NJPW, OVW, and Rinaâs 5â STAR coronation (Aug 18â25, 2026)
đŠ OPENING LeadâIn
Ed: âFans, welcome back to the sports desk. Three stories dominated the wrestling world this week â New Japanâs postâG1 fallout, OVWâs steady march through Overdrive, and the rise of Rina after her breakthrough 5â STAR Grand Prix victory. Each promotion moved in a different rhythm, but all three pushed their narratives forward in ways that matter.â
Gordon: âNew Japan spent the week absorbing the shockwaves of Ryohei Oiwaâs G1 triumph and the generational shift that came with it. OVW kept its engine running with another round of Overdrive action. And in Stardom, Rina didnât just win a tournament â she announced herself as a future centerpiece. Letâs break down how these three threads shaped the week.â
đ„ New Japan Pro Wrestling â postâG1 fallout (Aug 18â25, 2026)
Ed: âFans, New Japan just came off one of its most important weeks of the year. The G1 Climax 36 wrapped on August 16, and while there havenât been new shows since then, the aftershocks from that tournament are still rolling through the company.â
Oiwaâs G1 win and title challenge
NJPW officially confirmed Ryohei Oiwa as G1 winner and highlighted his plan to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at King of Pro Wrestling on October 12.
In postâtournament media, Oiwa:
Called himself âMr. Summer for the Reiwa Generation.â
Spoke about inheriting the spirit of Hiroyoshi Tenzan, whose horns he wore to the ring for the final.
Emphasized that his styleâlong matches built around headlocks and techniqueâis his way, not a template for everyone, and praised the diversity of styles in NJPW.
Ed: âSo from this week onward, the story in New Japan hasnât been new cardsâitâs been what this G1 win means. Oiwa is locked in for King of Pro Wrestling, Uemura has proven he can hang with the champion, and Tenzanâs retirement gives the company a clear generational handoff.â
Gordon: âIn other words, New Japan is in a reset windowâno matches this week, but a lot of narrative weight. The next big pivot is King of Pro Wrestling, and Oiwaâs challenge is the centerpiece.â
đŠ Ohio Valley Wrestling â Overdrive & Race for the Crown (since Aug 18, 2026)
Ed: âNow we swing to Louisville, where OVW keeps grinding on TV and streaming. This is a promotion that lives on weekly rhythmâOverdrive, TV, and a lot of hungry talent trying to climb the ladder.â
OVW Overdrive #200 â August 18, 2026 (Online Stream, Davis Arena)
Full results:
TW3 def. Thomas Heim
Ashton Adonis def. Jake Redondo
Erik Surge def. Nick Hamrick
Jay DeNiro def. Glenn Spectre
Gordon: âOverdrive #200 wasnât about titlesâit was about positioning. TW3, Adonis, Surge, and DeNiro all picked up wins that keep them relevant for future TV and Race for the Crown opportunities.â
Ed: âSo while New Japan is in a holding pattern after the G1, OVW is in full weekly grind modeâOverdrive #200 keeps the pipeline moving, and the picture is starting to take shape.â
Gordon: âNow, letâs talk about one of the biggest individual stories of the week: Rina winning Stardomâs 5â STAR Grand Prix 2026.â
Tournament path (from your Stardom results)
From the shows you provided:
Tag 15 â Korakuen Hall (Aug 18, 2026):
Red Stars Quarter Final: Rina def. Rina Yamashita (11:22).
Red Stars Semi Final: Rina def. Konami (17:17).
Tag 16 â Ryogoku Kokugikan (Aug 23, 2026):
Semi Final: Rina def. Maika (16:51).
Final: Rina def. Starlight Kid (27:03) to win the 5â STAR Grand Prix 2026.
Ed: âThatâs a brutal runâRina Yamashita, Konami, Maika, and Starlight Kid in succession. Thatâs not just winning a tournament, thatâs cutting through four very different styles and proving you belong at the very top of Stardomâs card.â
Who Rina is (career snapshot)
Rina is a Stardom homegrown wrestler, debuting at the age of 11 and evolving from undercard roles into a key player in the Oedo Tai unit over the years. On May 12, 2023, at New Blood 8, Rina won her first championship by defeating Ami Sourei to win the Future of Stardom Championship. Currently she is a member of H.A.T.E.
Sheâs known for:
A strikingâheavy, aggressive style that blends youthful energy with growing ring IQ.
A character presentation that leans into attitude and edge, fitting Stardomâs modern heel aesthetics.
What this win means
Gordon: âWinning the 5â STAR Grand Prix has historically been a launchpad to world title contention in Stardom. For Rina, this is the moment where she stops being âpromisingâ and starts being central.â
The 5â STAR winner traditionally earns a World of Stardom Championship shot, and Rinaâs victory positions her as a top challenger going into the fall.
Beating Starlight Kid in a near 30âminute final at Ryogoku signals that Stardom trusts her to carry mainâevent length matches on big stages.
Ed: âSo, Rinaâs week is enormous: She didnât just win a tournamentâshe redefined her ceiling. From Korakuen to Ryogoku, she proved she can hang with veterans, bruisers, technicians, and highâflyers, and still come out on top.â
đŠ CLOSING â Sports Desk SignâOff
Ed: âThat wraps up our sweep of New Japan, OVW, and Rinaâs rise. NJPW is entering a reset phase with Oiwaâs title challenge looming, OVW continues building momentum through Overdrive and tournament qualifiers, and Rinaâs Grand Prix win signals a major shift in Stardomâs future landscape.â
Gordon: âEach of these stories is heading toward a major turning point. Oiwaâs challenge will define New Japanâs fall, OVWâs competition is tightening by the week, and Rinaâs next move could reshape Stardomâs championship picture. Weâll be right here at the sports desk tracking every development as the road ahead unfolds.â
Ed: âFans, todayâs sports desk takes us on a world tour â five promotions, five very different atmospheres, and one shared truth: pro wrestling never sleeps. The global scene has been buzzing with title fights, tournament drama, faction warfare, and a few surprises that shook entire locker rooms.â
Gordon: âAnd what makes this week special is the contrast. Ring of Honor brought its trademark grit with backâtoâback specials. Stardom delivered speed, precision, and the kind of intensity only their roster can produce. wXw kept the German scene roaring with heavyweight clashes and technical showcases. NOAH leaned into its hardâhitting identity with battles that echoed through Korakuen. And All Japan continued its steady climb, mixing tradition with a new generation hungry for spotlight.â
Ed: âFive promotions, five stories unfolding at once â champions defending, challengers rising, and entire divisions shifting in real time. Weâll break down every match, every result, every standout moment, and the rumors swirling behind the curtain.â
Gordon: âAnd when weâre done, weâll unveil the Top 25 Power Rankings â the athletes who defined the week across the entire global landscape.â
Ed: âLetâs get to it.â
đ„ Ring of Honor â HonorClub (August 18, 2026)
Taped at Broadmoor World Arena â Colorado Springs, CO
Ed: âFans, ROH rolled into Colorado Springs with a special HonorClub showcase â seven matches, a few surprises, and a clear push toward Death Before Dishonor. The crowd got a little bit of everything: highâflying, knockouts, tag team chemistry, and a main event that had more moving parts than a Swiss watch.â
Gordon: âAnd what stood out most was the pacing. ROH didnât waste time â every match served a purpose, every segment nudged a storyline forward. Letâs break it down.â
đŠ Komander vs. Ariya Daivari (w/ Mark Sterling & BEEF)
Winner: Komander
Komander opened the night with the kind of aerial precision thatâs become his trademark. Daivari tried to slow him down with interference from Sterling and BEEF, but once Komander found his rhythm, the match tilted sharply. He sealed the win with Cielito Lindo, leaving Daivari frustrated and Sterling scrambling to regroup.
