26: News, NJPW, OVW & Mina Shirakawa.

Sports desk weekly rundown: NJPW & OVW

Welcome back to the sports desk—your ringside recap of a wild week from Japan to Louisville.

Headlines

Gurv Sihra suffers collapsed lung: Former WWE star and Bollywood Boyz member Gurv Sihra revealed he sustained a collapsed right lung during a Pure Power Wrestling tag title bout in Lethbridge, Alberta. He finished the match but later struggled to breathe backstage, with hospital scans confirming the injury. Doctors told him he was “very lucky to be alive,” and he’s now focused on recovery “one breath, one day, and one step at a time.”
Yota Tsuji wants NJPW–AEW on equal footing: IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji used his Road to Destruction comments and Destruction in Kobe press conference to say he wants to “work on establishing an equal relationship with AEW,” aiming to spread pro wrestling across Asia while making sure NJPW isn’t the junior partner in the alliance.
Former AEW Women’s World Champion frustrated by lack of TV time: Nyla Rose, still under AEW contract and active on the indies, admitted in a recent interview that being off AEW television since late 2024 is “a little hard” and “a little frustrating,” saying she wants more chances to entertain fans while still cheering on stories like Mercedes Moné’s title run and Willow Nightingale’s rise.

New Japan Pro Wrestling – Road To Destruction & TAKE OFF!

Ed at the sports desk

“Partner, New Japan’s Road to Destruction tour has been rolling through Hokkaido like a freight train, and the tag combinations are changing faster than you can call a wristlock.”

Gordon’s breakdown – Results since Sept. 15, 2026

15.09.2026 – Road To Destruction 2026 Tag 5 (Hokuto City General Gymnasium) REVIEW

House of Torture momentum: Dick Togo & Shun Skywalker beat Master Wato & Yushin Hatazawa. DOUKI & SHO toppled El Desperado & Taisei Nakahara, keeping the group’s dark cloud over the junior scene.
United Empire vs. Unbound Co.: Great-O-Khan, HENARE, Jake Lee & Jakob Austin Young defeated Jado, Oleg Boltin, Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Umino. Later, Jeff Cobb & Shingo Takagi struck back for Unbound Co. against Callum Newman & Zane Jay.
Wolf pack on the rise: Aaron Wolf, Taichi & Yuya Uemura continued to bloody TMDK’s nose, beating Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa.
Heavy-hitting trios: Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) beat Most Violent Players (Makabe & Yano) & Masatora Yasuda, before Goto Revolutionary Army (Goto, Matsumoto, YOH & YOSHI-HASHI) closed the night by defeating Gedo, Robbie X, Taiji Ishimori & Yota Tsuji.

16–22.09.2026 – Road To Destruction 6–10 & TAKE OFF!

Across Tomakomai, Asahikawa, Chitose, Muroran, Kitami, and Obihiro:

House of Torture keeps spoiling the party: Togo, Skywalker, DOUKI & SHO repeatedly knocked off combinations of Masatora Yasuda, Taguchi, Wato, Hatazawa, El Desperado and Taisei Nakahara—often by dubious means, including a DQ win over Desperado, Mistico & Shota Umino on Tag 10.
United Empire vs. Unbound Co. – ongoing turf war: Great-O-Khan, HENARE, Jake Lee, Jakob Austin Young, Callum Newman & Zane Jay traded wins with Unbound Co. units featuring Gedo, Jeff Cobb, OSKAR, Shingo Takagi, Robbie X, Taiji Ishimori & Yota Tsuji. The Empire took key multi-man tags on Tag 7, 8, 9 and 10, while Unbound Co. answered back with victories like Cobb & Shingo over Newman & Zane Jay and a big eight-man win over the Empire on Tag 9.
Goto Revolutionary Army holding steady: Hirooki Goto’s squad—Matsumoto, YOH, YOSHI-HASHI—picked up multiple wins over Unbound Co. lineups, reinforcing Goto’s claim to an IWGP title shot at Destruction in Kobe.
Knockout Brothers earn a shot: On Tag 8, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice beat Most Violent Players to become number one contenders for the IWGP Tag Team Titles in a grueling bout that went over half an hour.
Aaron Wolf & Yuya Uemura’s quiet surge: Wolf, Taichi & Uemura consistently defeated TMDK trios across multiple stops, quietly building a case as one of the tour’s most reliable units.
Special airport showcase – Pro-Wrestling TAKE OFF! from New Chitose Airport: Most Violent Players, Masatora Yasuda & Shota Umino beat an Unbound Co. quartet; Wolf, Taichi & Uemura once again bested TMDK; and Unbound Co. (Robbie X, Shingo, Ishimori & Tsuji) downed Goto’s army in a high-energy main event set in the middle of the airport concourse.

