With night 2 of Impact’s Rebellion and AJPW’s empty arena show, we’ve got a slightly deeper pool to work with!

This week felt a little closer to normal than the last…what’s it been? Month? Fortnight? Score? I don’t know man, but things are getting blurry and I don’t think it’s my prescription.

Okay so instead of me rambling about video games, or any kind of general insanity, let’s see what we’re working with for quarantine April!

April MOTY Pool:

• WrestleMania 36: NXT Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs Charlotte Flair
• NXT: Tommaso Ciampa vs Johnny Gargano
• Pro Wrestling NOAH: Global Tag League Finals: AXIZ (Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima) vs Rene Dupree & El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr
• AEW Dynamite: Sammy Guevara vs Darby Allin

Now, as was stated earlier, we’ve got a few harder to reach nuggets this week…so it’s closer to normal! Let’s get to it!

Quick Top 5:

• AJPW Desire to Deliver to the World: All Asia Tag Titles: Yankee Two Kenju (c) vs Kento Miyahara & Francesco Akira
  Rating: ****
• Impact Rebellion Night 2: TNA Heavyweight Championship: Moose (c) vs Michael Elgin vs Hernandez
  Rating: ****
• NXT: North American Title: Keith Lee (c) vs Damian Priest
  Rating: *** 1/2
• Impact Rebellion: Suicide vs Chris Bey vs Rohit Raju vs Trey
  Rating: *** 1/2
• AEW Dynamite: Dustin Rhodes vs Lance Archer
  Rating: *** 1/2

Honorable Mentions:

• AEW Dynamite: Cody Rhodes vs Darby Allin
  Rating: *** 1/4
• WWE Raw: United States Championship: Apollo Crews vs Andrade (c)
  Rating: *** 1/4
• AJPW Desire to Deliver: Purple Haze (Izanagi & Zeus) vs  JIN (Jake Lee & Koji Iwamoto )
  Rating: ***
• AJPW Desire to Deliver: Yoshitatsu vs Suwama
  Rating: ***
• NXT: Isaiah Scott vs El Hijo del Fantasma
  Rating: ***
• AJPW Desire to Deliver: Shotaro Ashino & Yusuke Kodama vs Takao Omori & Hokuto Omori
  Rating: ***
• NXT: Drake Maverick vs Tony Nese
  Rating: ***
• AJPW Desire to Deliver; Yoshitatsu & Dan Tamura vs Evolution (Suwama & Hikaru Sato)
  Rating: ***

5. AEW Dynamite: Dustin Rhodes vs Lance Archer

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Archer BOOTS Dustin down! Now he’s mad, because he almost got caught! Archer goes to a corner, and RIPS a buckle pad right off! The ref reprimands but he drags Dustin over. He bumps Dustin off the back buckle!! And again! And again! If Dustin wasn’t bleeding before, he is now! The ref checks on Dustin and QT Marshall appears. QT has a towel, but Cody appears to keep him from throwing it!? Cody talks with his brother first. Dustin doesn’t want Cody to do it, and Archer drags Dustin from the ropes! Archer throws the towel away, and then clamps on the claw! He dribbles Dustin’s head off the mat, then smothers him for the cover! Archer wins!

Winner: Archer via EBD Claw Hold

4. Impact Rebellion: Suicide vs Chris Bey vs Rohit Raju vs Trey

From My Results:

Early on, Rohit and Bey work together to isolate Suicide and keep Trey on his backside. After Trey finds the opening with a leg pick, we see more back and forth X Division style action. Rohit is underrated because of the fact that he does great character work. Suicide had a double Abdominal Stretch in, Rohit slides in, and before breaking it up; he decides to laugh at Trey and Bey. Little things like that scream old school heel stylings, and it’s kind of refreshing.

Some really solid action happens after that. Suicide pulls off the Suicide Solution, Trey hits a double 619 and then a Meteora on Suicide. Rohit pitches Trey to the outside to try and steal the win, but a swift Brazilian Kick to the back of the head from Bey; breaks up the pin and then Bey wins off that. Pretty good match, especially for an opening match.