Ed: âKomanderâs rope work is like watching a man walk on air.â
đŠ AR Fox & Lio Rush vs. Action Andretti & HOOK
Winner: Fox & Rush by DQ
This one was crisp until it wasnât. Andretti and HOOK controlled early with smooth tandem offense, but Rushâs speed turned the tide. The finish came suddenly â HOOK snapped and hit Rush with his own ROH TV Title belt, forcing the referee to call for the disqualification.
Gordon: âA moment of frustration that cost them the match â and maybe a friendship.â
đŠ SkyFlight (Scorpio Sky, Dante Martin, Darius Martin) vs. Manny Lemons, Tommy 2 Scoops & Dave Cole
Winners: SkyFlight
SkyFlight looked sharp, blending Scorpio Skyâs veteran timing with the Martinsâ trademark explosiveness. Daniels and Sydal coached from ringside as the trio hit fluid combinations and controlled the pace from bell to bell.
Ed: âSkyFlight is becoming one of ROHâs most reliable trios â smooth, fast, and always in sync.â
đŠ Anthony Ogogo vs. Aaron Solo
Winner: Ogogo by KO
Ogogo didnât come to play. Solo tried to stick and move, but Ogogoâs boxing background turned this into a short, violent affair. A clean shot dropped Solo cold, giving Ogogo a decisive knockout victory.
Gordon: âOgogoâs power is no rumor â that punch couldâve stopped a truck.â
đŠ Mina Shirakawa & Queen Aminata vs. The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle)
Winners: Shirakawa & Aminata
This was one of the nightâs most competitive bouts. The Hex brought veteran savvy, but Shirakawa and Aminata matched them strike for strike. The finish saw Shirakawa lock in a bridging figureâfour, forcing Marti Belle to tap.
Ed: âShirakawaâs technique was pictureâperfect â that bridge was a thing of beauty.â
đŠ Adam Priest vs. El Phantasmo
Winner: Adam Priest
Priest leaned into his gritty, noânonsense style, grounding ELP and attacking the legs. Phantasmo fired back with bursts of speed, but Priest caught him in a single Boston crab, wrenching back until ELP had no choice but to submit.
Gordon: âPriest doesnât need flash â he just needs leverage.â
đŠ Main Event: Red Velvet & Zayda Steel (w/ Christopher Daniels) vs. Marina Shafir & Skye Blue
Winners: Red Velvet & Zayda Steel
The main event delivered strong tag chemistry and a few wellâtimed momentum swings. Shafirâs grappling and Blueâs speed kept Velvet and Steel honest, but Danielsâ ringside involvement repeatedly shifted the balance. Velvet and Steel capitalized on the chaos, scoring the win and building momentum heading into Death Before Dishonor.
Ed: âVelvet and Steel looked sharp â but Danielsâ fingerprints were all over that finish.â
đŠ Notable Moments & News
Nigel McGuinness Promo: Nigel addressed his knee injury from AEW Collision, hinting at personal and professional reasons he might still appear at Death Before Dishonor, despite being out six weeks. The crowd buzzed at the possibility.
Death Before Dishonor Build: Multiple matches tonight served as stepping stones toward the payâperâview â especially the main event, which tightened the womenâs division storylines.
Gordon: âROH used this show as a launchpad â and they stuck the landing.â
đ„ Ring of Honor â HonorClub #180 (August 20, 2026)
Taped Aug 19 in Baltimore â Aired Aug 20
Ed: âTonightâs sports desk takes us to Baltimore, where ROH delivered a tight, efficient HonorClub episode â proving ground bouts, rising stars, and a few matches that pushed Death Before Dishonor into sharper focus.â
Gordon: âAnd what made this show click was its rhythm. Quick finishes where they needed them, competitive bouts in the middle, and a main event that tied directly into the womenâs division storylines. Letâs run it down.â
đŠ ROH Womenâs World Title Proving Ground Match
Athena vs. Gia Scott
Winner: Athena (2:53)
Athena wasted no time. She overwhelmed Scott with speed and aggression, keeping her grounded until she hit the decisive sequence that sealed the win. Another dominant outing for the champion, extending her 2026 streak to 8â0â1.
Ed: âAthena didnât just win â she made a statement.â
đŠ Singles Match
Preston Vance vs. Danny Grandview
Winner: Vance (1:00)
Vance bulldozed Grandview in under a minute, flattening him with power offense and reminding everyone heâs still dangerous despite Dark Orderâs internal doubts.
Gordon: âShort, sharp, and decisive.â
đŠ Tag Team Match
Action Andretti & HOOK vs. The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno)
Winners: Andretti & HOOK (9:09)
This was the first match of the night with real backâandâforth drama. Dark Order leaned on experience and teamwork, but Andrettiâs explosiveness and HOOKâs composure carried the day. A clean win that builds momentum heading into Death Before Dishonor.
Ed: âHOOK and Andretti looked like theyâd been teaming for years.â
đŠ Singles Match
Daniel Garcia vs. Alec Price
Winner: Garcia (8:39)
Garcia and Price delivered a crisp, competitive match. Price brought energy, but Garciaâs technical precision and ring IQ kept him one step ahead. Garcia closed it out clean, continuing his strong 2026 form.
Gordon: âGarciaâs confidence is becoming a weapon.â
đŠ ROH World Television Title Proving Ground Match
Lio Rush vs. Joe Keys
Winner: Rush (1:09)
Rush improved to 9â1 in 2026 singles action with a lightningâfast victory. Keys barely had time to adjust before Rush overwhelmed him with speed and sealed the win in just over a minute.
Ed: âRush is operating at a different speed than everyone else.â
đŠ Tag Team Match
Queen Aminata & Mina Shirakawa vs. Erica Leigh & Brittany Blake
Winners: Aminata & Shirakawa (7:16)
Aminata and Shirakawa continued their strong run as a duo. Leigh and Blake fought hard, but the chemistry on the winning side was too sharp. Another clean win for a team clearly being positioned for bigger things.
Gordon: âShirakawa and Aminata are becoming a quiet force in ROH.â
đŠ Singles Match
Nick Wayne vs. Jordan Oliver
Winner: Wayne (10:28)
Oliver cut a promo earlier in the night hyping the match, and both men delivered. Wayne remained undefeated at 6â0, surviving Oliverâs aggression and closing with crisp execution. A standout match on the card.
Ed: âWayneâs confidence is growing by the week.â
đŠ ROH Pure Title #1 Contendership Match
Katsuyori Shibata vs. Wheeler Yuta
Winner: Shibata (7:11)
A pure wrestling showcase. Shibata and Yuta traded holds, counters, and rope breaks with surgical precision. Shibataâs victory earns him a Pure Title shot at Death Before Dishonor â a match fans have been waiting for.