COMPLETE RESULTS

Credit: cagematch.net

22.09.2026) NJPW Road To Destruction 2026 – Tag 10 – Online Stream @ Yotsuba Arena Tokachi in Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
Taisei Nakahara defeats Yushin Hatazawa (8:41)
Master Wato & Oleg Boltin defeat United Empire (Jake Lee & Jakob Austin Young) (7:41)
El Desperado, Mistico & Shota Umino defeat House Of Torture (DOUKI, SHO & Shun Skywalker) (w/Dick Togo) by DQ (10:02)
War Dragons (Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi) defeat Masatora Yasuda & Yuya Uemura (11:19)
Most Violent Players (Togi Makabe & Toru Yano) & Aaron Wolf defeat TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa) (9:45)
United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Zane Jay) defeat Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai, Jeff Cobb, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) (12:32)
Unbound Co. (Gedo, Robbie X, Taiji Ishimori & Yota Tsuji) defeat Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto, Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOH & YOSHI-HASHI) (16:20)

(21.09.2026) NJPW Road To Destruction 2026 – Tag 9 – Online Stream @ Kitami Sports Center in Kitami, Hokkaido, Japan
Taisei Nakahara defeats Yushin Hatazawa (7:44)
Most Violent Players (Togi Makabe & Toru Yano) defeat United Empire (Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay) (8:12)
Aaron Wolf, Taichi & Yuya Uemura defeat TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa) (8:53)
Unbound Co. (Gedo, Jeff Cobb, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) defeat United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Jake Lee) (12:57)
War Dragons (Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi) defeat Oleg Boltin & Tatsuya Matsumoto (11:21)
House Of Torture (Dick Togo, DOUKI, SHO & Shun Skywalker) defeat El Desperado, Masatora Yasuda, Mistico & Shota Umino (10:10)
Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto, YOH & YOSHI-HASHI) & Master Wato defeat Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai, Robbie X, Taiji Ishimori & Yota Tsuji) (15:35)

(19.09.2026) NJPW Road To Destruction 2026 – Tag 8 – Online Stream @ Kuribayashi Shokai Arena in Muroran City, Hokkaido, Japan
Taisei Nakahara defeats Yushin Hatazawa (6:47)
Muroran City Rambo: Shun Skywalker defeats Dick Togo and DOUKI and El Desperado and Great-O-Khan and HENARE and Jado and Jake Lee and Jakob Austin Young and Masatora Yasuda and Master Wato and Oleg Boltin and SHO and Shota Umino (21:27)
Unbound Co. (Gedo & Jeff Cobb) defeat United Empire (Callum Newman & Zane Jay) (8:10)
Aaron Wolf, Taichi & Yuya Uemura defeat TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa) (10:55)
Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai, Robbie X, Shingo Takagi, Taiji Ishimori & Yota Tsuji) defeat Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOH & YOSHI-HASHI) (12:35)
IWGP Tag Team Title #1 Contendership: Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) defeat Most Violent Players (Togi Makabe & Toru Yano) (w/Tomoaki Honma) (33:57)

(18.09.2026) NJPW Pro-Wrestling TAKE OFF! From New Chitose Airport – Event @ New Chitose Airport Center Plaza in Chitose, Hokkaido, Japan
Most Violent Players (Togi Makabe & Toru Yano), Masatora Yasuda & Shota Umino defeat Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai, Gedo, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) (11:04)
Aaron Wolf, Taichi & Yuya Uemura defeat TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa) (14:12)
Unbound Co. (Robbie X, Shingo Takagi, Taiji Ishimori & Yota Tsuji) defeat Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto, Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOH & YOSHI-HASHI) (16:52)
New Japan Pro Wrestling
(17.09.2026) NJPW Road To Destruction 2026 – Tag 7 – Event @ Asahikawa City General Gymnasium in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
House Of Torture (Dick Togo & Shun Skywalker) defeat Masatora Yasuda & Yushin Hatazawa (7:!4)
House Of Torture (DOUKI & SHO) defeat El Desperado & Taisei Nakahara (9:45)
United Empire (Great-O-Khan, HENARE, Jake Lee & Jakob Austin Young) defeat Jado, Master Wato, Oleg Boltin & Shota Umino (10:53)
United Empire (Callum Newman & Zane Jay) defeat Unbound Co. (Gedo & Jeff Cobb) (11:50)
Aaron Wolf, Taichi & Yuya Uemura defeat TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa) (10:43)
Most Violent Players (Togi Makabe & Toru Yano) & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Unbound Co. (OSKAR, Shingo Takagi & Yuto-Ice) – Double Count Out (10:47)
Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto, Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOH & YOSHI-HASHI) defeat Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai, Robbie X, Taiji Ishimori & Yota Tsuji) (14:37)

