Asuka Passes The Torch To Iyo Sky.

WWE Failed to explain what is going on with Asuka, so i'm going to do my best to do what they should've done. Asuka has moved into semi retirement, and it's unclear what her future looks like. I think she's still under a WWE Contract so I can't see her signing for AEW. So I hope that clears things. I think this is a another TKO move.

Brie And Paige Segment.

I liked this. They went straight to business, and called out Roxanne Perez, and Raquel Rodriguez, and this when the segment shifted gears. From Brie putting over her disapointment when it came to the advice that she gave Roxanne, all those years ago, to Raquel giving us some unwanted memories when it came to Paige's first WWE run. This led to an all out fight, as Liv Morgan attacked Paige. This is clear direction for the summer. Paige vs Liv Morgan could headline Monday Night Raw when it heads to The 02 in late June.

Iyo Sky vs Sol Ruca.

It's no secret that i'm a big fan of Sol Ruca, and this Match has proved my point. I Think Sol Ruca is going to be a breakout star on the Main Roster. The chemistry that both ladies showed last night was excellent. This was a clever piece of  tv booking. Iyo got the win after she moved away from Roca's Soul Snatcher finisher. Sol looked awesome in defeat.

Oba Femi Open Challenge.

Adam Pearce tried to stop this, because apparently no one wants any of Oba's smoke. So Oba went on a wrecking mission, and he destroyed Los Gaza. RIP Lads.

Dirty Dominik Mysterio vs Elgrande Americano AAA Championship.

This was nonstop chaotic fun. From interference spots. Jd Mcdonagh getting decked by Fin Balor, and a hole load of shenanigans, this was a lot of fun. Dom retained. Mask vs Mask in a couple of weeks. I can't wait.

Roman Reigns Segment.

This was well crafted, and superbly put together. From the split film image that ocustomed Jacob, and Roman, at one point, to The Uso's Jacod, and Roman putting over the urgentcy of the occassion, which led to Jacob walking through his cousins with ease to get to Roman. This led to both men having a fight, complete with the Tongan deathgrips, and Roman getting put through the announcers table, and then getting bulldozed through the barricade with his family by Jacob. This was a sensational way to end the show.

Overview Of WWE Monday Night Raw.

This weeks Monday Night Raw was all over the place. The in ring work went from good to great, whilst the promos went from poor to great. Make what you will of this broadcast, because I liked this in moments.

This weeks WWE Monday Night Raw is a solid 7/10. 

 

 WWE Backlash 2026 Review ( Delayed Edition ) 11.5.2026.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

Superstar Arrivals.

Sami Zayn. Trick Williams. Asuka. Iyo Sky. Jacob Fatu, and. Roman Reigns were all seen showing to work.

Seth Rollins vs Bron Breakker.

Upon both mens arrival, you could tell that there was a difference, on one hand Seth came out looking like a batman version of Neo from The Matrix, whilst Bron is starting to look even more like his uncle, from back in the day. Even though this Match had standout moments, like Seth giving Bron a bucklebomb, Bron giving Seth a clothesline that went over the announcers table from the ring apron, and Seth taking out The Vision. Both men did manage to carve out a good story, however this wasn't for me. The Match felt very stoic from the start, and as a result it failed to live up to the build. Bron got the win with a sphere. This needed more time.

Trick Williams vs Sami Zayn WWE United States Championship.

I've been seriously thinking, how has Sami Zayn not been arrested for murder after he ripped apart the man who has Gumbdrop buttons. This Match was better than there WrestleMania outing. This time both men had enough time, this meant that they could easily let the story of the Match breathe. From Lil Yachty having fun with a candy cane inspired kendo stick, to both men having great looking near falls. Trick got the win, and retained his belt, after a Trickshot. This was good.

Kit Wilson And The Miz vs Danhausen And A Mystery Opponent.