Gordon: âShibataâs discipline carried him straight into a title match.â
đŠ Tornado Tag Team Match (Main Event)
Marina Shafir & Skye Blue vs. Red Velvet & Zayda Steel (w/ Christopher Daniels)
Winners: Shafir & Blue (10:44)
The main event delivered chaos, teamwork, and storyline progression. Velvet and Steel leaned heavily on Danielsâ ringside involvement, but Shafirâs grappling and Blueâs firepower proved too much. A strong win that pushes the womenâs division narrative toward the payâperâview.
Ed: âShafir and Blue fought like they had something to prove â and they proved it.â
đŠ Notable Promos & Storylines
Dark Order reflected on their AEW/ROH history; John Silver questioned Preston Vanceâs credibility.
Athena vs. Hazuki video package teased their Death Before Dishonor showdown.
Andretti vs. Lio Rush hype package aired for the PPV.
Jordan Oliver cut a promo building his match with Nick Wayne.
Deonna Purrazzo addressed her issues with Steph De Lander.
Dalton Castle & The Outrunners hyped Lethal Twistâs return.
Gordon: âEvery promo tonight pointed straight at Death Before Dishonor â ROH is tightening the screws.â
đ„ Ring of Honor â Death Before Dishonor (August 21, 2026)
Live on PPV â 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Ed: âFans, tonightâs sports desk takes us to the legendary 2300 Arena â a building thatâs seen every kind of fight imaginable. ROH came in promising violence, heart, and championship stakes, and they delivered a marathon of action that honored the buildingâs history while pushing the company forward.â
Gordon: âAnd what made this show special was the variety. Technical wrestling, pure rules, lucha brilliance, tag chaos, and a Fight Without Honor that felt like a love letter to the arenaâs past. Letâs break it down from Zero Hour to the final OâFace.â
đ¶ ZERO HOUR
đŠ Queen Aminata & Mina Shirakawa vs. Vertvixen & Viva Van
Winners: Aminata & Shirakawa (pinfall)
A hot opener with fast tags and crisp chemistry. Viva hit a hurricanrana early, Aminata answered with the Hip Train, and Shirakawaâs Diamond DDT sealed the win after Aminata headbutted Vertvixen to set it up.
Ed: âAminata and Shirakawa are becoming one of ROHâs most polished duos.â
đŠ Adam Brooks vs. El Phantasmo
Winner: ELP (pinfall)
A technical start gave way to escalating offense â springboards, counters, and nearâfalls. Brooks nearly stole it with a codebreaker, but ELP hit the Cutthroat Driver and followed with the ELP Splash for the three.
Gordon: âELPâs timing was razor sharp.â
đŠ A.R. Fox vs. Soleil vs. Komander
Winner: Komander (pinfall)
A nonstop aerial showcase. Fox hit a ropeâassisted splash, Soleil landed a tokusatsuâstyle cutter, and Komander sealed it with a tightrope 450 after intercepting Soleilâs momentum.
Ed: âKomander walked the ropes like they were a sidewalk.â
đŠ Brian Cage & Hechicero vs. Bustah & The Brain (Alec Price & Jordan Oliver)
Winners: Cage & Hechicero (pinfall)
Bustah & The Brain showed great teamwork early, but Cageâs power and Hechiceroâs precision took over. Cage threw Price onto Oliver outside, Hechicero hit the finishing DDT, and the Don Callis Family stood tall.
Gordon: âCage was a wrecking ball â Hechicero was the architect.â
đ„ MAIN CARD
đŠ ROH World SixâMan Tag Team Championship
Dalton Castle & The Outrunners vs. The Lethal Twist (Jay Lethal, Blake Christian, Lee Johnson)
Winners: The Lethal Twist â NEW Champions
A chaotic opener with constant tags and brawls. Castleâs suplex flurry popped the crowd, but Christianâs ropeâassisted rollâup â aided by Lethal â stole the win.
Ed: âCastle had the building rocking, but Lethal Twist played the numbers game.â
đŠ ROH Womenâs Pure Championship
Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Steph De Lander
Winner: Purrazzo (submission)
SDL burned through her rope breaks early. A ref bump opened the door for chaos, but Purrazzo regained control, hit Venus De Milo, and forced the tap.
Gordon: âPurrazzoâs technique carried her through every curveball.â
đŠ ROH Womenâs Television Championship â FourâWay
Red Velvet (c) vs. Skye Blue vs. Zayda Steel vs. Marina Shafir (w/ Jon Moxley)
Winner: Red Velvet (pinfall)
A wild fourâway with weapons, submissions, and constant momentum swings. Shafir powerbombed everyone out of a tower of doom, Skye used the title as a weapon, and Velvet hit a frog splash on Shafir to retain.
Ed: âVelvet survived a storm â and stole the moment when it mattered.â
đŠ ROH Menâs Pure Championship
Lee Moriarty (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata
Winner: Moriarty (pinfall)
A brilliant Pure Rules match. Shibata attacked the legs with figureâfours and suplexes, Moriarty countered with TigerâStyle offense, and after a flurry of reversals, Moriarty caught Shibata with a stacking pin to retain.
Gordon: âMoriarty proved he can think as fast as he can strike.â
đŠ ROH World Tag Team Championships â FourâWay
Sky Team (Mistico & Mascara Dorada) vs. The Kingdom vs. Guevara & Mortos vs. Top Flight
Winners: Sky Team (pinfall)
A breathtaking luchaâheavy tag war. Mortos hit a massive dive, Guevara landed a shooting star to the floor, Top Flight dazzled with speed, and Mistico finished Dante with a topârope La Mistica.
Ed: âSky Team turned chaos into choreography.â
đŠ AEW Continental Cup PlayâIn
Adam Priest vs. Daniel Garcia
Winner: Garcia (submission)
A grueling technical fight. Both men targeted legs, traded figureâfours, rolled through submissions up the ramp, and battled past the refâs count. Garcia finally locked in the Dragon Tamer for the tap.
Gordon: âA match built on pain tolerance â Garcia endured just a little more.â
đ„ ROH Menâs World Television Championship â Fight Without Honor
Lio Rush (c) vs. Action Andretti
Winner: Andretti â NEW Champion
Weapons everywhere: brooms, dustpans, tables, glass, doors, chains, umbrellas, barbed wire. Lio â dressed like Sabu â fought with reckless creativity. Andretti answered with brutality. HOOK interfered, Bowens joined the chaos, and Andretti hit Lights Camera Action through the red door for the win.
Afterward, Lio opened the black box and drank the Black Heart, black liquid pouring from his mouth.
Ed: âViolence, creativity, and heart â a Fight Without Honor worthy of the 2300 Arena.â
đ„ ROH Menâs World Championship
Bandido (c) vs. Nick Wayne
Winner: Bandido (pinfall)
A blistering match. Suicide dives, barricade crashes, maskâgrabbing, Shiranui, poison ranas, German suplexes, and Wayne bleeding heavily after hitting the steel steps. Wayne hit multiple Prodigy Plexes, Bandido hit the 21âPlex, and after a low blow and Wayneâs World, Bandido reversed the final pin attempt into a winning cradle.
Gordon: âBandido survived everything â including Wayneâs desperation.â
đ„ ROH Womenâs World Championship (Main Event)
Athena (c) vs. Hazuki
Winner: Athena (pinfall)
A war. Hazuki countered early, Athena cheated often, and Billie Starkz & Diamante interfered repeatedly. Hazuki hit an avalanche crucifix bomb, spike DDT on the apron, double Codebreakers, and a splash through a barelyâbreaking table. Athena answered with a stomp, tombstone, and finally two OâFaces â one from the apron to the floor â to retain.
