The Five Count: January 16-31st, 2025

1) Private Party (c) vs. The Hurt Syndicate (AEW Dynamite 1/22/25) AEW Tag Team Title Match. Winner: Hurt Syndicate. So ends the short reign of Private Party. I suppose the glory was going to be in the chase, but even the build to the gold was inconsistent at best. The tag team division was c-c-c-c-old when they were crowned, and Private Party seemed the best of a bad lot. Still- the series of matches with the Bucks were high watermarks, and it was a feel good moment for AEW Day 1'ers. Curious to see what's next for the former champs. There is no obvious feud to turn to, and a break up does not seem beneficial for either party. Quen has always had the look of a singles star, but his personality is lacking and previous injuries had sapped some of his athleticism. On the other hand, Cassidy has a lot of charm--always doing the extra credit to make an impression (the moaning in Omega's ear, getting air being bieled by Keith Lee). Zay's problem is he comes off scrawny and his look is somewhat basic--a revamped would be needed just to make him a serious mid-card star.

Hurt Syndicate on the other hand--is a main event act. The team of Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin and MVP were highlights of pandemic era WWE. Still– -it was slightly surprising that The Hurt Syndicate became such an instant hit in AEW; especially since Ricochet's rocky start and he was considered a perfect match for the promotion. The crowds are digging them even tho initially presented as heel team (MVP does seem to be softening that line lately). They are supersized mf'er's who kick ass in the ring and look cool as a dip in the Pacific.

The match itself was solid--Hurt Syndicate looked strong, but Private Party put up a good fight. They didn't retain the titles, but retained credibility. Looking forward to this new HOSS tag team division with potential opponents Murder Machines, Hounds of Hell, Gates of Agony. Rating: Rocks

2)Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata (AEW Collision 1/25/25) AEW International Title Match. Winner: Takeshita. Good month for Takeshita. Prior this match, he took on a murderer's row of Takagi, Ishii, and Kushida in New Japan and struck out the side. One more legend here with Shibata, and the same result--put The Wrestler's head on his wall. No more hot dogs.

Shibata put up a good fight tho-probably his best match in AEW. Matching Takeshita forearm for forearm, relying on a vet's craft to counter into submission, taking big bumps but recovering quick for big strikes. Even got Takeshita to literally show some ass. However in the end, Takeshita was the T-1000 and no smelting pit in sight. A nasty knee strike and that suplex driver finisher and KT got the 3.

Takeshita is perfect for the AEW International Title. He works Japan regularly being singed to both NJPW and DDT. . His style and presence works in any ring in the world against any opponent. Might be in the World Top 5 right now so no shame in taking a loss to him. Ideally, he should only be giving up that title if he is moving to the World Title picture for NJPW or AEW. Both seem unlikely at the moment, and Takeshita's upcoming match against Omega worries me– Omega is due for the win. If he drops the title, I hope one of these promotions he works for has something big lined up for him Rating: Roast

3)Meiko Satomura vs. Sareee (Sareee-ISM Chapter VI 1/23/25) Winner: Satomura. Another New boss meets the old boss. Satomora is on a retirement tour after decorated career in Japan and around the world. She's held titles in WCW, Stardom, Sendai, Progress, and NXT UK over her 30 year career. Saree and Satomura are not strangers to each other--they've wrestled against each other and tagged together over the past decade plus. However Sareee has come into own since returning to Japan after leaving NXT--working freelance and running her own shows like this one.

This match was hard hitting with each woman hitting their big spots on each other--Sareee stomps and Satomura suplexes. What I love-LOVE-about Sareee matches is she wants a fight. She is giving and taking pain. No over selling, no flailing around after a single stiff strike--she takes the shot, shakes it off and tries to hit harder. I can't believe WWE was wasting her in some Harry Potter/Sailor Moon gimmick! In the end, Satomura won the match with Scorpio Rising, but it took everything she had--a worthy sendoff for a perhaps final match between the two. Rating: Roast

4) Jun Saito (c) vs. Yuma Anzai (AJPW New Year Wars 1/26/25) Triple Crown Title Match. Winner: Saito. Enough with generation gap battles--how bout a couple of young dudes? Saito won the Triple Crown belt at AJPW's New Year's Eve show and it was a bit of a surprise. He already holds the Tag Team belts with his brother Rei and the two are having a dominant reign; very popular with the fans. The former Sumo wrestlers are also minor TV celebrities in Japan. While both compete regularly in singles competition (Jun won his block in last year's Champion Carnival), it seemed they had found their lane as being the ace tag team.

The big reason for the minor shock with Jun's win is their reputation as workers. When they debuted in All Japan in 2021, the reviews were mixed at best --leading to a revamp in their looks and style. They became a bit of 90's American wrestling throwback- big brawlers who just beat people up. Jun looked changed to slicked back hair into pony, high waisted leather pants, and studded bracelets. Picture a 90's kickboxing movie where the hero goes into a seedy bar and has to make an example of the larger bouncer--Jun looks like that bouncer. His brother, Rei has a more rough unkempt look--less back street more back woods. The thing is the brothers had the size and charisma to pull this off. Jun has that Kevin Nash cool bully vibe--he may drag you around the arena in a headlock, but you still want to be his friend energy.

While still be opponent dependent, their workrate improved to pretty solid and their fansbase swelled to one of the most over acts in the promotion.. However to the their critics, the bad rep lingered and the match with Davey Boy Smith, Jr did not change a lot of minds--a plodding lackluster affair. So his first defense against Anzai had some pressure to be good and get Jun's reign on the right track. Anzai was the perfect opponent. He's a former champ--holding the title for most of 2024; winning with a surprise victory himself against Nakajima the surprise was due to Anzai youth then his skills.) His slim muscular build is a nice contrast to Jun, but he has the heighth to credibly square up. Jun's moves et is fairly basic power moves-lariats, big boots, punches and elbow drops, but he does them well. Also for a big guy, he moves well and can keep the pace and endurance for a extended match with a more athletic foe.

The two started going toe to toe-Anzai's with detached coolness vs Jun's smugness. Satio got the upper hand, overpowering Anzai with body slams and hard forearms. When Anzai could get in some offense, it was quickly cut off but a stiff lariat or a strike to the face. .Evenatually Anzai put together a great sequence, high knee to the face, side suplex, and then a high knee to the back for a pin but Jun grabbed the rope. Anzai went to the top rope, but Jun met him there for avalanche chokeslam and then a shotgun kick to the face for a two count. From here on, the two traded big blows and finishers without putting the other away. The early match posturing was gone, but struggling with fatigue and agony. Anzai hit another high knee, a gimlet but Jun fought back with a clubbering clothesline, a big time spear and thundering jackhammer. Not enough! So Jun just picks Anzai up from the waist and slams him to ground for the final pin. Title retained and the doubts were running toward the exits. Rating: Hot Roast!

5) Jonathan Gresham & Jordynne Grace vs. Masha Slamovich & The Beast Mortos (The Crash 1/17/25) Winner: Gresham & Grace. Lets finish with a fun one. Mortos and Slamovich were surprisingly complementary tag team—both blend speed and power for high impact moves. The two took on the husband and wife team of Gresham and Grace. Everyone got to show their strengths- Gresham showing off the technical skills-counter grappling and submissions. Grace showing off her power both with death valley driver on Mortos and later a package driver on him for the win. Slamovich pinballing around with clotheslines and superkicks. Mortos just being awesome-matching everyone with skills and looking bad ass. High paced with some decent comedy spots. Classic house show style fun. Rating:Rocks