(16.09.2026) NJPW Road To Destruction 2026 – Tag 6 – Event @ Tomakomai City Gymnasium in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan
House Of Torture (Dick Togo & Shun Skywalker) defeat Ryusuke Taguchi & Yushin Hatazawa (9:08)
House Of Torture (DOUKI & SHO) defeat El Desperado & Masatora Yasuda (9:01)
United Empire (Great-O-Khan, HENARE, Jake Lee & Jakob Austin Young) defeat Master Wato, Oleg Boltin, Shota Umino & Taisei Nakahara (12:44)
Unbound Co. (Daiki Nagai & Jeff Cobb) defeat United Empire (Callum Newman & Zane Jay) (8:23)
Aaron Wolf, Taichi & Yuya Uemura defeat TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa) (10:24)
Most Violent Players (Togi Makabe & Toru Yano) & Jado defeat Unbound Co. (Gedo, OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) (8:41)
Unbound Co. (Robbie X, Shingo Takagi, Taiji Ishimori & Yota Tsuji) defeat Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto, Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOH & YOSHI-HASHI) (15:42)

Ed’s closing note on NJPW

“From the airport concourse to packed gymnasiums, the Road to Destruction has been less about single stars and more about factions sharpening their blades. And right in the middle of it, Yota Tsuji is talking about balancing the scales with AEW—this tour feels like the prelude to a much bigger international chess match.”

Ohio Valley Wrestling – Overdrive, Rise & Countdown To Fight Night

Gordon at the sports desk

“If New Japan is the global stage, OVW is the proving ground—where prospects and veterans collide under the bright lights of Davis Arena.”

Overdrive & TV

OVW Overdrive #203 – Broadcast 08.09.2026 (YouTube, Davis Arena)

TW3 defeated Axel Rico.
Killah Kai beat Noelle.
Kirko Ky scored a win over Showtime Shanklin.
Tony Evans defeated Juwan Thomas.
Only Bros (Boy Toy Troy & Star Player Prime) beat The Trifecta (Jake Lawless & Jake Painter), continuing their climb in the tag ranks.

OVW TV #1413 – 10.09.2026 (Davis Arena)

OVW Rush Title – Triple Threat: Champion Brendan Balling retained against Icon Lee and JJ Lawson in a 15+ minute sprint.
Damn OGs (Adam Revolver & Tony Gunn) beat J2 Mattioli & Jake Redondo, reinforcing their veteran presence.
Meto defeated Drew Hood.
Triple Grind Gauntlet: Super Z, with Percival Goodington XIII in his corner, outlasted Dr. Zo, Jake Lawless, Jake Lawless, Jake Painter, Kirko Ky and Ryan Von Rockit.
Stephen Steel beat Juwan Thomas.
Joiya Blake vs. Shalonce Royal ended in a no-contest, adding fuel to the women’s division rivalry.
Colby Carter closed the show by defeating Erik Surge in a long main event.

Countdown To Fight Night – 12.09.2026 (Davis Arena)

OVW Women’s Title – No DQ: Dayami dethroned Shalonce Royal in a weapons-friendly battle to become champion.
JJ Lawson beat Thomas Heim.
Jake Lawless defeated D’Mone Solavino.
BDE overcame Jay Three.
Triple Threat Tag: Only Bros defeated Ice Show (Justice Davis & Showtime Shanklin) and Sin City Outlaws (Luke Hartman & Mad Dog Martin).
Rich Swann beat Super Z.
OVW Media Title: Stephen Steel defeated Meto to win the Media Championship.
TW3 scored a big win over Trey Miguel.
OVW United States Title: Tony Evans, seconded by Lovely Miss Larkan & Tommy Boy, beat Kid Colossus by disqualification, keeping the belt in controversy.

OVW Overdrive #204 – 15.09.2026 (Online Stream, Davis Arena)

Brandon Davis (with Ryan Von Rockit) beat Maximo Suave.
Triple Threat: Lovely Miss Larkan (with Tommy Boy) defeated Killah Kai and Noelle.
Jay DeNiro beat Mason Greyskull.
Ashton Adonis defeated Showtime Shanklin.
Only Bros again topped Sin City Outlaws, this time in straight tag action.

OVW Rise TV #1414 – 17.09.2026 (Davis Arena)

The card featured seven matches, including:

Best-of-five series, Match #2: A key bout in an ongoing rivalry, with the series swinging on a schoolboy pin over Kal Herro.
Wins for rising names over Jay Deniro, Boy Toy Troy, Leela Hall, TW3, and Tony Gunn, plus a main event tag where Brendan Balling & Icon Lee faced JJ2 & Lawson, continuing the Rush Division and Lawson storylines.