Winner: Chris Bey via Brazilian Kick

3. NXT: North American Title: Keith Lee (c) vs Damian Priest

From Mitchell’s Coverage:

Lee staggers around the corner, but Priest keeps his eyes on him. Priest runs and FLIES over the corner!! Direct hit into railing! Priest drags Lee up and back into the ring. He hurries up to the top rope, takes aim and leaps, for the FLYING HEEL KICK! Cover, TWO!! Lee still lives and Priest can’t believe it! But Priest wants to end it, and dares Lee to stand. Lee manages to stand, and he HEADBUTTS Priest away! Priest ends up on the apron, but he dodges Lee to ROUNDHOUSE! Priest heads back up, but Lee ROCKS him back! Lee climbs up now, drags Priest up to join him, and DEAD LIFT SUPERPLEXES!! Cover, TWO!?! Priest survives again! Both men slowly rise but Lee brings Priest in. Priest uppercuts, forearms and CYCLONE KICKS! Priest choke grips, lifts, SOUTH OF HEAVEN CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO!?! Priest is furious!! And he grows desperate, as he grabs both the North American Championship and his baton! The title is confiscated but that’s a decoy! Priest aims at Lee, but Lee blocks the shot!! Priest says that’s impossible! Lee stands up and says, “No. I am limitless.”

Priest tries again, Lee ducks the attack and GRIZZLY MAGNUMS! Lee hands the baton to the ref, powerbomb lifts Priest, for the SPIRIT BOMB! But not once, but TWICE!! Cover, Lee wins!!

Winner: Keith Lee via Spirit Bomb

2. Impact Rebellion Night 2: TNA Heavyweight Championship: Moose (c) vs Michael Elgin vs Hernandez

From My Results:

Now this was a cool set up for the impromptu triple threat. Even though there were three commercials that broke up the flow of the match a bit, it was a really well put together match. Elgin did a lot of good work with both men. Hernandez had some nice athletic moments to prove he can still go in the ring, Moose held his own really well and this was just enjoyable.

Numerous pinfall breakups, Moose hit the Go To Hell, Elgin was never able to finish his Buckle Bomb/Elgin Bomb combo. He did he a great Corkscrew Senton, but it was only for 2. Hernandez hit a Pounce, and wiped out Elgin and the second referee with a big Suicide Dive. Moose drags Hernandez back in, hits No Jackhammer Needed to continue his reign over the TNA originals, and pick up the big Main Event win.

Winner: Moose via No Jackhammer Needed

1. AJPW Desire to Deliver to the World: All Asia Tag Titles: Yankee Two Kenju (c) vs Kento Miyahara & Francesco Akira

From My Results:

Akira starts things off, but Kento takes an early tag; giving the All Japan team a solid advantage. Kento is a demi-god, so everyone knew if Yankee Two Kenju wanted to win, they had to beat Akira. It takes a good long while before a situation reveals itself for the champions.

Kento and Akira hit a few tandem knee strikes, good teamwork and general fluidity. Yankee Two really had to pick and choose their positions. When they had to deal with Kento, there was usually a lot of failure; the same can’t be said about Akira. Yankee Two had struggles, but generally handled Akira better, especially since he’s closer to their size.

We see a big run at the end where both teams hit a few moves. Yankee Two, wipe out Kento with a Dive to the outside…but Akira is in control. He goes up top, hits a Diving Meteora, cradles the legs – but at TWO – Kuroda hits a Thrust Kick in Akira’s face, reversing the cradle and giving Yankee Two Kenju the retention.

Winner: Two Kenju via Thrust Kick Cradle Reversal

Thoughts:

As I said earlier, we’re a little closer to normal this week. Matches were a bit better than last week; but the bulk of matches were a little underwhelming. Could be a result of quarantine lethargy, empty arenas, drinking too much…man who knows.

Either way, my vote will go to, TNA Heavyweight Championship: Moose vs Elgin vs Hernandez; purely because I popped way too hard when Moose came out with that belt, and the nostalgia hit me hard.

Which match was your favorite of the Top 5?