If you don't like fun, then this isn't for you. What do you get if you add a cloning machine being used irresponsibly, The Miz getting cursed, and then spraying a fire extinguisher in his face, and a Minihausen helping his cloner, to get the win with loads of other little clones. If you're answer was one of the funnest WWE Matches of the year, then you would be correct. I thought this was a creative masterstroke of pure genius. Danhausen picked up the win with Minihausen. I laughed by ass off watching this. I'm still crying with laughter, just thinking about this on a Monday Morning.

Iyo Sky vs Asuka.

From the very outset, you could tell that this was going to be special. Iyo looked visibly shaken, and at that moment both ladies shifted into gear. It was also later reported by the likes of Sean Ross Sapp. Bryan Alvarez, and. Dave Meltzer, that Asuka has moved into semi retirement. This was rumoured all day on Sunday, as the internet ran rampant with false stories. This was by far the best Match of the night, and a clear favourite for one of WWE's best PLE Matches of the year. Iyo got the win after both ladies put forward one hell of an effort, having managed to carve out a great storyline. Asuka and Iyo then stood in the ring together, in a moment of poigantcy, and respect, this felt final, and if this is one of the Last times we see Kanako Urai in the ring, then so be it, because she's earnt the right to bow out anyway that she wants. I loved this. My speculation on Asuka's situation. This smells a bit like a TKO move. Cast your minds back to last weekend, and you would remember hearing the news about The New Day being released, after both Kofi Kingston And Xavier Woods refused to sign a restructured deal, which means they would have to take a 50% pay cut. I think Asuka was one of the people who was asked to take a loot at her deal. This is just another reason why corporate greed is a unnesciary evil that the world could do without. Please bare in mind that this is just my opinion.

  John Cena Segment.

In the build up to this PLE a lot was said about what Big Time Johns announcement was going to be, was it going to be the announcement of further WrestleMania Locations? Well no it wasn't, was it about Club WWE, Well no it wasn't. John came out and told us that he's getting his own. PLE ( I think ) The John Cena Classic will be a new yearly concept centred around giving the future a chance, but there's when it gets confusing, and a bit joyous in equal measure. On one hand fans can vote for who they want to win the belt, even if they lose, which is good, and on the other hand, we get to take a look at fresh new talent, but then again on the other hand. John never put anyone over when he was a full-time competitor, which rendered all of this utterly pointless. Plus I don't trust WWE not to toy with the results to help there own narrative.

Jacob Fatu vs Roman Reigns WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

With the first 9 minutes consisting of entrances, you could easily mistake this Match as an audition piece for Jacob. I loved the fact that Jacob paid shade to those who came before him, by using there characteristics, and reviving the tongan deathgrip. He put Roman through the announcers table, and from that point onwards, both men hit each other with Superman punches, and moonsaults. This was a fantastic creative roll of the dice, as both men blasted through there arsenal. The near falls were superb, and as the final exchanges played out, you could tell that Roman was coming away with the win, and that's what happened after Roman connected with a sphere. Jacob in the aftermath snapped, and gave Roman tongan tooth treatment. This is a perfect way to set up a re-match in Italy at the end of the month.

Overview Of WWE Backlash 2026.

If Pro Wrestling did pubs, then they would be the most territorial places in the world, but I think we can all agree that WWE Backlash 2026 was a stomping show that came with it's highlights. The potential goodbye of one of the best female wrestlers to ever grace the company. Danhausen proving once again that comedy wrestling is needed, and. Jacob and Roman proving that blood isn't thicker than water. I had a great time watching this on a Sunday evening.

WWE Backlash 2026 is a high 8/10.

AEW Dynamite Review 7.5.2026.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

Intro. 