RESULTS

Credit: wrestlingdata.com

Best of 5 Series, Match #2
Colby Carter defeated Kal Herro (11:38 minutes) by Schoolboy
Ashton Adonis defeated Jay Deniro (4:43 minutes) by pinfall with the End All, Knee All
Adam Revolver defeated Boy Toy Troy (5:39 minutes) by O’Connor Roll (and a Handful of Tights)
Joiya Blake defeated Leela Hall (3:28 minutes) by pinfall with a Fireman’s Carry Side Slam
Meto defeated TW3 (9:26 minutes) by pinfall with the Spear
Prime Jackson defeated Tony Gunn (4:30 minutes) by Bridging O’Connor Roll
Brendan Balling and Icon Lee defeated JJ2 and Lawson (12:30 minutes) by pinfall

Fight Night

Credit: profightdb.com

Kirko Ky def. (pin) Jay Three 06:30
Janie Hartman def. (pin) Lovely Miss Larkan 00:06
Erik Surge def. (pin) Ashton Adonis, Josh Bishop 07:26 triple-threat
Adam Revolver (c) & Tony Gunn (c) def. (pin) Boy Toy Troy & Prime Jackson 12:53 OVW Southern Tag Team Title
Leela Hall def. (pin) J-Rod 02:57
Brendan Balling (c) def. Icon Lee, JJ Lawson 10:52 ladder (three-way) OVW Rush Championship
Kal Herro def. (pin) Colby Carter 11:12
Meto def. Stephen Steel (c) 07:36 tables OVW Media Championship
(title change)
Dustin Jackson def. (pin) Kid Colossus (c), Tony Evans 14:30 triple-threat OVW United States Heavyweight Championship
(title change)

Ed’s closing note on OVW

“OVW’s week reads like a blueprint for a big Fight Night: titles changing hands, Only Bros stacking wins, and Dayami crashing the women’s division party. This is the kind of schedule that turns local favorites into tomorrow’s national names.”

Mina Shirakawa – Spotlight at the sports desk

Gordon’s profile

“Mina Shirakawa is the bridge between the Japanese joshi scene and the global television era—a late starter who’s sprinted past expectations.”

Background & stats: Born December 26, 1987, in Tokyo, Mina stands around 157 cm (5’2″) and weighs about 54 kg (119 lb). She studied English and American literature at Aoyama Gakuin University and worked as a wedding planner, gravure model and tarento before entering wrestling.
Career path: Debuted in 2018 after training with Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, then rose to prominence in Stardom—winning the Wonder of Stardom, Goddesses of Stardom, Artist of Stardom and Future of Stardom titles, and founding Cosmic Angels before leading Club Venus/Empress Nexus Venus.
Global expansion: Today she’s signed to AEW, appears for NJPW and ROH, and has held the interim ROH Women’s World Television Title and RevPro British Women’s Championship, while working high-profile matches against names like Mercedes Moné.

Ed’s final word

“She’s proof that charisma, grit, and timing can rewrite a career at 30-plus. As NJPW and AEW try to balance their relationship, Mina stands right in the middle of that crossroads—one of the faces who makes this era feel bigger, brighter, and a lot more unpredictable.”

⭐ Closing Segment — Ed & Gordon at the Sports Desk

Ed: “Partner, when you look across everything we covered tonight — from New Japan’s faction firefights to OVW’s grind-it-out title races — you can feel how alive the wrestling world is right now. Every promotion we touched is moving, shifting, building toward something bigger.”

Gordon: “And that’s the beauty of weeks like this. You see veterans holding their ground, prospects clawing for daylight, and entire divisions reshaping themselves in real time. New Japan’s Road to Destruction is tightening the screws, OVW’s Fight Night fallout is still echoing, and the headlines outside the ring remind us how unpredictable this sport can be.”

Ed: “Momentum changes fast. One injury, one upset, one breakout performance — and suddenly the whole landscape tilts. But that’s why we’re here at the sports desk: to track every twist, every surprise, every name stepping forward.”

Gordon: “So as we wrap up, keep your eyes on the ones making noise — the ones refusing to wait their turn. Because next week, the stories we’re talking about tonight might look completely different.”

Ed: “And that’s the fun of it. We’ll be right back here at the sports desk to break it all down. Until then — stay sharp, stay curious, and stay tuned.”

Around the World of Pro Wrestling 9/20/26: News, AEW Collision & The Pipe Bomb.

Opening from the sports desk

Ed: “Fans, welcome back to the sports desk. AEW’s been running hot —Dynamite in Norfolk rolled straight into Collision, title defenses, and a lot of chatter around the wider wrestling world. Before we get into Collision and the week’s results, let’s hit the headlines that framed everything.”

Headlines

Jake Hager’s emergency eye surgery

Jake Hager underwent emergency eye surgery after suffering damage during a Power Slap event. Doctors found a detached retina and other issues that required immediate attention, and he’s now in recovery with his in‑ring future uncertain while he focuses on healing.

Rob Conway praised by Vince McMahon

Rob Conway recalled a moment in WWE when Vince McMahon told him he was “the most underrated guy on the roster,” praising his reliability and professionalism. Conway said that kind of feedback meant a lot, even if it didn’t always translate into a sustained top‑card push.

Jim Ross’ mixed feelings on Sami Zayn as world champion

Jim Ross admitted he has mixed feelings about Sami Zayn winning a WWE world title—respecting Zayn’s talent and connection with fans, but questioning whether the company will fully commit to him as a long‑term top guy. He framed it as a case where the audience clearly believes, but the booking history makes him cautious.