After the bell, Athena showed rare respect to Hazuki.
Ed: âAthena and Hazuki tore the house down â a main event worthy of the name Death Before Dishonor.â
đȘ World Wonder Ring Stardom â 5â STAR Grand Prix 2026 (Aug 18 & Aug 23)
Korakuen Hall âą Ryogoku Kokugikan â Tokyo, Japan
Ed: âFans, Stardomâs 5â STAR Grand Prix hit its final stretch this week â two massive cards, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final that shook the entire promotion. The pace was blistering, the stakes skyâhigh, and the roster delivered the kind of drama only Stardom can produce.â
Gordon: âAnd what stood out most was the contrast between styles. Power, speed, technique, chaos â every block brought something different. Letâs start with Korakuen Hall.â
đŠ 5â STAR Grand Prix â Tag 15 (August 18, 2026)
Korakuen Hall â Online Stream
Quarterfinals
Blue Stars QF:Starlight Kid def. HANAKO (13:58) Kid used her agility to stay ahead of HANAKOâs power, countering big swings and sealing the win with sharp timing.
Red Stars QF:Saya Iida def. AZM (10:22) A highâspeed clash where Iidaâs raw strength overcame AZMâs precision.
Blue Stars QF:Ruaka def. Hanan (11:27) Ruaka muscled her way through the match, shutting down Hananâs momentum.
Red Stars QF:Rina def. Rina Yamashita (11:22) A bruising fight â Yamashita brought the violence, but Rinaâs composure carried her through.
Semifinals
Blue Stars SF:Starlight Kid def. Ami Sourei (12:16) Soureiâs power nearly overwhelmed Kid, but Kidâs counters and ring IQ pushed her into the finals.
Red Stars SF:Maika def. Saya Iida (12:49) A hardâhitting bout where Maikaâs technique edged out Iidaâs explosiveness.
Blue Stars SF:Suzu Suzuki def. Ruaka (10:13) Suzukiâs relentlessness and striking precision proved too much for Ruaka.
Red Stars SF:Rina def. Konami (17:17) A tactical war â Konami targeted limbs, Rina absorbed the damage and struck back with sharp offense to reach the Grand Prix final.
Ed: âKorakuen gave us clarity â four women stood tall, but only two would reach the Finals in Ryogoku.â
đȘ 5â STAR Grand Prix â Tag 16 (August 23, 2026)
Ryogoku Kokugikan â PayâPerâView
SemiâFinals
Starlight Kid def. Suzu Suzuki (16:56) A dramatic, momentumâswinging match. Kid survived Suzukiâs blistering offense and countered late to punch her ticket to the final.
FourâWay Tag:Koguma & Matoi Hamabe def. Cosmic Angels, HATE, Neo Genesis (4:40) A quick, chaotic sprint with Kogumaâs creativity shining.
Godâs Eye (Ami Sourei, Hina, Kiyoka Kotatsu, Lady C & Tomoka Inaba) def. HANAKO, Maki Ito, Neo Genesis (AZM & Miyu Amasaki) & Waka Tsukiyama (8:31) Godâs Eye controlled the pace with crisp teamwork.
HATE (Azusa Inaba, Natsuko Tora & Ruaka) def. Mi Vida Loca (Akira Kurogane, Itsuki Aoki & Rina Yamashita) (10:10) A bruising trios match where HATE leaned into their trademark chaos.
Kikyo Furusawa & Ranna Yagami def. Cosmic Angels (Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara) (15:11) A competitive tag bout with Furusawa and Yagami outlasting the Angels.
HATE (Momo Watanabe & Saya Kamitani) def. STARS (Hanan & Saya Iida) (12:44) Watanabe and Kamitaniâs chemistry carried them past STARSâ resilience.
Natsupoi def. Saori Anou (25:32) A showâstealer â fast, emotional, and beautifully paced.
5â STAR Grand Prix 2026 Final
Rina def. Starlight Kid (27:03)
A dramatic, exhausting, emotional main event. Kid threw everything she had â speed, counters, aerial offense â but Rina absorbed the punishment and kept coming. The closing stretch was a war of willpower, and Rinaâs final surge crowned her the 2026 5â STAR Grand Prix Champion.
Gordon: âRina didnât just win a tournament â she arrived at the top of Stardomâs mountain.â
Ed: âAnd Kid pushed her to the absolute limit. A phenomenal final.â
Ed: âFans, the sports desk shifts to Germany, where wXw officially unveiled the full lineup for King of the Catchers 2026 â the technical wrestling tournament that anchors the ProâWrestling Grand Prix weekend. Eight wrestlers, two groups, roundârobin format, and a final that crowns one of the most respected titles in European wrestling.â
Gordon: âThis tournament is pure sport. No gimmicks, no shortcuts â every competitor faces every opponent in their block. The two group winners meet in the grand final, and the winner walks out with bragging rights that echo across the continent.â
đŠ Tournament Structure
Eight participants
Two groups of four
Roundârobin matches within each group
Group winners advance to the final
Threeâday event as part of the wXw ProâWrestling Grand Prix 2026
Ed: âRoundârobin wrestling exposes strengths and weaknesses. You canât hide behind one good night â you need consistency, conditioning, and adaptability.â
Gordon: âAnd wXw always selects a field that represents the full spectrum of European and international wrestling.â
đŠ Official Participants â King of the Catchers 2026
1 Called Manders A bruiser with Midwest grit â Manders brings raw power and a brawling style that forces technicians out of their comfort zone.
Axel Tischer One of Europeâs most respected grapplers. Disciplined, precise, and dangerous in long tournaments.
Dennis âCashâ Dullnig A wXw stalwart with sharp fundamentals and underrated toughness.
Dieter Schwartz A rising technician with a methodical approach â thrives in structured formats like roundârobins.
Elijah Blum Young, fast, and fearless. Blumâs hybrid style makes him a wild card in the field.
Katsuhiko Nakajima A worldâclass striker and former champion in Japan. His kicks alone can change the trajectory of a match â and a tournament.
Peter Tihanyi Hungaryâs top technician, known for fluid counters and crisp chain wrestling.
Thomas Shire A powerhouse grappler with a throwback style â suplexes, holds, and relentless pressure.
Ed: âThatâs a stacked lineup â veterans, prospects, international killers, and a few names who thrive in tournament environments.â
Gordon: âAnd the beauty of King of the Catchers is that every one of them has a path to the final. Itâs all about matchups.â
đŠ Group Assignments Coming Soon
wXw confirmed that the official group placements will be revealed on:
đș wXw Shotgun â Thursday, August 27 đ» Free on YouTube
Ed: âOnce we know the groups, weâll know the storylines â whoâs stuck in the strikerâs bracket, whoâs trapped with the grapplers, and who lucked into the chaos block.â
Gordon: âAnd thatâs when predictions get interesting.â
đŠ Event Details
Dates: September 25â27
Venue: Turbinenhalle, Oberhausen
Tickets: events.wXwâWrestling.com
Presented by: WrestlingâInfos.de
Ed: âOberhausen is going to be electric â three tournaments, three days, and a crowd that treats technical wrestling like a religion.â
Gordon: âAnd King of the Catchers will set the tone for the entire Grand Prix weekend.â
Ed: âFans, the sports desk stays in Germany as wXw continues rolling out major announcements for the ProâWrestling Grand Prix. Earlier this week we learned the full lineup for King of the Catchers â and now we have the complete fields for Femmes Fatales and the World Tag Team Tournament. Three tournaments, three trophies, and three days of wrestling that define wXwâs identity.â
Gordon: âAnd what makes this festival special is the variety. Technical wrestling, womenâs championship stakes, tag team chaos â all happening under one roof in Oberhausen. Letâs break down the new announcements.â
đȘ Femmes Fatales â Tournament Field Confirmed
Winner becomes the new wXw Womenâs World Champion
Ed: âThis yearâs Femmes Fatales carries extra weight â Shortcut to the Top winner Kanji forfeited her guaranteed title shot and demanded that the Womenâs World Championship be reinstated as the tournament prize. Thatâs gutsy, and it raises the stakes for everyone involved.â
Gordon: âAnd the field is stacked. Eight women, knockout format, quarterfinals to finals â no second chances.â
Participants
Chihiro Hashimoto â A powerhouse with elite grappling credentials.