I'm starting off with a massive apology. This is due to my absence over the past week. I was due to work on tthe Smackdown review last Saturday, but unfortunately this had to be cancelled, because I fell ill over the weekend. This sadly continued into the week as I was sent home from my day job, for having a raging tempreture. I'm ok now, and i'm feeling a lot better, this means that I've also had to cancel my plans for the Monday Night Raw Review, and my piece on last weekends UFC Fight Night Perth Card. You guys know that I don't make these decisions lightly, but I had to listen to my body, and take some time off.

RIP Ted Turner.

yesterday evening at around 7pm uk time, we got the news that WCW founder, and media mogul Ted Turner had passed away at the age of 87. AEW paid tribute to him, by kicking off the show with Tony Schiavone, and. Sting paying respects to the man. RIP Ted, and thanks for the memories. This was very well done.

Jon Moxley vs Juice Robinson. 

In the way of how Continental Championship Eliminators go by, this Match was a letdown. I felt that the in ring work fell a bit short of the mark, and it never fully recovered. Mox got the win. This did nothing for me.

Will Osperay Training With The Deathriders.

Am I the only person who's getting the vibe of the third Karate Kid movie when watching Will Osperay train with the Deathriders?

Dax Harwood vs Orange Cassidy.

Don't get me wrong, I did like this Match, but it had one major flaw. It was too overbooked. From having multiple back up partners come out to ringside, to the overall execution of the Match. This didn't feel right to me. Yes the physicality was good, and I could've done with another 10 minutes of this, but when you hold this Match up against ones they've had before, this doesn't hold up. Cassidy got the win by Roll up, and then chaos kicked off in the aftermath. Cage and Cope went for RPG Vice. And Tommaso Ciampa wanted a fight with anyone. This was a mixed bag.

Chris Jericho Segment.

Now don't get me wrong I'm still not the biggest fan of Chris Jericho, but I didn't hate this segment. He left Renee Paquettte and went straight to the ring, and he called out Ricochet. This rivalry hasn't been for me, but the promo dual was great, they delved into the past, whilst taking a look at the future. Ricochet challenged Chris to a Match that he made famous. A Stadium Stampede Match at Double Or Nothing. I liked this. It's just a shame that i'm not a Jericho fan these days, for reasons that I can't talk about online. Both men now need to find some friends.

Kazuchika Okada vs Bryan Keith AEW International Championship. 

Kazuchika Okada, beat Bryan Keith, it what like a formulaic slog to get through. I don't know whether it's me trying to get over a nasty cold and flu, but i'm not enjoying this weeks Dynamite.

The Opps Segment.

Samoa Joe said that he wants to be will Osperays savior, and if Will doesn't then things are going to get nasty.

Harley Cameron and Mina Shirakowa vs Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander.

This was another Match that did nothing for me. Shida and Statlander got the win. Look i'm sorry if i'm coming across like a sour puss, it's largely due to the fact that i'm getting over a cold and flu.

Swerve Strickland Segment.

Swerve Strickland wants power and food, because he's a very hungry man. Bandido wants a piece of him, now this needs to happen.

Darby Allin vs Kevin Knight AEW World Heavyweight Championship.

Now this is more like it. I loved this Match, their chemistry was on point, and it played into how this played out. The main focus of the Match was both mens styles being the biggest selling points. From Kevin hitting Darby with a springboard clothesline coast to coast to the announcers desk. Kevin then giving him another coast to coast, this time in the ring. Darby then gave Kevin a coffin drop, only for Kevin to gets his knees, this is how we also got the finish. Darby after a solid final exchange Darby hit Kevin with a coffin drop for the win, and retain his belt.

Overview Of This Weeks AEW Dynamite.

This weeks show wasn't fully for me, and this was largely due to the fact that i'm getting over a cold, so if i've sounded a bit down, this is why. This show didn't have me feeling excited, but it wasn't all bad, the main event was steller, it's just the rest felt a miss and match.

This weeks AEW Dynamite is a mid 5/10.

 

My Top 5 Gigs That Made Me Feel like I Was Watching Pro Wrestling.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

Intro.