Gordon: “Health scares, old‑school praise, and questions about how far a fan favorite can really go—that’s the backdrop for AEW’s week.”

Scott: Mr. Conway is one of my favorites from my time writing for NWAringside.com, at the time the official website of the National Wrestling Alliance where Mr. Conway was one of the best Worlds Champions, often touring as champ with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

AEW — sports desk rundown

AEW Collision — September 19, 2026

National Championship: Andrade El Ídolo (c) vs. Daniel Garcia

Result: Andrade retains

Ed: “This was all about whether Garcia could turn his recent momentum into gold.”

Garcia targeted Andrade’s leg and neck, chaining submissions and suplexes, while Andrade leaned on counters, rope‑running, and his trademark double‑knees. Late in the match, Garcia nearly stole it with a sharpshooter and a dragon screw combo, but Andrade escaped, hit his running double knees in the corner, and finished with a hammerlock DDT to keep the National Title.

Gordon: “Garcia looked like he belonged in that spot. Andrade, though, is in that champion groove where he can absorb a lot and still close the show.”

Thekla vs. Zayda Steel

Result: Thekla wins, earns a shot at Mercedes Moné

Thekla and Zayda fought for the right to challenge Mercedes Moné at WrestleDream. Zayda tried to slow things down with strikes and grinding offense; Thekla answered with speed, rope‑assisted attacks, and submissions. The finish saw Thekla counter a big swing from Zayda into a modified crossface, forcing the tap and punching her ticket to face Moné once The CEO is cleared.

Tag and trios action

Collision filled out with multi‑man matches and tags:

A showcase trios bout featuring New Level shaking off the previous Dynamite ambush and reasserting themselves.
A hard‑hitting tag match with The Dogs continuing their rise in the mid‑card, leaning on brawling and double‑team offense.

Results kept the All Out build intact—no shock title changes, but plenty of momentum shifts.

Full Results

Credit: Cagematch.net

(19.09.2026) AEW Collision #162 – TV-Show @ Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia, USA
AEW TNT Title: Darby Allin (c) defeats Myron Reed (11:23)
Thekla defeats Zayda Steel (11:18)
PAC defeats Adam Priest (4:17)
AEW National Title: Andrade El Idolo (c) defeats Daniel Garcia (13:24)
Mike Bailey defeats Wheeler Yuta (11:18)
Mina Shirakawa & Queen Aminata defeat Emily Jaye & Georgia South (2:46)
AEW Continental Title Eliminator: Jon Moxley [c] defeats Zachary Wentz (9:19)

AEW news & rumors

Ed: “Beyond the bell, here’s the chatter around AEW’s orbit.”

Ospreay and Moxley’s build: Their rivalry continues to anchor TV—promos, stare‑downs, and multi‑man tags all pointing toward a high‑pressure All Out main event.
New Level’s growing presence: Swerve, Kofi, and Austin Creed are being framed as a long‑term trio project, with their theme, presentation, and challengers all getting significant TV time.
Women’s division focus: Thekla’s win and Mercedes Moné’s recovery keep the upper card of the women’s division in motion, with Willow Nightingale and others hovering around the title picture.

Gordon: “AEW’s week is less about surprise twists and more about tightening the screws on stories they’ve already set in motion.”

Closing segment — the July 11, 2011 RAW promo (CM Punk & John Cena, “pipe bomb”)

Ed: “Let’s close by stepping back into one of the most famous promos of the modern era—the night the word ‘pipe bomb’ became part of wrestling’s vocabulary.”

On July 11, 2011, CM Punk sat cross‑legged on the RAW stage and cut a promo that blurred the line between storyline and reality—calling out WWE management, criticizing how talent was used, and framing himself as the outsider who knew exactly how the machine worked. At one point he said:

“In anybody else’s hands, this is just a microphone. In my hands, it’s a pipe bomb.”

John Cena was the champion and the company’s standard‑bearer, and Punk’s words turned their match into more than a title bout—it became a referendum on who really represented the future of wrestling. The promo’s legacy is that it opened the door for more meta, self‑aware storytelling and showed how powerful a single, well‑aimed monologue could be.

Gordon: “It’s the kind of moment that still echoes through how fans talk about wrestling today—every time someone grabs a mic and starts blurring those lines, you can feel the shadow of that pipe bomb.”

Ed: “And that’s your week from the sports desk—AEW’s Collision, the headlines around Hager, Conway, and Zayn, and a look back at the promo that changed how a lot of people hear a microphone in this business.”

Around the World of Pro Wrestling 5/25/26: ROH, Stardom, wXw, NOAH, AJPW and AEW Double or Nothing.

Global rundown — ROH, Stardom, wXw, NOAH, AJPW & AEW Double or Nothing

Desk intro

Ed: “Wrestling fans, the rings have been busy from Jacksonville to Tokyo, Oberhausen, and beyond! ROH, Stardom, wXw, NOAH, All Japan, and AEW’s Double or Nothing build have all cranked the volume up this past week!”