Jane Nero â A rising force with sharp striking and confidence.
Kanji â The wildcard; she gave up a guaranteed title shot to fight for the belt the hard way.
Killer Kelly â One of wXwâs most intense competitors; thrives in tournaments.
Madison Marley â Young, fast, and unpredictable.
Manami â Brings speed and precision from the Japanese scene.
Mercedes Martinez â A veteran with unmatched toughness and ring IQ.
Stephanie Maze â A technical standout with a growing fanbase.
Ed: âThatâs a field with power, experience, and a few dark horses who could shock the bracket.â
Gordon: âAnd with the title on the line, every match becomes a careerâdefining moment.â
đŠ World Tag Team Tournament â Eight Teams Confirmed
Ed: âTag team wrestling is one of wXwâs calling cards, and this yearâs tournament looks like a celebration of every style you can imagine â highâspeed duos, bruisers, technicians, and last yearâs champions returning to defend their crown.â
Participants
10/10 Next Level â A crisp, athletic pairing with strong chemistry.
Best Bros â International favorites known for creativity and pace.
Better Together â A team built on synergy and smart tag strategy.
Greedy Souls (defending champions) â Last yearâs winners; heavy hitters with a mean streak.
Hyperactive â Fast, frantic, and fearless.
Planet Gojirah â A powerhouse team with size and intimidation.
Quick & Dirty â Opportunistic, scrappy, and dangerous in tournament settings.
The Grind â Hardânosed workers who thrive in long, physical matches.
Gordon: âEight teams, singleâelimination â one mistake and youâre out. And with Greedy Souls returning, the target is already painted.â
Ed: âThis tournament always produces surprises, and this field guarantees at least one upset.â
đŠ Group & Bracket Reveal Coming Soon
đș wXw Shotgun â Thursday, August 27 đ» Free on YouTube
Ed: âShotgun will reveal the firstâround matchups for both Femmes Fatales and the Tag Tournament â plus the group assignments for King of the Catchers.â
Gordon: âAnd once we see the brackets, weâll know whoâs in for a smooth ride and whoâs stuck in the gauntlet.â
đŠ Event Details
Dates: September 25â27
Venue: Turbinenhalle, Oberhausen
Tickets: events.wXwâWrestling.com
Presented by: WrestlingâInfos.de
Ed: âOberhausen is shaping up to be the epicenter of European wrestling this September.â
Gordon: âAnd with three tournaments running sideâbyâside, the ProâWrestling Grand Prix might be the most ambitious festival wXw has ever produced.â
Ed: âFans, the sports desk shifts to the lateânight side of the Grand Prix â because wXw has officially confirmed the first matches for the Extreme Wrestling Party, the 18+ show that kicks off the festival weekend. If the Grand Prix is the celebration of wrestling as a sport, the Extreme Wrestling Party is the celebration of wrestling as chaos.â
Gordon: âAnd this yearâs lineup already looks unhinged in the best possible way. Three matches announced, three very different flavors of violence.â
đ„ wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship
Ahura (c) vs. Joey Janela
Ed: âAhura defending the top belt at an 18+ show tells you everything â wXw wants this main event to be loud, unpredictable, and absolutely wild.â
Gordon: âAnd Janela thrives in environments where rules are more like suggestions. Ahuraâs swagger versus Janelaâs recklessness â thatâs a combustible mix.â
đ„ Zoltan vs. Myron Reed
Ed: âZoltan brings brute force, Reed brings speed and innovation. This is the kind of clash that makes the Extreme Wrestling Party special â two wrestlers who donât share a style, but absolutely share a willingness to push limits.â
Gordon: âReedâs aerial game could give him the edge, but Zoltanâs power can shut down momentum in a heartbeat.â
đ„ Killer Kelly vs. Steph De Lander
Ed: âKiller Kelly in an 18+ environment is practically a guarantee of violence. Add Steph De Lander â whoâs been on a tear across Europe â and youâve got a match that might steal the entire night.â
Gordon: âKelly thrives in intensity. SDL thrives in disruption. This one wonât be pretty, but it will be memorable.â
đŠ Event Details
Extreme Wrestling Party
Powered by: Artilleriefeuer
Presented by: WrestlingâInfos.de
Date: Friday, September 25
Start Time: 11 p.m.
Venue: Turbinenhalle Oberhausen
Tickets: events.wXwâWrestling.com
Ed: âThis show always delivers something you canât see anywhere else â and with these matches already locked in, 2026 looks like the wildest edition yet.â
Gordon: âAnd remember, this is just the first wave. More matches will be announced as we get closer to the festival.â
Ed: âFans, the sports desk heads to Kawasaki, where NOAH rolled out two major summer shows â Lethal Odyssey and Summer Voyage â packed with title defenses, faction clashes, and a few lightningâquick finishes that left the crowd buzzing.â
Gordon: âAnd what stood out most was the balance. Heavyweight power, junior speed, lucha chaos, and a GHC title match that ended almost as soon as it began. Letâs break down Summer Voyage first.â
đŠ NOAH Kawasaki Summer Voyage 2026 â August 23
Kiyomiyaâs precision and Kondoâs power made for a strong pairing. Kitamiya and OZAWA fought hard, but the teamwork on the winning side was too tight.
Ed: âKiyomiya looked locked in â sharp, confident, and in control.â
AMAKUSA, Kenoh & Naomichi Marufuji def. Los Tranquilos de Japon (BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito) & Super Crazy (7:42)
A starâstudded trios match with fast tags and big personalities. Kenohâs fire and Marufujiâs timing carried the NOAH side to victory.
Gordon: âAnytime Marufuji shares a ring with Naito, you get magic â even in a trios match.â
GHC200 Championship: HAYATA (c) def. Katsumi Inahata (1:55)
A blinkâandâyouâmissâit title defense. HAYATA struck immediately, overwhelmed Inahata, and retained in under two minutes.
Ed: âHAYATA didnât just defend â he made a statement.â
Team 2000X (Alpha Wolf & Tadasuke) def. Atsushi Kotoge & Hajime Ohara (16:05)
A competitive tag bout with strong pacing. Alpha Wolfâs explosiveness and Tadasukeâs aggression carried the match through a long, physical stretch.