If you guys have been reading my work for quite some time, then you'll know that i'm a massive Alternative music fan. This has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember, and has got me through some difficult times over the years, so this is a look at the bands, and gigs that have made me feel like i'm watching Pro Wrestling. I have a love for both, and as time has gone on fans have felt the same.

5. Reading Festival 2010.

As a metal fan growing up in the 1990's, and 2000's I dreamed about going to this festival, and i've managed to do this for a number of years, but 2010 hit differant. The bands that were on the line up featured Weezer. Paramore. Cypress Hill, and was headlined by Blink 182, but then there's Limp Bizkit. Ok I'm not the biggest fan of Fred Durst these days, but back then I was going down the route of Nostalgia, and this got me talking to my friends, and reminiscing about WrestleMania 17. Limp Bizkit soundtracked the event with the song My Way. I remember watching them, whilst fearing for my life, because my God they've got a lot of fans. This was one of those moments when I had to take a look at myself, because in that moment I felt bullet proof, just like Stone Cold Steve Austin

4. Parkway Drive 4.10.2025.

This was one of the best gigs that I've ever been to at Wembley Arena. I love Metal Music, and it's for this reason. You never know what you're going to get. On this night the band played what sounded like a greatest riffs set, whilst giving all the pagentry of a Pro Wrestling show. The one show that this took me back to was the first time I saw AEW live at Wembley Stadium. From the opening of Wishing Wells sounding like a solumn reminder of what this band is capable of, to Prey sounding like a call to arms, whilst Bottom Feeder felt like a slug to the canvas, as the 1 2 3 comes in. I love this band of Aussies.

3. GreenDay Wembley Stadium 29.6.2024.

This was a late birthday pressent to myself. ( well kind of ) GreenDay are one of those bands that you need to see live, so they can be believed, because there energy is so infectious. If you attend any Pro Wrestling show, then you can feel the energy from any participant. This was the experience that I got when I attended this show. This was the first time that they would be playing Dookie, and. American Idiot in full back to back. Hearing them rip through songs like When I Come Around, and She was an experience, whilst  hearing the empowering roar of American Idiot is always a treat. This is one of the best gigs that i've ever been to, and as the emotional climax of Good Riddance Time Of Your Life you could feel the sense of occassion becoming overpowering. This band has played a large part in my life, and there music has helped me become the person that I am today.

2. The Prodigy 24.4.2026.

Last Friday I went to see The Prodigy at Wembley Arena, and oh my they were awesome. When these tickets came and Carl Cox was announced as the support act. I wasn't sold on this, but I've never been so happy to be wrong. From the first opening bodyslam of Omen feeling like a gut punch, to the menacing closer of Commanche, you could tell that they were at the peak of there powers. This was like the time when I saw Sting on a TNA taping at Wembley Arena, yes the band are getting older, but they've still got it, and last week they proved just that. Sting did the same when I saw him back in 2012. The chants of you still got it are a real thing.

1. Metallica Reading Festival 2008.

This is one of those times in life, that you've got to be there to be seen. 2008 was seen as a good time for the Bay Area thrashers, as they were on the comeback trail, after releasing one of their worst Albums St Anger in 2003. Comeback trails are all part of the Pro Wrestling game, and if you follow them all the way through to the end, then you can find the reward waiting for you. This was what we got when Metallica released Death Magnetic in the September of that year. Just weeks before the release the band returned to the Reading Festival, and this was unto this very day, the best time that i've ever seen them. They were back, and they've never looked so happy to on the stage. I've been a massive Metallica fan since I was 14 years old, and from listening to there music I've learnt a lot about myself.

Overview Of This Piece.

Some people say that music is the soundtrack to life, and to those people I say this. You're right. Music can see us through the happy times, and the sad times. This piece was a great writing experience, because I got to go back in time, and think about these times. This is how you can describe Pro Wrestling, because it's a form of fighting, it's in our DNA, and as fans, we love it.