Gordon: “Quite. A most expansive landscape—each promotion advancing its own narratives, yet all converging on the same themes of ambition, attrition, and opportunity.”

Ring of Honor (ROH)

HonorClub tapings & TV — May 18, 2026

ROH ran a loaded taping at WJCT Studios in Jacksonville, Florida on May 18, feeding into ROH on HonorClub #168–169.

Key matches from the taping block:

Action Andretti def. Soleil
Serpentico & The Colons def. Alex Kane, Bruss Hamilton & Kiran Grey
Anthony Ogogo def. Darian Bengston (referee’s decision)
ROH World Title Proving Ground:
- Bandido (c) def. Angelico
ROH World Title (TV episode):
- Bandido (c) def. Volador Jr. (21:15)
Pure Rules: Viva Van def. Rachael Ellering
ROH Pure Title Proving Ground: Lee Moriarty (c) def. Mance Warner
ROH Women’s World Title Proving Ground: Athena (c) def. Hyan
ROH Women’s Pure Title Proving Ground: Deonna Purrazzo (c) def. Isla Dawn
Tag & Trios highlights:
- Top Flight def. The Premier Athletes
- The Kingdom def. Alec Price & Jordan Oliver
- Eddie Kingston & Ortiz def. The WorkHorsemen
- Dalton Castle & The Outrunners (c) won a Six‑Man Proving Ground over The Frat House
- The Lethal Twist (Blake Christian, Jay Lethal & Lee Johnson) won a trios showcase

Credit: cagematch.net

Name of the event: ROH on HonorClub #167
Date: 16.05.2026
Promotion: Ring Of Honor
Type: Online Stream
Location: Salisbury, Maryland, USA
Arena: Wicomico Youth And Civic Center
Attendance: 2.038
Broadcast type: Taped
Broadcast date: 21.05.2026
TV station/network: ROHWrestling.com
Commentary by: Caprice Coleman & Ian Riccaboni
Singles Match
Action Andretti defeats QT Marshall (8:51)
Tag Team Match
Hyan & Maya World defeat Allie Katch & Kaia McKenna (4:35)
Singles Match
Rush defeats Ryan O’Neill (1:00)
Tag Team Match
Bustah And The Brain (Alec Price & Jordan Oliver) defeat The Premier Athletes (Ariya Daivari & Tony Nese) (w/Mark Sterling & Stori Denali) (9:51)
ROH World Six Man Tag Team Title Proving Ground Match
Dalton Castle & The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd) [c] defeat 4Play (Chulo Montana, Danny Grandview & Ykies) (2:40)
Singles Match
Lio Rush defeats Aaron Solo (5:39)
ROH Women’s Pure Title Proving Ground Match
Deonna Purrazzo [c] defeats Janai Kai (7:00)
Tag Team Match
Mina Shirakawa & Queen Aminata defeat MIT (Billie Starkz & Diamante) by DQ (8:44)
ROH World Television Title Match
AR Fox (c) defeats Shane Taylor (w/Anthony Ogogo & Trish Adora) (9:05)

Ed: “ROH’s running these tapings like a gauntlet—champions in Proving Ground matches all night long, and nobody getting an easy evening!”

Gordon: “A most rigorous schedule. The champions remain intact, yet the volume of challengers suggests that any misstep could prove costly.”

News & direction:

Bandido continues to be presented as a workhorse World Champion, defending both in Proving Ground and full title matches.
Athena, Moriarty, and Purrazzo all turned back Proving Ground challengers, keeping the Pure and women’s divisions locked down.
The Kingdom, Top Flight, and Dalton Castle & The Outrunners remain central to the tag and trios picture.

Stardom

(23.05.2026) Stardom Queens Dynasty – Pay Per View @ Toyoda Gosei Memorial Gymnasium ENTRIO in Inazawa, Aichi, Japan
Pre-Show Three Way: Waka Tsukiyama defeats Matoi Hamabe and Rian (5:29)
Pre-Show: Syuri defeats Kiyoka Kotatsu (10:03)
HATE (Ruaka & Saya Kamitani) defeat Fuwa-chan & Saori Anou (9:20)
Three Way: Saya Iida defeats HANAKO and Xena (10:19)
Artist Of Stardom Title #1 Contendership Three Way: God’s Eye (Ami Sourei, Hina & Lady C) defeat Cosmic Angels (Aya Sakura, Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori) and Mi Vida Loca (Akira Kurogane, Itsuki Aoki & Rina Yamashita) (10:22)
FWC (Hazuki & Koguma) defeat AZM & Ema Maishima (14:44)
Future Of Stardom Title: Ranna Yagami (c) defeats Kikyo Furusawa (10:45)
World Of Stardom Title #1 Contendership Four Way: Suzu Suzuki defeats Maika and Natsuko Tora and Starlight Kid (13:17)
Wonder Of Stardom Title: Hanan (c) defeats Bea Priestley (20:02)
World Of Stardom Title: Sayaka Kurara (c) defeats Maki Ito (21:51)

Ed: “Over in Stardom, it’s like a revolving door of rivalries—every show, another combination, another statement win, another challenger stepping up.”