Gordon: âWolfâs speed changes the geometry of every match heâs in.â
GHC SixâMan Tag Team Championship
Jun Masaoka, Kai Fujimura & YOâHEY def. Alejandro, Daiki Odashima & Dragon Bane (13:11)
A highâenergy junior trios match with YOâHEYâs creativity shining. Masaoka and Fujimura kept the structure tight, and the champions retained clean.
Ed: âYOâHEYâs timing was impeccable â every burst landed.â
A bruising heavyweight war. Fujita and Inamura brought raw power, but Soya and Iinoâs chemistry and conditioning carried them through a long, grinding defense.
Gordon: âSoya and Iino didnât just survive â they imposed their will.â
đŠ NOAH Lethal Odyssey 2026 â August 22
Online Stream â Japan
Ed: âFans, the sports desk continues our NOAH coverage with Lethal Odyssey, a show that leaned into fast finishes, faction warfare, and heavyweight intensity. If Summer Voyage was about championships, Lethal Odyssey was about momentum â and several wrestlers walked out with major statements.â
Gordon: âAnd what stood out was the pacing. NOAH kept the matches tight, sharp, and purposeful â every bout pushed a rivalry or reinforced a rising star. Letâs break it down.â
đŠ HAYATA def. Hiroya Namiki (6:41)
A crisp junior bout where HAYATA controlled the tempo, shutting down Namikiâs bursts of speed and sealing the win with trademark precision.
Ed: âHAYATA looked like he was sparring â calm, composed, and always one step ahead.â
đŠ ThreeâWay Match: BUSHI def. Black Mensoâre & Kenoh (5:02)
A quick, chaotic sprint. Kenoh brought fire, Mensoâre brought comedy, but BUSHI picked his moment perfectly and stole the win.
Gordon: âBUSHI thrives in these short threeâways â he waits for the opening and strikes.â
A fun tag match blending lucha flair with heavyweight power. Inamuraâs strength anchored the team, while Super Crazyâs veteran timing kept the pace unpredictable.
Ed: âInamuraâs power was the difference â every time he entered, the match shifted.â
đŠ Tetsuya Endo def. Yuto Koyanagi (7:53)
Endo controlled the match with sharp striking and ring awareness. Koyanagi fought hard but couldnât match Endoâs pace in the closing stretch.
Gordon: âEndoâs footwork and timing were the keys â he dictated every exchange.â
A lively trios match with Marufuji adding star power. Kotogeâs speed and Hi69âs experience carried the winning side, while Takahashi provided the final push.
Ed: âMarufuji elevated the match just by being in it â but Kotogeâs energy sealed the deal.â
đŠ AMAKUSA, Daiki Odashima, Eita & Kaito Kiyomiya def. Team 2000X (Alpha Wolf, Jun Masaoka, Kai Fujimura & OZAWA) (15:42)
A strong multiâman bout with standout performances from Kiyomiya and AMAKUSA. Team 2000X brought intensity, but the NOAH sideâs cohesion proved too much.
Gordon: âKiyomiya was the anchor â every time he tagged in, the match tightened.â
A heavyweight slugfest. Kitamiya and Sugiura brought brute force, while Tadasuke added speed. RATELâS fought hard, but Team 2000X overwhelmed them with sustained pressure.
Ed: âSugiuraâs presence changes everything â he forces opponents to fight his match.â
đ„ All Japan Pro Wrestling â Nettou Summer Action Wars 2026 (Aug 21 & 23)
Tag 3 & Tag 4 âą Online Stream âą Japan
Ed: âFans, the sports desk heads to All Japan, where the Zennichi Junior Festival continued heating up and the Summer Action Wars tour delivered strong tag action, heavyweight clashes, and junior block battles that tightened the standings.â
Gordon: âAnd what stood out this week was the balance between rising juniors and established heavyweights. The festival blocks are getting crowded, and every match is starting to feel like a mustâwin.â
Seiki Yoshioka [4] def. Yasutaka Yano [4] (11:10) A sharp, competitive junior bout. Yoshiokaâs precision carried him through a tight match, pulling even with Yano in block points.
Ed: âYoshiokaâs timing was the difference â he picked his spots perfectly.â
Hideki Suzuki def. Jiro Shinbashi (6:23)
Suzuki dominated with technical control, shutting down Shinbashi early and never letting him breathe.
Gordon: âSuzukiâs mat work is suffocating â once he gets a hold, itâs over.â
Saito Brothers (Jun Saito, Naruki Doi & Rei Saito) def. Aizawa No.1, Yuko Miyamoto & Yuma Aoyagi (7:38)
A fast trios match with the Saito Brothersâ power overwhelming the opposition. Doiâs veteran presence kept the pace sharp.
Ed: âThe Saitos are becoming a force â size, speed, and confidence.â
Zennichi Junior Festival Block A
Leon de Oro [4] def. Seigo Tachibana [5] (7:24) A quick, energetic bout. Tachibana entered with the block lead, but Leon de Oroâs explosiveness closed the gap.
Gordon: âLeon de Oro is quietly becoming one of the blockâs most dangerous names.â
Zennichi Junior Festival Block B
Masaaki Mochizuki [7] def. Yuya Aoki [6] (13:25) A veteran masterclass. Mochizukiâs striking and pacing carried him past Aoki in a tightly contested match that pushed him to the top of Block B.
Ed: âMochizukiâs experience is showing â heâs dictating every match heâs in.â
A heavyweight showcase with Shiozaki anchoring the winning side. Anzai and Ayabe added youthful fire, while Miyaharaâs team couldnât keep momentum.
Gordon: âShiozakiâs presence changes the entire rhythm â heâs still the heartbeat of AJPW.â
Zennichi Junior Festival Block B
Dan Tamura [5] def. Hokuto Omori [4] (16:42) A long, dramatic junior battle. Tamuraâs grit carried him through a tough closing stretch, pushing him up the Block B standings.
Ed: âTamura fought like a man who knew he needed those points.â
A strong trios match with the Saitos overpowering Miyaharaâs side. Anzaiâs fire added the finishing touch.
Zennichi Junior Festival Block B
Dan Tamura [3] def. Naruki Doi [2] (13:48) Tamura outlasted Doi in a competitive bout, using resilience and timing to secure the win.
Zennichi Junior Festival Block A
Seigo Tachibana [5] def. Rising HAYATO [4] (21:08) A long, dramatic block match. Tachibanaâs endurance carried him through a grueling 21âminute battle, keeping him atop Block A.