Gordon: “A layered structure, to be sure. Television advances the unit rivalries; major events provide the decisive resolutions.”

wXw (Westside Xtreme Wrestling)

NEWS

Credit: Fightful

“They (wXw) wrote the following under one of their Instagram posts, where a fan asked if their True Colors event would air on TrillerTV.

“We would very much like to stream on Triller. Unfortunately they haven’t paid us for anything we streamed there since October and haven’t responded to any emails since they laid off our person in charge. We are unable to stream on a service that doesn’t pay its contributors.”

Fans can read more about AEW’s lawsuit by clicking here.”

Ed: “wXw keeps that European pressure‑cooker vibe—small buildings, loud fans, and matches that feel like they matter even when there’s no belt on the line.”

Gordon: “Continuity is their hallmark. Each taping adds incremental weight to existing rivalries rather than resetting the board.”

Pro Wrestling NOAH

(25.05.2026) NOAH Monday Magic Inside Out Season #2 – Online Stream @ Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, Japan
Rich Port Ayala defeats Iker Navarro (6:57)
Three Way: Seri Yamaoka defeats Mio Momono and Momoka Hanazono (11:40)
AMAKUSA & Kenoh defeat Brahman Brothers (Brahman Kei & Brahman Shu) by DQ (0:15)
AMAKUSA & Kenoh defeat Brahman Brothers (Brahman Kei & Brahman Shu) (8:28)
Kaito Kiyomiya defeats Alan Angels (10:19)
HAYATA & Titus Alexander defeat Archie Cole & Reece Alexios (12:59)
GHC Hardcore Openweight Title: Hikaru Sato defeats Masato Tanaka (c) (16:13) – TITLE CHANGE !!!

(24.05.2026) NOAH Neo Global Tag League 2026 – Tag 2 – Online Stream @ Umeda Sky Building Stella Hall in Osaka, Japan
Eita defeats Midori Takahashi (4:33)
Team 2000X (Jun Masaoka, Kai Fujimura, Masa Kitamiya & Takashi Sugiura) defeat All Rebellion (Alejandro, Harutoki & Kaito Kiyomiya) & Black Menso-re (5:16)
Atsushi Kotoge & Hi69 defeat AMAKUSA & Daiki Odashima (6:49)
Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) & Quiet Storm defeat White Raven Squad (HAYATA & Tetsuya Endo) & Yuto Koyanagi (7:47)
Hiroto Tsuruya & Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II) defeat Los Tranquilos de Japon (BUSHI, RYUSEI & Tetsuya Naito) (7:18)
Neo Global Tag League 2026 Block B: Stallion Rogers & Yoshiki Inamura [2] defeat Katsumi Inahata & KENTA 0
Neo Global Tag League 2026 Block B: Passionate RATEL’S (Manabu Soya & Yuki Iino) [2] defeat Kazuyuki Fujita & Mohammed Yone 0
Neo Global Tag League 2026 Block B: Kenoh & Naomichi Marufuji [2] defeat Team 2000X (OZAWA & Tadasuke) 0

(23.05.2026) NOAH Neo Global Tag League 2026 – Tag 1 – Online Stream @ Kyoto KBS Hall in Kyoto, Japan
Alejandro, Stallion Rogers & Yoshiki Inamura defeat Katsumi Inahata, KENTA & Yuto Koyanagi (9:13)
Eita, Midori Takahashi & Passionate RATEL’S (Manabu Soya & Yuki Iino) defeat Black Menso-re, Hi69, Kazuyuki Fujita & Mohammed Yone (9:11)
Atsushi Kotoge defeats Hiroto Tsuruya (7:27)
Team 2000X (Jun Masaoka, Kai Fujimura, OZAWA & Tadasuke) defeat AMAKUSA, Daiki Odashima, Kenoh & Naomichi Marufuji (12:34)
Neo Global Tag League 2026 Block A: White Raven Squad (HAYATA & Tetsuya Endo) [2] defeat Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II) 0
Neo Global Tag League 2026 Block A: Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) [2] defeat All Rebellion (Harutoki & Kaito Kiyomiya) 0
Neo Global Tag League 2026 Block A: Los Tranquilos de Japon (BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito) [2] defeat Team 2000X (Masa Kitamiya & Takashi Sugiura) 0

Ed: “In NOAH, every forearm and kick sounds like it could end a career—those GHC champions are living in a constant state of siege.”

Gordon: “The interplay between veterans and the emergent generation remains central—legacy versus aspiration, played out in very physical terms.”