Gordon: âTachibana proved he can go long â and go hard.â
đŠ Top 25 Power Rankings â Global Sports Desk Introduction
Ed: âFans, this weekâs wrestling landscape wasnât just busy â it was global. Across ROH, Stardom, wXw, NOAH, AJPW, AEW, NJPW, OVW, CMLL, NWA, TNA, MLW, and WOW, the fight game delivered title changes, tournament breakthroughs, international clashes, and performances that reshaped entire divisions. And thatâs exactly why the Top 25 Power Rankings matter more than ever.â
Gordon: âThese rankings arenât just about who won. Theyâre about impact. Who defined the conversation? Who elevated their promotion? Who forced the world to pay attention? When youâre comparing athletes from Tokyo to Oberhausen, from Louisville to Mexico City, from Philadelphia to Orlando, you need a system that measures momentum, significance, and consistency â not just the final bell.â
Ed: âROH gave us a violent Fight Without Honor, a world title classic, and a womenâs main event that tore the house down. Stardom crowned a new 5â STAR Grand Prix champion in a final that shook Ryogoku. wXw rolled out three tournament fields and a lateânight Extreme Wrestling Party card that already looks unhinged. NOAH delivered heavyweight wars and lightningâfast junior showcases. AJPWâs Zennichi Junior Festival tightened into a pressure cooker.â
Ed: âSo when we talk about the Top 25, weâre talking about the wrestlers who didnât just win â they mattered. They changed trajectories. They shaped storylines. They made this week feel bigger across every ring on the planet.â
Gordon: âAnd with that, fans⊠letâs get to the rankings.â
TOP 25 POWER RANKINGS
Rina (2026 5Star Grand Prix Champion) 4-0 Stardom
Ryohei Oiwa (G1 Climax 2026 Champion) 3-0 NJPW
Mina Shirakawa & Queen Aminata 3-0 ROH
Dustin Jackson 3-0 (OVW Race For The Crown Champion) OVW
Kevin Knight vs. TitĂĄn (TNT Championship): Knight jumped TitĂĄn right out of a handshake, targeted the mask, and closed with his UFO splash to keep the TNT title.
Soberano Jr. vs. Komander (Lightning match): A sprint that ended with Soberano drilling Komander with a spike piledriver for the win.
Trios showcase: Maya World, Thunder Rosa & Hyan outfoxed Hikaru Shida, Skye Blue & Marina ShafirâRosa snatched a quick rollâup on Shafir to seal it.
Kyle Fletcher vs. MĂĄscara Dorada: Fletcher, dubbed âThe ProtoStar,â survived Doradaâs aerial assault and finished with a sheerâdrop brainbuster in the main event.
Lio Rush vs. El Clon (ROH World TV Title): Rush leaned into his âBlackheartâ persona, toyed with El Clon and Don Callis, then tapped Clon with a new submission to retainâsetting up a Fight Without Honor defense against Action Andretti at Death Before Dishonor on August 21.
Gordon: âAnd the world title didnât stay home eitherâBandido took the ROH World Championship to Cardiff for RevProâs Unfinished Business and turned back Cameron Khai in the main event, keeping the belt secure heading into Death Before Dishonor.â
Ed: âOn the horizon, that payâperâview in Philadelphia is loaded: Bandido vs. Nick Wayne for the world title, Athena vs. Hazuki for the womenâs crown, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Steph De Lander for the Womenâs Pure title, and Lee Moriarty vs. Nigel McGuinness for the Pure championship. ROHâs week has been all about sharpening those storylines.â
Stardom
Gordon: âFrom Mexico we pivot to Japan, where Stardomâs 5â Star Grand Prix rolled into Hamamatsu on August 16âblock matches everywhere and champions fighting like theyâre still trying to prove something.â
Wonder of Stardom Champion Hanan vs. Saya Kamitani (Blue B): Hanan countered Kamitani and trapped her with a Star Crusher variation, moving to 9 points and reinforcing her status as a double threatâbelt and block.
Maika vs. Akira Kurogane (Red A): Maika muscled through with a Michinoku Driver II, locking up first place in Red A at 11 points.
Suzu Suzuki vs. Julia Hart (Blue A, champion vs. champion): World champion Suzu Suzuki outlasted AEWâs Artist champion Julia Hart, finishing with a German suplex hold to clinch top spot in Blue A and a 6â0â1 record.
Hanako vs. Ruaka (Blue A): A 15âminute timeâlimit draw that kept both in the mix but confirmed Suzuki as block winner.
Utami Hayashishita vs. Mei Seira (Red B): Utami hit a German suplex to even their records and keep Block B tight.
Ami Sourei vs. Starlight Kid (Blue B): Soureiâs thunderous finisher pushed her to 10 points and first place in Blue B.
Konami vs. Maki Itoh (Red B): Konami forced a TKO with a guillotine sleeper, taking control of the block.
Rina vs. AZM (Red A): Rina spiked AZM with a package piledriver, winning the tiebreaker and sliding into second in the block.
RESULTS
(15.08.2026) Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 – Tag 13 – Online Stream @ KBS Hall in Kyoto, Japan 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block A: Rian [2] defeats Aya Sakura [4] (12:55) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block B: Starlight Kid [9] defeats Kikyo Furusawa [0] (7:53) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block B: Yuna Mizumori [6] defeats Hanan [7] (5:55) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block A: Ruaka [7] vs. Suzu Suzuki [11] – Double Count Out (8:05) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Red Stars Block B: Mei Seira [7] defeats Saya Iida [9] (10:27) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block B: Koguma [6] defeats Momo Watanabe [8] (12:51) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block A: HANAKO [8] defeats Julia Hart [8] (8:30) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block A: Miyu Amasaki [6] defeats Hina [6] (12:23) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block B: Ami Sourei [8] defeats Saya Kamitani [8] (14:02)
(14.08.2026) Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 – Tag 12 – Online Stream @ Kobe Sambo Hall in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block B: Saya Kamitani [8] defeats Yuna Mizumori [4] (9:29) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block A: HANAKO [6] defeats Rian [0] (9:07) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block B: Ami Sourei [6] defeats Kikyo Furusawa [0] (7:56) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Red Stars Block B: Mei Seira [5] defeats Lady C [2] (4:29) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block B: Starlight Kid [7] defeats Koguma [4] (9:49) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block A: Julia Hart [8] defeats Miyu Amasaki [4] (7:05) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block A: Hina [6] defeats Ruaka [6] (11:31) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block B: Hanan [7] vs. Momo Watanabe [8] – Time Limit Draw (15:00) 5STAR Grand Prix 2026 Blue Stars Block A: Suzu Suzuki [10] defeats Aya Sakura [4] (11:55)
Ed: âAnd just as league play wrapped, Stardom announced that the August 18 Korakuen Hall showâfirst and second rounds of the final tournamentâwill stream free on YouTube, with an Englishâlanguage feed on their global channel. Thatâs a big open door for international eyes.â
wXw (Westside Xtreme Wrestling)
Ed: âOver in Germany, wXwâs Shortcut to the Top 2026 turned Turbinenhalle into a revolving door of title changesâand even hosted a Ring of Honor world title defense.â
Preâshow: Ricky Sosa beat Matt Gatlin; then Dieter Schwartz dethroned Zoltan for the wXw European Title.
Unified World Wrestling Title: Ahura toppled Elijah Blum to become the new unified world champion.
Shotgun Title: Axel Tischer and Daniel Garcia went the full 15 minutes to a timeâlimit draw, leaving the Shotgun belt with Tischer but the rivalry unresolved.
World Tag Team Title (No Holds Barred): CSI (Luca de Leone & Nordino) wrestled the belts away from Planet Gojirah in a weaponsâladen brawl.
ROH World Title: Bandido added another successful defense, this time against 1 Called Manders, keeping the ROH championship prominent on the European stage.
Shortcut to the Top Rumble: Kanji outlasted a massive fieldâdefeats 1 Called Manders and Aaron Insane and Aeron and Alex Duke and Amedeo and Axel Tischer and Brendan White and Conn Kelly and Danny Jones and Dennis Dullnig and Dieter Schwartz and Hugo Brand and Jacob Crane and Jane Nero and Kade Brasher and Katsuya Murashima and Kuro and M4 and Matt Gatlin and Melanie Gray and Michael Oku and Niklas Bock and Pascal Spalter and Peter Tihanyi and Rotten Moodo and Stephanie Maze and Thomas Shire and Tim Koslowski and Zoltan (54:12)âto win the Shortcut and line up a future shot at the top.
Gordon: âWhen one show flips three wXw titles and features the ROH belt, you know the promotion is positioning itself as a crossroads for international champions.â
Pro Wrestling NOAH
Gordon: âBack to Korakuen Hall, but this time under the green bannerâNOAHâs Legacy Rise 2026 on August 10 was a juniorâheavyweightâcentric card with tournament implications and multiple title changes.â
Daiki Odashima vs. Hiroya Namiki: Odashima spoiled Namikiâs debut, winning in just under eight minutes and giving the newcomer a harsh introduction to NOAH.
Kenoh & Naomichi Marufuji vs. AMAKUSA & Black Mensoâre: The veteran pairing closed quickly, with Marufuji knocking Mensoâre out of contention via a decisive strike.
Inamura/Fujita/Katsumi Inahata/Hiroto Tsuruya vs. Passionate RATELâS & Super Crazy/Yuto Koyanagi: Inamura pinned Koyanagi after Musou, underscoring the power side of NOAHâs roster.
Team 2000X vs. White Raven Squad & Midori Takahashi: Alpha Wolf, Jun Masaoka & OZAWA beat KENTA, Shane Haste & Takahashi, with OZAWA hitting a moonsault to finish.
Los Tranquilos de Japon vs. Kiyomiya & Lykos Gym: Naito, BUSHI & RYUSEI overcame Kaito Kiyomiya and the Lykos duo, with Naito pinning Kid Lykos II.
Tadasuke vs. YOâHEY: A disqualification after referee assault gave Tadasuke the win and set the stage for YOâHEYâs postâmatch turn, attacking Passionate RATELâS and aligning with Team 2000X.
GHC200 Championship Final â HAYATA vs. Tetsuya Endo: In a short but intense bout, HAYATA captured the inaugural GHC200 title after the other semifinal collapsed under tournament rules, making this the de facto final.
GHC Junior Tag â Dragon Bane & Alejandro vs. Atsushi Kotoge & Hi69: The champions retained in a 20âplusâminute match, Alejandro pinning Hi69 to log their fifth defense.
GHC Junior Heavyweight â Eita vs. Kai Fujimura: Fujimura shocked Eita, winning the junior title with heavy help from Team 2000X and becoming the 63rd champion.
Ed: âAnd the big news itemâNOAH announced the full field for this yearâs Nâ1 Victory: eightâman blocks featuring names like Kaito Kiyomiya, Kenoh, KENTA, Kazuyuki Fujita, Takashi Sugiura, Alpha Wolf, Titus Alexander and more. Thatâs a heavyweight gauntlet waiting to happen.â
All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)
Ed: âStaying in Japan but shifting to the redâwhiteâblue ring, All Japan spent the week deep in the Zennichi Jr. Festival and Summer Action Warsâwith one junior standing out above the rest.â
Summer Action Wars â Aug 15 ShinâKiba (Day show):
Dan Tamura vs. Masaaki Mochizuki went to a 30âminute draw in Block B.
Aoki defeated Naruki Doi with his Kesagiri Chop, moving to 4 points.
Hokuto Omori tapped out Shota Kofuji with a cross armbreaker.
Rising HAYATO beat Seiki Yoshioka in Block A.
Summer Action Wars â Aug 15 ShinâKiba (Night show):
Aoki again used the Kesagiri Chop, this time against Kofuji, to reach 6 points and stay undefeated at 3â0 atop Block B.
Hokuto Omori added another win over Doi, climbing to 4 points.
Yasutaka Yano scored over Leon de Oro in Block A, while multiâman âTriple Crown skirmishâ tags kept Miyahara, Shiozaki, Anzai and the Saito brothers circling the mainâevent scene.
Gordon: âThe official site backed that up with soldâout notices for both ShinâKiba cards and updated point tablesâAoki sitting alone on top of Block B, Omori chasing, and Block A tightening around Rising HAYATO and Seiki Yoshioka.â
News and rumor snapshot (company & talent)
Ed: âSo, whatâs the chatter around the sports desk this week?â
ROH: Focus is squarely on Death Before DishonorâBandidoâs schedule as traveling champion, Lio Rushâs new submission and persona, and speculation about Nigel McGuinness stepping back into Pure rules on a big stage.
Stardom: Talk centers on Suzukiâs dominant block run, Konamiâs resurgence, and the free YouTube broadcast as a test balloon for more global streaming with English commentary.
wXw: Fans are buzzing about Kanjiâs Shortcut win and the cluster of title changes, plus the ongoing partnership that lets ROHâs world champion headline European cards.
NOAH: The Nâ1 Victory lineup has people fantasyâbooking Fujita vs. Inamura and Kenoh vs. KENTA, while HAYATAâs new GHC200 belt and Fujimuraâs upset over Eita reshape the junior landscape.
AJPW: Conversation revolves around whether Aokiâs undefeated junior run is a prelude to a title shot at Dan Tamura, and how the upcoming âĆdĆ Tournamentâ field will intersect with the current Summer Action Wars storylines.
Gordon: âIn short, every one of these promotions is using August as a launchpadâtournaments, title defenses, and crossâpromotional showcases all converging as we head toward lateâsummer climax events.â
Top 25 Power Rankings
Ami Sourei 3-0 Stardom
Bandido (ROH World Champion, AEW World Trios Champions) 2-0 wXw, RevPro
Kevin Knight (TNT Champion) 2-0 AEW, ROH
Goto Revolutionary Army (Hirooki Goto & Tatsuya Matsumoto) 2-0 NJPW
United Empire (Great-O-Khan (IWGP Tag Team Champion, NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champion) & Jakob Austin Young) 2-0 NJPW
House Of Torture (Dick Togo & Ren Narita) 2-0 NJPW
Ryohei Oiwa 2-0 NJPW
Aoki 2-0 AJPW
Ricky Sosa 2-0 TNA, wXw
Suzu Suzuki (World of Stardom Champion) 2-0-1 Stardom
HANAKO 2-0-1 Stardom
Black Tiger & Black Tiger IV 3-1 CMLL
Jon Moxley (AEW Continental Champion) 1-0 AEW
Kanji 1-0 wXw
Adam Page & Brodido (Bandido (ROH World Champion) & Brody King) (AEW World Trios Champions) 1-0 AEW
Bandido (ROH World Champion, AEW World Trios Champion) & Mistico (CMLL World Light Heavyweight Champion, CMLL World Trios Champion, ROH World Tag Team Champion, IWGP World Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion) 1-0 CMLL
Lio Rush (ROH TV Champion) 1-0 ROH
Rafaga Jr. (Occidente Tag Team Champion), Titan (CMLL World Welterweight Champion) & Zandokan Jr. 1-0 CMLL
Esfinge (Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champion) & Xelhua 1-0 CMLL
Bandido (ROH World Champion, AEW World Trios Champion) & Titan (CMLL World Welterweight Champion) 1-0 CMLL
Sports Desk Outro
Ed: âThat wraps up our weekly tour across the wrestling worldâfive promotions, countless battles, and momentum shifting by the minute.â
Gordon: âStay tuned, stay sharp, and keep your eyes on the canvas. The next bell is already ringing.â
Ed: âFrom all of us here at the sports deskâgood night, good grappling, and weâll see you tomorrow.â