All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)

Credit: all-japan.co.jp

“The match order for the Koga tournament on Sunday, May 31 has been decided, for the “Super Power Series 2026” ~Five Is Home presents~

《Match Order》

◆ First Match Singles Match 20 minutes one-fall match Ryo
Inoue vs. Shiyuki Sakuda

◆ Match 2: Tag Match 20 minutes one-fall
match MUSASHI Yoshioka Seiki vs. Hikaru Sato Yuya Aoki

◆ Match 3: Singles Match, 20 minutes, one-fall match: Hokuto
Omori vs. Jack Kennedy

◆ Match 4 Tag Match 30-minute one-fall match
Zion Shotaro Ashino vs Ryuki Honda Aran

*Break after Game 4

◆ Match 5: Singles Match, 30 minutes, one-fall match: Go
Shiozaki vs Yasutaka Yano

◆ Match 6: 6-man tag match, 30 minutes one-fall match.
Yuma Aoyagi, Ryusei Aoyagi, Rising HAYATO vs. Yuma Anzai, Oji Tamura, Shota Kofuji

◆ Match 7 Main Event Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship & World Tag Team Championship Prep 6-Man Tag Team Match 30 minutes one-fall Kento
Miyahara, Ren Ayabe, Taros vs. Hideki Suzuki, Jun Saito, Rei Saito

“Superpower Series 2026”
May 31, 2026 (Sun) Doors open 13:15 / Start
14:00 Ibaraki Koga City ES Central Sports Park Hanamomo Gymnasium ~Five Is Home presents~

Food trucks available
Food and drink allowed
inside the venue * Wearing shoes allowed

*Advance tickets for Premium Seats and Special Ringside are nearly depleted.
If you are considering attending, please purchase your advance tickets early!”

Ed: “All Japan’s still that slow‑burn furnace—long tours, layered grudges, and when a title match finally hits, it feels like a payoff months in the making.”

Gordon: “A methodical approach, emphasizing escalation over time rather than immediate gratification.”

AEW Double or Nothing

Credit: cagematch.net

(24.05.2026) AEW Double Or Nothing 2026 – The Buy In – Online Stream @ Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York City, New York, USA
AEW Women’s World Tag Team Title Five Minute Challenge Eliminator: Divine Dominion (Lena Kross & Megan Bayne) [c] defeat Viva Van & Zayda Steel (w/Christopher Daniels) (4:45)
Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia & Wheeler Yuta) (w/Marina Shafir) defeat The Opps (Anthony Bowens, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata) (10:32)
Boom And Doom (Big Boom AJ & QT Marshall) & The Conglomeration (Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong) (w/Big Justice, Harley Cameron & The Rizzler) defeat Shane Taylor Promotions (Anthony Ogogo, Carlie Bravo, Lee Moriarty, Shane Taylor & Shawn Dean) (w/Christyan XO) (6:31)
All Elite Wrestling
(24.05.2026) AEW Double Or Nothing 2026 – Pay Per View @ Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York City, New York, USA
AEW World Tag Team Title I Quit: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage defeat FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) (w/Stokely) (c) (19:34) – TITLE CHANGE !!!
AEW International Title: Konosuke Takeshita defeats Kazuchika Okada (c) (19:01) – TITLE CHANGE !!!
Owen Hart Foundation 2026 Women’s Tournament Quarter Final: Athena defeats Mina Shirakawa (10:46)
AEW Continental Title No Time Limit: Jon Moxley (c) defeats Kyle O’Reilly (18:44)
Owen Hart Foundation 2026 Men’s Tournament Quarter Final: Will Ospreay defeats Samoa Joe (13:52)
Owen Hart Foundation 2026 Men’s Tournament Quarter Final: Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) defeats Bandido (15:15)
AEW Women’s World Title Four Way: Thekla (c) defeats Hikaru Shida and Jamie Hayter and Kris Statlander (13:59)
Stadium Stampede: Jack Perry, Jericho, The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) & The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) (w/MVP) defeat Don Callis Family (Andrade El Idolo & Mark Davis), The Demand (Bishop Kaun, Ricochet & Toa Liona) & The Dogs (Clark Connors & David Finlay) (31:10)
AEW World Title Vs. Hair: MJF defeats Darby Allin (c) (24:01) – TITLE CHANGE !!!

Ed: “Double or Nothing is AEW’s big early‑summer swing—when they load the bases with title matches and then swing for the fences with one or two absolutely wild stipulations.”

Gordon: “Quite. It serves as both culmination and catalyst—resolving certain rivalries while simultaneously seeding the next phase, particularly with regard to international collaborations.”

Desk outro

Ed: “So if you zoom out on this past week, here’s the picture: ROH just ran a marathon taping where every champion had to prove their mettle; Stardom had a BIG show; and AEW’s Double or Nothing was the next big explosion on the calendar.”

Gordon: “A most intricate tapestry, to be sure. As more time passes, the finer details will sharpen—but the trajectories are already unmistakable.”